10.2: Sleeping Giant - Hour 1

using company vehicles until I get my car back. And you know, there's certain vehicles that are I mean, I don't know if they're assigned to certain people, but you know, if you are going to a remote for AMZ or for KSR or for HAS, like I guess anybody who is in charge of those productions, those remotes, you know they have, They've got a vehicle they take each time, so you know, one day this one who's needed. So all right, I'll take the gep, all right, I'll take

the Durango. I'll take the I don't even know what it is that I'm driving right now. It's a Dodge something, but it said seventy five on the thermostat, and I don't know if that's accurate or not, but I believe it because seventy five's no not it's actually some would say perfect. But you're throwing that breeze. We got going on today, and it's a very, very beautiful day, so enjoy it, everybody. As I mentioned, we are fueled by

Thornton's I think I mentioned that. I know you know that, but I'm supposed to say it, and I love saying it. I say it a lot. You guys know it, and you'll hear me say it many times throughout I don't know, hopefully forever. Thornton's been a big time partner of ours for quite some time and I don't see that changing anytime soon. As I told you guys a few weeks ago, they re upped with us for another year. So that means we're doing something right, and that means you guys

are doing something right. You're helping me because them seeing value and what we're doing here means that you guys are showing some love too, so keep that up. Certainly appreciate it. If you've not signed up to become a member of the Refreshing Awards program, you should because you'll save money at the gas pump and you'll benefit from it in a variety of ways. The Frequency club, the

giveaways they have throughout the year. So Refreshing Awards dot Com is the website, and that'll get you to where you can download the app, whether you have an Android or an iPhone, and you'll be good to go. All right, So, not a great game this week in college football. Like I'm looking here at the top ten matchups courtesy I think this is from This is a graphic that I saved. I think it came from either twenty four to seven Sports or maybe on three, and they're ranking the biggest

matchups of the week. And I have a you know, if Missouri and Texas A and M is the best matchup of the week, I mean, isn't that pretty telling? No offense to the SEC. But like, you know, A and M. They're still ranked, but you know, I don't think they've had a game where you can really figure out if they're any good or not Missouri, you could say the same exact thing. Boston College, by the way,

should have beat Missouri. It's kind of an under talked about game that you know, was really a close one that Boston College. I shouldn't say they should have won, but they were right there with the ball with a chance to score and win it, and they came up short. So I have no clue what's gonna happen. But that's not a game that I think a lot of people are juiced about. Not a ranked matchup this week meeting.

There's no ranked teams playing each other. So to see Louisville and SMU as the fifth best matchup here, I mean, I think that's pretty telling one as far as what the week looks like for college football. And I don't want to overdo it. But I also think, like you know, for only the program involved in the game, Louisville and SMU, and I guess those watching the ACC race, I mean maybe they know it. I'm sure nobody else knows or cares.

But it's a big game and I don't want to overdo it because you know, I don't want to say seasons on the line here, but if in fact the goal was to get back to Charlotte. A loss here doesn't make that impossible, but it makes it, you know, pretty unlikely. And it may be unlikely right now because, as we discussed yesterday, the way the schedule sets up, I mean, you gotta win this. You gotta win the games you're supposed to win, and you got to split

with Miami and Clemson. A lot easier said than done. And I'm sure SMU is looking at this as I was gonna say, the biggest game since they've been in the ACC. I'm pretty sure this is what their second ACC game. But think about it, like, right now, there are four teams that I think people realistically think could find their way to the ACC championship game in Charlotte. The obvious two are Miami and Clemson. After that, it's

Louisville and then SMU. But not because SMU is viewed as this team that's gonna run through the league because they're elite. Their schedule, this is the last ranked opponent that SMU is gonna play. I mean, I was I

was kind of speechless yesterday on the show. I don't know if it was the four o'clock hour or the five o'clock hour, I don't remember, but I kind of stopped in my tracks when somebody on the text line kind of asked, you know, hey, you know, if we want to get to the AEC Championship game, you know you gotta split those two games.

a very very manageable schedule. They got the gift that Louisville got last year, but then again they kind of didn't because last year Louisville they didn't have to play Miami or they'd have to play North Carolina, Florida State or Clemson. And in the end, only one of those teams ended up being really good, which is Florida State.

