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What's up, Trevor? The Rich Eisen Show. Today's guests, Iowa head coach Kirk Ference. Former NFL executive Joe Banner. Actor Brett Gelman.
And now, it's Rich Eye Scent. That's correct. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show live from Los Angeles, California. Here on Disney Plus, the ESPN radio network presented by Progressive Insurance, and we're also on the ESPN app. We say hello to the Sirius XM, Channel 80 listeners, as well as our podcast, all three hours available every single day as soon as we're done.
And we've got a good show in store for you. Kirk Ference, the Iowa head coach, is joining us. I guess we want to be fair and balanced. We had Dan Lanning of Oregon on last week. The two will face one another.
And somebody who's been at his post for 30 years almost at Iowa figured it's a pretty good guy to ask about all the changes that have gone down in college football, not just the way that you recruit or now pay players, but the fact that. you know. For some, just a three-game losing streak away from losing your gig. We'll talk to Kirk Ference about that. We're not done with the trade deadline conversation just yet because there's lots of resonance to the moves that were made.
Certainly, when you're looking at the Indianapolis Colts acquiring Sauce Gardner for two first-round picks and what the Jets are doing to try and amass as many choices over the next two drafts to rebuild again, longtime executive in this league, a man who just basically doesn't sugarcoat a darn thing when he talks about the National Football League and the way that you roster and trade, Joe Banner is going to join us in the middle of hour number two. And again, if you're new to this show in some way, shape, or form because of the manner in which you take us in and listen, and we've been around for a while. Joe's been on this show quite a bit. And it's going to be great when he joins us. And the very funny and talented Brett Gelman is going to be in studio.
Stranger Things is wrapping up its remarkable run later on this year. And later on this month, returns on November 26th. He plays Maury Bauman in that. He'll be joining us in studio in hour number three. And you might also know his work from.
The other guy movie, the other guy's movie, or he was a pig parker on Kirby Enthusiasm. We're going to go down a fun pop culture wormhole with him later on. Good to see you over there, Christopher Brockman. All right, what's up, man? Mike Del Tufo in your chair.
Good to see you, Mike. TJ Jefferson, candles lit. Good to see you over there, sir. All right, let's just jump into this program to start hour number three. Oh, I should mention 844.
204 Rich, number to dial on this program. We want to hear from you. Yeah, we want to hear from you wherever you are, whether you're watching us or listening to us. Listen, the 10th week of the National Football League season is hitting tonight. We're hitting double digits.
Let's go. We are officially in the second half of this regular season. And at this point in time, as the Raiders go visit the Broncos to kick things off to the week on Prime Video tonight, I'll be straight up. This is one of the most wide open seasons I can recall in my now 23rd season of doing this. The NFL Network just celebrated our 22nd anniversary earlier this week.
I can't recall a time where it's just like this is anybody's game. And it's not just anybody's game, it's anybody's game of. I put out a power rankings list of 10 teams that left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers often. Yeah. And the San Francisco 49ers often, and the Pittsburgh Steelers often.
And I just named you a 6-2 team. and a six and three team and a five in three team. And there's always a team, like, say, the 4-4 Vikings that can come out of nowhere and start to catch fire with their young kid and J.J. McCarthy, look terrific. The Jaguars aren't on that list.
They're five and three. The Panthers aren't on that list. They're five and four feeling good about themselves. Yeah. So there's all of that.
um from my power rankings list and You know, there's the Chargers at six and three. Sitting right there. And They were the ones who started this whole thing off on the second night of the season. with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs who are on that list. at five and four.
It's flat out wide open, and the rubber meets the road in so many different ways this weekend. Six divisional games. Six divisional games because we've been talking about the Colts sitting at the top of the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing the Houston Texans. We last saw them play each other in week number three.
That was when Jacksonville surprised them and the Texans were in a deep hole. And Now the Texans are two games under 500, and the Jaguars are two games over 500, and they just acquired Jacoby Myers. from the Raiders. And we'll see how that improves things. And we'll see which one of these two teams can emerge to threaten the Indianapolis Colts.
who Houston is yet to play. And who Jacksonville has yet to play.
