Latest / Johnny's World / Episode 47-Neil Price Voice Of The Bulldogs and Kentucky Game Preview

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Episode 47-Neil Price Voice Of The Bulldogs and Kentucky Game Preview · Johnny's World

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Coming to you live from the Johnny Packer Highwear Studios in fabulous Dark Vegas, Mississippi.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Please welcome our co-host, the best I got this side of the Mississippi, BW.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: And now welcome a true hero, a CF Warrior, whose favorite mother when life is just keep living.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, welcome to a brand new edition of the Johnny Squirrel Podcast.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_02: Uh this is Johnny here, my co-host BW.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_02: What's coming home, BW?
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_03: Hey man, doing pretty good.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_03: It's good I feeling got a little drainage today.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_03: Sorry for my voice.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_03: Sounds a little different.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_03: The the fall weather, we didn't get a little rain.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_03: But otherwise, doing good.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_03: Five and that's good.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, indeed.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_02: Another another win last weekend makes the week really good.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_02: So uh and hopefully we can uh we can build on it.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_02: So um but yeah, fall weather is here for sure, and and uh and football seasons in in mid-season now.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: It's hard to believe that we're halfway through the season.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_02: Uh seems like it just started, but uh but that's a good thing.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_02: Uh always uh game to look forward to on Saturday, and and uh I got a big test coming up this weekend.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_03: That's right.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_03: That's right.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_03: Well, um I'm pretty excited about our our guest today.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_03: I've got a got a couple questions about for him from last week from the game, and then it should be an interesting to hear the preview for this week too.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, yeah.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_02: Well, uh I'll go ahead and introduce him.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_02: Uh we're so honored today and uh to have uh a very special person involved in Mississippi State, and uh and everyone knows who he is.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_02: He is the voice of the Bulldogs, uh uh Neil Price.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_02: And he he it's he's come from Kentucky and he's been at Mississippi State for a few years now.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_02: And and uh we're we're just so happy to have him on and and and thank you for joining us, Neil.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: Guys, I'm glad to be here.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_03: We're excited to have you, Neil.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_03: So I was I was just gonna ask you, we'll talk a little bit about Kentucky here in a minute, but I was I always loved to listen to y'all and you and Matt during the game.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_03: And and I loved the uh that y'all y'all did the duck dance after the touchdown there.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_03: And um, all right, I was wondering, are we gonna see more of that or is this gonna be a one-time thing for that?
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it's funny.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um Matt got a question about that on his podcast earlier in the week, and you that was totally organic.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um it's just one of those things where you know Caleb scored, and it kind of felt like at that point that the game was was out of reach and you could kind of breathe a little bit.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: And it's just one of those moments where we were sitting up there and you you think about, well, there are two cameras in here and you don't know really who's watching this, but let's have a little fun.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_01: And and that's all it was.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so what I would say is I can't guarantee you that it will happen again.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_01: I can't guarantee you that it won't, but if it does happen again, it won't be forced.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: I can promise you that.
• 3:17
  unknown: In a moment.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, maybe you should save it for when we beat the rebels this year or something like that.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_03: That might be a good time to do it.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: If he makes a big catch to do that, then I think it'll be more than a duck dance.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_01: It'll be whatever kind of dance we could come up with, ducking or otherwise.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: I love it.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_03: Well, I was gonna I was gonna ask you too.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_03: I I didn't realize after I saw that video, I guess it makes sense, but you're watching through binoculars the whole time.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_03: And uh I'm an optometrist, and so I have to look through a microscope all the time.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_03: And it it's it's a totally different thing to like look, see it with your own eyes, but then to to follow something that's moving that quickly through a pair of binoculars.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_03: So that that takes some pretty good skill.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_03: Is that just something that that you just had to practice doing, or how how'd you become good at doing that?
