NC State's Win Total Jumped + the New 5-Year Eligibility Rule Explained | Tuffy Talk Live

Tuffy Talk Live finally returns after getting pushed back a night by a brutal storm that knocked out power lines across the Triangle and apparently took Ethan's AC down with it for good measure. Layton, Greg, and Ethan pick up right where they left off, and there's a lot to get to.

It starts with Duke Scott. NC State just handed him the No. 1 jersey, the most prestigious number in the program, and the crew breaks down why it matters that he's the first offensive player to wear it since Stephen Louis back in 2018. Greg calls it a leadership distinction more than a production promise, though nobody on the show is shy about saying they expect a monster role for Scott regardless. From there, the conversation shifts to the number everyone's been asking about, NC State's win total, which opened at 6.5 with heavy juice on the over before eventually settling at 7.5. Greg makes the case for the over, Ethan plays the skeptic, and the group lands on an interesting historical parallel: last year's UNC team carried the exact same 7.5 win total and the exact same "this is a bet on the schedule, not the roster" framing — and it blew up spectacularly. Ethan isn't ready to call NC State the next UNC, but he's not dismissing the comparison either.

Then Ethan's Stat Pack digs into a problem that's been quietly building for two years, NC State baseball's home run production has cratered, dropping from a real power threat just a few seasons ago to near the bottom of the ACC. Ethan and Greg trade guesses on just how far the power numbers fell, and the answer surprises both of them.

The show also debuts a brand new segment — Pack Pro of the Week — kicking things off with honorable mentions for Garrett Pennington's promotion to Double-A and Saniya Rivers hitting 500 career points in the WNBA, before handing the main honor to Trent Hidlay for locking up his second straight U.S. Senior World Team berth, beating fellow Wolfpack legend Michael Macchiavello to do it.

Tweet of the Week brings two of the biggest stories in all of college sports, the NCAA's new five-year, no-exceptions eligibility model that's about to eliminate redshirting as a concept entirely, and NC State basketball quietly buying out of its scheduled home-and-home with VCU, a decision that has Greg more frustrated than almost anything else discussed on the show. The crew closes out debating the best home environments in college football, with a Carter-Finley shoutout from an unlikely source, before Rod Brind'Amour's NC State hat strikes again, this time getting called out directly by the NC State baseball Twitter account.

Tuffy Talk is NC State's home for sports talk, hot takes, and everything Wolfpack. New episodes every Monday at 8:30 PM ET on YouTube. Join the Patreon at patreon.com/c/tuffytalk for exclusive weekly NC State breakdowns from Ethan — $5/month. 🐺🎙️

Transcript

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Like on some big TV stages, passionate fans and a whole lot of faith. So if you bleed red and you holler all night, then brother, you're exactly right. This is tough. You talk with a black fan alone for now. For the red and the white. Sing along. We'll break it all down. Yeah, we'll call it straight. This is our show. Go back, go straight. Turkey talk fired up and loud. The Wolfpack nation. We're a hell of a crowd. From the first pitch to the final play to the talk. Let's roll today. What is going on with Pac Nation? Welcome to another edition. You all have a Chubby talker live show. You got myself playing Smith. You got Greg, You got Ethan Perry. We are so excited to be here. And to be back. Y'all is, uh. Unfortunately, we had to, uh, delay last night's show because of a crazy storm that came in here. Uh, you know, and in Virginia, too, as well. I know, Greg, we were texting the group chat. You got hit pretty darn hard with that storm last night, too. Yeah, I did. It was a mess. Uh, we had all kinds of trees and limbs and wires, and it was a mess. But today is much better. Well, yeah, this morning was rough, too. But we're good now. Yeah. And and and our own, very own. Ethan Barry's been having his own trouble in Paradise too, as well. But, uh. Uh, Ethan, you want to give any context here for for for the fans? I wonder why you're. Looks like outside. Outside? Like he's camping. Yeah, well, the AC has been out for about a week now. Uh, and, uh. Yeah. So it's going to be another week before it's fixed. The whole unit went out. So I know, uh, I'm sure some people have dealt with that before, but I mean, it's legitimately I think it's 78 degrees right now. Let me check. It is legitimately five degrees colder outside than it is inside. That's 74. Now I. Know this. Is a. Toughie talk NC state podcast, but do you guys follow like what's going on at Disney World right now. Mhm. Like their most expensive lodging like goes for like three four $500 a night. Has not had AC for a week and it's 95 100 degrees there. So it could be worse Ethan. You could be paying to sweat. It can always be worse. It can always be worse. But today, today wasn't too bad. Yesterday was yesterday was definitely the brunt of it. I mean, it was in the mid 90s all day I think. So uh, today wasn't too bad. Stayed below 85. So that was a win. There you go a win indeed. So with that being said, Wolfpack Nation, have you been with us? Or if you've been with us before, you know the drill, but