So, the winner of this game, I understand the Jaguars are currently in a better position. But if the Texans wish to be in a better position, they need to win this game and C.J. Stroud. Is not playing in this game because he got knocked out of last week's game by Denver and he's in a concussion protocol.
So it's Davis Mills who has that task. to win that game. That's a big contest. You've got also. The Rams and the 49ers.
Hello. Hey, hey, now. Because the Niners took a piece of the Rams. earlier on a Thursday night. That occurred in week five.
When the Niners were as banged up as any team as they you could possibly have, went into Los Angeles. went up the road in Sofi, And They Hit the Rams right in the mouth and held on to win that game. That's the one where Kendrick Bourne, I think, had 19,000 yards receiving. Right.
So many yards. He was unstoppable that game. In place of everybody who was hurt. Kittle wasn't back yet either. And Mac Jones started to show everybody: oh, okay, wait a minute.
This is the way it can go without Brock Purdy. And sure enough, Mac has done his job. He Takes on the Rams this weekend. It looks like it'll be him again. Six and three again, six and two.
That's a monster big game. As the Seattle Seahawks come off of their win. on Monday Night Football. In Washington, DC. And they are the ones.
Pardon me, Sunday night football, and they are the ones to welcome in the Arizona Cardinals who are coming off of their Monday night football win in Dallas. And if the Cardinals, who have placed Kyler Murray on injured reserve, to remove the question of whether this offense should stick with Jacoby Brissett or not, and again, this is another instance where there are some people who look at it like the Vikings did. Yeah. When they sat down J.J. McCarthy with an ankle injury.
This is now a foot injury that, for some reason, can't be healed soon enough. Or four to eight weeks. He really can't come back from it. But can the Cardinals come back from losing five in a row after starting 2-0? Could they?
Use last Monday night's win in Dallas. To go into Seattle where the Seahawks haven't played. Winning football, believe it or not. All of their wins. None of their losses, let's put it that way, have come on the road.
Okay. They lost week one to San Francisco, there, if you remember before Brock Purdy got hurt, or got hurt in that game. And then they lost to Tampa. Can they I can't believe it hold serve at home in this divisional battle? And if they do, they're seven and two.
and they could actually take first place. They would actually take first place if the 49ers win. Because the Niners would be 7-3. And if the Rams win, well, guess what? The following week is when the Rams play Seattle.
That'll be amazing. Seattle playing the Rams twice for the rest of the season, but that's next week.
So, the NFC West has big divisional battles that. We've been waiting for, to be honest with you. The Panthers are taking on the Saints. They're five and four. That's a divisional battle.
If the Panthers go six and four, they're officially on a Thursday a higher registered team. Look out for the Panthers. Like, I don't know what's going on with them. You got to start paying attention to them down there. I don't know if they're any of your Thursday higher registers for later on.
I didn't mean to mack any of your ground. You're in the clear.
Okay, but. They're not mine later on, so I'll just set the stage for a Thursday high register. Hey, man. You got to look out for this Panthers team. They could be in the mix.
Everybody keeps talking about everybody from the NFC West, but you got to look out for them. They should win this football game, right? Division game at home. They played much better at home than they have on the road. Although they just came up with a big road win in Green Bay.
How do they follow that? Oh, and speaking of Green Bay. I understand it's not a divisional battle. But there are four games between teams 500 or better this weekend. I mentioned one of them already: Rams and 49ers.
Eagles and Packers finish things up on Monday Night Football. And the conference is. I'm for grabs. It's tasty. Honestly, you look at the NFC standings, the conference is up to my point about this is a wide open race.
You've got three 6-2, four 6-2 teams. The Rams are the five-seed right now. The Packers at 5-2-1 once upon a time atop the conference. That lost to Carolina. Which has Carolina now ninth because the Bears are five and three at eighth.
They're also not in my power rankings to be mentioned. I mean, what a massive game that is. Because at the same time this week. We also have a game above 500 between. The Patriots and the Buccaneers.
