LIVE: SWAC Head Coach Rankings & Favorites To Win FCS Football National Awards | The Bluebloods

[Music] [Music] and we are live man what's good everybody man appreciate you tuning in to the Blue Bloods official podcast of FCS football Central on Sports Illustrated myself my guy coach Fred Saturday morning mailbag as always we only had one live stream this week your boy had to get a new roof installed busy week loud probably not the best record but we're back now on Saturday man coach how you feeling man I am good good good good morning coffee odyc Maduro ready to go let's get into it man I like it I like it we got a lot to talk about today coach um you know we kind of changed the topics a little bit last minute man we're going to talk about stepen F Austin returning to the Southland no surprise to anybody who at least watches our show Coach we kind of talked about this one about a week or two ago I thought it was going to come a little bit sooner supposedly it's going to be announ officially announced by the school on Wednesday um but we're also going to talk about favorites to win FCS national awards we touched on it a little while back we've been asked about it a few times so we we'll we'll spin the block on that and and talk a little bit about who who's going to win The Bu you can and Walter pyton give our preseason picks and see who's right at the end of the day and then we're going to end the show with the hottest topic on social media right now in the HBCU sphere which is swack head coach rankings entering 2024 now what what I'm going to do is give my rankings one through 12 kind of talk about some of the flaw on how I've seen some of the rankings go and Coach is going to give you a one through 11 ranking because we know who's at the top spot on his list and this is guy said Thomas who's been on the show shout out to coach Cedric Thomas but we got a lot to talk about man so let let's start it here coach our guy a real good friend of the show man I've got to meet him at media days one of the best writers out there for Dave Campbell Texas football my guy Cory hog reported sources have confirmed Stephen F Austin coach headed back to the South l conf conference um expect announcement expected on Wednesday they'll return for the 2025 um if I'm not mistaken the 2025 football season but I want to say they're all the other sports joined on the 20 on for the 2024 season coach your first thoughts on this it won huge loss for the UAC especially the wac but a massive addition for the Southland coach who was on kind of a respirator a few seasons ago and now they're about to be back up to 12 teams yeah this jump starts jump starts them uh but you know I want to tip my hat uh you had it here first a long time ago we were just waiting on it to come but I think this is a big deal for them and I think it's a big deal for the conference because of you know all the uh said realignment that's coming I think that this uh puts their conference in a position to where they can kind of say hey look at us this is what we can bring this is who we can bring tradition so on and so forth so I think this is really big for uh for the Southland yeah I I think when you look at like just to go through like the timeline of stuff coach there was a time where Lamar was supposed to be gone and card W was gonna make the move like all these schools were about to depart and the Southland was going to kind of just be left sitting there with nothing UIW chose to stay Lamar returned after just one season now you do lose Sam Houston State but you know they went to the UAC made that jump to the FB it's fine but you also let's not forget utrgv is also joining the conference they launched their football program in 2025 coach and that's a program with a bunch of money a whole lot of support and is kind of gonna be on that Tarlton I would say trajectory where coach they've sold more season tickets for a football season that's still over a year away than some programs sold for the year that's absolutely crazy the supports there because they're signing recruits their their social media presences there they got some badass helmets let me just say that any the script helmets are undefeated anytime your mascot has a script logo on the side of the helmet undefeated helmet Style by the way but then you also look too coach I think the biggest conversation surrounding this is not just Stephen F aon's departure from the UAC to the Southland what happens now with Tarlton abalene Christian both of those are Texas schools that would make sense to move to the Southland but then also too you're a 12 full-time members what happens to Central Arkansas now who is a former Southland school do they want to stay in the possible as son because what's probably goingon to happen coach if Charlton and apple and Christian go the whack football is pretty much done for the most part that if that dissolves what happens to the Utah schools Utah Tech Southern Utah does the Big Sky want them back do make the jump to the summit league and eventually join the mvfc I don't know there's a few options there but C Arkansas is kind of sitting out there by itself do you bring it to 15 teams do you want to be the next CIA and have a bunch of teams in that conference or do you jump to 16 teams and find someone else who possibly wants to join you bring up another D2 School something like that I I would be very curious what happens also too if the as keeps Central Arkansas coach we talked about this on the last episode there's a lot of D2 schools in that region that they could pull from the West floridas someone like that jumping up and joining you know a conference that has some potential I would say I just think Charlton State's decision coach is going to drive the ultimate reaction to this if tton moves abalene Christian's probably coming and then the question becomes what happens to that to the UAC conference does it just dissolve and the a sun goes on its own or does both dissolve and we just see a bunch of schools jump back to their original conferences because North Alabama could go back to the Big South ovc merger a big addition for that conference Central Arkansas could probably go back to the Southland and then what happens to West Georgia and some of these other schools that didn't really have a conference beforehand does anyone want them that's the conversation that you now shift to have and that's big for West Georgia being they you know they just made that move as well uh uh um I think the Charlton thing makes sense just because of you know when we're talking Logistics we're talking travel uh I think that becomes a big deal and if they can get tton to come I think UCA to me I think they have to go just because and now like you said the problem becomes do we have a conference that becomes now a 14 15 16 uh division conference now you know we split the divisions how do we go uh but the Charlton piece is the big piece to it if tton comes there's going to be others come and then I think the the other conference at that point has got to make a decision how far west do we want to go because there's no more going back to the east uh there's no more standing in the central because there's nothing to draw from unless you can get those D2 you know schools to come up which if haven't got there yet then you know uh and I'll just use my my spot I just don't see an Arkansas Tech jumping out and making that move maybe a Harding if anybody I think they may be the biggest that can do that um maybe maybe one more out of that conference but you