UFL Playoffs, Players of the Year & more | UFL Podcast #107

The Playoffs are around the corner, time to jump into The UFL Podcast

The REF and Zach are discussing the possibility that the UFL updates the conference naming, UFL Playoffs, Players of the Year and more

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got playoffs, Players of the Year, conference names, all
that and more on episode one oh seven of the
UFL Podcast one Killed three.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Welcome back, everybody to another amazing edition of the UFL Podcast.
I'm the rep representing Pro Football Newsroom, the leaders in
Spring football news, and boy oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,
oh boy, oh boy, do we got a big week

(00:57):
for you. But before we get started, I'm joined as
always by Mo man Zackie Boycolmon, how you doing today?

Speaker 3 (01:06):
My friend ah dude declairee that it is the playoffs
finally and that we all going to have ourselves quite
a fun time. As I dropped a bit, it's playoff season, people,
It's award season.

Speaker 4 (01:18):
It's it is uh. It's the most exciting time of
the year.

Speaker 3 (01:21):
That distracts from what is the uh for the I
would say, absence of our league being put down at
least for the summer. But that's okay. This is a
fun time of season. We got a championship to play for,
we got awards being doled out, We got players now
that are putting themselves on the market to be signed
on to rosters right now as we get into training
camp coming in July. So there's a lot of stuff

(01:43):
going on, fun time of year for everybody involved, and
lot's going on as well. To talk about the future too.
As we keep doing that, it seems every week at
this point. So uh yeah, happy to have it. And
as you'll say, soon enough, our.

Speaker 4 (01:57):
Road trips almost their pal.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
We're right around the car close, so close, so close.
We're you know, we got the drones, we got the cameras,
we got the mounts, we got the microphones, we got
the car ready, we got one of the hotels ready,
we got some of the stops ready. We found new
stops with it. We never asked Jason about the onion burger,
so we must do it this Monday. Hopefully he's in

(02:20):
a good mood. I well, we'll talk about it when
we get to the previews. I'm sure you're hoping.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
Kind that was kind of sady, build on me talking.
I feel like I bored him. I need to redeem
myself this week.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
I still think there was you know Ninja's in the
background that were like what are you saying there? And
they cut that stream off quick. But you know what, well,
I'm sure he'll be here this upcoming week. Another reason
you should be subscribed click the Bell of Bilt Morale.
It also let you know when we go live every
Monday night with Around the UFL at six pm Eastern,

(02:52):
And I also let you know when new episodes dropped,
just like this one. It's also going to let you
know when Summerstocked the Road to the UFL Championship kicks off.
Like I said, we're aiming for Friday the thirteenth, it
might be on that midnight going in, but since we
got that extra day on the road, Zach, I think
this is gonna make it easier to edit this thing down,
give us a little bit more leeway, and hopefully a

(03:14):
little bit more time to enjoy the scenery while we're there,
not just film it. Like I said, I am. I
know there's gonna be instances on this trip where I'm
gonna want something to eat at multiple places. That's gonna
be a challenge. I already know, like, Okay, this onion
burger is probably close to Pop sixty six, So I'm gotta, like,
I gotta get in my game, loosen up the belly

(03:37):
in between. I've been eating like a monster lately, Zach.
I'm you know how good athletes prepare for like the
big game. I'm preparing, Zach, I've been I got a
Jets pizza yesterday. I almost polished that whole thing down
by myself. I'm ready to go. I'm greased up. Well,

(03:58):
you know, what are you doing? I'm a you doiled
machine is really what I meant to say, But my
brain said, I'm greased uff. I don't know why, but hey,
no curtains, baby, dude.

Speaker 4 (04:12):
You take all the curtains off?

Speaker 2 (04:13):
What?

Speaker 4 (04:14):
What in the the hell?

Speaker 2 (04:17):
I really don't know how my brain got I'm greased
up out of like a well oiled machine, but it did.
And these are all the things you should look forward
to on this road trip, because it's gonna be much
of this.

Speaker 4 (04:28):
We've got it all on this road to summer Stock.
Hell yeah.

Speaker 3 (04:37):
But speaking of greasy uh, I did finally get it
back down, and I'm putting in the notes my uh
no curtains, my sole contribution to the notes, because this
man basically powered through these when we were making them.
It's it's Tucker's Burgers, so we go. Yeah, it's called
Tucker's Onion Burgers, So it's right on the name. It's

(04:58):
like the kind of the fifties. But Yeah, it's it's
the quintessential Oklahoma home and Onion.

Speaker 4 (05:04):
Burger right there.

Speaker 3 (05:05):
We're definitely making a stop at okay See for that
and then Pop sixty six too, and who knows what
else we'll find because there's there's a few other items
I did look up and then I forgot I need
to throw that on there, so we'll get to that
at some point. But yeah, good, we got the extra
day and definitely make for some great time. I know
coming back. We are definitely it's more business rather than

(05:27):
leisure because we are definitely hauling. And I'll say it,
we're hauling. Asked to get home for ever Monday at least.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Call me crazy though, and maybe I will be. I
think it's like if we if we took the shortened
route home, it's about a twelve hour drive, and that's
really two stints of us driving three hours at a time. Yeah,
too bad when you think about it like that. And
so you know, we maybe find a stop maybe something

(05:54):
or other, but I still want to find I still
watch some goodies on the way back. I'm hoping we
and you know what, maybe it's just an extra clip
or whatever. We throw it on social media it's definitely
not gonna be a full on extravaganza like Summer Stock.
But if we do find some goodies on the way back,
we'll film those. You'll see him as well.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
Oh, without a doubt, Without a doubt, I'm sure we'll
get that. And yeah, it's gonna be a great time.
Like I said, we we got some other things. I'm
really I don't know why I keep hanging on this.
I really hope we hit that bison, play that bison
three states marker.

Speaker 4 (06:27):
We stick that. I hope that God there is bison.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Out there and that we do get to get some
footage of that, because they're so cool.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
They're battle cows. Man, They're freaking battle cows. That's what.
That's how I always name them.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yeah. Yeah, if they're not there, maybe we can leverage
like AI to add it into the frame for us.

Speaker 4 (06:49):
You know, I don't know if.

Speaker 3 (06:52):
You've seen the Dungeons and Dragons like movie, Like Chris Pine,
he's uh, I don't know why you remind me this.
He plays a bar and they're doing a loose sionary thing.
I'm gonna go full Nerd here, and he's like trying
to sing to the guards as a distraction, and what happens
is the illusion gets broken, so like he starts breaking down.
It's like this melting robot thing. And so I always

(07:12):
have this in my head, stuck away. He's going bray bray, bray,
bray bray. He's like in bigger Ice of Mouth. And
then all of a sudden it breaks and he goes bo.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
I love it. I love it. Yes, but they better
have a bison or that might happen in real life.
That will be me. You may be right, and then
we you know, I don't know if we talked about
this much, we are tempting fake this is we are
traveling on Friday the thirteenth in Saint Louis.

Speaker 4 (07:37):
In St.

Speaker 2 (07:38):
Louis, I'm sure. Well there'll be an element to that
as well. Hopefully we don't endto who's from Friday the thirteenth?
Is that Michael Myers, that's Jason Vod, He's Jason Jason Boords.
Hopefully we don't rise into Jason boys.

Speaker 4 (07:49):
Stop at a crystal lake wherever that would be, whatsoever.

Speaker 2 (07:53):
That's by my parents house. Funny enough, are you serious?
So yeah, we'd have to go a little bit for
a little bit half of the trip every like five
six hours north is not worth it, but it is there. Anyway,
we got a whole show. You know, we start with
some I guess speculation zone. If you will, our good

(08:14):
old friend James Larson, you know you should be following
him on social media. Always be checking out PF newsroom
dot com daily because I mean, he's always putting things out.
He put out an expost, a tweet, whatever you want
to call it, talking about the potential of the UFL
dropping the USFL and the XFL conference naming skiss scheme. Now,

(08:37):
I think we may have heard about this in the past.
Act I don't know if we've talked about it publicly,
but I don't. And it doesn't sound like there's even
a direction on, you know, how the structure is going
to be. But one that he does mention here is
the north south structure, which and this will just drive

(08:59):
us further into the speculation zone. Okay, let's look at
the teams that we have. Now. Is Memphis one of
the northern teams in this situation? Right? It would almost
have to be? Or Man, does that point to what
everybody wants to hear about? What everybody wants to speculatet, Oh,

(09:20):
Memphis is moving. I don't know if they're moving. I
don't know if they are or not. But when I
see a north South I'm like, Oh, maybe that indicates
the same argument could be said for Houston. Two, not
that I think I don't. I've been told Houston's not moving,
and I hope I wasn't lied to.

