A New Era in Blacksburg

0:46 Welcome back to D, boundary Corner podcast, I am Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler man. We've got a lot, a lot to cover tonight especially for an episode. We're not even talking about a game, no games. No. But can I say something Braun? If you watch Sunday night Y'all. So Curtis is a nervous wreck on social media potentially DM stuff this week. Y'all know I was a nervous wreck because my fear was, We're not gonna get a decent fucking coach. Junk, our not going to get a good coach Jesus, without going to get a coach.

1:27 When we have some whiskey here. Oh, I'm nerve-wracking bronze, more, cool and relaxed. Kind of if he shot me a few texts. We're a little worried came over it. Yeah. Yeah. You know, that not that worried but definitely getting a little anxious and especially as we got into late Monday night, we started to see a couple other names pop off. And we're like, all right, who we getting? Who we getting and it turned out. We got a dark horse. One of our Dark Horses. I don't think you pulled the clip Brian, but if you go back to Sunday during that episode, Print proud was a dark horse. Brian.

2:16 I was like he's a dark horse. I don't know if we'll talk to him. You said Point Blank. He will get a phone call. And he clearly got a phone call. He was one of the first three phone calls with Babcock made and that would be Brent. Pry, your new hockey head coach and can I say, well, we kind of put him at the Dark Horse level. Go for it. If you recall, when we were going through it, we've mentioned, Brent Pride, couple times just as behind-the-scenes me and Brian talking, and I said, you know, it's a name. Good defensive coordinator coached a long time. Some experience in Blacksburg, But when James Franklin locked in that 10-year deal instead of being in our list, we moved him out because he'd been with Franklin so long. I mean that 10 years do right-hand man, it was like Maybe they call him.

3:09 But is it is he one of these DC's for life and he's making over a million bucks? He's got, you know, an elite defensive unit. I mean, they're a couple games this year. I mean, the Ohio State game this year in the Michigan game against those offenses at defense kept them in those games and I mean, just a linebacker Factory. Oh yeah. And we're going to hit all that tonight. So it was this Underlying reasons like he's just not going to come and then lo and behold mid morning on Tuesday, Pete them on first reported and Pete's pretty good, but it was about 30 minutes later. I think all of Hokie nation was like when David teal put out the Tweet.

3:53 Yeah, we got our guy. Once you saw till you're like, all right. Somebody on the inside has confirmed it because Tia wasn't just going to repeat a report from family. Tia was going to confirm Shit himself before he put it out there and here we are. We wanted to wait and do this episode until after we saw the press conference introduction. All that stuff that was going on today and I'm thankful for that because I feel like we get to kind of talk about some fun stuff to on top of just here's the higher. Here's here's why we like it and here's who we hope he brings along with them. We get we get to have a little bit more.

4:36 To talk about on that. So I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful that we play a little bit of a waiting game. They're pushed it back a day and hopefully, you guys enjoy what we're about to about to bring your way. Absolutely. All right, well, Brian, just, I'm sure everybody's heard it. But let's get a quick run of his background obviously, born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. But spent kind of his formative years at Lexington is dad was a football coach smaller schools and high schools. High schools around basically West Virginia Virginia in the greater Middle Atlantic area. So played football at Lexington, High School and I'm going to start in 1998 because the last piece everybody knows 98. He has a run at Western Carolina. 2000 to 2006. He was at ull with a name.

5:25 If you are a hokie fan of Our Generation, you know, Ricky bustle, the offensive coordinator for the 99, team offensive coordinator, throughout the 90s some of those big teams. He was the DC for Ricky down there, they have some success and probably two names that pop out immediately. He coached Peanut Tillman, if you watch the NFL in the 2000 was a ball. Hawking Ike Taylor. So already coaching at a defensive. Native level NFL type players. Yep and you know muscle gets let go and no 6 and he goes over to Memphis. Is that a red flag for anybody? He coached at Memphis for three. It's not when you see who he coached. Oh yeah.

6:11 And he coached Ontario, who was like a low level 2 Star and that kid when the first round played quite a few years that big one of the most unreal talented, guys, to be 300 is the the size to athleticism ratio that done. Tha repo brought to the table was ridiculous early. Um, settle and yeah, I'm settled. Yeah, so he stays there. Just just three years goes over to Georgia Southern where he was defensive coordinator and safeties coach. So, right there, it kind of tells you linebackers safeties d-line, own thing and coaches really is the corners.

6:53 But then in 2011, essentially, this is his big break. He's hired by James Franklin and Vandy, and basically, Linebacker defensive coordinator associate head coach recruited. The likes of Oren Burks, who's currently the Green Bay Packers, and a very, very good linebacker in. Jack Cunningham never coach those guys but recruited them to Vandy. And then obviously the Penn State follows Franklin. 2014 associate head coach co-defensive, coordinator there and Vandy with Bob shoot. Then he takes over when Shoup leaves coaches, linebackers and Brian. Give us the laundry list of players he coached there and recruited.

7:43 Yeah. So we've got Michael. Parsons is the big one. These five-star crushing it for the Cowboys. I mean, it's just there's not there's not really a whole lot. You can say that people already know about Micah Perkins, you got shotgun, Tony yeutter gross motto, microphone hole, Yeah, Fredericksburg Mike whole Big Ten linebacker the Year, guys. He also recruited that aren't in the league yet. Brandon Smith. Linebacker at a Louisa. He's been having a good season there for the Nittany Lions and was also on the yeah.

8:30 And then obviously Devon for the 4 star running back out of Stafford. He's the guy that stolen, he's the guy. So yeah, that's a, that's a list of nothing but like, four and five star guys that he's been able to pull a handful of them coming out of Of Virginia. Well just think about the list really for the last 20 years. Consistently guys he's coached on his defense have made it to the league with the exception of the stop at Georgia, Southern and 2010 every stop at least one or multiple players making it to the league. Now that is a huge selling point and it's almost this thing is I can do it at any level, you have a Feelin, Tillman and Ike Taylor we're not five-star guys, they were you LL. Shows you some developmental, but also shows you can recruit, well, he can recruit, he can identify talent, and he can develop.

9:27 So it's kind of the trifecta, right? And it's what the Hokies need. We never affected. We're never gonna pull all the files Stars. So we've got to be able to develop. Now Brian, we need to identify the guys, we need to be able to pull enough of those four or five star to keep us in that top 25 top 20 recruiting ranking but we also need to be able to uh, In a Five Guys that other schools aren't that probably are under under ranked in their their star ranking. And once we get those guys on campus we got to be able to develop them and get them to reach their maximum potential. Absolutely. Now obviously we did Skip and obviously the biggest point was he was here from he was at Virginia Tech as a grad assistant under Bud under Frank from 1995 to 1998 of rlq know what those years.

10:18 Were 93 and 94 with the emergence 95 and 96, especially 95 and 96, where the brought with it, bringing to the National stage, the Sugar Bowl, and the Orange Bowl playing, Texas and beaten, Texas, and play Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. And it's this feeling I mentioned to a couple people today. If you watch the, we'll talk about the pressure in general later, there's some orange and maroon blood in him. You just, you feel it. You feel it. He talked about coming to camp at Tec when Frank was a coach, when he was in high school. So this isn't like you direct.

11:00 Perfect. This is the Hokey Pokey. This is like the second cousin Right. Yep. And and this is and just hearing him speak. I mean, this was the stop that mattered a lot for him for years. Yeah. And I think that I think that's the biggest thing and having having someone that is familiar with what it takes to win in Blacksburg, what Blacksburg is all about what Virginia Tech football is all about sometimes. You have to live it to know it. Yes. Sir and here's an example of someone that did live it.

11:41 So I think that that's going to be big for us and he's had stops at obviously Penn State being a bigger time program than Virginia Tech. He seen what it takes to compete at that type of level. Yeah. In in the in the Modern Age of college football essentially since kind of the big flip that happened kind of towards the end of the 2000s where some of the the Being and everything else really went went into overdrive, their right so he knows how to win in that environment and that's something that we really haven't had at the head coach position because you know, towards the end of Frank's career, he had he hadn't figured it out. He hadn't been able to adapt towards the towards the end. There went a never really got it fully. Yeah.

12:28 And and the other other aspects that were negatives in his role there it just it wasn't a good fit. We finally got someone that has seen the inside of that type of program and knows what it takes to win. So I'm looking forward to it. I'm really I mean obviously the big thing is going to be what is the staff fill out? Like, but we did get some big news today on that front. So this kind of came out just before the oppressor compensation for coach. And assistant salary. Oh yeah. It's an and that's that's big because I didn't see it going this High.

13:18 I didn't think we were going to look for it getting this High because he's getting four million at the gate 3.5 supplemental and then the 500k you know, State salary. Yeah. So he's getting 4 million at the gate but went was true to his word. Two million dollar bump in assistant salary pool. Another 2.75 allocated for recruiting assistance. Those those are a single bucket. So if you need to name of one to the other, you know, a little little more in one little more in the other, you're essentially looking at almost eight million combined between those two buckets to bring in quality on field, coaches tent on field, coaches and a very solid recruiting staff. Yep.

