Texas Gameplan Humpday Wednesday: CFP Rankings, Texas–A&M Rivalry, Weekly Predictions & Thanksgiving Talk

Today is “Texas Gameplan Humpday Wednesday,” just a couple of days away from the Texas Longhorns challenging the Texas A&M Aggies. The College Football Playoffs Poll for the week has been released. What were the Longhorns ranked? College coaching changes are being finalized. Texas players win some weekly awards. The Texas Men’s Basketball team defeated the Chaminade Silverbacks. We make our College Football and NFL predictions for the week. The NBA In-Season Tournament courts are becoming hazardous for players. We name our favorite Thanksgiving side dish. “The World’s Strongest Take!” Plus, we have Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman to talk Texas vs Texas A&M and Texas Women’s Basketball. We also have Eric Henry of Horns 24/7 also talking Texas vs Texas A&M. 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
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Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone. Good Morning, Austin, k Town, Fluegerville, Htown, Pairland,
Most City, l pass.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Out, or wherever you may be listening.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
This is a game plan Wednesday edition of The Morning
Kickoff right here on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.
The Cotton Holdings Low Star Showdown is getting closer. Texas
preps and continues for this matchup against Texas A and
n Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesman joins us

(01:04):
at seven thirty four. It's a special edition because we
got Eric Henry joining us of Horns two four seven.
At eight o'clock, the Longhorns get a big win in Hawaii.
Texas women's basketball gets a Big Test tonight in Las
Vegas and Texas volleyball comes up.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
Sure, I am your host, Mike Harball.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
Harsch, my co host, is a WWE Hall of Famer
and recognized as the world's strongest man.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
He is d Mark Henry.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
Good morning, Austin, and if.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
You want to be a part of the show, all
you gotta do is text work Texas follow by your
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Speaker 1 (01:44):
That's the word Texas, followed by your message to eight
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We're also going to give you an opportunity to win
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Speaker 3 (02:05):
And good luck all right, Mark.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Yesterday the College Football Committee College Football Playoff Committee spoke
and well, Texas did not move. We thought that there
might be a little bit of action by the committee.
But the rankings came out and you know twenty five

(02:28):
is Arizona, twenty four, Tulane twenty three, Georgia Tech twenty two,
Pittsburgh twenty one, SMU twenty, Arizona State, nineteen Tennessee eighteen, Virginia,
seventeen at USC and number sixteen is the eight and
three Texas Longhorns.

Speaker 4 (02:51):
I thought that was a little bit it was an attack.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
I think that you know, Texas, even though they are
and three, the competition that they face and with the
stacking up of the.

Speaker 4 (03:13):
I don't know if I.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Can say that that they have the deck stacked against
them because they with the rules and not getting calls,
Texas is I think under attack. They have to blatantly,
out overbearingly stand on people and win in order to
get a call.

Speaker 4 (03:31):
You can't leave it up the chance.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
And some of it is Texas's fault, but I think
some of it is also the fact that the SEC
is against them and they still they just have to
persevere well.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
Texas staying at sixteen, Michigan is at fifteen, Vanderbilt at fourteen.
Thirteen is Utah, and Miami sneaks up in there at
the number twelve position BYU is at eleven. Alabama, number
ten in Notre Dame, number nine, Oaklahhome where you are
right now is at number eight. Number seven is Old

(04:08):
miss They are dealing with a coaching situation. We will
find out Friday after the game where Lane Kiffin will
be coaching next.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
Is he's staying, is he going? There's a lot that
is happening.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
Oregon is at number six and we'll get into Oregon
at six and Old Miss at seven.

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Texas Tech Texas Tech.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
The Fighting Red Raiders are now at number five, Georgia
at number four, Texas A and m Who Texas will
play this Friday in the Cotton Holdings Loan Stars showdown
six point thirty at DKR is at number three, Indiana
number two, and number one holding Steady is Ohio State.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
They will be taking on Michigan.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
It is rival rewek but Mark, there was a conversation
that was had about the positioning of Oregon and Ole
Miss and the committee chairman, Hunter Uschek, was talking about
what this all means.

Speaker 5 (05:09):
We're joined by the chair of the College Football Playoff
Selection Committee, Hunter Yurochek.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
Hunter, not a lot of changes. You had to go
all the way.

Speaker 5 (05:16):
Down to number fifteen last week to find a team
that lost when sc loss to Oregon. But there was
a change at six seven with Oregon and Old Miss
swapping spots. How much of an impact potentially could it
be on Old Miss if it's determined they don't have
their head.

Speaker 3 (05:33):
Coach in the field six seven.

Speaker 6 (05:40):
But seriously, Rich, we didn't have any discussion about Old
Miss and their coach. That was all about Oregon and
their performance against USC. Their strength to schedule continues to climb.
They've been dominant on the offense and defensive side of
the ball, really good and special teams, and the committee
waiting had been waiting for them to have a signature

(06:02):
win to really put them where we thought they deserved
to be.

Speaker 1 (06:06):
Interesting, that's an interesting take when you start to look
at where they are, what the situation may or may
not be when it comes to a coaching change for
this team. So I'm interested to see how this is
going to play out. Obviously, they have to win their
game this weekend against Mississippi State, and then we'll see

(06:31):
exactly what ends up happening with Ole Miss.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
I don't know if if Lane Kiffen really cares what
everybody thinks, and you can tell kind of by his rationale,
like he's like, look, they're gonna do what I want
to do. And I think that he does that in
his in the structure of being the head coach. Everybody,

(07:01):
I don't. I don't hate on him as a coach.
I just hate on the method. It's like when Lebron
James went to from Cleveland to Miami and he did
that We're not one, not two not. I hated that,
and Lane Kiffin made a career of doing that.

Speaker 4 (07:21):
He just don't care what everybody else think. You don't.
He don't play even to the road. He just wants
to do.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
The heels in batts, And you know, I think that's
where kind of the heat goes.

Speaker 4 (07:34):
But you can't deny him as a coach.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
Yeah, I agree with you on the can't deny him
as a coach. But there is a a part of
this that says, Okay, what is going to be the
difference of you going to say LSU or say I
don't know any he's got his Florida let's say that. Okay,
So here he is talking about, you know, money is

(08:00):
not going to be a factor to me. It looks
like Ole Miss is in perfect position to make the
college football playoffs first time, first time, and now you're
already creating a distraction. What a coach start talk about
I don't want to be a distraction. I want to
get out in front of this. I'm tired of people

(08:23):
talking about this. Yeah, and now it wasn't even about
start going to another college.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
It was him going to.

Speaker 1 (08:29):
The next level, not leaving Texas to take a lateral
move or go to a different place.

Speaker 3 (08:36):
You have all the resources.

Speaker 1 (08:37):
And now I don't know the but behind the scenes
things at ole Miss. But I do know that Ole
Miss Hattie Toddy got money over there.

Speaker 3 (08:45):
I know that.

Speaker 1 (08:47):
So I'm confused about what is the allure of LSU.
It's like when people say it coming back to Texas,
Texas isn't what Texas used to be Joe Burrow when
they were That's when Texas was struggling. Now you're looking
at a LSU program has talent, they just couldn't get

(09:09):
over the hump. They've dealt with injuries, They've had different situations.
Is Lane Kiffin going to come in there and resurrect
this program and they leave that program?

Speaker 4 (09:20):
Is he doing to Jerry Jones?

Speaker 2 (09:23):
Is he just bait and switching everybody just to get attention,
just to put more casert on his name. He may
be doing that and just gonna stay at Old Miss.
But if not, and he said that money is not
the issue because he feels like he can get the
money that he wants at Old Miss, then for what
other reason do you go court LSU? For what other

(09:46):
reason do you go court Florida? I just don't understand.
If money is not the thing, it's not a pressed
these things. Old Miss is they're ranked.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
In the top ten. Yeah, went to the college Playoff?

Speaker 3 (10:02):
Yes, yes, And that's my look at.

Speaker 2 (10:05):
Texas being out of the college football Playoff.

Speaker 4 (10:07):
I guarantee you they they were switching a heartbeat with
the Old Miss right now.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
No doubt. And that's the interesting part.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
And college football continues to evolve and move, and there's
a lot of moves that are being made. Eric Morris
of North Texas former Texas Tech wide receiver offensive coordinator,
He's made his way. He was the head coach at
Incarnate Word, went to Washington State, now he's at unt

(10:35):
and now all signs point to him going to be
the head coach at Oklahoma State replacing Mike Gundy.

Speaker 3 (10:44):
Eric Morris is a baller.

Speaker 1 (10:46):
I've known that kid literally since he was a kid
from Shallow Water, A tough, tough athlete, a great mastermind
when it comes to play calling, and you see what
he's been able to do with Drew Wannamaker, the quarterback
at North Texas, somebody that didn't even get a chance
to play quarterback at vandergriff and Jim Morrill Junior is

(11:08):
now headed to Colorado State after turning around Yukon. He
is now going to Colorado State to be the head
coach of the Colorado State Rams.

