10-9-25 - Hour 3 - Which linebacker is most likely to stand out if Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker don’t play?

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to celebrate the previous team sport known to man,
where modern day gladiators collide.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
For all the glory on the grid.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
I let's talk some college football on Cougar Sports with
Ben Crittle.

Speaker 3 (00:12):
Welcome back Cougar Sports. One of three nine ninety eight
point three.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
ESPN The Fan.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
I'm been crital broadcasting from our Banderwill Studios Banterwell dot com.
Get on that free Q and A no obligation with
best Q and A with our tax more wealth Advisors
today at Banterwealth Bantererwell dot com. I do want to
talk some college football in this segment, getting into all
the Knickson Cranny's all the news and notes coming out
of the college football world as well as the BYU
Football World Big twelve two. It's gonna be brought to
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Speaker 1 (01:09):
Timmy, how are you, buddy?

Speaker 4 (01:12):
Look, life's good, baby. I can't think of anything better
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eight on one nine ninety seven sixty six one six.
It's eight one nine ninety seven sixty six one six.
Give your thoughts on BAU football season thus far as
a fan, as a college football fan as well as
a BAYU fan. B Wayu's five and zero ranked in
the top twenty five. They take their talents down to you,
eveying Tucson this week. How would you evaluate the season

(02:49):
this far?

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, look, i mean everything's gone about as good as
it can get perfect season. Our back is throwing one interception,
which I cannot believe.

Speaker 4 (02:58):
I'm just still blown away that he's saw one interception. Noli.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
The opponents haven't been great, but that's still phenomenal if
you would have told me that. Freshman and coming quarterbacks
so in one pick through five games out of Beta static,
so I think those are all really good things. I
think Arizona's gonna be an interesting test, a road game
against an average opponent, not good, not bad, but an
average opponent. I think it's gonna tell us a little
bit about I mean, let's be honest, we're all looking

(03:22):
ahead to next week, and we got to win this
week first, but next week's gonna really define the season,
and then really a couple weeks after that with Texas
Tech and TCU coming up.

Speaker 3 (03:30):
Do you think that this is the toughest fow that
ba's faced all season?

Speaker 4 (03:35):
No, I know.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
I'm gonna be maybe an outsider, but I still think
East Carolina is I think at the end of the day,
East Carolina might be the winner of that area, and
they may be that team that gets in the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (03:46):
Time will tell, but I think East Carolina is a really,
really good team.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
I can't wait to see how it plays out. Obviously,
they do take on the two lane.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
Green Wave and Jake rex Love this weekend, so that's
a game that BYU fans may keep their eye on.
You taken in this game, You're taking East Carolina or
the two lane Green Wave and Jake Wrestlaw.

Speaker 4 (04:10):
Look at that game. I'm excited for that game. I mean, look,
that game's going to be the determining factor.

Speaker 1 (04:15):
Now.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
I think those two teams will actually play each other
again in the championship.

Speaker 4 (04:19):
Well, I mean maybe.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
They have a championship in that in that conference, but
the are the two best teams, and I think the
winner of that game is going to really be potentially
who we see in the playoffs and that outside conference
is looking in.

Speaker 3 (04:32):
You mentioned bear Bachmeyer and his performance thus far this season.
He won his third Freshman of the Week award from
the Big Twelve. Has bear Bachmeyer overachieved, underachieved, or achieved
your expectation preseason?

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Well, for me, completely over the moon exceeded his expectations.
I really thought he would thrown a ton of picks
and just like our defense is what's going to win
his games, which let's be honest.

Speaker 4 (05:02):
Is still is the case. But I thought he would
throw way more picks.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (05:07):
His decision making has been much better than I anticipated.
His deep ball, his even his his you know a
little short mid range balls have been much much better
than I thought. He runs better than I thought, and
I think it's been a good mix between you know,
a lot of these.

Speaker 4 (05:22):
Young quarterbacks that can run the ball well, just automatically
go running. But she has not done. He's actually get
you very fair with this young freshman.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
Tim Brown, ourd have six tiers with this year on
your Utah ESPN Radio Network. Couple last things before we
let you go, Timmy, as we break down some of
these college football topics, how are you feeling right now?

Speaker 5 (05:46):
Tim?

Speaker 3 (05:46):
About the initial by you injury report? You got Jojo Phillips,
Who's out? Ni Moa out, Shaye Brian Strather out doubtful?

Speaker 1 (05:55):
Is Jack Kelly questionable?

Speaker 3 (05:57):
Are Tommy Parashus and a Nissi Percell probable?

Speaker 6 (06:01):
Though?

Speaker 1 (06:01):
Check this out.

Speaker 3 (06:02):
Some guys returning Jonathan Kabeya and Nickel, nu c, Tomoypeu,
Isaiah Glasger, Miles hall Enich, now Wahine knock In, Tuakoy
and salle A Sera.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
Well, I'll tell you that the glaring thing to me
is Kelly is the most important. To me, is the
most important one of all those. We have enough depth
of the other spots, but but we don't have Kelly.

Speaker 4 (06:21):
We're in trouble. I mean, it's just call a space
of spade.

Speaker 2 (06:23):
And the fact that Glasger should play is a really
big deal to me. Kelly and Glasgar, of the two
of that entire group, is probably the most important.

Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yes, indeed, hopefully they, hopefully Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasger
are back and ready to roll one hundred percent or
close to it by the Utah game. And this BYU
Utah game could be a very interesting one, right Obviously
BYU has to take on you, of a Utah has
to take on ASU. What do he's foresee happening in

(06:53):
that Utah ISSU game?

Speaker 2 (06:57):
Well, I think we're gonna learn a little bit about
Utah this weekend too. I'm actually really excited because, I mean,
Texas Tech might be.

Speaker 4 (07:04):
The class of the league by a long ways.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
I mean money, money buys a really good team, and
it has so I don't know that we know a
lot about Utah yet, Utah has played. They've won the
games they should have, they lost probably the games they
should have.

Speaker 4 (07:19):
This weekend's going to tell us a lot about who
they are.

Speaker 1 (07:22):
ESU is a good team.

Speaker 4 (07:23):
Are they elite?

Speaker 2 (07:23):
No, but they're good and so we're going to know
a lot about Utah and how they handle this good team.

Speaker 3 (07:30):
The barometer week of Big twelve football. That's what we're
gonna get from all of these games. Timmy, one last
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Speaker 4 (07:43):
Yeah, look, just give us a call.

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Make sure that they let your listeners know that to
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But really we're just here to take care of customers.

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Speaker 3 (08:15):
Love it, Tim Brown, Ladies and gentlemen, give me a
calls out of a point me today, Thanks so much.
All Right, there you have it, Tim Brown. Eight to
one nine ninety seven sixty six one six. That's RDS
six series RD six series Utah dot Com guys, let's
continue down this latt of questioning in our college football report.
Here the initial injury report Jojo Phillips, Chioni Moa Shaye,
Brian Strada.

Speaker 1 (08:37):
No surprises there.

