Welcome back, it's football season

Episode Transcript
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Devin Stewart (00:02):
Hello and welcome into another red out podcast season, 8 guys. We've been going at this for a long time. I started out with no kids. And now I've got one. So we've been going for a while. As always, we got Matt in the podcast. How's it going? Buddy.

Matthew McCay-Safeguard Insurance (270)996-7630 (00:17):
What's up, man? Go tops.

And we also have a
one of them Alabama roll tide fans in the in the Red out studio today we've got Dave. How's it going, Buddy?

Dave Ozment (00:27):
Hey, guys excited to be on with you talking a little ball.

Yeah, how's it? So I'm gonna let you do your little plug real quick
with all your stuff. If you want, go ahead.

Yeah, absolutely. Dave Osmond, Alabama football. Podcast we're on the the.com version of that as well as the@gmail.com. I love. You guys have been doing it 8 years, and you started with no kids and have kids this marks our 15th season. And my daughter just turned 14. And so so so we're in a very similar similar boat here. But hey, it's been a lot of fun sort of following this era of college football.

(01:05):
And I love getting on. You know, the podcast and talking ball with folks. And so it's a great Forum to have an opportunity to do that. Thanks for having me on today.

Yeah. Glad to have you, Buddy. It's always a always a pleasure to kind of reach across the aisle and talk sports, especially when you're talking to the team that is gonna thump you pretty good. So, Matt, I know you've got some housekeeping stuff to go into. What do you got, Bud?

Yeah. Just wanted to to update everybody on Wk athletics as well as some towel rack news. Quickly the the towel rack we have activated a.
it's called a. It's labeled like a subscription program. But it's not. It's really just if you want to donate, feel free. It helps our efforts and funds everything. There's information on the website. We're also gonna have an article that comes out that explains it pretty soon. So

(01:55):
happy to to take in those donations to help fund this podcast as well as traveling and the expenses and fees, all that kind of stuff that just kind of come up. So appreciate anything there. But again, Tal Rec is gonna be totally free to everybody. There's 0 obligation or guilt trip. Just
want to be available to everybody and appreciate everything that everybody does, and all the the views and likes and subscribes, and all that across all of our social media. As far as Wku. Not a ton has gone on the summer a few things

(02:29):
but just wanted to give everybody a just a quick update kind of what's going on on the hill. Some sports have already started, some are about to start, so the 1st one would be women's soccer. I know that moves the needle, but they they are already 2 and one on the year they had a a tie, an exhibition and had to win an exhibition. They've just started no big names that they've played, but they do play number 6 Arkansas

(02:58):
on Sunday, so should be interesting to get a real barometer where they are. No other major out of Conference opponents, but they are. They are rolling, and so go go check out the the ladies at the the new soccer complex.
They've really updated that. And it's it looks really beautiful and glad they finally have their own facility that they can really function well in and be able to recruit to as far as women's volleyball for those that don't know wku is a a really solid volleyball school. Been ranked

(03:34):
several years in a row. And finish ranked just about every year. They are about to start here on Friday. They start with Morehead State
at the. It's called the Bluegrass Battle. It's at Uk. So they'll play Morehead, State, Northern Kentucky, Kentucky, and then they have some other. They have a really strong schedule this year. Looking at Michigan state. Then they go. They had they host 4 really really good teams in Dill arena. They host Tennessee who they played last year?

(04:09):
In the Ncaa tournament Marquette, Dayton and Illinois. Those are all at Dill Arena. That's middle of September. And then
they have
a few more games. They had the Alyssa Cavanaugh classic, obviously in memory of the fallen volleyball player who had cancer a few years ago, was a incredible talent, and we we miss her, and they they honor her with that tournament. Then they get into Conference Place so definitely. Keep your eyes on volleyball. We will definitely know if they're any good here in about a month. Without that super tough schedule. So let's see if they stay in the polls, or if they drop out for a little bit and hopefully come back.

(04:55):
also. Men's basketball announced
their schedule a few weeks ago. Really nice non conference schedule. It's been a while since we've had such a strong schedule. Wichita state in in Bowling Green Grand Canyon. Is a solid mid major program going there. And then we have Campbellsville. That should be a Rollover.

(05:21):
We have Lipscomb and diddle. It's kind of a local ish regional type of battle. Jackson State, we play Kentucky at Rup. Should be interesting there.
They brought back the Marshall Series
and then we play Evansville. We've always had trouble at Evansville. So that'll be interesting then Tennessee State, Murray State

(05:43):
Seattle, which is probably off the radar, but actually a pretty good program right now
and then. Kentucky, Wesleyan, and perhaps the the biggest one besides Kentucky will be at Michigan in late December, and then we start conference play so really strong schedule there in basketball excited to see how they do
women's basketball has.

(06:05):
actually not really announced their full schedule on the website. I believe they're very close to that. And we'll update you when that comes. But they have announced the Conference. U.S.A. schedule. So we'll update you as that as that comes along. So. But we're not here today to really talk.

(06:25):
You know, women's soccer or anything. No offense to the ladies on the soccer pitch. We're here to talk about football. We're excited to start the season. So Dave, it's it's exciting to have you in we really wanna learn about Alabama from from your perspective. And so you know, we're gonna start with wku, and any comments feel free to to chime in anything that you've seen or whatever. But let's get it, let's get it going. So

(06:54):
from the.

Big thing. I think the big thing. I think the big thing for us is there was a quote quarterback battle for Western, and I really didn't see it, I mean for Western. Anyway, you got Tj. Finley who's coming in? He's a little bit upper classman to to Caden Beltcamp, and even though Beltcamp had a great bowl game.
He's just not got the experience that Finley does, and there was a battle to see who won

(07:23):
I think it was always Finley's job to lose
and he's actually didn't. Am I mistaken? And he's played Alabama.

Yeah, he played and, Dave, you can let us know for sure. But it was
I know he. But he was at Auburn and at Lsu.

He's the he's the Rasputin of Alabama opponent. Quarterbacks. He keeps popping up in these.

Don't know.

And we have to play him again. So so we played him at when he was at Lsu, and then at Auburn, a couple of years ago. We didn't play Texas State last year, but I think one of our new coaches saw him in action there. So
like our defensive Coordinator Kane Womack, when he was at the University of South Alabama. So I think this will be our 4th year in a row that someone representing our program has has played was has played against tj, so that'll be an interesting part of the matchup on Saturday.

For sure. Yeah, I don't think it was, I think. You had. Your local people were upset, and we've talked about that a few times on the podcast we don't need to beat a dead horse. But I have heard that a Caden may actually see the field a little bit, maybe in kind of like a wildcat type of
excuse me, almost in wildcat wild copper type of formation, maybe kind of red zone or short yarders type of thing. To kind of give him some some reps. And

(08:50):
and I've also heard this. It was closer than maybe you would think but it definitely was.
I think, Tj's job to lose so
well, as far as the the running backs and everything. You have, Elijah young and Lt. Sanders, and then you have some other potential guys there.

