Latest / In The Pocket / Ep. 17: 0-5 weekend for Michigan's teams, and where's UM's offense?
Transcript
- Andrew Graham: Hello and welcome to another episode of In the Pockets. I am Andrew Graham, your valiant co host for this college football romp through the mitten. it's it's gonna be a down week because they went and five this week, but I've still got my co host Connor Irgood here. Connor, how you doing? Connor Earegood: Good, good. Slept in 'cause of the bye, which put Andrew in weird spot. So apologies to to him and the viewers who are gonna get this later anyway. It doesn't actually affect their schedule. But in enjoying Andrew Graham: No. Connor Earegood: the bye week. Michigan State is too. They're getting healthy, hopefully, we're thinking. and Andrew Graham: Allegedly. Connor Earegood: and excited to watch some football this weekend and kinda I don't know. I don't know what I'm gonna do. It's it's been eight weeks since I had a Saturday. Andrew Graham: Yeah, I am also. I Connor Earegood: Well seven, seven. Andrew Graham: will I will also not be covering football this Saturday, but that's specifically 'cause it's a weird week and I also need to cover the state field hockey finals for the Detroit News. Connor Earegood: Nice. Andrew Graham: So that's an East Lancing and becomes very easy for me. So Connor Earegood: Shut out Marshall Pankrats. Andrew Graham: it was basically that and get paid or go cover bowling green at Western and it's like, I think I know what I'm gonna do here. So as I said, the T the Michigan FBS teams went 0-5 over the weekend. Michigan lost in OTD Indiana. Toledo beat Western Michigan in a really exciting shootout. Miami, Ohio beat Central Michigan on a final minute touchdown. Central Michigan couldn't drive for the game winning field goal in a twenty eight twenty seven loss. UCLA beat Michigan State twenty eight ten in a game that was pretty much never competitive after the first quarter. And Ohio beat Eastern Michigan twenty four twenty in a game that was competitive right to the very end. So we gotta start. With the fact that Michigan's offense is horrendously bad. there's not there's nothing else Connor Earegood: God. Andrew Graham: as pressing to, be in the the middle of this episode of just like I was at the Michigan game, I was covering it Saturday. It is it is not that they are merely just like bad at offense because you're look you know these receivers can't get open and the quarterback can't just can't complete a pass to save his life or, the it's true the quarterbacks have not been seeing it well. Neither Tommy Carr nor Bryce Underwood at this point, I think we can say have seen it particularly well in their starts. And they're just bad at offense. It's not like you can get into the the four or five different causal things, you can get into what may or may not be the the right tact But I think the thing I sit in right now for this week is you are just intolerably bad on offense. And the reason it's intolerable is because of how good you are at defense, Michigan. that is a national championship caliber defense. Connor Earegood: yeah. Thirteenth in the country, eighty third in offense. Andrew Graham: Yeah. And and what it what it speaks to, and this is this is like what gets I think the frustrations really going, is that Michigan wouldn't even ha they don't have to be good on offense. They just have to be merely sort of normally bad. Just sort of a not good offense. An unexciting, boring, you know, punting half Connor Earegood: The Davis Warren Alex Orgy offense would be better than this. Andrew Graham: Debatably. maybe not actually 'cause they're both well Connor Earegood: They could score a touchdown. They could score a touchdown that wasn't off a turnover. Andrew Graham: Fair. But they would also cost you the game later with the because the it's a different way of costing the game whereas like yes Michigan did it with turnovers in this spot but it's more that's just like the offense is impotent. It's like Indiana like didn't Connor Earegood: Yeah. Once you're behind, you're done. Andrew Graham: Indiana didn't respect Michigan's offense. Like cursing that he said after the game on some I think a radio interview or something was like yeah once we were up 6-0 I pretty much thought we had it in the bag. And it's like do you do you realize how disrespectful it is for an opposing head coach to say, We got up by six and had it? Like Connor Earegood: Yeah. You know what else? The student that was on the the scoreboard should have a medal of honor that put inside zone Andrew Graham: Yeah, shout out s shout out Stadium ops. Connor Earegood: inside zone and put that on. Whatever intern kid was Stadium ops that saw that and I have to someone definitely has a awkward Monday meeting because Winningham definitely complained Andrew Graham: Yeah. Connor Earegood: and a Dave definitely brought it up after seeing it on Twitter and chatting them. Like it it Andrew Graham: It has probably been discussed around Ann Arbor over the last forty hours. Connor Earegood: And like it has probably been discussed vigorously. Because like that is the kind of thing forget the product on the field. That is the kind of meme that gets someone fired, and not the kid. That's what gets an OC out the door. Like Well, because there's money involved and we'll talk about that, but Andrew Graham: Or not the coach either, but maybe not even the O C immediately, but yeah, that's Yeah. Yeah. Connor Earegood: Like, I I don't know. I I I I feel like it's it we it's the ill fit we talked about in the pe previously where it's like This isn't running a Michigan offense. This is running an offense, but it's not the sort of fit. It's not the traditional look. You know? It's like what what what's his face? Fickle. Had at Wisconsin for a little bit there. And then he finally got it to work, but it's like either you have to Andrew Graham: Yeah. Connor Earegood: wait it out and wait for your identity to change, or you gotta find someone that's gonna fit. Like Andrew Graham: Well, Wisconsin's Wisconsin's offense still isn't that good, but they're a rest their defense is amazing and they're just kinda competent on offense, and so they're five and two. Right, yeah. Well and well and they they kinda Connor Earegood: they're better than they were on at offense. Like, it was bad for a while. Andrew Graham: serve the point of you don't have to be like this Michigan team doesn't need to be like a top twenty offense. You don't need to be old miss. you just be like if you had Penn State's offense in your Michigan, you're six and one easily right now. Probably seven to nine. Connor Earegood: Yeah. I forgot about the Josh Hoover furry stuff too. I saw a lot of memes about that. Not touching that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Andrew Graham: not not not getting into that. The the only Josh Hoover th I know I know about it. I didn't feel the need to get into it on the podcast. but well my other Josh Hoover thing is like it's pretty clear Indiana just pulled games with the availability report this week. Like Kurt Signetti