Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here on a Texan Tuesday on sports Radio AM thirteen
hundred of the Zone. No denying the fact that this
young man is a Texan.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Product of LBJ High School.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Played three years at Clemson, then came back to Texas
and aren't long worn fans happy with it? Five interceptions
He and Johnny Baron each with five picks. They've had
their unfriendly competition went on the season, but I would
say the fifth interception for Andrew Maccoba was probably the
best of all of the ten interceptions. Combined Macoba with
the game sealing interception against Arizona State in the second overtime.
(00:34):
And Andrew took part in the media availability zoom opportunity
with the gathered media from Texas, from Ohio and the
national media.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Hi, Andrew, Obviously, your family's journey to this point is
an incredible story, but then your story even coming back
and it feels like you've sort of elevated yourself this year,
which I know you said coming in the season you
wanted to what has been the reason why you've been
so comfortable and made so many plays this year?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Uh, I feel like schematically, you know, I feel like
it's a good fit for me. Uh, you know, just
having the opportunity to play that true safety position. And
uh and I say, I say, as far as far
as coaching as well, has helped me a lot too.
And really really just getting comfortable. I felt that was
(01:26):
my biggest thing. Just getting comfortable and you know, and
playing playing football the right way like I feel like
I'm playing now. Kind of reminds me of my high
school days where I'm just flying around and having fun.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Andrew, obviously Jada won the Thorpe.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
I'm kind of wondering, what are your impressions of the
other guys in that cornerback room, Manny Gavin, just how
they played throughout the throughout the season.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Uh, They've They've played exceptional. Uh.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You know, they're a big part of the reasons why
we're successful as a defense, especially in the back end.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
You know those guys, you know, they come in then
they all put in work. You know know Mani is
one of the leaders in the back game, so you know,
stuff stuff run through him too. So I say, I say,
those guys have really showed up for us big time.
Gab come in there, you hold it down, you know,
you see, like the games like Georgia game. He came
in there and did what he supposed to do. And
I say, yeah, those guys do it, do a great,
(02:16):
great job, and they really helping us. You know, they're
part of the reason why we we who we are
as a defense. What's up, Andrew, I just wanted to
ask about the season so far. I know it's starting
to feel like nflc's not bad, you know, with all
the games on the schedule. I know the body is
not great, but just when it comes to the chemistry though,
with these added games, I know you've talked about this scheme.
How has that helped out with just learning the scheme
(02:37):
more with the more time to learn it and also
just being a transfer coming into this locker room. How
these added games, the more time in the locker room
helped you out just building relationships and bonds with the guys. Oh,
I mean with these added games, you know, I feel
like he just gives you a kind of different a
different switch of different intailor you know, and then you
know one of these games could be your last game.
(02:59):
So you know, we just we just try to gu
out there and you know, prepare like, you know, this
could be our last game and we or else we
keep going. So it's really just it's really just the
mentality to be honest with you knowing that you know
that we're in a situation where if we lose, we
going home, and if we win, we just keep playing.
And you know, we were in a position where we
got the you know, national spot out on us. You know,
(03:20):
this is what you want, you know, for a guy
like me, this is what I wanted. So you know,
you know, the more games we play, you know that
the better it is for you for us as a
team to you know, have the opportunity which our goal,
you know, and as an individual goal, you know, it's
the opportunity you know, to guard on the big, big,
big stage, you know, and showcase your talent.
