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Anthony Craven and 2026 Mississippi State Football Season Preview · Johnny's World

• 0:19
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome back to Brandon Podcast.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_02: Johnny here.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_02: I'm back recording with my uh co-host BW.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: How are you doing today, BW?
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: It means it's it's almost football season, Johnny.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: It is it is on, we're on the doorstep of football season right now.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_02: We are indeed on the doorstep of football season.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_02: We were just talking before we pushed record that, Brandon, this has been about five, six years now doing this uh podcast and you know of kind of the way we started, but then how we do it every football season.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_02: I look forward to it every week because we get on there and preview the Missby State game and have have people come on to talk and we give our predictions.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_02: And it's fun, man.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_02: And and even though the season hadn't been great the past few years, we always have fun doing the doing the podcast, and we always have hope on uh what the new year brings.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_02: And we're at that moment right now.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like we're everybody in Star Flash hope that things are going to be good for the upcoming year.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: We're just ready.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_02: I hate it when it's this part of the season, Brandon, because it's so close.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you get so close, you're like, come on, come on.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_02: And then we still got another week.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_02: But it's good, it'll be here before we know it.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_02: And just like we say every year, we get so excited for football season, and then we'll look up and it's December, it's already over with.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_02: So it goes by so fast.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_02: But uh really excited that football season is back in start vegas.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: And and we've got a very very special guest today.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we're gonna talk talk about some football today.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and it's just a a cool connection here because uh he and I actually were in the same fraternity back in the day, which we were just saying before, seems like just like yesterday, but also 30 years ago.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it just seems like the other day.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: But I remember um when when we were in the fraternity together that uh he would always share that this was kind of one of his dreams, and this is what he was always doing when he was in school.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_01: I remember he was working for the uh the radio station and and doing all kinds of stuff with the with the sports.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, and you know, he said this is what he was gonna do.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, this is like he he uh probably manifested this goal out like and it's and it's just like come to fruition.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: And I and I've kind of been keeping an eye on him over the years and and seeing his name showing up, and it's just been the coolest thing to see, just knowing that this is kind of what he's always wanted to do.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: So you I'll let you introduce him though.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_02: Very awesome.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_02: Uh yeah.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_02: So without further ado, I'm gonna bring him on.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, we're gonna uh talk today with Anthony Craven.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_02: If you might not know who he is, he is the PA announcer for Mississippi State Athletics.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_02: So he has a big job when you're here at Davis Wade Stadium and you're watching that football game and you're here first down Bulldogs.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_02: This is the man who does it right here.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_02: So Anthony, welcome to Johnny's World.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_02: So happy to have you on, my friend.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Guys, it is an honor to be on with y'all.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: And and like Brandon said, he and I, I can't recall the last time you and I spoke to each other, Brandon, but I got some really good memories of those years in the late 90s, early 2000s of uh being out together on campus.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: And thank you both for having me on today.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, sir.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_01: We're excited about it.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: Well, well, take us back, you know, kind of what we were saying.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I mean, I remember you you talking about this when we were in school.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: So kind of tell us how you got started with this and how how how you decided you wanted to do this and kind of how everything kind of came to what it is now.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I guess I'll start back with uh I always loved sports as a kid.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I was not just your your usual sports enjoyment, but I was kind of weirdly obsessed with sports uh as a kid, more so than most kids my age.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so I always kind of had this thought in my in the back of my head that I wanted to do something in athletics.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: And it became pretty obvious by about the time I was, you know, 15 or 16 that playing sports at a high level was not going to be in my future.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: I uh uh uh God gave me a love of sports, but he didn't give me any kind of natural athletic ability that made me really good at sports.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so as I got older and I decided that I was you know where to go to school, and I was trying to decide majors, I I wanted to study broadcasting.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I I I enjoyed sports, I enjoyed performing in school plays and that kind of stuff.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: And and I thought um kind of naively that sports broadcasting combined those two in in some way.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I got to state, I was uh a broadcasting major, a communications major, and and I was going through Fraternity Rush and uh met a guy who was working at the campus radio station and said, Hey, come on by, we're always looking for new students.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: And so I did that.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: And before I ever took uh a college class, I had a volunteer job at the campus radio station doing the sports news segment on the morning news.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: And and once I began doing that, I just fell in love with it and and knew that I wanted to do that.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: Ideally a full-time job, but even if I couldn't do it full-time, I knew I wanted to do that in some form or fashion.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: And and I've been really blessed to have opportunities ever since then to do that.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then I I guess about 2007, a job opened up on campus in Starkville to work full-time in the Office of Public Affairs, which is the MSU Media Relations PR arm for the university.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: And it was to help run the day-to-day operations of the campus radio station.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I've been doing a lot of sports play by play, high school stuff, um, even doing some stuff for the university, hosting a sports talk show, but but my full-time vocation at that point was working in K through 12 education.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I got I got a master's degree in education and realized that that was a a job that allowed me the free time to still do play-by-play and and sports talk shows and that kind of stuff on the side.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: But then when this job opened up on campus in 07 to help run the station where I had been a student worker years before, I applied for it and God opened up doors for me.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: And I came back onto campus full-time at that point.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: And and I've been here ever since in various roles.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: And starting in 2014, when the SEC network became a thing, all these different universities in the SEC had to hire their own talent to all of a sudden broadcast all these different sporting events.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: And so I was hired on to do MSU softball and MSU soccer, and I've done some MSU volleyball, and I fill in when Bart and Charlie can't do baseball, that that kind of stuff.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: And so I started doing that over a decade ago.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: And then also about that time, the athletic department was looking for someone to take over the PA, specifically at football, uh, because the guy who had been doing it for a number of years, Jonathan Holmes, had unfortunately had a heart attack, which he survived from, but but his doctors told him you probably shouldn't be screaming into a microphone for three hours Saturday uh for your own personal health.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: And so they uh they had an open tryout, uh well, not really an open tryout.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: They they invited a handful of candidates in to do a tryout in the stadium, and they said that I was their favorite, so they they brought me on for football only, and then slowly but surely that they they tacked on basketball as well, men's and women's a couple of years after that.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: And so I've been doing that uh since uh 2014 as well.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: So heading into year number 13 of uh doing the PA inside Davis Way Stadium at Scott Field here in just a couple of weeks.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: Really cool.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_02: Well, yeah, we we have memories when when we were in school, I'm sure you do as well, of Dr.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_02: Flick doing this.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_02: I could from when I was when I was a kid, I can vividly hear that voice, everything.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_02: And at the hump, you know, the to the hump for hoops, good good evening.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_02: I love that you have incorporated that into it because that was such a special moment, as you know, of growing going to the hump, growing up, going to games when you're a kid all the way up, hearing that, and then and you do it now.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_02: Was that something that that you came up with that to carry on the tradition of Dr.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_02: Flick, or how'd that come to be?
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: That's a great question, John.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: And uh that that was not my idea.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: I I cannot take credit for that.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um I I had always wanted to do it, but you know, uh, but but that was the brainchild of Rhett Hobart.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: Uh some of y'all may know may know Rhett.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, used to work in the MSU Athletic Department and now works over at Auburn.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: And he was kind of the the fan experience guru for a while in Starkville.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: And and and and and we had had conversations about, you know, is there a way, especially after Dr.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: Flick passed away a couple of years ago, we we'd had those conversations about is there a way to honor his memory um, you know, in in a respectful way?
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: And and and so about two years ago, Rhett and and a few others in the athletic department decided, hey, we they came to me and said, would you like to at the beginning of SEC play?
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: Because it was the first year of Chris Jans, right, and it had gotten off to a good start.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess it was um about three or four years ago now.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: Man, time it does.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um you know, and the team had gotten off to a good start.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: We were hosting Alabama to begin SEC play.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: They were a top 10 team.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the home plus we want to be sold out like a hard sellout for the first time in a while.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: And so they said, We want to do this.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Are you on board?
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_00: So so they came to me and said, We think we should do this.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I was a hundred percent behind it.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: I I was my my only concern was would you know Dr.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: Flick has a son who lives here in town or lives close by and and comes to the sporting events.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_00: So my my my only concern was would would he be okay with it?
