May 2, 2025 • 41 mins
In the first hour, Dave Softy Mahler is at Husky Stadium for the UW Spring Game and talking all things Dawgs football, with play-by-play voice Tony Castricone, broadcaster Yogi Roth from the Big Ten Network, and UW’s former pass rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Go Zion too. Bowl of the two weeks. You're gonna
join us as well. Cam Cleveland coming by, Yogi Roth's
gonna come by. We're gonna hear from mina chimes. The
broadcast will start at six, the kickoff will be at
six thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
But here he is, Jackson Felts.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm telling you right now, this guy, he is so
prepared like it's a regular season game.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
The voice of the Husky's Tony castro Con. How are you, man, dude?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
It is not cold out here. It's fantastic. I have
forty thousand tickets out I think the show rate's gonna
be phenomenal. People want to come out in this weather.
This is great.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You're right, it's beautiful and there's gonna be ninety million
people here. That's what That's what I meant to say.
By the way, I'm cold, but I'm sure in the sun.
If we could be about ten ten feet to the west,
we'd be fine.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Softy, you live in Seattle. You've only lived in Seattle.
How could you ever be cold?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You know?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
The problem is, honestly, man, because I used to be
fat and now I'm skinny. I don't have the insulation
I used to have when you're two seventy difference. But
this is gonna be fun tonight, and I'm glad that
they're doing this for a couple of reasons. Number one
in all opens up my Saturday, which is freaking phenomenal.
That's me when it's all said and done. To the
number two, I don't know if we've ever had a
(01:07):
coach here Tony at Washington who has gotten behind this
game the way Jedfish has no doubt.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I mean, when the rest of college football is running
in the opposite direction, Jed is embracing this as a
way not only to get camaraderie around the fans, not
only as a way to really build hype and excitement
about the season, but also, in today's day and age,
where nil is everything, guys have to have an ability
to get their name out there. And when you have
(01:36):
fifteen closed practices and no media at any of them,
how is half of your roster that doesn't start on
the too deep? How are they going to build a brand?
How are they going to get their name out there? Well,
they've got an opportunity with fourteen open practices to the media,
where you've got the Seattle Times and on Montlake and
a SSI and you got everybody else out there actually
(01:56):
watching it and reporting, Hey, here's what the new true
fresh and its safety. He looks like, So you're building
a brand that way, and now today on Big ten
network on national TV, you're gonna have the opportunity, you know,
to to showcase your abilities. And it's I mean, I
really like how he did this. It's gonna be purple
versus gold today. So he's splitting up and he kind
(02:17):
of did it with a fine tooth comb. All right, Well,
if we got the number one left tackle, we should
put the number two left guard over here. And he
really split up the teams evenly. He wants to be
super competitive, right, so everybody's gonna play yea, and everybody's
gonna have an opportunity to showcase himself well, and they've
and they've set it up.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
It's gonna be a four quarter game now, running clock
except for the last two minutes of each half, and
it probably should last a couple hours. I think could
be done by around eight thirty or so. So, uh,
bring the kids, fun for the whole family, and the
losing team has to settle for beans and rice and
the winning team gets a stake. I happen to like
beans and rice, by the way, So to me, that's
not such a bad idea. But you and Dave Ramsey,
(02:54):
I just yeah, I just don't know. It's incredible how
involved he is. And I used to think when he
first showed up here that he's worried about stuff he
shouldn't worry about. Like I remember being in the tunnel
one day last year and somebody asked about the broadcast
for the game on Saturday, and he's standing there jet
is and just belts out who's on the broadcast, Like, Hey,
Caitlin did a phenomenal job here, Chris Peterson, phenomenal job.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Those guys wouldn't have.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Known off the top of their head who was calling
the game on TV that day for the Huskies on Saturday.
So I don't know if there's, honestly, Tony a portion
or a segment of this program that he does not
have at least a fingerprint on it.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Well, when you say stuff he shouldn't worry about, yeah,
I think that's what I thought back in the well,
what I was going to say was, I think that
all of it matters, and he understands that all of
it matters right right now? How much attention should he
devote to you know, who might be calling the game
all that, Yeah, And I don't know that's that's each
(03:54):
CEO's different preference and decision. But I think the fact
that he understands that all of it matters, The media matters,
the coaches show matters, He likes talking to the media,
he opens up the practices for the media. The fact
that he pays hyper specific attention to detail to not
only the way everything operates inside that building, but then
also everything that athletics that touches football, and how he
(04:18):
can engage the alumni and the donors and the students
and all of it. I mean, it takes a village,
right and takes it takes a nation. It takes Husky Nation.
And those are phrases that you're used to hearing the
biggest programs. You're used to the entire state of Nebraska
being called Husker Nation, right. Well, like Jed understands that
(04:42):
he needs everybody, everybody on board, everybody's support, and so
I think he's done a great job engaging that. And
here we are sixteen months into his time, and I
think there is an unbelievable enthusiasm around the program during
what's been an incredibly difficult transition. And I think that
(05:02):
I'm really really excited for the season because while while
succeeding in the Big Ten is tough, I think this
team has a lot higher ceiling than it did a
year ago. And there were probably more games that I'd
put in the bucket of we got probably a ten
percent chance or less of winning this game going into
(05:22):
the ballgame. There were a lot of those games last
year we were talking about at Iowa, at Indiana, at
Penn State, at Oregon. In successive fashion, I would put
no game on the schedule in the less than ten
percent bucket.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
This.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah, I think you're right. I think you're exactly right.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
A lot of that has to do with what this
offensive line looks like compared to where it was a
year ago. I was doing remind me, because I'm getting
old here, I was doing the sidelines for the first
game of the year against We would say and I
remember standing like right here, literally fifteen yards from where
you're sitting right now. And I don't know if this
made the air. I think it may have made the
year where I went on with you and Cam And
I said on the air with you guys, did I
(05:58):
just see Drew as a part already switch from one
tackle to the other in consecutive plays on the same drive.
And I mean we've seen that from drive to drive
where a guy comes out after a break after the defense.
He made the switch on consecutive play. I've never seen
that before at this Like that was Harry. That was
(06:20):
high school stuff. But they had no choice. So tell
all the people out there listening, and maybe even tell
me because I'm still a little nervous about how much
better should this offensive line be in week one?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So how is a quantitative answer? Like I can't really quantify.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Because last year it was a major concern, right the
Maritter offense for example, last year was a major concern.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
It was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Now we think, hey, they may not be as good
as they're playing, but they've they've eliminated the you know,
twelve alarm fire thing that we saw a year ago.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Has the offensive line done that? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I think what it has solidified certain positions for sure.
I think Landon Hatchet is a thirty year guy in
the program, is your starting center as well as he's healthy.
I think Carver willis the transfer from Kansas State. It
was one of the top offensive line transfers in the portal.
He is your starting left tackle. So like you know,
beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have two
(07:13):
Big ten caliber players anchored in at those positions. I
heard it said from a source yesterday that Drew as
a party is the most improved player, maybe on the offense,
certainly on the offensive line. So I would say, if
that's true, and if that continues as a trajectory into
the fall, that he has solidified the right tackle position
(07:37):
and been able to keep off the competitors at Bay
there and so then the question becomes, what do you
do at the guards? Well, I think there's been great
competition at the guards. I think you're going to be
young no matter what. Garon Hatchett is a veteran player,
but doesn't have the deep starting experience.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Say is he an automatic starter at guard?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Automatic? I'd say no, only because of the competition. I
think You've got Pocky Fina as a red shirt freshman.
You've got Zach Henning as a guy that's got a
lot of snaps and experience, played a lot of reps
here On Montlake, and then I think he got two
true freshmen in John Mills, the kid that flipped from Texas,
and Champ Talelea, who is just a mountain of a
(08:19):
man at eighteen years old, three hundred and forty pounds.
You got two huge true freshmen who got reps with
the ones this camp and who have been really, really
impressive in the time that they got those reps. And
so I think there's great competition at the guard spots,
and so I just think and they're deeper. They're deeper too.
(08:39):
There's a lot of guys that are pushing for their
own their own position chart, battles their own reps. So
I think the competition is raising everybody's game. And I
think there's an experience level there that you just didn't
have a year ago. So are are they all big
ten all the way across the line? No, they're not
there yet. They are in the second year of trying
(09:01):
to build this through high school recruiting with a few
supplements in the portal, which is hard to do. Uh,
And that's gonna take longer. But are they better? No question.
And I think you're gonna see demand Williams reap the
benefits of that.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
God, there's just just so many new players. I mean,
I'm just looking at that. This is like just like
last year, right, there's just so many. This is something
that we probably should just get used to, right, every
single year, We're gonna see a bunch of new players
every single season. Like I'm looking at that defensive line.
I mean, uh, Pepa, excuse me? Is the transfer from Utah?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
So safty, all the all the highlight players right here?
These are players who are gone. And the pink Yeah,
it's a lot of pink, by the way, baby, It's
like right, well, I mean my chart is orange.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
You use pink.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I use orange, all right, And I see a lot
of orange orange on this on this depth chart. Ontario Thompson,
I believe is the Western Michigan transfer. Pepa came over
from Utah. These might be two starting defensive linemens. So really,
for me, that's what this is about. Okay, tell me
how the the offensive and defensive lines perform. Sure, and
I'll tell you how this team does in the Big Ten.
(10:04):
Because look, Demant Williams is gonna cover up for a
lot of ills, there's no question about that. But he
can't get hit the way he was hit a year
ago ten sacks against the Oregon got smacked around. Obviously
late in the year he did a great job of
getting popped and getting back up.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
But all it takes is one for this guy to
go down and lose him to an injury. So what
do we think about that defensive front.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Do we see a football team that is going to
be getting after the quarterback?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
A team that's stopped in the run, which they could
not do last year.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So getting after the quarterback is going to vary game
to game based on how much the quarterback is trying
to throw the football. Right, and if you have a
quarterback and an offense that's trying to pound the rock
and run the football, you're not gonna see a whole
lot of that in the Big Ten like we're used
to in the in the in the Pac twelve Conference,
we're used to his ion two pool. If a two
we getting seven sacks in four games, right like we're
(10:52):
used to. Just like outrageous sack numbers from the Brayln
trices and the guys that are able to really get
after it. That's gonna change the Big Ten Conference chances. Yes,
because of the style of play the question in the
Big ten, everybody's trying to establish the run, and can
you stop the run to give yourself the opportunity to
(11:12):
get out in front and take the lead early. I
think Jason Kafusi, the defensive line coach, and the new
edge coach, coach Van Horne, I think they both really
believe that they are going to be much better at
stopping the run this year. They're deeper along the interior line.
