July 2, 2025 • 19 mins
Chris Gordy from Sportstalk 790 in Houston joined Cameron Parker on Wednesday to discuss the Manning Passing Academy, why he was impressed with Arch Manning, and his overall thoughts on the upcoming college football season, including a big year for Brian Kelly and LSU. Plus, a look at the SEC Media Days and the Houston Rockets' stellar offseason.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now excited to finally be able to sit down
and talk with Chris Gordy from Sports Talk seven ninety
in Houston. You can hear him on the Lockdown Network
with a Lockdown SEC podcast, and you can hear them
pregame with the Houston Astros. Chris Gordy, I appreciate you
tak us some time. I'm glad we can finally do this.
Oh yeah, I definitely cam.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We're getting that calendars in July now football is getting
that much closer.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Yeah, under sixty days now until kickoff for Texas football.
And you were around QB one for Texas As past
week at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodeau, Louisiana. I
heard it was hot, I heard it was humid. I
heard it was muggy, which just sounds like Louisiana. But
how was the weekend down to the Manning Passing Academy
and get let's get your thoughts on some takeaways being
(00:44):
around some of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, I think this was like my fifth or sixth
trip down there. I just I love getting down there
because it's it's fun to see these quarterbacks and an
element of them having to be the coaches right, Like
it's different, you know, for we see them on college
campus and they're the ones being coached, but this is
an environment where they're thrown into being a leader. And
it was interesting seeing guys over the years like Anthony
(01:08):
Richardson and Drake May and guys like that where they're
you know, huddling in new kids every twenty thirty minutes
and you're having to go, all, right, here's what we're doing.
Guys welcome in all that kind of stuff. So really
cool environment the Mannings have. Obviously they're the first family
of football we call them, you know, the generations from
Archie to Eli and Peyton Cooper are now art So
(01:30):
cool to see all them together. But I just continue
to be wowd cam on how mature arch is.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I mean, obviously they raised him the right way. You know.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
There was a good story in the Athletic Class Week
basically talking about how you know they raised them where
the kids' phones you know, got charged in mom and
dad's room where they didn't have them in their bed overnight,
and you know, just little things like that where you
you we know it all, but it just reaffirms arch
was raised the right way. He's got a great head
on his shoulders. He's mature beyond his years. You know,
(02:00):
interviewed him as a freshman, and you know, just wowed
by him. The freshman don't talk like that typically. He's
just he gets it, is how I describe it. And so, yeah, man,
just a mob scene for him this year. Though I
was able to actually get a few questions into him
last year, this year it was like fifteen media members
deep just trying to get in to get a question
to him. So that just gives you an idea of
(02:21):
the attention he's getting. And now you start to see
all these preseason watch lists and Heisman watch lists and
all this stuff, and you almost have to pump the
brakes if you're a Texas fan and go, whoa, whoa,
let's not put.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
The cart before the horse here.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
He's still got to go play well, he's got to
earn it and all this kind of stuff. But it's
hard not to get excited when you know you have
a manning you know, DNA on your roster and the
high expectations and a program that is coming off of
back to back playoff appearances. Sart's got this the train
on the on the right track, and the hope is
that Arch can take him to the next level. But
it was cool to talk with him and certainly get
(02:55):
to talk to some of the other SEC quarterbacks. I
like John Mattiro a lot in Oklahoma, come from Washington State.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
I think he's going to be really good.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Austin Simmons I was very impressed with He's going to
be the new ole Miss quarterback taking over for Jackson Dart.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
He seems to be very, very mature and ready to
take the reins.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Obviously, Garrett nus Meyer, the loan returning four thousand yard
passer in college football at LSU, expectations race for them.
They're hoping to be a playoff team this year. And
then you know a few other guys that were there.
Taylor Green at Arkansas feel like as the least talked
about quarterback in the SEC, A guy that was very
good last year in the Bobby Patrino offense. If he
can take that next step forward and clean up his
(03:33):
mistake to the turnovers, I think Arkansas can pull off
some upsets and surprise some people. So really cool to
be out there, Really cool to see those guys in
that element and I think, as Peyton said in their
intro pressor last year on opening day of the NFL,
twenty five of the thirty two starting quarterbacks in the
NFL had previously been camp counselors at the Manning Passing Academy.
(03:53):
It just shows there's a little something about the leadership
skills and the qualities it takes to be a camp
counselor out there, as opposed to you know, the guy
a decade ago, Johnny Manziel who slept in and you know,
was late coming to the camp. So just kind of
shows you the category of good, good quarterbacks they have
out there.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Before we talk a little bit more Texas football, you
brought up Garrett Nusmeyer and LSU entering. I think the
fourth year under Brian Kelly. Obviously LSU a fantastic football program,
high expectations in an interesting spot, Gordy, because you know
they have not made the College Football Playoff yet under
Brian Kelly. Of course, they made the SEC champions with
the first year kind of got steamrolled by Georgia in
(04:33):
that title game. Maybe at disappointing your last season, but again,
you know, a young quarterback with nuss Meyer, he returns back.
