The underdog is howling This is Stanford Steve and the bear on this home team getting points. What's better than that? Welcome in week one episode week one of the 2019 season plenty to get to the Bears on the road I've been mazes. I was gonna join us in studio to talk about all things college football 150 All that we have planned as a company the documentaries the podcast the 60 second videos He's gonna join us after bear we let bear go But plenty to get to the bear is on the road stuck in traffic got the Bluetooth in But he's got the pics.
He's ready to go bear. How are we doing? Patient waiting From Atlanta and I've been a car with car in park for the last 45 minutes or so I think there's kind of a serious accident here, so hopefully hopefully everybody's okay, and I'm more than happy to buy my Time here sit with the car in park talking on some on the Bluetooth to you Back in this podcast that to get occupation of my time To get me through this little bit of life. All right, you mentioned you're gonna be a Clemson for tomorrow You're gonna be in Fort Worth for Saturday night Let's dive right into it the biggest storyline or the thing you're most wanting to see the important thing to note is Unless we did what he just calls his teams and they've always had a digital dollar hard-nosed type mentality to them and I'm serious see how they Typically I don't know if I'm I think this could be one of those get up But the we're in Ross and I'll start play half and then you bring the back Text up teams to hang around again some games necessary not necessarily get the win But I think I might hang around in a lot of games.
All right speaking of Clemson. They're not my biggest storyline I'll get that in a second But as you brought them up Thursday night there's a nice 36 and a half the over under 60 through all the reading and research We do and work into this I just felt like I needed to let the people know and some of the stuff I read concerning Georgia Tech because they Fascinate me with what they are gonna look like when they take the field tomorrow night and Clemson when Jeff Collins took the job There were 13 scholarship running backs on that roster. Okay, they rushed for over 4200 yards last year with that option 45% of those yards were by the quarterbacks So and now I'm reading you know people are thinking this Lucas Johnson is gonna be the quarterback He's never thrown a pass. So if you really feel good about this game great have at it.
Yeah, I think it's gotta be you're just overall love for Clemson You know we talk about you know other parameters in here you talk about you know get out and go Club dabbles been really good in first half that's 60 number I mean is Georgia Tech gonna score if anything I would lean towards the under knowing what's ahead for Clemson in a huge spot with A&M coming in so I would lean towards the under there any I would agree with that I could see like a like a 45 14 type game So my death or 444 5 10 something like that feels feels about right All right, well, we're in agreement then there. Um my biggest storyline quickly is it's the last thing The last thing we're gonna see Saturday night. It's Graham Harold's offense for USC I know people are gonna want to pounce on USC if they lose Fresno Obviously the roster isn't what they've had but this is a huge motivation spot for Fresno They love getting these games against the big pack 12 schools in state It's kind of like San Diego State the last couple years getting a shot at Stanford They beat him one of two but I think this is this is another one of those and I think there's a lot of eyeballs that are gonna be on USC and Knowing you know what Stanford has in my personal interest in the month going up I know I'm scared to death the path at sterile I'll talk about that in a little bit with a five-star quarterback as an underdog But USC is the most intriguing thing to me because I just want to see what it looks like they have all the pieces And I'm I like Clay Helen and I just I want to see a good showing because you know in it and all that comes around in All the negativity that they've probably had to deal with and I want to see the team come out and play well in that opening game So that's what I have in store when I look at the thing in the grand scheme Thursday night You mentioned you'll be in Clemson I think it's gonna be a little bit better for this year I think they might have some problems in the back end I think they lost some guys that I think might be trifling things out there And even a press guy's we know and unbelievable dog Under-tetry, you know against the number five out of that wings They lost a lot as well. Yes, they did look at the track record though We would help in that scene with the three opening games that they've had To get the way blown out by Alabama and even two games because I gave tied in the fourth quarter last year they went by twenty four and a half point So SC has it exactly Stars and season over against group of five type teams or what the new coordinator and the coaching team's about making it up Very good other games Thursday night Cincinnati Hosting UCLA to lane and I like a lot this year and a tough spot against FI you who's another team I know that you like and I'm imagining is gonna be on your pick sheet in future weeks Texas State or the debut of my Bobcats and Jake spavidal go to college station Kent State I can't imagine how their legs are gonna feel Thursday night in the second half as they're playing in 10 p against Arizona State and then the Holy War Which is maybe the game I'm most excited to see of the whole weekend I can't wait to see it the line keeps rising.