know West Al you know those teams like that I don't think they're ready to to make that jump to help save that type conference you know what I mean so I think that conference got to make a decision now if they're going to go west uh and how far west they want to go to charol teams to come and join them because I think if like I saides uh I think that makes sense for UCA to go as well I I will be curious to so con has not been very open to expansion recently West Georgia would be a heck of an ad for that conference right with Mercer right there and it it it fits perfectly in the footprint and it's a a team that has been willing to invest in its football program willing to invest in competing why not join like the socon that would be a big addition for the socon I would feel like we've already kind of talked about the socon possibly adding like a William and Mary if that ever comes to fruition but William and Mary seems like they're they're sticking with this the ca for right now they've kind of been vocal about that so now do you turn your attention to a to a West Georgia that would be a I think that would be the smart ad there now North Alabama probably probably goes back to the Big South I would imagine you know perfect kind of region you're in that conference with UT Martin Tennessee State you're right there North Alabama I mean that one makes sense the question for me with the Southland is if you get that big do you go to divisions you have to I think uh I I feel like you have to because if you don't I think you run into and this is no slight but I think you running the Mak problems you know what I mean uh because there's no way that everybody's going to be able to play everybody um even if you went divisions you still wouldn't be able to play everybody but it at least gives you an opportunity for the championship game to where Blue Bloods University uh won their side Red State now uh even though we didn't play during the year we have an opportunity to play for a championship and that separates the Championships we don't all won a championship because we all went nine- two uh and I think that's just a bad look for a conference that's really big and can actually go to division well the problem is one they couldn't have a conference Championship game then sub does not allow the FC that's that's kind of what messed up the swacks playoff opportunities is the conference Championship Game would be make a decision yeah yeah so like the the conversation about divisions for me is more do you do it to ease the travel on teams would be my thing is like where you're more likely to play someone in your Division and then you can have a rotational thing where you don't have to travel you know all but the good thing with the South and though you look coach even though it would be a big Conference travel really wouldn't be everything is everything's right there like so it it's kind of weird where like if the ca you would have to go from Maine to damn near South Carolina the Southland you just got to go from Texas to Louisiana it's just how far in Texas do I have to go are you going so I I think it would be SM and the other thing too and shout out to uh Mr Reed man uh Des Desman Reeds dad man shout out shout out to you for watching the show man supporting us man we're we're we're hoping I'm gonna be tuned in at least to see what Dez does in uh a pit man I I always follow those FCS transfers I really like and I'm excited to see what he does at Pittsburgh I think he's going to light up the ACC but the other thing coach so we know the Southland probably about three years ago had had a mutual agreement with two swack schools for them to join like that was the first step to trying to rebuild the commissioner is get two swack schools who were going to come until PR accepted the Jackson job and then they they held tight so now they shifted their attention to bringing back some old schools is there I I don't want to put you on the spot because I know the backlash for certain answers any chance they spend the block on those two slack schools uh I would say why not I mean can't hurt to make the phone call at least right I mean why not and then you and it and let's just be honest timing is everything yeah and right now that would be the talk of the internet for a calendar year at least and then if those even if just one of those teams accept it that would be the talk of the internet for two calendar years um and that's all you want to do is generate that type of you know energy around your program around your conference so I mean why not I I think it would make sense for them too I I think they should I don't know I don't know if those schools should accept but you know I'm not going to speculate on that but I I I just want to make sure everybody knew that's what we were doing but yeah especially because I know I listen I I do know you know the Texas schools would be a tough pull especially because if I'm not mistaken Texas Southern is a founding member of the swag um tough pull but you the cell there would be man you would play like damn near every Texas FCS School in the country location and travel the travel would be nothing at that point and then you also got the two Louisiana schools as well in that conversation that could so those are the four schools that would be the targets for the Southland you would have southern gramlin Texas Southern and PV and I think PV would be a massive Target for this like with the facilities facilities and everything PV would be a massive Target for the Southland now here's what we're going to do coach I I know commissioner grant for the South that's my guy I talk to him every time I see he's been he's one of the nicest Commissioners coach at media day he he went out of his way to come talk and introduce himself to every single media member at South media day oneon-one like that's my guy I might have to reach out to him get him on the show and we'll really talk some expansion plans and things like that break it down for the Southland um but I don't think it would happen but I do think they at least try to reach out because I just don't know what the target number is right because I don't think you go above 16 anything above 16 would be outrageous but what happens if Central Arkansas goes a different direction and then what happens if's your plan B abene Christian goes a different direction you know what's your plan be that changes the conversation completely but I think I think West Georgia is such an interesting Target now if the ason doesn't do anything if I'm the soan that just I if the soan doesn't grab on the big South OBC needs to be on the phone right this second gotcha just the location the location the commitment that they've made to football um I think that just becomes a an addon for your your conference for your landscape man I think that's that's a must uh that you got to at least you know see what the interest is it doesn't hurt to see the interest is yeah and program shiny new stuff why not yeah and like I said before if the mvfc is going to let Murray State in I'm looking at Central Arkansas or Eastern Kentucky way more quality ads there for them than Murray State and no offense to Murray State I'm sorry if you're a Murray State fan player coach but the I saying in the moment yeah in the moment right now that listen and and Coach Wright could build a contender there I really like that higher head coach but Murray State has not been the team that it once was for the most part now the now listen riding a horse around the field