You were mentioning just a couple of the additions in
Peppa and Thompson. I think also you look at a
(11:35):
guy like Armond Parker. We all know Javon's played a
lot of reps his twin brother armand has just battled
injuries throughout his entire time here. But Jedfish pointed to
Arman is maybe a guy who's taking the biggest step
this spring right and on the team, and just the
fact that he's out there rotating in with the twos
and getting a lot of reps. They're deeper along the
(11:55):
defensive line in a way that I think a gives
them a better chance of stopping the run, but also
be there they're gonna be a lot more versatile too.
I mean, look at the edge room, Softie, You've got
guys that are two twenty two twenty five like Deuce
Davis Isaiah Ward that can get after the quarterback. And
then you've got guys like Deshaun Lynch who are three
(12:16):
hundred pounds Tay Tay Uyungalle is to eighty. So like
you've got a lot of versatility just within that outside
linebacker slash edge position. And I think that they're gonna
have a lot of pieces that they can mix around
depending upon who they're playing.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, you know, Ta Carrio Davis and Jacob Maneu two
guys that came over from Arizona as seniors, so don't
need to be coached up a lot their fourth year,
fifth year guys whatever. I think both of them are
fourth year guys if I'm not mistaken, But these are
two guys that should be all Big ten candidate type
of players I think for this defense. And I don't
(12:52):
think that's saying too much. I mean, Ta Cario is
one of the best corners in the country. Are supposed
to be one of the best corners in the country,
So talk to me about the stars on this defense.
I mean, obviously, a couple of years ago, you mentioned
two and Trice sin ZTF Carson Bruner a year ago.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Who are the stars?
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Who are the guys that I'm gonna be getting phone
calls about week by week asking from the opponent's perspective, Hey,
tell me about who that guy is because he looks
awesome on tape.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Well, so you mentioned to Carrio Davis and his chop says,
what he did you know two years ago when he
was at Arizona, first team All Pac twelve, led the
conference in past breakups per game and all those things.
I think I'm excited to see what he looks like
in live action here the inside linebackers, people don't really
(13:37):
know a whole lot about them yet because they're all new.
But man Devin Bryant, I just keep hearing his name
pop up as a guy that everybody's really excited to see.
And then all the other pieces that have come in.
X Ray Alexander is a local kid that's really excited
to be home, transferring in from UCF. Extremely productive as
a true freshman at Idaho, true sophomore at UCF, second
(14:00):
on both teams in tackles, had some other explosive plays
like like when he's a true freshman Idaho blocked a
game winning field goal attempt in FCS playoffs. Right, Tyuyungla
is a guy that looks pretty disruptive. Uh rashaan Clark,
local kid who's got great ball skills. H Man, he
had a really explosive spring with Unofficially, the Beat writers
(14:24):
were reporting seven interceptions in camp. I didn't I didn't
keep the notes in the tallies, but man, that's a
lot so and then you also kind of look at
I think, honestly, some of the biggest playmakers on this
defense are guys that didn't participate this spring. You mentioned
Jacob Manu. He might not be quite ready to go
at the beginning of the season. We'll see what Jeded
(14:45):
has to say about him as time goes on. Be
Zach Durfey is another one. I mean, you know, derf
is a guy that he got the toe operated on.
They're feeling hopeful that once the fall comes around, he
could be, you know, unleashed as a guy that we
all know what his upside is. You just look at
his stats over his time when he actually plays. So yeah,
there's no shortage of names that could really pop.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Well with with with with Durphoeb We're going to see it.
I mean, he looks the part, no question, right, But
let's let let's see. Let's see it happen on game day, Tony,
before you go. The one guy we didn't mention was
number two, right, because it's like, okay, the one spot
that you're the least concerned about his quarterback, right. I mean,
this guy has all the makings of a star. And
I gotta tell you, I don't ever remember. And maybe
some of this is the new landscape in college football.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Nil.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Things like that were last year when Demon was backing
up Will Rogers.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
This jetfish said.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Not only is he going to be the future face
of Husky football, but we want to get him to
New York.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
And I'm like, whoa.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I've never heard a head coach talk about a backup
quarterback like that, basically handing him the job without any competition.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
The next Don James never would have done that.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
But Don James never had to worry about somebody poaching
the guy either, Right, So he's got to talk this
kid up to make sure he knows he's loved here
in Seattle. So, I mean, the hype train is, it's
it's it's it's light speed, baby, and a lot of
it's because of Jed Fish And I'm fine with that.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Whatever. Let's go, doesn't work out whatever, we're playing football.
We're not Kuran Polio here, Tony. It's fine, let's get crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Did you watch the sun Bull? Of course, I I.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Mean yeah, but I mean some people would say against
the depleted Louisville defense, Sure, but you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Could see the skill. The skill was obvious.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah, he had a depleted offensive line. That's right, right,
I mean right, we're talking about you know, you gotta
look at both sides of the coin. I think just
you flip on the tape and you just get excited. Now,
the the two things that stand out to me are
as athletic as he is and as exciting as he
can be in the running game, he does have to
(16:39):
stay healthy. I mean that's that's number one A and
number one B right there. Like, you know, he needs
to be able to stay healthy and make the decisions
that can help him stay healthy. The other thing is
you know that five ten five eleven stature. You know,
can he see the field? And you know, is he
gonna be a guy that can take care of the
football and make the right decisions. You don't want to
(17:00):
see the interceptions end up being something that bites this
offense literally everything else. You just get a ten out
of ten, right, I mean from his explosiveness, I mean,
we talk about Jordan Washington and how fast he is
in straight line speed. Demon Williams is hanging with him
in that regard. Right, We're talking about leadership, you know,
I mean we're hearing out of Basha High School that
(17:21):
this was a guy that had great leadership skills as
a fourteen and fifteen year old leading the high school
team as a sophomore. So you know, I think he's
the complete package, no doubt about it. But also let's
set the expectation that the Heisman Award is still a
popularity contest and it still is something that you know,
(17:44):
Michael Pennix got us to places we've never seen before
and still didn't win the award, right, like, just have
finished in second place, even though we all know he
should have won the Heisman Trophy. So I don't think
you judge whether or not he gets to New York
this year as a true sophomore his place in the legacy.
But there's no doubt about it. Is he that caliber
(18:05):
of a talent?
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Absolutely, yeah, I mean, obviously that's just ludicrous to think that. Well,
not a trip in New York. It's a downer. I mean,
that's just stupid.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
But no, I'm I'm fired up for him, and I
know Husky fans are too.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
All right, good stuff. We'll talk at six pm. Man,
I'm a rod all right around man, Torty Castro, Yep,
you got it. He's got the call with Cam Cleveland
coming up at six kickoff at six point thirty with
Dogs after dark. We got a lot to get to
from you. Dub next on ninety three to three kJ RFM.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
On casting live from the R and R Foundation, specialist
broad Jazz Studio. Now back to Softie and Dick, powered
by Emerald Queen Casino, the Betty and Capital of the
Northwest on Sports Radio and Netties three point three kJ R.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Fresher coming off the Edges, Williams rolls out pass et.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
Fscrab lost the football out on the ground, but pril
e Chise passing for the Huskies. It was Charlus by
Sion two ball of Fortey and Pray and Trice pounces
on it.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
They Coustley turnover for.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Usc straight larceny fuck number four.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
I wonder how many times you've heard that call.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
By the way, Oh, I'll go to sleep to it.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Okay, good. Let me just first of all introduce our
next guest.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
We're live at U dub for the annual Dog after
Dart game coming up at six thirty.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
To my pregame starts at six o'clock this evening.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
But on my left, number four Zion to all the fatuity,
and on my right from the Big ten Network is
Yogi Roth.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
How are you, man?
Speaker 8 (19:28):
I'm great, fired up to be here, get to Pix
to etf U Safty, the whole crew here.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well, that that call right there, that game right there, man,
it was built as a Heisman showdown between Caleb Williams
and Michael Pennix. And that was the night obviously that
you and I did that conversation off the air or
off the field about your dad passing away. Obviously an
emotional weekend for you. But man, tell me what that
means to you, dude, Tell me what that highlight and
(19:54):
that weekend, that game meant to you.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Man.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Yeah, I think that was just kind of the embodiment
of what we had going that sea, and you know,
I was really playing for everything but myself.
Speaker 7 (20:03):
I think that was a lot of our.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Guys can say we had a selfless approach to the season,
and I was just happy, you know, to make that play.
Like I said before that, I think maybe I was
questioning if I was hurting the team, you know that
that type of mentality, and that was just kind of
what I needed to keep my head in the game
and be like, Okay, this is where I belong and
it would have been awesome. I know my dad really
(20:25):
wanted to come see me play in the coliseum at
some point in time, so for him to just have
missed it by a week, yeah, it was. It was
extremely emotional. I was glad I was I was able
to represent my family name.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
But these are Yoga.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
You've covered this game a long time and you're into
now the stories right of college football, and that night,
the story of this guy going out there a week
after his father passes away as a strip sack fumble
against USC in the coliseum a gigantic win for UB
that night, and then shares his story, which I'm still
very grateful to you for doing.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
By the way, Zion with the.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
World on social media and emotional. That's why people people
love this game because the guy's like him.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
Hey we've been doing this a long time now, right, yep.
The seasons can blur together, but moments really stand out.
I remember seeing you two talking, I remember the hug
with coach Debor at the time postgame with you, like
those are vivid memories. I'd called a game earlier that
day and you're just watching on TV naturally, and that
night it became bigger than football and also a reflection
(21:25):
of what football can do. And knowing you since you
were recruit and then through your story and then have
a moment like that in such a special season and
then share with somebody who you trusted. It was really
a beautiful part of sport and why we do what
we do.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Did you happen to see the reaction to that and
what people were saying about it in a way, just.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
The reaction to people being appreciative of you sharing your
story with the world.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Yeah, actally much social media blew up after that in
terms of people just sharing their condolences or sharing their
experiences or thank you for me to being so open
because you know, the tough guy complex that comes with football.
