December 31, 2025 • 48 mins
Fitty, Flounder and Shroppy are filling in today on NYE. We start the show with a Tuesday night sports recap and then shift to talk about Luke Kuechly potentially being a first ballot HOF'er. We also debate if Steve Smith Sr. will ever make the HOF. The hour ends with a discussion about the future of Clemson football.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Good Wednesday morning, Queen sitting. It's the Young Guns here
on Sports Radio ninety two seven WFFENCI. We're here with
you up until noon, so eight to twelve. Then at
noon we will transition into Hornets pregame ahead of the
Hornets and the Warriors. That game will come your way
at one pm over at Spectrum Center. But we are
(00:31):
back for our final show of the year, our final
show of the holiday break. I'm your host, Josh Fitty
Marlow to my right back fresh office trip to Chapel
Hill last night. Anthony Flounder pag Nada. We are hoping
he can get four hours and not say a bad
word after back to back shows last week where he
had to be dumped off the radio. Let's just start
(00:52):
him out right here with one why not well now
and if were gonna go ahead and get it out
of the way, be my guest, and then back behind
the board. The ever trustworthy he is my uh my protege,
Aaron Stroppy, Shropshire.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
He was here last night working drop yeah, not for
not for the not for the forty nine ers game.
If you are his protege, yikes.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I mean, who doesn't want to follow in my footsteps.
Yeah all right, well.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, I mean, I I appreciate you giving me the
uh the the head start here, but I feel like
we have diverbs pasts. I don't know if i'd say
protege anymore, but.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Oh yeah, there we go. All right, Okay, Yeah, you
think you've uh, you think you've passed me.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I didn't say that. I think I think I said
that we have ground. You have diverged.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, there's no such thing as as equal ground like
like uh like Obi Wan tells Anakin in episode three,
Oh nerd alert, I have the high ground. I have
the high ground. Don't don't, don't don't try to pull
an Anakin because I hate to have to cut your
arms and legs off, and you know I do it. Wow,
(02:01):
we're getting violent. So Happy New Year Eve, dude day.
It is New Year's Eve, probably the most overrated holiday
of the entire year. This guy just hates fun. I
mean why why created? Yeah, because it doesn't involve food
to stuff your fat face. Oh no, I mean, if
you're going to a good party, there's gonna be food there.
But it's like I was listening, I don't know who
was hosting on ESPN this morning as we were went
(02:23):
disputed man, we were waiting to come in or on sportsman,
let me get that neck all right? He was just like,
you know, who wants to go out on a Wednesday night, Like,
I guess if New Year's Eve falls on the weekend,
a little bit more exciting. But you're off tomorrow, am
I Yeah, we got three we got three games we
gotta watch tomorrow, lock in at a high noon.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well yeah, I mean it's but you're still off. Yeah, exactly.
You can sleep until noon if you wanted to.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I've just never been one to like get excited about
New Year's New Year's Eve, I feel like I feel
I really like Walker Mail. This is like one of
his favorite days of the year.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, yeah, because he has like more than two friends
to hang out with.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
What's that like? It's pretty fun, dude. Well he's also
he's also.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Got a woman as well, which I think is a
big part of the New Year's East stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
As you know, at the same time.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I had a woman that way, I should say a
significant other.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
That that is certainly going to.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Make it a lot more exciting if you get to
go out with the significant other, hang out and then
kiss at midnight or whatever.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, you actually get to kissing of the human at
midnight instead of like your Ramsey's dollar or something like that.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I mean, I have gotten a New Year's kiss before shrop.
Your mom doesn't count. No, I've I've done it one.
I've had one New doesn't count either. I've had one
New Year's Eve kiss. Pretty pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
But she leaned over and uh grabbed the credit card
right after that problem, I tell you what she did
after we kissed.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
How dare you? But yeah, I mean like tonight, put
on some Ohio State Miami. Yeah, watch them call and
like my hope is that the game actually takes long
enough so then I can justify turning on the New
Year's Eve programming to watch the ball drop. Like if
we get eleven, Like if this came is over by eleven,
(04:18):
pretty good chance. I'm turning in for the night. We
gets about eleven thirty, eleven forty five, they're still playing,
I'll turn it over and watch watch Ryan Seacrest countdown
the clock.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You know what was great a couple of years ago
whenever Ohio State was playing Georgia and it went up
right until midnight, and the field goal to what was
it was either the tire or to win. Was kicked
literally basically right as the ball dropped. And remember how
ugly that kick was too.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, former former tariol guy that was the Ohio state
kicker at that time, Noah Ruggles, just absolutely shanked one.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah it wasn't even close, but it was like right
at midnight where that kickerfectly. Yeah, I will, I'll remember
that for a while being just a strange coincidence of
things lining up. But yeah, you know, I I uh,
I think it's cool to have this game pretty much
bump right up to two New Year's and uh yeah,
I mean you, VIDI are you really a guy that's
(05:11):
gonna go to sleep before you before you watch the
ball drop?
Speaker 1 (05:14):
It depends on how long this game goes. Like if
if now what time? What time is kickoff? Eight? Yeah,
there's no way this game isn't going until at least
like eleven thirty. And like, my hope is that they
drag it out on purpose to to like justify staying
up to then flip over to watch the ball drop.
But let's say we get like, which is weird for
(05:36):
compe football? A quick three hour game. I don't know
if I'm just witting up an hour to watch to
watch a ball drop. I mean, I'm gonna put on
some mad men to keep myself, you know, entertained. But
there's no I mean, there's there's been times before where
I've gone to bed before the balls dropped and i
haven't felt bad about it. It's just wild. It's just
(05:57):
it's just one. Yeah, I mean, look it. I don't know.
I mean, I don't.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It's not the most exciting thing you're ever gonna see.
I mean, it doesn't change your life. It would be
much different if you were in person.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
They try to sell them for the people that go
to like Times Square or such a light change.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
How many look at how many people are there. I mean, yeah,
it's probably pretty amazing to be there in person and
get to experience that. But I mean, let's be honest.
I'm not standing there all day. That's the thing you
gotta have if you stand there all day in order
to get a good spot, you gotta stand there.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I mean, you gotta be out.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
There's people out there right now that are getting prepared,
and so you gotta have, like you know you got,
you gotta be prepared. If you know what I'm saying,
so you gotta have like some sort of you're a
nation jug or something like that, because you can't leave
your spot.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You leave your spot, it's over. You don't get it back.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
People started camping out like yesterday for this. Oh it's crazy.
I mean, and think about what you're doing. You're giving
up an entire day of your life. Yeah, to watch
a ball drop and it's cold. It's not like you're
in like California. It's one of the dumbest things Americans do.
It's just you know what, you know what it is.
It's one of the most pointless things. You just hate. Fun, man, Yeah,
(07:14):
it was fun though, You're just watching a ball come down.
Enjoy it. I don't know what to tell you. City.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Probably because they're there with friends, ye, friends out and
being a part of a tradition. That is one of
the I think if you it's one of the most
distinct American like traditions. Is everyone knows on New Year's Eve,
you pay attention to to New York City and Times
Square and all the people out there, and you watch
(07:43):
the ball drop and everyone celebrates that.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That all right, let's let's make a let's make a
declaration right now. Next year, the young guns we go
to Times Square and then we can come back giving
up the airtime can just review how how pointless and
how of a waste of time it really is.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
I think I think you'd have fun. It's it's just
a party, exactly. It's it's not like you're just standing
around doing nothing. There's there's music, there's drinking. There, it's
a massive party for hours.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Ye I was gonna say, you do You can bring
your own refreshments, so yeah, you can. You know you
can party and have a good time. Would you would
you take a urination station or would you just invest
in the adult diaper? Because I feel like that that's
going to be the more complicatedest that you made.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
We'd have to ask a veteran of this, what exactly
do you do? I think I'd go diaper, Really.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I think I will because I think the problem is
we shouldn't even be talking about this.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, this is over. This is a lovely start. But
you know what, none of us really watched any of
the Bowl games. I caught the end of the TCU game.
Want to finish. They just seem to, you know, find
ways to win the Alamo Bowl in the craziest ways possible.
But yeah, Carolina basketball looked pretty good. There were some
(09:03):
moments that they didn't look great last night. Yeah, and
what else do we have?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Yeah, I mean I heard, well before we get there,
I can you know, speaking of basketball, I.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Can talk about that Charlotte forty nineer game a little
bit last night.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Going into the game, Charlotte forty nine Ers were six
and seven on the season, Temple was eight and five.
Temple got out to a pretty big lead at one point.
I believe they had a lead of around twelve points.
Go figure and uh, well, dang dude, and uh Charlotte,
and you know that Charlotte fought all night. They had
a chance with the h at the buzzer to tie
(09:39):
it up, drew up the play beautifully, shot just did
not fall. It was a pretty ugly airball, just wide
to the left. But yeah, it was just it came
down to Temple shot fifty one percent from from the field,
Charlotte only shot forty four percent. So Temple hit seven
out of fourteen for threes as well, Charlotte only seventeen.
(10:01):
So just not the best shooting night for Charlotte and
ended up being what what was their demise? So Temple
led ninety percent of the game too. I think whenever
you lead for ninety percent of a game and he
only win by three points, though, I think that that
speaks to Charlotte like at least never giving up. So
not the best way to start their their conference play.
(10:23):
Obviously own ones not where you want to be.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
But yeah, I think their overall records a little more
concerning six and eight. Yeah, you know, we really thought
that this team a couple of years ago under Aaron
Fern was going to be pretty decent and last year
did not go well. This year not off to a
flying start, so we'll have to see. We'll monitor them
during American Conference play. But not what I think we
(10:46):
envisioned for Aaron Fern with that first season where he
you know, put a multiple guys up to the next level,
and you know, it was showing that he was capable
of winning games, winning some pretty decently significant games in
conference as well.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So yeah, not not what we were hoping for from
a Charlotte perspective.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
No, and then starting this you know, in preseason polls,
I think they were predicted to you know, finish thirteenth
in the conference, Temples picked to finish ninth. I think
Temple probably finishes higher than ninth in the conference. But yeah, Charlotte,
I mean, if that's that kind of tells you all
you need to know about where people think that they
are in this conference.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So it's kind of.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Disappointing that their football and their basketball programs just not
quite where do you do really want them to be
at this point?
Speaker 1 (11:33):
You know, let's get to the result that mattered the
most last night locally, that was UNC kicking off conference play.
