Ep. 2891 Monday

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is it right here?

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Combining a team of reporters, columnists, and commentators.

Speaker 3 (00:11):
Are you serious?

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Jack Ebling has brought thought provoking discussion.

Speaker 4 (00:15):
What are you doing?

Speaker 5 (00:16):
That's a dad in coaching, the same opinion.

Speaker 6 (00:19):
Customer, the one who decides when the future gets here?

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Oh no, just check the report?

Speaker 7 (00:27):
Are you married me? That game was fixed? And overall infotainment.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
I'll take Jim Arba, who done grease?

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Good to coming at you?

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Quiet?

Speaker 8 (00:39):
Please exactly fifteen seconds we'll be on the air.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
Thanks, big fella.

Speaker 5 (00:43):
Don't you ever come.

Speaker 7 (00:44):
Back here again?

Speaker 4 (00:44):
No arguments. Those are called ashtans.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
So buckle up.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
You're telling me it's time for the Drive with Jack Ebling.

Speaker 9 (00:53):
Yeah, for some reason or another, who signed a little
Cola Radio.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Great afternoon, mid Michigan and beyond, and welcome to the
Drive with Jack the Spotlight or Radio Network. Sixty eight
degrees and sunny. A beautiful Monday afternoon here in mid Michigan,
and it's particularly beautiful for Michigan State football fans. After
a forty two forty double overtime win over Boston College,

(01:23):
Jack Hebling here with my producer, Boston rob Rob. Let's
go right out to our guest line waiting patiently. Jay
Hugh Caulcrick. You hear him on Spartan radio and you
certainly remember him as one of the best touchdown backs
Michigan State has ever had. Jay hu, how would you
describe the game the other night? It was back and

(01:44):
forth and so many times it looked like one team
is going to take control and next thing you know it,
it flipped.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
Yeah, absolutely it what's the first of all? Thanks for
having me on. I really appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, it was.

Speaker 3 (01:58):
My voice is still recovering of the game. Uh, you know, yeah,
it was. It was a It was a crazy game,
you know, I believe you know, seven seven league changes,
six ties. You know, like you said, it was a
game of who was going to blink first? And at
the end. I liked the heart and the resolve that

(02:18):
the Spartans showed.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
Tell you, what does it do for a team to
have a game like that where you know what you're
capable of It's not a question anymore because you've already
done it. And conversely, how devastating would a loss have been?

Speaker 3 (02:39):
You know, I said going in, you know, that's that
was the measuring stick, you know for what type of
team and what type of season the Spartans were going
to have, you know, that game, you know, nothing against
Western Michigan. You know, on paper, you know, Michigan State
should be Western Michigan. That's why the schedule a game
like that. But anything can happen. But you know, Boston

(03:01):
College a team that you know, broke broke, broke the
hearts of Spartans last season. The way that they did it.
They're a well coached team. Bill O'Brien really gets this guy.
He's a great offensive mind. He gets his guys going
for that end. Uh. Their quarterback Dylan len Len again,

(03:21):
you know Alabama transferred Nick Saban wanted him to start
at Alabama, you know, and uh, but you know he
transferred here with uh with Bill O'Brien, they have that chemistry,
that history and uh, you know, I just think it
was a you know, the Spartans, you know, there's a
lot that they have to clean up on, you know,
especially defensively in the secondary. The defensive line couldn't you know,

(03:44):
get pressure on the quarterback. You know, the communications stuff there,
but there are lots of figure out. But you know,
it just showed, you know, they just kept battling. They
kept battling, they didn't fall apart. And a game like
that losing, you know, a game like that, if you're
gonna lose it, you talk about a defining season game.
You're almost want to be blown out if you're going
to lose it that way. But if you if the

(04:06):
Spartans were to go into that double overtime and lose
in double overtime, it will be tough to recover from that.
But they were able to do that, and now they
have that sense of belief they had. Hey, we face
adversity against a good team, a team that won bowling
last season, So we face adversity against them. You know,
now we can you know, move forward, Jahue.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do you like the way the schedule has set up
with a should win comfortably game against a MAC opponent
and then this one and it was pretty much a
pick them. There were people who thought that BC would
win and people thought Michigan State would win. The Vegas
line was close, and then another opportunity to maybe I

(04:50):
don't want to take anything for granted, but you're playing
Youngstown State before you go out to the West coast
and face USC and at eleven o'clock Eastern time kickoff
on the twentieth. So do you like the fact that
now you can see what you did against an equal
opponent and you've got a chance to work out some

(05:12):
of the problems before you get into Big ten play.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah? Absolutely, And I really like the way that the season,
that the season is shaping out that way, that Boston
College game being the second game and this Young Sound
State game. You know, once again a team on paper,
Spartan should be. Anything can happen on any given Saturday.
We all know that, but on paper, the Spartan should

(05:36):
win that game. And that also goes to the next
you know phase about being you know, what type of
team is this Spartans going to be? Are you going
to you know, you have a game that you're supposed
to win. Are you going to go out there and
do it in that dominant fashion so you can rest
players play some other guys. You know, they want to
go through a rotation of other people. So you know,

(05:57):
that's what that's the beauty about what the schedule has spend,
you know, so far this year and then you know,
get gear up for Big ten season.

Speaker 1 (06:08):
Jayu, I should know this, but what was your game
high for rushing. Michigan State.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
Rushing yards yep, a game high. I believe in Wisconsin
two thousand and four, I had one forty something. Wisconsin
was ranked fourth in the country when they came into
to playoffs. Yep.

Speaker 1 (06:33):
Michigan State is going to be facing a quarterback, quarterback
who has rushed for four hundred and nine yards in
the first two wins. You talk about a record school
record two hundred and sixty four yards. Again, this isn't
a running back, this is a quarterback. And so you're

(06:56):
talking about leading the nation in rushing with two hundred
the four point five yards per game, I don't even
know how you do that.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, you know, that's that's pretty intense for a quarterback
to have that. You know, those staffs there, so you
know once the end, you know. The good thing it
plays into the strength of the Michigan to say defense,
they have a pretty stout run defense. The previous week
against Western allowed only I believe it was twenty nine
yards of Russian and then last week allowing sixty seven

(07:28):
yards Russian. So it's it's you know, that's the strength
that you know playing into it. But it's gonna be
They're gonna have to swarm. They're gonna have to get
to the quarterback because he can't be elusive, because again too,
here is dual threat. He has the ability to throw
the football. This isn't it's like a traditional running back
where you can just gear up and tee up and say, hey,
he's going to run the ball off the balls in

(07:50):
his hands. So they're gonna have to, you know, be
on their keys. The secondary is going to be key here.
They can't get sucked up for the run and blow
a big coverage in the back.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
I guess I assume to you that if somebody is
rushing for two hundred and sixty four yards in a game,
it's gonna be like Lorenzo White, and he's going to
be getting the ball forty or fifty times.

Speaker 3 (08:12):
But this may only.

Speaker 1 (08:13):
Carried the ball ten times. So he averaged more than
twenty six yards of carry. And yeah he had some
long ones. I mean, you know, seventy eight yards. He
catches his breath and he's right back in there.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
Yeah, that's that's the that's the beauty of it. Uh,
you know, the kids athletic, he's a he's a you know,
he's a wiggly kid. He's he's he's not you know,
the biggest, but he's he's not very small either. So
you know, it's gonna it's gonna be it's gonna be
interesting to see what the Spartans can do against him, uh,
to you know, make at the end of the day.

(08:49):
You know, you know it's crazy downt Our pass defense
is not the best, but you want to force him
to throw the football.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Well, let's talk about Michigan State's running
game and got a big boost from Spartans quarterback Aiden
Shiles Saturday night. He had three big runs and they
needed all three to win that game against the Eagles.
But what is his mobility and use of his legs

(09:19):
do for this offense?

Speaker 3 (09:21):
You know, it makes some dynamic threat, you know both
you know, with the ball in it and you know
through the air and on the ground. The way that
he's elusive, the way he can get out of trouble. Uh,
you know, that's something that it's a matchup nightmare for
for opposing defenses. That's uh, those are times where the

(09:42):
defense has to play true eleven to eleven football because
they have to account for the quarterback's legs. This offseason
aiden was a you know, he put out some more
weight so he could you know, be more durable and
carry the ball more. So we're gonna see some you know,
cold runs for him, and you know, and then also
when things break down, you're going to see him use
his legs.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
And unlike a year ago Jayu when the pass blocking
was pretty good, Michigan State did a decent job of
keeping him upright, but very difficult time getting push on
the line of scrim engine. There were a lot of
there was a lot of contact in the backfield with
running backs. Now it looks like the running game is
more advanced than the pass protection, especially coming around the corners.

Speaker 3 (10:27):
Yeah, you know, the running the running game is more advanced,
and that that will be that will usually come quicker
than the pass protection because the pass protection, you know,
it's going to be the communication, the center getting up
there communicated where you know, who's plucking who? You know,
what type of defense are they in to? Said A
four down defense? Okay, so we have the four down

(10:48):
in a mic backer a learning the running back. Hey,
you have will to sky making sure all that communication happens,
you know, all within by the time to break the huddle,
that ten to twelve seconds that's left on the play clock,
So communication is huge. So I think you know that's
going to be the point there. And we've seen the
first two games. Michigan State has rotated offensive line and

(11:10):
they've played about seven or eight guys you know on
the offensive line, So it's going to be it's you know,
different series, different people in there. So they have to
find that cohesive offensive line, work on the communication, and
I think if they show up the communication, they can
have a complete team on the offensive side of the ball.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
We were debating that Saturday night after the game JAU
about using so many people up front, and it worked
for Mark Staton back in twenty thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen,
and the offensive line was fresher in the fourth quarter.
I don't know what percent of his yards he gained
in the fourth quarter, but Jeremy Langford was a really
good back in the last fifteen minutes, often because of

(11:53):
the offensive line advantage. But do you think that is
a good thing. Some people are saying, no, you have
to have cohesion and chemistry and you need those five
guys to know each other inside and out. Another said no,
if you have seven or eight offensive lineman, you got
to use them all.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
I think it's a good thing early. You know, in
college football, you don't have preseason games like you do
in the NFL, so you can, you know, work with
us and get guys real, real time, game time reps.
If you have guys that you feel like that can
play and play at the Big ten level, I think
it's good to get them those actions early. But I

(12:31):
would say, you know, after this game, going into Big
ten play, hey, you solidify your five starters and if
something goes you know, someone goes down or something. If
you have a guy that's coming in that have played
in front of seventy five thousand people, that's not going
to have that deer in the headlight looks, that's going
to you know, be able, you know, because he has
game time experience under his belt. So I think early

(12:54):
in the season that's a good thing if you can
afford it, if if your schedule allows it. But and
I think you know, with the way our schedule has been,
you know it allows it. So I think, you know,
after this week, I would expect to see more of
a studied, you know, core group of guys.

Speaker 1 (13:13):
Yeah, you see that in basketball, ju two where later
in the season they shortened the playing group. Maybe they
go from ten to eight or nine to seven, and
it might be the same thing an offensive line, where
you would have one or two reserves who could give
guys a blow, but you wouldn't be shuttling them in
like hockey line changes. Let's talk about Michigan State's running

(13:33):
back core, and we haven't seen Jason Clarizio yet. We
know that he has speed and quickness, but a lot
to learn, and he's been a little banged up. To
Elijah Tau, Tolliver hasn't gotten a lot of action. He
did have a touchdown run, but it was called back
Saturday night. He's also in there on a kick return,

(13:54):
but it's mostly been Mackai Frasier and Brandon Tullis. As
someone who was part of a tandem, you and Javon Ringer,
one of the best combinations that Michigan State has ever
had a pair of backs back there. What's the advantage
to having two backs as opposed to one.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
Yeah, I think it's a change of pace for the
It's tough for a defense. Uh, if you have one back,
that's a Let's just say, for example, a shifty guy
like Makai Frasier is you know, defense can they can
settle in and they can learn tendencies throughout the game. Hey,
if he's breaking this way, you know, be ready. He
could you know, make a jump cut, do this, do that.

(14:38):
Defense on the line. You know, the linebackers can play
the backside more because he likes to cut back. Uh,
So they can learn those tendencies. But if you have
two different backs, one that's shifty, one that's more powerful,
like we do here with this Texas duel, Yeah, you know,
it's it's it's a lot. You know, it's a different mindset.

(14:59):
You know, you you know you tackle tackle differently as
a as a defense because there's two different guys. You know,
you can't just you know, go for power against the
shifty guys because he can make you miss. But you
can't be you know, on your heels or on your
toes because power runner will run you over. So I
like the two back system and I think it elevates

(15:21):
both guys and you know, in this case, all three
guys when you when you get your opportunity to go
in there, I think they want to, you know, uh,
have success in play because even if you are in uh,
running back by committee, there's always a saying the hot
hands going to play and you you know, everyone's okay
with that. So whoever's hot at the time is going

(15:41):
to get the carry. So if you get an opportunity,
you better go in there and make the most of
it and catch fire.

Speaker 1 (15:48):
So these backs are not that different. I would say
Frasier is definitely quicker, maybe a little more elusive, but
he's a powerful runner too. He likes to to go
north and south. And tell Us is certainly a physical back,
but he has some decent speed too. They're kind of

(16:10):
different variations of the same thing. A little different in
size and maybe a tenth of a second or so.
But in terms of having that as a defender, are
you aware of who's in the game. When you and
Javan were in there, there was quite a difference. Everybody
knew that there was a you know, it was a hammer,
and then you had a guy who could could go

(16:32):
all the way. Uh for a defense. What problems does
that cause?

Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah, you have to study, you have to study for more.
You know what type of you know, if you know,
let's Frasers in the backfield, you know, you go back
and on the first two games and see, okay Frasers
in the backfield, they run with a twelve person Now
you know, two running back, two receivers, a tight end.
You know, you look at the personnel that's in there

(16:59):
for me and for what type of plays do they
like to do? They say outside zones? Do they you know?
Is he the pass catcher of the two? So you
spend more time studying film, you know when it's two
different backs, so those are you know, you can get
keys off those. So that's the positive of having two
productive running backs, Jayu.

Speaker 1 (17:21):
You'd like someone to have the elusiveness of Barry Sanders
and the power of Earl Campbell, but there aren't many
Barry Sanders's and Earl Campbell's out there for most running backs.
Is that something that can be taught or you either
have it and you don't. And is there a running

(17:41):
back that you would tell a young player coming up
who wants to carry the ball and maybe play college
football at that position, watch this guy you can learn something.

Speaker 5 (17:52):
Ah.

Speaker 3 (17:53):
Yeah, in the NFL, I would say a running back
that I love an admire Josh Jacob. I think he's
a He's a terrific running back. He's won one of
the best. And uh, I'll always say this with with
everything in college. Take a look at von Or ingerfilm.

(18:16):
You know that's the guy that had the combination of
speed and power he and he wasn't and he could
and also too something that you know people don't realize.
Savan You know, you can put him out in the
slot and you know he can run pretty good routes
as well too. So you know that guy had he
He was a back that could play all three all
three downs. He was a you know, all game type

(18:38):
of back. So we saw that his senior season.

Speaker 1 (18:43):
U saw that Javon could also motivate a crowd Saturday
with the presentation on the scoreboard. And we couldn't hear
that where we are in the media part. It's off
to your left and the windows are closed and we
have very difficult time hearing anything out there. But I

(19:03):
got enough texts afterwards to say that that was terrific,
that he did a good job with it.

Speaker 3 (19:08):
So something I think is going to be he certainly did.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
Yeah, it's going to be a staple and pre games
at Spartan Stadium. I do want to ask you one
question about Saturday George wasn't there. He was at the
Basketball Hall of Fame. We're going to have him on
a little later in the show. Dalton Schttler filled in.
I understand he did a great job. I was hearing
that during the game as well. And then we saw
the video of the two of you culminating in that

(19:35):
high five at the end of the game after Childs
found Amari Kelly. Oh, what was the difference working with
a new partner?

Speaker 3 (19:44):
You know, an easy thing for me is they're both
very good at what they do. They're both do a
very good job of painting a picture for the listeners
and you know, and make it easy for me to
just break down that picture that they painted for the listeners.
So that's that was something I'll sayciting Dalton. It was

(20:04):
great work with Dalton because he's high energy, so we
were just feeding off each other well, you know the whole.
You know, we're standing up you know in the broadcast
right and working with the legend like George. It's just
it's just learning, you know, learning the cadence, learning, you know,
different things with it. You know, take a take a breath,
let the crowd take it in. You know, those different things.

(20:27):
So they're both you know, terrific to work with, and
it was it was really cool, you know, within my
first two weeks up there, you know, getting the taste
of both of them.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
Well after being on the sideline, it looks like you're
having a lot of fun and you're really going to
enjoy that job. When it's twenty two degrees outside, when
you've got rain blowing sideways, standing next to George is
a pretty good place to be.

Speaker 3 (20:57):
Absolutely, it absolutely is. And you know, shout out to
Trey Moseley. He's getting his feet wet on the sidelines
and he's doing a pretty good job too.

Speaker 1 (21:07):
Yeah, we saw him. He stopped by to say hello,
and he's always a class act. I'm sure he's going
to be terrific too. Thanks so much for joining us,
Jay Hu. I look forward to seeing your Saturday.

Speaker 3 (21:18):
All right, Thank you. I appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (21:20):
Jay. You calcrick number thirty And if you know his
story from war torn Liberia and his migration to the
United States, it's phenomenal. It's an amazing story. And also
the book is it's certainly worth a read. We'll get
him back on and talk more about that. We will

(21:40):
be right back and we're gonna have Bob Trippy with us,
our director of Research, Captain Database up next on the
drive with Jack Game Day in East Lansing. Just got
taste here. One North Catch in the Bar is your
go to for unbeatable tailgate packages, perfect for fueling up
before sink your teeth into juicy burgers, hearty wraps, or

(22:04):
warm up with our famous One North Chili, a fan
favorite on crisp fall days by the Red Seater. Ordering
is a snap. Just call David at five one seven
nine hundred four MSU to get your crew game ready.
Open at ten am on weekend so you can grab
your spread and go. One North Kitchen and Bar. We're
great food and Spartan spirit collide go green.

Speaker 10 (22:31):
Apply today to become a school bus driver or bus
attendant with Dean Transportation. This summer, Dean is seeking compassionate
people to join their family led business. Dean is now
hiring for multiple roles throughout the area that offer paid training,
weekday and flexible hours, school breaks off, and most important,

(22:51):
an opportunity to make a difference in your community. Learn
more and apply at Dean jobs dot com. That's Dean Jobs.

Speaker 11 (23:02):
So it's been a while since you've had your jewelry
clean and inspected? Right, where will you go and who
will you trust with your most valuable and treasured heirlooms
At meadow Ar Jewelers for locations in Lansing Ochemists Jackson
and Portage. Jewelry isn't just our job, it's our passion.
Each and every piece entrusted in our care is thoroughly

(23:24):
inspected by our trained staff against damage or normal wear,
and we offer you, our customer, the highest level of
quality on repairs and custom designs. Whether it's worn out prongs,
channels or shanks, it's all handled with incredible care. Meatow
Our Jewelers and Lansing Ochemist Jackson and Portage want to
help you preserve your memories and offer you options on

(23:47):
creating new ones. Come in today for the cleaning and
inspection of your jewelry. We continue to work hard every
day to earn your confidence and trust.

Speaker 6 (23:57):
Matter Wardouels, Jack Gambling here with my good friend Matt
Sloan or Graph of Olchemists.

Speaker 12 (24:05):
Big summer here, Matt.

Speaker 13 (24:06):
That's right, Jack, We got the summer savings going on
right now at Graph Nissan and Graph Chevy of olchymists.
Great deals. We're offering zero percent financing on select vehicles
up to sixty months. If you're a Casto member. We
got extra rebates for that. We're getting fresh inventory every day.
It's been a great summer. We got great deals for you.

Speaker 12 (24:25):
Zero percent. Can't get much lower than that.

Speaker 4 (24:27):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 12 (24:28):
Topacy Matt in the gang here on West Grand riverd OKAMITHZ.

Speaker 1 (24:31):
They're making friends.

Speaker 14 (24:34):
Are you passionate about college sports? Foster Swift Sports Talk
is your go to podcast dedicated to addressing the hottest
topics in college athletics, including recruiting practices, nil, the trade,
portal collectives, and revenue generation.

Speaker 9 (24:47):
Join us as we bring you insights from student athletes,
college head coaches, administrators, and other industry leaders as they
share their experiences in this rapidly changing arena.

Speaker 14 (24:56):
Our mission is to share information and help educate student athletes, parents, coaches,
and other stakeholders with the knowledge, resources, and strategies they
need to make informed decisions and maximize each cold athlete's
potential for long term success. Check out our latest episode
where we're joined by Jeff Corian from the d Zone
to talk about high school recruiting to get his thoughts
on football teams and players to watch this season. Like

(25:18):
and subscribe to our YouTube and Facebook pages to watch
all of our episodes, or you can give us a
listen on any of your favorite podcasting platforms by simply
searching Foster Swift Sports Talk. Until next time, I'm your host,
Dave Russell.

Speaker 11 (25:34):
Do you wear a.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
Welcome back? It is a drive with Jack the Spotlight
Radio Network, Jackappling here with my producer Boston Rob. Rob.
You were watching the game Saturday night on television, I
believe correct, Yes, yes, so well you were home a
lot sooner than we were to say that.

Speaker 9 (26:03):
Yeah, that was the most certainly a late one. What
you were telling me after we talked over the weekend,
what you didn't get home to what two or three?
Which is right up your alley?

Speaker 1 (26:11):
Well, yeah, it wasn't from that. I was actually doing
what I do late at night, but there were people
who were actually working, yeah, till one thirty.

Speaker 9 (26:22):
I believe our next guest was one of them.

Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
He was pretty quick though. He's got his stuff ready
to go. Bob Trippy knows how to cover a game
on deadline, trust me. After all of his days working
for the wire services. You know, some guys when I
worked for the Lansing State Journal, I had three or
four ideas, but I wasn't sure what I was writing
until I got back from the postgame interviews. And Trippy

(26:49):
ninety percent of his work is done by then.

Speaker 9 (26:51):
So, but it was such a back and forth game.
You couldn't really write until it was done right, right, Bob.

Speaker 1 (26:58):
How do you do that back?

Speaker 7 (27:00):
Well, you know, it's kind of funny. You know, we're
required to have the story ready ten minutes after the
game ends. Yeah, so you know, I had my first
lead set that you know, I figured after Connington got
the field goal there that Michigan State was going to
win the game. And then of course, you know, they

(27:22):
come down, Boston College comes down, they tie the game up.
I'm like, okay, we're going into overtime. And so the
first overtime, you know, it was kind of just like
one of those ones where you end up thinking that, okay,
we're going to the second overtime and here here it is.
Boston College comes out and they score, but they don't

(27:42):
get the two point conversion. So I kind of had
a feel that Michigan State may not score, so I
had to write another lead that Boston College won, and
you know, Michigan State didn't was unable to score. And
then what happened. Michigan State goes out there and they
scored due to two point conversion, and so I had

(28:04):
another lead to write. So it was it was just
it was quite interesting to do it. But you know
what I still hadn't done within the ten minutes that
they want me to. And you know the other thing too,
is is you know, I have to file a second
story based off the first one about an hour, within
an hour after the game has ended. So I was

(28:26):
there by myself on Saturday night. So I had to
get quotes from Boston College, the Boston College coach, and
then I had to be in the Michigan State prescott.
Well there's no unsavable way I could be in two
places at once, but luckily I was able to get
the quotes, a couple of quotes from Bill O'Brien, and

(28:47):
while all the Michigan State people were talking and all that,
I'm sitting over there and I madgine them into the
story that was already edited on the wire, and all
I needed to do was just add the quotes in
from you know, the Michigan State players in that, and
you know I was out of there. I think I
was out of there close to I think it was

(29:10):
ten to one something like that one. So yeah, yeah,
so you know I got home it was it was
one forty five. So you know, I was just joking.
I was joking someone a little while ago. I said,
I'm so glad I'm not covering the Michigan State at
Southern Kale game. Oh my god, you know it was.

(29:32):
You know, I had heard it was going to be
at three thirty pm, you know, our time, and then
when I heard what the actual time is eleven pm
our time, I'm thinking, oh god, I'm going to need
to take a nap that day.

Speaker 1 (29:49):
I will be out there and I'm looking forward to it.
I may be the only pervert who is looking forward
to that, but I don't go to bed till five am,
so this is just fine for me. This is my
prime time. And you know the game starts at at
noon here to me, that is way too early. Hate

(30:09):
noon games. So from this standpoint, it's going to be
eleven o'clock. And you know that's that's good. I watch
a lot of games till two thirty in the morning.

Speaker 7 (30:20):
Well, Jack, if you do, if you are going there,
you may see history made. Because just remember this, I just.

Speaker 5 (30:28):
Looked it up.

Speaker 3 (30:29):
For Michigan State.

Speaker 7 (30:31):
When they go out there, they have not won a
game on the West coast it's California, Oregon, or Washington
since nineteen fifty seven, a regular season game. They've won
bowl games, yes, they not want regular season game since
nineteen fifty seven.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
So Arizona either, right, they've lost twice at Arizona State.
I was there for that one, yeah, nineteen eighty four.
But other than that, they haven't played out there that often.
It's not like they played a year. But yeah, I mean,
and how many teams have gone out and one at
USC Michigan can say the same thing. They haven't won out.

Speaker 7 (31:12):
There either, right, right, Yeah, it's you know, it's one
thing when you go out there, but you know, you
do see some of these West Coast teams come here,
you know, to the Midwest of the East and they win.
You know, it's it's kind of an advantage for them.
And in some cases, depending on what time the game starts.
So you know, if I'm in Michigan State, I go

(31:33):
out there a couple of days early and try to get,
you know, accustomed to the to the time difference, because
you know it's gonna be eleven o'clocks in their body.
And I know they're young, young guys and everything like that,
and they can handle stuff like that because they're probably
up until two in the morning anyways. But you know,
I still remember when Michigan State went out there and
played Arizona State, you know, and that was that was

(31:55):
just got ugly.