What is the expectations in Baton Rouge this season for LSU.
Of course the expanded playoff will help that, but what
do you think realistic realistically LSU was looking for this
season and can Neussmeyer end up being a top two,
(04:56):
top three quarterback in the country, not just the conference?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, to me, it's it's the playoff for bost You know,
you look at last year. I was at that game
in Las Vegas Week one against USC. The third court ended.
USC fans were leaving like they were convinced LS Who's
gonna win this game? And yet somehow they let that
game slip away and they started oh to one. And
they've done it three straight years under Brian Kelly. They've
started oh to one to start their season. They opened
(05:21):
at Clemson this year, one of the toughest road environments.
I think Texas and LIGU have two of the toughest
games right out of the gate, Texas at Ohio State
and LSU at Clemson. But to me, I think Texas
can lose at Ohio State and still win the SEC
and still make the playoff. I don't think LSU can
lose to Clemson and still make the playoff because basically,
(05:41):
it only gives you one more loss the rest of
the way. You know, Look, they were up on A
and M, you know, through two and a half three
quarters last year and let that game slip away Alabama
game that got blown out in Florida. They let that
game kind of get away from them in the third quarter.
So I say all that to say they were right there.
I mean they were this close being ten and two
last year and being a playoff team. I think this
(06:03):
year they must make the playoff. If you look at
the last three LSU head coaches by year four, all
three of those guys had either played for or won
a national championship, and that was Nick Saban, Les Miles,
and head oser on Brian Kelly. The pressure is on him.
He said he left Notre Dame to go to LSU
to win a championship. Well, coincidentally, Notre Dame just played
for a championship without him, So Notre Dame seems to
(06:25):
be riding Hidearder Barkers Freeman. Now it's time for LSU
and Brian Kelly to take that next step. And to me,
I think LSU fans are realistic.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
They don't think.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
They're gonna win the championship every year, like Alabama fans do.
They just want to every four to five years be
playing for one and winning a championship. And I think
you know the bill collectors coming for Brian Kelly. You
paid all this money for him. It's time to put
up for shut up. They signed the number one portal
class in the country. He had another top ten recruiting class.
It's time to go win this thing and at least
make the playoff.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
If he does not.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Make the playoff, there's gonna be a lot of people
call for Brian Kelly's heading bat and Merge.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
They may have the toughest schedule in the SEC overall.
Mean you mentioned playing at Clemson week one. You have
Florida week three. Florida team that I think is going
to be really underrated this year with DJ Lagway he
can stay healthy. You're at Ole Miss, you got South
Carolina coming into Baton Rouge. Of course, the games the
A and M have always been produced fireworks. You're at
(07:18):
Alabama this year, then you have Arkansas the next week,
and then you end in Norman and Oklahoma. And remember
what happened last season with Alabama losing to Oklahoma. Not
just losing in Oklahoma getting absolutely boat race. So is
this the toughest schedule you think in the SEC? Or
do you think maybe a program like Texas who has
to play a Wow State week one at Florida at
(07:39):
Georgia may have a little bit more tougher.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Well.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Phil Steel, he put out his rankings. He's got Mississippi
State as the hardest, and it makes sense. I mean,
they're bad and they play a lot of good teams,
including Arizona State in their non conference, who was just
a playoff team. Arkansas, I think is right up there.
They just always get luck of the draw. Just a
tough schedule. He has South Carolina as the third toughest schedule.
Obviously they play Clemson in their non conference, so I
(08:03):
think those three are kind of the toughest. I could
kind of go on the other side for LSU. You
talk about being a tough schedule, I look at it
this way. You get Florida in week three at home.
The hope is you you're playing better than DJ Lagway
is at that point, and if they go on the
road and beat Clemson week one, I think you're gonna
have all the confidence in the world to take out.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Of Florida team.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
In week three, you go too Ole Miss, where you've
lost the last two trips there. But the good news
is Jackson Dart's gone. They're working in the new quarterback
in Austin Simmons. You get South Carolina at home. You
won at South Carolina last year. You get A and
M at home, which Longhorn fans will love to hear this.
They are winless in Death Valley since they have joined
the sec A and M has never beaten LSU in
(08:41):
the Death Valley in Baton Rouge since they joined the conference.
At Bama is almost like you can just go and
pencil the LA in there. I know it's not the
Nick Saban Alabama. It's just tough to win in Tuscalos.
It just is things don't go right there. I think
you hit on it that last game against Oklahoma. I
could see a world where what a fellasue is nine
and two and they have to go win in order
to make the playoff. I mean, you talk about pressure man.