I described it as a workman like when seventy nine
sixty six Kleb Wilson was fantastic twenty two sixteen, six assists,
two blocks, Henry Vassar, who did not score in the
first half, recorded another double double, seat Tremble ads twenty points.
(11:55):
This was a game that Carolina should have won by
a wider margin, and the game should have been over
a lot sooner than than it was. I mean, it
was a seven point game, you know, deep into the
second half, or against a team that had yet to
win a game away from from their home gym. Regardless,
I think last night kind of shows the difference between
where Carolina is at this year compared to last where
(12:18):
they can win a game by double digits, where they
shoot forty three from the field thirty percent from three,
because they're just that much better than they were a
year ago. They had the three best players on the
court last night with their best you know, with the
three dimentioned there, Wilson, Vassar Seth Tremble, you got great
contributions from Kayan Evans, who who they need his scoring,
(12:41):
and then you got just you know, quality production from
from the from the role players Jaron Stevenson, Jonathan Powell,
and Carolina looks up and now they're they're they're thirteen
and one, they're they're off to their best start in
roughly fifteen years. And the last time they were off
to this good of a start, you know, they went
on to win a national championship. And as Caleb Wilson
(13:02):
continues to emerge as maybe the best player in this conference,
maybe the best player in college basketball, so does Carolina,
who as we sit here on the final day of
twenty twenty five, I think they put their name in
the conversation as a legitimate national title contender as we're
getting too twenty twenty six. Yeah, they're starting to get there.
I think that certainly is you know, where you're hoping
(13:24):
they're going to get to. I don't know if last
night shows you that. I mean that certainly wasn't a
great performance by Carolina, But at the same time, it
wasn't a performance that hurt Carolina either. You know, they
came out.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
They did enough to be able to control the game
for the most part outside of you know, a slow
start to be to the beginning of the game. But
I thought after that point, really, you know, outside of
the first four minutes of each half, I thought Carolina
actually played pretty well. I thought offensively, they were doing
a lot of really good things.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
I thought attacking the basket.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Once they figured out, you know, after the first four
minute stretch of the game where they just chose to
basically throw up every three point shot that they possibly could,
Luca Bogovats just tried to go into takeover mode. I
thought after that they got some really good looks at
the rim, they started attacking, getting to.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
The foul one.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Still, you know, the foul shooting not great. It was
better last night. It was certainly better in that first
half and was part of the reason that Carolina was
able to build the halftime lead that they did.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
But then you know, you go on a run in.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
The second half where it's an eleven zero run, extended
run of eighteen to three, and that's really where Carolina
put some distance between them. Couldn't fully close them out,
it felt like until they got to that under four timeout.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
But still, I think going.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Up against a team that shoots as many threes as
Florida State does, they were knocking some down last night.
I thought, you know, Carolina's perimeter defense wasn't great, but
it wasn't horrible. I thought, yeah, maybe, you know, maybe
it would have been a little bit of a better
performance from that, maybe they would have found a way
to win.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
But we'll win by a more significant margin. I mean.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
But I mean, at the same time, I don't think
anybody watches last night's game and should be panicking, Like
we had multiple people on our timeline saying to us
that this team can't defend, this team can't come down
with significant rebounds.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
All that kind of stuff. We'll talk more acc hoops
later on in the show. Duke and Action Today Wake
and Stake four Awake at Nancy State. They play each other.
That's a real massive game really for both teams here
to kick off conference play. We'll talk about that. We'll
talk about that but later on in the show seven
four five seven ninety six ten. We want to hear
from you guys on the fan duel text line. Greg
(15:46):
Allman will join us at ten o'clock. We'll get you
ready for Panthers Bucks with the NFC South reporter from
from Fox Sports. When we come back, we'll turn our
attention to the Carolina Panthers. We got the Hall of
Fame final for twenty twenty six. An ounce yesterday there
was one Panther on the list. One Panther left offense.
We'll talk about that next right here on Sports Radio
(16:07):
ninety two seven WFNZ. Sports Radio ninety two to seven
(16:33):
WFNZ is the young Guns here with you guys on
a Wednesday in New Year's Eve. We're here with you
up until twelve o'clock today. Then we'll get you ready
for Hornets and Warriors over at Spectrum Center. Seven oh
four five seven ninety six ten. The FANDUL text line
is open. We want to hear from you guys. We
were having the discussion about how to go about I
(16:56):
guess preparing if you're gonna spend the day at Times
Square ahead of the ball drop to celebrate the new year.
An inflatable skeleton said that him and his buddies they
took a two liter bottle with them community bottles. Kind
of wild when you.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
When you think about it, Yes, yeah, how many two
leter bottles?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
That's the other thing, because like if just one? I mean,
because if you're there for let's just say, like, what's
the earliest thing you think you got to start getting there?
What like if yesterday? Oh yes, oh you're there overnight? Yeah,
there's people. Kid, that's last like last night at ten o'clock.
Yesterday at six o'clock, I think, like, are you are
you going to be there more than twenty four twenty
(17:37):
eight hours? Probably probably twenty four.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
They're not going to completely shut down Times Square until
they get to a certain point, so I would imagine
it was probably like ten o'clock last night something like
that they start shutting it down. So that means you
got to go over twenty four hours and you got
you got one p jug. I feel like you would
have to have tre with you just to there's no
(18:03):
way one just to ensure you're not sharing the same.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Area. But also just to make sure you have enough space,
because even if you're you know, dehydrating your body, like
you're still going to use the bathroom.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
He has responded. He says, you dump it out when needed. Guys,
come on, we are at that point you might as
on the ground. You might as well just literally pee
on the ground, or you understand, like that's what I'm saying,
Like it's.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
The inner state.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Just pull over, stand there, gather, gather the guys around
backs to you, and just form a form a peace
circle or something.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I think it's a block you off, Okay, yeah uh
Dascar Brad says, Also how do people eat?
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You don't? You don't? Yeah? That that that that one,
I feel like is pretty simple.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Or you pack your own stuff like you so in
you're cooler if you're bringing you know, drinks, which people
are going to bring alcoholic beverages, but they're also going
to bring regular drinks. Well, and you just pack a
lunch or something like pack a sandwich something like that. Probably,
But yeah, I mean you're not eating like, you know,
three full meals.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
I mean, I don't think that's happening. The more we
talk through this, the more I'm convinced this might be
the dumbest tradition we have as a country. This is
every no, no, no, no, every country does this. They
have something something equivalent. You can't just say this is
this is American stupidity. Okay, so this is just humanity stupidity. Yeah,
(19:41):
I guess so, sure, Okay, I mean I'm down with
that too. Someone said that have we ever watched how
Japan and Australia do it? They do it the right way.
I've never look, man, it's if you're taking in international
New Year's events, Yeah, get a life, whoa like you've oh,
(20:03):
come on, there are there are people that enjoy this
kind of stuff, you know. I mean unless you you've
got you know, family members over there, you're you come
from one of those countries. I don't think I'm seeking
out international New Year's events.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Well, they do show you some of the international New
Year's events on Ryan Seacrest New Year's Rock and Eve.
They'll show like, sixteen hours ago in Beijing they ring
in the New Year, and then here's a nice video
package of them shooting off fireworks and everything like that.
But like, yeah, I don't know I'm not seeking out,
(20:38):
you know, Australian television to be able to watch the
ball drop in Sydney. That's that's not necessarily me. But
I did, you know, maybe there are some people that
really get into that.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
And our guy inflatable skeleton who's taking us down this
this path, has finally just confirmed what I led with.
Oh it's totally stupid. Yeah, all right, well there we go.
That's that's that's that's what I thought, and I'm glad
that it took us twenty five minutes to get there.
It's been a fun It's been a fun twenty five minutes.
I mean, look, we could argue about neutral site games.
We could argue about Drake may Bryce Young, where we
(21:11):
can talk about how you want to go about peeing
in public for twenty four hours to watch so to
watch the people got into it. Man, I'm gonna tell
you people are eating this up.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
So that that Drake may Bryce Young conversation. It doesn't age,
it doesn't look too good.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I still stand by what I said.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I think I think Drake threw for fifty four yards
on one drive in the game against the Jets.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Now it's the Jets. You might have done that on
one pass. I still stand by what I said, but
it was I did think about that at some point
during the game when I was watching our anemic passing game.
Do absolutely nothing, Yeah, throw it behind the line of scrimmage,
like well, you know, probably like Damn should have called me,
been like, hey, Fiddy, we're not gonna We're not gonna
throw the ball downfield this week. Should not have had
(21:54):
that argument on airfort for forty minutes. But we cannot.
We cannot undo what was done. So I'm sure maybe
y'all got into this yesterday on y'all show because it
broke after it broke during Willie nine, and so I'm
sure maybe y'all got some initial thoughts on it. But
if you don't know by now, Luke Keigley is a
finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class for
two thousand and twenty six. He was automatically a final
(22:18):
because of where he was last year on the ballot,
but was what was notable was that Steve Smith, who
was a finalist a year ago, not a finalist this year.
So it feels like, or doesn't feel like it does
look like a J and nine and will have to
wait at least one more year before he does make
it into camp and then get his rightful spot there
(22:39):
at the Hall of Fame. Everyone seems to be pretty
confident that this is the year that Keickley does get in.
That we did get some pushback yes year that maybe
he'll have to end up waiting because of some of
the other guys that ended up being on the ballot,
or Drew Brees at Larry Fitzgerald, two guys that are
without a doubt first ballot Hall of Famers. What do
you think of of Luke Keith once again being a finalist.
(23:02):
Do you think this is the year that he gets
into Canton? And then Steve Smith, who was a finalist
a year ago not being a finalist this year.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Well, first of all was smitty. I mean, it's it's
just ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I don't understand.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
I mean I said this yesterday and people got incredibly
fired up because they thought, of course I was just
state hating. I think he should be on the list
over Tory Holt. I think you should be on the
list over Reggie Wayne because you look at Steve Smith
and what he did in an offense that.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Was very run based. Who's the best quarterback that he
played with.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
I mean, we're not talking about a guy that is
coming from you know, playing with Peyton Manning, playing with
Marvin Harrison on the same team, which allowed you to
be more open at certain times. You know, Tory Holt,
you played in one of the best offenses that we've
seen in our lifetime with Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce,
(24:04):
Marshall falkeet running back, Marshall Falke at running back. I mean,
that's that's a tremendous group of guys right there.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
So who is the best? Who is the second best
receiver that Sminny played with? Moose Love Moose is Moose
a Hall of Fame candidate? No Is Jake the loone
going to be in the Hall of Fame anytime soon?
