September 4, 2025 • 46 mins
In the third hour, Mac & Bone put together their victory formula for the Panthers against t he Jaguars, the guys are joined by ESPN writer Bill Connelly about the future and direction of college football, on and off the field, before debating which QB has the better game on Sunday
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Oh, Owen Mack and Bow on your radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
If you listen my freeing man, Posh, come on, posh.
This in my freem team. Bone.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
What's the fun I can't go to work without listening
to the Mac and Bone do a lot. How many
guys do you need this week to play the robot
(00:35):
Travis for your scout team.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
We really haven't looked at it that way. You know,
I don't know what they're gonna do with him. I
don't know, you know, how they're gonna use him in
different ways? You know, as a traditional wide receiver. Is
there gonna be gadgets that come out of that, you know,
defensively as well, you know, playing Is he just gonna
play the corner spot? Is he gonna return punts for them?
There's all these question marks about, you know, a really
(00:59):
talented player like Travis Hunter. But for us, you know,
it's really about assignment football. You know, regardless of who's
out there, he's a phenomenal player. We've played against unbelievable players,
you know, just throughout the course of time. So you
really just have to approach.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
It the same way.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
It starts with us knowing how to line up, knowing
how to communicate and execut the way we.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Know how.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
That is. Coach Kanalis yesterday and his presser discussing Travis Hunter,
and like many of us, he says, I don't really
know what to expect. There's not much you can prepare for.
He played in one of the preseason games. I think
it was like ten offensive snaps Bone eight defensive snaps.
I was reading ESPN's Jaguars reporter Mike Draco, and he
(01:42):
was kind of saying his feeling is that if they're
in three wide receiver sets, that Hunter will be on
the field. If it's two wide receiver sets, he thinks
Hunter will not be on the field. He thinks the
same thing as true on defense. If they're in base
and it's only two corners, he won't be on the field.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
If it's nickel, he'll be on the field.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
And I would guess in today's NFL Bone most teams
are in the seventy percent range probably for like nickel
or three wide, So that could be something to look
for coming up on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
So I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
If Travis Hunter is a part of this for you,
Bone or for any of the Panther fans. It's a tradition,
unlike any other. Bone really loves this, Bone really thinks
this is a proactive segment that results in great things.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
It were on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
Afterwards twenty five percent of the time, one hundred percent
of the time, like the Klona. It's like my raw
chemistry coon I have before we get started, because you're
talking about Travis Hunter rightfully, So can I ask you
a question about Travis? I mean about j C.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Horn?
Speaker 6 (02:42):
And I don't know if they answered this or not.
I feel like Avero last time, he wasn't.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Sure is Horn?
Speaker 6 (02:48):
Is he going to travel this year with the other
wide outs? Did they ever answer that during the offseason?
Vera refused to answer the question because it does play
a factor in a game like this when you got
a guy like Brian Thomas Junior and I'm looking at
a formula and I'm trying to figure out out to you,
how do you contain Brian Thomas Junior from going off?
To me, you'd be Horn travel that dude.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I love it. I'm with you. I'd love to see
more of it. A varo for whatever reason, some some
DC's really embrace it. Some DC's don't. But yeah, he
does not seem to really embrace it, and I'm with you,
I like I would, just there are certain matchups, like
if they're more balanced at wide receiver, that there are
certain matchups where like, Okay, I can understand why you
(03:28):
might just want to play sides, but this one feels
like one like, dude, that dude has a rookie head
over twelve hundred yards, like, and he's just getting started.
So I'm trying to respect Travis Hunter, but it's his
first game. Thomas is the one I'm scared about. Deanbi
Brown is another interesting guy. They added him in free
agency during the offseason. But I think that's a good
part of the game because they don't have.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
A dominant run game. They have a quarterback that sometimes shaky.
They're so dependent I think and will be going forward
on Brian Thomas Junior. You can somehow can him and
neutralize him to some degree that affects their entire offense.
And there's not another guy on the other side that
terrifies me right now in the wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (04:10):
Yeah, yeah, if.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Hunter beats us in his first game, we'll have to
adjust to it midgame, right, so you know, and tip
your hat to him. But Brian Thomas is the guy
you gotta stop. I would go to the offensive side
of the ball as we now do the victory formula,
the first ever of twenty twenty five. It's a new
year for those of you to think these victory formulas
are waste of time because we get our butts kicked.
But this is this a new year, all right, new year,
(04:32):
new season, new formulas. I think with that left tackle
position bone, if Ikey doesn't play, and I fear, you know,
they're gonna, I guess, send him out there to do
some individual stuff Friday and make a decision. But I
fear he won't be out there, and I fear that
it's gonna be Yosh Neiman and not Brady Christiansen. Can
we please get him some dang help. I don't need
any Mike schulet in the Super Bowl game plans bone
(04:53):
where you're not helping the dang tackles. Give that man
some help. You got Tommy tremble Back, he's not even
on the injury he's the perfect guy. Mitchell Evans another
guy to go over. They're not Sanders as much, right,
but those two tackles that are your best blockers. To
put them over there at least chip at least help
him with a chip over there, because I'm very worried
about the fact that that is the side for josh
(05:15):
heinz Allen, and that is the sidebone that is going
to be the most vulnerable side.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
What do I wrote down Bryce's legs because of what
you're saying, you may have to escape the pocket a
little bit here because the offensive line if Ikey's not
in there, hopefully Robert huntson there, but Ikey may get
some pressure from hinz Allen. So I think, excuse me,
Bryce may get some pressure hinds Allen. So I think
that escaping and being mobile is going to be a
huge part of this game for Bryce Yell And I.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Would tag that with I like that he was running
more late in the season, you know what I mean.
There were rushing touchdowns late the season. Was a nice
new twist. But I like him best when he moves
to throw. And I'll give you a stat Bone, Well,
I'll give you two stats. One is from the last
ten games last year. Bryce three point zero. We'll call
(06:04):
it right when he goes back in last year after
the benching, Bryce was fifth in terms of pressure rate
to sack rate, so he was fifth best at taking
pressure but not getting sacked. He was sixth best in
QBR versus pressure. He was so good he became Bama Bryce.
He became the guy we saw bone that would toy
(06:27):
with SEC defenses. When you had Bryce under pressure at Alabama,
the fun was just starting for Tide fans because he
would kill you. And that's what he started doing. So
I would take what you're saying, Bone, Yeah, allude that
pressure to make pass plays downfield.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
He was so good at it late in the season
last year.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
I also wrote down because I think this game is
going to be close and maybe a three point game
one way or the other. That type of ballgame. No miskicks.
We have a kicker that we're not quite sure of yet.
I'm kind of concerned that they could play ill at
some point early in the season and a kick could
cost them. How many times do we see now with
the Panthers, whether it's an extra point or a field goal,
(07:06):
and it comes back to haunt them now along the way,
I don't want any miskicks in this game that we
come in on Monday and say, well, if he made
that kick there, it feels too close.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
Yep. I just know I don't want any miskicks in
this game.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
You know what they do.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
You know what they gotta do. They got to at
the team hotel when it's breakfast. They got to get Fitzie,
get the rest of the player some weedies right in
the morning.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Get Fitzy some kick Cereal.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I get him some kicks, and then he's gonna go
out there and make his kicks.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
I know what I think about kick. You know what
I think about kicks back. It's kid tested, mother approved.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
There you go, baby, But.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
I don't know if thats scored. I don't think it
scored worse than formal Timothy during the round. You deserve
some kicks right now.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Right right into your man, your man's own. Can we say,
run the ball to Bony. I mean this is this
is going to be on our victory formation. Victory formation.
I hope we can only hope or reformation. This is
gonna be in our formula every week. Run the ball,
Dave Canalis, you talk it, you talk a good game.
Darren Gate was on here talking a good game for
you yesterday. Dave Canalis wants to be stubborn running the ball,
(08:09):
prove it, and hopefully we can get out to a
good start bone and actually get a lead in this game.
That's something else that you know, it has to be
in these victory formulas to where you're not feeling like
we're coming from behind, because that's when coach Canalis gets
a little lantsy and gets a little pass happy. They
also bone it's going to help the pass rush on
the other side, this pass rush bone. It might not
(08:30):
sound like much, but after DJ Wanham came back last year,
the pass rush was twenty first last year in sack percentage.
Now you're probably saying that ain't that great bone. We
were dead last before Wanham came back. So but I
also think part of it was we were actually in
football games, right teams weren't you know, you get a
(08:50):
lead in the football game. I feel like you got
a much better chance at your guys.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Being able to pin their ears back.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
I had early turnover also because he tried warrants. What's
his confidence while entering the season after he's been questioned
a lot, I don't know. We don't know what that
level of confidence is like right now. If you can
force an early turnover, especially by him, I think that
might go a long way. Whether it's a strip, sack, fumble,
I int whatever it is. If you can force Trevor
(09:18):
Warrants into an early turnover, does that rattle him a
little bit?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
He's had issues, he's had issues to check in a
football and you mentioned the run game. I wrote down
one hundred and fifty yards rushing total because I had
Bryce running a little bit. They got two thousand yard backs,
so I don't one hundred and fifty yards. What's the
total mack you're looking at for this game that the
Panthers can run for a certain number, that's what you
think they have?
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Will get one forty'd be nice.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I mean Jacksonville's Jacksonville's pass defense was the worst in
the league last year, but that run defense was like
twenty fifth in the league as well. That run defense struggled,
and their interior D line. I know they're moving Eric
Armstead inside, so that'll probably help them a little bit,
but I think that interior D line might be a
little vulnerable.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
We gotta have Rob Hunt in there too.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
This Rob Hunt injury in practice, foot injury and practice yesterday,
I'm hoping is nothing that keeps them out on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
I feel like we've had a good segment.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Mack.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
Now I give you some upsetting news. What's that from
TFB on the fandel text? Uh oh quote? Did you
guys hear the guy who called into the KB show
yesterday and ripped you guys for your keys to victory
slash formulas that you do out there?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Oh that guy must be dying right now. No, that
guy must be raging. Why are we the problem, sir?
I feel like our formulas are good. The damn team
ain't good enough to execute our formula.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
That's the problem.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Why is it to us problem?
Speaker 5 (10:42):
I hate this formula backlash? Man.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
If we were doing formulas for the Eagles in Philadelphia,
I bet they'd be working.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
The formulas seemed to work at twenty fifteen.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Bone.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
Now here's the problem that. Here's the problem that you have, Matt.
You're already calling it the victory formation. I got a
little don't don't listen to that. I don't listen to
that at all. Oh my god, this dude said, I
need to hear I don't believe this. I need to
hear this dude says. I hope the Panthers are better
(11:14):
than that. Joke that Mac made. Yeah, hope, so too
I have. I've noticed something bone that is going on
on the text line. A lot of you care more
about how Fiddy's date went last night than talking about
this panther game. And I see in a panther games
is not till Sunday. We got football Friday tomorrow. But
there is a market right now bone for Fitty dating talk.
