December 16, 2025 • 49 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stephen Holder is with ESPN dot com. I was enjoying
a fabulous pre holiday in the form of my buddy
Jeff Hester pre Honika. Drink together that Jeff and I,
who grew up together do we try to get together
once at the very least every two weeks, maybe once
(00:22):
a week, and just find a cozy spot to catch up,
solve the world's problems, keep tabs on one another, enjoy
a drink. And I'm sitting there and everything's going fabulous,
and it's just.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
This great environment, great bar.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
And I look up and boom, right there on the
television screen is no other than Steven Holder. And I
thought to myself, well, you know what, like two out
of three on ambience a bad. But Steven, I gotta admit, man,
you look very dapper when you're on television. And the
colts are always topical, so they're using you a plenty.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Well, so you know the colts, they tend to make
news in the most unexpected ways. So you gotta be
ready or anything around here.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Now with that, in terms of the gotta be ready,
Philip Rivers was ready in Seattle to an extent. I thought, actually, Stephen,
I thought schematically they called a pretty good game for him,
and I thought that they kind of did a nice
job of playing within themselves. But as the game went on,
(01:21):
I think Seattle just kind of figured out that it
was not a Rubik's cube and it wasn't hard to
figure out what you needed to do against that offense
with its limitations. So can they realistically come up with
new wrinkles with another week getting ready for San Francisco
or did we see what we're going to see?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So I think that is a great question, and it's
it's more difficult to answer. But here's what I can say.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
They did.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I agree with you. They did have I think the
perfect game plan. I know it wasn't sexy, and I
know it's ridiculous to think that that was modern football.
It wasn't right, but that's not the point. The point
is to win, right, and they put themselves in position
to win. Here is where I think the complication comes in. Uh,
(02:09):
they got if take phill the rivers out of it
to a degree. For that style of play to work,
you have to get perfect performance on defense, special teams
has to come through, and all those things actually happened
and they still lost. So my concern would be that
is a very difficult thing to duplicate and it ultimately
(02:32):
didn't work. Right it It was a great effort and
they did as best as could be expected, but it
ultimately didn't work. So is it now sustainable to think
that they can do it again? Is their defense going
to play a flawless at that level and not give
up a touchdown against one of the best offenses in football?
(02:52):
I mean, I don't know if you can expect them
to duplicate that. I thought that's the best that defense
has played in weeks, So that how was their apex,
especially given the health of that defense right now? Right
so you're missing your three best players. So I think
you're asking the right question. I don't know if they
can duplicate it, and if you can't, then it goes
(03:15):
to what you're saying, which has to do more.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Stephen Holder, my guest Java House, Peel and poor guest line,
by the way, is where we find Stephenholder. Java house
dot com is the website used to coach Jake twenty
five for twenty five percent off or use my code
for the bundle that is Colombian Coffee, Wrangler, Energy and
the Liquid Science hydration beverage.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Stephen if with Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And I know that you probably are like at this
point blue in the face of talking about Anthony Richardson,
But I want to make this clear for people. Anthony
Richardson now, with three games remaining for the Colts, realistically speaking,
Anthony Richardson would be how many games away or weeks
away from being football ready to return to a game situation.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
I don't think we know. I think you need to
see him, That's the That's the thing. It's an impossible
question without seeing him perform, because what he went through
is so unique and so unprecedented that we just don't know.
I think he's cleared from the perspective of, you know,
he he can't reinjure himself with that orbital fracture. I
(04:26):
guess it's healed, is what i'd say. But you also
have to remember he's been out for two months. He
he had he had some vision issues in that right
eye as a result of this injury. You know, is
that cleared up? We haven't gotten a lot of straight
answers as a problem, and so what we need, if
they're willing, we need shain Stikeen to give. You know,
(04:49):
I think some straighter answers on where he's at, and
we just don't know that, and without knowing that, it's
hard to say. But what I what I will say
in conclusion is that one thing that will help us
arrive at an answer is put him out there and
let him practice and let's see what we're working with.
And I think there's a good chance. I think that
(05:09):
happens this week. I'm looking forward to that. I mean,
I think there's a case there where, or a situation
there where everybody could win if he gets back to practice,
even if he doesn't play this year. And what I
mean is the Colts can evaluate him at least they
barely saw him this year because he got hurt and
then then play and then got hurt right, and then
(05:32):
he also Anthony can get some confidence going and get
back in the groove of things before he goes into
an offseason and who knows what happens to him then.
So I think it'd be great for everybody.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Steven of these quarterbacks, Anthony Richardson in current state, I'll
use it that way. Riley Leonard and Philip Rivers, which
do you truly believe gives them the best chance to
win games or move the football.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Oh, if he's one hundred percent Anthony Richardson. And it's
not even a conversation for me, Like it's it's not
easy in him.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
I'm saying, in his current state though, where he is
right now, this in sixteenth of December.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Fair enough, fair enough. I mean without knowing everything, and
you know, it just may Claire. We don't have all
the details. If he is, if he's good enough to play,
and I think he is. If he's good enough to play,
I think it may fail, right, it may not work,
But I like my chances there. Here's why you can
(06:34):
now do things that you are prevented from doing with
Philip Rivers, Riley Leonard. While he is, he doesn't have
any physical limitations. He does have to knee injury. I
saw him throw all morning on Sunday morning before the game.
He's fine, Okay, trust me, he's fine. If he if
(06:54):
he's out there, he can do more than Philip Rivers physically,
There's no question about that. But I don't I think
in terms of the physical abilities that Anthony Richardson has,
there's no comparison there.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
But here's why I ask Stephen Here's why I ask,
if Riley Leonard can do the equivalent of Philip Rivers, Okay,
and for that matter, Riley Leonard is probably more mobile
than Philip Rivers. Then if that's the case, certainly, and
considering and considering that, Riley Leonard is a player. I'm
(07:28):
not saying a locke, but Riley Leonard is a player
that has the chance to be part of your roster
and your depth moving forward. Philip Rivers does not. So
why then Philip Rivers over Riley Leonard.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So I know not everyone will agree with this, That's fine,
but I'm telling you in my opinion, in my educated opinion,
I think if Riley Leonard would have gone up against
that Seattle defense, it would have been ugly right. The
reason I say that is because he would have made
mistakes that Philip Rivers didn't make. And while it was
(08:04):
certainly it was painful to watch at times, this forty
four year old middle aged man trying to do this. Okay,
I get it right. That is what it took against
that opportunistic defense. They got a lot of playmakers over there.
They would have put Riley Leonard in a freaking blender.
In my opinion, I have no doubt this giving up
(08:24):
a touchdown in twofold games.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Do you feel that's the same for San Francisco?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Uh yeah, I think Robert sala would would make his
head spin. Yes, okay, absolutely so.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
With that.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
And look, the Colts are still mathematically and statistically in
the possibility for the postseason, right, and I get it
they owe it to themselves to push in on that.
The question is is this in any way, shape or form.
Is this in any way, shape or form Chris Ballard
and or Shane Steike and wanting to make a push
(09:00):
because they feel that that is necessary. Like selection Sunday
with the NCAA tournament, when they say, like, okay, state
your case, what are your good wins, what are your
you know, what's your profile? Are they in position? Do
you believe where they feel like they may have to
state that case and make that argument to ownership at.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
The end of the year.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I mean, they may have to make that argument, but
I think they're they're unrelated. And here's why, because what's
the alternative You sit on your ass and just take
the take the l Right, That's not an alternative. In
fact that I would I would think much less of
them as as men. If they did that, I would
think significantly less of them. You're doing what it takes.
(09:44):
Now we can we can quibble as a fan, you
can quibble about how they are going about achieving that
goal of staying in competitive That is fine. But I
would not as a fan argue the fact that they
are trying to do something right because, as I said,
the alternative is, well, you just take the l and
(10:05):
you say we suck. Well I don't. I wouldn't respect
that right. So I think they're doing what they have
to do. This is I mean, ultimately, if they would
if they pull that off on Sunday, I mean, I
still don't think they're a team that's going anywhere in
the long term this year. But now you're if they
win that game, they're really in it, and they gave
(10:26):
themselves every opportunity, so they have I think they're doing
the right thing in terms of the goal, the means
of getting to the goal. That is for the individual
to decide.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Has Tyler Warren started to hit a rookie wall, I.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Don't know, as much as I think circumstances maybe have
have got have gotten the best of him. And I
mean circumstances beyond his control, like the quarterback situation and
the offense just kind of in a lull. I do
think that if Daniel Jones is playing, you're seeing a
different version of Tyler Warren. It's just been tough. No. Now,
(11:07):
I would say, if you get Anthony Richardson back out there,
I am not promising that's gonna happen, right, just very
very hypothetically. I think if you get if you if
you get Anthony Richardson out there, now you're creating more
matchup issues with a quarterback like that. Now you bring
the read option to the table, and I could see
(11:29):
bootlegs with Tyler Warren wide open, like there's some things
you can do there. It's tougher with with the limitations
with Philip Rivers, even though he had a lot of
success with tight ends. I mean certainly we know of
one in particular back in San Diego who did okay, right,
But but I just think with the way they use
Tyler Warren, I think it helps if the quarterback can
(11:52):
sort of move around and you can get those matchups
with with Tyler Warren that they're not getting maybe as
much right now. But I I think he's been fine.
I think he's been fine, but he's definitely been quieter.
I don't put it on him, per say though.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Okay, Steven, I'm going to take for your protection here.
I'm going to take Indiana out of the equation of
what I'm about to ask.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Okay, but here's how we're going to do this.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
If you look at the college football playoff, you got Indiana.
We're going to take Indiana out of the equation as
a potential answer.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
You got Ohio State, Georgia.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Miami. Obviously we know about right
ore agaon James Madison, Tulane. I think that covers most
of them. Okay, I'm going to give you a situation
for the Colts, and I want you to tell me
the college football team that you feel has the same
likelihood of it happening in terms of them winning it.
(12:47):
So example, if I said to you, okay, the odds
that Philip Rivers throws a touchdown past the rest of
the year, and you would say those are very good odds.
