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Now, on with the show. Coach, what do you think went wrong? What do you mean? This is the Rich Eisen Show. Up Seth Madness, VCU.
The Rich Eisen Show. Oh, High Boy Panthers, Stun, Wisconsin. We played somebody now. Feels unreal. Do not know how good of a team we have, but nobody would play us.
Today's guests: actor Josh Dumell, basketball hall of famer Chris Weber, NFL Network Insider Tom Palisero. And now, it's Rich Eisen. All right, everybody, welcome to this March Madness Friday edition of the Rich Eyes and Show. Everybody, right here in the Disney Plus ESPN app neighborhood, ESPN Radio listeners, hello to you. SiriusXM channel 80 listeners, hello to you.
And the podcast listeners, I say hello to you even though you really can't do that. To me, right now, by calling 844-204-RICH. That's just the people who are listening or watching us live.
So we say hello to all of you out there, 844-204-RICH, as I mentioned again, is the number to dial here on this busy Friday. One individual that we added late to our guest roster. Is a gentleman named Flynn Clayman, who is the head coach of High Point University's basketball program. He's going to be joining us in the middle after Hall of Famer Chris Weber, who called four games of March Madness from Oklahoma City yesterday, many of them blowouts. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the crew, the tight games were elsewhere.
He's going to be joining us in hour number two of this show. Josh Jumel is soon to be walking into our green room. We'll bring him out. And speaking of handsome devils, Tom Pellicero and his mullet will be on the program as well. I did mean you as well, Chris Brockman.
Good to see you. Setting me up. Mike Del Tufo, now officially in his seventh decade of life. Good to see you, Mike Del Tufo. I don't feel any older, Richard.
No, you don't. Good to see you. TJ Jefferson, the actual candle that you now have is lit. Good to see you over there. Good to see you.
That's how I'll turn that on. How are you doing? What's up? How was the birthday, Mikey? Good?
It was good. Good. It was good. Awesome. Good to see you again.
Happy 60th birthday to you from yesterday. Listen, uh you know how I feel about um us. The best thing about us. Here, The Rich Eisen Show is it's about us. The best thing about us, though, is it's about us.
That's the mantra of Rich Eisen. Productions unit, if you will, of our Or um are part of our operation that lets everybody know that we know what we're doing around here. We can go home now. That's right. And so, you know, I think I'm number one.
We're number one. But in actuality, today, We really are, as the royal we, I'm 9,766,907. That's one hell of a foam finger to hold up.
Well, that's what my bracket is. After getting just a little bit above 64.5% correct yesterday. I think you and I are tired. I also had 11 right yesterday. That's quite the foam finger.
9 million. Anybody else get more than 11 in this room yesterday? Not me. No, not me.
Well, listen, I did not see High Point coming. Who could? All right. Wisconsin saw 'em coming. You know who saw High Point coming?
The people at High Point. And that was, you know, uh With all due respect, To them, I was disrespectful when I Before he went out out the door yesterday, I'm like, hey, it's Wisconsin 5 High Point 3. That's going to be their high point of the day. They're from High Point, North Carolina. But don't bump it.
Now I know a lot more about High Point. That I was wrong. I should be more respectful. Just because they're one of those mid majors that wins thirty games coming in low C doesn't mean that they can't bring their big time game and bounce Wisconsin one and done. And in so doing, In so doing, serve notice.
on many fronts. Many fronts as the coach Flynn Clayman did immediately. to a microphone after it was all done talking about the way teams get seated or respected or even have to gain entry despite winning 30 games. like say Miami of Ohio, By trying to grab the respect of a group of people sitting in a room deciding whether they make it or not. And The way they did it.
as well. Here's a number for you. 0 for 4, Chase Johnston. who is uh a grad student at High Point. Hoping for a career a career in the ministry.
Oh. He was old for four. From the field. Two-point range all season long. A three-point Shooting artist.
And of all the people. who has a clear fast break path to the basket for an easy lay up to put High Point up for good. It's this kid. Putting High Point above Wisconsin for good on his only two-point make of the season. You cannot Make this sort of stuff up.
And that's why we watch March Madness. Right there with all, again, due respect to Wisconsin and the Badger faithful. This is not any sort of oh, you We're the only team to beat Michigan at home this year, so I'm bitter. I am not. As a matter of fact, I do root for the Big Ten in the NCAA tournament.