Speaker 3 (11:20):
We are just.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
Getting started on this game plan audition Wednesday audition of
the Morning Kickoff. When we come back, we'll hear from
coach Sark. We've got Danny Davis of the Austin American
Statesman and Texas Basketball went to Hawaii and handled Shamanah.

Speaker 3 (11:39):
We'll talk all about it.

Speaker 1 (11:40):
All of that were number one of the Morning Kickoff
right here on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.
Welcome back to the Morning Kickoff right here on Sports
Radio and thirteen hundred The Zone. Mike Harball, harj Wwee
Hall of Famer and World Strongest Man, the Mark Henry
joining us from the road.

Speaker 3 (12:00):
From the road, Mark, what's going down man? Where you where?
What you're doing? What you're doing?

Speaker 4 (12:06):
Man?

Speaker 2 (12:06):
I'm sitting here getting ready for this this week of games. Uh,
I just put my pigs in and uh, I know
that once all these pigs go through, I'll look like
a genius.

Speaker 4 (12:20):
I look like like no stra dominance.

Speaker 3 (12:22):
Oh here he go.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
I'm talking about where you at, what you're doing, what
you're on the road. You're going to see your son?

Speaker 7 (12:30):
What?

Speaker 3 (12:31):
Man?

Speaker 2 (12:32):
I'm up here in Norman, Oklahoma. Jacob is playing l
s U uh this weekend. I was gonna come back
for the UH Texas Texas A and M game, but
was advised not to do so. But I'm I'm man,
just hanging out with the family. We brought Thanksgiving up
here because we couldn't have Jacob home for Thanksgiving. So

(12:57):
I'll be over at the facility. They you know, a
little workout with the daughter. But like outside of that, man,
like it's just family time. That's awesome. That's awesome. That's
what it's all about. Man.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
And yes, you were advised by a wise person to
let you know wise yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We had
a mutual had a mutual agreement with that wise person
and the other person's wife.

Speaker 3 (13:25):
So we had a conversation about that.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
We made that we made that work. Let's get into
this game. Obviously, you know, the Texas Longhorns are coming
off that big victory against Arkansas where Arch Manning showed
up and showed out and coach Shark was asked about
his mental resolve, going back to the criticism and being

(13:49):
able to show up every single week.

Speaker 8 (13:53):
For Arch, I don't know if any college player has
kind of gone through what he went through before he
even was the full time starter. And and part of
that is his last name.

Speaker 3 (14:09):
Part of it is our brand.

Speaker 8 (14:11):
I think those two things coming together made this such
a big, a big storyline before the season. And and
but none of it was anything due to what Arch
was doing. He just kind of kept focusing on what
he needed and tried to do. I'm sure there were
moments when it was it was a lot, maybe even overwhelming,

(14:32):
but to his credit, I think, man, the guy showed
so much resolve and resiliency and and just stick to itness,
you know, to to the task at hand. And and
and again, it wasn't a perfect journey to get to
this point, but but sometimes it's good not to have
a perfect journey. Sometimes taking a road less traveled is

(14:54):
good for you. And I really think the experiences Arch
had early in the season, and I and I said
this early in the year, we're we're gonna he was
gonna benefit from the journey that he had to go
on and that he can learn how to overcome some
of the adversity that he was faced with and some
of the criticism he was faced with. So I think
he's better and stronger for it today, and I'm really

(15:16):
proud of him.

Speaker 3 (15:18):
Again, he's not a finished product. He's still going he's
still going to improve, he's still going.

Speaker 7 (15:21):
To get better.

Speaker 8 (15:22):
But I'm very proud of him for the way he's
handled so much of what we went through.

Speaker 1 (15:28):
And that's why, you know, you start to understand who
he is as an individual, You understand where he comes from.
But the reality of it all is he puts in
the work that needs to be done and he doesn't complain.
He just goes out there and keeps his head down.
And with that being said, this past week, with his
performance that he had, he was named the National Player

(15:51):
of the Week by the Maxwell Award, the Walter Campbell
World Award, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, and the
Associated Press Award. As the National Player of the Week
from all of those places, including the Davy O'Brien Award
as well.

Speaker 2 (16:12):
Wow, I mean that's that's an impressive list of foundations
that view quarterback play and say, Okay, this was definitive.

Speaker 9 (16:23):
This is the guy like you can't be that and
rotten at the same time. And I don't understand where
the fan bases come with this hard but this is
a true indicator that Arc has uncapped potential and that

(16:43):
once he learns everything that he needs to know and
he's able to just go out there and have a
year like Quinn did last year without and barn injury
and no injury, that he can be he can be.

Speaker 3 (16:56):
Spectacular, right and think about.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
It, you mentioned Heisman in his name in the same sentence.
When that point comes.

Speaker 1 (17:06):
As coach Sharks said, he's the most scrutinized player before
he even stepped on the field, and then when he did,
people automatically tried to write him off. As we talked
about the article about the flop and now that dude
is eating crow because of the performance that he has
been doing week in and week out, and even yesterday
Billy Billy Lucy even said it himself. He was talking

(17:28):
about if Archas time. It could be a problem. It
could really be a problem. So it's going to be
a challenge for that defense. I also wanted to talk
about the Texas defense and the fact that this past
week sec CO Defensive Lineman of the Week was Colin
Simmons with his big sack and his performance on the
quarterback where it was a scoop and score by Leongo

(17:51):
Lafou and threw the ball into the into Beivo. Still
still not over that, Still not over there, And Bevo's
not over it either. Bevo's not over it either. He's
gonna be looking for him on Friday. But you know,
you start to look at this defense and they gave
up a lot. But Coach Sark doesn't seem to be
worried because this week they're gonna be going up against
a dynamic offense. When you look at those wide receivers

(18:15):
for Texas A and M, you look at what's going
on with that quarterback and his opportunity on the big stage.
Coach Sark, he's not too worried about what he's seen
on the defense as of right now.

Speaker 8 (18:30):
As far as our defense goes, Hey, there's really good
teams and the one thing I've learned about our team.
We can win a variety a ways, and we've won
defensive battles, we've won games when our special teams had
to show up and win the game, and we've won
games in our offense had to score points to win
the games. And part of that is comforting and knowing

(18:52):
we can win a variety a ways and we've got
enough talent on this team that we can. And I
don't know what it's gonna take Friday night. All I
know is I think we got a team that whichever
the way goes, we got a chance to go win
it and we got a chance to be competitive in
it because we're versatile enough to go do that.

Speaker 1 (19:09):
And that defense is going to have to rise to
the occasion. Speaking of the defense, it was named yesterday
that Anthony Hill Junior was tabbed a Buckkus Award finalist.
The junior out of Dallas Area continues to get better
and better, and he's the first Longhorn since Sergio Kendall

(19:31):
in two thousand and nine to be on the finalist list.
He's on the list with Georgia cj Allen, Indiana's Aiden Fisher,
Ohio State's Rvel Reese and Texas Techs linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
In addition to the Bucketts Awards, he's also a semi
finalist for the Chuck mcnerick Award, given to college football's

(19:55):
best defensive player. He's on that list, and of course
we also have Michael Taff who was named finalists.

Speaker 3 (20:04):
For the Warful Award as well.

Speaker 1 (20:07):
In the war Full Award, we got a chance to
spend some time with Sam Achong at the College Football
I mean at the SEC Media Days at the College
Football Hall of Fame, and he was talking to us
about what that award means and how Michael Taff deserved
to be on that for all the community service that
he does.

Speaker 3 (20:32):
Can you hear man?

Speaker 4 (20:34):
I don't remember.

Speaker 2 (20:37):
Him speaking about it, but one of the things that
I take a lot of solid saying is if he
said that about Michael Taff, then with his reputation and
with the player that he was, I'm gonna I'm gonna
definitely take his side on it, because I think Michael

(20:58):
Taff deserves that kind of raise. You look at when
we had the floods here in Austin, got rest the
souls of all those kids that that that passed away.
Michael Taff took all of those kids' names and put
them on a tie and and and went to help
and and supported all of the uh the initiatives to

(21:23):
try to like make it better and have more alert
for situations like that in the future. So he's a
conscious guy, and I like the fact that he puts
himself in a situation where that that's the narrative that's
talked about when you mentioned his name, And.

Speaker 1 (21:41):
And Friday will be Senior Night, and that will be
the last time that Michael Tad gets a chance to
run out on that Texas Memorial d k R Texas
Memorial Field for the last time. Coming up next, we're
gonna get a chance to talk to our guy, Danny
Davis of the Austin American Statesman, get his thoughts on
what he's scene and expecting this weekend as Texas TEXSA

(22:04):
on Texas A and M and the Cotton Holdings Lone
Star Showdown.

Speaker 3 (22:09):
We'll talk about it right.

Speaker 1 (22:10):
Here on the Morning Kickoff on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred.

Speaker 3 (22:13):
That's all Welcome back.

