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The Biggest Game Since '08 · Talkin' Tech

0:39
SPEAKER_03: Welcome in, everybody, to the Talk and Tech Podcast.
0:43
SPEAKER_03: I am your host, Steven Rodriguez, my host, Tristan McGonigal.
0:47
SPEAKER_03: Tristan, today is a very, very special episode because so much is going good for Texas Tech right now.
0:58
SPEAKER_03: Everything is great, and we're excited.
1:01
SPEAKER_03: We got a big game this week, man.
1:03
SPEAKER_06: Steven, the only thing that we better in this moment is if you do the thing.
1:08
SPEAKER_06: I need you to do the thing.
1:10
SPEAKER_03: I must do the thing.
1:12
SPEAKER_03: It's a tradition here on the Talk and Tech podcast for the new listeners that we play the song.
1:19
SPEAKER_04: Red Raider coming at you, riding through the night with a fury of the West Texas win.
1:27
SPEAKER_04: Red Raider coming at you.
1:29
SPEAKER_04: What a beautiful sight.
1:31
SPEAKER_04: The Texas Tech Red Raiders is riding right again.
1:38
SPEAKER_03: What a dub.
1:40
SPEAKER_03: We have finally, finally broken that stupid streak against the Kansas State Wildcats.
1:49
SPEAKER_03: The Texas Tech Red Raiders have finally defeated the Kansas State Wildcats.
1:55
SPEAKER_03: It feels good.
1:56
SPEAKER_06: You know, the score doesn't really reflect it, but the K-State Wildcats made us work for it.
2:02
SPEAKER_06: You know, it was not a give and win.
2:04
SPEAKER_06: We did not march into Manhattan and just take it right from their hands.
2:08
SPEAKER_06: They made us work for our food, okay?
2:10
SPEAKER_06: There's no free meals in Kansas up there that week, dude.
2:13
SPEAKER_06: Um, but you know, the but I do like the final score because you finally showed the way it should have gone the entire game.
2:19
SPEAKER_06: You are that much more talented than them.
2:20
SPEAKER_06: I think our coaching staff is that much more talented than them.
2:22
SPEAKER_06: I mean, just we have a tremendous uh coaching staff.
2:26
SPEAKER_06: Tremendous, tremendous.
2:28
SPEAKER_06: And uh the the quote unquote Matt Wells revenge game ended up with five turnovers and 20 points.
2:34
SPEAKER_06: So I would say that our boys, especially on the D side of the ball, really made some magic happen up there.
2:42
SPEAKER_06: And I would say the curse is freaking broken, bro.
2:45
SPEAKER_03: Look, it was funny.
2:46
SPEAKER_03: We don't believe in curses, by the way.
2:48
SPEAKER_03: Um very similar to another game against a Kansas school earlier this year, where Tech kind of messed around for about 50 minutes of the game, and then they finally turned it on and they scored a million points in the fourth quarter, and finally just absolutely obliterated the Wildcats on the scoreboard there.
3:08
SPEAKER_03: Uh also very similar to Utah, you know, to where Tech really just kind of lets them hang around, plays a little bad offense, ruins a drive with uh with an offensive line penalty, misses an extra point, just kind of messes around.
3:23
SPEAKER_03: And then boom, turn it on with four minutes left in the game.
3:27
SPEAKER_03: You get a strip sec, fumble, uh, return for a touchdown on Avery Johnson, and it was just falls to the wall from there.
3:34
SPEAKER_03: It was fantastic.
3:35
SPEAKER_06: Well, I mean, I think this is the way these games have been going.
3:38
SPEAKER_06: Like you kind of just spoke about you know the slow starts where it's a bit of a game in the first half, at least.
3:43
SPEAKER_06: You know, it's it's not exactly uh lights out immediately.
3:47
SPEAKER_06: I think what you see is you'll see the other team.
3:50
SPEAKER_06: We have a target on our back, you'll see the other team give it their all, give it all they have for two quarters until we just grind them down into dust with our superior size, talent, and scheme.
4:02
SPEAKER_06: And it's just they can't overcome it.
4:04
SPEAKER_06: And then the the seams just bust, and we we finally just start breaking through and pounding the score into the way it should be.
4:12
SPEAKER_06: Because I mean, again, we are playing power four teams, we are not out there playing Sam Houston skates, all right.
4:18
SPEAKER_06: Oh 0-8, Sam Houston.
4:20
SPEAKER_06: We were praying for your recovery out there in in Huntsville.
4:23
SPEAKER_06: Um, we are we are playing good teams, and Kansas State is famously a blue-collar make-you work for it team.
4:32
SPEAKER_06: And they they will beat you if you they catch you sleeping.
4:35
SPEAKER_06: And we were able to uh make sure that didn't happen.
4:38
SPEAKER_06: We made every Johnson look like a chump.
4:41
SPEAKER_06: Um, and he's not that much of a chump, but we made him look at the made him look at it, especially in the second half.
4:46
SPEAKER_06: Um, but again, dude, I think what you've seen is like this is what happens whenever you have better players, you will grind them down.
4:52
SPEAKER_06: You if you have better athletes, you will out you will outlast them, your stand them is better and you're stronger, and they'll just get worn out, man.
4:58
SPEAKER_06: And then you can finally do what you want.
5:00
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and playing this defense is just a nightmare.
5:04
SPEAKER_03: It's it's just it's gotta be the worst feeling in the world when you're the opposing offense going up against all these guys because uh as soon as one thing goes wrong, I mean, it's just like a spiral.
5:15
SPEAKER_03: And this defense, like you mentioned earlier, five turnovers in this game.
5:20
SPEAKER_03: The punch out, put the punch out, put the Jacob Rodriguez punch out in the College Football Hall of Fame right now.
5:27
SPEAKER_03: Do it right now.
5:28
SPEAKER_03: It is the most signature of moves a defensive player has ever had in a long, long time.
5:34
SPEAKER_03: I every time it happens, it's just like, yep, yep, you just smile.
5:38
SPEAKER_03: You're just smiling because you're like, he did it again.
5:41
SPEAKER_03: I can't believe it.
5:42
SPEAKER_03: I can't believe that these teams they just can't stop it.
5:46
SPEAKER_03: They can't stop it.
5:47
SPEAKER_03: His timing on it is perfect.
5:49
SPEAKER_03: His it he puts the the fist right in the exact area that the ball's gonna be.
5:54
SPEAKER_03: It is and it's electric every single time, dude.
5:58
SPEAKER_06: He's the best linebacker in the country, he's arguably the best defenseman in the country.
6:03
SPEAKER_06: It's he's really in that conversation.
6:04
SPEAKER_06: Like, if you're gonna give the Heisman to any defensive player, uh, we all know it's not really much of a defensive uh award.
6:11
SPEAKER_06: Um, but if you're going to, there's an amazing argument for Jacob Rodriguez for the stash, you know what I'm saying?
6:17
SPEAKER_06: And I'm just out here, I'm trying to copy him right now with my own stash.
6:21
SPEAKER_06: But um, you know, it's I I this guess this is gonna sound like a hot take, but he's probably the best linebacker you've ever had.
6:31
SPEAKER_03: I don't know if that's a hot take.
6:32
SPEAKER_06: I don't know, but yeah, but I know freaking Thomas.
6:36
SPEAKER_03: I know you got Zach Thomas who's right up there on the stadium.
6:39
SPEAKER_03: He's obviously his pro career was the best you probably had as a red raider now.
6:45
SPEAKER_03: Until Pat.
6:46
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, until Pat and it'd call me out for the EJ Holubs and the and the old guys of the of the world.
6:53
SPEAKER_03: But Zach Thomas, uh at least in the recent era, uh, besides Pat, has had the most treasured NFL career, and that's kind of puts him over the top as well.
7:03
SPEAKER_03: He was obviously great at Texas Tech, we all know this.
7:06
SPEAKER_03: What Jacob Rodriguez is doing this year is peak linebacker play at Texas Tech, and we've actually had some great ones in recent years.
7:15
SPEAKER_03: Jordan Brooks, Colin Schooler, those types, but he's just he's so I've never had a guy that is just so reliable every single week, no matter what, you just have the utmost confidence in the world that he's going to get not only his position group, not only his stuff prepared, but the entire defense prepared.
7:35
SPEAKER_03: He's the leader on that entire unit, and that's saying something with the amount of talent that we have.
7:39
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely, dude.
7:40
SPEAKER_06: He could be your best defensive player you've ever had in school history.
7:44
SPEAKER_06: Um, and with the season we're having, it's that's a pretty good reflection.
7:48
SPEAKER_06: Like we are on the cusp of possibly the greatest season in school history.
7:53
SPEAKER_06: So, and it's in large part due to him because I think he's easily the best player on the team.
7:59
SPEAKER_06: So being the best player on the best team in school history kind of puts you up there for high accolades and some hot takes, like saying he's the best defensive player of all time.
8:09
SPEAKER_06: I know because obviously I don't want to start moving into best player you've ever had, because I mean that's where things will get really contentious.
8:16
SPEAKER_06: But uh all in all, dude, he's truly the story of your season if it comes down to one player.
8:22
SPEAKER_06: And what makes it even better is he just seems like an awesome guy.
8:26
SPEAKER_06: Like he just his his character seems so solid, it's so down to earth.