after the game like, Yeah, Hoover wasn't one hundred percent despite him never nobody was on the availability report for Indiana throughout the week. And what I'm guessing that is, is them saying, well, he was gonna be available the whole time, and it's an availability report. So, whatever, we're f we're fine. I'm pretty sure USC tried that last year and got dinged five grand. But also Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: if you're g if you're it's like just that's the cost of doing business. you'll take the five grand league fine if you think that gives you a a a coach will pay five grand for a competitive advantage. I guess is my point here. Like any of them would. So Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: That's like but I Yeah, yeah, no, it's Connor Earegood: They'll pay five grand for a dinner. Like Andrew Graham: five it's five grand for the buses to be idling outside for you to leave. Like it's it's this isn't cheap. and so like I that part did strike me of like Hoover definitely was not healthy, which contributed to Michigan like they they had Becker and Marsh in the walls of Jericho in five catches between the two for fifty seven yards, like You you'd need if you score a touchdown, you win that game in regulation if you're Michigan. Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: One touchdown. One you needed to get into the end zone once. One time, Connor Earegood: And Andrew Graham: and you would have beat a top ten team at home. You couldn't do Connor Earegood: Yeah, Jair Hill and they had opportunities too, first and goal, one yard out, all that. But Jair Hill Andrew Graham: Ugh that pla play call is horrible. Connor Earegood: playing his mind out right now. Like he had some rough goes and then locked in, like but then Zeke Barry's also not Andrew Graham: Absolutely. Yeah, so well had a had his way with them, but Connor Earegood: throwing. Like they like they have a a a genuinely great secondary, like the defensive line is clicking, like they have everything you'd want. But yeah. Andrew Graham: Linebackers have stepped up. yeah. Chase Chase Taylor is an exciting play. Connor Earegood: they have everything you would want defensively and they have no offense. And it's similar to what Michigan State probably would have been like with a little bit better offense and a little bit worse defense had they been healthy. Like if they have Hall, if they have any cornerback, like anyone on the depth chart, just like throw a dart and it'd probably be higher up. Andrew Graham: Like Trey Bell, anybody yeah. Connor Earegood: Yeah, and it's like you can see conceptually, that is a way to win in a first year staff, and I think that's maybe why it looks like this. Is like you're coming in and yes, you have an idea of what you wanna run and like, you know, Jason Beck, not a bad O. C, hasn't been terrible, but also comes from a completely different lineage and a c completely different conference than what the Big Ten runs, and it's like You come in with a certain idea. It's like you ever see in basketball like Indiana's coach was talking about what he learned in his first year in the job, and he was like, DeVries, I think is his name, d Yeah. Andrew Graham: Yeah, it's dairy and debris, right? Devise. Connor Earegood: And he goes, I I learned I need bigs. And he's just Andrew Graham: Mm-hmm. Connor Earegood: like straight up and it's like, but that is the fundamental thing of the Big Ten is you need to have a couple trees up front that are just vicious. And it's the same thing with a Big Ten offense. You need a Andrew Graham: Well and not solving not solving that problem with a sixth alignment either. Connor Earegood: Exactly. And it's like you need, you know, you need to upgrade the not upgrade the offensive. They need a healthy offensive line. But you need to play Andrew Graham: Yes. Connor Earegood: call around having a good offensive line and good running backs. Like you have to be able to prioritize that. And that's like a fundamental thing in the Big Ten. You have to do. It's not just a tradition thing. It's not because everyone's got their crash helmet on and is banging their head against the wall going going roll tide. Like, no. It it it is because that is how you win in the conference. Andrew Graham: Well and it's it's to me it's more informed less by traditionally we play offense this way, but that like the defenses you are playing are all these rugged sound you know, it's like it's Wisconsin's defense where they're not like the athleticism on the field is not the same as like what, you know, Tennessee is putting out there on what is also an excellent defense. but like when you're getting those like it it's a defense that will beat your run game to a pulp if you're Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: not stout generally and man to man stout. And that's what like Michigan's offense like independent of scheme, which I think the scheme helped feed the mentality, but like whatever you want to say about Sharon Moore off the field, the like smash idea was like exactly right. It's like strain, it's about physicality, it's about a will, it's about, you know, displacing these people in front of me. moving them out of the way so my running back can go where he wants to go. Connor Earegood: Yeah. You know how they won the Rose Bowl? They ran power in overtime of a national ch or a Rose Bowl game to go to the Natty. They ran power. Alabama knew they were running it. Michigan definitely knew they were running. Everyone in the stands knew they were running it. And they got it. And that's what you have to do. Like Andrew Graham: Well and well the and the idea that you can't iterate the offense a little bit and whatnot, but I think what's striking me and what I like this is my novice man's scheme thought is like Utah was the bully of the Big Twelve, but quite simply it doesn't take shit to bully the Big Twelve relative to what it takes to bully the Big Ten. And I think what we're quickly learning is that all this finesse, finite, this guy's gotta hit this blocking line just they're just getting blown up by a linebacker and pushed back into the gap. it's it's it's too much about timing and space and this guy gets it's like it's it's gotta Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: be like a little more at you and direct in terms of like 'cause Connor Earegood: yeah. Andrew Graham: when you're when it's about you kind of hitting this perfectly dot it's like you want it to be this perfect watch movement and someone's just hitting it with a hammer. Like guess what's gonna win that? The hammer. and Connor Earegood: Yeah, look at look at the way the Pac twelve teams that have gone to the Big Ten have performed. Like Andrew Graham: Correct. Connor Earegood: US C perennially underperforms. Oregon has not really been the team it should be, like and has has kinda blown it. they did have that one undefeated regular season, but I mean as soon as they got to the postseason, Ohio State got back. Like you look at UCLA, they finally turned a corner, but guess how Chesney did