It's Utah minus six and a half We know the wind streak in this series The line is scaring me and I talked about you know We were kind of on opposite sides of Utah and what the what the ceiling could be this year talking to the preseason But I said it and I'll say it again bear I got to think I would have him loves what he has in his roster But he would want to play anyone else in the country and that includes Bama Clemson and Georgia and those teams As opposed to playing his in-state rival with with BYU. What do you think care? A little bit worried it's day seven or so I feel pretty good about the other eye side with the coach I've known the other dog has done really well in this series and I like what BYU's guys coming back They very easily could have won the last couple of years So as good as Utah has been in recent years and down as BYU he's been by their standard play This has been for those rivalry game where the old ad is for the records and the talent does But people BYU getting that many get six and have it home. I love I will certainly be on the side of the good Why I can't very good I can't wait to see I'm gonna lay off because the line is just going crazy to me And I just I there's so much at stake in a rivalry game We're like I'm sure people on the East Coast know who their rivals aren't stuff But like and you always say you know you have the best rivalry these two schools cannot stand each other.
Hey, hey, it's gonna be awesome You hit on a game before we start talking about BYU you saw it didn't take long for First I dare you game out there with Team 11 games last year went to the room at one against UCLA and I know that I was a little bit deceptive You look at the numbers, but now here's Cincinnati at home two and a half points They were there to you don't have it when my field going their home field your body You see all 18 has got like a somewhat freshman softball on his roster and you're you're basically only laying lane to a habit That is you that's screams to me. You know, I your stay away. I know what you think the over 58 That's down from 60 when that came out. I originally liked the under I said last night on sports I'm a vampire we did a little early lean Tuesday segment And I just thought that when you look at these two head coaches and knowing how stubborn we can be with my man chip In the play calling they're gonna want to establish the run They're gonna want to put their footprint on this game and play some ball control and you know not let the other offense beyond the field So I can see the clock ticking a lot in this game I mean it's already come down two points, but if I had to take anything I would lean towards the under we are gonna be in a Historic Nipper Stadium.
It's gonna be a blackout. So you say I was gonna get all it can handle I'm picking Cincinnati to win the American so you know what I think of them there So it I'm really fired. This is the first game seven o'clock Eastern This is great I mean the American always wants that big spot and they got a stage in the patch 12 could get things going with it without a conference win That would help help the mentality of that no that that fragile packed wolf and base To the body blow last week Talk about like what a massive businesses for the perception of the patch Well, so have again the game they will be out with Oregon and Auburn and then Very scary game so a pack of people in a couple of years. I think for the for the psyche Absolutely All right, let's go to Friday Friday's very very interesting slate.
You mentioned Purdue Nevada Do you have any picks on the Friday sleep? Maybe there's something that I'm missing. I don't know And you lost the job to Carson strong, but it's not a problem It's true there have been five times they have been a favorite against a team not me doing away And they've lost all three of them who've come as a favor about a nine-out battle helps We're bigger like they are here so the trend on the wrong typically has been big favorite play against underdog But it looks like the way the money is headed here. It's a great way.
I'm gonna hang in there with the value But I'm up on the wrong side of some creation of money that know that all right. I have a pick for Friday I am going to Winston Salem. I like the demon deacons. I also oh boy Like the over this is amazing.
We did not even discuss these things, but we are right So we're both on wake forest I just want to give you a little bit of hair and when I think about every you know talk about you know love the quarterback for Utah State You know in past Circumstances where this sort of thing has happened and I the two that came to mind and they're both against Iowa were these you know Smaller school, you know, I think back to when Rothelsberger, you know, is that you know going to Iowa his senior year? They got killed, you know, but he didn't have anything around him He had a great junior year because he had his receivers. He has offensive line a couple years ago Josh Allen goes to Wyoming You know, I should say he was playing at Wyoming. They go to Iowa get smashed He loses all his receivers and online and going into his last year I feel like Jordan loves in the same thing where he has four new offensive lineman They graduated the sixth line and last year.
