PMS 2.0 1261 - TNF Recap, NFL Week 15 Preview/Picks, WVU Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, Christian Pulisic, Nick Saban, Owen Schmitt, WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker, & AJ Hawk

Summary

The Pat McAfee Show – Episode PMS 2.0 1261 Summary

Release Date: December 13, 2024
Hosts: Pat McAfee, A.J. Hawk, The Toxic Table, Tone Digs
Guests: Rich Rodriguez (WVU Head Coach), Nick Saban, Christian Pulisic, Owen Schmitt, Wren Baker (WVU Athletic Director)

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1. TNF Recap: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (00:00 – 05:00)

The episode kicks off with A.J. Hawk and Pat McAfee discussing the Thursday Night Football (TNF) game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. The game, characterized by low scoring (9-6 with 15 total points), is dubbed "the most boring game maybe ever televised." Pat expresses optimism that the upcoming West Virginia Mountaineers team under new head coach Rich Rodriguez will be anything but dull, promising "explosive plays" and "half-line action."

Notable Quote:

• Pat McAfee [04:17]: "The West Virginia Mountaineers are not going to look like that with Rich Rodriguez as the head coach."

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2. NFL Week 15 Preview and Picks (05:00 – 10:00)

Pat and his co-hosts delve into the NFL Week 15 matchups, providing their picks and analysis:

• San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams: Pat predicts Rams to cover with a favorable outlook on their explosive potential under Rich Rodriguez's influence.

• Seattle Seahawks: Highlighting Geno Smith's leadership, Pat is bullish on the Seahawks, attributing their playoff probabilities to Smith's resilience and experience.

• Other Teams: Brief discussions on teams like the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, focusing on player performances and coaching strategies.

Notable Quote:

• Pat McAfee [08:07]: "College football is better when this flying WV is at the top of conversations."

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3. Return of Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia University (05:00 – 27:00)

The central focus of the episode is the highly anticipated return of Rich Rodriguez as the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Pat McAfee and A.J. Hawk enthusiastically discuss the press conference announcing Rodriguez's return, emphasizing the electrifying atmosphere in Morgantown and the strong support from fans and donors.

Key Points:

• Announcement Event: People lined up since 8:30 AM despite the cold, showcasing immense fan enthusiasm (Pat [00:25]).

• Coach Rodriguez’s Vision: Emphasizes a "hard edge," demanding mental and physical toughness from players (Rich Rodriguez [02:10]).

• Ren Baker’s Endorsement: WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker expresses full support for Rodriguez, highlighting the alignment with WVU's athletic and cultural goals (Ren Baker [06:59]).

Notable Quotes:

• Rich Rodriguez [02:10]: "I'm a better coach now than I was a year ago. I'll be a better coach next week than I am today."

• Pat McAfee [07:29]: "I think we're getting right back into that time [of WVU football success]."

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4. Highlights from Rich Rodriguez’s Press Conference (27:00 – 39:00)

Pat McAfee and the team provide a play-by-play of Rodriguez's press conference, capturing his commitment to revitalizing WVU's football program. They discuss his approach to building a disciplined and competitive team, his reflections on past mistakes, and his strategies for future success.

Key Points:

• Commitment to Excellence: Rodriguez stresses the importance of continuous improvement and accountability (Rich Rodriguez [28:36]).

• Recruitment Strategy: Focus on recruiting hardworking, "not soft or lazy" players who embody WVU's "hard edge" culture (Rich Rodriguez [30:57]).

• Personal Reflections: Rodriguez acknowledges past mistakes and emphasizes his dedication to making things right for WVU and its fans (Rich Rodriguez [35:47]).

Notable Quotes:

• Rich Rodriguez [28:36]: "I’ve always been a better coach now than I was when I left, but I needed to be."

• Pat McAfee [39:35]: "Ren Baker put the pride aside. I'm saying, this my guy, he didn't listen to any of the outside noise, and he made his own decision because he thinks that this is the right decision to win."

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5. Interview with Christian Pulisic: American Soccer Star (39:00 – 52:30)

Christian Pulisic joins the show to discuss his experiences as an American soccer player in Europe. The conversation covers his documentary on Paramount+ and his role in advancing the United States soccer scene.

Key Points:

• Transition to Europe: Pulisic shares insights into adapting to European soccer culture and the challenges faced by American players abroad.

• Impact on US Soccer: Discusses how American players like himself are elevating the national team’s performance and global reputation.

• Future Aspirations: Emphasizes the importance of competition and adaptation for the growth of American soccer.

Notable Quotes:

• Christian Pulisic [46:17]: "I was used to that, you know, that inside access people follow me around at times, a lot of cameras. But I enjoyed the experience."

• Pat McAfee [50:05]: "We want to let you know you're doing us incredibly proud. Keep kicking ass out over there, and we can't wait for you to win the World Cup so we can act like American stooges all over the place."

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6. Nick Saban’s Insights on Coaching and College Football (56:00 – 78:00)

Nick Saban, a legendary college football coach, shares his perspectives on the current state of college football, the challenges teams face, and his involvement in WVU’s coaching search.

Key Points:

• Consistency and Improvement: Saban highlights the importance of teams maintaining consistency and continuously improving to succeed in the College Football Playoff.

• Coaching Transition: Discusses the role of NFL coaches like Bill Belichick transitioning to college football and the differences they face, particularly in recruiting.

• Adaptation to Modern Football: Emphasizes the need for coaches to adapt to evolving strategies and player dynamics in today's game.

Notable Quotes:

• Nick Saban [76:34]: "The culture is the culture. And then everybody comes in, has to adapt to what you're doing, how you do things."

• Ren Baker [77:31]: "I think Mountaineer Nation, I hope, understands that. Big donors, I hope understand that."

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7. WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker’s Remarks (78:00 – 96:00)

Wren Baker speaks about the hiring process of Rich Rodriguez, the role of donors, and the future of WVU’s athletic programs.

Key Points:

• Donor Support: Emphasizes that winning is the best way to raise funds and that a competitive program will attract more NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities.

• Commitment to Tradition: Highlights the importance of maintaining WVU's rich athletic tradition while embracing new opportunities for growth and success.

Notable Quotes:

• Wren Baker [94:43]: "Mountaineer Nation, I hope, understands that. Big donors, I hope understand that."

• Pat McAfee [95:00]: "What do you think about when[...]

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8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts (96:00 – End)

As the episode wraps up, Pat McAfee and his co-hosts reflect on the day’s events, the successful press conference, and the promising future of WVU’s football program under Rich Rodriguez. They also engage in light-hearted banter and discuss upcoming NFL games and their picks.

Key Points:

• Positive Outlook: The hosts express excitement and optimism about WVU’s future and the energy surrounding the new coaching hire.

• Community Support: Emphasize the strong support from the WVU community and the anticipation for the team’s resurgence.

Notable Quotes:

• Pat McAfee [99:32]: "This has been crazy. It's like a reunion. And look, that guy's ready to go."

• Rich Rodriguez [96:12]: "My fire is burning as hot as it ever was... that's a competitive, competitive guy."

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Key Takeaways:

• Rich Rodriguez’s Return: Marked as a pivotal moment for WVU football, emphasizing a return to a winning culture with a focus on discipline and competitiveness.

• Christian Pulisic’s Journey: Highlights the growing influence of American players in international soccer and the strides being made towards enhancing the US national team's prowess.

• Nick Saban’s Perspective: Offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of college football, the significance of consistency, and the challenges of adapting to modern coaching demands.

• WVU’s Future: With strong community and donor support, WVU is poised for a promising season, aiming to reclaim its status in the competitive Big 12 conference.

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Note: This summary encapsulates the main discussions and highlights from Episode PMS 2.0 1261 of "The Pat McAfee Show," providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the episode.

Transcript

[A.J. Hawk]

Here we go, the Pat McAfee Show. I'm A.J. hawk sitting at Pat's desk. He and Con man are down in Morgantown, West Virginia. There's, there's some rum wins down there.

[Pat McAfee]

Football.

[A.J. Hawk]

It is. What's happening, Pat? Con man, you guys just walked out. We see the crowd going crazy. How's it going? What's the atmosphere like down there?

[Pat McAfee]

Man, it is absolutely electrifying in Morgan.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Town.

[Pat McAfee]

West Virginia, this is, this is for a purpose conference to announce that Rich Rodriguez is officially the head coach again for the West Virginia Mountain. Now we drove in this morning, obviously, and outside the WVU Coliseum, which is absolutely beautiful if you haven't been, you need to get here. But there was people lined up since like 8.30am it was cold as hell. People couldn't wait to get in here, maybe buy some beers, maybe celebrate what the future is going to be and showcase to the world that West Virginia football not only, only all the way back, but it is the present. These sports fans have been in hibernation for a bit. We're about to go get some championships. And that's what today is all about. Now the Mountaineers here got a good looking gun there. That thing fires off every time we score. There's going to be a lot of gunshots ringing in a lot of Big 12 cities because what's about to happen to all the schools of that fantastic conference Shout out to that guy. Just walking through the shot, doesn't care about a single thing. Iowa State, Arizona State. Arizona State was projected to have three and a half wins this year, last in the entire Big 12. They go on to win that thing because they get a couple of dogs in the transfer portal. Well, I think the people we're about to bring into this team in the roster that we're about to keep here is about to win a Big 12 championship wide. And then with the way Rich Rodriguez coaches his team, actually we have footage of his first team meeting from yesterday. Let's go ahead and run that thing just so you can get a nice little X expectation of the type of team that is about to be calling Morgantown home.

[Rich Rodriguez]

First off, it's an honor to be here, to be back here. This is my home. It was a tough decision to leave the team. I left because they accomplished so much. But it was an easy decision to come to the place that I love so much. And it won't be easy, I promise you. You'll probably work harder you've ever worked in your life. Sometimes you hear coaches brag about I got 25 years of experience. But if they never learned or never grew, they got one year experience, repeated 20 sometimes. I'm a better coach now than I was a year ago. I'm a better coach now than I was 20 years ago. I'll be a better coach next week than I am today. People have asked me, what's hard edge mean? That means you're going to be mentally and physically tougher than anybody and everybody that you go up against. You'll be mentally and physically tougher than anybody you play or you won't be playing. And some of you are kind of lounged down in your seat. If you're going to be allowance down in your seat guy, you're not going to make it. If you're going to sit up in your seat and you're eager to get after somebody's ass, you're going to be just fine. If you're going to play fast, you better be in shape.

[Nick Saban]

Right?

[Rich Rodriguez]

We'll be in shape most of the time. We're going to get after their ass. They didn't hire me because Rich Rodriguez played in West Virginia, because Rich Rodriguez went to bowl games 20 years ago or whatever. Whatever happened back then, I didn't get hired because of that. I got hired because they thought my staff and I could help take us to another level.

[Pat McAfee]

Want to win? You'll be fine.

[Rich Rodriguez]

So I appreciate you guys. It's an honor for me again to be back home, to be in the place that I was love and a place where I'm going to finish my career and a place where I can finish it right and finish it right with you all.

[Pat McAfee]

Lead the way. Appreciate it.

[Rich Rodriguez]

See you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

And obviously we'll be hearing from Coach Rod on this particular program from the back here in a few minutes. And he's going to get introduced by Ren Baker when this press conference kicks off at 1:30 Eastern. And we will carry that here live on ESPN and then carry it plus ESPN plus Disney plus. But there's a couple quotes in there, Boston Connor, that I think need to be paid attention to.

[A.J. Hawk]

They do. They do. Pat, what do you think? Ty, man. Hey, I guess we have some technical technical difficulties there. I don't know exactly what's happening. Z. This is fun. We get to watch the boys scramble. Sorry, boys, that they have to handle this. They have to figure this thing out. But they will digs. You watch that. You see that whole atmosphere, the kids going crazy, whatever. Can Rich Rod actually. Can he? I guess. Can he? The promises that are made for him you think he can live up to it?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, I absolutely do. Because, I mean, he has been a proven winner no matter where he's been, whether it's. It's been West Virginia, you know, and then he went to Michigan, and I don't know if it was his fault there or not. In Michigan, it didn't work out. But he wanted Arizona. He wanted. He wanted Jacksonville State. Everywhere he's been, he is one. And then you get back to Morgantown, and there's always been already been talk about, you know, certain Major League Baseball owners who are. Who are back in the fold for the funds and what's it. Ken.

[Boston Connor]

Ken Kendrick.

[Ty Schmidt]

Ken Kendricks of the Air.

[A.J. Hawk]

So he is a big WVU guy, and he is a big supporter of Rich Rodriguez, and we know he's back on board. Okay. I think Pat might be back. Pat, what's going on, man?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, we're back. I don't know what the hell. Just who's throttling you? Technology sounds like the zoom disconnected, but we're all the way back. AJ they could hear you, Tone. They could hear you there, even though you couldn't hear us. Ken Kendrick's obviously a big part of this Arizona on a Diamondbacks owner. He is a West Virginia boy from Princeton. Obviously went on to do well. He and Rich Rod, I believe the term is thick as thieves. So whenever you got a billionaire ready to get back on board with the program, he said it would have been anybody, but. And whenever you got some other people that are ready to get back on board, like my entire team, and then all the friends and family of Rich Rodriguez, who I don't think were able to come out and say that they were friends and family of Rich Rod. I don't think our team back in the day was ever allowed to celebrate because we lost one game that would have sent us to the national championship, but that. That one game to go to the national championship was earned. And the reason why we were in that game is because every single day we went to work, we won a lot of massive games. Obviously. We won four straight bowl games, two BCS games. We have massive, massive resume that we could hold up against any other team in the history of the country. But, hell, yeah, we lose that one game, he ends up leaving. The way it all goes, we can't even talk about it. You go over to the facility, I mean, Pat White's a photo, but it's in the way back now, it's like the glory days of West Virginia. Feel like we're going to Be on the way back. The buzz of West Virginia is going to be back and the team that is going to be on the field is going to be one that makes us all want to talk shit about because they are going to be dogs and con man. Whenever you see all those people that you get to meet back there, what is your first thought? What is your first impression? And look at the people that filled up here just for a press conference. It's a football town.

[Gumpy]

I think that's the biggest takeaway is like this is a place that wants to be good at football and not every place is like that. And you know, we talk about NFL teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, you know, you want people to come back after they, you know, finish playing there. And this is a place that's like that. And you know, the reason this press conference is packed and because this is so much fun is because in a year from now when, you know, West Virginia is preparing for the College Football Playoff, they'll remember, you know, buying beers and coming to a press conference and knowing that that's where this thing is headed with Rich Rodriguez.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's, it's a special time in college football because of 12 team playoff. If you win the Big 12, you're in. If you put up a good record in the Big 12, you're probably going to be in the College Football Playoff. And if Rich Rodriguez gets in the dance and his gritty ass team and his tough team plays against anybody in the country, they're going to have to feel it. AJ I know that you grew up in Ohio, AJ I know you're an Ohio State guy, I see the O on your chest there. But you grew up in the era when this West Virginia, West Virginia team was buzzing. College football is better when this flying WV is at the top of conversations. And I think we're getting right back into that time.

