Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Unpacking College Football: Stevie Lee on the Texas Longhorns, Bowl Games, and ASU's Rise
In this episode, we explore motivation strategies for teams, the importance of fun in the workplace, and the excitement of bowl season, featuring insights from former Longhorn Stevie Lee. The conversation covers Texas Longhorns' defensive performance, personal player stories, and the impact of transfers in modern college football.
• Introduction and team-motivation strategies
• Celebrating the Pop-Tart Bowl and community engagement
• Texas Longhorns' elite defense and key player highlights
• Leadership insights from Defensive Coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski
• Mental health aspects of a long college football season
• Player comparisons: Sam Levitt and Quinn Ewers
• Transfer portal dynamics and impacts on teams
• Interview with Jake Garcia on Arizona State football
• Concluding thoughts on the cultural significance of sports
Please like and follow each of Stories Inside the Man Cave Podcast social media links on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok.
Thank you. Here at Hard Grow Roofing 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 2:This guy's going to block down. This guy's going to block down. You put your butt into the guard and that way my Mike linebacker gets free to do what.
Speaker 1:Not only are they going to learn a thing or two, but they're going to also leave with a great attitude and a bunch of smiles on their faces.
Speaker 3:I'm sorry. What does this have to do with roofing exactly? Get out Right now. I said get out.
Speaker 1: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. Day 15 of Pop-Tart Review 15 actually.
Speaker 5:Wow, what it tastes like. It tastes like a W.
Speaker 6:A Pop-Tart tasting like a W. That is one of my new favorite bowl games. Stevie Lee, the Pop-Tart Bowl, iowa State man. They represented the Big 12 and beat the Miami Hurricanes 42-41. And one Pop-Tart was sent to rest in peace after they sent it through the shoot and all those players cutting a piece of that Pop-Tart off. That's got to be the most authentically quality-tasting Pop-Tart on the planet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was pretty fun to watch man. The live pop tart goes down and the dead pop tart comes out.
Speaker 6:That's fun oh, I love bowl season. This is why we we don't want to change it. I like the cfp, I love bowl season. I mean, do you feel the same way? Just keep all the bowls, keep them going, because they're good for the communities and it's good for corporate sponsorship, I assume.
Speaker 2:No, I love it. I always love going to a bowl. I've been to five of them.
Speaker 6:You played in them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it's always a lot of fun and you've been a part of bowls, part of the media.
Speaker 6:Look at this. There's one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there you go. So bowls are a lot of fun, man, and that's the heart. That's the goal to get to the bowl season at the end of the year, man. So hats off to all the bowl participants. It's just been fun to watch here lately.
Speaker 6:Yeah, it is. And, of course, before we move on and give you a tease of what's to come, we got to give a shout out to our family and friends at Hargrove Roofing, shreveport based, but deeply rooted to Central Texas, austin and University of Texas Athletics and that is how I was connected to him is because the guy to my right, stevie Lee, you know them really well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Hard Grove. Man, Let them. Let us know if we need any roofing help fixes. We had a hail storm come through Austin last week, so let us know. If you need anything, man, call Mary over at at Hard Grove, Austin, 512-645-3202. Hardgrove Roofing know who's on your roof.
Speaker 6:Oh man, it's the best part when Stevie does that. He's got it and of course, we've got a big show planned because this is round two of the college football playoffs. Stevie made a good point last week. Um, the round one, where it goes from 12 to eight teams. Uh, you know the. The participants are the losers of the first round, that's it. They don't get a bowl week, so to speak. But now we're down to the elite eight. The longhorns are a part of it. Now the winners of the first round, like texas, get to face the teens which had the four teens which had first round buys. And for texas it's another trip to atlanta and we're going to talk about that.
Speaker 6:We're going to dive in deep about the longhorns, go below the surface and we've got an interview with the guy who's been on here before. He worked in austin, seattle, and now in phoenix in the TV. He followed me barely. We almost crossed paths. We worked for the same TV station, kvue, here in Austin, texas. Hey, it's Peach Bowl week. It's the elite eight of college football. Stevie's excited, he's the volleyball dad of the year in America and he's back on for another edition of the Pass Rush with Stevie Lee. Hey, you ready to get this thing going, brother? Let's go.
Speaker 2:That's right, that's right.
Speaker 6:That's right, that's right.
Speaker 6:That's right. I love it. I love it. I love it. The hype is getting more and more. The buildup, the Peach Bowl, has been a prestigious bowl game in a great city Atlanta, ga, and Arizona State. The Sun Devils first year in the Big 12, and they win it. They have the youngest coach in America, I believe, and they have a great running back, a great receiver who may not be playing and one of the best quarterbacks. As far as freshmen let's just say one of the best freshmen in the country I am Sean Clinch, the co-host of the Pass Rush with Stevie Lee and the host of Stories Inside the man cave.
Speaker 6:Stevie Lee, you know we need it's not like we're crying for help, but we cannot grow unless you, the viewer and listener, help us out by following each of our social media platforms there they are, there's a lot of them and share our content. Like. Follow, tell your moms, cousins, your best friends, your third cousins, everybody. Let's share our content. And the best part, you can subscribe for free to our YouTube page. How about we start with this? The Texas defense I mean for all Americans and the Jim Thorpe Award winner. They're only giving up 13 points per game and third ranked in the country in total defense. I know the numbers that they gave up against Clemson had something to do with that, but going down from, I think, one to three, but it's still an elite defense. How do you sum this up as they go on to the next round, as the stakes get higher, stevie, I like where we are.
