Tailgate Tour RVA

0:45 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast, I am Curtis Wilson, I'm Brian seagull, but if you live here on a Wednesday night we got some there's some drinks. This time we got some some fun stuff to talk about. Especially for Monday night, we have a lot of stuff to talk about drinks this time. Yes. Proudly from Monday night holding the VT food and science technology kuzey, We picked up the swag. Why all sorts of swag from Monday night man, we're going to get that into that on the back end because there's so much to unload their. We forget about a lot of other stuff. If we didn't come, I had a super long day, Ron it takes only about it, man, tell me when I'm done with you guys. This morning going to be in meetings all day and I was and have some family in from out of town and man we did some steaks or heat is on the grill tonight.

1:49 Right? Homemade peach ice cream. I prefer banana. I lost. He chose ice cream eat. Oh man. So that's some Halifax. You right there, homie? Yeah. It's a great thing but after all that after my crazy day and I know you've been busy too. I completely missed her. Jim Phillips ACC press conference so big guy. The floor is yours to inform me of what the hell happened? Well, Jim Phillips got up there and he kind of sang Kumbaya for a little bit.

2:44 He's trying to talk about the all the neighborhood should be able to have success and we should all do what's right for the kids and keep the kids in mind. And you know, It was kind of like there was some decent points in there, but it was mostly kind of fluff in bullshit. I mean, I think the overarching theme is that, you know, he is keeping options open, whatever. That means. Hopefully, that means adding members and renegotiating the meteorites in terms of the, the, the number. Okay?

3:25 We need to be closer to that 40 mil versus that lower end of the 30s. That's what needs to happen. I don't know if that's going to be what ultimately comes through with this. But I feel like this was a talk that if it was had five years ago, it might have landed better. But it's one of those things where? Here's here's how things it's the should be versus the reality, right? So right now he's saying this is how things should be, but but in reality, they're not. So if you're not addressing reality, it doesn't really matter how things should be.

4:08 I need someone that's having practical Solutions not Pie in the Sky dreams of what this thing should be. I think we're beyond that at this point. This ain't college football in Utopia anymore. This is what it sounds like to me. Yeah. That ship has sailed loving. It's gone. You know, we're talking about it being driven by money and that's not a good thing. It's been driven by money for over a decade. Really, if we're talking about it for real started, 30 years ago, and it's been a rocket ship, the last decade there in there. It's not slowing down. No, it's not. It would, if you did, if you think it's slowing down, you're being naive, you're being super nice. Well, thank you for that.

4:50 So it sounds like I didn't miss much, but an overarching theme of either he's playing nice or he has no clue and I hope it's the first not the second for the Hokie sake. I'm hoping he's saying things publicly but but doing what needs to be done on the back end, we will be saying the nice stuff publicly and just getting and pulling out all the women. I'm hoping he learned something from the Big Ten last year and that they said the right shit. But then in the meantime, they were negotiating Dating getting to schools from the Pac-12 from the alliance to join their conference table. They pulled the knives and just started sticking people left and right. Well Brian let's talk.

5:32 We were talking about this real quick. Can or the Big Ten or the Big 12. The Big Ten in the SEC again long day for me. So I stumbled a night y'all. It is what it is. The only way to the ACC can get out of Grants of right. Deal is to have 18 s. Correct date not 784 a full majority basically. Leave the conference Are there 18 s that are attractive enough to the Big Ten in the SEC where they would do that? I think combined. Yes but I don't there's the problem is there's a lot of coordination it'll happen to have to happen because you would have to essentially have the SEC and Big Ten colluding to have all these schools pull out of the ACC at the same time?

6:24 Well, I don't think the FED would like that. That's That's someone that does that does sound, you know, I don't think that's above board but mean a lot of stuff that goes down isn't above board. Hell, yeah, whether it's the basically legal insider trading that pretty much every Congressman does or any other, you know, stuff that goes down like that. So, I mean, I could see it happening. I don't know if it will happen right now. The grant of rights is the biggest firewall that the ACC As and it's a pretty good one. As long as they don't have a teens that are willing to pull out at one time and I mean, when you look at it, there are potentially a that could go if the Big Ten and SEC tried to move all at one time. And if they don't do that, then it's going to be piecemeal and it won't be enough to get a grant of rights in which case, I don't think the ACC those dissolves until the end of that. Period.

7:28 Well, I don't think one period. I don't think it's the end of the period I don't, but I don't think it's 14 years away because 14 years. I don't think they, I don't think they pull out any earlier than two or three years ahead of that though. Yeah, so I mean, we're talking that's a decade so because because, if we're talking about that, because with grant of rights is essentially saying, I'm picking up this conference, I've already paid the new conference or the school is already going to pay the extra departure fee. Which is 100 top of that. You cannot broadcast the rights for that those games, unless you pay it unless you pay us. Yeah, so that's the big sticking point is that what's the point of moving early, especially earlier, than one or two years, unless you're willing to swallow that? And what's the point of the SEC?

8:18 Or the Big Ten to, even pull the trigger on that they could just say with the elite conferences, right now, right? We have 16 teams were dead. Tian, our way into the playoff. We're probably going to create their own playoff. What's the reasoning for us to go after someone in basically hand, if they go after four teams a piece and basically hand a conference, what probably 400 million dollars a year give or take? Yeah, I mean, it's going to be interesting to see how this shakes out. I think in the in the interest of everybody, it would be better if we had For conferences, when all was said and done instead of two. But if I heading towards to the thing that I'd say, there's, you know, the firewalls protecting the ACC but in some ways it could hurt the ACC because if the SEC decides it wants to start expanding more, And now market-wise it's going to look at the bigger markets.

9:18 It wants the North Carolina market, it wants the Virginia Market but there's also some markets out west and in the the middle of the country that are in Big 12 and Pac-12 territory that they might Target in the meantime, what does that mean for the ACC long-term do more schools? Get left out long-term because the SEC expands into these other markets in the meantime because they have less. Less of a firewall. So they can actually go and, and poach them a little bit sooner. Well, the Midwest is tough, though. The Midwest to me, the Midwest is dead to the SEC in the Big Ten.

10:00 The to one, or two teams. Notwithstanding. Yeah, one team to team. Maybe dip. Maybe if you didn't Phillips. Right now, we already said it to me. He has to go, fishes. And obviously, Does geography matter anymore? No, no, you got to go vicious. You got to look at market and you've got to look at good athletic departments and you know to me you just go in the Northeast Corridor of the country. You look at Oregon, you look at u-dub, you look at Stanford. If Cal wants to come maybe right there. You've got the number 9 tv Market the number 70 me market in the number 20 TV Market.

10:48 Immediately more eyes if the ACC also thinks about it and this is also something you can push to ESPN and others where you can renegotiate your contracts. If you go get those teams, you're almost guaranteed a non 30 slot. So there is an extra football game on that, you're going to be able to pull probably where no other conference can. And if you have extra games, what does that mean? Ryan, No paper, especially if you got it in those markets that are numbered, you know, pretty big markets and actually pretty well-known poet well-respected teams.

