College Football Playoff First Round Reaction & Saturday Night Live Parodies Home Alone

It's the Christmas episode!

It's the high differential. That's the 6-6-0. I'm the 4-10-Nick. I didn't know if this was going to happen tonight. We both had some other things to do, but it's midnight there. Midnight there in the hotel room in Boca Raton.

Neil (00:41)
Midnight, it's the Midnight Edition.

The Midnight Edition of the height differential, now officially, Christmas Eve Eve. First, before we start, because we're not gonna have another episode beforehand, I wanna wish you a little happy birthday.

Nick (00:58)
Nice, dude.

Neil (00:59)
your will you turn in 52. So congratulations on your 52nd birthday tomorrow, Christmas Eve. It sucks that you were born on Christmas Eve because nobody really ever celebrates it, but we're gonna celebrate tonight for you. We're celebrating for you.

Nick (01:00)
32.

It's all good. It's all good. I'm used to it at this point and no,

I'm not 52 years old. I'm getting close, but no, I'm not 52. Was getting a bunch of slack for my take on the Christmas Keller. So I figured we got to come today in the full Christmas spirit. I turned the Christmas music in the car today. I was bumping the SiriusXM Holly channel. Hey, we got the grid shirt on. We got the...

Neil (01:35)
Yeah.

Nick (01:39)
The Bingo Santa hat after the Bengals get a victory. So we here, we here in full Christmas cheer.

Neil (01:42)
Big victory. Yeah.

Good. I'm glad you're in the cheerful mood tonight. This morning. Whatever it is.

Nick (01:51)
So, I mean, obviously we got a lot to talk about the college football playoff happened this weekend, ton of NFL to go over. So we'll go over some college basketball briefly. And then there was a skit on SNL that I just, the movie made our top list and then they had a skit with Ariana Grande and it was pretty dang good.

Neil (02:00)
Yeah.

That's it. Two movies. Both two movies made our list. But yeah.

Nick (02:19)
First off, what's going on in Boca Raton? You've been there all week, I feel like.

Neil (02:23)
⁓

man, like I don't want to leave my guy like you know we got here on Friday game the Boca Raton Bush's baked bean bowl tomorrow at two o'clock tune in ⁓ No, the weather down here has been sunny. It's been 80. It's been fantastic. You know we've done. We've gone to the beach We've gone to the pool. We've gone to Hard Rock Stadium and watch the Bengals get a big victory ⁓

blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins and Quinn Ubers and you know today we spent six seven hours at the pool.

Nick (02:57)
Yeah, it's tough life, isn't it? Tough life. I was living that a couple weeks ago. But the weather's not bad here back in the Ville. Pops and I are going golfing tomorrow. It's going to be 60 degrees.

Neil (03:00)
But no, Bokeh's great.

60 degrees tomorrow? You're not even gonna watch the Bush's Big Bean Bowl?

Nick (03:14)
And then we're gonna golf again on Saturday.

Yeah, we're just going to play nine at 11 and then go somewhere and watch a game.

Neil (03:24)
You want hoops?

Nick (03:26)
I think that would be a good place to go. see if we can talk Brewster into hitting that place up.

Neil (03:28)
It's a great spot. spot. Yeah,

go see Dale, go to Hoops. Good spot.

Nick (03:36)
But

yeah, what you want to into first, college football playoff? Everything happened like we said it was going to with JMU and Tulane.

Neil (03:41)
I mean, think that's...

Yeah, I don't want to give you credit because I hate giving you credit and I don't want your head to get any bigger than what it is. mean, but it does need to get a little bit bigger to fit that Santa Claus hat you got on. I mean, your head needs to get a little bit bigger. So I'm going to pump your ego a little bit. But you were right. I mean, you were right. The college football playoff played out kind of what we thought it would with JMU and Tulane absolutely getting their doors blown off. But I still think that they both should have been in it based on

Nick (03:54)
I I'm almost, I gotta take this thing off. It's too dainty.

Neil (04:15)
the criteria and I why does a 16 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament deserve to in it? Because they earned it. They earned it. They won their conference. Let's give the little guys a chance. It didn't work out this year. It didn't work out this year. But you know what? Down the road there's going to be some time where an upset will occur. So it sucked because they were both blowouts and we were hoping for better but

Nick (04:15)
Why?

Why do you think they should have been in?

Neil (04:42)
This year you were right, but in the future I don't think you're gonna be right all the time.

Nick (04:46)
Well, mean, in the past, like the underdog stories when Boise State, Cincinnati, when they were able to break through and play in some big ball games and even getting the semi-finals, do you not just think that those teams were so much better than the two teams that were let in this weekend? And I get it, you're going 12 teams, so more teams have a chance.

But how bad would those Boise State teams, those Cincinnati teams that were really good, just put a hurting on these JMU and Tulane teams.

Neil (05:21)
Yeah, those teams were better, there's no doubt. Yeah, no, you're right. And like you said, the Tulane game was a rematch with Ole Miss and Ole Miss had already beaten pretty good earlier in the season.

Nick (05:33)
Hey,

hey, they improved it. They went from losing 45 to 10 to 41 to 10. So hey, if we do this 13 or 14 more times, we might get a one score game.

Neil (05:45)
Yeah, and James Madison got their doors blown off early, but to be fair, they did cover. They covered.

Nick (05:52)
they they back door covered okay it was what 34 to 6 at half

Neil (05:58)
I mean, yeah, there's just no sense in really talking about it. They were not up to the challenge. They got the doors blown off like we thought. The other games were the Oklahoma-Alabama game was fantastic. Oklahoma jumped out to a 17-nothing lead and Alabama just came back and just put it on them after that and ended up winning.

Nick (06:18)
Well, you remember

they played in the regular season and Oklahoma had to pick six that really kind of swung the game and then in this game it was the exact opposite. ⁓

Neil (06:24)
Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

Right at the of

the half first half. Yep, they had the Alabama at the pick six and. I mean the the A &M in Miami game. I thought Miami would win that game, but I thought combined they put up more than 13 points. So a defensive slugfest there kind of a snooze fest to be honest with you, but a lot of miss field goals going on in that game and. You know, good for Miami Miami proved at least Miami proved that they belonged.

Nick (06:52)
It was-

Neil (06:57)
They weren't just the one and done so Notre Dame can't really cry about it anymore that the team that they thought they were going to be ahead of, know, the team thought they were going to have is now in the quarterfinals. So, it's good for Miami.

Nick (07:10)
Yeah,

and they have no chance.

Neil (07:12)
No, and I told you this back when, I mean, I told you this back when the bracket came out in terms of thinking about IU was IU got the one seed by beating Ohio State and the reward was playing that eight nine game. It was Oklahoma, Alabama. I was like, I would rather play the winner of Miami in Texas A

Nick (07:13)
to be last.

Well, I'm gonna tell you this Alabama can't beat Indiana.

Neil (07:35)
I don't know about that. I don't know about that. think Miami for sure can't beat Alabama. But, or for sure can't beat IU. But Alabama can.

Nick (07:39)
I'm just.

I know

Indiana's I know is dealing with the injury from the celebration post game that is gonna affect them. I mean, were you really that impressed with I get it, they storm back but Oklahoma was not great after jumping out to a 17 lead. If I look at all four of those games, there's only one team of those four that I think can legitimately compete.

to win a title. Who's the other one?

Neil (08:17)
I there's two.

I think Ole Miss and Oregon both prove that they can compete.

Nick (08:24)
I I guess Ole Miss can. I mean, they're still dealing with all those changes. mean, they didn't have to show anything against Tulane.

Neil (08:33)
It didn't affect him.

Yeah, no, didn't. They didn't really have to show much because they've already played Tulane once this year. But Tulane in my mind is better than James Madison. And Ole Miss took care of Tulane pretty easily, more easily than Oregon did against James Madison. I mean, they both took care of him easily. But I just don't think that Ole Miss just showed no signs of slowing down even without Lane. So I think.

Nick (08:58)
I mean, ⁓

They don't have to do anything. They're bigger and faster than Tulane. There's nothing that you can get from that game. There's absolutely nothing you can take away from it.

Neil (09:16)
But you're taking away that Oregon can win it all by playing James Madison?

Nick (09:20)
I don't think it's because they played James Madison. just like if you made me pick a team that played last weekend that I think could make a run for it, it would be Oregon and I mean, they're the five seed. I think that makes sense.

Neil (09:34)
They got a long way to travel for their next game though.

Nick (09:37)
They do, but I know a lot of people are gonna pick Oregon to win that game.

Neil (09:43)
I'm not. think Texas Tech wins it. I think Texas Tech's defense is so good that it slows Oregon down.

Nick (09:48)
Yeah, we'll see. mean, to me, Dante Moore is right up there with Mendoza is probably the top prospect college football quarterback right now. And he just shows time and time again that he just makes top NFL throws. ⁓

Neil (10:05)
Yeah, but I

mean, you got both coordinators at Oregon taking new jobs. Like, what are they going to do for the next week and half? Focus on Oregon or they're going to focus on Kentucky and Cal and getting their staffs together and recruiting and hitting the portal? Like, you know, like it's amazing. But losing both coordinators at a time like this is a distraction. So I don't know. I think think Texas Tech wins that game.

