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Mike "Hardball" Hardge on the keys to a Texas victory · The Craig Way Show

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  Speaker 1: Day one of the UYLE Texas Football Texas High School
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  Speaker 1: Football State Championship. Starting us off a little Robbie Dupree
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  Speaker 1: from steel Away and welcome in our next guest, our
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  Speaker 1: first guest. Of course, you hear him on the morning
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  Speaker 1: kickoff every day on this station seven to nine am.
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  Speaker 1: He is a veteran of the Baseball League thirteen years
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  Speaker 1: playing pro baseball, and he is my co host on
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  Speaker 1: Longhorns Game Bade this Saturday from noon to two PMS
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  Speaker 1: Texas host Clemson. He is Mike Harball Harg. Were you
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  Speaker 1: a big yacht rock guy, mister Harg.
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  Speaker 2: Well, I just became one brother. I mean, the music
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  Speaker 2: is so smooth.
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  Speaker 3: You know.
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  Speaker 2: I laugh every single Wednesday because I know it's a
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  Speaker 2: yacht rotten day.
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  Speaker 3: But my biggest takeaway from.
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  Speaker 2: Yacht rock is watching you to try to understand if
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  Speaker 2: you are a big yacht rock guy.
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  Speaker 1: It depends on the track. There's some because some of
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  Speaker 1: that is like eighties. I'm the biggest thing of the
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  Speaker 1: eighties music, right all right? You know some of it's
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  Speaker 1: because some of it's some it's not too bad. Let's
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  Speaker 1: get your takeaways on this Clemston Texas matchup. Don't want to,
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  Speaker 1: you know, get too much into it because obviously me
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  Speaker 1: and you will be breaking it down on Saturday. But
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  Speaker 1: as we've gotten closer and closer to kickoff. When when
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  Speaker 1: the announcement was made the Texas with face Clemson, what
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  Speaker 1: was your initial reaction and has that changed at all
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  Speaker 1: as we get closer and closer to kickoff?
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  Speaker 3: Well, I thought it.
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  Speaker 2: Was interesting strictly because of the fact that Clemson was
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  Speaker 2: the last team to basically get into it.
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  Speaker 3: Dabbo sweety veteran for the postseason.
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  Speaker 2: His processes of everything and how he gets it to that.
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  Speaker 3: Level is something that I've always been impressed with.
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  Speaker 2: He continues to make moves, make things happen, and I've
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  Speaker 2: been very critical. If you listen to the Morning Kickoff
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  Speaker 2: Monday through Friday seven to nine am with myself and
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  Speaker 2: Mark Henry talk about it a lot. I talked about
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  Speaker 2: it at the very beginning. He was not a guy
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  Speaker 2: that was going to get into the portal. He was
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  Speaker 2: not a guy that was big into nil and I
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  Speaker 2: thought it was going to go by the wayside strictly
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  Speaker 2: because of the fact that I didn't think he was
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  Speaker 2: ready to perform in this matter. Well, and now he's
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  Speaker 2: here against the they call it battlestar of Galactica. You
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  Speaker 2: know what I'm saying, Where Texas is this this conglomerate
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  Speaker 2: that everybody continues to either find the way to hate
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  Speaker 2: on or continue to love and dabbles just that good
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  Speaker 2: old guy that's gonna do everything he can to make
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  Speaker 2: sure that his kids know he loves them and they
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  Speaker 2: deserve to be here.
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  Speaker 1: It's a look at two programs who have operated very
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  Speaker 1: differently but still have had a lot of success and
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  Speaker 1: happens in the same success from Clemson since the transfer
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  Speaker 1: portal in Nil became a huge part of it. But Clemson,
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  Speaker 1: whether or not they deserved it, are in the College
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  Speaker 1: Football Playoff and I have a lot of weapons who
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  Speaker 1: have been homegrown, you could say. Meanwhile, Texas on the
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  Speaker 1: other side, Harge, I mean you look at you know,
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  Speaker 1: the receiving corps, Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, all transfer receivers
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  Speaker 1: se possibly their best defender this season if it's not
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  Speaker 1: named Shaddy Baron is Andrew mccouba, who of course played
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  Speaker 1: at Clemson.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's an interesting take and an interesting time, and
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  Speaker 2: you know the way that you just presented it with
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  Speaker 2: the wide receiving corps and the homegrown talent on the
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  Speaker 2: other side. There's some homegrown talent on the Texas side, obviously,
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  Speaker 2: but in this matchup, it is important to understand that
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  Speaker 2: everything that happens happens on the sideline too. You look
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  Speaker 2: at both of these coaches and what they've been through
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  Speaker 2: in their careers and how they got to this point
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  Speaker 2: in their careers.