Speaker 6 (03:38):
Andrew, you guys are facing the most explosive offense in
the country right now. What's the concern level with some
of the truck plays that you gave up in this
last game and how how are you guys communicating in
practice to try to keep Ohio States under ramp.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Uh We don't really, I wouldn't say we have any
concerning plays.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
I feel like the things that we went through can
be fixing this and they ain't nothing really huge or
something that we need to worry about for real. Uh,
you know we've made those adjustments already, and you know
we moved on to the to the game that we
got coming up.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But you know, I wouldn't say it's any concerns to
be honest with you.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
Yeah, Andrew, you and your teammates shop as you're playing
great football, and you know, Will Howard's got like, you know,
thirty two toutsdowns completing like seventy three percent. And you
know about Jeremiah Smith and America, is there gonna be
more pressure on you guys in this game than in
any game all year in our in our most team's
doubling Jeremiah Smith.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
I wouldn't necessarily say pressure.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
I feel like, you know, at this game, you know,
it's just how we prepare, prepare for any other game
we did do in the year, you know, just going
out there to practice, practicing hard, you know, you know,
I feel like we've we've never really prepared differently for
whatever game it was. You know, we just went in
with the same approach you know, every week, you know,
to just practice hard, you know, let the results.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
You know show on Saturdays.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
And I feel like we've done a good job of
doing it every weekend and week out, you know, because
the guy around this time, you know, guys get banged
up and tied. But you know, with the guys that
we have, uh, you know, we we do a good
job of that. And you know as far as you know,
well Howard and those guys, you know they they do
a good job you know throwing the ball.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
You know, we're hired as a good quarterback. You know, experience,
got a lot of experience under his belt.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
You know, he can find ways to pick apart to
your defense and just those those sort of things.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
So you know it's gonna be fun. Andrew appreciate the time.
I'm just curious, can you kind of compare and contrast
the styles that you see from the two Ohio state
running backs? Are they different or are they similar?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
In your eyes?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Uh, I'll say, I'll say they different. Uh you know,
but you know they both they both special guys it
can do it can do so much with the ball,
you know, very special with the ball in their hand.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Can make you know, players happen.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
You know, as far as uh Jenkins, I feel like
he he a hard running run hard, you know, got
got speed on him. And I believe, Uh, Travan Henderson,
he's more of a you know, a guy that's gonna
you know, get tried to get get him in space,
you know, getting the ball. You know, let him, let
him do what he does. So I say, I say,
they to a different running best, but you know they're
both very special and uh, they can they can hurt
(06:23):
you in a lot of ways.
Speaker 8 (06:24):
Andrew, can you talk about your body the recovery you guys,
you know some of you played over one hundred snaps
in that game. And then what have the teams that
have had success, the defenses that have had success against
Ohio State, what's been the common threat?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (06:43):
I mean as far as far as the body, you know,
coach coach Sharp and the guys there, they do a
good job, you know taking care of us, you know,
try to give us some time to recover, uh, you know,
to kind of take the load off of us and practice.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
And I believe those those those stuff, those stuff help
us to share as far as like recover, been trying
to get our bodies back because like you just said,
you know it's the guys that played over hunderd snaps,
So that's important and they and they do a good
job prioritizing that. And Uh, what was your second question?
Speaker 8 (07:12):
The teams, the teams that have had success against Ohio
State's offense, what is there a common thread?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I say, really just match master physicality. Uh, you know
that's I say, that's the biggest thing. And Uh, I say,
you know it was start. It starts our front, you know,
with the with the line and then with the with
the linebackers and obviously with the guys in the back end.
So I say, if we match our physicality, you know,
that's what the other teams that that has played them,
uh did and had success doing it. So that's one
(07:44):
that's one big thing we're gonna try to carry into
this game is you know, try to master the physicality
and if not, be the more physical team.
Speaker 8 (07:51):
Andrew, What's what are the biggest things to stand out
to you when you watch Jeremiah Smith on the film.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Uh, he can he can catch the ball.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
He got good catch radius, he can he can make
a lot of crazy catches, good speed, good route runner.
Speaker 6 (08:06):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
And the kid, the kid is very special. I don't
seen him on him you know, do some crazy things.
Run past people, jump over people, those sorts of things,
and I can I can tell uh, you know, he
put in, he put in the time, and he's done
what he's supposed to do. And he can tell about
how he playing with a lot of confidence.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Uh. And and that's going to carry on for him.
