Hour 1: Scott Dotcherman & Ryan McGee Join the Show

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show – Hour 1: Scott Docterman & Ryan McGee
August 7, 2026 | ESPN College Football | Host: Paul Finebaum

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Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with Paul Finebaum’s trademark blend of SEC pride and wry commentary on the state of college football, focusing especially on conference politics, playoff expansion, and the ever-evolving landscape driven by NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money. The hour features two prominent guests: Scott Docterman of The Athletic discussing Big Ten/SEC dynamics and playoff negotiations, and ESPN’s Ryan McGee talking about his recent article on college football’s greatest villains and offering a peek behind the scenes at SEC Media Days.

Listeners also join the conversation, weighing in on everything from playoff structures to historical rivalries, conference scheduling, NIL-driven recruiting, and coaching legacies.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Sports Legislation & Playoff Expansion

• Congressional Roadblocks: The Senate is heading into a five-week recess with the College Sports Act still unresolved, hampering conference plans for reform and playoff expansion.
  • Paul Finebaum (00:50): “This is the final day. The Senate should be meeting for about five weeks, taking a five week vacation… there are still some hurdles to clear before the College Force act becomes law.”
• Tony Petitti’s Ambitions: Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti wants to expand the College Football Playoff (CFP) but depends on cooperation from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and external legislative clarity.
  • Scott Docterman (02:20): “He has a lot of big ideas. But right now he's not being able to execute them… he wants to expand the College Football Playoff… it's still in Greg Sankey’s hands.”
• SEC/Big Ten Negotiations: Major sticking points remain, mainly around the financial value of the SEC Championship Game and potential changes to conference scheduling.
  • Scott Docterman (04:36): “If they're going to give up these championship games then Greg Sankey needs to know what's the gain? Can the extra round and a half be worth more financially than what they're losing with the SEC championship game?”

Notable Quote

• “There is no answer with that... If they can get the answer that they want and actually generate at least as much revenue as they did from the championship games, I think the card [Tony] can play is we’ll go to 10 Power 5 teams per school in the Big 10.” — Scott Docterman (05:25)

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2. Big Ten Scheduling & Program Competitiveness

• Calls for Stronger Schedules: Much criticism is leveled at Indiana for its soft non-conference scheduling, with suggestions that the Big Ten should match the SEC’s scheduling rigor.
  • Scott Docterman (06:21): “Indiana… maybe they need to upgrade the scheduling... Penn State, Nebraska for backing out on Tennessee and Indiana all should be upgraded to 10 Power 5... opponents.”
• Big Ten’s Perceived Ascendancy: The Big Ten is riding high, with three straight national championships and robust competition—even previously middling programs like Illinois and Indiana are thriving in the NIL era.
  • Scott Docterman (07:44): “The Big Ten has handled things really well the last few years under Tony Petitti, with three straight championships… programs like Indiana… and even Illinois are having sellouts.”

Notable Fact

• “Tony Petitti has as many college football championships in his first three years as his three predecessors combined from 1971 to 2023.” — Scott Docterman (08:20)

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3. Listener Calls: Fan Perspectives & Debates

• SEC Championship Game Value: Callers emphasize the cultural and financial importance of the SEC title game, arguing it’s only behind the national championship in significance.
  • Irvin from Georgia (13:00): “The SEC championship is the biggest outside of the national championship… It just means more.”
• Conference Rivalries: Discussion likens the SEC–Big Ten dynamic to global superpowers—competitive, sometimes antagonistic, yet dependent on each other for college football’s future.
  • Will from North Carolina (14:33): “It’s kind of like USA and China—you know, we both need each other, but both actively engage in, you know, nefarious stuff.”
• NIL Impact: Callers bring up the dramatic impact of NIL on roster construction and coaching stability, questioning whether tradition can survive the financial arms race.
  • Brian from Georgia (33:33, 35:25): “It’s changed the thing… Texas Tech paid $9 million for a front for a defensive line last year… I don’t know why we give [DeBoer] a seven year extension without winning anything.”

