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RUNNIN' VEGAS - The John McNamara Sports Podcast
Talking all things Las Vegas sports-from UNLV to the pros, and everything in between.
RUNNIN' VEGAS - The John McNamara Sports Podcast
Sebastian Mack Changes Everything For UNLV Basketball | John McNamara & Ryan Pulliam
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Heat Shoutouts And Quick Preview
SPEAKER_01We're talking local sports business real safe. You guys like, subscribe, follow us on Rodin Vegas podcast dang! I got a Mac pulling ULV. Let's go. Let's go. Gotta get the hypey. It's hot out there. It's ridiculously hot out. I'm sweating. But a couple shout-outs for uh we start. Thank you, Mr. George Hernandez, holding down the pod. Had some things going on, went on vacation. So thank you, great pods. Let's go out, Sandra and Mr. Mike. Thanks for shouting out, running Vegas. Guys, check them out. He does a great job. So what's up, man?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we're trying to stay cool, man. Yeah. That's about all we can do right now.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, my daily walk is getting a little bit tougher.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00I get out at about 4 30 in the morning just to make sure I can actually read a daily.
SPEAKER_01That's how I'm doing it too, right now. Babysitting all the dogs, taking the walk. So,
Sebastian Mack Brings Backcourt Punch
SPEAKER_01all right. So, running Vegas today. We are talking. We're gonna show off a little Unal V basketball, Union V football. If we have time, maybe a little end of Golden Knights season. We'll recap that. Maybe a little bit. Maybe a little bit. But I feel like we never get through our questions. So let's start it off. So big commit, Sebastian Mack from Missouri, originally from UCLA, a local town at a Coronado. 6'3, 195 pound guard. Sans of UNLV. What's your thoughts?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was funny. We we talked, he signed like the day after we did our our podcast about the transfer portal and who we all had on the team. I I love it. Obviously, local kid. Um he first, I know he graduated from Coronado, but he first started out at Durango, which is my alma mater, and nobody blazes trails like the Trailblazers. So that was pretty cool. You know, the key um he played he played two seasons, quality seasons uh at UCLA, was freshman, all Pac-12, and that was when it was a good Pac-12, not with the joke that they have now. And um, you know, was a major contributor. One thing I really like about it, he played for Mick Cronin, who is kind of like I could probably be his stunt double. And he is a hard-nosed coach and expects greatness out of his players. The fact that he stayed there after his freshman season, I love that he uh can deal well with pressure and is coachable. Unfortunately, you know, um his role was a little bit diminished at Missouri. I don't know if that was just game plan, a senior-laden team or what, but I think he comes back to Las Vegas to his home, uh, to his hometown with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, and I'm all I'm all for it. Oh, me too.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love the Cronin comment, by the way, too. I'm never gonna forget that one. All right, freshman season, UCLA, 12 points, uh 43 field goal, 1.3 steals a game, free throw 72, physical guard, gets in the lane. I I like it. And that was his freshman year. Obviously, he got a reduced role at Missouri, but I think what we're seeing is a lot of those guys go to the SEC and they just like can't really crack the lineup, or they're like that seventh, eight, eighth player or so, along with Harris from Vanderbilt. So I like the signing. I kind of feel, you know, that that's that gets us a big three.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and we it was so funny. I was thinking about that on the way up here. How that how you've you've talked about that for two years now, that we've had two qualities, the third kind of dynamic has been missing. And I was thinking the exact same thing that I think we have three folks now that can score the hoop. And I think it takes a lot of pressure off of Cam Miles. Uh the combo, I mean, we have so many combo guards, we have more combos than Jack in the Box drive-thru, but I think it really takes the pressure off of one of them not to have to score and run point. They can kind of be used interchangeably, and um, I'm excited to see that uh that that backcourt.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, me too. I think Mac Harrison Jones can go for 20 points almost any game, you know. Um, so hopefully they all stay healthy. Uh, but yeah, I I was kind of hoping we would have like a more true shooter in that position, but I I like the Mac signing. I like it's a physical guard. Um it just, I mean, it seems like for the majority of the command, and we talked about this last time, they're physical, they're tough, they get to the lane, create fouls. But I like it. I mean, he he's good at free throws. Um, you know, it and even last year, they they kept the other team kept getting more fouls. So if we can shore up that free throw line, I think we're gonna just win out with toughness.