So you would say that's in Ohio State. If I say, okay,
the odds of Tyler Warren having a one hundred and
fifty yard receiving game. You would say, that's James Madison,
et cetera. You see how we're doing this, right, So
(13:09):
that said, let me let me present to you the scenario,
and I want you to tell me the college football
playoff team of the ken likelihood. Okay, Anthony Richardson starts
a game the remainder of this season.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Hmm okay, that's that is a tricky one. I would
say that is a.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Now we do have teams like we do have teams
like Oregon, Miami and Texas Tech that like they may
have a chance, but we don't know enough about them
per se.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
If you will well that I'm thinking exactly that. That's why,
so I said, by any and I think it's because
two things. Number one, they were we didn't even know
if they were gonna be there, all right, That definitely
fits in this particular instance, right, Okay, okay, so so,
but but now they're in play, So anything happened. I
(14:02):
just explained Anthony Richardson's entire career. Okay, we're done here, Okay.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Number two, Philip Rivers starts and or plays in a
game for the Colts after they are if they are
eliminated from the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
So if they have and you know, it may be
that they go all the way to the end.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
But if they realistically had a game where they have
been eliminated from the playoffs, Philip Rivers is still played
as part of their team.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Hmmm, that is a hell of a dilemma. I lean
towards saying they play him. I really do, okay, but
I'll I'll say I'm not convinced for sure, so I'll
say I no, like, so.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
This is so, this is okay. I was gonna say this.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
This feels a little like old miss and the fact
that like there's there's precedent there to think, but at
the same time there's like changes and un certainly at
the top, and so therefore you don't know how it's
going to go right right right?
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Like, I mean, I can make a hell of an
argument in that scenario to say, let's say Richardson can't play,
I would I'd say, all right, well, what the hell
is Riley Leonard here for?
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Right? I mean, that's been my question, right because.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
The reason for the reason for not playing Riley Leonard
right now is the stakes are too high. And I agree,
I'm fine with that. If the stakes then are are different, well,
then the argument is different. Okay, understand, give me I
would be on the other side of that.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Give me the odds possibility in the college football playoff.
Give me the team that aligns with the odds of
this Chris Ballard or Shane steichen Our playing or excuse me,
coaching and or guiding for their cult's future in the
last three weeks.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I'd say, I'm gonna say, uh, that would be two lane.
I think they're back. I'm telling you here. No one
wants to hear it, but I'm telling you I think
they're back.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Okay, let me go with one more for you. Here,
are you ready?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Daniel Jones will be signed to a multi year deal
in the offseason despite his Achilles recovery by the Colts.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
What team, hm hm hm hmmm.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Okay. I lean towards most of the year because I
think I think they believe they'll get a better deal,
maybe that they can entice him with. This is this
is hypothetical. They haven't told me this. This is just
me thinking through it. Okay. Uh. If you can give
him a multi year deal, you give him security. But
(16:54):
you're gonna You're gonna have to make a sacrifice Daniel
on the money, right, That's that's what I That's how
I would present this if I were them, if they
indeed believe in him, right.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Then, So the odds of him getting a contract offer
you're saying is are we looking at Ohio State here?
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Well, i'll go, I'll go, I'll go Testas Tech. They're
the four seeds. So you know I'm not all the
way in or Georgia.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Georgia. Yeah, Georgia is a good one.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Okay, Because here's the thing that I talked about this
last week, and I want your thoughts on this. Steven Holder,
our guest to ESPN dot com, Java House Peel and
poor guest line is where you're hearing his voice. It
seems to me like there may be a little bit
advantage Colts in this form. The only advantage of the
(17:47):
Daniel Jones injury, Stephen is that you are correct. This
has now shifted the the marketing leverage of a contract
term to advantage Indianapolis as opposed to advantage Daniel Jones.
They now theoretically couldn't get him at a much lower price, right.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Yeah, I mean I think this it's still gonna be
a tricky negotiation because the injury makes it tricky. However,
it was it was going to be tricky before as well,
because it was gonna be one year of high level,
albeit really great performance. But one year and there is
still the old Daniel Jones, right, So it's again it
(18:32):
would have been tricky either way because at that point
you don't have the health as a variable. So he
can make the argument I made your team relevant, right,
He could make that argument, and who's gonna be able
to argue against that? Well? What does that cost?
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Right?
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So here I think he still has that argument. But
but your counter argument is your achilles is busted. Man.
We love you, but it is what it is. So yeah,
I do think I do agree with you. It's giving
them a little advantage because I think the one thing
you have to think about in the contract negotiation is
what is the worst case scenario? And the worst case
(19:09):
scenario is we are wrong and then two years from
now we're cutting this guy, right, and what does that
cost us?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Right?
Speaker 3 (19:15):
So that's how you have to approach it. And I
think this will enable them to execute a contract that
maybe puts them at less risk in the worst case scenario.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Moodey Ward and Braiden Smith. What are the odds both
of them are back as colts next year?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I think Braiden Smith. Again, I'm going to be very clear,
this is not mean reporting this, projecting this or anything.
I think the odds are decent that Braiden Smith says
I've had a good run, you know. I mean he's
been through a lot, right, physically nimtal well documented, right,
(19:55):
well documented.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
And the same and the same can be said for
mod right and with all respect to him, if physically
three concussion protocols this year and then emotionally the loss
of his daughter, I mean he's been doing a lot as.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Well, no question about it.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Now.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Now that one trickier because you know he's in the
prime of his career. Braden Smith played fine this year,
but I think you know it's he has he has
certainly declined somewhat right. I think Mooney Ward is a
great player, so that's what's trickier. But you are correct,
I mean you can't judge it just based on his
(20:33):
play because there's too much else going on. Now. The
early word, and I mean super early, because who knows, right,
he hasn't had a chance to get away from it
and all that. I don't know, but the early word
is that he's still engaged and still wants to keep playing.
But I am not you know, I'm not promising that.
(20:53):
I have no idea, but I I do think as
of now, with limited information, I think he's back.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Okay, lastly, Steven, I'm gonna name the college football matchup,
and I want you to, Steven hold her immediate gut reaction.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Who you think will win? You're ready?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
James Madison Oregon.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Oregon by three touchdowns?
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Okay Oregon Texas Tech.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Hmm, I'll say, I'll say Oregon.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
But I'm but I'm less sorry about that because I
don't know Texas Tech that.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Well, no one does, and I mean not even the
kid on Landman anywhere's their hat every day?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Alabama Oklahoma, ah Man, tough one Oklahoma, Okay, Oklahoma, Indiana, Indiana.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
I like them over anybody, right now?
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Okay, tou Laane, Old Miss.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Uh ol miss better athletes?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I guess I don't know Old Miss Georgia, Good game.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Georgia. How coaches them?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Okay, you're alma mater Miami and uh hang on, Who's
Who's Miami.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
God Texas A and M Texas A and m Yeah sorry, yeah,
tough one. Miami buy a field goal?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Okay, Miami Ohio State.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
But I don't really believe it. Miami Ohio State, Ohio State,
but it's close. Okay, Ohio State, Georgia.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Mm hmm, Ohio State by a smidge.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Okay, uh, Indiana, Oregon.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Indiana for the second time.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Indiana, Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Again for the second time.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Indiana, Kurt, if you could please play the breaking news sounder.
This just an ESPN dot com Steven Holder projecting the
Indiana Hoosiers will be the twenty and twenty five college
football season unblemished and undefeated national champion. Steven, We're not
(23:22):
holding you to that, but it's fun nonetheless, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I mean, I listen, I I'm not going out. I'm
not going out on a limb here. But I think
that's that's probably the most complete teams. That's what I
like is, you know, it's not like, oh, their offense
is just really good or this aspect of their team.
I think they're a complete team, and so rarely do
you get that, you know in college football, where what's
(23:48):
the weakness. I don't know that there is one, so
I don't know. I love them. They've been great. It's
been great fun just watching them this year, and I
hope the riot continues.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Have you watched Landman? By the way, I have not
one of the one of the one of the dudes
on Landman. It takes place in West Texas. He wears
a Texas Tech hat all the time. It is I'm like,
that is the perfectly cast outfit. That'd be the easiest
casting director job or excuse me, wardrobing job of all time.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Like, hey, we just need you.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
To you know a guy that works on an oil
patch in West Texas.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, a flannel shirt, flannel short sleeved shirt,
and a Texas Tech hat. Done right, right, I mean right,
that's not believable at all. Right, yeah, easiest thing ever.
All right, Steven, appreciate it. We will be looking for
the coverage Monday night now Colts and Niners coming up
this week for Indianapolis. Appreciate it, Steven, all right, you
(24:42):
got it, all right? Stephen Holder joining me from ESPN
dot Comic and Java House Peel and poor guest line, Butler,
I believe tonight take it on Yukon Brayla Mullins, the
reigning mister Basketball in that game, guy that covered him
and now has covered a new recipient of the coveted
Mister Football award, and there is news to talk about
in both sports from a high school standpoint, with our
(25:06):
friend from The Indianapolis Star, Kyle Neddripp joining the program
now on the Java House Peel and poor guest line.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
You got spared, Kyle.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Because since we'd moved to the new location, we're still
unpacking boxes, notably the one where you call yourself both
lost and clueless.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
Right, Yeah, yeah, that's that's okay. It's a holiday season,
so you're you're being kind today.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Let's begin with football from a football standpoint. Saw it
just within the last day or so. Congratulations and well deserved.
But the Indianapolis Star there is a new Indiana Mister
Football to congratulate.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
Yeah, we awarded that, Miles mclafflin. Yesterday. The Indian Football
Coach Association voted.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Miles and it was pretty you know, the voting was
was pretty much in his favor. I mean sixty four percent.
I think sixty four point five percent of the votes,
and Heritage Chills Jed Goldsberry had about sixteen sixteen or
eighteen percent. You have to I have to read the
story again that I wrote, but somewhere in that range.
(26:14):
So it was pretty lopsided and kind of thought that
might be how it went down. You know, Miles had
such a great run, especially the second half of the season,
you know, started to really get some national recognition and
you know, people like Derek Henry even talking about him
on various platforms and you know, and to get you know,
(26:34):
he ended up the all time single season national record
holder for rushing. So you know, when you get those
type of you know, that type of accolades and accomplishments
puts you on another stratosphere. And definitely getting his team,
they were, you know, one step away from making the
state finals, but you know, to get that team as
far as he did certainly helped him as well. So yeah,
(26:55):
very you know, and he said, you know, you know,
talking to him yesterday, you know, he did say it
was a lot of pressure and you know, it felt
like the way the world was on him at times,
and you know, but then he said it was in it.
