Saving College Sports Roundtable, USF's Brian Hartline Joins, and Remembering Lou Holtz

Summary

The Triple Option – “Saving College Sports Roundtable, USF’s Brian Hartline Joins, and Remembering Lou Holtz”

Date: March 11, 2026
Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
Guest: Brian Hartline (Head Coach, University of South Florida)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the pivotal changes facing college sports—especially college football. Urban Meyer recounts his White House roundtable on the future of college athletics, emphasizing the need for legislative clarity and enforcement. The team then examines leadership instability at Ohio State before welcoming Brian Hartline, new USF head coach, to discuss program vision, culture-building, and Florida recruiting. The episode closes with heartfelt memories of the late coaching icon Lou Holtz.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football’s Uncertain Future – White House Roundtable

• Urban Meyer’s White House Visit

  • Urban details a high-profile summit at the White House where he and other college and pro sports leaders discussed ongoing threats to college athletics:

    • Sustainability crises due to fractured NIL rules and revenue sharing
    • Absence of NCAA enforcement authority
    • Critical need for federal antitrust exemption to allow unified regulations

    "The message was pretty much the same – that they're grateful the president is listening, but there's a real sense of peril… unsustainable."
    – Urban Meyer (03:30)

• Landscape Complexity

  • 37-38 different state NIL laws undermine national consistency

  • Antitrust exemption would supersede state laws, letting the NCAA functionally govern again

    "There is no step two unless you get step one. There's no two unless you get antitrust exemption."
    – Urban Meyer (07:15)

• Enforcement and Solutions

  • Advocates for eliminating collectives; proposes direct university revenue sharing and true NIL

  • Calls for control over the transfer portal and new eligibility rules: five years to play five, no redshirts

    "We want to limit the transfer portal. Well, they'll get sued and they'll lose… So without [antitrust], there's no two, three."
    – Urban Meyer (07:27)

• Student-Athlete Representation

  • Rob Stone suggests increased athlete voice, acknowledging not all sports/programs are equal

  • All agree on need for continuous review and adaptability akin to the College Football Playoff committee

    "Not every student athlete is, is an apple to apple… would be nice that they had a voice. I think it will happen."
    – Rob Stone (08:46)

• Optimism and Reality Check

  • Acknowledgement of political challenges: passing bipartisan legislation is unlikely, risking the status quo and the future of non-revenue/Title IX sports

    "Unless something gets done, status quo is not going to make it… I want to see women's sports thrive."
    – Urban Meyer (10:26)

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2. Ohio State’s Presidential Turnover: Implications for Athletics

• OSU President Ted Carter resigns amid controversy—part of a troubling trend (four presidents in less than 20 years).

• Meyer stresses importance of alignment between university president and head football coach:

  "If you're not aligned with the president of the university, that's a bad situation… the alignment is imperative."
  – Urban Meyer (12:40)

• Broader instability in Big Ten leadership (refs similar issues at Michigan) potentially weakens conference off-field

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3. Brian Hartline on USF’s Vision and Culture

Why USF?

• Hartline attracted by resources, location, and leadership’s follow-through:

  • Funding committed to building an on-campus stadium
  • Maximum revenue-share allocation for football
  • Tampa’s recruiting hotbed and future market advantages

  "They kept checking boxes… Carol looked at me, said Brian, it's time."
  – Brian Hartline (18:39)

Program Building: Short-Term and Long-Term Aims

• Immediate focus: spring practice, instilling relentless effort, accountability, consistency, trust, and competitive excellence

• Spring goal: establish championship-level standards and chase USF’s first conference title

  "You don't really know until you know… understanding this new level of expectations—really, really important."
  – Brian Hartline (21:10)

Accountability Culture: Notable Locker Room Anecdote [23:03]

• Introduced group accountability: entire RB unit, plus coach, lost locker room access for one member’s tardiness

  "It's definitely a unit feel… These things that don't take talent are non-discussion issues. Being late is not ever okay."
  – Brian Hartline (23:20)

Recruiting & Staff

• Reiterates Florida’s strength as a talent source—with further potential if high school coaches are paid/stabilized (new law)

• Created a staff of “grinders,” including Tim Beck as OC, adopting Ohio State/Day/Meyer scheme

  "Florida high school football… might be the best in the country already. Providing more stability, more consistency for coaches only helps the potential growth."
  – Brian Hartline (32:03)

  "I'm hoping to find coaches that… saw what USF is capable of… You are the head coach of your unit."
  – Brian Hartline (28:41)

USF Ceiling: Not a Stepping Stone

• Belief in limitless potential: new facilities, major market, intention to build a non-transient, championship-driven culture

  "The sky's the limit, to be honest… I'm not looking to jump other places. That is the opposite of my mindset."
  – Brian Hartline (35:53)

On Influences: Trestle, Meyer, Day [36:21]

• Trestle: “Cares more about the person than the player”
• Meyer: Consistency, intensity, accountability—for coaches and then players
• Lesson: “Do it your way… Your way is enough and be consistent in that way.”

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4. Remembering Lou Holtz [40:55]

• Holtz’s passing at 89: transformative leader, head coach at six schools, national title at Notre Dame, brief NFL stint

• Urban Meyer’s first big break: hired at Notre Dame by Holtz after a memorable breakfast meeting

• Lou’s legacy: master motivator, loyal, witty, and revered for both his football wisdom and ability to uplift people

  "He was a walking encyclopedia of how to motivate and maximize people… Coached, arguably, one of the most loyal guys I've ever been around."
  – Urban Meyer (40:55, 42:53)

• Rob Stone’s personal stories: Holtz’s unique personality, humor, and the “white knuckle” of riding or parking with Lou

  “He had that pipe all the time… that soft cashmere V neck… the car smelled like pipe and off we went to work.”
  – Rob Stone (45:58)

  "There's people that finish last in med school and they call them doctor."
  – Urban Meyer quoting Holtz (44:26)

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Policy Change and Urgency
  "The bottom line is there's zero enforcement right now. The NCAA is no longer can set rules and regulations and enforce them…"
  – Urban Meyer (04:37)

• On Antitrust Exemption Being Step One
  "There is no step two unless you get step one… that's antitrust exemption… Without [it], you're going to lose. You're going to get a lawsuit and you're going to lose."
  – Urban Meyer (07:15)

