Hour 3: Pat Narduzzi, Pitt HC

Summary

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The Paul Finebaum Show – Hour 3: Pat Narduzzi, Pitt HC

Date: August 6, 2026
Podcast Host: Paul Finebaum (ESPN)
Featured Guest: Pat Narduzzi, Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Paul Finebaum welcomes Pat Narduzzi, head coach of the Pittsburgh Panthers, for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of college football, the state of Pitt’s program, and the ongoing debate about conference championship games amid playoff expansion. The hour features a blend of coach reflections, listener calls, and expert commentary on college football’s seismic changes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pat Narduzzi: Coaching Journey & Defensive Roots

• Narduzzi’s Background in Coaching (2:41–5:20)
  • Grew up as the son of a successful football coach at Youngstown State.
  • Early fascination with football, sharing late nights at the kitchen table learning from his father.
  • Defensive orientation rooted in his father’s role as a defensive coordinator and his own playing career as a linebacker.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Some of the linebacker techniques that we did back then, we are still doing in 2026. That's the amazing thing.”
    — Pat Narduzzi (4:31)

2. State of the Pittsburg Program & Season Outlook

• Focusing on Team Preparation (5:20–6:20)
  • Preseason is about internal focus and building team culture.
  • Excitement around new quarterback Mason Heitrot.
  • Pitt’s renewed motivation after missing out on the ACC Championship due to a late-season loss to Miami.
  • Notable Quote:

    “As any coach in August, we're worried about Pitt. I'm worried about what our team is doing, making sure we're not beating ourselves this time of year…”
    — Pat Narduzzi (5:51)

3. ACC Changes and Conference Landscape

• Strength of the ACC (6:20–7:39)
  • Praises depth of talent, offensive skill, and speed in the ACC, comparing it to the SEC.
  • New conference additions will shake up the traditional landscape.
  • Miami remains the team to beat; last year's loss to them kept Pitt out of the championship game.

4. The Value of Conference Championships

• Old School vs. New Format Debate (7:39–9:48)
  • Narduzzi expresses strong preference for maintaining conference championships.
  • Recounts personal history and program-building through divisional and conference titles at both Michigan State and Pitt.
  • Notable Quote:

    “To have one champion the entire year and not have a conference championship, to me is a big mistake. People live for that.”
    — Pat Narduzzi (8:46)

  • Concern that expanding the playoffs could come at the cost of these traditional games.
  • Echoes the sentiment that every coach wants to keep the ACC Championship Game (9:48–10:18).

5. Listener Engagement & Broader CFB Commentary

Call-in Highlights:

• Rapid Fire SEC Picks Game with ‘Dub’ (12:17–13:55)

  • Entertaining attempt to pick winners for SEC matchups; Paul jokes about the futility of preseason predictions.

• Musical Venue Bucket List (14:21–16:35)

  • Lighthearted discussion about music venues—Paul shares his love for Red Rocks and missing an opportunity to see Kenny Chesney at the Sphere in Vegas.

• Conference Championships Value (18:51–21:18)

  • ‘Vance’ reflects on the 2007 BCS standings and how the SEC title game boosted LSU to a national championship.
  • Agrees with Narduzzi that conference titles still “mean something,” but Paul notes the SEC champ often gets little recognition now.

• Debate on Conference Titles’ Relevance (34:43–37:36)

  • ‘Bash’ argues the ACC title has become the ceiling for most teams except Miami, especially in an expanded playoff era.
  • Paul responds, “Nobody really wants these games anymore. That goes for the SEC, ACC and everyone else, 100%.” (36:26)

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Notable Quotes

• On Conference Championships:

  “Everybody wants to be on that stage and be some type of champion—and not everybody can win. But to have one champion the entire year and not have a conference championship, to me is a big mistake.” — Pat Narduzzi (8:46)

• On Preseason Coaching Focus:

  "We're worried about what our team is doing, making sure we're not beating ourselves this time of year and, you know, just becoming the best football team we can, the best team we can be as far as culture goes." — Pat Narduzzi (5:51)

• On Old School Values:

  "I'm old school. I love the championship. If you don't have conference champions, you have one champion, and that's it. And I think college football is too big for that." — Pat Narduzzi (7:55)

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:49 | Paul introduces the hour and Pat Narduzzi | | 01:09 | Narduzzi reflects on the coaching grind and preseason | | 02:05 | Narduzzi on new NCAA rules and dealing with NIL, transfers| | 03:00 | Narduzzi's coaching path, inspiration from his father | | 04:31 | Defensive philosophy and learning from his dad | | 05:51 | Focusing on Pitt's progress, excitement for new QB | | 06:52 | ACC competitiveness, Miami as a key rival | | 07:55 | Playoff/conference title debate; value of championship | | 09:48 | Coaches' united stance on keeping championship games | | 12:17 | Listener 'Dub' tries to play 'Rapid Fire' SEC picks | | 14:21 | Side discussion: music venues and concerts | | 18:51 | ‘Vance’ on the 2007 BCS/SEC championship impact | | 34:43 | ‘Bash’ and Paul debate the lingering value of the ACC title |

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Tone and Language

Finebaum maintains his signature conversational and wry tone, balancing earnest football analysis with engaging stories and tongue-in-cheek exchanges. Narduzzi comes across sincere, nostalgic, and pragmatic—clearly football-obsessed but mindful of the rapidly changing pressures on college programs.

