TexAgs Live - The Fan Show : 08.06.26

Summary

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Podcast Summary: TexAgs Live – The Fan Show (08.06.26)

Podcast: Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
Date: August 6, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode dives deep into Texas A&M football as pre-season camp kicks off. The show features an exclusive interview with running back Tiger Ryden and a spirited discussion among the TexAgs crew about the running back room, schedule strength, college football rankings, team rivalries, and key season swing factors. The tone is informal, competitive, and deeply rooted in Aggie culture.

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Featured Interview: Tiger Ryden on Recovery, Mindset, and the Aggie RB Room

[00:00-09:31]

Key Points & Insights

• Tiger Ryden discusses coming back from early injury last season, the challenges of patience, and his hunger to finally contribute.
• Emphasizes the running back room’s depth and collective focus on physicality, versatility, and pass blocking.
• Details on position dynamics: veteran leadership, special teams pride, and a “next man up” mentality from his high school days.
• Ryden reflects on his bond with coach Troop and why Texas A&M feels like home, citing deep roots and strong relationships.
• Excitement about an "explosive" offense in 2026 and praise for Marcel’s development as a leader.

Notable Quotes

• “I was, like, frustrated. I tried to rush on the field, and as I see, like, I can't think the same. I gotta slow down.” – Tiger Ryden, on handling his injury and recovery (00:56)
• “This room. I'm so, like, it's so great. Like, any one of us can get out the game and put somebody in. It won't be a setback.” – Tiger Ryden on RB room depth (01:54)
• “We got to recreate the line of scrimmage. That's what we beg on this offseason... we can't wait to show it.” – Tiger Ryden, on team mentality/OL (03:55)
• “One word. I say explosive. Okay. Explosive. Explosive. We got guys that can make plays from everywhere.” – Tiger Ryden, vision for the 2026 offense (05:35)
• “This is the first thing on our mind. We cannot have a flop year. We gotta go win it, and we got the team to do it.” – Tiger Ryden, on back-to-back success mission (09:22)

Memorable Moments

• Ryden credits special teams as his gateway to playing time, a role he embraces with pride (04:52).
• “When I first got into football, the first thing we ever did was run all day. And I was like, pops, I can't do this. Then one day I said, pops, I wanna go to practice. And ever since then, I fell in love with the game.” – His journey to football (07:54)
• Predicts the team is “going past the first round” and aims for an “excellent year” (09:07).

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The Fan Show Roundtable: Rivalry Rants, Rankings, and Season Outlook

[11:05-45:42]

Coaches Poll & Schedule Strength

[11:51-14:08]

• Debate on the value of preseason polls: “they kind of matter a little bit” (David Gardner, 11:57)
• Frustration at schedule disparities – SEC teams face much tougher slates than programs like Texas Tech or Notre Dame.
• Highlight: “We're playing six ranked teams... is that comparable?” (David Gardner, 12:36)
• Tech’s schedule dismissed as lightweight, leading to commentary on national perceptions and playoff implications.

Rivalries & The "Hierarchy of Hate"

[15:22-18:59]

• Lively discussion about which programs Aggie fans hate most. Tech, Texas (“Sips”), LSU all make the top five.
• Stories of tortilla-throwing at Tech games and “Sand Aggies” nickname for Tech fans add to the banter (16:34-16:38).
• “Tech reminds me of that annoying kid that was friends with the bully. And Texas is the bully.” (Host, 18:35)

Preseason Practice: Social Media Hype vs. Reality

[20:51-25:19]

• Caution against reading too much into camp photos/videos or brief player drills: “I'm not going to let a bunch of, you know, 18 to 21 year olds ruin my day because they lost a football game.” (Roy, 21:23)
• Reminder that media/fans see minimal real practice action; evaluations must wait for actual games.

Long Wait for Football & Fan Expectation Management

[25:20-27:40]

• The agonizing month before the season starts: “30 days away today. And you're like, dang, it still feels like forever.” (Hunter, 25:20)
• “We really need to see... how are they going to play in November?” (Hunter, 25:49)

Hypothetical Season Scenarios: How Would You Feel?

[26:27-27:40]

• Would fans rather lose first two games then win out, or start hot and falter late? Panel leans toward finishing strong, even if September is rocky.
• “If you guaranteed it right now... and then you win all of your playoff games. Yeah, I take that in a heartbeat.” (Hunter, 27:33)

Key Swing Factors for the 2026 Season

[35:04-39:45]

• Quarterback Play: Marcel’s performance, especially minimizing turnovers, seen as crucial (35:33-36:47).
• Offensive Line: “A good offensive line establishes everything... it can help negate a great pass rush.” (Roy, 39:16)
• Defensive Line: Improvement and depth here would allow the defense to win close games (David Gardner, 38:15).

Position Group and Player Questions Entering Camp

[40:02-44:36]

• RB and WR rooms seen as solid; O-line chemistry and tight end production are more uncertain.
• “Just get out of camp healthy.” (Roy, 41:54) – Durability is key.
• Anticipation over who emerges from the deep wide receiver pool.

Realistic Optimism & National Championship Hopes

[44:10-45:36]

• Comparing optimism to 2021, hosts feel more grounded now due to a daunting SEC schedule and lessons from past overhype.
• “I think the schedule is what does it for me. We could be the 2019 LSU Tigers and possibly lose a game on this schedule.” (Hunter, 44:57)
• Coach Elko’s focus — “We haven't done anything” — resonates with the panel as a reality check (45:18).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tiger Ryden Interview Start: 00:34
• Tiger on 2026 RB Room: 01:54
• Discussing O-Line and Season Mentality: 03:55
• Special Teams Pride: 04:52
• Season Expectations & Leadership: 05:35
• Team Mission for Back-to-Back Success: 09:22
• Running Back Room Q: 40:26
• Offensive Line Chemistry Q: 41:11
• Discussion of Camp Health & Depth Charts: 41:53
• Wide Receiver Depth Emergence: 42:28
• Tight End as a Key Wildcard: 43:01
• Realistic Optimism vs. 2021: 44:10

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Tone & Takeaways

• The episode blends insight with humor and Aggie-centric storytelling, fueling anticipation for fall football.
• Running backs are a bright spot, with Tiger Ryden’s mentality, physicality, and pride in teamwork on full display.
• Hosts maintain both optimism and skepticism about preseason hype, focusing on chemistry, durability, and schedule challenges.
• Familiar rivalries and “hate hierarchies” stoke the fan base’s competitive spirit while the roundtable keeps expectations grounded.