They're appreciating the openness that I had, But I mean
it was just one instilled in me to you know,
appreciate the people that I had in that way. And too,
(22:10):
I think it's the culture of your dev that allowed
me to do that. You know, I think obviously we
wanted to go to Nanny, we wanted to win, and
that was the goal, but it was also the family
setting that we created amongst ourselves. You know, we'll me
being I was three thousand miles away from a lot
of us were you know, distance from home, not being
able to stay in state, like being from Washington, and yeah,
(22:30):
that family setting just made it easier to come in
on a day to day basis.
Speaker 7 (22:35):
And you know, I think our.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Goal was set even the season prior, you know, going
eleven and two, and from the first day we came
back to workouts after Alimobule, it was like, you guys,
seen what we can do. You know, A couple a
couple of hiccups, a couple hiccups and we're accidentally thirteen
and all that year.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
You know.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
So yeah, I appreciate you, Dub for everything it's ever
done for me. And I always think if I have
the opportunity to promote us, you know, even on that
our national setting.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
I'm gonna go ahead and do that.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Well, ZTF and Yogi Roth here, So let's kind of
circle back to what we're seeing now, right, because everything's different.
I mean, it's just bananas how much this thing has
been blown to Kingdom come and the job that Jetfish
has done. And Zion's gonna stick around with us one
more segment. You gotta go up and do some TV stuff,
by the way, but give us your thoughts, Yogi, and
I'm curious to get your take too, Zion on how
this program has recovered from the absolute bomb that went
(23:26):
off after that machine.
Speaker 8 (23:27):
Game, Well, I think you hired a guy that knows
how to build. Let's just start with that. I've known
Jetfish and so nine we met here. We both interview
with the Seahawks with Pete Carroll Wow in Bellevue that day.
We sat next to each other and just became, you know,
lifelong friends. And I've watched him at every stop. I've
stopped at all those places, and I did an interview
with him, I think it was twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen,
where we talked about if he became a head coach
(23:49):
what it would look like, and then he gets it.
Two years later after going to the Patriots. He leaves
the Rams because the Patriots then goes to Arizona. He
took that thing. It was as bad as you could
get in college football, and it came here. And what
I love is they didn't panic and he gets hired.
January sixteenth, the portal is closed. He gets the job,
and the portal opens for two schools, the one he
was at and the one he just got to. He
(24:10):
lost all the players here, for the most part, came
in the spring with seven offensive linemen and could have
gone out in the portal in the spring have been
I'm going to overpay, I'm gonna get multi year guys
that maybe aren't good enough, get over leverage. He said, no,
let's just build this thing from the ground up. And
now you look at this team, thirty four new faces
in the spring, seventeen of the transfer portal quality players.
He got four tackles that have started at the powerful level.
(24:31):
I think you have a star at quarterback and he's
a top third of the Big ten right now. He's
the most unique guy in the league. When you look
at just the dual threat ability. He's got to prove
it on the field. He's got a showcase discernment. But
they have the ability, I think, to just continue to
grow this thing, and by year three, I think they'll
be back in that real conversation where all want to
talk about it.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Zion, want to get your thoughts on Demon in a second,
but before you head upstairs, the H words been thrown
around a lot for demand meeting the Heisman Trophy and Jed,
I mean he brought it up a year ago. He
was the one that made to New York City when
he was backing up Will Rodgers for God's sake, which
I just took telling Tony the last segment. I've never
heard of coach do that when the backup before he
even wins the starting job.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
But it's hard not to drool over this guy. You know.
We started doing that early in the year obviously when
he was coming in to spell Will Rogers.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
But you said, what top half or top third, top third?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
So what is Demon Williams to you?
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Is he a potential Big ten first team second team quarterback?
Is he a guy that's going to be targeted by
everybody in the portal in a year from now with tens.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
And millions of dollars of offers. What is number two
look like to you?
Speaker 8 (25:36):
Well, I got to meet him back at the eage
eleven right in the high school kind of premier camp,
and you just get to meet the humility, get to
meet the family, and of course you get to see
the talent, which was extremely natural at the time he
was on his way to Tucson. He ends up going there.
Jake as a job we know the story. To me,
he does a couple things and you have to do
I think the first two to get in the door. One,
you have to be an elite competitor. He's that too.
You have to be I think, incredibly accurate. And then thirdly,
(25:59):
and this is what I can't wait to watch tonight,
it comes down to his discernment. It's decision making, it's
he knows his skill set, he knows it's unique. Does
he know when to turn it and back it off
on the dial. And then when you look at Jimmy
Doherty and Jed Fisher of how they have multi quarterbacks,
look at all of their backgrounds. It doesn't matter it
was Jimmy here San Jose state, whether it was Jed
in Jacksonville, Plake Portals, or in Michigan, look at any
(26:21):
of their places. That position is always played at a
premier level. The system is set up in that way,
the way they practice, the way they prepare. And then
I'll lastly just go to what they did last year.
They sprinkled them into every game, kind of like a
rookie in the league. And we were talking to Jed
yesterday about the game and he's like him and Michael
Pennix are kind of the same story NFL rookie played
a little bit and then became the guy late, demon
(26:42):
played a little bit, became the guy late.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
I love that part of it.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
So, yeah, can he win the heis of Sure, he's
capable of what we know what goes into that.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Sure, you gotta win games or just go off.
Speaker 7 (26:53):
Their schedule is set up.
Speaker 8 (26:55):
There's some challenging games, right they have one, two through
I think five teams they play coming off of a
bye week. Wow, that's a tough slate that they have.
I think they're good enough now though in every game
it'll come right down to the end. I think that'll
be the story for this team a year from now.
He might be the best quarterback argue believe the country.
I think he's just so unique. He's fast, fast, described
(27:15):
by himself, he's really accurate. He's got a big time army.
He can play outside the pocket. He played within the pocket.
He's been making checks in the line of scrimmag since
he was in high school.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
He's a complete quarterback.
Speaker 8 (27:24):
And that's what I want people to really listen to
do tonight, is this is not just a dual threat,
specialized guy. This is a legit dude in this era
of football. I think he's premium when you look at
the league.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Yeah, could he talked through the piercing wind though that's
coming through you? Yeah, tonight.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
But that's the thing, man, I would you like to
be chasing this kid around practice all day long? By
the way, how much would wear you at as a
defensive lineen to frustrate the hell out of you?
Speaker 7 (27:46):
Yeah, I wouldn't be a fan.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
And I can see you can see his composure even
when he is, you know, scrambling back there.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
You know he's got the ability to tuck it.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
I think a lot of us seen that early on
with him, you know, kind of getting sprinkled in in
the like running packages and then you.
Speaker 7 (28:02):
See his arm ability of this Louisville game, right, and
he's just.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
I mean, I expected him to go off, but I
mean that was quite a showing, even in the loss,
and so I'm excited to see him in year two.
I think I've also heard when Jed was in Arizona
that that was really when their offense started to click
and take off. And so they brought back, you know,
their key pieces and zell In Coleman, and I just
want to see who else wants to step up to
(28:29):
the plate and be a star in this offense.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Well, it's hard to say, let's look for certain things
tonight because they're going about, you know, ninety percent speed. Obviously,
that final ten percent where a linebacker can blow up
a running back or take out a wide receivers probably
eliminated from the repertoire tonight. But what is the one
thing that you're really curious about this team before Yogi
you take off and go upstairs and do TV that
would tell you whether or not they can compete for
(28:53):
a playoff spot this year, for example.
Speaker 7 (28:55):
Well, that's a that's a big question.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
I think it's competitive depth.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
Yeah, do they have the depth you gonna see the
top three receivers tonight, presumably right, but what are the
rest of these receivers look like? We're obviously not gonna
see quint more, what does the tight end room look like?
And then finally, I want to see what you did, man,
I want to see the get off. I want to
see ken these guys get off. I just came back
from calling Ohio State and Oregon they're separated. And I
know it's hard to say that to the U doub audience,
but it's the truth to me from what I see
(29:20):
from their rosters right now. So that's when I'm comping tonight.
When I leave this beautiful stadium, I'm gonna say, all right,
can the guys get off on line of scrimmage?
Speaker 7 (29:27):
What's the punch like on the offensive front?
Speaker 8 (29:29):
You can stalemate all day and that'll get you to
eight nine wins potentially, and you compete in that, but
can you really compete with competitive depth coming off the edge,
being a game record? Those elements is what I want
to see in this scheme with Ryan.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Walders, We're gonna come back and play a game with
ZTF called how many of these guys do you know? Okay,
because the roster has changed so much. Man, since you
were here. I'm gonna show you there depth Jark Zion.
I want you to tell me how many guys you've
played with them, how many guys you've heard of? So
you stick around, You go upstairs and do TV and
we'll talk soon, yog.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
You appreciate that, all right?
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yogi roth with us on tupaul off a two week
with us as well. We've got to break a lot
more to come with ZTF Camp. Cleveland's gonna stop by
as well and say hello right here on ninety three
to three KJRFMA.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
Casting live from the R and R Foundation specialist broad
Jest Studio. Now back to Softie and Dick, powered by
Emerald Queen Casino, the Betty and Capital of the Northwest
on Sports Radio Nutties three point three KJR FAM.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
All right, I believe we have solved our wind issue
here on the radio show The Answer Jackson.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
The remedy was called going inside. How's that sound? Okay?
Is this better? Can you hear us?
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Now?
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Much better? I feel like the old Verizon wireless guy.
Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?
Can you hear me now?
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Well? ZTF is going to stay here a little bit
by the way, because I don't know. I got a
funny feeling this guy might have a career in broadcasting
one day. I mean, clearly, the bar you can tell
with me and Jackson is very, very low.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Doesn't take a lot.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
If you can wake up in the morning and put
your pants on, you might have a career in broadcasting.
But dude, first of all, top will even doing the
last year or so. Man, I mean, I know you
went to Canada for a while, you had some dreams
and hopes of the NFL, But tell me what what
you've been up to.
Speaker 7 (31:08):
Man, Yeah, I spent can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Yep? Gotcha, I see exactly, can you hear me?
Speaker 7 (31:12):
Now? I spent the.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
I spent the majority of my time just getting healthy,
trying to be good enough to play again. Got a
little opportunity in the CFL, was there for a little
while before I came back home, you know, but real.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Life came knocking.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
So I got a sales job right now and you know,
make an ends meet. But yeah, I'm pursuing this broadcasting
thing as well. So yeah, yeah, glad to you know,
have good connections out here. And with softy and even
a Casher coone And so I'm gonna get this thing
rolling soon enough.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
No, I think you're gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
And you've you've lost a lot of weight, right, you
can't hear that's a problem, by the way, is that
something better?