Speaker 1 (31:57):
Well and and that was so incredibly hot. I mean,
it was unbelievably hot. And you'll appreciate this, Bob. It
wouldn't affect you as much, but it sure did some
of the fat media types. The press box elevator broke
and these guys had to climb you know how high

(32:19):
a press box is, or up on the eighth floor.
You couldn't get any higher unless you sat on the roof.
And they had a couple guys there pass out. I mean,
they're just couldn't get up there. Graham Couch got up
to the press box. I'll never forget standing there and
he looked like he had a sprinkler coming out of
his forehead. I said, you know what they should have

(32:40):
done is put a paved shower up there, and they
could have charged twenty bucks for these media members to
cool off. So it was kind of wild. But that's
two weeks away. Actually now it is twelve days away.
I'm going out on Thursday morning, so I'll be out
there for a while. I'm gonna actually we see a

(33:00):
Dodgers game. Never been to Dodgers Stadium, so I'm gonna
see the Giants and the Dodgers out there and see
some friends. But Michigan State has some work to do
before that. Facing a two and zero Youngstown State team,
and I can hear people are ray saying, oh, Youngstown State,
what are they? You know, they are many times FCS champion,

(33:23):
and we know that it's where Jim Tressel was so
sensational and Mark D'Antonio cut his coaching teeth and so
many other great leaaders have gone through Youngstown here. And
they have a quarterback, quarterback Bob Baul bruntguard and Saturday
he carried the ball ten times for two hundred and

(33:47):
sixty four yards. Yeah, yeah, you know, twenty six yards.

Speaker 7 (33:55):
I still say with the talent in Michigan State has
you know, they should win the game, you know, and
I would be totally shot otherwise because I'm covering the game,
and you know, it was I just went out there
a little while ago to take a look at where
Michigan State stacks up in terms of you know, NCAA

(34:15):
stats and everything as far as rushing defense, and right
now they're sitting at number eight in the country. They
only a lot have a lot of forty eight yards
per game, and you know, I can't say the same
about the passing defense. I'd be more concerned about the
passing If you would have told me that the guy
throws for five six hundred yards a game, I'd say
it's going to be a much closer game than it

(34:37):
needs to be. But when you tell me that the quarterback,
you know, ran for over two hundred yards, and I'm
not too concerned with that.

Speaker 3 (34:46):
I think they're doing a.

Speaker 7 (34:47):
Good job, you know, as far as stopping to run.
It's the thing that concerns me the most and everybody
else is the fact that, you know, the pass defense
is not there. I mean it's there, but it's you know,
not to the level it needs to be. Before you
start facing teams that have a very good quarterback that

(35:07):
could throw the ball. And you know, we saw that
with Dylan Lonigan from Boston College who went out there
and he was basically carving him up. I mean, whatever
he wanted to do, he was doing it. And that's why,
you know, for Michigan State to come out of them
with with a victory, whether it be overtime of regulation,
you know, I think it says a lot. It's still
a power for a win.

Speaker 3 (35:28):
And you know.

Speaker 7 (35:30):
That Dylan line again, he's he's a very talented quarterback,
you know, and I think that by the time this
season is done, you're gonna hear a lot in his
name mentioned a lot more because he's gonna cost him
fits for other teams. Their problem Boston College was that
you know, they weren't able to stop aiding Childs. They
didn't have an answer for Aiden child and you know,

(35:53):
they also don't have a rushing game, which is a
huge problem for them. So uh, you know, for Michigan State,
I saw improvement and you know on the offense, but
defensively other than the stop.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
In the run, I think that.

Speaker 7 (36:12):
You know, they need to work on the past defense.
And I know they were mission Nakai Martinez.

Speaker 1 (36:18):
And best defensive back. Yeah, they haven't had an so yeah,
I think your fee safety, he was your best guy
in the back end out and then they were also
they had other injuries back there, and they had some
problems at the corner, no question. But I'm looking at
the week before Okay and against Western Michigan. Western Michigan

(36:39):
used two quarterbacks, but the completion percentage was less than
fifty percent, sixteen for thirty three, and there was one interception,
no touchdowns. So I would give the pass defense there
a pretty good grade. But a lot of that, Bob
was due to the pressure, the fact that there were

(37:00):
four sacks and a dozen hurries. So when you don't
have pressure on the quarterback, then things can change. But
Dylan Laergan was in some people's minds the best quarterback
at Alabama when he was there and didn't get on
the field. Bill O'Brien certainly thought he was, and I

(37:24):
think you're going to see some big things from this
guy the rest of the way. He also has two
or three NFL receivers on that team, and we know
that Bill O'Brien can scheme with anybody, getting guys open
and They weren't just a little open. They were wide open.

Speaker 7 (37:44):
Yeah, they were, you know, And that's why I'm watching
this game and I'm thinking this is this is not
a game that's playing in the Michigan State's hands. And
if it weren't for you know, Aidan Chiles, you know,
guiding a team like he did and some of those
catches made by some of the receivers, you know, right now,

(38:05):
we'd be talking about team that's one and one because.

Speaker 3 (38:10):
I think I think they're fortunate to have come.

Speaker 7 (38:12):
Away with a winning that game. You know, I'm did
they deserve to win? And that's debatable. They just they
got to play that Boston College could.

Speaker 3 (38:23):
Not do, you know.

Speaker 1 (38:25):
Yeah, so hey, all it would have taken is for
Martin Connington to not be accurate on a fifty yard
field goal in his first collegiate attempt, and the narrative
is completely different. Michigan State is one and one today
and everyone is questioning whether Jonathan Smith is the right guy.
We know that there were some fan reaction to him

(38:47):
going off the field at halftime. I think it would
be one hundred and eighty degrees different had Michigan State
just missed one kick maybe they have an extra point blocked,
and suddenly today it's doom and gloom and everyone's asking
when does basketball start?

Speaker 7 (39:06):
Kind of sounds like Lions fans today. It's like the
doom and gloom. My god, the season just started and everything.
Give them a break. You know, the same thing with
college football. We're going into week three now, you know, uh,
right now, And you and I talked before the game
where there were you know, there was a little puss

(39:27):
there that people were jumping off the Michigan State bandwagon
and even you know, some were calling for the coach
to be fired, and you know all that, and now
you won and you're you know, more than likely going
to be three and zero, and then you had to
sell the Southern Cane for a game to you know,
see how you match up with them, and you know,

(39:47):
it's an improved team. I really think it's an improved
team based.

Speaker 3 (39:51):
Off of what I see.

Speaker 7 (39:52):
It looks like they're still trying to figure out the
offensive line in terms of what's the combination that works
best out there. But there are you know, there are
some holes there that just you know, wow, you know.

Speaker 1 (40:05):
No one ever said this was going to be a
perfect team. This team was picked up five and a
half games, five and a half, and some people said
less than that. ESPN says five and three of those
five would be very close, including UCLA and Maryland coming up,
so they don't have them close to pulling an upset

(40:27):
in the other seven. So for fans, now, if they
start out three and oho and they go out to
USC and let's just say they don't have a good
night out there and they lose by seventeen points, that's
not the end of the season. It means they're three
and one and the goal. The goal was never to
win a Big Ten championship or to be in the

(40:51):
College Football Playoff. And you can be sanctimonious and say,
well it should be they should win every game. No,
then you're not being realistic. The goal for this team
was to make a bowl game and maybe win a
bowl game. Seven and five would be a successful season
for this team. And it wouldn't matter if they go
nine to three, but they lose to Michigan, you know

(41:12):
what a lot of people are going to want John
Jonathan Smith. But so yeah, you know, that's just just
the way that we're wired here. It's an instant analysis
immediate gratification, demanding. You know, they got it last year
in Indiana with Kurt Signetti. Everything fell into place and
he brought two thirds of the James Madison team with him.

(41:36):
But for the most part, it's a process. You know,
Nick saban his first year at Alabama, do you remember
what happened the second game of the season.

Speaker 7 (41:48):
No, no, I don't remember that one.

Speaker 1 (41:50):
They lost to Louisiana Monroe and people then said, oh,
what a disaster. Why did they bring this guy and
he couldn't win with the Dolphins? What makes you think
he's not going to be Gene Stallings don't even mention
him in the same breath as Bear Bryant. You know,
this guy's just like Mike Schula. Well, it didn't turn

(42:13):
out that way. And sometimes, you know, Sabanaways talks about
the process. The process, that's what matters. Well, winning and
building a program is a process. So when you're in
Michigan State, yeah, it's great, but you can have an
eleven and two season out of the shoot and how's

(42:34):
that turnout? Mel Tucker. That doesn't guarantee anything. So Michigan
State is in a position where I saw improvement. I've
seen I've seen a running game that I didn't see
last year, and I didn't see the year before that,
and I didn't see the year before that. So once
Kenneth Walker left, I haven't seen anything like the running

(42:55):
game they have now. And I think they have a
quarterback with a pretty high ceiling. He's not there yet,
but he was Big Ten co Player of the Week
and he is one of the week's eight saluted quarterbacks
for the Davut O'Brien Award. They did have a defensive
player who was also the Big Ten Player of the Week,
and that's fifteen tackles and a forced fumble at the

(43:18):
goal line by Jordan Hall and the guy who didn't
get Big Ten Player of the Week. That to me,
I can't remember a better game by a punter. Then
we saw from Ryan Eckley flips the field the first
time with the sixty yarder, Bob, and then he has
two long ones that die at the one yard line.

Speaker 2 (43:39):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (43:40):
Yeah, you know. That was one of my things that
I pointed out because in the story, you know, you're
supposed to point out things that just stand out to you,
and I put this, he's an additional weapon when you
got a guy that can can put you know, two
kicks dying, you know, hit the one yard line. The
second one died the first when they stopped. How do

(44:02):
you explain it? How do you even imagine that? And
you know, a couple of years ago, we saw a
punter from Ohio State and I don't remember his name,
but I remember him penning Michigan State back and you know,
inside the five like two or three times in the game.
And you know, Michigan State lost the game and all that.
But when you got a punter who can do that,
it flips the field for you. And you know, it's

(44:25):
it's quite an advantage. I mean, you know, last week
we saw what happened with Western Michigan.

Speaker 3 (44:30):
You know, we ended up there was a safety.

Speaker 7 (44:33):
You know, the Michigan State got safety out of it.
I'll tell you what, the college is very lucky they didn't.
They didn't have a safety against them, because you know.

Speaker 3 (44:40):
There was that one of us.

Speaker 7 (44:43):
They were like on the half yard line and everything,
and you know what they do, they go and they
throw was a fifteen yard pass or something like that
to get out of it. But that's that quarterback. He
was just quick with the ball and like you said,
he's got wide receivers that probably will be playing in
the NFL. So but yeah, for Michigan State, two and

(45:04):
zero is good. You know, you pick up number win
number three on Saturday, you're halfway to the bowl bed,
and judging by what we were seeing with the rest
of the Big Ten, I think a bowl bid is
definitely a doable thing. You know, I'll I'll kind of
be surprised if they don't make a bowl, you know,

(45:24):
I know things can happen between now and the end
of the season. But at the same time, I expect improvement,
you know, each week, you know, as they get more
use to each other's offensive line, jelling more, and I'm
hoping that Joe Rossi, you know, comes up with, you know,
some scheming and game plans that you know help the
past defense and getting more pressure on the quarterback and

(45:46):
everything and helping out the guys.

Speaker 1 (45:50):
You know, the other teams are going to get better too,
And right now the Big Ten teams are thirty one
and five and UCLA has been beaten twice. Michigan has
a loss, Iowa has a loss to a very good
Iowa State team by a last second field goal, and
Northwestern had a loss at Tulane and bounce back. But

(46:13):
when you think about this league, I mean you can
lose a lot of games in a hurry. There were
twelve teams. Twelve of the eighteen teams that played this
weekend scored forty two points or more, and eight of
these teams scored fifty six or more. Now, these teams
weren't playing a power for conference opponent. It wasn't like

(46:38):
Michigan State's game against Boston College. But nonetheless, a lot
of these teams are explosive, and you know they played
against Western, Michigan or Youngstown State, they would expect to
score some points. We can go through you and I
could easily go through and find ten things they need
to work on. Okay, there's no edication getting the right

(47:01):
number of guys on the field, all of that stuff,
the consistency, the tackle play in terms of stopping edge rushers,
the cornerbacks. I think there were a lot of things
that you could improve. But I look at it compared
to a year ago. A year ago, they would have
lost this Boston College game. In fact, they outplayed Boston

(47:24):
College last year by more than they did Saturday. If
they did at all and managed to lose that game
by four points. So I thought the fact that they
had the punting fifty yard field goal, a sixty yard
kickoff return, more than one receiver, running game that was

(47:44):
aggressive and could actually move the line of scrimmage at times,
those are things that strike me as being a real
football team. And if they can improve some of the others,
I think they have a chance to be a good
not great team.

Speaker 7 (48:00):
Yeah, and you know, you get to add to the list,
Ameron Smith, you know, breaking up that two point conversion
or the fumble down as Boston College was heading to
look like a score, and you know, Michigan State is
a fumble there, you know, when we punched the ball out.
So yeah, there's there's a lot of things you can
pick up on.

Speaker 3 (48:21):
And then you're right, there's a lot of areas that.

Speaker 7 (48:24):
They need to improve on. And I think that's that's
the same thing with every other team in America right
now that you know who's perfect, I don't think anybody's perfect.
Even Ohio State is not really perfect, and that even
a lot of people find it hard to believe.

Speaker 3 (48:38):
But you know, we'll see how the next few weeks
ago and everything you know.

Speaker 7 (48:44):
On Saturday, I expect Michigan State to get a lot
of players that we haven't seen a lot of playing time.
So we'll find out a lot a lot more about
this team as we go on week by week by week.
And you know, I I think two and oho is
a nice confidence booster for this team. I think if
they would have lost the game, I think that, you know,

(49:07):
there'd be a lot of questioning among the players, like,
you know, you know what the season going to be.
You know, you and I kind of talked before the game,
the fact being that this is a game that they
really couldn't lose. You know, I thought in my mind,
even though it's early in the season, because you know,
you just want you just want to keep the confidence going,
to momentum going and keep building. You don't need it

(49:30):
early in the season. They have a downer, you know,
especially if you lose in overtime.

