Whisenhunt Returns? 2026 Expansion? + Week 2 PREVIEW & PICKS | UFL Podcast #99

One week down, a whole season to go... The UFL Podcast is here to discuss the potential return of Ken Whisenhunt as head coach of the Memphis Showboats, Week 1 Ratings, Attendance, 2026 expansion and much more...

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is Wizen hunt back, maybe expansion ratings all that.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
More on episode ninety nine of d UFL podcast.

Speaker 3 (00:11):
Long Killed three.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome back, everybody to another amazing edition of d UFL podcast.
I'm the rep representing Pro Football Newsroom, the leaders in

(00:50):
Spring football news.

Speaker 4 (00:51):
And boy oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,
oh boy, do we got a big week for you.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Before we get started, I'm joined as always by my
man Zachie.

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Boy.

Speaker 4 (01:05):
Come man, how you doing today, my friend?

Speaker 5 (01:10):
I'm all right, just kind of getting back into the
cycle of you know, uh, non vacation, non relaxation on
uh you.

Speaker 4 (01:17):
Know, you and I doing whatever and being on the
ref card.

Speaker 5 (01:20):
So I'm okay, uh, including you know, cleaning up some
of the mess from Springstock. You can say, I don't
have my uh Panthers gear currently, so I had to
kind of improvise to make sure that still representing the brand.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
But uh, we're doing okay. I hope you're hope you're
all right.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
You know, Uh, it's it's always that splash back to
work after vacation that.

Speaker 4 (01:42):
Stings the most. Sack. I'll tell you it's stings. It's
just like a.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Stetchat do stabing back stab and the chest stab and
the forehead.

Speaker 4 (01:51):
Hey, welcome back to work.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
That's what I feel like right now. But hey, I'm
glad to be on the podcast.

Speaker 5 (01:58):
You're down some camfy, there's something we can come on
here that's quite that's a quite energy.

Speaker 4 (02:03):
I'm seen out of you.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
It's what I like to call ancient mental torture. Some
people I work with are very good at it. They
know the arts of the ancient mental torture very well.
But they can't break me down.

Speaker 4 (02:20):
No, no, no no. And I hope they're watching.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
Because they'll say, oh, man, I tried to beat ref
down with a one two stab punch, kick all of it,
and look at him now. He's having too much fun.
Because the answer is always yes, Zack. The answer is
always yes, And because we got this podcast to do,
and how could you be upset when you just had
the kickoff of the UFL right behind us. We're heading

(02:44):
into week two and we got a whole bunch of
news to talk about. We mentioned Springstock. I mean, that
was an experience. It was a fun experience, a muddy experience,
a different experience.

Speaker 4 (02:55):
That's the one thing I'll say about Springstock.

Speaker 1 (02:58):
They're all unique they're all different, they're all their own
little thing. Uh, and I this one, you know, it
went well, it went well enough.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
We there's of course we couldn't control it.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
But the day, of course, there was like mobile internet
issues in Houston. It wasn't I know right just us,
it was everybody.

Speaker 4 (03:19):
I can't. I actually thought.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
For a minute we might not even get online at
the hot wouldn't even connect.

Speaker 4 (03:26):
We were so close to not having that workout.

Speaker 5 (03:29):
And uh, I'm very glad that Riverside our platform allows
for HD Records to like give you guys out there
kind of the entire experience, even if the live one
wasn't up to stuff, which, by the way, for those
it's stuck on. You guys are the real champs. I
mean there are people were that were in the comments going, yeah,
the thing's kind of looking like nineteen ninety five. But like,

(03:52):
I'm still going strong, I'm still listening to Springstock Force.
Like you you're the real ones out there, So thank
you all for doing that. But yeah, I would say
arguably the most challenging Springstock we've ever had, and it's
just because the rain downpoured for like thirty minutes after.

Speaker 4 (04:07):
You and ducky cot to get a freaking media pass.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Just when we got far enough away from where it
would be a pain in the ass to return, it
started pouring.

Speaker 4 (04:17):
Of course, that's how it goes. And there's no awning in.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
The press area or where you're picking up your media credential.

Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yep. And I told the guys that, yeah, I came
at the wrong time. He said, it seems pretty fine
in here. Yeah, yeah, yeah, good for you, buddy. Oh
he's like, I'll hurry up. I swear he was fine.
He was nice.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
I'm just like, you know, I'm not as nice person
as such as myself would not be so happy about
that comment.

Speaker 4 (04:44):
But then you know, all of that that was like
a dream.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
Like I said, you come back to work and you
just just man repeatedly.

Speaker 4 (04:52):
It's like going into a prison cell and you know,
just getting.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Shanked left and right. But glad to be on the show.
We got a whole bunch of topics. I will say this, Zach,
I feel like thirty pounds heavier. We ate so much
good food while you're here, But I need to go
for some walks.

Speaker 4 (05:13):
I need to cut down on the bar. Just all
the things we were going to.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Town, and I mean we had a little bit of everything, man,
but it was like God, the barbecue, Jennings Barbecue by
the way, shout out to them.

Speaker 5 (05:25):
Absolutely, Oh my god, man, I uh that britt All,
that freaking fatty brisket that they had said when we
talked the lean stuff was great. Oh my god, they're
fatty brisket. That help you cheddar sausage. They got the
corn siewfle we took a chance on and fade off
swimmingly by the way.

Speaker 4 (05:44):
All just yeah, food weekend, no doubt about it. You know.

Speaker 5 (05:48):
I definitely need to get back in the walk actually
after we recorded this episode. That's my plan is to
get a walk in before work. So yeah, definitely in
the cards. But you know, made it out okay. And yeah,
we're so far heading into week two, seems like everyone's
doing okay. Reactions are are I think at an all

(06:11):
time high. Maybe see week two. If continues to prove
Week one right or wrong, we'll find out. And news
cycles churning up in the weirdest way possible.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
I mean, we're just having one hell of a week.
I mean, so well, I guess we'll start with the ratings.
We'll start there and then we'll get in to the
the other news. Actually, no, let's go into the crazier news,
because this.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
One hasn't been confirmed by the league yet.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
But James had a report out the other day, and
I'd say he's usually pretty good at it these types
of things. And word on the street is that big
Man Ken wizen Hunt maybe returning from his leave of
absence or is returning from his lea leave of absence
according to James' sources. Yeah, he's already back in the

(07:01):
office getting things done. Jim Turner will learn to his
own line duties. Ken will be head coach.

Speaker 4 (07:08):
No.

Speaker 1 (07:08):
See, now, the game is just a couple of days
a way, Zach. So we haven't heard anything official. I'm
curious to see how this plays out, maybe because I
could see in them maybe even waiting another week, get
you know, get in the office, see how things go.

Speaker 4 (07:25):
We never got like a true explanation why he was out.

Speaker 1 (07:27):
I don't want to dive too deep do it, or
speculate on what it could be or what it was,
but it is interesting to see him come back so
soon when it seemed like if he was going to
be coming back, it wouldn't be right away, So I
don't know.

Speaker 5 (07:45):
Yeah, I'm kind of wondering, like you you know, maybe
you know they're trying to play this by ear, you know,
maybe because I mean, sure, if he's back in office,
you know, that doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to
be thrusted right back into the into the field of
duty if he wants, you know, because I feel like
that's more we could even discuss that these guys might
just need some guidance a little bit.

Speaker 4 (08:06):
You know, I'm not here.

Speaker 5 (08:07):
And honestly, like we watched that you and I watched
that game, you know, like everyone else did on ESPN
that Sunday, and like kind of just seemed like they
just needed to find some direction on what they wanted
behind center, because otherwise it seemed like they had the
right idea and that they're executing Ken's offense well when
they were picking and just letting whoever was in at QB.

Speaker 4 (08:25):
Just flow as they needed.

Speaker 5 (08:28):
But yeah, I don't know, And again we don't know
all the details, or there's some details where we don't
want to share them out of course because that's personal stuff,
you know, and so kind of a weird situation. Yeah,
the league hasn't announced it yet and it's right now
as we're recording Wednesday.

Speaker 4 (08:41):
Oh, kind of wondering what their.

Speaker 5 (08:43):
Game plan is, you know, maybe they do soft pitch
this one out or I'm kind of wondering too, you know,
because they seem to like doing this. Let it happen
pr comes after the fact, you know, maybe something kind
of like you know, just to let the announcers talk
about it first then discuss it.

Speaker 4 (09:00):
Perhaps I'm not sure, but clearly there.

