August 6, 2025 • 17 mins
Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal joins the show to bring you up to speed on how Jonathan Smith's Michigan State Spartans are preparing for the 2025 football season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gram Couch knows so much about Michigan State athletics, specifically football,
He joins us on the Lindsay Hunter Foundation guest line.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Graham.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Always good to visit with you. We appreciate the time.
Why do you think Michigan State is under that proverbial
radar right now in the Big Ten?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Well, they've earned being under the radar. It's the last
couple of seasons really, and it's you know, it's not
just you know, it's not just as they've been down years.
They haven't been competitive at all late in those years,
and so there's just not a lot of evidence that's
a program that you know, is if you're outside of
East Lansing and even inside East Lanting, that has a
(00:36):
lot of buzz and on and juice to it. You know.
I think there are reasons, you know, if you look,
you know inside and what they've done to think there
are areas where they can be pretty good this year
in certain position groups. But that stuff's got to be earned,
and the program's falling on hard times the last couple
of years.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
What have you been looking for mostly in these practices
leading up to the regular season.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, the big thing that you know, what they need
is they need they need difference makers, right and depth
and difference makers are the two things this program is
sort of lacked in the last couple of years. And
the reason they've fallen apart so late is they've been
beaten up and then they just haven't enough guys that
cause other teams problems. And so I think if you're
(01:21):
looking for for optimism and reasons to think Michigan State
could be to be better this year. And they've got
a lot of games that you call toss up games,
and I'm sure their opponents, you know, view MSU to
the team they should be. But you know, the receiving
group is for the first time in a couple of
years they have they have a unit that I think
(01:41):
can cause defenses problem somewhere. And I think if the
offensive line is you know, improved and solid and has
a chance to be and Aidan Chiles, you know, has
a wealth of talent and takes a step, that receivers
group could be what gives them a chance to beat
teams and those toss up games when they're not going
(02:02):
to have the advantage everywhere. And so I think that's
it that that Nick marsh Omari Kelly Crashawn McCrae, the
Kelly and McCray two guys they brought in transfers that
they've got a lot of speed there. They've got guys
that helped marsh who's a bona fide NFL prospect. And
I think that group you just hear it when the coaches,
(02:24):
you hear it and from the teammates, they know they
have the chance to be pretty good there.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
From what I've been reading, it's been more of a
physical camp for them. Do you glean the same thing
and if so, why do you think that might be important?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Well, yeah, it sounds like they you know, they got
Now we only see so much of camp, but it
does sound like they went to you know, they went
to you know, obviously they went to full path, so
they went to hitting pretty quick. They went over to
the stadium pretty quick, which is not something you usually
do until the scrimmage. The first scrimmage is will be
this week, you know. And it's a team that I
(03:02):
think the coaches need to learn about. It's some positions
and you know, and I think that's a team that
needs to be a good physical tackling team and be
able to win up front. On both sides of the ball,
and those are questions you know that this program has
earned because they haven't been very good there. So I
think that's part of it. I think there, you know,
(03:24):
it's not that the staff doesn't know the players. They
have a lot more retention than they've had in the
last couple of years and last year, understandably with the
coaching change. But it's a you know, this is a
team that it's got to earn its way, and I
think that goes that goes for the staff and the
way they think about them and trying to figure out
separation and who belongs out there pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Graham Couch from the Lanson State Journal, joining us here
on exis and Rose Faum on Twitter. Ad Graham underscore Couch.
He's also the co host of The Couch and the
Room podcast. He's joining us on the Lindsay Hunter Foundation
guest line. What do you think Jonathan Smiths learned most
about the Big Ten a year ago?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, that he didn't know anything about it, I think,
or for the most. I mean, there are some teams
that are for out West, so he knew them. He
knew Oregon obviously, but he didn't, you know, He really underestimated,
you know, the Michigan Michigan State rivalry, and I think
he would tell you that, which really bothered fans quite
a bit.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, how does that happen?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Graham?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
How does that happen?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Well?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I think do you think you have to live through it?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
First? I do, And I think it's different than a
lot of other rivalries, and people who come from different
rivalries just think it's another rivalry. Like you know, he
lived Oregon, Oregon State. He lived that dynamic from the
Oregon State side, and he thought there'd be a lot
of similarities and there are probably some, but it is
a there is a venom to it. There's a fan
(04:50):
base that cares about it. Three sixty five, especially on
the Michigan State side. And the way the game unfolded,
and it was one of his more poorly coach games
he had. They had control of the game early and
really let that get away, and then the way it
unfolded late with the skirmish on the field, and you know,
Michigan State complaining about it and then not really doing
(05:10):
anything when the big Tendon backed them up. I think
people got really frustrated. But it was also his you know,
if you think the reason Mark D'Antonio was a beloved
coach even before he started winning big was that he
met the fan base where they were. He understood. It
goes back to the little Brother comment in two thousand
and seven and they lose that game, but how he
(05:32):
responded and the pain in his voice and the promise
in his voice, and sort of meeting the fan base
where they were. He was in the foxhol with him
and Jonathan Smith wasn't there last year, didn't you know?
