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Season 2: WE ARE SO $#%#$% BACK
51 Plays1 year ago
FOLKS, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE BACK!
We have a new search and this time it's a new Athletic Director. Alan Haller is out at Michigan State and we are joined by chief Haller Hater SpartanDog of BaconWire fame to usher in this new era of Michigan State Athletics.
We talk about what went wrong, the few things that went right, and where we go from here. We talk about potential candidates and how this effects our the most important thing at Michigan State (football) and whether this move foretells a third season of the pod.
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Transcript
Introduction and Announcements
00:00:01
Ali Aqel
We are so back, they say the common parlance, and we have never been more back. This is The Search Season
Guest and Participant Introductions
00:00:10
Ali Aqel
2. um For those of you that are unaware, um we fired Alan Haller.
00:00:18
Ali Aqel
And to um talk about this, we've invited ah Chief um Alan Haller Hader, Spartan Dog from Bacon Wire, to join us.
00:00:29
Ali Aqel
And we are joined by our regulars. We got Spartan Ryan and Zanjo. um So, hey, everybody. Big news week.
00:00:41
SD97
i'm I'm so happy. It's just like, listen, you're never supposed to you're never supposed to root for another man's downfall, right?
Reacting to Breaking News
00:00:51
SD97
But, damn, waking up on Thursday was just like a huge exhale from me personally.
00:01:01
Ryan
Bro, are you on Slick Nick? Like, wake up time? Because he got fired at like 11 o'clock, dude.
00:01:09
SD97
They were rumors before. All right. Listen, I, I wake up seven 15. I go to my job and I go on Twitter. I said it on bacon wire last week.
00:01:21
SD97
The, the differences between me and slick Nick are I've had sex. I have a job. I could eat, but I could eat unsupervised. Um, I don't like fruity pebbles.
00:01:34
Ali Aqel
Thank
00:01:35
SD97
I have never, i have never thrown a cup in my ear.
00:01:36
Ryan
Can you eat by yourself? Can you eat by yourself without freaking out?
00:01:40
SD97
I can. i i can eat unsupervised. Yeah.
00:01:42
Zanjo
Can you cross the street?
00:01:45
SD97
um Yeah. Yeah, I can do that.
00:01:49
Ali Aqel
um As soon as I saw the news, well, so I woke up at 7 my time, which is about 10 a.m. your guys' is time, and I saw the news and immediately, like, just, like, fucking added both of you, all of you guys, is like, hey, podcast, now, emergency pod. Like, um I do have to admit that –
00:02:12
Ali Aqel
This is, we're the fan base that invented the flight tracker.
Fanbase and Athletic Director Speculations
00:02:16
Ali Aqel
And now we're the fan base that's probably going to invent the athletic director ah search discourse. I mean, i don't know how many episodes we're going to do about this, but like, I don't think I've ever seen a fan base or I don't think we'll see a fan base that's going to follow um athletic director ah director candidates and flight trackers like ah us. I don't think we'll, I don't think we've seen it before and we're going to invent this before.
00:02:42
Ali Aqel
genre of flight tracking.
00:02:46
SD97
Yeah. it It's just like, ah do athletic directors, do athletic directors fly commercial? Like, are we just going to have to like, we just going to have plant spies at,
00:02:56
SD97
at airports, you know, Detroit, Lansing, Flint, just try to try to get these guys.
00:03:01
Zanjo
I'm not allowed to be a spy
00:03:01
Ryan
We literally i mean we would have literally had a guy was going to Florida airports to watch and what was to watch Urban Meyer, dude on the Spartan mag board, see if Urban Meyer was on a flight from Florida.
00:03:02
SD97
Yeah.
00:03:16
Zanjo
spy. Was that Dave Harnes?
00:03:17
Ali Aqel
I mean...
00:03:19
Ryan
Surprisingly, no, it was not. It was some random message board dude.
00:03:23
SD97
Well, you're not good at you're not going to find Urban Meyer on any domestic private flights because the Lolita Express has been grounded for a few years now.
00:03:23
Ryan
Yeah.
00:03:32
SD97
So I really don't think Urban flies private anymore.
MSU Connections and Humor
00:03:37
Ali Aqel
I mean, I'll get into this in a little bit, but if I had my way, I'd also set up flight trackers in the Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia. um So...
00:03:46
Zanjo
Bro, we're not A&M.
00:03:48
Ali Aqel
ah We could be. so
00:03:50
SD97
Listen, Zanjo, funny story. One of my fraternity brothers married like the daughter of the CEO of India's equivalent of waste management.
00:04:04
Zanjo
No shit.
00:04:04
SD97
I shit you not. So he he got married in Dubai. he They rented out the Ritz-Carlton, like the entire Ritz-Carlton in this resort town like an hour north of Dubai.
00:04:19
SD97
And there was this Emirati chic there who went to MSU and they all knew each other because like, you know, the foreign exchange students at MSU, they all kind of like hang out together.
00:04:25
Zanjo
No shit.
00:04:32
SD97
Right. So I go up to like, not the groom, but like another fraternity brother who was a foreign exchange student. I go, Hey, like, does the chic care about like MSU football?
00:04:44
SD97
I want to pitch him on NIL. Yeah.
00:04:48
Ryan
yeah
00:04:49
SD97
And he says, you should not, you that nobody should do that. You specifically should not do that.
00:04:56
Ryan
yeah
00:04:56
Zanjo
Thank you.
00:04:59
Ali Aqel
But yeah, um yeah that I think, and we'll get into it when we talk about what we're looking for in our next athletic director.
00:05:00
Ryan
hey
00:05:10
Ali Aqel
That is something I think we should consider is ties to golf royalty. But before we get too down that pad, I do actually want to like... like look back at like the Alan Haller era a little bit. And like the question that comes top of mind, ah especially with recent discourse is Alan Haller SD4L.
Evaluating Alan Haller's Tenure
00:05:34
SD97
Based on my definition, he did finish his collegiate athletic career at Michigan State. So despite my feelings about him as an athletic director, Alan Haller is an SD4L.
00:05:46
Ryan
I agreed.
00:05:47
Zanjo
My opinion does not matter. i defer to the king of SD4L gatekeeping, Darian Harris.
00:05:54
Ali Aqel
Actually, yeah, speaking which, he's been quiet. I mean, I love him.
00:05:58
SD97
He probably, Darried Harris probably thinks Pancake Honcho is an SD4L.
00:05:59
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:06:04
Ryan
Listen, man, you can think, and he's he played there, I don't really give a shit, he can think of whatever he wants, I totally disagree with him, but whatever, man, i really, i'm really getting sick of people ball washing these guys the league, though, it is getting old.
00:06:08
SD97
Okay.
00:06:10
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah.
00:06:18
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:06:18
Zanjo
Nick Foles,
00:06:20
Ryan
Oh my god.
00:06:23
Ali Aqel
Um, yeah. Uh, yeah, I, I agree. Uh, he played, uh, did some nice, did some good stuff with the program.
00:06:34
Ali Aqel
He's, he's SD4L by most people's definitions, but I guess like, uh,
00:06:39
Zanjo
SD4L. He's SD4L by both our definition and by the n NIL definition because he crashed and burned hard.
00:06:44
Ali Aqel
yeah. Yeah.
00:06:48
Zanjo
you
00:06:48
Ali Aqel
Oof. Oof. Yeah. Um, I guess, So like moving on to actual like discussion, like thoughts on the move. And I'm going to, I'm going to start with SD since you have been talking about this for probably over a year and a half. um Like thoughts on the move. Why now?
00:07:07
Ali Aqel
Why do you think it happened now? um And like, I guess where, where he went right, where he went wrong.
00:07:18
SD97
So here's here's what I'll say off the top, right? um I think the move was made now strictly because we're at the end of the school year, right?
00:07:31
SD97
um If you're a recent MSU grad, you're listening to this, congratulations. um Couldn't have picked a better time to graduate, maybe like 2001 2008.
00:07:43
SD97
guys you guys really do You guys really timed it perfectly, I have to say. oh and the thing The thing about the thing about alan moving on from Alan Haller now is he has a heat on his contract, he had a year left, right?
00:07:51
Ryan
Thank you.
00:08:00
SD97
it The fact that he wasn't already extended, i think, kind of put the writing on the wall. And it would jit it's better for everyone if we just moved on now than just had a sitting duck in office.
00:08:15
SD97
um You know, this this gives the entire summer to look for a guy. um You know, administrators in general, not just in athletics, just like academic academic administrators, professors, whatever, if they're going to change jobs, they're going to do it in the summer.
00:08:22
Zanjo
Okay.
00:08:28
Ryan
Thank
00:08:34
SD97
So I think this was a natural break point for Haller, for us. to be able to move forward and find the next guy. So I think that's why we're seeing it now versus like December of next year or you know, letting his contract run out on September 2026.
00:08:55
Ali Aqel
What about you, Zanjo?
00:08:57
Zanjo
I think he nailed it. I think SD nailed it. um I think the writing was on the wall, honestly, when we lost that assistant to UCLA. um We were complaining about NIL then.
00:09:09
Zanjo
And I think it just kind of now was a perfect time to cut the cord.
Communication and Leadership Concerns
00:09:15
Ali Aqel
Ryan?
00:09:16
Ryan
So I don't, I'm not like super plugged in, but I mean, I know a couple people and apparently the donors were pretty pissed off at him. Like he wasn't like communicating with them at all. So I was not surprised.
00:09:29
Ryan
Like, they did it now. Like, SD said, it makes sense that they waited until the end of the school year, because then you can just go through the summer.
00:09:38
Zanjo
yeah
00:09:38
Ryan
You don't really have anything going on with the athletic department now, so you can go do, like, a full-blown search and get who you want in. i i mean... I'm going to botch his name. but Guskiewicz probably wants to get his own guy in.
00:09:53
Ryan
So it just makes sense that now with the donors being upset with how things are going, they're not being the communication that they want. I mean, in today's day and age, if you aren't, if you piss off donors in the NIL day and age as an AD, you're as good as cooked. Like you're not keeping your job. So I wasn't that surprised it happened at all.
00:10:17
Ryan
Thank you.
00:10:18
Ali Aqel
Yeah. um I haven't been plugged in, so I guess I was a little surprised. um But hearing what SD said makes sense. um When I was thinking back, I'm like, I wonder if any of like the lost recruiting battles in both football and basketball had anything to do with it. But I don't know if like Kevin G, the president, has plugged into any of that stuff.
00:10:46
Ali Aqel
I think it was probably, yeah, like, um, the rumblings about doing stuff with Spartan stadium and then the bad donor relationships and the rumors of that probably made sense. Like, Hey, we got to cut things.
00:11:00
Ali Aqel
Um,
00:11:00
Zanjo
I think if we're recruiting like the 60th recruiting class, 60th best recruiting class, like n NIL is a problem.