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I think people, you know, if you're accustomed to going to the games as a fan and and you just kind of you're sitting there in the stands and you're watching it with a naked eye, you just kind of get accustomed to that over time.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I I don't think people understand from from a broadcast perspective, if if you're trying to really deliver detail, um paint an accurate picture on radio or even the guys on television that are doing the games, most that I know keep a pair of binoculars and and and use those too, maybe not as much because they've got the monitors.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um but for me, it's even though those numbers on the back of those jerseys are pretty big, if you're watching with the naked eye, even from the mid-level of uh of the west side where we are, it's still kind of hard to see it.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so I use the binoculars to try and ensure accuracy in a lot of cases, uh, deliver some smaller details that my eyes couldn't pick up without help.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: And uh it's it's kind of this delicate dance within itself of how long you leave them up and when do you bring them down, and then maybe when do they go back up again if it's a pass play.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I got turned on to that pair of binoculars I use uh by a guy who uh is also a college TV announcer and and guy does the Atlanta Atlanta Falcons on the radio named Wes Durham.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: Wes' a really good guy.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and those give me about a 40-yard um uh you know wide window.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: So I don't have to really look all that much where the first pair I ever used were my dad's old hunting binoculars, and they were just seeing things, you know, in real close detail from long distances.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_01: They were too powerful for what I wanted them to be.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_01: So it was finding the the right pair and then just learning how to use them.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but yeah, I I've I've always used binoculars uh to do games going back as long as I can remember football games, um, just because again, the the distance is not what you think.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it's a lot further away than you think, and you just want to be accurate and and and give a little detail.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that's cool.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_02: Well well, Neil, kind of talk a little bit about.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_02: I know you're I I know it's probably like a homecoming for you going home since you used to be at Kentucky, going back to Kentucky this weekend.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_02: Talk a little bit about um, I guess being at Kentucky and then transit it transitioning over to Mississippi State.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I was there for 12 years.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um I got a job there doing women's basketball games and baseball games on the radio right out of college in 2005 and stayed there until uh I wound up here at the start of the football season in 17.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_01: I tell people all the time it is the hardest game of the year for me because I had so much time there.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, the outcome on the field, you know, not not factoring into to that at all.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um I just see a lot of people that that I knew.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_01: You walk into a stadium or even in basketball, you walk into Ruperena and you get all these memories that kind of come back um of, you know, well, I was over there when this happened, or I remember this, or I remember that.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, and and people are always very nice to come by and shake hands, and even if it's just for a moment or two, you know, it's it's it's a place that's that's made up of a lot of really good people.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_01: So uh what it reminds me of every time that I go back is that, man, you know, I left a good place to come here for the opportunity.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and that place hasn't changed.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_01: And people always will remind me that that they were so happy I was a part of what they were doing there, and I was glad to be a part of it, but they're also very happy that I'm here uh and that I had this opportunity, and and I'm certainly thankful for that as well and have enjoyed every minute of it.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_01: So it is the hardest game for me in football and basketball every year from the emotional standpoint.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_01: Um, now, as far as Saturday goes, it's a game that state absolutely needs to win, plain and simple.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and that's the way that I would paint it to anybody.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, in terms of state's five and one, a win gets you bowl eligible with six.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_01: It gets you to six and one.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_01: You build on this great start uh that the team has been able to put together in the first half of the year, and you build some momentum uh going into another big game with Alabama uh next week and try to keep this thing rolling with a bye week coming in two weeks.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I I'm firmly in the camp that this is a game that we need to win.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um in terms of the you know, the transition uh from Kentucky to here, uh you know, John Cohen's kind of a central figure in all of that.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: So first baseball coach I ever worked with at UK was John Cohen.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um I met him behind home plate at uh the old Sewell Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: That was the first uh Kentucky game I ever did back in 2005.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um I was 25 years old.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_01: The sports information director, I think, was 25 or 27.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we were about the same age.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I remember shaking hands with John, thinking, wow, he must really think that these people don't care anything about baseball because this is a 25-year-old announcer and a 25 or 27-year-old SID.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_01: They didn't exactly get him anybody that was seasoned uh to come.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um but I worked with John for I think it was three seasons before he came back here and took over for Coach Polk.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, it was just okay, you cross paths.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: I'd see him when State and Kentucky would play one another in baseball uh at either one of the two schools or in the SEC tournament.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and then in 2017, uh I'm at the SEC women's basketball tournament in South Carolina and uh Jim Ellis announces that he's gonna step back.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_01: Uh he's gonna give up doing football and basketball and just wants to focus on doing the baseball games.