Hour 3: Jesse Simonton Joins the Show

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show – Hour 3: Jesse Simonton Joins the Show

Date: July 15, 2026
Host: Cole Cubelic (filling in for Paul Finebaum)
Guest: Jesse Simonton (College Football Analyst, ACC/College Football Writer)
Theme: A deep dive into ACC Media Days, emerging storylines for 2026, playoff implications, and the ever-changing landscape of college football.

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Episode Overview

Hour three of the Paul Finebaum Show delivers a focused look at the 2026 college football season, with special attention on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Cole Cubelic, stepping in for Paul, hosts college football writer Jesse Simonton to unpack key narratives emerging from ACC Media Days—most notably the Miami Hurricanes' rise, the playoff structure's impact on the ACC, coaching changes, and shifting cultural climates in the sport. Listener calls add perspective on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), academic eligibility, and the practical realities of college football scheduling and health.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff Expansion & Format

• Listener “Paul from Alabama” (00:48): Raises the idea of playoff expansion, suggesting only conference champions should participate.
• Cole Cubelic's Take (02:07):
  • Advocates for the “12 best teams” approach rather than only conference champs.
  • Criticizes guaranteed spots for power conferences, preferring meritocracy.
  • Discusses the debate around computers and human selection:

    “Apparently now we all want computers back, which I don't understand because we hated them the last time they were in.” (02:31)

2. ACC Media Days – The Miami Hurricanes as Favorites

• Top Storyline (03:44):
  • Miami, led by transfer QB Darian Mensah and head coach Mario Cristobal, is the “prohibitive favorite” for the ACC crown.
  • Despite being in the league for over two decades, Miami has never won the ACC, adding to the narrative’s intrigue.
• Challengers:
  • SMU, Louisville, Clemson, and Florida State are the key programs that could challenge Miami.
  • Notably, Simonton highlights a potential "Clemson renaissance" under Dabo Swinney and questions about Mike Norvell’s future at FSU.
• Memorable moment:

  “It’s kind of storyline 1A – can anyone in the ACC catch Miami? … Ironically, Miami has never actually won the league.” (Jesse Simonton, 03:44)

3. Miami’s Offensive Outlook for 2026

• Cole's Question: Can Miami surpass their 2025 performance? (04:58)
• Jesse Simonton’s Insight:
  • Cites improved health and talent: running back Fletcher is healthier, WR room is stacked with Malachi Tony and transfer Cooper from Duke.
  • Offensive line remains solid.
  • Predicts better quarterback play, even comparing favorably to previous starter Carson Beck.
  • New OC Sheldon Dawson expected to improve play-calling.
• Key Quote:

  “I think the ceiling of this Miami offense...I think is even better than they were last season.” (Jesse Simonton, 05:47)

4. ACC Playoff Prospects: Can They Get 2 Teams In?

• Will the ACC Send Multiple Playoff Teams? (05:58)
• Simonton is skeptical but concedes it's possible with the 12-team format.
  • Miami seen as a near lock; SMU viewed as strong No. 2 under Rhett Lashley.
  • Points out SMU’s quarterback Kevin Jennings and his return to health.
  • Louisville and Clemson have question marks; doubts linger over a Clemson resurgence.
  • Florida State’s spot is precarious.
• Notable Quote:

  “If [the second ACC playoff spot] is not SMU, I would be surprised.” (Jesse Simonton, 08:13)

5. Tiebreaker Systems & Computers in Football

• New Tiebreaker Rules: (08:18)
  • Tiebreakers now rely on undisclosed computer metrics.
  • Simonton notes the irony and opacity, as the ACC doesn’t reveal real-time data.
  • New issues arise from league unbalance (17 teams, unequal games played) and added controversy likely.
• Quote:

  “We used to hate computers and now everybody wants them back … but we don’t actually get to see the data in real time.” (Jesse Simonton, 08:29)

6. Coaching & Program Dynamics

• On Mike Norvell’s Situation at Florida State: (09:56)
  • Norvell projects confidence, but Simonton says his job security is shakier than he claims.
  • If FSU underperforms again, pressure will mount and “apathy may set in.”
  • Positive: mentions young talent on defense; Deuce Robinson could be a breakout receiver.
  • On the QB situation: “I’m not a huge Ashton Daniels believer…” (Jesse Simonton, 10:42)
• Georgia Tech Outlook:
  • Loss of key coordinators (Buster Faulkner, now at UF; DC to Texas).
  • Uncertainty at quarterback, but Justice Haynes is a “dynamic, high-upside tailback.”
  • Predicts a “6-6, 7-5” type season.
  • Quote:

    “There’s a lot of these teams … looking at 6-6, 7-5 … what did we really get out of this season?” (Jesse Simonton, 13:16)

7. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips' Comments on Governance

• “Self-governance is no governance”: (13:47)
  • Simonton interprets this as a shot at the SEC and Big Ten.
  • Notes irony: Phillips touts the ACC as “the third most profitable league,” implicitly acknowledging their lower standing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Miami’s Title Drought:
  “Miami has never actually won the league, even though it’s been in the ACC for more than two decades now.”
  — Jesse Simonton, (03:53)

• On Returning to Computer Rankings:
  “We used to hate computers and now everybody wants them back.”
  — Jesse Simonton, (08:29)

• Mike Norvell’s Optimism:
  “Norvell again came out today, not necessarily defiant, but, you know, confident … preaching that he could be the guy to get it done. We'll see if that's the case.”
  — Jesse Simonton, (10:07)

• On Middle-of-the-Road ACC Teams:
  “There’s a lot of these teams … looking at 6-6, 7-5 … what did we really get out of this season?”
  — Jesse Simonton, (13:16)

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:07] – Cole Cubelic on playoff expansion and meritocracy.
• [03:44] – Jesse Simonton: Miami/ACC Storylines.
• [05:05] – Simonton on Miami’s improved offense.
• [06:23] – Can ACC get two playoff teams?
• [08:29] – The role of computers and new tiebreakers in the ACC.
• [09:56] – Florida State/Mike Norvell job speculation.
• [12:17] – Georgia Tech’s 2026 outlook.
• [14:08] – Jim Phillips’ “self-governance” comments and the ACC’s place nationally.

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Additional Listener Call Highlights

NIL and “Pay for Play” (27:19–29:12)

• Discussion:
  • Listeners voice frustration that NIL is a de facto pay-for-play system, not truly about endorsements as originally intended.
  • Cole clarifies legal complications around incentive-based salaries and acknowledges most NIL deals are not for real marketing purposes.

Academic Eligibility in College Football (30:49–34:31)

• Concern:
  • Callers question why academic eligibility/lax standards are no longer a topic.
  • Cole suggests programs now expertly “game the system” for minimum requirements, and online classes make eligibility easier.

Health and Scheduling Realities (20:58–26:21)

• Older caller’s reflection:
  • Raises the issue of player health and “wear and tear,” noting that the healthiest (not necessarily best) teams often win championships.
  • Cole agrees, linking it to shorter camps, fewer padded practices, and the importance of in-season acclimation in modern football.

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Language & Tone

• The hour is characterized by insider candor, college football nostalgia, and analytical skepticism, especially around playoff and NIL reforms.
• Both Cole and Jesse blend humor and realism, addressing the quirks and frustrations of contemporary college football.
• Listeners are engaged, sometimes passionate or frustrated about changes to tradition.

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Conclusion

This hour of The Paul Finebaum Show offers a compelling preview of the evolving ACC landscape, centered on Miami’s rise, questions of competitive balance in playoff selection, the confusion and controversy around new tiebreaker systems, and the underlying changes to college football’s culture and economics. Simonton, with deep, data-driven insight and some skepticism, highlights both the potential and pitfalls of the 2026 season. Meanwhile, callers underscore that beyond the headlines, fundamental questions about fairness, health, and tradition still resonate with the game’s most passionate fans.

Transcript

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[Paul Feinbaum Show Announcer]

The pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum Show. Our three podcasts this might be college football.

[Cole Cubelic]

Welcome back into the Paul Feinbaum Show. Cole Kublick sitting in for Paul today. 855-242-7285. We are going to get to Jesse Simonton talk ACC here in just a moment. ACC media days beginning today. But first want to go back to Paul in Alabama. Had to cut him short ending our last hour. So Paul did want to give you a chance to get back in. What's on your mind? Hey Paul.

[Paul Caller]

Wiggle, wiggle. Listen, I just wanted to ask you a question about this college football playoff. You know they're talking about the expanding it to 24 teams, 16 teams, 32 teams, 74 teams, however many teams and because the lower echelon schools are trying to be represented more. So I'm asking this question saying how many conferences are there? I don't even know. 8. You know, maybe, whatever. But my, my opinion is that you take all the conference champions and put them in the playoffs. It's that simple. You know, if you're, you're a conference champion then you get the right to play for a national title. If you're not a conference champion, you don't get the right to play for a national tit. Why should you play for national title if you can't even win your own conference? Thoughts?

