David Nuno

And we are back here on Tech SAGS Live, presented by David Gardner's Jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. This SEC Media Days coverage is brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. And we're talking to our buddy Nick Roush from KSR Little Kentucky. Yesterday, on the podium, I saw you working the room frantically. Not frantically. You were just doing your thing.

Unidentified Host/Producer

What's up?

Nick Roush

It felt frantic.

Unidentified Guest

It felt.

Nick Roush

It felt exciting. It was weird. 1. I've been doing this for a decade or so. First time covering a new coach at an SEC Media Days. Not used to that. Mark Stoops was here for so long. Long. And as much as Kentucky fans are grateful and appreciative for what Mark Stoops did, I mean, he. Two 10 win seasons in four years, it was getting stale.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Unidentified Host/Producer

And.

Nick Roush

And a year ago, Stoops is complaining about, you know, this bleep is hard. Right. You know, I don't want to make any headlines. Stein was the polar opposite. I mean, the exact opposite brought a lot of energy. He exuded a lot of confidence in what he believes he can do at Kentucky. And I think Kentucky fans need to hear that because it is harder to win in the SEC now than ever before. It requires a lot of money. Kentucky fans are worried they didn't have any, because the way that Mark Stoops talked and for Stein to say authoritatively that he believes he can get it done, it was. It was a breath of fresh air.

David Nuno

Yeah. I thought he won yesterday. Like, and when I say won, like, not that they're given prizes for the best interviews, but I thought he presented himself in a way that, like, all right, I can get behind this guy, see what Kentucky thinks about him.

Nick Roush

Well, in. In to your point. I mean, if doing interviews would win you games and Shane Beamer would be the national champion. Right. Like, you know, it only gets you so far.

David Nuno

Sure.

Nick Roush

But I like to say that how you do anything is how you do everything. I mean, in all of the little things he has done. Right. This offseason, whether it's, you know, how he talks, how he communicates with the fans, how he's been able to build a roster his way, he's been able to fundraise. I mean, you know, he's. He's from Louisville.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

Played at Louisville, but his dad went to UK and Louisville, biggest city in the state of Kentucky. There were a lot of donors who just weren't even getting asked to write checks to Kentucky football. They were just waiting to pick up the phone. Wilstein's calling him.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Unidentified Host/Producer

So he.

Nick Roush

He has checked all of the boxes. And to come in on day one when there's a lot of excitement.

David Nuno

Sure.

Nick Roush

Here. And to be the new guy and to deliver that message with authority. It wasn't like Clark Lee said, you know, our goal is to win a national championship.

David Nuno

Laughed.

Nick Roush

Yeah, it wasn't like that. It was more Signetti, like, where they were like, oh, so who's this guy?

David Nuno

Right.

Nick Roush

You know, it wasn't this sort of like this guy from Kentucky. There was a. I mean, this Will Stein guy, he might be onto something.

David Nuno

Yep. So Kenny Minci, how does he fit in this system? And what do we think about him so far?

Unidentified Guest

The.

Nick Roush

The way that Joe Sloan and Will Steiner described him is it's almost like he's been in their offense for years. I mean, he went to Notre Dame, so he's not a dummy. You know, like. But I think the part that when the receivers talk about it, they're like, you know, I turn my head and the balls right there. I mean, you know, it almost surprises you. And so I think what men she. I don't know where he's ultimately going to land on this pecking order, but he got coached by Mike Denbrock. We've seen what Wilson's done with quarterbacks. This is a guy that you should not sleep on. They targeted him. They wanted him. He's an accurate guy who's in a good. Who's with a good offensive coordinator. And the other part, too, is it's almost like how Marcel Reed, you get the second year of him. There should be significant amount of growth mention. He's got two years on the docket.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

So, you know, not just this year, but down the road. He could be somebody we're talking about a lot at this event next year.

David Nuno

Jay Bateman. Talk to me about his transition there. I liked his time at A and M. I thought he was always very friendly, but also brought a really good defense. How is he transitioning at Kentucky?

Nick Roush

There's a lot of mystery around Jay Bateman because. Yeah, it is.

Andy Staples

He's.

Nick Roush

He's with Elko. Right. And when you're. When you're offensive coordinator with an offensive coach, you don't get the credit.

Unidentified Guest

Right.

David Nuno

Sure.

Nick Roush

Same thing in this situation where we don't really. You get a general sense of what Bateman's going to want to do, because we can turn on the tape, we can see A and M, but it's going to be different. And I think the part that I like most about it is that he has he's seen the bad, right? He's seen the good, the bad and the ugly. And he's on a staff of a bunch of 36 year old, 40 year old young coaches who are hungry, active recruiters. Well, Jay Bateman's got some recruiting chops too. He's, he's done an exceptional job recruiting early on for Kentucky, but he's also, he did well at army, did not do well at North Carolina and I think you kind of, he's got experience in the league. So I'm excited because I think the part of Kentucky's defense that people don't really want to, I don't know if they know, but even the Kentucky fan base, the returning talent, people just kind of like, huh. Well, they've got some pretty good players coming back if they can have the edges of it, the corners and the pass rushers, pretty important. But if, if those guys hit, then I think this defense can really work out well for, for Jay Bateman in year one.

David Nuno

So I'm looking at the schedule and I, I mean it's hard but because this is the sec, but I find it somewhat manageable. Or am I seeing it wrong? I mean, for a new coach. No, but, but relatively speaking, relatively speaking, you're, you're avoiding some landmines.

