David

Today is a day of heavy hitters, but it is Texas A and M day here at SEC Media Days. And this SEC Media Days coverage is brought to you by Aggie owned and operated Paragon Financial Advisors, built on the values of the Aggie Network and proudly serving families and business owners nationwide. Learn more@paragon-adv.com he's all. And I'm David. Today is Wednesday, July 22, 2026. OB we get Bama, we get Florida, we get Ole Miss. And it is for us and for the world, Texas A and M day.

Obi

Those are some heavy hitters. Yeah, there's going to be a lot of, a lot of good copy come out of today. Yeah, obviously we're, we're interested in Texas A and M, you know, without a doubt. And we do have a scrum coming up at noon before Mike Elko meets with the rest of the media. Look forward to that. But can you imagine all the, all the stories that are going to be written about Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin from the Ole Miss perspective and all that? Anytime your coach at Alabama is involved, you know, that's because, by the way, I got on the, I got on the elevator yesterday. When I stepped in, there was Nick Saban.

David

Wow.

Obi

I just, I coach and, you know, there are a couple other people stopped at the next level, next floor, and a lady with an auburn pen got on and saw him. She goes, oh, my God. And I said, you can call him Nick.

David

So let's talk A and M for a moment. Couple things that came up on the show yesterday that I kind of wanted to address here today. When SEC Mike came on, he said something that we've said before. He said, A&M's got to finish on the boards. This morning. I read somebody on that that didn't like that. Does that mean we just got to win our last game? Well, I mean, we, we won in, in November. We won a couple. And I don't know if you phrased it like that, but my response to that is no, we don't define success by losing your last game. Right. If you, if you win a championship or not. That's not how I define success. There's different layers of success. But what I think, I mean when I say they have to finish stronger is playing not your worst brand of football at the end of the year, very inconsistent. Tell of two halves against South Carolina. I think uncharacteristic mistakes we saw against Texas and Miami. And maybe mistakes is too much, but they didn't play their best brand of football. Against the best brand brands in the college football playoffs.

Obi

I didn't think they looked that good against Sanford, to be honest. You know, I think after the LSU game even. I know they won handily at Missouri, but I just think at the LSU game, they just didn't seem to be the. Have the same edge.

David

Yeah. Now, again, if they would have won, would we talk differently if they would have made the game winning play against Miami, score and win in overtime? Probably. Right. But offensively they weren't as good the last two games.

Obi

Right. Fair.

David

And they lost. And you can say, yeah, they were better teams. Well, but now if we're talking about elite, you've got to be your best against the elite or almost elite teams.

Obi

Right. I used to have a problem with one of the previous coaches that every time they lose and say, yeah, you know, that's a really good team. Right. So you're not here just to beat the bad teams or the average team.

David

Right.

Obi

You're here to beat the good teams. And I know Mike Elkos feels the same way. They do need to finish. Let me ask you this. Had they beaten Miami, I felt a lot better and lost Ohio State, I

David

would have felt a lot better. Had they beat Tulane and lost to whoever next.

Obi

Had they won a, a playoff game,

David

I don't care who against. Right. Just give me a postseason win, a December win, I would have felt great. Yeah.

Obi

And then, then the next step would have been, well, you got to get past that first game and win, you know, and, and win the second game and so on and so forth. But.

David

And I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Obi, to cut you off, but I'm also sorry the Texas loss to me hurts more. I know it's, it's about bigger than Texas, but you got to give me one or the other. You got to beat Texas at the end of the year or you got to win your playoff game.

Obi

Yeah.

David

It can't be. It can't have be both.

Obi

Which one do you want?

David

I want to playoff, of course.

Greg Sankey

Yeah.

Obi

I say, but don't get me wrong,

David

I want it all.

Obi

Yeah. Every A and M fan, the one, if you had one team that you want to beat the most, it's always going to be Texas. But.

David

Or the team that is in front of you getting to an SEC championship game.

Obi

Well, I mean, one team on the schedule, you're going to say Texas. That said, like, like you mentioned, there are now bigger fish to fry. And if you get into the playoff, obviously that's more important. And what you Want to see is not A and M just finish the season better, but, you know, finish the drive better because they were five yards away from forcing overtime or they were one defensive stop away from either forcing overtime or winning the game.

David

Yep. And to be. Let's be very honest, obviously a lot is put on Marcel in that interception against Miami, but in a little bit, we'll get to what ifs. But what if the defense makes a play? Was it third down?

Obi

Yeah.

David

And he goes, how long?

