Speaker 1: 0:13

Hey guys, john McNamara hosts Running Vegas. We're talking local sports, business, real estate. We're talking UNLV. Today UNLV football. And today I got a special co-host, ryan poole I'm in the house, let's go so we had you on a couple months ago. Yeah, had a great time. I don't know a lot of like bigger unilv fans than me, but I I think you are so I you can talk, but I think you are so you can talk football, basketball. So I had to have you back on because we got a big game on Saturday.

Speaker 2: 0:50

I think we're about 48 hours away from kickoff. Right now. If it's one o'clock, I'm getting excited. Same, it's going to be really fun. And when we kind of talked last time I was on just the excitement of a new era, when we just kind of came off of a new era and what can be done with with coach mullen and uh and his crew.

Speaker 1: 1:07

so yeah, that's gonna be fun for sure well, tell us your background a little bit. I know you've been on the pod before. And also like how'd you get into unlv football?

Speaker 2: 1:14

so, uh, born and raised in las vegas, third generation family is all all here, and so I jokingly say that I've been going to unlv games nine months before I was born because my folks met at UNLV and so growing up in Las Vegas it was, it was runner, rebel basketball it was pretty much the whole deal and I started really going to football games my freshman year at college at UNLV. I was pledged so we had to get up there early, set up the tailgate and it was just, it was a blast. I was back in was it Sam Boyd dirt parking lot and went there. But then it was funny, it was John Robinson was coach, we had Jason Thomas, so it was a fun time to kind of get into the team Wow.

Speaker 1: 1:50

That's cool. You've been going ever since I got here. I was thinking about this on the way over. I moved here September 15, 2008. That was the year UNLV beat Arizona State at Arizona State when they were ranked. And I wasn't a UNLV fan, whatever, but I like remember reading the newspaper when we had newspapers. And like, oh you know, I'm going to go to a game or two. And then I went to like the Thomas Mack and I was hooked on UNLV for the last like 18 years.

Speaker 2: 2:13

Right.

Speaker 1: 2:20

So it's kind of cool because I don't know the greatest UNLV football coach of all time Can't say Tony Sanchez. No, I definitely won't say Tony Sanchez. I know you like Tony, he got off the stadium.

Speaker 2: 2:35

So I mean, like I said, growing up with John Robinson, it was cool to see him coach on the sidelines, what he did, went to the Las Vegas Bowl, won that beat Arkansas. So in sidelines, um what he did, went to the las vegas bowl, won that beat arkansas, um, so in my view it was, it was john rob, but okay, you know, if barry odom would, would have stayed another year or two, I think we would have probably had a statue for him, okay, okay what about yourself?

Speaker 1: 2:56

well, I barry odom, but I wasn't around. I just missed that era. So, um, and barry odom's really the only one who's won. Right, there was one good year with Hawk and that team. Yeah, bobby Hawk, yeah, but yeah, it was Barry Odom for me. But I don't know that era so I can't really go back and forth on this. I know they had a lot of good NFL prospects, they beat Arkansas, but that makes sense, right, and he's a Hall of Fame coach.

Speaker 2: 3:21

So it was kind of neat and we thought that, okay, maybe this is going to be the time when, you know, he becomes a football school. And obviously that didn't didn't happen until now, until now. Now it's real, it's real deal, man yeah we're getting ap votes in the top 25.

Speaker 1: 3:35

We got six votes in the preseason, which you know, what's super cool too is because we we had a couple games over 40 000 people last year, year Boise, the Reno game, and usually the week of they open up the third level and they are already opening up the third level for the UCLA game. I saw that, so that might break the record for a UNLV football game. It may Home game. I should say Right, right, absolutely yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:59

Good times, man. Good times, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 4:05

So I'm going to ask you some questions here. So this episode is Unilv preview for the season. We're going to ask some hard-hitting questions. We're going to talk about the schedule. I want your opinion on each game wins and losses. We'll kind of maybe we'll make a gentleman's bet by each other a beer at a leech at the end of the year. Who gets it correct? And since you're the guest, I'll let you pick the win total first, just to make sure we don't get it have the same, because that wouldn't make any sense. So this is going to be a fun pod. Sounds good, alright. So first question that everybody's been asking who's the starting quarterback for UNLV?