[A.J. Hawk]

AJ Absolutely. I mean, I've told you many times, I remember like the glory days of West Virginia just watching from the outside as a fan and how like the athletes and yeah, Rich Rod, he's a personality, he's a character. I think he wouldn't understand that. He gets that like he is a dude, he's a polarizing figure that I think the people that ride with him ride with him forever. And I think that's a great thing.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you talked about polarizing. There has been some obvious reaction in the state that haven't forgot about what happened after the 139 game and the way that whole thing ended. And I know Rich Rod will Never come out and say all the behind the scenes stuff that was happening. Obviously, there was a lot of drama. There was a lot of miscommunication. There was a lot of misunderstanding. There was a lot of, are you going to support us to get to the spot where we want to go? And inevitably, not happening. All Rich has to do, and he knows this. I think we all know this, he puts a team out on the field that this state would be proud of. They're all the way back and board. And I think the thing about Coach Rod is, and this is just strictly over getting a chance to chat with him over the last couple weeks, it's unfinished business. He wants to make it right, you know, and he. He loves this state. He loves this team. And for me and for all the guys that are on that team that have carried a heavy burden through these past two decades because of what happened, he knows that if he goes and wins for this state, hopefully that'll all be kind of forgiven. And I think that's his motivation. I think that's his goal. And for me, I told him the day he was doing his interview with Brent Baker, I said, listen, I need you to hear this before you talk to Red. I think about that game every single day of my life. It is a thing that I don't think I'll ever be able to get away from. I often wonder why it went the way it did. Why couldn't I make a kick in the first quarter? Why, why, Why? I said, the ability for me to come back and help and for you to lead the way would be nice for my conscience. It'd be nice for the weight that I carry around every day. So I am fully committed to making West Virginia win again. Rich Rod's fully committed. Ken Kendricks is fully committed. And I know Bill Belichick. I know Bill Belichick. Down to UNC is certainly a sensational storyline. And we're friends with Coach Belichick and we're friends with Lombardi, who's the general manager down there. The best storyline in college football out of this hiring cycle is Rich Rodriguez coming home and making it right. And I stand by that. And that is why. That is why we're here. Con man. The energy is palpable. They've had some beer since 10:30am in here. And the Country Roads Trust is raising money. We're donating money. Nil is up. Revenue is going to be up. It feels like this is a turning point for this particular institution.

[Gumpy]

Well, and that's the thing with college Football right now is when you have the support of everybody. That's what means the most. You know, you talk about nil. West Virginia has the people you listed, a few of them that want the football team to be good, the athletics to be good as a whole. And Ren Baker, I mean, sure, he nailed it with Rich Rod, but if you just look at his track record here, I mean, he's nailed it with the basketball coach.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[Gumpy]

Nailed it with the baseball coach. Why now they're with the soccer coach? Why now they're with the women's soccer coach. Volleyball coach is going to get some wins here, too. I mean, like, you got to just trust the entire thing that Wren is doing. And to your point, I mean, there's something about a guy who has unfinished business, who has that chip on his shoulder that wants to go and win for the state that he's from, for the college that he played for and a college that he used to coach for. I mean, it really is kind of the perfect recipe for success here at West Virginia right now.

[Pat McAfee]

And you heard in that team meeting, he said, I'm a better coach now than I was last week. I'm a better coach now than I was 20 years ago. I think he has changed his coaching style. He's still in there, though.

[Gumpy]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Whenever he saw those dudes lounging. If you're a lounging guy, just lounging. Okay, this might not be the place for you. Okay. If you want to sit up and get eager to get after somebody's ass, this is the spot for you. If you want to win, this is the spot for you. So I would like to make a public declaration to all the dudes entering the transfer portal, all the high school recruits. And I didn't tell Rich I was gonna do this or anybody. And nobody really tells me what I can or can't do, which is a pretty cool thing. It's awesome. Yeah. That's cool thing.

[Gumpy]

Sweet. I mean, that's why we're here.

[Pat McAfee]

It's pretty cool.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Pretty cool thing to be able to do that if you're a dog. Okay. If you work your ass off, if you love ball, if you're gonna be able to stay eligible. Okay. Need to do the classes. A Rich Rodriguez team is the team for you. He's going to ask more out of you. The weight room is going to be tough. The meetings are going to be tough. The practices are going to be tough. But the lessons that he's going to drop into your life are going to carry you forever. And I was watching that meeting yesterday, and it's the attention to detail that has helped me when I became a pro in the NFL. Help me. Whenever I started running my own business, I thought about the things that Rich Rodriguez told me whenever I was 18, 19, 20 years old. And maybe the lessons didn't hit at the time, but they went for the rest of my life. I'd be honored if my kid chose to play for Coach Rod. And I think if you're a dog and want to become the best version of you, I think you come right here to West Virginia. We got money. Oh, yeah, we got money. We got a path to the College Football Playoff, and we got an absolute dog as a head coach who wants to make it right now. AJ with all that being said, there was a massive game last night in the NFC West. San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams. The most boring game maybe ever televised. 9 to 6, 15 total points. I'll have you know the West Virginia Mountaineers are not going to look like that with Rich Rodriguez as the head coach. Hell, yeah. Get ready for explosive plays, get ready for half line action. And for me, as somebody that picked the Rams plus three and a half, look for the West Virginia Mountaineers to be a gambler's best friend as well. I think whenever I was. When I was here at West Virginia, and obviously whenever I say I. I mean the teams that I was a part of, obviously. We had the great Pat White at quarterback, who hopefully will be around town a lot more with Rich Rod coming back. We had Steve Slayton at running back, which I hope we'll see a lot more around Morgantown with Rich being back. We had Owen Schmidt, the runaway beer truck at fullback, we had Reed Williams at linebacker, we had Dan Moses offensive line, we had Jello Darius Raynaud. We had stars everywhere, but also in tone. You can correct me if I'm wrong, because you were certainly an Italian for your entire life, especially during those eras. I think we covered more than any school in the country as well. They always counted us out, they always gave us favorable lines, and West Virginia covered. So now that gambling is, you know, a national thing, I think this West Virginia team is going to be beloved by everybody. So I am very, very eager for this to get started. Let's talk about the game last night a little bit, because the NFC west is certainly something. The Rams are hot. The Niners come off an absolute ass beating of the Chicago Bears. And what they were able to do, obviously against the Bears, they were not able to do against the Rams. Rams defense gave up, what, 40 plus points to Josh Allen just a week before they shut it down on Thursday night. That NFC west now all of a sudden becomes a massive question mark. Who's going to win it? Who's hot? Well, Geno Smith in the Seattle Seahawks. Uh oh, Another West Virginia legend is leading them 58% playoff probability at this moment. And remember, Rams and Seahawks are on a collision course to the last week of the season. Feels like this is a chance for the Seahawks to go ahead and get a playoff spot, at least win the division. Back there in studio. The fact that the Seahawks are the team that we're talking about winning this particular division instead of the Niners, instead of the Rams, and even the Cardinals had an opportunity is vastly different than the convo before the season. And that's because Geno Smith is an absolute dog. The reason why we know he's a dog is because he survived Morgan Town. Okay, you survived Morgan Town. That's better than a degree. And what Gino's been able to do and what that NFC west has done all season has been electrifying. Except for last night's game agent.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, I know the Seattle Seahawks fans sometimes, I know, get upset with the program if we don't give enough love to this team. So I mean, you know, it's the whole west coast thing that's, that's got to be part of it, I would imagine. But the Seahawks, they're legit. And as you said, Gino, I think Gino gives a team like that confidence that sometimes a Jameis Winston can do, you know, and I'm not saying that they're saying they play the same or anything. I'm saying like the, he feels like everything is under control. He's seen every single thing possible. Ty, when you watch Geno play, I guess, did you expect him to be doing this at this age?

[Boston Connor]

I mean, I don't know if anyone expected him to be doing it at this age, but he's just consistent. I think that's the biggest thing. Like, yeah, sometimes he's going to, he's going to give a couple away, but like, I mean, just show that highlight of Jackson, Smith and Jigba. Like, he's a guy they drafted in the first round, expecting a lot out of him. And with Geno, like, they've, they've realized like, hey, this is a dude. Like, so we have DK Metcalf, we have him. They have these great weapons. And I think with the, with the Seahawks, it was always like, you know, they have this New regime coming in. So at what point is that culture kind of going to set in? Because we talked about at the very start of the year, hey, they painted over the Legion of boom and all the great things they accomplish with Pete Carroll. But I think everyone, when talking about McDonald and his staff, it was like, hey, this guy is. This guy's a good coach. And Ryan Grubb is great, too. Granted, he was, you know, coming from Washington, had a little stop at Alabama, but once they actually kind of get a little time to get their culture in place, you have a guy like Gino who is. He's just consistent. He's rock solid, and you never hear him bitching or complaining about anything. Like these last several years, really, since he's been a Seahawk, he's been one of the guys in this division and in the NFL as a whole that you can kind of hang your hat on and know, like, hey, Gino's going to go out in there and perform if he has to.

[Pat McAfee]

And the thing about Gino, I think, is, much like this West Virginia team, you know, coming out of college, he signs with. Say that.

[Gumpy]

No, no, we don't.

[Pat McAfee]

No, we don't talk about that. It was a big deal at the time.

[Boston Connor]

Huge.

[Pat McAfee]

It was a big deal at the time. Now, you know, obviously, things are coming to light potentially.

[Gumpy]

Exactly. Things always come full circle. Just like Rich Rod coming back to work.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, that's what I'm saying. So Gino, obviously coming out of college, out of West Virginia, obviously, massive story, and he ends up in New York. Doesn't go as well, obviously. We heard the stories. Has to bounce around the league. He has to have a couple trying times, has to hit a little bit of adversity, has to look himself in the mirror and see what type of person he is. And then all of a sudden, he finds his opportunity in Seattle and becomes an absolute rock star. And that's what Rich Rodriguez is about to do. Coming back here to West Virginia, I think coming out of West Virginia, coming out of West Virginia, obviously, of the walk. Here we go. Then he has to bounce around a little bit, has to look himself in the mirror, face some adversity, and then he comes back here, the best version of himself. Speaking of West Virginia people creating the best version themselves. Who's the best team in the NBA right now?

[Gumpy]

That'd be Joe Missoula's Boston Celtics.

[Pat McAfee]

West Virginia, great.

[Gumpy]

No big deal.

[Pat McAfee]

No big deal.

[Gumpy]

Love that guy.

[Pat McAfee]

I didn't know that a West Virginia guy is leading the best team in the NFC west and also the best team in the NBA. And Joe Missoula.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, it's no big deal. And when I look around this Coliseum, I actually think there's some room for him to maybe go up in one of these rafters. I could see Joe Missoula being up there very soon.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, you look up in these rafters and you see legends like DeShawn Butler, obviously, and you see Mike Gansey, and you see Kevin Pitle. Hell, yeah. Then obviously Johnny west and hugs and the entire squad. West Virginia has a lot of history, a lot of dogs, and today is all about celebrating that. When we look at last night's game, you stayed awake for that thing.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, I did. I was watching other TV shows with it on, but when it's that poopy of a football game, you just kind of have to find ways to stay awake. I mean, as someone who bet the over, I was pissed off watching it the entire time. So it was kind of one of those hate watch situations. It's almost Sad because the 49ers, every year we go into it saying, hey, this could be their year. This could be their year. And for their season to be over already does stink. Matt Stafford, Puka, Nakua, weapons. You gotta love them. And at the end of the day, when you think about these teams, Geno Smith Seahawks are kind of the ones that are gonna, you know, edge out all these other people anyway, so who cares?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. And I think Geno has a shot. I think Matt Stafford getting as hot as he is and them getting as healthy as they are is obviously good. And the Niners thinking was not on the bingo.

[Gumpy]

No, no, it wasn't. Or having players quit middle of the game. Didn't see that coming at all.

[Pat McAfee]

AJ how do you feel about Campbell to say, nah, I'm not playing. You bring Kinlaw back, give him all my snaps, then he can't finish the game, even though he had nine tackles or whatever. Now you want to put me in? I don't think so. He tapped out of that game and actually just walked off the sideline. And every person that's ever played football, whether it's in the NFL or just in general, said, can't do this. This is treasonous behavior. You even heard Deniner say that. Once again, can't stress this enough. That is not a Rich Rodriguez guy. No. If you are. If you are ever planning on walking off of a field in the middle of the game just because your feelings are hurt, do not think about coming to West Virginia with Rich Rodriguez in this Entire thing. But what do you think about what happened there last night? AJ Would love to get your thoughts.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, I mean, obviously I don't love it. I know his teammates have already come out and they have to answer for it. And they've, you know, I guess, said how much they're. How disappointed they are and how. I've never really seen that happen. Yeah, you can't do this. I mean, you can't do it. I understand the. I understand wanting to do that. You're getting to that point to where you're that upset, you're that frustrated or pissed off to where you want to do something like this maybe, or flashes through your brain, but you can't do it because you're pissed that you're not out there. And then all of a sudden they want to put you out there and you say, no, I'm not going to play. So it's like, okay, do you really want to play or not?

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, I guess be who you can afford to be. He was with the packers, right?

[Boston Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah. Ty, you guys liked him at the Packers. He's trying to get out of there to get back. What do you think he's trying to do here? What's the move?

[Christian Pulisic]

No.

[Boston Connor]

So a lot of people actually brought this up last night. So when he first got to the Packers, I think they signed him off the Cardinals practice squad and kind of threw him a lifeline. And then he ended up having an all pro year and was great. And then the following year, not so much. They decided not to resign him. And towards the end of his run with the packers, he went to social media and started bashing the front office and. And all that kind of the scheme, like, making a bunch of excuses for why he didn't play as well as he did the year before. And then they did. The Niners signed him for, I think it was a one year, $5 million deal, basically because they knew that Green Law, you know, it was going to. It was going to take some time for him to get back. And I think that's kind of. Some people were saying that. It's like, hey, that was. That was kind of the thing all along is like, when these guys got healthy, like they were going to be put back in the lineup. So it's weird, especially last night, given the situation and how close that game was, like them still very much being in it and needing a win, that he would just walk off like that. But a lot of people were saying, hey, writing was kind of on the wall, especially if you look at the way he kind of exited with the packers as well.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, listen, if you're going to tap out, don't come to West Virginia. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, the founding father of Hard Edge, back as the West Virginia Mountaineer, head coach of the football team, ladies and gentlemen. He's in the back, head coach Rich Rodriguez. Coach. Hey, Coach. Hey. I want to let you know it's an absolute honor to be out here knowing that you're the man that is manning the football team once again. And I can't wait to make trips to Morgantown on a much more regular basis. So let's just lead off with that. How is it?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, you need to. Yeah, you need to bring your show, bring your crew, bring your teammates, bring A.J. in fact, A.J. i really. I've heard you gave an endorsement for old coach Rod here, and so I really appreciate it. I'm gonna get you some gear, too, because I got some gear looks better than what you got on. But anyway, I appreciate your.

