← Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
TexAgs Live - Anwar Richardson + Berry Tramel + Neal McCready : 07.23.26
00:44:09
A packed final hour featured Texas football analyst Anwar Richardson, Oklahoma insider Berry Tramel, and Ole Miss reporter Neal McCready!
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- [00:00]
A
It is Tech SAGS Live. This SEC Media Days coverage is brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. Their Aggie owned independent fee only fiduciary serving families and business owners nationwide. Visit more at paragon-adv.com here on Tech SAGS Live. All right, so we are maneuvering. Still working on some big time guests. I know we have a big time interview scheduled for after the show that we will try to run tomorrow on the program. I'm just going to call it the P. F Chang's interview. You can do what you want with the pf. We're working on that. And we'll talk to an Ole miss insider, Neal McCready here shortly. So we got a lot of stuff going on, but right now it is University of Texas going to be talking on the podium. Steve Sarkeesian a little bit later. And guys, I know sometimes you guys get mad when we talk a little bit about Texas, but let's talk to a guy that I think covers them with a very even keel. His name is Anwar Richardson. Here's my conversation with Anwar. All right. Welcome back to SEC Media Days brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. Talking to a good friend of the program and of Texas and Rod Richardson of Orange Bloods. People don't know this, but we're like quite friendly. You're friends with me, you're friends with Billy. Like there's not a beef here.
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B
You know, the thing is, is that there's the Twitter stuff.
- [01:13]
A
Yeah.
- [01:14]
B
And then there's like real life. And first of all. Okay, don't, don't. Texas fans won't see this.
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A
Right.
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B
But I do like Billy a lot.
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A
In fact, no Texas fans will see this. Trust me. Every time I make a mistake, I know.
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B
No, no, no. You know, but there's, there's really no beef. You know, and then when you start thinking about the flagship programs in the state, you don't have to go any further than Texas. You don't have to go any further than Texas A and M. And it's great to see both of these programs really representing at a high level. You got A and M going to the playoffs last year. Right. And so that's great. You see A and M is recruiting at a high level team. Texas is doing their recruiting. Both teams are going after guys in a transfer portal. So really to represent the state, to see both programs, you know, it's always been one's good what isn't. And it's always been like that to see both kind of doing a damn thing and representing the state of Texas. That's been fun to watch. And no, you and I get along great. Bill and I get along great. Just our fan bases that have the bigger issues with each other more so than anything else.
- [02:13]
A
I'd love to get your perspective on this. I've talked about this on the show before. Okay. So like I work at Texas. I see things through an A and M perspective. I'm an A and M fan. Yeah. My, my listeners are all Aggies for the most part. Yes. We have other SEC schools, so I, I don't want to say I report things. I do a talk show geared to those fans. But when I worked at ABC in Houston, I could report differently. And there's a lot of people say you can't really report on the University of Texas or on Baylor, on Texas Tech if you're an Aggie fan. I'd like your perspective on. Yes. Depending on. And maybe I do it the wrong way. I'm just curious your perspective. You can cover a team through a certain outlet a certain way. It kind of depend. Depends on Journalism is journalism. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about journalism. I'm talking about the infotainment that we provide.
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B
Well, the thing is, okay, now this is like a philosophical journalism question, right? For me, I think journalism has evolved and I think that no tech, Sags, Orange Bloods, right? Those two being fan sites.
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C
Right.
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B
In the, in the biggest fan sites that are out there.
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D
Right.
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B
Um, you provide what the audience wants.
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E
Right.
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B
And I think when you start thinking about old school journalism and also the rule that we were all raised on, right. Think about where many of those publications are nowadays. Non existent. I used to work for the Tampa Tribune for many years ago. We're here in Tampa. I'll take you by my old newspaper. There are condos there right now. That newspaper does not exist. But it was all these old rules.
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D
People.
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B
I think people want to have objective coverage, but I think they also understand that they want a little bit of fandom in their coverage. Now they don't want you to lie to them. They don't want you to, you know when he's like peeing on my leg and tell me it's raining. They don't want that kind of stuff, but they don't necessarily want someone bashing their team, right? So they come to Tech Sags because, hey, you guys are going to give reporting. It's going to be fair reporting. But yeah, there's going to be a little positivity. Same way they're going to Come to Orange Bloods, right? It's going to be reporting, some fair reporting and there might be a little bit of positivity. Now those who see Jeff Ketchum may not see. They may think like, okay, who you talking about? But in just my boy too. Of course I don't necessarily. I think you got to do what the audience wants. You give them the things that they want and that's what makes it successful. I don't subscribe to those old school rules. I think those old school rules are outdated in today's world of journalism. And that's why you see when you start seeing all the other websites that have failed and you start seeing the publications that have gone under and you see the ones that are thriving in today's market, it's a reflection of that. It's basically understanding that this is what the people want and giving them a blend of everything. And again, that's why I think what makes Tech Sag so good, Orange Blood so good. A lot of other publications so good at what they do.