Speaker 2:The defense is going to look around and say, oh, we were number one and now we're number three, let's get back to number one, so you got something to work for. I like that part and I like the um that we are running the ball the way we're running the ball right now, so defense can make some stops and uh and get off the field and the offense can run the ball and stay on the field as long as they want to. As long as we're doing sustainable four or five-yard runs and just driving down the field, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 6:I am too, and you know Alfred Collins is one of those guys from outside of the Austin area who's really developed progressively throughout his career. This year I mean last year had a great year, this year phenomenal. I had to step in for some guys who stayed the duration of their career and were drafted highly in the NFL and they're doing great things in the NFL, namely to Vondre, sweat and Byron Murphy.
Speaker 6:Byron Murphy. That guy is a bulldog, by the way. So you know how it is bowl week and now college football playoffs. It's a lot of media and the good thing about Zoom, you can get a bunch of people in without having to deal with media face-to-face. But an Arizona State media member asked Alfred Collins a question about how elite this defense is, because they don't even. They said they don't think Arizona State's face-to-defense of this caliber. Well, alfred collins was short and sweet, if you will. Where is it? Oh, here, it is um three, two and one. So here's the response alfred collins gave that media member from uh phoenix about trying to describe how good, how elite this defense is.
Speaker 2:Turn on the tape. That's the few words I have. Turn on the tape and you will see.
Speaker 6:Very confident, very confident.
Speaker 2:You know what's funny about that. A little bit off topic, he said turn on the tape. I don't think he knows what tape is. He's that young.
Speaker 6:That's a good point.
Speaker 2:Turn on the digital video is what he meant.
Speaker 6:Press play.
Speaker 2:Press play.
Speaker 6:Press play. I mean, he's not wrong, Stevie. Yeah, it's true. You know you can count on maybe one hand, maybe six or seven times a team has broken off a long run. Yep. And there hasn't been many big plays maybe two hands, maybe three of explosive plays against Texas defense, regardless of what people think of the strength of opponent, has been this year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, our defense has been really really good and really stout. So I think we've if you want to look back on our season, we've hung our hat on our defense. Oh, yeah. Sometimes we'll stall and the defense will pick it up, you know.
Speaker 6:And it all starts with PK, pete Kwiatkowski, the DC. Since he's been here, texas has progressively gotten better. Last year and this year elite level defense, but you saw signs. But one thing that you know, because we don't get to know or have a privy of certain information, but I've never met PK, but I have heard he's a player's coach, but he also, as you know, you play defensive tackle for some great defenses under Mack Brown. Regardless of who you play, there are some stressful times and games in which you know, okay, we gave this touchdown up, we gave up a sear, we just got our butts handed to us up and down the field, and those are stressful situations. Well, you know, texas has been in some close games recently and the defense has played the lights out, but there are moments in which they have become stressed. And Michael Taft, one of those four All-Americans who was once a walk-on, he talked about the value of what PK brings during those stressful situations.
Speaker 7:PK is the one that's not freaking out, he's the one that's calming everybody down, he's the leader that we need and he's saying all right, here we go, we're going to go this next call Everybody, just calm down, do your job, execute and let's get off the field. Let's win this game. So I would say it's calm, composed, and he shows up in big games and calls the right calls and puts us in a great spot.
Speaker 6:Now you can have the best players in America, but if you don't have a calm, experienced defensive coordinator? I don't know if experience is the right word, but what have you heard about PK? Is it similar to what Taff just said?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think. Also, I think he can build the defense around his strengths, right, strengths, right. You know, with the big tackles up there right now the linebackers are free to roam, and last year, when we had those two big tackles that can go and make plays, they let them go and make plays. So, and then in the DB room, you know what's his name? Jaday Jaday.
Speaker 6:Jaday.
Speaker 2:Jaday Barron the Thorpe Award winner.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the Thorpe Award winner being able to lock someone down and he can have someone else or go cover the other. Have the safety, go cover the other receiver over the top. So I think he can build a defense to all of his strengths on the other. Have the safety, go cover the other receiver, you know, over the top. So I think he can build a defense to all of his strengths on the defense. And that's really how you have to be versatile as a DC. So I can get real deep into that. But you know I can nerd out, you know.
Speaker 6:I can too, but I don't have the experiences you have had.
Speaker 2:So I do like watching this defense man. They love to fly around and you know they also like playing defense. You can tell those DBs like to come down and put a hat on somebody. I enjoy that Very satisfying watching that yeah exactly Like I always say them Texas boys hit hard.
Speaker 6:They took Carson Beck, the quarterback, from Georgia. He's done, he's done. And then I guarantee you the backup. Gunnar Stockton, he may not run upright like that again.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 6:Put the wood on him. A lot of teams have taken notice. There's a lot of respect for this defense and? But a lot of teams have taken notice. There's a lot of respect for this defense and you know a lot of it. I think a lot of players who are extremely talented, like Anthony Hill, have matured deeply. I know that natural instinct's a big deal and it's going to be the experience and composure, as you know. That's what wins these games. In this playoff-type atmosphere. You don't just win by showing up. You've got to be composed because they're going to take some hits. I'm sure what I mean is signs of adversity, but Anthony Hill, second-year player, he was deeply respected last year. Well, pk challenged him in the offseason. This is what I want you to do this year and before we hear from him, what have you heard about Anthony Hill? Because that guy is all over the field. He's like the quarterback of that defense.
