Steve Rivera and Jacob Salles. They have their eye on the ball on Tucson Sports. Stay yet, Fox Sports fourteen fifty. Hey, welcome back to Winding the Ball Yellow, Fox Sports fourteen fifty. I'm Steve Roberta. He's jenkins Awas now we have breaking news from Sam Eye on the ball, breaking news. All right, So we've kind of hammered home the Nick Saban retiring
aspect of this, but college football is officially over. So with that comes recruiting colleges, in Saban's case, retiring colleges being fired maybe called maybe coaches like Harbaugh on the move to the NFL. We'll see what the college football coaching carousel looks like in a couple of weeks with the NFL and whatnot. Do you guys think Harbaugh is winning and then leaving on top or is he coming back to maybe defend his time. I think he's gone. I think
Jen and I talked about that that he's gone on for sure. I think look hard. But you know he's gonna get I don't know if I'm allowed to say this on the Raid, but he's gonna get bit slap by the nc double A next year. For all this other stuff. And I just think he's gonna say, I don't need to take that from anybody, And uh, you know, I've won my championship, I got Michigan to where people wanted me to get it to. I'm out of here. I think that's gonna be his approach. Yeah, I think that's fair. Yeah.
That and I don't need this. I'm gonna go on top call my own terms and to go to the NFL. I don't or I don't need to deal with stuff like this. Yeah. And coaches of the NFL are also a hot topic today, as Pete Carroll is gone in Seattle. Reports to say that he's been fired, which is interesting because to me, it felt
like Seattle has had a pretty good year. I know they missed the playoffs, but I mean, with Gino Smith as your quarterback, no slouch on him, but it almost feels like that team was a really good quarterback away from being one of the better teams. You're funny, see, you're finding you like the guy that says, up, excuse me, I hate to bother you, but I'm gonna bother you. No disrespect, no disrespect, but I'm gonna disrespect you. But I don't disrespect you. I feel like
Seattle reached their ceiling by getting to the playoffs last year. Right, he was a pro bowler, had a good year, and he wasn't terrible this year. He's a he's a quarterback where I think if he's on the forty nine ers, the forty nine ers are still just as good as they are. He's a quarterback that can do a lot for you. But it's if you need a playmaker in that position, like Seattle does with that roster, then they're gonna You saw what they're gonna be, so we'll see what they
do. I hadn't seen. But here's here, here's here's the statement from the Seahawks. Because I was I was starting to think, okay, what you know, what's the Seahawks statement gonna say? Well, here it is. After thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interests of the franchise, we have quote amicably agreed with Pete Carroll that his role will evolve from head coach to remain with your organization as an advisor, meaning we fired him.
Yeah, he probably don't want to take an attorney said okay, never mind. By the way, the jokes. The jokes on Facebook involving tucsons are over. They're not funny anymore. If you see Pete Carroll at Philiberto's with Saban having lunch, okay, you're here for the nice wedding, Yeah, it's not funny. And the golf, it's not funny because it was used with Patino. They're here to golf. They're here to golf. That's right.
They're gonna move into Patino's spare bedroom over there up in the foothill somewhere for the stupid Facebook post. Well, you know how, rad Let's start a rumor. I just got a text message. Let's start a rumor that that Alabama should go after Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame. How about that? I like that. I like that because that's how that's how they all start. Right. Some sports writer says, Okay, these are the guys that I think should be in life for. So that's my candidate list, and
it's nobody's candidate list. You know who's right now? Greg? He he absolutely is. Man. This is this could this could make or break Greg greg Burns's career. Right here, He's got to make the right higher because if the Alabama program falls apart. He's in trouble. Guess what though it did? Did Jay to Greg Burn it empowered him because oh sure, who else had more power than him at Delabama? It was the guy? Yeah, right, he's got Well, there's two ways looking at this. He's
either going to be able to hand hand pick a coach. I mean, basically, I want this guy and go get that guy, or you know, the John wouldn't effect right. Does a coach who's that good really want to go in there and be the guy after Nick state before? Right, you don't want to be that guy. You want to be the guy that follows the guy. Yeah, and we can stay in the NFL real quick, Mike Rabel, I'm sure you guys talked about yesterday. No, he he thought after the show, Oh really, okay, So the head coach
of the Titans is gone. They there was speculation that they didn't want to trade him. The whole coaching trade thing is is really weird to me. So they decided just to let him go, which doesn't really make a lot of sense. And also Bill Belichick's future is still unsure. He says he's in the contract. We'll see if he remains the coach of the Patriots, or if he, like Nick Saban, decides to just hang it up. But I think he's after Don Shula's wins record. But I don't know where
that might be. It might be somewhere else, It might be somewhere else. Washington, Vegas has been a rumor and the Chargers are kind of like the three main do would you hire him? Would you hire him? Jack? Would you No? I don't think no. I think he's tired. I think I think I think he's tired. Yeah, I think it's tired. And again sort of in the in the in the Nick Saban uh mode, you know, does his style work? It apparently is not in New
England. Well, you know it has stopped working. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I think it has stopped working a while back. Only so you know, you got to go get you know, young, these athletes. Now they're coming out of college much older than they used to, right because, as as Rachel Webb said, they're getting agents at sixteen. Now, you know, these kids, these guys have been in the business of their sport, the business of football, longer than any other you know era.
