David Gardner

You're allowed to tell me. How long was that music? How long did we go? A minute. About a minute and a half. Okay. You sounded like you're a robot. It's Tech Sags Live. We are presented by David Gardner's Jewelers. We are in the Rollo Insurance studio in today's SEC media days. Coverage brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors, their Aggie owned independent fee only fiduciary firm serving families and business owners nationwide. Visit paragon-adv.com all right, so the 9 o' clock hour could be one of those that we just figured out as we go. All right, so right now what we'll do is for our radio audience that hasn't subscribed to TechSags.com you missed out on this interview when it was published yesterday. Here's my conversation with Aaron Murray, former Georgia quarterback and SEC Network analyst. Welcome back. Our good friend Aaron Murray, back with the SEC Network. I mean, I know you've been doing a lot of different stuff. You're still doing the Sirius xm but ESPN and now doing Back to SEC Network.

Aaron Murray

Yeah, back to SEC Network. So I'm really excited to be back in the conference and you know, covering the SEC week in and week out. And you know, I love, I've loved my role with espn. You know, I've covered some really, really great games and you know, last year, you know, did a mixture of SEC games on ESPN, ESPN2, some Big 12 games. But you know, as we know in the SEC, like the energy in the stadiums, the excitement, you know, just the overall intensity just a little bit different, which makes my job easier. You know, when you go into a stadium and it's a ranked SEC game or you know, two ranked teams is just the juices, the storyline. So it's selfishly, like I said, it makes my job a little bit easier week in and week out. So excited and hopefully get back to College Station. I've had two great games there over the past five years at a Auburn game there I think about five years ago, which was special to be a part of that and another one as well. So more opportunities to get there in other great spots.

David Gardner

So I nerded out with Aaron right before this interview. Billy's going to make fun of me. But you're so, you're, you've done how many half ironmans.

Aaron Murray

So I've done. So about a year and a half ago, my wife convinced me to do a marathon. Then we ran our second marathon in March of this year and a buddy of mine Say you start talking to me about this Ironman world. I was like, why not? So I had nine weeks post marathon to get ready for the 70.3. So it was like every day. Swimming, biking, obviously a little bit of running, but I was in good running shape to get ready for it. And I did it in Chattanooga.

David Gardner

It's a hilly one, right?

Aaron Murray

Very hilly, about 2,400ft of elevation gain. Just on the bike. And absolutely loved it. I mean, fell in love with so community. Oh, the biking community is so, so awesome. I mean, even down here in Tampa, I've had buddies reach out to me. I ended up bringing my bike.

Nick

Yeah.

Aaron Murray

And I went for a bike ride on Monday, and now we're going another bike ride on Thursday, which is great. So it's a great community, in great shape. You know, lost a bunch of weight, so I'm feeling really good. And so the goal is next year do another 70.3 and then a full 140 in the summer.

David Gardner

All right. That's a lot on your plate.

Aaron Murray

It's a lot of my play, a lot of training. But you know what's fun is I did some cycling with the UJ cycling team, you know, because I'm close to Athens, and I got hooked up with this SEC cycling club.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Aaron Murray

And now, especially with my role, I'm going to be trying to hit up all the cycling teams for each university to go on a ride either on Friday or Saturday before the game. So for those Aggies out there that are in cycling or the cycling, if they all have a cycling team, if I'm in College Station, would love to join you all on a. On a Saturday or Friday ride.

David Gardner

I may join you for that. I. So I'm. I did high rocks this past year. I did a couple sprint tries, but I. My last half ironman was in 2021.

Aaron Murray

Oh, nice.

Nick

And.

David Gardner

Well, I'm not proud of that one. All right, so the particular one. So what? One of my issues with Iron man was I got so lean and skinny that I didn't get a lot of muscle skinnier than you. Or I was 165 pounds. I'm 184 now.

Aaron Murray

Okay.

David Gardner

So I bulked up to 190, did that. That. That Iron man. And I was killing it on the swim. I killed it on the bike. I got to the run and my first ever dnf and I couldn'. My knee. I had an injury.

Aaron Murray

You want to be lean? I started off training at 205. I did the first one at 197. I'm down to about 193, 194 now. My goal is by next year to be more in that 185 range.

David Gardner

185. Right.

Aaron Murray

It's just so much easier, especially because the one I'm Chattanooga again. And then Lake Placid is going to be over 8,000ft of elevation on the bike gain during the race. So like, obviously, the heavier you are, the harder it is to get those hills. You're having to push more watts to keep up the stage speed. You know, it's not like Lance Armstrong is not, I mean, he's 150, 160. Like a lot of those guys are. You know, you're not pushing 220 up a hill. Yeah, it's different, it's different. I want to get to. And my body feels good, my joints feel good for the running as well. So, yeah, I would love to be more that 180, 185 range.

David Gardner

All right, so before my audience gets mad. Football talk. Yes, Quarterback evaluations. All right, let's talk about Marcel. And one of the things that I, I bring up often is people look at Arch last few games and like, oh, dude, this guy's gonna be incredible. Which he is. They look at Marcel's last two games. Oh, I don't know. And I feel like there's a complete body of work to look at with both guys to kind of maybe. All right, yes, these guys may be going in this direction, but don't let the last two games be the only thing we talk about.