8:30
SPEAKER_06: He truly seems like a guy you could just sit there and have a beer with and just be the go like it'd be like you're having your buddy from the next door over.
8:37
SPEAKER_06: Truly.
8:38
SPEAKER_03: Yep.
8:39
SPEAKER_03: It's it's astounding that you have the NCA leader in sacks on your team, and he is not talked about as the best defensive player on the team.
8:49
SPEAKER_03: Crazy.
8:50
SPEAKER_03: And David Bailey is having himself a heck of a year, as is Romelo Hyde, as is Lee Hunter, as are a lot of players.
8:56
SPEAKER_03: I want to give Bryce Pollack a shout out because he's been one of, if not the best, corner in the Big 12 this year.
9:03
SPEAKER_03: Four interceptions.
9:04
SPEAKER_03: He had another one against Kansas State.
9:06
SPEAKER_03: He's been phenomenal as your number one corner, and uh, and right up there with the best of the transfers that you got.
9:12
SPEAKER_03: But but J-Rodd is incredible.
9:16
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, and I mean it's it was great that you brought up Pollock real quick.
9:20
SPEAKER_06: It's it's so it's so great to see a guy shine so brightly at that position.
9:23
SPEAKER_06: That position has been such a heartburn zone for Texas Tech fans for 15 years, if not more.
9:29
SPEAKER_06: So it's just so good to see a stud absolutely step up, and he stepped up in a huge way against Kansas State.
9:34
SPEAKER_06: Whoever we uh turn it turn the ball over at the beginning of the game, he immediately goes and gets the ball back.
9:40
SPEAKER_06: Like and like nothing even happened.
9:41
SPEAKER_06: It stopped the momentum from shifting to K-Starsly at that point in time.
9:46
SPEAKER_06: And I think it was a huge uh linchpin and getting us back onto track.
9:49
SPEAKER_06: So that guy played his behind off in Manhattan.
9:53
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, he was he was fantastic.
9:54
SPEAKER_03: Romello Height, like I mentioned earlier, forced to fumble.
9:57
SPEAKER_03: And then the Lubbock local John Curry returned it for a TT while uh while President Skuvenek was celebrating in the background.
10:05
SPEAKER_03: That was an awesome moment.
10:06
SPEAKER_03: But yeah, just a phenomenal game from our defense.
10:09
SPEAKER_03: Um Barron, Barron Morton returned, finally made his return back after missing two games.
10:16
SPEAKER_03: Um, how'd you think he looked?
10:18
SPEAKER_06: I thought he was very efficient.
10:19
SPEAKER_06: You know, like Barron Morton's really good about being efficient and just keeping the train on the tracks.
10:26
SPEAKER_06: He takes care of the ball for the most part.
10:27
SPEAKER_06: Yes, he had interception, but all in all, his turnover margin is quite good.
10:32
SPEAKER_06: He's a smart player, he makes smart decisions, and man, he I we can obviously take a take a point here, and it's it's not sexy to talk about, but he slid.
10:43
SPEAKER_06: However, he took off down the middle of the field, he slid instead of trying to make some superhero stuff happen.
10:49
SPEAKER_06: So I'm glad he's taken care of his body, and he seems to be going through his progressions really well, man.
10:54
SPEAKER_06: Like there's it's hard to complain.
10:55
SPEAKER_06: I know it's I know it's not like she hasn't been showy all year, like you haven't gone like, holy cow, look at this quarterback, but he does the job well.
11:04
SPEAKER_03: He threw some really great passes this game.
11:06
SPEAKER_03: It it took him a little bit to get back into it, as it would for anybody coming back after missing two games and dealing with injury little things all year.
11:14
SPEAKER_03: But I mean, he had a couple dimes.
11:16
SPEAKER_03: He put one right in Reggie Virgil's pocket.
11:18
SPEAKER_03: Uh, he had a great pass to Caleb Douglas towards the end of the game.
11:22
SPEAKER_03: He was throwing that thing to Terrence Carter, who it was great to see him back on the field as well.
11:27
SPEAKER_03: But yes, the most hyped I was was when he slid feet first.
11:31
SPEAKER_03: I was like, oh my god, this I actually got up out of my seat and I was like, thank you, thank you, Baron Morton, for actually protecting yourself and sliding feet first.
11:40
SPEAKER_03: This is the best thing I've ever seen.
11:42
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely, dude.
11:43
SPEAKER_06: And the good news is we didn't see at the scene take off all that much because finally left which gives the balls to your uh to your running backs.
11:52
SPEAKER_06: The running backs had it plenty this game and they made some magic happen.
11:56
SPEAKER_06: So uh I know you're I know you you were probably bouncing off your couch whenever you saw Jacoby get out in open space and make some dudes miss.
12:03
SPEAKER_06: Um, but I Mac really seemed to uh lock it in this game.
12:07
SPEAKER_06: He really made some great adjustments.
12:08
SPEAKER_06: Obviously, the beginning was pretty rough, but I mean I it's hard to complain whenever you're walking out at stadium uh with over 40 points on the board.
12:15
SPEAKER_03: Get Jacoby Williams the football in however, whatever way that you can scheme up getting Jacoby Williams the football, he makes highlight elite big plays constantly.
12:32
SPEAKER_03: And when you see him with three carries on the on the stat sheet, I I was so upset.
12:39
SPEAKER_03: 17 carries this game, 135 yards, almost eight yards a carry for Jacoby Williams in this one.
12:47
SPEAKER_03: He's the Big 12 leader in all purpose yards right now.
12:50
SPEAKER_03: Get him the football, get him the football.
12:54
SPEAKER_03: Shout out to Cam Dickey as well.
12:56
SPEAKER_03: He was uh he was efficient and great as he always is.
12:59
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely, dude.
13:00
SPEAKER_06: The running backs really shine this game.
13:02
SPEAKER_06: It was good to see them back in it because remember, I think we were all incredibly frustrated with that Arizona State game.
13:08
SPEAKER_06: It felt like a huge issue with that was A, you didn't have your starting quarterback, you had your freshman going into an in a tense environment, and B, it seemed like we completely abandoned the running game and never even gave it a shot to get going.
13:19
SPEAKER_06: So obviously, I'm glad to see Mac learning some lessons on the road and establishing a running game to make sure that we can establish a pace and keep the uh home team at bay.
13:28
SPEAKER_03: Welcome to the show, Caleb Douglas, as well.
13:31
SPEAKER_03: I want to just say that he finally showed out this one, he's been dropping passes all year long, and you know, we'll see what happens with Coy as well.
13:39
SPEAKER_03: Coy had another rough game against Kansas State.
13:41
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, what's his deal, dude?
13:43
SPEAKER_06: I don't know.
13:46
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, but he's also I can just see Coy just making like the biggest catch in the world against GYU next week.
13:52
SPEAKER_03: I I still have a lot of faith in Koy, and I'm still okay despite his woes in the punt game.
13:58
SPEAKER_03: I still think he'll be a reliable guy to have.
14:01
SPEAKER_06: It's not even just the punts, though.
14:02
SPEAKER_06: He's been dropping passes.
14:04
SPEAKER_03: I know, he's got to get over it, but uh, you know, coy, I can see him just flipping the switch.
14:10
SPEAKER_03: He'll make one big play, and then it's like, okay, coy's off and he's back.
14:13
SPEAKER_03: But uh, it was really good to see Caleb Douglas go off this one because he hasn't he, you know, he was kind of talked about as maybe potentially the wide receiver one going into this year.
14:23
SPEAKER_03: You know, is it gonna be Coy?
14:24
SPEAKER_03: Is it gonna be Reggie Virgil?
14:26
SPEAKER_03: We don't really know.
14:27
SPEAKER_03: And Caleb Douglas had a breakout game against uh against Kansas State.
14:31
SPEAKER_03: That was really nice to see.
14:33
SPEAKER_03: But the most I don't know if it's underrated, but probably the biggest story on this offense is getting Terrence Carter back.
14:42
SPEAKER_03: He is such an electric and crazy positional matchup against all these different teams.
14:48
SPEAKER_03: The the quickness that he has at the tight end position, the strength he has in the blocking game, he's just so, so good.
14:55
SPEAKER_03: And you really missed him over the last couple weeks that he's missed.
14:58
SPEAKER_03: You could have used him against Arizona State, you could have used him uh in the game prior, but he's just he's an electric athlete and really, really important to this offense.
15:08
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I mean, I guess we kind of overlook that, right?
15:10
SPEAKER_06: Whenever it comes to the offensive scheming, whenever you're missing that kind of player, that kind of piece, that really obviously would affect the way you're gonna be calling games.
15:16
SPEAKER_06: Because, like you said, dude, that guy's a matchup nightmare.
15:19
SPEAKER_06: And whenever your star tight end who acts a lot like an agile receiver is out, it kind of hamstrings you a bit in with what do you want to do, especially whenever you have weapons like that.
15:28
SPEAKER_06: So it's really great to see him back, dude.
15:31
SPEAKER_06: Um, if you're ever gonna need a game where you have full full-fledged health again, especially on the offensive side of the ball, which is kind of where a weaker side of our team is still very strong.
15:40
SPEAKER_06: Um, you're gonna want it with this BYU Cougar team.
15:43
SPEAKER_06: So I'm I'm really glad to have him back.
