This is The Drive with Josh Graham Podcast. We are killing it online. Tune into The Drive weekday afternoons, 3 to 7 on WSJ Yachts.
So glad to have you on a Thursday drive. It is WSJS, News Talk Sports for the Triad. During the Carolina Panthers bye week. We've got Offensive lineman Austin Corbett joining us. He's in the news today, named the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
They'll drop by at 5.30. But before we get. It's a football. We must hit on the hoops. Almost as disappointing as watching the ACC choke away a 6-3 advantage in the ACC-SEC challenge last night.
Went one and six. Losing by a final tally of nine to seven. Watching the way NC State has started the season. equally as rough. Underwill Wade the pack lost at Auburn.
And so far. The defense has been alarmingly bad. It's a team that looks like it's the one in need of a reckoning. The calling card for Will Wade's recent teams. Has been defense.
Last year at McNeese, out of 360, 370 D1 teams, his McNeese team ranked 14th nationally in opposing points. Per game. The year before that? thirteenth in the country. And you might be thinking, Well, Josh, that's just the Southland Conference.
His last year at LSU, 25th in the nation. None of those teams. gave up even sixty-five points per game. Through eight games this season. NC State allows more than 77 per game.
Which ranks Two hundred and twenty-seventh. Nationally. That's a problem. Especially Gevin The person now on this team. This isn't just Bluster.
It's not just. The media The college basketball world falling for A snake oil salesman, so to speak. A used car salesman being duped by the words of Will Wade and His bravado. It's not just blindly trusting his philosophy or his words. It's the players.
Trey Holloman. Came from Michigan State. Darium Williams from Texas Tech. Terence Arseneau from Houston. All three of these players advanced to the elite A or further, played key roles in helping do that.
And they came from programs, proven institutions known for playing defense.
So The hype was warranted. We were part of it. And then, yes, Will Wade makes you easy. It's easy to believe what he's selling. When he's as good at selling it as he is.
This is the reality. The honeymoon? For Will Wade at NC State is over. One and two in Maui last week, including a loss to Seton Hall. Will Wade.
Did say last night. He's actually encouraged following the loss to Auburn. Uh I I'll say this, I mean flow. We don't ever want to lose, but This was way more encouraging than Hawaii in my in my mind.
Now we gotta build from here, but This was this was Progress. We've made progress in the last week. It didn't show up on the scoreboard today, but if we can keep making progress Um, I think we'll like where we'll be. Progress. This is the part where.
If I'm in that. Postgame press conference room at Neville. What I'm immediately just wanting to yell out and follow up with. Where? Where do you see the progress?
We hear coaches say that after losses. Oh, we got better today. Where? Tell us. We'd love to know.
Well, it's It's hard to see, it's Something that you have to see us at practice. Oh, got it. It's intangible. Cool. That video courtesy of Pac Pride.
We'll wait. No one's going to feel sorry for him. He put himself in this position. He told us once upon a time To mark down what he says. Make sure you got that on camera.
Yeah, make sure we have it on camera. We intend to be in the NCAA tournament in year one, is what he said. A year after the PAC missed out on the ACC tournament, being bottom three in the league standing.
So he set the standard. He was this aggressive. He talked about a reckoning. He fired shots at his rivals. In the state.
It's NCAA tournament or bust for Will Wade. And the defense has been alarming to start the year. On X at Josh Graham Show and at WSJS Radio, it's where we're streaming video in addition to YouTube and Twitch. Will Dalton, he is the executive producer of this program. We've got best bets to do on today's show.
That's an about. 10 minutes. We'll hand out college football and NFL picks. We have J uh Austin Corbett, speaking of You know. JC Horn there.
We got Austin Corbett's going to drop by at 5.30. Remind the people what our Jerry Hudson percent are high school football game of the week that you're going to be working on tonight, is we'll be in Greensbury, Grimsley hosting Weddington for a trip. to the title game next week. Exciting stuff. You know, let's actually talk Carolina Panthers for a bit.
Now that Chuba Hubbard is out of witness protection. Seems to be healthy. Had the big day Sunday against the Rams. Fans are chanting his name. Seems as good a time as any.
to remind people Unless there is an injury, and we're knocking on wood. Trevor Hubbard is going to be the running back one for the Carolina Panthers in 2026. No matter what else happens. Even if Rico Dowdell Continues to put up better numbers for the remainder of this year. Chuba Hubbard, your running back won for 2026.
Because the Panthers have already invested in Chuba. They have not Enrico Dowdle. You already signed Chuba Hubbard to a four-year contract. This is year one of a four-year deal.
So this isn't like, oh, he has one more year remaining and you can't. Push things back or do some of the salary cap manipulation with Brant Tillis. This is a guy that we saw how he can play when he's healthy last. Sunday. We saw last year how he warranted the contract.
He's going to be on next year's team. And generally, when you talk about salary cap sports like the NFL, you don't pay two running backs. When you do, almost always, it's a mistake. Just ask Marty Herney when he decided to pay both legs of Double Trouble, D'Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. It was the beginning of the end for Marty Herney with the salary cap disaster of close to a dozen years ago that had to be cleaned up by Dave Gettelman to allow for them to make that Super Bowl run a few years later in 2015.
Another key piece of this is Carolina doesn't want to write off Jonathan Brooks yet. You remember Jonathan Brooks? He was the second-round pick in the 2024 draft, first running back off the board. Had a significant injury at the end of his Texas career that cost him pretty much all of his rookie season. Then he has another injury towards the end of last year that cost him pretty much all of this year.
