College Front Office released their 2026 rankings of the most expensive rosters in college football, revealing that Texas leads at $47.5 million, followed by Miami ($44 million), Ohio State ($43 million), LSU ($42.8 million), Oregon ($42.8 million), Notre Dame ($40.4 million), Texas A&M ($38.9 million), Alabama ($37.2 million), and Tennessee ($36.7 million). The analysis highlights that high payroll investment creates expectations for playoff appearances, and that sustainable success requires not just financial investment but also proper coaching, player development, and strategic roster construction. The discussion emphasizes that teams like Indiana achieved success with lower spending by focusing on player development and discipline, demonstrating that financial resources alone do not guarantee competitive success.
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>> Stacked, jacked, packed, ready to roll with you on a beautiful Wednesday. Rice fans. Rice fans.
Pretty exciting day to be alive and well with you. It's my um There we go. I'm hunting. I'm hunting and pecking over here. Like when I used to type back in the day. I was a hunter and a pecker when I was Oh, you can't say that. When I used to type back in the day.
Sinko, did you ever have like a a typing class in high school? I took typing with Mrs. Oiler back in the day. Like the Houston Oilers. Did you ever uh did you ever do typing back in the day? Sinko.
>> I did typing in um uh as a freshman, I think, or somewhere like that or maybe even in eighth grade. And it it's one of the only classes that I honestly take with me every single day. Ex.
>> Absolutely.
>> I I don't I don't know about hunting peckers. I don't know what that's all about.
>> Well, I was She said to me, "You're a hunter and a pecker."
>> Oh, a hunter and Oh, I got it. I got it.
>> She said one finger. No, no, like one finger.
>> Yeah. I didn't I didn't We had a little flip in what you said. So, I I wanted >> No, you can't hunt for the key. He can't hunt for the Well, we're off to a rousing start. All right, Sean. So, today on the blog, and we're going to talk with Watson about this cuz look, uh, you might as well just go ahead in the modern era that we're living in and watching sports, and just cue the music.
And the music is the baseline by MFSB from 1974, which hard to believe that tune's 52 years old, but the baseline still slaps to this day. And the baseline of course and what I'm talking about is Sinko. Are you pumped right now for this baseball team as they embark on Oklahoma?
Before we get into what we're going to get into, did you uh are you pumped for them finishing um um undefeated in the non- league?
>> I am. Uh, you know, I was over there for the finale last night. Uh, bigger than expected crowd, beautiful weather. Uh, saw the long balls. You know, it's a congratulations to this team. I didn't think they would reach it, but they're the only team in college baseball history, as they said yesterday, to amass 100 home runs in five consecutive years.
>> Wow.
>> That's pretty impressive. I mean, they they've had a late power surge.
>> Yep.
>> Hopefully that extends. Um my concern is uh the absence of of Landon Mack.
>> Yep.
>> Uh I think that um I think without him I think this team is hard pressed to win a third game in a row.
>> Y >> uh not impossible but uh you know the the bullpin um bless their heart. It is what it is and uh that's a that's a hard that's a hard thing to navigate with that with that bunch. But anyway, uh they're playing well. I think they're the one they're one of, if not the best defensive teams. They still have a good erra. Uh and they seem to be getting some confidence and their legs underneath them at the right time. So, yeah, an equally matched according to the standings uh matchup with Oklahoma this week. I think it's in Oklahoma City, not in Norman.
>> Yeah. Which is fun, right?
>> That'll be Yeah, >> that'll be that's fun and that's interesting. So you you kind of take away that uh that home field advantage if you will.
>> Yeah.
>> More of a neutral sight game even though it's in the confines of the state. But >> no. Yeah. Yes. Uh a a lot wordy as someone said before.
>> I'm infamous for my word salad, but uh that's okay. And uh yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Um and uh if we end up in Atlanta, let's go let's go hunt some yellow jackets. Why not? Here we go. So, we're uh we're having some fun. It's going to be a fun weekend. And then the Lady V's host this week uh this weekend as well. Brian Hartman's report runs tomorrow over at taclub.team.
We uh today we're talking about at the top of the blog and Watson's going to join here on the other side.
College front office has released their rankings most expensive roster college football 2026 and a surprising entrant is there.
Not surprising Shan Texas is number one.
Not surprising Miami is number two. Not surprising Ohio State's number three.
Not surprising LSU is four. Not surprising Oregon's number five. Not surprised that Notre Dame's number six.
Not surprised that A&M is uh number seven. Am surprised Alabama's number eight, though it ain't going to last for them because they don't have any billionaires. They're not going to be able to compete in this era. They're just not. Um pretty surprised Tennessee is sitting there at 36.7 million. Now, I asked today on the on on the blog and I've since gotten answers because people read the blog and I had somebody reach out to me that knows and that's the you know, I've often thought about what is the what is the the the real um point of doing a blog these days. You know, a lot of people are switching content over to like YouTube, places like that, places where people can click on something because people don't read like they once did, Sean, which is odd to me, but you know, people get up with their cup of coffee now and they scroll.
They don't read. And this is 2026 and you know, we're doing what we're doing.
And then and then I uh come to realize that folks like this person read my blog and said, "Hey, Tony, I saw where you were wrestling with whether or not that $36.7 million figure with Tennessee is real." And guess what, Sean? It's real.
That figure is real. The balls are spending the ball. the names the the names you uh the names you talked about >> um I'm sorry uh with that level of investment comes that level of expectation >> that's the question that's the question you know so we'll so we'll see you know there there's a I've I've talked to a number of people that have come through my office and then friends and there seems to be a prevailing thought that Josh Hypel is just a really nice guy really a really good dude Yep.
>> I'm glad he I'm glad he's representing our program. And you know what? I'm one of those get people.
>> Yep.
>> Uh but in the in the in the day of Herz Segetti and what Indiana's done, there are absolutely no excuses anymore. It's been shown to be done. Uh, I think you I think you mentioned that uh Indiana had right at or even a little less uh money invested in last year's roster than we had in ours last year.
>> And so, you know, it um I I I love me some Josh Hypel. I want him to win national championship after national championship. I'll be one of the first to advocate his statue being built. Uh but um there are expectations when that kind of money is being thrown around.
Well, here's the thing, and this is what I couldn't figure out today that I would love to. So, if anybody's listening that could help me with this, somebody from the collective, etc., um, how much of that money is tied up into their first 22?
How how much of that money is tied into guys that won't see the field?
Tennessee did have a very good hall in high school football uh this past off season. I we had Mason Young on from the Tulsa World who said that um while the college football world is zigging, they're zagging at Oklahoma.
They've hired uh their own uh highprofile general manager. He said they don't have a billionaire funding their deal. They don't have the type of money Tennessee does, believe it or not.
Oklahoma football doesn't uh he said and you know at the end of the day he said and this is kind just an interesting thing to kind of think about he said they're putting their eggs in the high school basket now Watson Brown is going to join us in a little bit said if he were in this game right now and he readily admits how it's a young man's game but really it's a transfers game this deal is a transfer first game. And you know what?
Hard to argue with that.
Hard to argue with that. You got to grow some of your own obviously, but there's got to be and and this is the thing that's interesting because when I tell you today that Tennessee's that that is a legit figure, I got that confirmed today. That's a legit 36.7 million is what they're spending on this roster. I don't know how it relates to the rest of college football because I'm not at Texas. I'm not at Miami. We're not at Ohio State.
We're not at LSU. We don't really know about Oregon. We know we know these teams are paying. But here's the thing that knocks me out. Just do the math with me here, okay? Do the do the do the math with me here.
The math is as such.
If the vs would have gotten the Levit kid, the quarterback, you'll love it at Levitz from Arizona State, who was on our campus, by the way, he was going to cost probably a little right around $4 million a year, which means you take Tennessee's expenditure and you add 4 million to that and all of a sudden the VSS would have come into this year with a payroll of $40.7 million, which according to front college front office who are in the business of tabulating who does what in the NIL space where.
Um, that would have meant Tennessee's payroll would have been sixth in college football this year.
Now, here's a question I have for you, and Sean said it. I wonder how many Tennessee fans because this kind of thing, this is the kind of thing that gets circulated via screenshots, via whatever uh across all forms of social media, across our fan base, and they'll go, "Man, we are we're right up there with the big spenders in the sport." And then they're going to look at the preseason rankings. They're going to see Tennessee's not even in the top 25.
and and and somehow somehow there's a disconnect there, right?
Now, I don't pretend to have all the answers. I I don't pretend to know.
Uh Sean, this high-profile wide receiver that we have, the freshman, do do you expect him to play meaningful snaps and I don't know, catch north of 30 balls this year?
Well, that's not really been the pattern for a Josh Hypel offense. So, I would say no.
>> If I remember right, Squirrel White is the only freshman that was utilized uh you know, not even extensively, but uh to that kind of volume of catches and yards. So, no, I don't think so.
>> I just think this is going to be I I I get the sense that this is going to be extremely interesting to watch our fan base relates to this team in light of that information getting out there because I'm telling you right now, I said in print today, I didn't think I I I question the validity of that number.
And I'm here to tell you, and I'll put it tomorrow in print, but I'm here to tell you that that that number is accurate.
What I couldn't get from my source was what of the 36.7 million that Tennessee is investing this fall, how much of that goes toward playable players that are going to play?
And I was told, "Well, that's digging you're gonna have to do on your own."
And I said, "Okay."
>> My big question is, my big question is, um, the amount of investment now, David Sanders looks like to be the real deal, but the amount of investment we put into the offensive line room >> and the and the value we get out of it, >> I think is a I think would be an interesting comparison. and I don't think it's going to be favorable.
Sam Shrock says, "Imagine thinking," and this is Sammy in Nashville. He says, "Imagine thinking that Tennessee starting roster is young when the average starter will have spent three plus years in college." That's true. And I do think to some extent that the Penn State players were uh a tad bit pricey.
I do think that's the case.
So that that that would make sense that that could add to the weightiness of the payroll trying to shore up the defense.
That's a good point. Another little factoid I I found out the defensive end from Penn State who was I don't know I don't know if he was jumpy in the spring. I don't what you call that but he had a hiccup and I've been asked my last couple George Plaster appearances about him and how it's going and and look I hear that he's right back in line and everything's okay. So that's good.
>> That's wonderful. Yeah, that's wonderful.
I also heard Sean that he got a pittance on the front end of what uh was promised to him. In other words, Tennessee has learned from the Nico experience. They're backloading a lot of these deals.
>> We're not giving >> Yeah. And let's and let's let's be fair and I'm talking I'm talking to others is the fact that we're not giving your money quite frankly. The knee-jerk reaction was after Bu Carter and some and Nico, the knee-jerk reaction to a lot of us was that uh well, what's going on here? And uh to his credit, if what you're saying is accurate and he pans out, give Josh Hypel and his staff a lot of credit because they could have they could have immediately overcorrected and sent that kid packing.
865200540.
I I'm giving the number out of reflex.
I'm sorry because Watson Brown, it's a Wednesday with Watson. It's presented by Simpsons meets going to join us. And one thing I want to unpack with Watson is I'm going to throw this number at him. I'm going to talk about how when you're Josh Hypel, see he's got to manage around these expectations.
When you see your name up there with Texas Miami, obviously Miami played for the whole ball of wax last year and they're back for another round. I mean, they went right out in their league, signed a guy that was under a multi-year contract with Duke. Some of you told me that, well, I mean, Tony, let's face it, that's not going to hold up in a court bull court sided with Miami.
