4-22-25 - Hour 3 - Should Rob Wright III’s hand surgery be a concern for BYU fans?

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

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

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You were listening to Cougar Sports with Ben Krettle, and
it's time for.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
A Cougar insider report.

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Now, let's get that proprietary inside scoop on Cougar Sports
from Crittle.

Speaker 3 (00:11):
Yeah, buddy, welcome back to Cougar Sports. Here one of
three point nine to ninety point three hesd me and
the fan Ronald the three man we were holding it down,
been critical, stepped out for a moment. He'll be back shortly,
Sean Walker of Kids sol By my side, just got
off the line with Legend Glasker, the three star wide

(00:32):
receiver out of Lehigh High School. Sean, I'll just get
your take really quickly. What do you like about this kid? Legacy?

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Kid?

Speaker 3 (00:40):
I say legacy. His parents played mom ran track at
University of Utah, dad played football at Utah Tech. Obviously,
his uncle, Isaiah Glasker's dad played Major League Baseball. His
cousin Isaiah's balling out. How is it going to be
now having another Glasger on the field, but now one
on the off offensive side of the ball, not the

(01:01):
defensive side. Yeah, that's that's the thing right there, ron Is.

Speaker 4 (01:06):
I love players who are versatile and Legendlaskar screams versatility
to be six foot two one and seventy five pounds
right now, so he's got a little bit of room
to grow in a little bit of room to bulk
up in his final year of high school football. He's
currently a wide receiver, recruited partially as a wide receiver
and for good reason. Seven hundred and eighty one yards

(01:28):
eleven touchdowns in seven games last year for the Pioneers.
But he also played on special teams kick and punt return,
and he was a very good cornerback as well. So
he's he's a three star athlete by twenty four to
seven Sports. I wouldn't be shocked if this is a
guy who kind of gets in the gap. Maybe he
comes in as a wide receiver and coaches kind of
look at him and go, hey, there are a couple

(01:48):
of different places that legend can play offense, defense, special teams. Yeah,
maybe they even try to move him around two way
player Travis Hunter style. I'm just kidding, I'm kid, but
he's great.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (02:00):
No, he's a great player, super athletic. Uh And and
I think he's a really nice get for b YU
And speaking of insider report probably not going to be
the last one in the next month or so.

Speaker 3 (02:15):
Hm, what are you teasing? Rctor? You're gonn tweet out
the IMOGI again? Should I? I tweeted out right now.
I'm asking you, I'm doing some I'm doing some capital
j journalists. I'm asking a question. Are you going to
be putting out the imog's the people tweet It's my
job to ask the questions and ask those who are

(02:35):
the experts yourself. You know, what are the insider news
that that you seem to know about. You seem to
have some information.

Speaker 4 (02:42):
It's not it's not it's not totally my place to tell. Okay,
it's not complainingly my place to tell. So I can't
say anything definitively's.

Speaker 3 (02:51):
Returning the by just saying I'm just kidding. That's tugget
sheet guys. I just wanted to joke and throw a
lighthearted joke with everything going on. Oh broka, you can't
easy there, easy there, easy. Keep keep in mind you
get a Smith's solden shout out. Durwin Gray yesterday said
the only player that's allowed to be at Utah because
he wants to be aay to be Utah by fifty.

(03:12):
He said, that is Smith Solden. He says, Smith Solden.
It's the only player allowed. So that's a good kid,
and shout out to shout out to his dad. Shout
out to his dad, Will Will, friend of the program, Durwan, great,
friend of the program. I don't know if there are teammates,
but yeah, close. Apparently Smith is the only player that
could play at BUYU. I mean, excuse me, a utah.
Everybody else deserves whatever, but you know where you need

(03:34):
to play. Keep it, keep in mind, keep it.

Speaker 4 (03:35):
Just keep in mind though that the current recruiting window
is active, currentruiter is active.

Speaker 3 (03:42):
Wrong players acting. Lots of guys out there still in
the twenty twenty six class.

Speaker 4 (03:45):
There's some visits being had off campus visits, I should say,
coaches going out to make some visits. Calls are being made,
Texts are being sent unofficial yea passive.

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Official visits have been scheduled for the summer. But you uh,
you know u v's unofficials u o vs are on campus,
possibly as many as seven new commits. Seven new commits.
You're saying seven, Okay, you can get around number. I
just wanted a really magnificent numbers but you, but you are,
you are pontificating that there is going to be future. Yeah,

(04:18):
they're there.

Speaker 4 (04:19):
I have heard that there are a couple of players
that are getting they're getting close, close to potentially committing.
And b y U is very much in the mix.
Two or three multiple multiple four multiple.

Speaker 3 (04:32):
But you said not seven, not seven, So not seven,
not one, anywhere between somewhere between one and seven, yes,
anywhere between two to six. All right, we're down, We're
done joking. Well, you know you can't be two to
six at do you know where? You need to know
what's going on? You want to play the right way.
You gotta make sure that you get you taught. Rad
On services that's what are inside of reports, always brought
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(04:53):
your family from raid on, you gotta get a free
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Yes today, It's simple, easy and free. Don't live with

(05:13):
the back car centergien in your home. Don't do it.
Trust me, it's crazy because you can develop cancer from
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so it's always interesting that that happens. So go to
Utah raid On Services, to Utah raid On Services dot com,
Slash ESPN nine sixty All right, let's get into your
inside a report basketball talk per the field of sixty eight.

(05:36):
This was yesterday. We didn't get to this Sean way
too early. Top twenty five goes as follows. We'll start
with those eleven through twenty five. All Burn coming in eleven,
Michigan at twelve, Ucla at thirteen, Alabama fourteen, Kansas fifteen.
Crazy with Darren Peterson does he makes your top fifteen team?
And Bill self and Kansas was so poo poo last year.

(06:00):
As we know, Florida number sixteen, that's crazy National champions.
Now you're sixteen. Be careful what you say. Sean number seventeen, Michigan,
State number eighteen, Arizona is surprised by that, right. I
know Caleb Love is departing. I know that who was
the big that they had their transfer to UNC of
Vasar Basar transfers to UNC. We know that Wisconsin number nineteen,

(06:22):
Iowa state number twenty, excuse me, Tennessee twenty one, Creaton
twenty two, Oregon twenty three, North Carolina twenty four. And
then Gonzaga not Gonzaga, Gonzaga, gotta Gonzaga number twenty or
then we get into the top ten. Saint John's at
number ten.

Speaker 4 (06:38):
Wait wait wait wait wait, hold on, so this was
eleven through twenty five, and that was eleven po listed.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
He's not listingfen is gonna be a little set ron
No no no wait wait wait wait wait wait wait
wait there, that's because you're entire you're ranked hire, not
eleven through twenty five. I got some better for you.
B defense, You're like wrong, Why are you cunting backwards?
So it's like just shut up and let me do it.
I can't trust me, don't make me. Not a nice guy.
Saint John's number ten, Duke the number one crew Cooper
Flag recruited, excuse me, declare for the NBA Draft yesterday.