Speaker 2:I think you're exactly right the quarterback of the defense, but also he's real heady so he can put players where they need to go pre-snap. So, being the leader, we always need a leader back there in the backfield. There's a lot going on behind us, so sometimes someone is off and pre-snap you get them back on. So you need that, and I heard that Anthony Hill was basically the brains of the outfit when I was playing. It was Philip Geiger, right, I can hear him back there telling everybody where to go, making the calls pre-snap. I think Anthony Hill is one of those guys on our defense nowadays and you always need that. You need somebody that's an extension of the heck or the extension of the DC on the field.
Speaker 6:That's well stated right there, man. That's why people need to hear from you much more than me, Anthony. He was asked about that development and PK's involvement, but he was quick to point out his position, coach.
Speaker 4:Johnny Nansen, just developing, seeing stuff before the play and kind of working on my footwork, just not crossing over and kind of understanding the pitchers, the tight splits, and are they going to run an over route or are they delimiting on their heels? Are they pulling Just little stuff like that where you kind of don't think about in high school? To just help me develop.
Speaker 6:For someone who is an absolute beast on the field. He still has that young baby face on him, and Anthony Hill does. He doesn't play like a child. I'll tell you that.
Speaker 2:But he is young, this is his sophomore year, so I'm looking forward to seeing him play for another hopefully another three years, you know, or another two years, so we'll see. Yeah, he's a superb talent for another hopefully another three years, you know, or another two years, so we'll see.
Speaker 6:Yeah, he's a superb talent. You know we talked about this potentially being 17-game season if you play in the national championship, I mean after New Year's Day when they play Arizona State. They've got two more, so after Wednesday they're going to be at game 15 already.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 6:And that's insane, but that's what the NFL plays in the regular season. You play 16 games to win a state championship in high school football. But what do you think? How do you think Sark I know he was asked about it, but let's just say you're Quinn Ewers or any player how do you mentally, mentally, go through this grind? That's a lot of games.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I don't think that's on Sark, I think that's on Torrey Becton in the weight room strength and conditioning coach. I'm totally not giving him all the credit that he needs because I don't know exactly his title. He's way more than just a strength and conditioning coach. I think he's sports science type of. So I've had dinner with him and sat down and talked about what they do over there and it's deep in what they do to keep keep players healthy but also keeping their strength up, keeping their speed up and things like that is on him and is on the training room. I think Alan Harden Alan was the head trainer over there when I was there. Now he's the CEO of medical sports medicine over there or something like that. So it's on those guys to keep these guys healthy physically and also help Torrey to help keep them healthy mentally with this long grinding season.
Speaker 2:Like you got to understand that these kids have gone through the start of school, midterms and finals and trying to play in the college football playoffs. A lot of people forget about all that man and trying to manage their money, their NIL deals. These kids are now. We were a business back then, but these kids are now a bigger were a business back then, but these kids are now a bigger business right now. And then the seniors have to manage when they get done. They got to go work out for the combines shortly after that and then so they got to manage that and manage trying to hire an agent while trying to do all that and studying and and all that stuff and trying to, you know, get their degrees on top of all that. So it's a it's a long grind for the season and when all eyes on you, when you're ranked five, three, two and one and trying to juggle all that and trying to juggle family when you have NIL money with their hands out, you know, when you have NIL money with their hands out, you know.
Speaker 2:So it's a lot going on in these young men lives which are still kids. You know most of those guys are still under 21. We need to remember, you know, and so it's a lot to manage. But you know this is where we are. In college football, if you want to win it all, you got 17 games and I know the NFL has 17 games, but the NFL is not juggling what these kids are juggling right now. The NFL is a job to them. They go in, clock in, do their work and then they clock out. These kids got to clock in, do their work, do their schoolwork, manage their money and all that stuff and then take all these tests and trying to get their degrees. It's tough over there for these kids.
Speaker 6:Yeah, it's all programs. It's a big lesson on management and trying to juggle your personal life while staying focused on this. To me, just from the outside, looking in, I can see how a team in the CFP especially now with all these games that you've got to eliminate any distractions and that's hard because imagine, remember what it was like for us back then yeah you can easily be distracted and I just I just rattled off a bunch of things right with the family and all that stuff.
Speaker 2:You know one thing I forgot Managing relationships. You have a girlfriend. Girlfriends, managing relationships with friends that are outside of athletics, you know. So all that stuff is really on these kids' shoulders right now and it's tough, and I think that Tori and training staff have done a good job thus far. But it's a long road, long haul.
Speaker 6:Yeah Well, quinn Ewers was asked about it and he looked absolutely exhausted, like they probably had a long practice. He talked about navigating this long journey.
Speaker 3:Like you said, it's a long season and um, you know it's nice to have a little more time in between these games to to be able to get to, you know, as close, as close as you can, back to 100 percent, um, and also just gives you more time to prepare for, for, for um, you know, the opposing team, that that we're playing, but at the end of the day it's awesome. It's awesome to still be playing football whenever you know other guys are at home or training for the Combine or whatever it is.
Speaker 6:So basically what you did.
Speaker 2:Training for the Combine, and I didn't see that interview, but I know what these guys are going through. Let me tell you, let me put it in perspective. This August those guys came on campus when nobody else was here. They were working getting ready for the season. Then the season came. We are in season Now we're in postseason.
Speaker 2:Those same kids that weren't on campus when they got there are gone now. They're back at home hanging out with mom and dad and those kids, or these kids, these football players, are still on campus trying to finish out the season. Those kids, the uh, regular I don't want to say regular students, but the students are going to come back to campus. We're still in the same season playing football. If we make it all the way to the to the championship game, and then when we make it all the way to the championship game, and then when we get out of the championship game, there's some big life decisions that some of these kids are going to have to make, as in the transfer portal or going on to play in the NFL, choosing an agent and trying to figure out the combines if they get an invite to the combines, or whatever they're going to do. So it's a lot going on in these guys' lives for sure.