Nick Roush

Well, it's just you come out of the gate hot, right? You come out of the gate and you play Alabama. You know, I think Alabama is vulnerable early in the season, so you're probably catching them at the right time. But then go into Caulfield and week three, you know that, that, that's a, that's a big bite of the apple right off the bat. When you, when you got Alabama A&M2 playoffs right away from a year ago. Yeah, it's just, it's a big ass when you know that first year head coach is going to go through some growing pains. It's not like, you know, there's six new coaches in the league. Wolstat's the only one who's never been a head coach. So there are going to be some moments in these big games where you know it's going to come down to a play call here or there or a decision whether you take a timeout, whether to try to get six points right before half or whether you should just pump the brakes. Something's going to happen in one of those. But I will say though, to your point later on the schedule, how things can open up, right, because like, you know, we don't really know what South Carolina is going to be Vanderbilt are going to be playing a true freshman at quarterback. I know Jerry Curtis was awesome, but still it's a true freshman at quarterback. And then for the Florida is you roll the D. What are they going to be? I don't know. I think they could be awesome. I really like John Sumrall. I thought he made a good coordinator. But like there's, there's a lot of like Tennessee this year. Dave, what do you think Tennessee is going to do this year?

Cousin Shane

I.

David Nuno

Okay. I'm glad you asked me.

Nick Roush

Yeah.

David Nuno

Because I don't expect them to do anything. But when I say that, like they're 8 and 4ish level team.

Nick Roush

Yeah.

David Nuno

And everybody who lives in the state of Tennessee keeps telling me they might be a playoff team. And they're not even sometimes they're not insiders. They're just guys that live there. Like, hey, man, this is what Hypo does. He. You know. So what do you think about Tennessee?

Unidentified Guest

They.

Nick Roush

I think they have the most boom or bust potential because they can't, you know, getting to Sean Bishop back. They do run the ball. That is the one thing that Hypol said yesterday and he's correct about they don't get enough credit for how they run the ball.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

They're like one of this quarterback stinks.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

Like they're, they, they, they lost a lot from that defense. Is Jim Knowles going to work? I mean, they spent, they invested so much money, you know, I mean, in the strength coach.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

The highest paid strength coach in the country. Like, what. What are we doing here? So I think they have the highest boom or bust potential. It just scares me if they, if they boom. Because I don't, I don't, I don't like living in a world where Tennessee's boom.

David Nuno

I do want to ask you about Cutter Bowley. I know he's at Arizona State now. What can A and M expect from him when they see him?

Nick Roush

Week three, a lot of boom or bust.

David Nuno

Okay, same conversation.

Nick Roush

Well, because Bowie's a guy who. He does. I mean, he can really throw the ball down the field and vert.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

He plays without any fear. He got thrown into the game. His first SEC action was at Texas.

David Nuno

That's right.

Nick Roush

You know, and he, I mean, he played well in that game. He didn't get him into the end zone. But after the game, McConaughey went up to him and said, you're all right, kid. You know, so like. But he is. He's going to be overly aggressive. And I think that's where. When you have that experience secondary like you do in College Station, that's where there's. There's some turnover potential there. And I think that's how you can get to him when he, you know, he has a year under his belt, but he's new system, new offense, new place. I think his. His aggressiveness could bite him in the butt, but also maybe take the top off for a couple explosive plays.

David Nuno

So what do we think is a really good year for Kentucky in year one of the Will Stein era?

Nick Roush

The crazy part is that I think Kentucky has the talent to be in the mix in all of these games. I mean, you go through the gamut. There's a lot of teams with similar question marks. And that confidence that you saw yesterday from Willstein, like, it's not just lip service. This guy, he. He's been a part of College Football Playoff teams. He knows what it takes. He has a roster to do it. But there are going to be growing pains.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

So ultimately, they could be 8 and 4. They could be 4 and 8. They're probably going to land somewhere in between. The question is, which one of these big dogs can you knock off?

David Nuno

Yeah.

Nick Roush

Can you go to Neyland Stadium and win at Tennessee? Can you keep beating Florida? Can you finally knock off Beamer? Beamers had their number in recent years. I think their big win is in week two against Alabama. Kaylin Deborah, a little shaky whenever he takes field for the first time when he has to go away from home, lead the Friendly Confines. They can't run the ball well. They're breaking a new starting quarterback. There's not going to be a lot of tape out on what Will Stein wants to do, what Jay Bateman wants to do. I think if they can get that big win, it will buy up enough goodwill that, you know, maybe the record isn't exactly what you want, but it'll get fans fired up to see what the potential can be for Will Stein in Kentucky.

David Nuno

All right, let's play that scenario for a second. They do that.

Nick Roush

Yep.

David Nuno

Not what happens in the A and M game, but what kind of confidence does that give them going into Kyle Field after, hey, we just beat a Goliath in this conference. Let's go on the road and do it again.

Nick Roush

Especially when you've got a guy who's been on that sideline. And not just one. I mean, Bateman brought a couple of guys with him from A and M that would be through the roof. Now, it's one thing to have the confidence, and then you walk into that coliseum, and it's just a wall of sound and humans. So it'll be different. It'll be the first time away from home. But if you can, you can beat Alabama if you can slay that dragon. You know, that's not Nick Saban's Alabama, but the logo.

David Nuno

The logo's the logo.

