August 7, 2024 • 9 mins
Jon Wilner of The San Jose Mercury News and Wilner Hotline joins Dave Softy Mahler to talk about his website, the future of Washington State and Oregon State, Michigan potentially having to vacate their 2023 championship, and the 2024 game against UW.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for a weekly PAC twelve conversation with Senos
Mercury News reporter John Wilner, brought to you by Simply Seattle.
Our friends at simply Seattle dot com have the most
amazing collection of all things Seattle, Seahawks gear, UW hats
of the largest selection of sonics gear anywhere in the world.
Learn more at simply Seattle dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
By the way, if you're looking for a new Husky
Big ten gear, it's officially dropped. As the kids like
to say on the website simply Seattle dot com. Big
ten Husky gear is available, and use code Kjar fifteen
for fifteen percent off anything at simply Seattle dot com.
Here he is the big ten baron, the outgoing pope
of the pack. Our friend Johnny Wilner, John.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I'm good? Fufty? How you uh?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm good, but I'm a look confused, And that happens
easily for me to be honest with you. You said,
with the official demise of the PAC twelve, the name
of your operation is going to be Wilner Hotline.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I thought that was the name of your operation. What
about missing.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
It was Packed twelve hot lines?
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Ah my My Twitter handle has always been Wilner Hotline,
and I go, that's how you and I interact a
whole bunch. So I just changed the official name to
Wilner Hotline. Very simple. We're not changing much. We're still
covering all the schools, including Washington.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
State and Oregon State.
Speaker 5 (01:24):
I gotta, you know, make sure I give that a
plug because there's a lot going on with them.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
But you know, we're going to just roll on.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, if there's anybody do a raise, it's you because
your workload has increased exponentially with all this stuff going on.
But you mentioned the Cougars and Beaver's there, and we're
seeing a lot of smoke all over social media about
the Cougars and Beavers getting engaged in multiple conversations with
multiple conferences. The Big Twelve seems to be kind of
(01:53):
leading the pack, with a lot of folks thinking that
that might be something that could be happening in the
next year or so. What would you say be fans
and Cougar fans about their immediate and long term future.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Well, I think that a lot of the discussions that
are going on right now with the Big Twelve and
the ACC are overscheduling. I do not have any reason
to think that there are substantive discussions about the Washington
State and organ State joining either of those leagues. This
is about non conference football scheduling in twenty five and
(02:26):
possibly beyond that. And you know what, those matchups would
work well both for the ACC and the Big Twelve
and also for the for.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
The Pac twelve schools.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
In terms of the membership issue the Big Twelve, you know,
I've seen some smoke about that.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
There's I think there is no chance that's happening.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Why Because I don't think the Big twelve wants them,
needs them, has interest in them.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I don't see how it would work financially.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
The Big twelve schools aren't going to take less money
in order to get Washington State and organ State in
the league. And if Fox and ESPN had wanted Washington
State Organston in the.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Big Cool, they would have done it a year ago.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
It's not like those those networks are all of a
sudden thinking, oh, you know what, we blew it. We
made a giant mistake that they don't They don't make
giant mistakes like that. But what I do think is
possible and where I think that this whole scheduling alliance,
if it materializes, could lead. Is that if the ACC
kind of blows apart, right, if Clemson and Florida State
(03:28):
win their lawsuits and they leave the ACC and North
Carolina follows, then it is conceivable that the ACC would
want to add some schools, and Washington State and Oregon
State would probably be at the top of the list.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
It would certainly help Palin Stanford.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
That's that is probably their best path into the power
for but it is also very unlikely.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
John Wilners with us on the radio show, and there's
a lot of talk about Michigan situation, Charon Moore that
he could be facing some penalty these Michigan could be
going on probation, and naturally mostly just for fun, the
conversation comes up, if Michigan has to vacate their title,
what Husky fans even want it? I've said no, I
(04:12):
want nothing to do with it. We got destroyed by Michigan.
We don't deserve the championship. But what are the odds
of Michigan actually in your mind having to vacate their title?
Speaker 5 (04:22):
I could, I could see it happening. What they did
that that was severe, that the spygate. That was severe stuff.
I don't believe there's any precedent for Washington being declared champion.
