Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Lets Talk About It with Texas State professor, Larry Carlson: From Fan to Icon: Larry Carlson's Journey Through Texas Sports
Get ready for an inspiring conversation that dives into the legacy and spirit of Texas athletics with Larry Carlson. We discuss his journey from media to mentorship, the power of community, and the ongoing story of Longhorn football.
• Introduction to Larry Carlson's journey in sports media
• The importance of mentorship in shaping young professionals
• Celebrating Texas Longhorn athletics and their rich history
• The mission of the Texas Longhorn Sports Network
• Reflections on the impact of CTE and athlete support systems
• Light-hearted stories from Larry's personal experiences
• Current discussions surrounding the Texas Longhorn football team
• Insights into the community and character-building through sports
Thank you for joining us and be sure to follow and support the Texas Longhorn Support Network!
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Speaker 2:I am Sean Klinch, the host of Stories Inside the man Cave. I want to welcome you, my new visitor here. Over the left eye, it's called a sty. Great way to start the year off on New Year's Day Beautiful. You should have seen the other guy, by the way. Much worse, much worse. Big happy 2025 to you.
Speaker 2:We're just getting started, but you know what? The college football season is still going and those longhorns are still in it, and I've got a guy for our special guest here we're about to induct and initiate into the stories inside the man cave podcast K podcast VIP alumni club. He is. He changes young people's minds for the better and he has a long story. Broke background as a fan of Texas athletics, was in the media and author. He does everything, larry Carlson. He does not like to be called a professor, but he is. But he's still a fine American, larry Carlson. Let's meet him and let's talk about it. And there is the man of the hour, the guy that should have been on this podcast probably four years ago, larry Carlson. Do not call him doctor or professor. Texas State professor of communication and mass media. What is the best title? I know Larry is probably the best route to go correct. That'd be it, and that's always preferable to. I mean, I know Larry is probably the best route to go correct.
Speaker 4:That would be it, and that's always preferable to hay, you know. So yeah, I think Larry will do it. Sean, or should I start calling you now? Sean Pig, stye Clinch.
Speaker 2:Yep, that is. Look how beautiful that is man that is attractive.
Speaker 4:Hey well, just don't get too close to this ugly, grill it looks like a makeup job almost.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like in Dracula maybe oh yeah, dr Frankenstein right here, you know, looks good. Yeah, no, dracula is a much better look. I see that. Okay, it does coincide Next Halloween. We're going to do this all over again, I promise.
Speaker 4:Hey well, I'd be remiss if I didn't say Happy New Years to you, sean Do you like that.
Speaker 2:That's real nice Clark. I like that. You know, playing off Quinn years Just to tease everybody. Well, larry just teased everybody.
Speaker 2:We are going to talk a lot about Longhorn football after we get to know who this guy is on the right, the hat and the happy new yours. That's a good segue to the second segment. And before we get going and we learn more about Larry and we'll dive deep into the Longhorns, follow us on all of our social media accounts Facebook, igx, you can still call it Twitter and YouTube and TikTok. That's a lot to remember, but just follow us, like us and subscribe for free on YouTube and you know much appreciation for the growth in 2024 because of you following and sharing all of our content. To give you an idea, I love these. So we're going to call this the Carlson collage, if you will. It's kind of his life. He's been to a lot of places, he's met a lot of people and he's a good friend to many. When you look at that, I wouldn't say it summarizes your life, but it just shows who you met, who you're friends with, where you've been. But I never have seen the 7-Eleven Big Gulp costume until January 3rd of 2025.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's a good one, Sean. Some of my students when I was first teaching at Southwest Texas. They made that I think about 87. And that's kind of my trademark. It's funny, I don't have a big gulp per se. I have the circle K version right here. I mean I'm it's kind of it's, it's attached. I drink about three a day and that's my breakfast and always bring one to class, so I don't know. Somebody came up with the idea of a Halloween costume that year and I wore it down to the Green Parrot on the Square in San Marcos. Got first prize.
Speaker 2:Did you get a trophy? Do you still have that trophy on your mantle?
Speaker 4:No, I think I got a bar tab and it was gone pretty quickly, so I had a lot of friends instantly, you know.
Speaker 2:Hey, the square in San Marcos is severely underrated. I will say that it's too bad that the city of Nacogdoches, where I went to college they got started just recently, the last five to 10 years started to develop the square for entertainment of college students, so to speak. So after you, you grew up a longhorn fan and became a member of the austin media. On the radio side we see the mic flag there. K-vet, who are you interviewing in that? Second from the left, top row.
Speaker 4:That is Randy McEachern.
Speaker 2:He's a great guy.
Speaker 4:Great guy. Randy was just terrific. My first year up there was 77, when Randy took over. After two quarterbacks, mark McBath and John Onney went down against OU. Randy was the hero the rest of the way of 77 and then the starter in 78. Just a great guy. And I'm sure you know randy and his in his lovely uh bride jenna and all her contributions long-horned history. And then that's randy, uh and me next to each other this summer when uh met up over at the Steve McMichael ceremony as Bam Bam Mongo was about to go into the NFL Hall of Fame. So good to see Randy again then.