for touchdowns kind of dope I like the celebration but that's really all they really bring to the table right now now basketball is a different conversation that's a good ad Mar State basketball especially in the John Morant days was a killer but I just don't see the the why you w even consider entral Aransas or Easter Kentucky if you considered Murray but coach let's shift topics here because I know the last topic we might they're gonna have us on here for four and a half hours with this with the last topic but favorites to win FCS national awards in the 2024 season coach me personally I made a list of my top five guys for each award and then I I gave two honorable mentions for each one so I'll kick this one off I do think we're going to have similar ones especially number one for the W let's start with the Walter P that yeah yeah yeah number one favorite Mark granowski South Dakota State quarterback anytime a returning guy is coming back especially coach there's an interesting story line I if I'm not mistaken I got to look up what um what the overall records is I I gotta if they go undefeated this year in the FCS not even that Oklahoma State game I think he makes a run at the winningest quarterback of all time in FCS history that's crazy thinking of the quarterbacks that have come from the FCS lineage that that's that's absolutely crazy because think I mean if you really look at his career coach as a starter Mark granowski has has lost I think one FCS game in his career and I think yeah because his other losses were the uh the game Iowa game the Iowa game where they only lost by one point in that game on the road to a ranked Iowa team I mean that like you're looking at him Coach as I mean I know listen the bar is so high especially when you get into the Steve McNair's and the Jerry Rice and the Cooper cups but when you really have a conversation about the greatest players to play at this level and I don't want to jump the gun too much he he put himself in his in that conversation If he if he wins a thre straight FCS national championships and let's let's put it in even more perspective coach if Mark granowski was healthy and didn't get hurt in the championship game in the spring again he might have four rings they one again every year he's been the starter coach he has led them to the National Title that's a heck of a leader and and no one really I don't want to say knows about him but just imagine if he plays a little farther uh East yeah you know for whatever program uh a little farther east uh how the hype machine I think would really be uh attached to this young man because I mean he's something to watching person as well very impressive yeah I I think he's got to be in that conversation now another guy I really really like coach and the only question I have is some of the weapons listen we just talked to uh about this kid Desmond Reed leaving kind of changes the offense now as much as that's one less weapon for him Coach I almost think like that opens up the possibility that he throws even more right and this is Cole Gonzalez yeah for Western Carolina I mean coach last year he was hurt but he led the number one offense in the nation last year and I think as a sophomore because you know this coach from freshman year to sophomore you want a player to improve but you also kind of get that sophomore slump worry sophomore to Junior's really Weare a player if he is if he's that guy Tak J if he does that this kid's potential is through the roof and I think when you look at the history of the Walter Payton it's a Quarterback Award and if he goes out there and he's leading the country in passing Western Carolina makes a run for the socon some stuff like that in that Kerwin Bell offense you're always going to put up numbers I think Cole Gonzalez has a really really really good shot to win that award uh for the catam outs which would be a huge step forward for that program man who has really not competed at the highest level up until recently yeah and and you know I'm a Cole uh fan and I think if the changes hadn't happened I think that he is you know of course the returner is is one but I think he's one B so it'll be interesting to see how they how he handles those changes that have you know come from coordinator to probably his best player uh to losing his Run game to see how uh you know he takes that early but he's definitely got to be in the uh the number two spot yeah and then number three I I know I just said it was a Quarterback Award so I apologize but if there's a player in the country right now who I think could get it done as a running back I think it's Lan larrison coach and the running back UC Davis coach in only eight games last year he rushed for over 1100 yards 13 touchdowns and on top of that had almost 200 yards receiving and two touchdowns coach he led the country with like 14 yards per game and didn't even play against some opponents where he would have stat patted against they returned so much talent and they're W so I'll say this coach I was talking with the coach about UC Davis yesterday they're wide receivers they have some athletic guys but there's no one who's like that's the go-to guy and we got to get on the ball every play L larris is gonna get a million touches if he could stay healthy me and Timothy have this conversation coach in the from like 2000 to 200 what was it like nine there were like six 2,000 yards rushers in the FCS there hasn't been one since the turn of the decade well offense has changed yeah think about it offensive changes um I think got her said as well and then you know I think now uh I don't know if we'll ever see that again because if a kid does that at the FCF level oh he's gone yeah he's gone like I but luckily with larison I think if there's a running back this year who would make a push at that it would be him just because I think he's going to get the touches and also too me and Timothy kind of did some like looking across you know Jaden Sheran made a strong run at it um there were a few running backs who made a run at it but also too coach you mentioned the evolution of offenses the Evol the evolution of two running back sets or rotations has also greatly impacted that because especially with with Sheran coach they had a goal line back that they would always take him out on which limited his touchdowns and red Z and stuff like that and I think you being an offensive guy I mean even with jarvon you guys had a Niko Duffy you guys had you know people that you would rotate in and out with and so I think that really puts a tough ceiling on a lot of running backs H 2,000 yards the last two guys on my list um CJ Montes um for forom I quarterback is just automatically almost a guarantee to be a candidate for this coachi was super efficient last year first year starting behind deor um and then I'mma put him on here even though I don't think he's going to win it I do think his team's going to be good enough to get there and if he puts up the stats with it it's hard not to consider him cam Miller North Dakota State a quarterback I don't love his passing but coach you know this his rushing stats are going to be there and his total touchdowns are going to be there and that dual threat ability is going to give him the benefit of the doubt and then real quick my two honorable mention will mlan Central Arkansas if Central Arkansas is going to live up to all this hype he's got to have a big year and then two Kaden B at Sacramento State at quarterback we got another dual threat guy who I think if he can do it with