I don't recall Oklahoma being named two thousand and what
four national champs after getting smoked by USC and then
(04:43):
the Bush stuff. So you know, if I'm a Washington fan,
I would enjoy that last season for what it was.
But they, you know, the Huskies don't deserve that that championship.
But I do think that you know, Michigan is facing
some pretty severe penalties now. It's probably not gonna happen
this season because the NCAA process takes so long, but
(05:05):
I could see them getting pretty hit, pretty hard because
this is a second time offender situation, because they were
guilty of violating rules once before with COVID recruiting, so
this will be the second time for that program in
just a couple of years. Penalties are much more severe
if it's a you're a repeat offender.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, and we know this that Glaciers move faster than
the NCAA does when it comes to levying any kind
of a penalty or a judgment. So I don't expect
anything to be done by Week six of the College
Football season when Michigan comes to town. But I'm curious
to get your take on some I set. I said
to Jackson a couple hours ago that the idea of
Michigan coming to Seattle and losing to Washington doesn't seem
(05:48):
to be as far fetched now as maybe it did
six months ago.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah, I would agree. I would probably agree with that.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
I'm not sure what to make a Michigan. I don't
think that they're gonna be that good this year. You know,
I'm not high on the Huskies either, But I would
think that that's a.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Toss up game for sure.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
And when the de boor exodus happened and everybody left,
it would certainly in the middle of January late January,
you wouldn't have foreseen that this one stands as what
looks like a close game, toss up kind of.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Game, right.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, And look, I think we got to remember that
you are now official the Big Ten, baron, so you
do have insight as to what's happening in the conference.
There were six ranked teams I think in the Big Ten,
with Iowa being the last one to be ranked.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And is there a dark horse in this conference? For you?
I mean, just all the conversations.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
You had a media day, things like that, is there
a dark horse in this Big Ten that we're not
talking about that we should be talking about.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Yeah, I think the dark horse is Nebraska. Wow.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
And a lot of that is because if you look
at Matt rules track record his second year at the
schools he's been at have been terrific, and I think
that they are going to be very good.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
They've got a big time quarterback coming in and I.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Think that if I were picking a sleeper in the
Big Ten, it would be Nebraska, mostly because of Matt Rule.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
I think the guy's a tremendous coach.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, you know, it's funny John that we are at.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Dub actually had kind of a media day setting of
their own and John Wilner again with us courtesy simply
Seattle dot Com.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
They had kind of a media day thing. It was
last week. It was three hours.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
They brought players, they brought every coach, and they even
brought freshman. I mean, under Chris Peterson, freshman, we're not
allowed to talk. I think the Boar had kind of
the same type of thing, if I'm not mistaken, but
Demon Williams was there. I think trotted out Demon Williams
to the media and he's fighting. You would think for
will Rodgers for the starting quarterback jump. I mean, he's
QB one for now. But the idea that they brought
(07:45):
him out there and even Landon Hatchet, who's coming off
a torn acl was pretty significant. But when you look
at a guy like Demon Williams at Washington, who followed
Jed Fish from Arizona, how much would you be surprised
if he unseeded the second leading passer all time in
the history of the SEC and eventually took over that
starting quarterback job at you Dub.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I would be fairly surprised if it happens this season. Yeah,
And part of that's because it's gonna be being a
quarterback at You Dubb is gonna be a precarious existence
in a lot of these games because of the rebuilt
offensive line.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
So I think if you've.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
Got a rebuilt line and an inexperienced quarterback, that is
a very tough way to.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Try to win in the Big Ten.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
At least Rogers gives you some savvy he under you know,
he has a much better deeper history of playing under pressure,
playing in you know, scramble situations. You know if they
had a rock solid offensive line coming back, I would
think that Williams would have a better chance.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah, all right, man, listen, great stuff. We'll pick it
up again next week. Husky's get going three weeks from Saturday. Unbelievable.
It's almost here, man, so great stuff. Enjoy what's rest
of what's what's next to the offseason, and we'll talk
in a week.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Buddy. Thanks, thanks very much, all right, buddy.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
John Wilner with us on the radio show says no
chance WAZUO and Oregon State joined the Big twelve.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Huh.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
All right, hey, there's big news for the Hawks.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
We're gonna get a Hawk blogger back on the air
and discuss it next on ninety three three KJRFM.