I'm of the belief that Tennessee easily could have done that. I'm also of the belief that I don't know. I mean, we could have a true freshman under center this fall when the season begins.
I'm Look, George McIntyre could um could could could make a jump between now and the beginning of the of the season. I'll tell you this, I've been saying this on the air. He's going to have to or that freshman's gonna start.
And I'll tell you, that's a that's a tough slog against that schedule. Now, you look at every team on this deal. I think Texas is totally overrated.
Tennessee's got several of these teams that we're going to either see or going to go to. Somewhere snuck in there is the fact that we have a trip to Texas A&M on that schedule. You know, I'm so focused on this home schedule. I mean, geez, Pete, man, when does it end?
So, we come back on the other side.
The great Watson Brown joins. I want Watson's thoughts, too, and Sean's thoughts on my guess on in the over the next decade on who the power players are going to be.
Friend of mine told me today, he said, "Tony, how do you do that list when you don't know who the coaches are going to be in 10 years?" And I told him, I said, "Look, man." I said, 'Ive got a saying for you, brah, and it's called cash is king. And I'll give you another saying.
Where there's a will, there's a way. And I know one thing about my alma mater, there is a will at my alma mater. When I watch our basketball team, maybe before it's all said and done, when they add one or two big men here, go north of $20 million in payroll, and they were willing to go well north of $20 million uh for the point guard uh Vandy.
That's called where there's a will, there's a way.
And when you see that kind of thing happen, if you'll do that for basketball and you going in next season are going on the 30-year anniversary of your victory over Auburn in the SEC Championship game where I was down on the field and covering the deal and Kevin Ramsey ran up to me and hugged in the old Georgie dome 30 years ago.
You don't think You don't think uh our billionaires you you don't think our billionaires want to get get back, do you? He could get get back to where you once belonged.
We'll come back on the other side.
865200 5402 on the way to the timeout. Today's show done in honor of Carolyn Kquit, Jerry's precious mother who I love.
Uh prayers up to that entire family.
I love y'all.
Uh, y'all are what make our community such a great place. Jerry, I love you.
And um, prayers are up.
And she, your mom is precious.
She made me when she would come out to those watch parties and hold court.
She's so fun, so full life, so funny.
Uh, I mean, she and I I just got a kick out of her and she she kind of look at me like I was nuts half the time, but I I I love Carolyn. Take a brief time out.
We come back with more.
We uh kick it with you, Watson Brown, right after this.
>> You know how East Tennessee takes its barbecue seriously? Well, TMG Fest is about to take it to the next level.
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>> Jimmy Buffett and and a little bit little bit of Jerry Garcia. Come on, Smokies. Wow.
That's called getting it done next week.
I'm fired up. Back with you.
The great Watson Brown now joins ladies and gentlemen on your news maker hotline.
It's unbelievable, Andy.
as I bring the great Watson Brown in.
Presented by our friends at Simpsons meets and our Wednesday with Watson Brown.
And I got Sean Sinclair in here as well.
Brian Hartman is on assignment. He's out looking for the other part of my uh my brain. I hope he finds it so I can be whole again.
Watson. Uh and while Hey, Brian, while you're out there, see if you can find see if you can find Kelly Hulks.
So, Watson Brown joins today on the program.
Um, you know, Watson, I was telling you, my sister, you and her are about the same age, and we were laughing about the cars of the past. I sent her up some Simpsons meats last week.
She shoots me a text now. Her husband is an incredible cook. Like, this guy can barbecue some chicken. And it's a type of chicken, Watson, where you're not going to have one piece, you're going to have like 10 pieces. You know, people that are like that. I don't know what this dude's recipe is, but he's got just a uh he just has a knack with it.
Anyway, what does she text me back? I'm gonna read it to you. She says, Tony, I'mma read you her text. My sister's name is Anna Marie. It's like very uh very southern. said, "Is that not very southern for her to have two names?"
>> Very southern.
>> She said, "Tony, >> very southern."
>> She said, "That steak." She said, "That's the greatest thing we've ever had. Thank you so much." With like four exclamation points, thoughts.
>> What do I say all the time? What do I say? You can't you can't just eat it one time. You're going to go back and get it again. You're going to That's That's my quote and I'm sticking to it from day one since we we started this. It's unbelievable.
>> Now, >> you pay the money to go eat it again.
I'm telling you that.
>> Watson, I was telling you when she was a kid because you guys grew up in the muscle car era. Hey, Senko, what was your first ride when you were a kid?
Sinko, we got jipped. My first ride was a Chevy Chevet.
I mean, that was not good. I got kind of jipped. How about you, Senko? What was your first car?
>> My first car was a turd brown >> Subaru uh twodoor stick shift which was a joke and I was so glad to have it.
>> See, and Watson grew up they grew up in the cool car muscle car era. So her my sister and Watson are about the same age which means that would have been like early 70s late60s. Is that right, Watson? Right around that time period.
>> Yeah. I graduated late60s.
>> There you go. And so >> she had she had a kind of a baby blue Corvair that she drove around in, which everybody knows if you look it up. The baby blue the Corv was the car that I think Ralph Nater championed against it.
But it was it was cool looking. I had a brother my brother had a Triumph Spitfire. He was a little older than her. A little sports car. And what did you drive around in, Watson? What were your first couple cars back then?
>> My first car was shared with with my brother Mac.
>> Okay.
>> And it was it I it's not in the muscle car deal. It was a Plymouth Valiant with four four-speed Plymouth Valiant.
And we're so proud of that thing. The maddest I've ever been at my brother in my life. He wrecks it into a cemetery and we lost our car. I was so mad at him.
>> He totals it.
>> Rolls it into a cemetery or didn't roll it, just went over a ditch and just total the poor thing. Now, my next one was a cougar. That was pretty pretty neat car.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> But but I had to wait for it a little bit cuz dad kind of rubbed it in when when when my brother towled the car. So, >> see, and the point is back then >> they were go those cars were guzzling gas and and looking looking back on them, a lot of them were too fast for kids to be >> for kids to have. I mean, they were they were like tanks, though. You wreck one of those cars, >> what you're hitting, what you're hitting's going to lose, right? I mean, they were they were pretty safe cars because they were so big.
>> Well, and they were made different. They were not all plastic like they are today, but still uh you it wasn't good to wreck one of those. And they would go. When I went to college, my dad got us got me uh Mock One. YOU CAN IMAGINE.
>> OH, I LOVE MACH ONE. LET'S >> MOCK ONE. It was red with black STRIPES ON IT. I'M TELLING YOU, and it would come off the ground, man. My daddy, my first game ever was is Bosshian Beckler's first game at Michigan. So, we're at Vanderbilt and that's our we fly up to Michigan. My dad and mom drove the Mach One to Michigan to see me play.
>> How about that? My mom and dad flying all over the country in a Mach one. I'm telling you, >> I respect that.
>> I respect that. And so, >> yeah, that era I I don't know. It It's just every once in a while I'll see one of those I don't know about you, I'll see one of those cars on the road and man, they just stick out. They were so beautiful. They were so angular. It was just such a different time. And then when I look at the photos of of me as a kid and some of the cars we had, uh the cars the the cars back then, I don't know, they it was they were more artistic or or I don't even know what I'm trying to say.
>> No, I I get you. They they they just uh they stuck out. They really did. when when you get a a sports car, whether it was a Mustang, anything, you knew it was a Mustang there. It didn't look like other cars. I think that was the big difference to me.
>> The great Watson Brown joining presented by our friends at Simpsons meets and Simpsons been with you since 1888 on Jim Simpson's Farm. Look, that's the horse and buggy era, through the sports car era, through the electric car era, uh, all the way through to 2026 where Watson, you tell me. Yes, I believe this. No, I don't believe that. Are you ready? I'm going to we're going to play a little game here because College Front Office released their rankings of the most expensive rosters in college football. Now, here's the thing that's interesting to me about all these sports.
Nobody saw what Indiana was going to do last year. Nobody. Now, I don't know where Indiana was ranked preseason.
Uh Brian Hartman is not here to tell me.
I guess I could go back and look that up, but it it it's a mystery how they did what they did because Tennessee's payroll last year was actually higher than Indiana's payroll, which is bizarre to me, but it kind of is what it is. All right. I'm I'm gonna start from uh the top and work down to the bottom, and you say, "Yeah, that sounds about right." Okay, they say at and college front office is a is a site who their expressed goal is to track the NIL space and who's spending what where and for whom.
>> So this is kind of >> accounting that's the collective from the university and the NIL combined.
Correct. Is that what that is?
>> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
>> Okay. That's all the money that the kid got. They're saying they're saying that Texas's payroll this season is $47.5 million and they're number one in America.
>> Does >> And how much of that does it say? How much of that came from the university from the collective? Not not NIL, not not that.
>> Does it say that?
>> No, it's just just the figure. Well, >> that's that's a big figure to me. How far these universities want to go and what they're going to spend on the kids?
Do you believe that um Texas is at the top of the deal, top of the heat?
>> Wouldn't surprise me whatsoever? No.
After being in that state, being rivals to Texas at three different schools, Texas Tech, Rice, and Oklahoma. Yes, I would believe that.
>> Aren't they doing a national championship, Watson? I mean, your brother had the last one there, >> and that was what 20 or so years ago.
>> They're close. They're close again.
They're very close. get ready. You You got to hit that next thing. You got to get semi-finals national championship.
And now you're up in an elite group.
>> And it's one thing to get in the playoffs. It's another to make semi-finals national championship because that's another set of four that's better pretty much unless you're just lucky in a game. Pretty much better than the other guys.
>> Arch Manning as the top pick in the draft. Watson, are you buying, selling, or trading that? That's what some people think.
>> That one's still 50/50 to me. I h I have yet still to see him and and I don't know that he should have because this is his first year to play last year. There should be a big step difference in him this year. A big step, but I hadn't seen it yet.
>> There should be a Henden Hooker step from Tennessee in the first year he played to the second year he played.
>> How about you, Sean?
>> There should be a big step.
>> How about you, Sean, on Arch Manning, a team Tennessee sees?
>> You know, I think a couple of things.
one, he's his profile is elevated without question because of his last >> uh but the last several games the last several games in fairness he looked fantastic. Uh he was making plays with athletic ability that his um um his brother Eli had um and his grandfather had. Uh and he's surrounded by an incredible amount of talent uh which which always helps. So, yeah, >> I mean, he could be the number one pick.
I don't know that he's going to be I don't I don't stats may may argue this, but I don't think he's the quarterback that is that either of his uncles or his grandfather were. I just don't see it.
>> Up next, Watson number two, Miami M came very, very close. A lot closer than a lot of us thought last year winning that national championship. Hey, they pushed an Indiana team that had their way with a lot of people. They pushed them right to the limit. That game went right to the end. Uh $44 million they have invested in their payroll and they're number two. Do you find that believable that they would be a number two spender?
>> Every bit believable. I've been playing Miami for years as a coach, too. And I'm telling you, hey, there's money down there. Big time money all around that place. So, yes, I believe that. Number three, the team Tennessee saw in the playoff a couple years ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes, who Watson, personally I have at the very top over the next 10 years. I think they'll be one of the top winners in college football over the next decade, respective of who the coach is there, but they're at 43 million and and they just continue to spend at Ohio State.
