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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is Cougar Sports with Ben Krittel and it's time for
the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local reporters
that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome back to Cougar Sports here on one of three
nine and ninety eight three ESPN. The Fan Ronald the
three man Weaver here holding it down for Ben krittle
It is a Christmas Eve addition Wednesday, December twenty fourth
edition of Cougar Sports here in the Utah ESPN Radio Network.
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let's get out to the hot line and welcome in.
I call him the Godfather. Uh, he holds it down
here for us as a lot of wisdom. We got
Darnel Dixon of the Daily herold. Thanks for joining me
today double D for a Christmas Eve edition.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Problem appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I need to know what are traditions in the diction home.
What do you guys do? Do you do? You do
the pajamas? Did you do the pajamas? The Christmas cookie, gingerbread?
You know, house decorations. What did you guys do during
you know, the holiday season growing up with the kiddos.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Well, we're pretty traditional, you know. We do the pajamas,
and we do the Christmas story and we sing some carols.
My recliner that I'm sitting in right this very minute
is about five feet away from the tree. And uh,
it's difficult for me to get to my chair because
of the gifts that are kind of taking up the
(03:04):
room around it. So yeah, we're pretty traditional as a family,
and we don't have any little kids anymore. So we're
actually not even going to open gifts until a little
bit later in the afternoon because my wife is is
working at the hospital for a little while on Christmas Day.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I do I do remember your wife working at the
hospital when the baby girls born. Army you texted me
and I went right down the hall and I was like,
I think I just passed her. So shout out to
your uh, to your wife and all the all the
medical people that help during Christmas, even Christmas Day. They're
very important, and you know, I never will never want
to forget about them, Double d.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Since the last time we had you, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
A lot happens, and you know, just a span of
twenty four hours we talked to you.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
You know, obviously we talked to you on Friday.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
B Yu, you know has the home and home now
in order, Dame Agent de Bonce, I had a thirty
point triple double. You know, let's just let's just start there,
you know, order Dame schedules the home and home with BYU.
I don't think they had any team to do with
people them still opting out of the Pop Tards Bowl,
those players are going to declare for the draft.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
But are Provo?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Are your people happy, Darnell? Are the fans happy that
Notre Dame is finally going to becoming a Provo? And
then by you will go back to South Bend the
following year?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
I think so on this sixty minutes or so that
the game takes place in Provo next year will be
a good, good game between two really good programs. The
ancillary stuff though that, I just feel like Notre Dame
is way too entitled as a college football program, and
I don't think it's fair what they're doing in terms
(04:41):
of signing an agreement with the College Football Playoff Committee
that they get certain considerations. I think they need to
join a conference, not because it's going to benefit them
that much, but because they need to play by the
same rules as everyone else does. And so that's it
gets in my crawl a little bit. And I hope
BYU wins by seventy. But you know, like I said,
it's it's going to be it's going to be a
(05:03):
good football game between two really good programs, and I
think it'll draw a lot of fans, uh, you know,
to watch on TV. It'll be an event. And so
it's cool and I'm glad that the two teams are
playing after we all know that Notre Dame dodged the
Cougars for about a decade with a return game to Provo,
and fortunately Brian Santiago is savvy enough to get the
(05:26):
Irish to come to Provo first to make sure we
get that game in and then b y, you should
probably do it. Notre Dame did Oh, we have to
change our schedule because of the Big twelve, and we'll we'll,
we'll play you in a few years down the road.
But anyway, that's a that's probably a little bit too much.
But I do feel like it will be a good
football game and it's it's a game that will draw
a lot of attention around the country.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Look, I'm totally okay with the competitive the petty nature.
I think it's okay for Brian to do it exactly
what he did. You weren't going to play Notre Dame
ever again unless they came to Provo first, and I
would not look at Bau sideways if they played the
game one and then say you know what, Unfortunately, we
just can't come to South Bend in twenty twenty seven.
Things are just not gonna work out our way. I
(06:10):
don't blame the Cougars at all. Look, hey, I'm all
about being petty. In the nature of the world, it happens.
If you do it unto me, I'll do it unto you.
I know the scriptures don't say that that's not what
I should be preaching. But to me is just that
that's a funny thing. But no shot up to Brian
to get this first in provo, because we all know
double D if you would have went to South Bend first,
(06:31):
nor to Day, probably would have pulled out the following
year and not come to provo. They just don't want
to come. But I'm greatful the Marcus Freeman and Pete
Beviqua agreed on this and that that fighting Irish. We've
been calling him to quitting Irish. They can't quit because
they'll have to come next year. So but maybe what
they'll do is Bau will beat them by seventy Like
(06:51):
you said, it's so bad that they'll quit and say, hey,
we don't want you to come to South Bend.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
That could happen. Who knows college football is like that.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Llege football is like that. Let's go to the next
big news topic. Kline Sataki announced yesterday as the team
is in Orlando doing the festivities. LJ Martin not going
to play in this game. Had offseason surgery on that shoulder.
As we know, it was a problem. He was dinged
up a little bit towards the end of the year.
Still had a phenomenal end of the season with the
way he was running. You think of that Cincinnati game
(07:21):
TCU to be injured the way he is, and even
against Texas Tech the second time, I still thought LJ
did the best of what he could with what he
was giving. I don't feel like he played terrible, but
got that surgery. Will be on the sideline, won't be playing.
He has a decision to make whether he's gonna come
back for his senior year or declare for the draft.
W Is LJ Martin being out a big deal? A
(07:43):
lot of people are really nervous, and if you look
at the depth chart that was released, there's no either.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
I think it's a big deal, and you know in
some ways, it kind of works in Buyu's favor because
as they head into this this game, good Jordan, the
tech won't really know the game plan. You think you
can't look back at at game video from BYU's past
games and determine what the game plan will be offensively,
(08:11):
because by you lean so heavily on l J. Martin.
You know, when when Harvey junga BYU's running back coach,
was it Timfu? I joked that by or that tim
Fu had three plays give to Harvey, throw to Harvey,
fake to Harvey. And that's kind of how it went
with this year with l J. Mean, they really used
him a lot. I didn't look up the numbers beforehand,
(08:33):
but I know that you know, coming in he was
averaging this season. He was before the season averaging about
thirteen carries a game. I think he had quite a
bit more than that. This season. They threw to him
a lot. The threat of him in the running game
did allow for some nice play action ability. So, like
I said, in some ways it works in Boway's favorite,
(08:53):
but otherwise we just don't know what we don't know.