Speaker 1 (22:15):
It's a game Plan edition of the Morning Kickoff on
Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred. As always, it is a Wednesday,
so it's time to talk to our guy, Eric, I
mean Eric Herry Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesman. Well,
just listen, man, I just looked at a tweet.

Speaker 3 (22:37):
That Eric put it out.

Speaker 4 (22:39):
Man.

Speaker 3 (22:40):
The timing, the timing. I'm sorry, Danny, I'm sorry.

Speaker 4 (22:43):
It's right looking like.

Speaker 3 (22:48):
Hey, sometimes we do depending on which player is.

Speaker 1 (22:52):
Talking to us, as we all know. But let's get
into it. It's a big week for the Texas Longhorns.
There's so many different ways. Obviously, it's going to be
senior Day, so a lot of these guys are moving on.
But you also look at the fact that this Texas
matchup against Texas A and M has so much meaning

(23:14):
for both of these teams as they prepare to play
on Friday at six point thirty.

Speaker 4 (23:20):
Yeah, I mean star with Texas A and M.

Speaker 10 (23:22):
Obviously they're having a historic season, one of their best
ever regular seasons.

Speaker 4 (23:27):
I mean you can go back to like their championship team.

Speaker 10 (23:29):
In the late thirties of maybe the best team that
Texas ever seen in this rivalry.

Speaker 4 (23:34):
But they're looking to get in the SEC championship game.

Speaker 10 (23:37):
Even though they're eleven and now they still haven't secured
that spot because the top of the SEC has been
really strong this year. So they're gonna be incentivized. They're
not coming in here as the West game. They obviously
want to, you know, kind of dig the knife and
deeper with this Texas team, and this Texas team is
desperate to make some kind of last ditch impression on
the committee.

Speaker 4 (23:56):
Probably not gonna.

Speaker 10 (23:57):
Happen, but still you can't, you know, can't use worth trying,
and you know, so you know, this is not gonna
be a team. This is not gonna be a week
week twelve, you know, the worst senior on the team
just to start, just for ceremonial reasons. Kind of that
kind of gaming. Both teams have a lot of a
lot of stuff to play for this weekend, for this Friday.

Speaker 2 (24:16):
Dan. Texas didn't put itself in a great situation having
three losses, But do you think that Texas has a
lot more going against them than just the fact that
they didn't win a few games.

Speaker 4 (24:31):
That how they lost the games have something to do
with it.

Speaker 10 (24:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think I think there's a lot
of Texas fans who, quite frankly, being a little lazy
with their analysis and saying we should have lost to Ohio.
Stay there, you know that we shouldn't schedule these marquee
matchups early in the season.

Speaker 4 (24:50):
Texas is not Texas.

Speaker 10 (24:52):
The reason Texas is going to miss the Playas is
and because they scheduled that o highest they game.

Speaker 4 (24:55):
It's because they lost to Florida.

Speaker 10 (24:57):
It's because they got drug all over Sanford Stadium by Georgia.
I mean, if they don't lose that badly to Georgia,
this is probably a different conversation because they wouldn't have
dropped seven spots immediately after me. Before that Georgia game,
they're still a top ten team. They were still in
control their destiny. A lot of the pundits out there
thought that, hey, if they lose this Georgia game and
Vida and m they're still to be fine.

Speaker 4 (25:15):
But then they got killed by Georgia.

Speaker 10 (25:17):
And I don't think there's a single team that's continuing
for a playoffs but that has a worse loss than
that Georgia game. And BYU and Utah both at twenty
point losses, but I don't think it was by twenty five.

Speaker 4 (25:28):
I mean, they're like twenty two and twenty three point losses.

Speaker 10 (25:30):
So losing that Georgia game did Texas absolutely no favors
because it's late in the season. They dropped them and
did not give them much time to make up that ground.
And obviously the Florida losses the Florida loss, but Texas
is not being punished because they lost to Ohio State
and in State in Week one. It's because the Florida
loss is because of how lopsided in bad that Georgia
loss was, and they just don't haven't had the time to.

Speaker 2 (25:52):
Make it up.

Speaker 4 (25:53):
And we'll see if they can do it on Friday.

Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, and it's important that they get this victory for
so many other reasons, recruiting wise, Texas, knocking Texas A
and M out of the title game and possibly making
them fall because of their schedule and what they went
up against all season long.

Speaker 3 (26:11):
So it's very interesting on that song.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
If you can't be the champion, you might as well
play the spoiler, right then?

Speaker 10 (26:20):
I mean, is that where we're at this season? It's
kind of sad, isn't it. What you can get Spilling
Texas A and M is fun. I mean, this is
the season we expect to be. I expect to be
getting more of these nice sweatshirts from a swag from
a nice playoff game. I'm gonna be going to the
Citrus boil or something like that, and said, but I mean,
I hope that's not the rallying cry. When Steve leads

(26:41):
to guys out the titles, let's go spoil an n spot.
I mean, this is a team that up in the
season with national championship aspirations. It's been a disappointment. But
you go out there, you try to make one last
ditch effort to the committee and see where that See
where that takes you.

Speaker 4 (26:54):
I guess down the road.

Speaker 10 (26:56):
If you get to you can talk a little smack
to your A and M friends because you spoiled their season.

Speaker 4 (26:59):
That's best nice fotus. But I really hope that is
not the rallying cry. As a leap the locker on Friday.

Speaker 1 (27:05):
They're telling them to start the bus. Danny, start the bus,
that's what they're hoping for. We're talking to Danny Davis
of the Austin American Statesman. You can follow them at Underscore.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
Danny Davis.

Speaker 1 (27:16):
We just a little while ago, we got a chance
to mention some of the superlatives that arch Manning was
able to receive this past week from the highest accolades
that he could get for what we've seen. This is
a guy that has gotten better and better weekend and
week out, and now folks are kind of eating crow
on those those thoughts of being a what did they

(27:39):
say a flop in October?

Speaker 5 (27:42):
What?

Speaker 1 (27:42):
What are some of the things that you've taken away
from watching Arch Manning develop as the starting quarterback at
the University of Texas.

Speaker 10 (27:51):
Yeah, I think I said this before, but I think
the thing I've been most impressed about Arch is arch
has just been kind of ink, has the same added
dude and personality, and he's been kind of just even
keel throughout whatever. I mean, there was reason to criticize Artis,
and part of the reason was because we hyped him
up so much before the season, and we were ready

(28:11):
to pretty much, you know, you know, crown him as
the number one picking an upcoming draft, the Heisman Trophy winner,
you know, the savior of Texas, the best quarterback since
Colt and all this stuff before he'd really taken a
meaningful snap as the whole time starter. I mean, he
started against mississipp State last year, but that team was terrible.
But you know, he throughout that was just like, you know,

(28:32):
I haven't proven anything. I was a backup quarterback last year.
You know, I don't know why people were talking about
me that way. And then when things go poorly and
people jump off the bamdling him because that's what we
tend to do in the media, or we tend to
do on social media, like he was just he was
kind of rolled with it. You know, He's like, I
need to get better. I'm not you know, I'm not
you know, helping my team out enough. You know, He's like,
I you have your first temment rights, said what you

(28:52):
want about me. And you know, he didn't seem to
get too high. He didn't seem to get too low.
He seems to be kind of checked out on social
media and not really right in that wave. And so
I've been really impressed with how he has handled this
because I know how I.

Speaker 4 (29:06):
Act on social media.

Speaker 10 (29:07):
I was annoyed before I got into this call because
someone was calling me out for something I said like
three months ago on Twitter that proved to be wrong
about Angela Kelly keeping a job at Texas. So you know,
if I get annoyed about you know, super stuff about
that about a soccer coach. I couldn't imagine what you know,
people would Arch would be, you know how I would
handle being in Archer's shoes when the whole world's against you,
although it'd be nice for the whole rolds for you

(29:28):
as as they were at Argust. But he's been, you know,
letting his play do the do the talking, and it's
been talking pretty loudly over the past month or so.

Speaker 3 (29:36):
Danny.

Speaker 1 (29:36):
Before we let you go, man, we got to talk basketball.
Texas is headed to Las Vegas. They take on u
c l A tonight. It's a big time matchup. But
it's interesting because this player's uh, I don't even know
what they're calling this player or something. But there is
a chance to win ni L money by going to

(29:56):
play in this tournament, and Vic Shaffer seem to be
very excited about going there to try to help with
some nil Yeah.

Speaker 4 (30:06):
I'm to clarified a little bit.

Speaker 10 (30:07):
The game is actually at one pm, so except one
pm over at True TV, and they don't technically win
the nil money.

Speaker 4 (30:16):
The money is pretty much in the bank now.

Speaker 10 (30:17):
They had to do some appearances and some stuff when
they got to Vegas to earn the money, but it's
essentially a good appearance fee.

Speaker 4 (30:23):
But that's just kind of where college basketball's going these days.