Speaker 2: 4:42

That is the question on everybody's mind, and Coach Mullen said yesterday that both guys are going to play game one and so they're going to kind of see what they have going on in. What they see in practice translates to the game, and they both bring such different skill set. I mean, calandre is a pocket passer, more of a traditional Orgy, is just a beast can run, maybe doesn't have the best arm or at least accuracy, um, but again that's what the dig on is calandria. Am I saying it right, calandria?

Speaker 1: 5:13

yeah, yeah, okay, sorry, I said it out loud.

Speaker 2: 5:15

I was like, oh, is that the way you say?

Speaker 1: 5:16

it. Yeah, but I did the same thing. All these names, there's so many names. So alex orgy yeah, he's uh six, three, 240 pounds from michigan, and anth Anthony Calandria from Virginia, a little bit smaller, I think. He's like 6'2", 210. Yeah, I mean compared to Alex Orchard, but everybody's smaller.

Speaker 2: 5:29

So I mean I do think that the skill set coming in and then I have to look okay, what's the rest of the team? Look like they brought in just some studs at wide out. I mean, you got a bunch of the guys at wide and we already have a decent backfield with Jet Thomas, and then there's a kid from Utah and Penn State. So I think, okay, maybe the running game will be set, maybe we need a little bit more of a pocket passer.

Speaker 1: 5:51

So I'm going Calandria if I can pronounce his name right for I think he's going to get the nod after game one. After game one Wow, that is a prediction.

Speaker 2: 6:01

I like it though I like hot, takes right in the beginning.

Speaker 1: 6:05

What about you? What are your thoughts on it? All three are going to play Cam Friel. They're all going to play. There's going to be injuries. They're going to be. That's my opinion. I think that's what I said to you last time.

Speaker 2: 6:19

But yeah, it's super interesting.

Speaker 1: 6:21

It kind of orgy is a better athlete than sluka but just can run the ball. I think alex has a bigger arm but he lacks um, accuracy, like you just brought up, but he's kind of in. He's not tim tebow, but a very similar kind of mold or maybe like an anthony richardson type, where he's big, he's physical and I I don't know if you ever watched tape on this the guy is fast, he legitimate, probably runs under a four or five and he's a quarterback, um. And then anthony kind of reminds me of last year with, uh, a hush malik could kind of do it, he's athletic but can throw the ball kind of best of both worlds. You know he's not gonna be as physical as like a salukin orgy. So I see them kind of both playing.

Speaker 1: 7:05

I think it's like I guess whoever kind of hits the ground running, so to speak, and stays healthy. But I should make a hot take here. I'm going to go against you. I'm going to go because everybody's been saying Anthony, lately, I'm going to go Alex or RG, and at least to like kind of start off. But I kind of start off, but I kind of feel like Anthony's going to get it down the road, kind of like last year. Hopefully we don't have NIL issues this year.

Speaker 2: 7:30

Hopefully it doesn't end up exactly like last year, but that is one of the nice things. Hopefully nobody will get any injuries whatsoever. Hopefully no NILs. But when you have somebody it is going to be tough to keep Orji off the field. I mean, the guy's a specimen.

Speaker 2: 7:42

He's a beast, and so it's going to be tough to keep him off the field, and who knows if it's just going to be more so of the situational plays. But you always just want to have one guy, you want to have a quarterback, because if you have two quarterbacks you don't have any. But I trust Coach and I know they'll make the right decision.

Speaker 1: 8:00

I think I lean Alex in the beginning, just because and there's no depth chart, it's been driving me nuts.

Speaker 1: 8:05

And I think there's like a rule weeks there you don't have to release a depth chart. But I so badly and I don't think he would have named like the starter, but I think he would have had them both as starters, like what they always do the first game of the year, but I kind of wanted to see the whole depth chart Just kind of see. So we're kind of going in this, unless you're at spring camp, like you know, we don't really have. We kind of we know the two deep but we don't necessarily know where guys fit. But I the reason I lean alex, at least in the beginning, because passing tends to be a little bit more difficult, so that might take a little bit more time to ramp up, where I do feel until basically the ucla game they can ground and pound it and win games yeah, very true and so that's kind of like my thought process.