And some of it, it's got to be true to
his nature. He doesn't have the same I mean, D'Antonio
had that to him. That was just part of his personality,
(05:53):
even when it could be dry. Sometimes he knew where
to dig down and find that. And but it just, yeah,
it didn't you lose the game. You don't seem like
you were. You didn't coach well in it. It was
a game that didn't seem like it had to be lost.
And his words around there just you know, it just
didn't seem like he understood what that was going to
mean to everybody. It's a game, it's a rivalry you
(06:15):
have to get control of to some degree and be
competitive and to be respected by your own fan base.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You've interviewed the new athletic director, Jay Batt. I want
your impressions of him, and should Jonathan Smith be worried
that he wasn't his guy?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You know, I really haven't talked that much. He started
while I was away and and so I'm hoping to
sit down with him shortly here. But I do have impressions.
I mean, you know, from from what's been done and
and things I've you know, read and talked to other
people about it. But you know, I don't There's a
couple of things. If Jonathan Smith wins, there's nothing to
(06:55):
worry about. And I think the other thing is if
he were to be fired for this year, I think
that you can say, what owe him thirty three million?
Like they don't have that kind of money. I think
Jonathan Smith would be more likely to leave on his
own because his contract, you know, his buyout was slash
because in the deal, if Alan Haller was no longer
(07:16):
the ad who hired him, he was able to get
out easier. But I think with you know, they wanted
to work with Jonathan Smith, you can't keep cycling through
these guys. They have to give him an opportunity. If
you get rid of coaches after two years, that's just
a bad place to be. That's you know, you don't
want to be Michigan State of years ago. You don't
want to be a place that has this function or
(07:36):
viewed as a place that doesn't understand that it takes
more than two years. And the reason he doesn't succeed,
Like I think he's a pretty good football coach, the
reason he doesn't succeed is resource based. At a certain
point in terms of who he was able to bring
in and recruit, then you haven't given him the tools
yet to win. And that's so if you've got thirty
three million to part with the coach, you ought to
(07:57):
be putting that into a program for revenue sharing at
nil and giving somebody a real chance to see what
they have. I just think it would have to be
a real disaster for there to be anything that happen.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
There so well said, and the resources are so important.
But I remember being at an event with Tom Izzo
and Greg Campy in the off season during the wintertime
and talking to some of the m issue donors and
they're wondering a loud how many times can you keep
coming back to us for more money in the NIL.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
How do you fix it?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But I hope you have a couple of hours here.
A tough question, but yeah, no, I think ultimately, ultimately
you have to get to some place where there is
collective bargaining and there's a system in place that has
agreed to by players, because you know, look, if you
think about the Detroit Pistons or any pro team, everybody
(08:57):
understands the length of Cake cunning dams con and you
know that he doesn't have to be a Piston for life,
but he's there for this amount of time. Or in
any other sport, people understand the terms. And the hard
part in college is people don't understand the terms. There's
not a whole lot of transparency there. To some degree,
the revenue sharing will help raise the floor of a
(09:19):
lot of programs that gives Purdue a tremendous amount of
resources on par with Ohio State, and Ohio State be
able to get more through through NIL and things like that.
But I think you know, the reason collective barging is
important is one thing that group of players who eventually
will help determine in whatever association that is whether they're
athletes officially or we're sorry, whether their employees officially or not,
(09:42):
they won't care as much. I think this is where
it has a chance to be beneficial. They won't care
as much about incoming recruits because that time will be passed.
