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October 16, 2025 • 39 mins
Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.

Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
For you.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
It's time for Cougar Sports on.

Speaker 3 (00:07):
Part of the Utah's ESPN Radio Network.

Speaker 4 (00:10):
Here's your host, Ben Critical.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Sports, three Boys pre DESBN maan I Metal broadcasting live
from our favorite Crumble location here in Pleasant Grove, owned
and operated by the Pay family. That's right, former b
y U Great Gary Pay and Gina pey Uh the
they own and operate this final establishment.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
We'd love to see you.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
We'd love to talk ball with you on a Rivalry
Thursday edition of Cougar Sports. So uh, guys, stop on by.
Get a chance to earn uh a free free cookies
for one year. If you wear your school colors be
it Royal or red, you can enter your name to
win a chance to win a year's supply of Crumble cookies.

(01:06):
These things are delicious there. They are definitely creative in
their nature. All manner of different cookies show up every
single week here at Crumble, So stop on buy.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
We'd love to interact with you.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
Get your prep Get you ready for this BYU Utah
Rivalry Week show live from the Crumble here in Pleasant Growth.
Two zero eight five West four fifty South. That's two
zero eight five West four fifty south. Sweet a in
Pleasant Grove. We have former and current BYU football players
that will be showing up.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
We'll be here from about two to eight pm.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
We'll be doing a live show from two to six
and then be hanging out all the way up till close.
Former and current BYU and Utah players Body Schoonover, Noah Muayaki,
Connor Paye, Jamal Williams, Nate Ritchie, Keena Pula, Jared Pula
and more.

Speaker 3 (01:59):
A little versus Blue show. So stop on.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
By, say hello, Let's talk some BYU football here at
the Crumble location of Pleasant Growth.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
We've got a great show for you as always.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Make sure you're keeping his dialed in on that one
O three to nine FM dial, then ninety eight point
three FM dial as well. You can stream us espnfan
dot Com, ESPN the fandapp, as well as the tune
in app. Download those apps from the respective app store.
Tell you smart speaker, Hey, smart speaker, listen to Cougar
Sports have been crital Hey, smart speaker, listen to the
ESPN Fan the app in download.

Speaker 3 (02:31):
The podcast as well.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
iTunes, Spreaker, Google Playing Music, iHeartRadio, Spotify.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
Give us a rating, give us a review. We appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
When you do, you can follow me on x at
Cridal Benjamin, follow us at ESPN. The fan gonna be
putting out all manner of content today for you as
we get your prepped, get you ready for this byu
Utah Holy War, and it is the Holy War, no
doubt about it.

Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's the best I think. I think it's the best
name in college football for any rivalry game.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yes, there are many great rivalry games that are maybe
you know quotation marks better, but this is the most
unique and singular rivalry in my opinion, and I think
the name of Holy War is the best in the business.
We're gonna break it all down here on your Utah
ESPN Radio network. So without further ado, let's fired up
ESB and the fans starting lineup, and I can introduce

(03:23):
you to my Coast and the rest of the Star
Sunny Cast joining us for this beautiful Thursday afternoon show
and crumble garon BLESI grow.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
Let's welcome into the show co host Coast as well
as digital content creator.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
We got Brett always bringing the hammer, Hammer Times show,
What's cooking Man?

Speaker 3 (03:41):
How that are you?

Speaker 1 (03:42):
I'm in trouble, Ben because I'm sitting out in front
of one of my weaknesses in life.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
When I was in college, I would go to Vasa.
I would come home from.

Speaker 1 (03:50):
Massa maya whole case of the things, and he'd probably
like two or three second, you know what. I would
to the gym. I got my lift and I heard
they said I can vote disease suckers faster than I
jud So am I safe to say?

Speaker 3 (04:03):
My wife, Hardy kick in the box.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know so well, we got you, We got you
taken care of, no doubt about it.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
She gets the big her favorite grumble cookies. And that's
the thing with Crumple. You get this.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
Variety of cookies, these custom cookies, the cheesecake.

Speaker 3 (04:19):
Cookie, the double Dutch chocolate cookie. Like there's so many
different types of cookies.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's, uh, it's pretty insane, quite honestly.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
And I can't cookie. Yeah yeah, And look, I I
may end up dying due.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
To uh crumble cookie consumption eventually in my life, but
it's gonna be a great life because I love me
some crumpled cookies. I love the Pay family as well,
who operate this location. Former b YU greats that have
produced high level football players that are playing for BYU,
that have played for BYU, and that will play for BYU.

(04:55):
We're talking Connor Pay, who's coaching now at Brigham. We're
talking Pay who's the backup center behind Bruce Mitchell. We're
talking Austin Pey, who's serving the Lord with all his heart,
my minding strength in the missionary field, thrusting with his sickle,
with his might to say so, he has blessings on
the grid iron. On the back end, he'll be bawling out.
He's a future NFL tackle in my opinion. So we

(05:18):
love the Pay family. You should come and support the
Pay family today at Crumble Cookies and pleasant Growth. Appreciate
bred always bring the hammer. Shout out to Ronald three
Man Weaver as well as Big Gram on the data aggregation.

