Tony Pike's Friday Football Frenzy -- 12/5/25

Tony and Austin talk with Kyle Decker, Charlie Goldsmith, Rick Broering, and more. Plus, they make their picks for the weekend, talk Crosstown Shootout, and more on ESPN 1530!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tony Pike's Friday Football Frenzy Show, brought to you in
part five Fellow Windows and door making life writer pelenaw Hey,
later Skyline Shilly Fealing Good. It's Skyline time. Encore Technologies,
visit OnCore dot Tech, Hudson Oil, Healing Champions, on and
off the field, Game Day, Men's Health, Start your best

(00:23):
life today, and by that Creation Museum It's more than
a museum. Visit Creationmuseum dot org today on ESPN fifteen thirty,
the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Welcome in the Friday Football Frenzy starts now ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks for joining us, Thanks for
being a part of the show. Speaking of the show,
it's a quick one today, thirty minutes early. We are
out because of I believe Austin Kentucky basketball. Is that true?

Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (00:57):
But tull he moves up the schedule. Let's not bear
the lead.

Speaker 5 (01:00):
They have one time out left. Twenty three year old
Tony Pike waits for the snaff has the football short drop.
Lobs went down the sideline for Bins.

Speaker 6 (01:09):
He's done it.

Speaker 7 (01:10):
Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown. Harm On Bens catches a perfect row.
There's a penalty flag back at the thirty yard line.
It's on PET one touchdown. The Bear Pats, with thirty
three seconds to go, can take their first lead if
Shacob Rogers can kick the extra point.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
How about that?

Speaker 8 (01:33):
And he nailed it. Jacob Rogers the real hero. It
should be Jacob Rodgers' day. Personally, Jeff Lincoln back day,
I think should be Lincoln Bock Day, Tony. Let me
be the four thousandth person to tell you today, Happy
Pike to Bens.

Speaker 4 (01:47):
Thank you Austin. Do you did you have you talked
to armand yet today?

Speaker 2 (01:51):
I sent my yearly reminder? I sent him a text
earlier today.

Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, we just say go deep.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
We explained pet pleasantries. I said, thanks for the catch.
Usually what I say, thanks for catching the pass all
I said him. It is a little more special when
you hear that today because you get to hear the
Great Jim Kelly's voice in the background, yelling and excitement
when that happened. Obviously we lost Gym earlier in the year.

(02:18):
Always a fun day. I don't remember a day Austin
where it's fallen on the same day as the crossdown shootout.

Speaker 4 (02:24):
Yeah, I was gonna say.

Speaker 8 (02:25):
Since I've been doing this show, I don't remember that
now happening.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
It's bad enough if you lose the shootout, Surely you
can't lose it today. That's my hope.

Speaker 8 (02:34):
By the way, I just want to go ahead and
go on record right now, since this is a very
Cincinnati centric station. Sure with you and Moe obviously Dan Horde,
Sure he's going to be on the air later today
with the game Plan show or whoever it is. Go Muskies, Wow,

(02:54):
shout out to Xavier. We need representation for the Muskies.
I have decided that I will be rooting for the
home team today.

Speaker 9 (03:00):
Wow.

Speaker 8 (03:01):
I don't have a dog in the fight, truly don't.
I don't care you are publicly going on record.

Speaker 4 (03:07):
I think it is.

Speaker 8 (03:08):
I think our fans need someone, our listeners, our audience,
Xavior fans need someone to represent their team, and I
will bear that cross today.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
I hope Chad Brenda's listening because if so, I hope
the message boards.

Speaker 4 (03:22):
Are fired up.

Speaker 8 (03:23):
Well you know what, Chad, I accept Venmo check, cash, anything,
if you know I'm making a few extra bucks off
my back. Go right ahead, Chads, Muskies. Yeah, at the
top of my page. Well, what do you mean this
is a city divided?

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Is Well, here's the deal. Because Kentucky basketball later today.
We're done at two thirty, So our pickum segment's gonna
happen in segment two today. So I probably just ruined
you already just ruined the final game we're picking.

Speaker 4 (03:49):
Yeah, all right.

Speaker 8 (03:51):
Did you see there's already know big line as students
out outside the Centa Center.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yep, brutal day. You know they've done like the the
US feel there for the Bearcat watch all week where
fans camp out around the statues and make sure they're
not vandalized. It's always been a fun week for the students.
I also see that, am I right in that Chris
Henry Junior is gonna make his selection here very soon as.

Speaker 4 (04:15):
Well, sometime in the next five minutes. Oh boy on uh.
Since you're a.

Speaker 8 (04:19):
Musky suns, well, you know it's oh ducks. I do
have to say this though, anti Muskie rhetoric here. You know,
they spend all night and all day guarding the the
Big O' statue and then in the middle of the
day somebody came in and put a Xavier jersey on it. Yeah,
it's no fun to do it in the middle of
the day.

Speaker 4 (04:39):
No, that's not what you're supposed to do it. You
shouldn't do it.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
Then you saw a video you see got the Musky
statue last night?

Speaker 4 (04:46):
Did they?

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Oh yeah see that? Oh yeah? Videoed it celebrated it. Interesting,
let's go. I love this sort of stuff. I saw
Wes Miller giving out donuts the other day. It's a
huge day. It's a day. Shootout tonight. College Football Championship
weekend happens tonight and tomorrow. Bengals Bills on Sunday. We'll
cover them all today. For how many technicals tonight, hopefully
two one for each. I just want I want early

(05:08):
in the game. I want I want there to be
a let's see a Donnybrook oh a brew haha, a
kerf fluffle, a scuffle. I want something to where the
revenant have to come in and say.

Speaker 8 (05:18):
Whoa maybe like Eric Davis in nineteen nineties, just kind
of set the tone tone early, Okay.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
Set a tone early that yes, this game does mean something.
Here's what we'll do. From the Xavier side of things.
We talked to Kee and nickoson yesterday. We'll talk to
Rick Broying today we'll talk Muskies, we'll talk a little
NKU and in response to what Darren Horne had to
ask Mo about you, we'll ask uh, We'll ask Brian
about that. At two o'clock. Charlie Goldsmith joins us. At
one o'clock we have our normal Friday talkbacks. We we

(05:46):
have a chance at the end of our one to
talk to our guy Kyle Decker with Red Brick Legacy
Y Austin, because we pencil it in every year the
day before Miami plays. And what's inevitable now the MAC
Championship game in Detroit. We're gonna talk Red Hawk with
Kyle at twelve forty ish. Uh, So this first hour
is going to move rather quickly. Chris Henry Junior is

(06:07):
going to make a pick sometime soon. And you see
what happened in the NBA last night. I did Lebron
James ended his one thousand, two hundred and ninety seven
consecutive game streak of scoring double digits in the regular
season ten or more points. And he did it, and

(06:29):
I think the best way possible. He had the ball
in a one twenty to one twenty game with a
clock ticking down under five and what did he do Austin,
he found Rory Hatchima in the corner for a wide
open three, which hatchimra hit.

Speaker 8 (06:47):
I think what's funny is it kind of secretly tells
you everything about the way, you know, people view Lebron.
That the story is not as much you know, that
they won the game or that the streak broke, It
was that he actually passed the ball instead of trying
to get the streak.

Speaker 4 (07:06):
Get the streak, he made the right earlier.

Speaker 2 (07:09):
This week or last week, that he had eight and
like shot a garbage basket when they were already out,
when he was still in the game to get to ten,
and then to do this.

Speaker 4 (07:19):
And ninety seven consecutive games.

Speaker 8 (07:21):
I think the longest active streak now is Kevin Durant
at like two hundred and seventy unreal, and then behind
him is Shay Gilgess Alexander On So. I think SGA
would have to go like the next ten years without
missing a game, basically next fifteen years without missing a

(07:41):
game basically to do that, that's insane, pretty amazing.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
How about Penn State, you see they've now turned their
focus to Big twelve Iowa State Matt Campbell I did
see Matt Campbell, now the lead focus of Penn State's
head coaching search, and all last night in the National
Football League, the best running back in the NFL was
fully on display, Jamiir Gibbs, who was a pipe dream

(08:09):
for Bengal fans in the draft. And then the Lions
like went up even higher because we were I remember
talking in Cincinnati, do you reach a little bit on Gibbs?
And then the Lions reached even higher. And last night
Jamir Gibbs twelve carries forty three yards, three touchdowns, seven
catches seventy seven yards. Jamis and Williams had ninety six.
I'm and ros Saint Brown had ninety two. David Montgomery

(08:31):
had a touchdown in sixty rushing yards. The Lions put
forty four on the board and beat the Dallas Cowboys
forty four to thirty in a game Austin where Brandon
Aubrey becomes the first kicker in NFL history to hit
three kicks in one game. From what fifty plus did

(08:54):
you see that last night?

Speaker 4 (08:55):
I did not.

Speaker 8 (08:55):
I knew that he you know, just kind of casually
smoked the sixty three yard believe.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
He was five or five last night. One from I
believe it was one was a chip shot. Everything else
was a bomb.

Speaker 4 (09:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (09:11):
The sixty three yard er, which you may remember, was
the NFL record for many many years. There was a
period of time, I'm.

Speaker 2 (09:18):
Sorry, it's fifty five or more so, first kicker in
NFL history to make three kicks in a game of
fifty five or more yards.

Speaker 8 (09:24):
There was a time in which NFL kickers prior to
Brandon Aubrey getting in the league were like six for
eighty two at sixty plus over a stretch of many years.
And if I'm not mistaken, Brandon Aubrey is like six
of eight or six of nine since he entered the
league from sixty plus.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
Yep. Also, how was the Prescott sack not a safety
last night? Don't know, I don't quite get it.

Speaker 8 (09:51):
The explanation from the official was that when contact game whatever,
but I didn't think it was enough to overturn it.
Last night was not a good officiating night.

Speaker 2 (10:01):
Nope.

Speaker 8 (10:01):
Uh, Usually you can count on that whenever sean hockey
league has a national television game. Yeah, now he's gonna
get plenty of airtime. A good night for Jake Ferguson either,
last night.

Speaker 2 (10:13):
I'll tell you what. It was a good night for
us because we get excited now about a crossown shootout tonight.

Speaker 4 (10:20):
We'll talk about the shootout.

Speaker 2 (10:21):
Today, we'll talk Bengals bills with Charlie Goldsmith's special shout out.
Austin sat X goes for a state title today tonight
against Lewis Center, Olin Tangy Orange. Yeah, we'll make that
pick when we come back. Also, Anderson the Raptors. They
come up short last night there the state runner up
in Division two. They fall to Avon to the second

(10:43):
straight year. It would be a sick feeling. Yeah, I'll
tell you what's a sick feeling they have on quarterback?
Just a junior. He's got another year. So a lot
happening right now in the wide world of sports. We'll
take a break, we'll come back. We'll get right into
our weekly pick them on the Friday Football Frenzy next
the ESPN Fifteentharty Cincinnati Sports station.

Speaker 1 (11:02):
This week, the Bengals are bringing their own brand of
football to Buffalo when they go hunting for a win.
Did I tell you about the last time I was
in below I ate fifty wins, sleethered in hot sauce
Let's just say I had to stampede my way to
a stall in the men's room. The Bengals battle the Bills.
Coverage begins at nine am Sunday. Stream for free are

(11:26):
the new and improved iHeartRadio app or ESPN fifteen thirty,
the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 10 (11:34):
Oh hen athlete Wolfinatti, brought to you by Hey during
Window Company on ESPN fifteen thirty, The official home of
the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
All Right, Frodday, football BROENDSI Chris Henry Junior is a
Buck guy Austin. Was there any doubt, never a dout,
never a doubt. He probably had out and got himself
some more money. Look at all the Buckeye paraphernalia.

Speaker 4 (12:05):
Oh, it's unbelievable. And uh oh, and they all come
in out west. Look at that. It was never a doubt.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
Man.

Speaker 8 (12:10):
Shout out to Chris Henry Jr. Shout out to Ryan
Day and the Buckeyes. Maybe a couple of extra bucks.
By the way, Speaking of great wide receivers, breaking news
coming in just two minutes ago. Bengals wide receiver t
Higgins has cleared concussion protocol and will play on Sunday
in Buffalo.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Let's go, Let's go. I'm ready to go. Wall snot bubbles.
T Higgins. You fired up about Chris Henry Jr. T. Higgins,
I'm fired up. I'm also fired up to make some picks. Austin.
Let's do it. Saint Xavier, the Bombers Lewis Center, ol
In Tangy Orange.

Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (12:49):
The Bombers lost twice in the regular season. They lost
to Moler, they lost to Elder. They avenged both of
those losses on what has been an awesome playoff run
Steve Specking. The Bombers look to uh sit again atop
the mountain top in d One, Ohio high school football.
They'll have to do it against the undefeated Olan Tangy Orange,
who beat the team Austin that I heard all about
all year that no one's gonna beat Saint Ed's Olan

(13:10):
Tangy Orange did, and they did so rather easily. Who
do you like in this one?

Speaker 8 (13:15):
Some would say, Olin Tangy Orange, undefeated, untied, unscored upon
give me Xavier in a route. Saint x You say
at Tom Benson Stadium or whatever it is up there
in Canton, I.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
Don't know anything about Olin tangy Orange. What I do
know is this great city of Cincinnati needs a state champion,
and that now rest on the shoulders of the Bombers.
Give me Saint X.

Speaker 8 (13:40):
Does Anderson have to practice at like five twenty in
the morning.

Speaker 2 (13:43):
Now they should? You got to now, no other way
around it. Let's go to college Football Championship weekend. You
know the Tulane coach some raw, Is he still coaching
in this game? Even the coach at Florida, Yes he is. Well,
he's at home. They are at home down in Louisiana, Louisanna.
They's North Texas. Yeah, but the folks that make the
lines are saying, ah, there's probably a little bit going

(14:05):
on around the program right now with the coach leaving.
In all So, on the road, the mean Green of
North Texas are favored. Who do you like in the
American Athletic Conference champions I've seen a lot of.

Speaker 8 (14:18):
Conversation heading in the direction of the Mean Green in
North Texas. But I'm gonna stay with Tulane. Okay that
they've been good, They've been ranked all season long. For
the most part, I like Tulane to win the American Championship.

Speaker 2 (14:32):
I think I'm right by this because I'm sure he's
a loyal listener of the show on a daily basis.
But I believe there's a tie in with our guy
Ben Baby in North Texas of the Mean Green.

Speaker 8 (14:41):
Anything Texas, there's a tie in with Benby all right,
well in that.

Speaker 4 (14:47):
Let's see, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
The word on that note. On that note, I'll take
the Mean Green of North Texas. Gotcha to beat and
cover against Tulane. What about the Boise State Roncos Austin. Yeah,
a lot of people left them for dead early in
the year. They were ranked going into the season. They
fell all the way to eight and four, and yet
they are now hosting the Mountain West Championship against UNLV,

(15:11):
the Running Rebels. You know, they got blue turf there
in Boise. They also got five and a half points
to lay. Boise is the favorite. Un l V, I
think is the better team. Give me UNLV to get
the points.

Speaker 4 (15:22):
You know what.