Obi

16. Oh, you're talking about the Mark Fletcher. Yeah, I was. Also. What if they just held Miami to a field goal? Because then you can kick a field goal at overtime. Right, Right.

David

But just make that tackle there.

Obi

Okay.

David

And I remember that's roughly right when we got on the field, you were

Obi

going to say, I don't know if that was third down or not. That might have even been first down.

David

Okay.

Obi

But still, you know, make the tackle.

David

Yeah.

Obi

From having that long run.

David

Yeah. So here's a couple questions for you. Can last year's A and M success or breakthrough be a part of something bigger? Or is it part of the normal cycle that we've seen with A and M with big years followed by.

Obi

That's what we find out this year. Yeah, I. I'm going to repeat myself again.

David

Well, it's a lot of off season.

Obi

If the offensive line is an effective offensive line, they're very capable of 10 and 2 or better and being in the playoff. And if that happens, then, yes, you can say, you know, this is. Last year was the first step of that launching pad to becoming that team that's expected to be in the playoff every year.

David

All right. For Alabama, who's going today, is 11 wins again going to be considered a failure?

Obi

I would hope not. I think Alabama fans may be getting a dose of reality. Not only did they have a great coach, but just there wasn't the nil deal where other teams could compete with what Alabama was doing.

Nick Savage

Sure.

Obi

So it's a much more level playing field. And if they're expecting Kalyn DeBoer to be. To keep doing the things that Nick Saban did, then, then, yeah, that's not going to be enough. But if, if, if at some point a rational they become rational, then you're looking at it. Oh, yeah, that's. That's a good season for Florida.

David

Can a new coach change expectations with relatively very similar roster that he. That they had with Billy Napier?

Obi

Yeah, we saw it here with Double Fisher. Yeah, yeah. And Mike Elko. But I go back to Jimbo Fisher, you know, they just come off what a 7 and 6 season and Jimbo took over and what'd they go. They, they won nine games and some of the games they lost, they were, you know, were toss up. So like Clemson.

David

So.

Obi

Yeah, I think that's definitely the case. Can be the case.

David

And then the Ole Miss question, can a program survive losing its best coach with the same quarterback and the same running back with the same expectations with a new coach?

Obi

Yeah, I think so. I'm sure we've seen it. Oklahoma, you know, Bob Stoops retired and Riley took over and he had all those players and so yeah, I think. But does this. I love the quarterback. We all know Trinidad Chambliss is amazing. Juan Lacey is an exciting running back. They got some good players on defense, but I do wonder if he has how good of a total team they have.

David

Yeah. I'm going to read you a little bit from an ESPN article that could have been written by David Nuno or Ola Buchanan. It's about college football's ifs list. Okay. And it says how title contenders can come together. What if, when we get to A and M, we know the ifs, but I'm going to tell you what ESPN wrote. Okay.

Obi

All right.

David

What if the Portal. Actually, I'm going to start off with this one. What if a older Marcel Reed is a more consistent Marcel Reed?

Obi

Well, then he becomes a Heisman contender. A true Heisman contender. Even past the Texas game. He was a true Heisman contender last year. He. He's probably a Heisman finalist. Yep.

David

If the Portal delivered on an offensive line. We've talked about that all off season.

Obi

Yeah. If. If it delivers, then you're looking at a 10, two or better playoff team.

David

Also, if the Portal delivered a defensive line.

Obi

Well.

David

Yeah.

Obi

And until soccer, ryan Henderson and C.J. mims, those guys. Yeah, if those guys come through, then I think the A and M defense will be every bit as good, if not better than it was last year.

David

If the big plays balance out. Talking about the defense giving up those monsters plays that were back breakers at times.

Obi

Yeah. A and M is probably in the playoff without those. Without giving those up.

Greg Sankey

Yeah.

Obi

I think A and M so gonna be a very explosive offensive team. They just gotta. They just got to reduce those big plays they've given up.

David

Yeah.

Greg Sankey

Yeah.

David

We'll get to the rest of the what is for college football a little bit later, but now I think that people should know that they're actually listening to a show that we call Texax Live, presented By David Gardner's jewelers.

Obi

Yeah. What if you were listening to that every day and let's see, which is the next one? And you wanted to know how to be a part of the show. That's not the next.

David

That's not the next one. We could do it.

Obi

What if you wanted to know?

David

What if you wanted to know, you would call us on the Buppy's Catering and Bartending hotline. That number is 979693 1150. You can text that number, we flip the switch and it becomes the what?

Obi

It becomes the catalyst Pure performance energy text line.

David

But our studio is mobile because of our good friend Jason Rallo. And we called this the what?

