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This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere.
Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show. We've got a podcast, so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part: our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com/slash rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment.
Now. On with the show. Come on to that. And Jackson Dark took a shot. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
If you get punched in the gut, Ian, are you going down? Ian O'Connor, are you going down? From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. No one's gonna trade anybody from the Chinese. Today's guests, Ole Miss Head Coach Pete Golding.
ESPN college football analyst Chase Daniel. Actor Jonathan Tucker. And now, it's Rich ISEN. Hey everybody, welcome to this edition of The Rich Eisen Show. Second straight day, it's a quarter zip day.
You know, because I'm just, again, looking out at these Major League Baseball games. People wearing hoodies, getting those mock necks going.
Somebody's got a moderate calf strain. It's wondering why the hell is the manager saying he's got a moderate calf strain when he plans on playing in the all-wild card series, even though people think he's not playing in the wild card series. Oh, is this thing really specific? Wait a minute. But it's 90 degrees here.
It's not really quarter-zip weather. You know what? This is what's called broadcasting. It's not called narrow casting.
Okay. At any rate, it looks great. On Disney Plus and the ESPN app. Hey, radio audience. You should call us too if you want.
Just like if you're watching us. ESPN Radio and SiriusXM Channel 80 audience. The number is 844-204-Rich. Number to dial. Pete Golding of Old Miss Football is going to join us.
Listen, I'm sure he's already page turned. Uh I'm sorry, I gotta turn the page back. I'm gonna do my best. Like last Saturday. I'm gonna do my best.
Yeah.
Okay. I haven't spoken to him. I mean, he's like, we'll talk Thursday. I'm like, all right, I'll take you.
Well, you got to talk about last Saturday, the big game against Florida as well. NFL season begins tonight for week three, and we got that. Uh teed up for Chase Daniel, who'll join us. And now we're number two. You got the Falcons and the Packers.
Jonathan Tucker's back here, one of our first ever in studio guests for a celebrity. Yeah, man. Because when this thing started close to now coming up on twelve years ago, Uh we were uh owned and operated by DirecTV. And um there is a big show uh that that he was in called Kingdom. And at any rate, he's back in support of American Hostage, which airs Sundays on MGM Plus, starring John Hamm.
So when John was taking his sweet ass time making draft choices in our best ball league saying, I'm sorry, I'm making prestige television. He's referring to shows like this one. Got it. Um And as I mentioned, 844-204-RICH, it's a higher register Thursday. Which means Chris Brockman.
Uh TJ Jefferson and I will give you our Opinions about the upcoming National Football League Week that we need to go high registering to believe in. Mm-hmm.
So that's coming up. John Hamm's last place in best balls. Oh, okay.
So he needs some help. You know what I mean? Yeah.
Just two weeks in. How are you, TJ? Good to see you. I mean, John Hamm's last place in best balls, but he's kind of like first place in life. Yes, it's true.
He's got the whole world in his hands. Good point. It's going to be a dad soon. Good to see you, Del Tufo, as well. Hey, Michael.
And what's up? Christopher Brock, what's up, Trevor? What up, man? What's up, Rich? What up, man?
Well, still trying to figure stuff out in the NFL. That's what I'm trying to do. Yeah, I mean, it's the very first week three of an NFL season that you've ever had. Without an appendix, that's true. You got to keep figuring out.
Look at you. Thanks for that. Thanks for that bit extender. We're going to keep extending that. Rich, this is a never-ending bit.
Your appendix is not coming back. It's not walking through that door. It's not coming back. Not walking through that door like Larry Bird. You're going to have your first birthday without the package.
How did you pale in your appendix? You're not walking through that door. I don't know where it is. But shouldn't I You don't want to hate anyone. I really dislike Rick Petino during those years.
I know he did. God, he was awful. I know. But he's trying to figure stuff out. Boop, boop, boop, boop.
We saw some teams in week one do something poorly, and then week two, fine. Week two, great. Week two, week one, great. Week two, poorly. You know, you got two and oh teams.
Um in uh Buffalo. Cincinnati Kansas City, Las Vegas. You got a 2-0 team sitting in Philadelphia. Got a 2-0 team sitting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minnesota.
And you got a 2-0 team sitting. In Seattle, Washington. Santa Clara, California. That's it. We're out of 2-0 teams, fresh out of those 2-0 teams.
You know, you got an 0-2 team sitting in Miami, Florida. Oh, baby. You got an 0-2 team. Sitting all over the NFC and AFC South. You had an 0-2 team sitting.
Our neighbors across the way. What's up with that? Yeah, I mean. And 0-2 teams sitting in Washington, D.C. could kind of figure out how close they were to the commanders to go in 2-0 even.
On the road against division opponents. You know?
So trying to figure out. Who's real and who's not?