it? Running the friggin' football and it was it was tremendous. Andrew Graham: Running. Yeah. And really good defense. Yeah. Connor Earegood: To see it in person, holy cow, Alma Siego, that linebacker, league bound. Holy He is a dog. That's insane Andrew Graham: yeah. Yeah. I don't know how Oak I don't know how Oklahoma let him out the door. That's yeah. Connor Earegood: to me. Like that is like v I don't venables, like if anything's fireable, it's that. The kids got five forced fumbles on the year. Andrew Graham: And we are back after some technical difficulties and several hours through the magic of podcasting. It's now Monday afternoon after we started in the morning and had to go do things. but to finish on Michigan before we move on to other more important matters or equally important matters rather, just the nuts and bolts, basically Beck's buyout would be somewhere in the ballpark of nine million dollars from the sounds of most reporting. i it kinda gets fudged one way or another depending on whether he gets another job or when exactly he gets fired, if he gets fired, that is. but if you're you're talking Michigan, your buyout for your offensive coordinator is currently more than your head coach's base salary annually, which is like a weird spot to be in. Connor Earegood: Yeah, who signed that? wait. Yeah. Who's gonna really fire him for that one? Yeah. Andrew Graham: the outgoing athletic director. The guy who won't possibly can't really functionally be held accountable for it in a real way. because he's Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: he's out the door in a few months here. so yeah, just just Connor Earegood: Amazing. Andrew Graham: really, really unhappy times over at at Champacler Hall, I'm guessing right now. Yeah, that we that we could be any team this week. Connor Earegood: Speaking of unhappy times, it's not much better at at the Duffy Doherty football building or the Tomizo footballing football building or or the you know, Scandaleris Center. There's like three names for the same building. The power of licensing. Andrew Graham: That's it's such a tell for MSU that that Tom is O's name is on the football building. So that tells you everything about the about what comes first there. Connor Earegood: Yeah. And football has a long way to go. Alessio Milovoyovic and Jazmine Patterson could not play at UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Milovoyovic I looked pretty sad about it at the start. He was really hoping he could get cleared. So it was like the people who were on him in in my comments, like you guys have no clue. Like the kid wanted to play. It's a medical clearance thing. That's why Kid Kaufman Andrew Graham: Let's Connor Earegood: started a game as a true freshman, only the third in school history. Like Andrew Graham: Well it's Jeff Smoker's one of the other ones, right? Connor Earegood: Jeff Smoker and then I'm blanking on the guy's name. 82. yeah. Andrew Graham: It was yeah, it was beyond our vintage, obviously. Connor Earegood: But regardless, Michigan State played how you would expect a true freshman to play with them. Like they started strong, the kid threw a pick, thrown on the in the field instead of the boundary, and and like was kind of not thrown under the bus, but that was addressed in the post-game interview. That was not a throw he was supposed to make. And after Andrew Graham: He was not supposed to be going there with a football. No. Connor Earegood: that, that was all she wrote. And Michigan State lost 28 to 10. They kicked a pity field goal late. They almost had the hook for those who picked Michigan State, 14 and a half point spread. It was actually 16 and a half after all the injuries and stuff. Andrew Graham: Depends when you get in, I suppose. Connor Earegood: Yeah, it depends on when you get in. But for our pick'ems for the Detroit News, that did irk me because I would have had that one over everyone else because I thought they would backdoor it. I don't bet any money, but I do care about pick'ems. Andrew Graham: W Wait, did you did you pick Indiana to cover or not? 'Cause that ended up being a push. I remember you complaining about that being a possible push. Connor Earegood: That was a push, yes. I picked that as my best bet. Yeah. And I would have had it. I would have had it if if it wasn't. But the the thing I'll say though is like Michigan State, this didn't prove anything about where they're at. Like you knew they were gonna struggle. You knew UCLA was further ahead. The thing that sucks for Michigan State is now you have four more injuries. Like Nick Sharp left the game and didn't return with the shoulder injury that's been bugging him. You lose Ben Roberts, first play of the game defensively. He doesn't come back. He gets literally wheelchaired off the field afterward, after dapping up his his buddies at UCLA, because he's a West Coast kid. that's it for the defense. Like you have no one inside that can give you competent run run defense. and and all the sort of doubles that let them stunt for pass pr pressure depend on him handling the double and still creating havoc. and then Devin Vaught, after forcing two fumbles, nearly getting a pick, ends up getting hurt. And then you lose your third string running back who starts the game, Marvis Parrish, and end up with your fourth string, Kenneth Walker. or not Kenneth Walker, Kenneth Williams. A long way, a long way from K9. I was Andrew Graham: Wow. Yeah, no frankly, the way Kenneth Walker looked against the Seahawks he wouldn't have helped that much either. Connor Earegood: I was just about to say it was it was it's Monday night football, Kenneth Walker, aka Kenneth Williams. But Andrew Graham: Sunday night football. Come on, you're getting your days off, Connor. Connor Earegood: Yeah, regardless, Michigan State is in trouble here because it's like Andrew Graham: Yeah. Connor Earegood: It's and Pat talked about this afterward or wrote about it. it gets to a point where your only priority in the bye week is just get healthy. you just need Andrew Graham: seriously? Connor Earegood: dudes. You just need dudes. There's nothing else that you can do. no amount of pre they can't run plays because they don't have guys who know them. And it's like Andrew Graham: They traveled fewer than the the max eighty healthy guys who could play, right? So that tells you everything. Connor Earegood: Yeah. And they did they did it Wisconsin and that one was like 'cause they had a couple of guys who were questionable and traveled them Andrew Graham: Yeah, yeah. Connor Earegood: and they had to register that way. if you rule someone out completely, you can like travel them as a visitor, like they did with Notre Dame, I think. Or maybe Yeah. Andrew Graham: Yeah. Or Jordan Hall this week or yeah. Connor Earegood: And like they Alessio traveled too, but like that was it. Like they they was seats on the plane and they were like the D squad guys are not gonna play. Jash Clarzio, one of those. for those of you wondering where he's at, there's a reason that he wasn't traveling. they do not see it with him. And