10 Days to Texas vs Ohio State: Arch Manning Updates, Sarkisian Talks Tackling, OU Season Outlook & MLB Realignment

Today, we are 10 days away from the Texas Longhorns traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to play against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The players met with he media yesterday. Arch Manning spoke about what he and the team improved on throughout camp. How playing an elite Texas defense is preparing him for the season. The team mentality has been and continues to be for challenging road games. Coach Steve Sarkisian talked about the importance of consistent tackling early on in the season. The Texas State Bobcats get ready for their last season in the Sun Belt Conference. What are their expectations? The Oklahoma Sooners have a critical season for their football team. Major League Baseball has some unique ideas up for realignment. Plus, conversations with Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman, Keff Chardello of “Win Now or Get Bent” podcast, and Cale Gundy of “The Middle of the Day Show” in Oklahoma City. You can hear it all here on “The Morning Kickoff Show!”

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thank you for tuning in to the podcast of The
Morning Kickoff with myself, Mike Carbo Hartz and the world's
Strongest man in WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Guys,
we really would like it if you would advertise with us,
because we only go as far as you let us.
That's right, Folks, tune in and make sure you tell
five friends to tell five friends. The Morning Kickoff seven

(00:22):
to nine am Monday through Friday, right here on Sports
Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone. Good morning, Austin, Ktown, Flugerville, Htown, Pairland,
l Paso, San Antonio and Seals Be Texas or wherever
you may be listening. This is a way back Wednesday
edition of The Morning Kickoff right here on Sports Radio

(00:45):
AM thirteen hundred The Zone. We are fifteen days away
from Cowboys and Egos, but we are ten days away
bench Young Peter gard Deer, days away from Texas versus
Ohio State, Arch and Hell and Michael taff.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Meant with the media.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
We have Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesman joining
us at seven point thirty four. We have keV Tardello
joining us to talk Texas State at eight a m
and we have a sooner. Cale Gundhy of the Sports
Animal in Oklahoma joining us to talk about the Sooners
at eight seventeen. I am your host, Mike Harbahart my

(01:28):
coast is a WWE Hall of Famer and recognized as
the world's strongest man. He is d Mark Henry, but
he is across the pond today. He will be joining
us back tomorrow on the show. And our guy Marcus
is behind the boards. And if you want to be
a part of the show, all you got to do
is text the word Texas followed by your message to
eight one five three zero standard data. M message rates

(01:52):
may apply. That's the word Texas followed by your message
to eight one five three zero standard data and message
rate may apply. Also, if you want to leave us
a message or get a chance to win a pair
of tickets to go see Pantera, all you got to
do is use that talkback feature on the new and
improved iHeartRadio app. The talkback feature is that little red

(02:14):
microphone right there on AM thirteen hundred to zum. You
can leave your message. If it's good enough, you might
even hear it on air.

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Well.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
I want to get into this conversation because it is
taking the nation by storm, and that is arch Mania,
Arch Manning, Michael Taff, and Anthony Hill, guys that have
been recognized as preseason All Americans except for Arch Preseason
All Americans, Colin Simmons Preseason All American, Michael Taff, Preseason

(02:44):
All American, Anthony Hill Junior. Those are the guys that
were meeting with the media yesterday.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
And let me just tell you this.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
As each of these guys go through I guess I
would call it media training, it impresses me every single
time because you got a couple things that are happening
throughout these moments. One of those things is you get
a chance to have conversations and you get to understand

(03:15):
their personalities. You get to see who they are as individuals,
but you also see them when they're around each other
as peers. And to me, it's always been impressive when
you can tell the camaraderie that people have. If you've
ever been in a locker room, or if you've ever
been in a place where you guys are grinding every

(03:38):
single day and you're putting in the work and you're
doing everything you possibly can to make each other better
and enhance what is happening, especially in a sport where
the ultimate goal is to do everything you can to
have a championship. We'll hear from Michael Taffle a little

(04:00):
bit tomorrow. But remember after that game against Ohio State,
Michael taff was seen on a knee basically crying and
feeling emotional because he thought that was going to be
his last game. After some time, he decided he was
coming back.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
He said.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
You know, he was asked about why he cried during
that time, and he was like, because I wanted it
so bad for this group of players. And I get it.
I mean I've lost in some championship game. I was
the reason why we lost in a championship series. And
the emotion can get the best of you. But the

(04:41):
other part of it is you get another opportunity to
come back. You get a chance to regroup, and now
you are the elder statement in that locker room. But
for me, right now, the man, the myth, the legend,
the story of the season right now is one arch Manning,

(05:02):
and arch Manning great personality. I got a chance to
interview him earlier in the on media Days, Great young Man,
fun young man, got a personality likes to have a
good time. But the question was asked of him yesterday
is hey, Arch, now you're the starter.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
What has that like? How what has that been like
for you?

Speaker 3 (05:27):
Yeah? I try to make it not I guess in
the years past. I try to prepare like I was
a starter. Obviously it's different when you're getting the one
reps during practice, but just taking a day by day,
trying to get a feel from my routine this week
and then and go on next week and the week's four.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
And then you also have to think about, Okay, I'm
a new quarterback, I got a new cadence. I'm running
the team a little bit different than what Quinn is.
My energy is a lot different than Quinn. We all
are trying to get better and there's gonna be some
struggle was early in camp, and that's whether it's the
offensive line, whether it's the route running, the timing with

(06:07):
the wide receivers. But he was asked about the early
camp struggles.

Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, I think the defense is always pretty good at
the beginning camp, but you know, I think we've we've
kind of caught a stride on offense. So it's been
it's been fun.

Speaker 2 (06:23):
And for me catching astride. It can go so many
different ways.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
The struggle was they're going up against that vaunted Texas defense,
and we're calling it vaunted because on paper and the
names that are there, they make you understand what it
looks like. I was at the University of Texas yesterday
and we did a little photo shoot for the station
and Cole Brevard was walking down the middle of the

(06:49):
field and we walked past them and I looked at
Camp Parker.

Speaker 2 (06:53):
And I was like, that dude is massive.

Speaker 1 (06:59):
And I don't know if you guys have been able
to I know what it looks like on TV. I
know what it looks like when you look at the
weight on the description of the player, but until you
see that those young men in person, it changes your
mind and you understand why some of these guys are

(07:20):
having some struggles or why is Camp going a certain
way because of the defense.

Speaker 2 (07:25):
But he was also asked about how is.

Speaker 1 (07:26):
The old line doing in camp because there's so many
different starters that have been brought into the game, I
mean brought in this year because of what the mass
exodus to the NFL was last year, run out of eligibility,
so there's always going to be some struggles with the
old lines, especially in the beginning.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, we got a good group, and we got guys
that can play a lot of different positions and move
the guys around. We've been rotating some guys, so it's
been fun. It's a good group. They're tough and we're
going to compete every week.

Speaker 1 (07:57):
And DJ Campbell said, we're nasty. Now they're trying to
get work through an injury with Trevor Gooseby, but Coach
Sark said the other day that he should be fine.
There's not going to be a problem with that. Things
are going to change once that starts to happen. But
going on the road, being in a hostile environment, a
lot of times these kids are learning, and Coach Sark

(08:20):
talked about it too. He said, I'm trying to we're
trying to simulate.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
Crowd noise, but it's not the same.

Speaker 1 (08:29):
You can pump in noise, you can do all the
things you want during that time, but until you're in
the fire, you don't definitely know how hot it can be.
And now you're starting to understand. Now we're trying to
hit their stride. They've got their timing, they're understanding cadence
they're trying to make sure things are right as they

(08:49):
head into game week.

Speaker 2 (08:51):
This is a mock game week.

Speaker 1 (08:52):
We do have college football this weekend, so some teams
are actually in game week mode, but Texas is mocking it.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
They're getting themselves ready.

Speaker 1 (09:02):
But Arch was asked too, you know now that football
is here, because at SEC Media Days, he was at
every media availability, people were stopping him taking pictures.

Speaker 2 (09:16):
He was.

Speaker 1 (09:17):
He handled it well, including us being annoying trying to
get that interview. But hey, being away from the media
and just focusing on practices all that he cares about
right now.

Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, yeah, it's been great. Been away from y'all. It's
been good. It's been kind of clearing my head. But
you know, I don't look at any of that stuff.
I just play my game, have fun with the guys,
and enjoy life.