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_00: And they assured me he was that it it had his blessing.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: And so I uh I greatly enjoy and get a big kick out of getting to do, I don't do it as well as he did.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I don't do it as well as he did.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't try to mimic his voice, but right to get to do my own take of of his to the hump for hoops yes uh intro is uh is is a great honor, and I enjoy the heck out of it.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: And and it's gotten a ton of positive feedback from the fans over the past three years.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I've I've got a request, you know, I've been watching a lot of the World Cup, and um I I've actually been turning it on the Spanish, the Spanish feed uh when I've been listening.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_01: And uh man, those guys, when they score a goal, some of those, some of those things, they can stretch that out for a long time.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: So maybe you can give us one of those in the stadium.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it it's you have to be the right moment.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: You're gonna have to be like we beat score a score touchdown to beat Bam or something like that, you know.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: But it's gotta be a big moment.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: I I agree.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: I I will definitely try to work that in.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: I I um I'll I too watched a ton of the World Cup this summer and and would sit down and watch it with my son, who enjoys soccer, and and he and I uh he especially got such a kick out of some of the broadcasters and and and how flamboyant they would get, especially South American broadcasters, how fast they would get when a when a goal would be scored.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I the great thing is I do get to do a handful of MSU soccer play-by-play this year.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: So so I'm hoping that I get an opportunity to try out my own take on that at some point this year.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: I can tell you right now though, I will not be able to hold it out as long as them, but I'll be I'll be enthusiastic with it and have a good time with it.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_02: Well, well, Anthony, I'm I'm sure.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_02: Did you were you um, I guess you were when you were in college at Mississippi State, did you have Dr.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_02: Fleet for your teacher for any of the classes?
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_02: I did.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: I did so yes, he when when I was an undergrad, he was teaching at that time two different classes.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: One was small group communication, right?
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: The other one was was interviewing, and so as a communications major, I had to take some elective that would fit different qualifications to make sure I I graduated on time.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: And as soon as I learned that one of his classes, interviewing in my case, was available.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: I I jumped at it because I had heard legendary stories of Dr.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: Flick in the classroom.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, and I gotta tell you, it uh he did not disappoint.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_00: That was one of the most entertaining classes I ever took, but also one of the most useful because he did it, he taught us not just how to interview people for you know stories that we're working on as you know, as media students, he taught us how to interview for jobs, and and I still to this day either interviewing for or being the person interviewing someone else potentially to hire, I still put into practice some of the things that he taught us in that class with going through the interview process.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_00: So not only was it entertaining, it was incredibly insightful.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: And and he was one of the most unique, but also one of the most gifted educators I ever saw at the college level.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_02: It was one of those classes I because I took both of those classes as well, but uh that you you did not want to miss.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_02: Like you did not want to miss that class at all.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_02: You wanted to be there and uh and just uh very, very entertaining, but like you said, so useful.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it's one of the classes I can honestly say, just like you said, with interviewing, was probably one of the most useful classes I took all throughout college because of what you just said.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_02: Uh interviewing for jobs and stuff like that.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_02: It just comes in handy and uh it was very, very uh useful.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_02: So uh well, Anthony, let's let's move on to talk about the season.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, I know we're all excited about football season coming up.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_02: It's right around the corner.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_02: Be here before you know it.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_02: What are your take on the Bulldogs this year uh with year three with Coach Levy?
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that is the question I get asked the most this time of year is what do I think the win total is going to be?
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't, I do not get into trying to predict right totals anymore, you know, because every roster is so different every year.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: But but I will say this it's without question, this is in year three of this head coach, this is by far his most talented and deepest roster.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um it's also probably his most experienced roster.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: Now, much of the experience happened at different schools before they transferred here.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: So, not a ton of guys with a bunch of experience playing with and for each other, but guys who have a lot of snaps under their belts at a high level at other SEC and ACC schools.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_00: So it's the best roster states had since at least 2023, and it's the best coaching staff that states had since at least 2022, in my opinion.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, Jeff Levy in the offseason went out uh and made some real strategic moves that I think were were good moves and necessary moves.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: The most, I think, prominent one was bringing back Zach Garnett to run the defense.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: And not just Zach Arnett, but also Matt Brock and uh and bringing on, you know, um bringing Jet Johnson, a former player, former all conference linebacker, uh, bringing him onto the staff.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it in many ways on defense, it kind of feels like State's getting the band back together from the defense that we saw under Mike Leach from 2020 through 2022, even in 23, when Zach Arnett was the interim head coach, that season wasn't good, but the defense was still good.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: And I think state getting back to that is going to be the biggest difference in what you see on the field from last year to this year.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, you've got on the offensive side bringing on a coach in Philip Montgomery, who we're still not quite sure.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_00: And by we, I mean people who who follow the team or work adjacent to the team, but are not part of the inner circle.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we're not we're we're still not quite sure what Philip Montgomery's total role is, but you don't bring a guy like him in, a former head coach at Tulsa, former offensive coordinator at Baylor and Auburn and several other stops.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_00: You don't bring him on to just coach wide receivers.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: I I think he has had during the preseason and will have during games this year a big role in the actual game planning on the offensive side, which should free up Jeff Levy to do more of the big picture head coaching stuff, knowing when to go forward on fourth down, uh time and score situational stuff, which, if we're being honest, we saw last year and in 2024 the those situations not go state's way because at times Jeff Levy was so focused on being the offensive coordinator that he couldn't take that hat off and put the head coach hat on and make those calls.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think having a guy like Philip Montgomery on your offensive staff as the associate head coach will free him up, will free Coach Levy up to be able to handle that better.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_00: So, all that to say, better coaching staff, better roster, you would think more than five wins is in states' future because they will be barring a rash of injuries.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_00: They will be a better football team, but the schedule's more difficult this year than it was last year.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_00: And it was already difficult last year, but but but but this year, even more, even more so.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_00: You don't, you know, you don't play Arkansas this year, you don't play Kentucky this year.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_00: So there's, you know, even Florida would be a winnable game this year, in my opinion.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_00: They're not on the schedule this year.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_00: So it's it's um, and you've added an extra conference game, plus you got a road non-conference game against Minnesota.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: So so I think State will be a better football team, much better on the defensive side.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_00: And I think with the offensive skill players led by the sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor, I think they're gonna be a really exciting, really fun team to watch on offense.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: I just don't know how many wins it equals because the schedule is is so difficult.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_00: Five or six, I mean, almost guaranteed games.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: That's that's half your schedule, will come against top 25 teams.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_00: So and and most of those are on the road.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: So it's it's a tough road to hoe in your state, but they've got the horses in the barn, if you will, this year that they haven't had since Jeff Levy's been there to get the job done.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that that October stretch is brutal on the schedule, uh, like you said.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_02: But but like you said, we got the horses in the barn.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_02: So I feel like the depth and what you just talked about bringing coaches back.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_02: And I really like the Arnett hire.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, it just proved what what went under Coach Leach.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_02: The the defense was so good with Coach Arnett.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_02: So you would think bringing that experience back and getting, like you said, getting the band back together, you would think we'd be much better on defense.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_02: Uh um, but you know how it goes.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_02: You know, those games last year we had we had a chance to win a few of them and we didn't do it at the end.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_02: But I like what you said because a lot of the blame was put on Coach Levy at the end.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_02: But like you said, he had being the offensive coordinator trying to get that hat off the uh head coach.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_02: And it's hard to do that in that particular time with clock management at the end of the game, and to have another former head coach right there with you.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: I can't see how that can hurt you by any means.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_02: So that's that seems real promising.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_02: And because I feel like that's where we struggled most last year was the end of the game.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_02: You know, um, so um that's that sounds real promising, but you know, you never know until the the ball get gets kicked off.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_02: But uh I do like uh this is very lots of reasons to be optimistic for Bulldog fans going to into the season this year, even though the schedule is so hard.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I agree.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you look at those close losses a year ago, which you know, I I guess what, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida ones that that that come to mind, right?
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_00: Where State certainly could have won those games, probably should have won the Texas game.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they could have won all three of those.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_00: You know, in theory, what we what we just talked about, right?
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_00: Improved officer, improved coaching staff, yeah.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: You should see a a state team this year that is better prepared for those situations.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_00: So that's why I'm confident because you look at how many close games State was involved in last year.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: And and let's give Coach Levy a ton of credit, even though the season didn't end well, state was still probably better last year than most people thought they were going to be heading into the season.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_00: And they were certainly one of the more improved teams in the SEC from 2024 to a 2025.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_00: If they take a similar jump from 25 to 26, and you you factor in what we've already talked about, I mean, there is the potential there if everything goes right, that state could have an eight-win season and and be a top 20 team.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, this team has potential, but until people see it, I think people are going to be hesitant to believe.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: Right?