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Can you hear?
Speaker 7 (31:47):
Now?
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Here?
Speaker 6 (31:48):
You go?
Speaker 7 (31:48):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (31:48):
You've you've lost a lot of weight. How much weight
have you lost?
Speaker 7 (31:51):
By the way, I think I've lost about twenty pounds.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Twenty pounds okay, he's.
Speaker 7 (31:55):
Just sitting more around forty fifty.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Okay, because you still look like you can play right now?
So are you Are you of the mindset that the
football thing is over or is there a.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Chance that you might want to revisit this fairly soon?
Speaker 4 (32:07):
I think now more than ever, you hear of stories
where guys were doing something else and you know, getting
an opportunity. So yeah, I'd like to just stay in
shape and you know, if someone comes knocking, you know,
give me my best shot. But yeah, I'd have to
start working out a little bit more. I admit, It's
not isn't like I keep up the same schedule that
I did when my life was football.
Speaker 7 (32:27):
So yeah, yeah, if the.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
Opportunity presentergs have to play football again for sure, but uh,
you know, just just being around football, even in this capacity,
is more than enough for me to express my love
for the game.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
I love it well.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
If anybody needs a pass rushing defensive end, give me
a buzz and we'll get Zion on the other end
for you is Ion toopol of a Duy is with
us ZTF on the radio show Live from You Dub
getting ready for the Dogs after dark spring Games. So
all right, put your analyst hat on then, Man, you
played this game, right, You played at this level. You
know this team. So let me first of all go
back if we can. I want to look at the
(32:59):
depth art right now. I want to ask you, uh
and Terario Thompson some Moote, Peppa Jay, Von Parker, Russell Davis,
Tariq al Ukda Ziree, Alexander, Zach Durfee, Price, Sock, McLaughlin, mckelstein,
Ta Carrio Davis. How many of these names looked familiar
to you?
Speaker 7 (33:17):
Man?
Speaker 4 (33:17):
Of that list that you just read three oh three, Yeah,
but you know it was about to before you were
about to say Dyson mccutche.
Speaker 7 (33:24):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
There's how about how about this second team?
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Or is Alenius Davis, Logan Sagapolu de Shaun Lynch, Tati,
Devin Bryant, Jacob McNew, Isaiah Ward?
Speaker 2 (33:36):
How about that second team?
Speaker 7 (33:37):
That second team? I know Eka, I know Devin.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Yeah, you know it's funny for oh, not Isaiah, But uh,
what's the linebacker?
Speaker 7 (33:47):
A Ward?
Speaker 4 (33:48):
He was a udub originally before he went to Arizona
and transferred back, so he was my teammate, but not
in the right not in the best years, right.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
How much?
Speaker 1 (33:57):
How much would you because I'm going to assume that
you're cool with players getting a piece of the pie
here with nil, but the rosters are changing so much
every single year we're doing this big song and dance.
How much would that bother you that every single year
you've got new teammates to your.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Right and left.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
Yeah, I think you just learned the business of the
game a lot faster than maybe waiting for the NFL.
But I find it interesting when you look at the
last four teams to make it to the championship game,
they're all older teams, right, all teams that have done
years together.
Speaker 7 (34:28):
So I think as much.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
As the transporportal plays a big part in today's college
football landscape. I do believe that continuity keeping that those
set of bodies together over a period of time.
Speaker 7 (34:38):
Actually, it is the formula.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
No, no question.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
And that means paying right, That means doling out paychecks
for these guys. I mean, you got a brand new
offensive line in a lot of ways, brand new left
tackle Geary and Hatchett, who you play with obviously is
back at you, dub now you know Land and obviously
Pockey came and I think with the year after you
took off, if I'm not mistaken, But how good is
this offense line?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Man?
Speaker 7 (35:01):
To find out tonight?
Speaker 4 (35:02):
I know a lot of emphasis was put on that
maybe being a weakness last season, and and they've gone
about it the right way and and filling the gaps,
and so I'm.
Speaker 7 (35:11):
Excited to see, uh what five they throw out there?
Speaker 4 (35:14):
How they how good they look and and if we
can you know, use the weapon that is Joanah Coleman
effectively this year.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Yeah, tell me about him about number one? What do
you see on tape from this guy.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
I'm just thankful that he was splitting carries when I
played against him, because he was one of those guys
where when even when we did tackle him, it was
like is he is he going out the next play?
Speaker 7 (35:34):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (35:35):
Like like we would at the end of the game saying,
you know, saying good game and be like they got
to get you in more. I remember saying that to
the running back at Arizona State, and then obviously he
goes Scataboo goes off last year and I was just
like I've been when we played him. I was like, bro,
like right the other way, you know what I mean. So, yeah,
I'm glad that I'm glad that that we were going
(35:58):
to be able to showcase him at a bag I
mean obviously still a thousand yard rusher with al On
maybe being one of our faults last season. So I'm excited,
you know, get get them drafted high and see what
we got.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
How hard, Zion was it for you to watch this
team a year ago, considering everything you guys did in
twenty twenty three, and then you're watching games like Indiana,
You're watching games like Penn State Iowa, where the team,
let's face it, was in some ways not even competitive
in games like that.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
There's a reason for that because the roster got blown
to Kingdom come. But how much of that was hard
for your stomach? Last year?
Speaker 4 (36:34):
I think it was more tough because for most of
the times we were in the game at least for
a period of time, and you see you see the
visible hiccup that leads to you know, it may be
becoming a blowout or something like that. So I guess
it would be hard to expect them to have all
the minor details iron down in year one, But it
(36:55):
just shows you the potential. Right we were on the
cusp of so many great drives that ended in the
red zone. So if we can clean that up, you know,
we'll be in a better position. I'm excited for this
offense to run it back in year two and and
for demand that finally.
Speaker 7 (37:13):
Take the reins.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
You know, I do think it was the right approach
to pepper him in as the year went on, instead
of you know, throwing them in even if maybe he
wasn't ready or if the team wasn't ready for him.
I know that was a big conversation when talking about
the development of quarterbacks, especially in the NFL, and even
if the situation isn't right, to play them, because they
may be the best talent, and so you know, now
(37:34):
it's his team. He's you know, effectively the you know,
one of the leaders on the team. And I do
believe I see the team uh surround him, you know,
want to want to follow him. And so that's that's
that's all you can ask for out of the quarterback position.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Right, no, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Well before you go, Zion tupol off the two with
us as ztf old number four.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
You were fifty eight.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
When you first showed up here though I did, I did,
But the fact that I still remember that, I remember
sitting in the east practice field like five six years
ago and Dick Baird, you know, Coach Baird says, hey,
man fifty over there, and I was like, who's that guy?
And then all of a sudden you're just blowing up
and then he's changed numbers on me. But Zach Durfey,
you were here with him for a year. He was
(38:15):
locked up in NC double A prison though when you
were here, Uh, we've been waiting for this guy to erupt.
He looks the part obviously, What do you know about
him that makes you feel like maybe if this guy
can stay healthy, he.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Can be a real difference maker.
Speaker 4 (38:30):
Yeah, that's exactly why I feel he just needs to
stay healthy. I've seen his work ethic, even when he
was going through the troubles with the NC double, A
practice like a one. And so I know now that
the opportunity is in front of him, he's gonna he's.
Speaker 7 (38:46):
Gonna take it and run with it.
Speaker 4 (38:47):
And I think we were seeing some flashes last year before.
What was he dealing with last year.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
And so had surgery.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
Yeah, so I'm I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
I'm know that since being in recovery, he's been attacking it.
I was able to talk to him a few times,
and it's empowering, you know, when you know you're the
guy kind of thing when you're when you're the one.
And so, yeah, he just had all he has to
do is get healthy and be on the field.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
Yeah you know, I I know, Zion. My producers are
gonna kill me because he's just screaming.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Break, go to a break, killing the break. You know.
I can hear you.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
I can hear you breathing into the microphone with your
fire breath because you're angry. We're not going to a break.
But I gotta ask you before you go for your
favorite win as a Washington Husky because there's so many
to choose from. We're talking about mine off the year
second ago. Tell Jackson, tell the audience your number one
all time favorite win.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
Here at Washington for you.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
Yeah, it would have to be.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
It would have to be Oregon, which one at home
my last season, right before the Packdal championship because.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
The Week six game right here, right here when we rest.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
Because you know, Husky Stadium gets to jump in any
given Saturday, but college college game day, Like I had
to take a moment too after running out the tunnel
to you know, stand at the fifty and just look
at this stadium rocking, you know, and so you know,
Husky Stadium gets up at that Saturday. It was this
little little something extra, you know. And with the right
(40:22):
opponent for us.
Speaker 7 (40:24):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
Were you on the field for the for the field
goal and miss?
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Or were you on the sideline?
Speaker 2 (40:29):
I want?
Speaker 3 (40:29):
I want to I was on the field.
Speaker 7 (40:31):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
It was actually funny. I think a handful of us
I thought we were up our four, So I was
like really yeah, And so I'm standing there like everyone's
celebrating the miss and I'm like I was like they
could have made it and lost, like like they gave
So let me ask.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
You a question.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
If you were up by four though, with the last
play of the fourth quarter, why would they be kicking
a field goal?
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (40:53):
I just figured they threw in the towel and I
was like, you know, I got it.
Speaker 7 (40:56):
I was like, they got to make the score look
a little bit more pretty. I guess I'm so serious.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
I was like, I'm walking off, I'm talking to Brainley
and I'm.
Speaker 7 (41:04):
Like, was that the tie? And He's like, yeah, bro,
that was the tie. I was like, I had no
idea that.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
That is the funniest thing I have heard all month.
Are you kidding me? But it's these guys are just
giving up. Never mind the Heil marriage.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
I didn't makes sense, you know, I mean idiots, right,
you see you see the university.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
That's all I got to.
Speaker 7 (41:21):
Say about that part.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
I love it all right, Zion, You're the man. How
fun tonight with Tony and Camra. We'll talk soon better.
