Hour 1: Dan Mullen, UNLV Coach

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show Podcast – Hour 1 Summary

Date: August 5, 2026
Host: Paul Finebaum
Guests: Glenn Guilbeau (Tiger Rag), Dan Mullen (UNLV Head Coach)
Theme: College football headlines, LSU updates, Alabama/SEC expectations, and Dan Mullen’s new chapter at UNLV

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Episode Overview

This hour is packed with Paul Finebaum’s trademark SEC insights, a ground-level LSU report with Glenn Guilbeau, commentary on college football’s business side, sharp caller exchanges about Alabama’s culture and expectations, and an in-depth interview with Dan Mullen about his new role at UNLV. The episode balances concerns about money and NIL, coaching pressures in the SEC, and the exciting “on-the-field” narratives as the college football season approaches.

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Key Segments & Discussions

1. College Football Money & Headlines

Timestamps: 01:01–02:21

• Paul Finebaum opens with major off-field stories, including Nick Saban and Gordon Gee’s letter urging Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, and LSU’s $100 million private equity deal tied to future media rights.
• Expresses eagerness to get back to "actual football" as a break from financial/legal headlines.
  • "Are you tired of private equity? Are you tired about cloture rules in the United States Senate? It's football season almost!" (01:20)

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2. LSU Camp & Lane Kiffin Era

Timestamps: 02:21–09:57

Glenn Guilbeau’s Report from LSU (Tiger Rag)

• Guilbeau reflects on how conversations have shifted from games to buyouts, salaries, and private equity since December 2025.
  • "It's been non stop with buyouts and salaries and private equity and new financial stuff. And I'm a little fed up with it and looking forward to practice." (02:39)
• Positive update on Lane Kiffin opening practices, enthusiasm about Sam Levitt’s recovery, and noting Kiffin’s energy.
• Reports that LSU fans are “very excited” about Lane Kiffin, noting his effective embrace of LSU tradition but pushing back on any “championship-or-bust” pressure in his first year.
  • “He’s really been stroking the LSU tradition and LSU history and the town, you know, and he’s really playing to the crowd...fans are very excited.” (04:46)

SEC Coaching Pressures

• Glenn notes Kiffin is in the honeymoon phase, unlike coaches such as Josh Heupel or Shane Beamer who face higher expectations in 2026.
  • "I don't think there's any kind of edict that he has to have a great year this season. But, you know, I think he probably will be in the three to two loss range, which might get them in.” (06:19)

LSU’s $100 Million Private Equity Deal

• Both Finebaum and Guilbeau acknowledge confusion over the deal’s specifics but recognize LSU’s openness about financing, donor engagement, and the need to compete with larger-money programs.
  • “...they have been working on this for some time...trying to pay for Brian Kelly’s buyout and Lane Kiffin’s contract...LSU is not home to a lot of Fortune 500 companies...it's a priority thing." (07:23, 09:03)

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3. Alabama Outlook & Caller Debates

Timestamps: 12:15–19:11

Kaylen DeBoer Takes the Reins at Alabama

• Finebaum reads from DeBoer’s press conference, emphasizing the “work in silence” approach as Alabama’s new head coach post-Saban.
  • “We've talked about working in silence since January and these guys are just doing their thing, not getting caught up in anything they can't control.” (12:15)

DARRELL and the Changing Face of CFB

• Caller Darrell passionately debates comparing past Saban Alabama dominance with current realities.
  • Argues that transfer portal and NIL halt perennial dynasties:
    • “There’s a reason Saban retired, okay? Because he knew that he was not going to be able to no longer cherry pick his players…now the transfer portal, they can leave.” (13:45)
  • Argues Alabama’s pressure is “national title or bust,” which is unrealistic for the coaching landscape now.
    • “If I'm a coach, I don't even know if I want to go to Alabama. Because it's like that, okay?” (14:48)

Nick Saban’s Shadow

• Finebaum believes Saban continues to shape Alabama’s expectations, even in retirement.
  • “It just continues to put a spotlight on how awkward it is that Nick Saban remains the center of attention anywhere he goes in Tuscaloosa.” (18:38)

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4. Dan Mullen Interview: Building at UNLV

Timestamps: 22:41–34:56

Reflections on Taking the UNLV Job

• Mullen explains why Las Vegas and UNLV were the right fit after his time away from coaching:
  • “We're pretty fortunate here with at UNLV, the city of Las Vegas, you're in the sports and entertainment capital of the world. …We're able to recruit at a really high level…There was so much in place for us that we could build off of, try to build and get UNLV back to the national brand.” (23:54)

Learnings from His Time in Television

• Time away from coaching let him adjust to massive changes in the sport (“transfer portal, NIL”) and reset his mindset.
  • “Being away, being on tv, getting to see it from afar, getting to see and understand the transfer portal…that mindset’s very different. And I think being away on tv, coming back in, prepared for the new world of college football, I was much in a, in a right state of mind.” (25:17–26:47)
• Mullen credits Lane Kiffin with insight on adapting to portal-era roster volatility.

