← Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
TexAgs Live - Billy Liucci : 07.30.26
00:43:42
Billy Liucci joins in on the final hour, talking A&M linebacker Noah Mikhail on TexAgs' 25 in 25, what makes a big game for A&M, and the physical transformations he's seen in Aggie players!
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- [00:00]
A
The song is pretty good. Pretty, pretty good. Sex Acts Live. We are presented by David Gardner's jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio, our number three of the program. And I'm currently hanging out by my darn self at the Holistic Planning Cool Zone. Reach out to the good folks at Holistic Planning if you are serious about making some money and all the goodness that comes with a great financial consultant. We're going to check in as we figure out the Billy situation with Carson Stein at the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. Something cracking for us.
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B
I do. I got what we're going to have for Tex Ags today.
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A
Okay, what do we got?
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B
First of all, I would say check out all the content we released yesterday during the celebrity softball game, such as sights and sounds, photos, press conference from Mike O'Reilly and Kyoti Armstrong. That's all just from yesterday. So if you haven't seen that, go check it out. Today though, we have Texas Aggies United interviews with Marcel Reed, David Alano and Tommy Colligan. Also Jason Howell around Texas Recruiting, sponsored by Rio Agave. And I don't know about you, David, but I'm a big recruiting guy, so I feel like I'd be. If you want to get into more recruiting around the state, go check that out.
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A
Yeah, we did a great recruiting country with Jason Howell yesterday on Tech SAGS Live. It was good. It was good conversation. All right, give me something to chew on.
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B
Carson, I don't know if you've seen this. What? Some of the news that broke out yesterday about Arian Carter getting suspended for two games.
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A
I saw that. Yeah.
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B
Taking a $427 flight with an agency. Get suspended for two games against Furman and Georgia Tech. I feel like in the world of college football today, I feel like that's just blasphemous.
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A
Blasphemous. Anywho, now we are joined by Billy Lucci. Billy, I don't think you've ever done the holistic planning Cool zone, so welcome to the Cool zone. This is where we kind of relax and chit chat about sports. We can stay here for as long or as little as you want, buddy. But I wanted to make sure we got a little.
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C
Little chat in probably a little. I feel weird looking. The whole thing's weird.
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A
How are you?
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C
I'm good. How are you?
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A
Good. What's going on with you?
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C
It is kind of cooler over here.
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A
It is, actually, yeah. Can you feel it?
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C
Yeah. We're a little closer to the vent, I guess. I'm good. What's. What's going on?
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A
Well, I couple things to get into this hour with you. What did you just throw?
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C
Okay.
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A
Napkin. That's disgusting. All right.
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C
It is a used.
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A
Oh, somebody else. Yours or somebody?
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C
No, it's. I blew my nose in it.
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A
Oh, great. Carson, you're gonna get.
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C
Don't pick it up, Carson. I'll get it. Just wanted it out of the shot.
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A
Six days away from the start of fall camp. We've learned that yesterday.
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C
Yeah, it's basically here.
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A
Yeah.
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C
Do we have the full schedule yet? Did we get an email with it?
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A
No, I just said that was based
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C
on what I'm interested to see the schedule and the practice times and things like that. You know, I'm always interested in that. Just that balancing act of August heat in Texas and in the south and what coaches do, what different coaches do each, you know, and Elko, this is going into year three, but a lot of times you see them change it up, like in terms of what times they practice, how much of it's on the indoor versus out. You know, it's. It's always a balancing act because the last thing you want is to have, you know, a slow looking football team in September. You can't figure out why. And it's like, did you, you know, did you do. Were you not careful enough in this? Because here come the hundreds, right? I mean, you look at the forecast in the next, what, week, 10 days and it's generally, I think unless it's changed in the last two days, been, you're approaching getting right around 100 every day. So I'll be interested to see the schedule in terms of the times and when they go indoor, outdoor. But otherwise I'm fired up, man. Just seeing, seeing the players, talking to certain sources, players that come through has been. I think it's been the best off season under Elko. And it makes sense because you had year one off season, which is not in theory going to be your worst. And then you had last year's off season, which produced a playoff berth. And I think it makes sense that coming off of a playoff berth, entering the off season with a bad taste in your mouth with how it finished and being extra motivated, it makes sense that you would have this type of off season, especially with a veteran quarterback. And Marcel has been what you want to see from a veteran QB in the off season. But I saw the thing with the weights that we put out today when they were comparing the roster today to the roster in the spring. Some pretty impressive numbers. Yeah, I've seen some of those Players and yeah, like as a group, I'm going to tell you, when you go out there next week, everyone's going to be talking about what this D line looks like physically. D.J. hicks is. I mean, he's transformed his, his body in the off season, but kind of kept a similar size. You've got T.J. searcy came in here the other day. What was he, 6, 5, 2, 60? He looks great. Anto Saka is a specimen. Marco Jones is a specimen. Everybody saw him yesterday hitting home runs over at Davis Diamond. Mario Craver, Davis Swain, I think gained 17 pounds on the D line. Yeah, but he's a wide receiver. I'm just kind of talking about the D line. Sure. I'm just trying to say I think the D line is going to be the group that catches everyone's okay eye when you go, damn. As a unit, this, this, that group of players looks really, really good. The O lineman, what I've noticed is you don't see a lot of big bellies. You look at some of the guys that might start like Tyree Adams and form B, and you know, Lamont's a big guy all over, but he's a, he's a monster out there. You got Jaden. I keep saying Jaden Baugh, he's a nice running back, but he's not old lineman like Trabon Ball is. And he's been a guy that I think really had a great off season. You just look across the board. Naboo, I think what it say on there, he lost like 17 pounds, something like that one who gained some of the most on there that I saw was KK Johnson.
