College Football Season Preview

>> On this Labor Day, we are definitely in the college football. We've got the opening week behind us because Kenny Hawkins is with me right now. sports director for news Channel 11 we've got the opening week behind us. We want to be up front with our viewers and say that we're recording this a couple of days before ETSU and UT kickoff. Hopefully both of them have W's in the column will. We'll find out. But we'll we'll know something when this Ayers, one, I would be a major upset and I'll take just think think they're only given ETSU a 2.7% chance of winning that ball game on ESPN. So that's going to be a long shot. But let's talk about ETSU. First of all. And, you know, we're beginning the Tre Lamb area era here at ETSU. Let's talk about what he is bringing to the table when it comes to the Buccaneers. The one thing I think the coach Lamb brings to this team is to Merced thing. He said in this press conference this past Monday was. >> We need to get rid of the writ of the losing mentality. We get to learn when we got to carry ourselves like winners even before we step on the football field. That's something this team has not had over the last 2 years. Yeah, they had it when they won the socon championship. But he's been lean times of the last 2 years. And this is a team that desperately wants to win. I think it's going to be a team that school staff will slow, right? Okay. The top of the schedule is pretty his really is, you know, that's just pace Appalachian State, which is picked to win the Sunbelt. All right. So one of the teams, a lot of people think one of the 2 teams that will make the 12 team playoff right this year. So that's just how good they are. They got a lot of players back. Your quarterback, obviously, we saw this weekend is one of the top players in the league. Now, hopefully if you're a huge issue, you get a chance to breathe your side again because you're taking a UVA wise, right? Another big as UVA wise, right? But they're young, too. But that is a game. His first game at home Tre Lamb. That's a game that the Bucks are hoping their own when 3rd game, here we go. Oh, well, I mean, North Dakota State coming out, which ops surprises folks earlier today surprise they're coming to Johnson City won multiple national champions. You know what? That is what is it that is play you in a parking we you made all these championships. don't. You're going to go play right? >> That's what that Yes. So let's talk about the offensive side of the ball for ETSU. I think, you know, Jalen Kings been named the starting quarterback. He brought Jalen over with him from Gardner Webb Jalen. What does he do? Well, he's going to lead this team. This season Jalen comes over with 21 other players from Gardner Webb who transferred to have a total of 50 players and transferred jailing King did not start last season for partner when he came in kind of the mid part of the season. The latter part of the season and it's said you could see each game. He has gotten better. He said he's made his best advances over the summer spring and summer that he's Richard. He's gotten bigger. The game has to get slower for Jalen Keying and hopefully he doesn't allow the Appalachian State game. And then North Dakota State game to get him down, You know, so it's got to become slower. This is a guy. He's dual-threat court is yes, got a strong and he can run. So if you pressure you don't keep a spy. His column in the linebacker position. He's go. Yeah. And that's a that's something they try to do the last couple years really and on the defensive side of the ball for the Bucks. >> Talking to coach. He is really happy after their scrimmage isn't everything with the secondary? It's the guys up front on the lot where he thinks they may have some issues with the but defense. Well, one of the things that I've been told is this team is a lot bigger than we see in the last 2 years, OK, that every year, the stronger they obviously they've been in the in the weight room. One of the things that I liked about that the tray landed when school's out. There are some guys he asked to stay here, right? Because he says when you go home, you know, you start missing meals. You don't eat well. You start losing weight and bulk. And he said if you stay here, you 3 square meals in town for 5 when I was in school. Right? But you stay here. You have a lot. You lift weights. You stay strong, right? And that carries over into the season. I think this defense, obviously you're right up front is going to be key for them. I think they got the defensive backfield kind of locked in. Chris is back there. And of course, you know, he was here last year, one of the top returning players will now let's transition from William B Greene Stadium down to Neyland Stadium and talk about the University of Tennessee volunteers >> I think the name that jumps out to names really jump out to us there. And that's James Peers and Nico Will he want to say that? I have been working on >> Listed. James peers right now. Yes. And UT fan. So you'll give But I said the same thing with Peyton Manning was the preseason Heisman, right? Got nowhere to go but So you have got to impress every every game. You're going to draw double T. >> You're the guy. You're the guy that they say will be the number one pick in the NFL at the end of this football season. So you're the guy on Defense, Tennessee's defensive line pretty nasty question is is going to be the defensive backs. They got a lot of new was there. How a lot of transfer exactly how they gonna act. Obviously everything's on the in Mali. 8. Ian Molly off okay. So So here they don't own a everything's on the go and everything we've seen is from Iowa game. He threw for 151 yards, but he ran for 3 scores. So we're looking at another dual threat. And here's the thing. Don't let that fool you. Yes, I was a bad football team at the end of the year. I had a lot of a lot of kids didn't play that were not think we have yet to really see him in a game that really matters. really we didn't see one this past weekend against got nothing against the Socon team is ranked 7th in their division. They're going to be team. The team to beat in the Socon. >> He's going to test it. Yes, 20 is Charlotte can see states yeah. When he opens up Oklahoma's first game in the SEC, those to Todd, those 2 games is going to be tested have the home crowd is going to be louder at those 2 facilities. But this is a guy that I keep hearing. Josh hype will say has all the tools and this is coming from a former quarterback Oklahoma finished second Rise, right? OK, you won a national title. So I think he knows a little bit about Coach Phil Fulmer is actually been to and has been on the on the air all over praising him saying he's got all the tools that he needs to be successful UT. So I think we're getting from everywhere that. >> He's there. We just got to see it on the field. Yeah, we have seen on the field. Here's the thing. One thing, Nico, you don't have to do it all by yourself. You got great wide receivers. K S coral. Cool way. You got some great transfers as a transfer is coming in. We're going to see how he does with tidy ends. He has the most experienced offensive line, right? That's been in Tennessee says Hi, Paul has arrived. So don't do it all yourself getting into the hands of your playmakers. And when you can't do that, then you do it Mikko last 2 itself. Last question. we're talking about looking at that schedule. What do you see is a successful year for the University of Tennessee? I've seen not. And 3 FC 11 in one. >> They're out. Everybody's Everybody's given that lost to Georgia, but that I've seen everything in between there. What do you think would be a successful year for Utah? I think stabbing 3 losses. Yeah. Now what 3 losses. Who knows. I want be George. You know, when listen, if you do and we're and you go down there and we entrust last time was there, I got barked at the whole So if you didn't win that game, impressive. Right? But I don't think you're gonna win that game. The other ones comes in Oklahoma. >> Alabama. Yes, And maybe North Carolina state that is on a neutral site. But it it could jump up and bite. I thi Tennessee beats and I think they do too. I think they be NC State. I don't if they go out there to Norman to be time. It's the only thing I don't think they. >> I think they're still want to have problems with Alabama. Nick Saban is not there, but the is one of the top coaches in the country everywhere this guy's going on. They win. >> damage Goodwin or they're going to be as good as when same was there. they're still going to win. And then, of course, as you mentioned, Georgia. So I got him with 3 losses. All right, OK, I like to see him 11, one pound of it go 10 to 2 and will be optimistic. Katie, appreciate you stopping by the All right. >> We'll check in with Candy later in the season. See how things are going for both ETSU