Running UNLV Like an SEC Program

• Tries to bring SEC standards of training and support, but acknowledges different budgets and logistics:
  • “We run it like we're in the SEC. I know we don't have the budget that they have, but we still want to make sure how we train, how we treat our players, how we develop our players…” (27:11)

Reflecting on Florida & Mississippi State

• Finebaum notes Mullen’s strong record at Florida. Mullen observes how high expectations overshadowed otherwise excellent seasons.
  • “At Florida, they expect championships…we got to an SEC championship game, fell a couple points short to Alabama, but…the standard from the day I got there was championships.” (28:48)
  • Wonders if the expanded playoff system would have prolonged his stay.

Attachment to Former Players

• Mullen discusses following his former Gators as they moved on (often via transfer portal), emphasizing that he’s a players’ coach at heart:
  • “I always follow the players, right? …I love my players, love watching them move on and succeed…you always just keep following the former players and see how they did.” (30:33)

Rumors & Future Plans

• On rumors linking him to future jobs, Mullen says he is happy at UNLV, values the stage of life he’s in, and doesn’t feel a need to chase the next opportunity.

  • “I want to coach where I want to coach in a program. I want to be able to run a program how I want to run the program, and I want to be around people that I really enjoy being around… you never know long term what's going to happen. But I do really love being here.” (33:01)

• Memorable moment: Mullen describes sitting in his Vegas office, looking out on the Strip:

  • “I mean, I guess I'm sitting in my office right here overlooking the Strip. ...every concert, every restaurant, every show, it's all right here.” (34:34)

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5. Listener Calls: Tennessee and General Neyland Memories

Timestamps: 36:46–41:57

• Squirrel and Bubba callers reminisce about Tennessee football history, legendary coach General Neyland, and lament not knowing more about past Vols legends when younger.
  • “I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't know more about General Nayland, but I'm going to get that book and I told myself I'm going to try to learn a bit more about Tennessee history.” (39:48)
• Conversation veers into college football's old “mythical” national championships and Heisman injustices, contrasting how championships are now settled on the field.
  • “But you know, all the politics of old time college football, you know, that's like all the national championships that's been handed out through the years...” (41:30)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:20 | Paul Finebaum | "Are you tired of private equity? Are you tired about cloture rules in the United States Senate? It's football season almost!" | | 02:39 | Glenn Guilbeau | "I'm a little fed up with [business side] and looking forward to practice. That's what that was about." | | 04:46 | Glenn Guilbeau | "He’s really stroking the LSU tradition...even if he's not sincere, he's successfully playing to the crowd." | | 13:45 | Caller Darrell | "There’s a reason Saban retired...now the transfer portal, they can leave. He knew that all that was ending..." | | 18:38 | Paul Finebaum | "...It just continues to put a spotlight on how awkward it is that Nick Saban remains the center of attention anywhere he goes..." | | 23:54 | Dan Mullen | "We're fortunate here at UNLV, the city of Las Vegas...we're recruiting at a really high level...try to build [UNLV] back to the national brand." | | 25:17 | Dan Mullen | "Being away helped me...I was much in a, in a right state of mind, if you will, to come back." | | 27:11 | Dan Mullen | "We run it like we're in the SEC...we still want to make sure how we train, how we treat our players..." | | 28:48 | Dan Mullen | "At Florida, they expect championships...we got to an SEC championship game, fell a couple points short to Alabama..." | | 30:33 | Dan Mullen | "I always follow the players...I love my players, love watching them move on and succeed..." | | 33:01 | Dan Mullen | "I want to coach, where I want to coach in a program. I want to be able to run a program how I want to run the program..." | | 34:34 | Dan Mullen | "I'm sitting in my office right here overlooking the Strip. ...every concert, every restaurant, every show, it's all right here." | | 41:30 | Caller Squirrel/Bubba | "...all the politics of old time college football...a lot of these national championships were just popularity or opinion polls..." |

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Structure & Flow

• Opening: Headlines focusing on business and power shifts off the field.
• LSU Focus: In-depth on the mood and expectations around Lane Kiffin’s arrival.
• SEC/Alabama Discussion: Unfiltered caller debates—changing culture, Saban’s legacy, and realistic expectations.
• UNLV/Dan Mullen: An introspective interview on being a modern coach, adaptation, and loving life in Vegas.
• Tennessee Nostalgia: Lighthearted, nostalgic memories from longtime fans, contrasting the old with today’s game.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This hour offers both a snapshot of what’s hot in college football off the field (money, NIL, governance) and thoughtful reflections on returning “back to football.” From hard-nosed debates about what it takes to win at Alabama today, to finding new joy and perspective as a head coach in Vegas, to heartfelt Tennessee lore, it’s a classic Paul Finebaum episode: honest, humorous, and deeply in tune with the heart of college football.

Transcript

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[Paul Finebaum]

The pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Fine Bomb show, our one podcast.