Because I want Certainly, Michigan's accomplishment to look better because these teams are tough. And Wisconsin's a tough team, they just ran into a tougher one. On Thursday. And then the coach was just all sorts of brass knuckles after the game. Uh on live TV.
and then echoed exactly what he said on live T V after the game, saying that They're trying to change a system. not just advance to the round of 32 and beyond. In the summer. When we get those shot tracker numbers back. And there's 63 schools in the country that have it, and we're number one every week, and shots taken.
They could talk about whatever we have, but we're working. We're selfless. And it's pretty obvious to me that something needs to be done about this non-conference scheduling. High Point in Miami, Ohio or 2-0 in quad 1 games. We couldn't get games.
They couldn't get games. Akron couldn't get games. UNCW couldn't get games. Belmont couldn't get games. We won 22 of our last 23 games, and we didn't move up one spot in the metrics.
Not one. We won 22 of our 23. We've won 25 games by double digits. That team right there is a fantastic team that beat five top ten teams. If we can get games like this on neutral courts and some home games, I think we'd know who's really the best teams.
I'm proud of these dudes, and we're not just here to win one game, we're here to get to the Sweet 16. Woof! I just get a new favorite head coach. Come to Syracuse, bro. I'll be honest with you.
I saw that, and that is why I picked up my phone and reached out to. Our booking staff and said, I'd like the coach, please. And he's joining us in hour number two of this show. And next up for them is Arkansas. Darius Akoff.
And they've been on point versus high point. They Just absolutely. dismantled Hawaii. And there was no 13 seed Cinderella. And every single year, there's a 12-seed that bounces a five-seed in the first round.
And High Point was it this year with Wisconsin. We'll see what. Happens the rest of the way here on this Friday at one point as well. On Thursday, I thought Sienna was going to bounce Duke. They were up by 11 and a half.
And then they were in this game with six minutes to go. And Um it was with six minutes to go. Your guy, Jerry McNamara, the head coach of Siena, until hopefully you hear the news that he's going to be the next head coach at Syracuse. Fingers crossed. That's what you're hoping for there.
You're not the only Syracuse fan that I know of that's thinking that way. Um that we were beginning to realize in this game. as it was unfolding. that Coach McNamara was treating his starters like Coach Dale did in Hoosiers. Which is like Those are my guys on the floor.
That's it. And sure enough, until thirty seconds to go.
Okay. Until 30 seconds to go when Coach McNamara put someone from his bench on the floor, I guess, to take fouls. Because Duke had finally gotten to the point where Sienna was desperate. And time was running out, that they needed more possessions in a game where they would hope that the clock would run as fast as it could. Uh Sienna had not.
made a single substitution.
So you, Chris, will have to just rely on previous games as hoping McNamara is the next head coach at Syracuse that he does have substitution plans that can be implemented during a game to keep his troops fresh. Of course. But it did seem like Like Tibbs was coaching this team? Yeah. That was it.
Well, after the game, you know, after Duke survived. for just a six-point victory over the 16 seeded You know, Davids from Sienna. And this is what McNamara said about his his plan. I thought we needed Riley and Francis on the court at all times because of their size. Um Yeah, I said it yesterday about Boozy's I thought we did a good job on him.
What do you finish with? Like, it's a stud. The way we looked, the way it felt to me, I went with the group that I found. Thought. Um could give us the best chance.
I thought Zay Henderson changed the fairfield game in Atlantic City for us. Christian Jones has won us multiple games. I just thought with the size of their guards today, it was the best lineup to give us the chance. Um doesn't mean those guys aren't great players. They are, and they've helped us a lot this year.
It was just, I felt like with the The r rhythm of the game that we had. Um it was the right And I asked him You know, not that they would tell me the truth when I say, Are you good? You know, they tell me, Yeah, I would tell my coach the same thing, yeah, fine, regardless. Man, almost had another 16-seed take care of business against not just any one seed, the number one overall seed in this tournament. Our friends at ESPN Insights.
Telling Duke Blue Double fans that, you know, after they wiped their brows, guess what? They're just the eighth one seed in NCAA tournament history to win by six or fewer points against a 16-seed three of the previous seven. lost their next game. Only one of them went on to reach the Final Four. That was Illinois back in 1989 when my school took care of business against them.
to win The whole shooting match against Del Tufo's alma mater.
Sorry to bring that up, Mike, but 89 is the year. And next up for Duke is TCU. which survived and advanced against Ohio State.