You have the tradition that they have and you spend the money now that they're spending. There's no reason for them not to stay there. 100%. So, because that's the two pieces. That tradition still matters. It don't mean what it used to.
These guys can go in with money and all of a sudden that matters maybe even more than what's on the side of the helmet, but that still matters. And if it's 5050, that's where they're going to go in my opinion. Still go to one of those traditional places. But you got to spend the money and they're doing it.
>> I'll tell you another thing. agree with you.
>> I'll tell you another thing that really matters, Watson, and this is a big- time thing and and and Tennessee is going to be forced to have to if they go another draft and don't have a firstrounder on this roster, they're going to start whispering about hype Josh Hypel. You've got to start producing.
You have got to start having some of these guys come out in the wash. Rick Barnes, I know for a fact when they're on the line with a player, they'll get one of their NBA guys to make a call for him and say, "Hey, you know, Grant Williams, make a phone call. Uh, hey, this guy got me into the league. This guy got me high in the draft."
That that sort of thing here. And that's what Ohio State has, uh, Watson. And even this past off season, and Miami, too. Miami now can point to the fact that I think they had three or four first round picks. That is um that's extremely extremely important uh deal uh as far as I'm >> very important. Very important. And and it it still goes back it's a players game and if the coaching is just solid players win games. The best players are going to win the games. Football more than any sport in my opinion. I'd throw basketball in there. Basketball with it.
Now, you don't have to have as many. So, I'd throw that in there with it. But players win games and you the these these scouts don't miss on the top dogs very often now. They don't miss on them.
They'll miss on some of those others, but they don't miss on these top dogs.
>> Smoky 98. Sean Sinclair says McCoy was a firstrounder till his knee acted up. Do Do you Does he get a um or or does it only count if you're a first round pick, Sean? Or can they point to McCoy and say, "Hey, we we turned him into a uh What do you think?"
>> Yeah. I mean, damn. Yeah. Um I mean, you talking about Texas?
>> No, he said McCoy. He says McCoy was a firstrounder for the Valls last year until he got hurt and he would have been a firstrounder. So, the Valls could point to him. Or does it only count if you're a firstrounder, Sean?
Uh, I think it's I think it's only if you're a firstrounder.
>> Yeah, that's where I'm at.
>> But it's fun to say that. I mean, it's it's >> people don't, you know. Okay. Recruit recruits don't like explanations after the initial thing.
>> I think that's right.
>> They they they want where it comes out is draft picks, >> where it comes out is contract u value.
That's what they're looking at.
>> That's where you came out. Let's move along. the number four player in this thing, Watson. And these teams are spending. Hey, Watson, we've gone from like 16 million, five uh 5 to7 million to 15 million to 20 million. Then Ohio State a couple years ago to $30 million payroll.
Now we're pushing 50 million. LSU overnight, Watson, number four in America, 42.8 million. And some people think that Lane Keifin is going to attempt to pull in what they call uh these blind transfers, a couple guys in the summer even to add to that total, but right now LSU is at $42.8 million in one of the big spenders. Do you buy that?
>> Yeah, they went for it. They went for it and put the money in the coach and they're going for it. You don't get They didn't just hire the coach.
They're giving him the the money to get there. And uh so they're putting the pieces in place. Now, we'll see if if the coaching can get the right players with that money because Nick statement still had the best statement. It's one thing to buy players, you better be buying the right ones. And so, let's see if they're buying the right ones. But yeah, they've gone for it 100%. They're going for it.
>> So LSU is at 424 42.8 million.
Another team that's right there, 42.8 million, tied with LSU uh for the four spot. Oregon is at uh 42.8 million as well. And Watson, they are the uh obviously they've got that Nike advantage and and everything that they have there. I think this landing guy is a good young coach. In the next 10 years, I bet on them.
Yes, I there's no reason uh other than the Big 10 is a lot tougher than the Pack 12 was. So there's there's no reason to me that they can't be one of those. They've got the money. I think they do have a good coach. I've played out there. It's a beautiful place.
Facilities are unbelievable.
And every one of these, you go really get into their deal, they've got one major top dog throwing the money around and willing to throw it whenever he's called. Each one of these have one of those guys. That's what Indiana had in what's his name that owned the owned the Mavericks. Uh when they needed money, pick up the phone and you make that call. Texas Tech had that guy.
>> Yes.
>> Uh that that's the thing we don't talk about enough. It's not just all these people giving money. It's the one guy when he says, "Oh, I need another million. Will you give it to me?" You got it. Go get it. That's what you got to have.
>> Another thing, the next program up is a team that I will bet on over the next 10 years. They haven't won a national championship since I want to say the late 80s, but I think one is coming or they're going to come close to getting one. They'll play in a couple final games over the next 10 years. I'm being serious when I say this. I think they have a really good bright young uh head football coach and I think they're going to invest all their money in this sport because I'm looking at what they're doing in other sports and it's Notre Dame and I mentioned this yesterday.
According to the front office, college front office, they have the sixth highest payroll in the deal Watson at 40.4 million. And here's the thing, they're not even trying in basketball anymore.
They're not even trying Watson in basketball anymore. Not even sense to me, but >> no, it makes no sense.
>> I know it's always been a really football scoop, but basketball's been really good through the years, and that doesn't make sense to me. I saw where they're dropping sports. I'm sure you all saw that.
>> Yeah, >> they're dropping sports. So, they're they're getting it's this isn't a good thing for the whole athletic department.
It's not. We all know that. And what is happening here? Well, you got all this money, you start spending it, everybody's going to get a piece. Well, now to stay competitive and to win in the in the sport that's bringing in the money, and we got to keep putting more money in that sport, which takes away from these other sports. So, we're starting to see the process take place.
Hey, Sinko, are we going to see a day where at all these SEC schools they start peeling off some of these men's sports to make the numbers come out right in the spirit of Plus, it's just going to get too expensive to do that like Arkansas's done. Arkansas failed with their tennis program >> because it's it's a because except that there's a court thing, it's very low risk. the the sports that they are >> thinking about as you say peeling off they're not they're not high volume uh uh fan particip you know in the stands right >> a lot of times they take a lot of money uh I'm not here to advocate or or or uh shout out against a sport but you take a look at what what is it what does it cost to to uh to put together or to maintain a swimming facility >> exactly that's exactly >> what does it cost to put you know to put to you know to build a whole um you know I mean a soccer thing is just an open kind of field but you know a tennis facility that's in a lot of places that's valuable real estate that you're just losing money and again I am not advocating or hoping that anybody goes away. You asked the question >> when you make when you make things all about dollars and cents you will do things because of dollars that don't make any sense and that's what we're about to see. I I I look, my son played golf at University of Pennsylvania and and I'm not sure a lot of the golfers out there in 20 years are going to have the same opportunity that a lot of his friends had to play at some of these institutions. Watson, as as scholarship athletes, I would not bet on that, Watson, with the way we're heading here.
>> Well, we saw it when Title N first came in.
>> Yep.
>> And look at what it did to baseball.
>> Yep. And wrestling scholarship money that they took away from baseball because they had to balance it out with with softball. And >> we're running back into that again. Here we go again. And that's why I just say I know how popular football is right now.
We can't say anything bad about the popularity of that of football because it's as popular as it's ever been. Uh, but sooner or later this money has got to stop or it's just going to affect so many other things around it. And I just wonder when that day will come. I'm not sure it's going to come in my lifetime.
>> It's so counterintuitive because the last thing you would think is that as you make more and more and more money off major college football that it would hurt the kids in the lesser sports. Like that seems extremely counterintuitive until you think about it through the prism of title N. You think about it through the prism of balancing scholarships on campuses. And then you think about these athletic directors in the modern game are not coaches and a lot of times they're not even athletes. So they don't think for athletes. their bean counters and they look at, like Sean said, they look at their tennis program and they go, "What are we doing here?" or more to the point, they look at their aquatic center and they go, "Man, that that's the rent and the this."
>> To be able to be able to keep some of these sports, Tony, in my personal opinion, after being an AD twice, you're going to have to have >> a big time donor that just won't is willing to put it all in tennis or put it all in whatever. That's the way you're going to be able to keep it. If you don't have that person, I think it's going to be hard to hold on. Here's another thing that the Valls Titans uh says on that I'll annex his comment and then when you factor in what they've done reorienting these leagues um travel-wise >> you have a scene now where for me to truck my uh tennis team when I'm at UCLA over to Pascataway New Jersey guy's got to cost an arm and a leg to do that.
Watson >> and and multiply that by every sport >> and and then you got to you got to stay in hotels just that one sport you're talking about as an athletic director every one of those sports.
>> That's right. That's right. And they're going to use that.
>> That's a lot of money, man. And where football travels >> maybe four times, five at the most. So the list so the list is Texas >> because they play all those home they play all the home games where it's non-conference games and then you're in your conference you're either four or five but baseball or basketball or tennis they they're traveling a lot more than that. So it it it's a lot more than football is a whole lot more. So the list is tax the least of the of the bunch.
>> Coach, I got a question for you. Sorry to jump in. I can't tell if you guys are stopping there, but but as an AD, it seems like a simple question, but I've never I've never heard this asked or answered. If you are a football team and you predominantly recruit out of state, when you give kids a full scholarship, is there a is there a legitimate transfer of money for out of state tuition from the athletic department to the general tuition fund or is it just considered instate and outstate? Uh it's the same amount of money. I've never heard that. I've never heard that asked.
It is totally I've been in schools where out of state tuition was a whole lot higher than instate tuition. Public schools, private schools, there's not any difference. Public schools, uh, yes, I was at a school one time as a coach where I couldn't bring in but so many out of state students because it would cost too much money. So there you there's the answer to it right there, Sean. that the out of state money you do pay the difference when you bring one in.
>> Wow. Really?
>> Yes, sir. Rick, >> moving along.
>> Now, some schools some schools don't make you do that athletically. They'll just say for the athletes, we won't do that. But that is not the case by any means all the time. By any means.
>> That's wild to me.
>> State tuition is a different different world. Sean, that's an excellent question because the uh university side, here's the other thing people don't realize and I bet now, look, I remember when I was in school kind of poking around 30 years ago, there was a hatred back then. They when Tennessee built their practice facility, the academic types would call it the Volma Hall and they would say they built the Volma Hall over there. I can't imagine how much the academic side of these universities must abhore what's going on with major college sports now because there's always been a yin a yin and a yang there kind of a one side puts up with the other kind of relationship it's not as sympatico as people would think. So on the university side, they're probably thinking, "Yeah, let's make some money off these uh out ofstate athletes and charge our athletic department. We could we could use this as a profit center."
>> No, I I agree with that. I I think football has always been the one when when I'm at the different if there if you hear it through faculty, staff or any of that is it seems to be always football. Yeah.
>> Because that's the money maker.
>> That's the money maker. Always has been the biggest money maker. Basketball took over with the tournament for a little bit, but not not really. Football is still the money maker. And I think when you when you hear things said through different through through the athletics, through the faculty staff, it's football's the one they seem to harp on.
>> So, Texas number one, Miami number two, Ohio State 3, LSU 4, Oregon 5, Notre Dame six. Another team on Tennesseee's payroll, Texas A&M only number seven, Watson, 38.9 million.
They're scrimping along at&m. Are you believing they're a top tener?
