Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Ep 412: The Pass Rush with Stevie Lee; Red River Rivalry: Unraveling the Passion and Surprises of College Football
What if the fierce rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma was more than just a game? Join us as we explore the fervor of the Red River Rivalry, where the stakes are high and the atmosphere inside the historic Cotton Bowl is nothing short of electric. Witness the unexpected twists of college football, where even heavyweights like Alabama can stumble, and discover how standout players like Cedric Alexander are turning heads and rewriting narratives. Special guest Toby Rowland, the voice of the Oklahoma Sooners, brings his unique insights and reveals his heartwarming story of generosity, adding depth to the spirited competition.
Last weekend, college football fans were left in shock as top-ranked teams faced surprising defeats, turning the Power 12 standings on their head. We take a closer look at coaching accountability, the SEC's playoff stronghold, and the exciting potential for further upsets as teams like Ohio State look to shake things up. Engaging quotes from Arkansas' Sam Pittman remind us of the unpredictable nature of the sport, while discussions around conference realignment shed light on the challenges of extensive travel for teams on the road to glory.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of college sports rivalries, from the bustling energy of East Austin's Whiskey Foxtrot sports bar to heartfelt tributes at Stephen F. Austin. Enjoy nostalgic moments intertwined with the thrill of competition, all backed by personal anecdotes and a nod to the spirit of camaraderie that makes these events unforgettable. As we celebrate Red River Rivalry Week, we salute not only the fierce contestants on the field but the community of fans that bring it all to life.
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We'll be right back. The best rivalry game in the SEC, but the country Texas OU, or as they do call it, north of the Red River, ou. Texas. You played in it. You never won it but you experienced it and you got close to winning it a couple of times. But sum it up, man, how special this game is for as a player which 99.9% of Americaica cannot say that you, what you have experienced oh, man, it is uh.
Speaker 3:First of all, what's up to everybody. Um, it's a great experience. Um, unfortunately, you brought it up. I never won that game my five years on campus. Um, but, um, it's a it's a great atmosphere, man. My last year we lost 12-0 and then we never looked back after that. So, um, very fun. Uh, you gotta um control the the atmosphere, uh your emotions, because it's it can get you, man, and it's a lot of fun. Great atmosphere for college football.
Speaker 1:Oh, it is man, we're about to amp it up. We're going to talk about the Cotton Bowl Stadium. That old girl, she's got a few leaks, she's fun. She's got a tunnel, a long tunnel, and the fans are amped. It's 50-50. It is so much fun. I'm just now understanding how to be a fan in that stadium. It is on effing believable. The state fairgrounds, it's Texas. Oh you week. Everything Stevie said is spot on. Just listen to Sark. You can't get too caught up into these rivalry games as a player and coach. You got to be even killed. Listen to Sark.
Speaker 2:And the best way to enjoy and experience a rivalry game is to prepare really well, because I think that the people that get caught up in the game on Monday, tuesday, wednesday and Thursday miss the preparation and then you don't play very good and then you get your butt kicked and then you think, man, this was a terrible experience. And so if you want a good experience, we've got to make sure we prepare really well so that we can enjoy the experience because we're playing good football.
Speaker 1:Good football, expect the unexpected, more so than any other game on the schedule, because any team can win this game. Stevie Lee, are you ready? Red river robbery week, man, you gotta sound like elmer fudd when you say it. So we'll call it red river shootout. Just this once, stevie lee, let's ride. So yes, sir, that is outstanding. The first weekend in which caused a major, major upheaval upsets a lot of change. That's why we tell people Stevie upsets a lot of change. That's why we tell people Stevie every week, when we even show our power rankings, don't get too involved. Things can change every week. When you saw that and you said Vanderbilt is not going to be a cakewalk for everybody, not only did they beat Bama Stevie, they took down those goalposts, took them down Broadway in Nashville and walked those mother scratchers three miles down the road into the Cumberland River.
Speaker 3:Dude, I told y'all I don't understand why no one listens to me. I don't understand why I'm not getting $12 million a year to talk about this. I don't understand why no one listens to me.
Speaker 1:I don't understand why I'm not getting $12 million a year to talk about this.
Speaker 3:You know I don't either. Well, listen, dude, I told you it's a hard out when you go up to Vanderbilt man, those kids are playing with passion. It's a smart school. Those kids are smart. They play smart football. This kid was throwing the ball and he got some balls on him, bro, like they had a fourth and one. He goes all the way down the field fingertip catch or touchdown on fourth and one. It's crazy.
Speaker 3:That's nuts, you know. So it was fun to watch. You can't put any stock in these rankings right now, man. You know we played against Mississippi State last week or the week before last and lost our number one ranking. And then we are idle this week, didn't play anybody, we played against the air and we got our number one ranking back. Make that make sense. So don't put too much stock in it. We're back on top at number one, but who knows what'll happen next week? You know Ohio State may have a great game against somebody, whoever they're playing. But anyway, man, it was a lot of fun seeing. That's what college football is all about, man. It's just the rivalries, the upsets and the passion that these kids have. Man, and walking that you have to be coordinated to walk a goalpost three miles down the road.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. So look at this. This is Cedric Alexander, product of the ATX, the Austin Independent School District, career rushing leader from LBJ, the J Sophomore year. I I mean in that game against Alabama, uh, 64 yards rushing, two touchdowns, rushing against Alabama's defense, which honesty, honestly, alabama's defense is okay, but the little suspect against the run. But I love this office that they run. It's a little different. It's kind of got old school, new school mixed up. It's kind of an inverted option type situation. There's Cedric that's his freshman year, by the way, so I guess y'all can call him lazy, but I love this picture from his first year when he reported straight out of Austin, texas.
