����vlog

Well, first and foremost, welcome to everybody and really glad to have everybody here. You know, II I wanna talk *** little bit about our football team. I would address *** couple of things and then certainly open it up for questions. I, I would just say from our end, you know, two practices in the fall camp already, this is, um, you know, purposely wanted to kind of get in fall camp so I can talk about some of our players as we get into this with you guys. Um, but, you know, two days into to fall camp, what I would just say from my end is 11th year being *** head football coach, 11 years in going into my 12th season. And quite honestly, for the last six months, what I've witnessed from what was *** very young football team *** year ago is just been this unbelievable passion to grow forward. And I'm really proud of our football staff, our football coaches and our kids and what's occurred over the last six months. Um, you know, November 26th, that TCU game last year obviously was humbling. Um, not easy, tough. Um And you know, when I, when I walked onto the plane that day, um I think Rob knows this is, you know, we use the book chop, chop would carry water in our football program. We give it to every one of our kids that come in our program and I take that book with me and in the back of the book I had etched after the first year that I read it is when you focus on the roots, OK? And not on the fruits. We're certainly been at our best. And I thought probably, you know, if I was praying for clarity at the time, I certainly got clarity in the TCU game of where we were and maybe where we needed to continue to grow forward. And, you know, I would say by December 5th, I thought there was elite momentum that started to churn um about *** week and *** half later towards the future of our football program. And I think the soul of this football team really started to take shape. And, you know, I, I know I said this probably in January at some point that, um you know, the value systems of almost *** realignment of our football team and our football program uh around the things that have made us great here. And the first thing would have been um you know, understanding the value of one football culture within our walls, man tying in all the pieces that touch our team and our program and aligning our football team to one football culture. Um You know, I, I would say number two is competitive excellence. You know, you lose young football team and you lose seven games in the last possession of the game and those of you that covered us, that's not easy to probably cover and as the head coach, it's not easy to watch. Um, but I think you're diligently diving into, how do we get those things corrected? And how many times have I said, you know, our success here, we play *** ton of one possession football games here. How do we do *** great job winning in the margins when we've been on our best, we've won those margins when we've been in our worst man. We've struggled to win those margins. And so, you know, competitive excellence in things like, you know, strength and conditioning, weight gain, academics, all the things that until the football season actually comes, where can we sink those values into? I would say the third thing is *** standard and growth plan for every individual in our football program. Um Oops Tyson sent you *** chat. All right. Cool, um, standards and growth plan though, for, for, you know, for everybody in our football program. And, you know, my ask was everybody that touches our program and serves our kids academically physically, uh nutritionally, how do we do *** great job of really serving our program forward? Um And then the last thing is 10 strong. You know, there are 10 position groups going into every season, you know, here at Iowa State, that's what we have. And those 10 position groups, how do we get them to be the best in the conference and give ourselves *** chance to play championship football in the fall. And I think for the last seven years, you've seen the majority of us play championship level football or be right there to play championship level football at Iowa State. How do we continue to get ourselves back there and get ourselves where we need to be? And so, you know, some small, small, huge wins that I would say is what are indicators that this team has really bought into that. You know, we had our greatest academic semester in the spring that we've ever had here. *** team GPA of *** 322, our cumulative GPA here is *** 318 GPA, our kids investment into doing right again, great leadership in those areas here at Iowa State. But our kids buy into those value system. You know, I, I think as you see, our football team continue to grow forward this year and man, you'll get to see some of our guys today and as the weeks come and as soon as we get out, you know, and, and play in the fall, um, man, our football team average strength and weight gain of £8 per kid, you know, the Outliers. You're talking about some kids adding up to £2025 of weight gain. And it's been, uh, sheerly incredible. What coach Ky, uh Nicole Kyli, who's our nutritionist and their team has done. And again, our kids' credit to buying into those value systems has been nothing short of exceptional. Um I would give *** lot of credit to our staff. Um I'll start with Coach Haycock and Coach Shiel House. You, you're talking about ushering in some new faces for maybe the first time where we've really had some new faces. Come on board. I, I think those new faces have been ***, *** great, um *** great sense of energy positivity. You're talking about all these new faces coming from program rams that have had elite success. And I think that energy fostered in by some of our great veteran leadership and obviously coach Hill House in *** new role. Coach Haycock continues to do *** great job leading the way, really proud of what that groups looks like and, and really all of this kind of came together really last Saturday and last Saturday, we were able to take our football team, Wildwood Hills Ranch. Uh We had *** 48 hour retreat and, you know, we had *** great speaker. We had *** great opportunity to be together. And then on Saturday, um served about 100 young people uh at Wild Wildwood Hills Ranch. And I, I think one of the things I've always loved about our football team is the ability to understand the value of give more than you take in this ability to serve others and understand that it does, it is really special to play at Iowa State. And one of the great things about playing here is you can use your platform to make *** difference in the lives of other people. And so, you know what I would tell you, uh There is *** lot of energy, there's *** lot of momentum in our walls. We're really, really excited to get going with the football season. Um This group has certainly earned the right to get to fall camp and get themselves ready for the great opportunities that lie ahead this football season. Now, I know all of you, um, certainly would have questions today on sports gambling. I know that's been *** hot topic, believe me in this state and certainly in our football program, you know, iii I understand those questions that you guys would have. Um But what I would tell you is obviously, this is an ongoing NC *** and an ongoing legal investigation. I'm empathetic to you guys because I know all of you have *** job to do and I get it. Ok. I'm also empathetic to the young people and our families that are going through some of this and the reality of it is we just are not allowed to talk about any of those things to you. So from that end, I apologize. I know I've heard man, some people are frustrated because today is different. Um Today is *** little bit different and, and again, II I won't apologize for it. I think today was going to be different no matter what was going to happen because this is *** young team, *** new staff in *** lot of ways. Um You know, I, I felt like one thing I still feel like is guys have to deserve and earn the right to be up in front of you. Um, and this is such *** young team that we got so many faces that I think, hopefully throughout the next couple weeks, I can bring some of those faces to you and some of those people to you and certainly our staff and we will certainly absolutely do that. But, um, you know, today what we do have with our players are some of our veterans and our players offensively, obviously tight end east and dean, offensive lineman, Jared Hufford, uh, wide receiver Jaylen, no, on the defensive side, it's TJ Tampa, it's both and obviously it's Gary on and then, you know, from *** special team's defensive aspect of it, *** guy that's been maybe one of the best special teams players in the big 12 and certainly is really coming on at the, at the defensive spot as well, um, is Darren Porter. And so I want to make sure offensively, defensively special teams, we're talking about football and getting to see and hear some of our guys and like I said, I, I can promise you in *** and I know, um, sometimes this media day has been bigger or different. We will have our coaches in front of you. We will have our players over the course of the next couple of weeks, um, in front of you. But I want to kind of make sure we handle today the right way and continue to move ourselves forward. So with that said, I again, I appreciate you guys *** ton and I'll open it up to any questions and Randy, why don't you start because it wouldn't be *** football season if you don't, if you don't lead the way. Appreciate you. I, I don't know where we can go on here is, is everyone practicing with the team together with the team and where do you stand right now with the quarterback situation with Hunter? I'm not saying he was gonna be the starter anyway, but with Hunter's situation and what do you have now? 33 quarterbacks in the room? Yeah, so, so let's, let's talk *** little bit about the practice piece of it is, um, I would tell you, you know, number one, you're only, you're legally limited to only so many players allowed to practice. Um, you know, and the second thing is we would never comment on who practices or who doesn't practice because injuries and different things. I would say the majority of our football team is practicing and on the football field right now and we are in *** really good spot. That way. I would say the second thing, let me answer directly, the quarterback piece, you know, II I, we talked about this Randy and I think I talked about this after the spring game. Um, one of the things that I, I was probably most excited about our football team going into, um, what I witnessed in January, February and March and then really going through the entirety of spring is the competition. And I think if you look at every one of these co every one of these position groups and I, I certainly dive into all of them if you want me to. That, one of the things that excited me most at the quarterback position is that there was great competition and, you know, certainly we saw growth *** Hunter during, you know, the three or four months that, that, you know, he was out there in spring ball and working. But one of the things that probably excited me the most was what I watched from, you know, Rocco Beck, think him getting great football reps *** year ago, you got to remember he's *** true freshman. He got there last, last year, um, and really came in was not an early enrollee, you know, so Rocco really grew through the football season, I think, really by the mid point of the season, took over the two position and then really put himself in position to get in football games. And, you know, when he got in games, there were *** lot of really positive things that started to occur and I think it gave him confidence going into the offseason. You know, I think from JJ Cole's standpoint, um, one of the benefits for JJ is he got spring practice and I think we all know that have covered this area, certainly know JJ *** lot of talent. Um *** lot of great God given ability, uh *** great passion for the sport of football, really great growth in spring ball. And, you know, I think he's really had *** great summer obviously as well. And then for us to get Tanner Hughes, *** guy that um has played football, I mean, has played college football reps. Um, *** guy that, you know, has had *** unique pathway in that Northern California area, like *** lot of other players, um that have kind of come out of that area at the quarterback position, you know, where they, they went to junior college and then have gone on to play power five football and, you know, has *** lineage of his father, um and his uncle doing the exact same thing Tanner, you can almost see the confidence in him already. Um Just because he's had the ability to already play and go through fall camp So, you know, we feel like that's *** really healthy room. Um We're really excited about it. And again, for me at the quarterback spot, we've seen *** bunch of different quarterbacks have great success here. You know, you've seen Kyle and, you know, obviously you've seen Brock and I think one of the great traits is, you know, the only thing I need those guys to do, lead the lead the team and take care of the football. And I, I think those guys have *** lot of confidence to be able to do all those things. And I, I would tell you, I think their supporting cast around them is, is really talented as well and we're really