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A
I think both A and M and Texas last year, an interesting case study into this year because both had really good years, right? Texas didn't make the playoffs. They were expected to make the playoffs.
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D
They.
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A
They expect that 9 and 3. I don't think they looked very good for a big stretch of the season, but they won games. The last two holds a lot of weight and also arches trajectory. A and M goes 11 and 1. They lose in the playoffs, they lose to Texas. Those last two games hold a lot of weight. Who's the real Texas? Who's the real A and M?
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B
Well, it's interesting because if I go to what the real Texas is, I think we'll have a better idea after the season, right? Because Texas took a step back because they almost. They went away from the thing that had made them really successful in the previous couple of years and that was really attacking the transfer portal and going after some of the elite guys that you saw that and I. Mitchells of the world, like you can go down the list of like a lot of elite guys. And then last year they decided, you know what, we're not going to attack it as hard, right? So we're going to let the Ryan Wingos of the world develop and the Parker Livingston's of the world develop. And you know, we got Trey Wisner as a running back and he had a thousand yards the previous season so maybe he'll be able to do that. And then, you know, we don't necessarily need to do anything in the offensive line. Like we'll have these guys and we'll be okay. Even though you're missing certain guys who went to the NFL. And then what Texas quickly realized was that was, that was a mistake. Right. And so they, this year, as you know, they went back to okay, this is, look, we're going to recruit, we're going to develop, right. We're going to do those kind of things. But the transfer portal is there. And so you know what, why don't we go out and get the Cam Colemans of the world and just not overthink it. Right? So they went out and they got the Cam Coleman's. You know what, why don't we just go ahead and get the Hollywood Smothers and the Relik Brown and then we'll just have a solid backfield. We need help on the offensive line. Let's get the Melvin Siani, you know, that's in here. Let's get a Lawrence Seymour.
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A
All right, jumping back on. Barry Trammell has been covering Oklahoma for how long?
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F
My first game was 1979.
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A
1979. Wow.
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F
Iowa came to on field. I was 18 years old. Hayden Fry second game with the Hawkeyes. Bob Stoops was second game as a Hawkeye safety.
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A
Wow.
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F
And the Sooner, the season opener for the Sooners in 79. Yep. So how long that is? 47 years.
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A
So talk to me about Oklahoma. They seem to be a very trendy pick in the SEC that tier two teams that could jump into tier one. Why, what's your read on them?
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F
Well, I think it's the defense. Venables sort of performed a miracle by restoring the Oklahoma defense to, you know, probably the best defense in the SEC last year. And you know, no one could envision that as good as he is as a coordinator. You know, the defensive reputation at Oklahoma had fallen so low.
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A
Right.
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F
You know, in the teens, in the early 20s and so. And they, you know, they made the playoff last year and they've got good chunk of that defense back. So you know, the offense is not up standard. It's a little bit of the A and M story really probably so that the. It's easier to fix an offense quickly than defense, I think and I think most people. So if John Mateer plays better, if he's healthy, those kinds of things. Couple of the portal guys work out, you know, maybe the offense is better and they can contend.
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A
So what I, what I've read about Mater, it's similar to as you said a moment ago, it's like the Marcel story. He's got to get cut down on the turnovers. Before his injury, was he still turning the ball over a lot?
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F
Not. It wasn't too bad. He finished 14:11 touchdown to interception reaction ratio. Before the injury, they only had two games that mattered which were Michigan and Auburn and he pumped solid and well and didn't even fall from those goofy preseason Heisman odds. Yeah, but Sooners won one of those games 24:13 and the other one 23:17. It's not like they're, it's not like they're playing Baker Mayfield in Lubbock.
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A
Right.
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F
It was. That's not the kind of offense. So we don't really know if Mateer is the answer. He's clearly the quarterback this year, but is he a big time playmaker, a star? We don't know yet. He didn't show it last year too much when he was healthy and of course after the injury, not at all.
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A
Barry, Everybody in the SEC gets a tough schedule, but I find it interesting that Oklahoma's had three straight years of a tough schedule. Texas has a tough schedule this year. Their first two years. I think you could debate how hard their SEC schedule was. Vanderbilt was obviously a way better program than anybody expected, but that was their first really tough game on the road, which is weird to say out loud Vanderbilt that year. But what Oklahoma embrace this SEC landscape?
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F
Well, I mean I think the fans, the fans enjoyed it and thought it was cool, you know, that they're playing Alabama and Tennessee and LSU and you know, whoever's on the list. But I think they raise their eyebrows at Texas schedule and of course if people don't know, basically Oklahoma and Texas played each other at least 14 teams. Seven of them played Oklahoma, seven of them Texas. And the, and the groupings that you make. It seemed like it fell on Texas side. Personally, I think it was a backroom deal. I mean I don't, I don't have any evidence of that, but that's just
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A
what I think it's been over the years. We've, we've learned that wouldn't surprise anybody.
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E
Right?
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F
But I mean like one of them got to play Ole Miss and, and one of them got to play Mississippi State. Well, it's the Sooners. They got to play Ole Miss.