Speaker 7 (27:05):
It was in a good way.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
It was fun, you know, and he obviously carried that
team a long way. So I think, uh, you know,
he's going to Murray State to play next year and
and be a running back, so you know, we'll see
how he does in college. But uh, but yeah, I'm
a pretty pretty cool story from a little town that
had never had a mister football before.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Yeah, and that's you know, it's funny because Knox is
the town, right or not in the school, and I
I always assumed, you know, like North Knox and Knox
County is down south of Vincennes. This is the opposite end,
right we're talking about, uh, northeastern Indiana up near Fort Wayne.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
Correct, it's north you know, northwest actually you know you're
going towards uh you know.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Winn A back up in that Okay, yeah, okay, that part.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
Of the state.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
So yeah, it's it's kind of a it's Start County,
which you know they've never actually the county has never
had a mister football. It's you know, I've been up
there probably what three times now.
Speaker 7 (28:02):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
It's it's a quite a quite a haul to get
up that way, but it's it's kind of just you know,
if you're thinking about the you know, the the the
time zones. They are in the Central time zone just barely.
Speaker 7 (28:13):
Uh so you know.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
They're they're up there, pretty far up in the northwest
part of the state.
Speaker 7 (28:17):
But yeah, they you know, it's it's uh, we.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Were in the school yesterday and obviously a lot of
excitement for him about this award, and you know, he'll
he'll uh, you know, that's something you know, he's got
two younger brothers and they're you know, they're gonna you know,
it's something that they can their family can really you
know appreciate, I think, and enjoy and really that whole community.
Rush Radke he's the coach there and he's been you know,
he's a fifty year high school football coach and you know,
(28:42):
talking to him yesterday too, obviously very appreciative of having
a mister football, you know, having coached one.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
So uh but yeah, pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
I mean he kind of came from I would they
came from the outside. You know, when I was doing
this last year, looking at the candidates for this year,
you know, he wasn't among the top you know, top
five or anything like that, so you know kind of
you know, was able to get his way in there
and then win pretty handily, which is which is quite
an accomplishment, Kyle.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Sometimes, you know, things like that, a guy winning a
Mister Football doing it from a smaller school like that,
a smaller community. You know, that stuff brings people together
and they talk about it for a long time and
you know it's cool.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Right.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Sometimes communities also are kind of forced to come together
in circling around or gathering around or holding together tight
after something that is not always you know, as celebratory.
It goes without saying, but sometimes the worst situations can
bring out the best in a community and for a
(29:43):
family as well. Tell me about the tragically sad story
but at the same time, maybe with a community feel
to it.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Of Jeff the.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Ref Yeah, Jeff, you know, Jeff Tomari passed away Friday night.
Was refereeing a game at Via Girls game against speed
Away and in the second quarter of that game, you know,
collapsed and you know, passed away. And you know, I
talked to several referees that night, you know, ended up
(30:13):
talking to his family, his daughter, one of his daughters,
his ex wife, his sister.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
He was in his early sixties, correct, Yeah.
Speaker 7 (30:22):
Sixty three would have been sixty four next.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
Month actually, so yeah, he was sixty three. You know,
had a you know, he was a you know, an
athletic guy. He was a Perry Murdy and graduate. I
was a swimmer there actually, and you know, went on
and he refereed. He did all these you know, not
only high school basketball, but he was if he you know,
talked to some of the refs and umpires he worked with,
(30:46):
was a really good baseball umpire. I talked to Kevin Brown,
who umpired with him, and he said he was just
a fantastic baseball umpire. Should have been in the state finals,
you know, that type of umpire.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
I did a lot of.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
High school football and basketball as well, did and then
started doing a lot of youth games, you know, and
that was sort of where you know, the Jeff the
ref moniker came from. And you know, he got to
know these kids up in Zionsville Youth League and you
know other leagues that he did at Greenwood. He lived
in Greenwood, you know, and had uh you know, I
talked to his you know a lot of his closer
(31:22):
friends in the umpiring and refereeing world as well. But uh,
but yeah, I just had a way about him that
I think, uh, you know, kids were just kind of
drawn to him.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
He was always you know, very.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
Positive guy, positive as far as you know, teaching kids,
you know, not being you know, just someone who's there
just to be there.
Speaker 7 (31:41):
You know.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And we've all seen that at times, whether it's you know,
umpiring or refing or whatever, just you're just kind of there.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
You know, you know, just to be there, you know.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
But he he sort of went out of his way
to you know, correct the shot or correct telekid, Hey
you travel on that watch, you know, don't do that again,
stuff like that, and you know, so I think that
was just kind of.
Speaker 7 (32:02):
The way he was. Kid kids, really we were sort
of drawn to him that way.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
And and you know, I've heard from so many people
you know, either social media or you know, who have
had a good experience with them. And you know, obviously,
like you said, it's a you know, the whole situation,
no matter you know who it happened to on Friday night,
was you know that you feel for those people who
were there and the kids who are watching that happen.
(32:29):
You know, it's something they'll never forget, you know, anyone
who was there that night. So you know, regardless of Jeff,
you know, the person, you know, just being in that
moment is something.
Speaker 7 (32:39):
They're going to carry with him as well.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
But but yeah, I also wanted to tell the story
about who he was, and you know, tried to do
that from you know, talking to his family and his
you know, people who knew him from the refereeing world.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
But yeah, just to you.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
Know, like I said, it's just a sad situation. But
I think some people definitely feel better having you know,
read more about him or heard more about him, or
talk more about him, you know, including his family. I
think it was you know, from talking to his family
Sunday and Saturday and Sunday, you know, just to you know,
(33:13):
kind of talk about him.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
I think is helpful sometimes.
Speaker 8 (33:15):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
So yeah, Kyle, the you know, for it itself, I
guess two things here on this real quick to kind
of put a tie on all of it. The first
is we still don't know, because I and I understand
that it's probably almost bordering on invasive to ask. But
for you know, if someone is refereeing games, they obviously
(33:38):
have an interest in young people and helping young people
progress and learning, you know, and learning the game teaching
the game things like that. And one thing I've learned
about high school officials of note, you know, I've been
around and had the pleasure to meet some of them.
Many of them do it because they love being around
high school kids and athletics and teaching the game and
watching the game and being a fan of the game
(33:58):
and of young people's appreciation of the game, And so
they lend their time for that. They ain't doing it
to be rich, right, I mean, they're doing it for
a love of the growth of the game. So in
that spirit there, possibly from a health standpoint, could be
something that people could learn from this tragedy of Jeff.
But we don't know yet what it was that was
(34:19):
the cause.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Of this, correct, Yeah, and it.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Yeah, so yeah, I mean that's for pretty much where
it's you know, I can't you know, because I don't.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Know for sure, correct, I understand.
Speaker 4 (34:31):
Yeah, there's some you know, the way the way it
happened would lead you to think it was it was
a heart situation, but yeah, we don't know for sure exactly, so,
you know, And I don't want to speak out a
turn to the family or whatever.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
Yeah, nor was I asking my point simply being there
is not, because the natural thing people hearing it would think,
especially with my initiatives towards heart health and things like that,
is hey, was there something with.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Which we can learn or be aware?
Speaker 1 (34:57):
And this short answer of that is, at this point
there is not definitive known cause as to what could
have caused this and possibly other health complications.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
That were unaware.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Uh, but there is no definitive answer, is what I
wanted to get at the other is, you know, how
was it handled in the moment by Monrovia or by
just administrators there to kind of help kids through this?
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (35:21):
I mean I I you know I did.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
I talked to John Gregacious the monrovi ad that night,
and you know, and everyone I talked to, you know,
including him, said, you know, they did everything possible. The
emergency EMTs, the emergency personnel were there quickly, and you know,
people came out of the you know, out of the
bleachers to help, you know, who were who were qualified,
and they got the kids out, you know, they got
(35:43):
the kids to the locker room, you know, and they
you know, they had everything there on site to do
the best they could in that situation. And and you know,
so I don't and the family told me that too,
and they, you know, they felt like, uh, you know,
everything possible was done to try to make you know,
(36:04):
to try to help Jeff out, and it just didn't happen.
Speaker 7 (36:07):
So, you know, so I think I think they were ready.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
I think there's been things happened in the past, you know,
just just generally around the country to make high schools
more ready for situations like this, you know, so I
think that helped, you know, But but honestly, you know,
it's just it's so sad because it just, you know,
you didn't get a positive outcome out of it.
Speaker 7 (36:29):
And you know, I know, the min.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Rovia team got together on set. They were supposed to
play actually on Saturday morning against Try West. They obviously
canceled that game because of the situation, but they did
get together. They had breakfast together. They wanted to make
sure the girls weren't just at home, you know, by themselves,
so they did get together at least, and I know
they were, you know, planning to get back to school today.
(36:52):
I think they had yesterday off because of the weather.
But I'm sure you know, for those girls too, it's
just it's something you'll never forget. Obviously, but you know,
I think the fact that they were able to be
together as much as they could, and you know, they're
going to get a chance to continue their season and
you know the girls from Speedway too, and you know,
(37:12):
hopefully there's you know, something positive.
Speaker 7 (37:14):
They're going to finish this game at some point.
Speaker 4 (37:16):
I can't remember when the you know, when they'll play again,
but I'm sure that'll be something. With the teams back
together again, that can be some sort of a healing too.
Speaker 7 (37:24):
But but yeah, from.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
A standpoint of, you know, doing everything they could in
the moment, everything I've heard it was real, you know,
even like I said, from the family too, was real positive.
Speaker 7 (37:36):
On that front.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Kyle, Appreciate the time today and also, you know, letting
everybody know about that story, but more about Jeff, you
know what I mean to let people know via The
Indianapolis Star, what kind of guy he was, the dedication
he had towards sports, in multi sports and helping out
with his expertise and officiating.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Appreciate the time today.