Speaker 1 (49:36):
You know, maybe the thing Boston College, yeah yeah, game
was saying this is a game, you know, we got
to win this one.

Speaker 3 (49:43):
Well, we're going to win this one.

Speaker 1 (49:44):
You know, they had the same attitude. But someone called
me on Sunday afternoon and I shouldn't have taken the call,
but I did, and the guy says, you know, the
expectations here are too low. I want to win every game,
I said, you know, you also want to be rich
and good luck looking, but you're not going to get

(50:04):
either of those either.

Speaker 7 (50:10):
Oh boy, yeah, yeah. Some of the fans, you know,
some of their takes on things. You know, it's like today.
So yesterday it was one of those days where you know,
basking in Michigan State winning and of course the Michigan
fans all upset because they lost to Oklahoma. And then
the Lions go and play and you know they lay

(50:33):
an egg. Yes, yes, yes, there's doom and gloom and
allus and everything. But my god, we're so early in
the season for football and baseball. You know what, I'll
worry about it when we get to the end of
the month and start the playoffs. At this point and everything,
you know, the Lions, you know, that was Now are

(50:58):
we shocked at the Lions lost? I'm not really shocked,
you know.

Speaker 4 (51:01):
I mean, I.

Speaker 7 (51:03):
You asked me the press box, you said, who's going
to win that game? And I couldn't really tell you that,
you know, because we never saw the Lions offense dreen
during the preseason. Like a lot of teams, Green Bay
had a lot of injuries, you know, so we never
really saw them.

Speaker 3 (51:24):
So what do you have to go on?

Speaker 7 (51:26):
So Green and Gold either yeah, yeah, exactly. And you know,
we never really saw these two new coordinators that the
Lions have in terms of, you know, what are they
going to do in a regular season game. Well, we
found out what they did yesterday. And you know, today

(51:48):
Lions fans are like, oh boy, we're not going to
win the division. My god, you still got you know,
sixteen games to go. You know, you can't, you can't
put anything on The first game was the second game
of the season. Just just chill out, you know, see
how it goes after this. And you know, that's the
way I told Michigan State fans and.

Speaker 3 (52:08):
Said, you know, let's see what they do.

Speaker 7 (52:10):
I said, they're gonna be they should be halfway to
a boulden. And then you know, then we start finding
out what this team is made of in terms of
you know, you're gonna be the level competition is going
to go up.

Speaker 1 (52:22):
It is, so you don't think it's fair to expect
to win at USC and at Nebraska. Would you love
to do it? Of course you would love to do it, Yeah,
but I think you're more likely to lose two than
win two. And if you could get a split in
those two games, and there's a bye week before they

(52:42):
go to Lincoln, and you could be four and one
when UCLA rolls in here for homecoming, that would be great.
If you could be five and one at the midpoint.
And then even if you go one in five the
second half, everyone will say, oh, the wheels are coming off,
but you know, hey, they got some really tough road
games in the second half, and they played Perdue, they

(53:04):
play Penn State, which might might be the number one
team in the nation at that point, so you know
the second half the season is going to be brutal.
You've got to try to get to five wins at
the midpoint. And you realize, Bob, that this conference now
has the number one, number two, and number four teams

(53:24):
in the nation. I don't think the Big Ten has
ever had that before. I know they've never had the
top three one, two, three, But they also have number nine.
And then you have the USC's and Indiana's and I
guess Michigan Washington those kinds of teams. But you have
three teams that think they're going to be national champ

(53:48):
and you can make a good case for any of them.
And then you have Illinois, a team that that was
an amazing second half at Duke Saturday, and now a
lot of people are saying Illinois going to be a
college football playoff team. So you could play really good
football in this league and finished fifth, sixth or seventh.

Speaker 7 (54:10):
Yeah, yeah, you're absolutely right. I mean, the Big Ten
is loaded. You know, we we all knew that when
you added Oregon in and USC looks like they're the
real deal themselves this year. You know, they've they've had
some very impressive wins, and then you still got Ohio
State and Penn State to contend with, and I think

(54:33):
a team to watch out for Illinois. That's that's one
of those teams that, you know, kind of scares me
a little bit because you know, Michigan State's got to
go to Illinois.

Speaker 3 (54:42):
And later in the.

Speaker 1 (54:44):
Washington has reloaded and Thetas played for the national championship
two years ago. They were in the last game of
the season, and they're an exciting team. So they're going
to beat somebody, right, I don't know, it's going to
be they're not on Michigan State's schedule. They do come
to ann Arbor, and that's no guaranteed w for the Wolverines,

(55:07):
but it's going to be very interesting to see and Bob,
between that and the baseball and the Lions, our plate
is going to be we're flowing here for the next
month to six weeks.

Speaker 7 (55:20):
Yeah, well, we might have to do an hour long
show at some point.

Speaker 5 (55:26):
That job.

Speaker 1 (55:28):
Sign me up for an hour with the day Tripper.
That would be fantastic.

Speaker 7 (55:32):
Yeah, when you talk about the Bills win last night,
the improbable Bills.

Speaker 1 (55:35):
Win, Oh yeah, we're going to give you a shot
for a shout out on that. Man. You saw two
amazing games, covering one and then cheering your butt off
for the other one. What a comeback against the Ravens.

Speaker 3 (55:48):
You know, Jack, I.

Speaker 7 (55:50):
Haven't been able to sleep in two days because after
the Michigan State game, you know, like I said, I
got home at one, I had a hard time getting
to sleep then. So I woke up early Sunday morning.
I thought, oh, I'll take him after in the afternoon,
just in case the Bills game goes late.

Speaker 2 (56:06):
And sure enough, what do we have?

Speaker 7 (56:08):
We have one of those ones where you're sitting on
the edge of your seat, your adrenaline is going and
you know, I'm texting my son and I said, the
only way to winning this game is just to get
a turnover. And what happens about ten to fifty minutes later,
You know, you got Derek Henry fumbling the ball and
then they go and they win the game, you know,
and you know, my adrenaline is pumping so hard. I

(56:29):
couldn't fall asleep till like twelve thirty. Godmn sleep. But yeah,
excited our.

Speaker 1 (56:39):
Director of research. I look forward to seeing you Saturday
afternoon in the press box.

Speaker 7 (56:46):
Yeah, this is going to be an early game.

Speaker 3 (56:47):
We will be right back.

Speaker 1 (56:49):
Yeah, they take advantage of that while you can't. We
will be right back and you'll hear from Jonathan Smith
his press conference today at Spartan Stadium, and then you're
gonna hear some clips from Saturday with Nick marsh explaining
what he did at halftime might have changed some things

(57:12):
for the Spartans, and you hear from Aiden Chiles and
Jordan Hall and they are both Big ten players of
the week. We'll be right back game day and East
Lansing just got taste here One North Kitchen the Bar
is your go to for unbeatable tailgate packages, perfect for
fueling up before kickoff. Sink your teeth into juicy Berger's

(57:34):
Hardy Raps, or warm up with our famous One North Chili,
a fan favorite on Crisp all days by the Red Sea.
Ordering is a snap. Just called David at five one
seven nine hundred four MSU to get your crew game ready.
Open at ten am on weekends so you can grab
your spread and go. One North Kitchen and Bar were
great food and spartan spirit. Callide go Green.

Speaker 3 (58:02):
Jeah.

Speaker 6 (58:02):
Gambling here with my good friend Matt Sloan a graph
of Okeemists.

Speaker 12 (58:05):
Big summer there, Matt.

Speaker 4 (58:06):
That's right, Jack.

Speaker 13 (58:07):
We got the summer savings going on right now at
Graf Nissan and Graf Chevy of Olkymists. Great deals. We're
offering zero percent financing on select vehicles up to sixty months.
If you're a Casto member, we got extra rebates for that.
We're getting fresh inventory every day. It's been a great summer.
We got great deals for you.

Speaker 12 (58:25):
Zero percent. Can't get much lower than that.

Speaker 4 (58:27):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 12 (58:29):
Topacy Matt in the gang here on West Grand River
Okamiz they're making friends.

Speaker 10 (58:35):
Apply today to become a school bus driver or bus
attendant with Dean Transportation. This summer, Dean is seeking compassionate
people to join their family led business. Dean is now
hiring for multiple roles throughout the area that offer paid training,
weekday and flexible hours, school breaks off, and most important,

(58:55):
an opportunity to make a difference in your community. Learn
more and apply at Dean jobs dot com. That's Dean
jobs dot com.

Speaker 11 (59:06):
So it's been a while since you've had your jewelry
cleaned and inspected?

Speaker 3 (59:10):
Right?

Speaker 11 (59:11):
Where will you go and who will you trust with
your most valuable and treasured heirlooms At meadow War Jewelers
for locations in Lansing, Ocamist, Jackson, and Portage. Jewelry isn't
just our job, it's our passion. Each and every piece
entrusted in our care is thoroughly inspected by our trained
staff against damage or normal wear, and we offer you,

(59:33):
our customer, the highest level of quality on repairs and
custom designs. Whether it's worn out prongs, channels or shanks,
it's all handled with incredible care. Meatow Our Jewelers and
Lansing okeemist, Jackson and Portage want to help you preserve
your memories and offer you options on creating new ones.
Come in today for the cleaning and inspection of your jewelry.

(59:56):
We continue to work hard every day to earn your
confidence in trust matter why you.

Speaker 5 (01:00:10):
Just eleven many.

Speaker 1 (01:00:17):
Welcome back. It is a drive with Jack the Spotlight
Radio Network. Jack Ebling here with my producer Boston Rob
on an absolutely gorgeous Monday afternoon. Can't find a better
one than this in September and weather hasn't been that
good for the past week, but supposed to warm up
the rest of the week and get back up into
the high seventies. I'll take all the Indian summer we

(01:00:39):
can get. Rob, You were there today for the Jonathan
Smith press conference. What was your take? What did you
hear that stood out to you?

Speaker 9 (01:00:49):
Well, it went a little longer than anticipated, right, I
mean seemed that way, yes September one. We both talked
a little, We both talked to each other a little
bit afterwards, seeing what's coming up on the sh showing whatnot.
You're giving me the heads up and yeah, Jonathan Smith,
I guess that's what happens when a big win comes around,
and most certainly it was a big win for this team.

(01:01:12):
So that's the first thing. But I really enjoyed what
he talked about with the kickers, who both had huge impacts.
Special teams had huge impact on this last game against
Boston College, no question about it. So him talking about
those scenarios really interests me. During the press conference as well.

Speaker 1 (01:01:38):
And we always hear about the offense and the quarterback,
and we hear about the defensive deficiencies rob But oh sure,
they say it's a third of the game. Maybe it's
not exactly a third of the game. But if you
had all the kicking plays together, all the kickoffs, all
the punts, all the field goal attempts, all the extra points,

(01:01:58):
all the things, it's significant part of the game and
if you can do it well, you have a major edge.
Here's what Jonathan Smith had to say today in his
media appearance at Spartan Stadium.

Speaker 5 (01:02:19):
I thought it after the game and then watching the tape.

Speaker 15 (01:02:21):
Great college football games atmosphere, both teams making plays, responding
obviously came down to the wire. I feel like it
could be a growth game for us to be able
to finish the game. We did it's a quality opponent.

Speaker 5 (01:02:34):
I mean that.

Speaker 15 (01:02:35):
Quarterback is playing at a really high level having to respond,
but in the second overtime way all of that. So
we're trying to grow off of, you know, being able
to finish that way because a lot of these games
have come down with a wire like that, and we've
got to gain some confidence and continue to move forward
from from the game. Offensively, you know, filled a lot

(01:02:55):
to like with the aid and in regard to his effort, quarterback, play,
decision making, you know, even some of the small stuff
that you don't totally see during the during the game
of check the ball down protections wasn't clean a couple
of times and got us out of that.

Speaker 5 (01:03:11):
It was pretty good, I thought, multiple receivers making some
plays there.

Speaker 15 (01:03:14):
We gotta get better two a minute uh at the
end of the game, got opportunity ball to forty two.

Speaker 5 (01:03:19):
Two timeouts and things close fifty seconds left, we go
backwards there. We're tighten up with some of our hands
in the run game, holding.

Speaker 15 (01:03:26):
Calls, red zone backed us up a couple of times,
shortened oardage getting stopped, So there's plenty of to improve on.
Defensively again, I'd give that Boston College coach O'Brian the quarterback.
I mean, they make it art schematically, felt like after
the game, and we needed to be able to make
a quarterback more uncomfortable. You did a great job getting
the ball out pretty quickly.

Speaker 5 (01:03:45):
They're gotten A lot of times we're just sitting there
packing the ball, pack and the ball.

Speaker 15 (01:03:48):
This thing is coming out, uh pretty quick, but we
still want to get around a more place and tighter coverage.
Couple of times just kind of got got without playing
within the system.

Speaker 3 (01:03:59):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (01:03:59):
In this second Gary, some of the zone drops over,
dropping our eyes in the wrong spot.

Speaker 4 (01:04:04):
A couple of times.

Speaker 5 (01:04:04):
You got to tackle in space better defensively.

Speaker 15 (01:04:08):
Having said that, I thought the adjustments halftime they've given
up twenty one came ind if you give up six
points in the second half of that, office is pretty good,
you know.

Speaker 5 (01:04:15):
And we're not all up, Ben, but don't break, but
make them earn it in the second half. Vote of that, well,
definitely want to.

Speaker 16 (01:04:21):
Play better though over time defensively to get it stops
pun actually protection solid snaps Jack again, but you know
the coverage of those, I mean is pretty good.