(09:13):
we'll see. Elijah Young has been on some watch lists and everything. Wide receiver Western loses Malachi Corley as the the most major news. But there were some other losses as well. A couple minor transfers. But you do return Dalvin Smith. Easton. Messer. Yeah. Michael Matheson
should be back from injury, as far as I know. As as I've heard that he's and seen videos of him doing stuff. So he should be fine and tight end as well. You know, river helms, and Trevor Borland.

(09:49):
should be a pretty good unit. I think there's a couple of other good guys behind them as well. So, Dave, I guess. Question for you. And we know Alabama's
obviously any question we ask. Of course, Alabama could just blow Wku out, and that's obviously possible. But if it was close at any point

(10:12):
trying to answer it that way.
in case wk can put up a fight. Just thinking about kind of anticipated strengths and weaknesses from Alabama and and the the guys that will go up against the kind of the skill positions on offense for Wku. Is there anything you kind of see as a matchup maybe to watch, or somewhere that either side could exploit.

Yeah, I think there's a couple a couple of watch items there. You know, anytime you bring in a you know, a new coach and new coaching staff and it's sort of a change of philosophy saving the defensive minded coach to more offensive minded. Running a brand new system. There's a lot of questions. What what are we gonna see jalenro looked really good in spots last season. But it took him a couple of weeks to really sort of get into a groove. I think it was about,

(11:00):
you know, 2 thirds of the way through the season I for me. It was the Tennessee game where he really found a rhythm. If he comes in this season and sort of picks up at that point. Then you know the game, and in the early part of the Alabama season certainly looks one way. If he comes in and sort of has to get back to that position. He could potentially come in and and struggle and and throw some interceptions. He is prone to do that.

(11:23):
He'll take sacks when maybe he shouldn't, when his athletic ability suggests that he he should just tuck the ball and run. He will take some sacks, and so if he gets into that type of situation we get some 3rd and longs, and then and then a big sack turn the ball over, shorten the game in that regard. Thorough pick here and there. I think that can that can stymie the Alabama offense.

(11:45):
and then this the secondary which this is. This may be the matchup of the game the Alabama secondary lost 6 cornerbacks from last year's squad, 4 in the portal and 2 to to the Nfl. And then lost 2 2 safeties 2 safety star 2 safeties. So what's that? 8 secondary players that that were.

Well.

You know that that played significant time. And so when we look at the Alabama secondary, there's 1 guy returning Malachi Moore at a safety position that has that has Alabama snaps he'll be a 5th year, and then we've got a couple of transfers coming in that
supposed to be pretty good ranked really high and performing well in practice. But we also have some true freshmen that may get some meaningful snaps in the secondary. And so that's a matchup. You know the the the offense that western Kentucky brings to the table against a secondary. That's you know, maybe still getting their legs under them. I think if if those 2 things they can conspire to make this game closer, then

(12:53):
you know, than what Vegas thinks it is.

Yeah. Speaking of Vegas.
Western is sitting at or well, I should say Alabama is at a minus 31 and a half
so they're predicting a 31 point game over under 59 moneyline for Alabama is minus 10,000 so Western is actually sitting at a plus 3,000. So essentially, if you bet

(13:18):
$100 you get 3,000.
Honestly, I told Matt prior to you coming on, Dave, I would be willing to put $10 on this game just for the $300 payout, if it's a possibility now Espn. And everybody else is saying, Western has a
let me see there the intern that filled this out, said Western, has a 2.6% chance of winning. So there is a chance. They're 10.

Well, over 2%.

She's the one.

Point 9 in these matchups.

But I think Western has some strength. Obviously Alabama has a lot more strength, being division one school but and an sec school at that. But Western does have like 5 offensive linemen that are seniors returning
and I mean, we've got some wide receivers returning. We've got Dalvin Smith, who's going to be like Matt said.

(14:14):
He's going to be a big star for us this year, but against a team like Alabama, even though you all have lost a lot of Dbs, we're going to be experiencing, you know, probably double coverage on him, or at least in that my ex my expectation.
You know, with him being such a big target. Now, who Finley wants to pick out during the game
is his business and his choices and decisions. But

(14:36):
you know I don't know if he's going to be a player who's going to have a favorite like we've seen quarterbacks have in the past.
or if he's gonna have, if he's gonna be more spread out like a
like a
sorry I was thinking of the like the saints offense back in the day. I hated playing them in fantasy because they you never started their quarterback or their receivers, because they'd spread it out too much. But

(15:01):
but, Matt, what are your thoughts?

Well, yeah, I think the receivers and Dbs that match up is interesting because
both units are kind of a mystery on both sides. I think. Obviously Alabama, with all those losses you never know, changing, coaching, maybe changing up the schemes. Maybe with an offensive minded coach. There may be more weakness on the defense in general. Who knows exactly what goes on there, and also the receivers? You know Michael Madison was injured all last year. So who knows? Like is he the explosive

(15:38):
receiver that we saw a couple of years ago? Or is he kind of hobbled? Does he get reinjured. You know those are huge factors. As well as you know. Does Dalvin Smith, Easton, Messer, and other guys take the next step to actually produce like we would need them to produce both versus Alabama and in general in the season.
Who knows? So it's a really interesting matchup, because I I don't think anybody knows anything until we get on the field and just see what happens. But both units can be really good. Both could be pretty average.

Yeah, Dave, I usually try to have some like infographics that are a poster in the episode, but being the 1st game of the season.
and you all got a new coach and everything. It's 1 of those where there's just a toss up for us.
We just don't know what to expect, and I mean
it sounds bad, but y'all really don't know what to expect from us, except.

That's fair.

It's
go ahead, Matt.

Devin. You touched on the offensive line a little bit, and I think that's an interesting. The, you know the trenches are obviously important, especially in a
power 5 versus g. 5. Type of
of game.
the Wku offensive line should be pretty good. We think they should be solid. The Alabama offensive line

(16:53):
was.
can we say atrocious? Last year? I mean nearly 50 sacks? You know I was curious. If that was more Melroe, or if that was
the whole line itself, or whatever. And then defensive lines. You lost. I think you lost a couple of guys that had double digit sacks right from last year.

Yeah, yeah, we did. Yeah, we lost. You know, we played last year. We walked up our not to get sort of down a rabbit rabbit hole. But we played walk up linebackers and so it looked like defensive end. They were technically linebacker. But yes, we lost a lot of sack production coming from those edge positions and then Justin Boybe was just. He was a true sort of defensive end, but he was a very active, very busy player. And we've lost the Alabama Defense has lost a lot

(17:41):
of production in the, you know, sort of attacking the quarterback and bring them to the ground behind the line of scrimmage. So those would be question marks across the defensive front.

Gotcha and the offensive line. Do you feel better
about I think you brought in the Washington Center? Right, I think, is.

Yeah, yeah. We brought in Parker, Brownsford from from Washington. I'm I'm excited about the offensive line. You know. There were a number of sacks last year. I think I saw in it. You know the part of me says it has to be misprint, and part of me still aches for every one of them. But I I saw where Miller had 44 he was sacked 44 times I don't know how he was walking by the end of the season. You know. Sacked, you know.

Edit.

I think I think you know, it's sort of a mixed bag we had a lot of.
We had a lot of bad snaps last year, and the center transferred to you know Iowa State, and so we certainly wish him well. But I think it it created sort of a toxic situation he need he he! I think he needed to go, you know, for those reasons. Good kid. But I think that contributed. I think, Milro.