[A.J. Hawk]

I respect the shot. I respect.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, but. But Pat, you're special and I am so proud for what you're doing, what you've done. And I told her I want to be on every week now. You're going to have Billicheck on there and Aaron Rodgers on there. You need to have Coach Rod from West Virginia on there every week now. So.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, sounds good. Hey, that sounds good to me. If you'll come on and you'll chit chat with us every week. I love that. Obviously, it's been very nice catching up with you. Not only over the years, obviously text back and forth every once in a while. But the last few weeks, as this became a potential reality, it's been nice talking and catching up and seeing your growth and seeing how you're handling everything. How has it been to be back in Morgantown? Was that a surreal moment yesterday when you get off that plane?

[Rich Rodriguez]

That is the perfect word, surreal. Because it's been 17 years. I've been back in the state. Obviously my family's here, my wife's family's from here and. But I haven't back to the facility for 17 years. And I kind of like what they've done with the place. You know, it's. It's really phenomenal what they've done. Facility wise, certainly the support is there. I know the Mountaineer Maniacs are still there and they're still one of the top party schools in the country. That's a good thing. I guess so. But I am. I am so blessed to have this opportunity. Really am.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So we see you walk around the building yesterday. We see your team meeting. Okay. And obviously the smile isn't catching up. And I think there's one or two people that are still in the building from your era, if I'm not mistaken. So it's probably nice. Yeah, there's a couple probably nice to see.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I didn't know they were filming my meeting, though. I would have. You know, my daughter Raquel told me afterwards, so you should always know the cameras are on. But I'm glad I didn't got to go off like I had had done before with at Pat McAfee or some of his teammates.

[Pat McAfee]

So if it means anything, good meeting. It was a great meeting. Did you know you were going to do that? How much do you prepare for that? And when you looked around that room, I saw the one part that I saw, and I told you about this whenever I saw you in the back before I came out here, whenever you told the guys, if you're going to allow. I see a lot of guys lounging, and if you're a lounge guy, I don't know if this is the place for you because. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rich Rodriguez]

You know, kind of looking disengaged. But I kind of treated it kind of nicely yesterday because it was the first team meeting. I didn't want to come off too strong. So I was. And I was. I was. I wasn't really hoping to see somebody lounging, but I was kind of hoping I would see somebody lounging. You know what I mean? So, yeah, I didn't. I didn't know. I didn't know their name, so I didn't have to embarrass them by name. And I'm glad I didn't because they weren't doing anything really that wrong. But it was just kind of a attention to detail that. That we're going to get started with from the jump.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. So you got to set the precedent early. Obviously, that's why it's called precedent. But I'll never forget one of my first meetings. I'm sitting like this, you know, casual. Just head back. I'm here. Okay. I'm on time. And also, you're 15 minutes early. Okay? You're 10 minutes early, you're late, you're on time, you're late, you're 15 minutes early. Every damn time. Pat McAfee, I'm like, you gotta coach. Okay? That's the type of stuff that you preach, preach and teach, that I've carried into my life. I appreciate you for that. But one of those first meetings, I'm casual sitting like this, you know, what's this guy gonna say? I can't wait to hear this. He's got a sweet accent. Can't wait to hear what he has to say. His intensity is gonna be awesome. And literally, before you even start anything, sit your ass up, McAfee. And I was like, whoop, all right, we are in this thing. And then it was immediate, like, hey, how you do anything is how you do everything.

[Rich Rodriguez]

That is how you kind of meeting. Remember the meeting we had when Darrell Rivas returned that punt?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Rich Rodriguez]

We were watching it as a whole team. I do remember that meeting. And I think you probably were abrupt of some of the discussion during that punt return. You had about five of your teammates. I do remember that one. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

But, coach, you talked and you said, he went a little easier there, but it seems like you're still the same coach. We're going to be accountable, we're going to be disciplined, we're going to be passionate, we're going to fly around. But you said you're a different coach now than you were 17 years ago. What does that mean for you? And did coaching your son Rhett change you? Is that something that potentially changed?

[Rich Rodriguez]

It did. I think every year it's like I've always said this. Some coaches brag about, well, they got 25 years of experience and whatever, but if they never grew or learned or got better, they got one year experience repeated 25 times. Right. And what I've tried to do is be a better coach every year, whether it's schemes or methods or how you run your program. And that's what I feel the most proud about, that the coaches, myself, and the coaches that have been around me on our staffs have gotten better every year. I'm a better coach now than I was when I left, but I needed to be. And if I want my players to be better every year, I gotta be better every year. And that doesn't mean we don't make mistakes. But at the same time, you know, we got a great passion. I still have a great passion for the. For football. I got a great passion to coach, and I still think good players want to be coached. There's kind of a tendency today of players not getting coached and coaches not coaching players. And the good players want to get coached, they want to get better, and that's our job, to make them better. And that's not always easy. Sometimes you got to be the bad guy as a coach. But at the end of the day when you make them better. All right. They'll appreciate you more as a coach, in my opinion.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach, I'll say this. I've been lucky to be a part of college game day, and I've got a chance to see, like, every single building the teams that win all. Coach, you know, the teams that kind of are in the middle kind of let happen, you know, let the lounge and happen. Let the, oh, I need more money in the middle of a season, I'm gonna sit out. Like, I think that is why you are the perfect guy for this job in 2024, especially at this school. And last question for me before AJ and the boys have some for you. When you looked around that room, and I know you said you were looking for somebody to lounge so you could point out the fact that, hey, in my meetings, that it's not out, you're going to be engaged. We're going to want to get after somebody's ass. How many people do you legitimately expect to remain? Because I've heard a lot of conversation about around the college football world that's like, Rich got to get in there, and he's got to start recruiting these guys that are on the roster to make sure they stick around. I. And I know not everybody's going to like this. We got to do a clean sweep. I'm okay with it. If we got to get Rich Rod's guys in there, I am. I'm okay with it. Because I was on a group text last night, and I told you this about with a lot of my teammates, old teammates, and they were like, those dudes have no idea. Those dudes have no clue what it's about to. What's about to be asked of them. When you look in that room and you talk to some of these guys, do you feel like there is some carryover that will be able to fit into a coach Rod culture? And how do you feel about the roster?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, you know, that's. That's a great question, because I haven't. I watched a little bit of practice this morning, but I haven't watched film. I haven't really watched their games. I haven't really kind of studied their talent, so to speak. But from that. From that standpoint, if they're a talented guy and they work hard and they buy into the program, I want them around. If they're soft or lazy, if they don't want to give their best effort, then I don't want them around. I mean, it's pretty simple, right? It's like the two words, four letter words, are soft and lazy. And that, to me, has nothing to do with talent or what year they are. And that's coming from a state that I know very well. The people in what state of West Virginia work hard. They don't want to be soft. They don't want to be lazy. They don't want the people playing and representing them being soft or lazy.

[Pat McAfee]

I talked to you the other day about this, and you said, you said, you know, the way my teams have always been described is tough. And I take that as a badge of honor because I'm from West Virginia. West. Yeah. Your ties off. I mean, you're getting jacked up. Get jacked up over there in a suit, the ties, getting all disheveled. Yeah, I get it. You know, you want to go get after somebody's ass right now. You know, you want to get these people even better. But you said, every position, I want to be tough. Every single position, I want them to be tough. And we could feel that when we were in your locker room, and I think these guys will feel it as well. AJ Has a question for you from the Ohio State Buckeyes.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, Coach, I love that. The soft and lazy. I agree with you completely on that sentiment. But when you're going out and trying to recruit players that are not soft, not lazy, I guess, how do you know when they're a Rich Rod or a WVU guy, and how are you going to locate them? And then ultimately, what are you going to do with them once you bring them to campus?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, I think the difference now with so much turnover in college football, and we got to face it, you've got to build a program, but you're also building a team every year, and you might have a bunch of new guys every year, but if you bring in the right guys, your culture would be consistent. You know, from that standpoint, you can't sacrifice. Every coach talks about they have culture, culture, but they sacrifice their culture for one player or two players, and you can't do that. The culture is the culture. And then everybody comes in, has to adapt to what you're doing, how you do things, and it's hard to do that because, you know, you don't really know the guys sometimes in the transfer portal, or sometimes you don't really know the guys in high school. So as coaches, we better really vet and think, is this our type of guy? You could tell by the skill and the speed and all that, but is he our type of guy? Can he make it through a practice Will he buy into what we're trying to do? Does he want to be coached? And if they do all that, they're fine. But sometimes you evaluate wrong. I think one of the strengths that I've been blessed with, my staff has been blessed with, we can evaluate those guys that fit that part. They have the talent, but they fit that hard edge. And we talk about that hard. Sometimes guys don't have it because they've never been taught to have it. Some guys have it naturally, but they all gotta have it to be in this program.

[Pat McAfee]

You got a good radar of hard edge, huh? Walk into a room. Soft, soft, soft, tough, soft. I like that. That's a good thing to have in a football coach. I'll let you know that.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Well, you know, I like when my kicker will knock the hell out of somebody when he's trying to make a return. You know what I mean?

[Nick Saban]

Pat.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I don't think you was that jacked up when you were playing for me, but that's okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach Rod, I was strength to conditioning, All American here at West Virginia. Actually hang clean in 365, like 10 times with Barwis beach, which leads me to that. When you said to the boys in the meeting, if you want to play fast, you're gonna have to be in shape. And then you just matter of factly said, we're gonna be in shape. And that was the line that we all said these dudes don't fully understand. When does that start for you? Like when. I don't think I understand the whole process here because they have a bowl game and then. Yeah, what? Probably. Probably a break. And then after that.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, a couple weeks. And then they'll start in the. In the winter conditioning program in January. I did ask too, that that the law school hill was still available because we're going to use that hill, you know me. Yeah, and they. I guess they were still on it, so that's a good thing. I don't have to introduce it to them again so they know where the hill is at.

[Pat McAfee]

You'll be able to find some hills around here. You know, every time you land in here, it's so beautiful. Like, I think I forget every time we fly in. And it had been a long time since I came back the last time for the spring game and everything like that. You fly in here. The foliage, the views, the people, the town. I mean, it is ready to host, recruit, and win again, you know, And I think that is very evident. I think it's very evident, Coach.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, you could. And I Was going to mention it later, but you can win a national championship in West Virginia. You can win a national championship at West Virginia. You can win an attempt at West Virginia.

[Pat McAfee]

We are this close. Which is why I'm happy that you're back. And I know you're going to talk about at your press conference, but that was a big thing. I told you. I said, hey, I need you to go back there and do this so I can get this off of my conscience. And you said, you, too. You've been thinking about this for a long time as well, right? Making it.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, I want to make it right. Let's make it right.

[Pat McAfee]

How do you feel about that, though? Like, legitimately? What is the. Because for me, it shows up when I'm laying my head down at night. Okay? My head lays down at night, and I think about what I gotta do tomorrow. And then all of a sudden, I think to myself, man, if I had a fucking national championship ring, this would be so much cool. But we were that close, you know?

[A.J. Hawk]

And then I put.

[Pat McAfee]

And then I go to sleep, and then the next day I forget about it. And then I'll have lunch and somebody from LSU or somebody will talk and be like, hey, you remember? I'm like, yeah, I do remember. So it's like with me every single day for you. Have you been trying to bury it for a long time, or has it been something with.

[Rich Rodriguez]

It's. It's always out there. But here's where. How do you get there? You can't think like, okay, we're gonna win a national championship, and then it magically appears. It's like, what do we got to do tomorrow to win? Every. Every. Every decision I make in this program, every decision the coaching staff makes, every decision that the players make, does it help us win? If it doesn't help us win, it ain't the right decision. So that's kind of the mindset we're going to have from day one.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, I can't wait to watch you make it right. Con man has a question for you. Coach.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, coach. Friend of yours, guy who actually coached for you, Tony Gibson, got hired down at Marshall, and he brought up the idea of the Friends of Cold bowl coming back. Is that something you're interested in? Do you see that happening? And if you were to maybe play. Are we thinking, like, 63, nothing, West Virginia, or how does that. Is it a respectful game where you kind of let off the gas a little bit?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, well, Gibby is a great friend of mine, was a great staff member. And we're still very dear friends. But I don't even think you think I have spent one second thinking about Marshall. You're wrong. I could care less. It's blue and gold.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you're damn right. You're damn right. This is the team of the state of West Virginia. Now there is a game. There is a game. Obviously, Marshall. Friends of Cold bowl shout out to Governor Manchin at the time. Then he became Senator Manchin. Then he was Independent Manchin. Then. Is he President Manchin? No, can't be. Whatever the case, still around. He created that Friends of Cold bowl initiative. The other rivalry, third week, September 13, 9, 13. Okay, that's going to be in West Virginia, in Morgantown. And I know you got games before that. And how can we win right now? That's obviously the football gods putting something up on a tee potentially early in your first year. And how do you view the thought of that particular game?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Well, I probably misspoke. Misspoke a little bit earlier when I said the two worst four letter words. We're soft and lazy. I left out Pitt.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach Scott, as you know, I'm in the middle of a live show right now. Good to see you, buddy. Kind of doing something. I appreciate you. We'll take a photo in a matter of.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Thank you, guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Great. But no, no, not you. I'm talking to this guy right here that's literally right next to me trying to get a good guy. This good guy right here looks good. You do know that that particular school literally wins nothing. No. They hang their hat on beating us in that one game. Legitimately. That's it. So let's make sure September 13th, that. That kind of. All right, that's.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Right.

[Pat McAfee]

One last question here. One of my guys back in Indianapolis, Ty Schmidt, has a question for you. Coach Rod.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, Coach, Just curious. Everyone, you know, when they talk about college football now, it's, hey, the. The transfer portal has changed everything. Or nil has changed everything. But in your opinion, how has the game itself changed from the first time you were at West Virginia to now? And do you think you can still emulate the team, you know, upcoming this next year, similar to the teams you had, you know, when Pat was there and you were so successful?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, that's a good question, Neil. Back then, this is 20 years ago or so, there wasn't a lot of teams that had spread formations, shotgun and up tempo a lot of the time. Now there's a whole lot of teams that do it. And so teams are defending that kind of style of offense. Differently now than they did 20 years ago. So you have to adapt. You know, we're not exactly the same as we were 20 years ago, but our core is the same. I still believe in tempo. I still believe in conditioning. I still believe you got to be able to run the football first and be strong up front. And I still believe in playing with 11. You know, our quarterbacks are going to be part of the play, whether it's a run or a pass all the time. So we still maintain that. But it's a lot more creative defenses that we're seeing nowadays, and we have to learn to. We've learned how to adapt to that.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, Coach, we can't wait to watch you. This crowd can't wait to see you in about an hour or so. You're the man. Thank you so much.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Let's go.

[Pat McAfee]

Let's go, man. It's going to be leading that Rich Rodriguez. We appreciate it.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, Coach.

[Pat McAfee]

I saw his brother. I saw his brother backstage. Couldn't even tell. They looked.

[Gumpy]

They looked exactly like our twins.

[Pat McAfee]

Twins. He lives in the state. His family lives in the state. Mom lives in the state. Wife's mom lives in the state. His friends live in the state. The business people in this state love him.

[Gumpy]

What?

[Pat McAfee]

I'm thankful Ren Baker made the decision. Now, whenever I say this, I mean this. I am a money guy here now, AJ Because.

