Steve Hartman and Geoff Schwartz Celebrate Week 1 in College Football

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports. Yes, living the dream once
again on a college football Saturday. Hartmann and Schwartz with
you here in the Fox Sports Radio studios. Jeff, we're here, man,
We're here. We're here. It's college football Saturday. Tens of

(00:22):
thousands of fans packed in the stadiums all over the
country and enjoined this great college football day. And by
the way, let me just say this as we start
the show today, Jeff Schwartz got a little extra skipping
his step because his giants have reclaimed first place in
the National League West. So this really starts out as
a very good Saturday for you. It does. But organ

(00:43):
is about it is trying to ruin my mood. I'm
watching this right now. Yeah, we're we're just not playing
it very well. I mean we're we're winning. I mean,
don't get wrong, but um, you know, we have a
big game next weekend. Every time I'm watching this game,
I just think about what we're doing next weekend. We
just fell down a fourth and one and Fress gets
the ball back. I mean, it's just it's frustrated. But nonetheless,

(01:04):
we've had some good football. We have close games today,
we have some games right now. Alabama just replaces five
stars with five stars. What does the project look good? Uh?
And playing a preview absolutely. By the way, one thing
about this Fresno State Oregon game. We're gonna keep you
up to date on all these games going on right now,
especially those top twenty five teams in action today. And
by the way, I say top twenty five teams because

(01:26):
some of these teams are not top twenty five teams
at least at this point of the season. Overrated is
how Mac Brown termed his North Carolina team yesterday when
they lost to Virginia Tech. Was showing absolutely no offense. Uh,
and that was supposed to be an offensive juggernaut. But
you know, your Oregon team, first game of the season, Yeah,
you're at home, but you're playing a Fresno State team

(01:48):
with a game under their belt. And I don't I mean,
I'm asking you right at the top here. Does that
matter when you when you're taking the field for the
first time, like Oregon, when your big favorite at home
against Fresno State, but you're facing opponent that dead, Hey,
at least they got one game under their belt. Is
that an advantage? Um? I don't know if it's been today. Um,

(02:10):
you know, Oregon has not looked good, but I don't
think it's because Fresnel has looked especially good on their
end um our offense just looks like we're trying to
hide everything for Ohio State, which who played next week.
So I'm not sure it's uh that really is is
the case? Um, you know Freslan's offensives, guy's wide open.
I mean, you know, so maybe that's something to do
with it. But plenty of teams UH play Chris football

(02:32):
in Week one, and I'm not that's a good excuse,
all right. So some of the games going on right now.
Number eleven Oregon leading Freslan State one third team got
eleven a half minutes ago in the third quarter in
that game, under five minutes ago in the first quarter.
And Number one Alabama taken on Miami. It is seven nothing,
Crimson tie. Both defense is playing pretty well in that one.
Number eight Cincinnati leading Miami of Ohio thirteen nothing eight

(02:56):
minutes ago in the first quarters. So the Bearcats off
to a very hot start there. Now there's Iowa any
Anna game. This could be a problem for US, Jeff
because Iowa sam uh may just drop over at any
point here you might hear screams in the background. He's
excited now because the hawk Eyes are up early fourteen. Zip.
We're only five minutes into this game. Two top twenty

(03:18):
teams and the Hawkeyes are off to the quick start.
So this could be a problem throughout the broadcast today.
It does feel like these preseason rankings, UM are not
as accurate as maybe they have been the past. Or there,
we just have a lot of good football teams this year,
right um? Or or the third option is we just
kind of overvalued a weird year last year. Right, that's

(03:40):
where where North Carolina has a good season. They returner
quarterback who is supposed to be a top five pick.
Now they lost a lot of other players that were
important to that. Yeah, two running backs and two wide receivers. Yeah.
And you know Indiana, right, great run last year, next
Junior was great. They don't look good today, right, I
mean maybe there were two highest start this season. No

(04:00):
Cincinnati who had a great year and last year they're
up fourteen nothing that's inmam of Ohio. That looks about right, right, Like,
so maybe we overvalued a little bit of some surprise
teams last year. UM and that's the way that the
prison's rankings are. But this is kind of what it is, right.
The rankings are a little bit of an estimation of
what it's supposed to be, and it gives us a
lot to talk about, right because you know, by the

(04:23):
time the playoff rankings come out, we have six weeks
in and we get a bit understand if where teams
are at well. And again, if you are listening to
us for the first time, Jeff is a man that
will wager on just about anything, but especially football games
that he feels strongly about. Today's Oklahoma to Lane game
is one of these prime examples of what could happen

(04:44):
and how it could turn you off to the gambling
industry real quick. For instance, You've got Oklahoma up thirty
seven to fourteen at halftime, looks like they might score
a hundred points against a hapless to Lane team. You
got Spencer Rattler, who could be the number one overall
pick next year. It's aft he ended up thirty or
thirty nine, three and four yards and a dutchdown. They

(05:04):
end up winning this game forty to thirty five. They
outscored They were outscored twenty one to three. In the
second half. How do you account for something like that happening?
Olhoma's defense man has just not been what's expected year
after year, right, And well, how do you have three
points in the second after after putting up thirty seven
in the first half. You just you just mentally kind
of shut it down and think, you know, you can

(05:26):
kind of coast to the end. Uh, they still put
up forty points. So I'm not really concerned about I
mean defensively, right, defensively is what is what has hewed
Oklahoma back now from winning the top champions. I mean
they have get to win a playoff game right there
own for in the playoffs, and each year we keep
hearing how they've recruited better, and they're bringing and they're
doing this scheme of doing this differently, and then to
Lane comes in and put them thirty five points. Now,
it was not at home game for Oklahoma. It was

(05:46):
in Norman, but they only sold a lower bowl because
they didn't want it to be too much like a
home game because this is a two lane supposed to
be played in New Orleans. Obviously can't be done right now. Um,
and so you know, look, I'll say, as an offensive player.
When you just when you shut things down mentally, right like, oh,
we're gonna go into coasting mode, it's very hard to

(06:08):
turn it back on. Um, you know, I feel like
defensively because that position is playing a lot more emotion
and just kind of a lot more like piston vinegar. Right,
you can just be like, okay, I'm even more physical now, right, like,
like let's do it, guys, Like come on, you know,
mr offensively, you really you really can't. Like I've been
in a lot of situations where you do that and

(06:30):
then you're like, oh jeez, to kind of restarted again.
It's hard to do that offensively. And and that's why
I'm always a fan, especially in college football, where points
are like can be scored so quickly because of of
the clock of the clock rules and and and and
you know, just the offenses now you see you need
to score and score and score. You cannot score enough
in college football, and so it feels like, um, you

(06:53):
know that that that's where a lot of teams run
into Yeah, by the way to lane. In that game,
down forty five recovered an onside kick, so they actually
had the ball down five a little more than two
minutes to go and on a fourth down play it
was sort of a leap for the first down. He
ended up a yard short, So the Oklahoma survives that game. Five.
One of the other things about this first week full

(07:15):
week in college football is that we're seeing a lot
of conference games, especially in the Big Ten, and that
can cause problems. We saw Ohio State. Hey, they put
up forty five, four touchdowns for the freshman Stroud in
the second half, but they give a thirty one to Minnesota.
And then earlier today we had Penn State and Wisconsin.

(07:35):
Don't see Wisconsin lose many home games. They did today
sixteen to ten to Penn State. Obviously, we got this
Indiana Iowa game going on right now. What what do
you make of scheduling a conference game the first week
of the season. I mean, I don't I don't terribly
like it. Um you know, I feel like, you know,
getting in the rhythm of the seasons, you know, might

(07:56):
be helpful, um four teams, But I mean this is
what you know, this we want a week one right
we had in Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, Penn State,
so you're gonna get all how to state Minnesota obviously
as you mentioned, you're gonna get good games in Week one.
But because these teams typically know each other very well,
they obviously play every year that recruit the same players.
I mean they are they are going to basically be

(08:18):
better games in Week one. Rivalry games you kind of
get fans into it a little bit, so I get
why they do them, um, but I think it's just
a tougher matchup, right, because you know your opponent, you
know that much better, they know you that much better.
We've done that once when I was in college. We
put Stanford week one. It just felt weird to do that, Um,
but you know that's you know, we got some good
games because of it. Oh, no doubt about that. All right,

(08:38):
So over the course of the next three hours, obviously
we're gonna update you on all these games and is craziness.
Are also gonna be previewing games down the road. But
also I want to get into this brewing story the
evolution of college football, Jeff. We've been talking about this
for weeks. In fact, last week we were almost hinting
a little bit of a game of chicken. Right at first,

(08:59):
we're maybe the Big twelve will think about expansion, then
they backed off, same thing with the Pack twelve. All
of a sudden, now we got some schools that are
looking to go into the Big twelve. If that is
actually going to happen, where we could actually assuming again
that Texas and Oklahoma leave down the road, they are

(09:19):
looking to infiltrate the A A C for schools, and
then you always have the free agent school B y
you available. I want to touch on it for a
moment here and we'll get to more of this on
the other side though, Jet. But when you look at
b y U and Cincinnati and Central Florida and Houston,
if you were to add those four schools, is that

(09:40):
enough to save the Big twelve? Well, I guess the
question is what what's there to save? Right? I mean,
Oklahoma Texas are gone, so you're losing your powerhouses. If
adding those teams makes you more favorable to the TV networks,
and yes, it makes sense to do that, are they
still a Power five co ofference or is it suddenly

(10:01):
a group of six? Um? I mean it feels more
like a group of six then it does a Power
five conference. But again, I mean, you know, in basketball,
you have teams that have won championships, right, Baylor just
won the championship. Um, you know, football though, that's you know,
but you can also argue that Pat has a champion
in a while either, right, football, so um, but you

(10:23):
know the but outside Oklahoma, Texas had a playoff teams,
So I mean, I think it's still a power five,
but they're gonna have to do some winning football, which
again it's it's hard to do because you know, winning
football games and winning playoffs is just difficult, all right.
On the other side, and by the way, it's been
very difficult for my partner here, Jeff schwartz Fresnel, stay
just tied this game. This is this is this is

(10:44):
utterly embarrassing for organ right, all right, we'll try to
hold it together. You were all excited, got to you
or it was fourteen nothing Ducks at the end of
the first corps looked like it's gonna be a breeze game.
But everything about college football is unpredictable. On the other side,
will get a look more at what to expect on
there's first full Saturday of the college football season coming

(11:04):
up next. Here's Bryce standing. It has protection. She's running
around the steps up the pearls right open the TV
side inside the ten five siddle tis, I know how
you crossed the plane of the footstole touchdown thirty seven yards.

(11:24):
That is the legendary voice of the Crimson Tide. Eli
Gold from liar field there and first quarters just ANDed
Alabama with a ten nothing lead over the Miami Hurricanes.
Bryce Young, news starting quarterback, already an instant millionaire. You
heard that right. The guy's already got a million dollars
in endorsement deals before he's ever started a game at Alabama.
Off to a good start nine at thirteen and three

(11:45):
yards and a touchdown. He also ran for eight yards
on one kerry. So that's just one of the big
stories in college football this year. Jeff is the GAC.
That's some guys are pocketing some money right now, name,
image and likeness here in twenty one. Good for them.
I mean, this has been a change we've needed for
a while. The thing that that has been so interesting

(12:06):
to this is seeing who gets the money and how
much they're getting and how they're not always a superstar.
Right So, for example, right now we have Miami Alabama playing.
You mentioned that we have the high about Bryce Young,
Derrick King, Miami's quarterback right, not not a he's known,
I think in college football, not a household name, right,
And they're hoping Miami plays welling out there to make

(12:26):
him a household name. He's he's a pro prospect. He's
not a high pro prospect who play in the NFL.
Um he has a ton of deals, like more than
anyone else he is. He has like ten uh ten
and I l deals. Quinn Yours, who is a true
freshman from Texas who enrolled early in Ohio State, did
not dress on Thursday against Minnesota. He just signed a

(12:50):
million dollar merchandising deal. Right. So these we have guys
who really are not household names. And again, in college
football it is hard to be a house name I
think nowadays. But but but just nonetheless, we have a
lot of guys making um a lot of money who
I think Queen here was for example, surprising shocking to me.

(13:10):
Gary King, Okay, Miami, there's boosters there they want to
make they want to hook them up great, But some
of the other guys, it has been surprising, I will say, though,
Steve a positively this we've seen a lot, a lot
of of money profits alignment like it's been it's been Uh,
it's been fun to see that, though, are you really?
I mean, I'll put it this way. What's happening right now?