This might be college football

and we

are in the middle of the week. Good afternoon. Welcome in and we cannot wait to get started. Let's get going here with some headlines. Nick Saban co authored with Gordon Gee a letter to Congress. We must pass the Protect College Sports Act. Have to do it immediately. Meanwhile, in real news, LSU is talking about some serious moolah here. $100 million from PE tied to future media rights. What's going on here? Are you tired of private equity? Are you tired about cloture rules in the United States Senate? It's football season almost. That's the headlining Glenn Gilbo's piece today in the Tiger Rag and he starts it off for us. We actually had a Lane Kiffin sighting today in br. Glen, good to have you back. Good afternoon.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Hey, Paul. Good afternoon. Happy football. Almost.

[Paul Finebaum]

You bet. So I agree with you. I mean, all this other stuff is important to someone, but it's not important to the folks that we talk to every day. So tell us about what it's like at ground zero for the LSU football team.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Yeah, I got a few friends cover the Saints, you know, and all they're talking about is football and the season and the games. And you cover college now and it's all business, money, business and so forth. And it's been. Since December, it's been non stop with buyouts and salaries and private equity and new financial stuff. And I'm a little fed up with it and looking forward to practice. That's what that was about. But, yeah, you know, we went to practice today. Lane opened practice for a couple of periods this morning, and then he held a press conference. And, you know, he seems very upbeat like, like he was during spring football. He talked about Sam Levitt being 100% once again. But I'm glad we got on the field stuff now. And I usually don't really like practice, but I do now.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, Glenn. Yeah, I mean, a lot of, a lot of time. I mean, you've been to a few million practices in your career. When you're at one of these things, it's limited. It's. Everybody knows you're there. I mean, what, what are you looking for?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Well, I was just looking to see if everybody was there and then who was, you know, first string on the offensive line. I was watching Sam Levitt throw the ball and he throws a pretty pass. So does he sign Longstreet, the number two guy? But just kind of looking at everyone, there's. There's really not a lot to look at. I was right next to Kevin Smith, the running backs coach, doing some drills. He's pretty, he's pretty aggressive, but there's not a lot to watch in practice. Never been a fan of it.

[Paul Finebaum]

Glenn Gilbo with us from Tiger Rag magazine. Glenn, listen, this Kiffin Sing has been going on since right after Thanksgiving weekend. It seems like most places it's calmed down. We all know he'll get ratcheted up again nationally, but on the ground there, what is it like day in, day out, just listening to Tiger fans and the expectations and the level of excitement compared to things in the past?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Well, I think they're very excited about it. I mean, they were really excited when, when Brian Kelly took over too, that, that Wayne gradually. But Lane is a little different, like he says, you know, and he's really been stroking the LSU tradition and LSU history and the town, you know, and he's really playing to the crowd. You know, I think he is sincere, but even if he's not, he's. He's successfully playing to the crowd and the fans are very excited about it. But, you know, it's funny, the. A lot of national media, some local media think, you know, he has to win big this year. And I've even heard local Fans saying, no, he's not. No, he doesn't. And I haven't heard Ellis fans say that much.

[Caller Darrell]

Oh, no, he doesn't really have to

[Glenn Guilbeau]

win that much, but it's been an interesting off season to say the least.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, you're a purveyor of thought. What do you, what do you think he needs to do?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Well, it's his first year. I really don't think he needs to do a lot. I mean, you know, Brian Kelly needed to do a lot last year and there's certain years, you know, like Josh Hyple this year. I mean, they got to do something. And the South Carolina coaches as well, Beamer. But he's still in his honeymoon. I don't think he has to do anything. He's going to have a chance to do a lot of things. He's got a great, talented roster, but he's got a really difficult schedule.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

He could have a really good team

[Glenn Guilbeau]

and not make the playoffs and that would be disappointing. But, you know, there's still year two and year three, the way I see it, and his portal class of 41 players, a good chunk of that class is going to be here in 27 and 28. He's got a decent high school class from last year that Kelly started that's going to be around for a while, too. So I don't think there's any kind of edict that he has to have a great year this season. But, you know, I think he probably will be in the three to two loss range which, which might get them in.

[Paul Finebaum]

Hey, Glenn, we started with this headline and I agree with you. I'd rather talk about football, but you can't ignore meetings at the governor's mansion when everybody seems to be all in. And $100 million at least, reportedly from private equity. I don't understand all that. I don't know if you do, but if you do, could you explain what's going on down there in terms of the money?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Not really, no. I don't really understand it. My editor at Tiger Rag has written a lot about that and tigerag.com he's got some good stuff on it. But they're, they're trying to give up, make some guarantees, which is what you do with private equity, to make more money. And it sounds like it's a good deal. And lsu, surprisingly, is being open about it, which they're usually not in financial terms. So. And they have been working on this for some time. They didn't just start working on it the other day, but they have been Vera Jasbury in particular since he took over as an athletic director. They've been really working hard at revenue streams and trying to pay for Brian Kelly's buyout and laying Kiffin's contract and the new basketball coach's contract Will Wade and the former coaches buyout. So they're exhausting, exhausting all their faculties to try to find some money. And this is, this is the latest one. I don't know how many programs in the country are having 20 donors on Monday and 20 mega donors now. These are million dollar donors and up meeting with the governor in the governor's mansion. I don't know if that's going on in the other 49.

