← Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
TexAgs Live - Sean Salisbury : 08.03.26
00:43:22
Host of "Unpaved" Sean Salisbury joins TexAgs talking about his belief in Marcel Reed, + Billy Liucci's interview with Marcel Reed!
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- [00:01]
A
All right, we're back here on Tex AGS Live, presented by David Gardner's Jules Rollo Insurance studio. So Billy caught up with Marcel Reed, I believe, on Thursday on Field level. Had a nice conversation, followed up on some of the things we talked about at preseason kickoff and SEC media days. So some really good breakdown from Billy and Marcel Reed. Here is the field level. Sorry, the field level.
- [00:23]
B
Welcome to Field Level with Billy Lucci, brought to you by Tech Tags in United. I'm Billy. He's Marcel. You guys know Marcel. We've talked a lot, lot lately. So maybe tackle some other topics today as you guys get ready for fall camp. It's less than a week away.
- [00:41]
C
I know.
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B
Are you ready or are you, like, I got some things I need to do and. And relax and enjoy what's left of my quote summer before we start off.
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C
I'm definitely ready. Like, I want to start immediately.
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B
Yeah.
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C
But, like, I'm gonna take the breakdown, get this little break before.
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B
Yeah.
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C
Go back home, see my family and friends. So. But, yeah, the break was definitely needed. Just a quick little reset before we jump back into it, like, for real this time. But I'm so excited for fall camp. Like, we're less. We're a month or so away from kickoff, so that's the exciting part, too.
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B
Have you kind of been in that mode where it's been building up to this, or did SEC media days kind of. Did that kind of make you go, oh, damn, it's here? Or were you already, like, coming?
- [01:33]
C
Yeah, I was already, like. It's kinda like after. After the Fourth of July, you know, we get to that back half of the summer workouts, like, you kind of start to realize you're two, three weeks away from fall camp. And, yeah, the season is, you know, time flies. So the season's closer than what you think.
- [01:50]
B
Man, I've seen so many of the guys coming through here and around, and I think it's such. Y'. All. I said it a minute ago on radio. There's no way this has been. I think this has been the best off season under Elko. Just from looking at your teammates and you and, like, what you guys have done to me, clearly, in the weight room, in the off season, work, like, I don't know. I'm just thinking of specific guys where I was like, damn, like, really? The whole D line jumped out at me. The receiving room, like, they've been putting a lot of work in the weight room. The offensive lineman. I was saying, I don't see a bunch of big Bellies out there. And Reuben was a guy that stood out to me. What? Richie. And I think he looks like he maybe more than anyone, like, has leaned up from when he got here till now. It's night and day. Are there any guys I'm leaving out that really stand out to you? Like, you're like, man, wait till people see him this fall. Because as a team, you guys really clearly had an off season. That was good.
- [02:56]
C
Yeah. I mean, from a weight room standpoint, shoot. Damian Sanford's been in there killing it. Mario Kraber's been in there killing it. Anto.
- [03:06]
B
Yeah.
- [03:07]
C
Anto's a bodybuilder. Almost. Yeah. All the old linemen, really. Those guys should have seen their squat maxes the other day. It was insane. Yeah. Shoot. Angelo McCall.
- [03:19]
B
I was waiting for you to add him in when you were done.
- [03:21]
C
Yeah, no, Angelo, he did some outrageous numbers on squat the other day. It was actually, like, freaky to watch. Like, he just. He just went down and came right back up. It was like he wasn't even trying. But that dude's strong. I call him Andre the Giant Power. That's Andre the Giant right there. Yeah.
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B
My favorite part of spring ball was seeing him intercept a pass and run it. Now, that wasn't you, right?
- [03:47]
C
No, that wasn't me.
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B
But that was when he picked that one off and was rumbling.
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C
That was hilarious.
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B
He was not about to hear no whistle.
- [03:53]
C
He was just going to. We had just talked, like, you know what, Elko? We talk situations and stuff, and whenever you catch a pick in the situation that we were in, you're supposed to go down, because that basically shows that you just won the game. This dude ran.
- [04:09]
B
He said, no.
- [04:10]
C
He just ran. Disregarded everything that was being said. He ran, and then he didn't even make it to the end zone. He threw up in the air, and I was like, oh, my God. But he was new. He was new to the program. I was like, right when we got here.
- [04:23]
B
Yeah. Like, his first.
- [04:24]
C
He's still. He's still learning. I mean, if anybody else who's been with Elko for a couple of years did, that would not have been good.
- [04:31]
B
What I mentioned, Richie, talk to me about the tight end position, because I was. We're talking out there. I said, I feel like I haven't really talked to you about that. We've talked about. I feel like everything else. I haven't talked to you about the tight ends and somebody. We were talking earlier about Kiati and just how big he is at 280 lbs. Tight end. And I said, yeah, and then, and then you've got, you really have three veterans, but all three transfers, two of them haven't played here yet. Micah, I'm assuming we'll see his playing time, you know, jump through the roof compared to last season, but got his feet wet. It's kind of an unknown, I think to fans and definitely to media and the people that cover the sec because I think it's an unknown position, maybe more so than any on the roster. Tell us a little bit about what you've got there at tight end.
