Citrus Bowl press conference
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Good morning, everybody.
00:01 This has been a great week for our staff, our families and our players.
00:05 I want to thank Steve Hogan and everybody associated with Florida Central Sports.
00:09 It's first class operation.
00:11 They've done a tremendous job of creating a great experience
00:15 and taking care of everybody the entire week.
00:18 It's been fun for myself, my wife and a lot of our staff
00:21 to be back in the great city of Orlando.
00:24 A lot of great memories.
00:26 Having spent three years here.
00:28 And it's been fun to catch up with a lot of familiar faces,
00:31 those at UCF, but also throughout the entire community.
00:35 It's been a fun week to to kind of go back and get a chance
00:38 to see a lot of people that have helped me on my journey
00:41 and been a part of the success that we've had,
00:43 you know, at the previous stop at UCF and
00:47 excited about the game tomorrow.
00:50 This is a big time college football game.
00:52 A great way to kick off 2024.
00:56 We recognize Coach Ferenc and his staff and their program,
01:00 what they've done this year, but during the course of his tenure as well,
01:04 they play extremely tough, smart and physical.
01:06 Great opponent and looking forward to kicking off.
01:09 All right, Coach Ferenc, we'll let you go for a moment.
01:13 Same thing, just, you know, it's great to be here, first and foremost.
01:16 We were here two years ago and I was in an event last night.
01:20 Worked with a guy named Bill Brasier back in the 80s on Coach Frystaff,
01:24 defensive coordinator, and he had a saying, he says, you know,
01:27 there's no such thing as a bad, bad bowl game.
01:29 Some are just better than others.
01:30 And I can tell you firsthand, this is one of the best out there.
01:33 It's just a fantastic experience for everybody involved.
01:37 Our players, first and foremost, staff, families, the travel party.
01:42 So it's just been been outstanding.
01:45 As Josh said, you know, Steve and the whole committee do a wonderful job.
01:48 So we're certainly thrilled to be back in Orlando
01:51 and have a chance to play in a game like this.
01:53 And, you know, bowl games are special.
01:55 They're really special and they're special for the players,
01:58 special for everybody involved.
01:59 And to be in Orlando and be part of the cheese and citrus bowl
02:03 is just a tremendous, tremendous opportunity for us.
02:06 We're very appreciative of that.
02:08 A couple of things about bowl games.
02:09 Typically, you know, every time you're in one, you're going to play
02:11 an outstanding opponent.
02:13 In our case, we tend to be the underdogs.
02:14 I think it's been all but maybe two in our 20 plus years.
02:18 So it kind of seems to be the way it is.
02:19 But, you know, bottom line is both teams have earned the right
02:22 to play in a game like this.
02:24 It really is significant in that way.
02:26 And the other other commonality of the bowl games,
02:28 it's the last game that our teams will be together.
02:31 You know, both teams, team staffs, et cetera.
02:33 So it makes it makes it a little bit unique in that way,
02:37 a little bit bittersweet.
02:39 Certainly the goal this week for for us is like every each and every week.
02:43 You just want to try to play your best game.
02:45 And the challenges of the month are a little bit different,
02:47 I guess, by the biggest change.
02:48 So I have tremendous respect for Tennessee.
02:51 Josh has done a great job, as any local people well know.
02:55 He did an outstanding job here.
02:57 Everywhere he's been, he's done an outstanding job.
03:00 And no different at Tennessee.
03:02 They're just a really, really good football team.
03:04 Put a lot of pressure on their offensive system.
03:07 A lot of stress on your defense.
03:10 They're a defensive team, you know, very athletic, good up front.
03:14 A lot of big strong guys that are active and physical.
03:16 And special teams are very impressive as well.
03:19 The punters done a really nice job.
03:21 Good place kicker.
03:22 Outstanding punt returner.
03:23 And so, you know, just a lot to prepare for.
03:26 A lot of challenges out there for us tomorrow.
03:28 So, you know, we're just excited to be here.
