Episode Transcript
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Welcome into the Oh Show on iHeartRadio. My name is Paul James. I
am joined by the guy who saidOctober would be the most amazing fun for
college football fans and my friend.It did not disappoint, ladies and gentlemen,
AJ Pratt, It did not disappoint, Holy it did not. It's
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it's it's We've said this. Paul, by the way, good to see
you. It's usually my favorite houror so of the week. Absolutely,
my wife didn't hear me say that, but no, here we are week
ten. But that was first week. On the first week October, I
said that that was the win ofthe day. Yeah, it was the
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stage for college football and in oneof the most incredible competitive years and drama
on and off the field. It'sit's it's must see TV. Yeah,
so got fired up listening to someLeonard skinnered Bob Seger and Boston all the
way over here to see you thatshow prep man. Yeah, yeah,
game day right when when I wasin high school, me and my two
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buddies ever before every high school footballgame listened to Scorpion every game. Yep,
but was last Friday night went overto Bell Fountain to watch one of
my best friends and his staff's teamplaying the first playoff game, and they
have a young man playing quarterback bythe name of Tavian Saint Clair. Go
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you to me or however people watchthat stuff now, but the commit the
class of twenty five quarterback and Paul, I'll tell you what I saw him
last year. You knew he wasgood. But he is big, he
is fast, he's got a rifle'she's he's got a chance to be really
specials get ready. Yeah, itwas fun to watch in person on the
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sideline. And you didn't see anyof my notes. Notes, And what
it says is the stage that wasOctober. So you stole the thunder there.
But you lobbed this one for me. Now. Now, I had
a great coaching friend. He alwayshad great one liners, and I coached
with him for about eight years andwhen we first day of November, he'd
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say it every year, he'd say, so what do you do in November?
This is it's right here. Thenext three weeks, for the next
four weeks, it will all playout. Hopefully there may be a couple
of hard decisions for the committee.But no, you have to win a
November. You have to win aNovember. It's exactly what coach to Day
said to open his show today.Is that radio show, They said,
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coach, how you feeling? Hesaid, I feel great. My football
team feels great, and everybody onour team is ready for a November because
you have to play your best footballright now the next five weeks. You
have to play your absolute best footballthis season. You got to keep yourself
in position getting through October to bein a position to win the championship,
e league title, to go tothe championship game, go to the final
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four. And the Buckeye fans obviouslyhave that as they're at the number one
spot. Well we're going to talkabout this in a few more minutes,
but you have to be happy withthe Buckeye offense getting the players back and
how good Traveon Henderson can be.But with that being said, the CFP
took a look at everything and theyput Ohio State number one because of strength
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of schedule and how they've survived thatstrength of schedule, knowing that Michigan hasn't
played anybody yet, right, knowingthat Georgia just keeps winning, but they
don't know if they've been challenged orwhere they'll be challenged. That's where Ohio
State is number one. Next weekit could be totally different. It means
nothing right now, obviously, butit obviously is a tip of the captain.
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The Buckeyes have survived. You gotto be in the hunt, and
obviously being in the top four,you're in the hunt. But you're right,
it doesn't matter until the last one. But no, Paul, before
I go through this, I wantto know what's your top six if you
rank them right now for the CFP. You're on the committee, who's your
top six? Well, if Ihave to rank for the CFP, I
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go this way. Georgia, OhioState, Michigan, Florida State, and
then my first two out are Washingtonand Oregon. But I personally think right
now today the best playing football teamin college football are the Oregon Ducks.
I would not want to play Oregontoday. You go through my notes over
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here, all due all we do, so you have to understand all we
do is send back and forth wherewe're going to go, but not what
we're going to say. But that'smine right there. I think Oregon's the
best team in football right now ifand I know Herbstreet said that, but
I thought this watching them last Saturday. I'm thinking I would not want to
play this team right now. Agreed, and we'll get to it. The
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second team I wouldn't want to playis Florida State. They're right there too.
They look like two complete teams.The thing is there's no team that's
not flawed. And what you don'tknow, as well as as talented as
Georgia is, their quarterback's pretty good. Yeah he's playing. They really They've
had a couple tests, but guesswhat when they have had those tests,
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they've showed up and said, yeah, we're still the champ. And the
tight end who took over for BrockBowers is really really talented too. I
mean, you know, it's likeyou miss brock Bowers. I get it,
But they're still throwing a football tothe tight end. Well last year
they had three of them. Yeah, and two of them are in the
NFL plans. So my wife doesn'tunderstand the time, and she's calling us
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right now. You want me toanswer the phone, She's gonna have to.
She's getting out of basketball practice.But real quick, I actually absolutely
agree with where they have these topsix teams. The Buckeyes have the best
two wins I think of those.I'm not going off what Georgia was last
year because it's not never the sameteam, but you have to They tackle
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so well, Paul my gosh,Michigan has played not to be disrespectful.
They have not been challenged by whothey've played. And really they're playing Purdue
this week, so now their lastthree is what you're going to see tested
absolutely and there's nothing going on upthere with the distractions, and then f
s U Jordan Travis Keon, ColemanBencon the back I mean, and what
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they have up front on defense,they're athletic coach Nortville Washington's ahead of organ
for me too, because they've beatthem head to head, but they've stepped
back in my opinion the last coupleof weeks, and Oregon has stepped up.
Oregon does. Orgon does three thingsthat would worry me if I was
playing them. They they can runthe ball with Irving, they can stop
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the run with their defense, andthey've got a quarterback that's playing as well
as anybody in the country. Sowhen you have a quarterback can run it
as well and and stop the run, you're you're cooking with Gas, but
you know the rest of it,We're not going to go through all these,
Paul. But I just look atthe next team's remaining. Can Texas
win it? Yeah, if itplays out right. Can Alabama Absolutely?
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If they win this weekend and beatLSU, went out and beat probably a
Georgia, they're gonna get The winnerof that game is gonna get in Oklahoma.
We'll see. I mean, ifthe Big twelve winner wins it,
and the other one that's still aliveis Old Miss, because if Ole Miss
wins out, Alabama takes a loss, they go play Georgia and they're playing
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at a high level and they're startingto run the rock like they were.