Speaker 15 (01:04:36):
Martin's kicks, you know, we didn't feel awesome about our
fieldable protection. Like I said, it's publicly after one game,
and so going into week two, we wanted to tighten
up the protection on that and it was better because
they brought it a couple of times than Martin's kicks
are obviously huge. And then the loud day Brown on
the return game, we're blocking the thing. We can block
a little bit better our kickoff return, but he's breaking tackles.

(01:04:57):
I mean they change the game two big old returns,
especially the second one getting on the their side, which
we turned that into scores. Turn that around though punt return,
we gotta get back the penalties we turned the thing over.

Speaker 5 (01:05:09):
At the beginning.

Speaker 15 (01:05:11):
Gotta be gotta be buried there starts with the coaches communication.
We got twe guys on the field for a snap
on punt return. So, like I said, a lot of
life finish in the game. I du bel is a
growth game for us, but there is a ton we
gotta grow from in the game after that, and I
do again watch the TV copy quickly. I mean that
the atmosphere, that crowd, uh, it was awesome National television.

(01:05:35):
The place was packed, student section energy, So appreciate the
our crowd again helping with the home field tomefield advantage.
Moving forward here Youngstown State looking forward to an opportunity
back uh to play at home. Gotta respect for that program.
I mean, I know coach he was there, just these
this plays. Know it's not to win at a high
level when in national championships.

Speaker 5 (01:05:56):
And things like that.

Speaker 15 (01:05:57):
I think they got a good quarterback and c create
some problems for you running it, throwing it, get the
ball in space when he's got it, when he doesn't.

Speaker 5 (01:06:04):
Formationally, after a couple of weeks, these guys are moving
the ball.

Speaker 15 (01:06:08):
So they challenge your challenge that way, and so we
know we're gonna look forward to improve in our own
game this week for practice and excited to play.

Speaker 5 (01:06:18):
That's part to staying again on Saturday.

Speaker 4 (01:06:23):
A bunch of guys that were banged up. Yeah, and
I think Biola also allowed. I don't know if he
came back say more about the health factor.

Speaker 17 (01:06:33):
But also in a game like this, how do you
kind of navigate and manage maybe some of those bumps
and bruises we gets the lower division of Hoonan.

Speaker 4 (01:06:41):
You try and maybe keep guys on pitchcount or how you.

Speaker 5 (01:06:45):
Approach it Yeah, we're proaching I mean, we're trying to
get help guys healthy. I mean it's week three. You're
not gonna feel perfect. You know, you're gonna have some
months and bruises.

Speaker 15 (01:06:52):
Not quite mid season, but mid season healthy coming out
of the game. Not an injury or to this long
term nothing like that. Definitely got some bumps and bruises
in that one. But Nope, we're gonna approach it. The
guys availability through the week, we'll turn into how much
they're gonna how many reps.

Speaker 5 (01:07:08):
Are gonna get on on Saturday.

Speaker 4 (01:07:09):
Just how do we approach each week?

Speaker 18 (01:07:12):
Already should have great respect for the program, but just
from my definition standpoint, huge emotional win the following week
after next week, you go on the road open the ten.
Uh does this have the elements of what could be
a trap game? And how do you educate your locker
room not to find into that?

Speaker 5 (01:07:29):
And know respond for never been a believer in this
idea of trap game.

Speaker 15 (01:07:33):
You know, if you if you get into this trap
game the way you're lying and you're focus in the
wrong spot, whether it's in the past or in the future.
Our approach this week, we got to get better starting
tomorrow and Tuesday's practice.

Speaker 5 (01:07:44):
We respect every time we get the line up against them,
the body, We respect them all who we're playing, and
so if we.

Speaker 15 (01:07:50):
Know we're gonna have to play well to go earn
a win, and we want to be in this tont
state of improvement, we're playing our best football at the
end of the year.

Speaker 5 (01:07:56):
We got to improve this week two to week three.

Speaker 19 (01:07:59):
We want to make a nice jump right mm the
upper side of things that were obviously just using in
the last game of increase where.

Speaker 20 (01:08:06):
You identified the the issue there's a lineback because it
is inheran.

Speaker 5 (01:08:09):
Toprage, the safety stepping up in the Atlantic.

Speaker 2 (01:08:12):
Where are the.

Speaker 4 (01:08:12):
Issues arising in the touch.

Speaker 5 (01:08:14):
Yeah, a few things that one communication couple happened into
our end zone close to our bat. It's our band,
it's allowed.

Speaker 15 (01:08:21):
We've got to be able to communicate, whether it's hands signals,
I uh, make an eye contact. So that was just
making sure we're on the right call and then playing
with within. We didn't just completely bust some of the time.
It was just like we're we're a step or two away,
and that's some of the reasons our eyes are on
the right spot and reacting a little quicker, get schematically.

Speaker 5 (01:08:41):
They were challenging us on a couple of things where
we gotta we gotta be better.

Speaker 15 (01:08:44):
There, so communication where our eyes are sometimes overdrop, but
not just underdropping. Over dropping a couple reps, reacting too
quickly to underneath routes versus staining deeper and rallying to
go tackle.

Speaker 5 (01:08:57):
That's there were a couple of times.

Speaker 21 (01:08:59):
So if you mentioned that a confidence in the seating
after the big win, how do you manage that moving floor,
especially through young the seats and especially with the over
confidence and things like that, especially.

Speaker 5 (01:09:09):
With the young team. Like I said, ever been with
I think it's similar like to this over confidence.

Speaker 15 (01:09:14):
We you wanna build some confidence and they should gain
some confidence to being over uh overcome responding making a
play when we needed those kind of things, and so
you gain confidence from from doing it out there. And
that at the same point, almost like what I started
with is a reminder, but there's still plenty to clean up.
We don't got this the thing completely solved, that type
of thing, and pointing out where areas where we need

(01:09:35):
to improve.

Speaker 5 (01:09:36):
And grow individually, whatever position, groups, side of the wall,
all back. That's the role of the role of the coach.

Speaker 15 (01:09:42):
So you got we wanna be coaching confidence at the
same time, we wanna be in a constant improve improvement.
Reminded pointing out where we gotta improve.

Speaker 1 (01:09:51):
Jonathan, Now, how much are you missing the guy? Martine
is now getting closer and is there Marius playing as
well as everybody.

Speaker 4 (01:09:58):
Now on the back end.

Speaker 15 (01:09:59):
Yeah, Mario's well, makes him a couple of huge, huge
plays and you know two point breakup fun will recover.
He's playing to the ball. Would definitely be anxious to
get the Kai back. I think he's getting really close
potentially this we'll see how at the end of the weekend.
But and he's closer than he's ever been and nice
to get some of that depth back. You know, with
Maleague taking a series or two, he was dealing with

(01:10:21):
something during the game, toughness. He got it that one
out pretty good. It would be nice in having the
Kai back for some depth.

Speaker 1 (01:10:27):
Would you like to have him in a game before Yes,
the lot and.

Speaker 5 (01:10:30):
Play conversated about it. We'll kind of continue the conversation
out of how he looks to this week. But when
he's available and cleared to play.

Speaker 22 (01:10:37):
You're you're going to see him out there, Jo, you
named Alisnsmer. That's the defense player of the game. Oscar
on he says like one tackle on to or two tackles.
So these two things that hope show about the bus store.

Speaker 4 (01:10:50):
What was he showing how to take to get him
out of work?

Speaker 5 (01:10:52):
Well, we played pretty well against the run. He's in
his spot where.

Speaker 4 (01:10:55):
He's supposed to be.

Speaker 5 (01:10:56):
He was squeezing that pocket. I go back to this
quarterback getting the ball out pretty pretty well.

Speaker 15 (01:11:00):
Just something you counted on through route that it's doing
his role to help the You know we play team
team defense those awards and you know we don't share
at the stats.

Speaker 5 (01:11:09):
We conversated as a staff on Sundays. Who contributed in
a great way to be kind of the most valuable
on that side or.

Speaker 4 (01:11:16):
That And he was for the defense, John, I saw
Dad and Savory out there and that you mentioned it
makes some big player.

Speaker 23 (01:11:22):
I do believe if THEFF is right, Uh, if only
two snaps for him and something you've seen you guys
do going back to last year, like the running backship
coming get like one Gary, maybe two and that was
it just just the tiniest little taste offense. You just
wondering how you guys as a staff, Uh, what's the
philosophy with that?

Speaker 4 (01:11:38):
Whereas like you getting him in the action, but you
just for a second and then move forward and remember.

Speaker 15 (01:11:43):
What's that you know, I I know, specifically to offense,
and so Jayden would fall under this.

Speaker 5 (01:11:47):
We've got uh call sheet, a bunch of players on there,
and some of those.

Speaker 15 (01:11:52):
Are specific to a group, and so Jayden would starting
on multiple groups on the call sheet.

Speaker 5 (01:11:56):
Both players hit didn't get get called.

Speaker 15 (01:11:58):
And so it wasn't like, hey, played this guy a
couple of snaps and then you know, turn him down
and just turned into how many of the particular plays
that were for him to be on the field got
got called. It was please obviously they he made a
huge chants at the fake time first first calling the
rep and we're hoping you see more and more.

Speaker 3 (01:12:16):
Of a.

Speaker 4 (01:12:18):
Firstly, we don't ask about you're talking about the punter.
Your punter can be a game game game.

Speaker 5 (01:12:25):
Yeah, I mean the huge weapon. I mean that it
does change the game.

Speaker 15 (01:12:28):
You flipped the field like that again, go back to
back days and down to the one inside the twenty.

Speaker 5 (01:12:34):
I even look at the the big.

Speaker 15 (01:12:35):
One right it's fourth and yard and a half. We
don't do it because we got such a weapon. He
flips the field.

Speaker 5 (01:12:40):
All the way down to the twelve. He's playing a
lot of office right now.

Speaker 4 (01:12:45):
Just asked you a while back about not leaving the
team out of the tunnel and the Ulster did the
other night, which who's your James philosophy?

Speaker 15 (01:12:52):
Skirts Oh, you know, I just kind of wanted to
feel a little bit the atmosphere leading into it. I mean,
there's such a buzz pre game and so getting the
taste of that. We definitely got our captains out front,
and maybe you want to get into the details of it.

Speaker 5 (01:13:04):
I'm on the side because I don't want to get
trucked as the guys are taking that taking the field.

Speaker 15 (01:13:09):
But it was fun to be out in front a
little bit that it'd kind of be a game type
of decision, to be honest with you.

Speaker 5 (01:13:15):
Do you even to see how, yeah, how we're feeling.

Speaker 4 (01:13:19):
Is that the best game you see a play in college?

Speaker 3 (01:13:22):
And looking back over there.

Speaker 15 (01:13:24):
As you think too, yeah, yeah, I do think for
a complete game in more than four quarters. Yeah, he
played competed with me brand accuracy with the ball, even
the small things that some of the trajectory he had
of some deep balls and keeping the post safety out
of the play.

Speaker 5 (01:13:40):
Who's pleased with a.

Speaker 15 (01:13:41):
Couple of reps where he checks the ball down orneed
Brandon Tullis on a third and seven. That's an area
to continue to grow up. I thought there was a
couple of other reps that we could have gotten to
that sooner or gotten to it. So you want to
keep that consistency in the launch point. Again, he's such
a creator athlete. All that had good reps. Launch point accurate,
time's accurate.

Speaker 5 (01:14:02):
There's still some other snaps we can we can see
more from another place.

Speaker 4 (01:14:08):
I want to ask you about a lot of day Brown.

Speaker 24 (01:14:10):
Yeah, I'm the guy that you know if you found
a lot of receivers or of that role is been finished,
you know he would. I mean you see right away
using your return guy and what is his and what
is your relationship with him? Then what's the process been
with him and sort of he decided to stick around
and do this and image his career and all that
sort of stuff.

Speaker 15 (01:14:30):
Yeah, he told the team the other day, you know,
especially the player of the week. For for sure, he
has been two big tim in terms. But then what
he's doing on other fact sets of special teams. With
the fact that his load has lightened on offense right
right now after two weeks.

Speaker 5 (01:14:49):
Not that we're down on him in any way feeling
confident to put him in could have been offensively, And
I just think it.

Speaker 15 (01:14:55):
Shows the maturity the leadership he has is that he's
he'll do whatever's wrong, whatever he's asked to do at
the high, high level. So buy any completely unspecial teams.
He's ready to go offensively. His number gets called. Is
a great example for the locker room for being all
about about the team. The start of the team is
the team and the long days you know.

Speaker 7 (01:15:16):
All about that.

Speaker 4 (01:15:18):
I'm curious you've seen it.

Speaker 15 (01:15:19):
Left tackle wasn't house standing and more both we're in
that mixed through up the game into the fourth order.

Speaker 3 (01:15:25):
What are you seeing there?

Speaker 15 (01:15:26):
And then where are the sort of pass forward with
the ford room for those few guys in what seems.

Speaker 4 (01:15:30):
To be a position about it.

Speaker 15 (01:15:31):
So continue to goll see it again this weekend of
rotation the old line and tackle left and right, the
guard piece. Luca got himself the taste and got in there.
Continue to push that end of the lobe. I do
like in the ways that can create a continued competition.
You need that in this confidence slate that we're headed towards,
you know, this season and things both are I can

(01:15:52):
be good left tackle has been specific to that. Stanton
and Colinor's actributes on both sides of it. I think
both those guys would tell you they can played better
a couple of pack sets not.

Speaker 5 (01:16:02):
To where we want it.

Speaker 15 (01:16:03):
Hands both of them got to couple the holding call
of the ring game. So we gotta continue to grow
out of both those guys. But we do like the
Felding that's got some depth that align the competition side.