00:11:01
Ryan
and
00:11:05
Zanjo
And I think it was well established among the fan base that Haller wasn't the guy for NIL.
00:11:12
Ryan
and a list And listen, I'm not going to act.
00:11:12
Zanjo
I'm not plugged in either, but...
00:11:16
Ryan
I'm not like, and some i know some of you I know at least two of you guys are 100% like anti, like, not revenue sports, which I get it. i don't blame you.
00:11:25
Zanjo
I'm not anti-non-rev. I'm not anti-non-rev at all.
00:11:27
Ryan
I mean, you kind of are, which is okay.
00:11:28
Zanjo
But like, it's...
00:11:29
SD97
Hand up, hand up.
00:11:29
Zanjo
No, so my...
00:11:30
SD97
I am.
00:11:31
Ryan
I know.
00:11:31
Zanjo
My thing about non-revs is like, so my thing about non-revs is like, it's like a flight.
00:11:31
Ryan
i yet but Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:35
Zanjo
You know, you're supposed to put the oxygen mask on football first and then you hand it off to non-revs. And I thought Howler,
00:11:41
Ryan
I don't fault you I honestly i don't care either. i
00:11:46
Zanjo
but I think Howler, so I think Howler did a really good job with non-rev NIL and non-rev just everything, but dude, if football is going to fucking be terrible,
00:11:46
Ryan
the i don't care. i
00:11:55
Ryan
I'm with you. i don't I don't disagree with you. ah And I think...
00:11:59
SD97
So,
00:12:01
Ryan
Again, this has been talked about. maybe maybe Maybe there's something that they had set up already, but like why are we building a $150 million non-revenue sport arena when Spartan Stadium looks like a fucking gulag outside?
00:12:16
Ryan
like What are we doing? Put the money towards football.
00:12:18
Ali Aqel
Maybe he – maybe Alan – yeah, maybe Alan Haller is, like, friends with the baseball donors.
00:12:20
Zanjo
In Donald Trump's America, that's good. want
00:12:26
Ali Aqel
Maybe he got became friends with the wrong donors.
00:12:28
Ryan
that's why That's why Jake Baugh still has a job.
00:12:30
Ali Aqel
Yeah. um
00:12:31
SD97
and Jake boss.
00:12:31
Ryan
but
00:12:33
SD97
Uh, I hope fire Jake boss is doing okay, man. Do you see? I'm going to butcher the pitcher's name. Guy just fucking blanked Oregon yesterday. Like shout out to that pitcher, man.
00:12:44
SD97
yeah He's killing it, but it's just, you know, like I like to pretend i'm Anti non-rev, right? But, you know, my sister played college softball. Like I do have a soft spot for the non-rev sports.
00:12:57
SD97
It's just like, if you're going to be a major pro, if you're going to be a major athletic department north of the Mason-Dixon, it's just like softball and baseball do not make sense.
00:13:09
SD97
Like there's a reason those stadiums are built on a fucking floodplain.
00:13:09
Ryan
Right.
00:13:13
SD97
You know what i mean? if They're just, they are literally afterthoughts.
00:13:13
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:14
Ryan
Yeah, McLean literally floods every single year. but Literally every year.
00:13:19
SD97
Yeah, so.
00:13:19
Ali Aqel
yeah the
00:13:21
SD97
Right.
00:13:22
Zanjo
if you The real problem, is though, is if you're a big-time university anywhere, football comes first. that's What you do in non-revs doesn't matter. if Football is where we're at right now.
00:13:33
Ryan
and Yeah, I mean, yeah, football shit is always going to be king, and basketball is always, as long as Izzo's here, it's going to be a really close second.
00:13:41
Zanjo
Right. Right.
00:13:42
Ryan
Like, can't piss off a donor base, right? That is upset with how NIL is going. I think that they've done it.
00:13:51
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:13:52
Ryan
Like, I guess we're kind of getting a little bit off topic here. I hate how they haven't made i clear ah how this works.
00:13:59
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:13:59
Ryan
Like, you look at all these other schools. They have a clear NIL crowdfunding thing going on.
00:14:05
Zanjo
Yeah, just bang one of the billionaires.
00:14:06
Ryan
the fuck are we doing? What are we doing?
00:14:08
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:14:08
Ryan
Even like...
00:14:09
SD97
yeah
00:14:09
Ryan
you even like the the the peasants like us like they don't give us me like i don't know how to fuck to do all this shit they do a horrible job of advertising
00:14:16
Zanjo
No, Ryan, that's a really good point, actually. I'm not sure how much and n NIL donation in other schools comes from small-time donors like us, but I feel like at MSU, it's almost nothing.
00:14:24
Ryan
probably not much probably not much but it's still the principle ah it's still the principle of it and what mean
00:14:26
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:14:27
Zanjo
Probably not, but...
00:14:30
SD97
The thing is, the the thing is, there there's been there's been a disconnect between the the fan base at large, right? Us, the, the big fish donors
Critique of Strategic Decisions
00:14:44
SD97
and Haller, right?
00:14:46
SD97
Haller is telling us that NIL is in a good space. I think what Haller meant was that NIL is going to be in a good space because house is coming.
00:14:52
Ryan
Okay.
00:15:02
SD97
And once we're able to move these payments in, like within the athletic department and distribute these payments directly, we won't need to rely on the collectives as much because the collectives in an an ideal world will be illegal.
00:15:19
SD97
Few problems with that, right?
00:15:20
Ryan
Well, it's not going to pass, first of all.
00:15:23
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:15:23
Zanjo
i think Yeah, I think it'd be actually illegal if they made the collectives...
00:15:27
SD97
One, one thing, a couple of things here, right? one House is in real danger of not getting approved. The judge presiding over the settlement, Claudia Wilkins, wants roster limits grandfathered in.
00:15:43
SD97
To grandfathered into the agreement. The ah and Ali, go ahead.
00:15:50
Ryan
Thank
00:15:50
Ali Aqel
Yeah, I was going to say, I should have mentioned it earlier, with like all the rumors about like the house settlement like kind of looking like it's going to fall apart, and then Haller basically relying on the house settlement as the future of funding pay-for-play, basically.
00:16:09
Ali Aqel
i was wondering if that had anything to do with like pulling the trigger now. it's like they He just like showed up to a meeting and was like, yeah, this is our plan. And then Kevin G is like, uh, all right, you're gone.
00:16:19
Ryan
I think this has in the works for a while.
00:16:19
Ali Aqel
This is not going to work. Okay, all right, all right.
00:16:21
SD97
Yeah, i I think this has probably been a long time coming. I think the only reason Howler made it this long and didn't go down with Tucker is because there was an interim president, right?
00:16:34
Ryan
then they they needed They needed some type of continuity, I think, during that time. they You know what i mean? like they They needed... ah if you have an interim AD in there during that shit show, it's going to be an absolute mess. like At least they kind of were coordinated with some of it................
00:16:50
SD97
Yeah, it...
00:16:50
Ali Aqel
We'll talk about that. We'll talk about something related to that near the end later on, but yeah. All right.
00:16:55
SD97
Sure. Yeah. And it's just, um, you know, like I said, house is in very real danger of falling apart. And if it falls apart, then and my and MSU, as it's currently set up will be fucked.
00:17:10
SD97
Right. And the other thing too is, you know, you're telling us NIL is okay, but you're recruiting in the sixties, right? And you're losing out on guys who go to who go to peers in other conferences, right?
00:17:22
Ryan
It's nice.
00:17:29
SD97
Guys who are schools that are at MSU station in the sport that MSU should be able to get and they're not getting. So that tells you one thing. We're not throwing the bag around enough.
00:17:42
Zanjo
And think about what a donor actually is. Like, they're really not. They're just people like us with more money. So if people like us are talking about this stuff, you know they're talking about it too.
00:17:52
Ryan
and but they weren't They weren't communicating with him. but Like I said, there there was, from what I know and from what I've heard, there was ah lack of communication.
00:17:55
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:18:02
Ryan
And i i I saw on a board that he was at a practice for spring football and the donors were there and he wasn't even talking to them.
00:18:10
Zanjo
Yeah, I heard. I saw it too.
00:18:11
Ryan
like, yeah.
00:18:14
Ali Aqel
So he's like the worst Democrat ever.
00:18:17
Ryan
Yeah. ah happy
00:18:18
SD97
He literally, no, he's the best Democrat ever because he doesn't a fuck.
00:18:21
Ryan
That's exactly what they're like.
00:18:23
SD97
He doesn't give a fuck about their constituents.
00:18:25
Ryan
Right.
00:18:27
SD97
He's self-interested.
00:18:27
Ali Aqel
But like the Democrats constituents, the Democrats constituents are the donors.
00:18:30
SD97
he'd like, that's what I'm saying.
00:18:33
Ali Aqel
The Democrats fillet the donors. Yeah.
00:18:35
SD97
But it's different because the constituents are the donors.
00:18:38
Ali Aqel
it's Yeah.
00:18:39
SD97
Like those are his constituents.
00:18:41
Ali Aqel
Okay.
00:18:41
SD97
He doesn't give a fuck about their opinion. he he's a cop.
00:18:47
Ryan
Right.
00:18:48
Ali Aqel
Yes.
00:18:48
SD97
He's like, just like, perfect.
00:18:49
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:51
Ryan
you
00:18:52
Ali Aqel
No, but it's like, but he he does, he these he he is like that post-2020 trend of like Democrats appointing cops to be executives in executive branch roles and then all them failing miserably at their jobs.
00:18:52
SD97
He's,
00:19:06
SD97
Exactly. Like he is the perfect Democrat. He's like, if you made debt, he's like, if you let the pod John's make a Democrat in a lab, it's perfect.
00:19:15
Ali Aqel
Ha ha ha!
00:19:19
Ali Aqel
So, like, all right, so, like, if the Democrats, I guess, like, I guess maybe this could tie back into, like, whatever. I'm a little bit off the outline right now. But, like, if you could tie this, if the Democrats' constituents are people and his, and AD's constituents are donors, but Democrats listen to the donors and not their constituents, who are, is Alan Haller actually listening to?
00:19:44
Ali Aqel
Like, okay.
00:19:44
Ryan
No one.
00:19:46
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:19:46
Ryan
Literally nobody.
00:19:47
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:19:49
Zanjo
i I don't know.
00:19:49
Ali Aqel
but
00:19:51
Ali Aqel
yeah because like i guess like if you the things that he did right were like the non-revenues i guess he was listening to jerry bear um so but shout out jerry bear we love you but like yeah you got what you wanted during the alan heller era you got relevant hockey um but like i guess he did the non-revenues right but
00:20:02
Ryan
Yeah, nothing but love for Jerry. Yeah.
