And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.

And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks.

What's up everybody?

What's up everybody?

DJ?

DJ?

Buck here, move the sticks, Buck, what's going on? Man another man?

Buck here, move the sticks, Buck, what's going on? Man another man?

DJ? It is on and pop and training camp is in full swing. High school football is also underway, so they don't think we're waiting on his little college football to kick off, and we have all of the football going.

DJ? It is on and pop and training camp is in full swing. High school football is also underway, so they don't think we're waiting on his little college football to kick off, and we have all of the football going.

Yeah, if you'd miss Monday's episode where we broke down what transpired with all these quarterback contracts, went deep into that, but we're going to stay on that topic a little bit with our next guest, because our next guest is Yogi Roth, who is now with the Big Ten Network. Long time, I'll say it. He was the face of the PAC twelve, not only the PAC twelve network, but the entire conference. Was carrying the flag for that conference for a long time. But now as that is kind of folded and now you just have those two teams left there, he has moved on to the Big Ten Network. He also has some other interesting things going on in his work life, which excited to share with everybody out there. But here is our chat with Yogi Roth. All right, Buck here he is our good buddy, Yo you'reroth joining us now. Yog's first of all, I know, like I know the two books that you've written, have you written have written any more? I mean, I know obviously you've got five Star QB, which is the latest and greatest. You've got the Pete Carroll book, which is phenomenal. Have you written any other books? Because you have the books written to books on the shelf ratio right now I think might be a little skewede. What are we working with here?

Yeah, if you'd miss Monday's episode where we broke down what transpired with all these quarterback contracts, went deep into that, but we're going to stay on that topic a little bit with our next guest, because our next guest is Yogi Roth, who is now with the Big Ten Network. Long time, I'll say it. He was the face of the PAC twelve, not only the PAC twelve network, but the entire conference. Was carrying the flag for that conference for a long time. But now as that is kind of folded and now you just have those two teams left there, he has moved on to the Big Ten Network. He also has some other interesting things going on in his work life, which excited to share with everybody out there. But here is our chat with Yogi Roth. All right, Buck here he is our good buddy, Yo you'reroth joining us now. Yog's first of all, I know, like I know the two books that you've written, have you written have written any more? I mean, I know obviously you've got five Star QB, which is the latest and greatest. You've got the Pete Carroll book, which is phenomenal. Have you written any other books? Because you have the books written to books on the shelf ratio right now I think might be a little skewede. What are we working with here?

Yeah? You know there's two more.

Yeah? You know there's two more.

Yeah, I wrote you.

Yeah, I wrote you.

Yeah, I did a book called from Pia to La where you'd love this. It was my last year. I had a feeling been my last year on the Peek Carroll staff at SC and as I looked to like Golden pat Rule who you guys know, line coach and even Coach Carroll. I was like, would they ever remembered what it was like in Arkansas in the seventies and the lou Holtz Probably not. So I was like every night I took ten minutes and I wrote every night throughout the entire season what it was like to prep for Ohio State, What was it like for the Texas game? Like, what it was like to play everybody and my role and just the relationship ships and the whole dynamic of you know what was I thought a really special season in two thousand and nine. Uh So I ended up writing that book from Pier to La and then I actually in the pandemic when this beautiful set and all these books showed up to my house because we're all, you know, bound to our homes. Our oldest son was struggling learning how to read. So I was like, all right, how am I going to help him out here? So we wrote a book together called Finding Free Fun, which was this little boy name named Zaye who's his name? And it was and it was him trying to, you know, find free fun around California. So it was it was cool. So yeah, check those out if if you haven't mad a little reading in your training camp tour, here you go.

Yeah, I did a book called from Pia to La where you'd love this. It was my last year. I had a feeling been my last year on the Peek Carroll staff at SC and as I looked to like Golden pat Rule who you guys know, line coach and even Coach Carroll. I was like, would they ever remembered what it was like in Arkansas in the seventies and the lou Holtz Probably not. So I was like every night I took ten minutes and I wrote every night throughout the entire season what it was like to prep for Ohio State, What was it like for the Texas game? Like, what it was like to play everybody and my role and just the relationship ships and the whole dynamic of you know what was I thought a really special season in two thousand and nine. Uh So I ended up writing that book from Pier to La and then I actually in the pandemic when this beautiful set and all these books showed up to my house because we're all, you know, bound to our homes. Our oldest son was struggling learning how to read. So I was like, all right, how am I going to help him out here? So we wrote a book together called Finding Free Fun, which was this little boy name named Zaye who's his name? And it was and it was him trying to, you know, find free fun around California. So it was it was cool. So yeah, check those out if if you haven't mad a little reading in your training camp tour, here you go.

I know, I got five Star QB Bucks shipped to the house. But some reason, the other the other books never made it here. Man, I don't know, they got lost in the mail. Yeah what happened there?

I know, I got five Star QB Bucks shipped to the house. But some reason, the other the other books never made it here. Man, I don't know, they got lost in the mail. Yeah what happened there?

That's that's funny because coming off the heels of five Star QB, I want to ask you this because this is unprompted. Uh, I was in Miami over the weekend and to it just signed his deal and hearing to talk about his journey, all the noise, having to deal with the ups and downs and all those things. So I was able to ask him. I said, two, when I met you, you were sixteen. If you could you're six and yourself, what would you tell him? And he just talked about I would say, just stay on the right track. So yo, y'all want to tap into you. There are a lot of Lead eleven alums that are signing these big deals, but you've seen them kind of like sometimes at the Lewis moment where they first first time they've ever hit adversity. What have you learned from watching all of these guys going their individual journeys and a bunch of them finding success at the end of.

That's that's funny because coming off the heels of five Star QB, I want to ask you this because this is unprompted. Uh, I was in Miami over the weekend and to it just signed his deal and hearing to talk about his journey, all the noise, having to deal with the ups and downs and all those things. So I was able to ask him. I said, two, when I met you, you were sixteen. If you could you're six and yourself, what would you tell him? And he just talked about I would say, just stay on the right track. So yo, y'all want to tap into you. There are a lot of Lead eleven alums that are signing these big deals, but you've seen them kind of like sometimes at the Lewis moment where they first first time they've ever hit adversity. What have you learned from watching all of these guys going their individual journeys and a bunch of them finding success at the end of.

Yeah, it's a really cool topic and how exciting for all of these guys. It's a big part of even like what this book is, even like every Tuesday this year, we're going to kick out advice from those guys. Right, We're gonna call it like five star advice from the likes of Tua, from the likes of Boonicks, from the likes of Herbert, all these guys that have, you know, signed these huge deals, but have figured life out along the way because they go through a lot. You go back to Tua's year. We did a film that year that I was lucky enough to direct, and we called it The It Factory. I'm pretty sure it and a bunch and we wanted to go around the country and ask elite NFL guys, Russell Wilson, elite NFL coaches, Pete Carroll, Ron Rivera, et cetera, what is that phrase? And what we learned and this is how we would define it is the IT factor is when you walk in a room, you make everybody feels your presence and you make them better. And Tua, in my opinion, has had the best IT factor I've ever seen in my Elite eleven experience. You saw him in the Nike campus, like he walked up there, and this is a guy who's not going to cuss, he's not going to party, He's going to be straight and narrow, but he can relate to anybody. He always had that, But his football journey wasn't, to your point, wasn't linear. I mean he came to an allege eleven Regional. I mean it's online. I mean Trent Dilfer kind of chewed in him a little bit and challenging him. He mechanically, can you elevate your game? And the quote that we've often used at Elite eleven that I would agree with is that the limiting factor in reaching your potential is flawed mechanics. And in high school at fIF seing sixteen years old, he was a little bit flawed and he went to work. I mean, you could go back and watch that film. It he'll give you chills because we have all this footage for him working in the night literally under like the street lights, at these little beaches in Hawaiian, these little parking lots. And he came to the doven finals a different dude and came out and ripped it and on his way to the MVP, of course, but just a special guy that wasn't afraid to wasn't afraid to grow. And I think in this era in this book that you guys have reference and Daniel contributed to, like, guys are afraid sometimes to ask to grow because they're told who they are, they're told what they're supposed to be and how they're supposed to be. Toua was not that. He was wide open. Don't make me better man, And I'll never forget when we gave him the MVP. I have the chills thinking about it. Is in this beautiful room in Nike's campus, and he knew the growth that he had just in six months. I can only imagine what he was like with you after the growth of what six years it has been or even longer than that since the Elite eleven to now signing this massive.