Speaker 10 (30:27):
I think Texas in the past is content with going
to like these potunk tournaments are like in nice places
like Bahamas, the Virgin Islands. Get some time on the
beach and get chill with your teammates. But I think
a lot of these showcases are offering money now to
show up and play in their tournaments.

Speaker 4 (30:42):
And that's a way in.

Speaker 10 (30:43):
The nil era to you know, entice you know, players
to come to your come to your school or stick
around your school and have a chance to fatten their wallets.
And Texas is doing another one of those against Baylor
in a couple of weeks in Fort Worth.

Speaker 4 (30:57):
So this is where we are and a.

Speaker 10 (30:59):
Million dollars a lot of money, and that's it's gonna
be a nice little I guess pay day when these
players get back in Vegas. I don't spend it all
while they're out there, but uh, it's kind of where
college basketball is going, and it's a cool little perk.

Speaker 4 (31:10):
Daniel, are you four against that? I think it's a
great deal.

Speaker 2 (31:14):
Like, you know, players get to have a little bit
of stipend, uh, you know, subsidize the fact that you
know they they could be going to the Hawaii, they
could be going to some of those other tournaments.

Speaker 10 (31:28):
Are you prove are negative against Mark? The only person
whose money I care about is my wife's. I don't
care about what you make. I don't care about what
Roy Harvin makes. I don't care about what Arch Fanning makes.
Like I think we've got, we've kind of jumped the
shark on count other people's wallets. If these players want
to go out and make money, knock yourselves out. I

(31:49):
just I just don't have the time or the bandwis
to care about what other people are doing with their money.

Speaker 1 (31:52):
And watch it over there with Danny Davis. He's making
sure his wife brings that check home. Danny, Happy holidays, Man,
enjoy the family. I love watching what you've been doing
on your social and appreciate you coming on with us
every every single Wednesday. So man, enjoy. And I know
who you are, Danny. I know you're not Eric. Y'all

(32:13):
be sure to tell Eric Heavy a couple of better.
I'm gonna actually tune in see if you make that
same mistake.

Speaker 3 (32:18):
I'm gonna take I'm gonna.

Speaker 4 (32:19):
Do you guys, do it on purpose now for.

Speaker 3 (32:22):
You, Danny, I'm gonna do it for you.

Speaker 1 (32:24):
There he is my guy, Danny Davis of the Austin
American Statesman.

Speaker 3 (32:27):
Happy Thanksgiving brother.

Speaker 1 (32:29):
When we come back, Texas basketball got the dub and
I'm glad he updated me on that game one o'clock
for the women.

Speaker 3 (32:36):
And we'll talk about that a little bit later.

Speaker 1 (32:38):
But up next we're gonna talk Texas men's basketball.

Speaker 3 (32:42):
Big win.

Speaker 1 (32:42):
Oh but Shaiman, I right here on the morning kickoff
off Sports Sports Radio AM thirteen hundreds.

Speaker 11 (32:49):
All come on. Flips it back to Heidi, splits two
defenders and drives into school. Lo reebown Texas clear by
Dylan Swayne. Swayne splitting two free defenders, goes into score
with the left hand off the glass. Pope to Wilcher.
You'll fire up a three pointer too strong, but an
offensive rebound in the put back by.

Speaker 7 (33:06):
Swain, good hands, good put back.

Speaker 11 (33:08):
Six quick points now for Dayland Swain and the long
worn lead is ten, their largest of this first half.
This is another six to oh run. It's twenty eight
eighteen and a minus focatitis ad dribbled turns in traffic,
scores off the glass with a foul. Great move by
Modus Bocatitis in the block, spun around, put it off
the glass, got the bucket in on to Pope again
at the foul on back to Wilcher open to shoot

(33:30):
a three and he cadects Simeon. Wiltchier knocks down the three.
That's the first three pointer made by a longhorn in
Texas has its largest lead up twenty at forty eight.
Twenty eight Tremi Mark Trappa got rid of it the
swing and in a bullet pass into Foca Titus at
two ended slam down the lane, picked up my swain
in transition to the right side. How about Pope for three?

Speaker 3 (33:52):
How about it drains.

Speaker 11 (33:54):
It Boca Titus the rebound and Texas brings it back
up the floor to the right at Heidi NBA range
three and he trains it ham. Heidi hits his first three,
stepped into it nicely, and the long horn lead is
nineteen at sixty two forty three. Left wing thought about
a three, shoots the three, hits the three. Treman mark

(34:15):
Is hit two threes now here in the second half
and The Longhorns back up twenty three points at eighty
one fifty eight. Inside Weaver tried for the slam dunk,
missed it. Cold Bot to crank up a three Happy
Birthday Old Bot knocks down the three.

Speaker 3 (34:32):
Ten seconds to go.

Speaker 11 (34:35):
Reach in shot thrown up Paul balanced, Weaver has it
three seconds two and that'll do it. Long Horns win
this one final score to nine. Texas one nineteen and
shamanad seventy eight.

Speaker 1 (34:50):
You heard it the voice, Texas Longhorns are got Craig
Way one nineteen to seventy eight. The Texas Longhorns go
over and get a much needed victory as they continue
their quest at Maui the Southwest Maui Invitational Mark. This
was a game that you know, Dylan Swag pretty much

(35:11):
handled things. Tremont Mark looked a lot better, going four
of seven from three. Jordan Pope finally started knocking down
some shots, and then Matus continues to dominate on the inside.

Speaker 4 (35:25):
I thought it was a great performance. Early in the game.

Speaker 2 (35:30):
They had they had a little miscommunication, I think, but
they started the jail and I think that's kind of
where this team is.

Speaker 4 (35:38):
Going to go as they get to know each other better.

Speaker 2 (35:42):
And you you know, having a son that plays basketball
and played yourself, you know that sometimes chemistry is built.
It's not just a guarantee because you have a point guard,
because you have a center that is going to connect.

Speaker 4 (35:57):
But as the.

Speaker 2 (35:58):
Game went on, you see how easier it was to
get the ball to the postman because of off the
dribble handoff. They were able to spread the floor and
get the ball in a one on one situation with
the center. That's that just takes practice and I think
that they'll jail over the next five to six games.

Speaker 1 (36:18):
Well, the interesting part now is Shamanad was not a
formidable opponent. You saw when they played Arizona State lockdown,
it was a tougher game. Well, it's going to be
even tougher when they go up against NC State n
C State. They will play them tonight at a thirty.
You can listen to the game right here on Sports
Radio AM thirteen hundred the zone you also have it'll

(36:40):
be on ESPN two. N C State is going to
be a tough, tough opponent for this Texas basketball team.
This is NCAA tournament like because you're playing back to
back days, time zone different things are going on. Texas
is now played at ten thirty. They played at nine
to thirty, and tonight they will play at eight thirty.

(37:02):
So this has been a true challenge for this Texas
basketball team. And now they get their biggest test of
being over there against NC State.

Speaker 4 (37:12):
Well, let's get all of the refs out of the way.

Speaker 2 (37:15):
I think that you know, when you have those rough
patches where things are difficult, you want that early in
the season. And I think that you know, it's a
good thing that go through adversity or have some tough
times if you will.

Speaker 1 (37:30):
Yeah, well they're gonna get it some tough times. They're
playing the ACC opponent in North Carolina State tonight, and
then when they come back home, they will play on
Wednesday in the ACC SEC Challenge and they will take
on the Virginia Cavaliers at the Moody Center. So Texas
got their hands full. They're going to continue to have

(37:52):
to work, but I think they're ready and looking forward
to the challenges of learning each other, being able to
work together. And these are the types of trips where
you find out a lot about your basketball team. And
I'll be interested to hear postgame tonight when coach Miller
talks about what happened on the trip and how things

(38:14):
are shaping up. Our number one is in the books.
Our number two is just around the corner. We will
have Danny, I mean, Eric Henry of Hoards two four
seven joining us when we come back. We'll continue these conversations.
It's a very short week for the show, so we'll

(38:34):
give our picks out at eight seventeen. You'll have the
World's Strongest Take, and then we'll close out the show
by previewing Texas UCLA and Texas versus NC State.

Speaker 3 (38:48):
Our number two is.

Speaker 1 (38:50):
Just around the corner, right here on the morning Kickoff
on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred to Zone and always
free on the iHeartRadio app. Welcome back to our number
two of the morning kickoff right here on Sports Radio
AM thirteen hundred the Zone, WWE Hall of Famer and
World Strongest Man d Mark, Henry, Mike Harball, hars And

(39:11):
we had to move the day up because there was
a lot that's going on. We are going to be
off tomorrow, so that means I moved our guy, Eric
Henry of Horns two four seven into the eight o'clock hour.
He's wearing his new Tampa Bay hat. He's excited about it. Eve,
what's happening baby, Good morning, Good morning fellas. Appreciate you

(39:32):
having on as always.

Speaker 7 (39:33):
Real quick, Mark, I saw you eating something in the
break Did you have someone.

Speaker 4 (39:36):
Test that ahead of time? Cap more issues like last week?