00:20:17
Ali Aqel
i don't know what else he did right
00:20:18
Ryan
and i We'll see what happens with... I mean, we're going get into Smith. We'll see what happens with him.
00:20:22
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:20:23
Ryan
and If Smith is a success, I view his tenure as a success. That's all I really give a shit about.
00:20:28
Ali Aqel
yeah yeah
00:20:29
Ryan
If that hire works, All is forgiven. That's the way I look at it.
00:20:35
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:20:39
Zanjo
The real problem is you can't tell the difference between where Smith's failures begin and where Haller's failures begin.
00:20:39
SD97
So...
00:20:44
Ryan
and know When you're not getting any, when you're getting zero, or I guess we're kind of getting into this a little bit early.
00:20:45
Zanjo
Because really, no' we're talking about the same thing.
00:20:50
Ryan
But like, because you don't have any, you don't have the support.
00:20:50
Zanjo
It's recruiting is shit. There's no hype around the program. Is that Haller's failure? That's what I'm trying to say. Is Haller's NIL fault or is it Jonathan Smith's inability to bring players to campus? like is Or is it both?
00:21:00
Ryan
you can but How the fuck are you going to get players to campus when you're not paying them dude
00:21:03
Zanjo
and And why are we recruit to are are donors mad because of the way they view Smith? Or are they mad just because...
00:21:08
Ryan
them, dude? they' mad They're mad because they're not again being listened to by the AD. It has nothing to do with Smith.
00:21:17
Ali Aqel
um I do have to say, like was Alan Haller in any of the pictures when they recruited Conor Moore?
00:21:17
Ryan
I think
00:21:23
Ali Aqel
Was Alan Haller in any of the photo ops or was it Kevin G?
00:21:26
Ryan
it was Kevin G.
00:21:27
Ali Aqel
like Kevin G was in them. Kevin G was in him but Alan Haller, yeah, it's a basketball game.
00:21:28
Ryan
I think it was at a basketball game. think he was at that Washington game, right? Is it an alumni
00:21:33
Ali Aqel
And I don't think I saw Alan in any of those pictures, but Kevin G was in it. So it was like, that also...
00:21:39
Ryan
game? Yeah.
00:21:39
Ryan
i think he was at that i think it was at that washington game right that were is an
00:21:39
SD97
so
Coaching Search and Donor Influence
00:21:43
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:43
Ryan
alumni game
00:21:43
Ryan
yeah
00:21:45
SD97
Listen, Haller... I truly believed Haller signed his death warrant when he didn't entertain the donors. Like, whatever... Here's what...
00:22:00
SD97
there's what Spiro says, and this is what I believe happened. Okay.
00:22:05
Zanjo
Thank you.
00:22:06
SD97
And I am, I am putting myself in very, very, very real legal jeopardy here.
00:22:13
Ryan
Thank
00:22:13
SD97
So I am, I am trying to choose my words carefully.
00:22:19
Ryan
you.
00:22:20
SD97
I do believe that the donors were in communication with urban Meyer. That part, I believe, I do believe that there was, concepts of a concept of concepts of a plan worked out.
00:22:35
SD97
Okay. That I believe. And I do believe that the donors would have opened up the checkbooks for him. What would have happened is that urban would have went into the meeting with Alan Haller said, I don't think I'm the guy, but you should look at Kevin Wilson.
00:22:53
Ryan
Yeah, that's probably what would have happened. I still highly doubt you would have ever wound up here..........
00:22:57
SD97
Haller's fatal sin is that he just, he did not allow the donors to get rug pulled.
00:23:05
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:23:06
SD97
That's the thing. He got too paternalistic over this code over the coaching search. And that's what fucked him.
00:23:12
Ryan
This is it.
00:23:14
SD97
If he had just like, let urban say no and suggest like Steve Adazio or whatever, one of his like golfing buddies or orgy buddies, like we're, you know,
00:23:28
SD97
It would have been fine. And like the donors would have been happy that at least you talk to him and you know, whatever happened, would they have still blamed Haller for fucking it up? And the reason why urban's not here, Sparrow probably would have. Yeah.
00:23:42
SD97
But.
00:23:43
Zanjo
Dude, Spiro would have been all in if Urban Meyer had just recommended Bill Belichick's girlfriend being new coach.
00:23:50
Ali Aqel
who
00:23:52
SD97
yeah
00:23:52
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:23:53
SD97
We're not talking about that.
00:23:55
Ali Aqel
No, but it might be, it might be relevant.
00:23:56
Ryan
Well, i think we're going to talk about Bill Belichick in a little bit, but yeah I don't think we have a choice.
00:23:58
Zanjo
We might have to.
00:23:59
Ali Aqel
Yeah, it might be relevant. Yeah, because like, I guess this like move this kind of like moves us on into the next segment. So like we've kind of like, um ah like in memorial, eulogized the Alan Haller era. I guess we got to, I mean, just like the Catholic Church, we're going to have a conclave here pretty soon.
00:24:19
Ali Aqel
Shout out, Chief. um So.
00:24:21
Zanjo
I'm glad you went that way and not the Michigan Catholic Church way.
00:24:22
Ali Aqel
Oof.
00:24:25
Ryan
Yeah.
00:24:27
Ali Aqel
So yeah, we're going to have to have a.
00:24:28
Zanjo
I'm talking about Little Boys, Michigan.
00:24:30
Ryan
jesus christ
00:24:30
Ali Aqel
Oh, boy. All right. So we're going to have a conclave soon and we're going need to talk about like what we're looking for in a, in an athletic director. And let's,
00:24:41
Ali Aqel
thing that I wanted to get out out of the way is i I'm looking for somebody with connections to Gulf royalty. I want to set up the Saudi Arabia ah to Michigan State and NIL pipeline. I want Spartan Stadium's concourse to be renamed the King Salman concourse.
00:25:00
Ali Aqel
And I want Spartan Stadium to be picked up and rotated to the Northeast so that the end zones face Mecca.
00:25:06
SD97
yeah
00:25:09
Zanjo
You know what? Three days ago, I would have disagreed with you, but then the Knicks happened, and now i'm all for it.
00:25:10
Ryan
God damn
00:25:14
Ryan
it, man.
00:25:16
SD97
but
00:25:21
SD97
but
00:25:24
Ryan
i damn it man
00:25:25
Ali Aqel
Yeah. But um I think I heard Tom is a like...
00:25:28
SD97
Yeah, Michigan State football brought to you by Air Emirates. Like, let's let's get the ball rolling.
00:25:32
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yes. we have We have so many, like like you said, ah SD, we have so many dudes, like so many like members of Gulf Royal families that have just posted up at Michigan State because they probably couldn't get in anywhere else.
00:25:48
Ali Aqel
We can leverage those connections and like get some like proper NIL funding. We can help Saudi Arabia and the Emirates sports wash their money.
00:25:59
Ali Aqel
And it can benefit everybody. Like they can get into the college football game and then we can have a fucking billion dollar roster. um But no, but seriously, i think like following on with what you guys were saying, like how to work the donors, we need someone that could thread the needle between like billionaire ego and billionaire money, like satisfy the ego, like freeing them of their money to bring it into the program and then threading the needle to make sure that like,
00:26:14
SD97
you
00:26:16
Ryan
Yes.
00:26:29
Ali Aqel
there um minute like ah keep their egos happy without like some of their dumb shit opinions whatever ah coming into the program.
00:26:43
Ali Aqel
Because like, Ishbia has a lot of money. Ishbia's not really running the Suns that well.
00:26:49
Ryan
He's doing a pretty bad job. Yeah.
00:26:51
Ali Aqel
Yeah, so...
00:26:52
Zanjo
Well, anyway,
00:26:53
SD97
the The next AD really, really, really needs to be able to no know what asses to kiss, how hard to kiss them, and you know how to how to navigate around room, right?
00:27:03
Ryan
Thank
00:27:12
SD97
Because the other thing, right, how the other thing of Haller's plan for the future of athlete compensation is and I'm sorry collectives aren't going away. Like you can talk about this clearing house and this enforcement thing.
00:27:30
SD97
it It's going to have less teeth than a, than a newborn.
00:27:31
Ryan
so
00:27:34
SD97
Like it is not going to be, it is not going to enforce anything as any enforcement that the NCAA tries, i assume is just like one lawsuit away from falling apart.
00:27:48
SD97
So the fact that Haller was one, not only relying on house to be passed, And two, thinking that Collective still won't be around post-House was just...
00:28:01
SD97
Poor planning on his part. So we need an athletic director who understands. It's like, yeah, we're entering this new era in college sports where where the schools are compensating the players directly.
00:28:13
SD97
But these collectives are still going to be around. Like if they're if you think collectives are going away after July 1st, like I have oceanfront property in Iowa to sell you.
00:28:26
Zanjo
I think my personal belief is that within the next decade, we're going to be moving towards players being compensated as a form of employment.
00:28:33
SD97
Thank you.
00:28:33
Zanjo
So like collectively bargaining and stuff like that.
00:28:34
Ryan
um The schools don't want to do that, so good luck.
00:28:36
Zanjo
I know, but I think like it's going to be the, it's going to be the end goal because before that, anything before that, the NCAA tries proposing was going be kicked out as unconstitutional.
Future Athletic Director Expectations
00:28:45
Ryan
they in they
00:28:45
Zanjo
I think what we need as an AD who sees that vision and is able to be proactively reactive Where every small change that happens, we're on the cutting edge of that.
00:29:00
Zanjo
So my personal choice for an AD would be someone who's on the cutting edge of eight of n NIL right now, who's got a program that has an NIL that's more advanced than what their program should be, that made any sense.
00:29:16
SD97
Thank
00:29:16
Ryan
Yeah, they've got to have a history of being able being able to fundraise for sure.
00:29:17
Ali Aqel
Yeah,
00:29:22
Ryan
But I also don't want a guy... I also want an outsider. They've hired... How many straight ADs have they had with...
00:29:26
SD97
you. you
00:29:29
Ryan
It's like, what, four five with like MSU ties?
00:29:30
Zanjo
So I don't want anyone internal.
00:29:32
Ryan
Yeah, no one internal hires, please.
00:29:34
Ali Aqel
yeah because you
00:29:34
Zanjo
And I don't want Bubba Cunningham because I don't want a dude named Bubba.
00:29:35
Ryan
are Enough. Why? Oh, it's certainly a take, but okay.
00:29:42
Zanjo
Okay, I don't want Bill Belichick's girlfriend around the ah campus either.
00:29:43
Ryan
i Brother, he didn't want to hire him.
00:29:46
SD97
That he didn't want to hire. He didn't want to hire Belichick, which honestly, like he might be popular because he let them hire Belichick.
00:29:58
SD97
Right. He did not want to hire Belichick. They let the donors, they let the boosters do it anyway. Like rich people are just as stupid as poor people.