Aaron Murray

No, 100% agree. I mean, you look at Marcel for the majority of the season and it was tremendous, obviously the athlete he was. And I'll say this, even at the beginning of the season, you know, you always look at quarterbacks in critical situations. How do you perform in third down? How do you perform in two minute drives? How do you perform for him at the end of games? And you know, he was making big time plays when, when you need him. I mean, I'll never forget that. That driver's Notre Dame and the fourth down pass, like, you know that that's the type of quarterback that I want a guy in crunch time that's not afraid to make the big plays. It doesn't shy away from him. And, and I think Marcel showed that last year. Yes, well, there's some, some, some, you know, technical things on the end of the trip that got exposed a little bit. 100%. So, you know, but as you alluded to, the body of work was tremendous and I think his athleticism as well just is so good for college football. If you have that from a quarterback standpoint. You know, my only hesitation with him heading into the season is new offense, new offensive coordinator. How fast is that gel? But I would still want them there to be slight growing pains early and finish strong because at the end of the day, you know, I think you want to put yourself in a position as a football team to be playing your best football late. So I do think that is a little bit of the problem of, you know, those two quarterbacks specifically. Arch seemed like he got better. And when I talk about Texas, I text all the time. Arch was not the main issue. Yeah, offense line was horrendous. I mean, I was watching a group of five game beginning of the season and he's getting hit left and right. I'm like, dude, like, what are we doing here? So I think for Marcel was like, dude, you got the running backs, you got the receivers, you got the offensive line. You didn't have the same kind of excuse that maybe Arch had to work through during the season with some of the difficulties on offense. But I love both quarterbacks and looking forward to see what they could do this year.

David Gardner

What do you think Isaiah Horton brings to Marcel? Look, losing KC hurts, right? But yes, I think Mario Kramer is going to take another big step.

Aaron Murray

He's a great receiver too.

David Gardner

Great receiver. But you can bring in an ex receiver like Horton that they did not have last year.

Aaron Murray

No, I mean be able to move that guy and create those matchups and just throw it up. I mean.

David Gardner

All right, that's part of my conversation with Aaron murray. Go to texacts.com for the rest of that. Right now, let's talk about a little LSU football with our buddy Matt Moscone. Catches work all over Louisiana. The host of After Further Review. What's up, buddy?

Matt Moscona

Great to see you as always. Great to see you.

David Gardner

So people don't know this. I may have said it on the air before, but I'd love to pick your brain about the industry. I think you do a great show and I'm curious what your thoughts are on today because I think tomorrow Ole Miss fans are going to be tuned in to what Lane has to say, but I think so how much is LSU paying attention to it all? Like it's storyline, but it's not, I guess, from your perspective.

Matt Moscona

Yeah, I think.

Nick

Oh, there.

Matt Moscona

Oh, no, there's. There's massive intrigue with what happens in Oxford. I think both ways, these two programs, right, Wrong, good, bad. They are going to be running at parallels for as long as Pete Goldings at Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin is at lsu. I think that's very natural. And I think deep down, LSU fans and I think Lane Kiffin are probably hoping Ole Miss takes a step back.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

And I mean, obviously from a competitive standpoint, LSU wants Ole Miss to take a step back. But also I think Lane Kiffin, everyone has an ego. I think he probably is looking, saying if they go 8 and 4, well, they'll know the reason that it was 11 and 1 a season ago was me and my coaches and we're not there anymore. And now they're taking a step back. So there's going to be that intrigue. But I think the other thing too, to keep an eye on today, Trinidad Chambliss has been asked multiple times about his decision to stay at Ole Miss, and his answers have been different. Okay, so, David, I'm just going to tell you, man, it was a very real thing where Chambliss and Lacy and a lot of those guys were coming with Lane Kiff. Okay. And when they beat Georgia in the Sugar bowl, the portal opened the next day and, well, they weren't leaving. I mean, they're playing, preparing for a quarterfinal game. And. And I think what that caused Kiffin and his whole staff to have to sort of readjust and assert how they were going to build their roster. But I'll be fascinated because Trinidad's going to be asked about that today.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

And I'm going to be fascinated to see what he says because you'll be able to now compare three or four different answers to the. To the same question to see how consistent they might have been.

David Gardner

I don't know what to think about lsu. Okay. Because there's a part of me that's like Lane Kiffin. Everywhere he goes, quarterbacks do great. Yeah, he's going to win 10 games. But when there's a brand new roster and the schedule that now, the nine game SEC schedule, what does eight and four do to lsu? Does it do anything like, I'm not project projecting eight, four. But what if.

Matt Moscona

Yeah, and that's brother, that's possible.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

Look at the schedule. I mean, it's the sec, everybody. Schedule is hard. But just look at September. You open with Clemson, then you get Louisiana Tech, that's at Ole Miss home against A And M. Is 2 and 2 in that stretch possible? Yeah, if 2 and 2 and in that stretch is possible. Okay. October is a relative breather. But then you go to November. Bama Texas at Tennessee at Arkansas. Two and two in that stretch.

David Gardner

Possible. Yeah.