Super Bowl preview?
Okay, fucks are going to listen. At this point in time, it's 7-2 versus 6-2. Take your heart pills and buckle up. Thank you, coach. Once upon a time, 1-2, they've won six in a row, just like the Broncos coming into Thursday Night Football to start the week.
Because the box The box Should be healthier. Although Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin were not out in practice on Wednesday, everybody thought, okay. Or today. Or today. Yeah.
So we'll see what happens here. But this is the first instance since the Patriots won the second of their six in a row. Where they go on the road, and everyone is like, nice young quarterback you got there, a nice young team you got there. And I know, I love that you're all going down memory lane with Vrabel being back and McDaniels being back, but good luck actually putting your foot in the ground and gaining some traction and doing it this year. Oh, wait a minute, they're seven and two.
This is the first instance since that night in Buffalo where they got everyone's attention. Oh, I see what you're doing over there. This is A massive test. Bucks coming off of a buy. They are 6-2.
Now you've got to go there and do it against the Bucs. middle of the season. How good are the Patriots? A massive measuring stick, as well for the Buccaneers. As well for the Buccaneers, because the Patriots don't give up rush yards to you.
And all they do. Is get yards in chunks with this young MVP type stud. And Drake May. Who Kurt Warner keeps saying is so good at throwing the deep ball, they look like handoffs. And at the same time, I did not mention The sixth Game Between divisional opponents, Bills.
At dolphins. Because the Bills, this is one of those they should win, right? Throw records out when you go down to Miami, throw records out when you go down to Miami to the visional game, except, you know, Tua might throw it to you. And we'll talk about that. Shortly.
But this is a big game. For the bills. Certainly if you think The Bucs might knock off the Patriots. And if that happens, the Bills can emerge. Through week 10 as a first-place AFC East team again.
Sunday night. Just up the road. Week 10. The fourth game between teams at 500 were better. Steelers at Chargers.
Okay, Steelers, you just... took the ball six times from Daniel Jones. and the Colts and you punked the team that's been punking everybody else. And you got two rushing touchdowns from Jalen Warren. Didn't get anybody in the trade deadline, but.
That last week, that's winning football. That's how you win your division when the Ravens keep getting larger in your rearview mirror. That's how you win your division. And get a home playoff game. That's how you get.
An actual playoff win for your home team. Fan base that has been flipping out over how long it's been since you've won a playoff game. or the chargers Who struggled in Tennessee last week and have lost now both tackles for the season, waiting in O'Mari and Hampton to come back. Can they keep. Winning football games for Jim Harbaugh.
We just had Derwin James on yesterday. They're talking Super Bowl across the street here in El Segundo, where the Chargers work out. That's a big game, too. Certainly, if you think Denver is going to boat race the Raiders tonight and the Chiefs are on a bye week at five and four. Chargers being 6-4, Steelers being 6-3 would be pretty big.
Certainly, if you think. That one of the four games this week in week 10 as well. Not just above 500 teams. but involved playoff teams from last year. And one of those games is Ravens at Vikings.
Certainly if you think the ravens are coming at you. Or Hey, the Vikings were a higher register winning team last week. Wow, did you see what the Vikings did against the Lions? Huh? Oh, J.J.
McCarthy might be that good, huh? Oh, okay. Maybe we should start paying attention to them.
Well, the last time he won a division game on the road and then went home in week two. There was an egg laid. Against Atlanta. And now here comes the Ravens, having one two in a row. We just had Derrick Henry on Tuesday.
Ping pong tables are gone. Lamar's back, and they've won two in a row. And they need, they cannot stub a toe. That's what happens when you're one and five. There's zero margin for error, and the skull chance will be loud.
They will be flipping out. This is a big game in week 10. Because the Vikings at 4-4. Right now. Can win this division because the Packers are 5-2- and 1.
They're only a game behind a team that they just won at. Yeah. And oh, by the way, the bears have entered the chat. At 5-3, taking on a Giants team. That's always interesting to watch because Jackson Dart is still playing football because the football gods haven't taken away all the nice things from the Giants just yet.