14:12 It is. It's going to be second behind Clemson as of this year. And it's one of those things it's did some math with some folks today you can play both coordinators a million bucks in the average, starting salary for your assistant, coaches is 400,000. Eight significantly lower than that right now. And everybody knows that so dipping into that bucket is huge. I mean, it's one of those things especially the way we would set it up to be able to shift it. You know, you get your recruiting staff in place and you still have a, you know, an excess of 300,000 dollars. And you know, somebody has a great year because hundred thousand dollar bonus for this guy.

14:56 Won't 650, not 550. Okay, we're going to move this over here to here. I like them in the same. Look at, they need to stay in the same bucket because I think the recruiting departments going to be that turnover. You're going to have some stable, guys, But to me, it's going to be people who want to get their foot in the door. You know, guy comes in, he's here, two years, he's making 60 Grand a year, he gets goes up to 75 but he leaves for a bigger position that's going to probably fluctuate every few years to where it's going to go a little higher than a little lower where you can move the money back and forth. So I think with did that perfectly and he was true to his word, it was going up, it is a hell of a lot more money. And yeah, we went from middle of the pack of the ACC two number two, number two in one move, so I It's bets big.

15:47 That shows a firm commitment to football, which we've been begging for four years. And what have you been saying, Todd water? Put the money in your cash cow and your cash cow will make you more money for everybody. Exactly. And we're doing, it's great to see Brian. Some other things that have came down the past few days since the Brent pry announcement. You've got four guys in recruiting class. Pretty much already saying that they are locked in Paris and st. Germain from up the Nova, Malachi Madison down here in the r-va Bryce, Juke up another running back and to me probably the biggest because you feel like he is a Bell cow leader of recruiting for the guys committed Rashad Purnell had a Highland Springs even bigger where he is.

16:43 I think having those guys confirm, I looked somebody I can't remember who it was. One of the guys I think might have been Lamar law. Someone like the Tweet of the higher. I know over the next few days, they're going to be having conversations with the coaches but to have four guys. Good and especially Pernell already kind of back in the boat is got to feel great. Yeah, I mean parnell's definitely a big one there. Just speaking personally having a player from a program like Highland Springs or confirm what they're doing, he's very, he's been very vocal on Twitter throughout his recruitment so that's been big as well. So that's something that I'm looking forward to getting it. To him on campus.

17:33 And he's also he kind of fits that mold of what we're looking for in those those defensive linemen. I know we got a new new system that we're looking at here. Probably coming in, but more than likely, we're looking for the same type of player. Yeah. Because it's going to it's going to be a very Gap oriented defensive line technique. So we're looking for, the probably the same type of players that can hold those gaps. Bigger and taller type type, type lime. And then we are accustomed to recruiting. And some of the recruiting that we've seen in the last couple years is denoted that. Yeah. So kind of one of those things where luckily, the resurrection that we take in it even though, you know, we there are some holes in this.

18:19 They be ready for the portal, we're going to start having a portal segment every time we record, but it's going to be some in and we're hopefully, I mean some out and hopefully we get some in as well. And I mean will identify Defy those, when we talk that segment a little bit later guys, but getting those for to express commitment, you know, we're hearing whispers that sounds like orgy is still ready to potentially committal the 15th and enroll early. So so that that that's a big one as well. It's not Twitter official or social media official but that's the that's the word we're getting on him and that's going to be big because more than likely We're going to have two freshmen, quarterbacks potentially being the only quarterbacks on our roster and unless we get the portal we're definitely hitting the portal for a quarterback.

19:12 I'll make a bet on that, something else won at least one something else that will set up and this was pretty much confirmed this will set up within 30 minutes of his announcement. So basically the announcement was a noon on Tuesday within 30 minutes, there was a zoom call setup with football alumni that happen. Today and white Vic, put out there, almost 170, former players on this call who to have that done in less than 48 hours, that tells you that a lot of these guys respected and it's already been seen. You have guys like antoniou Banks, the white obviously JC you've got guys who set here and did it by putting that stamp on. And by all accounts, this was something that prize suggested. This wasn't like width:auto.

20:02 Was a good idea. Had it set up. This was something that price I wanted to do, brought it up, it got set up rolled out and by all accounts, that that have been made public at this point, absolutely crushed it with those football alumni between Dwight Brandon Hill out there saying some good stuff on what he's heard saw some good stuff for my think Rock Carmichael's. Out there. So yeah I mean a lot of a lot of folks that you know and love that you see active on social media, have have made it. Well, clear that you know, they're stamping this this higher at this point. Obviously, you got to see the winds come obviously, and obviously year one is going to be interesting with all the roster management issues that we have set up for us. But You know, year 2 year 3, I think, if the winds come it's going to it's going to be a home run here and if the portal can be our friend, then, you know, we'll see what year one looks like.

21:12 Yeah, absolutely. And you know something that they did not check the box for wit and he said it, he mentioned it today, he didn't have any head coaching experience but the way it seems as those opportunities had been there. Not once not twice, but three times. In the last eight years, the opportunities at Georgia, Southern and opportunity that you LL, that essentially would have been the Billy Napier higher and then last year at Buffalo he didn't take them. And then today during the presser and this was when I unfortunately had a step off but I kind of heard what was said. I think you were still on the cabron. Yep. Basically. I didn't want to go to this place to this place to this place to this place but Virginia Tech, I would go there. Yep.

21:56 Again, it's that whole I believe he has ballooned maroon and orange and his Blood. Like because he had a handful of programs in the entire country that he was willing to take that step out there outside of the, the zone that he was comfortable in and say, I want to give it a shot here, I want to see what I can do here, and it sounds like he wanted to be a head coach, but he wanted to be a head coach when it was the right fit the right time. And we were lucky enough to be in that in that number. So, Here we are. Brent, prize the head coach? We hear it. We've heard a lot of people excited and apparently it was mentioned at a couple places but everybody's looking forward to the spring game again. Everybody get, please get that released as soon as possible for me and Brian.

22:50 So we can essentially start talking our lives and be like, listen, we want to go, we're liking this shit and we're going, it's going to be a party up there. Exactly. And it's the whole thing. He said, the fans matter at that. I mean music to your ears, that's because the fans do matter and talked about embracing the community. And I think when he said that, I think he meant Hokie nation in general. Not just the blacks were. I think he's going to be unbelievable up in Blacksburg Iran, that Community. But to get a Big Spring Game, usually spring game, if you can remember and we went the West stands, where we were right? Right.

23:30 Always north south. They always close it. I think they might have to just bully open the stadium because I think they could get a full house for this. The excitement around it. It's definitely more excitement than 20 and I think there was some excitement with Flint a, but I feel like there's a lot more excitement right now, because I think we've seen how bad it can be. Yes. And if in this isn't just so I'll say this for about it. Talk about the pressure and my overall impression of the presser was this. Everybody has maroon and orange colored glasses on right now, right? We absolutely moved on.

24:14 We got a new coach. Yeah that's great. This went beyond that. This wasn't just a guy got up there and he said the right things. This this was legitimate you feel this guy cares about what he's about to do. He cares about this community cares about doing the right thing to get this program where it needs to be. And in that I think is where we're kind of, we're kind of feeling ourselves right now, right? Yes, it feels good to be a hokie fan. Again, it doesn't feel like there's something around the corner that's going to bite our ass at least when it comes to football. Right now. We feel like we're on the upswing here and it feels that way.

24:59 Not just because we got a new coach but because of what he's doing, what he's saying and how he's caring about his business and how he's expressing his Admiration for the roots of this program and what it means. Well yeah, 100% And I think today too, I was listening, you know, usually everybody wins depressor, usually everybody has it's hard to lose the pray. You might not win it, but you're not going to lose it. Everybody. It's a little on the presser. Even if you do it bad to me, this was a borderline home run, especially when he got into discussing and I know you've got this a little later, but I think it's Good time to hit it before we Deep dive a, the way you mentioned, James Franklin.

25:43 In the emotion. He showed about that about him being like a brother they've known each other for close to 30 years. How do you motion? He talked about him, given the opportunity and, you know, bring them along to Penn State. But then the emotion, when he talked about bud and Frank or as he called Frank coach, And it was one of those things when he said it. Like you met Frank like you soon as he said you could just get that Vibe. Like he means Frank and he got a little choked up and you can feel the emotion from him. No one that 26 years ago, he had coached at East Stroudsburg.

26:25 He said, 30 letters in stinney was on staff. Had coached him in high school, in the game of g a job and you could hear the emotion in the feel of they gave him his first big opportunity in 26 years later, they're sitting in the room as he's announced. The head coach of the first big university that took a chance on him and it was genuine. It wasn't it wasn't fake. It wasn't, it was so genuine and you can say all the right. Right things. But when you have two moments like that, you know, this guy's genuine real deal. Yeah. Not some bullshitter. Well, I'll tell you what the difference is and we've seen it. The last two weeks is that him and JC? You're Cut From the Same Cloth, they are the way they are personable with in relatable with everyone, they come in contact with, but the way they wear, their emotions on their sleeve, you see it, you feel it when they talk and that is resonating 100% with the fan base right now, it is 100% is. Yep.