Matt Moscona

Well now you're 84. Like, yeah, that's a possible thing, man. And when you invest what LSU did in this roster, and I know people have said 40 million for like, I'm here to tell you, coach, it's closer to 50 or beyond, depending on incentives and structures and things like that. You spend that on the roster. Nobody has told Lane Kiffino for anything. I mean, they've given him every coach, assistant, nil player, whatever they wanted. Whatever he's wanted, he has gotten. And all that buying means you're going to have outsized expectations. So 8 and 4, that's a disaster this year.

David Gardner

And if I remember correctly, last time you were on with us, there hasn't been that many conversations with the local media. Right. With Lane.

Matt Moscona

Zero.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

He's done his press conferences during, during spring ball, but he has not had a single one on one sit down with the local media. Of course he did the, the now infamous Vanity Fair a piece. He spoke to Chris Lowe. So he's done some of that. Some of the, some national media was on one of the barstool shows. It was on Tyron Matthews podcast. But I think Lane, I think he looks at the local media and again, it's early, it's could evolve. I'm just giving you an early read on it. I think he looks at the local media and says, well, I don't really need that because if I win, they're going to love me anyway.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

And if I lose, they're going to hate me anyway. So what does it matter? But we'll see how that evolves.

David Gardner

He's got a point though, right? Like in local media for sure. But in a place like Baton Rouge, if you're witten winning, excuse me, they're going to have your back.

Matt Moscona

Yes. The flip side. So let me give you an example. Like with Brian Kelly. So the flip side is what happened to bk. So LSU loses the A and M game and we all know the scene in the second half. So here, by the way, David, like you think about how quickly things turned. LSU was winning that game at halftime and in a half a football, Brian Kelly's fired. It's. It was incredible. But the conversations that started happening in, in the third and fourth quarter, that game in Tiger Stadium, is the stands emptied and the suites emptied? Was, you know, is there an appetite to buy him out? And Scott Woodward, the ad at the time was saying was sort of polling people, is there an appetite like, should we retain him, and they're just. And Brian just didn't have defenders. People didn't come to his defense. And so it made making that decision easier. So that's what having. Look, Blanke is not getting fired. But my point is, like, having people defend you in those moments is. Can eventually be important. And Brian Kelly didn't have enough of those. And Lane Gibbon's got him now. Yeah, but he hadn't lost the game yet.

David Gardner

Why do you think Marcel has had so much success against lsu? And then, you know, he's struggled against Texas two years in a row, but I guess A and M. Excuse me, against LSU specifically, he's had a lot of success.

Matt Moscona

Blake Baker's defense, there's this, this narrative, and it's hard to argue against, is the struggle with the running quarterback, but I don't think it's specifically designed quarterback runs. It's. It's players that can extend a play and can be dynamic extending a play. This clip you're showing right there is a great example. There was a pass rush. He was able to move the pocket and he made a beautiful throw. Like, that's been the issue. And I think Marcel's obviously very good at that. Like, that's not a design run. That's quarterback who saw an opening and made a play. Y. Those Trinidad Sham gave LSU's defense fits last year with the ability to extend plays. Diego Pavia did the same thing. So, look, I'm not an X and O guy. Like, I can't. I can't tell you what. Blake Baker's defensive cover to the. I mean, that you're saying, yeah, he's a really smart guy. I'll figure it out. But that's why, and it's not unique to Marcel. It's. It's that quarterback skill set.

David Gardner

Sam Levitt, if he's on, he's on. But the, the fact that he's coming back from that Liz Frank injury. Yeah, he's been so limited. Can the expectations be, hey, Lane, Tiffany touches the quarterback, great things happen.

Matt Moscona

That is the expectation. Is it realistic? I mean, he just took a kid from Division 2 and turned him into a Heisman contender, you know, so, yeah, I mean, you pay Sam Levitt what you're going to pay. But here's the other thing I'll tell you too, David, is that season two years ago in Arizona, we all talk about when Arizona State went to the playoff, right. Levitt didn't throw for 3,000 yards, but he was a. An efficient passer. He was good runner as well. But Camp Camp scatter ran for 1700 yards. We all remember Scaboo in the postseason. That was incredible. That's what LSU's the last two years LSU has been last and second to last in the SEC in rushing. We can talk all we want about Levit and I agree, like whatever LSU is going to be, Levitt's got to be got to take them to that level. But like part parcel with that is they've got to run the ball and that's something that's always paramount for Lane. So brand new offensive line. Dylan Jones is a running back coming in from Wisconsin. Levitt's ability to run, use his feet, all that's got to make sense to take pressure off of Levitz who doesn't have to be a 4,500yard passer. Like they got to have balance in this offense which they have not had the last two years.

David Gardner

Matt, I'm struggling to understand where you are with LSU because I don't want to say you've been optimistic in years past, but I don't know if you are right now. I think, I think you were kind of like how everybody is in college football. Like I don't know there's a new roster, it's this and that.

Matt Moscona

I've so I'm. This is like we so bring this full circle where we started like with Ole Miss being here today. If you take the if, if we, you know, jump in the DeLorean, crank it up to 88 and go to the year 2030. Okay. And we look at a five year sample of Ole Miss under Pete Golding and Lane Kiffin with lsu. I would bet you everything that I own that Lane Kiffin will win more games and have more success over the next five years.

David Gardner

Agree.