Hopefully, not. The Lions are at the commanders and other. Matchup between playoff teams. It's going to be in Mariota. The Lions need to show last week was just an aberration.
Let's go. Win a game they're supposed to win. And the other teams Games involving playoff teams. I mentioned Steelers at Chargers, Eagles at Packers. This is what is at stake in week 10.
Oh, by the way. The newfangled We haven't pulled the ripcord on the entire fire sales season of the Jets taking on a Browns team. Who sends out Dylan Gabriel again in an offense that Kevin Stafansky is no longer calling plays for? And the c The uh Echoes of Those who talk about the Browns for living in Ohio are getting louder. with the words Shador Sanders being mentioned.
Could this be that moment? As Justin Fields hopefully gets Garrett Wilson back, Brees Hall is still there, and so are everybody else they didn't trade for first overall draft picks. But they hope will turn out to be that. I mean, I didn't mention all the games, but it's pretty damn close. Oh, there's a Germany game, too.
Four windows of football Sunday. Falcons and Colts. Are they going to bounce back? Falcons need to win this one, too. If they want to be the team to try and catch the Carolina Panthers and raise their hands and say Will threatened.
Tampa, even though we've lost to them in week one because we couldn't make a kick back then.
So 844-204-Rich. Number to Dial. Tell us which game you're most looking forward to seeing and what's at stake. Kirk Ference is going to join us shortly at the end of this hour. Joe Banner will join us to tell us what he thinks of everything going down in the National Football League based on.
the trades that were made and the trades that weren't made. Uh also uh When we come back. The Tua Tongo Vailoa soundbite. when he was asked about whether he's playing for his job yesterday is worth hearing.
So, we will play that for you. That's next. This. is the Rich Eisen Show on a week 10 kickoff Thursday. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy.
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The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Back here on Rich Eisen's show, 844-204-Rich. Number 1 to have a chat. Kirk Ference is going to be joining us in about 15 minutes' time. ESPN Radio, we're on the air here too, is presented by Progressive Insurance.
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Alright, so One of those games that we talked about. Bills at Dolphins. And I understand the Bills are expected to Take care of business here. And I have no idea what Dolphins team is going to show up. Could it be the one that played the most?
complimentary football game of their season in Atlanta. Putting the Falcons on a two-game skid in the AFC East.
Well, I went up to New England and looked pretty darn good, much better than they did at home against the Dolphins. That was a what was up with that game. I know Drake London was out and you're wondering what's happening and all that business, but Long story short, Dolphins look great. Turn around. And against the Ravens a few days later.
Brutal. Absolutely brutal. All around brutal again. Too many mistakes. The worst one was.
Tua seemingly throwing it away or not connecting on a fourth and two right before halftime. The play that got drawn up looked like Devin H. Han had. Five foot and change going against. But Kyle Hamilton, who is Like an avatar out there, you know what I mean?
And It was just. D O A from Headset to execution. And Tua now, with after that game, the general manager. Chris Greer being fired. And Jalen Phillips now gone.
And clearly everything now on the table for the Dolphins. for roster changes. Is it going to be a new general manager? Do they make a change at? Coach, although all the conversations there is that Stephen Ross, the owner, is in fact.
willing to see if Mike McDaniel can do something for the rest of the season and keep him on. And keep them on and see if they can find something like the first couple of years of his tenure there. And the answer to that is Well House two are going to play. And Do they in some way, shape, or form? Just Blow it all up.
And by blow it all up. That involves the quarterback who just signed a monster deal. And has a lot of guaranteed dollars headed his way. And if they dead cap him, it's almost nine figures. And it's a tough spot for everybody.
And the way through it would be if Tua starts playing way better. But if everything's on the table Is it possible that Tu is playing for his job?
Now Because if it Goes south again. He leads, he's tied for the league. Lead in interceptions with 11. The other one is Geno Smith, who we all know has had a brutal First season with the Raiders. We'll talk about the Raiders later on.