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A
Nabu lost 23 pounds.
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C
23, yeah. And KK Johnson gained like what, 30 something. I've seen these dudes like the tight end position. K.K. johnson, the true freshman is going to really open eyes in camp when people see him now. He's got to, you know, he's got to become acclimated, learn the position. You got Kiati, Armstrong, Houston Thomas. And a guy who's. Whose body maybe has changed as much as anybody since he's gotten here might be Richie Anderson, who to me looks like so much slimmer and more athletic than he did when he got here when, you know, he just, he didn't look like much. He was a big dude, but he didn't look like much. Coming from Fresno, he might have benefited the most from Tommy Moffat in terms of what he looks like. So. And you mentioned Craver. That's a wild amount of weight for him to gain and keep the speed too. I've watched him. He has kept the speed, you know, so that's, that's the key. I mean, because that's how he wins. That's how he becomes, you know, an all SEC player, a game changer and probably a, you know, his draft status will be really interesting because he's so small, but he's so damn good. I forget who someone compared him to. I know who it was. I had an NFL scout compare him to Tank Dell of the Houston Texans. So that was pretty, it's a great comparison. Pretty lofty. Pretty lofty praise right there to compare him to Tankdale. But again, he's a guy that he. His production is going to scream first round and then they're going to say, well, man, is he. Is he too small? Is he not? It'll be interesting when you start. I think he's going to have a monster season. And that receiver position, Nuno talking to somebody the other day and we're like, is there a position in this program that the look of that room has changed more? And I'm not sure in two years time I've ever seen a room change quite that much. Maybe the A and M O line room shortly after Sherman got there, that that one would. Would be up there because he very quickly added Matthews, Joko Abwayhill, and then even a couple guys that didn't pan out as much. But before them he added Patrick Lewis. After that he added Jermaine Affetti, Jarvis, Harrison. So that was. That would be an example, I can remember. But damn, you look at the receivers, A, when Elko got here, B, even go look on that, on that Orange bowl championship team. Look at the group when Jimbo got here. And by look at them, I don't mean they weren't good players. But how many of them went to the NFL? How many of them were all conference? And now you just look at that group and you don't even have Casey Concepcion anymore. But you look at Craver, Bethel, Roman, Isaiah Horton looks, he looks like a. An all SEC linebacker playing receiver and can run and knows how to use his frame to, you know, keep defenders off of him and catch the football. Like, who Did I not mention Terry Bussey, by the way? You know, people, Bussey's, you know, he was out the second half of spring. Sometimes I don't know if people quite pay attention when they'd rather worry about Bussy. Like, oh, he got hurt. He was. People made it like he was carted off. People made it like they made it sound like Terry Bussey and Ashton Bethel Roman were like cooked Bethel Roman. It was back not too long after that. And then Bussey Bethel Roman was back in the spring game. Bussy is back full go. He looks terrific again. Had probably as good a start to fall camp as anybody on the offense before he got dinged up. So that doesn't even mention Aaron Gregory. How much did Aaron Gregory gain? He put on quite a bit of weight too.
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A
So did we find that.
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C
So did Brandon Arrington. So two. They're two highest rated guys. The only knock on them would be inexperienced and that they were both a little skinny and they both added, I think at least 10, 12, 14 pounds. Both of them. Don't worry about it. If you. Oh. So anyway, that. That group of receivers.
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A
14 pass for Aaron Gregory.
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C
And by the way, another guy's going to catch everybody's eye in campus. T.K.
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A
norman, four pounds.
