← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
3 & Out - Kauff on Campus, OSU–Texas Preview, Bill Belichick’s Debut,
01:22:10
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- [00:00]
Political Commentator
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
John Middlekauff
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Podcast Narrator
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John Middlekauff
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Podcast Narrator
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John Middlekauff
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Podcast Narrator
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Buzz Knight
Hi, I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast, and join me for an upcoming episode with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, talking about his new Frank Sinatra music project.
- [01:18]
Podcast Narrator
Anyone who loves music would salivate over something like this. The biggest question for us was what's in these boxes? Really the most thrilling part was hiring an orchestra and just playing what was in these boxes.
- [01:30]
Buzz Knight
Listen to Taking a walk on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:37]
Katie Couric
On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union.
- [01:50]
Political Commentator
I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back.
- [02:03]
Katie Couric
Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:12]
John Middlekauff
The volume what is going on, everybody? How are we doing? Hopefully everyone's doing great, getting ready for the long extended weekend. I am about 24 hours away from hopping on a bird and coming home and I tell you what, I can't wait. One, I can only vacation so long, I kind of get restless. But two, I mean, we've all had this circle. We got Arch Manning and we have Ohio State. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that. I can't wait for 9:00am Pacific Standard Time Saturday morning. I've already got. And obviously we got a great game on Saturday night. We got a game on. I mean, we got games all day Saturday, but lsu, Clemson, Miami, Notre Dame, Belichick on Monday night. So what I, what I did is before I left, I recorded a big picture last year. Many of you remembered. I know we got new people here as well. We had a guy named Intern Jackson that I brought on that loves college football. He. I'll tell a story coming up when we talk here in a minute, but basically I got, I got him involved now. He is officially part of the show. He produces the show behind the scenes. He's part of the Volume family. So he's come a long way in a short period of time. But this guy loves college football. He's passionate about it, and he fires me up. So we did a big picture kind of college football podcast on everything from LSU to Belichick to Arch to you name it. So it's, it's pretty long. I think if I remember correctly, it's like an hour and an hour, 20 minutes. But this guy's, this guy's dialed in. And yeah, I'm more than a casual when it comes to college, but, you know, I don't know the too deep of Notre Dame, right? So like many people, I just consume a lot of it on Saturday. And as the season goes, you get to know beside the quote unquote stars. But I love college football. I absolutely love Saturdays. It's a little lighter for me than. Than Sundays, which are just intense. Obviously, it's the business I'm in. But Saturdays, I can enjoy it a little bit more and just be jealous of everyone that went to the big schools and have a rooting interest. If you went to Oregon, if you went to Ohio State, if you went to Florida, whatever. That's always something I've been jealous of. I was a GA at Fresno State, but it's not the same, especially now with nil. Schools like that are fucked. Excuse my language, but before we dive in. Well, actually, if you listen on Collins, make sure you subscribe to three and Out. All of our stuff is video wise. You. You can subscribe to that as well. So make sure you subscribe to our YouTube. So Apple, Spotify, YouTube, we got you covered. But first, you know, I got to tell you about my friends, my partners, and the official ticketing app of this podcast. You know what's funny? Is we went to a luau the other night, which is quite the experience. Not typically something I would do. Maria had us do it and it was actually really fun. I'm glad we did. We sat with some people from Oklahoma. They had both gone to ou. They go to the game every year. I'm like, we went to Texas, Oklahoma last year. I'm a. I'm a acquired Sooner fan. So if you want to go to one of these games, SEC game, a Big Ten game, an ACC game, you. You name it, any college football game. My friends don't say bulldogs are not going to be any good. But any of these teams you want to see, obviously the NFL, they got you covered. Concerts, comedy shows, it does not get any easier. I can't recommend my friends at game time enough. Let's take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use the code JOHN for $20 off, first person terms apply. Again, create an account, redeem the code Johan. That's my name, John. For $20 off, download the game time. After date, last minute tickets, lowest prices, guaranteed. Dive into Jackson. Okay. Very, very fired up because a couple years ago, this, this young whipper snapper came up to me on the driving range and started just firing football takes at me. Then last year, you heard him come on the podcast and talk a little football. This year, for those of you that don't know, I've definitely mentioned this on the podcast a time or two, we've gotten Jackson involved on the show, operating behind the scenes, part of the Volume family. He even moved downtown Scottsdale. And no one I know loves college football in Notre Dame more than this young man. Jackson called him Intern Jackson. Now he's producer Jackson. Jackson. Jackson. What's up, bro?
- [06:42]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
It's so funny. When I got the job and I announced it, I had so many comments of people that were like, well, can I still call you Intern Jackson? I'm like, well, how about just Jackson? Like, let's just Jackson Producer Jackson. Kind of work it that way. But no, man, I'm forever grateful and in debt for that conversation. It's just crazy. Like, you nag someone on a driving range and you just never know what happens. So I'm no longer working at the golf course, which is nice. I'd rather prefer, you know, doing this kind of stuff. But, man, I'm excited. College football, there's just so much. It seems like every year in college football, it gets more and more wide open and there's more questions than ever. Before this season. So I'm excited to talk college football, man, it's been fun.
- [07:19]
John Middlekauff
You give people that, you know, we got get so many new listeners every single week, every single month. You were a walk on wide receiver at the University of Montana. They've won a few Natties over the years. You didn't win Natty, did you?
- [07:32]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
No, we didn't get close. I think we went to the semifinals my sophomore year. I didn't win a Big sky title, but like Montana, for those who don't know Big sky football, University of Montana, it's kind of like a miniature version of Nebraska. Like, they're die hards there. They live, breathe and die by Montana. They have a rivalry trophy. It's like £3,000 between Montana State. So I'm from here, went there, walked on football, didn't play as long as I wanted to, but unfortunately for me, it started my broadcasting career earlier. Had a podcast out of college, and then that led me to work for a 7 on 7 company, which led me to working here locally at radio and then working golf on the side, too. And I'm sure you're the same way. Like, it's crazy how you just meet people out of nowhere. Like, I met you at my side golf job, just talking normal and then just making content on the side. And one day you're like, hey, like, you want to come on the show? Like, I was. I don't. You said you. I think you said you were thinking about me in the sauna, which I hope. I don't know how I think about that, but hey, if it's positive, then I guess. Guess I guess it's good.
- [08:37]
John Middlekauff
But yeah, One of the greatest viral moments I've ever seen on TV is Charles Barkley talking about this guy that gave him a bracelet and Shaq asked him, like, where to give it to you. He said, in the sauna. And they sort. Like they were both naked, clearly handed to him. But I sometimes in my. The gym I go to, they are doing like a remodel of the locker room. So I haven't been in the sauna or steam room for a long time. But that is one area I'm probably like a lot of people. My. My headphones are in my ear way too much. You know, I listen to way too much shit. And sometimes you just don't get a chance to think. And that's one area where I just sit in that. In the sauna, specifically the sauna, there's always way more people in the steam room. So I can just Sit there a lot of times by myself and just great. Get in deep thought. And I was like, you know what? Fucking get Jackson involved. And now it's like a couple. What was it like a month ago? You and me went to the golf course, about 120 degrees and we shot a bunch of content. You watched me just, you know, that's the last time I played golf. So now football season's here and I'll play less and less. But I did, I wanted to bring you on. So just, I mean, it's right around the corner being at Fox. I mean, obviously the NFL is king in that building, but you really feel the power of college football. I mean, it's a really big deal for that network. They have a game coming up, you know, with Arch Manning and clad has become, you know, the Foxes, Herb street. And just like this is. I'm fired up. I'm ready for this season and I'm pretty excited, bro.
- [10:07]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, you just, you wish that Arch Manning versus Ohio State game, maybe at night. I mean, noon game is fine. I mean, with the slate of games, you got Clemson, LSU at night, obviously Alabama, Florida State in the middle. But you talked Arch Manning, Ohio State expectations going in. I mean, I think there's more question marks on Ohio State versus Texas. I would say heading in that I feel more comfortable. You know, Texas is an underdog in that game. But your thoughts on archbanning Ohio State because, I mean, I guess they're an underdog because they're on the road and Arch Manning. But then you look at Ohio State, it's like you got two new coordinators. Like, what will Matt Patricia look like with. They lost eight guys defensively and then on offense you got a new quarterback who they have a lot of. They said a lot of the good things about him. The last recruited quarterback that Nick Saban recruited before he left and he transfers over to Ohio State, sits a year and the battle was kind of closer with Keen Holtz. But I don't know if that's something that Ryan Day, you know, anticipated before the season. Just kind of keep it competitive for fall camp. But I feel like for me at least heading into this game, Texas being underdog, I wouldn't lean towards them. But then it's like, well, Arch Manning hasn't really played a game as big as this in his career.
- [11:18]
John Middlekauff
Well, it feels like all of Ohio State's defense last year, the big thing was like they came back to kind of right the wrong against Michigan. Turned out they didn't do that, but they won the national championship. So it was all worth it. But they are reloading a lot and I here's the thing. When you lose players at Ohio State, Georgia, Bama, Oregon, now Texas, it's not the same as like Fresno State. You know, you don't like the guy that some of these guys are going to play for. Ohio State aren't just going to be like high level guys. They're going to be like top 15, 20 picks over the next couple of years. Urban Meyer had a good point. He's like, when Texas played Ohio State last year, Jeremiah Smith did not have a very good game statistically because they basically double teamed him. And he said it's actually going to be easier to double team him now when he lost a guy that went, I think what Tampa drafted a Mecca 19th overall.
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Jackson (Producer Jackson)
19.
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John Middlekauff
Yeah, the two running backs that I don't know are incredible. I know one guy has, you know, had the thing off the field when Cleveland, but that's gone now. He's back and you got Trayvon Henderson with a lot of people think are going to be like rookie of the year.
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Jackson (Producer Jackson)
So.
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John Middlekauff
And listen, I wasn't the biggest Will Howard guy, but by the end of the season he was slinging around like Peyton Manning. It's just a lot like that is. It's very Saban like right. That's. It's like if he does come back and they're just a top five team, then Ohio State's just clearly the best program in the country. Right?
- [12:38]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
It's going to be.