(13:33):
So all these people that are investing money in these
college football starts, it's sort of a wait and see. Right.
If this works, if they're getting a return on their investment,
then the money is only gonna go up. But if
they don't, I mean, for a lot, this could dry up.
I mean, the superstar, five star quarterbacks are always going
to get their share, but if this doesn't really benefit

(13:54):
those that are investing money, if they're not getting a
return on their dollar, it's not going to continue like this.
It's not um, but I also think that the returnent
dollar just might not be there at some interest. Is
now the the Queen years want of interest? Because I
think I feel like that's gonna be your money for
the kind of endorsement for later in his career. If
he makes the NFL, they'll be tied to him. So okay,

(14:15):
that's what that's what um I think part of that
could be. All right, let's get back to this, back
to a Big twelve situation right now, Because when we
talked about whether or not they would still be a
power conference if they added the likes of Cincinnati bo
I use Central FORDA and Houston and like you said,
and it sounds more like an A A C than
it does Big twelve of the past with Texas and

(14:37):
Oklahoma leaving. This is all about money, folks, and whether
or not that twelve team combo, if it actually comes
to fruition, is going to attract the big money. My
guess is no, it's not. I mean, this is why
the A C, C and the Big Ten and the
Pack twelve are joining forces right now to say, hey,
look at here's what here's our game plan. The three

(14:58):
of us sort of get to other and we start
playing these intersectional games. We stay start talking about nonconference
games exclusively within our ranks. Is that attractive to you?
And like, hey, absolutely love to see a little Clemson
USC action or Ohio State going against Florida. You know,
these would be all great attractions out there. The SEC

(15:19):
is obviously strong enough to stand on their own. But
I'm telling you it's not just the future of the
Big twelve here, it's all these other conferences, the Group
of five, uh and and what is next for them?
You know, I'm down in San Diego during the weekend.
San Diego State Brady Hoax out there and they're they're
trying to get things together. They have a new stadium
that's gonna open up next year, and they could be

(15:40):
on the outside looking in. How quickly is this gonna
happen where we're gonna get a definitive division between the
halves and the half nots amongst FBS schools, I mean
only sort of already there were pretty close. Yeah, Um,
I mean I think the endgame will be a separation

(16:02):
between that's double A and kind of just these cultural programs,
Like there just won't be a governing body anymore and
each you know, each team will be kind of its
own business. It is on entity, and there might be
and you I think you mentioned this right, regions right
became more regionalized where you have a north and south
and east and the West and you just kind of
play your your teams in that little area and then

(16:23):
you meet up for a bowl game or maybe there's
one week in a year where you have intersectional games. Um,
that feels like what this might end up being. But
not for a little bit of time, right, I mean,
Oklahoma and taxes are making the move over the SEC
and that's probably not happening for a couple of years now. Um,
but it's just uh it. I think that's the end

(16:43):
game eventually. I don't know how how long gets there
all right now, throughout the program today, I'm gonna use
Jeff's expertise since he follows the lines on these games
coming up. Every time I got a game coming up,
I want to ask you about it, uh And I
want to ask you about this game that's gonna be
kicking off here and about six men. It's Texas and Louisiana.
If you don't know about the former Louisiana Lafayette now

(17:05):
just Louisiana. They have double digit wins the last two years.
They have one of the hot young coaches in college football,
and they're on the rise right now, and they are
a preseason top twenty five team. To go in twenty
three against the Texas team that you feel like every
year we keep hearing that this is going to be
the year that Texas gets back in the conversation as

(17:29):
a playoff contender, you know when I'm talking about back
to that elite level, and they always seem to fall
a short. Texas is a nine point favorite in this game,
obviously first game for both these schools. Which way would
you lean? I mean, obviously Louisiana trying to prove that
it's not just a myth that they're a rising power
sort of in the ranks, I mean when you're in

(17:50):
the sun Belt, like who's paying attention to you? But
are they at the level to go toe to toe
with Texas right now? Well? I think the the question
is almost is Texas at the level to blow them out? Right? Yeah?
I mean right, I mean we don't know that right now,
right Sark? And I think I think Stark is getting
a little bit like he's been undersold a little bit

(18:11):
because of his time at USC. I think he can coach.
I think he can, but it's a new head coach
in new situation. You have a new defensive corner who's
who Pi Kokowski, who's really good from Washington. You know,
they have some talent the team, but it's a new
staff in a new game against Louisiana, who is a
feisty underdog right there, feisty team, and so I think that, um,

(18:33):
this game will be closer than people think I would
I would take Louisiana plus the nine um and and
just see how it goes with a brand new coach.
It's interesting what the expectations are gonna be for SARK
if you look at the Tom Herman four years seven
and six, and of course that was his first year
taken over after three straight losing seasons under Charlie Strong

(18:55):
got to ten and four, eight and five seven. It's right,
by the way, they won four bowl games in four
years not good enough. So I mean they keep harkening
back to that incredible run they had. They actually had
nine straight years of double digit wins under Mac Brown
from two thousand one to two thousand and nine. Is
that realistic? And especially when they are student to be

(19:17):
joining the SEC. Are Texas fans over inflating expectations as
far as where this program is? Um? I I think
most schools over over inflate expectations because there's such a
push now to be in the playoff right where that's
the only example, that's only what's the what's the uh?

(19:39):
But you know that's the only acceptable season, right it's
making a playoff when, um when I don't really think
that that's what it should be because realistically, you know,
you're not always gonna get the opportunity to be in
the playoff. But that's the way that you know that
that it's looked at it's a playoff or not right,
And if you don't make the playoff, then it's a
bad season. That's not always the case right now. For Texas,

(20:00):
they gotta be Oklahoma, um, and they haven't done that
a long time. That'd be the first thing to do.
But I'm not sure that that winning a conference every year,
or really making the playoff every year, I should say,
is realistic for any team outside of like three of them,
right and for three or four of them as Alabama
by the score to get up seventeen nothing in the
first quarter against Miami, or should be early second quarter

(20:21):
against Miami, um. Uh, they should make the plant every year,
by the way, that's our expectation. But I think this
is a general issue, like for every almost fifteen fifteen,
sixteen seventeen programs out there all right. On the other side,
I do want to get to another team that has
an extremely high ranking going into the season, whether or
not they are the real deal, suggest to update you. Uh.

(20:42):
And by the way, I can't watch this Oregon Fresno
State game right now I can see the score. I
know has the ball with two and a half minutes
ago in the third quarter. It's it's about it's bad
of an offensive performance I've seen in quite a few
years for Oregan. Defensively, we forced two turnovers. Um our
best player came on Thibodeau uh As, you know, the

(21:05):
top five pick. He had a pressure and his sack
fumble and his first to the first two drives for
Fresno and they got hurt. And he's been out and
our defense just can't function. It's not good to lose
one player and you can't function. We do not look good.
Our offense looks atrocious. I'm very upset about what's happening
right now. And Fresno States quarterback is thirty seventy five

(21:26):
yards no picks. In fact, if you look at the
actual stats in this game, Fresno State is outgained Oregon
three thirty five to two twenty six. We're not we
have this is this is this is like this is
pretty bad. All right. On the other side of I
manage I want to get to a top ten team.
Are they worthy of their preseason ranking? But first let's
find out what's trending right now, and well, he's always

(21:49):
ready to roll Saturday's, Sunday's, any day of the week.
He is Ralph irv and Ralph hoop. Are you man?
I'm good? You know. I just Jeff's talking about Cavon
Thibodeaux and he's in street cloths in a walking boot. Um, Jeff,
do you really think he's gonna play again for the
old Duns. Yeah, he came back in the game after
he got hurt. He did just after half time. They

(22:11):
put him in a boot. I think that's come back.
But he won't play with the boot. Is that pretty
safe to say? Maybe? But I mean, Niki does some
cool stuff. I'm just it's one of those things that suddenly,
now with the new era of college football, with a
little bit of an injury, and suddenly he's like, you
know what, I'm gonna pack it up. That's I thought
about that today when it happened. We will see. But

(22:33):
right now, it is twenty one all Oregon and Fresno State.
Although the Bulldogs have the ball inside Oregon territory, and
that's what two two to play. In the third quarter,
Number one Alabama shutting out Number fourteen Miami seventeen nothing,
Crimson tied fortune or two to play in the first half.
Alabama just running rough shot over the Miami defense so

(22:55):
far in this contest. Number eight Cincinnati at twenty one
nothing lead over my i mean of Ohio. That's with
three fifty eight to play in the first quarter there
in Cincinnati and Iowa. Sam is a happy campers screaming
and yelling. Fourteen three the Hawkeyes with a lead over
number seventeen Indiana. That's with sixteen thirty seven. Make that

(23:17):
ten thirty seven to play in the third what's called
fourteen o five in the third quarters. Sometimes the computers
just don't like to update. Uh, you know, it's it's
what happens, and you want to be as precisely as
you do. You do. Number seven, they're about to get started.
Number seven Iowa State toasting Northern Iowa and number twenty
one Texas hosting number twenty three Louisiana. Major League Baseball

(23:42):
quit checker the scoreboard. The Mets jumped out to a
huge lead early. They're now tied with Washington nine all
their inextratings because this game one of a doubleheader. The
Yankees in Baltimore tied at three there in the eighth
inning in Toronto, a four one lead over Oakland. That's
in the fifth inning. So we set it back now
it is Steve Hartman, Anne, Jeff Schwartz. Alright, so continuing
to update everything and Ralph will be with you, and

(24:05):
obviously we're going to continue update to on all the scores.
Ralf did talk about a game that's about to kick off,
and that is Iowa State hosting Northern Iowa. The Cyclones
a preseason number seven. They have never been there in
their entire history. Preseason wise, this is a team with
the veteran quarterback and Brock Purty. They have first team

(24:26):
All American running back from a year ago and Bruce Hall.
They got Charlie Koehler of course, a third team apol
American each of the last two years. Big six six
tight end. The state of Iowa's obviously always known for
the great tight ends. Um is this in Iowa State team?
I mean, they're big four touchdown favorites today obviously against
Northern Iowa. But can this team hold up over the

(24:48):
course of the season and stay in contention because there
are lofty expectations, to say the least, Uh, there are
lofty expectations. By the way, while Ralph was doing the update,
Alabama st stacked here at King and has the ball
back now, um, and so seventeen nothing is fourth down, um,
And uh yeah, they're very good. So I look, I
alway say, it's very interesting. Iowa State has not won

(25:12):
ten games in their entire football program, and they have
a lot of expectations this year. Um, and I'm excited
to watch them do it. But this one of those
teams were like, I hope expectations live up to you know,
to what to what. People hope they are right, but
I just don't know. Well, let me ask. I'm gonna
get Iowa salmon here right now. Iowa Sam, I know

(25:32):
you're watching your Iowa team, but I want to distract
you for a second because I do have a question
for you next week, of course, Iowa, Iowa State, how
are you going to hold up during that game tomorrow
next week? How are you going to do that? Because
that's going to be in the midst of our show.
So how exactly are you going to hold up for
that game next week? Well? And who do you like

(25:55):
in that game next week? I do like Iowa State
to win that game, really Matt Campbell had each of
Io State has never beaten Iowa. Rock Party has never
beaten Iowa, and that's why you like them. Well, I
think that there's you know, full Jack Try Stadium. They
haven't beaten Iowa in like six years. So I think
that it's it's time they're they're do. I don't know
if time and when when you're betting on games, Uh, Jeff,

(26:17):
and you look at a game, you say, wow, just
time right there? Time they're they're do. Does that ever
a good way to play a game? They're do? Um? No?
I think own age is ownage. I'll give you an example, right,
Penn State has one now well before today they had
won four and covered four straight against Wisconsin, covered six
or seven ownages owners, right, Like, there's reasons why teams

(26:40):
play well against other teams, whether that's just a coaching advantage, right,
whether you just know that team inside and out, and
there's obviously some sort of ownage. When these numbers continue
to happen like this, it's a good baseball term, right Like,
some hitters just hit very well against against um against
certain pictures. They see things better, they're game planets, crisper,

(27:01):
and it feels like that's the way, um you know
it is in some of these matchups. So uh yeah,
look you have that game, Sam, I have the end
of Oregon Ohio State next week. During the start of
the show, I'm gonna be a freaking wreck off that
game's close starting next weekend. I mean, like, this is
one time. One time I was doing radio for another
station and I was the lead host. I was in

(27:22):
your role, Steve Right and it was during the Chief's
playoff game with my brother. Okay, it was Titans Chiefs
twenty one three a half time was the Marcus Mariota
remember the game. So before the game, I said to
my producers, I said, hey, my boss, hey, can I
can I because it was it was a player lad
shows me and like Kirk Morrison and it was like

(27:43):
ben Hart song was like three players. This is kind
of like one of those like player lead shows. I said, hey,
can can I be emotional? Can I like just moan
and grow and be a fan? Like yes, please do that. Yes,
I've beach in the middle like oh no, we just
like just and just It was torturous to be the
lead host of the show to what's your football team?
Just eat? It down the stretch of a game. Um,

(28:04):
so I'm hoping the next weekend Oregon has has done
a good job. We don't have to be that way. Yeah.
I had a situation when Josh Rosen was at u
C l A. And I was, you know, in conversation
with my co host, like we are right now, and
Rosen is scrambling and he's about to get sacked, but
as he's going down, he decides to throw it up

(28:26):
for grabs and he throws an interception right to the
guy as he's getting sacked, and I just lost it
on the air, like I'm trying to hold the conversation
all of a sudden, Wow, what are you doing? What
are you doing? And you can't help yourself. This is
the problem we have is not a problem with fans
watching the game. We're watching the games, and what we're

(28:46):
doing is we're sort of your eyes and you'r the
years and and and that's what we're doing. We're gonna
feed you everything we're gonna see, uh in college football. Meanwhile,
I would just score it again, so I know Iowa
Sam wants to talk. It's actually well, yeah they did score,
but I saw their quarterback Spencer Peachers get up gingerly,
and then Jeff, I see iowas All American center Tyler
linder Baum laying down the ground and get up very slowly,

(29:08):
very concerning. Uh he's a big NFL prospect, is he not?
He is? He's very good. Yeah, that's unfortunate. He did
walk off the field, but he got up very slowly.
He was on his knees. For it's the first game
of the season. You know, well stand that brings up
a good point. First game of the season. Uh. Even
though these are college guys, you're young guys, right, You're
a little more resilient when you're young. But we you know,

(29:29):
we talked about that first bang in the heads and
games that really matter, and you don't have a preseason
this is it. Games really count? Um. I would imagine
it could be a shock to your system game one
as a college player. It definitely is, um. But I
don't remember that being the case because I think when
you're young, you're just like he's always ready to go.