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A
Right.
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F
One of them got to play Florida and one of them got played. Who is for no Georgia and Auburn were the ones that I looked at and they gave. George. I'm sorry George. Alabama is the one you compare because they clearly going to split those guys. That's even who knows what happened with their then like Auburn and Florida. That was pretty even. Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Sooners Drew. Tennessee turned out. Vanderbilt was a tough draw for the, for the Horns. And the inequity didn't turn out. As you mentioned last year, it wasn't near as bad. But year one was pretty tough. I think that just goes with it that if you, when you sign up for the sec, that's what you sign up for. And when you, you know, walk into a party with Texas, you know, that's sort of what you get too. So I think it's. Scheduling equity is going to become less of an issue with nine games. Right. And oh, you and Texas are sort of along with Georgia, Florida, they're uniquely positioned because, you know, I think, I think Elko mentioned it the other day when he's here, but you know, we're playing five road games in the SEC, which is a monumental assignment. They're going to be 4, 4, 1 every year because of the game in Dallas. So I think the teams that end up with five road games are really. Don't. Don't look at necessarily the names so much as where are you playing? That five road game schedule is going to be a pretty tough assignment for
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A
somebody who's covered Oklahoma since 79. Was it a breath of fresh air to cover the SEC because it felt like the Big 12 got stale?
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F
Yeah, you know what? It was a breath of fresh air because it was so great and new and all that. But I didn't feel like the Big 12 had gotten stale. I didn't.
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A
Okay.
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F
I'm a guy that loved going to Ames, Iowa. I mean, the Cyclones under Matt Campbell were good and they. And the Jack Trice Stadium over the years, they've really turned it into a good place to go. And the fans are great. Manhattan's a wonderful atmosphere and it's as good as any atmosphere in America. It's just not as big as the SEC stadiums. So I had, I had not grown stale of the big 12. But the SEC and I'm sure the AGS went through this, you know, 12 years, 14 years ago, whenever 2012 was your first year, I guess. But just going to these new places. It's cool to go to lsu. Yeah, it's cool to go to Auburn even if you don't know it until you get there. It's cool to go to Ole Miss. So yeah, that was. Maybe that'll get old 15 years from now, but it's going to take a while for that to get old.
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A
I think one of the interesting things is when Texas and OU came to the sec, it was a slam dunk deal. It made all the sense in the world. But in, in this college football landscape, sometimes if you have the, the, the donor base that Oklahoma has or Texas Tech has, it makes sense to stay in the Big 12 today. Maybe not in five years, but today.
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F
No, that's a good point. Ye Sooners, with last year's team in the Big 12 would have done a lot of damage and would have entered, you know, probably with a very similar to what we saw at attack, which was a top four by now. There's no guarantee that they would have entered 2025 with that same roster.
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A
Right.
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F
You know, SEC's A&M knows this. It elevates your recruiting. There's people who want to play in the SEC now the, the NIL might change that and people making more decisions based on a paycheck. But yeah, you know, the Miami is showing us that model.
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B
Right.
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F
Miami's putting that, you know, they don't have a big fan base, but they got people with money to spend and they had the renaissance season. So that's the, that's what you're talking about there. And it's possible, but I think, you know, Oklahoma was looking at the long game and it was a financial decision just they want to be where the money's coming and the money's coming to the sec. You know, whatever level that's at, it's going to be much more than what the Big 12 gets. So. And the thing about, and you know, A and M I think same way A and M has done a great job since they got in the SEC of keeping the other sports humming Pretty good.
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A
Yeah.
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F
And OU and Texas have done that in two years. They've combined for eight NCAA championships. Team Texas five, Oklahoma three and Texas to beat OU five, three. Stole the two softball titles. B5 3 Oklahoma, you know, so both of them really everybody but in Missouri that's made the jump has been SEC ready. You know, the difference between an Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A and M and the SEC Giants. The only difference is really Nick Saban and maybe Kirby Smart. That's we're not the dynastic programs. Ou, Texas, Texas A and M have not done that. But in every other regard, including the non football sports, they were, they were ready when they walked in.
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A
How big of a year is this for Brent Venables considering what he did last year, does he need to stack a couple of those 10 win seasons together for just a perception?
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F
Yeah, probably. So he's on an ab, Ab or Baba rotation. And that's no way to live, you know, and they have gone all in on this season. You know, they've, they've spent some of next year's money on this year's money. I mean, on this year's roster, knowing that next year probably be a little bit of a step back. So if this, if this season doesn't go well, that does not portend well for the future. But there's no reason why it shouldn't go well. And they, they believe they can win. And so they, they've got a senior quarterback, they've got, you know, that defensive core that they were able to retain. Venables and the money have done a great job of retention. He hasn't lost really. He didn't lose any starters really in the portal. They lost some guys that played a lot and they wanted to keep, went elsewhere, but they've done a nice job of keeping people, so everything's tracking well. But they got those five heavyweight games and they need to win, you know, two or three of them at least.
