Latest / The Mike Keith Show / The Mike Keith Show | JOSH HEUPEL, MIKE MATTHEWS (10.8.26)

Transcript

The Mike Keith Show | JOSH HEUPEL, MIKE MATTHEWS (10.8.26) · The Mike Keith Show

0:00
SPEAKER_13: From the peaks of the smokies to the banks of the Mississippi.
0:06
SPEAKER_13: This is your home for the University of Tennessee.
0:20
SPEAKER_13: This is the Vall Network.
0:26
SPEAKER_13: Inside Access, behind the scenes.
0:29
SPEAKER_13: From Rocky Top, direct from the coaches.
0:32
SPEAKER_13: Inside from the players, the inside track.
0:36
SPEAKER_13: Mike Keith starts now.
0:42
SPEAKER_11: Welcome to the show as we get you ready for Tennessee at Arkansas.
0:45
SPEAKER_11: Kickoff set for 415 Eastern, 315 Central from Fayetteville, and we'll be on the air with the Vall Radio Network at 1.30.
0:53
SPEAKER_11: On this edition of the Mike Keith show delivered by Uber Eats, wide receiver Mike Matthews, Jason Swain has the Planet Fitness Heavy Lift for the balls in Fayetteville this weekend.
1:04
SPEAKER_11: Brett Hobbs explains how the big orange will need to be built forward tough against the Hogs.
1:11
SPEAKER_11: And of course, the message leading into Saturday with Tennessee head coach Josh Heipel.
1:16
SPEAKER_11: It's up now, presented by Calhoun.
1:21
SPEAKER_11: Josh Heipel, who's starting at quarterback for Tennessee on Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
1:28
SPEAKER_02: That's one way to start the show, right there.
1:30
SPEAKER_02: Let's go, right?
1:31
SPEAKER_02: No chance, I'm telling you.
1:32
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
1:33
SPEAKER_02: No chance.
1:33
SPEAKER_02: None.
1:34
SPEAKER_02: Okay, even for like 20 bucks.
1:36
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, can't do it.
1:37
SPEAKER_11: I got 20 bucks.
1:38
SPEAKER_11: Can't do it.
1:39
SPEAKER_13: All right.
1:41
SPEAKER_11: So is there a competitive advantage in not saying who the starting quarterback is at Arkansas?
1:46
SPEAKER_11: And if so, what is the competitive advantage?
1:50
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh anytime as uh as a coach, uh you know exactly what you're getting, who you're getting, skill sets that you're facing, and it's all at all positions, but certainly at that position too.
2:02
SPEAKER_02: Um, it allows you the luxury of being able to scheme throughout the course of the week in preparation.
2:08
SPEAKER_02: Uh, there's gonna be differences in how you call the game, uh, differences in uh what you're practicing uh to face an opponent.
2:17
SPEAKER_02: So uh find out Saturday.
2:19
SPEAKER_11: Find out Saturday.
2:20
SPEAKER_11: Okay, fair enough.
2:21
SPEAKER_11: Let me talk about Deshaun Bishop coming off 34 carries.
2:24
SPEAKER_11: Do you have to handle his week differently?
2:27
SPEAKER_02: Uh certainly uh the beginning of the week, we're mindful of that.
2:30
SPEAKER_02: Uh obviously, Deshaun heavy workload, uh, but that can be true at a lot of different positions.
2:35
SPEAKER_02: Um and uh so you take that information, uh, that's kind of the science behind it, and how do you build their week uh getting the work that they have to get in, uh, but being mindful um with everything that's gone on?
2:48
SPEAKER_02: How are they at their best Saturday afternoon when you kick the ball off?
2:51
SPEAKER_11: Dewan Morris had been playing so well, had a couple of bad moments in the Auburn game.
2:56
SPEAKER_11: How do you kind of get him back?
2:57
SPEAKER_11: Because this football team's certainly gonna need him.
3:00
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh you play ball, it's not gonna be perfect.
3:02
SPEAKER_02: Um, there's some things that he would do differently.
3:04
SPEAKER_02: Um being intentional in the in the course of your week and your preparation, but uh also your practice habits all lead up to it.
3:13
SPEAKER_02: Um he he's been great this week and uh he'll be ready to go play really well in Saturday.
3:18
SPEAKER_11: And been good all season in terms of where he's come from since he arrived on campus.
3:23
SPEAKER_02: And uh the game's not perfect.
3:25
SPEAKER_02: Uh we all want it to be.
3:26
SPEAKER_02: That's what we're striving for.
3:28
SPEAKER_02: We're striving for perfection every day.
3:30
SPEAKER_02: Uh understanding as as coaches and your players gotta understand that too, that it's it's never going to be, hasn't been for anyone in any ballgame.
3:38
SPEAKER_11: Thoughts about Arkansas's defense and what will be the challenge.
3:41
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh challenge.
3:42
SPEAKER_02: Uh we faced this uh defense coordinator uh previously.
3:46
SPEAKER_02: Um he'll present different structures, uh pressures.
3:50
SPEAKER_02: Um I think through the course of the season, uh, with his defensive personnel, uh, he's continuing to evolve to fit it to them.
3:59
SPEAKER_02: Uh as he's found out more um the line of scrimmage.
4:02
SPEAKER_02: I say it every week.
4:03
SPEAKER_02: That's where the game starts for us uh offensively.
4:06
SPEAKER_02: We got to do a great job of uh creating some scenes in the run game that happens uh because of communication.
4:13
SPEAKER_02: It happens because of physicality and fundamentals and technique.
4:16
SPEAKER_02: Uh your tight ends are gonna be a huge part of that one, and uh uh we got to make you know create movement, get our guys to the third level, and then we gotta go create some big plays in it.
4:26
SPEAKER_11: For your defense, second straight week playing a very mobile quarterback challenge, especially for the front seven going against KJ Jackson.
4:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh line of scrimmage, gap integrity, um, but you got to be able to tackle him.
4:40
SPEAKER_02: Uh that's in some quarterback design run.
4:43
SPEAKER_02: Uh it's when they do drop back, uh, his ability to extend, find a lane, escape it, and make plays with his feet.
4:51
SPEAKER_02: It forces you to have gap integrity.
4:54
SPEAKER_02: It forces you to destruct and get off of blocks uh when they're in plus one in the run game.
5:00
SPEAKER_11: I want to ask you an overall question about your your football team, but I can't believe we're almost to the halfway point of the season.
5:06
SPEAKER_11: So many young guys, freshmen, sophomores starting to come on and play bigger roles with this team.
5:13
SPEAKER_11: It's very exciting.
5:14
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh young guys uh continuing to grow.
5:17
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, I think a great example of that is Joel uh Wyatt's impact on the football game last Saturday.
5:24
SPEAKER_02: Uh a guy that uh has been playing gunner for us.
5:27
SPEAKER_02: He's playing on uh really all of our teams and uh just continues to grow.
5:31
SPEAKER_02: And uh I talked about it uh on Monday with our guys.
5:35
SPEAKER_02: That's a guy that we challenged late in training camp to really start taking some ownership and taking strides um to be ready to to go play at a high level.
5:45
SPEAKER_02: And he's continued, he's become a great practice player, and that's parlayed itself into him playing consistently out on the edge.
5:52
SPEAKER_02: And last Saturday he changed the way the game was played.
5:54
SPEAKER_11: Well, because Josh Heipel firmly believes that if you prove yourself on special teams and we can trust you, then you're gonna get downs on offense or defense when the time comes.
6:04
SPEAKER_11: You're gonna get those reps.
6:05
SPEAKER_02: You don't know when your opportunity is coming.
6:06
SPEAKER_02: You better be prepared for your opportunity and uh be ready to go hit it in the mouth.
6:10
SPEAKER_02: Uh Tevis Metcalf last week at Nickel, a great example of that.
6:14
SPEAKER_02: Uh finds out, you know, extremely late in the week he's gonna be uh starting and uh he goes and plays extremely well.
6:20
SPEAKER_02: It's because of how he prepared and practice.
6:23
SPEAKER_02: Coaches and your teammates are gonna trust what they see.
6:26
SPEAKER_02: Uh, it's not just once you get in the game, it's before you're there.