Speaker 1 (09:42):
And again he has he has the right mindset. I'm
not trying to overhype this situation. I'm not trying to
build this thing up to more than what it is.
He's still got to go out there and play football.
The team still got to go out there in mexecon
and you have to play at a high level because

(10:03):
that is the expectation here at the University of Texas.
He is the most anticipated quarterback to be on the
forty Acres since Vy And that's saying the line that's
twenty years ago. And how ironic is it that today

(10:26):
is ten days away from the season Invention Young considered
by many to be the greatest quarterback to play at
the University of Texas and we're ten days away from that.
But the question of the off season is Arch going
to the NFL after this season? Grandpa says no, but

(10:50):
Arch is like, huh interesting.

Speaker 3 (10:52):
Yeah, I don't know where he got that from. He
texted me and apologize about that, but I'm really just
taking a day by day right now.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
Yeah, So does that change your thought betting fans out there,
doesn't change mine.

Speaker 2 (11:05):
I believe he's still going to be.

Speaker 1 (11:07):
The starting quarterback at the University of Texas for the
twenty twenty six season. But all we care about right
now is the twenty twenty five season, and the expectations
for the Texas Longhorns are through the roof. We are
just getting started on a way back Wednesday edition of
the Morning Kickoff on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.

(11:29):
When we come back. We'll hear more from Arch. We'll
hear more from Anthony Hill, Danny Davis up to Austin
American Statesman at seven thirty four.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
At eight o'clock, keV Chardello.

Speaker 1 (11:41):
Will be joining us to talk Texas State. Eight fifth,
eight seventeen, Cal Gundy will talk oh you and oh Yeah.
Did y'all get a chance to watch any of.

Speaker 2 (11:52):
The Gambler an America's Team. I did.

Speaker 1 (11:55):
We'll talk about it right here on the morning kickoff
on sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone. Make sure
you get over to our social media page at AM
thirteen hundred The Zone on Twitter, X and whatever else
social media you're looking for. Also, I want you to
get over there because there's a poll that is out

(12:16):
there right now, and we'll get into the.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
Entire poll a little bit later.

Speaker 1 (12:22):
But the question was about the documentary of the Dallas Cowboys,
The Dallas Cowboys documentary The Gambler and America's Team, and
it talks about all the things that Jerry Jones went
through did to purchase the team. He even was going
to take out a loan from Jimmy Hoffa. He wanted

(12:46):
to be an NFL owner so bad he was going
to take a loan from Jimmy. It dives deep into it.
But the question of it all is do you or
have you watched it?

Speaker 2 (13:01):
Number one? And what were your thoughts of it?

Speaker 1 (13:04):
Thoughts on the Netflix documentary on the Dallas Cowboys love
it so far. It's just a cold reminder, haven't seen
it yet and don't care. All you got to do
is get over to AM thirteen hundred the Zone on
Twitter X and cash your vote. I'm gonna be honest
with you, folks. I understand why I was going crazy

(13:26):
as a Dallas Cowboy fan. I understand it. And last
night I told you before my kids, my daughter she
rides with us, she's good. My son own nine, don't care.
He has his teams. He rose with them. But last
night he actually sat down and watched the documentary. We

(13:49):
were three or four episodes in and he was like, wow,
he got to see exactly what made us fall in
love with the Cowboys. So get over there and cast
your vote and we'll continue the conversation a little bit
later because I've got some more about that documentary. But

(14:10):
right now, I wanted to talk a little bit more
about arch Manning. Arch Manning met with the media yesterday.
He Michael taff and Anthony Hill Junior. Two of those
guys obviously preseason all Americans, one of them first year starter.
In is excited for his time to be the starter

(14:31):
at the University of Texas. I think America is excited
because during the offseason, the whole conversation was about Arch
Manning and the expectations and what all is he going
to do? And he was in Vegas having odds that
he was going to be the number one overall draft pick.
They also put him there as the Heisman Trophy winner.

(14:53):
There was just so much hype around Arch, but Arch
kepitin stride, kept it cool, kept collective, and he understood
the assignment. But he was asked yesterday about what about
year three? What has year three taught you as opposed
to year one when you first got on the forty acres.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (15:14):
I think continue to make practice like a game and
play the situations and get as many game reps in
practice possible, whether it's not taking a sack or throwing
the ball away, stuff like that that I got to
continue to do.

Speaker 1 (15:27):
And the one thing about that is you're gonna continue
to try to grind it out because you're going up
against what many have considered coming into the preseason the
top defense in the country. And we always been talking
about iron sharpening iron, and you're gonna get some days
where it's gonna be the defense is going to dominate.

(15:48):
You're gonna get some days where you, as he said earlier,
catch you your stride as an offense. But truth be told,
going up against a defense like Texas's and Texas defense,
going up against an offense where we all believe that
they have the chance to be one of the more
explosive offenses in the country just because of the ability

(16:11):
to throw the d ball, it has got to be
tough going up against that defense every single day.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
Yeah, I think our defense is really good. Some days
it's not so fun, but they're a really good, good group,
and it's it's definitely good for me going against those
guys every day.

Speaker 1 (16:28):
And the one thing that I always try to equate
it to is when you are going up against whatever
it may be, you're playing quarterback, you're playing wide receiver,
you're playing offensive line, you're playing point guard, and you're
going up against one of the top defensive players on

(16:50):
your team every single day. You either sink or you swim.
You're either gonna show up or you're gonna get kicked out.
And the truth be when you get to this level.
And we've talked about the depth that Texas has created
through recruiting, the messages that has been relayed is it's

(17:12):
five star versus five star, four star versus four star.
We heard coach Sark talk about when he was at
Alabama and what the bench players, the scout team players
were Trayvon Diggs who's now in the NFL, one of
the top corners in.

Speaker 2 (17:30):
The game, and Quinn Williams.

Speaker 1 (17:33):
We're all on the scout team going up against that
Alabama offensive and defensive I mean offensive side of the ball,
and you realize that, hey, now Texas has those types
of things. So the mentality is, let's be aggressive with
each other and teach each other and get each other better.
But now he's the starting quarterback, it's that first time

(17:56):
on the road and he needs to understand. What we
need to understand is what is his mentality like in
this particular moment.

Speaker 3 (18:07):
Yeah, I think for me, I feel like I'm playing
best when I'm having fun.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
So just remind myself to have fun.

Speaker 3 (18:12):
We do all the preparation throughout the week and throughout
this summer, so once you get out there, just cut it,
lose and some fun.

Speaker 1 (18:19):
And that is what everybody's expecting. Everybody's expecting him to
do that dance, hit you with that dance, and have
a lot of fun going up against that defense. And listen,
we're we're gonna get into game week next week and
it is going to be all what to look for

(18:39):
on Ohio State. The numbers, We're gonna break that all down.
But right now, I just want everybody to be ready
for the football season and for arch Manning. And I've
said it before and I'm gonna say it again. Sometimes
you gotta slow down your expectations in the beginning the

(19:00):
games go on. Then you can hype it up. Because
he's third year in the system, we already know what
type of play caller Sark is. We know about the
energy that Sark is going to bring every single day.
There's no more looking back at that five and eight,
no more forget that. The expectation is playoff national championship

(19:25):
because it's been achieved two years in a row, and
I don't see any other reason for Texas not to
be in the playoffs again. I don't see that happening.
I don't see the season in that type of capsule.
But Anthony Hill in that defense is going to be
the calling card early. So Anthony Hill was asked about

(19:47):
Arch manning and saying, how has Arch been in practice
and what has he done to make you guys better.

Speaker 2 (19:55):
He's been doing a good job. I mean he stays
focused every day.

Speaker 4 (19:57):
I mean he's the last one first went in here,
last one out, so he's doing a good job of
hearing and getting ready for the for the big games.

Speaker 2 (20:03):
And getting ready for the big games.

Speaker 1 (20:07):
Don't get no bigger, don't get any bigger than the
one that you're about to start the season with. We're
number one and number two versus number one versus number three.
I mean, it is all about that action boss. In
the very beginning of the season. I know that Arch
is the main story and everybody's gonna be there looking

(20:30):
for him. I'm looking at FanDuel odds. He's still number
one on FanDuel as the the top person in the
in the polls for Heisman Trophy. But man, let's let
my man get on the field and handle his business first.
The weapons are around him. The running game is going

(20:50):
to be even stronger than what he had last year.
Christian Clark back, You see what CJ. Baxter back. We
already know what Trey Wisner is about. So you got
your running backs. Now, you got wide receivers who have
stepped up, and we'll hear about them a little bit later.

(21:12):
But you have guys that are there that are making
you believe in this football team. One of my closest friends.
I talked to him yesterday. He believes that Texas has
a chance to run the table if everything runs right.

Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's a tall task, but I'm not.

Speaker 1 (21:33):
Gonna doubt it. We got to see it to believe it.

Speaker 2 (21:36):
Though.

