The Dave Pasch Podcast - Dusty Dvoracek

get his thoughts on college football realignment. We'll talk NFL, specifically the Arizona Cardinals. Dusty has a unique connection to several players on the Cardinals, particularly and most importantly Kyler Murray, who played at Oklahoma where Dusty played, and Dusty currently lives in Norman, so he's very close to the situation there with Kyler and also Hollywood Brown and gives us his thoughts and what Cardinal fans can expect from that

duo here in twenty twenty two. I can't wait to see if it's a rep a case, but they're able to do it. Oklahoma, I mean is named Hollywood for a reason. It's life camera action when mister Brown and mister Murray on the field together. We'll also discuss how Dusty almost became a professional wrestler, and how one of Dusty's teammates not only became a professional wrestler but became a champion. All that and more coming up with Dusty Divorceeck.

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Next step, All right, let's talk some Cardinals, some college football, and a whole lot more with ESPN ABC broadcaster Dusty Divorceeck. So, Dusty, just a few weeks ago, Cliff Kingsbury was in here doing the podcast and he said, Hey, I saw your boy, Dusty. I was walking by the TV and he's on Big twelve Media Day on ESPN, And the first thing he said to me, Dusty said, man, I still have nightmares

about that guy. But then he said, I don't know what's scarier the memories of him with the long hair coming at me and hitting me square in the back or the fact that now he's all clean cut like it was. So it's so good. First of all, I'm a huge fan of Cliff. You know, we go way back, and I gotta tell you I enjoyed getting a chance to play against him, but I really enjoyed in two thousand and two and I had a chance to sack him. Now was but twice in the same game, but he was.

He was a great player for them. And yes, my look is probably lightly different, as you know, partner, a little bit more cleaned up, but I'm more trimmed up and long hair has been cut. About fifty to sixty pounds has been shed. Got to keep it tight and look good. Then next to you up in the boot. So times they have a change. But man, I appreciate Cliff saying that. I definitely definitely had some battles back

in the day when he was running that red rid offense. Well, I think he still mad at us because we did both the Texas and Oklahoma Texas Tech Games last year. I can't remember the combined score, but it was like one hundred and thirty to ten or something like that. Speaking of hair, so one of your best friends is Brian Urlaker. And it's funny, man, every time I go into Chicago, they're billboards everywhere, and you know, for O'Hare Airport, they play on the hair so it's spelled differently and

it's a picture of Erlacker. And I told these guys. I told Ron Wolfley, who I worked the Cardinal Games with, and Jim one Hunter or the producer, that there is an offer that is standing for me to hook up with her Lacker to get this hair deal so that I have some sprouts because I'm shaving it right now because I don't know what to do with it because if I grow it out at all, it looks terrible. So I don't know. Man, I feel like now I'm fifty. I just turned fifty. I feel like I'm I'm past

I'm beyond it. I can't do that. Now, give me your thoughts on that. I know Brian's cool and he'll help me out if I want to do it. But I feel like I'm I'm at the point of no return with regard to the hair. I think you look magnificent with a bald head. You make a bald head look cool. So I am in no way saying that you need to add sprouts, that you need to go and have any kind of procedure done. But I will

say they do a really good job. So if you were, you know, if you're looking, and you know I've made the call, all you have to do is give the go ahead and it's done. Gave pass. And I saw some pictures. I think I saw a video of you from like nineteen ninety one at Syracuse. I mean, you had this beautiful, luscious, unbelievable quaff of hair up there. If you want to go back there, if you want to hit the time machine, all you have to do is say the word and it's done, because the guys

up there are fantastic and gave. I think, really, you're in a win win situation. You look great bald, and you clearly looked you looked outstanding when you had a full head of hair. So I don't think you can make a wrong decision. Just the question is you are stepping that time machine or not? Or are you happy with where you're currently at right now. I can't make those decisions for you. I just think you're in a great spot. Man. You're in a win win no losers

here day. All right, Well, let's step but into the time machine with you. For those that maybe are primarily Cardinal fans, I live here in Arizona and don't know completely the background for Dusty to Vorchek. You were a great player at Oklahoma, multiple All Big Twelve performer at on the defensive line, and then a third round pick of the Bears, where you became friends with her Lacker.

I've had so many people on this pod, Dusty, that are connected to the two thousand and six Monday Night football game, which we fondly here called the Monday Night Meltdown. I'm trying to remember. I know that was your rookie year. Were you hurt for that game here in Phoenix? I was. I was there though, because I love you had to

travel with the team to all the games. But yeah, at that point I had foot surgery, had broken bone to my foot earlier in the season, so I was not playing, but I was there, and that was one that you never forget as a player. You guys, I believe Matt Liner with the quarterback in that game, you guys completely were dismantling us. The offense couldn't do anything. Rex was a mess, the running game was non existent. Our defense is what we hung I had on that year,

and you guys were having success on our defense. But then it was a couple of turnovers and it was the Devin Hester punt return that I still don't know why you guys kicked it to him, but I'm just being completely honest, but I'm glad you did. It was one of those that you'll never forget, like it's it's and obviously the dinner screen postgame press conference is one of the all time greats, every one that will live in an all of a postgame press conference floor. But yeah,