Speaker 5 (09:03):
Is something extra going on and to be even be
even more on on the nose here, like when you
so you and I and James talked as we were
doing this over the weekend we were worried about a
for fools or he was worried especially about a fools,
so he made sure to get this out to There's
no doubt about it. This ain't some joke thing that
I know PFN we do that from time to time,

(09:24):
but like, no, that this was to put it out
there that that's the report that he has. So h yeah,
really something to keep an eye on, because uh, I
don't think we've seen the last of Ken wizzen hunting.

Speaker 4 (09:34):
Now that'll be interesting.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
Now it does answer one thing because I remember, you know,
Zach and I were watching the game in person, and
I kept saying, man, why are the announcers keep bringing
up Ken wizen Hunt walking away? It seems like something
you wouldn't want it, like, you bring it up once,
maybe you bring it up twice, third time if you
really want They kept bringing it up. They Oh, Ken
Wizzon hunts such a big name, but he walked away.

(09:56):
I'm like, but that seems very weird. Yeah, yeah, this
feels like this might explain part of why. Okay, let's
keep him in the memory. No, No, Ken wizen Hunt
was tied to this team to kind of tee up
the conversation. Maybe it is so maybe he returns week three,
but then they tee it up for week two to
where you know, the announcers can talk about that. Maybe

(10:16):
we get a release out, who knows. So these are
the reasons you need to keep your eyes peeled on
social media. Make sure checking out PF newsroom dot com
daily because you know, when it's official official, we'll also
talk about it there as well. Yeah, but you get
a little bit of a sneak peek into things that
are coming. A lot of the time, just by checking
out the site as well. So wizen Hunt, Well, we

(10:39):
know we will know soon hopefully. Sure the show Boats
players are liking that. I mean, we talked about this
a little bit on ATU. All things considered, the Showboats
still were of all the teams that lost, i'd say,
maybe other than the Stallions, the most competitive.

Speaker 4 (10:59):
They kept up.

Speaker 5 (11:00):
You know, and I'll I know I was being a
little abrasive at times of course, talking like yo, hey,
don't discount the fact Michigan was, you know, swapping reps.

Speaker 4 (11:09):
Too, But I'll put it out there.

Speaker 5 (11:11):
You know, defense, Jaren Norton's defense, as we've talked, it's
competitive as it needed to be. Really, only I would
say slipped up in terms of bad tackling with Bryce
Perkins's incredible touchdown, just to kind of put things in perspective,
but you know, it kept them in the game. So,
you know, I think Memphis is not the same Memphis
we're gonna see from last year. They just need to
make sure who they're picking and choosing behind center so

(11:33):
they can get a bit more. I think definitive offensive
identity right now is what we're asking. But they have
some players on that side, and they also might have
a potentially decent running game if they can get that
churning too. So yeah, gonna be gonna be fascinating. Because
the other matchup against DC coming up here that we
will be talking about today of course previewing that you

(11:54):
know that I think is kind of a curious matchup because,
like I said, we've talked you know, Defender's great defensive game.
But I mean, is this a defensive slidfest type of
matchup because you're gonna have two heavyweights in the in
the league.

Speaker 4 (12:06):
We'll talk later, but the showbots are the same. I
don't think this is the.

Speaker 5 (12:09):
Shame same showbots from last year, So I'll give I'll
give Ducky credit. It was good points lat on a
tu and I definitely will hold up that they're a
fascinating Week two team to watch if they just choose
who they want as their offensive leader.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yeah, no, I agree.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
Well, we're gonna get to the previews and picks a
little bit later, but before before we look at the future,
let's look at the past a little bit. I'm gonna
spend a whole lot of time on this, but let's
talk about the ratings, because there is there is at
least something that's interesting in here. And I'm actually a
little surprised, and i'mous I'm curious if you agree or
if you pick up on it before I get there.
Uh So, we have the ratings for the opening weekend.

(12:45):
I mean, the first look at it, people are saying,
oh my god, this is what happened. And so opening
night Saint Louis Houston Friday Night, Fox six hundred and
seventy thousand, thin Get peaked around eight something eight eighties
like that. Next day San Antonio Arlington on Fox five
eighty four, Michigan Memphis, ESPN five sixty nine, Birmingham, DC

(13:11):
also on ESPN.

Speaker 4 (13:13):
Three ninety five.

Speaker 1 (13:15):
Well, you would think those would be switched the other
one that I guess I just didn't expect highest rated
game Friday night.

Speaker 4 (13:28):
I'm actually ill surprised by that, Zach. I'm surprised.

Speaker 5 (13:30):
I mean, look, you're not You're not wrong. I do
think that that is something to consider, you know, given that,
you know, we did have a Saturday game also on
Fox as well. Not a bad time. It's middle of
the day for most people, not primetime, But I mean, yeah,
that was that was kind of surprising. What the shame

(13:51):
of it is just that the game it had to be,
you know, and I've I've heard a lot of people,
well why didn't they you know, we've seen it all
that Well why did they start in seeing Lewis?

Speaker 4 (13:59):
It's ridiculous.

Speaker 5 (14:00):
We should just put availability, guys, Like, I think we've
had this conversation a million times, and I hope that
we can keep talking about this more where you were
more people. I think we can understand how this sport works. Hey,
the arena wasn't available. Sorry, I mean they couldn't get
to Saint Louis, you know, And I know there's you
can talk other matches, but again it comes down to availability,
Like if none of those other ones had Friday availability

(14:22):
or it wasn't good enough to do it, that was
the best option, you know. And quite frankly, they wanted
to show up back in TDCU, so I can't knock
them for that either. But I mean that is the
surpriser is that Friday was the highest rated game of
the four, like beyond shocking to me given the rest
of the weekend slate and the fact you have an

(14:43):
over the air broadcast on Fox on a Saturday. Yes,
it was a blowout and probably saw a lot of
fallof from said blowout as well. But that still surprised
me really. I mean, I'll be frank, even the Birmingham
DC matchup. You know the fact that it was even
any these games were sub five hundred thousand viewership, you know,

(15:03):
I know that's been a lot of talk. Definitely definitely
pops out from the page.

Speaker 1 (15:09):
Well, I know a lot of people were hoping for
a MILLI. Yes, you kind of want a MILLI for
that opening game. You probably want a milli for your
last game. Maybe not everyone's gonna get a milli. Maybe
some aren't gonna come close. That's fine, that happens, but
you know, there's got to be some disappointed folks somewhere,
either at the league, at the at the network, maybe

(15:31):
a little bit of both.

Speaker 4 (15:32):
They are looking at these numbers and saying, that's not
really what I was hoping for.

Speaker 1 (15:37):
They did have a little bit of competition, right, he
had a little bit of the March Madness and zach Man.

Speaker 4 (15:43):
There were some good games. We you as we were
kind of looking at the scroller in the bottom.

Speaker 1 (15:49):
It's like we had a lot of tight games with
March Madness this year.

Speaker 4 (15:53):
So yeah, we'll see. Are they going to rebound next weekend? Well,
I'm gonna make a prediction. Zech. I don't think we
top six ninety on a Friday, I do.

Speaker 1 (16:03):
Think, but I do think we could go higher on
the Saturday and Sunday games. I think Friday, I think
Friday this week was the highest rated game because it's
the first week of the first game of the season,
and six six ninety, not great, peaked at eight to eighty. Okay, fine,
can you can you build on that?

Speaker 4 (16:24):
Can you? As March Madness wraps up? It starting?

Speaker 1 (16:27):
You know, we have another maybe week of a little
bit competition, but that's gonna go a way baseball seasons
around basketball playoffs.

Speaker 4 (16:35):
I mean, personally, it.

Speaker 1 (16:36):
Is gonna be tough with the Pistons in there. This
is a rare one for me, Zach. But will it
impacted I don't know.

Speaker 5 (16:44):
Tough, yeah, but it's tough. I think you have So
this is kind of a perfect storm. If I'm trying
to justify the ratings as they are, and again it's
it's that's rough. I'm gonna I want to be honest
with you people, these ratings. I can't just I'm not
gonna just waigh you from that. But what I will
say is as follows. So, March madness is one thing,

(17:05):
but as we saw last year, it's not just men's
March madness any we have women's March Madness that apparently
has skyrocketed and popularity thanks to women's basketball jumping up.
I mean that's proof in the putting the ratings for
women's March madness as well. Again this year been excellent
from what I can tell, and it's gonna keep on
being that way. I think that that's just the change
in sports landscape. In that regard, you also have Opening Day,

(17:29):
which you know, I know we competed with that last year,
but I mean you add in the extra the extra
eyeballs moving elsewhere, and it kind of comes harder to
kind of find new people to kind of elbow back
in to get that. So I'm fascinated to see what
the ratings do is the year goes on again, because
if they keep going down from here, we have to
keep having a talk. But if you see some say

(17:50):
like March madness and chills out again, Baseball's opening weekends done,
and then we see some boosts up as the season
goes on with you know, eyeballs kind of being refoke
if you will. Okay, maybe we can talk about that
a bit once more and talk about rise. But that's
what I want to discuss, is like I feel like,
with women's sports being even more of an interest, we're
also seeing more eyeballs moved around more than ever in

(18:13):
terms of the space on picking and choosing where you
need to go. And I think that is very evident
with these ratings. So we'll find out good.

