September 25, 2025 • 43 mins
Tony chats with Gavin Gerhardt and Keegan Nickoson. Plus, Mo Egger stops by on ESPN 1530!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Penn Station East Coast Subs since E three
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Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome back since he three to sixty hour number three
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to our friends
at Penn Station. We've talked Reds, We've talked Bengals. It's
time to talk some Bearcats. Back in action after a
bye week last week. They are on the road in Lawrence,
Kansas on Saturday. Let's talk to a man for the
Bearcats who is a vital part of what this team
(00:46):
is doing and looking to do now going into Big twelve.
Play the center for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Gavin Garhart, joining
us right now. Gavin, what's up?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
How are we doing?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Mankevin? How how did the bye week go?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
It's an interesting bye week because you play it team
in Northwestern state and you guys play very well, you
put the game away, you get some time in the
second half to kind of sit back and watch and
let young guys get some work. Then you go into
a bye week. How beneficial could that rest be going
in down to the heart of the Big Twelve play.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
I think it'd be very beneficial. I think we had,
you know, kind of an extended by week because you're
at the point in time when I came out of
the game is a little bit before midway through the
second quarter or so, didn't really get too many plays
in that game. And then have a whole week arrest,
you know of you know, limited plays and practice kind
of more young guys trying to see what they can do.
(01:37):
I think it'll be very beneficial for us.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Going into now Big twelve play. You kind of reset
and everything is still ahead of you. Guys from a
team goal standpoint, go win a Big twelve championship. I've
watched a lot of Big Twelve. I know you're following along.
It seems like this league is wide open. What is
the confidence level like inside the locker room right now,
knowing that you got everything ahead of you.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
It's it's tremendous right now. I mean, we we got
we got to take a one week at a time,
and that's been the mindset for for a long time anyway.
But you know, the conference always changes every year to
where the projected you know, person to the favorite to
win the conference. It's it's usually always somebody different, which
is which is great about this conference. You know, it
could be anybody any given Saturday to go out there
(02:22):
and win. So it gives us great confidence. You know
that we just played to our standard and then we
go out there and execute at a high level. We
can we can win a lot of football games.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
You guys go on the road to kick off Big
twelve play, you've won on the road to kick off
the season, and that game against Nebraska being there, it
might be the loudest environment I've ever been in for
an away team. If not, it's one of the loudest.
I know, you guys came up just a little bit short.
But how much can you take from a road environment
like that, knowing you're probably not going to go into
(02:52):
another environment that's that crazy and that loud. How much
can you lean on on the Nebraska game?
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Lean on it a lot? I think you know, we
went silent count for a majority of the game and
then finally got into the rhythm a little bit towards
the end and kind of settled into that system that
which we had to do. So I think, you know,
that was a great experience for us to be able
to implement that and to have to use that. And
I think if we have to use that at any
point down the road, you know, it'll work out just
(03:22):
fine for us. So I think that game will help
us in more than one way this coming season.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Throughout the bye week, your group up front has received
a lot of notoriety the only group to not give
up a sack this year. When you talk about that,
I think people just read the stat and think, man,
the offensive line obviously playing at a very high level,
how much else goes into that? How much does what
source be is able to do go into that? How
much does the system go into that of spreading the
(03:49):
ball around and getting it out your guys running attack?
How much is it about all eleven that go into
the success that you guys have had with that group
of five upfront.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
I mean it takes every single one of us. I think,
you know, in a lot of ways when we protect
the running back is is there for us in a
lot of ways to pick up an extra blitzer that
you know can save Swordsby from getting you know, hit
or a sack or whatnot. And then the whiteouts we have,
you know, being able to get open and allow swords
Me to get rid of the ball quickly. He does
that anyway, if there's nobody open, he'll get rid of
(04:19):
the ball. He don't want to get hit. So you know,
he he's helped us out in a lot of ways.
He is a quick release in our whiteouts. Like I said,
they just get open for him and he can honestly
get rid of the before you I mean, you know,
his first second reading. But then there's been points in
time where he's been able to get to his third
read and we protected well enough and you know, hoping
to continue to do that.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Take me behind the scenes here from an offensive line
point of view, because obviously you're protecting in pass Pro,
but you guys are also a very aggressive run blocking team.
And last year it was Corey Kiner and Evan Pryor
and this year it's Evan Pryor and Tyee Walker and
Soorsby is more than a capable runner. What is it
about the guys behind you that allow you guys to
(05:01):
open up kind of the balance of the offense in
the run and pass game. With the talent you guys
have at running back.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Yeah, I think it gives us a great a great
deal of confidence up front that whoever is going to
have the ball, whatever situation that's in, if we do
our job up there, and we've continued to grow throughout
the season, especially with a whole lot of new guys
up there with myself, just make sure we're you.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Know, making the right calls and the right ideas.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
I'm putting everybody in the right position to hopefully help
us execute at a high level. And if we do that,
if I continue to do that, I think anybody in
that backfield with the ball will you know, will do
great things for us.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
We've we've had the conversation about in talking about the
Bengals and their offensive line and their inability to get
the running game going. Right now from an offensive line group,
with you guys, what is the mindset in the running game?
How physical? How how are you firing off the ball?
What what type of mindset has been drilled into you
guys up front? And it has led to success in
(05:58):
the ground as well.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I think it starts with Coach Carlwell. I mean he
instills and implements a great game plan each and every week.
You know, there's there's different runs that are are good
for you know, against a certain team, but then there's
you know, runs that we run a lot of time
that we we just can't run versus different schemes. He
does great job impermentting that and just you know, if
(06:21):
he harps on it enough that you know, we got
to have the best double teams in the country. If
we're gonna have two guys to try and move one,
we have to move him and we have to display
them off the line. And we've done that so far
and we're hoping to continue to do that. But it
starts with coach Carlwell for sure, and then just trickles
down the tree each and every player.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I would imagine not as much during the regular season,
but in the offseason and camp and and different things
like that, you've had a chance to go up against
your guys number one defense as well, and it is
a different defense with coach Vite with the three down lineman.
How much has that helped you guys as a group
and identifying what you need to identify and how much
growth have you seen on that side of the ball
(06:59):
as well that has led to some early season success.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Yeah, I think they they do a great job giving
us different looks throughout practice. You know, we we we
go against them all off season, all plps, all fall
camp and whatnot, and all spring ball, and you know,
they instead of just throwing out the same base defense
out there against us, and that's getting a hang of
blocking in. You know, they throw different looks at us.
You know that that that challenge us in a lot
(07:23):
of ways, and they're always changing schemes up. You know,
we don't try to to game plan each other obviously
because we're not playing against each other on Saturdays, but
if we can, if we can help each.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Other out in any other way, we try to do that.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
And the defense has done a tremendous job, you know,
given me and the guys up front different looks and
and trying to you know, move at the last second
to make us you know, a little hard for us
to make calls at some points in time. But they've
done a tremendous job and I'm really looking forward to
what they'll you know, continue to do this year.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
From a personal growth for you over the years, being
able to spend time, as you mentioned in the off
season in camps, going up against a guy like Dante Corleone,
the term iron sharpens iron is thrown around a lot.
How much have you been able to refine your game
going up against a guy of the caliber of Dante
corleon I.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Think it's It's helped me tremendously. I think I wouldn't
be the player I m today if I if I
didn't have that guy to block every day. He challenges me,
and I try to challenge him to you know, kind
of confuse him too at some points, because you know
he is he is a freakously strong and a great player.
And then I try to use some some mind tactics
as well as you know, try and get him out
(08:32):
of his comfort zone to also challenge him to where
you know, if there's anything that's thrown out him on
game days from the opposing team, you know he'll do
just fine.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Lastly, before we let you go, Gavin, the Kansas game
on on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
It's a little bit unique.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
It's an eleven am local start time, so a little
bit early to get up and going. What have been
some of the talking points leading into this game? On Saturday.
That that you guys need to make sure you take
care of to get a W in Kansas and bring
it back.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
I think just you know, overall communication. I think if
we communicate, well, we've been in you know, implementing a
lot of new things that will help us in a
lot of ways, but communicating, you know, well across the board.
That means offense, defense, special teams. And also you know,
we're not going to have I'm all very young guys
with us to share us on, so you know, when
the defense is out there, we got to make sure
(09:20):
the offense is is cheering them on and pushing them through.
But you know, take care of one another, play for
one another, and I think we'll do just fine.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
That is Gavin Gerhart, the center for the Cincinnati Bearcats,
getting ready to head to Kansas to take on the
Jayhawks to open up Big twelve play. Gavin, best of
luck on Saturday. And we appreciate the time today, man,
thank you, thank you, Tony. There he is. That is
Gavin Gerhart. Awesome, awesome stuff, Very appreciative obviously of his time.
As we move forward and look to talking more about
(09:52):
the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Kansas Jayhawks.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Tone, do you know where Gavin Gerhart went to high school?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
No?
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I don't.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
He went to Xenia, WO, so thank you for not
asking him. Wow that Xenia just put on Sydney last weekend.
He is looking it up while you were talking. He
was also a part of a twenty to notzhering beat
down of Sydney his senior year at Zena ed Xenia.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
He's awesome, man, He's such a good player, so smart,
grown man too. You can hear his voice, grown man
and anchoring an offensive line again that has yet to
give up a sack at the college football level. It's
interesting as well. Often and Moe talked about this a
little bit last week, and I'll ask him today as well.
(10:36):
This feels like the swing game for UC, like there
are a lot of unknowns right now. If you look
across the Big Twelve, only ten Big Twelve teams have
played conference games up to this point. Kansas State, West Virginia, Colorado, Baylor,
Utah have all lost. Kansas, Arizona State, Houston, Texas Tech,
(10:57):
and Iowa State have all won byu TCU, UCF U
S Oklahoma State, Arizona yet to play a Big twelve match.