But really, when I look tome, things would have to really go
right for Penn State. I thinkprobably nine of the top ten still have
a shot. But the other thingto look at, the reason that I'm
believing an FSU and anybody can beatyou at anytime is they have probably the
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best schedule to win out of theteam because OSU and Michigan, it's gonna
be what it is. George's gotthe toughest part of its schedule coming up
Oregon. The way they're playing,maybe they get another shot at Washington to
knock them off, but FSU hasa great road if they take care of
business. In twenty twenty four.We get twelve teams in the playoff this
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year, I think what we're gonnasee, and we don't know how November
is gonna play out, It's gonnabe as fun as October, maybe better.
But if November plays out the waya lot of people think, the
Big ten will take care of itselfand you'll have one champion. Yes,
the SEC will take care of itself, you'll have a champion with the ACC
will take care of itself and you'llhave a champion. Do they get in
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though, depending on how that goes. The PAC twelve will take care of
itself and you'll get a champion,and same with the Big twelve. So
I think the Committee's gonna have fivereally good teams that all won championships,
that all qualify for that four.That's where I think it's gonna be really
interesting unless something else plays. Ireally at this point don't see two teams
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from one league in the four rightnow. People that I believe what they
think would agree with what you justsaid. I think this is the year
you're not going to have two teamsfrom a conference make it. I just
it could happen, but I don'tsee it happening. Boy, it makes
those championship games so much more fun, doesn't it? That first Saturday December?
It does, But it's kind offor the last time we get to
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have maybe some fun for the committeeto have some serious heat on them to
make the decision. But would thisnot have been a great year to roll
out the first twelve team players becauseany of them could win. I mean,
you said it yourself, anybody inthe top ten. There's no unflawed
teams, right, It's going tobe fun to see it play out.
Let's talk a little bit about theBuckeyes. They won twenty four to ten.
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They didn't cover the spread. Thespread was fourteen and a half a
kickoff. I thought it was thirteenand a half, but I was corrected
on that or your thoughts on thegame. Yeah, and we'll get through
it pretty quick because we got alot to go forward on the buck Eyes
with a good start again, whichwas good. They get out to the
ten zero lead. You know,col McCord turnover kind of help Wisconsin obviously,
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and they get some fight in themand get it back to ten to
ten. And then early in thethird quarter, if I remember, they
go up Braydon Locke's touchdown passed toWill paulink Osu answers with the nineteen yard
touchdown reception from Superman out there,Marvin Harrison Junior. And then to end
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the game, obviously, Traveon Hendersoncloses it out with the late fourth quarter
touchdown. You know a couple questionsthat you wonder if it changes the game.
Is Braylen Allen their go to backand Shamir Dyke their go to receiver
knocked out in the first half andnever come back to injuries, And obviously
that can probably did affect Wisconsin offensively. But I'm giving credit to this Ohigh
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State defense. Paul. They're playing. We're getting close to that word at
an elite level. You hate tosee the injury to Lathan Ransom in the
game. I don't know what theextent is that I haven't heard, but
we've talked about this last week.You're gonna make the young quarterback for Wisconsin
beats you, and that's exactly whatthe Buckeyes game plan was. They make
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Lock throw to beat him. Andthey allow only ninety four yards rushing only
two fifty nine total stifling. Wisconsinwas only six of eighteen on third down.
So the Buckeyes are getting off thefield to getting the ball back to
the offense. This defense, nowwe're going into week ten, has not
given up more than seventeen points ina game. Not yet. Now let's
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go back over to the other sideof the ball. Offensive concerns. I
mean, Ronnie Millsap could see it. It was the play of Kyle McCord.
Now he's on the road in thehostile stadium. Really the only second
time other than the win where heplayed great lad against Notre Dame. There
were four sacks and nine tackles fora loss against the buck Eyes. So
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that's a concern because a lesser teamcan beat you when you get behind the
sticks and you turn it over.And that's what happened in this game.
Right, Defense still a concern,only gets one takeaway in the game.
Still, in my opinion, lackof a true pass rush with the front
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four special teams. I still believethey were slightly outplayed in the game to
Wisconsin's crew in that third phase.But let me say this, the best
player in the game maybe every weekis Marvin Harrison Junior. And by the
way, the shallow cross cast overthey got away with it. It wasn't
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a rub, that was a pick. They missed it. It's a touchdown
for the buck Eyes. I'm sureWisconsin stince that into the Big Ten officials.
But what I'm saying is I've thoughtabout this a lot since last Saturday
night. I believe the difference inthis season is if Trayvon Henderson's on the
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field for the Buckeyes. I completelyagree with you, I really do.
I have it right here on mynotes. I mean, he was twenty
six carries, one hundred and sixtytwo yards, touchdown, four receptions forty
five yards, and we don't knowthat he's completely healthy or not. He
did over two hundred yards of offenseon thirty touches and it was his will
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to go. He moves so fluentlythe linebackers can't get him, Coach,
I mean, is that is thata thing? I mean, when he
gets second level, he's a completemismatch to the linebackers. Well, when
you recruit a running back, there'scertain boxes that have to be checked,
or at least some of them.Can he make can they make can he
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make the first miss? Two?Does he have explosive play speed? Is
if we block it right and hedoesn't make you miss, it still can
be a home run. Third,does he get yards after contact? Because
if he doesn't make you miss andhe doesn't get yards after contact, we're
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not taking him. And the fourthis is what can he do on third
down? Is he a third downback? Is he in every down back?