So these guys are they're pretty well experienced. You know, they've got thrown ideas and stuff like that. You've got to have coaches who can deal with all of that. Well. Now, I've said this a number of times day, and you know this because we've asked some people who've come on, how do you coach a guy who's making half a mill? Does he listen to you? Right? Right? And this is just college and you got to you got to handle them. You got to handle those guys differently.
I think in Belichick's case, the only team I could see really hiring him would be the Chargers. They have a quarterback, they have great skill positions, they need help on the defense, and they kind of just need someone in the room that people respect and that I think that that's Belichick could be that guy. That's Jim Marbu's job. That's Jim Marbus's job. It isn't until it is until the Raiders job comes available, and Harbaugh wants to
go be in Vegas. I don't know. It's we'll see, but the Bears are keeping their head coach, which if you're a Bears fan, I don't know how you feel about that, and there's some pressure on him to maybe some fans may want to keep Justin Fields. Some fans may be in the case of wanting to draft Caleb Williams. If you're the Bears, GM, are you drafting Caleb number one? God? You know what? After what I saw last year with Caleb Williams, I don't know that I would
trust him sold. I really don't. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think. I am. I really think I am. I think the Bears will go get him. But I just you know, I'm sorry. Caleb Williams took ten steps backwards last year. He really did, Steve, I really believe that you already have a good player. Why go up? You got you right? Why Why start? Why start over with an unproven guy
like that? Justin Fields is good. He screwed me about eight times this year, and so exactly the whole NFL in college football, Sleep is just on Jay's bad lists. Thankful that the season's over. The day I hear Jay talk about someone being like, oh he saved me, He's on my bet list, I will walk out of this studio. You guys, I will be back in twenty twenty four. I will be back, all right, that's years coming back. Win more bets shirt. Yeah, exactly.
I don't know. I think when with this whole Field's Caleb thing. A lot of it too is the money that if you do keep Fields, you're going to have to pay in the fifth year option. That's the problem. He's not worthy of being paid exactly. So if you can get Caleb on a rookie deal for four years and say he is, say he's awesome, then you're getting an awesome player to discount where you can use that money to help bolster there's you can go either way. But nonetheless, the NFL and
the playoffs are underway starting Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Oh, by the way, by the way, am I reading your your thing? Or am I you reading your thing? The DraftKings? Yeah? What are you doing? Jay? I'll read it. I'll read it after the after after we get no, You're good. Do you guys see an upset this weekend? I can read the matchups real quick. Brown's favored by two and a half over the Texans the Dolphins at the Chiefs. Chiefs favored by minus four and
a half. Steeler That Bills, Bills favored by ten Packers at Cowboys. Cowboys are minus seven and a half. Rams at the Lions Detroit is minus three and then the Eagles on Monday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Eagles are minus three on the road, the only one because they just suck because guess what they did. Yeah, so that's my big thing. Upset, the possible upset the Bucks over the Yeah, otherwise, I don't know that i'd even call that an upset. Miami. What about the Miami Kansas City
game? What a first round match? Yeah, so it's gonna be it's gonna be zero degrees and snowing narrowhead. That kind offies Miami's threat, you think, Yeah, I yeah, Jay, I'm looking at that Packers Cowboys game. Uh, and I really kind of like Georgia. Yeah, it would be just like the Cowboys to blow that one, because you know, they should be a Super Bowl favorite. They've been playing so well. But it would be just like them to lose that game and then throw everything in
disarray or we're going to fire Mike McCarthy all the stuff. You know, Man, do we get rid of Dak Prescott's I could see them losing that game. I don't think they will, but I could. It wouldn't shock me to see them. It's gonna be fun because McCarthy coached for the Packers for some time and they're coming into his new buildings. We'll see, and then Matthew Stafford's going back home to Detroit. There's a lot of there's a lot of fun. That's gonna be the best game I think this weekend.