So, keep this in your mind's eye unless Duke does just survive and advance and then keep advancing. But one ACC team from Tobacco Road did not advance yesterday despite having a nineteen point lead with thirteen minutes and change to go over VCU, and that's North Carolina. got bounced to complete our first day. Roundup of glass slippers. Fitting?
And Pumpkins turning into carriages. Virginia Commonwealth University. Behind Phil Martelli's Kid. Came back from 19 points down. That is the largest comeback in the tournament since 2019.
And North Carolina, man. had it in 18-point lead with 13 minutes to go, a 13-point lead with 7 minutes to go, with 7-11 remaining. North Carolina had seventy points. and finish this game. Threw overtime with seventy eight.
That's it. Just eight points in the final, 7-11 of regulation, and the five minutes of overtime. That's. all she wrote There. And Hubert Davis is getting roasted.
Roasted by the Carolina Blue Faithful. That that championship is the only thing, I guess, that's is the flotation device. Right now. And this is what he had to say when asked, what went wrong? Here it Coach, what did you generally, what do you think went wrong?
What do you mean? This tool. My good score in the last Four or five minutes of game.
Well, I mean to go back Um What Seth said, I mean Ew. Just because you miss a shot doesn't mean something's wrong. We had open looks, we had shots at the basket, we had. executed plays and We missed eight free throws. And Sometimes the ball doesn't go in.
Sometimes the ball doesn't go in.
Sometimes it also doesn't hit the rim when you have to on a free throw you're purposely trying to miss. That was the ultimate gut punch. was the attempt of the free throw at the end. was just slammed against the backboard. leaving the Analysts and um Play by Playman on CBS.
and I and Eagle and um Grant Hill and Bill Rafter are here to say this is something that needs to be practiced, which does not bode well on the coach. and VCU advances. And had they not. I would have been far worse than 9,700 in change. Because that was one of the few I nailed.
Ooh, you picked this up. Did you? I did.
So that's helped me get to $9.7 million in change in our bracket challenge in the... ESPN pool. Not a boy. But that is basically I mean everything else was kind of chalky There were some tight games, but those were the three headlines. from Thursday that I wanted to start the show with.
And again, high points head coach. If Flynn Clayman is going to be joining us in hour number two, after Chris Weber. Hall of Famer joins us. We'll talk about my alma mater. Looking like it was going down the path of Duke against our own 16-seed until the second half hit.
You were a little stressed first half, weren't you? I will recount my taking in of that game on this program. My take of the Lakers are on a big fat run that's going to take them deep into the spring, if not summer. That uh that take got A lot less warm. Yeah.
It's not a hot take. It's not a cold take. I think it's right down the middle, and Lucas 60 last night with LeBron playing. And um And Austin Reeves playing on back-to-back nights. What a week the Lakers have had.
We'll talk about them later on in this program. Tom Pellisero, hour number three, but let's take a break because he's too handsome to not put on television the first second I can. The actor Josh Dumell, he's brought his brackets. Wait until he hear who he says is going to cut down the Nets in Indy. That's coming up.
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We had such great experiences that whenever we travel somewhere new, we always check Airbnb first to find a place that fits our needs. The homes we've stayed in, comfortable, safe, private. You feel like you're part of the community. After a long day of exploring or sitting on a beach, it really is nice to come back to a place you can call your own. Airbnb is also a great way, if you want, to earn some extra money while you're traveling or out of your house for an extended period of time.
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Find out how much at airbnb.com/slash host. Um The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Josh Dumell is here on The Rich Eisen Show. Our radio audience just returned. We just saw a clip of preschool available now on digital.
Third film you've directed. You're acting in it as well. Two dads in London trying to get their kids into a preschool with only one spot remaining, and the hijinks begin. I think anybody with kids will relate to this.
Well, I was about to say, especially if you live out here or in New York. Exactly. What I'm saying is that, well, anywhere in the country where you're just trying to get your kid into a school because you just know that this is a major opportunity and things like that. Right, it is. I mean, we'll do anything to give our kids a leg up in life, you know?
It's kind of like breaking bad for school without the drugs, pretty much. Exactly. You never know what you're going to do for your family. And maybe this movie gives a little bit of perspective on how. Crazy, we can get as parents at times because I'm fully guilty of it too.
I mean, we just went through it, like I said, with my two-year-old, and it is a full-on crazy. Competition. You really got to jump through all the hoops to get your kid in.