6:29
SPEAKER_02: And uh uh young guys continuing to grow and understand those things.
6:33
SPEAKER_02: So if I go up from$20, we not today.
6:37
SPEAKER_11: Not today.
6:38
SPEAKER_11: Josh Heipel, we tried, right?
6:40
SPEAKER_11: We tried.
6:40
SPEAKER_11: Josh Heipel with us on this edition of the Mike Keith show, and he's always brought to you by Calhoun's.
6:46
SPEAKER_11: Mike Matthews is up next.
6:48
SPEAKER_11: That's a pretty good player.
6:49
SPEAKER_11: Absolutely.
6:50
SPEAKER_11: They'll keep him.
6:50
SPEAKER_11: Mike Matthews next on the Mike Keith Show.
6:52
SPEAKER_11: Stay with us.
6:54
SPEAKER_13: This is the Mike Keith Show.
6:56
SPEAKER_13: It's side access, delivered by Uber Eats.
7:00
SPEAKER_01: Today's show is sponsored by Pilot, official travel stop of the vault.
7:04
SPEAKER_01: See you out here by First Horizon, Big Bank Muscle, Small Bank Hustle, by Food City, the official supermarket of the Tennessee Volunteers.
7:14
SPEAKER_01: UT Medical, the official health care provider of the vault.
7:17
SPEAKER_01: Bradley Roofing, let us fix your lead, the proud official roofer of the big orange.
7:23
SPEAKER_01: By Farm Bureau Insurance, the official insurance of the vault.
7:27
SPEAKER_01: Tennessee insurance for Tennessee Life.
7:31
SPEAKER_12: Being at the Valls game saved my life.
7:34
SPEAKER_12: It was a normal day going to the game with my son, but this time it felt like a sledgehammer hit my chest.
7:40
SPEAKER_12: The UT medical team knew exactly what they needed to do, and just kept me calm throughout the process.
7:47
SPEAKER_12: It was probably the most serious heart attack that you could have.
7:51
SPEAKER_12: The team took care of me, worked quickly, efficiently, and I did catch the end of the game.
7:57
SPEAKER_01: These are the stories of the region's academic health system.
8:01
SPEAKER_23: Hey ball fans, I'm Nathan Robinson.
8:04
SPEAKER_23: Looking for a new home?
8:05
SPEAKER_23: Find your home sweet home with Clayton, Oakwood, and Love Homes.
8:08
SPEAKER_23: Whether you're buying your first home or searching for your forever home, there are teams across Tennessee are here to help.
8:13
SPEAKER_23: With 31 locations statewide and energy smart homes built for comfort, quality, and savings, there's never been a better time to make your move.
8:21
SPEAKER_23: Visit your local home center today and turn every game into a home game.
8:25
SPEAKER_23: Clayton Homes, Oakwood Homes, and Love Homes.
8:28
SPEAKER_23: Proud sponsors of Tennessee Athletics.
8:30
SPEAKER_23: Go Vault.
8:33
SPEAKER_07: Out of here.
8:41
SPEAKER_07: Out of here.
8:49
SPEAKER_07: Out of here.
8:59
SPEAKER_07: Let's get out of here.
9:03
SPEAKER_23: Sometimes it's not just protecting the core back.
9:06
SPEAKER_23: Some talent is all in the matter.
9:08
SPEAKER_23: Some talent is no one to do it.
9:12
SPEAKER_21: We protect each other.
9:13
SPEAKER_21: We protect the same way.
9:15
SPEAKER_21: Protect your most difficult depending on where you stay.
9:18
SPEAKER_21: Whether it's protecting the cornerback or protecting what matters at all.
9:21
SPEAKER_21: The responsibility is to study S five methods.
9:24
SPEAKER_21: Designed to inspire, made to protect, ruined.
9:32
SPEAKER_02: When you travel across the great state of Tennessee, one thing you're sure to find is big orange passion.
9:37
SPEAKER_02: You see it throughout every inch of the volunteer state, just like you see First Horizon.
9:42
SPEAKER_02: Serving communities big and small.
9:44
SPEAKER_02: Offering big bank products with small bank passion.
9:48
SPEAKER_02: What else do you need?
9:49
SPEAKER_01: Big bank muscle.
9:51
SPEAKER_01: Small bank hustle.
9:52
SPEAKER_02: That's First Horizon, the official bank of the vault.
9:56
SPEAKER_02: Probably serving Tennesseans for over 160 years.
10:06
SPEAKER_06: Vaping isn't harmless.
10:08
SPEAKER_06: Most vapes contain nicotine, and nicotine can lead to addiction, especially while your brain is still developing.
10:14
SPEAKER_06: And once you're hooked, it's not easy to just stop whenever.
10:18
SPEAKER_06: You've got goals.
10:19
SPEAKER_06: Sport, school, friend.
10:22
SPEAKER_06: A future you're building right now.
10:24
SPEAKER_06: Don't let a trend decide that for you.
10:26
SPEAKER_06: Protect your potential.
10:28
SPEAKER_06: Be TN strong.
10:31
SPEAKER_20: In the heart of every community, caring comes naturally.
10:35
SPEAKER_20: At Farm Bureau Health Plants, we are your neighbors, your friends, and partners in health.
10:42
SPEAKER_20: We believe everyone deserves the very best care tailored to your unique needs.
10:46
SPEAKER_20: Become a valued member of our family, and we'll take care of you and yours.
10:51
SPEAKER_20: Together we care.
10:53
SPEAKER_20: Together we grow.
10:54
SPEAKER_20: Together we thrive.
10:57
SPEAKER_20: Farm Bureau Health Plans.
10:59
SPEAKER_20: Plan on us.
11:05
SPEAKER_11: Our next guest on the Mike Keith show is Mike Matthews, number four.
11:10
SPEAKER_11: Welcome.
11:11
SPEAKER_11: So glad to see you.
11:13
SPEAKER_11: Does anybody ever get confused because Ty Redmond's number four and you're number four and you're both from like Atlanta?
11:19
SPEAKER_18: Yeah, it happens sometimes, but um, it's whatever.
11:23
SPEAKER_11: It's whatever.
11:24
SPEAKER_11: It's well, we know four catches, 57 yards, you had the big 41 yarder in the win over Auburn.
11:30
SPEAKER_11: When that play happens, how does it develop that you're going to be able to not only get open to catch the pass, but then make something happen after the catch?
11:39
SPEAKER_18: Uh really just the progression of the game, just learning how the defense is playing and what type of looks are they playing.
11:45
SPEAKER_18: Like are they very aggressive?
11:46
SPEAKER_18: Are they kind of soft or just whatever looks I may get?
11:49
SPEAKER_18: So, but also just trusting myself, you know, just running through the ball, catching it, and just playing ball out there.
11:56
SPEAKER_11: And you know at that point you've got to get north and south.
12:00
SPEAKER_11: Is is that the most important thing that any young football player, especially a receiver, has to learn when you play in the SEC?
12:08
SPEAKER_18: Yeah, it's a little different because in high school, you know, you could juke a lot, you could make a lot of plays out of nothing.
12:13
SPEAKER_18: But in the SEC, you know, it's a lot of great ball players out there, and they're just as good as you on the other side of the ball.
12:19
SPEAKER_18: So just gotta be smart and just get what you can.
12:23
SPEAKER_11: What are you most pleased about with your season so far through five games?
12:28
SPEAKER_18: Uh, you know, we started out very good, you know, even though we took one loss versus Texas, but you know, I feel like that really brought us together more and helped us push more because we were close to our goals right there, but just not yet.
12:41
SPEAKER_18: So we have another level to reach.
12:43
SPEAKER_11: When everybody talks about you, it doesn't matter whether it's Coach Heipel or Coach Pope, the receiver's coach, or your teammate.
12:52
SPEAKER_11: Everybody says Mike Matthews is hyper competitive.
12:56
SPEAKER_11: Hyper competitive.
12:58
SPEAKER_11: Do you consider yourself crazy competitive?
13:01
SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
13:02
SPEAKER_11: Okay, wait a minute, wait a minute.
13:03
SPEAKER_11: We got a look on our face now.
13:05
SPEAKER_11: We're gonna get a little closer to Mike here because this is gonna get serious.
13:08
SPEAKER_11: Alright, so are you hyper competitive about everything in life?
