Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
SEC Unfiltered | 2025 Georgia Football
284 Plays17 days ago
Jim and John are joined by Chris Phillips of SEC Unfiltered.
Need help with your online presence? Check out Working Web Media!
Save 15% off your first order from Homefield Apparel with code: HUNKERDOWN
Subscribe!
Apple | Amazon | Google | iHeart | Spotify | TuneIn
Social:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Merch:
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Season Plans
00:00:00
Speaker
When we come to Athens, we we better be rocking. we And I don't doubt Morris Hall for a second, but just just know what's on the line. That's all i'm saying. I'm just saying, I think that and think we're known to go back-to-back last time I checked. Yeah, there you go.
00:00:15
Speaker
Hey, listen, the Morris Hall tailgate would never go I can tell you that right
00:00:22
Speaker
Welcome to My Gotta Podcast. I'm Jim Wood. In this episode, John Powell and I are joined by Chris Phillips of SEC Unfiltered. We talk about what Chris has going on this season, his view of the dogs, an outlook for the season ahead, and we answer a few questions from you, our listeners.
00:00:38
Speaker
As always, remember to check out the newly redesigned MyGottaPodcast.com to see our latest merch. And you can follow us on social media at MyGottaPodcast. Finally, if you need help with your website or your online presence, head over to workingwebmedia.com slash dogs.
00:00:54
Speaker
Now, let's join the conversation in progress.
00:00:59
Speaker
All right, well, two weeks in a row with an episode in the offseason. yeah Pretty good for us. So back with with a guest again. So we got Chris Phillips is in from SEC Unfiltered.
00:01:12
Speaker
ah Chris, welcome to My Got a Podcast. Happy to have you. Yeah, man. Happy to be here. I appreciate y'all having me. I've actually got on the desk right next to me a little special feature, if you will, for the occasion.
00:01:24
Speaker
Oh, nice. Oh, baby. yeah That looks like a Dwight special. Yeah, this this is Dwight. Shout out to our guy, Dwight. Shout out to Morris Hall Tailgate. Shout out to...
00:01:36
Speaker
ah Georgia fans everywhere, man. Yeah, absolutely excited to get back to Athens. Excited to chat with y'all. And, man, we're less than a month. I mean, the pads, probably ah probably this weekend, I think most SEC teams will put the pads on. They'll be popping. And it kind of feels like now, like now that we've actually got football on the field, like football season has officially begun. This is the preseason, but we have actually gotten into football season, and I'm giddy about it. Really excited to see what Georgia's going to be this year. and Like I said, guys, I really appreciate y'all having me.
Tailgating Experiences and Traditions
00:02:04
Speaker
Yeah, man. talking a Talking season is almost over. Hey, almost, but John, we got a lot of content still to get out, so don't rush it away too quick. We got a lot of stuff we're doing over the next month or so.
00:02:15
Speaker
It's a fair point. It's a fair point. I love ah the early Morris Hall shout out as well. um We were, know, there's always a podcast before the podcast. We were talking about that. You you made it out to Morris Hall last year. I think John and I somehow both managed to miss you.
00:02:31
Speaker
ah John, that was a game you didn't make it to. I was there, but was had walked away or something and missed it. So i don't know. give Give us your recap of Morris Hall. I know – and there's a video. Everyone can go watch the video.
00:02:44
Speaker
I remember Morris Hall was in your featured featured tailgates. so Yeah, we dropped the vlog. Yeah, we dropped the vlog every week last season. We'll do that again this season. We're on the road, so – Morris Hall will be featured in great, great length again. There's no doubt.
00:02:59
Speaker
um Yeah, shout out to John and and Dwight and all those guys for being so welcoming. And they've they've been such great friends to me. But I mean, man, it was a electric. I was there all day. You know, I mean, the spread was incredible. There was, you know, enough liquor to, you know, last year for an eternity, it felt like. And yeah. It was interesting because i I was so, what was interesting, I was so accustomed. and It was late in the season, right? So I'll admit, I was starting to, we had a long Friday night in Athens. Long Friday night. Dealing it a little bit, but I was so. How did your Friday night end? Every good night in Athens ends at Little Avery. i i did I did catch the Uber home. Like nothing, nothing, like nothing got out of hand or anything. But, you know, um my good buddy Graham Coffey, shout out to him. They had the event over there.
00:03:45
Speaker
a Dog Central did I believe with Home Field over at, what is it, Creature Comforts? Yeah, yeah. So they had the events over there. So we started there. We started at the brewery. That was a lot of fun. And then just kind of wandered around downtown Athens. I made waves that night, I recall specifically, because I went on Twitter and said that Athens is the best college town in America and you just can't prove me otherwise. And lot of other fan bases in the SEC that had fun with that. But I stand by that. The best college town in the country.
00:04:13
Speaker
um Yeah, we had a good time. Went out, with the went to some some spots. That was the first time I was out in Athens in a very, very, very long time. Literally like in 10 years. So, you know, stopped by Dulee's, stopped by Buda Bar, you know, hit some of the hit some of the spots.
00:04:30
Speaker
um And then, yeah, I mean... Got after it on Saturday. But it's funny because, again, I was so used to central time at that point because I was going to so many games at central time. Then you had this 7.30 Eastern kickoff. And I just remember sitting there, and it's like 5 o'clock. And I'm like, God, man, like this day is feeling so long. And I'm so hungover. But we had a great time. Again, everybody at Morris Hall was awesome. It was just a big party and a bunch of dogs. Wow.
00:04:55
Speaker
Heck, Thomas Rhett stopped by. That was really random. Oh, yeah. That was that game. but Yeah, it was that game that he stopped by. So that was that was really cool. He was Tennessee Was he wearing the Tennessee overalls? Yeah, he was wearing the overalls. I mean, he said he lost a bet.
00:05:09
Speaker
Yeah. So, no, it was – like i said, man, it's it's the people that that make the difference. I say that about everywhere I go, but certainly Morris Hall, I mean, it's – you know Without everybody there, and it's just a great crowd, great community. So I can't wait to run it back with them and tailgated with Morris Hall in Atlanta for the SEC title. That was really cool. So it doesn't matter of the location, man. Morris Hall just – they throw it down. And, oh, by the way, guys, I need to mention this. For any Morris Hall folks out there that are listening, we're going to be running it back our SEC Unfiltered Tour superlatives, right? Morris Hall won best tailgate last year.
00:05:43
Speaker
The field is open going into kick. The field is open. So if Morris Hall, just to put the challenge out there, if Morris Hall wants to keep that trophy for a second year, when we come to Athens, we we better be rocking. And I don't doubt Morris Hall for a second, but just just know what's on the line. That's all i'm saying.
00:06:01
Speaker
I'm just saying, I think that and think we're known to go back-to-back last time I checked. Yeah, there you go. Hey, listen, the Morris Hall tailgate would never go I can tell you that right Never.
Alcohol at College Games: Then and Now
00:06:15
Speaker
oh so speaking of tailgate like what's what is your like i mean since you've gone around to the sec and visited a lot of tailgate like what's your go-to tailgate fair and cocktail for that matter oh that's a good question so my go-to drink really does vary on the occasion like at home i love like a ah bourbon or a whiskey neat um i'm absolutely that guy I got some Blantons right now at the crib like that. That's, you know, some ah some Woodford. I mean, I'm um I love, you know, whiskey neat at home when I go out and about like this is going to the bars or whatever. I try to keep it a little bit lighter. So I'll go like tequila soda.
00:06:52
Speaker
I do like some tequila, love some margaritas, but I'll go like tequila soda. um And then I'll just drink beer just on occasion. So, I mean, at a tailgate, I guess it kind of depends. I mean. um Typically, I'm probably, especially if we're going to talk early in the season, and wink, wink, the game we're going to go to for Georgia is going to be early in the season.
00:07:12
Speaker
Marginal. Yeah, it's definitely going to be early in the season. Big game. Yeah, pretty big game. So it'll be pretty hot, right? So I'll probably stay away from the whiskey on game day. So I don't know. it'll but You know, I don't know. Probably start it off with a couple beers, then we'll probably switch over to the, if they got tequila or vodka, something, will kind of keep it light. But, I mean, I'm i'm very – Listen, I'm equal opportunity when it comes drink. Whatever you got, whatever – if you got a special concoction, like – was just about to say. you to Tuscaloosa, you got to get the Yellowhammer. That's their drink, right? So, like, that's a special thing. So, if y'all got any concoctions y'all want to cook up, if there's some certain Athens signature drink, I'm i'm more than happy to try it. but yeah just It just kind of depends on the occasion. You know you go down to Oxford, you got to make sure you keep your pinky up, like stuff like
00:07:57
Speaker
But I'm equal opportunity with that stuff. i'm um There's not many drinks I won't have. We'll put it that way. I think the Athens one would be probably just good cold beer, Jim. yeah night Listen, a good cold beer ain't never lost to nobody. It's it's undefeated. so yeah Especially on a hot day. Again, early in the season, that might be go-to.
00:08:18
Speaker
And now you can have them in Sanford Stadium, which I'm still happy to get used to. but is So is this the first year? No, no, they had it. i'm just I'm still not used to it being a thing. Yeah, yeah. Them dogs are ah already barking, so I mean, you know, yeah.
00:08:32
Speaker
Yeah, I felt like I didn't really, like, need it. But ah that was our joke last year. Well, last year was the first year. um And so the preseason thing was like, are we even having any or whatever? And, like, I mean, yeah. but du If y'all don't mind me telling this story, too, so random I just thought of because obviously was in the stadium last year for the Tennessee game.
00:08:50
Speaker
Did y'all happen to – y'all maybe not have seen this. and I don't know if any Georgia fans saw this. Who I got to sit next to? hmm i got to sit next to and i forget his name and i i hate that y'all will know who i'm talking about it's the guy they featured on game day that paints his head oh yeah yeah yeah literally sat next to him he's all over the vlog i was like how random is this like mike will thank to this guy yeah yeah yeah how cool is that i was like this is awesome this dude's a legend Yeah, that's been that's been going on a long time through generations. Yeah. yeah
00:09:24
Speaker
yeah I was like, dude, this is incredible. Got a picture with him after the game. I was like, dude, you're the man. They tailgate not far from Hug Dog, JP, by the way. Oh, wow. Okay. So that was totally unplanned?
00:09:36
Speaker
yeah Just circumstance? I'm trying to think. Circumstance? i So I had someone that I think she works for Georgia and she sold me a ticket. But i mean, yeah, I would have never known who i who I was sitting next to. Like, that's how I got my ticket.
00:09:51
Speaker
And yeah, just totally random. So that was that was really cool. That was really, really cool. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. he He is also Mike Woods, by the way. JP. Oh, OK. Yeah. i couldn't I couldn't remember his name.
00:10:04
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. and That's, that's funny. That's funny. When, when was the last time you had been to Athens before then? Do you even recall? So the last time I had been to Athens before last year was just trying to make sure I'm not missing any.
Georgia-South Carolina Rivalry Memories
00:10:20
Speaker
Yeah. It was, it was 2014, believe it or not. Uh, I had buddy of mine that his cousin like played special teams at Georgia. and, But this was, I'm trying to think. So this, that's not why we were there. though I went up there in like 2013 as well. and just, we just hung out, went out. I think it was like graduation weekend and we just hung out with him.
00:10:40
Speaker
ah But 2014, I had some baseball buddies that they were just, we, it was the opening week in the season. This was Georgia Clemson, Todd Gurley against, I believe that was Deshaun Watson as a freshman.
00:10:51
Speaker
That was a talk. We took it all the way back. um We didn't go in the game though. We just wanted to go to Athens and and party. Like the the guys all woke up after a night of partying on Friday and was like, y'all want to ride to Athens and just go to Athens. And somebody apparently knew a guy that was in a fraternity at Georgia.
00:11:08
Speaker
So that I got to experience like the frat houses and the tailgates. I remember walking into a frat house and there's just bottles on bottles, like rolling across the floor. you had old crow whiskey, a tonka vodka,
00:11:19
Speaker
They were like, just take a handle if you want. I'm walking around Athens just with a handle of Old Crow, which it's so funny because at that time, obviously, I'm 23 years old, so it doesn't matter. But like, what a horrific whiskey that is. It's terrible. You'd never, you'd never drink that now. But I remember us going to the bars and like me hiding it in a bush somewhere, came back, it was still there, took it home. So that was fun. But the last time I'd been to a game, guys, believe it or not, which it's crazy to even say this, I'm trying to think back and you would think I would have been to a game, but 2007, before last year, was the last time I'd been to Sanford Stadium, been to a game.
00:11:54
Speaker
That was South Carolina, Georgia, when South Carolina actually beat Georgia. That was Matthew Stafford, Noshaw Moreno, Corey Boyd scored a touchdown for the Gamecocks. Blake Mitchell was their quarterback. And then ah Jasper Brinkley had the the ceiling INT. Eric Norwood had a big sack in that game.
00:12:12
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that was that funny thing about that game, guys. That was the week after South Carolina allowed like 250 rushing yards to Louisiana Lafayette. Right. And I remember that morning, Lee Corso coming on game day saying like, George is going to run all over him. Like.
00:12:28
Speaker
no way that they can stop Georgia and stop NoSean. And like, there's just, this game's going to be a blowout. And sure enough, South Carolina wins that game 16 to 12. And just what a weird, what a weird game that was. So.
00:12:40
Speaker
and Yeah. What a weird, i what a weird season. Yeah. That was, that was back when Spurrier was still tormenting the dog. So. Yeah. Cause heck, I remember his first year, I mean, Oh five was close.
00:12:50
Speaker
I mean, very close. I think that was Thomas Brown had like the game ceiling touchdown run in that one. And then, I was funny enough at the 06 game when, ah was it Terashinsky? It was, yep.