They only have two receivers back that caught 10 plus balls wake forest Clossans is trustworthy the coaches. I think they've been to three straight bowl games I think if they could go to another bowl game It'll be the first time and since 40 something they they've had you know Four straight winning seasons Newman's the guy. He's the quarterback He won three last four games to close the year last year. They scored 50 or more four times last year They averaged 33 a game.
They were seven and two when they went for 400 yards or more Sage Sarat to top target 63 220 pound receiver Wake has seven at the top 12 tacklers back I just like the the the spot here for Wake Forest because I feel like I know I'm gonna get More than what I'm gonna see what you toss they traveling across the country against what is definitely gonna be a well coached team in Wake Forest They're different but a lot better. I think they got a difference maker like each level of the defense with cookie bash from up there and start live-backer I think I think too many new stages on the Utah State of Team as a whole and this is a big game This game could mean potentially a five and all or five and one or six and oak type starts away for us If you look down the schedule you and I think we're both on the way for it's over five and a half one total as well So it's a big game for us interesting game. I think I'm Friday night as well in East Lansing, Michigan State 22 and a half one for the Tulsa this is typically not gonna spot that Michigan State plays well in and you've got all those Coaching assistant coaching like their Kind of resounding everybody also after a plate Texas really tough early in the year As a 20 point state like Michigan State Times they haven't covered in state season over the 26 against the number I've remembered a lot of people do about you positive out there where they were 23 have one favorite didn't cover some Seriously, I'm listening to a lot of things really figure out Yeah, the stay away game for me is Wisconsin, South Florida I just want to see what Wisconsin looks like traveling down play, you know, just a weird, you know the NFL stadium South Florida You know, I don't know what to expect from them. So that's kind of a stay away, you know, given double digits I know everybody's against rice this year because of the schedule Army given 22 and a half but six o'clock on Friday, so now get you started early I know so I've heard some guys talk our guys unfollow the money We're thinking about a little army first half minus 12 and I know there's not a lot to pick from late Saturday night I mentioned that Steve, but that's about it be careful in Corvallis late Friday night I know everybody loves Mike Gundy, but stuff happens I played there and it's a weird spot late on Friday night in Corvallis The beavers got you two touchdowns against You got that right over under that one 72 so hopefully that's just fun to watch as Hawaiian Arizona was all right Let's get to Saturday.
Let's open the door. Let's go. Let's go with our picks first I got a couple other topical things I want to get to after we do it if you don't hit him in your picks But let's get to Saturday and let's get right into it The two teams that I like the most on Saturday I'm gonna take coastal Carolina plus the six or six and a half of what we're looking against Eastern Michigan Look I love you some Michigan, but I love you John Chris great news down there They need to eat them so this is even a better podcast last couple years I don't like the spot at all expected to win Coaching things official now And Eastern Michigan all they do is play close games. You go back left 14 games that they have played away from home 11 I've been either been a loss or decided by six points if you're so if you're giving me a situation here That's basically 80% over the last couple years.
I'm gonna have to take my chances It's another cold coming up a good start last year nearly got the laws of all the laws are powerful games They got the guy Back it back a bunch of guys back on a defensive can't help but be better He's finished. We've got some pieces to replace with a bunch of different spots I don't think it's gonna be a bad season for each of my think you'll be right there in the public But I don't know if they're quite worthy of being a this big of a favor against the Team that I think will be better for some of us here So I've been getting the other 28 LS you probably not selling a whole lot this week with Texas next week And I think if you go back to the other one wrong way don't getting teams ready to play or scratch you know Whatever I think it's so much I think it's gonna pull some guys Non-profit names of at least 17 non-tobber teams in which they're the same about at least 17 only seven against the number Wow, I'm gonna go lost 20 a couple years back. We're like a 20 point favorite So I don't know if you give LS you know their best shot I think this is a situation where you see us you just too enough to kind of get by If I have to leave comfortably and make sure that I don't suffer any injuries really go I think they should I play but with the other right there? I'll take up to southern is my other official for official picks for me.
You're the Southern coastal Carolina BYU week Yeah, I mine is this I did it last year. I meant to look it up. I'm pretty sure the number was in the 70s I didn't even care it was Lane Kiffin going and Norman against Kyler Murray and Lincoln Riley that over came in and I look at it again Today this week Ohio State's minus 27 and a half against Lane and Florida Atlantic the number 63 and a half the up and down I just blindly think that's an over I think Ryan Day is gonna want to come out and show some things offensively I think Lane's gonna want to do the same. I know Florida Atlantic has a new defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer But FA you gave up over 425 games last year or 425 yards a game FA you player to watch if you got a college fantasy team Harrison Bryant pick him up He's an awesome tight end.