Jared Goff obviously being traded from the Rams to the Lions. I don't trust either team, no, but if you had to trust someone, it would be probably Detroit. Oh, you trusted at home with something to play for because you know their quarterback left and blah blah blah. But you know, I'm like guessing games over after the season, and we got three minutes left, so we'll make these last things quick. But in the NBA, Eric Spolser, the head coach of Miami Heat, received a massive eight year,
one hundred and twenty dollars extension. I think rightly so as one of the best coaches in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard also today got a massive extension three years, one hundred and fifty three million dollars. That may be a little recency bias, as the Clippers are one of the best teams in the league, but Kawhi for three more years. I don't know if I'm signing up for that. That's a lot for a guy who only plays about half a season. Yeah, I will say this year, only missed two games,
and that's a large reason why the Clippers are the way they are. And then I don't know if you guys saw this last night. It was all over Twitter. It may have been on some talk shows this morning. But Raptors head coach Starko I saw rajah Kovich had a rant after the game after the Lakers shot twenty three fourth quarter free throws and the Raptors shot two and the Raptors lost by one. This is gonna be embarrassing me, but I'm gonna say it anyway. So I saw the clip and I'm wondering, who's
that dude? Who's that dude? And he was the coach of the Raptors, the coach of the Raptors. That tells you how much I know about the Purano Raptors. I think it was like from Russia or wherever he's from. I don't know where he's from, but he does have it. I thought, talking about fouls, Think, holy bully, who is this guy, but I'd be pissed too. Yeah, and I didn't get a chance to watch that game, shockingly, I know, but I did see some
highlights, and he may have a point. I don't think we're to the point where the NBA is rigging games like they were back in the day. But they were, Yeah, you didn't know that they were refs went to prison. Oh yeah, yeah ye, but yeah, I'm not sure. I guess. But well, twenty three to two in a fourth quarter, close game, I don't know if the Lakers are that intense driving to the
basket. But that's some breaking news. So also I was doing some thinking, some research before it came on. I was like, if we need something, we can maybe talk about it after the break. But obviously you have as ten and four on football, they ended their season eleven in the polls and ten and three, ten and three, Why do I think ten and four ten and three even better? And the basketball team there's still a
lot of uncertainty is where they'll finish. But it got me thinking of what is the best combo the U of A has had in terms of football finishes with basketball finishes and eight ninety eight, so I was looking ninety eighty four U of A went to the Elite eight in basketball and the football team beat Nebrasket and the Holiday Bowl and were ranged fourth, So that's pre Dan Good ninety three, the U A basketball team lost in the first round, but
the football team tied for first in the Pac twelve and won the festival, So that's kind of very football heavy this year. This year they have a chance, I think to chance if you have a makes it to the final four. We'll get to that subject on the other side, as we have a guess, but that'd be good to talk about because both basketball years they way underachieved and the years you were talking about. Okay, so we'll take
the break and come back when we got dustin peace. On the other side, man bitching and moaning on and home baths of time in that Tuesday, I could say that girls, goodies gone. The Window Depot is more than a windows store. The Window Depot is a one soft warehouse with everything you need for your complete Homer model. Shop the aisles of pre built cabinets in a variety of colors, granite and courts, countertops, sinks, skylights and
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seven. Go to azypest dot com to schedule your free evaluation today. Steve Chacon sales they have their eye on the ball on Tucsons yet Fox Sports fourteen Day Live. I mean I heard radio while Hey, welcome back to wind the Ball here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. I'm Steve Rover, He's jagins awis now on the phone. We have formal cdo football coach Dustin Peace. How in the world does that sound? You know what? I didn't the second time I've heard it. It does not sound. Uh it doesn't sound
right, but I'll get used to it. I think, what's a forty two year old gonna do, not playing or doing football anymore? You got plenty of time to retire. Yeah, nobody's retiring unfortunately, but you know football is not paying the bill. Uh never has. It was a hobby and to begin with, but uh, Billy's doing some teaching and maybe find a way to help out the community some different ways, different ways. So dustin it, tell us if you if you don't mind, or if it's
okay. You know, when did this decision start rolling around in your head? When did you start thinking about this? And then when did you decide this is it? I would say, you know, honestly, four years ago, I was sitting in the principal's office. We were ready to are ready to step down then, and uh, and we changed our practices from PM to morning, uh to am. So we have our practices in the morning, our studio and uh it really provided some balance for me and my