27:39 And so, one of the things that coach pry LED off with was talking about kind of his philosophy, what he's bringing as a head coach to Virginia Tech. So this is going to be a little bit more. Little bit less abstract than some of the things we're talking about here. But I mean right out the gate hire the right people and recruit the right players. Yep. And when I hear how the right people, I don't think that means ever jigna Tech will go higher the most high-dollar person. You've got to find someone that's going to fit in this culture. You can't just go out and be like, well, he's a good coach, you got to find somebody to fix the culture.

28:23 So when I hear him discussing hire the right people, you got to have the right mentality. You got to have the right background. And you got into me also, thank you gotta have the right Connections in the footprint. Yep. And you got to be the right person that will do the job, well, but also be able to sell the culture and vision and what it is to play in Blacksburg because it's different than other places. And the thing I like about him coming from a place, like, Happy Valley is that he understands I know that's more of a an established and prestigious in terms of football program that were jigna Tech has been historically but Happy valleys in the middle of fucking nowhere.

29:12 He understands what it takes to recruit big-time players to a place that isn't a major metro area that doesn't have all the bells and whistles within a short drive. Yeah, he knows what it takes to recruit to that type of community. It's absolutely true. And and it's also the expectations, right? They have expectations up there. Like we have down here. We expect winning, we expect. Good football product. Now, the other PC talk about was recruiting, right, people? We've hit on this already and it's not only Virginia Tech.

29:54 You know, like you said, Ron earlier, you need to get a five-star every now and then and we kind of had them periodically but get the four stars but then find the under the radar guys. Find the athlete. And bring them in and develop them. Because in also, he said it, people recruit people that want to be here. And he kind of and I love what he said today. There's gonna be some people would go after that, they're just not going to fit here. And that's okay, right? It's okay, it's okay on the people that want to be here. And Brian, you know, we talked about managing developing, the roxtor, what's the biggest thing.

30:36 And I think, Think, if you follow closely what this statement right here? Say it recruit our footprint. He hammered that point home and what we're talking about is much, like we've seen Mac Brown due to a point much like we've seen some other folks, do he's going to try to put up a fence around this state. Get as much of the High Caliber talent in the state to stay home and play in Blacksburg. And I mean, he emphasized it from a relationship perspective, he wants play. Here's where, you know, Mom, Dad uncle grandma. They can get her car and drive.

31:26 Yeah. They can get in the car and drive and see their son play big-time college football. Yep. And you can't do that. If some of the best players are going to Alabama or some of the best players are heading down to Florida, but you can do that every damn weekend if they're going to Blacksburg you. Damn right. They are. Every weekend and I think that that's something that we can start getting some wins there. And I, it seems like he's the type of guy that can sell that Vision to those players. And say, yeah, you can go to, you know, fucking Chapel Hill, but drive an extra hour to Blacksburg stay in your home state and let's build something big and get get Virginia Tech back to where it was when they played for a national title.

32:18 You ever seen you and see in the National Title, never actually ever seen them in a big bowl. It's been a while, like one time compared to where from 1995 to 2011. It was about every other year, sugar, orange sugar aren't Peach. Another thing. He said that I liked and they talked about, he's like when he walked into Lane and he saw that, the, the last ACC Championship is 2010. He's like that's too damn long. Yeah. We need to get that back and that that says that he's he's ready to take that next step.

33:02 He's not just there to get us to the coastal, he's there to hang banners, he's here to hang banners. And I think the other thing that kind of went about his philosophy is I don't think he's going anywhere. I think. I think the why it took so long and like he mentioned a day, only a handful of places. This is one of those places is like home to him. It's like home to him and something else. He said about welcoming the High School coaches and trained like almost like opened or just come on down. I think having him already established at Penn State and I said, this about Charles off and I, you know, and I'll say it about Brent. I don't think Brett's going to have too much of a problem walking in to Highland Springs or down to Oscar Smith or up. You know, like to Stafford in those counties and piss, they know Brent and now Brooks going to be selling something. In state where, hey, you're two and a half or three hours from Blacksburg.

34:08 Let's get these kids here. We know when the top people in the state come to this University. We know the greatness that can be with can be attained we saw it. We saw when he says we can be talking to the coaches and he's the one that's got to sell that when the best players in the state come here. And we look in our other Regional Footprints and a couple other players, big things happen, big things happen, Brian. Do you feel like me and you could You got your drink, a drink too. I feel like we could go to any bar in Blacksburg. Sit down with this guy. Have a drink and have a an hour conversation without blinking. Yeah, any talked about it?

34:54 He's all about building relationships, all about building relationships having to open door policy and that applies. He said to folks that come on campus everyone in merryman players and you know, talk about welcoming the High School coaches and getting back in the house. Schools like we haven't seen a blitz like that in a while and that's big for me because that's what we really. That's where the recruiting problem started was, was not establishing those relationships with the High School coaches and you know, we talked about it but with the trainers and some of those folks that run the Academy's down there, especially in the 757 were.

35:39 That's a that's a big part of Developmental Football in the middle and high school level. Yeah, and it's becoming a culture thing down there, like, cultures, change down there, a little bit. Don't be afraid to. I think he's going to be a guy. It's probably going to adapt pretty quick to it. You know, he also talked about our history in terms of recruitment. It's another big piece. Essentially amazing, no hear what he said. Man, The Pride for Virginia kids how that used to be a big thing to go to your in-state school with your State's name on it in ball and he talked about bringing that back. And I think, you know, so many times when you have a Virginia kid at Virginia Tech do great things, it goes so much further, I mean, just a few weeks ago, a DB and Harris going in to get from the state Highland Springs in a 757. Kid going in, who were ungodly on the football field? And we saw firsthand.

36:48 We saw both of them play firsthand. They were crazy good. So getting that back in and like again you can you feel like that's going to be a selling point like be prideful of the state you live in you come here do something. You're going to build it in. Your name is going to be on there. And you know, I think bringing a alumni back in we've already discussed it and having that discussion like you know one of the coolest things about going to In spring game was approaching former players and just talking to them. It like it was just so, so approachable mean, that's what we're met Darryl Tapp. And since then, we've got to interview in which is just even crazier than we met him.

37:35 And then interviewed him in the course of the span they come. Here, you come back here. You're God the next level. And I think that, I think that's the big thing that we were missing in. The Fuente era that we had talked about with several people. We talked about it with Dwight, when he was on here with us, we talked about it with Christina, being able to look back but keep it moving forward, right? Appreciate the history, appreciate the culture but still do it your own way, do it? Do it, the way you have to do it in this modern era while still honoring. What got you here in the first place? And he's already seen it at a big place, right? Yeah.

38:19 I mention that today about how you have to respect what happened then, like, as a Virginia Tech, Coat you must respect, what happened in the nineties. You must respect what happened since then in all those big games but you got to move forward, you've got to move forward, you gotta know how to change things but still respect it. Exactly. I think, seeing that process happen already, I think he's probably got an idea of what he wants to do. And you feel like if he can put some of those plans into place, it's going to be really big. Yeah. And and the other thing he talked about was, you know, once you get these players on Campus the development aspect, get them to be the best version of a football player.

38:59 They can be while they're here and to a bigger point, he talked about being willing to have hard conversations and that was with players that was with coaches, that was with looking at himself and what he's doing. And I think that that level of self-reflection and reflecting on what needs to be done to get the most out of you and your players. And that's big that's going to be big for this program because I feel like That was one of the big things that was lacking with with the Fuente regime. Absolutely a huge thing lacking and I think as as I've joked, I just want to, I just want to coach who's going to be willing to sit down and tell another coach. We're going to have to let you go. You're not living up to expectations or before that have some hard-ass conversations where chain, you're trying to get them on the Right Temp track. Well yeah and and he said he's and that that's what we need. We need somebody that was willing to have. Those are conversations because that's part of being a leader part of me.

40:03 And he can't just, you know, be the nice guy, I'll be the best friend be, you can't be that guy all the time. Did you hit him? And he showed him this press conference. He's like, I'll push them, but I'll at the same time, he's having a good time up there. He's laughing, he's joking. And that's something that Day is night and day from what we're used to in a press conference, dude. I think I mean, just so so natural. When he was asked answering questions from the media folks that were asking the questions up there. You said the right things but he tied it back to like the personal experiences he's had brought up some hokey history brought up history with with other folks that he's experienced over the years come calling out JC on Bourbon Street after the Sugar Bowl.

41:00 That was like, maybe the hands-down, the best moment says he was sitting there and I can't remember, was it burned in Brooklyn? Or did ask him about that? I think so. Yeah. And he was like, well, we've stored it Owen to. And here comes Miami, man. The Flash, their Miami. It's the you and I know I'm paraphrasing some stuff. He said they have the Orange, please, cherish and shiny and that day. We play hard nosed defense and we ran the ball out them and we beat them. And we won 10 straight and we want to Sugar Bowl. And then right here not say anything else but where you felt the genuine level with JC in the room. And I tell you, when me and JC and West Worsham Worsham, just think of worship field and you wonder who that guy is, what out on Bourbon Street and you're like, basically he just told us, we were super excited. We won that game and we went out and we got hammered, it's relatable?

