Livingstone Transfers to OU, NFL Coaching Carousel Continues, MBB Takes on Tennessee

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
Good afternoon here on sports radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.
It's the Craig Ways Show two to five PM on
this Tuesday. Craig is in Knoxville. My name is Jay Kurbman,
the producer of the show, filling in here today and
joined by a very special guest you know and love

(00:36):
him from the morning kickoff seven to nine am every
day here on thirteen hundred The Zone. He is a
WW excuse me, w W E Hall of Famer and
the world's strongest man, Mark Henry. What's going on?

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Man?

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean you call me Prince Joffe, Jaffa, the King,
whatever you want to call me.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
I mean you know I'm here for.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
I'm here for and like Craig called you yesterday, sexual chocolate.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
You know what, man, I'm me and Craig gonna have
to have a talk like the section chapter days over.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Well, we will hear from Craig a little later on
in the show when we check in from Knoxville. Craig
is on the call tonight when the Texas men's basketball
team takes on number twenty two Tennessee. You can hear
that game right here on the Zone with tip off
slated for eight o'clock Central time. But let's start with
the transfer portal, which is open for another ten days

(01:29):
and big news between the time you last left the
studio and came back here for this for this afternoon.
Parker Livingston, the Longhorn receiver, has signed with Oklahoma for
an eight hundred thousand dollars nil deal, AZ reported by
Kirk Bowles. The Lucas native called twenty nine passes for
five hundred and sixteen yards and six touchdowns, including the

(01:51):
longhorns first touchdown of the season. Was third on the
team in yards, fourth and catches second in touchdowns. And
now Mark Henry the Red River rivalry gets a little
bit hotter, hey.

Speaker 3 (02:04):
Man, And that's one of that I like, I still
like him, like him going to Oklahoma doesn't change the
fact that, you know, I think he's a good kid
and he's going to be an NFL player.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
He's going to be a guy that plays on.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
Sunday things to tighten up on like as any athlete does.
But I think that he'll do very good up there
with material.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Well, he joins a pretty a pretty crowded wide receiver
room at Oklahoma. I want you to take a listen
to this, just how quickly the world of college football
can can change in the modern transfer portal world. This
was Parker Livingston and credit to Corey Mose for pulling
this sound bite after the Red River win earlier this season,
just just a few short months ago.

Speaker 4 (02:51):
I mean, you come here, you know, come to the game,
You hear about the game in from Dallas, you know
everywhere for you know, a.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Month before the game even happens.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
I really think it helps out fremniously in recruiting.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
It's a great reason.

Speaker 4 (03:01):
When I'm my senior year, I came here to the
game and it was unbelievable atmosphere and I was like,
I want to play in the burn Orange.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
I want to be on the right side.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
And next year he'll be on the wrong side. You
remember Brendan Thompson transferring to Oklahoma a couple of years back.
To this just feels like a whole different beast, doesn't it.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Well, I mean he's also a high profile guy and
the guy that is actually going to be scoring and
touching the ball. So you know the difference between Brandon
Brandon is this guy tackling and then you got him,
you know, running routse catching touchdowns, and you know he's
gonna throw the horns down and get a flag his first.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
Time, you think, So, I know he is, he does him.

Speaker 3 (03:44):
He a tough guy. He want all the smoke. So
I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to do.

Speaker 1 (03:50):
Did you see the Texas players reacting to his Instagram
stories and social media posts throughout the visit to ou
the visit to Indiana.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
No, I just got done doing a podcast, and you know,
coming in here and talking to you was my first
communication with the outside world.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
So it's news to me.

Speaker 3 (04:13):
And now that when we get off there we going
to this break, I'll break the phone out and start
looking at stuff.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
Well, Texas losing in some sense a wide receiver who
was a big part of the story this year, right
you think about Okay, Ryan Wingo is your kind of
wide receiver one, right, your biggest vertical threat. But Parker
Livingston was a pretty versatile piece to this Texas passing game,
especially once it got going the second half of the season.

(04:39):
Not necessarily the easiest guy to replace, despite what a
lot of well Longhorn fans who might be feeling a
certain way about it, might you know, say about Livingston
on his way out, would you agree with that?

Speaker 3 (04:52):
I think the only thing that people are going to
say on his way out is that he's going to Oklahoma.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
You know, he's a tray and that kind of stuff.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
I look at it like this, if you don't want
me and you think that I'm not valuable, then I'm
going to go where I can hurt you.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
And there was no other place that he.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
Could go and perform at a high level and hurt
Texas the way that. Then then the go to Oklahoma.
I mean, I mean he could have went to A
and M, but you know they have a stack wide
receiver room too. But I really do think that OU
would bring more attention to his move. And being Archer's

(05:35):
roommate doesn't play a role in it. That's just something
that was ah that happened while he was here. It's
not going to affect what happens on the field. So
that's why I'm just looking glance and at people. You
go from Archer's roommate to the enemy. Yeah, that's that's
that's what competitors do.

Speaker 1 (05:58):
Somehow, months and months away from this game. I mean
it's it's January sixth, and the Red River Rivalry is
being circled for the let's say the fifth, sixth, seven times.
It's gonna be a mark in the calendar underneath with
how many sharpie circles are drawn around that game every year.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
Hard ticket to get, Yeah, it's gonna be a hard ticket.
I mean if you if you don't have a connection,
you better get one, because that is going to be
a game that we're gonna look at in a different
way than we did this year.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
In years past.

Speaker 3 (06:35):
It'll be more like the one where Sam Bradford played,
you know, when everybody expected, you know, you got Cop
McCoy and you got you know, big time guys that
played in that series, the Vince Youngs, you know. So
that that's kind of what this is going to be like.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
When you have.

Speaker 3 (06:56):
One of texas As star players go to Oklahoma and
then they're going to play it the next year. There's
no sit out a year, there's none of that.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
We're in the.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
Portal world, and it is a world right now where
Partner Livingston will be lining up opposite Texas. Last year
on the text line, somebody wrote in trade or remember,
you can text the show at any time. Text the
word Texas followed by your question or comment to eight
one five three zero Standard messaging and data rates may apply.
We'll try and get to all of those as they

(07:28):
come in. More news out of the transfer portal and
news that Texas fans are not going to like Jaden Baugh,
stand out running back at Florida will be returning under
coach John Sumral, staying in the swamp. I know, after
Jabbar Ja Luke was hired as the running backs coach
at Texas coming over from Florida, some folks were trying
to connect the dots there and thought that Texas would

(07:50):
make a big push to get Jaden ball via the
transfer portal. That is not going to come to fruition
for Texas.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
I don't think that running back became a serious want
after the bowl game. I think that people realize that,
you know, you got Cooper coming in here next year,
and that they've done a real good job in the
bowl game.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
They did, they did good in the in recruiting.

Speaker 3 (08:20):
Uh, there's guys that are gonna be able to that,
you know, I feel like are gonna be able to
stand up and be able to play that that that
strong running back game. You got the kid that they
recruited out of Georgetown. He's big, he's six two twenty.
That's that's your goal line batch jet Walker jet Walker.
Uh so you you tend to like have all the pieces.

Speaker 2 (08:43):
Now you got to coach them up.

Speaker 1 (08:46):
Did you think Christian Clark played his way into the
twenty twenty six running back room with one hundred yard
performance in I did.

Speaker 3 (08:54):
I thought that he was good during the season. Uh,
he caught the ball well.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
He when when Baxter was down and Wisner was down
and he was playing, he did good. He held up
the bloodstain.

Speaker 3 (09:11):
And now he's going to be able to have the
confidence of I have a leg up on the rookie,
on the freshman that's coming in. It's going to be
my room until I handed to him and hopefully he
won't hand the ball.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Off to him.

Speaker 1 (09:29):
I thought he ran well too against the Michigan defense
that had several I think fewer opt outs than a
lot of folks expected going into that bowl game. And
we're going to talk about that a little later on
in the program. The SEC has been the subject of
a lot of handwringing about these bowl games and what
it means for the conference, where it stands in relation
to maybe the Big Ten, maybe some other conferences who

(09:52):
felt the SEC was a bit overrated this season. And
we'll talk a little bit more about that later on
in the show. As far as Texas goes with the
transfer portal before we shift gears, I know some folks
might be feeling right now like it's a little too
quiet for their liking, right like nothing is maybe happening
as quickly as they would expect. I want to splash exactly.

(10:13):
And I know you talked to Joe Cook about that
this morning on your show with My Cards. What's your
level of kind of concern versus calm as you look
at the transfer portal four days in, no big splash
signing for Texas.

Speaker 3 (10:27):
You know, I'm very comfortable with what they already have.
And now I was telling you in the break, you know,
not to mention Bishop is coming. People are underestimating the
power at this freshmen. He scored it at running back,
he scored at wide receiver, he scored at corner. He

(10:50):
scored on the kicking game on both sides, punt return
and kickoffs.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
Like the dude is a monster. He's going to be
a factor.

Speaker 3 (10:59):
Having listed as an athlete, but he's a football player,
and everybody needs a football player. Not to mention, you
got French and McCutcheon, guys that are you know it
Lockett and Terry Like you want to give these guys
the ball. They come here for a reason, and if

(11:20):
you keep bringing in people from the outside, then you'll
never see these guys materialize. I mean, if you're going
to make a splash and you're waiting on the kid
from Auburn to sign, then great, that's awesome. You bring
in another Wingo type receiver. I think that may be

(11:44):
one of the reasons why we we.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
Had a defection to the Texas North.

Speaker 3 (11:52):
It's because Texas No, No, Oklahoma are always referred to
him as Texas nor they You know, you have one
hundred and five players and seventy five of them are
from Texas.

Speaker 2 (12:07):
That's that's Texas North.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
Livingston now they get Parker Livingston.

Speaker 2 (12:13):
Uh yeah, yeah, that Texas North.

Speaker 3 (12:17):
But but look at all of these guys that Texas
and and Mosley is not. His line's share of catches
is not gonna go down, it's gonna go up. So
now you have Moseley and Wingo being your ex and
your Z and who's going to play that slot out
of all of those guys that I mentioned, and it's

(12:38):
just a matter of who steps up, who becomes the
most reliable in coach Sark's eyes, And maybe it's maybe
it is a freshman or maybe maybe we saw a
touchdown being throwed. Uh and in the bowl game to seven?
Why do I keep missing his name? Not French but

(13:02):
colleague Lockett Lockett. Lockett Lockett is man. He's deceptively fast too.
I thought him as a big receiver. But if he
can maintain that speed at his size, Texas is in good.

Speaker 1 (13:16):
Hands, no doubt about it. And it's tough to draw
the line right because there are so many freshmen coming in.
We didn't even talk We talked to all fair about
Derek Cooper and his speed. That has extremely excited. But
a team like Indiana right, who's relied almost solely on
the transfer portal, Right, that's a team of twenty three
year olds, and now you have Texas right wanting to

(13:38):
strike a balance between bringing in veteran guys like that
who can contribute right away, while also developing some of
these four and five star freshmen that they've recruited in
our I think, rightfully, very excited about.

Speaker 3 (13:50):
Well, you look at Texas offense, they're not a young group.
I mean you got Moseley and Wingo who are both
played for two years and mostly played for three years.
You bring in a tight end from Michigan State. Uh,
he's only got one year eligibility. Yep, So he's not
a young guy. Michael Mass Masons and and you know

(14:14):
Arch is now a three year quarterback. He's going to
be a veteran force everybody. You know, you got your
left tackle, the most important spot on your offensive line
that you know has played for two years and it'll
be three years now.

