June 21, 2025 • 41 mins
On this episode, Cole Thompson speaks about the Astros treating the A's like a MINOR LEAGUE TEAM, brings in sports commentator Ryan Hickey to talk about CFB, and much more!!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know what's better than having to deal with me
for an hour, probably having to deal with your head
coach and a new long term deal that is going
to make you a fixture in the Western Conference. Welcome
into the Nightcap, Cole Thompson. Rocket with you until seven pm,
and then we'll get you over to a quick break
and then we'll come right back and we'll do the
Astros on Deck show with Dan Matthews.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
And then we'll close out our time.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
In West Sacramento, where that soulless city that doesn't actually
claim the athletics, we'll play host to the Houston Astros,
your second place in the American League, Houston Astros, which
apparently more people are not talking enough about, so I
will continue to go ahead and praise their name. And
then they'll continue a three game series against the Los
Angeles Angels, going on down to Anaheim seven one, three, two,
(00:48):
seven nine. If you want to dial on in wet
to talk about anything surrounding the Texans, the Rockets, college football,
because if we are going to have college football extraordinaire
Ryan Hickey from in FANDI Sports Network joining us at
six thirty, whatever's on your mind, go ahead and down
on in. Frankie is the producer today. He will gladly
be able to get you on in. But let's start
(01:09):
off with the news that did shake Houston today in
a good way, not like those like those avalanches my bed,
not avalanches, earthquakes that reside out in California, which, thank
god the ass havn't had to deal with. Rockets email
Udoka long term deal. Hey New York, he ain't coming
to you. Hey, Golden State, you ain't getting him. Hey,
(01:31):
anybody who thinks that Houston is a second tier city,
Well we have a first class head coach that wants
to be here, locked in brand new contract worth eight
figures according to Shams, making him one of the highest
paid coaches in the NBA. After a dominant third fifty
two and thirty season, first playoff appearance for the Rockets
(01:51):
since twenty twenty, but did get knocked out in seven
games against the Golden State Warriors, which again it's the
Warriors that's the last paced resistance you have to get
over to put yourself in that category of elite teams.
And I do believe that by this time next year
we will be talking about the Rockets in a prominent
light compared to what we have in the past, because
(02:12):
they will have defeated the Warriors, they will have best
stayed at Golden State, they will have dunked on Draymond
and shattered Steph's heart and make sure that every single
person that says that this team can't get past that
one roster, yeah, they're gonna do that. And largely it's
because of who is at the Helm. This is a
good deal. This is not just a good deal. This
(02:32):
is a great deal. And the reason I say it
that way has nothing to do with the actual contract,
which numbers we don't know are out just yet. But
it's showing faith in a coach, a coach who, for
right or wrong reasons, was terminated out in Boston, but
had a team that was qualified enough to go play
for an NBA Finals, qualified enough to probably win an
(02:54):
NBA Finals With him at the help, that's what you
have and in two seasons he's not only changed the culture,
he's also changed the identity and the trajectory of this
rocket scene. If you would have told me that they
were the number seven seed in the Western Conference this year,
I could buy it. You would have told me that
they were in the play in tournament.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I could buy it.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
You could have told me that they were a team
that was still finding its rhythm, maybe not going to
be the best roster or one of the top teams
in the Western Conference, but still a good team.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I could buy it.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
But you go aheading, you fast forward just a little
bit more and say, hey, our rookies are playing well,
our secondary players are playing well, our benches doing great defensively,
we are among the best. We have a culture, we
have something that we can build upon. All of that,
that's what tal your disposal. Oh and by the way,
we also the number two seed in the Western Conference.
(03:47):
Who cares that? Again, it's it's unfortunately Golden State. Sometimes
you're gonna lose those matchups, but you would end up
being here to begin with if you didn't have the Mayodoka.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So what is ownership doing?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
They're saying, hey, instead of letting him flirt around with
the idea going into his third season of a six
year contract, let's reward him for not what he's a done,
but what he's about to do.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
What he's about to turn the corner.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And just keep in mind, everybody wants to play with
emay go talk to anybody around the NBA, especially when
he was terminated out in Boston, and the positivity, the accolades,
the pure joy that you consistently heard about Emai Udoka, and.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
That's your head coach.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You wanted.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
What this is gonna do for Houston. It's gonna want
to keep players around longer. They're going to want to
sign maybe team friendly contracts because if they know they're
in the right situation. It's gonna allow free agents to
come on in and say, hey, I like what they're
building out there. I see the vision, I see the identity.
I want to go ahead and buy into that too.
Go ahead, let me sign on the dotted line. It's
(04:54):
going to keep you competitive in the Western Conference, and
eventually you're gonna have the depth, You're gonna.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Have these ardy caliber talent.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
You're gonna have the identity to go ahead and put
yourself on the mantle the way that you're watching Oklahoma
City do it. It starts off with the coach and
the GM and so far with Felstone. Going out and
making this type of move is not gutsy whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
It's brilliant.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
It's keeping the people that you know why you're here
in a happy location and I love it and I
don't think anybody should be.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Arguing with it.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
The way that we talked about Nick Schubb a couple
of weeks ago when he signed on the dotted line
one year, two point five million, maybe five million at
the most.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
There was no loss.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
In that contract. There's none because if he doesn't end
up panning out, it's two point five million dollars. You
got nine million back on June first. When you watch this,
Shaq Mason went out the door, so you were in
a really good spot at that point.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's the same thing here.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
You're not gonna be out any money and it's not
gonna be regretful because you want to know why this
is a good contract, because if you have the coach,
you have a top coach in the sport. You look
at the numbers and WEX and AC were talking about
it earlier. Quinn Snyder is number four among coaches and
active wins, and you would not take him over a
(06:10):
guy in Emayadoka. You wouldn't number five. If I'm not mistaken,
is Billy Donovan? Would you really take Billy over email?
Right now here better question for you and Frankie.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
If you Wantach.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I'm in you can.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I don't know if you will.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
But still, if Chicago, if the Bulls had their opportunity
to go get Emai Audoka or stick it out and
ride tall with Billy Donovan, you know which way they're leaning.
I promise you it's not gonna be the one that
you're thinking, Oh, we we love Billy. We think that Billy,
that the guy that won two championships at Florida and
has kind of been a DoD ever since in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, we're cool with him. He may go ahead and
just sit on by.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Yeah, no way's saying that you have a top five
coach that's only getting better. And AC may have gone
a little bold, even a little bit too bold for
my liking, but I don't think he's wrong. There's an
opportunity now at hand as one of the highest paid coaches,
with an identity on your roster, with a really big impact,
and most importantly now sign on the dotted line with
(07:14):
a big blench check. He is going to go down
as the best coach in Rockets history. He has that shot.
He does his talent, He's gonna get more talent. You're
gonna see more players look at Houston as a prime destination,
and lo and behold, here we go watches your rockets.
Your Rockets are a viable threat every single season in
(07:36):
the Western Conference, and they may even be better than
Oklahoma City by the time this is all said and done.
But seven one three, two two five seven niney, if
you want to chime on in seven one three two
one two five seven ninety. You want to talk astros,
you wanna talk rockets, you want to talk college football,
because I already told you this def Texa is making
you smarter on the Saturday sport every single time I'm
on air. We got Ryan Hickey from in Fandy's Sports
(07:58):
Network joining us very shortly.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
It's six thirty. We gotta talk.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
About the Astros and the direction that they're going in.
So it may only be ten minutes into the show.
It may feel like it has been a long winded
rant about things that you need to hear about, but
we're only getting started ten minutes down, fifty minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
We'll be right back in just a quick moment time out,
and when.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
We return, let's talk about those Houston ash shows, your
second place in the American League and surely pushing upward.
Houston ash shows on the nightcap right here on Sports
Talk seven ninety six sixteen after the hour, right here
on the nightcap Sports Talk seven ninety seven, one three,
two nine.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
If you want to jole on and we got.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Paul and Myerland, a very friendly familiar guest that always
wants to chime on in.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Paul, what's on your mind? My friend?
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Hey, man, I'm so excited about one of those f
one tickets.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
I gotta tell you a story.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Uh well, let to see the kids see the Minecraft
movie a couple of weeks ago. Sure, and they showed
the Trader, and man, I was really excited about the Trader.
But after the Minecraft movie, my little loving old boy
looked at to me. He said, I'm sorry, Dad, drag
you to this.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So yeah, appreciate the call.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Uh So, here's a question for you, and I want
you to listen to I phrase this properly. Who do
you think the best second baseman to ever played for
the Astros?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Second baseman Jose al Twov.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
No, I know you gotta say Craig Bitche No really Okay,
now now I'm interested.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
The second basement ever played for the Houston Astros played
ten years for the Astros, played eight years for the Ritz.
His name is Joe Morgan from Bonding, Texas.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, that would have been my number two option. It
would have been over Craig Mitgio. And the reason I
say that is because Craig was just such an influential part,
team leader, clubhouse guy.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
You can't just label him a second basement.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah he went in as a second baseman, but he
played outfield, he played the corner, he played behind the dish,
he did everything. So you gotta be at least thankful
that you had a player like that who hosel two bays.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Slowly turning into oh yeah, I mean I love this guy.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
I love this two guys.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I mean yeah, Wait, when it all comes down to it,
Bill Morgan was I think was a better baseball player
than most of those two guys.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
I'm not gonna argue that much with you. I appreciate it,
Paul Listen. I again, I look at this as a
situation of, Hey.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
You had great second basement. That's a huge win in
your advantage.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
You speaking of second base, hose al Tuova, guess what
you're playing second to night Jeremy Pang and leading things
off East sac Preandy's back at the back at third.