11:30 So, you know, to me, he's just got to go Scorch, the Earth, burn it, get what you can Notre, Dame's a pipe dream because I think Notre Dame's going to get some. I think CBS is after losing the SEC deal. My opinion is CVS. Is going to throw in asinine number at Notre Dame? Yeah, I don't think they get that. What? It was? 70 75 million that they were talking about but I think they get somewhere in the same ballpark with with the big, with the SEC and maybe even above that, depending on, you know, where they end up Landing there. I mean, they're going to get a lot of money. Yeah. They're they're at least going to land somewhere, right? Around 50.

12:12 Probably higher. Because CBS is going to be starved for college football on Saturday. So they're going to probably get in b.c. in a price War. And if you get them in a price war, I'm going to say that. What do we say to deal with right now? It was 22, 23 24, 24, 20 times. They triple, I think it can be triple. I think it's at least gonna double up, you know, I and they've got they've got the bargaining power right now, because they've got the layer. All the, all the numbers are going up and they got the leverage and they are a draw in and of themselves. So they are unlike so many. I mean there's only a handful of teams out there that are the television draw that Notre Dame is. And that's despite, I mean, they've had, you know, good runs here but they haven't really had an Elite Squad here in a while. So Salt Lake Bama, that's prevalent perennially in the national championship discussion. Truth, although they've been to the playoffs twice in five years so they have they have but I get I get your drift on. I get your drift on that.

13:24 So I don't think that Domino's going to fall because I think somebody's going to pay out their ass for it and it's probably going to be worth it in the long run for them. So there that is. We've been on for 15 minutes and I haven't even talked Hokies yet so let's jump to some Mochi stuff here and brought let's start. We some staff updates were made back about six days ago and some interesting moves. Let's start with Jerome gouveia Winslow moving from player Personnel into a analyst role joining Brian, Chris joining Xavier joining Jeff Carpenter doing carry well. Web along with one more person.

14:12 We're going to talk about here. I don't see this as a shock. No, jgw was coaching down at a smaller school. He obviously has aspirations to coach at a high level. To me, the player Personnel to springboard. Yeah, that was, that was getting his foot in the door at his alma mater. This is him getting closer to an on-field role, you know, you can say, whether you consider it a, you know, a bump up in, Terms of role that that's questionable, depending on where you are, and what your aspirations are. But it is, aspirations are to be an on-field coach, that, this is definitely a jump for him, a move up the ladder for him, so good for him, good for him. You know, he got some, he always got some aligned grief back in the day, but he was a solid player, not the most physically gifted, but definitely a good football player. And then Brian, there was one more dish into the analyst staff.

15:07 Jan Johnson, who played under At Penn State team captain back in 2019, spent a year on the practice squad down at the Titans. Also honorable, mention All-American, and some All-American. All honorable mention Big Ten honors from every other little story story on him at the yes we did. Yes, we did about that later with Janet Johnson talking about Joe Rudolph, but that gives us six. Now, So you've got we already mentioned Chris Xavier, Jeff Jan carry and jdw. Obviously a hell of a lot bigger than last year. I mean, especially only analyst side. Oh yes, significantly.

15:53 Bigger on the analyst we're plus one or two on. The the recruiting staff side player Personnel side. But we're we're in the big plus territory on the analyst side. And what that's going to do a it's you always keep saying it Brian we're out of Mom and Pops were getting we're not, you know, massive brain yet but when you have six, when you have really probably one guy that's probably going to go back and forth I'm assuming that's probably gonna be Chris calling them. Go back and forth and Webb's going to be your special teams analyst. What it does and buying you've mentioned it before coaches, aren't going to have to spend as much time in the film room.

16:36 Let's time of the film room. You got guys that you can trust, it's looking at stuff like that. They're giving you notes. They're saying, all right. Here's here's where this player needs to work on next practice. Here's what this player needs to work on next practice. Here's, here's what this upcoming opponent does. Well, here's what they don't do. Well. L. And then they can explain how that is going to help you and on the field and that these are guys that you trust with this type of role versus having, just like, you know, an intern doing stuff like that. And then you have to go back and all right, well, he made these notes but I've got to still analyze. What, what was on the tape and then apply that. These are guys, you can trust in that type of stuff, to, to analyze the, the tape itself and and give you a boost. Going into a game prep week or something like that, going into the season.

17:33 So that's big more eyes on tapes, means more catches more fixing of issues. That's the one part. I like about it is when you have a rough game having that many analysts the coaches, don't have to be there. The coaches can trust them to figure out what's wrong. They can get on the field and actually coach correctly, correcting. Those are so love it. Hopefully next year We get eight, maybe more. Yeah, we definitely need to keep keep moving forward. I think, you know, this this is this is a big jump for her where we were but we're still probably just middle of the pack in terms of the ACC overall in terms of the number of roles here.

18:14 So we definitely need to get in at least in that. Upper third. If not in the top two or three now one other real quick note concerning some additional players, we've got a list here on go through really cool to see a guy like A.J Hampton. Who grew up in Roanoke went to board by the taught played down. It Emory & Henry played at Mount Union and spent some time at Florida State, really cool to see. He got a g a position here to further his career. So awesome for that young man and then Brian Carolyn Wilfred we have a new role of director of player engagement. so, We're engaging the players.

19:01 I mean, it's great, we got another new role which is always awesome. But is this, is this just keeping the kids focused on grade, keeping the fifth focused on outside stuff? I'm going to be interested to hear more about this role because she had done some athletic advising pre this. So I'm very interesting how this role shapes of this. One of those Goodwill roles or if it's something different. Yeah, I mean, she did allowing on the support staff, Support Services student athlete. Support Services, team before that. Yeah, I think what she was in director of football, operations, director of football operations before, getting this role. So, you know, I don't know if this is going to look like on paper or in practice, but I like that. We're specializing.

19:58 Yes, more on the off field staff whether it's recruiting or other forms of player engagement off the field. Yeah. She was a assistant director of the saas S. So yeah, also a tech Alum that are degree back in 2017. So good for her, obviously with the veil wenzhou joining the analyst day. Hokies were able to hire another player Personnel. His name is Alex Jones. Where do you think he potentially serve his capacity in a role similar? You know, I don't know, man. It's either Penn State marshal or somewhere like that. He actually did some work like this back in Marshall and 2019. He's a one of the Villa Grotto.

20:49 He's another government. Exactly. What's more important about this? You know, obviously has a background relationship. There is available in. Zoe moved on the immediately. Back, filled his role that role isn't empty, we're in the past. What are we seeing? We seeing somebody? Leave a role. The role never gets filled. Yep, that is what I like seeing on this. Yeah, somebody would move up, or somebody would move on. And then a roll with sit on occupied, at least in terms of official announcement for months at a time. Yeah, even if somebody was doing it for me, Lee or informally in the interim. We wouldn't really actually have Any sort of noted press release on this for four months and months at a time and now we're getting it, you know right shortly after you know things are going down on the on the front end there. So that's that's a good thing.