Speaker 7 (37:53):
Man, for sure, Thanks Jerry.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Kyle Edrip joining me on the job house peelmpor guest
line speaking of high school basketball football.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
By the way, a.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Double header coming up at the Colisseum Holiday Tournament's galore, right,
and we always love him. There's a new one coming
up at the Colisseum. I'll tell you about that. On
the other side, Scott Agnes Top of the hour, two
o'clock hour underway in Indianapolis, for that matter, of the
two o'clock hours underway everywhere in the Eastern time zone.
My name is Jake Querry Eddie Garrison. By the way,
(38:21):
have you been out yet, Kurt to the State Fairgrounds?
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Not yet?
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Okay, my understanding, My understanding. The and this is kind
of fun. So if you're wondering, and a lot of
people have asked where Eddie has been, and Scott Agne
is going to join his field House files just a second.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
But I mentioned this the other day.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Eddie took time off about two weeks ago and he
is in This is fun. As we know from listening
to this show, Eddie has an eight and five eighth
hat size and that puts him in like the upper
like two percentile or something like that. So he is
a member of what's known as the United States. And
(39:04):
I kept saying association, and I apologize, I completely apologize.
It's the United States Big Head Federation, I said, association.
It's federation. It's an organization. I don't know who put
this together, but a bunch of people with big craniums.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
So they.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
One of the hat companies, I don't know which one
decided because there was an kind of an untapped market
with the Apparently the Big Head Federation membership continues to grow,
not unlike their heads, and so as a result of that,
they there was an increased conversation of you know, inclusiveness
(39:44):
for the hat industry, and they wanted to make sure
because a couple of years ago it became the rage
those big hats, that was like the big thing was
the big hats, and they there was some thought with
the BHF that that was actually in mockery and that
kind of a thing, And so that began conversation and
dialogue with the hat manufacturers, and they were naive to
(40:07):
the fact that the Big Head Federation felt there were
a lot of people that felt like they couldn't buy
hats of their favorite team and their hat size. So
they wanted to go ahead and start making those hats,
and they wanted models, cranium models to come and do
photo shoots. So Eddie took a couple of weeks off
I don't know, or a day off a couple of
(40:27):
weeks ago, I should say, to go up to Crown
Point Crown the keyword here and as part of the
BHF photo shoot, and he was not selected. However, when
they were doing the photo shoot, one of the things
they had challenged with was the lighting. And Eddie, because
(40:49):
of working in studios and in particular this one and
helping out with the he lended him some of the
lended them some of his expertise in lighting that he
learned at the University of Indianapolis and radio and television work,
and there happened to be a guy also fell a
BHF member that is one of those that helps out
with the winter lights at the fairgrounds. And so they
(41:14):
ran up short on time this year because of the
unexpected cold weather and et cetera, and they needed someone
with lighting expertise to come and help with the elves
lights that they have. If you go there, they ask
for you to count the elves as you drive through
the winter lights. Eddie is the designated elf lighter and
so they have hired him. He took a couple of
(41:35):
days off making big money and so not just the
head big here paycheck as well. So he is doing that.
So when you drive through the winter lights for the
fair grounds, when you see and it's a fun thing
for the kids to do to count the elves as
you drive through. When you're driving through to count the elves,
keep in mind those were developed, built and everything else.
(41:57):
And then can buy Eddie. He's out there doing that
right now. So that's and and there are several of them.
That's why it's taking him a couple of days. So
therefore you get some pinch hit bullpen hours.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
I mean, hey, he's a jack of all trades.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
He is that jack. The key word joining us now
in the Java House Peel and poor guest line. He
is of course with Fieldhouse files covering the pacers Fever
as well. Scott Agnes Joints Just Scott, Happy holidays to you.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Happy holidays to you as well.
Speaker 7 (42:23):
Enjoyed that story.
Speaker 3 (42:24):
That was great.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
Did you know that about Eddie?
Speaker 3 (42:27):
No, that's why I was so enlightened.
Speaker 7 (42:28):
Yeah, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Enlightened the key word speaking of enlightened. He can do
that as well because and again if you go through
look for the lighted elves. That's all that is entirely
Eddie's work. Just so you know, entirely Eddie's work. Scott,
let's get to this, I thought, and I get it.
I mean, this is a team with the Pacers that
there are two ways to look at down years. One
(42:53):
is you just lose it. And maybe I'm biased because
you know, I have a lot of love for the
Pacers and I've been open about that, and it was
such you know, it was so invigorating what happened last
year during the finals run and now they are so down.
But yet because there's plausible explanation for it, they've been
(43:14):
able to get away with that because you're like, you
know what, it's the injuries, it's the attrition, it's the
new faces.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
But that game against Washington, that to me was the
first time this year where they laid a complete goose
egg that seemingly was inexplicable.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Your thoughts, Yeah, I would agree with you there, Jake,
for sure.
Speaker 8 (43:33):
And you could even go back how it started perhaps
two nights earlier in Philadelphia, where Pacers were on track,
they were leading, and they scored five points over the
final like eight twenty four outscored twenty to five. I
thought that would leave a bad taste in their mouths.
This is a team that is playing better in Philadelphia,
they saw Joelle Embiid have his best performance in two seasons.
(43:56):
Weal surprise he always plays well.
Speaker 7 (43:58):
Against the Pacers.
Speaker 8 (43:59):
But then yeah, everything that could go wrong against the Wizards,
who were the only team worse than the Pacers right
now record wise in the East did And the challenging part,
as I thought you alluded to well, is before it
was all understandable. This performance, know nothing about that was understandable.
Rick Carlisle even say post game it was unacceptable. We
(44:20):
can't do this. Ever, and to the point, we saw
him use a timeout one minute into the game, and
so you wonder, like, you know, Siakam's been their most
consistent guy since he has got here.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
I can't say enough good things about him.
Speaker 8 (44:32):
But you know, Nimhart didn't look completely healthy, still dealing
with an injury. Though he was out there, he was
questionable entering the game, missed his first eleven shots, very
unlike him. Matherin, There's been ups and downs, and really
the only player that's jumped out to me was center
Jay Huff inside.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
Yeah, Jay Huff. To me, Scott looks like a guy.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
I've always said that in sport sometime sometimes how or
where you were acquired factors into how you are evaluated.
And in the case of Jay Huff, I think the
timing of when he was acquired because of the Miles
Turner departure, and so people thought, Okay, this is the
Miles Turner replacement. I think we can now safely say
(45:17):
he is not that. However, whoever Miles Turner's long term
replacement is going to be once they have everybody back
in the stable, and I think that player is not
currently on the roster. I think Jay Huff has now
shown himself to be a situational, really nice eighteen to
twenty one minute off the bench piece once they get
(45:37):
that starting five in there.
Speaker 2 (45:39):
Would you agree with that assessment, I would.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (45:42):
I didn't expect him at all to come in and
be the savior, be the starter, but I know it
was kind of one of the first transactions after Miles
Turner moved on, and it was at the center spot.
But this is a guy, I think, if you understand
the circumstances here, this is a guy that got limited
action with them, but was very productive, and so the
Pacers liked that. They liked his characteristics, they liked what
(46:06):
the analytics told him, and that.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Has proven to be true.
Speaker 8 (46:09):
He leads the league in total blocks, he leads the
league in blocks per forty eight minutes, all those attributes.
He's a good rebounder, can play the inside out game,
similar to Miles Turner, whereas Isaiah Jackson's a very different player,
more of a rim runner, more of a guy that's
around the basket and operatings. So yeah, I think moving forward,
(46:29):
I would not be surprised for j Huff to be
your backup center. But still there's that big missing piece
there at the starting role. And for now they're just
kind of coppling it together and in Red Carlisle's words,
doing it by committee.
Speaker 1 (46:43):
By the way, Scott, this happened to us yesterday, and
I'm just simply going to point it out because it's
the elephant the room and have fun with it.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
I don't know what this is.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
It is strictly a beyond the control of anybody here,
like weird software bug. I don't know if Eddie like
tickered with something before it maybe and when doing the
light stuff, your voice sounds like you're on helium in
the way that like like you sound like accommodation here
of Kermit the Frog and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
It's kind of fun.
Speaker 1 (47:11):
Have you ever done the helium through a balloon and
then talking type deal?
Speaker 8 (47:15):
No, I haven't, and I can promise you there's no
Joey Molnoro im precious and right now that's I know
we missed my hotline, but this is a little bit different.
Speaker 7 (47:23):
You are.
Speaker 1 (47:25):
You sound like you're on helium, So I'm gonna do
the helium voice. Scott agnes for one more question here?
You ready in terms of the health standpoint and you
know obviously PACER's next coming up Thursday at the field
House health standpoint and the return of those that we
have not seen in some time, not named Tyrese Haliburton.
Speaker 2 (47:44):
Where do we stand.
Speaker 8 (47:46):
Yeah, we got a little bit clarity on it today
because the Pacers got the ten day hardshap exception. Therefore
we know I appreciate you getting through this. Ben Shephard
and Aaron Nesmith will be at least out the next
two weeks, so we did get clear pty on that front. Otherwise,
Obi top and don't expect any update from him until February.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
By the way, can you just say for me, please
follow the yellow bick road.
Speaker 2 (48:10):
Can you just say.
Speaker 8 (48:10):
That, Jake, follow the yellow brick road.
Speaker 7 (48:19):
Scott.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
It doesn't make any sense to you now, But if
you go back and listen to the program later, Scott,
you'll understand totally why I asked you to do that.
Speaker 2 (48:29):
You got it, man?
Speaker 8 (48:30):
Why not Indiana?
Speaker 1 (48:31):
I love it? That's trademark. By the way, why not Indiana?
I got all kinds of legal stuff going on with that.
Just so you know, I've got now and I'm not
saying the names of any businesses that is not my
because it's gone beyond just in. It's outside Indiana, so
it's not Indiana businesses. But to why not Indiana trademark?
This trademark thing, man, it's legit. I got a guy,
I got an attorney. This chasing stuff down all over
(48:53):
the place.