Speaker 2 (14:33):
Like so, like Texas not a young team.

Speaker 3 (14:36):
I wouldn't consider they're They're not Vanderbilt where your average
age is twenty five, you know, but there's a reason
for that. And uh, I'm looking forward to seeing this
defense more than than the offense because we know what
we're gonna get with Arch and this offense and coach Sark.
You might as well put coach Sark in that equation.

(14:58):
The defense I'm excited about is because now coach Blood
is here and he likes to us athletes playing five
to seven yards off the line of scrimmage sometimes in
bump and run coverage because they run a lot of
five man lines. And I used to say this all
the time during the season. Why is Texas playing eleven
yards off the ball? Why is Texas doing a three

(15:21):
or four man line and not sending any pressure? Like
the reason that Texas went out and got that kid
from Arkansas and to play a zero knows is they
want to push the pocket in and then force you
to throw the ball quickly.

Speaker 2 (15:39):
That's going to cause accidents.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
And we'll find out how good these cornerbacks are that
Texas recruited over the last couple of years.

Speaker 1 (15:49):
Well, if it looks anything like the fourth quarter of
the Citrus Bowl, there's a lot to be excited about
with some of those younger guys you mentioned in the
secondary who'll be stepping up next week.

Speaker 3 (15:57):
Yeah, Mac, Yeah, I value him and he's a hitter
as much as he did for being in the right
place at the right time, which is hard for a
young guy with a little bit of experience. You get
him to come out of summer practice and then them
go through spring next year.

Speaker 2 (16:16):
I think he's going to be fine.

Speaker 3 (16:19):
Texas needed to shore up their secondary. I still can
see Texas reaching out in the portal and finding a
veteran safety, somebody that's really smart. They don't have to
be the best athlete, but they have to be able
to look at the defense, look at the offense, and
get everybody lined up correctly.

Speaker 1 (16:40):
Okay, we need a quick break, but much more to come.
We'll keep Mark Henry around to discuss well, black Monday
bleeding into Tuesday, some more NFL coaching changes. This one
you'll want to hear right after this on Sports Radio
AM thirteen hundred The Zone, Craig Way, maybe in Knoxville,

(17:05):
but don't worry. We're keeping up our Texan Tuesday tradition
here on the program. The Great Stevie ray Vaughn coming
back with tightrope. Later on we'll hear from the iconic
Willie Nelson as well as the King George Strait. Will
also talk to Craig at around four point fifteen today
get his thoughts from Old Rocky Top, where Texas basketball

(17:25):
faces another ranked opponent tonight at Tennessee. For now, Jay Kerman,
Mark Henry discussing some news from around the NFL. We
just discussed Texas and the transfer portal. The Dallas Cowboys.
They're portaling for a defensive coordinator the fourth consecutive season.
This morning, right after the morning kickoff finished finished their taping,

(17:45):
the Dallas Cowboys fired Matt Eberflus. The defense that did
not just allow over five hundred points, the most in
Cowboys history, they also finished dead last in the NFL
in terms of points allowed at thirty per game. You
talked to Tommy Yarish today, our friend in Dallas that
covers the Cowboys, and typically, right the Cowboys will undergo

(18:08):
ten twelve days of internal review, kind of let the
dust settle on the season. No such process for Eberflus.
This was clearly not a difficult decision for the Dallas
front office to move on.

Speaker 2 (18:18):
No, they needed to do it.

Speaker 3 (18:20):
I mean, you have a coach that is responsible for
the worst defense in Cowboy history. You allow five hundred
points to be scored on you, you gotta go. I mean,
even if it was not your fault. Yes, Michael Parsons
and all of the things happened. Yes, there were two

(18:42):
of your star players that didn't play until the eighth
week of the season. And yes, and most of all, yes,
the defense didn't.

Speaker 2 (18:55):
They just never got together.

Speaker 3 (18:58):
You know, you gotta have a jail process to play defense.
It's kind of like basketball, and Craig will be able
to attest this being down there in Tennessee. A defensive
a basketball team has to all work together. You know,
you have to be almost a meeba, Like if they

(19:18):
moved this way, we all moved this way. If they
moved that way, we all moved that way. The Dallas
Cowboy defense never jailed. They never came together. It looked
like one hand was not washing the other. You're just
putting water on them.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
And every team that they played put water on them.

Speaker 3 (19:40):
I mean, think about the wide open touchdowns that were
scored against that defense.

Speaker 1 (19:46):
Every type of wide open touchdown, every trick.

Speaker 3 (19:49):
Worked, every trick playwork. If you had a running quarterback,
the zone read, just do the zone lead, they would
kill you. Detroit in Philadelphia made them look so bad
that it didn't look like the same level of football.

Speaker 2 (20:08):
And there were several.

Speaker 3 (20:10):
Guys that played on the Cowboys defense this year they
had never played in an NFL game. I mean, some
of them played semi pro, some of them this secondary.
They just need to gut that entire room, like, do
not re sign anyone.

Speaker 1 (20:27):
Sounds like it's already kind of underway.

Speaker 2 (20:30):
Well, I hope so.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
Because Trayvon Diggs, who famously made the middle school basketball
team over me.

Speaker 3 (20:35):
Oh my gosh, I heard about that. I was like,
we're gonna have to as the rest of the world
heard that.

Speaker 1 (20:41):
Story, well they're about to now. It's not long. It
was a middle school basketball tryout. Trayvon Diggs made the
team and Jake Herman did not make the second tryout.

Speaker 3 (20:52):
Bless your heart, Jake, bless your heart. You want me
to knee cappin?

Speaker 1 (20:58):
Absolutely not. I'm holding no grudges. There no grudges. There
was you know what, the tape, The tape never lies.

Speaker 3 (21:05):
Okay, you tried, but just his performance was better.

Speaker 1 (21:11):
It was the three on two to two on one
that that was my moment. I knew, it's like, okay,
how long is left in this tryout? I probably got
to shoot twelve for twelve, uh to make the team.
From here at nyhow, the Cowboys defense was bottom four
in the entire NFL in all of these categories. This
is very difficult to do. Passing yards per game EPA,

(21:35):
per play, rushing EPA, drop back EPA. They were sixth
best in holding opponents in terms of EPA Expected points
added per play last year, they went from sixth to
twenty ninth against opposing teams when they This doesn't even
count all passing attempts, just when the quarterback drops back.

(21:55):
Most of the time that quarterbacks dropped back, they got
off a passing attempt because Cowboys didn't really have any
pressure this year turnovers, forced interceptions, and red zone touchdown percentage.
Among all those I read, red zone touchdown percentage was
the only one that was also bottom four last year.

Speaker 3 (22:12):
Jay, can I bring something to you that I've been
saying this with Harde for the last two years.

Speaker 1 (22:20):
This is not gonna be good.

Speaker 3 (22:21):
It's not going to be good. Diggs should have been
traded two years ago. He just never really after that
one season where he had like ten interceptions. He failed
miserably because he's a chance taker, and you have to
have a strong, really good safety playing behind him because

(22:42):
he takes chances. He plays people up close great, but
at least be able to stay with him. And he
couldn't do it, and his slip was showing. And the
words of Sean Adams this season. But the thing that's
the most horrifying is Dallas is really thinking about keeping pickings,

(23:11):
and they don't need to spend money on offense unless
it's the offensive line, unless it's the tackles position on
the right side. They pay way too much money for
steel for turn steel, and they need to get rid
of it. And the same thing with pickings. They need
to get draft picks. They need draft capital this year.

(23:32):
There's a lot of guys in this draft that can
help Dallas defensively, and what they can't get in the draft,
then they need to go out there and free agency.
What do you think about trading pickings to one of
these teams that have two picks in the first round
and maybe one of those picks in the first round

(23:53):
and an early second round pick, which Cleveland has the
best option of having the the fifth overall pick in
the second round, and they have the twenty eighth pick.

Speaker 2 (24:06):
Maybe you can get a fourth pick to something next year.

Speaker 1 (24:10):
If that's the return, I think I'm in right. It's
the same thing I argued last year when the Commanders
were in the off season and everyone said, oh, Washington
should go get t Higgins, and I thought no, because
I don't I don't want Washington's pay structure after paying
Terry McLaurin to suddenly look like Cincinnati's. We see where
Cincinnati is.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
You see where they are. That's where the Cowboys.

Speaker 1 (24:32):
Are, and that's where they are. If they pay pickings, right.

Speaker 3 (24:35):
If they pay pickings and if they give pickings this money,
that's what's gonna happen to Dallas. Their defense is gonna
be like this for the next foreseeable future.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
How about that?

Speaker 3 (24:45):
Like it can't put years on it, but imagine the
Cowboys having three picks in the first round, a pick
fifth in the In the you can get a cornerback,
you can get defensive end, you can get a linebacker,
you can get a safety, and hopefully in the second

(25:07):
or third round. There's so many wide receivers this year.
You know who I really like, Branch from Georgia. He
torched Texas.

Speaker 1 (25:15):
You could maybe get him with a late first or
early second.

Speaker 3 (25:19):
H He's gonna slip into the late second round, like
I mean, you can if you can get a second
an early third round, you may be able to get
a guy like him.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
He's electric. Yeah, he reminds me a little bit of
Jameson Williams.

Speaker 3 (25:33):
Right, and the Cowboys need some of that, But I
think fort Noi is gonna be a good number two.

Speaker 1 (25:39):
I just added him to my dynasty roster in fantasy
football because if George Pickens leaves, I think Flow could
really step in.

Speaker 2 (25:46):
I really do think he can.

Speaker 3 (25:48):
And when you have the confidence of the coaching staff,
Hey man, you're the number two, Like you need to
train like a number two, You need to really study
and work like the number two, then that's where you're
gonna be, you know, Like right now he knows he's
the number four.

Speaker 2 (26:07):
Like, but the guy is really good.

Speaker 1 (26:08):
So well, Kenneth Murray hasn't been cutting it at linebacker.
Logan Wilson being brought in didn't really I think change much.
That's name the Cincinnati Bengals guy that they brought in
and didn't crack. The Cowboys rota think.

Speaker 3 (26:22):
About the five linebackers that are coming out this year
Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Georgia. Uh, what's the other kids
from Well.

Speaker 1 (26:36):
You got you got Sonny Styles you mentioned CJ. Allen
out of Georgia.

Speaker 3 (26:40):
And Anthony Hill from here in Texas, Cincinnatist and yeah,
so you you can get one of those guys. I
don't care which one flip a coin.

Speaker 1 (26:52):
I got one for you.

Speaker 2 (26:53):
Who is that?

Speaker 1 (26:54):
Go get Caleb downs that's but.

Speaker 2 (26:56):
You have to move up to get Caleb. Caleb is
going to go ten nine.

Speaker 1 (27:01):
I hope he doesn't. I hope he doesn't go past
Washington at seven. That's my team.

Speaker 3 (27:05):
Well, I don't know. Washington got bigger fish to Friday
and getting the safety.

Speaker 1 (27:09):
Well they need the new offensive coordinator too.

Speaker 3 (27:11):
Cliff Kingsbury offense the line to protect Jalen Daniels.