- [05:23]
C
Yeah, yeah, we got Micah Riley, Richie Anderson, Houston Thomas and all those guys have looked good since they got in. Like you said, Richie, you know, leaned up a little bit since he's been here and he can run routes, he's crisp, he can block. And you know, Micah, he earned the captain's badge this year. He's a big part of our team and he's become a lot more comfortable running routes, catching balls. And he looks great out there on the field to me. You know, it's a big guy who, you know is going to get, you know, down and dirty in the line of scrimmage at all times, but we need him out there, he's going to make some plays. Then we got Houston. You know, this is like a big body who had a great year. UTSA really excited for him. He's another weapon for us right there. And then, you know, you got two freshmen, KK and Evan Jacobson who have, you know, both, you know, started to understand this offense and kind of come along and you know, when their time's coming, you know, it's going to be scary. Those dudes are both super athletic, they're both tall, both smart kids. So really excited for them. And then can't leave out, you know, the walk ons on the team. We got Carter Braw and Luke Braden. I think having those two players is really important because when you get scout team looks, they're going to give you the best look possible. You're going to block you, they're going to run routes, catch balls. Carter Br arguably has the best hands really on the team. You know, he, I've seen him make plenty of one handed catches. His hands are just huge.
- [07:00]
B
I'll tell you what, there's a long history not just at A and M, but I think throughout the SEC and college football in general of I feel like if there's a position where walk ons can work their way up into playing in college football, I really now that nobody uses Fullbacks anymore. Yeah, I really think it might be tight end.
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C
Definitely.
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B
You see it quite often, so, yeah, 100%. It's definitely worth mentioning those guys. So. Best fans on the team. I like that
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C
you.
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B
I've talked a lot this off season, and it carried over to SEC media days. A lot of the quarterbacks, you know how it goes. Like, I think the most common questions now, when you guys go in those gaggles, it's another team. Say, it would be. I'm trying to think of, where did somebody transfer to this year? It would be like a media member asking you, hey, Marcel from Tuscaloosa last year, what do you think about Cam Dewberry? It would be the A and M people asking Tennessee players, what about Ricky Gibson? They're asking, what about. And the other common thing is to ask all of y' all about the other quarterbacks that you meet at the Manning Academy.
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C
Yeah.
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B
Who'd you room with? Was it Gunner?
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C
I room with Trinidad Gunner and Camario Taylor.
- [08:20]
B
Okay. Yeah, Camario had. So our people, either our guys or somebody in the local media, asked all those quarterbacks about you. I'm sure they asked some of them. Asked you about them. What I took away from that is, I'm going, damn, I think it's going to be a really good year at quarterback in this conference. It was supposed to be last year, and a lot of those big names didn't produce. Do you feel like this year it's going to be like the quarterbacks are going to kind of be the catalyst for how this league race? And I know that's every year, but more than ever, because I just think, man, like, 1 through 10, there's really good quarterback play.
- [09:01]
C
Yeah, there's great quarterbacks everywhere in the SEC right now. I mean, like, we just talked about Trinidad Gunner. Both guys, you know, have played significant games in the sec, both have experience. Mario Taylor, you know, he's stepping into that role, but, you know, he showed last year what he could do at the end of the season. Then you got John Mateer at Oklahoma. You know, Sellers is back. Sellers is back. Got Kenny Minchi who came from Notre Dame. He's at Kentucky now. You know all these guys. Levitt, Levitt, Yeah, he's gonna be real good. Who's that? Tennessee between George and Faison right now. Alabama, Austin, Mack and Keelan, they're both. They're all good quarterbacks, whether they're younger or older. I mean, everybody can play. So, yeah, there's going to be a lot of competition in these games.
- [09:57]
B
Auburn's bringing.
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C
Yeah. Byron Brown.
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B
So with that said, like, what goes into, like, if I'm talking about Marcel Reed in 2026 versus 2025. When we did this last year and what we talked about, I thought we saw, we saw you. I mean, I just saw a guy that kind of grew into being a starting quarterback. And yet you got your feet wet the year before. You were ready to go.
- [10:22]
C
Right.
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B
Push the ball down the field more that last year. Something that I thought evolved for not just you, but the offense in general. They got you the weapons to do it. You made the throws to do it. This year versus last year, what's. What's the biggest difference we're going to see in number 10?