13:12
SPEAKER_18: Uh yeah, pretty much.
13:13
SPEAKER_18: Yeah.
13:14
SPEAKER_11: Like, what would you say?
13:15
SPEAKER_11: What's an example on a day-to-day basis that Mike Matthews is competitive about?
13:20
SPEAKER_18: Uh I would just say, like, just like the little things, just try to just be the best in just whatever it may be, or like say if it's as small as somebody like leaves something behind, and I just pick it up and say if like might be just trash, throw it out, or it might be something that he needs, just give it to him, just try to like I don't know, just try to get like one-o's and more positive things that I'm doing to try to do.
13:44
SPEAKER_11: Okay, so less about hyper competitive and more about detailed.
13:48
SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
13:49
SPEAKER_11: I've seen you block though.
13:51
SPEAKER_11: Pretty competitive when you block.
13:53
SPEAKER_11: Why do you take so much pride in blocking?
13:56
SPEAKER_18: Um, really just think about kinda just also what I was talking about, just having more positives on my side.
14:03
SPEAKER_18: I know that if I'm blocking hard for my teammates and they see me block hard for them, that's gonna make them want to block hard as well.
14:09
SPEAKER_18: Whenever it's a pass play come to me, so just trying to put that image out there showing that I'm willing to do anything for my team.
14:16
SPEAKER_11: But Mike Matthews being the major recruit, the big time star, all of that.
14:22
SPEAKER_11: Most guys like that are not interested in blocking.
14:25
SPEAKER_11: Where did that come from?
14:27
SPEAKER_18: Uh it's really just a one-to thing, you know.
14:29
SPEAKER_18: You can you can tease block, you can put you in ribosition, but at the end of the day, you gotta go in there, you gotta do the job.
14:37
SPEAKER_11: For you, in terms of of overall development, thinking about where you were two years ago, and then continuing this process with Coach Pope, where do you think your game and Mike Matthews as a person have come the furthest?
14:52
SPEAKER_18: I would say just my mental just how I process things, how I react to things, my composure, how intake information, and just really just all around just controlling the game is so kind of like just slowing it down and making it to where I have You're in control.
15:13
SPEAKER_11: Always but but that is that something you had to learn with that competitiveness?
15:19
SPEAKER_18: Yeah, because it's a time and place for everything.
15:22
SPEAKER_18: I'll say that.
15:23
SPEAKER_11: Could you play defense?
15:25
SPEAKER_18: Yeah.
15:26
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
15:26
SPEAKER_11: Would you you would you play corner safety?
15:29
SPEAKER_18: Um probably wherever they mean yes.
15:32
SPEAKER_11: Where would they okay, but I'm just w I mean, do you do you watch football sometimes?
15:36
SPEAKER_11: I can do that, I can do that.
15:37
SPEAKER_18: Yeah, because I play safety in high school, so I know a little bit, but you know it is tough.
15:43
SPEAKER_11: You got this sneaky look on your face.
15:46
SPEAKER_11: You're not telling the whole story.
15:48
SPEAKER_11: You you you like getting after guys.
15:50
SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
15:51
SPEAKER_11: Uh it's good.
15:52
SPEAKER_11: Well, uh enjoying watching you play so far this year.
15:55
SPEAKER_11: Let's talk about the group that made it possible for you to be on the show, Food City.
15:59
SPEAKER_11: They do an incredible job.
16:01
SPEAKER_11: You got a chance to visit a food city this summer and and meet some people.
16:04
SPEAKER_11: What was that like?
16:05
SPEAKER_18: Uh it was amazing.
16:06
SPEAKER_18: You know, it was a great scenery.
16:07
SPEAKER_18: There's a lot of great people there too.
16:09
SPEAKER_18: And then all the employees were very helpful.
16:11
SPEAKER_18: They helped us get situated.
16:13
SPEAKER_18: You know, we were doing some signatures.
16:14
SPEAKER_18: It was a lot of people there, but they still made sure the whole situation was under control.
16:19
SPEAKER_18: So it was a great time over there.
16:20
SPEAKER_11: Well, people really enjoy watching you play.
16:23
SPEAKER_11: Uh, I got a feeling you're about ready to just go off.
16:26
SPEAKER_11: I think I think it's about to happen.
16:28
SPEAKER_11: I I think you got a big one coming.
16:30
SPEAKER_11: No doubt about it.
16:31
SPEAKER_11: You're playing good football.
16:32
SPEAKER_11: Mike Matthews, thanks so much for the time.
16:34
SPEAKER_11: That's Mike Matthews, Tennessee wide receiver number four on defense.
16:38
SPEAKER_11: Number four is Ty Redman, who was on the show earlier this week.
16:41
SPEAKER_11: They're both from the Atlanta area, both playing well.
16:43
SPEAKER_11: Number four is well represented at the University of Tennessee right now.
16:47
SPEAKER_11: We've got more of the show right after this.
16:49
SPEAKER_14: It's time for this week in Big Orange Country, presented by Visit Knoxville.
16:54
SPEAKER_14: Plan your trip today at VisitKnoxville.com.
16:58
SPEAKER_05: It's time now for this week in Big Orange Country, presented by Visit Knoxville.
17:03
SPEAKER_05: Now, Tennessee football is on the road this Saturday, but there is still plenty of action to catch here on Rocky Top.
17:09
SPEAKER_05: Friday night features a double header of sorts, starting at Food City Center, where Tennessee volleyball welcomes Ole Miss for a 6 30 Eastern first serve.
17:18
SPEAKER_05: Then right down the road at Regal Soccer Stadium, Tennessee Soccer hosts South Carolina at 7 p.m.
17:23
SPEAKER_05: Eastern time in an SEC matchup under the lights.
17:27
SPEAKER_05: Then the weekend wraps up back at the Food City Center with Tennessee Volleyball hosting LSU at 2 p.m.
17:33
SPEAKER_05: Eastern.
17:34
SPEAKER_05: Meanwhile, Tennessee football travels to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas at 4.15 Eastern time on the SEC Network.
17:42
SPEAKER_05: That was a look at this week in Big Orange Country presented by Visit Knoxville.
17:46
SPEAKER_05: Plan your trip at VisitKnoxville.com.
17:50
SPEAKER_13: This is your home for coaches and players.
17:54
SPEAKER_13: One-on-one from Rocky Top.
17:56
SPEAKER_13: This is your Ball Network.
18:04
SPEAKER_11: BallQuest.com and the Ball Radio Network's Brent Hub joins me for the Built For Tough Truck Report.
18:12
SPEAKER_11: Getting ready for Arkansas.
18:14
SPEAKER_11: But first, I want to ask Brent about something he wrote earlier this week about Xavier Gilliam's performance in the Auburn game.
18:23
SPEAKER_11: You said, and I'm sort of quoting, that it was as good a performance as you had ever seen from a guy who was only credited with two tackles, which I guess in some ways speaks to what really is great interior defensive lineman play on a day-to-day basis.
18:44
SPEAKER_11: They don't always get noticed.
18:45
SPEAKER_22: No, they don't.
18:46
SPEAKER_22: And I thought he wore the center out.
18:48
SPEAKER_22: I mean, I just thought he was physically really good against Auburn center.
18:52
SPEAKER_22: He had a great beat on their snap count.
18:55
SPEAKER_22: Um, he really got a jump on things.
18:57
SPEAKER_22: You go back and look at the fourth and one stop.
18:59
SPEAKER_22: All the Auburn fans are wondering why you didn't sneak it.
19:03
SPEAKER_22: They weren't going anywhere on the sneak because of what he did at the line of scrimmage.
19:07
SPEAKER_22: You go look at Carson Gentle's um sack, that that that play that they had early in the game, it's all created by what Xavier Gilliam did.
19:16
SPEAKER_22: Uh so vertical, so in the backfield, uh, just disrupted so much stuff.
19:22
SPEAKER_22: When you talk about all the the rush lanes and and everything has to go together, but he forced Byron Brown to move in the pocket, but they had the perimeter cover, so it was a reduced space.
19:34
SPEAKER_22: He forced him into other people.
19:36
SPEAKER_22: I I what Xavier Gilliam has done at Tennessee is pretty remarkable to me.