[Paul Finebaum]

And Glenn, listen, I don't know the state like you do, but you, you've in the past, you've always heard that LSU was a small state, it had money, but it didn't have the kind of money other places have. Is it Kiffin, is it the times? What is it for all these guys to dig down deep and cough up big bucks?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Yeah, Louisiana is not home to a lot of Fortune 500 companies, there's no question about it. But when they want money to fire a coach or hire a certain coach, they're able to find the money. And when they, when they need an upper deck on Tiger Stadium, back when you were in Shreveport, they, they found the money for that. But they didn't fix the library. They still fixed the library. So, so it's, it's a priority thing. And you know, the world's changed so much in the last few years in college athletics. So there's, you know, there's other schools that are dancing with private equity as, as well. So LSU is not different in that, but they have been kind of in the forefront in just recent years and they're trying to find the money. And I don't know how long it's going to last, but it looks like they may have an answer at least in the present tense.

[Paul Finebaum]

Glenn Gilbo with the report on the LSU Tigers. They're looking good on the practice field and in the bank. We are here for the next four hours on a Wednesday afternoon. Dan Mullen. Didn't expect to see that name up there from unlv, who can't wait to talk to the former state in Florida, coach Jason Swain, now part of the Tennessee broadcast team. And Matt Stenscomb, always great to see him. And your phone calls right after this.

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast

SEC Now. That will come on at 7pm updating you on all the camps opening today. And there's a few.

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[Paul Finebaum]

Kaylen DeBoer speaking today at Alabama. And you know there's been a lot of noise about lowest ranking and Kaylen DeBoer, that's him over there on your screen, said we are definitely aware. We've talked. I'm trying to do Kayla and Deborah speak. We've talked about working in silence since January and these guys are just doing their thing, not getting caught up in anything they can't control. We know what our goals are. We know what our expectations are. We've never shied away from that. Caitlin DeBoer, another William Jennings. Brian Stemwinder there. Let's go to Darrell in Columbus, Georgia. Hello Darrell.

[Caller Darrell]

You know what? First of all, you're probably gonna cut me off. Cause when I pour the heat on you, you can't stand it and you hang up the damn phone, okay? But it's just absolutely ridiculous, Paul. I mean, it really is. Going out there and saying Alabama's different than everybody else and Alabama's different. They got a different culture. You think Georgia is not trying to win a national title every year? You think Ohio State isn't, Michigan isn't?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

All of them are, Paul.

[Caller Darrell]

Every Tennessee, all of them are. It's not a culture issue. I don't even see. Let me ask you this, Paul. Let's take Nick Saban right now, okay? And let's put him in the place of Kevin DeBoer. With everything that's happened since the board's been there, is there. Is there a culture problem in Alabama? Is Saban still the head coach?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

No.

[Paul Finebaum]

I don't know. Darrell, what do you think?

[Caller Darrell]

No, I know. No, no. Nobody says anything. But you know what? It's unfair, Paul, to even compare the two because the transfer portal. The game has changed. There's a reason Saban retired, okay? Because he knew that he was not going to be able to no longer cherry pick his players. He knew he was not no longer going to be able to get players, stay a year, okay, and then wait their time because now the transfer portal, they can leave. He knew that all that was ending and that meant that dominating college football was also ending. You'll never get another run in college football like Alabama had with Saban. It's not going to happen. The transfer portal has changed all that. But you're comparing apples to oranges there and saying this guy can't win a national title there. I mean, you know, and let me ask you this. What happened after. After, let's say I think it was 18 years, they went and didn't win a national title. Isn't that right? They had. They won one under what's his face. And then like they went 18 years and didn't win nothing, okay? Absolutely nothing. Well, I mean, why do y' all act like they should pay for a national title every day?

[Glenn Guilbeau]

I year?

[Caller Darrell]

And here's the problem, Paul. If I'm a coach, I don't even know if I want to go to Alabama. Because it's like that, okay? Winning. You don't. If you don't win your dad. If you don't play for national every year, even if you win your conference, you make the playoffs, that is a successful year. That is a good year, okay? It shouldn't be national title or bust. And that's the way it is there. That's just. That's just. That's unfair to the coaches. Let me say one more thing real quick. I heard you point out to Iman said, oh, Darrell, Darrell, you know, he ain't changed. He's still the same. You know what, Paul?

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

You still the same.

[Caller Darrell]

Are you still trying to get coaches fired? That's the same ball. Fine. Bomb. That many people know you as being okay. And as far as me crying, begging to be in the ring of honor, Paul, you know what? My marriage, I want to get. I want to be in the ring on cause of my marriage. I ain't begging. It ain't like it's a damn Cooper sound or an NFL hall of Fame or something like that, but if that's how you feel about it, then I don't want to be in it. Okay? Because I have. I said the honor is not being in the ring of honor. See you, Paul.

[Paul Finebaum]

Donnie. Donnie is up next in Texas. Hey, Donnie. Good afternoon.

[Caller Darrell]

Hey, thank you for taking my call, sir. And I just wanted to say that the other day you were talking about going into the prisons and the guys listening to you and that. And the old saying is, is that Barry Switzer, he recruited out of the prison so he could beat Daryl Ross. Now I want to see at the end of the day, Steve starkes it with a Texas flag wrapped around him, the same way Jimi Hendrix had his flag on the Woodstock on Monday morning when the sun came up. And I want to see Steve kick all their ass. Y' all all have a good day.