Speaker 1:Ced man, we are very proud of you here in Austin, texas, sec running back, for sure. And Vanderbilt. Just one little piece of what happened over the weekend. Before we get through continuing with the upsets that we all witnessed, be sure to like and follow and subscribe to our YouTube page for free and follow us on Facebook, igx and on TikTok and I still haven't added anything to TikTok now we're going on three months. But we've got to give a shout-out also to our family at Hargrove, the pride of Shreveport, louisiana, as is Stevie Lee, and he does the best plug for our, our family at hard grow roofing hard grow roofing know who's on your roof always and they do a great job and they stand behind their work and give coach ab at the office on ashtell drive here in austin texas a shot.
Speaker 1:So so last week, week five, because we move into week six, five of the top 11. Take L's, and one of which we just saw, Vanderbilt, knocked Alabama off their perch at number one. And then Arkansas and Missouri, two different directions Arkansas with the big upset of number four, Tennessee and Mizzou knocked off by Stevie's second favorite team, Texas A&M.
Speaker 4:And now he's here with me. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just a really poor performance by my football team. And it starts with me, and I apologize to our fans. It's my responsibility for us to be better. And you know the start at the first.
Speaker 1:All right, we don't need to hear any bad, that's just all politically correct. I got to put it on me. We got to be better. We know it's obvious. You lost the damn game. And then Sam Pittman of Arkansas, that's his saying, two sayings Give me. I need a cold beer. Turn that damn jukebox on whenever they win.
Speaker 3:That's good stuff. Well, I'm happy that they're having a good time right now, because later on this season they're going to have to run into those Longhorns.
Speaker 1:Hey, Fayetteville is a brutal place to play.
Speaker 3:Brutal place.
Speaker 1:So this is a tweet from Hayes Fawcett. He creates amazing graphics. This is all that happened. This is the beauty of college football. Number one goes down to unranked Vanderbilt. Number four. Tennessee goes down to unranked Arkansas. Number one goes down to unranked Vanderbilt. Number four Tennessee goes down to unranked Arkansas. Number nine Missouri loses to A&M. I think they're top 25, lower top 25. And then we're about to find out how far they skyrocketed. And the one quality win that Texas had number 10,. Michigan loses to Washington. Not a bad loss, just Washington's not what they were last year. And then USC lost to the Golden Gophers and Louisville lost to unranked SMU.
Speaker 1:But, SMU's pretty good.
Speaker 3:SMU is good and I think they're ranked now.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but to me that's a fun weekend of college football right there, man, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:It is, unless it's your team that lost.
Speaker 1:Yeah that's true. All right, stevie Lee, it's your favorite moment of the week. We like to agree to disagree, but I don't think we're going to disagree much on these. Let's reveal the Power. 12 and 4 on the outside posts. Week five, not too many, I mean the one that I really I had trouble with. I'm still not sold on Oregon. I know they're good, but you look at Ole Miss, who they lost to last week, but they're still hanging around. And then I only dropped Alabama to 11. They dropped 10 spots, which is pretty significant. They were on the road, sec opponent, but A&M jumping all the way to 12. That's what I. I think they're dangerous bro.
Speaker 3:A&M, jumping all the way to 12.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I'm going to call you on something else too. Uh-huh, you got Georgia over Penn State. Yeah, hmm, penn State's undefeated right.
Speaker 1:They didn't play anybody. Georgia has played people. They played. The Alabama lost.
Speaker 3:Lost.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but barely.
Speaker 3:No, no, but Alabama's lost to Vanderbilt unranked.
Speaker 1:Right, it's fair. Yeah, that's fair yeah.
Speaker 3:That's it, though, but then that Miami coming back from.
Speaker 1:Cal.
Speaker 3:Cal. That Miami game was pretty cool.
Speaker 1:But how good is Cal?
Speaker 3:That's true. But, man, and this is my gripe about these realignments you cannot put Cal in the Atlantic coast and you're on the Pacific coast and you drink Pacific water. I mean, you don't, I know you don't drink salt water.
Speaker 1:It's dry versus moist.
Speaker 3:Yeah, like they're worried about a hurricane down there and they don't have nothing but sunshine in Berkeley. You know so, man, I knew that plane ride all the way across the country five and a half hours for those kids. They wouldn't have their legs 100% under them. You know so. You know that's hard to go across the country to play, yeah, a regular season game. I mean, if it's a bowl game, you're there a whole week prior to the game. But no, not a regular season game like that. That's tough.
Speaker 1:And then Arkansas. I mean, excuse me, tennessee drops from four to four on the outside, man, I know it's on the road, I know it's an sec opponent, but arkansas was unranked and then in man, arkansas did a great job of equalizing that. That really, really athletic tall quarterback yeah but look at former big 12 or big 12 member iowa state they they find a way to stay relevant all the time.
Speaker 3:They're up there.
Speaker 1:LSU, I think, davos, Clemson Tigers I don't think they're great, but they're right there. They're right there. Byu, who you and I disagree on I think they play a good physical brand.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And Indiana is undefeated.
Speaker 3:So how many SEC teams we got in the playoffs right now? One, two three, four, five, six.
Speaker 1:Half of the field.
Speaker 3:Half of the field is from the SEC.