• Encapsulating the Academic Athlete’s Value
  "Do people care? You're damn right they do. …Future leaders of our country are on volleyball courts and on gymnastics meets… That’s the leadership of our country."
  – Urban Meyer (11:07)

• USF Locker Room Culture
  “Once that happens, the unit is kicked out of the locker room. …The coach is also out of his locker room. So it's definitely a unit, a unit feel.”
  – Brian Hartline (24:14)

• On USF’s Big-Picture Potential
  "To say we can't be chasing bigger aspirations would be a mistake… The sky's the limit, to be honest."
  – Brian Hartline (35:53)

• On Doing It Your Own Way in Coaching
  "Do it your way, and it's not about trying to be somebody you're not… because your way is enough."
  – Brian Hartline (38:41)

• Lou Holtz’s Impact and Humor
  "There's people that finish last in med school and they call them doctor."
  – Urban Meyer quoting Holtz (44:26)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [01:51] White House Roundtable & College Sports Crisis
• [12:40] Ohio State Presidential Issues
• [17:22] Brian Hartline Joins – USF Vision, Program Building, Recruiting
• [23:03] Hartline’s Locker Room Accountability Story
• [32:03] Florida High School Football’s Importance
• [35:53] USF’s Aspirations & Hartline’s Commitment
• [36:21] Hartline on Coaching Influences
• [40:55] Remembering Lou Holtz—Stories and Legacy

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Tone & Takeaway

Deeply insightful and playful, the episode blends rare leadership access with coaching anecdotes and real locker room wisdom. It’s both a state-of-the-union for college sports’ future and a masterclass in culture-building. The stories about Lou Holtz close the circle, reminding listeners that legacy, leadership, and fun are at the heart of college football.

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Transcript

[Urban Meyer]

You know, I was going to get a sleeve on my arm. I, I wanted, it was just, it was going to cost a little bit too much. So I decided to stay away from that coach.

[Brian Hartline]

You know, I got, yeah, I got

[Urban Meyer]

a guy, 62 year old men, arms don't need sleeves on it.

[Brian Hartline]

I know, but I can see you driving that boat, you know, with a great sleeve.

[Urban Meyer]

You're right, you're right. Oil, oil a bad boy up.

[Brian Hartline]

Oh, yeah.

[Rob Stone]

The triple option is presented by Wendy's. Get yourself a $4 big $6 biggie bag or an $8 biggie bundle. Now at Wendy's, the triple option presented by our great partner, Wendy's. The legend, Urban Meyer, Rob Stone, our good friend, Mark Ingram. Deuce Deuce. You know where he is right now, coach?

[Urban Meyer]

Oh, yeah. Vegas. Sure, I do. Like they send pictures. So Southern Highland, one of the favorite courses in the country. Running said he played well.

[Rob Stone]

I think he's doing more than just golfing, if I know. Deuce. Deuce.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah.

[Rob Stone]

Well, last time we were in Vegas was celebrating you with Deuce Deuce. We had a late night or two. All right, coming up next, we're going to visit with the new head coach at the University of South Florida, one of your guys, Brian Hartline. Great conversation. Really going to enjoy that. We remember the legendary Lou Holtz and we discussed yet another presidential vacancy at the Ohio State University. As always, thanks for joining us. We love it when you can rate, subscribe, send us those questions. We're on social media at 3x option show new episodes come your way on YouTube wherever you get your podcast. And let's begin coach with any given Saturday. Yeah, here we are 170 days out until the 2026 season kicks off.

[Brian Hartline]

The big news.

[Rob Stone]

What is the future of college football? What is the future of college athletics? You, my friend, were summoned to D.C. to the White House this past week. Quite a list of invitees to discuss the future of college athletics. Real quick, what was that day like? What was the setup? What were the conversations before you really got to the meat on the bone?

[Urban Meyer]

I've been fortunate to have been to the White House a few times with President Bush when we won it in 06, then President Obama in what was it, 08 and 14 and then a couple times recently. And I just, first of all love going. I just love to pay respect to that incredible institution, the White House. So it was really interesting. You get there and I did not realize this, but you had a lot of the cabinet members of President Trump there. You know, Marco Rubio was there. And then you had Governor DeSantis, Ted Cruz was there, Scalise from Louisiana, and Susan Wild, the chief of staff, I believe that's her name. So they had a bunch. Condoleezza Rice was there, and then the four commissioners were there. You had Coach Saban, myself, you had a bunch of other athletic directors. And, and you had the, the NBA commissioner was there and Adam Silver. Yeah. So there's a lot of, a lot of people there. And President Trump opened up about. He just wanted to hear, hear what was going on and how many people,

[Rob Stone]

how many people actually had time to speak or raise their hand and address the president?

[Urban Meyer]

Well, you had, you had. I believe it was five sank. First of all, Marco Rubio spoke, Governor Santis Sankey, Greg Sankey, the commissioner of Southeastern Conference, and Nick Saban. Those were scheduled speakers. And I think there was one more, but just kind of where we're at, and I think listening and everybody wanted to, you know, the message was pretty much the same, that they're grateful that the president is listening to hear the commissioners talk and some of the athletic directors talk about the peril they're in with the fiscal issues that a lot of these universities. And, you know, I kept hearing the term unsustainable. So that was kind of the common theme that was expressed. And then, you know, and then I think we're all educated on what needs to happen for there to be any kind of. I think the bottom line is. I don't think. I know. The bottom line is there's zero enforcement right now. The NCAA is no longer can set rules and regulations and enforce them because.

[Rob Stone]

Was it a useful positive exercise?