03:31 And last game of the season again, like I said, it's really a special thing.
03:36 A lot of people involved.
03:37 And think about our equipment guy, Greg Morris, 23 years.
03:42 He's our head equipment guy and 30 plus years in the program.
03:45 Was a student at Iowa.
03:47 Just his last game as well.
03:48 So, you know, just a lot of little side stories, if you will.
03:52 But it's really all about the game.
03:53 And we're excited to get out there and have a chance to compete tomorrow.
03:57 Thank you both.
03:58 I didn't see any early hands.
03:59 But if you have a question, raise your hand and we'll get started with –
04:02 we'll go to the blue shirt and the riser in the back and then we'll move up front.
04:07 We don't have a mic.
04:08 We'll start up front and then we'll go to the blue riser in the back,
04:10 since we already got a mic up here.
04:14 Good morning, gentlemen.
04:14 Happy New Year.
04:15 Kyle Nash with the three-point conversion.
04:17 I have a question for each of you.
04:18 We'll start with Coach Ferentz.
04:20 Both of you are making a return to Orlando in your each unique way.
04:24 Coach Ferentz, last time you were here in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl,
04:28 we talked about the state of college football and how it changed and all that.
04:31 You mentioned a text from Coach Stoops, it was an excellent story.
04:34 But to bring it here, what has helped you,
04:37 what have you done to kind of maintain that success to return to the Citrus Bowl?
04:42 Well, yeah, sorry to say two years later, we're in worse shape than we were two years ago.
04:46 I think it was possible that we, the adults,
04:49 have done a lot to really kind of screw this thing up.
04:51 And we've got a great game.
04:53 So I do, you know, old guy in the room,
04:55 I've got some concerns about what the future is going to look like.
04:59 I think most people are aware that we have some real issues right now.
05:01 I'm not sure we can come to agreement what the remedies may be.
05:06 But, you know, you see a lot of things that just concern you.
05:09 And, again, there's a lot of moving parts,
05:12 so I'm not going to pretend I have all the answers.
05:14 But despite all the challenges, I think the thing that remains consistent,
05:18 the single best part about what we do is get to work with, you know,
05:21 really high quality young people.
05:23 And that hasn't changed.
05:24 It was the same way two years ago, ten years ago.
05:26 And, you know, that's a part you really enjoy.
05:30 And I've always told people, I think at any job, you know,
05:33 you've got X amount of percent of things you don't really look forward to doing.
05:36 And then another percent hopefully you do like doing.
05:40 And if that percent outweighs the other side, then, you know, it's still a pretty good deal.
05:44 I'm glad you said that.
05:45 And Coach Heupel, you started out at UCF, your previous job there.
05:49 I used to do weekly pressers with you as well.
05:51 Yeah, it's been a while.
05:52 How have you changed as a coach with your time at Tennessee since you left Orlando?
05:58 Yeah, I think no matter what role you're in and whatever profession you're in,
06:02 you continue to learn how to become a better communicator,
06:05 how to impact the people around you in a positive way.
06:08 You continue to refine what you're doing inside of your program
06:12 365 days out of the year to allow kids to go be their best
06:16 and create a culture that they enjoy being in and love competing in.
06:20 And, you know, just continue to do that.
06:22 You learn so much, you know, as a leader of the program,
06:25 you learn so much from the people around you, and in particular the student athletes.
06:29 And, you know, those guys have been instrumental in the growth of who we are and what we do.
06:35 All right, now we'll go to the back, blue shirt.
06:37 Owen Sebring with KGAN in Cedar Rapids.
06:38 This question is for Coach Heupel.
06:40 I believe you're at Oklahoma.
06:42 Chuck Long would have been your quarterback coach, I think?
06:44 Man, we had a lot of Iowa guys down in Oklahoma.
06:48 I was just curious if you saw any sort of relationship with Coach Long
06:51 or if some of the things that you might have learned from him as your coach back then.
