Episode 118 – UTSA head coach Larry Coker sees bright future in San Antonio

Road Runners begin play in WAC this fall, move to Conference USA in 2013

Larry Coker is ready to get going for the 2012 season after returning to the sidelines last fall. AP Photo/Eric Gay

University of Texas at San Antonio head coach Larry Coker was my guest on the podcast today and we tried to cover as much ground as possible in a short amount of time. Among the major topics we did cover was the quick rise of the UTSA football program. Last year saw the first football game played in program history. Next year they will be playing in Conference USA.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Coker said of the program’s rise through the ranks of college football.”We never really thought it would be that fast.”

But don’t let that lead you to think that Coker and the rest of the program in San Antonio are intimidated. “Though it is a challenge I think it is going in the right direction as something we needed to do and I think it’s something that you’re really going to see this program grow because of it.” As for recruiting, Coker knows that the rapid growth of the program has a benefit as well.

“These kids in Texas, they want to play the best football they possibly can play. They want to be a division one player.”

Some of the discussion points in our short time include getting an update on what Coker has been up to since we last saw him coaching at Miami, what lured him to UTSA, starting the program from scratch and the benefits and challenges in doing so, recruiting challenges in the state of Texas, which postseason format he prefers and more. I realize there are some questions that were left out of the conversation. I had some questions I would have liked to touch on if time allowed, but there was only so much we could discuss in this short period of time.

Have a listen to the podcast below, then make sure you are subscribed in iTunes, and following the show on Get Glue! Follow UTSA Athletics on Twitter @UTSAAthletics (follow me too). And don’t forget, this podcast can be heard at anytime on Stitcher Radio (and click here for a promo code to get started and a chance to win $100)!

A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information.

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Episode 117 – 2012 Heisman Trophy preview with Heisman Pundit

Chris Huston of Heisman Pundit shares his thoughts

USC quarterback Matt Barkley may be the front runner and the people's favorite, but will he win the Heisman Trophy in 2012? Getty Images.

It happens every year, doesn’t it? A player with all sorts of ability on the field and a high skill set sort of flies under the radar and works his way up to make a legitimate push for the Heisman Trophy. It happened last year with Baylor’s Robert Griffin III and the year before with Auburn’s Cam Newton. So the question today is whether or not there are any players out there capable of doing the same this season?

There are some clear favorites in my book for the 2012 Heisman Trophy, with USC quarterback Matt Barkley and Wisconsin running back Montee Ball taking the top two spots in my personal Heisman watch as I write this. Of course, I also just assumed that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck would waltz to a Heisman Trophy last season. Despite an outstanding season from Luck, the top pick in the NFL Draft, it was next to impossible for me to argue against RG3 and his Heisman accolades. To me, the Heisman Trophy not only should go to the best player in college football, but also the player who is most important to the success of his team. If RG3 was not playing for Baylor, would anyone be talking about the Bears? Probably not.

On the podcast today is Chris Huston. You know him better as the Heisman Pundit. Huston is one of the most respected writers who dedicates his time to the Heisman Trophy, and his work and dedication to the award has been recognized by Sports Illustrated, Bruce Feldman and more. He also owns a Heisman Trophy vote, and he released his Heisman Pundit Watch List earlier this month. We discussed some of the big names to watch, what plays in their favor along the way and what challenges some may face.

Have a listen to the podcast below, then make sure you are subscribed in iTunes, and following the show on Get Glue! Follow Huston on Twitter @HeismanPundit (follow me too). And don’t forget, this podcast can be heard at anytime on Stitcher Radio (and click here for a promo code to get started and a chance to win $100)!

A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information.

If the audio widget does not show up for you, click here to listen.

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Episode 116 – Getting educated with The Essential Smart Football

Chris Brown, Best-selling author on Amazon

Available on Amazon.

Today we do more than recite our A-B-C’s and 1-2-3′s. It’s time to take football knowledge to the next level.

Today we talk to Chris Brown, author of Amazon’s number one rated football book “The Essential Smart Football.” Brown, of course, can be found on his own website, Smart Football, and is a contributing writer at Grantland. You have probably already heard Brown on a number of other fine podcasts by now, so you may be wondering just why you should listen to one more. Right?

In addition to discussing the process of publishing the book, Brown discusses the characteristics of what makes a good college coach and compares them to the values of being a successful coach at the NFL. Why is it hard to have the same level of success? Brown shares his opinion.