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4. Ryan McGee on College Football Villains & SEC Media Days

• The Greatest "Villains": ESPN released a tongue-in-cheek list of college football’s all-time villains, with Steve Spurrier topping the list and surprising submissions like Tim Tebow and ESPN itself.
  • Ryan McGee (24:37): “The honestly most challenging one was number 10… Baker Mayfield... Urban Meyer was tough to leave off... But ultimately, that was the list I landed on.”
  • On Tim Tebow (25:20): “If we were doing the top 10 good guys, he’s the only one that would make both lists… he’s divisive, he just is.”
  • On Spurrier (26:30): “No one talked more trash at a higher level and was better at it than Spurrier… He made the Florida fan base mad by taking the South Carolina job and not coming back to Florida.”
• SEC Media Days Diaries: McGee offers an insider’s look at the relaxed, revealing interviews he and Marty Smith conduct with SEC coaches—highlighting the warmth, awkwardness, and candid moments that happen behind the scenes.
  • Ryan McGee (28:18): “What’s amazing, Paul, is there’s only one coach left from 2018. Kirby Smart. All the rest of them are gone... It makes it relaxing. Like, they come in and they feel like they can let their guard down.”
  • On Lane Kiffin (29:31): “I think that's probably the...conversation that I remember the most.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the difference between SEC and Big Ten schedules:
  • “Try playing a game at night in Starkville versus a game… at UCLA in front of 3,000 fans. You want to—if that many.” — Paul Finebaum (40:28)
• On college football’s cultural weight:
  • “It just means more.” — Irvin from Georgia (13:00)
• On guest expectations:
  • “If you’re watching a guest on Arkansas… you want to learn something. And too often you have a guest on who is just afraid to give an opinion. Why? I don’t know.” — Paul Finebaum (21:15)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:50 – Senate/College Sports Act hurdles & playoff politics
• 02:20–08:20 – Scott Docterman on Tony Petitti, Big Ten strategy, SEC playoff leverage, Indiana’s schedule
• 13:00 – Irvin from Georgia on SEC championship game culture
• 14:33–16:39 – SEC vs. Big Ten rivalry analogies and playoff market debate
• 24:01–25:48 – Ryan McGee on ESPN’s greatest college football villains list (Spurrier, Tebow, etc.)
• 28:18–31:56 – McGee behind the scenes at SEC Media Days and candid coaches’ interviews
• 33:33–35:26 – Brian from Georgia on NIL reshaping recruiting, Saban’s legacy, and contracts
• 40:28 – Finebaum’s colorful comparison of SEC and Big Ten road atmospheres

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Tone and Style

Paul Finebaum maintains his signature conversational, slightly sardonic tone while keeping the focus on substantive issues and the traditions that make SEC football unique. The episode balances knowledgeable guest analysis, playful debates, and heartfelt caller contributions, all wrapped in the bustle and anticipation of the coming college football season.

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For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this hour delivers an insightful, unfiltered tour of college football’s shifting landscape, from boardroom drama to the voices on the street and the characters who make the game unforgettable.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

Pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum show, our 1 podcast.

[Scott Docterman]

This might be college football.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And good afternoon.

[Caller from Oklahoma (Scissorhands)]

Welcome in.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And I know three weeks before week zero, the one thing you wanted to hear about today was more action from the United States Senate. Well, brace yourself. This is the final day. The Senate should be meeting for about five weeks, taking a five week vacation. Dellinger reporting that there are still some hurdles to clear before the College Force act becomes law, whatever that means. A lot of another senator from the South, John Kennedy from Louisiana came out against, is not likely to make the floor, although there's no guarantee when you get these Votoramas going. Meanwhile, John Kennedy, not the President, but the Harvard educated senator said no. Tick tock goes the clock. As many senators have one eye on the door. I cannot imagine the Senate being in session after 5 o' clock today. What does Tony P. Really want? Former baseball executive has kind of fallen to a good thing with the Big Ten, but what does he want? I don't know. I don't know Tony Petiti, but Scott Docterman does. He is with the athletic and was recently around. Tony Scott, great to see you. How are you? And tell us the answer to that vexing question.

[Scott Docterman]

You know, Paul, it's been a great summer. Too much politics for me. I'd rather get into the games which are coming up. But I think when we look at Tony Petitti and what he really wants, he is a very creative mind. He has a lot of big ideas. But right now he's not being able to execute them very well because there's, there's so many things in his path. And I think a lot of it has to do with the congressional bill and all these external factors. But I think also he wants to expand the College Football Playoff. But in order to do that, he's going to have to whip through some votes and he's gotten enough people behind him right now that it seems like it's got a lot of momentum. However, he needs to push it over the finish line and that's what he really wants. And right now it's still in kind of Greg Sankey's hands as to whether or not that happens.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, these two clearly came together at the 11th hour on the Senate bill. Still not really sure I understand what happened and what they got out of it after resisting for so long. Do you?