Speaker 3 (08:38):
All three of those guys out, Jack Kelly doubtful, questionable
are Tommy pass is an easy per sell, probable, Jonathan Abaya, Nuc, Tomoypeu,
Isaiah Glasker, Miles hall Enoch Nowageene Knaki Tuakoi in Siali
a sera who wants to chime in first, I'll.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
Just take it away. I think the two biggest things
that we're looking for and we've waiting. I have been waiting, praying, fasting,
you name it. And I'm kidding with some of those
I have been praying though, to see Jonathan Cabea Ben.
You know I'm a big fan of TP. I even
told TPA, when you start making players, your name's gonna
be raved about lo and behold it is. But he's

(09:17):
been playing out of position. For crying out loud. He
should not have had to play at Nickel. But it's
good the type of player he is, because you're able
to move him. If Jonathan Gabet can go, this is
where you mentioned it. You said, probably we might seem
the U of A. He's probable. This is what I've
been waiting to see. I've been waiting to see JK.
He's been raved about. Jay Hills talked about him, we've

(09:37):
interviewed him, we've seen it got dinged up. If he's
able to go, I'm excited to see what that looks like.
Ben and Tommy Prass is back in the safety room
in his natural position, because man, if you're ever to
put Jonathan Kabay and here, he's able to do his thing.
Maybe TP still works in the mix. That helps out
a lot more than moving Tommy where Tommy needs to

(09:58):
be back in the backfield. Tommy's great coverage, but Tommy
makes plays at safety. Not saying you can't do it
at Nickel, but it's his job to make the plays.
A safety so I'm excited to see that. Then Noos,
not the Jews. If news is able to go, Ben
oh Man, you've been waiting to see new Sea off
the edge play. He's a dude. I'm telling you this

(10:18):
Nowsey kid, you don't if you thought JT his cousin
was nice, wait you see him. So those are two dudes.
If they're able to play, I'm really excited to see
what they're able to bring. Everybody else, I know, we
know what their kid love. But those are the two
dudes that we've been waiting to see have an opportunity
to go make plays. And it's crucial that if you're
able to get them back on the road in this
u of a game, especially with inclement weather ap What

(10:40):
do you got for me?

Speaker 3 (10:41):
What are your takeaways from the initial injury report that
dropped yesterday.

Speaker 7 (10:46):
I mean, I'm just looking at the linebackers. We figured
Jack Kelly was gonna be doubtful. I'm not sure he's
gonna play against Arizona. I don't know for sure. I
don't I don't. I don't have source on that, but
just my my feeling is he probably doesn't. You've got
four linebackers. This is I think all of them are
good to go. Probably they can all play. But my
favorite thing is that of all the linebackers, Ace Kafusie

(11:07):
is not there.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
I think Acekafusi's gonna be good. Ace is gonna be good.

Speaker 7 (11:13):
Ace is good, and he's gonna fill in for Jack
Kelly nicely. He's actually he's he's a bit longer than
Jack is. So when I was looking out on the
field when Jack went down, I was like, you've got
a guy who's a similar size as Isaiah Glasker out.

Speaker 1 (11:27):
There on the field.

Speaker 7 (11:28):
It took a minute for me to realize that Isaiah
Glasker was actually out because I was like, oh, yeah,
it's just a similar build. It's I say, no, that
was Ace Kafusie out there. I'm really intrigued to see
what a linebacker duo of Ace Kafusie and Isaiah Glasker
are gonna be like because both of them are very tall.
They're both around two hundred and forty pounds, they're long.

(11:48):
You could do a lot of things with a linebacker
core like that. And he's not Jack Kelly. But I
think he's gonna fill in nicely.

Speaker 1 (11:55):
I like that.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
Take Ace has been a bright spot in that linebacker room.
I'll continue to to tell you guys this story. Like
we had found Joe Douglass. He's a walk on elite athlete.
He ran track at Utah State, ran like a ten seventy,
came in and walked on at BYU and made the team.

Speaker 1 (12:17):
He's a linebacker.

Speaker 3 (12:18):
He's six two ten man seventy, came in and ran
a ten seven. He's like Max Tuley, Like that's who
he's gonna be. They were so.

Speaker 1 (12:25):
Stacked at linebacker. They're like, hey, we don't.

Speaker 3 (12:28):
We're gonna move him to safety for the time being
until you know, he's got four years of eligibility, and
then we're going to develop them. Okay, any other year,
he's probably in that three four range in the linebacker room.
But they were so stacked with talent in the linebacker room.
Just go down the list, Isaiah glasgri from Osceada, Mika Kafusi, Ciaaliu, Serah, Max,

(12:51):
Alfred Pearson, Watson, Jack Kelly, As Kafusi, Miles Hall, Like,
that's that's.

Speaker 1 (12:55):
An impressive group.

Speaker 3 (12:57):
Not to mention everybody else behind those guys, there's a
lot of talent there so.

Speaker 1 (13:03):
I think we're okay.

Speaker 3 (13:04):
If you're gonna have any question marks, even though these
are your best players, Isaiah and Jack are definitely your
best players.

Speaker 1 (13:11):
But if you're gonna have injuries in.

Speaker 3 (13:13):
A particular position group, it's the linebackers. Like honestly, it's
it's it's the linebackers. So be of be of good cheer,
take heart Cougar Nation, okay, uh, attitude of gratitude like
justin Kirkland. Okay, just uh be jovial, be full of

(13:34):
vigor and vim and and be optimistic as as we
head on down to Tucson. And there could be some
movement here too, on today and tomorrow and on game
day with the injury report. So we'll see how it
plays out. But that's your college football segment, brought to
you by RG S six Steers RG six Steers You

(13:55):
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Let them earn your business today. Let them know.

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I Sancha, ESPN, the Fan and Ben Crittle and you
get discounts. You get products and services, VIP products, VIP services,
VP discounts eight of one, nine ninety seven six six
one six. That's eight A one nine ninety seven sixty
six one six. Let's take a brief time out. We'll
be back though. This is Cougar Sports on one of
three nine ninetyports.

Speaker 1 (14:21):
Cougar Sports with Ben krettele At.

Speaker 6 (14:23):
It's time for the.

Speaker 8 (14:24):
Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local reporters that
cover Cougar athletics.

Speaker 1 (14:29):
Welcome back, Cougar Sports one O three nine ninety eight
three ESPN. The Fan, Ronald, the three man Weaver here,
Sean Walker off Ksil calls by my side, AP our
version of AP next to me as well, Brett always
bringing the hammer by my side as well. You heard
the insure. Going to get into a little Cougar Beat.
Need to catch up with one of our favorite guests,
the Godfather. I call him the Godfather. The Daily Heraldy

(14:51):
and Darnel Dixon will welcome in momentarily. But this Cougar
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Without further do, let's get out to the hot line.
Welcome in double D, the Daily Herald in double D.

(15:55):
How we live in today.

Speaker 8 (15:57):
Well, always good to be with you guys on US Thursday,
preceding a BYU.

Speaker 1 (16:02):
Game one hundred percent before we get into the football.
You know, maybe I'll get chest asks for us. Okay,
I'll take it on the chin. We do have a
big event going on that will be attending. Marriott Madness
is tonight. They're competing in a NBA All Star like event.
I know they had to definitely come from Kevin Young himself.
And then they'll have the Blue and White Scrimmage tonight,
nine days away from BYU men's basketball starting their exhibition

(16:25):
game against Nebraska on the road in Omaha. Double D.
Just your thoughts on Marriott Madness tonight.

Speaker 9 (16:33):
Belave.