00:13:03
Speaker
he The only reason Terashinsky got hurt in that game, that's why Stafford came in. That's right. That's right. That's right. That's right. Yep. I remember Stafford came in. They beat them 18-0. Just blanked them.
00:13:13
Speaker
That was another. but That game was weird. That was another super weird game. Yeah, there were some like ugly ones when you're really thinking. You look back. Yeah, they had some. ah I mean, dude, what about the 08 game when they came to Williams-Brice and Mike Davis fumbles into the end zone? They were going to take the lead they lose thirteen to seven Yeah.
00:13:31
Speaker
Yeah. South Carolina, Georgia, people don't realize like and it's such a shame that games on the schedule anymore because, man, they had, you know, do Georgia fans consider South Carolina rival? I don't think so. I think South Carolina people kind of consider Georgia that way, but it's been so lopsided.
00:13:45
Speaker
But there's been some wild games in that series. i mean you go all like Pollock, the Pollock. fumble interception thing. i was at that game. I was there at that. I'm feeling forget about that game. Like, that was the day like that was Thomas Davis' coming out party. Dude, I mean, it's – there's just been some – there's been some blowouts for sure, but there's there's been some. 0-4 when they're up 16-0 and David Green and them come back and win. Yeah. 2016, that was in the blackout game. That was nuts.
00:14:13
Speaker
So – The South Carolina game historically was always on my my birthday weekend. And so I would always – the joke was is that, like, you know, every other year i was having, like, a terrible birthday. Dude, just it's weird, man. And thenre like I said, when Spurrier got there, he really he really became a fly in the ointment of Georgia. Yeah.
00:14:32
Speaker
Dude, I love getting to Athens, man. I mean, I think, you know, we talked about it last year. I don't know that Sanford really gets the, you know, really gets the appreciation it deserves. I equate it kind of to – it's kind of like Bama. I mean, listen, it's no fault of Georgia fans, but when you go – it's a fan base. It's accustomed to winning.
00:14:48
Speaker
They expect a win. ah You could even argue maybe they expect, like, the win should come with the price of admission. It's not like a ravenous fan base from the standpoint of, like, they're, you know, on the edge of their seat, desperate. Like, i you know what I mean? Like, it's it's not going to be, like, one of those type of environments. But it gets – when Georgia fans want to get loud, it gets loud. Like, it's it's a very fun fun atmosphere. fun and Like, that Tennessee game last year was electric.
00:15:13
Speaker
um So, I can't wait to get
Highlights of the SEC Unfiltered Tour
00:15:15
Speaker
back. mean, and obviously – I mean, we'll just go ahead and throw it out there. We're going to Georgia-Bama. I mean, it's it's just an obvious. We're going to be in Athens for that game. That atmosphere will be kind of like, I mean, last year, you know, again, Bama's the same way. Like, if you know, and I've had Bama fans done with the same thing. They have a game or two every year where they show up and they're like, we maybe could lose, so let's, like, really get into it today or tonight.
00:15:36
Speaker
yeah But all the other ones, they're kind of like, yeah, you know, like, we'll we'll show up and we'll win and that's great, like, whatever. But we're not going to make it some crazy hostile environment. But, like, last year at Bryant-Denny, I mean, that Bama-Georgia game, yeah that that atmosphere was nuts. And I think Athens will be the same. So, I love getting Athens, man. Like I said, it's my favorite college town. I think it's the best college town.
00:15:58
Speaker
So much to do, and people are great. and Yeah, I can't wait to get back. Yeah, no, that's sweet. That's sweet. Yeah, that Spurrier timeline that you were talking about, that's like when John and I were in school. Like, that's when we were at Georgia. and So, yeah, ah definitely remember those days. um I'm always worried about doing this. So while it's in my mind, I'm going to do it. Tell folks just about SEC Unfiltered, where they can find all your stuff. We mentioned...
00:16:26
Speaker
You've already mentioned kind of the roadshow, et cetera. Make sure for those who aren't well-informed, ah let's give them a rundown. Yeah, so SEC Unfilter, we are an SEC media entity covering the SEC, baseball, basketball, football. So it's not just football. We cover all the major sports through podcasts, YouTube, social media. We do some live on location shows every now and then.
00:16:48
Speaker
I'm also doing our tour, which first time we did that was last year. ah Went to a different game for 15 straight weekends. Capped it off in Atlanta in the SEC Championship. We do no repeats.
00:16:59
Speaker
So we're going to go, you know, we we won't get to hit everywhere, but we're going to hit a lot of different places. We'll see Georgia a couple times, undoubtedly, but we go to a different spot every weekend. um And we did that also through the spring, too. Hit a couple of basketball games.
00:17:13
Speaker
I hit a bunch of baseball games, went to Omaha for two weeks. So we travel, I travel a ton. I've never traveled so much in my life, but it's a blast. We vlog it all, obviously. And again, all of our content, like some of the others you see out there, just like this podcast and wherever, where you can find podcasts, YouTube, stuff like that. But yeah, man, we're on a, we're on year two of the journey and man, it's, it's been the most rewarding thing I've ever done. It's, it's, it's incredible. I mean, the community we've built and the way that we've grown and We're continuing to grow. it's It's incredibly rewarding. And like I said, it's just the um the the amount of great people I've had the opportunity to meet. I mean, that's why I wanted to do the tour so badly because –
00:17:48
Speaker
You know, it's one thing to even have convos like this and and create a digital footprint. But when you're able to go on the road, shake people's hands and, you know, get out there and you kind of humanize yourself. And I mean, listen, I'm someone and it's no no shot or shade anybody else in the media. But like ain't nobody else in the media going out to the bar with you like I'm a else going happy like, nobody else is coming shotgunning a beer or ripping shots. Like I really want to get out there and especially with the vlog, give people like, hey, if you came to Athens for a game,
00:18:15
Speaker
this is the experience. Like, I don't sit in the press box. Like, I'm in the stadium every week. So, it's a good time, man. But we built a great team. I got my guy Cole Thompson's my right-hand man, does football content with us. My guy Harrison Fant doing baseball content.
00:18:31
Speaker
ah We've got a staff of writers, and and we'll be adding a basketball guy here soon as well. So, it's a great team we built, man. Again, it's constant content every single day, content bleeding out of the eyeballs, I like to say. And Yeah, we're just getting started, man. It's it's a lot of fun. So, yeah.
00:18:45
Speaker
so any highlights Any highlights from the tours that you guys have been that you guys have done? It's a highlight every week. Anything stick out, I guess. Yeah, do for sure. I mean, the the football tour last season, I rushed the field four times.
00:18:59
Speaker
I mean, that that is that is absolutely the highlight. I rushed the field. at So I was at Bama, Georgia. Didn't rush the field. But that that was i mean that was the best game I saw last season and one of the best games I've ever seen, ever seen as ah as a college football fan.
00:19:16
Speaker
Just the dramatic. That was wild. It's funny, guys, because I paid a pretty penny for my ticket now. no I bet you did. I I paid a pretty penny. but And I'm sitting there at half, and I'm like, God, I can't believe I dropped what I dropped.
00:19:29
Speaker
like a low well And, and I picked Georgia going into that game. So like, you know, I mean, did I, was I going to, you know, was I going to shed it? Did I shed a tear that Bama won?
00:19:41
Speaker
No, not necessarily. But like, you know, in the back of my mind, I'm like, I wouldn't mind being right. pay back you know Damn. If I really just called this, And then sure enough, Ryan Williams turned into a superhero. and That was all she wrote.
00:19:53
Speaker
But, yeah, I got to rush the field at Arkansas, Tennessee when they beat the Vols. I got to rush the – and that was in Fayetteville, obviously. Got to rush the field in Knoxville when Tennessee knocked off Bama. Smoked a cigar on Tennessee's field after the game. That was incredible.
00:20:08
Speaker
ah I hate to say it got – or excuse me, I rushed the field to LSU Ole Miss ah in Baton Rouge, the overtime game. Nussmeier to RIP Kyron Lacey. They win that one. That was wild. LSU was an incredible time.
00:20:21
Speaker
And then again, i was going to say don't hate me for this, but I did rush the field when Ole Miss beat Georgia. I was at that game in Oxford. I did not see the kid celebrating with the Ole Miss fans. I did not see that that guy, that Georgia guy that transferred who became – unfortunately for him became like a star.
00:20:38
Speaker
You know what i mean? did not see him, but now that was, i mean, dude, just getting to rush the field. it It was just, it was one of those things, man, where I was, I made sure to be extremely present moment throughout that experience because, you know, we have a bad tendency as as human beings, obviously to not do that. and then we look back and we're like, man, i I really wish I knew I was in the good old days, right before, before they left me.
00:21:02
Speaker
I did not do that, man. I soaked it in every single week. I really, i feel like I did a really good job of understanding, like, you know, as coaches love to say, be where your feet are. I really was present in the moment, understood, like, man, what we are doing, this is really cool. Like, this is, this is wild. You know, just just take a moment to, I understood how lucky I was and how lucky I am. And, like, it was, yeah, it was, it was a blast, man. And, I mean, dude, that there there's so many other fun memories, too. I mean, yeah.
00:21:30
Speaker
You know, coming to Athens, that whole experience was phenomenal. um Going to Jacksonville, you know, for the first time ever. I'd never been to the cocktail party. Got to see that game. I got some buddies that live in Jacksonville, and you you talk about having a wild night out. We had a wild weekend that weekend.
00:21:45
Speaker
um You know, going to Austin, Austin was awesome. I'd never been to the – I guess I went to the state of Texas over the summer, but I'd never been to Austin before. never been to College Station. I knocked those out the last two weeks.
00:21:57
Speaker
I mean, it you know, this there's more than you can count. But but truly, the i mean, obviously the rushing the field four times is what stands out on the tour last year. but you You beat Georgia on your trip to A&M because we still haven't been out there.
00:22:09
Speaker
Weird. Isn't that weird? That's so weird. If they're not on the schedule next year, we really got to start questioning, like, hey, what's what are we doing? Yeah. What's going on? I mean, I'd assume Georgia fans want to make that trip.
00:22:22
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I will say, though, College Station, it is a tough place to get to because you have to. I mean, nobody's flying into College Station, I don't think. And you got so you got to fly into Houston and then, dude, College Station still like an hour, hour 15 out. I mean, you're not yeah really that close.
00:22:39
Speaker
But College Station was really cool. You're a Georgia fan. Listen to this. If they get on the schedule and hopefully they do. Definitely make the trip. Dude, Kyle Field is just like unlike anything you've ever seen. i mean it is it's a what I mean, it is just massive. like when you When you think Texas, people say things are bigger in Texas, like i would Kyle Field. That's...
00:22:59
Speaker
Kyle Field represents this. Like, Texas fans, I hate to hear that, but, dude, it is mass. And, like, I mean, I get why people fall in love with him every offseason. Because when I went down there, I got to tour the facilities and saw the inner work, saw the guts of it, and got to walk out where the team walks out and got on the field the night before the game. and and I mean, you think about that. think just That alone, it's hitting me. Like, how lucky. I got to go on the field the night before the Texas-Texas A&M game. Like,
00:23:25
Speaker
Pretty wild stuff. But, man, you see all their facilities and you're like, dude, I mean, they got it all. Like, they're not missing anything except winning. So, you know, maybe Elko's the guy You know, that that was, yeah, that was, ah you're Georgia fan and they get on the schedule. You got to make that trip. That's a really cool trip. Did you go to the Yale? No, funny enough.
00:23:49
Speaker
Funny enough, they did not have the midnight yell at midnight. They had it at, like, 6 o'clock because there was some concert or something or something was going on.
00:24:00
Speaker
And, like, now that you look back, you're like man, that that might have been a bad omen. Like, yeah. We're all about the omens. I missed. I completely – I would have went to Midnight Yell. I would have went to Midnight Yell.
00:24:10
Speaker
I did go to – so funny enough, I did go to the most authentic honky-tonk I've ever been to in my entire life, a place that doesn't even exist anymore.
00:24:21
Speaker
um they they were going to tear it down in like two or three months to build something else. It was called like Henry's or Harry's or something like that. It's on the vlog. But I mean, this was a true like, I was like, dude, I should be wearing cowboy boots.
00:24:34
Speaker
I should have a hat on. Like this is just, and funny enough, we watched the end of the Georgia-Georgia Tech game in that bar. I'll never forget that. That stupid, outrageous seven, what was it, eight overtime? Yeah, eight.
00:24:47
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. yeah um black Black Friday. ah we were We were freezing our butts off in the stadium, on both of us. yeah Oh, man. It was so cold. We watched that end of the end of that game at that bar. So, yeah, was –
Future Plans for SEC Unfiltered
00:25:01
Speaker
but like I said, man, it's just – I mean, and then, dude, like, we're talking about – and I could just go on and on and on about the tour. One one thing I will mention, I appreciate you allowing me to, like, share about what we're doing with SECU because it's a lot of exciting stuff. Yeah. um So, I'm thinking this season what I'm probably going to do, you know, we're starting to franchise shows kind of underneath the SEC unfiltered umbrella, if you will. Like, our college football show is called over The Overtime Drive. We do that Monday, Thursday, and we're going to add Sundays in there.
00:25:27
Speaker
When we get in season, our baseball show was called The Windup. Did really well. We're going to have a basketball show. I think I'm going to do a separate show, and of course it will air on SEC Unfiltered. But I was actually funny enough, I went to to dinner with our guy Dwight, and he was talking about how much he enjoyed. like you know On Mondays, I would do the kind of like this this Monday morning quarterback call-in show, power hour kind of thing.