19:41
SPEAKER_22: When you look at what he had done at Penn State, you knew he had some talent, but the gear he's found here, the level of play he's elevated to here, has just been terrific to watch.
19:50
SPEAKER_22: And he was dominant for a two-tackle day on Saturday.
19:54
SPEAKER_22: That's great.
19:54
SPEAKER_22: Good stuff.
19:55
SPEAKER_11: Okay, let's move to Arkansas.
19:58
SPEAKER_11: Are there even enough guys still on this roster who remember the loss there two years ago and can share it with the rest of the team?
20:08
SPEAKER_22: Yeah, you know, ironically, in the world of the transfer portal, when you think of all the turnovers, you think, yeah, that's not necessarily the case.
20:15
SPEAKER_22: But then you start looking at it, and Ariane Carter had seven tackles in that game.
20:21
SPEAKER_22: Jeremiah T.
20:22
SPEAKER_22: Lander had five or six tackles in the game.
20:24
SPEAKER_22: Deshaun Bishop had a handful of carries in the game.
20:28
SPEAKER_22: So there's a good number of guys who were actually on the field.
20:32
SPEAKER_22: Edwin Spielman played in that game on special teams.
20:36
SPEAKER_22: There are some guys who traveled, some guys who played, some guys who stood and watched, who certainly remember that game, um, which is really weird because we think, you know, everything's in the year to year, it's a brand new team every year.
20:48
SPEAKER_22: There is some history there with this last trip to Fayetteville.
20:53
SPEAKER_11: Talk to me about Ryan Silverfield, the new head coach at Arkansas.
20:57
SPEAKER_11: What did he do at Memphis?
21:00
SPEAKER_11: And he did, he was very successful there.
21:02
SPEAKER_11: What did he do there that he's trying to bring to Arkansas, trying to move their way, knowing it's very early in his first year?
21:12
SPEAKER_22: Well, you know, what's interesting about him is he's an offensive line coach, so he wants to have balance.
21:17
SPEAKER_22: But he he really cut his teeth with Mike Norvell at Memphis as an assistant under Mike.
21:23
SPEAKER_22: And Mike Norvell was a bit more of a spread guy.
21:26
SPEAKER_22: And in the AAC, there was a ton of points being scored.
21:29
SPEAKER_22: I mean, the final score in all those games every week feels like it's you know 52-48 or whatever.
21:34
SPEAKER_22: Yes, by law.
21:36
SPEAKER_22: I mean, it feels that way.
21:37
SPEAKER_22: And so I think it's kind of interesting.
21:40
SPEAKER_22: He reminds me in some ways a little bit of Alex Goish because Alex Golish came from Iowa State, rooted in the run game, multiple tight ends, and all of this kind of stuff.
21:50
SPEAKER_22: And then he goes and gets connected with Josh Heipel and he becomes a bit more of a spread guy and he kind of tries to hybrid some things.
21:57
SPEAKER_22: I think Ryan Silverfield, what he got to Memphis.
22:00
SPEAKER_22: When Mike Norvell left, he wanted to get a little more balance.
22:02
SPEAKER_22: He wanted to incorporate some of his stuff into what Mike Norvell was doing offensively.
22:07
SPEAKER_22: And that's sort of what he's bringing to Arkansas.
22:10
SPEAKER_22: He wants to run the football more than a lot of people think when they think of Memphis football and how many points they've scored.
22:16
SPEAKER_22: The challenge for them right now is they're just having a really hard time running the football.
22:20
SPEAKER_11: Speaking of running the football, we mentioned this week that the last ball to carry 34 times in a game was Jalen Hurd against Missouri in 2015.
22:30
SPEAKER_11: You would feel like that Josh Heipel does not want Deshaun Bishop to carry 34 times each week.
22:37
SPEAKER_11: It's certainly not been his style.
22:39
SPEAKER_11: And yet, now that he knows that he can do it, Brent, isn't that a big deal for him to know he has that in his back pocket with this team that we feel like is going to have to run the football to be successful all year long?
22:56
SPEAKER_22: Yeah, I mean, I think that you look at, and I don't want to say they're going to become the 24 team that ended up being a playoff team.
23:03
SPEAKER_22: You know, they leaned on Dylan Sampson, and he didn't get that volume of carries in a game, but but he carried the ball a lot.
23:11
SPEAKER_22: They leaned on him really hard.
23:13
SPEAKER_22: Um, there's certain years that that's just how it plays out, and that's how things go.
23:18
SPEAKER_22: And so, yeah, I mean, I think it's a nice comfort level that you've got a security blanket there in Deshaun Bishop.
23:24
SPEAKER_22: The thing that I I guess appreciated the most about Saturday's win is the realization that Deshaun Bishop had the hot hand and they just rode the hand in the second half.
23:36
SPEAKER_22: It was not never done that.
23:37
SPEAKER_22: Yeah, it was not let's continue with our rotation.
23:39
SPEAKER_22: Here's our sort of prescripted opening of each half, our third series, we're gonna get this tail back in or this whatever.
23:47
SPEAKER_22: It was this guy's hot.
23:48
SPEAKER_22: We've got to find a way to win this football game.
23:51
SPEAKER_22: He's our best path to victory is to feed him, and he certainly delivered for Tennessee.
23:57
SPEAKER_22: I think there is a security blanket in that if you're Josh Eiffel.
24:01
SPEAKER_11: Ron Roberts is the defensive coordinator at Arkansas.
24:04
SPEAKER_11: Last two years, he was the defensive coordinator at Florida.
24:08
SPEAKER_11: Tennessee obviously ran well at Florida last year.
24:12
SPEAKER_11: Arkansas is going to need to stop the run if they're gonna have a chance to beat Tennessee.
24:16
SPEAKER_11: Knowing that Ron Roberts has seen Deshaun Bishop and this running game before, how do you expect him to go about trying to slow down Tennessee on the ground?
24:27
SPEAKER_22: Well, I think he I think they have to load the box.
24:30
SPEAKER_22: And I think what they want to do and what he sort of wants to do when you watch them is they want to try to disguise some stuff and they want to try to be multiple and do some different things.
24:40
SPEAKER_22: I'm not saying what Jim Knowles is doing, but they want to try to give you a picture and then change the picture after the ball is snapped.
24:46
SPEAKER_22: They're having a hard time doing some of that and being fundamentally sound in all their gaps and everything that they need to be in.
24:54
SPEAKER_22: So I think he probably simplifies some things and probably loads the box and says, okay, we're gonna see if you can beat us throwing the football, because what I'm not gonna do is take that death by a thousand paper cuts and let you just continue just to run it.
25:07
SPEAKER_22: Now, you 200 plus yards by Texas AM, right?
25:12
SPEAKER_22: Um you know, Georgia had over 200 yards rushing.
25:15
SPEAKER_22: They've had a hard time stopping the run.
25:18
SPEAKER_22: So I think he's got to do whatever he can to try to stop the run in this game, which I don't think he changes his scheme dramatically, Mike, but I do think maybe they sell out a little more to stop the run.
25:28
SPEAKER_22: Is the kicking game now a weapon for Tennessee?
25:31
SPEAKER_22: Yeah, I mean, well, here's where the kicking game should have always been and has been a weapon.
25:35
SPEAKER_22: The punter can punt.
25:37
SPEAKER_22: Josh Turbiville can kick it.
25:40
SPEAKER_22: So those are two things that negate plays.
25:43
SPEAKER_22: If the other ten guys do it, they do their job.
25:46
SPEAKER_22: They negate, they negate potential plays.
25:49
SPEAKER_22: We saw that in the punt game on Saturday with the way uh Jackson Ross punted, with the way Joel White handled things out wide as the gunner.
26:00
SPEAKER_22: So, yes, I think it's a weapon.
26:02
SPEAKER_22: I think the the thing that Tennessee wants to continue to do is find a way to make a play that doesn't involve their kicker or their specialist.
26:11
SPEAKER_22: It's can the other ten guys create a play?
26:14
SPEAKER_22: We saw that obviously in the Texas game with the punt return for a touchdown.
26:19
SPEAKER_22: Uh, they've got a hand on a punt this year.
26:21
SPEAKER_22: They've had some mistakes that have cost them at a pump block at Georgia Tech.