- [12:39]
John Middlekauff
And they also got Matt Patricia, who I think is kind of a clown. I know people like him, but just in terms of like last year did the media thing with Bill. It's like he never said anything. It's like why are you doing this? But it like worked out for him. He gets the job at Ohio State. He clearly has a lot of these. You know, he's worked with Bill for 20 fucking years. So it's like how's he going to implement that in the college? Their Ohio State's defense, not only personnel wise, but I mean their coach, it's not like he left for a better job. I think he's. Knowles is a PA guy in Penn State. You know, like in Michigan and Ohio State all have unlimited money when they want to buy a guy. So I think it was kind of going home. But like that guy was pretty good coordinator. Ryan, listen, I want to not like him. He's clearly pretty good at his job. But I think Texas, if Arch is good, I mean I, it wouldn't be shocking at all if they win the national championship, right? But it's like if his name was, I don't know, Arch Middle Cough or Arch Groff or Arch, you, name would not be the same. There's just the hype on this guy. I don't think there's. It's unprecedented because when you look at quarterbacks, let's just say of the Internet age, the stars, you know, like Leiner, Vince Young, who, you know, the 2000s, they. It was like over time, it built and built and built, right? And then you go like the Tebows, obviously, like a burrow a Baker. Whether you either you became the hype winning the Heisman by your play on the field or like the course of your career, by the end it was like, yeah, Baker's like the best player in the country, you know, and this guy hasn't played. I mean, he played two games against nobody's and then he got thrown in against Georgia. It's hard to judge him in that game when. When he kind of went to the bullpen for a little bit with Quinn Ewers. So I believe this. There are going to be more people watching that game. It's going to do like record numbers. Ohio State's, you know, one of, if not the biggest brands in football. They crush. There's a reason Fox could basically like eight of their 12 games during the regular season or 9am kickoffs, Ohio State or Ohio State versus Nebraska or whatever. And they're doing that for a reason. It works. But I also just think that, like this. I just want to see Arch. Man, I'm fascinated. I don't know. Like, I. Is he gonna. Is he gonna be bad? I doubt it. But we. College football. I said this the other day on the podcast. I think there's a way bigger gap if you're like a sweet high school player, like all these kids that go on to start in like major programs, that gap than there is for like Jackson Dark going from Ole Miss to the NFL because you're playing against like me and you. I mean, it's not everyone you play like, once you from college of the pros, I think if you played Alabama or Ohio State, like, you're pretty used to playing against sweet players in high school. Who knows, like, yeah, you might play a couple good teams, but you are playing a ton of teams with people that just play football because they like, like playing football, not because they're any good.
- [15:37]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah. It's funny you said that. Malachi Nelson, he's. He's A guy that was the number one overall quarterback. I think he's the same class as Arch Manning. He goes to usc. People have high expectations for him. He doesn't play. Then he transfers to Boise State, gets benched by this quarterback who's the same height as you and me, that takes him all the way to the cfp. And then now he just barely won the starting job at utep. So to your point, it's like that the jump from high school to college is a lot different. You just don't know with a lot of these new quarterbacks. That's why it's like Julian saying, and you're hearing all this good stuff. I'm just a little hesitant. Like on Ohio State, just in general, because you have so many different pieces. Whereas Texas, their. Their defense is good. Like, you turn Colin Simmons, who was going to be a top three pick him and Jeremiah Smith after this 20, 27, Anthony Hill Jr. Like, that defense saved them in games. And you almost hope to. You're kind of. If you're. If you're Steve Sarkeesian and yours is gone and you finally have the opportunity with Arch, you almost kind of feel relieved that the locker room kind of almost feels relief that, okay, finally, like, we don't have to sit during Georgia games and see viewers kind of just squiver and look nervous the entire game and throw these interceptions and bad plays and have Arch Manning just kind of sit there. Now it's kind of like Steve's like, all right, well, now I can play Arch Manning. The fan base is behind me. It just feels like the. The movement of the locker room. It just feels like this is the year for them to kind of just take that next jump. They went to semifinals with Quinn Ewers last year. I mean, two years.
- [17:05]
John Middlekauff
I mean, the year before they lost.
- [17:06]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
To Washington, he throws that pick six to Jack Sawyer. They score that drive. What happens in that game? Like, that defense saved them against Ohio State. So is it one of your boys.
- [17:15]
John Middlekauff
On the staff there?
- [17:16]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah. So my receiver coach in high school coaches receivers at Texas. And he told me, it's funny, he wish I would have said this publicly. He told me January, before last season about Matthew golden, before the season even started. I was like, yeah, how about Isaiah Bond? And he was like, well, no, I'm higher on Matthew Golden. So I saw him in Georgia and he was telling me about Ryan Wingo, who's going to be probably their star wide receiver. He's part of that sophomore class with Jeremiah Smith, with Ryan Williams, with Brian Wesco like Cam Coleman, he's gonna be that next guy. So I think for him and in Texas and you know, Steve Sarkeesian's offense, they've never really had that go to receiver. It's always been kind of a bunch of guys. Isaiah Bond had expectations last year, and then the playoffs happened. Matthew Golding kind of kinds of that number one guy. If he becomes that number one guy for this offense. And then you got C.J. baxter and Tay Wisner. Who are these two running backs, they could have run the ball at all last year. So for me, it's like I look at Texas, yeah, Arch Manning could be a concern at Ohio State, but if they could run the ball, it's like all these other supporting casts can continue to be elite. The expectations that people have set on this program, I just think Arch won't have to do as much, but the expectations placed on him, he might have to do Heisman win the Natty. You know what I mean?
- [18:30]
John Middlekauff
Like, yeah, I think I like Texas to win this game. I think an underrated point. I don't think Sark lost any. I mean, all his coordinators are back. Like, his coaching staff is. I mean, he's paying a boatload. Ohio State basically is like the Lions, right? Their offensive coordinator, Chip leaves to the Raiders. Their defensive coordinator leaves to Penn State. Now you. They. Brian Hartline was on the staff and, you know, might be the future. Future head coach somewhere. But like, that's. I mean, Chip Kelly, like, I mean, he's been an offensive coordinator for decades and Patricia's never coached in the. In the college.
- [19:02]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
So just.
- [19:03]
John Middlekauff
I think Ohio State just has more question marks.
- [19:05]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, just a little fun staff for us all this the other day. In the last 20 years, when a quarterback makes their first start against the number one team in the country. Oh, and 18. Oh, and 18.
- [19:15]
John Middlekauff
So how often though, is it like the number one team in the country is on the road? A top team, you know, that is true.
- [19:22]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
That is true.
- [19:29]
John Middlekauff
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- [22:18]
Buzz Knight
Hi, I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast. And join me for an upcoming episode with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, talking about his new Frank Sinatra music project.
- [22:29]
Podcast Narrator
Anyone who loves music would salivate over something like this. The biggest question for us was, what's in these boxes? There were A few unplayed gems that we had been alerted to by Charlie Pinion of Sinatra Enterprises. So we knew that certain songs like Shadow of your Smile, which actually is not on this record, it'll be on the next one.
- [22:49]
Buzz Knight
Seth McFarland, Don Rickles went up to.
- [22:51]
Podcast Narrator
Frank Sinatra and he said, listen, I'm going to be having dinner with this lovely woman, and I, you know, would you come over and say hi? And just so you know, because I feel like if she sees that I know you, it's going to make me look really cool and, you know, I might have a good night. During the middle of dinner, Frank walks over and says, don, hi, how are you? And Don goes, frank, please, I'm in the middle of dinner.
- [23:07]
Buzz Knight
Seth MacFarlane on the taking a Walk podcast. Listen to Taking a walk on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:18]
Political Commentator
I think Democrats have for a very long time allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially, Republicans came up with a narrative and Democrats decided to play into that. And that only hurt the Democrats.
- [23:32]
Katie Couric
I'm Katie Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back. And our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.
- [23:49]
Political Commentator
It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender, that led me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen not just to my constituents, but just generally. Like, I carry that weight with me.
- [24:14]
Katie Couric
Because you've seen it up close.
- [24:16]
Political Commentator
Yeah.
- [24:16]
Katie Couric
Listen to next question. With me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [24:25]
John Lithgow
Hello, I'm John Lithgow.
- [24:27]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
We choose to go to the moon.
- [24:28]
John Lithgow
I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast.
- [24:31]
Political Commentator
It's one small step for man.
- [24:34]
John Lithgow
It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.
- [24:38]
John Middlekauff
You're a great pilot, Buzz, as far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen.
- [24:42]
John Lithgow
That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition.
- [24:47]
John Middlekauff
To depression, alcohol abuse and suicide.
- [24:50]
John Lithgow
We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons.
- [24:53]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
What do you say, Buzz? Another beer.
- [24:55]
John Lithgow
And triumph over addiction.
- [24:57]
John Middlekauff
Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin.
- [25:00]
John Lithgow
Good luck to you and become a true hero.
- [25:02]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz and I will proceed into the.
- [25:04]
John Lithgow
Lunar module not because he conquers Space, but because he conquers himself.
- [25:11]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission.
- [25:14]
John Lithgow
Starring me, John Lithgow.
- [25:16]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Can you put it through Translate on.
- [25:19]
John Lithgow
The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts?
- [25:23]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Columbia and the other. Another big storyline in college football. Bill Belichick, unc. Like we were talking, you know, college football leading to the NFL. Like you're gonna do a bunch of reactions for the games and that Monday game against on. On Labor Day, North Carolina, tcu. It's pretty crazy, the parallels between Bill Belichick getting his debut against TCU and then Dion gets his debut against tcu. Kind of wild how those two played. I have no expectations. I mean, their schedule is a joke. It's so easy. But it's like 41 new transfers, which. That's the only way you can really build the roster now. It's. The players on that roster were crap. Go in and grab 40 guys. It's just like what Dion did last year or two years ago with Colorado, and you just got to just bring a bunch of transfers in. What's your pace on Bill Belichick in unc? I mean, tcu, should they win that game? Are they favored in that game?
- [26:23]
John Middlekauff
You like TCU this year? I mean, a lot of people feel.
- [26:25]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Like they got a good quarterback. I mean, I just think they lost. They lost the receivers last year. I don't know a whole lot of two about them, but they're one of those teams that's in the Big 12 that's a part of like the nine deep teams like them, Baylor and, you know, Obviously the Big 12 teams at the top.
- [26:41]
John Middlekauff
To me that, like you said, it's the 40 guys. You don't have a choice when you take over a job. I think there are two big question marks. One, you know, part of, like, Belichick's scheme has always been it's pretty intense intellectually. It's why he likes, like, wait, why'd you draft this guy to play safety? Why'd you draft this guy to play wide receiver? Because he values smart guys more than sometimes, like blue chip talents. And because to play for Belichick and Tom, you had to be really, really sharp. And if you think about most of their top players over 20 plus years, from like Rodney Harrison to Brusky to Vrabel to like the new crew of like, Edelman McCourty, just like sharp dudes. Well, in college, like one, they don't have the pick of the litter, right? They're not recruiting the top guys. Even their transfers, relative like, it's not like they're stealing a guy that Ohio State wanted or Bama wanted, so his talent's not going to be as high. And then how does he teach him fast enough? Because even, you know, Urban Meyer was on the show with Coward and he's like, I don't even know how you could possibly build a culture, you know, overnight when that's a big part of what Bill does is like scheme and culture. Well, it's like hard to microwave that. And he did. I don't know if you saw the quote recently. I think it was like a couple days ago where he's like, we hit and tackled way more in training camp than I ever did in the pros because we don't have preseason games because the guys we have on our staff that were college guys told me that's what you have to do. And I was thinking back, like, when I was at Fresno State, all these colleges, like, it's camp is a little more physical than the NFL because you could always be like, we got some preseason games, especially for our second and third stringers, where it's like you kind of knit. You're picking your battles in NFL training camps. Then these college training camps, like, you're running full on scrimmages a lot. But if you went to like Ravens camp, even their physical days, it's not like true scrimmages. Like, you go to Ohio State or Bama or Texas, they have multiple, like, legit scrimmages during fall camp because that's. You got to simulate the game. So how does he understand how to do that? And then there's just like, I don't know. I mean, what's the. These young kids and him, I. You could argue he's just such a good coach, he'll figure it out. But I don't know. I mean, he just. Dion had been coaching young, you know, high school recruits at Jackson State or whatever. And he also just had, I don't know, his son, who's the quarterback, and Travis Hunter, who's won the fucking Heisman. Like, does Bill have any good players? That's my thing. Because we saw the last couple years when it ended, he didn't have any good players on the Patriots and they sucked. Like, at the end of the day, like, Saban became a legend, Urban Meyer became a legend. Right? These guys become legit because their teams are loaded now. The conference sucks, but I mean, still, it's like they're no lock to beat some of the random teams in the acc. If the Rosters are the same.