15:44
SPEAKER_06: Make sure that we have all of our weapons ready to loaded and ready to go.
15:47
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, really exciting.
15:49
SPEAKER_03: Really glad we finally got over the K-State hump.
15:52
SPEAKER_03: Um, we'll put the Matt Wells stuff to bed.
15:55
SPEAKER_03: We finally we beat him, it's good, whatever.
15:58
SPEAKER_03: I I'd be surprised if he's at K-State again next year.
16:00
SPEAKER_06: I was about to say, do you think he makes it next year?
16:02
SPEAKER_06: Oh, probably not.
16:04
SPEAKER_03: I mean, he's got the only thing he's got going for him is he's Kleiman's guy.
16:08
SPEAKER_03: Like they really love each other.
16:10
SPEAKER_03: And uh yeah, but Kansas State fans are about fed up with with the games, as they should be.
16:14
SPEAKER_06: Well, I mean, I think K-State fans are frustrated with the season in general.
16:17
SPEAKER_06: I mean, you do come in with a lot of hype, like you're kind of the team that could win the Big 12 and go to the playoff and run make it make a run, but and it just kind of falls flat on its face.
16:26
SPEAKER_06: Um, so I do wonder if this is gonna if this is gonna be Kleiman's like Bulligan year where he kind of has to like clean shop and reshuffle before you know his head is looked at and aimed at.
16:36
SPEAKER_06: So uh it'll be interesting to see if Wells comes back.
16:38
SPEAKER_06: I mean the guy the guy will be able to find a job is the man west or whatever, but yeah, I think I think the Wells experience is mostly done.
16:44
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we shall see.
16:45
SPEAKER_03: But that was uh a great way to end an eight-game losing streak against the Kansas State Wildcats, and we let's go continue that into the future.
16:54
SPEAKER_06: Just legally drinking the first time, whenever we finally beat them.
16:58
SPEAKER_06: So good news, dude.
17:00
SPEAKER_03: Crazy.
17:00
SPEAKER_06: Almost 30.
17:02
SPEAKER_03: We have a big game this weekend, a massive game, uh the biggest game in a long, long time.
17:08
SPEAKER_03: And I will ask you for the third time this season, is this the most important game since 2008, Texas?
17:18
SPEAKER_06: This game is.
17:19
SPEAKER_06: This game absolutely is, dude.
17:21
SPEAKER_06: This game has just as high a stakes as the UT game did.
17:25
SPEAKER_06: And though this the only difference is A, BYU is not number one, and B, it's not your arch rival in Austin.
17:32
SPEAKER_06: You know, it's it's it's obvious, it's a newbie that you're not too familiar with, but dude, the stakes are just as high.
17:36
SPEAKER_06: Like you're playing for a spot in the Big 12 championship, which is what you're doing against UT um in 2008, um, something you've never done before.
17:46
SPEAKER_06: Get that to get that trophy, so the stakes are just as high as that.
17:49
SPEAKER_06: And you what just like in 2008, you are looking past that Big 12 championship as well and looking at the postseason because you know there were real talks about us going to the BCS.
17:58
SPEAKER_06: And and obviously the transition to that is the playoff at this point.
18:02
SPEAKER_06: So, what's your playoffs you are gonna make the playoff if we win this game or if we lose this game?
18:06
SPEAKER_06: So, dude, this game could not have higher stakes.
18:09
SPEAKER_06: You got college game day coming back on the same exact day as the 2008 game.
18:15
SPEAKER_06: So you're at the same point in the season.
18:17
SPEAKER_06: It's just what an incredible lineup that we have ahead of us here, dude, for two Saturday.
18:22
SPEAKER_06: What are your initial thoughts?
18:24
SPEAKER_03: Shout out to the BYU fans.
18:25
SPEAKER_03: If you guys haven't seen or haven't been on social media, um the Texas Tech team barber uh you know experienced some some heartbreak where and you know, we we pray and hope that things are are going well for him.
18:38
SPEAKER_03: But his wife was hit by a drunk driver and is currently in the hospital.
18:42
SPEAKER_03: Um, unresponsive last I checked, but uh, you know, he's kind of obviously uh a you know a staff member for the football team, uh, works on commission, does all this stuff, and um, you know, unfortunately is going through a really tough time right now.
18:55
SPEAKER_03: And BYU fans have absolutely taken over on Twitter helping with the donation and the GoFundMe.
19:00
SPEAKER_03: And this is BYU fans, they're awesome.
19:02
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we all know this.
19:04
SPEAKER_03: Like they're they're they're everywhere, first and foremost.
19:06
SPEAKER_03: Like that, no matter what, at any opposing stadium, you're gonna find a BYU fan.
19:10
SPEAKER_03: It's a phenomenal fan base, and and this just kind of tops it off.
19:14
SPEAKER_03: So I wanted to start off with a shout-out to those guys, but um it's such a it's such a huge game.
19:21
SPEAKER_03: This is the number eight team by the AP poll, undefeated eight-no, BYU Cougars, Texas Tech number nine in the country, number seven BYU in the college football playoff rankings, number eight Texas Tech in the college football playoff rankings.
19:35
SPEAKER_03: This is everything you could ever ask for.
19:38
SPEAKER_03: My initial thoughts were I'm so glad that Texas Tech is in a high-stakes game in November.
19:45
SPEAKER_03: I like seeing Raiderville revitalized and coming up with tents everywhere, people waiting six days in advance of the game.
19:54
SPEAKER_03: You're a top 10 ranked team in the country the first week of November.
19:58
SPEAKER_03: You have playoff, college football playoff, Big 12 championship indications on the line.
20:04
SPEAKER_03: I am thrilled that we're in this position right now.
20:07
SPEAKER_03: And I'm so glad that we have put together a team that is competitive and actually has a really good chance of winning this game, not just like to play the upset, you know, not just to play the spoiler, but to actually you deserve to be here and you have the talent to be here.
20:25
SPEAKER_03: So that was my first initial thoughts was just like being thankful for where we're at right now and kind of reminiscing a little early.
20:32
SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, there's still a lot of work to do in the season, there's still a lot of stuff to talk about as we go in, but I'm just really thankful right now to be a Texas Tech fan.
20:40
SPEAKER_06: I mean, you you're you're doing the right thing.
20:42
SPEAKER_06: You're stopping, it's smelling the roses, yeah.
20:44
SPEAKER_06: You know, because it hasn't been this good in since this 2008 game we keep referring back to.
20:51
SPEAKER_06: I'm not saying there weren't decent seasons since then, but there has never not been the stakes that uh of of a game since then, especially uh like you like you mentioned in November at this time in Lubbock.
21:02
SPEAKER_06: And I let me let me kind of pile onto this feel-good thing as well.
21:05
SPEAKER_06: Not even like five years ago was the sky falling, you know, that UT and OU are leaving, and Texas Tech's future is in real jeopardy.
21:15
SPEAKER_06: Like, seriously, dire, dire straits, especially whenever you got rejected from the Pac-12 um and the ACC and all that.
21:23
SPEAKER_06: This is a Big 12 matchup.
21:25
SPEAKER_06: This is a top 10 Big 12 matchup between seven and eight uh playoff rankings uh of a Big 12 matchup.
21:34
SPEAKER_06: And it's it just comes to show we we finally were able to bring it back together, man.
21:42
SPEAKER_06: Like it's like the we are here.
21:44
SPEAKER_06: You are literally the game of the week.
21:46
SPEAKER_06: And things could not be better.
21:48
SPEAKER_06: This future could not be better right now, and the you have your destiny in your hands.
21:53
SPEAKER_06: The stake is the stakes are higher for us than they are the Cougars.
21:56
SPEAKER_06: So you really need to take this opportunity and let it rip.
22:00
SPEAKER_03: I'm very glad that this game is in Luddock, Texas, because um I would I don't know if I would say that we would win this one if it was in Provo, Utah right now, but this is a obviously a very important game.
22:14
SPEAKER_03: College game day is back.
22:15
SPEAKER_03: 17 years to the day that it came the first time.
22:19
SPEAKER_03: Kirk Herbstreet's gonna be there, Pat McAfee's gonna be there, Coach Nick Saban's gonna be there, Desmond Howard, all of these guys.
22:27
SPEAKER_03: Um, and I know we like to crap on ESPN, and especially with this YouTube TV stuff right now, it's very easy to do that.
22:33
SPEAKER_03: This is a big deal.
22:34
SPEAKER_03: It's a big deal to get college game day.
22:36
SPEAKER_03: And I'm um they've this is their second straight Big 12 stop that they're gonna be in.
22:40
SPEAKER_03: Um, Patrick Mahomes coming potentially.
22:44
SPEAKER_03: I don't know if it's like official, official, but he's going, dude.
22:48
SPEAKER_03: The Chiefs bye week, you're debuting the new Mahomes metal jersey.
22:54
SPEAKER_03: Is he the guest picker on game day?
22:56
SPEAKER_03: Is he going to invite Andy Reed, who just so happens to have gone to BYU?
23:03
SPEAKER_03: I'm excited.
23:04
SPEAKER_03: I'm so excited.
23:05
SPEAKER_03: You got so much going on.
23:06
SPEAKER_03: You got an undefeated 8-0 BYU team coming into town against an 8-1 Texas tech team.
23:12
SPEAKER_03: This is insane.