Speaker 8 (15:23):
I'm a fan of Dan Mullen, the head coach at UNLV.
Now he's got Vontez perfect Yeah on his staff. Yeah,
so I thought there'd be a lot more personal fouls
this year. The occasionally, I mean early I think Paul
Gunther's involved there, so you know there's not a lot
of defense. But I'll take UNLV to beat boys. Let's go,
let's go. What about the Big twelve title? Just mere

(15:48):
months before the end of October, I thought, you know
what you see might be in Dallas to play in
this game.

Speaker 2 (15:56):
They're not. They lost all four in November. Texas Tech
has not. Texas Tech is a machine and BYU just
got a little bit of a of a lift because
their coach isn't going anywhere. He's staying. I'd bring him
Young University. But they're getting twelve and a half points
in this game. Austin, I think Texas Tech wins. I
don't think they win going away. Give me BYU to

(16:17):
cover the number.

Speaker 8 (16:18):
Okay, you're absolutely crazy. Texas Tech is gonna blow these
guys out.

Speaker 2 (16:21):
Okay, you're you're drinking that Texas Tech Red Raider.

Speaker 4 (16:24):
Kol Ad a little bit, aren't you.

Speaker 2 (16:26):
I'm having that all Okay, No Murder three Georgia. They
go on the road, or they don't go on the road.
It's a neutral game, but it's in Georgia Mercedes Benz Stadium.
They play Alabama. We talked about this earlier in the week.
Don't give nothing about the nothing but the tide. Alabama
beat Georgia this year. They could be an elimination game

(16:48):
for Alabama. Alabama at Mercedes ben Stadium is going to
get two and a half points. Who do you like?

Speaker 8 (16:53):
I got Georgia to crush these dudes and send Alabama
into an offseason in which there will be no hotter
seat in the country than one Kaylin divorce.

Speaker 2 (17:03):
I have nothing about nothing but the time him and.

Speaker 8 (17:05):
Scott Saderfield, nothing but the time he's scorching hot.

Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yeah, I'm gonna take Georgia too.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
It's hard to beat a team twice in a season,
it really is, especially when that team is the Georgia Bulldogs. Also,
when you give us these sheets, you keep saying team.

Speaker 4 (17:19):
At other teams.

Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, this is a little bit different this week because
most of these are neutral sites. Yeah so, but are
they really neutral? Texas Tech is playing this game in Arlington, Texas.
Alabama's playing in Atlanta.

Speaker 8 (17:32):
Georgia, Well, Indiana's playing in Indianapolis, and it's gonna.

Speaker 4 (17:36):
Be in Ohio State, Ohio. Yeah exactly.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
How about the other team in Ohio? How about the
Miami RedHawks. We're gonna talk with Kyle Decker in just
a few minutes from Miami about this game. But it's
another year where Chuck Martin's in a MAC title game.
They did so, they moved on from their quarterback after
the OU loss. They got a red shirt freshman playing
right now. I said, it's hard to beat a team.
Twice in the regular season. Western Michigan lost to Miami

(17:59):
after giving up seventeen in the fourth quarter for the
RedHawks to win at Yager Stadium early in the year.
That's the only Western Michigan loss in conference this year.
It'll be their second conference loss. I think Chuck Martin's
team is playing their best football when it matters. They've
been there before. Give me the RedHawks to win and cover.

Speaker 8 (18:16):
I just had the pleasure of talking to Chuck Martin
on the phone like two days ago.

Speaker 4 (18:20):
Oh give me the RedHawks. What a pleasure? Love that guy.

Speaker 8 (18:22):
What a Pleasure's and he answers the phone like a
football guy. Oh, he said, Chuck Martin, Miami Football. Let's
call man, all right, let's go move the chains.

Speaker 4 (18:30):
Coach. I'm in on that. I'm all in on that.

Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yep. What about number two? Indiana Man first number one
Ohio State. I'm gonna make my pick, and I'm gonna
give you the floor, Austin, I would honestly be comfortable
taking this to eleven and a half twelve and a half.
I think Ohio State wins this by two scores. It's
in a dome. This offense. Now they get the Chris
Henry Junior boost. People are expecting what's gonna happen with
hertline at US. I don't think anything. I think Ohio

(18:55):
State plays their best game of the year. I think
they roll the Indiana Hoosiers. Give me the Buckeyes.

Speaker 8 (19:00):
Before I make my pick, I'm just gonna say, great
spot to watch the Big Ten Championship game. If you're
looking to do that this weekend is gonna be over
at Liberty Collective. They're gonna have a live DJ, drink specials.
They got a second floor, it's twenty one plus, they've
got a twenty five foot led screen. Tons of excitement
for the Big Ten Championship game, and I'm sure many

(19:22):
will gather at eight pm Saturday to watch the buck
Eyes destroy the Indiana Hoosiers. Give me the Buckeyes to
cover that four. I don't know if it's actually gonna
be destroyed, but the Buckeyes cover the four, they win
the Big Ten championship.

Speaker 2 (19:38):
All right, all right, let's move on to the NFL.
Let's start in the AFC North cam Ward versus dor Sanders.
Titans turn Cleveland to take on the Browns. The over
under on this game Austin thirty three and a half.
No one expecting many points to be scored in this one,
but the Browns are favored by four and a half home.

(20:01):
I think this is more about the defenses that will
be playing in this game, and for that I get
Miles Garrett for the first time versus Cam Moore.

Speaker 4 (20:07):
Give me the Browns.

Speaker 8 (20:08):
Yeah, I think the Browns are gonna blow this team out.
Like I think it's crazy to say this, but I
think the Cleveland Browns have a super Bowl caliber defense
and it's obviously being wasted with all the other nonsense
going on, and Cam mood has struggled and reading defenses
and all that sort of stuff.

Speaker 4 (20:25):
I'll take the Browns.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
What about the other AFC North game? This one is
a different one because of the uncertainty around Lamar Jackson
throughout the week. Steelers at Ravens. Neither of these offenses
are playing well, and both of these teams invested on
the defensive side of the ball and that hasn't panned
out either. This game being in Baltimore, the Ravens giving

(20:47):
five and a half, What do you think.

Speaker 8 (20:49):
Lamar Jackson will play? He's good to go. I trust
him more than I trust the Steelers offense. At the moment,
I'll take the Ravens.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
Yeah, I'm gonna take the Ravens as well. I just
think eventually we're gonna have that game where Lamar looks
more like Lamar. They just awarded Mark Andrews with the
big deal. I don't know if it's this game, but
I think they have enough to beat and cover against
the Steelers. How about this one Jags trending up, Colts
trending down. Jacksonville hosts the Indianapolis Colts and they're gonna

(21:19):
get a point and a half at home in this one.
Who do you like? Jags Colts?

Speaker 8 (21:25):
I like the Indianapolis Colts, really run the football, play
a little bit of defense. I think I'm out on
Trevor Lawrence. I feel pretty comfortable saying that. So that
being said, give me Indianapolis. Really Now, I've been on
the Jags all year. I was gonna say that that
surprises me. Early in the year, the the Jacksonville Jaguars

(21:48):
were or your pick. Do you know the Jacksonville Jaguars
Austin also lead the NFL in yards giving up per
game on defense on the ground. Yeah, they've yet to
give up a thousand total yards team in the league
to do so.

Speaker 2 (22:01):
They give up eighty two a game on the ground.
Time for the damn to break. They stemy Jonathan Taylor
and Jacksonville wins the game. Bears Packers, I don't know.
I don't trust the Bears. There are times I don't
trust the Packer. Is it Toyota th On?

Speaker 4 (22:20):
That's right?

Speaker 2 (22:21):
Is it right now?

Speaker 4 (22:22):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (22:23):
I'm gonna guess that it is.

Speaker 4 (22:24):
I don't drive a Toyota.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
I don't either. I'm gonna take the Packers to cover
Jordan Love big game, Michael Parson's bigger game on defense.

Speaker 4 (22:32):
Yeah, now you have to give you a pick.

Speaker 8 (22:34):
Well, I wasn't sure who to pick in this because
I think the Bears have some real momentum. And then
yesterday morning you and I got a text from mar
guy Glenn, Yeah, Glenn up in Green Bay who opened
his doors to me and was a gracious host. And
it's gonna be freezing cold up there. I mean, it's
it's Green Bay and Chicago. What more do you want?

(22:56):
Packers in a route? I think so too.

Speaker 2 (22:58):
What about the Sunday night game, It is the defense
of the Texans against the Chiefs. It could very well
be an elimination game. I think the Chiefs are the
hungrier team here. I say, hungry dog runs faster. Give
me the Chiefs at home.

Speaker 8 (23:12):
Last year and already a little bit this year, we've
heard that the Bengals are the team that nobody wants
to play. Yeah, late in the season, are into the playoffs.
Well after the Chiefs get smoked by the Texans on
Sunday Night, everyone's gonna be saying it's the Texans are
the team that you don't want to play in the playoffs.
That pass rush, CJ. Stroud healthy, They've got weapons. Give

(23:33):
me Houston over Kansas City in Kansas City.

Speaker 11 (23:36):
All right?

Speaker 3 (23:36):
Right?

Speaker 2 (23:37):
It into Monday night Eagles at Chargers. It's what a
weird Eagles team this has been. I don't know what
to think of them. And I just hate that the
Chargers have been decimated from injury. What do you think
in this one?

Speaker 8 (23:47):
Chargers have injuries, Eagles are desperate.

Speaker 4 (23:49):
Give me Philly.

Speaker 2 (23:50):
Yeah, I'm gonna take Philly as well. I want the
Chargers to lose as much as possible. From an AFC
standpoint as well? Do you want to hit the button?
Should we hit the button on this one?

Speaker 4 (24:00):
I'll see if I can find the button.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, while we look for the button, I'd like to
thank our friends at Win Shulers for their cheesy spread
of the week, brought to you buyer friends at Win Shulders. Therefore,
delicious cheese spreads pairwell with anything. Whether it's a game, tailgate,
game day, it ain't looking for, whether it's game day
there it is, yeah baby, whether it's a holiday get together,

(24:23):
make it a win. Shulers Bengals Bills. Right now Austin,
the Bills are the AFC betting favorite to win the
Super Bowl. They're gonna give the Bengals. I'm gonna have
if they are. Oh, they have the best odds in
the AFC to win the Super Bowl. Okay, Joe Burrow
doesn't care anything about that. Joe Burrow's in December football.

(24:44):
Joe Burrows in meaningful football, which means we get the
best Joe Burrow. The Bengals go to Buffalo, Chase Brown
has a monster game, Burrow throws three touchdowns, they stop
James Cook enough. We're talking on Monday about the playoff
door being all and the Bengals defense putting their fourth
winning performance together and Joe Burrow being all the way

(25:05):
back give me the Bengals on Sunday.

Speaker 8 (25:09):
I was asked earlier this morning by our friend rick Yuccino,
how do you feel about this game? And I didn't
really have a good answer for him, because I think
it's two teams that are kind of in the same
exact spot. I could see them each playing a certain way. Oh,
I don't know how to decide what I think about
this game, but I do know one thing. I believe

(25:29):
that there is a path to victory every time Number
nine takes the field for the Cincinnati Bengals. And I
don't know that they're going to go up there and
blow them out like they did in the divisional round.
I don't think the Bengals are going to get blown
out based off the way the Bills have played offensively
in their injuries, and so that being said Evan McPherson
at the gun to give the Bengals a victory, to

(25:50):
be said, look.

Speaker 2 (25:50):
At us, we're both taking money line. We don't even
want the points.

Speaker 4 (25:53):
I don't care about it.

Speaker 2 (25:53):
You five and a half. We'll take the money line
real quick. Austin bonus pick already know yours. You took
the Muskies, You're damn right. I'm taking the Bearcats. Ain't
know why the Bearcats are losing this game, and if
they do, someone out there listening might be my call
from a jail cell tonight.

Speaker 8 (26:06):
Wow, you said you're gonna go to jail if Cincinnati loses?

Speaker 2 (26:10):
I might wow.

Speaker 8 (26:11):
Okay, all right, place listen. If you're looking for somewhere
to watch the game that's not a jail cell. You
could go up to the Liberty Collective. Talked about it
earlier up there in Liberty Township. They got a watch
party tonight. Seven point thirty is the tip off. They're
gonna have a live DJ, drink specials, giveaways. Ryan Geist
is gonna be there with some samples and some swag,
and how about this, Leonard Stoke's gonna be there. Other

(26:34):
Bearcat Legend's gonna be there at the Liberty Collective tonight
for the Crosstown Shootout watch party. And you pick the Bearcats.
I'm picking the Muskies.

Speaker 2 (26:44):
Sick.

Speaker 8 (26:44):
We're a house divided. I hope it's a great game,
and I hope it comes down to a buzzer beater.

Speaker 4 (26:49):
Here we go.

Speaker 2 (26:50):
That is our picks a very quick I'm sure touching
go and we get back because we got to get
Kyle Decker, who's going to join us in studio at
twelve forty to preview the MAC Championship game from Red
Brick Legacy. All that still ahead. Charlie Goldsmith to kick
off our two with more on the Bengals and Bills
on the Friday Football Friends of ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station, you've.

Speaker 10 (27:11):
Been listening to Football in the NATI on ESPN fifteen thirty,
the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 5 (27:22):
This is Dan Horde joined Dave Lapham and me this
afternoon at three for Bengals pep rally on the official
home of the Bengals, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 3 (27:31):
For ten years, family sitting.

Speaker 8 (27:34):
Maybe this will settle you down a little bit oh,
you ain't kidding, or do you want me to it?

Speaker 4 (27:43):
Did just that?

Speaker 8 (27:44):
Do you want me to do this again? Since it's
our win Schuler's call tonight.

Speaker 5 (27:49):
By one time, twenty three year old Tony Pike waits
for the stat haas the football short drop lops are
down the sideline.

Speaker 7 (27:57):
For Bins pleas, don it Touchdow touch down, touch down.
Harmon Bens catches a perfect throw, there's a penalty flag
back at the thirty yard line. HiT's on pedd touchdown.
The fair Pats, with thirty three seconds to go, can
take their first lead if Shacob Rogers can kick the

(28:19):
extra point.

Speaker 4 (28:21):
Man.

Speaker 2 (28:22):
Now you said earlier that if Jacob Rogers can make
the extra point because Jacob had missed a couple in
the year.

Speaker 4 (28:27):
Okay, that was a big part, completely unnecess stepped up.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
Great hold by Zach, great kick by Jacob, great job
by the defense.

Speaker 4 (28:34):
Now you said earlier, And that's our wind Schulers call
the night.

Speaker 2 (28:37):
And when the fronts of Winds Shulders. They have four
fantastic cheese spreads. You compare them with pretzels, chips, bread
like whatever you want, club crackers, with anything you want.
They're gonna pay. They paired well. When they originally brought
them into studio, they had grapes. They're also with grapes,
cleansed the palate. It was awesome thanks to wind Shualers.

Speaker 4 (28:54):
That makes sense. Anyways.

Speaker 8 (28:57):
You mentioned earlier that you often reach out to our
mind bins. On this day, you ever talk to Jacob Rogers. Nope,
we talked to him in a while. The hell, man,
I don't know that. Dude's the reason this whole thing exists.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
He would have missed. We went to overtime and won again.

Speaker 8 (29:11):
That throw would be forgotten in time. It would have
just been overtime.