Speaker 4:But yeah, there's a couple other pictures with Fred Akers and then my old tennis partner and best buddy, kirk Bowles. Good job. My old tennis partner and best buddy, kirk Bowles, good job. The only reason why I was wearing Harvard Sean was my girlfriend back that summer, the lovely Kelly Ryan, her brother, was playing baseball for Harvard. So I thought I collect T-shirts why not Harvard? So that's how I can always remember the year on that trophy, because otherwise there are too many trophies to count.
Speaker 2:Of course that's the rumor, but you've confirmed that. Right Wimbledon West is what they used to call it, but yeah, so I'm glad you this picture right here of Coconut Field that's in Alpine Texas, correct?
Speaker 4:Absolutely. You got to go watch the Alpine Cowboys every summer a couple of times and, uh, I think that one was from just this past year but been going out there for years and it helps that, uh, one of my baby nephews, chad, has a house just South of Alpine, so it's a great place to go. Uh, go relax four, five, six times a year, and so always fun. Sol.
Speaker 2:Ross State University man they have. I love the story of Coconut Field. That's an entire podcast in itself. It's one of the originally one of the better baseball stadiums in the country and especially in Texas when that was first constructed that facade. You would never expect that way out in deep west Texas in a small community.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's a great venue. It kind of reminds me, the old seating reminds me of the old Clark Field which was last seen in 1974 before demolition Derby. But you know it's got those old school you know bench seats and all that kind of stuff and you know it's just a cool place to watch a baseball game. And speaking of cool, sean, you know this, out in Alpine you're there watching summer baseball and you know night times it's going to be 75 degrees, you know, and get down cooler than that. So always a pleasant place to watch a game.
Speaker 2:That's crazy. I didn't know about the summer league. I did not know about that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, the Pecos League or whatever, I think yeah.
Speaker 2:Is it a wooden bat league? Is that what it is?
Speaker 4:Yeah, and you know it's got it's college players that are living with various families in Alpine, you know, because otherwise they've got bus rides all over New Mexico and Arizona and that kind of stuff. But it's pretty cool, very old school and, you know, family friendly, as they say, and all that stuff. I mean the hot dogs are still cheap, so are the Cokes and the beers, and tickets are like six bucks I think. So it's a good time.
Speaker 2:It is a great time West Texas sky. And then what is it?
Speaker 4:the Guadalupe Mountains, Something like that, yeah indeed, and the Davis Mountains right there too. I forget.
Speaker 2:I need to have my geography degree revoked for not remembering that. I need to have my geography degree revoked for not remembering that. So we'll continue to work our way through Larry's story, but you know a big chunk of his life southwest Texas, now Texas State, changing young people's lives and minds you know, and you know it's. When did you realize that? You know what? That's where I want to go into mass communications and become an instructor, so to speak. And how many? What year is this for you now?
Speaker 4:This is actually. I started 40 falls ago 1984, but I got into it totally by accident, sean long story short, really. By accident, sean Long story short, really. I mean I'd worked in broadcasting at KVAC case and KCSW. I got in a car accident, got hit by a drunk driver coming back from a story and got a paralyzed vocal cord, which is not good for broadcasting, which explains his scratchy voice. But I couldn't talk for about nine months and I was laid up with a broken leg, jaw, face, nose, all that stuff and you know. Anyway, luckily had the company insurance and they sent me to the best place in the world which was Cleveland Clinic and I got back a voice because I had nothing but a bear whisper for like nine months. Oh my God.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I was out for a couple of years and then I came back and got started as a the first sports information director at UTSA and did that, and then I jumped into a, getting a chance to publish a magazine with a partner then and then my, my buddy, kirk Bowles, who I already mentioned, was teaching along with these, you know, writing duties at the Statesman. Back then he was teaching one class a semester, maybe two, at SWT and they had a broadcast opening and Kirk suggested me so they call me and I was an alumnus and it worked out, and then the next year they had a full time opening and you know, there it's been All those wealth and riches. You know how rich teachers are. Great benefits though. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. I mean it just still is. So that's what's cool. And all along I ended up getting back on the air a few years and a couple operations later, but yeah, what a blast, can't complain operations later.
Speaker 2:But uh, yeah, what a blast. Can't complain, that's for sure. I love that and just living a good life. Uh, you know, you live in san antonio and it's that's the stretch of i-35. It's a great place in america, uh, between austin and san antonio. But you know, you heard about it. He does a lot of things and being a writer and a producer the producer part is what I learned through a conversation with you. I had no idea this entire time I mean, it was talk about that role that you were able to play and how that opportunity came about.
Speaker 4:Well, if you're talking about producing various things, I don't know.
Speaker 4:I mean I worked Canadian Football League as a radio producer for the only year that they had American experiments San Antonio team, birmingham team, shreveport team, baltimore team back before the Ravens and got to do all that.