You're batting in the cleanup spot, Yaanu dis but he's
not behind the dish.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Nope.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Pieces the designated hitter, cam Smith, respect, Frankie western Moreland.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We got cam Smith. Respect. He's batting fifth.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
A night, going fourth for four out of minor league ballpark,
Gonna crush a couple of dingers and put the Astros
on top.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
You got Christian Walker bat in.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
The sixth spot. Jake Myers is in the seventh hole,
batting eighth. Is Victor Carrottini. He'll be your catcher. And
Mauricio Dubon is back in the lineup, but he's not
playing second base.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Nope.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
He's doing with the Astros usually do, and just figure
out a role for him. He will be in left
field as Colton Gordon takes the mound and looks to
get a three to one lead over the Athletics when
they play in West Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Seven seven nine. If you want to call on.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
In and talk about your Astros, who currently are sitting
in second place in the American League, think about this
for a second. This is a completely new version of
the Astros, and in my opinion, this is a dominant,
lethal team that just basically has turned into the meme
of Jesse Pinkerton from Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad, where
(11:37):
he says he can't keep.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Getting away with it because that's what the Astros are.
They're inevitable.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
They are this time last year they were nine games back,
nine games.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Under five hundred. They were thirty four and thirty. Think
about that for a minute.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Terrible pitching, especially from the bullpen, an injury to a
star player in Kyle Tucker, questions when it came to
your starting rotation, and you had a little bit of
a drop off in certain players. This offseason, they trade
away Kyle Tucker and they send him to a team
that you could not pay me enough money to root for.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
And it's very frustrating because I pray.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
To guy that he's only there one year, so I
can actually give a care in the world about Kyle Tucker,
because if he signs a long term deal with the Cubs,
I'm not gonna be well. In fact, I'm gonna be
very upset, and my probable victim, I mean my probable
villain arch of now rooting against Kyle Tucker is gonna
become a thing. You lose Alex Bregman too a long
term deal. You lose multiple pittures at the star of
(12:35):
your rotation, I mean at the back of your rotation.
They had a bunch of dudes coming on up from
the minor leagues who, for my money, probably should be
better used as bullpen guys. But they're giving you multiple
innings and you're getting elite pitching from Josh Hater when
it comes to ninth inning, and honestly, outside of Brandon
brayew with the three to one loss on Monday, where
(12:55):
Nick Kurtz hit a two run blast that would have
gone out in any single ballpark, he's been a League two.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That's what you have at your team, and.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
You're doing it without your best hitter, because let's just
coust Betes paid. We can be thankful to see what
jose Al Tubay is doing kind of turning the corner.
We can be thankful to say that Jeremy Panna hitting
in the leadoff spot, batting three point fifty six since
moving there. Frankie'm gonna say that one more time, three
fifty six. You want know who's not doing that anybody
(13:25):
else in the majors with the leadoff spot no one.
You can say all that, but your best hitter is
your on Alvarez. He's not even in the lineup. And
when you look back at the trade and you picture
it from a thirty thousand angle view, this is an
even better deal for the Astros than we're giving credit
for because if Hayden was nesky when fully healthy back
(13:48):
from his Tommy John surgery, is gonna be a low
end back of your rotation guy, but he's still gonna
be in your irrotation. Pretty good player in your rotation
isak Peredes is your home run leader. He is just
launching missiles out in the left field short deck or
not at dyke In Park. Lead your team in RBIs
(14:10):
He's also one of your best hitters when it comes
to sluggy percentage ops.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Oh and then you get Cam Smith, who.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
After the first thirty games I was ready to send
on down to the miners. All took with him going
to a minor league ballpark to find his spark. Oh
and you got him for six years. The Astros are
doing things this season that need to be studied because
of with a bullpen that features a bunch of guys
who everyone kind of fizzled out on whether it be Boston,
(14:39):
whether it be Cincinnati, whether it be the Chicago White Sox,
whether it be the Oakland Athletics.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Who wasn't Oakland last year.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So I'm not gonna have to say that again because
if he wasn't Oakland last year, to any roster out there,
couldn't find any success, couldn't.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Get a control down. They've been awesome, lights out.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
And then you're talking about guys like Ryan gust who, yes,
I am still in the minority believing he should be
in the bullpen, but at least he's giving you quality innings.
Colton Gordon has been awesome. He has been great in
every sense of the word. And Jason Alexander, who had
an eighteen er I get with the team that's currently
(15:21):
playing the Astros, comes on in and mows down everybody.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
That's what you're working with.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Oh, and then you go to the bullpen part of everything,
which is another major selling point in my opinion. It's
the best bullpen in baseball and it's not particularly close.
Sean Duban's got twenty innings of work and he leads
the team in er. He got a great lefty in
Bennett's SUSA, friend of the A team, friend of Cole Thompson,
(15:47):
friend of Adam Wexler, Adam Clanton with a two point
eight one ear I mean with a two point three
to one er. He was great when he had to
make his appearance. And then you get to go to
the eighth inning and trust that Brian A. Bray you
is gonna set you up for a Josh Hateraid mow
down in the ninth. Seriously, when you look at this
Astros team, it has to be infuriating, it has to
(16:10):
be so frustrating, so overall demoralizing to Yankees fans, to
Red Sox fans, to the Mariners, to that other piece
of human, literal garbage city that we call Arlington, where
the Rangers call home. Even though they were playing more
so like the Cowgirls these days, the Angels. They could
(16:33):
throw in the Twins, you can throw in the Royals.
It has to be so demoralizing to realize, Hey, their
best hitters out sixty percent of their opening day rotations,
out their best overall pitcher, that they got the deal.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Hayden was Nesky, He's out.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
You also have questions when it comes to your depth
because of how many injuries you have. They got a
guy that's never played right field making an impact. Jake Myers,
who's not getting enough for spect, has had.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
A career year.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
You're getting awesome play at this point of the month,
from jose Al to Bay who's finally caught his wind.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Oh, by the way, was willing.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
To move down into the three hole, and then Jeremy
Pang is playing like an All Star. It has to
be so demoralizing knowing that all these things that should
have been against you are actually in favor of the
Astros because they're doing it. They're on their way to
becoming the best team in the American League. And if
they're not gonna be the best team, well I got
some good news for you as of this moment. If
(17:32):
the season ended tonight, if the season was over right now,
I can promise you this. The Astros maybe waiting to
figure out who was terrible in the wild card round
that they could take advantage of, because that's what you're
gonna get.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
That's what you have at this point.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That's where the Astros are seven one, three, two, five
seven nine. If you want to chime on in, I
know Jim, we see you in the chat. We're gonna
get to you in a moment. Just quick recap around
the league, just when it comes to who is doing
what right now? Three to one win, four four one win.
My apologies for the Kansadi Royals out in Arlington. Three
to four victory for the Washington Nationals over the Colorado Rockies.
(18:13):
It just went final by a two to one victory
for the San Francisco Giants over the Cleveland Guardians.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
A doubleheader is currently underway.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
It's four nothing Pittsburgh after a nine to two loss
earlier today. Seven to three victory for the Yankees over
the Angels. Nothing nothing in the middle of the fourth
for the Phillies and Marlins.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Eight seven.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Zach Collins with a homer out in Wrigley Field to
beat the Chicago Cubs. Thank you, Zach Collins. Twelve five
victory for the Minnesota Twins over the Cincinnati Reds. Warming
up is the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays.
We also have the metsican in the bottom of the
first against the Atlanta Braves.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Bottom of the six to six.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
To one lead for the Cardinals over the White Sox,
and they also won five to four earlier today and
nine to five as the Arizona Diamondbacks skeetdy win and
get back to five hundred over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Jim Let's gone to the phone lines. Puts up, Jim,
what's on your mind?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yeah, Hey, I caught the tail.
Speaker 6 (19:08):
I just got in the car and caught the tail
end of this second base all greatest second basement discussion
and yeah, yeah, so I heard it, and I just
want to make sure we're all clear. Jose Al two,
he's the greatest second baseman. Jose Al two, he is
the greatest astro. Yeah, it's non negotiable. Thank you, And
a word of career advice. I'm not in your industry,
(19:29):
but if I'm if I was playing like Matt, if
I was Matt Thomas, I would say, Cole Thompson, don't
entertain anybody trying to convince you otherwise that he's not
the greatest second baseman. He's the greatest astro unless Bryce.
Yeah no, no, hold on, unless Bryce Matthews comes up
in a couple of years and goes on a fifteen
year run and wins four World Series, they.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Ain't gonna happen. It is Hosey al two man.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
He and We've had some great astros in our organization.
I'm a fifty seven year old guy who has been
a lifelong Astro fan, have seen.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Some of the greats.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
But Altuve, it's non negotiable, the greatest astro, the greatest
second baseman.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Don't let callers come.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
In and try to spin anything, shut him down and
say it's non negotiable.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Ye, Jim, Jim, I agree with you that the greatest
second basement and the greatest astros Hoseel Tve. What I'm
not gonna agree with is that Joe Morgan is not
number two because I think that Craig Biggio utility.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Who I'm okay, whoever's number two or three?
Speaker 6 (20:32):
Fine, yeah Morgan, that was a good call out because
he did have a senior here at the Astros and.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm with you there.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
But but the greatest ist Tuove and until somebody drops
you know, more world series.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Titles and uh and than he does.
Speaker 6 (20:49):
And and I guess the heir apparent's going to be
Bryce Matthews.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
We'll see.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
But we are witnessing the greatest astro and uh, it's
it's just awesome to watch him, and and just like
even yesterday, even though they're playing the A's, you know,
just seeing what he did, you know, after like not
producing with the bases load, he comes up with a
couple of men on the next time and just ambush
is a pitcher who tried to get a you know,
(21:16):
dead red fastball by him, and he just pisses on it.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
It's just it's so awesome to see.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
It's so funny to see when you watch people try
to strategize against Altub. How the Major League Baseball as
a whole continues to try to throw first pitch fastballs
at times against him, and it's like, why would you
ever want to do that, But they keep doing it.