No for ever.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
So that that's that's what I'm saying, is that I
don't understand how people look at the production that he
put up in an offense that was not necessarily built
for him and don't look and say this, this is
a guy that deserves to be a Hall of Fame finalist.
(24:47):
It's nothing again, Look, Reggie Wayne is a heck of
a receiver. Should he be in the end in the
Hall of Fame. Yes, should Tory Holt be in the
Hall of Fame? Yes, But should they be on the
list of finalists? A guy like Steve Smith with everything
that he accomplished, And if you're.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Saying, well, where are the big moments for Steve Smith?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I mean in the Triple Crown year in the playoffs
was tremendous. X Clown made one of the biggest plays
in uh that that we've seen in NFC Championship game history.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Like, I think those things should matter, and it.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Doesn't seem like to these two, to the people that
vote for this, that this ultimately does matter. So I
that with with the Smithy side of things, That's that's
where I stand. People can get mad, people can say, oh,
you know you're you're downplaying certain guys. You have to
do this Unfortunately, Well, when it comes to the Hall
(25:45):
of Fame you have it sucks, but you have to
try to tear down these arguments for other guys because
I mean, in order to get your guy in, it's
not easy because it's not like other sports where if
you're a Hall of Famer and you get a certain
percentage of the vote, you're in. Because I feel like
there would be a pretty decent amount of people that
(26:07):
would vote Steve Smith into the Hall of Fame. But
with the way that they do it here, you only
have five modern candidates that can go in, and so
it limits it and that's part of the reason why
Smitty isn't a finalist yet again.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Yeah, I think also, you know, Colin made some good
points about this yesterday. I do think with us assuming
that Luke Cackley's going to be voted in this year,
if you look at it from the business side, do
you want to have two Panthers in the same year. Well,
I think that's interesting, but no, but be a finalist.
(26:41):
The better argument for him not being a finalist this
year is the stuff outside of football.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
But that see, it is a pr disaster.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
This is what this is what they don't understand about
the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
The Hall of Fame is not a hall of good people, guys.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
The Baseball Hall of Fame has some of the war
first human beings that were ever on this earth. Ty
Cobb is in the Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb is
a piece of bleep. Okay, he's he's a He's a
terrible person. We've known this. If you've read about him.
He was a horrible person, but he's in the Hall
of Fame. You're talking about their on field careers. You're
(27:20):
not talking about who they are as people.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
They're not.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
That's That's what I don't understand about that. Do you
really think that it's that bad a pr and and look,
I'm not downplaying what exactly happened off the field, but
is it really Is it really that bad? We've seen
other guys that have done a lot worse getting into
the Hall of Fame. I love Lawrence Taylor. Lawrence Taylor
(27:44):
did some really messed up things and got into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame. But Steve Smith should be.
It should be in at some point. I don't think
to do with it, I don't think you know, I
don't think so either.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
I hope that it comes down to the Panthers as
a franchise don't have enough cachet to put multiple Hall
of famers in the same year. If this is Dallas, Pittsburgh,
you know Green Bay like like Dallas has Witten and Woodson,
there's a good chance maybe both of those going to
the Hall of Fame in in the same year. I
(28:15):
don't think the Panthers have the same cachet that some
of these some of these other franchises have because they've
only been around this thirty first year playing football, They've
yet to win a Super Bowl, so on and so forth. Yeah,
I mean, like when when you look at Smitty, like
what sucks is that everyone can argue that he's a
(28:36):
Hall of Famer, But it feels like every year we're continuing,
we're having to wait because like here comes Larry Fitzgerald.
Larry Fitzgerald's a first battle Hall of Famer. Yes, Larry
Fitzgerald should get in. He should get in over Steve Smith.
Drew Brees now on the ballot, Drew Brees first ballot
Hall of Famer. Yes, Drew Brees should get in over
Steve Smith. Okay, So, like so like you have the
(28:58):
issues where you're gotten, you're having to wait through the
wide receiver log jam that's ahead of him, because like,
is he getting in before Reggie Wayne? Is he getting
in before Holt? He should think that answer is no,
because like Colin was telling us off the air, he
thinks legally gets in this year, Smiddy gets in next year. Well,
then you got to hope that one of these other
wide receivers go in this year because if for someone
(29:20):
which Regie, you need at least two wide receivers going
in because if not, and let's just say Fitzgerald's the
only wide receiever that does get through into the Hall
of Fame, there's a very good chance. Yes, Tom, he's
on the ballot, but he's still behind the other two
gods that he should already gotten in. Over Well, my.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Question I had for Colin yesterday is if he ends
up winning the Super Bowl in two thousand and three,
is he already in?
Speaker 1 (29:42):
That should not matter?
Speaker 3 (29:44):
But we all know, well, next to your name adds
some extra weight, right, it should matter. Winning a championship
should definitely matter. That should be part of the reason
why you can get into the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
But is it the reason that he shouldn't get into
the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
I don't think so, But but I think it's a
factor as to why he's had to wait longer than
I think we should.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Which is which is these great players like Joe Thomas
for the Browns, one of the best offensive linemen ever,
But because he didn't win a Super Bowl, he's got
to get punished because he stayed loyal to an organization
like that's not right. Well, he's gonna get punished because
he's an offensive lineman. That's gonna be the tough part
for him. It's like getting in as an O lineman
(30:29):
is not going to be easy when you've got all
these other guys that are there. I mean, we're pounding
the table for Smithy to be in. There's you know,
other guys. I mean, look, I would put Smitty in
over Jahari. Heavans like he was. He was a good
player in New Orleans, very solid, a guy that was
an all pro I think five times West said yesterday.
But if you're asking me who's more impactful in the
(30:51):
game and who's more impactful to their team's success, I
would say Steve Smith.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
So here, let me go and try to get liner
than dune Button already. Who would you put in first?
Steve Smith or Eli Manning?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Steve Smith?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Hey, Look, look, I love Eli man man He's not
a Hall of Famer. I think he is because I
think he's the most one of the most clutch quarterbacks
that we have ever seen. Based off of the two
runs that he made he beat the goat twice.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
I think he deserves to be in. Who would I
put in first?
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Though, No, honestly, I would put Smitty in the Hall
of Fame first.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
I said this yesterday.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I don't understand how Smitty is not a finalist and
Eli Manning is. That's stunning to me. But yeah, I
mean it's it just is what it is. I don't
know why why they do that. And the logjam thing
is stupid because okay, if there's a logjam, well you
got to put multiple, multiple guys in at some point.
(31:48):
You have to do it because if not, you're gonna
you're you're gonna be leaving guys out when it will
be because there's another generation of guys that are retired
that are coming up. So I mean they were saying yesterday,
I mean, my guy, said, Julio Jones hall of Famer,
no questions asked. I thought that was crazy. He's a
(32:09):
Hall of Famer? Is he not better than Smitty? Is
he a first ballot Hall of Famer? I would argue.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I'd probably argue no, But he had a he had
a Hall of Fame, he had a Hall of Fame career.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Didn't put up the number of yards that Smithy did.
I don't believe he put up the number of touchdowns.
I'd have to look that up. Well, what's what's really
just what's.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
You look at the triple crown year, It's not just
the fact that he won the Triple Crown, it's how
much of the percentage of offense he was responsible for.
It's an ungodly number that you just don't see. You don't,
you don't simply see, and a lot because it was
in the run based offense. They look at the way
he performed in the playoffs. You have the X clown
moment that was in an divisional game, not the NFC
championship game. You look at what he did against Chicago
(32:53):
and that two thousand and five divisional like on on
on the biggest stage in the sport. This guy showed up.
This guy, this guy showed out. And that was with
you know, Jake Delane the majority of his career because
he only played one playoff game with with Cam and
then he had you know, his time out there in
Baltimore where he was playing with with Joe Flacco. So
(33:16):
you know, it just it just stinks because I think
everyone agrees this guy is a Hall of Famer, But
you just worry when is he actually gonna get into
his time? And it's like it's like Vashti Hurt told
a cheeshow she was on with Willie, Like the good
news is is that the longer that he waits, the
spicier this Hall of Fame speech ended up being because
we know that even we we know even post football life,
(33:38):
this is a man that walks around the chip on
his shoulder. This is a man that that still kind
of carries the disrespective fells a player into his post
football life, and he's being disrespected now by the Hall
of Fame body committee because with Darren Gantson in there
fighting the good fight, he's doing the work of the
good people. But there's only one Darren gant there. There's
there's we need more Darry Gantson in that room to
(34:00):
really make sure that he gets in. And then you know,
it's kind of something I had written down as a
sub topic, and I know we got to go to
break like after Submitty, Who's who's next? Like I would
I would make the argument Cam Newton had a Hall
of Fame career, No nobody, nobody's going what what he
did has paved the way for some other quarterbacks to
be able to play the level that they're playing. On
(34:21):
Ryan Khalio, I think could could maybe garner some some
Hall of Fame stuff. Yeah that's cool because he was
an underrated maybe the most underrated center for his generation.
But that's the thing that we want to get all
these guys in now and be able to celebrate these
guys because even if we get Cam in, we get
Khalil in, we know that there's gonna be there's gonna
be a waiting process until we get to Bryce Young's coronation,
(34:43):
like in twenty forty seven when he goes into the
Cantons a for Football Hall of Famer. Yeah, good, look
at that. Uh yeah, I you know, maybe maybe.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
We shouldn't rush Smitty in so we can have you know,
Keith Lee in this year and then like a few
more years, get gets Smittyan because I think we're gonna
have a long drought without getting anybody in.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Well, the problem with saying let's wait on Smitty is
the longer that you wait, the more receivers you're adding
to that to the crop that can potentially go in.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
So you just want to get him in. But I
at this point, I don't see how it's gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
I mean, if he can't even make the finalist list,
I just I don't see how all of a sudden
that's gonna change. He might be a finalist, but it
feels like he's gonna be one of those guys that
will be there for a long long time, might show
up on the baut very similar to what we're seeing
with Darren Woodson, where he's gonna have to wait that
long to potentially get into the Hall of Fame, which
(35:39):
is crazy, but I think that's kind of what you're
staring down if he's not making these finalist lists right
now with the group that admittedly, I mean it's good,
but is it the greatest pro football finalist list that
we've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
No.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
That's why I think Luke's got a legit case to
go in. I think you look at the guys, the
no brainers are Breeze, where he Fitzgerald, I think it
should be Adam Vin Terry, But I don't think that's
actually gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
I think he deserves to be a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
He was the best kicker during his time in UH
during his career in the league, and so Outside of that,
who else would you say it should be guaranteed a
chance to make.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
The Pro Football Hall of Fame? Out of this group,
I'd argue that Jason went had a had a Hall
of Fame career. I was gonna say, sugs, no, no,
I think he did. He might have had a Hall
of Fame career.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
But do I think that he deserves to be in
what would he be first ballot? I believe, I believe so.