I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't see it with his staff either. If if it's a mutual, I'm gonna work out and work, but I don't I have I have no inside info on that, but well, and and he's a talented enough guy, but you have to remember Andrew Graham: Jace Clarisio Chris Creighton has a home Chris Creighton has a home for you. absolutely. Connor Earegood: too, the Alabama staff that was gonna sign him, well, the OC is now at Michigan State. It's Nick Sheridan. So This is not a staff that didn't see something in him. this is in fact the best situation for him. this is a school he originally committed to and then got the bag. he got both and it's it hasn't worked out. So we'll see like if they have to run him later on at home, like if he gets his shot, if it's truly, you know, if it's down to a fourth and fifth string. Andrew Graham: Well I was gonna say if he had travelled he would have gotten in the game just on a pure w hey, someone needs a blow, go take a carry and go four yards or something, but yeah. Connor Earegood: Yeah. Well, the other thing too, they traveled five running backs and two of them were guys in the kick game and gist and Darren Jones Jr. So it part of that I think too is just like, hey, y there's a difference between like a guy you're gonna use in the kick game is like support just like the reserve linebackers. There's a difference between a guy you're gonna start at Mike and a guy that's gonna be reserve. but I do wonder if that changes the depth chart of you need a guy that actually is speedy and can run and catch. but you have to earn that. So we'll see with the last four games of this season, but man, it's it's it's tough for for Michigan State right now. Bye week. Andrew Graham: Well in and and see how in it seems like a situation for Michigan State where the good and the b it's all it's gonna be bad, we know it's gonna be bad with how hurt and you're not probably making a bowl game at this point unless you get lucky against Michigan amongst a couple other results. But it's basically like if Alestio can get healthy in play, okay, you have a puncher's chance to pull one of these upsets here. If he doesn't, yeah, we're done here. Like that I think that's just kinda where it's at. Connor Earegood: Well, I don't even think they can't because the thing was, the defense Andrew Graham: But yeah. Connor Earegood: was good enough with Roberts and other guys like in the spine Andrew Graham: Yeah, they died slow. Connor Earegood: healthy. They they week over week, all the difference makers are hurt now. Nikai Martinez is the last guy standing and he's had a really rough season. And I they're young at corner, but like the linebackers are shut trickling back in, but like it's not Jordan Hall. You got Neon Crawford and you got Caleb Wheatland and you Cam Stodgill, but like it's not Andrew Graham: Yeah, it's like you I'm trying to think of the difference making players left and it's like maybe Connor Earegood: Where it could have been. It's Andrew Graham: Anello Lafayele and maybe Eli Kunin and like that's kinda it. Connor Earegood: Yeah. But then again, both of them depend on on Worm, as they call Ben Roberts, to get the double like Andrew Graham: Well and and and you can you can game plan one or two difference makers out of a game if you're not worried about anybody else really easily. So Connor Earegood: Yeah, and Derek Simmons is big, but he doesn't have the experience to be a Ben Roberts replacement. They tried. They put him out there. Mike Shinbeele, they tried, and it's like it just it it looks completely different. So they're they're they're in a weird spot right now. but you know, young guys get experience, things like that, see how it goes. But they they theoretically have a path to a bowl, like if they go four and and it's like Michigan has no offense, so maybe Maybe you luck into a six-three win or something. Like you can move the ball Andrew Graham: That yeah. Connor Earegood: a little bit. You know, just ugly, just ugly ball. Yeah. Andrew Graham: Short field 'cause of turnovers or yeah. Yeah. Connor Earegood: And like, but then here's your defense really gonna stop. Like it's it's coughing baby versus coughing baby. Jason back offense versus this depleted defense. And and like Rossi is the type the type of coach to scheme up some weird stuff. But then you've got Washington, Oregon, and Ruckers are like All in the same territory you're in. So that's it de and when you play two of at home, Ruckers ends the season on the road, Shy Stadium's not really gonna make you f afraid. It just just full stop. Andrew Graham: Is it isn't it isn't it SA isn't it officially SHI technically? I think you're supposed to say the letters. Connor Earegood: Yeah, it might be. I say shy. Andrew Graham: I I I don't know definitively about Rutgers Stadium. I also don't care that much, one way or another, about offending Connor Earegood: I yeah, I probably said that like an Ingrate, but Andrew Graham: Rutgers stadium sponsor. I they can get bent as far as I care. any stadium sponsor Connor Earegood: Yeah. My my my fault. Andrew Graham: can. Connor Earegood: But yeah, it's it's it's bleak in any slansing for football. But hey, basketball's here and lost its past exhibitions. Andrew Graham: They're really good. Nah, it's Yukon. They're they're really good. Connor Earegood: Mark at Andrew Graham: Okay, I didn't know I didn't know they lost that one. I had no idea about that result. Connor Earegood: They they started the game four for eighteen. Someone came on the court to fix the the rims, but they only fixed Marquette's. Andrew Graham: Ha ha ha. Connor Earegood: So it was not Michigan State's rim. Theirs was the good one and they were four for eighteen. Andrew Graham: god, that's not good. well we know how if I could just see the Elite Eight loss where they're four of thirty six from deep and lose or something. but Connor Earegood: Yeah. And then Tom says they didn't have an answer for the zone. Andrew Graham: Shout out Jim sh sh Connor Earegood: Every third of before. Andrew Graham: shout out Jim Beheim in the twenty eighteen Syracuse Orange. Connor Earegood: Do not ask what Jim Maheim did. All right, back on track. Andrew Graham: Hey, I was there with Jim Behav killed a guy, so I know, Connor Earegood: That's what I was referencing. Andrew Graham: I was there. Well, I woke up that morning and things got weird. we should get to Toledo, Western Michigan here just 'cause that was like o honestly a great game. Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: forty five thirty eight Toledo ends up winning it. They went ahead, they were up like thirty one fourteen at half if I have that correct. Western kinda spotted seventeen points out of the gate with some bad turnovers, especially They get a turnover on Toledo's opening drive. Interception. Quarterback just doesn't see Dylan Moore. He just jumps up, intercepts it. Great play. Next play, Brock Lowry Sack fumbled right back to Toledo and they end up scoring. And that was the vibe of the day of like i i like a twenty fourteen Big Twelve football game broke out in Toledo is basically the best way I can describe it. yeah. Like I like who who doesn't want that? it was sick. Toledo there Connor Earegood: Which is awesome. Which is great. Yeah, D D C's. Andrew Graham: was yeah, correct, Grier Martini who probably did not enjoy his afternoon. but we had Western had a kickoff return for a touchdown. We had, I believe, five combined turnovers, five combined sacks, ten combined tackles for loss. Toledo ran 88 offensive plays. Which is that's the real twenty fourteen Big Twelve like a cursed name that I will utter on this pod and point out that he's and eight in his current head coaching job, Bozo, is Art Bryals, who for being a real Not great human being, in my humble opinion, did innovate offensive football to some degree through the twenty tens, and the way Toledo runs is reminiscent of that, not in terms of maybe the offensive scheme, but the like they are at you, they are trying to run north of 80 plays, and boy can they really get it cooking on offense. Like that's that's just like Mike Jacobs has the goods, and it's kind of ridiculous that Toledo saw Jason Cantle off and then maybe hired a coach who is perhaps even better. Connor Earegood: JMU. Andrew Graham: So so that's he's not Mike Jacobs wasn't JMU, he was okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I see I see what you're saying. I see your point now. Connor Earegood: No, no, no, but I'm saying it's like JMU, you get to how are you gonna replace this guy? And then you find another dude with the sauce, Andrew Graham: Correct. Keep in mind and you know who Jason Candle replaced, right? Connor Earegood: Jim Mora Junior. Andrew Graham: Well no UConn, I'm talking about a Toledo. Matt Campbell. So the last three Toledo head coaches now have been Matt Campbell, Jason Candle, and Connor Earegood: no. yeah. So it's like three those are the A B s Andrew Graham: now Mike Jacobs. Connor Earegood: Those are the athletic directors you hire, by the way. You don't hire the guy away from another power for institution. You hire that guy. Just saying, or girl. Andrew Graham: Correct. but yeah, so Toledo legit in the Mac, first year head coach. I think everyone was kinda like, Hey, what's this gonna be? And Toledo is still Toledo, they're a Mac favorite, after that win against Western. Western's not really like I was at Lance Taylor's presser earlier today, upset that they lost, you know, disappointed in a couple parts of the outcome and how they didn't, you know, pleased with how they responded, but also kinda like, Well, if we don't spot them a first half where they kick our ass, we probably win that game. Which is probably true, and they got in this bad game script for themselves. So not not sky is falling for Western, a lot to learn from it. and I think it's really ironic. Western is kind of having the twenty twenty five season again, where they kinda scuffle through non conference, admittedly better this year 'cause they won some games. And then You start conference play, you get on this win streak, you lose on the road to a conference favorite in week eight, which is literally what they did to Miami last year. They just did that to Toledo this year, and then now it's Hey, do the same thing as last year, win out, get back to Ford Field, and maybe Toledo will be waiting for their there for you like Miami was last year. So n no no crisis in Kalamazoo despite a a disappointing loss. It kinda. Connor Earegood: It happens. That's that's mag football. Andrew Graham: Yeah. And they're good like Toledo's a good team. you didn't lose Connor Earegood: Yeah. To Ball State. Or Sack. Andrew Graham: Or correct, or Bowling Green, or Sacramento State, which Wester doesn't play this year, which means they're almost guaranteed to play them next year. It's just whether it's home or away. Are they gonna Connor Earegood: Away with Sar. Andrew Graham: Well, away kind of doesn't doesn't, because it sounds like all the Mac teams are tick tacking on an extra day to their hotel stays and all that 'cause Sack State's putting the bill. So they're all they're all taking, you know, Extra coach bus and what what what expenses do we not want to spare because we're not paying for this when all these Mac teams are making the trip to Sacramento State, so Connor Earegood: Brutal. Andrew Graham: I wouldn't wouldn't you and someone else is picking up the tab? Connor Earegood: Maybe. No comment. Andrew Graham: This is this is why Connor and I aren't allowed to be athletic directors. We're far too petty. Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: Central Michigan lost to Miami, Ohio twenty-eight twenty-seven. It's a game Central could have won, arguably should have won. They gave up a last minute touchdown. And it's just like their ki their kind of hopes of mat contention are out the window. It's really about a bowl, and like that's just a like crappy way to lose a game that you probably otherwise should have won with a backup quarterback starting. And then the news out of it, and this was kind of a weird one, two, of Angel Flores Basically got concussed at the end of the Western game. Left that game, didn't play the final minute. Was in concussion protocol per Matt Drinkle on Tuesday, which by not like not questioning that, I believe that was the case. And then we find out after the game, on Saturday evening, Drinkle just goes, Yeah, Angel Flores had ankle surgery and will basically more than likely be out for the rest of the year. It's like, Connor Earegood: Mm. Andrew Graham: come again. so what it sounds like happened is Flores Noticed something off on Sunday in his ankle. I don't know whether it's right or left, not that it particularly matters. Went to trainers. Trainers got a mix-raid, kinda went, meh, we need to look at this further. Got more advanced imaging. Advanced imaging came back and they were like, let's do surgery on this. So I don't know what exactly it is, whether it's like a they did like the tightrope thing for like the sprain, or if they did like there's some actual break that they addressed or or or what exactly it is, but it's gonna be more than likely the Jaden Classer show going forward at quarterback for Central Michigan, which he looked pretty good against Miami. I mean he was eighteen of thirty one passing, had a touchdown, I don't believe he turned it over. Not the runner Flores is, but obviously presents more as a passer. Kinda curious just how Central Michigan tweaks this offense and tries to find two more wins to get to a bowl game here. Connor Earegood: Yeah. It it sucks too when a guy's season ends. and and that unexpected where it's like I I do wonder if it's like you're concussed and then all of a sudden your body's reacting completely different. that's thing. When dudes get concussed, your body will just react differently to different injuries and stuff. And I almost wonder if it was a side effect of that. Not to say the ankle thing is a side effect of the concussion, but just why why it wouldn't be noticed immediately. Andrew Graham: No, but the discovering it is right. Connor Earegood: so it's it's it just I don't know. That sucks to hear. But I I do think Who was the who is the guy that was on that story, by the way? Andrew Graham: I can't remember his name off the top of my head, which I feel terrible about. yeah. Yeah. Excellent job. Let me hold on. Connor Earegood: But was dialed on that. I remember seeing you retweet, shout out local media. especially at at you know, the Mac level is is hit or miss, I feel like, in in the state of Michigan, Andrew Graham: Absolutely. Connor Earegood: even like so it's good to see some some local media. That's where I wanted to take that. But yeah, Central will, you know, I feel like I feel like this is a group you want to see make a bowl, just for the continuity of like you don't want to take that step backward. Especially when you gain some momentum early, you're running well. 