>> Yes. I've gone against that bunch for years and I'm telling you there's there's as much money at that university that the alumni base at Texas&M alone is one of the best giving alumni bases in the world. I'm telling you, for a public school scoop. Uh, so I absolutely I I wouldn't be shocked if they don't end up back up there in top again.
Wouldn't take much money to get back up there.
>> Next one surprises me. Alabama is number eight at 37.2 million. Watson, are you buying, selling, or trading Alabama being number eight?
>> Absolutely.
It'll be interesting to watch them. If they kind of hang down lower than where they've been through the saving years and the Bryant years, if they hang down there, um, what are they going to do? Are they going to throw in more money? They won't get change keep changing coaches and think they putting in enough money. Uh, but there's no reason for Alabama not to be there. They they have the money base to be there. Next on the microphone, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, your team, your town, in your heart, your Tennessee volunteers, 36.7 million. Now, I will say this about this year, and this is uh something Josh Hypel's got to deal with with this being in print. Um, Texas is expected to be a playoff team this year. So is Miami.
Ohio State's picked to be a playoff team this year. LSU's picked to be a playoff team this year. Oregon, people are going to pick to be a playoff team this year.
Uh Notre Dame, people are going to pick to be a playoff team this year.
Nichollet Larson, they're going to be picked to to to be, you know, vying for that. Alabama uh is going to be that's going to be expected of them. And Tennessee at $36.7 million this year.
Watson is I mean I didn't I'm not I don't mean this the way it's going to sound but they're expected to be a runaround car if this was a NASCAR race.
Um and that's painful.
>> If they are it's not acceptable in today's world.
>> The the Tennessee's of the world should be there every year. They're spending the money. They should be there every year. And that that's not on Tennessee.
That's that's all of those top schools in the country. throw in Oklahoma. Throw in I mean I can keep naming them. That's what's expected. That doesn't mean they will be. But the day that that Tennessee is not expected to be in the playoffs is gone. Those days are gone. They they're going to expect that every year. And I I throw that in with another 20 20 25 schools. That's just the expectations now. And if it don't happen, something's going to give. I tell you that right there. Texas Tech Watson number 10 at 36.3 million. So, I did the math. Tennessee is Tennessee is one of two schools that will face four teams off this list this fall, which is why I guess the expectations aren't as high for the VSS.
They've got Texas here in September.
They've got LSU uh coming here as well.
They've got&M on the road. And they've got Alabama here.
That and then and that's >> three of the four at home.
>> Yeah, three of the four at home. That's right.
>> Is that crazy or what?
>> That's a big advantage. I don't care what you say. That's Tennessee playing at home over on the road is huge advantage.
>> Hey SO, how about us seeing four of those teams on our on our roster?
Onethird of our games are against these high spender teams. Sean.
>> Well, we're on their we're on their schedules, too. Uh and so you got to represent. If you don't, it's uh it's on you.
>> Yep. I agree with that 100%. And guys, don't forget, it's how good are your players compared to who you playing.
That's still the name of the game. How good are your players compared to who you're playing? if you both have solid coaching staff.
>> By the way, Texas and Ohio State playing week two, Watson, which is going to be an incredible football game because the Sy guys back for another year. Ohio State's loaded. Uh it's two of the top three payrolls in the sport. And when you total this up, Watson, and tell me if you ever thought you'd live to see the day. I don't think any of us, if id have told you 20 years ago there's going to be a college football game played and the payrolls between the two teams will eclipse $90 million.
N not $900,000 or $9 million which we would have thought was a high figure. $9 million.
Watson, real money. Real money.
come a long way, Tony. Since in the late 60s, we'd stand in line way back in the athletic department, football players to get 15 bucks a month. We've come a long way. Then they did away with that. Said, "No, we can't play you pay the athletes anything. It's just scholarship and room board tuition fees." Um, look at it today. Unbelievable. $15 a month and we couldn't wait to get it. Let's >> see. $15 a month in today's money.
What do you think that is?
>> Going to the movie money.
>> What do you think $15? I I got to look that up. What 15 is in today's money?
>> What would you think that is? What year was that?
>> That would have been probably 689 to 71 or two somewhere in there. We were getting >> about a couple of years for before they stopped it.
>> In 1969, I'm going to bet you guys were spoiled.
That'sund wanted it back. We stood in line waiting for it.
>> Hey, Watson, that's >> We had to sign a little deal to get our 15 bucks.
>> That's $134 today, which means you could probably fill half a uh half a shopping cart with groceries.
>> I don't even know. That's half >> for your real money.
>> Maybe a third for little people.
>> Wow.
Shout out to my friends, uh, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages at Simpsons meets. They're online at simpsonsmeats.com. Always make a great gift. Gift box is available as I've done to Figglia. You can ship premium meats anywhere at simpsonsmeats.com and from here all the way to southeastern Pennsylvania.
Um, the Simpsons meets, ladies and germs, absolutely got it done. Also, you can visit their store, West Knoxville, off Levelville Road, and you can shop there today and check them out. Uh, Watson, on the way out, do you have anything else you'd care to add? Because you've been the man, brother.
>> No, just that uh we're talking money and how much you're doing. I can say this, that money for Simpson Meat is well WORTH IT. GO.
>> IT'S WELL worth it. I can tell you that right now. So, we don't know if it's well worth paying these players, but we're going to find out as time goes on here. As O'Nick said, better be buying the right ones. I'll never forget that statement.
>> Yeah. Or he said on the air, he said, "Or you'll be so." And he said the word and he is athletic. Go >> buy the right ones. Yeah.
Well, >> and by the way, hey, Sabin had the sense to get out of this madness. You got to give him credit for that.
He sure did.
>> They bought that.
>> He was old enough to do it. It would have been interesting to see how he handled it if he WAS 52 AND A >> I DON'T THINK I DON'T think a 52-year-old Sabin he might have showed up up there when Ohio State bought that safety off his roster. He might have challenged Ryan Day to a fist fight.
>> I think he'd have been right in the middle of everything. That's what I think.
>> Thank you, my friend. And uh you're >> Love you. Always an honor.
>> You're the man. The great Watson Brown sinko. I've just been told by Nick Jackson, who I consider to be a pillar uh over in our commenting community over off uh at YouTube that last year coming into the season, he gave me Indiana's rank, sinko, you want to take a crack because Indiana was coming off a 10-2 season like we were they um remember we had like team Nico, I think they played Notre Dame the night before we got sacrificed on national television.
They got sacrificed on national television on a Friday night up in cold a cold winintry evening at South Bend Sinko. Uh any guess any guess uh Sinko where uh Indiana was ranked?
>> I have no idea. All I all I remember about those Jokers is is something absurd like they only had three four stars on the entire roster. said they were ranked number 20. They were ranked number >> and all I remember I think I think I think little aunt went out to the Rose Bowl.
>> Yes.
>> And uh >> I mean watch that absolute beatd down.
>> He watched a warmup. I felt sorry for Alabama. Honestly, I felt sorry for him because it was >> Yeah, he was I mean I could just see I mean we wouldn't have fared any better.
I mean let's get real. But hey, here's what I wanted to ask you.
>> Yep.
>> Is that uh you're talking about the guys on the bench. So, okay, you take a look at the money you're paying in the transfer portal. What you're essentially paying for is someone else developing these talents.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So, so if I pay for a third or fourth year guy and I give him a million dollars and I've got that, you know, times, you know, in three players or or or um how many players for how many years that you're that that aren't producing for you? Who's the wise purchaser there?
Because you take a look at um Old Miss made a conscious effort a few years ago that they were going to just dabble in the high school market but spend a ton of money on they were going to go all in is what the word was. We're going all in on Lane Keifin. And whether or not he did it, Golden won the games, but you can't argue their success at Old Miss the past several years.
And so, you know, I just I think it I think it brings more to the co what coach was saying that I think that the Oklahoma thing you started the show with. I think that's a bit naive uh in thinking that you can build a roster like that unless you recruit and they don't. Unless you recruit like Ohio State, Georgia, or Alabama of yester year, I just think that's a a ridiculously naive strategy.
>> Oh, from Oklahoma. No question. But I can't get to the bottom of, and I'm going to try, how much of Tennessee's roster is tied into these first two classes next year, this year's class and last year's class, and how much of it's tied into the 22 you see on the field because essentially what and what Sean's saying is that the old misses of the world, I would imagine their first 22, what would you say the percentage is, Sean, of their roster goes into their starting 22 at a school like that. Off top of your head, >> teams that build out the portal, >> let's say like a Miami, what percentage of Miami's expenditure, that 44 million they're spending, >> would you say is for their first 22, their their starting their their starting football players?
>> Okay. I would I don't have any hard evidence. My my suspicion is something like that would be 65 35 7030 starters at Tennessee.
>> Uh gosh, I'm going to sound like negative Nelly, but I think it's more like 50/50.
>> I think we have a lot of money tied up on potential.
>> Yep. We come back on the other side. I think Sean's right. I I cannot I I asked my source today now that you shared that with me. get now give me the he says no I'm not gonna do that for you I said okay that's cool I mean I appreciate you sharing that the figure that we had on the blog today the figure that the front office folks had is ex he said Tony it's right and he ought to know he's in the middle of it so we'll come back on the other side 8652005402 it's a reason why we keep doing the blog because I told you power players read that blog uh power people read that blog log and I got a call from one today and that's why I keep my phone phone number on there as well as we come back with more right after this.
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It's World Cup SEASON AND YOU GUYS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. TALK TO ME.
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T of to the B. Back with you. Tony Basilio with you on a Wednesday. A Wednesday with Watson Brown. That's just concluded. Now it's you and it's me and it's one on the one. Brian Hartman in search of Bino's brain. I hope he finds it before uh Bino reappears on here.
8652005402 if you want to get in the hunting in the mix with us and in the mixing in the hunt with us.
Love to have you.
And uh I'm kind of pumped right now. I tell you what I like. I saw something from the baseball team last night that I really like.
They've got a new prop.
They've got a new celebration prop.
Cinco, what did you think of the old school goalie mask with the hockey stick? They've got a mile hockey stick. One of those plastic hockey sticks along with uh a um old school Jason mask like Bernie Pir back in the day. What do you think, Sino?
you know, I didn't see it uh at the stadium yesterday uh while they're doing it. I just didn't pay attention to it.
Uh but I saw it on the highlights and I think it's great. I mean, this, you know, there's a long legacy uh with the uh what the old guys had done, Vital era, all that stuff. And I honor that era and all those players. But frankly, it might be great for this team to establish their own traditions, their own identity, um their own um their own say so. Uh and um I think whoever came up with that idea is genius.
>> Totally agree. And also like to see the kids having fun. That is my that because I think I I think when you play with joy, I think you set yourself up to be successful when you kind of let it out a little bit.
I think you set yourself up in a competitive space instead of being all tensed up, you know, and my favorite thing about the stuff I saw come out of the dugout is a lot of the kids said they didn't even know that was coming.
And then they also said that they got such joy from it. You could see him laughing and giggling, kind of carrying on. And look, you know, the daddy hat thing from four or five years ago is great because that was born from Evan Russell and kind of an inside joke and they were having fun with the world and all that stuff, you know.
Um, but this thing here, carve out your own identity, do your own thing.
Uh, you know, don't try to impregnate one of your teammates in the field like um Drew Gilbert did the other night in San Francisco. Is this Drew Gilbert guy Sinko? Does he have a screw loose or what?