Speaker 1 (21:36):
After game one then we'll start changing our expectations and
seeing what this team is all about. But I know
one thing, defense travels, and I know that Texas's defense
is gonna put Arch and the offense in some really
good situations. Speaking of a good situation, coming up next
is our guy Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesments.

(21:58):
He's been at all these press I want to get
his pulse on what he sees thus far. Right here
on the way Back Wednesday edition of the Morning Kickoff
on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The ZIGN Welcome back
to the Morning Kickoff, Way back Wednesday edition of the
Morning Kickoff, and when it's Wednesday can.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
Only mean one thing.

Speaker 1 (22:19):
Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesman joins us, and Danny,
let's get right into it, because we are ten days
away from Texas and Ohio State. What's your favorite Bench
Young moment besides four and five. I mean, I know
that you wasn't here during that time, I understand, but

(22:41):
you did get to see a lot of Bench Young.

Speaker 5 (22:45):
I mean I wouldn't release this may be sacrilegious in
this and to say around here, but I mean Bench
wasn't really my guy. I mean, I went to school
at the University of Montana, so I'm the West Coast.
I grew up rooting for Pack Pack ten schools. Then
I was rooting for US see back in that Rose Bowl.
So I mean, obviously I got to see, uh, you know,
Ben's break Everyone's hard. I remember sitting in my living

(23:08):
room by myself watching that game and obviously being you know,
in awe of everything he accomplished. But I can't say
that I was necessarily heartbroken by you know, Vince not
went int the Heisman that year. I you know, once
again was a packed pack ten guys. I thought Red
you should have wanted. But obviously, you know, being down here,
being down here in Texas, you you know, you you

(23:32):
get to kind of realize just kind of how spectacular
that season was, and you know, you get to see
all the old highlights and kind of see what he
did and also in two thousand and four and you
realize what a special quarterback he was. And obviously the
goat the goat around here. But my wife, who was
at Texas at the time, is obviously a bigger Vince
Young fan than I am.

Speaker 2 (23:51):
I like that. I like that.

Speaker 1 (23:52):
I like that description though, because true, you did not
grow up around here, so you didn't really dive into
the Texas lore until you had to come here and
learn about all the Texas lore, and then you get
a chance to see it all. Speaking of lore, yesterday,
Arch Manning less of a circus. Less of a circus
because it was just local media that was there, and

(24:16):
it was an entertaining interview because Arch's personality is a
lot different than what we've seen here in the past. Obviously,
Quinn was not as outspoken, but Arch is kind of
reserved as well. What is it about Arch that makes
him so intriguing?

Speaker 5 (24:36):
I mean, obviously the you know, there's the intrigue of
the last name. There's the intriguer, the five star aspect
and emyone recruiting in the country, which is you know,
kind of a Quinn came in with as well when
he transferred here from Ohio State. There's the intriguer of
the unknown. I mean, we don't really know what kind
of quarterback Arch is going to be when we got
glimpses of it. But that's also against Mississippi State and

(24:58):
I can't even remember the name of that reference school
he beat up. I think those U L M or
or something like that. But so, you know, there's you know,
is he is he that next uh you know great?
Is he the next events? Is he the next Colt? So,
I mean there's just a lot of intrigue about him.
He's very well polished, you know. He I don't think
he enjoys doing media, which is not anything new for

(25:22):
Texas quarterbacks, you know, I don't I don't think you're
probably to go back a long time to find the
Texas quarterback actually enjoyed having to do this Austin media
media circus.

Speaker 2 (25:31):
I think Sam kind of liked if.

Speaker 5 (25:32):
I think Sam had been kind of media trained by
the time he got to Texas. But so that's a
long way of saying there's there's a lot of things
intrigued about Arch.

Speaker 2 (25:42):
I think it's probably gonna.

Speaker 5 (25:43):
It's either gonna the luster is either gonna wear off
once the season starts, or it's gonna, you know, skyrocket
if he goes and is as promised and is that advertised.
You know, just uh, those scrums are gonna be a
little bit more busy with the national media coming in
and wanting to get get their piece as well.

Speaker 2 (25:57):
No doubt.

Speaker 1 (25:57):
We're talking to Danny Davis of the Austin America Stan.
You can follow him at Underscore Danny Davis for all
the latest, and Danny, you know, he said something kind
of backtracking what his grandfather had said, and obviously the
national media runs with it. And now he's intriguing again
when it comes to the betting odds, and everybody's all excited.

(26:19):
But I do believe that there is some validity in
what his grandfather said. But Arch just kind of played
it off. Do you do you feel that kind of
way about it as well?

Speaker 2 (26:32):
Here's how I feel about it. Is Arch your kid, right,
it is Arch, my child. My child's four.

Speaker 5 (26:40):
I don't care what Urch what Arch does in next year,
the year after that. It's his life. Let him live
his life and enjoy the time you have with him.
I mean, they're gonna be here for one more year,
two more years. Sit back, enjoy the ride. When he
decides to do what's next, what's best for him and
what's best for his family. Applaud him and you know,

(27:01):
wish him luck. But I don't see the point of
people obsessing over whether or not he's going to be
here in twenty twenty six, and doing so so much
that they miss what's happening in twenty twenty five. When
Arch is ready to go to the league, he's gonna
have enough people advising him, whether it's that Texas or
whether it's with his family, that he's going to feel
comfortable making that next move. And the family wants to
make that move, you know, I'm sure they're going to
be have all the advice and all all the proper

(27:24):
things to make the steps. But you know, it gives
us something to talk about in this very long lead
up to the season, and I'm sure I'll give us
something to talk about once the season's over. But I
just don't care, Like, let that man live his life,
and you know, when he decides to make that move,
I'm sure I'll write a story about it and we'll
move on to the next quarterback and assessing when he's
going to jump to a league. But I'm just not

(27:46):
gonna lose sleep over when arch is or isn't going
to go to the NFL. So if you want to,
if you all want to knock yourself out.

Speaker 1 (27:52):
Not a life I want to live right right, I'm
with you on that because he still has to go
out there and prove that he is the guy. He's
got to prove that he can lead the team. And
I appreciate the fact that he's honest about where he
is every single time during the interviews. Yeah, I struggled early,
but I figured it out. I figured out our team

(28:14):
has kind of hit their stride now on offense because
they're going up against that vaunted Texas defense. And speaking
of that, Anthony Hill Junior met with the media yesterday
and the conversation Anthony Hill is one of those guys.
He's not gonna give you too much, but you understand
who he is as a leader. He's got a new haircut,

(28:34):
new style, came in focused. But the thing that I
like about him is he knows where to give the praise,
but he also understands that his defense is getting a
lot better.

Speaker 2 (28:46):
Did you get that from him and Michael Taff yesterday? Yeah,
both those young men are very confident guys. They know
how good they are. They also know how important his
defense is this team.

Speaker 5 (28:57):
I enjoyed Michael kind of ribbing Arch a little bit,
but being a little humble and reminding everyone that Michael
Huff gives him, gives him grief a lot, but he
has a long way to go before he can, you know,
talk talk snack the ogs. So I think those guys
are good leaders. They'll be willing to praise their teammates,
but also they know how important they are and what
they've got to do to help texasnak that next step
this season, which is something we all know as well.

Speaker 1 (29:20):
Before I let you go, Danny, I wanted to ask you,
you know, as we've been getting closer and closer to
this game week, it seems like coach Sark is starting
to become coach Sark, like his mindset is getting closer
and closer to next week against Ohio State, the mock meetings,
and I mean, you know this week is a mock week.

Speaker 2 (29:41):
We got him after.

Speaker 1 (29:43):
The scrimmage for the first time I think we ever
have seen a coach do a post scrimmage press conference.
Do you feel like he is getting to that point
of routine is everything for him because he is that
type of superstitious guy.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
Yeah, I think this is what most schools do.

Speaker 5 (30:03):
I mean, it's almost game we You kind of got
to get into your routine, not only for yourself but
for your players. Kind of get everyone used to so
next week when school does start and you're prepared for
Ohio State, it's not a complete culture shock those players.
Get it done early, get everyone in air routine, get
the media in a routine, get your coaching staff and
staff and a routine, and next week will go smoothly
for everyone.

Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (30:22):
I'm excited about it because the next week when we
talk will be a few days away from Ohio State
and you're making that trip to the shoe, So be careful.
You know how crazy them. People are in Ohio State
and Columbus. The stories are true.

Speaker 2 (30:37):
This is not the trip.

Speaker 5 (30:38):
I'm worried about that. There's a trip in October to Mississippi.
I'm a little bit more concerned about than be going
to Columbus.

Speaker 2 (30:46):
I don't blame you, my brother, I don't blame you.

Speaker 1 (30:49):
There he is my guy, Danny Davis of the Austin
American states Man.