(11:37):
The man had a date last night. I need the
rooty against them, but they still want to hear about it.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's a good question. Do you want it to go
well or not? Fit?
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Dog?
Speaker 4 (11:47):
What can you tell us? You've tried to be tight
lipped about this one. What can you tell us about
last night's date and how it went?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
In hopes that uh, this doesn't all go downhill like
it did with the Christian about six weeks ago. Mac,
I'll tell you what I told her. It's the best
first date I've ever had. Whoo yeah, baby, Fitty want
to open her bone?
Speaker 5 (12:10):
How about that? About that? Did you end the night
in victory? Formation? Got a little awkward in here, didn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
There aren't many times I don't know what to say.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I'm just being silly. You don't have to ans to
stay back to that one, Matt, I'm just trying to
get a joke that actually gets laughed at. I'm over
for two this.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
We're laughing at.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
You.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Don't worry about that.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
Wednesday next day? What's on the what's on the schedule?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Here?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Trying to set something up. It's a little complicated because
she she's not living here yet, but she's moving here.
But it's football season. I've got a busy weekend. I
work Friday and Sunday, so Saturday is looking like the
best option.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Why does it? How about this?
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Why doesn't she come over on Saturday night and watch
the Heels game with you and Flounder?
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Like you are you not? Did you to introduce her
to that yet? I want her to want to stick around.
She cannot meet my flounder and and and his pouch.
There's gonna be two separate meetings. This is my best friend,
this is his belly.
Speaker 6 (13:11):
How about a little lunch for something, lunch meeting the
parents or meeting flounder for you.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Flounder, because he's been there since the sixth grade, is
not going anywhere. My best friend is my business partner.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
They call it. They call it wow.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
All right, So are you willing to give up any
of Saturday football?
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Though this has been your your whole thing, though you
don't give up this, this.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Is my thing. This is why me dating and football
season is crucial because I typically don't I don't have
the dating apps. I shut things down. But if I
don't see her before she leaves on Monday, the earliest
I will see her again is Christmas.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Oh dang. Yeah, you gotta make time for you. You gotta,
you gotta, you know what I mean. If your date
went really good and you gotta make time, how about
a breakfast on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I'm thinking there's gonna be a little Saturday morning meet
up before the games get started. There you go, which
is still a big step for me because I'm a
game day savant. I wake up at nine to watch
Kirk Grocery talking about the football games. I'm gonna watch
all day.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
There you go.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
Yeah, she's gonna face game day. What a step that
would be. If you're not gonna see her till December.
You got to make some sort of sacrifice, you do, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
You do?
Speaker 4 (14:23):
What if she says, why are we doing this in
the morning? How about later?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
She knows she's aware of the life.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Why not tonight during the Cowboy game.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You don't care about I've got to record a football
podcast for the Charlotte games to I don't need to close.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Do you think, Fiddy? Could you? Are you just do?
Speaker 4 (14:41):
You just tell her it's for your job, though, Like
you don't tell her, Oh, I just want to watch
football from noon to midnight?
Speaker 5 (14:46):
Sorry? Do you tell her you have to for your work?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well, there's games on of local consequence from noon to.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
That's what I'm saying. That's what you gotta go with.
I mean, I tell her that.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Look, obviously, I love sports. It's it's it's my passion.
So I would be doing this anyway. I just happen
to work in a job where it is my job
to watch sports, so I can talk about you.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
I think you gotta lean on the job thing, right, Bony,
because I don't think they'll eventually find out you're it's
all big ruse. But yeah, for now, you got to
lean on the job. You gotta lean on the you
gotta lean on the job. You got to make her
think that's why you're watching, because I feel like that's
a red flag if a woman's like this dude, can't
take two hours out of a twelve hour day of
football for me. But if it's your work, I know
(15:27):
that worked with my wife until about year two of marriage.
And then she's like, Okay, I'm tired of the work.
Excuse this is annoying. And then she just decided to
go upstairs stream her shows. You don't ignore me.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
A great date, spot Fitty for the second date, the
New York butcher Shop and Winbar, your butcher shop and
Winbar four locations, Cornelia's any of that did worth four mil?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Opening already in Carrie and very soon to Belma. And
then your third date. I would be over at the
Sycamore tap Room over there on Hawkin Street. Man, you
would go back you want to show her a good time.
I'd go back to the butcher shop, back to Sycamore.
All there you go. What more do you need in
your life?
Speaker 5 (16:01):
Baby? When we come back.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Bill Connolly, great college football writer for ESPN, also has
a new book on the future of college football. We'll
talk about the the now, and the future of the
sport on Sports Radio n WFZ.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
OH We're Racket rolland Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ
IF you've missed any of the show. We've had a
fiery Panther fan fan roundtable. We have done a victory
formula for Week one, which apparently one of kb's listeners
preemptively yelled about yesterday, apparently not a fan. And we've
(16:54):
got a great mix which we always do this year
of college football, pro football, and of course the Fitty
Date recap from last night. A lot of good texts
coming in about Fitty's Date that we'll have to read
later on. But check out the hours the segments you
miss in podcast form today, Apple, Spotify, wfanz dot com,
wherever you get your podcast. It's time now, Boneman to
(17:15):
talk some college football. We got to discuss a little
bit of what happened in week one. We also got
to talk about the book that our next guest has
out forward progress about the future of college football, which
is a fascinating topic. He also is from ESPN ESPN
dot com. You might see his SNP rankings and kind
(17:38):
of formula to rank teams, which is always interesting stuff.
He is Bill Connolly and he joins us here on
the Mack and Bone Show in the Queen City. Bill,
it's a pleasure to have you here man, how you doing.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I'm pretty good about you.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
We're doing good. We're doing good.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
We got some fan bases maybe that aren't doing so well.
After week one, I will start with the car heel
fans bill, what what is your take on that? Like,
do you view what happened first of all? Were you
surprised by what happened or not? And do you fear
like for you think Tario fans should fear that this
(18:13):
is a precursor for his entire tenure or do you
think everybody should just settle down?
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Well? I do think you know, the magnitude was a
little bit of a surprise. I mean, they weren't favored
against TCU. The fact that you know, they lost to
a top twenty team doesn't have to mean just a
whole lot or borderline top twenty team. But yeah, it
was certainly a reminder among above all else that it's
really hard to completely rebuild an offensive line and a
defensive line on a budget, or you know, to spread
(18:42):
that money to you know, a ton of guys. It's
gonna be really hard to get the quality you need.
And I think that was the bottom line. Once TCU
knew what North Carolina wanted to do offensively. It took
a drive to figure that out. They just the the
the they overwhelmed the heels in the lines, and obviously
from you know that from the perspective of the season
(19:02):
as a whole, it's hard to fix that after one
game and it's going to be a struggle. But I
do think, you know, there's enough skill core talent, there's enough,
you know that they should be able to at least
fight for a six and sixth record. You know, with
the roster at hand, we'll just have to to see
how quickly they gell a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
Bill, how surprised were your go Lopez looked as bad
as he did in his first game.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Yeah, I mean once you know, when he was getting
protection and the defensive heels on its heels on the
first drive, it looked great. But yeah, like he was,
you know, he's not a very experienced guy, even at
South Alabama, like he got a full year of starting.
But you know, that's that's not much, and you know
it was it was pretty hard pretty quickly. Now, you know,
(19:47):
we'll see how this plays out moving forward. Having Max
Johnson available, he certainly looked a little more steady he's
not going to offer a run threat. But you're just
kind of figure out what you value more and we'll
see what they do at the QB position. But yeah,
he's still a young guy. He could still develop moving forward.
He just wasn't ready for that level of pressure.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Apparently, Hey Bill, as far as Clemson goes, that would
be another fan base that We've got a lot of
alums in this area, a lot of fans in this area,
and I think some Clemson fans I'm kind of in
this camp with with some Clemson fans that hey man,
they played a great team. Yeah, it was ugly offensively,
but they lost. You know, they had the ball in
the red zone end a game, they lost by seven,
(20:26):
and it's a you know, it's a twelve team playoff
in a long season. But I do think there's people
in the media and maybe some Clemson fans are just
kind of like, here we go again, losing to another
SEC team. We're a good team, but we're not good
enough to be great. Like, what do you what's your
thoughts in terms of what side do you kind of
take in that?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean I was a pretty big Clemson skeptic
at least when it came to being like a top
five level team just because they haven't been for four
years now, and you know the fact that they had
good continuity with nobody else at the top of the
rankings did besides Penn State, that was kind of interesting.
But I wasn't sure how much improvement to expect. And
for the last four years they've really struggled to make
(21:06):
a ton of big plays and really damage good, like
elite level talent defenses. And first of the year that
it make many big plays and they didn't damage an
LSU team with a lot of elite athleticism and talent,
So that was a bad sign in that regard. Now
it's you know, it's the long season, indeed, and the
run defense looked like it might be improved. We don't
(21:27):
know how good the LSC's run game is yet, but
the defensive front looked the part. And you know, there's
still going to be one of probably the two ACC favorites.
We'll see if Miami can actually keep up what they
how they've started the season. They certainly couldn't last year.
So yeah, like long term, it doesn't have to be
anything just definitive and damning, but it certainly didn't you know,
(21:50):
it was an opportunity to prove that they really are
taking a step back up to the elite level, and
they failed that test.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
We're talking to Bill Connolly of ESPN. Also, his book
is now out, the Definitive Guide to the Future of
college football called Florid Progress. I should say, the Definitive
Guide to the Future of college football. Make sure you
get that wherever books are sold. Less more about that momentarily, Bill,
how for real do you think Florida State in Miami
(22:17):
are and how massive is that for the ACC to
have those two programs potentially good at the same time.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah, well for Miami, you know the way the defense
stepped up at the end, you know, blew up the
Notre Dame line a couple times to ice the game.
That was obviously very encouraging compared to what we saw
last year. Like I said, I mean, they know as
well as anybody that how you look in week one
is and how you'll look in week you know, fourteen,
So they have to keep it up. But it was
a nice confidence boost, and it had to be good
(22:47):
for Carson Beck considering we didn't really know what he
had a receiver, and he made mostly good decisions, and
a couple of times he didn't, his receivers bailed him out,
so that was all good. They just have to keep
it up. And for Florida State, yeah, I'm really well.
First of all, the defense looked dynamite. The fact that
they were able to damage the Alabama offensive line as
(23:07):
much as they did was a really really good sign.
And I'm guessing that's a sign that the defense is
going to be here all year. Offenses we'll see, you know.
They Tommy castelaas last year at Boston College. Teams seem
to figure out that you need to contain him. You
don't go straight at him if you're rushing the past
there and just try to contain him and force them
to throw. Alabama didn't seem to know that at all,
(23:30):
and they just attacked him repeatedly and he escaped every
single time, and they seemed confused by all the kind
of misdirection and whatnot that we expect from a Gus
Malson offense. So I think defenses will start to figure
out what they intend to do and it might get
a little harder from in that regard, and so their
staying power is going to depend on you know they do.