(07:05):
By the way, they're number nine, Yukon number eight, Arkansas
number eleven, Texas Tech number six, Kentucky number five, the
Fighting Mark popes by You number four, Louisville number three,
per due number two. I'm really surprised by that. And

(07:25):
then of course we know the big dogs that run
the Big twelve, the other cooks, the COO GS cooks,
the Houston cooks, Houston leading the top number one, Rifley,
so I have to give them their respect. Kelvin Sampson
and crew. That's your way too early top twenty five, Sean.
So let's just first go through it before we get
to BYU. There was an update, by the way, was

(07:46):
update after that.

Speaker 4 (07:47):
Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky, Ian Jackson committed to Thank John.
There it is got baal to Kentucky into the top three.
Saint John's are the top five. You back to five
one spot down at number six, number six, so they
dropped the number six.

Speaker 3 (07:58):
There it is. So that was yesterday, like I said,
now today early top twenty five. But the point is BYU,
and I was gonna make this point anyway. It wasn't
to highlight their at number four. BYU has been top
ten and a lot of way too early Top twenty
five poles, CBS, Gary Parrish, now the field of sixty eight.
We know the work that they do, right, Jeff Goodman
and cru ESPISPN really likes them, right, Jeff Borzello's like

(08:22):
BYU has been ranked in the top ten. So I
have to ask you the question, Sean, right before you
getting the Big twelve talk and how the Big twelve
will be, do you really believe BYU is the top
ten team? Way too early? AJ debantsa AJ does make
you a top ten team. I just think until they
fill the rest of the roster out, I still feel
like they're top fifteen team. They're missing one or two

(08:44):
pieces depth wise for the eight to nine man rotation.
I still think you're missing the bona fide starting four
in the backup ball handler. What say you?

Speaker 5 (08:54):
Uh?

Speaker 6 (08:54):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (08:55):
I mean it's there's there's no question, a big, a
big chunk of YU early season, way too early season
love if you will. Uh is based on the AJDA
bons effect. Absolutely, I think a lot of it's also
assuming that Richie Saunders comes back. True Now he hasn't.
Until you said something, you haven't said something, right.

Speaker 3 (09:14):
That's the way it works.

Speaker 7 (09:15):
Now.

Speaker 4 (09:15):
Yeah, there's there's talk out there that maybe Richie could
flirt with the NBA. Is he a potential NBA draft pick?
Does that sway him to leave? Early or is he
all in on BYU? Is he coming back from the year,
hasn't said anything officially, And so until you say something,
you haven't said something.

Speaker 3 (09:30):
You said nothing. That's what it is. Until you said something,
you've said nothing. Until you said something, you said nothing exactly.
So uh.

Speaker 4 (09:35):
But if the assumption is that Richie Saunders bus leading
score last year comes back to pair with the Aja Bonsa,
to pair with Zavien Stan, to pair with a five
sharp point guard in Robert Right, to pair with Kata
who he's not said nothing he has said why rebounder
last year is coming back for next year plus some
nice bench pieces Mi Hilo Boskovich h sorry that we

(09:58):
highlight has said he's coming back. Dawson Baker is assumed
to come back as well.

Speaker 3 (10:02):
I'm gonna be honest, I don't think Dawson's ever gonna
post Dwon as a hooper. Dawson doesn't seem like a
guy to post. I could be proven wrong. I need
him to to so the fans could be like, see,
you're wrong, Ryan talk about basketball. You always act like
you do so that. But Dawson just seems like a
guy that's a hooper Dawson seems like he would get
up sean to the post game, knowing his personality of confidence, like, yo,

(10:25):
I don't need to post that I'm coming like he
just seems like all business at the end of the day.
Tell me I'm wrong.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
Anyway, his his Instagram page as well.

Speaker 3 (10:34):
You're gonna have to find Maddie also kind of gonna
to that a little bit.

Speaker 4 (10:38):
You look at you look at Dawson Baker's de bank
underscore two five. I'm looking at you right now. His
last one two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Speaker 3 (10:47):
Probably posted a mission and probably posted the white eighth nine.

Speaker 4 (10:52):
Uh yeah, So his last nine posts on Instagram have
been you know those collab posts when you collab with somebody.

Speaker 3 (10:59):
So six that's the last. So gonna he's gonna have
I told you what I'm saying. He probably posted about
him and his wife, but and maybe in the mission.
But outside of that, Dawson shout out to.

Speaker 4 (11:12):
Missus Baker, Maddie by the way, Maddy Baker shout out,
You're gonna have to try to get her off the show.

Speaker 3 (11:17):
Stop it. You're You're gonna have to. You're gonna have to.
He's gonna have to post it, and Dawson's gonna have
to accept the class. Anyway, back to the topic of
hands would off on that tender. I apologize Sean gonna
be distracted. B Yu. It's aj effect, like you said,
been top ten and all of these I think they're
top fifteen. I'm not disagreeing. I know a J. Makestuff,
but I just think when it comes to foul trouble

(11:40):
in depth, the two pieces you need to help. You
need to have two pieces right, and I don't see
that yet happening. So that's just my opinion. So hope
they didn't get the figured out. We need to back
a ball handle, a backup guard. In general, that's not
Dawson Baker. Nothing against Dawson. Maybe I'm wrong kicking become
running your offense, but I've been pretty on point about
guards have been in BYU system and even in Kevin

(12:01):
Young system. Dallon Hall did Dallon Hall things like I thought.
Dawson Baker wasn't that guy in Kevin Young's system the
first time, so I assume it would not change. He's
a pure elite score, a guy that can just go
get you a bucket, who can go create his own shot.
That's a nightmare. In the pick and roll, step back, mire,
range up and under. You name an attack in the
basket getting separation, that's Dawson running your set offense. No,

(12:23):
that's Rob Wright and then one more guy. Don't know
who they're gonna get, who they have to target. My
sources haven't told me anything. I know you're really big
on Martin Somerville. He's at Florida State. The league kid
is that commits from Princeton to Florida, Right, So where
do you turn? Now? Where do you turn to know
ag is gonna play some point? But I think something
that really elevated Richie Saunders, draft Stock and Ben I

(12:45):
talked about this last week is if Richie could somehow
get a handle. But I don't know if that's Richie's
game either or strength or a skill set. But you're
running a low on crunch time, and the reason being
the portal closes tomorrow for basketball. Now, whether it's at
twelve o one am start of the day or at
eleven fifty nine pm that night. The basketball portal closes

(13:06):
guys tomorrow Wednesday, April twenty third. It closes for football Friday,
April twenty fifth, so both programs, excuse me, both portals
are closing soon for the spring time, and you have
to figure out what you're gonna do. If you're a
guy going is gonna hop in. Guys maybe want to
get their commitment shoying to know there's talk about this.
I'll say this, Sean, and tell me if you agree.