Speaker 2 (30:52):
Make sure you follow him at.

Speaker 1 (30:54):
Underscore Danny Davis and Danny next week, Game week.

Speaker 2 (30:58):
Baby, appreciate you.

Speaker 5 (30:59):
Brought finally here, finally here, There he is, Danny Davis.

Speaker 2 (31:03):
Coming up next. We're gonna continue the conversations.

Speaker 1 (31:07):
We still have some coach Sark speak, and at eight
o'clock we will talk to our guy cover in Texas State,
Kevin Chardello cal Gundy at eight seventeen in Dallas, Cowboys
America's ten right here on the morning kickoff on Sports
Radio AM thirteen hundred. This is great stuff by our guy,

(31:28):
Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesman. He could care less,
Archer and our kid. We're gonna see what happens. We'll
let him do what he do and we'll see how
it all ends. Great Stuff by Danny Davis. Right now's
the time for you to win a pair of tickets
to go see pan Tara Pan Tara September the second

(31:49):
at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. All you gotta do is
download that always Free iHeart Radio app if you hadn't
already done it, and put us number one as your preset,
tap that red microphone and leave the keyword of the day.

Speaker 2 (32:03):
Power. Power is the keyword of the day.

Speaker 1 (32:07):
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to
go see Pantera September the second at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater.
Make sure you tuned into the Craig Way Show. This
afternoon is Craig Way and Cam Parker bring it to
you and give you a chance to win a pair
of tickets to go see someone else as well.

Speaker 2 (32:25):
Coming up at an eight o'clock hour, we.

Speaker 1 (32:28):
Have excuse me keV Tardello to talk all things Texas
State as the Bobcats played their last season in their
conference and head out west to the Pac twelve. We
also have Kill Gundhy talking to us about Oklahoma and
the expectations of the Sooners this season. But right now

(32:49):
I want to get into the conversation about tackling.

Speaker 2 (32:52):
That's right.

Speaker 1 (32:53):
You remember at one point Mac Brown used to say
tackling is an epidemic in America. They couldn't tackle, people
couldn't tackle, and it's been a frustrating part about it.
But he's not the only coach to ever talk about that.
Coaches talk about this all the time. And coach Sark
was asked after two scrimmages, how's the tackling this season?

Speaker 6 (33:18):
Yeah, I thought last week might have been a little
better than today, just from the naked eye right field level,
and I got to see, you know how maybe in
what and why, maybe a couple of the mistackles occurred.
You know, I felt like today the ball got in
space a little more, which forced some more stressful tackles

(33:39):
on the defenders, which is a good thing, right, and
we got to learn how to do those things.

Speaker 2 (33:43):
But also thought there were some very good tackles.

Speaker 6 (33:45):
Made that that were a couple of them touchdown saving
tackles that forced the offense to have to go execute
in the red area. So in the end, you know,
we got to find our opportunities to tackle. We got
to do a great job, uh in our in our
individual periods of working on tackling. There's only so much
we can tackle to get ourselves ready to go. But again,

(34:07):
that's every usk, any head coach around the country. That's
the first thing out of their mouth of one of
what's your biggest concern going into week one?

Speaker 2 (34:14):
Is how well are we going to tackle?

Speaker 6 (34:15):
Because we can we all can only do it so
much right for the betterment of the team.

Speaker 1 (34:20):
And you think about it, I mean, that is one
of those statements that I'm not gonna lie When Mac
Brown said it. At first, I was like, come on, man, like,
what are we doing tackling football? You've been playing football
since you were a kid. But you start to understand
that a lot of people don't know how to tackle anymore.
They're either coming up and trying to go through somebody

(34:42):
throwing their head down and just trying to knock their
legs out from them, not wrapping up. But you start
to understand that, yeah, it is something that needs to
be taught every single season. And coach Sark was asked
not too long ago, who are some of the best
tacklers on the football team?

Speaker 6 (35:01):
Oh, man, I think I think Jelawnie is a fantastic tackler.
You know, he's got range, he's got speed, you know,
he's got size to to get people on the ground.
I think I think Anthony is a fantastic tackler. I
think he's really taking another step in the open field
of of what he does there tackling in the open space.

(35:21):
You know, I think Derek Williams another fantastic tackler. Having
him back out there, I would say those three jump
right off the top. I'd say to Anthony Smith is
another very good tackler as well. So those guys all
kind of jump out of me, just kind of the
first three or four names. Anthony, he's playing really good.
I'm really proud of t Anthony. You know, he's he's
really grown up, not only on the field but off

(35:43):
the field. And you can see the level of maturity
on the field, his intent every day at practice. He's
not the biggest guy, but the physicality that he plays
with and the speed he plays with, uh, definitely shows up.

Speaker 2 (35:55):
You Know.

Speaker 1 (35:55):
It's interesting to me about that is ty Anthony's name
continues to pop up. He's just like Dayda McCutcheon, who
we talked about the other day. And we'll hear more
about those guys when we hear arch a little bit later,
But you also get a chance to understand that the

(36:17):
fundamental part of the game is the most important part.
You being able to go make tackles and continue to
make plays as a part of this defense or a
part of this offense changes the dynamics of where Texas
is trying to go. You know, we talk a lot

(36:39):
about the depth and where Texas has created depth, and.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
It's all across the board.

Speaker 1 (36:46):
When you sit back and you think about it, what
Texas has been able to do with the quarterback position,
with the ability of a threat to run. You look
at the depth in the running back room. Let's go
back to the quarterback room. Because of the fact that
you bring in a kJ Lacy from Alabama, you had
Trey Owens, and then you bring in Matthew Caldwell, another quarterback,

(37:07):
and then you're recruiting classes. You're getting five star players.
Then you go back and you look at that running
back room. Yes, there were some adjustments that needed to
be made because of injury last year, but drough the injury,
you created more depth because more people got an opportunity
to rep those plays. Look at what Jayden Blue was

(37:28):
able to do. And now Jayden Blue is playing in
the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and getting his opportunity
this weekend. You also go and look at that offensive line,
the offensive line each step of the way. And I
still repeat this to anybody that wants to listen, and
they say, oh, man, the Texas offensive line is so good.
I said, do you remember when coach Stark got here,

(37:48):
they created that pancake factory, and he said, we have
to go get big humans. That was from day one.
This is a culmination of what his plan was. When
he walked on the campus of the University of Texas,
he said, we.

Speaker 2 (38:03):
Have to get bigger.

Speaker 1 (38:05):
He planned this from the day he got here to
that first year in the SEC. That is why Texas
was able to play in the SEC. People can look
at it in so many different ways and try to
make themselves sound so much better about their feelings about it.
He started that when he walked into the classrooms, the

(38:26):
weight room, and the food room and said, we have
to get bigger. And that's exactly what they did. And
that is how you develop talent. Our number one is
in the books.

Speaker 2 (38:38):
Coming up.

Speaker 1 (38:38):
In our number two, we will talk to our guy,
you know who it is, keV Shardello as he gets
ready to tell us about Texas State and what they're
doing down in Slam Marcus right here on the morning
kickoff on sports Radio AM.

Speaker 2 (38:54):
Thirteen hundred The Zone.

Speaker 1 (38:56):
Ten days away from Texas taking on a whole Ohio
state right here on the morning kickoff on sports Radio
AM thirteen hundred The Zone, your home for Texas football and.

Speaker 2 (39:08):
Our number one.

Speaker 1 (39:09):
We got a chance to hear from Arch Manning talking
about the team and the lead up, and we also
got a chance to hear from coach Sorry. Coming up
in the next segment, we'll talk to Kale Gundhy as
he breaks down the Oklahoma Sooners. But right now we
want to go down to Slam Marcus and talk to
our guy kef Cardello to talk a lot about Texas State,

(39:33):
the expectations, and of course I just got to check
check and see how long he gonna let his hair grow?
Kef what's happening my man?

Speaker 2 (39:41):
Hey?

Speaker 7 (39:41):
You know I've been eating those vitamins, so it's getting
nice and lush, getting nice and long for you.

Speaker 2 (39:45):
But I'm doing great this morning.

Speaker 7 (39:47):
I always happy to talk about the Bobcats, appreciate you
fellas having me on no problem.

Speaker 2 (39:51):
Let's get right into it.

Speaker 1 (39:52):
This is an interesting year for the Bobcats. Last year
in their conference and now they are making that move to.

Speaker 2 (40:03):
The Pac twelve.

Speaker 1 (40:04):
An exciting time in San Marcus, leaving the Sun Belt
and the fun Belt as we like to call it.
But now it's let's get down to football. We've already
done all the off the field stuff. Now let's get
down to football and talk about GJ. Kenny and the
team and the expectations for this season. Yeah, a year
three for GJ. Kenny here in San Marcus.