Matt Moscona

But one of the reasons Lane has pumped the brakes this, I believe this off season, this year is because he looks at Ole Miss and goes, well, they still got Trinidad Chambliss and Keon Lacey and like this might be a year where they're better than LSU might be. So my point, David, is like I would be able to give you a much more confident read on this LSU team if I had seen Sam Levin this spring. But he didn't participate. And the two dudes I saw run the offense are not ready. Like Husson, Longstreet and Landon Clark. Very talented players and in time I think could be really, really good. It's, it's, it did not look good in spring. I put you that way. I get a new offense and all that stuff, but it's Paramount, that Levitt elevates this offense that functions within this offense the way they're paying him to function within this offense. But I haven't seen what that looks like, man.

David Gardner

Right.

Matt Moscona

Like, let me go look at a few practices in fall camp and I'll go, okay, that's a. Dude, they got one. They're going to be fine. If not, there's a real question around this team and you bringing up eight and four, that's a. Yeah, that's a real possibility. If, if Levitt struggles or is limited in any way, I want to ask

David Gardner

you about eight and four in general in the SEC now with the nine game SEC schedule. Yeah. Are we going to point to a year from now, two years from now, look at it as the same way we used to look at nine and three or. No.

Matt Moscona

Okay. So I, I've equated this to. Are you an NFL guy at all?

David Gardner

I used to be more. But yeah.

Matt Moscona

Okay.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

So when the NFL had 16 games, it was like, if you went 10 and six generally you were going to find your way in.

David Gardner

Right.

Matt Moscona

There is exceptions, but like you're like 10 and six was a good benchmark. Even if you're a wild card, like you're probably going to get in at 10 and 6. Well, they go to 17 games and so it's like, okay, well is it the 10 wins or the six losses?

David Gardner

Right.

Matt Moscona

Like, do you need to be 11 and six or 10 and seven, which. Which behaves that way? And so that's what. I'm curious about this. But the problem is the committee, because the committee has proven over and over and over and over again that the only number they care about is the second number on the win loss record. It doesn't matter what it looks like. Two years ago, Indiana was 11 and one. The only. The one loss was the only ranked team they played and they got their head kicked in by. They made the playoff because they were 11 and 1 and then got their head kicked in by Notre Dame. We can go back to that same season. Bama, South Carolina, who's the other one? There was another SEC team that was nine and three that, that didn't get in because they had three losses. Look at Texas a year ago.

David Gardner

Yep.

Matt Moscona

If, like I could make the argument if Texas played Ohio U instead of Ohio, Ohio State, they're 10 and 2. They're in the playoffs.

David Gardner

Yep.

Matt Moscona

Now I have a major problem with that. I don't know. We need to go down that road because you get me on my soapbox and I'll be loud and it's, we'll be here forever. But the point is, I don't think the committee considers the fact that the SEC is playing a ninth game and the P4 mandate. I think they only care about the second number of the win loss. And that's complicated because while I stink at math, I know going to a ninth league game means you have guaranteed half of your league and other loss you guaranteed it. So I think that complicates the SEC's path to the playoff this year.

David Gardner

I agree with that. If you could have your way, would you expand to the 24 playoffs?

Matt Moscona

Yes, I think. See, now. Now you're trying to get me on my soapbox again, David.

David Gardner

Let's do it. I want to hear, so I don't

Matt Moscona

know how much time you got.

Nick

Whatever you want.

Matt Moscona

I don't know that I believe that. So I have pushed back forever on this notion in college football that it's the most sacred regular, the greatest regular season. It's not. It's the most meaningless regular season in the history of sports because it's the only sport in the history of mankind where you can play. You can win every game you play and not even have a chance to compete for a championship because a bunch of goons in a hotel ballroom in suburban Dallas decided you're not worth it while they debate game control metrics. It's the stupidest thing in the world. So people are gonna say, well, you go to 24 now, you're rewarding mediocrity. No, I'm not. What I'm doing is I'm incentivizing Texas to go play Ohio State. I'm incentivizing LSU to play a home and home with Clemson. You know what? That's a great thing for college football. For you, for me, for fans. Nobody wants to see LSU play McNee State. Who's the FCS team y' all are playing this year?

David Gardner

Missouri State.

Matt Moscona

Are you fired up about that? You got that one circle, David.

David Gardner

You fired up? I forgot for a second. I had to look at my producer.

Matt Moscona

You fired up to watch A and M against Missouri State?

Blaine Crane

No.

David Gardner

Or the Citadel.

Matt Moscona

Nobody wants to see it. It's terrible for our sport. It's a renown. It's a gate receipt. It's stupid. It's unnecessary. So I want. And so. But then what I would like to see is you say, and by the way, it makes it more meaningful when you get into November because now people are competing to get into the playoff or competing for a buy or competing For a home game, it's. It would only make it more interesting, a better product for more teams, for longer. And then you actually have a playoff to go, decide results on the field. So do you think LSU's or in Sec 9 and 3 is more valuable than Indiana's 11 one? What does it matter what you or I think? Let's go play a game and find out. That's what an expanded playoff does.

David Gardner

See, I agree with you. I've had a hard way, a hard time verbalizing it the way you just did because I do believe if you lose early and now you're not playing for anything, what's the point of the regular season?

