Ep. 2912 Tuesday

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is it right here? Combining a team of reporters, columnists,
and commentators.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Are you serious?

Speaker 3 (00:13):
Jack Ebling has brought thought provoking discussion.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
What are you doing? That's a coaching The same opinion.

Speaker 4 (00:19):
Customer is the one who decides when the future gets here?

Speaker 5 (00:22):
Oh no, check report?

Speaker 6 (00:28):
Are you currying me?

Speaker 1 (00:29):
That game is fixed and overall infotainment.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
I'll think Jim Harba, what is he's done?

Speaker 7 (00:34):
Grease?

Speaker 6 (00:35):
Good to coming at you?

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Quiet please exactly fifteen seconds we'll be on the air.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Thanks, big fella.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
Don't you ever come back here again?

Speaker 2 (00:45):
No arguments. Those are called ashtans.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
So buckle up.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Are you talking to me?

Speaker 1 (00:51):
It's time for the Drive with Jack Ebling.

Speaker 8 (00:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
For some reason or another, who signed a little toler radio?
Welcome everyone to episode two thousand, nine hundred and twelve.
It is indeed the Drive with Jack with hopefully your
favorite masshole in the hot seat tonight. Of course, I'm
Boston Rob Bennett. Glad to be with you whenever you

(01:15):
are listening to the show. A quick shout out to
Brian and Jackie Ness, who I know are listening right
now despite a pretty big baseball game getting ready to start.
I know they're in a little bit of the rain
delay in Detroit at Camerica Park. Will of course keep
you updated as we go along with the Tigers and
the Seattle Manners. Of course, the Tigers looking to take

(01:36):
a two to one series lead against the Seattle Mariners.
But we're going to have a great show, and I
can say loud and proud everyone that hockey season is
indeed back in full force. College hockey started last weekend.
Of course, the NHL starts tonight with a hat trick
of games, and I can't think of anyone better. I'd

(01:57):
like to start off the show talking a little call
edge hockey with then the voice of Michigan State Hockey,
that is mister Scott Moore. Scott, I know you're a
baseball fan as well, So on a scale of one
to five, how confident are you in the Detroit Tigers
today against the Seattle Mariners. Once this rain goes.

Speaker 7 (02:19):
Away, let's say two and a half.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
All right? Wow?

Speaker 8 (02:25):
Okay, you know, hey, they're back home. Yes, that win
in Game one means all they have to do, right.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
I know a lot of people were disappointed that they
didn't win with scoobl on the mound, but when you're
on the road, Scott. You know this being a sports
guy yourself, being in the business. If you're an away
team and you can and it's the best of a
seven or a five series, if you can steal one
from an opponent's home, that's what you got to do.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
Right, Yep.

Speaker 7 (02:55):
You gotta win the games you're supposed to and steal
the games you're not supposed to. And that's exactly what
the Tigers did in Game one, and now they've got
to win the two games that they're supposed to in Detroit.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, we'll keep you updated, of course. As I mentioned
throughout the show, Jack flattery going on on the mound
for Detroit, and boy, he can make a make a
statement with a win today, that's for sure. But like
I said, we'll keep you posted as the games get
started here because the Hall of Famer Jack Ebling decided
to go to the game today. I hope the Embling

(03:30):
curse doesn't rear it's ugly head again. Hopefully this rain
delay is all he's going to be able to bring
to this team, as we all hope for Detroit Tigers win.

Speaker 7 (03:39):
All right, Scott, I forgot about the Ebling curtain.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
It's it's real, man. You know this, you know.

Speaker 7 (03:48):
This, There's no doubt about it, all right.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Talking about excitement, A lot of excitement for the Detroit Tigers, obviously,
but boy, there is a ton of excitement for this
Michigan State hockey team. I feel like we've been saying
it for the past couple of years especially, And I'm
gonna throw the same question on a scale of one
to five against Scott how excited are you to call
this team this year? Big expectations, but boy, it's it's

(04:16):
most certainly another exciting season ahead for Michigan State hockey.

Speaker 8 (04:20):
Would you agree on a scale of one to five,
my excitement level is probably fifteen for this team.

Speaker 7 (04:30):
This I mean seeing them last Friday. Yes it was
an exhibition game. Yes it was against a team that
they knew very little about in University of Windsor, but
you know what, it looked pretty good. Yeah. Adam Nightingale
said there was some a little helter skelter times, and
he's right, but coaches always like to have something to

(04:52):
coach too. That was a pretty good performance for a
first time out when really they hadn't even had a
full practice yet. They could only spend I think it
was four hours a week with the team leading up
to Friday night. And so now they've got a full
week's worth of practice under their belt, and I think
you're going to see a little bit different product out there,

(05:17):
but not a whole lot different because it was pretty good.

Speaker 1 (05:20):
Yeah, exactly, And how many years is this? What year
is this for you now? With Michigan State.

Speaker 7 (05:28):
Thursday night, I start year.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
Twenty eight, twenty eight years, and you've seen a.

Speaker 7 (05:33):
Lot of good hot I was a young like Billy
Joel saying, I was in a younger man's clothes when
I started. I like Billy, they were not quite not
quite as baggy either.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
So I do like the Billy Joel reference. I appreciate that.
And you've seen a lot of good Michigan Okay, you've
seen you've seen a lot of good Michigan State hockey.
We know what this program in the history of this
program and whatnot, but boy, they could really make a
statement as you look into the preseason. And I know,
like you said, it's the preseason anywhere from what the

(06:09):
lowest I've seen them ranked is third. The highest obviously
is first. But boy, Adam knighton coach Nightingale just brings
just some sort of calmness to this team, level headedness,
and I don't think that gets talked about enough. He
doesn't get too high, he doesn't get too low, and
he doesn't expect his players to do the extraordinary. And boy,

(06:34):
and we can talk about his able to what he's
been able to develop develop is a keyword when you
talk about Nightingale. But entering this season, your expectations really
under coach Nightingale, and maybe some differences maybe we'll see
from coach Nightingale, you think we'll see any.

Speaker 7 (06:55):
I don't think you get anything different. I think with
the Adam in what you see is what you get,
and that is good, hard nosed, hard fast, smart hockey.
That's what he preaches. That's what the guys want to play.
That's you know, the people that come in, not only
freshmen but transfers that come in, they want to play

(07:17):
that style of hockey. And so it's everybody's on the
same page right from the get go, and that helps
so much. And the talent level on this team, based
on what I saw on Friday, is just off the
charts right now. That was that that third third line
was all freshmen.

Speaker 8 (07:37):
Yes, yes, and and you know you could.

Speaker 7 (07:42):
Argue, could you find a better all freshman line in
Spartan hockey history.

Speaker 1 (07:50):
That's a great question. Yeah, you'd have to go back. Yeah,
I mean it's I mean, all you know how he
hates the word to use lines, right, like third line
in second line first. When you look at it.

Speaker 7 (08:02):
From Tom, it's just how they're laid out, right, It's
just how they're It's.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
The terminology he does not like, but it's it's how
they're laid out and whatnot. And you can most certainly
see the development from the players like a Daniel Russell,
guys that are that have been here over the shouty.
I mean, we can go up and down, up and
down the line. When you talk about certain guys Tommy Manisto,

(08:27):
who maybe could have one of be one of those
X factors on that quote unquote fourth line, right because
he could. We talked about it, we could, we could.
He could most certainly roll four lines all year, obviously
depending on injury and whatnot. But it's it's not every.

Speaker 7 (08:44):
Hock stays healthy, not wood that this is this is
a four line team. It'll be interesting to me in
a small way to see what he does with his
extra skater. Last year it was an extra defenceman. This year,
does he go with an extra forward or and stay

(09:05):
with his snicks defenseman. I you know, I'm I'm going
to be very interested to see what he chooses to
do in that realm because the extra forward that they
used in the exhibition game, Grift Jerreki, he is a
spark plug. Yes, he doesn't have the numbers to back

(09:25):
anything up, but boy does he make things happen in it.
And from the well, you know, I'm a big I'm
a big Griffin Jireke fan.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah, and from what we've seen since under coach Nightingale,
everybody understands and accepts their role, no matter if you
get two minutes of ice time or twenty five minutes, right,
and everybody's gonna go ahead.

Speaker 7 (09:50):
That that's that's what they what they You know, this
is truly a team sport. Yeah, you have some players
that stand out like Cower last year had an incredible season.
Charlie Strammel more than doubled his career numbers from his
first two years at Wisconsin just last year alone. But

(10:15):
you know, it is a team sport and every single
guy on that team will tell you he can't do
it all by himself. Somebody has to give him the pucker.
He has to give the puck to somebody else who's
in a better position. And I saw a lot of
that on Friday night, a lot of passes. Sometimes you
can make too many passes, but these were good decision

(10:35):
passes they were making, and they you know, they cashed
in on four, but they had plenty other opportunities.

Speaker 1 (10:42):
And you'll hear real quick, you'll hear coach Nightingale here
today as he had his press conference that I was
at earlier. So we're going to run that on the
next segment after the break. But one of the things
too that Coach Nightingale preaches and people maybe should watch
a little bit more of, is his players what they
do without the puck, right, And that goes to kind

(11:04):
of what you just said and the importance of that
and the buy in that these players, especially the young players. Hey,
if you want to get on the ice and get
some ice time, it's just not having the puck on
the stick and scoring goals. It's what you do without
the puck that might be just as important.

Speaker 7 (11:21):
Right, Yeah, Yeah, If you're possessing the pucket the offensive zones.

Speaker 8 (11:26):
You've got to go.

Speaker 7 (11:27):
To your spot. You've got you've got to go to
an open spot. You've got to find a place where
you can receive a pass that you're comfortable with doing
something with it. And we saw Joey Larson last year
just he did that all the time. You knew that
the left circle was Joey's house, and he would he

(11:48):
would go right to that left circle and he'd be
ready for a pass, he'd be calling for it. You'd
take the shot and then he'd move and you just
got to keep moving, keep moving your feet and head
on a swivel. Yeah, I sound just like a coach.
I know I've been doing this for a while, but uh,

(12:09):
and that's that is one of the things that these
guys do. There's there's a lot of motion in this offense.
And you know, guys have their favorite spots. They'll go there,
they'll get a shot off, they'll go somewhere else, they'll
look for a pass or make a pass. We've got
Charlie Stramil on the Adam Nightingale showed this evening and

(12:30):
you know, you think back, what a great season he had.
But really, you know, one one moment that stands out
in my mind is the Big Ten championship game when
he got the fuck out in from behind the net
out Dy Howard who scored the game winner against Ohio
State and the championship game. You know, Charlie Stramil doesn't

(12:52):
get a whole lot of credit for that, but he's
the one that got it there. I did the work
and put it away, But if I doesn't get that
pass in the right place, he doesn't score.

Speaker 1 (13:02):
That's right. It's all about the little things, and they
emphasize that on every practice, every single practice, every single shift,
every single you know, whatever it might be, it does
end up being the little things.

Speaker 7 (13:17):
Yeah, definitely, definitely, So you know, that's That's one of
the things that almost amazes me is the way that
this coaching staff came together, didn't know each other at all.
The only one that had any kind of a relationship
with anybody else was Adam k Newbrad Fast. Yeah, and

(13:40):
and they hit the ground running. And really, from the
midway point of that first season, it's been it's just
been standing.

