Sean O'Connell takes over the mid-day talk show spot for Bill and joins for Bill's farewell + talks Utes

Sean O'Connell takes over the mid-day talk show spot for Bill and joins for Bill's farewell + talks Utes

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Bill Riley's got you covered on allthings sports. This is the Bill Riley
Show from the Valley Collision Studio.Let's get back to Phil because number one
sports god ESV at seven hundred.Final Friday here on the Bill Riley Show.
Good to be with you, noontimehour two, one hour down,

(00:23):
two hours to go, and thenI'm gonna have to leave the light on
for you. That's what Tom Bodettused to stay at Motel six. But
I'm gonna have to leave the lighton for somebody else to do this.
Moving forward, after twenty years hereat ESPN seven hundred, I'm moving on.
Got a great opportunity, really lookingforward to my opportunity at the University
of Utah to be their director ofBroadcasting and really dig in and help build

(00:47):
something amazing up there and continue onhis Voice of the Utes as well.
So I hate to vacate this chairbecause I've been here for twenty years,
but I knew that if I went, I'd have to help my bosses here
find somebody that that would that wouldfill this chair with the same type love
for radio and the station and themarket and the state and and just you

(01:08):
guys too. Uh that that we'vehad for so many years here, and
uh, there was there were therewere a bunch of people that came to
mind, but one guy we wezeroed in on pretty quickly. We'll be
taking over this slot from eleven untiltwo. He's a name that many of
you know already. Uh he's he'sa Salt Lake native and uh he's ironically

(01:29):
enough, been on this radio stationtoo. And it's funny how life sometimes
comes full circle. Uh. Thenew host of the midday show beginning Monday
here on ESPN seven hundred is noneother than my good friend Sean O'Connell.
OC. How are you. I'mdoing a great bit. How are you
doing? How are you holding upon the last Friday? Uh? Not

(01:49):
so good at times. I've beensurprised by a couple of things today.
Needless to say, the faucet's beenturned on a couple of times. Uh
may get turned on again, butall in all, hanging in there.
So we welcome back to the family. Yeah, thanks very much. I
can't tell you how excited I amobviously, you know. I love the

(02:12):
Salt Egg market, like you said, I love the sports culture we have
in Utah. I love ESPN sevenhundreds close ties with my alma mater,
and I'm over the moon to betaken over and hopefully, you know,
doing justice to the audience that you'vebuilt. Well. I don't have any
doubts you could do that. Andfor those who don't know, you know,

(02:36):
it's not like you haven't been onSalt Lake Radio hosting a show on
a regular basis. You've been guestingon this station for a long time.
But you've been, You've been.The radio game has not been something you've
been away from for a long time, has it. No. I've been
doing a daily show on Serious XMfor the last I guess about five and
a half years on their Pack twelvenetwork, and obviously the death of the

(02:59):
Past twelve conference put me into asituation where I had to find something else.
And uh, you know, we'regoing to hear from my co host,
Jeff Schwartz on that show. He'sgoing to join me to talk a
lot of NFL and national college footballstuff. But that's what That's what it's
been like, just covering things onthe national and conference level on the daily

(03:23):
basis. And now I get tofocus back in on the hometown, which
is which is awesome. By theway, is he what you've You've already
hired a big ten Duck insider tocome on the program I have. Yes,
he's my uh my NFL insider,my Kansas City Chiefs especially insider.
Yes, that's definitely a Ducks insiderand just a great friend of mine and

(03:49):
a guy who I had a realjoy doing a show with him for so
long. And you know our greatproducers over there, you know, similar
to you, it was something thatyou don't want to necessarily see ends different
circumstances. Obviously, you're having thisgreat opportunity at the university, and we're
happy for you. Wasn't happy tosee the Pack twelve thing go away,

(04:11):
but man, I thought I thoughtmaybe I was gonna take another swing at
radio and I would hopefully be onlike the MMA channel or something. So
I can't tell you how overjoyed Iwas when this unexpected chance to get back
to ESPN seven hundred came up.And I owe a lot to you for
keeping my name tip tip of thetongue for that. Uh. It's interesting