[Scott Docterman]

Yeah, it really had to do with the associated entity and it was about how these, the leagues and their MMRs, their you know, Lear Fields and other entities play fly, can work together and provide extra funding for the athletes or through that avenue. And that's the one thing that was the holdout from the middle part of last week. So they finally got, they were able to at the very end secure some of those promises in this 171 page bill. Now it looks like it's kind of, it's wheezing quite a bit. There's a lot of asthma with this bill. I don't think it's going to happen the way things are setting up after what we're seeing today.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah, and one last thing on that. If you go to this five week reset the world could look different a little bit and especially in college athletics. So you never can be sure if everyone's on the same page five weeks from now. Which brings me to Greg Sankey. You mentioned him a minute ago. Considering how much goodwill these two have worked together on a very complex issue, why can't they settle the differences on the College Football Playoff which all fans seem to want at least an answer about what it's going to look like in the future.

[Scott Docterman]

I think he just needs to sell Greg Sankey on the benefits of his 2014 plan. And to Greg's credit he's, he's a traditionalist, more so. And, and I think he wants to know how is this going to impact the sport as a whole, how is it going to impact scheduling and how is impact the championship game weekend? Because the Big Ten is willing to give its up but the SEC has a much longer tradition of 20 plus years of playing the championship game and more revenue from it. So if they're going to give up these championship games then Greg Sanke needs to know what's the gain? Can the extra round and a half be worth more financially than what they're losing with the SEC championship game? And right now there is no answer with that. Which is why I think there's a stall and I do think that one card that Tony has to play that if they can get the answer that they want and actually generate at least as much revenue as they did from the championship games, I think the card he can play is we'll go to 10 Power 5 teams per school in the Big 10, which they used to do. They backtracked on that a few years ago and now we see it, of course with Indiana's schedule, it's kind of laughable. So I think that's the car that the Big Ten will play to at least give Greg Sanke a win going forward.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Scott, you covered the Big Ten for a long time and I want to ask you about what you just said because this should be Indiana's moment in the sun. Taking the curtsy and celebrating what was the season of all time. Why do they continue to play anyone in the preseason? And it looks like that's going to continue for a while.

[Scott Docterman]

Yeah, it was something that Kurt Signetti did when he first got there. They ended a game they were supposed to play Louis. They canceled that the first two years they were supposed to play Virginia. They got out of that deal and that really started his first year there. And part of it was when you look at Indiana the three previous years before they got there, there were three and 24 in the Big Ten. So he looked at it as a way to kind of build his program and not necessarily did anybody expect what took place. But now they're in that second tier of well, maybe they need to upgrade the scheduling, especially in the non conference and, and they are taking a lot of arrows for this and rightly so. I think, you know, there are four Big Ten teams that are only playing nine conferen conference games and it does give kind of the Big Ten an eyesore. You know, USC is a different situation because of Notre Dame but but Penn State, Nebraska for backing out on Tennessee and Indiana all should be upgraded to 10 Power 5 Power 4 conference opponents. And and so I think that is one that Kurt Signetti is taking it. But he also, you know, he figures he's won enough games to where it doesn't really matter for him right now

[Paul Feinbaum]

and it may not. Scott, let me ask you about the Big Ten because we saw the poll. It's only one poll the out but I can't imagine they're going to look any different. Just what about this moment for the Big Ten? I realize the season has to be played, but it seems unusual to hear so much praise for the Big Ten.

[Scott Docterman]

Yeah, it sure does. Usually it's for the SEC this time of year and you got nine SEC teams, eight from the Big Ten, you know, Oregon and Ohio State really at the top. And in Indiana I thought I felt was underranked. I also I wonder if its name was Michigan, if it might not be one or two in this poll. And I think that they have the only thing they don't have is a returning starting quarterback, but I still think they're a really good team. But the Big Ten has handled things really well the last few years under Tony Petitti, with three straight championships. In fact, it's kind of a funny fact that Tony Petitti has as many college football championships in his first three years as his three predecessors combined from 1971 to 2023. So that's pretty impressive. But during the NIL era, it's enabled these teams to really grow their players. They're able to go out and get ones that maybe they couldn't attain before. And we've seen programs, Indiana of course, being the best. But even schools like Illinois now they're having sellouts and they haven't had those for a long time. And they won 19 games in the last two years. The teams out west are pretty good, at least three out of the four of them. And there's just this competitive level among the Big Ten where every everybody collectively has gotten better. And it makes the league look that much better, too, because again, you know, Oregon and Ohio State, you know, they're at the top of the food chain when it comes to spending on their rosters and they're able to be very competitive across the board.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Great stuff. Scott Docterman, always fun to talk to you. Scott, thanks for your time. Appreciate it very, very much. Scott Doctorman from the Athletic as we get started here end of the week Friday, Ryan McGee joins us. He's got quite a tale to tell and we'll talk to Ryan in a few minutes. John Nabors returns. Talked about Arkansas and David Cloninger, longtime veteran of the beat of South Carolina, and your phone calls right around the corner.