>> It's what drives him. It's what makes it's what's made him a Major League Baseball player. Uh shorter guy. Um I don't know. I mean, he's obviously got skills. Uh but >> nothing that's just an outlier. Uh, but I think that's I think that's his superpower.
>> Guy is a complete screw loose, doesn't he?
>> I've heard Vital call him a maniac a number of times.
>> Now, really funny video.
Somebody asked Tony, who probably talks too much in these press opportunities, but somebody asked Tony about that deal and he just he cracked up. He was like, I am not that Drew Gilbert thing. So they they had to come up with a new celebration last night. So they did a they did a they they did this thing where they all bowed. They all they had this thing where they all did this uh that's another the thing about baseball is this right baseball is a tedious sport and I love baseball but you know on the major league level 162 games of that all the travel you're making a ton of money but even if you're not making a ton of money you still have to make it fun you still have to get through they call it the dog days of summer for a season and it's tedious.
It It would be like living with me. I mean, I poor Laura, I would think that'd be a rather tedious, tiring thing.
Um or maybe maybe might be the most blessed blessed person alive, you know, at the end of the day. Who knows? But uh 8652005402.
So I I I did something here.
We know the the teams that are on that list, right, Sean? Stop me when you hear one of the top 10 teams on the list. I pulled up a mock draft and then we'll go to the phones.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports. This a mock first round draft pick mock first round next year.
I'm just going to say this.
It seems like most of these teams that are in that top 10 have a discernable star player or two that you can point to and say that's where the money went or that's what we're paying for. It's weird.
It's weird that Tennessee doesn't have one of those.
weird number one pick in the draft whether I believe it or not, but they they're saying the Dolphins are going to take Arch Manning from Texas. They're on that list that we talked about last hour.
Number two pick from the Jets projected Dante Moore, Oregon. They're on that list. Number three pick is a Jeremiah Smith character sinko from Ohio State.
Hey Sean, I would draft him all day long if I was an NFL team. Do you do you feel me on that?
>> Absolutely. You see what a dominant receiver can do. I don't about Super Bowls, but Jamar Chase, some of these other guys, CD Lamb, obviously not Super Bowls, but >> he is he may be the most dominant receiver I've seen in college football since Randy Moss.
>> Number four pick on that draft is a guy that this would make great sense because I don't know about him at the NFL level, but if anybody's going to do it, it's them, the Cleveland Browns and Lenor Sers, who comes from a team not on that list. So, and watch us. There's a hand there's only a handful of them.
Most of these first round picks are going to come off these teams that are in that top 10. Watch us. Watch.
Trevor Gby, offensive tackle of Texas, uh, is slotted to go to the Titans at five.
Dylan Stewart, edge rusher. South Carolina. How about this? South Carolina is projected to have two of the top six picks in that draft today and not even expected to make a ripple in college football this year.
Number seven pick in the draft, Leonard Moore, cornerback, Notre Dame again, big spender in the deal.
Um Jordan Seatan, offensive tackle. LSU kid that Tennessee was involved with.
Was he committed here and went to Colorado or am I imagining that Sean >> or am I >> I don't think he ever committed here. I think I think we uh we greatly wanted him.
>> Okay.
>> But he your finalist came down and then the and then when his announcement the Colorado thing was a was a little bit of a surprise and then if I remember right it took another turn where he kind of was going to take a second uh like he had a second announcement or something like that. He was really and and goofy goofy recruitment and but Jordan Seatan got away from Colorado is become a serious player and he's projected to be uh the number eight pick in the draft and again LSU huge spender. They they spent a lot of money on him to get their offensive line situation figured out.
Number nine, Cam Coleman, wide receiver, Texas via Auburn. Texas again extremely active in the transfer portal, shoring up and going for a national championship this year. The number one payroll in the country has three players in the top nine. Again, you should see it visibly.
We should be able to go, "Oh, okay.
Let's keep going."
Uh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Amorei Washington, defensive lineman from Oregon.
Uh, Carolina Panthers, Ellis Robinson, cornerback, Georgia. Uh, another big spender in the sport.
Was Georgia on that list, guys? Let me go back here. Do we hear George's name?
>> I don't think so.
>> They weren't on that list. So, that's the third player not on the list.
>> Georgia was not on the top 10. That's interesting.
Um, >> you know, another thing if I could, you know, you say Cam Coleman and he was he was one of the bells of the ball.
>> Yeah.
>> No question about it. But, you know, if you look at it objectively, I it's hard to project what our quarterback is going to do and a receiver is largely dependent on the quarterback getting him the ball. Uh, but given given a competent uh quarterback in our system, >> you know what? I can't say that we're as talented as that kid, but Staley Matthews and who I think is going to be the next superstars, Rearius Jackson, Rhra, >> I think I I think those guys are will be just as productive.
>> Let's go. Let's see how how that holds up uh throughout the year because I still think Texas has Well, it's gonna be interesting to see how much they short up their offensive line.
Number 12 is um uh to the Vikings, a Texas edge rusher. Colin Simmons, who we'll see in September. Another big spender. 13, uh Trey Dez Green, tight end, LSU. Here's a little interesting one. Drake Lindsay, quarterback from Minnesota. That's off your beaten path.
Um Ahmad Motton, defensive lineman, Washington. I mean, this is kind of uncanny here how many of these guys are coming from these top 10 teams. Then you got 16, a defensive lineman from Oklahoma, David Stone. Uh 17, you've got an offensive tackle from Indiana.
Um Kiwan Lacy, running back from Miss, which makes your fifth player, not in the top 10. Charlie Becker from the midstate.
uh wide receiver Indiana who's a Nashville kid that nobody wanted.
Here's the thing about the people at Indiana and we all have to say we have to acknowledge this. They've done an excellent job of developing guys.
They're nowhere to be found in that top 10.
Their payroll was akin to Tennessee's last year. I am not going to ever compare.
and say Josh Hypel needs to do what the guy at Indiana is doing because it's not fair because they're not even spending money like like the Ohio States. Imagine if you're an Ohio State fan and you're so used to controlling all the gold and all the players and this guy shows up and all of a sudden he beats your ass twice.
I mean, imagine that, Sean. How dizzying that must be for those people. But Charlie Becker's projected to go 19 in that draft. Then we get back to the halves. Jamari Johnson, tight end, Oregon. Uh Ryan Williams, wide receiver, Alabama. Sean, are you a big wide uh Ryan Williams guy?
>> Man, he's obviously got talent. Uh, it looks like he has had a hard time putting on or or has not put on a ton of weight, >> but I don't, >> man, maybe I'm old school. I don't like the off the- field stuff with him. I I just don't I I don't know that it translates. And again, I'm the old man get off my yard with this stuff. He's he's incredibly talented. Some of the best body control for a wide receiver I've ever seen. Oh man, looks like a video game out there. Now, he did have a dip last season.
Um, and look, >> he's he's about the closest person I've seen to Carl Pickkins who just makes people look stupid.
>> And I and I'm not saying Carl Pickkins was the greatest of all time, but Carl Pickkins had a way with his body control of everything looked in slow motion and everyone around him looked panicked.
>> Ball skills.
Ball skills, >> ball skills, body control.
>> Number 22, the six player not of the top 10 spenders, is PJ Williams, offensive lineman SMU.
SMU is a high spender in the sport.
Obviously, SMU is taking no television money from the ACC to get in that league, which is nuts. But I guess when you're pumping your money out of the ground, Miss is the eighth player not of the top 10. Number 23, defensive lineman from Old Miss. Will Will Eckles is his name. Then we have a linebacker from Oregon whose name I'm not even going to try and pronounce. It's UI Ale.
I will buy a vow. Vanna, keep turning.
uh Matteo Yoli from Oregon. Then we've got the ninth player, not out of the top 10, Zack Lutmer from Iowa. The 10th player, a kid from Arizona State, 26 to the Chiefs.
Then we've got a defensive lineman, the 11th player, not from the Big 10 Spenders. uh an offensive lineman from Missou.
The 12th player, not from the Big 10 Spenders, uh Clemson, uh number 28, Sammy Brown, a linebacker.
The 11th player, Georgia, a defensive back, and then Alabama has a kid, Notre Dame has a kid, and Miami has a kid. And that's your first round.
So, 11 of those players out of the first 32 projected this morning by CBS earlier today, only 11 of the top 32 come off rosters that are not among the top 10 spenders in the sport. Now, I did not hear a player mention there from Tennessee.
I did not hear one from Texas Tech.
I did not hear one from Texas A&M.
So, those fan bases have to look at it and go, "Okay, where where are we spending our money here?"
It's pretty interesting, Sean.
You know, it is interesting to think about. We can say that without a doubt after the 27 season, Tennessee is going to have some first round picks because the big off really interesting is I didn't hear and correct me if I'm wrong as you said.
>> Yeah.
>> Obviously, obviously the dynamics changed, but you didn't hear Sorsby's name.
>> Oh, no, no, no.
>> Didn't hear didn't hear Levit's name.
>> No, no.
>> Didn't hear the uh quarterback Iowa State to Penn State, Roco Obeck.
>> No.
didn't hear any a lot of those quarterbacks. So, it's, you know, you need a quarterback. Obviously, number one pick, got a national championship and a Heisman. Uh, but it's interesting you didn't you didn't hear any of those names.
>> So, Nick Jackson says, "Projecting the first round in May is just fun talking points."
Um, you guys need to look at the projections from last year. Nick, I'm just making a here's my point.
If I'm spending towards the top of the draft, okay, or towards the top of my sport, I should have some star players on my sport, some star players on my roster.
And I look at Tennessee right now, and I'm just being honest about it, and I say, "Where are the star players now?"
>> Well, hey, you know what? I I'll go with that. I mean, let's if if you want to dig down a little bit. You you said >> you just went first round. How many allconerence players are on there?
>> That's my point. That's another point.
That's the point.
>> That's hard to project and it's hard to say because >> certainly our our receivers could throw uh David Sanders certainly would be in that conversation. I don't know all the tack left tackles in the in the conference, but >> yeah, >> there aren't a whole lot of shining stars that just jump out of the page that are going to be, hey, they're going to be on the cover of Athlons. They're going to be on the cover of Street and Smith. We don't have those guys.
>> That's the point. And that's and that's that's all I I would expect when I see my and that's why when I talk to my source today I say okay so how many of these how much of that 38 million is tied into or 36 whatever that number is how much of that payroll is tied into your first 22 and I was told you're going to do that research yourself. I'm not helping you with that.
Which is cool. I'll do the research because I think it's interesting because to me, and somebody said earlier, Sean, you can speak this better than I do because I am not going to follow recruiting day in and day out for football. It's too many players. I don't have the resources. I don't have the bandwidth.
And now it's silly to follow it because now you're just going to go in the off seasonason if you're smart and go and shop and flex your muscle.
But I've been told that Tennessee's start in recruiting right now is pretty tepid compared to last year, high school recruiting, which leads one to believe in in conjunction with your athletic director Danny White's comments about the importance of v being vibrant and alive in the portal.
that Tennessee is getting ready to pivot.
Sean, do you believe Tennessee is getting ready to pivot into the portal in light of their start right now that they're off to? Because apparently they've they took a couple of projects, right? Which is cool. That's what I if I'm if I'm doing high school football recruiting and I'm Tennessee, any of these schools, I'm taking a couple guys that are under the radar and cheap.
So, if I get a quarterback, you know, people were like all upset. A quarterback that's like number 1,000 overall or whatever, but my people internally like him.