And some might say, oh, just ride it off, can't expect him to be shot, whatever. That's not how Carolina's viewing it. Second round pick, that's a lot of investment when you have two more years left on his contract, and the guy's 22 years old.
So if you pay hypothetically, even though it doesn't make sense salary cap-wise to do so, both Chuba and Rico, how do you find carries for Jonathan Brooks? Where are those carries? What's the solution there? It's very difficult to do that. Plus Rico's ready to get paid.
The Cowboys should have paid him last offseason. They decided to let him walk in favor of former Tarheel Javante Williams coming in.
So he was Looking for an opportunity. He was looking for a place to spend one year to prove it and he. He decided he's from The state of North Carolina played at South Carolina. Let's go back to the Carolinas hashtag. Two states, one team.
Be a one-year mercenary, prove it deal, do really well, get paid somewhere else. A lot like Hassan Reddick did when he. Rejoin Matt Rule as college coach. bowled out, got a big contract. It was understood that Carolina wasn't gonna Pay him that, not when they had Brian Burns already.
on a big deal at that point. It's expected that this is just a one-year relationship given Jonathan Brooks is out and you already paid Chuba Hubbard. Carolina, you're best suited. Not saying you can't find another running back. Try to find another Rico Dowdle.
Who's not going to be wanting a multi-year deal? Find somebody next offseason you think can compliment Chuba Hubbard. And Jonathan Brooks, give someone for Jonathan Brooks to compete with. That's probably what is best. For the Panthers.
Can tell that Will Dalton takes issue with this as A Yankee fan. Oh, just pay everybody. Oh, keep everybody around.
So salary cap sport will can't do that in football. No, you you can't.
Now, I uh I would love it if you could retain Rico with how he play. I mean, because he currently is. Barring any changes, you're RB1 right now. I don't know if Canalis views it that way.
Well, I mean, I mean, like, it might be RB1. A one B. Maybe so. Whatever. But I mean with some of the numbers that he put up there in the middle weeks of the season.
If he keeps doing that, it's like. I mean, I get you paid Chuba already. I get you probably should see what you got in Jonathan Brooks because. They were very high on him until he got hurt. Fans were very high on him until he got hurt.
And he's cheap.
So. I mean, it's just a bummer. It's a bummer because I loved the move when they made it in the offseason. I thought it was a very underrated move that people weren't talking enough about. And now here we are.
And, you know. It just kinda is what it is. Yes, my Yankees brain wants to pay everybody. It's the Drive with Josh Graham, W S J S Noted Luke Combs fan. And Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Austin Corbett is now our guest.
We can maybe add another thing to your resume starting today. You are a Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination from the Carolina Panthers that prioritizes community impact. For players, more than even what they do on the field, it's become the most prestigious honor in the NFL. Austin, I remember Thomas Davis talking about the pride of winning that award and getting to wear that patch on his uniform for the remainder of his career. What community related efforts in our state are you most proud of to be involved in the last few years?
Yeah, that's uh like TV said, it's uh It's amazing. And whenever you just see guys that are still you know, actively playing and have that patch. It's awesome. And It's a goal, and that's everything we set out, and so you know, my. in my fourth season now here in the Carolina.
We we just love it here and any any chance we can Get out and get the help, we do. And over the four years, I've spent a lot of time at. you know, different military bases out here. I'm just getting out doing helping out, going to see different bases and doing some training stuff with guys and Um, then the biggest one that I've kind of you know taken to is a kid again as a foundation and. They got a Carolina chapter.
So I've done a lot with them. They're all about helping families with. children who have life-altering ailments, diseases, and um everything that they're about is you know just being a whole family-centered organization and So any chance that we get to get out Just be with families and support and I just helped them out and just You know, trying to help out just normal daily life things and giving them opportunities, just to whether it's going to carolins or, you know, like different little concerts and holiday festivities and all these sorts of events that they plan. That's been our biggest one that we've been a part of here in the Carolinas. It's not hard to connect the dots why you would have such a heart for kids when you're a dad of three.
But the military piece is interesting. We have Camp Lejeune, we got Fort Bragg in our state. Where does that interest or where did that heart come from for that? Yeah, for that, it kind of, you know, I've always just been super grateful for our military for. They're opportunities that they've given me in my life just to live in this country and have the freedoms that we do, and the ability to make the choices that we do and play this wonderful game.
You know, for me, being a walk-on in college, that was kind of my only option of, okay, well, either take this walk-on spot, we don't have any money. Um you know I had some you know, academic scholarships that I was able to use to get into school and It's kind of either I'm going to play football or I'm going to join the military. There there's kind of no other real option. And so Um You know, going that route of just, okay, well, now I'm here, had this opportunity, now to continue to play football.
So, any chance that I can just get back and show my support in the military for everything they do, the sacrifices, the you know it's so similar and we're Once you sign up, you really don't get much say in where you go, just like football. You're gonna go where it takes you, and you gotta. You got to plant, you know, plant your foundation, plant your roots, and grow from there. Just that ability connect, that brotherhood that's out there. you know, the willingness to put your life on the line and you know, just to give this country, I mean, it's an such a respectable thing that Can't be overlooked.
And so having the total platform to be able to show my appreciation and thanks. Do it on behalf of the league is uh Never miss a chance. Austin Corbett is with us here. We'll get to your seven and six football team that has a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 in just a little bit. But one more thing on your story: it is a fabulous story where you started as a walk-on, as you noted.