'cause they made it last year, right? I'm not tripping. Andrew Graham: Correct. And they got plastered by Northwestern because they turned it over Connor Earegood: Well Andrew Graham: ad nausea. Well, they also just gave Northwestern four short fields in the first half and that was that. Connor Earegood: Yeah, but but it is just a big tense like you're that's you know, it's not like you went and played like a conference USA or like a Sunbelt team and got pummeled. Like, you know, that's that Andrew Graham: Correct. Connor Earegood: that happens, but I I do think like just for the vibes based analysis here, like anytime you make a bowl and then you take that step back, that can be really good for you because you can carry it on a stake your guys and say, Hey, don't let this happen again. It can also be really bad for you if you know, you're unable to build some momentum, right? momentum is is fickle and it's very fragile and it's it's it's hard to hard to counter, but yeah, that's not the week you wanted as a central Michigan fan. Andrew Graham: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was Austin Chastain to to give the the proper full shout out here who was on that story. Connor Earegood: That's it. Shout out Austral Jess then. Andrew Graham: but yeah, it it's it would be very disappointing for Central to have this season like they started two and two through non conference, which what you would have hoped for. you lost to Miami, Florida, the number one team in the country that Connor Earegood: Yeah, pay. Andrew Graham: Yeah, you like one point six million dollars or one point three million dollars, whatever it was, to go lose. Cheers. Easy business. And then you lost to New Mexico and that New Mexico team could represent the group of six in the playoff if it's like them, Boise State or JMU at this point. So like not a ton of shame in losing that one either. And you win the other two games you gotta win. You beat Akron to open conference play, and it's like, okay, you're three and two. You've got this three game stretch ahead of you that can really make or break your season, and you go and three against Ohio, Western Michigan, and Miami, Ohio. And like if you told like Those teams are all probably a little better than Central Michigan in some way. Miami, Ohio, maybe not because their quarterbacks have been hurt. But individually, all those results going against Central is not like crazy, but it's just brutal when it all happens in a three week stretch and your season goes from potential to, well, we just gotta try and pick off two wins to make a bowl game. And they should be able to. I mean, they get they get ball state at home, they get sack state at home. I would hope Central's able to just lean on those two and win. And then, Eastern if Eastern's got Noah Kim, I like Eastern. If Eastern does not have Noah Kim, that's probably a toss up. And then you've you also play at Buffalo in there and God knows with Buffalo this year. Like I am I I'm out on predicting anything to do with Buffalo football at this point. They beat Toledo and they could Connor Earegood: Save his fade. Andrew Graham: they could lose to Sack State or whatever. Like I don't know. I do not know. Yeah, Connor Earegood: Yeah. They played Western Tough too, Andrew Graham: like they've got a great running back, the rest of their team's not terribly good. No idea. Done out divining kinda. Connor Earegood: It's the it's it's Big Twelve. It's the Big Twelve team that like hangs with the dudes it's not supposed to and then absolutely pisses itself against the teams it's better than. Like just right down the leg. Andrew Graham: Correct. They they almost lost to Albany earlier this year. they almost lost to Albany in week two or whatever it was. I don't like I Yeah, I Connor Earegood: Yeah. Hey Albany Cam Style, that's a program. Andrew Graham: I can't shout out shout out to Hoke and Nana Coke and Albany Lacrosse. that's my that's like the most Syracuse thing you're ever gonna get out of me on this. Connor Earegood: Okay. Andrew Graham: but yeah, it's just it's just a tough break for Central Michigan with like now the health and things kinda weren't going all that great and it's just hard to build continuity that way and What you hope to your point is that make the final month of this season not feel like Connor Earegood: Make it mean something. Andrew Graham: and not feel like we're all just survive until we can get to Thanksgiving and all go home. that that's what that would be failure. And I think they correct. Captains, coaching, Connor Earegood: That's where leadership comes in. That's captains right there. That's not like a coach speak thing. Andrew Graham: yeah. No, and that's for real. you need a team that's connected and gives a gives a damn, basically. Eastern Michigan fell to Ohio twenty four twenty in a game that they really could have and arguably should have won because they So you drive ninety nine yards with your backup quarterback in to take the lead inside the final five minutes. What's the last thing you need to do after that? Give up a kick return touchdown, Connor Earegood: Delta two. Andrew Graham: which is what Eastern Michigan did on the very next play. They take a twenty to seventeen lead, and then the next play they kick off. And Ohio returns it for what ended up being the game winning touchdown. And the Eagles weren't done yet. Brogan McC it's Brogan Mackay. It's not spelled like necessarily it would be pronounced that way. It's C C A U G H E Y, but it's Mackay. Leads another drive. He's the backup quarterback. He started for Noah Kim. He ends up leading them down to the Ohio four for first and goal with Twenty-nine seconds, twenty-six seconds, under thirty seconds. You're gonna get the four plays, and that's gonna be the game. First two plays incomplete. Takes a sack intentional grounding on third and goal, which would have ended the game if Eastern didn't have a timeout in its back pocket to avoid the 10 second runoff. Fourth and goal from the 16, don't really have a shot. Throw goes incomplete, Ohio survives, now one seventeen in a row. It's like The real thing I said, and I texted this to Greg Steiner, their SID, when it happened, was like that kickoff return is like the Pedon