Speaker 1 (13:52):
You've never seen anything like it, really, I mean, it's.

Speaker 7 (13:54):
Yeah, and if you'd have said four years ago that
Mission in State will now be the chaser or the
chase e in just four seasons. You go, well, yeah,
if everything goes right, maybe, but I mean this is
back to back Big Ten regular season championships, shared with

(14:17):
Minnesota last year. But you know, it's championship is a championship,
so it's happened faster than certainly I would have thought.
I have asked Adam if he thought it was going
to be that fast, and he said, I'd had no
expectations at all. I just knew that we were going
to play good.

Speaker 1 (14:36):
Hockey, and they most certainly have done that. They have
most certainly done that. Even though you just mentioned Scott
and I got to bring this up, that back to
back Big Ten regular season and tournament champions although last
year you could tell there was a little of disappointment.
Coach Nightingale talks about scars being left and to remember

(14:58):
those scars, so still obviously something to prove and still
especially for the guys that have been here.

Speaker 7 (15:08):
Oh oh yeah, yeah, I mean, you know he's he's
right about the scars, and the guys talk about him too.
They nobody, nobody in that locker room liked the way
the last game of the season went. They all had
visions of the Gateway Arch in their in their minds,

(15:30):
and you know, they they ran into a team that
got hot at the right time. You know, momentum. Woody
and I talk about momentum on the broadcast all the time.
You get a little bit of momentum and look out,
and that's what happened to him. So you know, you
learn from that. They stood there and watched the Cornell

(15:51):
celebrate and you know they let it se her into
the backs of their eyes so that they have that
memory for this year. Now repeating three times in a row.
That's that's a tall order.

Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, what would you would you there? Would you agree
that the Big Ten Hockey Conference is the best conference
for college hockey right now? Top to bottom?

Speaker 7 (16:21):
I would say, top to bottom, the Big Ten has
so much talent. The n c HC is closed, yes, yes,
And and to that conference's credit, uh, their teams have

(16:43):
risen to the task when given the opportunity. In the
n CUA A frozen four. You know, so many national
champions in a row out of that conference. You can't
argue with that. But I'd say that, uh, part of
the issue with the big tennis. By the time you
get to the season, you've played such a monster schedule

(17:08):
because there there are no days off. You know, you're
regardless of who's in last place, anybody can beat anybody
in this conference.

Speaker 1 (17:18):
Indeed. All right, So I ask you this going into
the season. I know you've done your studying, you've seen this,
you saw the exhibition game. What what is the biggest
I guess you would say question mark in your mind
for this team.

Speaker 7 (17:37):
The the youth on the defensive side. You know, they
lost some good experienced players last year, and there are
some good players defensively that Spartan fans really don't know
anything about because you know they haven't seen them yet.

Speaker 6 (17:56):
There's there's a.

Speaker 7 (17:57):
Lot of youth on this team as far as defense,
and so that's why I'm thinking that Adam might go
with the extra skater as a defenseman, just to try
to get more time to see who the top six are.
He may have seven or even eight guys that he
would like to play in every game. So that's the

(18:22):
biggest question for me. I think offensively, you can't replace
a player like I Coward, No, but but with not
with him not being on the ice. That means so
many more opportunities for other players. And so you know, somebody,

(18:42):
and it could be a committee, will pick up that slack.

Speaker 1 (18:46):
Well, I've a man Riker Lee and I'm just not
talking about the exhibition game kind of followed his career. Boy,
he's somebody to watch out for. Of course, Porter Martone
who came in a little late right after the Gavin
sweepstakes went to Penn State or came in late. And
then you know Caden Lindstrom, he's been talked about, you know,

(19:09):
back seems to be fully good to go from from
that injury. Of course, Will Morlock probably is most certainly
the right person to deal with that, you know what
I mean for Cayden to get stronger. Yeah, so these
new names, boy and and talked about it. Maybe this
team will be a little bit more physical. They most

(19:29):
certainly have length. Coach Nightingale has talked about that maybe
the most length he's had since he's got had this
team right over the over these last couple of years.

Speaker 7 (19:38):
And maybe a little bit yes, the size, and I
think the thing is that the bigger young kids are
quick too. Yeah, they showed some speed up and down
the ice. So you know, that's that's a lethal combination.
If you've got a big guy that can skate and move,

(19:59):
that just does happen all that often. So that's that's
the situation that you want to be in, is uh,
you know, having having that particular combination. And I think
they could they well, you know, they're going to be
scrappy at least we saw that on Friday, you know,

(20:24):
and and I may ask Adam about that this evening.
The whole issue that landed landed Tierman Shoudi into the
penalty box. You know, I'm okay with that. It wound
up going into Spartan's favor. Anyway. The situation, for those

(20:48):
who don't know, the whistle had blown and a player
from Windsor just put a massive crosscheck right on Nathan
Mackie's back. He was on his knees and he just
you know, put a huge cross check on him. And immediately,
I think it was Tomy Manisto went after him because

(21:11):
he was right there. And I watched I could see
Tyrnan Shoudy circled way outside and then cut right back in,
got to the right place at the right time, and
he just went off on this guy. And you know,
so they both got roughing calls. They both got ten
minute misconducts and I'm fine with those calls. And Windsor

(21:33):
got the extra two minutes for the cross check. So
the spartan's got a power play out of it. But
you love seeing your leadership, your alternate captain, Tiernan Shoudy
for the second year. You love seeing him stand up
for his player that was wrong. You just got to
make sure that you're funneling that the right way.

Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, and you mentioned the leadership, and you talked about
the defense, the youth on the defense right being a
question for you coming into the year. But when you
look at that, I mean the captain Matt Baskell, right,
Maxim Stirback, right, Patrick Geary, who's very underrated in my view,
a guy maybe we should be talking about a little
bit more making strides. I mean that Matt was the

(22:18):
captain of this team. I couldn't think of anyone better
in my view.

Speaker 7 (22:21):
Would you agree, Oh, they're they're they're really. I mean
there are other guys who could be, but it wouldn't
been a shame if because Matt has worked towards this
for three years, getting into you know, wearing the A
and I mean it was that was his letter from

(22:46):
the get go when we talked about it at the
end of last season. Okay, who's going to be the
captain next year? Red Savage is gone. Yeah, it's it's
going to be Baskal. Everybody knew it. Well, he deserves.

Speaker 1 (22:59):
It, yes, And you mentioned these players recruiting that Adam
Nightingale is doing. They've been captains or leaders on their
other teams before coming here, so in essence, in essence,
he's got captains all throughout, like his leadership group that
he has and whatnot. So I mean it's someone's got

(23:21):
to wear the sea, right, But and Matt Baso most
certainly deserves it, as you mentioned. But this team is
just full from top to bottom as far as leadership
goes on and off the ice.

Speaker 7 (23:33):
Yeah, it's just it's it's all shaping up to look
like a very, very good season. And boy, you know,
I'm I'm just so excited to see these guys play
on Thursday and Friday. It's just you know, to see
him play against it in a game that actually counts.

(23:58):
And I know Adam talked after the exhibition game about
you prepare every time you go on the ice like
it's a game that counts, but in the back of
your head, you know it's an exhibition. So you know
they'll they'll kick it up a notch on Thursday night,

(24:19):
and hopefully the crowd situation with it being a Thursday night,
hopefully everything is good. It should be. It's their first
home game after back to back Big Ten championships. Yeah,
they deserve a good crowd out there. The student section
was awesome on Friday night, and you know, it's just

(24:42):
you know, let's get out there and support these guys.
Make it make it hard for me to be heard
because there's so much noise in the arena.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
Well, we're going to get appointment. We're going to get
to their opponent that is here in just a second.
But I did want to ask you, Yeah, with this team,
and of course, uh Trey, Augustine's going to try Augustine right,
and I know talking with him, he's at the end
of last year, disappointment in him not living up to

(25:13):
what his own expectations are, right, and those are some
lofty expectations. But who could be an X factor on
this team that maybe we're not talking about a lot
about right now. But but we should be.

Speaker 7 (25:32):
On this team, you know, certainly, you know the highly
touted new guys.

Speaker 5 (25:40):
Mark.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
Yeah, maybe I'll go one step.

Speaker 7 (25:43):
I'm if I'm looking for somebody to have a breakout year.
I'm looking at Gavin O'Connell. Okay, he had a really
really good freshman year and then last year he was
hurt and he came back and you could tell he
just wasn't the same Gavin O'Connell. He's healthy now, and

(26:06):
so look for Gavin O'Connell because there's another guy that
has some speede and has some ability. Uh, look for him,
you know, playing along with Van Sagi and Caden Lindstrom.
You know, Lindstrom can dish, he can he can move
the buck around, and I think Gavin O'Connell could benefit
from that. I'm hoping for a very good junior year

(26:30):
for Gavin.

Speaker 1 (26:31):
All right, excellent, excellent choice. Nice choice. Uh, let's talk
about their opponents before we let you go here. Of course,
New Hampshire right a Hockey East we've known that from
the past, has a great history, right not not not
in one season. They want to remember last year struggled

(26:51):
quite a bit.

Speaker 7 (26:53):
But what came, especially at the end of the season,
especially at the end of the season. But this is
it's going to be interesting because you look at it
at face value, Like you said, you know, the whole
second half of the season, they only won like three games.
There were a couple of ties in there. They wound

(27:13):
up thirteen, sixteen and six, So they got off to
a very good start, but in conference played just five,
fourteen and five, tenth place in the eleven team conference.
And I took a quick look at last year's stats
and this year's roster. They only have eleven players returning

(27:37):
from last season, and they lost sixty two percent of
their goal scoring. That's that's an awful lot to absorb
for a team that didn't score a lot of goals.
You think about it, thirty five games they had ninety
nine goals.

Speaker 6 (27:55):
Yeah, and you know, so.

Speaker 7 (28:00):
Again you look at the top of the roster, they've
got six of their top ten scorers back. But when
you look below that, it's guys that scored two five, three,
two one one, So guys that weren't really factors even
though it is a team game. So it's going to

(28:24):
be very interesting to see how they've improved They did
play an exhibition game last Friday against the Division one team.
They played Maine in a border battle and they tied
them two to two. Main ranked number seven last week,
bumped up to number six in the College Hockey Online
poll this week. So they went to a neutral site

(28:48):
and got up to nothing on the number seven team
in the nation, gave up two goals, one in the
second one and the third, held on for the tie,
and then won the shootout two to one on So okay,
Now you look at New Hampshire and you.

Speaker 6 (29:05):
Say, oh, well, maybe maybe.

Speaker 7 (29:08):
There is something there. So you know, at this point
in the season, it's not really about how your opponent plays.
It's about you play. You have to play your system
and you have to play it as well as you can.

Speaker 1 (29:22):
It's like you've been hanging around coach ball where they
may it's it's like you've been hanging around coach Nightingale
along because not only in the beginning of the season,
not only in the beginning of the season, Scott, but
that's basically the mantra for the entire season. No, they're
not disrespecting their opponents. They know what tough opponents up
and down the schedule right. You never take anybody like, oh, well,

(29:45):
Coach Nightingale.