So he came up with a new segment. We're going to do maybe every single week three of the NFL season. I like it. Here on out. As long as we're fortunate enough to have the runway here.
I've always been doing my best to have that runway right down the road from LAX here in Los Angeles, California. Uh we're calling it for real. Or for Gazey. This is the first I'm hearing this. Yeah.
That's right. That's because we made it up about 45 minutes. Everyone's wondering. How did you put your stuff together? Yeah, sometimes you just slap it together.
Here's what we're going to do. I want to initially call it funner for gays. Yeah, funny. And Chris is like, about for real or for real. For real.
Yeah.
Yeah, that makes sense. It does.
So we came up with this so recently we don't have a drop or anything for it. No, we know. It's just how you need to do it. We could swing it, I guess. How are we going to run this year?
I am going to run five teams by you.
Okay. And you are going to, TJ, chime in. Mike, nobody cares what you think. Oh, go. That was me.
For real. Yes. Or Fughazi.
Okay. Shut his mic off. No, no, don't do that. I would never do that. I need it for the first and hopefully of many editions of Farilla Ferghese.
We could even do this later on in the season. But really, no one does care what I, I mean, I don't know. That's not true. Mike, you're tremendously. Mike, you have a high skew rating on this.
Give us a little bit of background. Thank you so much. The first ever edition of Farilla Fergesi in the National Football League, Chris Brockman. First team up for bids, guys. They looked fantastic in week one, winning on the road.
Come back home. Loss. What happened? The Ravens? The Baltimore Ravens.
Oh, they're for real. I think they're for real. Let's get Zay Flowers back on the field and see what that looks like. I think you should pause before that and then let it drop go for real. Or Fuge.
Well, you say it. You say it. We're just working on that. You want to do that? You say it.
Okay, we're going to do that. Hold on, start again then. Go ahead. Go ahead. Good.
That's good. Rich, first item up for bids. Yeah.
They were one on the road and they lost at home. The Baltimore Ravens. For real or Fugazi. There we go. All right.
And I'll go for real. Yeah.
Whoa. I'll go for a come on, man. We're going to find out if the. I don't know if the Saints are one of the teams that you're giving me shortly. They're not.
Okay. They should be 2-0. The Saints are for real, too, I think.
So, um I'm disappointed in the way week two went for them. But you could see around the edges here that they're Improved defensively, and Derrick Henry is still Derrick Henry. Geo Brian Schottenheimer getting ready for him in uh in Brazil. Talking about how you never know how big he is until you stand next to him. I can't confirm that, by the way.
That's a fact. I can confirm that. Um And so the Ravens are for real. They've got the quarterback, they've got the running back, they've got the receiver and Zay Flowers when he comes back to Mark Andrews. Looks good so far.
Yes, sir. And defensively, they've got stars that can make a difference with a new way of doing things on offense and in the head coaching position.
So I like them. I think they're for real. Okay, great. What else? All right, that picture was my nightmares, by the way.
For the radio listeners, it was Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. That's what my nightmares are going to look like Saturday night. That's possible. Speaking of UTJ, this team lost a division road game in week one. Didn't look good doing it.
Went back home. Oh, Gaddy. The Dallas Cowboys. For real. Or frughese.
Hello. I'm gonna go for real. Ooh! I'm going for real. Because you want it to be for real?
No, because I well I said that was for real for months.
Well, yeah. Then I got very angry at you, TJ, for letting me down. Yes, you did. I mean, it was my fault. Oh, no, no.
I'm still going to put my hat on for real, whether they're Gaddy, the real. deal on offense, the greatest offense there is. There's one thing Defensively, I'm going to say they gave up, you know. Uh, twenty eight one week, gave up twenty the next. Hey, it's a high-register Thursday.
Progressively. I'm sorry. That looks like an improvement to me. You know?
800 points is not uh something to shake uh stick at. Yeah, Chris, like, how many spreads are more than eight, right?
Well, not often. For real. Often during the week. Cowboys are for real. Cowboys for real.
Yeah.
Alright, third up here. This team, whew, man, they gotta run all over. in week one, then did the running over in week two. Big game this week on the road, the Carolina Panthers. No, the panthers.
Are they for real? Are they for Gazey? Good one. For Gazy? It was my Christopher Walker.
Thank you, Christopher Fawkin. I still got a sig. No love for Bryce Young. It's not that I have no love for Bryce Young. Get out of here with that noise.
You know, I took Teteroa Macmillan in our best ball league, and I think he's going to be a thousand-yard receiver, and Coker's fifth in the league and receiving. How about Jonathan Brooks being out for six weeks now? It's a bummer, man. Catch a break. But Trube has been awesome.