Speaker 1:As of today, as of today, you're right, but man, I really think this weekend it will change. We're going to find out a lot. I think we've got a pissed-off group from Columbus Ohio because they really haven't had the chance to really play somebody that can really prove their worth. I think they may be the best team in the country and what I'm trying to say is they get their chance this weekend. Oregon, ohio State number two versus number three.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so dude, I mean, ohio State hadn't played anybody, but who has Oregon played?
Speaker 1:Not many.
Speaker 3:Yeah. So I don't know, man, is this a toss-up? I don't know, where are they playing?
Speaker 1:That's what we need to find out, because I think it's in Columbus.
Speaker 3:That's a long way across the country as well.
Speaker 1:No, they're playing at Oregon, in Eugene.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we got to keep an eye on that one for sure.
Speaker 1:But the one that we're going to be keeping a significant eye on. I'll be there Saturday night. Big D, baby you ready the 120th version of this game. I know you hate Oklahoma, but when you see that logo it's got to fire you up in many ways.
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, I was fired up after the game last week, man, I've been fired up for a week already, man, so I'm ready for this game. It's a good test for us. Like Coach Sark said, this is the second phase of our season right now, that's right.
Speaker 3:First game to the second phase. Just go out and execute. That's what rivalry games are about for me, man. You just go out there and execute and they're going to have big plays. You minimize big plays and handle the momentum. Get the momentum back to your side and you'll be perfectly fine.
Speaker 1:That's how I feel, too. I got to let people know, though, when you were at Texas during your years. When you were at Texas during your years, both Texas and Oklahoma were top five every year, top five, top ten, yeah, and there really wasn't a team that could sneak up on the other. It was good on good, good on good. Those years it really was.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was, but there was one game we lost 63-3.
Speaker 1:I know that, but that's part of how this rivalry is.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:These can get out of hand in a hurry. Get out of hand quick.
Speaker 3:They have a couple great plays and then they just built and built and built on that and we couldn't stop them. Yeah, you're right, you're exactly right.
Speaker 1:And then the next year Rod Babers had a good game it was. And then the next year Rod Babers had a good game and it was 0-1. And then 0-2 was a good game and 0-3 was not a good game. 0-4 was 12-0 shutout. But ironically, the last time Texas was number one in the country against Oklahoma was 1984, 40 years ago, and that game ended in a tie in rainy Dallas. If they would have had instant replay, Oklahoma would have won that game. It was an interception that was not called.
Speaker 3:Oh really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all right?
Speaker 3:Well, you don't have to bring that up.
Speaker 1:And you probably don't want me to bring this up either when I'm about to show you the series about Oklahoma. So Texas leads, it hands down, but Oklahoma has really made a comeback In this century, 21st century. Ou has won 16 of 24 regular citizen meetings. I'm not including that Big 12 championship game in 2018. It doesn't count. I mean it counts, but not for the rivalry games.
Speaker 3:For sure yeah.
Speaker 1:And this one is just kind of mind-blowing to me They've OU's won six of the last eight Red River rivalry games. What do? You see Because the last, I want to say the last ten, have been decided by one score. What does that tell?
Speaker 2:you.
Speaker 1:Well, except the blowout 49-0, when Oklahoma was absolutely depleted on the offensive side of the ball. That's right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, dude. No, it's like everything is thrown out. It's two teams just fighting in the field. Man, you put the ball down on the lot and you just go and fight, man, and so you know, it doesn't matter what the rankings are, it doesn't matter who you got behind the center, it's your heart and execution, you know. And so whomever got that is going to come out on top on that man, it's. It's truly a rivalry game. You can throw everything out and it's a toss up.
Speaker 1:My thing is, I want to ask you I mean, I know it's been a while since you put your hand in the dirt or the turf or those black granules but what is it about Oklahoma? Why? Why is it about Oklahoma? Why is it? Do you think they have such a big edge in this game lately?
Speaker 3:A big edge in this game? I think? I don't know, man, that's a great question. I haven't had it posed to me like that. I think that when they've won it, they've wanted it better than us. They wanted it more than us. Yeah, I think we had some distractions on our team. We had some coaching changes, which they did too, but I think that we've had more coaching changes than they had in the last few years.
Speaker 4:A lot more, a lot more.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So we had to find culture a couple of different times in our program and so that partly builds to a rivalry game. You know what was your team culture? So we had to change that a few times. I think you know that's. I'm gonna go with that. That's what I'm gonna go with.
Speaker 6:But, that's a great question, that's yeah that's a great question.
Speaker 3:That's a great question.
Speaker 1:I'm going to tell you something that I noticed. So I was in Oklahoma City covering OU and I got to see the inner workings and I got to see plenty of those games from 07, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12. So I saw seven or six of them, 11 and 12. So I saw seven or six of them, you know, other than 08 and 09, which were great games. 08 especially, it felt like to me that Oklahoma was more physical, texas was softer in a few of those years. Sure, and I don't understand why or how that happens. It just I don't know Because, you got to remember, even though I was part of the media, it didn't feel good for me. Yeah, I was part of the media, yeah, covering OU, but I always respected it. They just seemed to be more physical in that game. And to your point, why is this relative to now? Because in this game, history does repeat itself somewhat.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's the only game that really has any factor on what history does.
Speaker 3:No, yeah, no, I'm right there with you. We did get out physical a couple times. Back then OU just came out and they were just faster, stronger. Well, they weren't faster, they just played faster, played tougher and stronger and kind of beat us that way.