(04:34):
because you know Sean does the radiothing. But for those of you that
are fight fans too, you obviouslyknow of his background as a fighter last
couple of years. You're you're,You're, this is you know, you're,
You're kind of like me multiple jobs. In fact, I think you're
probably back east getting ready for afight right now doing TV right I'm in
too Falls, South Dakota. We'reon ESPN tonight. The main card will

(04:56):
be on ESPN at eight o'clock inSalt Lake, nine o'clock in Salt Lake.
So yeah, that's that's what I'vebeen doing as well. And after
I won the first PFL light heavyweightseason, they made me their play by
play guy and we've been distributed onESPN ever since, and that's been a
real joy. I worked alongside RandyKotor, who was a hero of mine

(05:17):
when I got into the game,and now I can call him a good
friend. Tyland Woodley's on the callwith me, and Dan Hardy is my
co host quite frequently, so it'spretty surreal. I have to pinch myself
sometimes, but but now I canhave two dream jobs and can't be mad
at that. Nope, I knowexactly how you feel because I had the
same thing. Sean O'Connell, thenew host of the midday show here by

(05:41):
the way if you come up,if you come up with a name,
I mean, I mean, ifyou want to keep the Bill Riley Show,
it's a pretty good brand. Itwill be awkward, but it's a
pretty good brand. But unless you'vegot something else that you'd like to throw
in there, I know you wouldlove that Bill, but we're gonna have
to go with something wildly creative andcompletely outside of the box. I think
we're going to go with the SeanO'Connell Show instead, So people are gonna

(06:01):
have to get used to that.It's got a decent ring to it.
It's got a decent ring to it, and it'd probably grow on me a
little bit. So yeah, ShanO'Connell Show beginning Monday eleven to two right
here on ESPN seven hundred. Imean, everybody's show is going to be
a little bit different. I know, you're going to keep a lot of
the same hallmarks. We're the homeof the Utes, you're a former ute,
you're very close with that coaching staffup there, so I know there's

(06:23):
gonna be a lot of utah.But but you know, for those that
missed you the first time around ornew to the market, what you know
it's a show that they know willevolve. But what do you want to
do with it. Well, look, we're gonna we're gonna concentrate heavily on
the utes and the Big twelve atthe conference level. I'm very excited to
have the in state rivalry back theHoly War being relevant again at a conference

(06:45):
game. So we'll talk a lotof utes. We'll talk a little BYU,
We'll talk you know, some BaylorBears and some Cowboys and Kansas State
Wildcats and all these teams that aregoing to be hunting for the utes.
We're going to lean into because Ithink that as the Soul Lake market grows
and a lot of people are movingin from out of town. You know,

(07:05):
there's this huge group of NFL fans, and I think we got to
serve with talk about you know,my beloved forty nine Ers, Broncos,
Seahawks, Chiefs, and look,we're a hockey town now. Bill So,
I was born and raised for thefirst half of my life in Minnesota.
On the first half of my childhoodin Minnesota, hockey was religion there.

(07:28):
Hockey is in my blood. Sowe're going to get into some hockey.
I've already got a bunch of hockeyinsiders lined up, and we're really
going to lean into the Utah HockeyClub, who I hope ends up being
named the Mammoths. But that's justmy that's just my vote. So yeah,
and obviously we'll have fun with theNBA and the Jazz too. The
Jazz are in that rebuild right now, so it'll be fun to follow that.