[Cole Cubelic]

I'm fine with that. I think it's just after that is where most people want to have the discussion. I would be a little more inclined, Paul, to say I just want the 12 best teams in. I understand making conference championships important, but what I feel like you should probably try to use that for is proof that you are one of the best 12 teams in college football. I don't think Notre Dame should have a guaranteed deal. I don't think the SEC should have a guaranteed deal. I don't think the Big Ten should have a three team guaranteed deal. But that's just me. I understand why the SEC wants that and we'll probably get it, or the Big Ten wants it and we'll probably get it wherever we go, however many teams, however many they're going to be guaranteed in. They bring the eyeballs, they bring the attention, they command the money. Therefore, if you can get it, go for it. I just want the 12 best teams. There's a whole nother conversation as to how we decide that and who decides that. Or maybe now people what decides that again, because apparently now we all want computers back, which I don't understand because we hated them the last time they were in. But give me the 12 best teams. That's what I want. It's not the NFL where it's an automatic system that's even across the board. It doesn't evenly distribute players every year. It doesn't give you advantages in being able to add players to your roster if you have a bad season versus a good season. So therefore, just give me the 12 best teams and let's play it out. That would be what I would want, but I appreciate your call nonetheless. Let's go back to the phones. Jesse Simonton joins us to discuss ACC media days. You can find his sub stack as well where he's going to be talking about it. Jesse, what is the story that you expect to come out of ACC media days here over today and tomorrow in Charlotte?

[Jesse Simonton]

Well, today obviously, Cole, thanks for having me. I think Miami was kind of the dominating storyline with Darian Mensah, the guy who quarterbacked the actual ACC champion Duke a year ago. And now I think, you know, with the talent around him with the Canes, I mean, they're going to have, I think, probably one of the best four or five offenses in the country. I think crystal ball with his two coordinators back, he really has it humming. And so to me, I think it's kind of storyline 1A is is any can anyone in the ACC catch Miami? Now, this is a bit ironic, Cole, because Miami has not never actually won the league, even though it's been in the ACC for more than two decades now. But they are the prohibitive favorite this fall. And so is it an smu? Is it a Louisville? Do you believe, you know, in a potential, you know, Davos Sweeney renaissance with Clemson? I think those three teams are kind of going to be the dominate a lot of the narratives. And then obviously, you know, Mike Norvell in Florida State and kind of how much oxygen I think is kind of left in that room. Are they folks in Tallahassee ready to kind of move forward or is he going to be able to kind of have a second life as well.

[Cole Cubelic]

Is it fair for us to expect Miami to be close or even past where they were a year ago?

[Jesse Simonton]

I think offensively they're definitely, I think they're going to be better and you know, you're going to have. Fletcher is probably going to be even healthier than he was a lot of last season. I think the wide receiver room now we know that Malachi, Tony is kind of a dude. I mean he's probably one of the guys guys at that receiver position in all the countries. But he's got. You get Cooper from, from Duke. That's going to come with Darian Mensah. They have some of those other pieces that are there as well. I think when you just look at that assembled talent, obviously they're going to miss, you know, Malinova on the offensive line, but the rest of that offensive line stands to be really good too. And so when you look at just all the pieces and then I think they're going to actually get even better quarterback play than what they got from Carson Beck a year ago. I think the ceiling of this Miami offense, Sheldon Dawson calling it's calling the plays, I think is even better than they were last season.

[Cole Cubelic]

Visiting with Jesse Simon. You can follow him on twitter @Jesse Re Simonton. Find his [e-mail] backslash@Jesse Re Simonton as well. So with the ACC should be hopeful to get more than one team in. Is that asking too much for fans of teams inside this conference? Is that realistic heading into 2026?

[Jesse Simonton]

I don't know, Cole. I mean, you know, in a 12 team playoff, we do have to say they got to find 12 teams. And so the ACC obviously got two in two years ago and SMU snuck in. Clemson kind of wins the league there and so they kind of get both those teams in. Last year it looked like they might get just completely squeezed out because of their bizarro tiebreaker system, which they sort of amended today. But it's still fairly complicated and still leaves I think the possibility for some consternation come seasons in. I think if they do get two teams then Cole Miami again I think is pretty much a lock because they also have in terms of their schedule. That Notre Dame game is going to be fantastic, but the rest of their schedules cake. I think SMU is probably best positioned. I think they're kind of, you know, if I'm looking at a pecking order, I think they are the clear, you know, number two team in that league, they're 14 and two under Rhett Lashley the last two seasons in the ACC, they're bringing back a veteran quarterback in Kevin Jennings who again, talking about health, he was not really able to kind of add that QBA run game element a year ago because he was kind of battling a bunch of nagging injuries. But he emerged as kind of a top 10 passer in the country. So if you can kind of pair those elements together. They're having to rebuild a lot on defense, but I still kind of believe in what the ponies are doing. The rest of the acc, I mean, you can make some cases for Louisville. We'll see about Clemson. I do think they're probably going to be a little sturdier than they were, but I don't, you know, Davos kind of again, preaching me, you know, his latest, I think acronym is tcb. Ttt. It's tcv. Too many letters for me.