Speaker 4 (29:17):
And yeah, another would have thrown a pick six and
overtime it would have been over and I didn't.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
I don't throw second half picks first half stuff. Man,
Let's relax, let's all take a chick to you do
you kind of do what Mo does? Just kind of
go look at the bibblehead on a day like today.
I have not yet, but well has multiple times. I
thought about going and fishing mine out.

Speaker 8 (29:38):
I mine still. I put it back in the box
when I moved Smart. I haven't taken it back out yet.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
Also, Smart protect the investment, so those things shot up
by like six or seven dollars on eBay when I
got canned. Really yeah, I had someone send it to me,
so I wasone send me like an eBay listing. Like man,
Ever since you got canned, the value on these are
going out.

Speaker 4 (29:55):
And people think you died. No, you gave a eulogy,
do you?

Speaker 2 (29:59):
I did?

Speaker 4 (30:00):
I wish I wouldn't.

Speaker 2 (30:01):
Came back from the dead. Do you still have do
you do you still have the ball?

Speaker 4 (30:05):
Right?

Speaker 11 (30:06):
I do?

Speaker 4 (30:06):
Yeah? Have you thought about a selling it? Yes?

Speaker 8 (30:12):
And be the profits either going to the Pike household
or to you see nil efforts.

Speaker 2 (30:20):
We'll see what happens in the shootout tonight. Okay, that's
what I think.

Speaker 4 (30:24):
Have you signed? Is it signed or it's just as is?

Speaker 3 (30:28):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (30:28):
There was?

Speaker 2 (30:29):
I haven't as is?

Speaker 4 (30:30):
There was.

Speaker 2 (30:31):
There's two game balls I had. I shouldn't tell people that.

Speaker 4 (30:36):
One.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
You don't even know which ones, which I do. One
was as is, the other one Armand and I signed.
I only have the one that's as is now. But
Armand's just a phone call away. You sound like a fraud.
I'll tell you who's not a fraud, Chuck Martin, No,
he's not. He's got Miami playing good Red, Well he didn't,
so he would like physically right now? Oh absolutely, yeah,

(30:58):
that's what I'm saying. But Brick Legacy has done some awesome,
awesome stuff in the NIL world again in the NIL
world from Miami, and they are playing in another MAC
Championship game tomorrow at Ford Field. So our guy Kyle
Decker with Red Brick Legacy will join us in studio
next to discuss that on the Friday Football friends of
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 10 (31:19):
So he's back and he plays here on ESPN fifteen thirty,
the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (31:33):
All right, welcome back to Friday Football Frenzy continues ESPN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station, thanks to our friends at Skyline, Chile.
In the spirit of the Friday Football Frenzy. We've already
talked here and now re number one about the Cincinnati Bengals.
We'll talk to Charlie Goldsmith in just a few minutes
at the top of the hour about the Bengals and
the Bills mentioned Anderson coming up short last night, sainex

(31:57):
in action tonight. There's also a championship on the line.
Tomorrow at noon, and at this point Austin we've talked
about Miami pretty much has residency at Ford Field.

Speaker 4 (32:07):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (32:08):
You know, once the season is is coming down to
the wire, Chuck Martin is going to have this team
playing in a MAC championship this year. The way they
went about getting there very impressive, very different for the
Red Hawks. So let's spin it. Let's talk some Miami.
Let's talk a little Red Brick Legacy as well, with
our guy Kyle Decker from Red Brick Legacy joining us

(32:28):
right now. What's up? How good? How are you?

Speaker 4 (32:31):
This is like a yearly.

Speaker 2 (32:33):
This is you're I mean, your chipper this morning. You're
getting ready to play for a championship tomorrow. Before we
get into the game itself, everything going on last time
we talked with Red Brick Legacy, the release of Uptown Light,
everything with that. How are things going with the collective?

Speaker 4 (32:49):
It's good, it's good.

Speaker 12 (32:50):
I was trying to pick up you in Austin some
Uptown Light nearby and they had none some people for
the noon kickoff tomorrow and no, it's really it's it's
going well. You know, I think we've put together a
really good roster this year obviously and culminating as you said,
I was talking to coach Martin and thirty four years
of coaching, he's never seen a year like this, and

(33:12):
to culminate to get to Detroit this year is actually special.
You know, you try not to take it for granted
to have your team and you're all the mater play
at the in the championship game each year, you know,
you got to make sure that you enjoy the moment
and excited to see those guys can be going up
tomorrow and can't wait to be on Ford field. I
was watching the Lions game last night and I'm like, actually,
vision right there old Tommy got Kowski and Tommy Gunn

(33:36):
as we call him, hopefully dising up the Broncos.

Speaker 2 (33:38):
So you know, it's it's it's been a unique season
for Miami, you know, because there's been adversity at different levels.
I thought you guys opened the season impressive at Wisconsin
seventeen nothing, But as soon as you get into MacPlay,
it's kind of what we've seen in years past. Hot
start in to mac play because you guys do such
a good job of scheduling to get ready for that
part of your schedule. And then you guys go to

(34:00):
Ou suffer a loss, back to back losses after the
Toledo loss, and then Sandwich in the middle of those,
there's a change at quarterback. And you know, anytime you're
moving on from a quarterback in today's college football, that's
a lot to kind of undertake for a staff and
for a team, because a lot of guys believe in
a quarterback and then you've got to now believe in

(34:20):
a new guy, and you've got to get the roster
around him. Just the journey that this team has taken
two to go through those losses. But again, as you mentioned,
you get a new quarterback in, you beat Buffalo, you
beat Ball State. Here they are again playing for a
MAC title. How different of a season has it been
to get to this MAC championship?

Speaker 12 (34:37):
Yeah, Tony, I mean it's something I've never seen. I mean,
you have a quarterback leave the team and then a
red shirt freshman like Tommy step up and play his
first football in Buffalo and then.

Speaker 4 (34:48):
Just hard to do as a freshman huge.

Speaker 12 (34:50):
Yeah, at any level, it's it's uh, you know, but
he has been incredible. The whole team has rallied behind him.
His leadership on the field, off the field, you know,
just talking to him. He uh, I think we have
a special one thirteen, you know, behind center, and we're
beyond excited how everything came to fruition. I was there
in Athens when we lost OU and you know there

(35:12):
was there were some tough times those you know, that
week or two, but I think it all came and
you got to give the coaches and the players you
know that circled around. I mean, I think it's it
shows you that the culture and the leadership you know,
can overcome adversity. And super proud of these guys, I mean,
to be there tomorrow is an incredible accomplishment.

Speaker 2 (35:31):
For you personally as as an alum of Miami that's
that's played there and now with what you're doing with
Red Brick Legacy, how fulfilling I know they're all special.
How fulfilling does it become because you're you're now more
a part of what's going on at the university. You
have a bigger role in how this team is being
built personally for you, How how exciting is this to

(35:53):
to follow this journey and again to culminate in another
opportunity tomorrow at noon.

Speaker 12 (35:58):
Yeah, personally, I mean helping, you know, with with Coach
Martin and our GM who's who's fantastic Cody Keller, I've
I experienced.

Speaker 4 (36:06):
I'm sure you and Austin get this.

Speaker 12 (36:07):
This is new to me, but these crazy folks on
Twitter and getting these dms about the quarterback situation and
and uh so personally, I've I've had to I always say,
press pause, take a deep breath. And I was actually
talking to Travis Steele in the way here and I said, dude,
I about to go talk to Tony. I said, I
know how you guys feel now. I've never had this
much hatred, Like somehow people found my emails and you know,

(36:29):
I was like, you know, it's like I've I've ruined
the world with nil and in the quarterback situation. So personally,
this is I would love to screenshot some of those
Twitter warriors and say, hey, look at where we are now,
you know, and uh, it's more than just one player,
and uh, it's a program. And Coach Martin once again
three years in a row. You know, he's he's you know,

(36:50):
dominated the MAC I think twenty four and three over
the last couple of years. You know, his record is
is fantastic, you know, and he's delivered year after year,
so we're very fortunate. But personally, like having the first
time I've experienced probably what all you guys get on
the regular.

Speaker 4 (37:06):
That's new to me. So I'm like, I'm fired up.

Speaker 2 (37:08):
Yeah, for Chuck Martin, I know that that probably everyone
feels different.

Speaker 4 (37:15):
How much how much does he do?

Speaker 2 (37:17):
You feel just kind of indulgent in this one because
it's it's come with its adversity. You know, there are
years where you run through the mac. There are years
where you see some up and downs. But to go
through the way they went through it this year and
then again to turn to a red shirt freshman and say, hey,
not only do do we need you to kind of
captain this ship, but we're gonna send you on the

(37:37):
road and try to go get that first win at Buffalo, right,
I mean, Toledo's a chance to kind of get your
feet wet and then you got to go on the road.
How special is this for a coach who has been
to this game before? But always there's always different things
you can take from a season to appreciate how you
got there.

Speaker 12 (37:53):
Yeah, I think this one in our conversations and I
want to speak for him, but obviously we've had some
of these and I don't think he would mind me sharing.
I think this is probably the most special journey that
he's had to the championship game and hopefully cultivates in
a huge win against a really, really good Western Michigan team.
But as you know, Tony working, you know, being a
player and at a high level and working with coaches,

(38:16):
I mean, this is their you know, twenty four to seven,
this is their livelihood. And to go through what this
team has and then to be where we are no
matter what happens on Saturday, I think, you know, I
can speak for most of our alumni.

Speaker 4 (38:28):
I hope they're extremely proud of.

Speaker 12 (38:29):
The resilience and the overcoming the adversity and getting back
and sustain three years in a row.

Speaker 4 (38:36):
You know, we won in twenty three, we lost in
twenty four. Now we're back in twenty five.

Speaker 12 (38:40):
And and coach said it in the post game, you know,
to the team, he goes, you know, we got there,
but we want to win.

Speaker 4 (38:45):
It's getting there just a piece of the puzzle.

Speaker 12 (38:48):
But the really you know, getting that ring is and
having that championship is what we're here for so they'll
be ready to go.

Speaker 4 (38:54):
For sure.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
The game itself, I know Lowry for Western Michigan was
the leading obviously the passer also ran for eighty two
yards against Miami that game end of October Jager Stadium.
Western Michigan led it what, fourteen to nine at half,
they let it seventeen nine going into the fourth, and
then a seventeen to nothing fourth quarter from Miami at home.
It's it's unique in a sense. It's always hard to

(39:16):
beat a team twice in a season. Now you get
this rematch with Western Michigan. You look at the odds,
things are pretty much split right down the middle. Right
now with the odds makers seeing this team once already,
how how difficult or what are those keys going to
be for Miami to find a way to win.

Speaker 12 (39:33):
Yeah, his mobility is you know, is that advertising he is.
He's a tough you know multi you know, he can pass,
he can run.

Speaker 4 (39:41):
His legs are extremely dangerous.

Speaker 12 (39:42):
We're obviously going to have to be disciplined with you know,
they run a rout of Reid option. You know, we're
gonna have to contain him. He's a lot like Parker
Navarro from OU. We've seen quarterbacks like this. I love obviously,
our defensive end one, in my opinion, one of the
best in the country.

Speaker 4 (39:56):
Adam Trick.

Speaker 12 (39:57):
You know, he's going to have to have, you know,
a great game, senior Silas Walters. You know, we got
a couple Lakota West Cincinnati kids back there playing their
last uh you know Mac game, Jackson cou watch. We've
got a really good, good defense. We just got to
be us to play Miami football. And then on offense,
we've got to take care of the ball. I mean
it sounds like a traditional it's not like a traditional
coach over here. Yeah, but reality of it is is

(40:19):
you can't make mistakes against a really you know, they
like to control that football with Lowry. You know, we're
gonna have to really make sure that we don't turn
it over to him.

Speaker 4 (40:28):
And it's just a really really good program.

Speaker 12 (40:30):
They got over there, they rushed the you know, their
their edge rusher is a really really good player, number
eleven Tucker I.

Speaker 4 (40:38):
Believe his name is, and and they're gonna we have
to play really well.

Speaker 12 (40:41):
You know, they got home and they they they created
some issues with us on on an offense, and you know,
we're gonna have to really make sure that we do
us and come out and play our best football.

Speaker 2 (40:51):
It was the lone blemish on Western Michigan's max season
one loss on the year, and you know, it was
an opportunity, It is an opportunity to kind of take
that next step. If you are Miami, that game happens
at noon tomorrow. My question to you, you're on the
other side of it now as well. We mentioned with
with you know, Red Brick Legacy, how difficult it is

(41:12):
is how different is this because as much as you
are enjoying, I'm sure what tomorrow is, you're also working
because you know, we've heard and we've seen the coaching carousel,
We've seen the transfer portal and what it looks like
in college football. It's it's it's a different world. And
so on your end of things, you get to enjoy tomorrow.
How much though, is going into the work of roster retention,

(41:35):
looking into the portal high school recruiting and we just
finished with signing day. I would imagine your job is
never done from an nil standpoint, But how different is
this time of the year for you?

Speaker 4 (41:46):
Yeah, no, great question.

Speaker 12 (41:48):
I mean our recruiting class we lost Tony, we're the
group of five.

Speaker 4 (41:52):
We lost the most recruits to P four.

Speaker 12 (41:55):
We lost two to Michigan, that happened before, two to Michigan,
State one, Northwest sertn In one to West Virginia. Now
we lost six or seven players to P four's and
we still ended up middle of the MAC. But you
lost we lost seven players recruiting wise, But it's a tribute.
Like I told our GM Cody Keller, I said, man,
that's it shows you the type of kids were recruiting.

(42:15):
And we still had a really good class that we
signed this week. We had eighteen that we brought on
lots of great players. So that that's the recruiting side.
So we're still working through that. And then you know
we've we've I think we learned a lot last year.
It's not gonna we're gonna be perfect with preventing guys
from getting into portal, but I can tell you the
resources we have, Yeah, we're going to be able to

(42:35):
really be competitive and to retain players, but we're also
going to be able if we need to attract players.
Where we're headed towards our goal is you know, we
said this last year at this time and we made
a lot of progress. Is to be in the college
football Playoff is our end end all, be all goal
one year is to get there, and we know that
is going to take resources and il other aspects, and

(42:56):
so we feel like we're going to be able to
really attract us players in the portal if we need it,
continue to recruit well at high school, and we're really
excited about the future of the program. But like to
your standpoint, come Monday, you know it's it's gonna be.

Speaker 4 (43:11):
It's gonna right week yep.

Speaker 12 (43:13):
Uh, So we're we're uh, but I know our our
recruiting team, we've tripled it. They've been you know, watching
you know, portal film, and it's it's never ending process.

Speaker 4 (43:21):
It's a wild world.

Speaker 3 (43:22):
Man.

Speaker 12 (43:22):
Yes, this is a different and it's as advertised. I
know Cincinnati's going through it right now. Obviously we'll be
going through it next week.

Speaker 2 (43:29):
So uh, you guys have have obviously done a great
job with with Red Brick Legacy. I know we talked
at the Startuptown light ways that you can support in
that area. I know there's opportunities for one time donations,
recurring donations, people can become sponsors. What is the easiest
way where you are just kind of driving the narrative
to people that either want to learn more or want

(43:50):
to be a part. Because I don't I don't know
people realize like it's it's important because it never stops.
Like you, you you want to be competitive. If if
a guy on the team come Monday is getting off
to go elsewhere, you want the opportunity to say, okay,
we we understand that, but here's what we can offer
in return. If if if folks out there are listening
and they want to be a part of that, or
they want to to help in any way that they can,

(44:11):
how do you how do you usually guide them.