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: So John at this point is the AD here.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I just sent him a text and I said, Hey, you know, John, I don't know what the timeline is.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_01: Certainly I I I don't want to be disrespectful uh of Jim and you know his decision.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: But when the time's right, um I'd be interested in talking to you about this.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: I'd I'd like to do it.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_01: And um John was real good to get back with me and tell me how the process was going to work with Learfield and what to do with everything and you know what we thought might be a month-long process turned into about three months because in this business nothing ever moves as quickly as as anyone would like, it seems.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I wound up here um middle of June 2017 uh to get ready for a game with Charleston Southern on Labor Day weekend of that year, and have been here ever since.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so that's kind of the that's kind of how it works out.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, relationships in broadcasting, uh just like I think a lot of other industries are are critical with regard to building your career.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um one of my mentors is a guy named Mike Dodson who works for Learfield, still based in Lexington.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Mike told me one time, he said, here's the thing, you know, you can't stink, but you don't have to be great if you know somebody.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_01: You know, knowing somebody you can't stink, you probably need to know somebody, you know, and and he's right, you know, and and and I applied for other jobs while I was at Kentucky that were related to football and and men's basketball because kind of what I wanted to try to do to see if I could hit major league pitching, and uh they didn't pan out for one reason or another.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and and finally when this job opened, it was the one that, to be perfectly honest, you know, on paper, no relationships, the one I probably was least qualified to do because of the the lack of football tape that I had.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_01: I'd done one college football game in about seven years of high school football.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_01: So that's not typically what you get uh in somebody in one of these roles.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_01: You get somebody who's been at a a group of five school who's done games for a while, um, you know, and and they move up the ladder.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_01: So I I knew someone here um and and it worked out, and I'm incredibly thankful that it did.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_03: We are too.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_03: I I love tuning in and listening to you and Matt.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_03: And I I have the Tune In Radio app on my phone, so I I usually have y'all in my ears while I'm watching the game a lot of the times, and uh just just always really enjoy listening to y'all.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_01: So um and let me tell you about this too.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_01: Speaking of apps, um, obviously there's a Hale State app, you can listen to it there.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_01: The varsity app is another app that's free, and not only can you listen to us, but any other broadcast that's produced by Learfield, you can kind of spin the dial, so to speak, there and listen to all of those for free during the course of the day.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_01: And and one of my favorite things too is coming to the games.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_01: I put mine on the College Football Blitz, which is like their version of Red Zone Radio.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_01: And whenever a team has a ball and they're going to score, uh you get that team's announcers and you get to hear different people from different parts of the country and different perspective.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's a kind of cool thing to do on your way to and and and from the game.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, after our pregame and post-game show, obviously, but it's uh it's something I think that that that's kind of fun and gives you a different look too.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_01: So if you're talking about apps, uh that Hale State app and varsity app, put those on your phone and and give that a time too.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_01: Different way, maybe to hear what we're doing and what some other folks are doing.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, definitely do that.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_03: Well, uh since you're going back back this weekend, is there anywhere that you have in mind you're planning to eat or anywhere you're anything you're wanting to see while you're there?
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_03: Anywhere you'd recommend people visiting town that that would go check out?
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: As far as it goes for me, I I'll see some people around the game, but but I'm I'm pretty I'm pretty shut in.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: You know, there's just so much going on.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's tough for us to to get out and do a ton that's not just immediate to the hotel.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_01: Uh for people who are going maybe early in the week, um, Thursday or Friday, um, what I would tell you if you haven't been before, uh Keeneland is running.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they run in April and October.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, if you've never been to a horse race, that's a great place to see your first one.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, it is I've been to Churchill Downs, uh, and everybody when you think about horse racing, I think as it relates to the Commonwealth, you think of Churchill Downs because it hosts the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown Race, it's in Louisville, big city.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um having been to both, Keeneland, in my opinion, is infinitely better.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's it's like the Wrigley field of horse racing.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_01: There is nothing there that really doesn't belong there.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um it's small, intimate, you can get close to the horses.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um you it's a beautiful place, number one.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's just gorgeous.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um and you can spend a day out there and you will see the widest range of people.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um I I would go, I I'm not much of a horseman, I I don't know much about it.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, I might take$20 and play for fun, you know, but um I I would go and watch people more often than not.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_01: And you will see a guy who looked like he just finished shoveling out the barn who might have two dollars in his back pocket and he's got a tip, and he's gonna leave there with two thousand uh because of the long shot.