06:54 Man, I learned a lot from Coach Long.
06:57 He helped refine me fundamentally,
06:59 helped me continue to grow in my understanding of the football game,
07:03 how to lead the people around me.
07:07 All that staff was filled with, you know, the Stoops brothers.
07:11 You know, Jonathan Hayes was there as well.
07:15 You know, those guys are all – have all made such an impact in who I am
07:20 and what we do inside of our program.
07:23 You know, look at the success that we had.
07:25 That was because a lot of the things that they learned while they were at Iowa
07:29 as players and as coaches.
07:30 And I have good relationships with a lot of those guys
07:33 and I still talk to them, you know, periodically throughout the year.
07:38 We'll go to the front right here.
07:40 This is for both of you guys as well.
07:42 Back to what Kyle was talking about earlier,
07:44 the December crush and how you guys dealt with it with guys opting out,
07:49 the transfer portal, signing day,
07:50 all of this that you've had to deal with with goal preparations.
07:53 How did that affect you and how did you go through that?
07:58 You want to answer that one?
07:59 [Laughter]
08:00 I'll begin with you quite frankly.
08:02 Yeah, I think, you know, Coach kind of alluded to it,
08:06 the calendar in which we operate now, you know,
08:09 it changes the way December and part of January unfolds for you.
08:14 I think, you know, as we continue to move forward in this great game
08:17 it's something that we have to look at.
08:20 It's different because, you know, when your regular season ends
08:23 you go through actually an interview process,
08:25 each individual player is in a different position.
08:29 And, you know, for a period of time there's some uncertainty
08:32 with a portion of your roster.
08:34 And, you know, for us I think as we finished up signing day
08:39 that kind of became, you know, the lead in to the bowl game
08:42 where you felt good about who was there, where they were at,
08:46 their ability to play in the game and, you know, be a part of your roster.
08:51 All right, we'll take one down.
08:52 It's just, you know, it's just a different world.
08:56 You know, 20 years ago you had guys possibly opting out for the NFL,
08:59 not near the extent now.
09:02 But there's just a lot of parties involved now,
09:04 it's not always healthy voices that the players hear.
09:07 And some of the parties involved aren't necessarily thinking about
09:10 what's best for the individual young people.
09:12 And that's, you know, it just kind of flies in the face
09:14 what we try to do as coaches I think.
09:16 So that's part of it.
09:18 And, you know, as Josh alluded to, we've opened the rules up now
09:21 where it's real easy for people to make bad decisions.
09:25 I've always – not always, but for a while now I've been just concerned about,
09:31 you know, how our thirst for the playoffs
09:34 and our thirst for the national championship race, two teams, four teams,
09:39 with all the focus going there with the public and the media,
09:42 really diminished some of the other bowls.
09:44 And our first bowl game in 2001 was the San Antonio Alamo Bowl.
09:48 And, you know, we wanted Bob Sanders, the shortest guy on the field,
09:52 came out with the ball.
09:54 He was well-chosen in that group to another short guy,
09:56 but two pretty good players.
09:58 Sanders comes out of the game with the ball at the end, they threw a Hail Mary.
10:01 And it was like we won the Super Bowl.
10:03 Like that was a really important game and important year for us, our third year.
10:07 And we didn't turn the corner,
10:09 but at least we were showing some progress, making traction.
10:12 So, you know, those games do mean a lot.
10:14 They mean a lot for the people involved.
10:16 And I just think right now there's a trend where, like, you know,
10:18 it's not the whatever game, you know, it doesn't matter.
10:22 If you guys ever played the game, that's why you play.
10:24 You play to go out and compete, do your best every opportunity.
10:27 And when I coached at Worcester Academy, every game was important.
10:30 So, you know, we've really drifted away from that a little bit
10:34 and I think that's unfortunate because a lot of people are missing out
10:36 on some really special experiences.
10:39 That's too bad.
10:41 All right, we'll take two down front here side-by-side,
10:43 one on the riser and then we'll come back up front.