Listen. We're gonna find out. How good Carolina's defense is at some point. I don't know if this week's going to be the test against Case Keenum potentially or Tyson Bajant in the Bears offense, but. Pardon me against Cleveland coming home with Deshaun Watson, is what I'm saying.
So I'm going to say they're. Offensively, they're for real. Defensively, I'm going to go for gaze. But the baby here. I'm just perspective.
I mean Jack Strand, everybody. Private debt. Yeah, I mean back strand. Yeah.
Seems like that, again, that was the pilot of the show they're trying to pitch to go after. What R.J. Tucker? Right. Yeah.
Is that what it is? Did I get that right? R.J. Tucker, yeah. Yeah, good show.
Thank you. On ABC. Jack Stran. Jack Stran. We won't see him tonight.
Starring. Paul Rose. I shouldn't say that, but we might. Jack Stran coming up. We might.
No way. What else? Okay, two more. Uh-huh. This team.
By the way, I like Fereila Fregazi. I'm enjoying this. Enjoying it so far. Played well, tight defensive win at home to start the season. Went on the road, kinda got their butts kicked.
We talked to Cam Hayward this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stealers. For real, Or Flughesi. Sure. Hmm.
Can I say they're for real in terms of um Um being above 500. For the season? Huh? I think they're forgazing on offense. That's where I'm thinking right now.
Are they more likely to be a little bit more? I mean, what was that about with Rogers saying, you know, that he needs to do a better job of telling them what plays to call better? I don't know, man. I don't know what that was. And could DK Metcalf?
Like, let's go, man. The season started.
So they're for Gazy? Yeah.
Yeah, I think that's the way I'm going on that one. He the running back practice yesterday. Oof. Oof. Cincinnati's coming to town, too.
What else, Chris? Last one, last one. This is a team that made it all the way to the AFC Championship game last year. Looked horrible in week one. Then a huge road to home win in week two.
The Denver Broncos. Oh, I thought you were the Patriots. Patriots are forgazing. They're not on the list. Oh, okay.
Yeah.
For real or for gazing. Oh, Denver's for real. Centers for room. I think Denver's going to be like around 500 close to the middle point of the season. Everyone's going to be like, oh.
and then they're gonna push the pedal to the metal. Their schedule is really tough. Their defense is great. But they're for real, man. There for real.
Okay. And And offensively, we saw Jalen Waddell. I am concerned about their running back room being banged up again. Yeah.
But yeah, no, they're for real. The Broncos are for real. The Patriots are for gaze.
Well again, not on the list. Wow. What? We didn't. I mean, I thought you were talking about the ASC championship team.
I got to admit, that's right. That lost in a road to start. Not a team that's on the list. I think we need one more. Oh, we got one more.
We don't. All right, we'll get one more. We don't have one more? No. Freak easy.
The Patriots. Oh, the Patriots are one more. They're not on the list. TJ Sam. Why are they not on the list?
Rich, this team went to the Super Bowl. I'm getting ready for next Tuesday, by the way. Tuesday. Oh, yeah. What's next Tuesday?
Who's starting for the Red Sox next Tuesday? Great question. It's totally. It's gonna be sunny gray, but it'll probably be totally because it'll go left, right, left. Right?
Yeah.
Okay. Uh free game. I watched that whole Sox game on it. It's gonna be Schlittler Tolly. Fall asleep.
17 hits, all singles. Yeah, that was boring. It was a rough game. Got the one run. That's all that matters.
Footler and Tolley. Yeah, totally great. And it'll be always great. And then it'll be. Oh, he loves hugs.
It's like Olaf. It'll be freed. It'll be freed. Sunny Grave. Where's it gonna be called?
Like, you gotta go Schlittler. Then you're gonna go coal? Schlittler Cole Cole can't pitch. But Don just had an incredible finish too. We own that guy.
Who Freed? No, well, Garrett Cole. Oh, Cole. Yeah.
You own him. See what's what I'm saying? Why is Aaron Torrey? Colas Fughesi? Farila Fughesi?
Colas Fugesy. Colas Fughesi. Fughesi. You think you got your money's worth when you sign that, dude? Oh, absolutely.
Really?
Okay. How many rings you got?
Okay, is that how many? Guitar skin. That's the measure of it. What are we playing for? Mining.
Playing for money? What do you have? Vladimir Guerrero over there? No, I want so, though. What do you think?
Look at us, man. That is the most insane quote I've ever seen. It's really not, bud. It really is. He didn't get paid for what he's doing this year.
He's gotten paid for past performance. Can I be honest with you? That's really not how the contract is. I've had this argument from this conversation with my friends since I was about 15, 16 years old. And we always wonder that.
Do you get paid for what you did? Because half of it for what you did, and then another half for like what you did. Yes, you always get paid for what you did because you've proven you've done it. Yeah.