Speaker 8 (29:46):
Always talks about any point in the season. Yes, at
any point in the season.

Speaker 7 (29:51):
You're right. I can ask him during a pregame interview,
what's the big thing for your guys, and without doubt
he'll say, we just have to play up to the
level we can play too.

Speaker 1 (30:05):
Or when you add and they do scouting of these
other teams, no question about it. Sure, but anytime you ask,
and you'll actually hear me ask at the end of
the press conference today as we as we're going to
have to break here in a second. You'll hear that
in the next segment. But what makes New Hampshire that
a good opponent to open the season with? Right, And

(30:26):
he gives you the he gives the coach talk, but
it says it's it's all about us and how we
play and the and the and everything else will take
care of itself. And that doesn't matter if it's the
opening game or the last game of the season, no
matter where that's going to be. That is Coach Nightingale
in a nutshell.

Speaker 7 (30:46):
Exactly.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
Indeed.

Speaker 7 (30:48):
Well, and so you know, we'll just have to all
be in our seats at seven o'clock or be on
our radios at six point thirty and we'll all find
out together how this team does against a Hockey East opponent.

Speaker 1 (31:06):
Well, it's going to be exciting. Congratulations on how many
years again?

Speaker 7 (31:12):
This is twenty eight.

Speaker 1 (31:13):
Twenty eight, twenty eight, still going strong.

Speaker 7 (31:16):
I do not I do not have a number in mind. Okay,
I just want to keep going.

Speaker 1 (31:23):
I was I wasn't going to ask if this is
you know, but because I know you're going to go
as long as humanly possibly can. Scott Moore, thank you
so much for taking some time and tell everybody about
tonight where you're going to be.

Speaker 7 (31:37):
Let everybody know you will be at We'll be at
one North Kitchen and Bar in east Land, things starting
at six o'clock with Coach Nightingale. Woody is there and
Charlie Straml will be our guest.

Speaker 1 (31:48):
Tonight, Outstanding, So come on over, Yes, come on over
for dinner, outstanding. I know Woody you're probably not going
to be able to keep him still. Uh, he might
not even sit to see. My goodness, I can only imagine.

Speaker 7 (32:02):
Physical bite us dance going already. It's like a kid
with a sugar rush.

Speaker 1 (32:08):
Yeah, no, kidd and I heard I heard they do?

Speaker 7 (32:15):
They do?

Speaker 1 (32:15):
I hear that quite.

Speaker 7 (32:16):
I mean you talk about you talk about a kid
with a sugar rush. That's just Woody three sixty five.

Speaker 1 (32:24):
Well, I'm will certainly looking forward to seeing you at
the rink on Thursday and Friday and listening to you guys.
You do a great job as always Hall of Fame
in my book, Rob.

Speaker 7 (32:32):
It's it's always fun talking hockey with you. Call back
at anytime. I'm always happy to go on.

Speaker 1 (32:40):
All right, and the checks in the mail after those kinds.

Speaker 7 (32:43):
And yes and yes you are my favorite masshole.

Speaker 1 (32:47):
Of course, we can end the show right now, Scott.
We don't need to go anywhere you go. That's it,
the stamp of approval by Scott Moore. I appreciate it.
The voice of Michigan State Hockey and we're gonna talk
more hockey. As a matter of fact, you'll hear from
the head coach of Michigan State Hockey. Right after this
break he sat he talked with the media today. I

(33:08):
was a part of that. Luckily to be a part
of that. You'll hear from coach Nightingale. As they get
closer and closer to opening the season against New Hampshire,
and later on we'll hear it from Rico Cooney. We'll
talk a little hockey with him as well, as he's
part of our hockey Roundtable. We'll talk a little Michigan
State women's hoops, and of course later in the show,
Sean Beleigian will join us to talk hockey, baseball, football.

(33:32):
A man of many trades, Shawn Beligian, he'll join us
here as well. Stay tuned for more, everyone, says Boston
Rob Bennett, filling in for the Hall of Famer Jack Ebling.
This is the Drive with Jack on the Spotlight Media Network.

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Speaker 1 (37:43):
Welcome back everyone to the Drive with Jack. This is
your special guest host, producer Boston Rob Bennett. We don't
need a Detroit breakdown today, but we need to not
have a rain delay. Let's have some good Let's see
if mother nature can change our spirits a little bit
as we are still in a rain delay. Jack Ebling,
of course, the Hall of famer and host of the

(38:05):
show at Comerica Park as we speak, taking in what
hopefully we'll be starting of the Detroit Tigers Seattle Mariners
Game three of the divisional series. I don't know if
you've heard or not. That game is going on today,
a pretty big game in Detroit, happening at Comerica Park.
Will keep you updated as it goes along.

Speaker 13 (38:25):
Here.

Speaker 1 (38:25):
Jack Flattery scheduled to be on the bump for the
Detroit Tigers as they look to take a two games
to one lead with a win at k America. But
we've been talking. I want to thank Scott Moore here
for joining us last segment talking to Little Michigan State Hockey.
We will continue to do so throughout this show. We'll
talk a little Tigers baseball as well in Little Michigan

(38:47):
State football as well. Appreciate everybody tuning in. And as
I mentioned before the break, Coach Nightingale, speaking of Michigan
State Hockey, had his weekly press conference earlier this afternoon
and I was there part of the media contingent, and
here is what Coach Nightingale had to say to the
media as they continue to prepare for their opening season series.

(39:12):
As they welcome New Hampshire to what will be a rowdy, rowdy,
uh crowd filled mont Ice Arena starting Thursday night.

Speaker 12 (39:27):
Petition is, yes, we're young, but we got to for
sure our game and it's that we're going to be
an excuse, right, So we got to make sure that
we keep growing those areas. But I definitely like a
lot of they do a lot of things that you
know you can't you can't can't teach, and I think
continue to grow away from the pocket, just like Danny
young hockey player, really important.

Speaker 14 (39:45):
Talking about the young players, you had that quote unquote
third line of all freshmen. How did you like how
their chemistry is developing short a lot on that exhibition game.

Speaker 2 (39:55):
Yeah, they did a really good job.

Speaker 12 (39:56):
And you know that was actually one of the first
things we talked about when we meet is the team.
Like at the end of the day, we got a
we got a printed line charts, and if you're listing
on the third line, that doesn't mean you're the third line.
And the most important thing is on the line charts
is the logo and making sure we recruit kids that
believe in that.

Speaker 2 (40:12):
So I thought those guys did a great job.

Speaker 12 (40:14):
I think they all kind of think the game, you know,
at a different level, and whether they stay together or not.

Speaker 2 (40:18):
But you know, I think they all bring something special to.

Speaker 12 (40:20):
The line and our jobs help me keep growing, but
definitely show you know, you feel like at scoring chances
they were they were all over it and created a
lot and I thought they did some really good things
away from the puck and looking for them to continue
to we're on that this weekend.

Speaker 14 (40:33):
You mentioned go ahead, you mentioned the lines is for
New Hampshire, about forty eight hours or so aways what
we saw in the exhibition. As far as the lines though,
is that what you're looking at? Are you're still tinkering
a little low?

Speaker 12 (40:46):
Yeah, chicking a little bit, but you know, I think
the nice thing is we got we got a lot
of options, you know, and I think, you know, we
got some guys that can play with different guys and
you know, our jobs to try to maximize it with
the roster we have, and you know, four cents, our
staff is done a great job, but you got to
have great options.

Speaker 2 (41:04):
At the end of the day.

Speaker 12 (41:04):
We know, just like every game, we're gonna try to
put together the lineup we field gives us the best
chance to a.

Speaker 2 (41:09):
Hockey game, and that'll be the goal on Thursday, had them.
Coaches are expected to schedule a.

Speaker 15 (41:15):
Few cream puffs in the preseason and you come out
with New Hampshire and b U.

Speaker 2 (41:21):
That's by design. I'm sure. Is this young roster ready
for what's coming?

Speaker 7 (41:25):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (41:26):
No, I think I think we are.

Speaker 12 (41:27):
I mean, I love playing as tough schedule as you can,
you know, and I get it.

Speaker 2 (41:32):
You know, you know, there's different philosophies.

Speaker 12 (41:34):
I'm not saying there's right, but I also I think
you want to find out about your team right off
the bat, you know, and see what you have and
and see what you need to work on, right, and
you can live in a dream world and it makes
some things don't come out. And we want to challenge
our group, right and so you know, Unfortunately, you know,
it takes a little bit of time to set up
the scheduling, right. This is it's done about four years
out and so you know, this is probably the first

(41:56):
year we've really been able to really really design schedule.
He feels best for our group, and our guys are
excited about it too.

Speaker 2 (42:03):
I think that's one of the reasons.

Speaker 12 (42:04):
You know, guys look at possibility common in Michigan state
that you know, you're talking about high end kids. They
want they want to play the best teams, and that's
our job to try to stand from.

Speaker 15 (42:12):
And in that regard, your young players talk alike, when
you step on campus, you're expected to play at this level.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
That's how you recruit to.

Speaker 12 (42:20):
Yeah, yeah, for sure, No, I think there's a I
think that's every programs, all right, you want to have
a high standard and the expectations. It doesn't matter if
you're you're a freshman or a senior. You know, there's
a stander how to play the game. And as our
job to try to help them grow in those areas.
And you know, unfortunately, we have a great leadership group,
you know, you know a lot by Dassie that does
a great job of you know, in the summer of missaption.

Speaker 2 (42:39):
This is how we do things. This house that we
want to play in. You know, we talk a lot,
you know, even after the game. And now it's just
I mean that word of just.

Speaker 12 (42:46):
Massuring, right, and we're never going to use it as
an excuse that we're younger, that we don't know our
jobs to teach you and the mistakes are going to happen.
And but you know, a repeating mistake is a decision,
you know, And so if you keep doing those things,
you're decided to do them. And you know, we've got
a group of guys that understand that, and we'll be
better in the areas you want to be better at.

Speaker 14 (43:04):
Can you talk a little bit about the expectations within
the room? We know the outside expectations, right, and how
do you guys talk about that a lot? And how
to handle expectations and how to handle success. Is it
sometimes more difficult to handle success than maybe failure?

Speaker 2 (43:19):
I think it is.

Speaker 12 (43:20):
Yeah, I do think it is, because you've got a
lot of noise, right, and you know, if you haven't failure,
you can kind of rally the truths around that and
responding to adversity and you know, responding to successes is
I think more challenging, right, and especially in our world
with social media.

Speaker 2 (43:34):
And you know, you have so.

Speaker 12 (43:37):
Much thrown ash about how good you should be, you know,
in this and you know we got draft picks and right,
there's expectations there. But I can say that no one
has a higher expectation than the guys in our room,
you know, And I get everyone around us is excited
about a program and the direction of it, and there's
there's there's pressure that comes with that, but that's how
you want it to be, and you've got to earn

(43:58):
that pressure.

Speaker 2 (43:58):
And I feel like our groups done that.

Speaker 12 (44:00):
But also knowing that when we come to the rink
every day, those those twenty seven guys in the room
and our coaching staff, you know, no one has a
higher expectation than that group, right and so, and we're
not basing it off the scoreboard. I think our sports
at the game that you can play really well and
I can reward it, and you can play poorly and
get rewarded on the scoreboards.