Like you mentioned earlier about you know can ken Enick
now we Nick put in fifteen carries. Can jovesa DEMONI
who the last time we saw himmy fumbled and they
did never played him again. You know, is he going
to make an impact? Is Cionemo actually going to play,
but they'll kept him off the depth chart to be KG,
(09:15):
I don't know. I'm reminded a little bit of what
I think it was twenty twenty two. So J Mava
Peters playing quarterback because of all the injuries, and that
initial game plan against SMU worked really well. B Why
he's up twenty four ten running that kind of option
offense and SOLj was not throwing the ball that much,
but eventually SMU figured it out and stopped BYU. So
(09:36):
I'm hoping that Aaron Roderick has a plan B in
place for coming out, maybe taking advantage of the fact
that in this in this game, particularly that Jeorgia Tech
doesn't really know what BYU is going to do.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, you have to think that this is some somewhat
of an advantage because Okay, they've relied on LJ. They
have no idea who else Becker is not allowed of Hape.
You bring up the SMU game, I remember that of Okay,
who's gonna start, you know, sol J, Mava Peters and
SMU was struggling. I mean they made the adjustments eventually,
but he was running all over him in that first
half and they were let him throw the ball to
(10:12):
he threw a pick. You know, everything was fine until
that once he saled it over the middle to the safety.
Aaronroddics said, knew, we're gonna hand it off. And Chris
Brooks got healthy towards the end of the season. And
you wonder if it's gamesmanship, you know, you keep see
on a off and then you bring him out there
because they really don't know. So right now, Enick, nowhewey
is RB one until otherwise stated, but I would love
(10:33):
to see one go out there and help BYU. And look,
you played great last year. I thought of Alamo Bowl
and the reps that he had. He didn't play terrible,
But no, LJ you could have you know, you could
LJ no problems or you could have some problems. I
guess we'll we'll find out. How do you healthy? Do
you think Barre will be going into the this week?
Got rolled up on and we know in that Texas
(10:53):
Tech game in the first play, I think Barre will
be above eighty eighty five percent. A big part of
Bau's game is Bear's ability to run.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I think he could be limited.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
It's possible. I do think that the fact that it's
going to be three weeks between games will help him heal,
but that doesn't necessarily help him in terms of sharpness
because he may not be practicing a bunch. So you
know there's a trade off there that, yeah, you want
to get him healthy, but you also want him to
feel comfortable in what will be a new offensive game
(11:24):
plan with l J. Martin on the lineup. So I
think that he'll be able to play. I don't know
how much they'll run him, I hope. I think what
they'll probably do is is running back by committee. We
know that works sometimes, sometimes we don't know how that
will work. The receivers should all be pretty healthy, and
(11:45):
Bear should be able to get the ball out on don't.
I don't think that the Jeergia Tech defense is anything
particularly special, So I expect the Cougars to move the
ball regardless. But you know, when you want to get
in the end zone, when you want to get that
key third or fourth down, it's certainly nice to have
someone like Lja Martin in the lineup that you rely on.
These other guys have just not been in those situations before,
(12:06):
so it's all going to be kind of new. And
as we head into the new era of college football,
every year is a little bit different every year. As
BYU plays in these kind of bowl games, you've got
to remember it is an exhibition, and you know it
doesn't really matter in terms of schedule and national perception.
There's a lot of programs where a lot of guys
(12:28):
are opting out. I don't think that'll be the case
with BYU, but we'll see on Saturday who's going to
play and who's maybe taking a look at their future
and deciding it's not worth the problems of getting injured
and maybe hurting your chances of the future. So that's
what we're looking at in college football. And I'm still
looking forward to the game. I still think that Jorda
Tech is a pretty good foe. And the Pop Tarts
(12:51):
Bowl has always been pretty popular and gives us an
opportunity to go out and grab our favorite pop tart
for the pregame snack.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
What's your favorite pop Tart? Since you bring up the
pop darts.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
I've always been partial to Strawberry.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
The classic. Yeah, he can't go wrong with the classic.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Uh, you're gonna have to make sure you tell the
g man they're gonna I don't know if he's looked
at the list dart now, but I was looking at
the media just the taste testing that they're gonna give
on Friday camping, you know, stadium deep fried pop tart,
deep fried pop tarts deep Uh, you know that's music
(13:29):
in my ears, having served in the South, I don't
know if you ever had a deep fried twinkie. Oh
my goodness, heart attack, delicious, one on one, deep fried oreo,
you name it. Give me all the diabetes. I'll get
my health right with, you know, game day man's health
when I get back later. Goodness, creacious, there you go. Yeah,
glad of other favorit classic pop tarch, Strawberry, that's the
(13:50):
one tree. Alexander has been raving about that ever since
they got into the pop tarchs. Body says, if it
ain't Strawberry, I don't want it.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
But you mentioned Georgia tech. Good offense.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
This quarterback Haines King, he can he can run it,
he can throw it, he can do whatever. I mean,
anytime you throw for twenty seven hundred yards in the
season and you almost rush for a thousand as well,
and you almost have thirty total touchdowns, you're a good quarterback.
Bear's kind of done the same thing. Maybe not with
the rushing yards, but he will move on you for sure.
What is the BAU defense need to do and who
are the key impact players to limit him?
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Because he can scoot. He can really scoot, Darnelle when
you look at the tape.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, I think that the linebackers are going to be
under some pressure to make good reads and be in
good coverage as well as spying on King and make
sure he's not running wild. I like the fact that
you've given Jay Hill about three weeks to prepare for
this game. I think the game plan will be really good,
and I think it's an opportunity for the defensive line
(14:51):
to kind of show their growth and to be able
to put pressure on King when he drops back. So
those are those the two, you know, position groups I
think are going to be under some pressure. But again,
I think He'll is going to have a good game
plan for this this game and the defense has been
really good all year, you know, I know that the
(15:12):
College Football Playoff Committee based BYU's place in their rankings
solely on how they played against Texas Tech. And we're
going to find out a lot this weekend as Oregon
plays Texas Tech and the College Football Playoffs to see
how a team like Oregon who has a great offense
can can compete against that Texas Tech defense. But BYU's
(15:36):
defense was really good in both of those Texas Tech games.
