Ep 333: Let's Talk About It, Navigating the Drama of College Football's Transfer Season: On the Field and Beyond

Are you feeling the heat of college football's transfer portal season? We are! We're in the throes of the dramatic shift, discussing the recent departure of Texas Longhorns quarterback Maalik Murphy. We'll be tackling the tough decisions young athletes like Malik have to face, and the impact injuries can have on their budding careers. You'll also get our take on the state championship games in Arlington and Jonathan Brooks’ potential leap to the NFL draft.

But football isn't just about the moves on the field; it's about relationships too. We'll take you through an extraordinary journey of two rival coaches who found friendship amidst the chaos. Hear how they navigated external influences and found peace in the high-stakes world of football. We also chat about the pride and responsibility that comes with officiating at the Texas high school football state championships. And since it's the holiday season, we'll leave you with a thought: time with loved ones is as precious as any championship. So, let's 'win in doubt,' and cherish the holiday spirit. Let's navigate the rough and tumble world of football together – helmets on, folks!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

The month of December is now known as transfer portal season in college football and the Longhorns lost to QV. But we all understand why. Plus its state championship, we up in Arlington at Jerry World and there are a few Storylines we should all keep an eye on. Let's talk about it. We got to continue to adapt and but it's again. I love Malik to death. I love the opportunity to coach him. Like I said, he was a great teammate and wish him nothing but the best of luck. Yeah, that was a Steve Sarkesian in Houston with an interview regarding the day that Malik Murphy entered the transfer portal.

Speaker 1: 0:50

Before we get started, definitely want to give you, all of our sponsors, a shout out. Of course, the two you see on the corners of the screen show Creek Saloon. It's an ATX original. Lots of storylines there. Hopefully one day we can tell those, but they are the unofficial home To UT football games. When you're not at the stadium, and all season long for UT men's and women's basketball. If you're not at the arena or on one of the games on the road, be sure to go to show Creek Saloon. Delicious food and the beverages are mucho frio, an honest plumbing and air. A name change, but they're still the great, same great service. It's also where a handshake still means something. All right, malik Murphy, you know it's it's kind of bittersweet when you see this, because the transfer portal season it is when you see guys making some really difficult decisions. Well, malik Murphy made the decision earlier this week, just a couple of, actually a day ago and Malik Murphy as a guy was somewhat of a very much a fan favorite and if it wasn't for Malik Murphy this year, I don't know if Texas Would be in the position that they're in, especially when Quinn Ewers went down with an injury and Malik Murphy had to jump into two games this year and win those two games Against Brigham Young in Kansas State. Kansas State was very important, of course. Any win is important. Very intelligent, very large, massive QB, a pocket passer, incredible, smile, smart. He has a lot of town, highly recruited out of the state of California. But in those two games, 477 yards passing and three touchdowns passing all in, while Quinn Ewers was out with that injury, that shoulder sprain.

Speaker 1: 2:45

But Malik made this, submitted this tweet. It's basically saying I would love to thank all of you, all the Texas fans, the entire Longhorn community For accepting and supporting me the time I had on the 40 acres will live with me forever and I'm extremely grateful to have played in the burn orange. He's not lying and, and from what I've heard through people close to the program and also those who know him, very intelligent guy. Players loved him. But the hard part about this the transfer portal. It's a blessing, but at the same time, the transfer portal. But at the same time, the transfer portal puts young men and in this case, but young men, women and other and female sports, but in this case, young men. They're in a difficult position because in my opinion I think you would agree with me Malik Murphy should be able to enjoy the college football playoff run with his teammates instead. Instead, I, I, I, I. The deadline for the portal.

Speaker 1: 3:48

He had to make his decision. He had to start taking visits and figuring out where he's going to land. I have no idea where he's going to land. Some people are saying Oregon, but Oregon already has all these quarterbacks lined up. But the fact that you put this pressure on. I know life, being a grown-up, is full of pressure every day, but to make this, this has to force, to make this type of decision in order to find the home, the second home that he will have as a quarterback in the right program. He's having to leave his team and not take part in the college football playoff. I will say this to Malik Murphy you were an asset young man. You're just a great ambassador for the Texas Longhorn Brain and for college football in general. You are what is great about college football. You had to wait for your turn and then you took advantage of it and led your team to two victories. I mean that speaks volumes and it's hard, it's really difficult to see these young men like Malik having to make that type of decision and not participate in perhaps the two most important games, especially since 2009, because they're two wins away from winning a national championship. But I would rest assured he will receive a Big 12 championship ring.

Speaker 1: 5:16

Jonathan Brooks we all know Toresney ACL injury out for the year. It was really hard to watch that against TCU and the running back room did a great job filling in for him. Of course, him dressing out at halftime to come in for that last play was a beautiful suggestion by Steve Sarkesian and his staff. But you've got to wonder now will Jonathan Brooks return next season? Very tough decision or does he right now, while his stock is high, although right now having to rehabilitate from that torn ligament in his knee which is going to take a while. But the rehabilitation process now and the medical care has shortened the return, much like Tommy John and baseball, these injuries the time frame has shortened somewhat. But now you've got to figure if you're Jonathan Brooks, do you consider entering your name into the NFL draft because his stock is so high? What if he returns next year and doesn't have the same type of production? I mean, if Jay Brooks did not experience that injury, more than likely wins the Dope Walker Award and he's in the Heisman discussion and it was it was tough to see, it's tough to see any player experience that. So think about that. Not that what I or you think should have any bearing, or will it have any bearing on Jay Brooks decision, but I'm starting to lean toward him. Really it would not surprise me if he enters the NFL draft.