Speaker 4 (44:12):
To do so?

Speaker 12 (44:13):
Yeah, No, it's great Red Brick Legacy dot Com.

Speaker 4 (44:17):
You know they can figure find me on on Twitter.

Speaker 12 (44:19):
Feel free to shoot what We'll sure let people know
if you know, if you want to go find you.

Speaker 2 (44:23):
Throw your email and cell phone out there too.

Speaker 12 (44:26):
We already got that. Uh, you don't need that circulating,
it's already out there. I guess some people found it
for that hatred, but the RedBrick Legacy dot Com into
Tony's standpoint. You know, I think it's really really important
that if you want to get involved. We want you involved.
There's not enough right now, especially at at Miami University.
You know, we we aren't a power for we are

(44:46):
getting a lot of support from our administration. Moving forward,
I think twenty twenty six, I'm gonna throw this out
there should be the best year. You know, always say
best is ahead, twenty twenty six for Miami athletics. Between
what we're doing in hoops, football, even baseball, when's basketball
just eat Cincinnati, yea, what we're doing in all of
our athletics is really progressing, and I think it's going

(45:07):
to be the best year in in in our whole
history of our athletics program in twenty six. That's a
bold statement, but I do think that the way we're progressing,
the way the administration, the way our alumni, there's a
lot of big things that are in the work. So
I'm really excited. Sure, we've got to follow through with that,
but where we've come from, you know, we first started talking,
I mean we were we had pennies infancy station.

Speaker 4 (45:29):
Now we're not where we need to be, but we're
making progress.

Speaker 12 (45:32):
So once again walking, if you were walking the walk,
we get to the running phase.

Speaker 4 (45:36):
We're hopefully going to be sprinting.

Speaker 12 (45:38):
But yeah, if you want to help out, you know,
please reach out to our website, reach out to me individually.

Speaker 2 (45:43):
And find Kyle on social media and just yeah, you know, yeah,
if you want to write a million dollar checks, what's bad? Mad,
angry happy? He takes all tweets.

Speaker 4 (45:51):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (45:52):
We appreciate. Just down by Austin. Let's just go ahead
and schedule for next year. The day before the MAC
Championship game will be pre you in Miami versus somebody else.
Let's just get that in the planner already. We appreciate you.
Stopped by as always man RedBrick Legacy dot com. That's
Kyle Decker. This is the Friday Football Frenzy. Charlie Goldsmith
kicks off our number two next on ESPN fifteen thirty

(46:13):
Cincinnati Sports Station u s.

Speaker 13 (46:15):
Kise Cincinnati, make us the number one preset on your
car radio and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio
ad Free never sounded so good.

Speaker 3 (46:23):
ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 1 (46:28):
This is Tony Pike's Friday Football Frenzy Show, brought to
you in part five. Hello, Windows and Door Making Life
Writer pell and now Hey later Skyline Shilly stealing good.
It's Skyline time OnCore Technologies. Visit OnCore dot Tech. I'm
Sonoil Healing champions on and off the field. Game Day,

(46:50):
Men's health, Start your best life today. And by that
Creation Museum, it's more than a museum. Visit Creation Museum
dot org today on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official hold
of US Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (47:09):
All right, let's get it started, hour two of the
Friday Football Frenzy. Also thanks to our friends at Cincy
Shartz and thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station. Let's get right to at hour two.
We got a lot to get to Bengals, Bills and
so much more with our guy who joins us each
and every Friday, Charlie Goldsmith standing by. What's up, Chuck?

Speaker 11 (47:31):
How are you doing, Tony?

Speaker 2 (47:32):
Charlie? I am fantastic. How are you?

Speaker 11 (47:35):
I'm doing great?

Speaker 2 (47:36):
It's shootout day, Charlie. Does the Bearcats win the shootout tonight?

Speaker 11 (47:40):
It is such a mismatch advantage in U See's favor.
They've just been so inconsistent, especially at the four and
the five where they would have that advantage that I
don't know how you can feel great, but a great
game for Miller and Seam makes this a pretty nice
U see advantage.

Speaker 2 (47:56):
Okay, that's all I needed to hear. Now I can
be I can rest easy. Let me get to this
as well before we get into the Bengals. There just
seems to be Charlie around the Reds a little bit
more smoke when it comes to interest in Kyle Schwarber.
Does there feel like some legitimacy here? As this continues on.

Speaker 11 (48:15):
The threads of a chance and it's a story I'm
very actively working on and monitoring and reporting and pursuing
when it's at the top of the notebook entering the
Winter meeting, entering the Winter Meeting next week. Now will
the Reds end up with kylics Warber? There are questions
that will never have the answer to, like how much
is it worth to kyliceh Warber to be a Red?

(48:35):
How does the market This is an answer I'll work
on next week. How does the market around the league
with teams like the Phillies, Mets Redstocks impact where the
Reds would stand in that conversation? But on the whole,
they can offer them a pretty exciting opportunity and you know,
maybe spend a bit above their means.

Speaker 2 (48:55):
Also with the Reds they bring back Amelio Pagan. Your
thoughts on making sure to ending up the closer for
next year.

Speaker 11 (49:03):
Yeah, a nice solid single up the middle. What I
was expecting, kind of what I was reporting at the
start of the off season from a bullpen perspective, was
that the Reds would have a very similar approach to
what they did last year when like they got Stop
Barlow even after spring training started. But a better comparison
might have been often Haese. But this is or a lever.
But with Hayes last year, the markets settled, they got

(49:26):
a value, they bought low, and they found something within
their budget. I think Pegan got to that point just
in early December, in the first week in December, they
got that value contract without having to wait for it.
And really that was just a reflection of how much
Pegan wanted to be a Red This guy was very,

(49:46):
very solid last season. A lot of people are on
Baseball thought he should have been an All Star, people
not around the Reds. To get him back on that
contract is a nice, solid move for a guy who
put real value in being Cincinnati.

Speaker 8 (49:58):
To go back to the Shorter Thing wrote this week
about a potential path for the Reds to maybe get him,
and you mentioned deferred money from what you've you know,
been been gathering. Does that feel like a real possibility.
I know, it's been a while since they've done it.

Speaker 11 (50:15):
King Griffey Junior, or Aldis Chapman, Brunson Arroyo and actually
Ryan Ludwick the examples of, you know, kind of a
sneaky one, the examples of deferred money with this team
at the place, it's a place they probably have to go.
It's very very much something on my radar of what
they would have to do for the path to Shore
burw in terms of what that would be. Deferred money

(50:38):
is to me, a real part of that conversation.

Speaker 2 (50:41):
Gotcha, let's switch gears to the Bengals and the Bills.
It just feels, Charlie like there is just now this
this momentum building nationally around the Cincinnati Bengals that obviously
starts and stops. I think a lot with number nine,
and we'll get to Joe Burrow in just a moment.
But talk to me a little bit about the defense

(51:01):
their play, I think, especially over the last three games, specifically,
what have you noticed on that side of the ball
that perhaps has led to more consistent play for Al
Golden's side.

Speaker 11 (51:13):
The old line is action speak louder than words. So
I look at how Golden's actions with their third down package.
They literally now are putting Demetrius Knight on the field
on third downs. That's a sign of confidence in the
rookie linebackers. They have a new package they've been using way, way,
way more recently on third downs and passing situations where

(51:33):
it's two linebackers, three defensive linemen and then the rest
is their defensive backs. Well, when you have that instead
of four defensive linemen, it's easier to have an extra
guy drop or an extra guy blitz with more versatility
to drop and playing coverage behind that. You've seen Al
have enough confidence in the IQ, the understanding, the sophistication

(51:56):
of the scheme to start to dial up two and
three hundred level plays with this defense. Now, they're not
at the five hundred level that the twenty twenty two
Bengals defense was, but the play called themselves are screaming
Al Golden saying, I have more confidence in these guys
to execute the vision of my defense and It was

(52:17):
literally those plays that resulted in you know, a pick
in the stripstack fumble in most of the key moments
for the defense in that win in Baltimore.

Speaker 2 (52:28):
I look at the play of Miles Murphy and Joseph
Osai and we've talked about it this week, but is
there a correlation in your opinion, to Shamar Stewart and
Trey Hendrickson not playing the last couple of weeks where
those two in Osai and Murphy have found more confidence,
They've gotten more practice reps and in turn shown more
production on the field.

Speaker 11 (52:47):
Absolutely, one thousand percent. And I don't have the specific
specific numbers in front of me, but basically, between twenty
twenty two and twenty twenty five, Joseph said had like
ten total non garbage time third down pass rush situation
reps where he rushed against the left tackle, So one
more time on money downs when you need to rush

(53:10):
the quarterback. In four years, Osi got to do it
like ten times, if you you know, seven more in
the game that Henderson missed in twenty twenty two against
the Buccaneers. Osai never got to do it. That's what
he's best at. And I talked to him yesterday about this.
Osai has dealt with the impact of a risk injury
that he suffered in twenty twenty one. For his entire career.

(53:33):
Osai rushes better from that side. From the defense facing
right side against the left tackle. He says, I can't
tell you how many more pass rush moves I have
rushing from that side. It's just he never got to
do it because trailer was there. So train up being there,
let's oside do it. He's most comfortable with, most confident in,
and I believe it's sixteen out of his last nineteen

(53:54):
pressures are against the left tackle. He wouldn't be get
to do it. He wouldn't be getting to do that
if Hendrickson.

Speaker 2 (54:00):
Available offensively talk about the offensive line growth a little bit,
Charlie forty six pass attempts for Joe Burrow sack just
once run game past game. You want to play December
and January and February football. You got to play in
cold you got to play in weather elements. What have

(54:20):
you seen with the growth of this offensive line that
has impressed you the most recently?

Speaker 11 (54:26):
I think you have Amarus Mims playing like a rising
number one. It's funny like I look at the offensive
line now like a starting rotation, like you got your
number one, you're number two, you're number three, and it
kind of doesn't matter who's playing. Were as much with
the versatility of defensive lines, I see Mims as a
rising number one. Dalton Riser has been a really important

(54:47):
kind of innings eater for this team. You're seeing very
few just bad losses. You're seeing really no just busted
you know, blitz pickups to just mistakes where they look
at it, it's a unit that's looking well coached. Orlando
Brown has had trouble with some specific matchups, but outside
of that, his consistency is something you can bank on

(55:07):
well enough to you know, he's more than a good
enough left tackle for a winning team. And then you
know Ted Carriss has had, with better structure around him,
a nice strong year. Dylan fair Child, his tools are
translating into real production. There were a lot. The underrated
thing is too is there were have been a lot

(55:29):
of moving pieces at guard over the course of the year.
You know turned out with Patrick, you had a Roisner
coming in, you had fair Child get hurt, you had
Rivers in, you had Reisner come back, and even through
that rotation, You've had a good enough baseline level of play.

Speaker 2 (55:44):
The clearance of T Higgins, with what Jamar Chase is,
with Joe Burrow finding nine different receivers last week, with
how Chase Brown has played, what are you expecting to
see from this offense now getting T Higgins back in
the fold as well.

Speaker 11 (56:00):
The one thing the offense struggled with last week we
all know was thread zone. I think there you really
felt Higgins's absence. There was kind of a fifty to
fifty ball opportunity to get SICKI were just the time
and the rhythm wasn't on the same page or I
believe two to Tindley that Tinderley couldn't quite convert. I
think there was a fourth down where they like ran

(56:20):
a play for Gsiki, which is nice, but you'd rather
be running that play for Tea. There's a whole world
of possibilities that open up with Tea in the red zone,
and we of course know what he can do all
over the field. But I feel unbelievable about this passing
game right now. And we haven't even seen this passing
game with Higgins and Chase in what like three weeks,

(56:42):
and of course, we haven't seen it with Higgins, Chase
and Burrow since Week two, so I'm excited to just
take out the popcorn in Buffalo and see what they
got cooked.

Speaker 8 (56:49):
When it comes to Buffalo, it is a bit of
a unique matchup, and I think two teams that are
kind of in the same spot with the way that
their season has gone up and down at times. What
do you feel like is is the best path to
the Bengals pulling off the upset on Sunday.

Speaker 11 (57:06):
Well, my microscope is going to continue to be on
the rookie linebackers because while I mentioned some real positive
you saw put from them on passing downs, there were
still moments where against the run from a tackling perspectives,
they're still growing. Start at all the way there yet
they haven't arrived. And then when you combine that with
Buffalo's ability to just challenge you and really find a

(57:27):
dynamic ear on outside runs in space that challenge the linebackers.
And then I'll throw in the passing game too, because
they're a team that's really well suited to execute the
game plan that has been giving the defense. The Bengals
defense the most trouble in the passing game, that's throwing
the ball out of two tight ends sets. That's making
you get big and then challenging your linebackers and coverage

(57:49):
down the field. So the Bills can do that, the
Bengals have to be better against that. And that's where
that Chets match comes down to. To me that if
the Bengals defense can make enough plays and turnovers and
sacks like they did last week, that's their opportunity that.

Speaker 4 (58:01):
I was gonna say.

Speaker 8 (58:02):
I mean, we've seen, you know, obviously, Jalen Davis to
the active roster, We've seen dj Ivy at times being
the guy lined up on the tight ends. Do you
think you know we'll see anything out of the ordinary
from al Golden when it comes to specifically trying to
defend those tight ends.

Speaker 11 (58:17):
That's interesting. So I haven't done this study. I could
look it up real quick, but I can't right now.
I would bet that the majority of tight end In fact,
I can guarantee that the majority of tight end production
has come on early downs. And I can guarantee that
because one of my favorite stats that like dj Ivy
has only allowed one like negative play in an entire

(58:38):
NFL career. He's quietly like awesome in his role, and
so he's guarding and taking away opportunities to the top
tight end that the Bengals are prioritizing stopping on third downs,
and I'm not expecting them to go dime on first
or second down to take a tight end away. So
you know, maybe it's more pressure that helps them speed

(58:58):
up the opponent on first and second down and take
away chances to tight end. But I don't see a
whole lot there outside of the guy just need to
play better.

Speaker 8 (59:05):
How much do you think the weather will impact the
game plan at all? And obviously Buffalo has struggled a
little bit against the run. How much do you think
Chase Brown plays a role in this game?

Speaker 11 (59:17):
Chase Brown's is really good. Chase Brown would play a
role if they were playing at you know, Miami in
ninety degree heat. Case Brown would play a role if
they're playing at the Steelers on February first. Chase Brown
would play a role in any game the Bengals play
with Tea without Tea, with Jamar without Jamar. He's earned
that they're gonna call this game as weather independent as

(59:41):
they could be. I don't even know what it's gonna
be but they've shown that they're gonna put the ball
in Burrows hands, They're gonna have balance. If there's a
window and opportunity they see for Chase Brown, they're just
gonna call the game, and unless it's some parential downpour,
they're just gonna run their offense and try to exploit
the weaknesses they think they see.

Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
I wonder, as Austin just mentioned the weather, are there
limitations or are there any concerns do we know from
Joe Burrow yet? With the injury and the technology they
got inside the shoe, is there anything that the weather
could present and an issue for Joe Burrow?