23:13
SPEAKER_06: I'm so Stephen, wives everywhere, female tech female fans everywhere are holding the breath that Travis Kelsey's coming.
23:20
SPEAKER_06: And somehow Taylor Swift makes an appearance in Lubbock.
23:25
SPEAKER_03: My wife saw one of those Instagram posts where it's just like Taylor Swift in Lubbock, Texas.
23:30
SPEAKER_03: I'm like, no, it's not happening.
23:32
SPEAKER_03: Sorry.
23:33
SPEAKER_06: No, no, no, no.
23:35
SPEAKER_06: It's not out of question, but it's not, it's not gonna happen.
23:38
SPEAKER_02: She's not coming.
23:39
SPEAKER_06: She's not doing it.
23:40
SPEAKER_06: No, but this is also part of the reason why the ESP have probably picked this game.
23:42
SPEAKER_06: Hey, it truly is game of the week.
23:44
SPEAKER_06: It really is it's the only top 10 matchup of the of the of the day, I think.
23:47
SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
23:48
SPEAKER_06: Um, and uh it's they they really have the opportunity to to to to uh host the uh probably the most famous NFL football player right now, right?
23:57
SPEAKER_06: Wouldn't you say?
23:58
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
23:58
SPEAKER_06: Um I know I know obviously their season's been so so so far, but um it you you get the most famous alum that is a football star in the at NFL, three-time Super Bowl MVP.
24:11
SPEAKER_06: Three times, yeah, three-time Super Bowl uh MVP record setter at the school um to come on and be the guest picker.
24:17
SPEAKER_06: Like that's absolutely what he's gonna be.
24:19
SPEAKER_06: He's gonna come on and be the guest picker and then talk shop with the boys.
24:22
SPEAKER_06: Like he's absolutely going to do that.
24:24
SPEAKER_06: And that's gonna be obviously a ratings machine for ESPN.
24:27
SPEAKER_06: You know, they they love that.
24:28
SPEAKER_06: Um, and but you couldn't line it up better.
24:31
SPEAKER_06: And I really I bet what they're gonna do, I bet they're gonna really play up the last time they came and all that, do a lot of stuff at the UT game rerun and all that, and uh really have a good time with it.
24:40
SPEAKER_06: I bet I bet they'll go a little harder with their production value with this game than normal, um, because it's truly not just your every run-of-the-mill SEC game that they typically go to.
24:49
SPEAKER_06: So uh there's real stakes here.
24:51
SPEAKER_06: Um, and it's the first time you're back in Lubbock.
24:53
SPEAKER_06: It's the second time you've ever been.
24:55
SPEAKER_06: So it's it's it's gonna be a big deal.
24:57
SPEAKER_03: 17 years.
24:58
SPEAKER_03: It's been it's been far too long since we've had a very important game, and especially this late in the year.
25:03
SPEAKER_03: Let's talk about the BYU Cougars.
25:05
SPEAKER_03: They're 8-0.
25:06
SPEAKER_03: Their opponents' combined record.
25:08
SPEAKER_03: You want to hear that?
25:10
SPEAKER_03: Let's hear it.
25:11
SPEAKER_03: 30 32 and 38.
25:13
SPEAKER_03: Oh, all of their opponents' combined record, a losing record.
25:16
SPEAKER_03: They have not played a strong schedule, and that is why they're an undefeated team and they're sitting at number seven in the CFP rankings and number eight in the AP rankings.
25:26
SPEAKER_03: It it's not their fault that West Virginia stinks, that Arizona stinks, that Colorado stinks.
25:32
SPEAKER_03: It's not their fault.
25:34
SPEAKER_03: Their best win is a good win.
25:36
SPEAKER_03: They beat Utah in Provo, in Provo, in the Holy War.
25:41
SPEAKER_03: It's a good win.
25:42
SPEAKER_03: That's their only notable win.
25:44
SPEAKER_03: Their non-conference schedule, much like Texas Tex, was very poor, very bad.
25:49
SPEAKER_03: They played Stanford, they played like Cal Poly, and they played like Portland State or something.
25:54
SPEAKER_03: So it was bad.
25:56
SPEAKER_03: This team is resilient and they win on the road.
26:00
SPEAKER_03: Despite not having the strongest opponents, they beat Iowa State in Ames, they beat Arizona in Tucson, they beat Colorado in Boulder.
26:08
SPEAKER_03: So to me, yeah, they're not like the it's not the strongest thing on paper, but it is tough to win those games on the road, especially early on when people still have hope and everything, like the Colorado win, like the Arizona win.
26:20
SPEAKER_03: So this BYU team to me is just like they just find a way to continually get it done.
26:28
SPEAKER_03: And that's notable because that kind of mindset is going to keep them in games like this.
26:34
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, and I mean, winning games is hard, dude.
26:37
SPEAKER_06: Winning winning football games, especially on the road, like you said, is is freaking hard.
26:41
SPEAKER_06: Um, and but I I do like that you brought up that look, their schedule hasn't been the strongest.
26:46
SPEAKER_06: Like you, I mean it's probably much weaker than Texas Tex, and people have been on our butts about not having the strongest schedule.
26:53
SPEAKER_06: I mean, looking back now, it's it's actually quite strong.
26:56
SPEAKER_03: But the Big 12 one is strong.
26:59
SPEAKER_03: Non-combat still stands.
27:00
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I I I do I do think that they're kind of getting away with games, though.
27:06
SPEAKER_06: I I I do think that, you know, like you said, they're finding a way, but you don't want to be finding a way against a Colorado or a Arizona.
27:17
SPEAKER_06: You know, you you want to dominate that game.
27:20
SPEAKER_03: Two overtimes in the Arizona game, by the way.
27:24
SPEAKER_06: So that shows me that yes, you are finding a way.
27:27
SPEAKER_06: Your players are tough and your coaches are making the right calls to get to come out with a W, and that's all you can ask for ultimately.
27:33
SPEAKER_06: But what that tells me is they are struggling with teams that are either of equal or less talent as them.
27:43
SPEAKER_06: So that leads me to believe that once they enter the Lubbock Jones nightmare environment, plus this NFL stacked roster team, that they are gonna become overwhelmed, that they won't be able to find a way.
28:00
SPEAKER_06: And that's no knock on them.
28:01
SPEAKER_06: They're what they've done is incredibly impressive, and we'll probably see them in the playoffs, possibly in Arlington again.
28:05
SPEAKER_06: Like that's actually more likely than anything if we if we win this.
28:09
SPEAKER_06: But I I just don't know if BYU has the juice to come out on top in this Lubbock environment.
28:18
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's a lot to ask for.
28:20
SPEAKER_03: I mean, you you're going to get the most wild Texas Tech crowd that you've had since 2008, and there's been some really good ones.
28:27
SPEAKER_03: I mean, we were there earlier this year for the Kansas game, night game.
28:30
SPEAKER_03: It was electric.
28:32
SPEAKER_03: Having this is going to be a different level.
28:34
SPEAKER_03: You have people count camping out since Sunday evening uh for six days ahead of the game that are sitting out sleeping in tents getting ready to be the first students in there.
28:45
SPEAKER_03: You're getting national media from all over that's coming in for this game.
28:49
SPEAKER_03: You're getting people that are spending thousands, hundreds and thousands of dollars to go to this game.
28:55
SPEAKER_03: It's it this type of environment they're they have not faced.
28:59
SPEAKER_03: And the one opponent that you know really could have given them this environment was Utah, but it was in Provo.
29:06
SPEAKER_03: So you got your home crowd behind you.
29:08
SPEAKER_03: This is going to this is gonna be a whole different level for them.
29:11
SPEAKER_03: But I tell you what, man, this Bachmeyer kid, I freaking love him.
29:16
SPEAKER_03: Like he I hate that he wears number 47.
29:20
SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna I'm gonna be the old man on that take and and go along with that.
29:25
SPEAKER_03: But this dude is a bowling ball out there.
29:28
SPEAKER_03: He is the toughest quarterback to take down after Sam Levitt that tech is gonna face this year.
29:33
SPEAKER_03: Uh, he just finds a way to get out of trouble every single time, and it's normally with his legs.
29:40
SPEAKER_03: I don't know how he does it, I don't know how he just bounces off defenders like nobody's business.
29:46
SPEAKER_03: I don't know how he always makes the right play in the toughest moments, but he does, and he deserves a lot of credit for doing that, and he's a freaking true freshman.
29:55
SPEAKER_03: Like, I'm so impressed with this guy.
29:59
SPEAKER_03: His stats are not gonna pop out to you.
30:01
SPEAKER_03: You're not gonna look at him and be like, that is the best quarterback in the Big 12, but you are gonna look at him and he just makes the right play, and he's gonna be a guy at BYU for the next three, four years that you're just gonna absolutely hate playing every single time.
30:14
SPEAKER_06: Dude, when it covers the quarterbacks, I feel like he's kind of the talk of the Big 12 this season, like the surprise at least.
30:21
SPEAKER_06: Um, because just have a young man, like you said, a freshman go out there and doing what he's doing, it's very impressive, it's incredibly impressive.
30:28
SPEAKER_06: Um, and like you said, Sam Levitt did a great job of burning us with his legs.
30:32
SPEAKER_06: Um, and that's really where we kept getting crushed, you know, wherever you make at least extending plays, not necessarily rushing plays.