41:53 Yeah, because that's what, that's what you. I can do that. Same situation you ever told us. Oh, he's going to Sugar Bowl and you guys went and you guys had a huge win. What would happen? Well, a I hope we have a mani or, you know, wife users come because we would go get drunk on Bourbon Street without even a doubt. Damn, right. You relatable like you feel like if If he had that went and if next year we're walking off Lane stating, we beat UVA, we have the Commonwealth cup. You feel like he would be the guy that at evening cracking open a bottle of bourbon and slamming it down and celebrating a win. Yep. Right.

42:34 And he made another joke about about bud. When he was asked what type of Defense he was looking to do is, like, your defenses have been aggressive. He's like, wonder who I got that from It's just because we will be there whenever if they have restriction will whatever whatever and the big takeaway for me is that just everything? Seems so genuine like yes there wasn't. Manufactured it was just like, here's the answer. Here's how I feel about it.

43:21 I'm going to kid with you. I will joke with you but I'm going to be serious when I need to professional when I need to. But I'm going to cut loose when I need to. And I think that's something that we're not used to. He's just, he seems comfortable in who he is at all times. It's not just those moments where he has to open up. It's like he is who he is on, are off, are in different. So I think that's something that's that's going to be big for us because that's kind of how Frank was, right? I mean that's exactly how Frank was exactly how Frank was tell you the other piece and I know you everybody seen the videos and him coming in, flying in getting off, the band that he was taking selfies with all the guys with numerous band members, having fun In later in the video, he's walking down that tunnel and talked about how coming down that tunnel, brought back a ton of emotion for him. And it gets worse.

44:20 Well, then he sews them on the field and I think it's his mom. I don't think it's his wife and kids because I think they were with him, but I think it was his mom and he's just, he's got the he's got his phone up and he's kind of showing her around and like he gets it. I think he gets the culture of this place and not only just the football aspect, not only just a football aspect of it. I mean when you saw tell me what you, what your immediate thought was, you saw that post? To him this morning with the court, it was like the butt crack it. There was no light yet outside, but when you saw that, I mean, the first thing I mean we've said it before but as soon as I saw was like, yeah this dude gets it, he gets he gets what it means to be here he gets what's, what's important to people on this campus?

45:10 And not just people that are associated with the football team, and I think that's that's a big part. I think of what we missed with, with the Flint areas that Fuente was very much compartmentalised into football. Ball. He wasn't necessarily Community member, he wasn't necessarily, you know Outreach to everyone on campus. There wasn't that type of role for him. It was like this is my job as a football coach. And yeah, I don't get that sense with pride. I think price seems to have a great understanding of what it means to be a part of the community. Not just part of the community as a football coach. Ouch.

45:57 And what I think, that's what's been missing, because that's what Frank was. Frank was the embodiment of Virginia Tech. Not just I'm a football coach wasn't just the football coach. He was forgetting, you Tech. And I think you're right with Justin Fuente and never bought into being a part of the whole Community. Like, you didn't see Orion. You didn't even hear stories about. Going to some of the downtown restaurants. Me even, even going out like in Roanoke, somewhere, that's 35. 40 minutes up the road. But if you, if you're seen in Roanoke is Virginia, Tech head coach people know, and how do we know this our musical director?

46:38 Jason long, what was it about six weeks ago? We messaged him and he's like, yeah, people are not happy up here with this coach, he is going to be gone. In again it's the different culture of this place. And you had Frank for so long and Frank is who he is and it was the genuine article and you know Frank to this day still walks has you know dog or Walter around campus? The freakin College Football Hall of Fame coaches walked around campus, that's crazy. And you know, we sit here and talk about the other thing about it, you know, We talked about it earlier but talking about Frank and budding in starting his journey to choke up peace. And I know I mentioned all the times When you get choked up like that, it truly means something to you and what it truly means something.

47:35 I think this guy will fight tooth and nail, I think he will do everything he can to make this program where it was and that's all we can ask right now. And you know how about this? Guy went to high school in Lexington. Guy went to high school in Radford Dead head. Coaches of the football team and the basketball team now. And he met Mike young, Danny talked with the players, the way we don't have this mention tonight. What up fucking Victory last night because they did not play their best game. Marilyn's house was rocking. We were getting some really shitty under the basket foul called but they dip fucking Grand. They sacked up in the last five minutes and pull that shit out.

48:15 Yes they did. Huge win. Shout out my other. That was that was a big win. My Mike young. Definitely there was a point where you saw. All right, I see that what we normally do isn't working, let me call a few sets here. Let's manufacture some points to get a lead and then let the defense close it out and that that's what he did. I know this is this is off topic even with the losses to Memphis and Xavier, you know, the offense not clicking, the defense is playing, its nuts off, defense is going to put us in every game this year. Every game in when the nights, when the offense clicks, which I think he'll eventually get to it in the diesel Works storms, got to play into form.

49:01 He is not, he's not in Rhythm. He's got to figure out that he's playing against a hell of a lot better competition now. And I think Mike understood that in the second half and got him Distributing a little bit more, makes sense. Wow, we've got to destroy, he's got to distribute more, but he also has to win the shots. There, he can't be thinking about that last Miss know because Towards the end of that game. He passed up two threes that he should have took wide open. All right. Somehow we just win the basketball for the last couple. Sorry guys. Yeah, but yeah, media up with Mike young today, that was big baseball team. I didn't I never saw a lot of interaction ever between Wednesday and young. I mean, it was, it was very minuscule. If, if anything getting that relationship going right out the gates, going to Big.

49:53 I mean, they're the two biggest faces of the athletic department outside of wit Babcock. So, look, you got, you got to put them front and center and seeing them reciprocate like, that is going to be big. And the other thing I know we talked about him tearing up with Frank and Bud. But the big thing for me is that when Wednesday was announced, Frank was stepping down Bud was staying on. They were obligated to vouch. Ouch, for the new guy coming in. There was absolutely no obligation to vouch for the next head coach here, but Bud and Frank are front and center.

50:34 Yes, they are singing Brent prize, praises. so, the lot It says a hell of a lot. It says a hell of a lot to you seen. Tony Robi already shouting them out the baseball. Team is running laps making jokes about making sure they get all the seats prepared for the next fall. It's one of these things, it's a cultural higher, it's a cultural hybrid. It's a high of a damn good football coach. Because D, again, I said it the defense is yielded, whether it's Cody, see or full-time or the primary defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt, And Penn State or been top ten in the last eight years. The other eight like, I think 37 to go back and look, I think 37 might be the lowest if you tell me we're going to feel the top 35 defense every year, and every other year, we're going to be in the top 10.

51:28 Watch the fuck out. Sign me up. Sign me up to. All right. I don't think this is any shot. Obviously it was announced. Back last Tuesday, JC's be entertained. JC is going to be the associate head coach along with the defensive line coach Pearson, Prelude retain makes a lot of sense. It's another one of those connections, right? Pearson was here during his time here, and it's pretty awesome to hear that JC and Pearson are on the road. Trying to lock down this recruiting class. I don't think you could ask for two better guys to do that. I'm 100% with you the quote was JC. What are you doing?

52:13 Today is like I'm about to hit the road. Recruiting. Yeah so he's not hanging around dicking around. He made his appearance this morning with the with the presser and then he got it back on the road, trying to get this class closed out. And that's big retaining JC associate head coach going to be coaching some of the defensive line, but obviously still carrying a big mantle for the recruiting to close out this year and, you know, Pearson Player Development for defense. He's still rolling with JC and getting this class finished out and hopefully we can retain most of this class.

52:54 Keep it together. I know we talked a little earlier about the for that have already kind of kind of Confirmed there we think orgies in the boat as well, but keeping this class together, it's probably one of the best classes that Wednesday was able to put together during his tenure. It being able to maintain that and then build upon that next year. With all the resources that we'll have and what what seems to be a stat? At least a head coach that we do of in a staff that's going to be geared towards recruiting our footprint, the sky is going to be the limit with this thing man. So, I'm, I'm looking forward to it big. Shout-out to j.c. price and Pierson prioleau to close this thing out for us. But, you know, the big question card is that we were asking ourselves right up the gate right was was, why is Brent pry, the best fit?

53:48 And for us, we kind of really identified four areas Culture identity vision and passion? And a lot of those go hand in hand, right? The actually probably all four but really you put that culture in the passion together. He understands the culture. He understands how passionate this culture is. You also see how passionate he is about it. I have a feeling we're going to run the ball even though we were in a lot during the 20-year, I think we're going to run the ball, he just as much and I think if we can hold on to that kid, on the South Side, Ramon Brown. I think he has that potential to be, you know, the next running back that we will talk about forever, no disrespect to Malachi Thomas, although I'd love get them in there. Let's get an Untouchables part 2. Yeah.

54:50 You know, I'm all for it, you know. Yeah, but I mean the identity, I mean, it goes back, art art identity is always been defense first, Teams defense crippled you into submission and I think we're going to get back to that identity. Yeah. And I think that's big and he was talking about it even to the point where he's like, you know, we're bringing in a DC but he will call plays. Once I'm comfortable with them calling plays if that's after Spring ball. That's great. If it's after year one, that's great ability. I fear that our ability. Yeah he wants the he wants to make sure.