00:30:10
Ali Aqel
yeah Probably stupider.
00:30:11
Ryan
I'd argue they're more stupid.
00:30:11
SD97
But
00:30:12
Ali Aqel
Probably stupider because like yeah.
00:30:14
SD97
probably stupider
00:30:15
Zanjo
Definitely more reckless.
00:30:19
SD97
but like I think MSU donors are never gonna be like and you know fuck me if I'm wrong but like I don't think MSU donors are ever gonna come up to yeah an MSU athletic director and be like hey we should hire like we should hire Pop to replace Tom Izzo you know what I mean
00:30:44
Ryan
Bro, they're...
00:30:44
Ali Aqel
Uhhh, didn't we, did it, didn't...
00:30:45
Ryan
okay Okay, I'm going totally off topic here, but I think Matt Coghlan... Yes, I'm watching a fucking UFL game. I ah de jar i need to call the gambling hotline. But Matt Coghlan is about to kick a fucking 60-plus yard field goal.
00:30:59
Ryan
I am very intrigued on how this is going to go.
00:31:00
Ali Aqel
What channel?
00:31:02
Zanjo
short it's going short
00:31:06
Ali Aqel
Uh, well... um Yeah, no, I mean, didn't we just say that the donors wanted Urban Meyer?
00:31:15
Zanjo
yeah no our like i said donors are basically just people
00:31:15
Ryan
That wasn't stupid, though. don't think that was stupid.
00:31:17
SD97
you
00:31:18
Ryan
That's a that's a guy with a history. Never mind their punny.
00:31:21
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:31:22
Ryan
That's a guy with a history of winning in college football, like, at the highest level.
00:31:26
Ali Aqel
Yeah, but like, I...
00:31:26
Ryan
Bill Belich. When the fuck did Bill Belichick coach in college? like He hasn't coached in college in years, like 30 years. Not the same thing.
00:31:35
Zanjo
just Just keep in mind, though, like like I said, donors are just like us. they're They're every bit as fucking stupid as us. They just have more money, and they want more access.
00:31:43
Ali Aqel
Well, yeah.
00:31:43
Zanjo
Like, ishpe the way Ishpied's running the Suns is basically as a play toy.
00:31:43
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:31:46
Zanjo
And it's kind of how we ran did things here, too, with the fucking Mel Tucker stuff.
00:31:47
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:31:48
Ryan
here
00:31:52
Ryan
I mean the time get it i You gotta pay the guy to keep him um I don't really hold that against steady anybody not my Not my money i don't give a shit
00:31:58
SD97
Yeah, i I'm not going to hold...
00:32:02
Zanjo
I agree with that, but Don't make it fully guaranteed.
00:32:09
Ali Aqel
well
00:32:09
SD97
That was...
00:32:09
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:32:11
SD97
um Yeah, the market is the market. like Fully guaranteed contracts were the words we're the norm when those extent when extensions like Tucker's were being handed out.
00:32:14
Ali Aqel
oh
00:32:23
SD97
like And we don't have to pay it anyway, so it's fine.
00:32:26
Ryan
Yeah, did who gives a shit?
00:32:26
Ali Aqel
Yeah, we're good.
00:32:27
Zanjo
But my point is like...
00:32:27
Ryan
Yeah.
00:32:28
Ali Aqel
we We can't find him.
00:32:30
Zanjo
My point is these guys are fucking using, like, these guys want access and they want to use it as a play toy and they want wins at the end.
00:32:30
Ryan
Hey, no, no, no, they did find him.
00:32:36
Zanjo
Like how Ishbia is running the Suns is the other example, you know? Just bring in all the superstars and see what happens.
00:32:42
Ryan
Yeah, I'm not i'm not i'm not saying let the donors run the program.
00:32:42
SD97
i
00:32:45
Ryan
Like, don't give me, like, there's got to be a happy medium, but you can't just ignore them.
00:32:46
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Oh.
00:32:48
SD97
This has been my idea for a collective for a long time.
00:32:49
Zanjo
Right. Right.
00:32:53
SD97
Just like let people think they're voting on where money is going. Like that'll get them to do. And you tie the number of votes they get to the to the amount of money they donate.
00:33:04
SD97
Like that has been my idea for a long fucking time.
00:33:08
Ryan
So just like, just like reading in the real world.
00:33:08
SD97
And no one is, No one's listening to me. Like fake democracy. Yeah, fake democracy. Like just like what America has. People fucking...
00:33:17
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:33:18
SD97
you know what old You know what old people and rich people love doing? Fucking voting.
00:33:22
Ali Aqel
Boating.
00:33:24
SD97
You know who has a lot of money?
00:33:24
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:33:26
SD97
Old people and rich people.
00:33:27
Ryan
Old white rich people.
00:33:27
Ali Aqel
Dude, we'll never get rid of Thunderstruck. We'll never get rid of Thunderstruck then.
00:33:32
SD97
Fine.
Football Focus vs. Experience Enhancements
00:33:33
SD97
I don't give a shit.
00:33:33
Ryan
As long as they win, who fucking cares?
00:33:33
Ali Aqel
Yeah, exactly, right?
00:33:33
SD97
I like Thunderstruck.
00:33:36
Ryan
yes
00:33:37
Ali Aqel
Yeah, exactly.
00:33:37
SD97
Thunderstruck is good when you're thumping Iowa 49-14.
00:33:40
Ryan
Yeah.
00:33:41
SD97
Thunderstruck rules.
00:33:41
Ryan
Who cares?
00:33:42
Ali Aqel
Yeah, yeah.
00:33:42
Ryan
As long as they win.
00:33:44
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:33:45
SD97
When you're losing to Rutgers Thunderstruck is the worst fucking...
00:33:45
Ali Aqel
I guess, like,
00:33:50
Ryan
but that with a with ah With a third full stadium.
00:33:54
SD97
you could come out You could come out to fucking...
00:33:54
Ali Aqel
i Yeah.
00:33:58
SD97
You could come out to the best song ever written. You could come out to fucking Slide Away by Oasis, and I think it would be shitty.
00:34:05
Ali Aqel
I do have to say, like, and what I'm, what I'm looking for is somebody that can handle the donors, somebody that understands the future landscape, somebody that's going to keep private equity out.
00:34:17
Ali Aqel
Um, and I say this because, uh, when private equity touches anything, it makes the experience a multitude times, uh, shittier.
00:34:20
SD97
Thank you.
00:34:25
Ali Aqel
um somebody that can like actually has a vision for modernizing the game day experience.
00:34:31
Ryan
yes
00:34:31
Ali Aqel
Um, um, ah and we need ah like better, I guess, better marketing. And i think that goes hand in hand with the game day experience because like I'm tired of seeing like Spartan Stadium half empty.
00:34:49
Ali Aqel
um And if that means, hey, actually, we're going to take out seats from the East End and put like more suite style stuff and make it and like pack the audio in, great, whatever.
00:34:54
Ryan
They need to.
00:35:00
Ryan
Modernize it.
00:35:01
SD97
Yeah.
00:35:02
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:35:03
Ryan
Yeah.
00:35:03
Ali Aqel
um
00:35:03
Ryan
it's it It is a...
00:35:04
Ali Aqel
Like, that's the vision.
00:35:05
Ryan
it i and I'm all for taking some of the seats out and reducing capacity and putting seat bags in because like that's the way that's the way it is nowadays for like a modern stadium.
00:35:12
Zanjo
the
00:35:17
Ali Aqel
and then the other, and the final thing, final thought, on for me at least, is somebody that stands up to the conference um and, like, isn't, like, just a pushover when things happen.
00:35:17
Ryan
It's...
00:35:17
Zanjo
The only thing...
00:35:25
SD97
yeah
00:35:29
Ali Aqel
Just, like, hey, like, stand your ground
00:35:29
Ryan
I thought that that was one of his biggest, I thought that was one of his biggest, was one of Haller's biggest downfalls for sure. I thought, like, especially the last thing with Cleo Mullings literally stomping on a fucking staffer and they're like, yeah, he stomped on a staffer and then the Big Ten's like, yeah, we're not going to do anything about it He was like, oh, okay, that's fine.
00:35:35
SD97
Thank you.
00:35:46
Ryan
Like, that was embarrassing. The fact that he didn't push back on that was an absolute fucking joke. That was my, that was that was that was when I kind of turned on him a little bit.
00:35:55
Zanjo
the only
00:35:55
Ali Aqel
because he It's because he didn't push back on the bullshit that happened at the last game, and the previous game, I don't remember.
00:36:01
Ryan
2022 when they had the right. That's... and twenty twenty two when they had to tunnel fight right
00:36:04
Ali Aqel
yeah He didn't push back at all, and so what ground did he have to push back now? like He's just he's yeah it's like, I'll defer to my buddies in the police force.
00:36:13
Ryan
but next and We'll get into candidates here. I'm sure ah you're in a sec, but like, that's kind of what I like about Bob Cunningham. Yeah. People can rip him for getting UNC in the tournament, but I want a fucking guy like that as my a d Are you kidding me?
00:36:30
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:36:30
Ryan
He like shoehorned UNC who should not have made the tournament and put, got him into the tournament. I want somebody doing that for MSU. They need it, need it done. That's a good thing. You want a guy like that to fight for a school, for your school.
00:36:46
Zanjo
The only thing that matters to me for an AD is being as much money as fucking possible in into football and basketball.
00:36:53
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:36:53
Ryan
I think there's more to it than that.
00:36:54
Zanjo
That's it it.
00:36:56
Ryan
but
00:36:56
Zanjo
I know, but it's all that matters to me. I don't care about the game day experience. I don't care about seats and stadium. I don't care about the fact we play in a fucking Soviet-style prison. I just want football wins, and I want championships, and I want banners.
00:37:05
Ryan
i care about it guys it's go to I care about a guy that's going to stick up for the ah the school. I think that's a major thing of the thing for me, too
00:37:12
Zanjo
winning Winning will do that.
00:37:12
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:37:14
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:37:14
SD97
Yeah, that's
00:37:15
Zanjo
Winning and money do that.
00:37:17
SD97
but I'm in 100% agreement with Zanjo, right? The need-to-haves are going to be, are you going to raise enough money to keep MSU competitive in this new era of college athletics, right?
00:37:30
SD97
That is the need to have. We need a fundraiser. We need someone who is who knows how to work the donors, right?
00:37:38
Ryan
It's going to be tough, so.
00:37:38
SD97
We need that guy. The wants to have are the improvements to the game day experience, the Spartan stadium aesthetic upgrades, whatever, because like when the team is good, nobody gives a fuck that the east side of the stadium looks like a rusted out call of duty map.
00:38:00
SD97
Like nobody gives a fuck. So, you know, obviously like I would like that fixed because it is kind of embarrassing.