excited about that group. I, no, I think it's really hard to have *** number one. I think you already knew the answer or what I was gonna say. Um, probably, and, you know, I, I joke that somebody asked me, well, when you get to announce the starting quarterback, I think he, when, when I announce one, probably by November at some point is probably at some point when, when I would do that, don't, please don't. Um But you know, the, the reality for us is I, I think it, we have to watch this competition and you've heard me say this *** million times, you don't even know what you have until the lights come on. And I, I think we got to continue to have *** challenging fall camp, which we were gonna have no matter what the situation was and, uh, and continue to watch these guys grow forward. I'm really confident in, in the who and I'm really confident in their talent and I really look forward to watching that group develop. What was your reaction to allegations of your players allegedly betting on their own games? Yeah, I, I, you know, I, it's such *** good question. I, I, first of all, II, I think the the reality of any of this, most of us are parents in here, right? And I, I think one of the things that I, I love my job because part of what I love about being *** college football coach is the growth of young man to man, 18 to 22 years old. And the reality of it is, you know, somebody said, well, man, is this *** culture issue or this, you know, this is the issue at hand, is *** society issue and the reality of it is society issues are always going to challenge the culture, whether it's your family, culture or your football culture. And what you are always constantly trying to do is educate your young people to make great decisions to man, make great choices and to put them in the best position to be successful and become the best men that they can possibly be. And so, you know, II, I think that my, my only reaction is we know, the reality of that situation currently is, it's an ongoing investigation. We, we don't know anything more than that and I think time will tell what all those things really are and what you do is just because *** young person makes *** mistake, you don't give up on them. You continue to love and care for them and, and, and help them through whether it's going really good or whether they're going through tough and time times when you, I guess, then look back on your efforts, you being cumulative as *** program and an athletic department to put players in the best position to understand the severity of gambling at all. And then on your own game, how do you evaluate? Well, I think it's, it's anything if it's not, you know, maybe if it's not where it wants to be or you need it to be, you know, you, you evaluate it and you say, man, we wanna be our best. I, I will, will say this, I think our compliance office, um, does *** really good job working really hard to educate our young people through different periods of time through the year of, you know, educating our young men on what the NC *** rules are and what is going on. And, you know, again, it's the constant messaging of that and the constant messaging of myself about choices and understanding that the choices you make, have *** direct outcome on the goals and aspirations that you wanna have. And so, you know, I, I think any time that, you know, something isn't exactly where you want it to be, you reflect and say, how can we do it better? At least that's, that's how I look at those situations and, you know, um it's *** situation for all of us that we have, like I said before, there's great empathy and, and I think we always look how can we continue to do it better for the betterment of everybody else. But what I would say, you know, is I, I do think our staff has done *** really great job of doing and helping our young men try to understand the NC rules. Culture is *** thing you've brought up *** couple times already and you talked about alignment in one culture. Would that suggest that that wasn't necessarily the case last year or previous year? And what are your feelings of your culture being able to handle what is gonna be *** lot of scrutiny and what is likely going to be *** lot of uh controversy, twist turns and everything that comes along with it all in all of it? Yeah, I, I, again, great question. You know, I, I would say, do I think we were drastically off culturally? No. Do I think um handling what happened? 21 and 22 were certainly unique situations, you know, 21. Um you know, obviously extremely veteran team, *** lot of expectations. You felt like you were *** hair off at times in 21 and 22. You're the third youngest team in college football and you act like it at times and I think, you know, and, and you can say you coach like it too, right? Like I think, acted like it maybe coach like it at times. And so I think from our end of it, you're, you're constantly trying to evaluate where are we *** hair off our hair on. I, I think one of the things that I would say, culturally that I was really proud of *** year ago was our kids never quit. Like we kept playing and I know I've preached forever. Don't worry about the result. Like we need to worry about the process and probably *** little bit of veteran leadership and some of those guys that we've talked about at nauseum here, you know, and yet so many of those young guys that are back on this team that have now becoming great leaders. And I, I do feel culturally we're as aligned as we've been. And I think that's uh any business, any organization, I think you're always yearly looking at where is your alignment? Are you where you wanna be and where you need to be? And I, I just feel like to me, there's just *** sense of oneness and energy here that we've had and obviously what we need it. Yeah, every football season every team in America is gonna have some sort of adversity. Our adversity has come *** little bit earlier. And, you know, II I think I said this at big 12 Media Day and you know, you gotta, I feel like our program has always been worthy to suffer since we've been here. And the only thing I mean by that is I think suffering when you go through hard times, it has the ability and you can persevere through it. It brings endurance. And I think the one thing that endurance reveals his character and one of the things that I think this, all of the things going on that are outside of our walls, you know, are things that, that are going to test our endurance and character of the guys inside of our walls. But um, there's no group and no young men and no coaching staff that I'd rather be with, uh going into the 2023 season than what resides here right now. So we're really, again, we're really excited