Speaker 8 (48:54):
Your timing was impeccable. When you go from the Pacers
to the Fever and now certainly number one Indiana Football,
it doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 2 (49:02):
That is indeed correct. Scott Agnes joining us
Stephen Holder is with ESPN dot com. I was enjoying
a fabulous pre holiday in the form of my buddy
Jeff Hester pre Honika. Drink together that Jeff and I,
who grew up together do we try to get together
once at the very least every two weeks, maybe once
(00:22):
a week, and just find a cozy spot to catch up,
solve the world's problems, keep tabs on one another, enjoy
a drink. And I'm sitting there and everything's going fabulous,
and it's just.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
This great environment, great bar.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
And I look up and boom, right there on the
television screen is no other than Steven Holder. And I
thought to myself, well, you know what, like two out
of three on ambience a bad. But Steven, I gotta admit, man,
you look very dapper when you're on television. And the
colts are always topical, so they're using you a plenty.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Well, so you know the colts, they tend to make
news in the most unexpected ways. So you gotta be
ready or anything around here.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Now with that, in terms of the gotta be ready,
Philip Rivers was ready in Seattle to an extent. I thought, actually, Stephen,
I thought schematically they called a pretty good game for him,
and I thought that they kind of did a nice
job of playing within themselves. But as the game went on,
(01:21):
I think Seattle just kind of figured out that it
was not a Rubik's cube and it wasn't hard to
figure out what you needed to do against that offense
with its limitations. So can they realistically come up with
new wrinkles with another week getting ready for San Francisco
or did we see what we're going to see?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So I think that is a great question, and it's
it's more difficult to answer. But here's what I can say.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
They did.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I agree with you. They did have I think the
perfect game plan. I know it wasn't sexy, and I
know it's ridiculous to think that that was modern football.
It wasn't right, but that's not the point. The point
is to win, right, and they put themselves in position
to win. Here is where I think the complication comes in. Uh,
(02:09):
they got if take phill the rivers out of it
to a degree. For that style of play to work,
you have to get perfect performance on defense, special teams
has to come through, and all those things actually happened
and they still lost. So my concern would be that
is a very difficult thing to duplicate and it ultimately
(02:32):
didn't work. Right it It was a great effort and
they did as best as could be expected, but it
ultimately didn't work. So is it now sustainable to think
that they can do it again? Is their defense going
to play a flawless at that level and not give
up a touchdown against one of the best offenses in football?
(02:52):
I mean, I don't know if you can expect them
to duplicate that. I thought that's the best that defense
has played in weeks, So that how was their apex,
especially given the health of that defense right now? Right
so you're missing your three best players. So I think
you're asking the right question. I don't know if they
can duplicate it, and if you can't, then it goes
(03:15):
to what you're saying, which has to do more.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Stephen Holder, my guest Java House, Peel and poor guest line,
by the way, is where we find Stephenholder. Java house
dot com is the website used to coach Jake twenty
five for twenty five percent off or use my code
for the bundle that is Colombian Coffee, Wrangler, Energy and
the Liquid Science hydration beverage.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Stephen if with Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And I know that you probably are like at this
point blue in the face of talking about Anthony Richardson,
But I want to make this clear for people. Anthony
Richardson now, with three games remaining for the Colts, realistically speaking,
Anthony Richardson would be how many games away or weeks
away from being football ready to return to a game situation.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
I don't think we know. I think you need to
see him, That's the That's the thing. It's an impossible
question without seeing him perform, because what he went through
is so unique and so unprecedented that we just don't know.
I think he's cleared from the perspective of, you know,
he he can't reinjure himself with that orbital fracture. I
(04:26):
guess it's healed, is what i'd say. But you also
have to remember he's been out for two months. He
he had he had some vision issues in that right
eye as a result of this injury. You know, is
that cleared up? We haven't gotten a lot of straight
answers as a problem, and so what we need, if
they're willing, we need shain Stikeen to give. You know,
(04:49):
I think some straighter answers on where he's at, and
we just don't know that, and without knowing that, it's
hard to say. But what I what I will say
in conclusion is that one thing that will help us
arrive at an answer is put him out there and
let him practice and let's see what we're working with.
And I think there's a good chance. I think that
(05:09):
happens this week. I'm looking forward to that. I mean,
I think there's a case there where, or a situation
there where everybody could win if he gets back to practice,
even if he doesn't play this year. And what I
mean is the Colts can evaluate him at least they
barely saw him this year because he got hurt and
then then play and then got hurt right, and then
(05:32):
he also Anthony can get some confidence going and get
back in the groove of things before he goes into
an offseason and who knows what happens to him then.
So I think it'd be great for everybody.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Steven of these quarterbacks, Anthony Richardson in current state, I'll
use it that way. Riley Leonard and Philip Rivers, which
do you truly believe gives them the best chance to
win games or move the football.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Oh, if he's one hundred percent Anthony Richardson. And it's
not even a conversation for me, Like it's it's not
easy in him.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
I'm saying, in his current state though, where he is
right now, this in sixteenth of December.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Fair enough, fair enough. I mean without knowing everything, and
you know, it just may Claire. We don't have all
the details. If he is, if he's good enough to play,
and I think he is. If he's good enough to play,
I think it may fail, right, it may not work,
But I like my chances there. Here's why you can
(06:34):
now do things that you are prevented from doing with
Philip Rivers, Riley Leonard. While he is, he doesn't have
any physical limitations. He does have to knee injury. I
saw him throw all morning on Sunday morning before the game.
He's fine, Okay, trust me, he's fine. If he if
(06:54):
he's out there, he can do more than Philip Rivers physically,
There's no question about that. But I don't I think
in terms of the physical abilities that Anthony Richardson has,
there's no comparison there.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
But here's why I ask Stephen Here's why I ask,
if Riley Leonard can do the equivalent of Philip Rivers, Okay,
and for that matter, Riley Leonard is probably more mobile
than Philip Rivers. Then if that's the case, certainly, and
considering and considering that, Riley Leonard is a player. I'm
(07:28):
not saying a locke, but Riley Leonard is a player
that has the chance to be part of your roster
and your depth moving forward. Philip Rivers does not. So
why then Philip Rivers over Riley Leonard.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So I know not everyone will agree with this, That's fine,
but I'm telling you in my opinion, in my educated opinion,
I think if Riley Leonard would have gone up against
that Seattle defense, it would have been ugly right. The
reason I say that is because he would have made
mistakes that Philip Rivers didn't make. And while it was
(08:04):
certainly it was painful to watch at times, this forty
four year old middle aged man trying to do this. Okay,
I get it right. That is what it took against
that opportunistic defense. They got a lot of playmakers over there.
They would have put Riley Leonard in a freaking blender.
In my opinion, I have no doubt this giving up
(08:24):
a touchdown in twofold games.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Do you feel that's the same for San Francisco?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Uh yeah, I think Robert sala would would make his
head spin. Yes, okay, absolutely so.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
With that.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
And look, the Colts are still mathematically and statistically in
the possibility for the postseason, right, and I get it
they owe it to themselves to push in on that.
The question is is this in any way, shape or form.
Is this in any way, shape or form Chris Ballard
and or Shane Steike and wanting to make a push
(09:00):
because they feel that that is necessary. Like selection Sunday
with the NCAA tournament, when they say, like, okay, state
your case, what are your good wins, what are your
you know, what's your profile? Are they in position? Do
you believe where they feel like they may have to
state that case and make that argument to ownership at.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
The end of the year.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I mean, they may have to make that argument, but
I think they're they're unrelated. And here's why, because what's
the alternative You sit on your ass and just take
the take the l Right, That's not an alternative. In
fact that I would I would think much less of
them as as men. If they did that, I would
think significantly less of them. You're doing what it takes.
(09:44):
Now we can we can quibble as a fan, you
can quibble about how they are going about achieving that
goal of staying in competitive That is fine. But I
would not as a fan argue the fact that they
are trying to do something right because, as I said,
the alternative is, well, you just take the l and
(10:05):
you say we suck. Well I don't. I wouldn't respect
that right. So I think they're doing what they have
to do. This is I mean, ultimately, if they would
if they pull that off on Sunday, I mean, I
still don't think they're a team that's going anywhere in
the long term this year. But now you're if they
win that game, they're really in it, and they gave
(10:26):
themselves every opportunity, so they have I think they're doing
the right thing in terms of the goal, the means
of getting to the goal. That is for the individual
to decide.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Has Tyler Warren started to hit a rookie wall, I.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Don't know, as much as I think circumstances maybe have
have got have gotten the best of him. And I
mean circumstances beyond his control, like the quarterback situation and
the offense just kind of in a lull. I do
think that if Daniel Jones is playing, you're seeing a
different version of Tyler Warren. It's just been tough. No. Now,
(11:07):
I would say, if you get Anthony Richardson back out there,
I am not promising that's gonna happen, right, just very
very hypothetically. I think if you get if you if
you get Anthony Richardson out there, now you're creating more
matchup issues with a quarterback like that. Now you bring
the read option to the table, and I could see
(11:29):
bootlegs with Tyler Warren wide open, like there's some things
you can do there. It's tougher with with the limitations
with Philip Rivers, even though he had a lot of
success with tight ends. I mean certainly we know of
one in particular back in San Diego who did okay, right,
But but I just think with the way they use
Tyler Warren, I think it helps if the quarterback can
(11:52):
sort of move around and you can get those matchups
with with Tyler Warren that they're not getting maybe as
much right now. But I I think he's been fine.
I think he's been fine, but he's definitely been quieter.
I don't put it on him, per say though.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Okay, Steven, I'm going to take for your protection here.
I'm going to take Indiana out of the equation of
what I'm about to ask.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Okay, but here's how we're going to do this.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
If you look at the college football playoff, you got Indiana.
We're going to take Indiana out of the equation as
a potential answer.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
You got Ohio State, Georgia.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Miami. Obviously we know about right
ore agaon James Madison, Tulane. I think that covers most
of them. Okay, I'm going to give you a situation
for the Colts, and I want you to tell me
the college football team that you feel has the same
likelihood of it happening in terms of them winning it.
(12:47):
So example, if I said to you, okay, the odds
that Philip Rivers throws a touchdown past the rest of
the year, and you would say those are very good odds.