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C
Those dudes. Those dudes are like the guys that people don't even talk about yet that are down. You know, Jaden Warren is a specimen at, you know, six one plus two. I don't know what he's listed at. He might be close to 200 pounds. And this guy that ran a 102 last year and then I mentioned TK, like these dudes a few years ago would have been like, that's all anyone would have been talking about. And now it's like, yeah, they're. They're going to have their shot, but they got to beat out some guys. In the case of like a true freshman like Warren. Bide your time for a minute. Get your reps, you know, your game reps when you can. But that position, I don't know if they'll be the best in the sec. They could be though, and they'll be one of the best. So it, it's crazy how quickly they turn that thing. They're not Ohio State level yet, but it's. And I don't even know Ohio State this year, but it's Ohio State typically. And then it's like to me, in the SEC is A and M Texas. What's Bama putting out there this year? Receiver. That. That group will be interesting, but they're going to be right there in the conversation for best in the conference. No, no question about LSU will probably be in the discussion. Lane added some guys and brought back a couple, so. And by the way, none other than son of truth Hulk Goodwin, who is going to be a quarterback to keep a real close eye on this year at A and M Consolidated. And had he not gotten hurt last year, I think he'd have been on everyone's radar. He got hurt and missed their last couple games in playoff run, but in six or seven games, put up some big numbers. I keep joking with him because he's like 6, 1, 2, 10 and runs 4, 5 and vertical jumps 38 inches. I'm like, you sure you don't want to go start hitting people? It's like a prototypical, like five star linebacker, but he, he can sling it. So he's been traveling around with one of the top seven on seven teams. And they called me the other day. Him and Hunter and Holt couldn't stop raving about McFarlane. Oh, yeah, you know, said, oh, he's the best receiver any of me and any other teammates have seen. He's like, better than anybody in the country. So you've got that coming in as well. So just think about what they're doing at receiver and it's pretty damn exciting.
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A
I wanted to bring something up. Seemed like you and Amanda were going back and forth on Marcel and, you know, she'll. She brings stats typically that, you know, to. To amplify her answer.
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C
I'm just biding my time on that whole thing. Well, but play, hey, I'm playing a long game because I think I'm gonna be right.
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A
Well, what she said, and this is from one of the tweets that we had out, he throws two interceptions at the end of the game. That's what he did at the end of the season. That's why people have questions. And she was his argument for where he is. And she was talking also about, like, how he played in the big games. And I think he also played really well in the big games.
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C
I think that's a fair statement to say because we know it's true. That is why they're asking questions. Right? That is why my point is like, so she was right about that. Like, hey, at the end of Texas, he threw two picks. At the end of Miami, he threw a pick. They lost both those games. They were 11. And oh, that is why people are asking that. My point was to say they're forgetting things in asking, like, I understand that that's the last thing you saw and that's what you're asking, but I think that's wrong. That was what I was saying. So, like, her point is dead on accurate. And Marcel would sit here and say the same thing like, hey, that's can't be doing that. But I would contend a Notre Dame was a Monster game. It was as big as they come, where she was. Where she was off. And I didn't say it in the moment because she gets going. You know, it's hard to, like, counter, but it's like she said, A and M wouldn't have been in the. Or they. The Notre Dame game didn't really matter. They were in the playoffs anyway. They wouldn't have been. Actually, if you think. Go back to it, they had. They lost to Notre dame, they've been 10 and two. They'd be 10 and two. And by the way, Notre Dame would be 11 and one and beat you. So they take that spot and then you're 10 and 2 squared up against the Miami team that beat Notre Dame, the team you lost to. Maybe you'd be squared up against ou. I actually put some thought into this because I was like, oh, maybe ou. No, if OU won at Bama, at Tennessee, they'd get that. You take away that Notre Dame game. What do you say? Well, we beat lsu. Well, so did. Oh, you. Okay. You say, well, our loss was to Notre Dame and Texas. Oh, you say, well, our losses were to Texas and. And Ole Miss. And then also, by the way, we played Michigan. They wouldn't have got in had they lost. But that doesn't matter to me. What matters is, like in the moment, what is a big game? What do we define as a big game? And I'll give her this, she'll say, your definition of a big game for A and M is different than your definition of a big game for Texas. Maybe. So we do that. Sure.
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A
But.