Speaker 2: 8:47

No, makes makes perfect sense, and I don't think there's a wrong decision and that's what. What a beautiful a choice to have, right right.

Speaker 1: 8:54

Can you remember the last time when we actually had like three? I'm, I'm excited about them all like I don't I don't want Cam to be the guy but. If the worst case scenario. He's our guy that is a good third quarterback. So, yeah, I'm excited we have a lot of depth throughout, but at QB it's easily the most talent that I've seen. Absolutely Okay, yeah, for sure, For sure. All right number next, Okay. So what is your expectations for the UNLV Rebels this season?

Speaker 2: 9:25

So it's tough because, like we talk about, it's brand new coaches. I think 60% of the roster was turned over. There's a lot of just new faces. I'm kind of glad that the schedule got rearranged a little bit. I think playing a week zero now we're playing at our home turf. Anis gets an FCS school. So I do think that we're going to have the ability to go out and see what we really have. I think the expectation is we're going to compete for a Mountain West Conference championship. I don't know, I don't have the great feeling that we're going to overtake Boise State this year. I just think everything would really have to be firing on all cylinders. We have the talent, we have a lot of the components to make that run. Just with their longevity and their continued success it just might be tough to overtake them. So I'm thinking that we're going to compete for Mountain West Championship, lose to Boise State and then go to a decent bowl game. Okay.

Speaker 1: 10:20

Well, don't give all your, we're going to go through that.

Speaker 2: 10:21

Good deal, you said they're going 11-1.

Speaker 1: 10:25

Yeah, I think you just said they're going 11-1. So, and I love the point because I didn't put this in my notes, but great point, I love that the schedule got moved up for Idaho State because Sam Houston, I guess, has lost some talent this year. But to be on the road first game at Sam Houston, to me there was a little like we could lose that 100%. So now I feel so much more confident that we get a game, especially in a Legion, and we get to play Cause. Now I'm feeling way more confident for the Sam Houston game and then going into a Legion for UCLA, the third game of the season. They should have most of the jitters out. Obviously UCLA is going to be the big game of the year, right and the Boise game. But I agree, I think that was actually huge for UNLV because this is this is a new coach, new to the players. Understand that everybody's understanding. We need as much time as possible because we don't know when all cylinders are going to be running, if that's game two or if that's game ten.

Speaker 2: 11:20

Exactly. You know, we have a lot of known unknowns, I guess with the season, right now For sure, but again some bright spots and then, coming off of last season, obviously the city is going to want to have that continue on. So I think there's a little bit more pressure at the beginning of the season this year than there was in seasons past.

Speaker 1: 11:37

For sure.

Speaker 2: 11:41

So how would you compare the team this year versus last year? Um, I mean, I think so the team last year with again, we kind of had this luka kid coming in we didn't really know a whole lot about him, I think from holy cross, yeah, from holy cross. So the quarterback situation was very similar, but we had ricky white coming back, we had jet coming back, we had there's a little bit more like okay, we know, we have some offensive weapons here. We have weapons. They look great on paper, it's just are they gonna gel?

Speaker 2: 12:02

So I think you know, last year it was more of a oh, could we do it again? And this year is like, well, we better now, we set the bar and we better do it again. So I think that there's a lot more pressure this year for the team to come out and play than there was last year, because you never know, like you said, with bobby hawk, the one year could have just been a fluke, and then you come back out and you don't win again. Right, um, could very well happen with, with, with Odom last year too. But yeah, they continue to build on that success. And so now it's like, okay, is this what we're? You shouldn't, and we know that Las Vegas loves a winner, so for sure.