Nick (10:19)
That's

Well, we can get into this a little bit closer to it with the games coming up on New Year's Eve. I'm sure we'll do a show before then where we kind of break all these games down. But I want to go back into, do we have to fix the system or do you let it ride? Do you roll with the same thing next year after what we saw with Tulane and James Madison getting in?

Neil (10:51)
⁓ I mean, what's the fix? We've talked about this. You criticize and you criticize and you criticize, but what's the fix? You go to 16 teams?

Nick (11:03)
I mean, that's what you kept saying a couple of weeks ago.

Neil (11:05)
To me, that's the first step. I think that's the first step is you go to 16 teams, there's no buys. You get more quality teams in, but you're still gonna have a James Madison or a Tulane in there as well as they should be. But you criticize it because, they're blowouts, all these two blowouts, this was boring, I can't believe I watched this. So what's the fix?

Nick (11:28)
But blowouts happen and blowouts are gonna happen. Maybe. Yeah.

Neil (11:30)
mean, blah, blah, they blab it all the time. Like, you look at

the Georgia, when Georgia won the national title against TCU, that game was what, 70 to seven?

Nick (11:37)
Yeah, blowouts are gonna happen and there's no way to eliminate them. teams, I think you want teams that have a chance to win the title to be in your tournament when it's 12 teams. And when it's college basketball and it's 68, yeah, everybody in that tournament cannot win a title, but there's also 68 teams in it. When there's 12, what was the number that we came up with? 17 % didn't have a chance to win at all and I think that bettered out.

Neil (11:49)
But how do you tell it?

So you're great. So your solution. Right. OK. So your solution.

That's fine. So your solution, as you just mentioned, is there's more teams in College of is to add more teams.

Nick (12:11)
I don't think that's not my solution. That was your solution. I don't want to go to 16 team.

Neil (12:14)
You just said, ⁓ first,

like you just said that the underdogs in college basketball, they might win, they're not winning a title. They're not winning a title, but there's more teams. So add more teams. Go to 16.

Nick (12:25)
I

don't care about upsets in the college football playoff. I wanna see the best teams play each other, because you're never gonna get the field is 64 teams. There's 64 teams in that tournament. There's just more opportunities for it.

Neil (12:29)
Well, then.

You care about it in basketball, but not football. you. So. Saint Peters, Saint Peters.

My guys Saint Peters went to the Elite 8. They beat Kentucky, they beat Purdue. I think what they played.

Nick (12:49)
Elite 8 isn't

winning the national title. I mean, it's going to Elite 8. It's going to Elite 8, which you're halfway there.

Neil (12:52)
I mean, it's pretty close. You're

like, want the best teams in the tournament to play the best teams in the tournament. Well, when St. Peter's is knocking off Kentucky and Purdue and whoever else they knocked off that year, well, they're eliminating some of the best teams.

Nick (13:08)
They are, but they also still had to do it three more times to win a title. And we all know that wasn't gonna happen, and it didn't happen.

Neil (13:12)
What? For what?

Give them a chance. Give them a chance.

Nick (13:17)
So put St. Peter's in the football tournament. That's what we just watched and it was not fun to watch. We watch teams that are overmatched and have no chance. Football is also a different sport than basketball.

Like their trenches just cannot match up. Their speed just cannot match up. Like in basketball when you've got five players on the court, you can figure out a way to roll strategy out there and you could get a hot shooter. Like you can rely on that to have upsets. College football is not, it's just not a sport that's privy to upsets like that because it just so much in the trenches. I mean, if you can't win upfront, you're not gonna win in football.

Neil (13:49)
Well, I mean, they're a lot fewer. I mean, there's no doubt they're a lot fewer, but...

No, you're right, but like there have like you go back to like the BCS days There are times when you know you have Houston winning games. You have Central Florida winning the What they win that year the The Fiesta Bowl and they claimed a national title. They were 13 and ⁓ won the national title

Nick (14:15)
They couldn't even get

in the semi.

Neil (14:19)
Right? That's my point. It's like, them a chance. But you don't that Central Florida team that finished 13-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl deserved a chance to play the big boys for a national title.

Nick (14:19)
You know? Like, it's because they didn't need anybody! And that's the whole reason that why did James Madison, they didn't beat anybody!

That year, I don't remember who the four teams were, but I wouldn't have minded seeing them getting in, 13 and 0. I mean, I'm sure they beat better opponents than James Madison this year.

Neil (14:47)
They beat Baylor, they beat Baylor, I'm pretty sure they beat

Baylor, they beat Baylor in that fiesta bowl. They were 13 and 0, and they never had a chance to play for national, I just don't understand how you can go undefeated and not have a chance to play for national title. When there is a playoff, when there is a playoff.

Nick (14:56)
Yeah, I got it.

Well, it happened.

That already happened. Like, it just, it already did happen.

Neil (15:10)
No, then who?

Nick (15:11)
Like, you at UCF? I mean, that happened. They didn't get a chance.

Neil (15:15)
No, I know, but that's what I'm saying. They should have had a chance to play for a title when you're undefeated in the conference or in your season. They never had a chance.

Nick (15:21)
Yeah, but I mean, that's, I don't

necessarily disagree with that, but that's not what we're debating here.

Neil (15:28)
Yeah, you're debating the quality of... James Madison lost one game. It was us, to Louisville. And you're like, they should not, they shouldn't be, and they shouldn't be, and they ran the table in their conference. They were probably the best non-power forward. I get it. Nobody cared. They deserved a chance.

Nick (15:39)
I'm not gonna repeat their who they beat again. We already did that and it's Nobody like

they did. I don't think they did and and Look and another thing is to with all these conferences combining

Like, so now you've got four, the power four, right? Like in the past, Oregon would have got in as the Pac-12 champion, which then keeps James Madison from getting in. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just, we've made these conferences so big. And honestly, because when one of the conferences struggles and doesn't have a great team, even though Miami is still playing, but didn't qualify to be the ACC's automatic bid, because...

Neil (16:01)
Yeah.

Nick (16:25)
You can't figure out your tiebreakers.

Neil (16:26)
Alright, so let me ask

you this. Let me ask you question. Let me ask you question. Let's say James, so James Madison was up 14-0 on Louisville in that week two game, right? Let's just say they don't blow that lead. James Madison wins that game.

They're undefeated at the end of the season. Should they be in the playoff?

Nick (16:43)
Yeah, they have a Power 4 win on their schedule now.

Neil (16:47)
knowing the same result they're going to get crushed by Oregon, or the same team.

Nick (16:49)
But

at least they had a quality win on their schedule.

Neil (16:54)
I they beat Washington.

They beat Washington State. Does that count?

Nick (16:58)
I that was their best win. I don't know. And look, we've beat this to death. like how you... And look, like I said two weeks ago or whatever, it all is the ACC's fault because if the ACC's automatic bid is Miami, then James Madison doesn't get into Langer 12 and Notre Dame's Junior 11, I would guess.

Neil (17:22)
Blame

Miami. All Miami had to do to get in the conference title game was beat SMU or beat Louisville and they didn't do it. So, blame Miami.

Nick (17:26)
Well, they didn't. They didn't. ⁓

do you have a stipulation to where, if you're a top five qualifier, that you have to be rated so high in the rankings to get in? Do you add something like that?

Neil (17:43)
No, because then there's going to be voters that purposely keep these teams out so they don't get in.

Nick (17:43)
Later.

I mean, you're right.

Neil (17:49)
There's gonna be voters that think like you, that think like you, like, I don't want these kings to get in. I'm gonna vote them 25.

Nick (17:55)
If they play

teams to show me that they are quality, that I'm fine with it. I get it. It goes hand in hand. I get that.

Neil (17:59)
Nobody will schedule them Nick, we've talked about this. will schedule them. What

do you want them to do? What do you want them to do? Nobody will schedule them. Nobody. Now that all these power conferences are going to nine conference games, no. But now nobody, because every conference is going to nine conference games now, and you have to play, in most conferences, you have to play one other power for school.

Nick (18:10)
Beat the team, beat the one team that beat the one team that did that you did schedule.

Neil (18:28)
So now you have two non-conference games left to schedule. You know what they're gonna do? They're gonna schedule the Eastern Kentuckies, the Division II teams, the Villanovas, the Charlottes, like those kind of teams. And then they're gonna schedule somebody that's not James Madison, who's actually pretty good, that can beat you. They're gonna schedule teams that aren't good. So James Madison now is left out in the cold, and they have nobody to play. They're gonna only beat the team for a schedule. Well, yeah, go ahead.

Nick (18:47)
Okay.

I got an idea. I got an idea.

You've got FCS tournament already, right?