(23:50):
They really have the elite looking defense that we saw
on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
By the way, Bill, I'm looking at your S and
P projected alts this weekend and like, now your S
and P is like against a couple of my bets.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
So I'm now this this.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
Is I'm getting worried now because I respect your numbers
and I'm getting a little concerned right now. I definitely
am you gotta gocuse.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
I'll go with Bill on this one.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Yeah, you would probably pick one of those people bone
that has their dog picked the games over me. I
believe Bill Connolly, ESPN writer, ESPN dot com. So before
we get into your book and kind of what you know,
you tell us what it's all about, your thoughts on
the future of the sport, where it's headed. I want
to I want to ask you this. We were talking
earlier about how big the ratings were. Four games over
(24:40):
ten million viewers on average. You had two more that
were at least two more, if not three, that were
five million or more viewers. But yet all summer we
hear from fans gripen that this transfer portal and NIL
is ruining college football. How do you marry those two things?
Fans telling us it's ruining it, but fans are watching
see more college football maybe than ever this past weekend.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, and I mean acknowledging that, you know, there are
there's a gambling element to viewership that doesn't necessarily suggest health,
you know. Overall, in the book, I actually kind of
make fun of us as fans for the fact that
every single change we don't like, we decide, has murdered
college football, and yet attendance is great, TV viewership is great.
There's no actual sign that there's a problem. So yeah,
(25:25):
I mean that's that's kind of where we're at right now.
And I do think, you know, in terms of like
the big time games. Obviously this was a particularly big
week with three top ten matchups and everything. We'll see
exactly how the ratings are this week when when the
matchups kind of disappear, and it's kind of a grab
bag of sorts. But no, I mean there are no
you know, overt signs that were in any sort of
(25:47):
problems whatsoever. I you know, for in the book, I
do talk a lot about you know, warning signs, like
we think everything is going to destroy the sport, what
destroyed previous sports or what dragged down NASCAR or box
or college basketball or baseball kind of and just try
to create a list of warning signs, most of them involved, like,
(26:07):
you know, even if American fans don't protest to the
way European soccer fans do, you don't want to alienate
your hardcourse to the point where once you need them again,
they're not there anymore. That was certainly kind of a
NASCAR lesson, yea, And so I talked a lot about that,
but yeah, I mean, right now, it's certainly we have
to search for the warning signs because the big numbers
(26:28):
are awfully big.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Why do you think the sport retains its popularity the
way that it does. We were talking about that also,
And why do you think, no matter what goes on
in the spring and the summer, that when Saturdays roll
around or whatever day in college football, that it feels
like fans just forget whatever was going on in the
off season.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Yeah, no, I mean that's there's a personal connection to
college sports that you really can't match for most of
the pro sports in this country. It's another European soccer thing.
There's a community element, public good these college towns and
the stadiums and the traditions. You know, I go, you know,
I live in Columbia, Missouri. Still all hop up to
(27:08):
a tailgate and see the same people I was tailgating
with ten years ago and twenty years ago and twenty
five years ago. And so there's a personal thing there
that it. You know, it matters who you play, it
matters what conference you're in, and how much money you're making,
whether you're competitive, but also it doesn't change the fact
that you have built your own little version of college
(27:28):
football that you attend to. And that's a that's a
great thing, but it's still we don't want to take
that for granted. We don't want to just assume that
that's never going to change.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
Bill Connelly's book, Forward Progress is all about the future
of college football. Where do you see and I'm sure
you talk, I'm sure you talk all about the conference realignment,
right where do you see the future with this conference realignment? Like,
is it breaking away from the NCAA in some form
of super league for football only?
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Where where do you see it it? Had?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Well, I do think obviously there's plenty of super league
reference in the book, but I do think we're in
a position now where we might actually already be in
the Super League. Like that's I don't know why the
Big Tenant and SEC would feel like they need to
break apart if they've already arranged to make all the
extra money from the new playoffs, if they've already got
most of the big brands. Obviously, hear in about five
(28:21):
years or so when a bunch of television contracts or
media rights contracts start to come up, and there could
be maneuvering at that point. But as far as big
level changes, you have heard these Super League private equity
backs plans in over the last couple of years, I
don't know, Like right as things currently, the Big Tenant
SEC have no reason to agree to any of that
(28:43):
because they kind of have everything where they want it.
They let you know, they they deign to let the
ACC and Big twelve and G five into the playoffs
at least a little bit, but they're still going to
get the most teams, they're going to get the money
from it. And we've already kind of stumbled into that
a little bit. Now, whether so that turns out to
be a really really bad thing for the sport if
we start to basically tell all these schools that draw
(29:06):
fifty something thousand fans even though they're not going to
win a national title, you know, Inc State, Iowa State, whoever. Like,
if we start to alienate those fans like that, that
could become a long term problem. But yeah, right now
we're kind of it is what it is, and I
don't necessarily know if it's going to change dramatically here
in five to ten years.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
All right, man, it's obviously a fascinating subject and you
obviously know and love the sport.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
It is out there now.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
I'm looking at the Amazon page right now, look for
Bill Connolly's forward progress The Definitive Guy did a Future
of College Football, and check out all his college football
content and his SMP rankings and game projections ESPN dot Com.
Thank you, Bill, We appreciate you, man.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Absolutely take care.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
All right, be good. There you go.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
That is Bill Connelly. Yeah he said something there Bone.
This this weekend doesn't look near as right as the
first weekend. But this is a weekend where I do
think if you love college football and you don't have
a woman bone coming from like a gazillion states away,
that you might need to go out on a date
with Okay, before she goes away until December, because if
(30:17):
she gets back to the West coast and they never
fear that, Yeah, you need to make you it on
this opportunity if you're not in that boat, and maybe
if you're like me where you've been married for twenty
years and your wife doesn't want to hang with you,
and then you have a teenage son and a twin
daughter who don't want to hang with you.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
This is a great weekend.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
I think I should say not great, I should say
I think a really good Like I'll say the way
Little Max says it. This is a low key good
college football weekend, and sometimes those end up being the
best ones. Were something out of nowhere happened, the big upset,
and you're like, we didn't see that, like the noon window,
Like I'm looking at this even from an acc standpoint,
that's where your Duke Illinois game is boned. By the
(30:54):
way his projections have Illinois winning but only by two
Baylor SMU is really interesting to me.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
That's c W.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Wes Bryant gonna be involved in that broadcast. State and Virginia. Again,
these aren't the sexiest games nationwide, but State and Virginia
the way Virginia played last week, like and Chandler Morris
is healthy, the quarterback is gonna play, So I think
that's gonna be a good game. You brought this one
up when we were chilling in the in our little closet.
They put us in after the show the.
Speaker 6 (31:21):
South Florida when I was out of the closet by noon.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
The South Florida Florida game is real intriguing to me. Man,
and then obviously Oklahoma Michigan's really hen just Missouri could
be fun too.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Yeah, that's that's awesome, Tod.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
There's kind of low key interesting games and Andy Virginia Tech,
and I'm interested in does Vandy do it again?
Speaker 6 (31:40):
There's something in each window that could be intriguing even Heck,
don't sleep on Friday Night's game. James Madison, Louis thou
that could be a fun one. James Madison's no joke.
Speaker 5 (31:51):
Fitty. By the way, James Madison's no joke. I don't
know if you know that or not. Fitty.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
I got a PREDICTIONI Louisville will hold him under seventy though.
Speaker 5 (32:00):
Kill us Man, he wants to kill us. Finny. I
was you know what I was gonna do you know
we should have done bone.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
I have an idea the next time the Heels lose,
we should come in early and put ballue and white
balloons behind Phinny.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
He would kill us, wouldn't You have plenty of fundy
to blow him up?
Speaker 5 (32:18):
So get to it, Skillet.
Speaker 6 (32:21):
Right now, I'm looking at DVR Dave sending me medieval
reenact the videos. I'm sorry, I was briefly distracted momentarily.
If you ever thought, man, I'm kind of a nerdy dude.
The ladies don't love me.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Just think I could be DVR Dave dressing up in
medieval attire and reenacting things.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
You know, Davy.
Speaker 6 (32:41):
Apparently a want of women go out there though, so
it might be could be a game changer.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
A flounder.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
There is that where you Hey, can you think these
are the type of women that would be in the flounder?
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Because we haven't found him yet, we try and pretty's
in the dress up when we come back to you.
Speaker 6 (32:54):
Then it's a battle of number two number one overall picks.
On Sunday, Bryce Trevor Warren's but who's the better signal caller?
Right now, we debate Sports Radio seven WFZ.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
It's an interesting thing just when you know, when you're
looking at new when you're looking at a team with
a new coordinator, you know, you're you're looking at different things,
looking at different pictures. From a personal standpoint, see a
lot of guys with the snaps they had and looking
at last season, guys that were there, played hard care
a lot. It's a really good unit, really talented. It's
a good scheme. Of course, you you know that there's
(33:36):
gonna be a mixed bag of things. You know, you're
you're you have a little bit of idea what to expect,
but you know you're gonna get some some stuff that
you know, some un scouted looks, and you know that's
the league, and especially you have a new coordinator. But
you know, we know it's gonna be a challenge. Again,
we have a ton of respect for them. It's it's
a really good group of guys, really good scheme. So
we have to be be at our best this weekend.
And that's what this week is about.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
That is Bryce Young talking about facing Jack preparing for
Jaguars defense, where the scheme is new new coordinator. At
least they're familiar bone with the with Liam Cohen's scheme
right didn't necessarily go great last year. I believe they
averaged thirty seven points a game against US. Never actually
the two games last year, never actually touched Bucky ever once.
(34:19):
But I think the talent is less on Jacksonville then
Liam Cohen had at his disposal in Tampa.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
It's the first week.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
I'd like, you know, I kind of like the idea
of playing teams with new schemes.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Bone week one, I can't you know what I mean.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
I may regret that y'all may clip and save that
and use that against me, but I kind of do so.
The Bryce agree the Bryce Lawrence conversation, Bone, you you
brought this up yesterday. You're like, Man, we got to
have a Bryce and Trevor conversation. I actually think it's
a good conversation because I believe that Bryce Young at
(34:56):
the end of the season, I believe that Bryce Young
and Trevor Lawrence will be very close to each other
in the quarterback rankings in the national media. I was
very annoyed yesterday, Bone. I swear this is the last
list I'm gonna get annoyed at before the season starts,
because we got to just start playing football. But Cody Benjamin,
(35:17):
who I feel like has been a Bryce doubter in
the past. Cody Benjamin ranked at CBS Sports the NFL
qb is going into the season and had Bryce at
twenty eight and had Trevor Lawrence at seventeen. And I'm
just like, we're getting I knew. I'm like, we're getting
ready to discuss these two guys. To me, first of all,
Bryce was better than Trevor last year. I'll give you
(35:39):
all you know in a couple minutes. I'll give you
all the numbers in all the categories he was better
at than Trevor. He just was statistically and I think
in reality, especially as he especially at the last five
weeks or so. But I believe, if I'm being fair
about it, I think at the end of the season,
both these guys. I think Cohen can help. I think
Colin's pretty damn good coordinator, and I think he can
(36:01):
help Trevor. I think Canalis has already started to help Bryce.