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_01: You'll see someone else walk in in the finest suit of clothes maybe you've ever seen, or get out of the finest car you've ever seen, and you will see a great number of people there who look exactly like you that are just there to enjoy taking into culture or maybe know a little bit about the horses and and will go and see it.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_01: It is a great cultural experience.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so if you've never done it, do it.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, um you'll enjoy it.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of places to eat, there are you know, Lexington's a town, 330,000 people.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they've they've got all kinds of great places.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know what I lived, I lived a few blocks away from what I still believe is the greatest Mexican restaurant I've ever eaten at.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Mi Pequinha Hacienda off of Nicholasville Road there in Lexington.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_01: Check that out.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_01: Those folks do a really good job if you're into that.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um there are great steak places like Malone's and Carson's, Tony's, if you really want to be high-end, uh, that are kind of local and unique to Lexington.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_01: Uh my favorite lunch spot was a place called Suggins that's close to the stadium.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_01: Uh there were two ladies in there, Sheila and Janet, who before I got married basically made sure that I ate at least two meals a day because I'd stop in there and they'd always take care of me.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, and and it's easier sometimes for me in basketball to go up and hit some of those places along the way.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_01: But um, yeah, you you can't really go wrong.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's it's a good place filled with good people.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I would definitely tell you though, because the game is in October, if you haven't been to the horse race, go to the horse race on Friday or or maybe even early Saturday, go catch maybe the first couple and then come back and and get ready for the game at the stadium.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I think you'll really enjoy that if you've never done it.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I went uh when we were in college, we played at Kentucky at Ruperena in 2005.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_02: And uh and I had I really enjoyed my trip to Kentucky that that time.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_02: I went and ate and I was introduced to something called Kentucky Hot Browns.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_02: Have you ever had that deal?
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_02: So my goodness.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, started at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, okay where it was first served.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um it's comfort food at its best.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it will comfortably clog your arteries.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but again, another one of those things where everybody, I think, should have one.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um I'm trying to think in town.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_01: Boy, the best one in town.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I don't know that I've got a great answer on that either.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um used to be the Campbell House Hotel uh on Harrodsburg Road, and I'm not sure that the Campbell House is open anymore.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_01: It may have changed ownership, so I don't know if they still have it or not.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um but most reputable local restaurants will have some version of a hot brown.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I would tell you too, if you go to Keeneland and go to the turf kitchen at Keeneland, they may serve a hot brown.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: Don't hold me to that, but they may serve one.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um so yeah, try one.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh if you're going as a couple or as a family, maybe get one and share it.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_01: That's a lot for one person.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so maybe get one and everybody try a little bit of it, and you won't feel quite as bad.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, that's that that's uniquely Kentucky.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the hot brown is uniquely Kentucky.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_03: Well, uh this these are some great tips.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_03: I think uh hopefully some of our our crowd will be up there.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_03: I know that the Kentucky basketball crowd definitely travels.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so hope I don't know about their football crowd, but hopefully we can have a few gulags up there in the sands to help us out.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, typically it's been a game where state has traveled well.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_01: The two times I've been there, it's a game the band usually goes to, so that adds some atmosphere.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I would tell you too, I mean, and I'm a little biased because you know, my my my two places I've worked are are there and and obviously here at state, uh, it's an underrated place to watch a football game, I think.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um so much of the focus there is on basketball with the history of it and everything going on.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_01: But I even when I wasn't working on game days uh during football season, you know, early in my career up there, if I can find tickets or a way to go to the game, I always went to football games because I just always thought it was a lot of fun.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um it is it's not going to be high on anybody's list when you think about the the big stadiums in the league and all that, probably and the history and the tradition of a lot of the programs, but it is a very low-key good place to watch a football game, I think, in this conference.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_04: Nice.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_03: Well, Neil, um one one thing I was gonna mention is we uh we started this podcast to support our website, johnnypacker.com, and we sell some coffee on the website.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_03: And everybody that buys some coffee on there, we we donate a percentage of that sale to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and we also have an opportunity where people can go in there and round up if they if they want to donate a little bit more and we'd love to send you a bag of our coffee um so you can give it a shot and see what you think and I know that your colleague Matt there is a big coffee drinker so feel free to share some with him um if you'll shoot us your your address after this I'll be sure to send you a bag and just let me know kind of what if you like dark medium light or even if you don't like coffee we'll still be glad to send you some for somebody else to try.