[Tom Caller]

Call.

[Jesse Simonton]

It's, you know, it's basically, it's Clemson's gonna be back to the top of the league. I don't see that happening. And so getting two in, I think if it's not smu, I would be surprised.

[Cole Cubelic]

We're visiting with Jesse Simonton talking acc. The tiebreaker apparently has been solved. Your thoughts on essentially turning this over to the computers?

[Jesse Simonton]

Yeah, yeah, I heard your comment to the last caller, but, you know, we used to hate computers and now everybody wants them back. This is interesting because we don't actually know exactly what metrics this sports solutions folks are using that, you know, is similar to what the playoff committee uses, but we don't actually get to see the data in real time. I think that if you go through, you know, the tiebreaker stuff, it at least it alleviates last year's issue, but it does potentially create future problems because this is also, you know, an ACC where you got two teams from the Bay Area that are in Charlotte this week for ACC media days in the Atlantic Coast Conference. And now we have an unbalanced league where there's 17 teams. So they can't all play, you know, nine games. So some teams are playing nine, some teams are playing eight. So it has created another tiebreaker situation where there will have to be some kind of thumb on the scale, which again, that's going to create, you know, controversy come seasons. And if it does play out that

[Cole Cubelic]

way in December, Jesse Simonton talking ACC media days and we've heard from some coaches, some players today, what has stuck out to you? Most of what you've heard either surprise, positive Negative. Something that maybe has shifted your opinion on one of these teams heading into this season.

[Jesse Simonton]

Yeah, I don't know. It doesn't.

[Odisha Caller]

It's.

[Jesse Simonton]

It's neither a surprise nor am I being critical of it because I don't think he has any other choice. But, you know, Mike Norvell continues, this has been kind of a theme, I think, since the end of last season, where he continues to kind of say it out loud that, you know, he does not believe his job is in any sort of jeopardy, that he is, he is on any sort of hot seat. Reality would say that's not the case. You know, the facts, even the boots on the ground in Tallahassee would tell you that's not the case. That maybe they didn't have the money or the stomach to kind of pony up the money a year ago. And that hasn't changed. The math hasn't significantly changed now that he has, you know, just another year because that's still going to be 40 some odd million guaranteed. But if Florida State has another, you know, underwhelming season, I think it becomes a little bit of does apathy set in and Florida State has to make a move. And so Norvell again came out today not necessarily defiant, but, you know, confident and optimistic and preaching like he could be the guy to get it done. We'll see if that's the case. They have some nice pieces. I'm not a huge Ashton Daniels believer at quarterback, but I think Deuce Robinson is going to be one of the best wide receivers in the country. I think defensively they had some young talent, you know, the twins on the defensive line, you know those guys coming back. So if you need to squint hard enough, I think you could make the case that, hey, maybe FSU can get to seven or eight wins and perhaps that's enough. But Norvell coming out and believing that, you know, he's the guy for the job, what else is he going to say? And so that I thought it was notable but not necessarily surprising.

[Cole Cubelic]

I'm interested, Jesse, and because we've mentioned him a couple of times, the teams that they're going to face off against, what do you think of Georgia Tech right now? Because you're going to have a Mendoza at quarterback, but Buster Faulkner is going to be in Gainesville, Colin plays in the sec. Offensive line looks like it should be set. You go get just a stud tailback that can carry the load. And Justice Haynes, they're going to get Tennessee early, they're going to get Georgia late. So that's an ACC team that has two SEC teams on the schedule. What do you make of Brent Keys group this year?

[Jesse Simonton]

I love Brick. I'm a blink Brent Key believer because I do think that he's a guy that culturally has done a lot to shift. Just I think the mindset at Tech you brought up a key guy though, you know how crucial to that was Buster Faulkner and I think that the fact that he's in Gainesville now and Key also lost, you know, notably his defensive coordinator, you know, went and joined Will Muschampett as part of the defensive staff at Texas. And so there's been more transition there. Obviously Justin Justice Haynes, you know, is one of the more dynamic and just up high upside tailbacks in the country. But I think losing what they had gotten from Haynes King, you know, there's a little bit of, a little bit, there's definitely the unknown element of what are you going to get from, you know, the Mendoza brother there. I think Tech is one of these teams, much like a lot of these ACC teams, you know, that they may just be kind of pushing their chips around the table, tip the dealer and you're looking at them by the end of the season, especially when you add these SEC games on their slate and they're looking at six and six. I mean, you know, Pitts in that category, NC State, even though I think they have one of the more favorable schedules, you know, I think is in that category. There's a lot of these teams that they're going to be looking at 6 and 6, 7 and 5. And then some folks wonder, you know, what did we really get out of this season?