21:42 They're definitely more consistent with the press releases will consistent with communication. Above all the staff off the field is organized, and operating very true. And then, obviously, they added one more. Let's see. Rob Branch look first year and had done some time at West Virginia state. So obviously a smaller School plated, J mu. But again, we take a look at that play. A Personnel room, and do we lose? I'm trying to think that we lose somebody few months ago, or is this an additional position to that. That's a good question.

22:23 Let me see. We got Mike, we've got robbed Alex and Lino. So, did they gain one today? Used to be three out there used to be three. I think it's for now. Okay. If if somebody out there knows, please let us know because I swear this was less than it was a few months ago I started I just you know I need to keep an Excel spreadsheet and delete and then we're is John Earl. We need him one more summer. Rodriguez an assistance of Creative Media in. Obviously, I'm gonna just say this, she, she's going to be working with Zach, Lance tackle and has done a hell of a job with the Creative Media stuff. I mean, get getting that man.

23:10 More help is going to make the product look even better. She did some time as a graphic designer out at University of Colorado, which is really Be cool and she was a student there and she did she was a recruiting assistant in terms of obviously Serena's got her foot in the door up football, but I just love seeing Zack Steven grow because it's I feel like that department in the last 18 months. Has really just like just went through the roof, how things? Look visually how the videos or cut. It's awesome to see that. Yeah, and they and I really like the the graphics that they have Pivoted to for the 23 class and a lot of the other things they're doing as well, because I feel like that it kind of gotten stale.

24:01 There was a lot of like, the 20-20-20 stuff that kind of bled over into 20, 21 and 20 and 22 and it kind of got got same ish. And I feel like this is kind of, I think the more hands on deck is made the creative side of it a lot easier because when you can When you have more hands, you can more easily Implement different ideas without having to just plug in play to get to get the job done. So, Abso-freakin'-lutely. So again the support staff growing significantly in the last few years, something we knew that had to happen for. That's awesome to see I Brown. Let's turn to the diamond real quick and have a quick look five Hokies get drafted for in the first five rounds, Gavin cross the diamond going number 9, to the Royals. Because I mean all year, he's a top ten pick, he's a top ten, pick it, it holds, True show will go 68 to the twins. Bisson, fourth round to the Dodgers. Kate hundred to the Reds and then Graham Arvid, I just put your debt name.

25:12 I know. Sorry Graham. So you just admit your mistakes and you move on. There we go. Awesome to see that. Not only that couple of those really the first four guys are really going to get paid a significant amount of Gavin and Tanner are going to get a boat on money. No one slot. I know Gavin slots like five and a half. I want to say Tanner's or somewhere around too. Likely not going to get the full payment going to get a lot of money so great for them financially. But just in general for the program, you sit here and just two years ago. Team didn't even make the ACC tournament.

25:53 They didn't make it this year. One of the best teams in the country and this is one of those things that can get you rolling, right? We had a great season and guys are getting drafted, it's an easy sell Yeah I think that's the big thing is that this is going to be a good seller. Recruiting Trails like hey you come here you know you're going to get a bump in your draft stock by coming here and spending time as a hokey and with baseball I think that that's such a big big thing with you know a lot of these kids getting some of them getting drafted out of high school and making the decision. Okay.

26:33 Do I go Take the scholarship offer that I have do. I go ahead and try to give it a run in the minors. Hey, you come here, you spend 23 years here. You know, you're going to set yourself up for a better spot down the road. Yeah, and he, and nowadays in college baseball because of the draft only going to 20 rounds. It is significantly, helping keep players. Committed to their scholarship. So, how you recruit? Now, it's even more important because, you know, roughly only about 600 guys are getting drafted. A lot of them, you know, probably more than half of them.

27:15 Maybe 60% or college guys, because they've already got the proven record versus the potential and high school guys, you know, which is really cool. So again that program building even though it's a non-revenue sport, it's Again, what do we always say? Brian, it's one of those sports like wrestling, probably getting close like women's basketball, where it pays for itself, more money back to football. Yeah, I mean, it's some prestige in that to I mean, this is, you know, College World Series. Conference playoffs. I mean a lot of these that those championships get a lot of air time. So it's not like you know, a lot of the sports that you might see on a random weekday on the SEC network. These are getting some some Primetime spots on ESPN, on ESPN2, on the SEC network.

28:14 So it's important to to grow the sport in that, In to grow your your department in those words as well that are getting that are time, okay? All right, Brian, this is going to be a little segment this week. What really grinds Brian's gears? You have the floor sir. Okay, so you know we trash the NCAA pretty regularly on this show that's not a secret to anybody that's listening but this this is the thing that bothers me the most about the NCAA.

28:54 So you know we're we're in a situation where you got Mass realignment, you got ni L, + IL stuff going on all crazy, the NCAA washes, their hands. But the the rules committee found it in their in their time to as they're looking at the game and try to figure out how to make the game better. If there was something that just was taking away from the quality of the game Polly of baseball and that is celebratory props on the field. So that means Hammer Time potentially is no more and It's just fucking stupid.

29:40 It's still, it's stupid. There's no other way to say it. So why are, why is this thing? We're focusing on say it, moron, you're a moron. What are we doing? I mean, we get we get all of this stuff that we're going on. That you should be, you know, that you are a governing body that you should be focused on. And I'm not saying you can't focus on multiple things at one time, I get that. Yes, but when you're not handling, the big stuff. I can't take this small shit, seriously. Nope, they shot. You just bring the hammer out. What are they going to do? I mean, seriously, what are they going to do? They have no spine.

30:22 They have no backbone. How many at this point called? They're bluffing, I mean, they really have no, no Authority anymore. What are you going to do? All right, Ron, let's turn it over to recruiting had a commit land on Monday, right above where we were heading over to Hardy would an RV a product at a Collegiate School. Christian William 62, 170 247, has him as a 87 3 star the number 14 player in the state at the moment. Ted currently sits 36 in both composite and overall and you know, just kind of having a look right now.

31:08 This is our highest commit to date from the state of Virginia. Brian, I know you had a little time to Peak at him. What are we seeing from this? Again? Athlete lot, more athletes this year being recruited. Yeah, he's probably going to be a wide receiver for us, more than likely just looking at the Tate. You know pretty good route Runner. Not Elite Speed but good enough I really like that. We are targeting a lot of lot more guys that are that 61 and above. We get to get a little bit more range across the board and I like his hands.

31:51 He has a pretty good hands. You shown the ability to go up and get a ball and high point it. Good job of catching over the middle. Not not, not afraid to get you over the middle leaving it. 170. So I like it, you know, it's not it's not a blow, your skirt up, get but you could get it's one of those things. That's keeping the train moving. Yeah. Keeps the train moves and good potential 24/7. Thanks a lot more of him than the rest of the recruiting service because he's down an eighty five. Seven two point eight, five seven so you kind of start doing the math there's somebody's out here is had him at like an 83 and you know I think just from hearing you, he's not quite that low, he's not closer to a 2 Star than he is potential High 3.