- [10:42]
C
I mean, you're gonna see a more mature number 10. Like, I think this game is all about experience. Yeah. Growing, you know, whether people realize it or not. That was my, like I said, first year starting. I played games before that. But, you know, being in for 13 games is. That's a hard thing to do. Like, playing 13 games is not easy. And, you know, everybody in the football world for all teams understands that. You know, what it does to your body, you know, for linemen, receivers running all the time. I mean, it's important that you got to take care of yourself. So. Yeah, just coming out this year, learning from the mistakes from last year, I think there's only room to grow.
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B
Yeah.
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C
You know, I'm not worried about what happened last year. Obviously, it's like stuff didn't go how we wanted to.
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B
It's part of. It's part of the deal. Right?
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C
You gotta 100%. So, like, I mean, just coming in the season, you know, staying confident in myself. Cause like I said, I always say I know what I'm capable of. My coaches know what I'm capable of. And I think that's why they still have me in a position I am in. Yeah. But yeah, I think it's funny.
- [12:08]
B
People focus. It's like Elko, you said it to me too. In Tampa. Elko was talking about Saturday, like, the accomplishments last year. The list is a mile long. Not just for you, for the whole team and for the program. And the step y' all took, it is truly climbing up a mountain to get to the top of the SEC in college football. Yeah. There's no, like shortcut. You got to do it. It's treacherous at times. There's ups and downs. You got it. And that's why bringing back a now third year starter at quarterback and I don't know where you stand in experience in the sec, but it's got to be right up near the very top at this point. I'd like to actually look into that. I'm trying to think about, you know, I know you got guys transferred in that played a lot elsewhere, but SEC starts, you might be at the top.
- [12:56]
C
I'm not sure either. I think I am close. Like top three, at least.
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B
I would definitely top three. It's not Trinidad last year, his first year. It's not Stockton because he came in for, like, the last two.
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C
Me and Gunner might be with top two.
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B
Yeah. So, I mean, experience, it does matter. It is irrefutable in any sport, but especially, I think, at the quarterback position in this league. One of the things that your experience, I think Marcel, will carry you in this team through. When you look at that schedule this year, y' all gotta go to Columbia. You've been there. You know what to expect. Both Columbia's, Missouri and South Carolina, you got to go to Tuscaloosa, you got to go to Norman, you got to go to Baton Rouge, where you guys broke through last year. You've been to, what, four of those five spots? Three of those five places. You guys, you as a quarterback, you've won in Death Valley, you've won in the Swamp. You've won. Or I guess that was. That was a Wigman game, wasn't it?
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C
Which one?
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B
Mississippi State Cowbells.
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C
Yeah.
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B
You've won in the Swamp, you've won in Death Valley, you've won in South Bend, Columbia, Missouri, Fayetteville, which I think people underestimate how tough that can be because of the other team, but it's a tough place to play.
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C
Yeah.
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B
That road mentality, is that something that, again, you can only be good at it after figuring it out. You know, I think about Auburn, I think about South Carolina two years ago, and then here's South Bend and Death Valley this year. There's a big difference. And I think that has a lot to do probably with you as a quarterback, just knowing, hey, it's going to be like this, we got to keep it.
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C
Yeah. I think personally that, you know, your mindset should be the same for every game. I don't think it should be any different if you're going to play somewhere else. Obviously, you know, environments change. Our crowd's not going to be as loud as their crowd when offense is on the field, so, you know, that's a given. But I've always thought away games were fun. You know, I love playing away games. You know, ever since, you know, High school just feels good to, you know, play on somebody else's field and get the job done. I also love wearing white jerseys. I feel like they look icy.
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B
Yeah, I do love the whites. I'll say this, I know you're looking forward to Tennessee just with your, you know, childhood and background coming from up there. Even though Kyle Field is the best home advantage ever. Would you be even. Would you. Are you going to be more fired up. Would you be even more fired up if you guys were going to Rocky Top and playing on the road in that environment this year in Nashville? Because I feel like that would be, like, you at, like, peak competitive, like, gladiator going.
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C
Yeah, I wouldn't say I would be. I wouldn't say I'd be super, like, way more fired up playing there than here.
- [16:08]
B
But you would have that one circled more than.
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C
I mean. Yeah, yeah, that'd be. That'd be cool. I got a lot of friends that go to Tennessee. I mean, I know a lot of people who would travel from Nashville to come to Knoxville and watch that game.
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B
Yeah.
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C
But their locker room is very small. Their way. Locker room is tiny. But, yeah, no, that. That stadium is crazy to play at it. Place gets loud. I'm definitely in competition with Cow Field. I think it's just the structure of their stadium, though. But it's. It's nice.
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B
All right. Finally, we talked about. We've talked about the offense. Wide receiver. I don't think there's been. I mentioned this the other day when Mike Sherman. Who you. I don't even. Do you even know who Mike Sherman is?
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C
Nope.
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B
This is crazy because he was the head football coach here for, like, Johnny's. Red Tannehill senior year. Johnny's. And Mike Evans red shirt year. So that's how. I'm just saying for fans. Y' all gotta understand how old we are and how young these guys are, because it was Sherman, then Sum and then Jimbo.