It's time for a weekly PAC twelve conversation with Senos
Mercury News reporter John Wilner, brought to you by Simply Seattle.
Our friends at simply Seattle dot com have the most
amazing collection of all things Seattle, Seahawks gear, UW hats
of the largest selection of sonics gear anywhere in the world.
Learn more at simply Seattle dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
By the way, if you're looking for a new Husky
Big ten gear, it's officially dropped. As the kids like
to say on the website simply Seattle dot com. Big
ten Husky gear is available, and use code Kjar fifteen
for fifteen percent off anything at simply Seattle dot com.
Here he is the big ten baron, the outgoing pope
of the pack. Our friend Johnny Wilner, John.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I'm good? Fufty? How you uh?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm good, but I'm a look confused, And that happens
easily for me to be honest with you. You said,
with the official demise of the PAC twelve, the name
of your operation is going to be Wilner Hotline.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I thought that was the name of your operation. What
about missing.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
It was Packed twelve hot lines?
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Ah my My Twitter handle has always been Wilner Hotline,
and I go, that's how you and I interact a
whole bunch. So I just changed the official name to
Wilner Hotline. Very simple. We're not changing much. We're still
covering all the schools, including Washington.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
State and Oregon State.
Speaker 5 (01:24):
I gotta, you know, make sure I give that a
plug because there's a lot going on with them.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
But you know, we're going to just roll on.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, if there's anybody do a raise, it's you because
your workload has increased exponentially with all this stuff going on.
But you mentioned the Cougars and Beaver's there, and we're
seeing a lot of smoke all over social media about
the Cougars and Beavers getting engaged in multiple conversations with
multiple conferences. The Big Twelve seems to be kind of
(01:53):
leading the pack, with a lot of folks thinking that
that might be something that could be happening in the
next year or so. What would you say be fans
and Cougar fans about their immediate and long term future.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Well, I think that a lot of the discussions that
are going on right now with the Big Twelve and
the ACC are overscheduling. I do not have any reason
to think that there are substantive discussions about the Washington
State and organ State joining either of those leagues. This
is about non conference football scheduling in twenty five and
(02:26):
possibly beyond that. And you know what, those matchups would
work well both for the ACC and the Big Twelve
and also for the for.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
The Pac twelve schools.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
In terms of the membership issue the Big Twelve, you know,
I've seen some smoke about that.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
There's I think there is no chance that's happening.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Why Because I don't think the Big twelve wants them,
needs them, has interest in them.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I don't see how it would work financially.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
The Big twelve schools aren't going to take less money
in order to get Washington State and organ State in
the league. And if Fox and ESPN had wanted Washington
State Organston in the.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Big Cool, they would have done it a year ago.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
It's not like those those networks are all of a
sudden thinking, oh, you know what, we blew it. We
made a giant mistake that they don't They don't make
giant mistakes like that. But what I do think is
possible and where I think that this whole scheduling alliance,
if it materializes, could lead. Is that if the ACC
kind of blows apart, right, if Clemson and Florida State
(03:28):
win their lawsuits and they leave the ACC and North
Carolina follows, then it is conceivable that the ACC would
want to add some schools, and Washington State and Oregon
State would probably be at the top of the list.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
It would certainly help Palin Stanford.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
That's that is probably their best path into the power
for but it is also very unlikely.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
John Wilners with us on the radio show, and there's
a lot of talk about Michigan situation, Charon Moore that
he could be facing some penalty these Michigan could be
going on probation, and naturally mostly just for fun, the
conversation comes up, if Michigan has to vacate their title,
what Husky fans even want it? I've said no, I
(04:12):
want nothing to do with it. We got destroyed by Michigan.
We don't deserve the championship. But what are the odds
of Michigan actually in your mind having to vacate their title?
Speaker 5 (04:22):
I could, I could see it happening. What they did
that that was severe, that the spygate. That was severe stuff.
I don't believe there's any precedent for Washington being declared champion.
I don't recall Oklahoma being named two thousand and what
four national champs after getting smoked by USC and then
(04:43):
the Bush stuff. So you know, if I'm a Washington fan,
I would enjoy that last season for what it was.