• 24:05
  SPEAKER_02: I think you're right.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and like you just said, from because 24, you're going into 24 season, we're getting blown out every game.
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, you're going into the game, you're like, no chance.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_02: Last year, we they gave reason to believe.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_02: Like, hey, look, we're in these games.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, it all the games last year, we were right in it.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_02: Like you said, we're right into the end.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_02: So, like you said, on year three, you can take but take another step because there was a drastic step from 24 to 25 season.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you could tell from by the results on the field that well, the results in the wins and losses didn't show the field of play, did so if you could take that step like we did last year into this year, 26 season, sky's the limit, in my opinion.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_02: But like I said, that schedule schedule is brutal, but we have to have the depth and the coaches and everything lined up to make uh to make a good season.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_02: So uh it'll be interesting to see how how it turns out.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_00: What's gonna be critical, guys, is because you mentioned that that stretch in October, how difficult it is.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_00: You you've got to get off to a good start in September.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and you know, and I hate to put that much pressure on a team that early in the season, but those games, week two, week three, week four, uh at Minnesota, at South Carolina, hosting Missouri, you know, I don't know if state will be favored in any of those three, but they won't be big underdogs either.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: Those are all winnable games.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: And if they can somehow get at least two of those three games, then all of a sudden they set themselves up to have a good season because November will present itself with another three-game stretch of winnable games.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_00: Not easy, but winnable, right?
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_00: You're you're hosting Vanderbilt, you're hosting Auburn, and then you got that game with Tennessee Tech before you face Ole Miss at the end of the season.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: So September and November are going to be incredibly important for the Bulldogs.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: And then in that stretch in October, can you pull off one big upset?
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_00: Is the question I have.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_00: State came so close to doing it last year with with Tennessee and Texas both at home.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now this year they've got in that stretch home games with Alabama and Oklahoma.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_00: I think both Bama and Oklahoma are gonna be better this year than Tennessee and Texas were in the middle of the year last year.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_00: But I think those are great opportunities for state to come away with the signature win of the Jeff Levy era, or at least the first three years of a Jeff Levy era.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_00: And if that happens, guys, that's your recipe for a minimum seven-win season.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_00: And if that happens, then you'll see, I think, the narrative surrounding the program and Jeff Levy change because if you're able to pull off a season like that with what you expect to bring back next year, you'll have very high expectations heading heading into 2027.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_02: I think you're right 100% on that.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_00: Man, making me excited here.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_00: Listen, I've always been a glass half full kind of guy.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: And I love MSU sports, and so I'm I I am genuinely and sincerely looking forward to the season uh because I know what this team is capable of doing.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_00: Just gotta get off and start.
• 27:43
  SPEAKER_00: Those those games are.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's the crucial area.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_02: The crucial part it's September.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you think you when you're thinking of the season that's so long and everything, oh, we got time, but man, like you said, it's right off the get-go.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_02: You get that Louisiana Monroe.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully that's a gimme game.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully we'll take care of business in that one.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_02: But then those next three games are crucial.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_02: It's hard to say that, you know, it's weird to say that at the very beginning of the year, right off the get-go.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_02: But like you said, if you could get two or three, three of those games right there going into that October stretcher, it'd be good.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_02: Because if if you don't, it could get ugly.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_02: So uh it's it's crazy how fast uh the season, but that's just it how it is in college football, how fast things can turn on turn on you.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_02: So uh got to get off to a good start.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_02: That's the that's the crucial part of the of this season, it looks like.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_02: But but uh feel like we got everything in in in uh uh set up to make that happen.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_02: So uh we'll see what happens.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_00: And going back to last year, guys, you saw states get off to a good start.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_00: They they just couldn't take that next step after that, right?
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_00: They got off the tornado, and then boom, gut punch, overtime lost to uh Tennessee, gut punch loss on the road to Florida, uh double gut punch loss to Texas at home in overtime when you had them beat, it felt like in the fourth quarter of like 17.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_00: So for this year, a yes, get off to a good start, but then parlay that good start into some big wins in the middle of the season.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_00: That's what fans need to see to fully get on board, I think, with with Coach Levy going forward.
• 29:21
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_02: We need to get an SEC win at home, you know.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_02: It's been I didn't I looked it up, it's been since 2022, I believe.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_02: Auburn the last time we won an SEC game at home.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's it's been almost a whole four years, which is which is it's hard for me to wrap my head around that.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_01: And well, Anthony, we sure do appreciate your time.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I'll be at the at the Bama game.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_01: Really looking forward to to hearing your voice on the on the PA there.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, you know, we'll be we'll be up at the top of the stadium and you know in the nosebleeds.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_01: So if you need somebody to get you a cup of water or something like that, we'll be we'll be glad to come down there and sit with you.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um so just let us know.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_00: Looking forward, looking forward to seeing y'all at some point during football season.
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's always a fun time.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_00: And like y'all said, towards the beginning, and this is that time of year where everyone's hopeful.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, that that this is the season, right?
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_00: Where their team either climbs the mountain or takes that step, and and and we're all excited and and ready for the games to begin.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_02: Well, thank you so much, Anthony, for joining us.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_02: And uh good luck on the season.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_02: Do such a great job, and can't wait to see hear you at Davis Wade and at the hump this coming uh school year.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_02: So appreciate everything you do, man.
• 30:41
  SPEAKER_02: Man, thanks, guys.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate y'all.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me on.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 30:45
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 30:52
  SPEAKER_01: All right, man.
• 30:53
  SPEAKER_01: That was an awesome interview with Anthony.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, got me pumped up about the season, Johnny.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_01: I'm ready to roll.
• 30:59
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, man.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_02: It it takes me back to when I was going to a game, when I was I started going to Mississippi State football games at at Davis Wade, Scott Phil, when I was in the fifth grade with my grandparents, and I could vividly hear Dr.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_02: Flick on that PA system as a kid, growing up all the way.
• 31:16
  SPEAKER_02: And then having Anthony on there now talking about doing it.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_02: It's and he's living his dream, like you said, with he had been aiming for this since he uh was little and uh talked about uh he worked his way up to get there, and now he's the voice, PA voice of the Bulldogs.
• 31:31
  SPEAKER_02: And then going to basketball games, like I said, hearing that to the hump for hoops brings back chills, man.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_02: Just thinking of Dr.
• 31:37
  SPEAKER_02: Flick growing up, listening to him when I was a kid, then when we were in college and we were so good with Coach Tansbury, the hump was rocking, and Dr.
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_02: Flick was on the PA, and now he's doing it now as an honor to Dr.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_02: Flick.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_02: That that means a lot.
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_02: So really cool uh with Anthony being on there and and doing that.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_02: So uh what a great guy and a great ambassador for the state of Mississippi, uh Mississippi State University.
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_02: So really, really excited that he was able to join us.
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_02: But BW, it's that time again, it's that time for those predictions.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_02: And uh we we kind of talked a little bit about the season with Anthony, but we're gonna give our predictions on wins and losses uh on on here.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_02: And I know we've been doing this for about four or five years now.
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_02: And BW, at the end of the season, we're always right there.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_02: Like we're really close to what the what the records are and everything.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm anxious to uh to do this.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_02: I always look forward to to this every year, our preview, and then talk about it.
• 32:28
  SPEAKER_02: And then because like before we turn up, it'll be Thanksgiving and the season will be over with.
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_02: But uh all right, let's break it down.
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_02: BW.
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, you want to go?
• 32:36
  SPEAKER_02: You want me to go or or what?
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_02: And we'll go down each game.
• 32:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you want to just do each game, kind of hit it real quick, each game.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, yeah.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we don't really have to say much about the first game.
• 32:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um, good tune up game.
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we ought to win it, you know, 45-0, hopefully.
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_02: It it'll be good to get get get uh people back into the stadium.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_02: And I like this having a gimme game, man, rather than start off with someone uh someone big.
• 32:59
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, because it gives you a chance to show your players out and uh and play some backup guys if need be.
• 33:05
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, last year I remember we had a gimme game, and and me and you were texting, we're like, why shaping playing in the fourth quarter?
• 33:10
  SPEAKER_02: Like, you know, just crazy stuff like that.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_01: So stupid plays.
• 33:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 33:15
  SPEAKER_02: There's no reason to play guys in the fourth when you got a big lead.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_02: Let the younger guys come in and do it.
• 33:21
  SPEAKER_02: But but this would be a great game to to get the get the kinks worked out and get ready because after that, man, it's rolling on after that.
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_02: But all right, one and oh, BW.