Matt Moscona

You opt out and because no one's excited to go to the Mayonnaise Bowl.

David Gardner

Right.

Matt Moscona

That's where we are in college football. And that's not good for college football.

David Gardner

All right, last question. And this is completely going back to something in the middle, because I thought of it, I didn't follow up at the time. If somehow LSU won that game against A M. Okay, let's just say that second half, the second half, they played it just like they played the first half. Right. A and M looks like the better team, but LSU has the lead. They win. Brian Kelly, your coach today.

Matt Moscona

Yes.

David Gardner

That one game was it. Well, I think the way that one game happened, I should say in part

Matt Moscona

because he's not getting fired the next day, obviously. And then I think as you make your way through November, it probably looks a little different because the season was over. Nussmeier didn't come back. They played Michael Van Buren. They lost late to Oklahoma. Game that they blew. They had it one. They probably finished nine and three. And then he's still the coach, but, you know, with the benefit of hindsight, knowing that it landed Elaine Kiffin, this number one portal class, all the excitement around the program. It's hard to say it wasn't a good thing for it to happen the way it did, but only time will tell is if the Kiffin thing works out. But you got the guy everybody wanted, should fix your offense. Got major buy in from everybody. So see how the season goes. But yeah, yeah, I mean, that was, it was. It was so interesting to just. I'll do this very quickly, but the week before LSU played A and M, they played Vanderbilt and they lost in Nashville. And I was at that game and it was the LSU Board of Supervisors game. So one game a year, the board goes and they do their board dinner and they're meeting and they wear their purple blazers and they stand on the field and all that guffaw and everything, whatever. But I remember after that gap that they lost to Vanderbilt Nashville, I had a conversation with someone very familiar with the situation who said there's, there's no Appetite to eat $54 million. That was a week before.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Matt Moscona

You know, and then the first half against A and M, they're winning. It just goes to show you how quickly that, that. It's not like that was something that was simmering. It was a very immediate reactionary thing.

David Gardner

I think Jimbo was kind of similar. I actually want to ask one more and I apologize for going wrong. So how would you look at the last 10, 15 years of LSU football? Okay. And I know 2019 happened.

Matt Moscona

Yeah.

David Gardner

Okay. But if for a moment you could evaluate everything but 2019.

Matt Moscona

Well, I think it, what's important because that's the perception of LSU football, is that they're, they're like a. One of the, one of the superpowers. I think that's fair to say. Right? I mean, no team's won more national titles since 03 than LSU.

David Gardner

I'm sorry, Alabama

Matt Moscona

3. 07 and then 19, they played for another one in 11. That, you know, if. Or if Ohio, if, if Oklahoma State could have beaten a 500 Iowa State team. That LSU blows out Oklahoma State and unless wins two national championships. But the truth about LSU is they're generally in eight win football team on average. That's what they are. They're an 8, 8 and 4, 9 and 3 football team that every half decade or so, boom, they pop the big one. And so that's what you see. So we're just sort of in this limbo now from 19 waiting to pop the big one. And last year was supposed to be that year, man nuts came back. They had the number one portal class. Everyone thought that was going to be the one. And because it failed so spectacular, that's why they ate $54 million to fire Brian Kelly. But no, I mean, I think it's, it's just that's what LSU is. They're a perpetual like 8, 9 win team that about every half decade pops a big one.

David Gardner

Sounds so similar to A and M without the real big boom. Like, you know, fourth, you know, in the fourth in 2020 and last year, 11 and 2. Like that's what it. A and M has been without winning the national, which is a bit. With a huge thing.

Matt Moscona

It changes the conversation.

David Gardner

Yeah, it does. Matt, I appreciate you, brother. Always great seeing you, man.

Matt Moscona

Always.

David Gardner

All right, we'll hit A break. We'll figure out the next segment. As we do. We have somebody booked for the next segment. All right. Next, Working on it. Right now we're talking about heritage films. You got to get a documentary done about your family, guys. If you haven't had one done from Chance McClain and his team, you're missing out. When I say documentary, I'm talking like legit Netflix style documentary that tells your family story, your family business story, your family ranch story. You've heard that before. In fact, Chance texted me today. He says he's got a promo ready for me to go. I'm telling you guys, these documentaries are incredible. When you watch it with your family, you're going to feel great, great. And then the future generation is going to learn so much from it. 7138-9383-4171-3893, 8341 or go to YourHeritageFilm.com YourHeritageFilm.com is Heritage Films. Now we're going to try to stay on the clock. Even though I destroyed that clock. It is Tech Sags Live. We are presented by David Gardner's Jewelers Rollo Insurance studio hour number two and a half of the program. Today's SEC Media days coverage is presented by Paragon Financial Advisors and Aggie Own an independent fee only fiduciary firms serving families and business owners nationwide. Visit paragon adv.com so what I, what I wanted to do is kind of, and Nick, you can help me out with this. Compare LSU and A and M over the last 10, 15 years because part of my conversation with Matt Moscona was how similar really they're. Now I gotta pause when I say this. I know that LSU's won national championships in the 2000s. Yeah, I recognize that. That's. I, I don't think that's my point. I think my point is the fact that they have this one big year followed by somewhat mediocrity every year.