Now, the awkwardness potentially about this, because I'll ask you what I. I asked Larry David when he was here a couple times ago. about when he had that Episode of Curb. where it wasn't his golf club. On TV, but it might have been his golf club in real life about the Swan and all that stuff about getting on the golf course.
He's making a little bit of fun of the management of the golf club that's not really his. And I'm like, did you run into anything with the people running into the golf club saying, are you making fun of us? Are you making fun of us? Yeah. Is that what's potentially at stake here with the actual preschool that your children are in?
I hope they don't take offense to that because it would be. A shame if our kid couldn't get into school going forward because I made this stupid movie about preschool. But, you know, it is very-I'm not be held responsible. This is art. Or maybe it'll help me.
I don't know. It could. We'll see. It could just treat you right, treat your family, treat your kid right. Otherwise, you can make a movie.
Yeah. Put it out on digital and come on this show, promote it, and then look out. You let my kid in, I'll make another one. Not bad.
Now they're in. Suddenly they're in a Harvard. What the hell?
Okay, very good.
So, congrats on that. Thank you, sir. Thanks for having me. Of course, you got it. Let's talk March Madness.
Ooh, let's talk about the fun stuff.
Okay. Well, this movie is fun as well.
So let's talk about it. We have your final four. Are you ready to go? This is Josh Dumel's final four. What do we got?
Duke, Michigan. Vanderbilt and Purdue. Yeah. With Purdue taking on Duke in the championship game and then going back to West Lafayette, Indiana. With the nets cut down.
Wow. Yeah. Yeah, is that where the championship is? They're in Indianapolis. Right.
So it's in the state of Indiana. The final four is in Indiana. Is in Indiana. I didn't even know that when I picked Purdue. That's right.
That could be good. You didn't even know that they didn't know that. It's a drive. It would be a drive for people to go see them in the final. And honestly, when I picked these teams, I wasn't doing this to like, you know, beat Michigan because I knew I was coming here.
If I was really trying to, you know, play Kate Rich, I would have picked Michigan over Purdue. But. It didn't even cross my mind.
Okay, you know, honestly, I saw Purdue play in the Big Ten. Championship, and they look really good. They did. They beat Michigan. Yeah, they look really good.
They played four games in four days, which they're not going to have to do here. You know, you get a day off and then a week off if you keep advancing. But Michigan's good.
So that's it.
So you watched the Big Ten championship game, and you're like, when you're sitting down, you're like, okay, they're on a roll. I'm going to take them. Yeah, I haven't watched a lot of college basketball. I usually watch most of my college basketball. Not many people do.
This is a dart throw, just for most people.
So it's like, you know, I just pick, I just go by pure. Yeah. Instinct.
Okay. Who do I think is going to win this game? And I happen to see. Purdue play and they looked really good. I was like, I'm gonna go with them.
Where did Vanderbilt come from? I just like that university. I'd love my kid. I'd love my kid to go there someday. And they better get in, otherwise, you'll make a movie.
That's right. That's the next movie. But Vandy on notice right now. But no, I felt like, you know, I can't just put ones and twos in there. I wanted to throw a little wrench into it.
And Vanderbilt, for whatever reason, stuck out. And I'm going with Vandi.
Okay. Duke is really good. I know Duke and Purdue are, or Duke and Michigan are really good. That's probably who's going to end up in the championship.
So at one point yesterday. Sienna was Ready to turn your bracket into the shredder. I think it would have turned a lot of brackets into the shredder. Don't you think? Yeah.
I'm guessing a lot of people have Duke, right? Duke was the most popular champion pick on the ESPN bracket. Duke is? Yeah. 23%, I think, of all brackets, over 30 million had Duke winning.
Do you have Duke winning, TJ? I do.
Well, because you're a Duke fan. Me too. Yes. Were you sweating it out? Yeah.
Not really. You knew they were going to come back. Yeah, I mean, you kind of just. There was a point, though. You're right.
Like, halftime, Josh, we were here watching the game. Rich is going crazy. We had to game on the big screen over there.
So Rich is making it seem like it was a rat. Then they went up by like, what, 9, 11? And I was like, is this really? They were never up by that many. They were never up by that many.
No, they were up by 10. They didn't get up by nine at one point. Yeah, they were up by nine or ten. I don't think so. Michigan plays today, right?