Speaker 6:Now it's the quarterfinals, the Elite Eight, and I know everyone has seen this graphic. This is how it's going to go New Year's Day afternoon in Atlanta in the Peach Bowl, texas gets past Arizona State. They go to the Cotton Bowl back here in Texas and we'll face either Ohio State or Oregon if they beat the Sun Devils. And this is going to be a great, great round because the first round buys Georgia, boise State, oregon and Arizona State They've sat out for over two weeks. Oregon and Arizona State They've sat out for over two weeks. And if there's one semifinal that really could be an upset, I mean there's two of them. I don't think Notre Dame can upset Georgia and the rematch Ohio State and Oregon. I think Ohio State may be top to bottom the most talented team in America Could be. Could be, which means they could win in the Rose Bowl in advance. I just see it. Since they're the eight seed, the seven and eight seeds to me can really pull off perceived upsets here, cause Notre.
Speaker 6:Dame is built like Texas.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and then I think the fifth seed is good too.
Speaker 6:Oh yeah. Yeah. I'm talking about the others.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know yeah, cause four or five can be flip-flop. Yeah, for sure, and I'm right there with you. I think that you're absolutely correct. Notre Dame I told some friends the other day that Notre Dame or Georgia needs to watch out for Notre Dame. They play a different style of football that Georgia don't like. Yeah, no, yeah. And then Ohio State they're looking to get revenge. So you're spot on, I believe. So, yeah, and then Ohio State they're looking to get revenge. So you're spot on, I believe.
Speaker 6:One guy who knows Arizona State all too well he's been on Stories Inside the man Cave podcast before is Jake Garcia. He succeeded me at Cave View. Great storyteller. He's an award-winning journalist. We had him in our Instagram live when I was out in arizona. It was before texas played washington and the cfp. You were on there smoking a cigar and then we had brian mays and jake garcia and harbaugh harge and we were having a good time. He was working in seattle at the time covering the washington huskies, after covering the Longhorns for three years. Wow.
Speaker 6:And now he's back in Phoenix and he went to Arizona State. Now he's covering Arizona State, he's covering Texas and we had an interview earlier today. We had hoped, you know, we just couldn't all three get our schedule together. But here's the interview with DJ Garcia. Tremendous insight on the sundowns. All right, this is maybe the most unique setting for an interview dj garcia traversing the desert of California in between work assignments. Jake Garcia, welcome. You're now a two-time veteran of Stories Inside the man Cave. Man, that has got to be high up on your resume list of accomplishments.
Speaker 8:I think there's no doubt about it. Honestly, I hope we can do this every year, because two to me is not nearly enough. Sean, thanks for having me on, excited to do this, excited to talk some Peach Bowl with you.
Speaker 6:I love it man.
Speaker 6:Always enjoyed his work when he was in Austin, texas. We both worked for KVU but barely missed each other. But the unique thing about this, why it ties into the Peach Bowl, this is special. So he covered the Longhorns while he was at the Channel of Champions, cave View, and received a great opportunity in Seattle to cover the Washington Huskies. Then he got to cover the Huskies versus the Longhorns in UT's first-ever CFP. He's now in Phoenix, pretty much just got started covering the Sun Devils in their first ever CFP. He's now in Phoenix, pretty much just got started covering the Sun Devils in their first ever CFP, who will now face the Longhorns in the Peach Bowl, and they have to go way out east to Atlanta, GA, to make this happen. We were talking about this when we were setting this interview up. I mean, how do you even react to that? All these coincidences I don't know what word to describe it, but it's really cool for you to be honest.
Speaker 8:No doubt. I think there are two takeaways. One is that whatever college football team that I cover, I guess tends to go to the CFP I cover, I guess, tends to go to the CFP so any college sound looking to crack the top teams in the country should reach out to me.
Speaker 8:Number two is that I can't seem to escape the Texas Longhorns. Not that I was trying to in the first place, but yeah, it's been two straight years of okay. I'm going to a new city and then all of a sudden, ut is following me wherever I go. But it's been amazing because, as I mentioned to you off camera, sean, I feel connected to both fan bases. I still have a lot of friends in Austin and it just makes for a really fun time.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I think last year, when I was at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans like that is the most fun I've had covering a sporting event in sports media just because it felt it felt like a family reunion for me. It was cool to see a bunch of old faces both in sports media and Austin and then, you know, with the Longhorns team themselves. So I'm happy that we're doing this again and I think, for your sake, it would probably be the best if it weren't a repeat of last year when, you know, quinn Ewers had that last second heave that was batted down and UW went to the natty after that. I think Texas is in a better position this year.
Speaker 6:I'll start by saying that no, I agree, I think last year was a great team. I feel like maybe this is one of the better defenses in UT football history. And you know you think about Arizona State when I was younger I'd say when I was really young in the 80s I remember them going to Rose Bowls. They had some really good teams along with Arizona. But you arrive, they change. You know the college football world is imploding every month. Change is galore. We never really thought Big 12, maybe Big 12, but for them to go to the Big 12 and in the first year win it. And now they're in the CFP. From your understanding what you know, how did ASU do this in such a short time frame?