[Paul Finebaum]

Travis is up next. Hey, Travis. Good afternoon.

[Caller Darrell]

Yes. Hey, Paul. How are you doing today?

[Paul Finebaum]

We are doing great.

[Caller Darrell]

Yes. My question is, what team that's currently in the top 10 of the coaches poll do you think will have an even better season and possibly get to the national championship? And is there any team that's in the poll that you wouldn't be shocked if they're not ranked by the end of the season?

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, I mean, there's some teams in the top 25, but in the top 10, I thought the team that has the best chance of the team that was. I think I'm trying to remember where they were. Five or six, maybe five. I thought Notre Dame should have been higher. I really like Notre Dame's chances. They've got a typical Notre Dame schedule and, you know, one of the better quarterbacks in the country in CJ Carr, and one of the best coaches in the country. I really like where they are.

[Caller Darrell]

Right. Yes. And they pretty much got an easy schedule, you know, except for, like, two games, I think. And then my last question is, and this is kind of a joke. Are you off the Nick Saban Christmas card list for saying what you said about. About him yesterday when, when you said that you didn't want to hear Nick Saban talk about Alabama sneaking up on people?

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, you know, I probably am. And if I am, I'll just have to maybe get on somebody else's Christmas card list.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

Yeah.

[Paul Finebaum]

I found Saban's comments to be ridiculous, Right?

[Caller Darrell]

Yes.

[Paul Finebaum]

And it doesn't bother me that. That he may be playing some game. I don't think he is, by the way. I think what he's doing is he's dumbing down the deboer expectation, and that's not what I want as a fan.

[Caller Darrell]

No.

[Paul Finebaum]

And I think it just continues to put a spotlight on how awkward it is that Nick Saban remains the center of attention anywhere he goes in Tuscaloosa. And when he does comment about Kayewin deboer, it's usually with kid gloves. But then again, he knows the. He knows that he knows the DNA of Kaywin DeBoer. And yeah, sure, Saban liked. Didn't like when he was. When he liked it better when he was ranked lower, which he was never ranked lower.

[Dan Mullen]

Right. Yeah.

[Paul Finebaum]

Alabama was always either the pick, I mean, what, three years ago, Georgia. Yeah. I mean, I think they came in number three his last season. And it felt like the end of the world that Alabama wasn't picked to win at all. Hey, thank you for the call. Really do appreciate it. Take care of yourself. Dan is up next in North Carolina. Hello, Dan.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Hi, Paul.

[Caller Darrell]

Good to talk with you again, Paul. The story that just won't go away. So the Big Ten and the SEC apparently agree on a couple of things. Number one, five years maximum term that you can spend in college football. One transfer during any college year. I think that's outstanding. And of course, additional 25 million for subsidizing nil for the men and additional 5 for the women. What now do you feel is the holding point? Is it a potential lawsuit that could be developed by any one individual or school? Or is it something that we've touched on in the past with this discussion and is not going to come to fruition now that we now have a new voice writing letters to Congress, getting them to pass this. This situation? Where are we, Paul?

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, I mean, I think we're pretty close to a bill being passed now. Really? What happens then remains unknown. I'm still. I'm still not convinced that it ends the legal battles across the board. Thanks for the call. We'll take a short break right now. Busy first 30 minutes here on the program. Dan Mullen, new coach at unlv. He's been there a year or two. We'll talk to him coming up next.

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[Paul Finebaum]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card Shave ice by the beach, a trip to the state fair and a throwback flick at the local drive in. They're more than just items to check off the summer bucket list. There are also opportunities to earn 2% daily cash back when you use your Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card now and use in minutes with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and [e-mail] you're listening to the Paul Finebaum Show Podcast.

And how about this headline, UNLV opens training camp with playoff hopes. And after winning 10 games last year, maybe more than just hope. In case you missed it. Second year head coach I can't believe I'm saying this. Dan Mullen Coach Dan Mullen, great to see you. How are you?

[Dan Mullen]

Great to see you, Paul. How's life down there in the south these days?

[Paul Finebaum]

Things are great. We just got through listening to Lane Kiffin. I'm sure you missed that story while you were out in Vegas. He's now at lsu.

[Dan Mullen]

Oh really? I didn't. I missed that? You know, it's a whole different world out Here, you know what I mean? I know, I know you got, you got Matt Berry. I hope you're breaking Matt Berry into what it's going to be like down in the SEC forum week in and week out. But it is. The news doesn't always get out here as fast. There's a lot going on in Vegas. You know, we're not always just tied into SEC football only.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, let's talk a little bit about, I mean, your first year is over. Obviously it went extremely well. I know you wanted to get back and you chose very carefully describe what it's been like a year in getting ready for another year where UNLV is being talked about with lofty dreams at the end of the year.