You're not at one of the power conference schools, you're at Nevada. But then, when you get into the league, when your teammates talk about you, Austin, when players, people like Text are prior to this interview telling me stories about Austin Corbett. Every single one of them mentioned your toughness and persistence. Prior to joining the Panthers, you started 16 games, 16 games, 17 games with the Rams, won a Super Bowl with the Rams. But since then, you tore your ACL and tell me if I'm missing anything, tore or had two MCL injuries on the same knee, and you even had that torn biceps injury as well that kept you out for a while.
What lessons about football or even life have sitting outs taught you over the last year, a few years? Yeah, I think kind of before that, where it all stems from, like you said, being that walk-on. And then kind of stems from my dad and just kind of his example that he gave through us from this life. Back in 2008 with the recession, we got hit pretty hard. um you know you just tough on the family um you know we're struggling and But just kind of You know, I didn't know it at the time, but his example of You know, like life can suck sometimes, like, and that's okay.
But when you don't dwell on it, you got to find a way, no matter what it is. And so As I kind of get into those moments where they become a walk-on where I'm at the bottom. You know, like a hundred. 120 guys, you know, at the time on the NCAA roster, you know, I'm 122, like. That ain't that's not good.
But it's, you know, to play the lowest meat pity party, all that. Like Now you have an opportunity in front of you and you're going to do everything you can. And you've got to find a way. And I think it's just. The perfect Place for me to call home now if you're in the Carolinas with that cute patting mantra.
And everything that Sam Mills was about, and just that fight, no matter what it is, you're gonna wake up and you gotta choose every single day to keep going. And Yeah, they kinda you know, like you said, I had that screen of playing a lot of football games and things were well and Then you Get in or you tear your ACL, come back, play four games, tear your MCL, another surgery. Come back, play five games. Turn a bicep. come back, play two games.
Get the same knee again, get the MCL, and thankfully that one didn't require surgery. And you know, we missed four games and we've been playing since, but it's uh. You know, just taking those lessons from my dad and that walk-on mentality of nothing's promised to you, nothing's given, and every single day you got to choose it.
Now, with my kids, I have to be that example to them. And I got to show them that every single day you wake up, it's a choice. on how you You choose your attitude on how you battle whatever adversity there are going to be. And everything I do is to make sure that my kids know the example. And mom's not going to let me fail with that either.
She's just the most amazing support.
So I'm just so grateful for my wife, Madison. and you know her ability just to continue to guide me and and lead me and That'd be an encouraging force for me. That reminds me, the keep pounding mantra and what you're describing of something Dave Canalis said on Sunday. And I may have brought this up to you at your locker on Sunday. I asked Dave about the resilience of the team and having not lost consecutive games since the 0-2 start.
And this is what he said. I have the clip here. Listen to what your coach had to say after the win against the Rams. It's humility. It's...
playing games where we're humbled by not having great execution and knowing that we have to get back to our basics, our fundamentals in execution. And this is a humble group. It's the leadership of our team. It's Derek Brown and it's Bryce and these guys taking one game and saying we can do better than this and rising to the challenge, making sure that we're being intentional with what we're doing every single day and how critical it is to execute on game day. Bryce Young.
Was benched last year, and now he's having the success of this season. There's humility with that. Derek Brown had injuries as well as you have. He said this is the most self-lesteem Derek did that he's ever been a part of. Where does humility most reveal itself and help a football team, you think, Austin?
Yeah, I think you are both under the you know, the bookshelf there of you're going to get it when You know, you go to New England or build some here in They just absolutely kick your butt. And then you're going to get humbled that way. But also, the positive side of it: when you go into Lambo, the Rams come to Bank America and you knock off the number one seat at the time. Insolve. you you have to appreciate it and you have to live in the middle.
Where you're not getting too high, you're not getting too low that no matter the failures, no matter the success. you understand that there's more out there and you do not Allow you know The failures and the success to control you, but you have to control them every single day. And I think, as a young team that we are, guys are understanding that: that every single moment is an opportunity. And the best team doesn't always win on Sunday. It's who plays the best for three hours on Sunday.
That's what the NSL is about. Guys are starting to understand that. And I think, you know, as we got our schedule back in May, you look at that week 14 by and you're like, ah, shoot, that's going to be a long stretch. You know, hope we make it. And the post to now is: hey, we got this week 14 by.
This is pretty dang good. We're in a real special spot. We're able to take this rest. We're able to get our minds right. We're able to step away from football, take care of everything at home, button everything up at home, tighten your ship.
And here we go. We got a four-game stretch where we're playing meaningful football in December and January, and we are going to own that moment. Austin Corbett with us here, Panthers offensive lineman.
Okay, let's close with the fun stuff. That's a lot of serious talk, some heavy stuff, and we appreciate that as well. First off, true or false, Derek Brown does have the laugh of a lovable giant from a children's cartoon. Do does he have to do that? True, especially when you can get him going.
That's a true, deep, genuine belly laugh. That's exactly who he is. He's just a big old friendly giant. Yeah. Is that the sound he makes at practice after he pancakes you?
Yeah, no, he doesn't do that. We can get that one out, so I'm fair in that game. But no, there's a deep maniacal, cynical laugh. On game day, and I'm glad I'm on his feet. Yeah, I do like the description.
Lovable giant from a children's cartoon. He mentioned that with Thanksgiving falling on a short week for you guys, you guys didn't get a chance to go hog wild food-wise.
So, what did you do on the holiday? Yeah, I think it was pretty fortunate, especially coming off the Monday night West Coast travel. Everything just tightens up, shortens up. You gotta get, you gotta take care of your body, you gotta get that recovery in Sunday. And so you just gotta be smart, especially, you know, as bigger guys, you know, you know, able to kind of hold on to some more.