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Transcript

[Host]

We're back. Tech Sags live presented by David Gardner Jewelers, Rollo Insurance Studios. Super excited about the running backs. As I've mentioned, had an opportunity to talk with Tiger Ryden yesterday, and it was a fun conversation. Young man is ready to show what he can do. Unfortunately, got injured early last year, so we didn't really get to see a refined product. And he hopes that this is the year that he gets to show off some of those skills that made him such a highly coveted running back just a year and a half ago. Let's listen to this interview from Texas Aggies United. We with Tiger Riding, everybody, and welcome into the huddle, brought to you by Tech Tags and United. Our guest is Tiger Riding.

[Roy]

What's up, man?

[Tiger Ryden]

What's up? What's up? How you doing?

[Host]

Good. So I obviously followed your career, high school, since you got here to Texas A and M, but my first time to talk to you today, camp starts, man, you pumped?

[Tiger Ryden]

I can't wait.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Tiger Ryden]

It's like waiting on a birthday.

[Host]

So take me back to last year. You had the setback, what you're thinking, kind of take me through mentally and then what the next 11 months felt

[Tiger Ryden]

like what when it first happened, mentally, I was, like, frustrated. I'm like. I tried to rush on the field, and as I see, like, I can't think the same. I gotta slow down. I had good support with the training staff, so they got me to slow down, take things slow. And once I was able to get my mental right, it was a smooth three months. I got back with the team, got to play a little special team, spilled myself out, and now I'm back healthy and strong.

[Host]

Healthy and strong. Was it probably a combination of emotions watching Jamo Jamarion play so well, thinking I could be doing that, too, but also being proud of your guy.

[Tiger Ryden]

Yeah. Cause you know, that's my guy. We super tight. I came in with him. I was so happy for him, but at the same time, I was like, yeah, I need to be out there with my guy. That's why I tried to get healthy so fast, so I can be right next to him. But this year, this room is great.

[Host]

Okay, well, let's talk about the room. Because, I mean, you got the vet and Ruben and you got Jamari. You got yourself. You got these young guys. Like, you got a room.

[Tiger Ryden]

This room. I'm so, like, it's so great. Like, any one of us can get out the game and put somebody in. It won't be a setback. We all got. We all can block. We all can run, we all can catch. So there's no setback. Anybody getting the game. We confident we can win the game with them.

[Host]

So for people who haven't watched you play in particular, how would you describe your style of running and maybe kind of compare it to what's in the room?

[Tiger Ryden]

Okay, I say first. I say physicality. That's where we live in. I run physicality. I say I'm a pass. Blocker. I take pride in pass blocking. I hold room, take pride in pass blocking. And third, I'll say I can catch out the backfield. That's something I'm improving on more, but I think that's one of my traits as well.

[Host]

Sounds. I mean, tell me if I'm wrong here, but kind of similar to what I heard about EJ when he first got here. You guys, similar games?

[Tiger Ryden]

Yes, sir. I'd say a little bit similar to ej, but I got my own style with the physicality, mixed it with the. I can run, I can. I got a good acceleration, things like that. But it's kind of similar to ej, but not all the way.

[Host]

So is it. Do you have to kind of pace yourself? I mean, this is going to be your first full camp because of the injury last year, but do you have to kind of pace yourself because you've been waiting, like you're ready to just jump out and do all this, but there's still a process. And a month before the season starts,

[Tiger Ryden]

I just say, just take them taking the coaching, be consistent. I work. I worked super hard this offseason, so I'm confident and just take the coaching and play ball. I've been playing it my whole life.

[Host]

Talk to me about Troop and what he means to that.

[Tiger Ryden]

Troop. Troop, man. That's my guy. I met him back when I was a junior. When I first met him, I was like, I want to go play for him. Yeah. And, like, he just so. He's so honest. He's so, like, honest feedback. That's all I asked for in relationships. He big on relationships. I can call Troop any day. He gonna pick up. When I had my accident, he was there with me all the way to three in the morning. So, like, relationships are strong with him, and that's why I love him.

[Host]

When you look back at last season, obviously you weren't able to participate as much as you wanted. It seemed like the running game was fantastic, and then it kind of. It got plateaued a little bit towards the end. Why do you think that's the case? How much pride does this Group want to show that no. We can do this for an entire season. Yes.

[Tiger Ryden]

I say this season, the O line in us, we got a mindset. We got to recreate the line of scrimmage. That's what we beg on this offseason. What we big on this foul camp and we can't wait to show it.

[Host]

So let's kind of go through some of the guys and talk about what you think that they bring to the table this year. All right, so start off with Ruben, who's the vet in the room. I remember when he was in your shoes years back. Right. And he also had an injury early on in his career. Talk to me a little bit about what you've seen from Ruben so far.

[Tiger Ryden]

Reuben, he a vet. He bring the football iq, he bring experience. He bring every down back. You can learn anything from him.

[David Gardner]

Yeah.

[Host]

And then Jamarion J. Mo.

[Tiger Ryden]

J. Mo. He brings the elusiveness in the room, the shiftiness in the room, but he also can be physical. Yeah.

[Host]

And then KJ and Carson.

[Tiger Ryden]

KJ and Carson. When I tell you these guys is speed guys, but they can get physical too. If you look at them, you was like, they just speed guys, but they can do everything. They are every down back, both of them.

[Host]

And then for you in particular, you said you like to pick up blocks. What about special teams?

[Tiger Ryden]

Oh, I love special teams. Special teams win games and I was taught that in high school too. So, like, I just carried on to college. I was like, special teams gonna get me on the field first. So I take very pride in it.

[Host]

Well, your high school came up on the show today, and I mean, a proud tradition of getting guys ready for the next level. What is it? What is it about, like, what they have taught you through the process?

[Tiger Ryden]

I would say Knicks man up mentality. Cause you know, we get a lot of good players through there. So it's the Knicks man up next. Man up. And you can never get comfortable because somebody can come in and take a spot at any time.

[Host]

Obviously, we'll see it all roll out over the next couple weeks. But what do you think this offense is going to look like this year?

[Tiger Ryden]

One word. I say explosive. Okay. Explosive. Explosive. We got guys that can make plays from everywhere.

[Host]

Have you seen Marcel kind of grow up, even though he was awesome last year? But have you seen him grow?

[Tiger Ryden]

Yes. I say he's leading. He's one of the best leaders we got in the building right now.

[Host]

And when you have so much turnover, so many guys going in the NFL, it's good reason to have Turnover. Like, is it easy to keep that culture in place, the way coachelko set it up?

[Tiger Ryden]

Yes, it's easy. Especially when you got guys like him surrounding us. Like, he keep his heat, he keep his head on straight, and he leaves it in the past, and he move forward.

[Host]

What about this schedule you guys have this year?

[Tiger Ryden]

I mean, it's tough, but we built for it. Like Coach Elko said, it's our standard. We here, we not running from it, and we gotta face it.