[Dan Mullen]

Well, you know, as you said, I was cautious about coming back in of where I wanted to be and having a program that really fit and I could build how I wanted to build it. We're pretty fortunate here with at unlv, the city of Las Vegas, you're in the sports and entertainment capital of the world. It's a destination for people to come to in today's world, you know, for not just high school recruits, but in the transfer portal for players to come. We're able to recruit at a really high level. We have the Fertitta football complex here, so we have great everyday facilities. We play our games at Allegiant Stadium, which is was voted as the number one stadium in the country last year. So, you know, I think there was so much in place for us that we could build off of, try to build and get UNLV back to the national brand. It was as you remember back in the early 90s, you know, when the run up Rebels were, you know, just a complete national brand every single year. Even though with it being basketball, we want to get it back to football that way. And so it was a great fit for me. We had a great year one and hopefully we can build off that coming into year two.

[Paul Finebaum]

You took a couple years and spent most of it in television, which I know you enjoyed. But as you went through that process, things were changing very rapidly in college football. What was that? How would you describe that experience for you, what you took away from it and how different are you now back in it like you are?

[Caller Darrell]

You know what, Paul?

[Dan Mullen]

I think it really helped. Being away helped me. It really helped a lot. Not just reset me as a coach and all of those things, but it let me see the changes from afar and not have to live with them day in and day out, you know, a lot of things, of, of just my, even my mindset when I, you know, when I was a younger coach and you go back, it's a different world in college football today. I don't know that that approach, it could have, it might have been really hard for me to adapt to if I had never left. Being away, being on tv, getting to see it from afar, getting to see and understand the transfer portal. You talked to Lane. You know, one thing Lane helped me with, and it just, I remember talking about one thing when I was off and he said, hey, you know, you better get ready that you recruit a kid for two years, you know, you build this relationship with him. He comes to your school, you coach him for two years, he's ready to have a breakout year. He walks in the office, says, coach, I'm leaving, I'm transferring. You know, that, that, that whole deal, that, that wouldn't have been able to compute in my brain in the old me, you know, I mean, you're, you're. We're here, we're all in. We're developing you over a four to five year career. Let's see your career take off. You have to kind of have a new mindset that, that could happen. And hey, if that happens, then you're just, you're, you know, calling down your gm, hey, let's just go sign another linebacker right now. Get in the portal. Let's go. We need a new linebacker. That mindset's very different. And I think being away on tv, coming back in, prepared for the new world of college football, I was much in a, in a right state of mind, if you will, to come back

[Paul Finebaum]

and go do that just in terms of, of where you are. I know that's an advantage. And UNLV has had a storied history in baske and in, in football. But what is that like now at a different level than you were at different schedule, different part of the world. What, what is the, what are the similarities and what are the differences?

[Dan Mullen]

Well, I think one, you, you know, you're, you're looking at your program, right? How are. You want to run this program and you know, how do we run this program as a big time. I, I kind of. We run it like we're in the sec. I know we don't have the budget that they have, but we still want to make sure how we train, how we treat our players, how we develop our players, whether it's through training table, academic support, everything. We have that, as you say, you do play a different schedule. You know, I mean, we played Wyoming last year on October 4th in a blizzard. That was different preparation for me to be out there. But, you know, you really. You're looking at who you have to go compete against week in and week out, say, hey, all right. Well, we don't have the $40 million budget that Georgia and Texas have for our players. However, people in our league don't have a $40 million budget either. And we got to compete, you know, and our goal is to win the Mount West Conference this year. And so, you know, where are we compared to the teams that we have to beat in our conference to give us an opportunity to go take that next step?

[Paul Finebaum]

We're talking to Dan Mullen and coach, I know you moved on, and certainly there's nothing else you can do but plow forward. But. But I took a look at your. At your record coming on today because I just wanted to familiarize myself, and I must confess, I was shocked how well you did at Florida.

[Dan Mullen]

I know that. I thought we, you know, listen, I think. What was our record? What was my record of Florida? You probably. We won a lot of games

[Caller Darrell]

and. But you know what?

[Dan Mullen]

Hey, it's. In today's world, when you're, when you're at premier schools, you know, you expect to win Florida. At Florida, they expect championships. You know, I, I was at Florida, you know, as an assistant coach who won two national titles. That's the standard. And, you know, and I think that was the standard. When I got there, we weren't. We got to an SEC championship game, fell a couple points short to Alabama, but, you know, our standard from the day I got there was championships. And, you know, we weren't able to come through, even though we fell a couple points short on. On winning the SEC championship and going to compete for national championships. And I, I think maybe if the playoff error was around, I think three out of my four years, we would have made the College Football Playoff. Maybe that would have looked a little bit different back then with the resume, but of keeping me around a little bit longer to try to try to go win that national title. But, hey, it is what it is,

[Glenn Guilbeau]

you know,

[Dan Mullen]

probably hasn't gone as well there since I left. That doesn't seem like.

[Paul Finebaum]

No, it doesn't. And I know you do move on, but watching that program flounder. And for those who can't remember, coach had two top finished sixth in 18 and six in 19. And you mentioned playing for the title during the COVID year and, you know, the four years after you were an exercise in futility Even while you're doing games on Thursday and you're sitting in the studio on Saturday, you have to, I mean, you're forced to talk about your former team. What was that experience like watching a lot of your own, your former players really flounder under your successor?