It was, you know, a thirteen to seven, thirteen ten
game and those those two contests, and if the offense
had been able to put something together, it might have
gone down differently toward the end. But the BYU defense
has been terrific this year and I think they're going
to do that again on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Yeah, when you give j Hill time for a game plan,
is he able to bottle you up?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Is he able to bottle you up the right way?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
So see if he bottles up Haines Kings did it
last year? Sure, there literally there was a viral video.
I don't even know where the pressure's coming from. I
don't know what they doing and know that the heck
they're doing, What the heck, what the heck they doing?
Looking I don't know. And as the NFL quarterback, he's
starting with the Browns right now. You know they had
a wide receiver dB that was playing with the jaguarster
(16:19):
he had season and his surgery. So I want to
remind fans that those are two good football players. I
know they had a team, but it was really only
two dudes out there through making place the entire season
for Colorado. You did that and now they're playing at
the highest level. So give Jay Hill a lot of credit.
Let's transition durned out of BALI I said volleyball, basketball
and then went finished with the little volleyball because a
(16:41):
new coach has been hired in Cougar Country. The thirty
point triple double from aj de Bonca first ever thirty
point triple double on BYU history. Danny Ings came close
twenty seven, ten, and thirteen. What do you make of
the thirty point triple double? And it was the first
one since Kyle collins were dating back to March in
twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
I saw all of Kyle collins Worth triple doubles in
that that season, and I remember that one, and I
also remember he got sick and barely played the next
week when they were they were trying to get to
that inn it final four. But Kyle was the kind
of player that the game just revolved around him. Hit
(17:22):
the ball in his hands, he was getting rebounds, taken
it off on the break himself. And when you look
at Aja's game, it's kind of like that. I mean,
you have the ball in his hands a lot. He
gets the rebound and takes himself up the floor. He's
aggressive to the basket. And that's that's what Kevin Young
said about AJ's game, because he was just aggressive and
(17:44):
you know, he's got to have teammates to make shots,
which Aja acknowledge as well. And it's it was an
impressive performance because to put up thirty and then the
score that was the eleven of thirteen from the field, Yes,
that's ridiculous. You can't defend that. And certainly, you know,
the competition was not great. Eastern Washington is not a
great basketball team. But to put that sort of effort
(18:08):
and to put the month of December that he put
out there, it was pretty amazing. You know. So at
the end of the regular season and or the non
conference season and had the Big Twelve play, AJ is
a really dominant player during the last month and done
(18:29):
a really good job of taking on the responsibility of
being a playmaker as well as a scorer. And he's
got so much to his game. He's so explosive. Sitting
there in the Aurea and watching him with that follow
jam the other night, the crowd just goes nuts. I mean,
it's just it's just what in the world is happening?
(18:50):
This is b WHYU were watching, right? I mean so yeah.
Aj has had a terrific non conference schedule and things
will get tougher because the Big Twelve these are really good.
But I like By's chances and making some good performances
and put themselves in a good position when we get
to March.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
He's the first freshman in Big twelve history with a
triple double. That's per ESPN Insight. That that makes sense
and thinking people around and national guys, Big Board, NBA
guys are starting to realize this is going to be
the number one overall recruit. They tried to make it.
Darren Peterson, Ah, he's got the best refined game. Oh
you look at this and hope I'm starting to see
(19:30):
from CBS Sports, starting to see from everybody the best
wing National Player of the Year Chase. You're starting to
see all of that coming to the mix, is starting
to come to fruition, honestly, and you mentioned, you know,
the month of December. I think he's averaged and this
is per Justin Young, right, you know, Justin Young does
a great job of recruiting. AJAST average twenty seven point
(19:52):
eight points per game in the month of December, eight rebounds,
five point seven assists, two point three steals on sixty
six percent, and it's just sixty five point nine, but
that's sixty six percent, shooting seventy seven point nine percent
from the freight throw line, twenty nine point four percent
from three two point five turnovers, and one foul Darnell
the entire month.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And he was arguing with the ref last game because
he got the foul in the Eastern Washington game, telling
him knowing he the only reason he didn't pick up
a technical foules because he didn't wave his hand, but
he was just shaking his head throwing his hands up.
So one foul is ridiculous. That's the biggest thing in
this stands out to me that he picked up one foul.
He definitely is one of one.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
He is in the last time we saw anything even
remotely close to this for BU basketball was in twenty
eleven the Jimmer for Dad. Plus AJ's handing out new
shoes to staff members and teammates and you know, so
he's had a pretty good month of December for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Definitely, Santa Claus came early for the BAU staff managers.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Everybody. Gregor Belt got his pair, took a picture of that. Crazy.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Didn't think that tweet was gonna blow up, but he did. Age.
Everybody loved that. AJ gave back, and he's given back
to the fans. So fans enjoy it while it lasts,
because it won't be around forever. I can guarantee you that,
no doubt about it. Here were Darnell Dixon of The
Daily Herald and Little Cougar Beat a Christmas Eve edition
of Cougar Sports on your Utah ESPN Radio Network Double
(21:20):
d Lists Finish up. I gotta talk a little volleyball
with you. A new volleyball coach has been hired. Rob
Robin Neilson is now the head coach of the boy
Umans volleyball team, and I feel like changes are already occurring.
Alex Bauer pulled out of the portal since they she'll
be returning back to BYU.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
This is a home run higher I believe.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
It is. And as we broke down a lot of
the candidates, there were some really strong candidates, including Rob
as well as Ryan Malar, former gold medalist and BYU
players coaching at Eastern Illinois, and there were some good candidates,
but I think Rob was somebody who it makes a
(22:01):
lot of sense. I love his experience as not only
a women's volleyball coach, but coaching with the men's national
team is a big deal. He's a former Cougar. I've
known Rob for a long time and he's kind of
a His approach is very quiet and focused. He's not
a real yeller, screamer, demonstrative kind of guy. But he's
(22:24):
obviously a really good volleyball coach. And when you're replacing
someone like Heather Olmsted, who won like eighty five percent
of for matches over the course of her career, you
need somebody to step in and do it right, and
you know Rob has got a lot of work to do.
It is great that Alex decided to come back, because
you know, when you have a setter, a veteran center.
(22:46):
That's a great start. He's going to be headed, you know,
to talk to some of the recruits that they've already
got committed to see. You know this is but he's
gonna put his own stamp on the program, and so
he'll bring in some of his own staff and some
of his own players. And it's an interesting time for
BYU women's volleyball because they've been so good for so long.