SPEAKER_00So I love it. That's what we kind of talked about with the the dynamic and the identity of the team that the coach is building.
Do Rebels Need More Shooting
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So how do you feel about the roster makeup now? Like overall, because I know last time we talked about it, and I was like, man, we gotta do the spot again. Yeah. But now what are your thoughts? Because I felt like mine was a little like, ah, I feel like it's incomplete. We need that one more guy. So I'm pretty happy about this. Um, but what are your thoughts about overall the roster now in the Mountain West?
SPEAKER_00So yeah, from la from last month, I think that we're we're stronger at a deeper position. And this is probably what Coach wanted the backcourt to look like last year with with Miles Che and DGL, both guards. I think we have an upgrade because I mean Miles Miles Che was a great player, great point guard, but I think the two guards that we have now in that position are starting, what would I assume he's gonna be our starting backcourt, are more athletic. So I think we we've upgraded there, but I I do think there's still some dynamics that are missing on the team, a little some spots to be filled. So um, you know, I'd love to get your thoughts on that as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and Passner, did you have a chance to listen to again uh Scarlet, Stan of Scarlet um uh with Mike? Passener was on it, and he actually talked about he needs another shooter from outside and uh like a maybe a center that can score. So that was kind of my take. Yeah, I'd like to see some more outside shooters because right now I think that's gonna be the weakness of a team. It's I don't know if you can necessarily people are you want three or four guys that can shoot, and I don't really see that on probably the majority. It's gonna be physical, get to the rim, create the foul, kind of, you know, or run the ball, you know, get ahead of them on defense. But there's not a ton of great outside shooters. Right now it's really Ford and Harris.
SPEAKER_00And and that's kind of the tough thing. If you do have physical guards that can attack the rim, if the defense is collapsed, have this being able to kick out to an open man on the three and keep that streak alive, which is really, really important. And yeah, you're right. I think when we talked last time at the guard position, we both wanted to see uh just a true shooter that could just light it up from three. And um, you know, I think Mac is a a great addition. If we couldn't have the perfect, perfect candidate out of central casting that could just sit on the three-point line and and shoot the ball. Um, this this guy definitely fills a role that I think is gonna be needed on the team later on in the in the season.
SPEAKER_01I agree with you. Yeah, it makes the lineup interesting now. I feel, yeah, I feel like Williamson and Miles, one of them's gonna break out. We're not guaranteed that. I think one of them's gonna shoot well from outside. Hopefully both, but I like that now. It was funny too how we thought Dontre Williams would be a really great six man. Yeah. I think he goes into that role now. I think he's gonna get shorter minutes as you know, uh off the bench, and then Ford and Thomas as kind of like the role players. Um so yeah, I'm excited. Do you think this roster right now over the hump, we're gonna we're gonna win the Mountain West?
SPEAKER_00No. No, I, you know, I like Mac definitely makes us better. And when we uh after the pod, when we were walking out, we were kind of talking that UNLV can be picked anywhere from four to six in the media poll. I mean, we're kind of in that middle of the pack. I think this, I think his signing cements us as the fourth, probably the fourth pick, but I don't think we're breaking the top three with New Mexico, UNR, and Grand Canyon. Um, but I I do think we're, you know, the the fourth best team with him on the on the roster.