He will be there their main gobbler of catches in that Owls offense I expect a huge day from JK Dobbins. He would be like a Daily fantasy play for me at running back I think he'll be worth the price but I expect a lot of points here I expect a ton of emotion in that Buckeye Fan base to see what they have in store against a team that's not known for their defense in the owl So I like to over there just looking at you know first I think the other number that does not make sense to me is Kentucky minus 11 and a half versus Toledo But the over under 61 and a half and I just look at that with Mark Stoops everything I've read me and you were on daily Wager Herb Street likes to tucky this year But everything I read stoops I know they have to replace Josh Allen the defensive player to year and Benny Snell the school's all-time leading rusher But everything I read from Lexington is about how much Stoops loves the guys He has replacing all the players he lost off that you know record setting team He had last year as far as you know school records go and Toledo does I mean I know they're picked to win their division, but they don't scare me that much offensively Well Kentucky doesn't scare me offensively. Um, I know Toledo's one nine or more of six in the last year six in the last eight years But I think that's a high number for a mark Stoops coach defense that has SEC talent that I can mention He really likes the guys He can't you know He made a great point of you know Really a lot of people didn't know Benny Snell and Josh Allen before he put him in his system and look what happened They're pro players. So I just think that's a high number I mentioned Kentucky's offenses and I don't expect great things from them But I don't see both teams scoring 30 points in this game So I'll take the under 61 and a half in that one and then one more for Saturday might be my favorite And I know people are gonna laugh at me, but Pat Fitzgerald is an underdog and that scares the crap out of me He's also got a five-star quarterback, which he has never had and I don't know why Stanford has given six and a half points This opened right around there way back when the number was posted and it hasn't really moved Stanford really doesn't have anything That scares you offensively from a weapons standpoint the identity I know they've spent a lot of time in the offseason trying to recreate that success They had in the old power run game when they you know it just smashed teams But I don't think they have the goods to do it and I just if this is a field goal game that that's what it has a feel to me But I just Northwestern knowing the role they play I know they lost a bunch of starters But like I said I never seen Pat Fitzgerald with a five-star QB and knowing what he could do as a coach and rallying the troops and going out and playing a Pac-12 school and how he does that I just I cannot Not take the six and a half points with Northwestern there any ticket back you up I want to get another dog.
I mean six out right man to the last 17 games looking for you and one against another 10 out right So you know you're not gonna go Yeah, and I said we did a segment on daily wager earlier this summer You know teams not the favorites as Wisconsin the brassica were the favorites and I mentioned Northwestern I know they lost some starters to win that division in the West they were like seven to one I think it's worth a shot You know everything everything I hear about the quarterback is it's the real deal now He might play both quarterbacks in this opener. He did last year when they went to Purdue in one so it's just another Idea I think he has up his sleeve that could cause Stanford some problems How they have a lot of an experience in that front seven the secondary should be a strength I'll put adebo against any corner in the country. I think he's that good and It should I think it's gonna be a not pretty game to watch that will obviously have me sweating out a game But I just think Northwestern's a no-brainer getting the six and a half I can talk to you Heard a lot of support for Toledo over here a last couple days I mean there might be some point where it's just like like it's contrary into the Fairly in tight the other Point with this game comes down even further. Maybe it becomes that ten and a half or ten It might just reach a point where it's worth playing can talk because I mean it's a Toledo.
I mean my army also wasn't going to put up a bunch of points I'm not Even with the talking with stuff that's really yeah I mean Kentucky football fans like it's fired there That's like a scary thing to me We know how much of a family say after basketball but like if they even get close to that football that's that's that's an army coming at you A couple things I wanted to get to here. I want to try a couple things just to give people some other plays I know everyone gets mad when we don't pick the game They want us to pick but this gives us another chance to talk about some other games that aren't on our pick list Let's frame frame it as this. I want to do this every week. Hopefully there's the options this week There's three of these possibilities.