(18:50):
I I think Milro wanted he so wants to be viewed as a passing quarterback
that when he had the opportunities to run. You know all his career, he's been told, change positions, change positions because he's that level of athletically dynamic. And I think, he said, I'm not. I'm gonna be a quarterback and so I think that there have been moments when he wouldn't run

(19:14):
because he wanted to find the the receiver. And last year, especially at his point in his development. He just needed to run the ball he. He didn't need to try to to find the receivers, and this year, and and then last year, as the season progressed. But this year, you know, maybe it's a little different. But yeah, he. A lot of those sacks are his fault. Of course the line struggled some. We started a true freshman

(19:39):
at left tackle, and so there were some certainly some moments there. Interestingly enough, you know, Kaden Proctor, that young man he transferred to Iowa and then transferred back to Alabama, and we're we're glad to have him back. He's gonna be better as a sophomore than than he was as a freshman. He's dropped about 30 pounds, and so he's gonna be more nimble on his feet. I love our guards, Tyler, Booker, and and Jaden Roberts, I think, are, you know, maybe 2 of the best, you know. Maybe maybe the best

(20:04):
guard combo in the country and in the competition it's been at the right tackle position. Is it going to be Wilkin Formby or Elijah Pritchett. My money's on Formby. He's going to be a hard, hard one to unseat when he's in there and and I'll say this about Braillesford. There's something that the coaching staff loves about him. He did not. He transferred but did not

(20:25):
fully participate in spring drills, and the coaching staff said, Don't worry about it. He's going to be okay. And here he is, our starting center. So my guess is, they know something that we don't know as Alabama fans, and that he's going to be pretty solid. I I'm I'm looking forward to style play across the offensive front this year.

Deal. Yeah, it's a good.

Fan as a fan base. Is Alabama. Okay? Are you all okay? Now.
I mean, I know there's been a period of mourning for you all, so I didn't know how that was going for you all, or.

No, I think you know, I think no, it's true. January 10th hit hard, and when when that sort of landed there were there was it sent me in a little bit of a tailspin but but it, you know, it's also something we knew was coming right when saving came.

Yeah.

All the pundits said that that you know, he's gonna be there 2 or 3 years, and he's gonna leave. And they kept saying he's gonna leave. He's gonna leave, and it eventually becomes one of those situations you know, where stop clock is right twice a day. If you say if you say long enough that he's gonna believe one day that he's gonna leave one day, you'll be right. And so it took 17 years. But you know, eventually, eventually, those folks were were. Those folks are right, and he was, you know, 71, 72 and and

(21:40):
the biggest thing that I'll share with you guys, and we've talked about it some with our group. He was reaching a point where he he wasn't having a hard time
competing. He wasn't having a hard time coaching and the new Nio and transfer portal. He didn't like it, but he could adapt to it. His career was about adapting what he struggled with the most is maintaining a top flight. Coaching staff coaches would come in and say, Hey, can you guarantee me? You know 3 or 4, 5 years before you retire. I've got kids starting high school, I can't, you know. This is not a 1 year gig for me and more and more

(22:14):
he had a hard time retaining the top flight staff, and that's why there were some recycles over the last couple of staffs, and the day that he
what's funny is, and another sort of expression I use is he pulled a Forrest Gump, he just said, I'm gonna go run, and then one day he just stopped running, and so like the day that he retired, he was 15 min from a from a team meeting. He had interviewed a wide receiver coach that morning, and he called he called his wife Miss Terry, and said.

(22:41):
What do you think? And he said, I'm about to go into this meeting and I've got 2 messages that I can give. And and they talked for a couple of minutes, and he went in and told the team that he was stepping back. So that was, you know, you knew it was gonna come and and it just and it did, and it was, you know, as an Alabama fan, you know it's gonna come, but you don't want it to come right now, and and there it is.

(23:02):
we're super excited about Caitlin de Boer and the energy, and I love the coaching staff and and it's always
savings awesome. And now we're onto a new chapter in this new era of football. I love the fact that we have an offensive minded coach, and I think Alabama fans overall are excited, and certainly football coming back is good news, too.

There is.

I would go ahead. Go ahead, Matt. Sorry.

Is there any like skepticism, as far as like him, coming from a different region of the country, and all that? I feel like.

Car.

Sometimes I have to recruit.

Washington.

You know, maybe a little bit you know, you're always gonna get some of that auburn's real big on that. They're calling them the the husky arson, you know, but you know their coach, and and I think you know.
there's been a lot of successful coaches, you know, Urban Myers is one. There's a quite a number that have come into the South and and had success saving before you know, hotel issue wasn't necessarily from the region, and we don't claim West Virginia. So we don't. You know, he.

Nobody does.

Yeah, no one does it. So so you could reason that he you know he wasn't, you know, from the region he came from Michigan state, and had great success at Lsu. So you know you you can kind of look at it and say, Well, but you know, hey? In the South. We're nice people. And if you come in and and you're nice people, then we're gonna get along just fine. And and I think that's what de Boer is. I think he's gonna you know, he's gonna establish and build the relationships. I mean, Saban could walk in any high school in a

(24:35):
country, and and are, you know, certainly in the South, and De Boer needs to build that he doesn't have the he just doesn't have. He doesn't know the people yet, and so he's he's building to that. I think we're going to have success in that area.
I think. I think Deborah will overcome, overcome all that I think right now, auburn sort of winning the recruiting battle in the State of Alabama, which, you know they're saying, that's an evidence that Debor de Boer can't coach. Well.

(24:59):
Auburn is one recruiting in the State of Alabama more years than not while saving was the head coach, and so I don't take that as a sign of of anything, and when your opponents are sort of propagating that position, it I kind of I I can kind of live with that.

And so de Boer does not have the rapport is what you're saying.

Not it. There you go! You're waiting on that one.

I was. I was waiting.

He's he's he's getting there, and a year from now, a year from now I think that'll be I, and not I like your joke. But a year from now that position that people taking that stance will be laughable.

Well, and I mean, honestly, I think his this 1st year is going to dictate next year.
Yeah, any coach? It does. You know. He starts having success. He can say, Okay, we get you in here. You can help us do this. We can get you started. And Yada Yada Yada, whereas if he has a bad year, which Alabama football and Uk basketball are kind of inverses of each other, if a bad year for Uk is a good year for Western, so to speak, you know.

(26:03):
for us to make the tournament at Western is great year for us in basketball, whereas, you know if Abama makes, you know, a non New Year 6 bowl. Y'all are going to burn the place down.

I mean what's right. I mean, some fans are but.

Well, I mean, some fans are, you know, some fans expect it every year, sure.
But
you know it's it's 1 of those things that the more success he has the better he does. You know. Nick Saban like you said he was there 17 years. There's probably freshmen who are a year old when he started coaching at Alabama, which blows me away.

Yes.

That's pretty.

Do.

But you know, some kids, that's all they've known is Nick Saban in Alabama. So when you've got a new coach coming in, it's going to change the recruiting that 1st year. He's there.
Yes, he has the Alabama name, but he's got to back it up with tradition like what Alabama has.
Yeah. But
so, Matt, I know you've got a whole script to read off.