(13:29):
A player like Darien Williams, Darian Williams, his name MA
Daryan Williams, if he commits to BAU, if he doesn't
like the feedback he's getting from the NBA and he commits,
the BAU signs the BAU BYU automatically. Not only is
the top ten team, I think they are a top
five bona fide team. Rob Right the third, Richie Saunders
if he comes back, AJ Debansta. You're talking about Darien

(13:54):
Williams at the four. That's the fust that you want.
That's your big twelve FoST That's a guy that can
play bully ball, Sean, that can shoot the three, that
can grab rebounds, that can defend on the perimeter. And
then you got Ki Vacated your five running it. That's
what you're looking for. Dawson Baker coming off the bench,
Mahilo Buckovic, Dominique Diamande, kadem A boot Kadem's there, Brody

(14:20):
calls Lowski Brody Hey Brody Xavian Styton, Right, I mean
too dramatic. The point is. The point is I just
named your I just named your ten to eleven man
rotation all those guys. You know, maybe I'm left off
my highlight Bucketvic, but those guys, and that's what I mean.

(14:40):
You gotta get one right. You love another backup guard
just to play it safe. But like in that's if
you don't get Darren Andre Stojakovic, right, son of you know,
the great NBA legend. We know his name. We don't
have to say it right, Jazz Fanzoen And that's why
I'm saying. That's why I'm not saying it right. Uh
three time I'll start and being a champion, but I

(15:02):
bring up him like, those two guys can help you.
Darien puts you in top five. Andre puts you top ten.
Skill sets right, both can play the four, can stretch
the floor right, different players, but you need that. And
Darien can run your offense too, don't get it twisted.
He can facilitate. So is that do they need one

(15:26):
of those two guys Seann to complete this roster. I
think you need more of a starting four. You need
a backup point guard. If I'm gonna be honest, yeah.

Speaker 4 (15:32):
I mean I think backup point guards that are number
one need right now. Keep in mind the transfer portal
window is closing this week.

Speaker 3 (15:39):
This That doesn't mean be why you can't add guys. No,
you guys just can't go. And I think, uh.

Speaker 4 (15:46):
I think some European prospects could also start to come
out of the book woodworks a little bit. Remember Diegor
Demon didn't officially signed with BYU until June, like May
or early June Junior last year. Act is coming from overcheas,
from overseas, so I think By committed, but it took time.
I think by you could tap that route again. Tim
Fanning still an assistant coach at b YU. He's going

(16:06):
to coach the Netherlands this summer, so heavy over there,
and can I be honest, I'll take you up on that.

Speaker 3 (16:13):
Actually, not that you bring up. I forgot about that.
Bringing a young point guard from that is a European
point guard that could be like Yegor right, a guy
that's gonna be here for two years, like a Ricky
Rubio type guy, a solid guy that can play great basketball. Right,
Ricky Rubio is a blue guy. Jazz Sali Yaws could.

Speaker 4 (16:33):
Count on him, right, Remember before before Yegor ended up
coming to b Yu B what you was also tangentially
we don't know exactly how much, but there was there
were at least talks. There was at least some connection
with another Spanish point guard and Hugo Gonzales Gonzalez like
he opted to stay.

Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, so like you think about that, like I just
bring it up because that that's the needs you're looking at.
You're looking at starting four and then backup ball handler,
backup guard to play it safe. But but that's your
way too early. Top twenty five guys, the field of sixty.

Speaker 4 (17:03):
Eight, I think even without that, though, Ron, this is
the top ten team, it's already a top ten te
top fifteen, this is already a top ten team for
one simple reason. Then the fact that this top ten
is for the most part bearing out by and I'm
gonna say something a little bit controversial here. I know
the transfer portal is all in vogue. That's where teams

(17:24):
like to build. They want to build through the portal
they want to build with guys who've been in college basketball,
but recruiting is still the lifeblood of college athletic. High
school players are still the lifeblood of college athletics. And
based off of BYU's recruiting class strictly their recruiting class
with the five shar Ajdabonsa two four stars and Samian
Statton in Chamberlain Burgess who's leaving on a mission this summer,

(17:47):
EAU has the number ten class in the country.

Speaker 3 (17:50):
I'm okay, so.

Speaker 4 (17:51):
They are top ten. They are a top ten recruiting class.
And with what they have when you pay a top
ten recruiting class, with what they have coming back Richie's.

Speaker 3 (18:00):
When Richie says he's coming back, there righting them before
Richie comes back, their top fifth again. Until you hear
something you've heard nothing. Well, that's what I'm saying, top
fIF ten, And let me clarify what I'm saying. I'm
not saying they're like fifteen. Ba's number eleven. The minute
they get Richie, they move into the top ten. That's
what I'm saying. We're on one spot that makes a difference, though,

(18:21):
getting Richie back makes a huge difference. No, Richie, No, Richie,
it's not no problem. You got a big problem. Actually
made your problem massive problem, right, gigantor you need to
make sure that you retain that guy, right and Dawson
now right, Like we got until tomorrow to see. But

(18:42):
I don't think anybody else is going to be going
into the portal. I think everybody you see that's gone
will be gone. Yeah, but that's your way. You're only
top twenty five per the field of sixty eight. That
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(19:04):
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eight oh one eight seven one zero seven one five.
That's eight oh one eight seven one zero seven one five.
Don't want any more to get to college football talk
coming up next here on Cougar Sports. One of three

(19:25):
point nine to ninety eight point three ESPN the Fan.

Speaker 1 (19:27):
You're listening to Cougar Sports and it's time for a
Cougar Byte Gota. Ben Crittle breaks down the latest soundbites
from Cougar Athletics here on one O three nine at
ninety eight three ESPN.

Speaker 8 (19:40):
I'm a fan, Welcome back Cougar Sports. One O three nine,
ninety eight point three ESPN The Fan. I'm been Crittle
broadcasting live from our Banterwealth Studios Banterwealth dot com.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
If you're looking to.

Speaker 8 (19:51):
Invest the right way, the sustainable way, UH hit up
our guys over at Batterwealth Batterwealth dot com. Get a
free Q and a scheduled over zoom over the phone
if you'd like to take away some gems. No obligation
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(20:13):
six seven eight nine eight. Let your money work for
you rather than you always working for your money. I've
always said on the show. It's been man. We've been
doing this since what twenty twelve. I talk a lot
about the aligning of the silos. Those that know, No,
you need alignment if you want to get anything done.

(20:35):
You got to have a vision, you got to pitch
it to the boarder trustees and then they have to
buy in and say, look, don't do it the right way,
win with all your heart, in my mind and strength
the right way.

Speaker 2 (20:47):
And with guys like.