Speaker 8:It's honestly been one of the more shocking developments and storylines of college football this year because this was a team that was picked to finish last in the Big 12. Preseason Big 12 media poll. Nobody thought that they would amount to anything and it wasn't even like this. This was supposed to be an awful team Out of nowhere. A young head coach who's in his lower 30s. When he was hired he was the youngest coach in Power 5 college football, now Power 4 college football.
Speaker 8:But the beauty of Kenny Dillingham is he has the energy to match and set the tone and create a culture for the rest of his team and I think that's the biggest reason why ASU is here is because their head coach had this undeniable belief in his guys and I think it's been contagious and they've continued win and it's been a snowball effect. I think you have to look at the offense which is led by. For my money, maybe the best freshman quarterback in college football is Sam Levitt and then a running back who has played a lot of college football but until last year had never played it at the highest level, referring to Cam Scadaboo. But this was an FCS player who was under-recruited out of high school and all of a sudden was a couple votes shy of being a.
Speaker 6:So you mentioned Cam Scadaboo and I'm very proud of myself that I pronounced his name correctly, because I know that's the type of name that you can be butchered frequently. Ashton Junte from Boise State and Scataboo are two guys that really really really caught my eye early. I can relate to Scataboo because I love vertically challenged guys who always have something to prove.
Speaker 5:He mentioned in an interview he was asked about always being counted out, doubted, along with the team, and this was his response to that If you think you're successful, then you'll start falling and I think the doubt that people give to us for free is extremely, you know, motivating to everybody. And you know, like I said, if you have doubt, if you have doubt, you'll be successful in life, because you're going to constantly want to prove somebody wrong.
Speaker 6:Jake, you can't disagree with that. Someone doubts you all the time that you always have fuel to be great.
Speaker 8:Yeah, and I think Scadaboo's been playing with that chip, you know, since he was coming out of high school. If you go back and watch his highlight tape from when he was a high school football player in Northern California, like he was running with something to prove then something to prove then, and I think that has only grown as he's developed and, you know, really understood what his leadership role is for this. Asu team Like this is a team that has adopted his entire ethos and way of being. The way Scadaboo runs the football is the way that ASU plays football in a broader context. They're physical, they're unrelenting and it's been a lot of fun to watch.
Speaker 8:Now, with that being said, like physical by Big 12 standards might be a little bit different than physical by and I'm not even going to say SEC standards because I think that's a little overblown but I will say by Texas standards, because in their first year on the SEC, texas was the trend-setting team when it came to playing a punishing style of football, and so I think it'll be interesting. I don't have any doubts that Scadaboo will be burdened by the moment or unable to rise to that level of competition. I think the big question is can the O-line create holes for him. Can the O-line protect Sam Levitt? And if they can, I think this is a closer game than people might expect.
Speaker 6:Even Steve Sarkeesian and that entire UT coach's staff. He admitted that they have been a fan of that guy all season. They love the way he plays. But he says when they were watching tape, you know, preparing for Arizona State, yeah, they were a little concerned because he's not your one-dimensional type of back.
Speaker 9:I think when you first turn on Cam's tape you're thinking you're just going to see Mike Allstat, you're just going to see this bruiser that's just running into the line of scrimmage and bouncing off of people. And then the more you watch him you're like man, this guy's got really good feet. And then all of a sudden you're like but wait a minute, this guy catches the ball really well out of the backfield. He's got really good initial quickness after the catch to get vertical, and so he's a really versatile player. I was hoping he was going to be kind of a one-dimensional guy.
Speaker 6:I think every opponent was hoping for the same thing.
Speaker 8:Yeah, no doubt. I think Sark hit on a really good point there. Not only is this guy a physical punishing runner, but he's fast, he's quick in short and tight spaces and I think what's been most impressive, especially these last few weeks, is his balance. He will get knocked sideways and somehow stay on his feet and pick up 10, 20, 30 more yards after that first contact. I truly don't know like the physics behind some of these runs, but it's been really impressive to watch and you know it makes for a really fun player to cover the battle of quarterbacks.
Speaker 6:Yeah, there's a soundbite right here from sam levitt. Uh, I don't think he's lacking any confidence you know, I'm just excited for the opportunity.
Speaker 5:Uh, you know, people keep calling me out since day one and you know I'm gonna. I'm gonna go prove I'm the better quarterback, you know, and that's how I feel since day one. So so I'm going to go put everybody on the map.
Speaker 6:Wow, jake, I mean he's quarter. I hate you know. I did it when I was in the media. I still do it. You know the quarterbacks don't ever face off against one another but fans and everybody say who's going to have the better performance. I mean, do you think Levitt has it in him to him to outdo Quinn Ewers? Quinn's more of a game manager in my opinion, right right.
Speaker 8:Well, I was going to say it's like man, I've never seen UT fans rally behind Quinn Ewers the way they did after hearing that soundbite from Sam Leavitt. Because and correct me if I'm wrong, but based on what I've been seeing in the Twitter world, and correct me if I'm wrong, but based on what I've been seeing in the Twitter world Quinn Ewers, like he's not universally beloved in Austin and I know that the backup quarterback is every fan's best friend, but, like, when your backup quarterback has the last name Manning, it ratchets it up a little bit more. So I just thought that was funny that all of a sudden, you know Quinn Ewers' approval rating was was a hundred percent. I hadn't seen that. It's honestly, since he was being recruited by Texas. Does Levitt have it in him to to outdo Ewers? I mean, I think so. Like, based on what I've seen from Levitt this year, like that soundbite is not him trying to create bulletin board material. It's not, you know, him trying to, you know, reach the other fan base and rile them up. That's who Sam Levitt's been all season long. It's who he was before the Kansas State game when ASU went on the road and was playing a top 15 team. I'm blanking on Kansas State's quarterback. I think his last name is Johnson, but Leavitt made it a point leading up to the game to say this is a guy who was heavily recruited in high school, much more recruited than I was. I want to go out there and show that you know I deserve to be in that conversation and that I've turned into the better quarterback now. He did that when they were playing DYU.