make sure you get any comments here and in the chat y'all. As you want to say, hey, everybody is here tuning in. We're here with us, live here, but wanted to jump into our first conversation piece here, which is actually something that's not really new news. It's been around this news has been around for for a while now about talking about Duke Scott getting the number one jersey on air for this upcoming season. Uh, Coach Doran put out a comment saying that Duke exhibits an elite work ethic and practice and training habits, while also leading his teammates. Doesn't just uphold the standards, he pushes them higher. And I believe as well. And and and Greg and Ethan and correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I believe from my research that he's the youngest player to ever receive the number one jersey during the Dawn era, and to is the first offensive player to get it in eight years since since Stephan Lewis got it back in 2018, 2017, 2018. I think Jay Sam had it, didn't he? That was. Before. But that was but that that was before he was sick. Are you sure? I'm pretty sure it could be wrong though. But anyway, it's still. It's like. Like the first. Like underclassmen, if you will, to get this honor. And either way, it's still the first in probably eight years whether it's J. Sam, Steph Lewis two as well and whatever order that may be to as well. Um yeah. So so it started off in 2014 Jarvis Byrd and then he came Jones then J. Sam had it for two years. Then Stephan Lewis had it for a year. Then James Smith Williams Isaiah Moore got had it for three years, Devin Vann for two years, Caden Fordham and now Duke Scott. Does that make sense. Correct. So Isaiah was probably a sophomore then too right. So then Isaiah was probably a sophomore. I think he had redshirted. No Greg you know what that was. He got an extra year. Mhm. So I think Duke. So Duke Scott is the third whatever. And I think Isaiah Moore was two when he I think Moore was a fourth year player. But he redshirted and got his sixth year. Hmm. So So, Greg, what do you what do you think it says about Duke Scott and the fact that it is the first offensive player since Stefan Louis to wear the number one jersey? Yeah, it's just a it's a it's an honor, right? It's someone that embodies the program. That is a kind of team first guy. Um, you know, when we had we had Duke on, I guess it would have been his after he graduated, or maybe it would have been his junior year. I can't remember, but we had him on right after he committed to state. And you could just tell by his maturity at that point that he could, you know, if he stayed the course could be a prime candidate for this honor. And obviously, um, that's the case. Yeah. And, Ethan, do you do you see this at all? Because I know, like, uh, in the fantasy football NFL world, for example, uh, you know, people are always looking for reasons to, to invest more in a certain player because they believe that a guy maybe might be a bell cow type of player. Does him getting the number one jersey at all kind of make you lean a little bit more of, okay, maybe he's going to see even maybe potentially even more usage than, you know, maybe you were expecting before he got the number one jersey. Well, I was already expecting a pretty big roll here. Um, I mean, you have Dave Young cows behind him. Um, I don't know how much you know. I don't know how much of a factor he'll be. Um, if God is healthy all year. Right? I think that's kind of the thing is, like, okay, you're expecting a big year for Duke Scott, and, you know, like, if he stays healthy, it's going to happen. And if he is healthy, what does that mean for Gauss? I don't know, like if it's I mean, let's just call it 30 carries a game if it's 30. Is is Scott getting 18 to 20 and Gauss is getting eight and Wilson's getting some. CJ Bailey has a couple I don't know. So I already had pretty big expectations for Duke Scott just because we don't know what's behind him. I mean, again, you have Gauss, right? Like you have. That's fine. Um, so does that change it? I don't know, I guess my expectations in terms of role were already pretty big, but it definitely confirms what, you know, how the staff thinks of him. And, um, what sort of player and and role model, I guess to the other players, the example, um, that he sets because again, like, you know, you look at some of those comparisons, they weren't necessarily the best players on the team, but they were leaders, right? They were, you know, big names, um, who were front and center all the time. Right. Isaiah Moore, it felt like he was the heartbeat of NC state's program for years. Um, and James Smith Williams. Right. Like after you lost all those defensive guys, what happened? It was James Smith Williams, you know, so, uh, Caden Fordham, you know, kind of the same thing, not necessarily your best player, but like leaders of the team Who? You have a ton of responsibility, both on the field and off. Yeah. Yeah. And and, Greg, uh, you know, obviously with Duke, uh, like, there's going to be an expectation that when they announce the captains, more than likely I would be shocked if CJ Bailey is not one of those captains. And I know, uh, on last one of the episode that Ethan and I did last week, one of the things we were talking about with CJ Bailey was how, going into the season, you don't want him, you don't want CJ to, quote unquote, lose a game for you. But you do expect him to win some games for you this