Speaker 1: 12:33

Yeah, absolutely yeah. I think you know last year there was a lot of cohesiveness to that team because they had a second year with each other. Um, barry had a did a really good job of overhauling the roster, and this offseason I think dan has brought in 50, 55 kids with transfers and, you know, freshmen. So I like he has a similar approach to barry, but I do think the talent level has gone up a little bit. But again, kind of like you're saying is, it may take us about a year to kind of figure it all out and year two is probably when we're gonna see everything running like kind of you know, you know, full speed, so to speak right and I think I'm hoping that the city gives them a chance, gives it gives the kids a chance that it is.

Speaker 2: 13:14

It is new, but folks don't follow unlv football as closely as maybe a lot of us do and when there is, is that expectation of like, oh, they're a winner now. They're a good program, we're getting recruits, we're getting you know, mullen's a star coach. I hope people give them a little bit of an opportunity and give them some grace, at the very least.

Speaker 1: 13:33

That's a good point you bring up too, because I have Raider tickets and I just sell them all and I go to like UNLV games and honestly I like the atmosphere of college football more and I love the atmosphere at Allegiant and you get to see a lot like I get to see you other friends down there. It's kind of more localized, which is nice. And then the tickets are cheaper, a lot cheaper. You know, I wouldn't say they're cheap anymore, but they've gone up a little bit. But you can have a great time as a family or friends, whatever, and it's that because the one thing about the raiders is like it is packed every game a lot of out-of-towners coming in. So I feel like it's it. To me it's a little bit more fun of experience and also you don't, like you know, buy a beer for 20. It's a little bit more reasonable.

Speaker 2: 14:14

So you get the exact same, I mean right now. One could argue that you're watching a better product on the field.

Speaker 1: 14:20

Yeah, you could For about a third of the cost. Good, but now we got Gentry. Yeah, that's true, All right. So what do you think are the biggest strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the ball?

Speaker 2: 14:31

So strengths, I think offensively we reloaded, I believe. I mean, I think a lot of the talent that came in with both quarterbacks we talked about again were stacked wide out. You got JoJo Earl yeah, jojo Earl and then the other two kids it's like Troy and Coy. That was the thing. It was Troy and Coy and then JoJo. You know really studs on that side. Jet Thomas, I think, is a fantastic running back and if the offensive line can make a hole for him, I'm really excited for the offensive power on that side of the ball Defense. I think it's a little bit more of a question Obviously changing the defensive coordinator the way we did earlier this year under the kind of interesting circumstances have the interim DCc right now and we were former nfl d.

Speaker 2: 15:25

Yeah, former nfl dc. Very, very true, um, and we were. We were kind of weak, you know, at the defensive back position. We got jake pope from uh coming in. That was that's a good one, but that might be that might take a little bit of time. But if you're giving up a lot of points, you have to be able to score a lot of points and I I think right now I feel that the offensive power on that side of the ball will make up that if we're a little slow to react on the defensive side of the ball.

Speaker 1: 15:51

Yeah, I agree with you a lot. So, yeah, I think the running game is going to be great. I always look at offensive and defensive line first, and on the offensive side of the ball they've done a really good job of building up the offensive line, getting it too deep. We should be able to run, and Jed Thomas obviously is awesome, but they've brought in like you brought up as well some really good young running backs as well. So I think we're going to be able to run an athletic quarterback, so that will definitely be the strength of the team. We'll see how fast that passing game will go. We're probably going to see a lot of RPOs play actions which will open up because we have big receivers. And I'm curious.

Speaker 1: 16:26

Here's another thing, too, and you saw all the guys I was going to talk about, so I'm glad. The one thing I know is because JoJo Earl is the big kid, right, I mean, he was the slot guy from, I think, Bama that transferred, but the guy that showed up at media day was D'Angelo Irvin. Yes, that is interesting. Yeah, so they're competing at the same spot. So I'm a little like who's the starting slot? And that was the first thing I was going to look at the depth chart, so I'm going to be on the lookout as soon as they take the field. Who are the receivers lined up? I think Troy's for sure, but Jojo and d'angelo would they have two slots? Maybe push jojo to flanker, I don't know.

Speaker 2: 17:04

But and with that spread they're able to really, yeah, mess them, you know, move some things around.

