Hour 2: Live from SEC Media Days

Summary

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The Paul Finebaum Show

Hour 2: Live from SEC Media Days (Tampa)

Date: July 22, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, Paul Finebaum and co-hosts broadcast live from Day 3 of SEC Media Days in Tampa, providing insights, interviews, and candid assessments of the biggest stories and personalities in college football. The episode features discussions about standout coaches (particularly Pete Golding), the evolving narrative around Alabama football post-Nick Saban, in-depth Alabama quarterback talk, and a revealing interview with Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko. Guest contributors include Roman Harper, Gene Chizik, Jordan Rodgers, and Dana O’Neill.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Pete Golding's Refreshing Honesty at Media Days

(Starts ~01:36)

• Roman Harper and Gene Chizik immediately highlight Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding for his authenticity and departure from stereotypical “coach speak.”
• Chizik praises Golding’s transparency, particularly his candidness on tampering:

  “He actually said what everybody's thinking and knows. Yes, but just typically, it's not necessarily politically correct to actually say it. And he did.” — Gene Chizik (02:06)

• Harper recounts Golding’s growth from pragmatic game-caller at Alabama to an adaptive leader at Ole Miss, emphasizing how his players have bought in.

2. The Dynamics of SEC Media Day Coach Narratives

(Starts ~05:28)

• The crew critiques how coaches craft their Media Days narratives, often deflecting challenging topics by steering back to rehearsed talking points.
• Kaylin DeBoer (Alabama head coach) comes under scrutiny for his measured, noncommittal stance on championship expectations.
• Discussion about what Alabama fans want to hear:

  “I wanted Caitlin DeBoer to put his fist down and say, ‘we are going to win a championship at Alabama,’ and he didn’t say that.” — Paul Finebaum (07:50)

• Roman Harper acknowledges the realities of today’s roster turnover—likening modern college football to the NFL in terms of player flux.

3. Alabama Football Uncertainty: Quarterbacks, Offense, and Coaching Approach

(Starts ~13:41, through 23:20)

• Analyst Jordan Rodgers joins for a comprehensive evaluation of Alabama’s uncertainty in 2026, particularly at quarterback.
• Key concerns raised:
  • Wide receiver group is unproven.
  • Running back group showed little improvement and lacks new talent.
  • Offensive line remains unsettled with four new starters.
• Quarterback battle between Austin Mack and Keelan Russell is dissected:

  “Right now as it sits, Austin Mack is probably ahead…but…they’re going to get to a point…where they need a game changer at that position more so than we need a game manager.”— Jordan Rodgers (17:17)

• Rodgers questions if Alabama is secretly high on the talent already present, despite minimal portal activity.
• The reality of a tough SEC schedule—road games at LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, etc.—is emphasized, suggesting little margin for error for Alabama in 2026.

4. Interview with Mike Elko, Texas A&M Head Coach

(Starts ~24:10)

• Elko shares personal stories about his rare opportunity to vacation in Europe and run-ins with Aggie fans abroad (“Imagine taking a photo with Aggies in the Sistine Chapel!”).
• Reflects on A&M's strong but imperfect 2025 season (11 wins, Top 10 finish, disappointment over losses to Texas and in the playoffs).

  “Multiple things can be true…An 11-win season is a really good year…but it was also disappointing that we didn’t beat Texas…that we lost in the playoffs. And all of that can be true.” (27:22)

• On bridging the gap to elite status:

  “What you do is you keep knocking at the door enough that you kick it down and you start winning the things you want to win.…sustaining success is such a big piece of what we have to get accomplished at Texas A&M.” (28:28)

• Lays out preseason goals: building grit, toughness, and readiness for a grueling five-SEC-road-games slate; calls for committee respect for their schedule.

  “At the end of this, that the committee understands what it really means, what we're doing this year in this conference, and that they understand what it takes to go through the rigors of this schedule…” (31:26)

5. Dana O’Neill on Outsider Perspectives and SEC Media Days Culture

(Starts ~32:16)

• Dana O’Neill, acclaimed college basketball writer, shares her impressions of SEC Media Days as an “outsider.”
• Observes the intensity, fan involvement, and evolving player image (noting NIL-fueled jewelry and style).

  “It’s lovely…I think just to remember, I don’t know, they’re still kids. I try to keep that in the back of my head.” (32:40)

• O’Neill points out that national audiences are less obsessed with every SEC storyline but do care about big-picture narratives, like the end of Saban’s dynasty and Lane Kiffin’s antics.