Speaker 1 (27:17):
It's it's funny. Jayden Daniels and Cliff Kingsbury have had
a very close relationship throughout their time together in Washington.
This is on our coaching carousel topic. Cliff Kingsbury and
the Washington Commanders Front office announced a mutual parting of
ways just this morning, right after your show. Actually to
Washington offense that was top ten in both points and

(27:37):
yards last year. This year they fell down to twenty
second in both. But I mean I watched almost every
Washington payne staking prime time humiliation that Washington suffered this season.
It's almost a wash because of how many injuries they have.

Speaker 3 (27:55):
Can you believe that that Daniels didn't know that that
was going to be a thing.

Speaker 2 (27:59):
He posted that he didn't know.

Speaker 1 (28:01):
And here's what he said yesterday about Cliff Kingsbury and
wanting to keep him on board and work together another offseason.

Speaker 5 (28:08):
I mean, I love working with Cliff.

Speaker 6 (28:10):
You know, me and him have a special relationship you know,
kind of built out over his past two years, and
you know, I kind of just wish I was out
there more to play.

Speaker 2 (28:20):
For him this past year.

Speaker 6 (28:22):
So I mean, that's kind of folks for me in
this all season, I was just rebuilding myself from the
ground up and you know, hopefully go out there and
that's the most part thing to be available with my team.

Speaker 3 (28:32):
Wow, Bro, that's that's That's gotta be a horrifying read.
And I wonder if they called him and said, hey man,
this is finna go on the wire.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
We just part of the ways with Kingsbury.

Speaker 3 (28:46):
I'd hate for him to have to find that out
by reading it like everybody else, you know what I'm saying, Like,
that's just.

Speaker 1 (28:53):
You would hope that Washington in the front office, Adam Peas,
you would you would hope that they would treat their
friendies that way at a minimal at a minimal.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yeah, I don't.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
I don't know if they did, because the way that
he posted h sounded like he didn't know, Like, wait,
what's going on? You know?

Speaker 6 (29:16):
Why?

Speaker 3 (29:17):
Why has this happening? That kind of thing that's shocking
awe to me? And I feel bad for.

Speaker 1 (29:23):
Him, Well why not feeling bad for me as a
Washington fan?

Speaker 2 (29:27):
Well, I feel bad for all y'all.

Speaker 3 (29:29):
I don't know what it is, but like I have
like three of my really good friends or Washington fans.
Peter Rosenberg is like one of those guys. He's a
he's always at the game, he's got season tickets.

Speaker 2 (29:44):
You know.

Speaker 3 (29:44):
Louis Valeria, one of the guys that are on our
camera crew for WWE, is a Washington fan. And Jake,
I feel bad for you, man, I feel bad for you.
Except for when y'all played it Cowboys.

Speaker 1 (30:01):
That was where it all came apart the first Daniels
injury in Dallas with the two safeties running into each
other just minutes into the game. That's the that's the
Commander's season on tape right there, two safeties collide and
suing possession Daniel's injury there it is.

Speaker 3 (30:19):
That's that's that was your season, and and you know what,
but I think y'all are going to bounce back. A
lot of it is bad opportunities. Y'all are in the
same place that uh San Francisco was with all the
injuries you have, Like what about.

Speaker 1 (30:36):
The infrastructure though, it's just not the same as what
San Francisco had. They had winning, They had a they
had a team full of winning veterans coming back. Washington
has a team of veterans. Well that's true too, except
for Bobby Wagner. That guy's a winner.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
Yeah. I don't know. I don't think that y'all are
falling far from where you think.

Speaker 3 (30:57):
I think that getting healthy and having a off season,
Washington is going.

Speaker 2 (31:03):
To be back. This is not going to be damning
for that team.

Speaker 1 (31:07):
Okay, Mark, before you go, and we do need another break.
In just a moment, I wanted to get your take
on this. We've got six head coach openings in the
NFL right now. You discuss some of them with my
car or yesterday morning somewhere today. The Giants, the Browns,
the Falcons, the Cardinals, the Titans, and the Raiders, who
are on the clock, by the way, with number one
pick which opening is the most attractive right now.

Speaker 2 (31:32):
It would have to be one A, one B.

Speaker 3 (31:35):
And I would start with Atlanta because the general manager
is gone too and you get to start completely new.
And then I would say the Raiders because you have
a franchise tight end, you have a franchise running back.

Speaker 2 (31:53):
You need, you need a quarterback.

Speaker 3 (31:58):
And you know for what my two cents is, if
I had the first overall pick, I'm going Mendoza. And
a lot of people say he's not going to be
a good NFL quarterback. For all of those people that
say that, I say this, he's six', five he's two,

(32:19):
Thirty he's got AN nfl. Frame he plays quarterback with
anticipation and, instinct not just the physical. Talent if you
Want Lamar, jackson if you Won't Josh, allen then you know,
what go get one of. Those but if you want
to play quarterback at a high level and get the

(32:42):
ball out and your wide receivers and uh people catching
the ball succeed before the, snap Get. Mendoza he JUST
i watched him play three times this year and sometimes
he throws the ball and before the guy even turns his,
head the ball is.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
There that's an instinct.

Speaker 3 (33:04):
Throw that's A i trust my, arm BUT i know
where he's supposed to.

Speaker 2 (33:09):
Be he needs a veteran wide, receiver Not. TUCKER i Like.

Speaker 3 (33:14):
TUCKER i think that you, know we all see at
the tight end is going to be great at The, Raiders, Bowers,
bowers but they need a really good wide, receiver you,
know A terry McLaurin type guy for you, know being
at you're risky as Sorry commander's.

Speaker 1 (33:35):
Fan oh DO i need to hit the dump button racial?

Speaker 2 (33:37):
Slurs they, need they need a wide out and.

Speaker 3 (33:44):
Maybe ayuk like he doesn't want to play For San, francisco.

Speaker 2 (33:52):
He's out, There go get.

Speaker 1 (33:54):
Him Deebo samuel will be a free. Agent oh that
would be.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
Nice, well you talk about, toys cakes and, pies cakes and.

Speaker 1 (34:05):
Pies so you're Going atlanta ONE, A vegas ONE. B
in terms of, Coaches atlanta's got.

Speaker 3 (34:10):
Everything they got good wide, receivers good tight, end good running.
Back one of the best according to Harje AND i can't,
say according to me right, now the best player in the.
LEAGUE i would still say, McCaffrey But bijon is the
second best player in THE, nfl in the ENTIRE. Nfl

(34:34):
so there you. Go you got everything you need on.
Offense you got a pretty decent. Defense now you need
a coach and a general manager that knows how to
put a compliments with what they already.

Speaker 1 (34:50):
Had, Meanwhile atlanta is positioning themselves to bring in a
BETTER gm by Restructuring Kirk cousins'. Deal this dropped. Earlier,
Today they're going to be able to split up his
dead money from twenty twenty six and twenty twenty, seven
which gives them some more cap flexibility if he's released as.
Expected so that certainly Helps atlanta be able to draw.

(35:13):
It maybe one of those duos that you're talking.

Speaker 3 (35:14):
About, yeah you need to get a really good team
in the front office that can add to. That Michael,
PENNIX i think that that experiment is.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
Over it needs to die with.

Speaker 3 (35:30):
The current or the former head coach and general. Manager
it was their fault for picking him and they you,
KNOW i think it goes away Should.

Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah they're gonna have some pieces to pick up In,
atlanta no. Doubt but they've got an exciting young, defense
WHICH i think makes that job a pretty good pick
for number. One, Hey, mark this is a lot of
fun when you we should do it again. Soon thanks
for all the strong. Takes, yeah you.

Speaker 2 (35:56):
Don't have to be by yourself all the. TIME i
won't be.

Speaker 1 (36:00):
By myself the whole. Show Craig way is going to
join us a little bit. Later for, now we need
a quick break and then we'll tell you about which
coaching candidates are getting some interview requests from THESE nfl
teams right here on thirteen hundred The. Zone, okay our
text And tuesday edition of the show, Continues Little Flatland
cavalry country band out Of lubbock bumping us. BACK i

(36:22):
wanted to get to some interview requests being made by
some of THE nfl teams who chose to fire their
head Coach On Black, monday The monday After week, eighteen
The falcons mentioned they're bringing in A gm and a head,
Coach Click, kubiak The seahawks offensive, coordinator one of the
most improved offenses in the, league by The, way And Anthony,

(36:44):
weaver The DOLPHINS dc being brought in for interview. Requests
as for The, raiders that other job opening That Mark
henry cited as our kind of most intriguing or appealing.
OPENING a lot of that has to do with the
number one pick that they. Possess they are bringing In
Vance joseph for an, interview The broncos defensive Coordinator joseph

(37:06):
and That broncos defense really outstanding throughout the. Year that's
a big reason why The broncos locked down that number
one seed in THE. Afc the longest list of head
coach interviews right now belongs to The Tennessee. Titans that
makes sense because they moved on From Brian callahan way
before a lot of these other teams. Did back in

(37:26):
Mid october after they started one to. Five that list
includes the Aforementioned Vance. Joseph The titans also talking To Raheem,
morris the Former falcons head, Coach Kevin stefanski who was
let go by The, browns Lou, anarumo the defensive coordinator
for The, Colts Steve, spagnolo Longtime CHIEFS, dc as well

(37:48):
As Matt, nagy the offensive coordinator for A chiefs team
that might undergo some significant change for the first time
in a while this. Offseason waiting another quick break and
then we'll set the table for hour number two On
The craig Wat Show Sports RADIO am thirteen Hundred zone

(38:18):
and our show continues ON am thirteen Hundred zone and
on the Free iHeartRadio. App my name Is Jay, kerman
the producer of this, program filling in For craig. Today
if you missed our number, one we Had Mark henry
on to discuss both the latest news in the transfer,
portal With Parker livingston committing To oklahoma leaving The longhorns

(38:40):
wide receiver room after his red shirt freshman, year three
years of eligibility remaining For. Parker and we also Heard
Mark henry's takes about which of THE nfl openings are
the most attractive for a would be head coach OR
gm and he landed On atlanta as well As Las.
Vegas we're going to talk about a couple of the
other open right here to start hour number. Three Judy

(39:03):
batista wrote a piece for nfl dot com ranking the
BEST nfl coaching jobs available and her number one was
not one That mark AND i talked, about and that
is The New York giants. Job, why she says The,
giants despite the on field struggles of the last, decade
have an ownership group that is respected around the league

(39:25):
because they don't meddle in the coaching decisions or the personnel. Decisions,
Right Brian daball had complete. Control you saw some of
that During Hard knocks With Brian dabele talking with the
would be quarterback. Prospects that was kind of the way
things are run around, there and that for some folks
coming from other franchises where that's not necessarily the, case

(39:48):
makes The giants an attractive. Job you could bind that
with the promising rookie season Of Jackson dart and a defense,
that although its struggled in a lot of their key
game games this, year does have some good young, pieces
particularly on the front, seven guys Like Abdul. Carter The
giants pick fifth this year in round number. One that

(40:09):
pick would have Been washington's had they not Beaten philadelphia's
second stringers in the regular season, finale but that's a
topic for another. Time THE gm Is Joe shane who
will be making this head coaching decision for The. Giants
they were rumored to be going After Notre Dames Marcus
freeman late in the, fall but those rumors have been

(40:32):
put to. Bed freeman is staying put At Notre. Dame,
HOWEVER i wanted to let you listen to this Because
Joe shane is taking a little bit of a different
approach to this coaching. Search Really into twenty twenty six
says they're USING ai to help out in the.