Speaker 4:But that was a blast A lot of good travel, a lot of good stories and a lot of good football. But yeah, beyond that, um, I mean it's I've been writing all along and trying to keep my hand in mostly longhorn sports and, uh, you know, did some play-by-play for bobcat football color and and that kind of thing all these years and then, beyond that, teaching, and so I've gotten to live a lot of you know good times through my former students, that one of them, mike Kikarillo, we've been the best of friends for, you know, about 40 years and he's the head of broadcasting for the Spurs and has been. He was the youngest in the NBA when he became that, when he was 24 maybe. So that has been a few years for Kick. Now he's 57, so do the math, and he's been there longer than anybody besides Popovich. So it's fun to see guys like that succeed and fun to still get free tickets out of them too.
Speaker 2:Hey, make sure you keep friends with those types who have connections to tickets. Absolutely, I know quite a bit myself, but nowhere near your expertise.
Speaker 4:That has to do with age, sean, oh, I forget, I forget, I forget you're older. Or is it called experience?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah get your older, or is it called experience? Yeah, yeah, what? When did that? I don't want to call it love affair, but that passion for ut athletics.
Speaker 4:When did that all start for you? Well, uh, my dad was a ut grad and so you know, it was one of the first things. I was the only son had two older sisters and, uh, you know, learn the, hook them horns and eyes of texas real quick. And, um, you know, learn the, hook them horns and eyes of Texas real quick. And you know, daryl Royal was, you know, in kind of his third or fourth year when daddy started taking us the whole family to three home games a year in Memorial Stadium back then, and that started in 1960. So I was indoctrinated and you know, he and I painted my bedroom burnt orange.
Speaker 4:Later, when I was in high school, and you know, just that kind of stuff, a super fan and all that, and I don't know. A lot of people end up not going to their so-called dream school. I didn't, because I had a chance to maybe play tennis at Southwest Texas, so I went there, which turned out great for me. But you know, people still ask me so, what year did you graduate from UT? And it's like, well, I didn't go there, you know, but I was always a fan, so it was my dream job when I'd just been out of school about a year when I got on at KVET and was sports director and all of a sudden hosting the Longhorn locker room show after every game.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so it was just a blast. And then, you know, all the way through being able to do various radio shows and things like that, sean, so it's, it's just been fun. And then working these past four years for Billy Dale with the history of Longhorn sports, tlsn, you know it's just I mean so much fun to meet up with the guys that I watched play and then a lot of the guys I've remet that I used to interview, and so it's cool to reconnect with those guys. And just, you know the history never stops, obviously. Connect with those guys and just you know the history never stops, obviously. So it's going to be fun writing about this current season that Longhorns are, you know, wailing and dealing, you know.
Speaker 2:So we'll see what happens so our audience who may be watching right now, who are longtime followers of Billy Dale's Texas Legacy Sports Network. I have had the opportunity to join forces with Larry Billy and to tell these great stories of these Longhorns of the past and present and those who are no longer with us. The past and present and those who are no longer with us Now. The mission for the Texas Legacy Support Network. How do you best summarize that? Because I mean, I know you have some journalistic integrity, but if someone asked you what is the mission for?
Speaker 4:TLSN. I think that Billy would say it's you know, to spread the word about. You know, all those who played for might somehow kind of find themselves in a tough spot, fall through the cracks of the security nets in life maybe an older age or whatever and need some financial help. And Billy's been able to do that through his know TLSN. It's a non-profit and you know, I think Billy dreams of every school ought to be affiliated with something like that. They, you know TLSN doesn't receive anything, it's not connected to the University of Texas, but it's the only foundation of its sort across the country, and that just shouldn't be that way. There's got to be something for these people who gave everything in the way of the sweat equity to be able to be lent a helping hand if they need it. And so, I don't know, that was probably a little wordy, but no, no, that's the crux of it.
Speaker 2:I would say, sean, there's a host of former Longhorn athletes who either have family members who are stricken with some awful disease or you know, human nature is, we encounter financial issues. It happens, and this organization is there, as you mentioned, to lift people up who are part of UT athletic history, who gave their life not their lives but dedicated their lives to becoming a Longhorn or as a Longhorn athlete. And you're right, there's not many organizations like this and you're right, there's not many organizations like this, if maybe just a handful, if maybe this may be the only one. But what Billy's doing and what we're trying to do is to tell these stories, like about Larry and other Longhorns, or Longhorns period, of what this is about, to gain more spotlight on this, and I think it's tremendous. Of course, your description was much better than mine. We'll say that.
Speaker 4:Don't know about that. But yeah, it's just such a worthy cause and I'm just hoping for more and more awareness and exposure in the future and you're going to help us do that, sean. So tip of the hat for you and Billy to connect on this, and I just think that it's something that's going to grow and grow and needs to, and you hate the fact that people do need help but, as you mentioned, cte is going to just continue to be one of those forces that causes people to need some assistance, especially if they don't have family members later in life and they need, you know again some help. So we've all known I'm sure you know, sean, as long as you are in the business and still are. I mean, it's just sad to see so many former players, especially in football, that are stricken with.