Yeah, it's a really cool topic and how exciting for all of these guys. It's a big part of even like what this book is, even like every Tuesday this year, we're going to kick out advice from those guys. Right, We're gonna call it like five star advice from the likes of Tua, from the likes of Boonicks, from the likes of Herbert, all these guys that have, you know, signed these huge deals, but have figured life out along the way because they go through a lot. You go back to Tua's year. We did a film that year that I was lucky enough to direct, and we called it The It Factory. I'm pretty sure it and a bunch and we wanted to go around the country and ask elite NFL guys, Russell Wilson, elite NFL coaches, Pete Carroll, Ron Rivera, et cetera, what is that phrase? And what we learned and this is how we would define it is the IT factor is when you walk in a room, you make everybody feels your presence and you make them better. And Tua, in my opinion, has had the best IT factor I've ever seen in my Elite eleven experience. You saw him in the Nike campus, like he walked up there, and this is a guy who's not going to cuss, he's not going to party, He's going to be straight and narrow, but he can relate to anybody. He always had that, But his football journey wasn't, to your point, wasn't linear. I mean he came to an allege eleven Regional. I mean it's online. I mean Trent Dilfer kind of chewed in him a little bit and challenging him. He mechanically, can you elevate your game? And the quote that we've often used at Elite eleven that I would agree with is that the limiting factor in reaching your potential is flawed mechanics. And in high school at fIF seing sixteen years old, he was a little bit flawed and he went to work. I mean, you could go back and watch that film. It he'll give you chills because we have all this footage for him working in the night literally under like the street lights, at these little beaches in Hawaiian, these little parking lots. And he came to the doven finals a different dude and came out and ripped it and on his way to the MVP, of course, but just a special guy that wasn't afraid to wasn't afraid to grow. And I think in this era in this book that you guys have reference and Daniel contributed to, like, guys are afraid sometimes to ask to grow because they're told who they are, they're told what they're supposed to be and how they're supposed to be. Toua was not that. He was wide open. Don't make me better man, And I'll never forget when we gave him the MVP. I have the chills thinking about it. Is in this beautiful room in Nike's campus, and he knew the growth that he had just in six months. I can only imagine what he was like with you after the growth of what six years it has been or even longer than that since the Elite eleven to now signing this massive.

Deal, yokes. I want to follow up on what you guys are just talking about there, because we've seen not only that to a deal, we saw the Jordan Love deal come down. We're waiting on deck to see what happens there. We've got five guys just from that twenty twenty class alone that have got paid. What you know, and this is going along the lines of what you're just talking about, the not realizing or recognizing this as an endpoint but still is a part of the journey.

Deal, yokes. I want to follow up on what you guys are just talking about there, because we've seen not only that to a deal, we saw the Jordan Love deal come down. We're waiting on deck to see what happens there. We've got five guys just from that twenty twenty class alone that have got paid. What you know, and this is going along the lines of what you're just talking about, the not realizing or recognizing this as an endpoint but still is a part of the journey.

What is the key to that?

What is the key to that?

Because so many guys can look at it and say, get to the NFL as the goal. Okay, accomplish that goal now, okay, Well I want to get to that second contract taken care of generational wealth done. But then it's like, okay, now it gets harder. You're making more money on the cap, so there's going to be a little bit less around you now. So being where you are status quo is not going to be good enough. What is the key on that growth mindset for these guys to go from there?

Because so many guys can look at it and say, get to the NFL as the goal. Okay, accomplish that goal now, okay, Well I want to get to that second contract taken care of generational wealth done. But then it's like, okay, now it gets harder. You're making more money on the cap, so there's going to be a little bit less around you now. So being where you are status quo is not going to be good enough. What is the key on that growth mindset for these guys to go from there?

Yeah, I think it's probably different at different stages, right, Like it's sixteen is a different answer than in eighteen, at twenty two. And then once you get in the NFL. I mean I can remember this like yesterday with an Elite eleven quarterback back in the day. It was a couple of years before Tua and I walked up to him on campus and his mom was there when she was watching him, and she said, my baby's gonna get me in the league. On his right arm, he had the NFL logo tattooed. We know quarterbacks, I think pretty well. You can tell. You can tell what guys have and what they don't early on, and it was gonna be a long road alloted to change in my opinion at that stage for that invgural player to find a way to actualize the dream that he and or his family had. Why do I say that, Like, it's not wrong for parents to dream. I dream for my kids. You guys do all the time as well. Challenges to me at that young age. It's your community, especially now, I mean you're getting broke off. And I'll say this from coming off of the second straight year at a LEAD eleven where nil is a real factor in these players' lives. They're more connected to the present moment than ever before. I thought these last two classes would be terrible. I thought it'd be like, oh, here we go, ego centric, everybody's going to be a narcissist or what is this going to be? Like it's already miserable, And no, it was the exact opposite. They were leaning in seeking tools. So I start with the community of like what is the community doing to make sure you have these tools in front of you? And all you need now is like good internet, right, you can watch Tom versus Time, you could follow Mike Gervay's podcast, you could listen to you guys, like there's a ton there to tap in between the years. I'd say community one. I think the second part is what I hope happens with this new legislation in college is that you commit to a place. You commit to a place. You guys had Chris Peterson on I talk to him all the time, like the number one element of success and I know you guys asking a pre draft. We ask at the eleven is describe a moment when you've had to go through diversity and now in college because you could transfer unlimited times and go play players I think are robbing themselves have an experience. I'm not just sticking through tough times, but being committed to the tough time. Like when you know Bucky Brooks rips my ass on the field, I can't go in the lock and be like I'm out. I have to be like, okay, let's throw it down even harder. Like that is a part that I think is getting lost because it's easy to dip. It's easy to think you're going to go to another place because you can. So I think, in the moment of college, throw it out and then evaluate it. You evaluate it, put in the calendar. You're not even thinking about another option until bowl preparation begins or what have you. And then I think in the NFL, it's my last thing in the NFL is just truly competing too. I call it the lonely work. Are you willing to do the boring things longer? Not longer than anyone else, just longer. Jared Goff perfect example, on that next next contract, he does the boring things longer, the film study, the body, taking care of his body, the mental skills, all of those things. So I think those are the three stages from high school to college to the pros that I'd recommend.