No, they played yesterday. Oh, they did. They won. They played yesterday. And they only had a one-bucket lead at halftime.
And I'm like, I was against who again? I was against Howard University. Oh, that Howard. Howard University. That's all they were doing.
They reigned in 10 threes in the first half. 10. Howard did? Yes, they did. See, that's the thing.
Everybody named Howard got in on it. One of these teams gets hot. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day. That's the beauty of this tournament. That is the beauty of this tournament.
You know, it's like, it's so, it's such a, it's one of my favorite events this tournament. And I'll be honest with you, because you don't strike me as a special. Fightful man by any stretch. No.
Okay. You go about your life. Just don't, just don't cross me. Just don't cross you. I understand.
Me being a Michigan Wolverine, and I did choose Michigan over Duke in the final game.
Okay. Okay. Shocker. No, it's okay. It's all right.
It's Michigan over Duke in the final game. And I am somebody who wants my bracket to be great. Certainly since this show is now on ESPN, I'm this is my first time I've been in a any in an ESPN bracket pool for people to see in Almost a quarter century.
So there's a lot of eyes on it. I was ready to sacrifice all of that just to see Sienna beat Duke. I was ready to flush the whole damn thing. I was, I would, happily. Happily would have done a video of taking a lighter and just light it up.
I was thinking about it. It didn't happen, man. Yeah. Hey, but you know, it'd be one thing if you pick Michigan. Yes.
On and off year, but they are really good. I don't ever choose them. I don't ever choose them. I really feel it this year, but next up is St. Louis.
St. Louis looked good again. They sure did. They scored over 100 points. Spank.
Michigan and St. Louis, I think, were the only ones to crack triple digits yesterday. I picked NDSU to win. Against Michigan State. And then I picked him to win the next, the next.
That's right. So you're I'm such a North Dakota homer that I, you know, so you did Pete. I did.
I picked him to go to the Sweet 16. That's not going to work out for you. Yeah. Sorry, Coach Richmond. Illinois scored 105 yesterday.
Okay, so that's the third team then. Three teams scored. Three teams scored in triple digits. Where what pool are you in? Is it just a family?
We have a couple little ones with friends and stuff, but nothing too serious. I entered one with some kids from the lake cabin who wanted to do one.
Okay. You know, it's just a it's fun just to talk about the where? From what?
So we have a lake cabin in Minnesota, so we spend a lot of time out there and a bunch of kids my son's age.
Okay. How old? Uh, twelve. Twelveish. And so this feels like another movie.
The kids and their dad, and they all wanted to, you know, get in a little pool.
So we're doing that too. Are you on a text thread with these kids? Yes. I'm not. I'm on with the dad.
Oh. Oh, I would think. My son is on with them. Dude, you got to get in on these text chains with the 12-year-olds. It's all about trash talk.
No, that's right. You got to get in the sandbox. Even though none of us know anything about who's going to win, but they all feel that they do. And they want to school you. Oh, my son thinks he's going to crush me.
Oh, is that right? Yeah, he might, actually. And? He's you got 10 right hot do we know how many 10 and six in our house right now all 10 and 6. Yeah, what are what are you here?
Uh, 11. 11. You and I have 11. TJ has 12. Because you chose High Point, didn't you?
Did you? I mean, you know, you picked High Point? I did.
The reason being, I know a five is never won an NCAA tournament.
So every year I tried to pick at least two 12s to. To beat a five. And I just, I went. And it usually happens. Yeah.
Who's the other 12 that you chose, TJ? The other 12 was: hold on. You got High Point, you got Akron. I chose Akron to the sweet 16. Oh, really?
Yeah. I think why. Do you know anything about them? No, I haven't seen a single game of Akron. I know where it is.
It's just Bronstown. I know they make tires. Yeah. The zips are there. The zips?
The zips? Yeah. Yeah. I know zip. About Accra.
But it's just a feeling. And I think that's what you gotta kind of go on. The matching is going on here. And they're ready to go. They're ready to match high point for high point.
Who do they play? They take on Texas Tech. And then they take on the winner of Alabama Hofstra.
Okay. And I chose them to advance. Really? The Sweet 16. I also Chose Who else did I?
I chose St. Mary's to do that.
Okay. And they got blown out yesterday.
So that's not good. St. Mary's got blown out by. Texas St. M.
A and M, that's right. That's right. How about the how about the longhorns? Dude. I know.