• 33:30
  SPEAKER_02: I think we get it, I think we both agree on that.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_02: Big time win over Louisiana Monroe.
• 33:35
  SPEAKER_02: All right, week two.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_02: We're on the road against Minnesota.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_02: What is your take on that?
• 33:39
  SPEAKER_01: I honestly have no clue about this game.
• 33:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um I I'm just gonna go back to the fact that that Camario Taylor, uh, we've got some talent.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_01: I think our defense is gonna be good.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_01: Defense should travel on the road.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Camario can do enough offensively uh to let us, you know, get it.
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's close, um, I think, but I think we still pull it out.
• 34:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I read somewhere I I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure Minnesota has a really long home winning streak going on.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_02: Um I heard that somewhere.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but I think I think that we're gonna take care of business, PW.
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_02: I really do.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, I can this is one of those games uh we've talked about in the past where I could see us losing this game, but I'm gonna give us the benefit of the doubt.
• 34:25
  SPEAKER_02: Like you said, we got Camario.
• 34:27
  SPEAKER_02: The only problem I have with Camorio, everyone's high riding the Camorio train right now, which every reason to be.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_02: He's a great athlete and everything, but offensive line production.
• 34:36
  SPEAKER_02: That's what I'm worried about.
• 34:37
  SPEAKER_02: And if they can't protect, protect Camorio, I mean, you could have Johnny United's back there, man, and he would he would struggle.
• 34:44
  SPEAKER_02: So that's the big thing is offensive line protection.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_02: If you can protect the quarterback, but it does give you a little bit better scenario than we had with Blake Shapen, because Camorio, I feel like, has the athleticism where he can, if the play breaks down, he can make a run for it and and and turn into the yards up the field rather than get sacked.
• 35:01
  SPEAKER_02: So uh I do feel like he can he can scramble if need be.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_02: But offensive line protection is what I'm really worried about this season uh with Camorio for him to have a great year.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_02: Because if Camorio, if the line protects, man, the sky's the limit with Camorio Taylor.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_02: I think he's gonna be the stud, but it all depends on that line.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_02: But I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt.
• 35:19
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm gonna I think it's gonna be a close game, BW.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_02: I think we're gonna be worried uh that we might lose it, but I think we will pull it out on the road.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_02: And man, a road win against another college football team like that would be huge just to start the season off 2-0.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, so I think that does happen.
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_02: And then we go to Columbia, South Carolina to get our feet wet in the SEC.
• 35:42
  SPEAKER_02: So what's your take on that game?
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_01: I like it for an SEC opener.
• 35:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, I don't I don't know what they're bringing back really over there.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um I I think South Carolina kind of lost a little bit of their momentum last year.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_01: I I I don't know.
• 35:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um I feel like we're gonna we're gonna get this one.
• 36:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um I'm almost looking like at the season, like in in games of two, and it's like each game of two.
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like we could we can definitely get one of the two.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, because you've you know you got Missouri next.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_01: So I feel I feel like of the two, this will be the one we have a better chance of getting.
• 36:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh I'm with you on that.
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_02: I can't believe I'm I'm picking us to win because I mean, dude, we've only won one SEC game.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_02: And well, actually two.
• 36:27
  SPEAKER_02: It says 2023, and they've both been on the road at Arkansas.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_02: So uh the fact that they're but we but like we said earlier, we had chances last year.
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_02: We were in all the games and we had chances to win, but it's just the point the point of the matter is can we do it?
• 36:41
  SPEAKER_02: Can we get there?
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_02: Can we can we cross the uh the point where we actually get to win?
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_02: And this game right here will be the telling factor because I think I think we're even with South Carolina.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think South Carolina's better than us, even though they probably will be later because they're the home team in the matchup.
• 36:57
  SPEAKER_02: But I definitely it's definitely a winnable game.
• 37:00
  SPEAKER_02: And uh, man, I'm gonna be confident and uh I'm gonna give us the win on that one.
• 37:04
  SPEAKER_02: I really do think we can take care of business.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_02: I could also see us losing this one, just like I could see us losing to Minnesota.
• 37:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 37:12
  SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna say we're gonna get the win.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_02: So BW that brings us to three and oh.
• 37:16
  SPEAKER_02: Three and oh coming to Davis, coming back to Davis Wade.
• 37:19
  SPEAKER_02: Big time game.
• 37:20
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's a night game against Missouri.
• 37:23
  SPEAKER_02: What's your take on that one?
• 37:25
  SPEAKER_01: I don't like it.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I we have struggled against Missouri since we've been playing them.
• 37:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um in Drinkowitz, I don't know what it is.
• 37:34
  SPEAKER_01: It's like he hates us or something.
• 37:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um I feel like they'll they'll have an off game, but then every time they play us, it's like they're just they're running the ball down our throat.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_01: Like we just can't stop them.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, although I I heard Ahmad Hardy is iffy.
• 37:49
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know what his timeline is coming back.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_01: That that's a big thing for him, whether he's in the game or not.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_01: But I just I just don't see us knocking them off.
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_01: I I don't see it happening.
• 38:00
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm with you on that.
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, like you said earlier, we haven't won an SEC game at home since 2022.
• 38:07
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, so we're due.
• 38:08
  SPEAKER_02: And Missouri is does seem to have our number every year.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_02: But Hardy, I mean, last year's game just absolutely destroyed us, murdered us, just ran all over us.
• 38:19
  SPEAKER_02: If that guy does not play, I like our chances.
• 38:21
  SPEAKER_02: If he does play, it's gonna be a dog fight and it's gonna be tough.
• 38:25
  SPEAKER_02: And I don't know if we can get it done.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_02: But I'm gonna pretend like he is not gonna play that game.
• 38:29
  SPEAKER_02: That's just hopeful thinking, and we're gonna win, is what I'm hoping.
• 38:33
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, that's if that's the case, we're starting off 4-0, BW.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_02: Everyone's riding high and start Vegas, man.
• 38:39
  SPEAKER_02: 4-0.
• 38:39
  SPEAKER_02: Bulldogs 4-0.
• 38:41
  SPEAKER_02: First win in 2020 to 2022 at home, won two SEC games.
• 38:45
  SPEAKER_02: The momentum is sky high right now.
• 38:48
  SPEAKER_02: Now, that is if Ahmad Hardy's not playing.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_02: If he's playing, I can see us running all over.
• 38:52
  SPEAKER_02: I could easily be WCS starting one and three.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_02: One and three, losing the middle, losing those three games.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_02: We lose, if we start off one and three, Levy will not make it past October because that's a that's a brutal uh October month coming up.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_02: I just can't see him because that's possibly what starting off like one and seven or something.
• 39:11
  SPEAKER_02: I can't can't see them continuing on, which would be crazy if they fired him from promote Zach Garnett and be like all over again.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_02: We're weird.
• 39:18
  SPEAKER_02: But uh for the benefit of this, I'm gonna say we're gonna start off 4-0.
• 39:22
  SPEAKER_02: Hopeful thinking.
• 39:23
  SPEAKER_02: I'm at I'm at the point right now where I'm fired up.
• 39:25
  SPEAKER_02: Everyone's optimistic.
• 39:27
  SPEAKER_02: So wishful thinking, four and oh start for the Bulldogs.
• 39:31
  SPEAKER_02: And then we got October 3rd coming on with the Royal Tighters rolling into town, October 3rd.
• 39:37
  SPEAKER_02: You're gonna be at that game, BW.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_02: I think you said he has some Alabama friends.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, what's the thing?
• 39:42
  SPEAKER_01: Bringing three Tide fans with me.
• 39:44
  SPEAKER_01: Where's your take on that?
• 39:45
  SPEAKER_01: Well, so um, you know, I've never felt good about playing Bama, but with Kaylin DeBore, it's it's just a different story.
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_01: There, they don't they don't have that luster to their uh, you know, team anymore that they used to.
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, even though I think he's a good coach, they're they're gonna win a lot of games, but he seems to just have some stinker games in there where they're just not prepared.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_01: And they they show up and they're kind of going through the motions and they let somebody hang around that they shouldn't let hang around.
• 40:16
  SPEAKER_01: He did it at Washington, uh, and he does it at Bama.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_01: And I have a feeling this is gonna be that game because their schedule after us is tough too, and they're gonna be looking ahead.
• 40:27
  SPEAKER_01: And the Cowbells are gonna get them, Johnny.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_01: I think this is our big SEC upset of the year.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_01: This is the one right now.