I don't think he deserves to be first ballot.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
I would.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
I would actually argue Frank Gore should be in over
him as a first ballot fame over over Jason Witten.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Frank Gore is a dog man. He is. But also
I mean Frank Wore.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
When you talk about Frank cor somebody brought this up yesterday,
where when he was in the league, where did he
rank in terms of running backs in the league?
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Was he ever first? Was he ever the best?
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Like did you ever say to yourself, man, Frank or
is the best running back in football?
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Well, whenever you have LT in the league. At the
same time, as.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
There's so many different guys that came along that we
felt like, you know, Adrian Peterson better than him. You
know a couple other guys that that showed up, so
that would be the argument against Frank Orr.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
But I mean, yeah, to.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Me, that's that's why with Keithley there, I think he
should be that fourth guy in Man because I think
he's the best of that cry.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
He's the best of that remaining crop. Yeah, I think
it's communist of see how this ultimately all plays out.
We've got some text coming in on the FanDuel text
on who could be the next panther in We'll talk
about that next. On the other side, you're listening to
the Young Guns on Sports Radio ninety two seven w FNZ.
(37:56):
Final segment of the eight o'clock hour. Here, you're listening
to the Young Guns on Sports Radio ninety two seven
wfn Z. A little bit later starred for us, but
we're not complaining. We're with you though for four hours.
We'll be with you up until twelve o'clock here on
New Year's Eve on a Wednesday. I hope everyone's had
a good holiday season, had a good Christmas. We want
(38:17):
to wish everyone a happy New Year from the Young
Guns ourselves and from Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ.
He just put a bow in our conversation from the
previous topic talking about, you know, hall of famers, who
could be next after we get Keickley and Smidian Clinton,
Tickleman writes in on the fangul text line, greg Olsen,
(38:38):
I do think because he played in like the golden
era of the renaissance of the tight end position with
you know it was him, Kelsey Kittle, I do think
those three guys will get into the Hall of Fame,
maybe not necessarily in that order. Like Kelsey's gonna be
a first ballot Hall of Famer. You could argue he
(38:59):
might be the best tight end in the history of
the position. I think Kittle will get in as well.
I do think greg Olsen, you know, with three one
thousand yard seasons, how reliable he was for cam I
do think. You know, he had a Hall of Fame
career and was a big part of the evolution of
the tight end position. As we've seen here in the
last ten to fifteen years, Gooch Grunleman wanting to get
(39:21):
things started in a big way, shocking Cowboy Fitty rooting
for Witton. Oh it is interesting, you know, Look, I
was a Cowboy fan. Jason Witten made twenty Romo's career,
But when you look at it objectively, with how long
he played and the success that he had, there's no
denying that he's a Hall of Famer. He's going into Canton.
(39:44):
Is he first ballot? I would have thought, as a
Cowboy fan, I would have said yes, maybe maybe. Then
looking back on it now, maybe he's not a first ballot.
I don't think the wait for him is going to
be very, very along. I argue Ryan Khalil should get
some some Hall of Fame conversation. I think he's the
(40:05):
underrated center that of his generation. We also saw some
people running in for for Jordan Gross. I don't know
if Gross was ever in that elite category of left tackles,
and he was really, really good. I mean, the Panthers
are still they think they've got their next left tackle
in Ikyakwanhu, but it took them, you know, roughly a
(40:27):
decade plus to find that guy. So I think it's
gonna be interesting. I'd argue Cam Newton was a Hall
of Famer, but I think he's gonna have to get
in in a class that doesn't feature a breeze of
Fitzgerald avinitary like he might get in in a class
that was like it was last year, which was kind
of weak, was kind of redundant. But we'll just what
(40:51):
does have to wait and see. I know that's a
polarizing topic because of you know, how short his career
really was. But you know, you're talking talking about one
of the best MVP seasons of all time, one of
the best rookie seasons of all time, and he really
did pave the way for guys to really play in
this league. Like is Lamar Jackson in the NFL without
(41:12):
Cam Newton? I don't know. Is Josh Allen in the
NFL without Cam Newton? I don't know? And I do
think that sets up to bet you got to account
into the conversation because he did change the game from
a quarterback perspective. He was the best dual threat quarterback
be league it had ever seen until Lamar Jackson showed up. So,
(41:33):
but I know that one's up. That's so that one's
a polarizing topic. That one is one that does really
stoke the flames and gets things heated up on the
fan dual text line. Just want to talk really quickly
flound about some some changes going on at Little Clemson,
Dabo Sweeney fires up as a coordinator, Garrett Riley is out,
they move on from their safety coach as well. After
(41:55):
twenty twenty five was just a disaster. You know, preseason
top five, back in nice preseason pick to win the
national championship, and instead they go seven and six and
they don't even know. They don't win an ACC championship,
they don't win double digit games, they don't win their
their bowl game. It feels like this higher for Dabo
(42:16):
is going to be what makes or breaks maybe his
second act as Clemson's head coach, and does he actually
rebuild Clemson back into the national power that they were
from twenty fifteen through twenty twenty. What should the confidence
level be in Tiger if, if you're a Tiger fan
that Dabo can get the program back where he keeps
talking about they're going to get back to well after
(42:37):
he has to explain another loss that people are.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Mad about, Well, it should be pretty low considering the
higher that they are expected to make. At offensive coordinator,
you're going with a guy that hasn't been in oc
since twenty twenty. He was a part of the Clemson
staff in twenty twenty three. By the way as well.
So he's been.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Back, it hasn't you know, he was back as an
offensive analyst. The offense wasn't exactly great that year.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
What makes you think that him coming in and taking
over Chad Morris is going to completely change everything again
for Clemson. I don't understand the infatuation with turning back
the clock, but when you listen to Dabo's press conferences,
it makes a lot of sense because all Dabo wants
to talk about is the past. So I guess that's
(43:26):
ultimately what he's trying to do. He thinks that by
bringing Chad Morris back, that all of a sudden things
are going to just return to the way that they
were when he was the offensive coordinator from twenty eleven
to twenty fourteen. I don't necessarily see that happening, though,
and so if I'm a Clemson fan, I'm a little
bit nervous about the fact that that's the direction that
(43:48):
Dabo's wanted to head.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
I mean, I think, you know, Chad Morris everywhere he's
pretty much gone, his offense has put up yards, put
up points, and we're a big reason why wherever he
was at. You know, those teams enjoyed the success that
they were able to enjoy. So get I get why.
I mean, you know, Chad Morris was the guy that
(44:10):
were you know, he helped TOADJ. Boyd emerge as at
that time maybe the best quarterback you know, in program history.
That paved the way for Deshaun Watson to want to
play quarterback at Clemson. That paved the way, you know,
which then led to Trevor Lawrence, so on and so forth.
It just doesn't need to be the only guy that
they focus on, Like, if that's who you land on, fine,
(44:33):
but this needs to be an extensive search where you
are bringing in even newer minds because the game has
evolved from the last time Chad Morris was an offensive
play caller, and that was over a decade ago. And
remember he was at the forefront of the spread office movement,
Like he was the guy that brought the up tempo,
no style and the Hoadle offense to that Clemson program,
(44:54):
which that was when it was kind of being really
popular around around the sport. But the game has evolved
even more so now to the RPOs and and and
some other stuff. So I think that that's going to
be the thing if this is just the only guy
that Dabo's era is in on, then I would have
a lot of doubt that this is going to work out.
But if you come and you bring in I don't know,
(45:14):
six seven candidates and that's the guy that emerges as
the best, then maybe there should be some confidence. But
I do feel like this this has to get This
has to be the right higher. Like if Dabo swings
and misses well, and I don't want to say he
swung and missed on Garretra, they did do some nice things,
but you need someone to get you back to national
(45:35):
title status. I think that if he swings and misses
on this hire, that'll close the book on his run
as Clemsons head coach.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
Yeah, I mean most importantly, I think, you know, along
with the hire of the OC, you need to nail
the quarterback spot. And I would think that the best
strategy would be to go into the portal and get
a quarterback. I don't think that's what Dabo's gonna do though,
because we know that Dabo is stubborn about using the
transfer port. They want to use the high school recruits
that they have, and so I would expect it'll be
(46:04):
Chris Vizenna, you know, as the guy that is the
favorite going into next year to be the starter. Maybe
there's somebody that crops up out of this twenty twenty
sixth class. I don't know who their quarterback was in
this class. I know they've got another guy on the
roster that Wes really likes. It was a true freshman
this year, So maybe that's the guy that emerges. But
(46:25):
I would love for them. If I'm a Clemson fan,
go out, get me a Josh Hoover, get me a
Sam Levitt, get me somebody like that that's going to
be able to return you to you know, maybe not
maybe not national title.
Speaker 1 (46:40):
Good, but at least winning the ACC good. And I
think that should be the goal. But we'll see what
the strategy is that Dabo takes. But I am not
looking at this as a for sure thing that he's
going to be going into the portal for a quarterback. Well,
I do think, you know, as good as Sam Levitt is,
I'm a big fan of his, as good as Hoover
is very productive, is there a program changing quarterback in
(47:04):
the portal today?
Speaker 3 (47:05):
To me?
Speaker 1 (47:06):
I think that answer is no. But look the portal
isn't officially open until Friday. There's still time for you know,
maybe there could be you know, a quarterback that's in
the playoff right now, decides to go tran tries to enter,
and maybe that's the guy that you really go after.
I think if they go into the portal, I think
it just it shows he's willing to adapt and that
(47:27):
he understands you can build your foundation and your base
through high school recruiting. That's what's still what you know Georgia,
Ohio State, these elite programs are doing, but you supplement
that by adding what you want, what you need through
the portal. That's where he's been hesitant, and I think
that's why this is going to be the most pivotal
(47:47):
offseason of his head coaching tenure, because if he keeps
at the status quo, I don't know how receptive Tiger
fans will be to that. When we'll get into the
springball next year, I don't know where the excitement will
be for this program. Next year he goes down and
brings in a big name coordinator. They go bring in
you know, three four dynamic, you know, game changing transfers.
(48:09):
I think people could believe that Clemson has found its
footing in the new era of college football Hour one
of the young guns in the books. You're listening to
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. When we come back,
we'll keep it on the college football side of things.