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Summary: For the Busy Listener

This episode delivers a thoughtful look at the state of college football through the eyes of a veteran coach navigating new rules, team building, and the ever-contentious debate over playoff expansion and conference championships. Pat Narduzzi’s passion for tradition, defensive football, and celebrating meaningful milestones in a team’s journey anchors the hour, while Paul Finebaum and callers bring context and humor to the changing landscape.

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Recommended for:
Fans interested in how coaches view the pressures of modern CFB, the nostalgia and future of conference titles, and inside perspectives ahead of a new season.
Skip if:
You want only in-depth SEC roster/tactics talk—this episode is more about values, big-picture changes, and tradition.

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Transcript

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[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

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

We are really excited to talk to some coaches we don't often get a chance to talk to, including Pat Norduzzi, University of Pittsburgh and head coach, longtime defensive wizard. Fifty years ago, Pittsburgh won the national championship with Johnny Majors as the head coach and Tony Dorsett. Coach. Good afternoon. How are you doing?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

I'm doing great, Paul. Appreciate you having me on. Really always enjoyed listening to you.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, thank you. It's a pleasure to get a chance to talk to you. And I know this is an incredibly busy time at this moment in time as every coach is going crazy. What's on your mind as you're trying to figure out every little piece? Getting ready for the season opener?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Yeah, I just walked out of a specialties meeting. I was a little bit late. Mike Canarella would have me here a little bit earlier than I was, but I just slipped in and luckily I was able to get on that zoom. But it's all about football this time of year. There couldn't be a better time of the year than August because that's all we talk about is football.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And it is, it's really nice to talk football because as you well know as a coach, and even this week, there are all kinds of changing rules going on. I'm sure it's nice to just dismiss that from your mind because I'm sure at this point in time, you can't really think about anything else, can you?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

No, not really. I mean, you know, there's some of that new rule that, you know, happened out in Colorado, what, last Thursday or Friday? Some of those, you know, you got some of your other kids calling you back saying, hey, coach, you know, can I come back? And I'm like, I have no idea. I mean, where rules are coming from. So unfortunately, even in August when it's all football, you, you know, you get a phone call, you get an email, you know, you hear something on Twitter, you know that there's a new rule change and some, some judge made another decision that you kind of go, what are we going to do now? Where are we going to find another scholarship? Where's the nil money come from? How are we going to get this guy back?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Coach, I would like to talk about your program, but I want to talk about you for a second because I'm so interested. You grew up the son of a really well known and successful coach at Youngstown State, one of those iconic programs. Was there or what moment was there when you said, you know what I want to do what he did?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Oh boy. I think when I was a youngster, you know, my mom and dad had, you know, six children. You know, I was one of the three boys and we had three girls and I was the only guy that got into coaching. But you know, when my dad would come home at 10 o' clock at night, I was sitting at the kitchen table, mom's, you know, feeding dad, and I'd be finding out, hey, you know, who's hurt, you know, how's the quarterback look, you know, how's the defense look? I mean, I would just, you know, almost just grill them and listen to them and you know, we just sit there and talk. I think, you know, I didn't know back then that I wanted to be a coach, but obviously, you know, it was on my mind because I was the only one sitting at that kitchen table at, you know, 10 o' clock at night. You know, I'll remember those moments for the rest of my life. And then I think it was really middle of college is when I decided, you know, I think I want to be a coach. And then I was fortunate enough to get a GA job right out of college with Randy Walker at Miami of Ohio, the Cradle coaches. That's also where my dad happened to play football as well with Bill Mallory and you know, played for Eric Parsegan and John Potton. I mean some just legends and that's what I wanted to do.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah. By the way, I've been around long enough to know those names well, but it is just in terms of being around those coaches and obviously you were as you started, you ended up becoming a very well known defensive coordinator. But was it, was it what was going through your mind as you heard all these stories in terms of how you wanted to approach it? You played college football of course too, but, but was it always defense or you pretty open minded as you were learning the game?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Yeah, Paul, I Think it was always defense. I think, you know, my dad was a defense coordinator as a linebacker coach and I happened to play for him back in 1985 as a freshman, you know, started linebacker with him and again, I learned more in that one season with him. I only had one year, wish I had four. But one year of being, you know, just a sponge and listening to everything he had to say. Some of the linebacker techniques that we did back then, we are still doing in 2026. That's the amazing thing. He was, you know, he was an unbelievable coach, you know, national coach of the year 1979. I mean, he was, he was, he was special.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I mean, you're in a pretty well known football town, to put it mildly right now. But Youngstown also, quite a few young players have come through that place, no doubt about it.