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C
Absolutely. But we're talking about A and M. A big game for Marcel Reed that shows me that he can perform in a big game. Was his first ever career start, Florida at the Swamp in Florida. And the way he played that day. And I would say, what did Arch Manning do in his first game in the Swamp? You know, against the same Billy Napier coach team in the Swamp. First start, coming off the bench, down 10 in front of 100,000 at home against LSU and playing essentially a perfect second half on the road at Notre Dame, having to lead. We talk all the time about the fourth down throw, but he also led them. Speaking of Craver, that crossing route to Craver, about 35 yards. He led a length of the field, touchdown drive in front and touchdown. Jesus. To beat a top 10 Notre Dame team on the road, obviously a big game. And then I would contend, and you can't convince me otherwise. And this is where we got heated was LSU was a big game. People forget they were ranked. They were. It was a big game for Nuss Meyer and for Kelly and the program, and they were. They were. Basically. A lot of people thought A and M's perfect season was going to end at night in Death Valley, where dreams go to die. And they. He put up. They put up 50, basically. And he had what, hundred yards rushing? Couple hundred Passing. Only because they dialed back the passing because they were up six and accounted for two or three touchdowns in that one. So. And, oh, by the way, 400 yards in South Bend.
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A
People like to pick and choose what helps their narrative. I'm going to ask a couple questions. First off, do we take more stock in how you play against the really good teams or how you play against the poor teams? Because how did Marcel play against the bad teams? Pretty well. Yeah.
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C
I mean, Auburn and Mississippi State, you could. Yeah, those were two of his lesser, but they weren't. He didn't play poorly.
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A
Okay.
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C
Had a. He had an interception against Auburn. No, look, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Auburn. He wasn't exceptional until that second half against South Carolina where he was incredible.
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A
Okay. How was Arch against UTEP last year?
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C
Utep, Kentucky, Florida, Florida.
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A
So. And I'm not trying to make a. I'm just saying we can pick and choose games to help our narrative. That's all I'm saying. And it happened to be Marcel's last two games that were definitely last stretch. Because South Carolina, you get credit for South Carolina. You also lose points for South Carolina.
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C
Yeah, but at the end of the
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A
day, and also like with lsu, this is how I've always been. So Chris Marler had that quote about
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C
that Marcel Reid is Marcel Reid. I'm recording all the slander. And he did that. You know, Walker and his sidekick over there at Barstool, they kind of blew off Marcel. And talking about. I don't care if you shouldn't. I don't think he should be listed as the best quarterback and it should be Trinidad Chambliss. But to like, laugh at the thought of it, this guy was quite literally a Heisman. Like in the. When the discussion included about seven or eight guys with game left in the season.
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A
Well, my point was about the LSU game is that Marler talks about that A and M team, right, as a top 10 win. A&M didn't finish as a top 10 team, did they? No, they finished an 8&4 team, 8&5 team. When we talk about a game, we talk about that moment in time. Yeah.
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C
Because that was a big win for South Carolina.
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A
Absolutely. So, like, we can do revisionist history afterwards, which is what people like to do. But in a moment of time, A and M beat a very good LSU team. Their season went south afterwards. South Carolina beat a very good A and M team. Their season went south afterwards. That's the. Those are the facts.
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C
Yeah. And I understand, like at the end of the year, and I understand even what she's doing, that that win wasn't as big as you thought it was in terms. Here's the thing that you're not saying, though. You have, you don't have to say it, but this is what you mean by that. When you're really saying is that win wasn't as big as you thought it was for your resume at the moment. At that moment when they took the field. By any definition you want to put on it, that was a big, big football game for Texas A and M, for Marcel Reed, for lsu, for Nussmeyer, for Brian Kelly. Obviously that was a big time game for everybody in the country. That's why they had it prime time on ABC that night with Herb street and Fowler calling it. So we're trying to determine the initial statement that I was pushing back on were people in Tampa that were asking. And it wasn't everyone, but, you know, there was a lot of people really high on Marcel and even the ones that are asking this were high on him. But. But. There's a but. Yeah, but I'm like, I get, I. You can't ignore the last couple games and the fact that, you know, multiple turnovers against Texas, Miami and South Carolina to end the season. You can't ignore that. And then even LSU, so it's four out of five of your last Power 4 games. So definitely it's like they won't be able to achieve what they need to and he won't be. He's got to be more careful with the football, more consistent, all of those things. But don't ignore what he did in exactly the first 11 games. And my other thing is this, my other thing is like, again, you have to apply that to all these other quarterbacks. So apply that to John Matier, who threw as many or more picks and, and I had so many of them dropped. It was great. John Mattier takes real chances with the OU people that really know, you know, that I talked to up there. They. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Compare him to like what Ty Simpson did last year, what Pavia did, and I think Pavia soared there towards the end. But like, compare him to who else? You had a Nuss Meyer last season that came in with all the hype. Compare him to Sellers. I see people, I saw it the other day when they're talking about Lenore Sellers, those same two guys, Walker and the other guy that were kind of just blowing off Marcel, they're like, oh, well, Norris Sellers could be the top overall pick. Yeah, just keep it. I'm like, all right. Like he had a, by any metric, a really pitiful season last year. He was not. And for as great bad as Marcel was in the first half, Lenora Sellers didn't produce like a yard in the second half of that game. And there are other instances where he was really bad. Do I think he's going to bounce back? Yes, I do. But like even Chambliss, right until that playoff run, you can compare individual games against like opponents with all these quarterbacks I just mentioned and have Marcel in there and there are some games where he's third or fourth out of five on that list. There's some games where he's first out of three or four on that list or somewhere he's in the middle. My point is he's right there with him. You have to question all of these things. Gunner, Stockton, like they're 0 and 2 in the playoffs under him. Now the first one, kind of not fair. And then I see your hand moving with that. I mean it's with that thing on it.