10:44 Hey Kirk, right down here, Elliot Clough, Rivals.com.
10:49 You got Luke Lachey, Jay Higgins coming back.
10:51 As you're looking to bring some more of those guys back
10:55 who are considering NFL options, I'm just curious as to how important
10:59 a foundation of bringing Luke and Jay back to team captains already
11:03 and know they're back next season.
11:05 Yeah, it certainly doesn't hurt.
11:07 Those guys are so respected in the program, rightfully so, they've earned it.
11:12 So that doesn't hurt.
11:13 But, you know, my only request for our players, particularly the last ten days,
11:17 is if you haven't made a decision, compartmentalize that stuff.
11:21 It's kind of like high school kids with recruiting.
11:24 Don't let that dominate your life.
11:25 You're spending all the time looking over the fence.
11:27 It can be really distracting.
11:29 It's hard.
11:30 It's a really hard thing for young people to go through two years ago.
11:33 I thought Riley Moss was a little distracted down here, quite frankly.
11:37 And then he surprised us all and came back and he was not distracted his senior year.
11:42 But it's a tough thing for young people to deal with.
11:43 So our request is, you know, just put it on the shelf.
11:46 They have plenty of time to make the decision when they get back.
11:49 And ultimately, it's like recruiting in this way.
11:52 You just want – you want the player to make the decisions that's best for him.
11:55 And he's got the best seat in the house for that.
11:57 But he's got to go through it methodically, get good information and, you know,
12:01 accurate information from people that actually do know,
12:03 not Uncle Joe or, you know, some agent telling him, you know, this, this and this.
12:10 You know, so we just try to give him good information to deal with.
12:13 Hi, Kurt, hope you're doing well.
12:14 John Sebbe, Cedar Rapids Gazette.
12:16 How as you wrap up year number 25, Phil Parker has been with you for all 25.
12:20 Obviously the overall defensive results have been acknowledged.
12:23 But there's – is there anything that Phil does that you think really hasn't gotten
12:27 a ton of attention that's been kind of key to his success?
12:31 Well, you know, Josh mentioned the Stoops'
12:33 and when I was an assistant at Iowa I always looked at Phil.
12:37 The guy's three-time All-Big Ten, he's not very big, he wasn't that fast.
12:40 But he's just really smart and tough.
12:42 And I always felt like, you know, he could be in the Stoops family.
12:44 He's an Iowa guy.
12:46 So I had great respect for him as a player.
12:48 And I've had a chance to work with him for, you know, 25 years.
12:54 I'll say this, unequivocally the best secondary coach I've ever been with
12:57 and I've been around some pretty good ones.
13:01 He's a quality human being.
13:03 He's half crazy, I think you've noticed that.
13:04 He's got a little different personality.
13:07 I don't want to call it an acquired taste, but you got to –
13:09 some of those looks he gives you, it's like, okay, yeah.
13:12 But he's just a tremendous football coach.
13:14 He's had two jobs his whole career.
13:16 That's kind of unusual for a guy his age.
13:18 But that's who he is, he just wants to coach football.
13:20 He's all about the players, all about trying to get better.
13:23 And, you know, I think Josh hit on this earlier,
13:26 just when you're around good people on a day-to-day basis, players, staff,
13:31 that's a fun part of it.
13:32 And it's neat to see Phil's efforts being recognized a little bit right now.
13:36 I'm kind of surprised, the national stuff,
13:39 because, you know, we normally don't get those kinds of things.
13:42 But it's so deserved and just really fitting.
13:46 We'll go to the back and then we'll come back up this way.
13:48 Hey Coach Ferens, Jake Bren, Local 5 Sports.
13:51 You mentioned a lot of those bowl games losing their luster with opt-outs
13:55 and guys just leaving, but that hasn't been the case for your program.
13:59 Why is it different at Iowa?
14:02 I don't know if I can answer that other than, you know,
14:07 just despite all the changes right now, there are still –
14:11 I think there are still players out there that want to do it for the right reasons.