[A.J. Hawk]

Big money guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Not. No, the big money guy is Mr. Kendrick. We are very thankful for that particular billionaire. And we would like to say to Mr. Kent, if the pockets are open, we're winning the whole damn thing. Ken knows that. Ken knows that. But as a contributor to the program, I will say, you know, Ren Baker, I think he kind of felt obligated to talk to me throughout this process, and I tried my absolute best to be like, hey, just empower rent. Because Ren. I believe it. I have faith in Ren. I like the way he operates. I like the way he handles himself. I think he's young. I think he's. He loves the state of West Virginia. He's got a real nice house. Did you see.

[Gumpy]

Oh, my God. The view out the back? Holy shit.

[Pat McAfee]

He's got a real nice house here. So I think he's really loving being in West Virginia. But I tried my best to remain completely out. I didn't want to put more pressure on him. He certainly knew where I wanted this whole thing to end up, but I didn't want to put any more pressure on him. He left no stone unturned. He interviewed everybody, literally everybody. He was the. The broadest search, I think, maybe in the history of college football. Like, the amount of all roads he said led to Rich Rodriguez in this particular coaching cycle. And it's like, if you just took the resumes. If you just took the resumes. And I talked to one of the money guys back in the back. Sweet mullet.

[Gumpy]

Fantastic.

[Pat McAfee]

Sweet. We're talking to some money guys back there. Got a construction guy back there. He's got a lot of money. He's awesome.

[Gumpy]

Builds a lot of stuff.

[Pat McAfee]

A lot of stuff.

[A.J. Hawk]

They're just coming to the press. They want to see the press conference.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, I think they were potentially a part of the whole process, but they're all very excited that Rich Rod is back. They said, just take the resumes, take the name off the top, and just put everything else down, and then just go ahead and see who's the best coach, not only for this particular job, but for any job right now. It's open. And then obviously, that's Rich Rodriguez's resume. And then if you think about the state of West Virginia and the fit in the culture, it's a guy that's from here. Now, there are some people that are a little bit indifferent. So I thought there was a chance that Ren Baker, because he's young, because this is his place, you know, he wants to kind of reinstate his own mindset, his own decisions. I thought there he would go a different way legitimately, and I would have been, all right, you got to do what you got to do. Wouldn't have been around as much, but certainly will support the entire thing. So the fact that Ren Baker put the pride aside. I'm saying, this my guy, he didn't listen to any of the outside noise, and he made his own decision because he thinks that this is the right decision to win. Like, I'm incredibly proud of Ren, and I'm. I hope it happens for him. Had a baby. Ren back. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we go from Rich Rodriguez, who will be out here for a press conference, to some NFL conversation. No. Okay, let her. Never mind. We will leave the NFL, and we will go to soccer. Good sport.

[Gumpy]

Fantastic. Good at it.

[Pat McAfee]

Here. West Virginia soccer team. Very good at. At the sport. Men's and women's doing their thing, and kind of bummed out that this guy didn't go to West Virginia, but he decided to become proud. They call him Captain America. He has a documentary coming out on Paramount plus, available now.

[Gumpy]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

Ladies and gentlemen, Christian Pelisson. Yeah. Well.

[Nick Saban]

Can you hear me?

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Yeah. We're just kind of watching you figure out how to set yourself on the screen there, you know.

[Christian Pulisic]

All right. Yeah, I don't have much space there to work with. Let me. All right, there we go.

[Pat McAfee]

Spatial awareness is something you're great at, Christian, let's talk about this. Obviously, you are being tasked with Captain America carrying the United States of America soccer team into this next era. New coach and everything. Documentary is going to be covering you playing overseas, being an American. How did it feel exposing yourself to the cameras? And how do you think the world is going to react to what your life has been as an American soccer star playing in Europe?

[Christian Pulisic]

It was something new for me, for sure. I wasn't used to that, you know, that inside access people, you know, follow me around at times, a lot of cameras. But I enjoyed the experience. I think people are going to get a pretty cool look into kind of. Yeah. Some of the difficulties I go through on a day to day basis. A lot of the stuff, what it's like being American over in Europe, trying to play at the highest level. So I think it's a. It was a perfect time and I hope people enjoy the look into that.

[Pat McAfee]

I can't wait. Obviously, the United States has been trying to break into the international soccer scene. I grew up playing soccer. I think there was always dreams and aspirations of America getting onto everybody else's level. Does it feel like we're closer than ever because of you? Reina, who's that goalie? It looks like he's 12.

[Gumpy]

He's a stone from Fairfield, Connecticut. Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, my.

[Gumpy]

I'm blanking on it. I should have looked at the rock.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm sorry.

[Gumpy]

I went to school with them.

[Pat McAfee]

We're closer than we've ever been or think we're. What do you think? How much can we talk shit about the United States soccer at this moment, do you think?

[Christian Pulisic]

I mean, I. I definitely say we're closer than we ever have been. I think, like, like you mentioned, there's so many top players now playing in Europe at the highest level and we've. We've just never had that before, so. Absolutely. I think fans can be excited. But, yeah, now it's on us to go out and show and, and prove why we're, you know, why we can, you know, hang with the best and beat the best.

[Pat McAfee]

Go ahead, aj.

[A.J. Hawk]

Christian, when you were. They were filming for this docuseries, obviously, did you. Was there ever a time when you forgot the cameras were there and you felt like you hear people back in the day for the real world, like, oh, after a day or two, you forget the cameras there and you just go about your life. Did that ever happen for you?

[Christian Pulisic]

Yeah, I think at times. My good friend Daniel has been. Has been working on this with me, so he kind of can be real low key. And, yeah, it definitely feels like sometimes they're not even there. So that's a good thing, though. I think that's how I want it to be. I don't want any big crew following me around all the time. But, yeah, there's definitely moments like that.

[Pat McAfee]

What do we need to become? So. Because it feels like the academies that they have in Europe, where as a kid, you kind of go to an academy and you spend your life playing soccer pretty much kind of forego high school, forego college, you kind of learn how to be a professional soccer player. What do you think the United States needs to do to catch up? Or is sending the Americans over there our best path?

[Christian Pulisic]

Yeah, I think for me, it was definitely the best. The best thing to do to go over to Europe at the time, that first year in Germany, when I left home, and it was a big sacrifice for me, and I realized that these kids that I was competing with, they didn't want anything to do with me. They were thinking, you know what? This guy's coming to take my place. That's not going to happen. So there was a competitiveness at 15 years old in the academies that I had never experienced before, and I think that's what it's going to take to get us to the next level is that kind of competition every day. And that fight, I just. I never saw it in the US quite at that level. But with that being said, I think the academies are. Have come a long way.

[Pat McAfee]

Connor has a question for you. Christian.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, Goalie's Matt Turner. We all know that. Sorry. Shout out Fairfield. Go Stags. Christian, how has it been going from England to Italy? Obviously you were with Chelsea for a little. Now you know you're killing it with AC Milan before you got injured. How has that transition been?

[Christian Pulisic]

I've loved every second of it over here. I think. I think the Italian lifestyle and culture in general just fits me a lot better. Well, maybe most people with the weather and the food and those kind of things, but also the club and the way that. The way they've treated me and given me a lot of trust and confidence and allowed me to kind of return to my best form. I've just enjoyed the transition a lot. And, yeah, I think it's Going really well.

[Pat McAfee]

What do you know about coach Paul Chetino? Because I know that we're going to win the World Cup. Whenever it's in the America, Canada, United States and in Mexico, we're going to go to every game. I think Connor's actually going to go to every single Kansas City. He's going to be on field reporting. What do you know about Coach Punch? And we're going to win a World Cup. That's how we feel.

[Christian Pulisic]

I love the confidence. We need you. We need you guys, man, at those games and then hyping people up, getting everyone excited. Get the country behind.

[Pat McAfee]

We'll come to practice. If you need us. You need us to practice, we'll come. Whatever you need.

[Christian Pulisic]

All right. Hey, that could work for sure. But, yeah, you know, we've spent a little time with the coach so far and yes, short stints, getting to know him a little bit and working with the team. He obviously has a lot of experience coaching at the highest level in Europe. So I think it's an exciting time and we should definitely look forward to it.

[Pat McAfee]

Last question. Because I think a big part of the storyline is about how Americans get treated playing European soccer, you know, and I think. I think we read something where one person compared it to what the Europeans were like in the NBA like 30 years ago in the 90s, back whenever, like, KU coach was getting a final shot instead of Scottie Pippen and the reaction and everything like that. I think there's a lot of that chatter. Do they view American soccer players still the same way they did 20 years ago? And if they did, do you ever look at them and say, what the hell have you created over here in Europe? You ever say that or.

[Christian Pulisic]

No, maybe not exactly that. I think. I think they may have. May have taken me, you know, taking that line and ran with it a little bit in some ways of, you know, that American bias. I think, I think for sure you could see the English have that running joke, you know, that we can't play football, you know, whatever. But I would say that I don't feel that way anymore. I honestly, I think it's come a long way, for sure. I don't look at myself as a victim or looked at it anyway. I think anyone coming into Europe from anywhere else in the world, it can be difficult. So there's always challenges in that way. But I think. I think I'm well respected and I don't necessarily think that they're out to get me in any way like that.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you ever think about telling them that America is better than all of their countries combined. You ever think about that?

[Christian Pulisic]

Oh, yeah, I think about it. I think about it. Maybe I don't say it, but I'll.

[Pat McAfee]

Always think it just at breakfast or lunch, looking at him. Where are you from? Oh, that country sucks in comparison to mine. Just. Just all. Just let them all know, okay? And we want to let you know you're doing us incredibly proud. Keep kicking ass out over there, and we can't wait for you to win the World cup so we can act like American stooges all over the place. We appreciate you, man.

[Christian Pulisic]

Yeah, I appreciate it. Appreciate you guys. Thanks for having me.

[Pat McAfee]

Usa. Usa. That's because of you. Hell, yeah.

[Boston Connor]

Come on.

[Pat McAfee]

It's a football press conference. Chair in USA for soccer. We're all behind you, ladies and gentlemen. He has a documentary available now on Paramount. Plus Captain America from the soccer team, Christian Pelosi.

[Gumpy]

Christian.

[Pat McAfee]

It would be so much better if we just beat everybody in that sport, because you know how they say it's the world's game. It's the most beautiful game. It'd be nice if we just. If people like this would just go in there and just smack them around and we'd win the World cup, especially in America. Could you fathom we win the World cup in America, and we'd all be saying, it's coming home? Ace. Tom Jones. Tom Jones. No, no, no.

[Gumpy]

I was singing the. The gumpy.

[A.J. Hawk]

Definitely.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I wasn't.

[Gumpy]

No, that's bold Hog.

[Pat McAfee]

Shut up. You weren't singing Tom Joneses. You were singing Puff Daddy. No, I wasn't. No, I wasn't. That's not true.

[A.J. Hawk]

You're gonna get me run out of this.

[Ty Schmidt]

That guy loves Puff Daddy.

[Pat McAfee]

That's not true. Tony, don't do this.

[Gumpy]

Don't do this, Digs.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, we are 37 minutes away from this press conference happening, and I think this place is going to be on fire. You know, as people have filed in, look at. I mean, this is pretty insane. I saw the North Carolina press conference yesterday. That was cute. Hey, Lambo, that was cute. Hey, Bubba. That was cute. Bill. That was cute. Look at these beautiful Mountaineers showing up country road to the place. I love West Virginia. Wow. It's beautiful. Listen, recruits, you want to be a part of this place? Okay? And they got, you know, koozies. That's what. He was just trying to shake my hand. He was trying to give me one of these koozies. My man, right here. Absolute dog. We're ready. We are excited.

[Gumpy]

Pretty sweet.

[A.J. Hawk]

That's a good one. I like that one.

[Pat McAfee]

Reaching out, touching me. Touching you. Sweet Caroline. All right, so I just want to get one more in. If we could. That is. That's every single conversation. Let's get Back to the NFL. Odell Beckham Jr. No longer a part of the Miami Dolphins. What? No way.

[Gumpy]

That's a bummer.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, the hell of a run. He and the Dolphins have elected to part ways. I believe he was getting a three million dollar salary. I think it was like a million with some upside. He obviously had done nothing for the Miami Dolphins thus far. We saw him whenever he played the Indianapolis Colts. He just did a conditioning period. He just ran sprints down the middle of the field. Obviously at that point they couldn't throw the football because two was out. Then he would go to the sideline. He's in shape. We can say that we've seen with our eyes. Look for him to go back to like the Rams. They're saying the Chargers need a weapon. I assume he has a house in LA and then maybe even a Ravens. What if the Ravens had another weapon? I don't know if Gumpy's microphone works back there or not. Gumpy die hard Dolphins fan. How do you feel about the loss of. Oh, geez.

[A.J. Hawk]

Doesn't work.

[Boston Connor]

Yikes.

[Pat McAfee]

Never mind.

[Gumpy]

Doesn't work.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what his thoughts are. He just farted into a mic.

[Ty Schmidt]

Seemingly the Ravens kind of make sense because he was there last year and actually performed pretty well with them last year. And if Deontay Johnson is going to not go into games, you know, Odell could fill right in.

[Pat McAfee]

So Odell Beckham Jr. Could be a massive free agent signing. Is that what we're assuming here? Is there going to be interest, AJ Is that what we're thinking? Yeah.

[A.J. Hawk]

I mean, I. I would assume he clears waivers obviously, but yeah, someone will bring him in for a nice little playoff push. What are you paying? You only owe him what? Minimum for whatever games he's there.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I would assume it'd be league men. Get a nice weapon in there. Maybe drop some plays for him to have success. When he was with McVeigh, obviously he had success with the Ravens. He had some success this year with the Dolphins. Hasn't been great following a knee injury. A knee surgery?

[Ty Schmidt]

I believe.

[Pat McAfee]

So maybe he gets back into form somewhere. College football awards were last night. Congrats to Genty winning Maxwell and Doak Walker. Congrats to Travis Hunter winning. To Bed N to Walter Camp and blitz. And congrats to Coach Signetti winning the Coach of the Year. Now the reason why that's so important, he goes from JMU to the Big Ten, brings like 13 of his guys, almost goes undefeated. Win Coach of the Year. Look out for Jacksonville State's old coach to come back to West Virginia and do the same damn thing.

[A.J. Hawk]

What's up y'all? It's Joe Budden here to talk about.

[Pat McAfee]

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[A.J. Hawk]

It's what's happening Pack Con man, what.

[Gumpy]

Are you guys doing?

[A.J. Hawk]

I see you guys somewhat. Libations, they call them. You guys are pouring out.

[Pat McAfee]

It's a celebration. Okay, there's some beers being sold in the concession stand here. Celebrated press conference. But also the Country Roads Trust is the money making operation here for the sports. They have beer that's available here. They have whiskey here. They have this particular bottle here. Cheers. Beers and mountaineers. That is real. Yeah, they have this one here. You can't buy it. And I said, well, why. Why do you have it if you can't buy it? I thought we're trying to make money. Well, a guy bought the entire barrel for a lot of money. That guy's right here. The guy that gave me the. This guy is a dog right here. He's got some new incredible boots on. He's. He's an absolute beast. So we're just doing a little mixing. We're trying this stuff out. And, you know, if you want to buy any of it, sport West Virginia, you certainly can. But we are just a matter of moments away from another West Virginia man, Nick Saban joining us in about 10 minutes. And you hear the pop for him because it is very understood in this state that Nick Saban is a West Virginia guy. Now, obviously, he would go elsewhere and have massive success. But throughout this entire coaching searching process for Ren Baker, Nick Saban was somebody that Ren was able to rely upon. I can't wait to talk to coach Saban about why he thinks we got to coach Rod coming back. But I also can't wait for Nick Saban to get a chance to experience these people just like he did whenever we were in Morgantown to kick off this season. I think he's reminded of how much he's beloved and how great of a football town this is. How do you feel one hour into this program, four hours into this day in Morgantown? How do you feel about the energy and the vibes?