But SMU got Florida State. They just got them, and nobody knew they were going to be as bad as they are, so like they got past that one if they get past Louisville at that point, they can put it on cruise control. Not to say that they won't slip up, because I'm not really sure how good they are, but they're playing well now, and like this is a huge like in early October, they can, they can potentially, and I don't think they're going to. I think Louisville

will win their touchdown favorites for a reason. But like if you're SMU, you look at this, it's like, Okay, we get this done and then we just stay focused and you know, try not to screw up, and we should find ourselves in Charlotte, which is crazy, but that's that's where we are. So Duke, they're undefeated, but like I don't know if anybody really thinks Duke's good. I mean, who's Duke's best win? Maybe Northwestern, I guess, I guess North Carolina, but like North Carolina is terrible this year.

I mean, it's a big win for them because of the rivalry. But you know, so this game actually has uh you know, and here's the thing. Louisville could beat SMU and then SMU could win out when it comes to conference games. But if Louisville loses to both Clemson and Miami, which again they're gonna be underdogs. I mean, SMU is gonna have the have the spot ahead of you.

had himself a day and then Isaac Brown. You know, not to say I predicted it, but I kind of did predict it when it comes to the running back position, that true freshman, don't be surprised if you get to I don't know, week three, week four, week five, and he's the guy that is the Folt is the ball carrier, right, Like he's not going to get every carry, but he's going to be the main piece and he should be and I think he will be, which makes it even more puzzling as to why they tried to go outside

with Donald Cheney, which that's not really his strength at all.

Before then. But if that presents itself, I mean that that'd be awesome. So here in Rick Bose it should WDRB did a write up here and I'll just read you the the headline here at WDRB ACC Power Rankings why SMU is a must win for Louisville and he lays out sort of what what I just discussed when it comes to the schedules for both teams. So Clemson to Miami will not play each other unless it's in

the AEC championship game. So if you just go off of the rankings right now, Clemson has one remaining game against a ranked opponent. Miami has one remaining game against a ranked opponent. You know that opponent is it's Louisville. So the schedule favors Clemson and Miami me because you know, not only I mean that's that's their toughest game left on the regular in the regular season. Now, Clemson will play South Carolina at the end of the year, but

that will have no impact on the ACC standings. So Louisville's gonna have to get through the best two teams in the league. A home lost against SMU is gonna make it to where one. You might at that point, you're gonna have to get better, right if you know, if you lose SMU, I would say, then you're probably gonna have to improve substantially, maybe if you're gonna be able to get past one of those other teams. Anything can happen on any given Saturday, as they say, but

this is a huge game, kind of low key. It feels weird because you know it's SMU. But it's a big game, no doubt. So you slip up here, you're gonna need to one improve and then just kind of bank on an unexpected result happening. And look, those happen more often than not. Those happen. Now how many of them I don't know. And again an unexpected result like there could be some shake up, some prise, some surprises in the ACC, but it may not be an upset that really helps you when it comes to your your

your chase to finish in the top two. So you can find yourself in Charlotte. So big game, no doubt, and we will talk about SMU. Yeah, we just got the RSVP. Billy and Body is a which a hell of a name. Billy and Body.

for Louisville on Saturday. But like, I'm not gonna act like college football is going to be just, you know, fowming at the mouth waiting for these two teams to kick it off, because I know that's not the case.

game at Cardinal Stadium. I would not be shocked if this is one of the higher rated games for Louisville this year, probably top three. I mean it kind of sounds like a stretch when you play Clemson and you play who is the Clemson and Miami. You know, maybe that changes, but it'll depend on where where the game is slotted and who you're competing against and Notre Dame

was a big game. But like for rating, I'm talking ratings like only Peacock subscribers watch that game, So that won't come close to what you get when you're just on ESPN.

you should be able to take care of business. By the way, just a random stat that they're at you SMU the most penalized team in the ACC, So let's make sure we don't have more penalties than they do. Have you noticed John, I say we a lot now

I started. I didn't used to do that. I used to clearly, I'm never I've never acted like I'm not a big fan, and I think on this show and you know, over the years, like people can tell from an emotional standpoint that, like, you know, I'm impacted by winning and losing because I'm a fan like anybody else. But I've always felt like it was unprofessional as a broadcaster to say we, And I.

for the team. It'd be problematic if they were lied on me for anything.

never been a problem for SMU. I mean, they were paying for players back then and they were the first college program. And keep in mind this is not because they've got like money from a big time lucrative TV deal SMU. I'm pretty sure joined the league knowing, Hey, we don't we don't need we don't need any any money upfront, like maybe we'll start getting our revenue share. We'll do that five years down the line.

it's the pony something. But they have a collective and I only know this because Sam Williamson, former little basketball player, transferred there have it.