  “What Calum didn’t really say anything very interesting here. Right. At all. Which I guess, what could he say?” (35:59)

• Praises Pete Golding as a “fresh” personality at Media Days and draws a colorful analogy:

  “He should be sitting on a beach with flip flops and a beer, listening to…Grateful Dead or something. That’s what he felt like.” (37:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pete Golding’s candor:

  “I don't think he cares. I think his I-don't-care factor is really, really high. I think he is who he is. I think that what you see is what you get…” — Gene Chizik (04:28)

• On Alabama’s expectations:

  “If all of a sudden going to the College Football Playoff is the goal, then you've slid back multiple rungs in the ladder…” — Gene Chizik (10:16)

• On uncertainty at Alabama, from a player’s perspective:

  “Until Alabama can run the football, they're not going to be one of the top four teams in the SEC. You have to be more physical up front…” — Roman Harper (11:31)

• Mike Elko's Sistine Chapel story:

  “I took a picture with an Aggie family in the Sistine Chapel, which is a complete no-no. I almost got locked up by the Italian police, but I managed to get out okay.” — Mike Elko (25:23)

• On media day narratives:

  “We would come up with what our narrative was, right. And no matter what the question was… we were taking that right back to the reservation. This is your day.” — Gene Chizik (06:34)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:36 – Discussion of Pete Golding’s standout performance
• 05:28 – Alabama coaching narrative & fan expectations for DeBoer
• 13:41 – Jordan Rodgers: Detailed assessment of Alabama QB situation & offensive outlook
• 24:10 – Mike Elko interview: Europe vacation, program’s progress, closing the gap, SEC schedule challenges
• 32:16 – Dana O’Neill’s outsider’s perspective on SEC Media Days

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Tone and Style

The conversation flows with a blend of humor, candid observation, and analytical depth typical of Finebaum’s coverage and his guests. There’s a sense of informality and “insider” banter, offset by earnest appraisal—particularly regarding Alabama’s new era, logistical program-building at A&M, and the candid moments provided by newer personalities like Pete Golding. The tone ranges from playful (“I bet you didn’t have a hard time finding a course down here” — 01:29) to earnest and reflective (“I believe in what we’re doing and I believe in the direction we’re going” — Mike Elko, 29:31).

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Summary

This episode provided unique and unguarded insight into the culture, challenges, and personalities defining SEC football in 2026. Notably, fans and media alike are seeking authenticity and confidence from their coaches—both on the field and behind the podium. The SEC’s power dynamics, Alabama’s ongoing redefinition after Saban, and challenger programs like Texas A&M continue to fuel both debate and anticipation for the season ahead.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[B]

And we are back in Tampa Day 3 SEC Media Days. A very eventful day with Florida and Alabama this morning and Ole Miss and Texas A and M this afternoon. So we are inching toward the final day and we say hello to you as we will help get you ready for that as we're seaside here. Mike Elko joining us in just a few minutes. And look who just dropped in. Roman Harper straight off the golf course.

[C]

No, no, no. It's a different. There we go. It's a difference. Going to versus there is a coming. Yes. So you're coming off work. I'm going to golf.

[B]

Yes. You're going to play golf?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

I bet you did not have a hard time finding a course down here.

[C]

No, it is like a thousand of them. So, yeah, I'm really excited to meet one of my friends again. So.

[B]

Okay, good.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But we're here to talk ball, not my golf game.

[B]

Coach. Great. See you. And let's just get started because, I mean, we, we've heard from three coaches, I think maybe four by now. What's, what has stood out to you with. I know you, you were immune to the coach speak. But. But you can see through it and maybe hopefully tell us what you're sensing, Paul.

[D]

Yes, I am immune to the coach speak. I understand the company lines. And I will tell you one guy today who did not coach speak, and that was Pete Golling.

[C]

No doubt.

[D]

I thought it was refreshing. So he actually said what everybody's thinking and knows? Yes, but just typically, it's not necessarily politically correct to actually say it. And he did. You know, he got asked about tampering twice today and I loved his answer. He was just being authentic and real. Anyway, that's a whole nother story. But if you ask me what stood out today, I mean, everybody was good. I thought John Sumrall was good. I thought Mike Elko was good. But the one that stood out was Pete Golding, and we had him on the set. He's A really smart dude. Like, I don't know him very well, but he's very smart. He's very pragmatic. And you can tell, look, when you're in your low 30s, I don't know, maybe 32, 33 years old, and Nick Saban hires you from UTSA as his defensive coordinator. You don't have to say anymore, he's a smart guy.

[C]

Paul, I'd like to follow it up. So I've been around Pete when he was on staff as the D coordinator, at halftime, where they're doing the adjustments, where, you know, you get to hear the knowledge. You know what I'm saying? You've been in the. In the locker room at halftime, the. The coordinators are making their changes and things of that nature. And so to see Pete evolve not just from that, showing me how smart he is, but now how does he call games as well, where, you know, when he had Will Anderson and some of these guys at Alabama, he was trying to create pressures with their stunts, blitzes and things of that nature. The last year or so, when I've seen him at Ole Miss, he's letting the athletes create their own pressure, still allowing to play more coverage at times. And that is where they create more turnovers, allowing Suntreen Perkins to show more of an athlete that he can drop in coverage and not just rush the Passover. And this year, he maybe will have to do some. A little more of that because, you know, they still have Will Echols, but they also lost the Uman Miellen as well. So, like, with all these moving parts, I. I've seen Pete grow and he is authentic and he was exactly who he was today and was. It was refreshing, it seemed fun, and it was the most entertaining thing we've seen so far in terms of that,

[B]

because most coaches are not like that coach, and I don't know if it's their fault, but, you know, you're programmed to follow an outline. He went. He got into a couple of subjects today that I'm sure made some people uncomfortable. Do you think he just. That's just who he is and you're not going to bring him back?