And I think there is a chance that the money
that's being thrown at recruits at some place is collectively
bargained out of the system to the point that that's
a much more limited amount. And the players that are
getting really well paid are the players that are already
(10:07):
at their schools. I think that's critical, I really do.
I think you've got to get to a point where
the guys are getting paid to the guys who earned it.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, I'm with you on that, dude.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You're one hundred percent right, And I think that's what
the president and Nick Saban have been talking about too.
The thing that worries me about that, and I think
you're right, so I would side with you. The thing
that worries me about that is unionization, and I think
that's what will happen with players. I'd love a quick
thought from you on the mega conferences, you know, seventeen
in the ACC sixteen and the Big twelve eighteen and
(10:38):
the Big ten sixteen in the SEC.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Do you like it? Because I hate it? Do you
like it?
Speaker 1 (10:45):
And what is it about it that's appealing besides the
financial aspect for the NCAA and college football programs in general.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, I don't like it. I mean, I prefer the
world where the Pac twelve existed. You know, I prefer
a world where you know, even before all this, that
that mid majors are able to compete without completely beating
poach of talent and you're able to have a year
or you where you have a star and maybe you
have them for a couple of years. Because tho guys
are getting in the NFL just fine. They didn't they
didn't need this.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
I want, I want to I want a world where
Michigan State is going to play Ohio State and they're
not on the schedule this year, and I think it's.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Going to be an every year thing, right, No, And
I think they've gotten away from what makes college football important,
you know, it is the rivalries and when you do
play a big non conference game across the country, it's
supposed to be interesting and fun and unique and not
every year because if they're in the conference, you know,
like and that's that sort of stuff that that I mean.
(11:41):
You hear Kurt Signetti from Indiana talk about, you know,
we want to play an SEC schedule and they don't
play you know, they play all FCS teams in the
non league, and that, you know, that gets away from
what the whole point is. This is supposed to be
fun for fans. You're supposed to have big games and
big events, and I just to me, you know, the
system what I would I mean, the whichigaantic conferences, which
(12:03):
I don't love, but they're here to stay, I think.
But the maybe that'll change for the other sports in
ten years, will come back to our census and they'll
be separated or something like that. But you know, I
do think the playoff system needs to be designed in
terms of who gets in with some parameters. In mind,
everybody plays ten Power five opponents if you're in a
Power or Power four conference, I should say, and you know,
(12:26):
I think to try to encourage those sort of matchups
and those that sort of experience for fans. But yeah,
it's like it's it's not the college football that we
loved and we grew up on and that made college
football great and the question is can enough people stomach
(12:47):
it and still love it that over time it's okay.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
And I don't know, Graham, I had forgotten until this morning.
I've forgotten that Stanford's going to play football in the ACC. Yeah,
I think that's I think it's laughable. Another thing from
m issue. We focus so much on quarterbacks, and I
get it. Aiden Chiles athletic at times showed real sparks.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
What's the other area you.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Think Michigan State needs to be upgraded in order for
them to compete. I hate saying big boys because that's
not fair, but competing the upper echelon of the Big
Ten this year?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Do you think, Well, it's the line of scrimmage. I
mean the offensive line is it's been a decade almost
now since they've been a really good unit, and they've
had a couple of ky units there, but that's been
a really hard fix. And I do think and at
this point seeing is believing. But I do think there's
some guys internally, there's a lot of buzz about and
they brought in some guys that I think that and
(13:45):
I think they do have benjam mahalcheck are a really
good offensive line coach has proven himself, you know, at
other places. But so that needs to happen for the
program to go anywhere. And then for this particular team,
you know, the defensive line and the defense. They went
six full games without a sack and big ten play
last year. I mean, it's it's it's amazing. They have
five sacks and conference play the entire season. Now that
(14:09):
was half the next worst team and six times more
than six times less than you know, the very best thing.
You can't you can't function if you're on you're on
you know, on skates going backwards like that. If you
can't get off the field, it's just too much. So
even if the offense winds up being you know, somewhat potent,
and that that has to change. They don't have to
be a great defense, but they have to be capable.
(14:31):
They have to be opportunistic and and I don't you know,
that's I think I think they'll be good at linebacker,
and they have some guys who are intriguing in other places.
But that's really that's really a big question.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
I hate playing the schedule game. I don't think you
like it either, but your editors force you to do it.