Speaker 11 (01:00:16):
I have no idea. I don't think Burrow could know
for sure either. Maybe it was something he was able
to feel out and test during some very cold days
in practice this week, including I believe one day where
they were outside. He moved around better than I thought
he would. In Baltimore. They also called a lot of
plays early that got him on the move and controlled
environments to that showed that they were willing to kind

(01:00:38):
of do some without pushing too hard down that model.
But it'll be one of the storylines of the game
for sure.

Speaker 4 (01:00:45):
We see that it is as it relates to Burrow.

Speaker 2 (01:00:49):
You know, I think everyone was just so in all
of him coming back in forty six pass attempts and
no interceptions and the throws he was able to make
from just his perspective, Like, as you watch Joe Burrow,
what do you think he wants or needs to improve
on now? From his first start back to now this
game in Buffalo.

Speaker 3 (01:01:07):
He's good.

Speaker 11 (01:01:08):
There were some like two plays in the red zone
early on where he probably kind of got out of
the play or abandoned the play or got rid of
the ball too soon. Ideally you start to see maybe
like a key start down scramble or two that really
shows the defenses. Yes, I can run, assuming that's something
he can do with full confidence right now, which you know,

(01:01:30):
let's see how he gets really downhill. That sprint speed
is something I haven't seen yet and would need to see.
But Burrow was great, especially in the second half. He
had two elite, elite throws on those touchdowns. You know,
I'm worried about the defense. Burrow to me is pretty
close to classic December Joe Burrow.

Speaker 8 (01:01:48):
Of all the stuff with Burrow over the last you know,
a couple of weeks and what has surprised you the most.

Speaker 11 (01:01:56):
I'm going to take this as an opportunity to talk
about one of my favorite moments of Burrow's career, which
was the touchdown to Andrea Yosivas Yosi vash late in
the third quarter on Thursday night last week. Like that
is some of the most high level instant processing and
diagnosing and then firing his fastball with anticipation against the

(01:02:18):
blitz that he had prepared like you wouldn't believe for,
but a blitz that he said, is the most challenging
look that Baltimore can throw at him. And then oh,
by the way, they put a coverage behind it that
Burrough hadn't seen what that blitz looked before. So like
then to throw that ball in that moment in his
first game back, the surprising thing you're talking about, Like
I was expecting a bit more of Week one Burrow,

(01:02:41):
who wasn't diagnosing at that level. Burrow was diagnosing like
he had been playing all along for the majority of
the game, and then in that moment that was and
talking to people around the building, one of the more
impressive diagnoses that he has ever come up with.

Speaker 8 (01:02:57):
This is a completely random and off the wall question,
and you may not have the answer to it, but
do you think at any point that Al Golden's name
came up for the Penn State job considering his history there?

Speaker 11 (01:03:11):
You know, they're at that page of the lift like
they're going like I'm a magazine in one of these
Christmas movies where they've got like Stanton's List, and that's
the Penn State posting thirt right now, and someone goes,
what about Al Golden? That's what they're at.

Speaker 2 (01:03:26):
Man, Charlie, you're the absolute best man. You're the best
way for folks to follow along everything, as you mentioned,
not only with the Bengals, but some stuff heating up
for the Reds as well.

Speaker 11 (01:03:37):
Ye's Charlie's shockboard on Substack on Fox nineteen. We're we're
going up to Buffalo this weekend and then the one
o'clock start will allow me to get on a an
eight o'clock flight to Orlando to make it for the
Winter meetings next week.

Speaker 2 (01:03:50):
You are going to Buffalo? Are you leaving tonight or
are you going to the shootout tonight? I'm going Oh no,
You're the best, Charlie.

Speaker 8 (01:03:58):
Do you think this is another sorry I'm I'm going
to add one more. Do you think the I don't know.
Do you think the Swarber thing will get wrapped up
by the end of those meetings.

Speaker 11 (01:04:07):
That's a hard thing. That's not necessarily what I'm most
tapped into in terms of how the Swarber free agency
impacts the Tucker free agency impacts the Bellinger free agency.
That's not necessarily where where my strength and ability to
report is in terms of the timing and the market
as a whole, because I just look at it more

(01:04:27):
from a red perspective.

Speaker 2 (01:04:28):
So I guess we'll see so much to get to
for now, enjoy the shootout tonight they travel. We appreciate
your time.

Speaker 11 (01:04:36):
See you guys.

Speaker 2 (01:04:37):
Charlie Goldsmith awesome. As always, your talkbacks on the Friday
Football Frenzy are next. ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station.

Speaker 3 (01:04:46):
This week time for talkbacks.

Speaker 9 (01:04:49):
Press the microphone and record your message or Austin in tone.

Speaker 2 (01:04:54):
Please keep it clean and don't be mean.

Speaker 11 (01:04:58):
And sprinkle sprinkled drip.

Speaker 3 (01:05:01):
It's that time.

Speaker 2 (01:05:01):
But took backs.

Speaker 9 (01:05:03):
It's our favorite tarter scene see three sixty. So Austin
buddy played those backs on your screen.

Speaker 4 (01:05:15):
Tony D.

Speaker 8 (01:05:15):
You won an update from Canton. Sure the Division four
state championship with seven thirty one to go the Ville
Glenville thirty eight, Shelby seven.

Speaker 4 (01:05:28):
Yikes.

Speaker 8 (01:05:29):
Shelby, of course, the team that rolled over Indian Hill
at Sydney Memorial Stadium.

Speaker 4 (01:05:35):
They did. They run not long ago.

Speaker 2 (01:05:37):
Shelby's fourteen to no season will come crashing to a
halt the state finals.

Speaker 8 (01:05:42):
They're still alive. They're running trick plays. That's over and
they get sacked on a trick play.

Speaker 14 (01:05:46):
So I wonder if Danny Doyle's gonna write a story
how Wes Miller found his boil when he finally beat
X on their soil. Gonna need a little swing oil
for the toil.

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
But I'm just warming cools.

Speaker 3 (01:06:01):
All right.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
That's the best I got as a white boy.

Speaker 15 (01:06:03):
But you get the idea.

Speaker 16 (01:06:04):
Let's walk into it like we own that place tonight.

Speaker 17 (01:06:07):
Let's go.

Speaker 2 (01:06:08):
You see I was clean right there, now, I was clean, Okay.

Speaker 8 (01:06:12):
Speaking of Cole white boys. You see Austin Reeves last night.

Speaker 2 (01:06:15):
Yeah, I'll tell you what. Well, mister Doyle's got a
lot of burn the last twenty four hours here.

Speaker 18 (01:06:20):
Yeah, Tony, it's greg. I will be at Sintas tonight.
Reading my ass off for our Bearcats. All right, Greg,
I'm thinking Cats seventy five, Muskies seventy two.

Speaker 3 (01:06:33):
Hey, have a good day.

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
A little too close for my liking.

Speaker 19 (01:06:37):
All right, Hey, guys, I wanted to get my call
back in early.

Speaker 3 (01:06:40):
This is Tony from Loveland.

Speaker 4 (01:06:41):
I was would like to wish.

Speaker 19 (01:06:44):
Tony Pike or Bearcat Hall of Famer happy Tony Pike
to Bin's birthday. Tony, I wanted to say that was
probably one of the best college football games I witnessed
in person.

Speaker 3 (01:06:58):
I was ready to leave at halftime time.

Speaker 4 (01:07:00):
But so it was.

Speaker 3 (01:07:01):
Tony proved wrong.

Speaker 19 (01:07:03):
Anyway, have a great weekend, great holiday, Gobert casts.

Speaker 8 (01:07:06):
Can you share with us once again what Brian Kelly
said to you as you were walking into the locker room.

Speaker 2 (01:07:11):
And you are going to apologize to every member of
this team after the game for ruining their perfect season.
Hey in THEBA boss anyway.

Speaker 20 (01:07:22):
Biggest story in college football Marion University, NAIA powerhouse pulled
from the playoffs in the semi finals for illegal.

Speaker 4 (01:07:37):
I'm not going to get on the end of that.

Speaker 21 (01:07:39):
Uh oh, it's the Friday Talkback Nation. Bengals thirty one
Bill's twenty four.

Speaker 4 (01:07:49):
I love it right to the point, Lord Lord, thanks
right to the point.

Speaker 22 (01:07:52):
Hey Austin, Hey Tony, Paul from Cleaves here, just wanted
to wish you guys a happy Pike to Bensday and
I get to I actually get to celebrate this day
also with my daughter Olivia, who turns eleven today. Wow,
my mother who turns eighty two today. Both of them
share this day with you, Tony, and it just reminds

(01:08:14):
me of how great things happen on in threes on
the same day.

Speaker 4 (01:08:18):
Right awesome. Thanks at Birthdays out to you as well.

Speaker 22 (01:08:25):
Hey Tony, Austin, this is Paul from Cleves double Dipping.
I think we need to come up with an Austin
Elmore Day. Austin, You've you've helped me tremendously with the
Bengals situation, the Red situation. You walked me off the
ledge and back into the same ground when I felt
like everything was lost. Your commentary spot on. I appreciate

(01:08:50):
what you guys do, and let's figure out a date.

Speaker 4 (01:08:53):
For you, Austin. I'm in well, thank you, Paul.

Speaker 8 (01:08:55):
I've had plenty of dates for myself at the at
the Old Boat ibar up there for my birthday, so
I don't need any any special.

Speaker 4 (01:09:03):
What about maybe the National Championship?

Speaker 8 (01:09:04):
I remember the last time you want to take that
day that we were supposed to be the final birthday bash,
Tony Pike didn't show up, didn't.

Speaker 20 (01:09:13):
Show I'm not a big analytics guy per se, but
I'm not a hater.

Speaker 16 (01:09:19):
But what are we doing on this Amazon broadcast?

Speaker 3 (01:09:21):
We're talking about AI models. We're talking about the recommendation
on fourth Town.

Speaker 11 (01:09:24):
When Dallas is down thirteen on the goal line, it's
a toss up between.

Speaker 3 (01:09:28):
Go forward and kick it.

Speaker 23 (01:09:29):
Why do we need an AI model to tell us
it's a toss up?

Speaker 15 (01:09:32):
I don't really understand.

Speaker 1 (01:09:33):
Football is a human game.

Speaker 3 (01:09:34):
Let's play the dang game.

Speaker 16 (01:09:35):
And I want to mention that Austin and Rick are
my top two Cincinnati sports media guys that are bald
one b.

Speaker 8 (01:09:44):
Wow, thank you Mo not in the top two. Yeah,
that's a tough one. Well, it's a tough one, you know.
I saw a thing today that said some people God
made their head absolutely perfect and that's why the others
he put hair on it.

Speaker 17 (01:10:01):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (01:10:02):
I thought that was losing their last four games of
the season, Scott Saderfield's Bearcats top three bowl games that
they deserve.

Speaker 3 (01:10:12):
The Dutch Masters close, but no Cigar Bowl.

Speaker 4 (01:10:15):
Ooh, I like that one? Where's that at.

Speaker 3 (01:10:17):
The cal Nottin Laughing clown Malt Liquor Bowl?

Speaker 19 (01:10:23):
And the Britney Spears oopside did it again and again
and again and again.

Speaker 2 (01:10:30):
Ball. When's the last time you listened to a Britney
Spears song? Couldn't tell you, honestly, could not tell you.

Speaker 4 (01:10:36):
Mine was about five hours ago.

Speaker 15 (01:10:38):
Wow, eight thousand, seven hundred and forty eight days looking
forward to having another three sixty five tacked on tonight?

Speaker 4 (01:10:50):
Goo Muskies.

Speaker 2 (01:10:52):
Now that's not the number that I saw. No, Now,
I think that's false. And if you come with a
false number, bad on you. Did I see nine thousand
and one and twenty two? I thought it was well
over nine thousand. Yeah, So where do you go since
Cincinnati one? At the Centasin? Trying to make a point,
you do the wrong, Naty Austin.

Speaker 24 (01:11:09):
I was wondering what your mount Rushmore of best looking
NFL guys ever is. Oh boy, it could be a
player or a coach. Okay, I'll show you my mount
Rushmore if you show me yours. I initially had Jimmy Garoppolo,
but I crossed him off and I put.

Speaker 4 (01:11:25):
In Marco Battaglia. He went to Rusgers. Number two, I
have Tiki or Rondez Barber either one.

Speaker 3 (01:11:32):
Uh.

Speaker 24 (01:11:33):
Those Barber brothers could give me a haircut any time.

Speaker 3 (01:11:36):
Number three Sam Hubbard with Cincinnati Kid.

Speaker 4 (01:11:39):
That's funny.

Speaker 8 (01:11:40):
It's so funny you bring up Marco Battaglia, former Bengal Uh.
He was in town for the Ring of Honor game.
And my buddy is from New York and Marco Battaglia
is from New York. I guess they went to the
same high school or something. Wow, and they run into
each other. It's like the Spider Man me and my

(01:12:00):
buddy sends me a picture. He's like, I'm with Marco Battaglia.

Speaker 4 (01:12:04):
Wow. Congratulation.

Speaker 24 (01:12:07):
And my final selection for my Mount Rushmore of hottest
NFL guys ever is drum roll please Dave one stack. Okay,
so what is your Mount Rushmore.

Speaker 8 (01:12:23):
I'll probably go Andy Reid, Mike McCarthy, Brian Dave Paul
Actually for Brian Dables.

Speaker 9 (01:12:34):
Hello, this is former President Ronald Reagan, and well you'll
have beat Pike to Bins day Tony, Oh, and Audie,
thank you for representing the x here in Cincinnati. And
if you want an explanation as to why Xavier fans
put a Xavier jersey on the bag O statue, it's simple.
Xavier has won as many NCAA championships as Oscar.

Speaker 8 (01:12:55):
Oh wow, now that is a double edged sword. These
brilliant delivery.

Speaker 4 (01:13:05):
Hey boys, that's a Friday to you.

Speaker 2 (01:13:07):
I get it.

Speaker 25 (01:13:08):
I think in sixteen days, basically the Bengals are going
to be in charge of their own destiny.

Speaker 4 (01:13:15):
In other words, they'll be seven and eight. They will have.

Speaker 25 (01:13:19):
Beat Baltimore, and Baltimore will have lost to the Patriots.
The Steelers will have lost to Baltimore and lost to
the Lions, and they'll be a three way tie at
seven and eight, and we'll have all the tiebreakers.

Speaker 4 (01:13:32):
Let's go speaking into existence, brother, control that.

Speaker 6 (01:13:36):
Tommy, and also makes you better some Anne in my
other truck out here on the interstate. And I believe
that I Bengal Tigers are going to be victorious and
Moe's gonna light up his victress to go to be
a victorm Monday.

Speaker 2 (01:13:51):
How about that?

Speaker 4 (01:13:52):
Come on, I believe it.

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
I might be crazy.

Speaker 6 (01:13:55):
Maybe I took a hit off the hope him Hookah.

Speaker 26 (01:13:58):
I don't know.

Speaker 6 (01:14:00):
Would I see on that road Jack seventy third love
each other.

Speaker 2 (01:14:04):
I'll tell you what everyone needs. Some head off the.