Obi

The Rallo Insurance Studio.

David

He's got a lot of people that works for him.

Obi

Yeah, Jason. Well, Jason Jackson and Keith and Morgan and everybody else.

David

And the boys and the girls. Let's go around the room. Let's go left to right. Let's go.

Obi

Wait, wait, wait, wait. This is the go hour.

David

Oh, my God. How could we forget? You're on it.

Obi

Yeah, it is the go out.

David

You might get kicked off in a minute, but yes, you are. I think we have sankey coming at

Obi

8:35, so Lucy should be showing up.

David

He's right there with his coffee.

Obi

Yeah.

David

Doesn't care about the camera. We say directly to my right, right here. Nick Savage.

Obi

The Go hour is brought to you,

David

by the way, the warehouse of CC Creations. Thank you. Keep me employed, Nick. Unlike Matt Browning.

Nick Savage

What is a glass company going to sponsor behind the Glass?

David

Don't give us ideas, Nick.

Nick Savage

I mean, that. That's.

David

Don't give us ideas.

Nick Savage

That's pretty obvious. But yeah, A and M day. It's game day for us here, right? It's. We got to be our best. And we're going to. We're going to get the best content we can. I'm looking forward to it.

David

Bro, I have sucked. Okay.

Nick Savage

Nah.

David

Yeah. No, let me tell you why I've sucked.

Nick Savage

See, we were talking about you last night at dinner because.

David

In a good way or better good way.

Nick Savage

Where do we go? Cali. What was it called?

Billy Lucci

Small.

Obi

Giant.

Nick Savage

Small Giant.

David

Small. Giant.

Obi

Okay.

David

Like you. You're a small giant.

Nick Savage

I don't know about giant, but I don't know what I was saying.

David

You were talking about me because I think I've sucked this week.

Nick Savage

Oh, no. Every year you're like, we. We crush it. And then you're like, we're not good enough. So we raise the bar and we keep raising the bar. It's A good, good thing. It's.

David

But, you know, I live my life that way. Yeah. Like, but it.

Obi

I don't.

David

It's not a destructive behavior.

Greg Sankey

No, no, no, no, no.

David

For some people, I think it can be destructive. Destructive. Excuse me. I do it because I think there's always a little bit more we can do. This is why I suck, though. Has nothing to do with the show.

Nick Savage

Okay.

David

It's freaking Tampa, Florida. I. I went to. I went to sleep for a good reason last night at 9:08 Texas time.

Nick Savage

Yeah.

David

Okay. Because I wanted to be at my best for A and M day, but I haven't done jack.

Billy Lucci

Okay.

David

Billy goes to the beach. Olin's having mojitos.

Obi

Or I had a mojito. He's partied at a Cuban place.

David

Nick is swimming a triathlon in the pool. I mean, Kay and Cali are partying. Richard is editing as he watches the Dodgers game. You guys are having fun. You're living your best life. I haven't done jack. Oh, you know what I have done?

Obi

Yeah. Worked out.

David

I have done that a few times. I have done that a few times. No, I was going to say, what kind of food did I have last night? Cumano.

Nick Savage

Yeah.

David

I should have joined ob but it was, like, late. I was like, I'm just going to

Nick Savage

get some to eat.

Obi

I went to this. This SEC kind of media party. The shrimp was amazing. Oh, and was it out, though?

David

I can't do public.

Obi

It was out, but they were buffet shrimp. But they were bringing it out from the kitchen, and it was. It was gone, like, almost immediately. And it was. They were huge pieces of shrimp.

David

Yeah.

Obi

And perfectly prepared. They were awesome. Cuban sandwiches, empanadas.

David

I got to say this. I may have told you yesterday. I apologize if I did. Nick definitely heard this. I cannot do food on a tray outside where media is just gorging on. Like, I'm just watching. Well, I can't do that.

Obi

They have these tongs that you used to pick up.

David

Yeah, but it's out in Florida's got the mosquitoes and the alligators. Like, I just can't.

Obi

They have a kitchen. Just like the. They have a kitchen at the place where you ate. And that you think that food goes straight from the. From the pan, but it's not out.

David

Like. And like, just people breathing the air all over it. Like, I'm watching these guys.

Obi

Like, you and Luchi get along so well.

David

I'm watching these dudes just, like, standing in front of it having conversation and spit bubbles popping out. I'M like, I can't have. And fish. You can't leave fish out.

Obi

Like I said, this shrimp wasn't that long. It was too good. And it was amazing. And I probably had the equivalent of about about three shrimp cocktails. And it was. And. And you know what? I was unapologetic about it.