What's acceptable in terms of wins from Michigan State this year,
not prediction, just acceptable for you.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, I mean I think they need to get to
a bowl game. I think they need they need to
win six. And but it's it's who and how some
of some degree the Michigan game, if it looks a
certain way, that helps. You know. The other thing is
it is a difficult schedule because you know, so many
of the games are against teams that are predicted to
be better than Michigan State but not. But they're not
(15:17):
powers and they are real poss up games, you know,
from from early on at home against Boston College, at USC,
at Nebraska, at Indiana, you know, these are games at Iowa. Yeah,
you just who are these teams? And that'll dictate a
lot of it too. And they've got to be good
enough to win games in small margins there. But I
you know, I think if they get the six, they've
(15:38):
got to get to a bowl game. They got to
have that feeling again. Where but they get to six
or seven, people will be okay, and you're too, But
it's partly out. It looks too because the last two years,
two years ago after the Miltucker firing and somewhat understandable
that was just a dumpster player. But the last two years,
the ends of the season have been non competitive. You
can't you can't lose it home forty one fourteen the Rutgers,
(16:01):
then the year, you know that sort of stuff. And
so it's how it looks, it's how it feels at
the end, and sort of the vibe people leave with
in terms of where the program is headed. So you know,
at least six wins then you know, being competitive all
the way through.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yeah, I hate to say that that's such a low bar.
I expect them to win sevent a year ago. Again,
I hate playing that schedule game. I hope they surprise people.
I hope they come out and they punch some people
in the mouth. I actually like the way their schedule
sets up for them to get under their feet. I
think what you're saying is what's really important at the
end of the year. Get those extra practices in for
(16:38):
these guys so that they know they're playing for something.
It's really good insight. We always learn something from it.
We appreciate it. We strongly recommend folks follow Graham Couch
on Twitter at Graham Underscore Couch and check out the podcast.
It's really good, I mean Couch and the Rude Podcast.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You want to know what's going on.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
At Michigan State univer That is the place to be. Graham,
thanks for the time today, have a great weekend and
keep up the great work.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Thanks Man. Always always good talking with you.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yeah, same, Graham Couch.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Love that insight, man, I mean he he's got his
stuff down. It's it's really good.
Gram Couch knows so much about Michigan State athletics, specifically football,
He joins us on the Lindsay Hunter Foundation guest line.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Graham.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Always good to visit with you. We appreciate the time.
Why do you think Michigan State is under that proverbial
radar right now in the Big Ten?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Well, they've earned being under the radar. It's the last
couple of seasons really, and it's you know, it's not
just you know, it's not just as they've been down years.
They haven't been competitive at all late in those years,
and so there's just not a lot of evidence that's
a program that you know, is if you're outside of
East Lansing and even inside East Lanting, that has a
(00:36):
lot of buzz and on and juice to it. You know.
I think there are reasons, you know, if you look,
you know inside and what they've done to think there
are areas where they can be pretty good this year
in certain position groups. But that stuff's got to be earned,
and the program's falling on hard times the last couple
of years.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
What have you been looking for mostly in these practices
leading up to the regular season.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, the big thing that you know, what they need
is they need they need difference makers, right and depth
and difference makers are the two things this program is
sort of lacked in the last couple of years. And
the reason they've fallen apart so late is they've been
beaten up and then they just haven't enough guys that
cause other teams problems. And so I think if you're
(01:21):
looking for for optimism and reasons to think Michigan State
could be to be better this year. And they've got
a lot of games that you call toss up games,
and I'm sure their opponents, you know, view MSU to
the team they should be. But you know, the receiving
group is for the first time in a couple of
years they have they have a unit that I think
(01:41):
can cause defenses problem somewhere. And I think if the
offensive line is you know, improved and solid and has
a chance to be and Aidan Chiles, you know, has
a wealth of talent and takes a step, that receivers
group could be what gives them a chance to beat
teams and those toss up games when they're not going
(02:02):
to have the advantage everywhere. And so I think that's
it that that Nick marsh Omari Kelly Crashawn McCrae, the
Kelly and McCray two guys they brought in transfers that
they've got a lot of speed there. They've got guys
that helped marsh who's a bona fide NFL prospect. And
I think that group you just hear it when the coaches,
(02:24):
you hear it and from the teammates, they know they
have the chance to be pretty good there.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
From what I've been reading, it's been more of a
physical camp for them. Do you glean the same thing
and if so, why do you think that might be important?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Well, yeah, it sounds like they you know, they got
Now we only see so much of camp, but it
does sound like they went to you know, they went
to you know, obviously they went to full path, so
they went to hitting pretty quick. They went over to
the stadium pretty quick, which is not something you usually
do until the scrimmage. The first scrimmage is will be
this week, you know. And it's a team that I
(03:02):
think the coaches need to learn about. It's some positions
and you know, and I think that's a team that
needs to be a good physical tackling team and be
able to win up front. On both sides of the ball,
and those are questions you know that this program has
earned because they haven't been very good there. So I
think that's part of it. I think there, you know,
(03:24):
it's not that the staff doesn't know the players. They
have a lot more retention than they've had in the
last couple of years and last year, understandably with the
coaching change. But it's a you know, this is a
team that it's got to earn its way, and I
think that goes that goes for the staff and the
way they think about them and trying to figure out
separation and who belongs out there pretty quick.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Graham Couch from the Lanson State Journal, joining us here
on exis and Rose Faum on Twitter. Ad Graham underscore Couch.