I think these guys can be around like fourteenth and
fifteen something like that. But when the season's over, if
I'm being like reasonable about.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
It, yeah, and I'm surprised that's where Lawrence currently is
in his career because I thought after year number two
had a rough rookie year. Then he had twenty five
tounnies and he looked like he was on his way
to being, you know, a top five, six seven quarterback
in the league. The next season in twenty twenty three,
did not have that year, then he got injured. Last year,
(36:36):
I thought Trevor Lawrence Mack would end up being one
of the best quarterbacks in the league. He has not.
Now he's sort of had a make or break time
for him on what he can become. But I agree
Trevor Warrens and Bryce there's no way they there should
be an eleven number gap in the rankings of where
they are, Like Cody Benjamin.
Speaker 4 (36:55):
And I just want to rid the record show because
I don't know people might be Mac only.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Has Bryce around four thirty as I'm even with Trevor, Trevor.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
Hasn't been good.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
I'm taking Bryce Young, Like when we asked the question
what QB do you would you rather have? I'm taking
Bryce Young. Bryce Young to me is still a sending. Yeah,
Trevor Lawrence can benefit from the scheme of li and
Cohen can benefit from Travis Hunter being drafted there and
playing a bunch of wide receiver. They added a couple
interior alignement. I'm still not sure they're great in the interior.
(37:23):
Derek Brown's about to find out. But like Bryce Young
to me, is getting better, Trevor's been very uneven. I
was reading it was one of the Jaguar writers who
wrote a piece about Trevor Lawrence and said, let's be honest,
he has not had a good complete season yet. Now
neither has Bryce. But my hope is Bone that what
we had at the end of the year. My belief
is what we had at the end of the year
last year is going to become normal for Bryce, and
(37:45):
I think he will take it even higher. Last year,
Bone Trevor Lawrence eleven touchdown, seven interceptions. Bryce was better
than him in the touchdown to interception ratio. Last season.
Was better in world the damn categories right here. Better
in completion a percentage, better in true accuracy percentage, better
(38:08):
in PFF passing grade, better in big time throw percentage,
turnover worthy throw percentage, better grade under pressure, better deep
passing grade. And I was reading an article about Trevor Lawrence.
Trevor Lawrence's footwork has turned into a complete and utter mess,
and I'm not listening. I think Liam Cohen can help
him bone, But this is a dude that to me, like,
(38:29):
I look at Trevor Lawrence and I feel like he
might be destined to be a middle of the NFL
quarterback every year. I truly believe y'all could call me
a homer, but I truly believe boned at Bryce at
some point. Maybe it's not this year, maybe Bryce is
fourteenth and fifteenth this year, but I believe what Bryce
will settle in at some point to a top ten
quarterback on the annual. And I know some of y'all
(38:50):
gonna think I'm crazy.
Speaker 6 (38:51):
He four games, he had three touchdowns and four he
had three tds and four i nts. And game included
a one ninety three yard passing game and a one
sixty nine yard passing game. In between there was three
to oh eight. His career quarterback rating four years in
is just eighty five. So he's I think the ceiling
(39:15):
for warrants is good, but not the greatness that he
should have had as a number one overall pick. Just
I don't I don't know if he's ever going to
reach out. Well that I thought he was gonna be.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
We thought he was going to be up there around
where you know the Joe Burrows and Josh Allens are
like like full stop, right, that's what we thought. I know,
it's shocking bone that I might have been wrong on
a quarterback in the pre draft.
Speaker 6 (39:36):
I know people I mean by that a lot of
people were remember the tanking that was going on for him.
The Jets were involved, There was a lot of teams
involved try he was one of those quarterbacks where teams
were losing on what we thought were losing on purpose
to try to get up there to get him.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Yeah, he was a tankable player. Generational how many times
we use that word generational? Yes, So if you're if,
how do y'all feel about the comparison of Bright and
Trevor They I think this year I would expect them
by the end of this year the national media when
they do the rankings, to view them as pretty even.
But I love the fact that Bryce is ascendant. And
(40:11):
I don't know how to describe Trevor Lawrence. Trevor Lawrence
kind of stuck in the mud, bony and I would
argue last year, last year might be, along with his
rookie year, might be as one of the worst years
he's had. And he's also had trouble staying healthy, which
is ironic because Bryce is the little fell that, a
little tiny fella everybody thought couldn't hold up in the NFL,
(40:31):
couldn't take hits in the NFL. But Trevor Lawrence has
had knock on wood. I don't want to Matt curses,
but has had way more injury issues than Bryce.
Speaker 6 (40:41):
As part of me wonders, now he's got Liam Cohen,
so he's got a chance to sort of revive maybe
what we thought he was. But if it doesn't work
with Liam Cohen and he's still kind of middling or
good at times not good, is he the next guy mack?
In this line of quarterbacks we've seen recently, whether it's Mayfield, Darnold,
(41:01):
these guys that have moved around a little bit, I
wonder if eventually do they end up moving off Trevor
warrens at its best for both parties and ego somewhere
and gets the fresh target.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
We got a decision to make, There's no doubt about it.
I do think I think Cohen was hired because of Trevor. Yes,
I don't think there's any secret about with Doug Peterson.
What do you all feel about this comparison seven oh four, five,
seven oh nine, sixtens Stephen and Album Morle says Trevor
took his seat into the playoffs and won a game.
James from Maiden says Mac, you are right, twenty eighth
(41:31):
is not right for Bryce Young and quarterback rankings. He's
too high by y'all coming in here with the negative
vibes on game week.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
Go decrutch yourself. Don't don't bring us.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
Down from being competitive this week seth set in mount
Pleasant career day for Trevor incoming. Who do you do
you have a feeling on who will have the better
game on Sunday? Bone, Because what I'm saying is long term,
I would rather have Bryce Young. I would not trade
him straight up for Trevor Lawrence at this point in time,
because I think we have started to see Trevor's had
more time to prove himself Bony and yeah he has.
(42:02):
He has taken his team to the playoffs, he has
been there. But other than that, what has he done?
And even that season was very uneven. But what do
you expect this weekend?
Speaker 6 (42:13):
BO They Trevor Lawrence want more passing yards because he's
got Brian Thomas, a more known kamandie that had twelve
hundred yards last year. We don't know what Temac as
a rookie will do game number one. So I think
the passing yards will go in Trevor Lawrence's favor just
because he's got Brian Thomas, who's one of the best
receivers in football already. I I think I'm saying that's
(42:34):
the perditioner who's gonna win the game with just yardage wise,
I think Trevor Lawrence want more.
Speaker 4 (42:37):
I think we're running for more. Yes, I think I
think we're running the ball for more yards. I think
that's what we're trying to do. I don't again, I
don't think Bryce Young like we got guys bringing up
someone's bringing up how.
Speaker 5 (42:47):
Many three hundred yard games did Bryce have? Again?
Speaker 4 (42:51):
I can rattle off all these, all these numbers last
year that Bryce was great at in the second half
of the season when he went back in there. I
understand some of y'all are just going to look at
raw passing numbers that's not the way this team's designed.
This team, when they play well, are going to be
designed to run a football and Bryce is going to
throw play action passes. Bryce is going to drop bombs
(43:12):
way more than y'all think. He was fifth in average
distance of target bone in the second half of the
year last year. How about this one. He was the
eleventh best quarterback in PFF grade in the final four
minutes of halfs last year. Remember how clutch he was Bone.
I know we didn't win some of these games, but
how clutch was he against the Chiefs, against the Bucks,
against the Eagles.
Speaker 5 (43:32):
His teammates let him down, So.
Speaker 4 (43:34):
I think that's something that people are forgetting about. His
numbers under pressure were amazing. His big time throws in
terms of just ridiculous tight window throws were second in
the league when he came back in there. So, like
you guys can sit there and be beholden to the
raw passing numbers, I'm going to choose to look at
advanced numbers in the year of our Lord twenty twenty five,
(43:56):
which is going to give me a better indicator of
some of these things that Bryce Young was doing.
Speaker 5 (44:00):
Well.
Speaker 4 (44:01):
You guys can just look at box scores. But I'm
telling you right now you are missing Bryce Young's development
last year if you just look at a box scores.
Speaker 6 (44:09):
This has allowed the Bryce haters to walk in with
an open door.
Speaker 5 (44:14):
They're annoying.
Speaker 4 (44:15):
Hold on a second and away from to shut you
guys up backwards right now.
Speaker 6 (44:19):
Oh watch this new trick, Mac, I'm button in a
button on my collared shirt.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
Miserable human beings says he would take Trevor over Bryce
in a second. Of course you would, because you're miserable.
There's people complain with in Jacksonville. You would tell the
people in Jacksonville you want Bryce over Trevor back to back.
Speaker 6 (44:33):
People are complaining about the record under Bryce Young with
the team.
Speaker 5 (44:37):
Why get it the hell again?
Speaker 4 (44:38):
If you're beholding the things like that, you are a
one hundred level fan. Like, seriously, I know I ain't
no damn rocket scientist, but I can at least figure
out context.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
You're gonna hold.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
All those losses in his rookie season against Bryce when
this dude was put out there in the biggest bleep
show a rookie quarterback could be put in Like that's ridiculous.
Look at the way Bryce three point zero play, because
that's the quarterback Bryce Young is now and as the
quarterback he's gonna be moving forward. He was four and
f and five, and that's the type of season we're
about to get, which is why I said eight and nine.
(45:10):
So and by the way, he was on the pace
he played at in the final ten games was a
pace of a quarterback for a full season to put
up thirty five touchdowns.
Speaker 5 (45:20):
So again, you.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Guys, cherry picks win lost record. You guys, cherry pick
his total passing yards. You look at all that crap
that makes you feel good about your Bryce Young hates,
You're about to feel like jackasses and idiots in about
seventeen damn weeks.
Speaker 6 (45:36):
Nine to one zero says Trevor's showed the leadership and
Bryce hasn't dug himself out of the hole yet that
he was. What are you saying, did Bryce not dig
himself out of his benching last year and show poison
leadership the whole time he came back.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
Now playing with are the worst defenses in the history
of football? Are you talking about? I just this anti
Bryce stuff. It's go time.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
It is go time. It's time for Price Young to shut.
Speaker 5 (46:01):
These fools up when we come back.