Speaker 2 (40:48):
Process having this runway has really.

Speaker 7 (40:51):
Helped there's not a lot of positives of you making
a in season coaching, change but having this runway to
really do a Deep i've on you, know a wide
array of. Candidates you, know sit in my office and
Watch thursday press conferences for, coordinators you, know integration OF

(41:13):
ai on some things that we've we've utilized calling around,
Again it's it's hard when you're an assistant general manager
somewhere and you're on a playoff. Run you don't have
a job yet to call around and do the amount
of research that that we can. Do WHEN i got,
HIRED i didn't have an assistant general. MANAGER i really
didn't have a staff to assist. Me so it's gonna

(41:33):
be a very thorough. SEARCH i feel really good about
the information we've collected. Already there's some really good, candidates you,
know again on you, know both sides of the. Ball,
collegiately we're gonna look. Everywhere so and then going through,
It charlotte like sitting in the seat AS, gm having
a head coach down the. Hallway what are those interactions
like throughout the calendar, year you, know post, game after a,

(41:55):
win post, game after a, loss uh free, agency, draft
the collaboration between the coaching staff and the, Personnel what,
worked what didn't. Work so a lot of that stuff
will help me because of the, experience identify really what
we're looking for in the next.

Speaker 1 (42:13):
Coach USING ai might be kind of a bold new
approach For Joe. Shane he's been under scrutiny himself. Obviously
The Jackson dart pick towards the back of the first
round really looks like a savvy move from his perspective
going back to last. Offseason but they're still thirteen and
thirty eight over their last three, seasons and there have

(42:35):
been some draft. Mistakes a guy Like Jalen hyatt who
The giants reached for and he, underwhelmed a guy Like Evan,
neil a tackle out Of alabama who hasn't necessarily been
able to cut it at AN nfl. Level But Abdul
carter And Jackson dart round one last year looks to

(42:55):
be the type of draft class that can set them
going in the right. Direction, now The giant it's big
concerned going to the next. Season Can Malik neighbors be
the type of difference maker he was post Acl can
Camp scataboo do what he did post ankle? Injury because
they're two, big, young promising offensive weapons outside Of, dart

(43:15):
both suffered season ending injuries which really sent The giant
season into a. Tailspin they Fired Brian dabole at two
to eight midway through the. Year Day ble was twenty
forty and one as The giants head. Coach they have
requested to Interview Mike, kafka their interim head coach who
served as THE oc under day, ball as well As Vance,

(43:36):
joseph The broncos defensive, coordinator who is drawing interest from
several teams around the, league including The Arizona, cardinals by the,
way who Let Jonathan gandon go after going fifteen and thirty.
Six one other team that's in the market for a
head coach we already mentioned their long list of, interviewees

(43:57):
and that is The Tennessee. Titans they've got a rookie
quarterback in Cam ward who didn't have a lot of
help around him this. Year we'll get to some analytics
on that in just a. Moment but, first The TITANS
Gm Mike borgonzi kind of had a funny quote today
on how he pictures Cam ward's involvement in the coaching. Searge,

(44:18):
obviously when you have a young franchise, quarterback, right these
types of decisions are very important to them and often
made to varying extensive collaboration with, them, unless of, course
You're washington and a guy Like Cliff, kingsbury your offensive,
coordinator who many viewed as a head coaching candidate around
the league after last, year gets fired And Jaydon daniels

(44:38):
the day before is talking about how excited he is
for next, offseason clearly blindsided by that. Move here's the
approach The titans are taking to that with Cam.

Speaker 8 (44:46):
WARD i have a lot of conversations With cam my,
office and sometimes he says a little too. Much BUT
i Love cam because he's.

Speaker 1 (44:56):
All ball like all.

Speaker 8 (44:57):
Day we have a lot of different conversations about, things
AND i, said at some point, here once we narrow,
down you, know once we get down to the final,
candidates you, know maybe it's a quick clow and and
but Obviously cam's a big part of what we're doing.
Here so to not involve your players and value their

(45:20):
opinions on. Things i've done that a lot in the,
past AND i think we should do.

Speaker 1 (45:26):
That, look it's certainly been a revolving door right For
tennessee Since Mike vrabel left the. Building it's it's been
difficult for The titans to get back to the level
they were under vable when they made the playoffs three
times in six years and they never really had an
elite quarterback during that. Stretch they've got one hundred million
dollars in cap space this, offseason and they didn't Trade

(45:50):
Jeffrey simmons despite all of the rumors that they would explore.
That so ring quarterback and Cam ward really good defensive
player And Jeffrey simmons and then a lot of question
marks up and down the rest of The tennessee. Roster
talking about Cam ward and what some of the analytics,
revealed there is one there's one stat that Kim ward

(46:16):
was a bit of an outlier in this, year and
that is the amount of yards lost two dropped, passes
and Kim ward was high on that list as well
as yards lost by miss. Throws When Steve patten AT
Nfl analytics deemed the receiver open on the, Play Kim

(46:38):
ward the most amount of yards left on the field
both due to drops and yards left on the field
due to missed open. Receivers that's some rookie like. Inconsistency
one other stat that Cam ward ranked near the top
of this year quarterbacks at fault for. Sacks Cam ward
was sacked twenty one times this year in sacks that

(47:01):
he was deemed to have taken responsibility, for rather than,
say the offensive line Only Josh allen And Geno smith took. More,
obviously three pretty pass happy teams up there at the,
top not necessarily a. Surprise there was one quarterback who
was an outlier in terms of the drops and, misthrows

(47:23):
and that Is Dak, prescott who is the only quarterback
in THE nfl this year who lost more yards to
drops than he did to miss. Throws it's not necessarily
what you would expect given The cowboys receiving, core but
you think back to some of those games early in the,
year right the critical drops By Cede, laam a couple
of big ones in The detroit game For George Pickens Dak.

(47:46):
Prescott yet another analytics metric that backs up the type
of spectacular season he, had and we heard some of
his thoughts on the show. Yesterday frustrated that the, high
high level of play that he was able to put
on the field throughout the season Being Dak prescott just didn't.
Translate he liked, it like he, said didn't correlate to

(48:06):
the team's, results just given how much The cowboys defense,
struggled and like we discussed in the last segment That
eberflus not retained by The Dallas cowboys going into twenty twenty,
six they will have their fourth new defensive coordinator in four.
Years so while The cowboys season is done and we're
left to look at the analytics pick up the, pieces

(48:27):
The texans season marches on and we'll hear a little
bit more from head coach To Miko. Ryans yesterday he, discussed,
well we heard his soundbites after The texans ninth consecutive
win they beat The Indianapolis colts to close out the regular.
Season now that he knows The steelers are the, opponent
we'll hear some of his thoughts On Mike tomlin's team

(48:47):
when we come back On Sports RADIO am thirteen hundred the.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
Zone just like me, dreaming.

Speaker 1 (48:57):
What's A Texan tuesday without the Iconic Willie. Nelson this Is,
nightlife bringing us back from. Break second hour of our
show continues with you from two to five right here
ON am thirteen hundred To. Zone coming up at four point,
fifteen we'll chat With Craig way as he gets ready
to call a night game Between texas And tennessee at

(49:19):
the newly Renamed Food City arena up On Rocky. Top
speaking of, nightlife The texans get The monday night slot
for this matchup against The Pittsburgh. Steelers it will be
the final game of the Wild Card round of the.
Postseason The texans back in the playoffs for a third consecutive.

(49:39):
Year we mentioned When Damico ryans had some soundbites on
the show yesterday that The texans weren't sure of their
opponent quite yet when they walked off the field AT
Nrg stadium after beating The Indianapolis colts to win their
ninth straight game and bring all of that momentum into

(50:00):
to the twenty twenty five. Postseason they will be taking
on the number four, seed The Pittsburgh, steelers And Demiko
ryans asked for his overall thoughts on Facing pittsburgh now
that he knows the, Opponent.

Speaker 9 (50:15):
We're excited for the matchup versus The. Steelers really a great.
Team nothing but a ton of, respect all right for
Coach tomlin and the success that he had he's had
in the, league how he's done it for such a long.
Time he's a guy who definitely have always looked up,
to always respected. Him always has his teams ready to
ready to, go well, coached physical, outfit like they're gonna play.

Speaker 2 (50:39):
Tough it was really cool to see how.

Speaker 9 (50:42):
They won that game last, night just pure will, determination
found a way to win had things go their. Way
aaron's done a good job there at the quarterback. Position
defense has always played, tough so we're excited about the.

Speaker 1 (50:54):
Opportunity by the, way The texans opened as a slight
favorite at two and a half points on the. Road
that line has now moved to three and a, half
so some folks placing their wagers on The, texans at
least in the early going leading up to this. Matchup
how about the challenge of Facing Aaron rodgers at forty
two years, old who you didn't Hear demiko mentioned in

(51:17):
that first, answer but had his perhaps career prolonged by
The Tyler loop missed field goal during that Exciting sunday
night victory For.

Speaker 9 (51:27):
Pittsburgh AARON'S i, mean he's done it at a high
level for a long time because he's probably one of
the smartest quarterbacks play the, game does a really good,
job understands defense really. Well but you, know for, us
that doesn't. Change we got to go. Out it's about
the guys that are playing like it's about our guys
just playing together collectively going against a really good.

Speaker 1 (51:49):
Opponent how About Mike tomlin and his relationship With Demiko,
ryans two defensive minded head. Coaches dimiko was, asked do
you have a relationship With Mike? Tomlin are you in
touch with him?

Speaker 9 (52:00):
Often i've always kept in touch With, mike is you,
know get together throughout the owners meetings. Everything it's just,
always you, know very complementary of what we're doing. Here
Is it's always, Positive that's the THING i. Say always,
Positive always great encouragement from a guy who's done it
at a level that everybody would seek to do it

(52:22):
like you've had over twenty years of winning seasons like
not many people can do.

Speaker 2 (52:28):
That he's done.

Speaker 9 (52:28):
It he's stuck around at one place ply the longest
tenure head coach right now in THE nfl for a,
reason because he knows how to, win.

Speaker 1 (52:36):
And he's taken His Pittsburgh steelers to the playoffs despite
a lot of. Adversity you think about the punctured lung
suffered BY. Tj, watt he came. Back it looked great
against The, ravens part of a front four that's really
helped things together for A pittsburgh defense that's been exposed
at times on the back end The, steelers they get
good pressure on quarterbacks and they're opportunistic in terms of force,

(52:59):
internal but top to, bottom it is This texans defense
that comes into the game with an. Edge they finished
as the second best scoring defense in the, league only
surpassed right at the very end By. Seattle and Like
Mark vandermere mentioned on the morning kickoff earlier today on our,
station that happened right when The seahawks were in a

(53:20):
gotta have its situation to lock up the number one
seed playing In San, francisco and The texans were scoreboard
watching right hoping that The jaguars lost so that they
could climb up to that number three. Seed but Once
jacksonville got that big early lead Over. Tennessee The texans
knew that their game they were playing in was essentially.
Meaningless So Tamiko, ryans like we heard him talk about,

(53:42):
yesterday decided to pull some of his. Starters and a
lot of those points racked up By Riley leonard and
The Indianapolis, Colts and there were some big plays That
demiko is concerned, about but a lot of those points
racked up by The colts in that thirty eight to
thirty victory did come against some of the second string
defense For. Houston so what Are demico's thoughts on The texans?

