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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
Can You Really Buy a College Team in the NIL Era? | John McNamara & Ryan Pulliam
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Welcome And The Summer Dead Zone
SPEAKER_00Hey guys, John Mac from our host to Run and Vegas. We're talking local sports, business, real estate. You guys like we see, subscribe, follow us on Runin' Vegas podcast today! I got my computer Run Volume in the house. And we got a UNLV special pod. Always special. I'm not sure what we're talking about today, though, because it's it's like the dead zone. It is.
SPEAKER_01This is one of the slowest months of uh of sports of the year, but UNLV still gave us a couple days of uh news cycles to talk about.
SPEAKER_00I know, I know, so we'll take it. It was good timing because I'm looking at quite I'm like, what are we gonna talk about, right? Because it's the dead zone for sports.
Pastner’s “Buy UNLV Basketball” Comment
SPEAKER_00Pasner coming out. 10, 12 million dollars to buy UNLV basketball team. What's your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01You know, I mean, I understood what he was saying. I don't think people were gonna take him literally, but uh, and you know, UNLV at first bounced on it. I mean, and if you think about the the buzz that we're getting right now because of the NBA team and all these people that are bidding for it, he was just saying, hey, listen, you know, there's plenty of good basketball in Las Vegas if you want to be a part of it, UNLB running rebels. And uh again, I mean, I think that initially when it came out, everybody jumped on. Um, even UNLV Athletics was was promoting it and tweeting it, and then somebody must have said something because he had to had to walk it back and it wasn't necessarily uh an apology, but definitely a clarification. But I don't think he's really sad that that guy that led the news cycle for a couple days. Um, apologize? I don't think you should apologize. I don't think there's anything wrong with what he was saying. I think he was just trying to say, listen, this is a new era with the NIL. You can have you if you want to give money towards a sports program, especially in Las Vegas, the UNLV Running Rebels are a great one to do it. We're a venerable team, one of the highest ranking, um highest winning percentages uh uh of all the NC2A. So I I don't think there's anything to apologize for. I just think people sometimes take things a little bit too seriously. But I mean, what a great soft launch for a booster out there that might be willing to be. I love it.
SPEAKER_00I love it, Josh Pastor. You don't apologize for anything. That was it's in the news cycle. This man gets us in the news cycle all the time. Um and I yeah, I think we understand what he's doing. 100%.
SPEAKER_01You know, and I understand the clarification, not that like the NCAA is like really doing anything these days, but well, I mean, and and you know, you you understand how much power boosters have, not just not just you know anywhere, but specifically in Las Vegas. I mean, all uh Dave Rice being let go right in the middle of the season uh back then. So when he's saying you own the team, you you you buy influence really as a booster. I mean, I know you're not supposed to really think about it that way, but there's some truth to that, and I think that um you know it just because you say the quiet part out loud isn't isn't a bad thing. So I'm I'm all for it. I didn't take offense to it, I don't think anybody should. And again, like you said, got us some pub, man, got us out there.
SPEAKER_00It did, and I love how they're rolling with it too. I think I saw like a promotion the other day. It said it crossed out $10 million, and you can get season tickets for $115. Like, that's great. So they're they're running with it. No pun intended. But uh, yeah, it's it's pretty funny. Yeah, absolutely, and it's good. I love it, and hopefully, yeah. What happened to Finlay? Like, he was all about you know, can we bring him back? I feel like I feel like we missed a couple, like if you know V in the past could just go back 10, 20, 30 years, I think they would have just destroyed in that NIL area. 100%. So it's interesting, but okay.
A New Big Man Joins UNLV
SPEAKER_00But we do have some news in terms of the roster. So uh Mustafa Alone, not sure if I'm pronouncing it right. He signed 610, 220 pounds from Northwestern State. Want to know your thoughts on the signing?