But the amount of money that is on the that that's larger than the what that you made while showing you can do it is for what you're supposed to do next. And, you know, like in all honesty. Yeah.
If I'm a fan of the Blue Jays watching Vlad Jr. not perform up to the previous years this year, I'm going full John Hamm. That's what the money is for. You know, that's what the the Wait a minute, it's not It's not for what you've done. It's you've what you've done.
grants you the opportunity for the raise, but the raise is there for what you're supposed to do next. That's what the money is! Yeah.
Bingo. Thanks, John.
So when I read that Vlad Jr. quote, that's what I was thinking. Whoa. You know, it's like, yes, yes, you proved what you could do. which gives you the opportunity for the raise.
But the Rays Is for what you're supposed to continue to do and go next. Because a fan that's wondering what's next. Isn't sitting there saying the banner doesn't get raised about, oh, those five great years. The banner doesn't read your contract rider. He has nine home runs this year.
It's been pretty tough for him. But let's take a break. Pete Golding of Old Miss. is next. They got Florida.
They're dogs to Florida. They're dogs to Florida. Come on.
Okay, even John Sumrall is saying, what's up with that? But Pete Golding, the head coach of Old Miss, is coming up you at 844-204-Rich, being the number to dial. And we've got Higher Register coming up at the end of this hour, number one. Our takes. Coming up.
Right here on the Rich Isaac Show. Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high-interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an Audible with a SoFi personal loan. It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast.
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Has contributed over $300 million to childhood cancer research, helping save more than 40,000 kids. Join our fight at HyundaiWarriors.com. Rich Eisen here for gusto. After all these years talking to athletes, coaches, entertainers, and people at the top of what they do, one thing is pretty clear. Success usually depends on getting the details right.
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844-204-Rich, number to dial here on the program. LinkedIn, everybody. Make sure you can hire right the first time with LinkedIn Hiring Pro. Get started by posting a free job at linkedin.com/slash Eisen. All right, before Pete Golding joins us, let's do this now.
I mean, I said I was going to do the end of the hour. But, you know, listen, we've been around these parts here on the Rich Isaac Show for a bit. And we just decided to make a segment out of what we constantly did over and over again, which is go hire register to say things. that we don't really believe in. In our heart of hearts.
I couldn't really remember the first time this happened. I don't remember it. I said something and you were like, you just went higher registered. And I was like, huh? You like, you know what that means?
And then you were like, boom.
So now once a week, We're going to deliver to you. A statement. for the upcoming National Football League week that we gotta go hire register to really believe. Believe it. And this thing has got so much legs.
This segment has.
So much running time.
Okay. It's actually sponsored. Hey. High register, brought to you by Sonos. There's a chance the Rich Eisen shows.
But there could be. Higher. Register! Take of the week. Presented by Sonos, everybody.
Okay. Christopher?
Okay. You're first up. Give us the higher register take of the week. This is a team that has thoroughly disappointed in the first two weeks. All the hopes and the nerds love these guys, and they've looked awful.
And I've been saying the season's over, but I just don't want to give up on Herbert and the Chargers just yet. Really?
Don't do it. I don't know if I believe it. Sneaky dog this weekend. Oh, sneaky dog. I thought you were talking about our new puppy.
Sneaking around. Still? Yeah, last night. Oh god. Don't give up on Herbert just yet, guys.
All right. What else you got over there? Hey, low-key, this is my least favorite thing to do. Because you don't do higher ed.
So you're got a voice that is difficult to go higher. I know we shouldn't read the comments, but I read the comments last week. Oh, don't do it. They hated me. You know what?
I don't read the comments.
So I'm going to try it. Here we go. I don't know. But, you know, it's the Sean Watson's first home start since he was booed in the preseason. Do it.
But don't do it. Yeah, boy. Everything's going to be just fine with the Browns. The fans are going to love him. They won a game.
He's going to throw some touchdowns. He's going to be fine. He's going to be fine. Not bad.
Well done. I'm taking them to win this week.
Okay. You really gonna do that straight out? I think I am. Straight up.
Okay, good one. Are you really gonna do it? I think that's a great idea. Thank you. He won't.
Okay. Guys. Here we go. It's my first high register of the season. Um Because I was out last week.
That's right. It's true. And you know what? It wasn't a bad nap for the appendix. All right.
Colleen really nailed it. Hey, don't say it that way. What? All right. Listen.
It's been brutal. It's been brutal. Awful. The Cooper Rush of the Dallas Cowboys did not walk through the door in Atlanta last week. or in Pittsburgh the week before.
And Jack Strand wasn't the answer. Unless it was for Devin Lloyd's personal stat sheet. Right? Um I just feel. What do you feel, Rich?