Speaker 8 (16:33):
Events really aren't for the media, they're for the fans,
and uh, you know, Mark Pope was quite the showman.
I don't think that Kevin Young is quite the uh
you know, top coat and tails kind of guy that
maybe Mark Pope was. But the entertainment that's going to
be provided for us as media is being able to
watch this team together for the first time, and in

(16:54):
Kevin's first year, we got to go in and watch
a couple of parts of practices before the season started
in the summer.

Speaker 9 (17:01):
We haven't had a chance.

Speaker 8 (17:02):
So we haven't seen anything other than what everybody else has,
the clips that b Yu's put on the on the internet,
and you know, seeing ag debonsat play this summer for
Team USA and the U nineteen tournament. But seeing all
of these players together is going to be kind of
a treats as far as this is the first time,

(17:23):
and you know, it's just a scrimmage and it's not
going to be a big deal, but it will be
the first chance we.

Speaker 9 (17:28):
Get to see them.

Speaker 8 (17:29):
And this is a team that's very hyped and and
the team I've seen as high as number seven and
a lot of preseason holes coming out, and so it's
going to be at least a chance to kind of
see them all together and see what they've been working
on for the last several months.

Speaker 1 (17:46):
One hundred percent, no doubt about it. Darnell Dixon of
The Daily Herald Online and the Coogar Beat Double D.
You mentioned it just a second ago, projecting as highest
top seven. I think they'll come in seven, no lower
than eight. Whenever those posts come out. When was the
last time BAYU men's basketball is ranked in the top
twenty five? If ever?

Speaker 8 (18:05):
To start the season, Man, it's been a while. I
don't know that answer. I think they probably did during
Dave Rose's tenure, maybe once or twice been ranked at
to start the season. You know, you have to go
probably back to the mid eighties or early eighties when
they were getting ranked maybe a little bit more. But

(18:25):
it's it's unusual, but it's just the kind of program
that Kevin Young has put together with the kind of
talent that he's brought to Probo. You look at that
roster and it really it doesn't look a lot like
b WHATYU teams used to look like. And I don't
mean that in terms of, you know, black and white faces.
I just mean the talent wise. They just seem to
have spots built by guys who would probably ever have

(18:49):
considered b YU before. And so Kevin Young has opened
up a whole new recruiting aspect and we'll see if
it pays off. But it sure seems like this team
is built with a lot of all and for a
deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Speaker 5 (19:02):
I think you're right there, Darnell. The talent on this
team seems pretty undeniable. Aj De bonsa rob right third,
Tyler Morss got some buckets, the me highlight. Mihilo Boskovich,
We can't leave him out. Nate Pickens. We saw what
kep it Kta and Richie Saunders did last year. I
think Dominique de Amandi could be a little bit slept
on Sam with Canard Davis, Mumu, Xavian Staton. I think

(19:24):
the talent is right there with this BYU basketball team.
What's the number one question that you have about this
team heading into the season, Because I got a feeling
Darnell that it's not necessarily about the talent that coach
Kevin Young has assembled. But what's your number one question
that you're kind of taking into the preseason if you.

Speaker 8 (19:44):
Will, Well, it's got to be chemistry, and that is
built over time, and it's built by players buying into
the process and what Kevin Young wants them to do.
And it's really interesting when you look at his background
from the NBA, and so we got to b YU
when he said something the players went, well, he was

(20:04):
coaching in the NBA.

Speaker 9 (20:05):
I knows what he's talking about.

Speaker 8 (20:07):
And then he has a year like they had last
year and the new guys coming in probably realized, Hey,
Kevin Young knows what he's talking about it. If he tells
me to do something, I'd better do it because the
proof is in the results. And so as they buy
into what the process is with Kevin Young, that puts
that chemistry to work. And you know what kind of

(20:28):
a team they'll have. Is it going to be a
little more top heavy scoring? I think is a question
I have because you have Richie Saunders and Aj Debonson,
whoever one figures will be the top two scorers. But
last year's strength was in the numbers and they had
eleven guys they would play in a game, and that
was crazy. I've never seen that from a BYU team.
How deep will they be and how deep will the
scoring be We don't know yet, but certainly Aj and

(20:51):
Richie are the two most prominent scores that they have
coming back. But they have a lot of players who
can score points. Dawson Baker off the bench, you can
Rob right as a guy that when we saw him
playing the Marriage Center last year, he put up more
than twenty against the Cougars while he's playing at Baylor,
so he could fill it up.

Speaker 9 (21:07):
So I think that the.

Speaker 8 (21:08):
Distribution of points on a given night will be interesting
to see and the minutes as well as he digs
into the bench. You know, do we get to see
Couldieve and Bob get in there during the preseason because
we've heard great things about what he's been doing in
his development over the summer. And then the newer guys
Cannard Davis and you mentioned the Nick Pickens and Dominique Deumnde.

(21:28):
Where do they fit into this roster and what minutes
will they receive? So there's a lot to be determined.
And Kevin Young's the kind of guy who kind of
goes by feel he doesn't win to the season saying
this is how I'm going to do it. He kind
of lets the players figure out where they're going to
be and where he wants them. Because I remember talking
to him last year and we asked him midway through
the season, did you think he'd be playing eleven players

(21:49):
in a game this time? He said, no, I didn't
really think that was what I was going to be doing,
but that's how it evolved. So he's I think he's
really good at adjusting his expectations based on what he's
seeing on the court in practice and in games. So
we still have to see a lot of that come
up and see how that all develops.

Speaker 5 (22:06):
Yeah, and it sounds like for all of the discussion
and the hype and the you know, the preseason hype
videos and all of that stuff around guys like AJ
and and what Xavian could potentially be Rob Wright. I mean,
people forget he's only a sophomore, right, but he's still
a young guy.

Speaker 1 (22:23):
But maybe in a lot of.

Speaker 5 (22:24):
Ways, this season comes down to I know we've talked
about Richie Saunders a lot. He'll be a senior, so
this kind of speaks to the point. But maybe in
some ways it comes down to sort of that magical
senior class, right, six seniors that have all played a
lot of college basketball, whether it's be at BYU like
Richie or just in general with guys like Cuba or

(22:44):
Nate Pickens you see riverside transfer or that kind of thing.
Is it is it fair to say, Darnell that this
team may be just as dictated or just as kind
of motored.

Speaker 1 (22:55):
I guess.

Speaker 5 (22:58):
I don't know a better word than that, by this
group of seniors as much as the phenomenal, phenomenal freshman
like AJ DEBONSA.

Speaker 9 (23:07):
Yeah, I always.

Speaker 8 (23:08):
Borrow the best points that Mark Pope made one of
the things he said all the time with seniors or magic,
And I think this group has the potential to be
that way this year. And you do that not only
by how you play on the floor, but how you
lead on and off the court. And all of these
players that are going to be seniors, Richie and Dawson
and Kava Kea, I mean, they've all been there, they've

(23:31):
all done that. They can all lead by not only example,
but by showing the way and especially with the newer
players to follow along with what is penciled in by
the coaches and how they figure things out. So the
senior class has a lot of responsibility to do that.
And you know, certainly Aj it's interesting because a dynamic

(23:51):
for him is he's a freshman expected to be a leader,
and this may be his only year in Provo. So
it'll be interesting to me to see how he handles
that mantle, how much he leads, and how much he
follows the.

Speaker 9 (24:03):
Lead of guys like Richie and Kaba.