SPEAKER_01I we we talked last probably two podcasts we have that UNW runner rebels, they needed some size. That was one of the things with with all the players they brought in, a lot of guard heavy um wing forwards, uh, but the size just really wasn't there. So it's it's a low-key ad, I think, that matters more than the headlines. I mean, the kid really didn't do a ton at um Frank Frank Phillips JUCO before NSU. He played in 21 games, four starts as a sophomore. But uh, you know, Pastner said that he is a you know, he brings in size, athleticism, and a high motor. And that's what we talk about, what Pastner kind of wants our identity to be. And so if he's a rim protector, you know, that just if you think about he and maybe Tyron Jones playing on the same floor, uh, it gives our perimeter guards a little bit more uh leeway to play aggressive defense because if you get blown by, maybe um there's two dudes in the in behind behind you, they're gonna be able to be protect the rim and uh and stop some kids from just taking it to the hoop. So, you know, I don't nothing to write home about, but I'm glad that we're filling spots on the roster. And and again, it with the height and size that we needed, and he's he's there.
SPEAKER_00I think too, because I think Passner, somebody mentioned like money ball to Pasner, you know, and then he's talking about the 10-12 million. I think that's one of these moves, right? Is you have to fill out this roster. And one thing I noticed about uh this signing, uh, he was uh fourth in efficiency in all of the Southland conference. Um he shot 60% field goal percentage. He's he played a lot. He's not gonna be he's not brought in for offense, but he can put it back up, so to speak, right? Right, right. Absolutely, or you know, get a lob. Right. So uh this is for defense. Um I could see him coming in um if there's a good center or power forward where he maybe plays 10-15 minutes a game, you know, um to stop them, or if we get into foul trouble. We've seen this in the past with Unil V. They bring in one univ uh one big man that can play defense, and I think that's really what it is. So yeah. All right, cool.
UNLV Football Watch List Buzz
SPEAKER_00Number next, Unil V football. Jet Thomas and Jackson Arnold uh make the Shriner's Bowl watch list. What are your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01You know, I think Jet obviously isn't surprised. He's eighth in uh on UNLV's history for rushing yards, and he really hasn't been a power horse back. I mean, his carries were limited uh at least last year. It's not like he gets the ball every single time. So already eighth um on the list, and he's not done. So I think that was you know definitely not a surprise or formality. And then um, I think Arnold, you know, obviously, former five-star recruit, had a couple false starts at Oklahoma and Auburn. Um, I think this is folks saying, hey, listen, this is your this is your time to shine, guy. We're still watching it. And it very well may be his last time to really make scouts understand what that five-star ranking was all about when he came out of college. So I like both of them being on there, and I think it's really cool that UNLV is getting some national attention.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Dan Mullen uh talked about a little bit, I think it was on uh Sco at Standard again. Uh shout out to them, they do a great job. Um, but they Mellon talked about uh Jackson Arnold and basically when he came in was like, hey, what do you do well? Like what what plays you like? They're building the offense around him, so to speak. And sounds like he hasn't had that before. So I like how they're approaching it. And also, like, he's played in the SEC for I don't know, two, three years, whatever it is. He's coming a couple steps down now. So um I think it's gonna translate well. And I thought what was interesting about uh Jed Thomas is that he is 1,700 away from the all-time rushing leader and 1,200, give or take, and about 1,200 uh second all-time. Do you think he gets second or first at the end of the season?
SPEAKER_01What's your thoughts? I definitely think it's it's in his wheelhouse. I mean, the kid can break, uh we've seen him break big runs, so he can get big chunk yardage, so a couple of those will fast forward that 1200 to 700 um, you know, yard uh yardage that he needs to make up. And I mean he's a he's a senior this year, and I think the O-line, you can talk more about the O-line. The O-line's bulked up. We'll have a whole pot on it. There you go. And so, I mean, I think you know, those are the big boys that allow Jet to do what he can do, and you just give him a little bit of space and you gas up that jet. So I think he's gonna be at least number two, if not number one, by the end of the year.
SPEAKER_00Do you know who number one, number two is?
SPEAKER_01Ooh, another one, another one. Um I know it. Was it not Frank, not Frank the Tank.
SPEAKER_00He wasn't up there. Not Jersey Joe. No, it's it's actually in the last like 10 years since I've been watching. I'm drawing a blank. Uh Charlie Williams. Oh. Chuck. Yeah, the Chuck Wagon. He's number one. Okay. And uh number two, Tim Cornett. Oh, really? See, that one surprised me. Really?
SPEAKER_01The Chuck Wagon, I totally get. Yeah, Tim Cornett, I listened to the show.