David

Nick, give us something to chew on for a moment besides shrimp. Yeah.

Nick Savage

What do you think we'll learn from Elko? Anything.

David

I don't know if we'll be the

Nick Savage

biggest question he gets asked over and over again.

David

Marcel. Something about Marcel's development, and he's going to get sick of talking about it or the schedule. He loves talking about that. He doesn't love talking about it. He loves responding to that. Like, come on, guys, let's. Let's this. It's the SEC. It's still. Regardless of a easy SEC schedule, still a top 10 schedule in the country. Feel like I'm talking like a drill sergeant.

Nick Savage

I'm okay with it. You should keep that.

David

When Sankey shows up, I get over and under. How many questions I get to Sanki?

Nick Savage

Two. Two?

David

Yeah, two for sure, Obi.

Obi

Well, first of all, none for me.

David

I would set a break so we can be on time. Obi, you. You don't get the interview saying, I think. I don't think you do. Maybe you will. We'll find out. But let's just say you do.

Obi

Okay.

David

And he. He really loves talking to you. Yeah. Like, no. We have a lot in common. Music, football, tall. We should go out to lunch sometime.

Obi

Maybe we should be talking about food, ask for some recommendations. I said, well, if you're in town, the next time you're in town, you want to have some amazing Texas barbecue, some of the best Texas barbecue you could ever hope to have. Let me take you down to 1775. We're gonna head towards. Not gonna go all the way, but she's gonna be on the left, and we're gonna go. And I'm gonna say, greg, I'm gonna introduce you to this succulent brisket and these amazing pork ribs and this incredible jalapeno cheese sausage. I'm gonna say, you know, you look like you're in shape, Greg, so how about some of this. This smoked turkey?

David

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Obi

And, you know, being from. If you like pulled pork, they can do that too. And. Oh, Greg, by the. You let Texas into the sec. We're gonna let bygones be bygones. And, hey, try some of this queso Mac and cheese. It'll Change your life.

David

True story to Brad and Brandon. I was on an Arkansas radio show yesterday and they said, hey, where should we go eat when we go to college Station it's been a long time said 1775. And you can learn more at 1775 txbq.com or call them up 979-492-6241. It is 1775 and it's good.

Obi

It's really good. Spend your summer with his own people of the world.

David

It's so hot.

Obi

Where you can talk with your friends. There is no need to panic. Summer's official party station.

David

We are your friends. All right. So we will probably keep this a. There's no probably to it. You need to keep this a short segment because Greg Sankey is going to be joining us around 8:30 here on Tech SAGS Live. So we'll try to hit a break before that, which I know means a short segment. All right. Obviously, pretend you're going to interview Craig Sanke.

Obi

Okay.

David

All right. What kind of question would you, if you put your reporter hat on, which I know you were at least 60 hours a week, what would you want to know?

Obi

Well, have you had any more discussions with Tony Petiti about coming to an agreement on playoff expansion? What kind of feedback have you gotten, if any, about, you know, Yalls stance of making sure the strength of schedule element is added into the decision of who gets in the playoff? And do you have any idea how that should be? You know, how that should work? What else would I ask about if you had to go to plan B? Is it, was that really Bible? I mean, wouldn't that take the SEC out of March Madness in the College World Series? And you know, and then do you feel, do you still feel like the Southeastern Conference in football is the strongest conference? Because as we know, the Big Ten is one of the last three.

David

Right.

Obi

So how would you argue that the SEC is still the strongest football conference? Let's just come off the top of my head.

David

I also want to know, like he's not going to answer this, but are they actively talking the teams to join the sec?

Obi

You know, I bet they have a list of teams and they probably, you know, you know, yeah, someday maybe it'll

David

work out like that. Yeah, I, I feel and I'm going to actually ask, thank you. This there's, I don't have optimism anything's going to work out anytime soon. I really don't. It could be four years, five years the way I look at it. And part of my reason for it is there's this optimism this week. Hey, look, you know, the, the. The Senate bill, we're changing some things to appease the SEC in the Big Ten. And then the other conference is like, boy, we want this. And there's. And there's a timeline.

Obi

We should ask him. Exactly. Hey, can you tell us exactly two or three of the things you're steadfastly against?

David

Right.

Obi

And explain it to us like we're kids, because we kind of are.

David

I. I really do believe you could probably figure something out. A framework in 36 minutes, type in what every conference wants. Okay. Boom, boom, boom, boom. On chat, gbt and. All right, what's the most sustainable model for the next five years? Done. It's over.