(23:08):
When they make a transition like this, you know, there's questions,
you know, can can they continue to maintain to be
a really good volleyball program? And I think Rob is
a guy who can do that.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, definitely a guy that can and do that, especially
when you won a national championship as a player too.
You can't take that experience away. When I read that,
you know that there's all of that encompasses experience into
what a coach should be. Got to ask you this,
double d any chances that the Big twelve freshman of
the year comes back, you know, are you able to
you know, I know a couple of people have already committed.
(23:39):
I haven't seen anything or got any update. I know
one of the girls has already committed to TCU. Is
there any way you can get her back? She had
a phenomenal season. Tough to lose a player like that
after one season.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, it is. It's disappointing because you know, Sully was
a really good freshman. Yeah, and you have to did
or that she would have, you know, continued to get
better and being an elite player. She has committed to
SMU and we'll be playing there next year. According to
what I've read, it is and you just move on.
(24:13):
I mean, that's that's just the place and the and
we live in a college sports world where moving around
is kind of is the norm now and not the exception,
even in women's sports. And so we wish Silly well
and b Yu just has to move on and find
players to step up and make some contributions. And I,
(24:35):
you know, I honestly don't know. You know, Rob probably
had some players committed to him to go to Utah State.
He may bring some of those. I expect there to
be quite a bit of turnover on the roster as
he gets to the point where he's comfortable with what
he's working with and they work his system. But it's
it's like I said, it's been a really good program
over the years high level, and when since moving to
(24:58):
the Big twelve, things have been a little tougher because
you're not beating up on Portland and Santa Clara and
Pacific like you were in the West Coast Conference. You're
playing some really good volleyball programs. And YU held its
own they you know, they they got to the NCAA
tournament and had some big wins against ranked teams. And
Rob is the guy that's in charge of trying to
(25:20):
keep that going and maybe making a little better.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yeah, definitely gonna be the guy in charge.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Are now gonna have to keep that going for Thank
you for the update on on Suley. Yeah, he's gonna
have to bring in his guys. And that's the air
of the nil on the transfer portal these days of
both And I did the numbers, and I've looked up
multiple studies. Kid averages about one point seven one point
eight times they transfer before they find their home, and
that's about two times, and we've seen that. Go look
(25:45):
at football. You can look at Darius last year. You
can look at Keilan Marion, you can look at Harrison Taggart,
you can look at multitudes of people you can look
at volleyball, you can look at soccer, as he stradding
me A Lopez. There's so many BYU players that you know,
end up finding a new home, and there's other players
that come.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
To North Carolina.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Right, I know that was crazy? Right you see is
it in North Carolina? That's pretty amazing.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
I know you're looking like, oh, okay, uh, but but
that's what I mean, and that that happens.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Right.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Look, killing Marion is of going to Miami, Miami Beach,
Texas A and m They're now the quarterfinal of the
college football playoffs. The PORTI it's going to give it
to b YU. But at the same darn darn time, Darnell,
like we talked about, it's going to take it too.
He's now at SMU. I think that's a good spot.
You know, is he at North Carolina? Quiland Marion went
to you know Miami. They're good spots where people go.
(26:32):
So this has to make you wonder about football. Can
you retain these guys? You know the new sat down
up als like, can you keep him? Can you keep this?
Siciliacnas if I Zach Glasker decides to come back for
his last year, can you keep him or is he
gonna end up elsewhere? That's just that's the state we're in.
If if people test the waters for their market, market
raid and you know they're not getting it, they will
(26:55):
be gone elsewhere. And I've been shocked by a lot
of the moves across all the b YU athletics, but
I also understand that's just today in times we live
in now.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
You know what's interesting is is you know, every college
football program, every major program, has a general manager. And
you know why now, there's just so much to organize,
especially in football when you start looking at a roster
of one hundred kids and you're trying to figure out
who's staying, who's going, and who do we want to retain?
Who are we going to say, hey, thanks for playing,
(27:24):
but you need to find someplace else to go. And
it's difficult in most sports, but football seems to be
probably the most complicated because of this er number of
athletes that you're dealing with.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Definitely too many athletes, too many numbers don't want that job.
But shout out to Dave George and uh, you know
what is it that I'm trying to remember? Goodness, gracious
basing the guy that for basketball the chief of staff.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Goodness, gracious, I don't know why my brain.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Is given a far Dug Stewart, but you pray that
all those guys, yeah, Doug, all those guys and you know,
George and every everybody across is is taking care of that.
You know you, Travis Hanson and and the b A
Legs department, they do a phenomenal job.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
So you got to give credit double D before I
let you go. What's the best way we can support
you what you do and how you do it?
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, Harold Extra dot com is where all of our
work is done.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
I'm working on a big twelve men's basketball preview for
next week when the Cougars get get into it, and
it's it's interesting to look up to see how other
programs have been handling the non conference slate and who's
gonna play and who's been you know there, there's so
many changes on those rosters as well, and so that's
(28:37):
that's what I'm working on next.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Definitely a preview.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
You and I are going to have to put in
their request for TCU's Tanner tools and to talk to
Tully his journey from b YU to u VU back
into the Big two of TCU b y you will
take them on in a home game here not to
not too far down the road. So a lot of
talent everywhere across all of college athletics from Utah all across,
(29:01):
so I will definitely keep it tuned in. Go to
Herald Extra dot com slash sports to see Double D
and to see Brandes sy Gurney the g Man. They
do great work over there, Double D mayor Christmas. Happy holidays, brother,
We'll catch up with you next week. It was well,
that was Darnel Dixon of The Daily Hair. Appreciate him
joining me today for a special Christmas Eve edition of
Cougar Sports here on one on three, nine and ninety
(29:23):
eight three. That second was brought to you by Orthroposo
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Dis schedule your appointment. There we'll go to break, don't
go anywhere. Still a lot more to get to on
a Christmas even, No excuse me. December twenty fourth edition
of Cougar Sports here on one O three nine and
ninety eight three
Is Cougar Sports with Ben Krittel and it's time for
the Cougar Beat getting the dish from the local reporters
that cover Cougar athletics.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome back to Cougar Sports here on one of three
nine and ninety eight three ESPN. The Fan Ronald the
three man Weaver here holding it down for Ben krittle
It is a Christmas Eve addition Wednesday, December twenty fourth
edition of Cougar Sports here in the Utah ESPN Radio Network.