SPEAKER_00I loved when I first moved here, I had season tickets for Unile V forever. And I would go to Sam Boyd, and I loved watching uh Cornette and what was the receiver? Davis. Do you remember that? The one year where I think they went 7-6 at bowl game. It was like one of the most fun years ever for Unal V. And now they're like way better. But so how would you how would you rank uh the Jet compared to Chuck and Cornette? Like all-time greats. And I'm sure like this season's gonna really kind of determine that, but like just on on paper and what you've seen and talent.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, I think what Jet can do, like I said, if you give him a little space, he can make a guy miss, and his speed, he just he can take off if he sees open field in front of him. So he's probably been one of the most explosive running backs that I've got to see play. Um, and shout out to Jersey Joe Harrow, who is uh who's who's my probably my all-time favorite running back from the show. I don't even know who that is. Oh, really? Oh, you gotta love Jersey Joe. Um and so uh, you know, I think yeah, it was before your time was John Robertson area. Uh, but he's still done, still does a lot of stuff for the Football Foundation. But yeah, you know, I think Jet is just he's an explosive player, he's fun to watch, and I think he's probably been one of the best ones that I've seen in person for sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I think talent-wise, I would put him number one. Um we'll see what the yards turn out because Austin Mullen doesn't tend to run his running backs into the ground. I I'm glad you brought it the offensive line. I did not. Um I think we're upgraded this year. And also I think half of, you know, we're playing a half of the conference, you know, we got some teams coming in where they could really put up some yards if they want to on the ground. So um it's gonna be, yeah, it's gonna be fun to watch. Yeah, like Chuck, Chuck had that speed. Um, he had good balance, but I would say Jet has better contact balance and where like Cornet was great. He had amazing contact balance, but he didn't really ever break the big one, you know. Um, so I think he has the potential of being the all-time best, and we'll see. It just kind of depends how the season plays out, right? A lot of no no-nuns right now. But I think Jet could potentially be make a depth chart in the NFL. Where I did not feel that about Williams, and I did not feel that about Cornette. I felt like they're practice squad guys, where actually I think Jet could be a special teamer or um have some kind of actual role in. I don't know if he's a starter, but I think he's gonna have a role in the NFL potentially. So we'll see.
Mountain West Skips Preseason Poll
SPEAKER_00All right, Mountain West Media Day. They didn't do a preseason ranking. What's your thoughts? Because I know you're big, your sleeper team was northern Illinois, so what are your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, I mean, I think that it's it's weird. It's the first time since we split from the WAC in 1999 that there was not a media prediction. And you know, their official reason was was conference realignment. We we have a new, a bunch of new teams coming in, and we've lost some to the to the Pac-12. Um, and the you know, obviously with all the transfer portal chaos, but they still released uh the the preseason all conference and player of the year awards. So I just I didn't understand kind of what the balance was there. But right, you know what, no poll, no problem. We know that uh the top four teams are UNLV, New Mexico, Hawaii, North Creta State, and um everybody else is just kind of there. I think it's more maybe uh as optics to because we're gunning for that playoff spot this year and wanted to make sure the Mountain West conference has a team represented, they didn't want to give any credence to like a low if a team was picked low in the Mountain West preseason poll and they ended up beating one of the top four, that kind of gives some some um you know some some ammo to some people wanting to keep us out. So I don't necessarily think it's um you know uh any weird it's definitely weird, but we all know who the top four teams are in the league at the very least. We do. I thought it was Lamb.
SPEAKER_00Like honestly, it's sports. Yeah, it's so it's like that's like that's the drama of it. Like you make predictions, you're right, you're wrong. Like it's part of the process. We do it, yeah, yeah. That's what we talk about, right? Exactly. You were right about this, I was wrong about that, right? Whatever, right? So it's I think it's a fun part of sports, and it's sports, like that you defeat the whole purpose of it if you don't create that. Speaking of that pack not even having a media day, what are we doing? But, anyways, um, so those are my thoughts. Um, so Mountain West have a preseason ranking next year. What do you got to lose? Come on.
First-Team Picks And Snubs
SPEAKER_00All right, so all Mountain West Univ players that made the first team. You ready? Yeah. Wide receiver, take Tayshawn Lions, a running back, Jack Thomas, offensive lineman, Austin Boyd, defensive lineman, Lucas Conti, and defense back, Jake Pope. So uh what are your thoughts? And hey, who who do you think deserved to make this last? Who do you think was a surprise? Is there anybody who's been left out?