Speaker 8:Like this has been a thing all season long. So you know, while people, fans on social media, want to point out that like, oh like, if you're coming for the throne, like you better not miss. Like that sort of thing. No, like this is, if you're coming for the throne, like you better not miss. Like that sort of thing. No, like this is.
Speaker 8:I think this is motivation for Levitt himself. Like he gets, he feels some type of way there's a fire that's sparked within him with this trash talk and like this is the beauty of sports is it's okay to trash talk Like no one. This is not a life or death situation Like we're going to be okay. So no, like. I think it's a motivational tactic for him. Do I know for a fact that he's going to outdo a Ewers? No, because I do think that, you know, the experience that Ewers has, especially on this stage, is going to be helpful. The lessons learned from, you know, last year's game in the college football playoff quarterfinal. That is all going to be helpful. But on the flip side there's also, like you know, the blissfulness of being young and not, you know, being consumed by the stage, and I think Levitt's going to be just fine.
Speaker 6:I agree, I think this is a good matchup. I may not agree with the CFP model of instantly awarding or rewarding the top four ranked conference champions. I mean, arizona State belongs, for sure, for sure they do, but I just don't believe in giving them even Boise first round buys's. That's fora conversation next year probably. Uh. So strangely enough and I'm going to talk to stevie about this there are some longhorns who are in arizona state, or former longhorns that is. You know that? I, I think there was. Who was the coach? I, I think it was Beck, out at Coastal Carolina. He said we're not recruiting to build a program, we're recruiting to build a roster every year. So my point being is the transfer portal, it take it and it give it it give, so to speak.
Speaker 6:So here are a list of the former Longhorns that are on the Sun Devils roster Jake Smith, prince Dorba, troy O'Meary, jermon Tapp, zavian Alford and we've already heard from Zach Swanson the last week or the week before which, to a lot of people watching or listening, those tough conversations are had at the end of every year hey, where you stand with the program. And then Brian Carrington, who came with Tom Herman, has earned himself an opportunity to be a position coach for ASU. To summarize, these guys, they're following you, jake. That's another part. Wherever Jake goes, we're following you, jake. That's another part. Wherever Jake goes, we're going to play.
Speaker 8:I think Jake Smith especially. It feels like that guy's been in college for 10 years because I was in Austin when they were recruiting him and when he came over to the Longhorns and then I watched him play for a couple of injury plague seasons and I thought this guy was was pretty good. Um, I don't know, maybe it'll be a uh coming out party for him because he has not been a focal point uh of this asu offense. But you know, playing texas I think is is motivational for all of these guys on this list, even the guys from Texas who grew up in Texas who maybe were overlooked by UT out of high school. That's got to mean something to you, right? I think I don't think the Zach, I don't think the Zach Swanson case is unique, and you know I wasn't. I wasn't there for those conversations that were had between him and the Texas coaching staff. He perceived them to be disrespectful.
Speaker 8:I would obviously assume that the Texas staff just viewed it as being open and honest and I think there's something to be said for. You know, instead of gaslighting a player, you want to let him know like, hey, you're not going to get playing time here. It's probably best if you go look elsewhere. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but I also don't think there's anything wrong with that, but I also don't think there's anything wrong with using that as fuel and and using that to. You know, jack you up before the game. I think that's exciting. Um, yeah, you know whether or not you want to go talking to reporters about that is up to you. Um, but but I I always enjoy these, these type of storylines before a game like this I do too, and in the end it has truly worked out for zach.
Speaker 6:It is, he's back home, he's part of a uh, a team or group uh, and that has changed the trajectory of that program and they're winning a lot To get a taste of what Jake does. He's a great storyteller, puts together some unique stories. He has one and he found out, and it was well done, down to the T the use of the. You know, teams, players get bowl gifts and they even did back in 1970, the peach bowl watch and use the, the sound of the ticking, to tell the story of the night undefeated 1970 peach bowl championship team from arizona state, briefly talk about that story and where the fine folks watching and or listening can check out the full story well, if anyone's living in phoenix, uh, tune into the local nbc.
Speaker 8:Um, that's. You know that. That's where we, uh, where we want to drive people to is still the tv product. Um, so that's channel 12 in phoenix. If you're not living in phoenix, uh, any of my social media accounts will have ways to watch the story on Twitter. I think you have it up there, sean, jake underscore M. Underscore Garcia. It's on Instagram as well. Jake M Garcia. Tv Head over to our website, 12newscom. It exists in a lot of places.
Speaker 8:I had a lot of fun putting that story together because there were so many parallels, from the 1970 team to the 2024 team, down to the fact that they weren't getting respect at a national level from the outside world that they were the only ones who believed they could do something special. They had a head coach who was setting the tone for his entire team. He was hard-nosed, but he was fun to be around and Frank Cush and the things that I learned telling this story. For example, like when they got to Georgia, the coaches knew there was going to be rain in the forecast, so a few days before, they literally flooded Georgia Tech's practice field so that the team could be prepared to play in the elements Like those were the kind of tactics that the coaching staff was resorting to, and then at halftime ASU was losing to North Carolina, the coaching staff made them scrimmage both in the locker room and in the end zone.