Speaker 7 (39:38):
You have someone test the food for you?

Speaker 4 (39:40):
Right, Listen.

Speaker 2 (39:42):
I would go my whole life without ever getting food
boys in it again. And yes, I'm you know, I'm
doing the checks mixed commercial today. But yeah, man, I'm better,
I'm better.

Speaker 4 (39:57):
It's nice to see you, Danny. I mean.

Speaker 1 (40:04):
I had literally just saw your tweet talking about hopping
on with us, and then when I came back.

Speaker 3 (40:11):
I was about to introduce.

Speaker 1 (40:12):
Danny Davis, and I said Eric Harry, I said Eric
Harre and I went, I mean Danny Davis, the alsin
American Statesman. And Danny was like, come on, Mike, we
don't all look alike. I said, well, actually, it depends
on who's talking to us. But let's get into it, man.
Because last week Texas went out and performed at a

(40:34):
very very high level. We thought that that Arkansas defense
was going to give it up, and that's exactly what
they did. We knew that their offense was going to
be able to put points up on the board.

Speaker 3 (40:46):
That's exactly what they did.

Speaker 1 (40:48):
But now you got a whole different set of challenges
when you deal with the Texas A and M fighting
Aggie's with the wide receiver corps, the running back Ruben Owens,
and of course the quarterback Marcel Reid.

Speaker 7 (41:03):
Yeah, Harje, you know, let's not end the discussion with
Arkansas because I'll take some things out of that game
that are going to be really applicable on Friday. Let's
start for Texas offense, right, the progression of arch Manning.
I remember asking Steve Sarkisian after the disastrous UTEP game,
which little did we know there would be further disasters
came after that. But I asked Steve Starkesian, hey, is

(41:25):
this as low as it can go for a quarterbacks
someone who played quarterback at a higher level, And you know,
it doesn't kind of help the fact that it can
only go up. And Steve said, yeah, at this point,
it can't get any lower. What are you afraid of? Right?
I mean, at this point all you can do is
go out there, cut it loose and play. And he
looks forward to seeing how arch comes out the other
side of things. Well, Arch Manning is on the other

(41:47):
side of things, no doubt about that. Over the last
four weeks, over thirteen hundred yards through the year, eleven touchdowns,
one interception. I think, you know, and I said this
on a couple other outlets, Hard and Mark, I think
this is really going to be arch Manning's introduction to
a national audience. The reason I say that is because
a lot of people just look at the box score, right,

(42:07):
look at the box score, seen Archie Manning that, Oh okay,
he had a bad game. He can't be that good, right,
because they're probably watching their team or watching other games. Well,
we all know Black Friday, there's only going to be
a handful of games on the spotlight. Game is going
to be Texas, Texas, A and M. This is going
to be arch Man's introduction to the national audience. I
expect him to respond in kind now defensively coming out
of that Arkansas game. One of the big things. This

(42:28):
is why I asked whether there was guys like Michael taff,
Jelani McDonald, Ethan Burke, et cetera. How crucial is it
to have good eye discipline when facing a dual threat quarterback, right,
because you know they're going to bring different aspects out
there are multude aspects what they can do. Let's just
call the spade a spade. Taylor Green's a talented quarterback,

(42:48):
but he's probably a poor man's Marcel Reid in terms
of the way that Marcel Reid hasn't playing football this year.
So again, Texas defensill has things to clean up. They
gave up quite a few chunk plays against Arkansas, But
I can't think of a better I don't want to
say warm up game, but a better quarterback to face
ahead of Marcel Read because at least you still are

(43:09):
in that mentality of having to face a bull thread quarterback.

Speaker 4 (43:12):
I thought the same thing.

Speaker 2 (43:14):
I was like, Wow, it couldn't be a better time
for Texas to play a running quarterback to get some
reps and understand I discipline as well as.

Speaker 4 (43:25):
Texas is gonna have to.

Speaker 2 (43:29):
They're gonna have to get pressure with four because you're
gonna need an extra man in coverage and you're gonna
need a man to spy. So like, you can't allocate
five or six people on the line of scrimmage. Even
if you do, it should be a shell. It should
be just to show you, hey, we're here on the
line of scrimmage, but we're gonna drop and do this

(43:52):
coverage and hope that you can stop.

Speaker 4 (43:56):
Concept on those crossers.

Speaker 2 (43:59):
You cannot allow him free rain to take off the
line of scrimmage. And you watched a lot of film
on them, as much as I'm sure that you know
hard and that we try to watch as many games
as we can so we know what we're seeing. And
what is your take on this A and M offense?

(44:20):
Rather than talking about what our defense is going to do?
What do you think about this A and M's offense?

Speaker 7 (44:27):
Here's the first thing I'll say. Their offensive line. And
of course we can talk about Marcel Reid and conception
and Owens and you know, Le'Veon Moss. Of course, you
know it's kind of question for this game. Their offensive lines.
Everything starts Mart. They're six seven deep on the offensive line.
That's been in addition to Marso Reid's development year over year,
their offensive lines development year over year has played one

(44:48):
of the biggest factors this team coming into Austin eleven
and zero. So with that being said, I got to
own this one. You know, I don't think I've said
it on the air with you guys. I've set another platforms.
I was dead wrong about MARSHL Reid entering the year.
I thought there were two quarterbacks in the SEC who
were kind of under the spotlight as far as guys
who played a little bit last year and where would
they go? I thought DJ Lagway was one and Marshall

(45:10):
Reed was the other. I put all my eggs in
the DJ Lagway basket. We saw that as worked out
for DJ and Florida. Right, Marcell Reid has shown guys
he wants to throw the football. I think they're you know,
I'm gonna use a bit of a data analogy, but
there's some folks if you talk to some people around
the A and M. I don't want to say within
the program, but around the program, who want him to
run more. They think he's a little bit more of

(45:30):
the Remember Donvan McNabb, you know, the case is always like,
you know, why is he using his legs more? Right,
he's trying to be be a pocket passer. I think
that some folks who want him to throw the ball
more because he wants to use his legs more, because
he's been so reliant on his arm. The counterpoint to
that guy is he has so much more time, as
I said, with the offensive lines improvement from year over year.

(45:51):
So to move that to Friday in terms of the
point you made mark in terms of you know, being
able to get home with four and how many guys
you want to rush, call me stubborn. I still want
to make Marcel Reed beat me with his arm, and
he has done it this year, but I still think
it's a bit of a of a riskier scenario if

(46:11):
you try to say, hey, use your legs because he
can gash you for those chunk plays fifteen twenty yards
at a time and just take you know, kind of
those plays to moralize a defense.

Speaker 1 (46:21):
Well, the one thing that I wanted to talk about.
We're talking to Eric Henry of Horns two for seven.
You can follow him at Eric c henry Underscore is
the fact that this Texas defense is making those big
time plays. You saw the scoop and score, Colin Simmons
being the guy that is coming off the edge playing
so much better in the second half of the season,

(46:43):
and of course now they are expected to have Anthony
Hill Junior back this week and a lot of guys
got a lot of reps as well. The only thing
that I'm worried about is our guy Roberson, and of
course the young defensive back Cayden Phillips going up against
this secondary.

Speaker 7 (47:02):
Yeah, you know, well, I mean I guess I'll work
in reverse, right, you know, this is a game. I
won't just single out Warren rovers and let's just say penalties.
As a whole, the Texas is averaging, is averaging. They
were averaging eight point two, you know, because they had
seven last week, that number went down a little bit.
They're at eight point oh eight either way, Oh oh,

(47:23):
either way, hard one hundred and thirty, third in the nation.
It doesn't really matter. You don't want to be that
as a team, right, So you know, yes, Warren Robson
has picked up some holy penalties, but as a whole,
this team cannot afford penalties. We'll set the over under
when I do five pressing questions at five penalties. You know,
if they can stay under that, I think they at
least give themselves a shot with their play elsewhere. You

(47:44):
talk about the secondary, Yeah, you know, that's certainly something
that's interesting. I think Michael Taff certainly still kind of
getting his sea legs back after being out a little bit.
But to your point, they've rotated more guys in. I
do wonder and I'm not saying this is a slide
against the defense, Harge, but remember they played eighty plays
at Kentucky. They played eighty one plays at Mississippi State.

(48:06):
The Vanderbilt game is recently is a couple of weeks ago.
Texas defense on the field for thirty four minutes. Right,
They've played a lot of football this year. My question is,
is this defense just running out of gas. I think
that's part of the reason why you've seen Steve Sarkisian simply,
especially if you look at the safety spot, it was
Jelani McDonald and taff playing over eighty five percent of

(48:26):
the snaps at safety. So I think that's part of
the reason you've seen Jonah Williams, you've seen more Xavier Phils.
To me, you've seen more Cad Phillips. As you talked
about Kate Phillips, a big cornerback. You know, young guy
freshman sixty three, two hundred and five pounds was still young,
right in a big time game like this, you got
to make sure he's not using his hands not holding
things of that nature. So yeah, a lot of things
to be to keep an eye on in that secondary.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
A lot of times on third down we found ourselves,
you know, playing eight to twelve yards off the ball
in certain circumstances. I think this is a game where
you get in these guys face and you fight on
the phone booth and you just say, guys, we need
to get pressure without four.