I don't know what to make right now. Kansas State
was a preseason top twenty five team in the Big Twelve.
They have been awful. They're one and three to start
the year, including ohe one in league play. West Virginia
(11:17):
lost not only in league play to Houston, but also
went on the road and lost at OU Colorado does
not look the part. Baylor couldn't tell you much. I
wasn't overly impressed with Utah, who was ranked when they
lost to Texas Tech, and then at the top. I've
watched Iowa State twice, good, not great. I think Texas
Tech is clearly the team right now to beat in
(11:37):
the Big twelve. But if your uc you don't play
Texas Tech in the regular season, the teams you play
two they are three top twenty five teams. Next week
Iowa State comes into town at Knippert BYU at the
end of the year, twenty fifth ranked right now comes
to Knippert And then your last game November twenty ninth
is on the road at TCUID that Austin, Arizona, Utah, Baylor,
(12:04):
Oklahoma State, UCF. There are a lot of games that
I feel like if you look right now are kind
of toss ups and I don't know what to make
about UC yet the Nebraska game. What do you make
in Nebraska? Is Nebraska a good football team? After what
you saw against Michigan they had Nebraska on the ropes,
A bad decision by Brendan swersby who threw for sixty
(12:25):
nine yards in the game, or else they can go
down and win that game. They beat Bowling Green, it
wasn't in convincing fashion. I don't know what you can
take from Northwestern State and then a bye, much like
most at Austin, I think this is the game that
kind of hinges everything. If you win this, you get
momentum against Iowa State, you start talking about making noise
(12:46):
in the Big Twelve. If not, and you don't put
a good performance together, then you think about, okay, are
they gonna start zering two in the conference again? I
think there's just a lot that's going to go into this,
a lot to watch out for. They're gonna go to
Oklahoma State, who just fired Mike Gundy, UCFS here, Baylor's here.
There's just I think there are winnable games on this schedule.
(13:07):
I think the I think the game that this Teeter's
on is is Saturday against Kansas and where they go
from there. I think we'll be fascinating. Let's take that
topic and let's parlay it out into the next conversation
we're going to have with our guy, Keegan nickoson Jiggs
Bearcat Journal dot com. We haven't talked to Kegan in
a while. Let's catch up with him when we come back.
(13:28):
And our number three thanks to Penn Station on ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
And afternon nothing but sport, this muche what Heaven is like?
B Loegger today at three h five.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
On ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
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Speaker 1 (14:52):
Hey It's small, Lagger E sixty is back on ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati's Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Welcome back, Hey, thanks to our friends at Penn Station.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
Hour number three. Some Bearcat conversation. Let's continue the conversation
with the man covering the Bearcats for Bearcat Journal dot Com.
My second favorite Nickoson up to this point until I
learn about more Nickoson's and then he may drop down
(15:23):
the list a little bit further. It's Keegan Nickoson.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
What's up? Keegan?
Speaker 9 (15:27):
There's way too much animosity between us right now.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
We have to come together.
Speaker 9 (15:31):
Tony.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Are you going to Kansas?
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I am not.
Speaker 9 (15:37):
I wish I could.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Well, there goes down it.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
For later in the season.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
What does it does?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Chad Brendle just give you guys, like a certain amount
of games you can go to on the road.
Speaker 8 (15:51):
No, the thing I do is I basically asked him
if I can go somewhere, and then he tells me
about two days before, and then I figured it out
for there. So we're really running a high class organization
here at Barricat Journal.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
All right, all right, Well, he needs to stop doing
photo shoots that I've seen on social media. Just get
back to the x's and o's. Here I mentioned that
this game's Saturday Kegan to me feels like a hinge
game for the Bearcats because I could see them. If
they win, you get a lot of momentum. Here comes
Iowa State, but they come into Knippert Stadium and you
get the ball rolling, as opposed to if you just
(16:28):
don't get the win and things don't go well, can
that snowball? How much do you put on just this
game itself when you look at what the rest of
the season looks like.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Yeah, I think I agree wholeheartedly.
Speaker 8 (16:43):
It's kind of a weird game and that I feel
like a win at Kansas is.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
A big resume builder.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
I feel like it would convince a lot of fans
up their optimism for the rest.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Of the year. But then a loss, and even then
they're a loss.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
It's kind of just the same old Oh well, this
is the usual team that we've seen and nothing change
just because of what we've seen in big games since
Scott Saderfield and one score games. And I think, you know,
it's going to be a sold out crowd, it's going
to be a Rockets atmosphere. It's family weekend. It's going
to be a really, really tough game, but it's a
(17:17):
game that they can ultimately win. And I fully agree that.
You know, if they go into Kansas and win, you
start looking down the rest of the schedule, and you know,
I don't think there's a team on there that Cincinnati
is going up again. So they say, oh, we just
we can't beat this team, especially I've just seen what
Texas Tech did the Utah Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I think Texas Tech right now is the best team
in the Big Twelve, but I still think it's wide open.
They don't play Texas Tech in the regular season. What
do you make of just this team, Keegan, because I
still don't know the loss against Nebraska where it feels
like they battled their tail off but the offense just
didn't show up, Swersby makes a mistake at the end,
and then it's a win against Bowling Green, but there
(17:58):
were moments in that game or just didn't feel clean.
And then you dominate a terrible Northwestern State team and
your guys only play a half and then you have
a bye. I think there's a lot of people watching
this game Saturday that don't really know who this team
is yet.
Speaker 8 (18:13):
Yeah, and I would completely agree with that. And I
knew going into the season if they were to lose
to Nebraska, the kind of opinion or the excitement around
the team, it wouldn't be there at all unless they
beat Kansas, and I knew it would be basically three
weeks of you know, we'll see what happens. This is
(18:33):
probably the same team that's going to be around six
to seven wins and they're not going to live up
to their potential, but they're just going to do just
enough for Scott Saddlefield to keep his job.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
And now it's goes on. Now it's a big twelve season.
You have a bye, You've got.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
Some injured players hopefully coming back, but not say program
being questionable. But I can't really pendpoint it. I think
they have a good quarterback. I think they have really
good wide receivers. I would like to see your receipts
kind of carry on what they did against Blowing Green
in Northwestern State against Kansas.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
I think they can.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
But I can't really go into this game thinking that
they're going to light them up for three hundred and
fifty yards because I haven't seen them do it against
quality competition. Don't know what the running game is outside
of Brendan Soresby, and then defensively, you know, Jake Goldains,
I take Cordon.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Are going to show up. But outside of that, what
are the DB's doing, what's the rest of the defensive
line doing.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
So this is going to be a big test and
it's going to show where this team is because you're
not going into the loudest stadium against eighty thousand opposing
fans in a really hard environment. This is going to
be a loud stadium and it's going to be a
hard environment. But I don't think they're going to have
to go to the silent coup.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
By any means.
Speaker 8 (19:46):
You should be able to go in there, go mano
a mano with Kansas and you should have a chance
to beat them. And it's really going to see what
team we have by the end of the game on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
I look at this team and the offensive line up
front not giving up a sack. They've been fantastic. We've
started in the last couple weeks, and again you don't
know because of the opponents, but the receivers have done more,
which isn't hard to do after what they did against Nebraska,
They've found Joe Royer Moore. How important is it now
going to the Big twelve Kegan for them to figure
out a way to get this running game going more
(20:19):
consistently outside of you said other than Brendan Sowersby.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 8 (20:24):
It's huge because all that does is make the patching
game better. And I think one of the things that
I overlooked after last season after moving off from Corey
Kiner was actually how ridiculously good he was.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
At running back.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
I kind of just looked at it as, Okay, he
could break a lot of tackles. They need a power
guy to kind of kind of compliment Evan Pryor, and
they got that in Tylie Walker.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
But Corey Conner was.
Speaker 8 (20:51):
A really, really, really good running back. So I think
Cincinnati won't have someone like his caliber for a pretty
long time. And you're starting to see that difference, And
you know, it was good against Nebraska. It wasn't great,
but it definitely showed that they should have ran the
ball based on.
Speaker 9 (21:07):
The earlier returns of the game, and then they.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
Just wanted to throw the crap out of the ball
against bulling Greens. So this is again everything is on
the table to see where it's actually at where it's
the passing game, where's the running game.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Obviously, the best case scenario is a really balanced attack.
Speaker 8 (21:25):
Maybe get two hundred rushing yards, maybe get two hundred
and fifty passing yards, and then see what happens. But
you know, I think it's very important just based off
of the Scott's Auff type of offense. It's based on the
zone run and then you take shots down the field
and they have the quarterback and the receivers to do that.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Kansas does have a big twelve win at home against
West Virginia. They were able to score on special teams
in that game as well. What is the difference you've
seen it? It's felt night and day to me on
how much better this team has been, at least on
special teams compared to what they were last year.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah. I think it's.
Speaker 8 (22:03):
It's a discipline and it's the commitment to it. You know,
I can't really talk about the specific drills that they're
doing at practice, but the amount of time spent on it,
the amount of attention to detail that's put into it
by special teams coach Luke.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Pascal and kind of the whole staff.
Speaker 8 (22:20):
If we're being honest, everyone's involved with these special team
drills and it's starting to pay dividends. And that's that's
the other thing, Like special teams has been good. But
if you're also going to say that special teams has
been average, I would agree with you. What we saw
the last two years was a really really bad special
teams and you're starting to see what just an average
(22:42):
special teams can do in terms of it not killing
you in the hidden yardage battle and giving your opponent
the ball at.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
The forty are on their forty.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
So I think it's it's playing a big part and
I look forward to it continuing. And you know, Max
fletchers second in the Big twelve and net yardage and
punting and the Kansas's punters first, So it's going to
be a special team shootout, which are you know? Those
are all my favorite games, love good pitchers duel. But
(23:14):
I think it's really good that past has done a
great job. And as we get down in this big
post schedule, you're going to see the dividends that a
good or average special teams.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Unit can pay.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
The early returns on Kansas this year three and zero
at home, they did go on the road and they
played a Missouri team who's fourth twentieth in the country
right now. Four No, they Missouri has a win over
South Carolina, who's a good football team. They beat Kansas
forty two to thirty one. What does this game come
down to in your opinion? Again, I haven't studied enough
(23:46):
Kansas yet. I know that you See has the talent
to win a game like this. What does this eventually
come down to on Saturday? If you See wants to
get a win, I.