(09:03):
That would be really, really tough for Brian Kelly. Good
news again, they beat Oklahoma this past year at home
in Baton Ruers. But granted this is a new dog
with John Matterira quarterback. But certainly again, like you said,
pressure is on them, but toughest schedule, I would probably
lean more towards in Arkansas. I just think it's a really,
really tough road for a team like that.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Two weeks time, we will be in Atlanta, Georgia together
for the SEC Media Days, and a little sneak PreK
here with you, Gordy. If you're putting together your preseason
poll for the SEC, I'm not going to make you
do all sixteen teams here, but give me your top
your top six if you're ranking them right now preseason,
your top six SEC teams heading into the SEC Media
(09:45):
Days here in a few weeks.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, I think heavy is the crown for Georgia. I
mean I looked at their schedule today. I mean their
non conference as a joke.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I know.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Part of that was they were originally supposed to play Oklahoma,
and then when Oklahoma was coming into the conference, Greg
Sanky said, all right, take them all as your non
conference because they're coming to the conference. So they replaced
it with Marshall. Georgia gets Marshall to open up the season.
Then Austin p like I think Kirby Smart that rosters
loaded once again with five stars up and down the roster.
I think George is the preseason favorite again. I think
(10:16):
Texas is right there. I mean, I hate to go chalk,
but it feels like it feels like most people are
going to say consensus, Georgia and Texas one and two,
and then to me, Alabama and Elo show the two
wild cards, right, like, what do they look like? I
think they should be probably three and four, just based
on expectations, because, like I said, Brian Kelly can't afford
to miss the playoff.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
I think Kaitlin de Boor can't afford to miss the playoff.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
He just went nine and four and lost to Vanderbilt
and Oklahoma in year one. A lot of Banta fans
are going, Okay, look post Saban, we knew it was
going to.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Be a little bit of heartburn.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
But if he goes four losses again in year two, god,
they're gonna be talking buyout money already for Kaitlin to
bor after just two years. So I think the Boor
has pressure. Alabama has to make the playoff this year
as well. Those are kind of the top four I
would say, I've I think South Carolina and Florida are
really good, but to me, it's the schedules are just brutal.
(11:05):
So I just I put them kind of in that
next tier. I think we'll miss their schedules easy. Again,
if Austin Simmons lives up to what he's supposed to be,
it wouldn't it be funny if Lane Tiffin misses the
playoff the two years with Jackson Dark but then the
next year with Austin Simmons makes the playoff at ten
and two. I think that's a possibility. But then you
kind of just have this log jamble, like what is Auburn?
(11:25):
What is Missouri gonna be with bo Perbula coming in?
What's Tennessee with Joey Aguilar? Right, everybody agreed it was
the right move to move off from nicoe Aamalaiava, But
if they lose five six games this year, everybody's gonna
be calling for Hey, Josh Eipel, what the hell.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Were you thinking? You know?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
So I think that one is interesting, but you know,
we'll see you at a and m is. I like
where elcoing them we're heading, you know, mid season last
year leading the SEC and then they fell apart down
the stretch last year. I do think their run attack
is going to be awesome with Levi and Moss back
and Amari Daniels, with Rubinowens back healthy, so a and
I'm probably in that eight to nine.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Win category worry.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
But to me, it's really just that that top four
sector of Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Alabama, and then I
think it's everybody else.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
What are some storylines you're watching for in the SEC
Media days?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah, I mean, obviously we're still as we're recording this,
the SEC is not announced to what players are attending,
so I think that's a big part of it. Texas
brings Arch. I mean, get ready for arch Mania. I
was at media days when Johnny Manzel went, it was
a mad house. I was at media Days when Tim
Tebow was there. It was a mad house.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Like it or not.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
The Manning name just brings h fanboys and fandom, and
you're gonna have a lot of that. And so Sark's
gonna have a he's gonna have to put the wall up,
and hey, it's about the team, it's about the big
picture and all this kind of stuff. But that's what
everybody's gonna want is is talk about Arch arch arch
and that sort of thing. But outside of that, I think,
you know, the big storylines are all going to be there.
A lot of coaches are going to have their thoughts
(12:53):
on the future of a nine game conference schedule, the
future of it expanded playoff, what is nil uh? You
know Red Bieloma was already out there last week in
Illinois talking about Tampa ring. I'm sure we're gonna get
maybe Neli Drinkwitz or somebody like that, you know, voicing
an opinion on Well, we got other coaches reaching out
to our players before they even after the portal. Yeah,
it happens. Welcome to college football in twenty twenty five.
(13:14):
This is where we live. So I think you're gonna
get a lot of those story lines. I mean, put
it this way, Cam, it won't be a boring SEC
media days.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
There's gonna be a ton of stuff going on. I'm
looking forward to it. The colleg Fooball Hall of Fame again.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
We're gonna have coverage right here on thirteen hundred the
Zone all week long July fourteenth through the seventeenth. I'll
be out there with Craig Way and Mike carg and
I know Gordy was out there well, but make sure
you come on the show with us at least one
day throughout the week. Talking with Chris Gordy from Sports
Talk seven ninety in Houston and Lockdown SEC podcast. Okay,
let's pivot to the NBA, where your hometown Houston Rockets
(13:47):
have not missed this entire offseason. I think if you
were grading the Houston Rockets, I think it's an A plus.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Went out and got Kevin.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Durant, traded Jalen Green obviously to the Phoenix Suns, and
then the additional moves bringing in Clint Compella, who probably
could start for ten other teams. Is your third string center?