What can he do in the pastgame? Well, all of a
sudden, when you have somebody thatcan make the first guy miss, can
run away from you. I'm notsaying he's a power guy that's going to
get much yards after contact, butwhen you get him involved in the past
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game, watch out. But here'sthe biggest reason why I think he's the
biggest difference in the game. Andby the way he's had to be told,
the whole question about him going tothe next level is going to be
durability. And if he can provelook, I've had some bad luck and
he makes it through the rest ofthe year because he is going to make
plays when he gets touches. Iswhat it does for Kyle McCord. He
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is pretty good to Okay, tothis pass game not good enough. But
if he is there to hand theball off to, it takes so much
pressure off of Kyle McCord because itbecomes more balanced and it makes defense defend
everything, which can help you notget as much pass rush when you need
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to throw the ball. So thatto me, it's not just the plays
he makes, it's the relief hecan give to that young quarterback. My
feeling is with Travion Henderson and MarvinHarrison and then you've got eg Buca and
Fleming. As long as the coachingstaff can manage Kyle McCord, I think
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Ohio State has the best offense towin the national championship. I really do,
because I think Travion Henderson is thebest runner when he's healthy. And
I think the best player in footballcollege football is Marvin Harrison junior. And
when you look at the fact thathe's got eg Buca and keep going,
Carnel Tait and whatever. And bythe way, eg Buka is playing this
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week. Day said this morning thatevery offensive weapon will be available this week
except for probably Mayan Williams. Sothat's good news as right now. Don't
forget the match up with Kate Stover, and then you get Kate Stover and
then you get well and how aboutI mean there's a couple other good backs
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back in there. I mean,Chip train them is very good. So
you've got a lot of different things. I just think with Travon Henderson in
that offense, it's a completely differentfootball team. They yes, and we
can move on from this one,Paul, but everything that you just said,
they have the playmakers. Again.A couple of my concerns was the
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position that we're talking about that needsrelief is McCord and the amount of negative
plays that they have been giving upwith that offensive line. And you still
got to see it solidify because whenyou start playing defenses like Georgia, uh,
it ain't what you've been seeing theseguys play against. Right, So
that's the place because you got towin the line of scrimmage. I have
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to say Marvin Harrison should be theHeisman Trophy winner if it were given out
today, because I think Ohio Statewould have a loss or two if it
weren't for him, and they wouldn't. I saw a national poll on Twitter
today X whatever it may have beenyesterday, but what it was, it
had the top four. It wasNix Pennix, Harrison and who am I
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missing this? Travis? Maybe?I mean they're undefeated. It was it
May I don't think. Yeah,it may have been Jordan Travis. It
was a blowaway by the fans.It was forty nine percent Marvin Harrison ge
he makes a bigger difference in thegame than some of those quarterbacks have for
their team. He can. It'sjust it is what it is. We're
going to continue to argue that untilthe second week of December. We'll talk
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about it. Then let's hit onsome of the other key games from last
weekend, some real enjoyable ones.How about the upset, the greatest Jayhawks
win ever. Kansas speed to Oklahomathirty eight to thirty three. That was
wow. Yeah, a great gameto watch. Dylan Gabriel a pick six
early to Kansas, then a secondquarter touchdown run puts up Kansas fourteen.
Nothing. Then I've lived them andthey suck A ninety minute weather delay,
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Yes, and momentum shifted. Afterthe weather delay, Oklahoma comes out and
goes to half with a twenty oneto seventeen lead. Here's the deal.
Kansas ran the ball, They ranthe rock in the second half. They
had two hundred and eighteen for thegame. Gabriel was solid two thirty five
a fourth quarter touchdown run. ButJason Bean, the backup who can fly
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the quarterback for Kansas. If youdidn't watch overcame two I and T's made
plays late, a big fourth downconversion on a pass, and he made
a great play with his legs latein the game. If you didn't watch
it, a little bit of agame clock management snaff foo they can in
the game and Oklahoma doesn't have ashot to throw it into the end zone,
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which failed, But the Oklahoma defensedid the right thing on that big
conversion. The kid from Kansas ranout of bounds. Stop the clock,
you're gone. You gotta be kidneykid just slide because he was about the
ten or twelve yard line. Andthen they hand the ball off. Oklahoma
lets him score, which was smartbecause they get the ball back only down
five. But last thing on thisgame, Paul Lance lifehold go look at
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his history of coaching. The guyis a ball coach. And you know
you got the Brian Kellys, JerryKills. These stories of these guys that
started at Division two, Division threefootball worked their way up. Lance Lefehold
came from Buffalo. He turned itaround there and what they just are,
what they're doing at Kansas. Ifhe can get the players, he can
coach them up. Yeah, it'sfun to watch, it really is.
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How about Oregon thirty five to sixover Utah total domination for the Ducks.
Bow Knicks was really good. It'sa rough day for the pig farmer Bryson
Barnes, it was. It wastough, but yeah, the first thing
that I've got, Paul, mostimpressive team last week. Can run the
ball, can throw it, canconvent their balance. Bow Knicks can make
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plays with his arm and his legs. He's a great leader. Bucky Irving
at running back makes you miss theOregon defense allowed two field goals, created
negative plays, took the ball away, only allowed ninety nine yards rush by
that Utah physical team, and we'reterrific on third down and again, bow
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Knicks, there's no one playing aswell as he is a quarterback right now.
There may be people playing as well, but it's hard to say better.
Twenty four thirty one, two touchdownpasses, one touchdown run, zero
turnovers, and he obviously is theleader of that football team. Cool story,
Yeah, absolutely. Michael Penis turnedthe ball over again for Washington.
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They survived forty two thirty two againsta not very good Stanford team. A
lot of folks concerned about those turnoversif you didn't watch, Stanford drops a
ball on fourth down late in thegame, driving where it puts them before
Washington scores again. Michael Pennox threwfor three sixty nine and four touchdowns.
Really good, but the Washington offensivelyhad ninety one yards rushing three point four
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per carry. That could end upbiting them. It's Wendy, it's raining.
You've got a team that's really goodat rushing the passer. You know,
I'm all about balance. And thenthe penix I and t the Doonzay
fumble helped Stanford in that game.Stanford quarterback solid took care of the ball,
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Ashton Daniels and then Washington senior linebackeredif jan Ula Fohio. I think
I got that right. Twelve tackles. A big day on defense for Washington,
But Washington and negative there's too manypenalties. Two turnovers is too many.
But six touchdowns, zero field goals, Stanford red zone twice couldn't get
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six, they get three. Sowhen you're trading touchdowns for field goals,
I'm telling you, it comes getsyou. You got to answer. Yeah,
Duke's injury with the quarterback Riley Leonardis the problem with Louisville shuts him
out twenty three to nothing. Howabout that, Jowar Jordan, Oh my
god, he can play? Can'the can play football? Win? Well,
here's the thing. If you're Louisville, you're playing well on defense and
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you can run the ball. Yeah, when you have those two things come
together, you got a chance,no question. A key late third quarter
Gilbert Fearson interception helps seal it forLouisville to kind of put the nail on
the coffin on Duke. Louisville's defensegot after Duke, and obviously Riley Leonard's
not the same player he was nineof twenty three, zero touchdowns, had
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to pick Louisville sacks him for fourtimes and they only allow fifty yards rushing.