But his Yards per passing. His yards passing per game are less than 200. Less than 200. I know Tyree Kill's been out, but 6.6 pass yards per attempt is passer rating just less than 88. Are all his worst since his rookie season.
Regressing. And so he was asked flat out. As it's possible, if he doesn't perform well against the Bills, do you see Zach Wilson? Do you kick a tire on Zach Wilson? Quen yours is.
And Zach are in a competition for who's in second on the depth chart. Tua was asked if he's playing for his gig. What do you think when you hear that phrase that you're playing to keep your job?
Well, I wouldn't say I'm planning to keep my job. I think I'm playing to try to help our team win every time. Um I think that's the objective, you know, for every quarterback that's playing. for every football player that's playing as well. The objective is how can I help my team win games?
And so I would say if you're looking at it In that sense, I would say my performance needs to be better. And my performance doesn't reflect me trying to keep my job. Because that's not the standard in which I've been playing all these other years.
So I would say that. What an answer. I mean, what an absolute gem of an answer. And I understand folks might think he's dodging it or he's got his head in the sand, but I think that gives you an outstanding glimpse into the way. An athlete A high-profile athlete at a high-profile position has to approach his job and his mindset.
Certainly, since when we asked, remember, we asked Kurt Warner a couple of weeks ago, like, what is up with him? That was going into the Atlanta game. in which he threw four touchdown passes, by the way. Looked much better than Kirk Cousins, who everyone assumed is just going to come off the bench. And light it up for Atlanta and create an issue for them at a quarterback spot, similar to what's going on with Jacoby Brissette right now and Kyler Murray in Arizona.
And he was. It was brutal and two looked terrific. Kurt said it was a question of confidence. That he's lost his confidence. And, like, how does somebody like him lose his confidence?
And sure enough, he found it back, and then he lost it. It seemingly lost it again. And You can't approach the game to say, if I throw another interception, wait a minute, is that. My coach looking at Zach Wilson. You've got to just look at it, snap a sap.
I've got the C on my chest. I am the choice of the franchise. I have the contract to prove it. I have done it before. That contract proves it to me that I've done it before.
Or you just don't even think about that at all. And you're just like, I've got to go ahead and win it. For My teammates. And again, if you think he's just avoiding the obvious here by creating a mind game. Saying that I just have to approach it the way I've always approached it.
How's this for a stat? This is kind of a did you know without the music and the graphic. Did you know Tua Tungo Vailoa has never finished a season with a losing record as the starting quarterback in high school, college, or the NFL? Ever. Never in his life Has he been faced with a two and seven record potentially even born out of his own?
inability to to succeed. or find his mojo.
So what he just said is just a refreshing piece of honesty. And I think for a Dolphin fan who's looking for anything. To believe in this guy's ability to find it again and be consistent and try and turn this season around. Certainly, if you want Mike McDaniel to stay, even though I don't know many Dolphin fans, to be honest with you, who feel that way. But Okay.
I thought that was a refreshing answer and something that You don't hear that honesty too much. Uh before we take a break. Kirk Ferrens of Iowa is going to join us in a moment. I don't know about you. It was a gut punch when I heard this.
I don't know Marshawn Nealand. I've never met him. Um And many of you may have just first heard of him. when he recovered that Blocked punt for a touchdown. Incredible play, man.
Right? Incredible. He blocked it and recovered. He didn't block it, though. He didn't?
He covered it. It went off of the face mask of his opponent. Oh. I mean, of his teammate who took one on the chin, and he was just, you know. On the spot, scored a touchdown.
On Monday night football on national television, everybody going nuts in the Metroplex. It was a massive. boost of energy and momentum that the Cowboys were desperate to have. And he helped provide it. And there he is, celebrating the moment with his teammates smiles around.
One would think at the top of his game and the top of his life and He's now dead. And he was found From what appears to be according to authorities, after a high speed chase, Last night in the Metroplex area. Sean. That he'd seem to be Of a self-inflicted wound. And all I can say is, it is just gutting to hear that.