Yeah, I think it's probably different at different stages, right, Like it's sixteen is a different answer than in eighteen, at twenty two. And then once you get in the NFL. I mean I can remember this like yesterday with an Elite eleven quarterback back in the day. It was a couple of years before Tua and I walked up to him on campus and his mom was there when she was watching him, and she said, my baby's gonna get me in the league. On his right arm, he had the NFL logo tattooed. We know quarterbacks, I think pretty well. You can tell. You can tell what guys have and what they don't early on, and it was gonna be a long road alloted to change in my opinion at that stage for that invgural player to find a way to actualize the dream that he and or his family had. Why do I say that, Like, it's not wrong for parents to dream. I dream for my kids. You guys do all the time as well. Challenges to me at that young age. It's your community, especially now, I mean you're getting broke off. And I'll say this from coming off of the second straight year at a LEAD eleven where nil is a real factor in these players' lives. They're more connected to the present moment than ever before. I thought these last two classes would be terrible. I thought it'd be like, oh, here we go, ego centric, everybody's going to be a narcissist or what is this going to be? Like it's already miserable, And no, it was the exact opposite. They were leaning in seeking tools. So I start with the community of like what is the community doing to make sure you have these tools in front of you? And all you need now is like good internet, right, you can watch Tom versus Time, you could follow Mike Gervay's podcast, you could listen to you guys, like there's a ton there to tap in between the years. I'd say community one. I think the second part is what I hope happens with this new legislation in college is that you commit to a place. You commit to a place. You guys had Chris Peterson on I talk to him all the time, like the number one element of success and I know you guys asking a pre draft. We ask at the eleven is describe a moment when you've had to go through diversity and now in college because you could transfer unlimited times and go play players I think are robbing themselves have an experience. I'm not just sticking through tough times, but being committed to the tough time. Like when you know Bucky Brooks rips my ass on the field, I can't go in the lock and be like I'm out. I have to be like, okay, let's throw it down even harder. Like that is a part that I think is getting lost because it's easy to dip. It's easy to think you're going to go to another place because you can. So I think, in the moment of college, throw it out and then evaluate it. You evaluate it, put in the calendar. You're not even thinking about another option until bowl preparation begins or what have you. And then I think in the NFL, it's my last thing in the NFL is just truly competing too. I call it the lonely work. Are you willing to do the boring things longer? Not longer than anyone else, just longer. Jared Goff perfect example, on that next next contract, he does the boring things longer, the film study, the body, taking care of his body, the mental skills, all of those things. So I think those are the three stages from high school to college to the pros that I'd recommend.

Buck, You know, Buck, real quick, I was gonna ask you this, Buck, because this is the analogy that I was just rolling through my head. Was like, now, it's like I would call it that like a ways quarterback, you know, like the app you know, ways God helps you dodge traffic, helps you get off and avoid any accidents or any any turmoil. Like we didn't have. There wasn't a ways out back in the day. You had to just kind of work your way through the traffic and navigate your way. You set your course and you stayed on your course, you didn't divert. So that was like a little that little image that popped in my mind is like now in society, it's a lot easier for these guys trying to get off the freeway and kind of avoid the traffic.

Buck, You know, Buck, real quick, I was gonna ask you this, Buck, because this is the analogy that I was just rolling through my head. Was like, now, it's like I would call it that like a ways quarterback, you know, like the app you know, ways God helps you dodge traffic, helps you get off and avoid any accidents or any any turmoil. Like we didn't have. There wasn't a ways out back in the day. You had to just kind of work your way through the traffic and navigate your way. You set your course and you stayed on your course, you didn't divert. So that was like a little that little image that popped in my mind is like now in society, it's a lot easier for these guys trying to get off the freeway and kind of avoid the traffic.

Not to Jay's funny you talking about avoiding the traffic. I'm just look, I don't think it's a coincidence that the guys that we've seen signed these big deals, they've all had the adversity happen right in front of everybody, in front of the world to see. And so Yogi, when you talk to young quarterbacks and those things, what are the things that I don't know mentors or coaches can do to help the young generation get ready for what's ahead because the adversity is coming and they have to know that it's not going to be a straight line to being super successful as an NFL quarterback.

Not to Jay's funny you talking about avoiding the traffic. I'm just look, I don't think it's a coincidence that the guys that we've seen signed these big deals, they've all had the adversity happen right in front of everybody, in front of the world to see. And so Yogi, when you talk to young quarterbacks and those things, what are the things that I don't know mentors or coaches can do to help the young generation get ready for what's ahead because the adversity is coming and they have to know that it's not going to be a straight line to being super successful as an NFL quarterback.

Okay, I'm getting them getting comfortable now. Is if I'm a flag football coach. Okay, guys need to know this. I had flag coach and youth sports, so let me start there. I really think that you sports are a beautiful environment for all of our children to grow and learn from and parents to probably learn from them. It's also a slippery slope where it can become a borderline ridiculous if not inappropriate and not from a behavioral standpoint, but from a timing standpoint, from a commitment standpoint, from a joy standpoint, like I see more young players who show up at the Elite to eleven not necessarily in love with the game, but maybe in love with the game has done for them, which is scholarship, change their life and they want to love it. But a lot of that gets robbed because they're a ranking. I tell them, now you're not only wearing a helmet, you're not only a ranking, but now you're a transaction, like you're a million dollar quarterback, Dylan Reyola, whatever it might be. So they again I go back to, like to the mentorship part of this community of are you helping them identify what matters most? So the theme of a Lead to eleven this year for you guys was that title, which was chase what Matters? And I spent a year and a half studying every coach I've ever interviewed, so you know, you call game and you've got all these notes everywhere, and I was like, right, let me organize this. And I went into it with a colleague and I was like, let's see if there's a theme, and the theme was the best teams, the best coordinators, the best players, the best organizations do one thing and one thing only is they chase what matters. So how do they do it? Well? They have clarity around what matters most? So what matters most? Is it the biggest nil deal? If so cool, go for it. If it's playing great, go for it. But whatever it is, identify it. So clarity, then confidence in whatever it is that you say matters most, and then discipline, discipline around how you go attack that. And it was really fun. So I would say those things, making sure the young athlete is still enjoying the craft, and then tapping into what matters most. Is it what matters most to you? Is the mentor is it what matters most to them? And go down that road. And it was so fun with twenty quarterbacks guys to do this exercise this summer and find out, you know, a lout really to come to the surface because those guys didn't know what mattered most of them because they're being told what matters most, grow your Instagram, make more money, all great things, but they all love to compete and play at a high level. So I would say that's that's where I would net out.

Okay, I'm getting them getting comfortable now. Is if I'm a flag football coach. Okay, guys need to know this. I had flag coach and youth sports, so let me start there. I really think that you sports are a beautiful environment for all of our children to grow and learn from and parents to probably learn from them. It's also a slippery slope where it can become a borderline ridiculous if not inappropriate and not from a behavioral standpoint, but from a timing standpoint, from a commitment standpoint, from a joy standpoint, like I see more young players who show up at the Elite to eleven not necessarily in love with the game, but maybe in love with the game has done for them, which is scholarship, change their life and they want to love it. But a lot of that gets robbed because they're a ranking. I tell them, now you're not only wearing a helmet, you're not only a ranking, but now you're a transaction, like you're a million dollar quarterback, Dylan Reyola, whatever it might be. So they again I go back to, like to the mentorship part of this community of are you helping them identify what matters most? So the theme of a Lead to eleven this year for you guys was that title, which was chase what Matters? And I spent a year and a half studying every coach I've ever interviewed, so you know, you call game and you've got all these notes everywhere, and I was like, right, let me organize this. And I went into it with a colleague and I was like, let's see if there's a theme, and the theme was the best teams, the best coordinators, the best players, the best organizations do one thing and one thing only is they chase what matters. So how do they do it? Well? They have clarity around what matters most? So what matters most? Is it the biggest nil deal? If so cool, go for it. If it's playing great, go for it. But whatever it is, identify it. So clarity, then confidence in whatever it is that you say matters most, and then discipline, discipline around how you go attack that. And it was really fun. So I would say those things, making sure the young athlete is still enjoying the craft, and then tapping into what matters most. Is it what matters most to you? Is the mentor is it what matters most to them? And go down that road. And it was so fun with twenty quarterbacks guys to do this exercise this summer and find out, you know, a lout really to come to the surface because those guys didn't know what mattered most of them because they're being told what matters most, grow your Instagram, make more money, all great things, but they all love to compete and play at a high level. So I would say that's that's where I would net out.