You extended Steven Adams and then Dory and Vinnie Smith
a will to steal him away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Still trying to figure out what Rob Blink is doing
(14:15):
out there in LA. But overall, at least in from
my point, Gordie, I think the Houston Rockets have had
a perfect offseason and are firmly in that number two
team behind OKC heading into next season.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Yeah, they're absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
I mean, this rebuild has been long, but it's been
a great rebuild, and man, did they luck out and
Kimmy Mayo Doka as a head coach a couple of
years ago. Guys just a winner at Stress's strong, heavy defense.
They became such a good defensive team last year and
some of these young pieces of blossom, and the decision
to move off from Jalen Green after four years, I
think they kind of looked at and said, he became
(14:52):
a very good player, but not an All Star caliber player.
That's where you kind of hope a guy is by
year four. Take Tyrese Halliburton, for example, by year in Indiana,
he was an All Star. So I think they kind
of said, look, we could stick with Jalen and he's
going to be very good, but let's make this move
for Kevin Durant. Obviously, Durant's thirty seven, he's done have
many elite years left in him. But if they can
(15:12):
get one to two elite years still out of him,
that's what they needed they needed to score. I mean
that series that they pushed Golden State to seven games
in they could have closed out with the Kevin Durant,
a guy who could just go get buckets, can go
fill it up, and that's what Durant's gonna be asked
to do for this team, and so I really like
the team that they've assembled here. You mentioned Phinney Smith.
(15:34):
I mean, he's got forty one percent from three last year,
so it's like they filled in all the holes of
what they were missing and if they can still play
that elite defense while guys like I'm and Thompson take
that next step in their career. Alprin Chagoon was just
the first time All Star. He's going to the build
off of that. I just you got to love what
they got around him. And again, they were the two
seeds in the West last year. What's to stop them
(15:54):
from being the two seed again and maybe knocking on
the door of maybe catching up to what Okase is
right now.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
So it's gonna be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Man. I can't wait that KD back in the state
of Texas, and I know a lot of Longhorn fans
are excited to see what he does with the Rockets.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Yeah, and they also able to restructure Fred van Leiet's
contract extended, Jabari Smith and bringing in Finney Smith and
Katie Those are guys with a lot of obviously playoff experience,
but also can provide some sort of mentorship to the
young young guys. I know we don't think of Katie
as being a mentor, but I think Jabari Smith can definitely,
you know, learn a lot from Katie. And I think
(16:29):
guys like a Men Thompson and Tari Easton can learn
from Finny Smith. And there's so much depth. We just saw, okay,
see in Indiana play in the finals. You know, Indiana
nine guys deep. Okay see eight nine guys deep. You know,
we we've really moved away from just having you know,
your big three and then you know, maybe a six
man and that's your playoff roster. Now we're seeing teams
(16:51):
with depth and be able to play guys who are
their eighth or nine men off the bench and they
can play in the NBA finals. So Houston has added depth,
they've added veteran leadership, and they've also kept themselves in
a really good spot cap wise going forward.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yeah, and that's what the Durant thing kind of is.
I think they've talked about announcing a long term agreement
with Durant here soon, but it'll probably be one of
those where it's a two three year deal with a
player opt out. You know, it's kind of like a
one year, you know contract that we can kind of
keep doing one year deal, one year deal type thing.
So yeah, look they're hoping this thing works out. The
(17:28):
reality was, though you're right you talk about depth.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
They couldn't.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Like they had the tenth picking this year's draft. What
were they gonna do with that? That person wasn't even
gonna play. Reed Shepard was a top five pick of
THEIRS last year. He could barely get on the court
this year. So yeah, you're a deep team. You're a
good balance of young developing stars with veteran proven talent.
And again you're gonna have to be careful with the
Katie stuff. I would think probably on back to backs,
(17:52):
he's not going to play the next night. Same thing
with Steven Adams. You just got guys that are kind
of in that range of you really have to put
them in a little bit of bubble wrap to make
sure they're healthy. Because you signed Kevin Durant for the postseason,
you didn't sign him to win a regular season title
or anything like that. So I did even see the
Rockets maybe sacrifice in some of those games where you
know it costs you a top two seed, you end
(18:13):
up being the three of the four, but I would
give that up to be one hundred percent healthy come
playoff time.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
The OKAC if enemy will shit a little tiers seeing
Steven Adams a big key wing and Katie share the
floor once again. Hey, the Western Conference is a lot
like the SEC. You mentioned A and M maybe being
an eight to nine win team, they could be, you know,
a ten win team in any other conference. Western Conference,
you win forty five games. Congrats on the play in
you know, Eastern Conference, a lot different gory. Thanks so
(18:38):
much taking some time to appreciate it, and I look
forward to seeing you the SEC media days come a
few weeks from now.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Yeah, it sounds good.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
If you've never been to the College Football Hall of Fame,
I'll show you where the Vy Trophy case is.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
I've been once, and they used to have the field goal.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Kick exhibit, you know, and I think i'd mean like
a thirty five yard field goal. I was like, man,
am I justin Tucker here? Hopefully it's still up there.