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A
Yeah, Barry, that last one, that last stretch for Oklahoma and for Texas A and M as well, going on the road to Norman, it's gonna be very difficult for A and M. Do you think by that point we'll know how legit you better. It's the last couple weeks of the season. How legit either program is at that point?
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F
Oh, yeah. You know, the, the Sooners have, they've got a pretty strange schedule. They got three, they got three games away from Norman in the first five. And those three games are Michigan, Georgia and Texas. So that's a load. And then in November, back to back Saturdays, you've got, you're looking at, you're looking at Ole Miss and A and M. So in the middle, you know, it's a little softer. So if they can survive the first five weeks and come out three and two at least then, you know, they can get, they can get hot and be pretty high in the discussion. But a rough start would make for a really trepid dishes season because, you know, even if you build up some momentum, there's the Rebels, there's the Aggies waiting at the end and you know, you hadn't played A and M since the Johnny Manziel Cotton Bowl. That's right, isn't it? I think that's right.
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A
Yep.
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F
So. And they played Ole Miss twice. You know, I haven't beaten Ole Miss. You know, they're two and one against Alabama and two against Ole Miss. So Mississippi will have their attention. So, yeah, it's a little, it's a little bit of a strange schedule. They don't even have a one double A team. You know, they got utep, which, but the game three, New Mexico, you know, they scheduled that game to win 723 and now all of a sudden Mexico is actually halfway good. So you got to, you know, you sort of got to gear up for that one. So. But that's, that's what we want. It's what I want in college football. I love the SEC's nine game schedule. I love the fact that everybody's still playing a power conference team except, I guess, Ole Miss, what they get Washington State grandfathered in, I think. But. And it's not just that everybody's playing a power conference opponent. Almost everybody's playing a good one. I mean, like below Ohio State and Michigan, you still got Arizona State, you got, you know, Florida State, which is, you know, certainly interesting. You got Baylor playing Auburn, so you got, you got legitimate games. Louisville playing Ole Miss, that's who. Yeah, Ole Miss playing Louisville. Right? Yeah, I think that's right.
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A
Right.
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F
So, yeah, so they've done a nice job not just filling that gap of power four opponents, but it's quality. So we're looking at a 10 game schedule. The SEC last year played 20, 22% of the football games involving an SEC school. 22% were virtual exhibitions. And we've moved away from that and it's, it's a lot less now. And I think that's great for the sec. We'll see how it affects the playoff. But this is where we got to get to. We got to get to if we're going to pay players like this. If you're demanding a lot of money from your fans, from your donors, you can't be loading up with two or three rum dum games. So I think the SEC is going in the right direction.
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A
Barry, this was fantastic. Thanks for your time. You bet.
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F
Good luck to the eggs.
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A
Thank you very much. Barry Trammell from the Tulsa World. We'll hit a break here. Come back. I think the chase Daniel Chit chat and then we'll see. We got somebody at 10:35. Oh, we'll talk a little. Ole Miss. There's something special about the Aggie network. It's built on trust. We'll see relationships and people looking out for one another. That's exactly how Aggie owned and operated. Paragon Financial Advisors approaches financial planning from their headquarters in College Station. They serve several families, individuals and business owners nationwide with independent fee only fiduciary advice. So if you are preparing for retirement, growing your investments, building your business, or planning for the eventual sale of that business, Paragon works alongside you every stage of the journey. No commissions, no sales products, just personalized financial planning and investment management designed around your goals. Learn more or schedule your complimentary consultation@paragon-adv.com Paragon Financial Advisors Agyon Independent Serving clients nationwide.
- [21:52]
G
The Houston Astros. The Houston Astros play in the play on the zone. Thanks to Kelly Bird Dozer.
- [21:57]
A
Welcome back to our SEC Media days coverage presented by Paragon Financial Advisors. You guys on the YouTube channel. My goodness. I leave the ghetto for a few minutes and they go like. It's like scorched earth on the Nice old man.
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E
Yeah, that was pretty brutal.
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A
Holy smokes, guys, just let people have their opinions.
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G
It's okay.
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A
Yeah, unless they piss me off, then I want to fight. But other than that, like, let people have their opinions. If he can, like the Big 12. You know what I saw in him? I saw a little olin in him. Oh, yeah, that guy's old as. You want to fight him?
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C
Yeah.
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A
I mean, good head of hair, good suit. He was very nice.
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F
Very nice.
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A
Yeah, whatever. People can get mad. That's what they do. Well, they get mad at Chase Daniel. No, he was good. He was good. He was good. This happened all the way back on Monday. I don't even know. We've been so loaded that. Loaded to the gills. All right, so here's my interview where you won't have to use the dump button with Chase Daniel on Texas Life. All right, our next guest is one of the new faces of the SEC Network, but no stranger to SEC fans at this time at Missouri, Chase Daniel joining us to chat a little college football. What's up, man?
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D
How you doing, man? Thanks for having me on.
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A
Thank you for coming.