- [29:29]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, we all talk about quarterbacks, too. They're starting quarterback is going to be a South Alabama transfer who's 5 11, who's kind of a dual threat. So it's not something that he's used to seeing with Tom Brady and kind of these statured six four, six five guys who are pocket passers. Like, this guy's kind of an rpo.
- [29:45]
John Middlekauff
You know, his offensive coordinator is.
- [29:47]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I don't know. I know, I know. His son is obviously the defensive coordinator. I don't know who's oc.
- [29:51]
John Middlekauff
It's Freddy Kitchens, who, if you remember, was the coach for a year with Baker Mayfield. You could. If you told me the equivalent of Freddy Kitchens was his defensive coordinator, I'd be like, no big. That's Belichick's baby. You know, Flores is an excellent defensive coordinator with or without him. Patricia's not right, but it's like Belichick can run it. It does. Whether he's got Romeo Cornell, he can figure that out. The offensive coordinator matters. Bill was Sweet with Josh McDaniels when he didn't have Josh McDaniels. They sucked. So it's like Freddy Kitchens. I. I don't know. The guy was a joke in the NFL.
- [30:27]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I do wonder, though, how Belichick's relationship with players is, because he did take. I mean, we always kind of forget he did take a year off and was in the media. And Pat McAfee, you know, the Manning brothers, he did show some kind of personality, but it is. You wonder how in today's college football, with a lot of people like my age that are sensitive and kind of like this Gen Z new age people, like, how do they. Is this Bill kind of like go in between of a hardcore NFL coach and what he was with McAfee to kind of just relate to these players. Like, after the game, if they beat you, are they dumping the Gatorade on him? Are they hugging him? Like, are they kind of back in a. I don't know, just a relationship with that. And then you. On top of that, you had his girlfriend in the mix. Like, we haven't heard anything all fall camp, thank God. Who knows if we will the entire season. But it's just one of those operations where you just. I mean, I'm very excited to watch it week to week. Just a lot of unknown players that you can't really say on because it's a guy from South Alabama is your starting quarterback. I don't know how he's going to be in the acc.
- [31:25]
John Middlekauff
Yeah. To me, a little runaround guy does just not feel like Bill Belichick. Right. You think about even when he tried to replace Tom, it was with Jimmy Garoppolo and then Mac Jones, like, but that's the best they could do. Like what were. I bet they looked around like, what were their options? So, yeah, I don't. You could convince me he wins eight, nine games because of the schedule. You could also convince me his players aren't any good and it's just kind of a disaster. And it's like five, six wins. Right? It could be a little. It would look a lot different than Dion because at the end of the day, even when they were sucking that first year, they still like Chidor and Travis Hunter. Like, is Bill gonna have. They got first round talent on their team? I don't know.
- [32:06]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
No idea. And they're obviously the biggest thing in college football right now is nil. And you had this question, you texted it and I thought it was spot on. To bring onto the show about teams that are keeping up in the NL era, I listed a ton of teams. I do think there's some teams that have nil and are capable of paying, but maybe it's the head coach's priority one. Or like Arkansas, for example, they paid Calpari a ton of money that that roster. It's a basketball school. I feel like they're craving football. But is Sam Pittman the long term answer? I don't know. Is Mark Stoops the long term answer? I don't know. Hugh Freeze, like, what is your take on, I guess what are some teams right now who are keeping in nil that kind of just are on the top of your head.
- [32:52]
John Middlekauff
And why, I think forever, even back in the day when you were just brown bagging a kid for, I don't know, 20 grand, if he sucked, you could just bench him. And I was like, whatever, we'll go with the other guy. You posted something recently of Hugh Freeze with Jackson Arnold, who got a lot of nil money, I think from Oklahoma. I think he was one of the top five quarterbacks in his class. It's like Nico and Arch. Like he was a highly touted. Might have been the previous year or the year after Arch.
- [33:20]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I think it was the same year.
- [33:21]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, but he was a highly touted, like blue chip guy. And this happens in college football. No different than the draft. Like you think he's sweet, then he's not. But he gets a lot of money. But then that guy usually gets a lot of opportunity. To transfer like, like Nico. There's a chance Nico's just a bust, but you're paying this guy a bunch of money. And I. Who's the backup for Auburn?
- [33:40]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Deuce Knights. And then they also have Ashton. Ashton, Ashton Daniels, transfer from Stanford. He was a starting quarterback, but he kind of seems like a guy like, hey, let me get more nil money via backup. Deuce Knight's the guy that's the five star that I said. Kind of like when DJ Lagway came into Florida and everyone's screaming down Billy Napier's neck, like, start Lagway. He's like, no, I'm going to go with Mertz. He's got more reps. And Mertz ended up getting hurt, which opened up the door for DJ Lagway and they ended up having the back end of the season and it saved his ass. Like they, they became bull eligible. They don't become eligible and he doesn't get that recruit. I don't know if Billy Napier is still coaching at Florida. That's like the same thing with Florida. It's like. Or with Auburn. Is Jackson Arnold going to be that guy? I just have no idea. You saw him in Oklahoma last year. He just looked like a deer in the headlights.
- [34:26]
John Middlekauff
Terrible. So to me, it's like how that impacts because all the top 25, you know, the big big 10 schools, all the SEC schools, some of the big 12 and ACC schools, they pay a lot of money for these quarterbacks. I mean, they pay a decent amount of money, right? I mean, relative to society making hundreds of thousands of dollars, position players. When you're giving a quarterback on the low end, 7, 8, $900,000, you're going to play him. But if the guy sucks, like you got to pivot and that's to me, the coaches with more juice, like Kirby can do whatever he wants. Ryan Day can do whatever he wants. Lane Kiffin will do whatever he wants. But a guy like Hugh Freeze or some of these people, Venables, they get in this position, like, do they feel pressure from the money guys? It's kind of old school college football that way where like the boosters are kind of in control. Like Sark now is in the, like he can kind of do whatever he wants. Like he's been winning, you know, deboer, like, he's kind of got a win to keep people off his back again to get to that, like, do whatever you want. Like Brian Kelly, like, is there outside influence? You know, it just makes things complicated when these numbers get so big and as we sit right now, like, the money is coming basically from the boosters in the program. So there is a lot of different people where it's like, in the NFL, it's like your coach and GM just do whatever, right? It's just. You just got the salary cap. It's money. It's like free money from the league, from the media. This. It's just become really complicated. But it's also like Texas Tech just all of a sudden gets this billionaire guy. That's where it kind of shifts. Like, Oregon kind of became that. I do think there are more programs that will enter the chat, like Texas tech, you know, NC State, you know, Luck. I don't know if you've noticed. Luck is just really out in front right now. And I think he realized the only way to get. For this to work is like, I gotta be kind of front and center. Like, I gotta be the star to also generate the money so we can buy these players. And it's just added an element. Like, 10 years ago. I don't think Andrew Luck, even if they would have created this position for him, would have to do what he's kind of doing, which I respect, because you would have been like, Luck's kind of nerdy. He's not gonna want to talk. He's talking all the time, which I think he realized I have to. To generate, like, his ver. He's kind of doing his version of, like, Deion Sanders.
- [36:45]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I said earlier, like, I. I worked sports radio in Arizona, and you would see first year after Dillingham had to replace Herm Edwards and the whole suspension thing, and Kenny being a guy that's from Arizona, he'd go on every radio, radio show, every TV show in the Valley. Fun, fun, fun. We need the nil money. Like, if we can get the money, keep these players, we can turn something special. And then what happened last year, them going out and winning the Big 12, and he talked about in the offseason, I think you touched on, on your podcast, too, or on the show, that the roster retention is something that they haven't really experienced at Arizona State until this year. So, like, they're another team where. Not to the level of Ohio State or the Texas, Texas of the world that keep all this money, but in a big city like Tempe, Scottsdale, Maricopa county, like, those are the type of, like, teams, I think, in college that there's some fan bases that are holding back a little bit. But if you can prove that you can win and you can kind of Keep these elite players. Like, I think Arizona State's one of those teams that could not get five star recruits, but could they get some four stars? And they're getting some backups from Clemson and Alabama. Like, Arizona State could not do that 10 years ago. So, like, to your point about luck, you got to sell yourself, and then you got to prove that you can win. And then after that, once the winds start coming, then it's like, okay, let's pile on and kind of rebuild this program. I do think, though, to two programs. I know we're going to talk about Notre Dame later. It feels like Oregon and Notre Dame and maybe some other ones that come to your head in this new era of college football have felt like they've just, like, taken that next leap with, like, everybody else. Like, the gap between Georgia and Bama and them has shrunk a ton.
- [38:25]
John Middlekauff
I would. I would agree. And I think a huge part of that is the distribution of the players and that there was an element of the top. I'd even say five or six programs. Truly, we're going too deep with NFL guys. Well, if you have a backup now, like, Arch Manning is kind of an outlier. Like, most guys will wait a year maybe, but then they'll just leave because they will get paid. And the dirty recruiting aspect of, like, people just DMing you, people trying to steal you at all moments, that's where I think college football really needs. I even saw Rich Paul say this. He's like, in our business, right? Like, I give LeBron $50 million, and the ROI is expecting him to be a great player, and you win games and it's like a part, you know, Even if you could say LeBron James, always the greatest partner, if he's on your team, you're typically winning. You're always winning, right? But there's an ROI in pro sports. Like, I pay you a lot for production, right? That's work. In college football is like, I pay you a lot, so you get to.
- [39:23]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Do whatever you want.
- [39:24]
John Middlekauff
That's not how any of these other businesses work, right? It's like you can just up and leave. I'm some of these guys. There's been guys that have, like, transferred three times in a calendar year. Like, that's where it's like, they got to figure out a way to. I'd be on board of, like, you sign a contract, like, multiple years. It's like, well, you shouldn't force a kid. Well, it's like, well, if I'm paying him $2 million in a two year contract. Like fuck yeah, I can. I totally agree. The old way, it's like kind of had him by the balls and weren't paying him anything. Nowadays it's like, what's going on? That was the whole Nico thing. It's like I gave you a four year contract at 8, 9 million dollars. It's a pretty good deal. Yeah, you know, and I watched it last year, little hit or miss.