So you would say that's in Ohio State. If I say, okay,
the odds of Tyler Warren having a one hundred and
fifty yard receiving game. You would say, that's James Madison,
et cetera. You see how we're doing this, right, So
(13:09):
that said, let me let me present to you the scenario,
and I want you to tell me the college football
playoff team of the ken likelihood. Okay, Anthony Richardson starts
a game the remainder of this season.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Hmm okay, that's that is a tricky one. I would
say that is a.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Now we do have teams like we do have teams
like Oregon, Miami and Texas Tech that like they may
have a chance, but we don't know enough about them
per se.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
If you will well that I'm thinking exactly that. That's why,
so I said, by any and I think it's because
two things. Number one, they were we didn't even know
if they were gonna be there, all right, That definitely
fits in this particular instance, right, Okay, okay, so so,
but but now they're in play, So anything happened. I
(14:02):
just explained Anthony Richardson's entire career. Okay, we're done here, Okay.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Number two, Philip Rivers starts and or plays in a
game for the Colts after they are if they are
eliminated from the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
So if they have and you know, it may be
that they go all the way to the end.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
But if they realistically had a game where they have
been eliminated from the playoffs, Philip Rivers is still played
as part of their team.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Hmmm, that is a hell of a dilemma. I lean
towards saying they play him. I really do, okay, but
I'll I'll say I'm not convinced for sure, so I'll
say I no, like, so.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
This is so, this is okay. I was gonna say this.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
This feels a little like old miss and the fact
that like there's there's precedent there to think, but at
the same time there's like changes and un certainly at
the top, and so therefore you don't know how it's
going to go right right right?
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Like, I mean, I can make a hell of an
argument in that scenario to say, let's say Richardson can't play,
I would I'd say, all right, well, what the hell
is Riley Leonard here for?
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Right? I mean, that's been my question, right because.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
The reason for the reason for not playing Riley Leonard
right now is the stakes are too high. And I agree,
I'm fine with that. If the stakes then are are different, well,
then the argument is different. Okay, understand, give me I
would be on the other side of that.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Give me the odds possibility in the college football playoff.
Give me the team that aligns with the odds of
this Chris Ballard or Shane steichen Our playing or excuse me,
coaching and or guiding for their cult's future in the
last three weeks.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I'd say, I'm gonna say, uh, that would be two lane.
I think they're back. I'm telling you here. No one
wants to hear it, but I'm telling you I think
they're back.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Okay, let me go with one more for you. Here,
are you ready?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Daniel Jones will be signed to a multi year deal
in the offseason despite his Achilles recovery by the Colts.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
What team, hm hm hm hmmm.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Okay. I lean towards most of the year because I
think I think they believe they'll get a better deal,
maybe that they can entice him with. This is this
is hypothetical. They haven't told me this. This is just
me thinking through it. Okay. Uh. If you can give
him a multi year deal, you give him security. But
(16:54):
you're gonna You're gonna have to make a sacrifice Daniel
on the money, right, That's that's what I That's how
I would present this if I were them, if they
indeed believe in him, right.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Then, So the odds of him getting a contract offer
you're saying is are we looking at Ohio State here?
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Well, i'll go, I'll go, I'll go Testas Tech. They're
the four seeds. So you know I'm not all the
way in or Georgia.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Georgia. Yeah, Georgia is a good one.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Okay, Because here's the thing that I talked about this
last week, and I want your thoughts on this. Steven Holder,
our guest to ESPN dot com, Java House Peel and
poor guest line is where you're hearing his voice. It
seems to me like there may be a little bit
advantage Colts in this form. The only advantage of the
(17:47):
Daniel Jones injury, Stephen is that you are correct. This
has now shifted the the marketing leverage of a contract
term to advantage Indianapolis as opposed to advantage Daniel Jones.
They now theoretically couldn't get him at a much lower price, right.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Yeah, I mean I think this it's still gonna be
a tricky negotiation because the injury makes it tricky. However,
it was it was going to be tricky before as well,
because it was gonna be one year of high level,
albeit really great performance. But one year and there is
still the old Daniel Jones, right, So it's again it
(18:32):
would have been tricky either way because at that point
you don't have the health as a variable. So he
can make the argument I made your team relevant, right,
He could make that argument, and who's gonna be able
to argue against that? Well? What does that cost?
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Right?
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So here I think he still has that argument. But
but your counter argument is your achilles is busted. Man.
We love you, but it is what it is. So yeah,
I do think I do agree with you. It's giving
them a little advantage because I think the one thing
you have to think about in the contract negotiation is
what is the worst case scenario? And the worst case
(19:09):
scenario is we are wrong and then two years from
now we're cutting this guy, right, and what does that
cost us?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Right?
Speaker 3 (19:15):
So that's how you have to approach it. And I
think this will enable them to execute a contract that
maybe puts them at less risk in the worst case scenario.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Moodey Ward and Braiden Smith. What are the odds both
of them are back as colts next year?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I think Braiden Smith. Again, I'm going to be very clear,
this is not mean reporting this, projecting this or anything.
I think the odds are decent that Braiden Smith says
I've had a good run, you know. I mean he's
been through a lot, right, physically nimtal well documented, right,
(19:55):
well documented.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
And the same and the same can be said for
mod right and with all respect to him, if physically
three concussion protocols this year and then emotionally the loss
of his daughter, I mean he's been doing a lot as.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Well, no question about it.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Now.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Now that one trickier because you know he's in the
prime of his career. Braden Smith played fine this year,
but I think you know it's he has he has
certainly declined somewhat right. I think Mooney Ward is a
great player, so that's what's trickier. But you are correct,
I mean you can't judge it just based on his
(20:33):
play because there's too much else going on. Now. The
early word, and I mean super early, because who knows, right,
he hasn't had a chance to get away from it
and all that. I don't know, but the early word
is that he's still engaged and still wants to keep playing.
But I am not you know, I'm not promising that.
(20:53):
I have no idea, but I I do think as
of now, with limited information, I think he's back.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Okay, lastly, Steven, I'm gonna name the college football matchup,
and I want you to, Steven hold her immediate gut reaction.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Who you think will win? You're ready?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
James Madison Oregon.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Oregon by three touchdowns?
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Okay Oregon Texas Tech.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Hmm, I'll say, I'll say Oregon.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
But I'm but I'm less sorry about that because I
don't know Texas Tech that.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Well, no one does, and I mean not even the
kid on Landman anywhere's their hat every day?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Alabama Oklahoma, ah Man, tough one Oklahoma, Okay, Oklahoma, Indiana, Indiana.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
I like them over anybody, right now?
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Okay, tou Laane, Old Miss.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Uh ol miss better athletes?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I guess I don't know Old Miss Georgia, Good game.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Georgia. How coaches them?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Okay, you're alma mater Miami and uh hang on, Who's
Who's Miami.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
God Texas A and M Texas A and m Yeah sorry, yeah,
tough one. Miami buy a field goal?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Okay, Miami Ohio State.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
But I don't really believe it. Miami Ohio State, Ohio State,
but it's close. Okay, Ohio State, Georgia.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Mm hmm, Ohio State by a smidge.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Okay, uh, Indiana, Oregon.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Indiana for the second time.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Indiana, Ohio State.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Again for the second time.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Indiana, Kurt, if you could please play the breaking news sounder.
This just an ESPN dot com Steven Holder projecting the
Indiana Hoosiers will be the twenty and twenty five college
football season unblemished and undefeated national champion. Steven, We're not
(23:22):
holding you to that, but it's fun nonetheless, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I mean, I listen, I I'm not going out. I'm
not going out on a limb here. But I think
that's that's probably the most complete teams. That's what I
like is, you know, it's not like, oh, their offense
is just really good or this aspect of their team.
I think they're a complete team, and so rarely do
you get that, you know in college football, where what's
(23:48):
the weakness. I don't know that there is one, so
I don't know. I love them. They've been great. It's
been great fun just watching them this year, and I
hope the riot continues.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Have you watched Landman? By the way, I have not
one of the one of the one of the dudes
on Landman. It takes place in West Texas. He wears
a Texas Tech hat all the time. It is I'm like,
that is the perfectly cast outfit. That'd be the easiest
casting director job or excuse me, wardrobing job of all time.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Like, hey, we just need you.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
To you know a guy that works on an oil
patch in West Texas.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, a flannel shirt, flannel short sleeved shirt,
and a Texas Tech hat. Done right, right, I mean right,
that's not believable at all. Right, yeah, easiest thing ever.
All right, Steven, appreciate it. We will be looking for
the coverage Monday night now Colts and Niners coming up
this week for Indianapolis. Appreciate it, Steven, all right, you
(24:42):
got it, all right? Stephen Holder joining me from ESPN
dot Comic and Java House Peel and poor guest line, Butler,
I believe tonight take it on Yukon Brayla Mullins, the
reigning mister Basketball in that game, guy that covered him
and now has covered a new recipient of the coveted
Mister Football award, and there is news to talk about
in both sports from a high school standpoint, with our
(25:06):
friend from The Indianapolis Star, Kyle Neddripp joining the program
now on the Java House Peel and poor guest line.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
You got spared, Kyle.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Because since we'd moved to the new location, we're still
unpacking boxes, notably the one where you call yourself both
lost and clueless.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
Right, Yeah, yeah, that's that's okay. It's a holiday season,
so you're you're being kind today.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Let's begin with football from a football standpoint. Saw it
just within the last day or so. Congratulations and well deserved.
But the Indianapolis Star there is a new Indiana Mister
Football to congratulate.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
Yeah, we awarded that, Miles mclafflin. Yesterday. The Indian Football
Coach Association voted.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Miles and it was pretty you know, the voting was
was pretty much in his favor. I mean sixty four percent.
I think sixty four point five percent of the votes,
and Heritage Chills Jed Goldsberry had about sixteen sixteen or
eighteen percent. You have to I have to read the
story again that I wrote, but somewhere in that range.
(26:14):
So it was pretty lopsided and kind of thought that
might be how it went down. You know, Miles had
such a great run, especially the second half of the season,
you know, started to really get some national recognition and
you know, people like Derek Henry even talking about him
on various platforms and you know, and to get you know,
(26:34):
he ended up the all time single season national record
holder for rushing. So you know, when you get those
type of you know, that type of accolades and accomplishments
puts you on another stratosphere. And definitely getting his team,
they were, you know, one step away from making the
state finals, but you know, to get that team as
far as he did certainly helped him as well. So yeah,
(26:55):
very you know, and he said, you know, you know,
talking to him yesterday, you know, he did say it
was a lot of pressure and you know, it felt
like the way the world was on him at times,
and you know, but then he said it was in it.