Speaker 23 (01:14:09):
Happy Friday DJ from Wood Come on DJ. Sixteen years ago,
I was nineteen years old and me and my cousin
decided we were going to go to the game. At
about two thirty a in the ninety four. We took
his girlfriend's car. He told her the game was a
dayton drove the night following map quest of Pittsburgh.

Speaker 3 (01:14:26):
It's all one of the greatest games ever.

Speaker 23 (01:14:28):
Wow memories ever. And uh they're still together, so it
all worked out. Wow, go you see tonight and uh
that savior have a good one.

Speaker 1 (01:14:36):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (01:14:37):
All right, DJ, some uh energy from DJ.

Speaker 17 (01:14:42):
Are you looking forward to every single talkback when Chris
Henry Junior is available for the NFL Draft being about
how the Bengals should draft him they should and then
when they don't complaining about it for months and months
and months.

Speaker 4 (01:14:56):
Sounds good to be great, sounds good to me. It
would be.

Speaker 8 (01:15:01):
It would be very Bengals to do something like that.
But hopefully he, you know, is just Jeremiah Smith two
point zero first double dip.

Speaker 17 (01:15:09):
Ever, Also, I don't know if you saw the video
of the BUYU coach just you guys were talking about
him and he had the video when he was trying
skyline and this serial killer was dipping his cheese conies
in ketchup.

Speaker 27 (01:15:22):
I got to bring that up because I want to vomit.
There are three day guys. There are things in life, man,
that that I can't explain. That is one of them.
I have seen people do that before.

Speaker 28 (01:15:34):
My gosh, every time I hear that call played back
from Dan Horby, you have a twenty three year old
Tony Fike, I think is they're an old twenty three
year old out there somewhere.

Speaker 4 (01:15:44):
Tell you what twenty three is young?

Speaker 28 (01:15:46):
I mean, especially today you got guys playing quarterback and
graduating from college at.

Speaker 4 (01:15:50):
Twenty five, twenty six years old.

Speaker 28 (01:15:52):
I mean, man, Tony, imagine if you could have played
college ball for that.

Speaker 1 (01:15:55):
Long and Bengals versus Bills on Sunday, if you want
to go.

Speaker 28 (01:15:59):
Into the division, you gotta win them all and it
starts in Buffalo.

Speaker 2 (01:16:02):
Who I'll tell you this, twenty three would have been
a baby back then, or in today's football.

Speaker 3 (01:16:09):
The Bengals.

Speaker 29 (01:16:10):
Let's go up to Buffalo and get a victory. Let's
get a victory for all these for me and the
blue collar Bengal fans.

Speaker 4 (01:16:18):
You're done right.

Speaker 29 (01:16:20):
You put us still a lot a victory Sunday would
heal a lot of wins. Give the ball to Jase Brown,
Stop James Cook. I hope Miami and Ohio wins.

Speaker 2 (01:16:36):
I'll tell you what that's so if that ain't to
win one for the Gipper moment rights.

Speaker 26 (01:16:40):
Apperiods the final fours, I mean a couple of sweet
sixteen Elite eight. But yeah, rep in the city out
here in sunny Man, you see winning about ten and
were about to win back to back. We're taking them boys.
We run the city.

Speaker 2 (01:16:56):
I don't know if you're talking about X.

Speaker 26 (01:16:58):
It's going down. My picks for the weekend, Ohio State
forty to twenty. It's gonna be no competition. Oh garbage
town points for Indiana Cleveland by three and the rap
Birds by four.

Speaker 8 (01:17:09):
Okay, I respect Indiana. I just want that to be known.

Speaker 2 (01:17:12):
Okay.

Speaker 30 (01:17:14):
At be Friday GP fifty.

Speaker 11 (01:17:20):
Artie Appy Bike the Bend's day though, great play, great play,
Forever memory go back, guy.

Speaker 8 (01:17:30):
Okay, great Christmas Tree Tony in Austin.

Speaker 2 (01:17:35):
Tonight's the cross Town Shootout.

Speaker 11 (01:17:38):
And I got to wonder, is that you're gonna unveil
the first full beller tonight.

Speaker 4 (01:17:45):
Have a good day, gentleman. Who's he's trying to be?
I don't know what that is? Where's George brother?

Speaker 3 (01:17:52):
And a game was football? One on one?

Speaker 2 (01:17:54):
Yep.

Speaker 28 (01:17:55):
Can't turn the ball over, be on the right side
of the turnovers, run the ball and stop the run yep.
And Anderson just didn't quite get it done last night.
Heck of a team, heck of a season they had.
And uh, you're gonna hear about these guys again.

Speaker 3 (01:18:10):
I think next year.

Speaker 2 (01:18:12):
Yes, have a good one. I'll tell you that.

Speaker 3 (01:18:14):
Whoy.

Speaker 4 (01:18:15):
They're good.

Speaker 2 (01:18:16):
They're good. They got another quarterbacks coming back next year too.

Speaker 8 (01:18:20):
They just showed Ted Ginn senior's record. Yeah, Glenville two
seventy seven or two seventy six and sixty nine.

Speaker 31 (01:18:30):
Hey, guys, it's Terry near Athens, Ohio?

Speaker 3 (01:18:32):
What up there, Ohio University?

Speaker 2 (01:18:34):
Bobcats?

Speaker 4 (01:18:35):
Back up Terry?

Speaker 31 (01:18:37):
Why is Miami going to the MAC Championship?

Speaker 22 (01:18:40):
Oh?

Speaker 16 (01:18:40):
You has the same record in conference, better overall record,
beat him head to head.

Speaker 3 (01:18:45):
Don't get it?

Speaker 11 (01:18:47):
Who day?

Speaker 16 (01:18:47):
And as we like to say over here in Athens,
f Miami.

Speaker 8 (01:18:50):
Wow, I don't know the logistics. I just know they're there.
Isn't it tie breakers or something? Gotta be something?

Speaker 2 (01:18:56):
Hey guys, Hey, you going the Brooklyn Bengalo fan here
looking to Sunday.

Speaker 8 (01:19:01):
I am drinking the Hopium.

Speaker 2 (01:19:04):
But I'm not calling about the Bengals. I'm a big
hockey guy and I just thought you guys would like
to know that the Utah Mammoth have a player on
their team named Daniel Butts.

Speaker 4 (01:19:17):
His nickname Cheeks. Who they baby? Let's go?

Speaker 2 (01:19:23):
Have you ever read that book Under the Bleachers?

Speaker 16 (01:19:26):
No?

Speaker 2 (01:19:26):
By Seymour Butts?

Speaker 16 (01:19:28):
No?

Speaker 31 (01:19:31):
Hey guys, Happy Friday. Looking forward to the u SE
game tonight, cross town shootout should be a good one.
Hopefully you see brings home a wan looking forward to
college football this weekend as well. But I did have
a quick question, I guess for SEC. I keep hearing
how good SEC is all the time, but every time
I see the championship game, it's always the same team

(01:19:53):
Georgia and Alabama in it. If they're so good the
other teams, why aren't they ever in.

Speaker 4 (01:19:57):
It great question.

Speaker 21 (01:20:01):
So I saw answer mccowister make the post comparing Adam
Donn and Kyle Schwarber's stats throughout their careers, and surprisingly
it was a pretty similar.

Speaker 4 (01:20:12):
Which which really begs the question for me.

Speaker 28 (01:20:16):
What do you call the McDonald's worker that has to
work two ships in a row?

Speaker 3 (01:20:21):
A mcdouble.

Speaker 4 (01:20:23):
Okay, I miss Donkey, I miss mcdoubles. Tough guys, Mick
Cahona and Kentucky.

Speaker 13 (01:20:30):
I really believe the Reds are gonna get this done
with Schwarbur Okay, the deferred come. Do you know if
that will affect the salary cap when that comes in?

Speaker 23 (01:20:39):
It?

Speaker 13 (01:20:39):
Right now, you can defer all you want, right, no
salary cap, but then will that will that take a
salary cap hit?

Speaker 2 (01:20:44):
I ain't mad at the deferred payment though.

Speaker 13 (01:20:46):
I'll tell you what, Tony, Your grandkids when they're going
to the park in about ten or fifteen years, they'll
be talking about that.

Speaker 3 (01:20:51):
Kyle Schwarber's highest paid man on the team.

Speaker 2 (01:20:53):
Yepin with me.

Speaker 8 (01:20:55):
You're gonna you have grandkids in ten to fifteen years.

Speaker 4 (01:21:01):
That would be an issue.

Speaker 32 (01:21:02):
That's hey, guys, Jeff and Indy, I mean, what a
weekend in Indianapolis. You got Indiana basketball in Louisville at two,
Indiana Ohio State at eight, and me talking to Kyle
Schwarbur because you know he's the IU alone.

Speaker 4 (01:21:14):
He's gonna be there.

Speaker 32 (01:21:16):
I'll talk him in this islum with the red little
deferred compensation. I'll get it done.

Speaker 2 (01:21:20):
Boys, don't worry about it.

Speaker 8 (01:21:21):
Won't you slip him a few of those Crisp Benjamin's
you got in your pocket there, Jeff, And see if
Kyle come on home.

Speaker 33 (01:21:28):
The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Xavier Musketeers only separated by
four miles, two national titles and six final fours, and
a Xavier sits here on day thirty one thousand, six
hundred and seventy four without a Final four appearance. It's
not all bad. I mean, like I said, you see,

(01:21:48):
it's only four miles away. You can go see what
the trophies look like. You can even see a football
Final four trophy. It's just that poverty program nor word
you will overcome.

Speaker 2 (01:21:57):
Wow.

Speaker 4 (01:21:58):
Wow, now that's some shootout?

Speaker 2 (01:22:00):
Is he coming in?

Speaker 29 (01:22:00):
Now?

Speaker 4 (01:22:00):
Do we like this is some shootout?

Speaker 3 (01:22:02):
He did?

Speaker 8 (01:22:03):
You get a trophy for appearing in the college football
playoff getting your doors blown off. No, okay, you got,
I mean you get like final.

Speaker 4 (01:22:12):
Four bat a ring.

Speaker 34 (01:22:14):
I think it's kind of ironic that last week was
the week of the game in which Ohio State fans
puts XES through everything that is m and then the
following week Addie chooses X in the other game.

Speaker 4 (01:22:31):
Kind of ironic.

Speaker 2 (01:22:33):
Okay, I want to know where George George is at
and where is George Man's health.

Speaker 4 (01:22:38):
Day in the house today, wife graduated from xavior. My
son's a sophomore. You see, hopefully it's a good game.
What about you?

Speaker 20 (01:22:47):
Oh, hi, energy, how we Hey, I'll tell you what.
We're not going to just squeak by the Muskies. We're
gonna blow them out of the centa center book It.

Speaker 2 (01:23:02):
Now that I don't think eyes have seen.

Speaker 27 (01:23:05):
The glory of the calming of the Lord Joe Burrow.

Speaker 11 (01:23:08):
He is trembling through buffalo ware.

Speaker 31 (01:23:11):
The chicken wings are stored.

Speaker 8 (01:23:13):
Wow, you will slice and die the d he with his.

Speaker 11 (01:23:17):
Terrible quick sword.

Speaker 28 (01:23:20):
The begles go marching on thirty four to thirty one.

Speaker 8 (01:23:26):
Final Wow, beautifully awesome, beautifully done.

Speaker 35 (01:23:30):
No, Adie, I didn't catch that one, but I have
read spots on the Wall by Who Flung Poo Tracks
in the Sand by One hung Low and ten Miles
to the Outhouse by Willie make It.

Speaker 8 (01:23:41):
Yeah, and you also got to read Golden Streams by
Ip Freely.

Speaker 4 (01:23:45):
He's a great one.

Speaker 3 (01:23:47):
Hey do you think training wheel?

Speaker 16 (01:23:49):
Zach sits there on the sidelines and types into chat
GPT what play to call next?

Speaker 2 (01:23:54):
Got Lee?

Speaker 4 (01:23:55):
Where did that come from?

Speaker 2 (01:23:56):
Man?

Speaker 8 (01:23:57):
Just a hater on a Friday boys, Zach, Listen, if
you've ever had an experience with chat GPT, Oh that thing,
it can barely spit out a basic answer.

Speaker 2 (01:24:08):
Yeah, it's a dangerous place. Yeah, all right, we're done.
All right, one segment coming back? Uh yeah, sure, a right,
we'll do what next? The Friday football friends have got
a football in the Natti coming out. We've got Rick
Broing standing by at two o'clock. I really like Rick Boring.
I'm a big fan of ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,

(01:24:31):
thanks to our friends at Cincy Shirts.

Speaker 30 (01:24:33):
Hey, it's Mowagger Monday afternoon. It's the Tony and moul
Football Show. Join us at Twin Peaks in Westchester as
we talk Bengals, Bills and so much more. Monday start
to get three zero five on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.

Speaker 10 (01:24:47):
Do You in the NATI Brought you in part by
Bud Light and by Oakley Greens On ESPN fifteen thirty,
the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:24:58):
All right, welcome back Friday Football Frenzy, ESPN fifteen to thirty,
Cincinnati Sports Station. Rick Broaring will join us in just
a few moments to kick off the third and final
shortened hour. The reverend of today's show. A couple things here, Austin.
I saw from Zach Taylor today. T Higgins is good

(01:25:19):
to go. And Zach Taylor today acknowledged that after the
twenty twenty year he tried to bring Ben Johnson under
the staff as a defensive.

Speaker 8 (01:25:26):
Coach after the twenty twenty season. Yep, Oh, that's interesting.

Speaker 2 (01:25:30):
Yep, he said that today when he spoke to the media.
That's cool, so pretty cool from Zach Taylor. I got
some other NFL news here. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray
will not return this season. Shocker, Jacoby Brissett, come on
down at your job the rest of the way. That's
significant as the Arizona Cardinals are on the Bengals schedule
down the stretch. If you missed it earlier, Chris Henry

(01:25:52):
Junior stays with Ohio State. Smart Man Jane Daniels is
going to return for the Washington Commanders against the Minnesota Vikings.
That's pretty cool, smart you think, Uh yeah? And another
loss last night for the Detroit Lions. They won the game,
but they lose another defender, Brian Branch toward his achilles

(01:26:14):
last night. Jeez, Nick, Detroit has just had a ton
of injuries on the defensive.

Speaker 4 (01:26:18):
Side of the ball. Terrible injury look terrible injury.

Speaker 2 (01:26:22):
Look not great on the on the shootout side of things, Austin,
I know we're gonna talk to Rick Buring about kind
of the Xavier side of things. We've went back and
forth and talked about it all week, and I wanted
to to drive it home again. I can't reiterate enough,
and I want to get Rick side on. You know,
Richard Patino, do you think Austin is as someone you

(01:26:46):
obviously follow, you see, but maybe not as invested as
a super fan would be. Is there any possibility that
you see loses this game and Wes Miller somehow still
survives the season. Barring like a March Madness run. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:27:01):
Probably, I don't know.

Speaker 8 (01:27:04):
I mean, I just don't know if you sees in
a spot financially to be able to do that.

Speaker 2 (01:27:10):
I mean, it's not a good spot to be in
when there is just constant conversation happening around coaches at
your university. You know, Scott Sadderfield, what's his future, Wes Miller,
what's his future? It's it's right now, just not an
enviable spot to be And again watching how crazy this

(01:27:31):
current college coaching carousel is, do you even want to
be doing that right now? If you're a university I
think is a more fair question. Speaking of the college
coaching charch, Matt Campbell is the guy now that is
reported to be zeroing in on by Penn State.