- [40:06]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, he ran out of bounds against Arkansas with the last play of the game instead of throwing it up. And then that Tennessee game, he was nowhere to be found. I guess he kind of ran for some touchdowns too. But to your point, he didn't really live up to that production. But speaking of quarterbacks, who do you think right now? Because in college football, so many new quarterbacks, like the top 25, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, Miami, all have new quarterbacks. Miami, Oklahoma, some transfers. But when you look at this season, it seems like this year there's a lot of guys that have stayed a lot of years that have not transferred to other schools. Like a couple of years ago was the final four were all transfer quarterbacks. Heisman was all transfers. This year just seems like a bunch of older guys club Nick Aller, Nussmeier, like who in your opinion, like, who is the best returning quarterback that you're like, all right, that guy could be a dude to watch out for. That could lead to a national championship.
- [40:57]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I want it to be Aller, but it's hard to that throw across his body and you just watch him on a weekend wake out basis can be a little hit or miss to me. Nussmeier, that second half against Texas A and M, he's a really good player, but it's like kind of cousinsy vibes, I would say again, solid, but like number one overall. The lag way you watch that SEC Netflix show, I mean guys a big time talent, you know, and they got a lot of hype coming in. They have a schedule is pretty crazy. To me, Sellers is intriguing, but to me he's a little bit more of like, okay, let's just, let's just see. You know that kind of style of playing quarterback. To me, Lagway is what like pops. Like if you're talking number one, if they all play at a high level, it's like that guy's the number one overall pick. Right? I think Aller is one of those guys that probably gets drafted higher than people. Like wait, he got drafted where? Now his team's going to be good. He's going to win a ton of games during his college career, but he can just be a little bit of a wild card now. Their two running backs are going to be sweet, but I think that crew of guys. And I was texting with a buddy, a scouting buddy that went through Oklahoma. I'm like, is John Mateer like up with these top guys? He's like just based on practice, I think a little overhyped. Good player. But he's going to have a lot of people paying attention to him. Right. Like Arch in that rivalry. Like arch gets 99% but material. Like some people are saying he's going to win the Heisman. People think Oklahoma could be a sleeper team. So I think what's cool. And this is why football is such a big deal now. The NFL, they have a bunch of quarterbacks, right? College football. This is why college football has separated from college basketball. The first time I went on Collins show, Rick Patino came on. He's like, it wasn't that long ago. I remember in the 90s when we were all equals. College basketball, college football, the NFL, the NBA. And I was like, I agree. That's what I grew up on. And this is Rick Pitino. He's like, football in the pros, in college has just gone like this. In a big reason for like when I was a kid, these star players would play college basketball for Cooper Flag would have played minimum two years. So they build up. Like we've known about Nussmeyer now or DJ Lagway or you name. Right. Club Nick. Like he's another guy. I mean he clearly pretty talented. I'm just intrigued. I wouldn't bet on any of these guys being the number one. Overall, I think it could be. You flip a coin. Right. And which is a good thing. Like that's what you want. A ton of stars and Arch Mannings showing up. And we know there'll be a couple guys like Joe Burrow kind of came out of nowhere. Cam Newton had one. Like that's the thing with college football. You're going to get two or three guys like we are 100 not talking about or maybe not even know of because they've been a backup, they've transferred and then all of a. It happened to Cam Ward.
- [43:39]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah.
- [43:40]
John Middlekauff
Not Carson. Beck would be the one guy that like I'm out on. We'll see.
- [43:44]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Nothing will rekindle those feelings that you had. I guess I don't know if you really had any feelings to begin with.
- [43:49]
John Middlekauff
I didn't. I didn't.
- [43:50]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
With Carson back I we talk Ohio State obviously Texas. I think that the match between Clubnick and Nessmeyer, I mean if you're. You're talking about in terms of like a Heisman race like those two are like neck and neck and the Heisman odds it feels like whoever outperforms that night is going to take that next leap. I think it's also fascinating just the Club Nick a year ago against Georgia looked horrible and then like the season progresses on and you and me were text we were talking on the show about this that game against Texas. I mean you're watching Club Nick. You're like Kate Clubnik be an NFL quarterback in a year from now and you got Garrett Riley in a third year and then it's the weapons he has around him with Davos Sweeney. Like I just think overall like the circumstances that they have around them. I would trust in terms of best returning quarterback would be Nussmeier but his coach is psychotic. So I maybe give the lean to Club Nick but I just think, I think club makes just. I mean a couple of years ago people thought he was going to be the next Django because they thought he was going to be that next. Okay, like this guy is going to be another dju, another failed, you know, Clemson quarterback because after, after Trevor Lawrence they had Hunter Johnson and it didn't work out there. But he's another guy to me that I'm interested in because he's starting to be projected. I think field Yates came out with a mock draft and they don't matter but I think it's cool to see some of these draft prospects. You know for sure draft guys see the potential in some of these quarterbacks that game.
- [45:15]
John Middlekauff
I mean obviously Ohio State, Texas gets all the pub. That might be the best game, right? I mean I don't judge Brian Kelly on his first year but two years ago with Jaden Daniels they lose that opening. I think it was Monday night game against Florida State or might have been Sunday night and kind of get work. Remember Keon Coleman destroyed them last year. All the hype about playing USC in Vegas. Lincoln Riley wants to back out of the game. Brian Kelly's like no chance which I respect. Then he loses that game the first year he did not. He has not won a week one game. Now granted he's playing real opponents at Death Valley night game. I think I think there's a little of that Texas A and M like can't. I think that's what if I'm an NFL scout or GM and I. Everyone's going to, like, Nussmeier. Good player, high character guy. Impressive. People love him. That thing that, like, he went to at SEC media day when he opened up his thing and he had Lacy inside. It's like, this guy just gets it, you know? Which, again, I'm not even. There's not even a thing to get there. That's his boy. Powerful. Like, that's sad situation awful. But it's like he's just checks every fucking box. But, like, you play a lot of road games in the NFL, you know, if you're on, if your team gets good, they're hard row games at night. And it's like that A and M thing, he melted down. And this Clemson defense, I mean, they have how many guys projected? Like, you said, mock drafts in August change a lot. But, like, clearly Clemson has multiple guys that are viewed as top 10 picks, top 15 picks on defense, multiple defensive linemen. So it's like, buckle up, because that's what A and M was. Shamar Stewart, they had a bunch of dudes. And it's like, let's see it. Because I remember I sat right back here and watched that game at night. I'm like, LSU is kicking the shit out of these guys. And then it flipped, and then they got destroyed.
- [47:15]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, that's been the biggest thing for lsu. They couldn't stop Marcel Reed because they made that quarterback change because Wyvern started that game. Marcel Reed comes in, and lsu, that's been their biggest thing. And that's like transitioning the pressure on the sec. Like, to me, I think LSU has the most pressure this season because, like you said, like, Garrett Nussmeier, like, can he stop being cute late in games like he was last year? Like, the first half's great. Then they come in LSU this season. They say, you know what? We're going to invest in the transfer portal spent $18 million this year on the roster. They spent $11 million the last three years on this roster. So Brian Kelly's finally going in. You had Josh Pate talking about how he's finally bringing the Louisiana people back in. Like, to me, it's lsu. I know they haven't made the College Football Playoff, but how this roster is built. They are six deep at wide receiver. Offensive line might be a question, but you talk about NFL guys. Harold Perkins Jr. Is a dude. Whit Weeks, the linebacker, they've got some good safeties from the Portal. Like, to me, it's like now or never for. For Brian Kelly and try to win over this LSU crowd to kind of Keep the momentum for the next couple of years. And then even for Nussmeyer himself, like, you return back, you could have went to the NFL and then a first round pick. Like, I feel like the pressure is really high for lsu and they start out horrible. I do give Brian Kelly credit for keeping the game in Clemson, keeping it on the schedule. Like, you did not have to probably you could have made it a neutral site game. No one would have like, hard. No one would have cared if it would have been a neutral site game. But it just feels like this year, Brian Kelly, with the schedule, they could go one and two their first three weeks because they got that. They got Ford at home. So I just think lsu, they have the most pressure.
- [48:53]
John Middlekauff
I totally agree, because you could say Florida, but it's like, I still think people have no problem firing Billy Napier, right? He's not. They gave this guy $90 million. And listen, I think he's a little douchey. I mean, the comment he had in that Netflix thing is like, my mortgage depends on. No, someone who lives paychecks to paycheck worries about their mortgage. You've made $150 million coaching football the last 15 years. You could pay cash for the house if you want to do yesterday, like, shut up. But from 17 on, he went 10 and 3, 12 and 1, 11 and 2, 10 and 2, 11 and 1. Like, this guy was viewed as like a guy that if Notre Dame had a little bit lower academic requirements, like, they'd be winning natties, right? That was the thing. And he gets to LSU and two years ago. And this sometimes ages worse when it's like, well, we had the Heisman Trophy winner. We had the best offense. It's like you probably could have won a national championship if your defense wasn't a joke, right? You had Malik neighbors Brian Thomas Jr. And Jaden Daniels.
- [49:55]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Like, if you.
- [49:57]
John Middlekauff
Historically, LSU has good defenses, right? It's like Ohio State or Alabama or Georgia. Like, they're. When I think lsu, honestly, up until like Burrow, I always thought defense. And you'd think Brian Kelly, I know he's an offensive guy, but like, his defense is Notre Dame. Tough bunch of NFL guys. And I just think people, the expectations. And then last year, Notre Dame is in the national championship and this guy is 9 and 3 again. Or actually last year he was 8 and 4, but in the regular season. So they won the bowl game. I just think that. I think by far right, you'd say DeBoer, but he's not going anywhere. He's getting multiple years Florida, I think people are already kind of on the fence of that guy anyway. It was like is DJ Lagway. Like even their schedule is really hard. If they got to fire him, no one will hesitate. Like this becomes a major, major problem if they're nine and three again. And I would say, listen, I respect you playing these big time games, but eventually you got to win one of them. Right? You got like dabbles won a lot of these over the course of his career. Right. Saban and Kirby and Ryan Day, like they've won a lot of games. So knock on James Franklin. But like James Franklin has been winning at a really high level at Penn State and last year he gets to the Final Four, right. And honestly, if his quarterback doesn't make just a boneheaded throw, probably wins that game or has a decent chance to win that game, like played. They played a winning football game. I'm not putting Drew Allers pass on James Franklin. Like I was a. Brian Kelly's just kind of been a, been a letdown. I feel like at LSU even watch.
- [51:27]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
That SEC Netflix show. Do you hear him yelling at his team? It's just like it's a, it's a weird vibe between a really old, old school guy, like I'm doing it my way, I'm not doing anyone else's way kind of mentality in this new, in this new college football era where we're all adapting to different things in the sport. Yeah, I think I'll give you an example.