(29:50):
I mean, like, I've thought about this often because I
was very hurting in my career and you're the kind
of the back half of my career and I used to.
I used to think, like to myself, like what I
remember when I was young, Like I play a game.
Now we're just like go out, Like I just would
come home and I'd be fine. And the older I got,
I couldn't even sleep at night because I was so
wired with adrenaline. Um. And when you're just younger, you

(30:12):
just are able to to you know, to keep going.
And I think that with these young guys, yeah, there
could be something the idea of of you know, we're
gonna not be not be kind of in shape. But
I don't think that's the case because a lot of
injuries we've seen in Week one football are contact injuries, right,
They're not blowing, hamstrings are not caffe injuries are uphold
growing or something right there? Football injuries. And you know

(30:32):
Cavon tibotnut mention him organ he got rolled on today.
I'm sure Tyler he got rolled on, right, Sam, I
would imagine he did. Um, you can't. You can't prevent
those injuries. Now, what you can do is, you know,
you work, you work on your quads and your and
your hamstrings and you get them strong. So when you
do get rolled into someone, you know that that your
knee kind of protects you, uh from you know, from

(30:53):
your yourknee protects you from getting assuming your quad protects
from getting that hurt or just fumbled. Sorry, I just
it's just a ridiculous I know this is now again.
It's gonna be a challenge because we got his Oregon Ducks.
Now we're going to the fourth quarter. They are tied
with Fresno State twenty one all and Oregon looking for

(31:13):
some offense right now, trying to slow down that Bulldogs.
And we have got a long return for Texas. There
seems to be a flag on the play. I think
it would have been a punt return, but there is
a flag on the play. Louisiana punting after being out
and let's see what they're doing. The flag is down.
I look like Texas got a quick score in a return,

(31:34):
but it may be called back. Here they're picking up
the laundry and what are they doing, well, we'll find
out in a second. Here. Um, this is what's gonna
happen all throughout the show today. We are going to
be reacting big time to just about everything we see
on the college football team. On the other side, I
also want to get to another game coming up, because
we talked about coaches on the hot seat all the time,

(31:57):
and part of it is a team's history. Who talked
about what happened at the University of Texas where Tom
Herman certainly turned things around from what we saw previously
with Charlie Strong, but it wasn't good enough. Uh. But
there's there's one coach that I want to get to
on the other side that is on the hottest of
hot seats, and the question is could he be derailed

(32:18):
in his very first game of the season. We're talking
about USC We're talking about Clay Hilton that's taken on
an underrated San Jose State team. Will give you a
preview of that one coming up next. Fakes the hand
ars Hater wants it himself and he scoots in off
the left side of the line, rushing touchdown for Hater

(32:38):
and a two point conversion can tie it up. In
Eugene Hater from the gun rivers to his left, shotguns snap.
Jake looking to throw with time, throws to his right
cot two point conversion one Rodriguez and we're tie. That's
Paul Leffler from Liarfield as Fresno State tied back game
and now have take gonna lead against Jeff's Oregon Ducks

(33:02):
Fresno State thirteen minutes to go on the fourth quarter.
The Ducks were off to a fourteen nothing lead early
and it has gone sideways ever since. And uh, it's
nothing good. I mean what has been good is Alabamas
up twenty seven nothing now, um, seven minutes off and

(33:23):
second quarters. You were all over Alabama in this game.
I think they were only up what a two touchdown
favorite in there, But yeah, I was over band, I
was on BAM on this. I mean, like it just
it just can't get much worse for Oregon. We've done
and we've done good things, right. We forced two turnovers
early on they led to two short our fourteen nothing. Um,

(33:46):
we've had some good players on offense, but we're rolling
out a quarterback at Anthony Brown who was just okay
at Boston College and he's just been okay today. Like
we he just had a home run that we said
a home run finally with a home run play designed
and he just he just missed the I I mean,
like you can't. You can't miss guys, when you when
you have one or two opportunities in the game where
you design a play for a home run and he

(34:08):
just didn't do it. Uh, he missed, I mean miss Like.
That's the stuff that that I say about quarterbacking play
that you know, it's not always what you do on
first and ten, a second and six, or you know,
even third and two. It's what you do in a
couple of big moments. Right, the shot place right, You've
designed to play you know at one point in that
week is going to be for a home run. And

(34:29):
you've called that play and practice three or four times,
and you just know based off of you know, tendencies, formations,
what you're doing, what someone else is doing that that's
gonna be a big play for you. And you have
to hit those plays, right, You have to do it.
You have to hit those plays. And then also on
third and long right, so right now for organ it's
third and eight, maybe third and nine. Your quarterback has
to be good in these spots and when you design

(34:51):
and that's difference between being just an okay offense and
being a good offense and even a great offense. Is
the guy that can do all those but at a
little bit more on top of that. So those to me,
those are the concerns you have with quarterback like Anthony Brown,
he just he's just okay. And when you miss on
the couple throws a game you're supposed to be good on,
that's the problem. And I'll tell you what this is

(35:12):
the exact problem. By the way, that why why Jimmy
Garoppolo is out is out of San Francisco, will be
out soon. He missed those two dolls on Super Bowl, right,
two guys that were open third, third and six, and
then again on on the deep post of Sailors like
you just can't do that. By the way, this Oregon
game is hopefully for the Pack twelve, not a precursor

(35:34):
of things to come. So the a P preseason poll
had five Pack twelve teams in the top twenty five,
none in the top ten. By the way, Oregon at eleven,
USC at fifteen, Washington at twenty, Utah twenty four, Arizona
State at Utah, and Arizona State won their games, so
they're off to a good start against inferior opponents. Let's
get to USC right now. Obviously Oregon great expectations, they're

(35:59):
on the ropes right now. We'll see how this game
plays out. USC has taken on a very interesting opponent.
And I don't know how this happened at San Jose
State because they've been so bad for so long. But
last year they were seven and oh going into their
bowl game. Now they got blown out by Ball State
in that ball bowl game, but they already have a
win under their belt to start this season, and now

(36:20):
we'll go into the Colis and to play USC. I
talked to a lot of USA people, USC people all
the time, and they basically said, well, what what is
what can Clay Helton do to save his job? A
lot of them say nothing, But those that actually offer
the affirmatives so well, at the very least, at the
very least, they have to win the Pac twelve. They
have to win the Pac twelve championship at least put

(36:42):
themselves in the conversation to get into the playoffs. So
when you look at USC, they got Keenan Slovis and quarterback.
Remember he replaced j T. Daniels And we're gonna get
to that big game that JT now part of Georgia
taken on Clemson later on today. But what are your
thoughts on this USC football team? Game? Is Clay Hilton
gonna save his job. Well, he'll save his job because

(37:06):
they're gonna win a lot of football games that their schedule.
They're gonna be favorite in eleven of twelve games. The
only game as of right now they will not be
favorite in is at Notre Dame and they're playing the
game off of bybe by the Way, so you know
they'll give him two weeks to prepare for that game.
So they'll be a favorite eleven and twelve games. No,
they just have a schedule where they're playing the Patrel
South obviously is a little bit is a little bit

(37:28):
down compared to the Patrel of North, and then they
miss Washington, Oregon in their crossover games. So they just
have a fairly um unquotote easier schedule this year. I
don't think they go eleven in one. They still have
to play a Patrel championship game. But you know, the
expedition is always to win the conference. They're gonna win
nine or ten games, and Clay Hound will keep his

(37:50):
job if they do that. They're not getting rid of
a coach. I don't think who wins ten games. Who
plays the Pactol Tramion game every year? Well does that mean?
I mean from what we understand there, and this is
for the outsiders looking in. Mike Bone was running as
a new athletic director and he was under the impression
he was gonna be able to bring in urban Meyer
to be the new coach at USC, and that got
nixed by the new president at USC. She said, no way, no,

(38:11):
how are we gonna bring in the likes of urban
Meyer into this university because USC is facing a lot
of litigation these days as a university, all kinds of litigation.
So they were going to roll the dice on urban
Meyer and his background valet or not. But I mean
still when you talk about USC football and you go
back to their heyday under Pete Carroll when they were

(38:32):
packing in ninety thousand a game at the college, even
even when they were playing the Utah States of the world. Uh,
that's a lot of revenue that you could be without
if you're not an elite and I mean elite programming
in college football. And you know the overall I mean,
if USC Oregon these schools don't pull through, if we
have another year where there's no PACTWEL school in the

(38:54):
playoff there, I mean, there won't be a Pact school
in the playoff. I mean, I mean, what was his
put the Pack twelve? Right now? Why would the a
c C in the Big Ten want to hook up
with the Pack twelve? Well, I think they want to
hook up with them to kind of just have a
guest a voting block against against the you know, against
the secy are the necessary? I mean, why would the

(39:17):
CEC in the Big Ten say, look where they we
got Ohio State, we got Clemson, we got the power here.
What exactly is the PAC twelve bring into the table? Um?
I mean, I guess not much, right, But I mean,
but I mean, but outside the a CEC, right, Um,
you know, Clemson is very good, but the rest of them,
I mean not not that great. Right. What's that now?

(39:38):
I mean besides I said, besides, you know, besides Clemson,
the a SEC is not that special. I don't know.
I mean, obviously we're watching Miami right now. They don't
look like much. I think so the PATNL doesn't have
the top end talent. Yeah, Miami. By the way, in
this game, I believe that's forty something yards total offense.
Am I right on that? I mean, it's just unbelievable.
Alabama is absolutely fradily them. Alabama is just it's scary

(40:02):
when you look at a school like Alabama. And by
the way, just updates twenty seven nothing now, Crimson Tide,
Bryce Young, it's good start earning that million dollars in
the first half here with six minutes to go, he's
eighteen yards and three touchdowns. They're just bigger, faster, stronger
than everyone else. And they have a good you know,
they have a good system of coaching, right, and staving

(40:23):
is a good job. They rotate and they have a
new o C this year, Bill O'Brien. They just to
do a great job of that all right. On the
other side, among other things, are gonna be previewing elis
use first game of the year taking on U c
l A displaced by Hurricane Ida. How will that work?
Will tell you next. Fox Sports Radio has the best
sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our
shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the

(40:46):
I Heart Radio app search f s R to listen live. Hey,
this is Jason McIntyre. Joined me every weekday morning on
my podcast Straight Fired with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your
typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat.
Every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all
the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win

(41:09):
big at the sports book, and all the best guests
doing yourself a favorite and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast
or wherever you get your podcasts. Chrice looks right, throws
across the middle of lot to first down, a lot
to ten yard life, he plays a tackle, He's got

(41:32):
his second touchdown of the day. Cam what to twenty
five yards? Ballas on top twenty six to nothing. That's
eli goal the voice of the Crimson tie from liar
Field and yes number one Alabama exclamation point making the
point we are again the team to beat in college football.

(41:58):
They are throttling Miami twin D seven and nothing is
still four minutes to go in the first half in
this game. Uh, Jeff's county the money right now. It's easy.
We're still I mean we're still We're still have a
lot of time left. I mean things change, right, I
Mean you mentioned Oklahoma was a big and they won
by five. I feel like Alabama those Uh, it's just

(42:19):
like I don't. I don't remember playing a team like
this in college where I mean USC was sort of
that way, right, USC had eleven guys all their defense
get drafted, and you know, it's just you just don't
physically play anyone like that all year, and then when
you play them, you have to give everything you got
and then when you when you get down early, it's like,

(42:40):
oh jeez, here we go. Like you know, it's it's
just and and you know, in college football there's such
a there's such a difference in in um in play
speed of pro guys and just good college rights. I mean,
you could watch a game right and see if you
watch football your entire life, right, you can see a guy,
Oh that's a pro guy, right, he's apro. You can

(43:01):
see the speed. Right, Alabama has all of those. And
when you play a team that has one or two
of them, okay, well we'll scheme ourselves out of having
to deal with those guys. Now there might be problems, obviously,
you might deal with them at some point. But Alabama's
eleven of those guys above sides of the ball, like
you just they have their last wee starting quarterbacks are
starting in the NFL week one. Yeah. In fact, two

(43:22):
of them are gonna be going head to head week one,
so we got going against two tongue of Bolo. By
the way, we're gonna be talking some NFL preview. Yes,
we don't have any NFL games tomorrow, but they will
start next Thursday, so we'll have a little preview coming
up in the next hour. By the way, King the
quarterback from Miami, here's the good news. The guy seven
for seven in the first half against that Alabama defense

(43:45):
for thirty six yards. Seven for seven for thirty six yards. Okay,
and they have twenty one yards on the ground fifty
seven total yards from Miami to seventy four for Alabama
right now, twenty seven nothing Crimson tie and uh, if
there's any doubt about their status, there should not be.
How about what happened earlier today as Penn State went

(44:07):
into Camp Randall and started up their season with a
victory against Wisconsin. Joining us right now post of undisputed
Fox Sports college football sideline reporter Jenny Taft is joining
us right now. Jenny, I know you're trying to get
out of there. We appreciate you joining us right now.
My first question, just off the top. What was it
like to be back on the college football scene with

(44:30):
seventy five thousand plus back in the stands. What was
it like out there? Jenny Oh, First of all, guys,
thank you so much for having me. And wow, let
me tell you, I mean, we love college football. I
know last year, we we got through it, we had games,
we made the most of it. But it was almost
a bit emotional today. I actually our director caught me

(44:52):
jumping around because I actually grew up. My family has
a lot of Wisconsin ties, so my parents went to Wisconsin.
My grandpa worked for the Universe City. My uncle was
a professor. Like all my family are, they're all Badgers.
So jump around. I got goose bumps, and I parked,
took in the celebrate celebration and it was emotional and
eighties thousand fans in Camp Randall. It really was exsite

(45:15):
to see that. I'm just so I always get I'm
so grateful and lucky that it's my job. I can't
believe that I get paid to do this. It's just
so special. And you know, I know Wisconsin obviously wanted
a different outcome, but we have a lot to celebrate
that we're just able to enjoy this community of college
football again. And that was, first of all, the biggest
takeaway why I'm with you there, It was it's nice

(45:36):
and nice to see fans in the in the stands
and getting back to life as normal. Life feels very
normal for penns again against Wisconsin or fifth straight wind. Now,
what is it about kind of Penn State matchup against
what's continent that brings out a win for the Neney lines.
I thought it was a really good that's actually a
great point about the record for them. And you know

(45:57):
what's so unique about Penn State and the way they
were approaching this season. There was such a sense of frustration.
I mean I would go as far as to say embarrassment.
We saw Jaquon Brisker have an incredible, incredible game today,
fought through injury, such a leader on defense, senior safety,
and he and I talked earlier this week and he
said to me, Jenny having an own five start last

(46:20):
year was embarrassing for us. I don't want my name
associated with it. It's not Penn State football. That's not
who we are. And there was just a you know,
you could players state chip on shoulder mentality often but
I really felt it, and it's particularly from the defense.
There was even a moment where Brisker pulled the entire
defense together even while he was fighting through injuries and

(46:41):
kept saying, we fought for this, we can finish this,
like where we are this team, we can do this,
And you really saw them fight in the end, and
clearly the defense for Penn State was such a bright
spot today. I know, offensively, they're gonna want to you know,
they're gonna want to typen up some things, but at
the same time, you know, the defense getting it done
set set the scene. And if you guys remember Penn

(47:02):
State lost a heartbreaker to Indiana last season and they're openers,
so for them to come out with this win, it's
just it's what they needed. And I could sense the
like sigh of release from so many of the guys
and just joy that they were back out there playing again.
A big win on the road for Penn State. Yeah,
but I'll tell you what, Jenny and you talked about
your Wisconsin rouse. They got to be frustrated. I mean,

(47:22):
first downs Wisconsin nine, Penn State eleven, time of possession
forty three minutes to seventeen in favor of Wisconsin, but
those three turnovers undid them. So, you know, just taking
away the bias, which is understandable, I got biased myself
from my U c l A. Bruins Jenny, So. I
I mean, when when you look at these teams projecting

(47:43):
throughout this season, it's always weird to have a conference
game to start the season off. But I mean, seriously,
talent on the field eyeball tests from what you saw today,
which one of these teams do you think it's gonna
have the best record comes seasons in? It's the jury
is still out for me on Graham Bert's and I'd
say I really was somewhat convinced by him yesterday and

(48:05):
having a really great one on one conversation with him
and just how he spent the off season focusing on
his mental toughness and making sure that he was going
to be the quarterback for this team. I think it
was a rough outing for him. I mean, that's just
another game that's gonna be tough to look at. In
their offense as a whole, I felt like they had
a hard time getting things going in some ways. There

(48:27):
were some bright spots, um, you know, and I feel
like they're gonna be able to continue that. Chez Mozy,
who was a transference from Clemson. I think in terms
of I think of Wisconsin as r BU right, like
they are just they're known for their running backs, and
I think we saw a lot of bright spots from Chez.
He was a he was kind of a moment that
I thought he was a bright spot from the team,

(48:48):
and he came to Wisconsin wants to be a featured back.
I know he has a skill, he has a potential,
so we can build on that. But yeah, those late
mistakes by Graham, those are tough. Those are tough moments
of the team and game was on the line and
they and their defense had their moments they always do
with Wisconsin defense. That what that is what we've come
to expect from the group. But there's some question marks.