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_02: Oh no I drink plenty of coffee now I I run on coffee these days uh I appreciate that I really do I'll take you up on that sure well I'd say this is the part of the show where where John and I make predictions about uh what what we think is going to happen in the game here but was there anything else you you wanted to ask Neil John no I think I think that just covered it all I appreciate Neil coming on today and and uh and sharing your experience uh working at Kentucky and then and then working at Mississippi State now and I and from from a personal standpoint I just want to thank you thank you for being the voice of the Bulldogs you know growing up listening to listening to Jack Crystal I know Jack Crystal if he was alive today would be so proud of you Neil uh you you do such a great job and and we're very fortunate to have you in Mississippi State.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_01: Well I appreciate it and you know Jack and Jim set a really high standard here and I I've told people from day one I'll never be either one of them uh but we kind of chase that example and if I keep chasing that example I think I'll be on the right path.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I try to incorporate some elements uh of things Jack might have said and try to keep some of the good memories alive um including the after winds you know rapid maroon and white and we debated about that now that was a that was a group discussion when I first got here with with John and and John talked to some other people when he'd go around speaking alumni chapters or you know civic groups whatever and we asked people should we do that and you know I think it was kind of it was kind of 50-50 but it felt like Jack did it for so long that it was certainly it was certainly him without question.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_01: But it also felt like it was a tradition of the place.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so you know we do it in the spirit of of not trying to mimic Jack or or or copy him or rip off anything that he did in any way but just to kind of keep that good memory and keep his legacy alive in that way.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_01: And it's cool to get to do it.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_03: It really is uh and hopefully we get to say it a whole lot more you know saying it five out of the first six is pretty good we can keep going absolutely yes sir well all right Neil we'll we'll let you go so thank you thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us here all right guys thank you I appreciate it all right Johnny that was great uh pretty excited about the game I wish I could go up there and see Keenan that sounds like a cool place um I've been over to Hot Springs a long I I've been to Hot Springs recently they have Oaklawn the racetrack over there I went over there with friend of the program Kevin Langston back when I was probably 12 or 13 and I feel like I don't know how I did it but they let me gamble on the race I feel like I had some money and put it I don't know if maybe his parents went and made the made the bet for us or not but it was always it was really fun to go over there and see that.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_03: And of course we have the dog track here in West Memphis I think it's actually closing now.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_03: So I always enjoy watching the races and putting five bucks on a long shot.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that may be a place we need to visit sometimes yeah that that seems like a pretty cool thing you know I've always I've always been been big into the Kentucky Derby watching it and it just seems like such a cool thing the horse races uh everybody dresses dresses up for it and places bets on it and and uh yeah it's just uh pretty cool thing to do I've never I've been to Kentucky um University of Kentucky for a basketball game uh at Rupp Arena but I've never been to a football game there but man um you know when we were in college and and in the 90s Kentucky football just wasn't anything you know it was one of those games on the schedule where you're looking like oh that's a that's a win you know and uh but wow mark stoops has come along and just really turned the Kentucky football program around and and uh it seems like it started with with Benny Snell man I remember uh he was that was a trash talking son of a gun I remember he was talking smack to us we played him in 18 I was like what what the heck I was like Benny Sna I mean Mississippi State I mean we were we rivals like you know it was just kind of weird and and they whooped us that year in 18 and then and then they played here and and we won in 19 and then and then um 20 we lost there and then 20 so it seems like every other year we're it's uh uh the home team wins so hopefully this year we can we can switch it up and and we can knock them out at at their place but uh yeah that uh seems like a big big rivalry game now for us it seems that way that so the year we went up there with Dak was it four 14 or 15 we had we had bowling ball yeah that was that was 14 we played Kentucky at Kentucky the first game as a ranked number one team in the country yeah yeah didn't did we win like was it 55 54 or something crazy like that it was uh no that was uh you're thinking of Arkansas um the next year that was a shootout like that but we did i remember we kind of struggled a little bit about against Kentucky uh but bowling ball I remember that sure did he had a big game and and we ended up winning and you know that was the first I think we stayed number one for five weeks in a row at that time in 2014 and that was the first week of the of the five week stay so yeah we we played we played good and then and then I think we dropped the the game uh in 16 the following trip up there and and we haven't won since I guess 14 is the last game we've actually won in Lexington so it's been a while but um but uh yeah they they seem to always play us tough um for one reason or another but they're they're a strong program coming on but I do feel like uh this is just my personal take I do feel like they're way overrated this year because you know they they and Ole Miss too come on now Ole Miss has Ole Miss's schedule reminds me I was tweeted something about this the other day reminds me of ours in 2012.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_02: If you remember Mississippi State football in 2012 we had an easy first half of the schedule we were eight going into Bama and then Bama steamrolled us and we ended up finishing the season eight and five so I feel like Ole Miss and Kentucky have that easy part of the schedule the first half it makes them look so good in the standings.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_02: And then the second part of the schedule we're gonna find out what they really made of because that Kentucky Ole Miss game I mean it was neck and neck and due to uh um Kentucky making a big error at the end Ole Miss ends up winning.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_02: So it's really hard to tell um uh when you play easy teams like this what you're really made of.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_02: So uh the second half of the season is going to show the full test for Kentucky and Ole Miss for sure.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_02: But um hopefully we can go up there and take care of business and and build off of what we've been doing in recent weeks.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_03: Well before we make our pick what what do you think about Tennessee?