Speaker 2 (44:21):
So we're awarding our quality of.

Speaker 12 (44:22):
Play and not judging ourselves on the scoreboard. But you
know our standard gonna play And kind of goes back
to leadership. I think we have a group of guys
that understand that, and I'll help and reinforce that in
the room with Trade. He's someone who's not very vocal
when he's around us, but how have you seen his
leadership skills that you step because he's now an opperplasman, Yeah,
I know he is. He's he's a keep to himself guy.

(44:42):
But I do think he's he's come out of his
shell a little bit.

Speaker 2 (44:45):
And we've had him to a part of our leadership group.

Speaker 12 (44:47):
You know, I think this is first time and you know,
a long time maybe ever that Tray's kind of the
elder Statesman's the goalie, right, Melvin's there and he's got
to help guide him. And I think that's a big,
big almost for a trade coming back this year. It's like,
hopefully has a long career and someday he's gonna be
the veteran you got to help mentor a younger guy
and getting that experience and you know, all the game's
going you know, well, he's not He's not gonna be

(45:08):
super vocal about he's he's the guy that.

Speaker 2 (45:09):
All of our guys look to.

Speaker 12 (45:10):
But he's got a calling presence, he doesn't get flustered,
and I think he's earned his teammates respect.

Speaker 2 (45:16):
You know that he brings it every day and honestly,
this is a chance to win every game he's in.

Speaker 12 (45:21):
But yeah, I think that's uh, any young player coming up,
you know, I mean an opportunity to grow and that
leadership area's got leadership qualities and we're gonna lean on
that way.

Speaker 2 (45:30):
Do you think these.

Speaker 15 (45:30):
Young players like Riker will play so well last week
game and winstream are turning some heads in your own
locker room about how good they.

Speaker 2 (45:37):
Are so soon? Yeah?

Speaker 12 (45:39):
I think, uh, probably when they start seeing together in
the summer. I think, as they're smart, right, you can
recognize and but I think what when you talk about
really earning your teammates respect. Is talents one thing, if
you've got a skill or whatever, But you know, are
you an everyday guy? Do you bring it every day?
How are you in the weight room? What's your energy
like for practice? You know, I think that's really where

(46:00):
to earn your teammates respect. And you know, I think
if you look at all those those young guys, they've
done a great job that what's.

Speaker 15 (46:05):
The excitement and level for you when a season starts,
if you can outline.

Speaker 2 (46:09):
That, yeah, super excited.

Speaker 12 (46:11):
I mean it's a long offseason, right, I mean you're
waiting in your chomp at to bet the guys that
are around in the summer and you I mean, you
can't do anything with them hockey wise, so you're obviously
you're just trying to establish a.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
Relationship and also give them some space. It's a long year,
and you know, you don't want to be in our
face all the time. By the end of the year,
they're sick of hearing from you. So but yeah, super
super excited.

Speaker 12 (46:28):
I mean, I think I'll never take it for granted
having an opportunity to coach here. You know, I think
it's such an unbelieable university and a story program and
uh to be able to represent our alumni and our
fan base and to come to work every day too
is you know, got unlabled staff. We spend so much
time together. So yeah, we're excited. That's why I think.
I mean, we all practice, you know what I mean,

(46:48):
get an out of practice with the guys, and to me,
the games are more for the guys and and get
out there and we find some things that maybe you'd
work on over things that doing well. But yeah, you can't.
You can't bet to beat that feeling with the season
right around the corner.

Speaker 14 (47:01):
Bouncing off of that a little bit, do you have
a little bit of a speech forum for Opening night
at home? And you as a player, do you remember
Opening Night?

Speaker 7 (47:09):
Yeah?

Speaker 12 (47:10):
No, I don't know if I'm watching a speech guy, Yeah,
I think that it's such a long season, and if
you're waiting for the coach you did this speech to
to play well, right, the goal is the guys, and
obviously I know we're guys will be excited.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
It might even be the opposite right where we got Hey,
we gotta, we gotta, we got.

Speaker 12 (47:26):
To make sure we're focused on, you know, one shift
at a time here, and you don't want.

Speaker 2 (47:30):
To be too high or too low. And so you know,
I have talker guys about that.

Speaker 12 (47:34):
If you're waiting for some secret speech here, you're probably
not going to get it for me.

Speaker 2 (47:37):
You know, I think it's the proofs and the play
and you're doing every day in practice, and I think
we can put all that time in.

Speaker 12 (47:42):
And I'm working in the weight room and and on
the ice, it's inevitable that.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
It flows to the game.

Speaker 14 (47:48):
Well, I do you do remember as a player how
excited you were.

Speaker 12 (47:50):
For Oh yeah, yeah, no, for sure. Probably probably didn't
do a great job of like controlling emotions. You know,
I think I get probably too too excited to play
and probably took a lot of penalties because of that.
You know, you get so lammed up. But I think,
uh yeah, I mean I said that for our guys too.
It is like the games are awesome and our family
and it's great to play, but what you really remember

(48:11):
when you look back is like the time in the
locker room with the guys. Like when we have our lumback,
they want to just hang on the locker room and
be in the locker room. I think that's what everyone misses, right.
And obviously the games is fun, and for sure you
miss miss playing, but you're spending time with the guys
and a group of people working together for a common
goal is you don't.

Speaker 2 (48:27):
Get that in a lot of heroes, right. And you know,
once our guys are done playing, it's just not the
same as being in the locker room. So you know,
I think, I know our guys are excited about playing.
I can see it.

Speaker 12 (48:36):
We got one more practice, but we got to make
sure again we take advantage of the one we have
in the past.

Speaker 14 (48:43):
What makes New Hampshire a good opening series, Well.

Speaker 12 (48:46):
Yeah, they're playing a really good common hockeys and stuff
as it gets, so they play against really good teams.
They got a really good coaching staff and and you
know they've done a really good job you know, recruiting
or you look at some of the guys that try
they have scoring and some guys that they have returning.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
We got a lot of debt there.

Speaker 12 (49:04):
So again I'm gonna proud program and plays with the
skill and was competitive and plays fast and it'll be
a really good test for our group. And how I'm
excited about it because I think this is that's what
it's all about. You want to see where you're at
as a group, and we're gonna We're gonna.

Speaker 2 (49:17):
See on Thursday.

Speaker 1 (49:19):
Michigan State Hockey coach earlier this afternoon at mont Ice
Arena talking with the media as Michigan State prepares that
opening season series with New Hampshire coming into mont Ice
Arena on Thursday and Friday. All Right, quick update for you.
We're still in the delay between the Detroit Tigers and

(49:41):
the Seattle Mariners. Mother nature is not cooperating, uh for
this big baseball game. But there's no delay here. We
don't have delays here on the drive, especially with Rob
Bennett in the hot seat. And I'd like to welcome
in my next guest from coach Nightingale, Tarico Cooney, who
is part of our I guess you would say hockey
round table but very much more verse than just hockey reco.

(50:04):
I wanted to ask you a few questions with this
Tigers game. I know you're a baseball fan. With this
Tigers game still in delay, get hopefully getting ready to
go here soon. What is your confidence level in the
Detroit Tigers today? Is Jack Flannery looks to take the
bump and get a win for the home team?

Speaker 6 (50:22):
Well, I think you know that there's kind of two
flarity's and it's kind of been like that all year long.
Either you get the good jack clarity or the bad
Jack clarity. You've been a little bit of a jacky
and hide hopefully, you know, being the playoffs you get
the good Jack clarity. But I think I just like

(50:43):
the fact that the Tigers are back home because if
you look at the schedule, they haven't been home in
a long time.

Speaker 1 (50:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (50:50):
Yeah, So I'm hoping the comforts of home get them
a little more settled and a little more relaxed and
a little more excited in this series and they can
take two at home.

Speaker 1 (51:03):
Well. As I mentioned in the last segment with Scott
Moore who joined us, thanks again for Scott for taking
some time for a road team and especially in a
playoff series best of three, best of five or best
of five, best of seven. Excuse me, I mean for
the road team starting out, you've got to take one
of those first two games, right, And they did that.

(51:24):
And I know a lot of people are disappointed because,
you know, they the Schooble thing didn't work out, and
they could have very easily been The way Schooble pitched
could be up to nothing. But the fact that they
were able to take a game in Seattle gives them
quote unquote the home field advantage, and like you said,
hopefully now that they're home, they can take two and

(51:45):
won't have to go back to.

Speaker 6 (51:46):
Seattle, right right, I mean, like I said that that,
I think you're right. That's a huge thing when you
can split on the road because now you're a little
more I think this the pressure is relieved little bit,
so you're not pushing so much. You know that you
know you're back home, you're in your friendly confine, you

(52:07):
slept in your own bed, you ate, you know your
own food, and you're and so I would think that
this will be an advantage for the Tigers, like I said,
especially since at the end of the season they were
away from Comerica for so for so much.

Speaker 1 (52:23):
Yeah, and then I'll saying that I'm going to say
this series goes five games. What do you think?

Speaker 6 (52:29):
Yeah, I think it's a five game series, you know,
And if that's the case, then of course I think
you'll get school but one more time, and that that
should put them in a in a good spot.

Speaker 1 (52:41):
All right, Before we get to hockey. The main reason
I said well hockey and women's basketball. We're going to
get to that in a second, but I want to
ask you what happened to your Florida State seminoles in
state rivalry against Miami? Right? What happened there for your
Florida State seminoles.

Speaker 6 (52:58):
They did not They did not come out and play
like they needed to to start the game. They needed
to start something, and they didn't, and they let Miami
take it to them. And so obviously they were playing
catch up. It really didn't seem like they were into
the game rob until like the fourth quarter, right, I mean,

(53:19):
Miami them they got punched in the mouth, and they
really didn't realize or it didn't seem like it realized
that you know, this a big game, you're at home,
it's against one of your most heated rivals, and oh,
I guess we should start playing, and they did, but
by then it was too late. And with all due respect,

(53:41):
you know, being a Florida State fan, I know that
Miami is quote back Crystal Paul has done a good
job and rejuvenating that program, and of course they're in
the CFP conversation. So but yeah, Florida State, I mean,
I would say that Florida State's path now is they

(54:03):
need to win the ACCA.

Speaker 1 (54:06):
Yeah, and it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt to have
Carson Beck as your quarterback either.

Speaker 6 (54:11):
And people question, you know, whether he see the guy,
but he's proving a lot of people wrong.

Speaker 1 (54:19):
That's exactly right, that's exactly right. All right. Well, I
know a team that's ready to go, and speaking of
high expectations coming into the season, my goodness, the Michigan
State hockey team. I don't know, Rico, and I want
to get your thoughts on this. I don't know if

(54:41):
there is a more deeper talented team in the country.
There's a couple teams. There's a team out there in
my neck of the woods, Boston University, that could make
maybe make the argument as far as top to bottom.
But boy, Michigan State, when you look at that roster,
and I know it's on paper, but we've seen a
little t with the exhibition, and we've seen what coach

(55:03):
Nightingale can do throughout leading up until this season, these
last couple of seasons. My goodness, from top to bottom,
this team seems to be loaded.