[Podcast Host]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

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[Caller Brian from Georgia]

You know, featuring the Red River Rivalry.

[Paul Feinbaum]

We are back and it's great to have all of you here on a Friday afternoon just a couple weeks from now. We'll be on a campus near you. Irvin starts it off for us from Georgia.

[Caller Irvin from Georgia]

How it's been a while since I talked to you. I was ill and getting ready to have some surgery. And to be honest with you, Paul, whenever you guys start talking about politics and not football, I can't tune in. So I'm anxious about the upcoming season and we got three more weeks away. So let's just talk college football, please. Okay.

[Paul Feinbaum]

First of all, we're glad you're back. We're glad you're feeling better.

[Caller Irvin from Georgia]

Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. And first of all, let me the young man that came on that was talking about the SEC championship and the Big Ten and all that, Paul, you know for a fact the SEC championship is the biggest outside of the national championship. It's the biggest game on television. And these other conferences, won't they. It sticks in their crawl because they're not really getting the notoriety because of our Southern tradition. I wish they would go ahead and stop analyzing what the SEC is doing. And I don't care if they won the three last national championship. And Paul, you know for a fact the SEC championship game is the biggest game outside of the national championship in the south in college football. You know why, Paul? Because it just means more. Have a nice day. God bless you.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Scissorhands is up next in okc. Good afternoon,

[Caller from Oklahoma (Scissorhands)]

baby.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Hey there, buddy. I don't know if there's bad weather in Oklahoma or not, but we could not hear you very well. We'll try you again in a minute. Will is up next in North Carolina. Hello, Will.

[Caller Will from North Carolina]

Hey, Paul.

[Caller Irvin from Georgia]

Question.

[Caller Will from North Carolina]

How would you describe this, this back and forth it's going between the sec, the guy you just had on in the Big Ten? Cause the way I see it, I mean, it's kind of like. It's kind of like USA and China, you know, I mean, we both need each other, but both actively engage in, you know, nefarious stuff. But I mean, this stuff, like over. Over winter, you know, they. I don't know if that was a Big Ten plan thing, but the way they come after Kayla and DeBoer, I mean, should we not be more as the SEC? Shouldn't they be like more rough on the Big Ten instead of more Kumbaya?

[Caller Al from New York]

Yeah.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I mean, listen, I think the two leagues are mostly separate in everything they do. They do need to coalesce occasionally because they're the 2 power broker. You're right. It's a good example. Without China, the debt in this country would be a mess. It's not so great. It's not so great as it is. But yeah, you can't antagonize partners like China and Japan when 18 presidents in a row have put the debt in this country at such a large number, you can't even count up to it. So, yeah, you have to have somebody buying that. In this case, the SEC and the Big Ten worked. They worked together on this Senate bill. Hasn't passed yet. Don't exactly. I don't really want to explain to you the nuances of it all because I frankly have my doubts that any of it will matter. But, but, but as far as the biggest issues, which I think we care about, the college football playup, they will find a solution. The market will force that at some point in time. But you can't really blame the Commissioner of the SEC for the time being saying, we're not giving up $100 million game. That game is valuable. The Big Ten championship game is not valuable. So therefore they're more than willing to give it up.

[Caller Will from North Carolina]

Irvin was saying it's not as big as the national championship game. How many viewers does the national championship game have? I would beg to differ. I would beg to say it's like the second notch below the Super Bowl. I mean, how many people watch the national championship game compared to the sec?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, you know, you have to throw this year out. This year was at aberration, but if you go back to last year, in the previous couple years, the number was not all that bad as far as Urban Meyer is concerned.

[Caller Will from North Carolina]

Yeah, he.

[Paul Feinbaum]

He was once considered an iconic coach and he made the same mistake a lot of people make. He goes into TV and has just now made a fool out of himself every time he opens his mouth. It's sad. It's sad to watch his. His reputation diminished because when he left Ohio State, he was considered the second best coach in college football. Today, nobody really remembers much about his accomplishments, which were massive, by the way. Hey, thanks for the call. Scissorhands is back. Good afternoon.