Neil (18:59)
And they've won it, but yeah.

Nick (19:01)
No, but do you have an FCS tournament already? Have a Power 4 tournament? Have a G5 tournament? These teams aren't going to schedule them in regular season, so we don't think they don't belong anyways. So have a Power 4, have a G5.

Neil (19:02)
Right. Yeah.

What was that?

In your bit, then if you do that, you're basically telling them that you're not. You don't matter. Nick, that's.

Nick (19:17)
Nobody's playing

them.

Neil (19:18)
That's terrible. That's terrible.

Nick (19:20)
I mean, don't like this was not like, you know how much we should have looked forward to Saturday with games back to back to back.

Neil (19:28)
It's the first round. all like... ⁓

Nick (19:28)
Should have been one of the best days of college football season. It should have

been one of the best days of the college football season. Should it not have? it shouldn't have?

Neil (19:36)
No, because

they were competing against the NFL that night too. You had the Packers and the Bears playing each other. More people were probably looking forward to that than the college football playoff.

Nick (19:47)
Well, I was able to watch it because I didn't have to watch the second half of Oregon James Madison, so I watched all of the Bears.

Neil (19:51)
sure.

But the fact that you you say you need to have a power for tournament means. That that's just telling those schools that you don't matter and that you're never good you're never gonna be good enough so why even play football why even play the game. What's the power for tournament going to do for you- James Madison was the power for tournament we're gonna hang a banner. We're we're the best of the lowest level it gets ⁓

Nick (19:57)
I'm not saying you need to have that. I'm trying to present ideas. You're not presenting ideas.

Well, they're not going to win the Power 4 tournament.

Neil (20:18)
It's like putting a AAA World Series banner in your stadium because what does that mean? Nothing.

Nick (20:24)
Well, guess what? They're not gonna win a power.

They're not gonna win the real one. So.

Neil (20:28)
They won't, but

give them a chance to, give them a chance. If they get blown out, they get blown out. And they did. But give them a chance, they deserve a chance.

Nick (20:36)
I don't know. just, to me, that should have been the biggest day of the college football season and it just wasn't.

Neil (20:41)
No, that's false.

It should not have been. The biggest day of the college football season's coming up on New Year's Eve in New Year's Day. New Year's Day, New Year's Day, New Year's Day is gonna be the biggest day of the college football season when you get the number one, two, and three seeds playing. That is gonna be the biggest day.

Nick (20:48)
That hasn't happened yet!

cannot no shit like duh like at that point

Neil (21:02)
You just said it should have been the biggest date and like no that's...

So what? But to that point and so what next week? So what? You gotta cry about it. You gotta have another week to go before you have the biggest day. Boo hoo. We got blown out, they got blown out. But they deserve to be there. We all know it.

Nick (21:18)
Click it.

They did, I mean, per the rules, yes, they did. Yes, they did. I agree. You know what? Yeah, it was too big. It was too big. Plus I was getting all Grinchy and Scroogey.

Neil (21:26)
Where's your Santa Claus hat? We already took the Santa Claus hat off? We already took the Santa Claus hat off.

You're very scrugey tonight.

Nick (21:35)
I don't know. I just wanted to look forward to that Saturday and the first game was boring. It was super windy. It was difficult, but it was an exciting game. Missed field goals. And then, I mean, the next two games you knew what they were going to be.

Neil (21:51)
That's fine.

Nick (21:52)
just wasn't a great day for college football.

Neil (21:54)
It was a great day for college football.

Nick (21:55)
You were there. Let's move to where it was a great day. I guess it was. It hurts your draft order, but you were there in Miami.

Neil (22:05)
Yeah, we're still here actually, but yes. Correct. went from last week scraping ice off the seats, which a lot of people have commented on that video and commented on our takes on that and agreed with us and how cheap and...

Nick (22:08)
Well, you were actually at the game in Miami.

Neil (22:26)
the Bengals are and cutting corners and all that and how stupid it was. So five degree weather last week, didn't score a point. I'm sitting in 80 degree weather with the sun baking me. It was hot, sweating, but the Bengals put up 45 points. So.

Nick (22:42)
They,

mean, it's like we saw it in three quarters in the Bills game. Like this is the team we wanted to see all year. I mean,

Neil (22:51)
I think, yeah, this is probably

the most complete game the Bengals have played all season from offense, defense, and special teams that we've seen all season. Defense forces, especially in the second half, defense forces four straight turnovers. You get the fumble, two picks, stop them on fourth down, and off those four turnovers, what does the offense do? They go back and score four straight touchdowns on those turnovers. That's what you're supposed to do.

Nick (23:17)
I mean, and

no, and look, this is like, you just look at that roster and that's why it's so frustrating because they're scheming to keep Jamar Chase and then the Bengals hit T Higgins right away for two big throws. So then they have to adjust. Then they hit Chase a little bit. Then they wear them down and then they start hitting Chase Brown in the third, fourth quarter. And it's

Like this is what this offense was supposed to be. Joe Burrow getting out of the pocket, making Houdini plays, finding Drew Sample on a third down when he's a blocking tight end and he just finds him and he runs for, I think it was like a third and four, third and five. They end up getting 15, 16 on that play, get a first down. like this is what the offense was supposed to be all year.

Neil (23:57)
That was tough.

Yeah.

Nick (24:13)
And this is why it is so important to have all three of those guys and honestly, I'll include Chase Brown in that all four of those guys on the field at the same time. What? Yeah.

Neil (24:21)
Yeah.

And give Samajit P. Ryan credit. Samajit P. Ryan

ran hard yesterday. You know, he's a great backup running back, great in pass blocking. For the first half, they ran P. Ryan, P. Ryan, P. Ryan. And then the third quarter was Chase Brown's turn. And Chase Brown dominated the third quarter. But it's...

Nick (24:40)
Well,

I mean, Tony Brown, who I'm watching the game with at TeleGators is like, where's Chase Brown? And then in the next 10 minutes, what, three touchdowns?

Neil (24:51)
Yeah, give the offensive line credit. They've been really good. They were good yesterday. There was a lot of time. One of the sacks Joe Burrow had was on him. He just held the ball and held the ball and held the ball and started to get rid of it. But offensive line has actually been really, really good in the most part of the season. they were good yesterday. But yes, you're right. This is what the offense you come to expect.

And when the defense can finally step up and do something, they were good against the run for the most part. H-Ain had a great first quarter, broke off a long one. But outside of that, yeah, that's all they gave up. Other than that, they stopped the run pretty well. ⁓ They had Quinn Ures as first start as a rookie, and they forced him into mistakes. And he threw two picks, and then most of his yardage came in garbage time down the stretch. ⁓

Nick (25:25)
We had one really big run that.

Neil (25:46)
But.

Nick (25:47)
One thing I do think it's important to remember that you are facing a quarterback that's making his first NFL start before you get too excited about this. And also.

Neil (25:54)
Well, we didn't really pressure

him. We had zero sacks. We didn't really bring any blitzes. We dared him to beat you, and he didn't do it.

Nick (26:03)
Well, we tried,

we tried to, mean, you're always trying to bring pressure. They just weren't bringing extra guys.

Neil (26:09)
Which I would have done on a rookie quarterback. Yeah, that's whatever.

Nick (26:11)
⁓ But

this is my concern. It's the same thing as last year.

Neil (26:19)
No, your concern is the Bengals ain't on the three game way. We're building the ownership. Look what we did. No, I'm not.

Nick (26:23)
Yes. Yes. And then you make no changes. And then you make no changes. And look, I remember from

when I remember back in the Jeff Blake, Carl Pickens, Darnay Scott days in the late nineties, like I don't, it was like 96, 97, 98, something like that, where they started off oh and seven one year one and seven the next year. And the second half to the seasons, they were seven and one and six and two. And I'm like, you just combine those two second half records.

We're going to the soup. It don't work like that. Like now it doesn't work like that.

Neil (26:55)
No.

You can't, ownership can't, you can't fool the fans. The fans know, the fans aren't stupid. Winning the next two games and in the season on a three game win streak. It's like last year, they went on a W five to end the season, almost stuck into the playoffs. And everybody's like, all right, next year, next year. Like, no, you're playing the card, you're playing the Dolphins, the Cardinals and the Browns.

Nick (27:13)
Right, right.

All right.

Neil (27:22)
You win those three, you

should win those three games. And it's still not good enough. You should still fire Zach Taylor and Duke Tobin and Al Golden. Get rid of them all. Even if you win, you can win next week by 30 and then next week by 30. And I still want them all.

Nick (27:37)
You know what?

It ain't gonna happen. And they're gonna build up, they're gonna think we're building on that momentum. The defense is getting better. All these pieces are improving. We'll get what they're, I mean, you can't.

Neil (27:49)
But that's the same

narrative, Nick, that they do every year and it doesn't work.

Nick (27:54)
That is what I'm saying. That is my fear. That is my fear. But...