I want to do the favorite home dog in a conference game We have two in the ACC BC Who might be in my column as a as a pick as a home dog? That's four and a half they're getting from the Hokies a Virginia Tech and in the ACC There's also pit getting to it to it two and a half from Virginia Virginia Virginia's on the road there And in the SEC vandies at home getting 21 from Georgia. I don't know if you had to pick a home dog out of that group will you take him? Okay, I think it's like a rough template to make it look like I did just see that I mean you don't really know that about the Vandy court of the situation but I think it is a home dog I know they lose both of their backs and the offense might look a little different and they lost their best pass rusher To an injury and explain with it.
I'm not I don't want to like once but for 10 even though it's only a small number on the road I don't park inside a great year last year and and and we're going to be that one team to continue the The ACC coastal strength of different chance, but but pit in a spot where I think most most people Won't be picking them to win. I'll go story. I would lean up. I would I would I would look into a second pit Okay, I'm gonna go BC.
I think I'm winning game. Um, I think from a stability factor They got they got it one of the offensive linemen eligible, which is a huge plus I saw how happy people were with that decision up in chestnut hill. I mean chestnut thrill Um, but it's not that's not gonna be not a pretty game Virginia Tech. It's a huge spot for them I know you were high on them coming in and that's an enormous Um spot for them with the season win total.
I know you need a loss by BC But I think they keep it closer than four and a half and possibly win the game So out of that group as a home dog in the conference game. I would take BC Um You look at the home schedule It looks like it's set up, but it's I think things are pretty fragile with all of them All the guys at the point they've left the program for whatever reason and you've written it out How they didn't want to beat marshals and have the coach team with the front boots And that seems like a fun safety ground and if they wanted to get off the response thought it would not go well So I hope you see anyway next question All right, let's go top five team not to cover Okay, so we have Alabama, we have 35 Uh, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio, St, Oklahoma Yes, sir I would say those are all the same questions Because yeah, yeah, just because that Oklahoma I think can name their number and see they can run the ball 80 times and be used for that defense is terrible Uh, I want to if you might be the second one even though I don't know how much success They're gonna have offensive against Ohio State. Yeah, but I would say Clinton first because I think uh, whatever the wide up getting a They mentioned guys in the second half and and not really uh see Clinton after to put up with the governor in the second I would go uh I would take too much tech to cover and get most likely to cover consumption Uh, I don't know why I'm gonna do this and be feel regret it like probably 10 minutes into the game I'm gonna take Duke in the 34 and a half All right, uh, I just I don't know. I mean the Moses news today out about him being out for a year That's awful We're getting out of the court here and uh, yeah, um, so I would lean uh, Duke there as uh, uh team playing against the top five Um, I would take you know, they're all basically 30.
Uh, they're all more than three touchdowns. Um, all right It's time for our money line pick of the week now. I know you're doing it I was actually texting with Reece Davis last night because he sounded fired up about the super dog pick When he teased it last week. I thought he already had one up his sleeve, but he said he hasn't he's still deciding But our, uh, money line pick of the week what what do we want the parameter?
Do we want it to be a double digit dog? No Okay, all right Okay, what uh, what do you got your eyes on? Like that by the way, I see you guys see up to five and since that's right. Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah That's why I said it's probably gonna be in the column now I like when the line goes in my favor. You do not No, yeah, I'm like that Okay I think only one I could feel kind of good about playing on the money line I could play by putting what you in the money line as well Both of those games are like if I use to short the plan on the money line So far we talked about stay away. I totally agree. Yeah Um, I mean you like BYU too.
You think they win the game? Yeah, I think I'm gonna get all right I would like to look at one of those okay You know yourself look like a uh, like I like all week where you're gonna have some some massive shots I would take a chance on playing if you could find money lines on king Madison and Indiana state I think that all right if you go back To go back 2011 where a power five team was standing by school going down fdf team Six in the power five team losing so you've got a de-unice day I think it is I think I saw like cancer's might as four or half or five or something And uh, that was written. Yeah, I think we're going to get something point David over changed Madison Maybe take a shot with both uh Indiana state and and jayam you want the money line? What it hits and uh and you're coming out Yeah, yeah, just the campus at dog to it to uh, ses team bust your loss.
So uh, a few years ago. I remember what year it was I mean, there's a certainly a precedent there like dog left miles of the company and he's not gonna be on the field planning So that same player. So I think a shot was was ses team big one. Yeah, I'll give you another one uh just for uh, uh, I mean, I like Northwestern.