• 40:35
  SPEAKER_01: This is it.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_02: Wow, wow, BW, wow.
• 40:38
  SPEAKER_02: Oh man.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, so you're picking state to beat Bama, huh?
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_02: I am.
• 40:43
  SPEAKER_02: Wow.
• 40:43
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I've I've read people online saying that, and every time I see that, I just kind of laugh to myself.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_02: PW, I just don't I don't see it, man.
• 40:51
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, we haven't beaten Alabama.
• 40:53
  SPEAKER_02: That's one team we have not beaten straight since 2007.
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_02: 2007.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_02: We're in 2026.
• 41:02
  SPEAKER_02: That's almost 20 years.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_02: And uh, you know, they always have our number, but like you said, this is not the Knicks save in Alabama.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_02: It is Kalen De Boer, but they're still Alabama.
• 41:11
  SPEAKER_02: They still got the better players, they're still they're still better than us.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_02: And I think they roll over us, man.
• 41:16
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's I think we get a loss.
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Johnny, they're taking our offensive line players out of the portal, who are our our worst offensive line we've ever had last year.
• 41:26
  SPEAKER_01: And they got one of our guys out of the portal.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_01: That tells you where they're at.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_02: But they're Alabama, man.
• 41:30
  SPEAKER_02: They're Alabama.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_02: So I think we drop it, man.
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_02: If we if we win that one, they better tear down the goal post because that that's just uh that'd be a huge, huge, huge win.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I just I don't see it happening.
• 41:43
  SPEAKER_02: So so you have us uh I guess you have us losing Missouri.
• 41:47
  SPEAKER_02: Uh losing the Bim.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_02: So we're we're right now at the same.
• 41:49
  SPEAKER_02: We're four and one.
• 41:51
  SPEAKER_02: Four and one, four and one.
• 41:52
  SPEAKER_02: But I do think, man, we're four and oh rolling into that game.
• 41:55
  SPEAKER_02: Momentum, people, it'll be a sellout.
• 41:57
  SPEAKER_02: Uh everybody'll be there, but I just think I just they've never Ms.
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_02: Way has not given me anything to to go against.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, like I said, almost 20 years since we beat them, but uh we'll see what happens.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_02: But all right, both of us got us four and one traveling down to Red Stick, man.
• 42:12
  SPEAKER_02: Baton Rue to the land Kiffin.
• 42:14
  SPEAKER_02: What do you think?
• 42:15
  SPEAKER_02: October 17th.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_01: This is the stretch of the schedule that just gets ugly.
• 42:19
  SPEAKER_01: I think I don't think we take any momentum down there, even if we beat Bama.
• 42:23
  SPEAKER_01: I think we just get blown out.
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_01: I think um Kiffen has Levy's number.
• 42:28
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's like the little brother, you know, syndrome or something.
• 42:31
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know what it is, but I I don't see how we do anything with that game.
• 42:34
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they're trying to recruit NFL players down there.
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_02: Um the only positive I see on this game is the games at 11 a.m.
• 42:43
  SPEAKER_02: That's the only positive.
• 42:44
  SPEAKER_02: You know, they all LSU obviously it's on record, they play better at night to Death Valley, but and the morning games are kind of sleepy games, or all of the fans are like not wanting to get in there, it's hungover, all that sort of stuff.
• 42:57
  SPEAKER_02: So they might have a little letdown being the early game, but man, they're gonna kick it in the second gear and just absolutely destroy us, I believe.
• 43:04
  SPEAKER_02: And I think it's gonna be a blowout.
• 43:06
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, it might say first quarter might be close, but I think they kick it in.
• 43:10
  SPEAKER_02: I think, like you said, Kiffin has our number as Levy's number, and I see a massive blowout uh at Tiger Stadium, us losing that.
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_02: And then we come back.
• 43:19
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, so we're both at four and two.
• 43:21
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, going going back to Bammer real quick.
• 43:23
  SPEAKER_01: I just noticed it says early window for that game.
• 43:26
  SPEAKER_01: I had no idea they already knew that.
• 43:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that kind of stinks.
• 43:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, morning game.
• 43:31
  SPEAKER_01: Do you think they'll flip?
• 43:32
  SPEAKER_01: Can they flex that or is that set?
• 43:34
  SPEAKER_02: I think if it is set, if it's in that early window, that they can move it to um because yeah, uh unless unless I don't know how that works.
• 43:43
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, uh, if we're both undefeated and and there's some other games that are are not that good that that maybe they could, but I would think that's yeah.
• 43:52
  SPEAKER_02: But hey, the last time we beat Bama at home was a eleven AM game, two thousand seven.
• 43:58
  SPEAKER_02: So we'll see.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_02: But um yeah, I think I think the Tigers are storious, man.
• 44:04
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I think it's I think we're four and two.
• 44:06
  SPEAKER_02: And then we come back to Davis Wade and got the Oklahoma Sooners rolling into town on the 24th of October.
• 44:11
  SPEAKER_02: What's your take on that one?
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_01: I guess a bit of a levy homecoming, right?
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's uh it's uh and then um yeah, they got the connections there.
• 44:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, with Mateir, assuming he's as good as he was last year, if he gets better, if he's not hurt.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, they were they knocked off Bama.
• 44:31
  SPEAKER_01: They were a good team last year.
• 44:32
  SPEAKER_01: I I just don't see us doing anything against them either.
• 44:35
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, me neither.
• 44:35
  SPEAKER_01: I I don't I don't see us.
• 44:36
  SPEAKER_02: I don't even remember last time we stayed played Oklahoma in football, but uh I think I think Mattir is gonna be have a good year, and I think Oklahoma's gonna come in the Star Bowl, and and they're gonna they're gonna, I don't think it's gonna be a close game, I think they're gonna route us, man.
• 44:50
  SPEAKER_02: Uh so we're both at four and three going Halloween night, Austin, Texas, DKR, man.
• 44:57
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, went there two years ago, and that was Arch Manning's uh debut, I guess you could say, uh, getting to play.
• 45:03
  SPEAKER_02: And uh, you know, we were it was a close game, actually, and they pulled away at the end.
• 45:08
  SPEAKER_02: But BW, Halloween night, Texas.
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_02: I think Arch, I think Texas is gonna have a really good year this year.
• 45:14
  SPEAKER_02: And I think it's gonna be an ugly football game.
• 45:17
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's gonna be a Halloween massacre.
• 45:19
  SPEAKER_02: I think they're gonna absolutely destroy us.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_02: What do you think?
• 45:22
  SPEAKER_01: I believe the same thing you do.
• 45:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I just don't see it unless Arch Manning just doesn't materialize, you know.
• 45:29
  SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
• 45:31
  SPEAKER_02: We had our we had uh that game came on the other night.
• 45:34
  SPEAKER_02: I watched again, just I still cannot believe it, man.
• 45:37
  SPEAKER_02: 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, and we blew that.
• 45:40
  SPEAKER_02: I just I I cannot believe that that happened.
• 45:43
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it's just it's really hard to do, like to do something like that.
• 45:47
  SPEAKER_02: And uh, I think we're always gonna have that that, you know, that's gonna be in the back of your mind.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_02: It's gonna get in your head when you play Texas, you know, you had that chance.
• 45:56
  SPEAKER_02: But anyway, uh, so where are we?
• 45:58
  SPEAKER_02: We're both four and four.
• 45:59
  SPEAKER_02: Uh man, that's I had four four wins in a row and four losses in a row.
• 46:04
  SPEAKER_02: And then you had the Missouri and Alabama swap.
• 46:07
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and then we we come back and we get a Vanderbilt at home on November the 7th.
• 46:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think we take care of Vanderbilt.
• 46:13
  SPEAKER_02: I think with Pavia gone, I think Vanderbilt, I don't know if they'll be the old Vanderbilt we're used to being the doormat, but I do think that we we I do think we'll beat them.
• 46:23
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think it'll be a blowout, I think it'll be a close game, but I think we'll take care of business against Vanderbilt.
• 46:27
  SPEAKER_02: What do you think?
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I agree.
• 46:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh assuming we're healthy.
• 46:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um without Pavia, I think they they come back.
• 46:34
  SPEAKER_01: I think they're about the same level we are, honestly.
• 46:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um and you know, we're at home and and like I said, if we're healthy, I think we take care of it.
• 46:43
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's a close game, but I think we do win it.
• 46:45
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I do too.
• 46:46
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, and that would be a much needed win, especially after that brutal stretch in October, uh, possibly losing all those games.