his legs that those rushing stats are going to help him jump up there but I would imagine one of those top three guys in larrison rowski or Gonzalez probably should be the odds on favorite to take that one home I was waiting on you with the sack State kid uh because you're you're kind of driving that but but you're not really driving that bus but yeah I was waiting on that one and then the one that I was really waiting on uh Montana State uh kid you know uh I just the injuries injuries and then also too with Montana State their their running backs are so deep that I just don't know if he's gonna have as many T you know as many touches and then two that as as unconfident as I am in cam Miller's ability to be a Dynamic thrower of the football I don't know if Tommy mot has an in them to throw for 2,000 yards consistently like season to season I'm less confident in mot's ability to throw the football than I am Miller so if I don't have confidence that Miller can put up the stats that I want as a passer I don't know if yeah I don't know if I trust mot to do it coach I'll be honest and plus their wver receiving Corp isn't Elite I would say that that hurts but I mean and and we'll move on but I don't know if you have to throw for 2000 I think if you just can be uh but it's it's it's any given year but I think if you can be a person uh that takes over games have those electrifying moments have good numbers he doesn't have to have great numbers throwing the ball have good numbers uh 10 touchdowns two ints type thing I you know I think that can win it any given year as well now somebody just goes out there and throws for 3,500 yards you have no shot but yeah you know I agree man shout to Mia Mike man been a member for 21 months man shout out that's almost two years man shout out to my guy I he's been one of the biggest supporters of the show man so shout out to him uh coach so I got a lot stats his best season was probably 2022 played in 12 games that Year let me just ask you so like let's just extend this like two or three more games I guess if no 12 games of regular season so we'll leave it here he had 1,000 rushing yards 13 rushing touchdowns average about 6 and a half yards per carry threw for 1700 yards 10 touchdowns and four picks does that get him in the conversation I think so if they're winning ball games um and they win the right ball game uh I think so if they pull one of those where it's a million people in the stadium and and he just has one of those nights where he goes off yeah I think that puts him in the conversation those numbers right there on a decent year I I think gets him invited to the to the dinner yeah that's fair now to be fair that year you had jadden Sher and rush for almost 2,000 yards Lindsey Scott threw for like 7,000 yards and Tim de Mor also like I mean it was lot it was hard to get to that dinner that year there was a lot of elite players that um and same for bu Buchanan that year you had like John Pas and Zeke Vandenberg and and David Walker I mean it was just some studs at that one um and yeah um I know it was kind of answered in the chat already I The Watcher uh the Walter Payton strictly offensive that's kind of like the hosman of the FCS and then but buan is kind of like what the bnar or something like that for FCS whatever the defensive award is yeah so but Buchanan I think coach everyone knows um how I feel about this kid the favorite in my opinion should be David Walker for central Arkansas I mean two time finalist coach 40 tackles for loss 20 and a half sacks his first two seasons this kid's Prime to come out and put up just ignorant numbers in this defense yeah if he can stay healthy yeah if he could stay healthy and that defense just lets him go do his thing I mean I I was coach I I I think we posted the article yesterday or Timothy did he he looked at the top single season defensive performances in FCS history and right now coach we've we we haven't had anyone top that 20 sack Mark the closest was Isaiah lwood 19 but last decade in 20 in 2011 Adrien Hamilton at py put up 20 and a half sacks yeah that's a lot of sacks that's crazy in that same year coach in 2011 there was a kid at Bucknell who had 13 picks in one year that's just that 19 sack Mark by Isaiah L which is the record for this decade I think is David Walker I just think he has that potential and he's great at run stopping this is his abil this is his time to prove that he's everything that you know we've been talking him up to be these next two coachs are kind of tied I feel kind of the same about their odds it's and funny enough they have the same first name the Elijah Elijah Ponder at calpal and Elijah Williams at Morgan State I think both of those guys have a really really good shot you look at Elijah Williams I mean 37 tackles for loss 20 20 sacks over the past three seasons for Morgan um the only question the thing that gives me pause about Elijah Williams coach is there's so much talent on that defense right that it's almost going to be like a race to see who gets the stats because then also you got Hunter behind him who is also going to be going for the tackles and the tackles for loss and the sacks and so it's just is he going to be able to load because at the end of the day coach I know people say hate saying that these are statistics Awards but the statistics do hold weight like I think what people don't understand is it can't be one or the other it can't just be film and it can't just be stats it has to be a mix is he going to be able to reach the Benchmark that you need to even get invited to the dance and that's the question I have about Williams Because if you read the numbers from the the winter last year 14 and a half sacks 65 total tackles but 28 tackles for loss yeah that's going to be tough if you've got uh 10 other Ballers out there with you um because at the end of the day you know like you said it's going to be you know everybody's playing their assignment and you're the you're the Bell cow of the defense they're probably going away from you so you know the numbers play A Part regardless of what anyone says the number play you could be a dominant guy and they run away from you everybody knows you're just you know you're killing whoever's in front of you that means nothing if you have zero tackles uh zero stats to back that up so it is Awards or Stat driv yeah for sure they got to be to to a point but like the way I like to explain it for my voting process is in my head I set like a bench and it's like okay like if I don't care if a guy has like four more tackles for loss than you as long as you like if if we have five players coach that all have 15 plus tackles for LW Ander in between 15 and 20 then we can move on and be like okay who's the best overall player who had the most impact let's but yeah you can be the best player in the in the in the subdivision and just had a bad year but at the end of the day if you got four guys with 20 tackles for loss I'm sorry you might be the better Pro Prospect or the better player overall but I can't consider you if have nine tackles for loss yeah because it's just not enough now Ponder has the opposite coach where he's surrounded by so little talent that they might have to quadruple team him at this point and and scheme away from him yeah that's going to be his problem now 13 tackles for loss last year 10 sacks it the good thing is is he plays in a conference where there's he's kind of got a perfect balance coach where there's some teams that are going to air it out where he can maybe Pat his sack