Speaker 7 (40:27):
The first two years it was pretty great, at least
by Texas state standards. He elevated the program to a
winning record seven wins in the regular season the last
two years, ended it with a Bowl win at the
end of those years.

Speaker 2 (40:37):
So eight wins the last two seasons.

Speaker 7 (40:40):
It's gonna be a tough road due to how many
players they lost in the transfer portal or graduated or
what have you. They have reloaded in transfer portal with
around fifty or so players, so they still have that depth.
It's just a lot of players you haven't seen on tape.
And then, more importantly, at the quarterback position. Brad Jackson.
We're looking at a red shirt freshman there that's going
to be starting, a quarterback, likely going to be starting.

(41:02):
They have and officially announced him, but it's looking like
he's going to take over.

Speaker 2 (41:05):
And he's a young guy. He's talented.

Speaker 7 (41:07):
We saw him run a little bit last season, a
little bit of throwing, but not nearly as much.

Speaker 2 (41:11):
Running when he would get out there.

Speaker 7 (41:12):
He scored four touchdowns in three games on the ground,
so it's going to be interesting to see if his
arm can propel this offense they have. This offense is
vertical choice offense that is very much dependent on the
quarterback and his decision making, you know, deciding Okay, I'm
gonna run the ball, I'm gonna pass, I'm gonna pass
it deep, things like that.

Speaker 2 (41:30):
They put that in the quarterback's hands.

Speaker 7 (41:32):
So it being in the hands of a young quarterback
after being in the hands of experienced quarterbacks last couple
of years, that's going to be really interesting. But that
being said, they have a little bit of an easier
schedule than they did last year. It was a bit
of a weird schedule with four weekday games.

Speaker 2 (41:46):
They only have one. They only have one this year, a.

Speaker 7 (41:49):
Tuesday game against JMU, so it'll be a little a
little calmer I think for Brad Jackson in his first
season as a starter.

Speaker 1 (41:58):
I wanted to ask about Lincoln par He's a guy
that came over when Jake Spavatan was there. He's dealt
with some injuries, but now he's back. What does he
bring to this team, I know, besides experience to kind
of help kind of calm the new quarterback situation down.

Speaker 7 (42:16):
Yeah, I mean that leadership is a very calming just
to be around someone who's been with this program for
four seasons now. He spent his first year at Arkansas
State and then he transferred in Sun Belt to Texas
State four years ago. His first year here he led
the team in rushing and then right when GJ. Kinney
got here, he towards ACL so he missed that first year.
He's able to come back last year be a part

(42:38):
of the rotation. Now it feels like he's going to
be the bell cow if there is a bell cow
in this offense. They like to use a lot of
running backs, but he'll at least be the starter, the
team captain. Coming into his senior year, he brings so
much importance. Obviously the experience is very important, but on
the field, he can do it. I mean, the last
touchdown the Bobcats scored was by Lincoln Perry running. I
think it was sixty yards in that bowl game for

(42:59):
a tight down. So the guy can move. And like
I said, when he was a sophomore, he led this
team in rushing before in twenty twenty two, So he
brings a lot They're gonna I think they're gonna run
the ball a lot more this season than we've seen
in years past. There was just an article that came
out that had Texas State as the heaviest offensive line
in the nation. That's against P fours, P four's, and everybody.

(43:24):
The Bobcats were eleven and a half pounds heavier than
the closest team by weight average.

Speaker 2 (43:30):
So they have a big offensive line.

Speaker 7 (43:31):
They have a young quarterback who likes the run, and
they have a stable of running back starting with Lincoln Perry.
Greg Burrell just transferred over from UNLV to bringing back
some guys like torrens Burgess and Jalen Jenkins. They just
got another running back, Taji Atkins. They got him in
late July. He was Rice's running back, so they have
a stable of running back. So I think it's gonna
look a little different running this ball this coming season,

(43:53):
and Lincoln Perry is going to be the forefront of that.

Speaker 2 (43:56):
Well.

Speaker 1 (43:56):
It's kind of interesting that you say that because your
offense was ranked seventh in scoring last year at thirty
six point five points per game and fifth in total
offense with four hundred and seventy six yards per game.
And now you got a new offensive coordinator. Your previous
offensive coordinator has gone to Texas Tech, and now you're

(44:17):
trying to elevate a guy from within.

Speaker 2 (44:20):
How is that working so far? I know, you get a.

Speaker 1 (44:22):
Chance to go and watch some of the practices. Does
everything look like it's continuing to.

Speaker 7 (44:27):
Mesh Lennon Kepple, that's the new OC. We got to
see him in the ball game. He took over when
Mac Leftwich left for Texas Tech. He was able to
coach in the ball game, and even in that bowl game,
it seemed a little bit more reserved. In spring and
even into the fault, seems like they're they're still holding
back a little bit. There's a little bit of timid nature.
But I think that's just a nature of the beast.

(44:48):
Whenever you're transitioning, hands on who's calling the plays. Because
Mack Leftwich called the plays.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
GJ.

Speaker 7 (44:53):
Kinney he has veto power. He can go in there
and be like, no, we're going to do this. But
at the end of the day, it was Mac Leftwich.
It seems like now it's gonna be more of a
fifty to fifty split, so that it's gonna be interesting
to see that that cohesion and how that goes.

Speaker 2 (45:06):
But GJ.

Speaker 7 (45:07):
Kenny Landon Kepple, they go back all the way to
when GJ. Kenny was co oct at Hawaii. They've known
each other a long time. He's been a part of
g J. Kenny's staff for a while, so he does
know this offense really well. But that is that is
another interesting thing. With a new quarterback, a new OC,
and new play caller, there's a lot of newness. So
it's hard to hang it on like, oh, this team

(45:28):
they're gonna they're gonna run the table. There's there's gonna
be some bumps in the road. I think there's still
talented enough to be a winning team, but it is
gonna be a little bumpier. Probably won't be leading the
Sun Belt in scoring like we saw the last two years,
but I think they'll still be in the thirties.

Speaker 1 (45:42):
So I wanted to ask you this, let's flip over
to the defensive side of the ball. Obviously, you want
to make sure defense wins championships and at least you
want to be considered into that type of realm of it.

Speaker 2 (45:54):
But you talked about the transfers.

Speaker 1 (45:56):
There seems to be a lot of transfers on the
defensive side of the ball this season.

Speaker 7 (46:00):
Oh yeah, And you know, if anything, I'm probably more
excited personally about the defense than I am the offense.
I just think it's the second year for Dexter mccoyle.
He's the defensive coordinator there. He's a really young coach.
I think it's just his fourth year coaching overall, after
nine years playing professional ball.

Speaker 2 (46:16):
Now he's the DC.

Speaker 7 (46:17):
And many people don't realize that the defense improved in
many areas last year. Jonathan Packy was the defensive coordinator
the first year of GJ. Kenny in twenty twenty three.
The defense was fantastic. They were a third in the
nation and tackles for a loss, they're right up there
in sacks as well. This is very much a defense
that it's a four to two five set and they
pin their earback, their ears back, and they go after

(46:38):
the quarterback. That's that's the philosophy of this defense is
if the quarterback is on his back side, then he
can't beat you.

Speaker 2 (46:44):
So they go after the quarterback all the time.

Speaker 7 (46:47):
And that's that's something that I think Dexter mccoyl has
really taken to heart.

Speaker 2 (46:52):
Now.

Speaker 7 (46:53):
They lost a lot of guys in transfer portal himself,
ye specifically on the interior defensive line.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
That was a big area. But they went out there.

Speaker 7 (47:00):
Coach Mike o g he's the old line of the
D line coach at Texas State, fantastic recruiter. Matthew Greg
the corners coach, He's a fantastic recruiter. And they went out,
Like I was saying, around fifty fifty transfers and high
school recruits they brought in for this twenty twenty five class.

Speaker 2 (47:15):
So they were able.

Speaker 7 (47:15):
They were able to retool a lot of players, specifically
on that D line. I think if like JP Deeter
coming over from Arizona State, Uh, there's there's just gonna
be a lot of really good players that are gonna
pop up.

Speaker 2 (47:26):
Charlie Leoda.

Speaker 7 (47:27):
He was a juco player, but he's three hundred and
fifty pounds on that On that D line, they have
some They were able to get some really big guys,
tall corners as well. Kamari Tarrell the corners coming over
from Oregon. He's looking really good. Jayden Lawton just showed
up to fall camp and he had something like thirty
five offers, a bunch of them from P four's, So
they were able to go out and get some some

(47:47):
real players. And I think with so much newness on
the offense like we went over, this team's gonna have
to lean on the defense. I think, for the first
time in the GJ. Kinney era at Texas State, probably
in the first time in his coaching career, going back
to Incarnate Word when they had that incredible offense, They're
gonna have to lean on that defense.

