Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
One of the great things about being the play by
play voice of the Texas Longhorns is given the opportunity
to meet and visit with people not only in the
conference level and have a lot of friends obviously in
the play by play field, but also on the national level.
And Laura Rutledge is about as nationals in you see
(00:21):
between the ESPN Family Networks and ABC and the SEC
Network and NFL Live and all of those things.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Great to see again, how hard It's so great to
see you. I'm great. I'm glad it's Texas State.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Finally.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I feel like we were dancing around it yesterday trying
to talk.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
About the Longhorns. Were like that they're not here yet anyway,
today we can't.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Well, do you get a sense do you get a
sense of I heard somebody make this comment yesterday that
after last year, not only for Texas but also for Oklahoma,
but obviously for Texas, since they got to the final
four or whatever and they were in the SEC Championship game,
that there is more of a sense of belonging in
(00:58):
terms of the outer view of Texas than there might
have been, say at this time a year ago.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
You know, I think SEC fans are all about respect.
So as much as rivalry is a big piece of this,
they also show respect when it's due and everyone's like,
all right, respect Texas. You guys made it further in
the playoff than anybody else, and it was a team
that I think last year a lot of people believed
could win the national championship, is capable of it. But
this year the expectations, rightfully so, are even higher. And
(01:27):
that's a credit to what Sark's done. That's a credit
to the way that the team has been constructed. And yes,
they belonged. There was no doubt. I never had a
doubt about that. We said that very first and foremost
last season. But yes, I think they have proven and
then some they're belonging to that.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Let me get your thoughts on this, the fact that
now here in a year, with all the expectation going
in to that, there are some programs across the country
that I think are equipped for that kind of expectation.
Ohio State obviously, yes, a Notre Dame, several leather like that.
Do you see Texas in that.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Ilk Absolutely yes, And I mean it's fascinating that we'll
see Texas and Ohio State meet up so early in
the season because I do think as much as one
of them, either one of them could afford to lose
that game. It's a way to sort of stake your
claim on college football. That's a premiere of college football.
And the way I see it, the top few teams
or Texas, Ohio State, Clemson, maybe at Georgia Alabama. So
(02:27):
Texas is right there in that handful of teams that
we all expect to contend for a national championship in
SEC championship once again, and we'll see how it.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
All ends up shaking out. But I'm excited about this group.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
It seems like Sark and you guys would know this
as well, and that my perception is that he's more
excited about this team than he's been about any team
I think during his tenure at Texas, which.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Says something yeah, yeah, absolutely Okay. So that brings us
to those three special letters. No, not nil, although we
can go for everywhere on that CFP. With the playoff.
We had Rich Clark on yesterday heard the commissioners speak
at length with Greg Thanky talking about the you know,
whether they might go to sixteen or down, and then
(03:10):
there was a lot of stuff that was kind of
ramped up. The amped up about this tension that may
be building between the SEC in the Big ten. Is
that the vibe you're getting as well?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yes, I think Commissioner Sankie was very calculated in his
work choice, as he usually is, but you can tell,
you know the way he was even phrasing it. You know,
they may think a certain way, we think a different way.
This all came out of the Destined meetings too, which
at those meetings just.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
A little peak behind the curtain.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
We even talked to Commissioner Sanki after he had been
with the coaches kind of running through all the possibilities,
and he was like, guys, they're all throwing so many
different things against the wall as coaches are wornt to do.