Speaker 4:You know CTE and and I've I've had a friend that that died from the complications of it and he played for the Longhorns, greg Dahlberg who played. He was one of the all-time heroes at my old high school, robert E Lee in San Antonio, and then he was on Daryl royals last three cotton bowl teams and greg was a very successful dentist and instructor at the ut dental school here in san antonio for many years. But the cte, uh, you know, caught up to him and got him and, um, he's just one of many, greg pletz and, uh, I'm friends with his brother, jim, who went to Robert E Lee and played football, and Greg, of course, was at Sherman High. He was older than Jim but you know he was the defensive player of the year in 71, and he was an accomplished artist and taught art for many years. And then, you know it just life's come unglued and and really saps families and it's, you know, it's tough so to be able to have something that's there to help people that are connected to those problems.
Speaker 2:It's, it's very, very valuable before we take a break, what we do for our guests. We all I love these and they never get old the man cave stories, and it's usually something that happened either recently, years ago. That may be as amusing now as it was when it happened. Do you have one?
Speaker 4:of those that you could, even you feel like you can share with the masses. Well, I thought of this one, sean, when you mentioned it. It was like many years ago when I was at KVET. It's been a minute or so, but we found out that the world's number one female tennis player was coming to Austin to play some matches for a team tennis experiment, kind of in the little bit of the offseason.
Speaker 4:Chrissy Everett oh, yes, yes, I thought, wow, chrissy Everett is fine, I mean, and so that's all I can think of is an old tennis player. And you know, I was 24 and stupid and I told a few friends, you know, when she comes to town, I'm going to ask her out. And they went, you what? And I went. I mean, she broke up with Jimmy Connors and she just broke up with Burt Reynolds, so why don't I give her a shot? And you know, maybe she'll give me one. So I said I'm going to do it. And they didn't believe me and I was like you know, I mean worse, you could say is no. So when it got close to time, you know, all these people were egging me on a bunch of friends and you know, fellow sportscasters, do it, do it. You know, I'll buy you a tank of gas, which was huge back in the Jimmy Carter days, bless his soul but anyway I'll buy you a steak. You know I'll buy you a bowl of chili, whatever. And it's like I'll do it, I'm going to do it.
Speaker 4:Well then, the last day, before Chrissy was going to be in town, somebody said no, we have to have proof. I go what I mean, you can't take my word for that. I'll tell you what happened when I talked to her and they go no, you got to do it at the news conference. And I went what? So that day, oh my God, yeah, out at the old Hilton hotel and, um, so she took some questions and I asked a legit question about something. And then I was shaking like a leaf on a tree.
Speaker 4:And next time I got called on, I said well, since you're in town for a couple of nights, and um, you know, if you're not doing anything tonight, would you like to go out to dinner? You know, if you're not doing anything tonight, would you like to go out to dinner? And there was just this dead silence. And I think the only noise in the room was my heart beating. And yeah, exactly, it's amplified and crickets, crickets, of course, crickets, and everybody's stunned and she kind of smiled and she goes, I'll talk to you afterwards. So then I just kind of was like thank you, god and you know. And then finally somebody resumed the questioning. But I talked to her afterwards and she was very gracious and said well, I've got really obligations that I have to do here in town and everything. But thank you, and blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 4:But you know I did collect the bets and k-vet stupidly played the tape. They used djs to play the tape of me asking her out and uh. But you know, it's funny, for a year or two, sean, I'd run into people that were photogs at kvu or kdbc or whatever. You know I'd be at some longhorn event. Somebody come up, go, man, that took some brass, you know, know. And I'd be like, okay, you know. But of course nobody was reminding me that no, she didn't accept the invitation. But she did stare me down at the news conference the next night and she kind of, you know, shared something with the player next to her and I was cocky and stupid enough to then think maybe she'll let me know what hotel she's staying in. But it just didn't happen. Such are the things of 24-year-olds.
Speaker 2:Of course there's always an opportunity. It's a baseball analogy. You can't hit it if you don't take a swim Wait wait wait I like it.
Speaker 4:That's not I like it. That turned out pretty well. Let's put it this way. I didn't just keep the bat on my shoulder and take it looking, so I swung and I missed, but at least I swung.
Speaker 2:You took a hack.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you took a hack, yeah, and coming up. We're going to take a quick break, but in segment two we're going to heat it up. Man, we're going to speed this up. It's going to get exciting.
Speaker 2:I can't wait to see or hear what Larry, the devoted Longhorn fan. He loves Texas State too, but he has Longhorn athletics deeply rooted. He writes about them and we've got some things to say. But these longhorns, they are in the final four of college football again and they took a hard path to get there. And what an exciting, crazy, crazy, weird, uh, cfp quarterfinal game. But we're also going to get to hear from tavondre sweat in the locker room at Tennessee, letting everybody know what his alma mater is, and that's coming up.
Speaker 2:On the other side of this break, the Saxton name resonates in Austin, jim's late father. James Saxton is a Longhorn legend, a Heisman finalist while playing for Daryl K Royal, and Jimmy is a UT football legacy from Westlake. He has been insuring Austin for decades. He and his staff will give you old school hospitality when servicing your insurance needs. 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 soft, and this space in the back is open to host any event, personal or business related.
Speaker 4: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 want to bring.
Speaker 2:Give Daniel Young a call at Dirty to reserve this space for any event that you can think of.
Speaker 3:Why do everybody hate Texas? Please, y'all tell me that Everybody, everybody in this locker room, everybody in the locker room, everybody in the world, texas is on top, and I'm just saying, like everybody hate us. You know what I mean. Almost blew it who we won, right we?