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D
Nice little booth set up here. You. You definitely have the most interactive with the lights and the cameras and this. I mean, I love it.
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A
We're trying to match the SEC network. We're trying, man.
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D
I love it.
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A
So how's the role? How do you like in it? And just tell me about the transition.
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D
Yeah, it's great. It's been great. I got worked for ESPN last year for the first year and called some college football games and was able to. To get my feet wet. And then this opportunity came up. I jumped at it.
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A
Right.
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D
Sec, best conference in the. In the world, in the nation. And so since I retired in 2022, I'd been mostly just NFL.
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A
Yeah.
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D
And so covering NFL is completely different than covering, you know, one conference. I missed the pageantry, I missed the passion. So to get down here and just to see, I mean, media day, right? It's the first day of media day and you guys are crazy. Like, we did our first live show for SEC nation and there's crazies from every single school out there in lightning and thunder and rain and they're yelling like crazy. So it just, it. It definitely. I know they say it means more, but it's. They're ready for some football down here.
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A
So this is going to run on Tuesday, but on Monday, Missouri was top of mind.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Talk to me about the state of the program because I feel like they are always slept on. They always somewhat overachieve, but I don't this year. There's a lot more question marks than the last couple years.
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D
Well, I mean, it starts with quarterback, right? How does Austin Simmons come over from Ole Miss? How does he handle the program? How does he handle the offense? Obviously Ahmad Hardy, a lot of question of that. Is he going to be healthy, is he not? I think he'll be fine. Best running back in the country in my opinion, along with Keon Lacy. You got two in this conference. And I would, I would say. I don't know if I'd say overachieved. I would say like it's something that really no one thought they could win 10 games. Right. A couple of years ago, right. You finished. You beat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. I was there like. And then obviously a little bit of a down year last year. The quarterback play for us since Brady Cook has left, hasn't been up to par to coach drinks standards. And so it'll be interesting to see can that happen. How does our defense handle losing a lot of people, but they are a very intriguing team for sure.
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A
State of the SEC when it comes to quarterbacks. Few guys coming back, but a lot of new guys as well. How do you look at the conference overall in a quarterback perspective?
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D
I. I think it's. I think it's really high. Like, you look at Archbanning, you look at Trinidad Shameless, you look at Lenore Sellers, who two years ago had a heck of a year. Marcel Reed, I mean, there's probably forgetting some people that could have surprise years as well. I think the quarterback plays really good. And I think to me, like, you look at a guy like Trinidad Shameless, what he was able to do in the college football playoff run of last year really won me over because, you know, I'm from an nfli.
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A
Right.
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D
I thought he should have came out because your stock's really high. Ended up getting that injunction or whatever. It was coming back for another year. So it's gonna be great. And then you look at Arch too. Like, Arch has been through the ringer a little bit. He's. He's calloused, as they would say. And really down the stretch, you look at the A and M game and you look at the Michigan game for Texas games they had to win. And I just thought he played really well down the stretch. Obviously the start of the season, last six games, I think he was 19. Total touchdowns, two interceptions. So there's a lot of really good quarterback play in this country. All right.
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A
When it comes to A and M, I feel like Marcel Reed, yes, we want to see him take a big step forward, but if he can raise the floor. Talk to me a little bit about those mistakes down the stretch and trying to correct those.
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D
Yeah, I mean, look, I covered an A and M game last year called a. Called an A and M game last year. Forgot who it was against, but it was like a Week 9 throwaway game. And got to sit down with Mike Elko and talked and talked and talked. And just the culture, right? Everyone talks about just the culture he's brought down. It's unbelievable. And then got to talk with Marcel Reed and Colin Klein, who was the OC now obviously at K State.
- [26:57]
A
All right, for more of that interview with Chase daniel, go to texacts.com is it already up on there? Do we already post it? No, it'll be posted here this afternoon in a little bit. Right. Right now though. By the way, when we come back, Neil McCready covers Ole Miss. We'll chit chat with him. The Brazos running company in Mason Hay. A family of legacy in Century Square. Brass running company, Local Aggie owned specialty running store. They're right below the Star Cinema Grill. They're owned by Mike and his family. They're fantastic. Find the right shoe for you. Brooks on hoka. They got it all. Viori clothing, one of the hottest athletic wears out there. Duck camp outdoor apparel, and of course, turtle box speakers. And the Aggie spirit runs deep in that family. So Mike Nugent's got a couple daughters who have started this. This company called Mason Hay. And they're awesome. They are own company featuring officially licensed A and M merchandise. And I'm talking about Aggie pajamas. And they have all the inspirations from A and M that you would love to see. So from. From running shoes To Aggie pajamas. This Aggie family's got you covered. Visit Brad's running company in century square. Shop masonheysonhay.com Activate Spencer Aggie Football Saturdays,
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G
starting with the game day show. To the game to the call in show and only on the zone 11:50am and 93.7 FM.
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A
The last day here at SEC Media Days, brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. I'm David Nuno here on Tech Sags Live. Neil McCready from Rebels247, good friend of the show and a good friend of mine. What's up, Neil?