00:38:07
Ryan
Yes.
00:38:09
SD97
It, Spartan stadium is in one of the most like beautiful scenic parts of campus and it looks like shit, but like if they're winning, that doesn't matter as much to people, right?
00:38:22
SD97
It's when you go, it takes you an hour to get into the fucking game. the the The hot dogs you get are fucking cold. The beer you drink is warm.
00:38:34
SD97
you're on it You're on a backless bleacher watching a team get thumped by anyone with a pulse. Like, yeah, all that shit is going to add up. But you do not care as long as the team is winning.
00:38:47
SD97
you don't You don't care about anything else as long as the team is winning.
00:38:51
Zanjo
People were complaining about the game day experience when I was on campus fucking almost 15 years ago.
00:38:51
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:38:56
Zanjo
Like that place was rocking in 2015, in 2013, in 2014.
00:38:58
Ryan
We're not that fucking old.
00:38:59
Zanjo
It was my freshman year, 13 years ago.
00:39:00
Ryan
It was 10. Jesus, dude. jesus dude
00:39:03
Zanjo
Yeah. So like.
00:39:06
Ali Aqel
it's been ten It's almost 10 years since the Oregon game. though The stripe out.
00:39:13
Zanjo
yes and
00:39:13
Ryan
Yeah, it is 10 years this year.
00:39:14
Ali Aqel
that the type out
00:39:15
Zanjo
so like
00:39:16
Ali Aqel
That was probably peak of Spartan Stadium.
00:39:18
Ryan
It was.
00:39:19
Zanjo
I remember the Oregon game. I remember the first game I went to as a student was the Boise game. The place is rocking. Like people have been complaining about this place forever.
00:39:24
Ali Aqel
Oh, that was awesome. But that was the first, the Boise game was like ah the first game, I think, with the new screens.
00:39:27
Zanjo
and yeah, it was, it was so
00:39:31
Ryan
It was. it wasn't first It was.
00:39:33
Ali Aqel
no And then Le'Veon Bell hurtling the defender. then we went 6-6.
00:39:41
Zanjo
the game day experience is directly correlated to the number of wins the football team gets.
00:39:46
Ryan
To an extent, yes. I agree.
00:39:48
Zanjo
Everything that happens after that and everything that happens after that doesn't really matter if the football team wins. And it's more likely that stuff happens when the football team wins too.
00:40:00
Zanjo
Like when people are hyped about the product, you know, they're going to throw more money at it.
Leadership Comparisons and Candidate Humor
00:40:05
Ali Aqel
Yeah. I guess that, um, I guess like, I guess now we can move on into like people that we think can fit these expectations. So, um, yeah, I, what top candidate for a Michigan state athletic director, urban Meyer, what do you guys think?
00:40:21
Ryan
Great choice.
00:40:22
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah.
00:40:23
Ryan
Yeah, seems like a great idea.
00:40:24
Zanjo
Only if he brings that chick from the bar in.
00:40:27
SD97
Yeah, I was going to say, i was we just got done disinfecting though Tucker's office.
00:40:28
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:40:33
SD97
Like, we really want to do that again.
00:40:36
Ryan
and We did want to do that for i head coach.
00:40:36
Ali Aqel
Yeah, we'll we'll put a new strip club.
00:40:39
SD97
Yeah.
00:40:40
Ryan
ah
00:40:40
Ali Aqel
we'll put it We'll put a strip club in that open space on the west side of the stadium where they sell the merchandise.
00:40:44
SD97
No, it'll be... ah
00:40:45
Ryan
Omar's isn't good enough.
00:40:46
SD97
you know
00:40:46
Ryan
Omar's isn't good enough. can go four miles down the road.
00:40:49
Ali Aqel
We'll bring Omar's to the stadium. We'll bring it to the stadium.
00:40:51
Ryan
just
00:40:52
Ali Aqel
They won't improve the game day experience by having strippers.
00:40:55
Zanjo
I mean, our n NIL money is literally just dirty money off Deja Vu's floor, so...
00:41:00
SD97
<unk>
00:41:03
SD97
We'll just, we'll we'll put a we'll put it deja vu in the next to the $150 million dollars non-rev arena in that entered entertain in that gateway district.
00:41:12
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:41:12
Ryan
ah
00:41:14
SD97
yeah
00:41:15
Ali Aqel
Is that project going to get cancelled since Haller's out?
00:41:18
Ryan
No, no, i think they already approved it.
00:41:18
Ali Aqel
I...
00:41:19
SD97
That thing is as I would say the stadium is probably like going to get built, but the entertainment district, that is as fake as the district Detroit.
00:41:20
Ryan
sir
00:41:27
Ryan
The rest of the shit? No way. Yeah, that's what yeah exactly, dude!
00:41:31
Zanjo
Okay, yeah, yeah.
00:41:31
Ali Aqel
i
00:41:32
Zanjo
Real, okay, I'm gonna get off topic here for 30 seconds, and I just want to say this. The reason the Pistons fucking lost is because District Detroit is not built out yet, and the arena's cursed because of it, and none of the teams are going to play off game until District Detroit is there.
00:41:44
SD97
You stole that from me, motherfucker.
00:41:45
Zanjo
fucking...
00:41:46
SD97
I tweeted that like,
00:41:46
Zanjo
texted that, before Game 5. i preed that like before doing five Yeah, fucking me.
00:41:48
Ryan
to be fair To be fair, he does not have a Twitter. He doesn't have a Twitter anymore.
00:41:52
SD97
The fact...
00:41:53
Zanjo
I need to get back to
00:41:55
SD97
I need to go back to therapy.
00:41:55
Ali Aqel
so
00:41:56
SD97
The fact that we're on the same wavelength with that shit, that is not good. That's not good for me.
00:42:03
Ali Aqel
Yeah. um
00:42:04
SD97
I gotta to go touch some grass.
00:42:04
Ali Aqel
Like that, gro gateway district stadium shit was just like, just made sure like it was perfect consultant speak.
00:42:06
SD97
the
00:42:13
Ali Aqel
It's like, it's like if, if, if it's like AI generated, like you're a mayor of like a town of 300,000 trying to attract businesses and you type it into a chat GPT prompt, that is what it will give you like five over ones,
00:42:26
Ryan
That's what...
00:42:29
Ryan
Dude, that's what all these...
00:42:29
Ali Aqel
Five over ones, retail and lodging space.
00:42:30
Ryan
That's what all these fucking...
00:42:32
Ali Aqel
Like, cool. All right
00:42:34
Ryan
rent I love looking at these renderings for these stadiums and shit, and they're never like the fucking renderings. Ever.
00:42:41
Zanjo
Yeah, where the fuck is the LED roof on LCA?
00:42:42
Ryan
Never.
00:42:44
Ali Aqel
right.
00:42:45
Ryan
They are never like the renderings.
00:42:48
Ali Aqel
But yeah, um coming back in the topic, I guess like um I just want to see what you guys' thoughts on some other names that people have floated around. ah Mark Hollish, we'd bring him back.
00:43:01
Ryan
yeah
00:43:01
SD97
yes
00:43:03
Zanjo
I don't think either side wants that.
00:43:05
Ryan
I don't know. I'm good.
00:43:05
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:43:08
Ali Aqel
um Here's another name that would be great for the n NIL era. Mark D'Antonio.
00:43:13
Ryan
Yeah, great call. Yeah. Yeah. Put the guy who hates the state of college athletics as much as Tom Izzo as the AD.
00:43:20
Ryan
That would go over really well.
00:43:20
Ali Aqel
And...
00:43:22
Ali Aqel
Yeah. And then he would definitely hire his friends. So imagine, like, Pat Narduzzi...
00:43:24
SD97
Associate, yeah, get ready to learn Associate AD, Dave Warner, buddy.
00:43:24
Ryan
thanks yeah Jim Bowman, Jim Bowman, head coach, Zan Jokin busts.
00:43:31
Ali Aqel
Pat Narduzzi... If...
00:43:32
Zanjo
That's just not funny, man.
00:43:33
Ryan
thats
00:43:34
Ali Aqel
If Pat Narduzzi ever gets fired from Pitt, he he has a job in the AD office. He can sit next to Darian Harris.
00:43:45
SD97
did ah Pat with Nardog's gonna learn so much about Marvel lore, man.
00:43:45
Ali Aqel
Um...
00:43:50
SD97
It's fucking crazy.
00:43:50
Ali Aqel
it
00:43:50
Ryan
ah
00:43:52
Ali Aqel
um so yeah when i watched when i went and saw sinners last night shout out sinners i uh um
00:43:58
SD97
Hell yeah, baby. Hell yeah. Go see Sinners.
00:44:01
Ali Aqel
It was really good, but like three of the screens were Thunderbolts, and I'm like, um that might be a next week thing. But yeah, anyways. ah Yeah, so but those were like not serious candidates.
00:44:13
Ali Aqel
I know the big name that's floated around, and I know there's a lot of discourse around it because of a couple of things that happened. Yeah. But bubba company at Bubba Cunningham out of UNC.
00:44:24
Ali Aqel
I know people are thinking, oh, but Bill Belichick is the coach there. But there's news.
00:44:30
Ryan
that
00:44:30
Ali Aqel
there's like The background is that he didn't want to do it. And then people will be like, um what's UNC's basketball coach's name? um
00:44:39
Ryan
ah but i Yeah, yeah yeah nothing he nothing to That was Roy's handpick successor And what the fuck do you want him do?
00:44:39
SD97
Hubert Davis.
00:44:41
Ali Aqel
Hubert Davis.
00:44:42
Zanjo
Yeah, that's unfair to him.
00:44:47
Ryan
Do you want him to be like like He can't tell the legendary head i'd be like an AD here telling Tom Ezzo Yeah, you can't pick the head coach like That's just not going to happen That's not going to happen That's not reality That is that is not reality It's not going to happen, dude
00:44:49
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:44:54
Zanjo
Which should absolutely happen, by the way.
00:44:54
Ali Aqel
Why about Reece's timing?
00:44:57
SD97
If it's
00:44:59
Zanjo
i do not want Dwayne Stevens next coach.
00:44:59
SD97
if it
00:45:02
SD97
I think it's, for we'll talk about, this will be season three, I think, but probably season four, because we'll probably have to do another football one before there's a, before Izzo retire.
00:45:03
Ali Aqel
It's going Borovic.
00:45:07
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:11
Ali Aqel
yeah yeah
00:45:15
SD97
it's I think Borovic is the next guy. i think they i think I think he's tapping Borovic, which I'm totally okay with.
00:45:18
Ryan
Yeah, I do too.
00:45:23
SD97
I love Borovic.
00:45:23
Ryan
Yeah, i actually, i think he i think he's do I think he's done a great job with the team. I thought he did a great job, especially this year.