26:26
SPEAKER_22: You don't take the knee at the three, you know, fielding that ball.
26:29
SPEAKER_22: But I think you're seeing a group of a special teams group getting better, but it's rooted around a bunch of veteran kickers that you have a lot, a lot of confidence and trust in.
26:40
SPEAKER_11: What's it like playing at Arkansas?
26:42
SPEAKER_22: Um it's it's for whatever reason, it's just been hard for Tennessee.
26:47
SPEAKER_22: And it's not the most intimidating place uh at all.
26:51
SPEAKER_22: It's just Tennessee's not played well out there, and I don't have any reason why.
26:56
SPEAKER_22: I mean, you go back to even in the 90s, you know, when they were playing in Little Rock, it wasn't great for Tennessee out there.
27:03
SPEAKER_22: Uh the 99 game, Tennessee felt like they were in control and let it get away.
27:08
SPEAKER_22: Um, when Tennessee went out there two years ago, they're up 10 points.
27:11
SPEAKER_22: You feel like they're in control.
27:13
SPEAKER_22: Tennessee's given up some fluky weird plays over there.
27:17
SPEAKER_22: You know, just some long runs, crazy pump return, just some weird plays that don't make a lot of sense.
27:24
SPEAKER_22: I don't find it the most, the loudest, most intimidating place.
27:28
SPEAKER_22: Tennessee's just for whatever reason not played well in that venue.
27:31
SPEAKER_11: Brett Hubs with the Belt Ford Tough Truck Report here on the Mike Keith Show.
27:36
SPEAKER_11: Thanks for being with us.
27:36
SPEAKER_11: Absolutely.
27:37
SPEAKER_11: See you in Faithful.
27:38
SPEAKER_11: I'll be there.
27:38
SPEAKER_11: All right, we'll be there coming up on the air at 1.30 Eastern, 1230 Central for a 415 Eastern Time kickoff from Arkansas.
27:48
SPEAKER_11: More of the show coming up right after this.
27:50
SPEAKER_14: It's time for the Sonic big play moment.
27:53
SPEAKER_14: Second and 16.
27:55
SPEAKER_14: Brandon to throw it.
27:57
SPEAKER_09: Under pressure hit as he throws the Tennessee.
28:00
SPEAKER_09: Tennessee coming to another one with Lemonine.
28:04
SPEAKER_09: Lemonine at the 40.
28:05
SPEAKER_09: Lemon at the 50.
28:07
SPEAKER_09: And Lemon will be technical just going to come at the 40-yard line of Lulburne that'll send it to the 43.
28:14
SPEAKER_14: If you're looking for a meal that's never boring and guarantees fun, look no further than Sonic and the$7 big deal meal.
28:22
SPEAKER_14: Sonic cheeseburger, small premium chicken bites, medium drink, and your choice of a medium tot or fry.
28:29
SPEAKER_01: You're one-on-one with Mike Key, sponsored by Food City, the official supermarket of the Tennessee Volunteers.
28:36
SPEAKER_01: By Farm Bureau Insurance, the official insurance of the vault.
28:40
SPEAKER_01: Tennessee insurance for Tennessee Life.
28:43
SPEAKER_01: By First Horizon, Big Bank Hustle, Small Bank Hustle.
28:47
SPEAKER_01: By Pilot, official travel stop of the vault.
28:51
SPEAKER_01: See you out here.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: By Rackley Roofing, let us Victor Lee, the proud official roofer of the Big Orn.
28:58
SPEAKER_01: And by UT Medical, the official healthcare provider of the vault.
29:28
SPEAKER_09: Your local Ford team.
29:33
SPEAKER_17: At Rackley Roofing, we are not a one-man team.
29:36
SPEAKER_17: We're actually not a two-man team.
29:38
SPEAKER_17: Everyone is a critical part of the journey.
29:40
SPEAKER_01: TV and two teams are not built by one person.
29:43
SPEAKER_01: Great companies aren't either.
29:45
SPEAKER_17: Like the Vols, coaches and players need to learn to handle the pressure, including the pressure of success.
29:52
SPEAKER_03: We invest in the next generation.
29:54
SPEAKER_17: We invest in our community.
29:56
SPEAKER_03: And most importantly, we invest in our employees.
29:59
SPEAKER_00: Want to change the world?
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Change it.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: One roof at a time.
30:10
SPEAKER_16: Sunny starting, it's a beautiful day.
30:16
SPEAKER_16: Wake up, sleepy head, get up and play.
30:21
SPEAKER_16: Everything's color, it's a beautiful day.
30:28
SPEAKER_16: Make every day brighter with the sunny, southern goodness of Mayfield Dairy.
30:33
SPEAKER_02: In Big Orange Country, we live for big moments, but we know there are surprises along the way.
30:39
SPEAKER_02: When you need help with auto, some peace of mind for your home.
30:47
SPEAKER_02: Are you preparing for the next chapter in life?
30:50
SPEAKER_02: Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee is there for you.
30:53
SPEAKER_24: That's why I trust Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee, the official insurance of the balls.
30:58
SPEAKER_24: Tennessee Insurance for Tennessee life.
31:01
SPEAKER_11: Not funny, guys.
31:03
SPEAKER_15: The future doesn't stand still.
31:06
SPEAKER_15: It moves in the work that starts before sunrise, in the businesses that keep Tennessee running, and in the people building what comes next.
31:15
SPEAKER_15: That's the power of natural gas.
31:17
SPEAKER_15: Reliable, efficient, empowering the businesses our communities depend on for a cleaner energy future.
31:25
SPEAKER_15: Because progress isn't something we wait for, it's something we build.
31:29
SPEAKER_15: Natural gas fueled for the future.
31:53
SPEAKER_02: Let the five times do the work for you.
31:55
SPEAKER_02: Let them pick up the time and your groceries will be ready.
32:03
SPEAKER_11: Saturdays are all about the big army.
32:06
SPEAKER_11: From the ruler of Nealand Stadium to the energy of the tailgate.
32:10
SPEAKER_11: One thing belongs on every game day menu.
32:13
SPEAKER_11: Calhoun.
32:14
SPEAKER_11: Whether you're dining in one of Calhoun's nine-area restaurant locations, taking the beef to your tailgate, or grabbing a bike from one of Calhoun's locations inside Nealan Stadium, Calhoun's makes it easy so you can focus on cheering the balls to victory.
32:29
SPEAKER_11: Calhoun, a taste of tennis team.
32:37
SPEAKER_11: It's time for the Planet Fitness Heavy Lift with Jason Swain of the Vol Radio Network and our flagship Sports Animal 99.1.
32:46
SPEAKER_11: The Heavy Lift is presented by Planet Fitness, the Planet Fitness Black Card, only$24.99 per month.
32:53
SPEAKER_11: Bring a friend and recover in the black card spa.
32:58
SPEAKER_11: Join today.
32:59
SPEAKER_11: See Home Club for details.
33:03
SPEAKER_11: Jason Swain.
33:04
SPEAKER_11: Hello.
33:04
SPEAKER_11: Hello, sir.
33:05
SPEAKER_11: How are you?
33:06
SPEAKER_11: I'm wonderful.
33:07
SPEAKER_11: What's going on?
33:08
SPEAKER_11: Uh just Tennessee winning.
33:09
SPEAKER_11: Tennessee winning is good.
33:11
SPEAKER_11: All right.
33:12
SPEAKER_11: Here's one for you.
33:13
SPEAKER_11: Vol historian Jason Swain.
33:16
SPEAKER_11: Deshaun Bishop's performance against Auburn reminded you of what vol performance from the past.
33:26
SPEAKER_08: I would have to go with Travis Stevens' performance in 2001.
33:30
SPEAKER_08: At Florida.
33:31
SPEAKER_08: Yes, I understand the stage was a little bit bigger than a lot to play for.
33:40
SPEAKER_08: But I think about the size of the two players.
33:43
SPEAKER_08: Deshaun Bishop was left off the Dulk Walker watch list early.
33:48
SPEAKER_08: Travis Stevens should have won the Dokk Walker award that year.
33:52
SPEAKER_08: And just going out and putting the team on his back, uh making guys miss in the hole, 200 yards rushing, just a great performance versus the SEC team.