Speaker 1: 7:07

Alright, another thing to consider is heading up to Arlington to Jerry World to watch Texas High School football at its best. I mean, you could watch it across the country on Ballet Sports and it's amazing the production. Craig Way, the voice of every game, does such a great job. He's a man-k-v-i-p alumni, by the way. But that entire team does a phenomenal job Formerly Fox Southwest, now Ballet Sports Southwest. They do a great job at telling all the stories of all these teams and they do phenomenal job. 12 games and the production value that goes into that production value is very high.

Speaker 1: 7:48

But one angle to look for is Jermico Finley's son. Jermico Finley, the former Longhorn Titan grade in the middle 2000s, was on that team that was a red shirt during that year in which Texas won the national championship. But this is he and his son when they visited Texas. Caden Finley of Alito and if you're not aware about Alito, they've won 11 state championships and I believe four of the last five. If they win, if they win Saturday night excuse me, friday night against Smithson Valley, which is north of San Antonio, they will win their 12th state championship. That's a record, I believe, in the UIL and that'd be five of the last six state championships. Alito Just right outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area incredible program.

Speaker 1: 8:45

But that's Jermak on the back, his son Kaden. Very similar talent and skill sets Kaden has, compared to his dad, I mean Kaden, I would venture to say, probably has room to grow. Right now. He's still a pretty good size young man, 6'1, 185, he's class of 2026 and it's just getting started. But I would venture to say that he is a Texas lean right now. And what if? Just think about this, consider this the value of jermak becoming a part of the program again in some form, a shape like a, a coach or some type of Some type of role on Steve sarkisian staff. Jermak old, finishing up his degree at texas after a Really good NFL career. Unfortunately, um, that Ended due to a, an injury, um, but just keep an eye on that. I love that in the barber chair at the ut complex. But the finley, uh, jermak o fendley, son kaden, all right.

Speaker 1: 9:52

Another angle to look forward to that has a tie to austin and san marcus. At the former southwest texas it's claud mathis. If you look at recent history, the dominance by south oak cliff and their head coach, uh jason tod, going for a three-peat, south oak cliff, they're going for a three-peat. And then regional samples at duncanville and DeSoto where claud mathis is. Those three have really Dominated the scene.

Speaker 1: 10:25

And of course, south lake carol, still there with uh riley dodge tod dodge his son. But those three dfw powers more than likely Will win, stay, all three, win state championships Again and duncanville has to get past uh, gallina, part north shore. But de soto, they're. Coach claud mathis, friend of mine, friend of the program here, if you will Um, he was asked about those two uh, that being jason tod and reginal samples and regional samples and episode 332, um, about how, what they mean to him and Because they all played a role in his career and his growth. And this is a little clip from mathis talking about uh, jason tod and the godfather of high school football in dallas, fort worth, reginal samples.

Speaker 2: 11:20

You know I was in college I want to say my first year in college and I was still a, a football rat, like I am right now. You know football, I just love it, and I used to go watch all kinds of high school games around and I went and watched him play when he was at baler, when he was at lincoln, and I didn't know I was gonna have episodes going against him as a, as a coach, coach against him. And one behold, the future brought me to dallas at 2d soto and boom, I started going against reginal samples when he was at skyline and I learned a lot. I really did. Um, he took him to the woodshed the first time around and I learned from that right there. And but he's a, he's a, he's a guy that you can learn a lot from. And then I did, I really did. He's a guy that I respect very dearly. He's a guy that I think that you know they call him that, don't call him the godfather for nothing and he deserves everything he gets. And I was so happy for him last year when he won his first title Because people can get that stigma off his back that he can't learn a big one and he did. So I was very honored to uh to to say that I I know him and I was so happy for him when he won one.

Speaker 2: 12:26

Um, me and coach Todd you know me and coach Todd we used to battle man. I mean, we used to like each other a lot. We didn't because he was at soccer, was here and it was amongst what people said. I mean, instead of me and him sitting down, talking and going over thing together, we were just, you know, letting other people be in between us and and when this state run, this state run came about with us, we finally had a chance to talk and, man, we had some great conversations and now me and him are really good friends, right?

Speaker 1: 12:54

now, um, and also for the texas high school football state championships, there are two austin area-based officiating crews, um, who will be officially officiating the game. As I recorded this on the thursday night and then on friday morning, I believe, the foray division one game. To be selected as an officiating staff is a high honor. It isn't more than just a bucket list item. It's kind of like the super bowl Of officiating at the high school level. You guys have a wonderful weekend and don't forget, on sunday, possibly monday, at noon, uh, the past rush with stevie lee and enjoy every moment of the holidays with your friends, family, as we count down, uh, toward the holidays. Uh, hanukkah ends tonight, on thursday night. As I'm recording this and winning doubt, win in doubt my piece of advice, win in doubt. It's always good to talk about it.