He's also the co host of The Couch and the
Room podcast. He's joining us on the Lindsay Hunter Foundation
guest line. What do you think Jonathan Smiths learned most
about the Big Ten a year ago?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, that he didn't know anything about it, I think,
or for the most. I mean, there are some teams
that are for out West, so he knew them. He
knew Oregon obviously, but he didn't, you know, He really underestimated,
you know, the Michigan Michigan State rivalry, and I think
he would tell you that, which really bothered fans quite
a bit.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, how does that happen?
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Graham?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
How does that happen?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Well?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I think do you think you have to live through it?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
First? I do, And I think it's different than a
lot of other rivalries, and people who come from different
rivalries just think it's another rivalry. Like you know, he
lived Oregon, Oregon State. He lived that dynamic from the
Oregon State side, and he thought there'd be a lot
of similarities and there are probably some, but it is
a there is a venom to it. There's a fan
(04:50):
base that cares about it. Three sixty five, especially on
the Michigan State side. And the way the game unfolded,
and it was one of his more poorly coach games
he had. They had control of the game early and
really let that get away, and then the way it
unfolded late with the skirmish on the field, and you know,
Michigan State complaining about it and then not really doing
(05:10):
anything when the big Tendon backed them up. I think
people got really frustrated. But it was also his you know,
if you think the reason Mark D'Antonio was a beloved
coach even before he started winning big was that he
met the fan base where they were. He understood. It
goes back to the little Brother comment in two thousand
and seven and they lose that game, but how he
(05:32):
responded and the pain in his voice and the promise
in his voice, and sort of meeting the fan base
where they were. He was in the foxhol with him
and Jonathan Smith wasn't there last year, didn't you know?
And some of it, it's got to be true to
his nature. He doesn't have the same I mean, D'Antonio
had that to him. That was just part of his personality,
(05:53):
even when it could be dry. Sometimes he knew where
to dig down and find that. And but it just, yeah,
it didn't you lose the game. You don't seem like
you were. You didn't coach well in it. It was
a game that didn't seem like it had to be lost.
And his words around there just you know, it just
didn't seem like he understood what that was going to
mean to everybody. It's a game, it's a rivalry you
(06:15):
have to get control of to some degree and be
competitive and to be respected by your own fan base.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You've interviewed the new athletic director, Jay Batt. I want
your impressions of him, and should Jonathan Smith be worried
that he wasn't his guy?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You know, I really haven't talked that much. He started
while I was away and and so I'm hoping to
sit down with him shortly here. But I do have impressions.
I mean, you know, from from what's been done and
and things I've you know, read and talked to other
people about it. But you know, I don't There's a
couple of things. If Jonathan Smith wins, there's nothing to
(06:55):
worry about. And I think the other thing is if
he were to be fired for this year, I think
that you can say, what owe him thirty three million?