(54:05):
Defense how they've sort of played and carried the identity
of this team throughout the.

Speaker 9 (54:10):
Season our, defense they did a really nice job through
throughout the entire year of limiting points.

Speaker 2 (54:18):
Specifically that's what makes you a good.

Speaker 9 (54:20):
Defense, also you, know playing well in the passing passing,
game but we didn't end a year well defensively when
it comes to giving up explosive.

Speaker 2 (54:28):
Plays is really not good enough.

Speaker 9 (54:30):
Defensively so we got to do a much better job
if we want to advance and play longer in the.
Playoffs got to play much better. Defense so it didn't
end how it should.

Speaker 2 (54:40):
Have with eighteen weeks.

Speaker 1 (54:41):
Now eighteen weeks, Now So Demiko ryans and you'll hear
the next question talk about eighteen. Weeks where did his
team grow throughout the? Year where did he see the
improvement and what did he learn about his group along the.

Speaker 9 (54:55):
Way take a, listen, look our team has been through a,
lot and WHAT i would say about our team, is you,
know it really doesn't matter any kind of way the
game shape shapes. Up whatever we need to do to
win the, game we find a way to win a.
Game so it's the resiliency with our team that's what
sticks out to me a, most the most about our.
Guys it's the close knit group that we. Have guys

(55:17):
or guys are, Closed guys are. Tight guys play for each.
Other that's all you can ask.

Speaker 1 (55:21):
For and all The texans can ask for is a
shot to try and make the most of it right
and capitalize on the type of run that they've had
winning nine straight coming in to the. Postseason but not
all wins in THE nfl are created. Equal and you,
know just Ask Lamar, jackson just Ask Josh, allen two

(55:43):
guys who have played the quarterback position at really the
second or third highest levels from a year to year,
basis each WINNING mvp awards within the last five seasons
and yet are remembered at times for playoff, defeats whether
it's on, them or on their, teammates or on neither
of those. Things playoff wins carry a different weight in THE.

(56:07):
Nfl you don't need me to tell you. That so
what's the biggest difference In Demico ryan's mind when it
comes to playoff football versus the regular?

Speaker 9 (56:15):
Season, yeah the biggest difference is those those details and
those fine and techniques that we talk about all the.

Speaker 2 (56:24):
Time if you're not on, it you get.

Speaker 9 (56:26):
Exposed you can end up in a pretty tough situation
that's hard and harder to come climb out. Of so
we know these games are All they're gonna be, Tight
they're gonna be.

Speaker 2 (56:36):
Tough everybody's in the playoffs for a.

Speaker 9 (56:38):
Reason everybody's earned that opportunity to get into the. Playoffs
so for, me it's everybody just has to tighten up
on what we're, doing like, offensively, defensively special teams, wise
we all have to tighten, up starting with us as.
Coaches we got to tighten up to make sure we're
all on the same page and make sure that our,
players everybody knows exactly what they should be doing and

(57:00):
how to get it.

Speaker 1 (57:01):
Done and for A texans team that is in the
playoffs for a third consecutive, year how much will that
playoff experience help this time around and will that make
a difference in the.

Speaker 9 (57:14):
GAME i think when you have the experience that our group,
has we have a lot of guys who've been, there
a lot of guys know what to. Expect so it's
not our first rodeo for a lot of. Guys SO
i would lean in on that experience from our guys
just having conversations right on the. Side nothing nothing formal

(57:35):
that we, need but just guys just, talking you, know
as we're as we're in walking and passing guys just
letting each other, know like what is going to Be,
like you, know the intensity is going to pick, up,
right you know the importance of every single play is
going to pick Up and as long as our guys
are sharing that information to each other and everybody's just

(57:56):
prepping the right way and how how we go out
and practice the right, Way, like, hey we know it's
win or go. Home everything is on the. Line everybody understands.
That and for, me when you get in these, games
you don't go start trying to you don't start trying
to do something that you haven't done. Before are you
just laying in on what you've been training for from

(58:17):
training camp and you laying in on that and you
do that the right way that puts you in position
to win the.

Speaker 1 (58:22):
Game and we'll talk about what some of those keys
to the game might look like in a. Moment first
one more From Demico, ryans and that is on the
subject of. Kicking and we've heard teams throughout the season
and kickers complain about the, uneven, choppy unforgiving surface At
Akroscher stadium In. Pittsburgh and you even saw The holy

(58:44):
water get thrown on it by of Course pittsburgh very
very Big catholic population there and The Sunday Night football
crew had some fun with that after the game During
Tyler loop's. Miss Kaymi fairbairn is someone That Demiko ryans
has praised throughout the year for good. Reason he's made
forty four of his forty nine field. Goals that's tied
for the most field goals made in a season ever

(59:09):
going back To David akers in twenty. Eleven, now remember
there's an extra, game and remember The texans have had
some red zone woes that have chipped Into that doesn't
take away from what Fair baron has, accomplished and he
did all of, that missing some time with an injury
in the middle of the season and at times playing through.
It so he's having an historic season As houston's, kicker

(59:31):
a big weapon that they would not necessarily be in
this position having won nine straight games. Without so what
is the importance Of Kaymi fairbaron's preparation for kicking In,
pittsburgh which is not a kicker friendly environment in any. Definition,
YEAH i.

Speaker 2 (59:49):
Have all the faith in the world In.

Speaker 9 (59:50):
Kaymi no matter where we, are it's tough anywhere to
kick the. Football if anybody's tried kicking a field, goal
let me see you Make and it's tough, anywhere no
matter you're inside or, outside if you're ON espn trying
to kick it on college.

Speaker 2 (01:00:07):
Game, day it's tough to kick a field.

Speaker 9 (01:00:08):
Goal so it's we'll see how it shapes out when
we get.

Speaker 1 (01:00:13):
There, Okay tom. Go so The texans And steelers matching
up a couple of couple of stats to point out
here as far as keys to the game, go and
just just some reminders coming into this game of what
this where this matchup kind of. Stands The steelers have
done a really nice job in getting to the, playoffs

(01:00:35):
despite some of the injuries we, discussed and despite being
somewhat limited at times offensively and struggling out on the
edges to get stops against really good wide receivers throughout the.
Season they actually haven't beaten a playoff team Since week,
three a game in which they beat The. Patriots rogers
only threw for one hundred and thirty nine. Yards it

(01:00:56):
was a little bit Like alabama And oklahoma in the regular.
Season turnover decided. It New england out Gained pittsburgh by
one hundred and sixty six. Yards but that's what The
steeler defense. Does they thrive on forcing, turnovers and they
rely on that much much more than other teams did this.
Season twenty five percent guys Of pittsburgh's points this season

(01:01:19):
came off of. Turnovers how high is that? Percentage second
highest in the. League only The browns had a higher
percentage of points off, turnovers and The steelers had one
hundred and twenty more points than The browns, did, Right
it's just percentage. Wise The browns offense wasn't doing much this,
season particularly towards the end of the year with the

(01:01:40):
rotating cast at quarterback without the defense forcing a turnover
to set them. Up The pittsburgh offense was fifteenth in
terms of most points, scored but third in scoring off,
turnovers behind only The jags and The. Bears so it's
LIKE i Told craig when we were discussing the game
off air, yesterday C. J stroud just got to protect

(01:02:01):
the ball in this game to prevent The steelers from
doing what they do, best forcing the type of turnovers
to overcome their other deficiencies as a team and win the.
Game houston needs to continue the pattern of playoff teams
against This steeler defense putting up some. Points The steelers
have lost four games the postseason bound teams since That

(01:02:22):
patriots win back In week three that we. Mention obviously
not a strong year for THE Afc, north with The
bengals and brown, struggling and The ravens Without Lamar jackson
for long stretches of the season not their typical. Selves
against those four, Teams pittsburgh lost all four games allowed
twenty nine and a half points per. Game So houston's

(01:02:44):
offense right expected to go out and perform against This pittsburgh.
Team how is that going to? Happen or they got
to PROTECT. Cj stroud right and that goes hand in
hand with the turnovers That houston has to avoid in this.
Game The, texans according to ESPN's past block win rate this,
season ranked thirtieth in THE, nfl ahead of only two,

(01:03:07):
teams The, lions who really had a down year up,
front and The, chargers who were missing both of their
tackles who are elite tackles at least joealt elite as a,
rookie taking top ten out Of Notre, dame and Then Rashaun,
slater who didn't play a snap this, season one of
the premier pass protecting right tackles all year. LONG a

(01:03:30):
major hat tip To Justin herbert for overcoming that to
get The chargers to the position they are in right,
now playing a playoff game as the number six seed
in THE. Afc so despite being dead last in run
blocking win, rate third to last in past blocking win, RAPE.

(01:03:52):
Cj stroud has helped The texans offense do enough to
get to this. Situation in a lot of, ways you
look at those two, things at how inconsistent the old
line has, been and you almost feel LIKE. Cj stroud's
being underrated right. Now Right it's easy to point to
The texans and, say oh that you KNOW. Cj stroud's
carried by the. Defense you have folks like me, saying,

(01:04:14):
oh if he just doesn't turn the ball over, right
manage the, game that's all he needs to.

Speaker 2 (01:04:18):
Do BUT.

Speaker 1 (01:04:20):
Cj, stroud without that benefit of an offensive line really
holding up for, him and with a cast of mostly
rookie playmakers Besides Nico, collins has really done some nice
things this year For. Houston so there's part of our
preview of The texans and The. Steelers coming up next
will Have inconceivable including some fast food junk food. Updates

(01:04:46):
we will discuss a little bit about the SEC's bowl,
season what's kind of caught my attention about where the
conference has, struggled how the landscape of college football might
or might not be, changing what we can extrapolate from
the results that, frankly we're not good for THE sec
this bowl. Season and then we'll talk college Basketball texas And.

(01:05:07):
Tennessee we'll preview that one here from the head coaches
and talk To Craig way about it. All coming up
here on Sports RADIO am thirteen Hundred zone and on
The iHeartRadio. App all, right our third and final hour

(01:05:29):
on This tuesday. Afternoon So i'm glad to have you
with us ON am thirteen hundred The. Zone my name
Is Jay, kerman filling in For. Craig we're going to
visit With craig in about fifteen. Minutes he is In,
knoxville just attend to The longhorns men's basketball shoot. Around
excited to hear his thoughts On Sean miller's team as

(01:05:49):
well as what it will be like to See Rick barnes.
Again and we'll hear some soundbites From Rick barnes as
well As Sean miller in just a. Moment, first before
that last, break we talked About texas women's, basketball the
win Over Ole miss setting up a couple of really
challenging games this. Week after they Play auburn On, thursday
they will travel to take ON lsu And South carolina

(01:06:11):
in back to back. Games Rory, harmon of, course had
the game winner Against South carolina In Las. Vegas but
even in the win Over ole miss by a final
score of sixty seven to sixty four On sunday, afternoon
it Wasn't Rory harmon's best. Performance there were some things
that she'll want to go back and. Adjust after a
season high ten Turnover she did have ten, assists however

(01:06:33):
in the win to go with eight points in thirty four,
minutes missed a couple of free throws late in the
game as, well did have two steals For. Texas but
Here's Vick schaeffer after that win talking a little bit
About Rory harmon's frustration and what she'll do when she
goes back and watches this.