32:40 And Brian you just mentioned it. There only two guys in this thing of 16 that are under six foot tall and that's Thomas Williams, The Athlete down out of South Carolina and takehe that Highland Springs and everybody else. You know, Trail on Mitchell. We got out of Southern Nash, 6 to avoid Copeland, at Appomattox 64, you know, dealing with a key down and Buford 61 Marcel 6. I mean that is a good thing to see and I also love seeing athlete because every time I see athlete it's usually you get labeled that when you do multiple things on a field, right?

33:22 You're probably playing wideout a running back or quarterback, but you're doing something defensively and we've already seen in the early part of prize 10. Year, he's not afraid to just flip somebody, say you will be a better Corner than you will a wide receiver or you'll be a better safety, then you will be a core. You know, getting athletes with the lowercase, a is always a good thing. So, you know, in this case they've got to uppercase a, you get to you, get to find where they fit in your system. And when with a roster like ours, that has a lot of holes in different places. Getting guys with some of that flexibility and fluidity of position is not a bad thing. Not at all.

34:11 All right, let's flip it. To basketball recruiting Brandon Rick Steiner. Commits that name had been popping up. A lot people have been dealing. Yeah, the Sun for us. Kids of the 90s and 2000's, the son of Big Poppa, Pump Scott, Steiner the nephew of the dog-faced gremlin Rick, Steiner, who say, what you want to say about pro wrestling. Those two guys want to get all Americans at Michigan. They were likely Jit football players are. Let's get badass. They were legit athletes. Yeah, he just went into an entertainment industry in. I always loved the Steiner Brothers, but 61 point guard, 185 pounds of top 10 player in Georgia, rated three star, but from everything you're reading this kid went from like nobody knew his name to being on everybody's radar, picking up a ton of commits like LSU offered.

35:13 Miami Notre Dame Xavier, you know, Georgia Tech Kansas State, like some legit solid, you know, programs are offering him in, you know, the Hokies get in with Mike young. So, you know, again I've said it with this class. I mean, it's it holds true for basketball. Some of this is still Covid carry over in just not having a lot of tape and guys being under recruited and you're seeing a lot of big push at the last minute. Wants these guys start getting all the other teams Radars, this is what happened here. I mean her extender is essentially Padula 2.0 but you know, you didn't.

35:56 You didn't get any. What? Sophomore film? You probably only got partial Junior film. So, yeah, so again, it helps in probably helps. The relationship was built early with him trying to see here real quick and see if we've got the official offered date. They don't have that on here, but could probably go back through this timeline. Figure it out. But again relationship, right? Yep, we get, it's every sport. And if you can get the relationships, A guy like this, who's under the radar, who blows up. You might have a chance of pulling it off. So awesome to see that.

36:40 All right, one more piece, Brian here, the Hokey Hall of Fame, class of 2020, to has announced on a shout out through these three. Folks before we get to the for football players, the first tortilla happens on a three-time All-American. The second woman ever to win a National Championship at Virginia Tech or For AC tails are career three in hammer, throw one in weight, throw more seldom, Nikki, two national championships. Three appearances in the Olympics, third hokey to win multiple NCAA titles and 2012 in his weight throw championship and then Sarah Smith six-time ACC Champion All-American and 07 as a swimming and Diving scholar athletes.

37:31 The first of all, shout out to those. those Hokies who clearly, you know, apparently, you know, We kind of look at this and we think about you see 2007 in that you know, where we're building to get here. But let's talk about the guys that we all know and I want to start with Mike Gentry. Remember gentrified, remember hearing that back in the day you hear about, guys would go to Tech and get gentrified. Mike was a for his time was a revolutionary strength and conditioning coach. Yep. In all of us, who are a certain age when you started hearing about Gentry and what he did to some of the guys he made, A lot of those teams, what they were with his programs.

38:24 When you talk about the, the development side of Virginia Tech and turning the two and three stars in to all Americans and NFL draft picks. It started with my Ginger damn, right? It did Mike still working, I think he's down at Emory & Henry now, but also to see him go into the Hall of Fame. All right? The next one, probably, if you're a football fan of any yell, regardless of Of tech, you know, Phantom or not Bruce, Arians goes in quarterback in the 1970s coached, a ton mean, came back coached, at Tech. I think for one year then obviously in the NFL coach to your beloved cold stare for a while run, I know that Ben Pittsburgh for a long spell there. As I was see, obviously Tampa.

39:16 You have a couple stops here recently. That it had some success. So yeah, but I mean I love you know say what you want. Some people say well this is because he want a Super Bowl. Yeah. Smart universities if somebody wins a significant Something in their life. Even if they were not the best player on the field, you put them in the Hall of Fame. I don't give a damn. Yeah, and I mean if we're being honest though, I mean a lot of the The numbers that he held when he from his from his time stood up through Michael Vick. So a lot of those didn't fall until Vic got around there.

39:57 So You know, there's something to be said, I know was a different era, you know, they don't necessarily stand out in the modern era. But, you know, there were some to be said for what he did in his time inside, just a career Achievement Award. That that's getting passed out here, but it definitely helps that he want. He turned around and won a Super Bowl as a coach in the NFL. Yeah. All right. Brian, a few minutes ago, you mentioned turning a tooth turning, a 2 Star. Into a All-American into a Benefield draft pick. Essentially, that's what Mike Gentry. Did to Kam.

40:37 Chancellor of Chancellor was a two-star with three offers. Quarterback down. And he comes, Virginia Tech, he plays corner, he plays Rover, he's plays free. You know, two-time ACC Champion Super Bowl champion All-Pro, when he hits you, you knew it. And I mean, one of those guys, you know, in the in the late 2000s, man, you you kind of, you just kind of knew. Yeah, yeah, I mean that was, you know, when we talk about the personality of you be you, there are other guys that had Physical traits that stood out, but can was the guy that let his hitting do the talking, let his energy that he brought to the proceedings, do the talking.

41:32 And it's nice to see him get in there especially after such a great NFL career you know essentially the Thunder of the legion of boom there. Yes he was to meet to be. Honestly he was the most important part of the legion of boom because if you don't have someone of his size when he got there he was like 64 225 who could play like a free safety hit like a linebacker could cover tight end running. That thing doesn't click. Don't get me wrong, Sherman was great Comics was great, but if you don't have him to put fear leads to boo, never is all right.

42:14 Speaking of putting fear, I mean Vince Hall, man, or your starter 44 consecutive game started, I mean him, and the DD still are to me the prototypical, Mike and backer in the system. Yep. And even the system we have. Now, if you, if you told Brent pry, he could find an Executor and events in next year's class. He take them in a heartbeat, something more impressive. He did to me, you don't see this happen when he won The Dudley in 06. Best 8-ball bestie one player in the state of Virginia. He was a you don't see defensive guys, get that even guys who gets a ton of tackles and less and less their own like special teams and their running back. Punk and kickers.

42:58 Exactly. That's usually the only way you see that happen. Exactly. I mean but you know, this this was the years he played where the years we were We were games every year, we will constantly in front of that TV or multiple games every year we were multiple watching. We were watching multiple games together at home in the dorm room in the apartment apartment. So we were wondering, why, why did we start doing this at 12 today? You know, why not in, you know, again, it's just one of those things. I'm glad he got his due, but you go through, there's Ben.