SPEAKER_01What's your thoughts? So Jets, obviously, we've we've talked about how amazing he is. There's there's no doubt that he should have he should have made that team. The surprise for me, uh I actually kind of had two of them, one Tayshawn Lyons, didn't have like a stellar season. Last year only had 16 catches for 240, uh 241 yards. So I think that preseason was more based on projection than per production. Um, so that one kind of raises the eyebrow to me a little bit. And then Jake Pope, we kind of talked at the end of last season, wanted to see a little bit more from him. I was kind of expecting a little bit more. Now, in in his defense, at the very least, I don't study the the game film. You know, you obviously see the the skill players, wide out running back, quarterback. Uh you watch and you pay attention to that. Those defensive backs, if he is coverage, you know, has has uh has coverage on a guy and he doesn't allow a play to happen, those don't show up in the stat sheet. So maybe some things were happening that I just didn't see, which is 100% a possibility. But I kind of thought, you know, um that was one that I I didn't think that he did enough last year to uh to warrant that. And then I think who was left out was was was Jackson Arnold. I mean, heck, if the kid is named on the Shriner's ball watch list, yeah, I think I think well, uh I guess you're right. If him for him not having a for him not having a snap in the league, I guess I I will I'll I'll pull that back.
SPEAKER_00And then I'm not gonna do that. I don't mind it actually. I and I think I think that's a discussion for sure. The Hawaii quarterback, I think he's legit. 100% Gorman. But yeah, my thoughts are actually very similar to yours. Lions, I love. I don't think he should be on the first team. But I was kind of looking at it, and I think Troy O'Meer made the first team for New Mexico. For New Mexico, yeah. Who just played on UMLV? He was pretty much like another rebel. Yeah, I think he was he was solid for New MLV. Yeah. Uh kind of told me like they have Mountain West doesn't really have any good receivers this year because I'm like, these this is a group. One kid from Malai looks legit. Right. But um yeah, Lions, I love, I love McGee. I like their potential, but right now it's potential until they put on the field. So I didn't think Lions should be in there. And I'm not gonna be surprised though if he is in some kind of team at the end of the year. Obviously, Joe Thomas, awesome boy, awesome boy, I just love. He can play, looks like he's gonna play center this year. He could basically play any position offensive line. Uh Lucas Conti was the probably the most underrating um offseason move that actually created because he went in the transfer border. He came back. I think it's huge for us because our defensive line is probably the youngest and maybe may lack the depth this year. We'll see. Uh, but I love that Lucas came back. Jake Pope. Um I'm not feeling Jake Pope. I like Jake Pope. But like we talked about, he was out of position a lot. He's a crazy athlete. Um, I know he had like 80 tackles or something like that, so I think he kind of made it based off of that. But I think he has a lot more to prove. Not to say that he can't do it this year. We're rooting for him. Um, and I don't know if I actually had anybody else. I I get the argument, I'm not gonna be surprised if Jackson Arnold is first team Mountain West, so I like that. I don't think I had anybody, but um yeah, overall, we got a got our uh, I mean, let's say this. How many times have we had five Unil V first team Mountain West players before?
SPEAKER_01That's it's only type food the six that we had in 2024.
SPEAKER_00So Oh, look at that memory. Okay, that was wrong.
Non-UNLV Players We’re Watching
SPEAKER_00All right, so who are you looking forward to uh the most this year that's not a Unlov player that you you're excited to go watch?
SPEAKER_01So um you you you you mentioned um Micah is I don't know I think that's I pronounced his name. Quarterback uh of Hawaii, he's a preseason offensive player of the year. My wife is from Hawaii, so it'll give me a little some cool points um back home when I say like I'm excited to watch him play. So um is she a white fan? She was until she married me, and then it was just like, hey, this is the way it is. Um obviously a Vegas kid had over 3,000, had over 3,100 passing yards last year. The Timmy Chang offense, I it's fun to watch see. And then on the defensive side of the ball, it's gonna be a total weak sauce pick, but the defensive player of the year back to back, uh Jackson Eck, who's a linebacker at New Mexico. I think he's the coach's kid, I'm assuming. He is. Yeah. So um, you know, those those guys who I think will be fun to watch. Um, just hopefully they don't have great games versus us, but those are those those are my two picks to say, hey, those are gonna be some guys that I'm excited to see play on the other side of the ball.