See, you got two different ranking systems going on. You got these people that have these services, they're going to rank them for the general public, but then there's what internally what we think of somebody. The only board that really counts, if I trust my people internally, is what my people internally think. I don't care how many stars he has by his name.
Now, in the old days, I might have cared cuz my fans wanted to win recruiting national championships. That stuff is gone now. You talk about something that went out with the bathwater. That went out that went out five years ago, Sean.
People don't worry about that anymore, do they, Sean?
Do they worry about winning a a recruiting national championship now?
Is that even a thing anymore? Sync at 8652005402.
And so I just kind of go, you know, where are we? Uh, and I would use and and then I would recruit elite players.
I would recruit elite players on my high school deal and try to get a couple of them, but they've got to be players that I think can help me right away because invariably, you're already seeing this. If I get somebody and park them on my campus for a year and they don't play, guess what's going to happen?
They're going to get picked off my roster.
They're going to get picked off my roster.
So, I'm with Sean. I'm going to take 75% of my revenue or of my of my uh budget and I'm going to live in the portal. 75% of my budget is going to go toward retaining the players I want to retain on my roster and then acrewing acrewing difference makers in the transfer portal because if I have to overpay like Tennessee basketball overpaid for a couple guys this year but I'm going to give you a little secret. This kid that they got from VCU and you can check on this if you want. when they ran their model, that was the number one player in the portal for them.
Hey, they got everybody that they wanted on campus with the exception of one guy and he was a high school kid. You know what? They'll they'll live with that all day long.
I I said IB said uh I I be going to Virginia.
I'm not going to Tennessee. Whatever.
It's cool.
Hey, if I'm gonna miss on a guy, let me miss on a high school player, whatever.
You know, it's we're getting to the point, we are getting to the point now where this stuff before our very eyes has changed and we have to acknowledge it.
We and and when you're doing what I'm doing, you've got to be extremely flexible. How flexible? I wrote today in the blog that I said that I did not believe that number that was quoted.
You know what I was told this morning?
That number is right on time, Tony, by a source right in the middle of it. And you know what I said? Okay. I'm going to go on the air and I'm going to say in real time today that tomorrow I'm gonna come out and say that 36.7 million figure is right. But the question is the question is how are they spending that money and what are they spending it on? I'll tell you this about football.
The guy at Indiana made it look easy last year. I'm selling them over the next 10 years. Because I think they str they caught lightning in a bottle for a couple of seasons. You're not going to be able to duplicate that over the next 10 years. Indiana when you look at it over the next 10 years will not be among the uh most uh what's the term productive winningest. They're not They're not They're not duplicating that. Lightning struck. I'm selling it. Um you're not going to spend what Tennessee spent on a roster last year, come into the season ranked number 20 in America and hit and have all those guys develop on your roster? Essentially, when you look at what CBS projected, they projected two more first round picks. You mean to tell me that Indiana with four first round picks? Four first round picks. Okay.
Over two seasons had a team that was that good.
Now you think that's that you think it's that's that's duplicatable?
We come back. I want to get your phone calls in because this thing is um it's interesting.
It's well worth looking at how the roster is constructed. It's extremely important.
And I'm gonna ask Sean when we return, when he looks at what Tennessee is doing in the high schools right now, does it look to him like, because I've been I'm being told this, that the VS look to look like they're holding back some as if to say this off season, this year, we're going to go for it in the portal because they're going have to play spend some money to retain what's on their roster, too, cuz I think they've got some good young players.
And I'm also getting the sense that I'm also getting unless GMAC, and I've said this for the last six weeks, unless he takes a huge jump, I'm also getting the sense that you're going to have a freshman quarterback out there this year and you're going to have growing pains.
And I don't know if Kirk Cameron's, you know, gonna walk through the door, but you're gonna have some growing pains.
Come back on the other side. God, that was an awful show.
We'll take a brief timeout.
We'll come back. I want to hear from you at 8652005402.
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Touch them all with Alumni Hall. Heyio here with the great Chad Stockton of FC Alliance. And Chad, I can hear it in the background, brother. It's World Cup SEASON AND YOU GUYS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. TALK TO ME. We are excited. Our U9 through U12 triyouts just kicked off today for our locations in Knoxville and in Johnson City. So, we're ready to offer any player top level competition and top level training anywhere they want to be in Northeast Tennessee. In our programs, we offer competitive play for anywhere from 9year-olds to 19 year olds.
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>> Go to our website FC Alliance or FCalliannorth.org and both locations. We're happy to serve the beginning player or the more experienced player cuz what we will promise is the top level training and top level leagues that we can play in for all of our players. growing the beautiful game in Knoxville and now also in the Tri Cities FC Alliance. Thank you, Chad Stockton.
>> Thanks, buddy.
>> Hey, Sinko. I've got a friend that loves soccer and he told me he said for some reason he's just not feeling it with the World Cup this year. Doesn't feel like past World Cup. Sinko, what's going on? Have we dropped the ball on it or what's the deal here?
>> Well, I think there's um >> too many teams. I don't think there no I don't think there's so many of the there's no Ronaldo is not even you know there's there's no Messi there's no Ronaldo >> it's hard you know Leandowski's old >> um Harry Kane is old >> they're just they're really the the young talent Yamal at Barcelona >> some of these guys are just they're not proven yet they're they're they're players but they're just not there so I think that's a big deal plus I don't think there's A I don't think there's any, you know, golden century dominant team right now.
>> Maybe the US can break through here on our shores. I'll be going to a sweet 16 game.
>> I believe that. I'd see that to believe it.
>> July 4 is going to be in the house.
All right, let me uh let me do this back up here.
Sinko, we've had a robust discussion.
And then we go to the phones.
I said before the timeout that the Indiana Hooers, what they've done over the next 10 years, I'm selling them. I didn't put them in my top 10 yesterday as one of the top 10 winners over the next decade. I put the VS in there, tied with Penn State at number 10 because they have too much money and too much will not to want to do it. And I believe that uh Indiana has seen their better days. What say you?
Well, I can't predict it, but I I would I I I would side with Indiana being one of the uh teams because >> they do it they do it the right way.
It's not flash.
>> Uh they're not out recruiting people.
Yeah.
>> Uh they're evaluating talent. They're developing. They have incredible discipline. Yeah.
>> They have incredible toughness.
>> Uh they run a pro style offense >> and they're they're tight on defense and special teams. though. I don't care who you are.
>> When you when you button it down like those guys and and they seem to have incredible discipline and team spirit.
>> Who's your all those things? I'll take that over a gimmick offense all day long.
>> Who's your V Ryan jumped right in over on the YouTube and was disgusted by my conduct.
And uh who's your Ryan? If I'm you, I'd go buy me a t-shirt, buy me some bumper stickers, get the souvenir magazines, get you a foam finger like the one that CC Hoops brought me last week when he was here. Because when a man walks into the Ray studio with an Atlanta Hawks navy blue foam finger and CC, I love you, but that might be the ugliest looking thing I've ever seen. Look at that thing. But who's your Ryan? This could be yours, bro. This could be your in honor of Randy Whitman, who is an Indiana guy.
I mean, get you a foam finger, who's your varian, get you a foam finger. You'll feel better about yourself. So, in honor of who Ryan and the popcorn flatulence that was Indiana football last year, I'm going to keep my Atlanta Hawks foam finger on, which now makes me even dumber. So, you'll have to go back later on and look at Mark the tape 1 hour 56 minutes into our excursion and get a good look at this. Hello and welcome in. You're on the air.
>> Revealed.
>> Even with a phone finger, I could hear your creepy breathing.
Even with a phone finger affixed to my power of the button hand.
Not the best effort on his part.
>> Now Taylor's asking, is that proper popcorn flat? No. Joel and my friends at Proper Popcorn with their two locations do not produce the kind of popcorn flatulence that your VA Ryan's guys enjoyed last year. Because when I look down at the college front office and I see that Texas, Miami, Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Notre Dame,&M, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas Tech, eight of those teams I had in my top 10 yesterday.
A wild card in that could be the Florida Gator, by the way. But I could hear that creep breathing on the microphone.
Hello and welcome in. You're on the air.
>> How you doing, Tony?
>> Oh boy. Billy, how we doing?
>> I'm doing okay. You want to you want to put me at the end of the line? You can.
>> No, you're fine. Go for it.
>> Oh, okay.
You know, when I when I had this nice little wonderful conversation with you, I was going to say, uh, you know, I was, uh, watching, um, Late Night with Jesse Farley and, uh, the Bammer, which is Rick.
>> On second thought, stay right there. I mean, you talk about killing a man, how do you say that to one of your buddies?
>> Wow.
Huh?
The guy literally is he's a I mean it's a tasteless thing to say, but he's like a like a dmer dmer of the dial tone.
>> Serious. He serally just serially just calls and kills shows.
>> On the way out, I want to shout my friends out at TMGFest. Tickets are available.
Uh, and they're going fast. tmgfest.com.
Kids 12 and under are going to get them free.
It's next week at the Harden Valley Event Center on Saturday, May 23 from 2 to 900 p.m.
Worldass Smokers.
It is a celebration, a next level event.
If you take your barbecue seriously, if you take live fire events seriously, you're going to want to be there. And live music as well. The playbook with the great William Patterson is on the way next.
We love you. We appreciate you. G to the B to the O.
And uh take Curt Signetto. Peace.
>> You're listening to FM105.7 and AM 1340 W KGN Knoxville and W289CU Knoxville Fan Run Radio. Yeah, in my opinion, uh, who Ryan, you need to soak it up, bro. And it's cool. It's a great story. Best story. Best story. Most improbable story of my lifetime. Titans Bill hung up. Um, Sean, I think I offended him.
>> I can see that.
>> That's not Cole, is it?
Yeah, you kind of >> you kind of snack caked him.
You think so?
>> Who owned the Dmer of the Airwaves? Him or uh the small one?
>> Small one, man. His um no offense to him.
>> Okay. Well, I thought I thought you were calling Titans Bill that. I thought that was a big one.
>> No, I was calling Titans Bill that.
>> Oh, that's that's out of line.
>> Well, Titansville's a show killer.
>> Yeah, maybe so. But still, I mean, you're talking about a serial cannibal.
That's a bit much.
>> That's a good point. That was kind of a tasteless thing to say. But let me uh let me do this because I want to honor it. I want to honor Billy.
This always goes well.
>> I want I want him to do since my Braves and Joshy Boy's Braves are kicking tail.
>> I want him to do the tomahawk chop.
Please.
>> That's cool. Tell him it's your birthday. He'll sing happy birthday to you and do that.
>> No, thank you.
>> Yeah, Tony.
>> Bill, you uh you hung up. Why?
>> Well, I thought you was going to cut me off.
>> NO WAY, MAN. I WAS celebrating you.
Didn't you hear what I said about you?
>> Yeah. No, I didn't.
>> Why? I was celebrating you. I compared your phone calls to a um how do I how would I put this Yeah.
Hey, hey, Titans Bill. Titans Bill Sean here. In in in honor of our Atlanta Braves sitting at top the standings for the first time in years, may I request, though you don't have a tip jar, may I request the tomahawk tomahawk chop, please?
>> Okay, here goes. Heyo.
Ho ho.
Hey, hey, hey.
>> Bill, that's >> that's next level. Thank you, >> Bill. Uh, right now I need an update for you. Update from you on uh WWE Divas.