year. Do you at all feel more confident now that you know they are definitely, you know, talking a lot about, uh, you know, Duke Scott and the fact that he is going to wear the number one presumptively probably going to be a team captain. Uh, so again, like, you know, I kind of look at Duke Scott saying, okay, hey, if, if he's, if, if we add what we saw from him last year and now you're learning more about him in terms of what he's like off the field, by him getting that number one jersey edge, like you got to feel pretty confident and saying, okay, well, hey, I feel like that the expectation from an offensive standpoint between Duke Sky and CJ Bailey is that there's going to be a standard of you guys are more likely going to be able to win some games this year, and we're going to expect from both of y'all that you're not going to lose games for us either. Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'm having leg issues. Yeah. You're good. Go ahead Ethan. Sorry, but. Yeah I think it's it's a lot of it's both. Right. Like, you need those guys to carry you, but you also look at the schedule and you're like, okay, I don't know that I see a better quarterback than CJ Bailey on NC state schedule. Maybe. JC I'm not even going to try and pronounce his name. Just imagine that I said it. Well yeah quarterback. Is what you're saying. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Mhm. He's really the only one that you would say okay. You know you could see it now maybe somebody pops up and has a better than expected year. But you're banking on those guys. You wouldn't put Mensa on that list. Well, they're not playing Mensa. He left. He's at Miami now. No, but you're just saying in general that on our schedule is what you're saying. On the schedule. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. In terms of the ACC, for sure. Yeah. In terms of the ACC, I definitely think Mensa is ahead. Um, I, I probably put Mensa at number one in terms of college quarterbacks. But yeah, I mean those are the guys that you need, you know, like you you're banking on them, you know, what do you have on the offensive line I don't like. Do you feel okay about it I guess. Um wide receiver. You don't really know. You feel like you have a good idea with C.J. Bailey? I mean, you've got two full years, right? It's hard to find guys that you've got two full years of expectations now, right? Uh, and Duke Scott, I mean, we're we have high expectations for him based off of two games, you know? So there's a lot on those guys table, right? And maybe somebody else steps up and and alleviate some of that. Maybe the defense ends up being better than expected. But yeah, it's going to be a lot on those two guys. And Greg, before I let you come in and give give your answer to that question to you as well. I want to hear in the chat too as well. Like I'd kind of already asked this question, but do you think this is more of a prediction about a big season that Dawn thinks that that is coming up for Duke Scott? Or is this more of a of a leadership distinction? Uh, you know, just kind of which which route do you kind of see this number one jersey being or both? Let us know. Two as well if you think this is both. But Greg. Yeah. So so your answer about just like, you know, Ethan saying going into the season with the offense, you feel extremely confident about two things. Duke Scott CJ Bailey. So you know what is what is you think this number one jersey distinction do for Duke Scott. And you're feeling about the offense heading into the season. Yeah, I think this is more of a leadership. I don't think this this recognition has ever been about productivity, if you will. Um, I just think that it's it's the guy that embodies the the spirit of what Wolfpack football. One Pac one goal, you know, hard, tough together all those mantras. Uh, and then, you know, if you, if you get the production to go with it, that's just, that's just a cherry on top. Yeah. Not completely agree. Excited for what's coming for Duke Scott. I mean, a guy that had 196 yards rushing in one game last season. Uh, and man had a a crazy, uh, big hit highlight I remember seeing in person versus Wake Forest as well. So uh, and also to last year got put uh, number 66 on the freaks list in college football last year too as well. Again, a short, you know, stocky guy that that has some ridiculous numbers in the weight room. So excited to see what this guy can do. But also to as well y'all, if you're if you're new with us Besides putting your answers here in the chat, make sure if you haven't already, make sure you hit that subscribe button too as well as it's free. Do really help support the channel and make sure you hit that like button too as well, so we can get this live stream out to as many people here as possible. But I want to move on here to really the the highlight of the thumbnail, the big the big kahuna here, which is talking about the ACC win totals here. Uh, one big distinction I want to go ahead and make is because somebody asked about it in the, in the in on Twitter to us, which is yes, basically almost from the jump. The win total for NC state was set at seven and a half, but there was an early line that was put out because I think we even saw this last year and even correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe last year the win total was six and a half with a lot of juice on one side, and so I. So basically what this line ended up being is that the win total