And then we see what happens with al dub He's great,
(21:42):
He's phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
He is He's absolutely incredible.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
We as Houston astro sports fans are just blessed to
have to watch this guy. I just I just pray
to God he stays healthy and gets to three thousand
plus hits and we might sneak in another you know,
World Series title.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
We'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yay, we got sneaking into anything, Jim, We're getting another
World Series title. And more importantly, we're getting hose al
tube into the into the Hall of Fame in Cooper's town.
Let's go to the phone onnes one more time before
we take a quick break.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
What's talking you mind?
Speaker 7 (22:13):
My friend man, I'll tell you just like he said,
I think we don't know what to think of this team.
A little bit seven years alcs name of the American
League or Astros League Championship Series you call the thing,
and now you know it's a little bit of a team,
but we're strong, and I guess my question is how
many games ahead of third place do you have to
(22:34):
be where you think about this team a little bit differently?
Is that putting the card for the horse, but you
know you're not.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Putting anything before the horse.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Man.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Listen, this is a team that I think is pissing
off everybody in the American League because of how many
injuries they have, how many times they're going into the
bullpen to trust guys from the miners that are basically
taking the place as Spencer Arraghetti and Lance McCullers. And
you talk about what Ryan Gusto has done and what
Colton Gordon has done and what Sean Dupid has done
and how many of these frustrating names that were terrible
(23:02):
in the bullpen for other teams, they're having career renaissance
years here. I mean, if you're from a national perspective
looking at this Astros team, they may not be the
most dominant Astros team in franchise history, but I'll tell
you what, they have impressed me more than I think
even the twenty twenty two team as of right now
by how they're doing it, how they're responding, and how
(23:25):
they're able to take the advantages. And it just feels
like this is the year where they're supposed to be
coome crashing down and they're not.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
They're only heating up.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
Great preaching, Hunter and Framber, you know, throw away the
trade talks, if you really if you're gonna be a
second place in the ALCS, you know what I mean.
This is twenty twenty five, and.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I completely agree with you. Bet, I completely agree with
your knowledge. Go on that one when we come back.
I'm gonna have a friend come on and he's gonna
make a lot of you mad.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Does it call him hot? Take KICKI for a reason.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Ryan you from Fandy Sports Network talking all things college
football right here on the nightcout Sports Suck seven ninety
next sexts thirty six after the Hour, right here on
the nightcount sports Socks seven ninety seven one three two
one two five seven ninety If you want to chime
on in.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
I'm gonna be completely honest.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I didn't even think about this when I called him,
and I was like, hey, man, I got it. I'm
doing a show tonight. I would love to have you
on to talk college football. And then I remember that
sometimes it's very fun to make fun of this man,
but he does care about the sports. So that's why
I always want to make you smarter, which is why
Ryan Hickey from Infiniti Sports Network Jeorge's Show to talk
a little bit about the Saturday game. But I want
(24:35):
to start off with baseball because of Hick. You are
a Penn State fan, So how did it feel watching
the Penn State equivalent of college baseball?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Crapped the bed last night at the night thening?
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Am I wrong? Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
You're not wrong.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
I guess the only thing Penn State has going for
them that Arkansas does not is that at least when
they lose, it's seeble offense. It's not in a heartbreaking
way where they're dropping a game when touched down with
no one around him. Duy Arkansas seem they's fumbled the
bad kid the last years in oh Maha, So I
guess that's one thing going for him. But uh boy,
what an intro, What a.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Way to end last night's game, I mean anesome.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
And by the way, just from a baseball perspective, do
you try to turn the double play or are you
just making the right call and going a third?
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (25:20):
No double play without a depth because the runner on
second and that time going to third is irrelevant. You're
up by two, so the worst case scenario is you
don't get the double player to run on first. Is safe?
Now all of a sudden, the tying runs on first
still and you get a chance to turn two. I
don't get why you just take yourself out of having
a chance to win the game. That the thought process
(25:41):
made no sense to me. When you're up again by two,
not one, when I run on third's irrelevant.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
The pitching, also, I think, is different from when you
got a guy no longer on second, even if you
don't get the audit first, so you got runners to
the corners and you change your opinion here's the opinion
I want to change real fast on me.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
I'm buying a lot of stock in the Texas this year.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Now, I think that the long Horns are still going
to be one of the best teams in college football.
Doesn't mean that they're going to be the most complete
team in all the sport. In fact, you've seen my rankings.
You know who number one is and I can't believe
I actually have them at number one. But still Penn
State is built to do it this year. When you
look at Texas, what is the one thing that you
think will derail their season other than inconsistent play from
(26:20):
say arch Manning.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
I would just send the overall inexperience. And that's the
one question I do have is because like they're super
talented and starts on an outstanding job in terms of recruiting.
So it's a lot of talent. But the thing this year,
right outside of arch is a lot of unproven talent.
And they look at the effensive line that I think
has been kind of a heartbeat for Texas the last
few years. Here those four to five starters, that's huge.
So now not only is arch Manning truly making his
(26:44):
first year as a starter. But it's also with a
lot of inexperienced guys up front that are making the calls.
I mean, Jake Major's was I think the best center
last year, so you lose his experience, I think it's
you have a lot of inexperience even at receiver as well.
At times I like Ryan Wingo and Gangum, but stilly,
it's just a lot of questions and unproven talent. When
(27:04):
you look at Texas like they're eighty second in terms
of returning production, that's where I think you talk about
a derailment of what nine and three in that range
try and missing the playoff. I think it's because you
have so many inexperienced players, not just a quarterback but
all throughout the roster that are unable to kind of
come through here.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
But if I was to push back on that and say, look,
you do have an experience. But if Arch is Arch
and he does end up living up to the Manning name,
and I truly believe that Ryan Wingo, if he wasn't
sharing the spotlight with Matthew Golden, who was the breakout
player last year, may have put up numbers very similar
to what Cam Coleman did at Auburn or Ryan Williams
at Alabama. Not Jeremiah Smith level malarkey, but still quality numbers.
(27:43):
I think you talk about that defense that features Tray
More back, features rookie tack back, features Malik Mohammad, a
stable defensive line because of the transfer portal, and honestly
Colin Simmons, who was probably the best player on their
roster from a talent perspective.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Only getting more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Like you still have to believe that tech, this is,
if not the team to beat in the SEC, clearly
one of those rosters that you want to put, maybe
not in permanent red ink, but definitely a good pen
that maybe you could erase in the college football playoff rankings.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Oh, I agree, like with all what I just said,
I still have Texas or at least I'm picking them
to win the SEC. I feel the best about them.
I think they're a top five team going into this season,
even with the inexperience in question marketing, I'm buying it.
Like you said, that defense, especially at front seven, very
very good. That should take some pressure of Arts where
he's not having to put up forty five points per game.
(28:33):
And you look at too like the other top teams
in the SEC. Alabama has a lot of turnover, right,
Georgia has a lot of turnover. A lot of the
teams that have a lot of production coming back in
some consistency are kind of.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
More in that middle tier.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
So Texas is still kind of sliding in with a
lot of those top teams in terms of a lot
of questions. In terms of just experience, we haven't seen
it a ton, but I'm still buying in big time
the Longhorn. I think they're absolutely a title contender this year,
no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Ryan Hikey from and FANDI Sports Networks. You want to
check out his show, make sure the tune on in.
It's also you want to give him a fall on Twitter.
He's a great follow at Ryan Underscore Hiky three Hickey.
You and I both are very high on Once even
the ACC and that is Clemson k Klebnick back ninety
seven percent returning production, the most in college football three
wide receivers. I argue that I think that we're gonna
(29:18):
get great play for Antonio Williams, but I'm really excited
to see what Moore provides this year. You're really high
on Brian westco they did make some changes, which I
think is a huge plus in favor of Dabos Sweeney.
He went out of the transfer portal. He got two dudes,
but he at least he went out. He didn't hire
from within. He goes gets Tom Allen, a guy you
know very well from his time at Penn State last year.
What is the overall upside and ceiling of this team?
(29:41):
Because most people only focus in on the Big Ten
and they focus in on the SEC. But if I
just say Clemson, they're not a good team in college football,
they're a great national championship caliber roster.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
How you talk with silly for this year, it's winning
the national title. Well, I think they're absolutely in that
conversation going into the I think they'll they'll proved that
throughout the season. Like I'm Cole, I thought in my life,
as long as Dablos Swingeing is coaching, let's say since
about twenty two, to be talking about Clemson, Oh yeah,
(30:14):
there's no way the game has passed him by. He
he you know, ignores it and pushes down on nil
and the transfer portal. That's what you need now and
kids are no longer going to Clemson just because it's Clemson,
and even there are questions, even just forget that for
a second about player development. We saw a DJU and
some of these outfitsive lineman say oh god, what are
they doing here? I'm bought back in a lot of
(30:34):
the words that I said Cole, I'm already it's June.
I am starved myself in preparation for all the crow
I expect to on Clemson. This joy and all in
on this team I think can absolutely win a national title.
Dabbo has done a great job in terms of talent identification.
I said small Violet. The will helps addition from purdueing
the porter that kind of helps balance out that defense
ave line that should be really good. Like this feels
(30:56):
going into the like a Clemson team from twenty eighteen
twenty sixteen when they were true of the best team
in the country. It feels like that led by Kate
tlebquad a huge year last year going into this year,
like we could see that again from Clempson in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
So we're based in Texas, based out in Houston.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
I brought you one of all people because if you
care about college football, not just the SEC and the
Big Ten, you care about Big Twelve, you care about
the ACC. So let me ask you which team in
the state of Texas are you most excited to see
not named the Longhorns and not name the Aggies, and
which one actually stands a shot maybe going on a
run and punching their ticket O of the college football
playof getinting then upset in the process.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Ooh okay, I will say.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Tell me on somebody, Hickey, So I got, I got
my wallet is burning trying to place down a bet,
and I want to know who you think that way
I can bet against them, of course, because if you're always.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
Wrong, you're a smart man.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Number one.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
You know what, Let's go with Baylor because I think
now as because college football kinds takes on an NFL
kind of light. If you will, I'm playing is very important.