43:40 Just a handful of folks, to win the dull, awarded a defensive players and the names, you know, add up. So I'm really glad to see they put Vince Hall in the Hall of Fame. He is well deserved of it man. Absolutely. I run for we start talking about what went down Monday night, we are going to take a quick pause for a message from our digital Partners as 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. I'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, so Monday was the Hokie tailgate at Hardy would hear in the RBA being Brian talked a couple times.

44:34 Say hey, let's try to, you know, get out there about 20, 25 4:45 We thought we were going to beat the traffic or did we beat the traffic scratch that scratch that oh yeah we got there. We were they were parking across the street and we were about two thirds of the way down that lot when we got there. So Hokies were out in full force. I don't know where the official numbers are, but I know they were north of 1000. I think they were close to 1500. So that's a damn good showing for for Hokie Nation out here in the r-va. I'll ask you first impressions of the event. Well, the first impression is event, just walking after we parked and we're walking up, they had shuttles. So you did not have to walk completely from the parking lot but just walking up.

45:26 It was a told brine it brought me back. It felt like we were walking up from prices for it. When we were younger, we used tailgate down there and going up to the stadium. You just had this feel. It's a it's a different energy going on in Hokie Nation right now with everything. Been done since November of last year, no, you, there's buzz in the air. There's, you know, there's just this feeling that things might get back to the way it was in. That's that was my feeling going in and when you just saw, how many folks were there and I mean, we, you know, just people seen excited and I know you can see every year were football, season, people are going to be excited but it's just it's just different this year than it has been over the last really last 23 years.

46:11 Cheers. Yeah, I think there's some there's some fire back in the program. I think there's enthusiasm and I think there's you know, it's mixed with cautious optimism. I think there's not very many people that think we're going to have a very good team this year. I think there's some some people that think will win 8 games. Maybe most most people are more in the 527 range or like make a bowl, you know, maybe get one. Extra one in there and see what happens. I think that's realistic considering our schedule and considering, you know, some of the pickups we had in the offseason in the portal and some of the some of the freshmen that are going to be coming up and step it up this year. So it's going to be interesting.

46:59 But there is a buzz that I haven't seen. So I'll say this, I went to Hardy would for the Country Club North Carolina game. So yeah, last year, first game of the season, like there was enthusiasm for it just because it was like, all right? Everybody's out kind of for the first time in a long time. Yeah, we're football related event but there was not a lot of excitement in terms of what was going to happen. A lot of people were very, very nervous about that game. Obviously, it went our way. We played, played a good game. Game kept it clean and then that really kind of helped helped help carry the day but there's a different type of enthusiasm there there isn't.

47:53 As much holding our breath that, you know. Yeah, disaster is around the corner. Absolutely. And that's the feel you got. There you again, it's the renewed sense of hope. It's like a spring. The nation is review renewed and when you know when hearing prop talk which will talk about just a couple minutes, you'll understand why? But let's talk real quick. We got to talk to Bud Foster for a compliment. It's and we talked about boundary Corner. We are not going to mention what he said because we want to have, but on the show one day. But let's just say it was very interesting as we started talking about players Bud, was in, is in full retirement mode. I am. Now, I'm weird 30 years. 35 years from retirement, the way, everything's going nowadays, but I hope I'm like, Bud and living my best life.

48:43 Like, he was one thing that my man was living his best life. He had folks Preen and drinks. He was in head-to-head, the the linen pants and the like Hawaiian shirt be t-shirt on like he was, he was full lounging and I looked at it, I was like, man if I'm retiring like that And I'm doing all right, because I had to get some retirement tips. Like, you know, what's the secret? Because, yeah, he looks like he's doing it. The best doing it, the best and the coolest part about. But if you've never been harder, when he was literally in this, the middle of it and then if you wanted to walk up and have him sign something, I saw him sign a couple things, he take your picture, we snapped one with them, of course. and just being him masseter out there like, you know, sometimes you see folks You know, better famous in public and I don't want to bother him, it seemed like Bud was there to talk to any hokey that wanted to talk to him about anything and anywhere.

49:46 He was ready to shake all the hands and kiss all the babies, he has ready to go and he was fired up to support private was fired at the sort of support the program. So that was that was big. It was big and a guy like that there that because he didn't have to come to that one. No, he did not. Not and especially, you know, when was what Roanoke? He didn't have to come to our VA. You never come to our VA especially when you hear Mike young had to plane which game three and a half hour drive. Actually four hour drive because he's down at Crater Lake. So long drive back home. He had a big look, big drive back, he wasn't a, it wasn't an hour flight for him. Nope.

50:28 All right. Next, you know we had whipped come up and talk with believe it or not, got actually a good ovation. Some people's feelings of wit might not like him but, you know, talk it's big. So I think a lot of people feel good about Whit not talking about football, but when we talk about football, you know, people get tight bundles about with, so yeah? Yeah, in fact and fair enough. I mean they've got reason for that. I mean there has been You know, missteps on that side of things. He well let's go back. First of all, his first missed up was made when he got here instead of addressing football up front.

51:08 He addressed everything else. People can see what you want to say about the for when they hire at that point in time. That was a literally a top-three tire. Don't get it twisted, the 2020 2020. Yeah. The 2020 is worse than the higher itself. Yeah. If your Pointed to things to complain to with about extending Fuente too early. Yes not getting rid of him in 2020. Those are the two two biggest things that you can criticize with about aside from not addressing football sooner, but also give him credit. When things went sideways in 2018, readjusting his plan and getting the facilities. Updated getting, 'if a fast-track, the stuff that had to be fast tracking if you wanted to actually build things out, and he did, Again, we're probably about one year behind where we should be with Coach.

52:01 Whether that ended up netting, us prai or Shane or Tony yelling or whoever the hell it would have been exactly what we're about one year behind on the rebuild. But aside from that the other stuff that when he, when he finally got around to it, he's putting it together the way it needs to, and he did it. Obviously, we all want things to happen yesterday because we care about the team being something to us and with all this stuff going on. On with realignment and ni L. We feel like we don't want to be one of those teams is Left Behind. We don't want to be the leftovers. Now I don't want to be leftovers at all and he addressed it. No talking about how complex the situation is. Realignment is said, it's something that now is a conversation every day in merryman about his previous top Cincinnati. It was a conversation every day there, so obviously it is up on his mind on the Forefront.

52:55 He mentioned honest. I alongs with, you know, commissioner Phillips. I'd like to hear what that honest dialogue is. I hope it's listen as soon as we can. We going to leave unless you do something a lot better and you need to get some more markets in here. That solidifying, our position need to get better meteorites or in three to five years. You're looking at having fewer members of this conference if things line up. Yeah, exactly. If you're not, I mean, at some point, we got to light a fire under the Commissioners a stew. Because I know he understands the situation but if he's not getting pressure every day. Yes then in especially from schools like Virginia Tech.