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C
Yeah.
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B
So it's a few coaches ago, but anyway, he turned the old line around and had four first round draft picks spread out over two classes. I feel like that's what Elko and you guys are doing at wide receiver. If you look back a couple years ago, if you look back five years ago and you look at what you guys have today. So you mentioned. You mentioned Mario. We've talked a ton about Ashton. I think people are so fired up about Isaiah. He looks like a. What's it like throwing the football to a sec, like, linebacker? Because that's what he's built like. And it's like, yeah, no, it's something,
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C
it's fun, it's fine. Athletic linebacker.
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B
Yeah, very athletic and fast linebacker. Isaiah. Sorry.
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C
Yeah.
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B
But is there anybody that we're not talking about enough at that position that fans this fall, is there a guy or two that's like, okay, you know who the big names are and yes, they're going to do it, but watch out for this.
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C
I feel like at receiver we don't talk about Terry too much or if we're talking about Terry too much, then we're not talking about Ashton enough. Like both of those guys. I mean Ashton had four, five touchdowns last year for like 300, 400 yards
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B
or something in some big time moments.
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C
Yeah, like, I mean Ashton is, he can get behind the defense easily. Terry can do the same thing. He's elusive with the ball and he was making some big time catches in the spring. We got a lot of good weapons with different skill sets all around in different ways we can use them. So that's the exciting part because you can get into different personnel with all these guys and do a bunch of different things. But yeah, I think Ashton and Terry aren't being talked about enough at receiver at least because I know Terry's a returner too. But yeah, those guys on offense are going to be crazy.
- [19:15]
B
They don't talk about Ashton. I mean you look at what he did in that Arkansas game when we needed it. You look at what he did. South Carolina thought that catch against LSU was just right at that time of the game too where he just completely taking it over. I think he set the tone against Missouri.
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C
You hit the tone against Missouri, Arkansas. I mean he had a touchdown Arkansas, really big third down catch against Arkansas on the sideline.
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B
Oh yeah, yeah. Is that the one where he took the big hit or no?
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C
Nah, he, he just ran a go ball.
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B
Yeah. But South Carolina, that was so my final one to use this.
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D
We'll.
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B
You know, Holman Wiggins will be such a storyline this, this season. First year as the oc, I'm more about. I'm more curious as to where you are. Like you've been. This is hard. I think it speaks to your capacity to pick up and learn. This is your third oc, right? In three years it was Petrino or third and four year, Petrino, Klein and now Holman Wiggins. Do you feel like you. That you and Coach Wiggins and Coach lynch have kind of formed like. I feel like there's been a lot of talk of them doing what you're comfortable with. What maximizes your skill set. And do you feel, like, as comfortable as you've ever felt in terms of, like, this offense with all your experience plus what they're kind of trying to do?
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C
Yeah, I definitely feel comfortable. I get opportunity to sit down with Coach Wiggins and Coach Lynch a lot and, yeah, the, the offense is going to be stuff that I'm comfortable with. Like, if, if I'm not comfortable with, then we're not going to run it.
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B
Yeah.
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C
But, you know, I feel like I'm pretty comfortable with a lot of things and, you know, can get it done. So, yeah, I'm just really excited to get out there and play and show the world what, you know, Coach Wiggins can do at the offensive coordinator position. Yeah. Because we've had some really good stuff coming up.
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B
All right, we're fired up with you. This is Marcel Reed.
- [21:27]
D
I'm Billy Lucci.
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B
This is field level.
- [21:30]
A
Enjoy your weekend and thank you, Billy. Thank you, Marcel. You know, sometimes people forget who the boss is. Don't take my kindness for weakness. I'm just kidding, Kaylee. Winter break. We'll come back. We're going to talk a little bit about Paint State. He's got something going on on the show that Kaylin won't tell me about, so we'll figure it out in the next segment. When it comes to your money and your peace of mind, it starts with the right team. Hopefully that right team is Aggie owned Paragon Financial Advisors. They're an independent fiduciary serving clients all across Texas. No commissions, no sales pitches, just trusted advice tailored to you. They have a team of 18 professionals, including over nine CFPs and a CFA and a CPA. Their expertise does run deep at Paragon. Credentials matter, so does your future. Visit paragon-adv.com or give them a call. 979-693-3907 to schedule your free consultation today. It is Paragon Financial Advisors. Integrity, expertise and trust. Paragon Financial Advisors.
- [22:23]
B
Give it to me.
- [22:24]
C
Give it to me.
- [22:24]
B
The Louis Polina show.
- [22:26]
A
It's awesome.
- [22:26]
B
He's all gas and no breaks. Listen in weekdays limited, two in the zone.