Obi

Why can't the college. All the conferences come together and agree to have a commissioner and, you know, everybody be under the. I guess technically we're supposed to be under the same umbrella. Ncaa, but are you really right?

David

Yeah. I feel okay. We gotta hit a break. But I feel like those are things that he can't answer today. But I believe he's really good at answering questions.

Obi

SEC officiator.

David

We'll definitely ask about that. Let's talk about Rallo Insurance. Those officials may need some kind of insurance if they lose their job. No, I'm kidding. Headquartered in College station on Highway 6, Rallo Insurance shares our community values. They're an independent agency that works for you, not their shareholders. Their team provides objective consultation across all insurance lines available in Texas and beyond. Join thousands of Aggies with who trust Rollo with everything that matters most to them. Local matters at home, like severe weather or regional economic shifts. Rollo agents understand the impact firsthand. Because they live in Bryan College Station, they'll know what it is or how to take care of you. That's why so many local families trust Rollo Insurance. That is their first call. The difference is real. Call them up. Triple 844 Rollo. That's triple 844 Rollo. Or go to rollinsurance.com Texas rolloinsurance.com/tech sacks the money machine.

Obi

Back to school is your chance to win $5,000. And it starts July 27th.

Billy Lucci

Thank you so much.

David

As a reminder, the final segment of the program is brought to you by Double Dave's. That is at 1050. But right now, caller number 12, 979-693-1150. We're going to hook you up with your choice of a dozen pepperoni rolls or a large one topping pizza from Double Dave's. They've been serving Aggieland since 1984 with your favorite pizza. And of course, those world famous pepperoni rolls, reliable in house delivery, bringing piping hot goodness straight to your door. Just click on double daves.com and your favorites are on their way. Billy Lucci. Joining us here on the go, our presenter by the warehouse at CC Creations. This SEC Media Days coverage is brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. Billy, good morning, buddy.

Billy Lucci

How are you?

David

Good. I'm just going to say this before Greg Sanke gets here publicly. Cuban food back to back days from Billy Lucci.

Billy Lucci

David, is it Cuban or is it Colombian?

David

Colombia is the name of the ship that they came to United states on in 1905. Yes. Yeah, it's Cuban.

Billy Lucci

You know how I knew that?

David

Because you read it on the wall.

Billy Lucci

1905 salad. And there was a 1905 cocktail.

David

So did you try this? The cocktail or the salad?

Billy Lucci

I. Neither, actually.

David

Okay.

Billy Lucci

Salad looked good. It looked to me like. Like an Olive Garden salad. To be honest, I don't know what

Obi

the big deal was, Billy.

David

A couple minutes ago, with obvious. I. I might actually ask Commissioner Sankey this, but it felt like heading into SEC media days, there was no optimism at all for this Congressional Protect College Sports act to pass. Then we get here and then it seems like people are writing like, hey, there's actually a chance. And there's also a chance that the SEC succeeds or succeeds. Excuse me. And I just don't think any of that is. I mean, I think it's all on the table, but I don't think it's possible right now. I think this. We're still a ways away from a resolution.

Billy Lucci

Yeah, I do, too. And everyone's just, you know, everyone's just, Morgan, the commissioner, we're getting Sankeet. So.

David

Yeah. So anyway, at the end of the day, I think there's a lot at play. And we will. We'll talk to Commissioner Sankey about that as he. He makes his way here on Texas Live, presented by David Gardner's Jewelers. Mr. Sankey, thank you so much for joining us. How are you, sir?

Greg Sankey

I'm well, thank you. Good to be with you. Thanks for making the trip to Tampa.

David

Thank you.

Billy Lucci

How's it. How are you? What's. What's been the feedback on Tampa? I've actually loved it.

Greg Sankey

Positive to me, you know, we've never had a waterside view for SEC football media days. And it's our first time in the Sunshine State.

Obi

This.

Greg Sankey

We're here in large part because Dallas went so well a few years ago. We kind of went to the outer, the western side and we'd never been in Florida, maybe a little bit deeper in the south and east and you know, look at Radio Row, full hallways and a lot of activity. So positive feedback. And we're doing more in Tampa as we try to figure out geographic opportunities for different events. So it was the right time and right place for us.

David

Commissioner Sankey, as we were preparing for SEC media days, there was a lot of talk about this Protect College Sports act, that it's, it's probably not going to happen. With the timing with the recess coming up soon and then kind of the days leading up to it, a little bit more optimism. What can you share with us about the latest of potential agreement slash? It's still a lot more debating, if you will.