None of that is going to be possible. But at
this point it is a little bit wide open about
what could end up happening. And then as Commisser sanking he.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Said, yea, they could just continue on doing what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And that's where I think it gets a little dicey
because if you were the SEC, you feel like last
season your teams might have been penalized for the difficult
schedule in a way that we probably didn't expect.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
We had seen strength of schedule be such a.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Centerpiece of the College Football PLAYFF Committee selection process that
it's like, wouldn't you think that would carry on? And
then that committee didn't seem to value it in ways
that other committees had in the past. Some of that
probably had to do with the fact that it was
the first iteration of the twelve team playoff, but every
year that could end up being a detriment to a
conference or maybe a positive, right, so the Big Ten
(04:37):
might end up being on the losing side of that,
and that's where I think we're going to see that
just continue to go every which way, and it does
speak to a bit of an unraveling of a relationship
that I think this time last year was very strong between.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
The Big Ten and the SEC.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So I feel compelled to ask you this, if you
have an opinion on a is an expansion to sixteen
a good thing? Do you think it would be eight
or nine game conference game?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I think an expansion to sixteen is a good thing,
and I hopefully see that happen.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
To me, more opportunity for more teams is never a
bad thing, And there were so many.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I mean you look at even the top sixteen as
it was slated last season, and teams that we would
have seen in that I'm not sure they wouldn't have
advanced all the way to.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Maybe play in the National Championship.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I mean there were some teams that were super hot
at the end of the season, a South Carolina for example,
maybe even in ale Miss in some ways, like, wouldn't we
have wanted to see I realize I'm just picking a
SEC team, Sorry, but wouldn't we have wanted to see
Jackson Dart in the playoff and see what.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
You could have done?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You know, teams that had a great quarterback and other
pieces around them that just had lost some weird games
earlier on in the year. So I think that's a benefit.
And then I also think we should probably go to
nine games.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Now that is a whole other nut to crack, right like,
because that whole.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Situation until we see the playoff committee, which I have
a small sample size basically, but until we see teams
rewarded for these expanded and more difficult schedules, you can't
expect the schools to want that. The presidents are going
to vote against it, and I get why. But ultimately
I think that's where we're going. And it's almost like
(06:15):
the NFL, as much as people may have said, like
we're not going to add an eighteenth game, We're not
going to add more of this because you know the
players and all that, they end up doing it.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
It's all a business. It'll probably happen a matter of time, exactly.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Well, and that's that's a perfect segue. The last thing
we're going to ask about that now, working as closely
as you do and have been these past couple of
years with the NFL, how much of that is a
cleaner for you, so to speak. And it's a compartmentalizing thing.
I get asked that question a lot of doing the
different sports and taxes, but doing the NFL responsibilities now
(06:50):
in addition to what you've been doing at the collegiate life.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, it's it's two very different things, and you can
relate to that.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
It's sort of like different compartments of the brain.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
But then there are intersections, and I think one of
the interesting things is seeing college sports become more like
pro sports, which at times breaks our heart right because
there are things that the nostalgia creeps in and we
love what it used to be, and all that we
need to accept that this is the real world and.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
What's happening now and what's going to continue to happen.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
And I am happy that athletes are finally getting compensated,
which they should have been, right But it's almost becoming
more alike in a way. There are so many similarities
now to what college football is, what the NFL is,
and I think that's only those.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Similarities will only increase.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
But for me, you know, doing the NFL every day,
that's sort of like just second nature.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
When I show up to do college I have to
put a little bit extra work into it because so
much has changed and rosters don't look the same.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know, I covered Texas all the way through the
playoff last season. I was there for every single game
towards the end and had the great pleasure of being
on the sideline for these Texas games. And I'm even
looking at the roster preparing for this and I'm like, well, God,
it's totally different. And then there are something you know,
like a Ryan Wingo, who they kept telling us about
last season, who I'm like so excited for people to
see him be a centerpiece of this offense. Obviously Arch
(08:10):
and all of the great pieces of this roster. But
there are a lot of changes every single year in
college that you don't necessarily see in the NFL, so
it works a whole different part of your brain, for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It's great to see you. I appreciate you taking the
time see you, and we'll see soon. Absolutely, Laura Rutlich, ESPN.