55:32 That that that defense is humming that's first and foremost on his mind and and that's that's big for us because I think when we look at what Virginia Tech is it is a defense and special teams first program. I mean the offense will come and I think that offensive coordinator higher is going to be the most important higher that Brent Pride makes because that is not his area of expertise, he's going to have to Lean on that person from day one to be, making a lot of decisions that happen on that side of the ball. Absolutely. So that's going to be the most important higher. He's going to have to have somebody that he trusts. But also someone that can do things at a high level identify and recruit talent to the offensive side of the ball. That's going to be the most important higher that he makes. I think that entire staff is I think you eat. You got to have guys that can coach put in the right system that can work here on, but you've also got a again I think you're going to see footprint hires, I think you're going to see guys that know what's always been the DMV the 75, the Carolinas Georgia and Florida.

56:48 I think as we start seeing that staff go and I know and the occasional handful of stars from Southside Virginia. Hey, you got one down there. Go get it because they love, stay Virginia Tech. Shout out all the ovens brother. Shoutout, David Wilson, shoutout. Oh Ron Martin cam cam over in Henry County but I think what what what And I don't know if we're going to do an episode next week, guys, because we've done a lot of episodes this year. Brian, click it up real quick just so that you can see how much we've done we're at. For this is 4444 episodes. We might need to take a break because we are going to have a banger in about two weeks here, but if we start seeing all the coaching hires come down.

57:39 Yes, we will be back And that probably means we're going to be back in sometime next week. So what I want to see who it is. I think for for me because I've been around you freaking 20-plus years of my life. I want to know who the yellow line coach is. I'll definitely do the old line coach is in something we're probably going to do, guys write this in your calendar, probably January, right? Brian Once we find out who the o.c. in the DC is bronze, going to take the offensive side of the ball. Do some tape break down, our our buddy coach, Robbie Compton down in Wilkesboro North Carolina coaching high school ball down, their defensive coordinator. He's going to do some defensive tape breakdown. And what we're going to do is kind of say, this is what we're looking at doing next year for Robbie. It's easier.

58:34 I tell Rob, he's probably, we talked to him the other day about, he'll probably is already pulling Penn State tape to get an Idea in general, what's going on? Because it's going to be burnt system. I can't wait to do that but culture identity his vision and his passion this is the job he wants for the next 15 years. And I hope because of being a fan, he can be as successful as Frank's 15-year run, because the way college football is shaping, if the next 15 years were like those 15 years, Brian. We're going to go to the playoffs a lot. because it's going to be a lot more teams, we have a lot more chances and I think fire All right, y'all before we get into even more, we've been talking a full hour. We are going to take a quick pause so I can drink something Brian.

59:28 Can drink something for a quick Falls from our digital partners. Because we take a quick break, we'd like to tell you about getting your free website report from our digital partner, Grassroots, digital marketing Studio. They'll tell you how your website ranks on Google on-site, SEO and social media. No commitment to buy anything. You can get your free report by visiting. Grassroots digital studio.com forward slash free Dash website, Dash report. Now back to the episode All right, guys, we we kind of tease this early and we're going to probably hit it real hard right now. Something will be doing any time we record between pretty much now and March, because maybe even the summertime.

1:00:11 We're look at portal review. Obviously, you know, just with the higher Just Happening. We have no one in but we do have we have three guys. Technically in the portal. We already talked about Daryl Bailey, backup, quarterback, knocks. Kadem came in. Put his Name in the portal earlier this week. I don't think that's a shock to me. Are you Brian? But the big one happened today and we don't know if this is just him being in the portal, being available to talk to other people or what. But unfortunately, Tavian Robinson did put his name in the world de bruyne. Yeah, that's a big one because I mean, obviously that's going to be from a overall talent and experience perspective that was going to be the top receiver coming back for us in 22 and Parker.

1:01:04 Yeah, so I mean that's big but you know, as always, you know, players got to do what's best for them. And I can understand looking at our current quarterback situation and also not knowing what the offensive coaching situation is going to look like, at least for another couple weeks. I understand him making this business decision. And, you know, as always with, with player choice. I mean, we wish him the best of luck. This is definitely a once a hokey. Always a hokie situation, anytime he wants to, you know, have a beer, if I see him, I'm buying him a beer because he did some damn good things. Here is a hokie. Hopefully there's a scenario where Things fall into place and he wants to come back to Blacksburg but if that's not the case we wish him well in his next stop and hopefully he goes there and tears it up.

1:01:57 Absolutely. Um it's just it's going to happen. It's going to happen more. Over the next few weeks, you're also going to have guys with some eligibility. Not come back and it's just the it's just what it is right now. Especially okay covid to, I mean, right now we had a roster full of extra Year guys, that are not going to exercise that extra year. I mean trade Turner's, one of them. We had changa, Hodge said he's declaring for the for the draft as well. You're probably going to see a couple more guys. Is that do this? You're probably going to see a handful of guys transfer that mean it's to be expected right now.

1:02:39 We're looking to probably clear. I'd say you're at least other than the ones we already know. I'd say your least looking at another 55-27 that that are going to clear out. Oh yeah. The other piece that I don't know if you remember and we're going to kind of back to the press or but I got to talk about this. Coach pry, basically said he is going to have a specific unit in his recruiting staff. That is Portal only. And I think, believe it or not, I think we've already kind of got a jump on. That the way we've worked the portal last few years, but it's the way the school, it's the way it's going, and it's going to be crucial.

1:03:24 I don't know if he's listening tonight, sometimes it doesn't mean that. I got a cousin in South Carolina, South Carolina fan. The portal is going to be big for schools, like Virginia Tech in South Carolina because when we need When we need a really good run, run guard. And there's this kid coming out of Michigan. Can't Get Me Petey. He can run block his ass off. We get him. Go get him. Well he has some flaws and password. I don't give a shit, I'll give a shit. He's a really good run. Blocker, that's our identity. I mean, look at what we pulled with Johnny, Jordan, this in this cycle, I mean, Johnny Kaleo. I mean, yeah, I mean if that that's only really having one part-time person that was focusing on that in Adam.

1:04:12 Lichtenberg you think if we actually have two or three folks, the team of people that are just focused on evaluating and recruiting Talent from the portal recruiting and That's a very important year one because we probably need two quarterbacks. A wide receiver. At least one offensive lineman and at least one defensive end and one defensive tackle. So that's the Starting Gate and that's if that's not knowing if there's any any other attrition at any other positions that were thin at and you know that we're talking about at least leaving five players out the gate that we need to give the portal if you want to know the thing.

1:04:52 Brian. There are players in Collegiate football. Right now sitting on the bench, not getting an opportunity at certain programs that it's going to be back channel, right? Yep. There's going to be people that see it on tape and they're going to call someone like, listen, you need to talk to this kid about potentially going in the world, like it. I don't care. If you call a dirty, it's going to become part of the game. Like, you need to get him in the portal. Why? Because if he gets into Me, we can talk to him, we can show my vision. We do that another way. It's going to screw us up, but he's got to get to the portal. So again I really believe me. I think there's a possibility that we there are some good quarterbacks out there that will step away because say what you will do.

1:05:42 You want Adrian Martinez, know where you're starting lost his job this year, I just had to clear it out there. Popped out today. I was like, I gotta I gotta see if Spencer Rattler. Yes, okay, I think I'm fine with that. I mean, I think that's a, that's a worth the risk Type move there. Yeah. But you know, in my mind. Yeah. There's a there's a question whether we Kick the tires on Eugene, Asante, I know he hasn't lived up to expectations but he is a Nova kid.

1:06:27 He's a player that has flashed at times. It is our staff. Someone that thinks he can get more out of of him in our type of system, than they're getting out of him at UNC. I mean, he's had some of the same type of issues that Tisdale had, and in terms of play, He's probably a bigger faster version of Alan Tisdale. What is he? He is a redshirt sophomore, technically, right? He has two years left County including the fact. You got the free covid here. I would be willing to take a risk on him. I'll be willing to take a risk on him, a because of who are head coaches now. it's essentially a guy who's, you know, Coached a bunch of damn good linebacker.

1:07:20 So if it's one of those things where if you see him coming here, it's definitely a head coach move. Right? And you know, with Tisdale right now, I haven't is do the same. It also depends on what we're going to run on defense, right? Are we going to go into any true for three looks because Penn State does have some truth from true for three looks where they have a true weakside linebacker? Yeah they stay still you. Use it on a lot of instances. They kind of, you know, it's kind of a for to look it's still that but they use their whip as as a more traditional, kind of weeks out outside, whereas, you know, our whip is pretty much became a nickel that can slide in the Box.

1:08:07 Can you just say they use their whip-like bug used his whip up until about seven years ago? Like Cody like like Tweety Where it was. You have to be athletic. It's almost more of like you're playing a third safety on the field, not more of a third, it's more of a safety line backer versus of safety corner. So the portals will be crazy. You know we've already had some portal conversation. All right everybody. We've already talked about him one time tonight. Coach. Robert Compton has officially joined in here. Must have found a good tree down there in Wilkesboro to it's a good signal. The Wi-Fi is no longer spotty.