[Host]

And regardless of the schedule, as long as you guys do the work, I mean, you have the talent, right? So as long as you do the work, it'll be good.

[Tiger Ryden]

Yes, sir. Like he said, we put in all this work. It's time to go short.

[Host]

Let's talk about the defense. You go against them, are they. Because last year's defense was salty. They looking good.

[Tiger Ryden]

Yes, sir. We got the secondary. One of the best secondaries I've seen with my own eyes. We got the D line. We had to replace some studs. We got the D line. We got big, strong guys. We replaced our edges with some good guys. Marco, guys like that. Yes. They gonna come for you. We're gonna get a lot of turnovers this year.

[Host]

Beyond Troop, do you remember why Texas A and M was your home? Why did you think it would be home?

[Tiger Ryden]

So I always knew I was gonna be a hometown guy. And once I met Coach Elko and Coach Troop, I was like, this is where I want to be. You know, I was always. I've been around Texas A and M since, like, my eighth grade year. You know, Coach Tony, he's the Soto guy. So I've been around Texas A and M, so I always kind of liked it. But when I met them two, I was like, this is my choice.

[Host]

I. You know, it's interesting, too, that the way Texas A and M, like, for some kids, they don't know a lot about it, and then they get here and they know all about it. But it seems like because of the rich tradition of DeSoto and A and M, you had plenty of time to kind of get to know the program.

[Tiger Ryden]

Yes, sir. I just been around. And you got some more Turner. Guys like that that always been around, recruiting me as I was going through the process. And so, like. And I'm like a second home.

[Host]

Yeah. When he was recruiting you, I mean, were you aware of how good he was? Like, could you. Did you understand it?

[Tiger Ryden]

Yeah, I knew how good he was. I watched him growing up. When he was in high school, I went to DeSoto Middle School. And I always watched him and things like that. I was like, yeah, that's good. He good. He gonna be great.

[Host]

When did you fall in love with football? And how did you fall in love with football?

[Tiger Ryden]

I would say I fell in love with it around six years old. You know, when I first got into football, the first thing we ever did was run all day. And I was like, pops, I can't do this. Then one day. One day I said, pops, I wanna go to practice. And ever since then, I fell in love with the game.

[Host]

And were you always a running back? Did you play everywhere?

[Tiger Ryden]

I started off at quarterback, but I realized all I did was run the ball. So I'm like, I gotta switch the running back.

[Host]

So are you like Lev in the fact when you see a guy, you want to run through him? Is that how you. Or do you like to kind of like, what's your approach when it comes to that?

[Tiger Ryden]

I would say my mindset is physicality. I choose physicality. But also, you got to be smart.

[David Gardner]

Yeah.

[Tiger Ryden]

So I know that I can't always do that because beating up on the body, it's a long season. So I gotta mix the physical with the lucid kind of my game.

[Host]

How did the name Tiger come about

[Tiger Ryden]

a little league football coach? When I was around six, you know, they called my pops Tiger growing up, so my little league coach started calling me Tiger and I just ran with it.

[Host]

Yeah, and everybody called you Tiger.

[Tiger Ryden]

Everybody called me Tiger.

[Host]

Last thing for you. So it sounds like you're pretty bullish on this team. What kind of year do you think we can have?

[Tiger Ryden]

Excellent year. Yeah, we're going. I'm telling you, we're going past the first round.

[Host]

Well, that's the thing Coach Elko talked about yesterday, and I know he brings it up in the building all the time. It's like doubling down success. This program hasn't had a lot of success in back to back years. So this is like a mission for you guys.

[Tiger Ryden]

This is the first thing on our mind. We cannot have a flop year. We gotta go win it, and we got the team to do it.

[Host]

I'm gonna drop it right there. That was fantastic, Tiger. Thank you, sir.

[Tiger Ryden]

Appreciate it.

[Host]

Tiger riding here on the huddle on Texas. We got the team to do it and they're gonna go do it. I hope that is the case right now. We're gonna hit a break. We'll come back with the fan show guys. In today's fan show, Nick, I don't know if you know this. All three are here Hunter Shirtliff. You know his sabbatical where he goes and plays music at all these bars around the country. He is back in College Station to do the show right now. Great news for Aggies everywhere. If you ever wanted a one stop shop for nothing but Aggie related content, what you need to do is is check out theaggiespirit.com, a website that is designed for the Aggie network where the 12th man can scroll anytime, anywhere. Theaggyspirit.com features nothing but Aggie generated content from social news, good bull, what's going on at A and M with education, research, campus life to former students doing cool things. You can like comment by giving it a giggum or share the content to your own personal network using your social media channel of choice. By giving it a Whoop on the aggiespirit.com you also have the opportunity to share your own Aggie content for the opportunity to be featured in the website. So for 147 plus years the Aggie Network has existed and would not exist if it weren't for the Aggie spirit. It's because of friends like you that help fuel that Aggie spirit across generations through generosity and good bull. It's always been about the Aggie spirit. Visit the aggiespirit.com that is theaggyspirit.com to today to experience the latest Aggie content across social news, video and much more through the association of Former Students.

[Announcer]

This is your home for eggy football. Home, road or bowl? It's only 11:50am and 93.7 FM.

[Host]

And we're back, ladies and gentlemen, on Tech Sacks Live, the world famous program brought to you by myself and David Gardner's jewelers in the Rollo Insurance studio. It is now time for the show that we love to call the F Everyone's favorite.

[David Gardner]

You always feel high pitched there? I'm more of a base.

[Host]

I just change it up. Yeah, yeah. Welcome back, Hunter.

[David Gardner]

All right. Good to be back.

[Host]

It's been a minute.

[David Gardner]

Yeah, it's August 6th.

[Host]

First day of practice. Just yesterday.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

That's why he's here.

[David Gardner]

Slide in at the last minute.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

That's why he's here. As soon as football shows up, Hunter shows up. Yeah, that's what happens.

[Host]

Well, let's. Let's get the show kicked off with Carson Stein at the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. Carson, hardest question of the day and who gets it?

[Carson Stein]

I'm gonna give it to Hunter since he's back for the first time in a while. What's on your mind today?

[David Gardner]

What is on my mind? So this first week of football kicks off. What do we have? We have the coaches poll.

[Host]

Yeah.

[David Gardner]

Now look, I'm not one to get worked up about preseason polls, but people say they don't matter and I'm going to say they kind of matter a little bit.

[Tiger Ryden]

They do.

[David Gardner]

They do set this, you know, hierarchy. Yes. And information and the committee's listening to all this and you know, just because somebody says, hey, Texas Tech, they're a top 10 team, you know, well why, you know, but that they just start getting thrown in the, in the rankings there and you know, and it's fun to watch. I mean Texas A and M was number three for what, a month and a half last year, you know, so they're fun. We all watch them. But here's my problem and I'm not again, I'm not upset about this yet.