And not only did the college work with the NFL
work as well.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
We'll be back.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
We'll continue with more here from SEC media Days. I'm
thirteen hundred design
One of the great things about being the play by
play voice of the Texas Longhorns is given the opportunity
to meet and visit with people not only in the
conference level and have a lot of friends obviously in
the play by play field, but also on the national level.
And Laura Rutledge is about as nationals in you see
(00:21):
between the ESPN Family Networks and ABC and the SEC
Network and NFL Live and all of those things.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Great to see again, how hard It's so great to
see you. I'm great. I'm glad it's Texas State.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Finally.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I feel like we were dancing around it yesterday trying
to talk.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
About the Longhorns. Were like that they're not here yet anyway,
today we can't.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Well, do you get a sense do you get a
sense of I heard somebody make this comment yesterday that
after last year, not only for Texas but also for Oklahoma,
but obviously for Texas, since they got to the final
four or whatever and they were in the SEC Championship game,
that there is more of a sense of belonging in
(00:58):
terms of the outer view of Texas than there might
have been, say at this time a year ago.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
You know, I think SEC fans are all about respect.
So as much as rivalry is a big piece of this,
they also show respect when it's due and everyone's like,
all right, respect Texas. You guys made it further in
the playoff than anybody else, and it was a team
that I think last year a lot of people believed
could win the national championship, is capable of it. But
this year the expectations, rightfully so, are even higher. And
(01:27):
that's a credit to what Sark's done. That's a credit
to the way that the team has been constructed. And yes,
they belonged. There was no doubt. I never had a
doubt about that. We said that very first and foremost
last season. But yes, I think they have proven and
then some they're belonging to that.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Let me get your thoughts on this, the fact that
now here in a year, with all the expectation going
in to that, there are some programs across the country
that I think are equipped for that kind of expectation.
Ohio State obviously, yes, a Notre Dame, several leather like that.
Do you see Texas in that.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Ilk Absolutely yes, And I mean it's fascinating that we'll
see Texas and Ohio State meet up so early in
the season because I do think as much as one
of them, either one of them could afford to lose
that game. It's a way to sort of stake your
claim on college football. That's a premiere of college football.
And the way I see it, the top few teams
or Texas, Ohio State, Clemson, maybe at Georgia Alabama. So
(02:27):
Texas is right there in that handful of teams that
we all expect to contend for a national championship in
SEC championship once again, and we'll see how it.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
All ends up shaking out. But I'm excited about this group.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
It seems like Sark and you guys would know this
as well, and that my perception is that he's more
excited about this team than he's been about any team
I think during his tenure at Texas, which.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Says something yeah, yeah, absolutely Okay. So that brings us
to those three special letters. No, not nil, although we
can go for everywhere on that CFP. With the playoff.
We had Rich Clark on yesterday heard the commissioners speak
at length with Greg Thanky talking about the you know,
whether they might go to sixteen or down, and then
(03:10):
there was a lot of stuff that was kind of
ramped up. The amped up about this tension that may
be building between the SEC in the Big ten. Is
that the vibe you're getting as well?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yes, I think Commissioner Sankie was very calculated in his
work choice, as he usually is, but you can tell,
you know the way he was even phrasing it. You know,
they may think a certain way, we think a different way.
This all came out of the Destined meetings too, which
at those meetings just.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
A little peak behind the curtain.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
We even talked to Commissioner Sanki after he had been
with the coaches kind of running through all the possibilities,
and he was like, guys, they're all throwing so many
different things against the wall as coaches are wornt to do.