[Cole Cubelic]

Jesse, great stuff. Really appreciate the time. Appreciate you hopping on. I did want to get one more question in before you let you run. There was a question that was asked to Jim Phillips about governance and I believe he responded with self governance is no governance. Was that a shot at the Big Ten in the SEC in your opinion?

[Jesse Simonton]

Oh, for sure.

[Odisha Caller]

Yeah.

[Jesse Simonton]

I, I, I did not actually get to see Phillips's stuff live. That I did read the transcript and that's exactly how it came off to me. I mean it was kind of, I will say this as a parting shot. It was ironic that he, he made the shot at both the SEC and AC or SEC and Big Tent. And yet in the very same framework, many of his other comments could have been construed as we really enjoy being the third most profitable league in college football. You know, kind of almost self admitting where the ACC stands in, in the, you know, national hierarchy. So a little bit of pot, kettle there, I think you know, from, from the ACC commissioner.

[Cole Cubelic]

Thank you, Jesse. Great stuff as always. Look, catching up again soon.

[Jesse Simonton]

Thanks, Cole.

[Cole Cubelic]

All right. Jesse Simonton joining us on the phones. Go to @Jesse Re Simonton substack. You can find his work there. See what he's doing. Writing up college football, covering ACC media days, which is today and tomorrow in Charlotte. Still have Stuart Mandel at the top of the hour. We will talk preseason hype, warranted, unwarranted. We'll get back to your calls. 855-242-7285 for you to get in next on the Paul Feinbaum Show.

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[Jesse Simonton]

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[Paul Feinbaum Show Announcer]

You're listening to the Paul Fine Bomb show podcast.

[Cole Cubelic]

Back into the Paul Fine Bomb Show. Cole Cubic filling in for Paul today, Wednesday, July 15th. Glad you're with us. Still have Stuart Mandel coming up at the top of the hour. So that'll be about 40 minutes from now. We'll ask him about certain hype, lack of too much heading into this college football season. But you be a part of the show now. 855-2427, 2858-55-2427285, where Zach wants to be a part of the show. Welcome into the show, Zach.

[Zach Caller]

Hey, Chris. How are you doing today, Cole?

[Cole Cubelic]

Thank you.

[Zach Caller]

Well, I was just watching the England Argentina game and I guess that's not coming home, but I can. I want to say something that Paul said, made a remark about Miami Hurricanes in 2018 after they attacked their fans, they attacked the Florida Gator band director.

[Cole Cubelic]

Do you remember that? I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't.

[Zach Caller]

Well, it's on the Gainesville sun you

[Cole Cubelic]

need to look that up.

[Zach Caller]

And I'm gonna say this, and don't cut me off when I say it. Anytime we play down south, the University of Florida, Central Florida against the Miami Hurricanes, we get attacked right by the Miami Hurricane fan base and I don't know why this is. You can draw your own conclusions and tell me why this is happening to the England fans from the Argentinian fans. It has to do something with that side of the Americas, if you know what I'm saying. Chris.

[Cole Cubelic]

There is no Chris here.

[Zach Caller]

What's your name again?

[Cole Cubelic]

Cole.

[Paul Caller]

Cole.

[Tom Caller]

Yeah, Cole.

[Zach Caller]

So I mean, you know, I. I don't know why these people act like this, you know, I don't know if you know who ishow Speed is. He keeps getting beer bottles thrown at him because he's an American. They don't like us. They don't like us. Florida Gators should never play the Miami Hurricanes again. We should never give them the privilege of playing an SEC team. Florida State, they can have that, their fans are respectable. But the Miami Hurricanes, that area of the state not safe when it comes to sports. It's dangerous as they act third world like. And we all know this.

[Cole Cubelic]

Thank you. Didn't Michael Irvin have batteries thrown at him in Philadelphia? There are idiots everywhere. I don't care nationality, I don't care background DNA where you're from. There are morons on every corner of this planet. There just are. Some choose to show that moronic behavior before, during, after sporting events. We have people who fight in trailer parks after the Iron bowl here in the state of Alabama every year. Some get shot every year. So where do you even go after that? 855-242-7285. You guys didn't anticipate SEC football and world cup colliding like that, did you? Well, good news is we're not going to talk about it in that context anymore. We will get to your calls. 855-242-7285. Next right here on the Paul Feinbaum Show.

[Paul Feinbaum Show Announcer]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Cole Cubelic]

855-242-728-5855, 2427285 to join the Paul Fine Bomb show. Stuart Mandel will join us in 30 minutes. Talk expectations for different players teams around college football this upcoming season. But now we go to Tom in Georgia. Welcome into the Paul Feinbaum show, sir.