Oh, come on, whatever, man, it's fine. This is good, I I mean, I guess what you said brought up some questions. You know Preseason number 5, do you feel like that's realistic? Do you feel like that's overshooting it? Is it?

Undershooting it.

Yeah, what I have, yeah.
you know, is another National Championship. What are we looking at here for? Alabama?

You know I was having I was having that that exact question that came up, and and I was talking to someone about it. And and he just said, Stop talking with your 1st world problems cause I'll look at it. And I'm like, you know, number 5. That's
that's the right spot for us this year. And I think he's he's a he's a he is a Notre Dame guy, and he's like, Oh, 5 would be the pinnacle right? And so we're sitting. And I'm like, you know, George is a good team. I think I would put them or Ohio State one. I think that's fair. So we're not 3. Oregon, I think, is right there, and I give a lot of credit to Texas. And so, you know, those are all stacked teams. And you think, yeah, I kind of like us sitting at 5. I think that's fair. And the feedback is.

(27:59):
you know, jumping a lake. Because, yeah, because a lot of teams will be happy at 5. And we're just we almost feel like, Oh, yeah, that's that feels about right this season, given that, given the level of unknown. So I don't know. I'm not trying to be that way in answering the question, but it is kind of a funny question. I think it's right. I do think it's right. And I don't. You know I don't mean anything more or less than that.

No, I mean I I mean preseason polls are
useless, and they're a good gauge of where you are, because you don't know. I mean with, I mean, especially, you've got a new coach you got, you know. You got new players coming in in certain spots, you know, where some may be really advantageous in the spot. They may get moved in the season, they may get injured. You just don't know

(28:45):
and normally, like the National champion always gets pushed to number one, and I mean the good thing for Alabama at least, is that
you know your coach went to the national title, you know, games, you know, or the the turn the playoff there? Whereas like a team like for at least for us we had Willie Taggart who famously went to 3 teams in one year

(29:09):
with South Florida, then to Oregon, and then to Florida state and then that backfired for him. I don't think that's going to be the same for De Boer.
you know, with his experience being able to get that team to the national title, playoff games
but I I think that's just my opinion. At least, I think he'll do okay, at least on yours end.

(29:31):
But, Matt, what do you got.

Oh, nothing else. No

He's like dude.

Good job. Sorry
do you feel? Do you feel like there's a a floor to the ceiling like, is it definitely still gonna be a top. 1015 kind of team, even if things kind of fall off.
You know the rails get off the rails, so to speak. Or do you think
I mean, is there upward trajectory? Where do you stand? There.

Yeah, I think I I you know.
I predict that
the this Alabama squad can be a 10 win a 10 win and and so I'm kind of 9 and 3, 10 and 2 and I. I don't want to out loud, you know. Say 11 and one, because you start looking at the schedule and and but.

Daniel.

But but it's it's not, you know. It's not unreasonable. But you know, when you start saying things go off the rails that can mean a lot of different that can mean a lot of different things, you know. You lose your quarterback, or or you have sort of a you know a lot of injuries at a at a at a single position, and so I mean, we could lose more than 3. I I wouldn't. It would have to be.

(30:45):
It would have to be some sort of cluster injury event in the quarterback position, or, you know, like the running back position or across the offensive line. I I think, to
you know, for us to drop.
you know, more than 4 games so it's hard to predict that. So I so I'm sure I'm not going to. I think 9 and 3 is is sort of where where I would put our our floor. All things being equal, injury wise I think 10 and 2 is feasible, and then

(31:15):
10 and 2 would get us into the playoff. I know it's expanded 12. So more teams get in and and and whatnot. You know, everyone I you know. I I think some of the backlash on the expanded playoffs is, damn it, we can't keep Alabama out of this thing, and you can't expand it to keep Alabama out right. All you do is make it easier for. And you know I pick on Alabama because that's who we are. But you know, teams that don't want to see Ohio state in and don't want to see someone else

(31:39):
then expanding, it doesn't help that. So so I think a 10 and 2 Alabama team gets in, whether we're in the sec. Championship game or not.
93 is sort of on the edge, but depending upon you know how the winds are blowing in the season. 93 could get us into. So I think that's where a lot of Alabama fans are. Sort of going into the thinking are going into the season. Kind of that's where? Where? That's where the headspace is.

Yeah, that's perfect. The reason I asked. That was
you know, from, I think from a Wku perspective, the the fans are trying to see like. Is there? Is there an end road where we could possibly
hang around or have it be closer, or whatever? And I just look at the match up, and I take
a little bit of an issue with it being that close. I think you've got you got an experienced quarterback. You have an O line that should be much improved.

(32:30):
You know you did lose some people on defense, but you have some pieces back and
whatever, and then and then you have a coach that yeah, he's taken over. He's new. But he also was just in the college football playoff himself.
Yeah. So you know, I mean I I don't see a a great match up like sometimes.

(32:51):
I said this on your podcast, the the matchup with Lsu in 2,015 for us, you know, as an upset type of thought.
I thought we legitimately had a chance to hang around and maybe even beat them because their offense was
inferior, and ours was
capable of putting up some points.
And then there came a freaking hurricane where there was a river flowing down onto the field. It was like 2 feet deep. And so that kind of ruined the chances there. But this matchup I feel like some of the same issues are in the same position groups, and it just kinda

(33:28):
I don't think it lends itself to that, but we'll see.

So I will say.

Yeah. Go ahead.

I will say sorry to interrupt, but I don't mind. I don't mind to interrupt Matt. But you I don't want to interrupt, but I will say it is a lot cheaper to be a Western fan at least to go to some of these games. I just randomly pulled up Espn schedules.
and Western, you know. It's, I think, the most expensive game to get. Of course they got the little tickets as low as the most expensive one for Western is

(33:57):
$23,
and that's against Alabama. Okay.
Alabama. Most expensive. One for Alabama is versus Tennessee at Tennessee. Tickets as low as $294.
It's like good. Gosh, man, of course there's others on here, too. Georgia's a $251 game.

(34:18):
and you know, like the lowest one is is Alabama versus Mercer, which is an $11, tickets as low as $11.

Yeah, yeah.

Blows me away just now. Okay. Sorry.

No, you're you're exactly right.

So it's fun.

Yeah, no, the tickets, the tickets tickets can get up there. And you know, that's true. I had a I had a buddy, and and I've I'll repeat this. Obviously I'm going to now. But I had a buddy that he used to say, you know what you know people ask like, Oh, you get the season tickets and like Oh, how can you afford to do that? And and his answer was like.
It's my hobby.

(34:54):
I don't golf.
I don't go camping. I don't.

Right, yeah.

I don't have a tackle box full of, you know, lures and stuff. I go to Alabama games that's that's my hobby. And you know, in that context, it's like, well.
we're all gonna spend our money on something and.

Right.

And of course I don't know if you you.

Real time.

If you don't have a garage full of rod and reels and and tackle equipment, and
or or both clubs, or you know whatever it is, and and you elect to to go to the Alabama games then, you know, maybe it's a wash. I don't know. But

Well, hey? I mean.
it's like anything else.
if you enjoy doing something more power to you. But you know there's.