Like they don't have that kind of money. I think
Jonathan Smith would be more likely to leave on his
own because his contract, you know, his buyout was slash
because in the deal, if Alan Haller was no longer
(07:16):
the ad who hired him, he was able to get
out easier. But I think with you know, they wanted
to work with Jonathan Smith, you can't keep cycling through
these guys. They have to give him an opportunity. If
you get rid of coaches after two years, that's just
a bad place to be. That's you know, you don't
want to be Michigan State of years ago. You don't
want to be a place that has this function or
(07:36):
viewed as a place that doesn't understand that it takes
more than two years. And the reason he doesn't succeed,
Like I think he's a pretty good football coach, the
reason he doesn't succeed is resource based. At a certain
point in terms of who he was able to bring
in and recruit, then you haven't given him the tools
yet to win. And that's so if you've got thirty
three million to part with the coach, you ought to
(07:57):
be putting that into a program for revenue sharing at
nil and giving somebody a real chance to see what
they have. I just think it would have to be
a real disaster for there to be anything that happen.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
There so well said, and the resources are so important.
But I remember being at an event with Tom Izzo
and Greg Campy in the off season during the wintertime
and talking to some of the m issue donors and
they're wondering a loud how many times can you keep
coming back to us for more money in the NIL.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
How do you fix it?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But I hope you have a couple of hours here.
A tough question, but yeah, no, I think ultimately, ultimately
you have to get to some place where there is
collective bargaining and there's a system in place that has
agreed to by players, because you know, look, if you
think about the Detroit Pistons or any pro team, everybody
(08:57):
understands the length of Cake cunning dams con and you
know that he doesn't have to be a Piston for life,
but he's there for this amount of time. Or in
any other sport, people understand the terms. And the hard
part in college is people don't understand the terms. There's
not a whole lot of transparency there. To some degree,
the revenue sharing will help raise the floor of a
(09:19):
lot of programs that gives Purdue a tremendous amount of
resources on par with Ohio State, and Ohio State be
able to get more through through NIL and things like that.
But I think you know, the reason collective barging is
important is one thing that group of players who eventually
will help determine in whatever association that is whether they're
athletes officially or we're sorry, whether their employees officially or not,
(09:42):
they won't care as much. I think this is where
it has a chance to be beneficial. They won't care
as much about incoming recruits because that time will be passed.
And I think there is a chance that the money
that's being thrown at recruits at some place is collectively
bargained out of the system to the point that that's
a much more limited amount. And the players that are
getting really well paid are the players that are already
(10:07):
at their schools. I think that's critical, I really do.
I think you've got to get to a point where
the guys are getting paid to the guys who earned it.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, I'm with you on that, dude.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You're one hundred percent right, And I think that's what
the president and Nick Saban have been talking about too.
The thing that worries me about that, and I think
you're right, so I would side with you. The thing
that worries me about that is unionization, and I think
that's what will happen with players. I'd love a quick
thought from you on the mega conferences, you know, seventeen
in the ACC sixteen and the Big twelve eighteen and
(10:38):
the Big ten sixteen in the SEC.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Do you like it? Because I hate it? Do you
like it?
Speaker 1 (10:45):
And what is it about it that's appealing besides the
financial aspect for the NCAA and college football programs in general.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, I don't like it. I mean, I prefer the
world where the Pac twelve existed. You know, I prefer
a world where you know, even before all this, that
that mid majors are able to compete without completely beating
poach of talent and you're able to have a year
or you where you have a star and maybe you
have them for a couple of years. Because tho guys
are getting in the NFL just fine. They didn't they
didn't need this.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
I want, I want to I want a world where
Michigan State is going to play Ohio State and they're
not on the schedule this year, and I think it's.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Going to be an every year thing, right, No, And
I think they've gotten away from what makes college football important,
you know, it is the rivalries and when you do
play a big non conference game across the country, it's
supposed to be interesting and fun and unique and not
every year because if they're in the conference, you know,
like and that's that sort of stuff that that I mean.
(11:41):
You hear Kurt Signetti from Indiana talk about, you know,
we want to play an SEC schedule and they don't
play you know, they play all FCS teams in the
non league, and that, you know, that gets away from
what the whole point is. This is supposed to be
fun for fans. You're supposed to have big games and
big events, and I just to me, you know, the
system what I would I mean, the whichigaantic conferences, which
(12:03):
I don't love, but they're here to stay, I think.