family. And uh that got me another four years. But it's been it's been coming just to take a little break. And uh, you know, I got two kids, one nine, one six, and uh that's going to be the focus for a while. Yeah, totally makes sense. Totally makes sense. It must have been good for a party. Is very good for the family. What are the people at cdo thinking? And I says, oh no, now we got to find a replacement. Yeah, you know, yesterday went as well as it could have. I think, in
my opinion, kids were a little disappointed. Uh, the community reach out yesterday and today was very awesome, and I know the CDO is going to be in good hands as uh as we find the next new head coach. And I'm willing to help and assist the kids now and the new head coach as they as they come in. So I have to do you have your radio on in the background? No? Is that better? That's that's great? Is that better? Okay? So Dust got it? So was this
I mean, was this decision? Would this decision have been made without a state championship? Yes? Yes, this decision was made before the season, you know, and uh we went through some some tribulations last year through the season and you know, could add every opportunity to hang it up then and didn't know, didn't want to leave the program and in that in that way
in a negative aspect. So I'm so happy that we were able to, you know, do things the right way, not just you know, wins and losses, but just the feel and everything that happened this year and how how everything kind of worked out. We're very happy about the way we're leaving the program. I shouldn't say we, but I guess I'm talking about my family. But yeah, either way, it would have happened. Jay, this was the year. I say this all the time, especially on the
show, that we all hope to leave on our own terms. And you definitely did that. So there's more power to you, right who who this town has won the state titles you have and you you kind of left the legacy, not kind of you have Awesome. I appreciated you saying that,
but yeah, it was really cool and eating yesterday was cool. The way it got rolled out, you know, told my assistant coaches at ate, told my kids at eight thirty face to face, sent out to the parents, and then let the meet everybody else know, and yeah, you're right, you know, from this day and age, we saw Pete Carroll get fired today. You know one of my coaching icons that I you know, I actually went to one of these clinics and he inspired me in so many
ways. And uh, anybody could be you know, could could be the last season. So it is nice to go out on our own, all right, So take you know, take us through the season. Then you mentioned that you thought you you felt like you decided this before the season started. As you're going along one, you're trying to keep it away from your players. I'm assuming and I don't know if you told them that what was going on since it didn't get out and then two, you know, how
did that change anything that you did during the year. Not really. I mean I tried to, you know, knowing me personally, knowing that it was my last you know kind of head coach as of now, just try to embrace all the good things about the journey. And uh, you know, there was definitely a little bit pressure on that last game, and you know some people were mentioned it to me, uh you know after the game.
Uh, they didn't see that big old smile on my face, you know that when the coaches would see, but just that sigh of relief that we were able to do what I think people were expecting us to do. But it's still tough. Even though you may be seen as the team that should win, that's still a tough still tough see, but not really. There was a players are very respectful then and now about uh about my decisions.
You know, so that this might be an open ended question, but uh, okay, it sounds by your voice and you said, as of now, there's a chance that you could come back at some point, maybe not tomorrow, but at some point once you kind of sit home, your kids are grown and you're still a young man. Possible, Yeah, yeah, I think totally. I mean it's gonna be interested. These are uncharted waters. You know, I haven't been without football since I've been nine years
old, so who knows what that's going to be like. But I'm gonna have to find some itch in the fall, There's no doubt about it. You know, won't miss bring ball, won't miss one hundred degree heat summer yet. But the fall, I got a feeling some things will come along, and just not being around the kids, that'll kind of come. So yeah, I have no plans by any means. And I even put in my statement that I hope if I do coach again, whether it be two years, five years, ten years from now, I hope it's a cdo
Okay, Oh interesting. So what was the hardest thing about calling it? You know, you had to go through a decision process. What made it hard for you? You know that I told my wife the night before I felt like I was getting a little cold feet, because you know, I didn't want to do it. The very first day we came back from break, but I saw the kids, saw the eagerness of starting the new year. You know, usually that our kickoff and we make a pretty big deal
about it. So you know, the the kids may not know that, but I know that as a coach, and I knew that was kind of like a fresh start. So seeing it yesterday, you know, I seeing the kids was was definitely made it tough, you know. And I'm you know, gonna break some kids hearts or no doubt about it. Like my best friend and I was the best man in his wedding and his son's going to be a senior this year, so I'm not totally gonna leave them hanging.