Speaker 4 (18:21):
It's a. It's a. It's a.

Speaker 5 (18:22):
It's a benchmark to start the year, because if it
gets better as the year goes on, well that helps
a lot.

Speaker 1 (18:28):
Well you know here I am Zach. We just mentioned
March Madness, we mentioned Opening Day. I don't even think
we mentioned their biggest competition of the weekend, the Figure
Skating World Championship. Zach, dude, that was one a banger too.
You know what, say what you want. It pulled at
least one person away from that game. I don't care
what you tell me.

Speaker 5 (18:47):
I have a new appreciation for any figure skating thanks
to us just watching USA on nods stop.

Speaker 4 (18:54):
That was that was so good. It was amazing.

Speaker 5 (18:59):
Yeah, if you want honestly side this total off season,
off topic s type of thing. If you want to
check out free like figure skating stuff, look up like
the Boston competition for like free skate.

Speaker 4 (19:11):
Wonderful stuff.

Speaker 5 (19:12):
They were doing like fifty sixties dance type of setups
for the free skates.

Speaker 4 (19:17):
It's wonderful. I'm sorry.

Speaker 5 (19:18):
This was what we were watching, partly beyond Arenal football
and the.

Speaker 4 (19:23):
UFL over our weekend.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
Which I'll stay also just for the sake of saying
it on the show, dude, don't don't count out af one.

Speaker 4 (19:33):
Af one may have been more entertaining than the.

Speaker 5 (19:37):
UFL this weekend. I think there's a valid argument for that.

Speaker 1 (19:42):
I'll be fair though, is the Is the camera quality
going to be as crisp?

Speaker 4 (19:48):
Are the replays going to be on point? Are there
gonna be some weird little things with the play clock
and the thing? Yeah?

Speaker 1 (19:55):
But to me, Zach, you know me, well, I love
a good technical difficult, so part of me I kind.

Speaker 4 (20:02):
Of love it.

Speaker 1 (20:02):
I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, that was ten downs, but
I don't even care.

Speaker 4 (20:07):
Let's go.

Speaker 1 (20:09):
But there was one the comeback of the century with
the end of the game, bomb down the field bounces
off of the wall into the guy's hands. They come
back and win after being down the whole game. All
the games are pretty solid actually, so if you're not
checking out af one and you're into arena football, give

(20:31):
it a shot. I think there's a game tomorrow night
free on evergreen Now. Thank you, so check it out
evergreennow dot com. It's worth just throwing on in the side.
They even have the replay, so you don't even need
to watch lie but.

Speaker 4 (20:44):
No, and look, honestly, the game he's talking about.

Speaker 5 (20:47):
So that was Oregon Lightning host taking on the Southwest
Kansas Store on Vice TV. That replay should be available
now as of our recording, so if you want to
check that out. Great game, one of the best comeback
Victoris I've seen in a while in the sport and dude,
and he's not kidding that hail Mary four seconds left
it is. It's not even ail Mary. It's almost a
perfectly placed football. It's like he meant to throw it

(21:09):
right there and put it on a dime. So you
gotta check it out. If anything, go to their social
and look up the highlight. Because it made my day
or it made my night that night when we've ended
the evening, and that was after the ESPN's games, So
like I got to watch a kind of coop you
get a pick six and get me all riled up
with a win. I got to watch Birmingham and me
kind of bafflingly he watched me on the side of

(21:32):
I'm like, baffled at how bad that game was. Yeah,
and then it finishes off with that type with that
thirty three seven comeback. Insane, just insane yea. And then
to add onto it, I actually watched the Corpus Christie
Salana came while we're in the stands. Yes, because of
the blowout got so bad in Houston. I was like,
all right, I need to see what's going on with
this other one because I could, I could bounce back

(21:53):
and forth year peeping over.

Speaker 4 (21:55):
I'm like, that's like a two point game.

Speaker 1 (21:57):
This is like I didn't want to think about how
many point game it was in Houston.

Speaker 4 (22:01):
Stupid Houston, stupid. I hate it.

Speaker 1 (22:04):
Oh man, there's nothing. There's nothing that makes me angrier
then the stupid Houston Roughnecks losing like a bunch of bums.

Speaker 4 (22:15):
Careful, like you might be summoning the dark round like CJ.

Speaker 1 (22:19):
Johnson getting Tom Cable to go up in his face
and be like, I'm gonna coach you. You suck, and
nobody's gonna do anything about it, Zach. Nobody's gonna do
anything about it. They're just gonna let my team suck.
They're gonna say, c J. Johnson, here's a three year extension. Oh, oh,
I don't like it. No, I don't like it.

Speaker 4 (22:39):
Well, you know where.

Speaker 5 (22:40):
I know you're all twelve and oh on this show.
But be honest again to reiterate here.

Speaker 1 (22:44):
Not anymore, Zach, twelve and oh those days died a
long time ago. I don't know if those days are
ever coming back anytime soon?

Speaker 4 (22:52):
Should I expect next episode?

Speaker 3 (22:54):
No?

Speaker 5 (22:54):
Hat, hairs over one of your eyes, You're you're wearing
dark everything?

Speaker 4 (23:01):
What are you talking about? Zach? I felt like I
just something. I don't know. I felt like I was talking.
I forgot what I was talking about. You were here,
but not at lights flicker or something. I don't even
know what's going on anymore. Careful anyway, what were we
talking about? Ratings? Right? Yes? You know what? Yeah, back
back to ratings. C J.

Speaker 5 (23:18):
Johnson could be for another night, as any night most
likely I don't know.

Speaker 4 (23:23):
My only own nobody, saj Johnson.

Speaker 3 (23:29):
Where am I?

Speaker 4 (23:30):
Oh my god? Anyway, ratings, I don't know.

Speaker 5 (23:35):
I don't know much more beyond uh, it's kind of
just what Look I I we talk every year about ratings,
and you know, I kind of just at this point
I reiterated this. A lot of us had our own
thoughts and takes on the ratings. You know, I thought
James Baker had a good take where it's like, you know, look,
I know that a lot of the media has been
talking a lot of the negativity around the league, with

(23:56):
the union talks and the CBA still up in the air,
you know, and some of.

Speaker 4 (24:00):
The stuff with the coaches.

Speaker 5 (24:01):
But I'm agreeing, can we just get back to just
talking the football?

Speaker 4 (24:04):
You know.

Speaker 5 (24:05):
I came on and my whole point for you out
there is, look, ratings or ratings, this is a business.

Speaker 4 (24:11):
You know.

Speaker 5 (24:12):
You can do whatever you please to either help them
or not, but it's up to them to solve their issues.
I implore you enjoy the ride because I've I've been there.
I don't know about you, Stefan, I've been there. I've
stressed about the ratings and I freaked out that it's like,
this is the end times type of thing. I did
this with twenty twenty three's USFL because of the split

(24:34):
stuff and just like people talking about you know, which
one's better and whatnot, and I just, you know what,
my whole philosophy for the last several years, but just look,
enjoy the ride. If it comes, it comes back. I
have no say on how the business runs outside of
me doing what I like to do, which is I
already buy the tickets, I buy the merch, I watch
the games. I do what I am doing for them,

(24:56):
and that's all they need that you can ask, like
I'm not. If you want to do the extra, feel free,
I implore you if you like, But remember you don't
owe anything to the league to fix their problems. And
I do think that's the message of this year. Their problems.
We've said this in several shows. It's their issues to fix.
You enjoy it as you need. But their business, they

(25:19):
have to help and appease and bring customers in.

Speaker 4 (25:22):
That's their prerogative. So just something I want to reiterate
to people.

Speaker 1 (25:26):
I think that's a good segue because if you ask
certain people problems, what problems?

Speaker 4 (25:32):
Yeah, what's going on issues.

Speaker 1 (25:34):
There's no attendance issues. In fact, we're expanding two more
teams in twenty twenty six. Apparently it's booming. So UFL
Director of Football Operations David Diykman had a little bit
of an interview the other day where he's seemingly confirms
the expansion. Now we know earlier well late last year,

(25:58):
the UFL put out a statement set this is our
process for how we're approaching expansion, at least confirming that
they were looking at it.