[Tiger Ryden]

Okay?

[David Gardner]

But this is coming and whether it's Alabama or it's LSU or Tennessee, SEC team with a couple losses, these teams in the rankings is top 10 are not the same. Right. And I'm going to beat this drum to look at Tech schedule. Right. They have a one game season basically, if that. All right. They don't even play byu. Here's our road games at Oregon State, at Colorado, at Cincinnati, at Oak State and at Baylor. Is that comparable? We're playing six ranked teams like legit ranked teams right now that you're not

[Host]

even counting in the top 12.

[David Gardner]

Yeah, I guess at Missouri's ranked but that's not even talking about at South Carolina. That's a venom pit, right?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah, that South Carolina, that South Carolina road game would be their hardest. I'm just saying we are the toughest game on their whole.

[David Gardner]

It's going to happen. I don't know who in the SEC is going to have the gripe, but we are heading down to that committee gripe because it's coming. If they're not going to compare these schedules and strength of record, it is coming down the pipe. But it's exciting. I mean it's fun to see the rankings. It's great to be number eight coming off that year. But there's, there's all, you know, first of all, back to Tech bashing real quick. They're a big game. Is University of Houston, maybe tcu Friday night game. That's their big game.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[David Gardner]

One's Thursday and one's Friday, I think. First of all. Okay, let's back up there. Friday night in West Texas in Lubbock and you're going to play a college football game.

[Host]

Well, they complained about it. They hate that idea. The.

[David Gardner]

I know, it's tv. Yeah, but that's. All those West Texas towns is just live for it and all those six man teams out there and everything else. Anyways, that's.

[Host]

Hey, let me ask you guys this question about Texas Tech because I. It has to be only because of the schedule. Any team in the SEC that you want and take away their starting quarterback in the spring, would they still be a top 12 team?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I mean, who knows? I mean they'd still, they probably still

[Host]

go undefeated if, if we knew today Sam Levitt wasn't able to go. Would, would LSU be in the top 12 if Mattir went down? If Marcel caught the flu and was going to miss the first month of the season?

[David Gardner]

There's no way, right?

[Host]

Yeah, it's, it's, it can only be. And I think Will Hammond's going to be a good quarterback by the way. I do think so because we saw enough of him last year. But you can't say outside of Ole Miss last year that went with their backup quarterback who was better than their starting quarterback, that you would be predicted to be a top 10 team or top 12 team on your backup quarterback. That just doesn't happen.

[Roy]

It's a game predicated on quarterback.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah, yeah, I do, I do have a question since this, this is the fan show. All right. Where does Tech fall in your hierarchy of hate? Where do they rank in your. In your hierarchy?

[Host]

They currently don't register on my hate.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Oh, they still have register they top five on mine.

[Roy]

Absolutely. I mean it's Sips at one, I have a tie at two. It's the worst scenarios to have a tie, right? Ohio State, Notre Dame, and then it's probably Tech and then it's probably lsu. Those are my top five.

[David Gardner]

I mean they're up there, but because we don't play them anymore. They're not, I think.

[Roy]

Well, see, I think I don't think

[David Gardner]

about you at all.

[Roy]

Well, I think it's still easy to have them top of mind though, because all the Cody Carpenter crap.

[David Gardner]

Yeah.

[Roy]

And so I think it's still easy. Like without playing them, they're easy to hit.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Five years ago we didn't even like. Yeah, like you go back to five

[Roy]

years ago, I still thought. I was thinking the Tortilla Throne was hilarious.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I'll say this. Back in the, back in the Big 12 days, I thought to myself, I hated them just as much as I hated Texas just because they were so obnoxious and so annoying, and they were beating us consistently, especially with leeches. Yeah, those leech days, they were beating us and they were just so obnoxious and so annoying and everything else, and so. And they still are. I mean, they're still the same people out there. There's.

[David Gardner]

They.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

What, what do the Longhorns call them? Sand Aggies. I've always thought that's pretty funny, by the way. I know it's a knock on both of us, but I still think it's pretty funny. But, I mean, they're still. I mean, I try to think to my. Even today, I'm like, who do I hate more than them? I mean, Texas, obviously, but. I mean, do I hate LSU more than I hate Tech? I don't think I do. Well, I don't think I. Oklahoma might be there because they're annoying and obnoxious, too, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend kind of thing.

[David Gardner]

I don't know.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

There's a, There's a. There's a kinship there of hatred.

[Roy]

Well, honestly, at the top of the list has to be South Carolina because of the bottom trophy, obviously. Biggest deal, biggest rivalry in the college football.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

You hate Baylor more than Tech. I don't, because I've got in laws that are salt of the earth and wonderful people that love Baylor and I can't hate them. Hate them. Like, I, I don't like them, but I don't hate them. Hate them.

[David Gardner]

Oh, they're way up there for me.

[Roy]

Oh, I know.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

That's what I'm saying. Like, would you put Baylor above Tech?

[David Gardner]

No, I would just. It's a personal deal.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Okay.

[Roy]

I put them literally right behind Tech.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah, my mother went to Tech. The only thing I don't like about her. Yeah, I mean, I, I, I, I was. I went to a Tech game one time, and I was sitting in the Tech section with some friends that went to Tech, and I stood up because we. I mean, we're. It's one of these games we're getting beat to death. Right? Those leech days were bad. This wasn't the game where they tore down their goal post after they beat us 13 to nothing in a game where they were ranked and we were. We were, I think, below 500. And they storm their own field, tear down their own goalposts and try to jam it up in the stands where the Aggies were sitting. I don't know if y' all remember that game, 2001. Yeah, this was, this was not that game. This was a different one. And I Stood up, clapped one time for like the first down. And I hear this. And next, you know, I look over and I'm telling you, a tortilla hits me. I mean, it couldn't hit me more perfectly in the face. I mean. And every one of these Tech fans see it and they all laughed at me for that. In that moment, I just sat down and I was like, that was embarrassing. But yeah, that's what these people do. Take their batteries too.

[Host]

If I remember, Tech reminds me of that annoying kid that was friends with the bully. And Texas is the bully in this conversation.

[Roy]

Like the instigator.

[Host]

Yeah. And. And the bully leaves like he transfers to a different school. And now this guy thinks, this is my territory. We run the Big 12, this is ours. Like that's what it feels like. They just think through this big fish in the Big 12. And by the way, where are they

[Hunter Shirtliff]

in your hatred hierarchy?

[Host]

I don't even think about them.

[Tiger Ryden]

I don't.