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A
But our break was.
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C
My other point is they're not doing that about Arch Manning and people will get on me for stating a fact, but. And we had this battle on Twitter, like four of their 10 games, 40% of their games against Power Four opponents. Last year, Texas crossed the goal line once. One time, Ohio State was 14 7. Oh, you. They scored like 23. It was three field goals and a punt return and one touchdown. Kentucky, it was one touchdown after Niblett returned it to the five yard line. I think they won 13 to 10. And then the other one was Georgia, where I've been told that he played really well. They lost 35 to 10 that game. I don't understand so. And I'm not even that that will be perceived as arch hate. Those are facts. And all I'm saying is I think there should be questions about is he really all the way already there or are we putting too much stock into the last few games when they were against, you know, A and M where he completed 45% of his passes, his two biggest plays were against guys that were uncovered. Michigan, without a coach and without a lot of players, you know, like again, let me say this, I think should be second team here. Stockton should be second team all SEC entering the season with Chambliss1 Marcel right there. You know, to me that would be my order going in. I'd have Marcel at 4 with a chance to move up. I'd have Matier 5, Sellers at 6. I think Levitt after that. I may have Levitt at 6. Anyway, my point of all of this is they all have questions. They're not asking the question. There's zero questions about Arch, which I don't. I disagree with. Jordan Rogers does too and he caught hell, there's. And there's plenty of questions about Mattier and they're not asking Those enough either.
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A
Bubbles 33, July 31, they have a big party, the Burgers for the Brave parking lot party. By the way, go eat the food there. It's really good if you like wings and they're fantastic. Burgers are fantastic. But this here they have the Burgers for the Brave parking lot party where they're going to announce the final fundraising total for the homes for our troops, recognize two outstanding local veterans, enjoy live music, shop with local vendors and make one last push to support this amazing cause. Bring the whole family. Kids can enjoy face painting, ballroom artists while everyone takes part in an evening of great food, entertainment and community. It's the perfect family outing and a chance to make a lasting difference for our Nation's Heroes. It's Bubba's 33. Go check out Highway 6 in College Station.
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C
You love your Aggie football. We do too. Listen to every game on the Zone. 11:50am and 93.7 FM.
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A
Time for 25 and 25. Presented by Paragon Financial Advisors and Aggie owned independent fee only fiduciary serving families and business owners nationwide. Visit paragon-adv.com Number 22, Billy is Noah McHale.
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C
Yep.
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A
I said earlier in the show and I think you'll probably agree with me, I think he's a riser. He's somebody that we have at 22 now, but when it's all said and done, he's going to be a little bit higher on that list.
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C
I'll say this, he needs to be a riser. I mean that's he, you know, guys like him, Cony Lockhart, they need to be risers, you know. And we know what Sanford is and we know he's a, you know, all conference contender. He's an NFL draft pick. I told you the day I had a scout text me and said, man, I keep watching DJ Hicks. Because, you know, Hicks is. He's. Hicks is going to go pretty high in the draft if he plays like they think, and if he just takes that one more step. Like, I keep watching DJ Hicks, who I love, but I can't. I can't keep my eyes off 27. I keep watching Damian Sanford. Like, he flashes, man. And. But beyond that, there's a lot of unproven. You know, Lockhart's got a little experience. He certainly looks the part. He's got some good leadership qualities and great physical attributes. Kony was a tackling machine at Tulsa, and he's a guy whose name has come up to me more than once about having a really good off season. And then there's Noah McHale, who I think potential wise has. Like,
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A
the hell is.
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C
That sounds like a bomb on our roof. Somebody must have fell upstairs. Anyway, sky's the limit.
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A
Who died?