I honestly think they can win the game. Um, but this this might be a one and done Uh, if you will, but I think uh, I love love the hires old miss made at coordinators and why I absolutely love it Um, I think it's it's what you need after how, um ranster the defense was and bringing in um, my man from calorado And uh and rich rod as office coordinator. So I would take a shot with old miss here Now listen, they could get pumped and Memphis could have this thing really rolling as I know I mean guys I talked to a lot and really respect think they're they're gonna win the american easily So this could be a one and done with old miss but I would take a shot with old miss Yeah, would he that I might actually come down a little bit. Yeah.
I mean, I think those that was those were two really good hires by that was that Guy who hasn't been a head coach very long now with grunts on two really I mean, it's like I've heard like I think it was actually this morning like driving into the airport. I was listening to a Commission following and they're talking about some old this guy, uh, they don't hate the coordinator hires and And I got who's looking for? I mean, you get all the things with all the good scripts from in that entire You didn't can't help the last couple just a head coach doesn't mean that I think what it is It's been good all the time. That's good.
I like over the high I think You're right there in the sense that you're almost the name of the field or meant to be somebody that I think it's a game like that Okay, uh bear. I got my eyes on one. Uh, I wanted to get your thoughts on you know Everybody loves all these props and everything. I've been reading out casinos or throwing props on every college game But uh, team, you know, when you went I don't necessarily want to pick a blowout But a team total You might think uh can go over or under uh what you may be thinking I was going to ask you who you think scores more points Ohio state or nebraska Uh seeing how you know both those fan bases are going to be live and ready for kickoff Nebraska's given 36 and a half the over under 63 and a half so with your math you told me they're over They were probably expecting all right.
I think they score 50 so I would take nebraska over the team total Anybody I think 44 and a half they are I don't see any decline Just It's not better. I'm tired of all of us might be the best player in the big world and I think so I'm doing so they uh For dimension a quarterback running and passion so uh 45 with uh, most days. Well, I can see them easily putting seven touch down So maybe I caught on the 14th. I got how the defense is gonna be but I think I think I think it goes on the road and we go I love it.
I love it. All right, so the big mic happy recap I am going north western plus six and a half kentucky toledo under 61 and a half wake forest minus three and a half Uh, Ohio state florida atlantic over 63 and a half and i'll throw bc plus five in there Uh, I also might want a little nibble on the wake forest over a 59 and a half the bear starts out thursday night Byu plus six and a half wake forest with me minus three and a half coastal carolina plus six six and a half right around there And georgia southerner saturday night plus 27 and a half in the bayou and baton ruse Um, well. Oh, I know what I need from you Yeah, I was gonna say I can't please and sign it down but he's gonna turn to get all the money lines and Exactly what I paid. I was gonna do what I got to go to the office.
So I have it. So, uh, I will uh, I'll tweet it out I'll put it in the column as well. That's not what I that's not what I wanted from you But I appreciate you choosing that what I wanted from you is way more important and you don't have it right now Which was I was trying to say when you get it I need an update There's rumors of the smoke and pig our favorite barbecue joint in clemson having new ownership And I want to see if it took a step back or took a step forward. Well, it said it's seven I Know how you're making out now.
Yeah, no, I might someone Pointy, okay, so we're still sitting here, but we've got plenty of gas They're sitting here and I this is good. I've been able to talk and just about your part of time and I just they can go and like my bad guy going out there and split himself in laying a laying a big number with a line on it. That would be tough for me to take out to take out uh you can give me a line on it. Yeah that's that takes a little back though.
As uncle Brent would say that takes some kahonas. So uh all in all I think we're good. Use travel safe. Keep me posted.
Anyone if you got any questions hit me up at Stanford Steve 82 on Twitter at Chris Felica on Twitter. We're always here. We're always going barely even tell DM you back if you want probably during college game day. Um so uh that'll do it for our week one episode and don't forget right after Bear lets us go here Ivan Maisel joins me in studio to talk about the college football 150.
I appreciate you Bear. We'll uh we'll get both in studio next week. Okay they don't know yet next week that's where normal week uh Thursday game day departure and uh we'll have a little bit more prepared than it was right now just kind of got the stuff on me just remember the less you bet the more you lose when you win. Ivan Maisel joins us in studio um great to have you here.