His teammates are devastated. Former teammates are devastated. And he apparently has a pregnant girlfriend. He's 24. from Western Michigan.
And the Dallas Cowboys Family is gutted. The NFL family is gutted. The NFL Players Association is putting out a press release to all of its players to seek out if they need any sort of counseling. to work through their grief.
So Um Uh to Nealon and his Family and his significant others, as well as. uh the Cowboys family, we uh we send our condolences. And may he rest in peace. And again, for everybody out there, just... Hug your loved ones.
And if This appears to be what it sounds like. Check in on them. See how they're doing. Make sure they understand that they're not alone. And that um We should all look around and View what we do in a day as our scoring a touchdown and revel in the moment, but also know.
that it can be gone in a flash. May he rest in peace. We'll be back on the Rich Isen Show in just a moment. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. We just took a phone call during our TV-only segment, Rick in Iowa.
Do I dare to say, Kirk in Iowa, you're on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you? What's up, Coach? I'm good, Rick. How about your show?
Good to see you. Pardon me, I'll give you the proper introduction now. 27th year as the head coach of Iowa football, 20th ranked overall going into this big weekend game against Oregon and front of the home folks here on the Rich Eisen Show. Good to see you, Coach. What's going through your mind before this big game?
I know you've been there and done that, but. This is a monster game for you and your program in 2025 here. Coach? Yeah, it's always exciting. Certainly it's a really intriguing matchup.
Oregon's been good for a long time. They're certainly really good right now. Had a great year last year. They've lost two games this season and last, so it just tells you the level they've been playing at. They've recruited really well.
They've got an excellent football team, a lot of new faces, but they're all playing well. And you get to November, everybody's experience. They've got a good mix of young guys. They're really giving them some octane. And it's going to be a big challenge.
I think our team's done their part. They've gotten better each and every week.
So, you know, we're going to have to be at our absolute best Saturday to have a chance on this one. And if you don't mind sharing about what you tell your team in a week like this, because again, you've been around, you've been there, done that, you've played big games, you've won championships. The question I have for you is: Do you tell these young kids, hey, we can grab attention here in a way and respect? Do you play that card? With your team, coach?
Yeah, I mean, not really. These guys are in college, they're pretty smart, and they certainly. I know what's going on. I think they know what's at stake here and what what the benefit is of winning a game like this. And we've been fortunate to win a few over the years.
So there's certainly a lot of upside involved. And bigger picture is our goal each and every year is to try to improve each week. See if we can't become a better team as the season goes on. I think we've done that so far this year. Eight games into it, we're a better team now than we were a month ago, that's for sure.
Uh, but then to your point, you know, you get a team like this coming in here, it's it's you know, it's a big step up.
So, uh, we'll have to be at our absolute best. You know, we had a great game here at the end of uh. That first block of games, our five-game block. Against Indiana, we came up short there in the last two minutes, but It's gonna be another type of challenge like that, and we'll have to play. Like we did against Indiana, only a little bit better to be in the ballgame against these guys.
All right, I might alienate my radio listeners with this question, coach, but whose artwork is that over your right shoulder on the cabinet behind you? I have to. It's my grandson, Beckett, actually. That's Cooper DeGene up there in an Eagle uniform.
So he's a big Cooper DeGene guy.
Okay, it makes sense.
So that's Cooper? That's supposed to be Cooper DeGene over your right shoulder.
Okay. Yeah, as a pro. Yeah. Okay. And over your left shoulder, I don't know, is that a John Wooden pyramid?
I don't know what that is. It is. Yeah, that's, you know, we use different things during the course, and that's probably from 15 years ago. Uh but yeah, during the course of camp and what have you, we usually have some things we'll Share with it and you know, John Woodenstein was what a great teacher he was. Did you ever cross paths with him before his passing at all?
Never had the chance to meet him in person, but certainly. I remember watching his teams growing up and then You know, just a a big fan of his, you know, reading his books or what have you. On that's one thing about sports, I think, and life in general, but certainly sports, a lot of the the lessons you learned and the lessons you can teach, uh, those those are really timeless.