None of that is going to be possible. But at
this point it is a little bit wide open about
what could end up happening. And then as Commisser sanking he.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Said, yea, they could just continue on doing what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
And that's where I think it gets a little dicey
because if you were the SEC, you feel like last
season your teams might have been penalized for the difficult
schedule in a way that we probably didn't expect.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
We had seen strength of schedule be such a.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Centerpiece of the College Football PLAYFF Committee selection process that
it's like, wouldn't you think that would carry on? And
then that committee didn't seem to value it in ways
that other committees had in the past. Some of that
probably had to do with the fact that it was
the first iteration of the twelve team playoff, but every
year that could end up being a detriment to a
conference or maybe a positive, right, so the Big Ten
(04:37):
might end up being on the losing side of that,
and that's where I think we're going to see that
just continue to go every which way, and it does
speak to a bit of an unraveling of a relationship
that I think this time last year was very strong between.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
The Big Ten and the SEC.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So I feel compelled to ask you this, if you
have an opinion on a is an expansion to sixteen
a good thing? Do you think it would be eight
or nine game conference game?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I think an expansion to sixteen is a good thing,
and I hopefully see that happen.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
To me, more opportunity for more teams is never a
bad thing, And there were so many.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I mean you look at even the top sixteen as
it was slated last season, and teams that we would
have seen in that I'm not sure they wouldn't have
advanced all the way to.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Maybe play in the National Championship.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I mean there were some teams that were super hot
at the end of the season, a South Carolina for example,
maybe even in ale Miss in some ways, like, wouldn't we
have wanted to see I realize I'm just picking a
SEC team, Sorry, but wouldn't we have wanted to see
Jackson Dart in the playoff and see what.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
You could have done?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You know, teams that had a great quarterback and other
pieces around them that just had lost some weird games
earlier on in the year. So I think that's a benefit.
And then I also think we should probably go to
nine games.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Now that is a whole other nut to crack, right like,
because that whole.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Situation until we see the playoff committee, which I have
a small sample size basically, but until we see teams
rewarded for these expanded and more difficult schedules, you can't
expect the schools to want that. The presidents are going
to vote against it, and I get why. But ultimately
I think that's where we're going. And it's almost like
(06:15):
the NFL, as much as people may have said, like
we're not going to add an eighteenth game, We're not
going to add more of this because you know the
players and all that, they end up doing it.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
It's all a business. It'll probably happen a matter of time, exactly.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Well, and that's that's a perfect segue. The last thing
we're going to ask about that now, working as closely
as you do and have been these past couple of
years with the NFL, how much of that is a
cleaner for you, so to speak. And it's a compartmentalizing thing.
I get asked that question a lot of doing the
different sports and taxes, but doing the NFL responsibilities now
(06:50):
in addition to what you've been doing at the collegiate life.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, it's it's two very different things, and you can
relate to that.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
It's sort of like different compartments of the brain.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
But then there are intersections, and I think one of
the interesting things is seeing college sports become more like
pro sports, which at times breaks our heart right because
there are things that the nostalgia creeps in and we
love what it used to be, and all that we
need to accept that this is the real world and.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
What's happening now and what's going to continue to happen.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
And I am happy that athletes are finally getting compensated,
which they should have been, right But it's almost becoming
more alike in a way. There are so many similarities
now to what college football is, what the NFL is,
and I think that's only those.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Similarities will only increase.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
But for me, you know, doing the NFL every day,
that's sort of like just second nature.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
When I show up to do college I have to
put a little bit extra work into it because so
much has changed and rosters don't look the same.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know, I covered Texas all the way through the
playoff last season. I was there for every single game
towards the end and had the great pleasure of being
on the sideline for these Texas games. And I'm even
looking at the roster preparing for this and I'm like, well, God,
it's totally different. And then there are something you know,
like a Ryan Wingo, who they kept telling us about
last season, who I'm like so excited for people to
see him be a centerpiece of this offense. Obviously Arch
(08:10):
and all of the great pieces of this roster. But
there are a lot of changes every single year in
college that you don't necessarily see in the NFL, so
it works a whole different part of your brain, for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It's great to see you. I appreciate you taking the
time see you, and we'll see soon. Absolutely, Laura Rutlich, ESPN.
And not only did the college work with the NFL
work as well.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
We'll be back.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
We'll continue with more here from SEC media Days. I'm
thirteen hundred design
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