• 46:53
  SPEAKER_02: That would be a much needed win uh to get back on track.
• 46:57
  SPEAKER_02: So so that's five and four.
• 46:59
  SPEAKER_02: We both have five and four.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_02: And then you got Auburn coming in the next week.
• 47:02
  SPEAKER_02: Where's your take on that one?
• 47:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, I think they're I think they hired a good coach, Golish, Alex Golesch, Golish, however you say it.
• 47:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um I think he's a good coach.
• 47:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um he can get those guys motivated.
• 47:17
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know talent-wise where they are.
• 47:20
  SPEAKER_01: I think a lot of it again depends on injuries and things like that.
• 47:24
  SPEAKER_01: I do think that we can pull it out.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I either think it's gonna be this game or it's gonna be Ole Miss.
• 47:31
  SPEAKER_01: I feel better about this game.
• 47:32
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm I'm picking this one.
• 47:34
  SPEAKER_02: You're picking this.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_02: Uh BW, I think it's I think we're gonna lose this one.
• 47:38
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's gonna be uh I think we're we're pretty even with them, but I think it's gonna be one of those games.
• 47:44
  SPEAKER_02: I hope it's not one of the games that we talked about earlier where we do something stupid at the end of the game to lose it.
• 47:50
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, I don't think I think maybe we hopefully we've learned our lesson from last year's losses.
• 47:54
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's gonna be a close game, but I think they beat us at the very end.
• 47:58
  SPEAKER_02: Uh so we're what is our record now?
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_02: I'm at five and four.
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_02: Is that right?
• 48:04
  SPEAKER_02: No, five and yeah, five and four.
• 48:05
  SPEAKER_02: And you're at a button.
• 48:08
  SPEAKER_02: You're at six and uh six and three.
• 48:11
  SPEAKER_02: I'm at five and four.
• 48:13
  SPEAKER_01: No, but yeah.
• 48:15
  SPEAKER_01: I've got to six wins.
• 48:17
  SPEAKER_01: You're at six wins.
• 48:18
  SPEAKER_01: I'm at five and because I'm thinking our last, yeah.
• 48:22
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 48:22
  SPEAKER_02: Tennessee tech, that's a that's a gimme game.
• 48:24
  SPEAKER_02: Uh warm-up for for old mess.
• 48:27
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, do you think we went win that one?
• 48:28
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm at six wins with that one.
• 48:30
  SPEAKER_02: So you're at seven and seven wins with that one.
• 48:32
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, seven wins.
• 48:34
  SPEAKER_02: I'm at I'm at six and five, and you're at seven and four.
• 48:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um, okay.
• 48:38
  SPEAKER_02: And then November 27th, the egg bowl, man.
• 48:41
  SPEAKER_02: I say this every year.
• 48:42
  SPEAKER_02: It's crazy to pick the egg bowl in in August with it's so long away and injuries and seasons and all that.
• 48:49
  SPEAKER_02: But just what are your thoughts right now going into the season?
• 48:52
  SPEAKER_01: I don't see how we stop Trinidad.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um unless he's hurt, there's no way we're stopping him.
• 48:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um I think I think we lose, you know, I think it's pretty bad, um, unfortunately.
• 49:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm with you on that.
• 49:06
  SPEAKER_02: Trinidad getting that extra year, man.
• 49:08
  SPEAKER_02: It's just it's things.
• 49:09
  SPEAKER_02: And again, they got however I I do think I do think Ole Mess loses a bunch of games this year.
• 49:15
  SPEAKER_02: They did not lose last year.
• 49:16
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, I I don't think everyone's picking them way up in the standings, but I do think they'll they'll lose.
• 49:22
  SPEAKER_02: I think I think Lane gets them in the big, big, uh, big game in Oxford.
• 49:26
  SPEAKER_02: But um uh we can't keep up with with Trinidad.
• 49:29
  SPEAKER_02: Uh he's he's a stud.
• 49:31
  SPEAKER_02: So I think we lose that one.
• 49:33
  SPEAKER_02: And that's I have us finishing uh six wins and six losses.
• 49:37
  SPEAKER_02: That's a uh that's a ball game.
• 49:38
  SPEAKER_02: And you have us with uh what seven and five?
• 49:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 49:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, seven and five and six and six.
• 49:44
  SPEAKER_02: So both of us have us going bowling, BW.
• 49:47
  SPEAKER_02: Uh that would be a huge, huge step.
• 49:49
  SPEAKER_02: Uh you know, last year we finished with five wins, and we luckily got into a ball game where it probably didn't deserve one after losing those games like we did.
• 49:57
  SPEAKER_02: But if you win six or seven, you actually deserve one because you you won it on the field.
• 50:02
  SPEAKER_02: But BW, like I said, man, if if if we lose those, if we start off one and three or uh or only win two of them, and then get into that October stretch and lose all those, it could get real ugly, man.
• 50:15
  SPEAKER_02: Really ugly.
• 50:16
  SPEAKER_02: It can't it's it's those those first few games are real, real crucial.
• 50:21
  SPEAKER_02: But uh but regardless, man, it's it's we're we're glad that we we got football back.
• 50:27
  SPEAKER_02: But uh it sure would be nice to get six or seven wins, get to a bowl game, and and just that would just uh start off, you know, because it's just been so long.
• 50:35
  SPEAKER_02: Like I said, the bowl game last year just kind of it was a bad taste in your mouth the way it played out, but but the fact that we got one, we really didn't deserve it.
• 50:43
  SPEAKER_02: So to actually play the bowl game that you deserve to get in and you worked hard to get there, that would be that would be a good step in the right direction with the program.
• 50:52
  SPEAKER_02: But uh uh going to the SEC picks, BW, who let's do that real quick.
• 50:56
  SPEAKER_02: Who do you who you think wins the SEC and uh and plays into the playoff?
• 51:00
  SPEAKER_02: Do you have any picks for that?
• 51:02
  SPEAKER_01: Man, Johnny, it's that's a tough one.
• 51:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, Lane, Lane's down there, but I mean Lane's lane.
• 51:12
  SPEAKER_02: You think Lane beats Ole Miss in the in the in the return game to Oxford, or what do you think on that one?
• 51:18
  SPEAKER_01: I think they do.
• 51:19
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's close, but I think he does pull it out.
• 51:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um but I don't know.
• 51:24
  SPEAKER_01: I can't I can't pick LSU to win the whole thing, but I also can't pick Texas to win the whole thing.
• 51:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um so I just kind of go back to Georgia.
• 51:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um just Kirby.
• 51:35
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, he's kind of the stalwart guy, you know.
• 51:38
  SPEAKER_01: He's just they're gonna be consistent um more than anybody else.
• 51:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um maybe Oklahoma, but um yeah, I think Georgia.
• 51:46
  SPEAKER_02: I'm with you, man.
• 51:47
  SPEAKER_02: I was gonna pick the Georgia Bulldogs again.
• 51:49
  SPEAKER_02: They're always they're kind of like the Bama, man.
• 51:51
  SPEAKER_02: They're uh that with Sabin.
• 51:53
  SPEAKER_02: They're they're there every year.
• 51:54
  SPEAKER_02: They're not flashy, you know, people aren't really talking about them like they are the other teams, but all they do is win, man.
• 52:00
  SPEAKER_02: They win, win, win.
• 52:01
  SPEAKER_02: And and uh when it's all said and done, they usually get the job done.
• 52:04
  SPEAKER_02: So I think Georgia will take care of business and win the SEC uh for this season.
• 52:09
  SPEAKER_02: But I do think I think Texas and LSU will be up at the top.
• 52:13
  SPEAKER_02: Like I said, Ole Miss, I'm not riding high on them.
• 52:15
  SPEAKER_02: I think, I think they're gonna realize uh, I know all these people on their feelings got hurt kind of the same way when Mullen left state, uh, their feelings are hurt.
• 52:24
  SPEAKER_02: They're all, oh, we don't need Lane.
• 52:25
  SPEAKER_02: Look what we did last year without Lane.
• 52:27
  SPEAKER_02: But they're gonna quickly see this year the the Lane Kiffin is the reason why Ole Miss was so successful in these past few years.
• 52:34
  SPEAKER_02: And um and Ornette, I know it's not, it won't be quite like our and Jeff uh uh Zach Arnett did.
• 52:41
  SPEAKER_02: Everyone, some people say that because they have Trinidad, they have a bunch of core players coming back.
• 52:45
  SPEAKER_02: So I do think that will make make him look a little bit better.