SPEAKER_01I think that's a good take. I kind of see us kind of similar to you, is almost like tier two, us and Reno, and yeah, I would give Reno the edge because they have more players coming back, you have a better understanding. Uh we have probably more upside. We have more upside every year, though. So I don't know. Uh but I think right now is yeah, I would not predict this and win the Mountain West Championship, but I will say I think there's enough talent to make it happen now. Where before I was like, I don't know, like we may maybe get into the finals, but best case scenario. But now I'm like, okay, I think we have a roster that could potentially win it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um I don't think it's the best team on paper, but it's it can compete.
SPEAKER_00It can compete, and like we talked about last time, too. What we've seen win in the Mountain West Conference is long athletic defense rebounding with San Diego State. We've got kind of a model of that on the roster now, so I think there's a good possibility if things gel and these kids can play together well, that's uh sky's the limit for the team, but realistic expectations. I say we're picked fourth uh to finish, and I you know, I don't I I could see us probably maybe finishing third or second, but I don't know if we're gonna have the best team in the league.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think so. I like Patner's Pastner's vision. Let's see what he can do. Um and pray for you know no injuries again this year. That's exactly right. All right, let's get into it. I've
Football Commits Pile Up Fast
SPEAKER_01been my favorite thing, UNL V football. And usually have to wait. But we got some good stuff going on right now. So when I texted you earlier in the week, um Unal V had a total of um 11 signings in June. Now it's 17. Yeah, I've been feverishly refreshing Twitter just to see who else is it's happening. Yeah. Um, and I think we had 17 total commitments or 18. Now it's 23. So, what are your takeaways from this class? I mean, for 2027, it's almost completed. I I think this is a first where, you know, usually it's like signing day. We're, you know, we're talking about the class getting completed, but they probably only have anywhere from like two to four more spots for high schoolers right now.
SPEAKER_00And that's the amazing thing. I mean, it's the complete opposite for UNLV basketball, where we're still trying to feel the full roster, and we uh, you know, we tip off in like three or four months, whereas UNLV football in the house almost has their 20 uh the entire 2027 class signed. Um, you know, I think it's just it's it's it's great to see that he's that Mullen's building for the future and because he's being so aggressive for 2027, it bodes well, I believe, for us about his commitment to to being in Las Vegas and coaching at UNLV. Um it's not just taking it year by year, but it's not just the the the amount of people, it's and we'll we'll get into a couple of the players later, I know, but we're beating out uh power schools uh for uh for opportunities. And it's just amazing the dynamic of what winning does to a culture and winning does to a team. We've had three really good seasons in a row, and all of a sudden it's it's it's changed our it's changed our identities. We're not some uh we're not some kind of laughable uh team playing out Sam Boyd. We're a legitimate contender to possibly make the college football playoff. And if you would have told me that 10 years ago, I'd have I would have laughed you out of the building.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. No, it's pretty remarkable. So it's a top 60 class, number one in the Mountain West. Guys, check out. Um, I don't want to go through all the players because it can get kind of it's hard to kind of listen to when you're listening to a podcast, but uh best resource is uh Unov uh 24-7, 2027 commitments. Go check that out. You guys can see all the players that committed because there's been a ton coming in for June. But really impressive. Um, a lot of good offensive players you brought in. You know, one that was interesting to me, which I thought was pretty cool, uh, one of the top signings is Donovan McNabb Jr. Does that ring any bell? Name sounds familiar. Yeah. When I saw the sign, I'm like, no way.