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  Speaker 3: Dabbo's the OG seven times he has been in.
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  Speaker 2: The College Football Playoff and having the opportunity to play
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  Speaker 2: against the Texas Longhorns, and what is going on is
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  Speaker 2: pretty dog on impressive.
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  Speaker 1: Line open up at eleven and a half. Last time
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  Speaker 1: I checked, might be at twelve. Clemson against top twenty
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  Speaker 1: five teams this season March, they're one and two. Their
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  Speaker 1: only win came against number eight SMU and the ACC
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  Speaker 1: Championship thirty one thirty one, thirty four to thirty one. Rather,
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  Speaker 1: is this line too high?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, that scares the crap out of me. Bro I'm
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  Speaker 2: not even going to lie to you. I mean, it's
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  Speaker 2: very rare that those types of things can happen to
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  Speaker 2: that point of all right, this is the impressive part
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  Speaker 2: of what we've seen from the Texas Longhorns. But let's
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  Speaker 2: not forget Clemson is battle tested. You got a quarterback
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  Speaker 2: that's coming in with a chip on his shoulder. I'm
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  Speaker 2: sure that dabbos you doing that that pole mouth. Oh,
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  Speaker 2: they don't believe in you. They got you as a
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  Speaker 2: twelve point dogs. So the motivation is going to be
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  Speaker 2: in Clemson's favor. But ironically, you look at the Texas
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  Speaker 2: Longhorns and what they've been able to achieve all season along,
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  Speaker 2: they are the team that deserves to be there.
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  Speaker 3: They are nationally ranked at number three, some polls.
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  Speaker 2: Number four, but in the College Football Playoff obviously they're
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  Speaker 2: number five. You look at the experience to what you
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  Speaker 2: talked about, the secondary, to all Americans, everything that goes
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  Speaker 2: into this matchup, and it plays into the favor of
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  Speaker 2: Dabo Sweeney. To be quite honest with you, what is
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  Speaker 2: the motivation motivational factor here? Well, your twelve point dog,
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  Speaker 2: get out there and go fight.
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  Speaker 1: Dabo seems to be pushing that underdog narrativeness contested against SMU,
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  Speaker 1: will likely do it against Texas. Mentioned the quarterbacks when
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  Speaker 1: yours first kid club Nick is gonna get a lot
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  Speaker 1: of press, gonna be a big storyline. Of course, you
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  Speaker 1: both played each other in high school in the state
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  Speaker 1: title game up in Arlington, South Lake Carrol against Westlake.
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  Speaker 1: But I'll tell you what this game I think should
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  Speaker 1: come out of the defense.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah, that's fair, that's fair.
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  Speaker 2: We ran a poll today on the morning kickoff about
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  Speaker 2: which part needs to play its part in this particular game.
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  Speaker 2: Is at the offense the defense are the special teams.
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  Speaker 2: Everybody's trying to avoid that special teams conversation. But I
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  Speaker 2: do agree with you that Texas defense is going to
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  Speaker 2: be challenged, it's going to be stretched, it's going to
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  Speaker 2: have to perform at an elite level, which they have done.
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  Speaker 2: They battle tested in that realm. But Kate Klebnick is
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  Speaker 2: different from any of the other quarterbacks that Texas. His face,
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  Speaker 2: he's very elusive, he's very experienced, and he's.
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  Speaker 3: Played in big games.
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  Speaker 2: He's been up against it from the day he took
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  Speaker 2: the starting job from Dju. Now it is his position,
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  Speaker 2: it is his time, and he's getting a chance to
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  Speaker 2: be another level of motivation. He's playing against the hometown
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  Speaker 2: team right in his backyard. So I look forward to
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  Speaker 2: the matchup. And look, I'm a big Faith fan of
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  Speaker 2: k Clubnet, but not.