Speaker 8 (23:57):
Think it's limiting Jayden Daniels orgy Aalen Daniels arm He
has twelve passing touchdowns on the year.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
He's done a.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
Really, really good job.
Speaker 8 (24:05):
They're kind of moving on from a really good running back,
just like Cincinnati did and Devin Neil. They have Lashawn Williams,
and I believe it's Daniel Heishaw who Highshaw is actually
I think doubtful, so he might not even play after
missing the second half last week.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
He's their starter.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
But Daniels is kind of back to his true form.
He was a Heisman candidate and I think it was
twenty twenty three, then battled some injuries and those injuries
lingered in the twenty twenty four, he threw a lot
of interceptions but finished the year pretty strong. So I
think it's it's going to be a quarterback battle, kind
of like the Nebraska game. And if you can kind
(24:43):
of keep the explosive plays under wraps and be really
really good in the red zone, I think that's where you.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
See will get an advantage.
Speaker 8 (24:51):
Also, I believe Kansas is in the hundreds in the
country in third down conversion percentage.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
I mean, Scott Satasfield.
Speaker 8 (25:01):
Has said nothing more than this defense needs to get
off the field and talks about time of possession.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
So if you can get them into.
Speaker 8 (25:10):
Some third and medium, third and long situations and get
the ball back in UC's hands, Kansas has showed the
inability to convert them those downs. So limit Jalen Daniels
for some certain longs and then, as I say every
time you're asking this question, get some freaking turnovers. And
I think this Kansas team is going to throw the
ball enough, maybe even press.
Speaker 9 (25:31):
And take a couple of shots downfield to get some interceptions.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Keegan, before I let you go, i'd be remissed here
not to just ask you. We earlier in the week
learned about the UC basketball schedule opening the Big twelve
slate with Houston coming into fifth third Arena, no easy
way to dip your toes into the Big twelve water
with what we know about the non conference schedule and
even the news that they're going to travel to Arkansas
(25:56):
and face Arkansas in October twenty fourth. Knowing these and
knowing what the non conference looks like, do you think
they have enough work to be done that's going to
get them ready for the start of Big twelve play.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I think kind.
Speaker 8 (26:12):
Of in comparison the last two years, I would say yes.
I think they're going to Clemsond, They're playing Georgia on
a neutral site. I still don't think that the last
two years the struggles in Big twelve play were because
of a bad non conference slate. And I completely understand
fans wanting to play those big non conference games.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
One because it's.
Speaker 8 (26:36):
Cool, like it's awesome to play really good teams, but
also it does prepare you really well. But you know,
I don't know, I don't know if the slate is
good enough for you to go in and get a
bunch of wins and then.
Speaker 9 (26:53):
Go into the non conference slate.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
But I also think that it's fine, and I love
the exhibition.
Speaker 9 (26:59):
Games that they're playing too. Arkansas is going to be
really really.
Speaker 8 (27:01):
Fun, a care source game, just like they played against
Ohio State last year. So I don't know if it's
going to be the non con that's going to decide
what this team does in Big Twelve play. I think
you're going to see that in January. And what does
this team look like in January? Have they jailed with
(27:22):
so many new players? Who can you rely on offensively
to go to go and get you a bucket? How
are the two true freshmen reacting to Big twelve play?
And Keishon Tiller and Shawnabayev because.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Both of their roles are going to be even.
Speaker 9 (27:36):
More increased than what they initially thought before the season.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
The Chisel James not being with the team.
Speaker 8 (27:41):
So there's a lot of things that you're going to learn.
And I just remember beating Georgia Tech last year, but
I think it was like thirty five points and you go,
this is I mean, this is a top five team
in the Big Twelve. And then they get in the
Big Twelve play, lose at Kansas State and everything.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Just goes down.
Speaker 8 (28:01):
So don't buy in too much to whatever.
Speaker 9 (28:04):
Happens in the non conference.
Speaker 8 (28:06):
And just be ready for January because that's when the
real marathon starts.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
It does feel like the roster is better constructed to
play together and to work off of each other. We'll
obviously talk more about that as basketball season approaches.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
That is.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Keegan nickoson Bearcat Journal dot com. Always appreciate your time, Keegan,
I'll miss you in Kansas. But for those that want
to follow along even though you're not going to be
in Kansas to your coverage of the Bearcats, what's the
easiest way to do so?
Speaker 8 (28:34):
Yeah, follow me at k Nicholson forty two, follow Bearcut
Journal on Twitter, make sure you subscribe to the website,
and if you need somewhere to watch the game, hosting
a watch party at Holy Grail on the Banks noon
on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Go drink some Sinci Light.
Speaker 9 (28:48):
I don't know if I'm allowed to say that on
the radio. Go drink, Go drink some Cincy Light, and.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Support Bearcut Journal. We love it.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Kicking to the man. Thank you so much. Weppreciate you.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
Thanks, Enny, Kegan.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Nickoson Berkidgeneral dot com. Well, we'll touch and go here
when we come back and then I believe we get
Mowagrant Studio today.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Maybe for quick kits.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
We'll see since he three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
More than a few PESPN fifteen thirty. We got action
at the Old ball Orchard.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
H we do.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
Gabt red Legs right now, bottom three scoreless tie with
the Pittsburgh Pirates. Okay, but two on nobody out, uh
oh TJ Friedel worked a walk just now. That was
after a key Brian Hayes single. Uh oh so key,
Brian Hayes can single?
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Uh oh so?
Speaker 6 (29:55):
Reds have two on nobody out, bottom three still scoreless
at the Big Ballpark down there by the river.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Could keep Brian Hayes, who does not swing and miss
nearly as much as Matt McClain. Could he have pinched
hit at some point for Matt McLain last.
Speaker 6 (30:09):
Night, probably okay, probably something that he could have done.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Okay, we have to do.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
I guess we have to do something really quick here Austin,
because I am I've worked so diligently, diligently because I
have to leave after hour number one to get to
the airport tomorrow to fly out with UC and so
I put together our pick sheet today. Now we'll make
the picks tomorrow. But in my haste of putting together
this sheet, I didn't realize that your Sydney Yellowjackets have
(30:40):
the Thursday night game this week, right, So if you're looking,
you know what to do in Ohio tonight. You can
hopefully celebrate a Reds win. You can watch Thursday Night football,
or you can head to Tip City and watch Tip
a Canoe host Sydney.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
Over there at City Park. So I thought it best, Austin,
just to make this a chance we can get on
the record here, Let's make our pick for that game. Okay,
I'll take Tip City. Yeah, I got Tip and a
route Tip five and zero of the Yellow jack Ydney
and five. Things might not turn around for the Jackets
this year. Yeah, maybe next weekend against Greenville, who stinks
(31:20):
at everything usually.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
But by the way, first and second you mentioned no out.
No Ave Marte did not put the ball in the
field of play. Oh he's struck out. Okay, So that's
Gavin lux Is coming up. The runners have not advanced
at all. That's okay. I believe in Gavin.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
Looks all right.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Mogger's next ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports station, Y.
Speaker 10 (31:42):
Cincinnati, make us the number one pre set on your
car radio and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio
add free never sounded so good.
Speaker 7 (31:50):
ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 11 (31:52):
From the schmid Heating Temp Star Weather Center. Here's your forecast.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
This report is sponsored by the International Hot Ride Association.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's sports station. It's time for since
he three sixty quick hits on ESPN fifteen thirty is.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Looking for Mo.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Mo's in the building.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Hey, Mo, and I just had the awesome experience over
the course of the break there to watch the Cincinnati
Reds put runners on first and second with nobody out,
only to see your two three and four hitters strikeout, strikeout, weak, groundout,
ty game heading to the top of the fourth. Good news, though, Mo,
Tyler Stevenson when they get to Milwaukee should be well rested.
Speaker 12 (32:31):
You know, I'm glad they've rested him for the stretch
drive for those last three months. Oh no, wait a minute,
it's the last three games. Yeah, how do you not
have him in the lineup?
Speaker 11 (32:40):
Dhumdh.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Kerry Francone used the excuse today that he just caught
eleven innings last night.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
Dude, what dinner we doing? He didn DH tuesday? Correct?
Wasn't in the lineup?
Speaker 11 (32:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
The DH is there for a reason. I mentioned to
you over the break.
Speaker 11 (32:54):
Is Tyler Stevenson like my age.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Kyle Rowley has sixty home runs and he's a catcher.
He's got over three hundred more bats than Tyler Stevenson.
They don't catch him every game? Would you categorize today's
game as a must win?
Speaker 11 (33:07):
Every game? Like it?
Speaker 5 (33:08):
To me?
Speaker 12 (33:08):
Four arm It started last night, every game the rest
of the way, like we we don't need to use
that topic anymore. Every game is a must win. In
a must win game, you play your best guys. Does
the best version of the Reds have Tyler Stevenson in
the lineup, whether it's as a DH or a catcher?
It should After last night as the answer, no, it's
(33:29):
scoreless in the fourth. Last night was excruciating. Last night
was excruciating in real time, and I said to my wife, like,
here's the thing. I want more of this. I want
to do this next week. My nitpick last night is
Matt McClain. You put him in the ninth spot, which
is acknowledgment he's our worst hitter. But that's where the
(33:51):
pitcher used to batch.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
Check him out from protecting Ellie the night before.