Speaker 1:won. Alright, then we won FIGHT, fight, fight OU OU.
Speaker 3:Five.
Speaker 1:Five oh you, oh you, oh you, oh you, oh you, oh you.
Speaker 4:Forever a fan favorite of Andre Sweat man, the biggin' Boy I mean. And you know what's amazing is I've got to drop a name of a best buddy Eating lunch with Kirk Bowles yesterday up in Austin, went up to meet him right off the plane and so we went to Matt's and we were saying you don't have to sweat, and Murphy graduated last year. It was like who would have thought that that inside run-stuffing game was going to come back strong and it's like amazing, amazing, it's.
Speaker 2:Bill Norton from Arizona, and you know, you look at all of them. It's just they were waiting their turn to develop. They saw the opportunity. They saw what Pete Kwiatkowski, the DC, what he could do. And Johnny Nance, the position coach, I think the addition of him, I think he's linebacker's coach though, but I think I don't know why I'm drawing blanks. But to your point, to plug in to two high round, I mean highly picked, highly sought after nfl draft picks and with murphy and tovandre. And tovandre, letting everyone know he's very proud of his longhorns always has been gotten to the debate because he's in nashville and playing for the titans in sec country. Let them all know texas is coming in the sec and that they are the real ut uh and not the university of tennessee, although universe tennessee's been around longer.
Speaker 4:I will say yeah they've got a few bragging things, but not much since Peyton and T Martin. So you know we'll leave it at that We'll leave it at that.
Speaker 2:You know, if we're just talking football, you're right this past weekend or this past week, because the holiday brain is lost on the calendar here. I have to admit, larry, I completely didn't disrespect Arizona State. I didn't expect this. I think Arizona State is the grittiest, has the biggest heart and really no fear, and it's a great combination and a fearless coach.
Speaker 4:Clearly the players love dillingham. You know, I think guys like dillingham are going to be the future sean, because I think that this uh, it's just gonna the game today with the portal and nil is gonna chew up and spit out coaches. I don't know how long they're going to be able to last. So you're going to have more and more guys like Dillingham, who's you know what is he 34? I think that's the way it's going to be. You're going to have to get young guys who have not been beaten down and worn down by years of coaching already and the players identify with them.
Speaker 4:And I think you know Arizona State's a program to watch now and you know what he did there the past couple of years and turning that around, amazing, of course, you know, I mean a generational player with Scadaboo. But that quarterback, leavitt, he's going to be back and that guy was, I mean, absolutely slithery. It kind of frustrated me, reminded me of the way Baker Mayfield used to go. He's going to be back and that guy was, I mean, absolutely slithery. It kind of frustrated me, reminded me of the way Baker Mayfield used to go from the pass rush and yeah, I mean Texas never got him it, just he was all over the field like a snake and yeah, I don't know but Arizona State. They were mighty impressive.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Well, texas went up 24-8, and again they were in a game in which they had a nice lead going into the fourth quarter 24-8. And then things just magically happened and I don't think it was magic, I just think Arizona State created opportunities. Scataboo, scataboo, yeah, 284 combined yards passing, rushing and receiving. He did it all and threw up and still came back in. That's a guy, he's a throwback.
Speaker 4:Yeah he is. Hey, when we're doing all-time pukes, I mean we got to salute Riley Dodge, of course he's right there, but Scataboo, I mean we got to salute Riley Dodge, of course he's right there, but Scataboo, I mean that was pretty good stuff. So yeah, I mean epic, I mean Texas handled him early on and then he just got stronger and stronger. And I still don't know what happened when he went out and ran deep and was able to manage that. And I still don't know what happened when he went out and ran deep and was able to manage that. And I still don't know what happened when he threw that little flea flicker halfback pass. But hey, bottom line scoreboard, scoreboard, yeah, that's all you can say.
Speaker 2:So, and the next few topics we're going to talk about is simply because the general fan, or fans in general, let's rephrase that they're going to talk about is simply because the general fan or fans in general, let's let's rephrase that they're going to talk about this kind of thing. I mean, I, I want to. So I want to start this by saying much respect to cam scataboo hey, my type of player. Much respect to you, sir. You're one of the best I've ever seen play this level of college football. No doubt I love the throwback. He kind of had some striking resemblance and this is old Franco Harris. That's what he looked like to me.
Speaker 2:Burt Auburn I don't get it. People were criticizing Sark. Mack did it to Justin Tucker in 2011. Before the field goal, before the eventual series, temporary ending field goal, sark went over to them smiling, laughing to Burt, trying to calm him down, get his mind off of that, and it backfired. And then they're criticizing Sark and I know Burt. He missed two field goals. I think he's missed nine for the year. He's a good kicker. What do you think this is? Is it something in his personal life? You think it's just the yips? What are we talking about?