53:39 It doesn't matter if Florida State or Clemson or Miami or even you know UNC or in ceased. I mean most of those schools are probably going to find a home in whatever the new world looks like. It's The Fringe schools like Virginia. Tech like UVA like Louisville. Like Georgia Tech that have good markets, but, you know, have some shortcomings in terms of where their programs are at the time that they're going to probably need a little bit of a boost and if we're not pushing for it, then that gives us more potential to get left behind exactly.

54:22 All right. Something else he address talk about while Brent prowls. The guy, you know, made the comments that he The initial bar, one of the initial goals honours list would also made the comment that he needed, Virginia Tech how to get back to the defensive mentality which was, you know very very good to hear from him because you think Virginia Tech you think defense you know the one thing in this was the ultimate shot right here. Everything is better under Brent. Yeah, I mean, yeah, and I mean he's not wrong, I mean, but like that's just he didn't say it, but he basically back in should have just went to a with that like, everything that I'm sorry.

55:08 And I'll Circle back to the defensive mentality. Because when we look at the teams, That are consistently winning the national championship and consistently going to the college football, playoff true. Yes. They do have some good offenses in there. It's particularly looking at like Ohio State you know Oregon but all of them play either very good or nasty defense. Yep. Right. I mean, we do you think a Clemson we think of Ohio State, when we think of ago, when we think of Bammel Bama obviously. And any of the other guys in the conversation, when you think of them, you think of Defense first and everything else is secondary.

55:53 Ohio State might be the only one that's probably in the, you know, more or less balanced in that category. Maybe but I mean thing, I mean, nasty and mean both of those young. Oh yeah. I mean I'm saying hey Emily, they have a lead. Offense and an elite defense. They're just not they're not stepping it quite up as much as like a Bama on the defensive side, I got you. All right. Well, the other thing, he's talked about everything has to be built, right? We agree with that you because again, I think he saw what happened in 16. He did not build it right. He, he extended somebody too early. He gave somebody too much leash, so it has to be built, right? And he hates the gave him so much lead. Is that he continuously hung himself by not getting rid of personnel?

56:41 That were not up to par? Yeah. Now, Brian, you love what he said on the ni L you love when he said, uh, Sadie's, hold the NCAA, this entail shit, it's going to affect recruiting and they basically brush them off. The NCAA continues to just stick their thumb up their ass on a lot of the stuff, the NCAA had over a decade to figure this out. They got to a point. They got to a point where State started passing laws. So once so they kick the can down the road. Now, what states are passing laws? Now, they are worried about if we put in stuff now, are we open ourselves up to lawsuits? So now they got scared in the laws. Suits that are like, well, if we're going to do this, we just got to have Open Season.

57:33 And now you got Open Season and of course, it's being used to recruit players what you think he was going to do like zactly. But I just love hit like, it sounds like the ades are out there like, trying to push this like get this done. It's gonna Peck things and they didn't do anything. So put a, put a reasonable plan out there instead of just saying, all right. Well, this is this is the thing now. Exactly figure out how it's going to be implemented within your state legislator within your conference Within. School, like it's just a cluster, and it varies from state line to State Line and in terms of what what teams are doing. It varies from school to school and various from conference to conference and it's not just about the dollars, it's about what is and is not permissible because again, the NCAA didn't give enough guidance. Exactly.

58:23 All right, you know he did talk about got to be miles within a oh, we'll see how that plays out. But let's talk about events in a few thing on Game Day experience has he said the Wi-Fi, Is going to be slightly better in Lane he got he got class. Yeah I need I need a definition of that. One day, one percent would be better than zero or negative so I'll give him that. He also said that the the restrooms the pictures are going to be better - in peace. Troughs, no no, no trolls are fine. You really want to make the bathrooms better, put some TVs in there on the wall. So if it's, you know, the third quarter, And we're driving or or you know we just punted the ball.

59:07 I don't worry about running to the pisser and missing the game because if you as you know you go through the the walkways and go get a beer, so I'm not a big ol bear now or get some food their TVs there. You can see the plays you don't miss anything. Except you know, that feeling I want to be able to go to the bathroom and if it's a longer line, if I'm in there taking a piss, I can still see what's happening on the field. That's all I ask for after two TVs, on each side, where the troughs are exactly as you walk in one above the trough, if you got to go into the Stalls where you just shit out of luck. And one when you exit and you're shitting, so you definitely ought to look.

59:48 You definitely have you might as well as nobody wants to shit and Lane Stadium. Let's go. Nobody wants to shit in any public safety and just being honest about it. Diagonally. All right, so with cheered, most of the night and then he got the boot, the end when he said, stick it in would not be back. Yeah. What the hell? Why are we? Why are we still doing this? Why are we why we're still? We're still kicking. Well, you know, it's your nasty mind. If you're thinking that way, I'm trying to put the ball in the end zone. People, what are you where are you? Where is your mind? Go, we are in the Red Zone. Trying to get the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Where are your minds at All you people complain about it. Where are your minds at?

1:00:36 I've heard that since 2003 and I'll ever thought about it. Oh, we're down here. We're about to get it in, we're about to score. None of this other stuff you guys mentioned. So clearly those who are against it are pervs, that's one way to sell it Curtis. Okay, it needs were in the red zone. That's what it means. It means we're about to stick it in to the residence. Exactly. All right, let's talk about Brent pry, and him up on stage with my keeper of who we got to meet and talk to about five minutes. Mikey, burn up is awesome.

1:01:18 He's bad, dude. He is that dude. Like, he is the guy, like, if you say, you know, Game Day weekend you could spend time with, you know, any personality. I know he's in the A booth the game but Mike just seems like the guy who owns it, he was walking around. Look like he owned the place. He's like 70 years old. He looks, 55 looks in great shape. We gotta love my like burning, man. You just got to. Yeah, he was tearing it up. We had to talk to about five minutes. Got got to tell him that. He's good, buddy, Wes says, hello. So yeah, he was, he was excited about that and But I love my keeper McMahon and hopefully every day I think. Now every of the Poke of, then I go to, I'm trying to find my government.

1:02:08 Talk to him for five minutes. Yeah, I definitely he's one of the guys that you do. You can have a beer with and just talk about not just hokey sports but just like anything in general. Like he's that guy that's going to have that conversation with you. Yeah. Okay. Well let's talk about another guy. You want to share a beer with Brent pry gets up on stage and it's it's immediate the energy. It's a joke, it's on Twitter, didn't Chad she he gets it and he does get it. This guy gets it this get he's up there horse himself a beer on stage you know just you know been here eight months brings out his wife to introduce a cheers of the crowd, taking a panoramic selfie of the crowd and sending it to recruits.

1:02:57 I mean And, you know, he talked about, he knew that this was the space because it was the fandom and that was his cell point in, you know, it didn't feel like a cell point though. It felt like it was a genuine response from him. And I mean, he was just having fun up there. Yep. During that interview portion, he was having a good time here. Like I said, said, drinking beer, What I've noticed and I hate to juxtapose this with with Flint a just because, you know, I think we kicked we've kicked the dog enough at this point, but we have the same people. He's previous, guys, you gotta be a comparison but at the same time when we look at an event like this and we had this like Q&A session with burn up, right? So he's up on stage.