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

My dad was there with back old Ron Jaworski and Cliff Stout at quarterback, so he had some pretty good ones there too.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Let's talk about the season because that's, that's on your mind. I know. And that's on every fan's mind, watching and listening around the country. You know, Pittsburgh has been one of those programs that has really made some inroads. You had an amazing season a couple of years ago with Kenny Pickett. You've had other fantastic players as you approach a season. The, the pundits like me, we all think we know the number at the end of the year. But what are you mainly concerned about as you're, as you're on that practice field, looking ahead to that first game with Miami?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Yeah, I think, you know, as any coach in August, we're worried about Pitt. I'm worried about what our team is doing, making sure we're not beating ourselves this time of year and, you know, just becoming the best football team we can, the best team we can be as far as culture goes. And there's a lot of excitement at Pittsburgh, I can tell you that, not only with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but with the Pittsburgh Panthers. So, you know, there's a ton of excitement. You know, I think it starts with your, your quarterback. I think, you know, everybody here is excited about Mason Heitrot and you know, that guy running the show on offense,

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

coaching, talking to Coach Narduzzi. And in terms of the acc, I mean, some new, some new rules this year, thankfully, that may make the end of the season a little bit easier to digest. But Miami last year played for the title. You deal with them a little bit later in the season. Certainly Louisville, I mean, all the teams that you would expect. How do you evaluate. And it's certainly a new ACC with a couple of west coast teams and smu, but really interested in your opinion of it?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Yeah, I think the ACC is a tremendous conference. Again, spending eight years as a defense coordinator. Michigan State had some great years up there. Just watching the skill and the athletic ability, the quarterback talent that's in this league is incredible. I mean, I just think that speed up and down the acc, just like in the sec down down south. I mean, there's a lot of great players. So I think the ACC is a tremendous conference. And, you know, Miami is, as you know, you know, just watching them in the championship game and throughout that playoff. They've got a ton of talent, and they are the team to beat here this season. And, you know, we'll get them later on. They got us last year at the end of the year, kept us out of the championship game. If we win that game, we're in. If we beat Louisville, another great football team. You know, we're in the championship, but, you know, ended up being one of those teams tied for second at 6 and 2 in the conference.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

You played in that championship game. And as far as, you know, we talk about the playoffs so much, but is the goal always first? Let's get to the conference championship game or how is this new system that is pretty convoluted and the talk of expanding is out there every day.

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Yeah, Paul, I'm old school. You know, I love the championship. I mean, you know, I think if you don't have conference champions, you have one champion and that's it. And I think college football is too big for that. You know, in the Big Ten was at Michigan State. You know, we won a couple division championships. The first time we went to a championship game, we lost. We got beat by Wisconsin and Russell Wilson, you know, transfer from the acc. And then the second time we go. But at least we were division champions. Second time we go beat number two, Ohio State in the championship game and go on to beat Stanford and Rose Bowl. And the same thing happened here. Our first time, you know, we were Coastal Division champions. We got smoked pretty good by Clemson in the championship game game, but we were Coastal Championship. That helped us kind of build that mindset that we can do it. We didn't go to the championship game not being a champion. We were some type of champion. And I always think there's something to celebrate getting to that game. I mean, you know, I think it's the same in the NFL when you're an AFC or NFC champion. You know, there's, there's confetti, there's big celebrations, there's stages on that. And I think, you know, everybody wants to be on that stage and be some type of champion and not everybody can win. But to have one champion the entire year and not have a, you know, have a conference championship, to me is a, is a big mistake. And people, people live for that. And you know, you go 13, 1 14, 115 to 1 and losing the championship game and no one really cares about you. It's all about Indiana.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Coach, I know your only concern is getting ready for the season, but you know, the talk in college football all season long, off season, I should say, is, is expanding the playoff. And I know a lot of commissioners have spoken, including yours, about going from 12, 24. What would, what would, that would also probably mean the end of what we just got through talking about that, that championship game. I know everybody wants to expand the playoff, but where are you on, on having to eliminate that game? That, that is so special?

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Yeah, well, you know, you know, you know, you know, I just told you what my opinion was and I know a lot of the ACC coaches talking down at our head coaches meeting. We're all for continue to have that ACC championship game and the championship games and moving the season back. And you know, I know we're starting a lot of teams starting week, but we'd like to get that thing going a little bit earlier so we can, you know, kind of keep it a one semester game, but still try to get those games in. But we, I think, I don't know if there's any coach in the country that doesn't want a championship game.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Coach Pat Narduzzi, thanks for making time. This was really fun to talk. I know you got bigger and more important things to do, but thanks for coming by and all the very best this season.