We'll set the scene for the quarterfinal round of the CFP.
You listen to Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ.
Good Wednesday morning, Queen sitting. It's the Young Guns here
on Sports Radio ninety two seven WFFENCI. We're here with
you up until noon, so eight to twelve. Then at
noon we will transition into Hornets pregame ahead of the
Hornets and the Warriors. That game will come your way
at one pm over at Spectrum Center. But we are
(00:31):
back for our final show of the year, our final
show of the holiday break. I'm your host, Josh Fitty
Marlow to my right back fresh office trip to Chapel
Hill last night. Anthony Flounder pag Nada. We are hoping
he can get four hours and not say a bad
word after back to back shows last week where he
had to be dumped off the radio. Let's just start
(00:52):
him out right here with one why not well now
and if were gonna go ahead and get it out
of the way, be my guest, and then back behind
the board. The ever trustworthy he is my uh my protege,
Aaron Stroppy, Shropshire.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
He was here last night working drop yeah, not for
not for the not for the forty nine ers game.
If you are his protege, yikes.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I mean, who doesn't want to follow in my footsteps.
Yeah all right, well.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, I mean, I I appreciate you giving me the
uh the the head start here, but I feel like
we have diverbs pasts. I don't know if i'd say
protege anymore, but.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Oh yeah, there we go. All right, Okay, Yeah, you
think you've uh, you think you've passed me.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I didn't say that. I think I think I said
that we have ground. You have diverged.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, there's no such thing as as equal ground like
like uh like Obi Wan tells Anakin in episode three,
Oh nerd alert, I have the high ground. I have
the high ground. Don't don't, don't don't try to pull
an Anakin because I hate to have to cut your
arms and legs off, and you know I do it. Wow,
(02:01):
we're getting violent. So Happy New Year Eve, dude day.
It is New Year's Eve, probably the most overrated holiday
of the entire year. This guy just hates fun. I
mean why why created? Yeah, because it doesn't involve food
to stuff your fat face. Oh no, I mean, if
you're going to a good party, there's gonna be food there.
But it's like I was listening, I don't know who
was hosting on ESPN this morning as we were went
(02:23):
disputed man, we were waiting to come in or on sportsman,
let me get that neck all right? He was just like,
you know, who wants to go out on a Wednesday night, Like,
I guess if New Year's Eve falls on the weekend,
a little bit more exciting. But you're off tomorrow, am
I Yeah, we got three we got three games we
gotta watch tomorrow, lock in at a high noon.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well yeah, I mean it's but you're still off. Yeah, exactly.
You can sleep until noon if you wanted to.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I've just never been one to like get excited about
New Year's New Year's Eve, I feel like I feel
I really like Walker Mail. This is like one of
his favorite days of the year.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, yeah, because he has like more than two friends
to hang out with.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
What's that like? It's pretty fun, dude. Well he's also
he's also.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Got a woman as well, which I think is a
big part of the New Year's East stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
As you know, at the same time.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I had a woman that way, I should say a
significant other.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
That that is certainly going to.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Make it a lot more exciting if you get to
go out with the significant other, hang out and then
kiss at midnight or whatever.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, you actually get to kissing of the human at
midnight instead of like your Ramsey's dollar or something like that.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I mean, I have gotten a New Year's kiss before shrop.
Your mom doesn't count. No, I've I've done it one.
I've had one New doesn't count either. I've had one
New Year's Eve kiss. Pretty pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
But she leaned over and uh grabbed the credit card
right after that problem, I tell you what she did
after we kissed.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
How dare you? But yeah, I mean like tonight, put
on some Ohio State Miami. Yeah, watch them call and
like my hope is that the game actually takes long
enough so then I can justify turning on the New
Year's Eve programming to watch the ball drop. Like if
we get eleven, Like if this came is over by eleven,
(04:18):
pretty good chance. I'm turning in for the night. We
gets about eleven thirty, eleven forty five, they're still playing,
I'll turn it over and watch watch Ryan Seacrest countdown
the clock.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You know what was great a couple of years ago
whenever Ohio State was playing Georgia and it went up
right until midnight, and the field goal to what was
it was either the tire or to win. Was kicked
literally basically right as the ball dropped. And remember how
ugly that kick was too.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, former former tariol guy that was the Ohio state
kicker at that time, Noah Ruggles, just absolutely shanked one.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Yeah it wasn't even close, but it was like right
at midnight where that kickerfectly. Yeah, I will, I'll remember
that for a while being just a strange coincidence of
things lining up. But yeah, you know, I I uh,
I think it's cool to have this game pretty much
bump right up to two New Year's and uh yeah,
I mean you, VIDI are you really a guy that's
(05:11):
gonna go to sleep before you before you watch the
ball drop?
Speaker 1 (05:14):
It depends on how long this game goes. Like if
if now what time? What time is kickoff? Eight? Yeah,
there's no way this game isn't going until at least
like eleven thirty. And like, my hope is that they
drag it out on purpose to to like justify staying
up to then flip over to watch the ball drop.
But let's say we get like, which is weird for
(05:36):
compe football? A quick three hour game. I don't know
if I'm just witting up an hour to watch to
watch a ball drop. I mean, I'm gonna put on
some mad men to keep myself, you know, entertained. But
there's no I mean, there's there's been times before where
I've gone to bed before the balls dropped and i
haven't felt bad about it. It's just wild. It's just
(05:57):
it's just one. Yeah, I mean, look it. I don't know.
I mean, I don't.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It's not the most exciting thing you're ever gonna see.
I mean, it doesn't change your life. It would be
much different if you were in person.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
They try to sell them for the people that go
to like Times Square or such a light change.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
How many look at how many people are there. I mean, yeah,
it's probably pretty amazing to be there in person and
get to experience that. But I mean, let's be honest.
I'm not standing there all day. That's the thing you
gotta have if you stand there all day in order
to get a good spot, you gotta stand there.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I mean, you gotta be out.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
There's people out there right now that are getting prepared,
and so you gotta have, like you know you got,
you gotta be prepared. If you know what I'm saying,
so you gotta have like some sort of you're a
nation jug or something like that, because you can't leave
your spot.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You leave your spot, it's over. You don't get it back.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
People started camping out like yesterday for this. Oh it's crazy.
I mean, and think about what you're doing. You're giving
up an entire day of your life. Yeah, to watch
a ball drop and it's cold. It's not like you're
in like California. It's one of the dumbest things Americans do.
It's just you know what, you know what it is.
It's one of the most pointless things. You just hate. Fun, man, Yeah,
(07:14):
it was fun though, You're just watching a ball come down.
Enjoy it. I don't know what to tell you. City.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Probably because they're there with friends, ye, friends out and
being a part of a tradition. That is one of
the I think if you it's one of the most
distinct American like traditions. Is everyone knows on New Year's Eve,
you pay attention to to New York City and Times
Square and all the people out there, and you watch
(07:43):
the ball drop and everyone celebrates that.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That all right, let's let's make a let's make a
declaration right now. Next year, the young guns we go
to Times Square and then we can come back giving
up the airtime can just review how how pointless and
how of a waste of time it really is.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
I think I think you'd have fun. It's it's just
a party, exactly. It's it's not like you're just standing
around doing nothing. There's there's music, there's drinking. There, it's
a massive party for hours.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Ye I was gonna say, you do You can bring
your own refreshments, so yeah, you can. You know you
can party and have a good time. Would you would
you take a urination station or would you just invest
in the adult diaper? Because I feel like that that's
going to be the more complicatedest that you made.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
We'd have to ask a veteran of this, what exactly
do you do? I think I'd go diaper, Really.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I think I will because I think the problem is
we shouldn't even be talking about this.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, this is over. This is a lovely start. But
you know what, none of us really watched any of
the Bowl games. I caught the end of the TCU game.
Want to finish. They just seem to, you know, find
ways to win the Alamo Bowl in the craziest ways possible.
But yeah, Carolina basketball looked pretty good. There were some
(09:03):
moments that they didn't look great last night. Yeah, and
what else do we have?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Yeah, I mean I heard, well before we get there,
I can you know, speaking of basketball, I.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Can talk about that Charlotte forty nineer game a little
bit last night.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Going into the game, Charlotte forty nine Ers were six
and seven on the season, Temple was eight and five.
Temple got out to a pretty big lead at one point.
I believe they had a lead of around twelve points.
Go figure and uh, well, dang dude, and uh Charlotte,
and you know that Charlotte fought all night. They had
a chance with the h at the buzzer to tie
(09:39):
it up, drew up the play beautifully, shot just did
not fall. It was a pretty ugly airball, just wide
to the left. But yeah, it was just it came
down to Temple shot fifty one percent from from the field,
Charlotte only shot forty four percent. So Temple hit seven
out of fourteen for threes as well, Charlotte only seventeen.
(10:01):
So just not the best shooting night for Charlotte and
ended up being what what was their demise? So Temple
led ninety percent of the game too. I think whenever
you lead for ninety percent of a game and he
only win by three points, though, I think that that
speaks to Charlotte like at least never giving up. So
not the best way to start their their conference play.
(10:23):
Obviously own ones not where you want to be.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
But yeah, I think their overall records a little more
concerning six and eight. Yeah, you know, we really thought
that this team a couple of years ago under Aaron
Fern was going to be pretty decent and last year
did not go well. This year not off to a
flying start, so we'll have to see. We'll monitor them
during American Conference play. But not what I think we
(10:46):
envisioned for Aaron Fern with that first season where he
you know, put a multiple guys up to the next level,
and you know, it was showing that he was capable
of winning games, winning some pretty decently significant games in
conference as well.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So yeah, not not what we were hoping for from
a Charlotte perspective.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
No, and then starting this you know, in preseason polls,
I think they were predicted to you know, finish thirteenth
in the conference, Temples picked to finish ninth. I think
Temple probably finishes higher than ninth in the conference. But yeah, Charlotte,
I mean, if that's that kind of tells you all
you need to know about where people think that they
are in this conference.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So it's kind of.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Disappointing that their football and their basketball programs just not
quite where do you do really want them to be
at this point?
Speaker 1 (11:33):
You know, let's get to the result that mattered the
most last night locally, that was UNC kicking off conference play.
I described it as a workman like when seventy nine
sixty six Kleb Wilson was fantastic twenty two sixteen, six assists,
two blocks, Henry Vassar, who did not score in the
first half, recorded another double double, seat Tremble ads twenty points.