[Host]

I think during the big 12 days, yeah, I hated them. It was weird to hate them because I kind of like to Leech.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[Host]

But I didn't like him.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I hated Leech until he left there. Then now, then now. He was one of my favorite coaches ever.

[Host]

And then he beat us with Mississippi State.

[David Gardner]

Didn't we wrap up with three victories against him though in 9, 10, 11?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I think we did. Yeah. Yeah, that's true we did. But yeah, I was just curious.

[David Gardner]

But they're number one on the schedule disparity. There's some others. Notre Dame has a. We don't know how teams are going to work out this. Right. It's August, but Notre Dame has a three game schedule right now if you looked at it, byu, Miami, smooth.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[David Gardner]

Everybody else is the bottom of the Big Ten or the bottom of the acc.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[David Gardner]

On their schedule.

[Roy]

Think about Notre Dame. Always cracks me up is, you know their long standing rivalry with Navy. Right. Like they all. They'll always play Navy and I can't remember the story behind it, but it's a pretty cool story. But that's. That might be a tough game for them this year. Now I'm not saying they're lose by any means, but it's one of those games like when army went into Norman and took ou, I think to overtime. Right. That's a bad look. Yeah, it's a bad look to be close to a service academy. So that's. That'd be an interesting one. Just a circle on the Notre Dame schedule.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

No, but comparing Notre Dame's schedule, which we, which we think just on paper looks pretty easy. It's still, it's still a gauntlet compared to Texas, compared to Tech schedule. I mean, I mean they've got usc, they've got, you know, like you said, they've got Miami on. I mean those, those would be, those would both, both be by far their toughest text toughest opponent.

[David Gardner]

Who's that?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Miami or, you know, SMU or, you know, or ua.

[David Gardner]

So they don't play usc, Notre Dame?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I thought they played USC every year.

[David Gardner]

Well, they did. They canceled it because when pac. When the Big Ten went to the nine game schedule anyways. So USC, it's coming back in 20, 31 or something.

[Host]

It is coming back.

[David Gardner]

Okay.

[Host]

It's coming back. All right. Roy, what's on your mind?

[Roy]

Oh, man. Well, it's time. Right? But the more I thought about it, yeah, we talk about off season and then we have, you know, spring ball and then we talk about, then we go into quote, quote, talking season and then practice starts and everybody goes, football's here. Not really, not yet. It's here for the football players and for the staff and for the program. But this is still the part where the media has access for five to 10 minutes. And that's what we're basing all of our opinions off of.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Right.

[Roy]

So it's still a little bit of talking season. It's just talking season and we can talk about how big the dudes look. You know, and McGee was referring to this earlier. You know, it's, you know, an off season with Tommy Moffat. These guys come out and they look like monsters, which is great, but we just, we don't know. We still don't know. Right. And so I saw a clip yesterday on social media of Arch Manning throwing to one of the receivers and it was just a quarterback receiver drill. And they wrote like Manning connects with, connects with so and so connects. It's a passing drill. Like he, he threw a six yard out and they're acting like we're good, we're. Yep, yep, he's on. I've seen that guy throw dirt darts. So, so it's, it's fun to watch. It's fun to finally see him back on the field. Right? It's enjoyable. But to me, after all these years and you know, I've where my attention has been, we were talking about this a little bit. You know, I'm not going to let a 17 year old ruin my day because he didn't choose A M. Right. I'm not. And then you get to the point where I'm not going to let a bunch of, you know, 18 to 21 year olds ruin my day because they lost a football game. It's like you mature as a fan. Right? And now I'm at the, just, just give me the football. Like I'm, I'll read the practice reports, but I don't take anything away from them. I, I don't, I mean it's, it's fun to see him playing. I'm like. Because this means we're almost there. But I mean, you got schools across the country putting out videos, the Colorado video. You've seen this, right? Yeah, there's a Colorado clip. They all look like they're Pop Warner.

[Host]

Oh, I saw that. Yeah, they looked. Yeah.

[Roy]

So you just see these clips all from over the country and really what we're seeing is how good are the social medias for all the different programs. And Colorado has so far failed that test.

[David Gardner]

That's good advice because last year our very own fan base melted down because Terry Bussi was slow.

[Host]

Yeah, I don't think he's slow. I don't think he's slow, guys.

[David Gardner]

But this is true from watching a three second clip of a drill at practice. Yeah.

[Host]

My thing is this is just part of the process and it gets us closer. I don't read too much into what I see. A, we're only there for 30 minutes, 40 minutes. B, we don't know, we don't know until a Saturday. And we'll know a little bit after Missouri State. We'll know a little bit more after Arizona State. I think we'll really know after lsu.

[Roy]

Well, I think Damian Sanford, because I know you guys were trying to get Aaron Wallace on earlier when you played that clip. That's the kind of insight I like, is to talk about one, he's just talking obviously about the linebacker room and talk about individuals and that's what he sees. But he talks about being where your feet are. And right now their job is to, is to be at camp. And camp sucks. And it doesn't always suck the first couple of days, but it sucks by the time you get to the end of it. Right. And so there's just a, you know, hearing the players talk about, you know, being in the moment and, and focusing on camp. And I, I, he said something along the lines of you find out who your teammates are and it was either him or Steve McGee. Like, you find out who your real dog, like your real dogs are when you're at the end of camp, you know, when you don't want to be like, it's just miserable. You're banged up, you're bruised. You've been through it, you know, because you spent all. All season again, running five yard outs in T shirts and shorts and, you know, and lifting weights, you know, now. Now you're going to start banging pads and banging on each other. And so it's. It's exciting to see. I get it. It is. But I'm just ready for the season to start.

[Host]

You. You and me both. All right, Mr. I was about to call you Mr. May. He's Mr. May. You're Mr. Brownie.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Hey, I was kind of thinking similar lines, obviously. Practices started and everything, and I was thinking myself, this is the slowest time of the year, though. This is when it feels like it drags by. This is like when you're getting closer to Christmas and it's starting to. You're like, man, Christmas is a month away. And then you're like that month just drags on and drags on. So when you, from a football perspective, you're like, man, what, 35 days, 30 days away, 30 days away today. And you're like, dang, it still feels like forever.

[Roy]

Still got to wait another 30 days.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I mean. I mean, these next 30 days will feel the football perspective feel really slow and really drag on. But it is exciting that they're out there moving and like you said, don't take. I don't take too much from it. I mean, we'll. Once we get on the field, we'll see what this team looks like. And I mean, again, like, even. I mean, it just like this team is one of those that. All right, they were. What we really need to see is how they. How are they going to play in November? I think you said that earlier to Aaron Torres. Talk about, you know, how are we. You know, you can't turn the ball over in November. So I think that that's kind of. I mean, that's how far we are from really knowing.