Some more weight, you could eat more, you kind of get carried away. But I think guys were all pretty good and consistent and smart, understanding that we had a big game Sunday, so it couldn't go crazy.
So, do you save the turkey? Do you save the sides for after the game during the buy? Like, did you have a feast at some point this week? Yeah, I mean you still you still dabble. You just all.
Go back for a third leg normally. I love that. Austin Corbett with us. Let's close with Luke Combs. He clearly saw the social media post with the gear on Sunday that we put out there.
How close are we to getting you two together? Like, what needs to happen? What's the next step? How can we help? She has a son.
I guess the ball's in his court. He's got a lot of things going. I know he's working hard. He's. You know, actively releasing songs, got another album coming out soon.
So he's in the thick of it. um he knows where to find us we'll we'll be at the bank and uh That's where I'll be, you know, but uh, you know. Whatever happens, happens honestly. Big fan, I'm going to listen regardless. My kids constantly ask for back in the saddle again.
So It's uh still love singing it. And so it's it's awesome. We're we're just It's all fun. Is that the song you think you sing best in the car where your kids are actually confusing you for Luke Combs? No.
That's uh or is it album artwork or a couple albums you know where he's got half his space on there? Yeah, there's more of that then The the the vocal side of it. Yeah, it's just the fun of it. They're five and three. While we're talking music, let's close with this.
It Made me laugh at no end. How big the social media trend of Carolina Mike? Has become, it's become a huge deal to the point where Jake Curhan is hearing the live performance during a timeout on Sunday a few weeks ago, and he's dancing. Like he's got dance moves. It seems choreography is involved.
So I feel obligated to ask this question, Austin Corbett. If you had $150,000. What would you do? And especially down bye week. We're going hunting.
We're going fishing. We're we're spending time in the outdoors and uh It's a lot of lures, Kim. That's a nice bolt that'll get you $450,000. I can tell you that. I love it.
All right, Austin. Congrats on the nomination for man of the year. And thank you so much for spending the time with us. Always great with us, win or lose after games, too. We look forward to seeing you sometime soon and enjoy the rest.
Oh, by the way, where are you at during the bye week? Are you staying local? Yeah, we say here when kids still got school, it's easier. You need too much. Stuff if you want to take the kids away, strollers, car seats, diapers, all the nonsense.
So we stay local. I'll never forget during a bye week, I ran into Jonathan Stewart at an IKEA and I learned, and this was, and I learned that even for NFL football players, the wives see the bye week and think, I can ask more of the significant other. Is that true when you have three kids? Is the wife taking more advantage of Austin Corbett? Wow, she's currently not at home getting her nails done.
So it's part of it. It's the honeydew list. It never ends. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are. You got to take it.
You got to make. home a happy place and So last night when we were putting the Christmas tree up. Did I end up holding the Christmas tree for over an hour because the man decided to break? As the tree was fully decorated, sure did.
So that was my week. That was my workout with holding the tree up for an hour. And. Thankfully, Target was open until midnight. We got a new stand and got it all taken care of.
I hope you didn't have to decorate it though. At least she maybe took care of that. It was, she's amazing at it. She was good at decorating, but she put the last ornament on, and I go, huh. kind of leaning more than it normally was and then i Jumped in and she caught it before it fell and uh.
We lost a pine gum, but uh it didn't break. Nothing broke. Top of three, held it in place for an hour. She ran to target.
Well, she ran to Walmart. Walmart didn't have a damn, and then Target was thankfully opened.
Okay, well It was a fun night. It was great. It's perfect. That was Biley.
Well, Dalton, they're just like us. Yeah, we all can relate. Austin, thank you for putting up with our nonsense. We'll see you soon. Yeah, anytime guys, appreciate you.
He was never voted most likely to succeed. You're such a loser. But then again, were you? The very concept is unimaginable. You're on the drive with Josh Graham.
Winkling positivity. 15 minutes from now. Perhaps even an opportunity to win. Before. We get two.
The positivity. Might need Some giveaway is a chaser for the topic we're about to hit on. We're already starting to see tar heels. announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal. Chris Culliver, wide receiver, Kamari House.
at Linebacker. And you should expect a noteworthy name locally. The pride of East Forsythe High School in Kernersville. Curtisville. Bryce Baker, you should expect at some point.
him to announce his transfer from North Carolina. Even though Bryce was Bill's first high school commit. A quarterback, a four-star player. Bill doesn't consider him. As one of his recruits.
He doesn't consider last year's class his class, even though, remember, Bill Got Bryce to sign on. It was a big deal. Brought him to the Smith Center, had him address the crowd at a Carolina basketball game. How many high school players usually get that opportunity? Bryce Baker got it.
But don't just take It from me. That Last year's class essentially is being disowned by Bill Belichick. Here's how he opened. His signing day press conference. Yesterday evening.
So let me start with, you know, this is really our first recruiting class. Um last year was after the signing day and so it was a completely different Situation, procedure, and process, and so forth.
So This was um you know, really a a very Long process that I'll get into in a minute, but it was much, much different from. Last year.
So let me just start with that. Yes, make sure to start with that. You know those players last year. Bleep them. There.
They're they weren't ours. That was the previous staff. You know the staff that actually went to bowl games every single year? No, don't associate them with us. Oh, get out of here with that.