Neil (27:56)
I know, I know that's-

that's my fear

too. Also, I've been pounding the Joe Brady coaching train. I'm throw another name out there that I want.

Nick (28:12)
Okay.

Neil (28:14)
It's a defensive mind because we suck on defense. Give me Robert. Give me Robert Stala as my head coach next year.

Nick (28:16)
Yeah, I'd like this better already. Huh?

Okay. I mean, I wasn't impressed with what he did at the Jets. I mean, how many head coaches failed in their first opportunity came back the second time and were

Neil (28:23)
You hate Robert Sala.

How many weapons did he have to with

the Jets?

Nick (28:39)
not many.

Neil (28:40)
He didn't

have the Joe Burrows and T Higgins and Jamar Chase and the Chase Browns and all that. Our offense is fine. I need you to coach up the defense and get that better and we'll be just fine.

Nick (28:54)
I don't disagree with you. I mean, they're not gonna fire Zach Taylor. So I'm not getting into this fairytale world and worrying about it. They're not going to. I'm just gonna tell you. Cuz he's got two years on his contract. They did a secret extension after they went to the AFC Championship. They didn't even put it out there in the media for I don't know why you extending five years and you don't even put out there in the media after you've been to the AFC Championship back to back years.

Neil (29:00)
No they will, they should. I think they will, I think they will. Why? Why?

Nick (29:22)
should be something you're excited about. I don't know, this is just not the way this franchise operates.

Neil (29:28)
Listen to your stars. You're risking losing, like not losing to another team, Joe Burrow, but he's checked out. He's checked out. When we lose, they get checked out. So why would you risk Listen to your stars. If your stars want to change, like, hey, we're not going to win with Zach Taylor. We need another coach. Mike Brown better get another freaking coach.

Nick (29:38)
You risked that, yes. You 100 % do.

I

I agree, but I'm just telling you it's not gonna happen.

Neil (29:53)
I don't know. think the big three are getting tired of Zach Taylor. And if they want to change, you get it me, you make a change.

Nick (30:00)
Well, if they go in Mike Brown's office and say we need to make a change, then I think that's maybe the only way it could happen. So yeah.

Neil (30:08)
We'll see. Yeah.

Nick (30:11)
What other games still got to you this week?

Neil (30:12)
⁓ let's see, ⁓ this week...

Nick (30:15)
We had a lot of good ones. The Seahawks come back and beat the Rams on Thursday night. The Bears come back on Saturday night.

Neil (30:19)
Yeah, that was the Yeah,

that was the battle. The Seahawks Rams, that was the battle of our top two teams that we've pushed in on our draft. I mean, that was almost a miracle comeback by the Seahawks.

Nick (30:33)
I think it was a miracle comeback.

Neil (30:35)
I mean, yeah. No, that was a great one. The Bears proved that they're ⁓

Nick (30:41)
They proved that they

could keep finding ways to win is what they did.

Neil (30:46)
On

a windy night in Chicago, yeah? ⁓

Nick (30:48)
I mean, it was reminiscent

of the win in Cincinnati where they didn't get onside kick and still figured out a way to win. And then they get onside kick.

Neil (30:56)
No, my

most impressive team of the week is the Jacksonville Jaguars. I mean, they went into Denver and Denver had the best record in the NFL and they won by what, two touchdowns? And they're on a W, what, six or something now? Like they're kicking butts.

Nick (31:17)
Yeah, they're 11 and 4. ⁓

Neil (31:19)
And they've won,

they've won what, five, six in a row? Like they're, I mean they have a path to the number one seed and how wild is that to think about? The Jacksonville Jaguars.

Nick (31:29)
They've won six in a row. I mean, I don't think, I think when people are talking coach of the year, they're primarily talking Mike Vrabel. ⁓ I mean, I think he deserves some, for sure. mean.

Neil (31:31)
Yeah, so I think

Liam Colman deserves some of that though.

Nick (31:45)
Yeah, I don't know. It's, I mean, the fact that the Bengals beat them.

Neil (31:47)
I mean a joke, a joke last night by the Ravens.

The Ravens had that game pretty well in hand. They were up 11 in the fourth quarter. They choked out away last night and basically all but in their playoff hopes. Yeah, again. And somehow I hate to give them credit because I hate this franchise, but the Pittsburgh Steelers going into Detroit and getting a big win there.

Nick (32:00)
Well, Lamar gets hurt again.

Neil (32:11)
Detroit? I'm actually surprised how bad Detroit's just not who I thought they were.

Nick (32:15)
I they haven't had figured out ways to win this year. They've lost a lot of close games. And I mean, the Steelers are, I don't think they're very good, but they're nine and six. And Mike Tomlin is doing it again.

Neil (32:27)
in another.

Another winning season from I never had a losing season in his entire coaching career. That's insane

Nick (32:37)
and continues to be on the hot seat. you know, they're going to get in the playoffs this year, but does anybody expect them to do anything?

Neil (32:46)
No. Yeah, there were chants of fire Tomlin going around the, it's not Hines Field anymore, whatever they call their stadium now, but chants of fire Tomlin were going around three, four weeks ago. I'm pretty sure Kyle Ray wants to fire him. I can't figure that one out, but ⁓ I'll gladly trade Mike Tomlin for Zach Taylor if they really want to fire Mike Tomlin.

Nick (33:08)
Yeah, I would take my time in an absolute heartbeat. Yes. Yeah, that would get me a little more excited than Robert Sala. Yeah, it would. ⁓ The Panthers beat the Bucs and are in prime position. They play again in the final week of the year, but are in prime position to win the NFC South.

Neil (33:10)
That's not even a question! Not even a question.

And this was the team that preseason you had said, one of the teams that did make the playoffs last year that could make it this year, were the Carolina Panthers. So good on you for sniffing that one out.

Nick (33:42)
If you remember, we struggled really hard finding teams that didn't make it last year that would make it this year. And there's going to be quite a few. The playoffs are going to look very different this year.

Neil (33:47)
Yeah.

And the one team that started out 7-1 is now probably not going to make the playoffs. It's now the Indianapolis Colts. The loss tonight, they just in a free fall. Lost four in a row, I think. It's just not a good situation. They got Old Man Rivers. They actually let him throw the ball little more tonight down the field. He actually looked okay. He just looks like he put so much effort into throwing a 20-yard pass.

Nick (34:01)
The other eight and seven.

And it looks sidearm, I just, I don't know. The ESPN of the broadcast tonight is just absolutely obsessed with the whole thing. I mean, I'm thinking this dude's gonna get hurt the whole time.

Neil (34:24)
Yeah, they lose.

Yeah, I mean they showed his family in the suite look like a daycare center, but

Nick (34:38)
Yeah, I mean, there's so many people up in that suite. ⁓ But yeah, the Colts have lost six and seven. I I think they're pretty much out of it. ⁓ What did you say the 49ers? How many drives in a row without punting?

Neil (34:44)
Yeah, they're gone. I think they're out. They're out.

⁓ 21 I think, what text did you get? 21 straight drives without a...

Nick (34:58)
And then one other stat that is just absolute mind-boggling, the New York Jets.

do not have a single interception the entire season.

Neil (35:11)
Maybe it does.

Nick (35:12)
Like I had to look it up to make sure.

Neil (35:14)
How, mean, that's gotta be a record, ⁓

Nick (35:15)
It was ripped.

yes, yes.

Yes. Will they get a pick in the final two games?

Neil (35:19)
That's insane. They're two weeks away. No.

I mean, why would you expect it if they've gone 15 weeks without a pick? What makes you think they're going to get one in the next two weeks?

Nick (35:32)
Do you know who they see in their last two games?

Neil (35:35)
Probably an AFC East team, Patriots, your Bills, Patriots, Bills, Dolphins.

Nick (35:38)
They're both AFTE teams.

That's

it. They get Jake May and then they get Josh Allen. I mean, they can throw picks just as well as anybody else,

Neil (35:44)
Yeah, no, there's no pics. There's no pics.

Sure,

but no. Well, all right, I'm gonna say yes. There will be a pick because I think one of those teams has already locked up the division by the last week, whoever it is, and they probably played their backup to rest their starters, and then that backup throws a pick.

Nick (36:06)
Okay, well, I mean we've gone this far. I mean, let's just let's just finish it. Let's just finish it

Neil (36:12)
Yeah, but one more game, one more game we want to talk about and we're going to continue to give this guy credit. Is Tyler Shuck and the New Orleans Saints have won three in a row. They win again.

Nick (36:24)
Yeah, mean,

he's gonna have a chance to be there started next year.

Neil (36:27)
We

threw his first 300 yard passing game yesterday, threw for a touchdown, no picks. He should be going into next, I mean, that's what we talked about this last week is he should go into next year as the starter. Like the Saints don't need to go waste a high draft pick on a quarterback because you have a viable option already. Go fix something else on your team that needs work. You don't need to fix your quarterback because he's pretty damn good.