14:15 And, you know, I really enjoy the competition of the game
14:19 and the thing about football that is so unique.
14:22 And I've never coached any of those – well, I did coach girls basketball two years.
14:26 The AD made me do it at Worcester Academy.
14:28 But, you know, football is so different because you get so many moving pieces,
14:32 so many parts.
14:34 So, you know, when guys get to understand what the value of teamwork
14:38 and working together with a bunch of folks, you know, a fifth-year DV
14:43 might not know a freshman offensive lineman real well,
14:46 but when you get them to understand that everybody's trying to do the same thing,
14:50 I think it makes it really unique and special.
14:52 And, you know, I think there's still a lot of players out there – excuse me –
14:58 that are motivated for that and you just got to look hard and, you know,
15:01 be a little bit lucky too.
15:03 But there – you know, we've been really fortunate to have a lot of good guys.
15:06 And it's usually the guys in the front of the room
15:07 are the ones that are – you know, I mentioned La'Shea and Higgins,
15:10 two guys that are great leaders.
15:12 So they help bring other guys with them and, you know,
15:15 hopefully stay focused on what really is important.
15:19 All right, come down on the aisle here and then the end of the row here
15:21 and then two on the left.
15:22 This is for both of you.
15:23 Coach Ferenc referenced the unhealthy voices that some kids hear.
15:27 How much have you all encountered tampering
15:29 and how big of a problem do you feel like that is in today's game?
15:33 Yeah, certainly a part of it.
15:35 You know, players have so many different people
15:38 as they're going through their process early as young players.
15:42 You know, before the recruiting process even starts out from, you know,
15:46 people that are training them to high school coaches,
15:49 to people that they have relationships with, 7-on-7 and that type of thing.
15:52 So it's certainly a part of the college landscape right now.
15:57 Wish I had a silver bullet to change all that.
16:00 I don't think I do.
16:02 So I'm thinking of a funny story.
16:04 About 15 years ago we had a guy visit our campus for maybe all of,
16:10 I don't know, 16 hours because, you know, he had to move and all that kind of stuff.
16:14 And I was told to afterwards give his mentor, Omar, a phone call.
16:19 So anyway, I gave him a call.
16:21 And, you know, we're talking about the situation a little bit.
16:25 And I finally asked Omar, I said, if you don't mind me asking,
16:27 like what is your role?
16:29 Like what's your – I'm a mentor.
16:31 I'm a mentor.
16:32 And the man that we were talking about was about 6'7", 330 pounds.
16:36 I just – I didn't ask him, but I was really curious,
16:38 like do you mentor anybody on the chess team or the debate team?
16:42 So, you know, sometimes those things happen.
16:45 It's really unfortunate.
16:46 And, you know, there are predators in every business, every profession.
16:51 But, you know, when people are really invested in young people, that's a good thing.
16:55 And you see a little drift now.
16:58 You know, players have to train with this guy instead of their high schools.
17:02 And, you know, it's just – it's the world we're living in right now.
17:05 And, you know, what we do isn't really that hard.
17:08 Like training is not all that hard.
17:09 It's just a matter of hard work, having a good plan.
17:12 And right down the list.
17:13 I mean, none of this stuff is really that complicated.
17:16 But what is complicated is just all the peripheral noise
17:19 and peripheral interference and all those kinds of things.
17:23 So, again, it circles back to, you know, you've got to get kids
17:24 to really focus on the things that are important and keep their attention there.
17:29 Whether it's, you know, playing in a game like this or, you know, year-round.
17:32 There's always something that's an obstacle.
17:34 And distractions aren't new to life.
17:37 I mean, you know, I did coach, like I said, started in the late '70s.
17:41 But, you know, the distractions that are available now have really changed.
17:45 And social media has really driven that too.
17:47 But – so it's just, you know, it's a – there are more things to try to be proactive about
17:52 than there used to be, I guess.