Speaker 12 (33:54):
And it comes off as piling on because he's had
a rough year. And I am certainly willing to I'm
certainly willing to acknowledge the role that not playing last
year has had in this year's failures. But in the
ninth inning and in the eleventh inning, there were multiple
opportunities to not use Matt McClain. I don't know how
(34:14):
you don't take advantage of those opportunities. Austin Hayes back
is so sore that he can't help in the game
that you must win. Find a person who is available.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
He can't go swing the bat. It's that bad. Yeah,
that again a must win. You get to the tenth,
you get to the eleventh. Last night must win. I mean,
can't let that slip away. Austin, can you give me
one swing? If the answer is no, then what are
you doing on the roster? Then somebody else, correct anybody else.
I would have argued, Austin Elmore, I'll whatever act I
would have argued if they pulled McClain after Stevenson let
(34:47):
off the fifth with a double, and Benson got him
to third. I would have argued, I'm good with pulling
him there. Yes, for somebody to make contact in a
one nothing game.
Speaker 11 (34:55):
In the ninth inning. I'm the guy who hates bunting.
Speaker 12 (34:58):
I wanted with one, I wanted Matt McClain to lay
down a sacrifice. But he's batting ninth. Let's just treat
him like a pitcher, right, Let's just and like I
like Matt McClain. It's not because of lack of effort.
Like it sucks because you know, that's that's a dude
who's supposed to be a cornerstone. And maybe he still is.
But last night I do not know, with with other options,
(35:20):
why he's the guy I don't And look, man, Matt
McLain has a role in the Reds getting to the postseason,
but boy, last night, how do you and then you
know it's.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Not once either, how do you multiple times? Let him
take that back twice?
Speaker 12 (35:33):
And then you know the decision to pitch hunter last
night Paul Skins was awesome and I think tip your
hat to the pirates.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Austin said earlier. They managed to win the game.
Speaker 11 (35:44):
They played and managed to win the game. And it's funny.
Speaker 12 (35:47):
I went to the ballpark each of the last two
nights and with different people, and both said the same thing, like,
look at the pirates, all of them top step at
the dugout right like into it. Give them credit. Paul
Skins is awesome. Hunter Green was good but not good enough.
But I can't help but do this because we talked
about it beforehand. Yeah, I would have pitched Hunter on Tuesday,
and I would have had a pitching advantage if I
(36:09):
win that one. I got Hunter for one sixty two.
If I lose it, okay, I still have Hunter for
one sixty two.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
And it's also unique in the sense Frank Cone was
asked about it and said, well, we've already had those
discussions about using him in the bullpen. Yeah, so you
you've talked about having to have him for Game one
sixty two, but you could have had him, Yeah, and
giving your team a better chance to win on Tuesday.
Speaker 12 (36:28):
I'd rather know that I've got him in my back
pocket for the last game of the season, which now
it's hard for me to imagine the Reds get to
the postseason and don't need to win Game one sixty two.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
What else you got coming up on the show today?
So obviously what real time reaction to this? A Reds
and Pirates.
Speaker 12 (36:43):
Either way, the Diamondbacks play this afternoon at three forty,
so we'll keep an eye on that game for you.
Speaker 11 (36:48):
JB.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
Long is going to be on the show, JB.
Speaker 11 (36:50):
JB.
Speaker 12 (36:51):
Long is the voice of the La Rams, but that's
not why we're having him on. He's also calling the
UC game with TNT JB. Long and Mike Golick Junior. Okay,
so JB is going to be on the show, and
then let's see. I'll run throat here. Lee Sterling's gonna
help us make some money. Chad Brenda on the Bearcats.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
The Top staking selfies, he's like apparel model.
Speaker 11 (37:10):
Now since in the magazine on his Bengals column.
Speaker 12 (37:15):
Jake zivin MLS Season Pass, Orlando in Town, big game
for both teams on Sunday Night. Dan Klaskin's Jay Morrison,
Who here Jake Browning? It is a loaded actions that show.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Chick Ludwig show, you had a guest in every segment,
maybe a loaded host. Do you think Jake Browning is
on time today? Well, we're not going to carry it
live today. Okay, bus watch.
Speaker 11 (37:37):
Wow, we're gonna carry We'll play parts of it.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
Tore spreadsheet.
Speaker 12 (37:41):
I am not revolving my entire show around Jake Browning.
I gave him a shot last week. He was what's
the chart say? How late was he? He started at
three twenty seven. Yeah, he was twelve later than Joe.
I was twelve minutes late. Then he threw a pick
six rule on this show.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
He was also late to the field on Sunday.
Speaker 12 (37:59):
Can either you could eat either be late or be
really bad. You can't be both, So Jake Browning has
lost the privilege to be aired live. Do better this week.
You want to be late, that's cool, b Joe Burrow
then or you know, the other way is we'll give
you leeway. You could stink up the joint, but be
on time for your press conference. If you fail to
do both, sorry, smart tape delay the game we're traveling
(38:23):
to tomorrow. You mentioned this is kind of the swing game.
This is a huge game for UC football. I talked
to Keg and Nixon just before this today. It does
feel like that because I think Texas Tech's the best
team right now in the Big twelve. You miss them
Iowa States in your building. BYU's in your building, you
don't get TCU to the last game of the year.
And I still don't know how good they are. And
I was not impressed with Utah at all. It's a
(38:45):
winnable schedule, Yeah, if you take care.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
Of business against Kansas. If not, then you start going
in the opposite direction. If they're going to have a
good season. These are the sort of games you have
to win.
Speaker 12 (38:54):
You don't have to win all of them, but if
you want to give people the idea that this program
is about to take off, you go there and you win.
And like I've been asked, probably not as many times
as you have, but are they good?
Speaker 4 (39:07):
How good are they?
Speaker 12 (39:08):
I have no idea. I think we will know because
here's what I'm looking for more than anything. Game one
against Nebraska. Okay, new guys all together, first time, a
lot of guys playing at this level for the first time.
On the outside, nobody could get open. Is that an anomaly?
If that's not the case on Saturday, I think they
got a good chance of winning. If it is the case,
(39:30):
then that's who they are. And it's an offense that
can't move the ball downfield. Throw downfield, have explosive plays
against high major competition. At some point this they've got
to make plays when the game is hanging in the balance.
They did not against Nebraska. That has been a hallmark
of the last two plus years. If that's ever gonna change,
(39:50):
it changes now. If it's ever gonna change, for it
to really matter, it changes on Saturday. I think this
is the biggest game of Scott Saderfield's regime.
Speaker 11 (39:59):
I really do.
Speaker 12 (40:00):
Like the idea is to win seven or eight games
and make everybody feel like this is going to work.
If they win this game, come home for the next two.
You're open to that happening. If you lose it, it's
just gonna feel like more of the same. More of
the same is not good enough.
Speaker 6 (40:15):
You and I stay or we're staying at the same
hotel we stayed for that Nebraska game, same room, Right.
Do you think that you and I need to maybe
look at what we did right or wrong the night
before the game? But we Nebraska, We're going to change
it up. I think we should change it up. We're
we're definitely going to change food. Do we change up
the food?
Speaker 12 (40:32):
Food's going to be the same, the post meal now
it is an early kickoff. Sure, the food is going
to be the same. What we do before the food,
certainly what we do after the food good, it's going
to be dramatically different.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
It's a good point.
Speaker 11 (40:46):
We'll probably still talk about Joe Royer, spending a lot.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
Of time talking about getting Joe Royer or the ball.
At what point in this game does Mount McClain make
his appearance. If next on there's run on scoring position.
Speaker 12 (41:01):
Hopefully after the twenty seventh out, when he pops out
of the dugout to shake hands with his teammates.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
It will be talked about one day soon. The fall
of Matt McClain this year. Well, you know, remember I
turned down a deal.
Speaker 12 (41:11):
Yeah, and look, I'm okay with Matt McLain being on
the team next year. I'm okay with him going to
spring training and showing what he can do. But he
was written in black magic marker before spring training season.
No question, he's the number two hole hitter, he's the
starting second baseman.
Speaker 6 (41:29):
I literally bet on him to win the MVP. Wow,
it's insane. Might be one of the worst bets in
the history of that wo I mean that very well
could be the worst bet ever, Audie.
Speaker 11 (41:37):
Next year, just take your money and go to me.
Speaker 12 (41:40):
But but they said twenty twenty three best player in
the team, and understandably so opening day batting second at
second base, ear Marked. He can't beat ear Mark for
anything next year. Now, I hope a year from now
we're talking about you know what, twenty twenty five was
an anomaly. It was a year coming off a series
of injuries that just in work out. You know, I'll
(42:01):
tell you right, let's pick a day February what where
the article comes out. Matt McLain has rededicated himself and
you know.
Speaker 4 (42:08):
He's February thirteen.
Speaker 12 (42:09):
He's gotten in the right mindset, shape, that shape of
his life. He spent the off season meditating and eating vegetables,
and he went on a wellness.
Speaker 2 (42:18):
Retreat and he's.
Speaker 6 (42:21):
Eating a lot of.
Speaker 4 (42:25):
Just started aming his pitches.
Speaker 11 (42:27):
He's doing yoga.
Speaker 12 (42:30):
Oh my gosh, we got to do the lasic thing
is always a big you know, he didn't know until
this offseason.
Speaker 4 (42:36):
It makes sense.
Speaker 6 (42:36):
Jamis Winston took.
Speaker 12 (42:38):
An eye test and so he's being fitted seeing three balls. Yeah,
and Matt McLean's the articles coming from Goodyear.
Speaker 11 (42:45):
I can't wait. I will read it verbatim on the radio.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
Well it's next with more of that on ESPN fifteen thirty,
Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
Thanks for listening along.
Speaker 7 (43:10):
Sol Ucky Cincinnati.