Greg Sankey

Well, there's, there's debating taking place. In fact, I was on the phone at like 9:30 last night just receiving some updates. And so we're very appreciative of the effort and the energy and the attention. And I think that's a product of the work that's been done over time to help educate members of both the House and the Senate. The White House obviously has an interest in addressing issues present in college, in college sports. But you know, there are different perspectives and there are two sides of the aisle and a set of you. There are influences from the outside that have guided development of the Protect College Sports Act. I thought when we were in the House, the SCORE act was pretty focused on the direct issues and allow and providing authority to make rules where the Protect College Sports Acts make, makes those rules. And so that's why it's important to get it right up front. Once Congress acts, if it's able to act, it's not like in two years if there's something wrong here or there, there's going to be a lot of will or excitement to get back to it. The attitude will be, well, we solved your problems, we've got, you know, Iran, we've got the economy, we've got taxes, we've got whatever else.

Billy Lucci

So this sense of urgency you feel right now, obviously it's probably I feel like and tell me if I'm wrong, it eats up so much of not just your job, but other conference commissioners. And what is there any level that you can allow yourself to get frustrated or do you have to almost be a robot at this point? You know what I'm saying?

Greg Sankey

Like you're asking, your observation and your question are very insightful.

Billy Lucci

So following me, so what I was going to say Is what First, is there something that you don't mind you know, saying, like, this is what frustrates me the most. Is it how the heck did we even get here? Or is it the outside influences it makes it so difficult?

Greg Sankey

Or all of the above, the fact

Billy Lucci

that you're now a politician as well.

Greg Sankey

Well, you. Your first observation was about time. And at dinner last night, we were having a conversation with some staff that this is like another full time job on, on top of running the conference. And our campuses probably feel that way, but that's a responsibility. And I saw back in 2015 when I took over that we were going to be in D.C. i actually recommended our first presidents and chancellor's meeting where I was the commissioner, that we hire a government relations firm not because we had something immediate, but because we needed to build relationships. And it turns out I was exactly right. Yeah, it's frustrating, but you do have to be a robot. Like I can't walk in and, and pound the table and, you know, point fingers and lecture. I do think outside influences, those who have their own interests or, you know, that have access, have used that effectively. So in one way you respect that, but it does create a distraction. I think one of the frustrations for me is this effort to create this villainous perspective, like we're the ones that shouldn't be listened to. And so what we. Once we saw the bill, we were not involved in drafting the Protect College Sports Act. So when we were in Destin and it was introduced, that was our window to provide commentary. We did that the first day on media rights and independent decision making. The second day, say, hey, as we look at this, we don't support elements. And then we've provided feedback consistently. I think the next week we provided an extensive red line of edits we suggested. And then we came to a point where I kind of took the pen and said, we just need a common sense explanation. And so we had 10, really 10 common sense issues. That's how it was labeled common sense improvement.

Billy Lucci

I'm a big fan of that in a big room.

Greg Sankey

The way I described it was like I said, we need to write the Coors drinking blue collar explanation. That's my history. I mean, grew up with a father who's a welder. So let's just not let the lawyers and legislators write this. Let's just be really clear on like we want everybody to have the same set of rules, not state by state. That seems a simple principle. It doesn't have to be everything, it just has to be in key areas and those are improvements that I think are common sense that can be addressed. And we appreciate the work and attention being given to try to make this a better circumstance, a better piece of legislation.

Billy Lucci

And David, I know you've got some but I just wanted to transition right into that of what. What I think maybe you would love to otherwise be sitting here talking about today as or this week as you make the rounds. And one of the things I would think would be the new coaches in the conference. It's a large group, it's a young group. How excited are you? Because obviously the on field product still trumps all right. I mean we want the league to stay where it's been and how fired up are you about the new faces in the league and some of the hires, your conference teams?

Greg Sankey

You know, people think sometimes you have outsized influence in this role. But I the job is to work with those who are hired on our campuses and I've enjoyed each of the interactions. We haven't played any games and you know, in the season things get tough. But we had an in person meeting in early February with our head coaches and ADs together and the opportunity to spend time with the new coaches is incredibly beneficial. And you have a little bit of one on one time, whether you're on a bus or sitting next to somebody at dinner or you know, outside a meeting room just to talk about what their vision is immediately and then long term and then in Destin a little bit. There's so much happening in Destin you don't have a lot of time and here a little bit of one on one time as well. And you can feel the energy and I look forward to how that impacts the conference in a positive way.