00:25:49
Speaker
And I would sort of use that as a time to decompress everything that happened over the weekend and share my experience. I think we're actually we're going to do that again, and it's going to be like a dedicated, like, I don't know if the name would be like Saturdays in the South. or i don't i don't know what the name would be, but, yeah, we're going bring that back to that again. i just i think that's a really cool you know a really cool thing to do to kind of sit down and like walk everybody through exactly where we went, what we did, who we met up with.
00:26:16
Speaker
just really share and divulge and and go deeper into the experiences outside of just the vlog. Yeah. So we'll probably do that too. So I'm excited for that, man. Like I said, it's, I'm grateful to say that pretty much every single year, I feel like I'm saying this is going to be our biggest and best football season yet. And I feel confident in saying that yet again. And, um,
00:26:35
Speaker
No, it's, I mean, it's just been such a blessing, man. I mean, I was going to say like, even the, that you could go back to the tour, like, you know, the Omaha trip I was just on for two weeks was nuts. I'll forget, like, I'll never forget that. I mean, that, that was just a party every day and partying with those LSU fans and man, it was a, it was a magical experience. So yeah, im excited to run it back, man. It's, you know, it's a long 15 weeks and we're going to add more. You know, I didn't go to any playoff games last year. Didn't go to Any bowl game – or actually, i did go to a bowl game. I went down to Tampa and watched Michigan beat Alabama's ass.
00:27:07
Speaker
ah But didn't really document that. I just kind of went for fun and went for New Year's. But, you know, we're going be adding some games even, believe it or not. Definitely going to try to get to a college ball playoff. So, I will repeat, let's say, if, like, Georgia is hosting a playoff game.
00:27:20
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah. It'd take, it'd take, uh, it'd take an act of God to keep me out of Athens for that type of environment, that type of atmosphere. Um, yeah, hopeful hopefully we're going to a national championship.
00:27:32
Speaker
Hopefully, hopefully fingers crossed. Um, so yeah, excited to run it back, man. It's, it's going to be awesome. I mean, doing that every week, yeah ah I mean, the Monday decompress thing sound sounds good, honestly, too. Because, i mean, that's a, like, I know it's fun, but that's also got to be taxing over 15 straight weeks of doing that. Well, you you get to, like, the month of November. That's when you really, it's like, here's the thing.
00:27:53
Speaker
Every weekend's an adrenaline rush. yeah You get to the point where you get addicted to going on the road. Like, you get kind of, you know, like, After Omaha, we obviously had SEC media days, but like I guarantee you by like next week, I'm going to be getting pretty antsy.
00:28:07
Speaker
Like, hey, like let's – man, because it's just so much fun. And I told you guys this off air, the thing that has really helped with this is I just moved to a new city, Nashville. So, I've been having a bunch of wild experiences here and kind of exploring the city. Bachelorette parties. Yeah.
00:28:24
Speaker
we've ah We've tried to stay away from that. um They're certainly out there. Leave the Broadway girls alone, like Morgan Wallen said. We've been ah on our best behavior for the most part.
00:28:35
Speaker
But, no, i just been exploring the city, man, and getting settled in. So that's that's occupied my time and headspace and obviously getting all our preseason content out and stuff. but Yeah, you I mean, it's it's an adrenaline rush, really, truly. But, yeah, by the time you get to, like, November and you're, like, you're excited for it, but you're right, yeah you know, it's it it starts to wear on you a little bit. But, again, that's one of the big reasons I moved to Nashville is because getting to so many of these places is going to be so much easier now. There's so many of them that are within, you know, a three- or four-hour distance where I can easily get there if I wanted to drive.
00:29:06
Speaker
Nashville's a great airport, so I can easily fly wherever. I don't know exactly how far Athens is, but I don't think it should be. It's not too – I mean, I'll drive down there. won't be too bad. expect it to be like three or four hours.
00:29:18
Speaker
Yeah. it's i've I've done that drive, but I can't remember. It's been a long time. It's actually four hours and 54 minutes. Four hours. ah five Almost five hours. Five hours, yeah. and But, I mean, still, like, it's not bad. You just go through Chattanooga, and boom, you're right down there. and I mean, I'm – I'm a psycho. I'll drive. I'll drive so far. And like, I mean, dude, I drove from South Carolina to Fayetteville last year.
00:29:38
Speaker
Like that yeah I went, I went, I went literally 12 hours in the car because it was such a last minute trip. It was literally the week of I decided I was going. And I was like, man, like the flights are like $600, $700. Like you got to fly into um you like Fort Smith or something.
00:29:57
Speaker
You fly and you have to go down, like, you know, Uber down or rent a car. And I was like, you know what? I'm just going to do it. So went halfway, stayed in Memphis on Thursday night, drove the rest of the way on Friday, got down there. And ah believe it or not, Sunday i I hightailed it and drove the whole way back.
00:30:13
Speaker
ah whole Just spent the whole day on the road. Yeah, crazy. Really, truly crazy. I won't be doing that. near like I won't ah probably won't be doing that this year. so what At what point do you get a bus?
00:30:25
Speaker
dude listen i i agree i agree the the mobile home we're we're working our way towards that the i i do imagine one day like we've got like the mobile home and it's just like wrapped with the sec yeah we've got like the mobile studio i mean listen that's that's not that far-fetched of an idea man i think that's uh because that's the thing is like and i've told myself there's no way i'm going to travel like this forever obviously like you know, maybe, maybe another three, four years. I don't know. You never know. Hard to put a timeline on that.
00:30:54
Speaker
Cause it is so much fun and I enjoy it so much, but man, if you had a mobile home, I mean, makes it pretty easy. Yeah.
Georgia's Team Outlook and Competition
00:31:01
Speaker
Pretty convenient. So, but no, yeah, it's, uh, yeah, it's great, man. Like i said, I, I,
00:31:05
Speaker
It starts to wear on you a little bit. You know, I mean, heck, your your liver gets pretty conditioned at some point. um like But man, it's it's like I said, the adrenaline kicks in because especially this year, too, and what I felt as the tour went on and we were documenting all these experiences, like people are really looking forward us coming. And that that really, you know, any like tired you may feel or or whatever, it starts to wear on you like that really subsides because you get there and like,
00:31:31
Speaker
everybody's so excited you're there and you're excited to be there. And, you know, typically we're going to really big games every week. So it's like, Dude, how can you not be pumped? You know? so So, but I do, I do reward myself end of season. I did it last year. I'll do it again. What the either. I don't know if it was the week after the SEC. Yeah, I think it was. It was the week after the SEC championship Monday through Friday. And again, I'll do this again. I'll i'll go on a ski trip up for a week and just get on the mouse, ah try to put the phone away as much as possible That's kind of my gift to myself.
00:32:03
Speaker
So I'll probably do that again. So where'd you go last year? ah So Western North Carolina, Beach mountain Mountain, that's kind of my go-to spot. I'm hoping this, I'm a big skier, so I'm hoping this season to probably in January, try to get to like Banff, Canada, maybe somewhere out West, but just somewhere different. Cause I, that's, that's the only place ever ski there like snowshoe when I was younger, but love to ski. I got mo own skis. I mean, I'm a heater. So yeah, it's, that's kind of like, so that's my reward to myself.
00:32:31
Speaker
Go visit Graham. Yeah. Is he still in Colorado? No, no, he's Jordan. was about to say moved to Athens, right? Yeah, yeah, he's, yeah. Oh, that's right, that's right. He could give me the spots, though, for sure. Yeah, no, I mean, what's crazy, though, guys, I've read, like, it's, I think it's either the same price or even maybe a little bit cheaper to go ski at the Swiss Alps than is. The Swiss Alps, yeah. Like, Aspen's, like, crazy, apparently.
00:32:55
Speaker
So, Banff is the one I want to do. that If you guys have never heard of that, Banff, Canada, dude. I've seen pictures. Yeah. I believe actually our guy John has got a Banff, like, poster in the background of his setup.
00:33:09
Speaker
ah yeah He used to, at least. So, John's very familiar with Banff. Yeah, dude, it's it's gorgeous. I mean, it is flat-out gorgeous. But, yeah, anyways, that's that'll be kind of my gift to myself after it's over. But i know I'm excited, man. I mean, I'm so pumped. I'm so pumped. It's going to be a great time.
00:33:24
Speaker
Does living in Nashville, like, would you consider a home game for you? Or do you have to go out of town? feel like I have to do a Vandy game. You know what I mean? And, like, I want to. Listen, the Vandy people are awesome. They're great. I mean, people mock Vandy, and they don't have fans. And, sure, they don't have many of them. But the ones they do have – Dude, they're diehards. they're They're just like every other SEC.
00:33:47
Speaker
i mean, dude, I talked to guys last year because i went to Vandy, Texas. I talked to guys last year. They were like, dude, I've been sitting in this stadium for 35, 40 years. I've watched Vandy go 2-10, winless in SEC play. Like, I was like, I respect the heck out of that.
00:34:01
Speaker
I really do. So, um you know, yeah, I really respect it. I really respect it. So, no, i definitely will consider and will definitely do a home game. I just – I think the – The world needs to see the vlog in Nashville, for sure.
00:34:18
Speaker
that That one will get pretty wild. so Yeah. Yeah. So let's back up a second. So you mentioned SEC media days. ah what What was your takeaway coming out of SEC media days since that was something – Yeah, I mean, you know, here's the number one thing. You don't want to overreact to anything that week. They're not saying a whole lot anyways. SEC Media Days is really – it's a fun event.
00:34:42
Speaker
That was the third time I've been to it. It's great to, you know, interact and link up with people you haven't seen in a while. Like, you know, our guy Graham Coffey, I saw him. um But it's an event for the media. You know, there's not a ton that is – So like having, you know, is there one big takeaway that I had, ah you know, and maybe i already had this take going in, but just hearing all the coaches and and leaving it, my my feeling leaving it was it's going to be a pretty wacky year in the league.
00:35:12
Speaker
And i'm I'm totally convinced nobody's going undefeated. I just think those days are are more than likely over. It just, with with the parity that's been created via the transfer portal, you know, I mean, look at a Georgia and a Kirby Smart. Like, you're not able to stack depth like you once did. Let's call for what it is, right? like And that's something Kirby's talked about. and you know So I just, leaving that event, I was like, you know there's so much we don't know.
00:35:38
Speaker
you know we We've never known less. These coaches have never known less. These next couple weeks are vital for them because there's so many new faces and guys in new spots, you know guys you've maybe only seen film of because they were a portal guy, and now you've got to get them in your system, and you've maybe never coached them before, and it's like,
00:35:54
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's it's interesting. Like, you've got that top tier of teams, and this was kind of – it felt like this was a well-understood point by the media, and this was also a takeaway. But you've got that top tier teams, Georgia, Texas, Bama, LSU.
00:36:07
Speaker
Those are kind of your four favorites to make a run of the playoff. Those are the four, I think, you if you asked me today, if anybody outside of those four was in the SEC title, i'd I'd be kind of surprised, you know.
00:36:20
Speaker
But then there's this cluster after that. You know, Florida, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Auburn, Ole Miss. You know, you've got, like, what is Vandy going to be? Like, an Arkansas sneak up. There's there's definitely some that i'm I'm forgetting to mention here. But, like, there's just this cluster of that next group.
00:36:40
Speaker
And in my my mind, what I keep asking myself is, like, really expect it to go chalk. Like, somebody's going to jump up and make the playoff we're not expecting. And somebody in that top four that I mentioned – is going to go 9-3 or 8-4 and have a disappointment. 7-5? Maybe even 7-5. Maybe even 7-5. Yeah.
00:37:00
Speaker
yeah No, you know, and funny enough, I was asked this question. who' who's Who's the most likely to not make the playoff that should? And I did not say Georgia, by the way. I said LSU, just because I think Garrett Nussmeier could absolutely – And they're extremely talented, but opening with Clemson, you know, you got to go to Bama, you know, that might be two losses right there. And you got no wiggle room. And I mean, you still got tough games against Florida. Granted, it's at your place. You got to go to Ole Miss.
00:37:27
Speaker
You got a tough schedule to Oklahoma end of year, tough schedule, right? So LSU be the most likely, it does kind of feel like it's so funny guys. Cause I, you know, I love to get our audience involved and just like ask questions this time of year. And so,
00:37:40
Speaker
I've been asking people who's – and we're actually doing a ah show on it, our Thursday show, Overtime Drive, talking the most overrated and underrated teams going into the season, just in our opinions. And I've had people respond Georgia to both those questions.
00:37:53
Speaker
People think Georgia's overrated. Some people think Georgia's underrated. It is wild, though, the lack of chatter around the dogs. It is kind of strange. You know, like there's just not a lot of talk. You know, I'd tell you this, another big takeaway since – I mean, obviously we're talking Georgia here.
00:38:09
Speaker
The fact Kirby brought Gunnar to media days. I mean, I thought that was like, okay. Like, you know, there's been a lot of this Puglisi talk. And, I mean, heck, guys, I don't know if y'all heard this same thing. I had people try telling me that that ah Georgia was shopping around in the portal for quarterbacks. And, like, I'm like, man, like, God, are they really that uncertain about Gunnar Stockton? Like, are are they really – you know, and granted, listen, i don't I don't say that like they are because in this day and age of college football – yeah If you go get a guy, like if Sam Levitt wanted to come to Georgia, hey, Gunnar, sorry, you're fine player, but you ain't Sam Levitt.
00:38:42
Speaker
You're always recruiting over guys because you have to because they can up and leave whenever as well. so But I thought him bringing to Gunnar was really telling. um You know, I love listening to Kirby. I do. He's just such a football guy. He'll make you want to run through a brick wall. I think – and take The takeaway from him, same thing, same message from spring. He just continues to preach, you know, fire, intensity, passion. We want to find guys that he wants to find 22, 44, et cetera. He wants to find guys that love football. Like he just, that's what he demands more than anything. I just, it's, you know, and I think at times he recognized that last year,
00:39:23
Speaker
There was some probably some uninspiring play. i think it irks him. I mean, I'd have to imagine it really irks him. you know so ah But, yeah, hearing and Kirby talk about it and just talk about football in general, man, it you just you don't have a pulse if he didn't get you fired up. so yeah it was ah it But it is interesting. mean The chatter around Georgia is not as you know as prevalent as it normally is.