17:56 Hi, this is Scott Dockterman with The Athletic.
17:58 This is for both coaches.
18:00 As difficult as December has become with the transfer portal,
18:04 with an earlier signing period, you know, God forbid you want to spend time
18:08 with your family for a little bit over the holidays
18:10 and then you also have to prepare for a game.
18:12 Next year it gets exponentially worse because both of you guys –
18:16 both of your programs have been in competition for a playoff.
18:19 And next year you have a 12-game playoff.
18:21 The game's in the middle of the month.
18:24 How do you anticipate trying to navigate this?
18:27 And is now the red light flashing that something absolutely has to change
18:32 or you guys will either burn yourselves out or there will be some tragic results?
18:39 Yeah, if you look at the placement of the first round of playoffs,
18:43 everything that's going on in those first couple of weeks of December,
18:46 how do you add in preparation for a game of that size and magnitude
18:52 during the course of what's happening?
18:55 It wasn't like, you know, I wasn't on the phone or flying somewhere
18:59 or in somebody's house or, you know, out of school every minute of the day.
19:04 There's not enough time to accomplish everything that you needed to
19:07 at this point in the season – or at this point in the calendar,
19:11 let alone if you're preparing for a game like that.
19:14 But, you know, that's where, again, the calendar of how everything unfolds.
19:19 The game has changed so quickly, so dramatically.
19:22 I do think it's something that we've got to look at.
19:26 Those are just some of the unintended consequences
19:28 that we really don't give thought to before we make decisions.
19:31 And, you know, the irony in my opinion is,
19:34 it's like a lot of things that are going on right now.
19:35 You know, we always lead with, you know, what's best for the student athletes,
19:39 but we don't always practice that with some of the decisions we make.
19:43 And, you know, there are certain absolutes I kind of try to live with.
19:47 And when you're involved in game prep, when you're involved in competition,
19:53 like, you know, in my mind our focus needs to be on our players,
19:56 the guys that are on campus.
19:58 That's what we promised them in recruiting.
19:59 And then, you know, meanwhile, we're, you know, like Josh said,
20:02 we're flying over here and seeing this guy and all that kind of stuff.
20:05 And so it gets a little bit tricky that way.
20:08 And in my mind, you know, the competition part of what we do should be protected,
20:14 really should be protected for everybody involved.
20:17 And, you know, so there's a lot of gray area right now,
20:19 and that's something we're going to have to work through I think sometimes again,
20:22 that pressure, the playoff pressure, you know, we got to do this, got to do that.
20:27 I've always marveled at, you know, North Dakota State is a great example,
20:30 because they go every year and play 18 games.
20:33 Like how do you guys do that?
20:34 You take finals and just all those things that they have to work through.
20:37 It's really a heck of a challenge.
20:39 And it puts a lot of pressure on the players too.
20:41 And that's – not to mention that we're in a terrible season,
20:44 because it's a hard game, it's a hard game to play.
20:48 Should have asked Coach Kleiman that the other day.
20:49 We're going back to the left on the pink shirt and then Mike Bianchi behind her.
20:53 Casey Kay from WAT in Knoxville.
20:55 This one's for Coach Heupel.
20:56 You mentioned on Tuesday that Joe Milton was going to be on the sidelines
20:58 during tomorrow's game.
21:00 I'm just curious what role you want him to play
21:02 and how beneficial that can be not just to Nikko,
21:04 but to the entire team to have him there?
21:06 Yeah, Joe's done it the right way during the course of his career.
21:10 You look at, you know, how everything's unfolded.
21:12 It's the guy that chose to stay, believed in, you know, his teammates,
21:16 what we were building and how his coaching staff and players around him
21:20 were going to help him grow as a player.
21:23 Did a lot of really great things during the course of the season.
21:26 He's been a huge impact on our program for, you know, game day on Monday.
21:31 Be another voice to help Nikko as he comes off the sidelines,
21:35 things that are going on, being able to help him, you know,
21:38 get ready for the next set and also create positive energy.