But damn.

Yeah.
there's going to be times where you know you go to the game, and you may only stay 3 quarters because it's a 72 to nothing game.
you know. And you're just like, I don't know if I necessarily need to finish this one or not. But
you know, yeah, yeah, let's go play some golf. Forget this.
but I mean, and and Alabama also has that history. I mean, they've got that museum right next to the field. So if you're a visitor going to watch an Alabama football game.

(36:07):
go early and go to that museum. That is.

To point out.

That was one thing. I wish I could.

Go see.

When when I was with the Western was when we played, I did not have the chance to go and see the museum.
did get to go into the locker rooms, which were amazing.

Nice nice.

And of course I can. I can never say enough about how awesome Alabama's facilities were. I will say, they are probably one of the better older stadiums in the sec, whereas somewhere, like Florida's garbage, and there's a reason it's called the Swamp. I'm just saying
not a big fan

They've done. They have done exactly, you know, when you we were last there, but they've done.

So.

Again.

1,974.

No, it was 18 years ago.

Oh, wow! Okay.

Years ago I was there in 2,000.
The well, actually, yeah, it was the.

10.

Sorry. No, it was 2,007
when I was at Florida, so it would have been. It would have been 17 years ago.

Okay, you might not recognize the place. Now we've we've closed off we've closed off both end zones and and and on sort of the the north side in zone or the north side of the stadium built all sorts of press conferences, and or sort of meeting halls press conference room media room

(37:31):
media center hangout places for the recruits. You can go get married and have a reception in, you know, in the part of the States like this whole convention center added to the the end of the stadium, and they moved a couple of fraternity houses, and now it's like this whole plaza an entrance on the the the front of the stadium. And then Saban got tired of. You know, the buses would pull up, and the and the players would come in.

(37:56):
you know. Get off the bus, and they go up the stairs and then have to queue for
an elevator to go down into the locker room, saving got tired of that. He had him tunnel under the under the stadium so they could get off of the the bus and walk straight down the hallway into into the the locker room, and then and then they made that sort of a big production because it's got led screens all the all down the.

So.

They can make it look like a sort of a disco tech or something. But and then now it's you know, all the recruiting videos show that. It is truly amazing. If you do have, if you do have a chance to to get back and take the tour and see all.

Yes.

It is amazing. And and from 2,007 you know again. And you know, we've expanded one of the whole concourses, the media said the media room. Press boxes are all new and different the other side of the stadium you, I mean, I kid, you would recognize the stadium, but you might not recognize.

Oh, well, no! Well.
the I was at Florida in 2,007, 2,008 was our was our Alabama game that year?

Okay.

But if yeah, I mean.
that just goes to show you how big of a
person Nick Saban was at Alabama to just be able to say.
Alright, guys, we're going to tunnel through
the stadium or go under or whatever. And we're going to build this so that the players don't have to walk up and down and around. We're going to do this. Yeah, if if
if Tyson Hilton tried to do that at Western, they'd just be like, okay, yeah, right? All right, whatever.

David said it, and somebody said, Bring me my shovel, let's go do it.

Yeah, exactly. Well, I'm sure Nick Saban could have gone to any community center in Alabama and been like, I need y'all to help me dig a tunnel, and they'd all grab their shovels and walked over and try to help him, because Nick Saban.

Every parole.

Probably.

Date in a jumpsuit would be big.

Well, he's more popular than the governor. I'm gonna say.
I'm gonna say, and this is gonna sound bad. But I'm gonna say more. People in Alabama knew Nick Saban over the governor at certain times.

Oh, yeah.

I mean. Honestly, I think there's people in Eastern Kentucky. I want to make fun of them for a second, who don't know who our governor is much less who you know who coaches at Uk, or whatever
But yeah, it it's
the my one of my fun experiences at Alabama was. They had the the bomb sniffing dog, which was a Labrador retriever.

(40:23):
and he came through the locker rooms. Of course you know
all the the girls that I worked with, and you know the girls that worked with Matt and Managers they all flock to the dog, and I'm like, what's the you know? What's he do? Is he like a drug sniffing? And they're like, no, this is a bomb sniffing dog.
I said, well, how does he react. And they're like, you'll know if he reacts. And I'm like, Okay, all right, then, cool.

(40:48):
But yeah, it was a it was a. It was an awesome time, I mean, I remember the student section all wearing like suits, or, you know, business dress for the game, and it was just like this is wild.
you know our, our.

Majority, section, drunk.

So.

Yeah, fraternity section gets they get dressed up they sort of relax some of that a little bit. But yeah, they would get dressed up the sports coats and the sundresses, and and and whatnot they would get drunk, too. But

Oh, yeah.

They would just have a dapper look about it.

Yeah. And and that's I think that's Western problem, honestly, is to get the students to stop tailgating, to come into the stadium, and then they usually get there about the second quarter, and then leave by the 3rd quarter. So it's like.

Yeah.

Come on, dude, stay

Yeah. Awesome.

And you are
you're talking about the bomb dog and stuff it reminded me of.
remember Andrew Jackson.

Yes, how could I forget him?

So there was this linebacker. He's this real intense guy, or whatever
one of those like meat heads, you know, like I just play football, you know, and
so we're we're playing Uk and the Titans stadium. So of course, it's Nfl stadium. They got tight security. All that kind of stuff.
and so they told us, like you have to. They have to inspect every bag and all that stuff. So as equipment we had, like all the shoulder pads and all their stuff, and each player had a bag and all that kind of thing, all the trunks whatever.

(42:18):
And so they had to inspect all this. Well, Andrew Jackson.
he during practice he would say something like, I'll shoot you. I'll shoot you, man, I'll kill you, you know all this stuff like he was kind of crazy. Well, he comes up to you remember, Kevin? Fear? Right? Devin. Yeah. Watching Kevin. Yeah. So Kevin
Kevin was the assistant equipment manager and Kevin's kind of a goofy guy or whatever he was like, hey? Drew whatever, and Drew comes up he goes. Thank you. Be careful.

(42:46):
I got a glock in my bag.

Like.

But can you.

Yeah, you're just.

He has a gun.

Yes, but you just go.

Security, and he's saying like, Hey, there's a loaded gun in my bag. Be careful.

The bad thing with him is you don't know if he was full of it, or.

Yeah.

Because you're just like.

Kevin wasn't up.

To do this.

Terrified. He just didn't. They didn't check it. He's like, I'm not opening that back.

No
Sorry, Dave. We're just reminiscent here.

Oh, no! It's 1.