[D]

I don't think he cares. I think. I think his I don't care factor is really, really high. I think he is who he is. I think that what you see is what you get. He doesn't care what question you ask him. He's gonna tell you what he thinks when he answers said question. Right. But I also think this. He's very smart. I'm not sure that anything just rolls off his tongue that can just completely blow stuff up. But he is going to be who he is, and I think that's probably one of the reasons. If you go into that building at Ole Miss, you can kind of see why the players jumped on the Pete Golding train when all this stuff was going down. Like, let's have this dude. We need to hire this guy. And, you know, they went to the administration. You know, they went to him. But today I got a better glimpse of why that actually happened with the players. The players are all in now. They've drank the Kool Aid. They're all over it.

[C]

You sound like you are, too.

[D]

I am. I am, Without a doubt.

[B]

Well, let me talk about another coach that was here, Roman, and that was Kayewin deboer. And he. He says all the right things, but when. When. When I heard him talking about what he has really been hired to do, and that's win championships, he said, oh, yeah, I know what I signed up for. But then he immediately did not want to talk about that.

[C]

Well, that's because he has not won one. I didn't want to talk about it. You know, we don't. The thing that I've learned about getting on that podium and what I appreciate about SEC media days is that this is your chance to talk about all of the positives, and you get to control the narrative. This is the only time as a coach you get to control the narrative. So you get to get up there and tell your story, and I'm going to talk about what I want to talk about, and nobody. It's your time to do your own dissertation. How much time you take up there is up to you.

[B]

Sure.

[C]

I don't think there's a time limit or people just don't want to do too much. Right. If I actually, to be honest, coach, if I got hired, I would do the longest speech in history. That was how I would introduce myself

[D]

so you wouldn't have to field any questions at the end.

[C]

I would do. That's happened the longest.

[B]

You all know.

[D]

I know it's happened before, and I want to tell you this is true now. Before I ever started doing this. So I did this in the Big 12, and I did it here, and, you know, I prepared for it. And to your point, Roman, which is very interesting, we would come up with what our narrative was, Right. And no matter what the question was, that was gonna put you off the reservation, we were taking that right back to the reservation. To our point. To your point, this is your day. You can get them back to that because you didn't just get beat by three touchdowns.

[C]

There we go.

[D]

You know what I mean?

[C]

So this is the only time you can control it.

[B]

So, okay. Having said all that.

[C]

Okay. Yeah. That was.

[B]

What was his narrative today. I'm still trying to figure it out

[C]

eight hours later that, you know, first and foremost, Alabama has won championships and been in the playoff conversation in multiple other sports and activities on that campus. So you want to give love to them early. That's good. Check that box. Talked about guys that were graduating early. Check that box, because those can we

[B]

put onto the screen. Roman is an employee of the University of Alabama. Answer this question.

[C]

But the bottom line is you can't. You can talk about toughness, but. But until you go out and prove it, that's Alabama's problem. Coach, you can't solve Alabama's problem in front of a podium. Nope. There is no answer that you can give.

[B]

But I heard from an Alabama fan here today, tell me if this is. And he said, I wanted Caitlin DeBoer to put his fist down and say, we are going to win a championship at Alabama and that. He didn't say that.

[C]

Well, who says that?

[B]

I don't think I've heard people say that.

[D]

Well, I think there's a way you can craft that where you don't have to say, I'm winning one right now.

[B]

I think we are going. I mean, there's nothing wrong with saying we are going to win a championship.

[D]

Yes, that's what I'm saying. I mean, you. You need to drive the message to that narrative so it doesn't sound like you're avoiding it. Right. So you could say, look, we're taking the steps that we think are necessary. The game has changed, Nil's changed. But we're working our. We're being thorough in working ourselves through the steps to win that national championship. We know that's the goal. That is the goal in our building. Every day we walk in it, and that's what we're going to do. Now, there's a process. It doesn't happen overnight, and things have changed. So. But we know what the expectation is at Alabama, and that is our expectation in the building as well. So you can.

[B]

But he said, we know what we signed up for.

[C]

Who said that?

[B]

Kaylin Deborah. I mean, you don't go to Alabama not know that.

[C]

Well, yes. So you just. You don't want him to say.

[B]

Not know that.