And the women's bracket, the Longhorns are a one seed, and I'm hoping my Michigan Wolverines take them on at some point. All right. So it's just pride. It's no money, and you're not in any sort of pool like that. No.
No famous sports. I'm not a big gambler, to be honest. I love sports. I love to watch it. I don't ever.
It's not even that I'm against it. I just am too lazy.
Okay. So maybe too cheap. Are you ready? Before we cycle back to your film and then let you on with the rest of your Friday, sir. Are you ready for Kyler Murray?
To be the starting quarterback of your Minnesota Vikings because that's going to happen. First of all, before I get to that, I meant to say congratulations to my niece's basketball team. Mine high. Mina High won the state girls' basketball tournament. No kidding.
Last weekend. Hey, they've got one of the best girls. Probably the best girl ever to come out of North Dakota is going to Oklahoma.
Okay. Named Lily.
Okay. So she's just want to say congratulations to the Mina High Magicians girls. Minor High Magicians. They deserve it. They should have won it the last couple of years and they didn't, so they finally got one.
Okay, fantastic. Anyway, Kyler Murray. Yes, sir. I trust in KOC. Um I don't want to give up on McCarthy yet because I do think that, you know, sometimes that happens, and then that guy goes on to play great somewhere else.
So let's make sure. You know, he gets the proper opportunity. But Kyler Murray, I think, is one of those guys that, you know, similar to Sam Darnold. was maybe not the best situation in Phoenix. Uh he's little.
That's correct. But he is like a video game. That dude is such an athlete that he picks up for his lack of size, and he's got a ton of ability. He's number one overall pick. Which is why he's going to beat out my guy, J.J.
McCarthy, for the starters gig. Because again, I believe in J.J. McCarthy. I'm patently disappointed that he's not going to get the week one start for Minnesota just straight out of the box because they have to stay committed to him. Yeah, I agree.
That they are playing it by a half measure, and I understand why they are doing that.
Well, he got hurt a lot last year, and I think that he, you know. I think they should have thrown him into the mix earlier last year. Like, he didn't play much even in the preseason last year.
Well, I mean, he was coming off of an injury, and week one was a disaster until it wasn't. Then week two was a disaster, then he got hurt. Then he comes back. And then, you know, part of what I think they're. I don't know what's going on inside the building.
I'm not there. I don't see it. I think. But as you said, Kevin O'Connell is a coach of the year and one of the best quarterback whisperers out there, and him you should trust. But it looks like if we're going to take Kyler Murray and throw him into a straight-up.
100% may the best man win competition. A guy that's gotten almost 90 career starts and is a first overall pick who's coming on 1.3 million bucks. You take a flyer on him for at least the first third of the season and see what happens. I think that, and then I don't know how you turn back to McCarthy.
Well, hey, these careers can take any. Trajectory. I mean, you look at Darnold, you look at Daniels. There's so many examples of that.
So, McCarthy's not done by any means. I think he is a really talented kid. Right.
But he's got to have competition. You know, you can't just anoint him the quarterback having not proven himself yet. And if Kyler Murray's sitting there You know, may the best man win. And, you know, these guys get hurt. They both get hurt, these two.
Correct. You never know what's going to happen. I think that is ultimately going to be good for him. I think KOC's really got. A great handle on how to develop these guys.
And I think that they're both going to benefit from having him as their head coach. Yeah, I hear you on that. And if Murray can't go and then JJ can, and he does well, Do you then go back to Kyler when he's again these are things that you can't You know, we're gaming it out as fans because there's no games yet to be played. I don't think there's any sort of long-term loyalty to Kyler. If he comes in and balls out, yeah, he's the guy.
But, you know, if he doesn't ball out, or even if. You know, whatever, or if he gets hurt and JJ comes in and plays well, they're going with JJ. I think half of it is that they still. Need to see more from JJ and think that either the competition will bring it out or the fact that they still need to see more from him, they need to have a better option than, say, Carson Wentz, who they still even signed yesterday. I'm still a big fan of Carson Wentz.
Well, I know you can't quit these North Dakota guys, right? Right.
So he had no protection last year. He actually played well until he just did JJ. He didn't either. No.
Okay. He did not have that protection either. The offensive line that was a strength was a liability because of all the injuries. There were so many amounts of injuries. Let's hope that that O-line can stay healthy, and then we'll see what this team is really about.
Right.