1:03:48 He's up there with burning up there talking But pry is. I'd say leading the discussion just as much as my key is. It wasn't my key directing him where to go ask them the question getting the can answer moving on. Like Coach problems up there to talk and to interact with the crowd and then also he was going to answer some questions. That might burn a pad form. Yep. And you could tell that from from the jump, I mean the the energy was just completely different. Exactly. And that's what it was. It was I'm not here to answer questions.

1:04:30 I'm here to talk to the fans. It wasn't this wasn't an I'm just here so I don't get fine situation this very very much. You know I'm here I'm selling the program, I'm selling the program so I can sell the program to recruits. It's all cyclical. When it all feeds into what we want as a team to Get to right? So I think I think he understands that it's, it's a multi-pronged like being a head coach, has a multi-prong thing. It's not just I've got to be good at managing a game. I've got to be good at understanding X's and O's. It's not just that it's so much else and I think he understands those those aspects of it and he did a good job of selling those things to the people that were there. And I think a lot of it.

1:05:23 As you said it's not just selling its that's just how that's his personality. He's a very energetic guy and you said it too, he seems to understand. When he's talking to people how to talk to people, right? That's it and that goes. Because if you remember what he was talking about, you know, he talked about how he convinced his family, that this was the right move, they sons transferred to take from Penn State since then, but then he talked about his first, real job was recruiting the staff. And is we start looking at this staff you know especially on the offensive side of the ball? Yeah talking about Joe Rudolph talking about Tyler, moans do Holt.

1:06:06 Fontelle mines, convincing them. You can see it. And you know, you look at those guys and you start hearing important, they are a plethora of different personalities. Yeah. And I think that's a bigger cell. It's because I think in general top to bottom. Do you like the offensive staff better than the defensive staff? How do you feel about the offensive staff? The offensive staff? Man, I do like the offensive staff more than the defensive staff. Just because as I start looking not to knock the defensive staff, don't get me wrong between, you know, between JC Mar cheetah and prioleau.

1:06:49 You've got a lot of years experience. Don't forget Quinn and Quinn, it's only about Quinn. I mean, we're not twins had some recruiting wins. Wins breaking bread hokey Style, I need to quit their Monday night when we were in those wings and pizza to give us a review of those. Yeah, means and pizza but but when you look at it, you look at that defensive staff. It's I'm gonna laugh, that's a hokie defense of Staff. That's a super bright linebacker coach. It's I mean, he's basically the same age Bud was when he took over the job. That is a grinder defensive line coach think about Charlie wild, think about some of those guys that's our mole, right? That's our mold.

1:07:35 But then think about the offensive staff in, you know, especially Joe Rudolph and I love the white Vic because Dwight bic is looking at Joe Rudolph and he C JB G. + JB G was the online coach back in the 90s who sort of, when we were power on the ball. Kenny, oxendine and mashing people, he was that guy, look at him. Look at bone, you know, still hope left Louisville and one of his good friends to come to Brent pry. Yep, it's this feel of. That's what our defensive staff is. Always look like. And it's the looking at the offensive staff is like it's never looked like this. It's never looked like this.

1:08:16 And Lord hasn't looked like this in a long, long time. No. And I think that's that's a difference is because from a recruiting standpoint, if you're recruiting a staff, He had a harder sell getting offensive guys to come here. Then he would defensive some guys because he is an established defensive coach. He's one of the probably five best defensive coordinators in the country as last year and you know he was saying all right. I'm a deep. I'm a defensive minded. Head coach come coach defense. For me. That's not his heart of a cell as it is. Hey, I'm a first-time head coach in my 50s. That's a defensive specialist. Come coach offense for me.

1:08:58 Exactly. And it just shows you how the guy can talk to people. Because he convinced you guys to come and I mean, I'll say this, I mean and, you know, I know there's other coaches that are like this out there saving for one, obviously, but But you know, Brent doesn't seem like a guy that's in his early 50s. He's guys a lot more fire in the belly than a lot of guys that are that age under percent. So and I tell you something that he really had a fire passion about was talking about Virginia recruiting Because when he made that statement that if we don't know most about Virginia recruits were not doing it right.

1:09:42 I mean, we hear that we see how we've recruited Virginia this year and it looks like, you know, he's still parking players from Virginia, you know, the the whole Regional footprint recruit just it's not bullshit. It it is literally that is his game plan because he feels like if he can win this state and when the outer that six hour radius and get good players, it's going to be the best case. Scenario to rebuild the program's. What it was. Yeah. And when we look at the the top 25 players are so in Virginia in this cycle you know?

1:10:23 Other schools definitely had a head start on us. We're making our hey, in that, you know, 12 to 22 range, 12 to 25 range, that's where we're making our. Hey, right now, in terms of, in terms of recruits, we, you know, looking forward, we got to get back in the top 10 and I think some of that starts with, you know, and he made an emphasis he's like we gotta we gotta get Penn State out of this damn State. We got to get UNC out of this state. We got to keep more of these Virginia kids home and you know he was he was a part of doing a lot of that making that ground up in Virginia. So I mean he understands what it takes.

1:11:06 I'm hoping he can get the job done as we look to the the 24 in the 25 classes coming up the next two years but he knows, he knows the blueprint. He just we got to see if we can. He can execute it, right? Absolutely, it's something else talking about. Ooh, print and his leadership styles. He talked a little bit about the Bristol Retreat, which we hit on when it happened about a week after it happened, but something that he said, said in there again, we knew that we heard about. He wanted everybody on the same page, same language the same thing. So if you walk from Pharrell, you know, bones office to, you know, gouveia Windows Office, they're preaching the same things.

1:11:47 That was the first big thing, but the other big thing was this and I don't know if you caught it, but it, but it turned my Because, what kind of leader is, he talked about? He did a lot of the talking and he said, next year, when we do this, I don't not, I do not want that. I want to hear from everybody, because they took everybody, which is crazy, literally, everybody. But, but when you hear that, in a guy of a leadership position, those guys usually, you know, as long as they take what they hear from everyone under them, Em and start figuring out how to work it and how to make everybody else successful.

1:12:27 Usually those guys are the most successful guys. Yep. If you can drive that culture and you can have that, that very much top-down message, where what you hear from the top guys. The same thing that you're hearing from the player Personnel guy or even the video guy or like, if the message is the same in the message is consistent. Then the behaviors are going to be the same way. And I'm done by the behaviors of the players. Yeah. Whether that's getting extra work in. Whether that understanding The Playbook understanding, what you need to do in certain scenarios whether that's getting an extra workout, staying after practice, all those things, those little things that drive the culture add up and getting that consistent messaging. That consistent way of things being taught and Is being emphasized is going to be important going forward. Because if you don't get the foundation of that, right? For the culture, then you're going to start seeing cracks. And I think that's, that's some of what happened with the previous regime.