originally was put at six and a half with like the over being at like -174, which is like extreme lineage on the over until it eventually moved to seven and a half to where it is now. So. So I'm not lied. Yes, it probably from the jump when most people saw it. It was at seven and a half. But at the very beginning stages it almost basically kind of was set up as like an alternate line, if that's what you want to call it, for all the better people out there in the world here. So, uh. Um, but yeah, even so, to, uh. Well, here, I'll start with you, Greg, here on this, I know you've been dealing with some big issues, my man, but, uh, you know, do you think that because last year and I think most years, the wind totals been at six and a half. Now, right now it's a seven and a half. Do you think this is at all Vegas having faith in this team and and and saying that this is, you know, maybe a better team than we're giving them credit for? Or do you think this is more around the schedule? Yeah. If I had to to guess I think it's the schedule I think six and a half is would have been an easy take. The over uh, seven and a half. Now it gets a little juicier, right. Um, you know, I still think I think there's there's still an easy. I won't say easy, but a good path to seven and a half, which means eight, uh, to get over that. Uh, that's eight and four in the regular season. Um, you know, minus the Vanderbilt game, you're out of conference is pretty, pretty easy. Um, you know, you you open the season on the road, you know, your first, you know, your three of your first four games are or are, uh, you know, P4 games. So, so you, you got to get out and get going. You know, there's no slow ramp up, um, with two of those being on the road. And then on the back end of the season, you've got Carolina and Florida State or I'll reverse those Florida State and Carolina. And you know, there's a good chance based off the last couple of years, those teams can be, you know, looking forward to the off season or basketball season in both of their cases. Um or coaching. So, you know, you do have a West coast trip. Or coaching searches? Absolutely. Uh, so, yeah, I think I think eight eights. Definitely doable. If I was a betting man, I'd take the over. And that part of that's me being a homer. But I definitely think there's eight wins on this schedule if everything goes right. I mean, taking away injuries and all the unknowns on June 23rd. Mhm. That's part of the bet though Greg. Yeah. You don't get asked for you know you don't get a pass for. Oh we lost. We lost Grayson McCall. Vegas does. Well I thought DraftKings does that right in case of injury. I would I I don't know I'm I'm I don't know but I would guess that that's probably like single game props if they did that. Um, yeah. Overall season. That was a little sarcasm there. Yeah. Yeah. But I like for me. year, six and a half. I mean, again, you pull up the schedule, that's what it is. And I think that's kind of why the the money is there. Right? Like, I, I don't think you look at this NC state roster and you're blown away and say, oh this is a a vintage NC state roster. I'm going to plug him in for eight nine wins. I, I don't I don't see that. But you look at the schedule and it's you don't have a scheduled loss. You don't how many. I mean that's got to be the first time in years at least, right? Almost 20. I mean, maybe yeah. I mean, last year we had two right, with Notre Dame in Miami. Yeah, yeah. And I mean something every year you play Clemson and Florida State every year. And they were national title contenders for a decade now. I mean you have Florida State, but they're obviously not at that level. And so for me that's a big part of it. There's no game I mean state's four and a half point underdogs right now at Virginia. That may be that may be the biggest game that they're underdogs all year. They're the biggest spread. Uh, what about Louisville? Isn't that at home? Yes. It is at home. So your other your other road games are Florida State. I could see that being it. Florida State's able to keep it together. I could see that being it. But as you said, Leighton like, will they keep it together? You know, you have unk on the road. You have Virginia. Stanford is a road game. Um, and Vandy. And that's it, right? Vandy isn't just for road games. Vandy. Yeah. Yeah. So maybe maybe it's Vandy but I, I, I don't see a game where state's more than a touchdown. Underdog. No. Yeah. No. And so to me that's why the numbers there if I'm being honest I know people aren't going to like hearing this comparison. And it's not a comparison of this is how the season will play out. It's a comparison of this is what the thought process was going into the season. It was last year's UNC team, last year's UNC team. I believe the overunder was seven and a half. And, you know, I remember some of the preseason discussion around them was basically like, hey, this team is not good, but look at who they play. And obviously it backfired. Like it didn't it didn't matter. They were terrible. That's kind of my thing is even if you're terrible, if you're terrible, the schedule is not going to matter. Um, but to me, it's kind of reminiscent of that conversation that people were having where it was like, hey, this is the bet on the schedule. It's not necessarily a bet on the coach or the quarterback or the or the schedule or the roster. It's a bet on the schedule. And I think that's kind of why. You see, the six and