You've got to pay for a car, you have to pay for where you live, you have to pay to eat, you have to pay for health care. Like you also get your your cost of some kind of a stipend that like student athletes have been getting long before nil. Like, you're doing great, stack that money up when you leave college. I mean a little spending money here and there to

have some fun. But if you save the rest of it, because you don't have to pay to live anywhere, you're going to enter the working world as a non professional athlete with a big chunk of savings and a college degree that you didn't pay for.

I had a buddy of mine who he works. He works at a law firm and one of their attorneys is from He's he is an Smulum he's lived here for I don't know, like five ten years or something like that, and he claims they've got like a lot of people coming like fans, which you know, I don't know. I mean that may not be interesting to you, but like Louisville usually does not. I mean, I'm trying to think of games where you see the most fans from

the other side when they come to Louisville. Like Notre Dame is clearly one that outside of Kentucky, of course, but Notre Dame stands out. But like I don't a lot of those people are Catholics in Louisville. Bet are Kentucky fans that just you know, wear something Notre Dame to, you know, go and cheer against Louisville. But like in the ACC Clemson travels decent, but like it's not overwhelming. Maybe we learn SMUs got an army out there. We'll see, all right, if you guys would have joined us on

the show today. You can five oh two five seven one seventy nine hundred is the number if you want to give us the call. Phone lines are open. You can also text in on the LLEN then Federal Credit Union text line five oh two six five read zero seven ninety. We got a lot to get to. A

very busy show today. We'll talk more realignment, not because like you care what's going on in the Mountain West or in the new PAC twelve basically the Mountain West plus, but just some of the decisions made by the schools that have decided to stay where they are, Like I'm so curious to see and maybe we never will find out, like why would you not take advantage of the opportunity, Why would you not leave the Sun Belt? Why would you not leave Conference USA. It's a real head scratcher.

So we'll get to that. Also talk about Louisville Live a little bit more because obviously it's just a couple of days away, and we now know who's going to be participating in the dunk contest, and we also know of a giveaway for those that are going to be in attendance. So I don't know if this is going to be a big incentive for you to make sure you're there. But I'll tell you what it is on the other side and you can decide for yourself. It's

Coffee and Company. We are fueled by Thornton's Nick Coffee on Alden with you until six o'clock, So hang out right here with us on Sports Talk seven ninety. So there's not any details as far as how many they're given away, or really if you need to do anything to get them. However, the u of L men's basketball twitter account did post that I'll read it directly from their Twitter account, the giveaway everyone has been waiting for.

Grab them at Louisville Live on Friday, and then they've got a buy tickets link and it shows a video of all the players in front of the Young Center before their photo op they were doing I guess, like, you know, just doing promotional stuff for the event coming up on Friday, and I guess they showed all the players the Pat Kelsey glasses that he wears, you know, those thick black rim glasses, and they all put them

on and we're pretty hyped. But the picture here shows on one side of the glasses, it says Louisville on the other side, it's got Pat Kelsey's autographs, So I don't know how many they're given away, but I'm going with the family, and I know Moose is gonna want a pair. He's only four, he just turned four a few months ago, and he's I mean, Pat Kelsey hadn't coached a game, and he's he thinks he's the coolest guy in the world. He got to, you know, meet

him at the at the Bats game. And then of course, you know, I wasn't really talking Louisville hoops with my children the early part of their life, for you know, obvious reasons. My daughter, she was a baby whenever things were going pretty well. But like with Moose, you know, works out perfect. He's now at an age where he's really into the go cards. That's what he calls him, the go cards. We're going to where the go Cards

play on Friday, That's what he tells me. Uh and uh, he you know, he's I'm not gonna put pressure on Coach Kelsey, but like he's gonna be devastated if if you know, Louisville isn't good.

and I think it will. But Friday is your first chance to see all of these players in action in person.

a lot of people didn't get to go. And two people reached out kind of saying the same thing yesterday on the text line after I mentioned that, like there's going to be legitimate Louisville fans that like their week is impacted by what happens during basketball season with with Louisville, and yet there they don't know anybody on the team, Like they can give you a few names, but like they're not every day into this, like we are, And two people were like, I'm so glad you said that,

because like the starting five could walk into my house and I wouldn't know they are. So you know, usually this and look, this is this is really just a party. This is a tip off of it to let everybody know basketball season is around the corner. I mean, for the program itself, it's it's a chance to really show recruits what you can do. Really, you know, make it a big time event to where fans will think, Okay,

this atmosphere is great. It's not a real game. But man, I want to make sure I come back to some games. I want to make sure I get season tickets whenever I can. But you know, for fans, it's really you know, you have to worry about losing to Kentucky, Wesleyan or Leanne Rimes. You know, you're just watching the guys dunk and shoot three point, shoot three pointers, probably do some dancing.