30:39
SPEAKER_06: Um and I but he's probably not Sam's level yet.
30:45
SPEAKER_06: So it's Sam's probably the best quarterback you faced all year and will face.
30:50
SPEAKER_03: 100%, 100%.
30:51
SPEAKER_06: So he's probably the best in the quarter quarterback in the in the conference.
30:54
SPEAKER_03: I will say Bachmeyer's the second toughest quarterback that you've had to like that that's just difficult to take down.
31:00
SPEAKER_03: Sam Levitt is the first, but Bachmeyer's gonna be number two.
31:04
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, but I I I have faith in our rushing attack to be able to, you know, get him off his game.
31:10
SPEAKER_06: He might get some here and there.
31:12
SPEAKER_06: I'm not expecting to shut out here, and I'm not expecting him not to uh put out do an impressive game.
31:17
SPEAKER_06: But kind of how we're gonna keep running back to this, much how they haven't seen a stadium or environment like this.
31:24
SPEAKER_06: No, they have not seen a D-line like this.
31:28
SPEAKER_06: So, I mean, this is one of the best D lines in the country, maybe the best.
31:32
SPEAKER_06: So um, it's funny, uh Dave Campbell's Texas football, uh, one of their uh one of their uh lead writers keeps referring to the Texas Tech D line as the monsters of college football.
31:43
SPEAKER_06: Like that they're just freak human beings on that line.
31:46
SPEAKER_06: And I think the young man has got a lot of work cut out for him.
31:49
SPEAKER_06: If he can best them, that's incredibly impressive.
31:52
SPEAKER_06: Hats off to him.
31:53
SPEAKER_06: Hiya, stay mad.
31:55
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, absolutely.
31:56
SPEAKER_03: I mean, the best probably defensive pass for us they've played is Utah.
32:00
SPEAKER_03: And Utah's, you know, they got some guys.
32:02
SPEAKER_03: John Henry Daly's a dude on the outside there.
32:05
SPEAKER_03: Uh he's he's also one of the leaders in sacks on the year for the Big 12, and I think for FBS as a whole, and they've managed to find a way to get past them.
32:13
SPEAKER_03: They have not played Texas Tech, they have not played uh not just David Bailey, who's leading the entire country in sacks, but Ramelo Hyde on the outside.
32:23
SPEAKER_03: And then, hey, here's AJ Holmes and Lee Hunter coming at you from the middle and just absolutely abusing other interior linemen.
32:31
SPEAKER_03: Oh, and then by the way, you got Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts and John Curry right there, right behind him.
32:37
SPEAKER_03: So good luck making a decision quickly uh here.
32:42
SPEAKER_03: And he's gonna, uh, you know, him being as young as he is and and he's been successful on the ground, he's going to rely on his legs a lot.
32:49
SPEAKER_03: We did a really great job further on into the game with Avery Johnson and even with Sam Levitt.
32:54
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, Sam Levitt just made some extra plays there um at the very end, but we did a really, really good job of containing Avery Johnson in that second half.
33:02
SPEAKER_03: And uh I, you know, he's gonna have to rely on his legs because that arm, I just don't know if he's got it.
33:07
SPEAKER_06: If you could if you could contain Avery Johnson on the road, I think you're pretty set on expecting your defense to handle a mobile quarterback, at least moving the ball downfield with his legs rather than his arm.
33:19
SPEAKER_06: Um, so uh again, like if if this guy is the most dangerous dude we're worried about on the offense, I do feel pretty good about our chances.
33:27
SPEAKER_06: I mean, I already feel good about our chances, and so does Vegas, but I I I just think that we can we were able we're able to say that our talent level is just so much higher, especially on that in on that side of the ball.
33:40
SPEAKER_06: So I I I just think this is gonna be a story of a young kid versus a veteran line.
33:44
SPEAKER_06: And I hope it is.
33:46
SPEAKER_03: Yep, they are getting uh BYU does have the leading rusher in the Big 12 right now in LJ Martin, who is confirmed going to play this game.
33:54
SPEAKER_03: He came, he went out in the Iowa State game with a little bit of a shoulder injury, only ran the ball five times and was out for the majority of that game.
34:01
SPEAKER_03: But um, he will be back.
34:03
SPEAKER_03: Uh, I just don't know if he has a great day against this Texas Tech run defense, which is the best in the Big 12 and one of the best in the country right now.
34:11
SPEAKER_03: Um, so that'll be an interesting matchup to see if LJ Martin can you know sneak away for a few.
34:16
SPEAKER_03: Uh, but we've managed to pretty much stop in the tracks every good Big 12 running back that we face so far.
34:23
SPEAKER_03: So um I don't have really a lot of concern about even LJ Martin, who is the leading rusher in the Big 12.
34:29
SPEAKER_03: But um they have a couple explosive receivers, Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston are our guys to watch out for um on the outside and interior uh receiving unit there.
34:38
SPEAKER_03: They just make plays.
34:39
SPEAKER_03: Uh Chase Roberts is a really good, really good player.
34:42
SPEAKER_03: Um, always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
34:44
SPEAKER_03: Parker Kingston, kind of like a a Cole Beasley type, you know, he just looks like a short uh white guy with the long hair.
34:51
SPEAKER_03: And um, yeah, it it'll be interesting to see how their offense matches up.
34:55
SPEAKER_03: I don't think they're gonna have a great day.
34:57
SPEAKER_03: What's going to be interesting is how Tech's offense faces up against their defense because they do have a strong defense.
35:03
SPEAKER_03: You're gonna probably have a low-scoring game.
35:05
SPEAKER_03: We really need Baron Morton to be on point here, and uh and I'm not super confident in that part right now.
35:12
SPEAKER_06: Really?
35:13
SPEAKER_06: You don't you don't feel super confident about Baron Morton, you know, captaining the ship at home in a quiet stadium?
35:20
SPEAKER_03: I just don't know if I'm ever super confident in Barron Morton.
35:24
SPEAKER_03: I don't like it's not like I think he's a bad quarterback or anything.
35:27
SPEAKER_03: I just think that he's not the most reliable guy.
35:30
SPEAKER_03: We've seen his ups and downs his entire career at Texas Tech.
35:33
SPEAKER_03: A lot of it's been injury-based, but even when he's been in in big moments, he hasn't had good games sometimes.
35:39
SPEAKER_03: I mean, you know, he dropped the ball last year against Baylor.
35:41
SPEAKER_03: He just had the worst game you could have possibly imagined against Washington State.
35:45
SPEAKER_03: We've seen him struggle.
35:47
SPEAKER_03: So I I just I don't quite know.
35:50
SPEAKER_03: I I don't I you know, I don't want to say he's gonna have a bad game, but I don't know if he's going to have a good game.
35:56
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I mean that that's fair.
35:57
SPEAKER_06: That's fair.
35:58
SPEAKER_06: I mean, if you're nervous about eating side of the ball, it's offense.
36:01
SPEAKER_06: And that's that's just a classic Texas Tech saying around here, you know, if you're worried about one side of the ball, it's always the offense, right?
36:09
SPEAKER_06: Um, but um I I wanted to ask you a question.
36:14
SPEAKER_06: I I hope I'm not kind of like skipping over uh your next train of thought here with this.
36:18
SPEAKER_06: But so you bring up Barry Morton, his reliability in this game.
36:22
SPEAKER_06: Do you and I want this kind of start from him and extend to the rest of the team.
36:28
SPEAKER_06: Do you think he realizes the moment and do you think he's up for it?
36:33
SPEAKER_03: Uh yeah.
36:34
SPEAKER_03: I mean, this is where having a fifth-year quarterback really helps you.
36:39
SPEAKER_03: And and I know Baron, he's played in some big games, he hasn't played in this level of game before.
36:46
SPEAKER_03: Um, but this is where I I do feel I'm confident in his head and where he's at.
36:52
SPEAKER_03: I'm confident in uh, you know, how he is as a person, his demeanor.
36:57
SPEAKER_03: I don't think he's afraid of the moment.
36:59
SPEAKER_03: What I do get a little spooked of is when he starts to get rushed and you know he's potentially thinking about injury, or maybe he gets injured.
37:08
SPEAKER_03: I just don't know.
37:09
SPEAKER_03: What what I am what I will say is that probably the biggest thing to watch out for.
37:15
SPEAKER_03: I know this Texas Tech offensive line has been frustrating as far as penalties go, drive killers, all that good stuff.
37:22
SPEAKER_03: By PFF standards, you have a top 10 offensive line in the country right now.
37:27
SPEAKER_03: You have your top 10 in offensive line uh pass block grade, your top 10 in pressure rate allowed.
37:33
SPEAKER_03: When your offensive line is not committing penalties, they're phenomenal.
37:38
SPEAKER_03: So we just need them to not commit penalties.
37:41
SPEAKER_03: And hey, we're at home.
37:43
SPEAKER_03: We're not facing, you know, we're not having to do this this snap count thing, the silent count.
37:48
SPEAKER_03: We're not having to do any of that, deal with any of that right now.
37:50
SPEAKER_03: It's gonna be a loud stadium, but not when you're on offense, you know.
37:54
SPEAKER_03: So this is that's why I have a lot more confidence in both protection of Barron Morton and us being more disciplined on the offensive line.