a half is heavily juiced, and now it's up to seven and a half. Well, and I think to as well, like I think this is going to be a year where the ACC is basically the the number two spot is wide open. I mean, I think I think we can all agree that Miami is its Miami's ACC to lose heading into the season as of right now. Uh. Now I mean, could it SMU? Could Louisville get up there? Sure. But listen then they they need two teams to play an ACC championship game. So all we need to be is number two. Uh, and guess what? You don't play Miami. You don't play SMU. Uh, you don't you don't play Clemson. Uh, you know, and, uh, uh, Virginia and Louisville, who are the two teams that are, you know, probably going to be contenders? Only one of them. You're playing on the road. You're not playing both of them on the road. Uh, so. And the one that you play on the road, you play the first game of the season. So, uh, and it's a non it's it's. Oh, it is a conference game. Sorry to I um, with all the transitioning of the game from Brazil to Charlottesville, Virginia was getting the details of it mixed up here. But yeah. So I mean, I'm sitting here saying, listen, you know, can NC state, uh, make it to make it to the ACC Championship game? Sure. Like I think I think the, the the opportunity is there now. You know, last year I think that if you were to ask how many people expected the ACC Championship game to be Duke versus Virginia to start the year, the answer would have been absolutely nobody would have predicted that. Nobody at all. Uh, but, you know, you know, so, so crazier things can happen. Mario Crystal ball can pull a Mario crystal ball and screw up this season. Uh, God forbid Darren Mensah could get injured and that could screw up. You know, Miami's upside potential. So you never know. It's it's it's if CJ Bailey can stay healthy play as we expect if we can get a step up on the defense uh you know to to to help us win some games then who knows. The schedule sets up perfectly for it. But, uh, you know, so so, Greg, uh, you know, if, if you were to, to, uh, you know, again, we'll break down kind of our season predictions here as we get closer here. But, Um. I mean, what do you what would you say is like, if everything goes perfectly, what's like our high and what's our low potential in terms of records? I mean, low could be. Oh, and 12 could be. No. Realistically. Uh, I mean, no, no, uh, you're you're playing Richmond like, uh. Right. Like, I think, I think the, I think the upper nine and three, um, and then lower, you know, 506 and six. I, I think that's probably the range that I'm looking at. You might be able to squeak ten in, but like, state just doesn't do that. So I have a hard time saying, you know, ten regular season wins. Um, that would be a, you know, a program record for regular season wins and then, you know, maybe get 11 and a bowl. But I think nine and three is the is the ceiling, and then six and six is the floor. Okay. Ethan, what would you say to that? Well, I don't want to spoil, uh, what we were going to talk about later and what I meant to talk about on the Patreon. But with NC state being labeled the 23rd best home field advantage, uh, in the country. That was by EA sports, right? That was for the for the. Yeah video game. Right. Yeah. Right. Mhm. To me when I look at it, you've got to get back to taking care of business at home. Stay cut away from that. I think they lost. It was four out of five home games. I'm gonna do something on this coming up. Yeah. But they got away from me. Before that we had like 116 in a row. Yeah. It was. I think it was over 20 at one point. Uh, in terms of games and. It's either 16 or 19. Yeah, it was a few years back, but it's been a few years now. Yeah, it was. When we lost the BC that ended it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So to me, can you take care of business at home. Because that's where I see the toughest games. Um, Louisville and Duke. Those are the games I have labeled as the toughest. Louisville and Duke. Both of those are at home. Um. And Cal. Right? I mean, we mentioned in terms of quarterback, right. That's probably your toughest quarterback matchup. Um, now again, Vanderbilt's tough. You know, obviously, um, SEC game or nonconference game SEC game whatever. Um, that one's tough to not as impactful, right. Um, can you get back to taking care of business at home? Your road games are Stanford, right? I'd like to be able to count that one as a win. And then you really just have to go. If you can go two and two against Virginia, Vanderbilt, Florida State and USC. And I know people love to count the uncW game as a win. Right. Because states won that game so many times over recent years. If you take care of business at home and then go two and two on the road, or three, three and two, right? I'm not throwing Sanford in there. I'm counting. Sanford doesn't win. Okay. Now I'm at nine. Mhm. Yeah. But to me it kind of comes down to it comes down to taking care of business at home. Yeah. You know and and say it's got to get back to doing that. I mean there was a time where yeah you won whatever it was games in a row, 20 something games in a row at home. And you, you felt invincible walking into that state of you were like, state's not losing this game. They're just not. And they got back to it a little bit, um, last year but down the stretch. But you've got to keep that going. Uh, and so for me that's, that's what I'm looking at. I don't expect you to