Yeah, that's fantastic. We're going to take a quick break here and then we'll come back. We'll pick up with Yogi. I want to remind you, guys, Top one hundred is back. Find out who the players voted as the best player in the NFL. Had an NFL Plus Daily for the exclusive list, and don't miss the countdown conclusion, a one hour live show on NFL Network on August second at eight pm Eastern. Go to Plus dot NFL dot com to sign up today. All right, Yoges, I want to transition a little bit here, because first of all, we need a life update of what's going on in your world, and then that's going to lead to a whole new conversation. But for those that don't know, obviously Yoges was the he was the face of the PAC twelve, let's be honest, not just the network, the entire conference. So some things have changed obviously with that conference. Some change some things have changed obviously with what you'll be doing this false Why don't you fill everybody in?

Yeah, that's fantastic. We're going to take a quick break here and then we'll come back. We'll pick up with Yogi. I want to remind you, guys, Top one hundred is back. Find out who the players voted as the best player in the NFL. Had an NFL Plus Daily for the exclusive list, and don't miss the countdown conclusion, a one hour live show on NFL Network on August second at eight pm Eastern. Go to Plus dot NFL dot com to sign up today. All right, Yoges, I want to transition a little bit here, because first of all, we need a life update of what's going on in your world, and then that's going to lead to a whole new conversation. But for those that don't know, obviously Yoges was the he was the face of the PAC twelve, let's be honest, not just the network, the entire conference. So some things have changed obviously with that conference. Some change some things have changed obviously with what you'll be doing this false Why don't you fill everybody in?

Yeah, well, thanks for you guys have been such great supporters of not only the PAC twelve as a league, the players, but you all know so I love you guys so much. As you know what goes into allowing something to have success. PAC twelve came off the most successful year in probably our lifetime's history. When you look at the draft and the town at least at the very top, and my heart goes out to my two hundred plus colleagues. That's still a searching for work by no fault of their own. So it was a great league that meant so much to me and still will. I'll support those two schools. I hope they rebuild it or find a new home in every way, shape or form. But as the league started to take a different shape, I knew I'd have to figure out my next move. So I'm going to be doing two things this fall and hopefully for a long time. I'll be calling games on the Big ten Network every weekend, all being on their studio shows during the week. And then also as chaos was kind of happening, I realized, like all these fan bases I was doing games last year and even spring football, like there's no Big twelve network, there's not necessarily places for every team to tell their story. And I've spent twenty years in this league, so as those fans and those schools are looking for options to tell their stories because I was looking for an option from my next job. I love the West Coast option offense and the play Why Option, So I created a platform and a new show called Why Option, which is college football through the lens of the West Coast. So every couple of days, I'm in your inbox via sub stack, a newsletter, video interviews with players and coaches. Hopefully you two will come on throughout the fall. So it's something I'm really proud of and taking a little agency in my career. You know, you kind of try to hopefully you land somewhere, and I'm really grateful to do it. But I also wanting to make sure that I continue to serve a fan base that I built a really fun relationship with over the last twenty years. So we'll be throwing down there. So why Option dot Com. We'll get your hat right there behind me. We'll get you that.

Yeah, well, thanks for you guys have been such great supporters of not only the PAC twelve as a league, the players, but you all know so I love you guys so much. As you know what goes into allowing something to have success. PAC twelve came off the most successful year in probably our lifetime's history. When you look at the draft and the town at least at the very top, and my heart goes out to my two hundred plus colleagues. That's still a searching for work by no fault of their own. So it was a great league that meant so much to me and still will. I'll support those two schools. I hope they rebuild it or find a new home in every way, shape or form. But as the league started to take a different shape, I knew I'd have to figure out my next move. So I'm going to be doing two things this fall and hopefully for a long time. I'll be calling games on the Big ten Network every weekend, all being on their studio shows during the week. And then also as chaos was kind of happening, I realized, like all these fan bases I was doing games last year and even spring football, like there's no Big twelve network, there's not necessarily places for every team to tell their story. And I've spent twenty years in this league, so as those fans and those schools are looking for options to tell their stories because I was looking for an option from my next job. I love the West Coast option offense and the play Why Option, So I created a platform and a new show called Why Option, which is college football through the lens of the West Coast. So every couple of days, I'm in your inbox via sub stack, a newsletter, video interviews with players and coaches. Hopefully you two will come on throughout the fall. So it's something I'm really proud of and taking a little agency in my career. You know, you kind of try to hopefully you land somewhere, and I'm really grateful to do it. But I also wanting to make sure that I continue to serve a fan base that I built a really fun relationship with over the last twenty years. So we'll be throwing down there. So why Option dot Com. We'll get your hat right there behind me. We'll get you that.

There. By the way, can you throw the book in with them when that comes? A couple of books, a couple of hats.

There. By the way, can you throw the book in with them when that comes? A couple of books, a couple of hats.

But that in the Big ten and the Big ten's fun just coming off of media days, I mean it is. It is a different beast than the SEC. I'm just gonna be blunt with you in terms of you look at when you see all those logs and you really see from coast to coast, and yes, I you know Rutgers, which I think can win eight or nine games this year, to the up who was just in the title, to Oregon, who I think can win the title, the sc Ohio State, Nebraska up and coming. I mean you sit back and you're like, it kind of feels like a version of the NFL.

But that in the Big ten and the Big ten's fun just coming off of media days, I mean it is. It is a different beast than the SEC. I'm just gonna be blunt with you in terms of you look at when you see all those logs and you really see from coast to coast, and yes, I you know Rutgers, which I think can win eight or nine games this year, to the up who was just in the title, to Oregon, who I think can win the title, the sc Ohio State, Nebraska up and coming. I mean you sit back and you're like, it kind of feels like a version of the NFL.

Which you got a NFL life.

Which you got a NFL life.

And I'm really stoked.

And I'm really stoked.

Man.

Man.

The people were amazing, the new coaches. I got to meet all of them. I can't wait. You know, I'm doing your version. I'm doing thirteen training camp tours. So you dubbed Oregon to Penn State, to Nebraska, Ohio State, let Michigan.

The people were amazing, the new coaches. I got to meet all of them. I can't wait. You know, I'm doing your version. I'm doing thirteen training camp tours. So you dubbed Oregon to Penn State, to Nebraska, Ohio State, let Michigan.

Let's go man, so yogi, I got I got to ask you this because you talked about why option kind of viewing college football from a West Coast LANs. Let's just talk about the challenge of the teams that were in the pack moving into the Big ten. A lot of times from DJ's DJ and I's vantage point, when you're working for an NFL team, you build your team to win a division. Well suddenly those teams they went to Pac Twell, they got to build their team to win the Big Ten. How does it change to team building process for those teams that are jumping into a new league.

Let's go man, so yogi, I got I got to ask you this because you talked about why option kind of viewing college football from a West Coast LANs. Let's just talk about the challenge of the teams that were in the pack moving into the Big ten. A lot of times from DJ's DJ and I's vantage point, when you're working for an NFL team, you build your team to win a division. Well suddenly those teams they went to Pac Twell, they got to build their team to win the Big Ten. How does it change to team building process for those teams that are jumping into a new league.