Speaker 1:It's wild. So, yeah, we'll talk about what they have. Now let's talk about a couple of recent wins, because, to your point, anyone can win this game Every year. Texas is a two-touchdown favorite in this game. Forget about that, unless you really want to try to make some money. Even if I was a gambling addict, I would not bet on this game. I mean, here's some recent Texas wins that we were missing not too long ago, past right.
Speaker 5:For University of Texas, red River immortality Earthquake.
Speaker 4:He hit it. Dicker the kicker. Here it is Wide open, as you said. Chris Spielman, touchdown Caleb Blewett.
Speaker 1:Caleb Blewett stories inside the man Cave VIP alumni. Great guy he. And Tim Cole, the pride of Brenham, texas. That's a prime example. The second one, I believe they beat Oklahoma that year. Oklahoma was a great team but Texas was coming off a 43-point loss to TCU Yep and beat OU.
Speaker 3:Yep, they came out and wanted it. They got beat up in practice that whole weekend when they wanted it more, that day, you know.
Speaker 1:That was the game. They carried Charlie Strong off the field, the game before that, 2018, a team that could have been very special. They ended up winning the Sugar Bowl that year, lost to OU in the rematch in the Big 12 title, but even Mack his last game, I think, 2013, they upset Oklahoma that year. It's just, it is a special game for so many reasons, so many reasons. The stadium will begin with that. So when you hear me or anyone say, expect the unexpected, when did you, as a player, realize we can't prepare for this game the same way you? We really got to expect, prepare for anything to happen. What does that mean as a player?
Speaker 3:Well, like I said, in the rivalry games, we knew going into the game they're going to make some plays. Right, we had to mitigate those plays and when they did make the plays, go on to the next play and win the next play. That's what it is in Dallas If you don't stop their momentum, they're going to run it up on you, and if you don't stop our momentum, we're going to run it up on you. So that's what it is in a rivalry game and that's what we knew. In practice. They're going to have a big play. Put your hand back in the ground and make up for that big play that they just had. So that's the real key of a rivalry game like that.
Speaker 1:So my point being on this I mean it would be hard for me. You've got to say I make a mistake in this game defensively, Make a mistake, you're going to beat yourself up, but how do you get past that? Because if you don't, you're going to get beat the next play, if you don't let go.
Speaker 3:You just got to. You just got to erase it out. You have short-term memory. Erase it out of your head and get back and try to win that next play and like, if you don't, it can get out of hand real fast. And I've seen it, and they've seen it, it can get out of hand real fast. So, just short-term memory, that's what you got to have for sure.
Speaker 1:So here we go.
Speaker 1:Short-term memory. That's what you got to have for sure. So here we go Keys for UT to beat OU, and then their quarterback, which, honestly, is still a little bit of an unknown because he made his debut as a starter against Auburn. What do you, if you were to talk to this Texas team or tell people, the viewers, listeners right now, what are the not-so-obvious keys you think for Texas to end this awful streak that they've had? I mean, they beat OU in recent history, but Texas also lost six of the last eight. What do you tell this team if Coach Sark said hey, stevie, I want you to come in here and talk to this team before the game?
Speaker 3:Well, right now, their bright spot right now is their quarterback, and their quarterback beat us last year, and so Hawkins looked like he could pull the ball down and run right. So just play real strong, gap integrity football. On defense, I believe our offense is the best offense in the country. They're gonna get scores. We're gonna find somebody open. We got too many weapons on offense to not find anybody open. Hold on to the ball for my running backs, no turnovers, but gap integrity defense.
Speaker 3:When you rush, everyone rush their gaps. And when your hand to hand come back on the front line, when you rush, everyone rush their gaps. You know, and win your hand-to-hand comeback on the front line, and then you know we'll throw some blitzes in there to help you get some pressure on this quarterback. But when you get to them, get them down, no missed tackles, clean tackles, head up and wrap up right. And so I think the only person that can beat us is Hawkins, and so once we get him contained, make him sit there in that pocket and put some pressure on him. We'll be perfectly fine.
Speaker 1:If you were asked to say, and you had 30 seconds in front of the team in that little locker room at the Cotton Bowl, right by the gate to the State Fair, I mean it's literally right there.
Speaker 3:Right there.
Speaker 1:Two locker rooms. You're looking at each other and you're in front of the Longhorns right now as a passionate former player and you've got 30 seconds to say something that is impactful about this game, about when you get out of that locker room and you're looking into those Sooners' faces. What are you telling them when you get on the field? How do you handle that?
Speaker 3:Guys, we worked all week. We worked two weeks actually. We know what to do. Put your hand in the ground and let's go kick their ass. That's all. That's all you got to say. They're already fired up.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:They're already fired up Because they really do know what to do. We've had a big game against Michigan, our second game of the year. We've had a little bit of a dogfight with Mississippi State With our backup quarterback. We've had adversity. We've gone through it in this short season already and we're still undefeated in number one. So these guys know what to do. You've prepared, go out there and execute, and that's all we got to do, man execute Sounds like.
Speaker 1:don't make this bigger than it really is. No question, but it's hard not to when you're walking through. So I got to get on and not get on you. But I have to differ with you. I really think OU's defense is that damn good. Statistically they're not much worse than Texas. Texas is a good defense. They only give up seven points a game.
Speaker 3:What I'm saying is our offense is better.
Speaker 1:Okay. Oh it's better than their offense is not proven.
Speaker 3:Our offense is better than their defense. Okay, their defense may be good, but our offense is top-notch, top-tier offense, for sure it might be the best offense in the country. The number is still kind of early in the season, but when we you can mark this in this podcast, we can go back to it at the end of the season. When the season is all said and done, we will have the number one offense in the country. All said and done, we will have the number one offense in the country.