So
Andrew Jackson reminded me of a defensive lineman we had his name was Robert Dark. Robert. Wasn't a intelligent person, or he wasn't a book smart person.
but I think he was always a business, smart person, and it didn't translate. Well, this was the person who could do like a Van Wilder party, and he knew how much everything cost, and he could negotiate to get Porta Potties brought to his party in Limos. And you're just like I had to drive him. I somehow got looped into driving him after he got hurt

(43:54):
from his apartment to campus
literally, when he got hurt, and he's and I was like, he's like, Hey, I need a ride to campus, you know. Blah blah, and I said, I I come through early, you know. I I probably won't be able to pick you up, and he's like, Well, what time do you come through? And I'm like crap you know. Well, it's like 8 o'clock, and he's like, I'll be ready for you, and I'm like, damn it, okay, so I ended up getting looped into it for like 6 to 8 weeks, driving him

(44:20):
to campus, and then he just kind of figured out his own way to get to wherever he needed from there, but
like in those drafts.
he would talk to people he'd get on the phones, and he's like, Well, we're having a party Friday, and he's like I need a Porta potty he'd get like 3 or 4 Porta potties brought out
this guy
the rumor. There was a lot of rumors surrounding him because it was rumored that he was the godchild of Maya. Angelou was one story.

(44:47):
Yeah, Matt's gonna love that because it's just like who is what and then the other one was that he got hit by a ups truck, and he got a settlement out of it. So that's where he got his money from. That's the one that I always believed more, because he always seemed like he was always concussed when you talk to him.
but.

But.

But to go to my point Robert Dark always reminded me of like
in in biology. There's this theory that bacteria they just get bigger and bigger and bigger, and then they divide. That's what I think Andrew Jackson came from. He just became like Robert Dark 2, because that's the same kind of person, and it was just like, Wow,

He's a beast.

Yeah, there's a lot of there. He was a beast he was. He he got into
He almost got into a fight against a player at all state.
and this was the 1st time when I was on the sideline, realizing the strength difference between
me as a normal person and Robert Dark.
I'm not saying football players. I'm just saying, Robert Dart, because I swear to God he was on steroids.

(45:56):
the offensive line coach. Well, he came off sidelines and he's yelling at one of the players on the other team, and he's trying to trying to get this guy fighting, and the offensive line coach at the time. Bolt Wells
he came, and he or he was standing there, and he's like, Get his ass back. And I was like.
Hey, Dork! Come on, man, let's go. Let's go back, up, back, up!

(46:16):
And he just kept walking through me
just just.
and I'm like I can't do anything, and luckily, one of the other players, Greg Ryan, he's offensive lineman. He stopped him, and he was just like.
and then he just kind of walked him back. And it was like, I'm just like in between these 2
elephant humans, essentially. And I'm just like, Okay.

(46:39):
don't you all start fighting, because I'm going to get stumped over here. But yeah, it's it's just amazing to see how strong some of these players can be.
actually sorry I got another story real quick. We had a often we have a defensive lineman
2 2 guys. One of them's name is Kenny Martin, and the other one's jamarcus Allen, who played back in the day.

Jolan.

They we were playing.
Oh, it was a big game. I can't remember who it was. It was a sec school.
but between snaps they would play rock paper scissors with the offensive one.
so they'd be up there at the line, and they'd be like.
Yeah, alright. And then they, you know they go to the play or whatever, but it was just so funny

(47:24):
to hear that story after the fact it was like, Oh, my gosh.
but sorry, Matt. Get back to your script, Buddy.

Dude. That's awesome, man. I love those guys.
Probably the funniest thing I ever saw was Jamarcus Allen return in the
a pick. 6. Slow motion.

Dave Jamarcus was a he was a defensive lineman. So he! I love the big guy interceptions. Those are always my favorites.

Yeah. So I had a couple more like position questions. We kinda got a little bit off track there. I wanted to ask about receiver and and running back those 2. What are your thoughts on Alabama's? Prospects there? Both positions.

Love the running back room. I think, Alabama has a couple of guys that are are poised to to really, really jump out this season. Justice Haynes is a a sophomore that he has all the talent. He's 1 of the guys that I thought was gonna transfer, and I'm glad that he hung around. He's he's in incredibly talented, very dynamic and then Jam Miller Jamarian Miller call him Jam Miller. He's a guy. Since his since his retro freshman year

(48:37):
we've been saying on the podcast or I've been saying on the podcast like, we gotta celebrate this guy. We we need him not to leave because he's gonna he's gonna be a star one day and back when he was, you know a retro freshman.
He would play latent games and only get a few snaps, and everybody in the stadium knew that he was going to get the ball, and he could still bust off, you know, 10 and 12 and 15 yard runs against an opponent just stacked stacked up and and he just looked so good doing it.

(49:04):
And last season he really was played a lot more in the rotation. And really shown out multiple times. So I think Justice Hayes and Jam Miller are going to be, you know, running back one and 2, or one slide a slash. B. However, you want to do it and then Richard Young is a richer freshman.
He had the best run. He had the best single singular running play in spring practice. I think he has. He's incredibly athletic, too. Some. Some media outlets are are calling it a 3 headed monster. I I think it's a 2 headed monster with a really good 3rd running back. I'm hoping the line can can open some open some holes. I think they will and I, and and as much as Caitlin Boer

(49:47):
throws the ball man, I'm hoping I'm hoping he's he's reserving some play time for the running backs because there's a lot of talent at the position
you mentioned. The receiver position. There's a lot of names. I I think there's an opportunity for I think there's an opportunity, you know, for 7 guys to catch more than 20 passes over over the course of the of the season. There's an incredible amount of depth. What's gonna be interesting is, who rises to the top? Who's the number one? The last couple of seasons? That's been the biggest question, who's the number one back? And it's been a little more of a committee.

(50:18):
It's much bigger, better, stronger committee this year name. I would watch out for a couple of names Jeremy Bernard. He's a transfer from Washington, he was sort of the 3rd guy in the pecking order, you know, at Washington, but they did everything to sort of manufacture opportunities to put the ball in the sands, tall sweeps into rounds in in the Kicker return game.

(50:40):
and I didn't know what to expect of him. But during our spring spring game call it a day. During our spring game man. He was lights out. He was incredible, very physical, going up High point in the ball, but just very physical, attacking the the football. So he's gonna be fun to watch. I think he starts out as the number one receiver. We've got a couple of guys coming back, Kendrick. Law and and Kobe Purnas that are gonna battle for possessions. And there's a true freshman.

(51:06):
and I'm careful sometimes talking about true freshman. But Ryan Williams is just. He's supposed to be one of those guys. And the teams, even the veteran the seniors on the team are like this guy's special. So I don't know that he starts Saturday week one, but he'll play, and by the end of the season we'll look back, and he will have started most most of the season. And what's interesting about him is he's 17. He reclassified. So he should be.

(51:34):
you know, Friday night lights but he starts his season Saturday at Alabama, and generational talent is what people say. I'm scared of that term sometimes, you know, sight unseen. But dude's supposed to be really really good, so I'm excited to to see how he plays out.

Yeah, hopefully, hopefully.

My goodness.

Good. And I was, gonna say hopefully, he's good, and he's not a Johnny football or anything like that.

Yeah, yeah, right, yeah.

Hopefully. It'll be a great week, too.

That's true. I hear you, I hear you. I understand.

So yeah, the the I guess the question about the receivers I had. You didn't really have any receivers even last year that were really close to a thousand yards. You feel like there's 1 that like your your guy from Washington, or or someone else that's gonna be
that, or is it gonna be more by committee? You think.