I'm delighted uh first off what do you think about week zero? Are we doing like that? Is that gonna continue anything? I doubt it will continue because the NCA has its rules and God forbid if we ever change them but and it was done for a specific reason to pump up 150 and uh I like to the idea that it you know Miami and Florida I mean one of the worries about playing in August is it's too hot.
Well it's gonna be too hot in Orlando anyway. It'd be too hot and coral gables and it'd be too hot and gamesable so that that didn't affect those two schools so to me that was perfect and uh the game was ghastly but you know what do people expect? Well you know to me kids it's like when you have a you have a newborn and these are she is really ugly but you don't see that you're so excited they're there you know it's like oh my god we have this baby in beautiful well no but it doesn't matter in your eyes it's great and that's kind of how I feel about week zero. All right well moving on I want to get you before the season most uh specifically because of the 150 stuff that you've been doing yeah and I watched the the first uh doc uh am I gonna be able to see you on there?
Oh gosh yes yeah uh I want to see on it yeah the uh the American the two series the American game and the greatest okay roll out September 10th and 12th okay uh well to give people a perspective of this and the time that you have put in along with the other staff um I just want to like let's start with you know we're celebrating obviously the NFL has their 100 years but we've owned and you have been one of the main voices behind ESPN bringing the college football fans this 150 where could people just keep diving into this historical stuff and what you guys have brought up? Well every platform we got Steve you know the the we've already begun my story which is the 60 second vignettes that we show every morning on uh the early sports center and on get up and then they're available at the website every day and that's somebody looking straight in the camera and telling you a 60 second story about them in college football yeah and we're we're two weeks into them and they're they're funny and they're poignant and they make you laugh and cry and you saw the re-stavest one today about bam a crying yeah he was crying and we were laughing that was perfect yeah uh and uh you know we did one I mean you know some of us at ESPN did them but we've got ex-players that did them fans coaches so it's really we wanted a broad cross-section of the game and so you know that's a constant uh the only other thing that's really big well obviously the opening documentary came out you know my podcast have come out down in distance yeah those were those are we're in week two of those there's four weeks eight episodes and then beginning next week on the SEC network will be Saturdays in the south which is an eight part 12 hour series on Tuesday nights get your dv already get your dv already and then the american game in the greatest which are the two episodes that uh that I'm on and a lot of people are on okay good uh and and the cool thing about those two shows is the approach we took we didn't want to do it chronological history of the game because it's going to be tough to engage people about the 1902 Chicago Michigan game which was a great game looking around according to the little according to sources yeah I was not there uh but uh by tackling a theme we can get a cross-section of history each week and you know the themes of it is simple as the culture of the game you know why we love it and how it reflects the country to the way the evolution of the game the way the rules change the way the players changed uh integration is one week rivalries is one week picking a champion and and god knows that's different college football than in every other american sport you know and how that has evolved over 150 years uh games of the century which was really a pre playoff creation of college football and we look at what it may what a game of the century was and we look at some of the great games of the century the heistman gets a week notar dame gets its own week of course they do yeah because of their notar dame absolutely and it was absolutely it was for so many years a regional sport and they were the one national team and one thing that ubiquitous television and and the playoff have done is make more national teams which I think has made Notre Dame recede a little bit in the spotlight but uh anyway that's all and and the shows are uh it's not all a love letter to college football I think that's all that Saturday night absolutely and that's that's the thing you know you got into the concussions you got into the bad things you know the forward pass and how that you know evolutionize the game but when I when I watched it I was blown away by the footage of the the Morgan State Grammarly game in Yankee Stadium and that cool the footage is absolutely incredible and to see road and talk about the emotion of running out in that field and seeing Yankee Stadium packed and knowing what happens in that in that in that year yeah um that I mean that was the first episode and you've seen all this stuff but from from an aspect of not saying you know what I kind of forget about this because you're as good as a story of the game as we have in the sport but something that really rang a bell to you and were like wow I can't wait for people to see this is there anything that comes to mind you know right off the bat well I mean there's plenty of informational stuff that I wasn't aware of or didn't know or didn't really understand but a lot of what's really cool is stuff like that footage and seeing Bear Bryan in the locker room and seeing as we did Saturday night and seeing Woody Hayes in the locker room that was really cool and on the practice field and you know there's you see Rockney talking