Speaker 4:here I'd say the yips. You know, and I was talking to an old buddy, old Robert E Lee buddy, matt Langland. I ate lunch and Matt's a big golfer and he said it's just like golf Once that gets in your head like okay, you know, last time I kind of sliced it, then the next time you're able to hook it. It seems like that's what's happening. You know, we've seen the great Justin Tucker, who's been called the best field goal kicker in NFL history, have his own problems this year and who knows what evil and what doubts lurk in the hearts of men. And I don't know. It just seems like Auburn. Everybody's saying it's too easy, sean, but I'm wondering why that Sark doesn't give a shot to Will Stone.
Speaker 4:I mean they fished out that scholarship. Surely they didn't think this is for just, you know, hitting four or five kicks to put them into the end zone every week. I'm just a little surprised that because otherwise, coming against Ohio State, it makes you wonder if it's like well, every time we cross the 50, is it four downdown territory now? Because we can't trust Auburn, so I don't know and he's coming back next year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's got another year of eligibility but we'll see. I like him but it's just really odd some of his misses this year and I know 99% of America can't do what he does. But the other one, michael Taff, I'm going to say full speed, that looked like targeting, but when they slowed it down, no, he didn't launch, it was his head. As you're coached base square, neck back. There's no launching. It was good, clean and it was, and the head was not down. No crown of his helmet, agree or disagree on that.
Speaker 4:Agree, I mean, and not just as like okay, I've got my Texas bias, but I think there's what the Shakespearean much ado about nothing on this. Espn's been making too much of a teammate on it and I don't think it was targeting and you know it turned out as it was. I mean, auburn missed a field goal after Texas got the ball back. Arizona State certainly had its chances. It was fourth and 13 for the Longhorns to stay in the game. So I don't know why it's being discussed so much.
Speaker 4:But one thing, sean, is maybe this leads to more discussions about what the potential you know the call is and what the punishment is, because I think it's been a little too punitive on judgment calls, been a little too punitive on judgment calls If it's straight out malicious and if somebody sees that, like you said, from a launch and all those kind of things and totally defenseless and the guy ends up looking like a crash dummy, that's different. I think that losing one half of eligibility for a call like that, I think that these officials correctly decided we're not going to make this call. You know, at this point in time it's too close to absolutely make a judgment call.
Speaker 2:It's too close If it was more blatant. Obvious neck whiplash. Yes, the whiplash occurred on Bond. Yeah, now, that should have been targeting.
Speaker 4:Now you're talking. I mean, that was a bad no-call.
Speaker 2:I thought I'm being objective here, I really am. That was a bad no-call. I don't know, I'm going to play. We're going to switch up to why the criticism of Quinn Ewers? But I want to play just a few, three big highlights of this guy, because we know what he's capable of.
Speaker 1:Ewers. He's pressured looking to extend the play, directing traffic. Now he's going to run it himself and Quinn Ewers goes in for the rushing touchdown. Quinn Ewers trying to audible To stay alive. Can they hook him? Touchdown, Matthew Golden, Second overtime and Gunnar Helm opens it up. That way, Texas' first play. Opens it up.
Speaker 2:That way, Texas' first play the touchdown. We almost missed those of us at home because they returned to the action end. They were in mid-play, exactly so this could go in different directions. Larry, I looked at the stats just to make sure I was right. Before the season Quinn was on the top ten or on the cusp of everything statistical category of quarterbacks in UT football history. Right now he's three to five Passing touchdowns, single season, single game. He's in that three to five category. Why the criticism of this guy?
Speaker 4:I think it's part of this's part of it's part of this, sean, that we've always heard, and a lot of coaches have said it quarterbacks get too much credit in wins and they get way too much criticism and losses. Well, quinn's gotten criticism even when they're winning. So that's strange right there. But I think there's too much air time to fill these days on talk radio and on ESPN. I think that's part of it. The other part is just social media.
Speaker 4:I kind of hate to use this term haters but there are a lot of morons out there who, you know, don't know anything about what they're talking about, but they're easy, you know, to quickly dish the dirt on somebody and they expect pure perfection. And I just don't get it. I think Quinn Ewers yeah, I think he's had trouble throwing the long ball. But then again, you know, maybe I don't know, maybe Marilyn Monroe had dirty toenails, I don't know. It's like, wow, I don't know why I thought of Marilyn Monroe Even I was too little for that. So I'm just saying, you know, let's say Jennifer Lawrence, ok there you go there, you go.
Speaker 4:Jennifer Lawrence, or maybe who else could we throw out there? Sydney, yeah, yeah, sydney Sweeney. So yeah, maybe, maybe you don't like her fingernails, I don't know. But bottom line, quinn you're is a damn good quarterback and I think he is on the Mount Rushmore right now along with Colt and Vince and James Street. I really do, and I mean, how many big wins does it take? But there's a lot of criticism about him and it's just magnified more in the times in which we live and the playoff exposure and those kinds of things. Everything's under the microscope.
Speaker 2:That and the portal, the lack of emotions that people perceive that he should have, and you know this was right after they they beat Arizona state and Quinn talking about the composure and the ability to just not get rattled, I think just first off.
Speaker 3:that's just a testament to how mature this team is and just taking advantage of every single opportunity that we have, whether it be fourth and 15 or first and 10, whatever the situation is just taking full advantage of the opportunity that's thrown our way. And I'm just so proud of the way that the entire team stayed poised and composed through the entire game, especially through overtime, and you know it definitely feels a lot better to be on this end of the win and overtime at the same spot, for sure.