Speaker 2 (48:04):
They have the players to do it.

Speaker 7 (48:05):
They have the most experienced coaching wise and player wise
on that defense. So I'm actually really excited about Tech
State defense. I think they're going to be be right
up their top ten in the nation tackles for a
loss like they've been the last two years man.

Speaker 1 (48:18):
That's interesting. We're talking to keV Chardello. You can follow
them at keV Underscore c. He's in charge of the
creator and the host of win Now or Get Bent podcast. Keff,
before we let you go, you know, I'm looking at
this schedule, and you know you said it's a very
unique schedule as far as not having those Tuesday night games,

(48:39):
those weekday games. You open the season next weekend against
Eastern Michigan, then you go to Utsa to Arizona State,
then you're back home against Nichols. If you had to
pick your drothers, what is the final record for this
last seas in the Sun Belt Conference?

Speaker 2 (49:02):
The entire record non conference and conference.

Speaker 7 (49:05):
I just I just did a prediction on my my
podcast things for Shouting it out When Now or Get Bent,
and I have them at nine and three. I feel
like it's it's an overly optimistic prediction because I do
feel like this defense is much better than it's looked.
I would say nine and three is the ceiling where
they could be. Six and six is the floor. I
don't think this is a losing team. The offense isn't

(49:28):
going to be have the fireworks like it's had in
years past, but still going to be sustainable and I
think they're.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
Gonna have to really rely on this defense.

Speaker 7 (49:35):
But nine and three regular season for me, I don't
know if that gets them into the Sun Belt Championship,
but it would be nice their last year in the
sun Belt going into the Sun Belt.

Speaker 2 (49:43):
Championship and win it out. But it's it's gonna be
a tough one. We'll see.

Speaker 1 (49:48):
I promise you it's not gonna be for a lack
of support because you do a great job. You keep
everybody informed and you are boots on the ground when
it comes to Texas State. So I appreciate you taking
in the time. This isn't the last time, brother, We're
gonna continue this and we're gonna continue to talk about
Texas State because you guys are doing something special down there,
and I know you've been at the forefront for it.

Speaker 7 (50:10):
I appreciate that, Mike. I appreciate you always having me on.
It's always great to talk some Bobcats with you.

Speaker 8 (50:15):
Man.

Speaker 7 (50:15):
I know you're a great Texas State appreciator. You and
Ty Harrington go way back.

Speaker 2 (50:19):
That's right. I know you appreciate the Bobcats more than most,
That's right.

Speaker 1 (50:23):
I appreciate you for taking the time today, man, and
we'll talk again soon. Thank you, all right, good luck
there he is my man, keV Chardello. Make sure you
get over to win Now or get bit podcast. You
can follow it on social media and you can also
follow him at keV Underscore. See coming up next, We're

(50:44):
going north of the Red River and talk to my
guy kel Gundhy about the Oklahoma Sooners right here on
the morning kickoff on sports Radio and thirteen hundred this.

Speaker 2 (50:56):
We went down south to Sam Marcus.

Speaker 1 (50:58):
Now let's go north of the Red River and talk
to my guy Cal Gundhy of the Sports Animal in Oklahoma.

Speaker 2 (51:08):
And Cale.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
First off, good to talk to you, my friend. It's
been a minute. I'm glad to catch up with you.

Speaker 2 (51:14):
All is good.

Speaker 8 (51:16):
It's always good to get on and talk a little
ball and a little chop it up a little bit
with you. So I'm glad I'm here.

Speaker 2 (51:22):
Today, no doubt, no doubt.

Speaker 1 (51:23):
Well, let's get right into a year four, year four
of Brit Vinnables being back as the head coach of
the Oklahoma Sooners. Obviously, the first couple of seasons has
not gone the way that the Sooners fan had hope,
but there's some change that is happening. You got yourself
a quarterback, and if anybody knows anything.

Speaker 2 (51:45):
About quarterbacks, it will be you.

Speaker 1 (51:48):
Off seat, off the field issues have been arise, but
on the field, there's no doubt that your quarterback, John
Mader is one of the best in the country.

Speaker 8 (52:00):
Yeah, and he's going to have to have some magic
this year.

Speaker 5 (52:02):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (52:03):
And that's that's one of the big points of this
football team. This season, like you mentioned, coach Venables was
six and seven, ten and three and six and seven
and that ain't that ain't gonna fly around here about
one more year of that and and that'll be a wrap.
So uh. But there's been some change obviously last year
with this football team, lots of injuries on the offensive

(52:27):
side of the football. The defense was solid, and I
think they just kind of ran out of gas as
the season went along because the offense was so depleted
and you know, defensively, I think they just knew they
weren't going to get much out of the offense game
in and game out. But this year, bringing in Ben Arbuckle,

(52:50):
the new offensive coordinator, who's a West Texas guy, uh,
come from Washington State, and and and coach Arbuckle bringing
his quarterback John Mattier. There's some new life. John is
a exciting player. I really like him as a as
a young man. I like him as a ball player.

(53:12):
I think he has it. Now what will that translate to?
Will that mean one more win, two more wins.

Speaker 2 (53:19):
Three four?

Speaker 8 (53:21):
It's yet to see. They got to stay healthy. The
offensive line struggled tremendously last year. They got They've got
a bunch of those guys back who have gotten better,
who I believe was one of the best offensive line
coaches in Bill Bembo in the country. They've got a
handful of running backs. They went out in the transfer
portal and got some wide receivers, some skilled players. So

(53:43):
it'll it'll be interesting again. Everybody's just you know, it's
hot around here. I know it's hot in Austin, but
it was. It was the hottest day of the year
last year. I heard there might even been a player
or to fall out. I want to practice this today
for ten minutes, Mike, and it was so hot I said,
the hell with this. I left. So but you know,
the hotter you get, the more rumors you get, the

(54:04):
more exciting Oklahoma fans get and we can do this,
We can do that. But once you roll on that
sec you better pump the brakes a little bit.

Speaker 2 (54:13):
Yeah, and that's what it's all about. You know.

Speaker 1 (54:14):
You mentioned the transfers, and one of those transfers is
I haven't heard lately, hopefully he's feeling okay. Is Jaden
out the running back that is transferred in, and he's
somebody that they're expecting a lot from And is it
too much to ask of a player and the quarterback
as well for them to turn that offensive firepower into Oklahoma.

Speaker 8 (54:40):
Well, it's you know, and you understand this. I mean,
everybody's got to do their job.

Speaker 2 (54:46):
Yep.

Speaker 8 (54:46):
At the end of the day, if the offensive line
can be can be good, can be solid, it will
allow John Butt here, it will allow the running backs,
it will allow this system to get the ball in
the hands of some receivers, they will be better. So
it all starts with that offensive line.

Speaker 2 (55:08):
Again.

Speaker 8 (55:08):
You mentioned Jay Not who they brought in from Cal
who two years ago when twenty three had a great
season out there last year did not have as good
a season. Some people said he was injured. And I'll
be honest with you, Mike his name, he was talked

(55:29):
about a bunch. He hasn't been talked about as much
the last two weeks. Right, there's some other guys, and
there's a young man who's a true freshman, and I'm
gonna get to that. But let's go back to Jay
not from cal He's had a little deemed up shoulder,
hadn't been practicing that much, so not sure if he's
going to be that guy the most talked about. I'm

(55:51):
gonna give you three names, and I don't know how
these young men will what kind of season they will
have this year as as true freshmen, But the three
most talked about names besides John Mattier on the Oklahoma
football team this year have been three freshmen from Texas.

(56:15):
Tory Blaylock, running back Houston, Michael Fasusi offensive lineman Lewisville
Courtland Guillery defensive back Houston. Those are three freshmen that
their names on the street have been talked about as
much as anything. And again, how productive can they be

(56:38):
as true freshmen. But these guys, as true freshmen, all
from the state of Texas, have have had a great camp.

Speaker 1 (56:46):
And the one thing that I wanted to talk to
you we're talking to Cal Gundhy of The Sports Animal
in Oklahoma. He is one of the former former offensive
coordinators for the Oklahoma Sooners and former quarterback as well.
He understands what ball is supposed to look like. And
when he tells you that there's some freshmen that are
making noise, that is clutch for Oklahoma because the one

(57:08):
thing that I've always said about Oklahoma obviously coming into Texas,
getting those players brings a little bit more. But they've
always recruited well. But now with everything that's going on
going into the SEC, do you feel the recruiting has
changed a lot, And that's why he's had to go
out and get so many transfers in the transfer portal.