Speaker 6 (55:14):
They look loaded to me. And the thing I think
that people should really look at rob is that I
think that they can they can put out three lines,
and all three three lines will be just as dangerous,
whether the one, two or third line, all three of
those lines are dangerous and could cause problems. So I mean,

(55:37):
we'll see. And I don't know if you remember my
question for me to day, you know, I said, you know,
I asked coach Nightingale. You know, It's one of the
challenges is when you have this much talent, you know,
to have them all playing on a page where because
everybody's not going to be a superstar as many guys
they have on that roster that are talented, you know.

Speaker 1 (56:00):
So there's not enough pots to go around right.

Speaker 6 (56:03):
Right, and so some guys are gonna have to exhibit
their talents in other ways, whether it's you know, on
the penalty kill or whether it's checking. You know, they're
gonna have to maybe take a back seat to what
they're used to as far as being high powered. But
if he can get this group to play cohesive hockey

(56:28):
from what I said, lines one to three, I don't
think that there's any reason why they wouldn't be in
Las Vegas for the Frozen four.

Speaker 1 (56:37):
And you can even go as four. How good has
that fourth line been with Shoudy and Monisto, right, I mean, yeah,
I mean yeah, yeah, I mean.

Speaker 6 (56:48):
But like I said, for sure they can roll out
three good lines where you know the other team is
gonna have to be cognizant of. You know, the nine
guys that they've put out as forwards are gonna be
dangerous at any given time during the game.

Speaker 2 (57:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (57:08):
Well my question to you is, and you probably just
answered it, but if there's a question mark on this team,
where would it Where would it be? For you?

Speaker 6 (57:20):
I think maybe the defense. Okay, I don't know if
and not, because I don't know if those guys are
good enough, you know, to be impactful. But I think
you don't know until they get into game game situations,
Like I said, as far as putting the puck in

(57:41):
the net, they definitely got that covered. But how are
they going to play on the defensive end? And and
like I said, how are some of those guys gonna
have to take a back seat to the type power
I guess offensive structure to be able to do the
little things that are sometimes needed to win hockey games.

Speaker 1 (58:06):
Yeah, and Scott Moore again, I'm gonna go back to
him last segment, said the same thing about the defense.
But when I look at the defense and you got
Matt Basgill back there, the captain, you got, uh, you
got Patrick Geary who most certainly has improved his game,
Maxim stirback uh a a and all these and the
last two guys I mentioned draft picks in the NHL Draft.

(58:29):
I'm assuming you're talking about the younger guys on that
on that side of the puck, because my goodness, it's
it seems to me that's if that's a question, mark, uh,
that that's that means to tell me that this team
is gonna be pretty damn good.

Speaker 13 (58:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (58:46):
I mean, like I said, you won't know until you
see these guys can't act you. Yeah, And and I
do think it'll take some of those younger guys, It'll
take them a few games and get themselves acclimated to
catch up, you know, with your experience guys, because like
you said, there's three guys back there that know what

(59:07):
the deal is and you know they're going to bring it.
But now what are we getting with the other two
or three guys back there and them getting adjusted and
understanding what's needed to play in this system and be
successful for three periods? Yes, you know, anybody can play

(59:27):
a shift, a good shift. Hey, anybody can play a
good period. But again, as you know, how to eat
three periods, gotta have it, got to bring it and
can't take any shifts off.

Speaker 1 (59:40):
What do you think the improvements of Trey Augustine? I
know that sounds crazy, right, improvements for Trey Augustine, right,
but he's always looking to get better. We know what
he's capable of. But what improvements do you think we'll
see from him this year?

Speaker 6 (59:54):
I think you may see him be a little more
I don't know if aggressive is the right word, but
a little more uh controlled back there and and maybe
taking taking more of an ownership of of the game
and of his game. I don't know, if they're wanna

(01:00:17):
if they want to put him handling the puck into
his game, you know behind the net or around the net. Sure,
but uh, I think you're gonna see maybe a little
more command in his game where he's not reacting, but
he's more he's more taking command of a game and
you know, sending a messages to hey, not today, fellas.

(01:00:41):
Just you know, whatever you put on this net is
not gonna be behind me.

Speaker 1 (01:00:46):
I know there's a lot of young talent Porter Martone,
Caden Linstrom, Reiker Lee, and that's just three guys newcomers, right,
but if there's right, I want you to think about
this because those are a couple of guys that with
the easy answer. Because I asked Scott more of this
and I'm going to ask you who's an X factor
for this team?

Speaker 6 (01:01:07):
M oh I was gonna say, after those three guys.

Speaker 1 (01:01:13):
Maybe have those three guys just anybody on the team
that maybe we're not talking about that we will be
here within the next couple of weeks as the season
gets going.

Speaker 5 (01:01:25):
You know what, I think that I think that Ben
Sagi has got the potential because everybody keeps talking about
him having the pro body and the development of.

Speaker 6 (01:01:41):
A pro style game. I think this could be a
year for him where he really takes off and really
shows what he's made of and what he's about.

Speaker 1 (01:01:52):
Yeah, yeah, because we've seen it in spurts, right right.
And you know, you were at media day, Coach Nightingale
talked about him conditioning and how improved that is coming
into the summer and now you know, as we're practicing
getting ready for the season, and how impressive he was
at the beginning of a shift, but at that tail
end of the shift you can tell he was getting

(01:02:13):
kind of gassed a little bit, and how he needs
to improve that, right right.

Speaker 6 (01:02:18):
And of course, as you know, when you have when
you have the conditioning guru they have, if there's anybody
going to get a kid ready to go to have
that stamina and have that staying power, it's going to
be the master Morlock. So we'll see. But I think
his game could really take off to the point of,

(01:02:42):
you know, teams are going, oh no, this guy too
really okay, well all.

Speaker 1 (01:02:48):
Right, well that's just it too. You talk about his size,
and I think that's a major factor for this team,
maybe maybe more so this year than maybe years past.
The length, the size, with the skill and the speed,
I think the physicality we might see a little bit
more of a physical team. Yeah, Charlie Straml's been there

(01:03:09):
and he's been physical since he's gotten here. But just
the overall team with their length and physicality, I think
could be a huge key, especially you know, later in
games and later in the season.

Speaker 6 (01:03:22):
Yeah, that was one of the things that kind of
took me by surprise. Just before media day started. I
looked at the roster and my I looked at him, like, man,
these guys are bigger as a team. They're bigger, you know.
I thought last year they obviously had the speed, and
they obviously had the skill. But now when you look

(01:03:44):
at this lineup up and down, you got bigger kids,
and and then you got somebody like a Lipstrom who
Adam made a point of saying that he plays the
game violently, which you know, I think so people might
misconstrue that, But so that means he's gonna be physical too.

(01:04:05):
So if you can combine that physicality with that skill, again,
a lot of teams are not gonna want to see
Michigan State step onto their.

Speaker 1 (01:04:15):
Ice, all right. Uh So when you look at the
Big Ten as a whole, and I again ask Scot
more of this last segment, and you could argue, you
could argue the best conference from top to bottom, back
to back Big Ten champions regular season, back to back
Big Ten Tournament champions this year, do you have them

(01:04:38):
as a favorite. But boy, just talk about what we're
gonna see. It's gonna be get your puff going ready,
because I think it's gonna be cinema watching Big Ten
hockey from top to bottom all year.

Speaker 6 (01:04:49):
Yeah, I think you have four legitimate teams that are
gonna that are gonna make some noise. I mean, I
think you talk Michigan State, Penn State, Michigan, and probably
Man Soda. There's still some questions about Minnesota, and there's
probably some questions about Michigan just because they have, you know,

(01:05:10):
a lot of new names. Sure, and then there's some
people who are saying that maybe Ohio State could sneak
in there and cause some problems. But I think you're right, Rob,
I think from top to bottom, you know, we don't
know about Wisconsin or Notre Dame. Maybe they're not as good,
or maybe they're maybe they're sleeping in the woods, you know,
in the weeds and they come up and cause some problems.

(01:05:32):
But I think there's definitely four legitimate teams in that
conference that are definitely an NCAA tournament worthy.

Speaker 1 (01:05:41):
Do you would this be the best opportunity for the
Big Ten to get a national championship on for men's hockey?

Speaker 6 (01:05:53):
I would well, I would say definitely for Michigan State
and Penn State. We'll have to see if Minnesota and
Michigan have the staying power to be in that higher
level of the hierarchy of not only the Big Ten,
but of the of the in the nation.

Speaker 1 (01:06:14):
Yeah, yeah, no question about that. And there's another team
in Michigan and I have something to say about, and
that's Western Michigan for sure, for sure. And you can
never count out Denver. And I'll say this, Rico, watch
out for North Dakota. I know that's weird to say
North Dakota's you know, look at their history in college hockey, right,
but these last couple of seasons have been a little

(01:06:36):
bit helter skelter for their standards. But I think they're
right in the ship. And watch out for North Dakota
if you're looking for a team outside of the Big ten.
That isn't you know, isn't maybe talked about enough as
far as maybe making a trip to Las Vegas.

Speaker 6 (01:06:52):
Yeah, no, I'm gonna give you give you credit for that,
because I mean, if you fool college, you know North
Dakota's history, and you can't imagine that North Dakota is
going to be a program that's gonna stay down for
a long period of time. You got to figure at
some point they're going to be back in the mix nationally,

(01:07:14):
and this could be the year for that.

Speaker 1 (01:07:17):
All right, I want to switch gears before we let
you go here to women's college basketball. I know you
keep an eye on that as well. I saw earlier
today speaking of Big Ten conference and how tough it is.
My goodness, Michigan State women's basketball ranked in the top
twenty five and some of these preseason polls, Rego I've

(01:07:39):
seen him at twenty three, twenty four, Robin Freleik really
starting to develop something special here with this group since
she's gotten here. Really of course, got a nice, nice
message from Trek Scoobel on midnight or excuse me, MSU
madness the other night, But your expectations for Michigan State

(01:08:02):
women's basketball as some as I mentioned them being ranked
in the preseason poll before the season even starts.

Speaker 6 (01:08:10):
Right now, I think in the new look Big Ten,
I find myself saying that a lot with the with
the four schools out west, but I think that UCLA
is the cream of the crop. And I think you
have your usual suspects in like Maryland and Ohio State.
But but I will tell you, and Michigan State fans

(01:08:34):
may not want to hear this and won't like this,
but that Michigan team is loaded with that trio of guards, yes,
and the only thing they're missing is some height. Now,
they brought in a young lady I think, who's like
six three six Florida to fortify some height. But but

(01:08:54):
that trio of guards they got are as good as
any backcourt group in the as anybody in the nation
is led by the led by the kid from Canada
silent wards. So I would say look out from Michigan
as my dark horse too to uh push for a

(01:09:15):
Big Ten title this year.

Speaker 1 (01:09:17):
Okay, Shane van Sagi X factor Michigan right, Okay, Yeah,
Well when you look at when you look at Michigan State,
where does it all? Where does it? I think I
know the answer to this, but I'm gonna let you
go ahead and let us know where does it all
start for Michigan State When you look at this roster.