Like I said, they're playing well. Jack Plumber took care of the
ball. But the asterisk is byJawar Jordan. He's fun to watch.
He can play. One's sixty threeaveraging almost eight yards per touch two touchdowns.
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The only thing that I will say, and by the way, special
teams. Brock travel Stead has elevenpoints in this game, three for three
field goals, two for two.That's that's a good day for a kicker
to score eleven points. But Louisvilleoffense needs to be better and third down
because they're gonna have a couple oftough contests coming up. Yeah, I
tell you that right now. Louisvill'splaying good football. Tennessee thirty three,
Kentucky twenty seven, Rocky Tops survivesMan. They were running the football like
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it was nobody's business. Sits crapthrough a goose out there, hot more
Man, Kentucky now sitting there atfive and three after that fast start.
Number twenty one, UT as usualgoes and beats the Cats. Good news
for UT. Joe Melton took careof the ball, team has zero turnovers.
I can't beat up on him theweek. Good news for the Cats.
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Devin Leary finally showed up twenty eightto thirty nine, three seventy two
two touchdowns. Did not give itaway this week, so the UK pass
game did show up. Good forUT, bad for UK. UT does
run for that two fifty three.The Cats get stymied by the Tennessee defense
that showed up only seventy two rushyards. UT's Jalen Right eleven for one
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twenty to Ray Davis's running the ballof only forty two yards not a turnover
in the game, but zero totwo on fourth and the missfield goal hurts
the Kitty Cats. I enjoyed anice bourbon old fashion watching the world's largest
cocktail. You sent me a picture. I sent you a picture, and
Georgia forty three to twenty over Florida. The dogs just keep winning. I
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mean, what twenty five in arow? Now twenty five? I mean,
they just keep winning. They're thechamp. And here here's the thing.
I mean this. If you're acasual watcher, watch Georgia tackle in
space. Now, missou will probablygo through them like crap through a goose
this week. Now that I saythat, but I mean that it's athleticism,
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and that's coaching. Fast start,man, I'm watching Graham Mertz and
the boys start seven to nothing justlike that, because I thought they were
going to show up, and yousaid they wouldn't, and you were right.
Because George is going to score thenext thirty six in the game.
I told you I thought they'd scorethree out of their first four possessions.
You know, Graham Mertz was prettygood. He had the two fumbles,
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but a lot of that was onprotection issues where he strap got stripped.
But you, niverse, did George'squarterback Carson back? I give a big
plus. I'm grading him nineteen oftwenty eight, three point fifteen two touchdowns,
taking care of the ball, No, brock Bowers, what happens when
the stars are down. If you'vegot a good football team, everybody else
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steps up, even on the otherside of the ball. Lad McConkie his
best game of the year. Sixcatches, one thirty five. One of
them is a fifty four yard touchdown. Your boy, Oscar Delp the tight
end had a solid day two forthirty one. Running back Dejon Edwards Dejen
Edwards ninety six two touchdowns. Theteam ran for one seventy one. The
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Georgia defense would not let Florida runit one hundred and nine cause twelve negative
plays. A very questionable It's tento seven late first quarter on my own
thirty four fourth and three punt,the ball and coach Nate Piers, the
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head coach at Florida, I amnot, and he would say that to
me if he heard what I justsaid. But when they failed, I
mean, giving Georgia the ball witha short field, momentum is already switched.
They just scored ten straight. Youhave to question that one and the
play it was. It was goingto be a running back pass. Yeah.
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So there you go, two sidesof the coin. When you look
at Georgia Tech and North Carolina.The Rambling racked two big upsets, including
one over North Carolina forty six fortytwo Carolina two losses in a row.
Well, a couple problems here.One is not finishing because North Carolina gave
up twenty two fourth quarter points.But first let's give Brent Key his staff
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and those players. They're sitting thereat four and four. No one would
have probably guessed that, but thepeople in that locker room, in that
staff room, good for them.Georgia Tech's Haines King was great, especially
late two eighty seven pass, ninetyrush, four touchdowns. He said it
out the game. We believe neitherdefense showed up, So we've got some
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work to do on Georgia Tech side. But Paul, Georgia Tech. Remember
I've talked about the gene Chiswick defenseand we've given them some love. They
gave up three forty eight rushing toGeorgia Tech. Three forty eight. That's
good two weeks combined. Yeah,UNC defense a costly day and a few
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also costly penalties for the tar Heels. Yeah. Absolutely, u CLA blows
out Colorado twenty eight to sixteen.Coach, the Bruins are putting together a
really solid season right now. Icouldn't figure it out. Yes, they
are seven to six and a half, and I'm thinking, is this good
defense? I don't think so.I think this is bad offense. Right
now, there will be transfer portaloffensive lineman going to Colorado. You can
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take that one to the bank.Because they're struggling mightily twenty five yards rushing.