We also expand on a couple of topics that are discussed in the book. Will Urban Meyer be able to implement his spread style offense at Ohio State, and in a conference typically known for their old-fashioned brand of football? How soon should Washington State Cougars fans expect Mike Leach to turn their football fortunes around?

Hopefully that sheds some light on some new discussions from previous podcast appearances for Brown.

Have a listen to the podcast below, then make sure you are subscribed in iTunes, and following the show on Get Glue! Follow Brown on Twitter @smartfootball (follow me too). And don’t forget, this podcast can be heard at anytime on Stitcher Radio (and click here for a promo code to get started and a chance to win $100)!

A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information.

Also, be sure to find out how you can enter for a chance to win a VIP trip to the Pennsylvania 400! Hurry, time is running out!

If the audio widget does not show up for you, click here to listen.

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Episode 115 – Talking realignment with Chadd Scott

Talking about the direction of the ACC, or lack of direction

Could ACC commissioner John Swofford have done more to keep Florida State happy in the ACC? Photo: Getty Images

The realignment topic continues to be the big story in college sports, so why not dedicate another episode to it?

On the podcast today I talk to Chadd Scott, who has been known to cause a little stir with some. Scott is the author of The World’s Most Dangerous College Football Blog, found on ChuckOliver.net. He has changed his tune on the direction of Florida State in light of recent news and is not afraid to admit to why or how he missed it. While some will criticize Scott for back-tracking his previous thoughts, I will commend him for admitting he was wrong about something. But with that behind us, Scott and I take a look in to the future of the ACC, and try to determine just where the conference goes from here. Is there anything the conference can do to maintain some sense of stability on the football field, or will a misguided leadership instead operate focusing more on basketball first.

Have a listen to the podcast below, then make sure you are subscribed in iTunes, and following the show on Get Glue! Follow Scott on Twitter @ChaddScott (follow me too). And don’t forget, this podcast can be heard at anytime on Stitcher Radio (and click here for a promo code to get started and a chance to win $100)!

A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information.

Also, be sure to find out how you can enter for a chance to win a VIP trip to the Pennsylvania 400! Hurry, time is running out!

If the audio widget does not show up for you, click here to listen.

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Episode 114: Florida State’s internal ACC vs. Big 12 debate

Adam Tolliver of Examiner.com maps out Florida State’s future

Florida State appears to be heading to the Big 12. Photo: Getty Images.

Will Florida State head to the Big 12, or will the Seminoles come to believe the grass is greener in the ACC? All eyes are on the Noles right now as they represent the next looming domino in conference realignment. After a wild weekend in which Board of Trustees chair Andy Haggard lit a fuse on an ACC bomb, it may just be a matter of time before Florida State folds up their ACC banner and raises a Big 12 flag.

But who would be Florida State’s proverbial dancing partner to do the Big 12 two-step? Clemson? Virginia Tech? Notre Dame?

If and when Florida State and perhaps one other school make the decision to leave for the Big 12, what will the ACC do in response? Will those UConn and Rutgers rumblings gain traction once again? Will the SEC start to pick up a scent and go in for a kill to their most significant regional conference rival, perhaps by extending an invitation to Miami or NC State?

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet. Florida State is still in the ACC, for now. But if this goes the way things seem to be rolling, get ready.

On the podcast today (dated for May 15, 2012), we bring back Adam Tolliver, who covers the Seminoles for Examiner.com. We discuss what the likely future is for the Florida State program, take a look at who makes the ultimate decisions and the complicated and perhaps inept organization of leadership within the Florida State hierarchy. Tolliver shares his take on what will ultimately happen with Florida State (spoiler alert: don’t expect the Seminoles to back down now) and what kind of ripple effect it could potentially have for the ACC.

Have a listen to the podcast below, then make sure you are subscribed in iTunes, and following the show on Get Glue! Follow Tolliver on Twitter @primediscussion  (follow me too). And don’t forget, this podcast can be heard at anytime on Stitcher Radio (and click here for a promo code to get started and a chance to win $100)!

A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information.

If the audio widget does not show up for you, click here to listen.

Hype this up on BallHyped.

Follow No 2-Minute Warning on Twitter @No2MinWarning and Like No 2-Minute Warning on Facebook.

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