(49:11):
Then we're going to see them again facing Notre Dame
and of the month that soldier field, and how about
that they'll be going up against their former quarterback. So
how about that for a storyline And we've got that
one in a couple of weeks. Last question from me,
we talked about Wisconsins defense. Pen State's defense was fablus
and they're coming off a bad year last year. Do
they expect this defense to make that big jump now?

(49:32):
Having you know, kind of guys that they got their
feet wet over nine games last year. I think they're
really optimistic and Coach Franklin was really excited about the group.
And this is a really good point to a tense
state that I thought. I mean, I know we're far
past making excuses for last year, but I liked hearing
from them that they really took COVID extremely seriously. And

(49:53):
not to say that that was right or wrong, but
they weren't meeting at all for the first five weeks,
the first five losses from them, they had zero in
person contact. They were doing everything over zoom. Their defense struggles,
and they admitted that yesterday. They just said, look, this
is a challenging defense that we run at Penn State,
and for us to expect that these new guys can
learn it over zoom and it can be successful in

(50:15):
the way we need it to be, that wasn't realistic
and that was on us. So I think there were
some learning curves there, but just a senior leadership and
like I mentioned, Jaquan Brisker and just fighting through it.
I think Arnold um at a Katie, he was a
big addition defensive end comes into Penn State. He was
a factor today, no doubt. And there's some really bright

(50:37):
spots that they're excited about. And look, I think was
Jaye Brown. He as well had that big pick to
end the game. So there's some good moments and if
Penn State is feeling confident, it's going to be their defense. Unfortunately,
Sean Clifford, I don't think that was the performance we
wanted to see from him, and he as well was
feeling so confident going into the year, saying that new
offensive coordinator Mike Earstitch was this great guy. I've given

(50:59):
him all this confidence. They're gonna go back to the
drawing board a bit. There's a lot of film to watch,
and we saw Johansdaston make a couple of great plays.
He's he is a dominant receiver for this team. So
I'm not I'm not down yet on their offense, but hey,
first game they got to win. There's still some positives
for them they can build off of. Alright, final word here, Jenny,
and I'm just gonna I'm gonna put words in your
mouth here. Um so I'm gonna take it that hanging

(51:22):
out at Camp Rando with eighty thousand of your friends,
uh may top time with Skip and Chance. I don't know.
I mean, I'm just I mean, you know, I like
the guys, but I mean, you know, seriously, like you said,
I mean, did you see the smile on my face?
I don't know if I've ever smiled that big? This
kidding that was. I think it was just like the
emotion of the moment. I mean, Kip Shan and we

(51:44):
haven't The NFL season is around the corner, and you know,
if the Cowboys don't win on Sunday, Monday's not that
fun for us. So that's really something that I'm going
to be thinking about, you know. I I love working
with the two of them. They keep me on my toes.
But there's something about college football that makes me so
so happy, and it's such a joy to be around
the players, and I just love it. I love the storylines,

(52:07):
I love the guys, I love the band. And I'm
doing this interview next to a bathroom. I'm not in
the bathroom. If you hear that noise, I apologize. I'm
at the airport, you know. I gotta you gotta make
it work and do an interview wherever you can write. Anyways, guys,
I had a blast today. I'm kind of still on
a high. And you know this is just week one
for us. We're heading Ohio State next week, Oregon coming
to challenge, so it's gonna be exciting. Well, uh, Danny,

(52:31):
I'll tell you what. Hopefully we'll catch up with you
a lot more throughout this college football season. I'm glad
you had a great time out there, and we'll we'll
talk to you down the road. Thanks for joining us today.
Thank you guys so much. I'll talk to you soon.
All right. That's Jenny Taft. Of course she's on Undisputed
with Skip and Shannon, but you can hear from her
hanging out at Camp randall any thousand fans getting back

(52:51):
into that college football atmosphere, e camp it looked at
that and then the interstanding man last night for Virginia Tech.
Oh boy, O'Regans scored a touchdown by the way, so
I'm a little cheerier alright, alright, and to a touchdown
on by Anthony Brown who were up seven with three
minutes left. Um, alright, so look that game today set

(53:13):
back football very much. The Penn State. Um, it was
zero zero at halftime, right, football being back. Um, you
know Penn State only had eleven first town. I mean
this way, Wisconsin should have won that game, right, Wisconsin
should have won. How about forty three minutes the seventeen
a time of possession, but turnovers, turnovers, turnovers, the three turnovers.

(53:33):
They had twenty nine first downs to Penn States eleven. Yeah,
I mean it was complete Donalds twenty two third down attempts.
Penn State only had fifty yards rushing in this game,
and still they came away to the victory. But as
you said, there's something about Penn State and Wisconsin that
brings out WS for the Nitney Alliance. All right. On
the other side, we're gonna talk about the debut of

(53:54):
l s U. Remember two years ago they won a
national championship. Last year was a rough year with a
whole rebuild team. How are they gonna do in their
opener at the Rose Bowl against You see l a
preview that matchup coming up next Aunt day. Brown option
keeps first down running mark It's side the ten to

(54:15):
the five touchdown. Anthony Brown. That's what Brown can do
for you. Jerry Ellen from Lara failed Ducks regain the
lead over Fresno State, where down the last couple of minutes.
Feeling okay right now, Jeff, you're feeling okay? I mean,

(54:37):
one first down would be nice because then the game
will be over. So you know we need we have
h Well, it's third down now, about third and six,
two minutes left clock tik tik, tik, tik tik. We
Actually I'm not gonna jinx, so I'm gonna say it
anyways because I'm gonna might be a jinx. But our
field goal kicker is actually really good. Um and so
if we can kick a field goal here, we can

(54:58):
ice the game. Um, I to college kicker thing. Obviously
you don't want to. You know, the college kickers have issues.
But our kicker actually didn't miss a kick last year.
So maybe we can kick this one in here and
and put it away. But tick to tik, ten seconds
left in the play clock, a minute thirty five left,
third and five here, we're gonna run the ball. Obviously,
first down would end the game. Um and, um, yeah,

(55:22):
it would be nice if this was over and done
with and we get to uh, we got a first down,
so the game is over, so one and all right,
so you can bring it a little bit. I will
not have to submit myself to my u c l
A Bruins during our show. That'll be going up a
little later on when they host LSU and joining us
right now from Fox College Football, Bruce Feldon gives a

(55:44):
little preview of this game. Bruce, always great, Gay, catch
up with you. Let's talk about L s U. Because
this is a team that comes into this game with
a lot of question marks. Obviously a year ago they
had lost pretty much their entire team, rebuilding after the
National Championship in but the Ada Burdham and being displaced

(56:05):
because of Hurricane Ida. Has he had to get ready
for this game. Plus you have a u c l
A team with a game under its spelled. So what
should we expect later on the Rose Bowl with L
s U taking on the Bruins. It's a great question.
I mean right now, you have a team of a
lot of experience. I mean they have a ton of
super seniors, and this is a talented team. It's probably

(56:25):
probably will be the most talented team U c l
A faces all year. But you have two new play
callers on a new offensive coordinator Jake Peats, who've never
called plays in a game, and the defense corner Dorothy
Jones really last call plays at Louis State are really
small school, and that was about, you know, a dozen
years ago. So this is an interesting chess match because

(56:50):
we know Chip Kelly is going to throw a lot
of stuff formationally. You know he's got three tight ends.
He uses a lot of different wrinkles that he didn't
have to show anything again in Hawaii, and they plet
them out. And you've got a first time defensive coach
and really a new defensive staff. All of you is
talented at two great corners and a deep defensive line.

(57:10):
But this is gonna be really interesting to see if
they can basically not get out schemes. Well, let's talk
about quarterback. Miles Brennan was the presumed starter in kind
of the battle they were having. He got hurt. Now
Max Johnson, who completed of passes last year, gets to
start tonight for them. What do they expect out of

(57:32):
Max in his second season? You know they're excited about him.
I'm not sure like if you asked that odon he's
being honest at going into this uh off season. I
think he was expecting Max Johnson to be the guy.
He was the one who led them to the win
with a really depleted team, uh in the Swamp against Florida,
and I think that gave them all a lot of

(57:52):
belief in him. This is Brad Johnson, you remember, the
old quarterback. This is his son, the six five lefty.
He's a good athlete. He doesn't have quite as strong
arm as Myles Brennan, but he's you know, he's somebody
who they really like his toughness and they like his poise,
and he's got very talented receivers. Shawn Bout really emerged
in the Star last year. Um, this should be a

(58:13):
good offense. It should be, but we'll see. I mean
last year the offense wasn't really the big disappointment. It
was really the defense just fell apart under both Palini.
So they expect them to be really good on offense. Uh.
You know, they have a deep group of receivers. As
I said, you know, they've always l s U, they
always have running backs. We're gonna find out if his

(58:34):
John Emery or type price and kind of blows up tonight.
But they feel like they have something for Max john
to take advantage of let's talk about u c l
A for a moment here, Bruce. So they get the
win against Hawaii, Dorrian Thompson Robinson, who feels like he's
been the quarterback at u c l A for like
ten years. Uh did not have a very good game,
but they unleashed Zack Charbonnet, a gift from Michigan, six carries,

(58:57):
hundred six yards and three touchdowns. When you look at
what's in front of Chip Kelly this year, I mean,
how important is this game? That? That win, by the
way against Hawaii was the first time he'd ever won
a non conference game since coming to u c l A.
So when we talk about coaches on a hot seat,
obviously he is. But what do you make of this
U c l A team? Is this team capable of

(59:19):
doing enough to save Chip Kelly's job? Oh? I I
really think they are. I think they're capable to win
in the pactwell South. I mean they have a very
experienced offensive line. They have two big times physical running
back Zack Sharbon I think is gonna have a huge season.
The question is how good can they be? I think
really comes back to you know, the quarterback you talked

(59:40):
about at the beginning during Thompson. Robinson has a really
good arm, he can run, he's a bright kid, He's
played a lot. Now it's just don't you know, get out,
you know, try to get out of your own way sometimes.
And and I talked this week a little bit about
the temptation of him trying to do too much, especially
the young quarterback with a lot of hype, and and
I think he I think he's come a long way

(01:00:02):
from that. It's one thing for him to Last week
he missed a couple of throws. I don't think it
really hurt them, obviously, because they were that much better
than why and it didn't lead to a big bunch
of turnovers. The question is it's one thing for him to,
you know, for them to have to punt, for him
to miss miss harget it's it's another thing if it's
a fumble or if it's if it's a pick, because
you know, this LSU team is good enough where you

(01:00:24):
can't help them. And I think that's the challenge because
they can be really dynamic in the run game because
of what Chip does and obviously Jeff knows that better
than anybody. But they have weapons storing can be a
big part of that. I just think it's like, Okay,
is there gonna be at some point where they're gonna
get a lot of pressure on them. There's gonna be
a bad ball, there's gonna be a bad decision, and

(01:00:45):
then all of a sudden they go up, you know,
goes from winning by you know, leading by seven and
Allison they're down ten. I think that's the part that
if I was the U c l A fan, I'd
be kind of holding my breath on. Let's look at defense.
They start eleven eleven and seniors on this defense is
a very veteran group. I thought they looked better against
Hawaiia is Hawaii though, Um, how do you expect them

(01:01:06):
to play? It's a big physical matchup. I think they're
I think they're really good because of that experience. Word
thing that's to me is really been impressive is they
have a lot of transfers who are flourishing there. I mean,
you know, we saw Sharperton obviously last week, but quantras
Night there. Nickel, he's a two time transfer, started at
Maryland then went to ten State, was a really good

(01:01:26):
player and he had a big impact on them. I
mean everybody in the program raves about him and what
he brings to them. You know, they're here in the
middle of the defense. They have a three pound former
you know, shot foot star who's a really explosive dude
in the middle of the defense. I think he is
going to be a problem, uh for L s U
at times. You know, and they they're aggressive. I like that.

(01:01:49):
You know, when Brian Norwood came in to help Jerry
as an arrow run the defense, that kind of pivoted
to a little more of really four to five And
I feel like they are very aggressive. But I think
because contros Night makes them write a lot in the
back end, and just I think they have some interesting pieces.
I don't think this is a great defense, but it
went from being an awful defense to a one that's formidable.