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

Appreciate it. Paul. There's nobody more important than you. Hail the fit, Paul.

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

Thanks for having me on.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Thank you very much. What a pleasure talking to the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh. We'll take a short break. We'll be right back after this.

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[Caller or Guest]

foreign.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

To the Paul Fine Bomb show podcast

back a busy show and we're not done yet. We'll go to Auburn here coming up in just a couple of minutes. Papa Dub in Charlotte is up next.

[Caller 'Dub']

Hey, Paul, how you doing, bud?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

What's up, Dub?

[Caller 'Dub']

But, you know, just getting all this football craziness ready to get started. And I was thinking about something the other day. Listen to all these prognosticators tell me who's going to win this and who's going to do this, how they're scheduled. And it just seems so convoluted. It seems like there's a lot of things that goes on there that says, well, how can they have that many wins if they're losing to these other teams when they. They are now from the other team. So I wanted to challenge you to a game, sir, called Rapid Fire. Are you ready?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I'll do my best. I'm not great at these things, but I'll put up my. Put on my chin strap and give it a go.

[Caller 'Dub']

So what I've done here, Paul, is I've printed off all 16 teams in the SEC and I put them in numerical order for us how they finished last year being like Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A and M. I know we're not gonna get through all these. Cause it's actually 72 games. If we could do 72 games, we've got the whole SEC schedule figured out and we know who's winning the game and who's losing the game and what schedule they would have for us or the records that would be at the sec.

[Caller or Guest]

But we're going to start with Georgia.

[Caller 'Dub']

So if you're ready, Paul, here we go.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, let's go. I'm ready.

[Caller 'Dub']

Georgia at Arkansas. Who wins?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Now listen, Pablo, we can't go through all. There's too many games. I mean, there's too many bad games to go through. But, I mean, why don't you pick out the big games? Okay.

[Caller 'Dub']

Okay. Georgia, Oklahoma, Georgia, Georgia, Alabama at Alabama Undecided. Wait a minute. That just blows the whole theory.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I mean, I did that purposely. The problem with this is it's hard to predict a game in the middle of. In the middle of October, on October 10th, until I see what both schools look like. So the game. So our little. Our little parlor game has come to an end here because I just don't know.

[Caller 'Dub']

It came to an end quick. All right, so let me transition into a music question for you.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Okay.

[Caller 'Dub']

So my nephew took his son for his birth to the Sphere in Vegas to watch the Zach Brown Band. If you could go to any venue and any artist, what would be your venue you'd like to go to? And what artists would you like to see you there?

[Caller or Guest]

Whoa.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

You know, I almost went to the Sphere this summer myself, but I didn't get out there. I was gonna go see Kenny Chesney.

[Caller 'Dub']

Oh, my God. I saw the videos of that thing. That's incredible.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, I had talked to him, I don't know, sometime last fall, and he mentioned it, and I put it down, and then I got sidetracked. I mean, I tell you what, I've been there once, and I want to go back, and I'm trying to think who I want to see there, but the venue I want to go to again is Red Rocks.

[Caller 'Dub']

That's on my bucket list as well. And my nephew has go to all of these venues, and he's making.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I saw a concert there in the. In the early 80s, and the irony. I do remember who it was, happened to be in town covering something, and we decided, let's go after. We didn't even. At first. We weren't even 100% sure. But it turned out to be John Denver at Red Rocks, which, when he did Rocky Mountain High, it was pretty interesting. But I don't. I mean, I got to think about. Because that is just. You just don't go to Red Rocks and see a grunge band. I mean, it's too different. It's such an iconic place. But who would you. Who would you like to see out there?

[Caller 'Dub']

What is the band that's out right now? The. The straight.

[Caller 'Sparks']

Oh, my gosh.

[Caller 'Dub']

What is the. They played there before, and I actually saw them watch the video of them of the other day of their concert, and I can't think of their Name. They're. They're all crap. For the life of me, I can't think of their names. Can't think of them. But they. I'd go see at Red Rock myself. I know you said I wouldn't go see a Grudge man. I give anything to see you to there.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Oh, yeah. That would be amazing. Yeah. And I. I'm sorry I didn't see them at the Sphere. I heard it was amazing.

[Caller 'Dub']

Yeah. I will tell you this. My boss, my owner of the company I work for, he went to and to the Spear, and he actually saw the wizard of Oz. And he ain't a Wizard of Oz guy, but he went there reluctantly by. But he was at a corporate party, right? He said it was the most incredible thing. He said he'd go back down just to go see the Wizard.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I'm trying to remember who told me they. They saw that and the tornado was the scariest thing they've ever seen.

[Caller 'Dub']

Well, they have like. Yes, exactly. And, like, stuff starts flying out of the season. He actually brought home an apple.

[Caller 'Mike']

Wow.