[Host]

You know, I think we'll know a lot, though, early in the month, but, like, again, after starting off the season 11 and O and just to feel like, gosh, we left something out there on the field.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah, right.

[Host]

And that I don't know if this season is going to start off 11 or no, I don't know if it's going to start off great. We don't know any of those answers. I do believe that the process that they take to get there is the right one. I hate that they have five SEC road games to their Four SEC home games. I hate that.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[Roy]

Here's an interesting scenario. So we go 11 and 0 and lose the last two. Right. How would you feel if we lost the first two and then ran the table?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Oh, I'd rather State.

[Roy]

Yep.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I'd rather that than what we did last year. We lost the two most important games of the year. One game gets us in the SEC championship game. The other one is the playoff game.

[Roy]

We lost to Missouri State. And you lose to Kentucky. And then you run the table. You're pro, you're in Atlanta.

[David Gardner]

Oh, my gosh, that would be a bitter pill. But, oh, I'd take it.

[Host]

I would just say we run the

[Hunter Shirtliff]

table to a national championship.

[Host]

I can already tell the football audience is starting to watch the show again.

[David Gardner]

Right.

[Host]

And like, the mean people are back.

[Roy]

More comments?

[Host]

Yeah, a lot more comment. And the ones that they're not nice. Hey, you don't enunciate the letter H. Okay.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

No, wait, wait. But in your scenario.

[Roy]

I'm working on that.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

But in your scenario, we run the table, meaning that we run that we win the rest of our games, period. So we make it to the playoffs because we win the.

[David Gardner]

Under that ridiculous scenario, they win the national championship. And think of who would be beating LSU on the road, Missouri on the road, Alabama on the road, Oklahoma on

[Hunter Shirtliff]

the road, Texas at home. Then you go, Then you win the SEC championship game, and then you win all of your playoff games. Yeah, I take that in a heartbeat.

[Host]

Afterwards, I'd take it. I wouldn't take it in September.

[Tiger Ryden]

Okay.

[Host]

In September I'm just like.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

But if you guaranteed it, right, because

[Host]

then for the next five years, we're having pep. State still comes up.

[Roy]

How about this?

[Announcer]

So.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

So we won a national championship.

[Roy]

No, no.

[Host]

I mean, here's.

[Roy]

Here's the scenario afterwards.

[Host]

Yes. I'm talking about how I would feel in September.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

No, if he's giving you this option right now.

[Roy]

Here's. Here's your scenario. You win. You win the conference title game and you win your first playoff game and then you're out.

[Tiger Ryden]

Oh,

[Roy]

so you reverse. You win your last, like your last two games.

[Host]

Give me double digit wins at a playoff win. I don't care how they come.

[Roy]

I'm here.

[Host]

I would prefer to be Texas.

[Roy]

That the entire planet will burn down if we lose week one.

[Host]

Yeah. When it comes to financial advice, independent matters. Independence. Excuse me. Paragon Financial Advisors is an Aggie owned and operated, independent fee only fiduciary firm. That means that the recommendations are not influenced by commissions, proprietary products, or sales quotas. So whether you're managing family wealth or growing a successful business, their team helps clients make informed decisions with comprehensive planning and disciplined investment management. And for many business owners, that means developing strategies not only to grow that business, but but also prepare for one of the biggest financial events of their life, the eventual sale of that business. Visit paragon-adv.com to get more information on how their independent advice can help you prepare for what is next. Paragon Financial Advisors Aggie Owned and operated independent serving clients nationwide.

[Announcer]

You can get the podcasts of Texangs Live, the Louis Bellini show or chip power at zone1150.com, Google Play, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

[Host]

And we're back. Texas AGS Live, presented by David Gardner's jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. The Fan Show Dr. Chad Nelson listening. He loves the harmony at the beginning of the fan show.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Dr. Chad what's up buddy?

[Host]

And I'm sorry, I didn't know. Happy birthday, buddy.

[Roy]

Yeah, well, tomorrow. But yes, I will be the ripe old age of 47.

[Host]

Happy early birthday.

[Roy]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Birthday pal.

[Host]

Let's go to the Angry Elephant News and Social center, Carson Stein, always with a hard hitting question to start off a segment. What do you have?

[Carson Stein]

So I have a question that Matthew in the back row, what team on A and M schedule will be way worse by the time that they play A and M relative to the season start?

[Roy]

Can we pull up the schedule?

[Host]

Yeah, right there.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah, I, I'm going to, I'm going to go out on a limb here. I'm going to go out on a real limb here and I'm going to say Alabama. I just don't. I mean, I think that they're so downtrodden and they're so like, they just don't believe in their coaching staff. They don't believe in Deborah. I mean, it's tough. I mean that's the, that would be the hardest job in the world to take over.

[Host]

Could you imagine though, for a second, guys, if A and M had Alabama season last year? Just for a moment. They get slaughtered by Indiana in the second round of the playoffs, but they win a playoff game.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[Host]

On the road, by the way, they go to the SEC championship game where they get beat down as well. But I'm just like, it's all a matter of what your history has been. And for them it's not good enough for A and M. What a stepping stone, right? Even last year they didn't win a playoff game. It was a Great year.

[Roy]

Yeah.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I mean, because they. I mean, let's be honest. They're the standard or they were the standard of what every. Every single college football team wants to be. They are the standard. That saving era is every one of us would love. That's what. That's what we're all striving for. To. To have a deal where you over a, what, 20 year period, you win six national championships or seven, however many one some crazy number, I mean, and always be in contention. I mean, it would be insane. It'd be so fun to have that. But I think that. I just don't think that Bama is the Bama of old. I think that Bama still has the shine that they're Bama and I just don't think Kaylan deboer is that good. So that's mine.

[David Gardner]

I do, like K1 more. I'm waiting to see on Bama. Look at that schedule. If I had to pick somebody late in the year, I'm going to go Tennessee.

[Host]

Okay.

[David Gardner]

Yeah.

[Host]

Tennessee is a good one.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

It's probably a better choice than mine. I just. I just had to. I just wanted to.

[Host]

But Tennessee is not getting a lot of love. Like, they're not getting top 12 love. I think they're getting top. Like, what are they, Nick? Top 16 love. Is that what they get in the coaches poll? I believe they're somewhere around there.

[David Gardner]

Yeah.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I'd love to say Texas. Really?

[Host]

Oh, okay. So they are getting that kind of love.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I love when Texas is. I love when Texas is overrated to begin the season. Every time they. They completely. They always fail to hit expectations. I mean, so do we, but they always fail to hit expectations. So I'm hoping that they're. I'm hoping they're out of the rankings by the time we get to them.

[Tiger Ryden]

I'm going to.

[Host]

Well, Roy, give me your. Your answer.