(11:55):
This was a game that Carolina should have won by
a wider margin, and the game should have been over
a lot sooner than than it was. I mean, it
was a seven point game, you know, deep into the
second half, or against a team that had yet to
win a game away from from their home gym. Regardless,
I think last night kind of shows the difference between
where Carolina is at this year compared to last where
(12:18):
they can win a game by double digits, where they
shoot forty three from the field thirty percent from three,
because they're just that much better than they were a
year ago. They had the three best players on the
court last night with their best you know, with the
three dimentioned there, Wilson, Vassar Seth Tremble, you got great
contributions from Kayan Evans, who who they need his scoring,
(12:41):
and then you got just you know, quality production from
from the from the role players Jaron Stevenson, Jonathan Powell,
and Carolina looks up and now they're they're they're thirteen
and one, they're they're off to their best start in
roughly fifteen years. And the last time they were off
to this good of a start, you know, they went
on to win a national championship. And as Caleb Wilson
(13:02):
continues to emerge as maybe the best player in this conference,
maybe the best player in college basketball, so does Carolina,
who as we sit here on the final day of
twenty twenty five, I think they put their name in
the conversation as a legitimate national title contender as we're
getting too twenty twenty six. Yeah, they're starting to get there.
I think that certainly is you know, where you're hoping
(13:24):
they're going to get to. I don't know if last
night shows you that. I mean that certainly wasn't a
great performance by Carolina, But at the same time, it
wasn't a performance that hurt Carolina either. You know, they
came out.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
They did enough to be able to control the game
for the most part outside of you know, a slow
start to be to the beginning of the game. But
I thought after that point, really, you know, outside of
the first four minutes of each half, I thought Carolina
actually played pretty well. I thought offensively, they were doing
a lot of really good things.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
I thought attacking the basket.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Once they figured out, you know, after the first four
minute stretch of the game where they just chose to
basically throw up every three point shot that they possibly could,
Luca Bogovats just tried to go into takeover mode. I
thought after that they got some really good looks at
the rim, they started attacking, getting to.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
The foul one.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Still, you know, the foul shooting not great. It was
better last night. It was certainly better in that first
half and was part of the reason that Carolina was
able to build the halftime lead that they did.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
But then you know, you go on a run in.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
The second half where it's an eleven zero run, extended
run of eighteen to three, and that's really where Carolina
put some distance between them. Couldn't fully close them out,
it felt like until they got to that under four timeout.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
But still, I think going.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Up against a team that shoots as many threes as
Florida State does, they were knocking some down last night.
I thought, you know, Carolina's perimeter defense wasn't great, but
it wasn't horrible. I thought, yeah, maybe, you know, maybe
it would have been a little bit of a better
performance from that, maybe they would have found a way
to win.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
But we'll win by a more significant margin. I mean.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
But I mean, at the same time, I don't think
anybody watches last night's game and should be panicking, Like
we had multiple people on our timeline saying to us
that this team can't defend, this team can't come down
with significant rebounds.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
All that kind of stuff. We'll talk more acc hoops
later on in the show. Duke and Action Today Wake
and Stake four Awake at Nancy State. They play each other.
That's a real massive game really for both teams here
to kick off conference play. We'll talk about that. We'll
talk about that but later on in the show seven
four five seven ninety six ten. We want to hear
from you guys on the fan duel text line. Greg
(15:46):
Allman will join us at ten o'clock. We'll get you
ready for Panthers Bucks with the NFC South reporter from
from Fox Sports. When we come back, we'll turn our
attention to the Carolina Panthers. We got the Hall of
Fame final for twenty twenty six. An ounce yesterday there
was one Panther on the list. One Panther left offense.
We'll talk about that next right here on Sports Radio
(16:07):
ninety two seven WFNZ. Sports Radio ninety two to seven
(16:33):
WFNZ is the young Guns here with you guys on
a Wednesday in New Year's Eve. We're here with you
up until twelve o'clock today. Then we'll get you ready
for Hornets and Warriors over at Spectrum Center. Seven oh
four five seven ninety six ten. The FANDUL text line
is open. We want to hear from you guys. We
were having the discussion about how to go about I
(16:56):
guess preparing if you're gonna spend the day at Times
Square ahead of the ball drop to celebrate the new year.
An inflatable skeleton said that him and his buddies they
took a two liter bottle with them community bottles. Kind
of wild when you.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
When you think about it, Yes, yeah, how many two
leter bottles?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
That's the other thing, because like if just one? I mean,
because if you're there for let's just say, like, what's
the earliest thing you think you got to start getting there?
What like if yesterday? Oh yes, oh you're there overnight? Yeah,
there's people. Kid, that's last like last night at ten o'clock.
Yesterday at six o'clock, I think, like, are you are
you going to be there more than twenty four twenty
(17:37):
eight hours? Probably probably twenty four.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
They're not going to completely shut down Times Square until
they get to a certain point, so I would imagine
it was probably like ten o'clock last night something like
that they start shutting it down. So that means you
got to go over twenty four hours and you got
you got one p jug. I feel like you would
have to have tre with you just to there's no
(18:03):
way one just to ensure you're not sharing the same.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Area. But also just to make sure you have enough space,
because even if you're you know, dehydrating your body, like
you're still going to use the bathroom.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
He has responded. He says, you dump it out when needed. Guys,
come on, we are at that point you might as
on the ground. You might as well just literally pee
on the ground, or you understand, like that's what I'm saying,
Like it's.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
The inner state.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Just pull over, stand there, gather, gather the guys around
backs to you, and just form a form a peace
circle or something.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I think it's a block you off, Okay, yeah uh
Dascar Brad says, Also how do people eat?
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You don't? You don't? Yeah? That that that that one,
I feel like is pretty simple.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Or you pack your own stuff like you so in
you're cooler if you're bringing you know, drinks, which people
are going to bring alcoholic beverages, but they're also going
to bring regular drinks. Well, and you just pack a
lunch or something like pack a sandwich something like that. Probably,
But yeah, I mean you're not eating like, you know,
three full meals.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
I mean, I don't think that's happening. The more we
talk through this, the more I'm convinced this might be
the dumbest tradition we have as a country. This is
every no, no, no, no, every country does this. They
have something something equivalent. You can't just say this is
this is American stupidity. Okay, so this is just humanity stupidity. Yeah,
(19:41):
I guess so, sure, Okay, I mean I'm down with
that too. Someone said that have we ever watched how
Japan and Australia do it? They do it the right way.
I've never look, man, it's if you're taking in international
New Year's events, Yeah, get a life, whoa like you've oh,
(20:03):
come on, there are there are people that enjoy this
kind of stuff, you know. I mean unless you you've
got you know, family members over there, you're you come
from one of those countries. I don't think I'm seeking
out international New Year's events.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Well, they do show you some of the international New
Year's events on Ryan Seacrest New Year's Rock and Eve.
They'll show like, sixteen hours ago in Beijing they ring
in the New Year, and then here's a nice video
package of them shooting off fireworks and everything like that.
But like, yeah, I don't know I'm not seeking out,
(20:38):
you know, Australian television to be able to watch the
ball drop in Sydney. That's that's not necessarily me. But
I did, you know, maybe there are some people that
really get into that.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
And our guy inflatable skeleton who's taking us down this
this path, has finally just confirmed what I led with.
Oh it's totally stupid. Yeah, all right, well there we go.
That's that's that's that's what I thought, and I'm glad
that it took us twenty five minutes to get there.
It's been a fun It's been a fun twenty five minutes.
I mean, look, we could argue about neutral site games.
We could argue about Drake may Bryce Young, where we
(21:11):
can talk about how you want to go about peeing
in public for twenty four hours to watch so to
watch the people got into it. Man, I'm gonna tell
you people are eating this up.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
So that that Drake may Bryce Young conversation. It doesn't age,
it doesn't look too good.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I still stand by what I said.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I think I think Drake threw for fifty four yards
on one drive in the game against the Jets.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Now it's the Jets. You might have done that on
one pass. I still stand by what I said, but
it was I did think about that at some point
during the game when I was watching our anemic passing game.
Do absolutely nothing, Yeah, throw it behind the line of scrimmage,
like well, you know, probably like Damn should have called me,
been like, hey, Fiddy, we're not gonna We're not gonna
throw the ball downfield this week. Should not have had
(21:54):
that argument on airfort for forty minutes. But we cannot.
We cannot undo what was done. So I'm sure maybe
y'all got into this yesterday on y'all show because it
broke after it broke during Willie nine, and so I'm
sure maybe y'all got some initial thoughts on it. But
if you don't know by now, Luke Keigley is a
finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class for
two thousand and twenty six. He was automatically a final
(22:18):
because of where he was last year on the ballot,
but was what was notable was that Steve Smith, who
was a finalist a year ago, not a finalist this year.
So it feels like, or doesn't feel like it does
look like a J and nine and will have to
wait at least one more year before he does make
it into camp and then get his rightful spot there
(22:39):
at the Hall of Fame. Everyone seems to be pretty
confident that this is the year that Keickley does get in.
That we did get some pushback yes year that maybe
he'll have to end up waiting because of some of
the other guys that ended up being on the ballot,
or Drew Brees at Larry Fitzgerald, two guys that are
without a doubt first ballot Hall of Famers. What do
you think of of Luke Keith once again being a finalist.
(23:02):
Do you think this is the year that he gets
into Canton? And then Steve Smith, who was a finalist
a year ago not being a finalist this year.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Well, first of all was smitty. I mean, it's it's
just ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I don't understand.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
I mean I said this yesterday and people got incredibly
fired up because they thought, of course I was just
state hating. I think he should be on the list
over Tory Holt. I think you should be on the
list over Reggie Wayne because you look at Steve Smith
and what he did in an offense that.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Was very run based. Who's the best quarterback that he
played with.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
I mean, we're not talking about a guy that is
coming from you know, playing with Peyton Manning, playing with
Marvin Harrison on the same team, which allowed you to
be more open at certain times. You know, Tory Holt,
you played in one of the best offenses that we've
seen in our lifetime with Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce,
(24:04):
Marshall falkeet running back, Marshall Falke at running back. I mean,
that's that's a tremendous group of guys right there.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
So who is the best? Who is the second best
receiver that Sminny played with? Moose Love Moose is Moose
a Hall of Fame candidate? No Is Jake the loone
going to be in the Hall of Fame anytime soon?
No for ever.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
So that that's that's what I'm saying, is that I
don't understand how people look at the production that he
put up in an offense that was not necessarily built
for him and don't look and say this, this is
a guy that deserves to be a Hall of Fame finalist.