I think, Sorry, Robinson is the top ten quarterback going
into this year, so I think if you have a quarterback,
you have a chance the Big twelve. I think Arizona
States to means a team to beat. I like a
lot what Texas Tech has done. Actually, what let me
(32:12):
change that. Let me talk myself in a Texas Tech
because I got up, hie, and I don't know my
own in. I'm in on Texas Tech. I really like
the nil additions that they have made. I like the
talent acquisition as well. Joe McGuire, I think is building
this team in the right direction. I think Tech could
have a real chance here. Again, I think Arizona State
to me is the best team, but as we know,
the Big Twelve is by far the most unpredictable conference
(32:34):
in college football. So if it's not the favorite, if
it's not Arizona State, I think Texas Tech would be
the one where it's all said and done here winning
the Big Twelve. And I think that they are a dangerous,
dangerous team come college football PLAYFF time.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
See, you talked me off the ledge of picking Baylor
because you picked Baylor, Baylor was my selection. Then you
switched over to Texas Tech, which means I could still
bet on Baylor and watch you be wrong in the process,
which is awesome. On that and anyways, before I get
you on out of here, Texas A and M. Last season,
there's a joke around this area called Texas eight and
four because it always feels like that they're going to
be an eight and four roster when you look at
(33:07):
the additions of what they brought in this past offseason,
Casey conceptsi On, a top ten wide receiver, spent a
lot of money on fixing that defense. What are your
expectations for the Igies with Mike Elco in year two.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
I think it's some of the your wins, you know.
I really like that Marcel read Now is coming in
and he's fully entrenched to the starting quarterback. Like I said,
they've made some good additions in the offseason. I don't
expect this defense to be as bad and Mike Elkos
year two as it was in year one, where you
know they're in the mid sixties in terms of total defense,
Like I think a defense now be better. You kind
of understand what he's teaching. You kind of get more
(33:39):
players in the eye of how you're trying to build it.
And I know there's some you can argue some questions
aboutable a lot of the receivers turned over, but you
still brought in a lot of experience at these receivers
that have proven it out of their school. So I
think that building chemistry between them and Reid will work.
You have Leveon mossback as one of the best running
backs in the SEC last year. So him and Marcel
Reid in the backfield for a full season will be
(34:01):
very exciting. Like I'm excited, I'm bullish, at least in
the sense of for A and M getting to double
edgi wind. The thing is absolutely possibly. Look at their schedule.
It's a tough game at Notre Dame going on the
road in the game that they absolutely could have and
you maybe could argue you should have won last year
to start, but at least you get Florida at home.
On the road at Texas is non ideal. On the
road to LSU is very tough as well. You're gonna
(34:22):
need an upset or two. But I think in terms
of what you can expect and you break the mold
of the eight and four A and M, I think so.
I absolutely think so.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
This is the home of the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
And because hot take Hickey decide to go ahead and
say double digits was coming to the Aggies. Congratulations another
eight and four season ahead, Ryan Hickey, give him a
fall at Ryan Underscore Hickey three, The Ryan Hickey Show
on in Fandy Sports Network. Hick as always, man, you
are the best. I'll talk to you, saying.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
Okay, Cole always a pleasure of AMANSA, thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Thank careeran appreciate you. Ryan Hickey and Fandy Sports Network.
Make sure that you go ahead and give him a
fall on Twitter at Ryan Underscore Hickey. When we come back,
I want to break down one of the major things
that he said, and I'm gonna play a little bit
of audio on why I'm starting to turn a little
bit more on the tune surrounding Arch Manning Now on
the nightcap, next right here on Sports Talk seven ninety
six fifty one after the hour, right here on the Nightcap.
(35:12):
And if you liked our conversation with Ryan Hickey, you
can always go listen on the podcast feed. And when
you're doing that, make sure that you also go on
over to iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Oh on the app sixt five seconds.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
And when you do that, make sure you preset Sports
Talk seven ninety as your number one listen. That way,
you can hear me, you can hear Wex say see,
you can listen to the Sean Salisbury Show, but Dan Matthews,
the Matt Tama Show featuring Roster, whatever else we have
coming your way. Just bring your preset Sports Talk seven
ninety before.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
I have Frankie play this sound. I have a bone to.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
Pick with one mister Western Moreland that he is not
prepared for. But now he's gonna be welcomed in. Frankie
every once in a while will be my producer. I
appreciate his efforts. Frankie said something very negative today, something
that made me upset, and I want to pull you
guys in so seven one thirty two and if you
want to call on in Frankie last night or a
(36:02):
couple of days ago, whatever it was, want to go
see one of the greatest movies to ever exists, Indiana
Jones and The Last Crusade. I'm very jealous of him
that you got to go to the Imax special and
watch it with his.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Dad, the thing that I like to do with my dad.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
But Frankie decided to say, hey, hey, col you want
to what's not the best movie of all of the
Indiana Jones movies?
Speaker 2 (36:24):
You know, the best one of the Last Crusade. So Frankie, I'm.
Speaker 8 (36:27):
Going to present the floor to you speak your case
on why it is not Wow. Okay, Well, I mean
the thing that's interesting about it is, I think compared
to the other two and it isn't necessarily a con
It is more focused on the father son relationship. It's
more of the subtext that's going on. But it's still
(36:51):
a competent action picture. It's just that it, I don't know,
it just doesn't quite seem to hit the same highs
as the first two for me personally.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I understand that.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
And I was going to give him a pass because
of he said that number one was Raiders, and Raiders
is a great movie.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
I have no complaints about no notes. Hair's a fourth
crushed it.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
But then, of course you gotta say that number two
would be Last Crusade because everyone thinks that, you know,
Temple of Doom is just one of the worst movies
ever made by Steven Spielberg. Frankie, what's your number two
movie on the list on the indie list, of the
any list.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
I like Temple of Doom a lot.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And that's where I had to fight back, Frankie Westernmoreland.
Everybody thinking that The Last Crusade is not is in
last place. That is what Frankie western Moreland believes. And
I refuse to go ahead and hold that down. So
call on in and tell me your official ranking or
tweet me at mister Cole Thompson at Sports Talk seven
ninety what is the official ranking of the trilogy that
(37:47):
is the greatest of all time? And I will not
argue with you. Indian Jones is the greatest trilogy of
all time. And I don't know what happened in the
fourth movie or the fifth movie because.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
They don't exist. In my mind.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
It ends with Indy, his father, and Salah riding off
into the sunset after they found the Holy Grail.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Ninety.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Arch Manning has drawn a lot of interests on the show,
mostly because of college football as my life, and I
am somebody who has been very adamant about setting a
tone for this season.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
I like the defense, I like the run games.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
C J backs are fully healthy, and I like what
they have at wide receiver so much so that I'm
not putting this much.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Pressure onto arch Manning.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
Well, unfortunately rhes Davis, an idle of mind, did decide
to put a little bit more pressure on arch Manning.
Speaker 9 (38:36):
Take a listen, my number one quarterback, guy who have
the best season for his team, put up the best
numbers arch Manning. Now a healthy chunk of my belief
in arch Manning's talent and a gargantuan chunk in my
belief in Steve Sarkisian as a guy who can take
quarterbacks and make them succeed beyond what their experience might indicate.
(38:59):
That would I think the combination of Sarkisian putting him
in great spots, some of the experience that he got
backing up Quinn yours and playing some of quinn yours.
I think the combination of Manning sark will probably have them.
In fact, I think if I had to pick right now,
I think those two guys will face off.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
In the SEC Championship game.
Speaker 9 (39:20):
Manning Nussmeyer I think will be the SEC Championship game,
will both probably going to the playoff.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Okay, so for starters podcasts, it's always college football College
Game Day podcast on ESPN. Just want to make sure
I preface that so that way give the credit where
credit is due. Number two, He didn't have me at
the first half, Reese. In fact, I was screaming at
you when it came to the first half, really arch
Manning over, Garrett Nussmeyer, over DJ Lagway, over Kate Klubnik,
(39:46):
Are you out of your bleeping mind?
Speaker 2 (39:49):
But then you said the.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
Part that is so prevalent. That is absolutely true. Steve
Sarkishan is the glue. Steve Sarkishan is the reason why
I am not against anybody putting Arch in Umber one.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
It's not for me.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
I'm never gonna change my opinion on that going into
the season. K Club mcgarrett and that's Meyer. There my
top two quarterbacks, and then I have a couple of
other names that I like a.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Little bit more than Arch right now.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
But if your reasoning behind it is look at what
Steve Sarkisian has done with quarterbacks, and it goes back
to his time when he was in southern California working
with Matt Leinert, and then he gets offered in a
job and he transforms Washington into a respectable program. And
then he goes back to USC and quarterback play is
pretty good. Then he goes to University of Alabama and
(40:30):
Matt Jones lights it on fire. He is phenomenal. He's
the runner up for the Heisman. And then Quinn Ewers.
Whether or not you love him or hate him, he
comes on in and leads you to a Big Twelve title,
a College Football Playoff appearance back back years and you're
one of the sec doesn't miss a beat. If that's
your reasoning, I will buy into arch Manning and.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
The reason why.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
I truly believe that arch will be special and that
Texas will make it to Atlanta this year.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
And I'm with Rees.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
As of right now, I have Texas and LSU playing
for the SEC championship. I am in that same boat.
The reason why is because of arch mating. It's the
same reason why I don't doubt them when it comes
to the roster construction. It's the same reason why I
truly believe that this team, despite losing ample talent, will
be one of the best in college football. And it's
(41:21):
a reason why I believe that when you look at
this Texas I mean this Texas squad, they are built
to win titles. It has nothing to do with the quarterback.
Is everything to do with the head coach that does it.
For me here on the nightcap, I will be back tomorrow.