Speaker 1: 17:07

Yeah, I've never known so I thought that was interesting. I'd even sell the ball too. Um, they overhauled the secondary. They brought in like 10 players, so I actually think that's going to be the strength of our defense, and linebacks are always good. They restacked at that position.

Speaker 2: 17:23

Yeah, McStuffy's back, which I thought was McStuffy.

Speaker 1: 17:26

I love that. I've never heard that before. Yeah, McDuffie, oh, I love that.

Speaker 2: 17:30

Yeah, the defensive line is definitely they brought in some. They have some big boys. They're going to be big on that side of the ball.

Speaker 1: 17:38

Oh for sure. So yeah, but the defensive line they kind of brought in a little bit later. So I think that might be the weaker spot of the defense, but they did a really good job. It looks like they're going to start up base. It will be 4-2-5. So they're going to maximize, meaning one of those safeties will be kind of like I don't know what they're going to call it, because they didn't release a depth chart, but it's basically like a hybrid safety linebacker, depending on you know if they think they're running or say they can blitz. So it's gonna be really cool to watch alignment, like soon as the game starts, because we don't have a depth chart and I don't even I don't know if they have names on their back or not.

Speaker 2: 18:13

But, um, I'm gonna be super like just curious who takes the field first it'll be, and I think there's especially you talked about the defensive backs there's a lot of folks that they can probably run any any of them that they can. They did bring us. We lost, obviously, some studs, but I think they did bring in some some big talent. Um, yeah, you brought up a great point with jay.

Speaker 1: 18:32

that was my defensive guy because I think he went to bama and georgia. So an sec guy that was a backup usually is an all-Metal West guy, maybe even all-American, so I think that's a super talented guy I'm excited to see.

Speaker 2: 18:46

Yeah, like we said, looking at it on paper, I can't remember exactly what it was, maybe 14 or 15 former four or five-star guys, and you know how it is. Sometimes you're a stud out of high school, you go to a college, you just get recruited over and you come down to a lesser for lack of a better term conference and you're really able to showcase your ability, and I think that that is what these guys are probably going to want. They're going to come out and they're going to have a chip on their shoulder, Kind of the same thing that Odom did the last couple years brought in guys who really wanted to play, had a chip on their shoulder and they played hard and I think that's what, and that was the. That was really the identity of the team. It was just hard-nosed football guys, and I think Mullen's doing the exact same thing.

Speaker 1: 19:28

Yeah, I think so too, and it will be interesting because, like, practice and the game are two very different things. There's guys who are going to shine in practice, guys who are going to shine in games. So even in the beginning of when we see the guys take the field and the two deep, that's going to look totally different week eight, so it's gonna be fun to really watch it. We're gonna probably see a lot of turnovers, not just because of injuries, but just guys that you know.

Speaker 1: 19:50

Uh, so the two big games of the year ucla and boise so we'll talk more of that. So also also Troy Emile. He is a guy that you brought up, wide receiver from Arizona State, 6'4", 210, on Twitter Basically every day it was Troy making some crazy plays. So I think he might be the Ricky White of the offense this year. I'd love that. Yeah, the play action guy. He's a little bit bigger than Ricky, I don't know if he's as fast, but before we get into wins and losses.

Speaker 1: 20:22

So is there any programs? Because I know we're seeing the Mountain West and PAC kind of this is kind of a big year Because my opinion is my take is I don't see them necessarily winning. I think they have a very good chance of winning this year, but it's a very big year because this is the last time this conference in its whole will be together, right, so that Boise game is probably the most important game, like it is every year, but on a whole, nother level. But what are some like programs that you would like to see come into the Mountain West to kind of fill it out?

Speaker 2: 20:53

Yeah, you know it's tough because we talk about conference realignment and I don't really like how there's teams from Southern California going all the way to the East Coast to play in the ACC I just think it messes things up.

Speaker 2: 21:05

Plus, you don't really have the rivalry. Us bringing in UTEP doesn't really excite me. My thought process is when you have a conference, listen, I want quality schools, obviously academic institutions and quality athletic programs, but it's also neat to have a cool city to go to for an away game. Yeah, and also maybe bring in some some, some rivalries. I don't know if I'm taking it, I don't know if I'm taking a trip to el paso, but you know I who I would really like to see and their fcs schools right now, but they've had longevity. Um is is montana state university of montana. I think it kind of fits the mold of the Mountain West.