I still got a semester to work with them, so hopefully they let me be their their training coach now I told them, and not necessarily their head coach. So we haven't talked to you since you won the title. We had the Luke, I think, the running back. What a fantastic kid. And this is what disappoints me with with sports today. You have a fantastic kid, Jay, and I was at there. We're at the
game with you and uh and Mountain. Mike Mountain, I think are one of those East coach these team, and he was fantastic that he has no place to play. How a kid like him, an unbelievable wrestler and a great athlete, not a place have a place to play. Yeah, the day and age of college football is just you know, and you guys talk
about it every day. It is just changing so so fast. But yeah, if that kid can't play, then I don't know if another coach should go to cdo and recruit kids anymore, honestly, because he's the best we've had in certain aspects, the strongest kid, the toughest, you know, and he led us to a state championship. Yeah, you're right, Not just that, he's a very special kid, you know, a very coachable kid. He's got so many other aspects. You know, so sad that
five ten just cut you off from every list in America. You know. It's tough. Yeah, no, no, it does so well. I think I'm asking you, you know, right out of the Coaching Retires playbook, right, what are you going to miss the most? Oh? Yeah, I don't know. I think I like is in as tough as camp is when we go to camp. We took the kids last year to ANYU
the year before the University of San Diego. I feel like that is when you really just get to spend, you know, sleeping together for night after night, getting to know the kids and the coaches and long long days. I think I think I'm gonna miss that piece the most if I'm talking about pieces, but it's definitely not about the Friday nights that never was and you
know, just being around the kids for sure. And uh, I'm gonna have to find something to do. And I know some of the coaches, if they stay on, they're gonna be they're gonna be trying to suck me back in. But I gotta hold my ground strong. For a couple of years, I've said this number of times on the show. You're one of my neighbors. I need you, I need some yardwork, so you know, and you've already been to the house to be moved because always you know
how that goes. I'm gonna give you a little better advice than that this week. This summer, if you go to San Diego, go to the beach. Okay, don't go hanging out in the dorm on a football field getting all sweaty. Go to the beach. Hang out at the beach, catch some of the restaurants you know, do that kind of stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're looking forward to it. You know. Even my boys are like, coach, are we going to be able to go to the games? And I'm like, God, I think they might let
us on the game. I'm on the end zone there to go watch the game still, so I'm sure we'll be there to watch a few and that will definitely be a new feeling. You guys have an all all entrance pass to the rest of the CDO game forever. What are you talking about? If nobody buys you a beer in the CDO area, does shame on them? Let me let me ask you though you've been playing football. Football has been in your blood since you said nine years old, and I asked this
of former athletes and coaching stuff. So now you have this drug, it's called competing. How are you going to do that? Yeah, you're You're right, you know it'll it'll be it'll be interesting. You're right. I am a competitor, even even though I'm not on the field doing it. As as coaches, we are super competitive, you know. So yeah,
we'll we'll find out. If you got any suggestions. I'm up for all the years here if I go, I know Jake golf, so you go kick his ass on the course just if I okay, Well, good luck to you coach. I mean, come on, this took a few people by surprise, but you know, good for you because you went on your own terms. Appreciate it. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, you know. I appreciate all your guys support. It's been at a great over the
last two days. I there was a little bit of an eye opening experience about how much a coach, uh, you know, impacts of community. So many people have reached out and I appreciate you guys for having me on and always support me and the program and and Tucson as well. So thank you. We appreciate you, no question. All right, Dustin, thanks a whole bunch. Best of luck, and I know you're going to be running around with your kids at their sports and stuff, so good luck with
all of that. That's you might find that that's a little harder work. Appreciate it rather happy new to your guy. The same to your coach. Appreciate it. Hey, Jake, one of the things that you know doesn't go unnoticed, at least from me and probably from you the year before when he went through all that trouble. That takes a toll, that takes a
toll, it does find out who it does. And you find out who's with you and who's not with you, right and when you know, again, Steven, this is a job where you know, I mean, you know, high school football coaches. That can be a full time job, you know. And and and you know these guys, these coaches here in town, they have other jobs. Their teachers. You know, I think Dustin works, he's got a different job. You know, it's hard.