Speaker 10 (01:06:51):
Game, YEAH i think she'll go watch film and she'll
learn from. It you, know she'll have a chance to
catch her breath And inhale And xale and you, know
show realize there's there's some plays out there that she
needs to be better. At fifth your you, know fifth
your players make those. Plays and and at the same,
time fifth your players don't have some of the you,

(01:07:13):
know some of the mistakes that we. Had we we
had a lot of mistakes today by a lot of.
Players and you, know when your point guards both of.
Them they have got to you, know we always talk
about trying to play. Perfect that's the position that man
when they don't play well or they have some, moments

(01:07:34):
that's the. Position just it's glaring and it just comes
with a. Position it's not. Fair those kids are, human
they're just they're, kids you, Know but that's the the
when when they aren't running your, offense or they're not
back on, defense or they're turning the ball, over it's
just glaring and it's not.

Speaker 2 (01:07:54):
Fair but it comes with the. Territory and if.

Speaker 10 (01:07:56):
You don't want, it then got to play the different,
position you.

Speaker 8 (01:07:59):
Know SO.

Speaker 5 (01:08:01):
I don't really worry About.

Speaker 10 (01:08:03):
Rory sh'll watch the film and she'll own, it and.

Speaker 5 (01:08:07):
You, KNOW i feel like that's one.

Speaker 10 (01:08:09):
Person she'll own, it and she'll come back and she'll
do her darnedest to make sure that that doesn't happen.

Speaker 1 (01:08:15):
Again, Yeah Long runs will be looking to get the
best version Of Rory harmon On thursday when they're back
in action Against auburn. Again you can hear that game
right here ON am thirteen hundred of The. Zone tonight
at seven point thirty is the start of our coverage
Of texas men's basketball against number twenty Two. Tennessee Tip

(01:08:37):
off is at eight. Again you can hear it here
on thirteen Hundred zone as well as ninety eight ONE FM.
Kvet Craig way And Eddie orn will have the call
for The Longhorn Radio. Network texas coming off a loss
To Mississippi state one hundred and one to ninety eight in,
overtime and if you listen to our women's basketball broadcast On,
sunday you heard this SoundBite, Already Sean miller talking about

(01:09:00):
some of the ways his team failed to manage the
game the right way, late not doing some of the
little things correctly to close out a game in Which
texas led by seven points but just over a minute,
ago back and forth plays made by both teams down
the stretch and Eventually Mississippi state came out on top in.
Overtime here was What Sean miller had to say when

(01:09:22):
he was asked whether those, plays those undisciplined kind OF
iq mistakes fall on him and his staff or more
so on the.

Speaker 4 (01:09:30):
Players oh it's you, KNOW i THINK i told you
guess like a disciplined, team disciplined, players you, know coached
by a disciplined coach and environment and, staff and we
had to coach those guys better in those. Areas, now
IF i tell you not to cross the, street AND
i keep telling, you AND i SAY i swear whatever you,

(01:09:52):
do do not cross the, street and you doing the
bus hit, You i'm gonna take responsibility as your, Parent
but damn, it how many times DO i have to
tell you not to cross the. Street we got some
of that going.

Speaker 1 (01:10:09):
On longhorns will have to be pretty assignment sound against
a young and Athletic tennessee team here, today and we'll
talk To craig a little bit more about that coming.
Up how about that performance Gets Mississippi, state who is
backcourt Including Josh. Hubbard the thirty eight points accounted for
sixty five. TOTAL i Believe epps had twenty seven For

(01:10:32):
Mississippi state in that. Game how frustrating was it just
the inability to get stops late in the ballgame which
has Plagued texas at times this.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
Year, no it's definitely.

Speaker 4 (01:10:42):
Frustrating and look coming into the, game they combined they
go for about.

Speaker 5 (01:10:47):
Forty.

Speaker 4 (01:10:47):
Right you, know one thing is if you look at
the second, half not the, overtime and you take away
the first. Half we actually did a better job On Josh.
HUBBARD i think he was three for fifteen from the
floor in the second. Half you, know that gets masked
because he was so dominant in the first, half AND
i think in overtime he got a. Couple but, yeah

(01:11:08):
it's tough to give up that.

Speaker 2 (01:11:09):
Many and.

Speaker 4 (01:11:13):
Yeah it Is and they're good at the, cupboards are really.

Speaker 1 (01:11:16):
Good almost at a loss for words there at the.
End not the first time that a backcourt has really
Hurt texas late in the. Game you think about What
Arizona states guards were able to do during that opening
round loss In. Maui For, texas one big positive coming
out of That Mississippi state game was the performance of

(01:11:37):
power Forward Daylon, swain And swayn has really developed nicely
over the course of the. Season he's currently The longhorns
leader in offensive efficiency. Rating he's also done a really
nice job on the. Glass his three point one steals
per game lead all. Starters Declan durrus got, more but
he comes off the bench mostly and only plays about

(01:11:59):
twelve percent of the minutes for This texas, Team longhorns
do a better job defensive rebounding When swayn is on the,
floor and his usage rate just continues to tick up
and up and. Up he is playing the highest percentage
of minutes nearly three quarters of the team's minutes coming
into the, season and that number has only gone up

(01:12:21):
when The longhorns are playing quality. Opponents so For, swayn
who is coming off that thirty four point per, formance
his third straight double digit game and his third straight
game in which he's had three or more assists and
three or more offensive, rebounds how much of his development
is just fitting in with his teammates and how much

(01:12:41):
of that has to do with his physical development getting
bigger and stronger and more accustomed to college basketball as
a third year.

Speaker 4 (01:12:49):
Player, yeah you, Know dylan is a throwback in college.
BASKETBALL i knew him as far back as his junior
year in high. School he was very overlooked. Recruiting he's From,
Columbus Ohio number. One, no they didn't off from a, scholarship,
really The Big ten. Didn't we were fortunate enough to

(01:13:09):
convince him to come and play FOR us At xavier
in The Big, east and he came to school as
a true eighteen year. Old he's really, young and he
threw him to the, fire he, grew he, matured worked
hard at his rough. Moments i'd say sometime Around christmas
a year ago is when he really hit his, stride really,
improved got. Better he's a smart. Guy his body's getting

(01:13:31):
bigger and. Stronger he works at, it and towards the
end of the year he was virtually an All conference
type of. PLAYER i think he picked right up where
he left. OFF i had a great spring in. Summer
he puts a lot of work. In you guys see
him at six eight two. Twenty imagine at one point
he was sixty, seven one hundred and seventy eight. Pounds
it's come a long way and he's putting it. Together

(01:13:53):
he still has to get better at certain, things but you,
KNOW i think he's had a really good season to.
Date it was great to see him and his sec.
Opener you, know thirty four points and fourteen rebounds as
the act of a, night and it's a shame that
didn't lead to a.

Speaker 1 (01:14:07):
Victory you think About Jalen swain had the one kind
of off night Against connecticut when he played twenty five.
Minutes that's a season. Low if you take out the
Fairly dickinson game where The longhorns rested their starters in
the second, half struggled with foul trouble that. Night Did
swayn also missed five breethrows himself was three for eight

(01:14:29):
at the, line and The longhorns close loss In hartford
Against connecticut where they really did play. Well since, Then
swain's put together three now really solid. Performances nice to
see it translate for him pretty well Against Mississippi. State
longhorns will need him in a big way tonight Against.
Tennessee how about the volunteers who have had a little
bit of an inconsistent month or. So they started seven to,

(01:14:52):
zero including a win Over houston in their opening game
at The Player's Era, tournament and then they've been pretty inconsistent,
since losing three in a row To, kansas Than Syrahcuse
Den illinois Beat louisville, handily but then lost their sec
opener To arkansas over the weekend by a final score
of eighty six to seventy. Five turnovers were a big

(01:15:12):
part of that game For. Tennessee they committed fourteen of,
them their eighth game this season with double digit. Turnovers
there was a big foul discrepancy in the Game arkansas
SHOT i believe ten more free throws Than tennessee yep
thirty three versus twenty, three and The razorbacks also made
their free throws count in the. Game they were twenty
nine of thirty three from the, stripe While tennessee only

(01:15:35):
went twelve of twenty. Three Rick barnes addressing the media
ahead of this. Game you'll hear his. Voice it's a
little raspy from talking about his team and the officials
in a very loud arena over the weekend in the
balls last game Against. Arkansas here's his mindset coming off

(01:15:55):
of that game and rebounding For texas and also addressing
the free throw shooting woes in the.

Speaker 11 (01:16:01):
GAME i told him, Yesterday i'm not worried about free.
Throws i'm not worried about making. Shots i'm worried about
guys doing their jobs so they get lost in the
game and understand what it takes to win basketball. Games
all that will take care of. Itself and that's exactly
WHAT i told him. Yesterday but we got when you
start worrying about making, shots making free, throws you only
put pressure on yourself and there's no reason to do.

(01:16:23):
That if we play the game the way it's supposed
to be. Played these guys have played enough basketball that
inmately they would do that if their mindset is where
it should. Be and that's and it's not where it
needs to. Be right, Now it's only One, saturday.

Speaker 1 (01:16:35):
And those are things you hear from the coach of
a pretty young. Team they rely on several freshmen and
sophomores on a night to night. Basis here were his
thoughts now On texas And Sean, miller who you'll hear
in this, answer has a very interesting connection With Rick,
barnes going all the way back To Rick barnes as

(01:16:58):
a very young coach just out of college at a
youth camp at The university Of pittsburgh Where Sean miller
was participating as a. Player, well it's so.

Speaker 11 (01:17:08):
Much respect For. Shawn i've Known. Sean you know you,
guys if you don't know the, story you. KNOW i
Met John caliperi in NINETEEN i think seventy six and
we're at The university Of pitts camp and he was
still in. COLLEGE i think it was At Clarion college
AND i just graduated and we were working this camp
together and we each had a, team and my team

(01:17:29):
won the championship and my starting point guard was eight years,
Old Sean, miller and we won a. Championship and So
i've Watched seawn grow, up coached against him obviously when
he was At pitt AND i was At, providence and
just a great deal of respect and obvi coach against
each other or two later on At Arizona, texas but

(01:17:50):
just so much respect for. Him and he's going to
do a Great his teams are always, tough hard knows
and they're going to and he's a coach that will
adjust to whatever he needs to do to even the
best position to. Win AND i know they also tough Game,
saturday and you'll have him ready to.

Speaker 1 (01:18:05):
Play That's Rick, barnes who will visit With Craig way
during the pregame show During texas men's basketball game At
tennessee later. Tonight up, next we'll talk To Craig way
about it right here on Sports RADIO am thirteen Hundred The.

Speaker 8 (01:18:19):
Zone Sam carr love When.

Speaker 2 (01:18:25):
West virginia down To.

Speaker 1 (01:18:27):
Tennessee From West virginia And austin up To, tennessee we
always love the chance to catch up With Craig way
from the road as we bump back with The King
George straight part Of Texan. Tuesday that's the nineteen ninety
seven number one, Hit craig Carrying Your love With.

Speaker 12 (01:18:48):
Me, Well i'd have to, Say i'm Glad i'm not
In West virginia.

Speaker 5 (01:18:53):
Today nothing Against West.

Speaker 12 (01:18:56):
Virginia it was Just i'm a you know, Me I'm
i'm a guy who kind of prefers warm. Weather my
wife AND i have a have a friendly kind of
difference of opinion on. This she likes, chilly kind of,
cold but not real cold weather like.