34:00
SPEAKER_11: Now you don't win without him in either game.
34:02
SPEAKER_11: Absolutely not.
34:03
SPEAKER_11: So that was the first time in seven years that a Vol has rushed for 200 yards.
34:10
SPEAKER_11: 13th overall performance where a vol has rushed for 200 yards.
34:15
SPEAKER_11: The last being Eric Gray against Vanderbilt in 2019.
34:19
SPEAKER_11: And what's interesting is uh both of them were Mr.
34:23
SPEAKER_11: Football Award winners in the state of Tennessee.
34:25
SPEAKER_11: Now let's do some last time stuff.
34:27
SPEAKER_11: I want to see how good you are.
34:28
SPEAKER_11: You ready?
34:29
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
34:30
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
34:31
SPEAKER_11: The last time a vol passed for 300 yards.
34:35
SPEAKER_08: The last time we passed for 300 yards.
34:37
SPEAKER_08: Yes.
34:39
SPEAKER_08: Well, it had to be last year.
34:41
SPEAKER_08: Yes.
34:41
SPEAKER_08: It had to be against Georgia.
34:43
SPEAKER_08: No.
34:43
SPEAKER_08: You want to get Georgia?
34:45
SPEAKER_11: Um, you've got it.
34:46
SPEAKER_11: It's Joey Aguilar.
34:48
SPEAKER_11: And uh it was against Oklahoma.
34:50
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
34:50
SPEAKER_11: 393.
34:51
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
34:52
SPEAKER_11: Here's a here's a sort of a strange one.
34:55
SPEAKER_11: Last blocked field goal.
34:59
SPEAKER_11: At Florida, September 16th, 2023, Bryson Eason.
35:03
SPEAKER_08: Ah, okay.
35:04
SPEAKER_11: Now you're getting it.
35:05
SPEAKER_11: I'm just dying to see if you get this one.
35:07
SPEAKER_11: This is way off the grid.
35:08
SPEAKER_11: I need to get one right here.
35:09
SPEAKER_11: Last fake field goal.
35:13
SPEAKER_08: That was Kansas Al State.
35:16
SPEAKER_11: Let's fake extra points.
35:17
SPEAKER_11: They don't count.
35:18
SPEAKER_11: No.
35:20
SPEAKER_11: Yeah, I don't know.
35:21
SPEAKER_11: Last fake field goal was November 22nd, um, 2014 against Missouri.
35:28
SPEAKER_11: Patrick Ashford to Alex Ellis, TD.
35:33
SPEAKER_08: Okay.
35:33
SPEAKER_11: Last fake punt at Vanderbilt in 2020.
35:37
SPEAKER_11: Paxon Brooks to Henry Toe-O-Toe for 31 yards.
35:41
SPEAKER_11: Last opening kickoff return for a touchdown.
35:45
SPEAKER_08: Oh, that's Adam Barry, Arkansas.
35:48
SPEAKER_11: It's actually Ty Chandler, Indiana State, 2017.
35:53
SPEAKER_11: Last safety at Vanderbilt two years ago, Tyree West.
35:57
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
35:58
SPEAKER_11: Last blocked field goal for a touchdown.
36:01
SPEAKER_11: This is amazing.
36:02
SPEAKER_11: Tennessee's last blocked field goal for a touchdown happened against South Carolina in 1995.
36:08
SPEAKER_11: And for Brownsville, Tennessee, Tyrone Heights.
36:12
SPEAKER_08: Oh, okay.
36:13
SPEAKER_11: Okay, and here's the last one, then I'll stop, I promise.
36:16
SPEAKER_11: Last blocked PAT for two points.
36:21
SPEAKER_11: Oh, yeah.
36:21
SPEAKER_11: I have no clue.
36:22
SPEAKER_11: Okay, so the rule came into effect in 1988.
36:26
SPEAKER_11: It happened when Tennessee played Ole Miss in Memphis in 1990.
36:32
SPEAKER_11: Floyd Miley, who famously the next year ran back a blocked field goal at Notre Dame, he ran back the blocked PAT for two points.
36:44
SPEAKER_11: Uh the only vol to do it, Floyd Miley of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
36:47
SPEAKER_11: I feel like we should get more than two points.
36:49
SPEAKER_08: When you block an extra point and you return it, you should get more or two points.
36:52
SPEAKER_11: Wait, it happens so rarely.
36:54
SPEAKER_11: Yeah, I know.
36:54
SPEAKER_11: Especially in the college game with the extra point being 21 yards.
36:59
SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
37:00
SPEAKER_11: It happens more in the pros now that the extra point is 33 yards.
37:03
SPEAKER_11: All right.
37:04
SPEAKER_11: That was just a little fun.
37:05
SPEAKER_11: Sorry.
37:06
SPEAKER_11: I just I like fun.
37:07
SPEAKER_11: I like I mean, you're big into fun.
37:09
SPEAKER_11: I know this.
37:10
SPEAKER_11: Okay, I asked you before, Tennessee continues to have problems on third down.
37:14
SPEAKER_11: What must happen for Tennessee to improve offensively on third down?
37:19
SPEAKER_08: It's the same answer as you know, you hear everybody else say, right?
37:23
SPEAKER_08: You got to be better on first down.
37:24
SPEAKER_08: You can't have negative plays on first down.
37:27
SPEAKER_08: It makes it really hard when, you know, you have a gain of no yards or negative play, then it's second and 13, and then you get a couple of those yards back, and now it's third and seven, third eight, or third nine.
37:40
SPEAKER_08: It's just really hard because now the defense can tee off on you.
37:44
SPEAKER_08: Um you can't really run the ball in third and nine situations.
37:47
SPEAKER_08: So you really are pigeonholed to have to pass it.
37:50
SPEAKER_08: And now when you pass it, they they know you're passing it and it's gonna bring some pressure.
37:53
SPEAKER_08: So it's just really important to win on first down, have those third and threes, third and fours, because you can run.
37:59
SPEAKER_08: Or if you pass, you can scramble and pick up the first down with your legs, or you can throw a short pass for a first down.
38:05
SPEAKER_08: So it's it's about winning on first down.
38:07
SPEAKER_11: Let's talk Tennessee defense.
38:08
SPEAKER_11: Okay, I like this.
38:10
SPEAKER_11: I know.
38:10
SPEAKER_11: Is there a player or even a couple of players who have really made this defense go in terms of what Jim Knowles wants to do?
38:23
SPEAKER_11: A player?
38:25
SPEAKER_11: It's hard to pick out one player.
38:27
SPEAKER_11: Well, so that's a good answer.
38:28
SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
38:29
SPEAKER_11: Because if you're saying there's not one guy sort of stirring the drink, then that's probably what Jim Knowles would want to hear, right?
38:36
SPEAKER_08: Yeah, I mean, because you start up front with Gilliam and Wethersby and those guys up front, and it they they've been great.
38:44
SPEAKER_08: Yeah, die.
38:45
SPEAKER_08: He's been great at the fourth fumble um against Brown, against Auburn, and then you go to the second level, and there's not a lot of rush lanes.
38:53
SPEAKER_08: I mean, guys are playing discipline, uh taking on blocks, you know, fundamentally sound, reading the screens, not getting beat in the passing game against opposing running backs or tight ends, and then you go to the third level, the secondary.
39:04
SPEAKER_08: I mean, Ty Redman's play on the deep ball against Auburn.
39:08
SPEAKER_08: I mean, his maturity is shown.
39:10
SPEAKER_08: As a freshman, he probably gets a pass interference call, just really great patience and technique there.
39:15
SPEAKER_08: And then in the back end, Dejon Lane.
39:18
SPEAKER_08: I mean, who's who's playing better than him in this league right now from the safety position?
39:21
SPEAKER_08: So, I mean, his confidence is through the roof, and he's playing with a chip on his shoulder.
39:25
SPEAKER_08: Uh I mean, all three levels, guys are playing really well.
39:28
SPEAKER_08: That's what makes a defense good.
39:29
SPEAKER_08: It's not just one guy standing out, it's a bunch of guys doing their jobs.
39:33
SPEAKER_08: Go back to being a football player for us.
39:34
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
39:35
SPEAKER_11: You're sitting in a meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas for the Arkansas offense right now, and you're looking at the Tennessee defense.