Speaker 2: 21:42

They have a great rivalry. I mean Cat Grizz on that Saturday after Thanksgiving is always one of the biggest days in Montana. Missoula and Bozeman are both really cool cities to go to. If we wanted to go to an away game, so I would like to, and selfishly. My son lives in montana, so selfishly I would like to go, yeah, I would like to see those guys step up and us add those, those two teams to the mountain west conference I like those, uh, the two I was gonna say is north dakota state.

Speaker 1: 22:11

I mean fargo north dakota is probably not like the place that you want to go on a trip, but they have have just won so many national champions at FCS. I kind of feel like they're like the poor man Boise that could really just come in and win right away. That program is well-established. And then a program with upside that I really like is Tarleton State. That's in Texas. They have a brand-new basketball facility.

Speaker 1: 22:38

They have, I think, over 20,000 fans go to football games, so they have a lot basketball facility. They have I think over 20,000 fans go to football games, so they have a lot of money. They're in the A&M program, so they come with a lot of money. They haven't won a lot yet because they just joined FCS a couple years ago, but I could see them maybe joining in the next year because of the upside of them. And then it'll be cool when UC Davis upgrades their stadium stadium because I I'm pretty sure they they brought them on for olympic sports. They have great academics but they have a good football program. They upgrade that football. That could bring us back into northern california with san jose state.

Speaker 2: 23:09

So yeah, it's um, it's. It's not schools that people are like, oh my gosh, that'd be amazing. But, like you said, little things that could they, could, they could do well, that are kind of up and coming and just putting like we talked about putting good product on the field and having fun and going to the games.

Speaker 1: 23:24

I think it's going to be really exciting yeah, it's good, it's kind of cool, but yeah, I hope uh, pac did a terrible job for the alignment. I'm pretty sure the story is they like offered you don't view a partial share, and that's what kind of broke everything down. You only said nope and took all the money. So I and what was your opinion on that? Because at first, when it happened, I'm like I can't believe. You know, if you did not get invited.

Speaker 1: 23:45

Like at the beginning, I'm like this is nuts to me, but I'm also a homer like you. But and I was like, well, we'll get invited later on. But now I'm like screw the pack. Like and I think we're fans are like 60, 40 on this right, but now I'm like it financially makes so much more sense to to go to the pack and pay 30, 40 million to leave, and right now there's only one way to get into the college football playoffs. So if you have 11 wins, you play in the mac, the, the pack, the mountain west, the acc. Everybody has one shot and it's if you get 11 wins or more and they're in and I just think you know what you're.

Speaker 2: 24:19

what you're buying or buying into is a brand name that doesn't really mean anything the Pac-12, 10, 8, however else you wanted to do it.

Speaker 2: 24:28

It was the institutions that made it up USC, ucla, stanford, I mean, those were institutions that were powerhouses in college football and that was what the allure of the conference was. When everybody leaves and you're just left with a name, it would almost be like going to a restaurant that kept the same name but totally got rid of the chef. You don't really wanna do that anymore. So I think it was smart for us to stay because, like you said, the financial impact that we can make sure that we doesn't cost us a bunch of money to stay. They're gonna pay us the exit fees and we're positioned now to hit the Big 12. It expands. I think we're a huge market media market. With what Eric Harper's done with both our football and basketball coach, I think the program's going to be elevated and we're going to be one of those intriguing schools for us to bring them in. So I say I'm good staying Big 12 down the road.

Speaker 1: 25:16

Shout out to Harper bringing in these coaches. It's been incredibly impressive. I hope more people like Harper now. I don't know why they didn't like him. Everybody should like him after Barry Odom, absolutely. But, now I think Dan Mullin, yeah, the new basketball coach. He's doing a good job, Absolutely so I think we can all agree on that, Okay let's get in wins and losses. Let's go Game one.