Speaker 4 (49:09):
If we send five, fine, but.

Speaker 2 (49:11):
We're not gonna just let these wide receivers go unabated
off the line of scrimmage. Taxes haven't done that very
much this year. I think that there's not a lot
of film on seeing them do it. This is the
time to do it right.

Speaker 7 (49:26):
This is the time if you're gonna, you know, kind
of switch the way you would do things, it certainly
would be the time to do it again. Mark My
only hesitation, I think you can still and I'm not
saying that you're saying not to bring pressure. I think
what you're saying is to selectively bring pressure. Right, because
I with this Texas A and M offensive line, and
how good it's been this year, they've only given up

(49:47):
eleven sacks that if my memory serves me correct, it's
thirteenth in the nation. I know, the top fifteen the
nation and few of sacks allowed. You have to get
home at some point, right, Because I'm gonna kind of
talk out of both sides of my mouth for a minute,
I said I'd want to make Marshall read a pas. However,
when he has three, four or five seconds to throw,
he's been great this year, yep. Right now, if if
you can speed him up, then I think you have

(50:07):
some chances.

Speaker 3 (50:08):
Right.

Speaker 7 (50:08):
So to your point, yes, this is a game where
Colin Simmons. You'd like to see him get home that
interior the defensive line. You'd like to see them bring
pressure up the middle and maybe force Marcel Reed in
that way to be a passer. But again, you can't.
You can't give him all the time in the world
because he's proven me wrong that he can make those
throws if you give him three, four, five seconds.

Speaker 1 (50:27):
And he gets sit up ball to those playmakers that
can take a five yard hitch and take it to
the house. So it'll be an interesting task for all involved.
As Texas in Texas A and M Lone Star Showdowns,
Cotton Holdings Lone Stars Showdown will kick off this weekend
at six thirty from DKR Texas Memorial Stadium. And that's

(50:50):
our guy, Eric Henry of Horns two four to seven.
He'll be making an appearance again this weekend hanging out
with the fellas on Bevo Boulevard as always. Well, appreciate you,
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the day, and we'll see you
on Friday.

Speaker 7 (51:04):
Brother, Happy Thanksgiving to all y'all, see y'all Friday.

Speaker 3 (51:06):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (51:07):
There he is, Eric Henry of Horns two four to seven,
bringing that smoke. Coming up next, we're gonna talk NFL.
We're gonna talk college football because we're giving out our
picks false entertainment purposes only right here on the morning
kickoff on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone Special

(51:27):
thanks to Eric Henry of Horns two four seven, and
of course our guy Danny Davis of the Austin American Statesman.
Coming up a little bit later, we'll talk a little
bit about the games that happened this weekend. But right
now I want to give you a chance to win
a pair of tickets to go to NASCAR at CODA

(51:48):
February to twenty first through March. I mean February twenty
seventh through March the first. All you have to do
is get over to AM thirteen hundred the zone on
the app, push down at microphone, and leave the keyword
of the day, Pacer. Pacer is the keyword of the day.
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to

(52:09):
go see Nascar at CODA February to twenty seventh through
the first So get a chance to win, all you
got to do is leave a voicemail and your name
will be entered for that opportunity. But you know what
time it is, It's time to give out the picks. Boys,
let's get this thing started. Mark Henry, we're gonna give

(52:31):
you the floor first, give us your first pick of
the week.

Speaker 2 (52:39):
I'm going Texas over Texas A and M plus three
point five.

Speaker 1 (52:45):
Plus three And where'd you get three and a half
aft because we got it at two and.

Speaker 4 (52:48):
A half But I got two and a half yep.

Speaker 1 (52:51):
At at DraftKings Drafts.

Speaker 4 (52:56):
I'm I'm on one of those other sites.

Speaker 1 (52:58):
Yeah, so we're going two and a half half at DraftKings.
Mark Henry takes the University of Texas Marcus.

Speaker 12 (53:07):
Marcus will be taking the University of Houston plus two.

Speaker 3 (53:10):
And a half at versus Baylor. He had to go
back to H Town.

Speaker 1 (53:14):
He's taken U of H and represent I am taking Kentucky.
This is a big matchup, big.

Speaker 3 (53:22):
Spot for them.

Speaker 1 (53:23):
I'm taking Kentucky plus three over Louisville.

Speaker 3 (53:27):
I don't know why, I'm just doing it.

Speaker 1 (53:30):
My next pick is gonna be the Tennessee Volunteers at
number nineteen. They are two and a half point favors
over Diego Pavia and his mom. I'm taking Tennessee minus
two and a half.

Speaker 2 (53:49):
Mark, henry Man, you better be talking talking about people, Mama.

Speaker 4 (53:55):
I'm gonna go Arizona State over Arizona.

Speaker 9 (54:00):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (54:00):
The line is plus one and a half. Uh. You
to places I just checked said that it was even.

Speaker 3 (54:10):
Well.

Speaker 1 (54:10):
The new the one on on ours that we're using
it says that Arizona State is a one and a
half point dog, I mean one and a half point dog.

Speaker 3 (54:24):
So you have them at plus one and a half.

Speaker 4 (54:28):
Yes, sir Marcus, I.

Speaker 12 (54:30):
Mean listen to your paper real quick. I'm gonna copy
off for you real quick. I'm gonna take a Kentucky
plus the three versus Louisville as well.

Speaker 1 (54:39):
Okay, staying with Marcus your final pick of college football.

Speaker 12 (54:44):
Oh, big game this weekend, Pittsburgh in Miami. I'm taking
Pittsburgh plus the seventh plus the seventh.

Speaker 3 (54:52):
Marcus to Pigsburg, Mark.

Speaker 2 (54:54):
Henry, everybody's big in Ohio State over not mean, I'm
going Michigan plus nine and a half.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
That's a ten.

Speaker 1 (55:08):
I am taking Ohio State minus ten.

Speaker 3 (55:13):
So we're going head to head.

Speaker 4 (55:15):
But let's go.

Speaker 1 (55:16):
We are going at it and that will conclude our
picks from college football. I took Kentucky plus three, Tennessee
minus two and a half, and Ohio State minus ten.
Mark Henry took Texas plus two and a half, Michigan
plus ten, and Arizona State plus one and a half.

(55:40):
Marcus Spears took Pittsburgh, Kentucky, and U of H on
his picks Pittsburgh plus seven, Kentucky plus three, and U
of H plus two and a half. Now we go
to the nf of Marcus start us off.

Speaker 12 (55:59):
Since I'm going Town, I'm staying eache Town. I'm taking
the Texans plus the four and a half versus the.

Speaker 1 (56:04):
Coachs Texans plus four and a half versus the Colts.

Speaker 3 (56:08):
Kicking with my heart now, yeah, you are, Mark.

Speaker 2 (56:11):
Henry, Well, I'm picking with my heart, but also just
look at the development of what Dallas defense is. I'm
gonna go Dallas over Kansas City. Got my shovel in
my hand. Three and a half plus three and a
half for the Cowboys. The Cowboys are a home dog

(56:33):
plus three and a half.

Speaker 4 (56:35):
I am going.

Speaker 1 (56:36):
To Detroit Detroit minus two and a half.

Speaker 3 (56:42):
I have them beating the Green Bay Packers.

Speaker 1 (56:46):
You want to talk about putting dirt on a team,
I think that is a team that might need some
dirt on them. I'm gonna stay in the at l
I said I was gonna give them another chance.

Speaker 3 (56:56):
They won.

Speaker 1 (56:57):
I'm going Atlanta minus two and a half. That's what
I'm doing there. Mark Henry, your next pick, and.

Speaker 4 (57:06):
We both on the same page.

Speaker 2 (57:09):
With Green Bay and the Lions, I think after what
we saw last week, I'm gonna go with the Lions
again minus.

Speaker 4 (57:19):
Two and a half.

Speaker 12 (57:21):
Marcus, Oh, okay, I'm gonna take since he's back, I'm
taking the Bengals plus seven versus the Ravens.

Speaker 3 (57:29):
Joe Burrow's back in the house.

Speaker 1 (57:31):
Joe Burrow being back in the house is gonna change
the way a lot of people think, and I understand,
Mark Henry.

Speaker 2 (57:39):
You know what, my Philly, I didn't get enough of
the fried bird that we had last week with the
Cowboys beating the Eagles.

Speaker 4 (57:48):
I want some more birds. I'm gonna go to Chicago
plus seven to beat philadel Marcus.

Speaker 12 (57:58):
You're copying off of my paper now because I'm also
taking the Bands plus seven versus the Eagles, and.

Speaker 3 (58:05):
I will finish it off. Can you see my role?
Can you see my role? I'm rolling with your door
once again.