I remember like it was yesterday. Why I believe we had a I think it was what her Lacker ripped one out and Peanut Tillman maybe have a peanut punch. I know my name, Mark Anderson was a rookie at the time. I had a sack strip fumble. I still don't know, Dave how we found a way to win

that game. We didn't even have an offensive touchdown, if memory serves, it was all defense, special teams, and somehow we escaped the desert with a victory and an epic meltdown that we were all watching, I think on the plane light home or once we got home. It was on ESPN, so it was It was a game that, you know, really helped catapult us on a road to

the Super Bowl. We were just having that kind of a magical year where even when things weren't going right, we found a way to win games and ultimately Peyton Manning had to last laugh in Miami that year. But that's a game that even though I didn't step foot on the field as a player, I was in the building and it's definitely one I'll never forget. What would

be your advice? I know injuries deralled your career in the NFL, What would be your advice for some younger defensive lineman, you know the Cardinals with Chandler Jones gone, we've got to figure out, Okay, is it going to be in terms of pass rush manufacturing it or are we going to rely on you know, Marcus Golden who did have actually, you know, double digit sacks last year to have another big year. But the Cardinals draft Cam

Thomas out of San Diego State. Uh. There are several young guys, guys you probably have covered doing college football for ESPN, or Chard Lawrence for out of LSU, Zach Allen out of Boston College, a lot of young defensive lineman. That's a position the Cardinals are really relying on. What would be your advice, Dusty for young guys at that position trying to break out in the NFL. I mean, I think the biggest thing I would say, especially an

outlooking back days, take care of your body. I mean, because that's a that's a brutal position and man down anywhere along there, I mean after J. J. Watt, I think you've got to take care of your body. And I think that that's one thing looking back, I thought I was taking care of my body. I think there are even more resources now, you know, six you know, sixteen years since I was a rookie than there was when I was there. But I think that your health

is always first and foremost your feet and hands. Take care of those things. Anything you can do, you know, year round, but especially in season, whether it's cold tubs, massages, you know what you're putting in your body in season. I think it's the utmost importance. You take that stuff for granted. I feel like and you're like, I don't know, I don't already worry about I'm yelling, I'm fine, I'm healthy. I think that's one of the things I would say

first and foremost. And you know, the reality is, you know, you've got to be a physical a physical player. I would always tell players, you know, the mindset is different up there. But I think that aside from just kind of and you know my mindset, you're up in the boots with me. I'm just kind of wired that way

all the time. I think that film study, it's really probably one of the biggest reasons I even had a chance to play, is so important, right, I mean, you're gonna work and technique and hand placement and get off and you know your footwork, your hands, all those things are really important and different pass rush moves and how you counter and having a plan. But I think even though you play, you know you're not a linebacker, you're

not a safety. But really being a student of the game, understanding you know, formations, understanding backsets, knowing what I'm anticipating

here on second seven tendencies of teams. I think that that pays just a mental aspect of the game, even for a nose tackle or a defensive end or a three technique, whatever position you play, you can give yourself such an added advantage if you put the extra time operation work in so that you know, you've got to tip, you've got to tell, you've got an idea of potentially what to anticipate, and it's going to help put you in position to succeed the physical toll and physical demands

of playing along the line of scrimmage in the NFL is amens in any way you can give yourself that added advantage. I would really really push young players to do all that they can in those two areas. Taking care of your body and being sure that you are as well versed in your scheme as well as your opponent scheme and the guys you're going against you can

each and every week. That's going to give you the best opportunity for longevity and to have success on the field in the National Football Well, I'm glad you brought up dust the mental side of it. I'm not sure that a lot of guys coming into the NFL from college realize the mental toll that playing in the NFL takes. How smart everybody is at this level, even on the defensive line, and how fast things go, and how you

just have to react. But you react because you know what you're doing based on film study, you know what you're looking at. You know one guy that you know we're hoping here in your two takes a big step as a guy I know you saw in college at Tulsa Zavin Collins, who was the first round pick last year. He played a lot in the first preseason game. We showed one, you know, we did the TV game and there was one play where he kind of shoulder blocked a guy and the running back ran right behind him.

He's still trying to figure it out. It has slowed down for him some, but watching him, it's it's still a work in process, in progress, and I'm just wondering, like, when you're a teammate, do you see it, do you know it? How much advice can you get? How much talking from a coaching standpoint or a teammate standpoint can you give a guy until you just let him go and you and you let him try to play fast as opposed to always coaching or always telling him, hey,

this is what you need to do. It's a delicate balance and it's a great question, Dave. You know, I did get a chance to watch David Collins a lot. I'm a big fan of his. I like his overall size. I think he's very good and pass covers, covers a lot of space, has a good feel for passing windows. And so you know, as you said, I think he's still learning. I think as as a coach or a teammates, you know, you don't want to over coach or have

someone overthinking. If you're thinking too much, then you're gonna you're gonna be slow to go right, and you want to get to a place where everything is second nature, kind of like you talked about no difference in the

defensive line. So I would imagine when you're in the film room, right, that is to me, when you really want to try to impress upon anything that you can, whether you're a teammate or a coach, When you're sitting there in that film room and you're studying the tape, that's when I think you're overly critical that's when I think you're really coaching them up and you know, explain exactly what to do. Once you get on the field. I think you got to kind of just let guys go.