It takes up a lot of time. You know, it takes up a lot of time to go to the school at two o'clock in the afternoon and be there until dark. Uh, you know, when you've got other things, You've got families, you've got kids. You know. I think it's you know, it's one of the underappreciated things, just like teachers are. You know, people just don't appreciate what it takes to do this. And probably and sometimes and I don't know the CDEO football community, you know,
are you sometimes taking for granted? And you feel that and and you know, forty two years old, with a couple of young kids, I could see why you know, you'd say, Okay, I need to take a break from this, gather myself, pay attention to my family, and then come back to it later on. If you feel like you're in a better place. Yeah, no question. Okay, let's not take the break and
come on the other side. Talk about your your little research that you had and talk about anybody wants to call, talk about what they want to talk about. Okay, get a point an Arizona men's basketball fan. You know it's been successful for nearly forty years. Now, take a look back at the Ludolsen era. In my new book, Lessons from Loot, it was a labor of love through the eyes of twenty five former players, coaches and friends to give insight to the coach and the man who led them, competed
against them, and inspired them. Twenty five chapters for his twenty five years as Arizona's beloved coach. Lessons from Lout is an insight to how he built the program into a national powerhouse. Want one Email me at Steve dot Rivera ninety five at gmail dot com. Hi, this is formal Wildcat lemanhnally with Arizona Health. Imagine how home GM can change your health, your comfort, and your time. Arizona Health is everything you need to transform your personal space
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Fox Sports fourteen fifteen. Hey, welcome back to Winning the Ball here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. Young Steve Rivera, here, jackins Awes. You know we have our guys samm me in for about fifteen minutes. If you want to call five two oho four one, six, seventy four to forty, we'd like to hear from you. H We were paying attention to the line, so you shouldn't have a problem. Okay, So where do you want to go with this right now? You want to talk about ninety seven
ninety eight? Well, oh yeah, I was just looking today about so obviously being here for this my fifth year. Arizona football hasn't been great, basketball has been up and down, but it got me thinking of what's the best collective year that those two programs have had together. Obviously winning a championship in ninety seven with the basketball team, there's no no doubt that's probably one
of the greatest you have a moments ever. But their football team went seven and five and won the Insight Bowl at the time, so I just kept looking. And then in one they were the runner up in basketball, finished five and six football wise, nineteen eighty eight went to Final four or seven and four in football, No Bowl game, ninety four Final four, and they were eight and four in football and they were finished the season ranked twentieth,
so not bad. In nine year nineteen ninety four they lost to Utah and the Freedom Bowl. And then that ninety four team was really disappointing, really disappointed. I mean they in football they went eight and three in the regular season, but that was a team that that was the team that went in rank number one by Sports Illustrated, and you know, they just they kind of pooped down their leg that year. That's what he talks about,
which is very accurate. And then the ninety eight year when ninety eight year Elite eight basketball and then twelve and one and beating brass So that was and that ninety eight team was ranked number one, right, was ranked number one? A good chunk of the year. Are you talking about basketball, football
basketball right now? Yes? Yes? Basketball? Well basketball, that was that was when they really pooped the bed because they were the favorite, odds on favorite to win it all and the Utah beat the crap out of them, dang. So yeah, and then ninety three we talked about a little bit basketball team lost in the first round. Football team tied for winning the Pac twelve and then won the festival and they were ranked ninth in the AP tenth and the coaches pull so it's and then this year you have it but
again that but again that ninety three basketball team was really good. They that team was also ranked number one. They ended up losing to Santa Claire in the first round, but they were really went seventeen and one in the league. So as you know, when you're talking about the overall how good that team was, you know that that was one of the better years as well. Right, that was the Chris Mills even side of my Clid Reefs and right, yeah, it's rare, but it's rare for a basketball team and
the football team to how that is. Yeah, yeah, exactly to co exist or have that you know, all the stars aligne yeah, And so what would it obviously I think I know the answer. But what would it take for the basketball team in the final final four or national final four? Yeah? So yeah, I think I think it's got to get to the final four. Do you hear this all the time? I heard this time or to today, that Arizona has the U has the the horses to get to the to be a final four team, right, to be a final
four team. We all know it takes luck and and all this injuries and all that stuff. But they're ranked eighth right now. Would you say there's eight or ten teams that have the same same quality to get to the final four. I mean I think, oh, absolutely, Steve, there's a whole bunch of them. And and you know again that you know, we keep saying this is not a season so far. I mean, just got
beat last night right by by Nebraska. Nebraska, Nebraska, really Nebraska, that's who they got beat by. You know, there's there's eight or ten, maybe twelve teams this year that that can win it all. Look at what happened last year. Now in the end, Yukon won it, and you know they're quote unquote of blue Blood. But everybody thought, you know, Kansas Duke, you know all these other teams, and so yeah, I mean, you know, just here here it is. In the bottom
line, is Arizona's in the mix. They're one of the teams that, you know, they can still lose a couple of games in the Pac twelve. Let's say they lose to a you know, an Oregon or whatever, and still go into the tournament feeling like they've got a shot to win this thing. Legitimately, I don't say fast shot, a legitimate shot to win this thing because a who they've already shown who they can beat and be just that they're pretty damn good. So yeah, Arizona is one of those teams.