Nick Roush

Exactly. You know, so I, that's why, that's why this SEC season with the nine games, it's so much fun.

David Nuno

It is fun.

Nick Roush

This is what, this is why you, why we do this. Yeah.

David Nuno

Unless your team loses that ninth game, then you're like, ah, darn it.

Nick Roush

Exactly, Exactly.

David Nuno

Appreciate your time, brother.

Nick Roush

It's always fun.

David Nuno

David, Nick Ross here on Tech Sax Live.

Nick Roush

Thanks, guys.

David Nuno

We will hit a break and when we come back on Tech SAGS Live, we will probably run something as I'm trying to tap dance and figure out the next step. Well, Billy will be rejoining us at 10:35. Right now we're talking about heritage films. They make documentary films. So I'm looking right in front of me, Mr. College Football. Tony Barnhart's right in front of me, Right. Could you imagine a freak? I mean, he could probably have Netflix do his, but Chance McClain could tell his story, his whole biography, right? The whole thing done in a Netflix style documentary forum about all his time covering college football and the SEC and traveling all around and all the stories from behind the scenes, the dinners, the drinks, you name it. That's the beauty of a heritage film. They're just storytellers. And they'll tell your story, your family business story, your family ranch story. They want to tell your story. And Chance McLean is the guy who runs the show. But not only does he run the show, he does it from a ridiculous level. He's artistic, he is a storyteller, he's funny, he's serious, he's. He does it all. Check out the website, YourHeritageFilm.com that is YourHeritageFilm.com. check them out.

Unidentified Host/Producer

Make sure to get the podcast of Texags Live, the Louis Bellina show, or Chip Howard sports Talk daily at zone1150.com and everywhere you get your podcast.

David Nuno

And we're back. It is Tech Sags Live. He's a rusher.

Unidentified Guest

Sorry, sorry to interrupt you.

David Nuno

It's okay. He's next. Average. I'm David Duno. Kate. I was trying to give you enough time to queue up one of our interviews because as we wait for Billy Lucci to join us at around 10:35 to rejoin us, I should Say, I wanted this to have time to listen to Cousin Shane. So. Cousin Shane. So I talked a little bit about it with SEC Mike. Let me just kind of set the. The. The tone for you, right? By the way, this SEC Media Days coverage is brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. Shout out to our QB1. Anyway, cousin Shane, on that SEC podcast, I don't know what was it? Like, a week ago he said that, you know, last week they asked, like, what could be a worst case scenario. Somehow it came up. He said, a M is barely bowl eligible. I was good at sec.

Unidentified Guest

Pretty good.

David Nuno

Yeah. I just changed into SEC Shane. Uncle Shane, as Olin calls him Uncle Shane. But. And he says, you know, maybe barely bowl eligible, but win seven games. And, you know, I pressed him a little bit on it and say, look, this is. That's the worst case scenario. I think they're around this area. Anyway, that's the setup for cousin Shane, who for a moment forgot my name. It's okay. I forgot his too, because I called him SEC Shane. Here's the interview with our cousin, El Primo. Welcome back into our SEC Media Day coverage, brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. I'm David Nuno here on Tech SAGS Live, and my buddy, Cousin Shane. You remember my name is David Nuno, right?

Cousin Shane

Yes, absolutely.

David Nuno

You know, I gotta bring it up on air. We got a lot of stuff to talk about. I know that feeling because, like, there's people, you know, but in the moment, you're like, God bless. Like, there was somebody I, like, know really well the other day. I'm like, why isn't my recall there?

Cousin Shane

I went through, like 10 conversations in my head trying to get it, you know? But it just. The older I get, the more of those kind of floating moments I have. I like to call them.

David Nuno

Wait, you're like, 34? No, no, no.

Cousin Shane

Just turned 44.

David Nuno

Congratulations, brother. Congratulations. So the other thing I wanted to bring up was my brain fart. Yeah, you go. Because I'm doing a short with you. And you're like, all right, I want you to say your name and your outfit and your expectation, whatever the question was, right? And I was like, you want to know what I'm wearing, bro? Vera Wang? Like, you weren't asking that.

Cousin Shane

No, I was not. I was not. But I. I do. I did reword that conversation for people later.

David Nuno

Okay?

Cousin Shane

Like, you know what?

David Nuno

I'll fit.

Cousin Shane

Yes, yes, that is exactly right.

David Nuno

I did. Look, okay, I. I am wearing Indochino with a little Gua Libra right there. So There you go.

Cousin Shane

Fancy. Yeah, my, I'm strictly dxl. You know, when you get my sizes, you're kind of limited.

David Nuno

You said you've lost a bunch of weight.

Unidentified Host/Producer

You look great.

Cousin Shane

I'm getting there. I'm getting there. I would imagine if it happens that I can get down to your level. I, I would imagine my closet would double and so just because I would buy outfits I could, you know, something without, you know, spandex in it would be great.

David Nuno

All right, so.

Unidentified Host/Producer

Yes.

David Nuno

Let me see if I remember the talking point correctly. Yeah, you're not very high on A and M. Like. Well, not like Mike high on A. You could be right. There's some questions you need.