Speaker 4 (09:39):
I hope you haven't been I.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
Told them, I told them they'd hear about it. If
they lied to me, they might be listening to this now.

Speaker 3 (09:49):
Uh man, I look, I look at the map. So
if that were to happen, I had this thought about
it previously on how I would split it, and I
would have done it where you take all three Texas
teams in Birmingham and you merge them into one and
then everyone else gets put in DC, Saint Louis, Michigan,

(10:10):
and Memphis because it's a little more geographical that way.
But that doesn't mean it's gonna work out that way.
And I'm kind of fascinated if they do add teams,
like they're saying, how that looks is their relocation. I
think the bigger debate here that everyone's having is, you know,
do you want to remove those brands, you know, is
that okay to sideline them, a kind of sunset them,

(10:30):
or maybe like use them as like legacy material, not
as much focus in them like they were last year,
because remember the debut was you know, it was about
the merger, but they they hyped up all year the
rivalry aspect, the two playing each other. You know, how
the records are looking between each other. This year they
kind of went, Okay, you guys know the deal, we're
moving on.

Speaker 4 (10:51):
And I'm wondering if.

Speaker 3 (10:52):
They just look at it and they're like, well, you know,
maybe it's not drumming up what we thought. And you
know what if we just say once we get to
new teams, we can just kind of sunset them because
now you know, it's one merge league where we can
focus on something else. Is I think the question? But
you know, does the legacy matter? I guess the fine,
That's what I'm saying. Is it enough to focus and
just say, doesn't matter the geographic location, just slap on

(11:14):
these names and keep that alive at least in a
more active sense.

Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, See, to me, it matters what they might find out,
is it to the masses? It doesn't. But I don't know,
a little piece of me inside feels like the league
found out this rivalry was maybe a little too real,
meaning not necessarily the players and the coaches and the teams,

(11:41):
but the internet. We we lived through it with the
USFL podcast Zacky.

Speaker 4 (11:46):
Boy, Yeah we did.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
And we watched all the XFL podcasts. A good chunk
of them hate on the USFL. We saw a good
chunk of the USFL guys.

Speaker 4 (11:56):
Hate on the FL.

Speaker 2 (11:58):
And then even with the merger, there's a deep seated
like divide in certain cases, even with division lines, because
it's an XFL team.

Speaker 3 (12:09):
I still have people to this day that when I
try and talk an argument or debate on like what
to do with the attendance or tickets, that it's well,
it's simple, should just go on the XFL.

Speaker 4 (12:21):
She just kept all those teams. I'm like.

Speaker 2 (12:24):
The reverse too, And so it just shows like this,
I think this rivalry may have been too real for them,
and that when they look at the paper and they're like,
are we turning off fans that were XFL fans that
feel jilted that their league is now a division and
when the other league has only won the championship, right,

(12:47):
And so especially this year. If an XFL team doesn't win,
you have both years of the league's USFL teams wins,
So maybe there's something to that. I would love to
see it. Stay. I like, well one, I love the
USFL logo. The XFL logo I could do with or without.
I really like the twenty twenty XFL logo. Yeah, I

(13:08):
would have said that if I was on the XFL podcast,
not the USFL podcast. So get over it, guys. I'll
just you agree everybody agrees with me. The new XFL logo.

Speaker 3 (13:16):
Stay, Oh No, that has been consistently panned as a downgrade, Like,
I don't think anything will live up to the twenty
twenty version in most people's eyes. And honestly, if it
wasn't for the fact that you have red, white and
blue for the other side, you know, I would argue
more that maybe you do bring that old logo and
then you can maybe make it closer. But I digress.

(13:38):
I think right now, you know, part of why this
discussion is even happening is I feel like we're in
this stage of everything's on the table and we just
need to like open and people are just openly discussing
what do we do to make this like better or
more resonate with people or something like that, or make
it more. We're focused on the UFL brand, and we

(13:58):
sunset maybe at sunset, but like get away from like
just the past, like oh it's spring football, it's one
or another, and say, no, UFL's one thing is what
I think is happening.

Speaker 4 (14:08):
I'm not one hundred percent sure.

Speaker 3 (14:10):
I also think again, if you are expanding, maybe it's
just easier to say, well, this isn't a USFL team,
Like someone's gonna be like that and snobby, you know,
like we talked about how the Roughnecks it's not a
UFCFL brand. It was just a very popular it was
the more popular of the two options for the Houston branding,
and they kept it.

Speaker 4 (14:27):
And then you know, now it's kind of like, well,
depending what we had, like should this matter.

Speaker 3 (14:32):
I feel like that's playing out as well. So a
few things on the table, but this is a crucial offseason.
So I think you're seeing stuff like that where it's
like you're focusing in on aspects of what might be
more appeeling. Perhaps I'm not sure, and I just hope
they keep these brands around because I do like I
do feel like, you know, you're doing the vault with that,
with that collaboration with selling antique things from like years past.

(14:57):
It doesn't hurt to have like those old brands are
vintage things there. If that's what you're gonna start considering it,
so you know, keep that in mind. Plus, are they
gonna get rid of these old trophies too, like the
USFL trophy? Is that just gonna be like they're gonna
make a new one and re engrave it and call
it something else. You know, that was part of the
deal is you're keeping these trophies, is like former mementos

(15:18):
for these two merging leagues as conference trophies and then
you make it the big one at the end.

Speaker 4 (15:22):
So what happens to those?

Speaker 2 (15:23):
Do they get XFL Trophy? Yeah, the freaking.

Speaker 4 (15:27):
Freaking freaking baster. Okay, that's all it is. It's that's
why I still hold it.

Speaker 3 (15:33):
That's to be to that is be one of the
ugliest professional football trophies I've ever seen.

Speaker 4 (15:36):
But whatever, you know, someone's got to win that one.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
So, which is a shame because have you ever seen
the mock ups for what the twenty twenty XFL Championship
to look like it was like a crystal ball that
slides into like a little platform. I'm like, oh my
robbed so cool. It's a damn shame you'd like to
bring back that European football like the ORB and like.

Speaker 4 (16:00):
Oh yeah, yes.

Speaker 3 (16:03):
Hey god, I gotta let me pull this thing up.
NFL Europe Trophy.

Speaker 4 (16:08):
This thing was great. If you haven't said you remember.

Speaker 2 (16:11):
That from when I was a kid. I don't know
how I ended up watching NFL Europe, but I was
sitting around on a Sunday afternoon flipping through the channels.
All of a sudden, there's an elephant with an ORB
on TV. And I told so many people about that.
They all thought I was crazy, And now that I'm
part of this wacky Spring football universe, it's like the
only group of people that have ever known what the

(16:31):
hell I was talking about. You go to school and
tell did you see the elephant with the ORB football game?
What the hell are you talking about?

Speaker 3 (16:38):
The World Bowl Trophy is fantastic because here's the thing.
It's not just an ORBS. So like if you look
up the zoomed end photo, so it does have the
base and used what used to be called NFL Europe.
Now it's an NFL Europa or World League of American Football.
But the orb they carved out the entire it's a globe.
So it's not just an orb like it's a it
is a glass globe in a pyramid stand. It's like

(17:03):
something out of like ancient times, meets like stapled like
stamped on corporate logo. It's it's kind of glorious. Actually,
I wonder where the last one is right now.

Speaker 2 (17:17):
Yeah, this is something they need in the in the
in the Football Hall of Fame. I know, even it's
a defunct league, but this is is so damn cool
just looking at it.

Speaker 3 (17:26):
The whole thing weighs forty one pounds, by the way, like.

Speaker 4 (17:31):
A solid glass ball.

Speaker 2 (17:34):
It's funny gone through Google looking at the pictures of
these because it's from so long ago. All the pictures
are like tiny, they're all from like, you know, the
last website that posted it was probably in like the
early two thousands, so it's like the images are like, yeah,
it's a seventy five by one hundred and twenty five,
one hundred and fifty by one hundred and eighty.

Speaker 4 (17:52):
And it's funny.

Speaker 3 (17:52):
I would say like, I wish this would turn back Blake.
But the LEPs Trophy is also pretty sweet too, not
gonna yeah, so that one I can't argue with either,
but like rested Peace World Bowl Trophy also rested Peace
XFL two thousand and one trophy. By the way, that thing,
you know, I know that one's still out. Yeah, the piece,
the million dollar a game.

Speaker 2 (18:12):
That the thing is huge massive. Yeah. Anyway, anyway, so
conference names another change to potentially look forward to in
twenty twenty six for season three of the UFL, which
will officially be the first season three in spring football

(18:34):
since the original USFL. Now that's if you're not counting
the merge, because I understand the USFL this would have
been what season four that just wrapped up. We'd be
going into season.

Speaker 3 (18:44):
Five, yeah, which is crazy that that is kind of
nuts to think about, but we are.