I would love to see if I still got it.
Chris Cordy, appreciate it, man.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Thanks man.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
All right, we'll be back with inconceivable here on this
Wednesday edition The Craig Wave Show
And now excited to finally be able to sit down
and talk with Chris Gordy from Sports Talk seven ninety
in Houston. You can hear him on the Lockdown Network
with a Lockdown SEC podcast, and you can hear them
pregame with the Houston Astros. Chris Gordy, I appreciate you
tak us some time. I'm glad we can finally do this.
Oh yeah, I definitely cam.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We're getting that calendars in July now football is getting
that much closer.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Yeah, under sixty days now until kickoff for Texas football.
And you were around QB one for Texas As past
week at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodeau, Louisiana. I
heard it was hot, I heard it was humid. I
heard it was muggy, which just sounds like Louisiana. But
how was the weekend down to the Manning Passing Academy
and get let's get your thoughts on some takeaways being
(00:44):
around some of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, I think this was like my fifth or sixth
trip down there. I just I love getting down there
because it's it's fun to see these quarterbacks and an
element of them having to be the coaches right, Like
it's different, you know, for we see them on college
campus and they're the ones being coached, but this is
an environment where they're thrown into being a leader. And
it was interesting seeing guys over the years like Anthony
(01:08):
Richardson and Drake May and guys like that where they're
you know, huddling in new kids every twenty thirty minutes
and you're having to go, all, right, here's what we're doing.
Guys welcome in all that kind of stuff. So really
cool environment the Mannings have. Obviously they're the first family
of football we call them, you know, the generations from
Archie to Eli and Peyton Cooper are now art So
(01:30):
cool to see all them together. But I just continue
to be wowd cam on how mature arch is.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I mean, obviously they raised him the right way. You know.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
There was a good story in the Athletic Class Week
basically talking about how you know they raised them where
the kids' phones you know, got charged in mom and
dad's room where they didn't have them in their bed overnight,
and you know, just little things like that where you
you we know it all, but it just reaffirms arch
was raised the right way. He's got a great head
on his shoulders. He's mature beyond his years. You know,
(02:00):
interviewed him as a freshman, and you know, just wowed
by him. The freshman don't talk like that typically. He's
just he gets it, is how I describe it. And so, yeah, man,
just a mob scene for him this year. Though I
was able to actually get a few questions into him
last year, this year it was like fifteen media members
deep just trying to get in to get a question
to him. So that just gives you an idea of
(02:21):
the attention he's getting. And now you start to see
all these preseason watch lists and Heisman watch lists and
all this stuff, and you almost have to pump the
brakes if you're a Texas fan and go, whoa, whoa,
let's not put.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
The cart before the horse here.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
He's still got to go play well, he's got to
earn it and all this kind of stuff. But it's
hard not to get excited when you know you have
a manning you know, DNA on your roster and the
high expectations and a program that is coming off of
back to back playoff appearances. Sart's got this the train
on the on the right track, and the hope is
that Arch can take him to the next level. But
it was cool to talk with him and certainly get
(02:55):
to talk to some of the other SEC quarterbacks. I
like John Mattiro a lot in Oklahoma, come from Washington State.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
I think he's going to be really good.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Austin Simmons I was very impressed with He's going to
be the new ole Miss quarterback taking over for Jackson Dart.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
He seems to be very, very mature and ready to
take the reins.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Obviously, Garrett nus Meyer, the loan returning four thousand yard
passer in college football at LSU, expectations race for them.
They're hoping to be a playoff team this year. And
then you know a few other guys that were there.
Taylor Green at Arkansas feel like as the least talked
about quarterback in the SEC, A guy that was very
good last year in the Bobby Patrino offense. If he
can take that next step forward and clean up his
(03:33):
mistake to the turnovers, I think Arkansas can pull off
some upsets and surprise some people. So really cool to
be out there, Really cool to see those guys in
that element and I think, as Peyton said in their
intro pressor last year on opening day of the NFL,
twenty five of the thirty two starting quarterbacks in the
NFL had previously been camp counselors at the Manning Passing Academy.
(03:53):
It just shows there's a little something about the leadership
skills and the qualities it takes to be a camp
counselor out there, as opposed to you know, the guy
a decade ago, Johnny Manziel who slept in and you know,
was late coming to the camp. So just kind of
shows you the category of good, good quarterbacks they have
out there.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Before we talk a little bit more Texas football, you
brought up Garrett Nusmeyer and LSU entering. I think the
fourth year under Brian Kelly. Obviously LSU a fantastic football program,
high expectations in an interesting spot, Gordy, because you know
they have not made the College Football Playoff yet under
Brian Kelly. Of course, they made the SEC champions with
the first year kind of got steamrolled by Georgia in
(04:33):
that title game. Maybe at disappointing your last season, but again,
you know, a young quarterback with nuss Meyer, he returns back.
What is the expectations in Baton Rouge this season for LSU.