These are our guys. We're 70. I'm 74 years old in April, and yet we're bringing in a class with more than 30 kids in it. Who are going to be playing for a different coach probably in two years or three years and entering the portal a year from now because things probably don't go better when we have a more difficult schedule and the head coach is not capable of changing or adapting all that much. We digress.
Back to Bryce. In this class, Will. This big class that Bill's claiming now It includes maybe the most highly touted recruit in the class. His four-star quarterback. Travis Burgess from Georgia.
So if you felt Bryce Baker was your guy. Are you bringing in a four-star quarterback? Is that four-star quarterback signing on with you if he feels that you have a future for Bryce Baker? It's also worth noting. that Bryce didn't play this season.
Now. Are we saying that Bryce should have played over Gio Lopez? or Max Johnson. No. Those guys are better, Will.
Don't do the shrug thing. The guy's a true freshman. Stop it. Geo and Max weren't very good. Geo.
It could have been a lot worse. Trust that Bill's going to play who he feels is the best guy on the field.
So, are we advocating that Bryce should have played as a true freshman? No. I'm not. Will might be. I'm not.
You can Still though. Play in up to four games though, remember in college. And retain your redshirt. How many games this year was Carolina just flat out of it? And you could have gotten reps.
To a freshman, if you in fact saw a future for that player and actually, How about this? Last week, could you have scripted a more perfect opportunity to get Bryce Baker reps than you're already eliminated from bowl contention? You're getting drilled in Raleigh, so this is meaningless at this point in the second half of that game. Gio Lopez goes down with an injury, yet you go with fellow freshman Alduri Newkirk, and instead. Who, by the way, played in two games last year while Bryce played in none.
Just another reason to think that even among freshmen on the team, Bill doesn't favor Bryce Baker.
So the guy, this isn't, this shouldn't be seen as a hot take or breaking news. We're not reporting it here. Don't want Bill to yell at us the way that Dave Doran was yelling at the Joes. Joe Ovius and Joe Gilio during his presser yesterday. Not reporting anything here.
This is just a common sense deduction. That He is a coveted player. Four star local kid offered by Florida. Visited Penn State. offered by all the big four schools in our state, App State.
Boston College, Louisville, Virginia Tech. And in college. Thank you for that. Gosh. B C last night.
Ruining things for not well. Yeah, but they blew the lead and. Should have won that game at Conte Forum. What are we doing? BC, Earl Grant, what are we doing here?
Unbelievable. Louisville, what have you done for the conference since joining? Unbelievable. But that's an aside. Um He's going to be coveted.
You're talking about a four-star In-state kid, four years of eligibility left. A lot of those places, though, will. Don't have the same coach. That offered? When App State offered, Sean Clark was still the coach.
When Florida offered, it was still Billy Napier. He visited Penn State. That was when James Franklin was the coach. Virginia Tech offered, well, that actually makes sense because James Franklin now goes from Penn State to Virginia Tech.
Alright, might want to circle that twice. Uh All right, Boston College still has Bill O'Brien with resources. Boston College. It's a fair assumption. That he's going to end up at an ACC school.
Yeah. So the question is: which one? Virginia Tech makes sense because it's close. To home? And James Franklin clearly liked him at Penn State and They offered him at Virginia Tech and That might make some sense.
Don't quite know what the hokey signing class looks like. Who knows? Maybe James Franklin's disowning those recruits the same way that Bill Belichick disowns. Last year's class. I don't know.
I doubt. Yeah, you're right. He's a good football coach. Louisville, a good college football coach. Bill Belichick, really good NFL coach.
Louisville. Yeah. They signed a quarterback. Duke signed a quarterback, and they got Dario Minsa coming back. Wake Forrest had a quarterback in their class.
So. We'll look at The two we have circled. NC State. That makes sense, especially if C.J. Bailey wants to go somewhere else and get paid more money.
If NC State can't pay on what someone else can pay, been the story the last few years and with Dave Doran and the transfer portal. They didn't sign a quarterback in their class, so maybe he can compliment. Will Wilson, and you can have more of a passer there. You compete for a starting job. Um Maybe Virginia Tech, maybe Boston College as well.
Just some teams to keep it in solid. Potentially for Bryce Baker's Services, but you should expect that he's going to enter the transfer a lot like Chris Culliver and Kabari House and probably more Tar Heels. on the way. Make sure. Will Dalton.
That You are locked in. On all the giveaways that we have here on the show, which might include some good news and bad news we have. Related to the Sharwood Hornets organization. Just because you are a bad news first type of guy. Yes.
The Charlotte Hornets lost at Madison Square Garden last night. I know, I was watching it. What happened to Ryan Kalkbrenner?
So. It was there was only a couple minutes Left in the game. Oh, man. And he, if you don't recall, he sprained his ankle against the Clippers a few weekends ago. He goes up for like a block or something, so he's way up in the air, and he comes down on and rolls that same ankle.
And he limped off the floor and went to the locker room in some pain.
So that's not great. Colin Sexton also got hurt last night. Not good. Yeah, it not not great. Things aren't great.
Billomello, hey, he had 34. He went off. He was in his bag. Nobody else. Oh, he's back.
Oh, glad to hear that minutes restriction is. No brain in Miller last night. On the wayside again? Again.
So that's back to back but that uh now they go to Toronto tomorrow. Oh, great.
Well, do you know what else is tomorrow? This is the good news. The Greensboro Swarm's back. Yes. At the field house, and they're fun.
Even when they lose their fun, they split games last weekend with the Go-Go's from the capital city. And did you see what happened in OT? No. Former Deke ACC player of the year, Alondis Williams got a steal in a game-winning layup to win that game. PJ Hall went off, too, at 16 and 11.