Nick (36:54)
Well, I think they've seen that over these last few weeks and I think it's probably changed their mindset. And I guess if they fall in love with the quarterback at the top of the draft, maybe they still do it, but you don't have to. You absolutely don't have to.

Neil (37:09)
You should.

Nick (37:09)
So looking at the playoff picture, looks, I mean, with two weeks to go, it's pretty set. With the Broncos, the Patriots, the Jags, and the Steelers, and then the Chargers and the Bills are locked in, only that last wild card spot is open, and it's the Texans, and they're up by two games over the Colts. So just one win by the Texans or another loss by the Colts will wrap that one up. And then on the NFC side, the Seahawks, the Bears, the Eagles.

Neil (37:14)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Nick (37:37)
The Panthers and the Bucks still to be decided. Then the 49ers and Rams are both in and then the Packers are up a game on the Lions, but I'm pretty sure they have the tiebreaker there. I think one more win by the Packers will get them in.

Neil (37:53)
So we're talking about the Lions missing the playoffs.

Nick (37:57)
mean, you're looking at a playoff without Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff. I mean, if Baker Mayfield doesn't get in, do you put him in that list, Dak Prescott? There's some names right there.

Neil (38:15)
Yeah, nope, it's kind of wild. I mean, you got the Drake Mays, you got the Caleb Williams. Like those are the guys you're be watching here in January and February.

Nick (38:30)
And we touched on it briefly, but I think the three main coach of the year candidates are Mike Vrabel with the Patriots, who think is heavily favored on all the betting apps. Ben Johnson with the Bears and then Liam Cohen with the Jaguars. I think Sean Payton's up there and some of them Mike McDonald with the Seahawks. But as far as the first year coaches, which one would you vote for coach of the year?

Neil (38:58)
Honestly, if

I had to pick coach of the year, it's gotta be Liam Cohen. It has to be. It's his first time being a head coach in the NFL. Mike Vrabel has been a head coach before and he's had success. He's taken the Tennessee Titans to the number one seed. We all know-

Nick (39:13)
But I mean, doesn't

affect, that has no effect on you winning coach of the year this year.

Neil (39:17)
I know that, but like if we're going on based on how good of a coach you are, like we've all seen Mike Vrabel's our good coach. He's taking a team to the next stage.

Nick (39:22)
Okay, how does that make

him not qualified for coach of the year?

Neil (39:26)
because we know he's a good coach. Liam Cohen has never been a head coach.

Nick (39:30)
This is not newcomer

coach of the year. This is coach of the year.

Neil (39:35)
I'm telling you why. We all know Mike Raible's a good coach. He can ⁓ coach anybody to be a good team. But, Liam Cohen has never done this before. He's taking a losing franchise in the Jacksonville Jaguars who had what, the number two overall pick last year? And they're gonna win their division. mean, the Patriots might even win their division. They might be a wild card team.

Nick (39:37)
Okay, it's not really making sense.

I'm just gonna.

Neil (40:00)
The Jaguars will win their division with a coach that's never done this before. He has no idea what he's doing. He looked like a goober on his opening press conference. And he's gonna take them to a potential number one seat. We all know Mike Rabel can coach. Nobody knew Liam Cohen was anything. He's always been as an offensive coordinator anywhere he's been. And he comes in and just takes over the AFC South and wins it with a team that was the number two overall pick last year.

Nick (40:27)
Okay, I mean, let's be real, a very winnable division year after year.

And I just, don't understand what the fact is that Mike Rable's done this before, makes him ineligible to be coaching the game.

Neil (40:41)
I didn't say he's ineligible. No, he's eligible.

But I would give the nod to Liam Cohn because he has not done this before.

Nick (40:47)
Okay,

that has nothing to do with these qualifications. Like, it has nothing to do with it.

Neil (40:51)
talking about.

What do you mean there's a- why?

Nick (40:56)
because it's Coach of the Year. This is like Bill Belichick, can't win Coach of the Year because he's already won six Super Bowls.

Neil (41:05)
So hold on, so let's say that Bill Belichick, Bill Belichick's still coaching. The New England Patriots win their division, they go to the playoffs. He's won seven Super Bowls or however many he's won. Nick Evans takes over a team that was the number two overall pick last year. You've never coached a game in your life and yet you win your division and you take your team to the playoffs and you're like the number two seed. To me, I'm giving that to you because you don't know what the hell you're doing.

Nick (41:34)
Okay, I just took over a new team and Bill Belichick did not. So I agree that that is different. Mike Vrabel is taking over a new team.

Neil (41:44)
Yeah, but he's also proven that he knows what he's doing. Knows what he's doing.

Nick (41:49)
I

don't know. I honestly and they keep pulling a rabbit out of their hat every single week, but why not Ben Johnson? mean when was the last time the Bears were relevant?

Neil (42:02)
But what?

Nick (42:02)
It's

more recent, I mean, it's farther away than the Jaguars being in the playoffs.

Neil (42:05)
I mean,

I've them out more times than I can count. yeah, no, I, yeah. Well, now Sean Payton.

Nick (42:11)
So.

I mean, he's been here before, he's won Super Bowls. He told them he gonna play us last year!

Neil (42:15)
I, that's why I would put Liam Cohen ahead of him.

I'd put Liam Cohen and Ben Johnson ahead of him, exactly.

Nick (42:22)
So I mean, I think they're all three qualify for it and I think a first year coach should get it. But the job Mike McDonald has done and also the job that Kyle Shanahan has done at the 49ers where they just don't complain about injuries, they just keep winning games. I wish my team could do that.

Neil (42:29)
You just made my point. don't... You just made my point. You made my point.

Kyle Shanahan to be our coach.

Nick (42:45)
I would also take him, but Robert Sala is on that staff.

Neil (42:50)
Exactly. That's why I will take him on as my head coach.

Nick (42:53)
⁓ Did you see Ed Cooley throw the water bottle at the kid after they lost?

Neil (42:58)
I did. It's, it's... Is it funny or is it not funny?

Nick (43:03)
He's not hurt, so I think it can be funny now.

Neil (43:05)
How old was this kid? Was he like a toddler?

Nick (43:08)
Yeah, he very well. He won very well.

Neil (43:10)
I mean, I get when you lose a game and you need it.

Nick (43:13)
But did you see

what happened and why I was so upset?

Neil (43:16)
⁓ was the end of the game, wasn't it?

Nick (43:18)
It was the end of the game. were, they were down three. Uh, and Xavier fouls like, like this is a debate, right? You foul or you don't foul when you're, when you're up three, they found all the way in the back court with like seven seconds. Like I ain't fouling you in the back court and walking you to the, to the free throw line. Um, you're at least going to eat some clock, but they found them all the way in the back court, walk them up. And I don't remember the shooter, but he misses the first one. So now you're down three.

Neil (43:21)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Nick (43:49)
with like four or five seconds left. And he misses the second one on purpose and he just clangs it straight off the backboard. Doesn't even try to hit the rim. And Ed Cooley just takes that water bottle and just flings it right over the bench, hits little buddy in the head. Little buddy goes spinning.

Neil (44:00)
sorry.

I mean, usually those seats right behind the bench, they're probably somehow associated with it. It's either a high donor or a family member of somebody associated with the program. I mean, he threw water bottles in the crowd. We all agree with that. He issued the apology. I mean, he didn't do it on purpose. He didn't mean to hit a kid in the face. You can lose your cool. No, you can lose your cool. And if you want to throw a water bottle, I I don't blame him for losing his cool and wanting to throw a water bottle. That's, that's.

Nick (44:19)
Yeah.

I

Yeah, but you still can't lose your cool like that. You can't throw a bottle into the crowd.

You can throw it straight down. You can throw it straight down.

Neil (44:40)
That's what I'm talking about. You throw it down,

Nick (44:42)
Yeah.

Neil (44:42)
you know, you throw it somewhere else, but not straight into a fan, especially a kid.

Nick (44:46)
No,

but you're right. did start off the presser by issuing apology. I think he is going to be suspended two games, two games, I believe.

Neil (44:53)
Two game. Two.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's probably warranted.

Nick (44:59)
And then Michigan State plays Oakland on Saturday and Tom Izzo and Greg Campi with, it's an absolute tradition. And these two guys, like the post game is just a straight love fest. It's just a straight love fest.

Neil (45:04)
Yeah.

It's a tradition for them now.

I just feel like they're like the step brothers from like.

It's like it's like ⁓ Will Ferrell and John C. Riley. I like they're just step brothers that are just hilarious together. They make a great combo. But yeah, they were the naughty. They were what the naughty and nice?

Nick (45:27)
Do you think they had, did they fight over, do what? Yeah,

did they fight over who got to wear the naughty and who got to wear the nice?

Neil (45:35)
I don't know. But Tom Izzo said, you were lot more naughty than I was nice or something today. Yeah.

Nick (45:41)
In that game, all

this team was trailing a lot of the way, so.