- [28:20]
H
David, always good to be with you. I'm now interested in the Angry Elephant. I've never been there.
- [28:24]
A
It's a good place, man.
- [28:25]
H
Just heard about the Angry Elephant and suddenly it's on my list of places I want to go check out. That's a cool name.
- [28:29]
A
Yeah, it's. How would you describe it, Nick? It's, it's, it's a political themed bar. So there's like, you know, the Angry
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H
Elephant, like the GOP elephant, but they
- [28:41]
A
do have a picture of Obama. They go to both meetings. Yeah, they go to. They go to both.
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H
Anyway, interesting.
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A
Neil McCready with us. Neil, let's. Today's an interesting day because it's not your day, but it is your day.
- [28:55]
G
Right.
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A
Because the attention's there for what Lane Kiffin has to say, even though he apparently spoke for 20 minutes, didn't say anything, and then didn't take many questions. Right.
- [29:04]
H
Yeah. So when the schedule came out with Ole Miss on Wednesday and LSU on Thursday, I said, well, I might as well just stick around for an extra day just to see what, what lane would say. T.J. daughtery's here, former Ole Miss linebacker. I talked to T.J. a little bit ago. I'm still working on that story. But yeah, you know, I think it's still a really big story in Ole Miss circles. His departure, the way he tried to sort of burn it down on the way out, the comments that he made in May in Vanity Fair and just kind of on and on, you know, But I will, I'm sure we're going to talk about it. I also think that at some point, I'll give Lane credit that I thought today he was very much prepared, stayed on script, didn't deviate, didn't give a bunch of things that will quotes that will lead to inflammatory doing it for both sides. The truth is, Lane and Ole Miss, both sides at some point need to move on.
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D
Yeah.
- [30:06]
H
And, and you know, there's a game in a couple months in Oxford. And when that game's over, David, both teams have very difficult games the next week. LSU has Texas A and M coming to town. Ole Miss has to go to Florida. You know, A and M is coming off of a playoff appearance. I know there's some offensive line questions, but other than that, all the boxes are checked to be a really good team in College Station. And look, I've known John Sumrall a long time. He's going to have Florida ready to play. Sure, you know, they have some question marks, but they'll probably be three, you know, that day. It's free shot. He'll have, he'll have those guys ready to play. And so for both LSU and Ole Miss, if they, if, if they're still playing each other a week later, it's not going to go well.
- [30:51]
A
Speaking from experience, because of what A and M went through with Jim Schlossnagel in Texas, until you get him at home, the fans can't move on. And I think now that A and M got that series a year later than it should have been, I think everybody's been able to move on. So the fact that Ole Miss gets some of this first year, I think it's great. I got a question about what Lane Kiffin could have been at Ole Miss had Austin Simmons not gotten hurt last year. Because it feels like he. Did he pick the wrong quarterback initially because, I mean, what we saw Trinidad Chambliss do and what does that say about him this year at lsu? Maybe with Sam. Love it.
- [31:24]
H
Oh, that's a great point. Yeah. It's very odd that the best thing that happened to your football team last season for Ole Miss was that their starting quarterback got hurt because they were going to stick with Austin Simmons. They were paying him as a starter. He was going to be the guy I think they were prepared for. They being Lane and Charlie Weiss and those guys, they were prepared for him to make some first year mistakes. But Austin's got a world of talent. And when he got hurt, you know, it's ironic. The one guy in the building that I think was throughout the process saying, hey, we need to be looking at this Chambers guy was Pete Golding. He was the defensive coordinator because you know how it is in August. Ones go against two, twos against ones. So, you know, Austin's, I mean, Trinidad Shambles is sort of tearing up the Ole Miss defense. And I think Pete Golding was like, hey, I hope this cat's really good. Otherwise we're in trouble, you know, and it was the best thing that happened to him. Did they go with the wrong guy? I mean, you could say that. I think in today's college football, where money matters, it's much like the NFL, you're gonna. The guy that's getting paid is the guy that's gonna play. I don't know that that would be a fair. Completely fair criticism. But certainly Trinidad Chambers was the key to their season. He was amazing last season, and had Austin not gotten hurt at Kentucky, I don't know that he would have played.
- [32:50]
A
There's not a right way to leave Ole Miss last year. There isn't right. But what would have been a better to me, you don't leave. You got a chance to win a national champion, you don't leave. That's just me.
- [33:01]
B
Yeah.
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A
You're getting everything you want. I understand. That's the job that you. But is there a. Would there have been a play that would have been. You know what? I hate that he left, but I get it.