Billy Lucci

And my final one, David, my biggest I love the nine game schedule. I love being able to see, you know, Georgia has famously never come to Kyle Field.

Greg Sankey

15 years aware of that.

Billy Lucci

15 years in the SEC for a only 16 in the Big 12, if you can believe that.

Greg Sankey

No, I actually have told people that there's like this forgetfulness and yeah, I know we're coming up into you've been a great SEC member the page and say it's longer than the Big 12.

Billy Lucci

So with that said, I love the schedule and how it lays out for the athletes and the fans. Now my biggest concern, I think you kind of said, I don't know if you said disagreeable or something with the way the meeting went back around the time of Destin, how concerned are you? Rate your concern level on the CFP committee and properly Factoring in this nine game. Because everyone talks about SEC bias. I think outside of this footprint there is a massive anti SEC bias. Even like you kind of alluded to with the bill.

David

Right.

Obi

It's.

Billy Lucci

And to me that's my biggest concern is the CFP getting it right. Because this is a massive change for

Obi

the, for the league.

Greg Sankey

I think we have to look at short term and long term and then I think we have to look at decisions that are right inside the SEC and then what that's attached to. And so I believe is you really introduced Billy. The move to nine games is exactly the right step for the conference as a conference. And keep in mind I'm being asked questions about, hey, do you think about being more independent, stepping away? Well, that's about independent decision making. Right. So playing nine games, having annual rivalry games played.

David

Yeah.

Greg Sankey

That are critically important, that draw people in that are part of the passion and not separating those. So they're played every other year. Which would have happened in an eight game schedule or having kind of a gerrymandered so we can talk about congressional issues. A gerrymandered schedule. Or maybe somebody has two annual opponents, somebody else has one, maybe somebody has none. The nine game schedule within the conference was the right step. The issue is the attachment to the College Football Playoff. And we, we went into Destin, we heard from CFP leadership and some of their, their analytics advisors and it didn't provide the clarity of answers that our membership wanted. Now I think the CFP has made progress in its metrics. I think it still has a ways to go for us to appreciate the level of football played in this league. And it's like, you know, you'll get, we'll get to the end of the season and the like. You'll hear from some of our coaches. Well, go to Vegas and look at the odds makers and they'll tell you who wins. But we all know that's based on balancing money. That's not exactly. That is a competitive analysis with limits. But then you talk to NFL scouts who talk about the speed and the athleticism. I think our depth has been affected in the nil area era a bit. A bit. But it's a different reality. And in fact we have officials that come from other conference conferences who've worked for a long time and some of our colleague conferences who choose to spend their officiating time here say it is a different level. I mean over and over you hear that and that has to be respected. Now the issue we're going to have is ACCUMULATING losses because we're not playing mid level FBS teams. That's the concern. The selection committee has to respect the difference. It has to respect the difference in my view. Now will it. I don't know. And then that will drive our decision making. That's where okay, we may have a short term issue, but long term, as you look at the College Football Playoff, the format, size, have an opportunity to make those decisions and you know we'll be in a bit of a learning experience. I still have confidence we'll have multiple teams participating just because of the rigor of our schedule and the ability for teams to rise to the level of a playoff consideration team and a playoff selection team.

David

So just to follow that up before we close out coaches thoughts on this, you know they, they're worried about the nine game season obviously for what it means. Could that help your thoughts on expansion of the playoffs to a bigger size based on how the next year or two go?

Greg Sankey

I think it'll be a factor for our membership certainly. And we've said 16 is the right next step. On Monday I spoke. We don't have all the information needed to expand beyond 16. We could move to 16 and we understand, at least we understand in the SEC media rights attachment to the regular season decisions that would follow 24. I have no idea what the media value is and that's really important. Where we place the games then interacts with the media value and we have conference championship games. Decisions will need to be made there where Army Navy's played and that's become a very prominent issue in D.C. like every time I travel there I have a conversation about Army Navy. January 1st is an important day. That's a clear day for college football and this notion that like the American Football Coaches association threw out without consultation that the season ends January 8th. Think about the domino effect backward of that. Where you've got NFL games played on Saturday beginning in mid December, you're only going to have a semifinal game on January 1st. And oh by the way, when January one's on a Sunday we move everything to Monday the second. You're going to play semifinals on the second and then a championship game on the eighth and two different, three different geographic locations. It just doesn't work. And so those are the things that have to be well thought out. The nine game schedule this year the selection process may alter our thinking, but we really need some key information before we just jump to a much different playoff format.

David

Commissioner, thank you so much for joining us sir.

Greg Sankey

Yeah, thank you. Appreciate the conversation.