I think it's I think it's gonna be more committee. There's just so many guys that I think has the opportunity, you know, to step up now, if someone gets a hot hand and really sort of steps up, if Jeremy Bernard's, you know, on the field is that much differentiated? Or if Ryan Williams really trues on, you know, comes on and is all of these things, then you know that that's sort. That's, you know.
Maybe that's a different thing, but I don't think and I don't mean this as a negative against the room. I don't think there's a thousand yard receiver, but there might be, you know, 4 700 yard receivers. I just think there's gonna be that much production in the room. And there's that many talented guys. That that there's just not gonna be a clear number one. I always want a clear number one. I've been limited that the last couple of years, and I'd rather have one than not have one.

(53:11):
I think we've got some some really talented receivers. And I like this receiving court better than I have the last 2 and you know Jeremy Bernard. By the by the time the season's over, Jeremy Bernard or Ryan Williams will establish a, you know clearly a pecking order, one and 2, and then everyone sort of will line in around that. But it's gonna be a lot of talent, a lot of depth. A lot of guys are going to get touches.

Yeah, I was actually commenting to Matt before the episode started. Just in the the depth that you all have. I think you've got like 8 quarterbacks, and you know, 24 receivers, and it's just like goodness.

That counts all the walk that counts, all the walk ons.

Oh, okay.

So let's you know. You know I I give you, you know, 4 scholarship quarterbacks, and then let's walk on from there and then the receivers. Oh, you know
I've got 6 that I'm looking at here. I think you know we might go.
We might go 9 on scholarship.

Yeah, I was. Gonna say, there's several, and I know it's a difference between sec. And you know,
conference, U.S.A, or wherever the hell we're at right now. But you know it's it's it's a lot difference in in money and nil money, too. How do you all feel after the nil thing has gone through, as far as Alabama is concerned.

You know, I I think I
I I have 2 sort of competing thoughts.
I don't like an Il, but I like the idea of an Il. I don't like what nil is, because it's a pay play, and I don't. I don't care for that at all. That's not the that's not the intent of it, but the name image lightness. Let someone come to college and and do an ad for a car. You know, everyone sort of picks on the car dealership, but you know, who whoever it is, a laundromat, I don't.

Yeah.

The local restaurant.
Let them earn
earn income from their name, image, likeness, and a true sort of adsense in an authentic way. I'm 100% for that. I I have. No, you know, Quamsa, about that. We have couple of guys that came up with, you know, sort of a little slogan last year, and started printing T-shirts, and and God bless them! Do that make you some money? That's fine, all right. Make a million dollars. I don't care but don't

(55:22):
you know? Come in the door with your hand out you know, asking for money for for an official visit or asking for money just just assign on the dotted line, and that's what it's become. And so to some degree everyone has to do it, but I don't like that component of it. You know, if it's authentic, let's do that just reward

(55:42):
and and.

Yes.

Earning something but not just a not just as a recruiting vehicle, or you're giving money away.

The the story I always like to go to is, there was a punter who was at at Uk. At University of Kentucky, who did Youtube videos on. And he literally did tutorials for high school, middle school kids to punt.
And the Ncaa. Stepped in and said, You gotta take it down because you could make money off that.

Yeah, yeah.

And that's not. That's that's the part that I go. Well, that's not fair.
Yeah, is that you know, he's literally just doing something just to do it. Not really.
Yes, he could make money off of it, but he's not necessarily going to make money off of it. But
you know, that's something that I'm like that's not fair now, the the Reggie bush that gets the apartment and the car and all that stuff that I'm just like, Okay, but there's a line here. But you know, I think

(56:37):
you know. And at the same point, kind of like you're saying.
I don't want a kid to go from my school to like a Alabama and not play just for the nil.

Yeah, yeah, no, I I agree. Yeah, I I can't it. There was a Senator who said it. You know, you know, what's the difference between art and porn. You kind of you know it when you see it, and il like being authentic and not you kind of you kind of, you know, if I see it, you know when you see it. And gosh! A punter having a now, if he was making a million dollars on a Youtube video, because, you know, it came in the form of like one check. You know.

Great Youtube.

But if he's getting nickel and dimes because, you know, he's helping high school kids, and God bless him! Do it.

Yeah. And I mean, I know, famously urban Myers, and I think Nick Saban came out. Said it, too. If you think you're going to get 6 figures at Alabama. You can forget it.

Yeah.

You know, through nil and and I, you know, good for them for saying that honestly, because it's it's a very unusual world. We live in in college athletics now, because you know the nil, but
at the same points it was needed to an extent
but yeah.

Double A. They were asleep at the will, if if they could go back in time, and just put in a couple of provisions like a couple of provisions. It wouldn't even be a lot but just enough to sort of diffuse. Diffuse the bomb, so to speak. Then, you know, and once the once once what is it? The Supreme Court? Once they ruled like? No, then it's like Walmart on Black Black Friday, right.

Yeah, there's no.

There's no barriers that's gonna stop the craziness that's just about to happen.
And and then, you know, here we are trying to
figure it all out.

I was like, yeah, we're trying to figure it out now, because it's
it's become such a wild West as far as athletics go.
you know, and it's it's almost
like a centrifugal force, so to speak, like all of the you know all of the the higher paid athletes your basketball players, you know some of your football players are going to get pushed to the higher end of things. And then, you know, like soccer players, lady soccer players. Yeah, you know, softball. Some of the baseball players, you know.

(58:49):
depending on the school, you know. They're not going to get all that nil. You're going to have some of those other the Big 3, so to speak, get more Niel than that. Yeah.
But anyway, Matt, back to your script.

Well, no, I think I think it's a good time that we've covered a lot. Is there anything, Dave, that you feel like we missed about Alabama. We should know any final comments before we make some predictions and call it a day.

You know, I'm just super excited about the start of of the football season, and you know, Western Kentucky is a team that we've played not every year, but sort of off and on, you know, through the years it's, you know, definitely an opponent that that, I have a lot of respect for prepping, for you know our interview the the you know, the other night. It's a roster that's just littered with, you know. Sec sort of sec sort of

(59:37):
residue all over it with with transfers and coaches. There's a lot of talent on this roster, and maybe they didn't break through at a program that that was stacked. But there's still that the talent is still there. And so this team has a lot of a lot of talent. I think I think they're going to be fun to watch. If I could. If I could ask you guys a question I would just ask, How much do you guys hate? Just hate liberty

(01:00:00):
that they come from?

Devin Stewart (01:00:01):
Oh, my God! Yes, yes.

Dave Ozment (01:00:02):
So that's up, you know, I'm sure.

Matthew McCay-Safeguard Insurance (270)996-7630 (01:00:04):
So when I said.

Poke a wound there. But you know, I look at them like
You know, they've kind of come from nowhere. And and you guys are, you know, in competition, maybe to to win the conference, and hopefully hopefully beat them out. So.

Well, and it's to add to your point on liberty.
Liberty was frustrating last year because they came out of nowhere.
and they sort of ruined our Cinderella dance
because everything last year we're like, all right, we're going to go. 1st place, we're going to win it. We're going to do this. We're going to be your 6, it? And then they stole it, and they did it themselves. And it was like
you didn't do the dues, you know.

Right right. Don't you know there's a process to this.

Yes, yes, you're supposed to get screwed out of stuff a lot before you get to do the fun stuff going.