Speaker 4 (01:16:14):
Of things with the align what do you need to see.

Speaker 5 (01:16:16):
The set on a five or five many?

Speaker 15 (01:16:19):
Yeah, you know, is this uh separation Like this guy's
by far better to play call it seventy seventy five
STAPs of offense for the entire time.

Speaker 5 (01:16:28):
And so we'll see if that plays out. If it doesn't,
we're gonna continue to to push it.

Speaker 15 (01:16:32):
I think there's healthy competition. Day, know, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
continue to really matter. The more they wanna play, they
gotta show up during the week, and I think that's
as a program, that's how we're gonna get back during
the week.

Speaker 4 (01:16:45):
The confidence of your quarterback.

Speaker 18 (01:16:47):
He wasn't flawless, but he I mean, he has shut
up here in the set I can be the best
quarterback in the country.

Speaker 4 (01:16:53):
He has said, this team can be a championship team.

Speaker 19 (01:16:57):
I don't wanna call it cockyness or how does that
confidence level rough off on?

Speaker 4 (01:17:01):
Is teenage?

Speaker 5 (01:17:02):
You're foot all, yeah, yeah, you know, we want not
just him.

Speaker 15 (01:17:06):
We want these guys, you know, confident but understanding how
this how competitive this whole thing is. And you know,
so we want him go in and into games and
playing games with confidence, with the mindset that we can
get things done.

Speaker 5 (01:17:19):
We can play it off a really high level.

Speaker 4 (01:17:22):
I always fall back.

Speaker 5 (01:17:24):
I'd love it just to be showing on.

Speaker 15 (01:17:25):
On tape more than more than anything. And then that's
what they guys are continuing to work to do.

Speaker 8 (01:17:33):
So, I mean, you know, kick your the psychology can
play in that position, maybe more than I more than
others at times. What did you know about sort of
Martins leader and and you know, approaching that sense, what
did you learn after I'm just wondering, like in a
type game like that, was there thought of let's just
go with equityears not putting that guy him for fifty
yarder type game, first career kid, or did you say

(01:17:54):
he's got to handle that, no problem coping that type
of stuff.

Speaker 15 (01:17:58):
It's yeah, uh, I go to more you learned post
after the game, like his demeanor, his mentality he did
and went out there confident and he banged.

Speaker 5 (01:18:06):
That one the first one fifty yarder I mean, and
he cats in distance could have been a little bit further.

Speaker 15 (01:18:11):
It was awesome, awesome to see if I can sit
here and say I knew things before that because.

Speaker 5 (01:18:16):
Place he could learn about it during the game.

Speaker 15 (01:18:18):
I do think his approach, he's been working, He's been
dealing with stuff for about a month. I don't think
we even let him the attempt of fifty yarder in
practice leading into the sucker because we Wednesday he was
going to get some light work a little bit shorter.

Speaker 5 (01:18:34):
And we've been a game called his number was called.

Speaker 15 (01:18:36):
We did feel like this week longer field goal, we
were going to give him a crack at it and
not continue to wear out.

Speaker 5 (01:18:41):
Actually because he's going to kick off side of things
too and sometimes you need to see it in the game.
Rye was totally totally ready.

Speaker 4 (01:18:50):
John then Ecke.

Speaker 1 (01:18:51):
It was really good last year, But when did you
know he could be as good as any learned in
the country. And how does he execute those shots?

Speaker 4 (01:19:00):
What does he do?

Speaker 5 (01:19:01):
I gotta ask him deeply on it. I don't know.

Speaker 15 (01:19:03):
If he's got a formula or something for the battle
to land where he is I do think you know
he's playing with some confidence. He knows he's got talent
and he works at the thing. He's got to believe
in the scheme in front of him that those snaps
are coming, the protection's there. I think he knows that
him playing a really high level can change the game

(01:19:24):
right to flip in the field.

Speaker 4 (01:19:25):
So he is no help.

Speaker 15 (01:19:26):
He knows his role so vitally important to help contribute
to success and wins.

Speaker 5 (01:19:32):
And he's uh, he's owning that right.

Speaker 4 (01:19:34):
Now at the markers.

Speaker 15 (01:19:38):
That's you.

Speaker 22 (01:19:39):
You're very highly commment area of Bill O'Bryan.

Speaker 4 (01:19:42):
And learn of your staff. What did Brian do differently
between the.

Speaker 5 (01:19:48):
First half second half this week?

Speaker 24 (01:19:49):
But also when you as go back and when rewatch
these games against an opponent.

Speaker 17 (01:19:54):
How much do you maybe pick up and learn from
another coach with can eat your own games?

Speaker 5 (01:19:59):
From the call. Yeah, we learned a ton Call me
a football junkie, but I just got respect.

Speaker 15 (01:20:05):
You turn on tape and then you you kind of
watch it and you see a previous play and then
some ad justin getting made. You see a formation shown,
and sometimes the plays run in a formation really for the.

Speaker 5 (01:20:15):
Next play that he's gonna call. You got a lot
of that out of Boston College coach O'Brien that offensive staff.
I look at some of the challenges he presented defensively
for us.

Speaker 15 (01:20:25):
Formationally in the boundary, the ball's coming out of quarterback's
hands quickly, you know.

Speaker 5 (01:20:31):
So I just got a bunch of respect for that
kind of thing. And yeah, I'm we're always trying to learn.
So yeah, we're studying that tape. I made it cut
up a Boston College offense that I gave to Brian
because of some of the things.

Speaker 15 (01:20:41):
That created the difficulties for us. I think you're always
trying to learn and grow. And I'm not unique that way.
In college football.

Speaker 5 (01:20:47):
You see it all the time and people copying other
people's stuff, and we would love to do anything we
think is good and new. It's gonna help us.

Speaker 4 (01:20:55):
We're gonna fret you and Brian's gave it the second half, Well, you.

Speaker 5 (01:20:59):
Give the comp for sure.

Speaker 15 (01:21:00):
We if we wanted to get some action pass going
got early first drive that played a Nick lauriy huge
third down back to the trajectory at Aiden's ball before
they go around on third and six and Mary makes
a play on that and you know he's running stright
for stride. It's kind of a throw behind. Aiden's maturity
of the trajectory of the ball is huge, so God
is going there. I think that added to our confidence.

(01:21:22):
Still wanted to make some of the run have the
balance of that going. I know what the third down
thing was a little bit better thing. That's something that
was Aiden's length, right, I mean the extending the thing
on a couple of third downs.

Speaker 4 (01:21:36):
So I'll answer the question.

Speaker 5 (01:21:38):
Yeah, right.

Speaker 20 (01:21:40):
And you've been talking about the improved death through the preseasons.
Early season Chims Roger got in on the field and
talking about the impacts he had, how he grew, not
specifically number, you know that's.

Speaker 4 (01:21:53):
Probably confidential, but going to be able to go to
the bench, and it looked like he did.

Speaker 20 (01:21:56):
Pretty before ths he come along.

Speaker 15 (01:21:58):
Yeah, and we we want to have depth because whatever
reasons it is, physically you're going to have an injuryer
to take place.

Speaker 5 (01:22:06):
We maybe we're not playing at the highest level.

Speaker 15 (01:22:08):
I do think there's benefits and sometimes for guys who
will call the starrys out there for a huge series
comes over the sideline, someone else goes in. He gets
a perspective from the sideline of seeing it and not learning.

Speaker 5 (01:22:18):
Always in game action.

Speaker 15 (01:22:19):
I think that took place at the corner spot because
we can play better at corner than we did tighter.

Speaker 5 (01:22:25):
Coverage, eyes in the right spots. And I say all
that again credit Boss converts. They get some good players.
I mean the eleven's are a good player.

Speaker 15 (01:22:33):
That white out four because he's big and he can
run the tight end too, was niffy and catching radius
with that guy. So back to with chance, we've got
multiple corners we feel confident to put in the game,
and we're not going to hesitate to put them in.

Speaker 1 (01:22:49):
That was Jonathan Smith this afternoon, and want to flashback
to Saturday Night rob And when Nick Marsh came out,
he was asked about his first touchdown beast mode, where
he carried two defenders into the end zone, and then
his reaction at halftime, and now it changed Michigan State

(01:23:11):
from a team that was moving inconsistently to one at
the end that looked like might be able to score
when it had the ball when it needed to. Here's
Nick marsh from Saturday night.

Speaker 17 (01:23:28):
I'm wondering, in between regulation and over time he goes
out and I'm wondering, when did you know he was.

Speaker 5 (01:23:37):
Seeing me back? And what was the conversation he gave.

Speaker 25 (01:23:41):
To be honest, I didn't know if he was coming
back or now you know, the other team scored. I've
seen him get back up out his chair and I
was like, well, shit, it's time to go, you know.
And if he's ready to go, I'm ready to go.

Speaker 22 (01:23:51):
So so you guys come out with that first yard
in the second half, I think it was three yard
games so Mari and forty WINSU.

Speaker 4 (01:24:00):
Yeah, what was said in in that at night erased
the first half.

Speaker 25 (01:24:04):
You know, we had a a pretty decent uh first
half and didn't finish as strong as we wanted to.
So the conversation when we got back to the locker
room was just like, used to go back out here
just four as zero zero?

Speaker 4 (01:24:15):
Kay, can you take us through your Jr. You touch
challenging and made the one for your first one and
in the one, Yeah.

Speaker 25 (01:24:21):
I had a conversation with coach. You know, I felt
like there was a a lot of men and you know,
I felt like, you know, they couldn't guard me. So
I told coach, you know, we got to your locker room,
I'm like, little coaches, just take a shot.

Speaker 4 (01:24:31):
And you know, he he trusted me with that and
we got back out there, took a shot. Yeah, you know,
just executed on it. Were those were words you used
or was it a more dramatic conversation?

Speaker 25 (01:24:40):
It was a little more demand than Actually I told him, coach,
I got one on one coverage to give me the
damn ball.

Speaker 4 (01:24:48):
Like think Jack here.

Speaker 18 (01:24:49):
This was a little different for you guys didn't win
the game last year and it was so much that
was scarying on us. And for you to actually plan
to talk about not only being a part of the
fast morning play last.

Speaker 4 (01:25:00):
Year emotion, what was that like for you?

Speaker 25 (01:25:02):
You know, my my whole whole thought process going into
the game is you know, they didn't have it tasted
Nick Marsh.

Speaker 4 (01:25:08):
So you know, I I was I was ready.

Speaker 25 (01:25:11):
I felt like we had a pretty decent season leading
up to them last year, and you know they didn't
start a little three three game win streak, so you know,
it was real personal. I felt like that was kind
of the downfall of our season last year, and I
took it personal.

Speaker 3 (01:25:24):
You know.

Speaker 25 (01:25:25):
I feel like we was on the street and you know,
I was like, I'm not gonna let that get away
this time.

Speaker 4 (01:25:29):
You got big tastes back hun Yeah heah, yeah, freak
o they mo was it in a huddle?

Speaker 3 (01:25:35):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (01:25:35):
To two point conversions before you got some murdered?

Speaker 11 (01:25:38):
And did it?

Speaker 4 (01:25:39):
Did you want those two points?

Speaker 14 (01:25:41):
Uh?

Speaker 25 (01:25:41):
I I w like me personally like the score yeah. Uh,
you know, shit, if the ball got to get in
my hands then yeah. But you know I trust my teammates.
We we practiced it a lot for execution, and you know,
once we got in that huddle, I I told Aid
to take us home.

Speaker 4 (01:25:55):
You know, I was tired. I'm like eight, I'm ready
to go home and take his home.

Speaker 5 (01:25:59):
Right.

Speaker 26 (01:25:59):
Uh you think right here in the middle of that
first touchdown, catch said like you're right at the five
drag that pile s how's it feel to push a
whole team?

Speaker 4 (01:26:07):
Five year of dign hoood touchdown. I mean it feels
pretty good, man.

Speaker 25 (01:26:10):
That generally the excitement me and my teammates, you know, uh,
just just having the support man, you know that that
that gives me to drive door and carry guys down
into the end zone.

Speaker 11 (01:26:19):
Kay.

Speaker 18 (01:26:20):
Wow, what gives some kind of feeling win a game
like that that new LULUs last year?

Speaker 3 (01:26:25):
And how the big could this be?

Speaker 27 (01:26:27):
I know Toli was read s current seasons you about
all used to kind of get as.

Speaker 4 (01:26:32):
You got over.

Speaker 25 (01:26:33):
I mean this game for us was like very important,
you know. It it tested you know, our brotherhood, our
strength as a team. It tested how can we handle adversity,
you know, going into overtime, you know, going too the
double overtime actually, and you know, just just keep fighting
and keep training. You know that showed a lot about
us connor last one for next year.

Speaker 4 (01:26:51):
Who do you say that? Like, you guys have been
any used to this? You before you have come back
to me to come back to that. What was different
about today? Why did they work that?

Speaker 25 (01:26:59):
To be honest, man, it's a different team. You know,
it's not the same team as last year. I feel like,
you know, coach Smith got this saying, you know the
more commedian we are and the more connected we've become.
And you know this this year, we've just been so
so committed to you know, winning and becoming the team.

Speaker 4 (01:27:13):
And it's showing.

Speaker 3 (01:27:15):
Right.

Speaker 1 (01:27:17):
That's six Nick marsh and appropriate. He has three, uh
six point plays already this year in two games. Uh,
he's gonna be up there in the Michigan State career
touchdowns list if he stays healthy. But we also heard
from Aiden Giles the other night and he came to

(01:27:37):
the podium with Jordan Hall, and ironically today they are
both Big Ten Players of the Week. Here's Aiden Chiles
with Jordan.