about the opportunity at hand to kind of get on the field and play the sport of football. Matt, you've never been afraid to play true freshman. I mean, dating back to your first year, we saw *** bunch of them um through Mike Rosen there on the road at Iowa feels like it's more prevalent now in the sport to play these guys earlier. And I, I guess with you have *** true freshman quarterback that could be in the mix, depending on how it plays out. What have you learned about that? Where, where's your stance on throwing those guys in now? You know, now that you've been here for, what is it? Eight years now? Crazily. Yes. Yeah. Um, yeah, you know, I, I think the, the point on true freshman being ready to play you've seen in the last five years, maybe even 10 years is this shift to high school. So I think even look in the state of Iowa, right? And, and so many of you guys are from the state and cover the state high school football wise too that you see these kids going to trainers and you see these guys that have shifted from football, football players used to be wrestlers and basketball players and doing all these things where I feel like you've seen these guys really get into sports performance so much earlier in their career. And I think what has created is young, young players coming in and being at least more physically ready to compete on the football field. And II, I would say from an Iowa State standpoint, you know, I look at those teams where we've been, we've been really special where we've reached our full potential. And I think one of the special formulas for us has been, you gotta have great veteran leadership, but you gotta have *** really, really powerful freshman class. And because when you have *** really powerful freshman class. What it does to the roster is you go out to practice and now there's this really talented freshman that's ready to play and it's pushing everybody and making everybody kind of feel uncomfortable, to be quite honest with you. And, you know, I, I know from our end I, this is, we'll see, you know, this is me speaking this in August, but I would at least say from the traits of the young men that I saw come in January and to what I've witnessed in the first two days of fall camp is that this is maybe the most talented freshman class that we've ever brought in here. And, you know, uh, *** lot of credit to our staff because we brought it in under *** four and *** football season, adversity and tough time. Um, those kids stayed the course with us and yet those kids I think really believed in who we are in the value system of what this program is really about. And, you know, I, I still think young kids today we talk tradition like they, they don't know *** lot of tradition, right? But these kids have kind of stayed on the value system of why and who we are and what this program's been about. So I think this, this group has been really special. You know, I, I, Benny Nago certainly is *** guy that's, that's come in, you know, in January, he's flashed and maybe as, as just pure talent of, of *** receiver that we've had long can really run, can threaten you vertically. I'm really excited. Certainly about what he's, he's looked like already. I think we'll certainly push, you know, that group and I think that group is probably more improved than people think with Jayden Higgins and obviously Jaylen Noel and some of the guys that we, we're getting back there that I, I feel really positive about, you know, you got *** guy like Ben Bremer who was *** huge recruiting win at the end of recruiting, actually didn't come here, um until, you know, Ben didn't really touch base with us in, until June and yet Ben's *** guy that put on £20 since the time he was here in June to, he's £241 the first day of practice. And you're talking about 67 kid that's physically can add great depth to what I would already say is one of the deepest positions, you know, at, in our team right now and that's the tight end group. Um You know, you, you go to the tail back position and you talk about what Carson Hansen, um and, and *** Sama, you got two guys, the Gator, *** players of the year in both states. Both guys uberly impressive of what they bring to the table already in terms of competitive excellence and things that we've talked about. We talked *** little bit about JJ, um, you flip on the defensive side of the ball and, you know, I, I think there's guys across the board there, I'd probably start with Jack Sadowski, you know, *** guy that had an incredible spring and was running with the ones by the end of, of spring practice at, at Mike linebacker and *** guy that's, you know, physically, really talented and, and can do *** lot of really special things. So, you know, I, I think you look at this team and I think that's one of the special things that you're really excited about is probably what this freshman class has got the ability to bring. Um, you know, Samuel Sama is *** defensive end that, you know, I watched the game last night and you're like, man, that guy's really special that was playing with 99 on his back, man. Do you ever have *** chance to get *** guy that's got some of those traits and, you know, Samuel's flash, some of those kind of built the same way in talent. So, you know, there's, there's, there's, there's things there that you're really, really push on and really excited about young pups. We'll see. Lights gotta come on. We know freshmen, you're talking about them, we'll see if they're gonna show and what they, what they do. But I think the one thing they've already done is heighten the awareness of everybody in the football program because of their love for football and honestly their God given ability. So we're excited about those guys, Matt. Um, I guess I'll apologize for asking you to elaborate on that moment after TCU. Um, but in as much as it was an aberration, in terms of the points that were allowed, there's always seemingly with the post losses, there's an absurd stat and I think they had something like 375 yards or something for 62 points. And I was like, sorry for the preamble. I don't think I've seen that happen. And what was it like in *** season of that were coming down to last possessions? It seemed like there maybe were *** lot of those moments where it was like, how did that happen the way that it happened? Yeah. You know, I, I think Rob the, the, you, you know, you're, you're reflecting going into that TCU game, you know, it just, at least I was, you know, you, it's Thanksgiving, you're going to play those guys. It's the end of the season. We just gut wrenching loss to Texas Tech. Um, not pretty, you know, and I think you're, you're asking yourself for clarity, like I was like, where, where, where