Speaker 7 (27:05):
It was in a good way.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
It was fun, you know, and he obviously carried that
team a long way. So I think, uh, you know,
he's going to Murray State to play next year and
and be a running back, so you know, we'll see
how he does in college. But uh, but yeah, I'm
a pretty pretty cool story from a little town that
had never had a mister football before.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Yeah, and that's you know, it's funny because Knox is
the town, right or not in the school, and I
I always assumed, you know, like North Knox and Knox
County is down south of Vincennes. This is the opposite end,
right we're talking about, uh, northeastern Indiana up near Fort Wayne.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
Correct, it's north you know, northwest actually you know you're
going towards uh you know.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Winn A back up in that Okay, yeah, okay, that part.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
Of the state.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
So yeah, it's it's kind of a it's Start County,
which you know they've never actually the county has never
had a mister football. It's you know, I've been up
there probably what three times now.
Speaker 7 (28:02):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
It's it's a quite a quite a haul to get
up that way, but it's it's kind of just you know,
if you're thinking about the you know, the the the
time zones. They are in the Central time zone just barely.
Speaker 7 (28:13):
Uh so you know.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
They're they're up there, pretty far up in the northwest
part of the state.
Speaker 7 (28:17):
But yeah, they you know, it's it's uh, we.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Were in the school yesterday and obviously a lot of
excitement for him about this award, and you know, he'll
he'll uh, you know, that's something you know, he's got
two younger brothers and they're you know, they're gonna you know,
it's something that they can their family can really you
know appreciate, I think, and enjoy and really that whole community.
Rush Radke he's the coach there and he's been you know,
he's a fifty year high school football coach and you know,
(28:42):
talking to him yesterday too, obviously very appreciative of having
a mister football, you know, having coached one.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
So uh but yeah, pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
I mean he kind of came from I would they
came from the outside. You know, when I was doing
this last year, looking at the candidates for this year,
you know, he wasn't among the top you know, top
five or anything like that, so you know kind of
you know, was able to get his way in there
and then win pretty handily, which is which is quite
an accomplishment, Kyle.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Sometimes, you know, things like that, a guy winning a
Mister Football doing it from a smaller school like that,
a smaller community. You know, that stuff brings people together
and they talk about it for a long time and
you know it's cool.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Right.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Sometimes communities also are kind of forced to come together
in circling around or gathering around or holding together tight
after something that is not always you know, as celebratory.
It goes without saying, but sometimes the worst situations can
bring out the best in a community and for a
(29:43):
family as well. Tell me about the tragically sad story
but at the same time, maybe with a community feel
to it.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Of Jeff the.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Ref Yeah, Jeff, you know, Jeff Tomari passed away Friday night.
Was refereeing a game at Via Girls game against speed
Away and in the second quarter of that game, you know,
collapsed and you know, passed away. And you know, I
talked to several referees that night, you know, ended up
(30:13):
talking to his family, his daughter, one of his daughters,
his ex wife, his sister.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
He was in his early sixties, correct, Yeah.
Speaker 7 (30:22):
Sixty three would have been sixty four next.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
Month actually, so yeah, he was sixty three. You know,
had a you know, he was a you know, an
athletic guy. He was a Perry Murdy and graduate. I
was a swimmer there actually, and you know, went on
and he refereed. He did all these you know, not
only high school basketball, but he was if he you know,
talked to some of the refs and umpires he worked with,
(30:46):
was a really good baseball umpire. I talked to Kevin Brown,
who umpired with him, and he said he was just
a fantastic baseball umpire. Should have been in the state finals,
you know, that type of umpire.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
I did a lot of.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
High school football and basketball as well, did and then
started doing a lot of youth games, you know, and
that was sort of where you know, the Jeff the
ref moniker came from. And you know, he got to
know these kids up in Zionsville Youth League and you
know other leagues that he did at Greenwood. He lived
in Greenwood, you know, and had uh you know, I
talked to his you know a lot of his closer
(31:22):
friends in the umpiring and refereeing world as well. But uh,
but yeah, I just had a way about him that
I think, uh, you know, kids were just kind of
drawn to him.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
He was always you know, very.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
Positive guy, positive as far as you know, teaching kids,
you know, not being you know, just someone who's there
just to be there.
Speaker 7 (31:41):
You know.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And we've all seen that at times, whether it's you know,
umpiring or refing or whatever, just you're just kind of there.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
You know, you know, just to be there, you know.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
But he he sort of went out of his way
to you know, correct the shot or correct telekid, Hey
you travel on that watch, you know, don't do that again,
stuff like that, and you know, so I think that
was just kind of.
Speaker 7 (32:02):
The way he was. Kid kids, really we were sort
of drawn to him that way.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
And and you know, I've heard from so many people
you know, either social media or you know, who have
had a good experience with them. And you know, obviously,
like you said, it's a you know, the whole situation,
no matter you know who it happened to on Friday night,
was you know that you feel for those people who
were there and the kids who are watching that happen.
(32:29):
You know, it's something they'll never forget, you know, anyone
who was there that night. So you know, regardless of Jeff,
you know, the person, you know, just being in that
moment is something.
Speaker 7 (32:39):
They're going to carry with him as well.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
But but yeah, I also wanted to tell the story
about who he was, and you know, tried to do
that from you know, talking to his family and his
you know, people who knew him from the refereeing world.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
But yeah, just to you.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
Know, like I said, it's just a sad situation. But
I think some people definitely feel better having you know,
read more about him or heard more about him, or
talk more about him, you know, including his family. I
think it was you know, from talking to his family
Sunday and Saturday and Sunday, you know, just to you know,
(33:13):
kind of talk about him.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
I think is helpful sometimes.
Speaker 8 (33:15):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
So yeah, Kyle, the you know, for it itself, I
guess two things here on this real quick to kind
of put a tie on all of it. The first
is we still don't know, because I and I understand
that it's probably almost bordering on invasive to ask. But
for you know, if someone is refereeing games, they obviously
(33:38):
have an interest in young people and helping young people
progress and learning, you know, and learning the game teaching
the game things like that. And one thing I've learned
about high school officials of note, you know, I've been
around and had the pleasure to meet some of them.
Many of them do it because they love being around
high school kids and athletics and teaching the game and
watching the game and being a fan of the game
(33:58):
and of young people's appreciation of the game, And so
they lend their time for that. They ain't doing it
to be rich, right, I mean, they're doing it for
a love of the growth of the game. So in
that spirit there, possibly from a health standpoint, could be
something that people could learn from this tragedy of Jeff.
But we don't know yet what it was that was
(34:19):
the cause.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Of this, correct, Yeah, and it.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Yeah, so yeah, I mean that's for pretty much where
it's you know, I can't you know, because I don't.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Know for sure, correct, I understand.
Speaker 4 (34:31):
Yeah, there's some you know, the way the way it
happened would lead you to think it was it was
a heart situation, but yeah, we don't know for sure exactly, so,
you know, And I don't want to speak out a
turn to the family or whatever.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
Yeah, nor was I asking my point simply being there
is not, because the natural thing people hearing it would think,
especially with my initiatives towards heart health and things like that,
is hey, was there something with.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Which we can learn or be aware?
Speaker 1 (34:57):
And this short answer of that is, at this point
there is not definitive known cause as to what could
have caused this and possibly other health complications.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
That were unaware.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
Uh, but there is no definitive answer, is what I
wanted to get at the other is, you know, how
was it handled in the moment by Monrovia or by
just administrators there to kind of help kids through this?
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (35:21):
I mean I I you know I did.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
I talked to John Gregacious the monrovi ad that night,
and you know, and everyone I talked to, you know,
including him, said, you know, they did everything possible. The
emergency EMTs, the emergency personnel were there quickly, and you know,
people came out of the you know, out of the
bleachers to help, you know, who were who were qualified,
and they got the kids out, you know, they got
(35:43):
the kids to the locker room, you know, and they
you know, they had everything there on site to do
the best they could in that situation. And and you know,
so I don't and the family told me that too,
and they, you know, they felt like, uh, you know,
everything possible was done to try to make you know,
(36:04):
to try to help Jeff out, and it just didn't happen.
Speaker 7 (36:07):
So, you know, so I think I think they were ready.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
I think there's been things happened in the past, you know,
just just generally around the country to make high schools
more ready for situations like this, you know, so I
think that helped, you know, But but honestly, you know,
it's just it's so sad because it just, you know,
you didn't get a positive outcome out of it.
Speaker 7 (36:29):
And you know, I know, the min.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Rovia team got together on set. They were supposed to
play actually on Saturday morning against Try West. They obviously
canceled that game because of the situation, but they did
get together. They had breakfast together. They wanted to make
sure the girls weren't just at home, you know, by themselves,
so they did get together at least, and I know
they were, you know, planning to get back to school today.
(36:52):
I think they had yesterday off because of the weather.
But I'm sure you know, for those girls too, it's
just it's something you'll never forget. Obviously, but you know,
I think the fact that they were able to be
together as much as they could, and you know, they're
going to get a chance to continue their season and
you know the girls from Speedway too, and you know,
(37:12):
hopefully there's you know, something positive.
Speaker 7 (37:14):
They're going to finish this game at some point.
Speaker 4 (37:16):
I can't remember when the you know, when they'll play again,
but I'm sure that'll be something. With the teams back
together again, that can be some sort of a healing too.
Speaker 7 (37:24):
But but yeah, from.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
A standpoint of, you know, doing everything they could in
the moment, everything I've heard it was real, you know,
even like I said, from the family too, was real positive.
Speaker 7 (37:36):
On that front.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Kyle, Appreciate the time today and also, you know, letting
everybody know about that story, but more about Jeff, you
know what I mean to let people know via The
Indianapolis Star, what kind of guy he was, the dedication
he had towards sports, in multi sports and helping out
with his expertise and officiating.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Appreciate the time today.