So PJ Hall getting some buckets, the former Clemson Tiger This it's a fun team.
So it's the Westchester Knicks. And what's really cool is, so it's Friday and Sunday that they're playing. Sunday, that game from the field house is going to be nationally televised on NBA TV. At 3 p.m.
So tomorrow night, 7 o'clock. Sunday is a 3 p.m. tip. If you would like tickets to tomorrow's game, how about we give away some tickets right now? 336 Summits of A7, 1600.
Caller number three. Three goggles. Gets tickets to Charlotte, Westchester tomorrow night, or not Charlotte, Greensboro, the Greensboro swarm. There's a swarm show, Will. Chasing the Westchester Knicks.
336-777. 1-600 is the phone number. Caller 3 gets tickets to the Fieldhouse tomorrow night. Make a Friday night. out of it.
To lift morale across the Piedmont. And to win tickets to either NC State Ole Miss basketball in Greensboro or. Chicago and Sticks visiting Charlotte next year. We play Weekly Positivity next. It's the drive with Josh Graham.
W A SJ M Yes. How's this for a twofer? We have tickets to Chicago and Styx in Charlotte next year. If you don't want to wait that long. For a pair of tickets?
How about December 21st in Greensboro, NC State, and Will Wade's team facing Ole Miss, Chris Beard's club, visiting the triad right before Christmas? If you'd want to win tickets, if you want to win right now, all you have to do is give us a call. 336-777-1600. And tell us something. Good with you.
And we're in dire need of positivity after the ACC SEC challenge. Up six to three and then last night you go one in. Yeah. I think the math on that is correct. No, one in six.
Apologies. One and six. Also. Baby Daniel. has teeth.
Better. Coming in. Hot coming in strong, so he didn't really want to sleep all that much. Two nights ago, that wasn't the most fun thing on the planet, so I could use your positivity as well right now. It's time for weekly positivity.
Yeah. Oh yeah, the thing about trains. It doesn't matter where they're going. What matters? is deciding to get on.
Weekly positivity. Brought to you by Biscuit King. Biscuits. Let's go to Jordan, who's in Winston. Winston-Salem to be more precise.
Joining us. Yeah. Are you actually in Winston, or are you in Clemens or Advance, one of the surrounding areas? Where are you at? You're spot on Clemens, but Winston would be an easier pick.
I understand that. You know, you could be proud of Clemens here on. Triad radio. When we visit with Chris Paul, we've actually corrected him once. He's like, Yeah, I rep Winston Sale.
I'm like, you can say Clemens here, it's okay. West Versailles. People know what's up. Yeah, and he might even be Louisville for all I know. That's a good point.
You're right. We gotta rep our suburbs. No doubt. Did you go to Westforsythe? Yep, Westbridge graduate.
That's outstanding. Tell me something good with you, Jordan. I got two things for you. I've got. Recently a promotion at work, so I've got a little pay raise at work, which I'm excited about.
And then now I'm fully booked for my trip to Columbia.
South America, Columbia, not South Carolina. Yeah, I was about to say Columbia, South America, not Columbia, South Carolina. With the O.
So fully booked for that and going with some college friends. Uh down to Colombia. Why Colombia? That is a good question. It's for a bachelor party.
So, whoever my bachelor friend is, he wants to golf and go fishing in Columbia. Are you married, Jordan? No, I'm not.
So, this would be a fun trip, I think. Yeah, I. My bachelor party. Have I talked about my bachelor party on air here, Will? Have I done that?
I don't know if you have or not. Uh. I like an idiot. was Visiting with, this is a name drop, our friend Bob Ryan. Here in the triad.
You know him from around the horn, ESPN, the whole deal. And I. I'd never been to Fenway or had never been to Wrigley.
So I asked Bob Ryan, Mr. Boston. Hey, without even thinking. Where should I go between Wrigley Field or Fenway? He's like, um.
Finway, and he's like, you know, if you do go. Let me know, I'll get you tickets. And surely enough, they were Bob's tickets right behind home plate. Went to watch the Orioles play the Red Sox. The Orioles won that day.
That was fun. And um then I went And saying karaoke? And I think I sang that song from Mulan, and the place burned down. It was fun. It's good.
It's a good time. I wonder if they have karaoke in Colombia. What do you think, Jordan? You know, I'm going to say they have a version of it, and I have a feeling I'm not going to know many of the. Uh, like you know, the Hispanic songs, but uh, I can definitely report back.
I'm sure there are some songs that have some Spanish in it where they are popular enough. that it would still be a hit. If you go Ricky Martin's Live in La Vida Loca. Or if you do Jump in the line.
Something like that, you could probably hit, or tequila, that'd probably work. I think people know what that means. You're 100. Yeah, I'm sure I can find a bad bun here. Yeah, there's got to be some cross.
Okay, so when is this trip? This trip is January 5th. I expect a weekly positivity call after January the 5th to let me know how that goes. It might need to be two weeks after, so I have one week to recover. But yep, you're going to get it.
That sounds great. Thank you, Jordan. There you go. That's good. It's a good call.
Um, let's go to Dallas, who's in Asheboro. Hi, Dallas. Dallas, can you hear me? I can. Can you hear me?
Yeah, I can. Why are you named Dallas? Where does that come from? Is this a Forrest Gump situation where it's like, there's Tex from Seattle? Here's Bama from Houston.
I I get it asked a lot. They they everybody thinks I'm from Dallas. But uh it's my father's name. Hmm. Is he from Dallas?