What is the update? Hit it.
Uh, well, I would probably have to say it's still the same. Uh, Becky Lynch.
>> All right.
>> Bo R Suka.
>> Boa.
>> Kendall Gray.
>> Kendall Gray.
>> Um, Bianca Belair.
>> Bianca Belair.
>> Bianca Belair.
>> Yep.
>> And Charlotte Flair. Is Bianca Belair with child right now?
>> I have no idea. But you know, when I had my little private little pow-wow with you uh this this morning, I said to you that they held a that they had a you know, a Monday night Raw at Thompson Bowling Arena.
>> What' you think of the show, Bill? Any good?
>> Yeah, it is good. Was it good? Was a good Monday?
>> Yeah.
>> Huge crowd in there.
>> It's on Netflix.
>> Wrestling right now is super hot. It it cycles in and out, you know, in the American psyche and lore and all that. But, but right now, Rassin is experiencing one of those hot periods.
Believe it or not, tickets to get into that thing the other day for nose bleeders were like $250 to sit in the upper deck. Sinko, >> good lord.
>> But here's how here's >> Say what? Say what?
>> Yeah. Big Will the other day called me and he go sound like a young Leroy.
He he woke me up 7:30 in the morning the other day asking me if I had wrestling tickets.
>> Oh, okay. Well, I I thought you were talking about the World Cup. Absolutely.
I could see that for wrestling.
>> You know what? Here's Let me get on since we're talking about wrestling.
>> Yeah.
>> Some some clown on one of the sites, staterun sites >> on the chat.
>> Yes.
>> Actually took a shot at our boy Tim Burchett >> and talked about how he was, you know, less than. And I I had to light that mother offer up. I was like, "No, no, no." When you had the memorial service for the great Ron Fuller, >> he called in.
>> Tim Burch called in. Tim Burchett called in and talked pro- wrestling for 15 20 minutes.
>> That right there makes him the man.
>> When when when um it wasn't Fuller, no, it was uh uh Ron Wright. When Ron Wright passed, >> Ron Wright, sorry. Sorry.
>> The the stud's still with us.
>> I'm not from the area yet. Was there a Ron Fuller? Did I make that up?
>> No, he's there. He Now, how do you know >> Ron Wright? Yeah. Sorry about that.
>> How do you know Ron Fuller? Bill, >> I met him at my birthday party when we were at Smoother King.
>> Ron Ryder or Tim Burchett?
>> Ron. Ron Fuller.
>> Ron Fuller.
Yeah, he met the stud. The stud came and uh paid his >> They're all They're all great.
>> He's a big fan of He's a big fan.
>> Whoever that clown was on that site, you can go. You know what? Because Tim Burchett's the man.
>> Did we go back, Sean, on high school recruiting? Are we um are we taking the foot off the gas? And do you think we're loading up for a portal run?
>> Read the TV.
>> I would suggest that's I would suggest that's a proper strategy.
I'm I'm asking you if that's what the balls are doing.
>> Well, I don't know. I don't know. I know the big the big fish is the kid from from Chattanooga. Uh but I don't really know if if I'm honest. I don't I don't read the stories anymore and I couldn't tell you the names anymore. It just it doesn't once they've messed with the signing date, once they've gone to this transfer portal, which I'm okay with. I just don't I don't follow it anymore, man. I couldn't tell you any about the other names. It doesn't interest me anymore. They're not They're not relevant. Buck said tickets were not that expensive. He went down and bought a ticket for $43. Good for you, man.
Because I was looking the like the day before and they were way on up there.
But I guess you know when you when you go down the day of an event, they're always a little cheaper. Bill, um >> any anybody else on Bill? I can hear something in the background. What what you've got something that's louder than what do you got going on >> right now? I am watching All the Queen's Men on Paramount Plus. It's a It's a feed from DEP.
>> What is All the What is All the Queen's Men, Bill?
>> It's It's a It's a woman here that runs a strip a strip joint >> and it's a blacks only thing. Bill, we have a uh we have a poster in here called Julie Herman's Roast Beef who just Hang on. who just said, >> "Wait, come again with that name."
>> Julie Herman's roast beef says the following. Looking at Basilio's head would be a perfect advertisement for Smoothie King.
>> Boy, that's a cheap shot.
>> Good. No, that's that's that's great.
That cuz you are the king >> and your head is smooth.
>> That's really something, Bill. The people would take that >> feel the need to uh feel the need.
>> What about you? You're not You're not immune to it. When I when I saw you down at Smoky Mountain Brewery in Marville last, I come in there and you you start yelling out that I'm trying to I'm trying to evoke Gavin Newsome WITH MY HAIR.
>> GOD, SEIKO, LOOKS SO GOOD. YOUR HAIR IS SO NEXT LEVEL. I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING. I KNOW THAT. I want to have a hair.
>> I'm I'm trying to >> sinko. Tell me that.
>> That clown out in California.
>> How does it feel to be so follically challenged? Sink. I mean follically unchallenged at your age.
>> Glorious.
>> You have every head of hair on your head, dude.
>> Word.
>> Bill. Um, did you at your birthday party eat any of Ron Fuller's hot dog? Keif and Rex Lexus want to know >> since you're notorious for eating food off other people's plates.
>> The only the only thing that I had was cookies and carrot cake >> and plus I got a smoothie. Tom and I went and got us a smoothie.
>> I will say that Ron Fuller uh really does love you and thinks you're an artist. So, >> well, buddy, I'll tell you what. I love him.
But, uh, >> you know, I wonder if he was I wonder if he was at, um, at, uh, you know, Monday Night Raw, um, you know, day before yesterday.
>> He just may have been Less Thatcher, Ron Fuller, all the legends.
>> Shout out to Dwayne Light.
>> And, and what about our mayor, our county mayor, >> Mr. Jacobs? He was probably there. Are you a uh so are you a cookies and cream fan, Bill?
>> Yeah.
>> All right. What kind of cream?
>> Uh what kind of cream? Oh boy.
>> Ice cream.
You know, I I'll take French vanilla or I'll take chocolate or I'll take um you know, you know, any kind.
>> Bill, uh no, tell me about this Kings from Queens show. Queens from what is it? Kings from Queens.
>> All the All the Queens men.
>> All right. Tell me about it.
>> It's It's on It's on Paramont Plus. It's a bet thingy that Tyler Perry, >> this is one of Tyler Perry's masterpieces, >> right?
>> And it stars Ava Marcel, probably uh >> probably uh Kyle Blackburn is familiar with her and probably Anne Holt is as well.
>> All right. Can I ask you something? Why do you evoke two of the only two of the black pe only, how do I put this? You're evoking two of the two of the black people that you know.
Why would you evoke Kyle Blackburn when talking about All the King's Men?
>> Well, I don't know. Maybe he maybe he watches he watches those >> those shows. I don't know if if Anne Holt >> Hang on. We got to call Kyle Black >> on BT.
>> Hang on.
Kyle Blackburn, ladies and gentlemen, is about to enter the chat.
You can't just go evoking his name. And this is a summer season when anything can happen here. Sinko, how do you think we do at Oklahoma? What's your uh what's your sense of that, Seno?
>> I think uh I think uh one of our great callers, please try your call again.
>> Small man season. Small man. SP tactics.
>> So, who who wins?
We get two out of three against.
>> Hell yeah, we do.
>> My boy Trent Grininger.
Are you kidding? Tegan Kum. Did you comb? What's his name? Tegan. Whatever.
>> To place this call, you will first need to dial an area code. Please call your dialing an area code. Damn it, >> dude. He shoved Friday.
What was it like uh in the told him about it as he was walking off the mound?
>> I love the umpiring in that game.
>> Matt said the umpire gave him a warning.
Most of those umps would have thrown him out.
>> A fun police type ump, right?
>> I don't care, >> Bill.
>> And what about that Flasheneagel's uh whatever his name is? His son.
>> What do you think of him?
>> Take the skirt off, bro. All right, Billy. Here we go.
Billy, what's this what's the show called, Bill?
>> It's called All the Queens Men.
>> All right.
>> I'm watching it on Paramount Plus. It's a It's >> telephone number 653.
your call now.
>> At the tone, please record your message.
When you finished recording, simply hang up or press pound for further options.
>> Hey, Kyle, it's Vasilio. A um Titans Bill was talking about some show called All the Kings Men.
>> Queens Men.
>> What is it, Bill?
>> All the Queens Men.
>> All the Queensmen. All the Queens Men.
>> Queens Men. All right. Hang on. Hang on.
Oh, here he is.
I knew you'd answer the bell, man.
Hey, KB, how we doing?
>> It's Bill on the air.
>> Bill's on the air and he's he evoked your name when talking Kyle's not even listening. He knew what I was doing. He's He's on the air. He evoked your name when talking about the BET.
And I asked him why and then he doubled down. evoked invoke evoked Annne Holt's name and something about all the Queens Men. Kyle, are you familiar with the show?
>> Tony, I have not watched BET since they stopped playing music videos.
>> Bill, he doesn't watch BET.
>> He does his mom.
>> Same thing with MTV when they stop playing videos.
>> Hang on a second here.
>> Hang on. Say it again, Kyle.
Bet. did the BET again.
>> When BET stopped playing music videos, I stopped watching.
>> So, Bill, what do you say to that?
>> Well, Kyle, they've got some good programming.
>> They got some good programming, Bill says. Kyle, they got some good programming on there.
>> You had Look, you had the oval.
>> You got the oval. Bill, have you seen The Oval?
>> Have you watched The Oval?
>> Have you watched The Oval, Kyle?
>> I have not.
>> How about Ebony K. Williams? Who do you want to set Kyle up with? Even though he's spoken for, Bill, who do you got for him?
>> Ebony K. Williams.
>> Ebony K. Williams. Kyle, are you familiar with her?
>> Uh, yes, I am enough. Yes.
>> Kyle has because uh Bill has her digits >> if we want to make make something. Huh?
How?
>> He's Titans Bill. Kid me.
>> Okay.
>> He's on the show of record.
>> She uh she hosts a show where where she's a small claims court judge.
>> She's a small claims court judge. She has to justice. You can find it on Justice Central.
>> Justice Central is where that's used to host a show called the the the the Grio News with Ebony K. Williams.
>> She used to host a show called Grio News. Do you believe that Bill is watching BET, Kyle, as religiously as he does?
And what what are your thoughts on that?
>> I I didn't even know like you could still get BET the way that like we poured cut today. I didn't even know like I didn't even know where to find it.
>> I mean, let's go, dude.
>> I I love Titansville. I I love Bill.
>> Yeah. I my mom thinks it's a little weird.
>> Yeah.
>> But I love Bill. I just don't understand how he's that familiar and he knows all of those ladies, but like the only real famous people in media he knows are you and his nephew Jesse.
>> Bill, how is that you know all those women and then you know me and Jesse and who else do you know in media? Bill.
Well, outside of you, I know Jim Reynolds.
>> Jim Reynolds from Chattanooga.
>> WJ know, you know, I I'm familiar with Jesse's co-workers over >> Jesse's cooworkers. Yes. Are are any of Jesse's co-workers attractive, Bill?
>> There's one that is.
>> Cave Leven.
>> Cave Levens.
She anchors She anchors both the 5:30 afternoon news, which would be 4:30 your time.
>> Hey, Kyle. Uh Kyle, what do you think of um Bill?