But Michael Panix, Junior, Tonight. on Thursday night football to kick off week three. I kinda feel that Panix is going to straighten the Falcons out. Whew. Yep.
I kinda feel like Michael Pennix is gonna go out there and he's gonna find Pitts and he's gonna find London. And the Bichon game's going to be running and passing and catching because Penix is spinning it.
Okay. I understand. You know, it didn't work out last year when he was healthy, before he got hurt. But the year before. Falcons turned to him at the end of the season and said, All right, the floor is yours.
Try and make the playoffs, and he almost did it. I kinda think Penix is going to straighten the Falcons. Straight up.
Hello. When was the last time he had played for the first time? TJ didn't do a. That's what she said, Joe. That's the biggest upset.
Well, you know. After a while, higher register. Brought to you by Sonos. Love the sound. Feel the system.
Build your system at sonos.com. I kind of like the over tonight. I'm just saying, man. I'm just saying. Kind of think panics can do it.
And if he doesn't. Look out below. Look out below. Because if he's not the answer and it doesn't look any different. Then, what are they going to do?
Turn to two at some point and say, Hey, how's your back? and hope that he's the answer, and if not. 2027 draft. How would Trinidad Chandler look in that system? Oh, baby.
That's called a A transition. I can see old Miss is checking in right now, and hopefully, Pete Golding is going to sit in that chair in short order. Trinidad Chambliss just sounds like a star. Dude, man. If I didn't know what he did, I'd be like, whatever this guy does, he's like, looks like a star looks like a star is a star, sir.
I'm not just saying that because the coach of Ole Miss football just sat in the chair. Pleased to have on this program, everybody. Um, fresh off of the win over LS, you getting set to take on Florida. I believe for the first time, Pete Golding is here on The Rich Eisen Show. Good to see you, Coach.
How are you? I'm good, man. Appreciate you having me. What a pleasure meeting you. What a pleasure meeting.
Yeah, nice to meet you. Yeah, heard a lot of good things about you. I will take that and run with it. Before we do, I just got to jump in.
So, Nick Sabin hires you in Alabama. What is that? interview prior to the 2018 season like for you at that point of your career.
So I was at the University of Texas San Antonio at the time and actually had taken a job at Ole Miss. It was the year of the 10th assistant that actually didn't start until January.
So Matt Luke was the head coach here and interviewed with him in early December. And then about two days later, I got a call from Ed Manowitz out of Alabama. I was like, hey, coach, you know, wants to interview. You know, Pruitt, our D.C. is taking a Tennessee job.
You know, nobody knows that yet.
So we're going to send a plane out on Sunday.
So I landed in Tuscaloosa about 12:30 that Sunday. I got to the facility right at 1. I met with Coach Saban in his office, first time I've ever met, you know, met him. Didn't know really anybody in the building. And his office is connected to the staff room, which I was not aware of.
So he's like, hey, come on, we'll start the interview.
So I walk in behind him, and there's 35 people sitting in this room. Like, holy. And so he's like, I had a jacket on that I borrowed from our safety coach. And like, I took the jacket off and he's like, all right, hop up on the whiteboard and just started going through and giving me, you know, offensive formations and. Plays and what in your package?
How do you defend them? A lot of it was plus-one run game, you know, quarterback run game and GT and all those type of things. And about halfway through it, I kind of figured out, I'm like, man, this is Clemson's offense. And so, and three weeks from then, they were playing Clemson in the Sugar Bowl in the semifinal game.
So, you know, I think he was kind of just picking my brain. But I was on the whiteboard from probably about 1:10 until he had a dance recital for his granddaughter at 7. And about 6:55, he's like, Look, Coach, you're not going to believe this, but I got to run. Miss Terry's going to divorce me if I don't hit this dance recital.
So these other guys will take over.
So Coach left about 6:55 and they turned our UTSA tape on with everybody else in the room and went through a couple games with those guys. And then Tosh Lupoy was the coordinator at the time, our interim at that point. And we went to dinner and coach called him while we were at dinner. He's like, hey, bring them by. And so we went to Coach Sabin's house about 9:15 that night.
And Miss Terry opened the door and, you know, pulled me in. She's like, hey, you want a beer? I'm like, sure. You know, I was drinking a cold. Miller Light on Sabin's couch, didn't realize that he didn't drink at the time.
And he's like, Hey, let's go upstairs. They got a little pool room upstairs. And we went up there. And he's like, Look, man, you did a great job and we want to hire you. I'm like, Well, I'm all in.
He's like, Do you want to know what position you coach? I'm like, Coach, man, I'm good. He's like, You want to know what money you made? Coach, I'm good, man. And so that's how it happened, man.
So, you know, made the call back to my family at that point. And like, look, you know, put Oxford on a hole. We're going to Tuscaloosa. What a day in the life, Pete Golding. Seriously, because in all honesty, it reminds me of when I got hired by ESPN in 1996.