And that's obviously where you'd like to see that light bulb start to come on for Xavian Collins on the practice field as well as on the game field, because the last thing I think you want in game is somebody in your ear too much. You're in game, you're in practice, and then all of a sudden, you're starting to think about everything everybody's saying to you, and it's going to force you to be slower. So I always

think it's it's far more productive. I think you can't coach somebody you know in a preseason game on a practice field, not saying that at all. But if there's a time to be overly critical or really try to push your point and get into think, I think that's

in the film room. I think that's the perfect time where you can explain it, you can show it, and you can describe exactly what's expected of you and maybe where you took a wrong step, where your eyes are in the wrong place, and how you can correct that. I think once you get on the field, you know, you want guys trusting their instinct, trusting their film study, trusting the knowledge that they feel that they have and go out there and play as quickly as they can.

So who am I to criticize or judge the way anybody's going to coach a linebacker. But I know for me individually, that's where it was always best for me, you know, really utilizing that that film room with the staff, with the other teammates, because at least the rooms I was in a lot of times it was a discussion.

You know, coach may make a point, and I was fortunate in Chicago I play with some quality veterans and a guy like Alex Brown or Ada Walle goulier No they were quick to add a point, to give a tip and add on to potentially what a coach was going to say. And I always felt it pays you dividends and then we go out there on the field. You know, it would allow me to be able to

play fast. Hopefully that happens for Zaven Collins. I know, when you take a guy as high as they did, I believe around tip sixteen, a lot expected and I think, you know, you and I've kind of talked about this with Simmons the year before. It seemed like he made a real jump from his first year to the second year in college. I think a lot of guys making huge jump from their freshman years of sophomore year. I think you can see sometimes a similar path in the

National Football League. There's a lot of the play of the second level linebacker in the NFL. So hopefully, even though it sounds like you, maybe we saw a little bit of those ailments in Week one from Dave, and hopefully we start to see him getting a better understanding playing a little bit faster here in the coming weeks. Another guy that you and I talked about weekly last year was Kyler Murray. And you have been as bullish on Kyler going back to when he came out and

was the number one pick in the draft. And I'm sure part of the reason is you're close to him, You're close to the situation, you live in Norman, you played at Oklahoma, and you covered him in college, and I'm curious, why why were you? He has not disappointed. He's been to two Pro Bowls, he was the offensive

rookie of the year. But again, you were one of the guys that said, he's he's going to be a star, Like there's no doubt the sizes in an issue, He's got the arm strength, and obviously his athletic ability was not a question. But why were you so on top of it? Do you think when he came out. I just think he's as remarkable and athletes you've ever seen in professional sports. I mean, and I think the proofs

in the pudding. I believe the status, and please correct me if I'm wrong day, because you know I'm wrong a lot, but I believe the status. We've never we've never had another player be selected in the first round of two of the major you know, five sports in multiple sports, and he was a top ten pick nine baseball at number one in football. If that doesn't help illustrate just the god given abilities he has, I don't

know what does. I also take you back through when he was at Alan High School and my grandfather, I don't forget I came back. I think I was with the Bears, and I came home at one point and was in the offseason right after the year, and got back and we were having dinner with my grandparents and my grandpa he had always watched the Texas high school football state championships because it'd be on like local TV. And he's like telling me about this kid from Allen, Texas.

And you know, my grandfather, not that he's an NFL scout, but he's been watching football for a long time, and he was telling me about this this little guy from Allen, Texas, and he told me he's the most unbelievable player I've ever seen. And we all know he went forty three and in Texas High School, which some of the best high school football you will find anywhere, and he's an

absolute legend. And then I got a chance to see him firsthand right there, Norman, as you're alluded to, and I was I just marvel at his talent, at his acceleration, at his ability to feel pressure. And then you see the ball come out of his arm, and he's got an absolute cannon for a guy his size, and so I just, you know, I just always I just always trust it. Man. This is a guy that if I'm on the other side of the ball, I don't want to see him. He scares the heck out of the day.

And not many things scare me, but a guy like him, who can do what he does with his mobility so tough to to be able to confine in a tight space, and then you know, at any moment's notice can really throw it from any arm animal on an absolute rope wherever he wants. That's scary, and so I just I didn't. I didn't never concern myself with this guide. It's fascinating that I start with my advice for the defensive lineman his film study, and we all know the whole situation

that was in the contract. I never heard that about him at Oklahoma like that was. I don't want to say it's news to me, but I never heard anybody say that he's not dialed in, he's not focused, he's not putting an extra work aside from the field. So that was a bit of a new element to kind of see. I'll just say this, I truly believe. And when you look at how quickly he's been able to translate his game from college to the NFL, we see all the things I've described. You Cardinal fans, they see it.