SPEAKER_00And it's a son. Yeah. Which is which is cool. And again, going back to the name is obviously the headline because it's Donovan McNabb Jr. signing. I remember when we had Jerry Rice Jr., or it was with Junior Jr. the third, uh, we had Jerry Rice's kid come and play for his last season uh as as a as a wide out. And it was it was cool to see, you know, we saw Jerry Rice at the games. Um, but uh going back to who we beat out for this kid to come here, and it's not like we're getting we're getting leftovers of we talk about when the transfer portal hits, maybe some kid got over-recruited, not getting the minutes at a Big 12, Big Ten SEC school wants to come here. This kid chose UNLV over uh some really good schools and some good football programs. So um I I I love that we have a powerful receiver with that name recognition, but again, it's just the excitement that's building with the program, is what I'm most excited about.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's an interesting prospect. So he's right now currently our second highest prospect. We got another running back that is now currently um just uh committed the other day, is now the number one. He's a small receiver, he's about 160 pounds. I think he's 5'11, so he'll need time to develop and obviously has the bloodline, but just uh pretty exciting. Again, I love how you hit on the nose. Is you look the you go on 247, you look, they have a lot of offers from Big 12 schools, or so they're in that range. So it's fun because the last it feels like a couple years, Mullen has taken recruiting to the next level. Um, you you're seeing the difference because a lot of these players, McNabb maybe it's not the best example because he he needs to put like 20 pounds on, but most of these guys are coming in full weight, ready to go, 6'5, 6'7, they're big, they're ready to play now. Where um of in the past was you gotta wait at least two, three years, and hopefully they turn into something good. So it's it's pretty, it's been pretty impressive. No, absolutely. So,
Standout Recruits And Local Pipeline
SPEAKER_01who are some players or player you're super excited? Not name McNabb, because that's the easy one. Yeah. Um, who are you excited about?
SPEAKER_00Well, I'm I'm gonna let you talk about Phoenix Pollard because I know you're a big, a big line guy. So um uh going back to Las Vegas, obviously Las Vegas born and raised, so uh Jaden Mason out of Faith Lutheran, he was uh he's he's a stud junior wide out, um, really had a breakout junior year. He didn't have a ton of big name schools offering him yet, but he plays on both sides of the ball. I I think it's nice to know, I'm not knowing really what the the roster makeup will look like in 2027, just know he's versatile enough to either play as a wide out or a defensive back. Um but just it speaks to his athleticism. I think this kid has a ton of upside. I love that a uh that we're starting to get a pipeline from local schools because we want to keep we've seen that Las Vegas has become a powerhouse for for high school football with Bishop Gorman. I think Faith is obviously up there in the mix. And um, you know, we have uh CJ Besser who's who's uh the family's a good friend, sit next to us at all the rebel games. He's a he's a stud. He committed, he's classy this year, and um now uh with Mason um next year. I I I like the pipeline we might be starting from Faith Lutheran.
SPEAKER_01I like it too. It's always good to see locals sign. I I'm still not seeing like the top locals signing, so I think that's potentially the next wave. A lot of times they're coming back through transfer a year or two later, which is fine. And that's understandable. But yeah, I love those. I love how you and I we always we never pick the same guys. Guys, we never talk about it, but we never pick the same guys. I went kind of easier this time. I I didn't want to go through the whole list, but like give you guys an idea who these players are. I just actually said the top. I know you wanted, I was gonna say three O line, maybe I didn't do it this time. Oh wow. Um, but yeah, I would say Delysha Matthews, the running back. He's our top recruit, six foot 200 pounds. Uh Luke Forell, QB 6'5, uh rating 86 by 247. My favorite though, I'm going a different direction because I'm very predictable on this pod with O-line, was Michael Greer, 6'5, 255-pound edge. He's got this, I mean, we're um very young up front in the D-line area, and this is until next year, but I thought that's a guy that, hey, maybe he can make the three or two deep, you know, coming in um next year. So he was my uh big takeaway. He's your big takeaway. Okay, good. I thought for sure you're gonna be Phoenix Black.
SPEAKER_00Well, good. It's always nice to have a little surprise. Yeah, I gotta mix it up. Keep it in the chest. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01So, what were your like big tick takeaways from the class overall?