Oh yeah, thank you guys. I got for two weeks
E t F with us on the radio show and
to break a lot more to come from U dub
We're getting ready for the spring game.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
At six tonight, right here on ninety three three kJ
r f M
Go Zion too. Bowl of the two weeks. You're gonna
join us as well. Cam Cleveland coming by, Yogi Roth's
gonna come by. We're gonna hear from mina chimes. The
broadcast will start at six, the kickoff will be at
six thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
But here he is, Jackson Felts.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm telling you right now, this guy, he is so
prepared like it's a regular season game.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
The voice of the Husky's Tony castro Con. How are you, man, dude?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
It is not cold out here. It's fantastic. I have
forty thousand tickets out I think the show rate's gonna
be phenomenal. People want to come out in this weather.
This is great.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You're right, it's beautiful and there's gonna be ninety million
people here. That's what That's what I meant to say.
By the way, I'm cold, but I'm sure in the sun.
If we could be about ten ten feet to the west,
we'd be fine.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Softy, you live in Seattle. You've only lived in Seattle.
How could you ever be cold?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You know?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
The problem is, honestly, man, because I used to be
fat and now I'm skinny. I don't have the insulation
I used to have when you're two seventy difference. But
this is gonna be fun tonight, and I'm glad that
they're doing this for a couple of reasons. Number one
in all opens up my Saturday, which is freaking phenomenal.
That's me when it's all said and done. To the
number two, I don't know if we've ever had a
(01:07):
coach here Tony at Washington who has gotten behind this
game the way Jedfish has no doubt.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I mean, when the rest of college football is running
in the opposite direction, Jed is embracing this as a
way not only to get camaraderie around the fans, not
only as a way to really build hype and excitement
about the season, but also, in today's day and age,
where nil is everything, guys have to have an ability
to get their name out there. And when you have
(01:36):
fifteen closed practices and no media at any of them,
how is half of your roster that doesn't start on
the too deep? How are they going to build a brand?
How are they going to get their name out there? Well,
they've got an opportunity with fourteen open practices to the media,
where you've got the Seattle Times and on Montlake and
a SSI and you got everybody else out there actually
(01:56):
watching it and reporting, Hey, here's what the new true
fresh and its safety. He looks like, So you're building
a brand that way, and now today on Big ten
network on national TV, you're gonna have the opportunity, you know,
to to showcase your abilities. And it's I mean, I
really like how he did this. It's gonna be purple
versus gold today. So he's splitting up and he kind
(02:17):
of did it with a fine tooth comb. All right, Well,
if we got the number one left tackle, we should
put the number two left guard over here. And he
really split up the teams evenly. He wants to be
super competitive, right, so everybody's gonna play yea, and everybody's
gonna have an opportunity to showcase himself well, and they've
and they've set it up.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
It's gonna be a four quarter game now, running clock
except for the last two minutes of each half, and
it probably should last a couple hours. I think could
be done by around eight thirty or so. So, uh,
bring the kids, fun for the whole family, and the
losing team has to settle for beans and rice and
the winning team gets a stake. I happen to like
beans and rice, by the way, So to me, that's
not such a bad idea. But you and Dave Ramsey,
(02:54):
I just yeah, I just don't know. It's incredible how
involved he is. And I used to think when he
first showed up here that he's worried about stuff he
shouldn't worry about. Like I remember being in the tunnel
one day last year and somebody asked about the broadcast
for the game on Saturday, and he's standing there jet
is and just belts out who's on the broadcast, Like, Hey,
Caitlin did a phenomenal job here, Chris Peterson, phenomenal job.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Those guys wouldn't have.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Known off the top of their head who was calling
the game on TV that day for the Huskies on Saturday.
So I don't know if there's, honestly, Tony a portion
or a segment of this program that he does not
have at least a fingerprint on it.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Well, when you say stuff he shouldn't worry about, yeah,
I think that's what I thought back in the well,
what I was going to say was, I think that
all of it matters, and he understands that all of
it matters right right now? How much attention should he
devote to you know, who might be calling the game
all that, Yeah, And I don't know that's that's each
(03:54):
CEO's different preference and decision. But I think the fact
that he understands that all of it matters, The media matters,
the coaches show matters, He likes talking to the media,
he opens up the practices for the media. The fact
that he pays hyper specific attention to detail to not
only the way everything operates inside that building, but then
also everything that athletics that touches football, and how he
(04:18):
can engage the alumni and the donors and the students
and all of it. I mean, it takes a village,
right and takes it takes a nation. It takes Husky Nation.
And those are phrases that you're used to hearing the
biggest programs. You're used to the entire state of Nebraska
being called Husker Nation, right. Well, like Jed understands that
(04:42):
he needs everybody, everybody on board, everybody's support, and so
I think he's done a great job engaging that. And
here we are sixteen months into his time, and I
think there is an unbelievable enthusiasm around the program during
what's been an incredibly difficult transition. And I think that
(05:02):
I'm really really excited for the season because while while
succeeding in the Big Ten is tough, I think this
team has a lot higher ceiling than it did a
year ago. And there were probably more games that I'd
put in the bucket of we got probably a ten
percent chance or less of winning this game going into
(05:22):
the ballgame. There were a lot of those games last
year we were talking about at Iowa, at Indiana, at
Penn State, at Oregon. In successive fashion, I would put
no game on the schedule in the less than ten
percent bucket.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
This.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Yeah, I think you're right. I think you're exactly right.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
A lot of that has to do with what this
offensive line looks like compared to where it was a
year ago. I was doing remind me, because I'm getting
old here, I was doing the sidelines for the first
game of the year against We would say and I
remember standing like right here, literally fifteen yards from where
you're sitting right now. And I don't know if this
made the air. I think it may have made the
year where I went on with you and Cam And
I said on the air with you guys, did I
(05:58):
just see Drew as a part already switch from one
tackle to the other in consecutive plays on the same drive.
And I mean we've seen that from drive to drive
where a guy comes out after a break after the defense.
He made the switch on consecutive play. I've never seen
that before at this Like that was Harry. That was
(06:20):
high school stuff. But they had no choice. So tell
all the people out there listening, and maybe even tell
me because I'm still a little nervous about how much
better should this offensive line be in week one?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So how is a quantitative answer? Like I can't really quantify.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Because last year it was a major concern, right the
Maritter offense for example, last year was a major concern.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
It was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Now we think, hey, they may not be as good
as they're playing, but they've they've eliminated the you know,
twelve alarm fire thing that we saw a year ago.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Has the offensive line done that? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I think what it has solidified certain positions for sure.
I think Landon Hatchet is a thirty year guy in
the program, is your starting center as well as he's healthy.
I think Carver willis the transfer from Kansas State. It
was one of the top offensive line transfers in the portal.
He is your starting left tackle. So like you know,
beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have two
(07:13):
Big ten caliber players anchored in at those positions. I
heard it said from a source yesterday that Drew as
a party is the most improved player, maybe on the offense,
certainly on the offensive line. So I would say, if
that's true, and if that continues as a trajectory into
the fall, that he has solidified the right tackle position
(07:37):
and been able to keep off the competitors at Bay
there and so then the question becomes, what do you
do at the guards? Well, I think there's been great
competition at the guards. I think you're going to be
young no matter what. Garon Hatchett is a veteran player,
but doesn't have the deep starting experience.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Say is he an automatic starter at guard?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Automatic? I'd say no, only because of the competition. I
think You've got Pocky Fina as a red shirt freshman.
You've got Zach Henning as a guy that's got a
lot of snaps and experience, played a lot of reps
here On Montlake, and then I think he got two
true freshmen in John Mills, the kid that flipped from Texas,
and Champ Talelea, who is just a mountain of a
(08:19):
man at eighteen years old, three hundred and forty pounds.
You got two huge true freshmen who got reps with
the ones this camp and who have been really, really
impressive in the time that they got those reps. And
so I think there's great competition at the guard spots,
and so I just think and they're deeper. They're deeper too.
(08:39):
There's a lot of guys that are pushing for their
own their own position chart, battles their own reps. So
I think the competition is raising everybody's game. And I
think there's an experience level there that you just didn't
have a year ago. So are are they all big
ten all the way across the line? No, they're not
there yet. They are in the second year of trying
(09:01):
to build this through high school recruiting with a few
supplements in the portal, which is hard to do. Uh,
And that's gonna take longer. But are they better? No question.
And I think you're gonna see demand Williams reap the
benefits of that.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
God, there's just just so many new players. I mean,
I'm just looking at that. This is like just like
last year, right, there's just so many. This is something
that we probably should just get used to, right, every
single year, We're gonna see a bunch of new players
every single season. Like I'm looking at that defensive line.
I mean, uh, Pepa, excuse me? Is the transfer from Utah?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
So safty, all the all the highlight players right here?
These are players who are gone. And the pink Yeah,
it's a lot of pink, by the way, baby, It's
like right, well, I mean my chart is orange.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
You use pink.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I use orange, all right, And I see a lot
of orange orange on this on this depth chart. Ontario Thompson,
I believe is the Western Michigan transfer. Pepa came over
from Utah. These might be two starting defensive linemens. So really,
for me, that's what this is about. Okay, tell me
how the the offensive and defensive lines perform. Sure, and
I'll tell you how this team does in the Big Ten.
(10:04):
Because look, Demant Williams is gonna cover up for a
lot of ills, there's no question about that. But he
can't get hit the way he was hit a year
ago ten sacks against the Oregon got smacked around. Obviously
late in the year he did a great job of
getting popped and getting back up.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
But all it takes is one for this guy to
go down and lose him to an injury. So what
do we think about that defensive front.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Do we see a football team that is going to
be getting after the quarterback?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
A team that's stopped in the run, which they could
not do last year.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So getting after the quarterback is going to vary game
to game based on how much the quarterback is trying
to throw the football. Right, and if you have a
quarterback and an offense that's trying to pound the rock
and run the football, you're not gonna see a whole
lot of that in the Big Ten like we're used
to in the in the in the Pac twelve Conference,
we're used to his ion two pool. If a two
we getting seven sacks in four games, right like we're
(10:52):
used to. Just like outrageous sack numbers from the Brayln
trices and the guys that are able to really get
after it. That's gonna change the Big Ten Conference chances. Yes,
because of the style of play the question in the
Big ten, everybody's trying to establish the run, and can
you stop the run to give yourself the opportunity to
(11:12):
get out in front and take the lead early. I
think Jason Kafusi, the defensive line coach, and the new
edge coach, coach Van Horne, I think they both really
believe that they are going to be much better at
stopping the run this year. They're deeper along the interior line.