Speaker 6 (01:09:35):
Well, I think you you've got you got your Trio,
you have Van Slutium, you have Sotelo and obviously uh Terence,
So that's real. Now what you're getting after that, Well,
there's a lot of possibilities. I mean, I think that
Robin did a good job in the transfer portal. Brought

(01:09:57):
in a kid from from who's a Canadian who played
out West but she was on the Canadian national junior team.
And then you talk about young lady that they brought
in from Arizona State, Jalen Brown, who's a talented young

(01:10:19):
lady who was and this is kind of funny, this
goes with the whole conference switching and everything. So she
was All conference in both the Pac twelve and the
Big twelve because of Arizona State leaving the Pac twelve.
She was there as a sophomore, and then when they

(01:10:42):
transferred to the Big twelve, she was all Big twelve too,
so and she started out at Louisville and for whatever reason,
it didn't click for her. So transferred to Arizona State
when they were still part of the PAC twelve, made
All Conference, and then was All as a big twelfth player.
So I think she's probably the biggest and the most

(01:11:07):
attention getting ad they got. But I think that she
did a good job in adding pieces to fit so
because I've always argued that you're putting a lot on
Hallick to be your your point and she needs some relief.

(01:11:28):
So they brought in another young lady who's originally a
Slovenian kid from Sarah Symbolic. She is a she's a
she's going to come in as a junior so and
she's got international experience. So you've got and then you
got the kid from Canada. She has got international experience obviously,

(01:11:51):
I Sotello has international experience. So I think that she's
filled the pieces that she's lost as far as enough
talent to fortify a well wounded group. Because but like
I said, your your trio is going to be Ben

(01:12:11):
Slut and Halleck and Sotelo.

Speaker 1 (01:12:13):
Yes, yes, And I love the international flavor, right that
seems like college sports. I mean, we get it all
the time in hockey, right, but when you see it
happening in basketball now, both in women and in men's basketball.
I enjoy having the international flavor.

Speaker 6 (01:12:27):
I don't know about you, Yeah, I do too, And
I always wonder about what it takes to find some
kid from you know, Croatia. Yeah, yeah, I mean just
you know, I mean, obviously I can understand them bringing
in somebody like Rashunda Jones to transfer from Purdue. But

(01:12:50):
when you go internationally, you got to do some homework. Yea, yes,
and you might just have to get on a plane
and travel over to Europe to take a look at
a kid.

Speaker 1 (01:13:04):
Yeah, it's turning out to be that way. All right.
This might be an unfair question as the season hasn't
even begun yet, but what is the ceiling for this
Michigan State women's basketball team as coach Robin Frelerk continues
to grow this program.

Speaker 6 (01:13:20):
Well, I definitely think they're a top five team in
the Big Ten, and if some cards fall right, they
could be in that top three or four. But I
definitely think they're a top five team, and I think
some people may be sleeping on them as far as
how good they can be among what is a pretty

(01:13:41):
loaded Big Ten.

Speaker 1 (01:13:43):
Yeh, all right, let everybody know where they can find
your work. Reco doing some great stuff, not only for
women's basketball, but for football as well, any sport. Really,
Rico can take care of. Where can we find your work?

Speaker 6 (01:13:56):
Man, You're going to go to on three dot com
spartan egg and check me out. Obviously. You know right
now it's all football all day. But I'll be sneaking
in a little bit of women's basketball coming up here,
So look.

Speaker 1 (01:14:12):
For that awesome You know what you talk about being
top four or top five for some of these teams, Well,
you're number one in our books for you, Bill, thanks
for taking some time, your top your number one all
the way for us. We appreciate the time. Thanks man,
And I'm gonna say those nice things despite us playing
in the first week of our fantasy hockey league. I'm

(01:14:33):
not gonna wish you luck in that.

Speaker 6 (01:14:35):
Oh that's all right. I'm uh, you know, I'm I'm
kind of bummed. I wish Neil had have been on
here because I had to take care of him on
Monday night.

Speaker 1 (01:14:46):
Yeah you did, Yeah, you did, well done, well done.

Speaker 6 (01:14:49):
We're talking we took out of my homes and hunt.
So he was sending me mean Emochis for the entire
part of the ladder of the second.

Speaker 1 (01:14:58):
Half, nel me Capke crimea river Man Crime River. Yeah,
you know what I mean. I see you want to
kneel on here. You were hoping he was going to
be on here, and I'm trying to give you, trying
to give in your own space, trying to let you
stretch out on your own Rico, come.

Speaker 6 (01:15:11):
On, well, I'm sure he's listening in, so I'm sure
I'll get a message at some point.

Speaker 1 (01:15:18):
We love Neil Kepi, no question about it. All right,
my man, have a good rest of your day. Hopefully
the Tigers will get going here so you'll be on
the edge of your seat. I appreciate the time, man,
and we'll talk.

Speaker 6 (01:15:28):
Soon, all right, Rap, thanks for that, man, all.

Speaker 1 (01:15:31):
Right, Rico Cooney doing great work for Michigan State football,
covering Michigan State football and Michigan State women's basketball, but
of course and a little hockey here and there for
his uh on three. We appreciate his time, and stay tuned.
We got more coming up. We're not delayed here on
the drive with Jack much like this this actually, yep,

(01:15:54):
still delayed. I just double checked between the Tigers and
the Seattle Mariners. So sit back, We're lack. This is
your sports talk destination on a Tuesday afternoon going into
the early evening. We'll be back with more Boston Rob
Bennett filling in for the Hall of Famer Jack Appling,
who is sitting in the rain at Comerica Park as

(01:16:14):
we speak. I'm telling you that Ebling curse is alive
and well. Detroit Tigers fans, let's hope they can kick
that and get a win at some point this evening
to go up to one against the Seattle Mariners and
the divisional playoffs. But we'll talk more Detroit Tigers baseball
and hockey and Babe throwing a little football as well

(01:16:35):
as Sean Belegian. We'll join us after the break. Here
you are listening to The Drive with Jack Boston, Rob Bennett,
where with you stay tuned for more from the Spotlight
Media Network.

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That's right, Jack.

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Speaker 1 (01:19:34):
Matter why Jewelers. Welcome back everyone to the Drive with
Jack on this Tuesday, wet afternoon as we continue to
be in a delay for the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners.

(01:19:56):
Not like Detroit Tigers fans are excited about this game already,
kind of continue to wait it out. I'm Boston Rob Bennett,
filling in for the Hall of Famer today Jack Ebling,
who is actually sitting in the rain at America Park.
As I mentioned during the break, I'm telling you guys
that Jack Ebling curse. Gotta be careful, gotta be careful

(01:20:17):
with it, and a guy we don't have to be
careful with. And of course my bumper music coming back warrior,
a true warrior in the Michigan media realm for years
and years, a guy, a jack of all trades when
it comes to this Profession's joining us now. We will
talk Tigers, we will talk hockey, we will talk maybe
even Michigan State football with the great Shawn Bellegiance. Shawn,

(01:20:41):
thank you so much for joining me here today. I
appreciate it.

Speaker 13 (01:20:44):
Oh, It's always a pleasure to talk to you. But Nel,
thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (01:20:48):
Thank you for coming on. Man more so, yeah so
I've asked all my guests during this show to start
off with your your confidence level right now as we
continue to wait out this rein delay from one to
five right what is your conten level in the Detroit

(01:21:08):
Tigers with Jack Flaherty on the hill today eventually hopefully
to take a two to one lead against the Seattle
Mariners in the best of five here in the Al
Divisional series, what is your way?

Speaker 13 (01:21:24):
I would say two, I you know, I mean it
was funny. You're kind of hoping for anything you can get,
and in one of the narratives around here last week
was well Jack did what what you wanted out of him,
and it was like, going four and two thirds is
not what you want out of im? Not a guy

(01:21:44):
that you know signed that big contract. And you know
it would be one thing if this was the bullpen
of last year. It's not the bullpen of last year.
We know there are some holes in this in this
bullpen this year, so.

Speaker 6 (01:21:58):
You know, asking both these got a little.

Speaker 13 (01:22:01):
Bit longer the last couple of days. It's asking a lot.
I mean, there are two guys that haven't you know,
gone long into a game for a while.

Speaker 6 (01:22:11):
Now.

Speaker 13 (01:22:11):
Of course I'm talking also about Casey's how that wasn't
exactly Casey My's choice last week when when he was
taken out after three innings and sixty two pitches. But
I think anybody who's followed the Tigers this year also
knows this. This is a guy that doesn't very often
get into the seventh inning, to put it mildly, and

(01:22:32):
so I would say, too, you know, it's you know,
as the game goes on, Jack gets it, gets hit hard.
He just does, you know. And I think you saw
that throughout the season. I think you saw that a
little bit in that Cleveland game last week. And right now,
I mean, this is what we've been dealing with for
about a month now. Just the bats just struggling, no

(01:22:56):
other way to say that. And it was huge at Torque.
Cop picked me up the other day. But boy, I'm
just terrifiing these bats, Rob, I really am. You put
it all together, and I guess I have no choice
but to say, too, what.

Speaker 1 (01:23:10):
What happened to Jack Flaherty this year? Is it just
simply a location? Is it simply what what what happened
to him last year compared to the year before.

Speaker 13 (01:23:20):
You know, I think he's always been good Jack, bad jack.
But it seems to me it's it's been more pronounced
this year, it really does.

Speaker 6 (01:23:30):
It just seems like it's.

Speaker 13 (01:23:31):
Been more pronounced this year that when he's going he's
really going well, and when he's not, he's really not
going well. And you know that this is the last
thing in the world you could do. Listen, this is
a guy that could have gone anywhere, and he wanted
to come to Detroit. You know, he got his ring,
He got his ring not far from where he grew up.

(01:23:52):
And you know, for all I know, you know, there
may have been an opportunity for him to go to
the Dodgers. He could have gone to a lot of
different places, and he chose to come here. And it's
been an up and down season, even more so than
in his career. But you know, that's the running joke,
at least in my house, is good good jack, bad jack.
You all out of coin, you flip it. If it's heads,

(01:24:14):
it's good jack. If it sales, it's bad jack. And
that's it seems like that's kind of the Jack flarty
that we've seen.

Speaker 1 (01:24:21):
Yeah, and but I mean, howand I mean, when you're
the Detroit Tigers on the road and it's the best
of five series. I know a lot of people are
disappointed that they didn't get the win when especially with
school ball in game two, Right, that's the last thing
they remember, Right, it's bad taste in the mouth. But
how important when you're on the road, and it doesn't

(01:24:43):
matter in any sport, Sehn, you know this better than anybody.
If you're the road team and you and it's a series,
whether it's the best of five, best of seven, best
of twelve, it doesn't matter if you can steal one
on at home or away excuse me from from the
away team. That's basically you know that you've done your job. Yes,

(01:25:03):
you'd like to take two in this case, right, especially
with Scooble on the my own but coming home tied
one to one. I mean, in all things considered, that's
what you want, right.

Speaker 7 (01:25:15):
I think.