1:08:54 No, I thought I was no longer spotty. He found he found some rabbit ears. He's like standing on his head. He's doing something out there to get the service going. I'm just thanks for joining buddy. Well have an actual round table with exact right there. Look, I got two more bowls to somewhere in the house. All right, let's let's jump off portal and in Brian we've all watched you watch Game of Thrones correct. Oh yeah, huge Game of Thrones from the beginning to the end. The end sucked.

1:09:38 Yes. They should have read it, but I digress. How about Game of headsets in the fucking craziness That's happened and the craziness that broke. While I was eating dinner tonight, having some delicious stuffed peppers. By the way, Bronco Mendenhall announces that. After the bowl game, he will leave. You texted me and wear them, like, you're like, holy shit. What? Yeah, this is full-on Littlefinger. Chaos is not a pit chaos is a ladder and thankfully we came out of the right side of that. Well UVA. Meanwhile is holding their dicks a little bit because I don't think anyone saw this coming.

1:10:25 They were not prepared for this. They are in full scramble mode. They could end up working out. Something that works out for them, but they definitely put themselves behind the eight ball and Bronco has put them there in a lot of ways because this isn't we're planning on firing you on X date. But we're already having back-channel discussions with who the next guy is this is oh holy shit. This guy decided you know, five days after the last game of the regular season that he's done and we've done. 10 prep work on how we're going to handle this. They're so fucked.

1:11:06 It's, and if they could look into getting the right, that's right higher. They might be able to lure. Someone like Dan Mullen in, they might take a risk and name. Someone like Anthony Poindexter as a head coach out of the gate. I think that's their own voice. I mean, well, a because of what happened a few years ago and they kind of screwed him over, but be, it's, it's, it's one of those. It's like, it is one of your best football players All-American, drafted played in the league, came back to coach. You screwed him over on the coaching situation. He's a Penn State right now. He's praying in the rumors are, we're fighting for him to Become dc.

1:11:46 Yes, people are putting, I'm sure Penn State is trying to keep him there to be to take over for prize DC and then you got UVA. I don't think he's going to come to UVA to be DC. Know he, if he, if he's got a job at Penn State head coach, And yes, also it unless they're willing to roll the dice and say I because I mean all he has right now is some Cody see experience. So he hasn't even been a full-time coordinator at this point. Can I Buzz? It's a culture higher, yeah, big-time culture and culture higher and they would be idiots not to because the one of the best runs you VA had was when that man was coaching or was what was playing for you. One of the best runs.

1:12:34 And to be honest, we talked about this with the white back last winter Grime. The best, the Rivalry had ever been, when guys like him Jeff, you know, from Lynchburg guys, like the white Jake Grove, when all the in-state Talent was in both Pro Tech was a top-10 program. Virginia was a top 20 program and that's Saturday meant something every year. It makes sense something and they've been playing against each other whether It was in high school, all-star games, like all that shit used to go on back then and used to see some legit rivalries. Even from folks that didn't play each other on their regular season schedule. So I'll be there was a lot of that type of stuff going on and it carried over into the UVA, Virginia Tech rivalry. And Poindexter was kind of one of the kind of the last big big-time players in that.

1:13:33 Well, share along with like Thomas Jones and guys like that getting a guy back in like that would be big for them from a cultural perspective and from a recruiting perspective because he's a guy that could definitely recruit the state and and he can make a case, you know, I did it here, it can be done here. So that would be big for them. I'm hoping it doesn't happen. Just for I want him on our staff. listen, if you want to talk about the biggest Fu, if he literally, if they, if they do not offer him and he comes here as the DC, I don't think I'll ever go back there. I mean, for real, like, right now, if they don't at least offer him, DC, then there's no, they're fucking awesome. The head coaching job.

1:14:27 You have to the little black dress. All right. So the other robberies got Robbie's. Got a suggestion. He thinks they should bring back grow. Tall like 80 now though, how old's Al groh. Well, it has Al groh Robbie CR2 old. He's old too old. All right, let's talk about this. So the Lincoln Riley stuff we talked about Sunday, which was pretty wild. This is even crazier. Your team is 11 and one, your team is on the verge of the playoff, is just one or two things happen. You're out recruiting your staff is out recruiting and all of a sudden, Brian Kelly to LSU.

1:15:13 The the word is that one of the guys had just left a fucking recruiting visit, where they were pitching Notre Dame and Brian Kelly's Notre Dame and they pull out their phone and they're like, oh shit. Yeah, I mean this is classic Brian Kelly, right? Did he just like leave Central Michigan to go to Cincinnati like out of nowhere? Like literally drop the bags and like East, he's definitely. Yeah, I mean and I'm obviously there's, there's no like, well, we need X number of days that I get that but like The situation that Brian Kelly is walking out of, I mean, it's even different than what Lincoln Riley did it Oklahoma.

1:16:01 I mean we thought that was abrupt. This is like next-level, it is. I mean I mean like I guess the only been the only positive is that you know Brian Kelly wasn't actively recruiting players to potentially align up to go to his next school like I know that I know that was inadvertent but bullshit it looks shady as hell, doesn't it? It looks shady as hell. We're going to recruit California. Real heavy this year. Real real heavy, like he played the long game at USC like As soon as clay loses a game, we are going to fire him so be ready. I don't know how this is gonna work, like don't get me wrong, it's working nicely for Notre Dame right now. Oh, yeah.

1:16:53 Well, it's They're getting sympathy, right? Like they're getting sympathy. And they're pretty much maintaining all of their staff. This is a Brian. Kelly is leaving for LSU and I can't. Can you think of a worse fit, from a cultural perspective? The Brian Kelly at LSU. Apparently, there's a video him out there. The basketball game. He's developed a Southern accent in like two days. Pretty fucking impress. Come on. If he starts talking like coach. Oh, you know, what's up? Oh my God, the fixes. In. It doesn't seem like there's he can coach football and I mean he can he can talk his way out of a paper bag apparently.

1:17:35 So I mean I mean you know, he's a recruiter in a Salesman like that but you know the slimeball tactics can only go so far and I mean it's true. When you start, he's not bringing his staff with him. So he's going to have to build either from the base of folks that have coached and recruited in that area. Or he's going to have to plumb some new pipelines, right? Well, here's the deal, though. It's LSU, there's going to be somebody. There should be good coaches at schools all across the country that if he goes and says, do you want to coach here? They're going to be like. Yeah, because it, oh, yeah, me and Definitely getting a situation where it's going to be hard to say, no, because a, it's LSU and be, they're going to pay top dollar for everybody. To be a first all assistant coach and said everybody's making over 750,000 and he's making like nine and a half million a year over 10 year deal. They also gave a 10-year deal.

1:18:38 Do you hear that ten years? Yeah 60 good Lord but um I don't know how that's going to work. It's going to be so interesting to see but the guy has say what you will that guys? Fucking killed it everywhere. I mean literally Michigan. All You're welcome. Hey, he'll kill you. Oklahoma is to me is not in a war situation. Is you vehicles are Oklahoma? But you know, everybody thought this week will the younger students brother will come.

1:19:19 Well, no, Mark says, I'm good at Kentucky. They like me went in between seven and nine games a year. I'm going to go ahead and get a 7 year extension and basically I'm coaching here until I'm retired, he's making good money to with only medium expectations and he's doing a good job of hitting or exceeding. Those expectations every year right now and if he can maintain what he's doing on the recruiting Trail and maintain the level of plays getting from his players, he's gonna ride this into the sunset and I don't blame him. I don't blame them either. I mean why do you want? He's old enough where he doesn't need a Prestige hiring his resume?

1:20:03 No, he well, you know, he has done, he had national title rings from some assistant-coaching job. Yeah. And again, for us for us our age group, He's doing what a Kentucky, they're winning games, they're going to bowls every year like they're fighting with their beating Florida. They're competing with Georgia, no way. So the last time their program was even decent, Jerry Lorenzen was throwing for him to have to Lefty God, Rest his soul, there are rumors out. Now what? This is going to flip back to Notre Dame, I don't know. This is us putting this to get this as this is might be one of the longest run down Chiefs we've ever had. Literally like on a non-game week episode, it looks like Notre.

1:20:51 Dame is going to hire Marcus Freeman. Tommy Reese is going to stay in house. A lot of the other coaches are staying in house. Hey Brian. Kelly said it last year, he's a future coach of Notre Dame. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe his foot was already out the door to like linking Riley. If you ever go on YouTube and find some of his, you know, interviews, I think that locks it up and now let's have two left. Yes, definitely our hero Robbie. Compton also better known as JC prices down.

1:21:31 Double ganger true but I think they're fine. I think Notre Dame is going to be fine. Notre Dame might be better than what they were with hundred killing for good on your Kelly. Amy Freeman's a great hire. I mean, he was on our short list and we talked about candidates that we would be good with we were looking at all right. Who's the coordinator that you would be most comfortable with? That doesn't have any Virginia Tech ties Freeman Freeman top of the list. In the fact that he's able to stay at Notre Dame that that helps them both this year to potentially keep their college football.