Cousin Shane

Here's the thing about Texas A and M. I, I have always been in the Aggie camp. In fact, it's a, it's a love hate relationship and sometimes even when I'm out, they eventually they suck me back in, I'm on the wagon and then they drop something. And so it is definitely a seesaw relationship. And most AGs are probably happy that I'm kind of out on them and, and I should specify why I'm out. I think there are going to be some, there is going to be some growing pains with a non game SEC schedule and it's not just Texas A and M, but I feel like looking at your schedule in July that this is a tough gauntlet that we're going to have to try to navigate. You know what I'm saying? So to sit here and say, oh, we're going to go 10 and 2 and back to the playoffs. I feel like there's going to be several teams out there that are sitting at that nine, three that are saying hey, this is why we should get in. So I feel like that's for me is kind of that camp at A and M. They're going to be a bubble team that needs to have some stuff go their right way. But unfortunately with the schedule the way you guys have that, that, that November is rough.

David Nuno

So I don't think Aggie fans would disagree with you. We all agree with all that.

Cousin Shane

Yeah.

David Nuno

Now what does that mean? Does that mean nine and three? Does that mean eight and four? But I think what you said initially and that's a worst case scenario, was barely bowl eligible, maybe winning seven games. And I can see that. And the way I see that is if they don't answer some of these questions, Offensive line, defensive line.

Cousin Shane

Yes.

David Nuno

But if they do answer the offensive line and what that means. Top eight in the sec, let's say upper half of the sec. Yeah. Then I think what is the floor for A and M? And in that world, I think the floor, if the offensive line is pretty good to really good is. I would say the floor in that world is 8 and 4.

Cousin Shane

Absolutely. And letting Marcel Cook.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Cousin Shane

I mean, we were. I was talking to Billy earlier. I said, listen, Notre Dame, South Carolina, backs against the wall. Marcel Reed came to play, they let him loose. And I felt like when he did, and at times I can get it, he gets in trouble, but he's just such an athlete that I feel like he's. He should be the captain. He's the one that determines the ceiling of this football team. So with this new coordinator, let him play a little bit. That's what I'd like to see. I feel like Texas was very aggressive, especially with the wide receiver room, you know, and if they can get that acclimated, man, this could be a dangerous, potent offense. I'm not worried about the defense. I know a lot of people go to that, but me, I feel like this team to make another playoff run is as simple as Marcel Reed proving that he's the top five quarterback in this league.

David Nuno

All right, so let's play this game. Two different scenarios play out. What it says about A and M and their program, they go 8 and 4 this year. What does that say? They go 10 and 2. What does it say? Because I'm gonna start answering your question for you, which I shouldn't. I think Coach Elko gets a little grace on year three. If they go eight and four now, if they go seven, five. Okay, right. Because of the reload, the rebuild. But if they do 10 and two in year three after following up at 11 and one.

Cousin Shane

Yeah.

David Nuno

And then I'm like, dude, that's back to back here. So double digit. So take that and run with it.

Cousin Shane

You're at that, you're at that point. Right. You're at a fork in the road. Is Texas A and M a legit playoff contender every single year, or were they one hit wonder that's still working on, you know, A, B and C. And I feel like that's where we're at. If you can get back to the playoffs, then I think you just cemented that this program is considered one of the top programs in the country every year. It should always be in the top 10 when that AP poll rolls out. That's just what we're. Where we're at. However, you're also in the kind of the same boat that Josh Hoppel was a few years ago, right? You get to a. You get to a playoff, everybody loves you, and then you drop off. And now 10 people in Tennessee do. We got the right guy, you know, So I. It's, it's. The situation last year was fantastic and I don't want to take anything away from. But you have moved the bar. You have set a new standard, and if you don't hit it, they're going to want to blame somebody. And you pair that with a nine game SEC schedule, brutal. It's tough not saying it can't happen because one team is going to win, one team's going to lose. And. And if he's able to do that, stack more wins than losses, I think we may look back and say this may be one of the best, if not the best coach in the conference.

David Nuno

I don't have an insider perspective on Tennessee, but I think that's unfair for Hypo considering what happened with Nico and then this pass offseason with Joey Aguilar. I feel like when you got a moving target at quarterback and one of the times you don't find out till the spring who your quarterback's going to be, it's hard to expect 10 wins in the SEC.

Cousin Shane

No, I totally agree, but there's what, six other teams that are here this week that can make the argument that they deserve in the playoff. And I just feel like realistically, four will be there, so that means two are going to get left off. And there's probably some teams that just have false hope, you know, But I don't think Texas A and M. And I want to clarify. So the, the hot. It was a hot take.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Cousin Shane

You know, we had a.

David Nuno

And we do that and I said,

Cousin Shane

which is more likely to make a playoff or miss a bowl game? So I'm kind of picking a fork in the road. So if they're at 6, 7, you know, even 8, they're more likely to miss a bowl than make a playoff. So that's okay.

Unidentified Host/Producer

That makes sense.

David Nuno

A lot of hate mail, people coming after you.

Cousin Shane

No, actually, you guys are great compared to some other fan bases out there.

David Nuno

All right, so Texas and Georgia, they're considered the upper tier of that first, second tier in the sec. What are your question marks for both of those programs this year?

Cousin Shane

So that's Texas and Georgia.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Cousin Shane

Yeah. I honestly, Texas, for me, it's always like a. Like a grocery store. When I used, first job I ever had, I was a stalker. I'd go and I'd do the shelves and everything.

Unidentified Guest

Like that.