I know that.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
So you know, you know he he a good player,
for sure, you a good player, and he very special.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Hey, Andrew, obviously you know you and and Taff and
Jaday had a relationship for a while before before this.
And then you go to Clemson. You know Taff and uh,
Taff and John Day almost didn't have the chance to
come to Texas either. So why did you go to
Clemson to begin with? And then how did it all
(08:54):
end up where you all come back together now to
play in all these big games together?
Speaker 5 (08:58):
And what is that?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
What has that been like for you guys?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Uh, playing together, playing together?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
That was something that we've always talked about, you know,
since we were training with each other, uh in high school.
And uh, you know, me going to Clemson, you know,
I believe I had an opportunity, you know to play early.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
And you know that's a school that I believe was
right for me in the moment. Uh, And I mean
I made that decision. But you know, just just just
having all three of us here, you know that that
really means a lot to us because you know, it's
something that we talked about multiple times and now seeing
it come to reality, it's even crazier. And you know,
in us doing it this big you know, with Jade,
(09:35):
you know, winning the Thorpe and playing some of its
best football and then we ta you know, all American
playing some of its best football. I mean it's literally
everything we talked about and it's really and it's happening
in front of us, and you know, we got we
got a bigger go to go rich So you know,
the story not over.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So you can you go from one hundred and sixteenth
in past defense last year to the top this year
with with all three you guys together, now you have
this giant challenge ahead of you. You know, do you
go back to those training sessions together and talk about
these things? What is this you know moment like now
all together going forward in this huge game and at at.
Speaker 8 (10:09):
And t.
Speaker 7 (10:11):
H.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
I mean I just always just go back to our preparation. Uh,
you know, I would the moment, not too big or
too small. You know, we're just gonna approach it like
we would approach any other week. You know, We're gonna
communicate like how we communicate any other week, you know.
And then those guys, you know, they're gonna step up
just like they do every week, and and I know
they are, so you know, it's really it's really not
(10:32):
much to it. Other thing, you know, going out there
with the right approach, you know, and playing the right
way playing Teta Texas defense football.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
Yeah, Andrew, we talked about killer in steep before and
putting teams away and obviously y'all had that problem against
Arizona State. What's the key to fixing that? And make
sure you you know, keep the pedal of the metal
and try to finish games. Uh.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
The key today, you know it's playing you know for
a complete quarters. Uh, you know it never never settle,
not saying that we did, but you know, never settle
or you know, I never think that, you know, anything
can't happen in the game. So I say, you know,
the key to that, you know it is just you know,
keep playing hard in the matter what the score is,
you know, just just play play complete four quarters, you know,
until the until the clock hit double zero. Hey, you
(11:19):
just wanted to ask how exciting is it to be
able to play this semi final game in your home
state and how big crowd do you think will be
filled with Burno Orange?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I mean it's huge, you know, having the opportunity, like
he said, to play in my home state, you know,
in one of the biggest games that's going on right now.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
You know that's that's huge.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
You know, because we got a lot of guys on
the team that's from Texas, especially from Dallas. So you know,
I know those guys are pumped up, and you know
that I know those guys are ready to go. And
you know, as far as as far as the crowd,
I know, I know Texas fans never disappointed, So I
know the Texas fans are going to show up and
shot out every time, and you know, bring the energy.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Hey, Andrew, I just want to follow up on what
I was asking before about the running backs. I mean,
when you've got two guys who can do different things,
I guess, what what what type of challenge does that
present for y'all defensively? And how do you kind of
counter that?
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Uh, it's a different type of challenge because we we
we you know, one guy on the on the field,
you know, you got to make adjustment to what kind
of player he is, what he can do to hurt us,
and then with the other guy on the field, we
got to do the same. So it's definitely it's definitely
a challenge. And you know, that's something that we're up for.