Of course the expanded playoff will help that, but what
do you think realistic realistically LSU was looking for this
season and can Neussmeyer end up being a top two,
(04:56):
top three quarterback in the country, not just the conference?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, to me, it's it's the playoff for bost You know,
you look at last year. I was at that game
in Las Vegas Week one against USC. The third court ended.
USC fans were leaving like they were convinced LS Who's
gonna win this game? And yet somehow they let that
game slip away and they started oh to one. And
they've done it three straight years under Brian Kelly. They've
started oh to one to start their season. They opened
(05:21):
at Clemson this year, one of the toughest road environments.
I think Texas and LIGU have two of the toughest
games right out of the gate, Texas at Ohio State
and LSU at Clemson. But to me, I think Texas
can lose at Ohio State and still win the SEC
and still make the playoff. I don't think LSU can
lose to Clemson and still make the playoff because basically,
(05:41):
it only gives you one more loss the rest of
the way. You know, Look, they were up on A
and M, you know, through two and a half three
quarters last year and let that game slip away Alabama
game that got blown out in Florida. They let that
game kind of get away from them in the third quarter.
So I say all that to say they were right there.
I mean they were this close being ten and two
last year and being a playoff team. I think this
(06:03):
year they must make the playoff. If you look at
the last three LSU head coaches by year four, all
three of those guys had either played for or won
a national championship, and that was Nick Saban, Les Miles,
and head oser on Brian Kelly. The pressure is on him.
He said he left Notre Dame to go to LSU
to win a championship. Well, coincidentally, Notre Dame just played
for a championship without him, So Notre Dame seems to
(06:25):
be riding Hidearder Barkers Freeman. Now it's time for LSU
and Brian Kelly to take that next step. And to me,
I think LSU fans are realistic.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
They don't think.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
They're gonna win the championship every year, like Alabama fans do.
They just want to every four to five years be
playing for one and winning a championship. And I think
you know the bill collectors coming for Brian Kelly. You
paid all this money for him. It's time to put
up for shut up. They signed the number one portal
class in the country. He had another top ten recruiting class.
It's time to go win this thing and at least
make the playoff.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
If he does not.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Make the playoff, there's gonna be a lot of people
call for Brian Kelly's heading bat and Merge.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
They may have the toughest schedule in the SEC overall.
Mean you mentioned playing at Clemson week one. You have
Florida week three. Florida team that I think is going
to be really underrated this year with DJ Lagway he
can stay healthy. You're at Ole Miss, you got South
Carolina coming into Baton Rouge. Of course, the games the
A and M have always been produced fireworks. You're at
(07:18):
Alabama this year, then you have Arkansas the next week,
and then you end in Norman and Oklahoma. And remember
what happened last season with Alabama losing to Oklahoma. Not
just losing in Oklahoma getting absolutely boat race. So is
this the toughest schedule you think in the SEC? Or
do you think maybe a program like Texas who has
to play a Wow State week one at Florida at
(07:39):
Georgia may have a little bit more tougher.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Well.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Phil Steel, he put out his rankings. He's got Mississippi
State as the hardest, and it makes sense. I mean,
they're bad and they play a lot of good teams,
including Arizona State in their non conference, who was just
a playoff team. Arkansas, I think is right up there.
They just always get luck of the draw. Just a
tough schedule. He has South Carolina as the third toughest schedule.
Obviously they play Clemson in their non conference, so I
(08:03):
think those three are kind of the toughest. I could
kind of go on the other side for LSU. You
talk about being a tough schedule, I look at it
this way. You get Florida in week three at home.
The hope is you you're playing better than DJ Lagway
is at that point, and if they go on the
road and beat Clemson week one, I think you're gonna
have all the confidence in the world to take out.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Of Florida team.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
In week three, you go too Ole Miss, where you've
lost the last two trips there. But the good news
is Jackson Dart's gone. They're working in the new quarterback
in Austin Simmons. You get South Carolina at home. You
won at South Carolina last year. You get A and
M at home, which Longhorn fans will love to hear this.
They are winless in Death Valley since they have joined
the sec A and M has never beaten LSU in
(08:41):
the Death Valley in Baton Rouge since they joined the conference.
At Bama is almost like you can just go and
pencil the LA in there. I know it's not the
Nick Saban Alabama. It's just tough to win in Tuscalos.
It just is things don't go right there. I think
you hit on it that last game against Oklahoma. I
could see a world where what a fellasue is nine
and two and they have to go win in order
to make the playoff. I mean, you talk about pressure man.
(09:03):
That would be really, really tough for Brian Kelly. Good
news again, they beat Oklahoma this past year at home
in Baton Ruers. But granted this is a new dog
with John Matterira quarterback. But certainly again, like you said,
pressure is on them, but toughest schedule, I would probably
lean more towards in Arkansas. I just think it's a really,
really tough road for a team like that.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Two weeks time, we will be in Atlanta, Georgia together
for the SEC Media Days, and a little sneak PreK
here with you, Gordy. If you're putting together your preseason
poll for the SEC, I'm not going to make you
do all sixteen teams here, but give me your top
your top six if you're ranking them right now preseason,
your top six SEC teams heading into the SEC Media
(09:45):
Days here in a few weeks.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, I think heavy is the crown for Georgia. I
mean I looked at their schedule today. I mean their
non conference as a joke.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I know.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Part of that was they were originally supposed to play Oklahoma,
and then when Oklahoma was coming into the conference, Greg
Sanky said, all right, take them all as your non
conference because they're coming to the conference. So they replaced
it with Marshall. Georgia gets Marshall to open up the season.