Speaker 8 (20:49):
Gifford Nielsen in Vi Sikahemma now as seventies as you know,
in church leadership, high level church leadership, I feel like
now more than ever, you have advocacy for alignment and
it trickles down from the Border Trustees down to ces Gilbert,

(21:13):
the President, Shane Reeves, Keith four King, VP of Advancement,
all the way down to the Athletic department. That alignment
is becoming much more refined. And so Gifford Nielsen caught
up with Jerem Jordan Spencer Lynton on cruising with the
Cougars and his pitch, or rather his comments are going

(21:36):
to be reflective of what he's explaining to the Border
Trustees when discussing the importance of athletics and the importance
of football within the university.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
So let's get to it.

Speaker 8 (21:49):
Here's some of the thoughts from Gifford Nielsen just a
week ago on BYU Athletics and BYU Football.

Speaker 9 (21:56):
I've seen a lot of I'm seeing a lot of unity.
And it doesn't matter if you believe exactly the way
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints believe. I mean, we saw a perfect example this
year with Yegor. I mean, he comes here, he has
no idea what BYU's all about, and he comes here
and he absolutely loves the environment. He loves being.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
Taught, he loves to go to school, he.

Speaker 9 (22:24):
Loves seventeen thousand fans screaming at the top of their
lungs for their coups in the most appropriate way.

Speaker 2 (22:31):
And so how can you not like that?

Speaker 9 (22:34):
And I think that's I think we're getting really good
at teaching that this is a very unique place. It's
a place where you can come and you can be yourself.
You have rules that you live by a structure, but
all of those rules are very positive rules. If I
were a parent and I had an all star kid

(22:56):
and I saw what BYU represented and the support that
you get, not only in provo but around the world,
I want my kid to go there, and I want
my kid to do very well. And that's what's happening
right now.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
There you go, that's that's his pitch.

Speaker 1 (23:13):
That's it.

Speaker 8 (23:14):
That's what he's telling you know. He that's what he's
telling the Board of Trustees. As his messaging. He says unity,
I say alignment. Right, there's a unity in team, there's
a unity in organizational design within the athletic department, and
I think that unity is UH is on a fast

(23:34):
track up to the Board of Trustees. Now he brings
up some really good points with yeg Or. Yegor, like
everyone continues to say, Hey, the Yegor's the example, didn't
know anything about BYU and yet had a wonderful experience
in body into the culture and thrived, thrived there at Brigham.
It's an important pitch to the rest of the Board

(23:56):
of Trustees and to those that are overseeing the university.

Speaker 2 (24:01):
No, it's answer, buts about it now. Giff was asked a.

Speaker 8 (24:04):
Few more questions, maybe about the future of BYU football
and where it's trending and in the trajectory of BYU
athletics as a whole.

Speaker 2 (24:13):
This is what he had to say.

Speaker 10 (24:16):
The time spent of boy is so short for so
many of these athletes, yet it means so much to
so many people at what point in your life did
you realize, Oh, wow, what I did during that time
in Provo will last forever for a lot of people.

Speaker 9 (24:31):
Well that's what has happened. You don't realize it at
the time. When you're playing as a young player. You
just want to go out and perform. You get your
coaches together and they give you a game plan and
you just go out and try to carry out that
game plan, and you don't really realize the significance of

(24:51):
the impact that it has later on in your life.
And so, you know, when we started, Lavelle was just
a young coach. He finally put me in and now
he's got a stadium named after him.

Speaker 2 (25:02):
You know, it's like I kept.

Speaker 9 (25:04):
Telling him that, and you know, he's got his comeback.
I took a slow quarterback and I made him an
All American. So we always had our little jokes going
back and forth, but at that time, we were establishing
something that we had no idea would get this big.

Speaker 2 (25:18):
But it has gotten this big.

Speaker 9 (25:19):
And I don't know if I've ever seen a time
where the momentum of what is happening playing football, basketball,
track and field, a volleyball, soccer. I mean, it's just
amazing what is happening at Brigham Young University and the
quality of athletes that want to come here to perform

(25:40):
and to do what they do best, hoping for that
dream of maybe going to professional the professional level, no
matter what sport it's in.

Speaker 3 (25:49):
It's really incredible what's going on right here, no question.
The trajectory of BYU Athletics clearly on the.

Speaker 8 (25:55):
Ride, clearly on the rise. It's important to hear from
individuals such as Gifford Nielsen about the future of Duay athletics.
If you care about you know, if you care about sport,
if you feel like it's a part of the talents
that have been gifted to the children of men to
showcase and have join rejoicing in their talents and abilities.

Speaker 2 (26:19):
So I love it. This is all about alignment.

Speaker 8 (26:22):
It's about alignment of the silos in my opinion, and
that messaging is impactful. Okay, No, IF's answered butts about it.
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April twenty second edition of Cougar Sports here on your

(27:21):
Utah ESPN or Radio Network one oh three nine in
ninety eight point three ESPN The Fan, No.

Speaker 1 (27:26):
The Cougar Student Athletes, get out player profile.

Speaker 3 (27:29):
Segments here on one oh.

Speaker 1 (27:31):
Three nine at ninety eight three ESPN The.

Speaker 8 (27:34):
Van, Welcome Backreger Sports one of three nine, ninety eight
point three ESPN The Fan. I've met Brittle broadcasting live
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eight five three three six seventy ninet eight. That's three
eight five three three six seventy nine eight Banterwealth, Banderwealth
dot com. And it's time for a little player profile.
Getting to know the new starting like Mike linebacker number
fifty four.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
Siali is Sarah. Now.

Speaker 8 (28:31):
I caught up with Sialy in spring ball, and we
have not only a kind of a media scrum SoundBite
so you can get to know him, but also my
one on one with Siai. Now this is fairly early
on in spring ball, but you can kind of get
to know him. If you haven't heard these interviews, if
you haven't heard these sound bites, you're gonna stay tuned.
The six foot three two and forty five pounds rechart
sophomore to Provo, Utah Timview High School, four star linebacker

(28:55):
coming to Brighamy's been riddled with some injuries. I had
a Liz franc injury and in his first year as
a BYU Cougar.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
He's back and ready to go.

Speaker 8 (29:04):
He's majors accounting, sneaks, speaks Samoan. Uncles are Ifo and Bele,
both played at BYU. Loves to read, especially The Art
of War by Sun Sue. I like that parents are
Peter and Pamela. And as I mentioned, four star recruit,
so you're gonna like to get to know him here
in this segment was recruited by Arizona, Cow, Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan,

(29:25):
Michigan State, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA,
usc Utah, Utah State, Virginia, and Washington State. This segment
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a company you trust with everything under the roof. Let's
get to it. My one on one with Sialia Sera
from springball.

Speaker 7 (30:49):
Linebacker, the must springball man. We'll get back to it.

Speaker 2 (30:54):
Get back to it. Number fifty four.

Speaker 8 (30:57):
What position you're playing right now in this spring ball
middle back, middle backer?

Speaker 2 (31:01):
Same position been placed.

Speaker 7 (31:02):
That you arrived Yep, same one.