Speaker 6 (46:04):
Jones Angel talks Tar Heels and their performance on Monday
and what it means going forward. Sports Radio Mac is
tangled in this cord. Sports Radio ninety two OK Sports
Radio ninety two seven WFNZ
Oh, Owen Mack and Bow on your radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
If you listen my freeing man, Posh, come on, posh.
This in my freem team. Bone.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
What's the fun I can't go to work without listening
to the Mac and Bone do a lot. How many
guys do you need this week to play the robot
(00:35):
Travis for your scout team.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
We really haven't looked at it that way. You know,
I don't know what they're gonna do with him. I
don't know, you know, how they're gonna use him in
different ways? You know, as a traditional wide receiver. Is
there gonna be gadgets that come out of that, you know,
defensively as well, you know, playing Is he just gonna
play the corner spot? Is he gonna return punts for them?
There's all these question marks about, you know, a really
(00:59):
talented player like Travis Hunter. But for us, you know,
it's really about assignment football. You know, regardless of who's
out there, he's a phenomenal player. We've played against unbelievable players,
you know, just throughout the course of time. So you
really just have to approach.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
It the same way.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
It starts with us knowing how to line up, knowing
how to communicate and execut the way we.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Know how.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
That is. Coach Kanalis yesterday and his presser discussing Travis Hunter,
and like many of us, he says, I don't really
know what to expect. There's not much you can prepare for.
He played in one of the preseason games. I think
it was like ten offensive snaps Bone eight defensive snaps.
I was reading ESPN's Jaguars reporter Mike Draco, and he
(01:42):
was kind of saying his feeling is that if they're
in three wide receiver sets, that Hunter will be on
the field. If it's two wide receiver sets, he thinks
Hunter will not be on the field. He thinks the
same thing as true on defense. If they're in base
and it's only two corners, he won't be on the field.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
If it's nickel, he'll be on the field.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
And I would guess in today's NFL Bone most teams
are in the seventy percent range probably for like nickel
or three wide, So that could be something to look
for coming up on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
So I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
If Travis Hunter is a part of this for you,
Bone or for any of the Panther fans. It's a tradition,
unlike any other. Bone really loves this, Bone really thinks
this is a proactive segment that results in great things.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
It were on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
Afterwards twenty five percent of the time, one hundred percent
of the time, like the Klona. It's like my raw
chemistry coon I have before we get started, because you're
talking about Travis Hunter rightfully, So can I ask you
a question about Travis? I mean about j C.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Horn?
Speaker 6 (02:42):
And I don't know if they answered this or not.
I feel like Avero last time, he wasn't.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Sure is Horn?
Speaker 6 (02:48):
Is he going to travel this year with the other
wide outs? Did they ever answer that during the offseason?
Vera refused to answer the question because it does play
a factor in a game like this when you got
a guy like Brian Thomas Junior and I'm looking at
a formula and I'm trying to figure out out to you,
how do you contain Brian Thomas Junior from going off?
To me, you'd be Horn travel that dude.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I love it. I'm with you. I'd love to see
more of it. A varo for whatever reason, some some
DC's really embrace it. Some DC's don't. But yeah, he
does not seem to really embrace it, and I'm with you,
I like I would, just there are certain matchups, like
if they're more balanced at wide receiver, that there are
certain matchups where like, Okay, I can understand why you
(03:28):
might just want to play sides, but this one feels
like one like, dude, that dude has a rookie head
over twelve hundred yards, like, and he's just getting started.
So I'm trying to respect Travis Hunter, but it's his
first game. Thomas is the one I'm scared about. Deanbi
Brown is another interesting guy. They added him in free
agency during the offseason. But I think that's a good
part of the game because they don't have.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
A dominant run game. They have a quarterback that sometimes shaky.
They're so dependent I think and will be going forward
on Brian Thomas Junior. You can somehow can him and
neutralize him to some degree that affects their entire offense.
And there's not another guy on the other side that
terrifies me right now in the wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (04:10):
Yeah, yeah, if.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Hunter beats us in his first game, we'll have to
adjust to it midgame, right, so you know, and tip
your hat to him. But Brian Thomas is the guy
you gotta stop. I would go to the offensive side
of the ball as we now do the victory formula,
the first ever of twenty twenty five. It's a new
year for those of you to think these victory formulas
are waste of time because we get our butts kicked.
But this is this a new year, all right, new year,
(04:32):
new season, new formulas. I think with that left tackle
position bone, if Ikey doesn't play, and I fear, you know,
they're gonna, I guess, send him out there to do
some individual stuff Friday and make a decision. But I
fear he won't be out there, and I fear that
it's gonna be Yosh Neiman and not Brady Christiansen. Can
we please get him some dang help. I don't need
any Mike schulet in the Super Bowl game plans bone
(04:53):
where you're not helping the dang tackles. Give that man
some help. You got Tommy tremble Back, he's not even
on the injury he's the perfect guy. Mitchell Evans another
guy to go over. They're not Sanders as much, right,
but those two tackles that are your best blockers. To
put them over there at least chip at least help
him with a chip over there, because I'm very worried
about the fact that that is the side for josh
(05:15):
heinz Allen, and that is the sidebone that is going
to be the most vulnerable side.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
What do I wrote down Bryce's legs because of what
you're saying, you may have to escape the pocket a
little bit here because the offensive line if Ikey's not
in there, hopefully Robert huntson there, but Ikey may get
some pressure from hinz Allen. So I think, excuse me,
Bryce may get some pressure hinds Allen. So I think
that escaping and being mobile is going to be a
huge part of this game for Bryce Yell And I.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Would tag that with I like that he was running
more late in the season, you know what I mean.
There were rushing touchdowns late the season. Was a nice
new twist. But I like him best when he moves
to throw. And I'll give you a stat Bone, Well,
I'll give you two stats. One is from the last
ten games last year. Bryce three point zero. We'll call
(06:04):
it right when he goes back in last year after
the benching, Bryce was fifth in terms of pressure rate
to sack rate, so he was fifth best at taking
pressure but not getting sacked. He was sixth best in
QBR versus pressure. He was so good he became Bama Bryce.
He became the guy we saw bone that would toy
(06:27):
with SEC defenses. When you had Bryce under pressure at Alabama,
the fun was just starting for Tide fans because he
would kill you. And that's what he started doing. So
I would take what you're saying, Bone, Yeah, allude that
pressure to make pass plays downfield.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
He was so good at it late in the season
last year.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
I also wrote down because I think this game is
going to be close and maybe a three point game
one way or the other. That type of ballgame. No miskicks.
We have a kicker that we're not quite sure of yet.
I'm kind of concerned that they could play ill at
some point early in the season and a kick could
cost them. How many times do we see now with
the Panthers, whether it's an extra point or a field goal,
(07:06):
and it comes back to haunt them now along the way,
I don't want any miskicks in this game that we
come in on Monday and say, well, if he made
that kick there, it feels too close.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
Yep. I just know I don't want any miskicks in
this game.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
You know what they do.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
You know what they gotta do. They got to at
the team hotel when it's breakfast. They got to get Fitzie,
get the rest of the player some weedies right in
the morning.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
Get Fitzy some kick Cereal.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I get him some kicks, and then he's gonna go
out there and make his kicks.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
I know what I think about kick. You know what
I think about kicks back. It's kid tested, mother approved.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
There you go, baby, But.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
I don't know if thats scored. I don't think it
scored worse than formal Timothy during the round. You deserve
some kicks right now.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Right right into your man, your man's own. Can we say,
run the ball to Bony. I mean this is this
is going to be on our victory formation. Victory formation.
I hope we can only hope or reformation. This is
gonna be in our formula every week. Run the ball,
Dave Canalis, you talk it, you talk a good game.
Darren Gate was on here talking a good game for
you yesterday. Dave Canalis wants to be stubborn running the ball,
(08:09):
prove it, and hopefully we can get out to a
good start bone and actually get a lead in this game.
That's something else that you know, it has to be
in these victory formulas to where you're not feeling like
we're coming from behind, because that's when coach Canalis gets
a little lantsy and gets a little pass happy. They
also bone it's going to help the pass rush on
the other side, this pass rush bone. It might not
(08:30):
sound like much, but after DJ Wanham came back last year,
the pass rush was twenty first last year in sack percentage.
Now you're probably saying that ain't that great bone. We
were dead last before Wanham came back. So but I
also think part of it was we were actually in
football games, right teams weren't you know, you get a
(08:50):
lead in the football game. I feel like you got
a much better chance at your guys.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Being able to pin their ears back.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
I had early turnover also because he tried warrants. What's
his confidence while entering the season after he's been questioned
a lot, I don't know. We don't know what that
level of confidence is like right now. If you can
force an early turnover, especially by him, I think that
might go a long way. Whether it's a strip, sack, fumble,
I int whatever it is. If you can force Trevor
(09:18):
Warrants into an early turnover, does that rattle him a
little bit?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
He's had issues, he's had issues to check in a
football and you mentioned the run game. I wrote down
one hundred and fifty yards rushing total because I had
Bryce running a little bit. They got two thousand yard backs,
so I don't one hundred and fifty yards. What's the
total mack you're looking at for this game that the
Panthers can run for a certain number, that's what you
think they have?
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Will get one forty'd be nice.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I mean Jacksonville's Jacksonville's pass defense was the worst in
the league last year, but that run defense was like
twenty fifth in the league as well. That run defense struggled,
and their interior D line. I know they're moving Eric
Armstead inside, so that'll probably help them a little bit,
but I think that interior D line might be a
little vulnerable.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
We gotta have Rob Hunt in there too.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
This Rob Hunt injury in practice, foot injury and practice yesterday,
I'm hoping is nothing that keeps them out on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
I feel like we've had a good segment.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Mack.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
Now I give you some upsetting news. What's that from
TFB on the fandel text? Uh oh quote? Did you
guys hear the guy who called into the KB show
yesterday and ripped you guys for your keys to victory
slash formulas that you do out there?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Oh that guy must be dying right now. No, that
guy must be raging. Why are we the problem, sir?
I feel like our formulas are good. The damn team
ain't good enough to execute our formula.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
That's the problem.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Why is it to us problem?
Speaker 5 (10:42):
I hate this formula backlash? Man.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
If we were doing formulas for the Eagles in Philadelphia,
I bet they'd be working.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
The formulas seemed to work at twenty fifteen.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Bone.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
Now here's the problem that. Here's the problem that you have, Matt.
You're already calling it the victory formation. I got a
little don't don't listen to that. I don't listen to
that at all. Oh my god, this dude said, I
need to hear I don't believe this. I need to
hear this dude says. I hope the Panthers are better
(11:14):
than that. Joke that Mac made. Yeah, hope, so too
I have. I've noticed something bone that is going on
on the text line. A lot of you care more
about how Fiddy's date went last night than talking about
this panther game. And I see in a panther games
is not till Sunday. We got football Friday tomorrow. But
there is a market right now bone for Fitty dating talk.