[Tom Caller]

Yeah. Chris Cole, how you doing, man?

[Cole Cubelic]

Thank you.

[Tom Caller]

I've got a 65 year old contention that I want to test with you. I was going to do it with Paul, but seeing as he hadn't played, I think this is a great opportunity to get an old ball player with a new ballplayer and see if things have changed. Here's my contention. I believe any player who has played college football or pro football in today's world, the best you ever feel is the day you report. Now this is something I observed and of course I'm going back to 62, 63, 64, 65. The best you ever feel during the season is the day you report. And as you go through the season, it's just nitpick stuff. It could be just a little hamstring, a little hip pointer, a little sore arm, neck or whatever. And as you go through the season, it gets worse and worse. And then my contention is the best team will not win the national championship. It'll be the healthiest, best team. But did you experience that as you went through your season?

[Cole Cubelic]

It's a great point. There is a little bit of the get a week off kind of allow your body to recover. And even though you're probably not as healthy as you were going into week one, I think you're in such better game shape and your body is so much more acclimated to the contact. That might be the only thing that I would put up against it that first practice back after a week off because your body's also acclimated to the physicality. But you make a great point of just overall feel and health and being ready to go. I think that would be number one.

[Tom Caller]

Just something that I think the fans today don't realize that when they see the dancing and the prancing on the field in the beautiful uniforms and the bright lights and so forth forth, it's almost like, boy, this is going to be great. They're not hurting at all this and that. And the other point is you don't get, we didn't get a week off and we actually scream, hell, we would scrimmage till the damn pill house light came on. You know, And I'm not. I'm not going back to the old days with the best days. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I noticed and we talked a great analogy. In 65, we go over to play Auburn, okay? And that we either played out Alabama, Auburn or Florida State on the rotation about every 10 years. Well, this was October of 65. We go over, we beat Auburn three to nothing. We limp into the damn dressing room, we get dressed, you know, all the towels slapping in that crap, we limp to the Bus we're riding back, I'm sitting next to the second string fullback. You know, we're talking. He's talking about what a great win it was. And I said, yeah, it was a hell of a win. They just beat the living S out of us. He said, what? I said, yeah, they just beat the living hell out of us, but it was the nest. I said. He said, why are you being so negative? I said, I'm not being negative. I said, who's going to play quarterback next week?

[John Caller]

You're going to play fullback.

[Tom Caller]

And you saw John get hurt. So left tackle, I don't know who's going to play that. And of course, all week we had a chest out. You know, we'd beat Auburn and that kind of thing. And that was that extra game. As we're talking now, as I would talk to Paul about, because Paul is one of the few people that has looked somewhat askance at that extra game. I'm telling you, it's a big damn deal. A bigger deal than people are making it out to be. Anyway, we get back, chest out all week. Yeah, yeah, rah, rah.

[John Caller]

Right.

[Tom Caller]

Then we get beat by William and Mary the next week at home. And this is what I have had a contention for 65 years that people don't realize the wear and tear. And like you said, yeah, time we get a week off and now that's a different ball game. I can see that. But what if you didn't get a wall a week off, Cole,

[Cole Cubelic]

you'd be limping into the postseason.

[Tom Caller]

There you go. Now you said it. And I don't mean profoundly, so I'm just saying it is a. Is, what would you say? Just a slight wear and tear. People don't really just run in wind sprints. Hell, we ran wind sprints till it got dark. Just the. I don't mean profound exhaustion, but I'm talking about just my new consistent exhaustion.

[Cole Cubelic]

Totally fair. And we brought it up earlier in the show, Tom, when we talked about the schedule in depth and how you are going to be forced to play guys earlier than you want to and how that can make things uncomfortable in games because guys aren't ready. And you have to try to form that continuity, that chemistry, that wherewithal the togetherness that it takes to go win big games. Sometimes you have to try to force that earlier in seasons. Who can find it the fastest and be able to hold on and then if you get it, can you be healthy enough down the stretch to be able to utilize it? All those things have to come together as you know and it takes time to do it. That's the other part is we've removed so many of these real football practices, practices in pads where guys can actually block and actually tackle, go to the ground, mimic what it's going to be like in a game that the games almost become acclimation process for the physicality that's going to be there in November and maybe December if you're lucky enough to get there. Because you can't just get ready for that with what we have in fall camp anymore. It's not real. It's not possible to be able to do that with what you're playing against size wise, speed wise in today's college football. So all that rolls into being able to find a way to go win a conference or national championship, there's no

[Tom Caller]

doubt bring that up because I just don't think people realize that what you go through and it's. And also an anecdote here for people on Ole Miss that are down on Ole Miss. Let me tell Golding retained two of the best players in America. He won two playoff games. He has all come come about with the finest recruiting class Ole Miss has ever had. Where it also got out, it was golden. That did the recruiting for, for Kiffin. But on a side note, I want everyone to understand Ole Miss is going to enter a game 10 points ahead almost every game because they, they're not talking about one all American they got over there and that's their kicker. I just thought I'd bring that up. Love y'. All. Love the show. Appreciate it, man.