stats you got a lot of teams who are running the football and if you can get in the back field and rack up those tackles for loss you could have a 28 tackle for lost year like a Terrell Allen did which is really gonna I think anytime you have Coach where you're talking 28 almost 30 tackles for loss and like 19 to 20 sacks this is hard to argue regardless that you don't deserve the award that's playing on the other side of the ball and that's a uh that's a dominating performance agreed and my last my last two guys coached both linebackers and I want to say I I want to see the day coach that a cornerback wins this award but a linebacker or a defensive end has won 21 straight Buck Buchanan Awards coach the only two players that weren't a d end or linebacker to win it was rashen Matthis at Beth cookman NFL NFL guy and then Al Lucas at Troy back when Troy was FCA I mean and also too because I've always had people ask me coach what do people have to do to um you know like win this award as a corner just to put it in perspective guys Rasheen matthys had 14 interceptions the year that he won this award why were they still throwing the ball to that side of the Feld and on top of that was the fifth leading scorer coach just with his touchdowns on interception returns PP returns and also filling in for wide receiver yeah he wasn't just intercepting the ball he he was taking it the other way everything but the two linebackers coach Adam Bach almost 400 career tackles already for South Dakota State they lose two other linebackers so I think he's going to be the guy last season he was coming off of almost a season ending injury so I think it just took him a year to get back on his feet two years ago coach 125 tackles two picks almost 10 tackles for loss those are the stats people are looking for and then Micah Davy son of a famous um MLB player if I'm not mistaken coach last season 153 tackles in only 10 games that's playing ball that's everywhere and mean these a bad team and so the good thing for mavy and this is no shot at MCN he might be on the field a lot because their offense was really really bad and so he might he might get plenty of chances to pad the stat box and the honorable mention coach Eric Connor from Morgan I kind of mentioned him earlier as at linebacker and then a edge rusher linebacker I really like this kid Coach Riley Wilson out of Montana a guy who I think is a little bit underrated really not talked about especially because um you had what was it uh gner you had some of these older guys kind of take the shine but coach in his first season starting for them 15 tackles for loss and eight and a half sacks last year I think this is the year he kind of gets a bigger role on that defense I can see him put having a crazy year and that's kind of my Darkhorse pick for the buck Buchanon I like the kid at Morgan uh I I fell in love with him last year got a chance to see them uh play and I I like him uh I like him because he's a if they are doing their deal up front he's he's a backer that can run free and uh and that's going to give him an opportunity to start racking up on those half tackles uh putting those things together and then don't be surprised if uh Malachi Bailey jumps up there as well I was waiting for it too I I was gonna say it if you did so I'm glad you with there um coach let's let's get to this last topic um swack head coach rankings entering 2024 obviously our gu L at PB versus everybody started this off with his rankings and it has made it rounds across the internet um before we give our rankings coach I want to get your opinion because I've been kind of vocal about this how did you rank firsttime head coaches that's tough and for me with this it and it's probably not fair but for me with this I went where the program where I view the program let me put it that way where I view the program that they're taking all taking over what I can remember that he has in the coverboard um if he was a head coach somewhere else before that would be a lot easier but for firsttime guys I think you just got to go with the program they're taking over because to me that's going to dictate that first year um you know I don't care if you're Bill bich if you go to a program that doesn't have a lot in the cupboard which happened his last year in New England uh no matter how great you are you're only going to be able to whip up so many meals with pork and beans and uh COA you know you're only going to be able to put so many so many things together to uh to become higher in those rankings so first year guys for me that's that's a really not fair but if you're holding me to the gun to to come up with a list that's how I come up with my list yeah I'm with you I just it's some projecting I think it's tough when like I I'll say this I think looking across the conferences let's just take let's let's remove the Pioneer some of these smaller conferences looking across the FCS the swack is one of the harder ones to rank because you only have one coach that has been in his program for over four years lot of new year notot of a lot of firsttime guys sprinkled in with guys that were interns for a short period of time yeah because it's tough with like a Terrence graves because yeah he's two and 0 but how much stock are we putting into winning one game at the end of the year now it it's a big game I want it's to buy you class no doubt about it no doubt about it I'm not taken away from that but that I I don't know if that's a Tang like I don't know how much that transfers being a head coach throughout the full season dealing with the ups and downs dealing with injuries dealing with locker room politics recruiting strategy running a whole program is not the same as being an intern for a week no I I I was gonna say it's not the same as as having two weeks to hold it in the middle of the road um versus your arch nemesis uh if your kids don't get up for that then you know you're in trouble anyway you know so it's not like uh week one week zero and you've got to constantly get those kids ready you got to constantly get your coaches ready you got to constantly make sure that things are happening across campus the way they need to happen there's just so much going on uh but for that two week stin all you're worried about is your rival and that's that so you know uh a lot of a lot of uh a lot of things in between that that interim for for those two weeks don't get no now we'll start at the bottom we'll work our way up coach I I'll kick it off at 12 I got Chris Dishman if we got a rank first year head coaches I think he's the most unproven right now and he steps into one of the most difficult situations I think now he gets a returning quarterback which is a start but I just got a lot of questions about the overall trajectory of that program even though they do return some guys I just think Chris disman has the most question mark surrounding him especially because he gets deducted points for me coach like you said because he's a first year head coach we don't know and also two it's just that program hasn't been super competitive so therefore I got to put them 12 here I'm sure yeah I know you I can't speak to their competitiveness yeah exactly that's true okay for me but I had I had the same one no I had it I had I had it at the same spot but just when you're talking about their the program's competitive I can't speak on that for last video yeah um 11 for me coach I think 10 and 11 were close I gave I gave one coach The Edge because he won the matchup they're two seconde guys they