you see Frank Leahy talking I mean there's all these just names out of books that that come alive and it's fascinating you know Mark Harmon is in the first show and we forget I certainly forget and I watched him as a kid Mark Harmon started at quarterback for UCLA in the early 70s and was a really good player yeah his dad won the Heisman in 1940 Tom Harmon at Michigan so and he talks about growing up in that household and what college football man and what it means to people now and there's this that all these figures are coming to life again and that to me is really exciting I couldn't agree more as far as the panel of people like when we started nailing down I can't imagine you know Felica being in meetings Brad Edwards we had Brad in here last like it had to be the the the apex of meetings you were going to that you knew were going to be longer is that correct well we didn't make a lot in person I mean that we did there's two separate panels yep one was a television panel that we created to pick the for the show the greatest and what the greatest does is every Thursday night it's a half hour show and based on whatever theme it is that week we picked the greatest 11 something okay the culture well you know there's the greatest uniforms the greatest mascots and some are a little more serious you know the greatest inspirational people and stories in the game and to do that we had 11 ESPN college football writers and commentators in a room serving as the jury and what was really cool about that and Felica was in there was we were all friends and we all had no problem just busting each other's chap which is what you need and that's where to show 100 and we all took it and we all gave it and that was that was a lot of fun the greatest uniforms episode is really funny just to hear you know schleball mark schleball herrumphing and then the younger guys like like Marcus Spears jumping on him and and that was a lot of fun there's a different panel another project we undertook was picking the 150 greatest teams games coaches and players and the players vote is underway now but but that panel is both in and out of the SB and GATE coaches players broadcasters writers administrators so that's that's that's been a lot of fun to watch those results come in and try to figure out what the hell people were thinking you know who really would have been better off with you and I had done it you know or something like that yeah so you can check all that stuff out it's gonna be coming until you all year as I've mentioned podcasts on TV episodes SEC Network just dive in I would say the best place to go is just the ESPN app I'm sure you can find whatever you want there as far as video video there is an ESPN dot com slash cfb 150 page there you go be certainly a you know a home for my story a home for down in distance a home for the written pieces and I'm sure there will have the you know what's coming on television but you know that's what scrolling through your dvr guide is for to absolutely I just want to make sure we get your picture from your freshman dorm at Stanford from the original Facebook I did it now but for my the my story I did about my first game as a Stanford student right as a picture from myself a couple of pictures from my sophomore year okay and it's really hard to tell the difference all right I bet it is might just probably minus the glasses before we let you go here it just you know you've you know you're on these you're on these things you're part of this because I mentioned you're the best story in that I know of the game when you look at this year and where we are with the sport and what we're possibly looking at or the average fan is looking at with bamik lemerson and having their eyes on whether it's good whether it's not your your idea of what you see that will change things or is it has to do with those two schools or do you think it'll be somebody else you've seen so many turns of how things have gone in the sport you know the SEC dominance coinciding with an SEC a USC demi you know drop a Texas drop you know what what what entices you to watch this year and has you most intrigued about seeing something play out that you that might be unexpected well the beauty and and and also the the horror of the game is that there's so every every team is one play away from its fortunes changing I mean and and that's I think at the speed and force with which the game is played now that's even more so I think one thing that's sort of burbling in my head is what nobody saw coming with the playoff is that it would contribute to the best teams staying at the top and by that I mean if you finish third or fourth as Florida state did 14 years in a row and yet Florida state only won two championships because they didn't get to play for the championship all 14 of those seasons yeah so by allowing three and four to stay in the hunt talent and skill is going to win out one game doesn't bust you up the way it used to and that means Alabama and Clemson are staying at the top you know how many the number 14 is one what two of the five years so you know that's I don't think anybody really saw that coming and it's contributed to this idea of well nothing is really going to change it's going to be Alabama and Clemson and and it's it's not the it's not you know Nick Saban contrary to to rumor is not going to coach forever it is going to change and things do change but I think having a top four play for it is contributed to the fact that it feels like it doesn't change what do people think it's going to happen if we go to eight it's going to go it's going to be even more so that's another show awesome all right well the down distance podcast is out there check out Ivan all over the place the platforms he's all over ESPN and every facet possible so I thank you again for coming in the light is great to have McPresh out