21:42 You know, besides being the quarterback on the field,
21:45 throwing the football and making decisions,
21:47 every other part of his roles that he's had during the course of the year
21:50 he can still have on the sideline.
21:54 We'll go to the left in the white shirt with the hat
21:56 and then we'll go back to the riser.
21:57 Yeah, Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel.
21:58 Coach Heup, can you elaborate just on your return to Orlando,
22:02 the feelings of nostalgia, warm feelings,
22:05 and also just year three at Tennessee, where's your program at
22:11 and are you – did you expect it to happen so quickly?
22:16 You know, as far as what we've done at Tennessee, you know,
22:19 where we started and took that program over at,
22:23 how we were able to build a culture, you know, re-solidify the locker room,
22:30 continue to grow the success that we've had.
22:33 We've been disappointed with some of the results this season, obviously,
22:36 but, you know, who we are, what we're about,
22:39 and how we're continuing to grow, you know,
22:41 what we've been able to recruit, we're really excited about the future.
22:44 So, you know, there's so many people that go into re-establishing
22:49 the foundational pieces of, you know,
22:52 one of the greatest programs in the history of college football.
22:54 And, you know, we got to continue to grow, we got to go chase championships.
22:58 You know, that's the standard at Tennessee, but excited about the future.
23:02 And as far as, you know, being back in Orlando,
23:06 I mentioned it at the beginning,
23:08 it's unlike you to show up late for a press conference.
23:13 I thought that might get a couple of chuckles out of the Orlando crowd,
23:16 but maybe not.
23:19 Yeah.
23:20 But, you know, it's – this is a great city.
23:25 My family, myself, we absolutely love living here.
23:29 A lot of our staff at Tennessee was with us here.
23:32 It's been great to be back in this city.
23:35 You know, to the administration, Coach Malzahn at UCF,
23:38 they were great in allowing us to go practice there.
23:42 You know, we rode in the first day, rode through campus,
23:45 get off the bus, you know, sitting right next to the bounce house,
23:49 get a chance to go on the practice field.
23:51 It was a lot of fun because there's so many great memories that came back.
23:54 I got a chance to talk with a lot of people
23:55 that have been a huge part of my journey and our journey.
23:59 So, it's been a great week.
24:01 We had a night where, you know, we had, I don't know, 25, 30 players
24:04 that got an opportunity to come by the hotel and kind of hang out.
24:07 It was a great night.
24:09 Last couple will go here and then back left on the right.
24:12 Kind of building on what Scott asked earlier,
24:16 if we could put you in charge of the college football,
24:19 you know, every day, you could change some things about
24:22 the calendar or whatever, what would you do?
24:24 What would you change?
24:28 Yeah, I think first thing we need a commissioner, you know.
24:32 We talked a little bit about that yesterday, I believe, and just,
24:36 you know, it's a lot of independent contracting right now
24:38 and it's really hard to get people to visit.
24:40 And I said something to Jim Delaney about that, I don't know, 13, 15 years ago.
24:45 Just, you know, sitting in meetings, listening.
24:48 It really seems like, in my opinion, I'm going back over a decade,
24:52 it seems like the five, power five commissioners need to get in a room and visit.
24:57 You know, maybe throw a couple athletic directors and coaches in there as well,
25:01 just to get some, you know, specific feedback, that type of deal.
25:05 And, you know, just have a summit and really basically blow everything up
25:09 and try to start over again, maybe come up with a little better model.
25:12 And that's a while ago.
25:14 So, I mean, things have changed, continued to change.
25:16 There's a lot of things to address.
25:17 But I think some type of common voice or, you know, common set of –
25:23 we don't have any structure right now, I guess that's my biggest complaint.
25:27 And there's not a lot of transparency when you talk about NIL,
25:29 some of that, a lot of embellishment, a lot of stuff going on out there.
25:33 So, you know, six years in the NFL and I've never had a bad job.