You were mentioning just a couple of the additions in
Peppa and Thompson. I think also you look at a
(11:35):
guy like Armond Parker. We all know Javon's played a
lot of reps his twin brother armand has just battled
injuries throughout his entire time here. But Jedfish pointed to
Arman is maybe a guy who's taking the biggest step
this spring right and on the team, and just the
fact that he's out there rotating in with the twos
and getting a lot of reps. They're deeper along the
(11:55):
defensive line in a way that I think a gives
them a better chance of stopping the run, but also
be there they're gonna be a lot more versatile too.
I mean, look at the edge room, Softie, You've got
guys that are two twenty two twenty five like Deuce
Davis Isaiah Ward that can get after the quarterback. And
then you've got guys like Deshaun Lynch who are three
(12:16):
hundred pounds Tay Tay Uyungalle is to eighty. So like
you've got a lot of versatility just within that outside
linebacker slash edge position. And I think that they're gonna
have a lot of pieces that they can mix around
depending upon who they're playing.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, you know, Ta Carrio Davis and Jacob Maneu two
guys that came over from Arizona as seniors, so don't
need to be coached up a lot their fourth year,
fifth year guys whatever. I think both of them are
fourth year guys if I'm not mistaken, But these are
two guys that should be all Big ten candidate type
of players I think for this defense. And I don't
(12:52):
think that's saying too much. I mean, Ta Cario is
one of the best corners in the country. Are supposed
to be one of the best corners in the country,
So talk to me about the stars on this defense.
I mean, obviously, a couple of years ago, you mentioned
two and Trice sin ZTF Carson Bruner a year ago.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Who are the stars?
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Who are the guys that I'm gonna be getting phone
calls about week by week asking from the opponent's perspective, Hey,
tell me about who that guy is because he looks
awesome on tape.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Well, so you mentioned to Carrio Davis and his chop says,
what he did you know two years ago when he
was at Arizona, first team All Pac twelve, led the
conference in past breakups per game and all those things.
I think I'm excited to see what he looks like
in live action here the inside linebackers, people don't really
(13:37):
know a whole lot about them yet because they're all new.
But man Devin Bryant, I just keep hearing his name
pop up as a guy that everybody's really excited to see.
And then all the other pieces that have come in.
X Ray Alexander is a local kid that's really excited
to be home, transferring in from UCF. Extremely productive as
a true freshman at Idaho, true sophomore at UCF, second
(14:00):
on both teams in tackles, had some other explosive plays
like like when he's a true freshman Idaho blocked a
game winning field goal attempt in FCS playoffs. Right, Tyuyungla
is a guy that looks pretty disruptive. Uh rashaan Clark,
local kid who's got great ball skills. H Man, he
had a really explosive spring with Unofficially, the Beat writers
(14:24):
were reporting seven interceptions in camp. I didn't I didn't
keep the notes in the tallies, but man, that's a
lot so and then you also kind of look at
I think, honestly, some of the biggest playmakers on this
defense are guys that didn't participate this spring. You mentioned
Jacob Manu. He might not be quite ready to go
at the beginning of the season. We'll see what Jeded
(14:45):
has to say about him as time goes on. Be
Zach Durfey is another one. I mean, you know, derf
is a guy that he got the toe operated on.
They're feeling hopeful that once the fall comes around, he
could be, you know, unleashed as a guy that we
all know what his upside is. You just look at
his stats over his time when he actually plays. So yeah,
there's no shortage of names that could really pop.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Well with with with with Durphoeb We're going to see it.
I mean, he looks the part, no question, right, But
let's let let's see. Let's see it happen on game day, Tony,
before you go. The one guy we didn't mention was
number two, right, because it's like, okay, the one spot
that you're the least concerned about his quarterback, right. I mean,
this guy has all the makings of a star. And
I gotta tell you, I don't ever remember. And maybe
some of this is the new landscape in college football.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Nil.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Things like that were last year when Demon was backing
up Will Rogers.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
This jetfish said.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Not only is he going to be the future face
of Husky football, but we want to get him to
New York.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
And I'm like, whoa.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I've never heard a head coach talk about a backup
quarterback like that, basically handing him the job without any competition.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
The next Don James never would have done that.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
But Don James never had to worry about somebody poaching
the guy either, Right, So he's got to talk this
kid up to make sure he knows he's loved here
in Seattle. So, I mean, the hype train is, it's
it's it's it's light speed, baby, and a lot of
it's because of Jed Fish And I'm fine with that.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Whatever. Let's go, doesn't work out whatever, we're playing football.
We're not Kuran Polio here, Tony. It's fine, let's get crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Did you watch the sun Bull? Of course, I I.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Mean yeah, but I mean some people would say against
the depleted Louisville defense, Sure, but you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Could see the skill. The skill was obvious.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah, he had a depleted offensive line. That's right, right,
I mean right, we're talking about you know, you gotta
look at both sides of the coin. I think just
you flip on the tape and you just get excited. Now,
the the two things that stand out to me are
as athletic as he is and as exciting as he
can be in the running game, he does have to
(16:39):
stay healthy. I mean that's that's number one A and
number one B right there. Like, you know, he needs
to be able to stay healthy and make the decisions
that can help him stay healthy. The other thing is
you know that five ten five eleven stature. You know,
can he see the field? And you know, is he
gonna be a guy that can take care of the
football and make the right decisions. You don't want to
(17:00):
see the interceptions end up being something that bites this
offense literally everything else. You just get a ten out
of ten, right, I mean from his explosiveness, I mean,
we talk about Jordan Washington and how fast he is
in straight line speed. Demon Williams is hanging with him
in that regard. Right, We're talking about leadership, you know,
I mean we're hearing out of Basha High School that
(17:21):
this was a guy that had great leadership skills as
a fourteen and fifteen year old leading the high school
team as a sophomore. So you know, I think he's
the complete package, no doubt about it. But also let's
set the expectation that the Heisman Award is still a
popularity contest and it still is something that you know,
(17:44):
Michael Pennix got us to places we've never seen before
and still didn't win the award, right, like, just have
finished in second place, even though we all know he
should have won the Heisman Trophy. So I don't think
you judge whether or not he gets to New York
this year as a true sophomore his place in the legacy.
But there's no doubt about it. Is he that caliber
(18:05):
of a talent?
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Absolutely, yeah, I mean, obviously that's just ludicrous to think that. Well,
not a trip in New York. It's a downer. I mean,
that's just stupid.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
But no, I'm I'm fired up for him, and I
know Husky fans are too.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
All right, good stuff. We'll talk at six pm. Man,
I'm a rod all right around man, Torty Castro, Yep,
you got it. He's got the call with Cam Cleveland
coming up at six kickoff at six point thirty with
Dogs after dark. We got a lot to get to
from you. Dub next on ninety three to three kJ RFM.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
On casting live from the R and R Foundation, specialist
broad Jazz Studio. Now back to Softie and Dick, powered
by Emerald Queen Casino, the Betty and Capital of the
Northwest on Sports Radio and Netties three point three kJ R.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Fresher coming off the Edges, Williams rolls out pass et.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
Fscrab lost the football out on the ground, but pril
e Chise passing for the Huskies. It was Charlus by
Sion two ball of Fortey and Pray and Trice pounces
on it.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
They Coustley turnover for.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Usc straight larceny fuck number four.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
I wonder how many times you've heard that call.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
By the way, Oh, I'll go to sleep to it.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Okay, good. Let me just first of all introduce our
next guest.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
We're live at U dub for the annual Dog after
Dart game coming up at six thirty.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
To my pregame starts at six o'clock this evening.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
But on my left, number four Zion to all the fatuity,
and on my right from the Big ten Network is
Yogi Roth.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
How are you, man?
Speaker 8 (19:28):
I'm great, fired up to be here, get to Pix
to etf U Safty, the whole crew here.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well, that that call right there, that game right there, man,
it was built as a Heisman showdown between Caleb Williams
and Michael Pennix. And that was the night obviously that
you and I did that conversation off the air or
off the field about your dad passing away. Obviously an
emotional weekend for you. But man, tell me what that
means to you, dude, Tell me what that highlight and
(19:54):
that weekend, that game meant to you.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Man.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Yeah, I think that was just kind of the embodiment
of what we had going that sea, and you know,
I was really playing for everything but myself.
Speaker 7 (20:03):
I think that was a lot of our.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Guys can say we had a selfless approach to the season,
and I was just happy, you know, to make that play.
Like I said before that, I think maybe I was
questioning if I was hurting the team, you know that
that type of mentality, and that was just kind of
what I needed to keep my head in the game
and be like, Okay, this is where I belong and
it would have been awesome. I know my dad really
(20:25):
wanted to come see me play in the coliseum at
some point in time, so for him to just have
missed it by a week, yeah, it was. It was
extremely emotional. I was glad I was I was able
to represent my family name.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
But these are Yoga.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
You've covered this game a long time and you're into
now the stories right of college football, and that night,
the story of this guy going out there a week
after his father passes away as a strip sack fumble
against USC in the coliseum a gigantic win for UB
that night, and then shares his story, which I'm still
very grateful to you for doing.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
By the way, Zion with the.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
World on social media and emotional. That's why people people
love this game because the guy's like him.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
Hey we've been doing this a long time now, right, yep.
The seasons can blur together, but moments really stand out.
I remember seeing you two talking, I remember the hug
with coach Debor at the time postgame with you, like
those are vivid memories. I'd called a game earlier that
day and you're just watching on TV naturally, and that
night it became bigger than football and also a reflection
(21:25):
of what football can do. And knowing you since you
were recruit and then through your story and then have
a moment like that in such a special season and
then share with somebody who you trusted. It was really
a beautiful part of sport and why we do what
we do.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Did you happen to see the reaction to that and
what people were saying about it in a way, just.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
The reaction to people being appreciative of you sharing your
story with the world.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Yeah, actally much social media blew up after that in
terms of people just sharing their condolences or sharing their
experiences or thank you for me to being so open
because you know, the tough guy complex that comes with football.