They can't run it. Shador Sanderssacked seven times. I mean,
he's Rocky Balbo out there in aRocky movie getting the hell knocked out of
him. Hurried, there's ten tacklesfor the loss. Colorado's defense can't stop
the run, so you can't runit, you can't protect. I mean
it's a miracle. They're sitting hereat forty four and four and Colorado loses
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even though they were plus four inturnovers. You see all kept giving the
ball away. One of the greatestplays of the game is if you didn't
see it, was that Travis Hunterpick where he oki doked Ucla into a
throw that shouldn't have been made becausegreat instincts and his athleticism. But that
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was a cool play to watch.Even though Colorado has now lost three out
of four, He's a great footballplayer and very fun to watch. Coach
Arizona is about five plays away frombeing undefeated. In the conversation, that
is true. Twenty seven to twentyfour. They beat Oregon State. I
mean, Arizona is a really,really good football team. Arizona Jed Fish
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has done a terrific job two consecutivewins over ranked opponents. They could have
had another one or two as youalluded to. Two fourth quarter Noah Fafieda
touchdown passes to Michael Wiley helps pullit out. And by the way,
Jaden de Laura is healthy again andFafeeda still the quarterback. Is still the
quarterback. So that tells you whatthat staff or and players think ffeed up
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because Dallara was a bright spot forArizona last year. You know what happens
when guys that used to play aren'tplaying anymore because of how the game is
today. But after a seven zeroOregon State start, a much improved Arizona
defense slowed DJU and the Oregon Stateoffense. What are some other ones you
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want to talk about from last weekend? Yeah, we got to talk about
one in the top four eight NoFlorida State forty one over wait four sixteen
for Jordan Travis touchdowns in the firsthalf, Kean Coleman Trey Benson that d
now five and three BYU had sixpoints. At number seven, Texas thirty
five played well. Interesting to seewhat Malik Murphy some struggles at quarterback,
(30:42):
okay, but the Texas defense showedup. Pitt long Day at Blackrock Man
it was seven pit seven points onthe road at number fourteen Notre Dame fifty
eight. Coach Nardoozy had some commentsthis week. They did, Yeah,
will catch your attention, Sam Hartmanturnovers Notre Dame pick six and play the
(31:07):
game was Chris Tyree with that electrictouchdown return and then you've got number twenty
four, USC fifty at the nowthree and five Cow forty nine. Cow's
got the ball, they're down one. We kick it, We go to
ot. See what happens. TheUSC just failed in one. They decide
(31:30):
to go for two. It doesfail. USC defense. Again, changes
will be made. You don't haveto be a Sue sayer to see that's
going to happen. But win byone. But the four takeaways made a
difference in the game. But againus see way too many penalties, way
too many mistakes. I don't disagreewith nat Tax with that Cow decision,
coach, I really don't. Imean, you're playing against arguably one of
(31:53):
the best offenses in college football.You go into overtime, you're you know,
I mean, obviously you're playing themetrics, you're playing the numbers,
you're looking at all the But Imean, I don't necessarily think that's a
bad call. And who knows,maybe on Thursday they sat there and said,
look at guys, if we havea chance to beat this thing,
we going for two or we kicking, And they were going for two.
(32:15):
If it's nice not being talked abouton the coaching staff, then they're not
very good coaches. The only thingthat I will defend the call is they
can't defend. But they still havethe Heisman Trophy winner touching the ball every
snap. Right, you just say, you know what, I don't want
to give him a chance to goback out there. We're going to end
it and win it right now,go do it. I don't disagree with
(32:35):
that call at all. Week tenkey games, coach, We're going to
find out if Missouri is for real? Ill go ahead, you got another
one? Yeah, because we gota couple. Yeah, go ahead that
we can't miss JMU is playing outstanding. Oh they all ate no over ODU.
Maryland was five and Oh they're nowsitting there with three straight losses five
and three, a really bad loss. But give Northwestern credit. They're sitting
there at four and four. Wouldhave never guessed that Okay should be up
(32:59):
for Coach of the Year. Herewe go. We can't miss this one.
Lots of whining going on. Clemsonseventeen sitting there at four and four
at NC State twenty four. Thisleads into this week's game for Clemson and
Dabbo against Notre Dame, and theoffense continues to struggle. Big twelve k
(33:20):
State, Iowa State, Oklahoma Statewins and all three control of their own
destiny. And I had to mentionarguably the best running back. Well,
he's leading the country in rushing,but it's not just the numbers, it's
watched the guy play is Ali Gordonis a man possessed twenty five carries,
two seventy one two touchdowns with theirhuge butt kicking against UC. And then,
(33:47):
last but not least, let's givecredit where credit is due, because
if you told the fan base you'regoing back to a bowl this year,
Purdue's had a rough year, scoringfourteen points on the road, but Big
Red Nation in Nebraska, Matt Rulehas this football team at five and three.
(34:07):
They are one win away from goingback to a bowl. For those
Husker fans that would do anything forthat to happen. So they had that
slow start, but them getting towhere they are good for Coach Rule in
that stated, they could win everygame they have left, every game that
(34:27):
the Nebraska has on their schedule left, they can win. Well, God's
honest, true, they could.They could, They could have ten wins,
they could go to the Big Tenchampionship. How crazy as that?
Absolutely and what is where are theyat if they start the quarterback that's playing
now at the beginning of the yearright on, and they play really,
really, really good defense. AndI'm glad you mentioned the wolf Pack because
they're not ready for basketball yet.That's right, you can kiss behind him.
(34:52):
Great stuff. All right, let'stalk a week ten and let's find
out. I mean, how goodare the Tigers Missouri's going to Georgia.
I mean, do they have achance. We're fixing to find out.
They number twelve, Missouri at numbertwo Georgia's three point thirty CBS SEC Game
(35:13):
of the week. The Dogs arefifteen and a half point favorite. Carson
Beck Brady Cook will be on stageat quarterback. It's this simple to me.
Can can Missouri go on the roadand just keep it close? Don't
get boat raced, keep it closeand put some doubt and put some pucker
into those Georgia players that have notlost games. A game a game and
(35:36):
see what Happens'll be interesting between thehedges. I am looking forward to watching
that game start to finish. LSUat Alabama this is huge, seven forty
five CBS, number fourteen, LSUsix, This best six and two team
in my opinion in the country atthe number eight. Who would have ever
guessed this team's sitting there as threepoint favorites only one loss. The way
(35:58):
that the season started for Alabama andtheir woes, Bryant Denny fans will show
out at night, which is anadvantage for big matchups, There's no doubt
about it. But Alabama has torun it. They're gonna have to gain
yards running the ball to keep itout of that The best offense statistically right
(36:19):
in in football with the perimeter playersLSU has with who I think absolutely can
still play or win the Heisman TrophyDaniels and what the plays he makes extending
plays. That's what Alabama has tolimit Jade and Daniels extending plays. And
they've got to get some heat onhim because he's not just a guy that
can run. He's really accurate,good arm hell of a player. Daniels
(36:43):
and neighbors have a game. Whoknows what can happen? There could be
fun, you just said it.Kansas State controls their own destiny. That
destiny is taking them to Texas.That's a tough one, man. They're
starting to find a way to dothe things they did last year. They're
playing better on defense, They're startingto run the ball. They're always solid
in special teams. Chris Clemon doesa great job. You know, you
(37:04):
start to figure out your identity.And it's a twelve pm Fox game number
twenty three. K State at numberseven Texas, Texas is a four point
favorite the over runners forty nine anda half. Both sixteen. Both are
allowing only sixteen points per game ondefense. Here's what I want to say.