SPEAKER_00I like it. Mine are basically the same. I'll throw in here. I like the tandem of um Alejando and uh wide receiver Ashlock for Hawaii. And then yeah, Jason Eck uh coming back, he was outstanding last year, so yeah, and that defense coming back, it'll be interesting. Very much so.
Way-Too-Early Game Predictions
SPEAKER_00Yeah. All right, so let's have a little fun. We're gonna do the way too early Mountain West predictions. We're doing conference play. Conference play. Next episode, a month from now, we're gonna do non-con. But this is way too early. So we're gonna have a little fun with this. We'll go through all the games. First game at Hawaii. What do you got?
SPEAKER_01Win lost for UNLV? This is a this is gonna be a tough one because we play them so early on in the season. And we've talked a little bit about how the defense we're hoping is a little bit more cohesive, having a full year in Gunters program. Um, but that's a high-powered offense to face that early on in the season. I think it's a toss-up game, it has me a little bit worried, but I do think that UNLV comes away with the W.
SPEAKER_00I like it. Okay, this might be the game. I'm picking Hawaii. Okay. My thoughts are it's at Hawaii. We blew them out last year. They're gonna be ready for us, or UNLV, I should say. So, and they got their starting quarterback coming back. Um, they Hawaii was underrated, I felt, last year. Not enough people were talking about them. And I think, like you said, it's gonna be early in the season. I think a big question is our defense. You know, I I I see the offense, you know, playing well, even if for some reason the quarterbacks can't get together in the first couple games, we're gonna have an amazing running game. So feeling comfortable in that. But yeah, how long does it take this defense really get together? Is it a game? Is it halfway through next year? I feel way more confident with Shear and then Gunther having a year together and and building the rock, understanding the players. I think I think the defense is going to be better, but how much better? Exactly. It couldn't get much worse. No. Is it top five Mountain West? Is it top three? You know, it is a top two? We'll see. It's gonna be hard. New Mexico was really good last year. So I imagine they're gonna be the best defense in the league, but we'll see. So I'm gonna have a fun prediction. Not, I mean, not fun. Um yeah, Hawaii's gonna win that game. Number next at home, North, Dakota State. First year in the Mountain West.
SPEAKER_01They got something proof. What do you think? This will definitely come in with a chip on their shoulder, and I think since the last time we talked about them, they may now be able to play for a conference championship. I think so. I think there was some ruling that came down. Um, but these guys are legit, and like we talked about, they have a winning culture, so it's not as if they're coming in learning how to win. They've been champions for uh decades. So um them having that mentality coming in, hey, we can play with anybody. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the course of the season playing with that level against that level of talent, but I do think we beat them early on uh at home at the out.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um, that's another interesting game. This is probably the game where I could see going either way, North Dakota State coming in. They are legit. I don't think people realize. Um, I'm gonna go Unil V because it's at home. Um, and I think it may take a year for North Dakota State. Kind of uh it's not gonna be surprising, though, that North Dakota State's one of the best teams in the league next year, though. So I'm gonna push Unil V and just hearing um some of the players talk about them in the the in the media, it doesn't sound like that would be like a surprise game. They understand that program, they respect that program. So I think they have something to prove there too, both both teams. So I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go Unal V on this. Okay. Okay. All right, number next at Air Force the most returning players in the league.
SPEAKER_01Who do you got? Most returning players in the league. I the Air Force, it's unfortunately just the nature of the beast nowadays with the NIL, Air Force isn't gonna necessarily compete. I think we Win that game handily in the springs.
SPEAKER_00Um, I have Unlov too. I don't know if it's gonna be handily because we've seen the Navy and Army produce well in this era just because players stick around. And we'll see. Air Force hasn't been really good the last couple years, but I'm betting Calhoun is getting this program back up. I believe they're gonna be in the top half of the Mountain West this year. And I do believe Unal V is gonna win. I think that's gonna be a fun game as well. Again, it's at Air Force, so you never know. It could be 30 degrees and snowing there. Um, but another fun game. All right. Your sleeper pick from Mountain West. Northern Illinois at home.
SPEAKER_01Northern Illinois at home. I still think that we're gonna go ahead and take this game. Um, the more I looked at Northern Illinois, I may have thought that I may have been asleep when I made that pick, but I do I do think we I do think we win this uh this game.