(24:47):
It's nothing again, Look, Reggie Wayne is a heck of
a receiver. Should he be in the end in the
Hall of Fame. Yes, should Tory Holt be in the
Hall of Fame? Yes, But should they be on the
list of finalists? A guy like Steve Smith with everything
that he accomplished, And if you're.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Saying, well, where are the big moments for Steve Smith?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I mean in the Triple Crown year in the playoffs
was tremendous. X Clown made one of the biggest plays
in uh that that we've seen in NFC Championship game history.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Like, I think those things should matter, and it.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Doesn't seem like to these two, to the people that
vote for this, that this ultimately does matter. So I
that with with the Smithy side of things, That's that's
where I stand. People can get mad, people can say, oh,
you know you're you're downplaying certain guys. You have to
do this Unfortunately, Well, when it comes to the Hall
(25:45):
of Fame you have it sucks, but you have to
try to tear down these arguments for other guys because
I mean, in order to get your guy in, it's
not easy because it's not like other sports where if
you're a Hall of Famer and you get a certain
percentage of the vote, you're in. Because I feel like
there would be a pretty decent amount of people that
(26:07):
would vote Steve Smith into the Hall of Fame. But
with the way that they do it here, you only
have five modern candidates that can go in, and so
it limits it and that's part of the reason why
Smitty isn't a finalist yet again.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Yeah, I think also, you know, Colin made some good
points about this yesterday. I do think with us assuming
that Luke Cackley's going to be voted in this year,
if you look at it from the business side, do
you want to have two Panthers in the same year. Well,
I think that's interesting, but no, but be a finalist.
(26:41):
The better argument for him not being a finalist this
year is the stuff outside of football.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
But that see, it is a pr disaster.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
This is what this is what they don't understand about
the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
The Hall of Fame is not a hall of good people, guys.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
The Baseball Hall of Fame has some of the war
first human beings that were ever on this earth. Ty
Cobb is in the Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb is
a piece of bleep. Okay, he's he's a He's a
terrible person. We've known this. If you've read about him.
He was a horrible person, but he's in the Hall
of Fame. You're talking about their on field careers. You're
(27:20):
not talking about who they are as people.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
They're not.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
That's That's what I don't understand about that. Do you
really think that it's that bad a pr and and look,
I'm not downplaying what exactly happened off the field, but
is it really Is it really that bad? We've seen
other guys that have done a lot worse getting into
the Hall of Fame. I love Lawrence Taylor. Lawrence Taylor
(27:44):
did some really messed up things and got into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame. But Steve Smith should be.
It should be in at some point. I don't think
to do with it, I don't think you know, I
don't think so either.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
I hope that it comes down to the Panthers as
a franchise don't have enough cachet to put multiple Hall
of famers in the same year. If this is Dallas, Pittsburgh,
you know Green Bay like like Dallas has Witten and Woodson,
there's a good chance maybe both of those going to
the Hall of Fame in in the same year. I
(28:15):
don't think the Panthers have the same cachet that some
of these some of these other franchises have because they've
only been around this thirty first year playing football, They've
yet to win a Super Bowl, so on and so forth. Yeah,
I mean, like when when you look at Smitty, like
what sucks is that everyone can argue that he's a
(28:36):
Hall of Famer, But it feels like every year we're continuing,
we're having to wait because like here comes Larry Fitzgerald.
Larry Fitzgerald's a first battle Hall of Famer. Yes, Larry
Fitzgerald should get in. He should get in over Steve Smith.
Drew Brees now on the ballot, Drew Brees first ballot
Hall of Famer. Yes, Drew Brees should get in over
Steve Smith. Okay, So, like so like you have the
(28:58):
issues where you're gotten, you're having to wait through the
wide receiver log jam that's ahead of him, because like,
is he getting in before Reggie Wayne? Is he getting
in before Holt? He should think that answer is no,
because like Colin was telling us off the air, he
thinks legally gets in this year, Smiddy gets in next year. Well,
then you got to hope that one of these other
wide receivers go in this year because if for someone
(29:20):
which Regie, you need at least two wide receivers going
in because if not, and let's just say Fitzgerald's the
only wide receiever that does get through into the Hall
of Fame, there's a very good chance. Yes, Tom, he's
on the ballot, but he's still behind the other two
gods that he should already gotten in. Over Well, my.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Question I had for Colin yesterday is if he ends
up winning the Super Bowl in two thousand and three,
is he already in?
Speaker 1 (29:42):
That should not matter?
Speaker 3 (29:44):
But we all know, well, next to your name adds
some extra weight, right, it should matter. Winning a championship
should definitely matter. That should be part of the reason
why you can get into the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
But is it the reason that he shouldn't get into
the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
I don't think so, But but I think it's a
factor as to why he's had to wait longer than
I think we should.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Which is which is these great players like Joe Thomas
for the Browns, one of the best offensive linemen ever,
But because he didn't win a Super Bowl, he's got
to get punished because he stayed loyal to an organization
like that's not right. Well, he's gonna get punished because
he's an offensive lineman. That's gonna be the tough part
for him. It's like getting in as an O lineman
(30:29):
is not going to be easy when you've got all
these other guys that are there. I mean, we're pounding
the table for Smithy to be in. There's you know,
other guys. I mean, look, I would put Smitty in
over Jahari. Heavans like he was. He was a good
player in New Orleans, very solid, a guy that was
an all pro I think five times West said yesterday.
But if you're asking me who's more impactful in the
(30:51):
game and who's more impactful to their team's success, I
would say Steve Smith.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
So here, let me go and try to get liner
than dune Button already. Who would you put in first?
Steve Smith or Eli Manning?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Steve Smith?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Hey, Look, look, I love Eli man man He's not
a Hall of Famer. I think he is because I
think he's the most one of the most clutch quarterbacks
that we have ever seen. Based off of the two
runs that he made he beat the goat twice.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
I think he deserves to be in. Who would I
put in first?
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Though, No, honestly, I would put Smitty in the Hall
of Fame first.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
I said this yesterday.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I don't understand how Smitty is not a finalist and
Eli Manning is. That's stunning to me. But yeah, I
mean it's it just is what it is. I don't
know why why they do that. And the logjam thing
is stupid because okay, if there's a logjam, well you
got to put multiple, multiple guys in at some point.
(31:48):
You have to do it because if not, you're gonna
you're you're gonna be leaving guys out when it will
be because there's another generation of guys that are retired
that are coming up. So I mean they were saying yesterday,
I mean, my guy, said, Julio Jones hall of Famer,
no questions asked. I thought that was crazy. He's a
(32:09):
Hall of Famer? Is he not better than Smitty? Is
he a first ballot Hall of Famer? I would argue.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I'd probably argue no, But he had a he had
a Hall of Fame, he had a Hall of Fame career.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Didn't put up the number of yards that Smithy did.
I don't believe he put up the number of touchdowns.
I'd have to look that up. Well, what's what's really
just what's.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
You look at the triple crown year, It's not just
the fact that he won the Triple Crown, it's how
much of the percentage of offense he was responsible for.
It's an ungodly number that you just don't see. You don't,
you don't simply see, and a lot because it was
in the run based offense. They look at the way
he performed in the playoffs. You have the X clown
moment that was in an divisional game, not the NFC
championship game. You look at what he did against Chicago
(32:53):
and that two thousand and five divisional like on on
on the biggest stage in the sport. This guy showed up.
This guy, this guy showed out. And that was with
you know, Jake Delane the majority of his career because
he only played one playoff game with with Cam and
then he had you know, his time out there in
Baltimore where he was playing with with Joe Flacco. So
(33:16):
you know, it just it just stinks because I think
everyone agrees this guy is a Hall of Famer, But
you just worry when is he actually gonna get into
his time? And it's like it's like Vashti Hurt told
a cheeshow she was on with Willie, Like the good
news is is that the longer that he waits, the
spicier this Hall of Fame speech ended up being because
we know that even we we know even post football life,
(33:38):
this is a man that walks around the chip on
his shoulder. This is a man that that still kind
of carries the disrespective fells a player into his post
football life, and he's being disrespected now by the Hall
of Fame body committee because with Darren Gantson in there
fighting the good fight, he's doing the work of the
good people. But there's only one Darren gant there. There's
there's we need more Darry Gantson in that room to
(34:00):
really make sure that he gets in. And then you know,
it's kind of something I had written down as a
sub topic, and I know we got to go to
break like after Submitty, Who's who's next? Like I would
I would make the argument Cam Newton had a Hall
of Fame career, No nobody, nobody's going what what he
did has paved the way for some other quarterbacks to
be able to play the level that they're playing. On
(34:21):
Ryan Khalio, I think could could maybe garner some some
Hall of Fame stuff. Yeah that's cool because he was
an underrated maybe the most underrated center for his generation.
But that's the thing that we want to get all
these guys in now and be able to celebrate these
guys because even if we get Cam in, we get
Khalil in, we know that there's gonna be there's gonna
be a waiting process until we get to Bryce Young's coronation,
(34:43):
like in twenty forty seven when he goes into the
Cantons a for Football Hall of Famer. Yeah, good, look
at that. Uh yeah, I you know, maybe maybe.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
We shouldn't rush Smitty in so we can have you know,
Keith Lee in this year and then like a few
more years, get gets Smittyan because I think we're gonna
have a long drought without getting anybody in.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Well, the problem with saying let's wait on Smitty is
the longer that you wait, the more receivers you're adding
to that to the crop that can potentially go in.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
So you just want to get him in. But I
at this point, I don't see how it's gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
I mean, if he can't even make the finalist list,
I just I don't see how all of a sudden
that's gonna change. He might be a finalist, but it
feels like he's gonna be one of those guys that
will be there for a long long time, might show
up on the baut very similar to what we're seeing
with Darren Woodson, where he's gonna have to wait that
long to potentially get into the Hall of Fame, which
(35:39):
is crazy, but I think that's kind of what you're
staring down if he's not making these finalist lists right
now with the group that admittedly, I mean it's good,
but is it the greatest pro football finalist list that
we've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
No.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
That's why I think Luke's got a legit case to
go in. I think you look at the guys, the
no brainers are Breeze, where he Fitzgerald, I think it
should be Adam Vin Terry, But I don't think that's
actually gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
I think he deserves to be a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
He was the best kicker during his time in UH
during his career in the league, and so Outside of that,
who else would you say it should be guaranteed a
chance to make.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
The Pro Football Hall of Fame? Out of this group,
I'd argue that Jason went had a had a Hall
of Fame career. I was gonna say, sugs, no, no,
I think he did. He might have had a Hall
of Fame career.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
But do I think that he deserves to be in
what would he be first ballot? I believe, I believe so.