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  Speaker 1: This weekend before we talk to other college football playoff matchups.
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  Speaker 1: Transfer portal wishless. We've seen Texas out a punter so far,
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  Speaker 1: a linebacker as well. What other positions do you hope
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  Speaker 1: Texas will address, whether it's this window or the next
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  Speaker 1: window in spring.
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  Speaker 2: Well, I'm definitely thinking it has to be with the
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  Speaker 2: offensive and defensive lines. Coach Shark told us from the
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  Speaker 2: very beginning, it's all about the big.
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  Speaker 3: Humans, right. He's been out getting them.
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  Speaker 2: He's created an opportunity for himself and his team to
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  Speaker 2: be put into this position. I've said it for a
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  Speaker 2: long time, and Cam you and I have talked about
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  Speaker 2: this on the pregame show, on and off the air.
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  Speaker 2: He set out to achieve something and he went out
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  Speaker 2: and attacked it in the right way. He's recruiting well,
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  Speaker 2: but he's also picking and choosing in the transfer portal properly.
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  Speaker 2: So for me, the biggest move that they need to
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  Speaker 2: continue to make is then on the lines of scrimmage.
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  Speaker 2: Because the skill players already want to come here and
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  Speaker 2: play for Texas. It's those guys on the upfront that
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  Speaker 2: need to decide to come here.
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  Speaker 1: And it's not a matter of how much money at
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  Speaker 1: this point, it's a matter of will you fit into
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  Speaker 1: this culture?
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely, I think they've done a great job of
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  Speaker 2: finding those types of players to come in and fit
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  Speaker 2: into the thought process.
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  Speaker 3: Think about it. Some of the.
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  Speaker 2: Guys that have come in, we've never heard anything bad
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  Speaker 2: about those guys.
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  Speaker 3: The only guy that ended up needing to leave.
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  Speaker 2: The University of Texas from the transfer portal was the
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  Speaker 2: kid from Alabama that kept getting the parking tickets. I
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  Speaker 2: can't even remember his name. That's why I that's why
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  Speaker 2: he's gone.
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  Speaker 3: Yeah a jihah. I was trying to forget Cam.
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  Speaker 2: I was trying to forget but you know, no disrespect
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  Speaker 2: to the kid, but he didn't fit into what coach
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  Speaker 2: Sark was trying to achieve, and he made the corrective move,
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  Speaker 2: and the team made the move of making sure that
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  Speaker 2: he wasn't a part of the movement.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, quick thoughts on Friday night scheme between Notre Dame
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  Speaker 1: and Indiana.
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  Speaker 2: Sengetti actually like he wants to break somebody's kneecaps.
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  Speaker 3: I felt like I was listening to Dample about that.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, he's all about it, but you know, I'm looking
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  Speaker 2: at Marcus Freeman and what he's been able to do.
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  Speaker 2: Let's not forget Marcus Freeman was somebody that everybody from
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  Speaker 2: Notre Dame was trying to get fired at one point
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  Speaker 2: because he came up short in a couple of games,
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  Speaker 2: and especially this year when they lost to Northern Illinois.
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  Speaker 2: Now he's got him in the playoff. You've got them
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  Speaker 2: playing at an all time high. Riley Leonard turned out
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  Speaker 2: to be a big choice for those guys who's earned
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  Speaker 2: it and now it's time for them to go and
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  Speaker 2: show improve.
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  Speaker 3: I got Notre Dame over Indiana.
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  Speaker 1: Penn State SMU.
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  Speaker 3: Penn Steak. I love to ask you story.
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  Speaker 2: They got great athletes, they were up against it against Clinton,
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  Speaker 2: and they found a way to come from behind. But
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  Speaker 2: that takes a lot. That takes a lot of effort
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  Speaker 2: for you to be able to do that. Yes, it
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  Speaker 2: proves that you can do it. But I think Penn's Steak,
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  Speaker 2: even though they lost their backup quarterback. I just think
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  Speaker 2: athletically they're too much and it's going to be cold
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  Speaker 2: in these locations, by the.