• 52:50
  SPEAKER_02: But I do think that they'll drop like they play at Florida.
• 52:52
  SPEAKER_02: I think I can see them losing that.
• 52:54
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I could see three or four losses on their schedule this year.
• 52:57
  SPEAKER_02: So don't think they'll be back in the playoffs.
• 52:59
  SPEAKER_02: I think that was a one-hit wonder for them.
• 53:01
  SPEAKER_02: I think they had their chance and blew it.
• 53:03
  SPEAKER_02: But uh, you know, hey, at least they got there, I guess.
• 53:06
  SPEAKER_02: They always used to give us trouble about oh, y'all made the SEC championship, but y'all didn't win it.
• 53:10
  SPEAKER_02: Well, same thing.
• 53:12
  SPEAKER_02: They made it to the playoffs almost.
• 53:13
  SPEAKER_02: But last time I checked, they don't give you uh trophies for almost, but they actually they do.
• 53:18
  SPEAKER_02: They almost got rings.
• 53:19
  SPEAKER_02: I did see that for finishing what fourth place.
• 53:22
  SPEAKER_02: So uh good for them.
• 53:23
  SPEAKER_02: But that you know, whatever.
• 53:24
  SPEAKER_02: Uh anyway, I don't think they'll be great this year.
• 53:27
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, they'll be all right, but not like they were.
• 53:29
  SPEAKER_02: I think Lane's the real deal.
• 53:31
  SPEAKER_02: They don't want to admit it, but he is he's he's good.
• 53:34
  SPEAKER_02: He's a good coach.
• 53:35
  SPEAKER_01: So um how many SEC teams do you think make the playoff?
• 53:39
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I think uh I think Georgia makes it.
• 53:42
  SPEAKER_02: I think Bama, I think Bama will get in again.
• 53:45
  SPEAKER_02: Um Texas or LSU.
• 53:48
  SPEAKER_02: I think one of those two gets in.
• 53:51
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm not sure about Oklahoma this year.
• 53:54
  SPEAKER_02: I'm not sure I think three get in.
• 53:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's what I think too.
• 53:58
  SPEAKER_01: Three.
• 53:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh which is interesting because I mean there's there's uh what is that, nine more teams that have to get in.
• 54:04
  SPEAKER_01: It's kind of funny to think where those are coming from.
• 54:08
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 54:09
  SPEAKER_02: But the Big Ten, man, they seem to have our number this year in SEC.
• 54:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, our past few years or what they've they've wanted here recently.
• 54:15
  SPEAKER_02: And I don't know how Indiana's gonna do this year without Fernando, but uh, but man, they just freaking destroyed Bama last year.
• 54:23
  SPEAKER_02: So it's crazy how how they came about, but um it'll be it'll be interesting to see what happens.
• 54:30
  SPEAKER_02: But I do think uh I do think Georgia's gonna take care of business in the SEC this year, but it'll be fun.
• 54:36
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I really can't wait to see see.
• 54:38
  SPEAKER_02: I know BW, me and you were at the old mess game when Tommy Tumberville came back uh as Auburn's coach.
• 54:45
  SPEAKER_02: You remember that?
• 54:45
  SPEAKER_02: I think we went to that game when we were in college.
• 54:47
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we did.
• 54:48
  SPEAKER_02: Well, I think I think this LSU Lane Kiffin Ole Miss game is gonna be that times a million.
• 54:53
  SPEAKER_02: Uh you know, I the I was kind of hoping to go to that just to see what it was like, but man, I think it's a cheapest one, start off at 500 bucks and the nose bleeds.
• 55:02
  SPEAKER_02: And I mean, it's just it's insane the prices for that.
• 55:05
  SPEAKER_02: But I think we'll get a better view of it on the on on TV to get to hear what they say and everything.
• 55:11
  SPEAKER_01: But um, remember how bad the Tennessee one was.
• 55:14
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, when he went to the bottles and the and that was I mean, that was like years removed.
• 55:19
  SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
• 55:20
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, this is gonna be and Ole Miss Ole Miss fans are worse than Tennessee fans.
• 55:24
  SPEAKER_01: Right, yeah, it's gonna be ugly, man.
• 55:26
  SPEAKER_02: I can't the security uh cops in Oxford that night better be on full force, man, because it could definitely get get ugly.
• 55:34
  SPEAKER_02: But uh man, it's it's gonna be just from outsiders looking in, we don't have a dog in the fight in it.
• 55:38
  SPEAKER_02: It's funny, it's gonna be funny either way, because if LSU wins, it's gonna be funny to see all the Ole Miss people saying, you know, oh, oh, oh, you know, we we didn't need Lane.
• 55:48
  SPEAKER_02: We didn't need and then they and then Lane beats him, it'd be hilarious.
• 55:51
  SPEAKER_02: But then on the other end, if Ole Miss wins, it'll be funny to see Lane back out and say, say, see what he's gonna say, you know.
• 55:56
  SPEAKER_02: So it's kind of funny on both ends on our part, being an outsider looking in.
• 56:01
  SPEAKER_02: But uh, it should be a good football game.
• 56:02
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, you got to give Ole Miss credit.
• 56:04
  SPEAKER_02: Trinidad is he's he's awesome, really good player, and they're fortunate to get him back again.
• 56:10
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, so I think it will be a really good game.
• 56:13
  SPEAKER_02: And uh LSU's quarterback, man.
• 56:15
  SPEAKER_02: I'm I'm kind of uh skeptical by him, and we beat him last year at Arizona State.
• 56:20
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm um I know I know Lane was killing to get Trinidad at LSU, man.
• 56:24
  SPEAKER_02: That would have been what he I know he probably wanted to get him there so bad.
• 56:28
  SPEAKER_02: Uh which if he did, man, I would have had LSU penciled in as a national champion easily.
• 56:33
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but uh but Sam Levitt, I'm just not told on him.
• 56:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um but they are LSU and they are good every year.
• 56:40
  SPEAKER_02: So um I do think I I do think they'll be in there, but I don't think they'll get into the playoffs.
• 56:45
  SPEAKER_02: I think it'll be be real close between them and and Texas.
• 56:48
  SPEAKER_02: But uh but that game in Oxford, I can't wait to see what happens.
• 56:52
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it'll be just a fun game to watch as a spectator to see see all the happenings there and everything.
• 56:58
  SPEAKER_02: No, no telling what'll happen.
• 57:00
  SPEAKER_02: But like the cop, like I said, the cops will be on on full.
• 57:03
  SPEAKER_02: And then you see where they have uh Ella Langley playing there that weekend?
• 57:07
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 57:07
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Ella Langley's playing uh there.
• 57:10
  SPEAKER_02: So it's a huge and game day is gonna be there.
• 57:12
  SPEAKER_02: Oh man, it's uh Oxers can be rocking that weekend.
• 57:16
  SPEAKER_02: But uh, but yeah, it'll be it'll be interesting.
• 57:18
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just glad glad football's back, and hopefully we can we can have a better like like we talked about with Anthony.
• 57:24
  SPEAKER_02: The 24 season was so bad.
• 57:27
  SPEAKER_02: Going in the games, you knew we were gonna get blown out last year.
• 57:29
  SPEAKER_02: You hit you kind of had a little bit of leaf that, hey, yeah, we're in there till the end, and then just waiting to the end to something to happen, and it did happen.
• 57:37
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully this year we'll be in it to the end, and then like we said earlier, hopefully Levy will have learned and have an experience on the coaching staff at the end of the game, you know, what to do.
• 57:48
  SPEAKER_02: Because I mean, those those games were just ridiculous that we lost at the end last year.
• 57:53
  SPEAKER_02: So uh that's promising and the talents round.
• 57:56
  SPEAKER_02: But I my number one thing, like I've been telling everybody, is the offensive line protection.
• 58:01
  SPEAKER_02: If they can protect Mario, Mario has the tools to make be an absolute stud quarterback, and uh he's got the athleticism and the body and everything to to do it, and he can run and pass and everything.
• 58:15
  SPEAKER_02: So uh, but you just got to block for him or to protect him.
• 58:19
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that's the can be the key to the season.
• 58:21
  SPEAKER_02: I do like to do that.
• 58:22
  SPEAKER_01: We should have got a friend of the show, Nick Fitzgerald, down there as a uh, you know, a quarterback consultant to Camario.
• 58:29
  SPEAKER_02: I saw him on Twitter today.
• 58:31
  SPEAKER_02: Uh people were talking about how uh I want to ask your take on this.