I came from a small market TV station in Reading, California. And there were more people in the newsroom when I walked in at ESPN than there was the entire operation. In Reading. And that sounds like what in that it you walk into Sabin's office, he takes you into some spot, and there's more people there, I'd imagine, on the in the staff room than You know, UTSA, right? Probably UTSA, Southern Miss, and Southeastern combined.
And it's Nick Sabin who's walking you around, man. Like, it's probably tough to keep your head about you. And then on that team, Pat Sertan, right? Sertan was in the secondary. Um hurts being a quarterback, and that was after Tua.
Replaced him in the national championship game. Do you have any memories of Hertz walking around and going through? Obviously, that's not your side of the ball at all. But, you know, him having to go through what he's going through and then he's called upon later that year to get in the big game. Yeah, so I actually, when I joined him that first of December, that first week of December, that was going into that semifinal game in the Super Bowl versus Clemson, where Hurts was still the starting quarterback.
And so he started that game. And then the next game was the national championship game, you know, in the Georgia Dome where we were playing Georgia. And so I was in the halftime deal when, you know, they made the change from Jalen to Tua. But I was so impressed with Jalen and his preparation for Clemson and how our guys responded to him and how hard he worked. And just an unbelievable dude that works his butt off and was really talented.
But his demeanor the next year, you know, when I was with him, when you know, now Tua is the starting quarterback at that point, to come into work every day the way he did with good energy, good attitude, good body language, prepare like he was still the starter, you know, even though he wasn't. And then, you know, that SEC championship game that year, you know, it's kind of a reverse role. You know, Tua goes down late and Jalen comes in and leads us back. And it was just an awesome story for a dude that, you know, they kept a good Lord first and was an unbelievable. Teammate and worked his butt off, and I couldn't be happier for how it's turned out for him for sure.
Doubt, no doubt. Pete Golding here on the Rich Eisen Show. What do I need to know about Trito Dad Chandler? I already don't. What do you got?
I mean, you know, I mean, an elite competitor, as you know, has got the competitive character, you know, that you're looking for. I think he's quieter than people think, you know, especially when he first got here. Kind of had that D2 mindset. I'm going to come in here and work extremely hard and just prepare for my opportunity. And, you know, people forget that those first two games of last year, you know, he wasn't the starter.
And so he came in very humble and worked extremely hard and then got his opportunity when Austin Simmons went down in that Kentucky game and didn't look back. But I think his attention to detail and his focus, you know, how close his relationship is with the Lord and how big that is for him, I think a lot of people don't realize. And, you know, the positive leadership that he has on our team, just based on who he is and how he approaches his work, is something I hope my two boys, you know, one day can be talked about. You know, the way that I talk about him. He's just a great dude that is a team first guy.
And yeah, he's super talented, but it's because he works his butt off. How old are your boys?
So, my oldest one's 14. I got a middle one that's 11. I got a little girl that's eight.
Okay, so you're in it. You're in the soup, you're in the thick for sure. Yeah, very few players in college football make me. Yeah.
Jump off the couch or just say something on the couch. Quite like him. I mean, the throws, the way that he plays on the edge. Literally, figuratively, is exciting. What is that like for you, a defensive-minded head coach?
What is that like for you? I mean, that was a thing for me when he first came in because we're normally going one defense versus two offense, and he was a two at that point.
So, we would go in these scrimmages. I'm like, man, this dude is Houdini. I mean, like, you know, you think you got him caged up, and the ability to extend plays, and you know, you can't view him as just a plus-one athletic quarterback. He's got elite arm talent, he makes good decisions.
So, you know, we saw it early here that the dude's wired the right way, made of the right things. And, you know, the play is just getting started when he decides to escape a little bit. And that's when everybody kind of is at the edge of their seat. But, you know, love his development as a quarterback. I think, you know, JDB and Joe have done a really good job with him and going through his progressions and checking us into the right protections and all that.
So I really think he's elevated his game to the next level this year. How badly did you want to win the game last weekend? I want to win every game, man. I don't care what you're doing. No, no, no.
I hate losing. I hate losing. We all put too much into this, you know, to go out there and not play well. I was really happy, to be honest with you, and I said it after the game for our administration, you know, from the top down, from Glenn Boyce, our chancellor, and Keith Carter, our AD. I think they caught a lot of flack through the whole situation, and they stayed strong to who they were and what they said the entire time.
And, you know, for them to have a little closure and for it to work out, quote unquote, you know, right now, the way that they saw it, I think was great for them. And I was really excited for our players. A lot of them had a lot of options to go a lot of different places. You know, they stayed here based on what this place had done for them and kind of invested and bought into what we were talking about. And then for that to come to fruition for them in a big game was awesome to see.