(07:50):
And for those that might be wondering, we can already tell you now
that Gordy will continue on in themid days. He wants to be part
of Sean's show of Sean will havehim. Gordy Chiasa on a weekly basis
will still be here on the airwavesof ESPN seven hundred. Absolutely he will.
Gordi a man who I learned fromevery time I talk to and who

(08:11):
shares my love of lists, Soyes, he is going to be on
the show. You and I.Well see there's the commonality that will transfer
from shows. My love of listis well known as well. I've got
several lists that I'll be going overat the end of the show today that
will probably put tears in my eyes, so I won't get to them right
now. But yes, nothing betterthan a good list, all right list

(08:35):
for me. The biggest challenge toUtah this year, the two or three
biggest challengers to Utah this year inthe Pac twelve or the Big twelve look
keeping the team healthy. It wasa challenge that we feel like it was
bad luck. They got snake bitlast year. I remember saying that about
Stanford like five years ago, andthey had a three year run of bad
luck. So keeping the team healthyis going to be the first challenge.

(08:58):
You got to find the right balanceof physicality, keeping the team identity being
a Kyle Whittingham team, but alsoyou know, protecting your important players and
making sure that you're keeping ammunition inthe clip so to speak, for game
days and not just spending it allin practice. That's a huge challenge.
And then just adapting to a newschedule, new rivalries, teams that already

(09:24):
hate you and your fan base becauseyou're coming in as kind of the king
of the castle. Everybody is goingto give the youths their best game the
same way that Utah and everyone elsein the Pac twelve gave their best games
to USC and to Oregon and toWashington. Utah is going to get that
from everybody in the Big Twelve.It's one of those dubious honors where it's

(09:48):
like, yeah, everyone is chasingwhat you have built, but that means
they're trying to kill you every singleweek. You don't have any off days,
and those are some huge challenges asthey head into this new conference.
It took him about eight or nineyears to become the hunted instead of the
hunter in the Pac twelve. Ithink they step in in year number one
and they're the hunted. I thinkI think they have the big target on

(10:11):
their back. One is the newbie, but two with all the outside noise
and hype, right absolutely, Andyou know they've earned thats not in this
Big twelve conference, but they've earnedthat with the consistency that they built in
identity, in talent roster, andobviously the coaching staff. And we're going
to go down to Big twelve Mediadays, Bill and that media poll is

(10:35):
going to come out and it's goingto be Utah at the top, and
you know, Kansas State is goingto be up there and Oklahoma State is
going to be up there. Butevery one of these died in the wall
Big twelve hardcore fans is going tolook at that Pole, and they're going
to hear the other coaches speak inthose complimentary terms about what Kyle Whittingham is
and what he has built, andit's going to boil the blood of players,

(10:58):
fan bases and everybody else who feelslike, hey, this new kid
on the block doesn't get to comein and be prom king. Well,
you got to stop them. Then, Yeah, it goes both ways.
I mean, respect is earned,but you know, respect can carry over.
Yet have they done it in theBig Twelve? No they haven't.
But it wasn't like they were doingit in the Big Sky or the AAC.

(11:20):
They were doing it in the Pactwelve. But to be fair,
the Pac twelve was better at thetop. The last couple of years of
the Big Twelve was you're absolutely right. I mean, you can take a
look at and people have done thisright. You break down Oklahoma State under
Mike Gundy, and you break downUtah under Kyle Whittingham, and you break
down Kansas State under two great coaches, right, and it's like, Okay,

(11:41):
there's a lot of similarity there.There's a lot of commonality in Bowl
performance, in postseason performance and recruitingclass performance and things like that. So
if you're willing to put Oklahoma Statein Kansas State, which every Big twelve
fan is, they're willing to propthose teams up, you have to be
willing to do it with the youths. Just based on the the data,
based on the analytics, based onthe evidence, you have to give credit

(12:05):
to this Utah football program. Andagain, all that only means so much
until you kick the ball off andyou start to play and you know your
physical style. You hope it translates. The speed of some of these offenses
and the way that they like tothrow the ball around and things like that
going to be a challenge for Utah. It's going to be far from easy.