- [51:47]
John Middlekauff
I'll give you an example when like Florida State, who maybe this Norvell and that that program just falls apart. No one expects them to beat Alabama. They're like a two touchdown underdog. So if they do lose by 20 points, like whatever, like they could still have a solid season or maybe they suck. But the expectations on that, when you look at lsu, Clemson, like he's a three and a half point underdog. So it's that. And listen, like that's definitely when you got NFL players and you got an NFL quarterback, like it's a winnable game. And now would it be an impressive win? For sure. But they're paying you 90 million to, I don't know, win a game like this. So it's like if he, if he can't win this game and it does snowball. I know it gets a lot more complicated with buyouts and stuff. I would say that the LSU would, if he started 1 and 2 and they lost to Florida. You just look at their schedule. There's no way they can make the playoffs because that would mean that something's really wrong. He would be like, people would just be out on him there.
- [52:44]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, because they got A and M at Bama and at Oklahoma, the back end of the season. So you got two really hard road games and then A&M2. I also think it was a bad look last year when he slammed the table against usc and he's, he's calling out his players and saying we weren't prepared enough and I can't get these guys right. And that South Carolina game, they should have lost that game when or Sellers gets hurt. But that was one of those collapses too, from last year.
- [53:15]
John Middlekauff
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- [54:17]
Buzz Knight
Hi, I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast. And join me for an upcoming episode with Zach McFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, talking about his new Frank Sinatra music project.
- [54:29]
Podcast Narrator
Anyone who loves music would salivate over something like this. The biggest question for us was, what's in these boxes? There were a few unplayed gems that were. We had been alerted to by Charlie Pinon of Sinatra Enterprises. So we knew that certain songs like Shadow of youf Smile, which actually is not on this record, it'll be on the next one.
- [54:49]
Buzz Knight
Seth McFarland, Don Rickles went up to.
- [54:51]
Podcast Narrator
Frank Sinatra and he said, listen, I'm going to be having dinner with this lovely woman and I, you know, would you come over and say hi? And just so you know, because I feel like if she sees that I know you, it's going to make me look really cool and, you know, I might have a good night during the middle of dinner, Frank walks over and says, don, hi, how are you? And Don goes, frank, please, I'm in the middle of dinner.
- [55:07]
Buzz Knight
Seth MacFarlane on the taking a Walk podcast. Listen to Takin a walk on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [55:17]
Political Commentator
I think Democrats have, for a very long time, allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially, Republicans came up with a narrative, and Democrats decided to play into that, and. And that only hurt the Democrats.
- [55:32]
Katie Couric
I'm Katie Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back. And our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.
- [55:48]
Political Commentator
It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender, that led me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen not just to my constituents, but just generally. Like, I carry that weight with me.
- [56:14]
Katie Couric
Because you've seen it up close.
- [56:15]
Political Commentator
Yeah.
- [56:16]
Katie Couric
Listen to Next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [56:25]
John Lithgow
Hello, I'm John Lithgow.
- [56:26]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
We choose to go to the moon.
- [56:28]
John Lithgow
I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast.
- [56:31]
Political Commentator
That's One Small Step for Man.
- [56:34]
John Lithgow
It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.
- [56:38]
John Middlekauff
You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen.
- [56:42]
John Lithgow
That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition.
- [56:47]
John Middlekauff
To depression, alcohol abuse, and suicide.
- [56:50]
John Lithgow
We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons.
- [56:53]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
What do you say, Buzz?
- [56:54]
John Lithgow
Another beer and triumph over addiction.
- [56:57]
John Middlekauff
Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin.
- [57:00]
John Lithgow
Good luck to you and become a true hero.
- [57:02]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz and I will proceed into the.
- [57:04]
John Lithgow
Lunar module not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself.
- [57:11]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission.
- [57:13]
John Lithgow
Starring me, John Lithgow.
- [57:15]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Can you put it through?
- [57:17]
John Lithgow
Can you Translate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts?
- [57:23]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Columbia to kind of pivot off of lsu. Do you think there's any sneaky pressure? It feels like no one's talking about Georgia. Like, this team won the SEC last year. They lost the first. Well, not the first round, but the second round of the College Football Playoff. Do you think there's a kind of sneaky pressure on them just to kind of be relevant again in the sport where there's a lot moving on with nil and teams are moving up and down and you have all these kind of expectations and you were kind of soft last year and I'm a Notre Dame fan. We talked about Notre Dame, Georgia and I was on Notre Dame side obviously it just felt like that Notre Dame game was the first time you saw Georgia just get worked.
- [58:05]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean I think most people are not saving where it's just like every other year you're going to win a natty and you're just going to bang out natties. Like I think Georgia in Kirby is a really, really coach. This team's going to be in the mix a lot but it's like transfer portal. There's a little element of luck. Gunnar Stockton seems sexy but it's like is he going to be your full time quarterback all season long? Like Kirby almost feels like he talks about him like he did Stetson Bennett and that's how I think he views it. You know, kind of like the old school Nick Saban way of like yeah, we just do whatever, we'll build it around him. Are we sure that you're able to play like that now? Like don't you kind of need an NFL quarterback? So I, I don't think there's. He won back to back national championships. They hadn't won1 since 1980. But I do think people start being. You start paying what they're paying for their staff, for their team. People expect like 10 wins minimum. Like there's just. They're just at. They're kind of the new Alabama because of their coach. So you don't need to win the national championship. But like last year, can you just be in the mix? Be in the SEC championship game, be in the final eight or four. But like the SEC is if Gunner Stockton sucks they would have a problem.
- [59:15]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, he's not a suck.
- [59:17]
John Middlekauff
I just mean like you know like Carson Beck created problems for them. Like he just wasn't going to be good. It was going to be a tough season and you just. That's the thing with college. You just never know. Maybe he's gotten a lot better. They won a lot of games with Stetson Bennett. They also had an all star team. I mean you could argue their roster was as good as any Alabama roster over the decades. It was literally their entire defense was basically first or second rounders. They had Brock Bowers and Lad McConkey. I mean it's like that's a pretty unreal one, two combination to pass the ball. I mean, both those two guys are their star, quote, unquote receiver. I know he's a tight end, but he's a receiver on their NFL teams. So it's like that's, it's pretty hard. Like it's in the NIL era. It would have been much easier pre nil for Kirby. Just would. It would have. They would have been the new Alabama, just two, three deep. I think it's just more difficult now because the guy's like a backup. He was like, I'll just, I'll go play at Florida State or I'll go play at Auburn. And these guys just disperse. I think I've heard Josh Pate say this. I've heard a couple different people say this. The SEC is still really strong because all the sweet players, but they just kind of get dispersed in the sec, right? So it's like where they used to be on Bama or Georgia or those Urban Meyer Florida teams. Now the backup, like, I'm not waiting till my sophomore year. Now maybe I'll have to go to Vanderbilt or Auburn or Texas A and M, but I disperse within the south, you know, and that's a huge advantage forever for Saban and then to Kirby. Like, I mean, part of that Georgia dominant team are all those guys sitting around. I mean, hell, remember Jeremiah when the first people started transferring, Like Jeremiah Johnson who went to Florida State and was drafted years ago because Jermaine, yeah, he was, he was like a third stringer but like pre. And he just would have had to stick it out. Maybe would have had a sweet year, but he would have to wait his time. Like people don't wait anymore.
- [61:12]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, yeah, I, I agree. 100. I think one thing with them this year will be interesting is most of those losses they had last year are home games. Mike Bobo's back. They're going to probably run the ball more. Nate Frazier, the running backs, really good. They went out and got some receivers. Like the amount of drops they had last year at Georgia, like, those receivers last year were horrible. But another team that, but, but I will say this.
- [61:33]
John Middlekauff
On Georgia, they, they throttled. I mean that first game when they played Texas, it was like, it felt like a different. Like, I mean, they were just destroying him up front. Obviously they lose. I mean, Walker goes, gets drafted in the first round to Alabama and Michael Williams gets drafted in the first round of the 49ers. Like those are two guys that historically I'd be like, well, he's got the next crew and they will have Excellent defensive players. It is just more difficult because sometimes that next excellent player comes from like a group of four or five guys. They battle it out and then the cream rises. Well, it's like three or four of those guys might leave now, and you're really dependent on those two guys to be those that fill in. And maybe they have transferred around so it's just harder to replace your. No doubt about it. Number one overall draft pick, even at the Swedish school, you might get it right, but you don't have like five guys to pick from. You're picking from like two or three and they just better work out.
- [62:28]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Is this Penn State's year to win it? It's man, James Franklin. I just. His record is horrible, but it's like one of those things. Does he just kind of sit back and they've got Annie Koleneki, one of the best offensive coordinators in college football. You wonder in year two with him, like, could they implement Allen and Singleton more and what will the offense look like without Warren? And they went and got. We went in and got three portal guys. Jabor Pena was a guy to me that was like the icing on the cake. He was like the number one wide receiver at Syracuse. And then you get Jim Knowles defensively and what he did with Ohio State, like the fact that they have such a big advantage getting him. They just won the natty last year. And then you look at this defense and what he was able to do with, you know, the pass rushes they had at Ohio state and the DBs that they had Ohio State too. You go over to Penn State, they've got, I mean, not only lost Abdul Carter, but you mentioned Lavar Arrington. Son is on the team. Sutton's really good. They got another defensive lineman. So it's like to me, it's hard for me not to. But we've all. We've seen this dance every year with Penn State and they can't win the big one. I don't really know. It's hesitancy. But they have such a big advantage over the other teams right now, preseason in college football.
- [63:40]
John Middlekauff
Well, their schedule is kind of a joke, right? They got Oregon, Ohio State, they got. They get Oregon at home and they go white out. So I would say worst case scenario, they're probably 10 and 2. If they win one of those games, they. I mean, there's a chance they're undefeated like their schedule. So like, relative to the. Some of the SEC schools, their road, it's got a little Clemson vibe to it where it's actually an easier road at the end. You, you just, you're not as beat up. There's not like, oh, they've got an off week. We're playing Texas A and M. Like they're off weeks like Indiana, like, they're going to fucking blast those guys. Even if Nebraska's better, like, huge advantage. Rutgers, Michigan State. Iowa's a tough, physical game, but like Northwestern, you know, ucla, Nico, like, they're going to be favored by double digits in all these games. So, I mean, their first to get Nevada, fiu, Villanova is what they got leading into Oregon. So I just think from a roster standpoint, they feel like a lock. Like you guys last year once you lost to. Who did you lose to? Ball State or something?
- [64:41]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Northern Illinois?
- [64:42]
John Middlekauff
Yeah.
- [64:42]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Thanks for the reminder.
- [64:43]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, you have to like, drop the ball so bad to even put your, your playoff spot in a precarious situation because of your schedule. Like, Penn State is just kind of in the driver's seat. Like, I'd be stunned if they're not in the Big Ten championship game. And so then you're just 60 minutes away from. You're in the, you're in the championship game in the SEC or the Big Ten. You are a lock if you win that game to get a buy. Right? So you get to that game, you are 60 minutes away from having a buy. And then we factor in their schedule, it's like, can you win three games then. Then it just comes down to, I do think, getting the monkey off your back. Oregon will still be ranked pretty high, even if they kind of have a down year. Like a.