Well, I mean, would you what do you think Wooden came up with that is somewhat uh groundbreaking? that you are using today or as part of your coaching acumen. Yeah, I don't think there's much that's groundbreaking, quite frankly, in teaching or coaching. But, you know, I mean, one of the first things that starts out, and it's probably more true now than ever, just his dissertation on how to put your socks and shoes on, which, as simple as that sounds. I remember coming here 27 years ago.
And uh a big fan at that time in college football was spatting up. And whoever, I can't remember our sponsors, shoe-wise, I think it might have been Reebok, doesn't matter. But anyway, they were not happy about guys spatting. And I remember calling Bill Tessendorf, who was our trainer in Cleveland and then Baltimore. Unbelievable guy and just a really wealth of knowledge.
I remember calling Tess to ask him about the medical benefits of spatting. And he said, outside of the first three minutes, really no benefit at all. It's more for aesthetics and what have you. And he said, then I'll never forget this. He says, yeah, but most guys in the NFL really don't.
They don't even tie their shoes well.
So, you know, hence, this batting might be helpful. And I think that's a good illustration. I mean, you just can't assume anything with players when they come in. Yeah, you've got to start at the start, and we try to do that each and every year as we, you know, move forward with our team.
Well, as you know, this day and age, though, you tell that to the wrong player, you might say, I'll go to the portal where a coach doesn't tell me how to tie my shoes. You know what I mean? But you just got to make it their idea. You know, you've got to be very careful how you present things nowadays.
Well, I mean, like marriage, you know what I mean? Hey, that's true. No, that's true. How long have you been married?
So I should know. That's a great question. 1979.
So I'm coming up on 50 here pretty quickly. I didn't mean to give you math on this test.
So I appreciate that.
Well, that leads me to relationships and how things are changing in the college football world. Kirk Ference in his 27th season at Iowa here on The Rich Eisen Show. How did the recent firings of James Franklin and I guess Brian Kelly being another, just two of the bold names in your profession, just a couple win streaks, losing streaks that cause you to be aware of? them their jobs. Coach.
Yeah, I mean, it's it's really unfortunately a sad reflection of our the world we're in right now, and we're not going to change it, certainly. Uh, you know, all of us that follow college sports, and I know you do, and you, you know, you're on a couple different levels, pros and what have you, but Uh I spent six years in the NFL. In a lot of ways, we've become the NFL, although Yeah, we we lack some of the good things the NFL has, start with the salary cap, start with Clear enforcement and consistent enforcement of rules and regulations.
So we don't do that. You know, but a lot of the bad things that come with that have crept into our existence. And those are two illustrations. There's more than two. I remember when Coach Helton got fired at Southern Cal a couple years ago.
I believe it was in September, and that that kind of struck me as interesting in that You know, if you had that kind of doubt going into a season, I'm not sure why you'd have a coach in place. To me, those are decisions that typically get made in the offseason. But, and again, there may have been something under the surface on any of these. uh decisions that you know we're not knowledgeable of but I just, I think it's a really clear message right now for everybody involved in this is you better win and you better win now. At least in most places.
I've referenced this a million times. I grew up in Pittsburgh. Yeah, I'm kind of kind of a simple minded person, I guess. I just look at the basics. And Steelers have been pretty successful for a long time.
They've had three coaches since 1969 when Chuck Knoll got hired. And I think the impressive thing about that is that their leadership has changed. Obviously, Art Rooney Sr. is no longer alive or running the organization, but. Despite who's been making the decisions within the Steelers, they've remained.
True to their philosophy, and outsider looking in, it just seems like. You know, when they run into issues, they don't have a season maybe that lives up to their expectations. They don't panic, they address things and they try to solve problems instead of just cleaning house. And there's a lot of ways to approach things. I'm not being judgmental, but.
I guess my lean would be towards that solution. I think that makes more sense. And typically, it's the best thing for long-term success. But nobody's really thinking about long-term stuff right now. That's not a real popular mode of thinking.