38:02
SPEAKER_03: But that's gonna be the matchup, is is the offensive line versus BYU's pass rush because their pass rush is okay.
38:09
SPEAKER_03: You know, it's not insane, it's not incredible.
38:12
SPEAKER_03: So Barron should have time to throw.
38:14
SPEAKER_03: He's just got to find his guys.
38:16
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I just the pressure has to be through the roof, like the what they're feeling in their in their heads right now.
38:21
SPEAKER_06: And not even just the players, like the coaching staff.
38:23
SPEAKER_06: Like they have to know what time it is, you know, and you have the moment to secure one of the biggest wins in school history uh right right here on Saturday and really set up a trig a trajectory, not only just for the season, but moving forward of what Texas Tech is capable of doing and sticking around and being someone that's constantly in that conversation.
38:44
SPEAKER_06: So I I I just I really hope that mentally the guys are there.
38:50
SPEAKER_06: And BYU is gonna be going through the same thing too.
38:53
SPEAKER_06: So they're they're they're they're talking about the same things in their locker room as well, that this is a huge moment for the team for the program.
38:59
SPEAKER_06: Um, and you just know that the cholesterol in both of these locker rooms is just off the scale.
39:06
SPEAKER_06: So I I just hope that we have the cooler heads.
39:09
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and you know, this is where having a veteran team really comes in uh clutch for you as Texas Tech, where having guys like Cole Wisnesky, having Lee Hunter, having Romelo Hyde, David Bailey, guys that have been in college football for a long time, Baron Morton, guys that have been in college football for a long time, understand the moment, know the moment, are ready for the moment, and just understand that this is it's time and play your game because the talent level on this team, you can beat this BYU Cougar team.
39:41
SPEAKER_03: You know, if you're just looking on paper, you should beat them.
39:44
SPEAKER_03: Obviously, football is uh that's why you play the games, they say.
39:47
SPEAKER_03: So we'll see.
39:49
SPEAKER_03: I'm uh I'm I'm confident in this team.
39:51
SPEAKER_03: I'm confident in how they're gonna perform at home in Lubbock, Texas, uh, on one of the biggest nights that we've had in a long, long time.
39:59
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, dude.
39:59
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely, man.
40:00
SPEAKER_06: I I can't wait, dude.
40:01
SPEAKER_06: I'm actually really excited.
40:02
SPEAKER_06: I'm not nervous.
40:03
SPEAKER_06: I just I'm I'm ready for Saturday to get here um and and watch the show, dude.
40:08
SPEAKER_06: I I'm really excited, dude.
40:09
SPEAKER_06: I I think the boys will get it done.
40:10
SPEAKER_06: And I I really I think it's gonna be by a couple scores as well.
40:14
SPEAKER_06: Like, I really think that we're going to control this game.
40:16
SPEAKER_06: The crowd's gonna and the crowd in our defense is just not gonna let BYE get into it.
40:21
SPEAKER_06: And I'm not saying it's gonna be a blowout by any means, but I really just think that TechStech's gonna dominate and TechStech's gonna send a statement.
40:29
SPEAKER_03: I'm ready.
40:29
SPEAKER_03: I'm ready to watch this game.
40:31
SPEAKER_03: I'm heading up to your place.
40:33
SPEAKER_03: We're gonna watch it together.
40:34
SPEAKER_06: We're gonna make a long drive.
40:35
SPEAKER_03: The long, long drive to Kerr Vegas to the whole country one hour.
40:40
SPEAKER_03: Yes, it's crazy.
40:42
SPEAKER_03: Um very excited.
40:44
SPEAKER_03: We'll be watching game day from 8 a.m.
40:46
SPEAKER_03: on uh because you have Hulu.
40:49
SPEAKER_03: Yes, so we actually get to watch ESPN broadcasts.
40:52
SPEAKER_03: Hooray.
40:53
SPEAKER_06: My wallet doesn't love Hulu, but no one's wallet's like any sort of TV right now.
40:58
SPEAKER_06: It's all absurd.
41:00
SPEAKER_03: All of streaming is insane, it continues to be insane.
41:03
SPEAKER_03: Any final thoughts on what is probably the biggest game in tech history since 2008?
41:10
SPEAKER_06: Tristan has been begging for the BYU Cougars to be in the Big 12 for a very, very, very, very long time for at least what 15 years.
41:18
SPEAKER_06: So, like, uh this is perfect.
41:20
SPEAKER_06: This is my destiny.
41:22
SPEAKER_06: So we we we we need red the Red Raiders get out there and just get it done, dude.
41:27
SPEAKER_06: Uh it's been so fun being a tech fan.
41:29
SPEAKER_06: We have a top 10 football team, top 10 basketball team.
41:31
SPEAKER_06: It's fun wearing your tech gear out in public because people are like, oh hey, the Red Raiders, and you're like, Yeah, dude, the Red Raiders.
41:37
SPEAKER_06: And like we're all like, this is the first time this has ever happened in my life.
41:43
SPEAKER_03: We're that everybody's just like heck of a season.
41:45
SPEAKER_03: You're like, heck yeah, it's a heck of a season.
41:47
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it is.
41:48
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it is.
41:49
SPEAKER_03: That was a great transition.
41:51
SPEAKER_03: We do have a top 10 football team, we also have a top 10 basketball team who started their season yesterday, which what's today?
41:58
SPEAKER_03: Wednesday started on Tuesday.
42:01
SPEAKER_03: Everybody's hurt, everybody's hurt.
42:04
SPEAKER_06: How's that happened?
42:05
SPEAKER_03: Everybody's hurt it.
42:08
SPEAKER_03: Everybody's heard.
42:08
SPEAKER_03: Um beautiful.
42:10
SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
42:11
SPEAKER_03: Three starters.
42:13
SPEAKER_03: You did have three starters.
42:14
SPEAKER_03: Now, listen, you played the mighty Lyndon Wood Lions.
42:18
SPEAKER_03: Tough team.
42:19
SPEAKER_06: Of what state?
42:21
SPEAKER_03: Missouri.
42:22
SPEAKER_03: Missouri.
42:23
SPEAKER_03: Missouri.
42:24
SPEAKER_03: Um JT Toppin didn't play, Lawan Watts didn't play, Luke Bamboye didn't play, Josiah Mosley did not play.
42:34
SPEAKER_03: That's three projected starters and one six-man, seventh man off the bench.
42:40
SPEAKER_03: Uh, you had no size.
42:42
SPEAKER_03: I I still know how to say his name.
42:44
SPEAKER_03: Mariel Quintock, I think is how you say his name.
42:48
SPEAKER_03: He started for you at center.
42:50
SPEAKER_03: Um you won by 38 points.
42:54
SPEAKER_03: Christian Anderson is an all-American.
42:57
SPEAKER_06: My god, dude.
42:58
SPEAKER_06: Holy cow.
42:59
SPEAKER_06: Do you have two all-Americans on your team?
43:02
SPEAKER_03: 34 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists, four steals for Christian Anderson.
43:12
SPEAKER_03: See, the alarm went off because they knew that it's Christian Anderson time.
43:17
SPEAKER_03: Unbelievable.
43:18
SPEAKER_03: I mean, I knew he was, and we all kind of knew that he was going to take that next step and be a guy this year.
43:24
SPEAKER_03: Uh he started off with a bang, I'd say.
43:27
SPEAKER_06: Dude, yeah, absolutely, man.
43:29
SPEAKER_06: He he took he took this game and you crushed Lindenwood.
43:32
SPEAKER_06: Look, we don't need to, we're not we're not here saying that this was uh this was Team USA.
43:37
SPEAKER_03: We respect Lyndon Wood.
43:39
SPEAKER_06: We you we respect Lyndonwood on this podcast.
43:42
SPEAKER_06: And dude, he he just turned it on and Lyndon Wood had no chance.
43:46
SPEAKER_06: The Lions were just crying in a corner because Christian Anderson was doing whatever he wanted.
43:51
SPEAKER_06: And dude, I I love that you said that.
43:53
SPEAKER_06: And you you said all American with gusto.
43:55
SPEAKER_06: Are you serious?
43:57
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, shit.
43:58
SPEAKER_06: You start NBA players?
44:00
SPEAKER_03: This is the best statistical start in a long, long time for a lot of players.
44:04
SPEAKER_03: No, college players don't get 34, 7, 11, and four steals.
44:09
SPEAKER_03: They don't do that in a 40-minute game.
44:10
SPEAKER_03: And Christian Anderson did it.
44:13
SPEAKER_06: Or like regardless of competition, I suppose.
44:15
SPEAKER_03: I mean, yeah, regardless of competition.
44:17
SPEAKER_03: He absolutely he played with the the fourth string guys this game.
44:22
SPEAKER_03: Like, yes, the our fourth string is better than probably their first string.
44:25
SPEAKER_03: I understand.
44:26
SPEAKER_03: But we had a start, we had a starting lineup.
44:30
SPEAKER_03: Let me let me let me just read this off for you because nobody ever nobody expected the starting lineup to ever play.
44:38
SPEAKER_03: Nobody expected this lineup to share the floor together this year.
44:41
SPEAKER_03: You started Mariel Aquintock, Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell, Tyree Bryan, and Nolan Groves, who, by the way, is Dennis Rodman, apparently.