Speaker 5 (01:19:13):
In the forties. Fifties she kind of likes.

Speaker 8 (01:19:15):
That.

Speaker 12 (01:19:17):
LISTEN i was thinking the other day On New Year's
well with Back. News it Was january THE i guess
the third And i'm sitting there standing in my backyard
with my dog in, shorts in bare, feet throwing the.

(01:19:37):
Ball we play fatch a, lot and she Loves it's
her favorite, game and so we bought a whole case
of tennis balls because that's her favorite. Consistency AND i
throw it from one end of the yard to the
other and she comes back and, rings and we've been
doing this for thirteen. Years she's she's thirteen years old
now and still and still loves to do.

Speaker 5 (01:19:55):
It we still do.

Speaker 12 (01:19:56):
That we don't we don't run her quite as hard,
anymore but we do still have the ball. Session BUT
i was thinking AS i was standing out, there AND
i WAS i was thinking about the fact that it
was and it. Was it was two days, ago it Was,
sunday AND i had gotten back from doing the women's.

Speaker 5 (01:20:13):
Game And i'm sitting here thinking to.

Speaker 12 (01:20:14):
Myself, here it is five o'clock in the afternoon On january,
Fourth i'm standing in shorts and bare feet in the
backyard and a short sleeve. Shirt i'll take that any
day of the week In, january in any any time of,
Year i'm glad to take. That so so. Uh and
it's not excuse, me, weather it's not real bad here In.

(01:20:37):
Tennessee kind of chilly and damp and, murky but it's
it's it's around fifty, degrees so you really can't complain
too much about.

Speaker 5 (01:20:44):
That and then we'll all be out of here in the,
night back To austin. Tomorrow so that's that's that's the
best part of.

Speaker 2 (01:20:49):
It you.

Speaker 1 (01:20:50):
Know WHEN i WHEN i packed up the car over
the summer and drove FROM dc To austin to move down.
HERE i spent that first night In. Knoxville lots of
great places to walk, around good restaurant aside from the shoot.
Around will you have time to check out the city
at all?

Speaker 12 (01:21:05):
Today, Well i've been here many times through men's, basketball women's,
basketball traveling through on the way To North, carolina SO.

Speaker 5 (01:21:13):
I know the place is really really.

Speaker 12 (01:21:14):
Well work today in preparation for the game the, night
it's not going to allow me really time to get
out in about. Much but you, KNOW i know the
places around Here i've been in the past to have
any kind of deal where you talking about, breakfast lunch
or dinner and going down along The Tennessee river and

(01:21:35):
things like, that those are all nice, experiences and, hey
for Long ard football, fans so'll get a chance to experience.
It it is coming fall When texas plays up here At,
tennessee so they have that to look.

Speaker 5 (01:21:46):
Forward too as.

Speaker 1 (01:21:47):
Well and tonight we look forward to you And eddie
or and on the call For texas against number twenty
Two tennessee at The Food City, center two teams that
drop THEIR sec. Openers spending time with the team earlier
today at shoot around what Are Shawn miller and his
assistants kind of emphasizing to this team as they approach
a really difficult stretch here at the beginning OF sec.

Speaker 12 (01:22:09):
Play, well there's several, things but two in particular continue
to be stressed during the shoot. Around on the offensive,
side it is taking care of the. Basketball tennessee does
really good job with pressure. Defense, now it's, interesting the
volunteers force twelve point six turnovers per. GAME i usually

(01:22:31):
don't delve in the decimals. MUCH i round, up SO
i would say. Thirteen, however they are also turning it
over themselves twelve point six times per. Day game long
runs at eleven point four, turnovers and they force eleven point,
three so that's almost a wash in. That But tennessee
does a really good job with pressure, defense and the
long runs had to be cognizant of. That in getting

(01:22:52):
into their, offense whether it's in the half court set
or in transition off miss, baskets they've got to redound
obviously very very. Well and then on the defensive, side
they've got to be able to. This this is a
mantra That Sean miller continues to preach to his. Team
they've got to be able to defend without, fallon can't
get in foul.

Speaker 5 (01:23:12):
Difficulty it's. Rare let me put it this.

Speaker 12 (01:23:16):
Way it's rare that you can pin a loss to
a team on one particular factor or. Incident in the
case Of saturday's loss In Mississippi, State i'd say a
big leading part of it was the fifth foul.

Speaker 5 (01:23:32):
That Dylan swayin.

Speaker 12 (01:23:33):
Accrued and it it you know that it, looked it,
looked you, know borderline at, best but it took it
out of the. Game and here's a GUY i had a,
CAREER i had thirty four points and fourteen, rebounds and
he's out of the game in the last minut and a,
half two minutes of the, game when The Long oranges
were trying to protect the, lead they couldn't do. It
so defending without, falling Keeping madus Spoken titis out of foul,

(01:23:55):
difficulty you're Keeping Daylan swayinn out of foul. Difficulty And
Jordan pope and Trom and they've got to be able
to find. Offense but they got to be able to
stay on the four defensively as well against This tennessee.

Speaker 1 (01:24:06):
Team, yeah And craig the numbers really back that. Up
texas a much better defensive team With Daleen swayn on the,
floor and you saw his offensive impact firsthand On saturday.
Night and, LOOK i, Know Mississippi state's no, pushover, right
but that's still going to go down as A quad
three loss potentially for This texas. Team you look at
this Stretch, Tennessee, alabama And vanderbilt, upcoming three big time

(01:24:30):
opportunities for The longhorns to start building that resume after
not the start they were hoping for to the.

Speaker 12 (01:24:35):
Season, yeah you, know AND i THINK i think it's
fair to say put it this. Way we're in single
digit days In, january SO i think it's fair to
say That sean and the staff are more concerned with
being competitive and winning games in conference than they are

(01:24:55):
About quad One quad.

Speaker 5 (01:24:57):
Two and that's the kind of stuff that you AND
i nerdered out.

Speaker 12 (01:24:59):
On we watched that stuff very very, carefully and that's
and that's part of our, job and that's what college
basketball pundits and analysts and writers and broadcasters. Do they
follow the trail of those things because there is a
connective tissue toward the end and you look back on
it and, say, oh you had you had a loss
to A quad three team In Mississippi. State not looking
at that right, now they're looking at the fact it was

(01:25:20):
a conference loss at home when you've got three more
teams that are all, really really good right in front of.
You so that's what they're they're having to concern themselves
was starting with this game here In knoxville and night
Where tennessee leads the overall series at ex seven to,
four but they won the last four in THE ruw
That texas was competitive for the most part of the

(01:25:43):
game In nashville last year in the semifinal round of
THE Sec.

Speaker 5 (01:25:49):
Tournament the year before In austin were very.

Speaker 12 (01:25:51):
Competitive, uh and then the year, here the game here before,
that they were.

Speaker 5 (01:25:55):
Not all three of those were. Losses that's the common thread.

Speaker 12 (01:25:59):
There so they've got they've got to be able to
see if they can stop This tennessee team and pick up.

Speaker 5 (01:26:04):
What would be a huge.

Speaker 12 (01:26:06):
Win right, now the best win on the resume Is
North Carolina, state and that's getting a little less impressive
as the days roll. ON i think that has a
chance to age a little better over, time but right
now it's, okay but they need.

Speaker 1 (01:26:21):
More you're, right AND i need a reminder to just
just you, know not nerd out so, much, right just
to enjoy the game that's kind of coming up in
front of. Us and there's plenty of storylines when you
look at tonight With Rick barnes coaching Against Sean. Miller
we heard it from him in the last, segment And,
CRAIG i Hope Rick barnes' vocal strength has returned a
little bit by the time you get to interview him.

(01:26:42):
Tonight But Rick barnes Coach Sean miller as an eight
year old point guard at a youth camp at The
university Of pittsburgh in Which barnes was coaching Against John.
Caliperi so the small world of college basketball never ceases to.
Amaze and now we get these two coaches starting a
new chapter as conference.

Speaker 12 (01:27:01):
Foes they carry that memory to both of. Them this
morning at, Breakfast Eddie orn and, ivervisiting Was sean about,
that and we talked about basketball camp and normally in
those basketball camps back, then this was one in like you,
said in, summer and of Course sean was going up
In pittsburgh And john calla party was, there And rick

(01:27:22):
was there and several. Others, normally within the structure and
framework of those, camps they rotate the coaches around you
worked with different coaches different different. Segments that wasn't the
case in this. Deal sean was assigned To Rick. Barnes
rick was his coach for that AND i think it's
fair to. SAY i Think rick would tell you this.

(01:27:42):
Too he was a little bit different kind and style
of coach back. Then his motor burned a lot. Hotter
his motor burned a lot hotter when he started out
Of texas in the ninety eight ninety nine season and
was for quite some time through the final four run
of three and on. Doubt is it safe to say
maybe he's mellowed a. Little, yeah But i've still watched

(01:28:07):
how he coaches and he's still got that same competitive
streak and thread that runs through. Him he also has
some good assistant coaches who you, know helped carry the
band From one is a very close friend Of Eddie.
Orange Greg polenski was a LONGTIME nba scouting director of
scouting for The Detroit.

Speaker 5 (01:28:26):
Pistons poe And.

Speaker 12 (01:28:28):
Eddie were assistants On Bob weltlick's staff in the eighties
for a time And i've become friends with him as.
Well but he And eddie are very. Close in, fact
there were roommates for a couple of years early on In.
Austin they're very close And poe has been On rick
staff for five. Years John lentz Or Brian, lentz is
an assistant On rick. Staff brian is the former head

(01:28:52):
coach at Appalache And, state But brian is the son
Of John, lynz who was a college teammate and roommate
Of Rick barnes At Leonora Ryan division Two school Of North.
Carolina John lentz Was rick's roommate and a very close
friend his Son, brian who's been a coach for many.
Years and LIKE i, said for a brief, time the

(01:29:12):
head coach At Platzoa state is On rick staff as.
Well so you're, right there's a lot of connectivity between
these two, programs between these coaches and in their extended.
Family Garrett maidenwall is another. One meidanwall is their strength.
Coach garrett's a great young. Man he was the strength
coach For texas women's basketball When Gail guestencourse was the head.

(01:29:36):
Coach that's WHERE i got to Know, Garrett i'm back
and he was a disciple Of Todd, wright who Was
rick's strength coach At texas for many years and is
now with The Los Angeles, clippers and so he was
kind of a disciple of.

Speaker 5 (01:29:49):
His So rick Has Garrett meidenwald as his strength.

Speaker 12 (01:29:53):
Coach so there's a lot of connectivity between these staffs
and the individuals and their extended.

Speaker 1 (01:29:58):
Families when you See Rick barnes, tonight what are you
looking forward? To asking? Him and when you've prepared for this?
Team aside from the youth and the, turnovers like we've talked,
about what really jumps out about the twenty twenty, five
twenty sixth version of The. Vault who's been pretty consistent
the last few.

Speaker 5 (01:30:15):
Years, yeah they have, been and he's done a good.

Speaker 2 (01:30:17):
Job hard to.

Speaker 12 (01:30:18):
Believe now he's in his eleventh. Year he has leaned
into the portal as other coaches. Have he Got Jacobe
gillespie transferring in From, maryland who's done a heck of a.

Speaker 5 (01:30:29):
Job they're stepping right into the point guard.