Speaker 4 (26:08):
We've heard some rumors, We've heard some murmurs.

Speaker 1 (26:12):
We've even heard Darryl Johnston in a couple interviews talk
about again the possibility. Danny Garcia talked again, you know
it's always on the table.

Speaker 4 (26:24):
Now we have David Diykman.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
Maybe with the boldest statement saying is let me just
get to get the exact quote. I think expansion is
always on the table. We are in great markets and
if we look at the areas that we feel we
could support a team and wants a team, it's something
we will consider. We will be announcing later this year

(26:47):
a ninth and tenth team for expansion in the twenty
twenty six seasons. So even putting a timeline on it. Now,
I'll say, Zach, I was at actually a little I
knew that they I knew that this was a possibility.
I had heard actually I've actually heard this in the background,

(27:09):
but I was still surprised to hear it. I was
still surprised to hear it. I have thoughts. I won't
go into them just yet. I'm curious what are your thoughts.
I mean, you saw the attendanc you saw the ratings,
throwing in two more teams.

Speaker 4 (27:25):
Good idea, bad idea.

Speaker 5 (27:27):
I am very lost in the weeds with this comment
because I look after what we we've talked about at
tenants since the since really early winter being a problem,
and how it feels like they have been doing a
massive course correct and realizing how far behind the eight
ball they are on certain aspects of the business. So

(27:50):
I mean, it's kind of contradictory to what the what's
going on right now, you know, unless there is just
they are full, the companies are full, dead set that
they're going to fight to make this work and do
this and feel like and feel like extra markets help
with that, which I could Again, I think that there
is an argument that if you put a team in

(28:11):
a market, you get a market in, depending on which
one it is, mind you, because a lot of people
assume and heavy rumors. Seattle is one of these markets
that you bring a top ten market in. You get
that if viewership reinvigorated and you can add on and so, okay, cool,
But man, this feels very I don't know. The timing's

(28:33):
weird because, like I guess, because like we're talking about
like they've got stuff to worry about with ticket sales,
and they got stuff to worry about the ratings, and
they've got the CBA and it's kind of and I
know that he is a former Cheshire Academy alum, and
so that's why this is from the Connecticut Insider. But man,
that is such a.

Speaker 4 (28:54):
Such a field. Let me give you the spin. Let
me give you the spin.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
Okay, everybody only has something bad to talk about, you
give them something really juicy and good.

Speaker 4 (29:07):
To talk about.

Speaker 5 (29:08):
And I hear James Larson in the background screaming because
of one of his comments from around the UFL about
these expansion discussions being essentially distractionary comments at this point
to be look away, see that thing in the corner.

Speaker 4 (29:24):
We got that working for I mean, that could be it.

Speaker 1 (29:28):
This is very definitive comments to make, though it's actually
a very very very very definitive Have these things happened
in the past, and they've not in shake not shaken
out one hundred percent, right, So it'll.

Speaker 4 (29:41):
Be interesting to see how this shakes out.

Speaker 1 (29:42):
I'm more of the opinion that I and I don't
want this to be the case because I already know
that it would probably be me impacted.

Speaker 4 (29:52):
But it just feels like a.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
More likely scenario would be too instead of expand relocate
two of the teams that are underperforming now, that would
maybe put Memphis, potentially Houston in the crosshairs.

Speaker 4 (30:08):
So I know people are already gonna be angry at me.

Speaker 1 (30:10):
Probably not many people in Houston, to be honest, because
there was not very many people.

Speaker 5 (30:15):
I mean, but I was being polite when we were
talking about on a tou of the animosity towards this
team right now.

Speaker 4 (30:23):
It's not good. No, there's a lot of dark refs
in the crowd.

Speaker 1 (30:27):
They were not happy, they were upset with all sorts
of things.

Speaker 4 (30:32):
You know.

Speaker 1 (30:33):
It's funny though, so you mentioned Seattle. I don't think
that is gonna be the scenario, though. I don't think
they go back to Seattle, and I don't think they
go into bigger markets.

Speaker 4 (30:43):
I think, well one.

Speaker 1 (30:45):
And actually what I think they should do is probably
still not what they're gonna do.

Speaker 4 (30:48):
I think what we saw with Oakland and whatever.

Speaker 5 (30:52):
That soccer was United Soccer League get twenty six thousand
poll for a game, then that was impressive to me.

Speaker 1 (30:58):
That's the Okay, let's get out the horn with Oakland.
Maybe maybe not, I don't know, we'll see. I think
James put out a couple locations that were like on
the table, but if I remember correctly, Raleigh was one
of them. Tulsa, which is I've heard Tulsa a lot
thing about Tulsa real close to the hub.

Speaker 4 (31:18):
It's very close. So yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Seattle,
I don't think it happens. I think one. I think
a couple of things.

Speaker 1 (31:25):
One, Seattle worked really good in twenty twenty, but there
was no Seattle cracking. And you know, they still did
pretty well in twenty three, but they had definitely lost
some momentum.

Speaker 4 (31:39):
And then you take another break and then put them
back there.

Speaker 1 (31:43):
You could almost surmise that you're going to continue to
see a downward trend in a city with high taxes
and an expensive stadium where somewhere like a Tulsa or
a Raleigh.

Speaker 4 (31:56):
An Oakland again is a great example.

Speaker 1 (31:59):
Is going to say, hey, Oakland one, they have a
stadium that's empty. Everybody ditched them. They'll take anybody. It's
almost a very great example. It's a very great comparable
to Saint Louis. It's a very say it Lewis esque
situation Tulsa. I'm not sold on Tulsa actually being a
good market in execution. I think people say it, and

(32:23):
people say it, and people say it. But people said
the same thing about Arizona. And I've lived in Arizona, Zach,
and people don't do those things. Even when you go
to a professional sports game, Zach, I'll tell you this.
Next time the Tigers are in town, go see the
Tigers play the Diamondbacks.

Speaker 4 (32:41):
You're gonna see more Tigers fans there.

Speaker 1 (32:44):
People aren't like locals, and so they just don't latch
on to these new teams. And I feel like Tulsa
could have a little bit of that Raleigh. I don't know,
and I don't know enough about the area to even
make a guess.

Speaker 5 (32:58):
Yeah, I'll counter back on Tulsa only because I raise
you an IFL team that sells out venues near every
every events the difference. So now again I does that
same audience translate to an outdoor team.

Speaker 4 (33:14):
Time will tell.

Speaker 5 (33:15):
But I also raised that as we've seen in the past,
what's one of the most watched local markets in recent
years that comes out of these ratings, we've noticed Tulsa,
Oklahoma kind of kind of seems on the nose. Not
to mention the league's sitting on an Oklahoma brand from
the USFL days, they could easily grab and throw right

(33:37):
there if they wanted to. Nostalgia may not be always
at play, but they have something they can go to
in their back pocket. Wouldn't be hard to grab the IP,
retool it, and hit the hit the ground running with
said IP if you wanted to. So there's options there.
But I do think Tulsa's to me, I will be
on the opposite side of Tulsa Olly.

Speaker 4 (33:58):
I don't know enough about Oakland. My thing.

Speaker 5 (34:01):
I like Oakland as an idea of a you know,
look scorned fan base looking for action, you know people there.
It is a bit rough of a city. Of course,
my bigger issue, and that's not the main one, by
the way. I'm just saying that it's you know, you
have to consider that when you're going to a market
for players sake as well when you're traveling there and whatnot.

(34:22):
You know, And I'm not saying it's all of Oakland.
So for those who live in Oakland, ye just keep
in mind, you know, I'm basing it off of my
own experience and reading up on the city. Please feel
free to comment below and tell me different.

Speaker 4 (34:33):
If you do so.

Speaker 5 (34:34):
Feel My issue though, is workers comp. How do you
get around California workers comp? That is I don't know
if it's the highest, but it is top five minimum
in the nation. That is an expensive thing for a
league to take on. And I know we've had a
lot of discussions as fans about how much costs these
lead this league is having.

Speaker 4 (34:54):
How to get out of the red and into the black.

Speaker 5 (34:57):
That's going to be a big issue, you know, and
they'll have to really swing that people will come out
to watch this game in an Oakland coliseum if they're
going to make an able to make back for those
costs for players that that.

Speaker 4 (35:11):
Is a big deal. That you're gonna have to worry about.

Speaker 5 (35:15):
The swing could be worth it though, given that, yes,
I'm with you, that is a scoring market that I
think fans want to come out and show that they
were left behind if we're talking that, So the potential's there.
Oakan Colosseum is also a little rough, but it is
suited for football, as we know.

Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yep, yep, yep. Yeah, that's the the other one.

Speaker 1 (35:35):
The facilities is a little beat up, but again you
would probably get a good size crowd in there.