Speaker 1 (58:14):
I am taking Cleveland plus four and a half over well,
not over against the Niners. I know the Niners put
in work against Carolina, but I believe that's your door.
With another week as the starting quarterback, I think he's
gonna get better and better.

Speaker 3 (58:30):
Can you see my roley? Can you see my roley?
I am.

Speaker 4 (58:33):
I think that defensive.

Speaker 2 (58:35):
I think that defensive Cleveland is gonna expose San Francisco.

Speaker 1 (58:39):
We're gonna see because we talked about Miles Garrett and
where we believe he's going to be. So for the
final picks of the NFL, we took. I took Detroit
minus two and a half, Atlanta, come on, Vijon minus
two and a half and I rolled with Cleveland plus
four and a half. Mark took Detroit minus two and

(59:00):
a half, the Cowboys plus three and a half, end
up Bears plus seven. Maraucus he took the Bengals plus seven.
He took the Texans plus four and a half, and
he took the Bears plus seven. And we have to
tell you this because we tell you this every single week.
Please understand that this is for entertainment purposes only if

(59:22):
you have a problem called one eight hundred gambler, because
what is happening here has no bearing on what you
should do. Just enjoy the show.

Speaker 4 (59:35):
There you go.

Speaker 3 (59:35):
That boy's good, good and terrible, good and terrible. So yeah,
there are a bunch of big games.

Speaker 1 (59:42):
As we talked about, the rivalries are out there. We
will know more about what's going on with Lane Kiffin
tomorrow or excuse me, Friday, after their matchup. The news
will be out, so we will see what's going to happen.

Speaker 3 (59:56):
What you got?

Speaker 2 (59:57):
I got a question for you and Marcus both. I
wanted just a straight up answer. What's more important this week?

Speaker 4 (01:00:07):
The scores and the games.

Speaker 2 (01:00:10):
That are played in college with the rivalries or during
the holidays, they select these games because there's a lot
of riding on it, and they're riding on it more
than anything in the NFL this year with the way
Kansas City is playing, the way Dallas is playing, and
the Bears.

Speaker 4 (01:00:30):
You know them and Green Bay.

Speaker 2 (01:00:33):
Like, it's rivalries in the NFL Week two, So which
one is gonna be the most impactful?

Speaker 3 (01:00:40):
I'm gonna go college.

Speaker 12 (01:00:42):
It is rivalries as across the board, and I'm talking
blood rivalries across the board.

Speaker 3 (01:00:47):
So I'm going to college. And also so much on
the line.

Speaker 12 (01:00:51):
That's the last week before before conference championship games.

Speaker 3 (01:00:57):
So yeah, it's college all the way.

Speaker 1 (01:01:00):
And agreants with Marcus on that it's all about college
because there's a lot of playoff implications that are being
done here for some of these teams because it could
end some of these teams chances of getting into the
college football playoffs. So yes, there's a lot of stake
the NFL. They still got a lot of games left.
This is the final week of college football. We've been

(01:01:22):
waiting for college football all offseason. We get here and
it is kind of flown by and now we're like
we're longing for all the same page.

Speaker 3 (01:01:33):
Yeah, no doubt about it.

Speaker 1 (01:01:34):
When we come back, we'll hear from the world's strongest
man as he brings you his world's strongest take right
here on the morning kickoff on sports Radio AM thirteen
hundred Desogne.

Speaker 3 (01:01:44):
You heard the beat drop.

Speaker 1 (01:01:45):
No matter where he is, he's a WWE Hall of Famer,
he recognized as the world's strongest man.

Speaker 3 (01:01:51):
He is deep Mark Henry, and he is here to
bring you his world's strongest take. Take it away, big fella, March.

Speaker 4 (01:02:02):
You know what time it is.

Speaker 2 (01:02:04):
It's time for the world's strongest take by the world's
strongest man.

Speaker 4 (01:02:11):
My guess back then they didn't know me. Now I'm hot,
They're all on them.

Speaker 10 (01:02:18):
Guys.

Speaker 2 (01:02:18):
You know, always try to find something in sports to
have a take on, but usually it's about, you know,
the negative things in sports. What is no difference today
it is again something that falls on the negative side.

Speaker 4 (01:02:38):
I thought about talking about.

Speaker 2 (01:02:41):
Oklahoma State, you know, and a new situation where where
coach Morris, but I elected to talk about something that
I felt like was an issue because it just looked
like a problem to me.

Speaker 4 (01:02:56):
And that problem is these the cots in the NBA
that that they're having right now all the different colored courts.

Speaker 2 (01:03:09):
They looked very slippery and shiny for the tournament, the
mid season tournament.

Speaker 4 (01:03:19):
It's been confirmed that several.

Speaker 2 (01:03:23):
Players said that these fours have contributed to injuries that
they sustained. Well, nobody is really of serious stature has
said anything until last night.

Speaker 4 (01:03:37):
Luca Donnage, who.

Speaker 2 (01:03:40):
Decided that he was gonna shoot the ball, that he
was not going to drip and penetrate a lot because
the four was slick, and he made reference to it
and complained about it. He said that the the NBA
tournament courts are slick and possible, believe in dangerous.

Speaker 4 (01:04:02):
That's that. That's that's that says a lot because it takes.

Speaker 2 (01:04:07):
A player a lot of courage to go against the
company that pays their bills, UH to be able to
go to the league and say, hey, these these floors
are dangerous. You're gonna get unbelievable talent hurt. And then
what so when you take away a part of your

(01:04:30):
game and say, well, I'm I'm.

Speaker 4 (01:04:31):
I'm gonna shoot the ball.

Speaker 2 (01:04:33):
I'm not driving in there and slipping and following and
hurting myself, that's that's a problem. And I'm under the
advisement of maybe they should go against these these painted courts.
Because these painted courts, they only use them like two
or three times a year. They're not worn in. If

(01:04:56):
you're gonna use these courts, then use them a f actively,
have them use that practices and.

Speaker 4 (01:05:03):
Have them, you know, get worn in. Like but you
get one drop of sweat or somebody.

Speaker 2 (01:05:13):
Spits on the court and the next thing you know,
you slip and break your ankle or dislocate you need.
Maybe some of these injuries that guys are getting are
because of these courts.

Speaker 4 (01:05:24):
I think investigation needs to be done.

Speaker 3 (01:05:26):
What's auth What do you mean an investigation? I mean
if they're not.

Speaker 1 (01:05:32):
If the courts are awful and people are complaining, what
is there need to be an investigation for? They probably
just need to just pull that back and get from it, right, Yeah,
I think.

Speaker 4 (01:05:43):
They need to pull away from it. But I want
to see where the injuries occur.

Speaker 2 (01:05:49):
Like how many guys have complained and said, man, I
really got hurt when we were playing in the tournament courts?

Speaker 4 (01:05:57):
Like then you can you get enough? Guy? That's why
I'm saying investigation.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
You start asking a question to all of the players
on every team, Did you did you did you slip?

Speaker 4 (01:06:08):
Did you dislocate something? Did you did you did somebody
go under you? Like?

Speaker 7 (01:06:12):
What was it?

Speaker 4 (01:06:14):
Was it on one of these courts because this is about.

Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
The fifth time that a player has complained about it,
but nothing has been done. None of the players complaining
with Luka donag. They weren't like Kevin Durant. You know,
it wasn't a Shade Gilders Alexander that was complaining. When
when the when the big dogs start to complain, that's

(01:06:38):
when you have the problem.

Speaker 12 (01:06:40):
Remember when the NBA had the ball controversial controversy years back,
And I think that's what it is.

Speaker 3 (01:06:47):
More players have to complain.

Speaker 12 (01:06:48):
If I don't think there's been enough complaints on it,
if it's that much, I mean, if it's an issue,
I don't think it's been enough, because the NBA have
shown if players start complaining about it, there do something.
And also I be on honest, I'll be honest with you.
It's not aesthetically pleasing the court. I don't take the point.

(01:07:08):
It looks terrible to look at. And yes, I agree
with you, if enough players start coming out. Going back
to your point mark about an investigation and being able
to to talk about it.

Speaker 1 (01:07:19):
And you know, they do do surveys all the time
about certain things. I don't know why if more players
start to continue to talk about the the newness of
the floor, the slickness of the floor, it can be
something that they change. I know they're trying to do
it for marketing purposes as well, because a lot of
people are spending a lot of money on these types

(01:07:41):
of courts. But yeah, if it's not the betterment of
the league and you're risking one of your start players
getting hurt, there's a reason why.

Speaker 3 (01:07:49):
You might need to go back to a regular court.

Speaker 4 (01:07:52):
Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 2 (01:07:53):
I also feel the same way hard in the NFL
when it you know, he was talking about the footballs
like they didn't they wanted to take the balls right
out of the rapper heart and and and and have
NFL quarterbacks and go handle these balls that have not
been worn in you. You gotta take a little sandpaper

(01:08:15):
to them balls. You know, remember when we played as kids,
the first thing we did was put it on the
ground and rub it in the dirt.