Speaker 4 (18:48):
We are right on the cusp.

Speaker 3 (18:50):
You know, for the first time a one league goes
through three seasons as a full property. So since the
USFL days, like you said, so, you know, crazy stuff
on the rise. I don't foretell another merger delaying that
or anything. There's nothing that would do that. So all
hands on deck. UFL's here again for next year, So

(19:10):
there's that.

Speaker 2 (19:11):
Yeah. So you know, it's the end of the season.
All the games are behind us, only three games in
front of us. We haven't gotten the official players of
the year from the league itself. Those are going to
be coming soon, but I think it's a good opportunity
for us to go through our players of the year.

Speaker 4 (19:30):
Yes, and you know what, we agreed.

Speaker 2 (19:33):
In some instances, and honestly, it's funny. The first three
I actually agree with yours. We'll go through them in
a minute. The second one I almost agreed with you there.
The third one, once you put it in, I'm like,
that's too. The fourth one, I think I'm gonna win
the battle here anyway. Offensive Player of the Year Jacob

(19:53):
Sailors around the board. We both agreed, hands down. I've
been saying it from the beginning of the season. When
I looked at that team, I'll be honest, I counted
them out quite a few times. But time and time
and time again, who is out there scoring, making ridiculous
run plays. That was my dude, Jacob Sailors. And every
week that it happened, I said, Okay, this guy's making

(20:15):
an argument here this guy's making an argument, and at
the end of the season, there's nothing that's really changed
for me. Probably a couple other guys that could have
worked for this as well, but I don't know, man.
And for all the people that say we give the
battle Hawks, we're Battlehawk haters, look at us, Zach, look.

Speaker 4 (20:32):
At us exactly. We're given what's due.

Speaker 3 (20:37):
You know, we're recognizing the quality performances.

Speaker 4 (20:41):
Do you think we don't watch We see your guys
out there. It was just kind of a you.

Speaker 3 (20:46):
Know, everywhere else was kind of tough outside the run game,
and yeah, Jacob actually funny enough put in his duty
get some of that passing game as well. It's kind
of like the league's Marshall Folk in a way, ripping
off almost seven hundred and fifty toll yards offense between
his performances on the ground and through the air, just
a yard shy of five hundred on the season on

(21:06):
the ground and roughly a yard or too shy at
uh had I think it was like two forty six.

Speaker 4 (21:13):
I believe it was.

Speaker 3 (21:14):
I'm sorry, I gotta do this because now I'm sure
two forty five in the air as well, contributing five
total touchdowns on the season. Man was special and definitely
was I think one of the key contributors, if not
the core contributor outside of whoever was behind center running
RPO in leading this BattleHawks offense on so many crucial

(21:34):
drives to win games off this season, so absolutely.

Speaker 4 (21:39):
Was a big factor.

Speaker 3 (21:40):
You saw him in a lot of times, and especially
one score games he was the guy scoring the go
ahead touchdown. So yeah, definitely was not too hard. Honorable
mention for me was Dion Kane, but once I looked
up Sailors his passing numbers, where he's still top twenty
in the league and easily the leader in yards, I
had to put Dion Kane to the side. Six touchdowns
by the way, for Deane Caanan was third and passing

(22:01):
yards that was my logic. But uh not, Salors is
the guy for me too, So yeah, the only unanimous one.
But still, you know, I think you and I can
agree on choices you and I have made.

Speaker 2 (22:11):
So yeah, well, number two, we were close because I
was I was well I won't say who I was
gonna pick because that'll give years away, but I did
end up picking Chris o'dom. Now you could say, well,
that's partially homersm because he played for the rough decks
of the Gamblers in the past. But when I look
at you, you talked about kind of these collective stats, right,
so I'm looking at Sachs. He's in the top five,

(22:34):
and even the difference in between top five and number
one is what two and a half, So he's kind
of right up there. But for me, tackles for loss, right,
these are the this is when, oh yeah, the impact
matters on the field. Now you can make the argument
that the team didn't end up in the playoffs, but still,
I think if he didn't play the way he played,

(22:56):
Arlington would have looked like a much worse team this year. Yes, uh,
And for that reason and that reason alone, I'm giving
it to Chris Odom. But I mean, he led the
league in tackles for for loss. That in itself is
kind of a big deal. I was. I was close
on Peta though I was close on him, But I'm
curious what put it put it over the edge for you?

Speaker 4 (23:17):
Well, I'll tell you I do.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
I do like you're just trying to win the BattleHawks
fans over this is all.

Speaker 4 (23:21):
I'll be honest with you.

Speaker 3 (23:22):
My three of my votes are leading that. So that
is kind of funny how I how I said it, Hey,
I've full committed there, I said, you know what, Yeah,
but uh, Pete Tomoy peenu here is definitely my guy.
So here's the deal. Leading in sacks still was absolutely
a massive contributor in the pressures this whole year. And

(23:45):
I think it just goes back to, you know, kind
of what Saint Louis really stood on this year eight
and two, and they rode specifically a very well balanced
run game in front line, but on the opposite side,
great pressure and great job at kind of holding teams
at bay and keeping everything in reach to find the
right time to be opportunistic. And that defense absolutely was

(24:05):
I feel Pete was a huge part of that, and
I think honestly that's what I think gives him my
edge there. However, not gonna lie Chris Odom, great option. Look,
five sacks alone, still, the tackles were loss also huge,
So keep that in mind as well when you're leading
that in the league too. I think that that is
gonna be a tight battle. Actually more I look into

(24:26):
Chris Odom and kind of, you know, and I knew
he was already playing at a high level. I was
just curious, you know what else might be able to
put him on the top. The tackles for loss is
a huge stat for him to have one there as well.
I'm curious though, if maybe Pete is impact with this
battle as might give him the edge if we have
a full vote, but love both the options.

Speaker 4 (24:46):
Not gonna lie.

Speaker 2 (24:46):
Well, I believe Chris odom this would be if he
wins defensive Player. This will be the second time. Am
I right?

Speaker 3 (24:52):
It would be in the merge Yeah, in merged stats
it would Yeah, because he did this in the USFL. Actually,
his Defensive Player of the Year not in the twenty
two season was the reason why he got back to
the NFL. Now credit he got injured in training camp
and it sucks because he actually a legitimate shot of
making that roster in Cleveland. But I say his not

(25:14):
in the inaugural year was one of the core reasons
why he was even we even see him as a
superstar today, Like he had a coming out party for
the beg Amblers back in the day along with Donald Payne.
All in, baby, all in, all in, but no good pickup.
Definitely not a Homer pick I'm I'm gonna defend you
on that.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Hey, sign me up. I'll take it. I'll take it.
So the special teams you want to you want to
jump in. I gave the first two a week start
the last two.

Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, let me jump in and we'll do this this way.

Speaker 3 (25:44):
So I had a tough one and I thought there
were I thought there's some solid return men for getting yards,
not really explosive plays for touchdowns this year. So I
couldn't not saying touchdowns are the main stat with kicking returns,
but I didn't feel like there were return any return
men that really just fed the Special Teams Player of
the Year nods. So I went to the kicker side,
and it was a tough choice. Not gonna lie, but

(26:08):
I think again, talk about impact, talk about how this
team got to this point and winning games. I gotta
give it to Ricardo blanket Ship And this is a
guy that was, you know, kind of I think outcasted
from the NFL in a way, you know, had a
bit of a rough stretch at the end at his
end of his tenure with Indianapolis, didn't really get picked
up anywhere. He's taken this opportunity with the league much

(26:29):
like we've seen with other kickers, and I think he's
squarely back in the conversation to be talked about in
NFL circles to get a job again this offseason without
a doubt. Only missed one kick this year. Felt like
his leg was much better than I saw him in
the NFL in terms of strength. Still can't push those
higher fifty numbers for kicks, but you know, being able
to hit fifty yarders more regularly.

Speaker 4 (26:50):
Dude had a really good year.

Speaker 3 (26:52):
Like I think he'll be back in the NFL, and
I think he's gonna be that next kicker that took
this opportunity and kind of helped pump himself back up
into the So uh, I got stuck with Ricardo, but
a lot of great kicking still this year. As always,
there's plenty your your picks interesting, but I in previous years,
I think, Uh, this gentleman, I can see making a

(27:12):
case even as well more so at times.

Speaker 2 (27:15):
I got a couple of reasons here. First, once I
saw Rogery you go on your listen, thank you, It's.

Speaker 4 (27:21):
Like you almost were like, oh my god, how could
I blank?

Speaker 2 (27:24):
Yeah, So it is what it is. It is, But
I'm not going to change it, right, So Isaiah Henny
won the kick six to me, yeah, that is impressive
as you can get with a play when it comes
to special teams. What was it one hundred and eight
yards on this one something like that.