- [33:12]
H
It's one of those things, right, where everybody has a point. And when Lane says the calendar's messed up, he's not wrong. You know, if you're coaching the Houston Texans and you know that there's an opportunity to go coach the Los Angeles Rams, and that's the job you want, you can still finish your season with the Texans, they make the playoffs, advance in the playoffs, whatever, and then you can go. College football doesn't have that. Obviously, there was a lot of talk about where Lane was going to go. I mean, I guess. I guess the quote right thing would have been, this is my team, we're in the playoffs, I'm not leaving. But here's comes the human element. What if. And I believe this to be the case, Lane Kiffin thought, okay, but when this runs over, whether it ends in the first round or it ends in the national championship game, when it's over, what if I want this other job so much and. And can't really live with the idea of waking up going, okay, there's the job that I wanted. Somebody else has it. And three, four years down the line, it's tougher where I am. And I look at the guy who ended up getting that job and he's winning. And that's a lot to live with, too, you know? And so it was a very complex, human thing that. Do I think he handled it right? No, I don't. Do. I understand how it sort of went the way it did? I do. And then you throw in the toxicity, and that's probably putting it mildly. Of social media.
- [34:50]
A
Yep.
- [34:51]
H
And it just turned into a really ugly scene. Some of that's his fault. A lot of that's his fault, but probably not all of it's his fault. Look, college football has some stuff to fix. And so when he stands up at the podium and says that the system is.
- [35:05]
E
Is.
- [35:05]
H
Is bad, he's not wrong. Yeah, he's not wrong at all. In fact, most coaches would agree with you. You know, here's a scenario. Full Miss had gone nine and three last season. They beat Mississippi State in the Egg bowl on the day after Thanksgiving. And then the season ends and he leaves to go to lsu. There's still vitriol, but it's nothing like this.
- [35:26]
A
Well, to me, it looks like you're turning your back on your players. That's what it looks like to me. But I also understand you don't.
- [35:32]
H
Yeah, it's. It's hard.
- [35:33]
G
Right.
- [35:33]
H
I mean, I agree with John Sumrall, where, you know, he was at Tulane, and he said, hey, had Florida said to him, hey, you got to come now. You can't coach the playoffs. He just said, I'm out. No way. I'm coaching my team. I agree with Caitlin DeBoer, who, you know, probably had an opportunity to go to Michigan, which is probably a better fit for Caleb, if we're being honest. And he said, I'm not leaving a playoff team. I'm here. Even though I'm not convinced that he thinks Alabama is the greatest fit in the world for him. So. But I also understand the human side of here's this opportunity that I view to be. And it doesn't matter what you think or I think or anybody else here thinks, he viewed that as a better opportunity for him. And so it's his life. He's 51 years old. How many other opportunities are you going to get to take a job that you view to be a dream job? I. I get it. There's just a lot there.
- [36:23]
A
Yeah. And it sounds so similar to what I think A and M baseball went through, but let's talk actual football. I like Pete Golden. I didn't know I was going to like him, but I like him. He's. He's funny, he's smart. I don't know what kind of head coach he's going to be when it's all his. His run. What have you learned about him?
- [36:41]
H
Look, he is a. He is a very smart football coach. I mean, you ever get him going on football where, you know, he's the word rights, like every Four words, and he's all charged up. And you listen to what he said. It's. It's very clear that he knows the game, especially on the defensive side. He's been very, very good at delegating. He's been. He did a great job of holding his team together in the wake of Kiffin's departure, of assembling a staff. In the wake of Kiffin's departure, he wasn't afraid to hire people who had had coaching experience. Instead, he sought that out. Just a sign that he's very confident in himself. Kids love him. You know, look, they. They beat Tulane. They beat Georgia. There was a lot of distractions going on that week between Georgia and Miami, and they almost beat Miami. He's. He's really good. You know, I mean, I think people got to see him yesterday at media days, especially after the first few minutes, where he sort of threw the script away and he was himself. Yeah, he's. He's a really likable guy. He's a. He's a guy that players like playing for. Players view him as genuine. You know, he's. Was with Saban for a while, took some things from Saban, was with Kiffin for a while, took some things from Kiffin. And yet, at the same time, I think he's his own guy. You know, I mean, in an ideal world in this league, David, you know, you have somebody who's gotten to coach at a little lesser. You know, Mike Elko is better prepared for A and M, having been at Duke. Right. For sure. Period. But he's been on the big stage for a while with. With. With At Alabama and then the last few years at Ole Miss. They've been on the big stage, and so I think he's prepared for it.
- [38:33]
A
Last thing for you, what are realistic expectations for them considering Heisman candidate at quarterback? I think the best quarterback in the sec. A running back that can run through walls. You've got a defense that should be excellent. What is realistic, considering it is still a year of transition?
- [38:51]
H
I mean. Okay, so it's. What is realistic? Anything from playing for the national championship to going eight and four.
- [39:00]
A
Yeah, that's all these tier two teams, right?
- [39:03]
H
Well, you know, I don't know whether you agree with this. I know we probably have to go. There's. There's seven teams in the league that I think are true playoff contenders. Ole Miss is one of them. A and M is one of them. I think if. If Tennessee gets quarterback play, they might make an eighth team that has a realistic path to the cfp. And then you look at the rest of the league. There's only one team that I think we're all going. They're bad.
- [39:28]
A
Arkansas.