won won the head-to-head so I got Kendrick Wade at 10 and Alonzo Hampton at 11 and I mean they both for the same reason yeah they neither of them won much and and D that's like what I said coaches only going to rank one to 11 we know who's number one he ain't going to put his boss at 10 like it's okay he said he was like don't do it coach don't rank him oh no no no no no Co listen I I I don't know how coach does it guys so that's why we appreciate him on the show man because there's not any other coaches who' be on here doing what he does man coach this one's gonna be so controversial at nine I got James KY that's what we that's what we VAR um and nine I have uh Raymond Woody uh just because of the way they started this is his second year uh I know the potential's there but that's where I have Coach uh Woody I like it I just I know KY has a lot of coaching experience it's just I mean the the difficulty to come behind Willie is just he's got some stuff in the cover yeah oh he I'm not saying again this is just my thinking yeah he's just got things in the C that he's got some stuff in the cupboard I he's more of like a pro it thing like I think for me on my list seven to nine is like they're just all kind of the same to me like they're they're very unproven it's just I just think he faces a difficult situation and the only reason I had Terrence Graves above him at eight coach is because Terrence has proven he can win in the conference and he's been in the conference for a long time so that I just gave him a little bump there but but I wouldn't mind switching Graves and KY 89 I think they're right there with each other and then I just gave the edge to Raymond Woody because even though last year last year was just like an unwinable situation for him coming off the year that they were having had to replace so much talent they he's been recruiting at a super super high level I just gave him the bump because you got I'm not putting two first year head coaches over a guy who has already been in the conference if that makes sense so that's why I kind of gave him the edge but I wouldn't mind switching to seven and switching it around but I think Woody Graves and Coy are all just kind of like tied at seven for me yeah and um I had you know Graves under under that but yeah uh right after that you know just because of what we're talking about um I throw gramlin in that slot oh um first year um I know they're making a lot of noise but they also lost a lot of uh pieces out of that cupboard as well I like it now what we at six I got Joseph at six I know it seems kind of crazy it's just I he stepped into I I don't really take his record in Nebraska into account as much coach just because he was an interm and unlike Graves he didn't just have to win one game he stepped into a terrible Nebraska program and was forced to coach stem near the whole season facing all these allegations and Scott what Scott Frost just destroyed in in Lincoln and also to I look at him I think the recruiting base that he has in the state of Louisiana where he built that wide receiving Corp that went on to be one of the greatest wide receiving cores in the past decade or so at LSU as the wide receivers coach gives them a bit of an edge now I do agree though the returning cupboard is not what it needs to be we've talked about this on the show Lost Their offensive line both running backs are playing FPS football right now the coordinator hires you know we'll we'll see how that works out there's some question marks especially surrounding the offensive higher I I do think though Mickey Joseph overall just in terms of an overall coach is a little bit more proven than a Graz or a Coy but I'm not going to argue if you have him a little bit lower just because he is a first first year head coach yeah and that's just because like I said uh in my opening when we're talking about first year guys it's the program uh that they inherit to me it's the program that they step into uh day one you are zero and zero uh if you've got you know the the coverboard full expectations are a little different uh if you lose a lot out of that cupboard to me uh that that is kind kind of how I put it one through whatever for me especially if there's no track there's no track record to to to go off of you know right who you got at six coach at six uh and it's as my man oo say stay with me now uh at 6 I I have conell mayor and this is because again now he's the he's the only one that has won a championship in in the conference but since that Championship it's been a slide okay um dang I had him way higher than that um okay top five let's get in top five now because I think once we get to the top five way easier conversation to have because everyone has actual experience at five coach Cedric Thomas if I now the one disclaimer with him and this is and I think people forget because there was a big debate I think it was on Scotty's channel in the chat about this people forget Cedric Thomas like built that team that went on to compete for a swack championship in the spring y that was said's team and I think that's why he's looked at a bit different in my opinion than other firsttime head coaches is because he's proven that he can take a program like uapb and build a contender in the swack and that separates him from other first year head coaches which is why I think out of all the first the first year head coaches in the swag the new hires he's the most proven out of all of them because he's been there before he's been there in the conference and also too as much as it listen I'm not gonna act like all corn just has a million resources and is you know loaded but all corn is a easier to build a team than uapb and so that one I I don't know about I don't know about that now I I do think Cedric Thomas should be somewhere in the top five now the question becomes coach do you give him credit for building uapb and is that enough to bump him over some of the other coaches like a mayor and and people like that and it's like almost how many points like if we were ranking this how many points does Mayor beat on the hot seat impact him because I have mayor at just going to go ahead and put that out there so I got mayor then said in my top five and the only reason I'm putting conell over Cedric is because there's one no head-to-head to Basin on because they haven't went head-to-head as head coaches yet but not yet not yet but they have not yet yeah but mayor did win it like I get the spring thing and like how it shouldn't count as a full Championship but at the end of the day out of all the teams that went on the field and played Jack played I Southern played U Southern played a few games like South Carolina state played even they did play them they won the games that they were that were in front of them and so I get that it doesn't count the same as if like I agree with the Mak fans that say they can't be HBCU national champions because there were too many teams in the HBCU sphere that didn't play I get that argument but to say that they're not swack Champions that swack Championship doesn't count as crazy because if any other school won it they'd be claiming it and oh they definitely it I think the big takeback for some people is that the defending swack Champions didn't play which was you guys and does that change if you guys are in there because I don't I think I think you're confident that you guys beat uapb if if you guys play so I get the I get the drawback of that but at the end of the day he's the only person in these rankings that has won