[Caller 'Dub']

They have Styrofoam apples that follows it. It's incredible. Yeah. I've got to get.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, Dub. Listen, hey, you've given me an idea, and I'm kicking myself for it because I was definitely going out there this summer and I went the absolute opposite direction. Thanks, Doug. Appreciate the call. We have another guest coming up here in a few minutes that we will talk to about Auburn and Sparks is up next in Alabama. Hello, Sparks.

[Caller 'Sparks']

Hey, man. By the time. Are you preachers to get blind people?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, we are.

[Caller 'Sparks']

You know, I've been waiting so long talking about Saban saying that we might stick up on Sunday. I'm going to bring that up to. Sorry. That spring game, Coach SA was saying we and us. So he. $500,000 if any pleasure this.

[Caller or Guest]

You better.

[Caller 'Sparks']

You better get out there and get physical. If you don't, you're gonna let saving down. And what else we. Paul, I waited hour and a half today, two and a half hours yesterday, trying to think what he was gonna say. Oh. Oh, yeah. Somebody said about. No, yeah, about Paul McCartney. If you got me in, I was gonna say. Won't you listen what the man said? He said that was a dumbass, which I didn't get in yesterday.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Hey, Sparks, thanks for the call. Really do appreciate that. Vance is up next. What do you got, Vance?

[Caller or Guest]

Well, Paul, I. I agree with this. Coach Narducci from Pittsburgh.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I like him.

[Caller 'Sparks']

I do, too.

[Caller or Guest]

And I've liked watching him coach his team. I I wish Pittsford Berg was better because I remember 76. I remember the early 80s, how good they were. But, you know, things don't last forever, but they're still a. But he brought up a great point about the championships of the conferences, and that crossed my mind. I'm like, as you will recall, in 2007, USC and LSU were 1 and 2 in both polls to start the season right. Both teams lost two games. I believe LSU lost their last two to Kentucky and Arkansas.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, both in overtime.

[Caller or Guest]

But there was one difference. The pack 10 or 12 or whatever they were called back there. And I don't back then, I don't mean that disrespectfully. They didn't have a conference championship, but LSU got to play Tennessee for the conference championship in the sec, and that propelled them to the national championship game against Ohio State. I think there's great work in being a conference champion in more ways than just that. What do you think about that, Paul?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, I mean, I do remember that very well. I mean, I think we could see similar things. I mean, obviously we're going to. We're going to. We're subject now to some of these conference championship games. So, I mean, like, like Narduzzi said, I mean, you could have last year. We could have. I mean, we've already had Clemson in the, in the CFP when they really did nothing other than win their championship game.

[Caller or Guest]

Well, you know, I just believe there's worth in it. And I like the way he talked about, you want, you want to attain something. I mean, even if you don't win the national title, you can still say, I mean, I hate to hear it being diminished, that being an SEC champion doesn't mean that much anymore. It's very disturbing to me.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, but Vance, I agree, but I'm also going to tell you that nobody has ever gotten less out of a conference championship the last two years than the University of Georgia. They have nothing to show for it. And I promise you, Kirby Smart is not going around the state this summer waving that championship flag. He's too busy trying to come out to figure out how to get a Sugar bowl went under his belt. Quick break up against that. Let's continue more phone calls. We'll take a trip to Auburn as well.

Shohei Ohtani's interpreter was fired today. Ippei Mitsuhara ran up gambling debts to

[Pat Narduzzi (University of Pittsburgh Head Coach)]

a Southern California bookmaking operation.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

The inside story of the biggest scandal in modern baseball.

[Caller 'Brian']

He was absolutely bananas.

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

The amount of bets he was making, I've never seen you like it from

[Caller 'Dub']

30 for 30 podcasts this is the

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[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show

Podcast Story by Nathan King what we're hearing buzz from day one at Fall Camp. It is a different set of circumstances than we have seen and Nathan, thank you very much. Nathan King joining us. We've heard what Coach Goish has said. How would you compare and contrast the opening of camp under him versus Hugh Freeze?

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

I mean, when you go back to the beginning of the Freeze era, maybe there are some similarities. Honestly, there are probably more similarities. And Auburn fans, you know, you hate to hear something like this, but there are more similarities to a guy like Brian Larson coming from the G5. But honestly, two completely different types of coaches in Alex Golich and Hugh Freeze. I mean, Golis sort of has this quiet confidence about him. You know, he knows this offensive system has worked in the SEC in his time at Tennessee. But you know, sort of what you heard from him in the press conference right there is sort of that humility as well. Like he's not a rah rah type of guy at SEC media days, you certainly didn't hear that either. Like he knows the Sovereign team has a long way to go and he knows this program has a long way to go and he's only just now starting to put his stamp on it. At the same time, again, he does have that confidence about particularly Byron Brown at quarterback. Makes a huge difference having so many of his coaches from usf. They're confident that at the very least this will be a well oiled operation. I don't know many games they're going to win. I don't know what it's going to look like. But they're confident that they have at least a competent product on their hands because they have so much familiarity with the staff and so many of these transfers.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And Nathan, without knowing anything, it sounds Like a great idea to, to lock everybody up. Now again, they're not in a boot camp, they're at a golf resort. That's pretty nice. But still I'm interested in the, in the mindset behind that and really what the coaching staff in particular Goish hopes to accomplish.