You see it, Dave. He can do things that very few people on the planet can do with the quarterback spot. My hope for him is that regardless if the clause is in the contract not in the contract. To me, it doesn't matter. The reality is he has a chance to be a special player for a long time. He has the chance to be a top five quarterback end this league. I believe he's still right there is a fringe top ten guy. I think he's a top five quarterback now. He's still very young, and he still has

a lot to learn. And my hope is, at the very least, there was all this conversation around this clause, and however you want to view it, I hope he can look at that and say, you know, and just ask himself. And I really like Tyler a lot I spent I spent quite a bit of time with Coylor. I hope he can look himself in there and ask himself, am I doing everything I can to be the best that I can? Am I doing everything that I can each and every day to maximize my opportunity that I

have right now in the National Football League? And if the answer to that question is no, then hopefully he looks at this as an opportunity to start to put that extra work in, to start to really understand that, you know what It takes more than just natural talent natural ability. It takes extra work at this position more so than any other if you want to be elite, if you want to be one of the best of the best. And so a lot of conversation has been had over that topic. I'm sure you've had to have

it as well. I look at this as potentially an eye opening moment and one that if he's not doing all the things away from the facility, then he needs to be doing. He looks at this, he views it, and he says, Okay, no one's ever going to say this about me. If I'm not the best quarterback in the NFL, it won't be because I didn't put in the extra time and I didn't do everything I could

each and every week to fully prepare. Because I believe Dave, as you know, and we've had long, lengthy conversations with you, me and other members of our crew, and I am team Kyler through and through. I do believe if he fully puts that aspect of his game with the guy's given ability, the sky's the limit for him, and the sky's the limit for the sazon of the Cardinals team. Moving forward, another guy that you know well is Marquis Brown.

And when Cliff was on the podcast a few weeks ago, of all the things he said, what stood out to me Dusty the most was And as you know, Cliff and Lincoln Riley are very close. He said, Lincoln told him Marcus Brown's the best practice player he's ever seen. And I'm sure you read a lot of those practices. I'm sure you saw a lot of Marquis Brown. He and Kyler are best friends. What do Cardinal fans have to look forward to with Hollywood and the connection with Kyler, Well,

you know, there's a lot of trust. First of all, like you said, that connection is very real. They trust each other immensely. I think just from a timing perspective, they're going to be about as Valvin as anybody. They had unbelievable report together at Oklahoma. You know, Hollywood is a great practice player. Like he puts in the work. I mean it's very evident he has worked his tail off. He gets to where he is at this point in his career to morph himself into a first round pick.

You know, his top end speed is clearly there. I think he tracks the football very very well. He's tough to deal with and type spaces, and I'm fascinating to see exactly, you know, how Cliff gets him involved and what his role is going to be. You know, he's tough to deal with a man to man coverage. You know, it's just a very difficult guy to be able to run with. And I think you can move them around a little bit at wide receiver and play him in

different spots. You know, clearly this is a guy that Tyler I'm sure wanted to get in Arizona, and you know the fact that there is that trust, there is that chemistry, there is that history together. I can't wait to see if they can replicate what they're able to do it Oklahoma. You know, Marquiss he had a foot at the end of his career at Oklahoma the league. It forced him to miss that playoff game against Alabama

that year. So it was unfortunate that we couldn't get a you know, the real Marquis Brown that final time out there with Tyler Murray in the postseason. And I'm I'm excited that they get a chance to reunite and rekindle what was just an unbelievable connection between those two. So, I mean, he's his name's Hollywood for a reason, and I know that he hails from that part of Florida. But it's life camera action when when mister Brown and

mister Murray on the field together. So put me in the camp that can't wait to see exactly what it looks like in the NFL. And I would imagine Cliffs is excited about different ways he's going to utilize him and shot it and probably some of the matchups he's going to be able to create. I didn't realize until I started working with you last year just how many people you know we've already talked about, Uh you're you know, Brian or Lacker being one of your best friends. And

Kevin Casper, another guy, former Cardinal. His son Kyler is at Oregon, right, he was one of the top recruits in the country. That's absolutely right. And and David, you know, I did call that area home for about six months. It was a brief day, but we moved out to the Maricopa County area a few years ago, and I got to be really good friends with Kevin Casper, and well, he loves the Arizona Cardinals and his time there. It

brought him to the family back to that area. And you know, his son is one of the top receivers coming out. He's up at Oregon. Now Kyler is anticipate, it's going to do really good things. And you know, the one thing about Kevin and I'm sure I don't know how much Cardinals fans do this at the time, but you want to talk about work ethic. I've seen still at this point in his life, and he's probably at about point two percent body fat. I mean, he

is chiseled from granite. But you know, he works about as hard as anybody I've ever been around. It's why he's able to have a nice career in the National Football League from being a walk on at Iowa, I think carving out seven or eight years professionally. His sons are the exact same way, and I've had a chance to watch them, you know firsthand, the way they work, that they put in and that's just a It's a great family and I'm fired up and excited about what

he potentially has moving for it. And I'll tell you this one thing. I didn't realize that area, you know, the Gilbert Chandler temptee, just that whole kind of area that you live in and a lot of Cardinals fans live in the amount of college talent that's coming out of those areas right now is immense. I mean every year, I feel like you see more and more and more a lot of it. I think, you know how to former professional athletes moving out there because it's such a

great place to call home. But that's one thing that I did not realize probably prior to the last three or four years, and I had a chance to go out there and now pay a little bit closer attention. But that has become a hotbed for a lot of different, you know, fantastic high school players coming out and turned into some of the top college recruits here in year out. But yeah, Kevin Casper and his son Kyler Casper definitely a name to keep an eye on moving forward here

this upcoming college football season the years to come. Yeah, we saw Kevin at they had this back together Saturday for the first practice and there were a lot of Cardinal alumni that were there and Kevin was there, and you're right, he looks like he's twenty three years old. You know. It's interesting too. You brought up the high school football and how good high school football is in this area, Kyle Van and Bosho does some broadcasting stuff