[Roy]

I'm going to go. Oh, you. Because I just looked at their schedule and so they play first four weeks they got UTEP on the road at Michigan, New Mexico and then they got to play on the road in Georgia. Then they get their traditional bye week before the red river shootout.

[Host]

Right.

[Roy]

But you're talking about playing the sips. Kentucky at home, Mississippi state on the road, South Carolina again, always tricky. They got to go to the swamp. They get old miss at home and then us. So their bye week is early. So I think. I think the combination of that and I agree that I'm not completely sold on mater. So I think the combination of those two things and just Them having to just, just grind through a schedule to get to us. I think maybe it's not even that they're not as good as we thought. Their record just will not be as good and they'll be banged up by the time they get to us.

[Host]

So let me give you guys something to think about and this doesn't answer that question, but I don't think LSU is going to be that team because A and M plays them so early season. But what if A and M again plays destroy your season to lsu? Because that's what happened last year, right? They lost back to back games, they lost the Vandy, then they lost the Texas A and M and obviously they fired Brian Kelly. They're not going to do that with Lane Kiffin. But they play Ole Miss before they play A and M, right? So if they were to lose two straight, what does that do for lsu? And they still, if you can put up LSU schedule, have a daunting rest of the schedule after the A and M game. So they're going to take on two top 10 teams early and then still have to play a bunch of teams that we'll see here in a second.

[Roy]

Well, I think they're going to give one. They're going to give. Well yeah, they can't fire Lane Kiffin obviously because the children's hospital only has so much money. But to me I think Kiffin's going to get a lot of grace and I think an early loss. And look, you can say Blankiffin's a jackass. He is on social media but again he's a good coach.

[Host]

Really good coach.

[Roy]

Really good coach. And I don't think an early loss kills their season because this is one of those getting used to the, the new system, the new coach. You know, a lot of times you see them get a lot better later in, later into the season, right. They play them play their ways into or they're play, they play their way into the coaches system. So I don't think an early loss, you know, you're going to see a lot of, you know, arms thrown up in the air. Especially if, I mean if they were to lose to us, even if they

[Host]

lose two straight and then they still have Alabama, Texas and Tennessee, I still

[Roy]

trust Kiffin to write the ship. Yeah, I do. Maybe not like make Atlanta, but if

[Host]

they lose those first early games to Ole Miss and A and M, their chances of making the playoffs in year one, which I think that's why they

[Roy]

brought them in, they'd have to run

[Host]

the table and I don't think they're running the table, that scenario.

[David Gardner]

No, I don't either. Not with that schedule.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

No. But.

[Roy]

But I also think we're all putting so much emotional stock into this Ole Miss, LSU matchup. And I feel like it's gonna be a letdown to get. LSU's gonna win by two scores.

[Host]

You think so?

[Roy]

I do. We're all gonna be like, oh, boy, here comes a real revenge game. Yeah.

[Host]

So what do you guys think is the biggest swing factor for A and M this year? Pick a person, a position, and. And I don't want to say question mark. Right. I think we all know the question marks that this team has a swing factor. If you could say, oh, my goodness, we get a career season out of this position group, this player. What makes the biggest difference for Texas A and M this year? Why don't you start us off, Matt?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I mean, you know what I'm going to say. I said it last week. Quarterback. All about quarterback.

[Host]

So if you get a 32 and 6 interception, Marcel Reed, that's the difference between. You think that's the biggest difference?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I do. Because again, like I said, I mean, you. I mean, like we said last. Last year, Marcel played really, really well for the majority of the season. Those last two games, he did not play well. And he'll. He's the first to admit it, so I'm not knocking the young man. I mean, he's the first to admit it. He said it many times. He did not play well. If he plays well, especially, especially against Miami, we win that game.

[David Gardner]

Right?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

We win that game and we move on. We get our first playoff victory. We move on. The defense gave up 10 points. Your defense gives up 10 points. You should win that football game at home. At home, especially. Right? So he, if. So if he plays better at the, at the end of the season, he was turning the ball over. Bad throws against Texas that were. I mean, Texas, that was a 10 point game. What was a 27, 17. Wasn't that the final there? So, yeah. So 10 point game there. Seven point game. I think that if he plays better, I mean, if he's. If he plays the way he did the second half of South Carolina or against LSU or some of the good games that he played. We are. We go much further than what we did.

[Host]

Let me jump in there because I don't disagree. Did you guys hear my little rant on. It's not all on Marcel this week.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Agreed.

[Host]

No, about that in particular. At the end of the year, A and M did a I think a poor job running the ball. And when they can't run the ball and Marcel. And they did a poor job protecting Marcel, he got sacked a bunch, right?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[Host]

He is not Tom Brady who can sit in the pocket just like darts. Right. His game is predicated on some movement and also some rhythm. He was taken off his rhythm. Why was he taking off his rhythm? He was sped up. His clock was sped up. Because I think the O line struggled against those elite defense lines.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

There's two really good defenses, and they

[Host]

could not run the ball. So, yes, Marcel has to be better. But I think it all goes. If Reuben Owens has the kind of year he talked about having, I think it's. It makes Marcel that much better of a quarterback. Yes, he can. He's got to be better on that last throw. No doubt.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

So I will. So just to throw in that caveat, those were the two, by far the two best defenses we played last year in Texas and Miami. I would. I think. I think most people would agree. So I. So it's not. It's. But still.

[Host]

Well, he struggled in the first half of the. South Carolina.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

You still got to win, but, I mean, you still have to play better even. I get it. Sometimes things are going to break down. Sometimes they're going to get you out of your rhythm. You've got to figure out how to still get it done. You know, I mean, there's. So that's. That's my thought. I think if. I think if we play well at the quarterback position, then. Then. Then the sky's the limit. I mean, this team is. If we play good at the quarterback position, this team has talent enough to win national championship.

[David Gardner]

I agree with that. I'm going to go with defensive line. If Elko can find his guys to kind of be a force in there with, I'd love Hicks. Right. And if you have this pass rush by committee with some of the new guys and Jones and they can establish their dominance on the defensive line, then you don't have to play hero ball, maybe, you know, beat some, win some tough games, some close games. That's where I'm looking to kind of see us improve.

[Roy]

I'll go on the other side of the line. I'll go offensive line. Because we just talked about Marcel was getting sacked and we couldn't run the ball. Both of those, like, you can change both of those. At the offensive line is the key swing. Right, Right. So the passing game is better with the run, with a good running game. The running game is better with a good Passing game, you allow Marcel to process and move the pocket as he pleases as opposed to being forced to move the pocket. So for me, it's going to be. And it's not because, you know, we talked about the offensive line being a question mark. To me, a good offensive line establishes everything. It's because it can help negate a great pass rush. Right. That those run blockers and those in those gap stuffers that we see all through the SEC, everybody's got them, you know, 390,000 pounds. Right. You can still run a 4 9. But I think the offensive line, if they can gel quickly and play just nasty kind of football, that I think that alleviates a lot of the pressure. I love hearing what Tiger Ryden said has the whole room takes pride in pass blocking. I love that because you still have to have pass blocking for your backs. But for me, the swing spot is the offensive line because that frees up both passing and running.