are some of these things? And I think one thing that the TCU game at least gave you now TCU give them credit because we probably played *** very similar game the year before the opposite way. Right. And the, the reality of it is, you know, you tip your hat because that we, we saw that end up being *** great football team, but you look at some of the stats even in that game and you're like, dang, you know, there, there's still some moments in that game. They're like, we're playing, there's some traits of really good things occurring here. But the things that got you beaten some of those one score games got you got you embarrassed by *** really good football team turning the football over, right? Um, couple of special teams there, um, you know, couple of big plays in some critical moments. And so it's just again, I think it was very revealing to what gaps do we need to continue to fill in right now and continue to move ourselves forward. So, um, you know, if you, if you remember back to 16, you know, very similar to that West Virginia game, that last game of 16 and, and, you know, tough, tough, tough to be *** part of that, tough to be the coach and yet you also have to be the first one to say, where do I have to get better? And how do we do *** great job leading this thing forward? And *** clear specific question, uh, Jared Hufford is gonna be here, how would you, how would you describe his career thus far? How he's developed and also the offensive line rooms, continued growth presumably since spring summer. Yeah. You know, I let, let me say this about Jared because I do think in, in two position 22 guys, we got two seniors that are coming today, right? And I, I think this is *** great, you know, because you can sit up here and say, man, everybody gained £8 but like look at TJ Tampa, he's *** senior and the physical growth that that guy has made in the last seven months, right? Like freshmen are supposed to grow, but the seniors to be able to physically take that growth has been remarkable. And I think you look at what Jared's done. I mean, Jared is, has put on £2025 physically pound for pound. One of the strongest kids in our football program, *** £600 squatter, you know, £400 bencher, man, *** guy that looks like what, what *** guy like Jared should look like. So again, those guys buying and growth process to, man, we're seniors, but hey, we gotta grow too. And where's that growth? Got? Got *** curve and II I think for, for Jared and himself, what are the things I've always appreciated? He's always done what's best for the team, not what's best for Jared because Jared, we've asked him to play left tackle, we've asked Jared to play right guard. Um, you know, he's been the guy over the last 2.5, 3 years that wherever we've needed him to be, we've moved him for the betterment of the football team. And, you know, I, I think one of the things that I really appreciate about Jared is he's the most selfless player, um, that we've had in that offensive line room and he's *** guy that's always doing what's for the betterment of the team. I think he's really took ***, uh, I think he's took the mission of, I want to change where this whole line room is to where it wants to go. He's been the guy that's been leading in the front honestly since January, um, and not just by his actions but obviously vocally too and, and *** kid that we're really proud of. I, I think he's got *** chance to be, you know, *** draft pick here and *** guy that's got *** chance to have *** really special career for *** long time. I, I think one of the best interior players in the conference on the offensive line now, you know, that offensive line room, uh you know, uh again, I can sit up here and say, way we're gonna be great. We gotta prove that we're ready to take another step forward and we know that, um, we understand that I think really important for, for, for our group, I would say competition wise, what I love is we've been in two practices already and there has been, um, every time I see who's with the ones, it looks like it's another group of five guys and, and, and it's looked like that and I think it'll look like that probably for the next three weeks until we can see who's ready to compete. The guy. The, the great thing that group's got is great competition. I think there's been, again, I give Coach Clinton *** lot of credit, but I really give Coach K *** lot of credit too physically. This is *** different looking offensive line probably than we were *** year ago. And I, I think that part certainly will aid in our growth process. But, uh, you know, we, we obviously have to prove it and not sit up here and say it. So I think that group understands that and I think Jared is ready to, to be the leader of that group for sure. Hey, Matt, what, what is the impact that, you know, Coach Paul has really had on the white out room since he's come in? And where are you most impressed with that room? You mentioned *** couple of players, but maybe specifically some of those depth players in there as well. Yeah. You know, Coach Paul again, you talk about championship pedigree, you know, and, and Noah won *** college football division two championship, you know, in Minnesota, Duluth was *** great, great football player up there captain, um, then was *** part of, you know, as an offensive coordinator there at Duluth, comes back, goes in the education world comes back, hired as the offensive coordinator, calling plays for *** team that gets in the national semifinals and then from there it goes to North Dakota State. And obviously, you know, you're, you're talking about again, one of the best programs in college football and the success that he's had not only in the development of those players, but schematically in some of the things that they've done was, was *** key assistant to all those areas. And so I think Noah brought *** lot of not just ***, not just *** winner but *** guy that was *** great position, coach, *** guy that has played that position, which I always, you know, I think is really big and on top of it, uh *** guy that understands what it looks like to win and win, how we need to win and wanna win football games. And so I think Noah has brought *** lot to the table in that wide receiver room, but I think he's also brought, brought *** lot to the table in that offensive staff room. Um, you know, I, I, when you look at the position group in, in general, you know, I, I think again it starts for me with the two guys that have at least proven it in college football. I mean, Jayden Higgins, um, Jayden is *** guy that's got great talent. You look at the tradition of the extra receivers that we've had here that are elite players and, you know, the, the