Speaker 10 (43:12):
Make us the number one preset on your car radio
and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio app. Free
never sounded so good, ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 12 (43:20):
Whether you're tailgatting in the parking lot or parked on
the couch, sitting on your lucky barstool or stand
This is Penn Station East Coast Subs since E three
to sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnatis, spuntered in part by
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thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome back since he three to sixty hour number three
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to our friends
at Penn Station. We've talked Reds, We've talked Bengals. It's
time to talk some Bearcats. Back in action after a
bye week last week. They are on the road in Lawrence,
Kansas on Saturday. Let's talk to a man for the
Bearcats who is a vital part of what this team
(00:46):
is doing and looking to do now going into Big twelve.
Play the center for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Gavin Garhart, joining
us right now. Gavin, what's up?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
How are we doing?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Mankevin? How how did the bye week go?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
It's an interesting bye week because you play it team
in Northwestern state and you guys play very well, you
put the game away, you get some time in the
second half to kind of sit back and watch and
let young guys get some work. Then you go into
a bye week. How beneficial could that rest be going
in down to the heart of the Big Twelve play.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
I think it'd be very beneficial. I think we had,
you know, kind of an extended by week because you're
at the point in time when I came out of
the game is a little bit before midway through the
second quarter or so, didn't really get too many plays
in that game. And then have a whole week arrest,
you know of you know, limited plays and practice kind
of more young guys trying to see what they can do.
(01:37):
I think it'll be very beneficial for us.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Going into now Big twelve play. You kind of reset
and everything is still ahead of you. Guys from a
team goal standpoint, go win a Big twelve championship. I've
watched a lot of Big Twelve. I know you're following along.
It seems like this league is wide open. What is
the confidence level like inside the locker room right now,
knowing that you got everything ahead of you.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
It's it's tremendous right now. I mean, we we got
we got to take a one week at a time,
and that's been the mindset for for a long time anyway.
But you know, the conference always changes every year to
where the projected you know, person to the favorite to
win the conference. It's it's usually always somebody different, which
is which is great about this conference. You know, it
could be anybody any given Saturday to go out there
(02:22):
and win. So it gives us great confidence. You know
that we just played to our standard and then we
go out there and execute at a high level. We
can we can win a lot of football games.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
You guys go on the road to kick off Big
twelve play, you've won on the road to kick off
the season, and that game against Nebraska being there, it
might be the loudest environment I've ever been in for
an away team. If not, it's one of the loudest.
I know, you guys came up just a little bit short.
But how much can you take from a road environment
like that, knowing you're probably not going to go into
(02:52):
another environment that's that crazy and that loud. How much
can you lean on on the Nebraska game?
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Lean on it a lot? I think you know, we
went silent count for a majority of the game and
then finally got into the rhythm a little bit towards
the end and kind of settled into that system that
which we had to do. So I think, you know,
that was a great experience for us to be able
to implement that and to have to use that. And
I think if we have to use that at any
point down the road, you know, it'll work out just
(03:22):
fine for us. So I think that game will help
us in more than one way this coming season.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Throughout the bye week, your group up front has received
a lot of notoriety the only group to not give
up a sack this year. When you talk about that,
I think people just read the stat and think, man,
the offensive line obviously playing at a very high level,
how much else goes into that? How much does what
source be is able to do go into that? How
much does the system go into that of spreading the
(03:49):
ball around and getting it out your guys running attack?
How much is it about all eleven that go into
the success that you guys have had with that group
of five upfront.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
I mean it takes every single one of us. I think,
you know, in a lot of ways when we protect
the running back is is there for us in a
lot of ways to pick up an extra blitzer that
you know can save Swordsby from getting you know, hit
or a sack or whatnot. And then the whiteouts we have,
you know, being able to get open and allow swords
Me to get rid of the ball quickly. He does
that anyway, if there's nobody open, he'll get rid of
(04:19):
the ball. He don't want to get hit. So you know,
he he's helped us out in a lot of ways.
He is a quick release in our whiteouts. Like I said,
they just get open for him and he can honestly
get rid of the before you I mean, you know,
his first second reading. But then there's been points in
time where he's been able to get to his third
read and we protected well enough and you know, hoping
to continue to do that.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Take me behind the scenes here from an offensive line
point of view, because obviously you're protecting in pass Pro,
but you guys are also a very aggressive run blocking team.
And last year it was Corey Kiner and Evan Pryor
and this year it's Evan Pryor and Tyee Walker and
Soorsby is more than a capable runner. What is it
about the guys behind you that allow you guys to
(05:01):
open up kind of the balance of the offense in
the run and pass game. With the talent you guys
have at running back.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Yeah, I think it gives us a great a great
deal of confidence up front that whoever is going to
have the ball, whatever situation that's in, if we do
our job up there, and we've continued to grow throughout
the season, especially with a whole lot of new guys
up there with myself, just make sure we're you.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Know, making the right calls and the right ideas.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
I'm putting everybody in the right position to hopefully help
us execute at a high level. And if we do that,
if I continue to do that, I think anybody in
that backfield with the ball will you know, will do
great things for us.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
We've we've had the conversation about in talking about the
Bengals and their offensive line and their inability to get
the running game going. Right now from an offensive line group,
with you guys, what is the mindset in the running game?
How physical? How how are you firing off the ball?
What what type of mindset has been drilled into you
guys up front? And it has led to success in
(05:58):
the ground as well.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I think it starts with Coach Carlwell. I mean he
instills and implements a great game plan each and every week.
You know, there's there's different runs that are are good
for you know, against a certain team, but then there's
you know, runs that we run a lot of time
that we we just can't run versus different schemes. He
does great job impermentting that and just you know, if
(06:21):
he harps on it enough that you know, we got
to have the best double teams in the country. If
we're gonna have two guys to try and move one,
we have to move him and we have to display
them off the line. And we've done that so far
and we're hoping to continue to do that. But it
starts with coach Carlwell for sure, and then just trickles
down the tree each and every player.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I would imagine not as much during the regular season,
but in the offseason and camp and and different things
like that, you've had a chance to go up against
your guys number one defense as well, and it is
a different defense with coach Vite with the three down lineman.
How much has that helped you guys as a group
and identifying what you need to identify and how much
growth have you seen on that side of the ball
(06:59):
as well that has led to some early season success.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Yeah, I think they they do a great job giving
us different looks throughout practice. You know, we we we
go against them all off season, all plps, all fall
camp and whatnot, and all spring ball, and you know,
they instead of just throwing out the same base defense
out there against us, and that's getting a hang of
blocking in. You know, they throw different looks at us.
You know that that that challenge us in a lot
(07:23):
of ways, and they're always changing schemes up. You know,
we don't try to to game plan each other obviously
because we're not playing against each other on Saturdays, but
if we can, if we can help each.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Other out in any other way, we try to do that.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
And the defense has done a tremendous job, you know,
given me and the guys up front different looks and
and trying to you know, move at the last second
to make us you know, a little hard for us
to make calls at some points in time. But they've
done a tremendous job and I'm really looking forward to
what they'll you know, continue to do this year.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
From a personal growth for you over the years, being
able to spend time, as you mentioned in the off
season in camps, going up against a guy like Dante Corleone,
the term iron sharpens iron is thrown around a lot.
How much have you been able to refine your game
going up against a guy of the caliber of Dante
corleon I.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Think it's It's helped me tremendously. I think I wouldn't
be the player I m today if I if I
didn't have that guy to block every day. He challenges me,
and I try to challenge him to you know, kind
of confuse him too at some points, because you know
he is he is a freakously strong and a great player.
And then I try to use some some mind tactics
as well as you know, try and get him out
(08:32):
of his comfort zone to also challenge him to where
you know, if there's anything that's thrown out him on
game days from the opposing team, you know he'll do
just fine.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Lastly, before we let you go, Gavin, the Kansas game
on on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
It's a little bit unique.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
It's an eleven am local start time, so a little
bit early to get up and going. What have been
some of the talking points leading into this game? On Saturday.
That that you guys need to make sure you take
care of to get a W in Kansas and bring
it back.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
I think just you know, overall communication. I think if
we communicate, well, we've been in you know, implementing a
lot of new things that will help us in a
lot of ways, but communicating, you know, well across the board.
That means offense, defense, special teams. And also you know,
we're not going to have I'm all very young guys
with us to share us on, so you know, when
the defense is out there, we got to make sure
(09:20):
the offense is is cheering them on and pushing them through.
But you know, take care of one another, play for
one another, and I think we'll do just fine.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
That is Gavin Gerhart, the center for the Cincinnati Bearcats,
getting ready to head to Kansas to take on the
Jayhawks to open up Big twelve play. Gavin, best of
luck on Saturday. And we appreciate the time today, man,
thank you, thank you, Tony. There he is. That is
Gavin Gerhart. Awesome, awesome stuff, Very appreciative obviously of his time.
As we move forward and look to talking more about
(09:52):
the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Kansas Jayhawks.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Tone, do you know where Gavin Gerhart went to high school?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
No?
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I don't.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
He went to Xenia, WO, so thank you for not
asking him. Wow that Xenia just put on Sydney last weekend.
He is looking it up while you were talking. He
was also a part of a twenty to notzhering beat
down of Sydney his senior year at Zena ed Xenia.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
He's awesome, man, He's such a good player, so smart,
grown man too. You can hear his voice, grown man
and anchoring an offensive line again that has yet to
give up a sack at the college football level. It's
interesting as well. Often and Moe talked about this a
little bit last week, and I'll ask him today as well.
(10:36):
This feels like the swing game for UC, like there
are a lot of unknowns right now. If you look
across the Big Twelve, only ten Big Twelve teams have
played conference games up to this point. Kansas State, West Virginia, Colorado, Baylor,
Utah have all lost. Kansas, Arizona State, Houston, Texas Tech,
(10:57):
and Iowa State have all won byu TCU, UCF U
S Oklahoma State, Arizona yet to play a Big twelve match.
I don't know what to make right now. Kansas State
was a preseason top twenty five team in the Big Twelve.