(37:25):
If K State can take away JonathanBrooks and make them one dimensional and
make the backup young quarterback Malik Murphybeat them with his arm, they're going
to be in the spot to stealthis game on the road. I believe
that. And Texas needs to bebetter in the red zone on offense,
scoring seven instead of three. Texas. A and M can't seem to win
(37:45):
a game on the road. They'regoing to Old Miss. There's a good
chance they won't win that one either. Twelve pm ESPN. I already noticed
my noon my thumbs. I tryto stick to two YouTube TV. I
mean literally, the noon slate.Last week, the noonslave. This week
(38:07):
it's crazy five and three. Aand M at number ten, seven and
one Ole Miss. I think therewere some remarks made this week by Jim
bow He's not coach Kiffin's not hison his Christmas card list. I don't
think both teams are right right nowon defense, but that at home they
(38:28):
got that three point favorite, whichsays that Vegas sees this is pretty even.
I think that's because A and Mplays so well on defense. But
Ole Miss is running the ball andthey're playing it at home. Should be
interesting game. Notre Dame at Clemsoncould be another really nasty loss for Clemson.
Number fifteen. Notre Dame is lookingstrong. They're a three point favorite
(38:49):
on noon on ABC at four andfour Clemson. If you told me at
the beginning of the year, Clemsoncould be four and five the way they
finished last year. I know youcan't take last year to this year,
but still they finished so strong intwenty twenty two and now they're just laying
an egg. They've always recruited well. Club Nick look good. At the
end of the year, as you'realluding to. They went out and got
(39:12):
Garrett Riley, who did a tremendousjob at TCU, and it just hasn't
happened. This helps Notre Dame fornoon. It's Death Valley is a noon
game and not an eight pm game. For sure. If Notre Dame goes
in there and takes care of theball, they'll be okay. As long
as Clemson's been doing what they've beendoing with their struggles on offense. Yeah,
Bedlam Oklahoma at Oklahoma State. OklahomaState right now is playing really really
(39:34):
good football. Don't bet against them, no way, not the way they're
running the football. Three point thirtyABC. Can Oklahoma lose two straight with
that promising start? Number nine isa five and a half point favorite on
the road at Oklahoma State, sittingthere at six and two, the twenty
second ranked team. They were allgone and dead lost to South Alabama and
(39:54):
Iowa stayed early. Here come thefighting Mike Gundy's. They seem to have
found their identity Paul again, anotherteam with what they're doing with Oli Gordon.
Sadly, this will maybe not thelast, but it's going to be
the last for a long time thatwe get to see Bedlam. Yeah.
Yeah, because they're splitting out theleague's Penn State at Maryland. Maryland,
(40:15):
like you said, really struggling rightnow. Penn State could use a win
before they got to play against Michiganthree thirty fox. I giggle with this
matchup. These two friends of mine. Yeah, they are frenemies. This
is what I was totally their frenemies. Number eleven. Penn State seven and
one, eight and a half pointfavorite at a three straight loss, five
(40:37):
and three. Now Maryland, it'sa fifty and a half over and under.
Where has the Maryland defense gone?Yeah, that's been the problem the
last three weeks. Now they've giventhe ball away, but they're not stopping
anybody. And at the beginning ofthe year when they come to play the
Buckeyes, everybody said Maryland's offense,Maryland's offense. Well, no, Maryland
was playing well on defense too,and that's changed. Yeah, there's no
(40:58):
love loss between the two head coaches. There are recruiting implications because Pennsylvania the
DMV is a target for them andalways has and will be. But yeah,
this is a big game from Marylandbecause now you're starting to look at
their schedule. You thought they weregoing to be boeligible for a third straight
year, right and now five ando's five and three and the back end
(41:20):
of their schedule is pretty loaded.Yeah, So I don't know what the
over under is for Washington at USC, but I'm going to just take a
gander that it's eighty six. You'reonly off ten at seventy six and a
half. All right, what shouldbe eighty six? Especially after last week
with USC fifty to forty nine Beatencol who's not very good. Washington USC
should be good seven thirty ABC,number five. Washington's a three point favorite
(41:45):
on the road at number twenty andseven and two Southern col. Yet that's
the over and under seventy six anda half. I'm taking the over.
Yeah, I would too. DoesWashington help Michael Pennix Junior out running the
football and not turn the ball overlike they have the last couple of weeks
now, Washington's defense pulled them outof the fire two weeks ago. USC's
(42:08):
defense has not pulled US's team outof the fire yet. No, So
I do favor Washington because of whatwe've seen, But this will be if
you like offense, tune in seventhirty ABC. Well, like we said
you, Sela is playing pretty goodfootball right now. They're going to Arizona,
who plays away from being undefeated.In the conversation that should be a
(42:29):
really good football game. The oldkid, Are you kidding me? You're
standing up for another game? Tenthirty on FS one number nineteen. The
Fighting Chip. Kelly's are three pointfavorites on the road at a five and
three Arizona fifty one and a halfbecause u CLA's played good defense this year
and now Arizona is so UCLA hasto take care of the ball on the
road. They turned it over fourtimes and you can take Arizona winning by
(42:52):
double digits easily. Good play atquarterback, continue a third straight w over
a ranked opponent. That's what we'relooking. Bowling Green with a big win
last night. That was kind offun to see that Toledo played on Halloween
and the snow. I don't knowif you've seen any of that or not,
but the maction is becoming quite enjoyable. I mean, it looked like
(43:15):
they had measurable snow in Toledo onHalloween. What are some of the other
games you're interested? Yeah, I'vegot just a few others, but that
gone it. I didn't watch lastnight. I was prepping for the show,
taking care of the dogs. Carrionwas staying was out of town and
I look at the score and I'mlike, they wanted on the last pot
where they lost, They finished iton the last play twenty seven to ten.