Speaker 4 (01:08:23):
And scuff it up a little bit, and put water
on it and and rub it up.

Speaker 2 (01:08:28):
And get a towel and and really like put some
elbow grease into it like that.

Speaker 4 (01:08:34):
That'sn't that needs to be done in the NFL.

Speaker 3 (01:08:36):
Just just don't deflate them.

Speaker 4 (01:08:42):
Yeah no, no, no, no, I'm not the the weight
and the air and the ball keep keep it the
right way, Brady.

Speaker 2 (01:08:50):
Uh. But you know I've seen, nonetheless, a lot more
things need to be done for the benefit the benefit
of the player rather than this aesthetics of the league.
You know, they don't want the footballs to look warn
They want them to look good. Man. Nobody cares about
how the ball looks. You want to be able to

(01:09:11):
throw a catch it and run it.

Speaker 3 (01:09:12):
No doubt, no doubt, that was a good take.

Speaker 1 (01:09:15):
We got to make sure we look and see what
ends up happening with the basketball courts during these Meriness
Cup It's just yeah, it's ugly.

Speaker 3 (01:09:25):
Great point, Mark, It's ugly.

Speaker 1 (01:09:28):
We'll come back close out the show, final show of
the week. We've enjoyed it. But we got to talk
about Thanksgiving and what we're thankful for. And then of
course we have a bunch of games that we got
to pay attention to. Right here on the morning kickoff
on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone. Welcome back
to the morning kickoff our last show of the week.

(01:09:49):
We want to make sure that everybody enjoys their time.
If you miss any parts of the show, you can
always go back and listen to us at all times.

Speaker 3 (01:09:59):
Don't forget.

Speaker 1 (01:10:00):
The Texas women's basketball team will take on UCLA, a
big matchup. Roger Wallace and Kathy Harston will be on
the call. You can listen to it right here on
sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.

Speaker 3 (01:10:15):
And then tonight nine eight thirty.

Speaker 1 (01:10:18):
Texas will be to Texas men will be taking on
North Carolina State. You can also listen to that on
ninety eight one KVET and of course AM thirteen one
hundred The Zone. Big matchup for the Texas Longhorn men
and women as they get a chance to play some

(01:10:39):
really big names. To finish off this or to start
us on our Thanksgiving week, And don't forget, we will
start off Longhorns Game Day this Thursday, I mean, excuse me,
this Friday as third and Longhorn preview show will kick
off at two thirty. You can listen to that right
here on AM thirteen hundred The Zone, and then of

(01:11:00):
course Longhorns Game Day with myself, Cam Parker and not
Mark Henry, but Eric Henry will be joining us from
Bevo Boulevard. Winship Circle starting at three point thirty will
lead you up to Craig Way, Roger Wallace and Will
Matthews as they will bring you the call starting at

(01:11:20):
five point thirty with the preview show that they have
and of course then you can listen to the game
all the way through, and then of course Marcus will
be working. I think Marcus will be working on the
postgame show with the Third and Longhorn crew. You can
listen to all that right here on Sports Radio AM
thirteen hundred The Zone. And the reason why one Mark

(01:11:42):
Henry will not be with us on Bevo Boulevard is
because he's going to be spending time with his family
in Oklahoma as his son Jacob prepares to get ready
to play LSU this weekend. And Mark, I know that
you're thankful for being up there, but I want to
know what's your favorite side item when you get ready

(01:12:02):
for Thanksgiving.

Speaker 2 (01:12:05):
God, You're gonna laugh because it's not traditional Like a
lot of times people, you know, they go with the dressing. Uh,
they go with you know, greens or green beans and potatoes,
like the things that's kind of traditional with things getting
I like broccoli rice casserole.

Speaker 3 (01:12:24):
That's all Satiday. I mean, that's nothing.

Speaker 4 (01:12:25):
Wrong with one of my favorite size dishes.

Speaker 2 (01:12:28):
Not just doing Thanksgiving, but if I can get some
broccoli rice casserole, Oh man, this is such a great day.

Speaker 3 (01:12:36):
Yeah. I love broccoli rice casserole.

Speaker 1 (01:12:38):
I love sides, so I always get You know, this year,
I'm making the corn bread dressing.

Speaker 3 (01:12:45):
I'm doing that.

Speaker 1 (01:12:45):
We're getting greens for our good people over at with
my soul. We're gonna go get them greens from them.
So we're excited about those. Those are so good and
so good. Yeah, and I love macaroni and cheese, so
you know that those are the sides that I really
always go for.

Speaker 3 (01:13:03):
Mashed potatoes.

Speaker 1 (01:13:04):
My mother in law makes the best mashed potatoes, so
I love those mashed potatoes as well.

Speaker 2 (01:13:10):
I got a question for you. You said macaroni and cheese.
Are you like the cheese blend? Guy?

Speaker 1 (01:13:15):
Like, no, no, none of that, None of that. I
won't regular bell Beata give me some. I'm keeping it
one hundred Marcus. What what are you when it comes
to Thanksgiving so hard, it's hard to decide. I wonder
I got change.

Speaker 13 (01:13:36):
Creams potatoes to meat US lamp change freeze potatoes to meat,
US chicken creams potatoes to.

Speaker 7 (01:13:44):
Meat US lamp ramps.

Speaker 13 (01:13:47):
Change creams potatoes to meat, US chicken.

Speaker 3 (01:13:51):
Creams potatoes to meat US lamp ramps.

Speaker 13 (01:13:55):
Change creams potatoes to meatus chickens potatoes to meet us
page creams potatoes to meet us. Change creams betange creams beteange,
change change teange tea.

Speaker 3 (01:14:08):
Yeah, Okay, Marcus, you came through with that.

Speaker 4 (01:14:13):
See you what? But it made my day.

Speaker 1 (01:14:16):
It is. That's what we're gonna be having this weekend,
and I'm very thankful for that.

Speaker 3 (01:14:20):
Somebody.

Speaker 1 (01:14:21):
Something else that I'm thankful for is the good people
that came out last night. John and Valerie. Uh, they
listened to the show all the time. They say that
they're the biggest fans of the show. They love our
interaction with each other, and so I'm really really thankful
for the people that are on our thread all the time.

(01:14:43):
Rebecca jacento, Ike sal Up in New York, everybody that
always hits us up and has always been tuned into
the show.

Speaker 3 (01:14:53):
My man Chin. So I'm very thankful for all those
folks that continue to tune in to what we do.

Speaker 2 (01:15:01):
I have to give you a compliment, And Marcus, I
have to give you a compliment. Yesterday, flying to through
through the Oklahoma City A one, John.

Speaker 4 (01:15:20):
My Danny was on the flight.

Speaker 3 (01:15:21):
Oh, John Danny, my guy, and he.

Speaker 2 (01:15:25):
Said, I listened to the show, y'all are incredible. He
said that I love the way that you have the
sounds come in. I love the fact that you and
Ard are authentically yourselves. He said that you don't sound
potentious or judgmental. He gave us all these compliments and

(01:15:47):
I said, well, what's the bad? He said, It's like
herding cats, he said. He said, y'all go on tangents sometimes.
He said, but I expect that out y'all because that's
who you are. Yeah, and that's that's why you do
what you do. Hey, yues, I think that's a win.

Speaker 3 (01:16:07):
YEP.

Speaker 1 (01:16:07):
I love John Madanny and John Madanny is the first
person that I was turned on to by somebody that
worked here. Debbie McMichael and her husband Sam put me
in contact with John Danny when I took over for
our guy Sean Adams. And that was the main thing
that he told me. He said, just be Mike Harts,
don't be anybody else. I was like, because everybody else

(01:16:28):
is taken up, you know what I'm saying, So go
be yourself. And and that was one of the greatest
bits of advice that I had the entire time since
I've been doing this.

Speaker 3 (01:16:38):
So I'm thankful for jo.

Speaker 4 (01:16:40):
I love the fact that he complimented all of us. Yeah,
like it wasn't just one guy that stood out for him.

Speaker 3 (01:16:46):
Yeah, no doubt.

Speaker 4 (01:16:48):
We're a true team, no doubt about it.

Speaker 1 (01:16:50):
Well, I'm thankful that you get a chance to go
out there and hang out with your family.

Speaker 3 (01:16:55):
Tell everybody we said.

Speaker 1 (01:16:56):
Hello, we olds get it in man, and enjoy the
time off and we'll be back on Monday. But you
can definitely go back and listen to all of our podcasts.
Make sure you tuned in all afternoon as we will
have Texas Women's basketball starting at twelve forty five pregame,
and then tonight we have Craig Way bringing you the Maui.

Speaker 3 (01:17:19):
The Southwest Maui Classic from Maui. It's gonna be a
great time.

Speaker 1 (01:17:24):
Enjoy your family, enjoyed Thanksgiving and of course don't believe
everything you see, because even salt, it looks like sugar.

Speaker 7 (01:17:32):
Peace,