Speaker 3 (27:40):
Yeah, one hundred and eight definitely longest play in the
league's history and tied with the with with the other
with others in the past as well.

Speaker 2 (27:48):
So yeah, so I look at that plus plus the
Showboats got snubbed in the All UFL team and for
that alone, that alone, I give. I give the extra points.
You know, the league take them. I give them. Plus
you know you want to talk about extra points. You
know what they didn't factor in in the All UFL team.

(28:13):
How many points each player had in a TU points
and idea, And he has more than Rodrigo.

Speaker 4 (28:21):
So to me, boom baby, lock it in.

Speaker 3 (28:27):
If you want to pick the best one for the show. Well,
he kind of holds he kind of holds it firm. Hey, Ricardo,
off you. If you happen to get this clip, maybe
you need to join a TU. Yeah, come and take
a visit with us if you would like as Uh, yeah, definitely,
I think that's definitely should be in order.

Speaker 4 (28:43):
Honorable mentioned.

Speaker 3 (28:44):
Shout out by the way to Harrison Mavis the thick
the Thicker Kickers they're calling him down there in Birmingham. Uh,
really great year as well, only missed one as well. However, again,
if I'm gonna this is where I get into like
situational football, I gotta go Ricardo just a little bit.
But dude is definitely also another great option was one

(29:04):
of the two I think top two if we talk
it's Emma Ricardo and then you can talk Luscis, Harv
have Risk and Matt cole Cloane as well or Kauughlin
that had been doing excellent too. So yeah, definitely don't
want to forget those guys. But no, the Thicker Kicker
definitely honorable mention. I can't leave here without saying that.
And finally, the MVP vote, so you'll I think it'll

(29:24):
be some some folks might be interested in some namings here.
I'm gonna go with mine really quick, and I am
going to continue the conversation I had on at you
about this. I am going with Jordan Taamu as the MVP.
I still believe he should have been the all USFL
NOD pick instead of Bryce Perkins personally, but I think
that is uh, well, it's in the past, but no,

(29:46):
Jordan to me is the MVP choice. We had questions
about if he could lead this DC Defenders squad and
be the main main breadmaker on that offense, and that
if Abram Smith wasn't going to be delivering, could he
do it. He showed out and did more. Was absolutely
the defining QB star in terms of a full season production.
And I know that he was sat for a game

(30:08):
and a half, but when you give it in the circumstance,
if you play all ten games, I guarantee you he
beats out least pres and yards and he continues to
do what he's been doing in the touchdown interception ratio
this year, which by the way, his best season of
football in spring football was this year. With the TDI
and T ratio, he was really crisp. He has this
offense down, So I gotta give that nod. What I

(30:31):
will say to this before we get to yours is
I have a sneaking dark horse suspicion they're going to
give it to Bryce Perkins for the sake of because
explosive player and because they.

Speaker 4 (30:42):
Got the all USFL nod. That's just what I think
is gonna happen.

Speaker 3 (30:46):
I don't know if it will, and personally, I'll say
the same thing I said on Monday, I hope it
doesn't because to me, I think you're devaluing Jordan's season.
And I was railing on Jordan all year. I know
he's inefficient in terms of completion percentage, but he was
the guy of the guys at QB this season. So yeah,
but anyway, I mean, any thoughts on that, and then

(31:06):
I want yours is a fast I think it's a
good argument for maybe next year personally, but you know,
I'll let you go.

Speaker 4 (31:14):
I want to hear your argument here.

Speaker 2 (31:16):
Well, on Jordan, first, it is hard to deny seventeen touchdowns, Okay,
when we look at the rest of the list, I
don't think there's anybody else that's in double digits, right,
So that alone, right, that alone.

Speaker 3 (31:30):
I mean seventeen tds to four interceptions, like any other year,
that is a double digit interception rate for Jordan. He
was excelling this season, great numbers, and he would have
definitely won the yardage again if he plays at least
another half.

Speaker 2 (31:44):
It's just crazy to look at these numbers, right, so
over twenty one hundred yards passing seventeen touchdowns on a
fifty four percent completion rate. Hear that. You compare that
to Luise Perez who barely edged him out with almost
twenty three yards seventy one percent, almost seventy two percent percentage,

(32:05):
only nine touchdowns. It is, and so there is something
to that when it comes to the efficiency of missing
half of your passes but still dominating the league in touchdowns. So,
you know what, maybe that alone, but I still stand
by my pick, and I don't think anybody should be
surprised by this pick, because what are we talking about here.

(32:25):
We're talking about the most valuable player, the player that
if this team did not have this player, they would
not perform the same. And although in my situation we
learned that news in reverse order, we learned it nonetheless.
And that's why, naturally, my MVP pick of the season

(32:46):
is a guy that only started played seven games, Jalen
mcclennon of the Houston Roughnecks, because those first three games
were scary, and the moment he took the field when
we were playing the Stallions the first game, so we
might be competitive here then we started winning. He almost

(33:08):
single handedly, Because I don't want to take any credit
away from the rest of the team, justin Hall, for instance,
our defense did a hell of a job this year,
better than I think a lot of people expected. You
could say what you want about CJ, but the dude's
entertaining on the sidelines. But without Jaylen McClendon, this team
would not be anywhere close to five hundred. He is

(33:29):
probably one of the biggest reasons we went from a
one to nine team to a five and five team.
And when we look at next year, you're right, Zach,
to me, my eye is on McClendon for MVP. One
of these guys that's kind of always had always been overlooked.
It didn't matter the situation. He was with the Vipers, overlooked,
comes over to the Merge League overlooked. Even when he's

(33:51):
with the Roughnecks, he is the third string quarterback until
he's not, and then we all learned, why the hell
have you just been sitting on the s sidelines for
all these damn near years. Next year he gets to
come into this league from the beginning of the season,
have that preseason, have the plays built around him, have

(34:12):
the receivers tuned him from the beginning of the year. God,
please we retain a Justin Hall and all of these,
like all of the key contributors from this season, keiky chise,
bring him on because now we got a guy that's
going to be able to move that ball. He does
and this is my only one knockgun. He needs to

(34:33):
think about the plays sometimes in some of those in
those drive situation end of the game drives, because he
could have kneeled a couple of weeks ago. Instead he
tried to get fancy, tried to get first and goal,
and we all know what happened next. Yeah. Yeah, but
he's still my MVP. He's the league MVP. Have we

(34:56):
not had him, we easily could have went oh to ten.

Speaker 4 (34:59):
He eased up.

Speaker 3 (35:00):
As you can tell, my colleague is leading very heavy
into the valuable in the MVP acronym. And while I
will say that, yes, if you look at the change
of the like again the change of the of the
switch and flip of the switch after later in the year,
after Game three and him coming in and showing that
his passing ability was definitely the most refined between Anthony

(35:23):
Brown and Nolan Anderson It helped a ton because that
team really needed someone that is able to digest in
more I think, better read defenses and kind of be
a true passer less with some mobile characteristic And yes,
I think next year, you know, and keep in mind,
you know, he left DC to go and play for Houston,
so he was on that roster last year behind Jordan Deamu.

(35:44):
He went and played for Houston, started the year as
the third string. Which it's fascinating to see that, you know,
looking back and how we do this and talk about
the years, you know, what starts and what ends the year.
You know, and I still think there's a lot of
potential for Anthony Brown. But if you're talking about winning
and wanting to I think establish and get back to

(36:05):
you know, being more of a threat in the UFL.
I mean, if mc clennon wants back, you should want
him back immediately. This was a guy that I think
is a great at least for this moving forward, for
like the next maybe one to two years or how
long he wants to stay. And let the objectives are
with C. J.

Speaker 4 (36:23):
Johnson.

Speaker 3 (36:23):
As long as he gets to stay, you know, he's
a great guy to start your base with next year.
Know that he's the starter right away and then he
can focus on developing behind the scenes. So yeah, I'm
glad for him.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
Two.

Speaker 3 (36:35):
This is a guy I even I started the year
thinking he should have won the job and that he
should have been a contender for the job more in front.
And I haven't forgotten his performances with Vegas in twenty
twenty three because he he showed up and I was surprised.
He kind of got lost in the shuffle a little
bit outside the fact that he was playing behind Jordan Tamu,
But like you know, people seem to forget about him,
and then you know, commediately remembered him all of a

(36:56):
sudden when he started playing good again. It's like, well, no,
that's the same guy I remember from two years ago.
So if he's back next year, that's a great nod,
and that's another solid QB you can lean on to
start the season, because I think the league needs good
qbs to kick things off if they can, and if
they're stars from your spring scene, he's one of them.

Speaker 4 (37:13):
He's he's getting there. I think.