We're live from our Vanderwolf Studios Banderwalth. All he asks
is that you schedule that complementary free Q and a
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with Blaine and Orson and the script Bandorwealth Band Orwealth
dot com. Alrighty, before we get out to the ESPN
the fan ihline and welcome in another guest on this
wonderful edition of Cougar Sports. This segment is going to
be brought to you by orthroprosoutah dot com. Guys, if
you are dealing with pain and you want to live
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zero one four hundred five through Innate or visit us
at Ortelposo Utah dot com. All right, without further do,
let's get out to the hot line and welcome in.
I call him the Godfather. Uh, he holds it down
here for us as a lot of wisdom. We got
Darnel Dixon of the Daily herold. Thanks for joining me
today double D for a Christmas Eve edition.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Problem appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I need to know what are traditions in the diction home.
What do you guys do? Do you do? You do
the pajamas? Did you do the pajamas? The Christmas cookie, gingerbread?
You know, house decorations. What did you guys do during
you know, the holiday season growing up with the kiddos.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Well, we're pretty traditional, you know. We do the pajamas,
and we do the Christmas story and we sing some carols.
My recliner that I'm sitting in right this very minute
is about five feet away from the tree. And uh,
it's difficult for me to get to my chair because
of the gifts that are kind of taking up the
(03:04):
room around it. So yeah, we're pretty traditional as a family,
and we don't have any little kids anymore. So we're
actually not even going to open gifts until a little
bit later in the afternoon because my wife is is
working at the hospital for a little while on Christmas Day.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I do I do remember your wife working at the
hospital when the baby girls born. Army you texted me
and I went right down the hall and I was like,
I think I just passed her. So shout out to
your uh, to your wife and all the all the
medical people that help during Christmas, even Christmas Day. They're
very important, and you know, I never will never want
to forget about them, Double d.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Since the last time we had you, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
A lot happens, and you know, just a span of
twenty four hours we talked to you.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
You know, obviously we talked to you on Friday.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
B Yu, you know has the home and home now
in order, Dame Agent de Bonce, I had a thirty
point triple double. You know, let's just let's just start there,
you know, order Dame schedules the home and home with BYU.
I don't think they had any team to do with
people them still opting out of the Pop Tards Bowl,
those players are going to declare for the draft.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
But are Provo?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Are your people happy, Darnell? Are the fans happy that
Notre Dame is finally going to becoming a Provo? And
then by you will go back to South Bend the
following year?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
I think so on this sixty minutes or so that
the game takes place in Provo next year will be
a good, good game between two really good programs. The
ancillary stuff though that, I just feel like Notre Dame
is way too entitled as a college football program, and
I don't think it's fair what they're doing in terms
(04:41):
of signing an agreement with the College Football Playoff Committee
that they get certain considerations. I think they need to
join a conference, not because it's going to benefit them
that much, but because they need to play by the
same rules as everyone else does. And so that's it
gets in my crawl a little bit. And I hope
BYU wins by seventy. But you know, like I said,
it's it's going to be it's going to be a
(05:03):
good football game between two really good programs, and I
think it'll draw a lot of fans, uh, you know,
to watch on TV. It'll be an event. And so
it's cool and I'm glad that the two teams are
playing after we all know that Notre Dame dodged the
Cougars for about a decade with a return game to Provo,
and fortunately Brian Santiago is savvy enough to get the
(05:26):
Irish to come to Provo first to make sure we
get that game in and then b y, you should
probably do it. Notre Dame did Oh, we have to
change our schedule because of the Big twelve, and we'll we'll,
we'll play you in a few years down the road.
But anyway, that's a that's probably a little bit too much.
But I do feel like it will be a good
football game and it's it's a game that will draw
a lot of attention around the country.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Look, I'm totally okay with the competitive the petty nature.
I think it's okay for Brian to do it exactly
what he did. You weren't going to play Notre Dame
ever again unless they came to Provo first, and I
would not look at Bau sideways if they played the
game one and then say you know what, Unfortunately, we
just can't come to South Bend in twenty twenty seven.
Things are just not gonna work out our way. I
(06:10):
don't blame the Cougars at all. Look, hey, I'm all
about being petty. In the nature of the world, it happens.
If you do it unto me, I'll do it unto you.
I know the scriptures don't say that that's not what
I should be preaching. But to me is just that
that's a funny thing. But no shot up to Brian
to get this first in provo, because we all know
double D if you would have went to South Bend first,
(06:31):
nor to Day, probably would have pulled out the following
year and not come to provo. They just don't want
to come. But I'm greatful the Marcus Freeman and Pete
Beviqua agreed on this and that that fighting Irish. We've
been calling him to quitting Irish. They can't quit because
they'll have to come next year. So but maybe what
they'll do is Bau will beat them by seventy Like
(06:51):
you said, it's so bad that they'll quit and say, hey,
we don't want you to come to South Bend.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
That could happen. Who knows college football is like that.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Llege football is like that. Let's go to the next
big news topic. Kline Sataki announced yesterday as the team
is in Orlando doing the festivities. LJ Martin not going
to play in this game. Had offseason surgery on that shoulder.
As we know, it was a problem. He was dinged
up a little bit towards the end of the year.
Still had a phenomenal end of the season with the
way he was running. You think of that Cincinnati game
(07:21):
TCU to be injured the way he is, and even
against Texas Tech the second time, I still thought LJ
did the best of what he could with what he
was giving. I don't feel like he played terrible, but
got that surgery. Will be on the sideline, won't be playing.
He has a decision to make whether he's gonna come
back for his senior year or declare for the draft.
W Is LJ Martin being out a big deal? A
(07:43):
lot of people are really nervous, and if you look
at the depth chart that was released, there's no either.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
I think it's a big deal, and you know in
some ways, it kind of works in Buyu's favor because
as they head into this this game, good Jordan, the
tech won't really know the game plan. You think you
can't look back at at game video from BYU's past
games and determine what the game plan will be offensively,
(08:11):
because by you lean so heavily on l J. Martin.
You know, when when Harvey junga BYU's running back coach,
was it Timfu? I joked that by or that tim
Fu had three plays give to Harvey, throw to Harvey,
fake to Harvey. And that's kind of how it went
with this year with l J. Mean, they really used
him a lot. I didn't look up the numbers beforehand,
(08:33):
but I know that you know, coming in he was
averaging this season. He was before the season averaging about
thirteen carries a game. I think he had quite a
bit more than that. This season. They threw to him
a lot. The threat of him in the running game
did allow for some nice play action ability. So, like
I said, in some ways it works in Boway's favorite,
(08:53):
but otherwise we just don't know what we don't know.