44:54
SPEAKER_03: 16 boards, the most by a true freshman ever in tech history, and he's six foot five, and he's a true freshman guard from Minnesota.
45:03
SPEAKER_03: Nothing made sense about what was going on on Texas Tech side of the floor.
45:08
SPEAKER_03: And he won by 38 because you have Christian Anderson on your team.
45:10
SPEAKER_06: Just an incredible outing, dude.
45:12
SPEAKER_06: And obviously, we're just happy to see basketball back.
45:14
SPEAKER_06: It's so weird because usually at this time of the year, we're pretty excited for basketball to be here because we're kind of abandoning football.
45:20
SPEAKER_06: You know, the season was okay or disappointing, and we're just kind of happy basketball was there.
45:24
SPEAKER_06: Um, and like you like we stated, we have two top 10 programs.
45:27
SPEAKER_06: And in the basketball, dude, they wasted no time impressing, you know.
45:31
SPEAKER_06: Like, sure, they Lyndon Wood was in it for like two seconds, but they were never in it.
45:35
SPEAKER_06: Like it it Tex Tech lifted off and just put them into the gutter.
45:40
SPEAKER_06: You scored nearly a hundred points without your star players, just an incredible outing.
45:44
SPEAKER_06: And can I ask a quick question since you're Mr.
45:46
SPEAKER_06: Basketball technical man?
45:48
SPEAKER_06: Um, you bring you brought up uh Groves, who's a true freshman.
45:52
SPEAKER_06: How many games can a player play with the uh without burning a redshirt?
45:55
SPEAKER_03: Oh uh that the basketball thing is weird.
45:58
SPEAKER_03: I don't think you can play any games if you're really basketball.
46:01
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I don't I don't know for sure though on the rules there.
46:05
SPEAKER_03: I know for football they have different stuff.
46:07
SPEAKER_03: I don't think for basketball you can play any games.
46:09
SPEAKER_03: Football's four.
46:11
SPEAKER_03: There was the reason.
46:12
SPEAKER_03: No, it's four in football.
46:13
SPEAKER_03: That's what I said.
46:14
SPEAKER_03: You can play it, you can play four regular season games and postseason uh and maintain your redshirt for basketball.
46:20
SPEAKER_03: I don't think you can play any, and that was the reason you didn't see Latrell Hoover, who is a true freshman as well, but they want to redshirt, and Graham McCastlin said that in the post-game presser.
46:30
SPEAKER_03: That's why you didn't see him because we're trying to redshirt him.
46:33
SPEAKER_03: So I I don't think you can play at all.
46:35
SPEAKER_03: And I don't think Nolan Groves was expected to redshirt this year.
46:39
SPEAKER_03: Like I think he was actually gonna play some minutes for you.
46:42
SPEAKER_03: I he wasn't expected to start or play however many minutes he did against Lindenwood, but you know, you're kind of dealing with um all sorts of injuries, which I think everybody has a lower leg injury, all four of the guys that sat out.
46:55
SPEAKER_03: I don't know what the DR.
46:56
SPEAKER_06: Training too hard, dude.
46:57
SPEAKER_03: I don't know what's going on.
46:58
SPEAKER_03: I don't know what Grant and that and that team has going in the off-season uh workout regimen, but hey, maybe give these guys a little bit of a break before you start playing.
47:07
SPEAKER_03: But I don't know.
47:08
SPEAKER_03: I think this was kind of a one-off because uh Grant mentioned that JT played in both of the preseason scrimmages that they had these secret scrimmages that these college uh basketball teams play.
47:20
SPEAKER_03: So I think this was kind of a last-minute thing that he's kind of dealing with, a little nagging injury, and they're probably being pretty cautious with these guys.
47:27
SPEAKER_03: It's a long season.
47:28
SPEAKER_03: You play 30-something games, you know, it's it's it's you know, I I'm fine with sitting guys against Lindenwood, and you do have a tough non-conference slate coming up, so you'd rather have those guys sit maybe potentially for a Lindenwood Sam Houston and then play against Illinois.
47:45
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, like like you kind of just touched on it there, you know, the next game up is Sam Houston.
47:50
SPEAKER_06: Um I I I don't fear the the the Sam Houston skates, but we respect the Bearcats on this podcast.
47:59
SPEAKER_06: We don't fear them, but we respect them.
48:01
SPEAKER_03: We respect the Sam Houston skate bearcats.
48:04
SPEAKER_03: Can I talk a little bit about Illinois?
48:06
SPEAKER_03: Because we're probably not gonna talk about next Tuesday.
48:10
SPEAKER_03: The Terrence Shannons, the the Terrence Shannon bowl.
48:15
SPEAKER_03: Uh Illinois has the weirdest roster in the country.
48:22
SPEAKER_03: They went to Europe and they got every Slavic player of all time.
48:29
SPEAKER_06: Very Midwest of them.
48:30
SPEAKER_06: I'm not gonna lie.
48:31
SPEAKER_03: Very Midwest of the Illinois fighting a lion eye here.
48:35
SPEAKER_03: Um six straight NCAA tournament appearances under Brad Underwood, who formerly was at Oklahoma State, then took the Illinois job and has been absolutely fantastic there.
48:46
SPEAKER_03: They beat Jackson State by a million.
48:49
SPEAKER_03: There's not a lot to talk about for their first game of the season, much like there's not a lot to talk about for Texas Tech's first game of the season.
48:55
SPEAKER_03: Um let me just name it, let me just talk about this real quick.
48:59
SPEAKER_03: Mikhailo Petrovic, David Murkovich, and then the Avisic brothers.
49:05
SPEAKER_03: These are four very key important players that they got from the Adriatic League.
49:12
SPEAKER_03: They played professional in the Adriatic League, all four of these guys, and they have since come over to play for college basketball in the States for the University of Illinois.
49:22
SPEAKER_03: They also have Andrei Stoyakovic, who is Pejja Stoyakovic's son.
49:28
SPEAKER_03: You may not know him.
49:29
SPEAKER_03: Dallas Mavericks fans know him as Peja Stoyakovic, third in MVP voting in 2004, 2005 NBA season for the Sacramento Kings.
49:40
SPEAKER_03: Page was a baller.
49:42
SPEAKER_03: This kid's a baller as well.
49:44
SPEAKER_03: He was uh he's transferred, he was at Stanford first, transferred to Cal last year, had a great season with Cal, averaged almost 18 points a game for them.
49:53
SPEAKER_03: Now is at Illinois.
49:54
SPEAKER_03: He's a he was one of the top transfers in the entire portal last year.
49:58
SPEAKER_03: This team is really good.
49:59
SPEAKER_03: They're number 17 preseason.
50:01
SPEAKER_03: They're better than that.
50:03
SPEAKER_03: They're they're really, really good.
50:04
SPEAKER_03: They have an older team, they have guys that have played against grown men in the Adriatic League.
50:10
SPEAKER_03: They are uh a team to fear, I will say.
50:13
SPEAKER_03: And this is not going to be an easy one, especially because you're playing in Champaign.
50:17
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I was about to say, dude, that this sounds like a really tricky matchup to have game three.
50:21
SPEAKER_06: Uh a ranked team that's uh that is known for their basketball prowess on the road.
50:27
SPEAKER_06: So you're going up there in Big Ten country and trying to steal one, dude.
50:31
SPEAKER_06: How do you feel about it?
50:33
SPEAKER_03: Well, you're not gonna win if you don't have JT Toppin, Lewan Watts, Luke Bamboye, and and Josiah Mosley, I can tell you that much.
50:41
SPEAKER_03: You might be able to beat them if you have JT Toppin and Lewan Watts, but uh you you're gonna need more than Christian Anderson for this one because this team is deep.
50:49
SPEAKER_03: They go a good seven, eight deep.
50:51
SPEAKER_03: Now, Steakovich didn't play in the first game of the season, he's dealing with some injuries, as is uh Petrovich and a few other guys on their team, but uh they just they're they have a really strong squad and they're big.
51:02
SPEAKER_03: I mean, the V.
51:03
SPEAKER_03: Sieg brothers, uh Tomislav V.
51:07
SPEAKER_03: Of course, is the starter, seven foot-one, junior, really good player, has been on the team for a while.
51:13
SPEAKER_03: Uh, and then his younger brother, Zvanomir, is uh is a freshman who is seven foot two.
51:21
SPEAKER_03: So you got some size on this team.
51:23
SPEAKER_03: Obviously, Texas Deck with the lineup that they put out there against Lyndonwood is going to absolutely struggle with size, uh, considering you played one big.
51:32
SPEAKER_03: So uh we'll just have to see who's on the floor for this one.
51:35
SPEAKER_03: But um, I'm excited.
51:37
SPEAKER_03: I'm glad that we're playing tough teams in the non-conference.
51:40
SPEAKER_03: Even if we drop this one, it's a good uh indicator of where your team's at and what you need to get better at.
51:46
SPEAKER_03: So that's why you play good teams in the non-conference.
51:48
SPEAKER_06: Are you thinking it could be favored?
51:49
SPEAKER_03: Illinois will be favored.
51:51
SPEAKER_06: I think so.
51:52
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, especially and we'll have to see the injury report because if JT plays, I mean that just changes everything.
51:57
SPEAKER_03: So uh, you know, it's not often you get Big 12 player of the year coming back.