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C
Go ahead. Sky's the limit. Potential for Noah. Like, I think he. Physically, athletically, you watch him in practice. I mean, he. He does a great job of cutting and jumping routes. He's really, I think, instinctive in short space, like down in the red zone in coverage and making any make and making tackles. I think he had. I remember seeing him. What was it? He had a couple of really good ones against Arkansas in those type situations. SU was threatening down there. He had a good TFL against them early in that game when it was still in doubt. He flashes where you go, oh, man, that's what it's supposed to look like. Just C ball, get C ball, attack ball. But he's got limited experience as a true freshman last year, you know, he, Morrow and Marco Jones are the three guys in that class that I think A and M needs to make a substantial jump to varying degrees. Like, Marco, I think played a lot more than. Than Noah. And, you know, Morrow is a guy that I think you have to have. Like, they have to have him take that big jump. But those three guys, and Noah's one of them, to me, that the team, the defense needs Noah McHale to make that move from a guy that was getting his feet wet to being a good SEC linebacker, I think he has a chance to be a great one. But in year one as a starter, they need him to be a good one, you know, and so I think more of that for Noah will be mental than physical. And I don't mean mental like, oh, man, you might be slow to figure it out. I mean mental in terms of you got to be really comfortable out there and kind of have play with an experience with play in a style that belies your lack of experience. Like, he's going to have to be locked in. You can't have these young linebacker misfits where you, you, you know, you're fit in the wrong hole. And we've seen it before. This is exactly what A&M's got to get rid of. So you've got a portal guy in Kony, a young guy in Noah, and it's still pretty inexperienced, but a year older guy in Lockhart. Like, just because they haven't played a ton in games in this, you know, in the case of Kony, in this defense, that you can't have linebackers fit in the wrong gap and cut down on the big plays allowed in the run game, those two things don't fit together. So to me, these linebackers, this has to be the most improved unit on the team. And if Noah McHale can even come close to, you know, playing at the level that I think he's going to play in ultimately, then he's going to be a freaking stud this year. Like, it just. There's an unknown with him because he just hasn't, you know, had that level of responsibility, practice in, practice out, week in, week out, game in, game out, placed on him. So you don't know till you know. The good news, though, is, like you said, there's several of them.
- [31:41]
A
Yeah.
- [31:43]
C
So there's several of them. Who are the guys I've missed here? I miss Shaw and I miss Gibson. Are those are two.
- [31:50]
A
Yep.
- [31:52]
C
In the case of Jordan Shaw, I know Elko's mentioned it. I've been talking about it since that game. The. And that was from a conversation with him about how well Shaw played when he had to come off the bench and deal with Malachi Tony, who some people consider a Heisman contender this year. That was a growing up moment for him. He's now in year two in your system. He's a good player at Washington. I think that's a real asset that we don't talk. He's one of those guys that probably, I feel like if there's a couple that we don't talk about enough, it might be him, it might be the, the tight end position, I think, as a whole, which I think could do. Do some things in the, in the passing game this year, including Michael Riley Cat team captain.
- [32:39]
A
Yeah.
- [32:39]
C
You know, they'll make a deal that he's a captain because of what he means to the team. They also brought him over here because he could play.
- [32:44]
A
Yeah.
- [32:45]
C
And they felt like he could get physical and he's a big body that can catch the football. So that tight end position, we don't talk about enough. Shaw, we don't talk about enough. In the case of Ricky Gibson,
- [32:56]
B
you
- [32:56]
C
know, he got hurt early spring. I think probably it was a frustrating stretch for him not being able to, you know, practice coming over from Tennessee. He came back from that break really locked in for the people I thought I've talked to, like really locked in in the weight room in the off season. So I'm excited to see what he does out there at camp because, damn, I loved his tape when they took him out of the portal and you went and watched Ricky Gibson highlights at Tennessee. That dude will tackle you, he'll take you to the ground in the open field. He'll, you know, he'll make breaks on the football. I think that cornerback position is so exciting for A and M. And he's, he's a big piece of the reason
- [33:38]
A
why we'll hit a break. Braz Running company Time and Mason. Hey, a family legacy there at Century Square. Brad's Running Company is a locally Aggie owned specialty running store in Century Square, right below the Star Cinema Grill. Mike Nugent's passionate about finding the right shoe for you. If you're a runner or into any kind of fitness, he's got you. He's got all the top brands from Brooks to Ondahoka. They got Vuori, you name it. But that Aggie spirit does run deep in that family. Mike's daughters Haley and Macy are fourth generation Aggies and also College Station natives. They created Mason Hay, their own, their own company featuring officially licensed Aggie merchandise. From Aggie pajamas to baby blankets, wallpaper, you name it, they've got it. So from running shoes to Aggie pajamas, this Aggie family has got you covered. Visit The Brazos Running Company in Century Square. Shop Mason Hay at masonhey.com
- [34:28]
C
Listen up class. The money machine is open now. Make sure to enter. Each week everyone comes out a winner@zone1150.com or through the Zone Newsletter.