Speaker 3 (05:29):
Check out our starting lineup.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
As I mentioned, we're gonna have former in current Cougars
as well as current and future utes joining us today.
How about body schoonover BYU defensive lineman Noah Moyaki, Connor Pay,
Jamal Williams, Nate Richie, Kennan Pula and Jaron Pula to
start us all off.

Speaker 3 (05:50):
So stop on by say he get yourself some.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
Crumble cookies where your BYU or you dog gear and
you can enter your name into the I guess the
lottery are Crumble Lottery. If you will to win a
free supply of Crumble cookies for a year, what a gift,
what a blessing that will be for your home.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
I hope I win.

Speaker 2 (06:15):
I don't know if I can enter, but I may
just enter in like a John Doe with my phone
number and try to win this match of year year
round cookies.

Speaker 3 (06:25):
Do you have a favorite cookie from Crumble by chance? Oh?

Speaker 1 (06:28):
Man, there's been so many good ones because again I
used to like, I used to have the notifications for
Crumble Instagram on my phone. So every Sunday, I think
it was like noon when they would drop the new flavors.
It was like the highlight of I shouldn't say the
highlight of my Sunday, but one of the highlights of
my Sunday. Anytime there's a cheesecake one on there, I
know there's a I think there's a Twix one today.

Speaker 3 (06:48):
That I'm gonna need to try.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
There's a butterfinger one that I was a big fan
of when they had it. I mean, look, it's Crumble
no matter what it is. They put it on a cookie,
you will not be disappointed, no doubt about it.

Speaker 2 (07:01):
Guys, we're getting your prep getting you ready for this
b y U h Utah rivalry game, the Holy War.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
It's upon us.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Uh So we're gonna get into all the nicks and credits,
all the news and notes. Why don't we, uh you know,
check out the Let's get into the nitty gritty, always
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Speaker 5 (07:18):
And gentlemen, we have please to present our downcas with
that interpretation of the nitty gritty one to one too.

Speaker 4 (07:26):
So anyways, let's get down to the.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
Nitty gritty brought to you by Complete Circuit Electric, Complete
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Speaker 3 (07:48):
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Speaker 2 (07:49):
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Speaker 3 (08:08):
I want to read between the.

Speaker 2 (08:09):
Lines here in this nitty gritty segment, Jay Hill, defensive coordinator,
getting your prep. Gett you're ready for this holy war.
Remember BYU in Utah. There meeting for the ninety seven
time in this long standing rivalry. Uh, and it's been
great to renew it. As conference foes. BYU trails this
series all time thirty three and fifty nine, so thirty
three wins, fifty nine losses and four ties. The Cougars

(08:30):
won the last two meetings though a twenty six to
seventeen winning provo in twenty twenty one breaking the curse,
and last year's twenty two to twenty one victory in
Salt Lake City at rice Ecles when by You kicked
a forty four yard field goal to win it in
the final seconds. And then last last time BAU won
three in a row against the uts was amidst a

(08:50):
four game streak from nineteen eighty nine to nineteen ninety two.
And h this this rivalry game is super unique. It
brings out the crazies, right, We've already seen a crazy
BYU fan get arrested for threats on social media. Thank
goodness they found them. They goodness they arrested them. You
got to keep everyone in line here with this. We

(09:11):
want to create a wild and rockets and competitive environment,
but it should be in the spirit of true fiery competition,
not enmity in violence towards our neighbor. So yeah, we've
seen crazies on both sides, quite honestly, and we've seen
craziness in the rivalry. We've seen petting news in the
robbery for coaches from ads.

Speaker 3 (09:31):
I mean, look, even the last time.

Speaker 2 (09:33):
BYU was up at Richs Ecle Stadium, there was a
fan of a major There was a son of a
major donor that threw a water bottle and knocked out
a women's cheerleader for BYU.

Speaker 3 (09:47):
Like people have been.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
Arrested for years for their actions during rivalry holy warworks.

Speaker 3 (09:53):
So it gets crazy.

Speaker 2 (09:54):
And what's crazy is that there is cross pollination between
the coaching staff.

Speaker 3 (09:59):
We have so many.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
Utah former Utah players or coaches coaching at BYU and
vice versus coaches and players coaching at the University of Utah.

Speaker 3 (10:09):
So let's get into it, Jay Hill.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Some are saying, Jay, this is the biggest matchup in
the history of the raway.

Speaker 3 (10:15):
Do you buy into that?

Speaker 6 (10:16):
At all, this is a huge rivalry game.

Speaker 7 (10:18):
It means a lot for both programs who it could mean,
conference championship implications, all that stuff. We're so early in
the season. I can't say it's the biggest one in
history because there's a lot of games that came down
to having to win to go to BCS games or
have to win to go to win the conference championship.