Speaker 2 (37:15):
Hell yeah. So here's what I want everyone to do.
I want you guys to let us know what you
think of our picks for Players of the Year. Also
let us know what your picks will be. I think
that what did they announce him right before the championship?
Is that what they usually do after the playoffs usually?

Speaker 4 (37:31):
Yeah, that's the case. Yeah, so we should know soon.

Speaker 2 (37:35):
But it does lead us to well, actually, we have
one other topic before it leads us to this awards note.

Speaker 3 (37:41):
Yeah, there's one more good award and this one's a
good feel good and uh, I think one that highlights
kind of the mission of especially what the USFL started
in their end and definitely is committed to and made
commitments with with the merger.

Speaker 4 (37:56):
Since is the Sportsman of the Year. Uh, this is
this is the year.

Speaker 3 (37:59):
That dates award that dates back to twenty twenty two
in the inaugural USFL season and pretty much to read
off the pr uh, it's a prestigious honor that acknowledge
that recognizes the UFA player who best exemplifies the league's
core values by demonstrating excellence on field and deep commitments
to community service.

Speaker 4 (38:17):
Off the field. Uh.

Speaker 3 (38:19):
And it celebrates individuals who lead by example, demonstrating passion
with the game of football on field and then serves
to make a difference within communities, so highlights the community
aspect that the league is trying to push. And you know,
for players that do and actively want to be involved
and do extra outside of the game, you know, that's
what it's there for.

Speaker 2 (38:37):
We need.

Speaker 3 (38:38):
You know, one of a few of these we've seen
have already been doing work in the years past, and
I'm not surprised to see names on here, like for example,
nominees Chris Roland for d C and Travis Foenie for
Saint Louis. They've been community leaders for their teams or
ambassadors for their teams for several years now, even rolling
like I said, dating back to the USFL Feenie you
know USFL or XFL seasons too, So you know, not

(39:00):
surprised to see them. Others on this list Arlington's tight
ends Seth Green, Birmingham's Birmingham offensive lineman Barry Wesley. We
also have for your Houston Roughnecks Leon O'Neill safety for
the team. He's been also having a really solid year
at safety two by the way, so you know, good kudos.

Speaker 4 (39:17):
To him as well.

Speaker 3 (39:18):
For Memphis Jalen Allen defensive end. He's been doing some
great things over there in Memphis, and they've been active
in that community. In San Antonio, you've got tight ends
Steven Stilianos, who is also doing community work and has
been doing some great nods too for the promise. So
those of your eight, they're also going to be announced.
It should be along with either with or Wrong, the

(39:38):
same lines as Championship Week, so stay tuned to that.
Other previous winners, one of them we interviewed actually for
our second summer stock Ethan Westbrooks. He was on our
show at the time with the Panthers. He won the
twenty twenty three award, and then last year Darius Victor
won the UFL's inaugural Sportsman of the Year. We hope

(39:59):
he's doing well since he has not been back in
the league since, but yeah, he gets that nod too,
and he's also has been active in meres past as
one of the consistent guys in communities when he was
in the USFL.

Speaker 4 (40:10):
So yeah, Kudros.

Speaker 3 (40:12):
Good award, and again it's uh, I think just as
we've talked here, I think it's important these teams are
in communities. You know, there was some discussion on like,
you know, how this changes with the new format when
they merge and how it takes some things away or
kind of getting in as easily with how they did
the hubs in the USFL.

Speaker 4 (40:31):
And I still hold.

Speaker 3 (40:32):
Study that the more they do that, the more not
only helps get you out there as a like a
team and as a brand, but also you know, you
better engage community and give back there. People appreciate that too,
you know. It's it's vital for this level of sport,
not just the UFL. Like arena indoor teams do this
stuff all the time as well, and I love seeing
that type of work.

Speaker 2 (40:53):
No, absolutely, it's one of the It's one of the
things that makes spring football fun. It's you know, they
try it. They they treat them so like a professional league,
even down to the small things like giving back to
the community. So I like to see that. Now, would
we like to see them move back into the communities
so we see more of that, Yes, So don't be
forgotten about that. I do appreciate the award, but I

(41:15):
do want to see more of this in the communities
as we head into season three and beyond. But we
can't get to season three without having a little old
shindig this weekend. Zachi boy, and that's a little old
thing called the UFL playoffs, and at least for this
year and maybe next year, we don't know, but we
still have a USFL Conference championship and an XFL Conference championship.

(41:39):
And you know what, I'm as silly as it is,
I'm excited to see that a little old whisk bring
it out now, I think, and I'll have to keep
an eye on this, but I think I saw James
Baker mentioned that on the XFL Conference trophy. It just
has a renegades plaque. They never they never removed the black,

(42:02):
they never removed the plaquet, nor did they add the
iterative team that won the conference championship. So keep an
eye out for that this weekend. If they bring old
whiskey out, whiskey, you know, that's what they should have had,
made it a whiskey bottle. Now we're talking now, no
more jokes, boys.

Speaker 4 (42:21):
All right, it's part of time.

Speaker 2 (42:25):
But we're kicking things off Sunday. Both games are on
Sunday this week, and so the championships on Saturday. The
playoffs are on a Sunday. We're we're kicking things off
midday three pm Eastern with the Michigan Panthers traveling to
the Birmingham Stallions for this really a repeat of last year?
To you, how are you feeling.

Speaker 3 (42:46):
Here we go again, and you know, I don't know
how I feel. I want to I want to say,
and I think this is the best shot that this
that this franchise has had at getting over the hump.

Speaker 4 (43:00):
But I'm not one hundred percent sure.

Speaker 3 (43:03):
The two matchups we played this year, it's either been
Mike Nolan splits rep splits reps with his quarterback situation,
and even then I can still make the caveat that.
Bryce Perkins did not look too good in that first matchup.
Still was early in the year. You know, we can
definitely say that teams adapt and change, but it was
earlier in the year Team Memphis or Michigan was a

(43:24):
little healthier, not as much right now, still dealing with
the injury bug.

Speaker 2 (43:29):
You know.

Speaker 3 (43:29):
Meanwhile, the second matchup, it's a throwaway game. But what
did stick out to me is man Jordan tam I
swear to god, the guy is looking so sharp and
has not had that off game that we have seen
him and known him to have, you know, And I
think that that's my worry is that, you know, I

(43:50):
think that he's very comfortable with skips offense, and I'm
also afraid of Michigan giving up the big play they
do on a very regular basis this season, and it's
led to some of their losses. As much as I
complain about Saint Louis and what the push off that
was not against the Keem Butler, you know that they
had two splash plays in that game that led to

(44:11):
them losing by five. And that's something that stuck out
to me has continued to be a point of contention
I've looked at all year, is every game they give
up at least one to two big splash plays in
the defensive secondary.

Speaker 4 (44:23):
Part of that's health.

Speaker 3 (44:24):
Part of that, I think is just that something happens
with the scheme and they just happen to get a vulnerability.

Speaker 4 (44:30):
And I think I think that's.

Speaker 3 (44:32):
Gonna be a problem that I'm worried about because Jmar
Smith is slinging it and is looking so crisp with
these twenty plus yard pass plays.

Speaker 4 (44:40):
He looks so damn good.

Speaker 3 (44:42):
Stefan, He's finding these receivers. Dion Kaine's a wonderful deep threat.
Jace Sternberger, our guy for eight tou He's looking.

Speaker 4 (44:50):
Better than ever right now.

Speaker 3 (44:51):
He's looking like he was two years ago where he
was the primary target and discord. Now you know what,
I'm gonna side step the discord link of the description
if you want to continue to get on us with
the discord on that. But it worries me that in
Birmingham's defense is not has been a consistent, pro steady

(45:12):
presence all year.

Speaker 4 (45:14):
It's really just about were they able to find.

Speaker 3 (45:16):
Some offensive traction. I think they found it, and I
don't know how you feel about me. I'm worried about it,
you know, because all the chips are on the table
for Michigan to make this one big push. It's why
Bryce Perkins is sitting and they've let that ankle heal.
But man, he's got to have the best game of
his life because I know Birmingham with a home game

(45:37):
which the tickets are selling solid.

Speaker 4 (45:38):
I've seen for that game, by the way, and.

Speaker 3 (45:41):
It's j Mar's looking crisp, and it's this defense that's
looking stud studley. I just don't know if Michigan can
out coach this Birmingham team, is my question.

Speaker 4 (45:50):
Bryce is the key supposedly, but is he gonna be rusty?
That's the part he's sat for a few games.