[Gumpy]

Oh, the energy and the vibes are fantastic. I mean, to be honest, I watch you pour that beautiful nectar of the gods into that Coke Zero, and I very much want to try it. But I think with Saban, you know, helping run Baker, helping West Virginia, it goes back to how much of a football state this is, because he hasn't, you know, been really associated with the football program as closely. He's a Bama boy, you know, obviously won A national championship at lsu. But for a guy like that to, you know, give his time to run Baker to West Virginia, I think it kind of goes to the point of, like, they love football here, they want to win here. And hiring a guy like Rich Rod from West Virginia, it just means more, I think, to the team, to the state, to the university. That's a guy like that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Tone Diggs, obviously, you're from Plum up the road from me, and I think you've had a few nights in Morgantown. Yeah. Oh, yeah, Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

I got kicked out of, you know, the Lazy Lizard and Club Z at the time, you know, those were good experiences. A lot of Plum kids go down to Morgantown, and then all of. All the friends follow because. Because as Rich Rod said earlier, it was the number one party school in the country. At the time.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, at the time. At the time, I don't know what.

[Gumpy]

Happened getting back there.

[Pat McAfee]

So I. I think. And I don't want to talk out of pocket, because I was not here during this time, and I was not plugged in. Sure. I think there was a time where there was an idea that we need to potentially, because, remember, whenever we left the Big east and we were trying to find a new conference, the SEC said, academically, I don't think so. The ACC said, academically, I don't think so. Come on. The Big Ten said, academically, we don't think so. Now, those are all excuses because they didn't want to get their asses whooped by the Western. But I do believe if you look into stats and analytics, it was potentially a thing. But that was a part of the charm of West Virginia. Like, hey, you go down to Morgantown, the football team's going to win, the basketball team's going to win, and you're going to win because you're going to have a great time. Now, a lot of the buildings that were hosting those good times, maybe we're falling apart at the seams. You know, maybe there's an area, you know, Grant Street, McLean. I grew up in that area. Sunnyside area. That is where my house was. Houses, were they. We hosted some. Some great team chemistry building cookouts there. Sure. Not parties. The whole city would show up, fire marshal would come through, cops would shut down the block. It was kind of understood what was going on. They've kind of demolished that entire area, put up these big apartment complexes. So I think it's kind of taken away from that particular aspect. But you walk around Morgantown, it is beautiful. Yeah. So whenever you talk about Recruiting or bringing people in. You come into this Morgantown, you see tradition, history, and obviously Woodburn hall and everything up there and the mountain layer is beautiful and everything you could potentially want from an academic standpoint is available here. But there's also an energy of a good time here. And I think Coach Rod is very adamant to bring that back. I. I think that is something he's. We're going to win games and we're going to celebrate them. That is how this is going to go. That is what the fall semesters are going to be like in Morgantown, West Virginia. And we're going to get great degrees, right? We're going to get great degrees.

[Gumpy]

Some of the best school.

[Pat McAfee]

We're going to do our thing. Not quite as. And maybe even someday I'll graduate. Yeah, why not?

[A.J. Hawk]

I mean, after all this money you're given, you have to. They got to give you one.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, maybe a doctorate. I mean, that'd be cool.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah. Other guys have come back. I know they're celebrities that get those.

[Pat McAfee]

No, I want to earn it. That's what West Virginia is all about, you know, I want to earn it.

[Gumpy]

Hard edge.

[Pat McAfee]

It's a hard edge.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And I think we are going back and you know, I think like I mentioned all those guys from back in my team's era, like they're all pumped to get back in and see how. How can we help, you know, like, how can we help this thing get back to what it was? And that's what today is obviously a celebration about. Last night's game, Niners, Rams. Got to talk about it. Obviously the only football game that took place this weekend, Army Navy's happening and.

[Gumpy]

I believe that's it.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, that's good news. So the only game that has taken place or for us to chit chat about on this particular Friday is Niners Rams snooze fest. AJ Your take on the game Thursday.

[A.J. Hawk]

Night Football, a little bit of a snooze fest. Hey, Puka still doing puka things. Making unbelievable catches and trapping under the dudes helmets. And that deep ball late in the game I think was huge for the Rams. But yeah, Matthew Stafford, he's a wizard. Still doing it at this age.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Matthew Stafford was drafted in the same draft class as myself and he got enough money as the number one overall pick then to buy the entire city of Detroit just like. Just like AJ Hawk did as the number five overall pick. So the fact that he still plays the way that he plays Sean McVay had him doing quarterback sneaks he did a boot, an empty boot on like a third and two or something like that. He was getting his ass beat last night, and it was very visible. And I don't think Matthew Stafford cares. He just wants to win football, which is why Matthew Stafford would have been a great. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia Mountain perfect. All he wants to do is win ball. And I think that's like the big noble thing about Matt. He can spin it. Obviously, he's been playing a long time. He is a tough dude. And I think that was evident last night in this game. And I think it's been evident throughout his entire career.

[A.J. Hawk]

AJ Well, I mean, there's. If anyone's seen any of the clips of Matthew Stafford, Mike Du basically has a broken back and he's gotten a demolished. And he keeps coming back over and over and making plays. I think that's. That's his career. That's what he's done. Of you guys. You guys having a chug off on Coke zero and booze.

[Gumpy]

I would never.

[Pat McAfee]

No. The issue here is floater. You see the hole on the can? It's small.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah. You got small hole. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So when you're pouring this delightful 1863 West Virginia Gold available now, some of them box and blues support some sports. I mean, that's not a bad thing. When you're trying to pour it in there, it gets on the rim. So every sip is basically a shot of whiskey and then there is a little bit of coke Zero. Delicious. This is. This is West Virginia gold. Yeah.

[A.J. Hawk]

It's fantastic.

[Gumpy]

I mean, they're gonna have $50 million in nil because of this.

[Pat McAfee]

It's worth it. Listen, I know there's some whiskey drinkers out there, and Ty, we need to get you some. I know you're hammering about a bottle a night, so we need to get you started funding 18, 1963 stock.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, I haven't been able to take my eyes off that since it was first placed on the desk. I've kind of just been getting lost in it as we're looking at it and you guys reaction to it, you know, it seems to be going down smooth. I do need to get myself a bottle or 50 of that 1863.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Support the team. Support the team. Ty also would like to let you know here at West Virginia, you're not just about the good times and a good booze.

[Gumpy]

Oh, no.

[Pat McAfee]

We're also innovative. There's a ball marker right in the top of the thing here. This is a ball marker. Oh, wow.

[A.J. Hawk]

For golf.

[Pat McAfee]

Pretty cool.

[Boston Connor]

That's neat.

[Pat McAfee]

Take it on a golf course, get absolutely shithoused, and then some spot and mark your ball on the green. We're thinking about everything here in West Virginia. Joining us now is a an export of West Virginia. Born and raised here, played football here, played baseball here. Then he went out into the college football world and became the greatest of all time. Ladies and gentlemen, coach Nick Sage. How you doing, Coach?

[Nick Saban]

I'm doing great. You're back in West Virginia, huh?

[Pat McAfee]

That's right. We got a big press conference today announcing Rich Rodriguez as the head coach. Ren Baker going to be out here in a matter of moments, which leads me to my question for you. I don't think it's any secret now at this point, probably because of me. That's on me. You were a part of this coaching search process alongside Bren Baker. Why did you want to help and how did you go about doing that?

[Nick Saban]

Well, you know, West Virginia University has always been really important to me, and I grew up there being a big time Mountaineer fan. Biggest thing that happened to me in a year was when my dad take me to one Mountaineer game every fall. And that. That never leaves you. You know, I remember when I was a kid watching Jerry west play basketball. I mean, it's it that never leaves you. So my heart's always been with West Virginia. I actually coached there for a couple years. And I love the people in the state. We have a lot of friends and relationships in the state. And I'm happy that Rich is back and I think he'll do a great job there. Him being a West Virginia person grew up about six or seven miles from where I grew up, and I'm glad that he came back and he had great success there in the past. Obviously coaching great players like you helped him do that, but other than that, we're just excited for him.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so let's talk about the process a little bit. Everything you do, you are very much deep in it. You're going to be well versed, well researched for everything. I got to see that with college game day. It has been an honor to watch you work and work alongside of you whenever Wren calls and asks for some assistance. What does that mean? Are you watching film? Are you talking to people? What was really your job in this entire process?

[Nick Saban]

Well, I think that it's. It's probably, you know, the cumulative effect of, you know, a lot of years and experience that a. I have with working with a lot of good coaches, but also watching coaches, you know, out there have success in terms of what their process is and, you know, what. What kind of principles and values that they try to instill in their organization, whether it's discipline, toughness, the way you compete in a game, whatever it is. And, you know, I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Rich. And, you know, he came to visit us a couple times at Alabama when I was coaching there. Was very helpful and beneficial to, you know, our staff. He's great mind. He was an innovator in the game. I mean, everybody does zone reads now like it's nothing, but he invented it. So I think this guy's, you know, great. And I guess I just talked around a couple times about who was the best fit. Who. Who was the best fit for West Virginia. It's not just about coaching knowledge or what your record was in some other part of the country, but how do you fit? How do you believe? How are you going to relate to the people? How are you going to be able to recruit the kind of players you need to compete against, you know, the competition and dominate the competition? And I think Rich is the right guy to do that.

[Pat McAfee]

AJ Has a question for you, Coach.

[A.J. Hawk]

Coach Rich, Rod's gonna be up here doing his introductory press conference here very soon. Whenever you addressed, you got a new job and you had a press conference, did you give much thought to it? Did you have a plan going in? Do you have a little speech written, like, I would assume, you know, first impression?

[Nick Saban]

I want to be a team that nobody wants to play. I wanted the people to understand that. I wanted the players in the program to understand that, the players that we were going to recruit in the future to understand that. So, you know, there's always a message. And, you know, I think, you know, Rich was at West Virginia once before. The advice that I would give him that his message needs to be that, you know, he made a huge mistake when he left, and the greatest thing that ever happened to him was having the opportunity to come back.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach, how do you feel like this college football season has gone? As we pivot away from this press conference, and obviously, as members of college game day, we get a different view because we get to go to the biggest game every single week. And in the future, it feels like we're going to be taking a lot of stops in Morgantown, West Virginia.

[A.J. Hawk]

Sorry.

[Pat McAfee]

Had to do it. Had to. You know, you see me operate. Yeah. What do you think about this college football season, and how would you describe how it's gone thus far as we head into the College Football Playoff?

[Nick Saban]

Well, I think that the thing that has been most difficult for most teams other than Oregon is have you been able to play with consistency and have you been able to keep the same standard of excellence as you progress through the season? And has your team improved so that you can play consistently and. And not only, you know, big games, but also every game that you play and be where your feet are and be focused on what you need to do? I think that's been the thing that's been most challenging. I think for most coaches, maybe the circumstance that the players in is a little different now. So we all need to adapt and adjust to how do we figure out how we can get these guys to play at a high level on a more consistent basis? Because a, it's not only the season, it creates value for them. I mean, when a player plays to his full potential, when he's not up and down in terms of what his performance is and he's consistent in the way he goes about his work and taking care of business, I mean, that creates value for him, which ultimately is what you want to do as a coach. But I think it's more challenging now based on the environment that we're in, and I think it created some inconsistency in play for some teams this year.

[Pat McAfee]

I think so, too. And coach, if you were still the head coach at Alabama, with three losses, they're getting in the playoffs, SMU's got no shot. But hey, SMU is very thankful that you retired, as we all are, that you're a part of college game day. Con Man's got a question for you.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, Coach? After West Virginia hiring Rich Rod, the second biggest hire is definitely Bill Belichick down at unc. What do you think about that whole plan for unc? I don't know if you saw the Bill Belichick contract in things of that nature, but there's escalators and stuff like that, and there's an out possibly. Why did you think he went to unc? And do you see other guys from the NFL maybe making the jump to college because it is much more like the pro game now?

[Nick Saban]

Well, I. Look, I'm happy for Bill. I think he probably wanted a new challenge, and this is certainly going to be a great challenge for him. North Carolina is a great academic institution as well as I've got plenty of, you know, athletic tradition there and basketball, football, and Bill's a great coach. And I think the biggest difference. And I coached both. You know, I coached in the NFL as a coordinator, as an assistant, as a head Coach and I coached in college and all three of those responsibilities as well is coaching the players is really not that different. You know, people always say, well, really hard to coach some guys in the NFL. I never thought that was a problem. You know, if you're a good coach and you create value for those guys, they love you because you're going to extend their career, they're going to make more money and they're happy. The difference in college is how do you bring guys to the team. You know, it's different than drafting guys, than it is to have to recruit them, because recruiting is like a full time relationship building 365 days a year in terms of not only evaluating the players that you want, but creating the relationships with them to get them. Now, everybody says it's like the NFL because they're making money now, but it really still takes you to be able to sell them, that you're going to develop them. And I think Bill will be able to do that. But I think the biggest thing that will be a challenge for him is the time that you have to spend recruiting, making phone calls, talking to parents and all those types of things to get the kind of players that you need. You know, having the resources is important to be able to pay them. And I'm glad that the players get paid. I'm not crazy about the system that they're getting paid in, but I hope we can get that fixed. But I do think this guy is going to build, do a great job there of getting good players and he'll do a great job of developing those players. The biggest adjustment for him will be the time spent recruiting.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Coach, on that note, I think there's a lot of people, I mean, maybe myself included, and I have not been in your position or in the college football world long enough to think like this. But like, people see what happened with Coach prime, where Coach Prime's not taking as many in house visits. He kind of does everything via FaceTime or Zoom and then he's able to land, obviously, because he's Coach prime and everybody has faith and trust that he's going to be able to get their boys to become successful men. How much do you think Bill Belichick will be able to cut out of that old school having to recruit? How much can he just sell? Like, hey, you're basically coming to an NFL academy as opposed to the texting and calling and smoosing and winning and two stepping like your ass too, you know, with the families. How much of that is he able to potentially get away from, or is that not possible in college ball still?

[Nick Saban]

Well, I think it's not as important to the same degree. I think you still have to do it some degree. But I do think, you know, one of the, you know, I was the defense coordinator at Michigan State when George Perlis got the head coaching job. He hired me, you know, there to do that. And his presence, because he had been a coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers that won four Super Bowls, his presence went a long way in recruiting with all these kids, I mean, they all want to play in the NFL. And, you know, Bill can certainly sell them on the fact with all of his success in the NFL and the ways he's developed players and the reputation he has as a coach that he's going to be able to do that. And that's going to go a long way, you know, for these players, because regardless of what they can make in college, it doesn't touch what they can make if they have successful careers in the NFL. So I do think that, you know, Bill is going to be able to use who he is as a coach as a tremendous selling tool and be able to get great players because of it.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach, I hope it works out for him, because as I stare down a future retirement, it'd be pretty cool to be a coach GM of a college team and not have to do any of the recruiting.