Speaker 2:So he knows how to talk, he knows what not to say, he knows there's some things he wants to say but he's not. And he's a faith-based guy. But from what I gather, the players love him. The players love Manning too. If Arch Manning is not the backup, would there be this much pressure or criticism of Quinn?
Speaker 4:No, and you know there's a precedent, Sean, and you know it and I know it, and it was Chris Sims. Chris Sims took a lot of heat because people wanted Major Applewhite. But what I think is different is Major was a proven commodity. I mean he was coming off, you know, player of the year, offensive player of the year, and then Mack replaced him and then he bailed Chris out of a couple games and then started most of the rest of them but then, for his senior year, sat until ultimately, you know the just complete implosion that Sims had in that conference championship against Colorado. Major had the heroic holiday bowl.
Speaker 3:What a good sideline.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah and you know. But again I would just say, you know I picked on Chris Sims as far as griping him back, but it was because he didn't show up well in big games. He had a lot of failures against OU and against Colorado and in another bowl game. But I just don't understand why everyone is so ticked at Quinn Ewers, except that I think many people think, well, we meaning the Longhorns could be even better with Arch Manning in there, and then maybe they'll be proven right. But every team is going to be different. There's going to be different players next year, so we'll see.
Speaker 4:But the Longhorns obviously are blessed to have Arch right there and I've been surprised that he hadn't gotten more snaps and a little more, you know, kind of red zone looks, where it's not obvious that he's going to run but where it's a little more RPO. But Quinn Ewers is, I mean, that guy is, you know, ice cool. I already used a couple of ancient Hollywood references but I was thinking, you know, when I was a kid, sean, everybody talked about how Steve McQueen, his character, he was the epitome of cool and to me that's kind of like Quinn Uris. He's unblinking. I mean he's an assassin back there and he can carve you up when the offensive line gives him time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's no doubt. And then you know a big part of, I mean, since he's been the quarterback, they're 33-9, okay, and approximately seven games. It didn't play. Think about that. Remove those seven games and he still produced those numbers that we talked about earlier. So, and I get it, he's injury prone, I get it, but he still produced. There were some games that it's just being the quarterback of Texas. So I get it, I completely understand.
Speaker 1:I get it.
Speaker 2:Always got to overhype things. You know you got a little locker room music make it sound more important. I like it. I'm glad you do. You're the one fan. Back to the CFP. But it's expanded CFP Final Four that is expanded to 12 for the first year. I liked it. I think it. I think it's funny that four teams who got first-round buys winless 0-4. Would you agree that that's the one chance. Keep it the way it is or go to 16, but if you keep it the way it is, just because you won your conference does not afford you the opportunity to be a buy from the first round. It should be the four best teams in America according to the CFP poll who get the buy right.
Speaker 4:I think that's what's going to happen. I think that will happen, sean. I mean, you know, we always say that in government. I mean we can't even get daylight saving time.
Speaker 2:Arizona, you can't.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that is true. So maybe Cam Scatterboo had something to do with it.
Speaker 4:I don't know, but yeah, I think that's going to get done where the top four are going to get the buys and whether or not that's advantageous. But you would think, as long as the season is now, it's just like people in the NFL live for those buy weeks to get well. Now I think it showed with Texas a couple times when you get two byes. Now I think that will change. But it is remarkable to think that the top four seeds were ousted early and showed some rust.
Speaker 2:They did and hey, no disrespect to Arizona State or Boise, but they did not deserve a first-round buy.
Speaker 3:No.
Speaker 2:And nor did Texas, if you want to be honest. Well, they were on the fringe. Four or five, that's where they'd be, maybe, but you could argue they should be a four, there's no doubt. But the four, no. I just in oregon, my goodness. So that leads me to this texas, ohio state, in that semi-final game against in the cotton bowl, which is not at the Bowl. Some people are just now realizing that it hasn't been at the Cotton Bowl. The Cotton Bowl has not been at the Cotton Bowl since 2010, I believe. Yeah, jerry, people are going to be glad because I think you and I both know the Cotton Bowl Stadium when they hosted the Cotton Bowl it got pretty cold sometimes for those games I've frozen there before a couple times.
Speaker 2:Yeah, ohio State, your opinion on them all. I will say Ryan Day unjustly criticized in my opinion. He's won all of his games, most of them, except to Michigan the last four years. Okay, I still think Ohio State's top to bottom the most talented team in the country.
Speaker 4:I agree with you, Sean. I thought they were going to be. You know, once the playoffs got set, I thought they're going to be dangerous. Yes, they obviously had a very much of an off day. I mean, they just kind of mailed it in for somehow against Michigan, I don't know. But you know it's been said this week, I think Dan Lanning said it after Oregon's loss Sometimes you have a bad day and I remember Fred Akers telling us that in the media.