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A
We're back. It is Tech Sags live. We're presented by David Gardner, Schiller's Rollo Insurance Studio. So finally I get to find out what Kaylee Dreier wanted to talk about earlier in the show. She's like, I got something to talk about. All right, tell me. She's like, nah, I'll tell you on the show. So now you can tell me on the show dryer.
- [22:50]
E
I did tell you on the Angry
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A
Elephant News and Social Center. You did tell me during the break.
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E
So last night I was watching a little bit of Josh Pate's show, and he had this topic that I thought was interesting that you could discuss. He said, create a bubble of all the teams you think could win the national title, with the bubble being as small as possible. And if at the end of the year the winning team is not in that bubble, you die.
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A
Okay, well, I think death is not like I'm putting everybody in the bubble, because he didn't say if the bubble. Everybody, 120 teams, let's go.
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E
He said, make the bubble as small as possible.
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A
Yeah, that's as small as possible to guarantee that I don't die.
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E
Well, so he did go on to say that a lot of people would have lost this game last year because of Indiana winning the national title. But I want to know who you would put in the bubble, and then I'll tell you what he said.
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A
All right, so let's go by conference. Let's go. SEC standings from last year. That. Not that has anything to do with this year. All right. Can win a national championship this year. Not saying that I think they're going to win, but if my life is on the line, I got to give them. I'm going to give them a little pat on the. On the rear, Right?
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C
All right.
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A
Go get them, killer. Right. There we go. Hey, there's the standings right there. Georgia. Yes. Texas. Yes. A and M. Yes. Lsu. Yes. Alabama.
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E
Yes.
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A
I mean, have a chance, right? Oklahoma. Yes. Ole Miss. Yes. And I think it stops there. I have the power for win. Total projection. So we'll just go down the line if that helps. You want Big Ten next? Sure. Here's Big Ten. Okay. Oregon. Yes. Are you keeping score? I give you eight teams.
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E
Okay.
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A
So they have a chance. I don't think the eighth best team in the sec, but we're talking about have a chance to win it all and not die.
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E
Okay.
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A
The not die thing is a big deal to me.
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E
Okay. Take that out and just.
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A
I know you said it. And now I'm thinking health. Okay. Thinking about veggies. I'm thinking about a lot of things. Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State. I don't think USC and Michigan and Penn State have a chance to win a national championship, but if I went eight on the sec, I'm going to go six in the Big Ten. Fair. Everybody agree? Disagree. Have a chance. I'd cut it off after Ohio State.
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E
Already too many.
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B
How many?
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E
Did Josh Pate have seven?
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A
Oh, in the country he took, but he's not gonna kill himself. Okay, so you want it really small. You should have capped him. God, it's just the whole thing. Nobody wants to die.
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E
Pick seven or eight.
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A
Pick seven or eight. All right, fine. Three from the Big Ten. All right, so you want Big 12 next.
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D
Go.
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A
Go back to the SEC.
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E
Okay,
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A
I guess I'm going to go four in the sec. Seven. This is not going to be as small as Paige. I still have death in the back of my mind. The four is Georgia, Texas A and
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B
M and LSU or.
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A
Sure, yeah. If so, yes. I don't think LSU's going to be good. I don't think they're going to be as good as everybody says. But if of everyone in the big. In the SEC, they would have the best chance. So let's go four there. Let's go three in the SEC. Okay, here's Big Ten. I mean, in the Big Ten, Big 12. One tech. Just tech. Yeah. Okay, here's the ACC one, maybe two, but I'm gonna go one Miami. Okay, that's it. There's your power four. How many I get? Math anyone? Nine? Nine. All right, so mine's nine. All right. And again, the whole death thing changes the whole conversation.
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E
Okay, well, just think of it as a game.
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B
All right.
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A
We forgot Notre Dame. Did he have Notre Dame on his.
- [26:31]
E
Yes.
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A
So he has seven and Notre Dame or seven with seven. With Notre Dame was A&M on that seven.
- [26:37]
E
No.
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A
Can win a national champion. Of course we can.
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E
His. Do you want to know his teams?
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A
I lost interest. No. Yes, of course.
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E
Okay. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas, Miami, Georgia and Indiana.
- [26:50]
A
I'm going to text him and I'm going to tell him how hard of an exercise this was. Had he said anything else, you know, the flu. You get the flu. I would have probably been a little bit more concerned. Anyway, my buddy Chance McLean texted me this week. And you guys know that he runs Heritage Films. He was my boss at 1560, and he's been a dear friend for a long time. He does these documentaries, and I've told you many, many times this is the truth, that Aggies are like his biggest customers, because Aggies like telling their stories. They like telling their family stories, family ranch stories. And Chance has this video he sent to me over the weekend that I think was very interesting. So check it out.
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B
When I get up in the morning
- [27:31]
D
and I go to my garage, the
- [27:32]
B
first thing I do is turn the TV on, you know, and I'll Put it on Texags. Shout out Nuno.