SPEAKER_00Overall, I just I like I said, I love that that Mullen is recruiting for the future, that he's getting ahead of the game just because we don't, it's with the pr with the transfer portal, it should everything is so unpredictable. So if you can kind of get guys committed early on, they have a rooting interest, we uh we we look good, and as you said, as opposed to having a kid come in and all right, give him a couple years in the weight room, make sure he has nutrition taken care of and uh some uh you know really working the system, I I like the size we're coming in with because and I know that you know this better than anybody, when we play against big teams, the line is in in years past was so dominant on the other side. It was we just we got outmatched and outmanned. And last year that wasn't necessarily the case in the majority of the games, and it doesn't seem like it's gonna be an issue for us going forward.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we'll see on the defensive line this year. I think we're a year away from that, with like the full potential of this defense. But offensive line, I think we'll probably be the best in the league. They got size, I think they're gonna be better this year. Um, so yeah, I'm excited about it. And I think the way Mullen is building too, it kind of feels like we may get another year run with him. We'll see. It all depends. The guy goes undefeated, he gets he gets you know in the playoffs. It's hard to turn down big money, but he's he's legitimately building a roster from the inside out versus just going transfer portal. He's bringing a lot of transfers too, but he's he's making uh he's making some big waves here. But the the the big takeaway for me was, and I loved it, because my uh last time we talked about football was two, three months ago. My concern was the defensive line and the future of it. Six commits that were either edge or defensive line. Most have size. Some of these guys are gonna have to develop a little bit. But I'm glad that they overhauled that so far, because I think I think they're gonna need it in the future.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And and I and going back to you know, if Mullen will get poached, I saw this on Twitter, so take that with the grain of salt. But the uh they ranked the coaching jobs in um in the big uh Big Ten. And Barry Odam at Purdue was I think 11 out of 12. So I mean it was just not not not not a good scene for him. I know he got a crazy amount of money, but I think Mullen likes Las Vegas, and I think he's kind of I think he kind of wants to be here. And um, I think with with uh you know with um with Harp getting his extension I I I've I feel confident we might get one or two more years with him.
SPEAKER_01I think I lean that too because I think he's made his money. It's hard to, I mean, Barry Odin, like how do you not that's generational wealth? Like, totally get it. Um maybe if you he was a little more patient, he could have got a better program because Purdue's tough. Yeah. Um yeah, I I it feels like it's leaning that way, but still. Once somebody offers you enough money, it's everybody has a price. Yeah, so we'll see. But so far, loving the class. Uh, we'll talk more about it. We'll be talking about a lot of United V football pride, July, August. So it's gonna probably be a big focus as we go into the season. We can get into a ton more detail. I just kind of wanted to go over a couple things here.
Why New Mexico Gets The Hype
SPEAKER_01One thing I noticed, have you been reading the magazines? Yeah. You mean Phil Phil Steel? Phil Steel. All of them. I don't know. Back in the day that was my thing. Now it's like you can't. It's Phil Steel. I still I'll Google it. But now information's so quick. It's like by the time you get the magazine, like, oh, this is this is wrong. It's like bringing it's like bringing a magazine to a fancy football draft. You don't do that. But uh yeah, you know, the one thing I thought was interesting on most of them, like cross the board, I I thought I was a little shocked by this, so I want your thoughts. The team that was predicted to win the Mountain West, I think in all the big sources, was New Mexico. Not UNLV. Thoughts?
SPEAKER_00Definitely the the the trendy pick, and I think Jason uh Jason X has earned what the the accolades that he's getting. I mean, what he did at Idaho, he kind of replicated um when he got to New Mexico. Uh they were picked, if you remember, they were picked to finish 11th in the season, 11th in the league last year, and they ended up not playing for uh the the conference championship because of analytics. Um, you know, so the success is there. He knows how to build a program. He has the majority of his O and D line coming back, the quarterback's coming back, they got a really good uh transfer in from Oregon, so there's gonna be a quarterback uh battle. Um so that's kind of the deal, but there's also something to be said about when there's not any pressure. If you're picked to finish 11th, you go out and you can just play ball. Now the pressure is gonna be on him. And I'm gonna take the opposite side. Uh, UNLV brings back Jet Thomas, um, and I think with Jackson Arnold, a quarterback out of the portal, uh, if the defense can take a modest step forward, and I know we spent a lot of time talking about the defense last season, but if the defense can take a modest step forward, I truly believe that it's UNLV's title to lose.