Speaker 6 (10:37):
Those were pretty big those games.

Speaker 3 (10:40):
Yeah, I mean, where would we rank this one? Right?

Speaker 2 (10:41):
We're looking at the history, the history, the historical elements,
like how big is this particular game. There's only been
three times and by Utah Holy War history I believe,
in which both teams have been ranked, so like to
a certain degree, the seriousness of this, in the gravity

(11:02):
of the conference implication, of the national implication of it.
You can make an argument that one of those three
games was the biggest because both of them were on
a big stage going towards you know, an end game
that could lead to either a conference championship.

Speaker 3 (11:20):
Or a big Bowl game. Does that make sense?

Speaker 1 (11:22):
Hammertime Show, Let me ask you this, in the history
of this rivalry, when was the last time these two
teams were competing for a conference title?

Speaker 3 (11:30):
In a P four conference. The answer to that would
be never.

Speaker 1 (11:33):
So then let me ask you this, when has the
playoffs and the national championship ever been so directly tied
to you winning your conference? And I would argue never,
because in the past you either had to get voted
as the national champion or you had to have the
BCS model select you as the national champion. And during
that time, BYU was never in a power for conference.

(11:55):
With Utah, you could very easily make the argument this
is the biggest game in the history of the rivalry
because it has the biggest implications in terms of two
teams competing for a conference title, in turn competing for
a playoff spot, and in term competing for the top
spot in all of college football.

Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, I really think there's an argument to be made
about this being the biggest, most important Holy War.

Speaker 3 (12:24):
Kyle Whittingham's legacy can.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
Be sollied a little bit true with three straight losses
and him being pushed out and ushered into retirement, like
because if he loses three straight, you may have the admin,
the ad, even the the incumbent Morgan Scalley, saying like, hey,
it may be time to move on new leadership. New vision,

(12:48):
et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Like and you could
have fans right that may be like, look like Witch
lost it, Witch lost his fire, his petitive nature. He's
not what he used to be, et cetera, and now
he needs to retire. So like, there's a lot on
the line as it relates to this particular by Utah

(13:10):
Riley Yemman.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
I'm willing to hear it. I'm willing to.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
Hear at cougardation and Jay Hill says, look, I'm not like,
I'm not gonna sit here and say yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:18):
It is or it isn't.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
But at the end of this end of the season,
I think we're gonna be able to know pretty gosh
darn well how big this game was, right, how important
this game was in relation to the other Holy Wars
of the past. Now, let's talk Utah Scauting report. How
does Devin Dampier compared to dual threat quarterbacks you face

(13:41):
thus far this season.

Speaker 6 (13:43):
Well, he's obviously a very good player.

Speaker 7 (13:45):
He can beat you with his arm and his legs
in many ways. He reminds me of Noah Fafita that
we just played.

Speaker 6 (13:52):
They're both.

Speaker 7 (13:55):
Very good with their pocket presence. They're both very good with,
you know, keeping their eyes down field. They're both very
athletic in the pocket. So I think he's very comparable
to Noah. He does run it more than Noah did.

Speaker 3 (14:10):
So agree with that assessment. Disagree with that assessment. How
are they shame?

Speaker 2 (14:15):
How are they similar Noah Flafita versus Devin Dampierre.

Speaker 1 (14:19):
I mean, look, when I see Noah Fafida, it doesn't
scream Devin Dampierre to me. However, I'm not the expert.
Jay Hill absolutely is the expert. I think they're different,
and he did mention one of the biggest ways, which
is no Fafida doesn't really want to run the football.

Speaker 3 (14:36):
That's not his mo.

Speaker 1 (14:37):
It's not that he's not capable of it, that's just
not his core competency. Devin Dampierre was a guy who
was Mount West Conference Player of the Year. He only
threw eleven passing touchdowns. Part of that was because he
was dangerous with his legs. I don't know that he
is the same as Noah Fafida in terms of the
way they play, but in terms of them both being

(15:00):
threat guys who play at a high level, they're probably
the closest because Kayden Salters, well we think he's decent, is.

Speaker 3 (15:06):
Not the quarterback that Devin Deppier or a no Fa
Fida is.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
And then Khalil Wilkins at West Virginia same deal, like
very athletic, very explosive, but doesn't really pose that much
of a threat. So from that standpoint, yeah, I definitely
think the closest of everybody that he's played in terms
of talent, in terms of being dangerous, probably no Fafia.

Speaker 3 (15:25):
I think body type WIH.