We're gonna go take a quick time out, but shortly,
in less than hour, Dan Matthews will join you for
ashers on deck as the ass Shows look to claim
(41:44):
a victory over the Athletics.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Talk to you guys tomorrow. Peace,
You know what's better than having to deal with me
for an hour, probably having to deal with your head
coach and a new long term deal that is going
to make you a fixture in the Western Conference. Welcome
into the Nightcap, Cole Thompson. Rocket with you until seven pm,
and then we'll get you over to a quick break
and then we'll come right back and we'll do the
Astros on Deck show with Dan Matthews.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
And then we'll close out our time.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
In West Sacramento, where that soulless city that doesn't actually
claim the athletics, we'll play host to the Houston Astros,
your second place in the American League, Houston Astros, which
apparently more people are not talking enough about, so I
will continue to go ahead and praise their name. And
then they'll continue a three game series against the Los
Angeles Angels, going on down to Anaheim seven one, three, two,
(00:48):
seven nine. If you want to dial on in wet
to talk about anything surrounding the Texans, the Rockets, college football,
because if we are going to have college football extraordinaire
Ryan Hickey from in FANDI Sports Network joining us at
six thirty, whatever's on your mind, go ahead and down
on in. Frankie is the producer today. He will gladly
be able to get you on in. But let's start
(01:09):
off with the news that did shake Houston today in
a good way, not like those like those avalanches my bed,
not avalanches, earthquakes that reside out in California, which, thank
god the ass havn't had to deal with. Rockets email
Udoka long term deal. Hey New York, he ain't coming
to you. Hey, Golden State, you ain't getting him. Hey,
(01:31):
anybody who thinks that Houston is a second tier city,
Well we have a first class head coach that wants
to be here, locked in brand new contract worth eight
figures according to Shams, making him one of the highest
paid coaches in the NBA. After a dominant third fifty
two and thirty season, first playoff appearance for the Rockets
(01:51):
since twenty twenty, but did get knocked out in seven
games against the Golden State Warriors, which again it's the
Warriors that's the last paced resistance you have to get
over to put yourself in that category of elite teams.
And I do believe that by this time next year
we will be talking about the Rockets in a prominent
light compared to what we have in the past, because
(02:12):
they will have defeated the Warriors, they will have best
stayed at Golden State, they will have dunked on Draymond
and shattered Steph's heart and make sure that every single
person that says that this team can't get past that
one roster, yeah, they're gonna do that. And largely it's
because of who is at the Helm. This is a
good deal. This is not just a good deal. This
(02:32):
is a great deal. And the reason I say it
that way has nothing to do with the actual contract,
which numbers we don't know are out just yet. But
it's showing faith in a coach, a coach who, for
right or wrong reasons, was terminated out in Boston, but
had a team that was qualified enough to go play
for an NBA Finals, qualified enough to probably win an
(02:54):
NBA Finals With him at the help, that's what you
have and in two seasons he's not only changed the culture,
he's also changed the identity and the trajectory of this
rocket scene. If you would have told me that they
were the number seven seed in the Western Conference this year,
I could buy it. You would have told me that
they were in the play in tournament.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I could buy it.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
You could have told me that they were a team
that was still finding its rhythm, maybe not going to
be the best roster or one of the top teams
in the Western Conference, but still a good team.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I could buy it.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
But you go aheading, you fast forward just a little
bit more and say, hey, our rookies are playing well,
our secondary players are playing well, our benches doing great defensively,
we are among the best. We have a culture, we
have something that we can build upon. All of that,
that's what tal your disposal. Oh and by the way,
we also the number two seed in the Western Conference.
(03:47):
Who cares that? Again, it's it's unfortunately Golden State. Sometimes
you're gonna lose those matchups, but you would end up
being here to begin with if you didn't have the Mayodoka.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So what is ownership doing?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
They're saying, hey, instead of letting him flirt around with
the idea going into his third season of a six
year contract, let's reward him for not what he's a done,
but what he's about to do.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
What he's about to turn the corner.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And just keep in mind, everybody wants to play with
emay go talk to anybody around the NBA, especially when
he was terminated out in Boston, and the positivity, the accolades,
the pure joy that you consistently heard about Emai Udoka, and.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
That's your head coach.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You wanted.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
What this is gonna do for Houston. It's gonna want
to keep players around longer. They're going to want to
sign maybe team friendly contracts because if they know they're
in the right situation. It's gonna allow free agents to
come on in and say, hey, I like what they're
building out there. I see the vision, I see the identity.
I want to go ahead and buy into that too.
Go ahead, let me sign on the dotted line. It's
(04:54):
going to keep you competitive in the Western Conference, and
eventually you're gonna have the depth, You're gonna.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Have these ardy caliber talent.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
You're gonna have the identity to go ahead and put
yourself on the mantle the way that you're watching Oklahoma
City do it. It starts off with the coach and
the GM and so far with Felstone. Going out and
making this type of move is not gutsy whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
It's brilliant.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
It's keeping the people that you know why you're here
in a happy location and I love it and I
don't think anybody should be.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Arguing with it.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
The way that we talked about Nick Schubb a couple
of weeks ago when he signed on the dotted line
one year, two point five million, maybe five million at
the most.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
There was no loss.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
In that contract. There's none because if he doesn't end
up panning out, it's two point five million dollars. You
got nine million back on June first. When you watch this,
Shaq Mason went out the door, so you were in
a really good spot at that point.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's the same thing here.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
You're not gonna be out any money and it's not
gonna be regretful because you want to know why this
is a good contract, because if you have the coach,
you have a top coach in the sport. You look
at the numbers and WEX and AC were talking about
it earlier. Quinn Snyder is number four among coaches and
active wins, and you would not take him over a
(06:10):
guy in Emayadoka. You wouldn't number five. If I'm not mistaken,
is Billy Donovan? Would you really take Billy over email?
Right now here better question for you and Frankie.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
If you Wantach.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I'm in you can.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I don't know if you will.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
But still, if Chicago, if the Bulls had their opportunity
to go get Emai Audoka or stick it out and
ride tall with Billy Donovan, you know which way they're leaning.
I promise you it's not gonna be the one that
you're thinking, Oh, we we love Billy. We think that Billy,
that the guy that won two championships at Florida and
has kind of been a DoD ever since in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, we're cool with him. He may go ahead and
just sit on by.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Yeah, no way's saying that you have a top five
coach that's only getting better. And AC may have gone
a little bold, even a little bit too bold for
my liking, but I don't think he's wrong. There's an
opportunity now at hand as one of the highest paid coaches,
with an identity on your roster, with a really big impact,
and most importantly now sign on the dotted line with
(07:14):
a big blench check. He is going to go down
as the best coach in Rockets history. He has that shot.
He does his talent, He's gonna get more talent. You're
gonna see more players look at Houston as a prime destination,
and lo and behold, here we go watches your rockets.
Your Rockets are a viable threat every single season in
(07:36):
the Western Conference, and they may even be better than
Oklahoma City by the time this is all said and done.
But seven one three, two two five seven niney, if
you want to chime on in seven one three two
one two five seven ninety. You want to talk astros,
you wanna talk rockets, you want to talk college football,
because I already told you this def Texa is making
you smarter on the Saturday sport every single time I'm
on air. We got Ryan Hickey from in Fandy's Sports
(07:58):
Network joining us very shortly.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
It's six thirty. We gotta talk.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
About the Astros and the direction that they're going in.
So it may only be ten minutes into the show.
It may feel like it has been a long winded
rant about things that you need to hear about, but
we're only getting started ten minutes down, fifty minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
We'll be right back in just a quick moment time out,
and when.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
We return, let's talk about those Houston ash shows, your
second place in the American League and surely pushing upward.
Houston ash shows on the nightcap right here on Sports
Talk seven ninety six sixteen after the hour, right here
on the nightcap Sports Talk seven ninety seven, one three,
two nine.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
If you want to jole on and we got.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Paul and Myerland, a very friendly familiar guest that always
wants to chime on in.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Paul, what's on your mind? My friend?
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Hey, man, I'm so excited about one of those f
one tickets.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
I gotta tell you a story.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Uh well, let to see the kids see the Minecraft
movie a couple of weeks ago. Sure, and they showed
the Trader, and man, I was really excited about the Trader.
But after the Minecraft movie, my little loving old boy
looked at to me. He said, I'm sorry, Dad, drag
you to this.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
So yeah, appreciate the call.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Uh So, here's a question for you, and I want
you to listen to I phrase this properly. Who do
you think the best second baseman to ever played for
the Astros?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Second baseman Jose al Twov.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
No, I know you gotta say Craig Bitche No really Okay,
now now I'm interested.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
The second basement ever played for the Houston Astros played
ten years for the Astros, played eight years for the Ritz.
His name is Joe Morgan from Bonding, Texas.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, that would have been my number two option. It
would have been over Craig Mitgio. And the reason I
say that is because Craig was just such an influential part,
team leader, clubhouse guy.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
You can't just label him a second basement.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah he went in as a second baseman, but he
played outfield, he played the corner, he played behind the dish,
he did everything. So you gotta be at least thankful
that you had a player like that who hosel two bays.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Slowly turning into oh yeah, I mean I love this guy.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
I love this two guys.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I mean yeah, Wait, when it all comes down to it,
Bill Morgan was I think was a better baseball player
than most of those two guys.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
I'm not gonna argue that much with you. I appreciate it,
Paul Listen. I again, I look at this as a
situation of, Hey.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
You had great second basement. That's a huge win in
your advantage.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
You speaking of second base, hose al Tuova, guess what
you're playing second to night Jeremy Pang and leading things
off East sac Preandy's back at the back at third.
