It's the great Will Vandervort from the Clemson insider who stands on his own merits a big Steeler fan, of course, Will welcome to the show. Happy New Year, my friend. Happy New Year to you guys. How y'all doing. We're doing good, man. We got to tee it off first with some a little bit of basketball. Look, it's been a fascinating start to the season for Clemson. Of course, we've got a big game tomorrow Florida State Georgia Tech. That's disappointing, and obviously they've had some stumbles along
the way. You know, Rich and I were talking about this on the last tip Off show that this team is hard to sort of put your finger on, other than maybe the injuries and all that's going on now in terms of some players they are getting back. I thought they'd beat the pants off of Georgia Tech. I thought it was kind of a no brainer. They'd been a little bit embarrassed at times, and they feel like they're better than
they should be, and their record doesn't indicate what they are. Is it too early if you're a kind of level headed fan to panic about this team, because they're very talented, and what do you say to those who say time to fire Brunell again, Well, first of all, hold off on the firing thing. You don't fire somebody off of a five games stretch. I mean that's first off, second of off. You know, I don't
think you panic. I don't think you pushed the panic button. But I'll tell you this much, this game against Florida State is as much win a must win game as they've had all year. This is a game they have to go win because you look at who's next, and they got to go to Cameron next Saturday and try to be the duke team who I think is starting to hit it stride, and that's not good. That's not good for
Clemson. So they need to win this game and then tried. Then they get back on they get back on their home turf in a couple of weeks, you know, with Louisville and Virginia coming, and that's just kind of an opportunity to get right. So this game is big in a sense.
You don't want to fall in a two and seven hole in your car, two and six hole in your conference, and and so that's why they need to win this game to where they're not going into next week's game, saying that's a must win at Duke. You don't want to ever go into Duke with the must win, right, You just don't want to. And yeah, exactly, So they really need to win this game to marrogus Florida State. No, by the way, that's not going to be easy because Florida
State is probably playing its best basketball the season right now. They've won five of their first six conference games and are really playing with a lot of confidence. And you'd have told me at the beginning of the year, when Florida State was sitting there five and five that they would be in contention for an ACC championship the first, you know, three weeks into the conference season, I would have laughed at you. But here they are. They're much improved,
they're playing a lot better. And let's be honest, Clemson generally doesn't play well when they go down there. That won there last year, so that's good. They know they can go there and win, but it's generally a place they do not play well at. And so tomorrow is a huge game for Clemson. And then, really, I'm gonna be honest with you, guys, it's time for Joe Girard and for Kate under to step up.
Those guys have not this five game stretch here where Clinton's one and four, those are the two guys that have been inconsistent, and Clinton needs those guys to start playing better on a consistent level. So Clemson can you know, because I think when those two guys play well, they're eleven and one. Oh certainly no two guys. When those two guys don't, they're one and four. So you know, it's pretty easy mass they need those two guys to start playing well. It's you know, it's a lot like the
basics in football. We'll talk about the NFL playoffs here surely, but you know your your team of choice for years. When you miss a guy like TJ. Watt, you see the record without him. I mean that's you need your big stars to perform in big moments. And not to generalize too much, but Clemson, it is a tough road ahead. But I think the talent level with PJ. Hall obviously have one of the best players in the country right there. I think the coaching has been good, but I
understand you want to win. You want to win all your games. Everybody does. We're gonna see what happens down the stretch here, and I think Will, what comes down to is, you know, in these conference games you mentioned at home especially, you can't be losing the teams you should be favored over, not at this point. And if that continues, obviously the heat turns up, and if you miss another opportunity to go to the big dance after what happened last year, you just you can't find yourself in that
whole. We're gonna see what happens. Let's shift our focus to the world of college football. You and I haven't spoken since well, the first wave of all hell broke loose, I think a week and a half ago. When I think, you know, it's like seeing the Beatles all split up. They all retired, all of them. It's Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick and then of course Nick Saban. Will you've covered college football for a long time. Did you have an inkling that Saban was going to retire? I
did? They just seem like, you know, you started hearing the rumors coming out of Tuscaloosa around the SEC championship game. Actually before that, we started hearing some rumblings around it was about an Auburn game to be honest with you, and so you started here that there's a chance he was thinking about it or it might happen. And then it kind of went quiet there for
a little while. And then you know, I kind of said, like, after they lost that game to Alabama, excuse me, to Michigan in the in the in the collegetball playoff game, I kind of, you know, thought to myself that he's gonna do it. He's gonna do it after the national championship game, because that's who Nick Saban is. He's not gonna want the attention to be on him and knock the game itself. And so