Speaker 8 (01:27:49):
Yeah, looks like he's going to be the guy, which
you know he's originally from. He's a massline guy Maslin,
Ohio legend up there and a former head coach at Toledo.
There was a time where he was one of the
hotter coaching names in the country. Ends up going to
Iowa State and it's kind of weird that nobody really
brought his name up until now, But he is more

(01:28:12):
than likely. By the end of the day, it looks
like gonna be the new head coach at Penn State.

Speaker 2 (01:28:16):
I have a question, and it's completely off the topic
of sports, sure, but there are oftentimes like do you
ever watch like the social media videos from teams like
NFL teams that they put out where as players are
coming off the field, they'll ask him a question or
things like that. I saw one from the New York
Giants today and it asked, if you're clean getting out

(01:28:38):
of the shower, how does your towel get dirty?

Speaker 4 (01:28:44):
It really made me think about that. How long do
you use a towel now?

Speaker 2 (01:28:47):
Jamis Winston said it was because of the oils, So
the oils cause problems. Others said, it's just you know,
a towel that gets damped that many times. You know,
it can be mildew or sure or maybe dirt particles.
And it had me wondering, you know, from a showering standpoint, like, man,
that's a good point. I would say that I go

(01:29:10):
probably four showers with the same towel.

Speaker 4 (01:29:14):
What about you, I would.

Speaker 8 (01:29:16):
Say a little bit longer than that, the main reason
being that I have to pay for laundry so I
try to make them last. So I usually change it
out every week, like every Sunday. Okay, but you know
that could be the top canty sometimes be ten to
fourteen showers over the course of a week, right, Okay,

(01:29:39):
So yeah, No, I don't know that they necessarily are dirty,
other than it's just like it's holding that moisture in
for a while. Is probably it can be a build
up of some sort of I don't know, bacterial issue.

Speaker 4 (01:29:57):
I love the Jamus thought of just oils on the box.
We had.

Speaker 8 (01:30:01):
We had a company that I think one of our
salespeople was trying to get them to advertise with us,
and they sent some samples. And they were a company
that made a spray for your your bath towel to
keep it fresh basically, And they sent a bunch of
these samples, and so I took one home with me

(01:30:23):
and I used it. You know, you finish up your shower,
you hang it back on the on things. You just
give it a couple of sprays and if every time
it seemed like it was fresh out of the laundry,
worked well, It worked great.

Speaker 2 (01:30:35):
Okay, but very nice. Other quick sports, but that's one
of those things it's like, do we really need it? Sure,
it's a good question, you know, it's a good question.
What's the difference between that and fabreeze? Mmm, you're the
questions I would ask sat Axe goes for a state
title against Olin, Tangi, Liberty, Ol and Tangy Orange. I'm sorry,

(01:30:59):
Lewis Center all in Tangy Orange. That game happens tonight. Also,
we've talked a lot about the shootout. Gonzaga Kentucky is
also tonight. I think Kentucky shorthanded again in this one.
Gonzaga going on the road to Kentucky is actually a
like four and a half point favorite, So that's something
to keep an eye on. And then we didn't mention
this on air. Austin, did you see the donation that

(01:31:21):
Michigan State received today?

Speaker 3 (01:31:23):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:31:23):
Was it four hundred and one million dollars and one
million dollars? Why the one that I don't know, why
the one four hundred and one million dollars from one
donor that correct, like not like multiple donors that got
together and so let's do this collectively. But just one

(01:31:45):
four hundred and one million dollar gift that's insane. Good
for that parton I remember.

Speaker 8 (01:31:54):
I remember Rocky Greg and Don Williams, not the Greg
Williams that had the team that tried to kill you.

Speaker 32 (01:32:01):
No.

Speaker 8 (01:32:01):
I remember Rocky Boyman telling him a story once about
how he was, you know, had a good NFL career,
but always one of those guys that was fighting, you know,
special teams player, that type of stuff. He'd play some defense,
but his you know, he'd have a teammate, you know,
Robert Mathis would sign a four year extension for seventy
two point eight million dollars, and Rocky's like, what do
you need to point eight for?

Speaker 3 (01:32:22):
Right?

Speaker 4 (01:32:23):
Give the point eight?

Speaker 8 (01:32:23):
The guys like me, Yeah, And that's what I was
thinking when I saw the four hundred and one million dollars.

Speaker 2 (01:32:29):
Probably makes the uh firing and buy out of Jonathan
Smith a little easier to stomach. Now for Michigan State
without a doubt, and the hiring of Pat Fitzgerald.

Speaker 8 (01:32:38):
Gives Pat Fitzgerald a big jump. And I think they're
also planning pretty big renovation to their football about this which,
by the way, that football seam is really cool.

Speaker 4 (01:32:47):
I went there last year.

Speaker 2 (01:32:47):
The Williams family also giving one hundred million dollars in
addition to the four h one to a nonprofit tax
Exemp Corporation set to raise funds for the athletic department.
Nice good, good for the Williams family around Austin and
I are also available for Christmas as well. If the
Williams family is listening, Yeah no kidding, Rick Brooring. Next

(01:33:11):
Friday Football Friends at ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 10 (01:33:15):
You've been listening to Football in the Natti on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 3 (01:33:26):
From the schmid Heating.

Speaker 1 (01:33:29):
This is Tony Pike's Friday Football Frenzy show, brought to
you in part five fellow Windows and door making life
writer pelenau Hey. Later Skyline Chilly Feeling Good. It's Skyline time.
Encore Technologies visit OnCore dot Tech, Hudson Oil Fielding Champions,
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(01:33:53):
your best life today, and by the Creation Museum. It's
more than a museum. Visit Creation News Org today on
ESPN fifteen to thirty, the official hold of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:34:10):
All right, we're at our number three, a shortened hour
Number three of the Friday Football Frenzy because of Kentucky
basketball that moves everything up in the schedule. So we're
done at two thirty. We know the shootout is tonight,
and we've talked on the UC side of things. We've
got to talk on the Xavier side of things as well.
Who better to do so than with our guy Rick Browing,
who is nice enough to join us on what I'm

(01:34:32):
sure is an extremely busy day for Rick. Rick, how
are you?

Speaker 16 (01:34:37):
I'm doing well though, I'm actually at Truest Arena here
on the campus of NKU interviewing the coaches before tomorrow
is perdue fort Wayne Tipaul.

Speaker 2 (01:34:44):
So good weekend, real quick, Rick, Austin Truest Arenas where
NKU plays their home games.

Speaker 4 (01:34:49):
Yeah, I'm aware.

Speaker 2 (01:34:51):
Rick Mo said on the show earlier this week that
he went to the NKU game this week and Darren
Horne approached him after the game a little bit disgruntled
and asked, Moe, did did he do something to offend
Austin Elmore, who at one point is a proud Norse
alum but has just not been back for basketball as
of late. Is there is there anything to that? Can

(01:35:12):
you sense at tension between Darren Horne? If if you've got
to come on this show.

Speaker 3 (01:35:17):
Do not do this to my guy, Tony.

Speaker 16 (01:35:19):
Okay, look, Austin has been carrying the flagship for Highland
Heights three sixty in that raggedy station that you guys
have over there in Ohio. So do not do not
be smirch his good name. We love him over here
in Highland Heights.

Speaker 2 (01:35:32):
Also, they got it's one of the clear things up. Rick,
I wanted to clear things up. That was Moe's words.
We just wanted we want truth on this station. That's
what we care about. The Absolutely they've been cleared. Okay,
they've been cleared.

Speaker 3 (01:35:44):
Austin is in great standing.

Speaker 2 (01:35:45):
It is clear. It's also clear that NK is off
to a great start in the Horizon League. They get
off to a great start against Cleveland State and also
I thought was a successful non conference had the game
at Tennessee. You get a matchup against the top twenty team.
They have two losses, but talk about the Norse right
now as they roll into now more of the Horizon standings.

Speaker 16 (01:36:08):
Well, I just think the exciting part if you're an
MKAU fan is typically you watch this team get better
over the course.

Speaker 3 (01:36:15):
Of the season.

Speaker 16 (01:36:15):
You know, the defense takes some time to get to
its peak and they find that chemistry and cohesion on
that end of the floor with your their unique style.

Speaker 3 (01:36:23):
Of the matchup zone.

Speaker 16 (01:36:24):
And on the offensive end, you know, it seems like
it always takes them a little bit time to find
a little bit of time to find their flow and
find their go to pieces as well. But I don't
know if this year is just going to be different
from that standpoint, or if we're in for the same
line of progression and they're just a bit of head
of schedule because one they have better athletes on the
defensive end this year, and two they have a lot

(01:36:44):
more firepower on the offensive end. They're really starting to
click already, it would seem like, and I think there's
still some upside for this team. So I don't think
the optimism here in Highland Heights is unfounded at all.

Speaker 2 (01:36:55):
You mentioned perdue Fort Wayne. They lose to Oakland in
their last doubting one oh one ninety two, so clearly
putting up some points. That's an Oakland team that can
score one hundred on any given night. From a horizon
standpoint as a whole, what do things look like this
year for NKU where they projected. Who are some teams
they're going to be up against at the top of
the standings.

Speaker 16 (01:37:15):
Yeah, they were projected middle of the pack this year.
But I was one of the people who voted in
that poll, and I'll tell you, Tony, it was a
useless exercise. I mean, we're not just talking about teams
that have completely turned over the roster and the transfer portal.
We're talking about guys that don't have any Division One
stats to go off of that they're making up these
rosters with. I mean, you look across the league and
it's like this team has three guys from the Division

(01:37:36):
two level ANAIA guy, a JUCO guy, and two Division
one transfers that didn't score a single point in their
previous stop or something like that. I mean, it's like
trying to figure out who was going to be where
in the standings before the season started was just an
absurd thing.

Speaker 3 (01:37:51):
To try to do, and I know because I did it.
So Yeah, they were picked the middle of the pack.

Speaker 16 (01:37:55):
I thought that was meetingless.

Speaker 3 (01:37:57):
At the time.

Speaker 16 (01:37:57):
It's certainly even more meaningless now. But I do think
the league is very good at the top. I think
there's you know, four or five teams that are that
are all top one fifty ish to two hundred level
Ken Palm teams, and that's typically where you know the
best teams in this league sit.

Speaker 3 (01:38:11):
So you know we're talking.

Speaker 16 (01:38:13):
About You mentioned Oakland is going to be good, Youngstown
State is going to be good. I think NKU is
certainly in that group. Robert Morris is expected to be
good again, although it feels like they've been a little
up and down to start the season. But I don't
think there is a clear favorite going into conference play,
and I definitely expect NKU to be in that top

(01:38:34):
group of teams.

Speaker 2 (01:38:36):
Let's switch gears to the shootout tonight the Xavier Musketeers.
I'll be quite honest, Rick, if you would have told
me two weeks ago that Xavier was going to be
favored in the shootout, I would have had you questioned
for many different things. And yet here we are the
day of the shootout, Xavier is a one and a
half point favorite. I know what's happened on the UC
side of things, and the team has just not played

(01:38:59):
very good basketball. How did Xavier get to this point?
How did they turn things around?

Speaker 16 (01:39:04):
You got to get a ton of credit to Richard
Patino and his coaching staff. You know, I think it's
always difficult for coaches to change what they're doing from
a system standpoint, an X and OH standpoint, a scheme standpoint,
but probably even more so in this current era where
you're now assigning dollar amounts to the players that are
on the.

Speaker 3 (01:39:22):
Floor for you.

Speaker 16 (01:39:22):
Right if you paid a lot of money for one
of your starters and he's not producing, it's got to
be tough to say, Yeah, we'll just going to tell
our donors, sorry about that seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars you spent. We're going to sit this guy on
the bench now, you know. So that that is like
an interesting wrinkle that you have to think about with
all of this stuff from a coaching perspective, and I've
been really impressed with Richard Patino and his staff's willingness
to just say, Hey, this guy's not producing or that

(01:39:44):
guy's not producing, We're going to change up our lineup
from game to game until we find the right group,
and also to change what they what they're doing from
a scheme standpoint. You know, they were very aggressive on
ball screens early in the season, and their two point
percentage defense really suffered as a result. Since then, they've
done something to change that. They're playing more drop coverages,
they're playing some zone defenses, and they've tried to make

(01:40:05):
up for you know, the big change that they made
from a lineup standpoint was going to a more small
ball lineup with Jovan Milikovich, a stretch forward playing the
center position for them.

Speaker 3 (01:40:15):
And so obviously they're.

Speaker 16 (01:40:16):
Making some concessions on the defensive end in their front
court and at their rim, and some of those things
that they've done defensively is have helped made up for
that lack of a shop blocking presence and rim protector.

Speaker 2 (01:40:26):
The only player on both of these rosters that's played
in a shootout before is Dade Thomas. I would imagine
if you ask most Xavier fans, hey, who else do
you know on the UC team, they wouldn't. I mentioned,
if you asked a lot of UC fans name some
Xavier players, they couldn't. That's just the nature of college
basketball right now. So who are some names for the
Musketeers tonight that are going to play a pivotal role

(01:40:46):
in how this game goes?

Speaker 16 (01:40:49):
The name that I'm focused on mostly is Yovann Milichovich
at the center spot. I mean, you see the top
five defense in the country according to Kenpom right now,
and a lot of that is because they have a
seven foot two shot blocker and a six to eleven
shot blocker.

Speaker 3 (01:41:01):
In their front court.

Speaker 16 (01:41:02):
Xavier strategy on the offensive end is to take a
guy like that, a shot blocker, away from the rim,
and forced him to play on the perimeter guarding a
three point shooter in Yovann Milikovich, a thing a seven
foot two guy is typically not comfortable with.

Speaker 3 (01:41:14):
So to me, that's the biggest like.

Speaker 16 (01:41:16):
Plot point in this game. How does you see handle that?
What do they do defensively? Do they put sean on
somebody else? Does that work out for them? Do they
have to change what they typically do defensively and they're not.

Speaker 3 (01:41:28):
Quite as effective.

Speaker 16 (01:41:29):
Because if you're taking away you see his biggest strength,
then that definitely changes this game and helps if you're
out a lot. So Yovan Milichevich at the center spot,
a three point shooter, definitely the biggest guy that I'm
looking at. And then right next to him, Tray Carroll
at the power forward spot, another guy who can stretch
you from the perimeter, shoot to three.

Speaker 3 (01:41:45):
He's a little bit more.

Speaker 16 (01:41:46):
He's definitely more athletic than Yovonn, more of a playmaker.

Speaker 3 (01:41:48):
Off the bounce.

Speaker 16 (01:41:49):
He can drive you, he can get on the offensive
glass a little bit more. He's another guy that you know,
you can sit there and say, well, maybe Sean will
just guard the power forward instead of the center if
the center is a three point shooter. But in this
case for Xavier, they have a another power forward that
can also play on the perimeter and stretch the defense out.
So I really think that's going to be one of
the big keys from the Xavier perspective is how those
two front court players play and how you see reacts

(01:42:11):
to that from a defensive perspective. But then the other
guy I think that everyone's pretty excited about from a
Xavier's standpoint, is all Right. He came in with a
reputation of kind of being a big game, excitable, emotional player.
He started to come on as he's taken on the
starting point guard position.