Speaker 8 (24:06):
But certainly, certainly the senior class is gonna have a
big impact on how this program finishes this season.

Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah, no doubt about it. As well, the seniors and
Obviously the high level come and talent is what's gonna
lead BYU no doubt as we have Darnell Dixon on
the line and the Cougar Beat segment here on one
O three nine and ninety eight three double d. This
was ass last year and Kevin Young wasn't very declarative
on it. Righty a coach the team that was wearing

(24:33):
the white jerseys, Hey, is that the projecting started five?
He's like, Oh, no, don't know. It's pretty obvious. I
think who the starting five is gonna be, right, Kaba
no doubt, Richie no doubt, Rob Right no doubt, Agent
no doubt, which leaves Canard Davis Junior. That's probably who's
gonna be in the white in that regard. Do you
think Kevin Young will give the declarative answer in the

(24:54):
post game win it's as if that will be the
starting five, because I don't think you can really hide
who that fit starter is.

Speaker 8 (25:01):
Probably not, but he probably won't be very declarative about it.
I wouldn't think he likes to to kind of, you know,
let like I said, let the players sort of determine
how that happens.

Speaker 9 (25:11):
And as far as his system is concerned.

Speaker 8 (25:15):
Being a starter's great, but you might end up getting
more minutes off the bench, and you might be part
of that group of five down the stretch that that
you're playing important minutes as well, And that's something you
take into account. Who does he want on the court
in that last couple of minutes, And there may be
other guys that emerge. I mean, Mahailo Boskovitz had some
really big late minutes last season coming into the game.

(25:38):
I'm thinking about was it West Virginia where he went
down the lane and dunked in the last second. But
a lot of these guys are going to be able
to make contributions at certain points in the season, and
sometimes that varies. You know, you don't go into the
season saying here's my starting five, here's my rotation, and
this is how it's going to go the whole season.
You have injuries, you have ineffectiveness, you have issues with

(26:00):
with sickness. All those kind of things can impact that,
and so I think we'll see a variety.

Speaker 6 (26:04):
But I'm with you.

Speaker 8 (26:05):
I think that those five guys you mentioned are probably
going to be the starters, but I wouldn't be surprised
to see others make headway and play important minutes.

Speaker 7 (26:15):
Yeah, and speaking of you know, you've got tonight's scrimmage,
You've got the Nebraska and North Carolina coming up in
the exhibition games. What are you wanting to see from
this BYU basketball team through those three events?

Speaker 1 (26:27):
What kind of progress do we want to see from those?

Speaker 8 (26:31):
Yeah, I think it's an interesting discussion just because they
haven't really had this setup before. They've had the secret
scrimmages that we weren't allowed to watch, and so the
coaches wanted those with certain expectations and they wanted to
see certain things, but we didn't get a chance to
see those, and so we all all got secondhand information
on how something happened or who did what. And so

(26:55):
I feel like for those two exhibition games, first one
being on the road, you want to see how the
team comes out in a hostile a little bit hostile environment.
You want to see how well they've been able to
adapt defensively. That's one of the things that talking to
the coaching staff this summer, they really put a lot
of emphasis on the perimeter defense, and they feel like

(27:16):
they can play better perimeter defense. And you look at
that sweet sixteen run last year. It was despite the
fact they were giving up fifty two to three pointers
in three games. I mean, they really needed to shore
up that exterior part of the defense. And so that's
something I think we need to kind of pay attention to.
Does Canard Davis kind of take that role as a stopper.

(27:39):
Are the rest of the players a little bit better defensive?
We can Rob Right's quickness help them on some of
those good point guards. And then North Carolina, you know
that that's another game against a really talented program. That'll
be the first time they'll play in front of the
home crowd. I'll be it up at the Marriots or
at the Delta Center. But I think that's what we're
looking for. And they say they have a great shooting team,

(28:01):
and we know shooting kind of comes and goes, but
it'd be nice to see them hit some threes and
get some things going on the outside to open up
the inside for Keba and some of the bigger guys.
So those are a couple of things that during and
then the rotation, I think that's the thing we all
want to see is who stars, who plays, who's earned minutes,
who's impactful when they get into the games. That's you know,

(28:22):
when you come off the bench, it always seems like
there's more pressure on you not to make a mistake,
and so.

Speaker 9 (28:30):
That's something to watch too.

Speaker 8 (28:31):
When they bring someone like Dawson Baker off the bench,
I would expect them to have a pretty long leash,
but maybe Nate Pickens, Dominque Dumont they don't have as
long a leash because they're new. So that's something else
to keep an eye on.

Speaker 1 (28:42):
You definitely bring up a good point. Guys leashes in
their regard. I think Dawson Baker will have a long
release I think than anybody else coming off the bench
in my opinion, because of Kevin Young and when Kevin
Young was raving about Dawson last or what I mean
raving is you insert them in the Baylor game in
overtime after missing you know a handful of shots and
to close it out. Same with Utah, right, you inserted

(29:03):
this guy to take the final shots. So he trusts
Dawson and like his game. So I agree. I think
that leash is definitely gonna be there because we've seen
that in that regard. I want to ask you, though,
what do you feel like this Tyler Morss and Alexi.
How are they gonna fit into the mix Because I
look at those two guys and I'm looking at like
these matchups and skill sets right in the Big twelve
and guard play and wing depth and shooting, and those

(29:25):
two guys can shoot the lights out of the ball.
Like I don't think a lot of people know who
Alexi is, and they're gonna find out, if not this season,
definitely next season. But Tyler Morss as well. My goodness,
they brought in him and he's Everything I've heard in
workouts from my sources is that Tyler has been killing it.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (29:43):
Those are two guys that are going to have to
find their niche in this offense, and you expect them
to be really good shooters. I know Tyler when he
first got here, he said he kind of struggled a
little bit with the pace and what they were doing
in practice, but then once he got it, he got it.
And Alexi comes in Caustic with a really big reputation
as a shooter and some European experience. I feel like

(30:07):
both of those players are going to be key to
what Byu does because there'll be games when the main
players the starters are not hitting threes, and you want
to be able to bring guys off the bench they
can put pressure on the defense, and both of them
can do that. And so Tyler even talked to me
when I did an interview with him for a story
this summer, he said, he feels like he's a pretty

(30:27):
good defensive player too, and at six foot seven, that
gives you some flexibility defensively where you can put him
on a forward or shooting guard and maybe even a
smaller guard and cause some issues. So that's why these things,
the Blue and White game and exhibition games is important,
at least in my mind for me to see kind
of where all those guys fit in and what their

(30:48):
skill sets are. And I feel like last year Kevin
Jong was a master at choosing the moments when to
put those guys in and when to utilize their talents
where they're strong. And so those are some things again
to be looking at in these exhibition games and on
tonight at the Blue and White.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
One hundred percent. Darnell Dixon of The Daily Hero on
the Line and The Cougar beat Let's transition to football
now is just talk a handful of good stuff about
basketball and just a reminder for those that aren't listening
or just tuning into the interview, the Blue and White
scrimmage this night. It's free. You can throw up to
the Marriott. It's free, no charge, and I come check
out this highly talented, high level projected to be top

(31:26):
ten bo E men's basketball team U of A b
YU b Yu's won the last five matchups I got,
AP looked at it. Excuse me, last four it will be.
I think it will be the last five. But BYU
is I lost the game in the Arizona what over
six thousand days I think is what AP had? He
put it out there the Staturday I always brought to
you by banderwalthbandwelf dot com. How do you see this

(31:47):
one playing out on Saturday double D between BYU and
U of A, especially if there's bad weather projected to
be bad, whether they've discussed maybe moving the game up,
Your thoughts on everything going on maybe down there and
Tusson potentially.