SPEAKER_00No, I love the pick. Here's the thing. Um yeah, I think we I think we're gonna beat them pretty well. I think that's uh that's a gimme game. We'll see. Um they're coming up from the Mac too, and they didn't play well last year. Yeah. Um they're kind of here in a mess. I mean, they played well in the Mac. I think I think that they could be a top half potential Mountain West team sometime in the future. They get uh, you know, they're in near Chicago, so there's a lot of talent up there. But yeah. Okay, next game. Well, we got Wyoming at home.
SPEAKER_01Wyoming at home. I think we win. We beat Wyoming. Uh, nice things we don't have to go up to Laramie and play in that weather. So Wyoming uh is a win for us.
SPEAKER_00I think so too. I mean, you hear it, uh like Wyoming basically has like almost like no NIL. I mean, they're asking for the state for money. So uh they do have an NIL to be clear, but it's very low. So it's hard, it's hard for them to compete. And I agree with you. I think the one thing about Wyoming is when it's at Wyoming, that is a different that state of it is beautiful. You're in elevation. You anybody could lose in Wyoming. That is an interesting place to play. We have them at home, and I think they've had some turnover. I think that's another Unal B win. All right, big game, end of the year, out in Mexico.
SPEAKER_01Albuquerque. Down in the Burke. This one was the tough one. This one's the one that kind of waffled a little bit back again. They're gonna have a chip on their shoulder because they think they got cheated, quote unquote cheated, out of being um playing for the Mountain West Conference Championship last year versus Boise State because of the analytics. Um it's gonna be so close. But even though I'm not wearing my colors to show how much of a homer I really am, I do think um, I do think that we win at New Mexico. But this was this was a coin toss for me, realistically.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, this would go anyway. Uh I'm gonna predict Unil V. We kind of talked last time about it. It's I think Unil V is not gonna be sleeping on New Mexico this time of year. Um, I think we'll have everything uh as long as injuries are okay, right? Um I think we're gonna pull that one out uh to make up for last year. I think they're gonna be focused going into that game, and that could be that could be the difference of making the Mountain West championship or not, because like we kind of talked about it. It seems like there's kind of like a top three, maybe North Dakota's top four if they're eligible for Mountain West. But the Hawaii and New Mexico game are super important, so I think Unilev pulls that game out. All right, at San Jose State. W. W.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, no, no further discussion.
SPEAKER_00Not worried about it. What's understood doesn't need to be discussed. Yeah, I like that. Okay. And then, okay, last game of the year. I love that you're wearing the colors.
SPEAKER_01We got Reno at home. You'd expect me to rip this off and have you know what you're trying to do. But no, the can't the can't, Jeff Choad or Chote is whatever. He's acting, that's what he's acting like. Just even he had a little bit of a desktop end of last season. Then he carried it over in media. It's like, come on, dude, get over it. Um, we're gonna go up to uh no, excuse me, they're here. Um they're gonna come down here. The can's gonna stay red, go rebels, F U N R.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think that's a win too. I don't think I I feel very confident about that one. Uh, and I will say this I think uh Reno has much uh improved this roster um from last year. They played in some tight games last year that they could have won. Um, so I think it's gonna be a tougher game. I think Unal V wins this pretty well, but I I think this will be actually a game versus last year where it's like just a complete blowout. And that was their first year. The coach is interesting, he's kind of hit or miss with me. Like some weeks he says some silly things, and other things he actually, I'm like, that actually makes sense. He's being honest. I like that he's authentic, but sometimes I think he needs to talk to like his his PR a little bit before he throws these things out.
SPEAKER_01So he's not saying talking about buying a team or anything, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. I love it, Josh. Keep selling a team. Um, all right.
Championship Matchups And Playoff Dreams
SPEAKER_00So who do you got in the Mountain West championship? Obviously, UNLV can say what undefeated per U, which I really love.
SPEAKER_01I I I think it's UNLV New Mexico Mountain West Championship. UNLV wins the championship, finally gets the Boise State, Broncos off their back. And um, I mean, depending on how we do non-con, play for the play in the college playoff. Are we predicting? I'm predicting we're number 12.
SPEAKER_00I think we're the last team in.
unknownI love that.