Speaker 1:Stevie said Texas OU week UT will have number one offense in the country.
Speaker 3:Right, let's do it. You can take that to Vegas and win some money on it.
Speaker 1:I'm going to do it right now See if I can vote and submit my money offshore or something. One thing I know this is cliche to bring up, but man, I have been down the tunnel so many times and I used to make it a tradition to do it by myself. That tunnel is special and it is historic.
Speaker 1:You walk out of the locker room you see, oh you, you're going down the tunnel with some of them and if we're gonna, it is nothing but shit talk the whole time before going down there to get warm up, come back up, keep going back. That's how you and but and then the smell of leaking concrete walls with bat shit and just stuff all over. I mean it's a good, it's a smell of history, it's a smell of state fair food making your mouth water and those noises. And you're hearing the background every 15 minutes. It's from the fairgrounds. And then when you step out of that locker room, what do you remember smelling and hearing? It's from the fairgrounds. And then, when you step out of that locker room, what do you remember?
Speaker 3:smelling and hearing man coming out of the locker room. It's such a people, like the people in the media always say it's a disadvantage that Texans have to come out underneath OU. Right, I think it's a total advantage, because we get fired up, man. They get us fired up Like they are cursing us, they are spitting mad at us and we just get fired up from that. That's motivation for us to go out there and kick their team's ass, man. So that's what I always remember we're going to go out underneath OU's fans and they don't get to do that. They get to come out to love. You know we go out and run out to hate, you know. The other thing is, you know there is some. You know, when we get off the bus you smell the fair and things like that. But when you're going into this stadium getting ready to play, I smell grass and gun smoke. What is it? Yeah, gun smoke.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 3:They're little guns. They're shooting from the cannon that we have Right, and it's time to play football after that, man, it is fantastic. Now I also went to this game as part of the media when I was right out of college. I was doing a little talk show and I got sideline passes right, and so I'm walking up and down the field and I wandered onto OU's side of the stadium, right, and I'm standing on the sideline just watching the game and in the back of my head or just behind me, I hear Bevo, hey, bevo.
Speaker 3:Bevo, and then I finally hear him and I said Bevo is on the other side of the field. Why are they calling Bevo? Hey, bevo vivo and I turn around and they're talking about me, they're calling me bevo man.
Speaker 3:I did have a burnt orange shirt on, but they called me bevo. I just dropped my head and walked to the other side of the field. Man, I was like these dudes are mean, man. They are absolutely mean, absolutely mean, terrible people, man. So that was funny. I told my friends the story and they won't let me live it down. I probably shouldn't have told it, but it was one of the worst digs I've ever gotten in my life because I'm so big. They started calling me Bevo on the side.
Speaker 1:Body shaming.
Speaker 3:Yeah, body shaming man, and I just dropped my head and just walked to the other side of the field and I never went back down there.
Speaker 1:Oh my, I didn't know you never told me this story before.
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, yeah, it's out there now.
Speaker 1:I will say this I've had the pleasure I love talking about this because I feel like I've been lucky man the pleasure I love talking about this because I feel like I've been lucky man. I've got to see it from both sides of the Red River. It's totally different from both sides but very similar with the State Fair. You get there four hours for kickoff. You got to walk through the fairground to get to the stadium. You don't just get escorted up, except you guys did with the bus. Those OU fans, man, they used to be back in the day that Texas bus would roll up and those fans would get on either side and rock it. Yeah, and you've got old ladies giving the universal number one.
Speaker 1:Yep, it is a lot of hate. It's fun hate. But what's cool for you guys? I mean, I've seen it from both sidelines in the end zones. Of course she's talking about the Cotton Bowl tunnel. You hear Boomer Sooner. On average, each game, boomer Sooner's probably played anywhere from 12 to 14 times and that does wear on you in your ear. But it's a beautiful thing, it's the pageantry of this great game. But as a player, as a Longhorn, you run out of the tunnel. You hear that hate. You feel it. And then when you get to about the 40-yard line, as you run to the other side you start getting into burnt orange territory and it's a Texas fight. Give them hell, give them hell. Then you hear this People are saying it louder than they ever had. Instead of make them eat shit, they're saying oh you sucks. As loud as possible.
Speaker 3:You know what the official words are, though, don't you?
Speaker 1:Go, horns go.
Speaker 3:Okay, yeah, good, good, because some people don't, some people don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a non-OU game. It's make them eat shit unofficially, but it's a go horns go yeah. But yeah, that game is OU sucks and it's like everyone's yelling it as if they're life-dependent.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It is the wildest thing.
Speaker 3:It is wild, it is.
Speaker 1:So I got to ask you something that's really special that I've only been able to enjoy here in just the last four or five years, and it's. You know one thing about this fair you've got to have coupons to buy the fair food and these Wax cup beers. That's my hand, that's one of the four I had last year at 9.30 in the morning. I need to go find my fare tickets because I didn't use them all last year.
Speaker 4:What do you?
Speaker 1:think on average consumption. If you were to guess, there's non-drinkers too, because it's a 230 kick. If you were to include everybody, all 100,000, or whoever was going to be there at that fairground, how many do you think on average? Wax cup beers will be consumed before kickoff at 2.30 on Saturday.
Speaker 3:It's a lot, man, man, I'm. You had four. I'm going to put on average six in one person's hand. On average, I'll say four and a half. I'm going to put on average, six in one person's hand.
Speaker 1:Yeah, on average. Yeah, I'll say four and a half.