no surprise that he waited till that. I believe that Wednesday when he announced he was going to retire, and you know, you know it was I know it surprised some people. I don't think. I don't think it's surprised the people in Alabama. I think they do. I think that's how I feel. And you know, I do you want to say this. I caught him on McAfee a couple of times, and you know, think what you will about McAfee. I really don't care, other than just to hear
a few insights from the guests and Saban. He would comment a lot about how special this team was in a sentimental type of way, and that to me, I don't think that's an ultimate tell. But he was a little more reflective I thought this year. So all the best to him. Obviously, Coach Sweeney down there, Dabo is gonna stay put. I think that makes sense for him. I don't know Coach Sweeney as well as you do, and I don't think many people really work in his inner circle well enough
to know what a man truly thinks in his heart. But obviously he's an Alabam man to begin with. He's talking about being a Clemson man. Now, if that's the opportunity to get always wanted and it turned itself up and you're still in your prime and you turn it down, maybe he truly wants to be here. Maybe all the talk about well he's gonna bold any minute,
maybe that's not true. Fascinating times and in a couple of new coaches on that staff, just your assessment of Coach Sweeney in his you know, commitment to this operation down there, because look, when he got there at eight as the head coach, there was not quite the infrastructure there is now he's a large part of that. Yeah, you wonder how you know. I do know that Dabo spoke with Alabama. I do know that it was in a situation where Alabama offered him, where he offered. He told Alabama
he wanted to be there. I think it was more of a feeling out conversation from both parties, and you know, whatever happened in that conversation, I don't think anybody will truly know other than the fact that you know, both parties decided when when they talked that that was kind of going to be
it. It wasn't go any further than the level of Jim Harball going to meet with the will family for the Vikings job and then getting a welcome party back for never leaving, right, So it was a yeah, So it was a you know, I think a mutual kind of thing between both parties. I don't think, I like said, I don't think Alabama Dabo turned Alabama down. I don't think Alabama turned Davo down. You know. So so I do think coach Sweeney, because of who he is, and I
do know that one of his dream jobs is Alabama. That was that was like the thing for him and I know he said he's a Clumpson man now, but listen, Devo, Alabama is always gonna be special. In Davos sweety part, I mean he grew up an Alabama fan. He grew up a fan human, grew up a fan of Paul bear Bryant. He used to wear he said he were an Alabama T shirt and school every day when he's a kid. I mean, this guy he said, I'm gonna go play for Alabama, and he went and did it, and then he beat
him and the playoffs beat him twice in the playoffs. How meaningful was that to him too? I mean that that's that's the ultimate compliment, that the homage to your your your your place of of of football worship if you was as a child man, I went against the old program that bear Bryant used to run, and I played for Gene Stallings and I beat this team with
this great coach twice. It's a fascinating story and and it leads me to my next question that you know, with this expansion of the playoff the twelve teams, you know, the Clemson obviously becomes a more viable player right off the bat, because you know they're going to recruit, well, you know, the NAWA dynamic and the payments and all that goes into football. Now in the college world, they'll get with the times as much as they feel
like they can. Your early assessment on what their class looks like coming in here, because they've got some faces coming back, you're missing a few guys. I know it's early to tell. The season just ended, but is
there still some positive trajectory? Are the feelings good from the closest people around the program that cover it and the boosters and those that support it, or are there's still concerns that coach Sweeney when there were four and four this year that I don't know, man, I think that winning streak was great. What was your thought on the carryover? Will it indeed carry over? Do
they still got to do some things to get things better? Well? Yeah, That's what I was saying, was like, how motivated is Debo? Did him not getting off for Alabama job? Does that motivate him? Do we see Dabo, you know, become or as hungry as he was when they won those national championships and were playing for it those four years. I'm not saying Dabo lost his drive or motivation or anything. I'm saying, maybe this motivates him more, right, so maybe this motivates them more. We'll
see. And with that said, I think, you know, yeah, they had a good recruiting class. Uh. They they feel good about the guys they brought in and the guys that have signed, and and you know that feel good about what they got coming back. When you know, when you get a Barrett carter back, that's huge on your defense and it's huge for your leadership on the team. You know, you get a guy like Jake Breenstall who stay committed and he's going to be back next year at tight
end and probably their biggest play. I think Jake could end up being and I don't want to use this as sacrile as Georgia fans, but he can enter the same type of conversation that brock Bauers was in at one point because he's that athletic. He's going to have more experience under his belt. You hope do offense is better systematically, because he really did play well on the stretch last year, and he played even better at times the year before.