Speaker 13 (01:25:16):
So I think the Tigers are different though, you know
I really do. And no, no, and I mean that
in all sincerity. I mean, look, we rely so heavily
on Errek's scouble and you know, I mean, how many
times do you hear it? I was one of those
guys Rob that I didn't like the three game series
because you only get Terrek Scouba once in a five

(01:25:37):
game series, you could potentially get him two times. And
obviously we know that didn't work out a couple of
days ago, and that's duly noted. But right now, I mean,
we could use the confidence level question about Jack Flaherty,
we could use the competence level question about Casey Miiz,
we could use the competence level question about this line

(01:26:00):
up one night. Yeah, it really is amazing. So in
that regard, you know, I guess they kind of have
to stand by what I said. Yeah, yeah, you're generally right.
But I think this Tiger team is different.

Speaker 6 (01:26:16):
I really do.

Speaker 13 (01:26:17):
It's I can't say enough about what aj Hinch has
done to get this team in spot that he's gotten
this team two years in a row, because look, there
are deficiencies with this team, there's no other way to
say that. And yet here they are in the position
that you just so adequately described. I mean, really, this

(01:26:37):
is where we're at right now. Hey, you've got, legitimately,
you got a chance to try to clinch this at
home the next couple of days, if you get some
decent pitching out of these two guys.

Speaker 1 (01:26:47):
Yeah, and if you're the Seattle Mariners, right, I mean,
you got to be kind of scratching your head a
little bit, especially after Game one. I mean, I mean,
I guess the question is, is the pressure now on
Seattle because of what happened in game one? And my

(01:27:08):
goodness they came through in game two, because if they
were down to nothing to Detroit. I mean, that's a
hell of a hill to climb despite I agree.

Speaker 13 (01:27:18):
I started to interrupt you. Yeah, no, sorry to interrupt you, Rob,
I agree with you, and and you know what, there's
got to be part of them right now that are
doing the same thing that we're doing, saying, look at
our lineup, We're so much better than this team. How
are we in this position right now? Because they are, Rob,
I look at their lineup, and they are better than
the Tigers. I don't have any I don't have any

(01:27:40):
problems saying that. But you know, the Tigers have this
thing going on, and AJ seems to push the right
buttons for the most part. You know, he's not infallible.
There have been some head scratchers. The one that drove
me nuts last round, obviously, was Jamai Jones, a pinch hitting.

Speaker 6 (01:27:59):
For Riley.

Speaker 13 (01:28:01):
There's no world where that.

Speaker 1 (01:28:02):
Was a good decision.

Speaker 13 (01:28:03):
There's I don't care what the split say. You know,
this is a guy that's a career journeyman and it
never had a postseason at bat, so I think that
was a miss by AJ. But to be honest, most
of the stuff that he does tends to work.

Speaker 1 (01:28:17):
Let me let me ask you this. You leave me
right into my next question. That's why you're so damn good?
Uh when you look at AJ and and actually I'll
give credit to Jack as much as it pains me,
I'll give credit to Jack Evelyn on this because he
asked me. He asked me this question the other day
when we were off air. Do you think AJ hinge

(01:28:37):
and far be it from me to say this as
I'm sitting here, but do you think he overthinks things
and doesn't go with his gut as much as maybe
he should, over analyzes, relies too much on the numbers
and the statistics. Would you agree with that or how
would you explain? AJ? Hinch is a manager, very good manager,

(01:28:58):
one of the best in the game, no question about it.

Speaker 2 (01:29:00):
He is.

Speaker 1 (01:29:01):
But little if there's one little hiccup, what would it
be for you?

Speaker 5 (01:29:07):
Boy?

Speaker 13 (01:29:07):
That's a good one. I I you know, I know
a lot of people in September went down hill. A
lot of people said, well, he needs to show some fire,
he needs to have that Jim Leland, that's meltdown. Well,
that's not him, you know, it's an even keel. This
is a guy that, for all intents and purposes, that's
just not the way that he operates. So in that regard,

(01:29:30):
you know, you can't ask somebody to be something that
they aren't. I think sometimes he's guilty of being the
smartest man in the room. I do, and I think
that's an organizational problem right now. I really firmly believe
that that, oh, don't worry, you know, things, you're gonna
be okay. We can we can look past we can
look past everything. And I think, you know, again, I

(01:29:51):
hate to bring it up the Jamai Jones and Riley
Green thing last week, but I don't care what the
split say. It's a small sample size. It's a guy
that hasn't had a whole heck lot of it bats
in his career, and he's never had a postseason at bat.
So I think that was a case of overthinking.

Speaker 1 (01:30:09):
Absolutely, yes, all right, final baseball question for you, does
this series go five games? Because I think I think
it does.

Speaker 13 (01:30:17):
I do too, I do, and I said all along,
if this cost to five, I love the Tiger's chances
and I can't deviate from it. I mean, look, they
got Trek Scooble the other night, or I should say,
Jorge Polanco got Terrek Scouoble the other night, and I I, look,
I picked the Ourners to win this series. But if
this goes five games, I love the Tiger's chances. I'm

(01:30:39):
not gonna lie.

Speaker 1 (01:30:40):
And I gotta say I told my my wife, the
Lovely Patricia the other night, and I'm I'm surprised I
didn't end up sleeping on the couch when I said this.
But Terrek Scouble, my goodness, the man is human. I mean,
everybody expects Terrek Scouble to go out every start right
and just dominate, and it's so hard to do. That's
what makes this whole thing over the last what two

(01:31:02):
years now, I guess we're going on with Trek scoogl
an unbelievable story because it's just not that simple. And
I wish fans would understand he I don't want to
say he's do a bad game, right, but the man
is human. You can't expect him to go out there,
you know, fourteen strikeouts and seven innings, one walk, you

(01:31:23):
know what I mean, a run, you know what I mean.
It's just it's do you expect that now?

Speaker 13 (01:31:30):
It's been such a prolonged period that right or wrong,
I don't know what the answer is. I do expect that,
you know, I mean, really, it's going back to like
the last month and a half of the twenty three season.
It was, you know, people had kind of tuned out
from the Tigers, and there was a lot of excitement
about the upcoming football season, and you know, in particular,
you know, all the Lions and how good are the

(01:31:52):
Lions going to be and everything, and it was almost
like people didn't pay attention really and truly, people didn't
pay attention to to that strong finish, that strong finish
that he had in a twenty twenty three So, as
much as I hate to say it, yeah, that's kind
of where my brain is.

Speaker 1 (01:32:11):
For that, It's programmed that way. Now, well, yeah, I
think we can agree no matter what team he lands
up ends up on, no matter what team they're going
to have to back up not one, but two brink
trucks because he certainly has deserved it. Well, you believe
he should get the money he's getting a knot as

(01:32:32):
a pro athlete. That's a whole other discussion for another day.
But he has deserved everything he's going to get financially
going forward.

Speaker 13 (01:32:39):
Here, and he's going to get it. You know as
well as I do. He's going to get it. Somebody's
going to get it to him. I have a feeling
it'll be the Yankees, I really truly do. I have
a feeling that that'll be the team that gets it done.

Speaker 6 (01:32:52):
But we'll wait and see.

Speaker 13 (01:32:53):
You know, the speculation ends as there's going to be
a concerted effort as soon as the season ends not
to let that dragon to next year and and and
to pursue some potential trades.

Speaker 6 (01:33:03):
We'll wait and see.

Speaker 1 (01:33:04):
Well, Sean, you just broke my heart mentioning the Yankees,
as you know, coming from Boston. Don't tell me. Don't
tell me. Schoobl is gonna be. Put him on the Dodgers,
put him on the even the Mets, I'll even accept.
Don't tell me he's going to the Yankees.

Speaker 13 (01:33:17):
Man, Come on, I have a I have a feeling
that's where he's going to end up.

Speaker 6 (01:33:22):
We'll we'll wait and see. Well, we'll wait and see.

Speaker 1 (01:33:24):
All right, Well, quick football question before I we really
talked the real sport of hockey here before I let
you go. But football question for you, straight and straight
easy question for you now? Is this? How big of
a game is this for Michigan State football? Homecoming against
going against a UCLA team that most certainly one of

(01:33:47):
the biggest upsets not only this year, but maybe in
several years. What we saw last Saturday as they upset
Penn State a lot of people, A Penn State team
who a lot of people thought would be in the
National Championship game now sitting with two losses. But just
how important is this game now for Michigan State football

(01:34:08):
heading into homecoming on Saturday?

Speaker 6 (01:34:11):
Massive?

Speaker 13 (01:34:12):
I mean, it's absolutely win.

Speaker 1 (01:34:14):
It's got to be a must win, right.

Speaker 13 (01:34:16):
I think so? I think so, Rob. I don't see
a path to six wins if they lose this game.
I don't and I hope I'm wrong. I pray I'm wrong.
You know, I've said jokingly although it's a factual statement.
You know, when my daughter started school a couple of
years ago. I promised her, listen, that that'll be our
trip at at holiday time, you know, whenever Michigan State

(01:34:39):
gets to a bull game wherever they're going.

Speaker 6 (01:34:40):
Let's let's let's, you.

Speaker 13 (01:34:42):
Know, take a couple of days and we'll go out
to the game and we'll have a blast. Why I
haven't been able to fill that and fulfill that yet,
so darn it, Rob, it's all about me, and I'm
selfishly thinking about me and my daughter. But no, all
jokes aside. Yeah, I mean, I don't see a road
to even going six if you lose this game. And

(01:35:02):
you know, this was one of those games that, let's
be honest, this was one of those games that I
think we all sat back and said, well, this is
a gimme, and then we all saw what they did
against Penn State. So I don't feel that way right now.
I saw what their offense did. Let's face it, I've
seen what our defense or the Spartans defense is doing
right now. So yeah, it's terrifying, Rob, no doubt about it.

Speaker 1 (01:35:25):
And I'll say this, and I understand as like thirty
forty mile per hour wins out in Nebraska. But one
of the strengths of this team has been special teams,
and boy did they take a step back. I want
to say straight, I'll say the team and me and
Jack kind of got into a discussion a little bit
yesterday about the positives and negatives that we saw with

(01:35:48):
that Nebraska team, but it kind of reminded me, right
or wrong, of the Michigan State team of last year. Yes,
they came back and they took a lead, being down
fourteen to nothing early. I don't know if that team
from last year could do that. But overall, when you
see things kind of and coming off of bye week, man,

(01:36:10):
it just seemed like this team took a step back.
But they do have the ability to make a statement
against a team that's going to come in with nothing
to lose. We talked about Michigan State having things to lose. Ucla,
in my view, has nothing to lose in this game.

Speaker 13 (01:36:26):
No, you're right, and Rob. The way that I look
at this right now is there.

Speaker 6 (01:36:31):
Are little pieces.

Speaker 13 (01:36:32):
There are shiny little pieces on this team that you
can look at and yes, okay, I get it.

Speaker 6 (01:36:38):
We just don't have enough.

Speaker 13 (01:36:40):
Yeah, I think a lack of depth, I think a
lack of talent at far too many positions, and I
hate feeling this way. I was talking privately with Jack
the other day, I feel this is like the pre
D'Antonio era again, where well, golly g maybe we can
get to a Bowl game and then next year maybe

(01:37:00):
we can go seven and five, eight and four again.
And I, boy, I hate feeling that that way. I do,
But that's the reality of where we're at right now.
And and if it isn't, I mean the defense, Honestly, boy,
I wish something could be done with it. I've seen
enough that makes me think, I think this is just
what we're going to have to deal with the rest
of the year. But you're right, whether it be the

(01:37:20):
special teams, whether it be up and down play. You know,
I think we are all feeling good about childs and
and then you know, a step back and everything. If
it's not one darned thing, it's another.