[Cole Cubelic]

Thank you. Only Auburn taking a kicker to SEC media days. Maybe there's something to be said there, we don't know. Odisha wants to chime in on the Paul Feinbaum show. Welcome in Odisha. How you doing today? Hey, Cole.

[Odisha Caller]

So first of all, I want to give a shameless plug for Mac and Cube in the morning right outside Birmingham. Listen to you every single day. You do a great job.

[Cole Cubelic]

Thank you.

[Odisha Caller]

With that being said, you guys were talking about Nil this morning and you know, it's not name, image, likeness you guys pointed out. Hey, if I go to it signing, hey, I'm gonna sign a picture, I'm gonna, I'm gonna meet and greet fans. That's what Nil is. This is a pay for play. My question to you is, and I didn't get a chance to call in this morning, I do apologize. But with the Nil the way that it is, why is this not talked about with like the ads, the presidents of basically making this a, for all intent purposes, a pay for play. You're giving a high school recruit

[John Caller]

all

[Odisha Caller]

these millions of dollars to come into your program. You do not know if they're going to be good or they're not. Why can't this be in incentive based, hey, we'll pay you a flat salary like what you guys had talked about this morning. We'll pay you a flat salary based on your performance. We will incentivize this plan and you will get paid according to your performance. And Cole, love you buddy, as much as straight man can, but I would love to, to hear your comments on this. Talk to you soon.

[Cole Cubelic]

I think there are some legal ramifications there. The rules right now don't allow you to have incentive based pay in college sports. And the nil portion of it or what is it? Is it really nil? It's, it's an interesting topic because for some reason there's so many people that just refuse to reference it for what it is. And it is pay for play now. Doesn't mean that there's not some nil still happening. But a lot of you guys are fans of these players and these teams. How many Instagram posts or how many advertisements, how many billboards are you seeing with your favorite players on them and all these college towns? There are some. There are absolutely some. And you go to Baton Rouge, you'll see Raising Kane stuff with Arch Manning on it. Not just Garrett Nussmeier and other LSU players. It's, I mean it's, it's around there. You know, Todd's going to get those things going. You can do the commercials same way, but you don't see the value that some of these guys are getting put back into the community from an advertising perspective or an appearance perspective that you would anticipate with the kind of money that they're making. So it's not just nil. It isn't. It's not what it is. 855-2427, 2858-55-2427285. You want to get into the Paul Fine Bomb Show? You'll have a chance to do it right after this.

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[Jesse Simonton]

Go back in.

[Tom Caller]

Paul Feinbomb.

[Cole Cubelic]

Bomb Show. Cole Cubic, sitting in for Paul today. GLAD you're with us. 8552-427285-85524-27285. You want to get in Wednesday, July 15, right here on the Paul Fine Bomb Show. John does, he's In Panama City. John, welcome into the show today.

[Paul Caller]

Hey, thanks, Cole.

[John Caller]

War eagle brother or eagle. Yeah, man. Hey, I want to ask you about academic eligibility. I'm an old Auburn guy, 80 to 84. I remember back in the day when kids coming out of high school, there was always an issue with their eligibility academically or whether it was a transfer. And I'll point out a more recent example that you'll be familiar with. You remember George Pickens? And he was being recruited and he was committed to Auburn, but there was all these questions about, hey, he's not going to pass his SATs, la la la. And then, you know, out of magic, he ended up going to Georgia. Where is, where are we with academic eligibility? I never even hear that mentioned again,

[Cole Cubelic]

specifically out of high school. It's just not even a discussion. I think it's a great question. It's an interesting question. I don't have a reason why. I don't know if it's just a. I don't know if it's an enforcement thing. I don't know if schools, programs have gotten so good at gaming the system. I don't know if high schools have just caught up to the point where they understand academically, where guys need to be, classes they need to take. I think a lot of it, John, is knowing what to avoid taking. And from a minimalistic standpoint of what you can utilize to gain entrance to a school, keep your eligibility. Gain your eligibility and not just run the gauntlet of classes that you might not need or could potentially count against you that you're not going to do well in. It's like everything else. Listen, it's everything else in college sports, John, Think about this. Think about how we. We gained the red shirt rule, now we gained the transfer portal. We gave nil all like, it's just, it's just game in the system, in my opinion, for the most part is most likely what it is.