Speaker 9 (32:02):
Yeah, I've been to Tucson.

Speaker 8 (32:04):
It's a pretty cool stadium. I had a good time
down there in a game I covered way back when
I think I remember Arizona one that I won on
a field goal, like a fifty four yard field goal late,
and I feel like this team b YU is going
to have to kind of survive the first quarter. I
think Arizona's going to come out super pumped because they

(32:26):
know they've lost to BYU most recently. Last year they
got a little bit whipped in Cougar's area the Ubert Stadium,
and so I feel like they're going to be up
for the game. Bo He's gonna have to weather that.
I still want to see the run game established itself better.
I know they put up some decent numbers, and I
know Pro Football focus has been really high on the

(32:47):
offensive line for BYU, and Hans Olsen's posted on social
media that they're killing it. And I just look at
three point two yards per carry against West Virginia before
that final thirty two yard run by LJ and the
last minute that doesn't really matter, and I just feel
like I want them to be stronger and establish it more.
And certainly in a wet weather game, you want to

(33:08):
be able to control the line of scrimmage and not
have to throw the ball quite as much. But I
feel like Aaron Roderick has really put himself in a
good position. He's starting to get a good feel for
what this offense can do under bare and what plays
work best and how to put him in positions to
be successful. And I still feel like this offense can
move the ball. I know Arizona's defensive numbers are good,

(33:29):
but I don't think they've played a lot of great offenses.

Speaker 9 (33:32):
And by you will be tested.

Speaker 8 (33:34):
This is this is what you got into the Big
Twelve for is to be able to play important games
on the road against.

Speaker 9 (33:40):
Good teams and come out on top.

Speaker 8 (33:42):
This is the opportunity that they've been waiting for, and
it's a it's a great opportunity to go on the
road and get a win. And I wish, and I
wrote about this before, but I wish that the NCAAA
football community was more like the NFL in terms of
a win is a win. In the NFL, you win
by won, you win by twenty five, doesn't really matter.

Speaker 1 (34:01):
It's a w.

Speaker 8 (34:03):
And in college football, we know it's not like that.
It's a you have to impress people, and you have
to put points on the board, and you have to
have big margins of victory and you know BYU has won.
You know, aside from obviously the Portland State game, which
was against a really poor opponent. The other four games,
they won three of those four by double digits, so

(34:24):
you think that's a pretty good win. But BYU fans
want more and they know Kilani's not going to put
extra points on the board. He's not going to go
for points down stretch. He's not gonna embarrass the opponent.
So I feel like in the Big twelve, you get
a win, it's a win. It doesn't matter that you
won by seven or four or two or it's fourteen.

Speaker 9 (34:45):
Get the W.

Speaker 8 (34:46):
That's what's important in the Big twelve. So that's what
the mindset has to be for BYU headed down to Arizona.
Just get the W and move on.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Darnell. I know you've got your press hat.

Speaker 5 (34:56):
I see it every time we log into a zoom
meeting at the same time, but I want you to
take off take off that press hat for a quick
minute and put on your BYU coaching hat if you will.
If you're a BYU coach, say an assistant coach, what
concerns you more about this Arizona team?

Speaker 1 (35:11):
Is it their air assault?

Speaker 5 (35:12):
Because a lot of people talk about Nola Fafida what
he's done, thrown for over seven thousand passing yards fifty
seven touchdowns, one of the best passers in Arizona program history.
Or this Arizona defense which has been particularly good.

Speaker 1 (35:25):
I think against the pass.

Speaker 5 (35:26):
They haven't allowed a passing touchdown yet this season, just
seven total touchdowns on the year in five games.

Speaker 1 (35:35):
Which of those sides.

Speaker 5 (35:37):
Concerns you a little bit more? That air offense or
that air defense.

Speaker 8 (35:43):
I would say that it's the Arizona defense. And the
reason for that is because in Jay Hill I trust.
I feel like last year BYU really made it difficult
for Nola Flafida to be successful. I think they're going
to do the same thing on Saturday, and so it's
going to be you know. Also, I'm looking at defensively,
teams have been stacking the line trying to stop BYU's

(36:04):
run game, and last game against West Virginia, we saw
what by you could do in the passing game to
make teams pay for that and bear back my three
for three hundred and fifty one yards. Do teams continue
to run, blitz and stack the line and try to
force BYU to pass, or do they back off a
little bit and maybe play some zone and see if
the you know, if the run game is as good

(36:27):
as b why you can make it so the teams
the By's play so far definitely have been run blitzing
and stunting and trying to stop that run. And if
by you can continue to make defenses pay, if Aaron
Rodberts could call those plays that Bart can find Chase
Roberts and Parker Kingston and those guys, that offense is

(36:48):
going to be difficult to stop. But I do feel
like everyone's defense has been good and that's going to
be a challenge for the offense. But I believe that
BYU's defense under j Hill will be able to slow
down Arizona's offense.

Speaker 1 (37:00):
In J Hill, everyone trusts haven't seen him broken yet.
And if you get him in the first half, maybe
you didn't get him in the second half. I look
at that, and I know people can be like, eh Ron, no, no,
I'm telling you look at a game where you've been like, yeah,
the offensive coordinator stump J Hill. He's always been able
to make adjustments every single game. It's in the games

(37:20):
that BAU has lost. I feel like the offense has
played very poorly with turnovers or the offense had a
critical turnover in the second half. In regard, I feel
Jay Hill has been a genius, as his players have said,
as people have raved about, no doubt about it. Double D.
Before we let you go, what's the best way we
can support you? What you do and how you do it.

Speaker 2 (37:40):
Well?

Speaker 8 (37:41):
WORDT Harold Extra dot com And we have a nice
BYU Arizona special section coming out in Saturday's paper with
some features and information on the game, great photos and.

Speaker 9 (37:54):
All of that.

Speaker 8 (37:54):
If you still subscribe to a newspaper, or when I
feel something tactile in your hands, that's what you do.
You go get a newspaper and pull it out and
read it. And we've got that for you.

Speaker 1 (38:04):
Support your local newspaper, always, support, always, in forever. Support
your local newspaper. Will take JT's words and give a
little spin on it. For that, Double D. Hopefully we'll
see you down at Marriott Madness. If not, we'll catch
up with you soon. Brother.

Speaker 9 (38:18):
All right, guys, thanks a lot, We'll see you soon.

Speaker 1 (38:20):
That was Darnel Dixon and the Cougar beating. That second
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(38:40):
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free pair of socks. With that currbas should call, we'll
go to break. Let's get into my interview with Cie
Alia Sarah on the flip. You're listening to Cougar Sports
on one O three nine and ninety eight three.

Speaker 3 (38:53):
The Cougar student athletes get a player profile seconds here.

Speaker 1 (38:57):
On one O three nine at ninety eight three ESPN.

Speaker 9 (39:01):
The Van.