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

Yeah, it's nothing new for Goelish. He has done this ever since he's been a head coach, I guess because he started at year one, back at USF in 2023. So it's something that, you know, for some of these guys coming over from South Florida, it's a very similar situation. Yeah, like you said, it's not exactly, you know, it's not exactly hard knocks for them, but we did hear from a player today that they don't, they don't have a lot of Internet time. I don't know if that necessarily means they have screen time or anything like that, but they have, you know, they're trying to promote that connection, that off the field connection. It was very intentional, the roommate situation. Basically they're pairing veterans with young guys like, you know, their starting center who's a sixth year senior, has had some knee injuries in the past. He's getting paired with a redshirt freshman who just had an injury and is going to be out for a few weeks, things like that. They're trying to be creative with that and make sure they're intentional with guys continuing to develop that relationship off the field. And yeah, it's certainly a first for Auburn or at least the first since I've been around. You know, every, every morning when we're there at practice, we see the buses come in and after practice they finish up, go through a little bit of film study, hop on the buses and head 20 minutes outside town to Opelika.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, and not that far, but, but I mean the idea of disengaging them from social media, I mean is that, that seems pretty, pretty drastic when you're talking about 17 to 22 year olds.

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

Yep, absolutely. And that's the hope with Alex Gollish. I mean, we talked to some of the players about this the last couple of days and one of the sophomores told us, he said, look, it was a tough transition at first. Like when he told them that, he was like, I'm not going to be able to be in my own bed every night. I'm not going to be able to play my Xbox at night, you know. But again, the word that Alex Golish uses is force, speed. And that was something they did this offseason. Like getting guys together, getting guys connected on the field again, you know, a night of playing cards in the hotel room that's not going to convert you. A third and long, a fishing trip in the summer is not going to block an edge rusher, you know, for you. Like, they know that those sorts of things actually have to come to fruition in fall camp. But it's just a way of when you're not actually on the football field trying to continue to grow a team because you know, Paul, there's almost 70 new players on this team and that's just kind of the name of the game nowadays when you change coaches and you have such a transfer. Heavy culture in college football is just the way things are. They're taking every opportunity they can to try to get this team closer together because it is so many new faces that are, that are gelling in that building.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Nathan King. With Nathan, listen, there's a lot of optimism. There's also the reality. I think we have a pretty good handle on where this team looks good. Where are you most concerned?

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

Well, unfortunately for Auburn and any coach would hate to have this be their number one concern. But it's got to be the offensive line. And I do think Byron Brown can offset some of those things with his skill set as a dual threat quarterback. But this was already in a line that was breaking in five new starters. They don't return anybody from last year. Now, maybe that's not a bad thing because they have been very bad on the offensive line. So maybe, you know, wiping the slate clean. It's not a terrible thing. But a couple days ago got the news from Golich that Ty Buster, who was probably going to be their starting right guard, is going to be out until midway through the season. They already had some injury question marks there at right tackle. They've got a Michigan State transfer who's coming in and going to play right tackle for them. He missed all of the spring and now a USF transfer, Cole Skinner is probably going to have to play right guard for them. So that's the number one concern for me on offense. And look, they've got a lot of optimism about what that group can be. I do think there are some pieces in place, but they've really got to focus on building out depth because otherwise on the offense you've got, you've got a lot of good pieces. You've got Byron Brown, you've got some receivers that he has a lot of experience with. Going back to usf, you've got Jeremiah Cobb, who was number Five in the SEC in rushing last season decided to come back. So there's a lot of other pieces. I think for it all to click, they need to have a somewhat serviceable offensive line. So that's certainly something they've got their microscope on right now.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Nathan, let me ask you about this Baylor game last year. It seemed like the entire season hung on the outcome, and it turned out it really didn't make any difference one way or the other. What can you tell us about Baylor? And I realized the game's a few weeks off, but how do these two match up?