Now, listen, I'm going to take another swing at this a different way. I'll take another swing at this a different way. Because, again, the way that you were born into being the coach at Olemis. Wild, whacked out. I mean, we could come up with so many different ways that you can't prepare.
There's no preparation for it, right? Until you live it and go through it. And then all of that stuff gets dredged up again after you've page turned and gotten everything settled the way that you do things. But for you to have a game like that, against the guy you replaced. The guy who left, the guy who gave you an opportunity.
Let's be honest as well. That's an opportunity for you and for you to show the way that you are now the HC, not this guy on the screen. You are the HC now, and it's your program. And for you to actually win that game at home, that's got to be huge for you, quite frankly. No, I mean, it is, I think, beating any good team and any good football coach.
And I put Kiff in that category, you know, and it was no different than playing Kirby in the Sugar Bowl, man. I mean, when you play good teams that are coached really well, like you got to get them prepared and you got to make good decisions, but your players got to go out there and execute at a high level.
So absolutely. I didn't look at it as the Super Bowl. I said that before, and that's the truth. I didn't look at it like he's my big brother and all that type of stuff. You know, I mean, I think it really helped me being in Alabama those five and a half years and playing a lot of big games.
And you put your focus back to the attention to detail and the preparation and all that. But was there a feeling after the game that you were excited? You're damn right. I mean, like, so there's part of that, whether I'm playing Kiff and Pickleball or football, I'm trying to whoop his ass.
So, you know, there was that piece of it after it to where I was excited for our players and our administration, you know, and our staff put a lot into it. And for that reward, we get to go play Florida in the Swamp as a top 25 team.
So congratulations. Yeah, I know exactly right. One last follow-up. I'm mandated to ask. Do you really play Kiffen and Pickleball?
Or is that just a phrase? That was, I think they did. It wasn't like a 30 for 30. It was something ESPN or somebody was doing, doing something on them that they went out there and me and his brother played him and his other guy. And somehow that didn't make the footage, but I think there's a reason why.
Got it. And if I need to know about Sam Levitt's availability, do I ask you as well? Or that was just a one-shot thing? That was just a one-shot thing. He doesn't.
You can't ask me because I'll be told wrong, I can assure you. I got you. That one was crazy, too. Have you had any contact with Lane since that game? At all.
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah. We, I mean, he's he caught a couple of times on Sunday. I missed him. We talked the other night.
So, you know, like I said, he's a good buddy of mine. And, you know, we definitely still talk.
So, no hard feelings there. I'm sure he's excited about next year. All right. I assume you saw Coach Sumrall's statement about the betting line in Las Vegas on this game. Did you see that soundbite, Coach?
I have heard that there are a lot of drugs in Vegas. Is that that line? Yes. That is the one. How do you handle that portion of the next game here?
Well, I mean, I think in anything, you know, history is the best indicator of the future. And that's what I've said several times this week. I mean, my last remembrance of going through the swamp was in 2024 as number 14 in the country versus a 5-5 Florida team, not a 3-0 Florida team that was ranked in the top 25. And we didn't win the game.
So we know how this league is. You know how this league is. If we read all the press clippings all week and we don't prepare really well and practice really well, it's going to be hard to win. And so we got to go in there and take care of the football and tackle really well. I think this is one of the better Florida offenses that I've seen.
I think Buster does an unbelievable job. I got a lot of respect for Sumra and the toughness that his teams play with, and they always come prepared.
So we know this is going to be a battle, and we're going to have to be at our best. Do you, at any moment in time this week, Coach Pete Golding, have a sort of speech where the general message is there's no banners hung here, no we beat lane banners here? Like, is there something you're going to address with the team flat out? I mean, that was more last week. Know, to be honest with you, and that was even pre-game.
It was like, look, man, don't be surprised when you go out there and play the way that you should and the way that you're capable of what it looks like, but do it with class. I mean, that was the whole purpose. Once you start making one game bigger than another, right? Whether you win it, or how do you get them back up for the next one? And if you lose it, heaven forbid that, then now what does it look like?
Is the season over?
So, like, I just don't know. I don't treat things that way. And so, it's a great opportunity for guys to go out and compete and increase their value. It's a great opportunity for us as a team to go one and know that week. And if you're not at your best in this league, you're going to get your ass beat.
So, I think that was much more last week than it was this week. I mean, we're all well aware of this.
So, what have you done for me lately, business? And yeah, they're building statues right now. And I'll have four sales signs next week. I mean, we got to be doing our stuff and we got to play really well and put a good product on tape. I think that's called rat poison, right?
I'm not mistaken. Yeah, I've heard that plenty. Yeah, yeah. So, we can set our own trap. Traps are done by ourselves in our own building, not somebody else.