Speaker 8:Like that tells you that you know this was a different time than what we're seeing right now. But at the end of the day, I think, like you could tell that these players, who are now in their 70s and there was an assistant coach that I talked to as well who's 101 years old- oh my.
Speaker 8:God, the feeling was universal and unanimous. It wasn't like a bitter alumnus sort of situation, like they were proud, like a bitter alumnus sort of situation, like they were proud. They were proud that you know what they had done 50 years prior, had laid a foundation and set the stage and really like put ASU on a national map. And it's been a long and winding road to get back, but they are back and I think that energy that they showed for this team is felt by a lot of longtime asu supporters and uh, will it make a difference in the game? I don't know, um, but but it's just a really cool like full circle story oh, it's beautiful.
Speaker 6:It was I. I enjoyed the piece that I did, the part of it that I did get to watch. It's typical Jake Garcia storytelling, Well done, and those are the type of stories I love to find. They're hard to find but sometimes you know you get lucky. But it's also about just using your network. But it is ideal. I did not know that about all the different parallels to this Arizona State team, but either way, regardless it's going to be a fun matchup and I just find it amusing the geographic location of the game and where the two schools are. And then, of course, Jake's story of having the opportunity to cover both teams and still has good connections. And you left on good terms in all the places you've been, Jake. You're welcome back anytime. Maybe if something dramatic comes out of this, we got to hook up again.
Speaker 8:No doubt I appreciate it, sean. You know, maybe next year, I think, I'm going to be in Phoenix for a while.
Speaker 6:I hope so.
Speaker 8:To get me on, next year we're going to need another CFP matchup between these two teams.
Speaker 1:It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 8:Always enjoy talking ball with you.
Speaker 6:I love it. Hopefully we can get Stevie on. We're two days away from the last day of the year. I think Stevie Lee has made a strong case to be the dad of the year, or at least the volleyball dad of the year in America.
Speaker 8:I love it. He's got my vote. He's got my vote, no doubt.
Speaker 6:Jake safe on the roads and man really proud of you and man. Happy New Year, my friend.
Speaker 8:All right, thanks, john.
Speaker 6:Thanks, bud, proud of you and man. Happy new year, my friend. All right, thanks, john. Thanks, bud. Now that was kind of the shortened version. You can see the entire interview with jake and get some more insight on the sun devils, uh, by going to our facebook page or our YouTube page as well. Now, cam Scataboo has been a guy just like Boise State's Ashton Junte, who I've been impressed with since I saw them play. I really like Cam, as I mentioned in the interview, because he's vertically challenged and he's me against the world type attitude. So passing and catching I mean, excuse me, rushing and receptions over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns, and he's averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Speaker 2:All we got to do is gang tackle, like we've been doing right. It looks like he's pretty elusive. You get the first hit on him and you have to really wrap up and get your other teammates to get around him and actually wrap him up and get him to the ground. I don't see a problem with us doing that. We play gang defense anyway. It's a party at the ball. That's all we need to do. Bowl season.
Speaker 6:Well, the Aggies, I could not believe this, could not believe this at the ball, that's all we need to do Bowl season. Well, the Aggies, I could not believe this, could not believe this. At the Vegas Bowl, that was their game to win. Alva, looking left, throws a slant Caught.
Speaker 2:Touchdown Kyle Ford.
Speaker 6:Could not believe Lincoln Riley and USC beat A&M. I thought A&M was, far and above, more talented and a better team. I don't know what happened.
Speaker 2:A&M being A&M man.
Speaker 6:Wow, you said it, I didn't. Hey, we'll do a quick wraparound here. What is OU lost to Navy in the bowl game in Fort Worth? They finished second time. In Venable's three years they finished sixth and seventh. Okay, and their DC, who allegedly committed to stay, is now the DC at West Virginia.
Speaker 2:He said, man, forget this SEC stuff, I'm going back to the Big 12. That's what he said, man. I think I told you earlier, man, that OU is time for them to clean house. But everyone looked at me crazy like no, it's not giving them another year, no, it's time to go. Man, they're in the SEC now. They need to play SEC football and losing to Navy. That's embarrassing, it's really embarrassing, and I'm embarrassed because we went to the SEC with them, so we kind of have some kinder ship right there and they're not holding up their end of the bargain right now. So that's, ou has to do better, be better and figure out their coaching style, because it's something that's got to change.
Speaker 6:Well, I know it's a proud program in modern history. They have a much better record than Texas and won more championships if we want to start since 2000.
Speaker 6:It's hard to watch that because of and I was there, I know how they operate, I know and this is not an excuse Brent Venable's wife had another reoccurrence of breast cancer. It came back, and so I don't I'm not saying that's an excuse, but I know he's got a lot to juggle and I know how. I know how good of a husband and a father he is. But you hate to see it. I don't know what the situation is. I don't know why it is the way it is, but you're right, they've got to figure this out. They did have a good recruiting class that just signed, but they've got to work the portal.
Speaker 6:OU has to work the portal, especially on the lines, and one of their top linebackers on one of the best defenses in the country entered the portal today, so you're seeing a lot. They had 25 guys in the portal that didn't play in that bowl game. Real quick so far in the bowl games. According to conferences, the ACC nine losses in bowl games already.
Speaker 2:Are we still calling on one of the power fours?
Speaker 6:Well, it may be on its last thread. Hey, take a quick break and when we come back we're going to wrap things up, of course, like we always do, but Stevie's got us a little ATX pro tip. I'm curious because sometimes, you know, I like to say I'm a foodie or a place I know where to tell you to go usually, but Stevie enlightens us. More often than not, We'll hear from Stevie and give us a little tip and we'll see you on the other side of this break.
