PMT DB
PMT DB
Andy Staples on CFB Realignment and the Mt. Rushmore of Traditions
The sports world might be in the dog days of July, but college football managed to set the world on fire with conference realignment, and Zach Wilson managed to set the internet on fire by allegedly having that dog in him. Big Cat and PFT opened the show by crowning a new king of the court after Wimbledon. While Jake tried to defend the legacy of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, Big Cat wasn't having any of it.
Big CatNovak Djokovic is the one true tennis GOAT
Novak Djokovic the goat. Oh, oh, oh... officially passes Roger Federer in championships, major championships, one away from [Nadal] who just wins Mickey Mouse clay ones every single time... I think it's, it's firmly established. He is the goat.
With Djokovic closing in on the all-time major record, Big Cat is already looking at the finish line for the Joker's career.
Big CatNovak Djokovic will finish his career with 30 major championships
[Djokovic] is gonna end up with 30.
Quarterback Chaos and Mormon Rumors
The guys shifted to the NFL where Baker Mayfield finally found a home with the Carolina Panthers. While the Browns seem ready to move on, PFT still thinks Baker has some high-level football left in him, especially now that he's healthy and has that signature chip back on his shoulder.
PFT CommenterBaker Mayfield can still be a top 12 quarterback in the NFL
Maybe I'm an idiot, but I think that Baker [Mayfield] is still like, he could be a top 12 quarterback. I don't think he's a bust at all. I think that he was hurt last year.
But the real story of the week involved Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. After some wild Instagram comments from an ex-girlfriend alleged that Wilson was spending his offseason with his mom's best friend, the PMT crew officially welcomed him to the "dog" category. PFT and Big Cat both noted that this isn't a scandal, it's a locker room legend in the making.
Big CatZach Wilson will get more respect in the Jets locker room because of the rumors about his personal life
I think this actually will get Zach Wilson more respect in the locker room... If you're a Jets fan, you gotta be like, okay, we got ourselves a quarterback... he might be on the injury report week one, because he's going to have a broken hand for getting high fives.
Andy Staples on the End of Geography
Andy Staples joined the show to help make sense of the Big Ten's move to snag USC and UCLA, effectively killing the Pac-12 as we know it. Andy explains that the Big 12, once left for dead, might actually be the predator now. He suggested a specific strategy for them to land the remaining big fish in the West.
Andy StaplesThe Big 12 should offer Oregon and Washington a 'dream job' buyout clause to lure them away from the Pac-12
What I think the Big 12 should do is go to Oregon, Washington, be like... here's what we're going to do. You're going to come with us and we're going to put a clause in your deal that just says you want out fine. You're out. If the Big 10 is, you know... dream job buyout, or dream job clause. Do that and you get them, and then you'll get Utah and Colorado and you'll get whoever else you want from that league.
They discussed the Notre Dame factor, which remains the biggest domino on the board. While the Irish value their independence, the new landscape of the College Football Playoff might make it impossible for them to stay solo forever.
Andy StaplesNotre Dame will eventually be forced to join a conference for playoff access
If Notre Dame loses, you know, has their vote diluted for the playoff, they're going to join a conference... The second this happened the other day with the Big Ten adding USC and UCLA, I was like, okay, now this is it. This is when Notre Dame has to join a conference.
Andy also touched on the legal and financial shifts coming to the sport. Between NIL and the constant pressure of TV contracts, the traditional model of the NCAA is basically a walking corpse.
Andy StaplesCollege football governance will eventually separate from the NCAA to handle revenue sports specifically
I think the governance is going to change. Instead of there being one organization that handles all sports, there will be an organization that handles football and the NCAA might handle all the other sports... it basically, you could be licensing the name of the university.
Mt. Rushmore of College Football Traditions
To wrap things up, the crew drafted the Mt. Rushmore of College Football Traditions. Andy Staples went with heavy hitters like "Jump Around" and Ralphie the Buffalo's run at Colorado. PFT and Big Cat took a more degenerate route, focusing on the traditions that actually affect their bank accounts, specifically the annual shootout in Oklahoma.
Big CatI always bet the over on Bedlam no matter what
My favorite college tradition... betting the over in Bedlam, no matter what, no matter what. Oklahoma/Oklahoma State play, over, put it on your phone.
They also debated the most recurring tradition in sports media: the "Texas is Back" conversation. While Andy has been burned too many times to believe, Big Cat thinks the Longhorns have a very low bar to clear to reclaim their crown this fall.
Big CatTexas is 'back' as soon as they get one big win in September
My threshold is one big win in September. They're back... If they cover against Alabama, they might be back. Yes, that might be what makes them back right there.
If the Longhorns can keep it close with the Crimson Tide, expect the hype train to leave the station at full speed.