They are, and they're gonna stay one of those teams all year long unless they start having a bunch of injuries or something. They're one of ten. You were gonna go the other way, though, I was gonna go the other way. You said, like one of ten. I mean, I'm looking at the top twenty five rings right now, and I think any one of these twenty five teams can probably make a Final four. I mean Fau's ranked twenty fourth in the country. U of A just lost to them.
We saw what they can do. Even last year in the final four, Creighton's twenty two. I think they're a lot better than well, well, here's the world lost, here's the reality of all. You see Perdue lose to Debraska, that's how vulnerable they can be. You see Arizona losing to Stanford, That's how vulnerable they can be. Houston lost last night to Iowa State. You think a very good Houston team right last underfeat the team
that's how that's how one bullet, yeah could put you away. And I think that maybe instead of saying like oh, Uve has the most horses or the most guys, maybe the question going into me Pac twelve or even like March Madness, is what's the vulnerability level of each team? Because Perdue, Perdue was exposed last night. Nebraska had to hit a season high in threes to beat them. I mean, you look at what Stanford did to U of A. I had to hit a season high in threes. That doesn't
mean necessarily they were the better team. Overall, they're the better team. That night, U of A was vulnerable. If we don't play defense against that team, and that you can say that down the list Perdue, Houston, Kansas, Yukon, Tennessee. They're all vulnerable in each way, but
what's the level of their vulnerability? And that's what really matters in March, because it's it's one game and you're done so and and do they do they wind up playing a NANCYAA tournament game against somebody who can expose that vulnerability. Let's say Arizona's three point defense is awful, but they don't play any teams that shoot the three point really well. You know that that benefits. Whereas if they run in run into a team that shoots the crap out of the
three pointer in the first round, they can lose, right exactly. And I think it's gonna be tough because I mean, actually, I take that back. The Pac twelve schedule for you, of a, aside from Arizona, there's there's not another Pack twelve team in the top twenty five. Yeah, there's there's. And you saw we beat the Brakes off of Colorado even though they were missing two of their best players. Oregon is starting to flirt
with the rankings. USC is finally getting healthy with Brownie coming back, and so I don't know if U of A will be tested enough again to really know the answer to that question until maybe March actually does come. Okay, we got seven minutes. I'm gonna throw something else at you seven minutes. This should be a good discussion, Okay. So we talked about through some names that you through sports bet whatever it is, betting bet online, here's
supporting bet, sport betting ag whatever that is. The five give me five top favorites, Dan Landing at three to one, Davis Devas sweety as four to one, Lane Kiffin at five to one, Dion Sanders at six to one, and at six to one, go ahead, go ahead, start to start. Were laughed. Okay, I said, I said Dion Sanders
at the break, and we all laughed. I mean, come on, really, I can't see them handing I can't see them handing Dion Sanders the keys to Alabama after one year at Colorado and his son would go with him. What about the quarterback now from right exactly, And they don't need they don't need the visibility of a Dion Sanders for their program. They don't need that. You know, Dion is a little bit of a what's the right word. A little bit of a novelty. Uh, and he certainly was
at you at Colorado this first year. They they Alabama does not have to stoop to that. They can go get a guy who they think is going to run a great program. I know what he's doing, has done this before at a highly successful level. They can go, they can go handpick whoever they want, whether it's Dan Lanning or somebody like. So this is my I would put money on Landing, and I wouldn't. I wouldn't put money on Landing. I think he's made it clear he's he's not going Wait
the prettiest girl in town. Organ's pretty pretty. Man trying to girl mustage, What are you trying to do? Gorgan's pretty pretty? I will Organ. Organ's got a pretty good thing going for him, and he knows he's been ready for that program to I don't know. Until it happens to you, you don't know what you're gonna do. That's what I mean. I would. I think Dion's a I think better pick for Bama than Landing is because Lanning's been expressive that he loves his team, not to say Dion doesn't,