Well, it just seems that it's a little bit, for the lack of a better phrase, Coach, off the rails when a governor of a state. um says something that that leads to a change in an athletic department. And that comes is born out of a coach being fired potentially because of a A tweet that was sent out from the governor's office, and that's just one situation.
So, I guess my question to you is: what would the fix be? I know you just mentioned how the Steelers run their organization. That's even an outlier in the NFL. Forget about college football as well. And certainly what's going on with you in Iowa is an outlier in college football as well with 27 years in counting.
So, what would you say? I've got three kids in the profession, and I worry about that. Three of my sons, our boys are all coaching, and I do worry about that. You know, so it just, yeah, it's, it's a, you know, there's different ways to look at everything. Yeah, and I think you touched on something.
I think it's really important, and I've noticed that in coaching. Obviously, you know, NIL revenue share, all that stuff, it's a new world for us. But the biggest thing in my mind that's changed. It's just the noise from social media. Um, you know, I spend a lot of my time trying to think about, like, you know, what are our guys here and what kind of And that's always been true in coaching.
Like, you know, you worry about what are parents or family members talking to players about. You know, in the old days it used to be you had to go to a bar, tavern, or a barber shop to I hear all the chatter and what's wrong in the world, all that stuff. And now. You know, it's accessible to everybody.
So. It's just a different you know a different environment than it used to be that way. Not always healthy, unfortunately. A lot of good things on the internet, I'm sure, and social media. But yeah, it just presents a different challenge.
I think that's influenced the way a lot of people think, including people making decisions on the futures of programs. You know, I just always go back to Marv Levy. Had a great quote about, you know, if you listen to the people in the stands too much, you're going to be sitting with them. And I think that's a, if you're in a leadership position, you really need to kind of, you know, bear that in mind. I don't know if you heard Drake May had a, you know, all his wise years of 23, 24 years old, he said about what his social media, he says, why would I, you know, receive criticism from somebody I wouldn't take advice from?
I heard that and I'm like, okay, like that, that sounds reasonable. You know what I mean? Like, that's something you should put on a pyramid behind you. You know what I mean? I do, Rich.
And yeah, it's something I tell our players all the time. You think about life, I mean, how many. How many people do you really care what they think about you and what you're doing? And fortunately, I think most of us have some people in our life, whether it's parents, mentors, et cetera, that mean a lot to us. You know, how they view us and how they view the decisions we make, that is important.
Yeah, but they're not on social media typically.
So I've never understood why anybody would even care. what somebody you don't know, you've never met, thinks about you, or that type of thing. But in the world we're living in right now, it's a pretty powerful pull. I think you just got to try to be as proactive as you possibly can at the people you work with and the people you care about, starting with your kids at home. It's a really challenging time, I think, to be a parent, to be an educator, certainly a coach.
And it's just really interesting times right now. Yeah, I'm with you on that front. I only take that sort of stuff from people in my inner circle and George Kittle. I'll take it from George. There you go.
You know what I mean? Good Iowa guy. Like every tight end in the National Football League, you know? It's pretty much. His story's a good one for sure.
Oh, that's for sure. Do you got a good kittle story? Do you ever have to? I actually coached his dad. I'm old enough, I coached his dad in 1981.
My first year here, he was our left tackle. Captain on the team that went from after 19 straight losing seasons for Big Ten champions that year. And Bruce was a big, big part of that. Great, great football player. But the real reason we offered George was because Bruce's wife, Jan, was a phenomenal athlete, phenomenal basketball player at Drake.
And her and her sister, Barb, just beat the heck out of Bruce and I once in a two-on-two game. I had a whole different level of appreciation for women athletes after that point. But yeah, that's where George's athleticism comes from, from mom, not from dad. I appreciate you confirmed that for us. Good luck against Oregon.
Let's do this again real soon. Thanks for the time, coach. Good to be with you, Rich Eisen. Good back at you. That's Kirk Ference of Iowa football right here on the Rich Eisen Show.
That wraps up hour number one. When we come back, we'll set up the Thursday Night Football game as well as revisit. the trade deadline. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