But there are some people I'm thinking that are like, all right, I'm gonna take notes because they're gonna introduce every single player and I'm gonna make.

So different, two different texts that are kind of in the same ballpark that I want to get to. This one says Nick, why would any coach recruit players who quit on their team three games in the porlo doesn't open up until the end of the season. WTF, which that means what the f? And then this one says Nick, do you think we need to worry about anybody opting out who hasn't burned their year yet? Maybe Maurice Turner? Well,

I wasn't even gonna read that part. Then I just got to read in the teleprompter like Ron Burgundy have. I don't want anybody to think Maurice Turner may opt out. He's only played in two games, he's injured, and maybe he ends up being out longer. Than we anticipated, and he has to has to use a red shirt, but that doesn't mean that he would just look to leave.

played three games meeting teams. Some have played four, but maybe certain guys didn't get a lot of playing time. So therefore, if there's four games in and you've played one, you still got to you can still play two more before you have to think about, you know, backing out and burning your red shirt. So this, to me is another example of how we just got to realize this is a new world. This is completely different than what it once was. Players have the ability to look out

for themselves. They have more control than they've ever had, and it's it's different. So when you see guys that are going ahead and red shirting and essentially quitting. Like part of me says, I don't want to call it that, but like it is. I mean, you're not packing up and leaving, I would assume, because that would make it difficult for you to be able to academically maintain your status to where you could be eligible to transfer somewhere.

But I think if I was, if I was in the if I was in the shoes of one of these players and I knew I didn't like my role, didn't like how I was being utilized, just knew I was not gonna be there next year, I would choose to be upfront with my coach and tell him this is what I'm doing. Because if you don't have the stones to do that and just be up front and be direct with your coach and you know you're leaving

what you're gonna do. If he put he tries to put you in the game, you just say no. That's a bigger pr nightmare for you as a player that you refuse to go in the game. So it's not a good look, and it's so new to everybody that it's just weird. But I think all these guys that are this week. I think there were maybe a couple last week that did it, not locally, but just you know, across the country. It's still so new that it just seems like, wow, this is unheard of. I got quitting

on his team in three games. But if they've only got I mean, it doesn't even have to be one year of eligibility left. If you've got however many years left and you don't want to burn one knowing you don't want to waste a year, especially.

I mean they are, but they're also looking out for themselves, and I think you would probably do the same thing. Like there was so much noise out there in the first couple of days about that UNLV quarterback he quit on his team, and I don't know how he can go in the locker room and look at the It's a job. Now, you don't give a damn about that. I mean, hopefully he makes friends and he's a good

team player, but it's a job. And if you were told you were to be paid something and then you're not, like, well, I'll suck it up and you know, sacrifice potentially six figures because I just love these guys. I mean, that's not what this is anymore. And that makes people uncomfortable because as long as we've ever known college sports, I mean, this wasn't this didn't exist, this whole new world. So

that's why players are doing that. And if you were look, if you're a coach, and we've seen it enough already, dudes will have red flags out.

All right, So real quick before we get to our next break back to Louisville Live. We now know who's in the dunk contest. And we had somebody yesterday ask you know who I would who I would put in the dunk contest? If you know who I would who I would think would win? And I wanted to wait and see who's in it. I don't know who's going to be in the three point shootout. It would not shock me if like every player on the team is in the in the three point shootout, maybe other than

Trey Ora, but that's probably about it. I mean, maybe, uh, Big Frank. I don't think he's much of a three point threat, but we'll see. They haven't announced who's going to be in the three point shot up. But the dunk contest is gonna be Kahaney, Russ Cater, Trail Ray, Chucky, Hepburn,

and uh Frank anselom Ivy. That's the one guy, like I call him Big Frank, but the double last name and him being like the most like kind of not discussed edition, Like he was one of the last scholarships, and he's been a four year guy that really hasn't played a lot of minutes anywhere he's been. So it's not that I forget he's around, but like I forget his last name anselom Ivy, which let's be real, that's not you know, that's it's not a super common last name.

