Podcast with BCS Game Talk With Former Texas and Bama Players

Used with Permission from "The Sports Piece ."

A podcast with show host Robert Rees and former Crimson Tide player Will Hold talking smack against show host Stephen Foster and former Longhorn player Norman Watkins.

This podcast was recorded Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Usually I include a summary, but this is too good to miss out on.

Thanks to Norman and Will for coming on the show. 

Click HERE to Listen.

SHOW SUMMARY

BCS National Championship Smack – off show

 

Special Guests:

Will Hold from Alabama played 02-3

Norman Watkins from TX played 91-94

 

Former Alabama player Will Hold teamed up with co-host Robert Rees to talk smack against former Texas player Norman Watkins and co-host Stephen Foster.

 

The podcast starts off with Norman Watkins giving a background and brief thought of how the game looks to him, being that there are a lot of similarities to the 2005 UT team.

 

Steve Foster brought up a few stats such as UT’s all time record against Alabama being 7-0-1 and that the #2 ranked team has won the last 4 Championship Games.

 

Will Hold then gave his background and shared that he feels this is the year for Alabama to win.

 

Robert then shared how he feels that that Alabama will win because Texas hasn’t played well against teams with good defenses and Alabama’s may be the toughest yet, and feels that Alabama’s rushing game is the toughest that Texas will have faced.

 

Steve feels Nebraska has a better defense (homer!).

 

Norm talked about the UT’s preparation for a bowl and how he feels that the “Wild Card” in this game each team’s preparation. He feels that because Texas has been to the National Championship and Alabama hasn’t that Texas will be more prepared for the game.

 

Will Hold shares what the Crimson Tide traditions are and how he thought Texas was in the South until he went to Alabama! He felt Texas was hardcore with their tailgating until his first year at Alabama when nearly 200 motor-homes were lined up because they open up motor home parking on Thursday Night! He thinks Alabama has more traditions for the game where girls wear cocktail dresses to the game, new pledges go to the games “Bear” Bryant on the big screen before the game and everyone wears Crimson. He cited the 12 National Championships as something that helped build tradition.

 

Major Applewhite used to be the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Alabama and now coaches at Texas, but Will feels he may be help give the Longhorns a little advantage but not enough to matter.

 

Norm shared how he feels that if Texas plays the way they did against Nebraska they’ll lose, but another factor will be if Colt McCoy can play like Vince did against USC in 2005. He thinks that Greg Davis will open up the playbook even more for this game and Colt needs to look for more opportunities to run the ball.

 

Will thinks all the pressure is on Colt McCoy not Greg McElroy because McElroy has a better running game. Steve thinks that Colt McCoy’s a better player than what most people think and he doesn’t need big runs, but needs positive yard gains and pick up first downs.

 

Talk then moved to Special Teams play, Norm thinks that Texas has better Special Team and that will give them the edge. Will disagrees and thinks that the momentum will go with the turnovers. It was brought up that whoever has produced more turnovers will win the game.

 

Stephen brings up that he thinks Texas is better at creating better field position, or getting a pick-6 when they get a turnover.

 

When asked about what each team’s motivation is to win the game, Norm says that Texas should’ve been in last year and use that as fuel and even for now some people still wonder if Texas should be the number 2 team in the country.

 

Will doesn’t think this is a David vs. Goliath situation, and compares this game to the “Miracle on Ice” because when the US beat Russia they still had to beat Finland in the Championship Game. In this scenario, Florida was Alabama’s Russia and Texas is their Finland.

 

A lively discussion rose between Rees and Foss about who has a better defense, the SEC the Big 12. Norm thinks that if Texas wins the game, then that will solve the question of whether or not the Big 12 has good defenses. Norm and Will think comparing the defenses is really apples to apples because they both have very good defenses, but Will thinks that if Texas can’t stop Alabama’s run game then it’ll be a long night for Texas.

 

When talking about the team and fans traveling having an impact on the game, Norm says that he thinks there will be enough Burnt Orange to make it seem like a home game. Will re-iterates the “motor-home” factor for Alabama fans. He thinks they’ll show up in droves.

 

Steve pointed out and all agreed, that the BCS has the right match-up for this game.

 

When it came to predictions:

Will A win by 10 for ALABAMA

Norm 35-28 TEXAS

Robert 24-20 ALABAMA

Steve 26-21 TEXAS

 

Will’s last words …ROLL TIDE ROLL

Norm’s last words …HOOK ‘EM HORNS

Steve’s last words…played the UT Fight Song from his phone

Robert’s last words…hope it’s a good game no matter who wins.