a championship and so you have to take that into account at some point I'm with you on that um you know but again it was from that championship for me and what's happened up to this point is why I have him there uh five I have cozy just because he walks into a situation that has things uh to to be able to hang his hat on there's enough ingredients in there for him to be able to put together a few meals uh that makes it look like you know he at least knows how to cook if that makes sense in that kind of analogy so that's that's where I put him there yeah that's that's completely Fair now I I you know obviously saids one for you so once we get up to one you know I'll discuss my number one because coach's list is out of 11 or no um coach list out of 11 you know says is kind of in his own spot coach three2 and one for me I think we're probably going to order the is very similar excluding said I got Bubba at one E Rob at two and TC at three so I have tca3 E Rob above him because he wanted the head to head yeah and then uh coach McDow because they played for it yep uh so we got the same you know quotequote top three I I think that's where I kind of was now I will say if if you took away that head to head because EOB does have the one advantage over TC and he did it on Jackson's Homecoming on the road which adds even more value to that win I do think TC had the much tougher rebuild than evob because you look at when e robob came in you returned Bubba you returned Adrien Maddox You' returned Mikey Victor you returned um that defensive line two years ago like you had some Talent on that team you had keesan Johnson like you had some dogs on that team like let's not forget their running backs going to Old Miss right now that was on that roster when he got there right TC came in and Coach it was like walking into a ghost town you're like is anyone here there's a lot of lot of lot lot of people took flight I get you I get I'm with you on that but it's tough not to count the head tohe head right at the end of the day like what matters is on the field and then also too think Bubba's got to be number one right now because outside of Mayor who is super on the hot seat right now Bubba win and just won the division last year and when nobody was predicting them to win it coach we were on this show obviously you had all corn I had all corn the media slat media they had southern people were talking about gramlin people were talking about Texas Southern it was all over the place everybody was picking the only team that was not picked above PV was uapb going into last season and they came into the year and now if you want to say they backed in whatever it it doesn't matter how how they got there but they went on the road and beat alorn a tough place to play a a really good team they they beat Alabama state to end the season and a must-win game because they lose that game you guys go because y'all beat Jackson so they won the games that they were supposed to and you got to give them credit on some level for that they beat Southern to end the year I mean they did what they had to do so I think you got to give buba the benefit of the doubt now there were some people saying you should deduct him because he didn't win the swack Championship I just don't like I who do you put him behind because he lost the swack Championship no um I disagree with that because all he did was get his team uh to the finish line and that's that to me that's what it's all about right I I'm with you on that one but I mean we have pretty similar ones I just think if if you took I I think from now on the the rule should be is if it's a first time head coach with no head coaching experience we just can't rate them like if you just take them out I could go with that I can go then it becomes such a because like let me ask you this real quick because we got a little bit of time that took a little bit quicker than I thought it would I'm sure the comments are gonna be wild on it um the Mak less teams I think it's a much more easier rating now the question becomes coach obviously leeh Hall's probably at last who's in the top spot yeah who's in the top spot to me I think it's obvious number one but I think the debate happens in the middle coach do you take what chinnis Barry did at Benedict do you value that more than what Dawson odms did at Southern that's the conversation I don't I don't think you can take uh What uh hold on trying to find my keys for my daughter I don't think you can um I don't think you can do that just because of the level um the difference hold on one second you're good so yeah while coach does that y'all let me know in the chat um like what would y'all's top I I'm gonna just do five M ranking obviously I think Le hle has got to be in six and I I me personally I would put Trey Oliver at number one and then you would go not so fast my okay here's here's why let let me argue it okay I understand what happened last year and Howard winning and you know maybe you maybe you put you know Larry up there but Trey Oliver is the only coach to win it and go win the celebration bowl over a m that Jackson State team was way way way more loaded than FAMU last year and they went in there and beat Jackson in the celebration bowl with shador Travis Hunter Kevin Coleman uh like they went and beat them and then also too they also went to the playoffs and were dominating Richmond till davius goes out of the game with injury I think trades accomplished more even if even if Howard won the the conference last year Central also finished the same record as them and they were bettering out of conference they went out and beat Elon while Howard was getting their heads speed in by some I League schools I just think Oliver's overall resume is better than Larry Scots right now um I I get it it's tough not to put the defending conference Champion number one yeah I mean because that's that would be my one and two um I'm assuming you have I'm assuming you have Larry at two okay that would be my one and two Larry would just be one for me the celebration Bowl outweighs winning the conference one year I get with it I can get with it but I mean it's not like you're talking really really in left field so I mean yeah I get it I'm not I'm not saying it should just be like Larry Scott at four or nothing like crazy like that I think it's one a 1B it's just I it's tough not to be like bro you won it all you were HBCU national champion and beat a Jackson State team that people were saying were unbeatable it made it look easy I wouldn't say man L easy they did go to overtime but to be fair that offense that Jackson State that year their defense was kind of like their calling card to a point and went out there went up and down the field on them they they didn't know what to do with davius yep I AG I just you know and this year I have Larry as number one and Paris the only reason I used the head-to-head is because that's the only head-to-head meeting they've ever had TC and EOB have only faced off once Larry Scott and Trey Oliver have not just faced off once because if you go by that Trey Oliver wins the head-to-head because Trey's beaten Larry more times than Larry's beating Trey so that's why you can't used the head to because if you used the straight up head to-head Paris Trey wins well that was my that was my my head-to head because TC and R Rob the first one rock one in Jackson so that's why I had him above TC yeah I'm with you on that I'm trying to look up real quick like the overall records because if I'm not mistaken that was the