00:39:43
Speaker
um And I told you guys this off the air. It is funny, and our our our guy John kind of leads it on social media, and there's some others out there as well. But, you know, Georgia fans, I've never seen Georgia fans so horny for disrespect, as they are this often. You know, like, I pick Georgia to finish third. Tough, but fair. I predict the order of finish. I pick Georgia to finish third.
00:40:05
Speaker
Think they're in the college ball playoff. And by the way, once we get about a week out from kickoff, I'm going to re-release that because that could change. It it'll it may change. I haven't dropped my game-by-game predictions. That'll come out in the next few weeks.
00:40:17
Speaker
You know, I mean, ah fairly or unfairly, right or wrong, I think it's fair. Like, you might feel a little bit better about a team coming out of fall camp. Like, some things you hear. Maybe somebody has an injury. Like, you hate to say that, but, like, you know, I might like some things about George a little bit more than I did or whatever. But, like, pick them to finish third.
00:40:33
Speaker
And you would have thought I picked him to go seven and five. So I'm just seeing a lot of that from Georgia people. And and I think what it is, Georgia has been the the bombshell tin at the bar for so long that everybody wanted. Everybody had all eyes on.
00:40:53
Speaker
Well, here comes Texas. They're the new hot chick at the bar. Yeah. And they're starting to take some of the attention away, right? People that are looking at Georgia are looking at Texas now. And Georgia doesn't like that.
00:41:05
Speaker
Georgia fans do not like that, especially because – and i i listen, I hear you on this one. I hear you on this one, especially because Georgia beat that ass twice. I was going to say it twice. Georgia fans are like, what – Yeah, it's like, how many how many times do we have to do it?
00:41:20
Speaker
Y'all told us we had a down year and we won the SEC title. Yeah. So I get it. I do understand that because it's like, I'll even say from my standpoint, it's so easy to fall in love with the Texas – and And get lost in the Texas hype. And who, guys, I mean, I got right now, I got Texas winning the SEC. I mean, you know, like it's so easy.
00:41:43
Speaker
Let me, let me ask, let me ask you this. So you mentioned that it seems like it's going to be kind of a weird year. Do you think that it's, we talked about this with John ah last time. And so do you think that it's it's going to be a weird year because there's not really a, an established elite dominant quarterback in the SEC right now?
00:42:01
Speaker
I think that's some of it for sure. i mean, I think that you'd be you'd be kind of foolish to think that doesn't play into it. And I think that's like, you could argue that's the biggest storyline going in that so many of these top contenders are relying on guys that have played either very sparingly, right not at all, or like they've never been the dude before, right? Exactly. So you you would think that gives a team like an LSU a leg up. I mean, you've got Garrett Nussmeier.
00:42:27
Speaker
Like, he's as established as anybody in the – I mean, I – I think he's the biggest – he's the most – he's the most known product in the SEC right now. For sure. i mean I mean, and then you've got your wild cards, right? Like, is DJ Lagway going to be healthy? Can he make it through a whole season?
00:42:40
Speaker
Does Loris Sellers have enough help around him? Does John Mateer have enough help and is he in the right system? Can Hugh Freeze get his head out of his ass and coach himself out of paper bag and kind of put the pieces together? Stop stumbling over his work.
00:42:54
Speaker
God, yeah, length and girth, baby. this Hey, this is this show right here has length and girth. Thank you very much. But he's done. I mean, dude, he's, you know, if he can get the most out of Jackson Arnold, like I think he's got a lot of potential.
00:43:07
Speaker
I'm high on Austin Simmons at Ole Miss. I was about to say Simmons is another one. that's yeah I mean, so you know, right or wrong, like being at that Ole Miss Georgia game, when I saw him come in, he like, it was easy to fall in love with him. You're like, wow, he is dicing up Kirby Smart's defense. Like it's, I was like, whoa.
00:43:24
Speaker
so yeah I was that was his head coach is Lane Kiffin so you feel pretty good he's gonna put up some numbers yeah he's dev biden but so so many of these contenders man like you know we don't know what we don't know about Arch Manning right I mean even Arch like I think Arch is gonna be good I really do but again he torched Mississippi State and UTSA I believe it was and Came in on some special packages.
00:43:47
Speaker
What happened when he came in against Georgia? Yeah. Pushed in. So, you know, I don't think it's a given at all that Arch is going to light the world on fire. But they're so talented around him, guys. They're so talented around him.
00:44:01
Speaker
But they got new four new starters on the offensive line. LSU's got four new starters on the offensive line. What's Georgia's offensive line? Are we going to get back to Georgia being physical? Are they going to run the football? oh We don't know. We don't know, right? Like, it's a whole new group of wide receivers in Athens. What is, you know, what is Gunnar Stockton going to be? um Ty Simpson at Alabama. but we He's thrown 37 passes in his entire career.
00:44:24
Speaker
I think that Bama team's loaded. Like, I think they are loaded. Quarterbacks pick to click for them, but that's a pretty darn big thing if it doesn't click, right? Like, yeah so, you know, you got that. You've got... um What's the biggest question in the SEC right now?
00:44:41
Speaker
Who's got the biggest questions? Well, I'll tell you this. The biggest question I have in the SEC is, is there a dominant team? Is there a team that will separate themselves? Does that team exist? Or is it really just going to be a bludgeoning every week?
00:44:54
Speaker
You know, people are beating up on each other because it's a big year for the SEC to try to get the trophy back, right? Huge year. I mean, it's I'm sick of hearing it from the Big Ten people. So, you know, there's been so much hype for Penn State, and you've seen some Oregon hype. Of course, Ohio State defending champs. I'll be at that Texas-Ohio State game. That's a massive game for the conference.
00:45:14
Speaker
So is is there a dominant team? ah You said biggest question for, like, an individual team. Yeah, like, ah as you look across the SEC, like, who's who's got the biggest question mark?
00:45:26
Speaker
That's a really good question cause I think a lot of them have question marks. I really do. um The biggest question mark for me, for an individual team, the biggest question mark I have is, well, you could probably apply to the whole conference, too. Just who who's going to be that team in the second tier that pops?
00:45:43
Speaker
Is it going to be Oklahoma? Is it going to be Auburn? Is it going to be Florida? Is it going to be South Carolina? You know. Those are kind of your top contenders, I think, for that crown. um Yeah, and I think the other – mean, Arch Manning is low-hanging fruit. I don't even want to go there. That that that is the lowest-hanging fruit. and i Again, I think he could be average, and they go ten and two You know, they're just that talented, and, you know, it's not last year's schedule, but it's not the toughest schedule in
Texas Hype and Georgia's Challenges
00:46:08
Speaker
the SEC. Yeah, think Can LSU run the football?
00:46:11
Speaker
I think that's a huge one. I think that that is probably the biggest from a team standpoint because if LSU can run the football, I think Garrett Nussmeier will probably take a step.
00:46:22
Speaker
They added a bunch of talent defensively. If LSU can run the football and has ah offensive balance, guys, they might win the national championship. They might. I'm not saying I'm picking it. They got the personnel. Really, truly have the personnel.
00:46:34
Speaker
And they got, like you said, the most established quarterback in the conference. And that has to mean something. Yeah. So something else. I was just going to say, if LSU goes to Clemson and they are able to punch Clemson's D line in the mouth, you know, hold their own, at least if, if LSU beats Clemson, we're going to be having a totally different combo about the sec title race, national title race. Cause I think that will be like, hold up.
00:46:59
Speaker
We got to take LSU a little bit more seriously. Well, that's been their ah Achilles heel the last couple of years, right? It's like that week one game. i Haven't won an opener since 19. Yeah. Yeah. yeah JP, what are you? giving yeah i was going to say something, but I totally blanked. My bad, man. It'll come back to me.
00:47:19
Speaker
Yeah, but but listen, I mean, I think, you know, we're talking about schedules. I think Georgia's schedule's pretty workable. I mean, you get Bama and Texas, but, I mean, you look at, like, you know, the opportunity to build momentum. I mean, you're at Tennessee – Right? That's your conference opener.
00:47:33
Speaker
Yeah. Tennessee without Nico, and I don't care what ball fans said, they downgraded at quarterback. I i mean, I had Joey Aguilar's 16th in my quarterback rank because i just – I don't think Joey's – hope I'm wrong. I got a soft spot for App State myself. I just mentioned North Carolina.
00:47:46
Speaker
Got a soft spot for App State. I'd love to see Joey have a good year, but I don't think – I mean – Neyland's a tough place to play unless your name is Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. They just think of one there and fight the floor with them. But you get the bye week before Bama, you know, win or lose, whatever.
00:48:00
Speaker
ah Certainly if you win, you're you're ahead of the sticks. Kentucky, whatever, at Auburn. Auburn will be tough. But it depends. what Did Auburn lose to Baylor? Like, are they ready to fire Hugh Freeze? Is Auburn 5-1? don't know.
00:48:15
Speaker
That will dictate that environment. I don't care if Auburn has won one win That game that game is always tough for Georgia. Well, it's a tough spot to play. It's just a really difficult spot to play, and it's a great rivalry. and um maybe that Maybe that'll be the game we go to that week. I don't know. I don't know.
00:48:33
Speaker
I don't know. Maybe. ah And then the Ole Miss game at home. Feel good about it in Sanford. Florida and in Jacksonville is going to be really interesting. That game, that yeah, still in Jacksonville. But that game in Jacksonville will really interesting depending on the status of DJ Lackway. Like, I think Florida could be really good. Like, I think they could be a nine-win team.
00:48:50
Speaker
you know maybe be that surprise team and get to 10. But, you know, I mean, then you got Mississippi State on the road, whatever, Texas at home, Charlotte at home, and then at Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Yeah, what are we doing? um What are we doing? which is essentially a Georgia home game. So, I mean, you know, i mean, you look at it right now, like, where is Georgia the underdog?
00:49:12
Speaker
Like, I think they're going to be favored against Bama at home, I would think, right? And then maybe Texas at home, you're the dog. But, like, then again, Guys, when's last time Georgia lost a home game?
00:49:22
Speaker
I mean, it's been a minute. Yeah. twenty eight Was it? Was the 19 South Carolina game? God damn. Yeah. Like, think about how long ago that was. yeah So, you know, your two toughest games are at home.
00:49:34
Speaker
So, and and probably, you know, we already know Bama's at night. Texas will probably be at night. yeah There is a scenario, on a side note, we were talking about the tour. I said I never repeat, and that's my plan this season.
00:49:47
Speaker
But there is a scenario. If Georgia and Texas are undefeated, well, um I might have to wander my way back down to Athens. So, TBD on that. but and um and An unofficial visit?
00:49:59
Speaker
I mean, listen, one thing I've learned about Georgia folks, y'all are some hella good recruiters. yeah he's You ain't got to twist my arm to get me on a visit. Trust me.
00:50:10
Speaker
So speaking of the of the recruiting, and you you mentioned, this this is what I blanked on earlier, but you mentioned um the parity with the way things are these days.
00:50:23
Speaker
But would you be surprised? like I know John put this out, but like this is the most talented roster blue chip ratio wise that Kirby Smart has ever had. Yeah, i mean, I think that is a little bit surprising. I don't think people realize that, right? I just, I think the reason, too, that maybe we don't realize it or people aren't talking about it more, talking about Georgia more, there' it's not a lot of household names.
00:50:43
Speaker
i don't I don't, you know what I mean? Like, there's some really talented football players. There's a lot of youth. But it's just a lot of youth. It's just a lot of lot of guys we haven't heard of. Like, nobody knows who, ah you know, like a Gabe Harris Jr. is. people don't like Not a lot of people know who that guy is. You know what i mean? Like, um there's just names that I think haven't gotten that recognition and that hype, and I think people are probably going to learn pretty quickly. I mean, again, I didn't pick Georgia to finish third and said they were going to suck. I mean, I think Georgia's going pretty darn good.
00:51:12
Speaker
um So, you know, and again, I haven't dropped my game-by-game predictions, like I said, but yeah, that is that is fascinating. that That is fascinating to think about that the best blue chip ratio that Kirby's ever had. i mean, that's... Saying something. Listen, Jimmy's and Joe's still prevail.
00:51:27
Speaker
I don't, you know, I mean... Yeah. They still prevail. So I'm really intrigued by Georgia. I think it's the offense, obviously, that controls the ceiling. I mean, a curvy smart defense is going to – we're going to be fine. which is Georgia's going to live and die on the offensive line. That's my – I'd agree. I'd agree because I think – because here's the funny thing, guys. Like, I was dropping best case, worst case scenarios, and obviously it was like the extremes of both. And i had my worst case was eight and four for Georgia. I think Georgia's going eight and four.
00:51:54
Speaker
Spoiler, no. Right. But it was funny because while i was doing that, I said, you know, in a worst case scenario, like here's what it kind of looks like. Like they'd have to get just, I think Gunnar Stockton's not the guy and they get poor quarterback play. Then I stopped. I'm like, they won the SEC last year with poor quarterback play.
00:52:09
Speaker
Somehow. Yeah. i call And poor offensive line. And we him on the ball. I saw Carson Beck telegraph the football to opponents last year. i remember I'll never forget being in Jacksonville, and I was sitting in one of the end zones.
00:52:21
Speaker
And so, like, I'm kind of behind and have a line of sight view of a ball he threw, and I'm like, bro, there's triple coverage? What? I'm close. I only know what he's looking at. And then some of the, you know, we don't have dive into this, but some of the things I've heard from some some of our georgia our mutual Georgia friends about Carson Beck, and and, you know, I think they might be better off without it. Just put it that way. I mean, just from ah from a culture and a locker room and leadership standpoint.