Stadium why Ohio's not losing there. that is the play that keeps a home winning streak alive. And be it luck, be it magic, be it, I'm sure Eastern Michigan's gonna look at that kick coverage and go, X, Y, and Z things didn't go right for us, or we didn't do right. But it's just like that's the sort of college football home stadium magic. guy drops a ball before he crosses the plane or what whatever weirdness happens where a team that doesn't lose at home finds a way to not lose at home. Which is like there's just a little bit of vibes magic going on in Ohio's favor there to some extent. Connor Earegood: That's the like I I hate when you play like a col you see it on ESPN, but I'm gonna use the c the reference we all know, a college football video game and they're toughest place to play, and it's all like Big Twelve and stuff. Mac football or like any conference where there's a winning streak, like fans get after it. And usually they're drunk fans. And usually they're really into it Andrew Graham: Yeah. Correct. Correct. Connor Earegood: because you're not there just to take photos. That's the thing. Like Andrew Graham: Nope. Nope. Connor Earegood: the passion of like of lower level football, not lower level, but like lower, you know. Below power Andrew Graham: Yeah, no. Connor Earegood: four, it's fair to say. the passion there is way more intense than the bandwagons, which is always gonna lead to a a tougher environment. So the again, this is the point we made on on last week's show about the best coaches are not the ones that are winning all these awards or the dudes that are scraping things together. it's like the b best places to play are the ones where it's Yeah. It's it's it's Andrew Graham: No, it's it's Jamarca Shepherd. Like it's Yeah. Connor Earegood: insane. So it's it's i I I it would be great to cover a game. at Ohio, I think that would be sick. it's Andrew Graham: It's all well Connor Earegood: it's a great it seems like a great spot, but Andrew Graham: H why you wouldn't want to do that is also why it's kinda difficult to play. It's impossible to get there without driving a long ways through like Connor Earegood: Well yeah. Andrew Graham: rural Ohio. And but that's I think there's two things Connor Earegood: I've driven to Champaign, Illinois. Andrew Graham: I'm not I'm not I've I've driven to Way I've driven to Winston-Salem. we've we've been in Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: the middle of the nowhere f middle of nowhere for this business. but Connor Earegood: Need you a new map. Andrew Graham: yeah, Winston Salem, North Carolina is in the middleest of nowhere in America. Connor Earegood: I'm picking I'm picking up on your sarcasm. Later on. Pretty thick. Andrew Graham: but w when you think about like it's home field advantage to me is one of the most like miss like it's it's we have it entirely reversed. Where it's not the stadium makes it so it's no the you know why Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, whatever, Ohio State, Penn State for a long time? It's 'cause the team was really good. Like Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: it's hard like they win a lot at home because they're really good and they're just statistically going to win. Five out of every six times they play at home, which is every year, or six out of six. And you stack that with Ohio, and that's the case there in the Mac, on top of basically everyone I understand, I think, and I don't know, I don't want to speak like too definitively here, but you basically most places like teams end up busing in because you can't get a flight to Athens. So you'd have to fly to Columbus and be taking a bus from Columbus anyways. And once you're at that point, you might as well just save the money and bite the extra hour or whatever off the day. so like Central, when they went two weeks ago, I know they bust to Columbus on Friday, spent the night there Friday, got up early, got on the buses, got to Athens, and then after the game bust all the way back to Mount Pleasant Street. And that's just not fun. That's just not anything Connor Earegood: That's a rough bit. Andrew Graham: like like it's I th I think it's a kind of a fascinating window into appreciating how We all think of college football coaching as, rah rah speeches in the locker room, making hard decisions on the sideline and drawing things up on the whiteboard in the the meeting room. That is ten percent of the job. That is I mean, head coaches are I mean, I was at Met Mount Pleasant the other day. Matt Drinkle was taking meetings with people from the bookstore because he was trying to get them to be able to sell old game used jerseys so they could r like your head coach is having to deal with so many things that you can't quite even conceive that you'd think they'd have to deal with. And how do I get my team to be engaged and on edge when they also have to ride in a bus for twelve hours in a thirty-six hour span? Is a legitimately distinct coaching challenge. I don't know how you manage that. Connor Earegood: You you ever see the movie Goon when he sits on the team bus and they make him sit over the pistol? Like that's what Andrew Graham: yes. Yes. Connor Earegood: that ride reminds me of, is just like having to Andrew Graham: Or Connor Earegood: sit in the jump seat. Andrew Graham: semi pro when they're teaching facitus English. That's that's the other thing I think of. yeah. Connor Earegood: Yes, yes, exactly. Like and and those bus trips can be great if you have a winning team and you go with a win. If you lose when you Andrew Graham: When the vibes are good, yeah. Connor Earegood: lose, man. Like, and that's you know, that's that's tough to deal with. And that's what one of the things I think like you look at Michigan, like when they lose on the road, they're flying back. Michigan State flying back the night of like you do bond a little bit, whether through trauma or through triumph. And I do wonder if that is sort of a You talk about how the Mac is like pure football, it still has the college football feel. This is what it is about. I would I would posit that at least. it's it's less Disney than than what we have with the CFP. Andrew Graham: Very much so. Connor Earegood: Very, very much. I do think there's an advantage to that. And I do think there's that that there are a lot of players who don't realize that's what they're looking for, other than the clout and the b the bag, so to speak. but the first team that figures out all of that in the Mac runs the table. Andrew Graham: Well in the Macs and as it like NFL teams when you talk about like they love a guy who's like, Yeah, all that stuff is cool, being you know, people know your name on autographs, neat. It's about the work. And like the problem with the Mac is like the players aren't necessarily Sunday guys and you're not going against Sunday guys, so the evaluation isn't as great, but it's like when you get the Sunday guys coming out of the Mac, like those are dudes who know what it's about to just be about football. Connor Earegood: They're they're I I don't matter the