Nick

Right.

David Gardner

Like, and then feel like that it's a roller coaster. So, I mean, just for A M in particular. Okay.

Nick

In.

David Gardner

And we'll just go from 2019 beyond. Okay. Like, you felt that they were building something after 2019. Right.

Matt Moscona

Blaine Crane, by the way, I would

David Gardner

love to get Blaine on the show. Let's see what he's doing real quick. I'm sorry, but. All right. Just, just to continue this dialogue. You have A and M since 2019. They go 8 and 5, 9 and 1, 8 and 4, 5 and 7, 7 and 6, 8 and 5, 11 and 2. And anyway, we'll get Blaine Crane to kind of discuss it. Blaine Crane joining us here on the show. What's up, man? What's up?

Blaine Crane

How we doing?

David Gardner

So hold on. Are you solo? Because I feel like your team is on the remote.

Blaine Crane

Yeah, it's just me. My brother and his wife are expecting a baby next week.

David Gardner

All right.

Blaine Crane

Cone has like 14 kids, so they just sent me down here to try not to mess everything up. So I think I'm doing okay so

David Gardner

far, but I feel like I've seen them in the background or have they been on or. No.

Blaine Crane

Yeah, so we've been doing some shows from down here. Okay. One in the hotel room the first day. Second day, we did it from here because we had a little camera situation. Go on.

David Gardner

So, Blaine, I wanted to ask you something. I was just talking about with Matt Moscone to kind of brought a thought up to me. When you think about lsu, obviously you think about a program that is considered one of the blue bloods, one of the SEC best. But here's my. But similarly, the A and M, except without the big boom. They had this one big year. They have 2019, and then they got several years of mediocre football.

Blaine Crane

Okay.

David Gardner

And has been the same way without the huge boom. I understand that, you know, 2020 and last season aren't the same equivalent to a national championship, but my point is, why do you think LSU has gone through that? That they have this huge year, then they drop off for several years, then they have another huge year?

Blaine Crane

I think, man, I think it's coaching. I really think people need to realize how much a head coach matters to a football team. I mean, at. Look what Signetti is doing right in Indiana. I mean, it doesn't matter what type of school you are. Basketball, croquet school, it doesn't matter. But if you get the right. Right guy at the head coaching job position, then it can change everything. And I still remember, like, I know football's changed a lot less. Miles was basically just getting. Eating grass and running the toss sweep, and it worked. But, you know, I think Brian Kelly was never a good fit. I mean, the fact that you couldn't get anything done with Jane Daniels at quarterback tells a lot. And I think the same thing with.

Nick

With.

Blaine Crane

With A and M. Like, Mike Elko has changed A and M. In my opinion, you go back to the Johnny man Zel days. I understand that. But. But it's a ground and pound. You win in the trenches, the best coaches build it from what, inside out. That's What I think Lane Kiffin is going to do and bring in the recruits. That's what Mike Elko is doing. So I'm just used to LSU being a really, really good football team. So maybe it's just I'm a young cat. Maybe that's it. But A and M, them found their guy, and I think LSU found their guy.

David Gardner

So I know your brother's background in football. What's your background?

Blaine Crane

Played at Western Colorado, played there for two years, Got a little beat up. So I got straight into coaching. Coach for four years at the juco level, one of the D2 level. So, I mean, coach has been my life. Football has been my life. Like, my dad played and coached at Auburn, played in the NFL for a little bit. So I've been surrounded by it my entire life. And it's funny, like, this never felt like a job to me. This is just what we do on a regular basis. We chop it up, we talk ball. This is just my life. 24 7. So got a little bit of background. And Jake. Jake was a little bit of a higher level when it comes to coaching coaches south, you know, coached at a couple big schools, so it's just. Football's in my blood, man.

David Gardner

How does this show change your life?

Blaine Crane

It changed my life in the sense of, you know, me and my brother were both coaching. Then Covid hit and, you know, it got to the point where, like, look, do I want to coach for the. The rest of my life? You know, I want to be around the game. What can I do? And we kind of did this on a whim the back of my grandmother's house. And I didn't know, like, you get paid to do this, right? I didn't know. It was like. And that was kind of before podcasting or show really blew up to what it was. Now it's just I get paid to talk about sports, which is still. I might be in a coma. I don't know. This might be a simulation. We'll see. But it's changed my life to where one I get to spend. I get to do my job with my brother, which is just fantastic. David Cohen's basically one part of the family now. So it's just changed my life in the right direction because after what happened to my father and stuff like that, which was kind of a negative in my life, it flipped around. Everything happens for a reason. So I'm. I'm on a really good path right now.

David Gardner

Well, let's talk some ball. All right, give me your top five coaches in the sec. If you have that in your head.

Blaine Crane

Okay. I'd go in order in aggregate.

David Gardner

If you, if you have that. Yeah, yeah.

Blaine Crane

Kirby Smart, obviously. I mean sustain some success. Success he's had at Georgia. I go Mike Elko, Steve Sarkeesian. I go Lane Kiffin, 5.

David Gardner

You put Elko too.

Matt Moscona

Yeah, I would.

David Gardner

I love that answer.

Blaine Crane

I would.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Blaine Crane

I, I just, I believe in everything Mike does.

David Gardner

Yeah, right.