[Caller from Oklahoma (Scissorhands)]

What's up, Paul, baby? Can you hear me now?

[Paul Feinbaum]

I can.

[Caller from Oklahoma (Scissorhands)]

Okay. I just want to say this, brother. Me and my buddies, man, hold on, hold on, hold on, man. You know, it's a lot of Sooners that listen to the show pop. So this is how we do it,

[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

Man.

[Caller from Oklahoma (Scissorhands)]

Paul, we ready for football season. We are outside the stadium in front of the practice facility. They do this equipment sale, Paul, I'm telling you, get like 75 inch TVs for like 75, 60 inches for 35 of authentic game day jerseys and everything. So me and my buddies, we all come down here and camp out and then plus we see the players. You know, it's all love down here in Oklahoma. So that's how we do it, man, in Norman. So I just want to say I love you, Big Dog. I can't wait for the season to start and we're gonna rock this thing one more time. Fellas, are y' all ready? Paul, we love you, baby. And we out of here.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you. Scissor Travis is up next. Good afternoon.

[Caller Travis]

Yes. Paul, how are you doing on this fine Friday?

[Paul Feinbaum]

We are doing great.

[Caller Travis]

Yes. I heard what Ryan Grubb had to say yesterday when he said they're going to fix the running game. Well, my advice to him is don't sing it show it because I consider myself a doubting Thomas when it comes to the Alabama running game. I will not believe it until I see it in game that it's fixed. And also I just have a quick comment. The Auburn needs to worry about beating Georgia before they, you know, worry about Alabama season because they've lost to Georgia eight years in a row. Those are my statements and you have a great day. Paul, I look for your comment.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you Travis. Great to hear from you. You be well. You have a great weekend. Let me check in with Tim up next in Arkansas. Hello Tim.

[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

Hey. Hey Paul. Thanks for talking to me. Hey, yesterday I really enjoyed just a sidebar, your interview with with Bill Lucci. He he was spot on in his answers and he didn't sound like he was talking off of script, unlike somebody like Mike Griffin. And I was kind of curious earlier in broadcast yesterday, you said that you interviewed somebody that sounded like he was talking from a media guide. And I just kind of thought maybe you were talking about Mike Griffin.

[Paul Feinbaum]

No, no, I wasn't. You know, I mean Griffin for all of his detractors, works very hard on what he says here. And I was not talking about Mike. And I probably shouldn't have said it because you can start to do deductive logic and think about four days of coaches. But I really feel very strongly about this and I'll keep preaching until they tell me I can't preach any longer. But I mean, folks tune in for however long they have. And when the thought is if you're going to have a guest on a show like this, like we just did had with Scott, you want something that maybe you don't already know. And my issue is that when we have a guest on and they tell us, they give us these either or answers that sound like you're typing in to chatgpt, it tends to irritate me because I think, Tim, if you're watching a guest on Arkansas, which we'll have later, you want to learn something. You want to know something other than what you already know. And too often you have a guest on who is just afraid to give an opinion. Why? I don't know. I've never understood why people that cover teams think an opinion is going to have them lose their seat at the table. But they do.

[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

Well, Paul, whenever you do have the interview with the guy from Arkansas, the phrase institutional apathy sticks to my mind about Arkansas's football. And I'm wondering, I always wonder, and I've said before, why do they keep Hunter Yuricheck is the place so messed up that they just can't do without him or what is going on there. And maybe somebody can show some light on that.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, Tim, I don't have the answer to that. I've been pretty opinionated on your check, as you well know. I don't know the president or the chancellor at Arkansas what he or she feels about it, but we'll find out. Thanks for the call. Appreciate it. We're up against the break. We have a lot happening here on a Friday afternoon. Ryan McGee joining us next.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

And welcome back. How about this? Have you seen this headline in ESPN ranking the greatest super villains of all time? So before we talk to Ryan, think about who would be on your list. Who had Steve Spurrier, number one, Kiffin Manziel, the Boz, Hurricanes, Notre Dame, ESPN, Tebow Man. Let's talk to Ryan McGee about this list. And Ryan, I'm sure there were some, some really tough choices that didn't make it. First of all, who got cut? I mean, who didn't make this top 10?