Speaker 3 (01:42:28):
He's played better. He's had a few big scoring games.
He's the one.

Speaker 16 (01:42:31):
Guy that I think a lot of x fans are
looking at as a potential X factor. If you will
to get hot and be the You know, we've heard
that narrative from both sides for so long of you
see whining about all this random guy on Xavier's team
got hot and throw in a bunch of threes against us.

Speaker 3 (01:42:45):
That was unfair.

Speaker 16 (01:42:46):
If that's going to happen tonight, all writes the name
to look out for.

Speaker 2 (01:42:49):
You mentioned malisavij He's shooting almost forty seven percent from
three at home this year, so that is not just
a flash and a pen. He can he can light
it up from outside. I'm interest for Xavier this year
because I talked and I asked on this show Xavier
fans about expectations going into the year, and there wasn't
a lot of expectations. That's completely different on the other

(01:43:11):
side here, this is an expectation for UC this year
to get to the NCAA tournament. It's an expectation for
Wes Miller to beat Xavier. Is that an advantage for
Xavier coming into a game like this where it does
feel like there is an immense amount of pressure on
the coach for the Bearcats.

Speaker 16 (01:43:26):
I think it's a massive advantage, especially if West doesn't
handle that well. And I think recent results would show
he hasn't done all that well with the pressure. It
feels like the walls are starting to cave in a
little bit on him, especially with the fan base and
the booing and the lack of crowd showing up. And
I think you've seen that trickle down to his players
a little bit. Things looked a little uncomfortable the last
few games. The body language wasn't great. It didn't look

(01:43:48):
like a real connected unit. That's my biggest concern for
this UC team. If Xavier switches to his own defense
in the second half or something, and you go four
minutes without scoring and the walls start to cave in
on you, and the Sintas center gets loud and Xavier
throws in few.

Speaker 3 (01:44:00):
Threes, how are they going to react?

Speaker 16 (01:44:02):
Recently it hasn't looked good. But you go back a few,
you know, a few weeks ago, and I thought they've
performed really well against a very talented opponent in Louisville
for about twenty five to thirty minutes of that game.
So it really depends on which UCEE team shows up.
But the pressure point that you you mentioned, and the
fact that Wes Miller is probably the central figure in
this year's crossdown shootout, I would definitely lean towards an

(01:44:24):
advantag Xavier.

Speaker 2 (01:44:25):
There How has Patino leaned into this rivalry because for me,
in growing up and watching this rivalry closely, you know,
gone are the years where you have the three and
four year guys that have grown up in this rivalry
and they know what it's about. So for a lot
of these players on both sides playing for UC and
Xavior this year, they've not been in a game with

(01:44:45):
this type of environment, with this type of crowd, with
this type of energy and animosity and atmosphere. Is there
anything different Patino has done throughout the week to kind
of prepare players for that. Have have they had other
you know, players that have played in this before come
back and talk to the team or has it just
been a normal work week for Beatino?

Speaker 16 (01:45:05):
You know, I think there's only so much you can
do when you are an outsider. Your entire team is
an outsider, and no one has any experience in this
game really, aside from you know, some walk Ons. Roddy
Anderson was on the bench last year as a red
shirt for this game, so I guess he's seen it
at least, But there's not much you can really say beforehand,

(01:45:26):
other than like, hey, the crowd's going to be loud,
you know, unless Richard Patina was going to go out
there and say, hey, I'll punch Wes Miller in the
face before the game tips off, just to get the
juice flowing a little bit. Yeah, Like, I don't know
what he's really going to say that would satisfy like
the fans craving for the hatred of this rivalry and
the do you understand how important.

Speaker 3 (01:45:43):
This is to us aspect of it? And I think
that's part of what's.

Speaker 16 (01:45:46):
Always lost when we talk about like, but where does
it rank among other rivalries? And has the shootout lost
its luster with all the transfer portal stuff going on
all that. It's yes, players that were around for four
years learned to hate each other and be a part
of the rivalry too.

Speaker 3 (01:46:00):
But the rivalry has always been.

Speaker 16 (01:46:02):
About the fact that there's two schools that are idealistically
complete opposites, and people in the same city attend those
schools that aren't very far apart, and as a result,
they hate each other, and that's what the shootout is about.

Speaker 3 (01:46:14):
They'll teach the players to hate it.

Speaker 16 (01:46:15):
The Zager fans will get the idea when the crowd
is rocking, like it hasn't been thirty minutes before tip
off for a single game yet this year, they'll get
that this game is different. And I think talking to
some of the former players that have played in this game,
even going back to the years where you did have
three four year players that got to experience the crossdown
shot out multiple times, all of them have pretty much

(01:46:35):
told me, you know, the things you learn about the
shootout happened after you play the game. The memories come
from what happened after the game and after the emotions
were running high. It's not really a thing you prepare
for a half of time.

Speaker 2 (01:46:47):
How do you view this game tonight and what it
comes down to? What are your keys? If Xavier is
going to leave this game tonight with a win, how
does it happen?

Speaker 16 (01:46:57):
Well, I think it really comes down to what we
talked about at which is Xavier's front court being able
to change UC's defense. Whether that's they allow them to
shoot a lot of threes and they get hot and
in Xavier's front court carries them from an offensive perspective,
or if U See has to make some concessions change
how they're playing, and that opens up some other wrinkles
for Xavier's offense. I think that's really the key, because

(01:47:19):
it's not able to get the front court going and
kind of screw you see up there a little bit,
getting them stretched out on the perimeter with their bigs.
I'm not sure Xavier can score much against this UC defense,
which is pretty damn good. And Xavier certainly has its
deficiencies in other areas, especially when we talk about their
lack of two point defense, so you know, I think
UC needs to make sure they're attacking and getting the

(01:47:39):
ball inside and scoring against Xavier's lack of rim protection.
And on the other side, I think Xavier needs to
try to stretch UC out and get their front court
going from the perimeter to bring UC's bigs away from
that basket and soften that UC defense up a little bit.
I don't see another path to victory for Xavier really,
other than them making a lot of threes in this game.

(01:48:00):
If they win it without shooting well from the perimeter,
I'd be pretty shocked.

Speaker 2 (01:48:04):
Is this your last hit of the shootout week? Do
you have more lined up? I feel like I've seen
a lot this week You've talked about this game a lot.
Does it get to a point for your you where
you're just ready for this game to happen as well?

Speaker 3 (01:48:16):
Yeah, I love the Crosstown shoot. I always have since
I was a kid.

Speaker 16 (01:48:20):
I think the city has does such a good job
with it. I mean, we really understand how to do
a rivalry in the city. We really understand how to
hate each other, we really understand how to cover an
event like this, and so I've just always enjoyed it
since I was a little kid.

Speaker 3 (01:48:34):
I love going to this game.

Speaker 16 (01:48:36):
That's why I'm going to drive, you know, three hours
of fort Wayne at midnight tonight after the game ends,
because I want to be here to see it in.

Speaker 3 (01:48:41):
Person and cover it. So I can't wait.

Speaker 16 (01:48:44):
I can't wait. I never mind doing these hits. And
I thank you guys for having me on Rick.

Speaker 2 (01:48:48):
We can't thank you enough before I let you go.
You Austin didn't. He's not paying you anything to say
those things you said about him. That's just really helped.

Speaker 16 (01:48:56):
And there's not a lot of Cincinnati media members that
carry the Norse flag with them as they get they
move up in a professional career. Austin Elmore has never
forgotten where he came from, even if he reots hard
for other teams.

Speaker 4 (01:49:09):
Yeah, and Dan hor and Darren Horne loves me so.

Speaker 3 (01:49:13):
By the way, as.

Speaker 2 (01:49:14):
Austin is on the record, he has picked the Muskies
tonight as well.

Speaker 4 (01:49:17):
Exactly.

Speaker 16 (01:49:19):
Yeah, I guess that's the only thing I didn't say.
I After all of that, I have come to the
conclusion that I just don't trust Wes Miller in this spot.

Speaker 3 (01:49:26):
I'm going dager sixty eight sixty four.

Speaker 2 (01:49:29):
Okay, let's go win, Rick, But it's a cover for
the favorite Xavier Musketeers tonight.

Speaker 8 (01:49:36):
That's right, unbelievablerick. If that happens, does Wes Miller have
a job on Monday?

Speaker 16 (01:49:41):
I would like to ask Tony this coming from the
UC perspective, do they fire him in the parking lot
or shoot him dead on the spot?

Speaker 2 (01:49:47):
My god, I'll tell you what I'm gonna say. I
don't think he gets to tomorrow. I'll say that I
don't know where it happens. Uh, will you win.

Speaker 3 (01:49:54):
Alive or with his job? I'm a little worried about
anger right now.

Speaker 4 (01:49:58):
Everyone be careful.

Speaker 2 (01:50:00):
It's a bad time for the fan base that you see,
right Now, it was not a good month of November
for basketball or football. Uh so we're hoping December can
be better. Rick, Now, with a win tonight, would you
delay your trip to to Fort Wayne at all and
maybe make a visit to an establishment after a game?

Speaker 16 (01:50:19):
Oh no, I'm not No, I'm not a guy who's
gonna be like celebrating shootout wins and rubing in anyone's
face or anything.

Speaker 4 (01:50:25):
Yeah, that's fair.

Speaker 16 (01:50:26):
I will save that for the norse win over produe
Fort Wayne to Yeah, what.

Speaker 2 (01:50:29):
A weekend it could be, Wayne, What a weekend it
could be. That is Rick Bryn. Rick, what's the easiest
way for uh n Ku fans, Xavier fans or just
fans of Rick Bryn in general to follow along with
everything you got?

Speaker 23 (01:50:42):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (01:50:42):
Hit me up on Facebook. I'm a big Facebook guy.
I don't really do anything, man.

Speaker 2 (01:50:47):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (01:50:47):
Yeah, well my face was great. It had to run.
But Tom has long in the two.

Speaker 4 (01:50:51):
Yeah, yep, say hi to gym for us, would you?

Speaker 17 (01:50:56):
Oh?

Speaker 16 (01:50:56):
I will hopefully I'll see him sometime tomorrow morning for
the game.

Speaker 2 (01:51:01):
Rick, Man, you're the best. Thank you very much.

Speaker 3 (01:51:04):
Thank you guys to it. Man.

Speaker 2 (01:51:06):
I enjoyed that way more than I should have. I love,
you know, seeing him put you in your place.

Speaker 4 (01:51:10):
Yeah, that's good.

Speaker 2 (01:51:11):
But I was good. He came ready to go.

Speaker 4 (01:51:12):
It's good to have friends, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:51:13):
I was.

Speaker 4 (01:51:14):
I was high places.

Speaker 2 (01:51:15):
I follow Rick on social media, and I swear I
think he did like eighteen hundred hits this week on
the shootout. Yeah, and no doubt that was probably his
favorite one. Oh, without a doubt. He gets to tee
off on you. Yep. I can't imagine he had a
more favorite hit. I bet Darren Horne was just sitting
there right next to him. He had it on speakerphone.
He's sitting there, Darren's listening. He's getting ready to head

(01:51:37):
over the Sentas Center in a few minutes. I respect
and I appreciate Rick Broing, just as I respect and
appreciate our listeners who've stuck with us today the Friday
Football Frenzy.

Speaker 4 (01:51:48):
We're gonna finish it when we come back.

Speaker 2 (01:51:49):
That's right.

Speaker 4 (01:51:50):
We're done early two thirty today.

Speaker 2 (01:51:52):
We'll finish this edition of The Friday Football Frenzy next
thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 10 (01:52:00):
Football in the Nattie brought to you in part by
Postman Law and Vice Skyline Chile on ESPN fifteen thirty,
the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:52:11):
All right, we are winding things down on this the
Friday Football Frenzy on the day of the shootout, on
the eve of the MAC Championship, the Big Ten Championship,
and Bill's Bengals on Sunday. What do we have to
wrap up the show? Austin, Well, a TONI. This was

(01:52:32):
brought to my attention earlier this morning by Scott Sloan.
As you know, I do a hit on his show
on Friday mornings, and Sloany's going up to the game
Big Bills Fan, and he told me that they have
a specialty concession item where it's like a giant boat.
It's called the battle boat the battle but on one

(01:52:52):
side of the battle boat is local Buffalo ingredients, you know,
shaved roast, beef, cheddar or shradish pickle, carraway seed beef
on weck, and on the other side is food from
the city that the team, the visiting team is from.
So you're thinking, okay, well, obviously it's going to be

(01:53:14):
chili and cheese and onions and you know all that
sort of stuff. No, listen to what these people insulted
us in Buffalo. The Cincinnati side is Kiobasa, Coleslaw, barbecue, sauce,
and sweet pickles. Now, do you know what teams do

(01:53:35):
they do it? Like they actually try to do it.
Do you know what city that would be their food?

Speaker 16 (01:53:39):
No?

Speaker 8 (01:53:40):
Cleveland, Ohio? Oh No, this is insulting by the Buffalo Bills.

Speaker 2 (01:53:45):
They did this.

Speaker 4 (01:53:46):
That's what I want to know.

Speaker 8 (01:53:48):
I would love to know for those who now apparently
it's only been around for a couple of years, but like,
did they do this?

Speaker 4 (01:53:52):
And did the playoff game? Makes me it is insulting?

Speaker 8 (01:53:57):
And and when when the Browns go up there, do
they they serve Cincinnati chili?

Speaker 2 (01:54:01):
Probably not.

Speaker 8 (01:54:02):
I don't understand this. Unreal be better Buffalo, don't mean.
I know everybody's focused on new build a dam stadium
and all that.

Speaker 4 (01:54:10):
Well Stadium Orchard Park.

Speaker 2 (01:54:12):
Yeah, all the more reason for the Bengals to go
in and wipe the floor with the Bills. That game
happens on Sunday, of course, tomorrow night Big Ten Championship
eight o'clock, Ohio State in Indiana and Indianapolis h MAC Championship
at noon it's a full slate of college football. You
get college football tonight as well, and of course the
Skyline Chili Crossdown Shootout that happens at seven point thirty.

(01:54:33):
It's a big weekend for sports and the sant X Bombers.
We'll have a chance to bring a state title back
to the city of Cincinnati tonight.

Speaker 4 (01:54:44):
Hope lie with the Bombers.

Speaker 2 (01:54:45):
Sex and the shootout both will start at seven thirty
this evening. So they should have like the sant X
game on the TVs. They really should hit sentas they
really should. I mean, you've been to at the Cintas one, Okay,
I thought it was really cool. It is since I like,
I have no ill feelings about the Cintas Center. I've

(01:55:06):
been to a couple of every week, I'll say this,
and I go to them a lot of them every
other game they play. I root for the Muskies. I'm
not this like Anti Zaa. It's just one game a
year that I got a pool for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Unfortunately,
we are out of time today. Yes, thanks you hostep
rally coming up. Thanks to our callers, listeners, our talkbackers,

(01:55:26):
everyone that makes this show possible. Have a great Friday.
Have a great weekend. Go Bearcats.

Speaker 10 (01:55:31):
You've been listening to football in the NATI, brought to
you by Cincinnati Tax Resolution powered by Tope Sheldon on
ESPN fifteen point thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 4 (01:55:45):
Man