Then Austin p like I think Kirby Smart that rosters
loaded once again with five stars up and down the roster.
I think George is the preseason favorite again. I think
(10:16):
Texas is right there. I mean, I hate to go chalk,
but it feels like it feels like most people are
going to say consensus, Georgia and Texas one and two,
and then to me, Alabama and Elo show the two
wild cards, right, like, what do they look like? I
think they should be probably three and four, just based
on expectations, because, like I said, Brian Kelly can't afford
to miss the playoff.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
I think Kaitlin de Boor can't afford to miss the playoff.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
He just went nine and four and lost to Vanderbilt
and Oklahoma in year one. A lot of Banta fans
are going, Okay, look post Saban, we knew it was
going to.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Be a little bit of heartburn.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
But if he goes four losses again in year two, god,
they're gonna be talking buyout money already for Kaitlin to
bor after just two years. So I think the Boor
has pressure. Alabama has to make the playoff this year
as well. Those are kind of the top four I
would say, I've I think South Carolina and Florida are
really good, but to me, it's the schedules are just brutal.
(11:05):
So I just I put them kind of in that
next tier. I think we'll miss their schedules easy. Again,
if Austin Simmons lives up to what he's supposed to be,
it wouldn't it be funny if Lane Tiffin misses the
playoff the two years with Jackson Dark but then the
next year with Austin Simmons makes the playoff at ten
and two. I think that's a possibility. But then you
kind of just have this log jamble, like what is Auburn?
(11:25):
What is Missouri gonna be with bo Perbula coming in?
What's Tennessee with Joey Aguilar? Right, everybody agreed it was
the right move to move off from nicoe Aamalaiava, But
if they lose five six games this year, everybody's gonna
be calling for Hey, Josh Eipel, what the hell.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Were you thinking? You know?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
So I think that one is interesting, but you know,
we'll see you at a and m is. I like
where elcoing them we're heading, you know, mid season last
year leading the SEC and then they fell apart down
the stretch last year. I do think their run attack
is going to be awesome with Levi and Moss back
and Amari Daniels, with Rubinowens back healthy, so a and
I'm probably in that eight to nine.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Win category worry.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
But to me, it's really just that that top four
sector of Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Alabama, and then I
think it's everybody else.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
What are some storylines you're watching for in the SEC
Media days?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah, I mean, obviously we're still as we're recording this,
the SEC is not announced to what players are attending,
so I think that's a big part of it. Texas
brings Arch. I mean, get ready for arch Mania. I
was at media days when Johnny Manzel went, it was
a mad house. I was at media Days when Tim
Tebow was there. It was a mad house.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Like it or not.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
The Manning name just brings h fanboys and fandom, and
you're gonna have a lot of that. And so Sark's
gonna have a he's gonna have to put the wall up,
and hey, it's about the team, it's about the big
picture and all this kind of stuff. But that's what
everybody's gonna want is is talk about Arch arch arch
and that sort of thing. But outside of that, I think,
you know, the big storylines are all going to be there.
A lot of coaches are going to have their thoughts
(12:53):
on the future of a nine game conference schedule, the
future of it expanded playoff, what is nil uh? You
know Red Bieloma was already out there last week in
Illinois talking about Tampa ring. I'm sure we're gonna get
maybe Neli Drinkwitz or somebody like that, you know, voicing
an opinion on Well, we got other coaches reaching out
to our players before they even after the portal. Yeah,
it happens. Welcome to college football in twenty twenty five.
(13:14):
This is where we live. So I think you're gonna
get a lot of those story lines. I mean, put
it this way, Cam, it won't be a boring SEC
media days.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
There's gonna be a ton of stuff going on. I'm
looking forward to it. The colleg Fooball Hall of Fame again.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
We're gonna have coverage right here on thirteen hundred the
Zone all week long July fourteenth through the seventeenth. I'll
be out there with Craig Way and Mike carg and
I know Gordy was out there well, but make sure
you come on the show with us at least one
day throughout the week. Talking with Chris Gordy from Sports
Talk seven ninety in Houston and Lockdown SEC podcast. Okay,
let's pivot to the NBA, where your hometown Houston Rockets
(13:47):
have not missed this entire offseason. I think if you
were grading the Houston Rockets, I think it's an A plus.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Went out and got Kevin.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Durant, traded Jalen Green obviously to the Phoenix Suns, and
then the additional moves bringing in Clint Compella, who probably
could start for ten other teams. Is your third string center?