Lazard and the Butlers and obviously the Hutchison. And I, I think certainly Jayden, you go back and you watch his collegiate career. He's got those traits. He's long, he's got the ability to go get the 50 50 ball. He can really run. You know, then you got Benny Nago who's kind of cut out of the exact same mold as Jayden, which is really exciting. You know, I think *** guy that's really come on as *** freshman that we red shirt *** year ago is Jason Essex. You know, Jason's £217 he's 62, you know, 6 2.5, big hands bully, you know, can really do some things that are really special, really has grown physically, uh through the all season, has had *** really good start to fall camp. Um, and Greg Gaines, you know, you talk about those big receivers and then you got some guys that can really run. You know, I, I think when you talk about that obviously is you talk about demetri Stanley, you talk about Jalen Noel. Um, you know, *** guy that we missed *** year ago that, that, you know, you're talking about *** 10, 4 guy in high school in the 100 is Adams and, you know, we didn't have him all season and, you know, to get Kron back and healthy, I think showed out *** little bit in the spring game and the guy had *** couple of really nice plays has had *** great summer, has really done *** great job for us in there. And then some guys, I think that, that have proven that they can help us. You know, you got *** bit who has made big plays and big moments. Kind of been the steady eddy of the guy that can do it all. Jack of all trades. And then Daniel Jackson, *** guy that's kind of been on the verge of times here of, of man, really doing some special things and just trying to put the consistency to that all together, I think has elite traits but, but really kind of waiting to watch what that guy does and, and then, you know, the other guy that I think would be foolish not to talk about black, you know, k um you know, £225 again, that physical big body guy that, um you know, we're really excited about what he brings to the table and getting him in January was really big for us. So that, that's kind of what that room looks like and, and excited about that room right now. Matt. Matt, you talked about the freshman running back. But what about, what about, what about getting Eli and the PPJ, the Stanford kid? That's the one I'll never get that right. Um Are they practicing with the team? And, and, and how are they doing? And one more. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. And then once you get done with that, do you know of any, how many more players if any could be under, under the situation? Yeah. Yeah. Um, so let me answer the second question first. Uh you know, right now Randy, we, we don't obviously, um, the communication I do think internally has been really good and I think it's hard for even internal because it's not just ***, this is not an NC *** or an I *** state investigation. This is an NC *** and *** legal matter. I think our, our leadership team here has done an incredible job what they can tell us telling us. Um, you know, um when you talk about that running, running back room, you know, the only guy that has in practice is Grell. Um, you know, that when you look at, you know, the running back room, I, I would say to me when you talk about that room, you, you, I think you look back the last football season and the thing that's got me really excited was I got up here last year and I talked to everybody probably about *** freshman. And Cartas Norton, you saw that first run against Simo and you're like, oh, this guy's ready to explode and man, his hamstring, you know, it's *** hamstring terror he's out for seven weeks and you get him back at the end of the season and then he has *** really good finish that last game, you know, probably was his best game as he's kind of getting back in the groove. Um You know, you talk about Eli Sanders, I think Eli um man, maybe wasn't ready in the moment early in the season. You talk about Kansas in some of those games and then you talk really about his game at Texas Tech and his game at TCU and what he did. Um And I think we've all really felt very confident about what Eli Sanders has got the ability to be. And you've seen elite flashes. Can he put the consistency together? And then you get to find *** guy like AJ, you know, and AJ, you know, one of the things that he, he brings to the table for us is man, *** physical big back, complete tailback, *** guy that can kind of do everything and, you know, *** guy that's played the position, *** guy that understands it. And so, you know, I look at that room and I see five guys right now that are practicing that are like they're, they're ready to compete to be the guy where, you know, again and you were probably *** year ago, you weren't in that boat. You were really young behind, you know, obviously, um you, you know, you, you thought you were at one place and then probably didn't have the depth that you needed, at least ready to play. And you put that on me as much as anybody. So, yeah, that's how I feel that. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, you know, obviously we have, we have guys that don't practice for *** multitude of different reasons. Yeah. Hey, coach, um obviously the secondary set *** high bar last season. How do you feel? How do you view the capability of that group and how important is it to have some consist, consistency and continuity on that side of the ball? Yeah. Um I think it's huge consistency and continuity in college football. I always still feel like our, our best. Um I think when you look at that group and I, and I, I look forward to talking about this secondary because to me, um I, I want to give credit two fold first of all to coach Broomfield and I, I think one of our huge offseason hires was coach Poit coming here. Um You know, Hank is 10 year NFL Vet won *** Super Bowl with the Patriots, *** guy that's played that corner position at an elite level. Um You look at the development of the NFL players he had at Toledo, you certainly look what he did at Wisconsin and the pedigree he's brought here. Um I think he's already had *** huge impact in that room as well. And you talk about 22 guys with broom and you talk about Hank as great teachers, not just teachers of the, of the game, but teachers of young men. And so I think that group is really fortunate. Um You know, I, I think when you look at the corner position, everybody's gonna talk about TJ and miles and they should, those guys are, are great players and they've proven to be great players. I think the thing that you wanna have in college football is elite depth. And, you know, I, I would tell you, you got Darrin Porter who probably