[Dan Mullen]

Yeah, they, they, some of them struggled, you know, I mean, to be honest with you, I watched a lot of them moved on, you know, because that was when the transfer portal world hit. And, you know, the, the, you know, as you said, it is a new world in college football now. You know, back when you take over a program, now it's yours. Day one, you're gonna, you know, you're gonna get all new players in. You know, it was great to see. I, I always follow the players, right? I mean, I think if guys that play for me or know me, I'm a players coach. You know, I love my players, love watching them move on and succeed. And I got to see a lot of the guys that were on that roster. Some of them have success staying at Florida. Some, A lot of them had success with that. They were asked to move or go transfer to other places going on. A lot of those guys transferred to other schools and made it, moved on to the NFL afterwards. And, you know, so it was always good. I always wanted to see the players succeed and have success, you know, as, you know, Polly, I mean, I won two national titles as an assistant coach there. When you're a head coach, I mean, you know, I, I grew up like, loving, florid, and she always wanted to root for them and see them do well. And it's always tough to see those players go in, you know, and not maybe have the success that you want to have, you know. And, you know, when you look at your recruiting guys like Anthony Richardson, you say, okay, you hope he's going to have the success moving on in his career and, you know, was a top five pick. But the NFL hasn't gone on as much. But I still go watch like, you know, the Mahmoud Diabattis that has gone on and has success that Donna, you know, Donovan McMillan's gone on, had success with the Cleveland Browns. Now, a lot of those guys, you always just keep following the former players and see how they did. Even after you left a couple of more seconds.

[Paul Finebaum]

With coach Dan Mullen now at unlv, I realize you're about to start your second year. I'm sure you love it. I was reading something, and by the way, Coach, your name's already been attached to future jobs, and I know You've gone through this for a couple of years.

[Dan Mullen]

How was that? Every year at Mississippi State, I was always.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

It was.

[Dan Mullen]

I was always attached somewhere. A. You know what? We had a great. I loved my time at Mississippi State.

[Paul Finebaum]

But I mean, so when it's going to come up, you're having success out there. I mean, I know I've asked you about this in the past, and there's nothing you can do, but. And you haven't even gotten to the first game, and the question's already been raised. But what. I mean, what is it like out there for you? I mean, is this a place you can see staying a long time?

[Caller Darrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Mullen]

You know what I really enjoyed? I love the city of Las Vegas. I love how our programs run. I think, you know, we. We have a lot of great things here that are already in place. You know, I didn't come in and take over a program that was in the dumps, and I had to go rebuild every aspect of the program. Like I said, we have great facilities. There's a lot of great things in place. And you know, Paul, I'm at a stage of my life, too, is I can be a little pickier, you know, in what I do is I'm very happy here and I really enjoy coaching, but I'm also at a stage in life where I want to coach, where I want to coach in a program. I want to be able to run a program how I want to run the program, and I want to be around people that I really enjoy being around. So, you know, it's not something you never say. Never, you know, if you know of what's going to happen in life, you know, if you were to ask me, Paul, when I took TV over, when I was doing tv, I'd come out here to Las Vegas, go down to Southern Highlands Golf Club. I played in the Member Guest every year. And people will be like, hey, Coach, one of these days we're going to get you out here to be the head coach at unlv. And I would laugh. I'd say, I can promise you one thing that'll never happen. I'll never be the head coach at unlv. I'm just. That's not going to happen for me. And all of a sudden, as I started looking at things and you, you know, as life played itself out at the right time, this ended up being the right opportunity for me to get back in. And I've enjoyed every second since I've been here. So I think I'm at that stage of life. Right now where it I'm not chasing things, I'm not looking at things. I really enjoy being here. You never know long term what's going to happen. But I do really love being here.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, you look great and you look happy.

[Dan Mullen]

And I mean, look at, look behind me, Paul. I mean, I guess I'm sitting in my office right here overlooking the Strip. I mean, you know, I go see Kenny down at Sphere in the summertime and, you know, and every concert, every restaurant, every show, it's all right here.

[Paul Finebaum]

Your fingertips Coach, thanks for dropping by. Good luck. We'll be following you very closely.

[Dan Mullen]

Awesome. Thanks Paul. Have a great day. Go Rebels.

[Paul Finebaum]

You bet. You got it. Dan Mullen, third different program. We've talked to him as a head coach with Will it be the last? We'll take a short break. Your phone calls around the corner chronic

[Botox Commercial Narrator]

migraine is 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Botox Onobotulinum Toxin a prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine before they start. It's not for those with 14 or fewer headache days a month. It Prevents on average 8 to 9 headache days a month versus 6 to 7 for placebo.

Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Effects of Botox may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be signs of a life threatening condition. Patients with these conditions before injection are at highest risk.

[Paul Finebaum]

Risk.

[Botox Commercial Narrator]

Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection site pain, fatigue and headache. Allergic reactions can include rash, welts, asthma symptoms and dizziness. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions including als, Lou Gehrig's disease, Myasthenia gravis or Lambord Eatin syndrome and medications including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects.