- [27:39]
D
I put it on Texags and I'll
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B
watch that and I have it on in the background.
- [27:42]
A
Alright, so that's Austin Henderson of Big Aggie. A great Aggie, I should say. And Chance is just doing these documentary films and you know, Texags came up. So shout out to Austin and his family. He works in oil and gas. Lifelong Aggie family members are Aggies graduated from Sam Houston until last year. He got his master's from A and M. So shout out to Austin on that. But the cool thing is Austin is I don't know what the genesis of his story was, if he's doing his own story of his family story. But we all have stories and Chance and his team put it together. And I'm telling you, after you watch your two hour documentary, you're going to say, oh my God, like it's such a awesome experience to share with your parents, your, your mother, whoever it may be. I just celebrated my dad's 96th birthday over the weekend. We did a video with Chance. It was so worth it. I'm telling you guys, jump on this opportunity before it's too late because we are not promised tomorrow. Check out the website YourHeritageFilm.com that is YourHeritageFilm.com or call them up. 713-893-8341 is Heritage Films.
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B
The Money Machine is open now. Two ways to enter each week.
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D
Oh, come on. Don't keep us in suspense.
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B
Zone1150.com and the zone newsletter. Thank you.
- [28:52]
A
And we're back. Tech Sags live, presented by David Gardner's Jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. Let's go to the Buppy's Catering and Bartending hotline joined by my dear friend Sean Salisbury, who's worked everywhere in the country. The best when it comes down to breaking down college sports and the NFL. Sean, what's up, buddy?
- [29:08]
D
David, I'm doing well. How are you, my friend?
- [29:10]
A
I'm good, man, I'm good. Thank you for joining us. And last time we had you on the show, I believe was right after you finished your master's program. So how was that whole experience?
- [29:20]
D
Phenomenal. And obviously it was there at Texas A and M in sport marketing. I made the promise to my mom and dad when I was walking off the stage at USC with my undergrad degree and you know how it gets in college with football and you kind of find a little bit too much fun. I said I'm going to commit even more when I leave. When I go get my master's. So while I got it later in life, football and broadcasting kind of got in the way career did. But I promised and I. I'm proud that I lived up to. It was a great experience. Phenomenal. You know, it's one thing I went into it with a bunch of young kids that are, for the most part, there were some adults, but it's like, I don't know, what's the advantage here? Maybe my life experience. But when it came to technology and going back, like, oh, my gosh, I haven't done a PowerPoint in a long time unless it's a football one, you know, talking about sports. So it was a fulfilling. It was a lot of hard work, but it was also something I'm. I'm more proud of that than I am anything that I've done in my career, honestly, just because of when I did it. And it's great competition, but I also. The students were phenomenal, and some of the best professors in the world, so on. And sport marketing from Texas A and M is one of the best in the country. So it was great. And so while I'm a Trojan, there's a big part of me that's Aggie as well. So it. I'm very proud of it. But it was a lot of hard work, and I'm thinking, why am I doing this? Well, I made a promise and tried to live up to it, and I was fortunate to be able to do that. So I think my mom and dad would be proud if they were around.
- [30:48]
A
Sean, I'm going to brag about you because you've always been the same guy when you were at espn, you were always very approachable. I would get you on the show all the time, and afterwards, you've always been the same way. Catch us up on what you're doing because I know you have a YouTube series that you've been working on and some other things.
- [31:04]
D
Yeah. David, thank you. That's, again, the best compliments I can ever get from somebody is, you know, not that I threw a touchdown pass. Hell, I don't even remember those. I threw enough interceptions that canceled those out. But is when somebody says what you said, the friend hasn't changed through the ups. And I know what rock bottom looks like, too. A lot of humbling things. But, you know, friends and family have meant the world to me. So for me, though, I guess the sustainability and the length of the key. I'm 30 years into a broadcast career, and I feel like I got 30 left because the energy Never leaves the passion. So now I'm, you know, I was doing morning drive in Houston for a long time and spent 13 years. And I love this town. The fans here and the listeners have treated me phenomenal. But started the unpaved podcast. I wanted to do something from the ground up. You know, we all doing it on our own now. I'm open to anything, obviously. And there was a time in the last two years where I thought, I want to get out of the broadcasting business completely. Not because I don't have a passion and love it, but there was also other interests I have. And I think you get pigeonholed even with a master's degree. And I'm also a certified mediator in the state of Texas. I went through that certification is you get pigeonholed as an athlete. That that's all you know. And there's a big part of me and now that said, you know what? I want to prove that I do, whether it's management or, you know, in the oil and gas business or sales business, say no. I love the golf apparel business or the golf business. There's a lot of things and I still keep that open, but this is what I do. And. And so we built unpaved. And when they say, well, why unpaved by the name of the show, and I mean in life, rarely are we on the paved road to get where we want to go, so you better embrace going off. And some of our best experiences are like when we didn't even expect it. And it's the same. I'm a big golfer and I'm rarely in the fairway, so I got to learn how to hit out of a bunker. And I rarely go to a friend and say, hey, man, I hit a 100 yard wedge shot to 3ft. It's. I hit a bunker shot out of a bunker, wrapped it around. Those are the ones you brag to your buddies about. So that's it. And we cut, you know, it's sports and life. And I think we're