- [34:36]
A
To win.
- [34:36]
C
To win $5,000.
- [34:38]
A
And we're back live. Presented by David Gardner School Rollo Insurance Studio. I'm going to ask you something.
- [34:44]
C
Something on the back of your neck.
- [34:45]
A
Probably give me a turn. You could have told me.
- [34:49]
C
It's just your tag. I thought you had like there was some kind of new like Mike contraption you were wearing.
- [34:54]
A
I talk with my neck, you know.
- [34:56]
C
I thought it was like a wraparound. I'm like, why don't I have one of those?
- [34:59]
A
I'm going to ask you something I asked earlier in the show and get your. Your thoughts on it. Which team? And it can be anybody in college football if you want to keep it. The SEC is going to be quarterback dependent to making the playoffs. Elite quarterback play. Because to me there's. If the team around is really good, sometimes the game manager is enough. Who needs to have elite quarterback play to be a playoff team.
- [35:24]
C
Okay, I heard the question. I'm going to answer it. I'm so. Is there any way you can take that off while we.
- [35:30]
A
You want to wear it?
- [35:30]
C
Let me see. I mean like this guy's. Literally, it looks like brass knuckles. I feel like. You ever seen the movie the Warriors?
- [35:39]
A
Yeah, it's a great movie.
- [35:40]
C
Yeah.
- [35:40]
A
Yeah.
- [35:41]
C
Have you seen it? Really?
- [35:42]
A
Yeah, I have.
- [35:43]
C
What are they doing?
- [35:44]
A
Isn't that the. The movie where they. They beat up the kid in school?
- [35:47]
C
No.
- [35:48]
A
Which one is that one?
- [35:49]
C
I don't know about that.
- [35:50]
A
The Warriors. Which ones?
- [35:51]
C
They beat up a kid in school?
- [35:52]
A
Yeah, like. Oh, I'm thinking of My Bodyguard.
- [35:54]
C
Oh, that's a good one. That's a good 80s movie.
- [35:57]
A
Yeah, that's a great.
- [35:57]
C
No, the Warriors. It's like the gang. It's like over the top gangs. Like they were all the different, like. Oh yeah, like social classes and races and cre. And they all like. It was like just a big. I think it was New York like gang. You saw the thing this year. Who was the guy that kept doing and it was so cheesy. I think was with the Spurs. He kept saying or. No, it was the football player in the playoffs and people were getting so tired of him where he was saying, warriors, come out and play. I forget who was doing that, but it was somebody whose team went deep in the NFL playoffs and people were like, get this damn guy out of here. He sucks. It might have been the guy that goes barefoot all the time. Anyway, that's what you look like. Like you're ready for some big cop, you know? Bryan, College Station, Hearn, Caldwell, Navasota, Curtin, Anderson.
- [36:56]
A
I'm ready for the media street fight.
- [36:58]
C
Like all the gangs are gonna come together. And here's Nuno with his brass knuckles. Yeah, why not?
- [37:04]
A
This is just to protect my broken finger. That won't get better.
- [37:08]
C
Put it back on then. I don't want to slow down. Your Dr. Gibbs is probably listening right now. His recovery. Dr. Gibbs. So anyway, what teams need elite quarterback play to. Well, I think you start one of them that I don't expect to get to the playoffs. But I guess there's a world in which, you know, Lenora Sellers can capture that second half of 2024 magic. I just don't. I think, oh, South Carolina's got too much, too many holes and too, too tough a schedule. But that's a guy who, we talked about him earlier. I do think his ceiling is, is sky high. So one team that probably doesn't need great quarterback play to get there but needs good quarterback play would be Tennessee. I think they got a lot of other pieces, but again, this is the fifth new starting quarterback in Hypo in five years. For Hypo, he acts like that's not a problem. He says that as if it's old hat. We've done this, but eventually it's not going to work. Or maybe it doesn't work the first half of the season. But if he just gets good quarterback play.
- [38:16]
A
I said LSU is mine because I agree with that. If Sam Levitt is elite, LSU is a playoff team. If he's injured, if he's not elite, they are not a playoff.
- [38:26]
C
I totally agree. I think they might be, they might be number one on that list.
- [38:32]
A
They were my.
- [38:33]
C
It's not Gunner Stockton, it's not Arch, it's not Trinidad.
- [38:38]
A
Marcel.