(11:37):
The man had a date last night. I need the
rooty against them, but they still want to hear about it.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's a good question. Do you want it to go
well or not? Fit?
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Dog?
Speaker 4 (11:47):
What can you tell us? You've tried to be tight
lipped about this one. What can you tell us about
last night's date and how it went?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
In hopes that uh, this doesn't all go downhill like
it did with the Christian about six weeks ago. Mac,
I'll tell you what I told her. It's the best
first date I've ever had. Whoo yeah, baby, Fitty want
to open her bone?
Speaker 5 (12:10):
How about that? About that? Did you end the night
in victory? Formation? Got a little awkward in here, didn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
There aren't many times I don't know what to say.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I'm just being silly. You don't have to ans to
stay back to that one, Matt, I'm just trying to
get a joke that actually gets laughed at. I'm over
for two this.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
We're laughing at.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
You.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Don't worry about that.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
Wednesday next day? What's on the what's on the schedule?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Here?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Trying to set something up. It's a little complicated because
she she's not living here yet, but she's moving here.
But it's football season. I've got a busy weekend. I
work Friday and Sunday, so Saturday is looking like the
best option.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Why does it? How about this?
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Why doesn't she come over on Saturday night and watch
the Heels game with you and Flounder?
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Like you are you not? Did you to introduce her
to that yet? I want her to want to stick around.
She cannot meet my flounder and and and his pouch.
There's gonna be two separate meetings. This is my best friend,
this is his belly.
Speaker 6 (13:11):
How about a little lunch for something, lunch meeting the
parents or meeting flounder for you.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Flounder, because he's been there since the sixth grade, is
not going anywhere. My best friend is my business partner.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
They call it. They call it wow.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
All right, So are you willing to give up any
of Saturday football?
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Though this has been your your whole thing, though you
don't give up this, this.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Is my thing. This is why me dating and football
season is crucial because I typically don't I don't have
the dating apps. I shut things down. But if I
don't see her before she leaves on Monday, the earliest
I will see her again is Christmas.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Oh dang. Yeah, you gotta make time for you. You gotta,
you gotta, you know what I mean. If your date
went really good and you gotta make time, how about
a breakfast on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I'm thinking there's gonna be a little Saturday morning meet
up before the games get started. There you go, which
is still a big step for me because I'm a
game day savant. I wake up at nine to watch
Kirk Grocery talking about the football games. I'm gonna watch
all day.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
There you go.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
Yeah, she's gonna face game day. What a step that
would be. If you're not gonna see her till December.
You got to make some sort of sacrifice, you do, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
You do?
Speaker 4 (14:23):
What if she says, why are we doing this in
the morning? How about later?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
She knows she's aware of the life.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
Why not tonight during the Cowboy game.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You don't care about I've got to record a football
podcast for the Charlotte games to I don't need to close.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Do you think, Fiddy? Could you? Are you just do?
Speaker 4 (14:41):
You just tell her it's for your job, though, Like
you don't tell her, Oh, I just want to watch
football from noon to midnight?
Speaker 5 (14:46):
Sorry? Do you tell her you have to for your work?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well, there's games on of local consequence from noon to.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
That's what I'm saying. That's what you gotta go with.
I mean, I tell her that.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Look, obviously, I love sports. It's it's it's my passion.
So I would be doing this anyway. I just happen
to work in a job where it is my job
to watch sports, so I can talk about you.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
I think you gotta lean on the job thing, right, Bony,
because I don't think they'll eventually find out you're it's
all big ruse. But yeah, for now, you got to
lean on the job. You gotta lean on the you
gotta lean on the job. You got to make her
think that's why you're watching, because I feel like that's
a red flag if a woman's like this dude, can't
take two hours out of a twelve hour day of
football for me. But if it's your work, I know
(15:27):
that worked with my wife until about year two of marriage.
And then she's like, Okay, I'm tired of the work.
Excuse this is annoying. And then she just decided to
go upstairs stream her shows. You don't ignore me.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
A great date, spot Fitty for the second date, the
New York butcher Shop and Winbar, your butcher shop and
Winbar four locations, Cornelia's any of that did worth four mil?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Opening already in Carrie and very soon to Belma. And
then your third date. I would be over at the
Sycamore tap Room over there on Hawkin Street. Man, you
would go back you want to show her a good time.
I'd go back to the butcher shop, back to Sycamore.
All there you go. What more do you need in
your life?
Speaker 5 (16:01):
Baby? When we come back.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Bill Connolly, great college football writer for ESPN, also has
a new book on the future of college football. We'll
talk about the the now, and the future of the
sport on Sports Radio n WFZ.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
OH We're Racket rolland Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ
IF you've missed any of the show. We've had a
fiery Panther fan fan roundtable. We have done a victory
formula for Week one, which apparently one of kb's listeners
preemptively yelled about yesterday, apparently not a fan. And we've
(16:54):
got a great mix which we always do this year
of college football, pro football, and of course the Fitty
Date recap from last night. A lot of good texts
coming in about Fitty's Date that we'll have to read
later on. But check out the hours the segments you
miss in podcast form today, Apple, Spotify, wfanz dot com,
wherever you get your podcast. It's time now, Boneman to
(17:15):
talk some college football. We got to discuss a little
bit of what happened in week one. We also got
to talk about the book that our next guest has
out forward progress about the future of college football, which
is a fascinating topic. He also is from ESPN ESPN
dot com. You might see his SNP rankings and kind
(17:38):
of formula to rank teams, which is always interesting stuff.
He is Bill Connolly and he joins us here on
the Mack and Bone Show in the Queen City. Bill,
it's a pleasure to have you here man, how you doing.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I'm pretty good about you.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
We're doing good. We're doing good.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
We got some fan bases maybe that aren't doing so well.
After week one, I will start with the car heel
fans bill, what what is your take on that? Like,
do you view what happened first of all? Were you
surprised by what happened or not? And do you fear
like for you think Tario fans should fear that this
(18:13):
is a precursor for his entire tenure or do you
think everybody should just settle down?
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Well? I do think you know, the magnitude was a
little bit of a surprise. I mean, they weren't favored
against TCU. The fact that you know, they lost to
a top twenty team doesn't have to mean just a
whole lot or borderline top twenty team. But yeah, it
was certainly a reminder among above all else that it's
really hard to completely rebuild an offensive line and a
defensive line on a budget, or you know, to spread
(18:42):
that money to you know, a ton of guys. It's
gonna be really hard to get the quality you need.
And I think that was the bottom line. Once TCU
knew what North Carolina wanted to do offensively. It took
a drive to figure that out. They just the the
the they overwhelmed the heels in the lines, and obviously
from you know that from the perspective of the season
(19:02):
as a whole, it's hard to fix that after one
game and it's going to be a struggle. But I
do think, you know, there's enough skill core talent, there's enough,
you know that they should be able to at least
fight for a six and sixth record. You know, with
the roster at hand, we'll just have to to see
how quickly they gell a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
Bill, how surprised were your go Lopez looked as bad
as he did in his first game.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Yeah, I mean once you know, when he was getting
protection and the defensive heels on its heels on the
first drive, it looked great. But yeah, like he was,
you know, he's not a very experienced guy, even at
South Alabama, like he got a full year of starting.
But you know, that's that's not much, and you know
it was it was pretty hard pretty quickly. Now, you know,
(19:47):
we'll see how this plays out moving forward. Having Max
Johnson available, he certainly looked a little more steady he's
not going to offer a run threat. But you're just
kind of figure out what you value more and we'll
see what they do at the QB position. But yeah,
he's still a young guy. He could still develop moving forward.
He just wasn't ready for that level of pressure.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Apparently, Hey Bill, as far as Clemson goes, that would
be another fan base that We've got a lot of
alums in this area, a lot of fans in this area,
and I think some Clemson fans I'm kind of in
this camp with with some Clemson fans that hey man,
they played a great team. Yeah, it was ugly offensively,
but they lost. You know, they had the ball in
the red zone end a game, they lost by seven,
(20:26):
and it's a you know, it's a twelve team playoff
in a long season. But I do think there's people
in the media and maybe some Clemson fans are just
kind of like, here we go again, losing to another
SEC team. We're a good team, but we're not good
enough to be great. Like, what do you what's your
thoughts in terms of what side do you kind of
take in that?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean I was a pretty big Clemson skeptic
at least when it came to being like a top
five level team just because they haven't been for four
years now, and you know the fact that they had
good continuity with nobody else at the top of the
rankings did besides Penn State, that was kind of interesting.
But I wasn't sure how much improvement to expect. And
for the last four years they've really struggled to make
(21:06):
a ton of big plays and really damage good, like
elite level talent defenses. And first of the year that
it make many big plays and they didn't damage an
LSU team with a lot of elite athleticism and talent,
So that was a bad sign in that regard. Now
it's you know, it's the long season, indeed, and the
run defense looked like it might be improved. We don't
(21:27):
know how good the LSC's run game is yet, but
the defensive front looked the part. And you know, there's
still going to be one of probably the two ACC favorites.
We'll see if Miami can actually keep up what they
how they've started the season. They certainly couldn't last year.
So yeah, like long term, it doesn't have to be
anything just definitive and damning, but it certainly didn't you know,
(21:50):
it was an opportunity to prove that they really are
taking a step back up to the elite level, and
they failed that test.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
We're talking to Bill Connolly of ESPN. Also, his book
is now out, the Definitive Guide to the Future of
college football called Florid Progress. I should say, the Definitive
Guide to the Future of college football. Make sure you
get that wherever books are sold. Less more about that momentarily, Bill,
how for real do you think Florida State in Miami
(22:17):
are and how massive is that for the ACC to
have those two programs potentially good at the same time.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah, well for Miami, you know the way the defense
stepped up at the end, you know, blew up the
Notre Dame line a couple times to ice the game.
That was obviously very encouraging compared to what we saw
last year. Like I said, I mean, they know as
well as anybody that how you look in week one
is and how you'll look in week you know, fourteen,
So they have to keep it up. But it was
a nice confidence boost, and it had to be good
(22:47):
for Carson Beck considering we didn't really know what he
had a receiver, and he made mostly good decisions, and
a couple of times he didn't, his receivers bailed him out,
so that was all good. They just have to keep
it up. And for Florida State, yeah, I'm really well.
First of all, the defense looked dynamite. The fact that
they were able to damage the Alabama offensive line as
(23:07):
much as they did was a really really good sign.
And I'm guessing that's a sign that the defense is
going to be here all year. Offenses we'll see, you know.
They Tommy castelaas last year at Boston College. Teams seem
to figure out that you need to contain him. You
don't go straight at him if you're rushing the past
there and just try to contain him and force them
to throw. Alabama didn't seem to know that at all,
(23:30):
and they just attacked him repeatedly and he escaped every
single time, and they seemed confused by all the kind
of misdirection and whatnot that we expect from a Gus
Malson offense. So I think defenses will start to figure
out what they intend to do and it might get
a little harder from in that regard, and so their
staying power is going to depend on you know they do.