Speaker 5 (35:43):
You also have an old ip if you want, I
like the Invaders ip a ton by the way, that
logo suite. You probably do a wonderful modern refresh of
that thing, much like how we saw some of the
USFL teams do. So I am secretly hoping that would
be the case if they were to do it. But
again there's some issues getting around that too, you know.

(36:03):
But we'll see. Here's the thing it does to circle
back on this quote and this whole connected Insider piece
with David Dykman, so reminder, David Dykman is the league's
Director of Football Operations, so he's one of the upper
tier officials in this He's gonna get most of the
big brass discussion points that come down from the top.

(36:25):
Not a stretch to say that he's definitely talking the
truth here, but again, weird that he's the one doing
because you feel like Darryl or Russ Brandon would be
the one dropping this in a piece. So again not
too crazy, but also like David Diakman's usually not the
one ye're here and these news drops like this from

(36:47):
so kind of kind of shocking, I guess, and again
like good catch by some people because this could have
been something that got swept under the rug easy because
it's from a news site that I think none of
us really have on our radar except for maybe those
that pick up UFL and like search crawl on Google.

Speaker 1 (37:03):
Right, yeah, no, one hundred per So that's why I
love the spring football community. The eyes are always peeled
for these little things. Another another location I think that
was rumored just to kind of cap this one off though, Columbus, Ohio. Yes, So,
I mean, I'm sure there's gonna be all sorts of
people that will be happy about that, because I would

(37:24):
say for Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium not having
a home team, they brought in a I wouldn't say
a great crowd, but.

Speaker 4 (37:35):
A good crowd. A good crowd, probably.

Speaker 1 (37:37):
Bigger than some of the bigger than some of the
crowds we saw this weekend.

Speaker 4 (37:40):
Let's be fair.

Speaker 5 (37:42):
I think I think you make some arguments, especially for
like we talked about the Maulers at the time, seemed
like they were becoming kind of like Canton's team or
the generals really when they general say, and I think
Ohio as as the case. You know, the thing we
were wondering about Canton at the time was if they
stick around, if there were plans could they and they were,
you know, rumors were very discussed that could they get

(38:03):
their own brand and be kind of like that small
UFL usfls at the time, like Green Bay Market where
it's like very passionate, smaller fan base, but you're focusing
around the football history of the city, you know, and
you're also getting the venue that wanted the attendance and
you know, Hall of Fame Village.

Speaker 4 (38:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (38:21):
So, I mean Ohio is a is a football mecca
in terms of not only football in general, like professional
from NFL sake, but like there's some wonderful there's some
of the tough, best and biggest high school venues in
the country, not even Tom Benson are located in Ohio.
There's a lot of good prospects out that way from
the Midwest, you know, and Columbus being Columbus, you know,

(38:42):
college market could possibly have an appetite for a little
extra So time will tell, you know, I will tell.

Speaker 4 (38:49):
There's a lot of talk around it though, So.

Speaker 1 (38:52):
Apparently later this year we're gonna hear about a ninth
and a tenth team. So make sure you're tuned in
every week or checking out PF newsroom dot com daily
because you know, when it happens, we'll be talking about it.
But before we wrap the week up, we got a
whole nother week of games going up, so we should
be talking about these games. We should be previewing, doing

(39:12):
some picks. First game of the weekend, I'll say this
is a good one for a Friday night. We Stallions
at Michigan first home opener, Ford Field, eight pm Eastern.
I'll let you kick this one off, zacky boy, how
do you feel as a Panthers fan you got a
better record than these Stallions?

Speaker 5 (39:31):
Yes, we do, which is again weird that the Stallions
are kicking the year off with the loss, and yes,
everyone's right, first time they've ever had a losing record
at any point in their history of since the revival in.

Speaker 4 (39:43):
Twenty two of this team.

Speaker 5 (39:47):
I feel weird because, like I do, I do genuinely believe,
like when I talk when I talked with TJ, when
I let off and kind of put in my points
about that game to kick things off with him on
ATU and when I've talked about this kind.

Speaker 4 (40:00):
Of to other people, I truly believe it was set.

Speaker 5 (40:03):
It was Birmingham last week that had a poor game
versus DC. Overmatching, I watched Alex Magoo. It is definitely
the worst performance he's ever had as a Stallion. Way
too much hero ball, tried to do way too much
on the offensive end, and it's what led to loss.
That loss, I'll be frank. It was a winnable game
all the way till the end. The Stallion's defense is

(40:24):
still very good. It's been no break. It's able to
hold up against good offenses. It's just can they find
some rhythm. It felt like the receivers were out of sync.
It felt like Alex Mgoo was not comfortable all day.
I know Michigan's gonna try and capitalize that. Mike Nolan
definitely will have looked at that game plan and Greg
Williams executed and say.

Speaker 4 (40:42):
Okay, yes, he's gonna be mobile, he's gonna break out
of the pocket.

Speaker 5 (40:46):
But can we get him to kind of panic if
he's not comfortable and get him to make a mistake
Because Alex does play hero ball, that's something he likes
to do since he was brought into the league in
twenty twenty two. Especially we saw it in twenty three
Differences is that this game wasn't working out.

Speaker 4 (41:02):
So I think I'm watching that.

Speaker 5 (41:03):
How does this Panthers defense adjust and use some of
the game plan that Greg Williams used against them again
in DC? And how does Skip Holtzen company decide to
adjust on the fly? One thing that did a terrible
job against DC. And again this is why I feel
like it was a winnable game. They made no adjustments,
They went away from stuff that was working. They had
a screen game going early in the first half, and

(41:25):
then they couldn't us. Unless I have the AL twenty two,
I can't see it. No short passing game to mitigate
pass rush. It was kind of baffling how little they
adjusted anything on that offense or even defense for that matter.
So someone keep an eye and then I'll quick wrap
and throw it to you. Kind of on this point,
who starts for the Panthers? I don't want split reps.
We haven't heard anything about split reps for this game yet.

(41:47):
You know it is Wednesday we're recording this, so keep
that in mind. But I'm just being honest. Start Bryce Perkins, like,
I don't see any reason after last week why you
shouldn't start Bryce Perkins.

Speaker 4 (41:59):
I felt.

Speaker 5 (42:00):
I will still reiterate, I feel like that game isn't
close if Perkins plays the entire game because Danny Etling's
reps were not very quality reps as a passer. So
I feel like you do two things. Start Bryce Perkins.
And if you're gonna do two two running backs behind
the scenes, you should make Matt Colburn the one, Nate
McCreary the two. McCreary was not great at hitting the

(42:22):
hole well, he was bouncing runs. Matt Colburn's very decisive
as a runner. You start with him, But no, Bryce
Perkins has to start. I feel like you're gonna say
the same, maybe different, maybe some other things I'm missing,
But I mean Perkins was the electrifying QB option. That's
the guy I go with. It's a quick note on that.
I agree Bryce Perkins. Put him in, keep him in,

(42:43):
keep a solid.

Speaker 1 (42:44):
Game, keep a consistent game. Those I think are the
keys to beating Birmingham. Birmingham, on the other hand, I
think Birmingham the only thing that they need to do
to win this game is not fall into panic mode.
Because I'll tell you this, there's nothing that says they are.
But if they continue to play this week like they

(43:05):
did last week, there's a psychological thing you can say,
even as a fan, but the players on the field,
there is a psychological aspect to that. Even TJ was
talking about that there's something going oh and too in
a short season. And then you add in the fact
that you are the season favorites, you won every championship
in this league, it could start doing some things. So

(43:28):
I think if the if the Stallions could just avoid
the panic, which I think they can, I'm gonna.

Speaker 4 (43:33):
Say that right off the bat.

Speaker 1 (43:34):
I mean, Skip is good at one thing even said
this early in game one, I think to the sidelines
is hey, this team hasn't won anything yet, So don't
you know, don't just say we're gonna.

Speaker 4 (43:47):
Win this game. This team hasn't won anything.

Speaker 1 (43:50):
There's no championship here, there's no games won under this belt.
And we've seen that in the past. It's always okay
one to oh, next one, want to know again?

Speaker 4 (44:01):
Next one?

Speaker 1 (44:02):
Right, there's no you don't really dwell too much on
the past. Just look forward to the next game. So
I think we'll be good there. That being said, I
am curious to see how long Skip, how big, how much.

Speaker 4 (44:17):
Patience he has.

Speaker 1 (44:18):
So, for instance, if we see some more of the same,
some of those broken up, scrambled running trying to break away,
getting sacked left and right, just making mistakes from Alex Mgoo,
how many more quarters? Is Skip gonna let that go
before we see him bring Correla. I do think we
do see Magoo start this week, and I think we should.