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

I hesitate to get too far ahead of myself, but I think it's a good matchup for Auburn because you look at Baylor, number 122 nationally last year in scoring defense. You know, Paul, we saw what this Auburn offense became, what Jackson Arnold in this offense looked like over the course of the season. They ran up and down on Baylor and this was a terrible Baylor defense. They lost a ton of pieces. They only returned one starter on offense. I think if DJ Lagway doesn't click, I think Auburn wins this game by a couple touchdowns because I just think that it's such a good matchup for the Tigers. When you look at their strength, like their defenses is a little more, you know, of a known commodity right now, DJ Durkin, entering his third season as Auburn's defensive coordinator. Obviously, this offense has to go out there and prove it. So you're talking about a pretty good Auburn defense against a Baylor offense. But that Baylor defense was just dreadful. I mean, there's no way around it. They were absolutely dreadful. They didn't inspire a bunch of confidence with their roster moves. And so if a guy like Jackson Arnold, you know, nothing against him and that Auburn offense last year, but that turned out to be a pretty bad unit, I think Auburn can be a little bit more competent on that side of the ball. I have a fair bit of confidence Byron Brown and this system will shoot. They'll just try to run the heck out of the ball. They'll try to do what they did last year. I think their personnel is pretty good. Their plan is pretty sound. I think the matchup works in Auburn's favor. Also helps. It's a bona fide home game. You know, it's no longer an actual home game. Obviously, that was a lot of controversy for Auburn fans then moving that game. But you know, it's Atlanta like it's going to be mostly Auburn fans. They'll have that advantage.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Nathan, finally everybody looks at the schedule and sees a game they think is critical. Some Florida fans and Auburn fans are looking at the Florida game. But we heard a lot about when we were talking to Josh Hyple recently. He's pretty well aware of that game at Tennessee as you look at that early half of the season. I don't want to forget Georgia, but what are the games that stand out to you?

[Pat Narduzzi (Closing Remarks)]

Yeah, how about that Tennessee matchup? Right? We talked to Josh Hyple about that at SEC media days and he just was able to go on extensively about the connections. Auburn's offensive line coach is the former USF or excuse me, UCF player that Hyple coached when he was at ucf. Tim Banks was Tennessee's defensive coordinator last year. Cody Burns is a former Tennessee assistant and obviously Dallas Golish is a former Tennessee oc. So that game will be circled, the one I keep coming back to. You mentioned Florida and there's a big reason why that's a, you know, it's a night game. It's the SEC opener, some Rawl versus Alex Golish. I don't think Vanderbilt can be overlooked and I'm not trying to just be, you know, too high on them going into the season. I know they have to replace Diego Pavia, but hasn't Clark Lee done enough to generate benefit of the doubt right now that, that they're going to be a pretty solid team? I know they're really looking forward to that opener against Baylor. I know Florida circled as a nighttime, you know, SEC opener and Jordan Hare, you can't look past Vanderbilt before you go on the road for the first time to Tennessee that Week 4 game against the Commodores. Again, I think Clark Lee has has done enough the past couple years to show us he's going to be a pretty good coach and that's going to be a pretty solid team, even if they have quarterback questions. So I think that's one that Auburn definitely can't overlook. But other than that, I mean if you count Baylor as a home game, which it basically is, it's a good opportunity for them to start 4 0. I'm not saying they're going to and Florida is a pretty darn good roster, but the opportunity is there. Certainly that gives them a great jumping off point if they're able to do that early in the season.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Great stuff. Really appreciate it. Nathan King joining us as we talk Auburn. We'll take a break. Plenty of time for you to get in a lot of guests today, but the calls are all yours the rest of the way. I like things my way.

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[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Bomb Show Podcast and welcome back as we continue here. Heading toward the final hour on a Thursday still in Alabama, Bash returns.

[Caller 'Bash']

Good to see you again Paul. So great every you just had and I loved your interview you had with the Pittsburgh Panthers coach, but I wanted to add a little bit on to that conversation. Paul, he told you that he's talked to many other ACC coaches, but I guarantee you this Paul, he has not talked to Mario Cristobal in the Miami Hurricanes because why would he want the ACC championship game to stay in contention? Because look at this Paul, he didn't even participate in the game last year. And the Miami Hurricanes won more playoff games in one season than any other ACC team has in the history of the college football playoffs. Now the other years that Miami wasn't in the playoffs, Paul, what has the ACC done in the 12 team College football expansion? Like let me ask you a question. What's the highest seed that an ACC team has received since the playoffs expanded? Whatever Miami was Exactly, they were a 10 seed. And the other year Clemson barely snuck in as the 12 seed and got their asses kicked by the Texas Longhorn. So what do you like? In my opinion, Paul, I agree with the Pittsburgh coach and the other ACC teams. Of course we want the ACC championship to still exist. It's their peak, Paul. It's literally all like you saw last year. The Juke Blue Devils with their 75 season, they win the ACC championship, what's next for them? Nothing. That's it. That's the end. Like you got to the peak of your potential season like almost every other ACC team other than Miami. What do you think?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, first of all, Bash Narduzzi can say whatever he wants because he's been in that game once and I appreciate his old school approach, but nobody really wants these games anymore. That goes for the SEC, ACC and everyone else, 100%.