Speaker 1 (01:37:31):
Yeah. Well, we're going to talk about expectations as we
switch now to the ice. Happy opening night for the NHL,
by the way, to you, Yes, I know you celebrate
that being a Montreal Canadians fan. Man, First you tell
me Schooble's going to the Yankees, and now I'm talking
to a Montreal Canadians. I don't know about having you
on anymore. Sean. This is let's getting little uncomfortable. But boy,

(01:37:56):
speaking of expectations, and that leads me right to Michigan
State High and I know we're going to let you
go here in a few minutes, but I got to
get your thoughts and your excitement level for this team
entering this year, who despite being back to back Big
Ten regular season and back to back Big Ten Tournament champions,
you gotta feel still thinks they got to prove something

(01:38:17):
to a lot of people nationally, right.

Speaker 13 (01:38:20):
And I like that. I'm not gonna lie. So many
of these guys have been part of that disappointment, you know,
and they know what people are saying, you know, I mean,
they went from two years ago, Wow, what a great story,
let's see what happens and is you know, Jack and
I were down in Toledo together when the season so
unceremoniously ended, and so now, yeah, they know what people

(01:38:44):
are saying, and they know they look at what Michigan
got off to and you know some of the star
power that Michigan has and obviously we know about the
guy who I mean almost undoubtedly will go number one
in the draft, and yeah, absolutely, let people talk about
other people and let this team do what they do.

(01:39:05):
And this is built for long term success. This isn't
a short window. That's the one thing that you have
to say about the way that they've built this and
and bringing the talent in that they've brought and making
this place desirable again. Because Rob, you and I have
probably talked about this before. When I was working for

(01:39:26):
the national team development program, Michigan State wasn't on anybody's radar.
It wasn't on anybody's radar. And it broke my heart.
You know, you come out with these you come out
with these media sheets before the game and the line
combinations and everything, and you would see all the logos
of so many different colleges, and I mean you never
ever saw the logo for Michigan State. And it was depressing.

(01:39:49):
And now all of a sudden, you know, word is out.
This is a great place to be in Eastland. And
we all knew that East Lanting is a great place
to be. And you know, to people that have grown
up around this program and gone up to games for
the last forty years, we know how dangerous a place
money can be. So word is getting out again about

(01:40:10):
how good this program is, and it's back. Let's face it, it
was dormant for a while. None of us wanted to
see it. It was dormant for a while, and it's back. Well,
now is the next step. Stop talking about how good
you are, Stop taking a peek at those at those rankings.
It's time to make that deep run come tournament time.

(01:40:33):
And that's that's what I firmly expect them to do,
and I think Coach Nightingale and his staff completely feel
that way.

Speaker 1 (01:40:40):
Oh absolutely, you talking about the Spark logo on the
US developmental team, but now you see NHL Logos thirteen
as a matter of fact, on the line sheets for
Michigan State hockey, including the backup goaltender. I don't know
how many of you see of those, right, I mean yep,
I mean depth on this team. I'll make the argument,

(01:41:05):
and again I've mentioned this earlier in the show. Maybe
be you right up there in my neck of the woods.
Boston University can make this argument, But no question, Michigan
State's depth is no question, if not top in the
nation right now, right near the top, with the depth
of quality of depth, that they have no doubt.

Speaker 13 (01:41:26):
And you know, the most important thing, Rob And you
know I called some games back in the day, you know,
a few years back on television and you didn't see
the scouts there. There was a whole heck of a
lot of the NHL logos on the media sheets and everything,
and things have changed. But again, it's a process. It's

(01:41:46):
time to take that next step. And you know, we
all have to remind ourselves sometimes it isn't linear. You know,
sometimes it isn't linear. You know, you look back at
the way they finished twenty twenty four and we all
fell into it last year. And I'm not saying we
were wrong, but okay, it's time. Didn't take that next step,
and they weren't able to take that next step. I mean,
no doubt about that. So we have to remember it's

(01:42:08):
not linear. You just have to trust that. You know,
we've got the right people in place. I have no
idea how a living breathing organism could doubt that in
any way, jay erform and you know what, trust that,
you know, Yeah, this is a year to take a
big step.

Speaker 1 (01:42:22):
Yeah, and maybe the step right, amen?

Speaker 6 (01:42:25):
Maybe amen?

Speaker 1 (01:42:25):
A step? All right? I was gonna let you go,
and I can't believe I'm gonna do this, but I
mentioned before we go here, and I know the NHL
season starts tonight with three games, a hat trick of
games tonight, So here we go. I'm gonna let you
go ahead and and prop up your Montreal Canadians. And
how excited you are YadA, YadA, YadA about this team,

(01:42:48):
because boy did they make a step right And this
is I will say this to me, is one of
the young up and coming teams most certainly in the season.
Your expectation for those bastard Canadians coming from a Boston rob,
what do you? What are your expectations for Montreal this year?

Speaker 13 (01:43:09):
They're not ready for a big step. There's still the
youngest team in the league. Like honestly, I mean yeah,
when you when you when you look at when you
look at the numbers, they're there. I was just reading
this today. They're still the youngest team in the league.
And as exciting as it was down the stretch, yes,
and certainly they got better. I don't think there's any
debate about that. Picking up Dobson, having Ivan Demodov for

(01:43:32):
for a full year is just so exciting to me.
I've been telling anybody that'll listen, Rob, I don't know
how much you've seen of him. This kid is absolutely,
positively the real deal.

Speaker 1 (01:43:42):
I'll tell you what happened. I'll tell you what happened, Sean,
real quick. I had him pegged in my in the
fantasy Hockey League that I know you're familiar with Neil Kepke. Yeah,
but that son of a gun took him from me.
I thought I was the only one who knew about him.
I was so excited to get him, right, I'm like, oh,
this could be the sweeper pick of the draft. And

(01:44:04):
what did Neil keep you do? You're breaking my heart today?
You really, yeah, you bring back But you're right, this
kid is going to be something. Right. He has all
the potential in the world.

Speaker 13 (01:44:17):
He really does. And and you know they're they're still
so young at at other positions, and well you can
say it's not linear. I think a lot of people.

Speaker 6 (01:44:29):
You don't think.

Speaker 13 (01:44:29):
Okay, well it's time to take that next step and
win a series or win two series. Robi, I'm gonna
say the same thing to you that I that. And
I know you're a fan of a team in this division,
and I say it to Redling fans all the time.
This is the most difficult division in hockey. I don't
care what anybody says. I felt that way for two
years and I stand by it. And you know, is

(01:44:50):
this the year as crazy down? Is this the year
that the Buffalo Sabers start to play better hockey? You know,
because they've got such a plethora of of talent. I
I just can't quite figure out how they don't put
it together. It's one of those is there something in
the water in Buffalo type of situations. And so yeah,
you know, I'm going to be really intriguing. I'm intrigued

(01:45:10):
to what the Red Wings are doing. You know, finally
Steve saying, yeah, let's bring some of these guys along,
let's where they're at. I still think goaltending is an
achilles feel for the Habs.

Speaker 6 (01:45:20):
I really do.

Speaker 13 (01:45:22):
Montembau played really strong down the stretch, but you know
they're they're guy in waiting is Faller. And that's not
to just dismiss adobbish, but no, I really think, I
really think that this is going to be a good team,
but not quite ready for primetime.

Speaker 1 (01:45:38):
All right, enough Montreal Canadian Time that went about five
minutes too long now, I'm kidding, sorry about that. I'm
glad you're excited about your NHL team, because my NHL team,
the Boston Bruins, could be in for a long season.
We'll just leave it at that, although could be in
for the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes, if you know what I mean.

(01:46:01):
We'll see what happened. Yeah, we'll see what happened.

Speaker 13 (01:46:03):
I'm really intrigued to what he's going to do. You know,
is it's going to be more of the change on
the fly type of stuff or are they just going
to say, all right, it's operations, shut her down and
and you know, let's see what we can do to
get in that McKenna sweet stakes.

Speaker 6 (01:46:16):
I'm going to be intrigued.

Speaker 1 (01:46:17):
I feel like the first thirty games, right, it's a
long season. But somewhere, what a Sparky Anderson tell me
about and I know one hundred and twenty six games
is a little different than eighty two, but what a
Sparky Anderson or Jim Leland or Sparky in one of
the Hall of Fame Tiger Sparky Sparky did, Yeah, yeah,
it was great. Get me after forty games? Well, hit
me after forty games and we'll see where the Bruins

(01:46:38):
are after that. That's what I'm gonna saying.

Speaker 13 (01:46:39):
Yeah, it's not easy in this division. You know, Florida's
not going anywhere, Tampa is not going anywhere, mister keepk
Toronto's not going anywhere, especially come playoff time. But you
know that that's just the way things are.

Speaker 1 (01:46:53):
Yep, Well, the way things are is. We love to
have Sean Belligan on this show, if you haven't guessed,
and I appreciate you taking time, especially with Jack not
being on the host in the show today. I appreciate
the time taking time with me to talk all sports man.
You're the best. Thank you so much. Have a good
rest of your rest of your night, and let's let's
see what the Tigers can do once mother nature cooperates.

(01:47:14):
What do you say, Yeah, I'm being.

Speaker 13 (01:47:16):
Told it's going to be a couple hours. I have
a pretty good source. It told me it's going to
be a couple of hours. So let's wait and see.

Speaker 1 (01:47:22):
Get a couple of favorite beverages in you and we'll
get going. How about that? You got it, Bud?

Speaker 6 (01:47:28):
Talk to you sir?

Speaker 1 (01:47:28):
All right? Sean Beleegian ending the show. Yeah, we're and
a little early. That's right, I got some things to do.

Speaker 6 (01:47:34):
Well.

Speaker 1 (01:47:35):
I appreciate everybody listening. Like I said, there's no rain
delay here on the drive with Jack here at Spotlight Media.
Oh no, no, we go rain, snow, sleep, shine, it
doesn't matter. We're like the Pony Express, baby. And speaking
of the Pony Express, Jack Ebbling, the head of this
whole thing. We'll be back tomorrow in the hot seat.
But until then, this is Rob Bennett saying thank you

(01:47:57):
to of course Scott Moore, the voice of Michigan's state hockey.
We appreciate his time. Rico Cooney part of our hockey
roundtable talking Michigan State hockey and a little woman's basketball
as well, and of course John Beleigian joining us to
end the show today a little early, talking Tigers, talking hockey,
talking Michigan State football. And I want to thank all

(01:48:20):
of you who, by some hooker, by crook, by some
way listen to the show, whether it was five minutes
or an hour and forty eight minutes, I appreciate it.
Thank you so much. Have a good rest of your night.
This is Boston, Rob Bennett, signing off here at the
Spotlight Media Studios. Jack Evelyn will be back in the
hot seat tomorrow, hopefully to discuss the Tigers win. Until then,

(01:48:42):
have a good rest of your night. Everybody, talk to
you soon. M