Speaker 8 (57:32):
Yeah, you got to have depth in the SEC. As
you know, again, and I've said this obviously, you know,
playing at Oklahoma a long time ago, coaching there for
almost twenty three years, you know, everybody always knew about
the SEC, and the SEC really came on in the

(57:52):
late two thousand and teams is when they really started
to be something special. When I was at Ou and
the from ninety nine to twenty two, but in the
early two thousands, you know, SEC football wasn't what it
is now. It has really made huge strives. So you've
got to recruit differently. Your defensive lineman. You can't have

(58:13):
defensive linemen playing in the SEC that are weighing two
hundred and eighty two hundred ninety pounds.

Speaker 2 (58:19):
You can't.

Speaker 8 (58:20):
They have to weigh three fifteen three thirty three forty.
Same with the offensive lineman. You can't have offensive linemen
that weigh three hundred three and or ten. They need
to be weighing three twenty five, three thirty. It's just
it's a different there. They're different body types. So they
have had to make a change in coach. Vinibles has

(58:41):
done that. They have done a tremendous job building their
players across the board. I think they only have one
defensive lineman who's under three hundred pounds now, and I'm
talking about defensive tackles who's under three hundred pounds, and
it was because he came in as a defensive end
at two fifty and he's weighing about two now. The

(59:01):
same with the offensive line that you know their guys
are three fifteen to three hundred and twenty five pounds now,
So you got to recruit differently, and then you've got
to have that depth if you don't, and that's what
takes I think, I think takes what Texas has done
so good as they have not only gone out and
got some really really good players, but they've acquired depth

(59:24):
in case one or two guys go down. They're coming
in with the same style and the same type of
body types to play in the Southeastern Conference, no doubt.

Speaker 1 (59:35):
Kel, before we let you go, I wanted to ask
you this. I mean you you talked about it. There's
there's some things that you can do at Oklahoma and
there's some things you can't do. You can't consistently have
a bad product on the field, number one. Number two,
you can't lose the games that you should be winning
and putting your team in.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
A stressful situation. If you had to.

Speaker 1 (59:59):
Pick what this season is going to look like, what
will be your prediction of the Oklahoma Sooners record?

Speaker 8 (01:00:07):
Well, Mike, the couple of things I think they got
going for them. One, they play seven home games. That's
a bunch that that helps. And secondly, compared to last season,
last season you had the Southeastern Conference had some veteran,

(01:00:30):
very good quarterbacks. There's not as many of those guys.
This year, You've got a lot of programs that are
that are having new quarterbacks step out on the field
for the first time to that have to be the guy.
And I'm not talking about coming in and playing sparingly,

(01:00:51):
coming in and a few snaps in the game here
and there, but I mean having to be the dude now,
so that I think that plays a role and plays
a factor in the Oldklahoma Sooners. Now everybody tells me,
I'm I'm a bit of a homer uh to the
Oklahoma Sooners, but most people look at me like I've

(01:01:12):
got three eyes on my forehead. I have them win
in nine games this season. U. I know the overrunder
is somewhere around seven and a half. And if you
would have started having this conversation back in about April
or May, everybody would have said about seven. But you know,
as the season goes along, like I said it starts,

(01:01:33):
every day gets a little hotter. So the more rumors
start to get flowing, people think that they they're gonna
win a few more games here and there, and you know,
the sunshine starts to pump a little bit. People have
probably raised their expectations at the end of the day,
you're playing in the Southeastern Conference and it's just it's challenging.
So but I have them going nine to three this year.

(01:01:55):
Like I said, most people around here are more around
seven to eight wins. Three things that have to happen
for this team. Matier has to have some magic, the
offensive line has to be solid, and the defensive front
seven for the Sooners have to dominate and be one
of the top defenses in the country for them to

(01:02:16):
win nine games.

Speaker 2 (01:02:17):
I love it. Though you're not by yourself.

Speaker 1 (01:02:19):
There's a lot of folks that seem to think that
they will be the surprise team this season. As the
expectations continue to grow. Once the season starts, you know
I'm gonna be reaching out to you. We'll have you
on right before that Oklahoma and Texas matchup at the
Cotton Bowl. You know how important that is. But we
got to get this season started on Saturday, man, So

(01:02:41):
best of luck to you and I'll talk to you soon.

Speaker 2 (01:02:43):
Brother.

Speaker 8 (01:02:44):
Thanks Mike, appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:46):
As always good talking to my guy. Cal Gundhy.

Speaker 1 (01:02:49):
Very optimistic for the Oklahoma soon as coming up next.
I watched the documentary the other day. Yes, the Cowboys
were part of it, but I also watched another one
that used to be the Dallas Cowboys. We'll talk about
it right here on the morning kickoff on sports Radio
AM thirteen hundred The Zone. Great great stuff this hour

(01:03:10):
by Kep Shardello talking about Texas State he has them
going nine and three, and Cal Gundhy talking about the
Oklahoma Sooners going nine and three as well. Some steep
numbers by all those folks, but we shall see. You
can't wait for football season when all of this will

(01:03:32):
stop and we'll get focused in on what the expectations are.
Speaking of expectations, I got a chance to watch a
couple documentaries here recently. I've been watching the Buffalo Bills
and what they've been able to do and how things

(01:03:53):
are starting to roll for them, and the expectations of
the season coming into its super Bowl or bus they
really want the super Bowl. But one of the other
things that continues to be part of the conversation is
I got a chance to watch The Kingdom with the
Kansas City Chiefs as they went on their run and

(01:04:17):
learning a lot about the story of Travis Kelcey and
Taylor Swift and how people thought it was a rouge
and now all of a sudden, as Mark would say,
a gimmick, Well, now it is a real thing and
people are really bought in and the Taylor Swift effect
has taken over because now the dynamics and the breakdown

(01:04:41):
of all the people that are watching football has been outstanding.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
So kudos to them.

Speaker 1 (01:04:49):
But I got a chance to watch the documentary yesterday
parts of it. I think we watched three or four
episodes yesterday of the Dallas Cowboys from start, Jerry Jones,
the process where they were, how he bought it, the
moves that he had to make. As I said earlier,

(01:05:09):
there was a point where he was looking to borrow
money from Jimmy Hoffa to take this risk and become
an owner of an NFL franchise.

Speaker 2 (01:05:22):
He found an.

Speaker 1 (01:05:23):
Oil derek and went out there, started drilling and booth
one hundred million dollars. You just bought yourself a football
team and it just happened to be the Dallas Kalboys.
To the firing of Tom Landry, the running out of
Tex Shram, it was awesome. The struggles, the draft picks,

(01:05:48):
the Herschel Walker trade, and how they got to become
America's team again.

Speaker 2 (01:05:55):
But as I was watching this.

Speaker 1 (01:06:00):
Risk, those rewards, those opportunities, they changed a lot. His
philosophies changed. Jimmy Johnson was sick. When I say sick,
I'm talking about he divorced his wife to become the

(01:06:21):
head coach of the Dallas Cowboys because one thing that
Jimmy hated the most was losing. We got a chance
to see Michael Irvin from start to where he is today,
and Michael Irvin felt that same way that Jimmy did
about wanting to win. And sometimes in sports, you become

(01:06:47):
accustomed to a certain way of life. You forget that
when Jimmy, I mean when Jerry bought the Dallas Cowboys,
they were not America's team. They were about to lose
that Moniker because of the way that they were playing.

Speaker 2 (01:07:07):
Michael comes in, energetic, wild, fired up.

Speaker 1 (01:07:10):
The old heads, was like, nah, young fella take it easy.
The reason why the young fellas was, I mean, the
old fellaws was taking it easy because they knew they
were on their way out and they had done all
they could do. But they were still America's team.

Speaker 2 (01:07:27):
Miracle.

Speaker 1 (01:07:29):
But I go back to some of the thoughts of
where the Cowboys are right now, and that brash, arrogant
gunslinger of a owner or president or GM or whatever
he wanted to be called at that time had a

(01:07:50):
little different mindset than what it was before. Jimmy Johnson
he was the guy to get it going. But I
want you to hear this comment from Jerry Jones talking
to Stephen Jones, and I think this is where the
Cowboys are, that we are still on the outside looking

(01:08:15):
in from all those years.

Speaker 9 (01:08:17):
First of all, you can't have a coach that's not
on the same page with you. I don't believe in
the technical X and O aspect.

Speaker 3 (01:08:27):
As Hey, I used to believe more was the charisma,
and then now I'm more convinced that it is the
x'es and o's and the technical.