[Gumpy]

That'd be sweet.

[Pat McAfee]

That would be sweet. So, hey, good luck down there, Longbow. Good luck down here, Michael. Hope you guys win every game except for against the West Virginia Mountaineers. That's what I hope happens. Tone Digitized has a question for you. Back in the Thunderdome. Coach.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Coach, I wanted to ask you about the. The playoff coming up. When the playoff first started for out of the first five years, it was either you or Dabo in the National Championship game. And being the winner of that game and them being a 12 seed, how much, how much does it benefit them that Davos has so much experience in the College Football Playoff, and are they a dangerous 12 seed because of all that experience that Dabo does have?

[Nick Saban]

I don't think there's any question about the fact that if you have experience, you know, it's. It's like, you know, we all kind of create new horizons for ourselves in terms of what we do. So when you make the playoffs the first time, it's like a new experience. You're not sure what the practice schedule should be, where we should go, how much time off should we have for Christmas? I mean, you got all these factors that you gotta. Because it's different than the normal routine of a regular, you know, week game during the season. So. And then how to handle the players, how to motivate the players, how to make sure that you get them back to top performance because you have some time off and how you manage the time off. I think all those factors are a benefit when you have experience, because you've created that horizon for yourself before, so you experienced it, and it's going to be beneficial to your players. And the confidence that you have because you have been successful in those situations, I think is important as well. So. But I still think that, you know, this competition now with the 12 teams that are in there and who you have to play, you're not going to play any bad teams, so you're not going to be able to make a lot of mental errors, turn the ball over, not score in the red zone. You know, all the things that contribute to winning, that's still going to be what, in the end creates winning and losing, I think, in these playoffs.

[A.J. Hawk]

Coach, how do you think the weather may affect. Affect some of these early games where teams are hosting? You know, say Ohio State's obviously hosting Tennessee. People are going on the road. I know Indiana, Notre Dame, they both played in the elements before. But how do you think weather plays a factor in all this?

[Nick Saban]

Well, I think it's a factor. I think, you know, cold weather, wind, you know, the ball's harder to catch, the ball's harder to hold onto, balls harder to throw. I don't think there's any question about the fact that it could have an impact on some of these games, depending on, you know, how can these teams from the south adapt to playing in the North? No different than, you know, if you're a Northern team and you have to go play in the south in the end of August and it's 100 degrees. So I do think that it's going to be a factor to some degree. But your maturity as a competitor is an opportunity for you to show that maturity when you play in circumstances that aren't perfect for you. Because, like I used to always tell our guys, you know, they would say, well, you know, when I was at Michigan State, I don't want to come up here and play because it's cold. And I would say, what if you get drafted by the Green Bay Packers? You have to play in the cold. So it's an opportunity for you to learn how to adapt and adjust and play in those circumstances and situations. And for a Southern team to go North. Now it's an opportunity to them to prove that this is not going to affect who they are as a player.

[A.J. Hawk]

Coach, I think, Pat. There you go. We back.

[Pat McAfee]

Coach, whenever you think about environments, whenever you look at this college football playoff and we obviously have a bracket for you here, obviously got Ohio State hosted, you got Notre Dame hosting, you got Texas hosting. Which campaign State is hosting. I believe it's a noon game, so we won't get the full white out. Which game are you excited to kind of watch and see how the team handles the environment and how the. The school shows up?

[Nick Saban]

Well, I. I think the Ohio State, Tennessee game is going to be interesting game. You know, first of all, Tennessee has a little bit different kind of offense in terms of the spread. I think, you know, Ohio State, everybody thought their roster was one of the best in the country, which I still do. But. But losing a couple, you know, tough games, especially the Michigan game, is this is an opportunity for them to show who they are. You know, their fans are all upset because they lost to Michigan. They have a great opportunity to go win the national championship, and that's what they should be focused on, you know, looking ahead to try to do that. And, you know, let all naysayers know, you know, that old saying comes up again where we can prove we are the best team in the country and we have an opportunity to do it because we're in the playoffs and it starts with Tennessee. So. So Tennessee being in the sec, I have a lot of respect for them and the kind of team that they have, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, Coach, we're going to get to this press conference here and continue this celebration back in your home state of West Virginia. I miss you this week, man. We're not doing dinner tonight. I'm bummed out. I'm bummed out about it.

[Nick Saban]

Yeah, I hear you. But in the meantime, I'm glad you're there with Rich Rod. Tell him I said hello and congratulate him. And congratulate all those folks that are there for that press conference. They did a good thing here and they're going to be successful because of it. And we're going to be behind them all the way.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah, they love your coach. You're the best. I can't wait to see you next weekend. Cold ass. Hey, bring your furs, bub. It's going to be cold. Your little ass is going to be doing one of these next week in Indiana. You're the best. Ladies and gentlemen, the Goat Coach David, thank you. A.J. you obviously can't see it because we only have a camera facing this direction, but it's starting to fill up in this particular area here. That only means one thing. I believe the proceedings are about to get started here in a matter of a few moments. Connor, think there's gonna be any flubs? I think there's gonna be no flubs this entire press conference, no chance, no.

[Gumpy]

Flubs at all from Rich Rod. I think it's gonna be a hundred miles per hour on the gas on the corner right down Broadway. I'm very pumped to hear what he has to say and what the future.

[Pat McAfee]

Of this program is going to look like. I try to break the ice a little bit by swearing a couple times just to let Coach Rod know, like, hey, if one slips out, you're okay. But I don't think he's going to want to. I think he's going to want to let these people know how thankful and grateful he is to be back. And I think, you know, making it right is going to be the big storyline. AJ have you ever been in one of these. Have you ever been in one of these coaching pressers? I was trying to think back. I don't think I ever have. Your question for Nick was a good one because obviously Miami Dolphins, lsu, then back at Alabama, he's had to talk numerous times to a fan base. This a little different, obviously, because he knows these people. But have you ever been in one of these things?

[A.J. Hawk]

No, I never have. I just. I was thinking of like Sirianni when we saw his first press conference. Like your first impression can go a long way. We know that. And he is. Sirianni is the man. We've seen that over the years. But I think the first, obviously Richard coming back home, home, it's a little bit different. But yeah, I mean, this is his first time introducing himself to a lot of those young kids in there for sure now.

[Pat McAfee]

They've all seen the highlights. You know, a lot of their older siblings or even parents celebrated a lot of nights. Maybe burnt some couches here that got banned, that got outlawed. Just like flag planting in Ohio. What's you guys gotta make law.

[A.J. Hawk]

That's not a thing. That's not a law.

[Pat McAfee]

Flags on your field over there. That's not Ohio.

[A.J. Hawk]

I don't know anybody that supported that. I don't know anyone that supported that.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, well, just know this. You can tell that law man that if West Virginia plays Ohio State at the Horseshoe in West Virginia gets a win, Rich Rodriguez will not Let them plan a flag on anybody's field. This will be a respectful team. This will not be a team that tries to fight. But if you want to fight us, we will beat the shit out of you. That was kind of the mindset for the team that I was lucky to be a part of. A lot of people wanted to fight our team. That's what it was when we showed up. It was like when the Yankees showed up. People were getting their first sellouts. People's donors were showing up. They were having concerts outside because we were coming to town. Oh, the West Virginia Mountaineers are coming to town. Let's make it a big ordeal. And they always try to like, you know, maybe get a little chirpy with us before the game. And we were very much a team. And you heard Rich Rod's meeting yesterday. We were very much a team that like, hey, we're not going to start this, but if you want to be about it, we are certainly about it. And I think that's what's about to get built in this beautiful state of West Virginia. Now, without further ado, I do believe it is time to make this thing official. From the great city of Morgantown, West Virginia. Live from the WVU Coliseum, the official press conference to announce Rich Rodriguez as the head coach will begin. Great. Now.

[Ty Schmidt]

This episode is brought to you by US Cellular. Some things are worth waiting for, like getting your diploma or finding the right partner. You know what's not worth waiting for? The cable guy. Fortunately, US Cellular's home Internet is so simple to install. You can do it yourself.

[Pat McAfee]

And it's just $39.99 per month when.

[Ty Schmidt]

Bundled with a wireless plan with a three year price lock guarantee. US Cellular Home Internet made simple without the waiting terms apply. Visit us cellular.com for details.

[Pat McAfee]

We have one more act for you this evening. I don't even need to say his name. Mr. Bob Dylan.

[A.J. Hawk]

From the director of Walk the Line.

[Pat McAfee]

And Ford versus Ferrari. Anyone who's going to hold your attention on stage, you have to kind of be a freak. And starring Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan. Are you a freak? Hope so. Once Upon a Time Inspired by the true story I want to know which side he's on. Then you this Christmas. They just want me saying I'm blowing in the wind for the rest of my life. Bobby, what do you want to be? Whatever it is they don't want me to be. How does it feel? He defied everyone. Turn it down. To change everything.

[Rich Rodriguez]

These are Elvis with no direction.

[Pat McAfee]

Timothy Chalamet Edward Norton El Fanny Monica Barbaro make some Noise BD Track Some.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Mud on a carpet.

[Pat McAfee]

A complete unknown. Only in theaters Christmas Day. Rated R. Under 17, 90 minute without parent.

[A.J. Hawk]

Pat Con man changed the location. You guys look great. How's it going there? It seemed like it was a bit, you know, there was a raucous crowd for a little bit.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. To be clear, I don't think we had any idea what was going to happen. I don't think we fully prepared for the transition post press conference, what we were going to do, how we were going to get out, where we were going to shoot. So we literally just set up a laptop. We're in the corner of the Courtside Club. Beautiful place. Gorgeous. Beautiful place. Now, obviously these two TVs remain on because this isn't just about us. Let's go ahead and get a little extra view on espn, which they love our show. I've been hearing, I've been hearing everybody else on ESPN loves our show and the things that get said on it. But today it's been a celebration. It has been fantastic. And I think the takeaway from that particular press conference, Con man is old buddy comes down thinking he's going to be star of the show.

[A.J. Hawk]

What was he yelling? We couldn't hear what was he yelling?

[Pat McAfee]

So he was like 10ft from me. I couldn't really hear everything he was saying. I think he was saying, go back to Michigan and he was saying some other stuff. He was filming the whole thing. I think he potentially thought that there was going to be a bunch of people that were going to join him. And instead, boy, he got his ass booed out of West Virginia. And I think the way Coach Rod handled that with any other Pitt fans out here want to talk, do their entire thing. But also what he said there about how back in the day I would have tried to go down there and kind of see if he's about a hard edge or if he's just talking about it. That is very real. And I think that was a good little piece of evidence about how he's matured, you know, and that's been a big conversation for Rich. I think since he's got through this is what I was back then isn't exactly what I am now. I've matured. I want to hopefully get be a better coach next week. And we're all on board. Man, it was electric in there. The energy was palpable for a press conference. I've never seen anything like a lot of support too.

[Gumpy]

Like he Mentioned, like, I don't know if any of these kids even know who I am, but the fact that everyone was out there, I mean, the place was packed. I was surprised by how many damn people were there. It was pretty awesome.

[A.J. Hawk]

And then.

[Gumpy]

And of course, them joining in, like, it almost created a great moment when that guy came and tried to stir shit up because all the people were, like, so much on Rich's side. And then seeing how emotional he was about it, it's like, Bren Baker got it right. Boys. West Virginia's back.

[Pat McAfee]

Ren Baker. I think they should have gave him a prompter. Okay. I didn't like that. I didn't like that he gave that incredible speech. And, you know, every once in a while, people were saying, his tan looks fantastic. That's what people are saying. Didn't get a chance to see his beautiful smile enough, I think of Ren Baker. I don't think there was enough views of his beautiful smile. But I think everything he's kind of pieced together here. And I appreciate the fact that Rich, Rod kind of doubled down on that. All the work that Ren put in for this process was very, very evident from anybody that was around or part of the conversations. And I think I'm an easy man, and I think it's potentially because, you know, Tim McAfee is this way, and then Richard is obviously, obviously this way. If you have a good work ethic, I love you. And it's basically as easy as that. As literally, Rich just comes back in. Coach Rod, Hey. We are live here on a computer right now. We're on a laptop right now. Coach. Where is he? How do you think you did? Let's give a post. How'd you feel?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Who hell left the pit fan getting from him?

[Pat McAfee]

We were just talk. I thought you handled it very well. And then. And also in your q and A, you said, I'm gonna earn these people's trust. I'm gonna earn these people fun. I think you handed. I think you aced it out there.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Well, I appreciate. You know, we have great. Well, are you kidding me? See all the people that were here?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Rich Rodriguez]

And I know we were selling beer and all that kind of stuff, but shoot, that was. I mean, that's West Virginia. That's West Virginia athletics. West Virginia University. West Virginia football. So I'm fired up, man. Let's go.

[Pat McAfee]

You sound like you're ready. It sound like that was a little bit too strong. Okay. I'm 38.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I don't need that jacking up.

[A.J. Hawk]

Listen, what are you doing?

[Rich Rodriguez]

You have to cut these sleeves off yourself. Can we not make some that are already pre cut?

[Pat McAfee]

No. The issue is my tailor and customization is better than what anybody else does, you know, because there's a certain fit for way long. But I want to let you know, coach, I couldn't pass a drug test right now. I'm not a lot of science.

[Rich Rodriguez]

But if you can be on all steroids, you want right now.

[Pat McAfee]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Rich Rodriguez]

It's good.

[Pat McAfee]

Felt good today though.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, it did feel good, you know, to see some of the former players back and, you know, although, I mean, I think I've got 500 texts and 200 from former players, guys that played with you, that played here, and they've always loved this place. But I want them to come back and I want them to come back because the facility is unbelievable. I don't see. I mean, you've seen it. I mean, 17 years. Like, I love what they done with the place. Right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I was at the spring game and I said the same thing. They have like a, like a car wash for the players to walk through before the cold tub and they got.

[Rich Rodriguez]

The hydrogen tanks, like a salt bath. Could you. Plus all you specialists, then you spend all day in there like you go out and kick for 15.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no, no. Not hard. Not a hard edge. Salt bath.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah. We have a two hour practice and the specialist had 15 minutes of.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I was wondering tell you what happened. Here's how my day started out. I went to go watch West Virginia practice. They're practicing the indoor and I'm standing on silence, not paying attention. And the punter, doink hit me right square in the head with the ball.

[Pat McAfee]

Get him out of here.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, I'm. I'm find out if he's getting a portal tomorrow.

[Pat McAfee]

Obviously, we hope it was a long punt. We hope they got hit hard.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Must have been a shank. You hit me in the head.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no. He was putting out of bounds. The guy's working.

[Rich Rodriguez]

That's what it was.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, get an American punter, by the way.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I had one at Jack State. Jack Dawson. Oh, he was phenomenal. Yeah, but they. He likes to drink a lot of beer though, too.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, the Americans do too. I mean, that's the way it is. Let's get it. Owen Schmidt, you show it's about the.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Pooch kicks, Coach, you know that's right.