[Host]

All right, let's take a break. We'll come back with the final segment here on Tech SAGS Live, the Fan show. We'll be back in a few

[Sponsor Voice]

two

[Announcer]

ways to enter each week.

[Roy]

Oh, come on. Don't keep us in suspense.

[Announcer]

Zone1150.com and the zone newsletter.

[Carson Stein]

Thank you.

[Host]

Final segment of the Fan show. Let's go back to Carson Stein. Let's see. He's had actually two good questions today. Let's see if he can continue.

[Roy]

He's just shocked about that.

[Host]

Yeah, I was like, you know, we'll see.

[Carson Stein]

All these questions come from Matthew, so I'll give a shout out to Matthew. What is the biggest question you want to see answered in fall camp?

[Host]

Okay. These questions were good until they felt like the same question every segment.

[David Gardner]

I'm going to go running back room.

[Tiger Ryden]

Really?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Question?

[David Gardner]

Yeah, just a question like who's going to emerge and who's going to be our kind of go. I think you need to go to. I know we're going to have a minor committee there on that, but I'd like to see somebody like take the lead and like, this is our, this is our guy.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah. I mean, I, I'll be honest. I think to myself, like, honestly, receiver and running back are two of the most solidified. Like, I don't, I don't worry about them at all kind of things. I mean, I think obviously, like what Roy said earlier means O line. I think O lines are obviously our biggest question mark and four new starters on the O line and is your question.

[Host]

I'm sorry to cut you Off. Is your question if they're going to be good or is it the chemistry?

[Hunter Shirtliff]

The chemistry. I mean, I think they're all talented. I mean, they're a ton of giant human beings that are athletic.

[Roy]

That should be good.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Good at this. And so it's just chemistry. I mean, O lines have to gel. I mean, and you see some of the best O lines ever. They've been together for. For, for years now. I mean, if you think about that, our, our last really good o line was 2020. I mean, they were phenomenal. But they'd been together for, I mean, four of those guys had been together for, I don't know, three years by that point. So, So, I mean, that's mine.

[Tiger Ryden]

Okay. Roy.

[Roy]

I don't think a lot of questions get answered after camp other than us getting maybe a depth chart. Right. And I wouldn't release a depth chart as a head coach after sprint camp. I wouldn't like bunch of wars.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

So.

[Carson Stein]

And so.

[Tiger Ryden]

Or.

[Roy]

Or yeah, a bunch of oars. It's not a question so much as a wish. Maybe just get out of camp healthy. That's a big thing for me. And season after season, you know, as we stack seasons with Tommy Moffat, I feel better about that. You know, obviously just seeing his. And we all knew he was a badass. Right? We knew that. But, but to see it, you know, and these guys are coming out, they're strong, they're big. You know, some of the stuff in the off season, the weight room, but they're also staying healthy, you know, for the most part. I know we've had our issues here and there with injury, but, you know, just getting out of camp healthy.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I've got, I've got actually. I've got one for. For the receiver. For actually the receiver room. We know our top four guys. We know our four, you know, from, from, from, you know, from Craver to Bussy.

[Carson Stein]

Right.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

We know that those four guys are going to be really good, but there's so much talent behind them. Like, who's going to be like. Who'd you say was like. They said Aaron Gregory is going to be. Absolutely. He's going to make some plays. I'm looking forward to seeing who emerges from that room and is. Is it just comes out to be an absolute star. Earns.

[Roy]

Earn snaps against those top four. Basically.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[Host]

I need to see more information before I decide what I think about the tight end room. I think it's going to look different, obviously with new guys in there. Could there be another Nate Borkature not predicting A second round pick or an amazing catch to end the Notre Dame game. But is there a guy that's going to, you know, is Richie Anderson going to be that guy that can block and catch big passes? Does Michael Riley take a huge step this year? Not only a captain, but now that he's healthy, does he kind of show that he can catch and pass or catch and block? You know, what about Houston Thomas, who I think athletically he's going to bring a lot to that room. I think tight ends, a position group that we probably don't spend a lot of time on, that I think could be a huge wrinkle for Marcel. I think it really could help them.

[Roy]

Yeah, we talked about that last week. Just, you know, with Marcel moving the pocket, you know, having a. Having a dynamic tight end that can be a safety valve.

[David Gardner]

And he looks for him, right?

[Tiger Ryden]

He.

[David Gardner]

He hits the tight end.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

So tight end plays a. Plays a big role at least. Has played a big role in our offense in the last few years. And so, yeah, I mean, from. From the Swede, Berkshire to, you know, those guys, it's been the faster the

[Roy]

offense, the bigger piece that a tight end is.

[Host]

Let me ask you guys this question we got.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I didn't think Sternberger was going to be that good when he came in. He turned out to be almost elite.

[Host]

So I did the show with you guys in 21, right after the 2020 season. Is your optimism level better today than it was in 21 today? Because I feel like when I started this show in 21, I thought, oh, we're like a year from a national championship. This is it.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Yeah.

[Host]

And I don't know if we're there. I'm not saying we're not there either. Like, I feel really good about the direction, but I think I over inflated where we actually were at that point. And it goes back to the offensive line. There was a lot of questions on that O line. There was questions at quarterback. You don't have real questions at quarterback. You know your guy, you know where his limitations are. But I think I overshot for that area. I think I'm pretty realistic about this year's team.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I think the schedule is what does it for me. Schedule. Looking at that schedule, I'm like, that's an incredibly hard schedule. I mean, we could be. We could be the 2019 LSU Tigers and possibly lose a game on this schedule.

[Host]

Right.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

I mean, that schedule's tough and everybody, and not just us, everybody in the SEC has that same schedule. But optimism wise, I think. Yeah, I was way more optimistic going into 21 than I am today.

[David Gardner]

I think so also. But it was, it's good to hear Elko talk about, hey, and. And right. We have this history of, of coming off a good year and now we're ranked high and we step on it.

[Host]

So, yeah, it's.

[David Gardner]

It's good to hear Elko say, you know, we haven't done anything.

[Hunter Shirtliff]

Trophy case is empty.

[Host]

Yep. We gotta drop it there tomorrow on the show. Billy Lucci, Tech Stacks Live. Thanks so much. We'll see you then.

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