Speaker 2 (01:08:37):
Let me tell you something. What Stephen just said.

Speaker 1 (01:08:43):
Is where we lost Jimmy Johnson, is why we lost.

Speaker 2 (01:08:51):
Bill Parcells.

Speaker 1 (01:08:53):
People that were serious about the job, sick to the
point where there was nothing else besides winning and being
focused on the exes and o's. I consider that charisma.
I consider that knowing what the exes and the o's are,

(01:09:16):
that is why the Cowboys are in the situation that
they are in and I know we still got season
to play, but right now, watching the Cowboys and watching
the glory days, the Gambler and America's team, I need
that person back coming up.

Speaker 2 (01:09:35):
We're gonna close.

Speaker 1 (01:09:36):
Out the show and send you to Dan Patrick. Major
League Baseball has an issue, and I'm having to agree
with the possibility of the changes that are there right
here on the more to kickoff on Sports Radio and
thirteen hundred The Zone. If you missed any part of
the show, get over to the podcast page.

Speaker 2 (01:09:54):
We'll have that up here shortly.

Speaker 1 (01:09:56):
Great interviews all day from Danny Davis, kevn Shardello and
Calee Gundhy breaking down for kel Gundy Oklahoma nine and three,
keV Shardella for Texas State nine.

Speaker 2 (01:10:10):
And three, and of course Danny Davis.

Speaker 1 (01:10:13):
No prediction yet because Texas football starts next week and
we'll be in game week starting next week. Also starting
next week, we'll have some new segments that I think
will be a lot of fun for everyone that is involved.
Tomorrow we'll have Eric Henry of Horns two four seven.
We'll talk all things Texas football. Mark Henry will be

(01:10:34):
back on the show as well. A lot going on
as we get closer and closer to kickoff, we'll have
more conversations about the Dallas Cowboys as well, but right
now I want to get into this conversation about Major
League Baseball.

Speaker 2 (01:10:51):
That's right.

Speaker 1 (01:10:51):
Major League Baseball is hot and heavy as we go
right now. And one of the stories that was that
came out yesterday was about baseball. I mean, excuse me,
Fox Sports MLB if one of the stories was about realignment,
the possibility of realignment in Major League Baseball. And a

(01:11:12):
lot of people like my man Marcus are traditionalists, you know,
they're purest when it comes to the game in certain things.
Not gonna put it on everything for them, but there
is an opportunity for realignment in baseball. And the potential
Major League realignment is the NL Midwest would be Chicago Cubs,

(01:11:34):
Chicago White Sox, Saint Louis Cardinals in the Cincinnati Reds.
The AL Northeast would be the Yankees, the Mets, the
Red Sox, and the Phillies, L Central Colorado, Kansas City, Texas,
and the Houston Astros. Al mid Atlantic it would be Orioles,

(01:11:57):
Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirate in the Cleveland Guardians, AL Great Lakes,
Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Al
Southeast Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, and a

(01:12:19):
competitive team.

Speaker 2 (01:12:20):
I don't know what the heck that is.

Speaker 1 (01:12:21):
They're going to add another team, so we'll see what
ends up happening there. But you go back to the
NL Central, you have, as I said, the Rockies, the Royals, Rangers, Astros,
NL Southwest, the Dodgers, the Padres, the Angels, and the Diamondbacks,
and the NL Northwest the Seattle Mariners, the a's Las

(01:12:45):
Vegas at that point, San Francisco Giants, and another competitive team.
So for me, as I look at this and I'm
talking about realignment and the possibility of expansion going to
be complete to help complete this.

Speaker 2 (01:13:03):
The one thing that I.

Speaker 1 (01:13:05):
Was talking to Marcus about is in soccer in the
European leagues, in the premier leagues, if your team is
not considered competitive, and this year there's multiple teams that
you could consider not competitive. But if your team is
not competitive, I think they should bring in regulation. You

(01:13:27):
should be regulated to a lower league. And if you're
a great Triple A team or you can you've done
some things, there should be an opportunity to bring in
other teams. Now, I know that sounds crazy in so
many different instances, because this year's team that may not
get to a certain number is a team that's probably

(01:13:49):
been good for the last couple of years, but now
they're being penalized.

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
But if you look at what the Colorado Rockies.

Speaker 1 (01:13:56):
Have become this season, you cannot tell me that they
act actually care about winning, and the competitive nature of
the sport needs to be protected.

Speaker 4 (01:14:09):
I think the whole competitive team thing that they I
mean another team thing. I think they're thinking expansion to
Portland and Charlotte, two teams. But I love this idea. Yeah,
oh yeah, Nashville, this possibility. But I think I like
the regulation idea. I like the idea of moving teams

(01:14:34):
out of I guess you can say a higher bracket
squad to like a lower bracket, But then how do
you need more than just a couple of teams. You
need a lot more teams that you need to add
into Major League Baseball to have a somewhat kind of
a league for regulation to move teams up and down.

(01:14:55):
But yeah, that would make it very competitive because then
when you're on a lower team or see you making
less money. You want to get up that what a
big money is, so you want to get into the
higher bracket.

Speaker 9 (01:15:06):
Poll.

Speaker 1 (01:15:07):
I know, my boy Geno is gonna be mad at me.
But the Chicago White Sox over the last couple of
years have been a team that does not seem to
be in competitive I know that they are, but they
are forty five and eighty one. You look at the
Colorado Rockies thirty six and ninety. You're showing up to
the ballpark knowing you're losing, as opposed to showing up

(01:15:30):
to the ballpark and thinking that you actually have a
chance at winning. At one point they were in single digits.
So I'll give them some love because they are competing
right now. But the competitive spirit of the game. And
you look at the Dodgers, they're spending money. You look
at the Brewers, one of the teams that we don't

(01:15:51):
talk enough about. They lost two games in a row
after winning fifteen or fourteen in a row.

Speaker 2 (01:15:57):
And how people are, oh, oh, are they about to know?

Speaker 1 (01:15:59):
They're not going anywhere. They're gonna be just fine. It's
just part of baseball. But then you look at the Phillies,
they'll spend money. The Mets obviously will spend money. The
Astros are doing what they're supposed to do. The Mariners
they continue. Let's not forget the Rangers paid for their
World Series.

Speaker 2 (01:16:16):
They got they went all in.

Speaker 1 (01:16:18):
They said, we are doing this, and we're going to
do this right now. But you start to understand that
if you're not going to compete and you're not gonna
build your farm system, you're not doing the things that
you need to do to be at that level. We
need to do some things differently.

Speaker 4 (01:16:36):
But what's crazy about is what if you're that team
that was in that little I'm coming out of nowhere
situation that you usually get with teams like a team.

Speaker 1 (01:16:46):
That I'm not saying you got to do it immediately, well,
since you have to be trending in the right direction.

Speaker 4 (01:16:52):
I'm saying, I'm just I'm thinking the big picture of
regulation periods, Like you will lose that edge of having
that team that comes out of nowhere just one season
and just spas states way into the playoffs and mess
teams up.

Speaker 2 (01:17:07):
You might you might lose that is, but that team
will win their braket.

Speaker 1 (01:17:12):
No, there's definitely a number that you have to be
at before you can get kicked out. That's my point.
You have not been playing well for the last four seasons.
You have to be regular if you're not doing the
things to better your team, spending money number one, to
build the team around the players that you have. If

(01:17:32):
you're not doing those things, you have to go.

Speaker 2 (01:17:36):
What about the team that spend money and still loses, well,
they get regulated too. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:17:41):
Hey, hey, it's equal opportunity on the regulations.

Speaker 2 (01:17:44):
Man, you have to be better than that.

Speaker 1 (01:17:46):
Speaking of being better than that, we're gonna be better tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (01:17:50):
We got a Thirsty Thirsty.

Speaker 1 (01:17:52):
Throwback Thursday audition of the Morning Kickoff.

Speaker 2 (01:17:56):
We're having so much fun. It's gonna be a fun fun.

Speaker 1 (01:18:00):
As I said, the Big Fellow will be back on
with us. I want to thank Danny Davis, I want
to thank keV Chardello, and I want to thank Cale Gundig,
But most importantly.

Speaker 2 (01:18:09):
I want to thank you the people, and.

Speaker 1 (01:18:11):
Of course my guy Marcus Spears behind the bar will
be better tomorrow. Tune in to the Greg Way Show
this afternoon from two to.

Speaker 2 (01:18:20):
Five, as he is the voice of.

Speaker 1 (01:18:22):
The Texas Longhorse, and of course we are your home
for the Texas longhorse.

Speaker 2 (01:18:27):
Just remember this. Don't believe everything you see, because even
salt looks like sugar. Ten days away from kickoff, Peace