Speaker 1 (39:04):
Welcome back to Cougar Sports here on one O three
nine and ninety eight three ESPN. The fan ron at
the three Man Weaver here Brett always bringing the hammer
by my start CHOHn Walker KSL dot com. Ap Andrew
Peterson got a pat house today as we're here bringing
you all the news and those guys just a reminder,
I know it's football season. But you guys know, I'm
the basketball guy, gotta give the pushes, and it takes

(39:26):
about basketball because we're almost at the best time of
the year.

Speaker 6 (39:28):
Brett.

Speaker 1 (39:28):
I say this sometimes November and people think, oh, Ron,
you just say it's basketball season. No, actually, no it's not.
It's double You get football and basketball in November. You
get women's soccer, you get women's volleyball. Buy athletics is
one of the best athletic departments of not having some
of the best sports in the Big twelve and in
the country. You get all of that in the month
of November. So if you're bored, if you're in your fields,

(39:50):
I always say, it's kind of on you. I mean,
there's a lot going on right especially as Thanksgiving is,
you know, gonna approach the next month. I know people
like Ron halloweens and if here, that's here spooky season.
So there's a lot to do right now, as the
weather's changing, the leaves are out for fall. So please
go ahead and get tuned in to be with your athletics.
If you haven't been paying attention, which I assume a
lot of people have, now's the time, now's the place.

(40:13):
Don't miss out on it, so just how to do that.
Preseason media polls for women's basketball also dropped as well,
so you're gonna see a lot of that. We'll get
maybe into some basketball maybe discussion tomorrow. Right Brand and
myself are going to be down at the Blue White
Scrimmage tonight Marriott Madness. We'll tell you guys a little
bit more about that, you know, maybe later in the

(40:34):
show as we get closing out the news and notes,
but we're gonna be down there. You're not gonna want
to miss that. It's a bunch of stuff to get
to so please stay with us. We got a lot
more content to get to hear in your cougar Sports
Inside Radio Network you thought ESPN Radio Network as rely
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your appointment. All right. I caught up yesterday with one
of the linebackers that to me, I thought he played

(41:38):
one of his best games of the season. See Alia
Sarah in the West Virginia game. Now, the injury report
yesterday finally dropped Brett. Lots of it coming out, lots
of good stuff. We discussed it earlier, you know, in
the show, but obviously one of the big takeaways. Jack
Kelly doubtful, yep, as we all thought. Right, Isaiah Glasker
probable in that regard. I think you might have him dress,

(42:00):
but I don't know if he'll start. That's just my
personal opinion. I haven't been told anything. My sources haven't
said anything. But if I had to take a guess,
you'll suit Ig up unless depending how bad it is,
right and then you'll go with the other guys. But
is gonna be in the middle of that. He's one
of the guys that's healthy. He's one of the guys
I think that was balling out last game and that
a lot of people might, you know, not look at it.

(42:22):
And I asked him this yesterday and we'll get into
this in an interview. He got Isaiah and Jack right
logally Twey by the way, still leading a team to
tackles Ig and Jack right there behind their tied is
not too far behind, you know, volatiles playing well, Raddy
de Mooney, Evan Johnson. And then I think Siah is
in the mix over there with some other guys. But
it might he might get overlooked because of how well

(42:43):
Jack and Isaiah playing, But is still a dude. He's
seventh on this team and tackles.

Speaker 10 (42:49):
So you may not hear his name as much as
you hear Glasgar or Kelly, but trust me, Sarah is
putting in work.

Speaker 1 (42:56):
But then work today you go. Bret said seven. A
lot of people might look at also, but guys, look
there's a list local Lituie Jack Kelly, Isaiah Glasker follows
toss out to Ole rated the Mooney, Evan Johnson, tilis Hera,
Jonathan has almost sad Jonathan toan my apologies, need to
get off the basketball. The other JT, the other JT.
But John thal j the other JT, the JT on
the line, like those are your leading guys, And he

(43:17):
got Tannel Wall and the Keanu ton of Vasa like
look at that, like that those are your league. Yes,
doesn't get talked point. I'm glad you brought to the point.
Miles Hall, who doesn't get talking about enough. He's going
to be in that mix. Akfus is going to be
in the mix. So this B y U team has
guys and and they're learning better to get to wrap
wrapping up guys. Maybe with a due at third quarterback

(43:39):
that seems to be an issue. But this defensive line
is defense has really been been don't break. They've been
able to hang with it. And their toughest test is
going to be in two days on Saturday. It's supposed
to rain.

Speaker 6 (43:50):
Now.

Speaker 1 (43:50):
I was talking with Brandon Gurney and him and I
both said this, if rain is a factor of whether
it's a bad factor, I actually trust bo you a
lot more of it's rain a really bad interesting The
reason on and why I do is because when you
are a quarterback that doesn't like to run, when you
want to scramble in the pocket and it's pouring rain,
If it's raining that affects you throwing the football, there's
gonna be a lot of drops, could be a lot

(44:11):
of fumbles. I just don't I think it benefits by
you based on the inclement weather more than it would Arizona, right,
because Bill runs a lot of screen passes, you know,
short passes. They get the ball out of their hands quick.
I think it benefits you more if it's going to
be really bad weather than Arizona. No, if a fedo
like think last year, how many times you throw the ball.
If you're trying to throw about fifty two times in

(44:33):
this game and it's bad weather, it might be a blowout,
it might be ugly because of the weather. But I
just don't think that's a good idea. We'll see what
the weather is going to be like, but in my opinion,
that's how I'm looking at it anyway, without further dud,
let's get into it in my interview yesterday with Sarah,
one of the middle linebackers for this BYU defense here
with linebacker here, just evaluate the team the linebacker room

(44:57):
through five weeks of play.

Speaker 6 (44:58):
Yeah, it's been good. Know it's been attacking it.

Speaker 11 (45:02):
Uh, just gotta just gotta keep improving, you know, that's
the biggest thing. Keep getting better, Uh, tightening up our
mistakes and you know, go from there. That's pretty much
what we're focusing on that we're doing. We're doing, We're
doing good so far. But you know, because Clinnie says,
we haven't played our best game yet and we know
that as a defense that we haven't either, And so that's.

Speaker 6 (45:20):
That's kind of what we're shooting for right now.

Speaker 1 (45:22):
Does that keep the team humbling, hungry and knowing that
you haven't played your best through five weeks?

Speaker 6 (45:25):
Most definitely?

Speaker 1 (45:26):
Yeah, how would you valuate your play so far? Yeah,
it's all right.

Speaker 11 (45:31):
You know, there's there's still lengths of improvement that I need,
I need to close down, close down on and and
I know I know what I've I've done wrong, and
I know what I need to improve on, and I
think that's just what I'm going to be attacking so far.

Speaker 1 (45:43):
For you, you've been on this defense for a while,
one of the leaders as well. We see Isaiah and
Jack go down, What changes for your mindset wise in
that position?

Speaker 11 (45:51):
Nothing much, you know, I trust, I trust all the
other boys in the backer room, so does Jack and Jay,
and so we guys got to keep the same mindset
that we have been, just buckling down even more now
as you know they were key their key roles.

Speaker 6 (46:02):
And their key leaders on this team as well.

Speaker 11 (46:04):
But like I said before, we trust the backups and
we trust each other on and off the field, and
so I feel like it's just trying to maintain that
mindset of we just got to keep grinding, keep getting
better every day, keep s grinding it out.