all fatigued, Dave, by the politics, you know, from 2020 or even early. Well, I don't care what side you sit on the podcast. The fatigue of going on a show and having got, say, stuff on TV and radio, that's either politics or it's always something other than why we tuned in. And on Friday, I know my pops, when he was alive, they came home from work, wanted to watch sports, and if he wanted news, he'd turn on the news. Not that we can't all have an opinion, but we're so fatigued. So my show unpaid, we focus and we hit stuff hard. You know, women's, biological men and women's sports has become a big topic. So you got to hit it because it's sports related. But I try to give them some respite from the beat down of fatigue and just not overwhelming with X's and O's. We all like that. But just good opinion without. I never say anything I don't believe. And that's kind of bothered me over the last decade or so of where we've gone. I think fans deserve to hear the truth and transparency whether we agree or not. And people think if you disagree, you're supposed to hate. And I don't believe that. So we built Unpaved and it's really started to. There's a lot of traction. We've been on for a little over a year and a little less than a year with this current team and I love it. I love the fact that it's a grind. And when you say grind, hell, my dad was a blue collar. I'm talking about the grind to get following and to go out and build it, you know, organically. And then the big thing too is coming down. I've. I've corralled two other guys under the unpaved YouTube umbrella and I can't say anything about it yet who they are. But the three shows will be so different. The one that's coming on, it'll be the best storytelling. If you're not geared for storytelling or if you're a faint of heart, don't apply for this one. And it's good. People been trying to corral this guy for 30 or 40 years and he's been one of. He's a great friend. You're going to love it. The other one is a name that everybody in the country knows and been a dear friend of mine a long time. And you're going to get a great mix of both NFL and college and it'll be a great show. So both of them in August should be introduced. We're just finalizing a few details advertising wise and so I'm excited about that and hope people will listen. Both of those will be on YouTube as well. The one show will be called QB Confessions, meaning confession, which will be really cool. In the huddle, off the huddle, from a bar to a restaurant to all that stuff, nothing's off limits. It'll be fun and like wow factor. And the other one is just going to be as solid a good football and life Talk as there is. So I'm never the star in any of these. I'm just grateful to be a part of it and still doing it. And I'm still the same passion I did 30 years ago, brother. So. And I'm always honored. I know that's a lot of verbiage, but I'm always honored to be on with you. So thanks.
- [35:35]
A
Well, I appreciate it, my man. You've always been a dear friend. Let's. Let's talk about some quarterback confessions. Marcel Reed evaluate. And I like to preface things because I'm a Marcel guy. I know that he ended the season poorly. I know that the defenses got after him. That's. Some of it's on Marcel. Some of it was on the O line, some of it was on the line. Lack of running. But when you look at his total body of work. Where are you on Marcel Reed?
- [35:58]
D
I'm a fan. I actually think now I know they've, you know, from transfers and injuries and expectations, you know, all the way going back to what, Haynes, King, right. Who turned out. Look what happened. He went to another school and he was really good at Georgia Tech. It just didn't work out. For whatever reason, I actually think this kid, in my mind, I might be missing something. But as far as guys that have gone, they're there and stayed there. I think he's as gifted as any they've had, you know, and when I say it, in the last decade, eight year, whatever, it's been dynamic playmaker. What he needs to do is get some of the late game, be a hero syndrome. He's got a phenomenal, adjustable, adaptable defensive coach. Me as a head coach who knows how to get you the ball in positions you don't have to make every play. And while I don't ever want to coach that gift out of him. The judicious part of, you know, being judicious with the football, late game moments, and it looks like he wore down or, you know, got to him late in the season. But that doesn't take away from who I think he is. I think he provides some really significant leadership. He's a, he's a football player. And Jesse's a dynamic playmaker, elite mobility and good coaches and we saw it with him. You, You want to make sure they can still beat the trillability. We don't win championships in college or the NFL by being a guy who's escaped first pocket second. We just don't. Now if you're Josh Allen or Marcel Reeds gifts and you can still Be patient enough to throw people open and be anticipated anticipatory from the pocket. But when it breaks down, there's going to be eight or 10 plays a game, every game. More in college because you have more plays, they play faster. Where you just got to be a football player, throw it away, throw it to your mom or dad in the stands. Take a sack at midfield and punt it away. And if he can get to that point now with all this experience he's gathered and not have to be here. They got weapons and they got a defense that will get them the football and they adapt. I think that you're looking at an elite playmaker. Just be smart with the football late and when you look at the sec, we can go up and down, look at some of the veterans that are coming back. Matiere at Oklahoma, Levitt, although he's going to lsu. Gunnar Stockton, Arch Manning, Trinidad Chambliss. This is a loaded at the top quarterback division and he's as gifted as any of them. It'll come down to what decisions he makes late in the game and realize he doesn't have to be a hero. His natural ability will take him places that, you know, guys that were pocket guys like me just couldn't do outside the pocket. I mean wish you could, but after two injuries I could. He's got that so patience and you don't have to make every play by yourself. A&M's got a chance to be in the playoff and they are obviously a nationally ranked defense and they will dominate you on third down. I love the coach and they've got plenty of playmakers on offense and it'll be dictated if where they go is where Reed's going to take them because I know what the defense provides.