Speaker 2: 25:39

Idaho State. What do you got Idaho State? I think we're going to win that one FCS school definitely going to, I think, a lot of scoring. I think the over-under is 64, so I think they're going to expect a lot of points. I think we win this one. Maybe even don't cover the spread, but I think we'll definitely get a W.

Speaker 1: 25:55

I do too. I think that's an easy one. It's going to be fun for the first game of the year At Sam Houston.

Speaker 2: 26:02

First, away game of the year. Who do you got? I got us winning that one as well. Okay, I just think that we're a better program and first game jitters out of the way. We go there, we take care of business, yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:14

I think so too. Yeah, I talked about this a little worried, that being our first game because Sam Houston a lot of people don't know about that program, but they did win a FCS championship not too long ago. They've moved up to Confidus A. I think they won a ton of games last year. They're a very underrated program, I believe. I think they had a coaching switch or their talent has kind of moved down a little bit. But yeah, either way, I think it's a win. Great that we got the Idaho State game first.

Speaker 2: 26:39

I just hope it's not a look-ahead game, though, where everybody's so excited for UCLA that we take the eye off the ball. Same, same. I agree with you. Only thing that could be there.

Speaker 1: 26:48

Yeah, ucla Game number three Adeligian.

Speaker 2: 26:53

State Adeligian. I know this is going to go against a lot of people. I think we lose the game. Don't say it, I know I just. Yeah, I think we lose, it's going to be close, but I don't, for some reason. I just think that that's the game where we're going to maybe stumble a little bit and I hope I'm wrong.

Speaker 1: 27:08

I hope you're wrong too, yeah, and I hope I'm wrong because I'm picking UCLA. I think we have a chance. I think actually we have a really good chance in this game. So if we win the turnover battle could totally see a win out of this. But I would say it's like 60-40 UCLA they have a talent squad, they have a hyped-up quarterback from Tennessee that whole freaking thing that went on in the offseason, We'll dive into that. But obviously a Big Ten school, it's just like it's a different level. It's not Big 12. It it's a different level. It's not Big 12. It's SEC and Big 10. Those teams, the mediocre teams there, they have elite talent on there. Coaching Foster I don't know if that's the guy for their future. I like that. They hired a guy that went there and everything. But I say it's a loss too.

Speaker 2: 27:56

Okay, at Miami of Ohio, oh Miami. I say we win that game. I think that's going to be our bounce back game. We're gonna be upset. Uh, that we're. You know, maybe didn't pull out ucla that we wanted to. I say we beat the with the red birds up there. I think we go there and we and we win yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:10

Um, this is a kind of a little bit of a scary game for me because we got to go across the country. Um, it's a way game. I think this is a very underrated MAAC program that's won over the years recruits. Well, I think we pulled the win, but I would not be shocked if we actually lose this game. So I think I'm kind of the opposite of the Sam Houston game. I'm a little bit worried about the UCLA game. They put everything out for that and then they come in a little empty going into the Miami-Ohio game. That's a great point, so we'll see on that one. Then we got at Wyoming.

Speaker 2: 28:43

At Wyoming. Laramie is always a tough place to play, depending on the weather. I think it's going to be a close one, but I think we do come out with a win on that game. I got a win too.

Speaker 1: 28:53

They're kind of rebuilding right now. They got their quarterback back, but I say that's one as well. Um, and at wyoming is always tough, so that was one to watch you air force at home air force is tough.

Speaker 2: 29:03

I mean that that the, the offense they run um, is just that triple option. It's just it's tough to play against and again we have new guys coming in and it's. You can see it on film, you can see, we think, but once you're up against it it's something that always kind of takes people um a little off guard. So I we win, but it's going to be closer than people think.

Speaker 1: 29:22

Yeah, I say win too, because I think we're going to be way more athletic this year. We should be able to stop the run. Weird though, because Troy Calhoun I mean that guy has been coaching there forever, and last year they were like terrible. But I mean before that they had 8 to 10 wins every single year. Yeah, so we'll see if they get that. That's a question mark for me, because if they get that back to an 8-10 win team, that could be a very interesting game, but I don't have a read on that one. Either way, I pick a win as well, and then at Boise State, yeah, at Boise State again.