Speaker 2 (31:04):
Well, it's great to see running around and healthy. Last
year we got to see.

Speaker 11 (31:09):
A little bit, yeah, intermittent early in the season, mid season,
but in the bowl game we saw si Ali unveil
had a great game in that bowl game of the
Alamo Bowl.

Speaker 8 (31:20):
Give us a little breakdown of what happened maybe last year,
give us a timeline of the events, and you know
what your health was like and how finally you were
able to crescendo that into a great bowl performance.

Speaker 7 (31:32):
Yeah, so just had a list.

Speaker 5 (31:34):
Frank injury unfortunately helped me out a little bit. Wasn't
really one hundred percent full goal beginning of the season,
was trying to keep on improving my injury, trying to
get better, slowly progressed, and then kind of around midseason
I felt really really good, but no, you didn't want
to take no chances, you know. So I saw the
field here and there, not too many times, but just

(31:57):
some of the times and then the game of the
season and they cout me loose and they said go play,
and so it was fun.

Speaker 7 (32:03):
I gotta play a lot in the in the last
game of the season. It was fun.

Speaker 8 (32:07):
What did what did you see from yourself in that game,
in particularly the alimal ball that you liked.

Speaker 5 (32:11):
I was able to, you know, loose a little bit.
You know, I think I didn't really think about my
foot too much anymore. The injury was kind of like
I was let go. Once I started playing. I just
caught that a gentleman.

Speaker 7 (32:23):
Rush and the passion for the game just kicked in
and it was good.

Speaker 8 (32:27):
Well, I was extremely impressed in that in that in
that bowl game.

Speaker 2 (32:32):
What did you learn about.

Speaker 8 (32:34):
This process this last year on and off the field
about yourself that can help you moving forward?

Speaker 5 (32:41):
Just it was lucky just trying to get better always,
you know, just like the injury was there, but you
always had to try to drive to like become better,
always work on new things, getting the playbook. But those
things improved over last season, and so in this upcoming run,
I'm excited to just showcase something that I got.

Speaker 8 (33:03):
So you're playing that middle linebacker position, who else is
in that room with you.

Speaker 2 (33:07):
In that middle linebacker.

Speaker 5 (33:09):
Room right now is just me and Harry, and then
we have Tyler Tyler as well. Time to pay on
the recruit that just came in and so us do
right now in the middle backer position.

Speaker 7 (33:18):
I mean have also had Naki as well. So yes,
we've been.

Speaker 5 (33:22):
All we're all just learning, you know, and keeping each
other up, you know, trying to learn from each other.

Speaker 7 (33:27):
And so it's been good.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
So what you're in eligibility? Are you now? I'm a
red shirt sophomore, And what are some of your goals
this springs off season? What do you got to do
to accomplish your goals?

Speaker 7 (33:38):
Uh?

Speaker 5 (33:38):
You know, just give it everything I got, you know,
I always continue to learn, never be settled from where
I'm at right now, and to just always listen to
our coaches because man, they have much many more years
of experience than I do. And Matt, Coach Hill and
Coachna and coach Chad, they've been getting me right, you know,
they've been helping me improve my game and improve my knowledge.

Speaker 7 (33:57):
On the game.

Speaker 5 (33:57):
And yeah, I wouldn't have wouldn't know anything and I
do right now without them.

Speaker 8 (34:02):
So it's been really good with your skill set, very versatile.
You can be a second level you are a second
level defender. You can always be a first level defender
and get involved in a lot of the pass rush too.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (34:12):
You see we call Jack Kelly sack Kelly, right, that
Sack Kelly Moniker. How is the mic linebacker involved in
the pass rush sometimes?

Speaker 5 (34:20):
Oh?

Speaker 7 (34:20):
Yeah, so we have a lot of blisses going lan
and so we'll be up in there. We'll be out
there on the line as well sometimes. But yeah, it's
been good.

Speaker 5 (34:27):
So we'll see a little a little action in the
chrenses as well.

Speaker 2 (34:31):
So how would you describe Justin In as a linebackers coach?

Speaker 7 (34:34):
Oh, he's he's.

Speaker 5 (34:36):
Oh man, there hasn't many things I could say to
describe what he is, but man, he's He'll always try
to push you to be the best to you. I
feel like that's what he prides himself on. It's always
not he won't sugarcoat anything. He'll tell you straight up,
tell you the truth.

Speaker 7 (34:52):
And man, that's that's all I need. Man, we don't want,
we don't really. I don't really like being around the
bust too much.

Speaker 5 (34:58):
He gets he's direct straight to the point, tells you
what he wants, tells you how to get better and so,
and to be honest, it's up to us as backers
to interpret him and interpret what he gives us and
to make ourselves better off the advice that he does.

Speaker 8 (35:13):
You've been in the j Hill defense now for a
couple of years. What do you think of the defense?

Speaker 2 (35:17):
What do you like about it?

Speaker 7 (35:18):
Our defense is gonna be We're gonna go to Natty.

Speaker 5 (35:20):
I'm telling you that right now. Our defense is is solid.
We're we're we're we're in second to No.

Speaker 9 (35:26):
One.

Speaker 7 (35:27):
Okay, we're we're always.

Speaker 5 (35:29):
I feel like we're gonna be like the first and
every single category of the defense this year, our defense
is just outstanding. We've come so far as the defense
since our first got here, because when I first got here,
ask him, Jay Hills defense first was introduced and it
was a little if there were Yeah, we were still
working on the little kings and stuff and I'm trying
to get better at it. But man, last year showed

(35:50):
you just how good we were and this year is
gonna be even better.

Speaker 8 (35:53):
Who has stood out to you on the defense in
the off season and into springball thus far? Anybody on
the defense side, you can high like.

Speaker 12 (36:03):
Let's see, let's see defensive line.

Speaker 7 (36:10):
I'm trying.

Speaker 2 (36:10):
I'm trying to think secondary.

Speaker 8 (36:12):
It could be in the weight room, you know, I mean,
who's been pushing weight in the weight room, who's been
looking good? And then also, I mean we're just we
only have a few practice under our belts right now.
We have been put on pads. So it's hard with springball,
you know. But who stood out maybe in the off
season and there.

Speaker 7 (36:25):
Coming in he's been a leader. He's been leading really
really well.

Speaker 5 (36:30):
He's come in taking that leadership role, helping us become better,
always pushing us.

Speaker 7 (36:36):
So he's been great, great to work with.

Speaker 5 (36:39):
There's also, uh, Bill Bills are really good.

Speaker 12 (36:44):
He's improving every Yes, Bill's doing real good.

Speaker 5 (36:49):
So is Sanni Tuala. He he's he's getting his physicality
is good.

Speaker 3 (36:56):
Man.

Speaker 5 (36:56):
And just all of our backers, to be honest with you,
all of our backers are standout guys.

Speaker 2 (37:01):
Is the best backup I think football history?

Speaker 7 (37:04):
Yes, I think we have the best back It's been.