- [65:25]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
They'll be, they'll be undefeated.
- [65:27]
John Middlekauff
But winning the Oregon Ohio State game for James is big. Going into the playoffs, winning one of those two games. Right. Because if they don't and they lose the Big Ten championship game, they're like a wild card team. It's like, I don't know, he beat SMU and Boise last year, but like, if somehow he's undefeated and won both those games, I think. Not that the pressure would be. You could argue the pressure would even be amplified, but at least we'd have seen him win some big game. Winning at Ohio State would be really big for the way we talked about them going into. Because their quarterback now has a ton of experience. Right? He played, I mean, he played a lot better with his new OC last year, but the game he had against usc, obviously, you know, playing Oregon in the championship game, playing that Ohio State game, which they, they probably should have won if they don't screw up at the goal line, but, like, he comes in this year. We feel good about the quarterback. Like you said, they add some wide receiver. The running backs are both back. Defensively. They're going to be sweet. They're going to be super well coached. So it's like, people get hard on James James, like, because of the budget they have hire sweet. You know, two elite coordinators. Like, these guys are two of the better coordinators in the league. And he's really good at the rah rah court. Like, he's really good at his gig for whatever reason. Do they get a little tight? Do something happen in those big moments? Are they not quite as buttoned up? But he's pretty freaking good, you know, like, he's like. He's kind of not done this from scratch, but you could argue. And I'm going to be like, you just hate Ryan Day. Ryan Day did take over a program that was handed to him from Urban Meyer that is also historically one of the best programs in the history of college sports. Right. Any. Any sport. Like, you win at Ohio State, Penn State could be just a little up. I mean, they had Joe forever, but it's like he took over after Bill o'. Brien. Some weird situations. Like, he's done a really, really good job. And they're not like, just rattling off national championships either. Like, this isn't Alabama. This is Notre Dame. It's a really good program. I'm high on them, I think. I think they can almost, like, is it safe betting on them before they do it? Just let them do it first. Like, is Tommy Fleetwood ever going to win a golf tournament? Well, he probably will one of these days, but I'm just done betting on it. I do think Penn State, like this team, especially when you factor in the schedule. There's an element of randomness a little bit. Do you agree, like, with the way the. The playoffs are now with attrition and guys getting injured, so you never know, but they're as set up as anybody this year.
- [67:56]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, I agree. I think we kind of overthink sometimes, too. I think Ohio State, even last year, the. The cloud over Ryan Day couldn't. Can he win the big one, too? Was. Was on him and even Jim Harbaugh before he could even beat Ohio State. Like, that same narrative kind of passed through to James Franklin. And I think people hate on James Franklin, too, because he just. He likes to talk. Like, you see him in these press conferences and that press conference he had with Marcus Freeman talking about how Notre Dame should be an independent right to his face when he's right across.
- [68:22]
John Middlekauff
That's what he's.
- [68:23]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
He's like an old school personality.
- [68:25]
John Middlekauff
Yeah. Bobby Bowden, like I'm a CEO, I'm a recruiter, I'm the personality. Marcus Freeman's like wants to scheme you on the whiteboard. Right. Saban was kind of the best of both worlds, but James Franklin is like in the 90s. I'll be the best recruiter in the little what Eddie O was for a brief moment for, for lsu. I do think I'll give you if you had to bet your month salary on neutral site. Clemson vs. Penn State as we sit here right now. Who are you taking?
- [68:57]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I'm taking, I'm taking Clemson. Close, but I mean Penn State up front like that defensive line like just thinking about them against club Nick, I would, I would trust Clemson just based on the fact that their receivers are all returning from last year. They got a lot of returning production that have played with Klubnick and in the scheme versus like Penn State, they still have three transfer wide receivers. You got a new tight end. So like I think it's going to work out for him. And the receivers last year for Penn State were horrible. But I would say Clemson neutral. What about you?
- [69:26]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, they have more boxes checked going into the season. I mean they lost what's his name to the Giants, Abdul Carter, who was one of the best players in the country. Now they will have, you know, reinforcements. But Clemson brings back woods, right. Who's an elite player. Like that is their Abdul Card or who most people thinks could get drafted. I would say, yeah, is the more successful version of James Franklin. Big personality, talks a lot, CEO, head coach, offensive background, wide receiver guy. But really like he's, he's, he's walking around practice. Not with a group. Right. His coordinators run the show. When Dabo had sweet coordinators back in the day, Venables, Tony Franklin, they kicked it, he recruited, they beat the shit out of everybody. Right. Then they went through some tough spots. Now he's got Lincoln Riley's brother and we view him pretty good. James Franklin, same deal. I don't think it's crazy. If we look back in five years, James Franklin finally wins one. We talk about him like one of the best coaches in the country. Okay. Real talk. Ever have one of those need it right now moments like the dog just chewed through a leash again. A kid's school project needs glitter glue tonight and somehow the toilet paper is gone. Yeah, that moment has happened to everyone. That's where Walmart Express delivery comes in clutch. Get all that pet stuff, school stuff, household stuff, all the stuff in as fast as one hour. One hour. That means chargers, diapers, candles, light bulbs, laundry detergent, real life rescue items, and it's all from Walmart. Just hop on the app, order what's needed, and boom, it's at the door before a toddler melts down or before halftime is even over. Yes, game day food can be delivered in an hour, too. Try it now. And get free delivery on a first order with promo code Express. That's free delivery on a first order with promo code Express. Walmart Express delivery in as fast as 1 hour. Promotion valid for the First Express delivery order $50. Men subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [71:31]
Buzz Knight
Hi, I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast. And join me for an upcoming episode with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, talking about his new Frank Sinatra music project.
- [71:43]
Podcast Narrator
Anyone who loves music would salivate over something like this. The biggest question from for us was, what's in these boxes? There were a few unplayed gems that we had been alerted to by Charlie Pinon of Sinatra Enterprises. So we knew that certain songs like Shadow of your Smile, which actually is not on this record, it'll be on the next one.
- [72:03]
Buzz Knight
Seth McFarland, Don Rickles went up to.
- [72:05]
Podcast Narrator
Frank Sinatra and he said, listen, I'm going to be having dinner with this lovely woman and I, you know, would you come over and say hi? And just so you know, because I feel like if she sees that I know you, it's going to make me look really cool and, you know, I might have a good night. During the middle of dinner, Frank walks over and says, don, hi, how are you? And Don goes, frank, please, I'm in the middle of dinner.
- [72:21]
Buzz Knight
Seth MacFarlane on the taking a Walk podcast. Listen to Taking a walk on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [72:31]
Political Commentator
I think Democrats have for a very long time allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially, Republicans came up with a narrative and Democrats decided to play into that. And that only hurt the Democrats Democrats.
- [72:46]
Katie Couric
I'm Kitty Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back. And our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.
- [73:02]
Political Commentator
It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender that led Me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen, not just to my constituents, but just generally. Like, I carry that weight with me.
- [73:28]
Katie Couric
Because you've seen it up close.
- [73:29]
Political Commentator
Yeah.
- [73:30]
Katie Couric
Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [73:39]
John Lithgow
Hello, I'm John Lithgow.
- [73:40]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
We choose to go to the moon.
- [73:42]
John Lithgow
I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast.
- [73:45]
Political Commentator
It's One Small Step for Man.
- [73:48]
John Lithgow
It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.
- [73:52]
John Middlekauff
You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen.
- [73:56]
John Lithgow
That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition.
- [74:01]
John Middlekauff
To depression, alcohol abuse and suicide.
- [74:04]
John Lithgow
We'll see Buzz, try to overcome demons.
- [74:07]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
What do you say, Buzz? Another beer.
- [74:09]
John Lithgow
And triumph over addiction.
- [74:11]
John Middlekauff
Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin.
- [74:14]
John Lithgow
Good luck to you and become a true hero.
- [74:16]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz and I will proceed into the.
- [74:18]
John Lithgow
Lunar module, not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself.
- [74:25]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission.
- [74:27]
John Lithgow
Starring me, John Lithgow.
- [74:29]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Can you put it through Translate on.
- [74:32]
John Lithgow
The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [74:37]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Columbia. Speaking of Lincoln Riley, you think he can ever win in the Big Ten? You think this is going to be one of those things that the buyout's so big they have a 20, 26 recruiting class? They're the number one recruiting class. But it feels like, I don't know. What are your. What your. What are your over thoughts? Just on Lincoln Riley and usc.
- [75:03]
John Middlekauff
I can be a pretty big hater on this situation because I think that where you're from and where you coach in college matters. Like James Franklin's from Pennsylvania. It fits. Kirby Smart played at Georgia Southern guy fits at Georgia. Before you even win or lose a game, like, people want to like you, right? Rich Rodriguez going back to West Virginia. He's our guy. You know, the guy when Chris Peterson went to Washington. He's a West coast guy, intellectual. That school, it just fit. There's a weird fit. You got a dude from Texas, right, coaching at la, not winning. I heard Klatt say this. You got to be pretty careful. And because I always, like, talk shit when Colin would come on big USC guy, and I was like, what is going on? This is a joke. A lot of their losses last year actually weren't that bad in terms of, like, they weren't getting blown out. They lost Crazy Games, right. They lost crazy games that they should win. Penn State Aller and Tyler Warren pulled plays out of there, you know what to win that game. Minnesota all time epic meltdown. You were telling me I'd forgotten about this game. Like they were. They could have beat Notre Dame, right?
- [76:11]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Michigan too. I mean Notre Dame was that he threw two back to back pick sixes. And in the Michigan game, Khalel Mullings became a superstar, had that like 80 yard touchdown. And they came back on that game too. I just wonder just the whole brand of Lincoln Riley just defensively stars defensive coordinator and like what, what are we going to see? And then I like the receivers, but the quarterback isn't like what he's had in the past. I mean even Miller Moss like had a bigger name because we saw him in the Holiday Bowl. Now, I guess USC did beat A and M in the bowl game. Whatever. You want to take that with a grain of salt or whatever. But I just think for me they lost so many games. I would.
- [76:49]
John Middlekauff
All those, all the A and M guys did not play.
- [76:52]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, that is true. That is true. And just for me, like I, I think Dave had the hardest transition in the Big Ten and I think like saw Greg McElroy has. USC is like a top 15 team and maybe he knows more in depth about this team, but they're one of those teams that I know there's a lot probably for you in college football that's like I'll be on your side. Just, I'm gonna just show me before I can be on your side this season for usc.