[Ryan McGee]

I mean Baker Mayfield, like the honestly the most challenging one was the was number 10 because we wanted to do something somebody recent. And Baker Mayfield was like, I kept going back and forth. But Kayla Williams feel like just happened. And Kayla Williams still just tweaks everybody all the time on social media. So that seemed pretty easy. But yeah, that one. But you know, I mean, Urban Meyer was tough to leave off. My feelings about him have always been pretty strong. But yeah, there were, there were a couple that I went back and forth on, but ultimately, that was the list I landed on. You sound like you're very confident in that list, by the way. Thank you.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah, I don't know. I mean. I mean, it's hard for me to think of Tim Tebow as a villain. Explain.

[Ryan McGee]

Well, but I wrote. I wrote in the piece, I said, if we were doing the top 10 bad guys, but if we were also doing the top 10 good guys, he's the only one that would make both lists because, you know, he just. He's divisive. He just is. And some of that has to do with football, and some of that has to do with all the other things that Tim does. But I also said in the piece that I didn't rank him any higher because I have to travel with him all fall, and he's a lot bigger than I am, and I don't want to get beat up

[Paul Feinbaum]

now. The old Ryan McGee would have said, screw it. I'll put him on there anyway.

[Ryan McGee]

Yeah, I'm getting soft. That's. That's totally what it is. But I didn't put ESPN on there. I mean, like. Like us as a whole, because as I wrote in the thing, you know, fans always say that we hate their team. And I'm like, we do. I said, you know what? I'm letting you know the secret. We have meetings every day specifically to come up with ways to, like, screw over your team, whoever you are. And that's a lot of meetings because it's a lot of teams.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So, I mean, let's talk about Spurrier, because, I mean, a lot of young people are going, like, how in the world did Steve Spurrier get on there? You and I know how Steve Spurrier got on there. Explain to the youngins.

[Ryan McGee]

Yeah, well, I said this about Brian Bosworth, who kids today think he's just the guy that stars in the Fansville commercials. And I said this about Spurrier. Y' all think he's, like, this, like, funny granddad that just tells stories about back in the day. But the reality is no one talked more trash at a higher level and was better at it than Spurrier. And not only that, Spurrier managed the two groups of people that loved him the most, right? The Florida fan base and the South Carolina fan base. Well, he made the Florida fan base mad by taking the South Carolina job and not coming back to Florida. And then he made the South Carolina fan base mad. Paul, I was sitting in for you hosting the show the day that we got word that Spee Spurrier was Quitting, like, in the middle of the season. So not only did everyone else, like, not like him, but then he made the two fan bases mad. They've kind of gotten over that now. But. Yeah, but he's. He's Free Shoes University, and you can't spell citrus without ut, which is Tennessee. Spent his entire life, like, angry like a Tennesseean, and spent his whole life angry as a coach, wanting to beat Tennessee as badly as he could because Tennessee, you know, didn't give a chance to play college football. And then only that. Has spent his entire life trying to get back at Georgia because Georgia was really the only team that kind of ruined his college career as a quarterback. So, yes, that's the Steve Spurrier that

[Paul Feinbaum]

we both remember talking to Ryan McGee. Ryan, as you came into the program, we showed the interview with Ryan Coleman Williams, Take us back. It's been two weeks now. The interviews you and Marty did will start airing next week. Give us the back little bit of backstory on. On these, because they look so smooth. I realize people are coming and going. What's it like to do that every year?

[Ryan McGee]

It's awesome. And we.

[Caller from Oklahoma (Scissorhands)]

We.

[Ryan McGee]

So we started doing those in 2018, so we've done it seven times. We didn't do it in 2020, obviously. But what's amazing, Paul, is there's only one coach left from 2018. Kirby Smart. Is it? So, like, when we ask biscuits or cornbread, back in 2018, the only coach left that we know the answer to that to is, is Kirby Smart. All the rest of them are gone, but it. It was good. We're really fortunate because everyone goes through the gauntlet, right? They go through the car wash, and they do the big room, and they do your show, and they do everything. And then they come in our set, and these. Our set designers do such a great job. It makes it relaxing. Like, they come in and they feel like they can kind of let their guard down, which is our goal, because we want them to tell us stuff. And so it was great. I mean, our conversation with Leonard Kiffin was very interesting. I'll say. Here's Marty, the guy that was stuck in Oxford, missed Thanksgiving because he was sitting in Lane Kiffin's lobby for five days. And then here's me, who did this big documentary that Lane basically burned to the ground over Thanksgiving weekend. And so now the two of us finally have a chance to sit down and talk with them on camera. So I think that's probably the. That's the conversation that I remember the most.