But they, you know, the Huskies don't deserve that that championship.
But I do think that you know, Michigan is facing
some pretty severe penalties now. It's probably not gonna happen
this season because the NCAA process takes so long, but
(05:05):
I could see them getting pretty hit, pretty hard because
this is a second time offender situation, because they were
guilty of violating rules once before with COVID recruiting, so
this will be the second time for that program in
just a couple of years. Penalties are much more severe
if it's a you're a repeat offender.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Well, and we know this that Glaciers move faster than
the NCAA does when it comes to levying any kind
of a penalty or a judgment. So I don't expect
anything to be done by Week six of the College
Football season when Michigan comes to town. But I'm curious
to get your take on some I set. I said
to Jackson a couple hours ago that the idea of
Michigan coming to Seattle and losing to Washington doesn't seem
(05:48):
to be as far fetched now as maybe it did
six months ago.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah, I would agree. I would probably agree with that.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
I'm not sure what to make a Michigan. I don't
think that they're gonna be that good this year. You know,
I'm not high on the Huskies either, But I would
think that that's a.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Toss up game for sure.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
And when the de boor exodus happened and everybody left,
it would certainly in the middle of January late January,
you wouldn't have foreseen that this one stands as what
looks like a close game, toss up kind of.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Game, right.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, And look, I think we got to remember that
you are now official the Big Ten, baron, so you
do have insight as to what's happening in the conference.
There were six ranked teams I think in the Big Ten,
with Iowa being the last one to be ranked.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And is there a dark horse in this conference? For you?
I mean, just all the conversations.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
You had a media day, things like that, is there
a dark horse in this Big Ten that we're not
talking about that we should be talking about.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Yeah, I think the dark horse is Nebraska. Wow.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
And a lot of that is because if you look
at Matt rules track record his second year at the
schools he's been at have been terrific, and I think
that they are going to be very good.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
They've got a big time quarterback coming in and I.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Think that if I were picking a sleeper in the
Big Ten, it would be Nebraska, mostly because of Matt Rule.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
I think the guy's a tremendous coach.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, you know, it's funny John that we are at.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Dub actually had kind of a media day setting of
their own and John Wilner again with us courtesy simply
Seattle dot Com.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
They had kind of a media day thing. It was
last week. It was three hours.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
They brought players, they brought every coach, and they even
brought freshman. I mean, under Chris Peterson, freshman, we're not
allowed to talk. I think the Boar had kind of
the same type of thing, if I'm not mistaken, but
Demon Williams was there. I think trotted out Demon Williams
to the media and he's fighting. You would think for
will Rodgers for the starting quarterback jump. I mean, he's
QB one for now. But the idea that they brought
(07:45):
him out there and even Landon Hatchet, who's coming off
a torn acl was pretty significant. But when you look
at a guy like Demon Williams at Washington, who followed
Jed Fish from Arizona, how much would you be surprised
if he unseeded the second leading passer all time in
the history of the SEC and eventually took over that
starting quarterback job at you Dub.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I would be fairly surprised if it happens this season. Yeah,
And part of that's because it's gonna be being a
quarterback at You Dubb is gonna be a precarious existence
in a lot of these games because of the rebuilt
offensive line.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
So I think if you've.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
Got a rebuilt line and an inexperienced quarterback, that is
a very tough way to.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Try to win in the Big Ten.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
At least Rogers gives you some savvy he under you know,
he has a much better deeper history of playing under pressure,
playing in you know, scramble situations. You know if they
had a rock solid offensive line coming back, I would
think that Williams would have a better chance.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah, all right, man, listen, great stuff. We'll pick it
up again next week. Husky's get going three weeks from Saturday. Unbelievable.
It's almost here, man, so great stuff. Enjoy what's rest
of what's what's next to the offseason, and we'll talk
in a week.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Buddy. Thanks, thanks very much, all right, buddy.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
John Wilner with us on the radio show says no
chance WAZUO and Oregon State joined the Big twelve.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Huh.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
All right, hey, there's big news for the Hawks.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
We're gonna get a Hawk blogger back on the air
and discuss it next on ninety three three KJRFM.
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