Speaker 2 (15:26):
You can make the argument Noah is a much better
thrower and passer than Devidier. Now Devin does have a
strong arm, but he's an over the top thrower. From
a mechanical standpoint, he you could tell like he didn't
like grow up with like QB mechanics school where he
was at, and he's adapted his throw motion to you know,

(15:49):
his height right, and he's not one that like necessarily
is is as polished as Noah and know it is
an extremely polished, accurate passer. Even that final throw on
the double move, like luckily Evan Johnson kind of tugged.
It's like a little catch and release tug two three
inches more that wide receiver of UVA catches that, So

(16:11):
shout out to Evan Johnson. That was a perfectly thrown
ball by Noel Fafita. I don't see Devin Dampierre as
even though he's extremely efficient seventy percent accuracy, it's dissimilar
to the way that Noah Fafita throws the ball. Devin
is a much better runner, and he's more dynamic in
that regard. Kind of reminds me like Noah reminds me

(16:32):
of like a kind of like a Kyler Murray.

Speaker 3 (16:36):
But even Kyler wants to run it more than than Noah.

Speaker 2 (16:39):
But like Kyler can rip, like Kyler's a thrower passer
that can run. Damn Piers unique Man, He's he's a
dynamic runner. He's gonna want him pick up first downs
with his legs. Jason Beck is gonna run Devin Dampierre
just as much as Kilo Wilkins like that. That's probably
gonna be from a volumes. You're gonna see more of that,

(17:00):
gonna go through progression one too. Buckle my shoe and
he's gonna take off, and he's gonna force Shale, Isaiah
and Jack to to ultimately make plays in the open field.

Speaker 1 (17:10):
He's also the leading rusher on this team. Like I know,
bear Bachmeer runs the ball a lot. Bear Bachmeer is
not the leading rusher on the football team. Dopafi is
not the leading rusher on the football team. Devin dam
Pierre is your leading rusher.

Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (17:23):
And that's why I would say like Devin reminds me
more of like a Kyler Murray in college than than
maybe like Noah right, just to kind of give some
idea of about high weight throw ability and running ability
for those that haven't watched him to appear. Now, let's
get move on, Jay Hill. What status of Jack Kelly
and Raider de Moody.

Speaker 6 (17:45):
So we're expecting Jack to go.

Speaker 7 (17:48):
He's practiced really good the last two weeks, well especially
this week.

Speaker 6 (17:52):
But he even practiced last week.

Speaker 7 (17:54):
And then Raider right now, it's say is doubtful, just
depending on how he continues to progress.

Speaker 3 (18:02):
So big news.

Speaker 2 (18:03):
Jack Kelly available to play. Been practicing extremely well, probably
engaging in mostly non contact running drills. Right he's going
through eleven eleven. He's wearing a green jersey, no contact,
no blocking. We want to keep him healthy, nothing to
prove highly involved in his physical therapy, you know, making

(18:25):
sure that shoulder is going to see a brother, making
sure that shoulders nice and tight. Right, feeling good and
ready to go. Raider to Mooney not playing.

Speaker 3 (18:36):
It is a loss.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
Took a helmet friendly fire by Sialia Sarah unintentional. It
just happens to his hip and rib area. So he
may be out a week or so. Okay, as far
as the injury report is concerned, though, Tommy Passus is
gonna be sitting out. He had an ankle injury, and
it's just it's a high ankle. Heinkel Suck as a

(19:01):
defensive back eye had a mild highnkle. It took me
out multiple weeks my senior year. It's hard to get back,
especially if you're not resting it. So I think they're
just gonna shit him out. Remember Jojo Phillips shone Moa,
Marcus McKenzie, that's a surprise that hurts you on the
punt cover.

Speaker 3 (19:16):
I hate that.

Speaker 2 (19:17):
And then shape Bryant Strawther all out Rader de Moony doubtful.
I don't think he's playing.

Speaker 3 (19:21):
And then an.

Speaker 2 (19:22):
Easy Percell probable that's good news that he's just a
little bit dinged up. Your four D tackles gonna have
to make their money this week versus an elite offensive line,
a great offensive line in college football.

Speaker 3 (19:35):
Settle Tonavasa, you need.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
His best performance of the season like it was against
BYU last year. He was dominant versus bou last year.

Speaker 3 (19:43):
He needs to be the.

Speaker 2 (19:44):
Best guy on the field this year to disrupt and
create chaos. And I want to see that. John Tellwaipao,
and he's a big game. Kirkland needs a good game
as well as an easy percel.

Speaker 1 (19:55):
And you know the way that this matchup has been
set up. You know the Utah offensive line is saying, hey,
you can beat us with Justin Kirkland. You can beat
us with Cecilia Kana. You're not beating us with Keiana Zavasa.
We're triple and double teaming that guy. He's not gonna
have an effect on this game. So if you want
to have an effect on the so called number one
offensive line in college football, you're gonna have to do

(20:16):
it with somebody else, because it's not gonna be Coan
of ton of Vasa. That's what they're saying. I don't
know how that's gonna go. I do think Keana town
of Vasa. We know has a little extra added motivation
going into this one. We know he's a fired up,
passionate guy. That to me is gonna be one of
the most fun matchups to watch. I know the de
tackle offensive line matchup is not the sexiest one that
fans are paying attention to, but that one is gonna

(20:38):
be a fun chess match to watch on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (20:40):
Shout out to Utah pool guys stopping by and getting
some delicious crubble cookie. Shout out, Jesus, I love that
BYU had as well. Brother, appreciate you, guys. Let's go
to break. But that initial uh, that initial report the
injury report for the ute Chructors out, Rabbit AVMs safety
Nate Richie's out for the season, Dadrian Zipperer, Hunter Andrews,

(21:01):
Josh Sovereign, Paul Fitzgerald, Grady Moreco, and Isaiah Garcia all
out this game.