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_03: I just I feel like it's the same thing.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_03: Because they beat Pitt or somebody like that early in the season and then Florida I mean I don't even know how Florida was ranked um when they beat them I mean that was a good game but you know we should have beat LSU and so I'm not surprised that that they were able to go down there and win but I didn't really expect them to win like they did.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_03: So I I can't decide if they're gonna hang with Bama or if Bama's gonna just turn it on and roll over and what's gonna happen.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah I picked LSU in our pick them last week to beat Tennessee.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_02: I felt like LSU was going to do it and they did not they got smoked.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_02: So um actually I'm pulling for LSU in all of our games because we need them if we can keep winning we need them to look good at being the only loss but but uh but yeah Tennessee is really hard to figure out you're right but that we're gonna know we're gonna know Saturday uh how what they're are they real or are they pretenders we're gonna find out because playing Bama uh we'll know if they if they hang with Bama or if they knock off Bama then they're the real deal but you know part of me thinks that they're gonna do that and part of me thinks they're just gonna get blown out.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_02: So um I don't know we'll we'll we'll know the answer to Tennessee uh after come Saturday night we'll know whether they're the real deal or not.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_02: You know Hen and Hooker everybody's getting this Hisman talk for him.
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_02: But come on man look at what Will Rogers is doing for Mississippi State.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_02: I mean it's just he's putting up are ridiculous and I feel like we're going under the radar again uh because of the whole Mike Cleach air raid thing but man you know it you know yeah anybody uh can play in the Mike Cleach air raid but the numbers that they're putting up like that I mean it takes a special talent and will is Will is awesome.
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_02: I can't say enough good things about him.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah anybody goes in Mike Cleach can have a big numbers but you're gonna have big numbers but you got to put them up and you got to play and and do everything.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_02: And Will Rogers is doing everything and and uh and he's a leader on and off the field and and I just don't feel like he's getting enough hype in the Heisman trophy talk for the numbers that he's putting up now look if we if we had knocked off LSU and and and go undefeated going to Bama I think people may talk about it like we did in in 14 but um we can't worry about the LSU game now all you can do is build off of what we've been doing in recent weeks take care of business again against Kentucky and then if we go into Bama and I'm not saying we're gonna win but if we go in and play it tough or we do put on the upset and Will keeps putting up the numbers he's gonna be way up there on the hospital talk.
• 31:52
  SPEAKER_03: So um so we'll see what happens well I guess I'll go ahead and make my prediction here I I've been a little on the fence about this because of just you know you get you fall into the trap of the rankings and all that kind of stuff but I agree I just I don't think Ole Miss is that good.
• 32:10
  SPEAKER_03: Um Kentucky should have beat Ole Miss but I still don't think they're that good.
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_03: And then I mean Kentucky didn't have their quarterback last week but still I mean they should have won that game um against South Carolina.
• 32:25
  SPEAKER_03: So I think it's because we have to go to Kentucky it's gonna be tough and like you said we haven't gone up there since 14 but I think we find a way to do it.
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_03: I think it'll be probably 35 to 28 is going to be my prediction.