Why wait? Ask your doctor, visit botoxchronicmigraine.com or call 1-844botox to learn more.

[Paul Finebaum]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card Shave ice by the beach, a trip to the state fair and a throwback flick at the local drive in. They're more than just items to check off the summer bucket list. They're also opportunities to earn 2% daily cash back when you use your Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card now and use in minutes with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and [e-mail] you're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

Let's get to the calls here. After a busy first 45 minutes, Squirrel is up next.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

I appreciate you taking my call, and this is good to hear from Coach Mullen. Hadn't heard from him for, for a while. He used to be big time back in, in Mississippi, but nothing too deep today. I'm, I'm not going to give you any national championship picks in the first week of August or anything, or tell you what a great player I was in high school or anything like that. I'm going to ask you your thoughts on. I'm not going to ask you your thoughts on Coach Saban and Coach Devore's tans. You know, I mean, that's, that's kind of personal and I don't care if they're tanned or not. But I really enjoyed a couple days ago when you had the Arthur, the gentleman that wrote the book on General Nayland. And I'm embarrassed to say that growing up just outside of Knoxville in the 70s, I don't know a whole, didn't know a whole lot about General Nayland. When you were going to school there in college, were you aware of his greatness?

[Paul Finebaum]

I mean, I only knew the most obvious things. The stadium was named after him. He had been there a long time ago. And every once in a while you would run into somebody who either played for him or worked with him and you would hear some stories. But again, oh, you were really were. I wasn't that interested.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

Well, me either. And I'm ashamed of myself because in Oak Ridge week, my principal at Oak Ridge High School, his name was Don Bordinger, and Don Bordinger played on the 51 and 52 national championship teams for Nayland and then coached on the 53 team as a graduate assistant for him. And he coached at Oak Ridge in the late 50s and early 60s, and in 58 they got the mythical national championship in 1958. But he would come out to our practices in the mid-70s and talk with us and cut up with us and all that. But we didn't ask him a lot of questions about Coach Nayland or about his playing days. I'm almost embarrassed that we didn't. And I wish I had a. And he died a couple years ago, unfortunately. And I wish I'd ask him more questions. But there. And wasn't there a coach called Coach Cafco at Tennessee during that time?

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, I do know about him. George Cafico. He was still around.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

I believe he went Back to.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

He went back to Nayland, didn't he, back in those days?

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah. No, Catholico played, if I remember correctly, in the late. On Those great late 30s teams, I think. And by the way, I mean, we're going back in time. I think he was still around when I was a student. I don't know whether he was just as an advisor.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

I was introduced to him.

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, he was introduced to him one

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

day at a game.

[Paul Finebaum]

But I definitely met George Cathico.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

Yeah, he was alive in the early 70s because I guess I was a sophomore, junior in high school when I met him. And he was an older gentleman then, but he had quite a legacy. So I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't know more about General Nayland, but I'm going to get that book and I told myself I'm going to try to learn a bit more about Tennessee history. Not that I really care about it, but thank you for taking my call. Enjoyed the show and aloha.

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah. The reason why I knew George Cavico was just one of the great players in Tennessee history. He was still. I just checked this because I was pretty sure I knew him. He was a special teams coach under Battle and Johnny Majors, I mean, he was considered the best special teams expert. And I'm pretty sure he produced just any number of great players there. Bubba is up next in North Carolina. Hello, Bubba.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

What's shaking, Paul? How you doing today?

[Paul Finebaum]

Hey, there.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Hey.

[Caller Darrell]

I don't think Bear Bryant ever beat

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

Robert Neyland, did he?

[Paul Finebaum]

No, he didn't.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

And I'm pretty sure Johnny Majors played for General Neal, if I'm not mistaken, and should have won the Heisman Trophy, but we all know.

[Paul Finebaum]

Hold on. I'm not sure he did.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

He.

[Caller Darrell]

Who did he play?

[Paul Finebaum]

He may have played for Bowdon Wyatt.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

You're right. I believe you're right on that. But he did, he did get screwed out of the Heisman Trophy.

[Caller Darrell]

Notre Dame, I don't think they even

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

had a winning record. Didn't Horny win that?

[Paul Finebaum]

And I remember I heard this directly from Coach Majors. Notre Dame, I think, was one in nine the year that Paul Horning won the Heisman Trophy.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

Paul Horning wins the Heisman Trophy? Yeah, it was kind of. But you know, all the politics of old time college football, you know, that's like all the national championships that's been handed out through the years, you know, a lot of them, national championships were just popularity or opinion polls. You know, there's a lot of teams that went undefeated and never got a chance to even be recognized as national champions back in the day.

[Paul Finebaum]

No. Absolutely.

[Caller Squirrel/Bubba]

And I know we are. I know we argue about the way things are now, but at least they play for it. And you win it on the football field, you know, you don't get to dodge this team all year. And who was that went for the tie to win a Natty that year? Was that Notre Dame?

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, that was. Yeah, that was. That was.

[Caller Darrell]

Close your eyes.

[Glenn Guilbeau]

Exhale.

[Caller Darrell]

Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today.

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[Paul Finebaum]

And breathe.

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[Paul Finebaum]

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