SPEAKER_01I think so too. Yeah, I was a little surprised. I would pick Unil V too. Um, and I think everything that Jason has done at New Mexico has been remarkable, and I think give them a lot of props. And they beat Unil V at Unil V. Unilv's at New Mexico this year. Quarterback's back, QB from Oregon's in. It's lining up very well for New Mexico. But there's a lot of things that kind of happened in that game. New Mexico wasn't, I think, um, not to say that Unilev didn't take them serious, but I know Anthony Calandria, I think he had the flu. He was getting over it. Um, so he didn't play his best game. But New Mexico didn't, you know, it's just like, oh, they're playing New Mexico. They until the end of the year, everybody kind of realized how good they were. And Unal V was like that first big win for them. So I don't think Unal V, I think Unal V goes into that game next year, fired up from losing it. They're gonna take them very you hit on those like, hey, they're predicted first. Okay, great. Let's Go show it. This is our conference. But I'm shocked where it seems on paper this is a better team. Well, depends on the QB. Yeah. I believe Arnold or one of them's gonna step up. But on paper, this team looks better. They've been in the Mountain West championship three years in a row. If Boise State is not in this conference, Unal V most likely wins two or three of those championships.
SPEAKER_00And I think speaking of that, and I I could be wrong, so please fact-check me if I am. I think the New Mexico loss came a week after the Boise State loss. So there's just kind of a deflating uh, you know, you're this is our last chance to beat Boise State, uh, I think on the Smurf Turf. And they came down and um they lost that game. And so there's there's a I think there's a little bit of defeat. You hit it on the head, Calandry had his flu game, and it just wasn't that he didn't look his best. He didn't play like AC does. So I but I do agree heading down to the Burke, they're gonna have something to prove, and I think we're gonna we're gonna win one back there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think what we're gonna see, so uh okay, before I go on on paper, what do you think about this team going into next year compared to last year's team?
SPEAKER_00So on on paper, again, we didn't know what Anthony Anthony Calandro was gonna do. I think one of our first podcasts, we were there's still a lot of debate if it was gonna be Alex Orgy or AC as the starter. Um, and there could still possibly be some debate there. But I so I think on on paper now with with Jackson Arnold, where he's played, and his physical ability, and now that I know that Dan Mullen is the the quarterback whisperer, I think we have a slight edge, if not to the same. Losing the offensive player of the year in the Mountain West Conference is is nothing to like kind of sneeze at. But I do think with with Jackson Arnold coming in on paper, the team looks very similar. And again, another year under Mullen in the system. We have um oh my gosh, what's the DB uh the defensive coordinator's on? Paul, is it Paul the defensive coordinator? I think shear. Mike Shear. So we we have we have him actually coming back and being good. So I think on paper we have an edge from last year's team.
SPEAKER_01Slight. Yeah. I I think so too. I think overall the offense line is gonna be bigger, more veterans, more physical. And that was the thing last year, and you and I had this conversation before the season. I'm like, because Orgy's still on the team, too. I think Jackson Arnold is most likely gonna be the starter to be clear. But if this, and if this line can move, like we talked about the defensive line of all these Mountain West teams, that just right there. You're just playing power run football with Jet Thomas, that's just interesting. So I think across the board, I know the weapons are younger, but I think they're gonna be upgrades. Uh they're very athletic, they have a little bit of a higher ceiling. I think the biggest question mark on this is the defense. It's gonna be younger, but the defense was bad last year. Very bad. So I feel like if we're, you know, uh just better than that, I think it's gonna make a huge difference. And I think the offseason win for this defense was bring Mike Shear in, and he's gonna have a huge influence because we kind of talked about too, it's like he's the one getting interviewed, not Gunther. Yeah, Gether. But but I did hear uh interview with Gunther, and I thought it was interesting, and he actually went into it the uh the shift from NFL to college. He kind of came in last minute, you know, he didn't have guys in his system. So and he I think he's kind of learning the college game a little bit too, and he was actually open about it, you know. I liked it. It was good to hear actually, because sometimes you get coach speak or you get like ways to not talk about it, but he actually took accountability for last year and you know gave people a better idea of what was going on. So I think across the board the defense is gonna be better, it's gonna be younger. So I'm I'm more curious like how does this defense show up in the beginning of the year versus the second half? Because the talent's so young for a Mountain West championship. But yeah, I think the big question is the quarterback is that could be the difference of Mountain West championship or not. But either way, I think this is a better team on paper, and we're not playing Boise State anymore. Right.