[Urban Meyer]

I think it was incredible. Yeah. I think now, now what comes of it is, you know, there's also the harsh reality that here's the bottom line, Rob, is that there's something called the antitrust and antitrust exemption. And antitrust is a, a law or rule law that's put into place to keep people from colluding and eliminate competition in the market, which makes a lot of sense. And I've done some research. I've done some research on this. Research on this. What's happened is the NCAA has gotten litigated against them because there's, I think I heard there's 38, 37 or 38 different state rules and laws that deal with how student athletes are treated at universities. And so antitrust exemption or limited liability would preempt the state laws and there would be. Now the NCAA can enforce them without automatically getting sued or, you Find in, you know, like the judge in Mississippi that overruled the NCAA and that's happened many, many times. The other thing it would do is give, you know, liability to common sense. You know, if the NCAA and everybody agrees that a player should get five years, for five years, it keeps, you know, it just keeps some common sense in the sport. And then finally the, when the president asked me my thoughts is the one. The collective issue. And so I think the important thing, I know I'm talking about, but the important thing is, and I, I actually spoke to some people and they, they said, you know how you get a group of people there that do not want the players to get paid, that never, of course they're going to get paid. I mean that, I don't know where that comes from. Rob, when you someone, I mean, you know, these coaches just don't want the players get paid that. I'm not sure where that you didn't listen if, if that's what you're saying. So of course there's collective bar or there's a revenue share and then there's nil opportunity. Those are two ways that players can get paid, should get paid and that's. That keeps the, the sport and everybody operating right, moving in the right direction. When you have revenue share, collective n nil, that's when things are starting to get out of whack. And that's, and my recommendation was eliminate the collective. The university can simply revenue share and that is it. And then let the free marketplace take care of any nil, real nil opportunities.

[Rob Stone]

If you had more time to speak, what are some of the other things that you would have shared with the committee, with the president?

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I think before you I, what I found out in my research here in the last couple months is that there is no step two unless you get step one. There's no two unless you get antitrust exemption because you can't. Whatever you say, they say, okay, we want to limit the transfer portal. Well, they'll get sued and they'll lose. So why are we talking about that anymore? You can't have that conversation. We want to limit the collectives and all this. Well, you're going to lose. You're going to get a lawsuit and you're going to lose. There's going to be a judge in some state that say, no, you can't do that. So without one, there's no two. Three. So you asked me though, I would get one. Number two would be transfer portal. One is antitrust exemption. Number two is going to Be control the nil. Eliminate collectives. And I have nil be legitimate name and likeness, which is great. I even said this in the meeting that that's America. Should you profit from your name and likeness? Absolutely. That's what our country is built on. Number three is the transfer portal. Get control of that. And my recommendation is they get one free one and then after you graduate, you get another one. And then finally the eligibility piece that you get five to play five. Enough with the red shirts. Enough with the 40%, 80%, 20%. He got hurt. He didn't get hurt. She got hurt. Whatever. It doesn't matter when your clock starts, you get five years to play five. Now there's a couple other things down the road. TV rights and scheduling, etc, but those, those are the things I would focus on.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, I, I would love to see and, and I think it will happen. Some student athlete representation. And, and again, you know, not every student athlete is, is an apple to apple. Right. The college football player at the University of Florida is different than the field hockey player at the University of North Carolina or whatnot. But it would be nice that they had a voice. I think it will happen. The other part is, and it's something that I really like from the College Football Playoff committee, coach, is their ability to kind of reconvene whatever it is every X months and say, hey, how do we do? And then having the ability to pivot and make those changes.

[Brian Hartline]

Right.

[Rob Stone]

That the changes they made to the playoff format and the seating after realizing, hey, this is good, but it's not great, let's make it better. I hope that there's still enough flexibility going forward once we get that first problem solved. Right. That they can keep tweaking and refining and making things, making things better for college athletics. But it, when you walked away from it, did you feel like, hey, we're going in the right direction? At least I did.

[Urban Meyer]

And then right at the end, one of the senators or one of the government officials made a comment that there's only one way that happened and this be bipartisan and you know, everybody comes together and let's, let's get this done. And he said there's minimal chance that will happen. And everybody kind of the, the air left the room like, oh, wait a minute. And I talked to, actually talked to Greg Sinki, the SEC commissioner, who's a, a great friend from many. I've known him since 05. I love the guy, great respect for him. And we kind of laid it out. And I just wanted to hear from I, I talked to actually five or six people in that meeting because I want to know if I'm going to start pushing for something. Am I pushing for the right thing?

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And the reality is that, you know, unless something gets done, status quo is not going to make it. That's what I have been told. I'm not. Once again, I don't have a dog in the race other than I love the sport and I love student athletes. And I want to see, you know, I want to see women's sports thrive. I don't want to see women's sports disappear. And my daughter's played volleyball in college. I want to see, you know, soccer and baseball. And I, I just, I'm such a believer that we have to get some fiscal responsibility here and I hope it happens.

[Rob Stone]

Well, thank you for your efforts. I appreciate. And hopefully it doesn't end right there. And let's, let's cross our fingers that there's a better future for college athletes.

[Urban Meyer]

You know what, as long as there's, as long as there's open dialogue and people. What I left with that. Do people care? You're damn right they do.

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

I mean, you're just. There's a lot of stuff going on in this world. I also saw some criticism about that. Who cares about. What do you mean, who cares about college sport? You realize the future leaders of our country are on volleyball courts and on gymnastics meets. And I mean, that's, that's, that's the leadership of our country. So you're damn right it's important.

[Rob Stone]

Good man. That was your fresh take of the week presented by Wendy's. Get yourself a four dollar Biggie bite, six dollar Biggie bag or an eight dollar Biggie bundle now at Wendy's. Let's head to Columbus right now. The Ohio State in the headlines. Not the way they want to be. Their president, Ted Carter resigned after he disclosed to trustees that he had an inappropriate relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business. This has been a bit of a theme in Columbus. Four presidents in less than 20 years. Certainly not what you expect from a program like the Ohio State. I mean, coach, you get to Ohio State, that's that, that's a goal, right? That's like, I've made it, I've achieved. I'm locked down. I am there till I am done. Like decades. And now this turnover, certainly not what they expected in Columbus. Curious, though, on a, on a football, on an athletic level, what is that relationship like at a Florida, at a Ohio State between the school president and the head football coach.