Speaker 1:Today's going to be an exciting day at the Hargrove office as we bring in a local celebrity. Welcome the kicking phenom Bert Auburn. Conference champion of the Texas Longhorn football team, all-conference kicker. He's going to be our new spokesman. Bert's the best kicker in the conference. He plays for the Texas Longhorns, as you can see, you know Bert's f***ing awesome. Hey, stevie Boo, you're really replacing me with a kicker. No, not at all man. Hey guys, who wants a picture with Stevie? Anyone? Stevie almost won a Big 12 championship. Hargrove Roofing Know who's on your roof.
Speaker 6:The Bully is a cozy Austin original bar and grill that feels like home. Boulevard Bar and Grill, nestled into this Northwest Hills strip mall, recently celebrated two decades. The drink prices are like going back to 2004. It's where familiar faces gather and everyone knows your name. The Bully family are also friends of the stories inside the man Cave podcast. Boulevard Bar and Grill on Far West Boulevard in Northwest Austin. Now, the beauty of Stevie Lee and his much better half summer. They, regardless of being busy parents and just busy work lives, they find time to have fun and go and experience things. And that was the genesis when I thought of he and I thought of this give us an ATX that stands for Austin, texas pro tip for ideas of how to go out and have a great time. Stevie, what do you have for us?
Speaker 2:well, this week I got a mozart's 2024 lake austin festival of lights. Go down to lake austin on lake austin boulevard, all the way to the end where mozart's is, and just beautiful lights hanging out coffee or hot chocolate. It's starting to get a little cold around here now.
Speaker 6:Really cold soon.
Speaker 2:Yeah, really cold soon. But you know Christmas was in the upper 70s. But right now you can cozy up with your loved one, get an igloo, you can have a donut boat ride, but it's all lit up and pretty out there. Go and take your significant other and have a romantic Christmas date. A little bit after Christmas it ends on January 4th, but go out there and have fun, man, and just be in the stay in the festive season. Right now I like it. Yeah, we still got New Year's and get ready for the New Year fireworks and all that stuff. But go down to Mozart, man, it's pretty.
Speaker 6:It is. I've done it, done it twice, and you know you got to prepay, prepay. Don't go there and have to wait in line. I will say that, by the way, january 4th is the anniversary of the 2005 National Championship win. Yep, all right, tiktok in the man cave. Everybody loves dogs and dogs can get a little frisky, a little hyper, like myself, and they cause things to happen. And this is a little montage of dogs getting a little overexcited and creating some accidents.
Speaker 1:Making a little.
Speaker 6:Wow, wow, he broke the TV. Hey, what's the damn dog doing on the table?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know, but I'm about ready to get rid of my dogs now. I don't want any disasters in my house. That was terrible man, and most of the time the owners were just minding their own business.
Speaker 6:One dog wanted that couple to get out their laptops and play with them. Play with me, yeah, slapped those laptops shut, hey them. Play with me. Yeah, snap those laptops shut. Hey, Ben, tell me something good.
Speaker 6:Stevie Lee, you know how we do it. We love positivity. You're a positive guy, and you know what I still think, just because it's after Christmas, the holidays to me, they go on until January, the Monday after New Year's Day or next business day, so to speak. We're still in it. Tell me something good, my brother, something that people can hang their hat on for the next week or so.
Speaker 2:Something good right now, man, is let's close out this year. For some people, it was a tough year. For me, it was a pretty tough year. Let's close it out year. For some people, it was a tough year. For me, it was a pretty tough year. Let's close it out. We got some new things on the horizon me and my wife as a family. My oldest daughter is going to be going off to college in 2025 and graduating. I'm looking forward to that, man. Let's close out this year, the next couple of days and let's start the new year off. Right, man? Something good is we're going to start over. Hit the reset button, do a redo and let's start it out with a smile. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for 2025.
Speaker 6:I am too, and I'll say this. This is just an opinion of mine. This is something good. Let's stop with the resolutions and come up with reasonable goals that you know. Don't just that you're going to do q1 and stop. Come up with reasonable goals. Look, I want to. I want to become better in this area. I want to be a better partner. I I want to listen more. I want to understand more. I want to quit making excuses in my head. Find more reasons to say yes than to say no. Let's do it. Let's do it, man. It brings happiness. When you do that, it's not being a yes person, it's just saying yes to more experiences and or with a certain special person in your life, or your loved one or your significant other or whatnot. It's everything.
Speaker 6:It's Peach Bowl week and for those of us in Austin, texas, or those who follow the Longhorns, it's a big. Every game is getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. It's the Elite Eight. New Year's Day is going to be fun. All these bowl game days this weekend have been tremendous fun, a lot of fun watching this. So for the people of the great city of Shreveport, louisiana, this happens to be the hometown of the great Stevie Lee and the hometown of the Hargrove family. Louisiana just happens to be the hometown of the great Stevie Lee and the hometown of the Hargrove family, which is the owners of Hargrove Roofing. Much love to the Hargroves and the great city of Shreveport, louisiana, great place to throw your money away in a riverboat gambling. It's beautiful. And shout out to my college alma mater hometown, nacogdoches, axum Jacks, and to my beautiful hometown of the Austin, texas, and to the OG man Cave boys, that being Harbo Harge, big Mike and the Coach Mo. What do we tell them, stevie Lee?
Speaker 2:We out. You see the drip? Yeah, I'm fitted up. I'm in my car in the Giddy Up, I said get out.