I don't think he deserves to be first ballot.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
I would.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
I would actually argue Frank Gore should be in over
him as a first ballot fame over over Jason Witten.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
Frank Gore is a dog man. He is. But also
I mean Frank Wore.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
When you talk about Frank cor somebody brought this up yesterday,
where when he was in the league, where did he
rank in terms of running backs in the league?
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Was he ever first? Was he ever the best?
Speaker 2 (37:05):
Like did you ever say to yourself, man, Frank or
is the best running back in football?
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Well, whenever you have LT in the league. At the
same time, as.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
There's so many different guys that came along that we
felt like, you know, Adrian Peterson better than him. You
know a couple other guys that that showed up, so
that would be the argument against Frank Orr.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
But I mean, yeah, to.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Me, that's that's why with Keithley there, I think he
should be that fourth guy in Man because I think
he's the best of that cry.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
He's the best of that remaining crop. Yeah, I think
it's communist of see how this ultimately all plays out.
We've got some text coming in on the FanDuel text
on who could be the next panther in We'll talk
about that next. On the other side, you're listening to
the Young Guns on Sports Radio ninety two seven w FNZ.
(37:56):
Final segment of the eight o'clock hour. Here, you're listening
to the Young Guns on Sports Radio ninety two seven
wfn Z. A little bit later starred for us, but
we're not complaining. We're with you though for four hours.
We'll be with you up until twelve o'clock here on
New Year's Eve on a Wednesday. I hope everyone's had
a good holiday season, had a good Christmas. We want
(38:17):
to wish everyone a happy New Year from the Young
Guns ourselves and from Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ.
He just put a bow in our conversation from the
previous topic talking about, you know, hall of famers, who
could be next after we get Keickley and Smidian Clinton,
Tickleman writes in on the fangul text line, greg Olsen,
(38:38):
I do think because he played in like the golden
era of the renaissance of the tight end position with
you know it was him, Kelsey Kittle, I do think
those three guys will get into the Hall of Fame,
maybe not necessarily in that order. Like Kelsey's gonna be
a first ballot Hall of Famer. You could argue he
(38:59):
might be the best tight end in the history of
the position. I think Kittle will get in as well.
I do think greg Olsen, you know, with three one
thousand yard seasons, how reliable he was for cam I
do think. You know, he had a Hall of Fame
career and was a big part of the evolution of
the tight end position. As we've seen here in the
last ten to fifteen years, Gooch Grunleman wanting to get
(39:21):
things started in a big way, shocking Cowboy Fitty rooting
for Witton. Oh it is interesting, you know, Look, I
was a Cowboy fan. Jason Witten made twenty Romo's career,
But when you look at it objectively, with how long
he played and the success that he had, there's no
denying that he's a Hall of Famer. He's going into Canton.
(39:44):
Is he first ballot? I would have thought, as a
Cowboy fan, I would have said yes, maybe maybe. Then
looking back on it now, maybe he's not a first ballot.
I don't think the wait for him is going to
be very, very along. I argue Ryan Khalil should get
some some Hall of Fame conversation. I think he's the
(40:05):
underrated center that of his generation. We also saw some
people running in for for Jordan Gross. I don't know
if Gross was ever in that elite category of left tackles,
and he was really, really good. I mean, the Panthers
are still they think they've got their next left tackle
in Ikyakwanhu, but it took them, you know, roughly a
(40:27):
decade plus to find that guy. So I think it's
gonna be interesting. I'd argue Cam Newton was a Hall
of Famer, but I think he's gonna have to get
in in a class that doesn't feature a breeze of
Fitzgerald avinitary like he might get in in a class
that was like it was last year, which was kind
of weak, was kind of redundant. But we'll just what
(40:51):
does have to wait and see. I know that's a
polarizing topic because of you know, how short his career
really was. But you know, you're talking talking about one
of the best MVP seasons of all time, one of
the best rookie seasons of all time, and he really
did pave the way for guys to really play in
this league. Like is Lamar Jackson in the NFL without
(41:12):
Cam Newton? I don't know. Is Josh Allen in the
NFL without Cam Newton? I don't know? And I do
think that sets up to bet you got to account
into the conversation because he did change the game from
a quarterback perspective. He was the best dual threat quarterback
be league it had ever seen until Lamar Jackson showed up. So,
(41:33):
but I know that one's up. That's so that one's
a polarizing topic. That one is one that does really
stoke the flames and gets things heated up on the
fan dual text line. Just want to talk really quickly
flound about some some changes going on at Little Clemson,
Dabo Sweeney fires up as a coordinator, Garrett Riley is out,
they move on from their safety coach as well. After
(41:55):
twenty twenty five was just a disaster. You know, preseason
top five, back in nice preseason pick to win the
national championship, and instead they go seven and six and
they don't even know. They don't win an ACC championship,
they don't win double digit games, they don't win their
their bowl game. It feels like this higher for Dabo
(42:16):
is going to be what makes or breaks maybe his
second act as Clemson's head coach, and does he actually
rebuild Clemson back into the national power that they were
from twenty fifteen through twenty twenty. What should the confidence
level be in Tiger if, if you're a Tiger fan
that Dabo can get the program back where he keeps
talking about they're going to get back to well after
(42:37):
he has to explain another loss that people are.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Mad about, Well, it should be pretty low considering the
higher that they are expected to make. At offensive coordinator,
you're going with a guy that hasn't been in oc
since twenty twenty. He was a part of the Clemson
staff in twenty twenty three. By the way as well.
So he's been.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Back, it hasn't you know, he was back as an
offensive analyst. The offense wasn't exactly great that year.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
What makes you think that him coming in and taking
over Chad Morris is going to completely change everything again
for Clemson. I don't understand the infatuation with turning back
the clock, but when you listen to Dabo's press conferences,
it makes a lot of sense because all Dabo wants
to talk about is the past. So I guess that's
(43:26):
ultimately what he's trying to do. He thinks that by
bringing Chad Morris back, that all of a sudden things
are going to just return to the way that they
were when he was the offensive coordinator from twenty eleven
to twenty fourteen. I don't necessarily see that happening, though,
and so if I'm a Clemson fan, I'm a little
bit nervous about the fact that that's the direction that
(43:48):
Dabo's wanted to head.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
I mean, I think, you know, Chad Morris everywhere he's
pretty much gone, his offense has put up yards, put
up points, and we're a big reason why wherever he
was at. You know, those teams enjoyed the success that
they were able to enjoy. So get I get why.
I mean, you know, Chad Morris was the guy that
(44:10):
were you know, he helped TOADJ. Boyd emerge as at
that time maybe the best quarterback you know, in program history.
That paved the way for Deshaun Watson to want to
play quarterback at Clemson. That paved the way, you know,
which then led to Trevor Lawrence, so on and so forth.
It just doesn't need to be the only guy that
they focus on, Like, if that's who you land on, fine,
(44:33):
but this needs to be an extensive search where you
are bringing in even newer minds because the game has
evolved from the last time Chad Morris was an offensive
play caller, and that was over a decade ago. And
remember he was at the forefront of the spread office movement,
Like he was the guy that brought the up tempo,
no style and the Hoadle offense to that Clemson program,
(44:54):
which that was when it was kind of being really
popular around around the sport. But the game has evolved
even more so now to the RPOs and and and
some other stuff. So I think that that's going to
be the thing if this is just the only guy
that Dabo's era is in on, then I would have
a lot of doubt that this is going to work out.
But if you come and you bring in I don't know,
(45:14):
six seven candidates and that's the guy that emerges as
the best, then maybe there should be some confidence. But
I do feel like this this has to get This
has to be the right higher. Like if Dabo swings
and misses well, and I don't want to say he
swung and missed on Garretra, they did do some nice things,
but you need someone to get you back to national
(45:35):
title status. I think that if he swings and misses
on this hire, that'll close the book on his run
as Clemsons head coach.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
Yeah, I mean most importantly, I think, you know, along
with the hire of the OC, you need to nail
the quarterback spot. And I would think that the best
strategy would be to go into the portal and get
a quarterback. I don't think that's what Dabo's gonna do though,
because we know that Dabo is stubborn about using the
transfer port. They want to use the high school recruits
that they have, and so I would expect it'll be
(46:04):
Chris Vizenna, you know, as the guy that is the
favorite going into next year to be the starter. Maybe
there's somebody that crops up out of this twenty twenty
sixth class. I don't know who their quarterback was in
this class. I know they've got another guy on the
roster that Wes really likes. It was a true freshman
this year, So maybe that's the guy that emerges. But
(46:25):
I would love for them. If I'm a Clemson fan,
go out, get me a Josh Hoover, get me a
Sam Levitt, get me somebody like that that's going to
be able to return you to you know, maybe not
maybe not national title.
Speaker 1 (46:40):
Good, but at least winning the ACC good. And I
think that should be the goal. But we'll see what
the strategy is that Dabo takes. But I am not
looking at this as a for sure thing that he's
going to be going into the portal for a quarterback. Well,
I do think, you know, as good as Sam Levitt is,
I'm a big fan of his, as good as Hoover
is very productive, is there a program changing quarterback in
(47:04):
the portal today?
Speaker 3 (47:05):
To me?
Speaker 1 (47:06):
I think that answer is no. But look the portal
isn't officially open until Friday. There's still time for you know,
maybe there could be you know, a quarterback that's in
the playoff right now, decides to go tran tries to enter,
and maybe that's the guy that you really go after.
I think if they go into the portal, I think
it just it shows he's willing to adapt and that
(47:27):
he understands you can build your foundation and your base
through high school recruiting. That's what's still what you know Georgia,
Ohio State, these elite programs are doing, but you supplement
that by adding what you want, what you need through
the portal. That's where he's been hesitant, and I think
that's why this is going to be the most pivotal
(47:47):
offseason of his head coaching tenure, because if he keeps
at the status quo, I don't know how receptive Tiger
fans will be to that. When we'll get into the
springball next year, I don't know where the excitement will
be for this program. Next year he goes down and
brings in a big name coordinator. They go bring in
you know, three four dynamic, you know, game changing transfers.
(48:09):
I think people could believe that Clemson has found its
footing in the new era of college football Hour one
of the young guns in the books. You're listening to
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. When we come back,
we'll keep it on the college football side of things.
We'll set the scene for the quarterfinal round of the CFP.
You listen to Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ.
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