You're batting in the cleanup spot, Yaanu dis but he's
not behind the dish.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Nope.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Pieces the designated hitter, cam Smith, respect, Frankie western Moreland.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We got cam Smith. Respect. He's batting fifth.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
A night, going fourth for four out of minor league ballpark,
Gonna crush a couple of dingers and put the Astros
on top.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
You got Christian Walker bat in.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
The sixth spot. Jake Myers is in the seventh hole,
batting eighth. Is Victor Carrottini. He'll be your catcher. And
Mauricio Dubon is back in the lineup, but he's not
playing second base.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Nope.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
He's doing with the Astros usually do, and just figure
out a role for him. He will be in left
field as Colton Gordon takes the mound and looks to
get a three to one lead over the Athletics when
they play in West Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Seven seven nine. If you want to call on.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
In and talk about your Astros, who currently are sitting
in second place in the American League, think about this
for a second. This is a completely new version of
the Astros, and in my opinion, this is a dominant,
lethal team that just basically has turned into the meme
of Jesse Pinkerton from Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad, where
(11:37):
he says he can't keep.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Getting away with it because that's what the Astros are.
They're inevitable.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
They are this time last year they were nine games back,
nine games.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Under five hundred. They were thirty four and thirty. Think
about that for a minute.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Terrible pitching, especially from the bullpen, an injury to a
star player in Kyle Tucker, questions when it came to
your starting rotation, and you had a little bit of
a drop off in certain players. This offseason, they trade
away Kyle Tucker and they send him to a team
that you could not pay me enough money to root for.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
And it's very frustrating because I pray.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
To guy that he's only there one year, so I
can actually give a care in the world about Kyle Tucker,
because if he signs a long term deal with the Cubs,
I'm not gonna be well. In fact, I'm gonna be
very upset, and my probable victim, I mean my probable
villain arch of now rooting against Kyle Tucker is gonna
become a thing. You lose Alex Bregman too a long
term deal. You lose multiple pittures at the star of
(12:35):
your rotation, I mean at the back of your rotation.
They had a bunch of dudes coming on up from
the minor leagues who, for my money, probably should be
better used as bullpen guys. But they're giving you multiple
innings and you're getting elite pitching from Josh Hater when
it comes to ninth inning, and honestly, outside of Brandon
brayew with the three to one loss on Monday, where
(12:55):
Nick Kurtz hit a two run blast that would have
gone out in any single ballpark, he's been a League two.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That's what you have at your team, and.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
You're doing it without your best hitter, because let's just
coust Betes paid. We can be thankful to see what
jose Al Tubay is doing kind of turning the corner.
We can be thankful to say that Jeremy Panna hitting
in the leadoff spot, batting three point fifty six since
moving there. Frankie'm gonna say that one more time, three
fifty six. You want know who's not doing that anybody
(13:25):
else in the majors with the leadoff spot no one.
You can say all that, but your best hitter is
your on Alvarez. He's not even in the lineup. And
when you look back at the trade and you picture
it from a thirty thousand angle view, this is an
even better deal for the Astros than we're giving credit
for because if Hayden was nesky when fully healthy back
(13:48):
from his Tommy John surgery, is gonna be a low
end back of your rotation guy, but he's still gonna
be in your irrotation. Pretty good player in your rotation
isak Peredes is your home run leader. He is just
launching missiles out in the left field short deck or
not at dyke In Park. Lead your team in RBIs
(14:10):
He's also one of your best hitters when it comes
to sluggy percentage ops.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Oh and then you get Cam Smith, who.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
After the first thirty games I was ready to send
on down to the miners. All took with him going
to a minor league ballpark to find his spark. Oh
and you got him for six years. The Astros are
doing things this season that need to be studied because
of with a bullpen that features a bunch of guys
who everyone kind of fizzled out on whether it be Boston,
(14:39):
whether it be Cincinnati, whether it be the Chicago White Sox,
whether it be the Oakland Athletics.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Who wasn't Oakland last year.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So I'm not gonna have to say that again because
if he wasn't Oakland last year, to any roster out there,
couldn't find any success, couldn't.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Get a control down. They've been awesome, lights out.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
And then you're talking about guys like Ryan gust who, yes,
I am still in the minority believing he should be
in the bullpen, but at least he's giving you quality innings.
Colton Gordon has been awesome. He has been great in
every sense of the word. And Jason Alexander, who had
an eighteen er I get with the team that's currently
(15:21):
playing the Astros, comes on in and mows down everybody.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
That's what you're working with.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Oh, and then you go to the bullpen part of everything,
which is another major selling point in my opinion. It's
the best bullpen in baseball and it's not particularly close.
Sean Duban's got twenty innings of work and he leads
the team in er. He got a great lefty in
Bennett's SUSA, friend of the A team, friend of Cole Thompson,
(15:47):
friend of Adam Wexler, Adam Clanton with a two point
eight one ear I mean with a two point three
to one er. He was great when he had to
make his appearance. And then you get to go to
the eighth inning and trust that Brian A. Bray you
is gonna set you up for a Josh Hateraid mow
down in the ninth. Seriously, when you look at this
Astros team, it has to be infuriating, it has to
(16:10):
be so frustrating, so overall demoralizing to Yankees fans, to
Red Sox fans, to the Mariners, to that other piece
of human, literal garbage city that we call Arlington, where
the Rangers call home. Even though they were playing more
so like the Cowgirls these days, the Angels. They could
(16:33):
throw in the Twins, you can throw in the Royals.
It has to be so demoralizing to realize, Hey, their
best hitters out sixty percent of their opening day rotations,
out their best overall pitcher, that they got the deal.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Hayden was Nesky, He's out.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
You also have questions when it comes to your depth
because of how many injuries you have. They got a
guy that's never played right field making an impact. Jake Myers,
who's not getting enough for spect, has had.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
A career year.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
You're getting awesome play at this point of the month,
from jose Al to Bay who's finally caught his wind.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Oh, by the way, was willing.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
To move down into the three hole, and then Jeremy
Pang is playing like an All Star. It has to
be so demoralizing knowing that all these things that should
have been against you are actually in favor of the
Astros because they're doing it. They're on their way to
becoming the best team in the American League. And if
they're not gonna be the best team, well I got
some good news for you as of this moment. If
(17:32):
the season ended tonight, if the season was over right now,
I can promise you this. The Astros maybe waiting to
figure out who was terrible in the wild card round
that they could take advantage of, because that's what you're
gonna get.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
That's what you have at this point.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That's where the Astros are seven one, three, two, five
seven nine. If you want to chime on in, I
know Jim, we see you in the chat. We're gonna
get to you in a moment. Just quick recap around
the league, just when it comes to who is doing
what right now? Three to one win, four four one win.
My apologies for the Kansadi Royals out in Arlington. Three
to four victory for the Washington Nationals over the Colorado Rockies.
(18:13):
It just went final by a two to one victory
for the San Francisco Giants over the Cleveland Guardians.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
A doubleheader is currently underway.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
It's four nothing Pittsburgh after a nine to two loss
earlier today. Seven to three victory for the Yankees over
the Angels. Nothing nothing in the middle of the fourth
for the Phillies and Marlins.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Eight seven.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Zach Collins with a homer out in Wrigley Field to
beat the Chicago Cubs. Thank you, Zach Collins. Twelve five
victory for the Minnesota Twins over the Cincinnati Reds. Warming
up is the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays.
We also have the metsican in the bottom of the
first against the Atlanta Braves.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Bottom of the six to six.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
To one lead for the Cardinals over the White Sox,
and they also won five to four earlier today and
nine to five as the Arizona Diamondbacks skeetdy win and
get back to five hundred over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Jim Let's gone to the phone lines. Puts up, Jim,
what's on your mind?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yeah, Hey, I caught the tail.
Speaker 6 (19:08):
I just got in the car and caught the tail
end of this second base all greatest second basement discussion
and yeah, yeah, so I heard it, and I just
want to make sure we're all clear. Jose Al two,
he's the greatest second baseman. Jose Al two, he is
the greatest astro. Yeah, it's non negotiable. Thank you, And
a word of career advice. I'm not in your industry,
(19:29):
but if I'm if I was playing like Matt, if
I was Matt Thomas, I would say, Cole Thompson, don't
entertain anybody trying to convince you otherwise that he's not
the greatest second baseman. He's the greatest astro unless Bryce.
Yeah no, no, hold on, unless Bryce Matthews comes up
in a couple of years and goes on a fifteen
year run and wins four World Series, they.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Ain't gonna happen. It is Hosey al two man.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
He and We've had some great astros in our organization.
I'm a fifty seven year old guy who has been
a lifelong Astro fan, have seen.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Some of the greats.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
But Altuve, it's non negotiable, the greatest astro, the greatest
second baseman.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Don't let callers come.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
In and try to spin anything, shut him down and
say it's non negotiable.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Ye, Jim, Jim, I agree with you that the greatest
second basement and the greatest astros Hoseel Tve. What I'm
not gonna agree with is that Joe Morgan is not
number two because I think that Craig Biggio utility.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Who I'm okay, whoever's number two or three?
Speaker 6 (20:32):
Fine, yeah Morgan, that was a good call out because
he did have a senior here at the Astros and.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm with you there.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
But but the greatest ist Tuove and until somebody drops
you know, more world series.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Titles and uh and than he does.
Speaker 6 (20:49):
And and I guess the heir apparent's going to be
Bryce Matthews.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
We'll see.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
But we are witnessing the greatest astro and uh, it's
it's just awesome to watch him, and and just like
even yesterday, even though they're playing the A's, you know,
just seeing what he did, you know, after like not
producing with the bases load, he comes up with a
couple of men on the next time and just ambush
is a pitcher who tried to get a you know,
(21:16):
dead red fastball by him, and he just pisses on it.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
It's just it's so awesome to see.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
It's so funny to see when you watch people try
to strategize against Altub. How the Major League Baseball as
a whole continues to try to throw first pitch fastballs
at times against him, and it's like, why would you
ever want to do that, But they keep doing it.
And then we see what happens with al dub He's great,
(21:42):
He's phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
He is He's absolutely incredible.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
We as Houston astro sports fans are just blessed to
have to watch this guy. I just I just pray
to God he stays healthy and gets to three thousand
plus hits and we might sneak in another you know,
World Series title.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
We'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yay, we got sneaking into anything, Jim, We're getting another
World Series title. And more importantly, we're getting hose al
tube into the into the Hall of Fame in Cooper's town.