[Caller Irvin from Georgia]

Yeah.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And one thing about doing documentaries. I think the phrase is evergreen. What that means is you can replay them over and over and you see it on. You can't ever replay the Lane Kiffin deal anymore unless you just want to get mad. So how did you. You had not talked to him until. Since last season. So take us through the. I mean, I mean, meeting Lane Kiffin is not exactly an inspiring experience anyway. What was it like to see him and the awkwardness of that?

[Ryan McGee]

Well, I mean, right off the bat, he and Marty talked about. They went through great detail about the interview that Marty, the amazing interview that Marty did with Lane as he was getting on airplane leave and, you know, standing at the gate and they were on the phone with each other and where do we meet? And then again, my question, My question for him was easy. And my question wasn't even my question. It was the question that I get literally, Paul, every single day since, you know, Thanksgiving weekend of last year, which is people stop me at the airport, they stop at the gas station, they stop me in the neighborhood, everywhere. And they say, so all that in that documentary, that was just bs, right? And so that was the question I asked Lane Kiffin, and I'll let him answer it for everybody when Talking season airs next week here on the Southeastern Conference Network.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So without giving away the. The plot, what was it like when it was all over?

[Ryan McGee]

It was. We had a great time. We really did. What's interesting is we. So we had five new coaches and, you know, I had talked to John Sumrall a couple of times maybe, you know, ever. And we had talked to several of these guys before, and some of them we didn't talk to ever. And so it was really interesting talking to those guys. And you know, the first year coaches a lot of times play it close to the vest. I remember when Jeremy Pruitt's first year, remember he. No one ever wanted to get out of a room more than Jeremy Pruitt did his first year at SEC media days. And these guys kind of weren't really like that. And I thought it was interesting. No one was really talking about Florida and no one really. The media, national media really didn't know Summerall. And then after they all met him that day in Tampa, all of a sudden everybody's like, oh, I think Florida might could do stuff this year. So I think he's. He's a guy that won a lot of people over. But it was great week. I mean, you know, so I mean, we were in Tampa and that was interesting. But the rest of it was great.

[Paul Feinbaum]

There you go. Next week it all starts. Ryan McGee and his co pilot talking to all the stars of the SEC. Ryan, thanks. Great to see you again. Ryan McGee joining us today. As we head to the break right now, your phone calls continue. A number of guests will drop by and we are back after this.

[Podcast Host]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

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[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

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[Paul Feinbaum]

Okay, and let's check in with Brian in Georgia. Hey Brian, here we go.

[Caller Brian from Georgia]

Hey Paul, first time caller. Thank you for taking my call. Paul, I just want to say a few things and get your opinion on this. I think number one, Kirby smarts the best coach in the sec. I live in Georgia. I'm not a Georgia fan but I'm a Curry smart fan. I've been watching Alabama football since 1979 and on the go live stand against Penn State. Paul and we had some rough years till 92 then from 92 to 09, 17 rough years there until Saban came along. So, so here's, here's what, here's the opinion I want when Saban retired they accuse him of leaving the COVID bare. I say he did not because you can't control what the players do when the coach leaves because you know, saying downs those two great players with Ohio State went on, you know, were recruited by Bannon, played within one one or two years and so I don't think you left the covered bear. Paul. I just think that the NIL has changed. It's changed it, Paul. It's changed the thing. I mean look at Texas tech. They paid $9 million for a front for a defensive line last year, Paul. The best in football. I don't think Bama, they're, they're in IL is not as deep as Texas. So I don't see Bama getting a nine million dollar front line. So you know, and I know they're gonna have great defense. They got a couple million probably because you know, you know about. No, then the elite quarterback nowadays it goes for 4 million. So it's all about money, you know. But no, I missed xaving and I don't know why in the world, Paul, that we give the bore a seven year extension without winning anything. Okay. I mean I agree with Stephen A. You, you can't lose eight games at Bama in two years and expect an extension. So I don't know what Greg Byrne was thinking. He wasn't thinking straight there. Now winning the SEC title in the national title. Give Deborah all the $12 million. He earned it, but he got, you

[Paul Feinbaum]

got to earn it, Paul.

[Caller Brian from Georgia]

What happened to that mentality? Thank you, Paul. I'll, I'll be quiet and I'm gonna let you speak. Thank you Paul.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you Brian. Appreciate your call. Thanks a lot. Al is up next in New York. Hello Al.

[Caller Al from New York]

How's it going?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Paul, we're doing great.