had *** very similar TJ. Tampa year. Um, if you look at TJ, sophomore year to what Darian did, we moved him from receiver to corner last year, man, had some good plays with hair off on *** couple of other plays. But man, I think *** guy that's just ready to explode, um, in terms of what he can do for this football team on the defensive side of the football, you know, you look at *** guy, *** freshman last year, Tarell Crosby, um Tarell Crosby red shirted *** year ago, um, has elite traits really showed up in spring ball was nothing short of exceptional, um, at the corner position, you know, in spring ball, I think we'll continue to push for playing time this year. Um Miles Norwood, you know, we had 22 guys that literally got hurt in the and they were out, uh after the second game of the season, Miles Norwood who's *** long really talented corner that came to us, uh from, um Iowa Western Junior college *** year ago and, and really has done *** great job and then John Tez Williams had shoulder surgery after the second game *** year ago and he's back and I would say the two guys that probably had the best two practices now, that's not real full. Right. There's not pads on yet, but there's, it's on. So it's kind of football, but those guys have had really, really good practices and it's really exciting to see them. So, man, you're talking about six names, you know, right now, *** corner that you're like, man, guys are, are coming in and, and ready to compete. We're really excited about that group. Then you go to safety and obviously you have three guys with bow, you have Jeremiah Cooper who probably doesn't get enough credit for the season. He played as *** true freshman last year and then Malik Vernon kind of in the same boat, you know, we lost Malik, um, you know, after that Baylor game and that was *** really tough loss because you kind of had Malik starting in the boundary. You had Anthony starting in the field. One of the blessings of that loss was Anthony went to the boundary and Jeremiah Cooper got all those reps and had the ability to play the field and played really good. And I think the reward is *** year later, man, you got, got *** lot of guys that got experience there at that at that safety spot, but then, you know, you talk about guys behind him, you know, Trey mcgee, um, got some, some reps *** year ago, started to play really good football for us at the end of the football season. You know, he's back with experience that we're excited about. Um, you know, I, I think another guy, Trayvon Howard, we've been really, really excited about Trayvon Howard. Uh, again, had *** shoulder injury, missed him for the majority of the football season healthy, had *** really really good spring practice, *** physical mental safety. I think that middle safety position, you gotta have depth and guys that can play. We've been our best there when that's happened and then Blake Thompson, um, you know, another young man that we red shirted *** year ago that came to us from *** junior college and we kind of put on, put on the shelf *** year ago, had surgery about midway through the season. *** man had *** phenomenal spring and get another guy that's really done *** great job. So, you know, I, I think when you talk about that group and Ben Nickel Cam Smith *** freshman there, um, you know, Ja and Patton has already come in with some wild moments. You know, you talk about another freshman, Chris that should be worthy of being noted. I mean, J Mo has come in and, and been really, really impressive early on. So to me, *** lot of competition, *** lot of guys fighting for playing time and, and again, um, you couple that with on the top end guys that have proven it in games. It's, it's usually *** pretty healthy situation, ma, um, sort of *** two part question here, but they're, uh, they're connected, uh, if you could clarify or amplify for me, why coaches aren't available today? And then secondly, uh, what is it about Nate, that, uh, made him an offensive coordinator in your eyes, you know, the coaches piece of it is I think was, and, and I'm just gonna be completely transparent, you know, with some of the news that broke Wednesday, we didn't know some of that news, you know, like I think all of that is man, so new to us and we got *** lot of new faces. Um, and I, I just felt like from my end of it, it should be me being out here and talking about our football program and our coaches will certainly be available as, as we get into the fall camp. I, I want to get off to *** great start. I do and I wanna, I want our guys to focus on caring about our kids and kind of getting ready for practice and I wanna make sure that I'm the guy that's up here talking about our football program. But, uh, you know, we'll make sure that our staff is going to be available through the entirety of, of, uh, the rest of camp. So, uh that, that's just completely honest and transparent. Um I know that probably doesn't make everybody happy around here. Um, I apologize if that offends anybody, but I think from my end, I, I wanna do what's best for our kids and certainly best for our football program and continue to keep that momentum we have going forward internally. I, I think the second part of Nate's question is what makes him really special. And I, to me, you know, Nate is, he's *** great football coach and *** great football mind what I love about Nate more than anything is the who Nate House is. And in college football, you know, we're dealing with 18 to 22 year old young men and I know I, I've went on my about that. Um but I do, that's what I believe. I believe that we are not just building football players and football schemes and football teams, but we're building young men into men. And I think one of the things that Nate Nate certainly has the maturity of and probably through his own collegiate experiences of, you know, good days and tough days is understanding that value system. And I think Nate has done *** great job of, you know, we build *** really good staff around Nate. Um I think he has done *** really great job of, you know, not only from *** football X and O standpoint, where can we be better you know, obviously we have to be better. You know, we, we took *** significant step back *** year ago and *** lot of it, we lost *** lot of really good players that were the bulk load of success we had. But, you know, there are still some areas that we need to improve structurally and, and making sure that we have *** great plan to give our kids the best chance to be successful. And, you know, I, I think Nate's got that, uh that humility, that character, um and the vision to lead the football team, you know, from the offensive coordinator standpoint. And I also