1:13:36 Is that there wasn't a culture, there wasn't a foundation. It was just a collection of ideas that eventually fell apart. And it's also the thing of what we talked about before, they were there to coach and nothing else. And with this staff, you kind of see it. They're not there to just coach. They understand coaching is the most important part of our job but it's not the only part of our job. And I'm not talking about teaching the young men and you know, helping them prepare for themselves in life, but understanding your part of a larger Community, I think that's what this coaching group gets more than anything. No Brian, let's jump over to this because I want to, I want to, I want to get your thoughts first.

1:14:20 He talked about it IO talked about a lot of things on a nail, which one it you the most listening to him. So I think him being a realist about the ni L situation for Blacksburg. What was the thing because I don't think he could have went in there and said, we're going to be the the unc's and the Miami's and the Clemson's on this ni L thing out the gate. I think that's the goal. But I don't think that's something that we're going to get to right away. And he said that he doesn't want in il to be. The reason that a player picks Virginia Tech and I get that, I think there might be situations.

1:15:06 Oceans Where there would be an exception to that depending on the player, depending on their caliber, especially for an in-state player. But in most terms, I don't want a player to pick Virginia Tech just because they are giving the largest in il. I, but as he said, we must be competitive. We got to be in the ballpark. So if somebody's getting something from from pit, we got to say, all right, here's what we can offer from an ni L perspective from from from these collectives here, but we also sell in the University as well. And you know, when we talk about the reason, the player pick something in il definitely is going to be in the discussion, but there's got it wrong.

1:15:54 It's going to be a piece of the pie, right? He can't even some player, some players, it's a, it's a big. Bigger piece, and some of the smaller, it can't be half the pie, but, but it needs to leave, you know, we know it's going to be in there somewhere. Well, he said we got to be competitive in it and he said and he just straight up called out fans, old and young. The line basically said, you've got to support the athletes in some way. And, you know, we saw today with Triumph and IL with Dax Dwayne, Caleb. Who my missing? I'm missing somebody. Everything efforting. Yeah. And I think, as you're speaking on that, I think the big thing that they've been focused on this offseason within IL is more of Take care of you.

1:16:40 The guys that are on your roster right now. Yep. Malaga Malaga. I got delicate with. Yeah. So I think I think that's been the focus. This offseason is kind of taking care of some of that because there wasn't that type of foundation put in place it was very much a it seemed like before it was like here are some tools to help you within IL but it was very much a, your own your own in terms of what you are able to do with it. And now we've got collectives that the school is actively partner with. And this is helping really facilitate a better relationship with those athletes from an ni o perspective. And I'm hoping that we continue to build on that and Triumph is doing a good job.

1:17:30 Shout out be Hill and those guys. Yeah that are part of that. And yeah, we but we definitely got to keep that moving forward. And and those that have the Pasady to help with that. You know, that needs to be something that's, that's going out there just like me looking to drive for 25 and I hope you Starship fun. I mean, if you're not doing it, we're going to get left behind very true, not not saying that. You know, it's got to be the first and foremost thing, the most important thing. But but as process, we got to be competitive. It got to be, we're not going. If we're not competitive, we're going to keep falling behind true.

1:18:14 All right. Well Brian, let's as we start wrapping up here tonight, we actually got the opportunity. We stood in line. We're fans you, we met the head coach. We were there was probably three, four minutes, talk with him, cleaned a little beer, With him in what you said earlier. About the recruits, you felt with us because the gentleman before us, he wanted him to send a video to a friend, right? And he got on the video and he did it with us. We just we just shot to shit with him and it just felt like a buddy, you know, he claimed the Bears with us. We, you know, said three or four things here and there and he's just having a conversation with us. It felt so it didn't feel like he was trying to do it. He just felt like he looked at us and said these are a couple. Say what we are.

1:19:06 We're probably 30 year old guys out for a night together. Have some fun hokey fans. I'm a I'm going to have fun with them. Yeah, it was awesome. Yeah. I mean, he definitely understands how to read the people that he's interacting with when he when he talks about building relationships. I think being a guy that can read folks quickly and and understand how to approach them that that's a skill. And a lot of times it's a skill that's very hard to learn and he's got it. You know whether that translates to two more wins on the recruiting Trail Forest, long term is to be seen but in terms of just interacting with the fans and being the type of coach that gets the fanbase enthusiastic about what they're doing, I mean we got a winner on that front. So we'll see if we can keep Keep the wind's coming as we roll into the season on that front but it's true. Well, I think as we were I can't remember. I said it to you give the guy six years. I mean, because we are in a rebuild. We're in a very tumultuous time.

1:20:21 You can't give him three years and expect him to be at nine. Ten wins a year. If he doesn't wonderful, if it doesn't, I'm in for the Long Haul with this one. But another thing notice Pronto, we had our moment. We talk with him because Minutes, we went on, we got our dinner. He was there. Good. Our he did not have to be there after after he finished speaking after he finished and just talking to people taking pictures sign and having a conversation. Just again, that's where we noticed. Whoever you were is who he was going to adapt to it. I think that's why he's such a good recruiter because he is going to adapt and figure out what's my Baseline for you? What's my Baseline for you?

1:21:05 Yeah. I'm still going to be me, but I'm going to figure out what part of me and you connect the best. And when you have a guy like that, you know what, you always say brown bat for one day, if Wednesday would have just had a little personality, he would have got a little more Slack. Prai has the personality and if we win something like six game, if we only won five games, I think some people are going to say he walked into a shitty situation. This year, you know, the recruiting Bridges have been burned all over the state all over the region. This guy's got to rebuild job to do. Yeah, yeah. Bridges burned. All over the State roster in shambles. It's a bad one.

1:21:46 Two punch, right? You got you had to rebuild a roster, but you also have to rebuild the relationships to help you build that roster. So he's doing a good job of laying that Foundation that we're talking about birth from a culture standpoint and from a relationship standpoint with players coaches, all the all the folks in the state and all the folks in the footprint. So I think we're on the right track from that perspective, you will see long term how the fit is, but I think in terms of just You know who he is, as a coach. And that that side, I think we got to, we got to hit here. We got a big hit here. All right, Brian. Anything breaking over the last little while here.

1:22:30 I don't see anything man. I think we're good. All right, let's wrap it. Wraps up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast, I am Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler. Visit our website at boundary corner, be t.com to listen to all of our episodes while you are there. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast Source, including Spotify, Amazon, and apple podcast. Shoutout to Conrad JK and Walker three of our listeners. We got to meet this week. Appreciate you guys coming out meeting us. It was really cool. Don't be afraid to message us.

1:23:10 You're now officially you put a comment in brine will put it up while we're Chad and regardless what it's about and or sanctum inner sanctum, we always let our buddy, Jason long plate Us in and he plays us out checking on his new website. Jason Long music.com where you can link to all of his music, on Apple Spotify, and his YouTube and Facebook pages this weekend. He's going to be at The Grandin Farmers Market down in Roanoke, in August 6, at outer space out in Floyd County. So, check them out. There, we thank you for listening and as always, let's go. Okay.