(23:50):
They really have the elite looking defense that we saw
on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
By the way, Bill, I'm looking at your S and
P projected alts this weekend and like, now your S
and P is like against a couple of my bets.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
So I'm now this this.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
Is I'm getting worried now because I respect your numbers
and I'm getting a little concerned right now. I definitely
am you gotta gocuse.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
I'll go with Bill on this one.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Yeah, you would probably pick one of those people bone
that has their dog picked the games over me. I
believe Bill Connolly, ESPN writer, ESPN dot com. So before
we get into your book and kind of what you know,
you tell us what it's all about, your thoughts on
the future of the sport, where it's headed. I want
to I want to ask you this. We were talking
earlier about how big the ratings were. Four games over
(24:40):
ten million viewers on average. You had two more that
were at least two more, if not three, that were
five million or more viewers. But yet all summer we
hear from fans gripen that this transfer portal and NIL
is ruining college football. How do you marry those two things?
Fans telling us it's ruining it, but fans are watching
see more college football maybe than ever this past weekend.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, and I mean acknowledging that, you know, there are
there's a gambling element to viewership that doesn't necessarily suggest health,
you know. Overall, in the book, I actually kind of
make fun of us as fans for the fact that
every single change we don't like, we decide, has murdered
college football, and yet attendance is great, TV viewership is great.
There's no actual sign that there's a problem. So yeah,
(25:25):
I mean that's that's kind of where we're at right now.
And I do think, you know, in terms of like
the big time games. Obviously this was a particularly big
week with three top ten matchups and everything. We'll see
exactly how the ratings are this week when when the
matchups kind of disappear, and it's kind of a grab
bag of sorts. But no, I mean there are no
you know, overt signs that were in any sort of
(25:47):
problems whatsoever. I you know, for in the book, I
do talk a lot about you know, warning signs, like
we think everything is going to destroy the sport, what
destroyed previous sports or what dragged down NASCAR or box
or college basketball or baseball kind of and just try
to create a list of warning signs, most of them involved, like,
(26:07):
you know, even if American fans don't protest to the
way European soccer fans do, you don't want to alienate
your hardcourse to the point where once you need them again,
they're not there anymore. That was certainly kind of a
NASCAR lesson, yea, And so I talked a lot about that,
but yeah, I mean, right now, it's certainly we have
to search for the warning signs because the big numbers
(26:28):
are awfully big.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Why do you think the sport retains its popularity the
way that it does. We were talking about that also,
And why do you think, no matter what goes on
in the spring and the summer, that when Saturdays roll
around or whatever day in college football, that it feels
like fans just forget whatever was going on in the
off season.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Yeah, no, I mean that's there's a personal connection to
college sports that you really can't match for most of
the pro sports in this country. It's another European soccer thing.
There's a community element, public good these college towns and
the stadiums and the traditions. You know, I go, you know,
I live in Columbia, Missouri. Still all hop up to
(27:08):
a tailgate and see the same people I was tailgating
with ten years ago and twenty years ago and twenty
five years ago. And so there's a personal thing there
that it. You know, it matters who you play, it
matters what conference you're in, and how much money you're making,
whether you're competitive, but also it doesn't change the fact
that you have built your own little version of college
(27:28):
football that you attend to. And that's a that's a
great thing, but it's still we don't want to take
that for granted. We don't want to just assume that
that's never going to change.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
Bill Connelly's book, Forward Progress is all about the future
of college football. Where do you see and I'm sure
you talk, I'm sure you talk all about the conference realignment,
right where do you see the future with this conference realignment? Like,
is it breaking away from the NCAA in some form
of super league for football only?
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Where where do you see it it? Had?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Well, I do think obviously there's plenty of super league
reference in the book, but I do think we're in
a position now where we might actually already be in
the Super League. Like that's I don't know why the
Big Tenant and SEC would feel like they need to
break apart if they've already arranged to make all the
extra money from the new playoffs, if they've already got
most of the big brands. Obviously, hear in about five
(28:21):
years or so when a bunch of television contracts or
media rights contracts start to come up, and there could
be maneuvering at that point. But as far as big
level changes, you have heard these Super League private equity
backs plans in over the last couple of years, I
don't know, Like right as things currently, the Big Tenant
SEC have no reason to agree to any of that
(28:43):
because they kind of have everything where they want it.
They let you know, they they deign to let the
ACC and Big twelve and G five into the playoffs
at least a little bit, but they're still going to
get the most teams, they're going to get the money
from it. And we've already kind of stumbled into that
a little bit. Now, whether so that turns out to
be a really really bad thing for the sport if
we start to basically tell all these schools that draw
(29:06):
fifty something thousand fans even though they're not going to
win a national title, you know, Inc State, Iowa State, whoever. Like,
if we start to alienate those fans like that, that
could become a long term problem. But yeah, right now
we're kind of it is what it is, and I
don't necessarily know if it's going to change dramatically here
in five to ten years.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
All right, man, it's obviously a fascinating subject and you
obviously know and love the sport.
Speaker 5 (29:32):
It is out there now.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
I'm looking at the Amazon page right now, look for
Bill Connolly's forward progress The Definitive Guy did a Future
of College Football, and check out all his college football
content and his SMP rankings and game projections ESPN dot Com.
Thank you, Bill, We appreciate you, man.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Absolutely take care.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
All right, be good. There you go.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
That is Bill Connelly. Yeah he said something there Bone.
This this weekend doesn't look near as right as the
first weekend. But this is a weekend where I do
think if you love college football and you don't have
a woman bone coming from like a gazillion states away,
that you might need to go out on a date
with Okay, before she goes away until December, because if
(30:17):
she gets back to the West coast and they never
fear that, Yeah, you need to make you it on
this opportunity if you're not in that boat, and maybe
if you're like me where you've been married for twenty
years and your wife doesn't want to hang with you,
and then you have a teenage son and a twin
daughter who don't want to hang with you.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
This is a great weekend.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
I think I should say not great, I should say
I think a really good Like I'll say the way
Little Max says it. This is a low key good
college football weekend, and sometimes those end up being the
best ones. Were something out of nowhere happened, the big upset,
and you're like, we didn't see that, like the noon window,
Like I'm looking at this even from an acc standpoint,
that's where your Duke Illinois game is boned. By the
(30:54):
way his projections have Illinois winning but only by two
Baylor SMU is really interesting to me.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
That's c W.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Wes Bryant gonna be involved in that broadcast. State and Virginia. Again,
these aren't the sexiest games nationwide, but State and Virginia
the way Virginia played last week, like and Chandler Morris
is healthy, the quarterback is gonna play, So I think
that's gonna be a good game. You brought this one
up when we were chilling in the in our little closet.
They put us in after the show the.
Speaker 6 (31:21):
South Florida when I was out of the closet by noon.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
The South Florida Florida game is real intriguing to me. Man,
and then obviously Oklahoma Michigan's really hen just Missouri could
be fun too.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Yeah, that's that's awesome, Tod.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
There's kind of low key interesting games and Andy Virginia Tech,
and I'm interested in does Vandy do it again?
Speaker 6 (31:40):
There's something in each window that could be intriguing even Heck,
don't sleep on Friday Night's game. James Madison, Louis thou
that could be a fun one. James Madison's no joke.
Speaker 5 (31:51):
Fitty. By the way, James Madison's no joke. I don't
know if you know that or not. Fitty.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
I got a PREDICTIONI Louisville will hold him under seventy though.
Speaker 5 (32:00):
Kill us Man, he wants to kill us. Finny. I
was you know what I was gonna do you know
we should have done bone.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
I have an idea the next time the Heels lose,
we should come in early and put ballue and white
balloons behind Phinny.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
He would kill us, wouldn't You have plenty of fundy
to blow him up?
Speaker 5 (32:18):
So get to it, Skillet.
Speaker 6 (32:21):
Right now, I'm looking at DVR Dave sending me medieval
reenact the videos. I'm sorry, I was briefly distracted momentarily.
If you ever thought, man, I'm kind of a nerdy dude.
The ladies don't love me.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Just think I could be DVR Dave dressing up in
medieval attire and reenacting things.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
You know, Davy.
Speaker 6 (32:41):
Apparently a want of women go out there though, so
it might be could be a game changer.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
A flounder.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
There is that where you Hey, can you think these
are the type of women that would be in the flounder?
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Because we haven't found him yet, we try and pretty's
in the dress up when we come back to you.
Speaker 6 (32:54):
Then it's a battle of number two number one overall picks.
On Sunday, Bryce Trevor Warren's but who's the better signal caller?
Right now, we debate Sports Radio seven WFZ.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
It's an interesting thing just when you know, when you're
looking at new when you're looking at a team with
a new coordinator, you know, you're you're looking at different things,
looking at different pictures. From a personal standpoint, see a
lot of guys with the snaps they had and looking
at last season, guys that were there, played hard care
a lot. It's a really good unit, really talented. It's
a good scheme. Of course, you you know that there's
(33:36):
gonna be a mixed bag of things. You know, you're
you're you have a little bit of idea what to expect,
but you know you're gonna get some some stuff that
you know, some un scouted looks, and you know that's
the league, and especially you have a new coordinator. But
you know, we know it's gonna be a challenge. Again,
we have a ton of respect for them. It's it's
a really good group of guys, really good scheme. So
we have to be be at our best this weekend.
And that's what this week is about.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
That is Bryce Young talking about facing Jack preparing for
Jaguars defense, where the scheme is new new coordinator. At
least they're familiar bone with the with Liam Cohen's scheme
right didn't necessarily go great last year. I believe they
averaged thirty seven points a game against US. Never actually
the two games last year, never actually touched Bucky ever once.
(34:19):
But I think the talent is less on Jacksonville then
Liam Cohen had at his disposal in Tampa.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
It's the first week.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
I'd like, you know, I kind of like the idea
of playing teams with new schemes.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Bone week one, I can't you know what I mean.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
I may regret that y'all may clip and save that
and use that against me, but I kind of do so.
The Bryce agree the Bryce Lawrence conversation, Bone, you you
brought this up yesterday. You're like, Man, we got to
have a Bryce and Trevor conversation. I actually think it's
a good conversation because I believe that Bryce Young at
(34:56):
the end of the season, I believe that Bryce Young
and Trevor Lawrence will be very close to each other
in the quarterback rankings in the national media. I was
very annoyed yesterday, Bone. I swear this is the last
list I'm gonna get annoyed at before the season starts,
because we got to just start playing football. But Cody Benjamin,
(35:17):
who I feel like has been a Bryce doubter in
the past. Cody Benjamin ranked at CBS Sports the NFL
qb is going into the season and had Bryce at
twenty eight and had Trevor Lawrence at seventeen. And I'm
just like, we're getting I knew. I'm like, we're getting
ready to discuss these two guys. To me, first of all,
Bryce was better than Trevor last year. I'll give you
(35:39):
all you know in a couple minutes. I'll give you
all the numbers in all the categories he was better
at than Trevor. He just was statistically and I think
in reality, especially as he especially at the last five
weeks or so. But I believe, if I'm being fair
about it, I think at the end of the season,
both these guys. I think Cohen can help. I think
Colin's pretty damn good coordinator, and I think he can
(36:01):
help Trevor. I think Canalis has already started to help Bryce.