Speaker 4:I say us the old guys, yeah, and they lost to Notre Dame. You know, when Earl was a senior and had won the Heisman and it just was a big meltdown and he said you ever had an off day? We had an off day and I think that happened to Michigan, it happened to Oregon the other day and I don't know. But I think ohio state is loaded. I do think they should be maybe a bigger favorite than they are right now against texas. But I think texas is going to relish this role of finally being an underdog and seeing what they could do. And you know, Ohio State's played so closely to perfection that maybe they're due a few blips and we'll see. But anybody can have a bad day. Anybody can have a superlative day at this point, but it's not baseball or basketball where it's best of seven, so you got to show up with the best you got that day.
Speaker 2:One game, one opportunity. The thing, that thing. That's okay. I'll say this the thing that encourages me about texas is they usually start off fast, they have lulls, but they are built from an experience point of view of where they played over the last two or three years, who they were up against and the ability to overcome that adversity and find a way to win. I mean, now you can look on the other side of the coin, you can look at that and say that's not going to work against a team like Ohio State. I like what you said. I think being the underdog is great for Texas. I think it is. I think it's underdog is great for Texas. I think it is. I think it's a great role On the other side. These are four true bluebloods, four true old-school bluebloods. Notre Dame is nasty, in my opinion, in a good way.
Speaker 4:They are, and it pains me to acknowledge that, Sean, because, man, I hate Notre Dame. I was raised that way by daddy. You know you don't want to ever pull for those guys, so they were kind of like. You know, my second favorite team is whoever's playing Notre Dame. Yeah yeah, back since I grew up. But I've talked to a lot of Longhorn players who said they were the dirtiest team they ever played. You know, any time that Notre Dame played Texas, you know you talk to Longhorns they're like boy, those guys were dirty.
Speaker 4:So, I mean, that's just, you know, one footnote. But boy, they're good, they are good. But the funny thing is, though, sean, you know, that stat yesterday was amazing that Riley Leonard's MVP, and he threw for 90 yards, ran for 80. He was clutch, but that just wasn't the Georgia team we're used to, you know. It just wasn't. So it could have been different with Carson Beck. It could have been different if they hadn't gotten greedy at the end of the first half.
Speaker 2:So many options, and don't you love the?
Speaker 4:media oh, sec is done. Hey, so is taylor swift, you know, it's just.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's over with yeah, sec, the, the rain is over. I think we got the four best teams in the country right now playing who have been able to and it's, you know, georgia. They're on their backup quarterback Gunnar Stockton, I think, is going to be a great quarterback. I really do.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I promise you he will not run up right up the middle again. Thanks to Andrew McCuba.
Speaker 4:Man, that was a pop, wasn't it? That might have been the stick of the year.
Speaker 2:I loved it. I loved every part of it. Hey Ben, tell me something good. Larry Carlson, we have these let's Talk About it series episodes. They're supposed to be real short, but I've enjoyed this and it has been the longest let's Talk About it in the history of let's Talk About it, but I've enjoyed this and it has been the longest let's Talk About it in the history of let's Talk About it, and I love it. I'm not going to edit one bit out of this. It's a great time. Everyone says new year, new me or new beginnings, new Year's resolutions, but to each their own. All I can say is just be great. Try to be great at everything, larry.
Speaker 4:Carlson, tell me something good. My brother, sean, I hope you don't mind. I'm going to use a little musical reference from one of my favorites of all time, zz Top, who I did see in that famous or infamous 1974 first annual, which turned out to be the last annual Barn Dance and Barbecue on Darryl Royal's field and a lot of hippies burned holes in the AstroTurf. But ZZ Top delivered just fine. But it's a great song. You might remember, sean, and I like to keep this close to my heart a lot of times and it's Jesus just left Chicago. And do you remember that one? You know, ok, you know well, you're, you're a pup, so anyway. But some people think it has a different meaning than this, but I like to take it as it is.
Speaker 4:There's this part at the end where he goes. You know it's talking about Jesus just left Chicago. He's back for New Orleans. End where he goes. You know it's talking about Jesus just left Chicago. He's bound for new Orleans. And then it says you might not see him in person, but he'll see you just the same. You don't have to worry, cause taking care of business is his name, and so I just think that you know, anytime you're down a little bit or not. You need to be lifted up. You could think about that. I like that, I know I do. I'll leave you on that one from the great ZZ Top.
Speaker 2:Who would have known we would be inspired, and it's a profound lyric from ZZ Top. That's deep but that is so true have faith always. Larry Carlson, I appreciate you taking time and I'm looking forward to partnering with you and Billy Dell on the Texas Longhorn Support Network. You guys watching, listening, follow and support this great foundation, organization and nonprofit which essentially helps humans in need.
Speaker 4:Sean, it's been such a pleasure to get to join you and come on down to the world's greatest city, also known as San Antonio, and I'll treat you to some real Mexican food.
Speaker 2:Man. The ongoing debate. Breakfast tacos are they better in Austin? Not a chance.
Speaker 4:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Hey, anytime you get an opportunity to talk with Larry Carson, who does not like to be called a professor, just call him Larry. And anytime we get to talk to him, longhorn football, college athletics. And anytime we get to talk to him, longhorn football, college athletics, even those Texas State Bobcats and the Texas Longhorn Support Network and Billy Dell, it's always good to talk about it. Thank you, outro, music, you, you.