(43:37):
Kent State's winning. I'm thinking,yeah, my man, Joe moorehead
tough times. And then yeah,this morning did you see that? I
found out this morning things went theother way. But three point thirty ACC
Network four and four of Virginia Techhas started to write the ship at who
we've talked about. Louisville is anine and a half point favorite of forty
(43:58):
eight and a half point over andunder. Can they slow at Virginia Tech?
Can you slow Jair Jordan? Thenyou've got the Big Sun Belt Clash
three thirty ESPN two eight JMU atsix and two Georgia State. JMU goes
on the road with a five anda half as a five and a half
point favorite to get to nine andzero back the two Big twelve games.
(44:22):
Don't sleep on it because they're allin it. You got Kansas twenty one,
number twenty one, six and twoat five and three Iowa State.
Iowa State's a two and a halfpoint home favorite. And then seven pm
on FS one five and three byBYU has lost three of their last five
defensive struggling offenses turning it over.That's why West Virginia is a ten point
(44:43):
favorite at home eight pm ACC NetworkVan Dyke's turnovers last week. A concerned
six and two Miami is still afour and a half point favorite at five
and three n C State. Thereason is NC State has been struggling offensively
forty five and a half as theover under, I would take the under.
I don't bet, but that's whatI will seeing these teams play and
(45:05):
then last, but not least,the ten pm ESPN six and two number
sixteen Oregon State, who can getafter you upfront on defense, is a
thirteen and a half point favorite atColorado. Keep should Shuder Sanders alive?
Yeah, they gotta they gotta dobetter. I would definitely take Oregon and
(45:29):
the points. I feel like Oregon'sgonna win that game by twenty one points.
But we shall see coach. Myabsolute favorite part of the program.
People tune in just to hear yourun down who you think is going to
win the day or you think didwin the day last weekend, Well,
I've got some good almost runner upsthis week. We had some good ones
last week too. They were alittle more obvious than some of the weeks
(45:52):
before. These are still good.These are obvious, all right. First,
the first runner up. I can'tbelieve you didn't, but you can't
beat this one. This week,the Iowa fan base no longer The Drive
for three twenty five is relevant asit has been announced Brian Ferrence will not
return. His dad said, Iwill be returning for many more years,
(46:14):
but no more Drive for three twentyfive. Another runner up in his Khakis,
Jimmy Harball. He is given adouble fister to the Big ten and
NC Double A, and so farhe is the teflon Don. It doesn't
stick, but I think, justlike the teflon Don finally went to prison,
(46:38):
I think things are coming for Khakijim. This one's not funny but
cool. Bruce Bouchie. Bruce Bochieout of retirement to win his fourth World
Series champion. There's something about managersthat make a difference in baseball, Paul,
and you're mister Baseball, totally agree. Uh. He is tremendous at
(47:00):
what he does. I think he'ssixty five years old. But the first
World Series win for Texas a coolthing. I'm sure you heard it is
what Bruce Bochi told the team inhis first team meeting. I'm not coming
out of retirement to lose. Andhe wins the World Series. Great,
great, that was cool to watch. He has more World Series wins than
any other manager since before nineteen hundred. Do you know that. I didn't
(47:23):
know that. Yeah, it waslike it was like eighteen ninety six or
something like. That was the lasttime there was a manager of Major League
Baseball that had more wins of WorldSeries Baseball, And back then they only
played a couple of games, SoI forget who that was. But yeah,
Bruce Bochie's won a lot of gamesin the World Series. And you're
gonna love this one. This wasthe first runner up, almost got crowned,
(47:45):
the one and only the Pony.Paul James called the Texas Rangers on
this show before the playoffs started.He said, the Texas Rangers are going
to win the World Series, andmy friend, you were right. I
actually, my son sent me amessage this morning and he said, I
just texted Mom to say, forthe first time ever, you were right,
(48:07):
because on March thirtieth, you toldme the Texas Rangers were winning it
all and they did. I said, well, I get I didn't know
it went back that far. Yeah. Opening day. Opening Day, we
were all together. Wow. Andand my son asked me, he goes
he you thinks went in? Isaid, best team I'm seeing if they
stay healthy is because you're smarter,because you're lucky. No, it's because
it's because I've got here's my thing. And we talk about this on this
(48:30):
show quite a bit. I feellike the eye test is huge. And
the eye test for me for springtraining was that if the Rangers could stay
healthy, they were the best teamin baseball. It really was my eye
test. It's like I'm telling younow, right now, Oregon on the
eye test is the absolute best teamin college. You know. You know
(48:50):
what I believe in the eye testbecause I lost a bet to my buddies
in college that I would buy acase of beer for every one of them
if I was the first one married. And when my eyes saw my wife,
I was married. And I've lostabout five cases of beers. So
there you go. It's well worthit. I test absolutely, But the
winner, the winner ain't even close. The heaven of basketball and the basketball
(49:15):
gods getting to welcome the one andonly the general Robert Montgomery Knight. Love
him or hate him, he isold school. He did it his way.
He was the fourth winningest coach ofall time. He coached the winning
US coach of all time, MikeSkyeshski, three national titles, gold medals
(49:40):
in the nineteen eighty four Olympics asthe head coach, as well as the
Pan American Games from Orville, Ohio. A player that won a national title
in nineteen sixty with the Ohio Statebasketball team. I think John Havlichek was
on that team. Jerry Lucas tohear today the things that are being said
(50:01):
on radio by former players, PaulA couple of them hated him, but
almost all of them loved him.And here's what I know is, I've
had a couple of friends say,Aj, you would struggle with the way
you coached. If you coached today. Bob Knight could not exist for a
week in this not a week,maybe not a day because how he coached
(50:23):
kids. I mean, could youimagine him in the portal, in the
nil and in the kids today beingin a hurry to go play for the
way he coached. But Jay Billistoday was tremendous talking about him. Oh
my gosh, it was the headcoach at Indiana, that was the hometown
(50:44):
hero from Indiana. I just hisname is living, offered, Yeah,
Steve Alford talking the things that theyjust guys talked about, how brilliant he
was, the best teacher they hadever seen. Jay Billis is a brilliant
man and to hear him say howBob Knight would point things out in film
on court. They became very closefriends. But yeah, he had a
(51:07):
sad ending. But the gods inthe heavens of basketball have one of the
all time greats and one of themost iconic basketball people in history. I've
been a fan and always was,and one of the reasons was I was
around a lot of guys that knewhim and that done things with him.