I mean, what do you think of uh Titans, Bill? And by the way, would your mother look at ask Go get do the ask. We're gonna do the ask now, Bill. You've been asking me to do this for a while. Go ahead.
I would like for you, I hope, you know, if they celebrate my birthday, I was hoping for you and your mom to come to Uhhouns on the river. I could show you a there's this thing called News On.
You could pick it up on your cell phone or you could pick it up on your computer. It's called News On. Keep that in mind, Kyle.
and inform your mother on that if you give a chance >> because like it's never Tony just does that stuff where y'all have all have birthdays but they're never on the day of the birthday.
>> They're like sometimes within the month.
>> When's the birthday party?
>> Cuz we got a plan.
>> Bill, we got a plan. He says that we're a chance we can get Annne Holt there.
Now Kyle's mother is a monster in the midstate. like a just when I tell people I know uh that that family they're like go and they talk to you and I'm like well not really but anyway go ahead Bill >> and the one thing one thing I would like to do Kyle is for you and your mom to analyze Jesse because I always give him an A+ >> would your mom look at his tape and give him some pointers. Uh Kyle, >> uh potentially like in her free time. Is this like a free service or are you gonna like >> charge her? Mean like she gonna charge you like what are we doing?
>> It's free Kyle. It's called News On.
>> It's free. It's called News On Kyle.
It's called News On and it's a free service.
>> You are getting something out of it.
It's It's my mother.
>> Yes.
>> I don't want like a consulting fee.
>> Yeah. This is the Danny White part of this, Bill. You're we've now entered into the Danny White part of this. See >> there, look, there's even two stations out of Nashville that's on news on 17 and five.
>> Do you get what Bill's saying? Does uh >> Yes.
>> You talk about the Fox station and then the >> It's called On News. If you want to see the app, it's called On News.
>> News on News on News.
>> I'm on news. on news. I use on news.
It's better.
>> I use on news. Bill, you clown. Stop.
Uh, so what does your mom think of being >> My mom's mad at you, Tony?
>> Four.
>> She's mad at you because she she she's not a fan of the bit. You know, she I tried to explain to her what Fab Basilio is and uh she doesn't she doesn't understand it. And that's how Matt and Martinvall and I make all our money betting is, you know, whatever you say, we go the opposite. And >> Matt's a simpleton >> and the Texas stuff. So, she's mad because she thinks she just doesn't understand it. Like, she thinks that you you were doing they you said they were stinking and so she like doesn't understand that that translates to we have a better chance to win the series.
She doesn't get that. Oh, SHE'S MAD AT ME OVER my heel turn on the baseball team last week.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Hey, Bill, I might have blown your chance. What does your mom think of?
What do you compare Kyle's mom an hol to? Uh, television personality in beautiful Nashville Vegas for all those years.
What do you compare her to, Bill?
>> I compare her. She's as fabulous as a fulllength silver fox fur coat.
>> That's better than the car that sounded like something out of shaft.
>> You said that.
>> What was the car? What was the car you compared her to?
>> Oh, come on, Kyle.
>> What was the car?
>> For the love of the Lord. Um, another one I compare. She's as radiant as a silver Rollsroyce with gold trim.
>> That's what it was.
>> A SILVER ROLLSROYCE WITH GOLD TRIMMING.
Kyle's talking about your mom like that.
The guy holds your the guy holds your mother in high esteem who I love. She I'll tell you this, >> that is a very very very very much a person of substance when you're around her. I hate he's mad at me, Kyle.
>> Hey, they love they love Tennessee athletics. They're turning it on. Then they turn on your postgame show.
>> Yeah.
>> They listen to uh the show on Sundays for baseball.
They love Will.
>> They both love Matt. Um they love everybody on the show. They listen every day or they listen in uh the archive in podcast form. So >> that is so cool. Your mom's like a broadcasting legend and whatnot, right, Bill? Isn't she?
>> Right. Yes, she is.
>> And Bill, she could really help Jesse's career. We need to make this happen, Bill.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> It's your birthday. I don't know if it's where I don't know where you're going to have it, but you got to let us know well in advance because, you know, it's two and a half hour ride.
>> Bill, when are we doing your birthday this year?
Uh, carrot uh, carrot cake.
>> Carrot cake. Uh, >> I'm assuming that's a food and not an establishment you frequent.
>> I don't even I don't even I don't even know if Tom's going to take me because last year uh, Goldick Joe took me >> and you brought me home, Tony.
>> Hey. Hey, Kyle.
Hey, Kyle. Yes, >> Kyle.
Uh, >> we love Bill, don't we? Your mom will Your mom will look at Jesse's tape, right?
>> Uh, yeah. She gets some free time. Yeah.
>> See that, Bill?
>> Okay. Okay, Kyle, he comes on at 11:00.
>> Bill. Bill, she's not going to tune that thing in at 11:00 at night. What are you doing, Bill?
>> Well, it's Well, look, IT'S 10:00 THEIR TIME. BILL, I don't care if it's 10:00 their time, you clown.
>> We got >> We got to put that in a recorded format.
>> Yeah, we got to get Jesse to put a reel together for her. Do they still do that in that business, Kyle? Reals?
>> Uh, yeah. I think you can do YouTube stuff now. Real easily accessible.
>> Jesse, they do. Hey, they even do it on new songs on >> They do reals on there.
>> Yeah, they do. They do. Uh they do uh you know uh they do the replay because you know I tried to you know when when I was over at Delh who's on the river.
>> Yes.
I tried to to get him and and you know to sh >> and uh and and to show and to show him to you and then they and then they had that dad blessed music up. So >> hey Bill, YOU CAN'T BE CUTTING A PROMO ON MY SPONSOR.
YOU'RE OUT OF HERE YOU CLOWN. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, >> KYLE? Love you, man. When we get a new uh podcast, you and Matt, the middle eight. When we dropping another one.
>> Uh maybe in the next couple of days.
>> Thank you.
>> We'll see. Matt's busy, man. A lot to talk about. Y'all got great coverage of it. So, I just try to stay out of the way, you know. But, uh, we'll try to get something up in the next few days because it is really kind of fun for us to just kind of do an extended format and, uh, kick stuff around and, you know, try to try to get it out of Matt and let him get going. And when he gets on one of his heaters, >> oh my gosh, man.
>> When he come on that postgame show the other day and >> Heftlin says to him, "Well, Tony, Matt goes, I don't care what Tony has to say."
>> Matt didn't get the bid either last week.
I mean, Kyle, people were really pissed at me.
Chris Burke. Chris Burke. You call them losers. You call them loser. You call them all lose. I'm like, Berky. Berky.
How long you been listening to the show, man?
You call them losers.
Well, Berky, what do you call a team that's got more losses than wins in the SEC?
Call them winners.
What do you call the Titans, Kyle?
You're a Titan fan. What do you call him?
>> Fan is a That's a strong word. Tony, >> not you're not a Titan fan, Kyle.
>> Supporter.
>> Geographic convenient supporter.
>> Can I refer to the Titans right now as a losing organization? Does that offend you?
>> No, it does not.
>> Okay. Thank you very little.
>> I noticed we were not on the list of the uh NFL international games that they're putting on throughout the season. I saw all those. saw some teams show up twice.
I think the 49ers are going to Mexico and Australia.
>> The 49ers.
>> Yeah, but we're uh we're probably just gonna get close to our games getting blacked out locally.
>> Well, they're trying to grow the game internationally. I mean, how you going to grow the game when you send the damn Titans over there? Can you imagine? Uh well, never mind. I was going to go to that rini. I was going to do the rini bit, but uh >> thank thank you my brother. Hey, great talking to you. Thanks for answering the bell for Titans Bill.
>> Hey, I appreciate you guys.
>> Thank you, bro.
>> Yeah, have a good one.
>> You too. And by the way, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill. We don't bite the hand that feeds us, you goof.
Bill's got some kind of thing. He's uh something about the the live music. Loud music or something.
I mean, Sinko, did you hear that? The loud music.
>> What are we doing, Bill?
Goodness. Gracious. It's an outrage.
>> Uh, yeah. If you're trying to grow the sport, >> but this is pretty on brand because I mean, this thing this thing jumped the rails years ago, so it's okay. If you're trying to grow the sport, okay, if you're trying to grow the sport, would you send the Titans over there if you're trying to grow the game of football?
>> Absolutely not.
>> I mean, Tony B.
>> See you, Sinko. Love you. I want to call Bill. And by the way, he's sea in Sinclair DDS, beautiful Mville. My name is Basilio.
I want to call Bill back and give him a damn piece of my mind, man.
I mean, what are we doing here?
Till we meet again, for all those behind the scenes, I love you. I appreciate you. It's been incredible. It's been a great day to be alive and well with you.
Hope you'll go out, enjoy it.
and uh enjoy this great day God's given us and what a blessing to be here in 2026.
Power play on, fight on. Um I do think it's interesting to watch what happens here locally with our football program and if a pivot's going to be made because I I think that's what they're going to do. It's what it feels like anyway.
And I do think that's what Tennessee spending. I don't know where that puts them. I don't know how they total all that stuff up, but uh love you. Appreciate you. And some of you are getting into political stuff in the chat. And I I only have so many hands and I've got a phone finger in my hand right now as I said I would.
And um so it's been very difficult.
You you took my kindness for weakness with my right hand. I tried to reach down there, but it's not letting me, you know, with my phone finger. It's not letting me. But I'm going to point the phone finger at you and say the following.
Please respect our forum.
Respect what we're trying to do here.
Sports unite people.
And in the political spectrum, we've turned politics into a game of I can keep you angry so I can sell you products. That's all they're doing to you.
So respect what we're doing here or I'm going to be forced to take my phone finger and shove it right into right into your eye.
And I don't want to do that with my phone finger. I want to love on you with my phone finger. I want to take my foam finger and I want to love on you with it. I want to tickle your neck with my foam finger.
You feel me?
So, I appreciate you. I love you.
Um Oh, yeah. And Rodney doesn't like us evoking God in here. Hey Rodney, it's my party and I'll set all the rules. Set all the rules. Set all the rules.
But I love you, Rodney.
And to any of the uh God naysayers out there, I say this to you. God is bigger than your skepticism. He made you. And God loves skepticism. Go to God with your skepticism. It's good. It's a good thing.
We appreciate you. Uh we love you. We're for you. Uh we're not against you. But uh have a great day. Be blessed. GBO.
And uh hey Brian, good luck looking for Bo.
All right, let's run it back. That was fun with Titans Billy today, y'all.
and Crazy Kyle calling in telling Bill, "I'm glad you're a white guy and I'm glad you're like 70 years old, but I haven't watched BET since they quit playing music videos."
Pretty next level.
Bill's a man of a particular choice, though. You know what I mean?
Discerning, as they say.
Another award-winning, thought-provoking, action-packed edition of the Tony Basilio Show is coming up next. Tips are always appreciated here at tonybasilio.com, home of the Tony Basilio Show.
You found the Tony Pascilio stream at tonypasilio.com.
or on your smartphone or tablet. Another thrilling, chilling, and sometimes spilling edition of the Basilio Show is on the way next. Tips are always appreciated here at tonybasilio.com.
You're listening to FM 105.7 and AM1340, WKGN Knoxville and W289 CU Knoxville.
and run radio.
>> Stacked, jacked, packed, ready to roll with you on a beautiful Wednesday. Rice fans. Rice fans.
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