And so there's that. And I think the other part of this is you keep mentioning Darnold's name for a reason. The fact that he then went on to win a Super Bowl somewhere else, no question, is something that still echoes within that building. That is a painful thing in Vikings Nation. And I sat here last year and I said I didn't think we should get rid of Darnold.
I'm on record so And we can look it up. Look it up, everybody. But because you don't win 14 games and then get rid of them, but I understand why, because they're bringing in McCarthy and he was sort of an unknown, but it's just like. He was he's such a good quarterback. But nobody believed because he had two bad games at the end of that 14-win season.
Which is why they're not going to do that again this year. And if Murray, it costs them a million three. That's all it costs them. Right.
It's a free roll. And again, he's one of those quarterbacks that has been in a situation that probably didn't bring out his. Is best play. You're assuming.
So we'll see. If KOC can pull that out of him, I'm excited to see what I think you're going to. That's what I'm saying. It's just if it's a straight-up competition, as much as I love McCarthy and believe in him and trust in him, just this, the, the, The chance of him beating him out because probably not great. I mean, it's not like Kyler's like 37.
That's okay. He's not even 30.
Some of these guys sit for two or three years before they get in there, and it's probably, it's probably a good thing for him to sit there and keep learning. And He's got all the talent. It's just a matter of. When he comes and is able to show it. Did you see?
He said he grew up a Vikings fan? Did you see that? McCarthy did? No, Kyler. Did he?
Yeah, because he played for a team called the Vikings when he was a kid. Oh, I love that. And he said that he. He's the same size now. Yo.
I'm sorry, quarterback now. I'm excited to have you as our quarterback. I really am because you're an insane athlete. It's just, you know, it was too easy. It was, we can't all be 6'5.
Yeah, we all can't be in Transformers. Bull head of hair. You know what I mean? Movie star. Calm down over there.
I know. That was mean. That was really mean. But it was just, it was such lucky. I'm assuming the two of you have something in common because he did say at his press conference that he cried real tears when Farr threw that interception against the Saints.
Oh, so did I, though. That's what I'm saying. Oh, I still haven't forgiven Sean Payton for that. Hmm. You tell them that whenever you see him that Bountygate whole situation.
Oh, okay. Look at you. You're bringing it all up from the past. And I like the Broncos. It's just hard to root for him with that guy as their head coach.
Okay. Josh Dumella spitting. Told you I was spiteful. There we go. I finally dug it out of you.
I finally dragged you down to my level. Check out preschool available right now on digital. And I wish you the best of luck, obviously, with this. And with your kids at the school, like you're happy with the school that they're in, right? In real life, he hasn't started yet.
He's okay, and he's still in. Can we get him in? We're still changing diapers. He's, I mean, it doesn't really matter what preschool he goes to, does it? Or maybe it does.
Well, I mean, if you want him to color in between the lines, sir, you know, outside the line. There you go. Then you get to take him to a certain preschool. You know what to do. This is not your first rodeo, sir.
Yes. Not at all. And I have a little girl on the way. Hey, congratulations. Girl dad.
Nice. Is this your first girl? My first girl. Oh, okay. It's a different story.
It really is. Yeah, man. She's going to have you wrapped, pal. When is she arriving? June.
Oh, a June baby. Fantastic.
Well, congratulations. Think about naming her Rich. Is that right?
Okay. Workshop that one.
Okay. I'd workshop that one. Just, you know, for happy life is all I'm saying. All right. On all that.
But do you have a name picked out? We do, but my wife would kill me if I told you. Let's not do that. Happy life again. Just over and over again.
Josh Dumel at Josh Dumel on all forms of social media. And again, while you're on digital, check out preschool, starring this man and directed by this man, Josh Dumel. Best of luck to you and the Purdue Boilermakers and Minnesota Vikings, all in one. Let's go, baby. And preschool.
Back here on the Rich Eisen Show with your calls in a moment. All right. Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it. And you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled.
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Rich Eisen's show on the air on Disney Plus and ESPN the app. You want to watch us every day, 12 to 3 Eastern Time, greatly appreciate it. Women's March Madness is underway as well. Check out our bracket challenge there. Hopefully, you did join already because that's locked, right?
As soon as the game's played, you're. Yeah. Yeah. Who'd you guys pick to win that? I chose UCLA.
Oh. We're a U C L A household, sir.
So On the women's side. Interesting. Oh, yeah. Who'd you choose? You can't?