00:52:47
Speaker
And I didn't think Gunner was bad. like I mean, he obviously comes in against Texas second half, really tough spot, made some plays, but – You know, i I thought the Notre Dame game, he wasn't terrible. I mean, I really – he wasn't the reason they lost. No. No, he did he did more than enough win that game. Yeah, he he wasn't the reason they lost. So, you know, he doesn't have to be a superhero. um You know, I think people forget how good of an offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is. How dare how dare I say that? because but Everybody hates Mike Bobo, but, I mean, he's – Craig just turned off the podcast.
00:53:19
Speaker
Right, right. I mean, listen. He rage quit. Listen, he – The top scoring offense in Georgia history, I believe still to this day, 2014. was twenty four teen Yeah, I think that sounds right. And Mike Bobo was the OC. So, like, I mean, the guy kind of knows what he's doing a little bit. So, you know, but I think the receiver room should be much better. I don't think Georgia is going to lead the country in drops again.
00:53:45
Speaker
you would hope not. Yeah. Yeah. You know, i um I think Nate Frazier can be a really good player. What's what's the other kid? and Oh, Bo Walker. God, with a name like Bo Walker. What a name. You can't talk to him. You better win the Heisman. You better win the Heisman.
00:53:58
Speaker
So, dude, they got Chauncey Bowens in the backfield. I mean, they still got great tight ends with – and man, Oscar Delp was like, he's been there for 10 years, but they got, help really you're right. i mean, it, dude, it comes down to offensive line play. If george you tell me right now, Georgia gets above average offensive line play there in Atlanta.
00:54:15
Speaker
I don't, I don't have any doubts about that. So it's, but it it is a major question mark though. Right. It's a major question mark. um I mean, I think that's something that, could maybe give Tennessee a chance at an upset. Like, you know, if if your offensive line still kind of struggling the way it was and you're one-dimensional, I mean, Tennessee's still got enough defensively, I think, to at least make that a close game.
00:54:36
Speaker
And then obviously with what, you know, when you face Bama, we're going to find out who's who's for real. So, you know, I like this Georgia team a lot. It is, but like to your original point, the fact that it's the the highest blue chip ratio Kirby's got. I mean, it just, you know, again, it speaks to the job he's done and they they keep crouting. And I mean, anding they're signing stars. They're starting to studs, man. So like, I, you know, that that is definitely something to keep in mind when it comes to Georgia. Like, hey, let's, let' why while we're all falling in love with Texas, let's maybe not forget.
00:55:08
Speaker
Like, also too, Texas might have a Georgia problem, guys. Like, it really might. I mean, we laugh, but for real, I mean, Kirby might just own. I mean, i listen, I think Tennessee's got a Georgia problem from the standpoint of, that I think Kirby just runs circles around Josh Heupel.
00:55:26
Speaker
Like, I just, he does. I think it's what, Tennessee hadn't scored seven more than 17 points against, Heupel had scored more than 17 points for his offense. Yeah. Kirby just got him in ah in a blender. And Sark might be the same way.
00:55:38
Speaker
When they
SEC Playoff System and Rivalries
00:55:39
Speaker
keep like they score, they score first on Georgia and then we just. Right. And then, and then, but the other question too, like, Hey, let's ask it the other way. Let's be fair. Does Georgia have a regular season Bama problem?
00:55:50
Speaker
Yes. like Yes. That makes that game really tough to pick when you're like, Hey, I mean, it is in Athens, but we finally get them at home. i was about to say, and we we haven't had them at home. It was the last time.
00:56:02
Speaker
It's been a while. The last time they were there. It was the blackout game. Right. Oh, was it really? No. we what No. What was it? Was it the rain? It the rain game. The rain game.
00:56:12
Speaker
who Yeah. That was even worse. like That was ugly. The blackout game. We at least like kind of sort of almost made it respectable. The rain game was. full That was ugly. Yeah. We just had, it was like a, there was a long Nick Chubb ripped off an 80 yard touchdown. That was like, know, towards the end, but kind of mean.
00:56:28
Speaker
OK, so but you you you said you mentioned like, you know, go to Atlanta. You mentioned big in Georgia third. Like, what's your take on like, where is the good place to be? So like we've seen the playoff play out once. Right.
00:56:41
Speaker
And then then we've got to change this year. Right. So gone are the like the the automatic buy for conference champions, whatever, it's' straight seating this year. Like it feels like third place in the SEC actually isn't a terrible spot to be in.
00:56:54
Speaker
Yeah, no, I'd agree. I'd absolutely agree. um I mean, getting a first-round bye would be ideal. It would. But, yeah. Is it based on the what we saw on the field? Well, you get bye. You're skipping the championship. It gives you same amount of time off. To point, if you finish third, you don't have to play the SEC title game.
00:57:13
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, and like, I loved what Kirby said last year that, you know, winning the SEC championship still matters. It does. Like, it it's a big deal to bring a title home to to Athens, no matter what it is.
00:57:26
Speaker
So I respected the heck out of that because I feel the same way. I love the SEC title game. I hope they never get rid of it. um But if they keep expanding, i I will get why they would because, yeah you know, it's just going to lose all meaning at some point if you keep expanding. But, yeah, you're not wrong. I mean, ten and letting, you know, Bama and Texas beat up on each other for one more game while you get to kind of game plan and chill. And, you know, I mean, I guess in that scenario, yes, you have to play. But then again, if it's straight seeding, mean.
00:57:58
Speaker
Mark Rip just rage quit, Jim. I mean, listen. 10-2? You're telling me that's okay now? Yeah. If it's – man, Mark Richt would have been a hell of a coach in the in the playoff era.
00:58:11
Speaker
I agree. I agree. He'd have been a – He was a heck of a coach, period. Oh, for sure. No, no. I mean, dude, no, listen, I love Coach Richt. I think he was awesome. But I'm saying he would have been – he may career His career would viewed a lot differently.
00:58:25
Speaker
there we well ah um But, no, I mean, ah you know, I guess there is a scenario where you could get a first-round buy if you went 10-2 and finished third. I doubt it, though. That would be tough. Yeah, because you're going to have a Big Ten team in the top four.
00:58:39
Speaker
You'll probably have an ACC team. so like but But then I guess you ask the question, if If it's like, let's, if it's Bama, Georgia, let's just type say neck and neck. Texas goes out there and takes it to Bama.
00:58:51
Speaker
Is Georgia slide in front? You know, just like, you know, do that you know, so that that'll be more nonsense. We'll talk about with the playoff when it gets there. Let's see. That was such, that was like the most maddening thing, but my God, for content, it was so much fun. Nobody right answers. We were just all yelling at each other for no reason.
00:59:07
Speaker
um That's always my thing is like, what what was always so fun about college football? football Like arguing about everything? don't know. That's what I kind of. Listen, the banter, we literally have in our bio, the beauties and the banter. yeah I live by that, man. That's one of our core values. But let me let me ask y'all, I'm curious, just Georgia Nation, what the answer to this question would be.
00:59:26
Speaker
Would you rather go, i mean, you'd rather go to the SEC title, win an SEC title. But the the main part of my question is, would you rather have a first round bye like last year and your first games in the Sugar Bowl?
00:59:37
Speaker
or do you want a home playoff game? Having seen everything play out last year, I'd rather have a home playoff game. I feel like there's something to be said about having that basically head start, right? And if you have a home playoff game, you should be favored. Well, now with the new seeding thing, if you have a home playoff game, you're most going be the favorite.
01:00:01
Speaker
you know, get that, get that train rolling. And then you're playing a team who's been off. Right. It could be rusty. So. Yeah. I mean, that's, I mean, you get better at football by playing football.
01:00:12
Speaker
yeahre like Yeah. Like, I mean, you know, I mean, yeah, sure. Georgia got to rest, but like we said, Notre Dame got to beat up on a Indiana. Yeah. but in And just, you know, I mean, it just, I think it probably helped. So, you know, there's a, there's pros and cons to both, I i suppose, but.
01:00:28
Speaker
The traditionalist in me says when the SEC championship, though, because it's just hard to like not think that because I want to say like it's it's still be the ultimate goal. Yeah. yeah And it's like, i mean, it's you can argue you be able hard argue it's harder to do that than to win a national title.
01:00:40
Speaker
Like, you know, I mean, is we tellgate the tailgater in me wants another home game. what's another home name And then I'm laugh with John. I'm with John. On top of, you know, our our friend, Josh Hansher, dog stats, you know, play, play college games on college campuses.
01:00:57
Speaker
um There's definitely that component. And frankly, like I get it. Like, The sentimental side of me is like, yeah, i win the SEC, like it still means something, all those kinds of stuff like rah, rah, let's go SEC. But like at the end of the day, like our SEC championship last year was pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
01:01:17
Speaker
And that's unfortunate that we're at a place in college football where that's that you what you said is fact. You know, it's the winning the SEC title. It's great for your trophy case, and it's great for the merch, and it's great for fans to gloat and boast about, but it doesn't really mean a lot.
01:01:35
Speaker
i mean, it's like, and I hate this fact, but they've turned winning the SEC championship of football kind of like winning – the SEC tournament in basketball or baseball. It's like, it's cool to win. It's not, it doesn't have that little value quite yet, quite yet, but it's just like, yeah, it's, it's and it's you know, I mean, like Vandy won the SEC tournament in baseball.
01:01:55
Speaker
Cool. What did it mean? i mean, what did it matter? They got knocked out first round. Like, what what did it matter, you know? That's a good that's a good corollary for sure. i was going to say, like, it's almost like winning the division in baseball. Yeah, it's just like whatever.
01:02:09
Speaker
i mean, you don't have to. You don't have to do that to win the whole thing. Like, it's cool. I mean, Braves fans, we love watching the Braves win the East every year. Right. But, man, I'd much rather you be a wild card team and win the – God, yeah.
01:02:22
Speaker
Too soon. Too soon. Now Dwight just turned the show off. what He complains to me about the Braves about every chance he can. I don't blame him. It's been a nightmare. Too good.
01:02:32
Speaker
um Here, let's let's hit a couple of these listener questions, um and then we can keep going. But there was a couple that I wanted to hit. um We can start with Brett. Brett Belding had the Belding bonus TM, TM, TM. So he has he has two questions.
01:02:44
Speaker
One, what is your favorite SEC rivalry game and why? Hmm. Favorite SEC rivalry game. So it's two that I've never – I'll say this.
01:02:56
Speaker
I'm going to both of probably my top two this season. Yeah. I've never been to them. I mean, I feel like the Iron Bowl has to take the cake here.
01:03:06
Speaker
Like, especially – here's the thing. The Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare, specifically. It's not the same game it feels like in Tuscaloosa. That game at Jordan-Hare, weird things happen – The plan is to go to that game last week of the season.
01:03:20
Speaker
I'm hoping Auburn is halfway decent. um But the another one that I'm really excited, guys, and again, I am planning go into this one this season too, is Dallas for the Red River Shootout, Texas-Oklahoma. And it's a newer SEC rivalry, but sure I've heard that one is is really cool, kind of unlike anything you've you've ever experienced. So, um yeah, I'd probably say the Iron Bowl. I mean, favorite SEC rivalry. There's a lot of really great ones, but.
01:03:46
Speaker
It's just really hard to beat the Iron Bowl, man. That's such an iconic game. um You know, such an iconic game. so But, hey, I mean, listen, Bama-Georgia has kind of turned into a rivalry. Maybe Bama-Texas will be one. But, yeah, the Iron Bowl is just – like I said, the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare, just a different animal.
01:04:06
Speaker
Yeah. You went, you went to another one that I was actually thinking that you were going to say Alabama, Tennessee. Yeah. I was at that one Saturday in October. Yeah. That that's now that that one's starting to get some juice back as Tennessee starting to win.
01:04:18
Speaker
Right. I mean, listen, like it's still a rivalry, but it's not really a rivalry when, when one side wins every year. Like that's why I would never say Georgia, Georgia tech, like, it's It's a rivalry, but, like, is it really?
01:04:32
Speaker
I mean, like, you can't just get your tail whooped. And granted, like, I mean, last year they gave Georgia all they wanted and then some. but And, I mean, Tech should be pretty decent this year with Haynes King, I think. but Yeah. Yeah, I mean, i mean listen, for for out of conference, you know, South Carolina-Clemson is an awesome rivalry.
01:04:50
Speaker
Florida-Florida State, I think, is a – You know it's the other one? The ah the Honorable mentioned that maybe the most underrated rivalry in the SEC, conference rivalry, the Egg Bowl. Oh, that is a good one. The Egg Bowl is nasty.
01:05:05
Speaker
Yeah. Nasty. Like, hate. Real. They call Georgia clean, Georgia Georgia that clean, old-fashioned hate. That's dirty old-fashioned hate. Yeah.
01:05:16
Speaker
They despise each other down in Mississippi. So yeah that's one that I think. Give a buddy, Hunter. hunter That is actually – Shout out. Yeah. You could actually rank that one number one because here's the thing. Like, you know, Bama, Auburn, it's a fun back and forth.
01:05:31
Speaker
Like, but big you know, it's – and there's so much – like, I think it means a lot that there's so much on the line for something. Like, Texas, Oklahoma and in years past have decided so much – But what makes the Egg Bowl great is neither one of them are normally, like, great. um Obviously, Ole Miss has caught on.
01:05:47
Speaker
Those teams could both be five and six going in. Four and six. It matter. Like, the record to that game. The whole season comes down that game. whole season hinges on the Egg Bowl.
01:05:58
Speaker
Like, neither one of those programs realistically is, like, playing for national championships or even SEC championships. Like, they're playing to win that game. Right. Right. Oh, yeah. That one, I actually respect the heck out of that. That it's like, dude, they just want to beat the hell out of each other for the love of the game.