They have been awful. They're one and three to start
the year, including ohe one in league play. West Virginia
(11:17):
lost not only in league play to Houston, but also
went on the road and lost at OU Colorado does
not look the part. Baylor couldn't tell you much. I
wasn't overly impressed with Utah, who was ranked when they
lost to Texas Tech, and then at the top. I've
watched Iowa State twice, good, not great. I think Texas
Tech is clearly the team right now to beat in
(11:37):
the Big twelve. But if your uc you don't play
Texas Tech in the regular season, the teams you play
two they are three top twenty five teams. Next week
Iowa State comes into town at Knippert BYU at the
end of the year, twenty fifth ranked right now comes
to Knippert And then your last game November twenty ninth
is on the road at TCUID that Austin, Arizona, Utah, Baylor,
(12:04):
Oklahoma State, UCF. There are a lot of games that
I feel like if you look right now are kind
of toss ups and I don't know what to make
about UC yet the Nebraska game. What do you make
in Nebraska? Is Nebraska a good football team? After what
you saw against Michigan they had Nebraska on the ropes,
A bad decision by Brendan swersby who threw for sixty
(12:25):
nine yards in the game, or else they can go
down and win that game. They beat Bowling Green, it
wasn't in convincing fashion. I don't know what you can
take from Northwestern State and then a bye, much like
most at Austin, I think this is the game that
kind of hinges everything. If you win this, you get
momentum against Iowa State, you start talking about making noise
(12:46):
in the Big Twelve. If not, and you don't put
a good performance together, then you think about, okay, are
they gonna start zering two in the conference again? I
think there's just a lot that's going to go into this,
a lot to watch out for. They're gonna go to
Oklahoma State, who just fired Mike Gundy, UCFS here, Baylor's here.
There's just I think there are winnable games on this schedule.
(13:07):
I think the I think the game that this Teeter's
on is is Saturday against Kansas and where they go
from there. I think we'll be fascinating. Let's take that
topic and let's parlay it out into the next conversation
we're going to have with our guy, Keegan nickoson Jiggs
Bearcat Journal dot com. We haven't talked to Kegan in
a while. Let's catch up with him when we come back.
(13:28):
And our number three thanks to Penn Station on ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
And afternon nothing but sport, this muche what Heaven is like?
B Loegger today at three h five.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
On ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
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Speaker 1 (14:52):
Hey It's small, Lagger E sixty is back on ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati's Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Welcome back, Hey, thanks to our friends at Penn Station.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
Hour number three. Some Bearcat conversation. Let's continue the conversation
with the man covering the Bearcats for Bearcat Journal dot Com.
My second favorite Nickoson up to this point until I
learn about more Nickoson's and then he may drop down
(15:23):
the list a little bit further. It's Keegan Nickoson.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
What's up? Keegan?
Speaker 9 (15:27):
There's way too much animosity between us right now.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
We have to come together.
Speaker 9 (15:31):
Tony.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Are you going to Kansas?
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I am not.
Speaker 9 (15:37):
I wish I could.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Well, there goes down it.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
For later in the season.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
What does it does?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Chad Brendle just give you guys, like a certain amount
of games you can go to on the road.
Speaker 8 (15:51):
No, the thing I do is I basically asked him
if I can go somewhere, and then he tells me
about two days before, and then I figured it out
for there. So we're really running a high class organization
here at Barricat Journal.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
All right, all right, Well, he needs to stop doing
photo shoots that I've seen on social media. Just get
back to the x's and o's. Here I mentioned that
this game's Saturday Kegan to me feels like a hinge
game for the Bearcats because I could see them. If
they win, you get a lot of momentum. Here comes
Iowa State, but they come into Knippert Stadium and you
get the ball rolling, as opposed to if you just
(16:28):
don't get the win and things don't go well, can
that snowball? How much do you put on just this
game itself when you look at what the rest of
the season looks like.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Yeah, I think I agree wholeheartedly.
Speaker 8 (16:43):
It's kind of a weird game and that I feel
like a win at Kansas is.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
A big resume builder.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
I feel like it would convince a lot of fans
up their optimism for the rest.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Of the year. But then a loss, and even then
they're a loss.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
It's kind of just the same old Oh well, this
is the usual team that we've seen and nothing change
just because of what we've seen in big games since
Scott Saderfield and one score games. And I think, you know,
it's going to be a sold out crowd, it's going
to be a Rockets atmosphere. It's family weekend. It's going
to be a really, really tough game, but it's a
(17:17):
game that they can ultimately win. And I fully agree that.
You know, if they go into Kansas and win, you
start looking down the rest of the schedule, and you know,
I don't think there's a team on there that Cincinnati
is going up again. So they say, oh, we just
we can't beat this team, especially I've just seen what
Texas Tech did the Utah Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I think Texas Tech right now is the best team
in the Big Twelve, but I still think it's wide open.
They don't play Texas Tech in the regular season. What
do you make of just this team, Keegan, because I
still don't know the loss against Nebraska where it feels
like they battled their tail off but the offense just
didn't show up, Swersby makes a mistake at the end,
and then it's a win against Bowling Green, but there
(17:58):
were moments in that game or just didn't feel clean.
And then you dominate a terrible Northwestern State team and
your guys only play a half and then you have
a bye. I think there's a lot of people watching
this game Saturday that don't really know who this team
is yet.
Speaker 8 (18:13):
Yeah, and I would completely agree with that. And I
knew going into the season if they were to lose
to Nebraska, the kind of opinion or the excitement around
the team, it wouldn't be there at all unless they
beat Kansas, and I knew it would be basically three
weeks of you know, we'll see what happens. This is
(18:33):
probably the same team that's going to be around six
to seven wins and they're not going to live up
to their potential, but they're just going to do just
enough for Scott Saddlefield to keep his job.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
And now it's goes on. Now it's a big twelve season.
You have a bye, You've got.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
Some injured players hopefully coming back, but not say program
being questionable. But I can't really pendpoint it. I think
they have a good quarterback. I think they have really
good wide receivers. I would like to see your receipts
kind of carry on what they did against Blowing Green
in Northwestern State against Kansas.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
I think they can.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
But I can't really go into this game thinking that
they're going to light them up for three hundred and
fifty yards because I haven't seen them do it against
quality competition. Don't know what the running game is outside
of Brendan Soresby, and then defensively, you know, Jake Goldains,
I take Cordon.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Are going to show up. But outside of that, what
are the DB's doing, what's the rest of the defensive
line doing.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
So this is going to be a big test and
it's going to show where this team is because you're
not going into the loudest stadium against eighty thousand opposing
fans in a really hard environment. This is going to
be a loud stadium and it's going to be a
hard environment. But I don't think they're going to have
to go to the silent coup.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
By any means.
Speaker 8 (19:46):
You should be able to go in there, go mano
a mano with Kansas and you should have a chance
to beat them. And it's really going to see what
team we have by the end of the game on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
I look at this team and the offensive line up
front not giving up a sack. They've been fantastic. We've
started in the last couple weeks, and again you don't
know because of the opponents, but the receivers have done more,
which isn't hard to do after what they did against Nebraska,
They've found Joe Royer Moore. How important is it now
going to the Big twelve Kegan for them to figure
out a way to get this running game going more
(20:19):
consistently outside of you said other than Brendan Sowersby.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 8 (20:24):
It's huge because all that does is make the patching
game better. And I think one of the things that
I overlooked after last season after moving off from Corey
Kiner was actually how ridiculously good he was.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
At running back.
Speaker 8 (20:39):
I kind of just looked at it as, Okay, he
could break a lot of tackles. They need a power
guy to kind of kind of compliment Evan Pryor, and
they got that in Tylie Walker.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
But Corey Conner was.
Speaker 8 (20:51):
A really, really, really good running back. So I think
Cincinnati won't have someone like his caliber for a pretty
long time. And you're starting to see that difference, And
you know, it was good against Nebraska. It wasn't great,
but it definitely showed that they should have ran the
ball based on.
Speaker 9 (21:07):
The earlier returns of the game, and then they.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
Just wanted to throw the crap out of the ball
against bulling Greens. So this is again everything is on
the table to see where it's actually at where it's
the passing game, where's the running game.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Obviously, the best case scenario is a really balanced attack.
Speaker 8 (21:25):
Maybe get two hundred rushing yards, maybe get two hundred
and fifty passing yards, and then see what happens. But
you know, I think it's very important just based off
of the Scott's Auff type of offense. It's based on the
zone run and then you take shots down the field
and they have the quarterback and the receivers to do that.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Kansas does have a big twelve win at home against
West Virginia. They were able to score on special teams
in that game as well. What is the difference you've
seen it? It's felt night and day to me on
how much better this team has been, at least on
special teams compared to what they were last year.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah. I think it's.
Speaker 8 (22:03):
It's a discipline and it's the commitment to it. You know,
I can't really talk about the specific drills that they're
doing at practice, but the amount of time spent on it,
the amount of attention to detail that's put into it
by special teams coach Luke.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Pascal and kind of the whole staff.
Speaker 8 (22:20):
If we're being honest, everyone's involved with these special team
drills and it's starting to pay dividends. And that's that's
the other thing, Like special teams has been good. But
if you're also going to say that special teams has
been average, I would agree with you. What we saw
the last two years was a really really bad special
teams and you're starting to see what just an average
(22:42):
special teams can do in terms of it not killing
you in the hidden yardage battle and giving your opponent
the ball at.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
The forty are on their forty.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
So I think it's it's playing a big part and
I look forward to it continuing. And you know, Max
fletchers second in the Big twelve and net yardage and
punting and the Kansas's punters first, So it's going to
be a special team shootout, which are you know? Those
are all my favorite games, love good pitchers duel. But
(23:14):
I think it's really good that past has done a
great job. And as we get down in this big
post schedule, you're going to see the dividends that a
good or average special teams.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Unit can pay.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
The early returns on Kansas this year three and zero
at home, they did go on the road and they
played a Missouri team who's fourth twentieth in the country
right now. Four No, they Missouri has a win over
South Carolina, who's a good football team. They beat Kansas
forty two to thirty one. What does this game come
down to in your opinion? Again, I haven't studied enough
(23:46):
Kansas yet. I know that you See has the talent
to win a game like this. What does this eventually
come down to on Saturday? If you See wants to
get a win, I.