but Deon's always looking for that next step. He's always looking to level up. And if Bama comes calling, he'll he'll be ready to get his family and move to Tuscaloosa like that. If they come calling, he absolutely would. I just don't imagine that Greg Burn feels like he needs to go get Dion Sanders and and and again, Dion hasn't shown enough of what it what it takes. I mean, there's some things that Dion has done that I don't know that that stuff would fly at a place like Alabama. You
know, I got my luggage with me and that kind of stuff. I just don't know that how how fans and and boosters and and players would take him. I don't think it would have flown in the Nick Saban era, but that that air is over, and I think if Dion comes in there, there's there's now pressure to hire the next guy. And Deon's younger, he is involved in the Nil wave. He knows how to recruit in that
way. He may be just the complete opposite the rebrand of Abama program that is escorting, not escorting, but Nick Saban list now and it could be something where they turn their programs. Let's also say this we all both know the the ad the A D. Greg Burn, he he already probably knows he had to go get the guy five years ago, two years ago, last year. He already has a name or two. If one doesn't tell you yes, two will say yes. Don't you think he's already had the
list of who he was gonna go after once this happened on Steve. You know, Greg byrn knew this day was coming relatively soon. He had to have a file somewhere that said, Okay, when Nick Saban walks him out and says he's done, these are the first places I'm going because he's gonna try and do it good quickly. And that's why I think you mentioned Lane Kiffin as a name. That's why I think their idea has probably thought about him for a couple of years. He's been in the program. You know,
he's done a great job. He's done a great job at Ole Miss. It just kind of felt when he was there he was the next guy after Nick. It kind of like he would put he knew his buttons just as well as anybody, and it just kind of felt if Nick Saban did step down or yeah, And don't you think that that that Saban would not that he would have to sign off on it, but he would sign off
on that. Sure, yeah, if it were him, if it were a later, say the Texas coach Sarksian Sarkesian came back, or or even Kirby because he coached Saban would tip the hat and respect that, not to say that they need that from that. So so let me go, said, okay, let's go the top five programs, not teams right now. Top five programs, uh today today not so much the AP list, But come on, you got Alabama right at the top. Or is it Georgia's
Georgia Georgia? Which one? Georgia and Alabama? The order? Either order? Who's three? Michigan or Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan Michigan State, Texas. I think you have to throw Organ in there, or Oregon Organ. I see. I think people still have a little I think people still have a little bias. Gis Oregon in Washington, you know, I think follow a step low Michigan High State. Okay, so what about the Florida's the A and MS even though they're not they've followed on kind of hard time.
I'm taking programs now, none of them. So there's nothing none of them. There's really nothing left. The only the only way those programs can come back to that tier is if they do in the next couple of years play to what their name is portraits. Florida hasn't been Florida in years. The U hasn't been the U in years. If if those programs were playing like they had been in the past, sure, if the U is clicking on all cylinders, they're at the level of house statement. So we're going
we're going five six deep on elite programs right now. Yeah, after that, they're not elite. Yeah, I mean even I mean Utah has done right, They're they're in a good place right now, right organism in place right now. Washington is in a good place right now. Mississippi is in a good place right now. What they're doing is it is it sustainable? You know, you got Oregon in Washington went to the Big ten. Now, how's that gonna work for that? How good are they gonna be?
Yeah? And on the flip side, it's like you have a program like Arizona who this year has really kind of seen its pinnacle of what it's been building the last three years. But ninety percent of the country wouldn't say Arizona is a better program than Texas A and every now. So it's it's kind of goes two ways. It's but you have the top seven teams in the country. Those programs are established. Even if now Saban is gone, that BAMA program is still. Yeah, no, it's somebody else's to screw up,
exactly, Yeah, screw Hey, we gotta go. We got about to tay you guys by Mike clockwork. We're about out of here, right, Okay, it's been front Steve. Thanks, we'll figure out tomorrow if I'm in the in the studio. So thanks for being here. And no ball river on the bab If you need me, call me, no matter where you are, no matter half of