[Pat McAfee]

Which you did numerous times, Owen.

[Rich Rodriguez]

And the word pooch doesn't sound. Owen has nothing to do with pooching. But I do remember y'all. Don't know what the weight was on that Power Clan. I told that story. I never seen a human do that. Like, it was like 200, like, 75 pounds, like a rep of 10. And he threw the last one over his head. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And the thing would bend around his neck whenever he was.

[Rich Rodriguez]

How many face masks did you bring?

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, collectively, who knows?

[Rich Rodriguez]

It was a bunch.

[Pat McAfee]

How about how many stitches on the helmet to the head that he would do? Super Glue. Owen and I and everybody, former players of yours have been catching up over the last couple weeks, and they're nice. Yeah, it is so cool. So whenever you said you want everybody.

[Rich Rodriguez]

To come back, I do.

[Pat McAfee]

That was very kind of you to say, like, everybody. Hey, we want everybody.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Coach Bowden, because those are guys over me, the ones played for Coach Bowden, Coach Signetti, and then Coach Neil. In my era, I'm hearing a bunch from my former teammates here, which. Which is, you know, playing at your. You know, coaching at your alma mater. You know, sometimes that's good and bad. When it's, you know, all your former teammates, like, coach, I want to be on the sidelines. I'm like, that's 400 teammates. I can't put. But we.

[Nick Saban]

We.

[Rich Rodriguez]

We had a great time here. You had a great experience here. We won a lot of games. Coach Needles in the hall of Fame, and that's why it's. You know, that's why it's different for me. It's special. It's per. You know, we talk about a personal. It's personal. It really is. It always has been for me.

[Pat McAfee]

So me and Owen were just kind of ransacking this bar here, you know, trying to find some stuff. And then we went in the back. Wellesley took us in the back, we got some ice, and me and Owen looked at each other, and it was like, it's nice that our guys back in charge are out here. You know, it feels. We feel. Doesn't it feel, like more welcome? It just immediately feels more welcoming. So you making that as one of your messages to be like, hey, if you ever played here, we want you to come back. I think it's a good thing. All good programs do that.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah. You know what? In football, in the athletes, a lot of people know, they see you during the games, but a lot of them don't understand how much work you put in, you know, before that. Well, before you play, and how. What kind of sacrifice it is, because it is. And even if their guys are getting paid now, it's still a great sacrifice. What they Go through how you coach them and what the work they have to put in. They don't live. You don't live a normal life as a student athlete. And so, you know, I'm really. And I been so blessed, but I can't say enough. I'm really, really appreciative to all the former players. Like, I wouldn't have got this job if it wasn't for Jack State and the players at Jack State the last three years. I mean, those guys did something that people say, well, it's a lower level. Well, it's pretty good football now, playing a bowl. We had South Carolina's SB too. So, you know, our guys, our guys played really good football and they deserve a lot of credit.

[Pat McAfee]

Owen and I, we watch your team meeting.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah. It was kind of a calmer one though, wasn't it?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. But you put some points out there.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

The message was direct, right? Yeah. You get. You decipher through the rest of it.

[Christian Pulisic]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

There's going to be some four letter words, as we know, but not in the first one. Okay. You had a couple three letter words. My question is, do any of those players understand what the hell is about? I don't think anybody. I don't know.

[Rich Rodriguez]

That's a good question. I'm going to find out. You know, I watch practice today. The energy was good and intense. Intensity was okay. It was. But there was no live going on. But the first, like, winter workout when you do the tour duty. Yeah. And they'll find out, like, who's like thinks they're going hard, but they ain't really going hard because their version of going hard.

[Pat McAfee]

Yep.

[Rich Rodriguez]

And our version of going hard might be.

[Pat McAfee]

Might be different. Might be a little different.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah, we'll find that out in a hurry.

[Pat McAfee]

We're proud of you, man.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Thank you, brother.

[Pat McAfee]

Good luck. I'll be here for you. Whatever you need. So, Owen.

[Rich Rodriguez]

Yeah. Great.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, you know, he's a football coach now.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I heard that. That's Gary Sing a wing.

[Pat McAfee]

All right. Appreciate you, coach. Yeah. This has been crazy. It's like a reunion. And look, that guy's ready to go. I said he was old, too. His old ass. I don't know if he's still doing a StairMaster. Calves look fantastic. You know, kind of hiding in there, but I think he absolutely crushed it. Owen, I don't know if you know this. We got a good zoom in on your face. Aj, didn't he look absolutely jacked whenever he was doing his thing?

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, he still looks jacked. What do you mean? I mean, that's who he is.

[Pat McAfee]

Wade Wide now just. I've talked about it a lot. It is cool to have our guy back. All seems right right now in Mountaineer world. And I have an immense respect for Coach Rod. Obviously, he gave me my opportunity, my shot, so that will. He will always be my coach. But I'm. I'm friends with a lot of the, you know, years past guys as well, and that's been a huge topic of concern. And now I kind of feel like that tradition can be stamped back where it needs to be. And that's here at home. Hell, yeah. All right, we gotta make some pics. I'll see you in a bit. We're gonna get a nice little. We might have a little happy hour dinner and some booze here in a little bit.

[Boston Connor]

Wives have to.

[Pat McAfee]

We're literally ransacking this bar. I mean, looking for ice, looking for a drink. And as we were looking, I was like, it does feel like the glory days again, you know, and everybody over here is being real quiet because we're live. So let's make our picks, and I think it's time to have a great weekend. AJ Hawk. And we're going to celebrate the hell out of life here at West Virginia. Bengals, Titans. Titans getting five and a half at home in Nashville. Bengals, obviously. Joe Burrow's house ransacked. We learned that maybe he has an assistant or.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, she's on staff. He's employed by Joe.

[Gumpy]

One of the two.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't think he's happy about any of that. No. So with that being said, give me the Bengals, minus five and a half, traveling to national. You like to pick?

[Gumpy]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Nick Saban]

Kidding me.

[Gumpy]

T. Higgins.

[A.J. Hawk]

Touchdown, A.J.

[Pat McAfee]

You like?

[A.J. Hawk]

Oh, yeah. I'm taking Cincinnati here as well. On the road.

[Pat McAfee]

I like. I like a Mad Joe Burrow, you.

[A.J. Hawk]

Know, like a very frustrated short. Like, you know, my privacy. What do you say? My privacy was violated on many fronts.

[Pat McAfee]

Multiple times in many different ways. Yeah. All of a sudden, everybody knows now that I know a swimsuit model. Okay. Don't love that. Also, my entire bedroom ransacked. Millions of dollars worth of jewelry and costumes.

[Gumpy]

Underwear.

[Pat McAfee]

Underwood. Think about all the costumes. Yes. Over there. Okay, so that's one game. Let's. Let's keep it moving. It's really uncomfortable in here. Kansas City Bronze. Kansas City favored by four going into Cleveland. I like the Chiefs even though last week I took the Chargers. I like the Chiefs here to cover four, even though that is not the Chiefs. Mo. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Seven straight.

[Pat McAfee]

They haven't covered okay. They have.

[A.J. Hawk]

You would. You would think.

[Pat McAfee]

4.

[A.J. Hawk]

It's the Cleveland Browns. Yeah. The Chiefs are going to cover. I'm taking the Chiefs again. I'm being, you know, I'm blinded by their Super Bowls.

[Pat McAfee]

Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants. Ravens favored by 16. Not enough. Remember how pissed off Lamar Jackson was coming off of the loss? And remember what Mama Jackson said?

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah.

[Gumpy]

Run the football. Lamar Jackson's + 175 score. Touchdown as well.

[Pat McAfee]

It feels like a good move. Herm Edwards over our shoulder. Same with Barry. Doing their thing. I wonder if they're having the same type of show we're having just into a laptop in a corner of a room. But with that being said, I like the ravens minus 16. Taking on the woeful giant.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, 16 is so many. But I like the Ravens as well on this one, Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

Washington Commanders, are they going to change their name? You know, West Virginia's going back to Rich Rock. There's a fella in the front row.

[A.J. Hawk]

That really was pushing hard today.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he. He had the raccoon skin.

[Boston Connor]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

Hat his name was Fish. He's a big fan of the program. He's a big fan.

[Ty Schmidt]

By the way, the mountaineer we were talking. He's a little skinny. We need to get some meat on that guy's bones.

[Pat McAfee]

Living off the land. It's been some thin time around here, you know what I mean? He might have lost his hard edge too. I think Richard find that for him. Give me the Saints +8 with Darren Reyes leading the squad.

[Gumpy]

Jake Hayner, first start ever.

[Pat McAfee]

What's his name is playing the Washington Commanders minus eight against.

[Boston Connor]

Lattimore is back.

[Ty Schmidt]

Latimore's getting his first game.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, I'm taking the Commanders as well here, Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

I would take the Commanders. We're kind of being a little bit boring here. Favorites across the board. How about this one? Cowboys. Panthers. Panthers. Favored by three against the Cowboys. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Or better. Football.

[Boston Connor]

Playing some good football.

[Pat McAfee]

Panthers are favored by three.

[A.J. Hawk]

You know what? I'll take the Panthers here, Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

Me too. Oh, that feels.

[A.J. Hawk]

It's weird.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I'm taking them too. Dolphins. Texans. Give me the Miami Dolphins plus three going into Houston just because I need it for the Indianapolis Colts team that I watch on a regular basis because I live in the city that they play in.

[A.J. Hawk]

Well, I'm taking Houston at home here. Minus three. You kidding me? I mean, they just got. They just cut Odell Beckham Jr. I don't know. It's going to be tough to win this.

[Pat McAfee]

Parted ways.

[Gumpy]

Well, it's all mutual.

[A.J. Hawk]

It was a mutual thing. I get it.

[Pat McAfee]

Jets, Jaguars, Aaron Rodgers getting attacked on TV for attacking people who've been attacking him. Quite a battle of words there between ESPN and Aaron Rodgers. I will take the jets minus three and a half down in Duval.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, I'm going to ride with you as well too. I'm taking the jets minus three and a half. They've been playing okay, just can't get a win.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, let's go. Bucks, Chargers. Give me the Chargers -3 at home against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.

[A.J. Hawk]

Ooh, give me the bucks plus please.

[Gumpy]

Long flight.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll take the charges. Okay. Pittsburgh Steelers, battle of the Keystone State taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. Give me the Pittsburgh Steelers plus five and a half.

[A.J. Hawk]

I'll take the Philadelphia Eagles minus five and a half.

[Pat McAfee]

Eagles might win that game, but five and a half feels like too many tone. How do you feel about that?

[Ty Schmidt]

My worry is that that coaching staff now Steichen was the oc. They've had the Steelers defensive number, but Steichen was where they're the last time that they had the Steelers D number. So that worries me a bit. But you know, still, boys are playing hard right now, so I feel pretty good actually.

[Gumpy]

What's the stat about Tomlin when it's more than six as an underdog?

[Ty Schmidt]

He doesn't, he doesn't lose as a Dahog.

[Gumpy]

He's like undefeated.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, I'll take Steelers plus five and a half. Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions only favored by two and a half, but the Buffalo Beals team just had an absolute onslaught in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Rams, who just beat The San Francisco 49ers. Detroit Lions very thin in the front seven on defensive side. We said that a lot. This is a shootout game. It appears over. Under 54 and a half highest on the board. AJ who do you like?

[A.J. Hawk]

I want to take the Buffalo Beals on this one, Pat. I know. I think it will be a shootout that fast track in Detroit, but give me the Beals.

[Pat McAfee]

I love the Lions. I picked against them the last two weeks because I think they have too many injuries. They obviously told me to shut up last week. Maybe the Beals are the ones to do it. Fox, are you okay? Yeah, we're going to be okay. We're actually getting some guys back. Decker's back. McNeil is good to go. D.J. reader will be back. Pascal's back. So defense is getting a little bit better here, so we'll see. But I agree with your take. Shootout will definitely still be the case.

[Ty Schmidt]

That'S the highest total I've seen all year, I think.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes. And that's in Detroit. And highest ticket price in this for the season so far. And the Lions are wearing their midnight Motor City Muscle jerseys. Whoa. Oh. Give me the Motor City Muscle. I'll take the Mercy Muscle.

[Gumpy]

Those are wearing all white, I believe. Oh, it's a great matchup this weekend.

[Pat McAfee]

Give me the Detroit Lion.

[A.J. Hawk]

I got the Beals.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, I'll take the lines. Colts, Broncos. Who do you got?

[A.J. Hawk]

AJ Give me them Broncos. Bo Nicks. Yeah. I wonder where you're going.

[Gumpy]

Both off a buy.

[A.J. Hawk]

Don't let Sean Payton get a hold of you after a buy. You know that they say that.

[Pat McAfee]

Come on. AR has been watching tape all week. Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

He didn't take one day off.

[Rich Rodriguez]

It's true.

[Gumpy]

Take the buy.

[Pat McAfee]

I know, I know, I know. And that team works hard.

[Gumpy]

Harder than ever.

[Pat McAfee]

It was kind of. It's kind of how I felt when I was talking, like, about this West Virginia team, what it's going to be versus what the West Virginia teams have been, you know, kind of. Kind of a. Kind of a similar feeling, you know? You know, like once the toothpaste is out of the tube. The tube. Can you put it back in?

[A.J. Hawk]

Usually not.

[Pat McAfee]

Give me the Colts plus four. Patriots, Cardinals. Cardinals, favored by six at home against Drake. Maybe, I don't know.

[Gumpy]

You tell me.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll take The Patriots plus six. A.J. who do you got?

[A.J. Hawk]

I'll take the Cardinals minus six.

[Pat McAfee]

Here, come on. Okay. And Sunday night football. Packers, Hawks. This is an old school NFC playoff battle rivalry. Geno Smith of the West Virginia Mountaineers took the long road to get to the top for the Seattle Seahawks and then the Green Bay Packers. Is it this year, year that they're the team, or is it maybe next year that they're the team? Ty Schmidt, how should we be looking at this?

[Boston Connor]

I don't know if it. If it's this year that they're the team, but this is kind of a. I mean, although their playoff seating can't really change much from here to the end of the season. Like, I think this is kind of like a must win. They need to bounce back after everyone's saying, hey, you can't beat good teams. You know, they've only got, I think, two wins over teams with winning records this year. That's not their fault. But everyone thought they should have beat the Lions last week with how, you know, banged up they are. I think it would go a long ways if they could, you know, go into Seattle and Get a win on Sunday night, and they are starting to get a little bit healthier as well. They had a couple guys out against the Lions, too, and several of those guys are at least potentially on track to play this week. So I'm feeling pretty good about this game.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, AJ who are you taking?

[A.J. Hawk]

I'm taking the packers here on the road.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, I'll take the Seahawks getting points at home. And that does it, boys. I think the picks are over. The press conference is over. There's only one man that we need to talk to, and he's sitting right over there. He's got a sweet pair of Nike shoes. He's got a great suit on, good tie. I don't think people got to see his smile enough because he's got a great smile, this guy. He's got a great football brain. Ladies and gentlemen, to wrap up this phenomenal feel, good Friday from the beautiful state of West Virginia, Athletic director and I think I heard president of something. Wren Baker. Yeah, right.