[Caller Al from New York]

So right now I want to talk about like I think a three loss SEC team finally makes the playoffs this year because if I think about, I think Georgia and Texas will probably end up being extremely high speed. Any of that cluster, like you know, lsu, Alabama, A and M, Oklahoma, I think at least like two of those teams will have to make the playoffs because I mean if you think about it, they, they, they'll have better wins than most of the other teams that could be in that conversation at that time in my opinion. And there's just not enough spots for teams from other conferences that may not have better resumes to get in.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well Al, there's a couple of teams that have a really good shot at making it nine and three. Texas would be one, Oklahoma would be another. You have to get in with three losses. You better have played a significant schedule and a non conference. So I think those are the two. LSU probably because of playing Clemson could get in there. There's some schools that couldn't because of the schedule. But like Alabama playing Florida State is not going to help them at all. So you look at that Ole Miss kind of on the bubble with Three losses because of Louisville is not not strong enough. So a lot of it will depend. But thank you very much for your call. Adrian is up next.

[Caller Adrian]

I find it struck, I find it striking that we put Tim Tebow on the list, but not Urban Meyer and that we put Caleb Williams on the list and not Diego Pavia.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I'll say this, Adrian, and you'll understand very clearly this is one person's opinion. This is not a group of people. Tebow should not be on a list of villains. I understand the thinking there. He got in a lot of people's heads. But to have Thiebaud on the same list with Johnny Manziel and the Boz, I mean, hey, McGee can come up with his own list. Obviously I would have there are a couple of people I would have had on there who did really dastardly things in college football. And I can think of one that my name is attached to at all times that would be pretty high on that list. But again, I have no idea what any list is as much a subject of the writer as it is some editor who came up with the idea.

[Caller Adrian]

I mean it's freedom of speech, which is what we love. So back on the Big Ten interview that you did, I really want to clarify that I don't as an SEC fan, I don't want to diminish what the Big Ten has done. I feel like it's more I'm not subtracting from their success and what the threat that they bring to the SEC for their conference achievement. I do question though, when you look at those schedules, has somebody done the numbers I'm sure they have of what percentage of time does their first strings spend on the field during conference games compared to other schedules? Now that they're taking away all of the non all the out of conference big matchups, I feel like their players are healthier at the end of the season and it does make a difference about what you look like in playoff season.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I mean Indiana is living proof of that. And I turned out last year and said, as I'm sure a lot of people said, that Indiana would not have survived with let's say Alabama's schedule. I think in the end they would have because they were uniquely built. But most years you really couldn't survive a difficult non conference game. And then now the nine conference games. I mean it's embarrassing that Indiana plays that schedule. They used it to their advantage. Penn State has used it to its advantage and I don't really see a whole lot of change up there they need to adapt the same policy that the SEC does by playing a school from one of four conferences.

[Caller Adrian]

Agreed. It's just a metric that I do feel like gives a little bit of a cushioned narrative. So again, not diminishing what they've succeeded, but I also think that the game's a little bit rigged and that doesn't get recognized.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah, but Adrian, you play the bottom of the SEC versus the bottom of the Big Ten. It's not, it's not comparable.

[Caller Adrian]

Not, not. And from just injuries alone, fatigue alone, that it's, I know it's hard to play.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Try playing a game at night in Starkville versus a game and I'll make this personal for you. At UCLA in front of 3,000 fans,

[Caller Adrian]

you want to if that many and there won't be and no cowbells like so it's, it's literally, it's apples and oranges for sure.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Appreciate it. Thanks Adrian. Great call. Really good to talk to her. Peyton is up next in South Carolina. Hello Peyton

[Caller Brian from Georgia]

Paul,

[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

second time caller. Love the show.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you very much.

[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

What do you think the chances of Shane Beamer getting fired by the by South Carolina's bye week?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Pretty slim.

[Caller Tim from Arkansas]

Pretty slim. And what, what, what, what would you, what would you say is their best chance to pull an upset this year?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I mean, if they are as good as they were two years ago, they could beat a lot of teams, especially at home. I mean, I think Alabama would be one of those that they would have a shot at primarily because of the narrative of the last two years. Clemson, obviously. I mean there's a lot of opportunities for them. We'll talk about South Carolina a little bit later on with an expert, not just a talking head. We'll be right back. More of your phone calls after this.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you for listening to the Best of the Paul Feinbaum show podcast. Watch the Paul Fine Bomb show weekdays from 3 to 7 Eastern on the SEC Network. Plus you can listen and watch on the ESPN app.

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