- [39:28]
H
Yeah. And then there's a couple that probably aren't much better. Mississippi State, maybe Kentucky. But look, Florida's going to be better. Auburn's going to be better. Missouri's still solid.
- [39:36]
A
Yeah.
- [39:37]
H
You know, and you play in a league where you. I mean, look, Arkansas was bad last year and they gave A and M all A and M. Right. I mean, Texas, Mississippi State was bad last year and they had Texas on
- [39:47]
A
the ropes, as did Kentucky.
- [39:49]
H
Yeah. So this, I don't know what's going to happen in this league when everybody beats each other up, but Ole Miss has a roster that could reach the national championship game and they have a schedule that could put them at 7 and 5. And I think that applies to damn near everyone in the league this year. I don't know that there's any team even including the two that we're all picking. Georgia, Texas. I don't think those two teams are immune from having a four loss season. I really don't.
- [40:14]
A
I don't either. I just, I've been told those two teams won't, but I, I just look at the schedules and I look at how close these teams are and I don't. And I think that's going to hurt the sec, not just playoff time, but I don't. There's not an elite team.
- [40:27]
H
Well, we talked about September 26th a minute ago and then Ole Miss has a stretch where they play at Texas, Auburn, Georgia at home at Oklahoma in four weeks.
- [40:37]
A
Right.
- [40:38]
H
Well, what are the odds you're going to go four zero. They're not good.
- [40:42]
A
They're not good.
- [40:42]
H
You know, and that's for everybody. I'm sure A and M. I haven't studied A and M schedule, but I'm sure there's a stretch of games in there where you look at that and go, you're probably not running that table.
- [40:50]
A
November again. Yeah.
- [40:52]
H
So, you know, how does all that play out? It's. Listen, I think it's great for the fans. You get lots of games, lots of drama. I understand why the coaches are a little furious about the ninth game knowing, you know, that they didn't get any promises from the cfp.
- [41:06]
A
Yeah.
- [41:06]
H
And that they had an unsatisfactory meeting in Destin. I get it, Neil.
- [41:11]
A
You're one of my favorites. And I don't just say that. Seriously.
- [41:13]
H
David, thank you.
- [41:13]
A
Love having you on the show with you all Right. We'll hit a break, we'll come back with a short final segment is Tech Sags Live.
- [41:19]
G
Make sure to get the podcast of Texags Live, the Louis Bellina show or Chip Howard Sports Talk daily at zone1150.com and everywhere. You get your podcast final segment of
- [41:30]
A
the program right here at SEC Media Days. Thank you to our good friends at Paragon Financial Advisor. Shout out to our QB1, Stephen McGee. Joining me on the set, Richard Zane, Callie Gardner. You people, I was gonna say gentlemen, ladies. You people have done an amazing job this week and I don't think people get to know all the stuff that you're doing. But Callie, why don't you start us off social media, booking guests, shooting stand ups, helping me shoot my stand up. You've done so much. Kate Egli as well, by the way. She's just working somewhere else. She'd be. Yeah.
- [42:04]
E
About what?
- [42:05]
A
Well, just talk.
- [42:06]
E
I mean, what you've done this.
- [42:07]
A
I feel like I gave your resume, I just gave your LinkedIn. Any photo you see on the site is probably from me and any content on Instagram is from me. Twitter is more so a combination of the help back home and everybody. But yeah, yeah, you've done great, Richard. You've been doing your normal duties, but also going to all the stations you can imagine, listening to all the sound bites, writing about it, doing it. You had questions for tomorrow. I don't think I'm phrasing that title correctly.
- [42:36]
E
Tomorrow's questions Today, I think 12 people red.
- [42:40]
A
No. All four days, 36,000.
- [42:43]
E
No. And then I was also sharing my Tampa's takeaways. Just the fun stuff that's not football related because Olin and David and Billy have you covered there. And I feel as though I've been significantly less busy than you and Nick and this lady to my left. And K, just because I've watched you guys hustle and I've been a part of the hustle too. I know that. But just the way you guys have gone about your business this week has been impressive to even be on the periphery of. And I don't think people back home. I'm not talking about the audience here. Realize just how much of an undertaking covering these four days are. Nobody, nobody outside of the SEC network covers this event as extensively or as comprehensively as Texas does. And when the event eventually wraps up and we're waiting on our plane to. That's going to get delayed a thousand hours because of whatever tropical depression's in there, I'm going to run down the numbers and just see how many hours of content we've put together and put out because it's going to be astronomical.
- [43:47]
A
I'll drop it there. Great job. And great job by Kate Eagley. And how about Nick Savage?
- [43:52]
E
Yes.
- [43:53]
A
Killing it, Right? Killing it. Except choosing places to eat. All right, that's going to do it for Texas Live, the crew back home. Yeah, thank you, Kandinsky and the whole crew. You guys, you guys did very good job. I've gotten a full report every day of all the good and bad, but mostly good. All right, that'll do it for the show. We'll see you Mana.
- [44:09]
C
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