They're appreciating the openness that I had, But I mean
it was just one instilled in me to you know,
appreciate the people that I had in that way. And too,
(22:10):
I think it's the culture of your dev that allowed
me to do that. You know, I think obviously we
wanted to go to Nanny, we wanted to win, and
that was the goal, but it was also the family
setting that we created amongst ourselves. You know, we'll me
being I was three thousand miles away from a lot
of us were you know, distance from home, not being
able to stay in state, like being from Washington, and yeah,
(22:30):
that family setting just made it easier to come in
on a day to day basis.
Speaker 7 (22:35):
And you know, I think our.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Goal was set even the season prior, you know, going
eleven and two, and from the first day we came
back to workouts after Alimobule, it was like, you guys,
seen what we can do. You know, A couple a
couple of hiccups, a couple hiccups and we're accidentally thirteen
and all that year.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
You know.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
So yeah, I appreciate you, Dub for everything it's ever
done for me. And I always think if I have
the opportunity to promote us, you know, even on that
our national setting.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
I'm gonna go ahead and do that.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Well, ZTF and Yogi Roth here, So let's kind of
circle back to what we're seeing now, right, because everything's different.
I mean, it's just bananas how much this thing has
been blown to Kingdom come and the job that Jetfish
has done. And Zion's gonna stick around with us one
more segment. You gotta go up and do some TV stuff,
by the way, but give us your thoughts, Yogi, and
I'm curious to get your take too, Zion on how
this program has recovered from the absolute bomb that went
(23:26):
off after that machine.
Speaker 8 (23:27):
Game, Well, I think you hired a guy that knows
how to build. Let's just start with that. I've known
Jetfish and so nine we met here. We both interview
with the Seahawks with Pete Carroll Wow in Bellevue that day.
We sat next to each other and just became, you know,
lifelong friends. And I've watched him at every stop. I've
stopped at all those places, and I did an interview
with him, I think it was twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen,
where we talked about if he became a head coach
(23:49):
what it would look like, and then he gets it.
Two years later after going to the Patriots. He leaves
the Rams because the Patriots then goes to Arizona. He
took that thing. It was as bad as you could
get in college football, and it came here. And what
I love is they didn't panic and he gets hired.
January sixteenth, the portal is closed. He gets the job,
and the portal opens for two schools, the one he
was at and the one he just got to. He
(24:10):
lost all the players here, for the most part, came
in the spring with seven offensive linemen and could have
gone out in the portal in the spring have been
I'm going to overpay, I'm gonna get multi year guys
that maybe aren't good enough, get over leverage. He said, no,
let's just build this thing from the ground up. And
now you look at this team, thirty four new faces
in the spring, seventeen of the transfer portal quality players.
He got four tackles that have started at the powerful level.
(24:31):
I think you have a star at quarterback and he's
a top third of the Big ten right now. He's
the most unique guy in the league. When you look
at just the dual threat ability. He's got to prove
it on the field. He's got a showcase discernment. But
they have the ability, I think, to just continue to
grow this thing, and by year three, I think they'll
be back in that real conversation where all want to
talk about it.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Zion, want to get your thoughts on Demon in a second,
but before you head upstairs, the H words been thrown
around a lot for demand meeting the Heisman Trophy and Jed,
I mean he brought it up a year ago. He
was the one that made to New York City when
he was backing up Will Rodgers for God's sake, which
I just took telling Tony the last segment. I've never
heard of coach do that when the backup before he
even wins the starting job.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
But it's hard not to drool over this guy. You know.
We started doing that early in the year obviously when
he was coming in to spell Will Rogers.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
But you said, what top half or top third, top third?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
So what is Demon Williams to you?
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Is he a potential Big ten first team second team quarterback?
Is he a guy that's going to be targeted by
everybody in the portal in a year from now with tens.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
And millions of dollars of offers. What is number two
look like to you?
Speaker 8 (25:36):
Well, I got to meet him back at the eage
eleven right in the high school kind of premier camp,
and you just get to meet the humility, get to
meet the family, and of course you get to see
the talent, which was extremely natural at the time he
was on his way to Tucson. He ends up going there.
Jake as a job we know the story. To me,
he does a couple things and you have to do
I think the first two to get in the door. One,
you have to be an elite competitor. He's that too.
You have to be I think, incredibly accurate. And then thirdly,
(25:59):
and this is what I can't wait to watch tonight,
it comes down to his discernment. It's decision making, it's
he knows his skill set, he knows it's unique. Does
he know when to turn it and back it off
on the dial. And then when you look at Jimmy
Doherty and Jed Fisher of how they have multi quarterbacks,
look at all of their backgrounds. It doesn't matter it
was Jimmy here San Jose state, whether it was Jed
in Jacksonville, Plake Portals, or in Michigan, look at any
(26:21):
of their places. That position is always played at a
premier level. The system is set up in that way,
the way they practice, the way they prepare. And then
I'll lastly just go to what they did last year.
They sprinkled them into every game, kind of like a
rookie in the league. And we were talking to Jed
yesterday about the game and he's like him and Michael
Pennix are kind of the same story NFL rookie played
a little bit and then became the guy late, demon
(26:42):
played a little bit, became the guy late.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
I love that part of it.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
So, yeah, can he win the heis of Sure, he's
capable of what we know what goes into that.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Sure, you gotta win games or just go off.
Speaker 7 (26:53):
Their schedule is set up.
Speaker 8 (26:55):
There's some challenging games, right they have one, two through
I think five teams they play coming off of a
bye week. Wow, that's a tough slate that they have.
I think they're good enough now though in every game
it'll come right down to the end. I think that'll
be the story for this team a year from now.
He might be the best quarterback argue believe the country.
I think he's just so unique. He's fast, fast, described
(27:15):
by himself, he's really accurate. He's got a big time army.
He can play outside the pocket. He played within the pocket.
He's been making checks in the line of scrimmag since
he was in high school.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
He's a complete quarterback.
Speaker 8 (27:24):
And that's what I want people to really listen to
do tonight, is this is not just a dual threat,
specialized guy. This is a legit dude in this era
of football. I think he's premium when you look at
the league.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Yeah, could he talked through the piercing wind though that's
coming through you? Yeah, tonight.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
But that's the thing, man, I would you like to
be chasing this kid around practice all day long? By
the way, how much would wear you at as a
defensive lineen to frustrate the hell out of you?
Speaker 7 (27:46):
Yeah, I wouldn't be a fan.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
And I can see you can see his composure even
when he is, you know, scrambling back there.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
You know he's got the ability to tuck it.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
I think a lot of us seen that early on
with him, you know, kind of getting sprinkled in in
the like running packages and then you.
Speaker 7 (28:02):
See his arm ability of this Louisville game, right, and
he's just.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
I mean, I expected him to go off, but I
mean that was quite a showing, even in the loss,
and so I'm excited to see him in year two.
I think I've also heard when Jed was in Arizona
that that was really when their offense started to click
and take off. And so they brought back, you know,
their key pieces and zell In Coleman, and I just
want to see who else wants to step up to
(28:29):
the plate and be a star in this offense.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Well, it's hard to say, let's look for certain things
tonight because they're going about, you know, ninety percent speed. Obviously,
that final ten percent where a linebacker can blow up
a running back or take out a wide receivers probably
eliminated from the repertoire tonight. But what is the one
thing that you're really curious about this team before Yogi
you take off and go upstairs and do TV that
would tell you whether or not they can compete for
(28:53):
a playoff spot this year, for example.
Speaker 7 (28:55):
Well, that's a that's a big question.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
I think it's competitive depth.
Speaker 8 (28:58):
Yeah, do they have the depth you gonna see the
top three receivers tonight, presumably right, but what are the
rest of these receivers look like? We're obviously not gonna
see quint more, what does the tight end room look like?
And then finally, I want to see what you did, man,
I want to see the get off. I want to
see ken these guys get off. I just came back
from calling Ohio State and Oregon they're separated. And I
know it's hard to say that to the U doub audience,
but it's the truth to me from what I see
(29:20):
from their rosters right now. So that's when I'm comping tonight.
When I leave this beautiful stadium, I'm gonna say, all right,
can the guys get off on line of scrimmage?
Speaker 7 (29:27):
What's the punch like on the offensive front?
Speaker 8 (29:29):
You can stalemate all day and that'll get you to
eight nine wins potentially, and you compete in that, but
can you really compete with competitive depth coming off the edge,
being a game record? Those elements is what I want
to see in this scheme with Ryan.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Walders, We're gonna come back and play a game with
ZTF called how many of these guys do you know? Okay,
because the roster has changed so much. Man, since you
were here. I'm gonna show you there depth Jark Zion.
I want you to tell me how many guys you've
played with them, how many guys you've heard of? So
you stick around, You go upstairs and do TV and
we'll talk soon, yog.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
You appreciate that, all right?
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yogi roth with us on tupaul off a two week
with us as well. We've got to break a lot
more to come with ZTF Camp. Cleveland's gonna stop by
as well and say hello right here on ninety three
to three KJRFMA.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
Casting live from the R and R Foundation specialist broad
Jest Studio. Now back to Softie and Dick, powered by
Emerald Queen Casino, the Betty and Capital of the Northwest
on Sports Radio Nutties three point three KJR FAM.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
All right, I believe we have solved our wind issue
here on the radio show The Answer Jackson.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
The remedy was called going inside. How's that sound? Okay?
Is this better? Can you hear us?
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Now?
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Much better? I feel like the old Verizon wireless guy.
Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?
Can you hear me now?
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Well? ZTF is going to stay here a little bit
by the way, because I don't know. I got a
funny feeling this guy might have a career in broadcasting
one day. I mean, clearly, the bar you can tell
with me and Jackson is very, very low.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Doesn't take a lot.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
If you can wake up in the morning and put
your pants on, you might have a career in broadcasting.
But dude, first of all, top will even doing the
last year or so. Man, I mean, I know you
went to Canada for a while, you had some dreams
and hopes of the NFL, But tell me what what
you've been up to.
Speaker 7 (31:08):
Man, Yeah, I spent can you hear me?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Yep? Gotcha, I see exactly, can you hear me?
Speaker 7 (31:12):
Now? I spent the.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
I spent the majority of my time just getting healthy,
trying to be good enough to play again. Got a
little opportunity in the CFL, was there for a little
while before I came back home, you know, but real.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Life came knocking.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
So I got a sales job right now and you know,
make an ends meet. But yeah, I'm pursuing this broadcasting
thing as well. So yeah, yeah, glad to you know,
have good connections out here. And with softy and even
a Casher coone And so I'm gonna get this thing
rolling soon enough.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
No, I think you're gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
And you've you've lost a lot of weight, right, you
can't hear that's a problem, by the way, is that
something better?