And film Afa too, I mean, his story was amazing that the contributions he made down that stretch wherever he ends up in the future at long term film, MafA has got to be personally one of your favorites covering that team close range because he's physical, he's tough. Minds me of Stephen Davis away runs and my god, he is humble. He's just a good dude. Yeah, yeah, he is. And I think, you know, I think, you know, Coach has got a chance there with him if he
stays healthy to really have a strong running game. It's gonna be interesting to see who falls in at number two. Spring will tell us that yep, they got they get. They recruited well at the running back position the last couple of years, so they feel good there. Wide receiver, you know, you know, you know, we saw the kid, you know at the All American Game, what he did and what he can be. You
know, did I say that? I was like, you know, I always ask Clympton fans this, you know, they talk about Sammy Walkins and Nuk Hopkins and them, and I always say, well, let me ask you this question. How many Sammy Watkins have come to Clemson in the last fifteen years? And that answer is only one, Mammy Watkins. So you can't count on it until you actually see. And that's that's what That's kind of what my point is. They're like, they're still freshmen. I don't
know what they're gonna be. You know, uh, maybe maybe he come in and be somebody. What I do know what they got coming back? You know, you got a guy and and Tyler Brown, who I think is gonna be He's gonna get even better Antonio Williams. I think now coming off the injury season. He showed out in the in the Gator Bowl. So getting him back because I'm gonna tell you old miss was very close to grabbing him, very close to grabbing him. Yeah, yeah, you know.
So so you know, getting him back is a big deal for Clemson. And and we'll see, you know, And I'm gonna tell you the guy, I think he's gonna be a standout as Troy Troy. Late in the year, he became a very consistent receiver. And if they get him to be even more consistent next year, he's going to be a big time playmaker for them. And he's got the best hands on the team. And you know, we'll see if he's how much better he gets. And then by the way, that guy is super fast too, so they can get
him out of face. He's going to be a playmaker. He's He's even not quite as fast as his uncle Seawan, who represents Tommy Cutlets. But I'll leave that aside here. I think I think Troy will do quite well. And what a hell of an end of the year. That was one of the most crazy UH Bowl games I've ever watched. And it just goes to show you those who don't like the Bowl games, Look, they do mean something to a lot of people, maybe not to everybody, and even
those who opt out, they're doing it for a reason. Probably Entuy did it. Sure? Did you see a few teams out there laying in the egg And maybe they don't have their their top guns, but it's good for the sport. And and I stuck the pop tart thing? Oh my tree, did you see the pop tart? The top tart with the top stuff music played in the background and the coach, the coach, what what team won? Will we're rhyme me? Was that Kansas State? Who's the winning
coach of the pop tart ball? And he had to eat that thing? And I could tell you that Neil Brown didn't want that male bath. He he looked like, you know, Maryland's coach loved it. Beam Er. Neil Brown's like, can he get this off me? He just we all got it. We got we gotta talk NFL real quick with you. The Steelers obviously that's your team, it's Trey's team. He's driving me nuts about this team every day. He wants to, uh, you know, hire
I guess every offensive coordinator in the sun. And rightfully so, just if you give us a few minutes of your time on the state of the Steelers, because you've followed this team, You've you've reported on football for so long. I mean Tomlin obviously is deciding to stay and there's changes to be made. I think that the staff, what's the status with that? And with the quarterback. I personally, I think you got to get a new quarterback.
I can project it. I can see it now. It sounds like Mason Rudolph is gonna be They're gonna work out a deal with Rudolph because it sounds like from what Tomlin said that Kenny Pickett is gonna be in competition next year for the job. And Mason Rudolph put out an Instagram story today where it sounded like he was coming back. So there. Here's the thing for the Steelers with Mason Rudolph. They have a couple of months here before free
agency begins to work out a deal before it even starts. So they're gonna do everything they can, excuse me, to keep him. And so we have that said. I think the Steelers are draft a quarterback, but I think it's gonna be maybe fourth round or lower rounds. Those guys in to compete. They're gonna move away from Trubisky. Uh, definitely gonna do that. And and they'll they'll go get somebody in the draft to be the number
three quarterback and then they're gonna put it. They're gonna put competition in play with Kenny Pickett, made and Rudolph and guys, I'll tell you what, Mason Rudolph won me over even in the playoff exception of the ones that one passed. And you know, he he's throwing the ball down the field, and you know, Deontay Johnson, he told everybody what he thinks he did. He wants Basan Rudolph to be his quarterback. You know it is, well, you got a quarterback and a little bit of Bryce Young going on
here in Carolina with the same kind of thing. When Andy Dalton stepped in in short order. It was this one game. But you have a six foot three guy now that can sort of fire the ball around and seize the field better. Picketts still learning how to operate in that world. We know the hand sized thing isn't a huge deal. But man, with the weather cuts in that Pittsburgh win, guys down to Mobile telling me that the senior ball it wasn't pretty in that bad weather day. So it's the complete thing