Uh And I know, I know that's that's something that
we're gonna come in and take care of business and
(12:33):
and do we su used to do. But you know,
it's it's it's definitely it's definitely a different challenge.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Uh and.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
And it's a lot of it's it's a lot of
things that they can do both, you know, to really
tell a defensive part, you know it hurts you on
the defense on defense.
Speaker 8 (12:47):
Hey, Andrew, just how weird or different does it feel
to be the underdog all of a sudden in a
in a game in the state of Texas.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
I wouldn't really say weird of any type of feeling,
to be honest with you know, speaking from a player perspective,
you know, guys like you know, the guys in luck
and we don't really pay attention to that because you know,
all that stuff could be.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Wrong, but we don't.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
We don't, we don't really you know, put our minds.
So we just focus on a task in hand and
you know, doing what pussed to do. And if they
got us the underdog, then that's fine. If they're don't,
then that's also fine. But we're just going out there
to go, you know, handle our of business, you know,
win the game, you know, and go on to the
next game.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
That's the business like approach of Andrew mccooby and the Loghorns.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Hopefully that'll carry through that.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Hey, before we get to the break, couple of things
on the text line, someone asked about what I mentioned,
the excitement about Roger Wallace being named Texas sports caster.
They said, did they implement that rule that you mentioned
about your not eligible back to back? Here is because
you would win it every year, just like they quit
giving m vps too proud and Georgie, come on, you
(13:53):
think of all the all the great sports broadcasters in
this state.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
There was a.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Time before they implemented that rule. I think when Verna
Lunkliss was working in Dallas for Worth of Channel and
he won it six.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Years in a row. Six years in a row.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
I think Eric Nadell Rangers Broadcasters won it five times.
Brade Ham I think has won it nine times, not
in a row, but they just wanted to make sure
that that and really and truly nobody had won it
even before they implemented the rule, nobody had wanted him
back to back heres in several years. Several years, I
mean going all the way back to when I won
(14:28):
the first time. I think in when I won for
twenty sixteen. I think Bill Shoning won the year before
that for twenty fifteen. It was the first time for
both of us on that So there's been a lot
of non repeat winners, even winners even before they put
in the non repeat clause.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I think it's a good thing.
Speaker 8 (14:46):
Off of that.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Somebody else said, I could entertain cam Jason Whitten being
the head coach if it only gets if and only
he gets the correct staff put together to compliment him,
similar to Dan Campbell being the head coach bringing fitness
and determination, but having the oct DC for the play
calling and scheming. Jason Witten comes off winning a state
championship at the private school level at Liberty Christian in Argyle. Yeah,
(15:11):
has he won too straight. Yeah, I think that's right
back to back Stone. That's actually a really.
Speaker 9 (15:16):
Good text there because I think that's something that Jerry
Jones would probably do. Does worry me though a bit,
right because we saw uab higher Trent Dilferd. He'd won
a high school state championship and obviously college football different
animal than the Cowboys, and he has struggled mightily. And
of course, now on the other side, you of Deon Sanders,
who's gone from the media to Jackson State to Colorado.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
So he kind of had that outlaw private school program
at Prime Prep.
Speaker 9 (15:39):
Yeah, so I think you know, there's cases of word
it does work, doesn't work. But yeah, to the textas
point you think you got to you got to wit
and would have to surround himself with the right staff.
But yeah, I could see Jason Witten to it. I
could see Deion Sanders, but I think we would We
would probably hear more talk about that now if he
was interested in leaping to the NFL, because it's it's
been pretty quiet, but you know, who knows. The season
(16:00):
is not over with yet, so there still might be
some coaches and there's like Ben Johnson obviously is going
to have a chance at the head coaching job. Heard
the text stuff As a coordinator, he's interne he interviewed
for who did the interview with for the Jets? Slowik,
So a lot of coordinators will be doing a lot
of interviewing after the season ends.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
True enough, all right, we'll hear from Jake Major's coming
up here on AM thirteen.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Out of the Zone,