• 58:35
  SPEAKER_02: People were asking, they were saying uh there's nothing quite like the fourth quarter at Davis Wade when it's sweet dreams is playing, and Nick Fitzgerald jumped in and said that he he would rather prefer it don't stop believing.
• 58:46
  SPEAKER_02: What do you like, BW?
• 58:47
  SPEAKER_02: Don't stop believing or or or sweet dreams?
• 58:50
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think the don't stop believing, it's a little cheesy to me.
• 58:54
  SPEAKER_01: Like I do like it, but it's a little cheesy.
• 58:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh like I like the um the other one just feels a little bit more edgy.
• 59:04
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 59:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and because I'm more like I like I want to play inner sandman or something like that.
• 59:09
  SPEAKER_01: You know, so like I need something that's gonna like hype me up more than like don't stop believing.
• 59:14
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 59:14
  SPEAKER_01: Like, give me some give me something like hardcore, like get me going, you know.
• 59:19
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I like for for whom the bell tolls in the beginning, man, like that same vibe there, like that's cool.
• 59:24
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they play when you go to the Grizzlies games, they play Welcome to the Jungle in the fourth quarter.
• 59:28
  SPEAKER_02: Like, give me something like that.
• 59:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I love that they had uh uh Whom the Bell Tolls back last year because you remember year one when they played uh Money for Nothing coming out.
• 59:39
  SPEAKER_02: It's just stupid to have that song playing.
• 59:41
  SPEAKER_02: But so Whom the Bell Tolls get you fired up, and they played that last year.
• 59:45
  SPEAKER_02: But man, I'm with you.
• 59:46
  SPEAKER_02: Sweet Dreams, the way they play it, and the way they have it on the jumbo chunk, Will Farrell and the and the cowbell and all and the meter, everybody yelling.
• 59:54
  SPEAKER_02: It's just and the cowbells in sync with it.
• 59:57
  SPEAKER_02: Like that game at Arizona State in the night game when everyone's fired up and sweet dreams playing.
• 1:00:02
  SPEAKER_02: There's nothing quite like it.
• 1:00:03
  SPEAKER_02: But the don't stop believing, it's it just kind of, I think the reason why everybody loves that so much is it takes you back to the Mullen years with Dak.
• 1:00:10
  SPEAKER_02: That's how that's when it all started.
• 1:00:11
  SPEAKER_02: You hear that plan, you think of Dak Prescott, you think of Dan Mullen, you think of us beating Auburn, going to number one.
• 1:00:18
  SPEAKER_02: All those memories come back right there with that song plan.
• 1:00:21
  SPEAKER_02: But they overused it to the point where, you know, we're getting beat by Bama 40 to nothing in the fourth quarter, and they're playing Don't Stop Believing.
• 1:00:27
  SPEAKER_02: That's when they were like playing in that.
• 1:00:29
  SPEAKER_02: That's when they were like, hey, look, we got to stop this.
• 1:00:31
  SPEAKER_02: I do think what would be cool, BW, and they did this last year.
• 1:00:35
  SPEAKER_02: I think they they pipe it in in certain moments in the game where it's crucial.
• 1:00:41
  SPEAKER_02: They did that last year.
• 1:00:41
  SPEAKER_02: I believe it was Arizona State game or one of the game, one of those close games that we were in at the end.
• 1:00:47
  SPEAKER_02: That's when you use Don't Stop Believing.
• 1:00:49
  SPEAKER_02: When there's a moment in the game when you're right at the end and something needs to be done, we need to stop or something like that, you play that and get it near the timeout or something, it gets you fired up.
• 1:00:57
  SPEAKER_02: But for the fourth quarter song, Sweet Dreams is is is rocking, man.
• 1:01:01
  SPEAKER_02: You got the uh friends in low places at at uh at Duty Noble, which is kind of taking on uh the eighth inning every every time, which is awesome, and sweet dreams at Davis Wade.
• 1:01:11
  SPEAKER_02: So I do like the Sweet Dreams, but I can see the sentimental value of Dan Mullen and Dak with with Don't Stop Believing, but it just needs to be used at certain spots in the game.
• 1:01:21
  SPEAKER_02: But fired up about that and then interlocking logo.
• 1:01:23
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you saw that VW.
• 1:01:24
  SPEAKER_02: That's here to be.
• 1:01:26
  SPEAKER_01: It's here to be the video with Madkin.
• 1:01:28
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes.
• 1:01:28
  SPEAKER_02: So Madkin on that.
• 1:01:29
  SPEAKER_02: That was awesome.
• 1:01:30
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Madkin and Camario.
• 1:01:32
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know, it's one of those things people have been pushing for.
• 1:01:35
  SPEAKER_02: I know some people are like, oh, I don't care about the logos, just win the game.
• 1:01:38
  SPEAKER_02: But, you know, the logos mean a lot to a lot of people.
• 1:01:41
  SPEAKER_02: And when you see that interlocking MSU, it takes you, it takes me back, and a lot of people back to the late 90s with Coach Cheryl, winning the West, being so good.
• 1:01:49
  SPEAKER_02: Wayne Madkin is who you think of when you think of that logo, which is props to him why they had him in that video.
• 1:01:54
  SPEAKER_02: And the good years of Mississippi State football before Dak and Dan were the late 90s and that MSU interlocking MSU, and that's Mississippi State football.
• 1:02:02
  SPEAKER_02: So props to the athletic department for finally listening to the fans and what they want, and they're putting that interlocking MSG on the helmets and everywhere.
• 1:02:11
  SPEAKER_02: And that's gonna be the face of Mississippi State football because you got the uh MS is Mississippi State Baseball, and then uh MSU should should be, and now it does look like it is for real coming the logo for Mississippi State football, which is what it needs to be.
• 1:02:26
  SPEAKER_02: So uh props to them for making that finally happen because it's it's uh a long time coming.
• 1:02:30
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's funny that that we were told a lie for almost 20 over 20 years saying that Nike owned the logo, which is pretty wild that people said that.
• 1:02:39
  SPEAKER_02: And and I was listening to Hey Dad the other day talk about it, it's like he never believed at one time that Nike, a billion-dollar company, would own a logo that Mississippi State has.
• 1:02:48
  SPEAKER_02: Like, what in the world?
• 1:02:49
  SPEAKER_02: That makes no sense.
• 1:02:50
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but that's the lie that they told us for years uh because they wanted that banner in.
• 1:02:55
  SPEAKER_02: And now uh all these years later, we're the state script does look good, but and it's and I think it's gonna be uh as the athletic department's logo.
• 1:03:04
  SPEAKER_02: But for Mississippi State football, it's it's interlocking MSU.
• 1:03:08
  SPEAKER_02: That's the way it should be, and it looks like it will be.
• 1:03:10
  SPEAKER_02: And hopefully they'll put Miss State across the jersey on the front, like it did in the 90s also.
• 1:03:14
  SPEAKER_02: But but we gotta take one step at a time.
• 1:03:16
  SPEAKER_02: And we got the interlocking back now.
• 1:03:19
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe they'll get that missed state because the jerseys kind of look good, but they're just kind of playing without they just have a number on it.
• 1:03:24
  SPEAKER_02: They need that.
• 1:03:25
  SPEAKER_02: I think they need that on the top.
• 1:03:26
  SPEAKER_02: Well, just go full late 90s, early 2000s, uh back to that on the glory days of winning the West and being so good with that defense and everything.
• 1:03:36
  SPEAKER_02: And uh, but things are things are trending in the right way now.
• 1:03:40
  SPEAKER_02: The only thing is get the Ws, man, get the wins, get that monkey off our bat, beat an SEC team, and uh, and and a lot of people will be buying into it.
• 1:03:49
  SPEAKER_02: Because if we if we don't, it's gonna be an ugly, ugly again.
• 1:03:52
  SPEAKER_02: So uh, but but we're due, man.
• 1:03:54
  SPEAKER_02: We're due.
• 1:03:54
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, hopefully it'll be a good year.
• 1:03:58
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 1:03:58
  SPEAKER_01: This year's for the good guys.
• 1:04:00
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 1:04:02
  SPEAKER_01: All right, Johnny.
• 1:04:03
  SPEAKER_01: Well uh enjoying it.
• 1:04:05
  SPEAKER_01: Stay tuned for the uh for the preview show for uh week week one coming up.
• 1:04:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, so all right.
• 1:04:12
  SPEAKER_01: All right, talk to you later.
• 1:04:15
  SPEAKER_01: Okay