Cousin Shane

And he'd say, go get ready for aisle three or something. And all you do is you front it, right? The front looks great. Oh, man. You take a picture, but you move a couple of those cans and that's empty behind there. And my concern with Texas is there's a couple of areas where depth will be a problem. I mean, say what you want. I'd love for everybody to get through a season healthy. But we look at some of the teams that are winning national titles, they're doing it because they're older, they're doing it because they're deeper. And my concern with with Texas is that is now if they stay healthy, damn good football team, you know. Now on the other side, Georgia, returning a lot of talent, returning a lot of older veterans. You know, this is a defense that nobody's talking about. But dude, they're bringing 16 starters back, you know, on this football team. So. And gunners there. So if they can get their wide receiver room figured out, dude, Georgia. I cannot see why people are picking Texas over Georgia just because, you know, last two sec. The proof is there. You know, if you're playing roulette and it keeps hitting red, I'm not going to keep putting my money on black. I'm going to put it on red.

David Nuno

You know, Shane, I actually I read this last week and it caught me off guard. Of the 130 plus teams in Division 1 football, Texas, Ohio State, A and M, Georgia and others, when it came to the average age of their roster were amongst the bottom.

Cousin Shane

Yeah.

David Nuno

And it caught me off guard. And then you look at the top 15, 20 teams, age wise, there weren't really any contenders, which is, I think is opposite of what we've seen in the NIL era. Yet I still believe in those teams on the back half.

Cousin Shane

Yeah, it's crazy. I feel like you're always trying to get a leg up on the next season, right? What is working and it's totally evolving. But you're seeing more teams lately invest in their current roster, which I think that is the future. You know, this is your ride or die. Make recruiting important. Once you get them there, keep them there because then you can develop them. And that's what the NFL ultimately wants. They've been on record many a times talking about these kids coming out of college or just not prepared for that next level. You're going to start seeing programs take the opposite path. Those that embrace that, they're going to make a great run at it. So yeah, keep the kids at home. That's important.

David Nuno

All right, your answer may be A and M, but who from that upper tier do you think is going to have a big fall?

Cousin Shane

Well, I mean, I feel like A and M is definitely in the mix just because of the playoff, because again, you said it yourself, so I feel like that would be my knee jerk reaction. However, there's a couple of programs out there. I feel like Old Miss would be the biggest one if I had to

David Nuno

pick, especially with a new. Like, I know he was there last year with Big Golding, but it's still a new staff.

Cousin Shane

It is, and it is. And a lot of people go, well, Lacey's there. Well, Trinidad's there. Yeah. But there's a lot of other stuff that's not around on the defensive side, so. And a lot of that blame is going to be passed on. Pete, let's not sit here and act like Ole Miss didn't get a favorable schedule last year. They did.

David Nuno

Right.

Cousin Shane

And then when they hit tough ones, they. You know, I think everybody's excited about Georgia, but, you know, that's it. Right? You know, so I. I feel like Ole Miss would be the team.

David Nuno

Cousin Shane, I appreciate you. I got a friend who calls you Uncle Shane, but your cousin Shane to me, brother. Thank you.

Cousin Shane

I'm 44, though. You know, I'm getting.

David Nuno

Hey, you look 34.

Cousin Shane

Come on, appreciate. Well, it's, you know, it's big guys. We don't get a lot of wrinkles.

David Nuno

He's got a lot of makeup. It's amazing. Thank you, Shane.

Cousin Shane

Thank you.

Unidentified Host/Producer

The Money Machine. Back to School begins July 27th. Your chance to win 5K from the Zone and the Lou Selena Show.

David Nuno

Back to our SEC media day coverage brought to you by Paragon Financial Advisors. Billy Lucci's with us. I'm David Duno and Andy Staples of On three with us. What's up, man?

Andy Staples

I'm dressed like your financial advisor today, but.

David Nuno

Yeah, you are.

Andy Staples

Not my normal podcast wear. So I always feel bad when I come to this thing because the. The players are so nicely dressed and the coaches are so nicely dressed. So I figure I wear a suit and then I get on the show and I'm like, wait a second. I don't. I talk about college football for a living. I shouldn't be wearing a suit.

Unidentified Guest

But you always look good, so it's better than the alternative, which is. Would be like me.

Andy Staples

I used to be pretty sloppy, though. Like, it flip flops everywhere, and I can't do that anymore.

Unidentified Guest

Maybe split the difference. Yeah. But you might feel you look good

Andy Staples

you have, you have an aesthetic. That's what, that's what matters, a style.

David Nuno

There.

Andy Staples

I know.

Unidentified Guest

I just sent a picture to my stylist slash good friend Ashley. Shout out Ashley.

Andy Staples

I've met Ashley by the way. It boggles my mind. Well it doesn't boggle my mind that you have a status, but it is. She does good work.

Unidentified Guest

She does like this isn't good whether I'm wearing it right or not. It's a nice shirt.

Nick Roush

It's corduroy.

David Nuno

It's a quality shirt.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah.

Andy Staples

Yes. I was a fat kid. Corduroy makes me. It scares me a little bit because when you're fat and you have big thighs like corduroy pants can start a fire. So it's, it's, it's. You got to be a little careful.

Unidentified Guest

Corduroy pants are rough. When your mom would buy them. When you're in like elementary school, you're

David Nuno

like, no, well I'm wearing a black suit so it looks like I work here without a tie. I work here at the hotel or, or I'm your Mexican restaurant waiter. That means either one. It works for me.

Unidentified Guest

I didn't say it.

David Nuno

No, I did.

Andy Staples

I'm allowed to Sauces free.

David Nuno

Andy, who's a team you're watching for in September that will tell you who they really are.