Speaker 12 (01:30:31):
Spot Nate ament is a freshman who can shoot the basketball.
Well felix car we saw last year the Former Ohio
State buckeye we saw him last year at THE sec.
TOURNAMENT Jp estrella is another guy that we saw last.
Year so he's got good, weapons he's got good inside out.
Players you. Know the ironic thing about this, Deal jake

(01:30:53):
Is rick And i've known each other long enough where
it requires of me enough mental discipline to conduct the
pregame interview to find out and get his thoughts on his,
team because we wind up just you, know going down
rabbit holes of, memory going down memory lane of the

(01:31:15):
times we had.

Speaker 5 (01:31:15):
Together and.

Speaker 12 (01:31:17):
He's to this, day he's a good, friend and and
we do text from time to time and things like,
that and we both had that common bond of having
grown up in the state Of North, carolina and so
we you, know we shared a lot of memories and
things over the. Years by the same, token he knows
WHERE i stand AND i want the Long ones to
win this. Game they need this, win AND i know

(01:31:38):
where he. Stands he needs to get a win as.
Well so that's that's how that.

Speaker 2 (01:31:41):
Works in this.

Speaker 12 (01:31:42):
Business you you make acquaintances and friendships and things like,
that but ultimately you may wind up on different sides
and you have to really hope that your side has
the better, hand and that's What i'm certainly hoping for.

Speaker 1 (01:31:53):
Tonight, yeah both teams got to have. It it feels oh
and one AND sec, played particularly The longhorns who are
still looking for that big time signature win here Under
Sean miller to start his career in The Burt. ORANGE
i wanted to get your quick reaction on this before
you get back to your to your prep work and
head on over to The Food City. Center and that

(01:32:14):
is the.

Speaker 12 (01:32:15):
By the, way that they changed the name of that
arena too forever and ever and. Ever it was The
Thomson Thompson Bowling Athletic, center AND i was still kind
of calling It thompson Bow and when the bus pulled
up and we pulled, up a, thought, oh it's now
The Food City. Center And eddie, said, yeah they got the.
Sponsorship for folks you don't. KNOW i think it's safe
to say In Western, Tennessee Food city is THE atv

(01:32:39):
of Of Western tennessee big supermarket. CHAIN i, Mean i'm,
SORRY i said western Eastern Eastern. Tennessee, uh they're in
The smokies And knoxville and and uh it's it's it's a.

Speaker 5 (01:32:51):
Big time supermarket.

Speaker 12 (01:32:52):
Chain but it's mainly in the eastern part Of tennessee
and in the western part Of North, carolina but mainly
in the eastern part To. Tennessee Food city is a,
big big. Name it'd be, like you, know THE Ahb
centers In Cedar park named for Hid. Well Food city
has the corporate sponsorship name for what forever was known
As Thompson Bowling Athletics, center but it's now as you,

(01:33:14):
mentioned The Food City.

Speaker 1 (01:33:15):
Center, hey since we last, SPOKE i just wanted to
get your quick reaction to, this AND i know you've
got to get over to The Food City. Center and
that Is Parker livingston transferring From texas To. Oklahoma made
that official earlier on this. Afternoon just what kind of
impact do you think this has on an already kind

(01:33:36):
of interesting situation between The longhorns And livingston moving forward
now with their art. Rivals, WELL i look.

Speaker 12 (01:33:45):
At it in a similar context when they Had Brennan
thompson and Then thompson ended up transferring To, oklahoma and
Then thompson ended up Transferring Mississippi state after.

Speaker 5 (01:33:56):
That i'm not saying That parker's going to transfer Beyond.

Speaker 12 (01:33:59):
Oklam who knows in the same and age of nil
and transferring things of.

Speaker 5 (01:34:02):
That nature with a. PORTAL i also.

Speaker 12 (01:34:06):
Know this, too and this is this is something THAT
i think we would all probably do well to. Remember
and that is as much as a lot of folks
would have you believe that they know exactly what the
financial structure was and offers made and all that kind of.
Stuff unless you're in that, room whether it's With, sark

(01:34:30):
or whether it's With Brandon, harris THE gm or or
some of the other people who are dealing directly with the,
numbers we don't. Know we don't know all the. Factors
is money probably a factor could. BE i know The
longhorns when they talked to, him there was a lot
said about what they could.

Speaker 5 (01:34:49):
Offer is it about playing? Time could?

Speaker 2 (01:34:53):
Be you know.

Speaker 12 (01:34:55):
THAT i noticed through social media there are a lot
of sooners Are aggie, said, oh they lost a number
two seats see right? Now not really Because Ryan wingo
uh and And DeAndre. Moore and then as it continued
to develop jack injuries at the tight end spot uh
em mostly those guys were coming in for every bit

(01:35:16):
as many, catches if not more than parking It, now
parking made some big grabs and that's not to be
diminished in any, way shape or. Form, Uh but attrition
with a roster is going to. Happen it does, happen
you will lose. Play they don't Have Trey, weisterer and
they don't HAVE. Cj, baxter but they'll have other guys coming.

(01:35:37):
In This this is going to go on until the,
sixteenth and it's going to be up and down and
for people to lose their minds over the first couple
of days of the, portal relaxed a little bit and
just just just wait and see how it plays out
in terms of how the roster management goes and what
they can, budget what they're going to bring, in and most, importantly.

Speaker 5 (01:35:56):
The positions they need.

Speaker 12 (01:35:58):
Filled and that's where they're going to continue to concentrate their,
efforts their, energies and their.

Speaker 1 (01:36:04):
Resources and you AND i will continue to follow that
story and give updates on the transfer portal throughout the
week here on the. Program craig has always thanks for
taking some time out of your road schedule to join.
Us have a great call With eddie. Tonight.

Speaker 12 (01:36:18):
Thanks we'll look forward to that and we'll look forward
to being back in the house.

Speaker 1 (01:36:22):
Tomorrow All, right That's Craig way live From, Knoxville Tennessee
longhorns take on the twenty second Ranked. Volunteers see their
old Friend Rick barnes at eight o'clock for the tip off.
Tonight you can hear that game right here on ninety
eight to ONE KVET, fm part of The Longhorn Radio.

(01:36:42):
Network up, next we'll talk about some more transfer destinations
for Former Texas longhorns right here On Sports RADIO am
thirteen Hundred the zone zz top on a Textan tuesday
with gotts to get paid and some of The Texas

(01:37:02):
longhorns who entered the transfer portal last, season Including Parker. Livingston,
well they're getting paid in the portal right. Now livingston
reportedly signing an eight hundred thousand dollars nil deal to
play At. Oklahoma he's got three years of eligibility. Left
Parker livingston the perhaps transfer that's gonna turn the temperature

(01:37:26):
up a little bit on The Red river rivalry come Next.
October Other texas transfers finding new destinations this. Afternoon according
To on, Three Nate, kibble the interior offensive lineman never
quite Cracked Kyle flood's starting five this. Season he's going
to transfer To baylor played For dave a random three

(01:37:49):
years of eligibility left for the red shirt freshman out
of A taska set, up And Trey. Wisner this happened actually,
yesterday just after we finished the. Show Trey wisner going
From texas To Florida state via the transfer. Portal a
couple of other notable. Transfers South florida Quarterback Byron brown

(01:38:10):
is going to follow his head Coach Alex golesh To.
Auburn Austin, simmons who remember was Old missus backup quarterback
this year started At, times has two years of eligibility.
Remaining he's going to go play For Eli drinkwitz At.
Missouri remember they lost their quarterback Bo pribula during the.

(01:38:30):
Offseason are you confused, Yet, well there's a few. More
Bryce underwood has decided he's staying At, michigan so that
is objective number one achieved for their new head Coach Kyle,
whittingham keeping the Talented Bryce underwood on campus to try
and turn The wolverines program in the right direction under
Former utah head Coach Kyle. Whittingham ole miss running Back

(01:38:53):
Kewan lacy has announced that he'll be returning to Ole
miss in twenty twenty, six as Will Trinidad, chambliss who
will be back in Ole miss despite his future being
a little bit up in the. Air it's about whether
THE ncublea Allows Trinidad chambliss to return To Old. Miss
he's waiting on AN ncaa eligibility waiver and he stands

(01:39:17):
to earn millions of dollars if he returns To Old
mess based on the performance he put together in The
College Football playoff quarterfinals Against. Georgia so the Former Farris
State division two standout didn't play in twenty twenty. Two
he's seeking a retroactive medical red shirt an additional red

(01:39:40):
shirt year because of what was a respiratory issue that
held him out back in twenty twenty. Two so we'll
see whether or not THE ncublea decides to try and
enforce its rules essentially, right because THE ncublea is in
a position where they keep trying to stand firm on,

(01:40:04):
anything whether it's eligibility for FORMER NBA G league players
to go back and play college, basketball or whether it's
extra years for players who played in junior. College, right
THE ncaa is trying to stand firm and they keep
getting sued and keep losing on anti trust. Laws with
athletes earning as much money as they are right now

(01:40:26):
in the transfer, portal it's just difficult for THE ncaa
to beat the antitrust. Lawsuits and so whether or not
they Grant Trinidad chambliss eligibility could go a long way
in shaping Ole missus season in twenty twenty. Six of,
course The rebels very much living in the present as

(01:40:46):
much as they. Can it's very hard to do that
given the state of flux their program is. In With
Lane kiffen leaving the team after the regular, season but
before The College Football. PLAYOFF a couple of big news
items out of THE nfl we've got to get to
late breaking this. Afternoon The Baltimore ravens have fired their
all time winning his head, Coach John. Harbaugh, Remember baltimore

(01:41:10):
missed the playoffs after losing THE Afc north on the
final snap of THE nfl. Season, harbaugh who took over
The ravens job back in two thousand and. Eight eighteen seasons,
ago won one hundred and eighty, games lost just one
hundred and thirteen twelve playoff berths FOUR afc title, games
and of course a win In Super bowl fifty. Seven

(01:41:34):
he is the winningest coach in franchise history by one
hundred victory Super bowl forty seven by the, way, misspoke
not fifty. Seven The, ravens, remember started this year one in.
Five injuries To Lamar jackson played a role clawed back
above five hundred with five straight wins after their ye
ran all over The packers Without Lamar jackson to set

(01:41:58):
themselves up with a champ to steal the division During week,
eight team but The Pittsburgh steelers got the job. Done
Tyler loop the rookie kicker doesn't knock it, through and
you wonder if he does knock that through whether The
ravens are still playing football a couple of weeks from. Now,

(01:42:18):
now some of the reactions To John harbaugh's departure are pointing, out,
hey the blame should be going, elsewhere, Right this is
a head coach who's proven he can, win who's proven
that his culture is one of. Winning and yet you
also have people pointing to the blown. Leads you think
about games earlier in the season Against, detroit even Against

(01:42:40):
buffalo In week. Two john harball teams have been criticized
for collapsing late in. Games Hardball coach teams have blown
forty six fourth quarter leads since he took over in
two thousand and. Eight that is tied for the second
most in the league during that, span which, says, yay
his team is great at the, lead. Right you have

(01:43:01):
to have a lot of fourth quarter leads to lead
the league in that Stat but it's also been a
common thread during his tenure the inability to close other teams.
Out and So John, harbaugh a big name who is
not done, coaching hits the market and The Baltimore ravens
opening suddenly becomes a very attractive one for the rest

(01:43:23):
of the. League let's wrap up the show in a.
Moment ON am thirteen, hundred The zone

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