with the Cardinals. Now he's an assistant coach at a high school here locally, and he was saying the same thing, how many great players there are in this area, and you know it's ever expanding. You were out here for a little bit and so just a larger pool of great players to be able to play d One. Another guy that you're close with is Jim Ross. And I'm curious is because I know you were recruited. Was it coming out of Oklahoma to become a professional wrestler And

was it Jim Ross that recruited you? Yes? So Jr. You know, legend in the wrestling world, famous for the infamous black hat, black cowboy hat that he wears. He is a major Oklahoma fan. And Jim actually he still keeps the House series also down in Jacksonville now with the new aw But he him and his wife lived here in Norman and he would always be on the sideline at home of games, him and Toby Keith of

all people. And you know, I don't don't know if I should say this, but I'll say it to you since I'm on the Pott the past pot but whenever we'd be in blowouts, we you know, we get to come out of game and we'd stand down there, and I got to know Toby Keith and I got to know Jim Ross really well. So a relationship formed when I was still in college. And I don't know if you're gonna have a picture of me or not, but for people that don't know, I used to weigh about

three hundred five pounds. I had bleached blonde hair down the middle of my back. I wore wore paint like the Ultimate Warrior on my face. I got tattoos on my back, in my arms and my shoulder, so I looked like I got a cast member out of the professional wrestling did. And I grew up in high school and stuff. I was a big as a kid. I was a big wrestling fan. And so like when I first started chanting to meet Jim Ross, Wow, it's incredible. Then I just got to know him. He's got to

be a friend. And he always kind of said like, hey man, you know, we'd love to have you, you know, if you'd like. And so he used to always have these conversations when I was still incompetence, and you know, as it got closer and closer to the end of my playing days in college, it felt and it seemed like I was gonna have an opportunity the NFL, and it's like, I can't pass on this opportunity. But you never know, maybe after I'm done playing, potentially I could.

I could give that a try. Well, since I've passed. My roommate at the time was a guy named Jay Kagar or his wrestling name became Jack Swagger, And so it wasn't me it got the wrestling dude. It was my roommate who was also a defensive lineman who had a wrestling background. He's actually the guy who introduced me to my wife from little Old Perry, Oklahoma. Instead of Me saying yes to Jim, it was Jake that did.

And Jake went on to have a great career, was actually a champ, you know, world champion at one point, and the w W under Jack Swagger. He is still actually wrestling in the AW. So when my football playing days were over, days they were over because my body was broke down and beat up. I had had two torn acls, I had had two roughs and biceps ten that I had to shoulder surgery had a foot surgery and I was coming off another banged up knee from

my last year in the UFL. So there was a conversation between me and Jim, but it was a very short and quick one. The body it was tapping out already. There was no way I was stepping foot in the ring. But every now and again, Dave, I do think about what might have been, what might have been the persona of Dustin of Vorchek if he would have said yes to Jim Ross and he would have stepped foot in

that ring. I don't know exactly what that would have looked or said, I'm like, but it's fun to think about. I can tell you that what would you would you have changed your name? Because there are two former Cardinals who are in professional wrestling, uh Dean Muttati. I don't think he played a lot, but he went by the name of Mojoe Rawley and then Tom Pestock, who I remember in training camp fighting. I can't remember who he fought, but he got in a fight and nobody wanted any

part of him because he was a great boxer. Uh he is. He goes by Baron Corbin. I don't know if these names are familiar to you. But would you have change your name at all? I would have done whatever they told me too. You know, I grew up an Arnold fan. You know there was a Conan, the Barbarian, the Destroyer. I always thought Dusty's a destroyer. I would have liked to keep part of it. I think that would have fit me very well. Was where I was, you know, come out of college, or where I was

when I was finishing up my plane? Care? What do you think that that? Yeah? That's good. I like that because I mean, like hul Cogan's name is like a I mean Dusty. You keep Dusty like hul Cogan, I think totally changed his name. I can't remember what it is. But then you had like mister wonderful Paul Orndorf if I don't know if that was his real name, he just added it Rowdy Roddy Piper used to wear the kilt. Would you have had like a well, you couldn't steal

that and wear a kilt? Would you have had like a an outfit that would coincide with the name appropriately Dusty to destroyer? I think so? You know, as I think about it, you know we could have gone so you can't go Dusty Rhodes, Dusty Trails, dusty bottoms, but Dusty is a destroyer. Yeah, I mean I always I always really like UM. I always really liked um. You

know the various guys. I mean, face paint would have happened then something that I was a part of the Bushwhackers back in the day and they kind of did there, you know, up and down thing. Um. I don't. I don't know exactly what my outfull would have been, Dave, I didn't get that far down the line. But I'll

tell you what, You've got a creative mind. I mean, you can you can gladly put me something together if you want to be you know, I'm only I'm not forty yet, so I could always make a comeback potentially, and if you're able to put the right outfit together, that might finally give me the final push that I

need to go over the top. I definitely don't think I would have been one and like the Spandex underwear, like I envisioned me more something in like a long pant with a boot, So I think probably something in that genre. You know, if I could have worn some some football pads out there that I took off before we actually started. I think that would have suited me just fine. I mean, I'm a I'm a nose tackle at heart. I'm a nose tackle threw and threw. I

would have had to utilize that some way. Uh. You know Goldberg, he had, you know, his great move, his great finishing move I think was the spear where you essentially just gave that unbelievable shoulder and it was basically a form tackle. I would have had to incorporate something with football as my backdrop into my character, Dusty, to destroy your no question. Yeah, who knows, man, you could have been the rock, you know, former player at Miami.