Speaker 1 (46:17):
Evaluate the backup guys, let us know a little bit
more about him. I feel like Cougarnation's spoiled with Jack
and Isaiah, rightfully, so, But you got age, you know,
Max Salford yourself, There's a bunch of guys in the
room that people sometimes forget about.

Speaker 6 (46:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (46:28):
Ace is amazing man, He's He's a lengthy body, he's
fast and he can move.

Speaker 6 (46:32):
So so Max's Max is really good.

Speaker 11 (46:35):
He's uh, he's fast, he knows how, he knows how
to fit the fit the run really well as well.
And then we also have Miles Hall that's us coming
in as well, and he's he's he's a phenomenal player.

Speaker 6 (46:45):
He's uh, he's.

Speaker 11 (46:46):
Very athletic, very very agile on his feet, and so
I'm excited to see what we can do, you know.

Speaker 1 (46:51):
And so yeah, what's it like being coached by Justin
and your linebackers coach?

Speaker 6 (46:56):
It's it's amazing.

Speaker 2 (46:57):
You know.

Speaker 6 (46:57):
He just keeps us honest, you know.

Speaker 11 (46:59):
He he makes sure that we know that we're not
where we want to be right now, and that there's
always room for improvement, and uh, you always just got
just gotta keep getting better every day. When he says
like when you're ripe, you rot, When when you're still
growing green, you're still growing, So you want to always
keep growing.

Speaker 1 (47:17):
So yeah, let's transfer it. I want to stop right there.
When you ripe, you rot, you know, when you get
I can't remember what exactly was, but I really like
what he said right there. You know that if you
basically stand complacent, you're gonna rot, you know, and then
when you're at your high all time, I you know
you're going to be ripe. And that's It's like, you know,
you want avocados root, and I'm pretty sure you wanted

(47:40):
to be fresh. You want it to be you know,
ripe in that regard. You know, no one likes a
tough heard avocado because you can't cut through it. You
wanted to be nice. So I think that's a good
point and a good you know, analogy that Justin and
how he has these guys locked in. You know, when
you're green, you're growing, and that's what it is. And
when you're not ripe, you know, so you want to

(48:02):
stay green, you want to stay humble, you want to
stay hungry, because in that regard, if you're not, then
you know you're going to be rotten. So uh and
that's the quote, Yeah, yeah, you brought it up right there.
For you're green, you're I've never heard that before. If
you're green, you're growing, but if you're ripe, you're rotten.
So I like that saying. I never heard of that before,
But I think that's really powerful in that regard of

(48:23):
you know, that's that's exactly you know that you think
of fruit good, fruit is good. But once the fruit
starts to get right, once it starts to get old,
it gets rotten, you don't want it. And that's the
mindset that they're going with.

Speaker 10 (48:34):
I think that's in line with Kialani's humble and hungry
because again, when you're green, you're growing. When you're young
and you're hungry and you haven't been given anything, you're
trying to earn everything. But when you're ripe and you
sit there at the top, then you stop trying to
climb the mountain because you feel that you're already there. Therefore,

(48:56):
you're not improving, you're not defending yourself against people who
are mean to take what you already have, because to
your point, you get complacent. So I love this mentality.
It goes right in line with what Kline Sataki is
preaching to this team.

Speaker 1 (49:09):
It definitely does. Love that so good analogy. They remember,
when you're green, you're growing, but if you're right, you're rotten.
So and now you play them on Saturday, you guys
had some type of inclement, whether or not too bad,
but project the rain. How do you apply ball security
on Saturday, you know, going forward.

Speaker 11 (49:25):
Oh yeah, that's it's been a it's been a big
aspect of our team meeting so far, and especially we've
we've been going through it on the practice as well,
just emphasizing the key factor of high and tight. You know,
it can make sure that ball doesn't come out because
coach Pop and coach Klanner, they they they emphasize that
when you're holding that ball, you're holding all the cougination.

Speaker 6 (49:45):
And so with that being said, he just gotta you
just gotta keep it safe. You know, you just gotta
just gotta keep it high and tight.

Speaker 1 (49:50):
And ago speaking of high and tight pressent rex is
running back number two. Tell us a little bit about precedent.
What's it like being to go against him. He's a
guy that moved from safety to offense, but he played
offense in high school.

Speaker 6 (50:01):
Yes, Hey, that's my boy, Pete Wave. He's having up there.

Speaker 11 (50:04):
He's good, he's fast, he's fast, and he's quick, and
that that's that's I think his biggest his biggest ups
is that you I.

Speaker 6 (50:14):
Don't think y'all are ready for that.

Speaker 11 (50:15):
I don't think people really, I don't think y'all y'all
are ready for that, because man, he's fast. He's moved
from defense and I was back to offense now and
he's an amazing runner. He's fast, he's and he knows
how to he knows how to hit the hole, and
so he's just good. I'm excited to see what what
he can do.

Speaker 1 (50:30):
Let's talk about he's fast, he's agile, he's quick, he
can hit the hole. Did he said, I don't think
you're ready for that. I don't think you're ready for that?
Like she Allay speaks very highly of his teammates. Right,
sometimes people think he's over confident. He's like, y'all are
'ting ready for that? Like, and sometimes I think these
guys are right, like we don't see what's going on
in practice, We have no idea, right, there are people
like like remember Colowney, we always knew anymore y'all didn't

(50:50):
know it, but we knew it, right, you know. And
sometimes you have to take these personal shots to japs
because you're right, media people fans aren't seeing in that regard.
But like, I think that's really powerful, Like I don't
think y'all already ready feels like he's fast, he's igile,
like just wait, basically telling everybody wait on it. Pe Wavy,
that's my guy, like like call him by his Instagram name,
Pee Wavy. So when you hear from that and aarontics

(51:14):
is what is it?

Speaker 9 (51:16):
Hard?

Speaker 1 (51:16):
Though? This enough? Like Preston Rex, he's good. Just wait.
You know, maybe that's the sea anymore, that's gonna merge.
You hate that inclement weather because maybe you know you
might not be able to get on the dry field.
But it doesn't matter. The point is that Preston Rex
is gonna be called upon on Saturday. So all of
us build all of this type. We have yet to
see it, Brett, Hopefully we'll see it on Saturday.

Speaker 6 (51:36):
Fors a lot.

Speaker 1 (51:37):
How they just made you guys better in fall camping
through five weeks?

Speaker 11 (51:40):
Oh yeah, they they made us better jurassically they they
you know, Bear there's an amazing quarterback and you know,
can't be a really good quarterback with that a good
offensive line, you know what I mean.

Speaker 6 (51:51):
And they've they've secured it down.

Speaker 11 (51:53):
They've them and Coach Woods, they've been working real hard
and they've they put on themselves to get us better.
When put on ourselves to get make them better. And
so just the physicality of everything goes along ways in
terms of improvement, helping each other improve and so and
it's been it's been great going up against them.

Speaker 1 (52:11):
What is it like from your vantage point to go
against Bear? You know, Bruce Mitchell call him number forty
seven yesterday. It seems like he's earned a lot of
respect really fast.

Speaker 11 (52:18):
Yeah, he's he's amazing, you know, just coming in here
as a freshman. Just seeing the strides of growth that
he growth that he's made so far is great.

Speaker 6 (52:28):
You know, He's he I think I think.

Speaker 11 (52:31):
He's gonna be I think he's gonna be the best,
the best, the best to do what he's ever had
on the check that he's going right now.