So there's... Wow. Three Dallases. Is Dallas gonna win the night? Uh well, I'm a Chicago Bears fan.
Well, there you go. Then we're rooting for Dallas multiple times over to take down the Lions. I hope Dallas is a winner in this segment. Dallas, tell me something good with you.
Well, I spent the last five days getting all my uh outdoor Christmas lights up. It I got a big display. And it's all up and I've got it wired in and Ready to go. It's uh I really enjoy it. What is what was the most difficult part of the Clark Griswold like.
effort that you put in to plug in all these lights. Uh was it just There's actually two. One is wrapping a tree where you wrap all the branches. It is very time consuming. Of course.
And then I have a mega tree with a uh a flagpole. And and that's a little difficult too.
Well, if you're on social media, if you're on X specifically, and send us a picture of this tree, I'll make sure to get it out to everybody so they can see your work on a national basis or on a local, regional basis. Dallas, thank you for the call. We'll make you a winner. One more. Let's do Lynn and Greensboro.
Hi Lynn. Hi, Josh. How are you doing? Let me think about that. I'm doing good.
How about you? Good. Yeah, I've got a couple things to be happy about. Faison Brandon, he did go from pencil to. Inc.
Um Yeah, yeah. All right. Oh, that's cool. Yeah, I didn't know that.
So I'll be listening then. Please do. Yes, I was happy about that. I grew up in the mountains in Virginia. on the Tennessee border, really close to Tennessee.
So really funny or weirdly whatever, Tennessee's my football team and Virginia Cavaliers are my basketball team.
So Yeah, anyway.
So, but uh I got a buddy who came over and cut down some two big trees that really need to come down, that was really close to my house. He just retired from Lincoln Financial and And he got up on his 20-foot ladder, and then he went up like five or six feet above the ladder and was cutting down. And I was like, Freaking out, like, oh my lord, and and um So we got two of those big trees down, like four at least at least 40 feet tall.
So I was happy to get them down. Um but then later picking up the big heavy pieces, I Pulled a muscle in my back a couple weeks ago, and right now, today's the first day that is starting to feel better, so I'm really happy. That it's not anything long term, and I'm on the mend. I love that. Well, I love I don't love that you're on the min, but love that things are looking up in more ways than one, Lynn.
Appreciate the call. There goes Lenny Greensboro. Anything on the way out, Will Dalton, to hit in terms of things that are good? I put up my Christmas tree last night.
So did everybody else. I I I had that written down as my good thing too. Everybody else.
Okay, well it's good. I know all of us did the same good thing.
Okay, well I bet they don't have a choo-choo terrain underneath their tree. You have a choo-choo tring? Yes, I have a choo-choo tring. Did you really just refer to it as a choo-choo tring? I sure did.
Not a train set, not a train set. No, a choo-choo train. It's a Christmas choo-choo train. Did you think of this because I quoted Polar Express at the start of this? No.
Okay. It's a choo-choo train. It's like, and I set it up to where it just goes. I mean, I don't have it moving or anything, but it's a nice little display right at the base of the tree.
Well, be sure to tweet that at me, too. I might retweet it. I will. I also might not. That's been weekly.
Possibly. Yeah. We must talk. Go ahead. Talk Back to the Drive with Josh Graham.
Uh Best bets. Three and six last week, Will. 50 and 55 on the season. We're in the danger zone. We've had one losing season in the first seven years we've done this.
It's gotta be now. It's now or never. We're running out of college games. Bowl games are always tricky. We generally don't do a lot of non-college football playoff bowl games.
Who's playing? Who's coaching? That tends to be a mess.
So Championship week, this is what we got. It's our last busy Saturday of college football games. And then we got the NFL and the NFL playoff. A lot of props for the Super Bowl, but we can't afford another losing week. We're down.
Five from being 500. It's gotta be now. And we've got seven picks. On the card for this week, Will. Are you ready?
Let's fire it up. It's time for best bets. I'm not a betting duck. Can I make it interesting? You know you do.
You're on. Call me in on this. Your best bet. But my money's on the other team. This is Josh's best bets.
Got two for the NFL. Let's just knock those out really quickly, because one of them's for tonight. Love that I'm getting the hook. Cowboys. Plus three and a half.
Against the Lions tonight, Detroit hasn't looked great in recent weeks. Lost two of the last three, even in their wins. Not looking fabulous. Dallas. Has looked better than anybody the last three weeks, beat the Chiefs a week ago.
Think they can win the game outright, so give me the field goal plus. with the team that is absolutely rolling right now. Send me that cash up, family. If you've been following all the drama, Going on in Pittsburgh this week. Ben Rothlesberger saying.
Oh, maybe they just need a different head coach, a different voice. It's time for a change. Mike Tomlin. Adam Phelan now right in the middle of it. Aaron Rodgers turning 42.
There's drama. Yeah. A lot of drama. as they go to Baltimore. It used to be just a ready-made line, Will, for a decade.
Regardless of where the game's at, whoever's at home minus three. That's the line for Raven Steelers.
So, the fact I saw this some places at six and a half and down to six, now down to five and a half. I'm going to get it before it falls even further. Give me the Steelers plus five and a half. It gets back to six, I might bet. No, right now we're giving out the picks on Thursday, so I'm going to stay committed to the line.
Steelers plus five and a half is the bet that we're handing out. It's too many points for Mike Tomlin. It's too many points. Given the fact that Lamar Jackson has not looked good since coming back from injury, we saw it Thanksgiving night against the Bengals.