Like you mentioned earlier about you know can ken Enick
now we Nick put in fifteen carries. Can jovesa DEMONI
who the last time we saw himmy fumbled and they
did never played him again. You know, is he going
to make an impact? Is Cionemo actually going to play,
but they'll kept him off the depth chart to be KG,
(09:15):
I don't know. I'm reminded a little bit of what
I think it was twenty twenty two. So J Mava
Peters playing quarterback because of all the injuries, and that
initial game plan against SMU worked really well. B Why
he's up twenty four ten running that kind of option
offense and SOLj was not throwing the ball that much,
but eventually SMU figured it out and stopped BYU. So
(09:36):
I'm hoping that Aaron Roderick has a plan B in
place for coming out, maybe taking advantage of the fact
that in this in this game, particularly that Jeorgia Tech
doesn't really know what BYU is going to do.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, you have to think that this is some somewhat
of an advantage because Okay, they've relied on LJ. They
have no idea who else Becker is not allowed of Hape.
You bring up the SMU game, I remember that of Okay,
who's gonna start, you know, sol J, Mava Peters and
SMU was struggling. I mean they made the adjustments eventually,
but he was running all over him in that first
half and they were let him throw the ball to
(10:12):
he threw a pick. You know, everything was fine until
that once he saled it over the middle to the safety.
Aaronroddics said, knew, we're gonna hand it off. And Chris
Brooks got healthy towards the end of the season. And
you wonder if it's gamesmanship, you know, you keep see
on a off and then you bring him out there
because they really don't know. So right now, Enick, nowhewey
is RB one until otherwise stated, but I would love
(10:33):
to see one go out there and help BYU. And look,
you played great last year. I thought of Alamo Bowl
and the reps that he had. He didn't play terrible,
But no, LJ you could have you know, you could
LJ no problems or you could have some problems. I
guess we'll we'll find out. How do you healthy? Do
you think Barre will be going into the this week?
Got rolled up on and we know in that Texas
(10:53):
Tech game in the first play, I think Barre will
be above eighty eighty five percent. A big part of
Bau's game is Bear's ability to run.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I think he could be limited.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
It's possible. I do think that the fact that it's
going to be three weeks between games will help him heal,
but that doesn't necessarily help him in terms of sharpness
because he may not be practicing a bunch. So you
know there's a trade off there that, yeah, you want
to get him healthy, but you also want him to
feel comfortable in what will be a new offensive game
(11:24):
plan with l J. Martin on the lineup. So I
think that he'll be able to play. I don't know
how much they'll run him, I hope. I think what
they'll probably do is is running back by committee. We
know that works sometimes, sometimes we don't know how that
will work. The receivers should all be pretty healthy, and
(11:45):
Bear should be able to get the ball out on don't.
I don't think that the Jeergia Tech defense is anything
particularly special, So I expect the Cougars to move the
ball regardless. But you know, when you want to get
in the end zone, when you want to get that
key third or fourth down, it's certainly nice to have
someone like Lja Martin in the lineup that you rely on.
These other guys have just not been in those situations before,
(12:06):
so it's all going to be kind of new. And
as we head into the new era of college football,
every year is a little bit different every year. As
BYU plays in these kind of bowl games, you've got
to remember it is an exhibition, and you know it
doesn't really matter in terms of schedule and national perception.
There's a lot of programs where a lot of guys
(12:28):
are opting out. I don't think that'll be the case
with BYU, but we'll see on Saturday who's going to
play and who's maybe taking a look at their future
and deciding it's not worth the problems of getting injured
and maybe hurting your chances of the future. So that's
what we're looking at in college football. And I'm still
looking forward to the game. I still think that Jorda
Tech is a pretty good foe. And the Pop Tarts
(12:51):
Bowl has always been pretty popular and gives us an
opportunity to go out and grab our favorite pop tart
for the pregame snack.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
What's your favorite pop Tart? Since you bring up the
pop darts.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
I've always been partial to Strawberry.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
The classic. Yeah, he can't go wrong with the classic.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Uh, you're gonna have to make sure you tell the
g man they're gonna I don't know if he's looked
at the list dart now, but I was looking at
the media just the taste testing that they're gonna give
on Friday camping, you know, stadium deep fried pop tart,
deep fried pop tarts deep Uh, you know that's music
(13:29):
in my ears, having served in the South, I don't
know if you ever had a deep fried twinkie. Oh
my goodness, heart attack, delicious, one on one, deep fried oreo,
you name it. Give me all the diabetes. I'll get
my health right with, you know, game day man's health
when I get back later. Goodness, creacious, there you go. Yeah,
glad of other favorit classic pop tarch, Strawberry, that's the
(13:50):
one tree. Alexander has been raving about that ever since
they got into the pop tarchs. Body says, if it
ain't Strawberry, I don't want it.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
But you mentioned Georgia tech. Good offense.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
This quarterback Haines King, he can he can run it,
he can throw it, he can do whatever. I mean,
anytime you throw for twenty seven hundred yards in the
season and you almost rush for a thousand as well,
and you almost have thirty total touchdowns, you're a good quarterback.
Bear's kind of done the same thing. Maybe not with
the rushing yards, but he will move on you for sure.
What is the BAU defense need to do and who
are the key impact players to limit him?
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Because he can scoot. He can really scoot, Darnelle when
you look at the tape.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, I think that the linebackers are going to be
under some pressure to make good reads and be in
good coverage as well as spying on King and make
sure he's not running wild. I like the fact that
you've given Jay Hill about three weeks to prepare for
this game. I think the game plan will be really good,
and I think it's an opportunity for the defensive line
(14:51):
to kind of show their growth and to be able
to put pressure on King when he drops back. So
those are those the two, you know, position groups I
think are going to be under some pressure. But again,
I think He'll is going to have a good game
plan for this this game and the defense has been
really good all year, you know, I know that the
(15:12):
College Football Playoff Committee based BYU's place in their rankings
solely on how they played against Texas Tech. And we're
going to find out a lot this weekend as Oregon
plays Texas Tech and the College Football Playoffs to see
how a team like Oregon who has a great offense
can can compete against that Texas Tech defense. But BYU's
(15:36):
defense was really good in both of those Texas Tech games.