Speaker 4 (44:42):
I think we should. I think to to to.

Speaker 1 (44:45):
Take it away after one week after being gone a
couple of years not fair, give him give him another.

Speaker 4 (44:51):
Week, right, maybe a third. I don't know.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
That's that's Skip's call, but I'm curious to see and uh,
you know how that plays out. Now, this could just
being non scenario. They could come into this game and
steamroll it and everybody says, yeah, I see, I told
you so.

Speaker 4 (45:04):
They just needed a little bit of time to adjust.

Speaker 1 (45:07):
Maybe there was something with the defenders because of whatever,
the doormat doorman, whatever the situation was going on there, right,
But I think I think the Stallions could win this
game purely just by being the classic Stallions. And it's
really going to be up to the players whether they
can be the classic Stallions. I think Skip can be

(45:29):
the classic Stallions. Coach, we saw it on the sidelines
every time Ago made a mistake, he said, hey, look,
I get it, you can't make the play, but don't
lose twenty yards right, Oh put art Now, look they
have the ball there, we could they could have been
at the twenty instead of the forty right again.

Speaker 5 (45:47):
And I think that's something again I go back to
that DC game and something that we talk about, how
I how much I feel like they put themselves in
a position to lose where I felt again, very winnable
game to me, Yes, eight second given up. Looking at that,
I give four sacks a credit to Alex Magoo playing.
I don't know why my cameras being weird, but Alex

(46:08):
McGoo playing hero ball. Maybe it's just that showing the
fuzziness of watching the play devolve his panic aap but
sets in. But I think they need to get back
and get something that's comfortable for all of their offensive
skill players because what I also noticed, again we're not
We didn't see a very comfortable Magoo, But I also
didn't see receivers that felt like they were on the

(46:29):
same page with him, which which was also baffling to me,
by the way, Like there were several plays it felt
like Alex McGoo had one thing lined up and then
all of a sudden, that route's way off and looks
like it was an option or something other receiver was
supposed to read, and they were not on the same page.
You know, we had their announcers talking about how he
was misreading our pos and I'll even reiterate this too,

(46:51):
you know, And I know that Stallions fans have already
been well, they got to they gotta move on, but
let's reiterate here. It wasn't exact a very pretty beginning
to twenty twenty three as well for Alex. I mean,
we remember too, they were in the dumpster for a
few weeks. People thought that the New Orleans Breakers passed
them by back then, And yes, you can go, what

(47:12):
was usfl Wasn't that okay?

Speaker 4 (47:14):
Whatever?

Speaker 5 (47:14):
The talent level split thing, you know and kind of
two separate leagues with spread out talent.

Speaker 4 (47:19):
We can talk about that.

Speaker 5 (47:20):
That's fine, but it was not a pretty start for
that season either, And so I do want to see
what happens. You give them another week, you know, yes
it's a bit shorter of a week because it's gotta
be a Friday night game. But that's what I'm waiting on,
is what do you do with another week that's comfortable?
Do you see Alex progress and get better. If they
can get a win, then you're not gonna You're gonna

(47:40):
have less pressure on you to make that switch to
mac corall, no doubt about it. But right now, obviously
you've gotta I think, roll and at least give them
one more chance, or you give them a short leash
going into this game. If they're ugly at first half,
you pull it. You put mat corall in, and I
think that's what's gonna go. But if mcgoo's looking fine,
if he feels more comfortable, and if these receivers are

(48:03):
acting and seeming like they're on the same page, then
we're good to go, you know. But that's what I'm
watching out for for this Personally, I throw it into picks.

Speaker 4 (48:15):
I'll go to ride with my guys. A little bit
of fandom on this one.

Speaker 5 (48:18):
But I also think that if they stick with Bryce Perkins,
I think this is the best Michigan team they have
had since this team's come back in twenty two. So
I think with Perkins they have a real chance of
winning this game. But they gotta stick with it. Stop
with the split reps. I stress this enough outside of
Birmingham working it sometimes in twenty twenty two and especially

(48:40):
in twenty four, I just don't buy split reps. You
gotta stop taking away these guys momentum. Bryce Perkins has
to start. He is your guy. It was definitive last
contest against the show Boats. End of discussion. No more
split reps. If they start Bryce, and they do Bryce only,
I think they have legitimate shot to pull away and
have two and ohero hard to a conference that would

(49:03):
honestly be a little more competitive and I think a
little more up in the air than people expect it.
If they pull it off, which I think they can.

Speaker 4 (49:10):
So torn, Zach, I'm so torn. Half of me.

Speaker 1 (49:12):
I just don't want to get yelled at by Stevie
T And damn, my boy, he.

Speaker 5 (49:17):
Got you can't see. Look, let me tell you this.
I went to bat for the for the Birmingham folks
on ATU. I went hardcore on saying that it was
less a DC good win and more Birmingham playing their
worst game. So the support we've given you, we've given
them ton last week. So but you gotta go with

(49:39):
your heart, man, you know, so let me run. Let
me just run through you in my mind.

Speaker 4 (49:43):
Right.

Speaker 1 (49:44):
So the Stallions, I mean, they're coming off a tough loss.
It feels like they're gonna have some fire under their
ass to win this game. And then when I look
at the Panthers win last week, they still allowed the
show Boats to stay in it with U without effectively
a play.

Speaker 4 (50:01):
Color split reps.

Speaker 5 (50:02):
Though again that I keep I keep having to go
back to circle this with this conversation.

Speaker 4 (50:07):
What if you leave Perkins in? Do we? I mean,
that's the.

Speaker 1 (50:11):
Thing, so okay, all right, if we if if we
come down to that, I don't think Nolan will do that.

Speaker 4 (50:16):
So you got it, Stallions win. Giddy up. That's my take.
I guess as long as it's not split reps, I
have no worries.

Speaker 5 (50:23):
But if they try and pull this split rep crap again,
then yeah, I'm gonna instantly swing back. But I don't
believe they do. Perkins was too good to make that
justification for another week.

Speaker 4 (50:35):
Yeah, that's just my thing. Yeah, I thought he was
too good.

Speaker 1 (50:38):
I think the Stallions went, but I don't think it's
going to be a blowout. I think it's gonna be
a close game. Are they within two points?

Speaker 5 (50:45):
Yeah, I'm gonna I'll pull. I'll say, you know, I'm
gonna say it's a little lower scoring. Honestly, let me
get like, uh, let me take.

Speaker 4 (50:53):
A UFL score here. I'm gonna go twenty two to nineteen.

Speaker 5 (50:57):
Yeah that sounds that I think defensive stop. I think
I think that Michigan will do it again.

Speaker 4 (51:04):
Okay, well only a couple of days away. We'll find
out soon.

Speaker 3 (51:09):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (51:09):
This takes us to Saturday again, a PM Eastern showbos
at Defenders and can I Can I tell you what
I smell, Zach, I.

Speaker 4 (51:18):
Smell a trap game.

Speaker 1 (51:20):
I smell I smell an over confident Defenders coming off
a win that they even they couldn't believe that they got,
coming into a game looking at well, if we can
beat the Stallions, this Showboats team, Who the hell are
these guys even anyway? They don't even have a head
coach or do they Nobody even knows?

Speaker 4 (51:42):
Trap trap trap trap Trap me up, dude. It's like
Star Wars. It's a trap. That's what is going on
with this game right now. Dude. I'm telling you, I
don't know.

Speaker 1 (51:53):
I just got a feeling the Showboats defense is gonna
throw throw them off their game just a little bit.

Speaker 4 (52:01):
Uh. And if I don't know, we.

Speaker 1 (52:02):
Don't even know who's gonna be running the damn offense
this week in Memphis. But let's say wizen Hunt is
in the background, maybe he's not on the sidelines, but
he's getting some notes in order for these guys, maybe
kind of getting getting, you know, t J. Venary, some
plays that he can call in, some different scenarios, maybe
running them through some drills.

Speaker 4 (52:24):
And I just I don't know something about the overconfidence.

Speaker 1 (52:26):
I think the coach, I think the Defenders coach last
week came in hot at the end of the game.

Speaker 4 (52:33):
And Uh, I don't know.

Speaker 1 (52:35):
I just got I don't call it a feeling, call
it a hunch. And you know I suck at these things.
So you know, if you're a Defenders fan, you just
be ready to be happy because I'll probably be wrong.

Speaker 4 (52:46):
But I don't know, I don't know.

Speaker 1 (52:47):
It just feels like a trappy trap trap game early season.
You shouldn't even be a trap game this early in
the season, but with all contexts considered, feels like one
funny when you consider.