So I don't understand why this isn't two and a half. I don't understand why this isn't three, maybe three and a half tops. I'm getting at least two free points here, and I don't know why that is. And I think with all the drama, Mike Tomlin, a really good coach, is going to figure out a way to keep this one close. Send me that cash up, man.
Maybe the Steelers win it, but we get the cover five and a half points. To championship week. We go. I'm just gonna let BYU Texas Tech Sit. Not touching it.
Nope. No, sir. Staying away from that game. If you wanna bet it, you can have it. I am.
Going to take The Duke Blue Devils In the ACC Championship against Virginia. Did I bet Duke minus one and a half, minus two and a half against Virginia three weeks ago when Virginia smoked Duke? Yep. Do I still like the matchup for the reasons I did then? You betcha.
Give me the cliche. Hard to beat a team twice, right? Duke plus four and a half points. We're taking the Blue Devils plus the four and a half. They can win the game outright because the ACC is going to ACC.
Duke might have more NFL level talent on this team than Virginia does.
So it hasn't worked out well, according to my wife, when I fade Virginia. But we're doing it again. Duke hard-headed. Duke plus four and a half in the ACC Championship. Also like At eight o'clock Saturday night.
You know how great of a story it's been. It's been Kurt Signetti, the former Elon coach, and. Here he is, Indiana, number two in the country. Fernando Mendoza is probably going to win the Heisman Trophy. Friend of the show, Fernando Mendoza, it's been a great story.
Ohio State minus four. Send me that cash up fam. Do I like laying points will? No, but I do not! The Buckeyes are really, really good.
So. This is not easy for me. It isn't. I'm waiting for this to get to three and a half, by the way, so. I got it at four right now.
Ohio State minus four. I think it's gonna get down to three and a half. If it does, I'll take advantage of that. But right now, Ohio State minus four. They're the best team in the country.
And that includes Indiana. Indiana didn't look great when they played Iowa not too long ago. I think that defense, they haven't seen anything like it. I think there's some. Opportunity for Julian Saiyan as well.
to prove he's the Heisman, not winner, not. Fernando Mendoza. We'll see if he's motivated to sling it around and You know. Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate. I mean, how far do we need to go here?
Talking about the talent that Ohio State has, and that's just too small of a number. And poor Indiana. I... I'm doubling up, Will. I got a second bet on this game.
Oh. Oh. Indiana under, 21.5 team total. Do you want to know a fun fact about Ohio State? I'd love to hear a fun fact.
They haven't allowed more than 16 points in a game this year. Last I checked, 21 and a half is more than 16. Yes, yes it is. And that gets us over the key numbers of 17, 20, and 21.
So. 21. Good job, good effort to get there. No more than that. Indiana.
Under 21 and a half team total. That's what we're rolling with. In fact, Will, I've got two more. team totals to close out our college slate. Alabama is facing Georgia.
Georgia can't beat Bama.
So does that mean I'm betting Bama? Plus two and a half? No. I just think Bama's gonna score. Georgia's pass rush stinks.
And I think Alabama is going to score more than 22 and a half points.
So I'm going Alabama. Team total over. 22 and a half. Send me that cash. Just need to get the 24.
I don't care if you lose 27, 24, 31, 24. I just need you to get, you know, even 31, 23 will take it. Alabama team total over 22 and a half. Haven't loved the way their offense has looked of late, but George's pass rush, not good. Alabama tends to have George's number, it's indoors, so.
The offense should have no issues. There. One more. Will Dalton, hi. Oh, this is tomorrow night.
So we have action tonight, tomorrow, and on Saturday. Seven o'clock fun belt. James Madison's laying 23 and a half points. Do I want part of that? No.
I don't like laying points. I don't like laying that many.
So instead, what I'm gonna do... James Madison team total over 34 and a half. Send me that cash out for you. I don't know if you've been following. They're trying to make the college football playoff.
And if Duke wins, there's going to be some conversation about. The Blue Devils beating Virginia and their wins versus James Madison's. What I'm saying is James Madison is incentivized. To win by as many as it can. Don't let the foot off the pedal play for 60.
If you're James Madison. I think that means they score 35 points.
So there you go. Send me that cash out. I like that bad. In review. Cowboys plus three and a half against the Lions.
Steelers plus five and a half against the Ravens. Duke plus four and a half. Against Virginia. Indiana. Or, no, not Indiana.
Ohio State minus four against Indiana. Indiana team total under 21 and a half. Alabama team total over twenty two and a half. James Madison over 34.5 team total. Those are our bets for this week.
Those are seven. Right there, Will. Boom. front of you on the card. Locked in.
Let's go five and two. Let's go six and one. You you kinda need to. I don't need to go 5-2 or 6-1. I need a winning week.
I need 4-3. It's what I need. Can I get four and three? I mean I'll I'll take it to get us in the game. For better than that, five and two, six and one gravy.
Do you like the picks? I like the Ohio State pick.
Okay. I like the JMU over Team total. Their team total pick. That's a good one. Although I wouldn't hate the minus twenty it was twenty two and a half last I looked at it.
I guess it's moved. Yeah, it has. I wouldn't h I wouldn't hate rolling the dice on that one just 'cause I like to live on the edge. You know how that goes. That doesn't sound like fun.
Uh. I actually like the Ravens. You always like the favorites in the NFL. Not always. I took the Panthers nine p nine and a half dogs this last week.
Who do you like? Cowboys Lions? What was the line again? Three and a half. I think I like Detroit.
I just do. I know. I think their luck's gonna run out. I really do. It's go time for Detroit.