Yeah, that's gonna be the funnest thing I think to figure out, because there's a narrative of like when we were growing up and it was like Kajna Carter and Curtisinis and you know that that version of the Big Ten, and then there's the PAC twelve, right, the version of people think that it's all air raid and it's not. You know, you go watch and you look at the best teams, whether it's Utah or Oregon or U dub over the course of time, they just played winning football like they were built from the inside out to take a run. And now you've an expanded playoff. I think that'll only get get heightened. So I don't see teams saying how we have to recruit dramatically differently, even if they're trying, it's not as easy to go do that. I mean, you got to recruit your your community, your network, your you know, your region. I get it's a national conference, but I still go back to what I learned at SC and or coach Carol and I believe it is if you're at SC or UCLA, you recruit, you know, Bakersfield of San Diego, and then you leave for first round picks. For the most part, like stay in your home base because now with then you're just getting leveraged, in my opinion, so often by players out of state, and there's so much pressure within their state, within their collective to make sure they can pay. So until that revenue sharing model really kicks in, it'll be interesting to track. I think the other thing in the Big Ten that I'm curious about is that you know, they had all these elite defenses last year, and I agree with it. We saw what Michigan was, what Ohio State was, but truth be told, they didn't face bon Nix or Michael Pennix Junior or Caleb Williams. I mean, the quarterback play was nowhere near the West Coast. I mean just that media days fellas, there are only five quarterbacks that showed up, and three of them came from the four schools from the West Coast, So that means there's a lot of cool space for new faces to emerge. Aidan Chiles, Dylan ray Ola. I mean there's a lot of fun guys to talk about, but nobody's that's really established. So I'd be curious, how did the defense deal with on Lincoln Riley offense? How do they deal with will Stein's offense from Oregon? Jed Fish at UDB. I don't know Eric Bienemy at UCLA, but I'm not ready to like go down the narrative of it's the most physical league and you have to play three yards and a cloud of dust, Like I think that's a little TBD, and I can't wait to find out.

Yeah, that's gonna be the funnest thing I think to figure out, because there's a narrative of like when we were growing up and it was like Kajna Carter and Curtisinis and you know that that version of the Big Ten, and then there's the PAC twelve, right, the version of people think that it's all air raid and it's not. You know, you go watch and you look at the best teams, whether it's Utah or Oregon or U dub over the course of time, they just played winning football like they were built from the inside out to take a run. And now you've an expanded playoff. I think that'll only get get heightened. So I don't see teams saying how we have to recruit dramatically differently, even if they're trying, it's not as easy to go do that. I mean, you got to recruit your your community, your network, your you know, your region. I get it's a national conference, but I still go back to what I learned at SC and or coach Carol and I believe it is if you're at SC or UCLA, you recruit, you know, Bakersfield of San Diego, and then you leave for first round picks. For the most part, like stay in your home base because now with then you're just getting leveraged, in my opinion, so often by players out of state, and there's so much pressure within their state, within their collective to make sure they can pay. So until that revenue sharing model really kicks in, it'll be interesting to track. I think the other thing in the Big Ten that I'm curious about is that you know, they had all these elite defenses last year, and I agree with it. We saw what Michigan was, what Ohio State was, but truth be told, they didn't face bon Nix or Michael Pennix Junior or Caleb Williams. I mean, the quarterback play was nowhere near the West Coast. I mean just that media days fellas, there are only five quarterbacks that showed up, and three of them came from the four schools from the West Coast, So that means there's a lot of cool space for new faces to emerge. Aidan Chiles, Dylan ray Ola. I mean there's a lot of fun guys to talk about, but nobody's that's really established. So I'd be curious, how did the defense deal with on Lincoln Riley offense? How do they deal with will Stein's offense from Oregon? Jed Fish at UDB. I don't know Eric Bienemy at UCLA, but I'm not ready to like go down the narrative of it's the most physical league and you have to play three yards and a cloud of dust, Like I think that's a little TBD, and I can't wait to find out.

One of the thoughts that was going through my mind is because that was the talking point, right because I think it's the smaller number of schools coming in, so they're they're viewed as how are these smaller number of schools going to adjust to the whole of the Big Ten? And all I could think of was, I think it was like one of the early Batman movies with Jack Nicholson as the joker and he says, wait till they get a load of me. Like I think of like some of these offensive coaches from the from the pack being like, yeah, we have quarterbacks and receivers and running backs and tight ends like they're gonna have to adjust to us as well as we're going to have to adjust to them. But one of the things that listening to and I saw a lot of your coverage from the Big Ten media Days that I wanted to hit you on. There was a lot of conversation about geography and the travel and as guys here you know, on the NFL side of things, it feels a little bit overplayed and overrated to me, and also Bucky myself, having covered the West coast as scouts, I don't know that people on the East coast know La and Pullman are not neighbors. This has been This has been some teams that are used to you know, it's not a take a gas conference, is what I'm getting at.

One of the thoughts that was going through my mind is because that was the talking point, right because I think it's the smaller number of schools coming in, so they're they're viewed as how are these smaller number of schools going to adjust to the whole of the Big Ten? And all I could think of was, I think it was like one of the early Batman movies with Jack Nicholson as the joker and he says, wait till they get a load of me. Like I think of like some of these offensive coaches from the from the pack being like, yeah, we have quarterbacks and receivers and running backs and tight ends like they're gonna have to adjust to us as well as we're going to have to adjust to them. But one of the things that listening to and I saw a lot of your coverage from the Big Ten media Days that I wanted to hit you on. There was a lot of conversation about geography and the travel and as guys here you know, on the NFL side of things, it feels a little bit overplayed and overrated to me, and also Bucky myself, having covered the West coast as scouts, I don't know that people on the East coast know La and Pullman are not neighbors. This has been This has been some teams that are used to you know, it's not a take a gas conference, is what I'm getting at.

Yeah, I think it's a it's an interesting point. I think there's two things to that when it comes to the geography. And talk to your good friend Joel Klatt and Todd black Ledge at media Days and I said, you've called games in the Midwest, like, what's the biggest difference, And they said, it's the wind way more than the weather. So I'll be curious, like at Iowa in November, what that's like for some of these teams or some of these Midwest games. I think overall, when I look at travel, I think of UCLA traveling twenty two some thousand miles this season, Like a game in Hawaii they go to Baton Rouge and then Indiana it's like less than five thousand. So yeah, I don't know if it'll be a thing or not. This is the thing that I do know, and we all know because we live this in college, is that it's different than the NFL, like news flash to some people's you still do have to go to class, Like everything just isn't online, Like you're still like as all things have changed in college football, the development in between your ears of eighteen to twenty three has not. And there's still going to be a game where you break up with your girlfriend the night before, or life happens, or like you have to pull an all night or or you're struggling off the field. Like I just think the veteran element of teams is what will really shine through. So that's why I go to Ohio State and all those guys that spurred the NFL draft to come back. Look at Utah, I think they have ten six year players right eighteen starters returning like I think player so he's but overall, like, I just think that's going to be the thing that carries guys through because they'll still be upsets. And I don't think the Marquee premium games are going to be a letdown. Like when U dub goes to a wide out at Penn State, it will be epic. But what is it like when they play a really tough Illinois team right or at SC plays a Rutgers team at a Friday at eight o'clock at the coliseum in front of who knows how many people will be there? Like that that'll be the scary part, I think for the new teams and really the old teams of like getting lulled to sleep a little bit by some of them, you know, the brands that may not not be as big as a Michigan or a Michigan State or Ohio State or what have you.