00:45:30
Ali Aqel
So, yeah.
00:45:30
Ryan
Him and Saadi, both.
00:45:32
Ali Aqel
So, like, Bubba didn't – I know Hubert Davis was Roy's handpicked successor, but, like, didn't Bubba do the re-sign? Like, re-sign his contract or something?
00:45:42
Ryan
didn't he did he Didn't he give him a contract extension after he made the national title game, though?
00:45:43
Ali Aqel
Oh,
00:45:47
Ali Aqel
oh yeah.
00:45:47
Ryan
It was a last year when they...
00:45:47
SD97
yeah
00:45:47
Ali Aqel
but That would make sense.
00:45:48
Ryan
Yeah, so whatever, dude. Fine.
00:45:50
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:45:50
Ryan
Who cares?
00:45:52
Zanjo
It's also UNC basketball.
00:45:52
Ryan
like
00:45:53
Zanjo
They can fire him tomorrow if they wanted to.
00:45:55
Ryan
Yeah, they're going to have people that are going to have the pockets lined. They'll cook him if he misses the tournament again this year. He won't be there.
00:46:01
SD97
i mean here's the thing right it is like you look at hubert davis's record as a coach and you're thinking okay he was a uh
00:46:14
Ryan
Okay.
00:46:15
SD97
He was, you know, he he did a pretty good job, right? Like, he went, you know, he went 29 and he literally went to the national championship game in his first year, missed the tournament, made the Sweet 16, and won their play-in game, right? And it's just like, as much as as much as that's not up to UNC standards, like, obviously,
00:46:43
SD97
I do think that's like not nothing to scoff at personally. It's just like, I think.
00:46:50
Ali Aqel
Roy's missed a tournament too. Roy's missed a tournament during my sentient existence.
00:46:53
Ryan
the
00:46:55
Zanjo
Dude, that
00:46:55
Ryan
Right.
00:46:55
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:46:55
Ryan
yeah i mean they but They missed the tournament literally the year after Tyler Hansborough. They did not make the tournament that year.
00:47:00
Ali Aqel
Yeah. Yeah.
00:47:00
Zanjo
isn't it if that four-year run happened at Michigan, we'd still be hearing about it.
00:47:04
Ryan
Oh, yeah, dude. but most like don did For UNC, yeah, that's not good enough. like Don't get me wrong, but I don't think he's done like a god-awful job there. I do think he's kind of on the hot seat this year, and he's got to make the tournament or else he might get cooked, but ah he hasn't been like a total object failure.
00:47:22
Ryan
you know so and Like I said, it was and wasn't his choice anyways to hire him in the first place. like They weren't going you know what I mean? It was it was Roy's hand-picked dude.
00:47:32
Zanjo
Yeah, no AD standing up.
00:47:33
Ryan
Yeah, you can't.
00:47:34
Zanjo
No AD standing to Roy.
00:47:34
Ryan
you you with the Nobody's... Yeah, that's just reality. You're not... well if ah Like, Tom Izzo is going to be able to pick who is next head who the next head coach in MSU is.
00:47:44
Ali Aqel
But how do you feel like...
00:47:44
Ryan
Do we like it? Maybe not.
00:47:45
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:47:46
Ryan
But, like, it's just reality.
00:47:48
Ali Aqel
I guess, like, how do you feel, though, that, like, with the Belichick hire, like, Bubba was, like, railroaded by the donors. How does that make you feel...
00:47:54
Ryan
Oh, that means he's used to dealing with a shitty bot, so...
00:47:55
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:47:58
Ryan
Like, whatever, dude. UNC's Board Trustees is like MSU-level bad, so at least he's got experience with T-Link with a horrible Ford.
00:48:04
Ali Aqel
Hmm.
00:48:04
Zanjo
that that's how we got our dude That's how we got their president.
00:48:04
Ali Aqel
Hmm.
00:48:08
Zanjo
That's how we got their president. He ran away from their board trustees.
00:48:10
Ryan
That he came here just as bad as a Ford.
00:48:12
Zanjo
Yeah. Imagine that. Our board trustees is so bad and somehow we got a president from our worst board of trustees.
00:48:14
Ryan
I
00:48:20
Ali Aqel
Yeah. know I mean, and how's UNC's NIL?
00:48:25
Ryan
think it's pretty good.
00:48:27
Ali Aqel
I guess they also, like, does Michael Jordan donate at all? Like...
00:48:31
Ryan
I think does. I mean, i would assume he does, right?
00:48:34
Ali Aqel
Does that also mean that we can become a Jordan brand school?
00:48:37
Ryan
um I'm good. I'm good, brother.
00:48:39
Ali Aqel
Yeah, I'm good on that, too.
00:48:39
Ryan
i don't want i don't i don't I do not want the same brand as Michigan.
00:48:40
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:48:42
Ryan
So, hard pass.
00:48:43
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:48:45
SD97
ah Yeah, I'm just, you know, the thing with Bubba is, like, is he a good fundraiser? Yes or no, right? Because you have a basketball coach hired, and you're not going to hire the next one.
00:49:00
SD97
And you have a football coach employed. So, like, basically the only thing you have left to do is fundraise.
00:49:03
Ryan
It's
00:49:07
SD97
And, you know, if he has to hire the next coach, if Jonathan Smith doesn't work out, then... and we'll cross that bridge when we get there, but like, is Bubba Cunningham going to make sure MSU is competitive in, in player compensation? That's really the only conversation that needs to be had.
00:49:27
Ryan
Yeah, I think from everything I've read, he, he does, they have done a decent job at UNC with NIL. Like it's, mean, it's an ACC school, so it's not, they're not getting the level of money as a Big Ten school, especially revenue-wise and TV contracts, but for everything I've read, he's done a pretty solid job.
00:49:45
Zanjo
You know, it's actually interesting you bring that up because UNC is on that list of programs that's trying to leave the ACC right now.
00:49:45
Ryan
so
00:49:51
Ryan
yeah ah and I think they're going to get left out, man.
00:49:51
Zanjo
So
00:49:54
Ryan
I think their football program is not good enough. I think that they're going to left out in the cold. They're going to stuck in that second tear.
00:50:00
Zanjo
but at least he's fighting for them against the conference.
00:50:02
Ryan
Yeah, for sure.
00:50:05
Ali Aqel
um Anybody else top of mind right now?
00:50:08
Ryan
those That's the main name. um I haven't really looked a lot at other guys, to be honest with you. I think that that's just the most logical...
00:50:19
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:50:19
Ryan
name in my opinion.
NIL Era Challenges and Leadership
00:50:21
Ryan
I know people are bringing up Martin Germant. Hell no. Apparently he's not even a candidate because he hired Halfley at Boston College. That was a disaster. He got fired. And then he got played like a fiddle at UCLA by Chip Kelly. So that's just like, I don't think, apparently he's not a candidate anyways, but I saw some people mentioning him. Just absolutely not.
00:50:41
Ali Aqel
no
00:50:42
Zanjo
Yeah, I don't know.
00:50:45
Ali Aqel
Well.
00:50:46
SD97
Yeah.
00:50:46
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:50:47
SD97
I just, you know, I've i've seen a few people talk about Kevin Plaga. I, I don't see that happening either.
00:50:53
Ryan
No internal guys, please.
00:50:56
Ali Aqel
yeah
00:50:56
SD97
yeah It's just, I want a guy who is totally external, who has no existing relationship with any of the donors who, who we can build, who can build from the ground up.
00:51:07
SD97
Right. And like, as much as I think Kevin Plaga is like a smart guy and like, he's definitely qualified. It's just, I don't want anyone who previously worked at MSG.
00:51:21
SD97
Like it, they, it just needs a fresh start, right? That's what I liked about the Guskowitz hire.
00:51:24
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:51:26
SD97
That's what I liked about the Jonathan Smith hire. It's just, we need, it needs to be a clean break in order to kind of move forward.
00:51:36
Ryan
but What do you guys think about Amy Follin?
00:51:41
Ali Aqel
I think like, I think like a chief would probably just inject himself into the sun. probably might, probably might go and commit seppuku in front of Spartan stadium.
00:51:46
SD97
but
00:51:52
Ali Aqel
That's stabbing whatever. just like you.
00:51:55
SD97
That interest is still compounding, Amy. It's still compounding.
00:51:57
Ali Aqel
yeah Yeah. Another failure of Alan Haller is that he did nothing about the central fiasco.
00:52:03
Ryan
Yes. Ridiculous that we're still playing them in literally any sport.
00:52:04
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:52:07
Ali Aqel
No.
00:52:07
Ryan
Just absolute insanity.
00:52:08
Ali Aqel
Uh, I think, um and then SDE brought it up, and I think the segue is probably into our final topic for the day, but tying this all back to the, let's be honest, most important sport at Michigan State, football.
00:52:23
Ali Aqel
I guess, like, evaluate, let's, we can, like, i'll talk about a little bit about, like, Jonathan Smith in the context of Haller firing, because, like,
00:52:34
Ali Aqel
Jonathan Smith was Haller's guy, Haller's hire. And then based on like what you guys were saying, Haller did seem like kind of an interim guy to weather the storm or whatever.
00:52:45
Ali Aqel
or I think that's what you guys said earlier. and then so
00:52:48
SD97
No, Haller was only left employed after the Tucker thing went down because there was an interim president.
00:52:55
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:52:56
Ryan
Yep.
00:52:57
Ali Aqel
Okay, that yeah, that. But he still got – because – he was left. He still got to hire the guy. and I guess, like, we could talk about the context of... We could talk about Smith in the context of Haller.
00:53:12
Ali Aqel
um And I guess, like, Now that we know a little bit about the process and now that we've known like a year after we last recorded and a full season's gone by, but like, I think the big thing that is on a lot of people's minds is like Signetti at Indiana. Like, does that change the timelines that we had and expectations? And um did Haller drop the ball with Signetti or do we think that he dropped the ball or Yeah.
00:53:42
Ryan
No. i well Okay.
00:53:43
Zanjo
Okay.
00:53:45
Ryan
Addressing the first part, I think NIL has spent... I used to be a given new coach four years guy every single time, no matter what. right But I think NIL and the new space and everything has kind of pushed that to three and instead of four.
00:53:54
Ali Aqel
Bye.
00:54:00
Ryan
This year is like really big to figure things out. um But no, I don't think they screwed up with Signetti because Signetti is what? 62, 63 years old? You don't want a guy that you think is going to be the head coach there for like less than 10 years, right? Like, that's just my opinion. I think that I'm glad, i don't get me wrong, I think he's a solid coach, but like, I think a lot of people are overreacting to one year of him, and we'll see what happens down the line. I think they're to a step back this year, um but No, I don't think they screwed that up at all. I think they, based on who was there in the coaching market, Indiana can take a risk on a guy like that, an older guy.