Let's go to the phone onnes one more time before
we take a quick break.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
What's talking you mind?
Speaker 7 (22:13):
My friend man, I'll tell you just like he said,
I think we don't know what to think of this team.
A little bit seven years alcs name of the American
League or Astros League Championship Series you call the thing,
and now you know it's a little bit of a team,
but we're strong, and I guess my question is how
many games ahead of third place do you have to
(22:34):
be where you think about this team a little bit differently?
Is that putting the card for the horse, but you
know you're not.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Putting anything before the horse.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Man.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Listen, this is a team that I think is pissing
off everybody in the American League because of how many
injuries they have, how many times they're going into the
bullpen to trust guys from the miners that are basically
taking the place as Spencer Arraghetti and Lance McCullers. And
you talk about what Ryan Gusto has done and what
Colton Gordon has done and what Sean Dupid has done
and how many of these frustrating names that were terrible
(23:02):
in the bullpen for other teams, they're having career renaissance
years here. I mean, if you're from a national perspective
looking at this Astros team, they may not be the
most dominant Astros team in franchise history, but I'll tell
you what, they have impressed me more than I think
even the twenty twenty two team as of right now
by how they're doing it, how they're responding, and how
(23:25):
they're able to take the advantages. And it just feels
like this is the year where they're supposed to be
coome crashing down and they're not.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
They're only heating up.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
Great preaching, Hunter and Framber, you know, throw away the
trade talks, if you really if you're gonna be a
second place in the ALCS, you know what I mean.
This is twenty twenty five, and.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I completely agree with you. Bet, I completely agree with
your knowledge. Go on that one when we come back.
I'm gonna have a friend come on and he's gonna
make a lot of you mad.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Does it call him hot? Take KICKI for a reason.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Ryan you from Fandy Sports Network talking all things college
football right here on the nightcout Sports Suck seven ninety
next sexts thirty six after the Hour, right here on
the nightcount sports Socks seven ninety seven one three two
one two five seven ninety If you want to chime
on in.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
I'm gonna be completely honest.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I didn't even think about this when I called him,
and I was like, hey, man, I got it. I'm
doing a show tonight. I would love to have you
on to talk college football. And then I remember that
sometimes it's very fun to make fun of this man,
but he does care about the sports. So that's why
I always want to make you smarter, which is why
Ryan Hickey from Infiniti Sports Network Jeorge's Show to talk
a little bit about the Saturday game. But I want
(24:35):
to start off with baseball because of Hick. You are
a Penn State fan, So how did it feel watching
the Penn State equivalent of college baseball?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Crapped the bed last night at the night thening?
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Am I wrong? Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
You're not wrong.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
I guess the only thing Penn State has going for
them that Arkansas does not is that at least when
they lose, it's seeble offense. It's not in a heartbreaking
way where they're dropping a game when touched down with
no one around him. Duy Arkansas seem they's fumbled the
bad kid the last years in oh Maha, So I
guess that's one thing going for him. But uh boy,
what an intro, What a.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Way to end last night's game, I mean anesome.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
And by the way, just from a baseball perspective, do
you try to turn the double play or are you
just making the right call and going a third?
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (25:20):
No double play without a depth because the runner on
second and that time going to third is irrelevant. You're
up by two, so the worst case scenario is you
don't get the double player to run on first. Is safe?
Now all of a sudden, the tying runs on first
still and you get a chance to turn two. I
don't get why you just take yourself out of having
a chance to win the game. That the thought process
(25:41):
made no sense to me. When you're up again by two,
not one, when I run on third's irrelevant.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
The pitching, also, I think, is different from when you
got a guy no longer on second, even if you
don't get the audit first, so you got runners to
the corners and you change your opinion here's the opinion
I want to change real fast on me.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
I'm buying a lot of stock in the Texas this year.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Now, I think that the long Horns are still going
to be one of the best teams in college football.
Doesn't mean that they're going to be the most complete
team in all the sport. In fact, you've seen my rankings.
You know who number one is and I can't believe
I actually have them at number one. But still Penn
State is built to do it this year. When you
look at Texas, what is the one thing that you
think will derail their season other than inconsistent play from
(26:20):
say arch Manning.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
I would just send the overall inexperience. And that's the
one question I do have is because like they're super
talented and starts on an outstanding job in terms of recruiting.
So it's a lot of talent. But the thing this year,
right outside of arch is a lot of unproven talent.
And they look at the effensive line that I think
has been kind of a heartbeat for Texas the last
few years. Here those four to five starters, that's huge.
So now not only is arch Manning truly making his
(26:44):
first year as a starter. But it's also with a
lot of inexperienced guys up front that are making the calls.
I mean, Jake Major's was I think the best center
last year, so you lose his experience, I think it's
you have a lot of inexperience even at receiver as well.
At times I like Ryan Wingo and Gangum, but stilly,
it's just a lot of questions and unproven talent. When
(27:04):
you look at Texas like they're eighty second in terms
of returning production, that's where I think you talk about
a derailment of what nine and three in that range
try and missing the playoff. I think it's because you
have so many inexperienced players, not just a quarterback but
all throughout the roster that are unable to kind of
come through here.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
But if I was to push back on that and say, look,
you do have an experience. But if Arch is Arch
and he does end up living up to the Manning name,
and I truly believe that Ryan Wingo, if he wasn't
sharing the spotlight with Matthew Golden, who was the breakout
player last year, may have put up numbers very similar
to what Cam Coleman did at Auburn or Ryan Williams
at Alabama. Not Jeremiah Smith level malarkey, but still quality numbers.
(27:43):
I think you talk about that defense that features Tray
More back, features rookie tack back, features Malik Mohammad, a
stable defensive line because of the transfer portal, and honestly
Colin Simmons, who was probably the best player on their
roster from a talent perspective.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Only getting more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Like you still have to believe that tech, this is,
if not the team to beat in the SEC, clearly
one of those rosters that you want to put, maybe
not in permanent red ink, but definitely a good pen
that maybe you could erase in the college football playoff rankings.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Oh, I agree, like with all what I just said,
I still have Texas or at least I'm picking them
to win the SEC. I feel the best about them.
I think they're a top five team going into this season,
even with the inexperience in question marketing, I'm buying it.
Like you said, that defense, especially at front seven, very
very good. That should take some pressure of Arts where
he's not having to put up forty five points per game.
(28:33):
And you look at too like the other top teams
in the SEC. Alabama has a lot of turnover, right,
Georgia has a lot of turnover. A lot of the
teams that have a lot of production coming back in
some consistency are kind of.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
More in that middle tier.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
So Texas is still kind of sliding in with a
lot of those top teams in terms of a lot
of questions. In terms of just experience, we haven't seen
it a ton, but I'm still buying in big time
the Longhorn. I think they're absolutely a title contender this year,
no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Ryan Hikey from and FANDI Sports Networks. You want to
check out his show, make sure the tune on in.
It's also you want to give him a fall on Twitter.
He's a great follow at Ryan Underscore Hiky three Hickey.
You and I both are very high on Once even
the ACC and that is Clemson k Klebnick back ninety
seven percent returning production, the most in college football three
wide receivers. I argue that I think that we're gonna
(29:18):
get great play for Antonio Williams, but I'm really excited
to see what Moore provides this year. You're really high
on Brian westco they did make some changes, which I
think is a huge plus in favor of Dabos Sweeney.
He went out of the transfer portal. He got two dudes,
but he at least he went out. He didn't hire
from within. He goes gets Tom Allen, a guy you
know very well from his time at Penn State last year.
What is the overall upside and ceiling of this team?
(29:41):
Because most people only focus in on the Big Ten
and they focus in on the SEC. But if I
just say Clemson, they're not a good team in college football,
they're a great national championship caliber roster.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
How you talk with silly for this year, it's winning
the national title. Well, I think they're absolutely in that
conversation going into the I think they'll they'll proved that
throughout the season. Like I'm Cole, I thought in my life,
as long as Dablos Swingeing is coaching, let's say since
about twenty two, to be talking about Clemson, Oh yeah,
(30:14):
there's no way the game has passed him by. He
he you know, ignores it and pushes down on nil
and the transfer portal. That's what you need now and
kids are no longer going to Clemson just because it's Clemson,
and even there are questions, even just forget that for
a second about player development. We saw a DJU and
some of these outfitsive lineman say oh god, what are
they doing here? I'm bought back in a lot of
(30:34):
the words that I said Cole, I'm already it's June.
I am starved myself in preparation for all the crow
I expect to on Clemson. This joy and all in
on this team I think can absolutely win a national title.
Dabbo has done a great job in terms of talent identification.
I said small Violet. The will helps addition from purdueing
the porter that kind of helps balance out that defense
ave line that should be really good. Like this feels
(30:56):
going into the like a Clemson team from twenty eighteen
twenty sixteen when they were true of the best team
in the country. It feels like that led by Kate
tlebquad a huge year last year going into this year,
like we could see that again from Clempson in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
So we're based in Texas, based out in Houston.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
I brought you one of all people because if you
care about college football, not just the SEC and the
Big Ten, you care about Big Twelve, you care about
the ACC. So let me ask you which team in
the state of Texas are you most excited to see
not named the Longhorns and not name the Aggies, and
which one actually stands a shot maybe going on a
run and punching their ticket O of the college football
playof getinting then upset in the process.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Ooh okay, I will say.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Tell me on somebody, Hickey, So I got, I got
my wallet is burning trying to place down a bet,
and I want to know who you think that way
I can bet against them, of course, because if you're always.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
Wrong, you're a smart man.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Number one.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
You know what, Let's go with Baylor because I think
now as because college football kinds takes on an NFL
kind of light. If you will, I'm playing is very important.