Speaker 3:No on average man, because I went last year and I probably knocked back eight of them.
Speaker 1:Well, you're a lot bigger than me.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm saying. On average, I took off two okay.
Speaker 1:So what are you expecting, man? You want me to go first.
Speaker 3:No, it's okay. You said that they gave us two touchdowns.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I think you take that bet that we'll go over. Okay, yeah, we win by at least 21.
Speaker 1:At least I think it's going to be a pissed off Texas team. But you can't have turnovers. Texas was minus three in turnovers last year. That's the reason they lost, the only reason they lost.
Speaker 3:Yeah, this is going to be a route for us. We're going to come out pissed off and ready to play and put them to bed real early.
Speaker 1:The score early does not indicate in this game. I want to say Texas wins by. If it was home home, it'd be different. I'm going to say Texas wins 31-16. Okay, 31-16.
Speaker 3:So we don't make the spread, we do 31-16. Okay, so 14? Okay, all right, yeah. Yeah, I'm with. Okay, so 14? Okay, all right, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm with you, I'm with you. I just feel like Texas is going to give up more points than I originally thought. But man, it could be closer because turnovers, that pressure causes turnovers in that game in my opinion.
Speaker 3:Oh, and did we announce that yours is coming back?
Speaker 1:Yours will be playing. It's expected to start. Ex yours is coming back. Yours will be playing.
Speaker 3:He's expected to start, expected to start, and that's another element to this. That's another element, and yours and Coach is going to want him to get back into the Heisman talk, right yeah. So they're going to let him throw it. They're going to let him throw it all over the ball lot.
Speaker 1:All over I don't think that.
Speaker 3:OU's defense can hang with our receivers. I know you think they're good. I know you do, but let's watch the game.
Speaker 1:You know what? I don't know if they have the pass rush, but I know they have a great run defense.
Speaker 3:And we don't need it because they're ready to showcase yours, to get back in that Heisman talk on national TV on national TV at 2.30. We got to give him a Heisman push after missing two games it's pretty significant, or Arch might get back into it.
Speaker 1:I went somewhere this weekend and I my alma mater. I want you to caption this pic, my brother. So this is. We played the university that is near your hometown, Northwestern State, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Speaker 1:Natchitoches and Natchitoches are legend, has it? There was an old chief caddo that had two sons, one named Natchitoches, one named Natchitoches, and they couldn't get along. So he told them to Natchitoches to go one day to the west. Natchitoches, you go one day to the east. They were on the Sabine River on the Texas-Louisiana line. It's a legend.
Speaker 1:I don't know if it's true, but there was the largest traveling trophy in college football named Chief Caddo. He was 7 feet 6 inches, 320 pounds. He was made out of a I forgot the type of tree, I would venture to say some type of pine, but to political incorrectness here in the last four or five years Chief Caddo has no longer been retired, but the two coaches, Cartho at Stephen F and the new coach at Northwestern, came up with this. They still call it the Chief because the other one was a wooden Indian and to honor the Caddo Indian tribe. This is a large pine and a lot of wood here. They call it the Chief. It still stands 700. I mean 7 feet 6 inches. This was the first game in which it was used Stevie. Caption that, if you don't mind, I'll throw up mine Big wood in Nacogdoches.
Speaker 3:Big wood in Nacogdoches. No, no man who's going home with wood.
Speaker 1:Well, man, I definitely want to comment on that.
Speaker 3:Who's taking the wood? Who's taking the wood? Who's taking the wood?
Speaker 1:Well, Stephen F did they put it on Northwestern State 59 to 17.
Speaker 3:Ah, golly.
Speaker 1:Big wood baby.
Speaker 3:You know my family is a lot of. My family lives in Natchitoches, louisiana. Beautiful town and in front yeah, we go down every Thanksgiving for the lighting of the Christmas lights on the Cane River. Yeah, so it's a lot of fun down there. I love it down there. But they got to get their football up, man. But you know they had a rough season last year. They actually forfeited the season last year, right Was that? Last year? It was recently.
Speaker 1:I can't remember.
Speaker 3:Yeah, last year or the year before last, they had a teammate die and they forfeited the whole season. So, they're rebuilding and you know, putting up 17 points on you guys, it's not bad. Just keep chopping wood.
Speaker 1:Keep chopping wood and Keep it in your pants.
Speaker 3:Yeah man.
Speaker 1:On that note, we gotta pay homage To our brethren at the um Hargrove Roofing and Stevie obviously does a great job acting's a good part of his career. And when we come back, uh, cowboys. Man shocked a lot of people, including myself. I'm still not emotionally invested. I'm just watching Stevie. We'll talk Cowboys on the other side of this break, here at Hardcore Roofing.
Speaker 6:We try to think outside the box to kind of get the creative juices flowing. So I brought in my friend Stevie Lee, former defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns. He's going to help the team strategize, really motivate them, light a fire.
Speaker 3:This guy's going to block down. This guy's going gonna block down. You. Put your butt into the guard and that way my Mike linebacker gets free to do what.
Speaker 6:Not only are they gonna learn a thing or two, but they're gonna also leave with a great attitude and a bunch of smiles on their faces.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry. What does this have to do with roofing exactly?
Speaker 5:Get out Right now. I said get out.
Speaker 6:For me, that's what it's all about. It's just having fun making our employees have a great time. Hargrove Roofing Know who's on your roof.
Speaker 4:Austin, texas, is changing every day, but one constant is Dirty Martin's Place on Guad. Dirty's recently celebrated 98 years young and the future is solid, and this space in the back is open to host any event, personal or business related.