Speaker 3 (21:09):
We'll go to break.

Speaker 2 (21:10):
We're live from Crumble, guys here in Pleasant Grove. We
got a bunch of current and former BYU players stopping by.
Also some current Utah players Nate Ritchie as well as
future Utah players Ken and Pulla, Jared Pula, who simingly
have opened up their recruitment. They got offers from Colorado recently.
You wonder where their their minds are at right now

(21:33):
as it relates to the recruiting. But body Scoon over,
Noah Mooyaki, Connor Pey, Jamal Williams, Nate, Richie Kennon, Pula,
Jared Pool and Moore.

Speaker 3 (21:40):
We'll be stopping by. Come and get some cookies.

Speaker 2 (21:42):
Enter to win a chance for free cookies for a
year from Crumble here in Pleasant Grove. You're listening to
the Cougar Sports on one of three nine ninety eight
point three ESPN.

Speaker 1 (22:01):
Z.

Speaker 2 (22:03):
Just like the Cougar football team, Ben Krittle was built,
not born, and since two thousand and nineties built himself
into the go to source on.

Speaker 3 (22:11):
The radio and online for all things Cougars. This is
Cougar Sports with Ben Krittle on.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
One O three nine three ESPN The Fan in the
Welcome back to this sport one of three nine nine
eight point three ESPN The Fan. I met Little Broadcasting
for Mark Crumble, Pleasant Grove.

Speaker 3 (22:34):
Location Stop on five. We're gonna be here all evening,
pretty much all night.

Speaker 2 (22:40):
We appreciate you guys tuning in chiming in Little Holy
war Leegue, Live for Grumble and Pleasant Grove to zero
eight five to zero eight five West, four fifty South
sweet a Pleasant Grove, Utah owned and operated by the
Pay Family former BYU. Great family that's producing high profile

(23:00):
players that have come through BYU Connor Pay trivor Pay
Austin Pay. So come on in and support the delicious
Crumble location here in Pleasant Grove and you can enter
to win a chan to win a free supply of.

Speaker 3 (23:18):
Year round cookies.

Speaker 2 (23:19):
That's right, wear red or blue to support your team
and enter for a chance to win free cookies for
a year. Come on by Salo Talks and Ball. We'd
love to see you Bred always bringing the Hammer by
my side Brett Hammer as well as Vic Krahm and
Ronald the three Man Weaver. We're gonna continue down the
line of question with Jay Hill, Defensive Coordinator. But a

(23:40):
couple of the storylines here as we get you prepped.
Big Noon Kickoff making its second trip to BYU in
consecutive seasons. It's a two hour Big Noon Kickoff pregame
show in tailgate party. It's gonna be held in the
West parking lot of Lavelle Edwards Stadium, set at the
base of the Wasatch Mountains. Edward Stadium is one of

(24:00):
the most picturesque settings in college football.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
And Big New Kickoff. He is hosted by Rob.

Speaker 2 (24:05):
Stone, along with angelist Mark Ingraham the Second, Matt Liinert,
Urban Meyer, and Brady Quinn. Who's do we have a
celebrity that's gonna be showing up from BYU as well?

Speaker 3 (24:16):
Big New Kickoff doesn't do celebrities as much.

Speaker 1 (24:19):
I do think Kalani will be there to do an
interview like he did last time.

Speaker 3 (24:23):
I do.

Speaker 1 (24:23):
I'm almost positive Dave Portnoy and some of the Barstool
people will be there because they have that partnership and
Dave does a lot of their Big New Kickoff coverage.
He's actually been in town doing his pizza reviews, so
he's been hitting a couple of spots up in Salt Lake.
Hasn't hit any spots in provo Or as far as
I'm aware, But as a as a big New York
style pizza guy, I have yet to find a place

(24:44):
in Or. I'm a Provo so that would make sense
why he hasn't been there yet. But yeah, Dave Portnoy
and the boys should be there as well.

Speaker 2 (24:49):
All right, so there you have it to come on
by for the big newon kickoff as well.

Speaker 3 (24:54):
All right, let's get back to Jay Hill, your defense coordinator.

Speaker 2 (24:56):
Assistant or you're associate assistant head coach. Your young defensive
backs seem to be progressing very well.

Speaker 3 (25:04):
Jay, what do you attribute that to?