Speaker 5 (01:27:45):
Hall getting heard.

Speaker 15 (01:27:51):
You know, you had a regulation late and coming back
and welcome just overtimes.

Speaker 4 (01:27:57):
Utown and all that. But I was trying to waste
time for my team. I'm not soft. I'm good. That's
really all I got to say about that, though. I'm
I'm straight. I'll be black and that type, cause it
over time.

Speaker 8 (01:28:10):
Your performance just you know, the league's two touchdown your
ice with the names.

Speaker 4 (01:28:13):
We wanted it. We wanted that game. We needed that game.

Speaker 7 (01:28:16):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (01:28:16):
We faced adversity.

Speaker 27 (01:28:17):
I don't think it's a great football team we just
played against, but they didn't have any adversity last week,
so it's just you know, it just came out to
see who was a tougher team, and today we were
so yeah, alright, we get you were working out.

Speaker 5 (01:28:31):
Here as well, so I should appropriately prison.

Speaker 17 (01:28:41):
I wondered if you could go through you had the
regulation a little bit, just the pressure, you would see
what changed me on on that particularly the last drive
and in you you others touched down us the.

Speaker 5 (01:28:55):
Line in front of it.

Speaker 4 (01:28:56):
What do you what changed from the line? Where where
was the block?

Speaker 7 (01:29:00):
Wherever you go?

Speaker 4 (01:29:01):
Nothing change?

Speaker 27 (01:29:01):
Nothing changed. It just we just probably got a little
head of ourselves. There's a bigger moment. Uh, nothing changed.
We just we just messed up, you know, miscommunications, It's
it's gonna happen in football.

Speaker 4 (01:29:11):
Noth nothing change A and the over tips off?

Speaker 5 (01:29:14):
What w right?

Speaker 4 (01:29:15):
Everything? We went out there and we played football r
Everything went right?

Speaker 3 (01:29:20):
Wow?

Speaker 4 (01:29:20):
What do you say? Everything like?

Speaker 18 (01:29:21):
Right?

Speaker 22 (01:29:22):
There's been games where you guys needed things, you were
relate that and they had.

Speaker 4 (01:29:25):
What's different about this group with this season? I know,
and it was probably go hout to enter team.

Speaker 5 (01:29:28):
Why do things different?

Speaker 4 (01:29:29):
This group wanting more? I mean I think we genuinely
believe that.

Speaker 27 (01:29:32):
The we come in and we have player player led
team meetings and we talk about like how much we
want and what we need to do to win this
game to succeed the season, and we go out there
and we play football.

Speaker 4 (01:29:42):
We know how to play football because this team actually
wants to do that. You know, this team is really
committed to the.

Speaker 27 (01:29:46):
Goal and we all we're all committed to one common
goal and we continue to grow off that each and
every day.

Speaker 4 (01:29:52):
We practice like we're playing the game anyway.

Speaker 27 (01:29:54):
So it's just we come out and you know, see
another guy in front of us, Like Jay Hall told me,
it's just the obstacle in front of us from achieving OAR,
our bigger role.

Speaker 4 (01:30:03):
So that's what today was. You said that didn't and
at times nah na nah he told me that during
the week, kay A, can.

Speaker 12 (01:30:11):
You talk about the players you made with your legs
when you looked like you were sh up and you.

Speaker 4 (01:30:14):
Got outs went out with big games.

Speaker 1 (01:30:16):
Did you orde with two players want with a fumble
and after it was the beginning of the game and.

Speaker 5 (01:30:21):
Then when they lined up for that two point conversion?
Was going through your game?

Speaker 18 (01:30:24):
First?

Speaker 27 (01:30:26):
I just did what I had to do to you know,
help my team succeed. There was times where I probably
didn't have to run, and I still did. But you
know it was a good asset for us, you know,
helped us open up the throwing la the throwing game.

Speaker 4 (01:30:40):
Yeah. It it was just you know, me playing football.

Speaker 19 (01:30:44):
Uh yeah, so for that was it was it the
opening driver, the second driver. Yeah, I mean, uh, we
were in main and man uh kind of got out
on us a little bit. So I just since, how
you know, let me try my best tech get this.

Speaker 4 (01:30:57):
Ball on the ground.

Speaker 3 (01:30:58):
Uh.

Speaker 19 (01:30:58):
As I'm going in to make the tackle. You know
ball careers, they get close to the to the end
zone like to reach the ball. So I just went
in punched it. Uh and then you know I bounceding
in our favor and then yeah, the two point con version.

Speaker 3 (01:31:09):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (01:31:10):
I spoke about this last week.

Speaker 19 (01:31:12):
I mean, if this does, if this game doesn't talk
about response, Uh are the defensive mantra that we've.

Speaker 4 (01:31:18):
Been that we've adopted since January.

Speaker 19 (01:31:20):
There were there were times in this game where things
we felt like just couldn't go our way.

Speaker 7 (01:31:25):
Uh.

Speaker 19 (01:31:25):
A lot of uh misassignments, some bust.

Speaker 4 (01:31:29):
But at the end of the day.

Speaker 19 (01:31:30):
Uh, we were able to respond when it mattered most
uh and put our offense in the best position to
win the football game.

Speaker 1 (01:31:36):
Were you surprised when they called you for that penal
league quarterback?

Speaker 3 (01:31:39):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (01:31:40):
Al a little bit. But next this next play, that
is what it is.

Speaker 8 (01:31:44):
Right you one or both of you a wanted to
feel like to be a part of that celebration after
a win like that.

Speaker 4 (01:31:52):
And this is a game you let skwa last year?
Does it show anything about this team's maturity? Did you
really really good as that this year?

Speaker 3 (01:32:02):
Uh?

Speaker 19 (01:32:02):
Yeah, I mean I think it definitely shows the growth
that we've taken it in just a year.

Speaker 4 (01:32:07):
Being in that situation.

Speaker 7 (01:32:09):
Uh.

Speaker 19 (01:32:09):
We were in another close game like that last year
we weren't able to come through. But this year we
talked about it all throughout the week where you know,
however long it, however.

Speaker 4 (01:32:18):
Many quarters is gonna take.

Speaker 19 (01:32:19):
It's gonna be a four quarter game, but it could
take five, it could take over time, whatever it takes.

Speaker 3 (01:32:24):
Uh.

Speaker 19 (01:32:24):
And everybody's been bought into that mature into that idea
of you know, doing whatever.

Speaker 27 (01:32:28):
It takes to win uh football games. Yea, yeah, I
think it shows maturity and growth in a week. You
know last week we didn't play uh. I mean as
a defense, they played great, you know, they played great
last week, and they also played great today.

Speaker 4 (01:32:41):
But it's just as an offense, we came out.

Speaker 27 (01:32:44):
And we finished, We played a second half, we finished
four quarters and shot we finished two overtimes. So it's
just that's a big that's big growth in a week
to see, you know, like, forget about what happened last year.

Speaker 4 (01:32:54):
It's all about what we are now. And this is
a team that I don't wanna ride or out with
right now.

Speaker 27 (01:32:58):
So yeah, the celebration after the game, there's gonna be
way cooler moments. So I'm I'm just waiting for that.
I'll answer that in like week ten.

Speaker 26 (01:33:07):
Alright, y'a frea go Ryan and rest the wrap us
up here for sure, Aid, I guess the first week
you would you and Nick didn't connect as much, but
this week looks like you tube were definitely on the
same page.

Speaker 18 (01:33:20):
Did you have any discussions this week or is it
just the way things fell into place?

Speaker 27 (01:33:25):
It's just all you know, all the receivers we work
on time in all the all week, we work on uh,
every little detail all week, and all these guys are
great receivers, and you know, it's just if it's that
day's their day.

Speaker 4 (01:33:35):
If they're open, they're open, and we're gonna get on
the ball. That's our goal. That's what we try to do.

Speaker 27 (01:33:39):
Try to open up the past game for him, and
we end up opening the past game for him and
he had a great day.

Speaker 6 (01:33:44):
Alright.

Speaker 24 (01:33:45):
Question for each of you ever started with aiding kind
of piggy back off that last year or last week.

Speaker 26 (01:33:49):
But Mario had eleven targets this week, Dick had eleven targets.

Speaker 18 (01:33:53):
What does it kind of mean that you can just
kind of pay a receiver per week that I I trusted.

Speaker 27 (01:33:57):
I mean, it's great, you know, I there's a few
players where I'm It's though Mari too, like I just
like he could have a he had god a wait
more targets. But at the end of the day, you know,
it's great to have all these guys. You know, Mary
came up and finish finished the game for a strong.

Speaker 4 (01:34:08):
So it's just a it's a my fuck, it's a
it's just it's amazing having everybody.

Speaker 27 (01:34:14):
You know, we got Rob Buller, k, Sean McCray, Evan Boyd,
we got all these guys we got even tied. That's
Jack Bland, Michael Sooner's coming out and make a big players.
Jay corn Mayde have played to day. You know, it's
just we have all these guys on the field and
the running backs are running the ball, and myself we're playing.

Speaker 4 (01:34:24):
We're playing great football right now. So we just get
to carry this into next week. You know, we got
twenty four hours peries in the next week and keep
it pushing. Jordan three, Aiden's kinda tapped out.

Speaker 5 (01:34:32):
Player led team here and.

Speaker 8 (01:34:34):
You've been here for three three years now, I think
like sheep Row was up in the years that player led.

Speaker 4 (01:34:39):
Was it mean to see the growth of this team
on the last three years? Yeah, man, Uh, I got.

Speaker 19 (01:34:45):
A little emotional after after the game, just given that,
you know, the three years that I've been here, those
are the games that we let slip away, uh, and
that that cyber relief a little bit that you know,
this was this is finally one that we got our
hands on. It wasn't perfect, but we were able to
get it done. But just being a part of that

(01:35:05):
and just seeing the growth from from this program in
the last three years has been everything to me and
It's something I'm so proud to be.

Speaker 5 (01:35:13):
A part of Chris Rappers.

Speaker 4 (01:35:16):
Because a Georgian as well. You mentioned the two point lay.
I wonder one what went right on that play?

Speaker 17 (01:35:24):
Defensively for you guys in too, what did it mean
for our morning to get that lay to knock.

Speaker 7 (01:35:31):
Down that ball going?

Speaker 19 (01:35:33):
Yeah, I mean, I know a lot of you guys
know Skis the story. So for him to I mean,
it's not just like something that just happened. Like he
works every day and has more on his plate than
anybody in that facility. Uh So for him to be
able to put himself in that position to step up
when it matters most. And like I said before, you know,

(01:35:53):
that was a it was a big time play that
that we needed, and I'm glad that it came from
Skis in that moment.

Speaker 4 (01:36:00):
Probably, Hey, I know, my biggest moment this far in
my college career. I'm bad I was in.

Speaker 3 (01:36:08):
There.

Speaker 1 (01:36:08):
You hear Aiden Giles and Jordan Hall Saturday Night rob
It was one of the more electric environments at Spartan Stadium,
and I think the best Michigan State win since the
victory over Michigan in twenty and twenty one. We'll be
right back and you'll hear from George Blaha, who was

(01:36:29):
inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame the Nate Smith
Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, Saturday. It takes a lot for
George not to be at Spartan Stadium to call a game,
but Dalton Schetler filled in very well. He heard from
Jahill Colchrick a little earlier, and now we'll hear from
George Blaha coming up next on the Drive with Jack.

Speaker 10 (01:36:53):
Apply today to become a school bus driver or bus
attendant with Deans Transportation. This Dean is seeking compassionate people
to join their family led business. Dean is now hiring
for multiple roles throughout the area that offer paid training,
weekday and flexible hours, school breaks off, and most important,

(01:37:14):
an opportunity to make a difference in your community. Learn
more and apply at Dean jobs dot com. That's Dean
jobs dot com.

Speaker 6 (01:37:24):
Jack Gablin here with my good friend Matt Sloan a
graph of Opemists.

Speaker 12 (01:37:27):
Big summer here, Matt.

Speaker 13 (01:37:29):
That's right, Jack, we got the summer savings going on
right now at Graph, Nissan and graf Chevy of Okyemists.
Great deals. We're offering zero percent financing on select vehicles
up to sixty months. If you're a Casto member, we
got extra rebates for that. We're getting fresh inventory every day.
It's been a great summer. We got great deals for you.

Speaker 5 (01:37:48):
Zero percent.

Speaker 12 (01:37:48):
Can't get much lower than that.

Speaker 13 (01:37:50):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 12 (01:37:51):
Dopacy Matt in the gang here on West Grand River, OKAMZ.

Speaker 1 (01:37:54):
They're making friends.

Speaker 11 (01:37:57):
So it's been a while since you've had you jewelry
cleaned and inspected? Right, where will you go and who
will you trust with your most valuable and treasured heirlooms?
At meadow War Jewelers for locations in Lancing Ocamists Jackson
and Portage. Jewelry isn't just our job, it's our passion.
Each and every piece entrusted in our care is thoroughly

(01:38:19):
inspected by our trained staff against damage or normal wear,
and we offer you, our customer, the highest level of
quality on repairs and custom designs. Whether it's worn out prongs,
channels or shanks, it's all handled with incredible care. Meadow
Our Jewelers and Lancing Ocamist Jackson and Portage want to
help you preserve your memories and offer you options on

(01:38:42):
creating new ones. Come in today for the cleaning and
inspection of your jewelry. We continue to work hard every
day to earn your confidence and trust.

Speaker 5 (01:38:52):
Mataward, Juel.