stats, but just by like what I have seen, it feels like the dudes who come out of the Mac and make it are more of the seven, eight, nine year sort of guys than they are the two year flameouts. Like and and D two guys too. No Aski for the Lions. Like, think about that dude. Like it's it's yes. Andrew Graham: yeah. Mat Matt Judon, who admittedly was all pro caliber fringe at certain points, but held on for a really long time, played at G V S U, Connor Earegood: Yeah. And so it's like I I I would love to see a data analysis on that, but it's yeah. Years in the league per Andrew Graham: And while we're here Connor Earegood: draft pick. Andrew Graham: while we're here, we would be remiss not to shout out amidst what was really just a brutal bit of injury luck yesterday on s NFL Sunday is a former Bronco and Okamus High School, shout out now the Wolves. Taylor Moton, I think, broke his leg for the Panthers after coming back from flood clots, Connor Earegood: Mm-hmm. Andrew Graham: and that just that sucks. Like speaking of things that like suck in football and are just not a gr like there's no way to be like Well, you know, at least like there's n Connor Earegood: There's no silver lining. Andrew Graham: There's none of that with this. It's just it sucks because he's he's later on in his career, had a good great career coming back from an injury, and then that happens and fits fits with this whole discussion as a guy who came out of the Mac and has carved out an excellent, reliable, and that's those are the dudes the NFL's built on. The Connor Earegood: Pretty much. Andrew Graham: he's unremarkable, but god dang can he block a r block a rush end. Connor Earegood: Yeah. Andrew Graham: that's that's what you need. Like that's how good NFL rosters are built. So yeah, we'll we'll get into some more preview later this week. I have some good stats about how Eastern Michigan is getting absolutely hosed by their schedule. They there are five weeks remaining in the season and Eastern Michigan has three games left to play. Make sense of that as you will, everyone. anything else, Connor, that we didn't hit on about Connor Earegood: I I I I have nothing that that we can't talk about later in the week, but yeah. Andrew Graham: MSU's Friday game against Oregon. I don't know. There's there's gotta be something, but Connor Earegood: that's that's that's I'm looking further down the road here. I'm I'm moving this week. Well, hoping to move this week. And so it's the bye week's in a good place for me too, because the the five hundred dollar gas a month is is expensive in in in our current state of affairs. So much like Andrew Graham: Yeah, nobody Connor Earegood: Mac Team's busing, it's a long drive to tie it all back. Andrew Graham: Yeah, we managed to do this whole pod without mentioning the end of the Western Michigan Michigan hockey game. Connor Earegood: Yeah, point one second on the clock. You just can't script it. Like you'd Andrew Graham: No no controversy this time about it was just a crazy ending, but the the juxtaposition Connor Earegood: I I l well. Andrew Graham: of it is insane. Connor Earegood: I loved all the quote tweets too of man like it's so bad. And like I you can't say anything. There's nothing. Andrew Graham: Well what do you say? Like what is there to say? There's nothing to say. It's just it's insane that that would happen again. Like Connor Earegood: Yeah. Well and just on on campus too, the same like a block away. Andrew Graham: yeah. the the the fans chanting just football at Yost. gosh, that's brutal. Connor Earegood: and it's like it it's it's okay. The point one second on the there's here's we'll we'll leave this my parting thought. The point one second on the clock with football is really funny in hindsight because like it didn't it didn't cost Western Michigan a C FP spot because Michigan wasn't that good and I don't think it would have been that big of a resume boost. Like Andrew Graham: Well and getting ear holed by Boise has far more to do with Western C F P outlook like frankly. Connor Earegood: And that too. And that too. A hundred percent. And that too. And I think that would have been the the thought would have been okay, well, yeah, they beat Michigan, but they lost to Boise. And that would have been the the analysis. So it doesn't pull skin off their back. And then you look at at Michigan and as much as Bryce Underwood going and like sticking his tongue out and stuff after that one and like trying to aura farm off of it, like Michigan is is ass. And like I think that makes it a really funny result and something that like the thirty for thirty is gonna do a great job of uncovering one day. I hope that game has a thirty for thirty that talks, Andrew Graham: Well I I think about it now. I thought of I was driving back from Kalamazoo today and thought it was like what would happen if they played now? 'Cause I don't think Western's offense would still they wouldn't have a chance they're playing better than they were that week, but Michigan's defense is also playing better than it was that week. that game that game legit Connor Earegood: I was gonna say I don't think they could score on that defense. but then again. Andrew Graham: could be zero zero through regulation if they played again. Connor Earegood: Yeah, but then again there's the random I don't know, the exciting whites, Joey Pope gets in there with a pick, I don't know. Andrew Graham: I was gonna say I trust West if it would be seven seven with a pick six either direction. You know, god. Connor Earegood: Safety. Two two. Score agami. Andrew Graham: god. Well yeah, no, but the the Western Michigan Western playing Michigan in a bowl game is gonna feed families. People were joking Connor Earegood: I would Andrew Graham: about people were joking about that earlier in the year and it's like kinda more distinctly possible now than it was then. Connor Earegood: If you have to play it at the superior dome. That would be awesome. Andrew Graham: yeah. No, you're you're a h you're totally correct. No, you have to. You'd have to. I I f I forget what a fucking bull sponsor. I don't care. The Connor Earegood: You you have to play it local. You have to pick or Battle Creek. It cannot be glitzy. It it has to be just great. Andrew Graham: Michigan and Western Michigan playing an arena football game at the Kalamazoo event center. Yeah. Or no, the Wings Event Center. Not the not the new one. The Wings Event Center. I'm sure you've been it's it is It is it is I'll it is a triple A hockey venue, I'll put it that way. this is this got beautifully off the rails at the end. This is exactly what I want our podcast to end like every week. all right. Well, before we go too off the rails here and with plenty more to get back into later this week, well actually not really. There's only two games on Saturday and then some action, but we'll we'll we'll have plenty to talk about, I'm sure. Until then, as Condor def descends into the land of boxes and starts thinking more about men's basketball, I am Andrew Graham on behalf of Condor Irgood, thank you all for listening.