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  Speaker 3: Way, very cold.
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  Speaker 1: I think this is going to be the only game
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  Speaker 1: where it's above like fifty degrees a DKR no doubt,
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  Speaker 1: no doubt, LA scheme Saturday Night, Ohio State, Tennessee.
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  Speaker 3: This is besides Clemson.
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  Speaker 2: This is the game that I most want to see
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  Speaker 2: just because of the SEC Big Ten matchup.
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  Speaker 3: Big Ten got all these teams into the College Football Playoff.
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  Speaker 2: But I believe that when it comes down to it,
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  Speaker 2: this is a must must win game for a Day
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  Speaker 2: Ryan Day.
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  Speaker 3: He has to have this ball game.
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  Speaker 2: I think this is a legacy game for Will Howard.
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  Speaker 3: Think about that.
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  Speaker 2: I'm saying this is a legacy game for Will Howard
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  Speaker 2: when he was at Case State, but this will put
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  Speaker 2: him in immortality because of the fact it is the
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  Speaker 2: first round of the College Football Playoffs. But if Ohio
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  Speaker 2: State does not get to the semifinals or the quarterfinals, man,
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  Speaker 2: that is a big problem.
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  Speaker 1: I like Ohio State and I like Nerding both to
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  Speaker 1: be upset this weekend. And that's that's just what I'm feeling. Okay,
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  Speaker 1: I text you.
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  Speaker 3: Are you a wagering guy? I'm not. I'm not. Okay,
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  Speaker 3: all right, That's what I'm saying.
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  Speaker 2: Because i've you gonna put a mortgage on it, then.
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  Speaker 3: I would believe you. But since you're not a way,
• 12:06
  Speaker 3: You're in guy, you're just hoping for.
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: Us since I text you before before you came on,
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  Speaker 1: I wanted to get some sort of free agency story
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: from me. Of course, we had the big one Sodo
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: deal and we've had the course to Cody Bellinger trades,
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker trades. You played baseball for thirteen years professionally.
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: You were a part of movements in the off season.
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: Give me one good Winter meetings, winter off season story
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: from your career.
• 12:33
  Speaker 2: My biggest off season story was the fact that the
• 12:35
  Speaker 2: Montreal Expos. You don't appreciate this, Pam, because I know
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: you met read the Expo's book, and I happened to
• 12:42
  Speaker 2: be in that story and you text me and you
• 12:44
  Speaker 2: were like, Bro, are you serious about this? But one
• 12:47
  Speaker 2: of the biggest offseason moves at the time was Delino
• 12:52
  Speaker 2: the Shields was traded to the La Dodgers for Pedro Martinez.
• 12:58
  Speaker 2: And when when it happened, I was in Arizona Fall League.
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: I was playing out there and having a good good fall,
• 13:09
  Speaker 2: but I wasn't having a great fall and I had
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: just been added to the forty man roster and I
• 13:15
  Speaker 2: come to the field that morning and guys are looking
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: at me and they're talking about me, and I'm like,
• 13:25
  Speaker 2: not paying attention to what is going on because I was,
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: you know, hanging out, you know what I'm saying. And
• 13:32
  Speaker 2: then I got back and my buddies that were on
• 13:36
  Speaker 2: the Expos at the time, they said, hey, man, did
• 13:38
  Speaker 2: you see what happened? And I was like, I have
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: no idea what y'all were talking about. I have no
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: idea what is going on. They said, hey, they just
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: traded the Lino the Shields to the Montreal Expos I
• 13:53
  Speaker 2: mean to the La Dodgers in it.
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  Speaker 1: We may have lost my cards there in the middle
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: of that good story. That's a shame. He was talking
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: to us about that. Then Pedro Martinez trade, who was
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: of course, was drafted by the Dodgers in the eighty
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: eight season, eventually got traded to the Expos in ninety
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: three for the line of the Shields, and of course
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: Pedro Martinez would become Pedro Martinez later on. Okay, we'll
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  Speaker 1: be back to get to inconceivable here on this Wednesday,
• 14:28
  Speaker 1: a yacht rock Wednesday here on the Craigway Show.