But of those guys, and look, dunk contest is all about, like creativity and how it looks. Big dudes have always been at a disadvantage when it comes to dunk contests. Like Dwight Howard won what one two dunk contests, maybe more than that, and he would like jump over a car, he would put on a Superman cape. And this is an era when the dunk contests suck, so he didn't have a lot of competition. But like big dudes can do something that is crazy impressive, but because you're seven

foot tall or close to it, it doesn't look impressive. Like Nate Robinson. I mean, he did some really cool stuff, but it looked cooler because he was five foot five. So I'm gonna I think I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go Trailray because he's long, but he's not that tall. He's like six ' five and he's super athletic, so I'm gonna go. Tray Ora is my pick for the winner of the dunk contest. I don't think you can get action on it, and I doubt it's up there for you to wager on, but if so, let me know,

because I'll I'll bet on Trey Ora. All right, quick break, We'll come back on the other side. Keep this thing rolling along. It's Coffee and Company. We are fueled by Thornton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety Coffee and Company rolling along here on a Wednesday afternoon, Nick Coffee the company man John Alden taking you up until six o'clock. We are fueled by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety.

So somebody wrote in on the text line saying, so essentially, players can just red shirt every year and take money and just become millionaires. No, you only get one red shirt. It's not like you can just keep I mean it would be wild though, if you just played ten years and you never burned a year of eligibility because you've moved on out. I mean eventually somebody would you know, somebody would pick up on that.

was if you had two season ending injuries. And I kind of don't think that's I mean, you think that's fair, John, I don't think that's I think that's probably that wouldn't be controversial, right.

this program, this coach has developed me for four years. Now, I'm going to go cash in elsewhere, you know what I mean, Like I kind of I mean, I'm not saying like they should do it, but if they did, I would have no real issue with it, because one, it would benefit a coach for keeping a guy around when there's temptation at all times to move on elsewhere.

And it would reward the player giving him one extra year to maybe go out with a bang and make some more money, because he you know, he was loyal to his program. I doubt they do it, because that's just that's a very random like way. I mean, that's I doubt that ever happens. But if that's another one of those things that if they put that in place, I wouldn't have an issue with it.

Like if they had good players who didn't become good players until their fourth year, well they they got another year to come back as a fifth year guy, and they can only play there.

that that would make it to where and it's there. Look, there's still a lot of disadvantage the mid majors, the smaller schools, and they always have been like Nil has yet to really in the grand scheme of things, changed the food chain in college sports, right Like, and we've talked about it many times, John, The one team that that you feel like they paid and they it paid off was that Miami Final four, right yeah, because they had no Chadowmere. They went and got the kid from

who's still there by the way, Igel Pack. Yeah, he's still there at at Miami. But that like, other than that, teams making like TCU making the championship game two years ago, that had nothing to do with with Nil Washington last year breaking through and playing for a title that that wasn't mean I'm sure they utilized in IL, but like it wasn't because oh wow, now they can pay for players and they got a lot better they they they got Kaalin to Borr before anybody else did.

many wins for the small schools. There's the occasional scenario where a good player from a higher level will transfer down and really have an impact for you, but that that's that doesn't happen that often. I mean, maybe it does, we just don't pay attention. But it hasn't impacted enough to where you look at all these mid major teams making deep runs because they had power five guys decide

to drop down. But there's no doubt the early results here because we're still new and it's still new it's still a new world, but the Portal and NIL have just made it to where college athletes, which are now essentially pro athletes, they now see a value in staying in college and playing longer. And I think that's good for the sport, especially basketball. Basketball is different because there are plenty of guys who you know, they know, hey, I can go play basketball over seas. You're not playing

football overseas in the NFL. I mean, you know, just a different. Football is just different from a professional standpoint overall. But there are guys who would walk away from Like, yeah I could, I could maybe stick around for two more years, but I'm as good as I'm going to be. I'm never going to be an NBA player. I want to start my pro clock now and get two years where I'm in my prime, making a good salary overseas,

and I'll come back and go to school later. Like this is about using my craft, my tool to make a living for myself and staying in two years for college. Yead be a great experience, but like, and I ain't making money. It's a good it's benefit. You know, you're not hurting probably right, you're on scholarship, You're living in a nice student you know, team house, team dorm.

it's all said and done. I mean, he'll he'll play pro for a while, not in the NBA, but he'll play.