We've already gone way over the time that we were supposed to have you. But I do have a couple more and I want to get to college football. But you mentioned earlier, Dusty, you finished up playing professional football in the UFL, And right now there are two other professional leagues other than the NFL. You have the USFL and then the XFL is starting back up, and your good friend and former coach Bob Stoops is one of the head coaches in the XFL. Can these other leagues succeed?

Can they survive? And thrive in your opinion, I hope so. So. I played in the UFL and it was it was a fascinating league. It was a it was a reality check. I can tell you that. You go from being at Hollis Hall on playing the Soldier field to you know, your locker as a piece of tape on a wall and a chair, like it's a reality check. But it was really good football. Like that's the thing that stuck out to me. You know, we had great coaches. Now,

Dennis Green was in our league. He coached the California team and Dante Culpepper was their quarterback. Marty Schottenheimer coach of Virginia team, and I believe on that staff, Jay Gruden was the offensive coordinator, Jim has I think was a defensive coordinator. Jim Fossil was the head coach of the Vegas team. Like we and it was real football with real players. You know, I played with guys that you know, we're former All pros, and you know, a mind Green was in our backfield. So it was like

made me really lies. Like, as you know, David, you've been around the NFL for a long time. There's good football players that don't make a fifty three for whatever reason. Maybe it's where they're out in their career, maybe it's a contract situation. But there's a lot of really good players that are fringe guys that don't make it. There's a lot of young players that maybe just don't get

that real opportunity. You know, they get overlooked through the draft and an undrafted free agent and they go to a camp and they may do a couple of good things, but it's just on the cards, you know, they just they're not able to make the fifty three, they can't make the practice squad, and then they're done. I love I really appreciated the fact that that league at least off for another opportunity. Now, I mean full disclosure. I was able to get my work really hard, is able

to get my business degree from Oklahoma. I knew football wasn't going to be forever, but I thought I could still play, and that gave me the opportunity to see if I could still go out there and do it. And though I didn't get picked up for many NFL teams, several of my teammates did. And it gave a couple of guys that are still playing opportunities that they would have never had had that league not been around, so you know the financial side of it, and the league

ultimately folded the year after I left. I played in their two years and body just completely gave out and I was done. But you know, I do think there's a place for it. You know, this USFL, the way they did it this year, having all the games in Birmingham, I don't like that. The one thing I appreciate, I played Omall and we packed out Rosenblatt. We we have because I played in the last year Rosenblatt. In the first year t Americate, we had sellouts. Like the town

of Omall. The city of Omall fully embraced it. They were all in. It was good environment, It's great, it's real football, and I really, I mean, I enjoyed it. I really really appreciated my time in that league, and I appreciated the fact that it was at least an opportunity. And I do think though that having a centralized hub, without having true home field advantages, you know, without having places where fans can get behind something, I think it

makes it difficult because atmosphere matters. So I can't say I think that's the perfect model. I'm intrigued at the XFL. I think the Rock is a very smart, business savvy guy. I hope they're able to sell it and it's able to in some way grab holds. I don't think that we have to have more football in this country, but I do think there's a place for it if it

can be marketed and put in the right spots. And the biggest reason I'm an advocate is because I think it creates opportunities for a lot of guys that if we don't have these leagues, they're just not there. And I'm all about opportunity, and you know, the more we can get to that, I think the better. So I'm

rooting for it to work. Obviously, my former right coach and the man that I love, and Bob Stubs, you know, he doesn't want to go full blown into coaching, but he wants to dip his toe back in the water in this league, and I'll be rooting for him, and I'm rooting for all these guys. I'd love it if they could get the right management, the right plan in place for its work. It felt like the XFL last time I had a chance, then COVID hit and erect everything right, So we'll see now if the Rocks and

can reboot this thing and get it going. I can't sider and say with conviction, yes it's one hundred percent go to work, but I feel that there's a place for it. It serves a purpose, and personally, I'll be

one that hopes it to see. Along with being one of the top college football analysts on ESPN and ABCU, host a daily morning college football show, Dusty and Danny in the Morning, Sirius XM, ESPN you radio, so you are as dialed in on college football as anybody, and I'm sure you guys have talked a lot about this. I was shocked when and I'm close to it because I do you know, a ton of Pack twelve basketball

for ESPN. I was shocked when UCLA and USC announced that they were leaving for the Big Ten and just thinking about how long it's going to take the equipment truck to get from Los Angeles to Rutgers. You know, people forget that it's not just about the players, it's they've got to get equipment there and it can't all go on the plane. Eventually, how many conferences do you think we'll have? I guess what I'm asking is, we know we're not done with realignment. Where does this end

up ultimately two, three, five years from now. It's a fascinating question, and it's a million dollar question. And to be completely honest, I don't know if anyone those days. I can give you a couple of thoughts. I think there's a good chance that it's set up in its similar to the National Football League and then it's a Big Ten the SEC. Where does that stop you from