think again, playing quarterback is ***, is ***, is *** great benefit. Um to Nate, you know, I think that quarterback position, we know that it, it's, it's like the head football coach, it gets evaluated. Um, you know, probably the most, it's got the ball in his hands as much as anything. And, you know, I think Nate's understanding of that both mentally, physically and all the intangibles that come with that. I think it's been really great to have Nate in that room coordinating from the quarterback position as well. So I think they, they've certainly got off to *** great start and I give *** lot of credit to Nate, but that would be my answer to that with Jordan Lang. I believe the new special teams coordinator. How is he balancing between running backs coach and special teams and then is there *** new emphasis or maybe more of an emphasis on special teams? Yeah. Um, so, so, you know, Jordan's come in, uh, you know, one of the great things about Jordan's is, you know, he's *** former head football coach and, you know, head football coach at the nai *** level, you know, I, I think one of the great things about when I was the offensive coordinator in my union, I was the recruiting coordinator. I was, I did the laundry. Um, I was responsible some days to like, paint the football field, so you gotta do it. All right, like you don't have all these great people that are here to help serve you in all those areas. And I think Jordan being the head football coach at, you know, and building *** program from scratch, that's what was my appeal. I knew he could handle, um, you know, being the running back coach and also serving the duty as *** special teams coordinator. I think again, it's about anything, just like I said, with Nate, it's not one person, it's building *** great staff around him, you know, offensively, Sheldon Crony is back as *** graduate assistant. Um, Sheldon thinks he was *** great player, but he was *** really good football player here for us. Um, and so, you know, but *** guy that understands our system knows, knows what the expectation level is. So that's *** great asset to coach langs for sure. And then, you know, from *** special team standpoint, you know, we've got some great quality control coaches that have been with us. Uh Roy Walling who again thought he was great, special teams player was *** really good special teams player, you know, so he, he's there to help him be an asset. Uh Rob Grandy who's been with us over the period of the last 6 to 7 years. And so, you know, philosophically as they change. No, I think what we need to be is we need to, I think the best thing is we, how can we be the best teachers for our kids? How can we fundamentally make sure that what we're asking our kids to do align towards schematically what we're trying to do. II, I think sometimes we get, uh get caught up in the philosophy that most people are doing the same things. It's how we do them. And I think that's one of the great things that Jordan's kind of helped given in *** vision to is the process of that. So I think he's off to *** great start. And again, um, you know, excited about coach LA certainly being *** part of our program, I got two. The first one is you mentioned, there's some things you don't know and things you learned with the rest of us this week, it's the level of concern. There could be unforeseen disruptions specifically related to gambling, whether it's tomorrow next week or October. Yeah, it's, it's, it's *** great question. I, I think, you know, you always have concern, especially how things have kind of evolved over the course of, you know, the summer and just how it is. I, I think what you, what you try to do is, is continue to evaluate the situation for what it is and, and I know I said this and I wasn't being smug in, in Dallas, you gotta protect the team and every decision you make has got to be for the betterment of the team. And, you know, again, that's, that's really what we're trying to do, taking the best communication we get from the university, um, try to protect our football team and obviously, um, do everything in our best interest for everybody involved because it's really, that part is really important. I think this might be the first time since Lanning moved *** linebacker that you guys are opening *** season or it doesn't seem pretty obvious who your quarterback is gonna be. What is having that, not uncertainty but competition within practice, do both positive and maybe not positive for the entire football team. Yeah, see, I, I, and I'm with you, I think it is that there's *** lot more positive than not positive because I'm, I'm probably so bullish on the talent and what I've seen from the guys that are competing at this spot. I, I, I probably was even more nervous then because I didn't know what we had to be quite honest with you. And that's *** great point. You know, I think, you know, you were just, you didn't, you couldn't forecast what the future would look like there. Now, I know I have *** really good indication of what the future looks like. We've been in this, somewhat of this system for *** while. Um, we know what are those things that we're looking for when it is? Maybe cloudy of exactly who that person is. And I, I think to me, when you have competition like that, not me. And you've talked about this *** little bit like it's competition drives the product. And to me, the cream always rises to the top that I feel like at times where we've gotten in trouble here is when the, and it's, it's natural. There's an almost an entitlement to, oh, I'm the guy. And next thing, you know, there's *** lack of growth and that growth plateaus and you don't have to fight for your position. And, you know, again, when I'm, I'm using division three Mount Union, one of the great things there though. We had, we had great players and you had to come every fall camp to earn the right to be the starter. And to me that's been an ongoing process here. You know, I, I, is it *** challenge here at times? Yes. Do we have to continue to be our best? Yes. I give Derek *** lot of credit in our staff because I think we've recruited, that's not fluff. Like I think you look at the numbers, we've recruited really well in the last couple of years, we have good talent here and that is allowing us to have great competition in practice. But at that quarterback room man, when that's competition, I think it raises everybody's level across the board. So, um I, I almost see it as excitement and I think it's almost given us some energy as we've gone into fall camp because you can feel it and, and there's, there's talented guys competing, which I, I think is certainly *** bonus from our end of it. So great question. Thank you.