00:54:39
Ryan
What do they have to lose? Their football program's and like an abject yoke like 95% of the time.
00:54:41
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
00:54:47
Ryan
So, I mean, good for them. They hired the right guy, but like, yeah, MSU probably made the right move. is Either Elko or Smith were the only two guys I would have been okay with hiring.
00:54:53
SD97
Thank you.
00:54:58
Zanjo
Hey, Jonathan Smith's number one hater here. um Anyone who is using Signetti's one ear as proof that MSU fucked up is ah goldfish um or just an idiot in general.
00:55:12
Zanjo
If we're using one good ear at a program and using and saying that means that that's the guy, Sonny Dykes is an elite coach. um Mel Tucker is an elite coach.
00:55:24
Zanjo
um what's right Larry Coker's an elite coach. like Teams have good years just randomly out of the blue all the fucking time.
00:55:31
Ryan
Thank
00:55:35
Zanjo
Signetti should not have changed the timeline for anything. um What I'm personally worried about with Jonathan Smith is his recruiting, which as we've gone over several times, the NIL situation is kind of a clusterfuck too.
00:55:47
Zanjo
so is that How much of that is him and how much of that is the AD? No,
00:55:52
Ryan
How much of it is another ah another point I want to make. Sorry to interrupt you, but Michigan State has been like shit in football for most of the last five years.
00:55:56
Zanjo
not go ahead.
00:56:02
Ryan
So a lot of these guys that are being recruited don't view Michigan State in the same light as like the four of us would. like they They haven't seen good Michigan State.
00:56:09
Zanjo
I don't.
00:56:11
Ryan
They've seen one good Michigan State football team for like
00:56:14
Zanjo
I'm going to push back on that a little bit. I'm to push back on that a little bit because i do think the MSC brand is still better than what the actual program has put out.
00:56:20
Ryan
Yes, absolutely.
00:56:21
Zanjo
Like, I think i think i think a high level recruiter could ah could bring in more talent than we brought in. Not even like 60s, but I'm talking like low 20s.
00:56:28
Ryan
youre
00:56:29
SD97
Thank you.
00:56:29
Ryan
When you're not getting NIL funding the way you should,
00:56:34
Zanjo
And that's a much bigger issue.
00:56:34
Ryan
And ah that is the biggest issue. i I find it hard to put a lot of the blame on a guy who's not getting <unk>s not being given the resources that he should be given to succeed.
00:56:48
Ryan
like You can't really, especially in today's day and age, where guys are getting paid a shitload of money, you can't do a lot if you're getting brought pulled back by a shitty NIL situation.
00:56:58
SD97
you
00:57:01
SD97
here Here are my thoughts.
00:57:02
Zanjo
Bye.
00:57:04
SD97
It's just, ah there it was highly publicized all last season, right? That when Signetti took the Indiana job, he took it because he was promised like he was going to have whatever he needed NIL to be able to compete.
00:57:22
SD97
I am thinking i am just trying to picture that same that same like demand being laid to Alan Haller and what Alan Haller's response probably was.
00:57:33
SD97
And it is honestly probably why Kurt Signetti is not the head coach at Michigan State.
00:57:38
Zanjo
Well, that... Dude, Signetti was never listed as one of the people we were going after.
00:57:39
Ryan
No, no, he was never, he was never going to be here. There's no way in hell, there's zero chance in hell they were hiring a 62-year-old head coach unless it was Urban fucking Meyer.
00:57:43
Zanjo
We always were going...
00:57:44
SD97
and
00:57:49
SD97
And I get that. I get i get the age thing. i'd get the I get the fact that Haller wanted a sitting P4 head coach. I get all of that, right?
00:58:01
SD97
the thing The thing I cannot shake is that, like, what other coaches were MSU looking at that needed the same... Is Jonathan Smith only here because he did not need...
00:58:17
SD97
He did not need that promise of a functioning NIL program.
00:58:21
Ali Aqel
Alco.
00:58:22
Ryan
Helco's the only guy that oh only was the only other viable candidate that cycle that was realistic.
00:58:22
Zanjo
i Yeah.
00:58:26
Zanjo
the only guys we The only guys we're going after are guys like Elko, Fish, and Donovan Smith.
00:58:26
Ali Aqel
But Alco is
00:58:26
SD97
i I don't.
00:58:31
Ryan
it's fuck It's fucking A&M, dude. like ah You can say what you want about A&M, but they have a money canyon.
00:58:34
SD97
I get it. I get all of that.
00:58:36
Ryan
They have a money canyon.
00:58:37
SD97
i get all of that. And again, I'm not an urban truther. Okay, I'm not. It's just like, I don't know. I think Haller botched this search.
00:58:49
SD97
I think Haller botched the search.
00:58:50
Ryan
and
00:58:50
SD97
I think not looking at Signetti was a massive mistake.
00:58:51
Ryan
i
00:58:51
Zanjo
think...
00:58:52
Ryan
I don't agree.
00:58:54
Zanjo
Now,
00:58:55
SD97
I think Jonathan Smith is going to fail because
00:58:57
Ryan
i think hindsight, you know i think you're I think a lot of this is hindsight, dude.
00:58:57
Zanjo
I, I,
00:59:00
SD97
that's fine.
00:59:00
Ryan
Honestly.
00:59:01
SD97
that That's fine. And yeah, hindsight is 20-20, but I don't know. I can only go off what I'm seeing. i And I saw last year, I know it's one year, I saw Indiana in the college football playoff.
00:59:18
SD97
Do you know what the program, like the highest point in Indiana's program was before that game against Notre Dame, the CFP game against Notre Dame?
00:59:25
Ryan
move Losing to Michigan State at Spartan Stadium to not go to the Rose Bowl.
00:59:30
SD97
No, it was, it was and was mike It was Michael Penix beating Penn State. And then before that, it was fucking Lee Corso being up 10-6 over Ohio State in halftime in like 1958. I
00:59:50
Ali Aqel
ah Dylan Tandem committed to Northwestern.
00:59:51
Ryan
I don't know, man. I think some people are overreacting to one season. I think it's... I i want to see...
00:59:57
SD97
i just, and I also don't think Indiana's
00:59:58
Ryan
I understand...
01:00:01
SD97
I don't think Indiana's taken that much of a step back this year.
01:00:01
Zanjo
I.
01:00:01
Ryan
understand...
01:00:03
SD97
I don't.
01:00:04
Ryan
I do. I think...
01:00:05
Zanjo
to
01:00:05
Ryan
Dude, they're going to have a brand new quarterback. they lost They lost dudes.
01:00:09
Zanjo
true
01:00:09
Ryan
but You guys have to remember how many guys he brought...
01:00:10
Zanjo
Truthfully.
01:00:11
SD97
Mendoza is a good quarterback. Mendoza is a good quarterback.
01:00:14
Ryan
I just don't see them being anywhere near what they were last year. that that You guys have to remember, he brought in, what, 14 guys from JMU or some shit? I mean, he had older guys on the roster.
01:00:23
Zanjo
um I'm going to be.
01:00:25
Ryan
i just i don't see that being sustainable. It's IU.
01:00:29
Zanjo
I'm.
01:00:30
Ryan
I sound like a hater, but like I just don't i don't buy it. I really don't. I think he's a good coach. I don't think they're going to be as bad as they usually are under him, but that program has a ceiling. it I mean, that it was probably last year.
01:00:45
Zanjo
I'm going to be totally honest. If Alan Haller had hired a 60-something-year-old coach, I would have been fucking pissed.
01:00:48
Ryan
I would have lost my shit. I would have pissed as hell.
01:00:52
Zanjo
The other thing is, this is always going to be a slow build. Haller had a um a thing promised in Jonathan Smith's contract where he gets a bonus if we hit seven wins either last year, this year, or next year.
01:01:04
Zanjo
So this is always playing out to be a slow build, and I'm fine with that. But my issue is always going to be on the caliber of recruit. that is coming into MSU. And if John, I don't know where it's failing. I don't know if it's on the AD. I don't know what's on Smith. I don't know if it's just on the brand of the program itself, but the reality is the caliber player isn't high enough right now.
Recruiting Strategy and Team Performance
01:01:25
Zanjo
And a change had to come because Howard was fucking up NIL. So now we got figure out what's going on there.
01:01:30
Ryan
guess I guess we'll have a decent idea next transfer portal cycle because we're going to see how the season went and we'll see what guys hit the portal and who comes in about the money they're spending.
01:01:42
Ryan
I think but that it will be kind of telling about where this thing's headed because they'll have a new AD and
01:01:46
SD97
Thank you.
01:01:47
Ali Aqel
um
01:01:49
Ryan
You would like to think that the donors will but want to buy in again and spend money and we'll see how the season goes.
01:01:52
Zanjo
Yeah.
01:01:56
Ryan
So I'm willing to let this year play out, see what happens. And if it's a shit show again, then yeah, you're on the hot seat. You're three, dude. like But i'm not I'm not anywhere near that point, to be honest with you.
01:02:10
Ali Aqel
ah
01:02:10
Ryan
So we'll see what happens.
01:02:12
Ali Aqel
I guess that leads us perfectly into the next question or the the final topic. And this has to do with like 80s tend to want to hire their own guy. Hiring football coaches like the mark of an athletic director.
01:02:26
Ali Aqel
Will Jonathan Smith be the coach on August 2027? twenty twenty seven
01:02:31
SD97
here Here's the thing, right? And this is this is something that the LSJ reported on yesterday. There language in in ah Jonathan Smith's contract that cuts his buyout in half if Alan Haller is no longer athletic director.
01:02:55
Zanjo
That's only if he leaves by himself, though, to like a different job. but
01:02:59
SD97
Oh.
01:03:00
Ryan
And if it's a shit show Who the fuck is gonna hire him?
01:03:04
Zanjo
Yeah, and it's from six million to three million. That wouldn't have stopped him from getting poached.
01:03:07
Ryan
Yeah, it's that's not a lot of money It's not a lot In today's day and age
01:03:08
Zanjo
What's going to get him.
01:03:09
Ali Aqel
Yeah.
01:03:10
Zanjo
What's going to stop him from getting poached is the fact that MSU has boatloads of cash and they're not going to let a guy get poached, but.
01:03:16
Ryan
No, they're not going let that guy go. You're a Big Ten school. Unless you're Penn State basketball, you're not letting a coach go to another school. Unless it's like a humongous name school.
01:03:28
SD97
ah Yeah, it's just, I i don't know. I really don't know. I personally, right? Here's where my mind goes, right? The donors did not open up the checkbooks because they were mad. Alan Haller didn't allow them input.
01:03:45
SD97
on on hiring the coach. Rather, whether that's because he didn't talk to Urban Meyer or they they just weren't included with like the committee that like Kirk Cousins and all those guys were on, whatever.