Andy Staples

I think the Florida Auburn game is going to be really interesting. So two first year coaches, they play at Auburn. Florida's got a couple WAR warm up games beforehand. Auburn has to play Baylor right out of the gate. Yeah but like I don't know that Florida is going to know exactly who their quarterback is until the Auburn, until they get to the Auburn game. Like I would use FAU and Campbell to figure out whether it's going to be Aaron Filo or Tramell Jones Jr. And then put your best foot forward when you go to Jordan here. But those are, you know, because both those guys I feel like have made the right decisions since getting there but done it in a different way because Alex Goelish is bringing a lot of USF to Auburn. Johnson didn't bring a ton of Tulane to Florida because Billy Napier left behind a really good roster and he worked to retain most of what they had other than DJ Lagway of course. And I think that's fascinating to me because it's two different ways to build. They both may be effective but one may be more effective early. Like I would say probably favor goal ish in that situation because his Byron Brown, all those guys know exactly what, what he does and what they need to do like will they start faster because they know that stuff.

Unidentified Guest

Question along those lines. I'm gonna do it. Two parter. Speaking of Brown and speaking of goal ish and Sumrall outside of Lane Kiffin. Okay. Who's walking into, you know, a 40 million dollar and. And all the success of LSU football outside of him. Which of the new coaches do you think at season's end, let's just say finishes in the. Who. Who's the most likely to finish in the top 25 of the new coaches? That's like in the second part of that is who is a quarterback that most people don't have in that top say five or six in the league that you think could end up there? When we're talking about the best in the league at seasons in.

Andy Staples

Well, it's interesting because you didn't mention Wilson Stein.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, but I'm including him.

Andy Staples

And I don't know that Kentucky finishes in the top 25, but I think Will Stein makes Kentucky a lot better. And I'm, I've been impressed with what he's done initially because I, I thought when they fired Mark Stoops, because of the Texas A and M fans and in certain Texas A and M regions will appreciate this. When they fired Mark Stoops, they had to pay him a lot of money.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah.

Andy Staples

And I thought that they, you know, they didn't have the excuse that oh, we're, we sunk all this in a fire and Stoops. So we don't really have much for the roster. No. When they hired Stein they were like, listen, what do you need? You need an offensive line, Go buy a good offensive line. So they, you know, they went and got Lance Hurd from Tennessee, they got Baylor center like it. They went quick and found an experienced offensive Tiger Shabola from Ohio State. So I think they'll be good or at least better quick.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah.

Andy Staples

I would say just from a sheer roster talent standpoint that Florida is probably the one that would, would most likely wind up in the top 25. Because I remember last year talking to people who played Florida. I remember Mario Cristobal was like, those guys were awesome. Like the talent on the roster was awesome. They just not coach very well and they have a lot of that same talent there. And then Sumrall did go out and get some guys like Eric Singleton Jr. The receiver who was at Auburn last year had been in Georgia Tech. So I think they would probably be the most likely of that bunch to wind up in the top 25. But the one who I think might be able to change his program's fortunes. The most long term might be Stein.

Unidentified Guest

Funny you say that because I've, I've said, okay, LSU will have to me a better record. Same thing Florida.

Unidentified Host/Producer

Right.

Unidentified Guest

With Ball and those receivers and the defensive talent. But I said, I think by the end of the season we'll be talking about Will Stein having done the best job.

Andy Staples

Yeah.

Unidentified Guest

Of the first year.

Andy Staples

Yeah. And so Kenny Menchee might be that guy. And it's such a good, weird dynamic because when you have a quarterback competition and somebody wins and somebody loses, the. The coaches always say, oh, it's close.

Unidentified Advertiser/Voiceover

It was close.

Andy Staples

Sometimes it wasn't, sometimes it wasn't. I believe the Notre Dame coaches when they say that C.J. car, Kenny Menchie competition was very close.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah. I think they're telling the truth following that. Really close, of course.

Andy Staples

Yeah.

Nick Roush

Because.

Andy Staples

Yeah, because they play them early. But I believe them when they say that. I, I think that that was true and that if he got beat out by C.J. carr, well, there's no shame in that. C.J. carr might be one of the best quarterbacks in the country by the end of the season. So I think he could potentially come in. And if you look, it's interesting because that was who Nebraska targeted first and then Kentucky had to pay him to get him to come. So that one, that one's going to be a fun one. Byron Brown, though, I do think he's that guy. If you look at what he did at usf. USF is not a place that had been easy to win at. And Byron Brown is like throwing for 3000 yards and running for, for 1100 yards and running for a bunch of touchdowns. And he makes you be very honest on defense. He very much limits what you can do against him defensively because he's scary in the open field when he runs.

David Nuno

I want to ask you a similar question, but with the established coaches who this year maybe changes his profile, takes a step up potentially, or maybe even a step back.

Andy Staples

Well, Beamer has to. I mean, Beamer's got to have a turnaround year or that might be it for him. And you know, it's interesting because you go back to 24, they start 2 and 3 and they did that SEC documentary and he was very open for that. And during that stretch he's talking about, hey, I might get fired this year. And then they win their last 70, he gets an extension, he gets a raise, and then they go 4 and 8, like that's the problem. South Carolina is a Kind of a roller coaster situation, but he's got to turn it around because if they're, if they're 5 and 7, if they're 6 and 6, that's probably not going to be good enough. So he definitely has to do something different. Everybody else, I think, is in a pretty good place. They're either new or they've done, you know, what they need to. Kaylan DeBoer is probably the most interesting one because there's nothing that's going to happen to him. They're not going to be bad. They might be, you know, below Alabama standards, but they're not going to be bad. And you just paid him to keep him from going to Michigan. So you're not going, you're not doing anything with him unless it's an absolute disaster. And I don't think that's what's going to happen.