Speaker 6 (25:06):
Well, the corners.

Speaker 7 (25:07):
I really love the way coach Gilford coaches those guys.
He does a great job with just educating him, obviously
getting him prepared for the games. I think he does
a good job with that. Just the development of the
strength staff. Those guys do a phenomenal job of getting
the younger guys getting better and better.

Speaker 6 (25:24):
And then I think coach Fowler's done a really good.

Speaker 7 (25:25):
Job with the safety So there's a process in place
that we have that helps with that.

Speaker 6 (25:30):
And you've got to give a little credit to the coaches.

Speaker 7 (25:33):
And a lot of credit to the players for buying
into what we're trying to get him to do.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
Look, we tend to just give all the credit to
Jay Hill because he's the defensive coordinator, but there are
guys doing tremendous work in the position groups.

Speaker 3 (25:46):
Remember Gavin Fawlller. It's a name that you may not
be familiar with. He's the son of.

Speaker 2 (25:52):
Former b YU rate Blaine Fawler, the younger brother of
Kellen who I played with, and so he's got a
legacy of being a football player and being a part
of a football family. But Gavin's been putting in great
work in that safety room, getting guys ready, getting them
prep and making sure that they're executing at high level.
And then coach g also deserves a ton of credit

(26:15):
as the passing defensive coordinator. And I was pulling up
PFF stats right because there's a lot of rhetoric surrounding,
you know, comparing contrasting who's got the competitive advantage in
each position group. And Utah typically has produced high level
defensive backs, no doubt about it, good football players.

Speaker 3 (26:36):
They ended up in the National Football League.

Speaker 2 (26:39):
The idea that the defensive backs of Utah better than
b layers this year is interesting.

Speaker 3 (26:43):
I pulled up PFF stats. These are the safety rankings
per PFF.

Speaker 2 (26:49):
Jackson Benny is the highest graded out of all the
safeties on either team at seventy six point seven, but
Volatiles Sotawala is at seventy four point one. Tanner wall
is at seventy point six, so you have number two,
number three, tal Johnson's at number four at sixty three
point seven, then Raider de Mooney at number five sixty
three point three. Nate Tillman and Nate Richie are number

(27:10):
six and number seven, so it's actually pretty even in
the safety room per PFF. Do you know who the
three highest graded corners are between these two teams?

Speaker 3 (27:20):
Tall BYU play it. Let's go see you guys. Thanks
for coming by, guys, appreciate you, guys.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
Tuning in Evan Johnson seventy four point two, Bomba sixty
eight point eight, Alexander at sixty nine point one, and
then Will Smith Snowden at sixty four point seven. Oh interesting,
Snowden's the fourth best per PFF.

Speaker 3 (27:42):
That's interesting, right, Yeah, I wouldn't have.

Speaker 1 (27:44):
I don't know, just I guess recently based to hear
about Smith Nodan and his recruitment, and obviously there was
all the talk during the offseason about the tambrey and
all that, so I guess you just like, narrative wise
in your head, connotation wise, you're like, oh, Smith nodans
the death the best, but it's it's the.

Speaker 2 (28:01):
Low hanging fruit, right, you know, just the supposition that
they automatically put out better talent. Look, we're changing the
game right now, it's go you know, I mean post COVID,
A lot of things have changed. We know that resources
have changed, development has changed, strengthen and additioning has changed,
nutrition has changed. BYU is getting to a point where

(28:24):
depth and talent are equivalents to the University of Utah.
But they had a fifteen almost a fifteen year head start, Brett.
And how quickly has BYU caught up to the mighty utes.

Speaker 3 (28:37):
Of the North. Hasn't taken long.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
Hasn't taken too long, no doubt about it. Let's get
back to the sound Jay Hill. Will we see more
Tao Seelee Akana? Given how well he played against U
of A.

Speaker 6 (28:50):
I sure hope.

Speaker 3 (28:51):
So.

Speaker 7 (28:52):
You know, he's a dynamic player that we talked a
lot about early in camp, and as he continues to
learn the defense, he should just get more and more.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
So what I get sometimes from fans is like, well,
he's the decordinator. He can decide that they're gonna play. Yeah,
within reason, guys, you do delegate to your position. Coaches right,
You They the position coaches on the field will many
times decide who's in and who's out in key situations.

Speaker 3 (29:24):
Okay, some of that is communicated by by Jay.

Speaker 2 (29:28):
And sometimes it's executed by the coaching staff that's on
the field watching, evaluating fatigue, watching and evaluating performance. And
so I hope so means yeah, like I like seeing
them out there. Yeah, I'd like to see him employed more.

(29:49):
But also like he's got to be better in the
run game. Also, like he's if he wants to be
in every down defensive end, he's gonna have to improve
his ability to stay on the field to earn himself
chances to be on the field, uh, for more opportunities.
So and we'll see what the coaching staff does. The

(30:09):
OE coach defense Vea, says Kelly Popinga. And so if
it's a passing situation and it's obvious, you may see
more Nuci Tamwaypayo as well as tau Celia Khana. Don't
don't sleep on number five Nusi. Nucy is a game changer.
Lucy is a combination of Shilney Taki Taki, Fred Warner.