You extended Steven Adams and then Dory and Vinnie Smith
a will to steal him away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Still trying to figure out what Rob Blink is doing
(14:15):
out there in LA. But overall, at least in from
my point, Gordie, I think the Houston Rockets have had
a perfect offseason and are firmly in that number two
team behind OKC heading into next season.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Yeah, they're absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
I mean, this rebuild has been long, but it's been
a great rebuild, and man, did they luck out and
Kimmy Mayo Doka as a head coach a couple of
years ago. Guys just a winner at Stress's strong, heavy defense.
They became such a good defensive team last year and
some of these young pieces of blossom, and the decision
to move off from Jalen Green after four years, I
think they kind of looked at and said, he became
(14:52):
a very good player, but not an All Star caliber player.
That's where you kind of hope a guy is by
year four. Take Tyrese Halliburton, for example, by year in Indiana,
he was an All Star. So I think they kind
of said, look, we could stick with Jalen and he's
going to be very good, but let's make this move
for Kevin Durant. Obviously, Durant's thirty seven, he's done have
many elite years left in him. But if they can
(15:12):
get one to two elite years still out of him,
that's what they needed they needed to score. I mean
that series that they pushed Golden State to seven games
in they could have closed out with the Kevin Durant,
a guy who could just go get buckets, can go
fill it up, and that's what Durant's gonna be asked
to do for this team, and so I really like
the team that they've assembled here. You mentioned Phinney Smith.
(15:34):
I mean, he's got forty one percent from three last year,
so it's like they filled in all the holes of
what they were missing and if they can still play
that elite defense while guys like I'm and Thompson take
that next step in their career. Alprin Chagoon was just
the first time All Star. He's going to the build
off of that. I just you got to love what
they got around him. And again, they were the two
seeds in the West last year. What's to stop them
(15:54):
from being the two seed again and maybe knocking on
the door of maybe catching up to what Okase is
right now.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
So it's gonna be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Man. I can't wait that KD back in the state
of Texas, and I know a lot of Longhorn fans
are excited to see what he does with the Rockets.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Yeah, and they also able to restructure Fred van Leiet's
contract extended, Jabari Smith and bringing in Finney Smith and
Katie Those are guys with a lot of obviously playoff experience,
but also can provide some sort of mentorship to the
young young guys. I know we don't think of Katie
as being a mentor, but I think Jabari Smith can definitely,
you know, learn a lot from Katie. And I think
(16:29):
guys like a Men Thompson and Tari Easton can learn
from Finny Smith. And there's so much depth. We just saw, okay,
see in Indiana play in the finals. You know, Indiana
nine guys deep. Okay see eight nine guys deep. You know,
we we've really moved away from just having you know,
your big three and then you know, maybe a six
man and that's your playoff roster. Now we're seeing teams
(16:51):
with depth and be able to play guys who are
their eighth or nine men off the bench and they
can play in the NBA finals. So Houston has added depth,
they've added veteran leadership, and they've also kept themselves in
a really good spot cap wise going forward.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yeah, and that's what the Durant thing kind of is.
I think they've talked about announcing a long term agreement
with Durant here soon, but it'll probably be one of
those where it's a two three year deal with a
player opt out. You know, it's kind of like a
one year, you know contract that we can kind of
keep doing one year deal, one year deal type thing.
So yeah, look they're hoping this thing works out. The
(17:28):
reality was, though you're right you talk about depth.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
They couldn't.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Like they had the tenth picking this year's draft. What
were they gonna do with that? That person wasn't even
gonna play. Reed Shepard was a top five pick of
THEIRS last year. He could barely get on the court
this year. So yeah, you're a deep team. You're a
good balance of young developing stars with veteran proven talent.
And again you're gonna have to be careful with the
Katie stuff. I would think probably on back to backs,
(17:52):
he's not going to play the next night. Same thing
with Steven Adams. You just got guys that are kind
of in that range of you really have to put
them in a little bit of bubble wrap to make
sure they're healthy. Because you signed Kevin Durant for the postseason,
you didn't sign him to win a regular season title
or anything like that. So I did even see the
Rockets maybe sacrifice in some of those games where you
know it costs you a top two seed, you end
(18:13):
up being the three of the four, but I would
give that up to be one hundred percent healthy come
playoff time.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
The OKAC if enemy will shit a little tiers seeing
Steven Adams a big key wing and Katie share the
floor once again. Hey, the Western Conference is a lot
like the SEC. You mentioned A and M maybe being
an eight to nine win team, they could be, you know,
a ten win team in any other conference. Western Conference,
you win forty five games. Congrats on the play in
you know, Eastern Conference, a lot different gory. Thanks so
(18:38):
much taking some time to appreciate it, and I look
forward to seeing you the SEC media days come a
few weeks from now.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Yeah, it sounds good.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
If you've never been to the College Football Hall of Fame,
I'll show you where the Vy Trophy case is.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
I've been once, and they used to have the field goal.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Kick exhibit, you know, and I think i'd mean like
a thirty five yard field goal. I was like, man,
am I justin Tucker here? Hopefully it's still up there.
I would love to see if I still got it.
Chris Cordy, appreciate it, man.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Thanks man.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
All right, we'll be back with inconceivable here on this
Wednesday edition The Craig Wave Show
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.