Neil (45:45)
Yeah,

was it Tom? Tom is about the naughty the naughty sweater and

Nick (45:48)
Yeah. And like, and it's so perfect

too, because it's him yelling at official pointing like at what he's yelling at him about. Like we got to get, we got to get it matching Christmas parties next.

Neil (46:00)
And then wasn't

Campy's sweater him fist bumping a referee? We had the presser, Tom, was like, you were more naughty than I was. I heard you down there.

Nick (46:04)
Yeah, it was just him being, and he was being nice. He was being super nice.

But I will say, the fact that the late game sucked in college football and I didn't care to watch them allowed me to watch some good hoops on Saturday.

And that the Texas Tech two weeks in a row, I've watched almost the whole Texas Tech game. a they lost to Arkansas, they're down 12 twice to Duke. And Christian Anderson just goes off in the second half. And they figure out a way to win and do their first loss of the season. But there's a lot of good teams this year. I'm really excited for this college basketball season.

Neil (46:45)
Yeah,

a lot of good teams, a lot of good teams. And Kentucky, Kentucky seemed to have figured it out.

Nick (46:48)
Can talk? Yeah.

Will they get JQ back? I think that makes a big difference.

Neil (46:54)
I mean, he was very, very good on his first game back. yeah, I mean, Rick.

Nick (46:59)
And

Rick can't beat the cats. So I mean, I think his record now is what, six and 14 against Kentucky?

Neil (47:02)
Yeah.

Yeah?

Nick (47:08)
So, but a lot of good hoops and we, promise you, we will get way into hoops after college football because as you know, are in the city for college hoops.

Neil (47:24)
Also,

can we give a quick shout out, since we're talking about college hoops, let's go to the women's side and give props to Jeff Walls and the Louisville Women's Basketball Program. Going on the road last Sunday and getting a top 15 win against North Carolina, and then absolutely blistering number 17 Tennessee in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday.

I mean, they won about 24. Like give the women's basketball team at Louisville is back. We're back.

Nick (47:51)
Yeah, I mean.

Dude, they go eight deep, legit eight deep and don't really drop off when they go to their bench. And sometimes they get a little more production from their bench. They controlled that North Carolina game for 35 minutes and then almost blew it. they figured out a way to win. I mean, we could have been up 20 and a half if they didn't turn the ball over. And dude, I will say this, Tennessee, they pressure you and they want you to turn the ball over.

Neil (47:59)
Yeah.

They control the Tennessee game. were up the entire game and then they turn up the pressure in the second half.

Nick (48:27)
But if you don't, you can score on every single possession. You can score on every single possession. And that's what Louisville did, especially in the last 10, 15 minutes. Yeah, well, they just couldn't handle that. They just couldn't handle that half court trap. Yeah.

Neil (48:29)
Yeah.

They flipped the script. They started pressuring Tennessee and they forced turnovers. And then they got out and transitioned off those turnovers. They forced

Tennessee into turnovers. They got out and transitioned and they started scoring easy buckets. So they flipped the script on them and I Tennessee just looked lost.

Nick (48:48)
late.

Well,

I mean, what do they always say? Press teams don't like to be pressed and they just started running a half court trap and Tennessee didn't know what to do. I mean, they rebounded their tails off the entire game.

Neil (49:03)
You have had what 14 career high?

Nick (49:05)
Yeah, and Amari had

15 and 13. And they need her to be great. They need her to be great. And she was absolutely fantastic on Saturday.

Neil (49:08)
Mario was great.

I that's the thing

is you look at this team and where these play, the development that walls is these girls have developed under walls with Elif. Elif is the best she's ever been. I mean, head and shoulders better than what she's been in first couple of years. Amari Barry, she did have a good summer. Amari Barry has taken a huge leap in her sophomore year.

Nick (49:28)
Well, I think she had a great summer playing for the National Team.

Neil (49:37)
Then you bring out some new pieces. mean, you bring in Laura Ziegler ⁓ as a newcomer and she's, the first time we've actually had a big in a while. They can shoot and rebound and you know, plays hard and this team just gels well. Like they just look like they play well together. They gel, they're having fun out there. They're loose. You know, it's a recipe for success and we've seen it.

Nick (49:38)
She had to.

No,

I'm excited and the win on Saturday, think is the best one the program's had since they beat Texas in the round of 32.

Neil (50:09)
I mean, they damn sure should have beat South Carolina. I mean, it's like, you're talking about like they should have beat South Carolina. It's wild to say, but they should have won that South Carolina game, you know, so.

Nick (50:12)
Should have, should have. They played really well in that game. You missed three out of four free throws late and it opens the door.

No,

but I do think there's reason to be optimistic for this team.

Neil (50:25)
Optimistic in

this team right now. They're playing well enough, especially the ACC is probably a little more down this year than it has been in the past and You know, you're competing against you've already beat North Carolina So all that's really the the hardest games left or the Notre Dame games in NC State. So you know if you Do what you should take care of your business. You're in line to host first second round

Nick (50:50)
And you gotta get back to that if you wanna compete to go to Final Four. You have to. I mean, no, shout out to the whole staff.

Neil (50:53)
is correct. So, yeah, so shout out. Yep. Shout out to Walls. Yeah.

Nick (51:00)
⁓

Did you see about Mido Pereira? Do you know who that is? So do you remember in 2022 when JT won the PGA? Mido Pereira was up a stroke going to the last hole and he doubled. He doubled, and ended up, then he made the playoff. JT won the playoff.

Neil (51:12)
Yeah.

Oh, this is the one he won? Yeah.

It's where he

and Thomas and Zala Taurus were in the playoff.

Nick (51:27)
Yeah, and then after that Pereira goes to live, collects $11.5 million over three years, gets relegated this year, and he's like, I'm retiring.

Neil (51:38)
gets relegated? How do you get relegated?

Nick (51:40)
If

you're not in the top 48, you get relegated in Liv. I think you're just, I don't know what you get really, but I think you're out of the league. But they give them $11.5 million. It's Nino Pereira.

Neil (51:43)
Where do you get relegated to?

They just kick you off the tour? There's no like a... You're a minor league... league?

Wait, hold on, what's the Roman numeral for 36 holes? You're relegated to the 36 hole tour? ⁓

Nick (51:58)
Yeah,

but now dude just gonna go back to Chile after playing golf for three years every once a month playing three rounds and shorts Collect his 12 million bucks and Never have to work again the rest of his life. Like how was that worth live giving him 12 million dollars? When daddy tell me how you know, you have too much money

Neil (52:18)
I good for...

Yeah, I mean good for Pereira for just sucking and he's like, is he the golf equivalent of being a fired college football coach? ⁓ Good for him. Like if you're to suck, at least get your payday and you know, I mean go home to chill and live a good life. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓

Nick (52:30)
Yeah, yeah, he is, he is.

12... 12 million. He's

⁓ like Joaquin Neyman and him are really tight and they're both Chilean. Yeah, Joaquin Neyman is... yeah. So they were on the same team but now Perreira is not gonna be on his team anymore because he got relegated. He got relegated and he said, you know what? I don't even care. I ain't trying to get better. I'm just gonna take my 12 million and I'm going home.

Neil (52:48)
But Blocky Neiman's actually good at Yeah.

I didn't know they relegated people. That's it.

I mean, let's give her a hand.

Nick (53:09)
⁓ We've talked Bobby Petrino on this pod before when he got the Arkansas job and now he's got another job.

Neil (53:14)
Yeah.

Saw that today.

Nick (53:17)
This offensive coordinator at UNC under Bill Belichick, mean, this is gonna, there's gonna be some kind of HBO behind the scenes with this coaching staff, right?

Neil (53:28)
I mean, those are two strong personalities and I think it's a good hire to be honest with you. I'm not gonna criticize it. I think it's actually a really good hire by Bill Belichick because Bobby Petrino as an offensive coordinator is really damn good. I mean, even at Arkansas, even Arkansas had a tough year. They put up points, he's a good offensive minded coach.

Nick (53:31)
You

Neil (53:51)
I think that's something Bill Belichick needs, especially after the year that Carolina had. I are they strong personalities? Yeah, they might. Maybe they think alike. I don't know. This is more of a, this is gonna be, this is a wait and see. I think it could either go really, really well or could go really, really bad. I don't know if there's an in-between.

Nick (54:00)
I just see it not ending well.

I think

and that's why you don't there's a lot of guys that are good offensive minds. I just don't know if this is worth the risk. I don't know, it could work out, it could. I have no evidence this year saying that it will.

Neil (54:15)
No, I-

Yeah, I just

don't think it can get worse for Bill Belichick than what the season he just had.

Nick (54:30)
I I guess I shouldn't say there's gonna be behind the scenes because didn't that get canceled last year? They're supposed to do it, so probably not gonna do that. But.

Neil (54:35)
They got canceled.

Yeah,

I think it actually is a pretty good hire ⁓ by Bill Belichick. I think Bobby Petrino can succeed and he's an offensive genius still in my mind. So I think it could work. The personalities might, they could butt heads and that could lead to some bad things or Bill Belichick just let's Bobby take the reins and go call the plays and get us some wins. So.