It was, you know, a thirteen to seven, thirteen ten
game and those those two contests, and if the offense
had been able to put something together, it might have
gone down differently toward the end. But the BYU defense
has been terrific this year and I think they're going
to do that again on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Yeah, when you give j Hill time for a game plan,
is he able to bottle you up?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Is he able to bottle you up the right way?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
So see if he bottles up Haines Kings did it
last year? Sure, there literally there was a viral video.
I don't even know where the pressure's coming from. I
don't know what they doing and know that the heck
they're doing, What the heck, what the heck they doing?
Looking I don't know. And as the NFL quarterback, he's
starting with the Browns right now. You know they had
a wide receiver dB that was playing with the jaguarster
(16:19):
he had season and his surgery. So I want to
remind fans that those are two good football players. I
know they had a team, but it was really only
two dudes out there through making place the entire season
for Colorado. You did that and now they're playing at
the highest level. So give Jay Hill a lot of credit.
Let's transition durned out of BALI I said volleyball, basketball
and then went finished with the little volleyball because a
(16:41):
new coach has been hired in Cougar Country. The thirty
point triple double from aj de Bonca first ever thirty
point triple double on BYU history. Danny Ings came close
twenty seven, ten, and thirteen. What do you make of
the thirty point triple double? And it was the first
one since Kyle collins were dating back to March in
twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
I saw all of Kyle collins Worth triple doubles in
that that season, and I remember that one, and I
also remember he got sick and barely played the next
week when they were they were trying to get to
that inn it final four. But Kyle was the kind
of player that the game just revolved around him. Hit
(17:22):
the ball in his hands, he was getting rebounds, taken
it off on the break himself. And when you look
at Aja's game, it's kind of like that. I mean,
you have the ball in his hands a lot. He
gets the rebound and takes himself up the floor. He's
aggressive to the basket. And that's that's what Kevin Young
said about AJ's game, because he was just aggressive and
(17:44):
you know, he's got to have teammates to make shots,
which Aja acknowledge as well. And it's it was an
impressive performance because to put up thirty and then the
score that was the eleven of thirteen from the field, Yes,
that's ridiculous. You can't defend that. And certainly, you know,
the competition was not great. Eastern Washington is not a
great basketball team. But to put that sort of effort
(18:08):
and to put the month of December that he put
out there, it was pretty amazing. You know. So at
the end of the regular season and or the non
conference season and had the Big Twelve play, AJ is
a really dominant player during the last month and done
(18:29):
a really good job of taking on the responsibility of
being a playmaker as well as a scorer. And he's
got so much to his game. He's so explosive. Sitting
there in the Aurea and watching him with that follow
jam the other night, the crowd just goes nuts. I mean,
it's just it's just what in the world is happening?
(18:50):
This is b WHYU were watching, right? I mean so yeah.
Aj has had a terrific non conference schedule and things
will get tougher because the Big Twelve these are really good.
But I like By's chances and making some good performances
and put themselves in a good position when we get
to March.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
He's the first freshman in Big twelve history with a
triple double. That's per ESPN Insight. That that makes sense
and thinking people around and national guys, Big Board, NBA
guys are starting to realize this is going to be
the number one overall recruit. They tried to make it.
Darren Peterson, Ah, he's got the best refined game. Oh
you look at this and hope I'm starting to see
(19:30):
from CBS Sports, starting to see from everybody the best
wing National Player of the Year Chase. You're starting to
see all of that coming to the mix, is starting
to come to fruition, honestly, and you mentioned, you know,
the month of December. I think he's averaged and this
is per Justin Young, right, you know, Justin Young does
a great job of recruiting. AJAST average twenty seven point
(19:52):
eight points per game in the month of December, eight rebounds,
five point seven assists, two point three steals on sixty
six percent, and it's just sixty five point nine, but
that's sixty six percent, shooting seventy seven point nine percent
from the freight throw line, twenty nine point four percent
from three two point five turnovers, and one foul Darnell
the entire month.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And he was arguing with the ref last game because
he got the foul in the Eastern Washington game, telling
him knowing he the only reason he didn't pick up
a technical foules because he didn't wave his hand, but
he was just shaking his head throwing his hands up.
So one foul is ridiculous. That's the biggest thing in
this stands out to me that he picked up one foul.
He definitely is one of one.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
He is in the last time we saw anything even
remotely close to this for BU basketball was in twenty
eleven the Jimmer for Dad. Plus AJ's handing out new
shoes to staff members and teammates and you know, so
he's had a pretty good month of December for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Definitely, Santa Claus came early for the BAU staff managers.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Everybody. Gregor Belt got his pair, took a picture of that. Crazy.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Didn't think that tweet was gonna blow up, but he did. Age.
Everybody loved that. AJ gave back, and he's given back
to the fans. So fans enjoy it while it lasts,
because it won't be around forever. I can guarantee you that,
no doubt about it. Here were Darnell Dixon of The
Daily Herald and Little Cougar Beat a Christmas Eve edition
of Cougar Sports on your Utah ESPN Radio Network Double
(21:20):
d Lists Finish up. I gotta talk a little volleyball
with you. A new volleyball coach has been hired. Rob
Robin Neilson is now the head coach of the boy
Umans volleyball team, and I feel like changes are already occurring.
Alex Bauer pulled out of the portal since they she'll
be returning back to BYU.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
This is a home run higher I believe.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
It is. And as we broke down a lot of
the candidates, there were some really strong candidates, including Rob
as well as Ryan Malar, former gold medalist and BYU
players coaching at Eastern Illinois, and there were some good candidates,
but I think Rob was somebody who it makes a
(22:01):
lot of sense. I love his experience as not only
a women's volleyball coach, but coaching with the men's national
team is a big deal. He's a former Cougar. I've
known Rob for a long time and he's kind of
a His approach is very quiet and focused. He's not
a real yeller, screamer, demonstrative kind of guy. But he's
(22:24):
obviously a really good volleyball coach. And when you're replacing
someone like Heather Olmsted, who won like eighty five percent
of for matches over the course of her career, you
need somebody to step in and do it right, and
you know Rob has got a lot of work to do.
It is great that Alex decided to come back, because
you know, when you have a setter, a veteran center.
(22:46):
That's a great start. He's going to be headed, you know,
to talk to some of the recruits that they've already
got committed to see. You know this is but he's
gonna put his own stamp on the program, and so
he'll bring in some of his own staff and some
of his own players. And it's an interesting time for
BYU women's volleyball because they've been so good for so long.