Speaker 6:Hey everyone, it's Daniel here at Dirty Martin's. We're in the burnt orange room. We are currently booking a lot of parties back here. If you can see, we got a capacity for about 90 people, but we are excited to host any party that you might wanna bring. We are currently booking a lot of parties back here. If you can see, we've got a capacity for about 90 people, but we are excited to host any party that you might want to bring.
Speaker 4:Give Daniel Young a call at Dirty's to reserve this space for any event that you can think of. Jt literally sprained his nuts. Excuse me, sorry, guys.
Speaker 3:Sprained his nuts to play before it comes back Makes the game winner. Unbelievable Extended play I mean that's guys playing above the 2.3. Dudes emptying the clip. I mean it was great stuff.
Speaker 1:Oh, that was awesome Talking about Jalen Tolbert spraining his nuts. I didn't know you could sprain your nuts.
Speaker 3:I've never had that injury before.
Speaker 1:I don't want either one of us. I don't want any member of the male gender to sprain their nuts.
Speaker 3:Yeah, never had it, never heard of it, man.
Speaker 1:But that was. Jalen Talbert gave Dallas their first lead of the game with 26 seconds left and they beat Pittsburgh. Now they're 3-2. Dallas still doesn't look good, but Dallas defense only allowed Pittsburgh 226 yards. Do you see any potential? Because it takes. I mean, it's hard for them to score, stevie.
Speaker 3:It's very hard for them to score. Well, they were moving the ball. They just don't punch it in. Man and Dak and CD Lamb doesn't look like they're on the same page. That one the first interception that Dak threw. I mean, they just weren't on the same page and they are paid to be on the same page. You know paid very well to be on the same page and they're just not Everyone they call after that play. I don't think CD Lamb was targeted after that, I'm not sure. So Dak beat them by throwing it to everyone else other than the number one receiver. So they got to get something right over there. Man, it's not.
Speaker 1:it was a win, but it was an ugly win for sure Ugly win Win's a win and they had a storm delay. They're 3-0 this year on games away from Arlington. I'm starting to really believe that it's just too much pressure on them at home.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, by the way, I found out on Amazon. Look, I can't drink out of my Yeti. Clearly I've got a leak, but I found out. You know you can buy anything on amazon. You can replace these absolutely I found them so I ordered some and clearly I haven't. Half my water is on is on my areola over here there you go.
Speaker 3:I hope it's cold it is.
Speaker 1:I want. I want to show you something. I want your quick take. So the nfl players association they're trying to limit. So the media has always been able to go in the locker room, uh, after the game and they're proposing this, uh, let me take this down. So the nfl players union is is the group which really represents all of the players. The elected officers could be current players, former players, whatnot, and attorneys Trying to move media interviews out of the locker rooms.
Speaker 1:There's been little to no willingness to collaborate on a new solution. Players feel that the locker room interviews invade their privacy and are uncomfortable, and this isn't about limiting media access but respecting the players' privacy and dignity. I will say this because my opinion really doesn't matter on this, but I've had to go into those locker rooms for football, the Cowboys locker room and bowl games and NBA locker rooms, which we did before and after games. I'm going to say this right now. It was good for me to do it after I mean before the games, because I could turn stories if I needed a few sound bites, but I felt like just standing there in the locker room after a game is just weird to me.
Speaker 3:I thought you were going to go another way, since you were a part of the media.
Speaker 1:Well, no, I just didn't. Why don't we wait until they come out in the hall?
Speaker 3:Or make them all accessible after the game or after they come out of the locker room. They got a certain amount of time to get out of the locker room. They have to come to the press area.
Speaker 1:I mean, I get it. You get some heated, fresh, emotional responses, yeah Go ahead.
Speaker 3:I think we're past all that. In college football, I mean in football, these guys are so media trained now that they try to keep their emotions under wraps. But sometimes you do still get that. But you know. But I'm trying to change. You got cameras in there. You know I'm in the background trying to stay covered up while I get jumping the shower. I come out of the shower. There you are right there with a camera in my teammates face, but there I am in the background.
Speaker 1:Negative no yeah.
Speaker 3:So I get what you're saying is it is a privacy and dignity type thing and you know my mom don't want to see my quarterback interviewed and then see my ass in the background, you know. So there needs to be some kind of dignity and respect there. But you know accessibility is what pays the bills for for for these guys to. You know, feel like people can be accessible and their fans and things like that. So it's a balance. You got to find that, that happy medium.
Speaker 1:It's also hot and hot temperature wise, and you're waiting in there and you're. I get it, but I don't, I'm just, I'm just for the one. That's before the game Cool, but after the game I never did enjoy it.
Speaker 3:And in the same breath, guys, you have lady reporters coming in as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:You're trying to change in front of lady reporters and that all right. There can get messy in itself.
Speaker 1:And it has been before. Yeah, so moving real quick. Our guy Ed Small he and his dad were on our podcast. Ed Small is committed to play football at TCU and he's a product of the Anderson High School and I definitely he is. I want to show you this man he is. He was kind of brushed off by UT where his grandfather played. He eclipsed 3000 career receiving yards in high school. Wow Plays a 5A Division, I level, right now.
Speaker 3:That's good, that's good stuff. Congratulations, kid. And his dad is a Vanderbilt anchor down right.
Speaker 1:Right, that's right, anchor down. Anchor down Clint Small.
Speaker 3:Yep. Allison's, the better athlete in that family, by the way, that Anchor down.