Unidentified Guest

No, I'm question about A and M. I'm trying to think of a. Just tell me, Andy. And I know you follow and have always followed A and M very closely since really. Since you and I became friends. This is back in 2010.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Unidentified Guest

First. The first flirtation with the Big 12

Andy Staples

missile crisis, part one.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, exactly. So. So if Texas A and M finds its way back into the playoff this year.

Andy Staples

Yep.

Unidentified Guest

What, when we're looking back on it, what happened? How'd they get there?

Andy Staples

I think they, they're very similar last year. Great defense, good up front, could run the ball. You know, they need, they need to evolve a little bit in the passing game, but, you know, they should be able. They did that last year.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, they took a big point.

Andy Staples

Yeah. So I, I think that's. That's probably it. And you know, Marcel is one of those guys that, from you talk to people, he's. He can deal a little bit impulsive and that's. That can be good or bad depending on. So if they could cut down on like first half of the South Carolina game type impulsiveness and have a little more of second half of the South Carolina game type impulsiveness, for sure. And then. And that's what's going to happen. And I, I'm fascinated to see. Because I saw Colin Klein at Big 12 me days and obviously he was a big part of what, you know, developing. Marcel Reed and Holman Wiggins got to come in and call that offense and figure out how that's going to work. So I think that they're going to be a mystery offensively a little bit early. I don't think they're going to Try to do a whole lot different though. I think it's just a matter of how much has Marcel grown because there were games last year where he looked like he could take them to a national championship and then there were games where he looked like he, he could cost you.

Unidentified Guest

I think a lot of people forget that because of the last two games. And a lot, there's a lot of forgetting who Colin Simmons is and Dylan Stewart and Bane and Mazador and really the Miami and Texas defenses. But what I'll tell you, you hit on to me, the first thing you said they couldn't run the ball against Texas or Miami and South Carolina for that matter. And that's in the second half. They just said Marcel and you receivers go in it. Yeah, they couldn't run the ball. And to me that is the key.

Andy Staples

If this thing is nobody could run the ball on those guys except for whatever reason Florida ran the ball in Texas. I have no idea how that happened.

Unidentified Guest

That was crazy.

Andy Staples

But. But yeah, nobody else all year could run the ball on it on either of those guys.

Cousin Shane

Teams.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah. So if to me, if, if A and M can run the football next year and you mentioned the O line and the run game. I think that's the whole key because I do think Marcel will take whether it's a giant step or just a noticeable. I think he takes another step forward much like we were talking about mater this morning. And I think that's enough to replicate exactly what you said like to where the team wins games.

Andy Staples

The question is, I don't, I don't know that it makes them significantly better than they were last year. But the thing is if you think about it, they're. They're in a nip and tuck just slugfest with Miami. If they win that game, they might have won the next game too. Like them against Ohio State would have been a pretty interesting matchup and it probably would have been another really low scoring game. But Ohio State didn't run the ball really well at all last year and Texas A and M probably would have been able to defend them.

Unidentified Guest

I thought it was a decent matchup because of that they didn't run the ball like they obviously like they did in the national championship the year before. And I thought that lended itself to some down and distance situations where Cassius Howell knows guys could get after I do.

Andy Staples

It would have probably been a very similar game to the Indiana Ohio State Big Ten championship or to the Miami A and M game.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, I thought so. That's interesting. And you would have Been playing in Dallas in the Cotton Ball bowl in a game that I think A M fans would have been waiting.

Andy Staples

They would have been pretty excited about that. Yeah.

David Nuno

Before we let you go, I came into this week hearing that there was no chance that the Protect College Sports act was going to go through this

Andy Staples

and that there's still no chance. Okay.

David Nuno

Because I feel like some of the talking points have changed over the last couple days.

Andy Staples

You mean the politicians who would like the thing to pass have said that things that suggest it'll pass?

David Nuno

Yeah, yeah.

Andy Staples

It's when you, when you pull an okie doke on the Big Ten in the SEC with the original bill and then you spend the next few weeks trying to apologize with edits to it, it's a bad place to start. You've basically slit your wrist from the start.

David Nuno

But if they make those changes, still

Andy Staples

everybody else won't want it.

David Nuno

Right? So yeah, that's the problem.

Andy Staples

There's two constituencies that. So the bill was written in a way to the parties that would benefit the most would be like Big 12 and ACC schools. Because it would. It would keep the Big 10 in the SEC from poaching from those leagues and it would. And then they had the TV rights pooling situation where it would allow them to be tied in contractually with the Big Ten in the sec even though Big Ten and SEC even still make more money. Well, the Big Ten, the SEC don't want to give it the power either. They like the money, but they also like the power. So there's no incentive for them to do that. And then when you're where you're basically told by two senators, including one from your own state like it. You know Ted Cruz, that's an SEC state.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Andy Staples

And they say, well this. We're going to make sure that the SEC and the big Big Ten don't form super league. Okay. They're declaring war on you basically. So you're not going to. You're not going to be amenable to most of what they have to say. And even if they try to change it, there's not much they can do because the needle they have to thread is, well, Cody Campbell wants to Texas Tech in this club.