Speaker 2 (45:56):
Now, That's what I would be worried about too. You
would think they would have had them out, even if
just for a driver or too, in this previous week,
just to you know, get some of that rust out there,
because you're going into the most important game of the
season against somebody that I've learned a long time ago.
You just don't bet against Coach Holtz and the Stallions

(46:17):
when you think they're a there the dynasty is over.
What they end the season with head of the USFL
Division three losses, Oh geez, Zach, I'd love to be
in that position. I loved. I'd love for my team
to be dying like that, Oh my god. And so
you know, it's funny we listened to the how how

(46:39):
close you watched this last game where the Stallions just
trounched the show Boats. But the sideline reporters, I mean
Coach Holts. I don't know why he talks to his
players like that. If I was a QB, I know
a lot of qbs that wouldn't be that cool headed.
Look at his record, it's called coach with confidence that

(47:02):
dude knows what he wants. He's gonna tell you when
he doesn't get it. He's gonna tell you when he
doesn't get it. Every time, even even if it's not
your fault. He's gonna make sure you understand why the
play that he called or drew up or whatever didn't
go as expected, so that the next time, and when
we saw that in this previous game, one try, second try,

(47:26):
third try, you're done. Skipscott, you he's got and all
the players know. I'm not getting yelled at again by
coach over here. And they're they're eye in those things,
and plus I mean, they just I don't know if
it's a Michigan Panthers thing. There's there's a thing, and
I thought this would be the Panthers here. Maybe it is.

(47:47):
They have one more opportunity to beat the Stallions. So
we'll see. We'll see. But I'm I'm going to Stallions.
I can't in good faith. One I'll have Steviet Bammable
the whole corral hop my ass. I don't, but I
truly mean it. I do think this Stallions they're gonna
pull this off.

Speaker 4 (48:08):
I love it. You're you're you're you're falling. I love
I love our crew that gets honest because it drinks.
Lets us talk. But you've fallen.

Speaker 3 (48:17):
To the side you said, I'm committing. I don't want
any smoke this week. I'm picking the guy that has
three championships on in his back pocket, and uh is our?

Speaker 4 (48:28):
I mean they're looking dangerous right now. You know. That's
the thing that they are looking really damn good.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
Well, Jimar, ever since he came into that game for Houston,
like the second he came in, I said, oh, we're done.
I just feel that Jmr is gonna have like a
renaissance game. Little did I know he's having a renaissance season.

Speaker 3 (48:47):
I mean, ever since like that, that's what's crazy And
it's funny, is is I It's I feel like ever
since he's joined, the energy around that team has changed,
Like it's like we're going it's like turning back the clock,
like that old school like first season feel for this team.
You know, like people who are are are jazzed to
see their hero back, you know.

Speaker 4 (49:08):
And that's saying something given.

Speaker 3 (49:09):
Alex McGoo also has that repertoire for being a championship
hero and an MVP the next year after that. You know,
Jmar is just a staple with this team every season.
I feel like that's why they're all rallying around him,
is he's been there every year and he is there
like consistent rock on the sideline.

Speaker 4 (49:26):
So it's cool.

Speaker 3 (49:29):
But look, I can't you know, look at look at
the stuff I got on Who do you think I'm picking?

Speaker 4 (49:37):
Would you would you blame me for picking my team?
You know, it's a playoff matchup. It's something I've been
dreaming is.

Speaker 3 (49:45):
Getting by these damn horses so I can go see
my team play and get that shot for that glorious
sterling silver metallic trophy.

Speaker 4 (49:57):
That's what I want.

Speaker 3 (49:58):
I gotta go with my panthers, man, And I really
I am hoping that this time off allows Bryce to
be Bryce and that whatever happened in that first matchup,
they go, look, it's your reins, no funny business with
the drives. We think he can do it and get
the job done. And I think if there's any time
they're gonna do it, it's gonna be this year. Otherwise

(50:20):
we're waiting, you know, or we're gonna be seeing what
went wrong and we gotta get another shot of getting
healthy or something like that, because these veterans they got
on defense, you know, speaks finally got healthy. But you're
not seeing Ginda again, you know, and they're getting older,
you know.

Speaker 4 (50:34):
That's the thing.

Speaker 3 (50:34):
It's a more veteran roster for Michigan. It's now or never.
So I'm going with the Panthers.

Speaker 4 (50:42):
But man, I see what's on the other side.

Speaker 3 (50:44):
I know, I've I've watched this song and dance play
out now for three for three seasons and change.

Speaker 4 (50:51):
So I'm bracing, but I'm still rooting.

Speaker 2 (50:55):
Here's the thing, if you make it past the Stallions,
you've earned the championship pretty much. And that's that's one
thing that I think any team, they're kind of looking
at that almost as a challenge chances, especially because of
the history.

Speaker 3 (51:08):
Well I think everyone too, knowing the history in the USFL,
the XFL team's coming over last year, knowing who the
top dog was and then getting shellacked by the top
dog in the championship round and on the way up,
everyone knows the targets on Birmingham like it's been that way,
you know, and even again this year, you know, they
lose the DC and ugly fashion they go and rotate

(51:29):
through quarterbacks and look terrible. You know, they lose to
Memphis in like a baffling stunner on a Friday night
and you're just like what And sure enough here they
are only lost since then a one point loss to
Saint Louis, which, yes, Saint Louis fans could win. But
as Joel Clatton company point out on broadcast, and I

(51:51):
still agree, you take that pick six away.

Speaker 4 (51:55):
Was that game really close? Cuz I'll tell.

Speaker 3 (51:58):
You JMR was looking good outside have one very telegraph slant.
And that's something that scares me. If you find that
team a little bit, they are scary, is the thing.
Personal preference though, is uh yeah, I'm actually gona wait
to make my personal preference because it'll come down with
my picnic.

Speaker 4 (52:16):
So I'll hold off. I'll hold on right.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
Well. That leads us to the Lake game six pm Eastern.
We got the DC Defenders traveling to Saint Louis taking
on the Battle Hawks in the Dome. And what we
saw last year with Saint Louis, they they're ready for
some playoff action. We're getting some more playoff action, and
I think this year they're hoping to make it to
the Championship, and I'll say I'm really excited about this

(52:42):
game because this is probably one of the truest rivalries
that we had from the exit. Yes, I mean ever
since the Lemon Days and even before that Saint Louis
and DC. It's usually a chippy game. It's loud, it's fun,
it's entertaining. Even this past week Friday night game. Whatever

(53:03):
doesn't matter. Fun. I don't know, but I think, well,
I do know, Zach, I don't I was gonna play
like it.

Speaker 4 (53:14):
I'm not sure, man, I just don't know. I'm clueless.

Speaker 2 (53:17):
I think the battle Hawks are taking this through hook
or crook, through hard work or whatever is needed. I
think the BattleHawks want that home championship game. Beyond that,
I'm pretty sure league officials would love to have the
championship BattleHawks or the BattleHawks play in that championship game

(53:42):
in Saint Louis. We were at that game last year.
There was a good look. There was a good amount
of people there. It's a big stadium, yes, but if
the BattleHawks were in there, we know what that thing
would look like. Actually we might not even because it
might be more packed than it's ever in a championship
game football championship game in Saint Louis. Everything's on the line.

(54:09):
That alone, take out the players, take out Jacob Sailors,
take out Max Duggett, put nobody on the field. That alone.
I feel the crowd's energy and momentum is going to
carry that football wherever it needs to go to ensure
that the BattleHawks make it to the championship game. And
you know what, I Am going to give a little

(54:29):
bit of credit to Anthony Beck. I meant to actually
a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't. Some people
love him, some people hate him. I love his dedication
right call, wrong call, challenge, no matter what. He is
in it to win it. Baby. He's on the sidelines.

(54:51):
If it's good for him, he is excited as hell.
If it's bad for him, he's tearing the place down.
And I I love that in a football coach. It's
just that extra personality the team. You kind of know
who you're getting into. Similar reason why I love CJ.
He is lovable, but he's not so much of a threat,

(55:11):
you know what I mean. He's you know, you're gonna
get some entertainment about something on the sideline when he's there.

Speaker 4 (55:18):
A threat.

Speaker 2 (55:19):
Yeah, Anthony Beck. Though, you know what, as much as
I wanted to say that the Bantlehawks weren't going to
be the team this year best record in the league,
and you know, maybe they wanted to be the guys
to change how the playoffs worked and who got into it,
it didn't matter at the end, and they didn't get
their way. But it's hard for me to pick the
battle Hawks, especially when I look at close games throughout

(55:43):
the season. The DC defenders, they they've been pretty good
at having comeback games, but they also lost to the
rough Decks. Need I say more? I mean right, I.

Speaker 3 (55:56):
Mean okay, but like they did pull their starter at
halftime and played a backup who almost pulled that win off.

Speaker 4 (56:03):
Mind you, so just fun.