I think these guys can be around like fourteenth and
fifteen something like that. But when the season's over, if
I'm being like reasonable about.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
It, yeah, and I'm surprised that's where Lawrence currently is
in his career because I thought after year number two
had a rough rookie year. Then he had twenty five
tounnies and he looked like he was on his way
to being, you know, a top five, six seven quarterback
in the league. The next season in twenty twenty three,
did not have that year, then he got injured. Last year,
(36:36):
I thought Trevor Lawrence Mack would end up being one
of the best quarterbacks in the league. He has not.
Now he's sort of had a make or break time
for him on what he can become. But I agree
Trevor Warrens and Bryce there's no way they there should
be an eleven number gap in the rankings of where
they are, Like Cody Benjamin.
Speaker 4 (36:55):
And I just want to rid the record show because
I don't know people might be Mac only.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Has Bryce around four thirty as I'm even with Trevor, Trevor.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
Hasn't been good.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
I'm taking Bryce Young, Like when we asked the question
what QB do you would you rather have? I'm taking
Bryce Young. Bryce Young to me is still a sending. Yeah,
Trevor Lawrence can benefit from the scheme of li and
Cohen can benefit from Travis Hunter being drafted there and
playing a bunch of wide receiver. They added a couple
interior alignement. I'm still not sure they're great in the interior.
(37:23):
Derek Brown's about to find out. But like Bryce Young
to me, is getting better, Trevor's been very uneven. I
was reading it was one of the Jaguar writers who
wrote a piece about Trevor Lawrence and said, let's be honest,
he has not had a good complete season yet. Now
neither has Bryce. But my hope is Bone that what
we had at the end of the year. My belief
is what we had at the end of the year
last year is going to become normal for Bryce, and
(37:45):
I think he will take it even higher. Last year,
Bone Trevor Lawrence eleven touchdown, seven interceptions. Bryce was better
than him in the touchdown to interception ratio. Last season.
Was better in world the damn categories right here. Better
in completion a percentage, better in true accuracy percentage, better
(38:08):
in PFF passing grade, better in big time throw percentage,
turnover worthy throw percentage, better grade under pressure, better deep
passing grade. And I was reading an article about Trevor Lawrence.
Trevor Lawrence's footwork has turned into a complete and utter mess,
and I'm not listening. I think Liam Cohen can help
him bone, But this is a dude that to me, like,
(38:29):
I look at Trevor Lawrence and I feel like he
might be destined to be a middle of the NFL
quarterback every year. I truly believe y'all could call me
a homer, but I truly believe boned at Bryce at
some point. Maybe it's not this year, maybe Bryce is
fourteenth and fifteenth this year, but I believe what Bryce
will settle in at some point to a top ten
quarterback on the annual. And I know some of y'all
(38:50):
gonna think I'm crazy.
Speaker 6 (38:51):
He four games, he had three touchdowns and four he
had three tds and four i nts. And game included
a one ninety three yard passing game and a one
sixty nine yard passing game. In between there was three
to oh eight. His career quarterback rating four years in
is just eighty five. So he's I think the ceiling
(39:15):
for warrants is good, but not the greatness that he
should have had as a number one overall pick. Just
I don't I don't know if he's ever going to
reach out. Well that I thought he was gonna be.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
We thought he was going to be up there around
where you know the Joe Burrows and Josh Allens are
like like full stop, right, that's what we thought. I know,
it's shocking bone that I might have been wrong on
a quarterback in the pre draft.
Speaker 6 (39:36):
I know people I mean by that a lot of
people were remember the tanking that was going on for him.
The Jets were involved, There was a lot of teams
involved try he was one of those quarterbacks where teams
were losing on what we thought were losing on purpose
to try to get up there to get him.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Yeah, he was a tankable player. Generational how many times
we use that word generational? Yes, So if you're if,
how do y'all feel about the comparison of Bright and
Trevor They I think this year I would expect them
by the end of this year the national media when
they do the rankings, to view them as pretty even.
But I love the fact that Bryce is ascendant. And
(40:11):
I don't know how to describe Trevor Lawrence. Trevor Lawrence
kind of stuck in the mud, bony and I would
argue last year, last year might be, along with his
rookie year, might be as one of the worst years
he's had. And he's also had trouble staying healthy, which
is ironic because Bryce is the little fell that, a
little tiny fella everybody thought couldn't hold up in the NFL,
(40:31):
couldn't take hits in the NFL. But Trevor Lawrence has
had knock on wood. I don't want to Matt curses,
but has had way more injury issues than Bryce.
Speaker 6 (40:41):
As part of me wonders, now he's got Liam Cohen,
so he's got a chance to sort of revive maybe
what we thought he was. But if it doesn't work
with Liam Cohen and he's still kind of middling or
good at times not good, is he the next guy mack?
In this line of quarterbacks we've seen recently, whether it's Mayfield, Darnold,
(41:01):
these guys that have moved around a little bit, I
wonder if eventually do they end up moving off Trevor
warrens at its best for both parties and ego somewhere
and gets the fresh target.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
We got a decision to make, There's no doubt about it.
I do think I think Cohen was hired because of Trevor. Yes,
I don't think there's any secret about with Doug Peterson.
What do you all feel about this comparison seven oh four, five,
seven oh nine, sixtens Stephen and Album Morle says Trevor
took his seat into the playoffs and won a game.
James from Maiden says Mac, you are right, twenty eighth
(41:31):
is not right for Bryce Young and quarterback rankings. He's
too high by y'all coming in here with the negative
vibes on game week.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
Go decrutch yourself. Don't don't bring us.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
Down from being competitive this week seth set in mount
Pleasant career day for Trevor incoming. Who do you do
you have a feeling on who will have the better
game on Sunday? Bone, Because what I'm saying is long term,
I would rather have Bryce Young. I would not trade
him straight up for Trevor Lawrence at this point in time,
because I think we have started to see Trevor's had
more time to prove himself Bony and yeah he has.
(42:02):
He has taken his team to the playoffs, he has
been there. But other than that, what has he done?
And even that season was very uneven. But what do
you expect this weekend?
Speaker 6 (42:13):
BO They Trevor Lawrence want more passing yards because he's
got Brian Thomas, a more known kamandie that had twelve
hundred yards last year. We don't know what Temac as
a rookie will do game number one. So I think
the passing yards will go in Trevor Lawrence's favor just
because he's got Brian Thomas, who's one of the best
receivers in football already. I I think I'm saying that's
(42:34):
the perditioner who's gonna win the game with just yardage wise,
I think Trevor Lawrence want more.
Speaker 4 (42:37):
I think we're running for more. Yes, I think I
think we're running the ball for more yards. I think
that's what we're trying to do. I don't again, I
don't think Bryce Young like we got guys bringing up
someone's bringing up how.
Speaker 5 (42:47):
Many three hundred yard games did Bryce have? Again?
Speaker 4 (42:51):
I can rattle off all these, all these numbers last
year that Bryce was great at in the second half
of the season when he went back in there. I
understand some of y'all are just going to look at
raw passing numbers that's not the way this team's designed.
This team, when they play well, are going to be
designed to run a football and Bryce is going to
throw play action passes. Bryce is going to drop bombs
(43:12):
way more than y'all think. He was fifth in average
distance of target bone in the second half of the
year last year. How about this one. He was the
eleventh best quarterback in PFF grade in the final four
minutes of halfs last year. Remember how clutch he was Bone.
I know we didn't win some of these games, but
how clutch was he against the Chiefs, against the Bucks,
against the Eagles.
Speaker 5 (43:32):
His teammates let him down, So.
Speaker 4 (43:34):
I think that's something that people are forgetting about. His
numbers under pressure were amazing. His big time throws in
terms of just ridiculous tight window throws were second in
the league when he came back in there. So, like
you guys can sit there and be beholden to the
raw passing numbers, I'm going to choose to look at
advanced numbers in the year of our Lord twenty twenty five,
(43:56):
which is going to give me a better indicator of
some of these things that Bryce Young was doing.
Speaker 5 (44:00):
Well.
Speaker 4 (44:01):
You guys can just look at box scores. But I'm
telling you right now you are missing Bryce Young's development
last year if you just look at a box scores.
Speaker 6 (44:09):
This has allowed the Bryce haters to walk in with
an open door.
Speaker 5 (44:14):
They're annoying.
Speaker 4 (44:15):
Hold on a second and away from to shut you
guys up backwards right now.
Speaker 6 (44:19):
Oh watch this new trick, Mac, I'm button in a
button on my collared shirt.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
Miserable human beings says he would take Trevor over Bryce
in a second. Of course you would, because you're miserable.
There's people complain with in Jacksonville. You would tell the
people in Jacksonville you want Bryce over Trevor back to back.
Speaker 6 (44:33):
People are complaining about the record under Bryce Young with
the team.
Speaker 5 (44:37):
Why get it the hell again?
Speaker 4 (44:38):
If you're beholding the things like that, you are a
one hundred level fan. Like, seriously, I know I ain't
no damn rocket scientist, but I can at least figure
out context.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
You're gonna hold.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
All those losses in his rookie season against Bryce when
this dude was put out there in the biggest bleep
show a rookie quarterback could be put in Like that's ridiculous.
Look at the way Bryce three point zero play, because
that's the quarterback Bryce Young is now and as the
quarterback he's gonna be moving forward. He was four and
f and five, and that's the type of season we're
about to get, which is why I said eight and nine.
(45:10):
So and by the way, he was on the pace
he played at in the final ten games was a
pace of a quarterback for a full season to put
up thirty five touchdowns.
Speaker 5 (45:20):
So again, you.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
Guys, cherry picks win lost record. You guys, cherry pick
his total passing yards. You look at all that crap
that makes you feel good about your Bryce Young hates,
You're about to feel like jackasses and idiots in about
seventeen damn weeks.
Speaker 6 (45:36):
Nine to one zero says Trevor's showed the leadership and
Bryce hasn't dug himself out of the hole yet that
he was. What are you saying, did Bryce not dig
himself out of his benching last year and show poison
leadership the whole time he came back.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
Now playing with are the worst defenses in the history
of football? Are you talking about? I just this anti
Bryce stuff. It's go time.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
It is go time. It's time for Price Young to shut.
Speaker 5 (46:01):
These fools up when we come back.
Speaker 6 (46:04):
Jones Angel talks Tar Heels and their performance on Monday
and what it means going forward. Sports Radio Mac is
tangled in this cord. Sports Radio ninety two OK Sports
Radio ninety two seven WFNZ
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