(12:26):
Everyone knows that though. This isa team and a culture that has
been built through trial and unfortunately alot of error. Right they know exactly
what it takes to build from thebottom up and when you're at the top,
how to stay on top. SoI think that you know, there's
a lot of focus on this roster. There's a lot of focus among the
player personnel, not just the coaches, and that's going to be key for

(12:46):
the use. Do you agree withmy theory Utah is going to throw the
ball more this year than run it, absolutely, I think. So that's
the way the college football game istrending in the first place. And you
know they finally have the personnel todo so with that incredibly talented tight end
room, with Dorian Singer, withCam Rising at the quarterback position again,

(13:07):
and look, the running back roomis maybe not quite as stacked as it
has been in the past, atleast not proven talent at the University of
Utah. All of that lends itselfto opening up the offense a little bit
more and the old throw game,as Kyle Whittingham likes to call it,
being a bigger part of the offense. Let's be very clear here, the
hashtag throw game is what we callit with Kyle Whittingham. So I agree

(13:31):
with you. I think that'll becoming here soon. All right, my
friend, where can they find youon TV? This we they can find
you on the radio here Monday ateleven? Where can they find you this
weekend on TV? Show's actually gonnastart July eighth. So now, okay,
next Monday, we're gonna we're gonnahit the ground run in the week
of Big twelve Media Days, We'regonna, we're gonna really just dial in,

(13:54):
make sure that we've got all thebolts and the nuts and bolts of
the show put together, and thenwe're gonna really hit the round running on
July eighth. For now, tunein tonight on ESPN. I'll be calling
fights and we've got featherweights and welterweightshunting for a million dollar championship. If
you don't win tonight, you're notgoing to the playoffs. If you're not

(14:15):
in that playoff tournament, you're notwinning a million bucks. So desperation situation
for twenty fighters tonight trying to earnthose spots, and it really doesn't get
much better than that. Hey,Sean, I'm always here if you figure
out if you want me on theshow, I'm always there for you,
and do me a favor. Haveas much fun over the next twenty years
as I had for the last twentyyears here. Okay, Well, I

(14:37):
can tell people who are lamenting theloss of Bill Riley. Bill Riley's going
to be on my show every singleweek as long as we can fit it
into his schedule. You're not goingto lose out on the Voice of the
Youths. I promise you, we'regonna have Bill be a big part of
the show with youth football, youthbasketball, youth baseball, all of that
stuff. So I guess they didn'ttell you that was part of my contract.

(15:01):
But you're committed, pal, SteveJohnson already made that very clear.
He goes, I'm not gonna letyou go unless you promise you'll do this,
and I'm like done, I'm in. Plus I'm gonna miss talking on
the radio every day, so I'llbe happy to do it. Oh see,
thank you. I'm really excited foryou. Could not could not find
think of anybody better. Enjoy yourtrip this weekend. I'll talk to you

(15:22):
next week. All right, excitedfor you too, Bill. I know
you're gonna be emotional, but enjoyit. You've earned it. Take your
flowers, have some fun with thislast show. That's great. That's the
great Shat O'Connell. It will bethe Shan o'condall show. Damn man,
he must have thought long and hardabout that one coming up here beginning of
the eighth of July, right hereon ESPN seven hundred. See I'm already

(15:46):
out of the loop. I thoughthe was starting on Monday. See I'm
already out. They don't tell meanything anymore. He used to be the
program director here. What's going on? I'm excited for O see because he
loves doing radio, and like Isaid, for the LA he said it
too. For the last five anda half years he was doing a serious
XM PAC twelve radio show every singleday, sometimes by himself, mostly though

(16:10):
with Jeff Schwartz, who we love, by the way, too. Schwartz
is my chiefs inside. I reallyplayed there for a couple of years.
His brother played there longer. ButI like to bounce ideas on text off
of Jeff, so hopefully he'll stillreturn my text messages eight seven seven three
five three zero seven hundred. Sofor all of you that have been asking
me who's gonna take over? Thereyou go. The great Shouan O'Connell will