(01:02:11):
And I think, you know, right now, I think that's
that could be good enough for them to win the
Pack twelve South. I think if Dorian continues to improve
and the and the run game is as good as
we think it's gonna say, Well, I'll tell you what, Bruce,
Uh for the Pack twelve as a whole, for U
c l A to upset L s U. Today, An

(01:02:32):
sec power, We'll go a long way, would you agree.
I mean, the Pack twelve needs something just storty to
get back into the conversation as an elite football conference,
no doubt. Honestly, I think, guys, the one thing that
they can I think if U C l A and uh,
you know they're leading seventeen ten and a half time

(01:02:53):
and the end up losing or something, I don't think
that's a crippler for for U C l A. I
think what they can afford is getting a blowout law
where people look at that and go, wait, this is
year four and you just got overmatched physically by a
team that just went five and five. Not that l
s U that actually just a year and a half
removed from win international title. But hey, this is a

(01:03:16):
team that went five and five. I think if they're competitive,
and I think they will be, and they have a
chance to win the game. You know, realistically, the Pack
twelve narrative did not start. You know, it didn't happen overnight.
And even if they win today, you know, if they
win it, honestly, people are gonna go, yeah, you beat
a team that was five and five last year. I
think that's kind of the way some of this stuff works.

(01:03:37):
You're not beating Alabama, and you're not you know, you
didn't beat even Georgia. It's you know, it would be
different if this happened last year at the beginning of
the year. But I just feel like when you're the
pack twelve at this point, you don't get the benefit
of a doubt. It's going to take a bunch of
wins in a bunch of Markie matchups before people start
to give it more credit. All right, Well, Bruce will
appreciate the time as always, will talk to you down
the road. Thanks so much, my pleasure. Thank you, guys.

(01:04:00):
That's Bruce Felman, reporter for Fox College Football. On the
other side, definitely to get back into just how big
U c l A went against an SEC power and
l s U look two years removed from a national championship.
They are loaded with NFL talents, So we'll talk more
about that, but right now, let's find out what's training
as we welcome back another U c l A l um.
That would be Mr Ralph for them, very happy Jeff

(01:04:25):
Schwartz right now is number eleven. Oregon was a thirty
winner over Fresno State. They moved to one and oh
on the season. I'm just gonna say that number one
my Alabama is gonna go to want to know as well,
because they're sitting at twenty seven at three over number
fourteen Miami there at the intermission. Also at the half,
number eighteen Iowa thirty one three lead over number seventeen Indiana.

(01:04:48):
They've started the third quarter in Cincinnati, the number eight
Bearercats with a thirty five nothing advantage over Miami of Ohio,
now eight o nine to play in the first half.
Northern Iowa was still leading at numb seven Iowa State
seven three in that contest. Also seven three is number
twenty one Texas leads number twenty three Louisiana to play

(01:05:09):
in the third quarter, and they're underway Number fifteen Southern
calorready ten nothing up on San Jose State seven on
one to play in the first quarter of that contest.
Major League Baseball Finals Baltimore a four three win over
the New York Yankees. The Mets get a two run
homer from Francisco Lindori drove in four in the day.

(01:05:30):
They beat Washington in nine innings eleven nine. They'll play
Game two of their doubleheader coming up around the top
of the hour right now. Tampa Bay rolling through Minnesota
ten to raise. That's still just in the fourth inning
of play, while Cleveland and Boston scoreless in the fifth.
In Toronto seventh three lead over Oakland in the seventh inning.
As we sent it back now it is Steve Hartman,

(01:05:54):
it is Jess Quartz. All right, well, thank you very much. Ralph.
By the way, is Iowa's just absolute, totally destroying in
the end, and this game Iowa staged struggling with Northern
Iowa although the Cyclones I have taken lead ten to
seven in that game. Member Charlie Corler, they're all American
tight end is out of this game. But you got

(01:06:14):
Brock Purty r veteran quarterback Bruce Hall, first team All
American a year ago. In fact, he just scored the
touchdown for Iowa State. So uh, a little bit of
a mixed bag early on for our Iowa guy. But
I want to follow up our conversation here with Bruce
Feldman here being that we're packed twelve guys and you
obviously do stuff with the network, so you're following this
very closely right now. I mean, just how far would

(01:06:35):
this go uh if U c l A were to
get a victory. I mean, do you agree with Bruce
that they might dismiss it saying, ah, you know L
s U is just not all that they were five
hundred team a year ago. I mean to me L
s U is an SEC power. They come in rank
number sixteen. Uh, they have a lot of veterans on
this team. I mean to me, this is not just

(01:06:56):
about U c l A and Chip Kelly. I just
think that this conference desperately needs a win like this
against a big time SEC school. We need to win
in the worst way in this in this situation, Look,
U c l A is the fifth or sixth best
team in our conference, probably no better than five right
Washington Oregon, U S c Utah around there, right Arizona

(01:07:20):
State also top. So so if you're still heble to
beat L s U and our our fifth best, sixth
best team was able to to to take down um,
you know, a ranked SEC team, I don't care what
the situation is. That's a huge one for the PACTORL Conference. Yes,
people will use every way to dismiss uh this win,
and I do think they can get it done tonight.

(01:07:42):
I took them plus four it's now two and a half.
I don't know if I feel it's comfortable doing that,
but I feel like they do a good opportunity tonight. Look,
l s U is displaced because of the hurricane. Um,
we don't know how that's gonna affect these these young kids, right,
I mean young adults, I should say, right, eight and
one years old. Um, So I'm curious to see how
that affects them. And also, again, you know, quarterback not

(01:08:03):
not ideal. Bruce talked about it, right, new new parts
at a call and plays on offensive defense. And look,
they had that one great year with with Burrow, and
they really haven't been the same team before after that.
So I think you still has a good chance tonight.
But but but Steve, it's not only that, right, It's
it's next weekend when Washington plays Michigan. Michigan good. Today,
it's when Oregon plays Ohio State. Uh, it's later in

(01:08:25):
the year when USC plays Notre Dame. Those are all
important games, um for the you know, for the pact
of conference to win, to have us look the way
we need to look heading into the playoff season. Yeah,
I was talking to some friends who were at that
U c l A. Hawaii game. You might have seen
it out there at the Rose Bowl and it looked
literally empty. Uh what you don't understand about the Roseway.

(01:08:47):
It was a hot day, and by the way, it's
gonna be another hot day out in passing it today,
but least later on in the afternoon. And uh, they
announced a crowd of thirty three thousand. Um. And I
have friends who were at the game, who had been
to probably each of them a hundred U c l
A games over the years. I said, what was the
actual attendance? They said twelve It was twelve thousand people.

(01:09:09):
Most of them were on the press box side, the
sun you know, the shair shight side. But they said,
and they know how much I know. I've been to
fifty games there. I could tell you that there weren't
thirty When there weren't thirty three thousand there, I mean
it wasn't closed the sun side. You could literally count
the pieces. I mean, that's how how sparse it was
on that side of the field. But there's gonna be

(01:09:29):
a lot more fans there tonight, obviously, Unfortunately for U
c l A. Is it gonna be a lot of
l s U fans at that game make a trip out.
There's only ten there's a ten or fifteen thousand, which
is not bad, right, but the question is whether will
there will be ten or fift brute fans well to
make I mean right now, Look, if you're a u
c l A fan, it's it's it's wait and see.
This team has been so irrelevant in football for so long. Um.

(01:09:52):
And you know, obviously the basketball programs vide the miracle
runs to the final four last year. UM, so suddenly
U c l A Basketball's back. But as far as
the football program is concerned, and you know, we we
lump U c l A Football in with like the
Tennessee's right, there's a lot of programs out there that
have had success, but they really haven't sustained it. They

(01:10:13):
have these little spurts of success throughout the course of
their history and college football. But it's those little spurts
that the alums hang onto like, whoa, hey, we used
to be really good. You know. You know there was
a run where U c l A beat USC eight
straight years between kept off with the Kade McNown years.

(01:10:35):
And there's still people hanging on to that. And we
talk about like A and M. You know, there's schools.
They've had their moments, Jeff, but they're not really as
good as some people think they are. Well look U
c l A. Again, we go back to expectations, right,
we talked about this early. Now they've won two Patrol
Championships I think the last twenty years. Well, nothing since eight,

(01:11:00):
so I guess not, Um, yes, before before that, Okay, yes,
you're right, nothing since that. They won the South having
twice since then as right, exactly one of those was
only because USC was on probation. So look, I think
expectations are you know, win the pack twelve once every
ten years. Like, I just don't know if they should
be as high as you say fans want them to
be in And when we talk about expectations, we have

(01:11:22):
to be honest with with what they should be for
each program. And I feel like fans in general, um,
you know, phantom in general, just have a hard time
accepting that. But um, that is is what what's what
our job is to kind of tell you how it is. Yeah,
we're talking about USC a little bit earlier. No problems
so far up to nothing, Quick Lands, San Jose State,

(01:11:45):
uh and at least early on San Jose State really
having a hard time moving to the ball, so they
might be completely out of their league right now. Another
game going on. We were talking about this a little
bit earlier here jeff Texas and Louisiana. The Raging Cagents
are hanging in seven to three Texas right now, seven
a half minutes to go in the second quarter. They

(01:12:05):
have a new quarterback Texas. Hudson card is the name,
and he is a guy that they're hoping he is
going to get him back to the promised Lamb. What
what do you think at the end of the day,
end of this week, because we do have a Sunday
game tomorrow with Notre Dame taken on Florida State. But
what on on? You know, we we go to this
college football season. By the way, next Saturday, I'll be

(01:12:26):
already doing my first rundown of my Heisman. Now everyone's
got a game in the books. I'm gonna give you
my one to three Heisman starting next week. But how
much do we read into week one? I mean, we've
seen some schools that don't look all that great and
they catch fire. I remember a couple of years ago,
USC remember they got annihilated by Alabama, made made the
change at quarterback with Sam Donell, and all of a

(01:12:47):
sudden they were a completely different team coming down the stretch.
But how much how much gonna read into week one,
full week one of this college football season? Um? I
think you just you take it for what you see
in the land, right, I mean teams you organ look
bad today? O. How State look looked not that great
the other night, right, especially to the expectations. But but

(01:13:07):
a lot of improvement comes from week one to week two.
The question is where are the issues at? So for Oregan,
for example, offensively, we had issues offensively last year and
so see them pop up again today. It's like, oh God,
like that's what training camp. Right, So the office you
try to address these problems. If you're Oklahoma defensively, right,
that has been a problem of yours for years, Well,

(01:13:29):
it didn't look much better today, right, And like that
I think is the concern. Ohiw State defensively, right, you've
had issue stopping the run. Guess what you had issue
stopping the run the other day? Um? And and so that, um,
that is is where the concern lies. Right. If you
if you start slow, but you kind of look even right,

(01:13:49):
you look even right. We're good on this. We're good
that we're okay here. But o, how states like we
can't stop the run? Then today or yesterday could we
could stop the run? That's that's carrying over right, that
becomes a pattern? Now all right? On the other side,
I want to get into the game of the day.
Are you a Mayo fan? By the way, Jeff, we
are a Duke's Mayo family, Yes, yes, Dukes Mayo Classic.

(01:14:11):
On paper, this is like the game of the year
as far as pre playoffs are concerned. Number five Georgia,
Number three Clemson. How's that all gonna play out in
Charlotte Today? Will preview it? Coming up next? Panics throws
to the near side. Like on the other life, Bye
bye baby, touchdown, Iowa touchdown. Riley Moss, he's got the

(01:14:36):
daily double. Yes, that's Gary Dolphin from Lara Field. Riley Moss. Oh,
you talk about putting yourself early on in the all
American ranks. Two interceptions eighty five yards and he turns
two touchdowns. It's all Iowa, Indiana overrated. Three Hawkeyes. I

(01:14:57):
love Homer Radio. You hear the the color guys just laughing.
The background seven. Who is the IOWA radio the color guy?
Who do you have that legendary Chiefs running back Ed Podolac,
Ed pod that's how going six got it. A long
time color comment pro had one of the greatest performances

(01:15:19):
ever in the NFL playoff game. The Chiefs had a
nineteen seventy one against the Dolphins, a game that the
Dolphins won in double It was the longest game in
NFL history, so playoff game one into double overtime, and
he had like almost four hundred yards and all purpose
yards in that game. Ed Podolac, look it up, jeff
Ed Podolac memor him, well, I'm gonna look it up. Yes,

(01:15:43):
Ed Podolac, p O D O l A K. There
you got. I know Ed Podolact like the back of
my hand. I also know when I see a really
good T matchup without being a genius. Georgia and Clemson,
and let's just start with the quarterbacks in this game.
For Georgia, J T. Daniels, who started his career as

(01:16:03):
a five star recruit at USC he got hurt. Keenan
Slova's came in and never relinquished a job. So J T.
Daniels finds a new home at Georgia. He looked really
good at the n last season, finally getting that Georgia
offense going. And then on the other side, DJ, who
we saw a little bit of last year when Trevor

(01:16:25):
Lawrence was out for a couple of games, started a
couple of games, including the mid season lost a Notre Dame.
But when you look at these two quarterbacks, I mean,
these are two five star quarterbacks that we're gonna see tonight.
Give us a little preview of the matchup of j
T Daniels versus d J So. JT obviously was a
five star originally USC transferred to Georgia and the offense

(01:16:49):
who took off laster when he was when he got
in there, um, And you know, I'm very excited to
see the full off season, yes, and see what he
can do um in this Georgia offense. I'm a little
generally concerned about just the the explosiveness of of this offense.
I mean, I think they just don't scream explosiveness to me,
but with JT, maybe they can. UM. And on the

(01:17:10):
other side, look, DJ is the typical quarterback you see now, right, big,
big mobile, big huge arm. Um both these teams have
outstanding defensive lines, but I think the difference might be
in the kind of the style of quarterback play here,
which is more of a you know, DJ is kind
of make plays with your legs, especially when you have

(01:17:32):
a defensive line like Georgia's, and j T is more
kind of sit in the pocket and make plays that way.
And so I think that the the edge in a
game where defense might rule as the guy who can
run a little bit. Now, I know Georgia is hopeful
that that uh DJ kind of tries to do too
much on the national stage and tries to just use

(01:17:53):
his big arm, and you know, there's a there's a
concern I think with with that, but I'm not as
worried about that. But here's where in the big differences
in this game is we have one coach in Dabo
Sweeney who it's really good at big games if you
count Bowl games, playoff games, and a C championship games.
I think he's won fifteen, he's covered fifteen and nineteen
and those like. He wins a lot of those games

(01:18:15):
and his team plays well in those games. And on
the other side, you have Georgia who just kind of
never lives with expectations in big moments, right. It just
has it for a long time. So I lean clemes
in here. Um, but I wouldn't be Um, you know,
I wouldn't be Uh, I wouldn't be surprised Georgia one,
but I lean clemes in here. Well, they're playing at

(01:18:35):
Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium, which is the host of
the last five a c C Championship games, Clemson winning
all those games, by the way, so they've won six
straight games in that stadium. That's something to consider there.
By the way, there's a rivalry that dates all the
way back to eighteen seven, but they haven't played since. Um,

(01:18:57):
I don't know Georgia again. Look at Georgia and they
start to remind me of L s u where every
once in a while. We saw Georgia in the National
Championship Game a few years back. Almost wanted obviously until
to uh through that past to another freshman named DeVante Smith.
That turned out to be a pretty very quickly touchdown passes.