Yeah, I think it's a it's an interesting point. I think there's two things to that when it comes to the geography. And talk to your good friend Joel Klatt and Todd black Ledge at media Days and I said, you've called games in the Midwest, like, what's the biggest difference, And they said, it's the wind way more than the weather. So I'll be curious, like at Iowa in November, what that's like for some of these teams or some of these Midwest games. I think overall, when I look at travel, I think of UCLA traveling twenty two some thousand miles this season, Like a game in Hawaii they go to Baton Rouge and then Indiana it's like less than five thousand. So yeah, I don't know if it'll be a thing or not. This is the thing that I do know, and we all know because we live this in college, is that it's different than the NFL, like news flash to some people's you still do have to go to class, Like everything just isn't online, Like you're still like as all things have changed in college football, the development in between your ears of eighteen to twenty three has not. And there's still going to be a game where you break up with your girlfriend the night before, or life happens, or like you have to pull an all night or or you're struggling off the field. Like I just think the veteran element of teams is what will really shine through. So that's why I go to Ohio State and all those guys that spurred the NFL draft to come back. Look at Utah, I think they have ten six year players right eighteen starters returning like I think player so he's but overall, like, I just think that's going to be the thing that carries guys through because they'll still be upsets. And I don't think the Marquee premium games are going to be a letdown. Like when U dub goes to a wide out at Penn State, it will be epic. But what is it like when they play a really tough Illinois team right or at SC plays a Rutgers team at a Friday at eight o'clock at the coliseum in front of who knows how many people will be there? Like that that'll be the scary part, I think for the new teams and really the old teams of like getting lulled to sleep a little bit by some of them, you know, the brands that may not not be as big as a Michigan or a Michigan State or Ohio State or what have you.

So in thinking about that, Yogi, the expansion, obviously of the conferences has led to an expanded playoff. What's the most exciting part of an expanded playoff? Feel something that you're looking forward to see home games?

So in thinking about that, Yogi, the expansion, obviously of the conferences has led to an expanded playoff. What's the most exciting part of an expanded playoff? Feel something that you're looking forward to see home games?

I thought the coolest thing that the PAC twelve did back in the day with Larry Scout as commissioner. Was championship game was a home site. I love that, you know, going to Stanford and watching them win, going down Arizona State, like wherever the game was. I think it's really cool. I know, you know why the leagues got rid of that is because of just the planning and all the cost around planning a championship type of game and a home in a home stadium in short notice. But I think this will be the coolest thing. Like, can you imagine Happy Valley in like a wildcard college football playoff game? I mean, it'll just be insane or notreed, what's that going to be like if they're hosting a playoff game. I think that'll be the coolest thing. And then I think just the health of the sport. I've said it for years that I thought the fourteen playoffs and a Power five league at the time was the worst thing that could have happened in the sport. And it was, especially when you look at the inequities of eight conference games in the SEC with a nothing game in a week eleven, nine conference games and rivalry games a week eleven out West or what have you? And I'm glad that at least it's expanded. I still think there should be equity around the schedule. Hopefully that comes to be over the course the next couple years, especially if people want more and more TV money, because that's really what's driving a lot of the realignment conversation. But I think it's the home games. Man. I can't wait to see what Adtson would be like, or the Collie would be like. If there was a wildcard game. I'd love to expand again, you know, have the first two rounds the home games. I know that'll impact the balls in a big way in the quarterfinals, but I think it would just be awesome. I'm great for the game.

I thought the coolest thing that the PAC twelve did back in the day with Larry Scout as commissioner. Was championship game was a home site. I love that, you know, going to Stanford and watching them win, going down Arizona State, like wherever the game was. I think it's really cool. I know, you know why the leagues got rid of that is because of just the planning and all the cost around planning a championship type of game and a home in a home stadium in short notice. But I think this will be the coolest thing. Like, can you imagine Happy Valley in like a wildcard college football playoff game? I mean, it'll just be insane or notreed, what's that going to be like if they're hosting a playoff game. I think that'll be the coolest thing. And then I think just the health of the sport. I've said it for years that I thought the fourteen playoffs and a Power five league at the time was the worst thing that could have happened in the sport. And it was, especially when you look at the inequities of eight conference games in the SEC with a nothing game in a week eleven, nine conference games and rivalry games a week eleven out West or what have you? And I'm glad that at least it's expanded. I still think there should be equity around the schedule. Hopefully that comes to be over the course the next couple years, especially if people want more and more TV money, because that's really what's driving a lot of the realignment conversation. But I think it's the home games. Man. I can't wait to see what Adtson would be like, or the Collie would be like. If there was a wildcard game. I'd love to expand again, you know, have the first two rounds the home games. I know that'll impact the balls in a big way in the quarterfinals, but I think it would just be awesome. I'm great for the game.

Do you know how juiced I'm going to be when Notre Dame comes to app State in the first round of the playoffs? Oh, the mountain is going to be rock and boys, the mountain is going to be on fire as the fighting Irish come out of the tunnel. It's going to be fantastic. I cannot wait, Kid Brewers Stadium, Buck, can you imagine we got Alabama who's coming off of a three loss SEC season. I can't imagine that.

Do you know how juiced I'm going to be when Notre Dame comes to app State in the first round of the playoffs? Oh, the mountain is going to be rock and boys, the mountain is going to be on fire as the fighting Irish come out of the tunnel. It's going to be fantastic. I cannot wait, Kid Brewers Stadium, Buck, can you imagine we got Alabama who's coming off of a three loss SEC season. I can't imagine that.

I can't imagine how it's going to be rocking and rolled, and how excited everyone's going to be to come to ab State in the first round of the playoffs. This it should be a lot of fun. Can't wait for the TV cameras to be there, all of it snow in the background.

I can't imagine how it's going to be rocking and rolled, and how excited everyone's going to be to come to ab State in the first round of the playoffs. This it should be a lot of fun. Can't wait for the TV cameras to be there, all of it snow in the background.

Yeah right, let's go, man. I look, one of the things I wanted to ask you about as well as we've talked about on here before, there's a lot of doom and gloom with with ni l and and with the portal, and a lot of people point out some of the negatives they don't care about. They don't like it, They want things to go back to the way they were. We are selfish by nature, and as guys who are evaluating players for the NFL, we've maintained that this is going to make our life easier. The more good on good that we see, the easier it is to translate guys to the next level and try and project what they're going to be. I'm curious how, in talking to all those coaches you just got a chance to visit with, have they been able to find the positives as their journey and their schedules just got a whole lot harder.

Yeah right, let's go, man. I look, one of the things I wanted to ask you about as well as we've talked about on here before, there's a lot of doom and gloom with with ni l and and with the portal, and a lot of people point out some of the negatives they don't care about. They don't like it, They want things to go back to the way they were. We are selfish by nature, and as guys who are evaluating players for the NFL, we've maintained that this is going to make our life easier. The more good on good that we see, the easier it is to translate guys to the next level and try and project what they're going to be. I'm curious how, in talking to all those coaches you just got a chance to visit with, have they been able to find the positives as their journey and their schedules just got a whole lot harder.