So, I love it. I like that. I might use that. One, if you don't mind. And have you had a last one for you?
Have you had a moment in your first now coming up full year in your role there? Had a moment where you stopped yourself. Wow, I sound like Sabin. I'm doing what Nick did. Have you had a moment like that?
I mean, I think other people have brought it to my attention. Like the whole hand deal, like I've never watched a press conference and like, hey, what does he do with his hands? It's just always like, it just happens. I don't know. And like, obviously, I think anytime you're around somebody that you respect that does a really good job, you know, there's two notebooks you're taking the because of, in spite of, you want to make sure you continue to do the things, you know, that you won because of.
So I was around the best one to ever do it, in my opinion. And so there's so many things that I learned from them while I was there that I knew, hey, if I was ever dumb enough to take one of these jobs, I'm going to make sure that I do that within the program, right? Because I saw it firsthand and what it did for the young players and the student athletes, not only on the football field, but more importantly in life.
So hopefully there's a lot of things that people are saying that I think that's a good thing, not a bad thing.
Okay. I hope you enjoyed these questions. Ha ha ha ha ha. I like it. I like it.
I like it. Every day is stretch, man. Every day is stretch.
Somebody was getting got. Fantastic. Thanks for the time, and I hope first of many here on the program. Thank you. Awesome.
Appreciate you, Rich. Right back at you. That's Pete Golden, everybody old miss, football head coach. See, I would try to that that D's. Right there.
That was great. I really enjoyed uh chatting with him. Big game this weekend. Big. Big game this weekend.
All right, let's take a break. 844-204-Rich. Phone lines are lit. That makes my day. Nope.
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Loans originated by SoFi Bank, NA member FDIC, terms and conditions apply, NMLS 696891. Wiz in Santa Monica. Whiz? I believe that's spelled without an H. Khalifa.
Here on the Rich Islands. What's up, Wiz? I'm calling because I just have to tell you the Monday take you did on Jalen Rose, the poise take, was without question the greatest five minutes of sports talk radio in the history of sports talk radio. I think you should clear the mantle, submit that for Emmy consideration, and put a big fat Emmy up on your mantle. How about that, Wiz?
Thank you. I think you meant Jalen Hurts, not Jalen Rose, but I. Jalen Hurts. Jalen Hurts, yes. Jalen Hurts also, and I just want to speak for a lot of America.
We all want to come back as Cooper in our next life. Ah, my job.
So keep up the good work. My boy. And love the show. Thanks, Wiz. Wow, that's very nice of you to say that.
Black and yellow, black and yellow. You know what it is. I'm still getting a lot of. Blowback from Philadelphia saying, I I will show you how happy I am about the Eagles winning these games. Yeah, exactly.
Okay. Thank you for that. That's great. You should be. I'm pleased to hear that.
There are some that are just like, why are we having Trouble beating the Titans. The Jets certainly didn't appear to have them, so but we have them. Why is our quarterback throwing this interception? Why do we need our quarterback to make these great throws that he's making to win the game? That's all.
And I it's just Uh part and parcel of going about your business in Philadelphia. It just is. You could say the same thing about New York, same thing same thing about Boston as well. You know what I mean? Same thing.
Um I just feel like it's the oxygen that Philadelphia needs to operate in. That's all. Let's go to Sadler in Madison, Wisconsin. What's up, Sadler? Mm-hmm.
Hey, Rich, how's he going? How are you? I am good. I don't talk about the tries to pick up and the falcons. Yeah.
What do you got? Well, first off, I think the I know I said in the when I play the games, the city's gonna pick the What is doing that one? But I am hesitant only on the The opposite is fine. because of Michael Pennix, what's the moment him? I don't know how I think I had him on a page count or something up about that.
Right. When it comes to being the starter? Yeah, I know. He's going to be the starter tonight, Saddler. And I don't know if you heard our higher register segment before.
Um you know when you're on a hold. Um The Packers are definitely going to have something to deal with that You know, Carolina didn't have to deal with, and Pittsburgh didn't have to deal with, which is a kid who can spin it. Who's got a beautiful, beautiful ball that he throws and is really accurate. I got two other things on this mission.
Well, I'm about to. I got a little beef to settle out with Chris.
Okay. Can you do it in like 10 seconds, Saddler? Because we're about to lose our radio. No, I just want to do you on my show. I'll let you have you on my show.
And also, the last thing, before I get off, get cut off. I was wanting to Yeah. We're about to lose you, Saddler, unfortunately. We need season two of your sports in the show.
Okay. Thank you. We actually had a meeting for it yesterday. And thank you for the call, Sadler. Again, we're about to lose our radio audience and Chase Daniel on the other side.
Gonna do it next year. We're going to do it next year. Nice. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
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