major college football? And then maybe next year down you know, maybe it splits off and it's kind of like a Division two if you will, and they're competing for a different national championship. You know, it would make sense. I mean, these are two mega leagues for the two biggest bullish brands out there. And if there was essentially like a North and a South, right you had your AFC, your NFC, and you kind of already got a lines are on

the sand. Foxes is pretty much embedded there with the Big Ten, and espn is is very much in business with the SEC. I could see that happening. Ultimately. Does Greg Sanky Commissioner the SEC, Kevin Warren Commissioner the Big Ten, do they want to go that route because I think they hold most of the cards. If they want to split off and form their own thing, they can do it. There's no doubt that the money is there, the interest

would be there, the matchups would be phenomenal. Like there's a lot about that that you're life man, that it's basically become the NFL life And where does it stop? You know, currently each of those leagues has sixteen sixteen and sixteen thirty two. Sounds very familiar, but there's a lot of marquee brands Florida State, Clemson, Miami, Oregon, Washington, you know even more that I would say Oklahoma State,

and what happens with those teams. So if we were to go to that two league system, if Sankey and warren't decide this is the direction we want to go, this is where we're going to house our conferences. You know, how many more do they add? Is it twenty a league and they get to forty teams? You know, I've talked for a lot of college football coaches and I've heard a lot of them say they think it heading to two super conferences? Is that the case? I don't know.

I could also see it potentially, you know, going to four and maybe you know, the Act twelve. We'll see if if the Big Ten decide k we want Oregon and Washington, you know, what happens to the rest of that league. There's been a lot of rumors about but since the Arizona schools, as well as Utah and Colorado joining in the Big Twelve. At some point, you know, Notre Dame's a real wild card in this. You know, do they stay independent, they may join a league. There's

so many questions, and we really don't know. Personally, I'm a bit of a traditional I don't want to see a lot of these other schools just completely go to the wayside and be eradicated from major college football. I grew up in Big twelve country day. I think about Kansas State and those fans in Manhattan. I think about

Iowa State, those fans and names Iowa, you know. I think about some of these other schools, some of these other programs that if the music stops and they don't have a home, what becomes of them, what becomes of their athletic depart I think about a Luke Fickle at Cincinnati who they've worked so hard to get to the Big twelve right to get over this stigma of being a group of five school and they finally get there,

and he sticks around for it. And then if they're not even a part of the equation for major college football competing for championships, you know that rubs me the wrong way. You and I hate to dance around the question, but the reality is there's so many scenarios that could play out. I don't know exactly what's direction it goes, but it does feel like the Big Ten in the SEC, they hold the cards and they're going to be the one to make the decision. Is this a two team

major college football league? Is this a multiple you know, college football league? Ultimately, I think that answer resides with Kevin Warren and Greg Sankey, and I think if you put a truth sermon them, they don't fully know exactly what that's going to be yet. Kevin Warren the commissioner or the Big Ten, Greg Sankey commissioner or the SEC. I don't think you danced around it. You gave an honest answer. No one knows, but it does feel like

we are far from over. I'm sure the contracts for a lot of the conferences that currently are in existence. The TV contracts could determine eventually where we land, but one thing is for certain, We're not done. Last question, dust, I don't know if you've given your playoff predictions for college football yet. We will have Clemson Labor Day night. We're doing the Chick fil A kickoff game on ESPN. It's an eight Eastern kick. You me Tom Luganville down

on the field as the field analysts. That's our Week one assignment. And a lot of people have Clemson back in the College Football Playoff. And it may not be because Djula is the quarterback. Maybe it's Kad Klubnick, who, like Trevor Lawrence, was a big time recruit, may end up playing a lot, maybe even starting early on, maybe even starting Week one. We don't know yet. But do you see Clemson climbing back into the college football Playoff? And who are some of the other teams to watch?

Alabama is going to be scary good, scary good. They might have the two best players in the country. For Cardinals fans, if you haven't seen Will Anderson, thirty one, the outside stand up backer for them, play, you need to watch him. He's as good a defensive players I've seen a long time, and they've got a young kid, Dallas Turner opposite him, Houston Satchel. That defense is going to be Georgia from last year esque. And then you've got you've got the raigning Heisman Trophy winner coming back.

On offense, it's gonna be really good Ohio State's offense. Wow. C J. Stroud, trevieon Henderson, You and I Dave had a chance to call one of their games last year. They are They are special. Jasin Smith and Jigbus a receiver to keep your eye on. Marvin Harrison Junior is a name to watch out for, someone that's going to be an emerging star this year in college football. And they just had a new defensive coordinator from Oklahoma State

and Jim Knowles. They've got real talent up front. Jack Sawyer's a young tenom defensive end that going into a second year in college he's probably got a chance to really break out. Those are the two best teams in the country heading into the year. I do, I mean, I don't know how I do. I don't like to be Chalky Dave, but I don't know how you don't pick those two teams to win their leagues and being

the playoff. I do think Clemson gets back. I do think Clemson their defense is going to be special, and that's without their defensive coordinator, my former defensive coordinator who's now the head coach at Oklahoma and bring ventibles. But they've got a guy in Brian Percy who missed all of the last year at an injury, one of the outstanding defensive tackles in the country, Models Murphy. You know, they've got speed at linebacker, they got talent in the secondary.