- [77:15]
John Middlekauff
I, I would say this about usc. I think deann Lynn, who is Anthony Lynn's son, is their defensive coordinator. He's really good and he, you see that quote he had within the last couple weeks where he thought now he's Big Ten guys. He thought the Big Ten because he had coached at Baltimore was the closest thing to the NFL. You know, trying to hype up the Big Ten. If you saw their team picture like a week ago, I've forgotten about this Rob Ryan, you got that long white hair, big fat belly. Gotti is on the staff. So I think defensively they actually could be pretty good. And you know, I think the major question mark is the quarterback. But like that is usually Lincoln and the quarterback. They will figure it out. I think there is a lot of, you know, lsu, I think this is kind of the big tens. Lsu, like the hype was even more. Because ultimately didn't LSU want Lincoln Riley and he basically chose USC over lsu so it's like, okay, Lincoln, I mean I don't need you to go 12 and oh, but can you, can you go like 10 and 2 and have a couple big wins? I have to look at their schedule. But can you just win a game? That part of being a, like a legendary coach or a guy that's really highly paid is you got to win some games. Sometimes people don't think you're going to win. And I just feel like Lincoln Riley, like Missouri State, I mean they're scheduled. Georgia Southern, like what a joke. Purdue, like can they beat at Illinois? Can they beat Michigan? Can they beat Notre Dame? Can he beat Oregon? Like is he going to win? Can he win two? Can he go two and two in those games?
- [78:50]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Nebraska, yeah, that's another team that's like kind of in that tier. Two in the Big Ten that can they get over the edge. But one last topic and then we'll get into. Everyone loves these predictions, love college football, big season predictions. But has your perspective runner up Notre Dame, magical season, right? I mean they lose to niu. They, they make, they win four, won three games. They beat Indiana, they beat Georgia and they beat Penn State. Has your perspective on them changed in the fact where it's always been this notion of Notre Dame can't win the big one, like Notre Dame can't win the big one. They're independent. Now you, I heard you and Coward talking about this maybe a couple of months ago, but it almost feels like Notre Dame set up in this new era of college football that they have the biggest advantage. Marcus Freeman's a young coach. Obviously the academics are great there, they recruit well, you can set your schedule. All the CFP money that they get throughout the entire playoff goes to them. Like, it just feels like for Notre Dame.
- [79:48]
John Middlekauff
C.J.
- [79:49]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Carr, quarterbacks can be a big question mark. But this whole notion, like, could Notre Dame be, I mean, I don't know your perspective. You're a Cali guy, maybe you hated Notre Dame growing up, but it feels like Notre Dame's kind of being more likable and they're every year top five team, national champion team. Like, I think they're kind of another team to me that their schedule is harder this year. I mean they got Miami A and M at Arkansas, Boise State. So I just think for me, like, I think they have a big, the biggest advantage in college football where they're set. And now you see the SEC is going to schedule a one quality game a year so they're, they don't have to move they don't have to move. There's no pressure for them to move. It just feels like this next five year window, maybe 10 year window is like that next team that could win it.
- [80:31]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I think clearly he's a, he's an excellent coach slash recruiter. He's like kind of what you want in the guy running your operation. You know, I think Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Kirby, they are the best of both worlds. They can relate with the young guy. So they can be an elite recruiter but you can get them on a whiteboard and they can dominate. And that's what I would say. Marcus Freeman and there's just like an authenticity to him where it's just like, okay, you kind of see it and you could see like he was a little uncomfortable when James Franklin like wouldn't shut up. Like he doesn't want. There's not a lot of fluff to him. Like Saban could BS a little bit more. Like Chris Peterson's a good example. Like Chris Peterson wasn't really into the BS stuff. You know, like Ed Ogeron was all bs. I don't mind my coach being seriously serious and clearly Notre Dame kind of got a David Shaw vibe to him. But David was an offensive guy, this guy's a defensive guy. So there's a toughness aspect to him. But I just think their talent, like Jeremiah Love, what if he's the best running back in the country? So if you're the best running back in college, you're usually going for like I'm close to a thousand yards. You just handed the ball non stop. And remember we were talking about last year defensively, some of their young talent was like damn, who's that guy? And it's like, oh, that's Bryant Young's kid. Oh, that's. And so it's like you're going to have guys on their roster because they're transfer portal. They probably operate a little bit differently, fair to say than like Alabama or Ohio State or Michigan. Right.
- [81:53]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
They're like Georgia where they'll plug and play. They only add like eight guys. So they added like a couple receivers this year. Like Virginia's receiver who had back to back 800 yard years. Like he could be a. Their receiver room could be more dynamic down the field versus before they are running, running offense to Darion Price. You know their offensive line is going to be set and they're a team too that I know Texas and Sarkeesian talked about this too. With the amount of games you're playing, like you've got to play probably a.
- [82:18]
John Middlekauff
Lot of guys who.
- [82:19]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Deep guys, especially on defense. And they were dealing with injuries last year. And you watch them play, you would not know. Watch Notre Dame last year that they dealt with their starting cornerback who got drafted to the Buccaneers, was out for the majority of the season. They had a true freshman who's the best quarterback in the country step in. So it's like them and their ability to recruit and also play guys early, that's why they're able to keep all these guys around. Like, I think that's one thing too. They're so young, but they keep this retention throughout the couple years. You're not losing guys. Notre Dame's obviously a powerhouse. Like, it just seems like to me, like they just have such a big advantage. And to your point about all the former players, like Bettis's kids there, Plico Burris's kids, a freshman, that makes me feel old. Like, I don't kind of feel like you. It's like all these, all these guys, you washed up, you watch your whole life in the NFL. Their sons are going. Larry Fitzgerald's kid's going to be there next year. Like, I just think things are moving in a, in a great direction at Notre Dame. And I think people are starting to this whole narrative. Like I keep mentioning when the big one and that they're the most hateable team in college football. They're becoming likable and they got their own TV contract with NBC.
- [83:22]
John Middlekauff
It's like, yeah, money's not going to be an issue. I one thing with their, you know, Riley last year, I remember that first game against Texas A and M, like, he just doesn't throw it very well. And throughout the whole season, like, he's not a great thrower of the football. And just looking at his numbers, through 21 touchdowns, he ran for 17. So basically he gave brought to the table 38 touchdowns. So I would imagine C.J. carr, in theory, better thrower of the football, but Riley Leonard and, and the character, the leadership, people love the guy. You know, I, I was out on him early and then as the season went on, he clearly got better. Got, you know, transfer. It's. I think sometimes it's unfair the way we judge you that way. Same with Will Howard. By the end of the season, they were way more comfortable and way better. They're honestly kind of similar trajectories. Early on, you're like, what's going on here? And by the end, you know, Will throws the ball, or did in college way better than Riley. But by the end, Riley was a legitimate starter in college football, but he just brought so much to the table. I'm not comparing him to Tim Tebow. Tim's a better college player. But like running and passing, you know what Lincoln had forever with like Kyler Murray or Jalen Hurts, I. That that's a pretty like 38 touchdowns. A lot from your quarterback. And like you said, the schedule's harder. I mean, they feel good about CJ Carr accounting for that many scores.
- [84:38]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah, I think some of those touchdowns too are going to go towards Jeremiah Love. I think Jeremiah Love, I mean, I, I think he could have what Genti had at Boise State. I'm not saying like Love's gonna have that Notre Dame, but it feels like if he has some type of one of those like overhaul, monster rushing seasons at a big program like Notre Dame, like he could be a Heisman guy. When we transition to like bets to look at, he's plus 2800. Like that's another guy. A non quarterback. Notre Dame is going to play a lot of big games. They're obviously going to hand him the ball off and they have a second running back. So maybe that might hurt his carries and his stats compared to like some other running backs, but he's another guy to me that I think he's just going to have a breakout season. Like that dude's just phenomenal to watch.
- [85:18]
John Middlekauff
Yeah. 28 to 1. I do a. I mean, do you expect Notre Dame to be in the playoffs this year?
- [85:22]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I do, I do. I. It's a two. It's a two game season. But I hate when people have that mentality because either they beat Miami, they beat A M and then the rest of the season, maybe they get sniped by Arkansas or like luckily this year they don't play a Mac team, thank God, because a Mac team or a Marshall, like that's like Notre Dame's pass or like that's what they're really bad at. But I do expect them. They control their own destiny too. They're. They're independent. You set your schedule. You don't have to worry about a whole conference like Oklahoma this year. Like they have a really hard schedule. They lose three games. They're. How are they not in the playoffs? You know what I mean? That's like they. But they got dealt a bad hand, them in Florida versus like Missouri this year. Missouri has a really easy schedule again, but their team's just horrible.
- [86:05]
John Middlekauff
So yeah, to me, if Notre Dame's going to be good, which I think they're going to be. He's got to be an out of lockdown. Your best offensive player, he's going to put up huge numbers. Does it mean he's going to win the Heisman? No, but like going in the quarterbacks around the country are kind of like a coin flip, right? You just don't know what you're going to get or the team's going to be, you know, lsu, Nussmeier, you could tell me he wins the Heisman. You could also tell me they win eight games, you know, so it's like.
- [86:29]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I was going to say, like, don't you feel like too with the quarterback Heisman race, it's. You don't really know until you say like the games they remember or played in November. Like you kind of have to base it on like what the team is going to be in November. Like that seems like the majority of the voting is versus like if club Nick goes crazy week one or even like Cam Ward went off against Florida. People had him as the Heisman, he's going to win the Heisman, blah, blah, blah. And then as the season kind of progresses on Miami starts to lose. Hunter starts to go up. Like if you're a better on quarterbacks, like I don't really know what you kind of look at the season and.
- [87:03]
John Middlekauff
I'll feel good to me. Travis Hunter is a good example. Who is Travis Hunter that you know beside Jeremiah Love, which I think he would fall into that category. A guy last year, skill position who's going to put up big numbers that has momentum coming into the season. Travis had the dual position thing but like you would say the Ryan Williams, you would say Jeremiah Smith, a guy like that. We're already talking about momentum coming into the season. If they have, you know, One of those two wide receivers, their team suite, they score 20 touchdowns and have 1800 yards. They're. They're at minimum at New York, right?
- [87:36]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
They're there.
- [87:37]
John Middlekauff
So it's like I would say those two Jeremiah Love, again, you don't quite know. Jeremiah Love to me is more of a sure thing than those two wide receivers. Because new quarterbacks, who knows, you know, it just could get weird.
- [87:48]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Jeremiah Smith too, I think he's like + 1100 11. One is. Is arch Manning and Heisman betting kind of like Scottie Schaefer where it's like you kind of got to go now because his odds aren't going to. His odds are going to continue to go lower. Like if they beat Ohio State, you know, the sportsbooks are going to have him at plus 250 and they go the other way.