[John Caller]

Are there any objections? Are you hearing any presidents ads or anybody? And sec, Big Ten, you know, the before. Is anybody kind of pushing back on this and going, hey, wait a minute, we bastardized this so badly, or is everybody just said screw it?

[Cole Cubelic]

Well, no, I don't. I don't think, John, you're letting guys in that aren't getting in. I don't think it's. I don't think that there's some, you know, big dark conspiracy cloud over certain schools or leagues where nothing's being looked at. Like I said, I just think that there's now an understanding of what needs to be done, to be able to gain entry and stay eligible. You know, when I was in school, it was. It was extremely rare for guys to graduate early. These kids are graduating two and a half years now. They know how it lightens the load. You also have got. There are guys at certain schools in the power five that have never attended a class. They're all online.

[John Caller]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Cole Cubelic]

And I don't think you and I need to have a discussion of how that can ease things when you're trying to pass a class.

[John Caller]

Yeah. I'm certainly not suggesting, Cole, that, you know, college football players need to be academic, all Americans and so forth, but the idea that we continue to use the phrase student athlete, it just. It's frustrating to me. And, you know, at a minimum, I mean, why don't we come up with a system which says, hey, man, during football season, you don't even attend class, and then you can go to class in spring and summer or whatever, but during fall semester, dude, you're playing ball, and that's what we want you to do, play ball. I don't know, man. It's just. It's frustrating to me, Cole. And I know when you played, and I know, you know, guys like Josh Bate and others, I mean, I don't know, it is just frustrating.

[Cole Cubelic]

It is. It is interesting to say the least. But, hey, it's kind of where we are and nature of the beast, so to speak, in today's collegiate athletics. Appreciate the call. 855-242-7-285. You want to get into the Paul Feinbaum Show, 855-242-7285. Bob is in Huntsville. Welcome in. Bob, how are you today?

[John Caller]

I'm doing well, sir. Listen, I read something on 24. 7 about Auburn splitting $6 million from the game with Baylor with 24 players on nil. Can you elaborate on that?

[Cole Cubelic]

I don't have the details in front of me. I do know that moving that game to Atlanta was going to be beneficial for Auburn from an nil perspective in multiple ways. Now, some people will tell you that it's going to be more lucrative. Some people will tell you it's actually going to be less lucrative. I don't. I see it as if you can raise the bar on what your players are going to be able to get and then also increase maybe the eyeballs or the spotlight that they're going to be on television with. Then you go do it. Is it a selling point, maybe even be able to play in that stadium for certain recruits from the state of Georgia the last year to whatever it was that you've known about it possibly. So if it's helping your nil war chest, I understand why it's being done. I'm not going to like it. I don't like any of the neutral side games early in the year because I know how amazing these campuses are to play on.

[John Caller]

Right. Well, probably come in while the Auburn was a sellout because they were moving a home game from Auburn and hurting all the hotels and all that in Auburn because they were moving the game to Atlanta.

[Cole Cubelic]

But I will say this, let me say this real quick. I, I do think and I'm not going to go into a lot of details here because I'm not probably as informed on this as I should be, but I think there were probably there are some things that the city of Auburn potentially could have done to be able to help keep that game from Atlanta. That's my understanding.

[John Caller]

War Eagle.

[Cole Cubelic]

War Eagle. 855-242-7285 got make concessions. Man, you want to keep a game, you want to get a game. You think Atlanta and Mercedes Benz Stadium and the Falcons ownership group who also own that stadium or Arthur Blank are walking around say hey, if y' all would like to come play here, we don't have a game that weekend. Heck no, man. They're putting the hard sell on, they're up in the anti financial on what what's going to be able to done, on the marketing around it, on the promotion of it and being able to help nil in certain ways and if you want to compete with that, whether you're Starkville, Oxford, Auburn, Knoxville, whatever, find a way to get it done. And I don't even know what all those things are, but figure it out because for me, I want these games on campus. That's where I think they belong, that's where I think they should be. That's where I think they're best. That's where we continue to lean on our history and tradition and pageantry that has made the sport great for so long. There's so many things in college athletics right now in which my response to is I don't like it, but I understand it. And that is one of them. The neutral site games specifically at the beginning of the year. I understand all of it, I get it, I see it, I know why. I have a good feel for it. Doesn't mean I have to like it, doesn't mean I think it's best and doesn't mean I'm going to think it's best for college sports or college athletics or college football. I just don't want to see these games on these campuses. Man, these stadiums are too badass not to have these games in these stadiums with the fans being able to be there and show their support and do the things that they've been doing for years. More the Paul Fine Bomb show with Stuart Mandel.

[John Caller]

Next.

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