(51:27):
But one of the other ones,one of my favorite baseball players ever is
Johnny Bench, and he considered BobKnight to be one of his absolute best
friends. And he said, well, we got together. We rarely ever
talked about sports. We went fishing, we went hunting, we had a
couple of drinks, and that's howwe did things. And that's you have
to appreciate that about a guy.But Yeah, agreed, absolutely good stuff.
(51:50):
He did, in fact, didwin the game. Coach Rutgers having
a great season or six and two. They got the Newton game on CBS
against the Buckeyes at home. TheBucks need to get the offense completely back
on track. They're heading to Piscataway. And the thing about it is that
I don't think people understand Rutgers defenseis legit. It is a very good
defense. I mean, we knowwho their coach is. There's drama between
(52:14):
Schiano and Ryan Day. This couldbe an interesting football game Saturday. Yeah,
twelve o'clock noon CBS. Number oneranked Ohio State buck Eyes are eighteen
and a half point favorite at thesix and two Rutgers of forty two and
a half over under. So thatkind of leads you into what I'm about
to say. This is greg Sheianotwo point zero. It's a retooled offensive
(52:37):
staff from what was a dreadful offenselast year, a solid returning defense with
personnel and staff sitting there at sixand two. Now, for perspective,
you can only beat who you play. Their wins are Northwestern Temple, Virginia
Tech, who struggled early, Wagner, Michigan State, and Indiana. Their
losses are both road losses at Michiganand at Wisconsin. Look, the strength
(53:01):
of this team is their defense.It's four three, four two five.
They got a good front seven.Aaron Lewis an edge player, Dion Jennings
and Tyreing Powell their linebackers. Thisis where they're strongest. Max Melton has
a chance to probably play on Sundaysas as a dB. They create negative
(53:21):
plays as always, Shiano's teams playvery hard. They've been tackling. Well,
you're gonna see pressures. You're gonnasee some man pressures. You saw
him when he was the DC atthe at Ohio State. And then you've
got the team strengths with keeping thescore down, staying in the game,
(53:43):
win with defense, and a kickinggame. Their calling card, as we've
always known as chop wood. That'sthe mentality, just keep chopping play the
next play. Their strength in theiroffense is their running game. With their
running game of running back Kyle anda guy seven forty four, he's averaging
five point to a carry, andtheir quarterback with Wimset who's averaging five yards
(54:07):
of carry. You're going to seeeleven and twelve personnel, but they struggle
mightily in the past game. Sothat's why they have to do some things
to help them win the game,not just against the Buckeyes, but really
a lot of or any of theiropponents. Rutgers is going to need to
get short fields for them that forfor Rutgers to have a chance to win,
(54:29):
they have to get short fields withtakeaways. Rutgers is probably going to
have to do something like score ondefense a pick six scoop score. Rutgers,
because of their outband, is probablygoing to have to block a kick,
return a kick, do something inspecial teams where they're getting the wins
in other phases other than offense anddefensively. To give themselves a chance against
(54:52):
the explosive Ohio State talent is,they've got to create third and lungs.
They're not going to just sit backand and say ben don't break. They
can't do that because o High Stateis gonna break. You. Now to
bring it to a close to landthe plane quickly. What I would want
(55:13):
to see if I'm a Buckeye fanon Saturday, I'm gonna beat a dead
horse with the first three. Youwant to see the defense start taking the
ball away. I mean, they'replaying almost outstanding, but they got to
get takeawys because they're gona need themagainst better opponents. Two Still yet to
see him make a positive difference inspecial teams. It's not special, it's
(55:35):
just okay. And then again Isaid this about the pass game and pass
games is can we start to seea better pass rush with their edge guy,
their interior guys with four other thanthat, no sleep walking. I've
been to Rutgers. It's not athing where you're gonna be all fired up
like it's primetime. And is anotherobvious one, Ry Charles, I saw
(56:00):
this one, Kyle mccorr. Doeshe bounce back? Does he okay,
you had a bad game, Goprove to your teammates that was just one
one game, You're okay? Andthe key we talked about it earlier.
Does Travon Henderson stack a second gamewhere he goes wild? Only way I
(56:21):
see the Buckeyes having a bad day, Paul is again the obvious is if
they give the ball away, giveRutgers who struggles to score short fields.
But the last thing you alluded tothis again, and I think somebody traded
our notes or something. If it'sa Vegas bet bet it. You will
(56:42):
see by the way Rutgers running trickplace. You're gonna see him in every
phase. You can see a fakekick, you see an on site surprise
kick. Now they're practicing all thisstuff, but you're gonna see trick plays.
They're gonna try to get the Buckeye'seyes somewhere else. So we got
you over here that that's something that'sa Schiano staple, as we've already mentioned.
So that's what I expect to seeon Saturday with that coach. Is
(57:05):
that? Does that really screw upin Ohio state, a Michigan, a
Penn State or whatever because they haveto take a practice. Oh yes,
and instead of doing you know,working on the stuff the end of games
or whatever, you now have totake a practice and concentrate on trick play.
Yeah. So they've ran speed optionthree times this year. Guess what
(57:25):
you have to practice? Yeah?Uh, they ran a trick play.
Okay, we got to practice.Well, guess what you're not practicing.
Think people the same things in gettingreps because reps are important, right,
but being prepared for situations as acoach's job, and if you don't show
the kid. It ain't on thekid, it's on the coaches. So
yeah, it absolutely and that's whatyou have to do. If you know
(57:46):
you're out manned, you got todo things to get advantages of other places.
Hey, I want them to haveless prep time than we do for
the things we're preparing now because weknow what we're getting. But that's good
coaching. So tomorrow you need towork on the exercise and of the thumbs
because you're gonna need it for thenoon games on Saturday. So so take
care of those and practice those asmuch as you can. Maybe I can
(58:07):
talk a friend or my daughter orsomething sit there and run help you with
the remote channel. That always apleasure. My friend. Enjoyed dinner with
your wife tonight. Thank you somuch for everything you bring to the show,
the show, I appreciate it,The O Show on I on radio.
If you're just finding this thing,make sure that you hit follow so
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(58:29):
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