52:01
SPEAKER_06: Are you leaning one way or another of if he's playing or not?
52:04
SPEAKER_03: I have no idea.
52:05
SPEAKER_03: I have no idea.
52:06
SPEAKER_03: I don't think Grant has any idea, to be honest.
52:08
SPEAKER_03: Uh and he probably has a better idea than any of us do, or or what he says in the press conference.
52:14
SPEAKER_06: But he benched against uh state, dude.
52:17
SPEAKER_06: Against Amy's state.
52:19
SPEAKER_03: I mean, you uh but you know, there's hit or miss to that because you kind of want him to get at least one ramp up game.
52:24
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you know, get one game to get everybody kind of uh merged and molded, and this is the very beginning of the season.
52:31
SPEAKER_03: This team right now, or this team in two games, is not gonna be the final product of this team.
52:36
SPEAKER_03: Grant McCasslin's teams, especially, have gotten better as the season has gone on, they've gotten more cohesive, and that's what makes him a great coach.
52:44
SPEAKER_03: So we're gonna have to see.
52:47
SPEAKER_06: Dude, it it's crazy how you go and do that insane game, and then you host Milwaukee at home.
52:52
SPEAKER_06: We respect the Panthers, but um but then what scares me after you get back from the Bahamas is you host the conquerors of New Orleans who win pants the frogs who beat Jamie Dixon, New Orleans, New Orleans is a is a university, apparently.
53:15
SPEAKER_02: Unbelievable.
53:16
SPEAKER_06: So I we gotta be prepped for that.
53:18
SPEAKER_06: Champagne that that trip to champagne is really just a rev-up for the uh the privateers.
53:23
SPEAKER_03: So oh, I love college basketball.
53:25
SPEAKER_03: College basketball is the dumbest sport in the world, it's the best.
53:29
SPEAKER_03: I love it so much.
53:31
SPEAKER_03: There was there was a women's game where this poor team, half the team.
53:35
SPEAKER_03: Do you see that?
53:36
SPEAKER_03: Half the team was out with the flu.
53:38
SPEAKER_03: They were losing 72-nothing in a college college game.
53:43
SPEAKER_03: I love college basketball, it's so stupid.
53:47
SPEAKER_06: It's it really is the dumbest sport, but like there's there's really nothing.
53:50
SPEAKER_06: I'm gonna use quotation marks whenever I say the word, you'll know what word I'm talking about.
53:54
SPEAKER_06: It is it perfectly captures amateurism, yep, you know, because there's like there's nothing professional about most of the madness, you know, like is there's no consist real consistency, and you know, you have New Orleans upsetting a power team, you know, so it's just like I I love this stupid sport just from the madness of it.
54:15
SPEAKER_03: It's the best, it's still the most true to what college sports needs to be, absolutely, which is stupid, dumb, hilarious, full of trash talk.
54:26
SPEAKER_03: I I love college basketball.
54:28
SPEAKER_03: I'm glad it's back.
54:28
SPEAKER_03: We're obviously we're locked in on football, but college basketball, man, there's there's not a lot that beats it.
54:33
SPEAKER_06: So 100%.
54:35
SPEAKER_03: Very excited.
54:36
SPEAKER_03: All right, man.
54:37
SPEAKER_03: This has been fun.
54:38
SPEAKER_03: I want to give one more thing before we get to the song of the week.
54:41
SPEAKER_03: Texas Tech got the number one quarterback in the 2027 class committed during the game against Kansas State, KV and Bryant.
54:50
SPEAKER_03: Um, and I Joey just continues.
54:53
SPEAKER_03: Joey and James Blanchard just continue to do their thing.
54:55
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely, dude.
54:56
SPEAKER_06: And I really hope he doesn't drop in rank because he committed to us.
54:59
SPEAKER_06: But I he what just an incredible output, dude, of this recruiting trail that they're on, man.
55:04
SPEAKER_06: And it just shows that not only we're looking for success now, we're looking for success down the road, especially whenever you're tearing it up in the high school uh ranks, because you know, you the the tran hitting transfer portals like we are is great.
55:15
SPEAKER_06: I hope we keep trying to do that, but I hope we I don't know if we can really rely on that over and over and over again.
55:20
SPEAKER_06: So I I think that the building up this foundation from high school is ideal.
55:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we also talk about who's on some of the most important players on this year's team, Jacob Rodriguez, Baron Morton.
55:32
SPEAKER_03: They were not transfers.
55:34
SPEAKER_03: Well, Jacob J.
55:35
SPEAKER_03: Rod was, but very early on in his career, he was a transfer walk-on, so you can't really count that.
55:40
SPEAKER_03: Um it built built in your program.
55:42
SPEAKER_03: So obviously, uh, you know, these high school guys that are coming in with all the talent in the world.
55:47
SPEAKER_03: Um, also Ledamian Guyden coming in, reclassifying 2026, coming in next year as a pass rush.
55:53
SPEAKER_03: Uh, we're hosting more guys for this VYU game.
55:56
SPEAKER_03: The recruiting continues to flow, and and the better tech does, the better you're gonna do with it.
56:00
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, dude.
56:01
SPEAKER_06: And last thought on football, for the first time in school history, you're ranked in the playoff rankings.
56:07
SPEAKER_06: Um for the first time.
56:08
SPEAKER_06: We're the last Big 12 team that had not done so.
56:10
SPEAKER_06: And that's that hurts a little bit, but it that got shattered because you're you're in the bracket for your first time.
56:17
SPEAKER_06: So I think it we can just forget all about the times we weren't.
56:21
SPEAKER_03: Big game this week.
56:22
SPEAKER_03: Everybody enjoy against BYU.
56:24
SPEAKER_03: Enjoy Texas Tech being in a great game that matters this late in the year.
56:30
SPEAKER_03: All right, Tristan, song of the week.
56:33
SPEAKER_03: Go ahead.
56:34
SPEAKER_06: Steven, I'm going back to 2008, dude.
56:36
SPEAKER_06: I had to go back and find some sort of radio hit from 2008 that I really liked, you know, little little middle school meanie was all about, you know.
56:45
SPEAKER_06: Um, and I think this song fits.
56:48
SPEAKER_06: I'm gonna go with pop rock band One Republic from their dreaming out loud album.
56:54
SPEAKER_06: That's their most famous one.
56:56
SPEAKER_06: And I'm gonna go with the song Stop and Stare.
56:59
SPEAKER_06: All right, because I I I think it fits here, you know.
57:02
SPEAKER_06: We gotta stop and stare, you know, spell the roses, man.
57:05
SPEAKER_06: Like Texas Tech is in prime time situation here.
57:09
SPEAKER_06: Stop and stare, One Republic.
57:26
SPEAKER_03: Love the throwback jams.
57:28
SPEAKER_03: I'm so surprised you didn't want to go with Sexy Can I by Ray J or I Kissed a Girl, Haiti Perry.
57:36
SPEAKER_06: I was bouncing between them.
57:37
SPEAKER_03: Or Lollipop, Lil Wayne, so many bangers of two.
57:44
SPEAKER_03: I wasn't going to, but now I'm looking through.
57:49
SPEAKER_08: You gotta find one fast.
57:51
SPEAKER_03: All right.
57:54
SPEAKER_03: Okay, I'll switch it up last minute.
57:57
SPEAKER_03: Uh my song of the week, can't believe it.
58:02
SPEAKER_03: Key Pain, featuring Lil Wayne, number 46 on the 2008 top of the charts.
58:09
SPEAKER_03: Um good song.
58:14
SPEAKER_03: Good song, last minute switch up.
58:17
SPEAKER_03: Probably not my best song of the week, but hey, I can't believe it that we're in this position right now, and uh, and it fits the flow.
58:24
SPEAKER_03: So that's a T Fade Little Way.
58:27
unknown: Oh, I can't believe it.
58:29
SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh shall own me.
58:32
SPEAKER_00: Oh me, meh, meh.
58:38
SPEAKER_06: My god, get us out of here, dude.
58:41
SPEAKER_03: We're out of here.
58:42
SPEAKER_03: You can follow me and Tristan on Twitter.
58:44
SPEAKER_03: Trist is at Tristy Mick.
58:45
SPEAKER_03: I'm at L underscore S underscore Rodriguez.
58:47
SPEAKER_03: Pod on Twitter at talking tech pod.
58:50
SPEAKER_03: Songs League playlist where you can find can't believe it by T-Pain featuring Lil' Wayne, Spotify, Apple Music.
58:57
SPEAKER_03: We appreciate all you guys listening.
58:59
SPEAKER_03: Always, always, always Wrecom Tech.
59:02
SPEAKER_08: Wrecom Tech.
59:04
SPEAKER_08: Uh Wow.
59:05
SPEAKER_08: First of all, uh got a lot of respect for Steven and Tristan.
59:10
SPEAKER_08: Uh their program, tough guys, just uh a lot of fun.
59:15
SPEAKER_08: This is wild.
59:16
SPEAKER_08: When I walked in and I knew this would be an awesome podcast, and these guys have been tremendous.
59:25
SPEAKER_08: I love you, and I can't wait for this journey.
59:27
SPEAKER_01: I would like to thank uh Steven and Tristan.
59:30
SPEAKER_07: This is incredible.
59:31
SPEAKER_07: These guys have a passion and a love for this school.