Speaker 4 (52:59):
That they're both teams without the head coach.

Speaker 5 (53:01):
But yeah, yeah, right, I know, well yeah, and one
is uh one apparently is according to quotes the X
door Man, So I kid, I did, of course. Uh,
this one does feel like I feel.

Speaker 4 (53:19):
I'm not gonna say I.

Speaker 5 (53:20):
Would say trap could be put in because of the
energy coming out of last week. I also think, like, look,
it's gonna I think it'll be a good test to
show and see how good this DC offense is again
again Jaron Horton's defense, like they did put up some
like when they were able to tackle properly. I think

(53:40):
that they were able to slow things down. And also
I have to reiterate I wasn't too impressed with DC's
offense last week. You know, I thought, Abrams in credit
that could be a testament to Birmingham. But outside of
some adjustments in Birmingham not adjusting the slant routes and
playing some zone for once, which again, like it was,
is how bad coaching wise, I think across the board

(54:03):
in some cases it was for that game. You know here,
I don't see that defense being that complacent to not change,
and so I'm curious how much can you get Abram
Smith involved, because I'll be honest with you something that again,
I don't think this DC d offense being like kind
of lukewarm, wasn't talked about enough. Like I thought Jordan

(54:27):
Tamu outside the slants was very inefficient, less than fifty
percent passing completions on the day.

Speaker 4 (54:32):
Yes, he did have.

Speaker 5 (54:32):
One beautiful deep deep throat that set him up for
their loan touchdown later on, but outside of that, very
inefficient performance on that end, and the running game really
didn't go anywhere.

Speaker 4 (54:44):
And I think I need to see that.

Speaker 5 (54:47):
You know, That's kind of why, like we talked about
power rankings, I didn't put DC only only up one spot.
I put him to fourth and mostly it's just because
I didn't buy their offense, which is something that you know,
I think I'm gonna be keeping a closer tab on.
You know, I'm looking at the numbers from this past
game and again Abram Smith two point eight yards a clip,

(55:07):
and I know that that's Birmingham is a pretty good front.
They've had it all the years that Skip Holtz has
been helping construct this team with a Zach Potter, but
like that was supposed to be your bread and butter guy,
and I don't see that improving much against Memphis, honestly,
and it showed in the numbers as well with Michigan,
So I don't know. I think this offense is going

(55:28):
to get tested. I still believe DC wins only because
I don't know what they're going to do at quarterback
or with the offense from Memphis. However, if Memphis plays
a quick game, something that Birmingham didn't do against DC
and that they did efficiently against Michigan, mind you, and
Troy Williams was in this game, could be interesting because
I do think that one way to best mitigate Greg

(55:51):
Williams get the ball out and get your playmakers in
open field and start moving down the field and kind
of making short third and manageable situations. You know something
that Birmingham I think did not capitalize on and play
a smooth game. Birmingham penalized a ton for silly miscues.

Speaker 4 (56:08):
You know, can they play.

Speaker 5 (56:09):
An efficient game? We'll find out. DC's my pick, though,
I think they're a little bit more discipline of a team.
They have a better I think they have overall a
more stable coaching staff right now that I think can
help lead the way.

Speaker 4 (56:20):
So I gotta go with that.

Speaker 5 (56:22):
But I need to see DC's offenshow up, I don't
buy it right now.

Speaker 4 (56:27):
I'm sorry.

Speaker 5 (56:27):
I just I can't in good conscience tell you that
I think that's a high power offense at this moment.

Speaker 4 (56:33):
Yeah, well, I don't know. So we're split.

Speaker 1 (56:36):
We're split two for two on splits here takes us
to the third game of the week, Roughnecks at Renegades.

Speaker 4 (56:43):
Well, then, I don't even know where to start. I
don't even know where to go.

Speaker 1 (56:52):
The law tells me I should go for them if
I have the Panthers losing. But Ref's law is totally
fine if both of our's teams lose.

Speaker 4 (57:00):
I don't see any way in hell.

Speaker 1 (57:02):
Not one chance, not one glimmer one, not little scent
even inkling of a hope that we can come out
with a win.

Speaker 4 (57:10):
Quite frankly, I think we're going oh and ten this season?
What is going on anyway? What Renegades? Though?

Speaker 1 (57:20):
I think the Renegades are gonna do good this week.
I think we saw what they saw last week?

Speaker 4 (57:24):
What was that said? I think you have a possession
problem at your place?

Speaker 1 (57:27):
No, I keep I don't know. I might say have
like allergies or something. I keep like my head gets
into the fog. But I don't know if we saw
the Renegades do what they did last week again this week?
I mean the Renegades are look at solid, probably the
most solid they've kicked off a season ever, even when
you look at twenty twenty twenty three when they won

(57:50):
a championship.

Speaker 4 (57:51):
Last year didn't do too hot either. But even when
they won.

Speaker 1 (57:54):
The championship, they they weren't like the hottest team. They
didn't even start the season with Louise Frez. Yeah, where's
this game? They had some mistakes out there, Don't get
me wrong. They they have some things they need to
button up. Running game better than I expected defense better

(58:15):
than I expected.

Speaker 4 (58:17):
Louise. He's Louise Man, He's the King of Spring. He
was doing what he needed to do.

Speaker 1 (58:23):
I mean, have I don't you know, other than Homers.
I don't know if there's many people predicting that the
Renegades were gonna beat the Brahmas last week, and they
beat him up like some little pansy boys, you know.

Speaker 5 (58:39):
And you know what what has me so surprised and
why I am? I'm blown away by by Arlington because
there they were the two questions I had got answered
in triumphant fashion against against San Antonio.

Speaker 4 (58:55):
Do they have a run game?

Speaker 5 (58:57):
Can they find anything on the ground to give Les
Perez a break from playing the hero? And does this
defense have what it takes and can show up? And
you know what, I gotta get props they've made the
right adjustments, because, first off, that front offensive line bullied

(59:17):
San Antonio last week, straight up Buoyd. It looked exactly
funny enough, much like how Saint Louis bullied Houston the
day before. So I'm gonna be honest with you, like
I think more we're just talking about what makes this
look like an overwhelming Renegades win, right, now because quite frankly,
that front five for Arlington, if it did what it

(59:38):
needed to against San Antonio, with arguably a better coaching
staff there, I don't have much faith that it's not
gonna have its way with Calen Bollidge and day to
day Hunter doing what they need to do on the ground,
which then will open up Perez to have his very
veteran and.

Speaker 4 (59:55):
In sync receiving crew do what they need to do.
And then the.

Speaker 5 (59:58):
Broadcast highlighted that exactly. You know, that's something I was
wondering it would be an impact as well. Is you know,
these guys have played three straight years with each other.
We're talking not only Canela, but Vaughn's, Peyton, Burnett and Winstead.
Hall of Ed played to some degree with Louis Perez
in multiple seasons. You know Canella three straight as well, Peyton,

(01:00:20):
same way Burnett. I mean, these guys have played in
our dogs on this roster so well.

Speaker 4 (01:00:26):
Brett's played two. Sorry, but I digress that.

Speaker 5 (01:00:28):
Multiple years in receiving options, a better offensive line with
an actual ground game, Bolage opens this wide open. He's
a bruiser, but he hits the whole hard, much more
of a speedster than like say Hunter is to me.
And Davion Smith is a good goal line guy and
they used him in the right capacity as a goal
line person with his size, So that's good stuff. And

(01:00:50):
if that defense keeps showing out like it did against
San Antonio, which I think it will, I think this
is another game they tune up and they need and
they do some adjustments as needed. Boy this and uh,
I mean, look, I hope Anthony Brown company adjust you know,
it was first week Jitters possibly, and I know I
see some menacing forces starting to show up once again

(01:01:10):
in that room.

Speaker 4 (01:01:11):
But god, it's like that.

Speaker 5 (01:01:15):
It's uh, the chills I have for what might be
ahead for viewers out in H Town.

Speaker 4 (01:01:20):
It's it's not looking good. T eh, it's.

Speaker 1 (01:01:26):
Final game of the week. I don't know what we
were just talking about. Final game of the week. Six
thirty pm Eastern on a Sunday. We got the Brahmas
heading to the Battle Hawks. Is this Is this the
Brahma's home game in Saint Louis or is that one
later this year?

Speaker 5 (01:01:43):
I mean it's they're gonna see a lot of Saint
Louis this year, so it's one of them call it
what you I think, honestly, it's theirs because of just
how the schedule got spliced up.

Speaker 4 (01:01:54):
I'd say this was supposed to be theirs and it
didn't happen that way.