Blaine Crane

And I feel like if Mike, Mike. I know he's at A and M and it's not like y' all don't have money or anything like that, but you could put Mike on an island somewhere and he'd find out this. Build a five star, five star hotel resort and get that thing kicking. So five's a real question. I really, I don't think Drink gets enough credit for what he's done in Missouri. I feel like year in and year out they find a way to win eight or nine games, sometimes 10. So five, I would have to think. I think John Sumrall is going to jump into this list pretty quick. I'm a John Sumrall guy the way he's just a winner everywhere he goes. Kaylin DeBoer.

Nick

We'll see.

Blaine Crane

I don't know if it's the right fit at Alabama. Somehow you win 11 games. One of the worst team in the nation are running the football. So we'll see how it goes this year with the quarterback position. But yeah, I probably. I might sneak Kaylin Deborah in there at five.

David Gardner

Okay. And then the broader picture of it. Do you have Kirby as number one or has Signetti past him?

Blaine Crane

I still have Kirby as number one.

David Gardner

Me too. Me too.

Blaine Crane

I still have Kirby as number one. If Indiana goes out and wins it this year, I would put Kirk Signetti as the number one coach because he's doing in Indiana. But right now Kirby still holds the mantle. To me.

David Gardner

Yeah. To me he is the sustainability, the different eras and the fact that he just keeps winning now. Does he need to win again?

Matt Moscona

Sure.

David Gardner

I mean, as every coach does, Signetti to me has to prove that he can do it with a different roster and maybe a couple years removed from James Madison.

Blaine Crane

Yeah. And this is one thing. Nick Saban was so good. And not only this harboring talent, but the malleability of being able to change with the game being a step ahead and continue that success. And that's what Kirby's done. Like it's crazy because you go back to some of Kirby's best teams, right. It started where up front of the D line, right I mean, the linebackers led Georgia in sacks last year, so he knows how to switch the game. He knows the right buttons to press at the right time. So he's still number one to me. But I'm telling you, Kirk Signetti is close. You look at that roster he has this year, I don't think they're going anywhere.

David Gardner

Yeah, I don't. I don't either. For A and M, there's a lot of question marks about the O line, the D line. And I know you're high on Elko, but what are realistic expectations with those incomplete grades on the O line and the D line?

Blaine Crane

Well, you lose a guy like Cassius, I mean, that's hard to replace, no matter what. But when it comes to Mike Elko, maybe it's a problem with me. I just believe he knows how to get the right guys in the right spots, identify the right talent. What he needs positionally. And the bigger thing to me is how the new coordinator is going to adapt, right? Is the chemistry going to be just absolutely fluid, fluent when he gets there? Is it going to be a perfect fit? And the great thing about A and M or something you can lean on this year is you get Marcel Reeves, and that matters so much. And I know you lost a great receiver, but you look at those guys, even the two deep of a receiver position, you're gonna be just a good. Just as good. And one of the most underrated cats in the sec, I think, is Reuben Owens. He doesn't get talked about enough. I think he's going to be maybe a thousand yard back. He's gonna. He's gonna be the bell cow for these guys. So I'm not that worried about A and M up front on both sides of the ball because I have that much belief in my calco.

David Gardner

Blaine, great stuff, man. Thanks for joining us.

Matt Moscona

Appreciate it.

David Gardner

Appreciate you, brother. Absolutely blank Crane there from Crane and Cone podcast from on three. We'll hit a break here. We'll come back and, I don't know, we'll continue to tap dance and figure it out as we go. That's what we do here at SEC Media Days. Right now we're talking Bubba's 33. Say hi to my friends there. They're awesome. Jessica Shelby, the whole crew. Maddox, join them for a wrap up of an incredible month in community support for Burgers for the Brave parking Lot party. They'll announce their final fundraising total from the Homes for our troops, recognize two outstanding local veterans, enjoy live music, shop with local vendors, and make one last push to support the amazing cause and bring the whole family. The kids can enjoy face painting balloon artists while everyone takes part in an evening of great food, entertainment, community. It's the perfect family outing and a chance to make a lasting difference through our nation's heroes. It's Bubba's 33. The food is fantastic. The burgers. I recommend getting a big old burger from there. Check it out. It Bubba's is 33 on Highway 6. Listen to the zone on the Zone app.

Matt Moscona

Download the app.

Nick

Yeah.

David Gardner

Thanks to Loyalty Plumbing, the pros at Loyalty Plumbing are ready to serve you Aggieland. Oh, that's good stuff. Visit a visit of loyalty plumbing llc.net all right, we're going to get right into it because I become best friends with Damien Harris during the break. He talked about A and M. He talked about his time at Alabama. He is now Money Manzel. Ask the audience your question.

Nick

Okay, so I've got. I would. I was debating with my co worker at CBS Sports, Brian McFadden, what is the greatest play, not player, the greatest singular play in the history of college football?

David Gardner

And he started giving some good candidates. And like, every time he said one, I'm like, well, that's it. No, that's it. So.

Nick

So we've got Doug Flutie, Hail Mary.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Nick

We've got Boise State, Statue of Liberty. We've got kick six from Auburn. We've got second and 26. I just thought of another one. Band on the field. Okay. Band on the field. You said you went kick six as soon as I said kick six.