(01:19:18):
Alabama just had a nine d four yard touchdown. So
they're up thirty four three against the old Hurricanes. Uh.
Is it possible that Bryce Young may show up on
my first top three list next week for the Heisman.
Is that possible? I don't know how you can't put
him on here. I mean, he looks so good, so good.

(01:19:38):
I mean, hit the third and five in his in
z own, a little pressure on his face in stride touchdown. Yeah,
he he looks awfully good right now. By the way,
just a very quick note here because Derrick King is
on the other side from Miami. And you know, again
his numbers aren't awful. He's eighteen or twenty one, but
just for a d seven yards and no touchdowns. Uh.
He also has a lot of major endorsement deals. Uh.

(01:20:00):
And you gotta wonder because we talked about this. Hey,
if you're performing like Bryce Young is at the start
of this game, that's one thing. But if you're not winning,
how much pressure these college kid's gonna get from these
sponsors saying, hey, kid, we're paying a lot of money,
get out there and do something a handle that. I mean,
that's part of the business of this, right is that

(01:20:22):
part of the business is gonna be Hey, you know,
we paid you a lot of money. You better get
in the field. Now. I do wonder if there will
be um you know, there will be a situation where,
you know, stipulations for winning are tied to some of
these deals that we you know, we hear Bryce, you
know we hear in Queen Years again house quarterbacks a
million dollars. Well, maybe it's only a hundred dollars if
he doesn't play right. I mean, we don't. We're not

(01:20:44):
gonna know at times about the stipulations in those contracts.
But there's gonna be a pressure. Yeah, there might be
pressure put our coaches from sponsors saying, hey, you know,
we paid X amount of money for this guy uh
to to to be a sponsor for our company. Why
why is he not getting the run? He should be
add extra dynamics at your extra dynamic to the season.

(01:21:06):
Oh can you imagine if you've best a lot of
money and has a couple of starts on the coach benches,
him and the sponsors like, what's going on here? What
do you? What are you doing? The coaches need that
like a hole in the head. I mean, look, there
are unintended consequences to some of this. Again, I don't
think that's I don't think that should stop the four
progression of the imager likeness. But it is something that

(01:21:30):
you know that it might happen. Well, i'll tell you what.
Bryce Young is earning his money right now. Twenty of
twenty nine, two yards, four touchdowns, no picks. Bryce Young
super start at Alabama against a ranked opponent, by the way,
Miami thirty four to three. Hey, we got the NFL
season coming up. We got some big NFL stories where

(01:21:51):
you're coming up next. Aren't from the shotgun with the
snaf huts and steps up, sends it across the middle,
slide and catch me? That is I'm not for the
touchdown Craig Way from Lea Field right there and Texas
leading Louisiana fourteen to three. The raging Cajuns. They're lining

(01:22:11):
up for a forty yard field goal attempt with three
seconds to go in the first half, trying to get
back on the board. Here. By the way, I got
good news for you as far as Cavon Thibodeau is concerned.
Who by the way, every everyone's is he the number
one pick in the draft? I mean, is that first

(01:22:32):
non quarterback? I think? And he showed it today when
he was healthy. Yeah, Tibodeau a quarterback kit by the way,
he was a high school teammate, Uh, Charbonnet at Oaks
Christian that that Oaks Christian program has had some great players,
but Thibodeau Oregon as certainly probably for sure the number

(01:22:54):
one defensive player. Uh. He was in a boot in
the second half, and your coach there said, yeah, I'll
read the quote. Kban's injury was certainly something you don't
want to see happened for anybody had hurt us considerably
on the edge. The good news is though he walked
off the field in the boot. Okay, So I don't
know how series it is. He did come back and

(01:23:14):
play after he hurt himself. Then after halftime, you know,
college halftime is very long. Um, he came out in
a boot. And look, I understand. Um, it's Fresno State right,
next week's Ohio State. You probably want to save him
if you can. And look, it was a struggle without
him in there. Um, but they made enough plays on
defense to to only allow it was a twenty four
points So, um, you know they for for next week.

(01:23:38):
And he's a difference maker. I mean, like I said,
he he he had three pass rushers in the first
two drives. One he got stoned, then he had a
pressure that led to a sack. On the third one
was a sack, it was a strip sack. So that's
a pretty good ratio. And then he got hurt shortly
after that. So, um, he's everything is advertised. And what
makes him and this season I think unique, is that

(01:24:00):
this is the first off season he's had because his
first three he's a true freshman. Right, so you know
you're not you're not, um, you know you're not you
know in the program. Last year was COVID. Yeah, and
this series' first off season. So Alabama, by the way,
just scored again. I said that a lot today. Yeah, yeah, points. Yeah,
they're they're blown him out. Hey, one team in the
top ten startling right now halftime. Iowa State Cyclones are

(01:24:22):
up just thirteen and ten against Northern Iowa brock Purty. Uh.
Pretty pedestrian numbers on the first half. Breese Hall fifty
one yards rushing. But so far that Iowa State offense
minus Khla they're tight end. Uh yeah, they really haven't
done a whole lot. Let's get an update here from
Mr Iowa. I have a question for Euston. I did

(01:24:44):
not see why is Kohler out? I I did not
I said he had an injury injuring by the way,
second straight year, by the way, he's missed the opening
game of the season. So this is a this was
he was going to miss this game. It was during
the game, it was pregame, uh, that he was gonna
miss this matchup. I figured they figured all, I mean,
we should be able to handle Northern Iowa. Let me
let me stop here. I mean huge lines like thirty

(01:25:06):
two points in this game. But Northern Iowa has coming
to jack Strike Stadium and beat them before. Well, I'll
tell you what if they beat him today, Uh, lookout.
I mean a couple of years ago, they took him
to three overtimes, I believe, and just barely squeaked out.
I went over the pail, right, So you're saying that
they were, Well, I tell you this, Iowa State is
not going to be ranked seventh in the country. If
they beat Northern Iowa by three points, they will drop
like a stud. Maybe they're looking ahead a little bit,

(01:25:27):
Maybe they're a little a little bit with Iowa on
the schedule next week. Spotlight struck. I guess Iowa Iowa
State player every year and imagine, yes, yes, yes they do.
But that rivalry could be in jeopardy now with the
expansion and the alliance, and yeah, yeah, there's gonna be
a lot of rivalries and jeopardy with all the movement
around in college football. That game will be an aims
next week. All right, let's get to some NFL news.

(01:25:50):
We're gonna be joined Ada Kaplan, our Fox Sports Radio
NFL insider is gonna join us later in this hour. Um.
Thursday obviously is the day as we get ready with
the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers taken on
the Dallas Cowboys. Let me ask you this so about
Tampa Bay and the general move going into this NFL season.

(01:26:10):
In terms of vaccinations, Tampa Bay announced this week they
are one vaccinated. That's everyone in the organization, players, coaches,
front office, every single individual on that organization's vaccinated. Only
one other team, the Atlanta Falcons, can make the same
claim right now. Meanwhile, you've got teams struggling with the

(01:26:32):
vaccination situation, the latest being the Indianapolis Colts where Carson Wentz,
who of course had an injury that many thought was
gonna sideline and for several weeks now he's ready to
go for the opening game, but he was on COVID protocol,
came back and admitted I'm not vaccinated and it's something
my family's looking at. And I mean, at this point,

(01:26:56):
and I was talking to my buddy Nick Hardwick, the
former Chargers offensive wyman who happens to live in Indianapolis
right now, Jeff, and he went on a tirade about
this whole vaccination thing, talking about me versus team and
and you know, and Nick really wanted was your radio
partner that started the threat? Yes, he did. And and

(01:27:16):
so you know, and by the way, when when I've
had people like that on the air talking about you know,
this is irresponsible. It's such a selfish thing. The feedback
I get on social media, Uh, they attack them. I
mean they're all after Rich and Nick saying how dare
you tell me what to do? And they really back

(01:27:36):
up these NFL players that are standing up to the
league saying you are not going to force me to
get vaccinated if I don't want to get vaccinated or
if I don't feel comfortable getting vaccinated. But if you're
a team like Indianapolis, Frank Reich is I mean, here's
the problem again, You've got a quarterback that if he
has exposure to COVID, he has to sit out five

(01:27:57):
days ten days if he gets it. How do you
raise they head coach with a quarterback like that. This
is so frustrating if you are Frank Reich or Chris
Bow the GM. Right, you mentioned Tampa on percent of accident.
They want to win another Super Bowl, right, They're all
in on doing that. And I know players in that
team that were hesitant to take the vaccine. I think
some would rather have not taken it, had they not
not helped their team. Right, And we've seen that sacrifice

(01:28:20):
happen around the NFL. I'm not even saying the sacrifice
is just it's happened on the NFL. Not only Carson
Wentz not vaccinated, the leader of their defense, Darius Leonard,
also not vaccinated for the Colts. And Darius Leonard said
he's worried about side effects. Okay, okay, okay, and he's
been dealing with the mental health situation. It's fair, fair, fair,

(01:28:40):
But then he said that he wants to talk to
his teammates about their side effects. Uh, their teammates are
not professionals there there, they don't know the side effects
they might not even know that they have a side effect,
like I don't. I've talked about this before. It really

(01:29:01):
frustrates me that the NFL players have the resources that
we regularly. I mean I have the resources too, but
regular people wouldn't have to talk to specialists, right, we
have the It's probably ten to thirty paces for him
to walk from a teammates locker that he's asking about
the vaccine too into the training room talk to his

(01:29:24):
head trainer. Hey, but can I talk to our team doctor.
Can our team doctor called the virologist or an epidemiologist
or someone and I can have a chat with this
person to via zoom, via FaceTime. I can call them
and ask them all the questions I need to ask
about the vaccine. Okay, don't talk to your team. It's
use the resources you have. And you still don't want
to take it. I mean I can't make it take

(01:29:44):
it right. But but the richest point, at the heartworks
point and to the point of we're seeing with Tampa
Bay in Kansas City, in Atlanta and a bunch of
other teams that that are fully vaccinated, those teams are
doing what they have to do to win this year
because to your point, a close call intact with someone
with COVID, whether a someone that someone is vaccinated or
not vaccinated, will lead to five days being out. End

(01:30:07):
of story. There there's no there's no leeway. You're unvaccinated
and you are near someone. Look, they have tracking devices
in the facility. If you're near someone who has COVID,
vaccinated or unvaccinated you and really if it's a staff member,
the're vaccinated because they have to be vaccinated. Um, you
will be out five days. And that can happen on

(01:30:27):
any day in the week. And imagine if that happens
on a Friday, you're not playing Sunday, you're out. Darius Leanard,
Colts leader on defense out, Carson Wentz, Colts quarterback out.
Kirk Cousins Likings quarterback out like you, you're not committed
to winning. I'm sorry. I get it's a personal choice.
I get everyone and it's a personal choice. But it's

(01:30:49):
also the choice to help your team win. And we're
seeing Tampa Bay they're all together helping everyone, you know,
help they're joined together to win. Um and cold or
not together? All right, let me ask you this, and
I don't want to force you into an answer on
this chef. But I mean, you played in the NFL,
so you know what it's like in these locker rooms

(01:31:11):
and in in in the case of Rich and Nick,
both former offensive lineman like yourself, and you guys really
make the ultimate sacrifice. I mean, you don't get a
lot of fanfare. You're out there doing all the grunt work.
You're doing all the heavy lifting literally for these football teams.
And you know, one thing I know about offensive lineman,
and I've done many shows over the years with offensive lineman,

(01:31:32):
is the fact that their team guys. They're always been
team guys. You don't you don't hear offensive lineman like,
you know, look at me, look at me. It's just
not the nature of their position. So when we talk
about labeling people, I mean this these quarterbacks, I mean,
is this a selfish act? I mean, as a teammate,
would you be looking at him like wow, dude, I mean,

(01:31:54):
how selfish of you to think about yourself as opposed
to the betterment of our team. Yeah, it is selfish. Now,
whether or not they openly question the player to their
face in the locker room is a different story. But yeah,
I mean that they're they're not not trying to win

(01:32:18):
this year. It's that simple. It's that simple, and you
you can yell at me on Twitter about it, at
Jeff Schwartz, Jeff with the g can. We don't do
phone calls, but you're welcome to final phone number and
yell at us, yelled our producer. Essentially, if you'd like
to um M, you're welcome to be upset about that.
But that's the reality of this year. Five day non
negotiable period for you to quarantine if you come too

(01:32:40):
close contact you're unvaccinated. It's that simple, and that can
happen any time this year, and that is the concern
if you are a quarterback of one of these teams
who's not vaccinated, as you're you're the team that has
a unvaccinated quarterback. It's that simple. And guess what already
cost someone their job? Okay, because as much as as
there were other reasons Cam Newton was least, I don't
think it was a hundred percent because he was unvaccinated,

(01:33:02):
it didn't play role in this one is that he
got wally piped because of it. Right, He missed five
days because of an unauthorized test when he was away
and it seemed like there was an honest mistake of
either his or the Patriots or whatever business you know,
whatever end it was. Uh. And in those five days,
and there were three practice over five days guests who
played really well in practice with the Ones against the Giants,

(01:33:24):
Matt Jones didn't played really well, and they decided to
go with him. I will, I will. It's take my
life on this. If if Cam did not have those
five days away from the facility, he'd be starting. We
went against Miami, There's no doubt about it, Kim. Matt
Jones had not had many reps with the Ones until
those three days. And then Bill belichicked, you know, he