Speaker 1:Clint Small Yep, but his better half, allison, allison's the better athlete in that family, by the way, that's what I'm hearing.
Speaker 3:That's what I hear, but it was fun having them both on the program.
Speaker 1:We did good, man, it's a good athletic family, good people and good Austin Knights right there. So shout out to Ed Small man. He's still got over half a season left and there's a good chance they go to the playoffs too. That'd be great for Anderson. I think it's time for a pro tip from me. Stevie, I think he's got one locked and loaded that we can move on pretty quick to what you got. Stevie, where can we go that you can advise us to experience in the great city of Austin?
Speaker 3:Oh man, Golly. I went to a sports bar this weekend. I actually have been there for the last three weekends. It's a brand-new sports bar on East 7th Street. It's called Whiskey Foxtrot Love the place.
Speaker 3:Yeah, on East 7th Street. It's called Whiskey Fox Trot Love the place. They got outdoor space cabanas out back. They have bottle servers if you need it. I go over there with some bunch of friends and we go and watch the late game. Holler at the manager Ryan over there. He'll take great care of you. They have video games as well as all the games on TV. I watched a Miami game over there with a Miami alumni and then we ended up leaving after the UFC fight. I guess it was Alex and I forget the fighter's name, but it was a bunch of people there to watch that game. If you look right over there, you have the Miami game on. So I watched both of them. It's a great, great time. It's upscale, it's an upscale type of a sports bar, so go check that out, man. Whiskey Fox Trot on 7th Street.
Speaker 1:I know they like that and hey, that is that's. There's so many places to go and on special on the east side, east side's got a nice vibe, a lot of history over there of true old school Austinite. Hey, our TikTok in the man cave. We all know that the University of Tennessee their fight song is Rocky Top Tennessee. Well, an Arkansas fan, fresh off of the upset of Tennessee, came up with his own version.
Speaker 5:But it's all about Arkansas. Wish that I was in old Arkansas Down in the Mozart Hills. Wanna go call the hogs in Arkansas? Take a trip to Fayetteville. See, there is this team in Arkansas, Knocked off the Tennessee Vols Rush the field with the fans in Arkansas Wild band raising bag calls Arkansas. You'll always be Home, sweet home to me. Good old Arkansas. Woo whoo big, suey Whoo big suey, that's good stuff.
Speaker 3:That's good stuff, it's good.
Speaker 1:Shout out to my family in Arkansas. I'm sure they'll be glad that I put this in there and found that and I was like, wow, that's pretty quick to come up with those lyrics and compose it that quickly.
Speaker 3:He's an artist for sure.
Speaker 5:Hey man, Tell me something good.
Speaker 1:Lots of things to be grateful for, but tell me something good, Stevie Lee.
Speaker 3:I'm going to keep it short, very short and sweet man. I'm going to tell you something really good. It's Texas OU week, it's 5. It's 5. It's 5.36 and OU sucks. Ou still sucks. 5.36 pm and OU still sucks.
Speaker 1:Man, I love it I love you, bro, I love you and we love our OU fam, our friends up there. Man, this is what this beautiful rivalry is all about.
Speaker 3:Do we love them Not?
Speaker 4:this week. Well, we don't love them, not this week.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know I'll tell you something good. I got to go to my alma mater over the weekend and I got to honor some people. I took the lovely Trish with me and I want to show you. That's Coach Carth on the middle Lower left. That is Helen Belcher, her son, the late Callie Belcher.
Speaker 1:In the spring of 1994 at the 40-yard line on this side, he was a hard-hitting safety and slash linebacker. All-conference Wasn't very big but he was one of the fiercest hitters I ever saw, had a brain aneurysm and he had passed away four or five days after that during spring ball he wore number 16. Well, joe Wiley, who was an amazing lineman in a group, started the 16 Foundation and a scholarship in honor of Cali Belcher and I think for the last eight, nine years I think eight or nine years this was the Cali Belcher game. That young man right there got to wear his jersey, which is retired from Stephen F Austin, and he got to wear Cali's number 16 for the game and I'm sorry for forgetting the name, but he played his butt off. He's a good young man. And shout out to the SFA family and all of the guys from my generation and shout out to Cali Belcher and his beautiful mother, helen, who has not aged a day since we all first met her. That's awesome. That's something good man. That since we all first met her, that's awesome. That's something good man. That's awesome. That's good. That's beautiful. Beautiful Homer Bryce Stadium, a beautiful place to be on a Saturday night in college football season.
Speaker 1:Hey, red River Robin. This is day one of it. We're going to try to get episodes every day. We're going to re-rack a past episode from the month of August with Toby Rowland, the voice of the Oklahoma Sooners. He wrote another child's book, children's book, and he also donated or had one of his kidneys removed this past summer. The voice of the Sooners, toby Rowland. You can watch that tomorrow or Tuesday night and he's a good friend of mine, great journalist, even better, play-by-play guy. So, red River Rivalry Week, regardless of what I almost sound like, elmer Fudd for a second, regardless of which side of the Red River you're on, thank you for watching, thank you for supporting us. Much love to Stevie Lee and his family and much love to the city of Shreveport, louisiana, my college alma mater town, that being Nacogdoches, texas, and my lovely hometown of the Austin, texas, and to the OG man Cave Boys, that being Hardball Hards, big Mike and the Coach Mo. What do we tell them, stevie Lee?
Speaker 3:We out you see the drip?
Speaker 6:yeah, I'm fitted up. I'm in my car, in the G we out.