Speaker 8 (37:07):
It's been good well offensively, who stood out to you
on the other side of the I know it's tough
to give love to the offense. But anybody that you
want to show some love to.

Speaker 5 (37:20):
Im, he's been He's he's a strong runner. He's a
very strong runner.

Speaker 2 (37:26):
You got to give love to timp you guys.

Speaker 7 (37:27):
Oh yeah, he's known that dude for him for a
long time.

Speaker 5 (37:32):
Just when he runs up that gap, he's got to
be prepared to take take a whole lot.

Speaker 7 (37:36):
Of uh and so he's got to make sure you
fill that gap. Well, he comes to that gap. So
he's been really, really good.

Speaker 8 (37:44):
Did you know that he was a d one running
back when he was at Tim, but guys didn't believe
in him.

Speaker 7 (37:49):
Believe he played running back, but he also played so
many other positions in high school.

Speaker 2 (37:53):
So he was a Swiss army.

Speaker 10 (37:54):
Yeah he was.

Speaker 5 (37:55):
He was utilized all over the place, so it was good.
But yeah, he's he's on the copy.

Speaker 8 (38:01):
Well, uh, you're coming off on eleven and two season
right as a team, how you stay humble, stay hungry?
Obviously you know you're you're talking big right now. Hey,
this defense is gonna be great. You have a lot
of confidence, But how can you guys still stay humble,
stay hungry. Going into a pivotal twenty twenty five offseason.

Speaker 7 (38:18):
To be honest that that season is in the past.
We kind of just forgot it, you know.

Speaker 5 (38:21):
We're also now just trying to get better on what
we know and what we've done so far, and so
we've honestly our biggest ball is to just keep improving. Yeah,
we had a good season last year eleven and two ugary,
but we were we are settling for eleven in too,
you know, we want to go thirteen and on in
the regular season and then get it, get a couple
of ball games on the way, you know, and so

(38:42):
but yeah, that's that's that's kind of our mindset right now.
We never really we're kind of really forgot last season.
We're never really thinking about last season at all. We're
kind of just focusing on who we are now, how
we get better, and how to keep shriving for like
greatness and improvement from now.

Speaker 8 (38:58):
Well, one last thing, a couple last things before I
let you go, I would like to highlight what you
do off the field.

Speaker 2 (39:04):
I know you're very studious. We've talked before. What are
you studying right now at b YU. What are you
looking to get.

Speaker 8 (39:10):
Into when the when the football you know, career ends
eventually after you've been in the league for ten years.

Speaker 5 (39:15):
Business management, so as that's where I'm taking my challenge too,
and so it's just been any like business management, also
accounting and.

Speaker 7 (39:23):
Finances where I'm I'm living to wards right now, so.

Speaker 2 (39:26):
It's been good keeping that GPA up.

Speaker 7 (39:28):
Of course, of course you got to yes, sir.

Speaker 8 (39:33):
It was fantastic catching up with him there in a
one on one format.

Speaker 2 (39:37):
As I mentioned, this segment.

Speaker 8 (39:38):
Brought to you by our good friends new sponsor here,
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(40:01):
A one a three nine four five zer one. That's
eight a one to eight three nine four five zero one.
And now Sally partook of because he was trending in
the right direction. Like look, as media members were always
privy to you know, who's bawling out because we're there
at practice, but also who the sid wants to put

(40:23):
in front of a microphone is also who's bawling out right,
so we'll see certain players trending in the right direction
and then it will be confirmed via the SID putting
out a guy in front of the microphone. So about
halfway through springball, fifty four was ushered in to the
front of the cameras and the microphone.

Speaker 2 (40:42):
We had a media scrum.

Speaker 8 (40:43):
Let's continue to get to know cialis er because he's
gonna be I mean, traditionally, the Mike linebacker is your
star of the defense.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
It's your leader of the defense. It's the heartbeat of
the defense.

Speaker 8 (40:55):
So Cially has big shoes to fill with Harrison Taggert,
Leavin and so let's continue to get to know him.
Media scrum during springball.

Speaker 7 (41:05):
Good.

Speaker 5 (41:06):
You know, it's been it's been a grind, but you know,
just trying to make that effort to get better every day.

Speaker 7 (41:10):
He's been good.

Speaker 6 (41:11):
He's kind of looking forward to the end of Uh.

Speaker 7 (41:14):
Yeah, it's it's good.

Speaker 5 (41:15):
But you know, the opportunity to be out here like
this with the Pats, you know, you're not able to
get that, you know during the summer when we're just training,
you know, so you just got to make the most
of this opportunity right now.

Speaker 6 (41:25):
So, how how's your health and how you missed the
last season.

Speaker 7 (41:29):
It's been good. Yeah, I just able to come back.

Speaker 5 (41:31):
It's like full speed, man, it's been good.

Speaker 2 (41:37):
I see.

Speaker 6 (41:38):
So basically, if I'm did they basically decide to redshirt you? Yes,
could you come back at the end if you want
to or at the end of the season.

Speaker 5 (41:48):
Yeah, So they didn't want they didn't want to risk
it overall, you know, just trying to just not re
injuring it again, you know. So, but they didn't come
at least during the ball game. So I was able
to play a lot more than.

Speaker 6 (42:00):
That's right, because you can play four AM with Yeah.
So what do you think of this linebackers unit? You
guys got its strength.

Speaker 5 (42:08):
It's probably the best the best line I'm backer whoever. Man,
this everyone we have now has the variation of speed
and size.

Speaker 7 (42:15):
And the strength all around.

Speaker 5 (42:17):
We had a lot of new young bucks coming in.
You know, they have the physicality that we expect out
of a linebacker. So it's been good. My linebacker chorus around.

Speaker 6 (42:28):
So I know they got the Mac and the Rover,
what what they have?

Speaker 7 (42:32):
You kind of slotted in as the macker the.

Speaker 6 (42:34):
Mac, so you're kind of behind what.

Speaker 3 (42:39):
Not?

Speaker 6 (42:39):
Jack Kelly and drama like, who do you?

Speaker 2 (42:42):
Who?

Speaker 6 (42:42):
Are you kind of behind Tagger? Oh, Harrison Tacker? Yeah, okay,
then you got Isaiah Glasker.

Speaker 7 (42:48):
That's so, I see.

Speaker 6 (42:50):
So what what is the expectations? Do you feel like
you guys can be as good as that group.

Speaker 5 (42:55):
Was last year?

Speaker 7 (42:55):
I think we can be even better.

Speaker 5 (42:57):
I think, you know, last year's in the past, you know,
you know, we're not really thinking about it much more,
but just with the mindset of just getting better at
his doctice every day, you know, whether it be in
the film room, whether it be on the field. You know,
it's just and so I think I think we've improved
so much from last year, and so I think we
will come back better.

Speaker 6 (43:14):
And stronger than any Gosh, what are your goals and
expectations for yourself?