David Nuno

Right.

Andy Staples

This is written in a way to keep Texas Tech in the club.

David Nuno

Yeah.

Andy Staples

If you piss off Cody Campbell, then you've got another problem if you're them. So like that's the problem is, is I don't know that they can ever satisfy both constituencies there any.

David Nuno

We appreciate it, man. Thank you very much. Appreciate you guys Andy Staples on three, as always. All right, let's talk about the association of Former Students. If you haven't checked out the latest issue of the Texas Aggie magazine and the association of Former Former Students, the May June issue back in the day was about the Aggie Spirits and includes all things Aggie wine, beer, meads and spirits and more. The team has searched far and wide for Aggie owned businesses, breweries and wineries across the state. Normally, the Texas Aggie magazine is available only to Century Club members, but this issue is available to everyone. To read the issue and explore giving and receiving future issues, please visit TX AG Texas Aggie. That is right. That is TX ag. Texas Aggie. Again. Don't miss the special Aggie Spirits issue of the Texas Aggie and explore all things Aggie wine and beer. TX Ag texasaggie.

Unidentified Host/Producer

Start your Sunday mornings with the best week ever from ESPN Radio Radio. Listening from 6 to 9 on the Zone, 11:50am and 93.7 FM.

David Nuno

Final segment of the program here on Tech Sags Live. And as a reminder, that's brought to you by Double Days. But right now, caller number Twitch, 979693 1150. Why'd I use the accent? We're gonna 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 Aguiland since 1984 with your favorite world famous pepperoni rolls. And of course, that pizza is amazing right now. Go by and you'll check it out. You will love it. It is Double Daves. All right. So Nick, I am going to read a text.

Andy Staples

Okay.

David Nuno

Not a bad text.

Nick Roush

Okay.

David Nuno

But I just, I just want us for a moment to chew on, if you will.

Unidentified Guest

Okay.

David Nuno

And here it is. It is from our buddy daniel on the YouTube page, lol @nuno telling Nick Roush that Jay Bateman was a good coach for A and M. I thought Jay was a good coach for A and M. Okay. I don't think he, he was great. Okay. Like, but I don't think he was bad either. Yeah, okay. Like for instance, DJ Durkin. I thought he had one good year, two bad years.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, fair.

David Nuno

I thought Jay had two good years solid. And when we point, think like, it's still, yes, Mike El took over the defense, basically, but it's still Mike El's defense.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, yeah.

David Nuno

I thought they were good. I understand that it wasn't the results that we wanted and it ended up working out in A and M's favor because I think they like, the direction they're going, moving forward. But I thought he was a good coach. Definitely not on the great. We've had some. Some stinkers.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

David Nuno

Like, Adagio at one point, was a really good offensive line coach. Back in the day, was not very good for A M. I would say he would be on the average to severely below average Spectrum.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah. Same thing with Bobby Petrino.

David Nuno

But again, it was fine.

Unidentified Guest

But how much did he actually get to, you know, call plays and whatnot?

David Nuno

I'm glad you say that, because there were certain games, I'm like, oh, Bobby Petrino's calling the plays this week.

Unidentified Guest

You can tell.

David Nuno

Yeah. And then there were other games. I'm like, oh, Jimbo's calling the plays again. That's what it felt like. You'd watch it like, wait, we. We weren't doing this at all last week. What is this?

Unidentified Guest

Definitely.

David Nuno

So that's. And I can't. Excuse me for using the term that people use with kids. I can't poo poo on a team that went 11 and 2. And yes, they went 8 and 4 in year one, but they were. Again, they were in the conversation for the SEC Championship game. Entering that last game, don't lose to Auburn. You're there. Don't lose Texas, you're there. Right. Like. And especially don't lose to Auburn. So while I know that, I will tell you this. Defense has had some issues stopping big plays for two years.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah.

David Nuno

Definitely year one of the Mike Elko era. And with Jay Bateman, big plays were happening more in the secondary. Right. They were giving up the big pass plays. Year two was those runs, those backbreaking runs that, you know, you were able to corral and. But if you remember, I think it was the first half. Excuse me, the second half in the Texas game, they had that big run, like, on a third down, they got it, like, 20 yards that Trey Wisner did. That, like, kind of got them going. So that. That happened all year long from the first game through the last game.

Nick Roush

Yeah.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah. With that. One thing I know is Elko has proven he's pretty good at identifying that.

David Nuno

It.

Unidentified Guest

You know, it's like, he's not going to be blind to that issue. He'll address it. And I'm sure Hemphill, Lyle Hemphill taking over as DC Will definitely have some thoughts on how he can address that issue.

David Nuno

All right, so tomorrow on the show, I don't know, but I do know on the podium, Texas A and M hits the podium.

Unidentified Guest

We'll talk to Cole public later today.

David Nuno

Yeah, okay. We'll run that tomorrow. What else?

Unidentified Guest

Murray? Murray, Pete said we'll stop by tomorrow, so.

David Nuno

Oh, it's gonna be a great show then.

Unidentified Guest

Yeah, we'll have Jordan Rogers tomorrow afternoon, so that might run on Thursday. All kinds of good stuff.

David Nuno

All right, we much more thank you to Paragon Financial Advisors. We'll talk to you guys on Wednesday.

Unidentified Advertiser/Voiceover

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