- [38:59]
A
Sean, in your playing day, college pro or maybe just as a broadcaster, do you know of offensive lines that were brand new? Basically A&M's got 4/5 of their offensive line is going to be brand new that they figured it out to be national championship, super bowl type contender or is there always going to be this transition period?
- [39:18]
D
There is a transition period and a lot of that on the mental side takes place in the off season. David, I know that people think you just line up in September. We all do. Oh man, what they do. But I think a lot of it. Now that doesn't mean if you missed one workout in March that you're. They used to do this with Tony Romo. No disrespect to Tony, who's been in the news recently, but as a player and you remember Dave, when Tony go play golf in March, you know, and throw an interception in September. Oh, if he wouldn't have played golf that day. It's. No, that's not the way it works. They have lives to live. But as an offensive line, I've said this a million times and I still believe it. We always hear quarterback, receiver, timing and being on the same page. Well, in truth, a curl is a curl is a curl, a flat's a flat's a flat. To me, the greatest group that has to be in unison. If one receiver runs the wrong route and I got a smart quarterback, or he sees a guy, slips, he comes inside, gets the second and third progression to get it to somebody else and tees it up. Another play. If I'm great with three guys and two guys are just off that day, or four offensive linemen and one's on the wrong page or mentally doesn't know who to block or communicate with those guys, you have no shot. That's what happens. So the unison of 5 caps and mixing a tight end up front or a back block and out of the back. But those five dudes are so important, and I know we say that, but we're so engaged and caught up in the perimeter stuff. As a player, I can tell you this. If those five and I was fortunate to play with guys at SC like Bruce Matthews, we know all about his A and M connections. And Roy Foster and Don Mostbar, all first round picks in Minnesota, Gary Zimmerman and Randall McDaniel, who are both in the hall of Fame. But the other three guys that weren't stars were really good and they were all in unison. So there is a learning curve, but I think a lot of the mental part takes care of verbiage and studying in the offseason and then you just got to coach it. I'm going to tell you what I love, though. Even though they lost a lot and this is a. They're going to have to revamp it and retool this offensive line. They just are. And it's going to be a big part because as a quarterback, back to Marcel Reed, what happens is with a new line, until you gain trust. David, what's the initial thing you do? You bail to your strength, like, oh my gosh. And you bail early because you, you're still learning. Oh, that guy that crosses your face, that guard's going to step out and get him. But until you trust that, you lean on what you do. Great. And we know about Reed's physics, you know, his physical ability and athletic talent. So you got to gain that trust. And it's hard from the off season and now when you're putting in new bodies when you lost a great deal of them up front like A and M. But once you do that, and here's why it's important, even with my guy Sumlin and my guy Noel Mazzone going back, this is as physical of a Texas A and M team. I mean, year in and year out, they used to start fast and finish because physically they couldn't keep up with the sec. In the end, they had trouble doing it even with all those great athletes. Well, there was a shift in mentality and you know that shift in mentality is we're going to dominate the line of scrimmage and we may lose, but you're going to know you got into a bloodied fist fight. And when we win, we are going to body blow you till the cows come home. And that's the shift with A and M. So the physicality there. And we know they've got perimeter people. I also think that permeates to the offensive line even when you're new. We don't do this just sitting in a two point stance the whole game where we're going to pass for them. We are getting down and we're playing downhill football. And to me, teams that, that have that mentality practice like that and I think that that's where they're headed. It's going to take a minute. You shouldn't expect what you expected last year. Early on with an offense that can dominate a game, it's going to change. But the physical nature of how they're teaching it should come along faster than a team that needs to be revamped at that position. And they do need. But it's going to be a quick mental transformation. They're going to have to make.
- [43:06]
A
Got to drop it there. Sean, thanks so much. Let's do it again real soon. All right, buddy.
- [43:10]
D
Thank you. I appreciate you, brother. Good luck.
- [43:12]
A
Thank you, man. Sean Salisbury, we'll be back at Stack Sacks live.
- [43:15]
B
Spend your late nights with Sports center all night from ESPN Radio here on the Zone.