Nick (54:49)
All right, P is.

Neil (55:05)
I actually, if I had to guess or to bet, I think this is going to be more of success than it will be a failure. ⁓

Nick (55:14)
I'll take the other one.

I just don't think it's worth it. Just don't think it's worth it.

Neil (55:20)
We'll

see Louisville Louisville plays at Carolina next year First time we played Carolina. It's first time we played Carolina. I think since We went and watched Lamar play there

Nick (55:25)
We went.

That was the last time we went? That was the last time we played down there?

Neil (55:33)
That was

the last time we actually played Carolina in general.

Nick (55:36)
I was 17, right? That was a long time ago.

Neil (55:38)
Yeah,

it was the year after you won the highest, but 17, yeah. We haven't played him at home, so yeah, this will be the first time Loval and Carolina match up since that Lamar year.

Nick (55:46)
Okay. I'm looking down at my rundown here. I think the only thing I got left is the Saturday Night Live Home Alone skit. I just wanted to make sure we talked about that.

Neil (55:47)
Should we go again?

I I watched some of it, I watched actually it was on my TikTok. I watched the first half of it. So give us the synopsis here. ⁓

Nick (56:10)
So, I mean, first off, you gotta go watch it because it's just, mean, Saturday Night Live has been known for having great Christmas skits. Like Pete Davidson when he was doing the stand to Santa Claus is one of the best SNL skits they've ever done. Yeah, yes, yes, one of the best skits they've ever done. But this one, Ariana Grande is Kevin McAllister.

Neil (56:25)
Yeah. ⁓ the ⁓ yeah, him doing the letters to Santa, he's amazing. It's absolutely amazing. One of my favorites, yes.

Yeah.

Nick (56:41)
and she's got her blonde hair and she comes down the steps, mom comes in and she's just pumped that she gets to see Kevin. She's been awake for 72 hours. Like, so she's just laughing hysterically to everything.

Neil (56:43)
Yeah.

She says, I haven't slept in 72 hours.

I'm going delusional.

Nick (57:00)
So then and then her dad like I guess her dad goes open the closet after the whole family shows up and then and then the mom goes hysterical again and then the dad goes over the closet and Kevin's like No dad, I forgot that's still there and he blows his head off and then they try to they try to they try to Yes, and then they try to rinse him off with water, but instead it's kerosene and he blows up even more

Neil (57:22)
The flame, the flame, the flame torches still, all the booby traps.

Nick (57:31)
⁓ would you say his name was the kid that pees in bed fuller? It's bow and yang and he's sitting at the left and then all of a chainsaws just come off and cut off both of his arms at the end of it. Yes, they're all and just killing and just killing every member of the family while kevin and his mom are just getting covered in blood. ⁓

Neil (57:34)
Fuller.

All the booby traps are still

So all the booby traps are still in place and Kevin forgot about it.

Nick (57:58)
Yeah, and

then at the end the old man comes in and just beats them both with the shuffle.

Neil (58:04)
⁓ That's pretty damn good. That's good. Speaking of Home Alone, you wish that I had said something on the last pod about Christmas movies. You cussed me out because you said that Just Friends is not a Christmas movie. And I said, well, what is it? You're like, it's just a movie. Well, Home Alone is not a Christmas movie.

Nick (58:09)
It was good. It was good.

What? Okay. Why?

this sound?

Neil (58:28)
It's not. If you're going to use your logic with Just Friends, I said Just Friends is a Christmas movie because it's a movie that's set around Christmas time. Which it is. They've seen Christmas carols, there's Christmas decorations, there's Christmas this, Christmas that. Home Alone at its core is a movie about a kid that gets left home alone by accident. Burglars are trying to get into the house. It's a movie about a kid defending his house against burglars. But it's set around Christmas time.

That's nothing to do with Christmas. It's just set around Christmas time. So if you're argue that Just Friends is not a Christmas movie, Home Alone is not a Christmas movie.

Nick (59:00)
Okay. All right. Well, look at.

Alright,

well look at the movie poster for Just Friends. It's Rod and Riddle's fat getting kissed by, uh, what's Amy Smart?

Neil (59:09)
Okay.

Thank you, smile.

Yeah.

Nick (59:18)
Meanwhile, nothing to do with Christmas. No red and green, no lights, no nothing. And then the home alone is Kevin McCowster doing the famous, after he does the, after he shaves. But then, Marv and Harry are both covered in Christmas lights with the Christmas bow.

Neil (59:23)
Uh-huh.

But in the Home Alone logo, like, Home Alone with like the little like house as like the A with the little light on.

Nick (59:44)
Yeah, that's above the top of the poster.

Neil (59:48)
I mean, if you're gonna say that Just Friends is not a Christmas movie, well, I'm gonna say Home Alone is not either because the premise of Home Alone is not about Christmas. It's about a kid defending his house against burglars. Who is it? It's not about Christmas. It has nothing to do with Christmas.

Nick (59:58)
How is it not about Christmas?

is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Neil (1:00:04)
It's just set

around Christmas time. It's the time of year that it takes place, which is what Just Friends is.

Nick (1:00:11)
Did the old man next door not reconcile with his son because it was Christmas time and they were at church watching the children's Christmas choir and that's what made Kevin and the old man talk for 30 minutes?

Neil (1:00:21)
That's having ninjas friends. They win.

Ryan Reynolds' skinny character goes to Amy Smart's church. There's a Christmas pageant going on where Dusty Dinkelman is leading the kids in Christmas songs. Yes, it's the same kind of stuff. It's the same stuff.

Nick (1:00:38)
I

Neil (1:00:38)
Ryan Reynolds

goes to church for a Christmas pageant where Dusty Dinkleman is leading these little kids choirs and he gets mad and they get in a fight over Christmas.

Nick (1:00:46)
I am

pretty confident if you took a poll of 100 people and said which one is more of a Christmas movie, Home Alone is going to

Neil (1:00:56)
because more people have seen Home Alone.

Nick (1:00:58)
Well, that's why it's higher on the list. And that's why JustFriends shouldn't be on the list.

Neil (1:01:00)
But based on your logic

of why Home Alone is a Christmas movie, that same logic can apply to Just Friends, and Just Friends is a Christmas movie.

Nick (1:01:09)
You

know, what I want to do next year is go through who got it worse, Harry or Marv.

Neil (1:01:18)
that's a good one.

Nick (1:01:20)
I want to break it down.

Neil (1:01:21)
Can we do that on the next show? We do that on next show. no, because we're all gonna, like this week is Christmas movie week. The week leading up to Christmas, the days leading up to Christmas, and the days after, like a couple days after, it's Christmas movies on every station in America. You're watching Christmas Vacation. You got 48 hour, 24 hours of Christmas story and Little Ralphie, which I'm pumped about, and Home Alone. So I'm gonna watch Home Alone, and what, we're just going based on Home Alone 1?

Nick (1:01:24)
Only maybe, or we could save until next Christmas to motivate us to go a whole year.

I'm

taking this step further. I want you to rank that we're gonna each rank the top four who got it worse Harry or Marv Harry Home Alone 1 Harry Home Alone 2 Marv Home Alone 1 Marv Home Alone 2 Who got their ass beat worse

Neil (1:01:52)
Are we doing both?

and like the acts that actually happened to them?

But like, but we're gonna rank like, getting your blowtorch on your head is worse than on the ornaments. Yeah, okay, got it. We're doing a whole little draft on the next show. I it. I got two early favorites, but I won't say it yet.

Nick (1:02:13)
Yes. Yes.

Yeah, who got it worse and in which movie? And we'll draft one to four.

But

I want notes on what everybody got so you can know what you're talking about. Like be different, like actually have some substance behind what you're saying.

Neil (1:02:30)
Got it.

I think more

of stepping on the nail on the tar has got to be up there.

Nick (1:02:37)
D'oh!

That's just like, that's one of the scenes you can't watch! Like I- I- I turn away! I turn away! Like he falls back the stiffest you can possibly fall back. Like it's just, he doesn't move his knee and he just falls straight back.

Neil (1:02:41)
Right in his foot.

Or what was it? We'll get into it in the next show. I've got some favorites. Marv trying to beat Harry, trying to beat the spider on Harry's face with the crowbars. That's gonna be painful.

Nick (1:03:01)
Yes.

And also, why are you trying to climb the rope to get to the tree house? Also, if Kevin, I'm waiting a little longer before I cut it.

Neil (1:03:15)
Yeah.

⁓ I agree. I absolutely agree.

Nick (1:03:23)
Yeah, let them get some hope up or let them fall on their own.

Neil (1:03:27)
I mean that's partially the reason why Kevin got caught in the neighbor's house.

Nick (1:03:30)
100 % that's why the neighbor had to beat him over the head with the shovel and save the day What's up? What's the plans for Christmas?

Neil (1:03:36)
Yeah.

