Larry Blustein tells host Alex Donno why he thinks Taulia Tagovailoa would be a worthwhile addition for the Miami Hurricanes if he is granted an extra season by the NCAA.
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00:00 I want to start with you on a player that's been a hot topic for the last couple of days,
00:05 and that's Talia Tongo Vailoa, the younger brother of Tua Tongo Vailoa. He has been the
00:10 starting quarterback at the Maryland Terrapins Big Ten program, starting quarterback for the
00:15 last four years, Blue. And during these past four years, Talia Tongo Vailoa has become
00:20 the all-time Big Ten leading passer. Of course, the all-time Maryland leading passer. He led the
00:25 Big Ten with over 3,300 yards passing this past season, and yet a lot like older brother,
00:31 he's very polarizing. Anytime I bring up Talia, some Miami fans are like, "Yeah, bring him in."
00:36 Others are like, "Ugh, keep that kid far away. Too many interceptions." And then also, Blue,
00:42 I don't know if you were going through the same thing last night. And this is not locked on
00:46 dolphins. Kyle Krabs does a good enough job with that show, but I cheer for the dolphins. I'm
00:50 watching the dolphins last night getting beaten by Buffalo. Tua threw a couple of costly interceptions
00:56 in that game. The Miami Hurricanes fan base is so weird. I get a bunch of text messages and social
01:01 media mentions from people after Tua throws interceptions that are like, "Yeah, keep that
01:05 younger brother far, far away from here." It's like, "You're blaming Talia for Tua's interceptions
01:11 yesterday." So I want to ask you, Blue, Talia Tongo Vailoa, obviously not a perfect quarterback.
01:17 If he was, he'd definitely wanted to go to the NFL right now. But he does have four years of
01:23 Big Ten experience. There's nothing he hasn't seen from an opposing defense, right? I feel like he
01:30 can elevate the floor and ceiling of your quarterback room for one year. A lot of Miami fans
01:34 are like, "Nah, keep this guy away. Let's just roll with Ja'Kari Brown or Emery Williams." And I like
01:39 Miami's young quarterbacks, Blue. I just think it would be important to add somebody with experience.
01:43 So I would love your take on Talia Tongo Vailoa. If he's able to get that extra year of eligibility,
01:49 would it be worthwhile for Miami to try to bring him in?
01:51 Yeah, of course it would be. How can you not want to have a guy with that experience?
01:56 Just not only to help this team kind of turn the corner a little bit, but mentor,
02:02 as you mentioned, Ja'Kari and Emery. Because, listen, I'm like you. All these people are quick
02:09 to want to get rid of everybody all the time. "Oh, Ja'Kari's this and he's not this." I don't
02:15 agree. Instead, if you keep looking for other quarterbacks to bring in and not develop the guys
02:21 you have, of course, they're not going to be as good as you should. But I think having him on a
02:28 board, the guy's, what, 23 years old, 24 almost now? He's got that maturity about him. He's got
02:35 experience. You're playing the Big Ten. Sure, you'd be crazy not to bring somebody in like that.