01:03:50
Ryan
Thank
01:04:03
SD97
like Jonathan Smith was not the donor's guy. OK, so there's still an uphill battle to be fought when it comes to fundraising. And I'm sure Jonathan Smith is more than willing to, you know, go out, shake hands, kiss babies and do the things that needs to be done.
01:04:21
SD97
But like.
01:04:23
Ali Aqel
Did...
01:04:24
SD97
How there was half the issue is if I'm a booster, right, I'm a big money booster and I was pissed because I spent all this time working with Urban Meyer to get a contract in place and it didn't happen.
01:04:24
Ali Aqel
Or is he...
01:04:37
SD97
Allegedly. Right. I'm still not sure what is real and what's not. I, you know, but it, that is, that's the thing is just like, I don't know if the funding is still going to be there because it's Jonathan Smith and not a coach they want.
01:04:56
SD97
Right.
01:04:57
Ryan
Well, I think, ah first of all, to answer Ollie's question, I do think he will be the coach in two years. um I also think that if this season you win to like seven games, right, and you beat Michigan, everybody's going to be back in again.
01:05:13
Ryan
i mean, it's it's seems like a simple fix. You win games this year, you're going to get the funding you want. I think the boosters are going to be back in. We'll we'll see what happens. that like I think a lot of this, I think I've stated obvious here, depends on how this season goes.
01:05:29
Zanjo
I want to run an exercise real quick because this answers the question. um Do you think MSC is going to win seven games against this schedule? ah Home Toledo.
01:05:37
Ryan
When?
01:05:38
Zanjo
Home Eastern.
01:05:39
Ryan
When?
01:05:40
SD97
Win.
01:05:41
Zanjo
At Notre Dame.
01:05:42
Ryan
What is, which season is is this?
01:05:42
SD97
Loss.
01:05:43
Ryan
2026?
01:05:45
Zanjo
It's a 2026 schedule, yeah.
01:05:46
Ryan
At Notre Dame, L.
01:05:47
SD97
Loss.
01:05:49
Zanjo
At Michigan.
01:05:50
SD97
Loss.
01:05:51
Ryan
When?
01:05:52
Zanjo
Home Illinois.
01:05:52
Ryan
When? When? When?
01:05:54
SD97
Could be a win.
01:05:55
Ryan
When? when
01:05:56
Zanjo
Home Nebraska.
01:05:57
Ryan
when
01:05:58
Zanjo
home Oregon, home Northwestern, ah home Washington,
01:05:59
SD97
Could be a win. Loss.
01:06:01
Ryan
l
01:06:03
Ryan
when
01:06:03
SD97
Win.
01:06:05
Ali Aqel
Dylan Tate and Northwestern.
01:06:07
Ryan
when
01:06:08
Zanjo
at Rutgers, at UCLA, at Wisconsin.
01:06:10
Ryan
When.
01:06:10
SD97
loss
01:06:13
SD97
win loss
01:06:14
Ryan
When.
01:06:16
Ryan
L. So they go like 8-4, 9-3.
01:06:18
Zanjo
If you think... Okay.
01:06:19
Ryan
and then and Who knows what the roster's going to It's so hard to predict this type of stuff i with the with the roster turnover.
01:06:24
Ali Aqel
know.
01:06:25
Zanjo
If they win seven games against that schedule... If they win seven games against that schedule, he's staying. and MSU does not have serious expectations of football, and that's my biggest fucking worry.
01:06:36
Ryan
I think next year, the expectations are going to be totally different. If the year goes how I think it's going to go this year. think they'll...
01:06:42
Zanjo
I don't think MSU is ever going to fire a coach that goes 8-4 routinely. That's just my personal belief.
01:06:48
SD97
and the The thing is...
01:06:48
Zanjo
And that's part of the reason why I'm so anti-Jonathan Smith is because I think he's a good enough coach to get MSU to point that can win seven or eight games routinely. I just don't think he's the type of coach to win national championships or
01:07:00
Ryan
I think if he gets, I think it's a big if, but if he gets the players in, he's got a good enough coaching staff around him. And I think he's a good enough coach himself where he is going to take it up to the next level.
01:07:11
Ryan
I truly believe that.
01:07:11
Zanjo
Which is why i I truly do not give a shit about win-loss record this year. I'm monitoring to see how recruiting goes. i wanna to see how many I want to see how many high-level players with high-level offers he brings in.
01:07:19
SD97
Well,
01:07:22
Ryan
I think that's crazy that you're not going to look at the results on the field, but that's one man's opinion, I guess.
01:07:26
Zanjo
Because I have zero i had zero um doubt in my mind that he's a good coach. Exactly a good coach. the What I'm worried about is his ability to do the GM stuff.
01:07:38
Ryan
I mean, the amount of stuff you the amount of stuff that you have heard, the amount of stuff that you have heard from guys, that's why they need to hire like a GM type of guy like all these other programs are doing.
01:07:38
Zanjo
but The bringing in talent, roster management.
01:07:38
SD97
well
01:07:49
Ryan
I mean, i guess they kind of have one now, but it's not like an Andrew Walker like Stanford.
01:07:50
Zanjo
Yeah.
01:07:54
Ryan
I'd like them to do something like that, right?
01:07:57
Zanjo
It's genuinely just about
01:07:57
Ryan
It doesn't have to be like a former player, but like something similar to that.
01:08:01
Ali Aqel
What's Connor Cook doing these days?
01:08:03
Ryan
Yeah, fuck that.
01:08:04
Zanjo
my Jonathan Smith has proven he's a really good coach and a really good developer talent.
01:08:04
Ryan
No fucking way.
01:08:10
Zanjo
He has not proven that he can bring in high level talent. And that's kind of where my thing is.
01:08:13
Ryan
and that That doesn't need to be hit his job. and Leave that to somebody else. Leave that to somebody in charge of NIL.
01:08:19
Zanjo
Sure, but so at the end of the day, the program's not bringing those people in. That's on him. The buck stops on at him.
01:08:24
SD97
it
01:08:24
Ryan
Of course.
01:08:24
SD97
And also like coaches, coaches historically, especially college coaches, very willing to cede power to different people.
01:08:25
Ryan
i don't disagree.
01:08:33
Ryan
Yeah, exactly. Look at Dabo Swinney, prime example. Guy is ah probably a shitty coach overall. is oh He's usually had great assistants.
01:08:44
Ryan
And you notice when his assistants left, they started being shitty ah by their standards. Like, that's a prime example there.
01:08:51
SD97
I don't know. They need to win. In my mind, they need to go 8-4 this year. They need to go 8-4.
01:08:55
Ryan
I say at least, if they go 7-5 and five beat Michigan, I'm happy.
01:08:56
SD97
They need beat Michigan. They need to they need to show
01:09:00
Ryan
If they go 7-5 and five beat Michigan, I will live with this season.
01:09:03
Ryan
I'll be okay with it.
01:09:03
Zanjo
if If he shows an ability to bring in high-level talent, I don't care about the win-loss record because I know he's going to win here if he brings in high-level talent.
01:09:09
Zanjo
I've seen what he did at Oregon State. I've seen his ability to develop players and i' seen his ability to to actually coach in game. And I think he can win seven or eight games regularly.
01:09:16
Ryan
And I know... and know people are upset about like somebody like Greg Patrick going to like Notre Dame. Like, yeah, I'm not happy about it either, but like... Dude, that guy came in, he still had like a year. Like, Greg Patrick was a big recruit from the beginning. Like, so people were recruiting when he was like a freshman in high school.
01:09:35
Ryan
But Notre Dame has had this relationship with him forever. The MSU comes in behind the eight ball, you know. i could His dad was talking about it. i oh you They really liked Coach M, but it's just like they didn't know him as well as other coaches.
01:09:51
Ryan
So it's –
01:09:52
Ali Aqel
yeah
01:09:52
SD97
here Here's my thing.
Stadium Experience and Leadership Humor
01:09:55
SD97
Here's my thing with with the next athletic director. are Is the next athletic director going to fire Jason Strayhorn? Because that's what I care about.
01:10:04
Zanjo
Thank
01:10:04
SD97
If the next athletic director fires Jason Strayhorn from the Spartan Radio Network, I know we'll have the right guy.
01:10:07
Ryan
yeah
01:10:12
Ali Aqel
or Or more importantly, bans Johnny Spirit from campus.
01:10:17
Ryan
Yes!
01:10:17
Ali Aqel
Like, if you ban...
01:10:17
Ryan
Oh my god, please!
01:10:19
Ali Aqel
If...
01:10:19
SD97
That too.
01:10:20
Ryan
Ban him! Get him out!
01:10:21
Ali Aqel
And then improve the improve the stadium experience by having a public trial at the middle of Spartan Stadium for Johnny Spirit.
01:10:21
Ryan
it
01:10:29
Ali Aqel
Like, that's our fucking guy.
01:10:32
Zanjo
That's for game one.
01:10:32
Ali Aqel
Oh,
01:10:32
Zanjo
Get Spiro in for game two for that.
01:10:35
Ali Aqel
God.
01:10:35
Ryan
We're going to get sued.
01:10:36
Ali Aqel
Anyways...
01:10:36
Ryan
Jesus Christ, dude.
01:10:37
SD97
Get ready learn what
01:10:37
Ali Aqel
Um...
Future Outlook and Conclusion
01:10:38
SD97
you think, buddy.
01:10:39
Ali Aqel
Yeah, I guess like jury's out amongst us, whether we'll see what happens with the search and jury's out, what will happen. Like there's a lot of caveats to answer the final question about whether Johnson Smith will be leading out.
01:10:52
Ali Aqel
When do we go to Washington? Do we come here to Seattle in 2026 or 2027? Oh, okay. All right. think in 2026 and 2027, they go to Seattle, right?
01:10:57
Ryan
but think They come here. They come here, I think.
01:11:01
Ali Aqel
Well, and twenty twenty six and twenty twenty seven they go to seattle right
01:11:06
Ryan
I believe you're right.
01:11:06
Ali Aqel
well All right. So jury's out whether Jonathan Smith will be leading the guys out the tunnel here in Husky stadium for another Pacific coast demolishing. But, um, anyways, uh, I'm glad we're back. I don't know how many more we're going to do with these. Cause like athletic director searches aren't as popping as head coach searches, but, um, we're back.
01:11:29
Ali Aqel
I don't know. And was great having you guys.
01:11:30
Ryan
Probably a good thing. Yeah.
01:11:32
Ali Aqel
Yeah. SD. Uh, thanks for, uh, joining us.
01:11:36
SD97
Absolutely.
01:11:36
Ali Aqel
Uh, was a lot of fun. um So yeah, we'll see you when you see you.
01:11:39
Ryan
Thank you.
01:11:42
Ali Aqel
right.