(01:33:45):
finds every single angle to try to win a football game.
He's not going to season with unvaccinated quarterback. Sorry, it's
not doing it. Um. And again it wasn't the reason
why in Bill Belichick, um, you know, trying to to
say that in a kind of a crew way, because
he mentioned that unvaccinated players are are are testing positive
to high rate in the NFL. That's it's not true. Um,

(01:34:06):
it's uh, it's seven to one unvaccinated to vaccinated. But nonetheless,
I mean that you know, he's not gonna be Urban
Meyer just go out and say it's well that that
was the point, the reason he said when people said so,
did can Lewton lose his job? Because he was, in
fact no, and he made that clear he was not
gonna do the Urban Meyer unthinkable. I mean, we we

(01:34:27):
talked about this, you know, and incessively about the idea that, yes,
if you're one of those players that hasn't been vaccinated
and you're a bubble guy, you're gonna get caught. But
no one's gonna say it except Urban Meyer did. Uh,
And he's in trouble with the union, all right, and
the other way other side here, Adam Caplan is gonna
be joining us, Fox Sports Radio, NFL Insider. So what

(01:34:48):
about these rookies they're gonna be starting week one in
the NFL. And those rookies that aren't starting in week one,
how long before they're in the starting lineup will catch
up with Adam Kaplan? Come it up next, Steve Arba,
Jeff Short's all right, if you're hearing that tune, get
used to it, because this is a man that uses

(01:35:09):
the inspiration of Funk to deliver what he does. And
that's the best information around the National Football League r
F S R NFL Insider Series x M NFL. Adam
Kaplan is Johnny Us. Adam, how are you today, man, guys?
I'm good. I love that way of college football back.
It's awesome. I've been on the road for three and
a half weeks for NFL training camp tour. Its it's

(01:35:31):
going to be back and knowing that this will be
our last week of freedom, last weekend until I'm gonna
say February. It is. It's a little odd, but I'm
just thankful and grateful that we're gonna have football. Yeah,
we're sort of perplexed by this whole bye week before
the season begins, but it is what it is, all right,
let's get right to it, Adam. Right now, we got
one more rookie starting Week one. That's gonna be Mac

(01:35:53):
Jones ironically against his Alabama teammate to a tongue of
LA get your overall view, obviously, Zack Wilson's gonna start
for the Jets, and then we got Wady and the
Wings Tray Lance justin fields. How do you see this
all playing out for these rookie quarterbacks in one Yeah, look,
the let's let's just start with mac Jones before we
get to Fields and Lands. Mac Jones, I mean Patriotshurst

(01:36:15):
told me that basically it wasn't even close in O
T S and I was kind of with mac Jones
clearly looking better than Cam Newton. Now I thought that
was a little bit forward thinking, but hey, these people
are there, they would know better than I. Okay, so
we go to training camp. It's been well documented. Uh,
mac Jones clearly won the job. And the only surprising

(01:36:35):
thing is that the Patriots are willing to walk away
from three and a half million. They don't. They were like, hey,
we just don't want him on the roster. We don't
think it'll be a good backup. Ryan Horry will be
the backup, and they're gonna run with it. But you know,
Mac wanted out, Matt clearly wanted Whereas when you look
at the tray Lance and justin Fields, you would see
moments of wow, wow, that was awesome, what a great throw,
what a great play. But these guys need to need

(01:36:57):
a little bit more work. That's kind of the way
that they sit of team. See. In fact, talking to
the Bears recently, they're really not putting a timeline on
playing fields. It's just that they annie Dalton had a
good training camp. It's one thing. If Dalton had a
bad training camp, then that the immense pressure would be
there to play justin fields, which it's not. The media
is calling for it. Well, I was gonna ask you
about justin fields. You went there. So my take on

(01:37:19):
this is pretty simple. Look, we know why Wilson's playing,
why Lord's is playing. We now I know Matt Jones
is playing. We know that Trey Lance is going to
have some sort of role in in the package. Why
is Matneggie not playing fields? Dalton is on a one
year deal and does nothing for the future of the Bears,
literally nothing for them. He he doesn't help them at all.

(01:37:40):
I'm not even sure he saves Mattneggie's job. Why were
he is he refusing to play justin fields? You know, Jeff,
it's interesting. So Naggie went really on the record after
the draft and saying that he's going to compare this
season to his only season with Mahomes and seventeen, where
their plan was not to play Mahomes. He want he
wanted playing one game against the Chargers. But that's that's

(01:38:00):
not finished. Jeff let me finish, let me explain, because
I'm with you, I don't disagree with you, but I've
talked to them privately about this. They felt that the
Fields had a lot of things that he need to proven.
Progressional reading was his biggest thing. That one of the things.
They don't want to rush it. But Naggy left the
door open if you heard him recently in the last

(01:38:21):
few weeks to for for Fields to play early, because
he said, we're we're gonna do what's best for the
football team. The reason is Fields was so much farther
ahead in training of what they probably thought. And you know,
playing in the league and being a veteran veterans no
guys knowing that they know, they know and and it
they know that if this team is one and two,
Fields has got to be in there. So Anny Dalton's

(01:38:42):
leash on the job, so to speak, isn't very long.
But I could tell you that they don't want this
to be where they get pressure to play him when
they think there are two or three things that are
pretty significant they want to improve on. But I'm I
come from the school you learned by playing. That's kind
of the way that I was sought from talking to
quarterback coaches, offense corners and Jeff you know from playing

(01:39:02):
that's probably the best way to do it. Um. But
they you said something I do want to touch on,
which I don't think a lot of people understand there
is teams get cover when they play the veteran. They think, oh,
this will help us save our jobs, we'll have a
winning record. Well, first of all, ownership gave you the
willingness to go ahead and trade up for Fields. Don't
feel like you have to keep Dalton in there because

(01:39:25):
you just want to save your job. I think that's why.
I think that's I don't think that's what they're doing,
but they want they want to give Fields a little
bit more time, and I understand why the fans, particular
in Chicago want Fields to play. But it's gonna to
finish this off. There's gonna be He's on a short
leasure and adult, There's no question about it. But I
do want to make it clear he actually had a

(01:39:46):
good training camp. I know the media seems to have
missed that. I'm talking to Bears. They're pretty happy with him,
so Adam. Then we have Kyle Shanahan who's been truck
at the very least. I mean his called the other day.
He was talking to Pro Football Tag. He goes, I
don't need to announce the quarterback. I don't think I
need to announce the starting punt returner either, But I
bet you guys can figure it out. Obviously, Garoppolos started

(01:40:06):
every preseason game, Tree Lance has been working with the twos.
So what is this all about? I mean, why is
why is Kyle Shanahan being so defiant when it comes
to just announcing that, Well, right now, Jimmy Garoppolo is
our starting quarterback. Well, what's interesting? I heard you guys
before I came on here. You know they have this
so called Lance package where he comes in. Now, we

(01:40:28):
don't know what it's gonna look like. This is the
first time Kyle has done this before. John Lynch kind
of gave the answers to the test in recent weeks
back in August that they were going to probably play
both of them at a certain point. What we don't
know is is it gonna be more like Taysom Hill
uh inside the twenty, at the at the five, is
it gonna be at the goal line, or is it
going to be for one to three series in the

(01:40:49):
game where that now that becomes a problem and that
that's the issue interpi of quarterbacks getting rhythm. You're take like,
if Garoppolo is having a good game, right, let's assume
that for right now he's the starter, and then you
take amount for series or two when he's in the rhythm,
that you don't want to do that, And that's that's
a slippery slope with um with with with a two
quarterback system, which we you know, obviously we don't see
very much. Lance is also a guy that's a little

(01:41:12):
bit would said sim Tree. Lance is like, if you
looked at his college tape, you'd say, okay, wow, he
played in pro system, but mechanically and being ready, they're
just he was so funch farther away from being ready.
But his tape was so well in training camp, and
it's his practice tape for what I'm told, and his
game tape was certainly not perfect, but very wild tape.
He's sort of like the wild stallion that they called

(01:41:34):
one team sort of said to me, he you know,
once you get him going, though, you just gotta live
with the results and not turned back. And then that
that could also could be very early in the season.
Two questions for me about the upcoming game on Thursdays. One,
das health. Um, I hope he's able to play. I'm
rooting for DAC this year. And and to you know,

(01:41:55):
the Tampa Bay returns everyone that's never been done before,
and they had Joe try and it seems to have
a preseason. Um, is it realistic to just expect things
continue as they're going on Tampa? So you with, so
they're running it back right as you were talking about,
they're really healthy. Um, their offensive line depth is not
very good. I think that would be a concerned I understand,

(01:42:18):
but they really don't have like some teams have decent
talent backups, Like you know what, we could get through
with this for four or five games. Aaron standing as
a kid who had to play last year, did a
nice job. But yeah, there's no reason I think they
can't be or Look, Brady has not lost it. You know.
I was laughing when people were criticizing them in the
New Orleans game first week one where some of the

(01:42:38):
throws weren't there. It was just a timing issue. No,
they're all back, they're in great shape, they're super deep
at receiver. Uh, their defense, which turning around the second
half is going to be even be better. And I'm
so glad you mentioned Joe try On. I'm not gonna
say defensive rookie of your candidate, but I could just
tell you what the Bucks feel that this kid could
be special over time. So they'll definitely, uh, Tampa Bay

(01:42:59):
will be a to run it back. Now, Dak's shoulder,
he's a very odd shoulder strain. It's an odd area
where they backed off. They knew what it was. They
consulted um. My friend j Glazier reported that they contlded
with the Texas Rangers. They they got some good information.
They know what it is, they know how to treat it,
they know how to back off when it gets sore.
They're not concerned about him playing this season at all.

(01:43:20):
But you just have to worry about what happens because,
as you know, Jeff, you can't hit the quarterback. So
what happens when he gets thrown out the ground on
that right shoulder and how does it feel the next day?
That that would be my one concern with him. All right, Adam,
I want you to look into your crystal ball right now.
So Los Angeles, they may not even know it yet.
There's actually two NFL teams in l a h. They

(01:43:40):
got out drawn at their preseason games. Forty Niners overtook
the Chargers and their preseason game, and Raider fans swamped
the Ram fans and the Rams preseason at it so
Fi Stadium. But by season's end, looking at your crystal ball,
who's going to have had a better season, Matthew Stafford
or Justin Herbert Stafford. I was the Rams two days,

(01:44:01):
I gotta tell you, And I've always been a Stafford fan.
I know there's some critics out there. I totally get it,
but just seeing the way that he throws a football
compared to Jared goff Live, it's just pretty remarkable. And
now he's finally has enough talent around him. I mean
we're talking if you look at past target group, right,
if you compare what he had to work with over
the years other than Calvin Johnson, Uh, Marvin Jones was

(01:44:22):
a good player, but one to six they got six
viable passing targets. The Sean Jackson was seemingly is always hurt.
Let me tell you he abused the Cowboys the day
and that I was in ox Nerd they're going to
be really good the Rams. And I think Stafford is
a guy that could have clips forty touchdowns. He's done
it one time earlier in his career. But this, this
talent is is remarkable. But Jeff and I were just

(01:44:44):
talking about the depth they have, like they have very
little depth. I was talking to a team that playing
in the preseason who remarked that overall their depth and
the roster is very poor. But they're they're they're twenty
two starters, probably top three or four. Well, one thing
I know about that Rams off to the least, when
it was really clicking with Jared Goff, they had the
best running back in the league, and when he went

(01:45:05):
down ge that offense just disappeared. If they can't run
the football this year, it could be a long season.
All right, Well, that's just a sampling of things to
come in the weeks ahead. Adam, we always appreciate the time.
We will check in with you next week. Guys, appreciate it.
Thank you. Adam Clapping is joined us right there. Fox
Sports Radio, NFL Insider. All right, this whole idea of

(01:45:27):
this bye week, you know, before the start of the
regular season, is this gonna be every year. Now, this
is gonna be the new normal. When we finished the preseason,
have a week off. I mean, I don't mind having
college football get the spotlight, but it just seems like,
are we ready for football as far as the NFL
is concerned. Gotta wait till Thursday. All right, we'll have

(01:45:47):
much more on that on the other side, but first
let's find out what's trending right now. Ralph, are you
still here? Yeah? I'm here. There he is, Ralph Irvin
still in the house. I know you've been here all day.
I'm angry. Why is that? Well, because you know, besides
college football, the Solheim Cup is going on in the
US is getting obliterated. I'm very angry. Yeah, I'm angry

(01:46:12):
to Uh. They're at the end of the third quarter though.
In number one Alabama's playing angry. They've been beaten up
on number fourteen Miami. They have a forty one thirteen
lead in this contest. Bryce Younge thirty four three and
nineteen yards passing four touchdowns. So I guess Bill O'Brien
works at college football level. He's calling the plays for

(01:46:33):
Alabama right now. Number eight Cincinnati a forty two nothing
lead over Miami of Ohio. They don't want to play
in the fourth quarter of that contest. Nine fifty two
to play in the fourth. Number eighteen Iowa cruising past
Number seventeen Indiana Hawkeyes lead to thirty four to sixty
to play in the third quarter. Number seven Iowa State
at thirteen ten lead over Northern Iowa, while number twenty

(01:46:56):
one Texas has a twenty one six lead over number
twenty three Louisiana. Eleven thirty five to play in the
third quarter and just over two minutes to play in
the first half. Number fifteen Southern cal still shutting out
a overmatch San Jose State team ten nothing in that contest.
Right now, Major League Baseball, well, we have a final
in Lord, ascouriella home run double, a drove in four.