[Urban Meyer]

I had great relationships with our presidents. You know, I had Sidney de Brabo at Bowling green. I had Dr. Bernie Machin at Utah, who ironically went to Florida. Then they hired us at Florida. And then I had Gordon Gee at Ohio State. And I, to this date, very close with all of them. You know, I'd not talked to the Bowling Green president very much, but Dr. Matchen and Gordon Gee, we remain very close friends. Gordon Gee left at one point, and when you talk about alignment from the top down at all, it changed when Gordon Gee left. And my comfort level wasn't the same. You know, that's the guy that hired me. And then the lines of communication are a certain way. And so I. I have not spoke to Coach Day. I spoke to one of the assistants about it. Regardless what happened, does that change things at Ohio State? Certainly does, yeah. This is. There are some complicated issues that if you're not aligned with the president of the university, that's a bad situation. So I don't know what's going to happen at Ohio State. At. I was a huge fan of the president, Ted Carter, he was a Navy aviator pilot who I did a couple benefits with and charity events with. And I love the guy. So, yeah, to answer your question, the alignment and relationship with the president, university for the head football coaches, imperative to be on point. And as things change in Ohio State, they have to get. You know, I'm sure Coach Day is going to be involved in one way or the other. I'm not sure he won't be on the committee, but they'll at least have insight into what's going on.

[Rob Stone]

Jim Trestle for school president.

[Urban Meyer]

Oh, done. Is that. I don't even know if that someone said PhD. You have to have a PhD or something, but I don't know.

[Rob Stone]

Well, he would fit. He would fit the bill or he'd check a lot of boxes, at least, particularly if you're Ryan Day.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, people know how to raise their hand if they want that to happen. You see a bunch of hands going on.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah, a lot of hands. It's interesting, though. Remember there. There's been some presidential issues in Ann Arbor as well. Santa Ono, the former president in Michigan, he left, tried to go to Florida. He was denied by the board right now, right there. Does it weaken the Big Ten? Does it hurt their. Their voice, their cause? That two of their biggest institutions are having some issues at the presidential front.

[Urban Meyer]

Maybe on the surface you don't really feel it because at noon next year in November and Thanksgiving weekend, Ohio State's going to play the Wolverines in Columbus and it doesn't matter who the presidents are. But I think behind the scenes, how you manage your university, how you manage your football program, with all the complexities that are going on right now, I think behind the scenes, I think it absolutely does.

[Rob Stone]

Very curious times. These are, these are conversations we didn't think we would be having, talking about those two programs having issues. Up top. Interesting days, right? All right, coming up next, Coach, we head towards your way. Tampa, Florida, talk with your guy. The new head coach at the University of South Florida, Brian Hartline joins the triple option coming up next.

[Brian Hartline]

Light it,

[Rob Stone]

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[Brian Hartline]

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[Urban Meyer]

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[Brian Hartline]

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[Rob Stone]

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[Brian Hartline]

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[Rob Stone]

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[Brian Hartline]

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[Rob Stone]

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[Urban Meyer]

So the choice is yours for a pretty Biggie deal. Gotta be Wendy's.

[Rob Stone]

U.S. price and participation may vary. Single items at regular price. Prices may be higher in Alaska, California and Hawaii. Welcome back to the triple option presented by Wendy's, Rob Stone, Urban Meyer. And we go down to the 8, 1 3. The brand new head coach at the University of South Florida. He left Columbus after playing there. After coaching there. We welcome Brian Hartline to the show. Welcome, coach.

[Brian Hartline]

Thanks, Rob. Thanks, Irvin. Coach Meyer, appreciate it.

[Urban Meyer]

So good to see you. You know, when I was at Florida, USF and UCF and those Florida schools started to get going and I always thought USF would just punch their way right through, even ucf, because I just thought the location, you know, you had the facility issue, stadium issue, but you also had the best recruiting. Man, that area was on fire when we were there, so. And a guy named Jim Levitt was actually there and got him cranked up to, I think, number two at one point.

[Brian Hartline]

He did.

[Urban Meyer]

You're getting a stadium, you're getting a Stadium, you got talent within a four hour radius. I think I know the answer. But was that the reason this was the one that you jumped?

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah, there's a lot of as you know, coach and everything. I kind of went through the process. A lot of things that you kind of talked about, you know, between the resources, the people, the vision of acquisition of players and being in the hotbed of, of Florida for recruiting. And then frankly in the new era, it didn't work out at these other places. Come on home, we got a spot for you. So all these different pieces definitely played a huge part. I think that the motivation of the individuals around me, surrounding me, the CEO of Athletics, Rob Higgins, Will Weatherford. The stadium, again I point because I literally see it being built right now.

[Urban Meyer]

Wow.

[Brian Hartline]

And you know, everything they said they wanted to happen, they're putting their of the money where their mouth was and it just, they kept checking boxes. And then ultimately in the end, as coach Meyer, you know, like Carol looked at me, said Brian, it's time. And she eventually made that family, made the last push, the last comments and the rest was off and running.

[Urban Meyer]

Well, let, let me ask you a follow up. So the revenue source at usf, you know, you know, is it going to be a student fee? Is it all private donations? How does a school. Because I know USF had to went through that when they, ucf, excuse me, when they built the stadium, they got a lot of heat, yet it worked out great for him. Where is the revenue source at Central, At South Florida?

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah, I mean they've been very aggressive on a rev share as far as, you know, how much we're allocating for football. We max that out. So from a player's perspective, building the stadium has been funding, working through Will Weatherford and getting backbones of everything being built. But yeah, I think the, the, the big piece is allocating the school rev share amount and maximizing that out. I think that, you know, us choosing to do that is very uncommon, especially in this, in this conference and, but they, they're very adamant about winning. They're very adamant about growing this program. And Frankly it's only 30 years old. You hit, you hit on it. The football program is only 30 years old, which is amazing to me. So where they've started, you know, back when in the trailers out back, literally trailers to where we are now today has been, it's pretty, pretty special.

[Rob Stone]

What are the short term and then the long term goals for this program, not just football, but for USF athletics as a whole?

[Brian Hartline]

Well, I'm where my feet are right now, I'm not looking too far down the road, frankly. I am focused on the here and now focused on having a first, a great spring ball. We're doing a great job getting the right guys in this building, but then challenging them daily, both as people and players. For them to grow is really, really important now. Strength. Strength. Coach Antonio Turner did a great job at. Of changing our numbers from where they started to where they are now. So good first step, but now we're just really focusing on. On a handful of things in spring ball. No, you know, relentless effort. They're learning what that means, you know, to go, you know, four to six ADB plus two and everything you do,

[Urban Meyer]

you think you work hard.