[C]

You just want him to say, I'm winning a championship. That's what you. That's what the fans want. Look, I, I want to give fans credit because I appreciate them, their passion and they're called fans, short for fanatical. And so to win a championship, I mean the turnover ratio in college sports right now, especially in a football team, is close to what it is in the NFL where you're losing 50%, 40, 35, 50 players. And I know nobody cares about that, but to be able to reload and try and win in today's game, I think it is different. Look at the bottom line. They won a playoff game on the road last year. I know nobody cares that about that. I don't care. Only thing I care about is Alabama's tougher up front in the offensive line. And you can't. I can talk to you about until I'm blue in the face, but I'm not going to get and say what Alabama's offensive line is going to be until I see them prove it. It's not about just having a first round pick. It's about connectivity. It is about talking to each other. It's about communication. It's about coming together. He did sit up here and say that on our desk when we came up here with Nick asked him something about that as well. And so, and I say Nick is Coach Saban for a lot of other people. But yes, they said that and that was. Would be what he gave me.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

Yes, I think, Paul, to your point, what do the Alabama people want to hear? They want to hear confidence that we are going back to that if all of a sudden going to the. And I'm not saying you're suggesting this, Roman, but going back to the College Football Playoff is the goal. Then you've slid back multiple rungs in the ladder that you were on when you talk Georgia at Kirby, it's national championship or bust. And that's how Alabama fans see it because that's what they know. Right. So I think to your point, Paul, they want somebody to be emphatic that we are actually climbing the ladder rung by rung to get there. And I think that's probably what they're saying. They didn't necessarily hear today as emphatically as they would like to. That's my interpretation of it.

[C]

I would love to hear if Coach Saban got up here and talked about we're going to win a national championship this year or does he focus on the process and understand that that is the goal?

[D]

Yeah, he didn't have to.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know what I mean?

[D]

He didn't have to say that, though.

[B]

I know you have to go play golf. When are you moving to Washington? Because, man, you. You would be great up there spitting on things. What happened to you yesterday? You were. You were firing bullets and we're talking about the Crimson Tide and you're like, I'm ready to fight the Alumni association.

[C]

Do you want me to know the truth? I don't. Until Alabama can run the football, they're not going to be one of the top four teams in the sec. You have to be more physical up front, and I can't until they show me that they can do that. I'm not confident they can do that. And that gives me reservation.

[B]

So you don't want to be hands down until you know more.

[C]

I need to know more.

[B]

Okay. I understand you're reluctant.

[C]

I'm able to hold back my reserve, my vote.

[B]

That's good. Thank you. They're calling you on the first tee at the Tampa Country Club. Jordan Rogers will join us in a moment. Mike Elko, and he's going to bring some confidence. I have a feeling. And Dana o' Neill from cnn. Coach Cizik, it was a great pleasure to see you. Roman, not so much.

[C]

Maybe it was confident.

[B]

At least I have confidence.

[C]

Is that what we're asking for today?

[D]

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[A]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast back.

[B]

Welcome back. I want to continue here as we are. Yeah, that's Tampa, in case you were wondering. That's my boat right there.

[A]

The big one.

[B]

The big one. We don't need a bigger boat for that. Day three SEC Media. Jordan. Roger, I want to just finish. Continue the copy. I don't know how much you heard of.

[A]

I didn't.

[B]

Your man Roman was just defending Alabama and because I was saying why didn't I want to hear more confidence out of Caitlin DeBoer? Chisik seemed to indicate there's a reason why maybe you're not hearing more confidence and that's Caitlin. Deborah knows more about this football team than anybody but you feel like you have a pretty good handle on them as well.

[A]

Yeah. And look, Caitlin Devore from a personality standpoint I don't think is someone that's going to come out and start pounding the table and like that. It's kind of who he is like in high moments and low moments and that's kind of one of his superpowers is the ability to, to be even keeled. But yeah, I, I have concerns but again they're not, I'm not saying, boy, I don't think this offense is going to be any good. But I have question marks about every single position unit and if you look at the wide receiver group, they lose Jeremy Bernard, they lose Isaiah Horton, they lose Josh Cuevas and they're now depending on Ryan Coleman Williams who's actually been one of the more non dependable guys. Just hands wise route, running effort. There's been some questions. He's a really good player but now he's the number one and they got lots here, Brooks and Rico Scott and some guys that need to kind of step up in development. So that's a big question mark, especially around a brand new quarterback, whether it's Austin Mack or Keelan Russell. Running back group didn't add anybody in the portal so it's the same group that underperformed last year. Now a lot of that had to do with the offensive line as well, but that they got four new faces up front at least on the offensive line as well. So I think when you look at it as a whole, I believe in Caitlin Devore as a coach. I believe he can develop, I believe he can execute. We've seen it at multiple stops along his career. They won a playoff game last year. I'm not like everybody else to where I'm, I'm just jumping ship because of how they got beat by Indiana. Yeah, it was a bad look. Indiana did that to a lot of people and they were undefeated and they won the national championship. Did Alabama look terrible? Yes, but I'm not, I'm not discounting their previous playoff win against Oklahoma because of that result. So. But I have concerns and I look at the, the schedule and I go, man, the, the margin between 8 wins and 10 wins is small and right now I'm leaning more towards thinking they could be an eight win team just because of the unknowns. Now we could get four weeks in and they could be four. No, because the schedule lays out pretty well and it could be Keelan Russell that's looking like a superstar and, and we could absolutely change this narrative so it's not all doom and gloomy, but there are legitimate valid questions.