- [38:38]
C
It's not Marcel. I think Marcel, I think. And it's not Matier. I think Matier and Marcel, both of them just need to take another step. And I think the same by the way, with Arch, I do think he has a little more around him because of what they went out and did in the portal. I have less questions of their skill. Guys, I still question that old line a little bit, but Marcel doesn't. He's gonna, Marcel's gonna have games where he has to be great. And by the way, going back to what we talked about earlier, that was Notre Dame. If Marcel was not great, they don't win that game. The same thing with Arkansas game, even second half against South Carolina, there were games where Marcel had to be great for A and M to win. You know, I don't think. I think he would have had to been great for them to win against Texas because they didn't have a run game against Miami. I think just if he would have just been good, it was tough on the quarterbacks. I thought Miami did a better job managing that window with Carson Beck, but the reason why they could is because Fletcher's churning out yards most of the game. So it allowed them to do that. A and M, on the other hand, was not so and look that A and M had a really good defensive front last year. Miami's was better. Miami's at that time down the stretch was, it was the best defensive front in college football. They proved it week after week after week down the stretch there. They proved it in the NFL draft. So but yeah, I'm trying to think if there's another one that I think needs to be great. This is kind of, again, I, I don't think they're a team that will, that will, that will do it. But to a lesser scale, I would say Camario Taylor and Mississippi State, like they're not going to get in the playoffs. So I kind of cheating your question. But I could see them beating a team or two because with him being great because with Fluff Bothwell with Levy calling plays, they should have beat Texas last year. They could have beat Tennessee. They should have beaten Florida. Think about had they done that, even won two of those three last year, what the narrative would be. And I think Taylor will be a five times more dangerous player than Blake Chapin was last year.
- [41:13]
A
All right, we'll hit a break and come back with a two minute segment. When it comes to your financial advice, independence matters. Paragon Financial Advisors is an Aggie owned and operated independent fee only fiduciary firm. That means that the recommendations are not influenced by commissions, propriety products or sales quotas. So if you're managing family wealth or growing a successful business, the team that helps you find that is Paragon Financial Advisors. And for many business owners that means developing strategies not only to grow the business but also, but also prepare for one of the biggest financial events of their lives, the eventual sale or transition of that business. Visit paragon-adv.com to learn how independent advice can help you prepare for what's next. It is Paragon Financial Advisors, Aggie owned independent serving clients nationwide.
- [41:56]
C
Give it to me.
- [41:57]
A
Give it to me.
- [41:57]
C
The Louis Polina show.
- [41:59]
A
It's awesome.
- [42:00]
C
Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he is the loudest listening in weekdays. Limited two in the zone.
- [42:07]
A
Final minute 30 of the program. So instead of starting a topic that we will never finish on time, I'm going to pull a fast one. We're going to go to the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. I know a text or two came in. They may catch Billy's attention.
- [42:21]
C
Okay.
- [42:22]
A
All right, Stein, hold on.
- [42:23]
B
It's taking a minute to.
- [42:24]
A
Oh, I see how it is. Way to go, Stein.
- [42:27]
B
It's refreshing. All right, Kevin Jennings, how about a £285. It's refreshing.
- [42:32]
A
That doesn't make sense. It's always refreshed.
- [42:34]
B
The whole tab had to refresh.
- [42:36]
C
Oh, interesting.
- [42:37]
B
Pull up the cameras. How about a 285 pound tight end in Kiati Armstrong?
- [42:41]
A
Oh, putting on some, some strength.
- [42:44]
C
Well, he, he carries it very well. I made a comment the other day, I said, I, I, we're talking about the tight ends. And I said, I can't wait. And Kiati's got a play again. He's another one one of these guys, second year guy, he's got to play some. And unlike linebacker, there's a lot of experience ahead of him. And by experience I mean at other places, maybe not so much here, but there's three guys that are veteran college football players ahead of him. But he's going to get out there and I'm just like, I can't wait to see them draw up a play where he kind of just leaks out into the flat, catches a short pass from Marcel and gets to turn up field and see that 65285 running. He looks like a tackle, he runs like a tight end. Could you imagine a DB trying to tackle him? One more. We got six seconds. Go, go.
- [43:36]
B
There's no other text.
- [43:38]
A
Way to go, Carson.
- [43:39]
C
Way to go.
- [43:40]
A
See him. We'll see you tomorrow.
- [43:41]
C
They don't realize smart people use smartphones, huh? Download text now, pay what you want or not at all. Show these ridiculous carriers were way too smart to pay.
- [43:51]
A
Pay dump free app based talking decks
- [43:52]
C
via the TextNow app. Requires WiFi or data connection. Data plan sold separately. 5G where available.