They've got a running back at Will Shipley who's an absolute horse in the back. So they got big, long, athletic wide receivers. I think their offensive line is going to be better. The question is, like you kind of laid it up. Who's gonna be playing quarterback? DJ and Louis Lay. I feel like we've heard nothing but confident talk at a Davos Sweeney at to most people around Clemson.

I think the leash is going to be short. You know, we did their bowl game against Tylo State, Dave they liked this Kate Plusna kid and all reports that I've heard from spring and fall camp. He's just to come in and back it up and the last time we saw a quarterback situation where Dabo made the move to a true freshman wasn't that long ago. As Trevor Lawrence, they won a national championship. They've got the pieces in place to not just win the acc but makes the

noise in the playoffs. If they get that position right, it's gonna be one of the more fascinating stories in all of college football. And we get a chance to start to tell that story in Week one there in Atlanta and the chick toil a kickoff against Georgia Tech. So if they get that position right, they're another team that should be put right there in a similar conversation as Ohio State in Alabama. You know, I was a Georgia fan last year, and I think they got a

lot coming back. I'm not writing them off, but they got to replace five first round picks on the defensive side, and they got great players from back Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith or a couple and along that front seven. But I think they take a step back to the team that I've got my eye on, Dave is the Utah youth. So if you're looking for a sleeper, if you didn't call him a sleeper the Rainy packtwel champion. They bring their quarterback back, they bring a lot of key pieces.

They got replace the linebacker and Devin Lloyd sensational. But I like Kyle Whittingham the head coach. I like the toughness, sea and skills, the brand of football that he plays and coaches, the lineup and the hitcher right in the mouth along the line of scrimmage. I got Utah as a team that potentially gets to the playoff, and he gets the Pack twelve back to some relevancy. I know the spotlight and all the talk is on the team

out in LA with USC and rightfully so. Lincoln Riley's a heck of a coach, and he's got some marquee players. But I've got Utah as a team that could potentially cracked that college football playoff that I would say aren't on a lot of people's top four, but they're likely going to be on mine before the season starts. Listen, Dusty, great stuff man. Appreciate the time, and we could have

probably talked for another hour. A lot of things that we definitely could have gotten into, but I feel like we covered a ton and maybe We'll save all that for part two at some point. Man, I love that and just not that I have to tell your listeners. I'm sure they're loyal Arizona Cardinal fans and they listen to you on the radio all the time. But you're one of the absolute best, and you're an even better guy. Phenomenal what you do. You made me better last year.

I'm fired up. I get a chance to say I get to share a boots of you this season. It's a pleasure every time we get in there, but I actually enjoy It's funny the games are with you. I enjoy the pal time, the time we get to hang out and just get to know each other, talk about our families and just laugh and have fun and try to poorly recite James Bond movie. So it's been a pleasure of year one with a blast, as was this interview. But I'm really looking forward to your two partners. Yeah.

For people that don't know, when you work with the same crew, you fly in for a Saturday game on Thursday, a lot of times you're not leaving til Sunday, so you're it basically becomes like your second family. You're with him week after week, and one of the things we did last year, because Dusty had not seen any of the Daniel Craig James Bond movies, we I think took like three or four weeks in a row and then we watched all of them, and then we went and saw No Time to Die. And I think we're both

convinced that James Bond is still alive somewhere. In fact, I think I saw him the other day. I still can't believe that they did that to them. My wife will not watch the movie. She's that upset because she knows what happened. A few weeks all right, again, we need a spot or maybe we'll have him spot and we'll have George the Animal Steel as our statistician. Hopefully you won't eat the paper like he ate the turnbuckle back in the day when he was wrestling. No question.

Thanks for the time today, partner. Love being a part of your fantastic podcast. Thanks brother, appreciate the time. We'll definitely have to do a part two with Dusty at some point because there was so much more that I wanted to get into. But Dusty had some great stuff on his career, how he almost became a professional wrestler. I thought that whole conversation about his connection to Jim Ross was fascinating, and then how his teammate, who eventually

became Jack Swagger, became a champion. Also, the UFL stuff was really interesting because professional football gets incredible TV ratings. We know that from just seeing how the NFL has exploded over the last two decades, particularly and what that might mean for the USFL, which just finished its league a couple months back, and the XFL, which is restarting

again in twenty twenty three. I thought to the story about sacking Cliff twice and how Cliff remembers and still terrified by Dusty, I felt was good, and obviously just how close he is to Kyler Murray and Marquis Brown, given that they both played at Oklahoma that's where Dusty played, and that he lives in Norman. Some really interesting tidbits there on both guys and what Cardinal fans can expect

in twenty twenty two. We are presented by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. Tell us what you think wherever your podcast platform is get on there. Rate us if there's a guest that you want to hear from in the future. Tell us what you think, give

us your thoughts. We'd love to hear from you. Future guests include Buccaneers general manager Jason Light, Marcus Spears from ESPN, as well as CBS broadcaster Charles Davis, and many more to come over the course of two twenty two. You can follow us on Twitter at Pashpod as well. Thanks again to our guest, Dusty Dvorchik. I'm Dave Pash. Thanks again to you for listening to another edition of the Dave Pashpod.