1:22:12 Playoff, hopes alive. If a couple things happen going to this weekend and it sets them up, good going into next year because there's a whole lot of continuity. Not only in recruiting, but also the systems that they're running on offense and defense. It's true and I think I think there's a better place he's a 34-year there's only one job he leave for one and the way Ron day is going in the age of Ryan day and let's Rendezvous decides to go to the NFL. He's not going to Ohio state anytime in the next 10 years. Alright, we've kind of already hit a couple times Lincoln Riley, what the hell is Oklahoma doing? I mean, we're like, on day four and they still don't have a head coach where, I think a lot of us expected after Sunday, it'll be Matt Campbell They'll go hard? Like, are they, are they waiting for like the mean, Brent venables, is should be the candidate. He was the o.c.

1:23:08 They're understood from, they had a shit ton of success. Why aren't you calling him and saying 9 million? Eight years? Thank you. Ever the hell you want to bring? Yeah, I think that's what they're looking at. You know, the question is going to be, do we see any movement after this weekend? I don't know if they're waiting on somebody else that is playing in a game this week. You know, we had a guy like Dan landing on our on our board. Is that somebody they're looking at I don't know. I don't know.

1:23:52 Venable seems like the, the best fit out the gate. Matt Campbell seems like the best upside. Like the higher-ups? I'd pick. I don't know. Oklahoma just seems like, I think they'll get somebody good because they are in. They are Oklahoma their top 15 top 10 program of all time but the issue now becomes it's not so much. Much this year next, right? Or next year in the year, after its dude, y'all are going to the SEC. You're going to be like the seventh program there. I still believe that's why Lincoln loved like Lincoln's. Like why do I want to? Why do I want to be halfway down the peg when I can be a top dog? Yep.

1:24:37 And that that that's a program that decided that the money was more important than the clout. But eventually the money can't solve all issues. Not when everybody's getting the same amount of money you are. Yeah, that's that's the thing. What he said that they decided that the money that the program is bringing in was more important in the clout. And I think it's going to cause some long-term because at best they're going to be kind of the fourth or fifth team in that conference year to year. They could be lower, but Lord, I think, I think they'll be lower some years, but I think they'll be higher some years, but I think on the only, Average, they're going to be like 45 in that country's. You're saying 45, you ready? They can be better than Georgia.

1:25:22 Every year. No. Bama. No. What about am? I mean? I think they're right there with A&M LSU. Depends on what Brian Kelly. Does. Alright Florida. They be a beat this year's LSU Florida. It depends on Legend Napier does. Let's talk about the last 20 years in Oklahoma. I mean Oklahoma's played Oklahoma's played for more national titles than all but two of the teams were talking about here.

1:26:05 True. I just think the issue is they're going to be seventh or eighth because remember, Texas is coming with them. I think they have. I think they both have screwed themselves and it's going to be funny in 10 years. Our weirdest part, is that Texas did need more money like that. Your entire life, huh? Now we understand. All right Brian. This is the last piece of news before we get into pickles on the ACC Network after football season.

1:26:51 Is coming to Comcast. I don't have time cast, I don't care. I've had the ACC Network since its Inception I watch it through Phi 0, so I don't really care either. But everybody's big, it's big for our market and it's been his big for Virginia Tech because that's going to be more media Revenue that's coming in directly through the network because you in more markets, so that's going to be more Revenue. So that's a good thing. And, you know, the big thing is that the, the footprint that not only we recruit but that You know, most of the fans are living in is in that that Comcast footprint.

1:27:34 So unless you have, you know, you're in a metro area, you've got FiOS. If you've got, you know, or you stream of the satellites, I mean there's some options there but they're streaming but people that are still on, you know, most small towns most communities throughout these Regions. They're locked into one provider and satellite more unlikely. They've got Comcast and they have not had access here so this is big for them and it's big long term in terms of media dollars for Virginia Tech and the ACC as a whole. Abso-freakin'-lutely, it's also big to certain family members. You know who have been take?

1:28:21 Can I get your hoop stuff and get your filing stuff? Why I need to, I need to sign into the ESPN app so I can watch the game. Okay? So it's good again. It's good for all the various reasons, it just hilarious. It literally took the week after football in sport to happen and it's still in the coming week. So this is probably a start of the New Year type deal if I had to guess. Exactly what again for ACC country basketball is huge. So maybe came at the right time to get people to watch the network of ton. Once the meat of the ACC regular season kicks in, at the start of the New Year, you'll be able to watch it on Xfinity.

1:29:01 Exactly. I also scored a football game. You got it up there tonight? I don't man me either. I'm just interested. I don't think I have anybody playing the night and fantasy but I don't think I'm playing anybody. I was officially eliminated from all you got. Yeah because Mike one last week so I mathematically couldn't jump him even if I won this week, Well, he's got me on. He's got me on points in head-to-head. Well, if you jumped above 75 points, you'd be okay, yeah, I'm not bidding on Ron.

1:29:46 Listen, you should be commended for how you manage this fantasy football year. You have a shit ton, go wrong at the beginning of the season, to be even considered in the playoffs. At it at the last few weeks is impressive. I was dead last and week for dead last two, knocking on playoffs door in week, 11 and 12. So, kudos to you. You all right Ron. Let's flip it over to Saturday. Pick homes. We will be picking all the bowl games as well. But we're going to start here. Brian 6655. And to I'm 71 47 and to and we're going to pick all the conference Championship game. We got 10 of them will start Friday night, Brian Conference.

1:30:30 USA championship UTSA versus Western Kentucky UTSA was undefeated until just a couple weeks ago watching Kentucky's lane two and a half Washington. Tucky blew the doors off of Marshall last weekend and I beloved Charles Huff but I don't know. I know there are some, there's some swirling, some people have said, let's take a look at Western Kentucky. Oh, see, I think based on what bring problems to do now. Yeah, he's an Airaid type guy. I don't see print going doing that, but I also don't see Western Kentucky beating UTSA. I think UTSA wins this game outright. Give me the points and I'll take UTSA. Yeah, I'm going the same way with you here. I think Western Kentucky had a really good game against Marshall.

1:31:21 Think was just a bad matchup overall. I think they're a good football team, but I think UTSA is going to pull this one out outright win. Probably probably, even maybe a touchdown win for them. So I'll go the same route, there bud. And if you want it in the records UTSA is 11. And 1 Western Kentucky is Aiden for and you know, Western Kentucky loss to UTSA by six earlier this season. That game was at Western Kentucky. So, this one of those highlights there. All right. The Pac-12 Championship is Friday night, Brian Oregon versus Utah.

1:32:01 In Las Vegas. I think that's the smartest thing that the big, the Pac-12 could do is put that game in Vegas every year, regardless and big time and try to work to get that thing move to a Saturday night or at least a Saturday afternoon. Because me sitting here like, hey, let's go to Vegas and watch the Pac-12 Championship Games. Why we're going to Vegas but how about this one Ron? Game was just a couple weeks ago. Utah, beat Oregon Utah. The three-point favorite. What do you say on this one? I think the Revenge factor and neutral site, is the difference. Give me Oregon. I'm with you, the neutral sites, the biggest difference.

1:32:42 They're dry Cycles is a tough place to play, and the middle of nowhere. Utah in this is what organ does, right? They lose a game two weeks before the championship game while they're in the playoffs. We get kicked out of the playoffs that they come wreck shop on whoever they play and go to the Rose Bowl. Yeah, we're getting. Give me the three organ Tale As Old As Time. Morgan wins by 10 3828. All right, the MAC Championship for one of our action, you know, the saddest person is on a week night without my action. Is it John Earl tomorrow Jenner? Did he is Northern Illinois, Kent State. I know very little about the Mac. This year is one convert to have not kept up with. So, while doing my research this week, Kent State has a good offense.

1:33:40 One of the best in the country. Northern Illinois is I know beat Georgia Tech but after what we saw from Georgia Tech the last, basically rest of the year, they're hot. Trash. I'm gonna take Kim State. I think the offense wins this one out. Lay the three points, give me Kent State, not so fast. My friend. I'm gonna go Northern Illinois here and this is purely on. I know they play really good football almost every year for a Mac team that that that's my rationale here. I haven't done any deep Dives on on these two teams. But I feel like they going to pull it out and I think it's gonna be an hour a win for them.

1:34:27 All right, it's a Revenge game. Will annoys beat Kent State by five early as year Revenge, Kent State. All right, buddy. Now we're getting into some of the bigger games and this one is huge, big 12 Championship noon, kick. On Saturday Baylor. Oklahoma State rematch earlier this year, Oklahoma State beat Baylor and a pretty good lower score and contest for Big 12. Oklahoma State laying five and a half points to Baylor. What do you say on this one? Brian. I really like the way Oklahoma State's been playing.

1:35:09 The only thing that gives me pause here is that About once or twice a year you get those Gundy games where for some reason they don't get it done against good competition. But I think this is going to be the year. They kind of shake that off a little bit so I'm going to take okey state Lay the points. All right, Ron, take Sookie laying the points. I'm going to go off of you. I don't think Baylor's going to win this game. This game was a ten-point game the first time down in Stillwater. 24:14 back in, I think it was September was early when I believe early October actually.