25:36 I really enjoyed my time in the NFL.
25:38 But the one thing about the NFL, 32 teams all play by the same rules, same –
25:42 you know, everything's the same.
25:43 The field truly is level.
25:46 It's a really good thing if you can draft a good quarterback, that's a good thing.
25:50 That gives you an edge.
25:51 Or if you have a really good owner and there are – you know,
25:53 so certain jobs have inherent advantages.
25:55 But, you know, at least at that league, like everybody kind of starts even.
26:00 And when I was in the league the Bengals were terrible.
26:03 And now they've, you know, they've played at a really high level.
26:06 So it just shows everybody's got opportunity.
26:08 I'm not sure college football is like that a little bit.
26:10 And, you know, somehow, someway we just got to –
26:12 we have to come up with some structure, I guess,
26:14 but I can't boil it down to one thing.
26:17 And then everybody, there's enforcement too,
26:20 which is another thing the NFL has and, you know,
26:23 college football is really lacking in that department.
26:25 So – and it's hard because you've – you know,
26:28 we've had a governing body trying to overlook however many schools play collegiate sports.
26:33 And there's a big difference between, you know, football and whatever.
26:37 You know, football co-college, the AD was up there ten years ago
26:40 we were talking about some rules, cup blocking coincidentally.
26:43 And, you know, he had no idea, you know, he was voting on it.
26:46 He's a really good guy, so I'm not mad at him.
26:47 But it's like, why are you voting on that?
26:49 You don't have any idea on the topic.
26:51 So it's just an illustration of some of the –
26:54 you know, we need to, you know, centralize things a little bit
26:56 and at least try to come up with some kind of structure that's, you know,
26:59 workable for everybody.
27:03 Games always, you know, change.
27:06 And I think that's a positive thing, growth.
27:09 It's changed so rapidly, so quickly, that I do think you got to take your –
27:15 you know, somebody has to take a hard look at, you know,
27:18 how we put all these pieces together
27:19 and continue to have the greatest game that there is.
27:23 And do it the right way for everybody involved
27:26 and players at the center point of that.
27:30 And to do that I think, you know, you got to have all the players,
27:34 and when I say the players, all the decision makers in the room
27:37 and somebody's got to grab ahold of the reins.
27:38 And take it in the right direction.
27:42 We'll take one last one on the left here.
27:44 Paige Dower, WVLC Knoxville, back here.
27:47 Coach Simbanks was asked the other day about losing a few guys
27:50 to the transfer portal and how he viewed it.
27:51 He called it an opportunity.
27:53 How would you say the younger guys have taken advantage of that opportunity
27:56 or like risen to the challenge, especially in this final week?
27:59 Yeah, our practice and our preparation back home and here has been really good.
28:04 You know, the bowl season and, you know,
28:07 Coach was talking about the changes, you know,
28:09 during the course of his career to it.
28:11 There's more guys that, you know, have opted out.
28:14 You got guys that have made decisions to go to the NFL.
28:16 Some have hit the portal.
28:17 It creates opportunity for guys that maybe, you know,
28:21 haven't played a ton on a unit.
28:24 You know, they've gotten some reps, probably played a lot of special teams.
28:27 But it's an opportunity for the young guys to take ownership
28:31 and go prove that they're ready to go play at a high level.
28:34 And in some ways these bowl games are, you know,
28:37 a culmination and a finish to the '23 season,
28:39 but they're also, you know, the start and kickoff
28:42 for a lot of those young guys to '24.
28:46 All right, Coach Heupel, Coach Ferris, thank you for being here this morning.
28:48 We appreciate your time, as we have all week.
28:50 And good luck tomorrow.
28:51 Thank you.
28:52 Thank you all.
28:53 Appreciate it.
28:54 Thanks Coach.
28:55 Thanks.
28:56 Next time I won't see you.
28:58 For the meeting room, you should, if you were getting parking,
29:00 you should have gotten it already.