[B]

And what you said a minute ago, I mean Kentucky, you'll hear a lot of hype about that game, but that's still a new program and a transition. But there's a little bit of time to play with the quarterbacks but not much.

[A]

Yeah, no, no, not much. I mean Kentucky's not going to be a bad football team. They actually have a lot of talent on that team. But it's a new system on both sides of the ball. I think that's when Alabama will win. Florida State's going to be better than they were again. That's a game that I think they should win. South Carolina is interesting. That's the first game you go, man. Lenora Sellers is going to be a different player in this Kendall Browns offense and South Carolina defense under Clayton White is always good and can always turn the football over. And your quarterback again, these are games that on a normal schedule we look at and go Alabama's better. You better hope that quarterback position came together because both those guys, albeit both talented in different ways, haven't played a ton of football.

[B]

So between the two, I mean we know Max in the system for four years. Keelan Russell, barely there. How is that evaluation process going and what is the for Kaylin DeBoer and Ryan Grubb describe which one fits better.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's going to be two opposing schools of thoughts and needs. The first is Austin Mack's been there in the system four years. This Ryan Grubb system, if they don't adapt it, but they're not going to change it entirely. But they're not. There was not a system or a team that asked more of their quarterback pre snap than Ryan Grubb did from Ty Simpson last year. I mean the amount of things he has to think about, adjust, change, protection, alerting to a different play. When there's two in the huddle, there's a lot of things he's doing. Austin Mack can do that. So right now as it sits, Austin Mack is probably ahead of Keelan Russell. But in that system because of the talent that was around Ty Simpson, especially at receiver. He could be a point guard and that's who you needed. And I don't say game manager in a bad way, but you needed a guy that could distribute the football, solve the problems pre snap and get the ball out of his hand. I feel like they're going to get to a point, whether it's camp or early in the season, where they go, I think we need a game changer at that position more so than we need a game manager. Again, not in a disrespectful way, but in a way that we need. A guy that's dynamic, that can change the way defenses have to play us. And when I watch Keelan Russell, yes, he has that unbelievable knack for making big plays, but I can't tell you. And he probably only had 30 plays or something that I broke down because he didn't play a ton of maybe not even that. I can't tell you how many times on pass plays I paused it as the ball was coming out of his hands and the receiver's head wasn't even turned yet. And that's impressive. So that tells me he can already process, he's already able to anticipate, and he's got some, some unique skill set, playmaker abilities to him. So I like what I see, but it's a small sample size, you don't know. But I think they're going to get to a point where they need that type of quarterback and less of a manager, distributor.

[B]

A lot of great quarterbacks coming into that position become even better. Some for whatever reason, don't. I realize you're guessing here.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But what you see of him, what's the expectation down the road?

[A]

That's tough. Well, again, what you're seeing or what you're trying to do is find little crumbs. And where do those crumbs lead based on what they are? And I tell you, the play was it Louisiana Monroe. I'm not sure where. He kind of scrambles around, steps up, little jump past to Cole Adams for a touchdown. You're like, oh, okay, that's something. And then the next touchdown, he throws. It's. It's like a corner route and the ball's out of his hand before the receivers turn around. So you go, okay, these crumbs are leading towards a guy that not only is just a backyard football incredible talent, but it actually seems like he can process, anticipate, the ball can come out of his hand on time. You go, that's the making of a guy that can Be a superstar now. There's a lot of talented people who never ended up being superstars. I'm not saying that's who he's going to be, but I really like what I see out kids so far. And it'll be interesting to see when and if he plays, how much that system kind of adapts around what he does well versus what Ty did last year.

[B]

And how much is the defense going to affect him because he hasn't played quality defenses yet, at least in college.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, obviously it will. Obviously. I mean, yeah, he played against bad opponents last year in those little moments he had. And that's the learning curve. But that's why if you look at the schedule, you're like, maybe we get him out there earlier. If you're, if you're looking, if you're Caitlin Deborah, Ryan Grubb, and you're looking by mid season, we need a guy that can, man, make plays with his legs and with his arm, then get him going early and let him grow into that player. Because the way their schedule lays out, you need to be at your best in the middle October and November, the way that schedule lays out and let him grow into that is what I would do.

[B]

Yeah. Because. Yeah. I mean, South Carolina is the 1 wild card in there, but after that, once you get to Georgia, there's no room for error.

[A]

No, no. And Tennessee is a team that. For what they're returning Jim Knowles on defense and the offense around their quarterback again, another team with quarterback questions. That's a team that's not like a. Oh, yeah, that's a win. No, no. The sec, the talent. The SEC is really good. And that's why when I looked at their schedule, I went, I think it's Georgia, Texas and lsu maybe. Is it not Texas?

[B]

No.

[A]

A and M. Sorry. Georgia, A and M&LSU are like, those are gonna be tough games to win. And then there's about four or five games that you're like, boy, if they're gonna get to nine or 10 wins, they gotta run the table against South Carolina and Tennessee and Auburn and a couple others that you're like, man, yeah, those are games they could win and maybe should win, but not easy.