[Brian Hartline]

You don't really know until you know. So we're learning what that means right now. You know, that's really, really important. We're trying to build trust, you know, that's really, really important. Like, you know, our. Our character, our connection, our competence, and then consistently doing that. Like, the level, the understanding of, I can do it once, but I got to do it every time is not normal to most. It's not that you can. It's how often you do. And so you're just understanding this new level of expectations. Really, really, really important. You know, I would say, you know, and then competitive excellence, right? When the guy. When the ball comes your way, do you make the play and then do you do it consistently? Right? And that's a really big part of spring for us. Every position is, you know, focused in competition right now. I mean, there's no guarantees anywhere. Really, really important. And then, you know, I think individual improvement, it's just. It's just all lumped into some of that. So we're focused on our spring goals right now, you know, getting some leaders to step up. But to be transparent, my focus is on chasing conference championships. That's where we want to be. We have not done that at usf. Coach alluded to you're getting all the way to number two in 2007. I remember that in 2007, USF was number two. Do you know who number one was? The Ohio State Buckeyes. So I remember seeing that back when I was playing at Ohio State in 2007, and. But we've never won a conference championship. So for us to do something we've never done, you've got to operate like we've never operated. And. And that's really our focus going into springboard.

[Rob Stone]

Coach Hartline, real quick, you're talking about, you know, building that culture right now. Right. And whether it's through the weight room or other things, I sense that some of your players are starting to pick up on this. You know, Coach Meyer is a big fan of social media. He's always out there scouring the Tiktoks and the Instagrams of the world. Coach came up with this one.

[Brian Hartline]

Wow.

[Rob Stone]

Do you know where this is going? We're going to run it right now. One of your running backs posted this caution tape all over the running backs lockers right now. All right, so, so break this down. What, what happened, who did it, what instigated it and what the ramifications have been.

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah. So I'm not gonna say who did it, but there's an accountability standpoint, you know, for us being, you know, things that don't take talent or non discussion issues. Right. So being late is not ever okay. We've also extra, extra motivated the guys by putting 25 minutes before their lift time. So they have to be at weight at breakfast, checked in 25 minutes before their lift time or they are late. It's not about the lift time, it's about, about being ready for your lift. So there may have been a guy that was, was late. The first time was a warning. We obviously progressed past that. And once that happens, the unit is kicked out of the locker room. They can get their stuff outside the locker room, they can wash their own clothes because they don't get the convenience of people taking care of them. And then the coach is also out of his locker room. So it's definitely a unit, A unit feel.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, look at urban celebrating down there. He's like, keep, keep talking. Coach Hartline. This is his magic elixir.

[Urban Meyer]

I tell you what. So I hired. There's a. There was these guys asked me, Coach Heartline, that I offered you a job and you said you turned it down. I don't remember that. I remember seeing a guy that I loved as a player and you would come around our players. I saw the relationship. I love the Heartline family because you guys are just nothing but grinders, man. Your brother was on our staff who I. I'm so happy he's with you. I thought he was a great coach. It shocked me that he couldn't jump in right away after he left Ohio State. And then you hired our old boy, Tim Beck, who was at my house about a month ago. So good to see him. One of my favorite coaches that we hired from Nebraska. So first of all, did you turn me down? And if you did, I'm Shocked, I went back to get you because usually there's one and done. But second of all, talk to us about your staff. Were you able to get what you wanted to get?

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah, so, yeah, I was, I was that. That just shows you how silly I was then. I was just getting done playing coach. Remember there was a fad where guys would come back and practice with you getting ready for the bowl game and my brother talked me into coming back to practice, so I did.

[Urban Meyer]

I remember that. Yeah.

[Brian Hartline]

And then there's Terry McLaurin and there's Paris Campbell and Austin Mack and I was coaching them up as second year players, I want to say. And yeah, so he's like, man, I'd love to hire you. Well, Coach Gianna was kind of the real big one that kind of pushed because I was over with the defense and I was like, you know, my heart wasn't there yet. I was like, hell no. I knew the obligation of being a coach and I was still working through that. So I turned it down. And I remember us getting in contact. I forget how Coach, I got closer to February before Spring bowl, and the conversation was like, listen, I'd love to be around. Hey, just come in and come and go if you. Whatever makes you used to the schedule. Schedule's crazy. And I remember looking at you as like, coach, I'm going to do it. And I want them to trust me. Going to be there every freaking day. So I'm going to be there for spring. Let's see how it goes. A weekend coach. I was hooked. And so I remember telling you, coach, I'm in for the year, let's do this. And you know, you went all about being super busy. I went back to the receiver room. But that changed my life, coach. So, you know, people always told me I'd be a decent coachman. I always told him, you're crazy. I'm never doing it. You guys are. You guys are crazy. The time commitment you guys have. But ultimately everyone else knew. I didn't. No.

[Urban Meyer]

But I'll tell you, think, think of the Brian Hart line that. What? And I've said this on Big Noon, I don't know, 100, 150 times. And we were good recruiters. I mean, at Florida, what you have done, you've changed the game in recruiting. The, the, you know, the first round draft picks, high end. Your, your average players are high draft picks. You know, I mean, I remember saw a Mecca. I mean, he was like, who's this kid? No Mecca. You know, all of a sudden the Rose Bowl Shows up, and now he's the best receiver in the NFL. So I hope, and I know you will, And I think holding. How do you hold your coaches accountable for their room? If you can do that, Hart, the way you are as a person, the way you are a grinder, way a worker, if you can get nine assistant coaches to take care of the rooms, you're going to be good. How are you going to do that?