Speaker 8 (23:57):
Think it's limiting Jayden Daniels orgy Aalen Daniels arm He
has twelve passing touchdowns on the year.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
He's done a.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
Really, really good job.
Speaker 8 (24:05):
They're kind of moving on from a really good running back,
just like Cincinnati did and Devin Neil. They have Lashawn Williams,
and I believe it's Daniel Heishaw who Highshaw is actually
I think doubtful, so he might not even play after
missing the second half last week.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
He's their starter.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
But Daniels is kind of back to his true form.
He was a Heisman candidate and I think it was
twenty twenty three, then battled some injuries and those injuries
lingered in the twenty twenty four, he threw a lot
of interceptions but finished the year pretty strong. So I
think it's it's going to be a quarterback battle, kind
of like the Nebraska game. And if you can kind
(24:43):
of keep the explosive plays under wraps and be really
really good in the red zone, I think that's where you.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
See will get an advantage.
Speaker 8 (24:51):
Also, I believe Kansas is in the hundreds in the
country in third down conversion percentage.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
I mean, Scott Satasfield.
Speaker 8 (25:01):
Has said nothing more than this defense needs to get
off the field and talks about time of possession.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
So if you can get them into.
Speaker 8 (25:10):
Some third and medium, third and long situations and get
the ball back in UC's hands, Kansas has showed the
inability to convert them those downs. So limit Jalen Daniels
for some certain longs and then, as I say every
time you're asking this question, get some freaking turnovers. And
I think this Kansas team is going to throw the
ball enough, maybe even press.
Speaker 9 (25:31):
And take a couple of shots downfield to get some interceptions.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Keegan, before I let you go, i'd be remissed here
not to just ask you. We earlier in the week
learned about the UC basketball schedule opening the Big twelve
slate with Houston coming into fifth third Arena, no easy
way to dip your toes into the Big twelve water
with what we know about the non conference schedule and
even the news that they're going to travel to Arkansas
(25:56):
and face Arkansas in October twenty fourth. Knowing these and
knowing what the non conference looks like, do you think
they have enough work to be done that's going to
get them ready for the start of Big twelve play.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I think kind.
Speaker 8 (26:12):
Of in comparison the last two years, I would say yes.
I think they're going to Clemsond, They're playing Georgia on
a neutral site. I still don't think that the last
two years the struggles in Big twelve play were because
of a bad non conference slate. And I completely understand
fans wanting to play those big non conference games.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
One because it's.
Speaker 8 (26:36):
Cool, like it's awesome to play really good teams, but
also it does prepare you really well. But you know,
I don't know, I don't know if the slate is
good enough for you to go in and get a
bunch of wins and then.
Speaker 9 (26:53):
Go into the non conference slate.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
But I also think that it's fine, and I love
the exhibition.
Speaker 9 (26:59):
Games that they're playing too. Arkansas is going to be
really really.
Speaker 8 (27:01):
Fun, a care source game, just like they played against
Ohio State last year. So I don't know if it's
going to be the non con that's going to decide
what this team does in Big Twelve play. I think
you're going to see that in January. And what does
this team look like in January? Have they jailed with
(27:22):
so many new players? Who can you rely on offensively
to go to go and get you a bucket? How
are the two true freshmen reacting to Big twelve play?
And Keishon Tiller and Shawnabayev because.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Both of their roles are going to be even.
Speaker 9 (27:36):
More increased than what they initially thought before the season.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
The Chisel James not being with the team.
Speaker 8 (27:41):
So there's a lot of things that you're going to learn.
And I just remember beating Georgia Tech last year, but
I think it was like thirty five points and you go,
this is I mean, this is a top five team
in the Big Twelve. And then they get in the
Big Twelve play, lose at Kansas State and everything.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Just goes down.
Speaker 8 (28:01):
So don't buy in too much to whatever.
Speaker 9 (28:04):
Happens in the non conference.
Speaker 8 (28:06):
And just be ready for January because that's when the
real marathon starts.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
It does feel like the roster is better constructed to
play together and to work off of each other. We'll
obviously talk more about that as basketball season approaches.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
That is.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Keegan nickoson Bearcat Journal dot com. Always appreciate your time, Keegan,
I'll miss you in Kansas. But for those that want
to follow along even though you're not going to be
in Kansas to your coverage of the Bearcats, what's the
easiest way to do so?
Speaker 8 (28:34):
Yeah, follow me at k Nicholson forty two, follow Bearcut
Journal on Twitter, make sure you subscribe to the website,
and if you need somewhere to watch the game, hosting
a watch party at Holy Grail on the Banks noon
on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Go drink some Sinci Light.
Speaker 9 (28:48):
I don't know if I'm allowed to say that on
the radio. Go drink, Go drink some Cincy Light, and.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Support Bearcut Journal. We love it.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Kicking to the man. Thank you so much. Weppreciate you.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
Thanks, Enny, Kegan.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Nickoson Berkidgeneral dot com. Well, we'll touch and go here
when we come back and then I believe we get
Mowagrant Studio today.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Maybe for quick kits.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
We'll see since he three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.
Speaker 6 (29:17):
More than a few PESPN fifteen thirty. We got action
at the Old ball Orchard.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
H we do.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
Gabt red Legs right now, bottom three scoreless tie with
the Pittsburgh Pirates. Okay, but two on nobody out, uh
oh TJ Friedel worked a walk just now. That was
after a key Brian Hayes single. Uh oh so key,
Brian Hayes can single?
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Uh oh so?
Speaker 6 (29:55):
Reds have two on nobody out, bottom three still scoreless
at the Big Ballpark down there by the river.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Could keep Brian Hayes, who does not swing and miss
nearly as much as Matt McClain. Could he have pinched
hit at some point for Matt McLain last.
Speaker 6 (30:09):
Night, probably okay, probably something that he could have done.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Okay, we have to do.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
I guess we have to do something really quick here Austin,
because I am I've worked so diligently, diligently because I
have to leave after hour number one to get to
the airport tomorrow to fly out with UC and so
I put together our pick sheet today. Now we'll make
the picks tomorrow. But in my haste of putting together
this sheet, I didn't realize that your Sydney Yellowjackets have
(30:40):
the Thursday night game this week, right, So if you're looking,
you know what to do in Ohio tonight. You can
hopefully celebrate a Reds win. You can watch Thursday Night football,
or you can head to Tip City and watch Tip
a Canoe host Sydney.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
Over there at City Park. So I thought it best, Austin,
just to make this a chance we can get on
the record here, Let's make our pick for that game. Okay,
I'll take Tip City. Yeah, I got Tip and a
route Tip five and zero of the Yellow jack Ydney
and five. Things might not turn around for the Jackets
this year. Yeah, maybe next weekend against Greenville, who stinks
(31:20):
at everything usually.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
But by the way, first and second you mentioned no out.
No Ave Marte did not put the ball in the
field of play. Oh he's struck out. Okay, So that's
Gavin lux Is coming up. The runners have not advanced
at all. That's okay. I believe in Gavin.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
Looks all right.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Mogger's next ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports station, Y.
Speaker 10 (31:42):
Cincinnati, make us the number one pre set on your
car radio and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio
add free never sounded so good.
Speaker 7 (31:50):
ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 11 (31:52):
From the schmid Heating Temp Star Weather Center. Here's your forecast.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
This report is sponsored by the International Hot Ride Association.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's sports station. It's time for since
he three sixty quick hits on ESPN fifteen thirty is.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Looking for Mo.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Mo's in the building.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Hey, Mo, and I just had the awesome experience over
the course of the break there to watch the Cincinnati
Reds put runners on first and second with nobody out,
only to see your two three and four hitters strikeout, strikeout, weak, groundout,
ty game heading to the top of the fourth. Good news, though, Mo,
Tyler Stevenson when they get to Milwaukee should be well rested.
Speaker 12 (32:31):
You know, I'm glad they've rested him for the stretch
drive for those last three months. Oh no, wait a minute,
it's the last three games. Yeah, how do you not
have him in the lineup?
Speaker 11 (32:40):
Dhumdh.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Kerry Francone used the excuse today that he just caught
eleven innings last night.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
Dude, what dinner we doing? He didn DH tuesday? Correct?
Wasn't in the lineup?
Speaker 11 (32:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
The DH is there for a reason. I mentioned to
you over the break.
Speaker 11 (32:54):
Is Tyler Stevenson like my age.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Kyle Rowley has sixty home runs and he's a catcher.
He's got over three hundred more bats than Tyler Stevenson.
They don't catch him every game? Would you categorize today's
game as a must win?
Speaker 11 (33:07):
Every game? Like it?
Speaker 5 (33:08):
To me?
Speaker 12 (33:08):
Four arm It started last night, every game the rest
of the way, like we we don't need to use
that topic anymore. Every game is a must win. In
a must win game, you play your best guys. Does
the best version of the Reds have Tyler Stevenson in
the lineup, whether it's as a DH or a catcher?
It should After last night as the answer, no, it's
(33:29):
scoreless in the fourth. Last night was excruciating. Last night
was excruciating in real time, and I said to my wife, like,
here's the thing. I want more of this. I want
to do this next week. My nitpick last night is
Matt McClain. You put him in the ninth spot, which
is acknowledgment he's our worst hitter. But that's where the
(33:51):
pitcher used to batch.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
Check him out from protecting Ellie the night before.