01:06:15
Speaker
Not because there's some accolade on the other side. They just want that Egg Bowl trophy. That's it. Yeah. So so I have as um um along the rivalry front. I have a question. I've always wondered this.
01:06:26
Speaker
Because you you spent you went to you went to the the LSU baseball out in Hoover, right? So and you spent a lot of time with Daly, right? So she has this this fascination with A&M.
01:06:37
Speaker
is Is that really a big rivalry? Because I never really like looked at that as a What's funny about that, John, you were you were earlier in the show and I was talking about like overrated and underrated teams and like. I was tell about the tears. A&M, I literally hadn't mentioned them the whole show. I can't believe it.
01:06:51
Speaker
I just completely forgot about them. Like, they forgot. If there's any A&M fans out there, sorry. But, ah no, you know, yeah, the fact. And and Joy does such a good job on her TikTok just terrorizing those A&M people.
01:07:05
Speaker
um Yeah, but there there is a – so the SEC obviously just pitted those two against each other, LSU and A&M, when A&M came in the conference. I think A&M just more so annoys LSU fans than anything.
01:07:18
Speaker
Because there isn't – listen, LSU's done it. They're a legit program, big time, won national titles, Heisman Trophy winners, you know, the whole shebang. They've done it all. A&M acts like they've done it all.
01:07:30
Speaker
Yeah. A&M, there isn't a program in the conference, and I say this with love, there isn't a program in the conference with a more self-inflated view of themselves than Texas A&M.
01:07:42
Speaker
There just isn't. Maybe Auburn is the other one because i just don't, like, I just don't, and again, I say it with love, but, like, even when I went last year to Auburn, I'm like, the way, like, we talk about Auburn as a program and then, like,
01:07:57
Speaker
you see, like, they got two national titles, and granted, one of them happened in like, the 50s, and the other one was with, like, one of the greatest college football players of all time with Cam Newton. Yeah. Like, we talk about them as if they've won double or triple the amount of national titles they actually have.
01:08:11
Speaker
It's like, like what what you know what i mean? Like, are they really that program we make them out to be, or should their expectations every year to be to go, you know, if we go eight and four, we had a pretty good year. Like, like you know what mean?
01:08:23
Speaker
<unk>s saying tommy Tommy Tuberville just rage-filled. That's wild. Yeah, but A&M, man, I just, again, I think A&M fans, yeah, A&M fans know exactly how to get under LSU fan skin, and it's the fact that LSU just, for whatever reason, cannot win that game in College Station.
01:08:41
Speaker
So, know, it goes back to the whole seven-overtime game that A&M people printed the cups to, like, And, like, also, too, LSU fans hate A&M and A&M fans because, you know, you talk some trash to LSU people. Like, they they they take that pretty serious. Like, they're a rambunctious bunch.
01:09:01
Speaker
Put it that way. They don't need a whole lot of reasons to not like you. So, yeah. A&M has taught just enough smack and, yeah, runs their mouth just enough to, yeah, it really, so, again, I don't know that I'd classify as, like, it's, man, it's, like, one of the great rivalries of college. Okay.
01:09:18
Speaker
But it is, yeah but it is, there's lot of it. It's just joystick. Yeah, joystick, and there's just a lot of – because, again, i mean, a good buddy of mine, Blake Ruffino, I do a show with weekly, and he he's the owner of AYS Sports, which um is a big LSU entity, in steve my opinion, the best one.
01:09:36
Speaker
But I've talked him about this very thing. I had him on the week of that game last year, LSU A&M, asking him if it's a rivalry. And he's like, not in the traditional sense, but like Texas A&M is that guy that rolls up to the bar in the jacked up truck.
01:09:48
Speaker
And he's like 5'7", and you're like, the he's overcompensating for something. Like, he absolutely is. Like, that's kind of A&M, you know? And like, but they don't know when to shut up. So the guy in the bar who's just running his mouth, who doesn't know when to shut up.
01:10:03
Speaker
So like at some point, like that, yeah, they just, they don't take kindly to that. So you know And A&M, I think a lot of them think they are superior to LSU. That's what really pisses them off.
01:10:15
Speaker
yeah That's what really irks LSU people. you know It's not like like when i when I went to Georgia-Bama, again, they hate each other, but like there's a mutual respect between Georgia and Bama people.
01:10:28
Speaker
like We know y'all are good. Y'all know we're good. Respect it. Right? Right. Yeah. Like, that's not the case with LSU A&M. You know, A&M thinks they're on that level, and LSU will be like, no shot. You're not even remotely close to us.
01:10:42
Speaker
So, that's a one. We have a threshold. Yeah. We have a threshold on the podcast for what what would defines a rivalry. Yeah, we have we have criteria. I would love to Oh, by the way, side note, that's probably the LSU game I'm going to this year. LSU A&M.
01:10:56
Speaker
Nice. I try to go to, like, the most toxic environments I can find. Yeah. What is the threshold for rivalry? I'd love to hear this. So there are various things that can qualify the game as a rivalry. I think we have three things. Now I'm trying to remember all of them.
01:11:12
Speaker
One is like the game has to have a name. don't know if it has to, but if the game has a name, so like you mentioned, Egg Bowl, that's a rivalry. Iron Bowl. Right. We got the cocktail party, and we got the Deep South's oldest rivalry. So it needs to have a name.
01:11:28
Speaker
ah Another criteria that can make sure it's a rivalry is if the teams, if the schools cannot agree on the all-time record between each other, it's a rivalry. ah That's one that I love because we have multiple of those.
01:11:41
Speaker
um So we have that similarly with, ah we have that with Florida. We had that with Georgia Tech. I think we have that with Auburn and as well. What was the other one?
01:11:52
Speaker
There might be, a i think there's a third one, but those two are really good. On on a side note, people don't realize how good of a rivalry Georgia Auburn They really don't. It's unbelievable. Deep South's oldest rivalry. Deep South's oldest rivalry. That's – people do not – that's probably a rivalry that doesn't that doesn't get the the credit it deserves. Well, because historically, you know, and again, this is my get off the lawn, get off my lawn segment. It's like, you know, that game used to be like at the end of the season. So, so many times like Georgia or Auburn's like SEC title hopes rested on that game. And there's so many times that we took each other out of that.
01:12:27
Speaker
Right. um And now with it being so early in the season, it doesn't come down to that anymore. So don't know, kind of a, kind of annoying. Yeah, what is it, 65, 56, and 8? I mean, Georgia's won the last eight of them.
01:12:39
Speaker
ah so Right. i You know, you think like think about eight years ago. what that That would have been 57, 56, and 8? I mean, that I think that helps make a rivalry great, too, man, when it's really and forth.
01:12:51
Speaker
It's truly back and forth. Like, that that's a that helps. Yeah, totally. um Okay, second one from Brett. What is the weirdest game you've ever seen in person? Weirdest game Well, um I mean, Georgia-Bama last year in Tuscaloosa was weird just because the blowout and then the comeback.
01:13:09
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, if if that had been pulled off, that would have been like – Insane. Oh, my God. calebn The greatest comeback in SEC history. Kaelin DeBoer might have been fired on the spot.
01:13:21
Speaker
um I'll tell you this. The weirdest – I'm going to take you back with this one. one of the And one of the best college football games I've ever witnessed. But I think because this game had electric offense, big defensive plays. It had baffling play calls. It had ah weather delay. Like, it just was weird.
01:13:45
Speaker
2014, South Carolina, Georgia. Okay, okay. That was the thirty eight to thirty five Dylan Thompson sneaks it on fourth and inches. They bring the chain out. The iconic image of the chain. They're not a link.
01:13:57
Speaker
like they're not a link Yeah, i feel I still feel like that was the wrong call. but Dude, I was in the stadium for that one. um Man, what a that was a wacky football game. like yeah Again, the game was delayed an hour and a half or so because of lightning, so it essentially turned into a night game.
01:14:17
Speaker
It rained. i think that was the game. No, maybe it was after 2012 when... I think it was Todd Gurley said he's like, I never want to hear Sandsen or ever again. But yeah, i mean, you had, you know, South Carolina's, you know, that that was Hudson Mason.
01:14:31
Speaker
Mm-hmm. South Carolina's defense couldn't stop a cold. You had Dylan Thompson doing his thing. Brandon Wilds, big touchdown late. You know, Mike Bobo inexplicably not giving the ball to Todd Gurley down in the down in the the red zone. yeah What was inside the five, I think? Yeah, and then Hudson Mason got flagged for intentional grounding. And then we got an intentional grounding. kind of Yeah, intentional grounding. And then that was kind of yeah was kind of Nick Chubb's coming out party.
01:14:57
Speaker
little A little bit in that game. Yeah. Yeah. and Todd Gurley was just, God, he was a monster. Yeah, that was a wacky one. That was a, but and and you know what else I think added to the weirdness of that game is because that was the 14 season and like South Carolina got their doors blown off week one against A&M.
01:15:15
Speaker
And then
Impact of NIL on College Football
01:15:16
Speaker
they beat East Carolina week two in like a real sloppy game. And then South Carolina beats Georgia week three. And like, oh, here we go. here they And that was a team that was picked to, know, that was coming off three straight 11 win seasons. And,
01:15:27
Speaker
South Carolina just ended up being, you know, I say terrible. They won seven games, but they just weren't. They weren't good. The defense was historically bad. And I guess did Georgia go to the SEC title that year? No, no, that was season. So we actually like turned it around. That was the year that, uh, I think it was. Yeah. And it was the year that Gurley got suspended. So like everything kind of went. I going say Gurley. Yeah. Can we, by the way, what just terrible SEC championship.
01:15:54
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. yeah Yeah. Kind of lackluster title game, but that, they are that, I mean, here's the thing. If you ask me this question about baseball games, that, that I could answer.
01:16:08
Speaker
I've seen some just outrageous baseball games. But, yeah, yeah, that was probably the weirdest. I mean, I've seen a lot of funky ones. ah I mean, we all have, I feel like, at some point. So, I feel like there's probably one I'm completely blanking on, maybe even from last season. For shits and giggles, what's your baseball game?
01:16:26
Speaker
Probably the wildest game I've ever seen was the game two of the Super Regional between Florida and Clemson last year. that That game was just outright. Dude, I mean, you had the crazy catch by Cam Canarella. You had Nolan Narocki trying to essentially get in Jack Caglione's face and act like they were goingnna fight on the field. Multiple suspensions.
01:16:44
Speaker
Eric Backage gets suspended. He's yelling at the ump. Jack Leggett gets suspended from the dugout or gets ejected, I should say. You had, you know, a walk-off to punch your ticket to Omaha. and that That game just had it all. That game had it all. So, that's probably the wildest.
01:17:00
Speaker
That's the wildest baseball. but that one That's 1A. 1B would be this season when I went to LSU and Bear Jones hit the walk-off at 117 a.m. against Tennessee.
01:17:10
Speaker
they went I think they were down 3-0 going to the ninth inning and just um some Bayou voodoo magic hit the stadium and Yeah, Bear Jones pimped the ball harder than I've ever seen. He's seen anybody pimp a baseball. So, ah you know, blasted a ball, hadn't landed yet. So, yeah, those those two for sure.
01:17:29
Speaker
Wackiest baseball. Nice. Nice. All right, John Michael D. Although this one might take us down a rabbit hole. I love rabbit holes. How long until everything we think we know about rev share and NIL is obsolete again?
01:17:43
Speaker
A week, two months? Tomorrow? Yeah, sex we we we thought we knew. and then... Yeah, i a dude, I like i gotta to be honest with you guys. and And the point of his question, yeah, probably soon.
01:17:54
Speaker
But... and this might sound bad, me doing what I do and SEC and filter being what it is, but like, dude, like I don't want to talk about, I don't care, bro. Like I do care, but I don't like the, the college football off season is so incredibly nauseating now, you know, like we're forced to talk about it because it impacts the sport we love.
01:18:18
Speaker
But if you like really gave everyone truth serum, I think even the common fans who tune into the content will be like, I would so much rather y'all talk about something. Like, we we've never – that's why this time of year so great because we are actually starting to talk about ball in the field. It's going to be happening in a couple weeks.
01:18:34
Speaker
Whereas, like, dude, it's – we just – we've never spent less time talking about football in the offseason. We've never talked about it less to a point. I mean, dude, like funny enough, like I'm i'm playing golf with with Dwight and a couple other guys. This a couple months ago, and I think it was actually in the spring.
01:18:52
Speaker
might have been a few weeks before the the the the G-Day game, spring game. And I'm asking, you know, and i I like to get a gauge on where people are at, especially like people that are just like the common fans or fans or whatever.
01:19:03
Speaker
Yeah, dude, I'm asking them, and they're like, Couldn't care less. that Just don't even don't even care. like get Not even – don't even want to go. It's just out of your hands. it's There's just nothing.
01:19:16
Speaker
you can't You can't point to – You can't even rally around the guy. You can't rally around players anymore. like you Dude, I went to Bama spring game. Complete joke. I mean, it was a complete joke.
01:19:29
Speaker
they're ah They're out there like it's – they're running drills and, you know, you're not even – it's not even football. It's – yeah Yeah. The offseason product of college football ball is just deplorable, but thank goodness Saturdays are still Saturdays.
01:19:41
Speaker
Like Saturdays in the fall still hit that that's, that's, you know, when them boys run out there with a G on their helmet, all that other stuff will go to this wayside and, We're playing football. You know what i mean? so But, like, again, I don't say that as, like, we do talk about it. and Like, I'm not saying, i you know, i I want the sport to – I want the health of the sport to improve.