39:44
SPEAKER_11: As you look at the Tennessee defense, what concerns you about trying to function against that unit right now?
39:53
SPEAKER_11: Really?
39:53
SPEAKER_08: I mean leading the league in sacks.
39:55
SPEAKER_08: I mean leading the country and country in sacks right now.
39:58
SPEAKER_08: And so I I think it starts there with the pass rush because you you want explosive plays.
40:02
SPEAKER_08: Well, you're gonna have time to push the ball down the field to get those explosive plays.
40:07
SPEAKER_08: And so you're really stuck to having to throw screen passes to the outside, which we saw Auburn do a lot of because they just didn't have the time to throw it down the field.
40:16
SPEAKER_08: And so it really helps, I mean, really hurts your playbook and your ability to call plays and and have uh a wide range of selection.
40:24
SPEAKER_08: I mean, it's tough.
40:25
SPEAKER_08: And so it starts with the uh, you know, on the front, and then you have athletic linebackers, and then Jim Knowles makes it tough too because he's doing things that you haven't seen before.
40:34
SPEAKER_08: He's bringing pressure from places that you're not expecting, and you got experienced guys on the back end that's not falling for double moves or you know, letting their eyes get them in trouble where the quarterback scrambles and they lose their man.
40:48
SPEAKER_08: I mean, everyone's just doing their job really well, but it starts with the pressure up front for sure.
40:52
SPEAKER_08: All right, let's end with this.
40:53
SPEAKER_11: You've played in Fayetteville, Arkansas before.
40:56
SPEAKER_08: I'm trying to forget it, Mike.
40:57
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
40:58
SPEAKER_11: I know it didn't go well.
41:00
SPEAKER_11: But it is notoriously a difficult place to play football.
41:04
SPEAKER_11: What makes playing at Arkansas so hard?
41:13
SPEAKER_08: They start calling the hogs.
41:15
SPEAKER_08: It's not pleasant.
41:17
SPEAKER_11: It's not a pleasant sign.
41:18
SPEAKER_11: So the first time you're on the field in 2006 and you hear them call the hogs.
41:23
SPEAKER_11: What do you think?
41:27
SPEAKER_08: It's kinda like Mississippi State.
41:28
SPEAKER_08: Right.
41:29
SPEAKER_08: I mean, you get these cowbells and it's constant.
41:32
SPEAKER_08: I mean, I guess it's how people feel when they come here and they hear Rocky Talk.
41:36
SPEAKER_08: Right.
41:36
SPEAKER_08: It's constant.
41:38
SPEAKER_08: Big Suey, call it the hogs, and you know, they make some plays early, but that they're not gonna stop and just makes it really, really difficult.
41:44
SPEAKER_08: And so it's really important to start fast, take the crowd out of the game.
41:48
SPEAKER_08: And I know they've been through, you know, some losing, but they love nothing more to beat Tennessee.
41:54
SPEAKER_08: They love beating Tennessee because they feel like Tennessee is here and they can get us.
42:00
SPEAKER_08: You know, we've had recruiting battles against some of those players.
42:03
SPEAKER_08: We've had Brett Smith's and the Several Houstons, Leslie Ratliffe.
42:06
SPEAKER_08: Yeah, leave that state.
42:08
SPEAKER_08: And so they they got a chip on their shoulder.
42:10
SPEAKER_08: So uh really dangerous place to play for sure.
42:12
SPEAKER_11: Good stuff.
42:13
SPEAKER_11: Yeah, man.
42:13
SPEAKER_11: We'll see.
42:14
SPEAKER_11: I enjoyed it.
42:14
SPEAKER_11: I'm looking forward to it.
42:16
SPEAKER_11: Seeing them call the Hogs.
42:17
SPEAKER_11: First time I saw it in 1993 in Little Rock, it's impressive.
42:21
SPEAKER_11: It is.
42:22
SPEAKER_11: I mean, if you love college football, it it really is one of those moments you're like you have to kind of have to tip the old cap and say, we hope you lose this game, but that's pretty strong.
42:32
SPEAKER_11: Yep.
42:32
SPEAKER_11: Jason Swain with our Planet Fitness Heavy Lift of the Week.
42:36
SPEAKER_11: Don't let them call the Hogs.
42:37
SPEAKER_11: That would be the overall tone of this.
42:40
SPEAKER_11: We've got more of the Mike Keith show coming up right after this.
42:49
SPEAKER_13: This is your ball network.
42:56
SPEAKER_11: Each Friday, we present the big interview here on the Mike Keith Show.
43:00
SPEAKER_11: This week, the big interview is Tennessee President Randy Boyd.
43:05
SPEAKER_11: You grew up roughly five miles from here, went to Doyle High School.
43:10
SPEAKER_19: Right.
43:10
SPEAKER_19: Graduated when you were 16.
43:12
SPEAKER_19: From high school at 16, started UT at 16.
43:15
SPEAKER_19: Graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville at age 19.
43:18
SPEAKER_19: I always tell people it wasn't because I was smart, but it was I was cheap.
43:21
SPEAKER_19: It just turns out that it's a lot cheaper to graduate early than it is to hang around.
43:24
SPEAKER_19: So you didn't exactly have all the AP credits and get through that way per se.
43:29
SPEAKER_19: Back in 1976, they didn't have AP credits.
43:32
SPEAKER_19: And you could oh the best you could do is a 4.0.
43:34
SPEAKER_19: None of this 4.3 or 5.0 or whatever that students can make today.
43:38
SPEAKER_11: But your dad didn't think you needed to go to college.
43:42
SPEAKER_19: Oh, that's right.
43:43
SPEAKER_19: Uh I'm the first one in my family's history to go to college.
43:45
SPEAKER_19: And I remember my last year of high school, um, my dad taking me aside saying, son, there's no need for you to go to college.
43:51
SPEAKER_19: College is a waste of time.
43:52
SPEAKER_19: You need a job, I can give you a job in the factory right now.
43:55
SPEAKER_19: That's the only reason why you go to college.
43:57
SPEAKER_19: But for me, um, I obviously I decided to go to UT.
44:00
SPEAKER_19: It was it was for multiple reasons.
44:01
SPEAKER_19: One, I actually enjoyed learning.
44:03
SPEAKER_19: I enjoyed the idea of learning new things.
44:05
SPEAKER_19: I might also uh just wanted the the accomplishment of having a degree.
44:09
SPEAKER_19: I thought it would just it would be something that I could carry on with me for the rest of my life to have a degree that I could uh look look on with pride.
44:16
SPEAKER_19: And then finally I had this vague idea that if I had a better uh education, I would probably be more successful.
44:22
SPEAKER_11: How does that background, that run from Doyle High School to come to UT, to say to your dad, I'm gonna go ahead and do this, then to work your way through college and to graduate three years, how is that experience most impactful today in what you do as Tennessee's president?
44:40
SPEAKER_19: Well, it makes me appreciate how hard it can be to get an education and how important it can be uh to someone's life and how transform transformational it can be.
44:49
SPEAKER_19: So my mission in life, prior to the University of Tennessee, I created something called Tennessee Achieves.
44:54
SPEAKER_19: We've now sent 133,000 young people to community or technical college free of charge.
45:00
SPEAKER_19: Um and uh so it's been a mission of mine for a long time.
45:03
SPEAKER_19: I would want to provide more people, like myself in particular, that first one of their family's history to go to college, that opportunity to go, making it affordable and accessible and transformational.
45:15
SPEAKER_19: So you're trying to give it back in as many different ways as you can.
45:19
SPEAKER_19: Well, you may know, but I'm a Boy Scout.
45:22
SPEAKER_19: I was a Boy Scout growing up, I was a Boy Scout master for 17 years, and we teach a lot of things about the motto, be prepared, et cetera.
45:28
SPEAKER_19: You know, all those.
45:29
SPEAKER_19: But the thing that I always put a lot of emphasis on is the code of the outdoors, which was I leave every trail better than you found it.
45:36
SPEAKER_19: And we literally did that.
45:37
SPEAKER_19: You know, if you were on a hike, if you saw a gum wrapper, it didn't matter if it was yours, you pick it up.
45:40
SPEAKER_19: You leave it better than you found it.