(01:47:19):
Toronto outscored Oakland ten eight. The Cubs put together a
three run bottom of the ninth inning to come back
and meat Pittsburgh seven six. Right now, Tampa Bay best
record in the American League, and they're playing like it.
They're beating up on Minnesota eleven four in the seventh inning,
and with that we set it back. It's Steve Hartman
and Jeff Schwartz very good. One thing, it's amazing when

(01:47:43):
we're just talking here with Adam Kaplan about who will
be the best quarterback in l A this year and
he's didn't hesitate to say Matthew Stafford and and that
The thing always gets to me is everyone's always talking about, well,
he just didn't have really any talented Detroit. He had
the best wide receiver in the NFL for seven years.
Calvin Johnson was the best talent at the wide receiver

(01:48:04):
positions throughout his career, and Matthew Stafford inherited him from
day one when he took over as the starting quarterback
for the line. So don't tell me he didn't have
any talent. I'll tell you this. The Rams don't have
a Calvin Johnson currently in their receiving corps that I
can promise you don't. I'm very curious about this. You know,
people are very high on Stafford this year, and you
know he can't do very well in this offense. I

(01:48:26):
feel like, but I just want to see it before
before I decide he's a top you know, people have
like six best quarterback day ye can we like see
it first before we decide he's gonna be something specially
because you're right, he has had weapons. He's had a
decent offensive line there for a certain time in Detroit
to um. Obviously, defense has never really been there. But
he's had opportunities to be good and he's had a

(01:48:46):
lot of stats. I get that, but I just kinda
want to see. He didn't play all the preseason, which
I don't really know why. I mean, he's brand new offense.
Why wouldn't you play him a little bit? Um and
we'll see Week one get tough Bears defense. Yeah, I
mean again, his the statue just jumps out at you.
In his twelve years in Detroit is this, He's eight
and sixty seven against teams that would finish that season

(01:49:10):
with a winning record. Eight and sixties seven, meaning that
a lot of the numbers he's put up been garbage time.
I mean, you're either trailing, you're down, or you're playing
a lot of catch up. There's one way for a
quarterback to pile up a lot of yards passing, and
that is when you're trailing in the second half and
essentially have to throw the ball on every down. How

(01:49:31):
he responds in big games that the Ramps hope to
be in late in the season. Uh, in a very
tough division. When you talk about if the forty Niners
stay healthy, Seattle's always dangerous. With Russell Wilson, it's gonna
be a battle in the NFC. How will he fair
in those games that are critical? He's never won a
playoff game. And by the way, I get back to

(01:49:53):
the running back situation. They lost their top running back
already this year in cam Akers and you know you
saw when all of a sudden Todd Gurley went down
after two year run. Is the best running back in
the NFL. They haven't been the same since. Yeah, Um, no,
you're no, you're You're right there. And look, Stafford said

(01:50:14):
he he wants to play more big games. Well you
get your chances here, buddy, right like this will be
your chance to do that. Um, you a chance to
play in more big games on national television. And now
you have to back up what you've said and how
you how you how you believe that you should be
viewed as a player. Yeah. And then of course, as
far as Justin Herbert's concerned, I think he's gonna have
growing pains as well, similar to his situation or again

(01:50:35):
where he had a new coach and he had a
new offensive coordinator. Here he is year to new coach,
new offensive coordinator. Plus he's gonna be facing fans for
the first time on the road. He played in largely
empty stadiums last year. So I think that I mean,
I believe in his talent, no question about that. But
there's a possibility he may take a slight step backwards

(01:50:57):
in year two. Well that that's really the question about
whether or not you know, fans and not having a
lot of fans. There were a couple of games he
had fans, but they were never full. You know, whether
or not that will affect him to your right, new coach, Uh,
new coordinator, very young, coach, right, green coach Right, he's
only had one year as a defensive coordinator. Um, they
played a tough division. Um, you know, they're not a

(01:51:18):
big draw in the town. So I'm not sure there's
a lot of pressure on him to win, but there's
a pressure on him internally when I don't know, if
you read that article that was written by Mina kimes Um,
it was a fantastic article. You could just feel in
the article how much he hated the interviewed. Like Mina
did a fast job of making you feel that. But
the comparison that I thought was was pretty spotting with

(01:51:40):
Eli Manning. Now, I played with Eli Manning and after
his Super Bowl year, so he played with fourteen and fifteen.
And Eli has a great dude. And but he's not
a yet a raw rock guy's a yeller and screamer.
He is exactly as he now. I've only had the
interaction with him. Actually it was at his parents house,
believe it or not, in New Orleans. Got to spend

(01:52:01):
some time and have a couple of beers with Eli.
And my walk away is he is exactly who do
you think he is? Yeah, and he's just a fabulous guy.
But nonetheless, I mean he he would speak to the
team like three or four times a year, and every
time he spoke, you know, it meant a lot, right,
because he didn't do it very often. And again he

(01:52:22):
wasn't like yelling stream before games, not in the huddle.
But something Herbert said about his leadership becaues, look, when
I come in the huddle with two minutes left in
the game, I want them to know I got them
essentially right. And I remember vividly We're playing Niners. Sunday
football two thousand and we're down three with two minutes left,
and Eli comes to the huddles like, we're winning this

(01:52:42):
freaking game. And we did, and like when right down
the filing one, and I trusted Eli Manning to my
core that he would get that done. And that is
what Herbert wants to be. You don't have to yellan
scream to be a good leader. You don't have to
be now at that position, you you obviously might want
that guy to be that way, but but he's not.
And so I think Herbert's gonna have a gran NFL career.

(01:53:03):
But I'm with you, though, there could be some ups
and downs this year as he's figuring out a new system,
new coaches and playing on the road now with fans.
By the way, that was sort of the knock on
Herbert coming out of college, because I'm looking at this
guy saying what am I missing here? I mean the
guy he won this academic Heisman. He's six six. He
was prolific throughout his Oregon career, got better each year,

(01:53:24):
capped off by a Rose Bowl win, but a lot
of people said that he lacked sort of that leadership
spot they were looking for. I tried to talk to
anyone I could organ that would tell me off the record,
on the record, wherever they wanted to do about his
leadership style and whether or not it was what was reported.

(01:53:47):
Not a single person to tell me that, so I
knew it was all did that come from because that
was out there? Well, he came from him not being
a yelling at troop, But really it came from from
Willie Taggard, who was the coach before Christal Ball. That's
what that kind of started. Um, That's what his opinion
of him was. And just that's what what kind of
when you get stuck with that early in your career,
that just kind of sticks with you throughout your career. Um.

(01:54:10):
And it's clearly not true. So I'm glad Herbart was
able to overcome that. I Mean I heard stuff it's like, Oh,
he's never left Eugene, how's he gonna play anywhere else?
I'm like, get out of here. Come on. Alright, on
the other side, we're going to put a wrap on
what we've got for you today, including yes, all of
Jeff's best picks for games later today on the college

(01:54:32):
football scene. Coming up next, al Right, Steve Harbin and
Jeff Schwartz here. I want to thank the guys today
Iowa say, I'm very happy about his hawk eyes. They
are up thirty four six three minutes to go. Impressive
performance here. Iowa stayed not not dominant today. Have you
still only up thirteen ten so you liked Iowa stayed

(01:54:54):
Next week at home against Iowa, did you still feel
that way? I do. I do still feel that way.
I mean to get past this game, and those pesky Panthers, well,
if they don't get past this game, forget this. This
has just been the m O for Matt Campbell. I
mean getting off these slow starts. So yeah, but this
is Northern Iowa and your rank seventh in the country.
I think I think game day might be in names
next weekend. I think, yeah, yeah, they are. It's gonna

(01:55:16):
be a big time game. Ralph Urban doing a great
job today, and of course, uh lead a laugh, are
brilliant producer. He's just a little anxious about the start
of the Packer season. We're gonna get there with the
lead down the stretch where we're playing Jacksonville something like that,
something like that. You should be able to get by

(01:55:36):
them in that first game. All right, I want to
I want to get right to it, Jeff. As we
look at some of the big games coming up a
little bit later on. Obviously we got Georgia Clemson. We
got a U C l A L s U game. Uh,
you know, give us a little thoughts. Uh, some of
the best plays this afternoon for people out there ready

(01:55:57):
to start their college football season. You extra bucks in
their pockets before you get to those games. Organ State,
Organ State plus seven at Perdue. Give it a little
give it a little look. See the Beeves. Uh, they
gotta put together this year. It's about todd now they're
passing defense. A little little worried about produced passing attack.
But um Organ State last year started to establish the

(01:56:18):
line of scrimmage a little bit. Um Sam Noyer their quarterback,
um a little. He started for Colorado last year. He
was just okay. But um, I like to coaching staff.
So we'll see how that one goes other games. Tonight.
I took l U c l A plus four about
two months ago, so I've been on them before the
lines out two and a half. It's a little worrisome.
I would have liked three or three and a half. Four.

(01:56:41):
I got him. Here's where I come down this U
c l A game. So look U c l A.
UM has not won a big game like this. They
beat A M was at four or five years ago.
Now the Josh Rosen game. UM, look last weekend, all
the parts look good. But Dorian Thompson Robinson their quarterback,
and in the third quarter started getting going a little bit,

(01:57:01):
and he has started slow in his career, so I'm
just hopeful that we'll get a better game from him.
The offensive line was good last week. The running game
was obviously good. L s us rushing defense last year
was pretty portant. You have to hope in a new scheme,
with some players returning off injury and and and off
of the kind of kind of you know sitting out
last year, that they'll be better on defense. Offensively, like

(01:57:22):
I mentioned earlier, UM, you know Miles um Brennan was
probably going to be the starter. He got hurt. Max
Johnson comes in. UM A little worry about him. He's
not the most accurate passer, UH used. His defense, they
have a left and senior starting with their veteran group,
and they got after Hawaii, and yes it is Hawaii,
but you're supposed to dominate Hawaiian. You see who I did.

(01:57:43):
Adding the factor of L s U being displaced because
of the hurricane. And I hope everyone who's in New
Orleans are in that area is is doing the best
they can um and and and but look, these kids
are one years old right there. They got this place
in their house because of a natural disasterstraction. By the way, update,
I was talking to Ralph about this. So after maybe

(01:58:03):
ten twelve fifteen, at the top thousand fans showed up
with the Rose Bowl for their opener against Hawaii. They're
expecting fifty to sixty thousand tonight. That means they'll have
thirty uh and you we know l s who's gonna
travel well, but you know people people will will on
the on the flip side, say Steve Well to have
more motivation to play tonight. That's more of a of
like when you come back home, right, this is not

(01:58:26):
really you've spent again. You've spent all week kind of
worried about your family, like you know what I mean,
Like this, there's no motivation here like it would be
if you were going home. We saw, right, the famous
Saints by their first home game Africa, Trina, right, like
it's not the same situation there on the road for
this game. So I like to bruise tonight. Um, and

(01:58:46):
they win this game tonight, and it's huge for the
pack toob obviously, all right, before I ask you about
Georgia Clemson. Um, when we look at some of these
big favorites, I mean, you're like, it's like A and
M Kent State, right, thirty points spread? How do you
tend to lean? Do you just stay away from those
big numbers? Are you wanting to number? I'm trying to
stay away for a couple of reasons. Um. One is
that when so what was the number? You said? A

(01:59:09):
and M is like twenty nine and a half against
Kent State. It's not that bad, so you kind of
do you know, you have to do the math right?
So seven they cover? Right? They cover? Okay, you know
they don't cover. So you just have to figure out
what you think the team's gonna score With the other teams.

(01:59:29):
It's very simple, obviously, but in these can get to
think about if you're a big do they does A
and M shut it down? Right? So they're they're forty
two seven at halftime? Do they shut it down? And
we get a late touchdown by Kent State that they
covers that game. Well happened today with Oklahoma, I mean half,
and they end up winning by five against too late,

(01:59:49):
which is why those games are so hard that I
just stay away from a lot of these big favorite
like Alabama times. I thought Alabama would pummel Miami, and
they pummel Miami like that. That's exactly went as I
thought it would. But I don't take a lot of
big favorites at home, uh, in the opening opening weekend.
It just doesn't fit what I like to do best
when it comes to way jerk. All right, Clemson two
and a half maybe point favorite right now in this

(02:00:10):
game against Georgia. Waffle back and forth. I'll go with
Clemson here. Again, I get the coaches better in these situations.
I get a more mobile quarterback, um, and I just
I like Clemson's makeup a little bit better than I do,
uh than I do Georgia. Alright, So and again we've
talked about Clemson there playing there at the Bank of

(02:00:30):
America Stadium where they've won five consecutive A Championship games,
and on the street for me, but I'm upset with
Bank American Stadium because they put it. They put it.
They had the most beautiful grass and they put in turf.
It's very upsetting. Have you been so you've been there? No,
I haven't been since they put the turf in. But
you go to this game tonight? No, no chance, I'm
watching LSU. I'm gonna try. I mean, the game is

(02:00:51):
a thirty Eastern I'm I'm gonna try to stay wait
till one o'clock. I probably by twelve thirty one by
the time the game is over. Um, that's my concerns
staying awake for this game. See, this is the thing, Jeff.
I'm sitting here and it's not even four o'clock. I
know where you Yes, you can. You can make it
down to the Rose Bowl in time by now hopping
hopping the Mini Cooper and getting in and bed to Pasadena.

(02:01:11):
All right, Any any takeaways from the games we've seen
so far today that really surprised you? Um, nothing surprised me.
Alabama is just better than everyone else. I mean it's
you know, we always we always question, well, can you
know can they keep doing with all these draft picks
and you know that leave every year? And the answers, yes,
they're really good. I am not even sure this indictment
on Miami. I think I'll Bama just really good. Um,

(02:01:35):
you know, obviously Organ had a close win Oklahoma, a
close win. Things to build on moving forward. Um, you know,
I'm not I don't take much of the Iowa state.
You know again early in the season at the rivalry
games next weekend. Not is worried about it. Also, next
week gonna debut my one two three Heistman updates. Obviously,
I'll throw my picks out there and get just reaction.

(02:01:56):
I don't know yet who's gonna be on that list
will be based on all the games this week. But
Brice Young's debut is the starting quarterback at Alabama. Twenty
seven and thirty eight, three and forty four yards, four touchdowns,
no picks against a number four teen ranked team. Pretty good.
Pretty good. Yeah, it is unbelievable how they reload. Uh.
Next week, Jeff, not only we're gonna be talking all

(02:02:17):
this college football, We're gonna get ready for a big
week in the National Football League, And he picked on
this opening game for Tampa Bay this week will be
super Bowl champs for Vail. You're going with them, no
question about it. Going with Tampa Bay. Keep it there
at Fox Sports Radio,

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Steve Hartman and Geoff Schwartz Celebrate Week 1 in College Football