1:35:52 I remember watching part of it. Went down to a neighbor's house for a while. I think okey State wins. But I don't think it's as, I think it's a three-point game. I think being at a neutral site is going to help out Baylor, but I still think Gundy pulls it out something like 2824. Okay, when State Baylor covers though, you know in Baylor inoki State sets themselves up to get into the playoffs as some things happen. All right, let's go out to the mound, West Brine Utah State vs San Diego State, the Mountain West, sorry. Kind of put this breaker here because I'm literally put them in the order that they come on television. Is this me or you leave them?

1:36:39 This one or me. Let's meet lean on it. I'm San Diego State. Best team in the Mountain West. Brady Hoke leading on Brady Hoke. I think eventually Brady who's going to get a second chance at a P5 job? I think the time he went to Michigan was just not right. But I watched it. The good amount of the San Diego State Boise, State game, good offense, very efficient. Definitely a damn good defense as they always have. Yeah, are with you. They always play good defense. I think that's the difference that I think they're able to probably probably win by about a touchdown. Time ago. San Diego State. All right, let's go to the fun belt Billy Napier in his university.

1:37:25 Lafayette. Raging Cajuns versus appstate, Chad. I'm a buddy at work Malik. Appstate. Laying three. Does Napier get it done? Once he's announced it, there's nothing to hide. I'm leaving at the end of this game or is it appstate getting revenge? This is the tough one, does he rally the troops through the troops rally around him in his last game at Lafayette or is this one where he's got one foot out the door and they're not prepared and they lay an egg against a quality opponent.

1:38:07 I tend to go with the former, I think the players are going to Rally around him, get the job done. Send him off with a big win. So, I'll take Lafayette. I think they're going to win outright, all right. Give me AB State. I think you have state is the best team in the Sunbelt year, in year out. Always a good running game. Always a good defense and losing the Lafayette this year. I think it's a little Revenge Factor, but also, I want to say this Braun We watch that Thursday night game a little bit of it with Lafayette, right?

1:38:50 You watch the little face, they have been struggling offensive ly for several weeks now and I think against a team like appstate, we saw appstate Take Miami to the brink we've seen have state meet other teams. They took Penn State to the bring a few years ago. I think they spoil his last game and don't get, I think they won the Sunbelt. Give me appstate. I'll lay the three and like a Touchdown game. All right, we go next to probably the game that is going to determine how the playoff looks one way or the other. It's Bama. It's Georgia. Georgia is laying six and a half points. This one is just tough because only one, Nick Saban assistant has ever beat him.

1:39:40 Only one that was issue a Jimbo fichter But the am in the basically last second field goal. Watching, Bama over the last two weeks, I watched a good amount of the Arkansas game and even though I was watching the tech game Saturday, it was up on my upper left TV and I was really keeping an eye on it. Bam has offense showed against a Albarn defense, that was aggressive his shit. It struggled, they struggled to score points. Literally it took them to the end of the game, to get to 10. The other piece, we saw the Arkansas game, right?

1:40:22 They could not stop the Arkansas running attack. And even though I think Arkansas is a slightly better offensive team. I think George has got more studs. I think this games about a 14 point game, I think this game is going to be somewhere like Georgia. 30, you one and Bama 17. And I'm going to lay the six and a half and I'm gonna take the dogs. I'm right there with you. Bama will not be able to score more than 17 points. I think, probably 14 points. I think this is 24:14 Georgia.

1:41:04 So I will take Georgia here. Alright, so when our scenarios bamas out now okey States one, right Brian. Yep, they're on the Cuffs. Let's go down to Houston. Cincinnati, Cincinnati, undefeated 12, and 0, 8, 10 and a half Point favorite their number for right now behind Alabama. What do you think they win? They cover, or they win or lose? Good teams win, great, teams cover. Since he is a good team, they will win. They will not cover hunt, takes Houston in a 10 and a half points.

1:41:48 I'm going to go completely opposite of you man. I think since he is going to prove a point against a ranked Houston team with only one loss, I think they pound them. I don't think that offense gets off the ground in Houston 31:10. Cincinnati. OH domination domination. I'm going to legal limit here. I don't know if I'd go to legal limit, but you know, it's not one of them were. I see them when I'm like my 40, I haven't seen him in about 20. All right? So now we've got a man out. Okey state in or okey State winning Cincy likely holding on to their spot before we get to the last spot.

1:42:33 Let's go to wake pit. What I think is probably I think that's going to be. This is going to be the most entertaining game of the day regardless, regardless wake or she's me, pit is a favorite by Three points. The over-under 71. I think they take that perfect. Yeah, that's about what I would pick it as well. Yep, like right at 35. So what do you say? Brian here? Well, actually, it's me right? Because you took Euston want to take. Wait, I think wake. Is that team that has shown.

1:43:14 They can get in some shootouts and win and there's been a couple of times this year. We're pit just done a couple things just very strange and loss. I think weight wins the fight and clausen's go to the Peach Bowl. I've been struggling with this one, you've got the first-team all-acc quarterback on one side. The second-team all-acc for back on the other, you got Good at times. But very uneven in questionable defense has very high risk, High reward.

1:43:54 I think the difference is that pits going to do a good job of attacking that long mesh. So I'm going to take pit. All right, bronze, lion, the three. I'm taking the three. All right, Brian. The final pick is Iowa versus Michigan. Michigan and 11-point favorite. You know the over-under on this game, if you looked at that, That can I have it 43 and a half? 43 and a half. Michigan lane, 11 points. What do you say on this one? I like Michigan to win this game. The 11 is just a little too rich for my blood. I think it's somewhere between a 7 and 10 point win for Michigan.

1:44:38 So I will take Iowa here. I'm with you on that. I think Michigan, definitely wins the game. I think they win the game somewhere. Probably exactly like the over unders, predicting somewhere, like 2410. So the, the 11 is just a little bit too much. Alright, Braun in this fun. So, Bam has outright, they can smell their out. George is one, we keep in Michigan it to her cfp. If Michigan wins. Michigan is staying Michigan's to. What are you do with sin? See you, we both predicted, they win.

1:45:20 You predicted, Houston covers. I predicted a big blowout or they three. Are they for if they win like a blowout? I think you move them to three. What if they just win you? Since you should have one loss, Houston's 11:00 in the morning, they're 24. Yeah. I think they, Principally. I think they should move to three. I'm trying to think what is the college football playoff going to do? Well, I think they stay in for, I don't think they say it for because if they stay at forced the biggest in the world, the biggest Fu in the world. Well, go play, Georgia. Now, although last year to similar teams and they hung with Georgia, right to the end.

1:46:05 All right. Mo if our scenario holds true with both think, Oklahoma State wins no chance Notre Dame's in Not if Oklahoma State wins if Oklahoma State loses, then the college football playoff has going to have to make a big decision, you know, they're going to do to get how they're going to get it. They're going to put payment three. But they all stood George and George is a really good team. They, they the whole thing that they did with the well Notre Dame doesn't have their head coach. And we're going to take that into account was it was to create a scenario where Bama can lose and be in. That's the only reason that shit was in there. That's bullshit.

1:46:47 You've lost two games, you lost to I've lost team, you lost to the best team in the country. We're Beyond I test, if you lose two games you should have. Yeah. With this isn't, this isn't 12 yet. Yeah. Well, was where two games can get you in in three games? Depending on who you lose to my kitchen? Yeah, I mean, I test is I test is a good differentiator all things being equal, I test should not put you in someone over someone that has a, a better resume and be head-to-head matchups that are comparable that can say, okay, well, they beat this team or they Beach this team heads up like at some point, the games have to matter. Yep.

1:47:33 Games have to matter. I'm still waiting for, if we go to 12, there's a seven and five a sec. Aim that they try to push in but the losses are all about like a touchdown. That's that's, that's the Oklahoma that's Oklahoma. Three years. Ron has anything broken? The last almost two hours. I knew this was going to go. I'm in probably two hours. Hey, I think I think we did good. Our just over our 45 we were we were pretty smooth All Things Considered. We had a couple breaking points just before he went on here. That That, you know, probably pushed just from just over 132 just under 150 here.

1:48:13 So what can you do? I hope you guys enjoyed it though. They really enjoyed it at all. Hope you enjoy you. Listen tomorrow. Press, you know, press like send us a send us some feedback guys of what you want to hear more from us and we got an offseason come up with. I mean this is when your guys is input, really kind of, you know, can set the table for what type of content we put out in the next five to six months. Exactly in our brains are turning trust those. Oh yeah, we're gonna have some fun stuff regardless. But yeah, if y'all if it's something y'all want, you know, we will do our best to give it to you. Damn right. We will. It's a Braun. This is a great day and hokey notion print pry officially Essentially he is announced.

1:49:00 He is our head coach. You feel like it's about to be old times back in Blacksburg again, correct, I feel it. I was feeling well that will wrap up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast. I'm Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler, visit our website at Foundry corner. Be t.com to listen to all of our episodes while you're there. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter. Facebook, Instagram, subscribe. AB on YouTube and your favorite podcast Source, including Spotify, Amazon and apple podcast is always without our buddy. Jason Long play, it's in play us out, catch him on Spotify and apple music. We thank you for listening.

1:49:41 And as always, let's go Hokies