Speaker 2 (56:05):
Didn't pull it off. Though I know completion rate, Zach.
I'm just saying this game is right for the BattleHawks
to just scare the hell out of defenders. Get them.
If they can score and get like an interception in
the first quarter, I think the defenders are shook. I'm

(56:26):
going to give the defenders some credit here, though. Of
all teams that I wouldn't want to play against in
the playoffs. On the XFL side, the other one would
be the Defenders. Here you're looking at a team, and
I'll probably sound like a broken record when I say this,
but you're looking at a team. It's like a tale
of two stories when you look at the Showbotes for
the Defenders, very similar situations. They both lost their head

(56:47):
coach going into the season. They both had changes in
the coaching treat even and what is the different Zach
One's going to the playoffs as a definitive number two
and the other one is a definitive second from last. Right,
There's a lot to be said for that, and I

(57:08):
think Shannon Harris as the coach has a lot to
do with that. So now you're in a situation though,
where your personality is dictated by the drive of Anthony
Beckt and the determination of Shannon Harris. But you have
I just feel the with that home team advantage in

(57:29):
the Dome, with everything on the line, I think that's
where the BattleHawks get the flip. And again for all
the BattleHawks fans, I will say I did laugh pretty
heavily when I saw the greatest rivalry in the UFL
is PFN versus the BattleHawks. That's pretty funny. But no,

(57:50):
I do. I've said it a couple of weeks ago.
I'm sticking by that. I think the BattleHawks are getting
to the championship. Home crowd say it doesn't help. In
Saint Louis, it helps, So that's my take.

Speaker 3 (58:04):
My counterpoint to the crowd is, though, guess who has
the most success.

Speaker 4 (58:08):
In that building. The DC Defenders.

Speaker 3 (58:11):
Anyone who always brings up this crowd argument, that's one
team you can't bring into the fact, no matter who's
coaching it, DC knows how to play in Saint Louis.

Speaker 4 (58:20):
That thirty thousand crowd doesn't give a damn. It doesn't
matter to the DC Defenders.

Speaker 3 (58:25):
They've beaten them multiple times in their history in that building.

Speaker 4 (58:30):
So I'm just gonna let you know right now.

Speaker 3 (58:33):
You know, my question is the pressure's on Saint Louis.
You know why the only time these two have played
full strength, DC whipped.

Speaker 4 (58:41):
Him at home two two possession win wasn't even close.

Speaker 3 (58:46):
And my question to the Saint Louis is what has
changed in this offensive game plan since that first contest?
Manny Wilkins is a runner that doesn't have as much
passing ability, and they don't they can't extend the field.
You know who else can't really do that. Still that
I don't trust Max Dugan. He does the exact same
thing as Manny Wilkins. They still can't get an extended

(59:07):
consistent pass game involved. And that's DC's strength is in
the secondary, their pressure in the secondary, and they.

Speaker 4 (59:15):
Have given up some yards. But you know what's on
the other.

Speaker 3 (59:17):
Side, an offense that I think can actually take on
that Saint Louis defensive front and make things work. I
gotta go with the defenders, and look, I think Saint
Louis this is the best team Anthony Beck has had
in my opinion, if we're talking overall and what is
getting them wins? And I know that I don't care

(59:38):
what STL guys have to say.

Speaker 4 (59:42):
These two have played together.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
DC can play in that building and it's the same
offense that these two played against each other with last
time that Saint Louis has to do. Where is your
explosive plays that you're gonna be able to beat this
team on?

Speaker 4 (59:55):
Is my question. I don't know if they have it.

Speaker 3 (59:57):
I think that you're gonna see see the younger Williams
defensive coordinator. Who's gonna take Greg's original game plan, and
yes there's adjustments you can make, but I think it's
the same game plan they played last time, as long
as Max isn't running and scrambling out of the pocket,
which teams seem to forget. Hey, if we keep this
guy in the pocket, he's got to make throws and

(01:00:19):
he hasn't been able to do that most times during
the year, or it's been very select drives.

Speaker 4 (01:00:24):
Is the deal.

Speaker 3 (01:00:25):
If we keep this guy in the pocket and we
focus on the run game, we can slow this team down.
And I think the biggest issue is people don't play contained.
DC can play contain. They got the right guys to
do it. I gotta go with defenders, and I'm gonna
say it's a close one, but I'm going with my
MVP pick.

Speaker 4 (01:00:40):
Who's gonna be the guy that leads himTo the win.

Speaker 3 (01:00:43):
I trust that offense with that guy, which, by the way,
possible chance to Tye. Scott's also gonna be playing this game.
Heard today via James Larsen. He is on his Twitter day.
He's back in the building, so more weapons coming your way.
My satan was the saving Great if they play defense
and they play a better game they did against the
Defenders the first time, and I just don't think they

(01:01:05):
can because again, if the if the crowd audience is
one thing, sure, but that's the one team you can't
use the whole like big home capacity argument on because
they've beaten them there.

Speaker 4 (01:01:16):
They know how to play there, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:01:18):
Not to mention, I wouldn't doubt if DC travels well
for this games.

Speaker 3 (01:01:23):
Well, I mean, we'll see. I think there's gonna be
a contingent of super fans. But you know, still, I
just my pressure's on the BattleHawks. The defenders have had
no reason to get serious. They have played super conservatively
scaled back football for two weeks. You know, Sand's playing
Tama for half and the last time these two played
was in a mud bowl in DC with their backup

(01:01:46):
quarterback starting. Yeah, how am I? How am I going
to give the nod to Saint Louis now? The one
caveat I do have. That's interesting, and I think it
was brought up on. It was actually brought on an
interview I did for a buddy of mine, Phil Phil Jordan.

Speaker 4 (01:02:00):
Check his show out.

Speaker 3 (01:02:02):
If they struggle, if the BattleHawks for some reason cannot
get things going fast enough and they get behind early
and this is from recent performance seeing our Brandon.

Speaker 4 (01:02:15):
Silvers on the field.

Speaker 3 (01:02:17):
Do you throw Brandon Silvers in if you're going, you
know what, we got a run game. If Max ain't
doing it, we gotta get a pass going and like
start attacking the secondary because that you just can't wait around.
Like that's the thing that's the like, there's no difference
in offense between what Dugan was doing and what Manny
Wilkins was doing in the early going of the year.
That the exact same thing. The difference is can you

(01:02:39):
find some material attack. I feel like brand Silver sees
time in this game if they get behind, I really do,
and might not.

Speaker 2 (01:02:46):
Necessarily be a bad thing. I think Brandon Silver is
funny enough, is always trying to prove why he should
be playing football, and every time he gets on the
field that's kind of proving it. To a certain extent.
Everybody has a down game, but he does have some
pretty amazing plays for a guy that's sitting on the backup,
so you know, I wouldn't doubt it as well. I
do appreciate the fact that each of us has different

(01:03:06):
picks this week. You're going bold both the away teams,
though I like it. I like it.

Speaker 3 (01:03:11):
Yeah, I will say that my confidence meters more in DC.
I and it's again, most of it comes down to
home field advantage hasn't really been worth the damn playing
the defenders in Saint Louis, So it really comes down
more to full strength. These teams are DC knows how
to quiet the crowd. That that's the deal.

Speaker 2 (01:03:33):
Yeah, yeah, well only a few days before we have
to wait, and then we're gonna be watching these playoff
games and at that point we're gonna know the championship. Monday,
we'll be talking about that on around the UFL. Then
you and me are gonna be catching up for a ride,
and we'll be talking about a week and launching it
for summerstock the road to the UFL Championship. All reasons

(01:03:53):
you need to be subscribed. I'm you know, just to
before we do the outrow. We're recording this on a Wednesday,
switch to releases tonight. I'm hype. I'm ready. And this
is why we were talking about when to record. I
was like, you know, we could record Thursday. We absolutely
could have. My schedule was much more open, but I
was like, you know what, all I'm gonna be thinking

(01:04:14):
about while we're recording, is I could be playing that
switch too. So we got it out of the way today,
and now I'm excited.

Speaker 3 (01:04:21):
Mario Kart is something I am. I'm so thrilled to
get the play soon.

Speaker 4 (01:04:27):
Goodness, me too.

Speaker 2 (01:04:28):
And I've been so busy, Zach that I've barely been
able to look at anything related to the Switch to
which actually has me a little bit more excited because
usually by now I'll have like watched a million videos,
watch the play blah blah blah. This time, I'm going
and blind. I know a little bit about Mario Kart,
and so I'm I'm actually a little bit excited about this.

(01:04:50):
I know which games are like real games, which ones
are the digital key card, because to me, there's no
point in buying a digital key card, but like Cyberpunk,
I'll probably buy it again just to reward them for
putting the cartridge on the disc. And I saw that's
the one thing I did see gameplay of and it's

(01:05:11):
as good as an Xbox series s and in some
cases better, And so for a handheld Bro's that's sweet.