SPEAKER_00That's that's one of the biggest I want to say upgrades, but one of the one one of the one, you know, if if you can't, if that team has your number, then now you're not playing them. You don't have that loss on the schedule. Yep.
SPEAKER_01All right,
Trap Games And Conference Sleepers
SPEAKER_01cool. So, what are what do you think the teams in this conference are gonna give you and L V the most trouble?
SPEAKER_00So we kind of talked a little bit about New Mexico. I think that's gonna be one of the resume games for the for the conference. Uh Hawaii is a trap game because we've we've we've talked in years past, they have a very high potent offense. If our defense isn't up to it, and we play in Hawaii, the travel's always tough. They talk about the Vegas flu. There's the Hawaii headache as well. I mean, you get over there and you're kind of in paradise, and maybe you're not as focused. So I think those are the two games that I'll be very interested in. We play Hawaii very early in the season. And then right after Memphis. Yeah, right after Memphis. And not really knowing what North Dakota State, how they're gonna come in, they're playing up. They spent the last, you know, for the entirety of their uh of their existence in the FCS, and that they have 10 FCS titles in 15 years. They're prohibited for playing for the Mountain West Conference Championship. So I think they're gonna come into the league and just want to beat everybody to show, hey, one, we deserve to be here. Two, it doesn't matter we don't need to play for your championship, we're gonna be champions in our own right. And so I'm very interested just to kind of see how they how they adapt to playing up because again, talking about culture, they have a winning culture, they've been winning for a long time, they know how to win games.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think, yeah, North Dakota State is big. I love Hawaii and big back their quarterback. They had a good defense last year. Uh uh Unovy kicked their butt last year here. So I think they're gonna be ready for that game. Hawaii, I should say. So I think that's a good trap game right after Memphis. You're in Hawaii. That is a very interesting game to me, too. I like Hawaii. I like North Dakota State. All the top four teams, they're away, which we thought was interesting. Not surprising. Smart by the Mountain West. Um, I think year two, I think in North State's gonna like compete pretty well. I see them getting like eight wins and being tough and creating some drama in the conference a little bit. I could see them, I mean, they're gonna have all those games home next year. I could see them being a favor to be in the Mountain West championship the following year. Um and my sleeper, do you have a sleeper team for the Mountain West? Yes.
SPEAKER_00Um, that is a little bit on the spot. No, I mean I I think that not really. I I don't know enough about Northern Illinois, but if there was something that I think may have the opportunity to do that, it might be Northern Illinois. Okay, I like it.
SPEAKER_01Sorry. I wasn't. I got him on that one. I don't send them all the questions. Yeah, keep me on your toes. Uh mine's Air Force.
SPEAKER_00Oh, okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I just think it's interesting because the last couple years they have not been good. Uh, but this this program in the past has won nine, ten, eleven games. Uh, that program's been around for a while, same coach. Unless something's happened to that coach that we don't know about and he's taken setback, but I don't think so. I think they just had a couple off years. But those teams in the past would probably that won on a high level would probably win Mountain West Championships. So we'll see if they can get back to that. But the conference is a lot lighter now. So I could see them being an eight-nine win team. Um, so I I think they're interesting.