The Qs, obviously. Oh, Qs. Qs. Dude, aren't they like a nine-seed? Yeah.
Okay. We're going to upset Connecticut in the second round. That's a mighty call. We're going to go all the way to the championship. Wow.
And beat UCLA.
Okay. TJ, did you put in a bracket for the women's side? Of course I did. What did you get?
Well, much like, you know, I bought Arch Manning cards early. Oh, before I bought an AZ FUD card, I think when she was still a high school senior.
Okay. So rolling with, I don't like UConn, but I mean, come on, you got to go with it. I have three number ones and then Syracuse. Mikey? I mean, you can't go against Oriama.
Come on.
Okay. He's my guy. Oriama. But it's all good. But you don't work for paders.
You don't work the lady faders, do you? Yes, I do.
Okay. The lady faders. Yes, I do.
Okay. I'm sorry, tell me that. Insult. I insult you a little bit. REMA and REMA.
This is a sound bite I want to play for everybody. Uh means a lot to me. Certainly in this world where um Local Journalism. keeps contracting. Certainly, as a whole, not to go too deep into it.
But I also saw today that CBS News Radio is getting axed. And I'll just say this, the people who are dismantling. But Tiffany NETWORK'S NEWS OPERATION will have that on their record. Forever. And I can't believe that I heard this news today, but I'm a journalism.
Um Major From Northwestern, I went to the Medill School of Journalism. It means a lot to me. And That part of my resume, I wear it every day. every day. I know I'm a Michigan guy here.
Mm-hmm. Quite a bit. And we'll talk about my Wolverines in the March Madness brackets later on. But I bring this up all because it all started. Everything started.
Me sitting here, me winding up at ESPN, me going to Northwestern, it all started. in the student publications building. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, working for the Michigan Daily. There's incredible student publications all over the country. I'm proud of student publications.
I'm proud of this one in particular because it launched me to start a career in journalism. It launched my desire to write everything that I do on Game Day Morning, everything I did on Sports Center. Everything I'm going to do in future sports centers, dropping a little breadcrumb here. I write myself, I take pride in it. Phil Martelli, Jr.
After Virginia Commonwealth came up with that massive comeback win against North Carolina. Was in the press conference and shouted out the student journalists who were there. At the game at the press conference and kudos to him for this soundbite. Ben Rikosh, WBCW Sports Coach, walk us through the last. Hold on, I am going to shout you guys out.
Watch, I know there's a lot of professional media here. Our student media, the best in the country, they are unreal. Unreal, unreal. Three of these guys drove in a snowstorm. I'm not sure why they did it, but to Davidson, to cover Davidson, they came out to St.
Louis. They've been everywhere along the way. They did miss a game for foot, for one of them did miss, two of them missed a game for Valentine's Day, but we won't talk about that. I understand young love is young love. But this crew right here, like I told them in Pittsburgh, and I tell them again, cannot thank you guys enough.
You are what this is about, right there. And watch. I said it in Pittsburgh. The rest of these are getting paid, not enough. They don't get paid enough, but they are getting paid to be here.
They're now paid to be here, and they show up every single day, every single game. And I can't thank you guys.
Sorry, go ahead. No, I appreciate that. Those words truly mean a lot. It means a lot to me, too, man. I'm getting emotional thinking about it because I just was saying.
Because it does appear that was a television outfit, maybe, not just a student publication, but. Thank you for pointing that out, Coach. Because I was talking about how me And what I did for the Michigan Daily started everything. It almost ended everything as well. I covered the Michigan hockey team.
Up to um Lake Superior State University, which is in the upper peninsula of Michigan, and I almost spun off the Mackinac Bridge on black ice. driving with my colleague. Two Cover. That game drove all the way from Ann Arbor. into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to cover a hockey game.
because it meant that much To me, to be there and cover the team and become a journalist and figure out what it's like to be a sports journalist. It means a lot because those kids that he's shouting out Have a desire to get into this profession that I hope will have an opportunity for them because it keeps contracting. Because rich people decide what to spend money on and not. And for some reason, do not decide to spend the money. on journalism.
Which does Have a role in our lives. It does. You might not think it does, but it does. And not to go all serious here, but I heard that. I got really emotional.
Because I'm not here without the foundation of what I got at the student publication. Building. For the Michigan Daily at the University of Michigan, thank you, Coach Phil Martelli Jr., for that shout out. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