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah. So I think, you know, very similar to how we want to enhance players. I think it's the head coach's responsibility to enhance their coaches. And so to get feedback back. I mean, again, my. My job is to enhance everyone around me and, and wherever my blind spots are, I gotta have great guys in that position to fill my blind spots. Like, that's what great CEOs do. And so I love the idea of enhancing individuals as players, but then the more I got into coaching, like, I just love trying to enhance individuals, and if I think there's an opportunity for someone to grow, I will give that feedback now, just like great coaches or great players. Excuse me, you got to be able to take that, you know, feedback and then apply the feedback, and that's. That's what great players ultimately do. But I'm hoping to find coaches that were really hungry that, you know, saw what USF is capable of. But then, frankly, through the interview process, they got a feel for me of, like, I'm going to challenge guys. I'm going to ask you to enhance and grow. And, and frankly, you are the head coach of your unit. Right? I mean, we want. The goal isn't to win championships. The goal is to be 10 strong, to have 10 units operating at a high level, both from an accountability standpoint, a production standpoint, and a community standpoint. Right. That's. All of those clear facets are very, very important. And ultimately, however, the unit acts is a direct reflection of the coach. Like, make no mistake, you either coaching it or allowing it. And so for me to have that trend, you know, being clear with that and to be, you know, consistent with that, now it comes down to me just calling those meetings and holding them. True. And, and when the, when the time is right, maybe lose my casket every now and then. But I think it starts with the people. Coach Meyer, I think you know that. And like, ultimately, you can only enhance individuals that want to be enhanced. You can only grow players that want to grow and don't look for handouts. I think we got a great staff that's. That's built that way. Now. It's up to me to, you know, follow through on my word.

[Urban Meyer]

Now, Tim Bex, your oc, will you run the. I know it's going to be the USF version.

[Brian Hartline]

Yes.

[Urban Meyer]

Similar terminology that you've used and that

[Brian Hartline]

you're used to a lot of what you know, Coach. I mean, it was, it was that kind of pretty. I Remember coming in 2017 with Coach Day. Coach Day was the quarterback coach. I was just the assistant receiver coach, but I grew with him. So the way he kind of grew that offense with Kevin Wilson and all of us kind of became version 2.0, if you will. And then Tim Beck, you know, had the foundation, the formations, you know, the mentality, the culture part of it, which is critical how we operate. He knew that piece. So we're kind of combining the two, Coach and, and kind of updating the system and. And it'll be our USF version, if you will.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah. Was Tim Beck from point one that you wanted or did you kind of look at some guys and.

[Brian Hartline]

No, I, I talked to some guys and I think that. Right. I did that. I was trying to explore other options. A lot of different philosophies out there. The players that were here, I was trying to do right by them. They ran a different kind of philosophy offensively last year. So was there an opportunity to kind of blend and grow? I tried. I couldn't do it, coach. I couldn't do it. So I went back to, you know, your kind of offense, Coach Days kind of offense. What we've been doing for the last, you know, seven, eight, nine years at Ohio State. And Tim ended up being the perfect fit for that. So very excited about that and just catch everybody up on where we took. Took everything.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, I was going to get a sleeve on my arm.

[Brian Hartline]

Yep.

[Urban Meyer]

I wanted to. It was just, it was going to cost a little bit too much. So I decided to stay away from, you know, that guy.

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah, I got a guy. And we have some nil too.

[Urban Meyer]

62 year old men. Arms don't need.

[Brian Hartline]

I know I can see you driving that boat, you know, with a great sleeve.

[Urban Meyer]

You're right. You're right. Oil it. Oil up, bad boy. Up.

[Brian Hartline]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

All right, Hart. Obviously, you know, the number one factor in that I looked at when taking jobs was what's, what's the recruiting look like? And years ago I had a chance to go to Notre Dame or go to University of Florida. It was because you got it right there, man. I mean, you, you fall over players. But I noticed that the high School coaching because we quit paying our coaches, they started to leave. I understand our governor, Ron DeSantis, who I'm a big fan of his pass the bill or they're really going to reinvest in the high school coaches, which I tried to get done years and years ago. You take the top talent, now you pay the coaches. This could become the best state in the country. What's your thoughts on Florida high school football?

[Brian Hartline]

Man, Florida high school football, I mean, frankly, you know, might be the best in the country already. So to just provide that security and not leaving the state, I think is everything. Right. I mean, I think that, you know, provides a great security for players to develop. Coach as, you know, like any consistency both in routine daily and this. The players or the coaches that are coaching them. So for them to have more stability and more a consistency in their development, it only helps the potential growth. I think the athletes are definitely here. The mindset definitely is. That's why I love the Florida athlete. The mindset here that I love. Ball, the win, winner takes all. There's just so much competitive spirit in the state of Florida. That's why I gravitate to it. I got to know it well in Miami when I was down there, recruited this state for a long while now. And, man, I don't know, we say it's one of the top schools. I'm not so sure it's not the top school in the usa. So to help support these coaches that are going through it with all this nil and movement and craziness, to do that and give them more, you know, opportunities there, that's. That's huge. And I'm a big fan of his as well.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, Polk county was. I. I told people that I had a rental home in Polk county in St. Thomas Aquinas. Yeah. And George Smith was a coach and I had my own office. And people got so pissed off the other Florida schools. When I was at Ohio State, I'd go down, I became friends and I got the boces and. Yeah, you can. You can. I watch your coaches going out of state, man. You don't need to go far.

[Brian Hartline]

No, not far, Coach. And there's. There's some. Again, quarterbacks are a little different, you know, and.

[Urban Meyer]

Right.

[Brian Hartline]

But outside of that, there's some great players and a little bit of southern Georgia, but, man, you got all of Florida to really operate with. And so when they have great teams here at usf heavy Florida representative. So got to make sure we're mindful of that and we will be Coach

[Rob Stone]

Heartland, you talk about all those things. What is the ceiling for football at usf, Rob?

[Brian Hartline]

I mean, I know it seems like you dream big, but that's where big things happen. And I'm going to be fully transparent because our, our CEO of Athletics, Rob Higgins, is big on it too. Like, you know, he has big aspirations. He really wants to take us, you know, to another level. And if that were to be the case, between talent acquisition, the players in Florida, those that want to be here, the city of Tampa, the media market, it's 11th in the country, number one in the state of Florida, we're going to have a brand new facility for football. I mean, state of the art Now, Coach Meyer, Rob. Like, like, unbelievable. And the stadium right behind it with all its funds and whistles and, and so the opportunity here is, is limitless. I mean, I think that, you know, where we are now, we're looking to dominate, you know, and do a great job in our commerce. We got to earn that right. We have not done that in the past. But to say we can't be, you know, you know, chasing bigger aspirations would be a mistake. To think that you can't do anything you want to do here at usf, you can't do everywhere else. I don't really know why the market's here, the resources are here, the people are here, the players are here. And then ultimately they do a great job building a sustainable culture and a team. But I think the sky's the limit, to be honest. And that was a big part of why I wanted to be at usf. Listen, I don't want to be in a place where I'm looking to, like, jump other places. Like, I stayed at Ohio State for a long time. I love that place. And I am falling more and more in love with usf. And the reason why I chose usf, because I thought that was possible. Like, I'm not looking. People have used this place as a stepping stone in the past. That is the opposite of my mindset. I have no interest in that. I love my family. I love the security and stability and consistency of being in one spot for my family. And, and I thought I could do that here at usf.