Speaker 12 (33:54):
And it comes off as piling on because he's had
a rough year. And I am certainly willing to I'm
certainly willing to acknowledge the role that not playing last
year has had in this year's failures. But in the
ninth inning and in the eleventh inning, there were multiple
opportunities to not use Matt McClain. I don't know how
(34:14):
you don't take advantage of those opportunities. Austin Hayes back
is so sore that he can't help in the game
that you must win. Find a person who is available.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
He can't go swing the bat. It's that bad. Yeah,
that again a must win. You get to the tenth,
you get to the eleventh. Last night must win. I mean,
can't let that slip away. Austin, can you give me
one swing? If the answer is no, then what are
you doing on the roster? Then somebody else, correct anybody else.
I would have argued, Austin Elmore, I'll whatever act I
would have argued if they pulled McClain after Stevenson let
(34:47):
off the fifth with a double, and Benson got him
to third. I would have argued, I'm good with pulling
him there. Yes, for somebody to make contact in a
one nothing game.
Speaker 11 (34:55):
In the ninth inning. I'm the guy who hates bunting.
Speaker 12 (34:58):
I wanted with one, I wanted Matt McClain to lay
down a sacrifice. But he's batting ninth. Let's just treat
him like a pitcher, right, Let's just and like I
like Matt McClain. It's not because of lack of effort.
Like it sucks because you know, that's that's a dude
who's supposed to be a cornerstone. And maybe he still is.
But last night I do not know, with with other options,
(35:20):
why he's the guy I don't And look, man, Matt
McLain has a role in the Reds getting to the postseason,
but boy, last night, how do you and then you
know it's.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Not once either, how do you multiple times? Let him
take that back twice?
Speaker 12 (35:33):
And then you know the decision to pitch hunter last
night Paul Skins was awesome and I think tip your
hat to the pirates.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Austin said earlier. They managed to win the game.
Speaker 11 (35:44):
They played and managed to win the game. And it's funny.
Speaker 12 (35:47):
I went to the ballpark each of the last two
nights and with different people, and both said the same thing, like,
look at the pirates, all of them top step at
the dugout right like into it. Give them credit. Paul
Skins is awesome. Hunter Green was good but not good enough.
But I can't help but do this because we talked
about it beforehand. Yeah, I would have pitched Hunter on Tuesday,
and I would have had a pitching advantage if I
(36:09):
win that one. I got Hunter for one sixty two.
If I lose it, okay, I still have Hunter for
one sixty two.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
And it's also unique in the sense Frank Cone was
asked about it and said, well, we've already had those
discussions about using him in the bullpen. Yeah, so you
you've talked about having to have him for Game one
sixty two, but you could have had him, Yeah, and
giving your team a better chance to win on Tuesday.
Speaker 12 (36:28):
I'd rather know that I've got him in my back
pocket for the last game of the season, which now
it's hard for me to imagine the Reds get to
the postseason and don't need to win Game one sixty two.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
What else you got coming up on the show today?
So obviously what real time reaction to this? A Reds
and Pirates.
Speaker 12 (36:43):
Either way, the Diamondbacks play this afternoon at three forty,
so we'll keep an eye on that game for you.
Speaker 11 (36:48):
JB.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
Long is going to be on the show, JB.
Speaker 11 (36:50):
JB.
Speaker 12 (36:51):
Long is the voice of the La Rams, but that's
not why we're having him on. He's also calling the
UC game with TNT JB. Long and Mike Golick Junior. Okay,
so JB is going to be on the show, and
then let's see. I'll run throat here. Lee Sterling's gonna
help us make some money. Chad Brenda on the Bearcats.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
The Top staking selfies, he's like apparel model.
Speaker 11 (37:10):
Now since in the magazine on his Bengals column.
Speaker 12 (37:15):
Jake zivin MLS Season Pass, Orlando in Town, big game
for both teams on Sunday Night. Dan Klaskin's Jay Morrison,
Who here Jake Browning? It is a loaded actions that show.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Chick Ludwig show, you had a guest in every segment,
maybe a loaded host. Do you think Jake Browning is
on time today? Well, we're not going to carry it
live today. Okay, bus watch.
Speaker 11 (37:37):
Wow, we're gonna carry We'll play parts of it.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
Tore spreadsheet.
Speaker 12 (37:41):
I am not revolving my entire show around Jake Browning.
I gave him a shot last week. He was what's
the chart say? How late was he? He started at
three twenty seven. Yeah, he was twelve later than Joe.
I was twelve minutes late. Then he threw a pick
six rule on this show.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
He was also late to the field on Sunday.
Speaker 12 (37:59):
Can either you could eat either be late or be
really bad. You can't be both, So Jake Browning has
lost the privilege to be aired live. Do better this week.
You want to be late, that's cool, b Joe Burrow
then or you know, the other way is we'll give
you leeway. You could stink up the joint, but be
on time for your press conference. If you fail to
do both, sorry, smart tape delay the game we're traveling
(38:23):
to tomorrow. You mentioned this is kind of the swing game.
This is a huge game for UC football. I talked
to Keg and Nixon just before this today. It does
feel like that because I think Texas Tech's the best
team right now in the Big twelve. You miss them
Iowa States in your building. BYU's in your building, you
don't get TCU to the last game of the year.
And I still don't know how good they are. And
I was not impressed with Utah at all. It's a
(38:45):
winnable schedule, Yeah, if you take care.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
Of business against Kansas. If not, then you start going
in the opposite direction. If they're going to have a
good season. These are the sort of games you have
to win.
Speaker 12 (38:54):
You don't have to win all of them, but if
you want to give people the idea that this program
is about to take off, you go there and you win.
And like I've been asked, probably not as many times
as you have, but are they good?
Speaker 4 (39:07):
How good are they?
Speaker 12 (39:08):
I have no idea. I think we will know because
here's what I'm looking for more than anything. Game one
against Nebraska. Okay, new guys all together, first time, a
lot of guys playing at this level for the first time.
On the outside, nobody could get open. Is that an anomaly?
If that's not the case on Saturday, I think they
got a good chance of winning. If it is the case,
(39:30):
then that's who they are. And it's an offense that
can't move the ball downfield. Throw downfield, have explosive plays
against high major competition. At some point this they've got
to make plays when the game is hanging in the balance.
They did not against Nebraska. That has been a hallmark
of the last two plus years. If that's ever gonna change,
(39:50):
it changes now. If it's ever gonna change, for it
to really matter, it changes on Saturday. I think this
is the biggest game of Scott Saderfield's regime.
Speaker 11 (39:59):
I really do.
Speaker 12 (40:00):
Like the idea is to win seven or eight games
and make everybody feel like this is going to work.
If they win this game, come home for the next two.
You're open to that happening. If you lose it, it's
just gonna feel like more of the same. More of
the same is not good enough.
Speaker 6 (40:15):
You and I stay or we're staying at the same
hotel we stayed for that Nebraska game, same room, Right.
Do you think that you and I need to maybe
look at what we did right or wrong the night
before the game? But we Nebraska, We're going to change
it up. I think we should change it up. We're
we're definitely going to change food. Do we change up
the food?
Speaker 12 (40:32):
Food's going to be the same, the post meal now
it is an early kickoff. Sure, the food is going
to be the same. What we do before the food,
certainly what we do after the food good, it's going
to be dramatically different.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
It's a good point.
Speaker 11 (40:46):
We'll probably still talk about Joe Royer, spending a lot.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
Of time talking about getting Joe Royer or the ball.
At what point in this game does Mount McClain make
his appearance. If next on there's run on scoring position.
Speaker 12 (41:01):
Hopefully after the twenty seventh out, when he pops out
of the dugout to shake hands with his teammates.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
It will be talked about one day soon. The fall
of Matt McClain this year. Well, you know, remember I
turned down a deal.
Speaker 12 (41:11):
Yeah, and look, I'm okay with Matt McLain being on
the team next year. I'm okay with him going to
spring training and showing what he can do. But he
was written in black magic marker before spring training season.
No question, he's the number two hole hitter, he's the
starting second baseman.
Speaker 6 (41:29):
I literally bet on him to win the MVP. Wow,
it's insane. Might be one of the worst bets in
the history of that wo I mean that very well
could be the worst bet ever, Audie.
Speaker 11 (41:37):
Next year, just take your money and go to me.
Speaker 12 (41:40):
But but they said twenty twenty three best player in
the team, and understandably so opening day batting second at
second base, ear Marked. He can't beat ear Mark for
anything next year. Now, I hope a year from now
we're talking about you know what, twenty twenty five was
an anomaly. It was a year coming off a series
of injuries that just in work out. You know, I'll
(42:01):
tell you right, let's pick a day February what where
the article comes out. Matt McLain has rededicated himself and
you know.
Speaker 4 (42:08):
He's February thirteen.
Speaker 12 (42:09):
He's gotten in the right mindset, shape, that shape of
his life. He spent the off season meditating and eating vegetables,
and he went on a wellness.
Speaker 2 (42:18):
Retreat and he's.
Speaker 6 (42:21):
Eating a lot of.
Speaker 4 (42:25):
Just started aming his pitches.
Speaker 11 (42:27):
He's doing yoga.
Speaker 12 (42:30):
Oh my gosh, we got to do the lasic thing
is always a big you know, he didn't know until
this offseason.
Speaker 4 (42:36):
It makes sense.
Speaker 6 (42:36):
Jamis Winston took.
Speaker 12 (42:38):
An eye test and so he's being fitted seeing three balls. Yeah,
and Matt McLean's the articles coming from Goodyear.
Speaker 11 (42:45):
I can't wait. I will read it verbatim on the radio.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
Well it's next with more of that on ESPN fifteen thirty,
Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
Thanks for listening along.
Speaker 7 (43:10):
Sol Ucky Cincinnati.
Speaker 10 (43:12):
Make us the number one preset on your car radio
and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio app. Free
never sounded so good, ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 12 (43:20):
Whether you're tailgatting in the parking lot or parked on
the couch, sitting on your lucky barstool or stand
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