- [88:05]
John Middlekauff
What if. What if they lost like 20 to 10 and he doesn't look that good and people get. He feels a little like the Cowboys or the Lakers or something. Preseason where they're just such a sexy team. People bet them. Even it's not even based on, like, you don't need Kobe and Shaq to get Laker bets. Right? People are going to bet the Lakers. The Raiders were like this for a while. Fan base. So it's just. To me, he's just the great unknown. I wouldn't bet Arch Manning having never watched him play. Really. Okay, real talk. Ever have one of those need it right now moments? Like the dog just chewed through a leash again? A kid's school project needs glitter glue tonight and somehow the toilet paper is gone. Yeah, that moment has happened to everyone. That's where Walmart Express delivery comes in. Clutch. Get all that pet stuff, school stuff, household stuff, all the stuff in as fast as one hour. One hour. That means chargers, diapers, candles, light bulbs, laundry detergent, real life rescue items. And it's all from Walmart. Just hop on the app, order what's needed, and boom, it's at the door before a toddler melts down or before halftime is even over. Yes, game day food can be delivered in an hour, too. Try it now. And get free delivery on a first order with promo code express. That's free delivery on a first order with promo code Express. Walmart Express delivery in as fast as 1 hour. Promotion valid for the first express delivery. Order $50. Men subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [89:41]
Buzz Knight
Hi, I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast. And join me for an upcoming episode with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Friendly Guy, talking about his new Frank Sinatra music project.
- [89:52]
Podcast Narrator
Anyone who loves music would salivate over something like this. The biggest question for us was, what's in these boxes? There were a few unplayed gems that we had been alerted to by Charlie Pinion of Sinatra Enterprises. So we knew that certain songs like Shadow of your Smile, which actually is not on this record, it'll be on the next one.
- [90:12]
Buzz Knight
Seth McFarland, Don Rickles went up to.
- [90:14]
Podcast Narrator
Frank Sinatra and he said, listen, I'm going to be having dinner with this lovely woman and I, you know, would you come over and say hi? And just so you know, because I feel like if she sees that I know you, it's going to make me look really cool and, you know, I might have a good night. During the middle of dinner Frank walks over and says, don, hi, how are you? And Don goes, frank, please, I'm in the middle of dinner.
- [90:30]
Buzz Knight
Seth MacFarlane on the taking a Walk podcast. Listen to Taking a walk on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [90:41]
Political Commentator
I think Democrats have for a very long time allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially, Republicans came up with a narrative and Democrats decided to play into that, and that only hurt the Democrats.
- [90:55]
Katie Couric
I'm Kitty Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back. And our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.
- [91:11]
Political Commentator
It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender, that led me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen not just to my constituents, but just generally. Like, I carry that weight with me.
- [91:37]
Katie Couric
Because you've seen it up close.
- [91:38]
Political Commentator
Yeah.
- [91:39]
Katie Couric
Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [91:48]
John Lithgow
Hello, I'm John Lithgow.
- [91:49]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
We choose to go to the moon.
- [91:51]
John Lithgow
I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast, that's One Small Step for Man. It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the two true pioneers of space.
- [92:01]
John Middlekauff
You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen.
- [92:05]
John Lithgow
That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition.
- [92:10]
John Middlekauff
To depression, alcohol abuse, and suicide.
- [92:13]
John Lithgow
We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons.
- [92:16]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
What do you say, Buzz? Another beer.
- [92:18]
John Lithgow
And triumph over addiction.
- [92:20]
John Middlekauff
Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin.
- [92:23]
John Lithgow
Good luck to you and become a true hero.
- [92:25]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz and I will proceed into the.
- [92:27]
John Lithgow
Lunar module not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself.
- [92:34]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission.
- [92:36]
John Lithgow
Starring me, John Lithgow.
- [92:38]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Can you put it through?
- [92:40]
John Lithgow
Can you Translate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [92:54]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
You got any big season college football predictions, bets that you like? I know you did this for the NFL a lot, too, but college football, obviously, I think there's some nuggets, but I'm curious to hear, you know, your thoughts before the season.
- [93:07]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I think the best value for national championship are just going to be Penn State and Clemson. Given their route, I think it's a lot harder I know Josh Pate likes Alabama, but their route is just a lot harder. And I'm a Kalyn DeBoer guy. I think clearly it could he gets Ryan Grubb back. They could be good. That conference is really, really hard. I'd say the same thing for Texas, who seems like a, no doubt about it, elite team. It's just that conference is really, really difficult. And you look at Penn State, you look at Clemson, it's like specifically Penn State. I mean, look at that. I mean LSU week one. I mean, who knows, maybe get a couple guys injured against them. Right? I mean, you look at Penn State, it's like they're just going to kind of cruise. So to me, that's much easier to be like peaking at the end of the season. Right. And being healthier. I would say my biggest prediction in college football is that Jon Gruden will be coaching in 2026 in college. And I would be stunned if it's not the sec. And I think the two sexy teams would be Hugh Freeze getting fired. Auburn would be interested. Arkansas, which has huge money, would definitely be interested. But to me, like LSU in Florida, like John Gruden's no dummy. Like, if you had the opportunity to pick of all the teams that would be open, you'd rather go to LSU or Florida than Arkansas or Auburn. It just gets to you. There is a path for Florida to be good, right. Because of the quarterback. And LSU financially just might not be able to buy him out. But I think that Jon Gruden will be coaching in the sec and I guess you could throw Florida State if they have a disastrous season. So I Florida State is essentially will be sooner than later in SEC program. He will be coaching in the south college football because I don't think he's ever coming back to the NFL. But you watch him with Georgia, the way he talks. Like I think he's no dummy. Like he's not going to get another NFL job. I mean, the lawsuits going on, I can't even keep up with what the hell's going on there. And I just don't think anyone's going to hire him. But the college football 1 million percent will. And I think the Southern teams too, like Hugh Freeze was like banging hookers or whatever. They Auburn didn't care.
- [95:07]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Right.
- [95:08]
John Middlekauff
Petrino, if these football programs in college do not care. And the other thing is John's always been a little bit of a money whore. Like 10 years, 100 million though that's what the Raiders had to get him to come out from Monday night like he likes his cash. The SEC's got big money. So my, my. I would say my big. I don't. Who knows college football. You could convince me like 10 different teams.
- [95:30]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Yeah.
- [95:30]
John Middlekauff
Win the national championship, make the playoffs. That's a great part about it. Jon Gruden will be coaching in 2026 college football.
- [95:37]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I like that prediction. I think for me, my biggest prediction for this season, I think Texas A and M, you get about plus 20, 200, which isn't the greatest odds but I think for the College Football Playoff right now you look at the odds for DraftKings about 15 teams are like minus. And then you have like the plus108 plus180 teams like the LSU or the Ole Miss is right in the middle. I think +220. I think Texas A and M can make the playoff this year. I think sec, you talk about one score games last season for the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss doesn't lose to Kentucky, Alabama doesn't lose to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma. One of those games. I think the SEC could have got five teams in the college ball playoff versus the whole Indiana and the, and the ACC getting two teams. I think A and M with Marcel Reed. This is a guy that was splitting reps last year, dual threat guy, kind of an underrated passer. They went in the portal and they got NC State's best wide receiver. I think people forget Elko was one win away. They should have won that game against Texas last year for going to the SEC championship and making the playoff. So my bold prediction would be, I think A and m, they're picked 8th in the SEC media pool and they got at Notre Dame, at lsu, at Texas, they can win every other game and win two out of those three. And LSU in October they could be, you know, panic mode. They could already have two losses where they're not as great as a team as they were in the back End of the season at Texas obviously will be tough and then I'm going to be at that Notre Dame game. So again, I think if they can win two of those three games, I love Marcel Reed. You know, Elko is going to get the defense right. I think to me, my, my bold prediction, my big prediction would be A and M to make the playoff this year.
- [97:08]
John Middlekauff
I got one. I just look at the Big 12, you know, which is obviously a tough, fun conference.
- [97:13]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Fun conference.
- [97:14]
John Middlekauff
I do think the heavy favorite last year was Utah because they were coming off dominating in the PAC 12. They had become them and DeBoer's last couple of years with Washington and Oregon like unequal, like they had passed USC last year, their quarterback situation was a disaster. But Kyle Whittingham is one of the best coaches in the country. And I just think that I'm looking at their schedule right now. You can get them 6 to 1 to win the conference. And unlike you know, the, the SEC and the Big Ten, even the ACC like Clemson's probably going to at most one ACC loss, potentially undefeated. Like you might be able to get into the conference championship game with two losses in conference. I just think Utah at 6 to 1, which is worse odds than Arizona State. There is not a soul in the country that knows anything about college football that would have told you two years ago that Arizona State would not only be a program, a better program, but a year later they would be favored, have better odds to win the conference. And I think at the end of the day if Utah and Arizona state play like 10 times, like I just, I'm going to take, I like Kenny Dillingham and everything Arizona State's got going. But Scottaboo was like, I mean a generational player for the program. Like I'm just betting on Utah. I've seen him do it year in, year out with different players, random quarterbacks and just big time dudes on defense. Like I could see Utah, all of a sudden we look up, they're 10 and 2 and they're in the Big 12 championship game.
- [98:38]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
Utah's fun because they're another team like Matier when our buckle them leaving Washington State and going to Oklahoma. Utah did the same exact thing and got Dampier, Devin Dampier and his OC from New Mexico. And Dampier is kind of that smaller 5, 9 dual threat guy with a big arm. And they have a really good offensive line like Spencer Fano, offensive tackle, he'll be the first offensive tackle probably taken in this next upcoming class. Like I think Utah will probably revert back after them having eight, nine years with Cam rising back to when they had Tyler Huntley, that dual threat quarterback who's got a big arm. Like I agree with you. And they're, you know they're going to have a tough defense because they have Kyle Whittingham, you know, he's more of a defensive minded guy. I agree. I think Utah, Texas Tech's weird because there's so many transfers and we saw this with Colorado. I think Arizona State's going to win personally. They're like one of five teams that are favored in all their 11 games this season. The Big 12 will be interesting, but I like your call there. In terms of value, Utah feels slept on for the season.
- [99:43]
John Middlekauff
The Volume.
- [99:47]
Buzz Knight
Hi, I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast. And join me for an upcoming episode with Seth McFarland, the creator of Family Guy, talking about his new Frank Sinatra music project.
- [99:58]
Podcast Narrator
Anyone who loves music would salivate over something like this. The biggest question for us was what's in these boxes? Really that the most thrilling part was hiring an orchestra and just playing what was in these boxes.
- [100:11]
Buzz Knight
Listen to Taking a walk on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [100:17]
Katie Couric
On the latest episode of Next Question with Me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union.
- [100:30]
Political Commentator
I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back.
- [100:43]
Katie Couric
Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [100:52]
John Lithgow
Hello, I'm John Lithgow.
- [100:53]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
We choose to go to the moon.
- [100:55]
John Lithgow
I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast that's One Small Step for Man about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.
- [101:04]
John Middlekauff
You're a great pilot, Buzz.
- [101:06]
John Lithgow
That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz, starring me, John Lithgow, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [101:22]
John Middlekauff
Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land Jeopardy Truthers believe in?
- [101:39]
Jackson (Producer Jackson)
I guess they would be conspiracy theorists.
- [101:42]
John Middlekauff
That's right.
- [101:43]
Podcast Narrator
They gave you the answers and you still blew it.
- [101:45]
John Middlekauff
The Puzzler listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [101:53]
Political Commentator
This is an iHeart podcast.