SPEAKER_00I think that's a great pick, too, because they run that, they run that triple option, which is tough. If you don't play against it, it's tough to we can watch as much film. Once you actually get on the field and try to have to defend that, it's tough. These are going to be a lot of newer teams that are seeing that this year. So they could steal a couple wins where we thought that that wouldn't be the case in years past for you know a Boise East Day, maybe a Wyoming teams they've seen uh play a lot.
SPEAKER_01Um I'm just glad Arroyo's not our coach anymore because he did not know how to put a defensive lineman in the middle of the fullback. Goes for 12 yards. Oh my gosh. Anyways, all right, so time's up. I'm gonna keep going. Because this is my this is what I was looking forward
Mountain West Fun Facts Quiz
SPEAKER_01to. Mountain West fun facts. You ready for this? Let's go, yeah. I got four fun facts for you. Four, let's do it. But you're gonna guess. Okay. Okay. Fun fact number one. All right. Besides UV, who has had, because originally there's actually a team that had more commits, but like today, now Unal V has more commits. Besides Univ, what are uh the top programs for commitments for 2027? Um, will it be in New Mexico? Nope. Air Force? Nope. I don't know. North Dakota State and Northern Illinois. Interesting. All right. North Dakota State has 20 commits, Northern Illinois has 17 commits, and then the next one's like six. Wow, that's pretty impressive. So I thought that was interesting. Yeah, very much so. Is that a fun fact? So much fun. Okay, good. All right. Fun fact number two. What Mountain West program has the most preseason All Mountain West first teamers? Ooh, this one is a good one.
SPEAKER_00This one is a good one. Um, All Mountain West first teamers. I'm gonna go Air Force? No, silly of me. That's such a dumb answer. Um, let's go.
SPEAKER_01Um, let's go New Mexico. Okay. It's not New Mexico. Okay, but it's your favorite color to wear on the spot.
SPEAKER_00Oh, not UNR. Reno.
SPEAKER_01Oh, the city that shall not be named.
SPEAKER_00Five really on the first team. Wow. Is that a fun fact? I that's I didn't want to say it out of my mouth. I thought for a second it may be, but I was like, no, there's no one.
SPEAKER_01That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00That's pretty crazy, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and they're not picked in the top five. Yeah. So I think I think Reno, they might be a bull team this year. We'll see. I think they're a little underrated. They lost a lot of quick, they're totally rebuilding that program from last year. Reno's interesting. I don't think they're coming from Mount West Championship, but I think they're a bull team. All right, fun fact number three. What program has the most players returning? I am gonna say New Mexico. Oh my gosh. If I keep it. It's gonna sound very obvious after you after you we say Oh, Air Force Academy. Yes. All right, that's how silly of them. And what are they ranked uh in the nation for returning players?
SPEAKER_00Um, I would say they're probably behind our Army, Navy, so maybe five. Number one. Is it really? Good for them.
SPEAKER_01Look at this. Yeah. Look at these fun facts, right? Boy, I'm horrible right now. No, that's okay. I didn't know these. This is why I was like, but it changes your thinking when you start going down and I don't know. I look at these teams a little bit differently now, either now or for the future. All right, what would UNLV, currently right now on 247 as the source? What would UNLV be ranked and recruited? They're number one in Mountain West, obviously. Okay. If they were in the pack, the new pack, what would they be ranked?
SPEAKER_00They'd be ranked number two behind Boise State. Number one. Jeez, I'm I'm I'm terrible. I don't are you even gonna invite me back. So what are your thoughts after hearing all that? It's it's pretty impressive. It just shows that there's a lot of parody in in college sports now. And I think the NIL has really leveled the playing field, um, no pun intended. But um, it's just you gotta get out there, you gotta compete, and you gotta execute. Yep. That was cool. Yeah.
Final Takeaways And Sign Off
SPEAKER_01All right, good fun pod, man. Yeah, fun pod as always. All right, guys, this is Ron Vex, take care of yourself. Keep doing it.