[B]

Yeah. I think Tennessee and LSU are both on the road, so.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And some depends. Some. Some of it depends on LSU, where they are in November, 100%.

[A]

That's a wild card, too. LSU could not come together either. And you go, actually, Alabama's a better team right now. Yeah. So I just think there's. I just think in, in, in July, we attach ourselves to, to gut instincts and, and things that we see and what we think is going to happen. We got no clue Alabama could develop into a really good football team. And, and one of the things that I have to check myself on because one of the narratives is like, man, they didn't really add anybody in the portal at receiver or running back and you got the NC State kid at receiver. But on one hand, your immediate reaction is they didn't get better. What if we're really not the smart ones and Caitlin DeBore is looking at those groups going, we got dudes that are going to develop into really good players. So just because you add a portal player doesn't mean they're instantly going to upgrade you. And so maybe this roster is a lot better internally and they've developed a lot more than we anticipate and that could be a really good thing.

[B]

How does that overcome a lack of a running game and a woeful offensive line at times?

[A]

Yeah. Well, back to my Keelan Russell point. He changes how defenses have to guard you. He changes your ability in the run game similar to kind of what Jalen Milro did. Now, Jaylen Milro was maybe even a better athlete. Like Jalen Milro was the best athlete on the field. Anytime he was on the field, Keelan's got some of that in him. But that can really help the run game as well. So that's where I go. You sit back and go, what type of quarterback do we need? Based on the offensive line, the run, the running backs, the receivers. To me, it lends itself to that. I may not be right. And Austin Mack, I do. I'm more high on him than I think a lot of people, but I just feel like the fit and the need might lend itself towards a guy that can make plays with his legs.

[B]

Great conversation. Thanks, Jordan. Appreciate it very much. Great star. With coach Ches and Jordan Rogers, we are going to talk in the next few minutes with Mike Elko from Texas A and M. We hope you'll stick around.

[A]

You know, when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the wnba. Your vision narrows. You look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo, three from beyond the logo, every.

[F]

Did you see that moment?

[A]

You what records are going to be broken this season? All of it right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN all season long. You're listening to the Paul Feinbomb show podcast.

[B]

We're back and little bit of a boat ride into media days here from Tampa and we're always thrilled when we get a chance to sit down with Mike Elko. And I know there's a thousand questions, but we were just talking off the air, and I don't know, they can eject me out of this seat, but I want to dig into something. You just got through telling me about something coaches don't normally get a chance to.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

You talked to a coach. Yeah, I got a couple days at the beach with the family. But you did something unique this summer.

[E]

Yeah, we did. We did. I owed my wife one heck of a vacation because when I went to Texas A and M, she got stuck behind in Durham with the kids, and so I owed her a good one. And so we went to Europe, and we did a little bit of a trip from Barcelona down through the Mediterranean to Rome and got to see Europe for the first time. And so it was pretty cool.

[B]

It's a good thing they just extended your contract.

[E]

Yeah, it's a good thing. I told her after this, I would have to take a second job or we're going to have to make sure we win a little bit more this year. But, no, it was a lot of fun.

[B]

Now, I won't make you go through every part of it, but when you're. I mean, you're a guy that you walk around Texas and people are stopping you. When you're over there in Barcelona or Florence or Portofino or Rome, are Aggie fans clamoring around you?

[E]

So I'll tell you, for the most part, no. For the most part, it was a good trip, but I think one of the most wild moments, and hopefully this family is watching. I was in the Sistine Chapel, and so I'm in the Sistine Chapel. I'm staring at the ceiling, and you know, oh, my God, that's Coach Elko. We've got to get a picture. So it was a family of Aggies. It was a husband and wife who had been Aggies. It was a daughter who was in college. It was another one who was coming into her freshman year. And so I took a picture with an Aggie family in the Sistine Chapel, which is a complete. No, no. I almost got locked up by the Italian police, but I managed to get out okay.

[B]

Yeah, you better watch out. Leo may have put a warrant out for you as you.

[E]

I don't think they realize how I am compared to Michelangelo in College Station, Texas. I think in College Station, in Texas, I might win.

[B]

I mean, that is extraordinary to think. I mean, it's one of the most sacrosanct Places in the world. And there you are. Howdy.

[E]

Yeah, howdy, Gig Em. Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. It was pretty surreal, for sure. My wife was chuckling the whole time it was going on.

[B]

Well, not to belabor the point, but it has to be nice just to. Other than that, just kind of leave it behind for a while.

[E]

Yeah, we needed to. I think we just needed to. I think, you know, for a head coach, I say this. It used to feel like it took a year to kind of get the program up and running. I think with everything in this world nowadays, nil portal recruiting at a place like Texas A and M, it felt like it's been two. And so, you know, from the time I got to Duke until really this summer, it felt like I've been in a little bit of a hamster wheel kind of non stop. And so, you know, if not for me, my wife certainly deserved a chance to get away a little bit. And it was just nice to go spend some quality time with her.