I think, Sorry, Robinson is the top ten quarterback going
into this year, so I think if you have a quarterback,
you have a chance the Big twelve. I think Arizona
States to means a team to beat. I like a
lot what Texas Tech has done. Actually, what let me
(32:12):
change that. Let me talk myself in a Texas Tech
because I got up, hie, and I don't know my
own in. I'm in on Texas Tech. I really like
the nil additions that they have made. I like the
talent acquisition as well. Joe McGuire, I think is building
this team in the right direction. I think Tech could
have a real chance here. Again, I think Arizona State
to me is the best team, but as we know,
the Big Twelve is by far the most unpredictable conference
(32:34):
in college football. So if it's not the favorite, if
it's not Arizona State, I think Texas Tech would be
the one where it's all said and done here winning
the Big Twelve. And I think that they are a dangerous,
dangerous team come college football PLAYFF time.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
See, you talked me off the ledge of picking Baylor
because you picked Baylor, Baylor was my selection. Then you
switched over to Texas Tech, which means I could still
bet on Baylor and watch you be wrong in the process,
which is awesome. On that and anyways, before I get
you on out of here, Texas A and M. Last season,
there's a joke around this area called Texas eight and
four because it always feels like that they're going to
be an eight and four roster when you look at
(33:07):
the additions of what they brought in this past offseason,
Casey conceptsi On, a top ten wide receiver, spent a
lot of money on fixing that defense. What are your
expectations for the Igies with Mike Elco in year two.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
I think it's some of the your wins, you know.
I really like that Marcel read Now is coming in
and he's fully entrenched to the starting quarterback. Like I said,
they've made some good additions in the offseason. I don't
expect this defense to be as bad and Mike Elkos
year two as it was in year one, where you
know they're in the mid sixties in terms of total defense,
Like I think a defense now be better. You kind
of understand what he's teaching. You kind of get more
(33:39):
players in the eye of how you're trying to build it.
And I know there's some you can argue some questions
aboutable a lot of the receivers turned over, but you
still brought in a lot of experience at these receivers
that have proven it out of their school. So I
think that building chemistry between them and Reid will work.
You have Leveon mossback as one of the best running
backs in the SEC last year. So him and Marcel
Reid in the backfield for a full season will be
(34:01):
very exciting. Like I'm excited, I'm bullish, at least in
the sense of for A and M getting to double
edgi wind. The thing is absolutely possibly. Look at their schedule.
It's a tough game at Notre Dame going on the
road in the game that they absolutely could have and
you maybe could argue you should have won last year
to start, but at least you get Florida at home.
On the road at Texas is non ideal. On the
road to LSU is very tough as well. You're gonna
(34:22):
need an upset or two. But I think in terms
of what you can expect and you break the mold
of the eight and four A and M, I think so.
I absolutely think so.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
This is the home of the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
And because hot take Hickey decide to go ahead and
say double digits was coming to the Aggies. Congratulations another
eight and four season ahead, Ryan Hickey, give him a
fall at Ryan Underscore Hickey three, The Ryan Hickey Show
on in Fandy Sports Network. Hick as always, man, you
are the best. I'll talk to you, saying.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
Okay, Cole always a pleasure of AMANSA, thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Thank careeran appreciate you. Ryan Hickey and Fandy Sports Network.
Make sure that you go ahead and give him a
fall on Twitter at Ryan Underscore Hickey. When we come back,
I want to break down one of the major things
that he said, and I'm gonna play a little bit
of audio on why I'm starting to turn a little
bit more on the tune surrounding Arch Manning Now on
the nightcap, next right here on Sports Talk seven ninety
six fifty one after the hour, right here on the Nightcap.
(35:12):
And if you liked our conversation with Ryan Hickey, you
can always go listen on the podcast feed. And when
you're doing that, make sure that you also go on
over to iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Oh on the app sixt five seconds.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
And when you do that, make sure you preset Sports
Talk seven ninety as your number one listen. That way,
you can hear me, you can hear Wex say see,
you can listen to the Sean Salisbury Show, but Dan Matthews,
the Matt Tama Show featuring Roster, whatever else we have
coming your way. Just bring your preset Sports Talk seven
ninety before.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
I have Frankie play this sound. I have a bone to.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
Pick with one mister Western Moreland that he is not
prepared for. But now he's gonna be welcomed in. Frankie
every once in a while will be my producer. I
appreciate his efforts. Frankie said something very negative today, something
that made me upset, and I want to pull you
guys in so seven one thirty two and if you
want to call on in Frankie last night or a
(36:02):
couple of days ago, whatever it was, want to go
see one of the greatest movies to ever exists, Indiana
Jones and The Last Crusade. I'm very jealous of him
that you got to go to the Imax special and
watch it with his.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Dad, the thing that I like to do with my dad.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
But Frankie decided to say, hey, hey, col you want
to what's not the best movie of all of the
Indiana Jones movies?
Speaker 2 (36:24):
You know, the best one of the Last Crusade. So Frankie, I'm.
Speaker 8 (36:27):
Going to present the floor to you speak your case
on why it is not Wow. Okay, Well, I mean
the thing that's interesting about it is, I think compared
to the other two and it isn't necessarily a con
It is more focused on the father son relationship. It's
more of the subtext that's going on. But it's still
(36:51):
a competent action picture. It's just that it, I don't know,
it just doesn't quite seem to hit the same highs
as the first two for me personally.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I understand that.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
And I was going to give him a pass because
of he said that number one was Raiders, and Raiders
is a great movie.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
I have no complaints about no notes. Hair's a fourth
crushed it.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
But then, of course you gotta say that number two
would be Last Crusade because everyone thinks that, you know,
Temple of Doom is just one of the worst movies
ever made by Steven Spielberg. Frankie, what's your number two
movie on the list on the indie list, of the
any list.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
I like Temple of Doom a lot.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And that's where I had to fight back, Frankie Westernmoreland.
Everybody thinking that The Last Crusade is not is in
last place. That is what Frankie western Moreland believes. And
I refuse to go ahead and hold that down. So
call on in and tell me your official ranking or
tweet me at mister Cole Thompson at Sports Talk seven
ninety what is the official ranking of the trilogy that
(37:47):
is the greatest of all time? And I will not
argue with you. Indian Jones is the greatest trilogy of
all time. And I don't know what happened in the
fourth movie or the fifth movie because.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
They don't exist. In my mind.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
It ends with Indy, his father, and Salah riding off
into the sunset after they found the Holy Grail.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Ninety.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Arch Manning has drawn a lot of interests on the show,
mostly because of college football as my life, and I
am somebody who has been very adamant about setting a
tone for this season.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
I like the defense, I like the run games.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
C J backs are fully healthy, and I like what
they have at wide receiver so much so that I'm
not putting this much.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Pressure onto arch Manning.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
Well, unfortunately rhes Davis, an idle of mind, did decide
to put a little bit more pressure on arch Manning.
Speaker 9 (38:36):
Take a listen, my number one quarterback, guy who have
the best season for his team, put up the best
numbers arch Manning. Now a healthy chunk of my belief
in arch Manning's talent and a gargantuan chunk in my
belief in Steve Sarkisian as a guy who can take
quarterbacks and make them succeed beyond what their experience might indicate.
(38:59):
That would I think the combination of Sarkisian putting him
in great spots, some of the experience that he got
backing up Quinn yours and playing some of quinn yours.
I think the combination of Manning sark will probably have them.
In fact, I think if I had to pick right now,
I think those two guys will face off.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
In the SEC Championship game.
Speaker 9 (39:20):
Manning Nussmeyer I think will be the SEC Championship game,
will both probably going to the playoff.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Okay, so for starters podcasts, it's always college football College
Game Day podcast on ESPN. Just want to make sure
I preface that so that way give the credit where
credit is due. Number two, He didn't have me at
the first half, Reese. In fact, I was screaming at
you when it came to the first half, really arch
Manning over, Garrett Nussmeyer, over DJ Lagway, over Kate Klubnik,
(39:46):
Are you out of your bleeping mind?
Speaker 2 (39:49):
But then you said the.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
Part that is so prevalent. That is absolutely true. Steve
Sarkishan is the glue. Steve Sarkishan is the reason why
I am not against anybody putting Arch in Umber one.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
It's not for me.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
I'm never gonna change my opinion on that going into
the season. K Club mcgarrett and that's Meyer. There my
top two quarterbacks, and then I have a couple of
other names that I like a.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Little bit more than Arch right now.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
But if your reasoning behind it is look at what
Steve Sarkisian has done with quarterbacks, and it goes back
to his time when he was in southern California working
with Matt Leinert, and then he gets offered in a
job and he transforms Washington into a respectable program. And
then he goes back to USC and quarterback play is
pretty good. Then he goes to University of Alabama and
(40:30):
Matt Jones lights it on fire. He is phenomenal. He's
the runner up for the Heisman. And then Quinn Ewers.
Whether or not you love him or hate him, he
comes on in and leads you to a Big Twelve title,
a College Football Playoff appearance back back years and you're
one of the sec doesn't miss a beat. If that's
your reasoning, I will buy into arch Manning and.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
The reason why.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
I truly believe that arch will be special and that
Texas will make it to Atlanta this year.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
And I'm with Rees.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
As of right now, I have Texas and LSU playing
for the SEC championship. I am in that same boat.
The reason why is because of arch mating. It's the
same reason why I don't doubt them when it comes
to the roster construction. It's the same reason why I
truly believe that this team, despite losing ample talent, will
be one of the best in college football. And it's
(41:21):
a reason why I believe that when you look at
this Texas I mean this Texas squad, they are built
to win titles. It has nothing to do with the quarterback.
Is everything to do with the head coach that does it.
For me here on the nightcap, I will be back tomorrow.
We're gonna go take a quick time out, but shortly,
in less than hour, Dan Matthews will join you for
ashers on deck as the ass Shows look to claim
(41:44):
a victory over the Athletics.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Talk to you guys tomorrow. Peace,
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