with this. The chemistry element of the Steelers is interesting because these two receivers that they tend to be a bit of malcontents, especially Pickens. I love the way he plays, but they're wide receivers. Man, I think their frustrations are warranted. That's where I'm getting that. I think they've got to get instability at quarterback because he's guys, that's this is funny. I just
relieve you with this. That game the end of the year, and I love Dan Orlovsky to a point, but when his analysis starts stinking, I'm screaming the TV. Now, you know, at the end of that game, they had to win, right so they need to get up by two possessions. All they needed is a field goal. Is screaming the booth. Pickens has had no targets right now, I'm taking a shot. I'm taking a shot, and I'm like, run the clock out and kick a field
goal. Dan, I think the producers got in his ear final and you said, Dan, O, they get a field goal, the game's over. But Pickens needs a guy like Rudolph. I guess that's their next option to do the thing they gotta do, which is somewhat what looked like Ben Roethlisberger for a minute. Piket Ain't it man, He's just not who you got, just real quick, who you got advancing here? I know it's
tough, but do you have a super Bowl I got? I gotta say this, okay, Mason rus not Ben Roethlisberger, say that we'll keep that in a different realm. I tell you you're the worst. You come in our stadium every three years and you beat the living pulp out of us, and I say, one thing like that will go ahead and then but as far as the other games go, I mean, I think Buffalo can will beat the Chiefs. This will this will be an interesting game. Pastor Mahomes
first playoff game, that's crazy. Yeah, and then I like, I like, I like the Packers to upset the forty. I think that's I think that's gonna happen because I just think this Jordan love kid man, he's the real deal too, you know. And and I think they just put a lot of pressure on defenses. Now San Francisco will be the best defense they've seen, obviously, but man, they just put so much pressure on the other team to score. And I'm not I'm still not a brock pretty
fan. I watched them play Clemson in the UH in the in the chie Itt ball better him that night. I'm telling you, you know, you throw a complicated defense at him. He struggles. And yeah, it's not that it's very easy with the San Francisco team, and the good buddy of
var Neil the calls in. He's a big forty nine Ers fan. Tried to push back on this, but overall the writing sentiment is most teams are like this, but especially San fran for as good as they are, they don't have the ability really to change what they are if they get down in a game. And you see this time and time, and you saw it in Baltimore. They're always leading games Baltimore exactly. You saw that against Baltimore where they even at home, Baltimore did some things, they confused him and
they end up getting behind and that game was over. And so I can back, can put a lot of pressure on their offense and we'll see what happens there. Yeah. And then on the other side, I like I like the Ravens. I think they're just too good on offense and defense. I think, as much as I hate to say this, I think it's their year and you know, I like them to win. And then in the other game, trying to help me out here, I don't one everybody forgot. It's the anti game, that the orphan game. It's the Rams
in the Lions and the Buccaneers of the line. Goodness, I'm sorry, give me, give me Detroit to win that game. I think they win it handedly. I'm kind of with you there. But this I told Trey the same things I'll tell you. If all four underdogs win this week, and this is not a betting show, I'm just saying undogs in general, it would not shock me a bit. It would not shock me one bit. If all four road teams won this week. But well, CJ. Stroud is Dan Marino. I mean, this guy's he's him two point zero
Dan Marino. He is. His release is unbelievable. And I know people are like, well, he's more athletic than dam MARINEO, and he is, but he's he loves to sit in the pocket to the football and he's got such a quick relief. Listen, I remember TJ. Watt earlier this year saying after that game that he's never seen anybody that could throw the balls fast as that kid throws it. And that's praise coming from t J.
Watt. Here's the real, here's the reality. If they beat Baltimore, if they be will if they beat Baltimore, which to me is clearly right now the only complete dominant team left in that AFC right now, maybe that changes they went. If they're three wins away from putting something on CJ. Stroud's finger that Dan Marino has never had a damn ring in year one, and that's amazing in the in a rookie season. I can't believe more people
aren't talking about it. It's like an MVP candidate type of season. Yeah, honestly, that kid's unbelievable. He's uh, he's gonna be a star league and so so short Love. I'm telling you, man, after the Dealers game, Jordan Love just is a different player. And I'm glad we didn't play that Jordan Love when he came to Pittsburgh a few months ago. We would have lost that game. We played that Jordan Love. That was Bryce's best game all year, and I think it raised his game up a
little bit and I'm hoping for Panthers fans that it continues. But man, they got a long road thanks to the former minority share owner of your team, the Steelers. They got a lot of work to do. But hopefully you can in some of that good uh that gins are luck down our way and give us a few of those winning seasons you've had. Will you always win? At the Clemson Insider, my friend, and we'll be catching up with you soon, my friend. Good to talk to you, all right,
Nice talking to you guys. We'll talk to you later.