01:20:02
Speaker
But, like, I didn't get into this business to be like – there's a really popular thing right now, guys, if you go look. Hell, Donald Trump jumped into this. But it's the popular thing where it's like everybody wants to be the guy that saves college football. like And I'm not calling anybody out. would you like You see people on Twitter like, you know, if I were the commissioner, I'd be doing this. like ah You know, this is what I should do. like this is what we I'm like, my God, can you stroke your ego anymore? Like, I didn't get into this business to be the guy that saves college football. I want to talk about college football.
01:20:32
Speaker
want to watch college football. I want to go to tailgates, go to games, make predictions, have a good time. Y'all worry about saving college football. I don't want to have to do that.
01:20:43
Speaker
Like, I thought there were people, I was hoping there were people that were a lot smarter than you and I and all of us. making are y'all asking me what we should do?
01:20:53
Speaker
I'm not the guy running it. yeah I don't have all the information. yeah But that was another takeaway at Media Days, by the way, going backwards. Listening to Greg Sankey speak, you're like, this guy doesn't come off as the decision maker like I maybe thought he was.
01:21:06
Speaker
I mean, dude, I think the TV networks are making all the decisions at this point. I really do. The thing about where the money's coming from, it's it's all the the network stuff. Yeah. I don't think Greg Sankey's the one out there. you know He did not come off to me as someone in charge.
01:21:22
Speaker
It's like Bane and Batman. Do you feel in charge? Yeah. Well, it's probably because the power is getting, the power is slowly slipping out of the conference commissioner's hands and moving towards like, like it like we said, like at the SEC championship, the SEC doesn't matter as much anymore as assembling a team that can compete for national championships. It's the national championship or bust. It's the exact same situation as the college basketball.
01:21:50
Speaker
And I don't know where it stops, man. really I really don't. mean, i think that I've been saying it for ever since day one when they started paying players. It's like when it was just the absolute wild west is just bring on the contracts, bring on the salary cap, and just call it what it is. Like, just – across the board this is the cap or screw the but i think that the you know the all the lawsuits that are going to come out of this this whole law or whatever executive order or whatever whatever we're trying to do it is to stop the collectives um you know basically getting getting thrown out so now it's like oh the collectives can actually still operate now so it's like you've got the the money coming in from the rev share but then these collectives can still do whatever they want really
01:22:35
Speaker
And it's like, there's really no, like you could, there's nothing stopping Texas from continuing to assemble 40, $50 million dollars roster every single year because they've got the bottomless pockets and I'm sick of it. It's just like, just give, give everybody an operating, an operating budget and then whatever you can do from there, figure it out.
01:22:56
Speaker
Yeah. I think you're right though. I think back to John Michael D's question, like who knows? And probably soon. It'll change again. and Anything we say is just a yeah opinion we have that who who knows, you know, it's hard to like have any basis of why. But I, John, I think you, I think you hit the nail on the head, man. Like I just, you know, the revenue sharing stuff sounds great in theory, but, you know, and, and you know, Trump comes out with this executive order, like let's.
01:23:24
Speaker
let's stop pay for play. And it's like, yeah. And then the article, it's like, there's not anybody who's, we don't know who's going enforce this. It's like, Oh man, force it. Yeah, exactly. Just did that. They're like, you just want to feel good about, and by the way, this is, it's funny. I talked about this on our socials. And of course the comments were about as messy as you would think. I'm like, this has nothing to do with politics and all.
01:23:44
Speaker
it's It's just a couple of football take. Like, But, you know, that we – again, we just got a lot of people that want to save the sport, they're not really doing a whole lot. And it's – you know what's disheartening? Like, because I'm a huge baseball guy. Like, you you follow along with us. Like, we cover baseball, I think, harder and better than anybody else in the SEC sphere. I truly believe that.
01:24:03
Speaker
Yeah. The baseball community, college baseball, it's like grow the game. Like we love the game. We love college baseball. Yeah, everything's awesome. Like everybody rallies around, like pushing the game, grow it.
01:24:15
Speaker
So it's so – it's disheartening coming from that school of thinking and that type of vibe and that type of energy to, man, college football has never been worse. College football ball has never – the product – Like the just the state of the game has never been worse. it's It's never been less likable than it is now.
01:24:34
Speaker
Really, if we're really honest. We talked about that last week. um I think that where some of these players over time are going to figure out these brands that they're able to build by swapping teams left and right, you know, you you cut off an entire fan base. Like, let's say you're a big, let's say if Jalen Milrow decided to transfer last year, right, his senior year and go somewhere else, play at USC or something like that.
01:25:04
Speaker
Like all of a sudden, the the people that just loved and and followed him and and invested in him, like all of a sudden they're completely turned off when he goes to the NFL. Now he's got nothing to fall back on from ah from a fan base standpoint.
01:25:18
Speaker
Whereas you've got guys from the past that, you know... They're legends at the University of Georgia or the University of Alabama because of what they did. They stuck it out for four years. Like DJ Shockley to me will always be that that guy for for Georgia folks because he waited his turn all the way through. And there will I don't know that you'll ever see someone like DJ Shockley again. Just what like set sat the bench, rode the pine, let someone else take the shine.
01:25:47
Speaker
And then the senior year just balled out. Yeah. I mean, think about Carson Beck. Is he going to welcome back with open arms anytime soon? Hell no. I mean, i and like I don't, you know, I know that some of the fans didn't like maybe love him like last year, but no, if he just stuck it out, I think Carson, you know, dude won an SEC championship, but now, now, no. He's not going to be selling insurance in the state of Georgia. Let me tell you that.
01:26:09
Speaker
No, no, no. No, he's not. So, yeah, and you make a great point, man. I think, ah you know. I don't even know that he'll be selling insurance in Miami by the end of the year, but. i A lot of kids are losing their – the bag is making them lose sight of the bigger picture.
01:26:26
Speaker
Correct. On the flip side, I mean, i you know, i God, you got people throwing this crazy money in these kids' faces. Yeah, $4 million or $5 million a year, I get it. Like, that's generational, right? then like but then But then, like, I got to be honest. I think college football needed a story like what happened to Nico.
01:26:42
Speaker
We needed somebody for it to backfire. Yeah, exactly. We need that. We we need some. And he's still getting paid. But like, there's there's nobody who thinks he upgraded his situation. Like he's he was crazy for making that move. Crazy. I still I still wish someone had. I still wish that Florida got nailed to the wall for what they did to. God.
01:27:02
Speaker
what What was his name, Jim? Rashada. Rashada, yeah. i still i wish that I wish that the universities themselves would get get nailed to the wall, too, for the promises the promises that they make and don't fu fulfill.
01:27:15
Speaker
Yeah, his his whole career is kind of taking a tailspin because he he was in Georgia last year, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah so That's so interesting. and now you who know Where is he at now? So he went somewhere that somewhere that they're like bringing back football or something? like um like this so Somewhere that's like either just jumped up to 1A or whatever, FBS, or jumps next year, ah like San Diego or something.
01:27:40
Speaker
Something out west. Yeah, so they apparently, yeah, April 25th, they logged a predict. Did he go to Sacramento State? Yes, that's it. And they're like trying to jump up. And so I think they've they've got a bunch of NIL or something.
01:27:52
Speaker
They've got like an alumni base that is helping them grow their roster. That's crazy. what i Yeah, yeah. All right, let's hear this one. we meet Let me hit one more. And definitely want you to get to experience this, Chris. So this this listener question comes with ah with some theme music.
01:28:15
Speaker
My God, a freshman. Trying to put glasses on. 90-80. Woo, brother. All right, it may be the offseason, but we've still got a coach drill over-unders. This one's called Coach's Quick Over-Unders.
01:28:27
Speaker
We've only got one. So this this actually kind of sort of came up, the first one. Over-under, SEC unfiltered stops in Athens in 2025. Coach set the over-under at 1.5.
01:28:41
Speaker
So we we heard we heard there's chance. There's a chance to get the over. There's a chance. As you think about it. i mean I'm going to smash that over. yeah I mean, here's the thing. We're going to be there once, undoubtedly.
01:28:51
Speaker
Yeah. yeah And depending on what happens with Georgia and Texas and or depending on what happens with Georgia maybe hosting a playoff game. so Yeah. yeah mean i You know, I mean, yeah. i i I'd probably i'd probably bet on the over.
01:29:06
Speaker
Oh, I got to take over. Use that, I'm saying. i Clean sweep. Yeah. Here's the thing. I'm wishing for the over. Here we go. yeah I'm wishing for it. whether whether Again, whether it's, you know, what would they be at that point? I think ten if it's 10-0 Georgia against 10-0 Texas, sign me up.
01:29:24
Speaker
yeah that That ticket will be outrageous. I was going to say, sign up the entire world. And
Evolution of SEC Unfiltered and Fandom
01:29:30
Speaker
or the playoff game. I mean, sign me up that in a heartbeat. Yeah. We've got TVs at Morris Hall, worst worst case.
01:29:37
Speaker
Which is a great experience. ah and i'd I'd imagine you watching a game at Morris Hall would be pretty wild. One of my favorite Georgia memories is watching a game at Morris Hall tailgate when Tennessee fans were exiting the stadium and my son and his buddies were just giving Tennessee fans the business.
01:29:58
Speaker
Gotta love it. And then his his his second one was SEC teams in the college football playoff over under three and a half. That's a really good question. ah yeah That's actually like, you have to think about that for a second because it's so easy to go over.
01:30:12
Speaker
It is. Last year, I think we all got a little overzealous. We all got a little bit out over our skis. Yeah. Because I think it's going to be either three or four.
01:30:24
Speaker
Three or four. Yeah. Right now, I'll go over and say four. Because I would put a – I'd bet on it right now. Georgia, Texas, and Alabama.
01:30:35
Speaker
I think – I feel really good all three are going to be in. I do. I think there will be a fourth, whether it's LSU or somebody else. Yeah. put it that I think there'll be a fourth. I like and i feel pretty confident it'll be LSU.
01:30:49
Speaker
But if I still think there'll be a fourth, even if it's not them. So I'll take the over, but I think it's going to be three or four. Yeah. do you Do you trust Brian Kelly to get them there?
01:31:01
Speaker
Um, yeah, there's some trust issues of Brian Kelly. and Like, I think he's a good coach. Don't get me wrong. He just, he just tries too hard sometimes, you know, like the Death Valley junior comment, you know, he says, judge me in year three. And then they go eight and four in year three. And and he's like, you know, this is, uh, you know, he's slamming the table and, and this is the, you know, he's like, uh, what'd he say over the off season? Like we, the expectation where we're expecting to be in the national championship next year, like,
01:31:30
Speaker
Why'd you say that? You didn't have to say that. You know, just at times. But I think he's a good coach. Like I said, it's a really so similar question that Georgia has is just can they run the football? well what What do they look like on the offensive line losing so many guys they lost?
01:31:45
Speaker
So it's – I'll tell you this. Do I trust Brian Kelly wholeheartedly? Eh. Do I trust Garrett Nussmeier wholeheartedly? Especially if they've got a lackluster running game.
01:31:56
Speaker
Like, you know – he he had I think he had like 17 turnovers total last year. I've equated Garrett Nussmeier. was about say that Jim and I have a – there's a fine line between Gunslinger and – He's the Bayou Brett Bar.
01:32:12
Speaker
But he – I've equated Nussmeier to this. He's the pitcher that throws 100 that's got nasty stuff. But every couple outings, he just don't have a clue where it's going. Spencer Strider.
01:32:23
Speaker
Yes, yes, exactly. So it's like, yeah, like when he's on, like I was there against Ole Miss and saw him make that throw. I was in that end zone where he made that throw to Aaron Anderson to tie the game. Like, man, you're like, this dude just, man, he's he's he's got it.
01:32:36
Speaker
But then, you you know, you look at like the Florida game last year and some of these other performances he had, and you're like, Lee, he just, he ain't got a clue. So you know, if Garrett Nussmeier can make that year two jump like Brian Kelly's essentially told us at media days he would, like a Jaden Daniels and Joe Burrow, which is, again, those are wildly lofty expectations to throw on the kid. Both those guys won the Heisman.
01:32:59
Speaker
so But if he does make that jump, I mean, yeah, we're cooking. so i But I think LSU is the team out of the top four. Like said, I think that's your top tier. If there's a team of those that's going to disappoint and win less than 10 games, I think it's – Right.
01:33:12
Speaker
But then, you know, then again, i mean, who knows? You know, who knows? really Like, that's – who knows? That's what I think. But, like, I'm sitting here thinking about it like, dang, what if Ty Simpson's not good? and You know, like – Right.
01:33:25
Speaker
yeah Yeah. So many questions. I think we're in for a wild season. yeah I think we are too. Again, I think it's going to more the same. Because it's interesting, like when you when you try to make predictions, you know if you go like too far in the left field, people are going be like, this dude's just crazy. He's just making picks. No rhyme or reason.
01:33:46
Speaker
like But what if I would have picked Bama to lose to Vandy in the preseason? Everybody i'm like this dude is high. Yeah. He is. like yeah He's like, I can't even take this guy seriously. You know what? That's kind of the funny thing. And, again, just pick what you pick and stick behind I'm a big believer in that. I don't care. Like, whatever.
01:34:03
Speaker
But it is funny, like, in the sports media world. Like, if you make an outrageous pick like that, even if you get it right, there's not a lot of, like, glory post pick. Everybody loves to crap on you for a cold take.
01:34:16
Speaker
no i don't Is there a flaming hot take account? i don't I don't think you get a lot of credit for like calling it. The one where I did get credit, I will say, from Georgia people, when I picked Georgia to beat Texas in the SEC title, I had some choice words talking about Kirby Smart. I was like, it's it's still Kirby mother effing smart. like i'm i'm I'm riding with Kirby. um i'm just I believe in him.