That's right, that's right. Kennesaw state, which is just right from me. Kennesaw State. They'll play by the rules a little bit better.

Good.
You're listening. Kennesaw state you better listen

But.

I mean, you know, at least for Western
being a Western fan, you have to understand that you're not going to get home cooking.
We don't get calls at home. We don't get calls on the road.
I don't know if it's the red or the black uniforms that get us the worst, because we always get kind of gets the short end of the stick on both ends of those. But liberty was a liberty is an opponent that I said last year, after the game that can be our new rival.

(01:01:27):
You know we've got the rivalry with Middle we had a rivalry with Marshall, but liberty is another one that
we could be a rival with, and it would be interesting. Yeah.

Yeah, liberty is interesting because
they're really nice. So it's kind of hard to just straight up. Hate the people. I don't know. So there's a mix here, because there's like religion involved in some of this stuff, too. But anyway, I don't think they're super nice. But like, if you look at the sports and the similarities between the programs, it's

(01:02:00):
like, maybe 1, 2, or 3 in every sport is liberty. And wk, you're in the top 3. And so it's just like every single sport every single year. It's gonna be Western and Liberty battling it out for the championship. So there's gonna be at some point. We're just gonna decide we hate each other. But I don't think
don't know.

I just.

There yet, but they're working on it.

There are.

I can't. I can't speak for Matt, but I feel like you know, at least as a Western fan. We're like you suck liberty, and they're like, well, God bless you.

Damn it, you.

Made me feel bad.

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

But yeah, so the game's gonna be, August 31, st which is Saturday, 2 days as the podcast comes out and it's gonna be at 7 pm, on Espn, so definitely check that out check out the Alabama podcast Alabama, football, podcast
Dave, if you will send a link to Matt. I'll get that posted on our stuff as well, so we can kind of loop you in on our stuff and and your stuff as well.

(01:03:03):
and.

Will they do?

Check out the episode.
Yes, yes, we will. In just a.

Competition.

But you can listen to Dave's side of the podcast with Matt. Matt was very intimidated. Just so, you know, Dave, I always try to embarrass Matt at least once. An episode. So but yes, as far as predictions go.
we gotta go with our guest first, st Dave, what are your what's your prediction for Saturday, Buddy?

Pain.

That's right.

Roll, time.

I do think. I I think it's a good game. I'm excited about the the start of the season. I I think the the line that you quoted, you know, 30 31. I think that's aggressive. I would. I I don't. I don't think that's I don't.
I I think that's I think that's too many. I think. Alabama. I think Alabama wins by a couple of touchdowns. But I think it's a good contest. I think you guys are able to. I do think, especially earlier, if we caught you later in the season, maybe it's a different thing, because I think your your offense is gonna be clicking. You know the sort of the dynamic passing game, and our our secondary is still gonna be sort of getting their sea legs. And so I think you guys put up some put up some points

(01:04:15):
early in the season. There's always opportunities in in special teams. So I I think you guys are able to, you know, to to make some plays in in those areas. I do think just the depth of the roster probably prevails, and I think it's a couple of score game when it's all said and done. I don't think it's 30.
But you guys are gonna have some big plays and some good moments. And I just think the depth probably wins out before it's before it's done.

Okay.
so you're gonna go about plus 2 scores. Okay.
Matt, what do you got? Buddy?

Well, maybe I'm being negative. I don't know. Maybe I need to call a little closer. But I I just
that's right.

You need to go. You need to go snort some hilltopher crack real quick, and then come back.

And I'll go down to Adolphus. There, Buddy.

There you go. Thanks. Yeah. Thanks. A lot.

The old Allen County reference, anyway. Yeah.
I gotta get a dig in at Allen County every so.

Poor poor Dave has no idea. That's where.

That's.

I'm from in the State of Kentucky. Dave.

Oh, there you go! There you go!

Yeah.
lower, lower, Adolphus. But anyway, la, the real la.
but anyway,
yeah, honestly, like I, I try to be fair. Obviously big, became fan and everything. But I I just don't see a good matchup, and I think sometimes
like we're looking at scores. Sometimes it can get inflated at the end. You know where. You just kinda see a couple of touchdowns just come in at the end and kind of spread out the score.

(01:05:49):
I do think there's absolutely some possibilities that Western hangs around.
I just think that.
there's a few too many question marks. I feel like the strengths of Alabama
play well against Wku. I think Western's strengths are against Alabama strengths in a lot of ways. And so

(01:06:09):
I I've actually set my prediction that
I hate it. 45 to 10 is where I think we're gonna be at.

Yeah.

You said 45 to 10. Okay.

3, 5 to 10 here.

Okay.

Start.

I'm actually.

Maybe they'll see this, and they'll get excited and they'll win.

Evidently I was smoking the western crack, because I'm actually I'm I mean, it's kind of a sweep here. We're all going with Alabama. But I was actually thinking 35, 14. I'm going to take the under on points just because I think it's a new system for Alabama, I think.
Yes, it is a newer system for our quarterback at least. But we do have some seniors in some key places that may be able to win out some on some matchups but I do think West Alabama is going to keep it within 3 scores.

(01:06:53):
You know, we're gonna be able to. At least, you know, score a couple of times, but they're just gonna be able to outscore us
and just hold it there now, on the flip side of this that my thought could be that they're going to just run it up and just be like
I'm in the house. This is a new coach. Let's go. But you know, and hopefully, it's not like that. But we'll see. I'm going to go with 35 14, though.

Okay.

Okay, we are.

I'm the negative, Nancy. Here.

Well, I mean, we're all negative. Nancy's going to Western, I mean, you know, at least for Western side of things. But
to be realistic. I mean, you have to realize that Alabama is Alabama.
you know,
and they're coming in at Preseason Number 5. So if you're not in that at least mindset, you should go to a crazy house. I'm just saying

(01:07:45):
but yeah, come back to us next week,
and check out the podcast we're going to be talking. We're going to recap the Alabama game. We will be talking about
western reverses. Who do we have next week? Man.

KU huh.

10 years.

Man.

Yeah, we're going to be coach. We're gonna go be talking about coach wells. It'd be great to get him on the podcast. That'd be hilarious. But yeah, he used to coach at Western back in the day. But
yeah, we're going to be talking Eastern our old rival Eastern, and I'll be talking about that. Dave. It has been a pleasure, Buddy.

Absolutely.

You know, honestly, I didn't know how many roll tides we'd get coming into the podcast but
but it.

I'll give you one on the way out. But I you know I I try to. I try to.

There you go so we'll be. We'll be doing that. Check out the towel rack for all your latest Western stuff. And if you would like to support the tower rack and you could support the the red out, podcast you can support us there. But as always guys I guess. Go tops or roll tide
to roll. Todd.

Thanks. Thanks for having me on, gentlemen. It's a it's been a lot of fun, you know, hearing some of the stories and talking ball and talking about the game. It's a lot of fun good luck to you guys, you know, again Saturday. But good luck to you guys personally in in the podcast it's a lot of fun being on with you. I certainly appreciate it.

Hey? We appreciate.

Appreciate you.

Have a good one man.

All right. Take care!

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