45:42
SPEAKER_19: But I always explain to the boys this is actually a metaphor for life.
45:45
SPEAKER_19: Wherever you go, whatever you do in life, make sure you leave it better than you found it.
45:49
SPEAKER_19: And so that's kind of my very simple goal in life is just to make the world a little better place for having been here.
45:55
SPEAKER_11: The steps in your life, it's it's been interesting in doing the research because some of them have made sense.
46:01
SPEAKER_11: And then some of them, like boy racing and climbing mountains and running marathons and the different being a university president, being a university president, have been a little like, oh, okay.
46:12
SPEAKER_11: But everything does tie together in a way to where you are now.
46:16
SPEAKER_11: And so I wondered about this.
46:18
SPEAKER_11: You made the commitment after working for Governor Haslum's administration to run for governor.
46:24
SPEAKER_11: What did you take from that?
46:26
SPEAKER_11: Just like your experience going to UT, what did you take from that that adds to your success today as the University of Tennessee's president?
46:34
SPEAKER_19: You asked one question.
46:35
SPEAKER_19: I'm going to answer two questions.
46:37
SPEAKER_19: Okay.
46:37
SPEAKER_19: So I think the first question is just about, you know, um how all these things happened.
46:42
SPEAKER_19: I talk about it.
46:42
SPEAKER_19: Sometimes I get to do a commencement speech, and I talk about believing in serendipity.
46:46
SPEAKER_19: So ever since I've been 19 years old, I've been I've kept a schedule of my goals.
46:51
SPEAKER_19: I used to keep it on a on a uh just a piece of paper in the back of a legal pad.
46:54
SPEAKER_19: Now it's on a more sophisticated on a spreadsheet.
46:57
SPEAKER_19: But I have my my uh business goals, my uh or career goals, my educational goals, my adventure goals, my health goals, family goals, that I have it for one year, for five years for life.
47:10
SPEAKER_19: And so I've been keeping this up every year and highlighting which ones I accomplished and what um what I didn't accomplish and updating it every every year.
47:17
SPEAKER_19: Um so and I think it's important, and I share that with with students and graduates, that it's important to always have goals, always have a plan.
47:24
SPEAKER_19: However, I look back on my life, the absolute best things in my life were not planned for.
47:27
SPEAKER_19: Serendipity is uh something unexpected that's better than you plan for.
47:31
SPEAKER_19: I never planned on meeting Jenny.
47:33
SPEAKER_19: Uh best thing that ever happened in my life.
47:35
SPEAKER_19: Um then, and actually originally planned on working before I dad, but that didn't work out.
47:40
SPEAKER_19: Started my own company that failed.
47:41
SPEAKER_19: Um, started a second company that was successful, started a third company, it was even more successful.
47:45
SPEAKER_19: Governor Haslum asked me to be special advisor for higher education.
47:49
SPEAKER_19: Actually, he asked me to come work for him at higher education.
47:51
SPEAKER_19: I just made up that title, by the way.
47:52
SPEAKER_19: But uh that turned out to be transformational, realizing that if you really want to make an impact, being in public service is the best place.
47:59
SPEAKER_19: I had a plan on running for governor, but I believed in the work that we were doing and I wanted to make sure that we could continue it.
48:04
SPEAKER_19: Ran, failed.
48:05
SPEAKER_19: Um, and then as we already talked about, Jodie PH who asked me if I wanted to do this job for six months.
48:11
SPEAKER_19: So some of the best things in life are those things that are unexpected.
48:14
SPEAKER_19: Uh, but look for, and I always share with folks, um, if you expect serendipity, it will happen.
48:20
SPEAKER_19: If you wake up every day thinking, you know, I wonder what I haven't planned that's going to come my way, that's going to be even better than I expected.
48:27
SPEAKER_19: And if you look for serendipity, if you expect serendipity, you'll find it.
48:31
SPEAKER_19: So a message on serendipity, as far as this is me rationalizing being qualified for the job.
48:36
SPEAKER_19: So just keep that in mind.
48:37
SPEAKER_19: But so being a business person is important.
48:40
SPEAKER_19: Understanding about how to lead people, how to create goals, how to create metrics, how to organize.
48:46
SPEAKER_19: So that's and being innovative and bold.
48:48
SPEAKER_19: Um, however, that's not enough.
48:50
SPEAKER_19: A lot of times I'll hear people say, well, it's great that you're a business person that's now running a university.
48:54
SPEAKER_19: We need more business people, but there's more to that because especially if you're a public university, you're working for the people of the state of Tennessee, you're working with the state government.
49:03
SPEAKER_19: You need to understand how state government works.
49:05
SPEAKER_19: And so those two years being a commissioner of economic and community development, understanding how laws are passed, understanding how the state government works, and building the relationships have been really, really important.
49:17
SPEAKER_19: Then running for governor, as a commissioner of ECD, I went to every county.
49:22
SPEAKER_19: So I got to know the state pretty well, but really in a fairly narrow band, uh just focusing on economic development and the business side.
49:29
SPEAKER_19: When you run for governor, you get to know everybody in every walk of life.
49:32
SPEAKER_19: And through it, I went to every single county uh at least five times.
49:36
SPEAKER_19: I went to Shelby County, for example, 52 times.
49:39
SPEAKER_19: You get to know everybody on a very intimate level.
49:42
SPEAKER_19: As the president of the University of Tennessee, a university, the Land Grant University that's here to serve the people of Tennessee.
49:48
SPEAKER_19: I always wonder how you can do this job well?
49:50
SPEAKER_19: How can you serve the people of Tennessee if you don't know who they are?
49:54
SPEAKER_19: You know, so many universities just bring a hired gun in from another state and they come in and sometimes they do okay, sometimes they don't.
50:01
SPEAKER_19: Oftentimes they don't understand how government works.
50:03
SPEAKER_19: Uh, a lot of times it's not very successful.
50:05
SPEAKER_19: Uh, I think having that, those experiences actually helped me prepare for this job in a in a very good way.
50:12
SPEAKER_19: Now, I'm not an academic, so um, that's that was the the criticism uh when I was picked.
50:18
SPEAKER_19: But turns out my role, as we talked about, is more about government relations, about leading uh leaders that lead the campuses.
50:25
SPEAKER_19: They in turn will have a propose who should be steeped in in the academic side of the house.
50:30
SPEAKER_19: But um, so I've got people that help us do help me do the things that I have uh uh less experience in.
50:37
SPEAKER_11: One of the things that you did well very quickly was you convinced the faculty that you had their back and that you were for them because you were not an academic coming in.
50:47
SPEAKER_11: And so the faculty initially said, Well, what's this gonna mean or what's this gonna look like?
50:51
SPEAKER_11: And instead you you did something they didn't expect, basically saying, Hey, I went to this university.
50:57
SPEAKER_11: It's a great place.
50:58
SPEAKER_11: Go do what you do and let these young people have their experience, teach.
51:03
SPEAKER_19: Let's go.
51:04
SPEAKER_19: I think I think that the faculty and uh the rest of the administration or the rest of our team know that I'm doing this because I love this place.
51:11
SPEAKER_19: And and so I think they give me some credit or some grace because of that.
51:15
SPEAKER_19: So he's whether he's competent or not, we're not sure, but we know he's doing it with good intentions.
51:20
SPEAKER_19: Um, but um also I think the experience I had working in state government um has helped us as a university uh overcome some of the challenges that we had.
51:30
SPEAKER_19: Uh, I think the faculty would give me the grace for not being an academic, but protecting them and supporting them and advocating for them uh with the state.
51:39
SPEAKER_19: And you might recall, but the six months before I got this job, the state legislature fired every one of our board members.
51:46
SPEAKER_19: Kind of a bad day.
51:47
SPEAKER_19: Yeah.
51:47
SPEAKER_19: Obviously, they're not very we're not in a good position.
51:50
SPEAKER_19: Uh two years later, they actually gave a comment commendation for our board uh and recognizing them.
51:56
SPEAKER_11: Our entire big interview with University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd comes your way tomorrow on the Mike Keith Joe presented by Clayton Holmes, Oakwood Holmes, and Love Homes of Tennessee.
52:09
SPEAKER_11: For our fine staff, Mike Keith says, Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time.