01:34:40
Speaker
A lot of Georgia fans came back after the fact and were like, Hell yeah. Yeah. I think I was pretty close on the score pick too, but yeah, I mean, it's just, you try to, you try to make upset picks and, and I,
01:34:53
Speaker
ah Sometimes, man, I think you just kind of – why'd you pick that as an upset? Like, I don't know, man. I just – I think college football ball is unpredictable. Yeah. I didn't think Oklahoma was going to beat Bama. I didn't think Vandy was going to beat Bama. I didn't think – you know, I mean, yeah, there's just a – it's just hard to – you know, it's hard to – who knows? It's just we've got so much parity, so many unknowns.
01:35:13
Speaker
Yeah, I don't think anything's off the table. Yeah, yeah, it makes sense. um all right not ah not a listener question but i don't know i know it's getting late chris don't if you got you got time for one more um um i don't have a hard out i'm good so john maybe like your usual question but we can tailor it a bit for her bit for chris yeah yeah i guess uh normally we would ask like what's your georgia story but i guess what's your sec story jim i don't know how to phrase that question for Yeah, I guess. like So if we have like a Georgia fan or something or something, yeah, like what's your story? Like what got what you to do? it So, mean, you know, could be a lot on team could be just a college football in general.
01:35:50
Speaker
Yeah, I have a very interesting fandom story for you all. There's parts of this story I can share more so in detail off the air. um I was born and raised. I was born and raised a South Carolina fan.
01:36:01
Speaker
ah My grandfather was the one that got me into it. around 11 or 12 when it really clicked, like how amazing college football was and how life or death it was. That was like beginning of 2003. So like the 03 season was the first season where I really remember like investing and like understanding what it all means, right?
01:36:21
Speaker
Yeah. but Anyways, born and raised a South Carolina Gamecock fan. Again, I'm from South Carolina. um Die hard as all, you know, die hard as it gets. Like I mentioned, i was at the 07 South Carolina Georgia game. was at the 06 South Carolina Georgia game.
01:36:33
Speaker
I would watch every game in the garage of my grandfather. That was just like our thing we did. um We went to a few, but we would essentially watch every single game in the garage. He passed in 2014, but, you know, we we I went off to college and we'd still like I'd come home, we'd watch games together, whatever.
01:36:49
Speaker
um So, i for those that don't know, SEC Unfiltered at one point was a South Carolina Gamecocks entity. It was called the Spurs Up Show. That's how it started in January 2017. And started it from zero. Again, the accounts, everything you see, it was once, believe it or not, it was once South Carolina. Anyways, started January 2017.
01:37:11
Speaker
Thankfully, just decided to never shut up. And it kept growing and growing and we kept building. And I got the LLC in November of 2018, moved to Columbia, South Carolina to do it full time in August of 2019.
01:37:24
Speaker
And so, again, you probably wonder, like, how are we sitting here today? So my fandom origin story, really, I'll just say this without getting into too great of detail. When you get into business,
01:37:36
Speaker
Especially when you're an independent, no doubt. When you see how the sauce is made a you deal with the university, right? When you deal with the university in business matters, it really will will kill your fandom.
01:37:52
Speaker
ah this is there There's no other way to put it. to i To a point to where, and I'm glad you guys didn't do this. I appreciate it. And I mean, it's it's no fault of anybody else's, but people just, you know, they bring me on and they're like, hey, you're a South Carolina guy, you're Gamecocks. And I mean, guys, I'm i'm genuinely, i'm um I'm as neutral as it gets these days. Like, I am, I hope everybody does well. Like, i you know, I i want the SEC to get the most of my teams to the playoff. Like, yeah.
01:38:19
Speaker
But I'm not a South Carolina fan anymore. Like, ah not even – there's not an ounce of me in my – like, I wish the best for South Carolina. Hope they do well. got a lot of buddies, obviously. They're big Gamecock fans. and But, again, when you deal with stuff on the business side and you see how the sauce is made and and there's just things I dealt with them from – The way I was treated by the university, i dealt with legal matters with them.
01:38:43
Speaker
ah They essentially, my greatest opposition, and I know um this is I told you this a pretty wild story, but my greatest opposition in my ascension throughout my career when I was a South Carolina entity was the University of South Carolina.
01:39:00
Speaker
hey They, it they, they at multiple stops throughout my entire career, they did what they could to put me out of business. Like they really wanted to, they wanted me to go away.
01:39:10
Speaker
They wanted me to not exist. And I think the reasoning for that was number one, I was the same insufferable SOB that I am today. I'm just giving honest opinions. And you know, when you're covering a team guys, let's call for what it is. It's not very good.
01:39:25
Speaker
And you have to be brutally honest about that. You know, I was covering South Carolina when, Everybody's buddy Will Muschamp was the head coach, and we all know how that tenure went, right? The commentary's not, quote-unquote, not positive.
01:39:38
Speaker
right But it was always fair, but they didn't like that. They're like, come on, Chris, stop inciting violence. fight Right, right. They didn't like that. They didn't like that. um So, I mean, I dealt with that. I dealt with people on the football staff.
01:39:52
Speaker
This happened on like a couple of different instances would go on social media, trying to dog me and talk crap about me and and encouraging fans of said team to turn against me, not like me. I dealt with i dealt with it from that angle.
01:40:08
Speaker
don't really bring up the bad side of the fan base, although the the nasty side of South Carolina's fan base is probably the nastiest group of human beings ever dealt with, truly. um Truly, really, truly.
01:40:19
Speaker
Like to levels you just wouldn't imagine. I don't really bring that up because every fan base has. We've got them. Everybody's got them. right yeah Everybody's got them. The good news now, I don't deal with them. lot of them didn't even go to your school. Yeah, I did deal with Vol Twitter during baseball season. That was a wild experience. yeah That is a different. yeah But, you know, I don't have deal with Ball Twitter is unique. Yeah, it But, you know, thankfully i don't deal with that as much anymore because, like, again, um it doesn't hit the same when the SEC guy is saying, hey, you're going to go 9-3. Like, if a Georgia show came out was like, yeah, guys, I think we're going to go 9-3, they'd be like – they wouldn't let him back in Athens ever again. I mean, it hits different when it be your own people.
01:40:58
Speaker
But, yeah, so just dealing with all that over the years and then there was – in a End of 2022, there was – how do I want to phrase this? there there was a There was a dispute that was amicably resolved between the University of South Carolina. and It's actually well-documented. I'm sure I could just say it on air, but I'm not going to. But it's it's it's public information. It's public information.
01:41:22
Speaker
It's nothing bad. When I would say legal stuff – We used to sell merchandise at a very high level. And I'll just say that I owned a certain trademark that the University of South Carolina was not very pleased that I owned it.
01:41:35
Speaker
But it was tough because I owned it. But that turned into a year and a half long trade. back and forth, if you will. Again, amicably resolved and whatever. But again, I say all that to say, guys, when you go through all that, it completely separates fandom and business to a point where, like I said, it really genuinely, it killed my fandom.
01:41:58
Speaker
I mean, I just... And like, that's kind of sad in a way because, but, but it's also, they did me the biggest favor because they removed any ounce of bias I could ever have. Like, I genuinely don't have any bias whatsoever. Like, but that's such an advantage for us because I can talk about every single team fairly.
01:42:18
Speaker
You tune into my content. You have no clue. Like, I don't know. This guy's a fan of, I don't know if he's even got a team. Yeah. um Yeah. and And I can go on the road and I can like people are so dude, they are so blinded by their biases. Like people just you can't even have it like ah Like there's some Tennessee fans. They couldn't even have a conversation with it. They're like that brainwashed to to a degree.
01:42:42
Speaker
Hey, there's some Georgia fans like that. Let's let's keep it fair. Right. oh Yeah. Every fan base got them, but, like, it removed that from me to where, like, I can go to all these different places, and when I – I did a really good job last season, and I'll continue to do it.
01:42:54
Speaker
I'm not going on the road and, like, comparing this stadium and this experience to, like, what last week was. I'm not going, like, man, this place is a dump compared to San Diego or Death Valley. or Like, I'm not doing that. i'm just really genuinely appreciating – Every spot, every team, every culture, because they're all different, every fan base, just really appreciate it all for what it is, man. And, like, it is it is so much more rewarding that way. Like, it really, truly is. Like, I'm i'm having more fun than I've ever had.
01:43:26
Speaker
I'm more fulfilled than I've ever been. I'm happier than I've ever been. Like I said, I'm doing cooler stuff than I've ever done. – and I tell people this, I'm, I'm dealing, I'm, I'm, I'm having a thousand times more fun and I'm dealing with a thousand times less of the headache that I used to put up with.
01:43:43
Speaker
And that's, and that's, and that's a blessing. So everything happened as it was supposed to. And by the way, I do want to throw this out there. We yeah we rebranded relaunched December of 2023 to SEC unfiltered. It was always an idea that I had.
01:43:55
Speaker
I just knew as an entrepreneur, have entrepreneurial goals. Hey, if you want to really grow and expand, covering one team is going to be very and especially a team that's it's not like covering Georgia who who, you know, goes to national championships and and wins at a high level.
01:44:08
Speaker
you're going to have to scale. So yeah I make to tell people too, like everything I just mentioned to you all was not the reason that SEC Unfiltered was born. This was in the works. This was spinning in my mind for a while, but you know I'd be lying to you if i told you that, you know, stars a align and I think doors open at certain times. And, you know, I was, I remember thinking to myself, I was waiting on a signal or a sign that when was the right time to make a move like that. And,
01:44:33
Speaker
you know One thing led to another, and you know here we are. so i Like I said, I'm i'm grateful for it. Wouldn't change a thing about it. ah so that's my That's my origin story. That's my that's my fandom. i probably have I probably have the most unique fandom origin story.
01:44:50
Speaker
Like of anybody. I just, I don't, I mean, I just, you know, I mean, of anybody. so that's why that's Honestly, that's why we always like to ask that because everyone has a different story, you know?
01:45:01
Speaker
It's so funny, Like as a youngster, I'll just say y'all this because it's funny now. I was in like middle school. Like I hated Georgia. It looks like you hate South Carolina. It looks like you hate Clemson a little bit more if you look behind your head there.
01:45:14
Speaker
Oh, they got yeah the loser. There's a logo. There's one logo there. The loser sticker. No, i put but it was like I hated Georgia because I had a – which is funny, ah he's a really good friend of mine. and he ended up working for Georgia.
01:45:25
Speaker
ah He worked like in recruiting or whatever, and I actually linked up with him at the tailgate last year. We were laughing about it because – You know, we were kids, and I was a South Carolina fan. And I went to – so I grew up in North Augusta, South Carolina, like on the – right, the border right there on the South Carolina side, Augusta on the other side. So, like, we'd go to church in a in Georgia.
01:45:44
Speaker
So that's – I was surrounded by a lot of Georgia people. Clemson, too, but a lot of Georgia people. And, yeah, do I mean – Yeah, dealing with the dogs when you're losing to them was not quite a, you know, especially like I said, as a kid, you take it so serious.
01:45:59
Speaker
But, no, dude, I got all the fan bases are great. I mean, I got nothing to love for all of them. Georgia, certainly. It's been really awesome. ah The way that they've embraced us and embraced me. and Like I said, I can't say enough good things about it. It's funny, man. like I crossed paths. I've known John for a good little bit, a couple years. that was But that it was so cool, man. like I think the first time I met John in person, if I recall correctly, was actually last year in Tuscaloosa. and That's when I met Dwight. That has truly been the most rewarding part of the SEC Unfiltered journey.
01:46:33
Speaker
is all of the fantastic folks I've met and the relationships I've created that will last a lifetime. And and that that's what even makes the tour cooler this year. It's like, you know, last year I was just kind of getting my feet wet, and I really, you know, I didn't have all these relationships.
01:46:48
Speaker
Now I get to go on the road. Like, we have all these relationships and connections established, and that's just – Man, that's just going to make it so, like, even more fun than it was last year. So, yeah not that I'm comparing the two, because I've i've i've hammered that down, too. And um we're not going to go on the tour being like, yeah you know, how is this comparing to last year? It's its own unique journey. Can't wait to experience it. But, yeah, it's really appreciate the Dawg fans and the way they've embraced us. And it's really cool, man. Again, why can't wait to get back to Athens.
01:47:18
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, for sure. No, that's, that's, that's cool. I love it. It definitely can can confirm it. It's awesome to get out there and meet the people that you've made this connection with through the microphone, you know, through online and getting to.
01:47:31
Speaker
Hopefully we're able to link up. hopeful yeah Hopefully this time y'all won't miss me at the Morris Hall tailgate. That's right. For sure. Awesome. JP, you got anything else? I got nothing, man. Chris, this has been fun.
01:47:43
Speaker
This has been fun. Definitely appreciate you agree agreeing to come on. ah know we took a shot of the dark. Like, yeah, man, let's talk. any You'd be surprised how often I don't get responses. So we were like, oh, sweet. Anytime I'm grateful for the opportunity. And especially, man, like I said, I talked my guy, Dwight, and I felt like this this show got the Morris Hall seal of approval. I mean, that that alone makes this podcast stand out above the red. So, like, dude, any time, though, man, truly would love to would love to do it again, especially if y'all want to chat, like, the week we're coming to Athens or just whenever else, man. Like, would love to do it, dude. it's ah
01:48:23
Speaker
Thank God football's here. So, we're we can almost – we can smell it. We can taste it. It's so close. Amen. Absolutely. Amen to that. right, Chris. Well, hey, don't be a stranger, and we'll stay in touch. ah Best of luck, everyone. Go check out SEC Unfiltered, and be sure to follow along with the tour again this year.
01:48:41
Speaker
Thank you all, guys. i appreciate it. All right. Hey, well, we got to say Dawgs. Go Dawgs. Go Dawgs. Sing them. There we go. There we go.