[Ren Baker]

Connor is my guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, appreciate you guys.

[Ren Baker]

Hey, listen, if Ty says anything, he has to do it in his Pete family.

[Pat McAfee]

So how does Pete Bam. Feel about how today went and Rich Rodriguez being the head coach?

[Boston Connor]

Well, Ren, listen, you know, you kind of, you know, you drummed up a lot of sh. Support, obviously. You know, coach Rod Shed. You interviewed.

[Rich Rodriguez]

I don't.

[Boston Connor]

What, 10,000 guys and maybe 10,000 additional people on Zoom. I think it was a home run, honestly, I really do. Early on, you know, my sources were saying, listen, there's no way this is going to happen. Rich Rod's not going back to West Virginia. It's going to be the likes of, you know, Barry Odom or someone of that ilk. You kind of. You went back into the, you know, the tube and said, what do we need to do to kind of get back to who we're supposed to be at West Virginia? We need a hard edge. You found your hard edge, and you found. You know, you found the right man. Good on you, Ren. Very proud of you. Great decision.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you have any hard edge in your body?

[Boston Connor]

Well, you know, I don't like the hard edge to come out. Pat. I think you remember, you know, national championship last year, hotel lobby, dressed up like B. Rabbit from 8 Mile. Bruce Brown of this show got in my face, was yelling, and. And let's just say I damn near knocked him out. So, yeah, there's a little bit of hard edge. Don't like to use it, but I have to. If I have to use it, guys like Bruce Brown Typically, you know, they incur the wrath of my hard edge.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Pete, thank you. And before the celebrations really kick off here as we're kind of holding it up, how happy are you that this day has come and gone and now how pumped are you about the process being over?

[Ren Baker]

I'm glad it's over.

[Pat McAfee]

They're.

[Ren Baker]

They're all incompetent, encompassing. And, you know, because you and I talked a few times, I did turn over every rock. Because when you make a hire like this, it's not just important for me, it's important for West Virginia. It's important for our state. I mean, it is the brand of our state. And so I wanted to make sure if I. Whatever conclusion I got to, that I felt like that there was no more for me to look through to get there. And so I'm married to a process and it's worked for me, but I'm really happy where it turned out. I think fans and people are happy. We're going to sell more tickets. We're going to need to. After what you guys have done to the. To the bar in here.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, we want.

[Ren Baker]

That was not part of the deal. The bar was not open bar today.

[Pat McAfee]

Listen, it's Coach Rod's era back. I don't know what to tell you. Me and Owen might raid a rate of bar too. But I left.

[Ren Baker]

I left Connor in charge. It did not go well.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, Connor was trying to be. Yeah, Connor was trying to figure out all the tech so we could listen to the press con because we wanted to hear what you had to say. What's your biggest takeaway from the press conference out there? Obviously, the energy is immense. Yeah.

[Ren Baker]

You know, I. I said this before. West Virginians love this program and they love West Virginians and they want West Virginians to do well. So I know there's a few people have hard feelings about how things went down 17 years ago, but I think coach nailed it when he said, I will earn your trust and your belief back. And, and. And that right there, I mean, that's what people need to hear. They want to believe.

[Pat McAfee]

That's kind of been a mantra this whole time.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Like, since I've talked to him, I assume you as well. Yeah.

[Ren Baker]

Both interviews, first time we sat down with him, just said, hey. I mean, I think one of the interviews he said, my biggest professional mistake was leaving 17 years ago. My biggest personal mistake was how I left. And. And I'm ready to go home and make it right.

[Pat McAfee]

Isn't it cool too, that it's Very apparent that this isn't like a stepping stone job either. Yeah. Like, this is home for him and he's excited to build it. You can sense it. He tried to break my leg earlier. Whenever he is. Do you remember that?

[Gumpy]

Yeah, I was.

[Pat McAfee]

He hit my leg so hard. Yeah, it was, it was like a verbal check. It's like he feels, it feels like he is very much energized for this task.

[Ren Baker]

His fire is burning as hot as it. As it ever was. And I didn't know him 20 years ago, but if it was burning hotter then than it is now, I would be shocked because he. That's a competitive, competitive guy.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, certainly is. AJ has a question for you, Ren.

[A.J. Hawk]

Ren, did when you were thinking about this whole process, I guess, did you understand like the magnitude and how much a lot of people's lives rely on the choice that you made for this decision?

[Pat McAfee]

My life is always. You're talking about, like me.

[A.J. Hawk]

A lot of people don't, you know, it affects, it's like we ask, we ask Aaron Rodgers, hey, do you know, like, how you play affects so many, like the coaches, their families, like the trickle down effect. It's a big deal, obviously, hiring a coach and bringing rich back, I guess. Do you understand the magnitude going into it?

[Ren Baker]

I think when you're in these situations, it's like a player that's playing for a national championship or a golfer that's about to hit their big shot. You try not to think about that. You just try and focus on the process. Do the job the best that you can, make the best decision that you can. I'd be lying if I didn't say I don't understand. You know, they try to tell me before I took this job how important it was to people here. Like I told every candidate that we interviewed, I'm like, the day we announce you here, you're the most visible person in this state, period. And so like, it's something that you have to accept. And there's no anonymity. There's no, you know, and so the responsibility that comes with that is important and you have to understand if you're going to be here. But for this process, I tried to block that out. I mean, and Pat would know when I, when he talked to me, he saw, he'd see me at home. He'd see. I was just like, hey, I'm just working through the process. I'm trying not to listen to anybody opinions except for his and Coach Saban.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I. And I told you very neutral and that's what I'm saying. I would like that to be on the record because I. I believe in you, and I think you are a very good athletic director. So it was a tough bounce because I had all my ex teammates being like, hey, Pat, I think you have some say in this entire thing. Why don't you go ahead and put the wagon behind? It's like, I don't want to put that pressure on Ren, and I'm not in the interviews, so I don't know who the best person is. I had nothing but faith that you would do it. And the fact that it's Rod, obviously a lot of us are excited. I think a lot of the donors are excited, too, which is obviously good news for the state that we're in. And you can tell the state's excited, so is the school. Connor has the last question for you here.

[Gumpy]

Right, yeah. Speaking of the donors, when this gets announced, are there more nil opportunities now? You know, are more people reaching out, like, hey, congratulations, how do I help? Obviously, we had the wonderful whiskey that is being sold to help the nil.

[Ren Baker]

But did they say how much per drink that's going to cost you?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, this was. They said you can have all the what you want.

[Gumpy]

Former players get whatever they want.

[A.J. Hawk]

Is the word on the former players.

[Gumpy]

Of course, as Rich Rod acknowledged earlier.

[Pat McAfee]

Former Mustangs.

[Gumpy]

Former Mustangs, Former Mountaineers. Nature, former Colts, you could say.

[Pat McAfee]

But what.

[Gumpy]

What does now go into the nil now that, you know, the new coach has been hired? Hey, let's go after this thing and let's compete with, you know, those College Football Playoff teams.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ren Baker]

You know, I feel like the best way to raise money in an athlete program is to win. And so I tried to not let any, you know, potential money influence one way or another affect the process, but now that we. The process has landed here, I do think it's going to open up more opportunities. And we know now in this world of college athletics, yes, helping people grow and retention, all that is for a lot of reasons. That experience, that camaraderie, are you providing them opportunities to learn for life after football here? Those are all still important. But also what's important is having a competitive war chest. And so Mountaineer Nation I hope, understands that. Big donors, I hope understand that.

[Nick Saban]

Yeah.

[Ren Baker]

There's been. People already catch me today and say they're. They're reopened.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ren Baker]

You know, Pat owes me some money.

[Pat McAfee]

That's right.

[Ren Baker]

And he's.

[Pat McAfee]

I was wondering where that money was going for a little bit. And you Know the donors figured it out, but I got a text from Ken. I.

[Ren Baker]

You did?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I got a text from Ken Kendrick during the show today. Said, thank you for what you're doing. If you ever need me on a program, I could do a call in. I don't know if he knows what the show is, but I do appreciate that he is in. But I think that is a massive deal. You got a lot of support, you got a lot of time, and I'm thankful for you, man. I think you've done a fantastic job, and I think you should be proud of yourself. And also, I think you should celebrate at some point.

[Ren Baker]

Yeah, I'm going to. On a beach somewhere. Some beach somewhere. AJ that's right.

[Pat McAfee]

Ladies and gentlemen, the best athletic director. And what. What was the other title?

[Ren Baker]

Vice president. Not president. Vice president.

[Pat McAfee]

They just threw that on there, so they give him some more money, I think, ladies and gentlemen, the best in the country. Ren Baker.

[Ren Baker]

He's getting ready to go back to wrestling. I'm predicting that.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't be giving anything away. What's this guy's problem?

[Ren Baker]

I. I can just say I see these guns. I know what's about to happen.

[Pat McAfee]

You might be right. That's Rid Baker football. That's Rid Baker football right there. Thank you. All right, we're gonna get the hell out of here because they're holding up the party for all of us in here, and I don't know if you could hear it kind of starting back up, and then they felt like they had to get down. I never want to be associated with a guy that they go, sh. Because Pat's here, so we're gonna let them go ahead and turn this thing up. Aj, thank you for traveling over the Indy today.

[A.J. Hawk]

Appreciate it. It's been fun, man. Good. This is this. It felt. It was fun watching you guys in there. And now seeing you get to connect with your old guys, like, that's the best part. That's the best part about any time I get to go back and see guys I played with that I haven't seen forever. Like it. It makes you a better person, I think.

[Gumpy]

Love doordash, man.

[A.J. Hawk]

Who doesn't?

[Pat McAfee]

Me too. We'll probably doordash some good times over here. You know, That's. I love that foxy's tried to slide these into because he knows we're probably getting out of here quick, and we need to hit this door dash L rep. Because different times. But if you don't know by now doordash has everything you need. It is Literally your tag team partner in life. Want some food? You need some medicine? Need some clothes?

[Rich Rodriguez]

Why yesterday?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you can get a PlayStation 4.

[Gumpy]

Someone got a PS5 yesterday.

[Pat McAfee]

What?

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah. Booze.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think you can get booze. I think they also have THC drinks on there. Oh.

[Gumpy]

What?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Wow. So when they say doordash has it all, I mean they do get all your game day faves delivered, but not only on game day. Get them every day. Order pizza and more from the best seats in the house. Your house. That's doordash. So shout out to Doordash. Shout out to you. And shout out to this guy taking a trip over here to Morgantown with me. Shout out to Comfy, too. Look at Gumpy over here working.

[A.J. Hawk]

There you go. Goop. Oh, that place is awesome. That. That Champions Club.

[Pat McAfee]

Look at this. This is the whole. Everybody's just waiting on us.

[Gumpy]

Yeah, they got a huge wv. Yeah, you can see it right there behind the bar.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh yeah, everybody's waiting on us to shut the up over here. So we tried to find a corner, but I don't think we're out of the way enough. But from us here in West Virginia to you guys in Indianapolis, I think today was a good day.

[Nick Saban]

I think today was great day.

[Pat McAfee]

I think today was Sonic and Knuckles too. Hell yeah. I think. I think Ryan, Clark and Aaron need to talk it out.

[Boston Connor]

Yeah, I'd say.

[Pat McAfee]

I think they need to have a.

[Gumpy]

Let's go shake their haunts.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, you tell me, aj, what do you think?

[A.J. Hawk]

I don't know. I don't know how deep it goes, but yeah, it's always good to talk.

[Pat McAfee]

Right?

[Ty Schmidt]

We also need to have Nick Mangold on the program.

[Pat McAfee]

What's that?

[Ty Schmidt]

We need to have Nick Mangold.

[A.J. Hawk]

UFOs.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, he saw him.

[A.J. Hawk]

Yeah, he's been seen for a while.

[Pat McAfee]

The drones, you're saying? Yeah, drones.

[A.J. Hawk]

He lives in Jersey.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

What. What are they? And they're coming out of the ocean.

[Ty Schmidt]

They said they're death, brother. They are angels of death.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't say that. We don't. Harvesters.

[Ty Schmidt]

Harvesters.

[Gumpy]

This is what I'm saying, man. This is what I'm saying.

[Pat McAfee]

You got it. You got to be a little worried as we were flying east, as we're flying east this morning. Good luck, Connor. Like, let's look out the windows. Let see any double check.

[Gumpy]

Cuz some people are saying they're just planes.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, these people are these idiots.

[Gumpy]

These conspiracy theorists are just seeing planes for the first Time in the sky. That's crazy.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, well, then I get. Then there's, like, people that are legit saying they start out as this little, like, thing, and then it transforms into. Look like a plane. Did you hear that? No.

[A.J. Hawk]

They're shape shifting.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah, they're.

[A.J. Hawk]

Now I'm scared.

[Boston Connor]

That's not good.

[A.J. Hawk]

I'm scared if that's.

[Gumpy]

I mean, not to mention the shape shift in document dogs we saw a few months ago turn into humans. You saw that?

[Pat McAfee]

We can't give away too much because everyone won't be taken seriously. But a lot of the people that normally don't take this type of thing serious, AJ Included in this entire thing, have seen so much that they're like, what the hell's going on? So whenever they roll somebody out to a presser and go. Most of these have been planes, some of them helicopters. Obviously, we saw that. It's like, I don't think that excuse just works anymore, because I think there's too many people going, like, I don't know.

[Gumpy]

What's the governor talking about?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know.

[Ty Schmidt]

Telling you. Boys, load up on that 556, okay?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know if that matters, brother. All I want to know is, can I go shake their hands? I want to shake their hands, whatever they are. And I think we should talk to them. Think about this. I thought about this theory this morning. What if, you know, Christopher Columbus, you know, Christopher Columbus was the first one allegedly, to look over, say, well, he definitely was, I guess, but you know what we're saying. Anyways, he was the first one to say, like, I think the world's round it. I'm going, okay. That's what he said. What if these little beings that have lived in our ocean for a long time had a young, little Christopher Columbus, one that said, like, there's world outside of this water. Like, there's world outside of this water. And then all of a sudden, he takes one up there. He's like, holy. You should see it. We're floating around out there. And then he goes back to the lads, back to the boys, and they all start saying, maybe they're just a bunch of little young aliens having a good time with something that they didn't know they were able to do. That's very optimistic of you, Pat. But they are here for death. They will kill.

[Christian Pulisic]

Stay away from them.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't go near. Don't talk to them. This is Rum Springer. This is like Rum Springer.

[Ty Schmidt]

Harvesters of evil. Angels of death.

[Gumpy]

I'd be worried.

[Pat McAfee]

We need to send Christian pic over there. Thank him for stopping by. Richard Ren Baker. Nick Saban. Hell of a Friday. All right, have a great weekend. We'll be back for overreaction Monday. Army Navy is tomorrow. Heisman presentation tomorrow. Saturday night main event for WWE tomorrow night on NBC. Then obviously a full NFL Sunday slate. We're so incredibly lucky that we get to do this. We'll see you on every action Monday. All right. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're in this thing together. Even more so now than ever. Especially if we got death merchants flying in the sky. Yeah. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team Goodbye.

[Jen Latta]

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[A.J. Hawk]

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[Pat McAfee]

Eligibility and offer details.

[Nick Saban]

Apply.