go four and one on the road. Five and oh, that's that's asking a ton. But I, I do expect you to win the games at home where you're probably favored in all of those games. And you got to get back to taking care of those. So, um. For me, I'll kind of hedge and go eight and four, which is still the over. Uh, I just, I just to me, I don't like betting on and again it's, it's still the over. So if I were betting I would be taking the over. I don't love betting on the overs. I use the UNC team as an example. I don't love betting on overs just because of the schedule. And to be honest, like I, I think that's probably the strongest case here for NC state. Yeah. So if if you want more of those, uh, breakdowns, Wolf Pack Nation, just like Ethan was given their with this, that breakdowns, with the schedule breakdowns, all that stuff. If you haven't checked out our Patreon yet already, we got an amazing, amazing Patreon with three members only videos per week, plus also two of members only rumor chat two as well. So a lot of amazing content for only a low low price of $5 a month. So go click the link down in the description below and go sign up here today. But with that being said, y'all, let's move on over to our Ethan's Stat Pack segment. Y'all, here we go. Big thanks. First of all, to our, uh, amazing, amazing sponsor here, uh, Alpha Wolf CPR trainings, uh, for sponsoring our segment Ethan Stat Pack. Are you looking to get CPR certified for your business schools, church team, organization for CPR trainings. Makes it easy by bringing the training directly to you. Uh, for CPR trainings is an American Red cross licensed training provider offering adult and pediatric first aid, CPR, and AED certification courses. Whether you prefer hybrid learning or a fully instructor led class, they customize the training to fit your group's needs, including adult only or pediatric only certifications. With successful completion, participants receive an official American Red cross certification valid for two years and meeting OSHA standards. convenient, professional, and tailored to your schedule. Helpful CPR trainings helped you stay prepared when every second matters. To learn more and schedule your class today, visit Alpha Wolf CPR square.site today. Well, with that being said, we are here. But even before though we we we we add you in here. We got one of our other toughie TOG members here, Mister Macon Adams here ready to rock and roll. So I'm going to bring him in here. Right here, right now. Once we flip on over here, make on what's going on. Good sir guys, good conversation along the live stream tonight so far. Yeah, man. Glad to have you here, bro. Brother. So, Ethan man, give us give us your your stat of the week, man. Well, I'm still in baseball mode. Greg, you and I have been talking a lot about baseball. Always in baseball mode. I promise I'll start switching over. Uh, once we, uh, once we get closer to football. Greg, what's the biggest thing you and I have been talking about? About what this team needs. I'm going to go. Electricity. Power. Yeah, yeah, power. We talked about it. NC state was 15th in home runs this year in the ACC out of 16 teams. Not good. Uh, they hit 29 home runs in ACC play. They did hit 80 on the year, which is not bad. Um, but we talked about a lot of that was stat padding 15th and AC in ACC play. Last year they were 14th with 63 home runs. Huge dips. Not good Bob. Not good. In 2024. Let me frame it to you this way. Cozart, macro, Ravitch and Pennington. So 2025 they hit 63 as a team in 2024. Do you want to guess how many of those three guys combined for Cozart, Macro and Pennington? I'll take a guess if you want me to. Uh, yeah. Let me take a guess first and see, like, how outlandish my eyes, if that's okay. Because I'm sure I'm way off here. Uh, I'm going to guess between the three of them. 45? Yeah, the three of them total. More than that. Okay. What you got, Greg? I'm going to go 57. Mhm. Macon, you got a guess? Well I'm gonna say somewhere between I'm going to say like some, like 35. More than that. Greg your closest 61. I was gonna go 60. I'm not even kidding. I was like, I think it was 60 because I know, uh, uh, a mac had 24. I think Pennington had 23. And then Cozart was the one I couldn't remember. Uh, also. 18. Cozart had. 18. Shout out. Shout out to Pennington two as well. I think he just got moved up from Single-A to Double-A when I was taken. Correct. He did? Yeah. That's, uh. Anyway, we'll get back to. We'll come back to that. Yeah. Sorry. Go ahead. Ethan. Clear. Need for me. Clear. Need for me. And by the way, just for good measure. You want to know what NC state did in 2021 when they also went to Omaha Power and Home Run? I think they had like 81 that year. No no no no. They had more than that. They had like 90. It was more than that. It was 90. But that was remember that was the shortened season. There was no non-conference play. Right. So the 90 that they did that year was in the like less games than the last couple of years where they hit. Yep, 63 and 80. Yeah. Clear need. Clear. Need I taped something on Brandon Ovie this morning on the Patreon. I absolute clear need I. I think you can plug Mikey Ryan in for some home runs. I think you can plug Hunter Warren in for maybe he gets to ten. You still need a ton of power. And what brought it up was Oklahoma, you know, won the national championship last night. And that was the stat they talked about. It's a simple stat right? It's a simple