Speaker 3 (30:28):
That's who he is. He's six three two forty five.

Speaker 2 (30:31):
That due's a beast that does he's a muster, he's
a game changer for the defense. News has got the
juice in my opinion, and tell see Lee.

Speaker 3 (30:38):
Is right there with him now.

Speaker 2 (30:40):
Has his biggest challenge in getting more playing time just
been learning the scheme.

Speaker 3 (30:45):
We're talking tau Cilia Khana.

Speaker 7 (30:48):
That's everybody's challenge in this defense is just if we
have a flaw of myself, it's probably we get a
little complicated at times, but that's everybody's challenges. It's hard
to put him on the field to the ready to
go with understanding the scheme.

Speaker 2 (31:02):
So yeah, look, he's readily admittedly so taking some some
flak for that. He's saying, look like that we tend
to overcomplicate things, and and yeah, because a creative mind
such as Jay wants to be able to employ creative
scheme and.

Speaker 3 (31:23):
He wants it to be executed at a high level.

Speaker 2 (31:25):
And he's alluded to this, guys, like he's alluded to
the fact that at b YU they're able to get
a little bit more creative because of the retention the
information that these young football players are able and capable
of retaining. We may have gotten our first Utah fan
with the red Oh yeah, go you, it's over here.
Shout out to all the you fans showing up as well,

(31:47):
entering in to earn their chance to uh have a
lifetime supply. Well, not a lifetime supply, a year's supply
of Crumble cookies. All right, So let's get back to it.
We know it's a cop Kidd's game. Jay Hill is
going to continue to employ that complicated game. But uh,
these young men at b YU, I think are built

(32:07):
a little bit different and can retain that information. Now,
number seven, what have you seen in Cialia Sera's development?

Speaker 7 (32:15):
Well, again, I think Coachenna's done a really good job
with and I think has done a great job of
buying into what we've asked of him. There's a process
in place, and I see cially just getting better and
better and better and better the.

Speaker 6 (32:27):
More he plays.

Speaker 7 (32:27):
And I think last game was a great indication of
where he's head and I think he's still scratching the
service on what he's going to become.

Speaker 2 (32:36):
Yeah, I really saw he took a big step in
the right direction. I don't think he's been fully healthy either,
like maximizing his.

Speaker 3 (32:44):
His athletic ability since his a while.

Speaker 2 (32:48):
I remember he was he's been injured, he came off,
he's coming off of a Liz Frank still and so like,
I think this last game we saw the athleticism that
we need to see going forwards. Gonna be good. He's
gonna be great. He had sixteen tackles, he was gassed
by the end of the game. He didn't miss one tackle,
but he had multiple TFLs.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
He's getting better.

Speaker 2 (33:09):
He's getting better each and every week, and you're gonna
need him to have a great game versus the Utes.
This is one of the biggest games, if not the
biggest game of his career, along with Jack Kelly and
Isaiah Glasker. Now, what is your relationship, Jay with Kyle Whittingham.

Speaker 6 (33:26):
Well, I love I love the guy. That's not a secret.

Speaker 7 (33:31):
He's been so influential in my life and in my
playing career and coaching career.

Speaker 6 (33:36):
His family is amazing.

Speaker 7 (33:38):
So yeah, I mean, I don't this is a weird
game because we're super competitive. We want to win like crazy,
but we have tons of respect for those coaches up
there in their players.

Speaker 2 (33:51):
Jay Hill, much respect as you know, as Kyle Whodeham
had coached him up and then also brought him into
the fold up at the you as a coach, Right,
there's a reason why Kyle brought in individuals such as
Jay and Morgan Scalley. They were tremendous football players, highly competitive,

(34:13):
they were leaders on the football field, and so there's
a tremendous amount of synergistic respect, like I still to
this day, like this is a competitive environment. He reps
the why now he mentioned that in the coordinator's corner.
He's like, look like I you know, I'm on the
other side now and he's bought in. But there's also

(34:37):
like this element of like, you know, his upbringing was
was in Salt Lake City, Like he grew up in
Salt Lake City as a ute. And there's a tremendous
amount of love and appreciation and respect because of that.

Speaker 3 (34:53):
And I think you experienced that from the YU side.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
There's a tremendous amount of love and a pre from
the BUYU side directed towards the University of Utah, there's
no love and appreciation.

Speaker 3 (35:07):
I don't know, I haven't heard any quotes from.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
Jason back Marky after why because that's not a part
of the culture up there.

Speaker 1 (35:13):
There's part of the When Jay Hill says it's not
a secret that he has that relationship with Kyle whitting Him,
my first thought is, well, he could have fooled me,
because when I listen to the way and I understand, like,
you don't wanna show like you don't want to bring
the stray dog home and name it, like you don't
want to show love if you don't have to.