[Rob Stone]

Curious. Did you try to get Jeremiah Smith to join you down in Tampa?

[Brian Hartline]

I actually wanted to come and I said, listen, just stay at Ohio State. You know, it's probably best for, for them all, kid. All kidding aside.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, that would, that would have been awkward.

[Brian Hartline]

Yeah, I've been awkward, you know, but no, Jeremiah is, you know, my guy. But that's you were recruited. OSU is, is in, in that offense, right? And Julian, Sam, what we talking about? Go, go dominate. Go win a national championship and then I'll see you in the pros.

[Rob Stone]

So you were recruited by Trestle. You, you worked under Urban. What are some of the attributes you've pulled from those, those two and other coaches that you've been around, whether it's NFL or college football, that, that, that make you a head coach?

[Brian Hartline]

They have, they have shaped me for sure. I wish to this day that I could have been in Jim Trestle's staff meetings to see how he operated, how to get that luxury. But you know, for him, I definitely saw what everyone sees. Like he really cares more about the person than the player. I mean, he is like, you know, to a fault, maybe even, you know, like he is, he is. I don't think he can be wrong that way, but you know, he is, you know, the senator. He is, you know, just big hearted from a grandpa mentality kind of thought process. I mean to sit in a room during fall camp and have quiet time and read our books, like that was part of camp, you know, which we really haven't seen a whole lot of since Coach Meyer. You know, I think that his, his intensity consistently was from a coaching perspective and the way he demanded excellence from his coaches, frankly, and I'm going to be right now, he's right here. But like the way he was able to motivate his players through the players loving their position coach and then him demanding and challenging and going at the position coach ultimately just to get to the players was like, I love that and it was cap and it, it hit a different nerve and I just thought that, you know, everything was purposeful, it wasn't reckless. It was very harsh and old school a little bit at times, but like he knew exactly what was happening. And then I think when I got an opportunity with Coach Day, you know, watch him even, you know, grow as a head coach, elite offensive mind and then become the elite head coach that he has become. You know, it was a, it was kind of a mix of Coach Meyer and Coach Trestle. It was like put him in between a little bit. And, and so to see all those perspective, I think the one thing I learned, Rob, was do it your way, you know, and it's not about trying to be somebody you're not or fake it like, and be like them. Just do it your way because your way is enough and be consistent in that way. Be, be convicted in that way. And. But multiple guys can do it multiple different ways and you can still be successful.

[Rob Stone]

Awesome conversation. Coach Heartline, thanks so much for your time. Best of luck. Get yourself to burn Steakhouse.

[Brian Hartline]

By the way, I'm already there.

[Rob Stone]

Good man Burns.

[Brian Hartline]

Good man meat market. I mean, I'm getting like all the.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, you know, I think they're taking me in my sauce. Yes.

[Brian Hartline]

Going there tonight.

[Rob Stone]

Oh, let's go.

[Brian Hartline]

It's pretty nice.

[Rob Stone]

All right, we'll get, we'll get Urban to jump on his boat and cruise on up to your house and hang out for some spring practice.

[Urban Meyer]

You know, my favorite stop up there is St. Pete. Have you done St. Pete?

[Brian Hartline]

No.

[Rob Stone]

It's gorgeous.

[Brian Hartline]

I've heard it's amazing.

[Urban Meyer]

It's, it's. Back when I was in Florida, it was just. Okay. Yeah, it's my favorite place in Florida.

[Rob Stone]

Yeah.

[Brian Hartline]

Wow.

[Urban Meyer]

There's a coach take a resort right there. It's fantastic.

[Rob Stone]

Take the boat up for a Tampa Bay Rays game. Get yourself to a race game. By the way, awesome.

[Brian Hartline]

I hope you got some franchise. I'm going to practice and start yelling some people. I'd like it, Coach.

[Rob Stone]

Love it. Coach Heart best of Success in the 813 in the Tampa area. The new head coach, University South Florida, Brian Hartline. Coming up next on the triple option, we remember a legend, the late, great Lou Holtz.

[Brian Hartline]

Light it.

[Rob Stone]

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Brewing Company. No matter how you do game day, on the couch, in the crowd or manning the snack table, Athletic Brewing fits right in with a full lineup of non alcoholic beer styles you can enjoy bold flavors all game long. No hangovers, no buzz, no subbing out for water in the second half. Stock the fridge for tip off with a variety of non alcoholic craft styles. Available at your local grocery store or or online@athletic brewing.com near beer fit for all times. Welcome back to the triple option. And the college sports world lost an absolute legend last week. The great Lou Holtz passed away at the age of 89. Six schools he was a head coach at on the collegiate level. Remember he got to start at William and Mary, jumped to NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame. He's most famous for winning the national title there. Also also the head coach at the University of South Carolina. A lot of folks forget he was in the NFL as well for one season back in 1976 with the new York Jets. I know how much Coach Holtz meant to so many people, particularly you as well. What will you remember and miss most about him?