stat. They did not hit them the first. I think it was like 80% of the regular season. But come postseason play. I believe they were averaging more than two per game. Well. Um. At the right time. Yeah. One guy, I can't remember his name. I got hit with power. Yeah, the one guy hit, like, 18 home runs in the last two months of the season. Like. Oh, well, I think that was the kid that hit the, um, the walk off. I guess Georgia Tech, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah. It was. Yeah. Clear need for power when state has gotten out and I. I to be fair. 2022 2023 state was middle of the pack and home runs. Obviously Tommy White had an unbelievable year. Canon Peebles Cozart was on those teams hitting bombs. Gruver hit some home runs. So it's not a guarantee of success right. Because you struggle those years. But you you didn't really struggle offensively. Um yeah that's that's the need right now. You need to add power to the lineup. And right now. I brought in one. Guy. You mentioned. You mentioned, uh, Warren. I think he's the only guy that they brought in so far in the portal that can. He was really even offensive weapon for you like that. Other guys are pitchers, right? I think Raymond can hit some. I think you can get some from from from Raymond. Well, and and the one thing to keep in mind too, as well, Ethan, the the great thing about home runs is it doesn't matter what field, what your fielding is like or what the opponent's fielding is like. When you hit home runs, you know, it doesn't matter what your what your what your way the the the runners on base do, it doesn't matter how good the coaching is. Guess what? If you hit the ball out of the ballpark, the rest of it takes care of itself. It's it's it's really that simple. Uh, so. There's and this is really getting into the weeds of it, but it's, it's the whole three true outcomes thing. And I know some people hate it, but walk strikeouts and home runs. Yeah. Anything else is impacted that like that tells you the true ability of a pitcher and true ability of a hitter. Everything else is impacted by the guys in the field. Um, and again, not to say like that's the be all, end all, but you've got to be able to hit home runs and stay just. The last two years they've it's been a big dip from, from where they, they need to be and where they've been in the past. Yeah. It's a lot harder to string multiple runs when there's not a home run involved. It's it's a lot more difficult. 100%. It's very challenging. It's very challenging. Yeah. So with that being said, Wolfpack Nation, I want to move on to a brand new segment for this show that we have not had yet here. And that is our Pac Pro of the week. Pac Pro of the week. All right. Yeah, yeah. Cool. Cool, cool little voice over there. Add a little something. Something to it. There. So. Sounded like Bob Costas. You guys. Are your. Costas? Yeah. No. Exactly. Well, we're too young for good, Bob Costas. Where's Bob? Costas is still kicking. That's true. Hey. Yeah. Ethan. Ethan's old enough to know that there's difference, apparently, between the good Bob Costas and the bad Bob Costas. Oh. Shouts Bob Costas in the 80s was where it was at. Like he was the guy. Don't ask me who Bob Costas is with that being. Oh my God. Oh, don't. No, no, don't ask me. Uh, so I want to give you honorable mentions here. Uh. Hey, Greg. All right. We're we're locked back in. All right, lock back in here. So, two honorable mentions here. First one, we'll give a shout out because we mentioned them already. Garrett Pennington, former in-state, uh, baseball player. Uh, in 2023. Correct. 2023. Uh, he. Was on the 2020. 424 team. Okay. He had one. Season. Um, Yep. Uh, I got called up today from the minor league minor league affiliate to Double-A. Greg, do you happen to know that I know the teams off the top of your head or what? What? What league? Yeah. Or what? What vertical? Yeah, he was with the Lakeland Tigers, I believe. And then now he's with the I believe they're the Whitecaps some some team in Michigan I believe. Gotcha. Um so shout out their second shout out is to former NC state women's basketball player Saniya Rivers for becoming the fifth, uh, player from her rookie class to hit 500 career points with the Connecticut Sun. Uh, Macon. I mean, you know, obviously with how let's be real cut throughout the WNBA is in terms of making a roster, but not only just making a roster, but staying on a roster. Uh, the fact that she was able that she's able to hit that 500 career point mark, you know, shows that, I mean, she's going to have a solid career as long as she stays healthy in the WNBA. And in my opinion, that's one of the biggest things N.C. state has been needing for so long is a footprint in the WNBA, and you have that right now with Sunny Rivers adding it to what Isaiah James is doing to as well. Yeah, she's got she's she's got a really good particularly defensive presence I think I thought I thought that was kind of odd to me honestly when it was like the fourth one to put it out there. But the fact that she's done it is she, she's got she's got a pretty good pedigree there. Like it's just, um, you know, she was the, I think the eighth overall pick for the WNBA, um, that her class from was taken. So she's just, um, gotta keep. Can you build on that. But it's a, it's a, it's a step in the right direction for her. And uh, hopefully that kind of continues to build up her stock with, uh, Connecticut Sun. So. Yeah. And real