Speaker 5 (43:19):
I wanted to start start this next upcoming season and
play play through all the games, not getting hurt, you know,
it's not a no injury, not missing anything, and just
trying to make that big twelve first team.

Speaker 9 (43:30):
You know.

Speaker 6 (43:31):
So that's pure in your third year in the program. Yes,
are you have you got a major yet?

Speaker 4 (43:36):
What?

Speaker 7 (43:37):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (43:37):
Business, I'll be doing business with this masterman and following
the footsteps of your bad Yes, yes, okay, he does
all the travel.

Speaker 6 (43:45):
Yeah, so, uh, we'll probably see him in Newark, that's coming.

Speaker 7 (43:50):
Oh yeah, he'll be down there. Yeah, he'll be over there.

Speaker 6 (43:55):
How would you kind of sum up your YU career
so far? What have you thought? It's obviously struggles.

Speaker 5 (44:00):
I mean, yeah, it's been good. You know, I love it,
you know, going with through school, you know, I love school.
Schools here is obviously a challenge, you know who I
use a talk taught academic program here in the US.
And also just the camaraderie I'm been able to build
with my teammates right now, you know, but I don't
I don't think I'd ever have that anywhere else, you know,

(44:21):
And so it's been an amazing journey for me. You know,
we had some ups and downs, you know, through the injuries,
but you know, I've had all.

Speaker 7 (44:27):
I've had my family here and as well as.

Speaker 5 (44:29):
My teammates and coaches to help me through it. And
so honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Speaker 8 (44:33):
You know.

Speaker 5 (44:33):
I love it here, and you know, yeah, it's been
really good.

Speaker 4 (44:39):
If I can just follow up to l on there earlier,
how do you, how do you guys kind of stayed
hungry have it coming on lass?

Speaker 2 (44:46):
Since then?

Speaker 6 (44:47):
What did you guys have a conboy? Probably spend what
you got to experience all.

Speaker 5 (44:51):
Yeah, to be honest, to be honest, last year, that
wasn't our goal. So we never really hit a good
We never really hit our goal. You know, winning the
ball game was you know, it was good, but we
wanted to go even further than that. And so it's
not we're not really like we're not thinking about it,
like it was a good season, you know, but it's
it's on the back burner of our minds right now.

Speaker 7 (45:12):
It's because overall.

Speaker 5 (45:13):
We really we wanted to go to the playoffs, look
and compete for that national championship, and that was our
goal back then. But you know, we you know, we
had those down those down games, and we could have
we could have smoked them out the water, and it
was it was just you know, some down days and
those down games. But that wasn't really our expectation to

(45:33):
end off the season like that. And so we're still
hungry for that, for that playoff seed, you know, and
we're trying to we're trying to go into that.

Speaker 7 (45:40):
The playoffs and compete for that national the national championship.

Speaker 3 (45:44):
It's the number one.

Speaker 4 (45:45):
It's kind of been the focus to sort of take
that next step and then maybe get back and.

Speaker 5 (45:49):
Get to that next step then as a defense and
as so as a defense right now, we're just trying
to get better every room.

Speaker 7 (45:55):
You know, we just not make the same mistakes we made.

Speaker 5 (45:57):
Last year, you know, trying to always improve and grow
from what our coaches are telling us, because you know,
there's you know, even though perfection, you know, you never know,
no one's ever perfect. But we for our defense is
we're striving to be perfect. And so that that's kind
of what we're going through right now and this this
off season springball and then so we'll go into same
with the same mentality in the summer and obviously fall

(46:19):
chemra two hit season and so but yeah, that's probably
how we're like, staying hungry and everything.

Speaker 8 (46:27):
Thanks you stay in humbles, staying hungry. I think that's
the motto of the off season for BYU football. We
had a five and seven season. B YU had the
worst recruiting you know, in the Big twelve from a
talent standpoint, b YU was in the bottom of the barrel.

Speaker 2 (46:50):
Let's be honest.

Speaker 8 (46:52):
Two and three star guys, for the most part, no
star guys coming out of high school. Guys didn't have
any offers coming out of high school, guys with only
BYU offers coming out of high school. And you went
and he went toe to toe with the big twelve.
You want eleven and two, baby with a win, a
Bowl win over prime Travis Hunter, Shudur Sanders Shoulder, the

(47:14):
greatest quarterback in Colorado football history, and he gets his
number retired. That's tongue in cheek. I don't believe it.
I don't believe that for a second. But you had
a great season, phenomenal season. Eleven and two. Some guys
are hitting the portal looking for a little cash money, right,

(47:37):
No one was entering the portal when you go five
and seven.

Speaker 2 (47:39):
Nobody wanted you. Nobody cared about you.

Speaker 8 (47:42):
They're like, yeah, prove it on the field, you win,
you produce, Okay, now's the time to capitalize.

Speaker 2 (47:51):
Is it about me or we?

Speaker 8 (47:52):
I think collectively the team is still about we. But
there was a few chinks in the armor. Right, key
players entering the portal can BYU football, stay hungry, stay humble, Okay,
that's your player profile. Can sially keep us humble in
hungry moving forward as a leader of that middle linebacker room.

(48:15):
That was a great segment, a little player profile segment.
Getting to know Sialia sera your new starting middle linebacker.
And he said it as much his goal was I
want to start. That was in the middle of springball.
Harrison Tagger may have been walking by, like what what
did he say?

Speaker 2 (48:32):
You want to start? You want to start?

Speaker 3 (48:35):
Huh?

Speaker 8 (48:35):
Gonna get through me? Four star, four star baby at
a corner canyon in Oregon. I produces like, uh uh,
I'm gonna be that starter. I'm about that action boss. Anyway,
we'll go to break. But that was a great segment.
Getting to know call Top Local Roofing right now eight
one eight three nine four five zero one. That's eight

(48:57):
O one eight three nine four five zero one and
get a quote a free inspection today. Top Local Roofing
a company you can trust with everything under the roof.
We'll go to break. Please don't go on anywhere more.
To get you on a Tuesday edition April twenty second
edition of Cougar Sports. Here on one O three nine
ninety eight point three ESPN the Fan.

Speaker 3 (49:18):
Welcome back.

Speaker 1 (49:18):
This of marches right around the corner and the Cougars
are in the metal of it. It's time to talk
some college basketball on Cougar Sports.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
With Ben Crittles.

Speaker 8 (49:28):
Welcome back Cougar Sports one O three nine ninety eight
point three, ESPN the Fan. I'm met Frital broadcasting live
from our band Erwealth banderwealth dot com studios. If you're
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(49:50):
com get a free Q and a no obligation to
invest call initiated today three and five through three six
seventy eight ninety eight. That's three eight five through three
six seven eight nine eight Batterwealth Batterwealth dot comed He's
stop for a little college basketball. B Why you just
received the commitment science Field deliver Rob Right the third

(50:10):
faller shot collar, twenty inch blades on the Impala. Rob
Wright's gonna be ballin' or will he? Apparently he just
underwent a surgical procedure on his right hand. What in
the sam hill is going on?