• 32:41
  SPEAKER_02: 35 28 well um yeah when we did this podcast at the beginning of the year kind of talking about the season giving our predictions I remember I I said that we would um um I said that we we dropped LSU and then we'd come back around and build off of it and we'd be we beat AM but I also said we lose to either Arkansas or Kentucky I said we're gonna drop one of those games and uh I don't think we are now after seeing what's been going on with AM and Arkansas seem to be clicking and we beat Arkansas took care of it they didn't have their quarterback that uh you know in Kentucky I don't know what the deal is with that but um I'm not gonna say we're gonna drop one drop it now um I think we're gonna win I uh they've kind of changed my opinion on it and uh I feel like they're they're playing really um on all cylinders right now now the kicking game has got to step it up I mean there's no excuse no excuse uh man you know one of our good friends uh Brandon uh I see him uh post on Facebook all the time went mage um he he has a son Landon McGee who kicked at MRA one of the best kickers in the state and he keeps every week he keeps saying Mike Leach look at my son look at my son we need we need to get Mike Leach and the coach and staff if they're listening to this mistake go look at Landon McGee because he I'm giving him a shout out because he is a he he's done great things as as being a kicker and and uh they he needs a shot the boy wants a shot let him uh I know I read yesterday where they said they were filled up with walk-on spots let the guy try out and you know I mean I feel like it hasn't uh affected us yet but the way it keeps going we're gonna lose a game coming down to kicks whether it's the extra point or a field goal something's got to change like right now and uh they got to work on that but everything else defense is doing really well um you know we can't give up seems like some some games we kind of let off at the very end our foot off the break we got to uh stay focused the whole whole game through but as far as we'll hitting the receivers and I'm loving the running game oh my gosh I'm loving that Mike has has adjusted I feel like I hope he can continue it I mean we're rushing for over 100 yards and we're rushing for over 100 yards and throwing for over 300 yards we're gonna win just about every game so uh so they've got to they gotta keep doing that and uh and uh and we'll be successful so uh so my prediction is I'm gonna I'm gonna put say you know I've been saying 35 40 42 points every week we've both been saying that and uh I'm gonna say the same thing I'm gonna say 35 to 17 Bulldogs hey so we'll see what happens only other thing I'll say is Dylan Johnson man I worry about that that hoodie he's wearing underneath his his shoulder pads there somebody's gonna grab that thing and pull him down horse collar or something like that but hey keep running man that is awesome when he when that first drive and we just took that ball and just ran ran ran I said we got this game if we keep doing that yeah yeah man like I wasn't thinking about that it's gotta be hot man wearing a hoodie under uh and it was a hot hot game I was like man how's this guy doing this but uh hey man maybe it's superstition I don't know but uh he he put it so hopefully we can keep it up and and getting a getting a road a road win in the SEC a road win in general is hard road win in the SEC is very very hard so hopefully uh they can take care of business in Lexington and and build off of it um before they have to travel to Dama next week so uh so we're both pulling pull for the Bulldogs uh to get the pick of the Bulldogs to get the win we'll see what happens uh as far as our Yahoo Pick'em league we got coming on um friend of the uh programs one of my good friends uh Tommy Robinson I'm giving you a shout out he's the uh pastor at the church I went to with Madison uh for many years he and uh ended up coming in first place uh last week in our pick'em he tied with uh a guy named Marty Marty if you're listening to this I don't know your last name I don't know your email address just says Marty so get in touch with us um because we owe you and and Tommy a a bag of coffee for winning our pick'em for last week so um so yeah it's gonna be interesting uh I think elite mother still we never heard back from you uh you're number one brand is two and I'm three in the overall standing so uh so it's neck and neck going down to the wire so if you're making your picks keep it up if you're not making your picks you're out of luck with the overall standings but you can't win on in win on a week so uh we'll see what happens.
• 36:59
  SPEAKER_02: It's really cool man I'm really enjoyed I'm glad we did this uh really as a way to as to um spread awareness about CF and the cough and stuff but also having fun making picks because it's it's fun to watch other games and see what you picked and then see who's leading and all that sort of stuff each week as it gets involvement in it which is pretty cool.
• 37:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah all right Johnny hopefully we're talking about a victory next week so go to Kentucky if you're going get some Kentucky hot browns to eat it you'll you you'll be happy it's very good stuff so check it out all right well thank y'all for listening all right later