Speaker 2: 29:53

As I said before, I just don't think this is our year. Unfortunately, this is our year. Unfortunately, this is gonna be our last opportunity to play on the smurf turf. We just, we just don't have, we just don't, we just don't have it quite yet, uh, so I think that's a loss yeah, I got lost too.

Speaker 1: 30:06

I think actually that will be our hardest game of the year. I think it's probably the biggest game in yule village history because this is the last year we can beat boise in in the mountain west. We'll see if they keep the. I don't even know if you'd call it a rivalry, but keep that going on later on. That'd be great to see Boise State played. There is some talk between the Pack and Mountain West like continuing to be the rivals. We'd probably be San Diego State or something like that. But we'll see how that goes. I haven't lost two. Well, hopefully the injury bug hits Boise State. I don't actually wish it on anybody.

Speaker 2: 30:36

I want that full team going in.

Speaker 1: 30:38

But yeah, I haven't lost you. I think it's gonna be really tough at boise next team, new mexico next. I think that's the way this favorable, favorable matchup for us. I got two. They're revealing too. I actually think we crushed them.

Speaker 2: 30:47

We're at home at colorado state uh, I think you know, if we're rocking and rolling at colorado state, we're gonna win great stadium. I'm excited to go there. I don't think that we've uh, are you going again? We're planning on going, yeah, so I think it's going to be exciting. We'll see.

Speaker 1: 31:00

That's a cool stadium yeah, all right, first time on the pod. I have a loss for you. This is where we disagree. Yeah, they got their quarterback back. It's at colorado state. Um, we'll see. Though. I mean that they have a. I. A lot of people don't like that coach. The guy from, uh, from reno yeah, I think it's actually really Norvell. Took me a minute to think about that, but I think he's actually a really good coach. They're going to the pack next year. I just kind of feel like I see us winning 8 out of 11 games this year, but I think it's going to be closer to the 8 versus, because they're still going to be figuring things out. I agree, okay.

Speaker 2: 31:36

Utah State, Utah State. I think we win.

Speaker 1: 31:41

I think we win. I think we can control that game and we win. I think we beat them pretty good. They're rebuilding too. I know they got Mendenhall he's a good culture guy but they're rebuilding right now. I think we win that pretty flat out Hawaii at home.

Speaker 2: 31:51

Hawaii at home is always going to be tough. I mean that's for the battle for the ninth island, the golden pineapple. Their freshman quarterback is legit. Where's? He from he's from. Where is he from? Is he from Los Angeles, Bishop Corman? Bishop Corman. So, their freshman quarterback is legit.

Speaker 1: 32:05

He's actually really good. You know, he was trying to get him hard and he went to Hawaii.

Speaker 2: 32:08

Yeah, he is legit. He's not big, but if they have two, all Mountain West receivers if that guy stays healthy, that is going to be a fun game to watch Timmy Chang airs it out. Timmy Chang back in the day Like.

Speaker 1: 32:19

I'm excited about that game. There is a chance that I haven't. I have you know, I think you haven't missed one. Yes, okay, cool Me too. But I'm excited for that game because I think that's going to be kind of going back and forth, a All the. Hawaii fans come out. It's almost like a neutral game sometimes for the Hawaii game. So I'm excited about it, okay, at.

Speaker 2: 32:42

Reno, the city that shall not be named, that city up north. We're going to win at Reno just because we're so much better than Reno at everything. I wasn't sure you were wearing the blue today. I got a little worried when you came in here. I thought about that.

Speaker 1: 32:55

Is he going to pull a Reno?

Speaker 2: 32:56

win at the end of this.

Speaker 1: 32:58

No way, all right. So I have nine wins, you have ten wins. Whoever wins buys each other a beer at the Thomas Mac sometime.

Speaker 2: 33:08

Sounds like it. All right. Cool, I like it. Thanks so much.

Speaker 1: 33:10

All right guys, this is Ryan in Vegas. Thank you for being on. Ryan Appreciate you. You see this guy buy him a beer at a legion, or? Thomas and mac guys, take care of yourselves today.