We got a couple plans. We'll go to church, a little Christmas Eve service. We'll get back into town a little late tomorrow night. So Christmas Eve, we'll wake up, we'll get a little church service. We'll go to Erica's parents, we'll go to Bruce and Leanne's house on Christmas Eve. We'll then do Christmas Day with my family, my mom and Aunt Arlene. We'll do all that on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas, we got

My brother-in-law's coming into town with Bruce and Leanne will have that at our house. And then the day after that, we're going to Erica's grandma's. So four straight days of Christmas activities. The kids are pumped. They get gifts probably every day of those four days.

Nick (1:04:22)
But

they'll do Santa's Christmas morning.

Neil (1:04:24)
Yeah, so when the kids open their gifts, I know this is bad to say, but I'm one of those dads is when the kids open their gifts on Christmas morning, I'll be just as surprised as they are. I don't know.

Nick (1:04:36)
100 %? You have no idea?

What?

Neil (1:04:40)
I think Erica said we got them a couple of Nintendo Switch games.

Nick (1:04:44)
You have zero idea! Oof, I wouldn't admit that. I don't think I would admit that.

Neil (1:04:47)
⁓ stop

it, you see the memes and the TikToks and all that? Yeah, I don't know, I don't do the shopping. I do the spending. I do the spending, I don't do the shopping.

Nick (1:04:57)
Well, I'm not a

You're not doing the rapping, just showing up.

Neil (1:05:04)
my god,

if you ever, I've wrapped Christmas gifts before. my, I'm like, it's like a patchwork, it's a patch. It's patchwork, like I'm taking a piece here and piece here and trying to fill the hole. No, it's bad. You don't.

Nick (1:05:07)
I'm awful at it too.

And it's like never

the amount of paper you cut is ever enough And it looks like it it looks like it could wrap your house, but it can't wrap a deck of cards

Neil (1:05:21)
Nope. Nope. I'm a... If it... If

it fits in a gift bag, it's going in a gift bag. And I'm just... I'm stuffing some paper in there and that's it. I'm a gift bag guy. I'm not a rapper.

Nick (1:05:35)
And if I get a

gift bag with Christmas, I keep it and it goes in the closet. So I don't have to wrap stuff the next year.

Neil (1:05:39)
I'm a gift

bag guy. I'm not a Christmas paper guy. I'm a gift bag guy.

Nick (1:05:43)
How early will they get up?

Neil (1:05:45)
Depends on how late, my plan is to keep them up late on Christmas Eve so then they try to sleep later. But no, they'll be up at eight.

Nick (1:05:51)
That's not too bad. You can handle it. The kids that try to get up at five or six are the ones that you need to go back to bed.

Neil (1:05:54)
No, it's good. And Eric will get up.

Yeah,

no we're not doing all that. No, it'll be good. Chris, in morning, Erica makes some, it's tradition, she makes some little hot chocolate, great hot chocolate, make a nice little breakfast with some bacon, sausage, tash browns, some eggs. Before.

Nick (1:06:13)
Is this after y'all open or before?

so y'all like do a full breakfast before it's not just wake up and start ripping open.

Neil (1:06:18)
We'll do a full breakfast. No, no, full breakfast first and then

we'll sip the hot cocoa as we do the stockings and the presents and yeah, it'll be a nice little Christmas morning.

Nick (1:06:25)
I like that.

I like that.

Do you remember a Santa gift that was just your greatest Santa gift of all time?

Neil (1:06:39)
Oh yeah,

PlayStation. Or that, and I also had a Santa gift that was, um, the hot, uh, what do they call it, the cars you drive as a kid? Uh, not Hot Wheels. Power Wheels. Power Wheels? I had a Power Wheels Jeep.

Nick (1:06:51)
Remote control cars? Power?

Okay, so you actually drove in it? Okay.

Neil (1:06:57)
Yeah, Power

Wheels Jeep that was ⁓ in the garage that was from Santa. But the PlayStation and the Power Wheels Jeep, two favorite Santa.

Nick (1:07:08)
And this is gonna

show that I'm what, five, 60 years older than you?

Neil (1:07:11)
with like a rockin' sockin' robots.

Nick (1:07:13)
No, regular Nintendo, regular Nintendo. my big wheel and my bike, that was really exciting. but the Nintendo by far. I think there's a picture of me on my knees on the living room floor, just with my arms straight up in the air like I won the championship.

Neil (1:07:15)
Crossfire.

I mean, when you're a

boy, when you're a boy, and you girls too, it's not a boy or girl thing, but mostly boys, you look at the videos of when people are kids and the most excited they get of a Christmas gifts, 75 % of the time, 80 % of the time, it's some kind of video game system. It's a game boy.

Nick (1:07:52)
Well, I think

since our generation, yes.

Neil (1:07:54)
It's a Game Boy, it's

a Nintendo, it's a Playstation, it's a Game Boy, it's a Sega, it's some kind of video game system that they open, and they freak out.

Nick (1:08:03)
Yeah, if you're 10

years older than us, that wasn't the case.

Neil (1:08:07)
mean back then they probably got like an Atari or something or...

Nick (1:08:09)
Yeah.

Man, I don't know. Yeah.

Neil (1:08:12)
They they got

jacks. They play jacks. Marbles.

Nick (1:08:15)
Yeah, Jackson

jumping rope and in Tinker toys and a football and a football and a football.

Neil (1:08:20)
Marbles. Lincoln Logs. Some Lincoln Logs.

Hey, Ralphie wanted a football. That is true, he did not want a football. How about a nice football? No, I'm waiting. I don't watch it until Christmas Eve. And then I watch it like four times.

Nick (1:08:28)
He did not want to football that is the opposite of what Ralphie wanted he's the opposite of what he wanted Have you watched it yet? I Haven't watched it. haven't watched it

I've seen like home alone has been on so I've seen bits and pieces of it seen a little bit of Christmas vacation But I haven't watched anything all the way through yet

Neil (1:08:46)
I've done a lot. Watch that too.

I've watched Elf all the way through, Chris's Vacation, Home Alone. ⁓

Yeah, that was it.

Nick (1:08:59)
So

I'm gonna watch Just Friends, but you gotta watch Bad Santa.

Neil (1:09:04)
I watched Four Christmases. I took your advice. Watched Four Christmases? Very good.

Nick (1:09:06)
Mm-hmm. It's good.

Doesn't belong on a list, I don't think, but it's good. Yeah. Yeah.

Neil (1:09:12)
It's very good, very funny.

Very funny.

Nick (1:09:16)
I mean, there's some other ones out there too. Fred calls is like, okay, that's Vince Vaughn. Like there's some other ones that are just, just tough to get, tough to get on a top eight list. That's why.

Neil (1:09:28)
I think our top six were

unanimous and then we got a little controversy after the last two picks.

Nick (1:09:33)
It gets little tougher after that.

So, all

right, it's 1 12 in the morning. So I think I'm gonna cut this off. What time y'all gotta leave in the morning?

Neil (1:09:46)
Team buses are rolling out about 11, 11 15.

Nick (1:09:50)
How many cans of bush beans have you seen down there?

Neil (1:09:52)
⁓ it's bean, it's a bean fest. There's so many beans. Like hats, shirts, towels, koozies, everything. Beans, beans, beans and beans. And I'm here for it, I love beans. Bush's baked beans. No, I haven't eaten any beans yet. Sure done that.

Nick (1:09:54)
Have you- have you ate anything?

Have you ate any? Well, eat some beans

before you come back.

Neil (1:10:13)
I will.

I'll get on the beam train.

Nick (1:10:16)
But I didn't know this was gonna happen so I'm glad we were able to get this done Merry Christmas to everybody. Happy holidays Everybody enjoy the joy time with your families Enjoy the kiddos opening presents because that's what it's all about and Jesus of course and Jesus of course But I beat him by a day

Neil (1:10:24)
Yup.

Yep.

Happy birthday to Jesus. And Nick, happy

birthday to Jesus, but before Jesus has his birthday, happy birthday to you. Yup.

Nick (1:10:42)
Appreciate you, my guy.

I always say I beat him by a day. Yeah, so we actually went to dinner last night. ⁓ It was actually my mom's birthday. We went to Outback.

Neil (1:10:45)
You did? You did?

Where'd you go?

Okay.

Nick (1:10:57)
It was good. My dad's steak wasn't cooked right, which was kind of disappointing.

Neil (1:11:02)
And I do want to give two more birthday shout outs. Today is my brother-in-law Derek's birthday. And the 26th is my mother-in-law Leanne's birthday. So you were born the day before Jesus. She was born the day after. So happy birthday to everybody. A lot of birthdays.

Nick (1:11:11)
And it was my mom's birthday yesterday. was my mom's birthday yesterday.

There we go, there we go. A

lot of birthdays, but Merry Christmas everybody, happy holidays. Everybody have a good new year. We'll talk to you before new year for the six foot six Neil. I'm the four 10 Nick. Once again, Merry Christmas, happy holidays. We'll talk to you next week.