(23:08):
When they make a transition like this, you know, there's questions,
you know, can can they continue to maintain to be
a really good volleyball program? And I think Rob is
a guy who can do that.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, definitely a guy that can and do that, especially
when you won a national championship as a player too.
You can't take that experience away. When I read that,
you know that there's all of that encompasses experience into
what a coach should be. Got to ask you this,
double d any chances that the Big twelve freshman of
the year comes back, you know, are you able to
you know, I know a couple of people have already committed.
(23:39):
I haven't seen anything or got any update. I know
one of the girls has already committed to TCU. Is
there any way you can get her back? She had
a phenomenal season. Tough to lose a player like that
after one season.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, it is. It's disappointing because you know, Sully was
a really good freshman. Yeah, and you have to did
or that she would have, you know, continued to get
better and being an elite player. She has committed to
SMU and we'll be playing there next year. According to
what I've read, it is and you just move on.
(24:13):
I mean, that's that's just the place and the and
we live in a college sports world where moving around
is kind of is the norm now and not the exception,
even in women's sports. And so we wish Silly well
and b Yu just has to move on and find
players to step up and make some contributions. And I,
(24:35):
you know, I honestly don't know. You know, Rob probably
had some players committed to him to go to Utah State.
He may bring some of those. I expect there to
be quite a bit of turnover on the roster as
he gets to the point where he's comfortable with what
he's working with and they work his system. But it's
it's like I said, it's been a really good program
over the years high level, and when since moving to
(24:58):
the Big twelve, things have been a little tougher because
you're not beating up on Portland and Santa Clara and
Pacific like you were in the West Coast Conference. You're
playing some really good volleyball programs. And YU held its
own they you know, they they got to the NCAA
tournament and had some big wins against ranked teams. And
Rob is the guy that's in charge of trying to
(25:20):
keep that going and maybe making a little better.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yeah, definitely gonna be the guy in charge.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Are now gonna have to keep that going for Thank
you for the update on on Suley. Yeah, he's gonna
have to bring in his guys. And that's the air
of the nil on the transfer portal these days of
both And I did the numbers, and I've looked up
multiple studies. Kid averages about one point seven one point
eight times they transfer before they find their home, and
that's about two times, and we've seen that. Go look
(25:45):
at football. You can look at Darius last year. You
can look at Keilan Marion, you can look at Harrison Taggart,
you can look at multitudes of people you can look
at volleyball, you can look at soccer, as he stradding
me A Lopez. There's so many BYU players that you know,
end up finding a new home, and there's other players
that come.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
To North Carolina.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Right, I know that was crazy? Right you see is
it in North Carolina? That's pretty amazing.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
I know you're looking like, oh, okay, uh, but but
that's what I mean, and that that happens.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Right.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Look, killing Marion is of going to Miami, Miami Beach,
Texas A and m They're now the quarterfinal of the
college football playoffs. The PORTI it's going to give it
to b YU. But at the same darn darn time, Darnell,
like we talked about, it's going to take it too.
He's now at SMU. I think that's a good spot.
You know, is he at North Carolina? Quiland Marion went
to you know Miami. They're good spots where people go.
(26:32):
So this has to make you wonder about football. Can
you retain these guys? You know the new sat down
up als like, can you keep him? Can you keep this?
Siciliacnas if I Zach Glasker decides to come back for
his last year, can you keep him or is he
gonna end up elsewhere? That's just that's the state we're in.
If if people test the waters for their market, market
raid and you know they're not getting it, they will
(26:55):
be gone elsewhere. And I've been shocked by a lot
of the moves across all the b YU athletics, but
I also understand that's just today in times we live
in now.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
You know what's interesting is is you know, every college
football program, every major program, has a general manager. And
you know why now, there's just so much to organize,
especially in football when you start looking at a roster
of one hundred kids and you're trying to figure out
who's staying, who's going, and who do we want to retain?
Who are we going to say, hey, thanks for playing,
(27:24):
but you need to find someplace else to go. And
it's difficult in most sports, but football seems to be
probably the most complicated because of this er number of
athletes that you're dealing with.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Definitely too many athletes, too many numbers don't want that job.
But shout out to Dave George and uh, you know
what is it that I'm trying to remember? Goodness, gracious
basing the guy that for basketball the chief of staff.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Goodness, gracious, I don't know why my brain.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Is given a far Dug Stewart, but you pray that
all those guys, yeah, Doug, all those guys and you know,
George and every everybody across is is taking care of that.
You know you, Travis Hanson and and the b A
Legs department, they do a phenomenal job.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
So you got to give credit double D before I
let you go. What's the best way we can support
you what you do and how you do it?
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, Harold Extra dot com is where all of our
work is done.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
I'm working on a big twelve men's basketball preview for
next week when the Cougars get get into it, and
it's it's interesting to look up to see how other
programs have been handling the non conference slate and who's
gonna play and who's been you know there, there's so
many changes on those rosters as well, and so that's
(28:37):
that's what I'm working on next.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Definitely a preview.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
You and I are going to have to put in
their request for TCU's Tanner tools and to talk to
Tully his journey from b YU to u VU back
into the Big two of TCU b y you will
take them on in a home game here not to
not too far down the road. So a lot of
talent everywhere across all of college athletics from Utah all across,
(29:01):
so I will definitely keep it tuned in. Go to
Herald Extra dot com slash sports to see Double D
and to see Brandes sy Gurney the g Man. They
do great work over there, Double D mayor Christmas. Happy holidays, brother,
We'll catch up with you next week. It was well,
that was Darnel Dixon of The Daily Hair. Appreciate him
joining me today for a special Christmas Eve edition of
Cougar Sports here on one on three, nine and ninety
(29:23):
eight three. That second was brought to you by Orthroposo
Utah dot com. Guys, if you are in pain and
you're dealing with an injury or muscular skeletal pain at
Orthropros were providing a ray of orthopedic and sports medicine
devices that can help in aid and support you to
get back to the activities you enjoy. Lip pain free today,
please give us a called eight zero one four hundred
five through in eight that's eight zero one, four hundred
(29:44):
five through in eight, or go to Orthroposofutah dot com.
Dis schedule your appointment. There we'll go to break, don't
go anywhere. Still a lot more to get to on
a Christmas even, No excuse me. December twenty fourth edition
of Cougar Sports here on one O three nine and
ninety eight three
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