Speaker 3 (35:33):
I get all of that, but it.

Speaker 1 (35:35):
Almost just moves to a level where it's like, Hey,
you hate everyone at the school and you hate everything
about it, and then you hear people like Jay hilltalk
It's like, man, I have the best relationship with Kyle Whittingham,
And I'm like, as a guy who's not in the
room and who doesn't see everything, this is news to
me because it seems as though Kyle hates everything and
everyone at that university. So it is cool to get

(35:56):
to peel back to curtin a little bit and learn
things about Kyle and this staff that the rest of
us don't know from not being in the room.

Speaker 3 (36:04):
But I'm with you, Like for a rivalry that has.

Speaker 1 (36:07):
So many, so much interconnectivity, so many families that are
on both sides, so many guys like Jay who went
to school one place now coach at the other place.
It's weird to me that there's so much hate and
vitrio involved with it, because you see things like Ohio, Staton, Michigan.
They don't have that, they have a massive rivalry, they
don't have that much interconnectivity. But I feel like there's

(36:29):
less hate in that rivalry than there is in this one,
which I just find a little odd.

Speaker 3 (36:36):
Indeed, it is interesting.

Speaker 2 (36:37):
One last thing, Uh, Jay Hill, given that relationship you
have with Kyle, are you guys able to chop it
up as friends after the game.

Speaker 7 (36:46):
Well, you're gonna have one side super upset and one
side super related, and so that makes it a little
difficult after But before the game's absolutely and we meet
at midfield as friends and colleagues.

Speaker 6 (36:58):
But incredibly competitive.

Speaker 3 (37:01):
Too, incredibly competitive. We'll chop it up a little bit
before the game after the game.

Speaker 2 (37:08):
Look, I mean, how did Kyle treat Kilani after last
year's game?

Speaker 6 (37:16):
Like?

Speaker 3 (37:17):
Was it cordial? It was? Was it forced?

Speaker 2 (37:21):
Like it's hard in a competitive environment, Yeah, to not
be petty. Now, Kilanie's a different human different human being,
like obviously very competitive, but.

Speaker 3 (37:32):
I don't know if I told you this story.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
Like after the two thousand and seven game when we
beat Utah, I'm celebrated. I did like a round off
backflip over in the in the north end zone.

Speaker 3 (37:42):
If you pull up the old film, you'll see me
do it.

Speaker 2 (37:45):
And then like the fans come storm and I'm celebrating
with fans, and then all of a sudden, like I
don't know, maybe fifteen twenty seconds into the celebration, I
get a big old bear hug from Kilani. Shataki turns around,
he says, I love you. I'm so proud of you, you.

Speaker 3 (37:59):
Know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (38:00):
And I'm like, he doesn't have to do that, Like
that's Kilani for you, you know what I mean. Like
he did not need to go out there and run
up to me and give me a hug.

Speaker 3 (38:08):
Out of all the people he could have given hudgs to, Like,
he didn't need to do that. He did that. So
it shows you what type of person Kloni is.

Speaker 2 (38:14):
Not everyone's built that way, nor should we expect everyone
to be that way. In a competitive environment, you can
say people are classless, you can say they're petty, they're
petul Yeah, on hundred percent like that happens. You see
it all the time in church ball, you know, you
guys are says something.

Speaker 3 (38:27):
Come on, dude, true. You know you see Bishop and
eldest goorn president and.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
You know, like you know, the the the the these
very spiritual men undercut. You know, they're the their brethren,
you know, all the name of winning because they they
need a competitive outlet.

Speaker 3 (38:45):
Anyway, it's hard not to be uh.

Speaker 2 (38:48):
You know, competitive, and it's hard to like be gracious
after a loss.

Speaker 3 (38:53):
So like obviously b YU tends to have.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
Impost on them a higher standard and also internally they
have a higher standard how you're supposed to treat people
after those games. But we'll see what happens after this
particular guys. Guys, this particular game, guys, We're live from
Crumble and Present Grove Stop on Buy. We're gonna be
here for the next few hours. Current and former players

(39:22):
are gonna be showing up. You can enter to win
where you're red or blue to support your team, enter
your chance to win free cookies for a year.

Speaker 3 (39:30):
Jamal William's gonna be here.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
Buddy Scoon over, Noah Moyaki, Connor, pay Nate ritchie Ken,
and Puula Jared Puula.

Speaker 3 (39:37):
And many more.

Speaker 2 (39:38):
ESPN Live Show from Crumble in Pleasant Grove. Two zero
two five West four fifty south. That's two zero eight
five West four fifty south, Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Speaker 3 (39:47):
We'll go to break.

Speaker 2 (39:48):
Let's get stats on the flip side. This is Gugar Sports.
One of three, nine ninety eight point three
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