Yeah, I think so. I think you know, it's easy to complain to your point, but I think coaches, by nature are going to find ways to compete to make it work for them. I think what the challenge is is the timing of it, and I hope that's what changes with this new legislation. Is right now there's two portal windows. That's where I think coaches are losing their mind. Is like you just finished spring ball, but then you could lose half your roster. Think about that for a second. I think at Utah State, I mean they had to just fire their coach a couple of weeks ago. I'm calling their game against sc Week two, and they just saw one of their better players just leave for better pastures. Because of the rule of ever coach gets fired or there's a change, I think it's thirty days where you can leave. So I think some of the chaos within that is has been a dramatic challenge to coaching staffs. But also I think it's allowed them to watch teams become even more mature, Like look at Ohio State. I mean, this thing is loaded man in a beautiful way, and they didn't go crazy in the portal but look who they added in the portal, right, you look at the safety position and running back position. I mean it's just bonkers. So yeah, I think that'll be really fun. I think, you know, I think I net out probably in two different lanes on this of one. This is the greatest sport in our eyes on planet Earth. Right, It's the ultimate team game. And now we're seeing teams just have dramatic star power. So what is that going to do to North Carolina? What is that going to be cow? What is that going to do to you know, some of these teams that maybe aren't at that level. Like I'm curious. I'm curious if they win or lose, Like, I'm curious what that would be like, Like, I still think that the scheming in this game still matters at the end of the day. So I'll be curious. Or does it just dramatically separate, right and in five years or whatever the media writes, and like, is it just the upper echelon of these leagues that are the only ones having great success in the playoff, the only ones thravting everybody else's getting the windfall of cash? Is there another change? I don't think that's great for the game. I really don't. And I think even my college roommate was Larry Fitzgerald, Like, in this era, does he still go to Pitt? Does he stay at Pit after a freshman year? I'll go a step further. My biggest worry about the whole thing is guys like Jordan Addison, who wonted to blatant to cough to Pit went to SC. Now, I'm a pick guy. You guys know that love that place, played there. What does the fan base think about Jordan Adison or the alumni based think about Jordan Edison? Yeah, probably not incredibly well SC. He had a really good season. He was draft in the first round, but he didn't win the blatant cough. He's not in your first sentence of best USC receivers since you know, like, so, where's his home when his career ends? I worry about that for players of college is still a place that could help you a stay Carolina Pit Like, it's still a community that can show up for you when you need a job, or you need support, or you're launching a new show or whatever it may be. So I get a little worried about that. Uh, And I think the last thing for coaches. I think the coaches I've talked to, I don't think they struggle with these guys, but I think they really have to compete to fall in love with their team and really get to know guys because you know that guy can dip at any point. And I think it's different than it was five years ago. And I see like Dan Lanning, he's had the team at his house like over twenty times since January when in August, right, like kicking this thing out.

Yeah, I think so. I think you know, it's easy to complain to your point, but I think coaches, by nature are going to find ways to compete to make it work for them. I think what the challenge is is the timing of it, and I hope that's what changes with this new legislation. Is right now there's two portal windows. That's where I think coaches are losing their mind. Is like you just finished spring ball, but then you could lose half your roster. Think about that for a second. I think at Utah State, I mean they had to just fire their coach a couple of weeks ago. I'm calling their game against sc Week two, and they just saw one of their better players just leave for better pastures. Because of the rule of ever coach gets fired or there's a change, I think it's thirty days where you can leave. So I think some of the chaos within that is has been a dramatic challenge to coaching staffs. But also I think it's allowed them to watch teams become even more mature, Like look at Ohio State. I mean, this thing is loaded man in a beautiful way, and they didn't go crazy in the portal but look who they added in the portal, right, you look at the safety position and running back position. I mean it's just bonkers. So yeah, I think that'll be really fun. I think, you know, I think I net out probably in two different lanes on this of one. This is the greatest sport in our eyes on planet Earth. Right, It's the ultimate team game. And now we're seeing teams just have dramatic star power. So what is that going to do to North Carolina? What is that going to be cow? What is that going to do to you know, some of these teams that maybe aren't at that level. Like I'm curious. I'm curious if they win or lose, Like, I'm curious what that would be like, Like, I still think that the scheming in this game still matters at the end of the day. So I'll be curious. Or does it just dramatically separate, right and in five years or whatever the media writes, and like, is it just the upper echelon of these leagues that are the only ones having great success in the playoff, the only ones thravting everybody else's getting the windfall of cash? Is there another change? I don't think that's great for the game. I really don't. And I think even my college roommate was Larry Fitzgerald, Like, in this era, does he still go to Pitt? Does he stay at Pit after a freshman year? I'll go a step further. My biggest worry about the whole thing is guys like Jordan Addison, who wonted to blatant to cough to Pit went to SC. Now, I'm a pick guy. You guys know that love that place, played there. What does the fan base think about Jordan Adison or the alumni based think about Jordan Edison? Yeah, probably not incredibly well SC. He had a really good season. He was draft in the first round, but he didn't win the blatant cough. He's not in your first sentence of best USC receivers since you know, like, so, where's his home when his career ends? I worry about that for players of college is still a place that could help you a stay Carolina Pit Like, it's still a community that can show up for you when you need a job, or you need support, or you're launching a new show or whatever it may be. So I get a little worried about that. Uh, And I think the last thing for coaches. I think the coaches I've talked to, I don't think they struggle with these guys, but I think they really have to compete to fall in love with their team and really get to know guys because you know that guy can dip at any point. And I think it's different than it was five years ago. And I see like Dan Lanning, he's had the team at his house like over twenty times since January when in August, right, like kicking this thing out.

Don't bury the lead here.

Don't bury the lead here.

He's got a big back He's got a big backyard. But like the point is, like you've got to curate fellowship, like you have to. Like I've talked to more head coaches around like what community events they're doing than scheme ten x ten x, because you just have to do it. And I commend them for doing it versus just looking at as a transaction show for camp and just plug and play and away we go.

He's got a big back He's got a big backyard. But like the point is, like you've got to curate fellowship, like you have to. Like I've talked to more head coaches around like what community events they're doing than scheme ten x ten x, because you just have to do it. And I commend them for doing it versus just looking at as a transaction show for camp and just plug and play and away we go.

I like to go to Lincoln Riley tas Buck. By the way, if you've seen that one, I'd like to go play for a little bit. I have seen it.

I like to go to Lincoln Riley tas Buck. By the way, if you've seen that one, I'd like to go play for a little bit. I have seen it.

And actually that last little comment and conversation that Yogi brought up kind of brought me to something because I think you have a unique perspective. You watch Pete Carroll kind of build that thing up to rockstar status at SC, and I want to tap into the fact that, like as an older coach, if Pete Carroll had to come back today, would he be able to be as successful in the midst of the portal in niel in those things. Could his style of coaching work in today's game?

And actually that last little comment and conversation that Yogi brought up kind of brought me to something because I think you have a unique perspective. You watch Pete Carroll kind of build that thing up to rockstar status at SC, and I want to tap into the fact that, like as an older coach, if Pete Carroll had to come back today, would he be able to be as successful in the midst of the portal in niel in those things. Could his style of coaching work in today's game?