[Urban Meyer]

Coach, I love Coach Holtz. Coach Holtz arguably One of the most loyal guys I've ever been around. You know, I just worked for him in 1996, I got the phone call that I had a chance to go to coach at Notre Dame. And I remember joking around with Shelly saying, your husband's going to work at Notre Dame. And that was. That obviously propels you in your career. The minute I would tell people, the minute you wear a gold helmet on your shirt, coaching shirt, you walk to the front of the line in the school when you go see a recruit. And I felt that all of a sudden, here, hey, they didn't know my name. But a coach from other names here. And then you just learn his expertise. He was a walking encyclopedia of how to motivate and maximize people. And his speeches. I've seen hundreds come across my phone since he passed away, and I've seen most of them, but such great wisdom. And then I was humbled by my access to him, that I tell people the story that we beat Arkansas to win the Southeastern Conference, and we find out the next day that we're in the national championship. I have 40 days to get a team ready. And I honestly sat there and I said, I have no idea what to do. So, of course, the first phone call was the Lou Holtz. And an hour later, I didn't only know what to do, I knew how to do it, and I did it. And without Coach Holtz, and. And there's so many stories like that.

[Rob Stone]

Give me a story, though, because there. There's people just. He's like. We talked about Bobby Bowden a couple days ago, right? He was one of those guys that people just gravitated to, and they wanted to hear him. And he was so entertaining in the way that he told stories. But it was more than just entertainment. It was. It was motivational. It was. It was uplifting as well. He was. He was just one of those personalities, Coach, where when you walked away from him, you felt better, stronger, smarter, and that you had been in a privileged spot.

[Urban Meyer]

In 1996, Notre Dame was looking for a receiver coach. And several people said, urban, you got to go get that, coach. You got to go get that. And I became very good friends with his son, Skip Holtz. And Skip Holtz went to see him at the convention, I can't remember it was at. And said, you should hire Urban Meyer for the spot. And Lou Holtz said, I know how I'm going to hire. I don't want to even talk to him. I'm done. And so all of a sudden, I get a Phone call from Skip, 10:30 the night before. He says, hey, it doesn't look good, but just meet me at 6:30 in the morning and be prepared to meet Coach Holtz. We're going to go have breakfast before he flies out of there. So he doesn't tell Skip, does not tell Coach Holtz that I'm going to meet with him. And again he asked Coach, he said, please meet with this guy. And new Holt says, I'm not meeting with this guy. I'm done. I know what I'm going to do. And then all of a sudden we, I'm standing right there and he walk around the corner to go have breakfast together and he says, hey, it's Coach Meyer, this is Lou Holt. And Lou Holtz looks right at Skip and gets so pissed off, like, and then an hour, hour and a half later he says, I'll call you tomorrow. And he called me tomorrow and said, because I got to spend some really good quality time with him. And next I know, I was on a plane to South Bend and ended up getting hired. And then his wittiness, the stories he would tell about, you know, he says so much pressure was on him at Notre Dame. They won a national title and they finished second in the country the next year. And he's a bum. And he says, I finished second in the country and they call me a bum. There's people that finish last in med school and they call them doctor. So there's. He said it really wasn't fair. And then the best one, he said, I got a. I'm so slower. I'm such a bad athlete. I got in a race with a pregnant woman and finished third. So just non stop sense of humor. Arguably the greatest speaker, yes, of certainly our generation, but one of the greatest of all time.

[Rob Stone]

So back in the day, Coach, when I worked at espn, I was on a midweek college football game crew with Mark May and Rhys Davis and Lou Holtz. And I was the reporter. And we were doing like random, random games, Mac games and here and there in the middle of the week. And I remember the first time I got there, you know, everybody's kind of got their rental cars. We had our meetings and then we had to go somewhere else. And Reese and Mark piled into their car like lightning quick. So there was no option for me. And they're like, you're with Coach Holtz. And I'm saying to myself, Urban, I'm like, hell yeah. I get to drive with Coach Holtz is amazing. I can't wait for this. Let me Tell you, that drive, that was a white knuckler. Now, like, I know why those guys put me in that car. Because Coach Holtz can drive quickly. Like, put it that way. And stop signs and other things could be optional. So it was a white knuckle drive with them. They're cackling at me when we get back. But he would drive, and he always had this look, coach of. Of a Florida grandfather that I. I would think of when I was a little kid. He had that pipe all the time. Had that soft cashmere V neck kind of golf sweater, light blue with another

[Urban Meyer]

name on it, right?

[Rob Stone]

It was so great. And we worked this game in Orlando together. And again, he and I were driving to the game together. And, you know, coaches, you guys don't know where to park, right? You and I got driven to an Oklahoma game with Bob Stoops, right? The coaches, they just. They just keep driving, right? They're like, how I should be able

[Urban Meyer]

to park, literally in the 50 yard.

[Brian Hartline]

Right?

[Rob Stone]

50 yard line. So I'm driving to the old Citrus bowl with Coach. Coach Holtz, and he just keeps driving by the parking attendants who are, like, waving flags and putting up hands. Whatever. Coach Holtz. When I say Coach Holtz pulled up next to the Citrus Bowl, I'm saying I could barely get out of the passenger door because it was right next to the concrete of the Citrus Bowl. Coach didn't care. Through his keys, underneath the mat door, unlocked. Car smelled like pipe. And off we went to work.

[Urban Meyer]

And one of. No one touched the car.

[Rob Stone]

No, actually.

[Urban Meyer]

Oh. Did they know who touched.

[Rob Stone]

Do you know who touched the car?

[Urban Meyer]

Rob Stone.

[Rob Stone]

This idiot touched the car. I knew his keys were there. And I talked to our producer. I was like, hey, we were encouraged to have fun, let's put it that way. And we filmed me taking Coach's car out of the lot and just driving off in the distance. And they aired it live. And Coach was kind of pissed because he needed to be somewhere right after the game. And the whole time he's like with his beautiful Lou Holtz lisp, right? It was Rob, where are my keys? Where is my car parked? I need to get out of here. I got a golf date coming on up. He was petrified of it, but it was just absolute beauty. He was. He was one of one. And he has missed. Missed for sure, man. Absolute legend. Absolute legend. Coach Holtz. Well, that does it for the triple option. Make sure to follow. Subscribe rate us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast, as well as across social media. We are at 3x option show. Thanks for joining us and always thanks to our wonderful sponsor Wendy's. We'll see you next time on the Triple option.

[Brian Hartline]

Shot clocks big shots, upsets, aces TGL playoffs are here. First Atlanta Drive starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club. Then Rory's Boston Common Golf and Tigers Jupiter Links face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up its playoffs. Tune in Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30pm and 9pm only on ESPN and the ESPN app.