Speaker 7 (37:53):
Man, for sure, Thanks Jerry.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Kyle Edrip joining me on the job house peelmpor guest
line speaking of high school basketball football.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
By the way, a.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Double header coming up at the Colisseum Holiday Tournament's galore, right,
and we always love him. There's a new one coming
up at the Colisseum. I'll tell you about that. On
the other side, Scott Agnes Top of the hour, two
o'clock hour underway in Indianapolis, for that matter, of the
two o'clock hours underway everywhere in the Eastern time zone.
My name is Jake Querry Eddie Garrison. By the way,
(38:21):
have you been out yet, Kurt to the State Fairgrounds?
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Not yet?
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Okay, my understanding, My understanding. The and this is kind
of fun. So if you're wondering, and a lot of
people have asked where Eddie has been, and Scott Agne
is going to join his field House files just a second.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
But I mentioned this the other day.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Eddie took time off about two weeks ago and he
is in This is fun. As we know from listening
to this show, Eddie has an eight and five eighth
hat size and that puts him in like the upper
like two percentile or something like that. So he is
a member of what's known as the United States. And
(39:04):
I kept saying association, and I apologize, I completely apologize.
It's the United States Big Head Federation, I said, association.
It's federation. It's an organization. I don't know who put
this together, but a bunch of people with big craniums.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
So they.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
One of the hat companies, I don't know which one
decided because there was an kind of an untapped market
with the Apparently the Big Head Federation membership continues to grow,
not unlike their heads, and so as a result of that,
they there was an increased conversation of you know, inclusiveness
(39:44):
for the hat industry, and they wanted to make sure
because a couple of years ago it became the rage
those big hats, that was like the big thing was
the big hats, and they there was some thought with
the BHF that that was actually in mockery and that
kind of a thing, And so that began conversation and
dialogue with the hat manufacturers, and they were naive to
(40:07):
the fact that the Big Head Federation felt there were
a lot of people that felt like they couldn't buy
hats of their favorite team and their hat size. So
they wanted to go ahead and start making those hats,
and they wanted models, cranium models to come and do
photo shoots. So Eddie took a couple of weeks off
I don't know, or a day off a couple of
(40:27):
weeks ago, I should say, to go up to Crown
Point Crown the keyword here and as part of the
BHF photo shoot, and he was not selected. However, when
they were doing the photo shoot, one of the things
they had challenged with was the lighting. And Eddie, because
(40:49):
of working in studios and in particular this one and
helping out with the he lended him some of the
lended them some of his expertise in lighting that he
learned at the University of Indianapolis and radio and television work,
and there happened to be a guy also fell a
BHF member that is one of those that helps out
with the winter lights at the fairgrounds. And so they
(41:14):
ran up short on time this year because of the
unexpected cold weather and et cetera, and they needed someone
with lighting expertise to come and help with the elves
lights that they have. If you go there, they ask
for you to count the elves as you drive through
the winter lights. Eddie is the designated elf lighter and
so they have hired him. He took a couple of
(41:35):
days off making big money and so not just the
head big here paycheck as well. So he is doing that.
So when you drive through the winter lights for the
fair grounds, when you see and it's a fun thing
for the kids to do to count the elves as
you drive through. When you're driving through to count the elves,
keep in mind those were developed, built and everything else.
(41:57):
And then can buy Eddie. He's out there doing that
right now. So that's and and there are several of them.
That's why it's taking him a couple of days. So
therefore you get some pinch hit bullpen hours.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
I mean, hey, he's a jack of all trades.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
He is that jack. The key word joining us now
in the Java House Peel and poor guest line. He
is of course with Fieldhouse files covering the pacers Fever
as well. Scott Agnes Joints Just Scott, Happy holidays to you.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Happy holidays to you as well.
Speaker 7 (42:23):
Enjoyed that story.
Speaker 3 (42:24):
That was great.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
Did you know that about Eddie?
Speaker 3 (42:27):
No, that's why I was so enlightened.
Speaker 7 (42:28):
Yeah, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Enlightened the key word speaking of enlightened. He can do
that as well because and again if you go through
look for the lighted elves. That's all that is entirely
Eddie's work. Just so you know, entirely Eddie's work. Scott,
let's get to this, I thought, and I get it.
I mean, this is a team with the Pacers that
there are two ways to look at down years. One
(42:53):
is you just lose it. And maybe I'm biased because
you know, I have a lot of love for the
Pacers and I've been open about that, and it was
such you know, it was so invigorating what happened last
year during the finals run and now they are so down.
But yet because there's plausible explanation for it, they've been
(43:14):
able to get away with that because you're like, you
know what, it's the injuries, it's the attrition, it's the
new faces.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
But that game against Washington, that to me was the
first time this year where they laid a complete goose
egg that seemingly was inexplicable.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Your thoughts, Yeah, I would agree with you there, Jake,
for sure.
Speaker 8 (43:33):
And you could even go back how it started perhaps
two nights earlier in Philadelphia, where Pacers were on track,
they were leading, and they scored five points over the
final like eight twenty four outscored twenty to five. I
thought that would leave a bad taste in their mouths.
This is a team that is playing better in Philadelphia,
they saw Joelle Embiid have his best performance in two seasons.
(43:56):
Weal surprise he always plays well.
Speaker 7 (43:58):
Against the Pacers.
Speaker 8 (43:59):
But then yeah, everything that could go wrong against the Wizards,
who were the only team worse than the Pacers right
now record wise in the East did And the challenging part,
as I thought you alluded to well, is before it
was all understandable. This performance, know nothing about that was understandable.
Rick Carlisle even say post game it was unacceptable. We
(44:20):
can't do this. Ever, and to the point, we saw
him use a timeout one minute into the game, and
so you wonder, like, you know, Siakam's been their most
consistent guy since he has got here.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
I can't say enough good things about him.
Speaker 8 (44:32):
But you know, Nimhart didn't look completely healthy, still dealing
with an injury. Though he was out there, he was
questionable entering the game, missed his first eleven shots, very
unlike him. Matherin, There's been ups and downs, and really
the only player that's jumped out to me was center
Jay Huff inside.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
Yeah, Jay Huff. To me, Scott looks like a guy.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
I've always said that in sport sometime sometimes how or
where you were acquired factors into how you are evaluated.
And in the case of Jay Huff, I think the
timing of when he was acquired because of the Miles
Turner departure, and so people thought, Okay, this is the
Miles Turner replacement. I think we can now safely say
(45:17):
he is not that. However, whoever Miles Turner's long term
replacement is going to be once they have everybody back
in the stable, and I think that player is not
currently on the roster. I think Jay Huff has now
shown himself to be a situational, really nice eighteen to
twenty one minute off the bench piece once they get
(45:37):
that starting five in there.
Speaker 2 (45:39):
Would you agree with that assessment, I would.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (45:42):
I didn't expect him at all to come in and
be the savior, be the starter, but I know it
was kind of one of the first transactions after Miles
Turner moved on, and it was at the center spot.
But this is a guy, I think, if you understand
the circumstances here, this is a guy that got limited
action with them, but was very productive, and so the
Pacers liked that. They liked his characteristics, they liked what
(46:06):
the analytics told him, and that.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Has proven to be true.
Speaker 8 (46:09):
He leads the league in total blocks, he leads the
league in blocks per forty eight minutes, all those attributes.
He's a good rebounder, can play the inside out game,
similar to Miles Turner, whereas Isaiah Jackson's a very different player,
more of a rim runner, more of a guy that's
around the basket and operatings. So yeah, I think moving forward,
(46:29):
I would not be surprised for j Huff to be
your backup center. But still there's that big missing piece
there at the starting role. And for now they're just
kind of coppling it together and in Red Carlisle's words,
doing it by committee.
Speaker 1 (46:43):
By the way, Scott, this happened to us yesterday, and
I'm just simply going to point it out because it's
the elephant the room and have fun with it.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
I don't know what this is.
Speaker 1 (46:51):
It is strictly a beyond the control of anybody here,
like weird software bug. I don't know if Eddie like
tickered with something before it maybe and when doing the
light stuff, your voice sounds like you're on helium in
the way that like like you sound like accommodation here
of Kermit the Frog and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
It's kind of fun.
Speaker 1 (47:11):
Have you ever done the helium through a balloon and
then talking type deal?
Speaker 8 (47:15):
No, I haven't, and I can promise you there's no
Joey Molnoro im precious and right now that's I know
we missed my hotline, but this is a little bit different.
Speaker 7 (47:23):
You are.
Speaker 1 (47:25):
You sound like you're on helium, So I'm gonna do
the helium voice. Scott agnes for one more question here?
You ready in terms of the health standpoint and you
know obviously PACER's next coming up Thursday at the field
House health standpoint and the return of those that we
have not seen in some time, not named Tyrese Haliburton.
Speaker 2 (47:44):
Where do we stand.
Speaker 8 (47:46):
Yeah, we got a little bit clarity on it today
because the Pacers got the ten day hardshap exception. Therefore
we know I appreciate you getting through this. Ben Shephard
and Aaron Nesmith will be at least out the next
two weeks, so we did get clear pty on that front. Otherwise,
Obi top and don't expect any update from him until February.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
By the way, can you just say for me, please
follow the yellow bick road.
Speaker 2 (48:10):
Can you just say.
Speaker 8 (48:10):
That, Jake, follow the yellow brick road.
Speaker 7 (48:19):
Scott.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
It doesn't make any sense to you now, But if
you go back and listen to the program later, Scott,
you'll understand totally why I asked you to do that.
Speaker 2 (48:29):
You got it, man?
Speaker 8 (48:30):
Why not Indiana?
Speaker 1 (48:31):
I love it? That's trademark. By the way, why not Indiana?
I got all kinds of legal stuff going on with that.
Just so you know, I've got now and I'm not
saying the names of any businesses that is not my
because it's gone beyond just in. It's outside Indiana, so
it's not Indiana businesses. But to why not Indiana trademark?
This trademark thing, man, it's legit. I got a guy,
I got an attorney. This chasing stuff down all over
(48:53):
the place.
Speaker 8 (48:54):
Your timing was impeccable. When you go from the Pacers
to the Fever and now certainly number one Indiana Football,
it doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 2 (49:02):
That is indeed correct. Scott Agnes joining us
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