[B]

That's incredible. Talking to coach Mike Elko here. We'll turn the Paige from Renaissance art and talk about your football team. And it was such an amazing season. It took a wicked turn at the end, but you have to feel pretty comfortable and confident about where you are after just a short period of time.

[E]

Yeah, for sure. And I tell people this too, and I'm very open, and I think you've known this about me. Like, multiple things can be true. You know, an 11 win season is a really good year for us at Texas A and M. Finishing the top 10 is not a marker that we've been able to hit very often here since we joined the SEC. Getting 10 guys drafted was a really big deal for us. It was also disappointing that we didn't beat Texas. It was also disappointing that we lost in the playoffs. And all of that can be true. And I think when you look at the totality of where we are and where this program is heading, I think there's a lot of reasons to believe things are going in the right direction. And we also know internally that there's still some things that we've got to accomplish and some goals that we've got to check.

[B]

And you know it, because you're the head coach. I've asked friends of mine at Texas A and M, like, why can't Texas A and M get from here to here now it feels like you're there, but there is a fine line between getting in the playoffs and doing what everyone out there wants.

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

How do you quantify this? Narrow edge where you have to try to get through it.

[E]

Yeah, I think you just have to keep growing. I think one of the things that great businesses do, great organizations do, great football programs do, is they lay a foundation that they believe in and they stay confident in their process and they tweak it where it's possible and where it's necessary, but they just stay true to who they are and what they believe in. And ultimately, what you do is you keep knocking at the door enough that you kick it down and you start winning the things that you want to win. And I think for us, sustaining success is such a big piece of what we have to get accomplished at Texas A and M. And so we had a good year last year, and now we got to double down and we got to do it again.

[B]

And you had such an intriguing background. And I'm curious as you. A lot of coaches will say, I look to my mentor. But as you try to get through this, there's so many different angles to it. Are there certain. Whether they're football business from the world of whatever that you have looked at, tried to study, understand better?

[E]

Yeah, I think you study winning. I think that's a big part of it. I was fortunate, maybe not at some of the most prestigious programs, but I spent a lot of time with Dave Claussen over the years at places where winning wasn't necessarily part of the DNA. And we established a program that won at a really high level. I think back to our five years at Bowling Green, where we built that into a program that ultimately won a Mac championship. And again, we're talking about a much higher level and a much different level, but some of those ingredients to success still exist. And so I've been fortunate enough to have been through this process before and seen it grow and seen it develop, that I believe in what we're doing and I believe in the direction we're going.

[B]

And this season, everybody has the same arguments. We've talked to you about the schedule. We've talked every. These are dead subjects now because the season is here. But between now you get on this plane here in a few minutes and the first game of the season, what are you trying to accomplish?

[E]

Yeah, I think the first thing is building the necessary grit and toughness that we're going to need to make it through this schedule. I think it's been well documented having to go on the road five times in the sec. This is unprecedented this year, and we're one of the teams that's going to have to do it. And that's going to create its own set of challenges. And obviously being able to survive that from a physicality standpoint, but also from a mental toughness standpoint, is a big part of it. We're going to have to really have a really, really strong fall camp. We're going to have to build the culture the way it needs to get built because there's going to be more ups and downs just by the nature of how this schedule is going to play out this year. And so, you know, we got to be ready for it. We got to make sure we have a great month in August and get ourselves ready to go for the year.

[B]

We have it on the screen. It's a really easy road schedule at lsu, at Alabama.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

At Oklahoma.

[E]

Yeah. Really easy. Yeah. And, you know, listen, and I've said this before, I'm a big proponent of put a ball down and play. But what we've talked a lot about, and again, I'll just take one more shot at this, is just making sure at the end of this that the committee understands what it really means, what we're doing this year in this conference, and that they understand what it takes to go through the rigors of this schedule, the rigors of this grind, and hopefully, at the end of the day, it's presented to us the right way.

[B]

Coach, I can guarantee you that this committee is not paying attention. They have their own mind made up.

[E]

We're gonna keep trying, though, Paul. We're gonna keep trying.

[B]

So great to see you. Thank you.

[E]

Yeah, I appreciate you, Paul. Thanks for everything you do.

[B]

Mike Elko joining us. We'll take a short break. We're live from SEC Media Days.

[A]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show Podcast.

[B]

Here's somebody sitting next to me that throughout her career has been one of the most respected and revered college basketball writers. You spend a lot of. You spent most of your time in Philly, and here you are.

[F]

And here I am.

[B]

SCC media day. I've got to ask you, did you describe what it's been like since you got here and what you're learning, not so much about teams, but just about this culture?

[F]

Yeah, it's definitely. That's kind of why I wanted to come. You know, in this new job, I'm covering a lot more different sports that make me uncomfortable, including college football. And I wanted to come to kind of, you know, make contacts and say hello to people. But I also wanted to kind of get in it and understand, you know, why people are so passionate about it. I mean, I know As a college football fan myself, but to come here and just to understand the magnitude of it, you know, I've been to my share of college basketball media days, but, you know, the Big east would shove 16 coaches into. It wasn't a four day marathon. So, yeah, it's been. It's been fun to just see it up close, to see, you know, the. It's interesting to see with the fans, the people that come and just randomly hang out and the players. It's lovely, I think, just to remember, I don't know, they're still kids. I try to keep that in the back of my head. So it's just nice to see them in this setting and answering questions and trying to be, I don't know, deliberate with their thought process. It's been eye opening.