Speaker 5 (01:01:59):
But Yeah, going out to Saint Louis, I think san
Antonio surprised a lot of people in the complete opposite
for how un san Antonio on AJ Smith and Wade
Phobs characteristics of this team were showing up against the Renegades.
A lot of questions and I think, funny enough, I
just talked about how the Renegades ran up and down

(01:02:21):
the court on this on this front seven, Saint Louis
is entering the chat not a great matchup defensively after
getting completely slacked by Calen Balladge, you got Manny Wilkins
and company coming in who just did the same thing
to Yes, probably a slightly worse rent like Roughnecks team, but.

Speaker 4 (01:02:41):
I mean they got bullied, dude.

Speaker 5 (01:02:43):
They were freaking bullied in Chalk Toaw Stadium last week.

Speaker 1 (01:02:48):
Yeah, and I'll just say this the BattleHawks.

Speaker 4 (01:02:52):
You know, I'll always admit when I was wrong.

Speaker 1 (01:02:55):
Zach Ducky and I were talking during Spring Stock and
we jokingly said the BattleHawks don't have a run game.

Speaker 4 (01:03:05):
Well, turns out they do. Turns out they do.

Speaker 5 (01:03:11):
Even Funnier with that quote is Manny Wilkins getting the
starting reps and his his main game he's remembered for
last year is for his running capability that got them
to win. That's the funniest part of that whole quote.
What won the what the what won them a game
last year? Him being able to run out of the pocket.

Speaker 4 (01:03:31):
For the most part.

Speaker 1 (01:03:32):
You know, it's funny because I've seen a couple of
people online say, well, are the BattleHawks this good?

Speaker 4 (01:03:37):
Or were the rough Are the Roughnecks that bad?

Speaker 1 (01:03:40):
And honestly, I don't know if we'll get an answer
to that question this week. For the reasons you mentioned, Zach,
the reasons the BattleHawks won last week are the same
reasons the Renegades beat.

Speaker 4 (01:03:50):
The Brahmas last week.

Speaker 1 (01:03:52):
Yes, now, there's always time for a good old adjustment
in any sport, but it feels like especially in spring football.
But I'd be curious to see because you know, we
had a hard time hearing even on a tu this week,
So there was a couple of things I wanted to
talk about that we just didn't really as much detail.

Speaker 4 (01:04:09):
But we have to have at least.

Speaker 1 (01:04:12):
One Wade Phillips or aj Smith down on the field
this week.

Speaker 4 (01:04:16):
You would assume, right, like what.

Speaker 5 (01:04:17):
The hell, it's in a dom minimum so that he
hope we if that's where we was the factor because
they were getting sunlight.

Speaker 4 (01:04:23):
But like that was so strange. I haven't I have
a thought, and it's a dumb one, but I think
it's so dumb. I might be right.

Speaker 1 (01:04:32):
So during the broadcast they mentioned that it was Wade
phillips anniversary and his wife was in the stadium, and
so I almost wonder if having him not being on
the field that was a way for him to like
bounce out faster after the game so he could do
whatever was his anniversary thing. Who knows, maybe there's maybe

(01:04:56):
there's some either, you know, some other fun things happen
then behind the scenes up there that Wade couldn't be
on the sidelines for it is his anniversary, and I
think they've been married for like forty some years. So
I mean, give give the man a break if he
wants to get some nookie in the photo room. My god,
all who knows, I'm just saying, sign him up. I

(01:05:18):
just hope AJ didn't walk in he was up there too.
I'm just saying I do not even did that. I
don't need that visual sir, It's not.

Speaker 4 (01:05:26):
Based on any reporting I've heard. This is just me
speculation zone. Let me throw that at that'll catch it?

Speaker 5 (01:05:33):
Uh you.

Speaker 4 (01:05:37):
Just while would he be up there getting in the spot?

Speaker 1 (01:05:44):
I mean he had to get something to relieve those
tensions after that game. I'm just saying, I mean, what's
worse him or Dayshawn Watson. At least he's getting anyway,
all right, anyway.

Speaker 4 (01:05:56):
Well, I don't know. I don't he don't know. I'm
done with that. I hope he's down on this side.
I hope somebody's down on the sideline.

Speaker 5 (01:06:08):
Look, I don't want to question anyone's coaching methods, but look,
if I had to take a quick stab at it,
I don't think having one Having half of your leadership
corps up in a press box is exactly the smart move. Yes,
you can analyze the field. I know he has a
little more he has say in the defense and like viewership,
but I don't know. Man head coach is kind of

(01:06:30):
part of their responsibilities to be down there and kind
of helping wrangle the troops together and making sure things
are in order on the colms like kind of just
felt weird. I'll attribute to the sun and heat elements
of it, because yes, the sunlight was bearing down on
their side of the field easily. But I mean, hey,
look he is also seventy seven. You know, he's getting

(01:06:52):
up there in age.

Speaker 4 (01:06:52):
For sure.

Speaker 5 (01:06:53):
I'm not gonna hold anything against him if it's something
like that, but it's something I think we're gonna be
keeping an eye on this week. Is are we going
to get a boothed Wade Phillips the whole season or
is this one off like that changes the dynamic of
what is run down on the sideline without a doubt.

Speaker 4 (01:07:09):
And beyond that, I think now, I think.

Speaker 5 (01:07:12):
There's a lot of pressure this year's gonna be putting on A. J.
Smith to perform as an offensive coordinator. We saw I
know TJ had a lot of words to say on
ATU about you know, guy does have a bit of
a cocky streak to him and not a good look
to start the year. You know, Kellen Mond was we
thought would fit in easily for a very QB friendly system,
and they look very out of sync in terms of

(01:07:34):
receiving options. You know, I thought that Kirkland didn't get
many targets. He got eight targets on the day, but
it did not feel like he was targeted that much.
You know, it felt like Kellamm was favoring Jacob Harris
because that was the most comfortable he could find for
a guy to find open. I mean, they couldn't get
much going on. They they got minimum going on the

(01:07:54):
on the in the air category.

Speaker 4 (01:07:57):
On the ground was a little more success, but not much.
You know, a lot.

Speaker 5 (01:08:02):
I think a lot of pressure is gonna be on
San Antonio to make some adjustments because, uh, you know,
it's good. Defense is gonna get challenged enough with that
run game. Saint Louis is gonna lean on that hard
this week.

Speaker 4 (01:08:14):
So who you're taking, I gotta go to Saint Louis.

Speaker 5 (01:08:17):
That front seven, I think for San Antonio has a
lot of questions about it. They got buoyed last week.
Will they be asked to respond? Sure, But I'm liking
the BattleHawks for without a doubt. You know, if you
get Manny Wilkins a little more comfortable, which it feels
like Wilkins won the job, no doubt about it. You know,
there's no reports that like Dugan's getting extra reps, but

(01:08:38):
it felt definitive like it's Wilkins's team and he's gonna
take the reins. Yeah, I mean, uh, watch out because
he gets a little more comfortable in the passing. We
saw a few reps and some beautiful deep throws against Houston.
You know they're gonna keep opening that up a little bit,
especially if they get run opportunities like the against the Brahmas,
like the Renegades did.

Speaker 4 (01:08:57):
So I got this one.

Speaker 5 (01:08:58):
I gotta go with second and I'll do the same
thing to see if it repeats it myself. Like last
week second Most Confident, I am in a game which
do not track well for my last pick a second
Book's Confident game last time I said.

Speaker 1 (01:09:11):
But I'm with you, Zach, So we we we're gonna
We're gonna agree on the last two slate of games,
disagree on the first two.

Speaker 4 (01:09:20):
Slate game of the week. If you ask me this week,
I'm gonna go first game of the week. You know.

Speaker 1 (01:09:25):
Unfortunately for the slate of you know, the the crescendo
of games.

Speaker 4 (01:09:29):
I think they'll all be good.

Speaker 1 (01:09:30):
But if I'm gonna look at one game and say, okay,
which is going to be the most competitive potentially which
one might matter the most even down the stretch. Funny
enough to talk about week two right right by that
Panther Stallions game right there. I mean especially especially you know,
as as the other team starts shaking out, you know,

(01:09:51):
if if the Panthers can get that second win Stallion's
row and two right.

Speaker 5 (01:09:56):
And Birmingham, I mean, I think that's the thing is
how how off is this Birmingham team? Was that their
worst performance? Or is this going to be the status quo?
And I think a lot of people are putting that
pressure because you know, as you said, three time champ,
you're trying to go for your fourth.

Speaker 4 (01:10:14):
Eyes are on you every week, every week. Baby.

Speaker 1 (01:10:19):
Hey, we're only into week two and a whole bunch
of weeks ahead of us. So here's what you guys
gotta do. Here's what you guys gotta do. You gotta
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(01:10:40):
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