Speaker 2 (50:33):
Is this serious?

Speaker 4 (50:34):
Is this just a.

Speaker 8 (50:37):
Minimal, non invasive procedure. We're gonna break it down and
tell you what's going on here in this segment.

Speaker 2 (50:44):
It's gonna be.

Speaker 8 (50:45):
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you fifteen percent off your order, Rob Wright, Ronald the
three Man Weaver, he posted this recently, just today, and

(51:50):
I'll be honest, I'm a little bit concerned. I don't
like seeing surgical procedures performed. He says, successful surgery. Thank
you to all my supporters. Now this looks like a
like a boxer splint. Looks like maybe a third, fourth,
fifth digit splint.

Speaker 2 (52:13):
Ah, it's a bowler splint. It looks like.

Speaker 8 (52:18):
Hand wrist injuries on shooting hands are not good.

Speaker 2 (52:23):
I don't like it one one bit. Are you concerned?
Ronald three Man Weaver to.

Speaker 3 (52:29):
Take a small deviation shot out to Rob right on
first of all, retweeting Happy Easter and posted something on
his Instagram. So there's the bought in, you know, religious aspect.
But to your point, the most important question, Ben, No,
not a big deal. I mean, Isaiah Glaska said out
all of a springball, right.

Speaker 2 (52:47):
This is this is the football basketball. It's different.

Speaker 3 (52:51):
I understand it's different, but it's different because it's an
off season.

Speaker 8 (52:55):
He's a point guard. Yeah, he's a handler of balls.
He's a handler of balls, Ronald pauls.

Speaker 3 (53:04):
But let's continue on. I don't think it's that big
of a deal because it's an off season decision. Now,
if this was something that was done July August, that
would be more concerned. But for the fact that it's
done at April. He was going to have this surgery
whether he was at b Y, you were a stand
at Baylor, right, it was going to have to happen.

(53:26):
The question is how did he suffer this injury? How
severe is it? Where it happened. Did it happen in
the tournament? You know, did it happen in Big twelve?
You know, tournament play March Madness. That's what I want
to know about that. Where, when and how? Has it
something that he played through the whole season with Ben,
there's more to it because if he has had this

(53:47):
for the whole season, then I don't care if he
had surgery. It's better because if he played with the
bad hand, Ben and drop twenty two on you in
the Marriotte fourteen in the second half eight to eight
from the free throw line, guess what he's gonna do.
He gonna double that then next season. No, I don't
think it's that big of a deal. A hand is
different than you know, your shoulder, different than elbow in basketball,

(54:12):
and with the strength of conditions that which is all
NBA Michael Davey Right, Giannis has had worst injuries. I
feel like, I definitely think that Kevin Young and the
medical staff, the trains staff, his personal staff, he'll be
just fine. Not that big of a deal. It's April,
he's got May, Ben, June, July, August, September. He's got

(54:33):
five months to get us right. Not a big deal.
Goes later, I'd be worried.

Speaker 8 (54:37):
I don't like it, Ronnie, I don't like it when
hand risked thumb injuries occur with basketball players.

Speaker 3 (54:45):
I mean, Kobe had a broken and look what he did.

Speaker 8 (54:47):
Mean, it's different. Kobe is the Mamba. Kobe is one
of the greatest basketball players stever.

Speaker 3 (54:53):
Also played with a dislocated some halfway through the scene
in some season. Still look great. Rob Right models his
game after It's it's possible, Ben, you.

Speaker 2 (55:02):
Can heel up, heel up quickly.

Speaker 8 (55:08):
Is it concerning the timing though, Like, had he been
operated on and he's in the portal, would that have
affected his recruitment or did he have to get signed
delivered before going under the caniff?

Speaker 10 (55:18):
No?

Speaker 3 (55:19):
I think by you was set on what they were
set on respectfully. At end of day, I will give
you this question, which is.

Speaker 8 (55:24):
Does that lower the ni L? Does Brother Neil say,
you know what, Oh you're a little bit dinged, w
little inge. You gotta get your hands maybe to other
schools maybe, but I wonder I wondered during the the
Neil process. Okay, if we're gonna start to see oh yeah, absolutely,
that would definitely be a question. You know what I mean,
Like if if you're nicked up on, it's gonna But

(55:47):
what I'm saying is like you're gonna bring them in.
You're gonna you're gonna scan him with the with the
X rays, the MRIs, turn your head and cough.

Speaker 2 (55:54):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (55:55):
I feel you're coming. It's a valid question, though what
are we doing? Think about it?

Speaker 2 (55:58):
If you're I mean, are we a value waiting these individuals?
You're gonna pay like it's the donors. The donors are like.

Speaker 8 (56:05):
Hey, like, we'll pay you, but we're gonna evaluate your
body first.

Speaker 3 (56:10):
I think that conversation will be more had for BYU
basketball and going forward. If Rob Wright doesn't have a
good season, then you can have the discussion. But his
six seven months before the season begins, that's lots of
time to recover from a hander or wrist surgery, right, Ben.
And then on top of that, it was something that
was done into the offseason. Lots of guys go through

(56:30):
those things, right, Dawson Baker had a foot injury, he
was still on the team, you know, proved to be well.
Things happened right now, Awson did not play much last year. Well,
he had to shut it down and get the surgery. Like,
it didn't go well, right, so he had to they
had to get the surgery, get surgery again. Right, But
that he had been dealing with that since you know,
what is it? Uc Irvine Like, I would be more
concerned if it was a lower stremity injury. Yeah, exactly,

(56:52):
so we know with those that But I think he's okay.
I will say this because your point is valid. If
guys are coming with injuries or having nagators, what is
that like for the donors? Are you gonna start seeing
them require them to do a medical right before you
get your an ielder? I think that might be doing
too much, but it's a valid question. Now we'll say
this been him getting a surgery if he doesn't perform

(57:12):
up to expectations. This is gonna be something people will
go back on and point out. This will with how
much he's making to per per field of sixty eight,
not us, not for any local things. Making three million
is like missing three point shots. Now, Caleb has always
been a football player. He picked the wrong sport. Basketball
is not a strong shoot. Football is big, tight in

(57:34):
can box out. Some of the table might disagree with
me as they're pulling their mic down, But I think
this has been is more of a conversation in April
at the end of March, depending on how to be
what he does. If Robert doesn't perform, you're gonna talk
about that surgery, that money, all of that. Right, that's
gonna be a conversation. But right now, way too early
to overreact. Don't have any jerk reaction. Give it time

(57:56):
and again, six seven months out. I'm not concerned about this.

Speaker 8 (58:01):
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Speaker 2 (58:43):
Let's go to break, don't go anywhere more.

Speaker 8 (58:45):
To get to is always here on your Uti ESPN
Radio Network one h three nine ninety eight point three