[Caller 'Bash']

And it's like you even brought up in your example with Kirby Smart. What has the SEC championship done for him other than add more criticism? Because. Because he wins these games so impressively, he then has an egg in his next game right after and he goes oh, and one into the playoff season. So like the acc, Paul, they are like. That's how you basically brought the Pittsburgh coach on. They're the only ones that are still advocating for a conference championship because the Big Ten definitely isn't the SEC. We already talked about it, but maybe the Big 12 is. What do you hear from that conference?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I forgot they had one, quite frankly. But, Bash, great to have you on. Thanks so much. Bash joining us from Prattville, Alabama. Brian is up next in Pennsylvania. Hey, Brian.

[Caller 'Brian']

Hey, good afternoon, Paul. It's an honor to be on your show.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Thank you.

[Caller 'Brian']

I have two observations I'd like to share with you and get your opinion on them, if I may. And they're both real brief. The first one is. I don't know why this dawned on me the other day, but there's a single individual who I think holds the distinction of being of having the greatest career combined career as a player and as a coach at the college level. And yet the same person probably has the distinction of having the worst career as a player and a coach at the NFL level. Who do you think that may be?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, I'm thinking of coaches that have won national championships that have. That were not great in the NFL. You talking about as a head coach in the NFL or just a player?

[Caller 'Brian']

Head coach. Head coach for both at the professional level. He was a first round draft pick. He's an FCC alumni.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, I mean, I know Spurrier did not have a great pro Career.

[Caller or Guest]

Correct.

[Caller 'Brian']

So he. At best, he was a journeyman player, right?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah.

[Caller 'Brian']

First round pick, though. First round pick.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah. Well, I mean, he was a high. I mean, he won the Heisman. He was highly thought of. He ended, I think Spurrier. I think he played for the 49ers and the Bucks. Maybe somebody else, Right? Yeah.

[Caller or Guest]

So.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

But we never really landed at a good place. I'm not making excuses for him. I don't remember his pro career at all.

[Caller 'Brian']

Well, the 49ers were actually a pretty good team when he played.

[Caller 'Dub']

They weren't.

[Caller 'Brian']

Yeah. But anyway, I just find it.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, no, I think we remember John Brody ended up being the quarterback. Is that because. The only reason I remember is I interviewed John Brody once, and I think his claim to fame was he beat out Steve Spurrier.

[Caller 'Sparks']

Correct.

[Caller 'Brian']

Correct.

[Caller or Guest]

Right.

[Caller 'Brian']

Because Spurrier was the guy who was supposed to have a job. So I just find it amazing that the same person could hold that distinction. The second thing I wanted to ask you now, correct me if I'm wrong. You started your career as a print journalist, is that right?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

That is correct.

[Caller 'Brian']

So I imagine you have an appreciation for spelling and grammar then, right?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, I never really was great at either one, but that was before. I mean, before spell check and grammar check and all the things that make it easier today.

[Caller 'Brian']

So using spell check, if somebody were to say. If somebody were to write the word Southeastern, would that be one or two words?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Southeastern, in terms of the actual conference, is one word, I think. I'm not sure I've ever really seen it. I've seen the word southeast described as one word. I don't think it's two words.

[Caller 'Brian']

It's not two words. So therefore, why is it the sec?

[Caller 'Dub']

What is the E?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

It's in the logo.

[Caller or Guest]

Wow.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

You know, by the way, I'm an idiot, Brian. I've never thought of that before. That is

[Caller 'Brian']

really, for an academic conference, to be honest with you.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, we are going to get you an answer on that.

[Caller 'Bash']

Thank you.

[Caller or Guest]

Thank you.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I've never, never given that a second thought. Why the SEC does it the way they do it. Mike is up next in Mississippi. Hey, Mike.

[Caller 'Mike']

Hey, Paul.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Hey, there.

[Caller 'Mike']

The last time I called in, man, Lane Kiffin was about to leave and nobody really knew if he was going to go or not. And I called in and I said, man, who do you think next coach is going to be? And you told me they better find somebody fast. And I told you, I think that the coach is on the staff right now. And I'll be dang if I wasn't right. But I do think that Pete golden has made some good hires. I do think that. And I think they're going to have a successful season. But I'm, I'm calling about week one. Paul, I want to know who you got. Ole Miss, Louisville. Who you got?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Like I have, I have Ole Miss. But, but I do think Louisville is a, is a formidable team. I'm not just saying that to make the game into something that it's not, but I have great respect for that program.

[Caller 'Mike']

I do, too, man. I don't know much about them, but I know they poured a lot of money into their program. So I really do think that's going

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

to be a good game.

[Caller 'Mike']

But I have two, I have two games circled that first week, that game, which I think Pete's going to be great at. I want to know if two, two coaches can lose at the same time because one's a narcissist and the other one's a little crybaby.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, I know which game you're talking about. Yeah, there are a lot of people that, that have a hard time outside of lsu. Have time, a hard, hard time pulling for anybody When Clemson plays lsu. We will be right back.

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

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