Billy Lucci

Any good concerts this off season yet?

Greg Sankey

So Alan Jackson's final concert.

Billy Lucci

Oh, you went to that?

Greg Sankey

Wow, that's perfect. Pretty cool. He brought Dr. George straight out to play with him at the end. That was successful night. They had like an hour long lightning and rain disruption, but he played for two hours, so kind of a privilege to be there. Saw Kenny Chesney at the sphere. Guys from 3rd Day Christian Southern rock crew played Red Rocks. I had not been to a full concert at Red Rocks. I'd been to one that was interrupted by lightning. And that's just an incredible venue. It is. We hit it hard there for about two weeks. My wife and it's funny because I,

Billy Lucci

I canceled on Chesney a couple weeks ago. Red Rocks is my favorite and I was watching that Alan Jackson one on social media going, why the heck am I not there?

Greg Sankey

Yeah, it was incredible, really. And in fact, it kind of overtook downtown Nashville. It was really, really special to be invited and be a part of that.

Billy Lucci

Awesome. All right, appreciate you.

Obi

Good luck this week.

Greg Sankey

I missed Bon Jovi last week in Madison Square Garden. Work took over. I couldn't travel, so I got, I had, I had to eat the tickets, unfortunately, so I missed that one.

Billy Lucci

We're on the same page as summer with concerts.

David

Well, thank you very much.

Greg Sankey

Thank you.

David

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Obi

ESPN Radio has the score. The score check in weeknights and weekends here on the Zombies.

David

All right, final segment of the Go Hour presented by the warehouse at CC Creations. It is Texas Live and this SEC Media Days coverage is brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. Billy Lucci still with us for a couple more minutes before we go into the 9 o' clock hour. And Billy, I don't know about you, but look, there was not a lot that Commissioner Sankey could have told us. But I think when he, when he starts answering questions. He's really good about going deeper than surface level and giving you a little bit of his thought process behind it. I don't know if you heard anything I asked.

Billy Lucci

You talk about his thought process?

David

No, I just, I think he doesn't go surface level when he. I mean, there's not that much he can give us. Yeah, but he doesn't go surface level with what he gives us.

Billy Lucci

Yeah, yeah. It's not, it's. It's not. You don't feel like you're sitting there talking to a. I said earlier, to a politician. Yeah, you're not. You don't get. Coaches give more quote, unquote coach speak than he does. He tells you how he's feeling. You can get into. Beside. I wanted to ask. That's why I want to ask, are you frustrated? What's frustrating you? Because I knew he would answer that.

David

Yeah.

Billy Lucci

A lot of people won't in that sense, in that situation. So I always appreciate, you know, he's got a great job. He's got a really tough job. He's got a thankless job. He's got a job that is an awesome job in terms of like the visibility being that important in one of the most popular sports in the world, in the most popular conference in that sport, the most dominant. Like, there's a lot of good. There's a lot of tough that comes with that as well. And I, I think, I think most fan bases in the SEC feel like A and M where they, you know, just like he laughed kind of. You know, I've heard about the Georgia thing and I'm sure he has and I'm sure a lot from the A and M side. So he's got coaches that are often unhappy with him, probably don't say a lot when they are happy. But 16 coaches, 16 ADs, 16 universities, 16 fans bases. So I doubt there's ever a time where he's made everyone happy at once.

David

Yeah.

Billy Lucci

Including Aggies. So I get where he's at. But I've always enjoyed, from day one, I've enjoyed talking to him and by the way, both on air and where he'll really be honest with you. And you know, again, like he's not just sitting here can state secrets to everyone, but he, but just I've had some long conversations with him away from this or, you know, he's just really insightful and informative and like he and I talk concerts, we talk travel. Like he's like everyone else. Just, you know, sometimes you talk about things, about life and not sports with, with whether it's coaches, commissioners or whatever. It's a process of, of getting to know these people and people love that at times. Oh yeah. You know, David knows these people. He's a good friend.

Obi

He's.

Billy Lucci

He knows. And then, and then at times they hate it as soon as they perceive that, you know, something done wrong to A and M or if you're a Bama fan or if you're a Tennessee fan or whatever. But it's part of the process and after 15 years, 15 years of this now and he's been the commissioner for most of that and it's, I think it's been, it's been a fun process getting to know him and some of these, like some of the sids and the people that work in this conference.

Obi

Cool.

David

It's fun. Thank you, Billy. We'll hit a break. We'll come back. I think we're going to run my interview with Aaron Murray unless we get somebody else's text.

Billy Lucci

I.