Speaker 1 (01:38:57):
Game Day and East Lansing just got taste here. One
North Kitchen Bar is your go to for unbeatable tailgate packages,
perfect for fueling up before kickoff. Sink your teeth into
juicy Berger's Hardy Raps, or warm up with our famous
One North Chili, a fan favorite on Crisp Fall days
by the Red Seed. Ordering is a snap just called
David at five one seven, nine hundred four MSU to

(01:39:20):
get your crew game ready. Open at ten am on
weekends so you can grab your spread and go. One
North Kitchen and Bar. We're great food and spartan spirit
callide Go Green. Welcome back. It is a drive with

(01:39:43):
Jack the Spotlight Radio Network. Jack Evlin here with my
producer Boston Rob Rob. Let's go right back out to
our guest line. Very happy to welcome in a most
familiar voice and now a member of the Naysmith Basketball
Hall of Fame. We're talking about the legendary George Blah.

(01:40:04):
He has done Pistons games for I want to say
six decades, parts of them certainly done Michigan State football
since nineteen seventy one. Congratulations, George, Thank you Jack.

Speaker 2 (01:40:20):
You ever heard of a lifetime achievement award?

Speaker 1 (01:40:22):
No, it was.

Speaker 2 (01:40:24):
It was nicer than that. I really appreciated all the
kind words I heard in Springfield, and it was great
to get up there and deliver a speech kind of
honoring all the Kriston players who helped me win this
award and the coaches and other coaches who've been friends

(01:40:45):
of mine over the years.

Speaker 1 (01:40:47):
For those who have never been to the Nasmith Hall
in Springfield, Massachusetts, or haven't watched it on television, can
you describe what that night was like?

Speaker 2 (01:41:00):
Well, it's amazing. The the building was full, the nice
you know, theater seats, and the they were nice enough
to put some of my people up very close and
most of them in good spots, and and they had

(01:41:21):
me lead off, And to tell you the truth, I
was happy I was able.

Speaker 3 (01:41:25):
To lead off.

Speaker 2 (01:41:26):
You know, you're build up a certain amount of nervous
energy and you want to get going, and I thought
that's probably the best way to do it, and and
it worked as far as when you're when you first
of all, they have two venues Fridays at Hartford Saturdays

(01:41:47):
in Springfield, and they bust everybody over from Hartford to
Springfield during the day on Saturday. But during the day
on Friday they had a couple of you know, in
formal lunches and you see the other Hall of famers
and friends of Hall of Famers.

Speaker 3 (01:42:06):
And.

Speaker 2 (01:42:07):
Danny Crawford was a great official went in and he
was there with his family. His son played at Northwestern
and now plays in Israel. And we saw the next night,
Saturday night, every official in the NBA who was top

(01:42:28):
notch showed up at a Danny Crawford party in Isaiah
and my wife Mary and I went because Isaiah was
one of the guys who presented Danny. They're both from
the West Side of Chicago, which means Jenny did not
grow up in the suburbs, and such a gentleman, and
you know, those guys had to be tough to get

(01:42:48):
out of the West Side, all right, And so that
was that was a wonderful night. And Friday night, the
Pistons were great. They had an after party for me
and it couldn't have been better. Isaiah and Tayshawan were there,
and all things considered, the weekend was not a leftown
in any.

Speaker 3 (01:43:09):
Way, shape or form. It was uplifting.

Speaker 1 (01:43:11):
Let's say that I'm looking at this class of twenty
twenty five and those who followed you. We're talking about
five terrific players. Carmelo Anthony who could have been a
Piston at one point back in two thousand and three,
Dwight Howard, NBA Champion, a tremendous defensive center. Three of

(01:43:36):
the best women's players ever, including the Connecticut representation Sue
Byrd and Maya Moore, and also Sylvia Fowls. And Billy
Donovan was in one two NCAA championships, and we remember
what he was like as a player for Rick Patino.
So quite a group you went in with.

Speaker 2 (01:43:55):
Yeah, Billy's a great guy and I'm happy for him,
happy for the gals from the WNBA and my wife
Mary's family from Puerto Rico. And I got to admit
I thought I knew about people, but all I knew
about Carmelo was he's a Baltimore guy who went to Syracuse. Well,

(01:44:18):
he came from Puerto Rico to Baltimore when he was
seven or eight years old, So when he gave his speech.
There was a lot of talk about Puerto Rico and
the speech, and Mary and I were impressed. I was
happy for him, you know, just because you don't win
a championship. I told Mary, he did it two of
the greatest pistons ever, Dave being in vob Lanaire. So

(01:44:40):
you don't necessarily judge, but whether you win championships that helps.
But you could be a great player and not be
fortunate enough to play on a kind of a team
that's capable of winning a championship. And Carmelo had a
great career and making the championships. Of course, he won
one of the freshmen in Syracuse and it was the
final four MVP.

Speaker 1 (01:45:00):
That's right, absolutely right. He actually came into Breslin Center
and had one of the great shootouts ever. Chris Hill
had ten threes for Michigan State. There's a Spartan record
for a long wow, and Carmelo was right there and
you know they were just trading three for three. Syracuse
won that game, very close game, and then went on

(01:45:20):
and won the championship in his year there. But how
is the Hall class determined, George, Do they have a
specific number or depending on situations and how close the
vote is. Can they go from seven to eight or
six or what decides that.

Speaker 2 (01:45:39):
I would say John Doliva, who's the president of the
Hall of Fame, and you don't get in if he
doesn't make a call to tell you about That's what
Joe Dumar said, and Jerry Colangelo, who's the chairman of
the board of the Hall. Beyond that, I do not know,
and I don't know if anybody knows, because we've wondered

(01:46:00):
out who votes on this and if anybody could figure
that out and tell me, I would like to know.
But obviously now that I'm been honored and I have
no complaints whatsoever, that's.

Speaker 1 (01:46:12):
A great group.

Speaker 18 (01:46:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:46:14):
Who was the most interesting person that you talk to?
George who you didn't really know until the weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:46:22):
Scott Foster, probably the best NBA official these days. I
went to this party for Danny Crawford. I didn't know
Danny quite as well as I would have liked. He's
one of the great gentlemen in sports ever, and so
it was wonderful to me meet Danny again because he's
been retired for a few years. Yeah, and I get

(01:46:43):
to know his family. But I would say, when all
these officials showed up, including my man Joe Crawford, Mary said,
he said great things about to Crawford, guys in your book.
I said, you're right, And Joe's even here, and I said, Joe.

Speaker 7 (01:46:57):
Why why did you retire?

Speaker 2 (01:46:59):
He's on my knee were shot. And most officials say that, yeah,
that's all start stop, and you don't know when you're
going to stop. And at least players get a feel
for when they're going to stop. His officials don't know
what the heck's going on until it happens. Then they
got to turn on the brakes or pivot or whatever.
So it's a tough jobs. And in terms of the

(01:47:23):
people who are at the hall, uh, I got a cancer,
really spend some uh some quality time with a number
of the guys, but uh, getting to know Billy Donovan
a little better was was impressive and important. And I
saw Spencer Haywood there and spend some time with Spencer
Will Robinson. I mean Will Robinson and Spencer Haywood and

(01:47:47):
Ralph Simpson are tight, are like hand a glove, and
we've got to get Ralph in the hall one of
these years. If you look at his numbers, they're.

Speaker 3 (01:47:54):
Hall of Fame worthy.

Speaker 2 (01:47:55):
Uh, A couple of years at Michigan State for Guskanakis. Yeah,
And when I went through the names of the people,
I made sure I took care of Gus in my speech.
What a wonderful guy, and he has so much to
do with success at Michigan State. I don't know if

(01:48:15):
magic goes to a Michigan State if it isn't for Gus.

Speaker 1 (01:48:20):
When you think about the Hall and the number of
people who could be in or should be in, how
many broadcasters are in the Hall of Fame or maybe writers?
How many media people would you say.

Speaker 2 (01:48:35):
I'd say probably got ten or fifteen, now, that'd be
my guess. And I was very happy that Adrian Moojanowski
got the print version of my award because he did
a wonderful job. He had more scoops than anybody. Edward
our Morrow maybe, yeah, yeah, And then he turned around

(01:49:02):
and started another wonderful career. He decided to go back
to his alma mater, Saint Bonaventure and help them establish
themselves or re establish themselves, because when Bob Blanaiir was there,
everybody knew about the Bonnies. And I'm happy for him.
That's a great way to spend maybe the last ten
or fifteen years of your.

Speaker 1 (01:49:22):
Career, George. While you were being honored and celebrating with
the other inductees, there was a little football game at
Spartan Stadium. Were you hearing scores paying any attention? Did
you just find out what it was over, what happened
and if you had a chance to go back through
and really see what it was all about.

Speaker 2 (01:49:43):
Well, I watched the highlights more than once, and I decided,
don't get nervous, just wait to get back to the
hotel and then check your phone, which is which I did,
and apparently it had just ended in overtime. I mana
missed the heck of a game, and I saw at
that point some quick highlights. And since then I've looked

(01:50:09):
at the NBC highlights and read a couple of game
stories and talked to my man, Ben Fleeger at Michigan State,
and I guess the big news was Aiden Chiles is tough.
His teammates weren't even sure he's going to come back
for overtime after he was banged up late in the game,

(01:50:30):
and he's becoming more consistent than ever and a consistent
Aiden Childs has got to be murder for anybody who
has to play against him, and getting a place checker
like Connington on the field, how about making your first
field goal the collegiate from fifty yards. So all those
things I think have the arrow pointing positively for Spartan football.

(01:50:56):
And that's so nice, a great feeling. And you had
to know that Jonathan Smith didn't win all those games
out West because he couldn't coach, and most of everybody
had better players than he did, and he still won games.
So the fans were a lot happter than his staff.

Speaker 1 (01:51:17):
They got closer to midnight, Georgia, fans got happier. They
were going the team at halftime and really, yeah, yeah,
you don't like to see that, but maybe it was
just half staff. Fourteen to seven, No twenty one, fourteen,
excuse me, twenty four. There's seven point game.

Speaker 14 (01:51:37):
But the.

Speaker 1 (01:51:40):
Spartans had a chance late in the half and didn't
push the ball down the field. They just ended the
half and it was probably a wise decision, but fans
didn't like that much and let the team know it,
and you know, kind of oh here we go again attitude,
But it was a terrific second half, and Giles with
the five touchdowns for through the air and then the

(01:52:02):
one that was really set up, the winning two point
conversion with the legs. And he's a Big Ten co
Offensive Player of the Week. He's one of the eight
Davey O'Brien quarterback honorees this week. And Georgia, it was
something I'd never seen before in a Big Ten game.
I don't know if it's happened elsewhere, but it hasn't
happened around here. The team had a sixty yard punt,

(01:52:26):
a fifty yard field goal, and a sixty yard kickoff return.

Speaker 2 (01:52:32):
Yeah, Lante Brown's suddenly yeah, more than just a weapon,
He's a legitimate weapon. Yes, So all those things are
pointing in the right direction for the Spartans.

Speaker 3 (01:52:43):
I'm happy for him.

Speaker 2 (01:52:44):
And you know, did you get this is maybe something
that most fans don't care much about, but now they
have three tight ends. Parachuk was able to play, so
that kind of fills out what the coaches want to
have at their disposal, especially if you're an offense that

(01:53:04):
likes to use the tight end. So a lot of
good things happen, I think on Saturday and I'm happy
that it happened for me in Springfield, mass but I'm
even happier thanks to all the Spartan fans that they
were able to cheer in the second half. Tell these
people lighting up on this squad, they're good, and they
work hard and they're well.

Speaker 1 (01:53:25):
Coach George, really happy for you. Congratulations again, look forward
to seeing you Saturday. Saturday afternoon. And I assume you
know now that the USC game in the Coliseum is
going to be an eleven PM start here in Michigan,
So I don't know how many people are going to

(01:53:48):
be napping that day, but it's eight o'clock in the
coliseum two weeks from now.

Speaker 2 (01:53:54):
So and you know, that's the kind of situation you
end up with when you have a transcroon. I'll conference
almost and I don't know. It seems like the Big
Ten could get a better handle on that and make
sure that doesn't happen.

Speaker 1 (01:54:12):
Television calls all the shots, George, and they have those windows.
They have to have games in every window, and somebody's
going to take the bullet. So it's Michigan State that week.
They're going to happen eleven o'clock or ten thirty start
every week, so.

Speaker 2 (01:54:28):
Well, let's hope that the Trojans take the bullet come
Saturday night.

Speaker 1 (01:54:33):
There you go, Thanks so much George.

Speaker 2 (01:54:35):
Today, I should I'd be happy with that anyway.

Speaker 1 (01:54:39):
Had no love loss for the Trojans with the fighting
out in Michigan State, by the way, has a three
game winning streak over USC going back to eighty seven
and then nineteen ninety. I want to thank all of
our guests today. Appreciate Ju Caulcrik joining US, Georgia's broadcast
partner on the Spartan Radio network. I appreciate number thirty

(01:55:02):
joining us. A few times George said touchdown MSHU and
it was about jay U Caulcrick. Certainly appreciate Bob Trippy
joining us. Our director of research, Captain Database, always full
of information and really happy with his Buffalo Bills and
that big comeback last night. You heard from Jonathan Smith today,

(01:55:26):
this press conference over at the stadium, and Saturday night
the comments from Nick to Dan Ball and Aiden Shiles
and Jordan all Big Ten players of the week, and
of course George Blaha Nay Smith basketball Hall of Famer

(01:55:46):
in Springfield, Massachusetts. We'll be back with you tomorrow. Everyone,
have a great night.