[B]

It's interesting. Mike Elko said something a minute ago. We had one of his players on. He said, that's a nice, you know, that's some nice jewelry he's wearing. I mean, it's a little different because it used to be these players that, you know, sometimes this was their first suit. It's not anymore.

[F]

No. I think, you know, 15, 20 years ago, we would have been all writing about that necklace and trying to figure out where he got it and how he afforded it. Right. It would have been a big story. And now it's just part of the decoration, believe me, as I was checking that out. But, yeah, I mean, it's definitely evolved for better or worse. But, you know, I think it's, like I said, it's nice to remember even despite all that stuff, they can be awkward in kids and whatever they need to be given the opportunity.

[B]

Dana, we're so immersed in this. It's every day, you know, that you hung out with us in Atlanta. But as you look at this from really a very healthy altitude, how much of this media days is. Is defined in the two or three stories that we talk about ad nauseam? The SEC slipping from its grip on college football and Lane Kiffin.

[F]

Yeah, I mean, well, I wrote about the SEC slipping on its grip of college football, and I will probably write about Lane Kiffin. So, you know, I guess you hit the two. At least I figured out the two hot buttons. I think certainly sometimes you wonder when you're in the middle of something that, you know, it's obsessive to you and you wonder, do people outside of it care? Right. And so obviously, when you're writing for a broad readership, you're very curious to see how much do they actually care about This I do think they care. They probably don't care as much into the weeds as we do. I think in the broad based concept of power shifting within the league, like, why is that happening? What caused it? It's a curiosity. Not necessarily like a end of days situation, which maybe it feels like here. It's just more of a natural curiosity. And Lane Kiffin is, you know, for better or worse, he's interesting. And people like interesting people. We all have a little bit of voyeurism, I think, about us, and we like to watch from afar. And I think, yeah, I think it's human nature, you know, I mean, he's an interesting human.

[B]

So you've written about college sports for a long time and Nick Saban was here today and it was just ironic that, you know, here he is in his era at Alabama and his dynasty are long gone. And Kalyn DeBoer spoke, and I'm not saying it wasn't interesting to me, but from a national standpoint, I doubt it resonated.

[F]

No, I mean it. You know, my daughter's an Alabama graduate, so I guess it has to resonate a little bit, otherwise I wouldn't be allowed to go home. But yeah, I mean, nationally, it's. It's kind of. It's, again, it's a very broader conversation. It's not. What Calum didn't really say anything very interesting here. Right. At all. Which I guess, what could he say? I think people might, from a helicopter view, wonder, well, Alabama used to be really good. Is it just that simple that Nick Saban's no longer the coach? Why? What's going on there? I think that's a fair question that people might want an answer to. But, yeah, there wasn't anything here that was going to be. I don't know. I got to jump on that. And honestly, I don't think people, at least me, when I come to a media day, is expecting someone to hand me this story on a silver platter. I thought Pete Golding today was lovely because he was entertaining as I'll get out.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

I mean, he.

[B]

Again, we live in a who won, who lost business. And Pete Goldin, I think even as good as he was, he exceeded the expectations so dramatically. He's like that political candidate that comes in third in New Hampshire, but he wins. Pete Golding won today because nobody really knew what they were going to get. Right.

[F]

I think that's exactly what it is. And I think maybe that's why he's interesting to us as reporters and maybe even to fans it's, you know, a lot of these guys, they're around for a little while. Every story has been written and told. And this is kind of like he's fresh and he was entertaining. And he said some things that didn't seem guarded. Seemed like he kind of got out of his careful cliches and wasn't afraid to answer some questions. Maybe in two years time he won't want to do that again. I don't know. I hope so, because I do think that that made him an interesting person for. And I think for his fans. I think his fans could probably use a little injection of swagger and less victimization at this point.

[B]

He's almost like the coach from barstool. Like they just dropped him in. He. I don't care. Give me a beer and let me get out of here.

[F]

I literally said to a friend of mine, like, I feel like he should be sitting on a beach with flip flops and a beer listening to like a Corona specifically, maybe listening to some, I don't know, Grateful Dead or something. That's what he felt like.

[B]

I'm just glad we could and drink Corona beer now without worrying about a pandemic.

[F]

Oh, please, don't even go there. Yeah, absolutely. Anything that we can all get in a big room and talk again is a lovely feeling.

[B]

Dana, so great to see you.

[F]

Thank you for having me. Appreciate you.

[B]

We'll see you along the way. We have a lot to do here in the next two hours. Brett McMurphy and Seth Emerson, two of the great reporters in college football. Coming up, Billy Lucci, Travis Brown from Aggielance, and speaking of great reporters, Pete Thammel and Nick Kelly would be joining us.

[A]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.