David Gardner

Yeah.

Blaine Crane

You.

Nick

You immediately went with it.

David Gardner

Because when I saw it happen live, the effect that it had on me emotionally at the moment. Right. Oh, my God. What am I watching?

Nick

So hold on, hold on. I hate to interrupt you, but you're going down the same exact path that my co worker Bryant McFadden went down. So for those of y' all who want to know, I obviously said second and 26.

David Gardner

And I understand why.

Nick

Now, yes, I am biased because I was a part of that game. But let me do something for you.

David Gardner

All right?

Nick

I want to look up the definition of greatness.

David Gardner

Yep.

Nick

Okay. Greatness. I'm going to tell you the definition, and then we're going to. You and I, we're going to talk about the greatest play of all time. This refers to the quality or state of being exceptional, notable, or distinguished in a particular area.

David Gardner

I see where you're going with this.

Nick

So bas. Now this is just the, the, the, the Google definition of greatness. Now, based on that, I Don't think. Not just based on that. Let's say based on the fact that we substituted in a true freshman quarterback in the national championship after we had not crossed the 50 yard line in the first.

David Gardner

Now, you give me context.

Nick

We were down 10 points.

David Gardner

Yes.

Nick

In that game came back this same true freshman takes a sack on the first play of overtime, loss of 16 sec. Next play throws a touchdown to walk off a national championship. Now, based on the definition of greatness.

David Gardner

You've talked me into it. All right? Because you know what? Honestly, when you're evaluating a play, you got to take the emotion out of it. Right?

Nick

You have to.

David Gardner

So the emotion of the kick six, I think elicited a huge response. Did I just watch that? The flutie. I was too young. All right. Like you weren't even born yet. All right.

Nick

Not even close. I wouldn't have thought, but I've seen

David Gardner

that so many times. I'm told that's the greatest play. Right.

Matt Moscona

Right.

David Gardner

I'm going to go with you, A. Because you're bigger, stronger than me and you made it a compelling case.

Nick

They see. That's all I want. I want to make it a compelling case because let me also give you this context. Right. I've sold you. I don't want to oversell, but I just want to give you this last little tidbit. If it had been any other two teams in the national championship and that same second and 26 play happens, I think that we get the same exact kind of feeling and the same. Oh, my God.

David Gardner

Right.

Nick

Just happened. True freshman quarterback going in at halftime.

David Gardner

He did it. Yeah, he did it. I'm going to give that to you.

Nick

If there's any two other teams out there where a kick that could have gone into overtime, by the way, the game would have gone into overtime had Chris Davis not scored. If any other situation where two teams played and that were the end result of the game, it would have been way less dramatic.

David Gardner

Damien, Because I suck. And I did a long segment earlier. I have a short segment here. Let me ask you this question before I let you go. You told me you had a lot of love for A and M as a kid.

Nick

Yeah.

David Gardner

And you were a huge Manziel fan back when you were 14 years old. Give me your quick version of why you liked A and M before you got to Alabama.

Nick

Well, first of all, I mean, watching Johnny Manziel walk into Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and walk down the Crimson Tide at the height of their dominance, it was so inspiring because he was a small guy. He wasn't the biggest, he wasn't the strongest, he wasn't the fastest. And I related to that because I was a small town kid from Richmond, Kentucky, where not a lot of people made it to where I want to go. Then as I played, I kind of realized how special it was because I played at Cow a couple times. It is by far the best venue in college football. Death Valley, Baton Rouge. On a night game that's different, but just uniformity. It's the best stadium, it's the best environment in all of college football. The tradition is great and it's just honestly, it's one of those places where obviously Alabama worked out and I'm glad that I went there. But A and M would have been a cool place to check out a little bit more in the recruiting trail. But again, I am very happy with where I went.

David Gardner

Damian, I'd love to get you on the show again, man.

Nick

Yeah, let's do it, man.

David Gardner

Thank you so much for your time.

Nick

Thank you.

David Gardner

Damien Harris. We'll hit a break. We'll be back. Tech Sags live. The Houston Astros. The Houston Astros play in the zone, thanks to Kelly Bird Dozer. The great Josh Bates talking by the table. Chit chat and try to figure out when we're going to be able to get him on the program. He is a very important guy. How about that? Our last guest, Damien Harris, really loved that conversation. One of the things he told me, and I don't think he was private. I mean, it's not, it's not like a. A secret. He was just being honest. He wished A and M had reared him harder. He said that it was towards the end of the summer era, obviously, and he was like, yeah, I was really interested in Texas A and M. I knew they recruited me, but I wanted them to recruit me a little bit more. But it all went out really well for, for Damien Harris, who's now at CBS Sports. Did we get an update for what? Actually, he's telling you right here. What did Josh say? You're gonna hate me.

Aaron Murray

You're always.

David Gardner

Yeah, I just. Every time I have an update, I feel like you're gonna be out of me. I'm gonna come back at for the 10:30 segment. I told him you need to be done so we can get to the scrum. So 11:30 our time, 10:30 back home. So does that mean Billy Lucci's joining us or no?

Nick

I don't think so.

David Gardner

I don't know. We'll see. We'll figure out what we figure out when we figure it out. Sex acts live.