(16:33):
be in here a week from Monday, right here on ESPN seven hundred.
Couple of more text messages, bowlersright around the corner. Hey, Bill,
been listening for fifteen years. Thanksfor a great show. We'll miss
you on the air every day.You were great at what you did.
I'm sure you'll be just as greatin your new job. Good luck and
thank you well. I appreciate thatit's gonna be so much fun. It's
it's gonna be just it's hard toexplain to folks that aren't in the business,

(16:59):
but just when you begin seeing eventson ESPN Plus that are Utah related,
that's kind of part of my newIt's not all of it, but
that's a big part of my newworld now. And you'll be able to
see me on some of that stufftoo. So I'll be on the I'll
be in the ESPN Plus world andobviously on game days with football and basketball
and coaches shows too. Text message, Hey Bill, congrats on the new

(17:23):
gig. You've been the voice ofwhat will be looked at as the golden
era of Utah athletics. That's continuingand your show has been the best platform
for you news and contact. Excitedto see what you and your team develop
At the U sports related jazz shouldtear it down, started back up,
move on for the guys who haveany value, and go all in.

(17:44):
As far as men's basketball going toshow out, you're shocking the naysayers.
They may just do that. Ibring this up not that it's the exact
comparison, but I remember a yearago at this time, and I was
one of them. I didn't thinkb YU show very well in their first
year in the Big twelve. Andguess what, Mark Pope's a good coach.
Craig Smith's a good coach. Youjust have to get buy in from

(18:07):
your players. Now. I don'tknow what expectations will be. Maybe they're
picked sixteenth and they finished eleventh.But I do know Craig Smith teams are
going to be competitive and they've addedsome nice pieces. Now they've still got
two scholarships to fill, but itcan happen, no doubt about it.
Hey Bill, I've always been inawe of your work ethic. I could

(18:29):
never fathom how excellently you did yourmany jobs and responsibilities. You're a season
leader who has thirty plus years ofsports knowledge. Of you as the right
person for this awesome task of buildingthat sports network in broadcast departments. Thank
you for my eleven to two overthe past thirteen years. You'll be missed
well. Thank you for listening forthe past thirteen years. I can't thank

(18:55):
you enough for that text message.Bill, Thanks for the many years of
great radio. Have loved your insightand passion and great guests. Missed the
daily entertainment, but happy for youand your next opportunity, and glad you'll
continue as my voice of the utes. All the best. Yep, I'm
not going anywhere there. I loveI love all the things I do.

(19:17):
I love this radio show. I'mjust telling you right now. It would
have just took the perfect opportunity toget me out of this chair. But
the fact that I could still comeback on this show and Spence, this
show could still be on here ongame days and coaches shows makes it a
little bit easier. One more textand will break bowlers just around the corner.

(19:41):
Thanks Bill, I'm a BYU fan, still found your show to be
the best on the airwaves, almostenough to convince me to cheer for the
utes, almost enjoy the next phaseof your life's journey. Thank you.
I appreciate it, and I willsay this, I've got a list of
thank you I'm going to get toin the one o'clock hour, and there

(20:04):
are plenty of YU folks that goon that list as well. So text
message built. I started listening toyou when I was eighteen years old driving
home from work when you were withhands. I then switched careers and started
driving a truck. I listened toyou every day for the past fourteen years.

(20:25):
The only times I didn't listen waswhen I had a day off.
Feels like I'm losing a friend.I'm sad man, but I'm happy for
you. Thank you, Bill forthe many years. Yeah, you're not
losing a friend that much. Icould tell you. I appreciate your radio
friendship for the last fourteen years.Thank you. Catch me on game days

(20:48):
and when I make my appearances hereon these shows, and we'll go from
there. Eight seven seven three fivethree zero seven hundred. If I will
hold off on this, we'll holdoff on this. Craig Bowler, Jack
the Voice of the Jazz, gonnajoin us next, get some thoughts on

(21:11):
the draft. And then Craig kindof did the same thing years ago.
He used to host a daily radioshow, So we'll talk to him coming
up. Kansas City Boy to KansasCity Boy next here on the ESPN S
of an hundred