Speaker 4 (01:05:19):
Yeah, that sounds fantastic.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
I'm ready, but I can't wait. They need more games.
I will say that they do need some more games
for you who's never had a switch. It's actually built
for people like you, because now you get to come
into it.

Speaker 5 (01:05:33):
With a boatload of games Zelda, both Zelda's regular or
with the upgrade patch you have, you know, all of
those games that.

Speaker 2 (01:05:43):
Even the Pokemon game looks like it's actually playable now,
which I think. I owned it, played five minutes and
I said, this is horrible. That's how could they put
this out? Yeah, it's just clicky and chunky and bad.
And then I saw a screenshot I was running sixty
frames per second. I was like, okay, all right, fair.

(01:06:04):
So I'm looking for I'm just curious to poke around.
And then I just remember they also have the game
Cube online my form thing now, so I don't even
know what games are coming for that, which I saw
they have a game Cube controller that works forts and
now I gotta buy that. Man, I'm looking. I'm ready,
I'm ready soon in a week.

Speaker 4 (01:06:24):
I'm resisting.

Speaker 3 (01:06:25):
I'm resisting buying it just now, but it's gonna happen
this year. I'm definitely picking one up. I have to,
you know, Yeah, gotta hold cattleg to catch up on
right now plenty.

Speaker 2 (01:06:36):
Yeah. Well, and here's the thing, you should start looking
those switch games. You can get them cheap and so like,
think about this. You can pay eighty dollars for Zelda
Switch to version, or you could probably find it on
sale for thirty bucks and pay ten dollars for the upgrade.

Speaker 4 (01:06:52):
Oh yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:06:53):
Right, and so there's probably a lot of like deals
you can find in that year.

Speaker 3 (01:06:57):
I'm that type of shopper with games anymore. Unless I
need it, I'm waiting a few years and picking it
up later when it goes to the USU market. That's
just me.

Speaker 2 (01:07:06):
So oh yeah, I'm too much of a Weirdoh I
just I. God, the last time I didn't buy a
Nintendo console launch, it was just eating me up inside.

Speaker 4 (01:07:16):
Which one was that?

Speaker 2 (01:07:17):
Nintendo's the only one? Uh? I think it was funny enough.
The WEU the one that I didn't need to worry
about and I bought it. Was it was one of
those things where I walked in two days later and
everywhere had a we U.

Speaker 4 (01:07:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:07:31):
I was like, oh, thank god, I can't believe you
have one in stock. Oh boy. Because you know, most
of these things, especially with Nintendo, they like they slow
dripped that thing to create anticipation. The only one other
one I didn't buy, and this one I stood my
ground was the three DS because it was like two

(01:07:54):
hundred and seventy dollars when they launched it, and then
it was like a year later they dropped it to
one point fifty like okay, then I bought it. I
think I bought it the day it dropped a one
point fifty, like okay, there we go, because I mean
three hundred dollars no now for the handheld thatsn't gonna
do it. And here I am spending five hundred dollars

(01:08:14):
for a while, and it's so funny how that works.

Speaker 3 (01:08:16):
But this is what I yeah, I mean, the full
off topic is here, and that's why I want. Look,
I want to switch as the power of a PS
four and plays all the old games and you can
add more functionality, I mean the mouse feature. I'm fascinated
to see what comes comes with that.

Speaker 4 (01:08:32):
Like that, that is genius.

Speaker 3 (01:08:34):
That is a perfect connection to like the PC space
where developers is only focused on like rts or strategy
games or you know, maybe you'd have a chance to
use it for like more RPGs like more like functionality
that could use like the mouse, Like that's cool stuff.

Speaker 4 (01:08:47):
I love that function so can't wait.

Speaker 2 (01:08:50):
It just has to wait, civilization. It is gonna be all.
Just because I've thought this through. Is I can get
like a little flat cover that I can put on
my lap on my couch and play SIV the way
it should be played. I can't place whoever plays SIV
with a controller. This is what I'm like, Why buy
it on a console? But now that I can mouse

(01:09:10):
and keyboard, that bad boy? Okay, I'll rebuy SIV six
again and it's on sale right now for like five bucks.

Speaker 3 (01:09:17):
Boom SI sevens give me the itch for command and
conquer like Total War. I got Total warm me evil too,
And that's like I'll jump on there and be like
in a wrap in like a wormhole of just playing
it for like weeks on end.

Speaker 4 (01:09:30):
It so good.

Speaker 3 (01:09:31):
I love I love artist, just wish on console that's
the chance. But uh yeah, yeah, that'll be on the
road to Summerstock. We'll get to check that out at
one time. Curious though, I might as well get this
south away while we're on here. Should we do a
road version of this show? Or just count Summer Stock
as the road version.

Speaker 4 (01:09:50):
What are you thinking. I'm kind of torn on this.
I'm leaving us up to you.

Speaker 2 (01:09:55):
I don't know.

Speaker 4 (01:09:56):
I mean because we could, like we could pack the mics, I.

Speaker 3 (01:09:59):
Can do do we feel the hotel room constitutes us recording?

Speaker 2 (01:10:05):
You know what I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say, let's
let's not do an episode. I want if anybody's gonna
watch any video that week, it has to be Summer Stock.
I like, because what I won't want to happen is
somebody watches the podcast and then they're like, oh, well I
just watched the preview. No, you're watching Summerstock. If you don't,

(01:10:27):
I'll find you. Elaborate, you're on your own.

Speaker 3 (01:10:31):
Watch out now, Watch out now, he's talking to you specifically,
he's gonna find you.

Speaker 2 (01:10:37):
And you know which one. I'm talking about, summer Stock.
So look for it Friday the thirteenth or very very
early Saturday, June the fourteenth. It's gonna be. It's gonna be.
I can't wait to do this. I just can't wait
to do the stops. Even if the content comes out
like crap, I'm just gonna be happy to have done it,

(01:11:00):
have it on on in the ether somewhere, and you know,
I know we talked about this on the show, but
it's also we're next year is the one hundredth anniversary
of Route sixty six. It's a game of transition.

Speaker 4 (01:11:15):
I did not know that. Fun fact. That's great, okay, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:11:21):
Well awesome, it's funny. As I thought you were the
one that told me that. So now I'm like, did
I just know?

Speaker 4 (01:11:27):
I don't believe. So now I'm gonna double check before
we get off.

Speaker 2 (01:11:31):
What you said. Oh, that's I was like, Oh, I
thought you were the one that told me that. Yeah, okay,
November nineteen.

Speaker 3 (01:11:36):
Twenty, you definitely found that. I did not give you that.
All right, that's that's cool. That's cool, man.

Speaker 4 (01:11:41):
Yeah, one hundred years next year, we're ninety nine right now. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:11:45):
Yeah, So well, well I'm sure we'll talk about that
because you know, as the the road transition, so does
this leak as such with the you know, maybe expansion,
maybe relocation xfl usfl at new conference name. So we'll
weave it all in, don't you guys worry. Plus, we're
gonna be doing all sorts of goofy stuff on the way,
and there probably will be a Mario tournament spliced into

(01:12:08):
that somewhere, somehow, someway. If we could do it while
we're driving, that'd be fun. I just I don't want
to take a chance of getting pulled over anywhere. We'll
probably do it the safe way.

Speaker 3 (01:12:21):
I think I'm good with that, But I don't know
if you want to. Maybe we'll catch a clip off
you playing Mario Kart in the passenger seat, because we
will will interchange was driving, So.

Speaker 2 (01:12:32):
Just show you driving and then pan over and be driving.

Speaker 4 (01:12:36):
Who's really driving this thing?

Speaker 2 (01:12:40):
Officer? It wasn't me, It was him anyway, both of
us throw bananas at the same time.

Speaker 4 (01:12:46):
Switch chairs.

Speaker 2 (01:12:50):
Was the double dash double dash in real life? Hop
it through the.

Speaker 4 (01:12:55):
Mario cart by the way, But yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:12:57):
I agree, I agree double dashes is the best. All
right now, I think I think we've made it. We're
at the point where we're talking about double dash on GameCube.
I think we're probably we made it through the week.
But I'll reiterate follow, like, subscribe, do all the things,
review us on the podcast thing, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok,

(01:13:19):
you know all the stuff. Do it links down below.
Bias etching by a summer stock shirt. I'm still waiting
on ours to be delivered, Zach. I got a feeling
we might not get them in touch across those figures.
They haven't shipped yet, and I'm like, oh boy, we're
like a week away now. This is getting dicey, so
we will see. But order yours anyway and get it

(01:13:41):
after the fact, because every penny counts for this road trip.
But until next time, guys, that's about it. Sign you up.