But the maybe that'll change for the other sports in
ten years, will come back to our census and they'll
be separated or something like that. But you know, I
do think the playoff system needs to be designed in
terms of who gets in with some parameters. In mind,
everybody plays ten Power five opponents if you're in a
Power or Power four conference, I should say, and you know,
(12:26):
I think to try to encourage those sort of matchups
and those that sort of experience for fans. But yeah,
it's like it's it's not the college football that we
loved and we grew up on and that made college
football great and the question is can enough people stomach
(12:47):
it and still love it that over time it's okay.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
And I don't know, Graham, I had forgotten until this morning.
I've forgotten that Stanford's going to play football in the ACC. Yeah,
I think that's I think it's laughable. Another thing from
m issue. We focus so much on quarterbacks, and I
get it. Aiden Chiles athletic at times showed real sparks.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
What's the other area you.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Think Michigan State needs to be upgraded in order for
them to compete. I hate saying big boys because that's
not fair, but competing the upper echelon of the Big
Ten this year?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Do you think, Well, it's the line of scrimmage. I
mean the offensive line is it's been a decade almost
now since they've been a really good unit, and they've
had a couple of ky units there, but that's been
a really hard fix. And I do think and at
this point seeing is believing. But I do think there's
some guys internally, there's a lot of buzz about and
they brought in some guys that I think that and
(13:45):
I think they do have benjam mahalcheck are a really
good offensive line coach has proven himself, you know, at
other places. But so that needs to happen for the
program to go anywhere. And then for this particular team,
you know, the defensive line and the defense. They went
six full games without a sack and big ten play
last year. I mean, it's it's it's amazing. They have
five sacks and conference play the entire season. Now that
(14:09):
was half the next worst team and six times more
than six times less than you know, the very best thing.
You can't you can't function if you're on you're on
you know, on skates going backwards like that. If you
can't get off the field, it's just too much. So
even if the offense winds up being you know, somewhat potent,
and that that has to change. They don't have to
be a great defense, but they have to be capable.
(14:31):
They have to be opportunistic and and I don't you know,
that's I think I think they'll be good at linebacker,
and they have some guys who are intriguing in other places.
But that's really that's really a big question.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
I hate playing the schedule game. I don't think you
like it either, but your editors force you to do it.
What's acceptable in terms of wins from Michigan State this year,
not prediction, just acceptable for you.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, I mean I think they need to get to
a bowl game. I think they need they need to
win six. And but it's it's who and how some
of some degree the Michigan game, if it looks a
certain way, that helps. You know. The other thing is
it is a difficult schedule because you know, so many
of the games are against teams that are predicted to
be better than Michigan State but not. But they're not
(15:17):
powers and they are real poss up games, you know,
from from early on at home against Boston College, at USC,
at Nebraska, at Indiana, you know, these are games at Iowa. Yeah,
you just who are these teams? And that'll dictate a
lot of it too. And they've got to be good
enough to win games in small margins there. But I
you know, I think if they get the six, they've
(15:38):
got to get to a bowl game. They got to
have that feeling again. Where but they get to six
or seven, people will be okay, and you're too, But
it's partly out. It looks too because the last two years,
two years ago after the Miltucker firing and somewhat understandable
that was just a dumpster player. But the last two years,
the ends of the season have been non competitive. You
can't you can't lose it home forty one fourteen the Rutgers,
(16:01):
then the year, you know that sort of stuff. And
so it's how it looks, it's how it feels at
the end, and sort of the vibe people leave with
in terms of where the program is headed. So you know,
at least six wins then you know, being competitive all
the way through.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yeah, I hate to say that that's such a low bar.
I expect them to win sevent a year ago. Again,
I hate playing that schedule game. I hope they surprise people.
I hope they come out and they punch some people
in the mouth. I actually like the way their schedule
sets up for them to get under their feet. I
think what you're saying is what's really important at the
end of the year. Get those extra practices in for
(16:38):
these guys so that they know they're playing for something.
It's really good insight. We always learn something from it.
We appreciate it. We strongly recommend folks follow Graham Couch
on Twitter at Graham Underscore Couch and check out the podcast.
It's really good, I mean Couch and the Rude Podcast.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You want to know what's going on.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
At Michigan State univer That is the place to be. Graham,
thanks for the time today, have a great weekend and
keep up the great work.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Thanks Man. Always always good talking with you.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yeah, same, Graham Couch.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Love that insight, man, I mean he he's got his
stuff down. It's it's really good.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!