Oh, he ain't kill it, He'd absolutely kill it. I think One, he's got a positive nature to him, as you guys know as well as anybody. Two, I think players just want to see and feel opportunity. He was always about that. Three. He love the word competing, right, He loved competitive moments like he would want to have. I mean we kind of had that. We five running backs on the cover of Sports Illustrated in like oh eight five Like that doesn't even exist in this era. But he sold them all on you come here, you can have a chance to be the guy, and if you're the best among this group, you probably win the heights. You're going to be a first rump pick. So I think he would thrive. I think he'd have to, you know, because the NFL. He'd have to just have people around him to navigate the quote unquote salary cap because I think that part just aggravates. I think coaches they're like, man like, they're given all these kids all these things that are great in terms of money and resources, but are we taking care of him on the back end, like what is the holistic environment like? So I think that would probably be something that he'd have to navigate. I think the parenting thing would be intriguing. I'd love to sit down on one of those recruiting conversations because you guys know what as well as I. But oftentimes parents come in and it's not just hey can you pay my child one hundred grand or five hundred grand, but it's hey, can I also have a room in that skyrot and like that amazing complex? And you also get my cousin into law school like and some places are doing it. So I think he would probably be annoyed for his first year and then just cut through the bs and be like, all right, this is what we're doing. You want to come ball out in LA, let's go do it. And that's where I think USC is going to get to. I think this is a foundational year for them with Lincoln Riley new staff, dramatic turnover there, recruiting high school better. I like. I like the foundation that they have now versus the first two years was kind of survive, get good fast. They got really good, really fast, and that's kind of hurt them at least from a perception standpoint, which I think is ridiculous. Like, let this team go play this year because they can't go beat LSU. I can't wait. I don't know if you guys are going to that one, but in Vegas on a Sunday, Miller Moss, he's got a score, he's gonna they're gonna throw five touchdowns. Like what happens after that, I don't know.

Oh, he ain't kill it, He'd absolutely kill it. I think One, he's got a positive nature to him, as you guys know as well as anybody. Two, I think players just want to see and feel opportunity. He was always about that. Three. He love the word competing, right, He loved competitive moments like he would want to have. I mean we kind of had that. We five running backs on the cover of Sports Illustrated in like oh eight five Like that doesn't even exist in this era. But he sold them all on you come here, you can have a chance to be the guy, and if you're the best among this group, you probably win the heights. You're going to be a first rump pick. So I think he would thrive. I think he'd have to, you know, because the NFL. He'd have to just have people around him to navigate the quote unquote salary cap because I think that part just aggravates. I think coaches they're like, man like, they're given all these kids all these things that are great in terms of money and resources, but are we taking care of him on the back end, like what is the holistic environment like? So I think that would probably be something that he'd have to navigate. I think the parenting thing would be intriguing. I'd love to sit down on one of those recruiting conversations because you guys know what as well as I. But oftentimes parents come in and it's not just hey can you pay my child one hundred grand or five hundred grand, but it's hey, can I also have a room in that skyrot and like that amazing complex? And you also get my cousin into law school like and some places are doing it. So I think he would probably be annoyed for his first year and then just cut through the bs and be like, all right, this is what we're doing. You want to come ball out in LA, let's go do it. And that's where I think USC is going to get to. I think this is a foundational year for them with Lincoln Riley new staff, dramatic turnover there, recruiting high school better. I like. I like the foundation that they have now versus the first two years was kind of survive, get good fast. They got really good, really fast, and that's kind of hurt them at least from a perception standpoint, which I think is ridiculous. Like, let this team go play this year because they can't go beat LSU. I can't wait. I don't know if you guys are going to that one, but in Vegas on a Sunday, Miller Moss, he's got a score, he's gonna they're gonna throw five touchdowns. Like what happens after that, I don't know.

We'll see. Yeah, I'm looking forward to, man, I'm so fired up for the college football season to get here. I'm fired up for all that you've got going on, Yogs. It's uh, it's always a blast when we get a chance to catch up. And I hope we get a chance to see each other run into each other on the road this year. And I also, you know, just real quick before we let you go, can we can we get a quick roster preview of our flag squad of what we're looking like this year. I mean, what are we working with?

We'll see. Yeah, I'm looking forward to, man, I'm so fired up for the college football season to get here. I'm fired up for all that you've got going on, Yogs. It's uh, it's always a blast when we get a chance to catch up. And I hope we get a chance to see each other run into each other on the road this year. And I also, you know, just real quick before we let you go, can we can we get a quick roster preview of our flag squad of what we're looking like this year. I mean, what are we working with?

You're doing? It's a big year for our flag team. Last year we were playing in an eight nine year old league about eight year olds?

You're doing? It's a big year for our flag team. Last year we were playing in an eight nine year old league about eight year olds?

Do you play against? Do you play against?

Do you play against? Do you play against?

No? He plays down in the in the beach Cities. I mean, I feel like he's playing in all these different leagues and we're.

No? He plays down in the in the beach Cities. I mean, I feel like he's playing in all these different leagues and we're.

Up here in the He's like the Nick Saban of of you know, eight to ten year old flag football coaches. I will say that he's running slow, mesh, it was eight year olds.

Up here in the He's like the Nick Saban of of you know, eight to ten year old flag football coaches. I will say that he's running slow, mesh, it was eight year olds.

My wife has clowned me so hard because I'd sit at this desk and do hours of phone calls with Bruce talking about practice plans, scheme. She's like, what are you doing?

My wife has clowned me so hard because I'd sit at this desk and do hours of phone calls with Bruce talking about practice plans, scheme. She's like, what are you doing?

Like I got a whole playbook.

Like I got a whole playbook.

We're studying film. But I will say that I had such a greater appreciation for play callers. So I was a head coach an I was calling it guys. I didn't go to see you to stay connected to the guys. Uh, but it was it was a blast.

We're studying film. But I will say that I had such a greater appreciation for play callers. So I was a head coach an I was calling it guys. I didn't go to see you to stay connected to the guys. Uh, but it was it was a blast.

Man.

Man.

I've never had more fun. And I walked into youth sports being the I'll never coach my kid guy like I'll watch somebody else do it. And then after a couple of years, I was like, nah, I'm must coach everything, like everything out of the time. So yeah, we got a shot this year. I think our summers have been full of summer camps and pools and probably a couple too many popsicles, So I'm not sure if we've really gotten after it. But our team will play everybody. You play every position. It's a holistic environment. And uh it's late in the season. Look out, we'll be dating.

I've never had more fun. And I walked into youth sports being the I'll never coach my kid guy like I'll watch somebody else do it. And then after a couple of years, I was like, nah, I'm must coach everything, like everything out of the time. So yeah, we got a shot this year. I think our summers have been full of summer camps and pools and probably a couple too many popsicles, So I'm not sure if we've really gotten after it. But our team will play everybody. You play every position. It's a holistic environment. And uh it's late in the season. Look out, we'll be dating.

I like to yoga yoga.

I like to yoga yoga.

I liked that.

I liked that.

So Bruce and I had this conversation because I coached Flag for a long time and we won the City of Times, and I told him that I was taping opponents games and He's like, what are you doing?

So Bruce and I had this conversation because I coached Flag for a long time and we won the City of Times, and I told him that I was taping opponents games and He's like, what are you doing?

I was like, how you do anything? So how you do everything?

I was like, how you do anything? So how you do everything?

I'm trying to win like I'm trying to win, like I'm preparing. So when we go to practice, I can tell them here are the three things that we got to stop, Like we got to stop these guys.

I'm trying to win like I'm trying to win, like I'm preparing. So when we go to practice, I can tell them here are the three things that we got to stop, Like we got to stop these guys.

This is what they run. Go ahead, just tell so yog get the champions of what we're down with here. Don't turn into this guy. So go ahead, so yo get the championship game. We were playing a team and they had this kid who had these pink shoes and I scattered him out, and so, uh we we did a thing where we were just gonna play like like like Marco Polo. So every time the kid ran the hoodle, everyone had to point out where he was here he is, where's Waldo? And so we pointed him out every time, and we're to the wall and we're getting them. Second quarter, the kid just breaks down crying. The kid breaks down, Hey, hey, look where's Waldo? Walter right, wald left, And he broke down.