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Can you hear?
Speaker 7 (31:47):
Now?
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Here?
Speaker 6 (31:48):
You go?
Speaker 7 (31:48):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (31:48):
You've you've lost a lot of weight. How much weight
have you lost?
Speaker 7 (31:51):
By the way, I think I've lost about twenty pounds.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Twenty pounds okay, he's.
Speaker 7 (31:55):
Just sitting more around forty fifty.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Okay, because you still look like you can play right now?
So are you Are you of the mindset that the
football thing is over or is there a.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Chance that you might want to revisit this fairly soon?
Speaker 4 (32:07):
I think now more than ever, you hear of stories
where guys were doing something else and you know, getting
an opportunity. So yeah, I'd like to just stay in
shape and you know, if someone comes knocking, you know,
give me my best shot. But yeah, I'd have to
start working out a little bit more. I admit, It's
not isn't like I keep up the same schedule that
I did when my life was football.
Speaker 7 (32:27):
So yeah, yeah, if the.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
Opportunity presentergs have to play football again for sure, but uh,
you know, just just being around football, even in this capacity,
is more than enough for me to express my love
for the game.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
I love it well.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
If anybody needs a pass rushing defensive end, give me
a buzz and we'll get Zion on the other end
for you is Ion toopol of a Duy is with
us ZTF on the radio show Live from You Dub
getting ready for the Dogs after dark spring Games. So
all right, put your analyst hat on then, Man, you
played this game, right, You played at this level. You
know this team. So let me first of all go
back if we can. I want to look at the
(32:59):
depth art right now. I want to ask you, uh
and Terario Thompson some Moote, Peppa Jay, Von Parker, Russell Davis,
Tariq al Ukda Ziree, Alexander, Zach Durfee, Price, Sock, McLaughlin, mckelstein,
Ta Carrio Davis. How many of these names looked familiar
to you?
Speaker 7 (33:17):
Man?
Speaker 4 (33:17):
Of that list that you just read three oh three, Yeah,
but you know it was about to before you were
about to say Dyson mccutche.
Speaker 7 (33:24):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
There's how about how about this second team?
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Or is Alenius Davis, Logan Sagapolu de Shaun Lynch, Tati,
Devin Bryant, Jacob McNew, Isaiah Ward?
Speaker 2 (33:36):
How about that second team?
Speaker 7 (33:37):
That second team? I know Eka, I know Devin.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Yeah, you know it's funny for oh, not Isaiah, But uh,
what's the linebacker?
Speaker 7 (33:47):
A Ward?
Speaker 4 (33:48):
He was a udub originally before he went to Arizona
and transferred back, so he was my teammate, but not
in the right not in the best years, right.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
How much?
Speaker 1 (33:57):
How much would you because I'm going to assume that
you're cool with players getting a piece of the pie
here with nil, but the rosters are changing so much
every single year we're doing this big song and dance.
How much would that bother you that every single year
you've got new teammates to your.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Right and left.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
Yeah, I think you just learned the business of the
game a lot faster than maybe waiting for the NFL.
But I find it interesting when you look at the
last four teams to make it to the championship game,
they're all older teams, right, all teams that have done
years together.
Speaker 7 (34:28):
So I think as much.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
As the transporportal plays a big part in today's college
football landscape. I do believe that continuity keeping that those
set of bodies together over a period of time.
Speaker 7 (34:38):
Actually, it is the formula.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
No, no question.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
And that means paying right, That means doling out paychecks
for these guys. I mean, you got a brand new
offensive line in a lot of ways, brand new left
tackle Geary and Hatchett, who you play with obviously is
back at you, dub now you know Land and obviously
Pockey came and I think with the year after you
took off, if I'm not mistaken, But how good is
this offense line?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Man?
Speaker 7 (35:01):
To find out tonight?
Speaker 4 (35:02):
I know a lot of emphasis was put on that
maybe being a weakness last season, and and they've gone
about it the right way and and filling the gaps,
and so I'm.
Speaker 7 (35:11):
Excited to see, uh what five they throw out there?
Speaker 4 (35:14):
How they how good they look and and if we
can you know, use the weapon that is Joanah Coleman
effectively this year.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Yeah, tell me about him about number one? What do
you see on tape from this guy.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
I'm just thankful that he was splitting carries when I
played against him, because he was one of those guys
where when even when we did tackle him, it was
like is he is he going out the next play?
Speaker 7 (35:34):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (35:35):
Like like we would at the end of the game saying,
you know, saying good game and be like they got
to get you in more. I remember saying that to
the running back at Arizona State, and then obviously he
goes Scataboo goes off last year and I was just
like I've been when we played him. I was like, bro,
like right the other way, you know what I mean. So, yeah,
I'm glad that I'm glad that that we were going
(35:58):
to be able to showcase him at a bag I
mean obviously still a thousand yard rusher with al On
maybe being one of our faults last season. So I'm excited,
you know, get get them drafted high and see what
we got.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
How hard, Zion was it for you to watch this
team a year ago, considering everything you guys did in
twenty twenty three, and then you're watching games like Indiana,
You're watching games like Penn State Iowa, where the team,
let's face it, was in some ways not even competitive
in games like that.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
There's a reason for that because the roster got blown
to Kingdom come. But how much of that was hard
for your stomach? Last year?
Speaker 4 (36:34):
I think it was more tough because for most of
the times we were in the game at least for
a period of time, and you see you see the
visible hiccup that leads to you know, it may be
becoming a blowout or something like that. So I guess
it would be hard to expect them to have all
the minor details iron down in year one, But it
(36:55):
just shows you the potential. Right we were on the
cusp of so many great drives that ended in the
red zone. So if we can clean that up, you know,
we'll be in a better position. I'm excited for this
offense to run it back in year two and and
for demand that finally.
Speaker 7 (37:13):
Take the reins.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
You know, I do think it was the right approach
to pepper him in as the year went on, instead
of you know, throwing them in even if maybe he
wasn't ready or if the team wasn't ready for him.
I know that was a big conversation when talking about
the development of quarterbacks, especially in the NFL, and even
if the situation isn't right, to play them, because they
may be the best talent, and so you know, now
(37:34):
it's his team. He's you know, effectively the you know,
one of the leaders on the team. And I do
believe I see the team uh surround him, you know,
want to want to follow him. And so that's that's
that's all you can ask for out of the quarterback position.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Right, no, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Well before you go, Zion tupol off the two with
us as ztf old number four.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
You were fifty eight.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
When you first showed up here though I did, I did,
But the fact that I still remember that, I remember
sitting in the east practice field like five six years
ago and Dick Baird, you know, Coach Baird says, hey,
man fifty over there, and I was like, who's that guy?
And then all of a sudden you're just blowing up
and then he's changed numbers on me. But Zach Durfey,
you were here with him for a year. He was
(38:15):
locked up in NC double A prison though when you
were here, Uh, we've been waiting for this guy to erupt.
He looks the part obviously, What do you know about
him that makes you feel like maybe if this guy
can stay healthy, he.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Can be a real difference maker.
Speaker 4 (38:30):
Yeah, that's exactly why I feel he just needs to
stay healthy. I've seen his work ethic, even when he
was going through the troubles with the NC double, A
practice like a one. And so I know now that
the opportunity is in front of him, he's gonna he's.
Speaker 7 (38:46):
Gonna take it and run with it.
Speaker 4 (38:47):
And I think we were seeing some flashes last year before.
What was he dealing with last year.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
And so had surgery.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
Yeah, so I'm I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
I'm know that since being in recovery, he's been attacking it.
I was able to talk to him a few times,
and it's empowering, you know, when you know you're the
guy kind of thing when you're when you're the one.
And so, yeah, he just had all he has to
do is get healthy and be on the field.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
Yeah you know, I I know, Zion. My producers are
gonna kill me because he's just screaming.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Break, go to a break, killing the break. You know.
I can hear you.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
I can hear you breathing into the microphone with your
fire breath because you're angry. We're not going to a break.
But I gotta ask you before you go for your
favorite win as a Washington Husky because there's so many
to choose from. We're talking about mine off the year
second ago. Tell Jackson, tell the audience your number one
all time favorite win.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
Here at Washington for you.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
Yeah, it would have to be.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
It would have to be Oregon, which one at home
my last season, right before the Packdal championship because.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
The Week six game right here, right here when we rest.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
Because you know, Husky Stadium gets to jump in any
given Saturday, but college college game day, Like I had
to take a moment too after running out the tunnel
to you know, stand at the fifty and just look
at this stadium rocking, you know, and so you know,
Husky Stadium gets up at that Saturday. It was this
little little something extra, you know. And with the right
(40:22):
opponent for us.
Speaker 7 (40:24):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
Were you on the field for the for the field
goal and miss?
Speaker 3 (40:28):
Or were you on the sideline?
Speaker 2 (40:29):
I want?
Speaker 3 (40:29):
I want to I was on the field.
Speaker 7 (40:31):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
It was actually funny. I think a handful of us
I thought we were up our four, So I was
like really yeah, And so I'm standing there like everyone's
celebrating the miss and I'm like I was like they
could have made it and lost, like like they gave
So let me ask.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
You a question.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
If you were up by four though, with the last
play of the fourth quarter, why would they be kicking
a field goal?
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (40:53):
I just figured they threw in the towel and I
was like, you know, I got it.
Speaker 7 (40:56):
I was like, they got to make the score look
a little bit more pretty. I guess I'm so serious.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
I was like, I'm walking off, I'm talking to Brainley
and I'm.
Speaker 7 (41:04):
Like, was that the tie? And He's like, yeah, bro,
that was the tie. I was like, I had no
idea that.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
That is the funniest thing I have heard all month.
Are you kidding me? But it's these guys are just
giving up. Never mind the Heil marriage.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
I didn't makes sense, you know, I mean idiots, right,
you see you see the university.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
That's all I got to.
Speaker 7 (41:21):
Say about that part.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
I love it all right, Zion, You're the man. How
fun tonight with Tony and Camra. We'll talk soon better.
Oh yeah, thank you guys. I got for two weeks
E t F with us on the radio show and
to break a lot more to come from U dub
We're getting ready for the spring game.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
At six tonight, right here on ninety three three kJ
r f M
Dave 'Softy' Mahler and Dick Fain News
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!