first time was that the first time that Howard beat Central in a while right last year if if I'm not mistaken yeah it's been a minute because I'm just trying to look up their overall records real quick why I think it was at least in a three game swing well no because how yeah I think it's two if I'm not mistaken so coach so let me ask you this okay I want to put it in perspective I'm just trying to get people the information this is a good debate Trey Oliver is 29 and 18 with a celebration Bowl victory over one two three four four seasons with with Central not including the covid obviously because they didn't play Larry played two games in the co year went 0 and2 both losses to Delaware state by the way and still has not had a winning record in his career at Howard that he's 14 and 22 as a coach yeah right now at Howard I lost that one so that that's oh God that's that's a tough one yeah I would have lost that one yeah I would have lost that one but but but but I'm still holding one one two now let me ask you okay because this is a conversation too who do you have at three now that now the that's where it kind of gets tough because you know I think once you get past the one and two Mark to be honest I think it becomes uh hold on one second my daughter just decided to I'm back I'm back you got me I got you all right I froze up if you can repeat what you said because I I lost everything man I went out oh okay cool cool uh I said now to me that's where it becomes tricky because you know according to me I don't know what's left in the coverboard at South Carolina state that's fair you know um but then I also know that it whatever was left should still be able to to compete and win versus Delaware no disrespect to them um but it becomes to me that it should be enough to compete and beat northw so I think you have to go Morgan just because and then South Carolina state north for Delaware for me that's how that ends yeah that's that's fair I mean so my personal rankings I think would be Damon Wilson at three odms odms at four chinnis at five uhuh is where I would put it because I do think at the end of the day to say Dawson Odin wasn't successful at Southern is kind of an overreaction I would say yeah that's crazy because I mean he play from back to backs yeah so like I I understand now the reason I know that you don't like the you know D2 to uh you know the the the D2 to um you know f CS comparison all that kind of stuff but I do think when you look at his overall like what he did what Damon did at buoy is much more impressive than what chinnis did at Benedict I can get with that he won just to put in perspective Damon won seven division titles three conference championships was the coach of the year for the conference three times in won two black college national championships and also to won multiple games in the D2 playoffs something that chennis could not do made a heck of a run um that year no doubt but also too you know you look at like a Dawson odms you know does what he did at Southern outweigh that because he won a slack Championship four division titles was the slack coach of the year and Coach what he won nine eight seven games almost every year every year yeah you're tenure but I think the difference is his I don't I just think his Northfolk success has been missing and that kind of goes to my whole with where I put coach mayor at because you win it and then it just kind of goes from there um and uh so I may have to change location the uh Lawn Service just showed up but we can keep going but um I I'm I'm with you on that because that that that's my reasoning with where I had coach Mater uh even though he's the only coach in the conference that's won it when he won it after he won it it's just been kind of a a downward Trend Sil speed yeah that's kind of where I am but I mean I would't even mind if you I I think odms and and um Damon like it it's almost like a tide for third spot like I I don't I get the argument either way it's just do how much stock are you putting their previous stops right do you want to go overall or are we on the what have you done for me lately yeah if you're specifically talking about M I give Damon the little bit of Advantage because he had he faced a tougher rebuild and they were what one game away last year from competing for it so I I get that to a point but man coach this is a good conversation you guys let us know in the comments um man y'all can go all the way back let us know who y who all all the SCS people man let us know who your favorite is for the Walter Payton but bu can in the comments give us your swag head coach Frankies man we're going to talk about the some of the best of them um on the next episode man me and Coach will get together we we'll find a time to uh to to do another live show next week I got some plans me we're going to talk about a schedule also too starting um June 1st myself Timothy we're bringing you guys conference previews we're recording um episodes on each conference breaking down who's the favorite in each conf confence surprise players turning it into a whole article we're going to do full conference in-depth breakdowns of every conference across the FCS so man stay tuned for that as well me and Coach are working on getting some Coaches Corners guests lines up uh coaches Lounge guests lined up so man stay tuned for that as well we're going to have a bunch of content over the next few weeks man the offseason does not stop this show whatsoever man but coach any final thoughts man what do y'all want the lounge put in the chat uh inboxes what do you want the lounge and uh if you know anybody personally uh tell them don't be scared man come on talk with us you know that uh shout out to my high school uh made it to the final four in baseball uh lost in a heartbreaking fashion man three to2 on a pass ball and uh you know state champ little short but we were there uh shout out to mber Senior High School baseball team and again keep rocking with hit that like And subscribe speaking of baseball coach what can we do to get allcorn baseball turned around man I saw some like crazy scores this year man if you know any pictures uh if you know any pictures uh if you know anybody that's close to Derek Jeter Talent uh Aaron judge's Talent get at me I'll get you in touch with uh with those guys yeah again that was another tough situation uh he was hired two weeks and it was a couple years ago no doubt but he was hired two weeks before the school year so you know it was essentially it was essentially like they do in high school you put up the uh try out signs in the cafeteria in the library whoever shows up out there man that's just kind of how it goes so he's been uh it's been tough for him for the last couple years but uh we got to come recruit the 251 listen I tell him I got someone listen now this is a few years away tell him he's got to get that job security up so he can still be there but my guy is one of the best pitchers in the state of Alabama as a freshman right now playing varsity throws some heaters and he's one of the best players in in the 251 area code tell them come get them Faith Academy uh so Academy yeah we'll have to go get them but guys man make sure to hit the like button that's crazy uh Maryland Easter Shore went 0 and 48 I don't think that's ever been done in the history of baseball you aren't that bad crazy that is that insane but guys hit the like but subscribe comment below follow us on social media all that good stuff man but for myself for Coach Fred we are out for right now