Speaker 6 (52:37):
And I believe he could do that.

Speaker 11 (52:39):
You know, he takes practice really seriously on and off
the field as well, and so I know that he
he can do it.

Speaker 6 (52:45):
And I and I'm just excited to see where he
goes from here.

Speaker 1 (52:49):
Man, He's definitely been great as a freshman. He mentioned
that Jack Kelly got him one time. He said, I'll
never let Zay pick him off. I have to know, dude,
have you been able to pick him up?

Speaker 6 (52:57):
You got him? I've gotten bad at balls here and there.

Speaker 11 (52:59):
But that's that I have yet to pick him off too,
so I gotta, I gotta get there.

Speaker 1 (53:04):
He's a he's a good passer. I mean, people saw
it definitely against West Virginia. Let's transfer now to the
Arizona offense. Te Max's not there anymore. Everybody knows still
the same quarterback from last year. You guys did a
great job. You turned them over three times last year.
Has anything changed from what you see him on the
film this year?

Speaker 6 (53:19):
Not really.

Speaker 11 (53:20):
Their their run game is is kind of basically the same,
a lot of gap scheme, but they kind of the
reestimate them even without a team back there. You know,
I feel like they have amazing wide receivers. They're they're
they're able to get off to the ball. And and
Noah is is good. He's he's a good quarterback. Don't
don't let his size, his size fool you, but he

(53:40):
he can lount that ball. He's he can make some
quick throws and he has the right receivers.

Speaker 6 (53:45):
To throw to you as well.

Speaker 11 (53:45):
So I'm not gonna let anything anything go over our heads.
And like, uh looking down on them wise, you know,
because we we think they're we think they're a good team.

Speaker 6 (53:56):
And so we we.

Speaker 11 (53:57):
Just gotta keep that mindset that we've gotta like I
said before, he's got to keep grinding it out and
you know, just prepare. How the coaches are Coach Hill
and Coach I know they've they've prepared a good game
plan for them and just got to stick to it.

Speaker 1 (54:08):
I want to get your thoughts on just the True
Blue Heroes that happens every Wednesday. What's the like from
your perspective, That's something once practice of you guys all
are excited to run over there. It's something I feel
like a lot of people may be missed that you
guys do.

Speaker 11 (54:20):
Yeah, you know, it's amazing just to forgive the opportunity
to to see people who aren't in a in a
fortunate position as us as a fortunate fortunate position as us,
and just to be able to make their day a
little bit better. It means it means a lot to us,
and I hope it means a lot to them as well,
and I hope it hoping it'll be right into their
day is just a little bit more because we know

(54:41):
that they they've gone through a lot, you know, and
we we don't we don't want to take life for granted,
you know, and so if we can, if we can
help someone else.

Speaker 6 (54:49):
That's another thing coach client said. It's not it's not.

Speaker 11 (54:51):
About you, it's about everyone, your team, everyone around you.

Speaker 6 (54:55):
And so just to just to be able to have
the opportunity is amazing.

Speaker 1 (54:59):
So I think that's a powerful message how well Kline's
preaching what you just said. You know, it's about other
people around you, not yourself, very selfless like Jesus Christ.
And that takes me to the moment. I think it
was the Colorado game he brings and I think in
you know, a fan that says, cherish your family, take
us through that moment, you know, and for you personally,
you got emotional, I believe.

Speaker 11 (55:17):
Yes, yes, a lot of the guys also getting emotional
in the locker room just seeing just seeing that family
come in here and seeing what happened to them in
terms of, you know, their situation, and being able to
just you know, help them at least however we could
in that moment.

Speaker 6 (55:38):
And if it meant that they.

Speaker 11 (55:39):
Could come party with us after a big win, then
that that's.

Speaker 6 (55:43):
Not really anything for us. That's just how we are.
And if they want to join.

Speaker 11 (55:47):
You know, they're welcome to join, and if that makes
a day better, then even better.

Speaker 1 (55:51):
You mentioned family, What is it like to you know,
be close. You have your dad, other family members, you
have one hundred and thirty brothers or maybe a few
less on the roster. What has that been like, He'll
be what you experience been amazing?

Speaker 11 (56:00):
You know, just I feel like people have people have
come and gone from YU, and people that come come
in they say that we've heard a lot that the
culture here and the brotherhood that we have here, they
haven't really experienced anything like it before outside of here.
And so that's something that I will never take for
granted and that I will always cherish and love and

(56:20):
just the experiences I get an experience with all these people,
all my boys, and just you know, it's it's it's
no better feeling, you know. The camaraderie that we have
and the love that we have for each other is
just it's something else.

Speaker 6 (56:31):
You definitely see it.

Speaker 1 (56:32):
Off the field. All you guys are always posting going places.
Excuse me, last thing for me. Final messages from those
traveling to Tucson, Arizona from across the world and from
those in Arizona that come into the game.

Speaker 11 (56:46):
Sir, We love you guys, Thank you guys for traveling,
thank you for showing up and going disappoint you.

Speaker 6 (56:52):
So go see everybody. Thank you very much much.

Speaker 1 (56:56):
Oh see alias are my interview yesterday. This is a
guy that I believe is going to leave the team
in tackles this week. From the linebacker row, it's he's
gonna have his number called upon Isaiah's probable. Jack has
doubtfully mentioned that early in the show. We don't know.
We don't know if even IG's gonna go out there
and play, but I can tell you fifty four is
fifty four seems extremely confident. I even know that he

(57:18):
was on a probable injury report, but he was fine.
From everything you know that I heard in talking to him,
he's excited to go play Arizona. They respect nor Fafido.
They know that even though that t Max's not there, Brett,
you can still be burned by him because he's throwing
the ball to a lot more people. So excited to
see what Cla does and it's gonna be good, I think,
because sometimes when you have players that have NFL draft

(57:40):
stock hype in front of him, it's easy to lose
sight of maybe who else is on the field or
who's behind him the depth. But this is an opportunity
for Askafuzi, who Jaala has raved about caught up with
him after you know in fall Camp is a dude,
Miles Hall is a dude. Max Alfred is a dude.
So those guys are gonna have their chance to go
up and show because next year, depending on what happens,

(58:02):
Jack and Ig might not be here.

Speaker 6 (58:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 10 (58:04):
I mean this linebacker room is deep, right, And I
feel like we say that every year because again you
had the Keenan Peelies of the World and others, and
then you get the Max Tooley's and the bend Bywaters
and aj Vompachon's. Like it feels like every single year
we say, oh my gosh, I can't believe we're losing
these guys at linebacker, and then somebody else moves into

(58:25):
that spot. Who we say, how did we not talk
about this guy enough last year? And I think Sarah
is getting maybe a little bit more recognition, not that
he's not playing, because we told you he's seventh on
the team in total tackles, Like he is playing. He's
just not getting the recognition that he deserves because the
two guys that he plays alongside are household names. So

(58:46):
incredible to get to see Sarah finally hopefully get some respect,
get a little name brand recognition this week.

Speaker 1 (58:53):
Yeah, hopefully certain guys will get an opportunity to get
their name notice. But we'll see, we'll see Saturday's let
all the weather will be a factor. But at the
end of the day, ball security gotta be on point.
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to on this Thursday, October ninth edition of Cougar Sports.

(59:57):
Here on one of three nine and ninety eight three