SPEAKER_00I love it. All right, I got Munal V versus Hawaii. I think we'll actually have the home game. Um, and I think we beat uh Hawaii. I'm not sure. I'm not sure if we are in. I think we have a chance to make the the playoff. I would say I think realistically, I think realistically this is probably a 10-win team again in the regular season. Um I think good would be 11. 12 would just be insane, obviously. Right. I'm I'm predicting about 10 wins, give or take.
SPEAKER_01So you're predicting like 11? I think I'm predicting 11, yeah. I can't remember who I had us losing to at the beginning, but it was a non-conference game. I don't think I had it.
SPEAKER_00I obviously got to save that for next week.
SPEAKER_01Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_00We gotta go. Yeah, don't break that. That's why they come back for more. That's right. Come on. That's where they like, subscribe. Thank you. All right, we got a little
Super Bowl Picks And Raiders QB Talk
SPEAKER_00bit more time. Who do you think uh we never talk NFL? No, we're done with uh, we never have time for it. We got two minutes. We go to the line. Who do you think wins the Super Bowl?
SPEAKER_01You know, obviously Rams are the uh the favorite for all the all the books, followed by the Seahawks, then Bills and Ravens are third. Uh Rams are the popular pick, obviously, especially with the signing of Miles Garrett, but there's something about the Bills. They've just been so close, they have such a good team. There's something that has like this has to be their year. So I'm gonna say that the uh former Mountain West Conference quarterback, Josh Allen, walks off the field after beating the Rams in the Super Bowl with the Lombardi trophy.
SPEAKER_00So I'm going Bills. I love it. Were you at that Wyoming game when he like just the the back and forth, that UNOV Wyoming game with Josh Allen? I think I I think I was. That game was insane. I think it was like 65-63 with Wyoming. I've yeah, I've gone to everything. So I can't remember that it was some Juco quarterback that just went off that day. It was uh Sanchez was the coach. But yeah, I like that. I love I like that. I'm not a Bills fan, but I would love to see Josh Allen win a Super Bowl. I actually had season tickets for the Bills for like two years because you can't get Patriots and Giants season tickets. Uh but yeah, new stadium. Love to see the Bills in the Super Bowl. Uh, and Josh really deserves it. That would be a cool story. I I prick Rams, I think, I think a lot of people are. I they if they had beat Seahawks, I think they're the Super Bowl champion. They've upgraded the defense. I think you said Garrett. Well, see, they're they're a little shallow in the receiver, so I don't know if they're gonna be using a lot more tight ends this year. It seems like it.
SPEAKER_01They got they got Adams and Nakua, and then it's kind of like, yeah, there's nothing.
SPEAKER_00I'm surprised they didn't just get a third. Yeah, but there's still Allen, there's there's digs out there. Maybe they I would bring in one more, but I mean McVay obviously knows what he's doing. Yes. So last question though. Mendoza's been balling out per per training camp, or you know, OTAs and all that. Do you think uh Mendoza starts week one, or are we gonna have to wait for him? If so, how long?
SPEAKER_01I I think um I think Coach Kubiak's made it pretty clear Kirk Cousins gonna start week one unless something mad crazy happens. I think three to four weeks in, you're gonna get see Mendoza get his shot. Because you have to realize, too, Kirk uh Clint Kubiak's a first-year head coach. It'd be tough to navigate a first-year head coach and a rookie quarterback to start off in the NFL. Give uh Mendoza a little time to put to build up his leadership off the field, you know, sidelines, weight room, um, film room, get the guys to rally around him, and then if cousins struggles a little bit, I think Mendoza is an easy, uh, an easy choice to put in. But yeah, I think three three week three to four, probably.
SPEAKER_00Week three to four, okay. Um yeah, I think I mean they came out. I wrote this question before, but they literally came out like yesterday. Cousins is the starter. I I like it. There's no reason to rush them. Let's see how this how this plays out. You know, if they're winning, I don't know. I think it might go a little bit longer, but we'll see. Mendoza is, I would imagine, most depth, unless they just play lights out for which I don't think it's gonna happen. Um, I'm excited. It seems like training camps are going very well for Mendoza. I think if you're a Raiders fan, uh start getting excited. I don't know if it happens this year, but we might be about a year away from actually running some football games
Quick Wrap And Sign-Off
SPEAKER_00again for Raiders. But we ran out of time, Ryan. Thanks for being on, guys. It's John McInmell, host to run Vegas, guys. Take care of yourself.