quick, before we get to the main Pac pro of the week, uh, I did want to ask a quick, uh, uh, question here to my man Ethan here, uh, hopefully that that that laptop is plugged in, man. So it can give you know, that that screen enough, you know, light juice to to keep you lit for the rest of the show. Or brighten us up. Yeah. He's he's working in the shadows. Yeah, he's working from the shadows. If you're watching on YouTube, you you you understand what I'm saying right now. So. But now, in my opinion, the Pac Pro of the week has got to go to Mr. Tran highly, uh, qualifying for a second straight spot on the US senior world team. That's 92kg. And on top of it, to beating former fellow, uh, NC state wrestler Michael Machiavelli, who won a national championship at 197 pounds. I have to have I have to switch or I have to switch the the conversion in my head between kilograms and and pounds me like, no, not 92 pounds, 197 pounds uh and swept them two to nothing. And so Ethan and I, and we're going to go and put this out there, probably from the wrestling perspective. It's going to be mostly Greg and I talking about this, am I correct? Ethan. You are correct. So for those that are unaware. Of this stretch there. Yeah. So basically for those unaware, basically, uh, how qualifying for the US senior team works is that there's, uh, there's a long process to it, but really all cultivate uh, cultivates in and what's called uh, what is uh final X, final X, which is basically the finals for with two wrestlers for each weight class. And basically what they do is they do a best of three series. And basically, you know, if you win two out of three you qualify. And so there's again, there's different routes for each spot. On how you qualify for that spot. Um, but Trent sweeping again former state wrestler, national champion Michael Machiavelli. Uh two. Nothing definitely is extremely impressive because also two, there's a five, 4 or 5 year age gap between the two as well. Uh, so, so Michael Machiavelli has been training in the senior area for for a while now, but again, he's coming off of a, of a, um, a of a of a world senior championship. And now once again is going to be representing once again, which in my opinion, Greg, like, I think it was our, uh, um, our, one of our that we've had these conversations around. Where does Trent Hill sent in terms of NC state wrestling law? If you want a second senior world championship, there's no one a anymore. It's one train highly man and two, not one, but two senior world championships on top of his college resume. That's it's it's it's unbeatable at that point. If you could do it twice, not just once but twice. Yeah. I mean, I can see where you're where you're coming from with your argument. Uh, I would push back. I would just push back because, like, what you do post-college like, to me, it's two different, two different conversations. It's your, your your career at NC state and your legacy at NC state. And then it's your professional legacy. All right. So those are two things. But then if you want to say cumulative okay then I'll, I'll, I'll bite and be your huckleberry and entertain that conversation. Um, but I mean both are, both are elite in their own own. Right. And, um. Yeah, I just think I just think right now Trent is just he's on a different, different level. Um, you know, it's the fact that and this goes back to all, all sports, no matter if it's a team sport, in an individual sport, it's just it goes back to like, you need some luck. You need the right path. You need to stay healthy, uh, to win a championship. And unfortunately, those things didn't quite happen for Trent when he was at state. Or, you know, like, yes, I would be like, yes, you're 100% right. But you know, he, he he was multi, multi All-American but he's never kind of won that championship that he wanted to win. Mhm. Well and so you're saying Greg that Tom Brady is not a top five Michigan quarterback of all time. That's that's just crazy. I would 100% say that he's not fair enough. Yeah. No top five quarterback from Michigan but not a Michigan quarterback. And I I see I see Ethan over there rolling his eyes in the darkness. But and I'm playing semantics a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. Well I'd have to look closer at what he did at Michigan, but I, I get what you're saying. Like 199. Overall. Makes it anything great. That's true. That's true. He was good. Was he? He was 199. Not drafted though. He did. I mean, he didn't do anything spectacular enough to be, you know. Yeah, I can't, I gotta imagine there's some other Michigan quarterbacks that did better than he did. And I mean, Jim Harbaugh was pretty solid when he was there. Oh heck yeah. Yeah yeah. Um, but yeah. So again and and we can talk about too as well to have the conversation around while he went against Dillon Brooks, you know, lost him three times at nationals, which Dillon Brooks was a four time national champion, arguably one of the best Penn State wrestlers of all time. Uh, you know, so. Okay, you lost that guy. You know, that doesn't mean you're not maybe one of the still, if not the greatest NC state, but yeah. Nope. Again, either way, huge shout out to Trent Hill. And in my opinion, once again just adding more and more to the. His legacy. Spotlight. Well his legacy, but also to the the spotlight on NC state. I mean, again, Greg, if you have a guy that you can say, hey, listen, that guy who just won back to back us, uh, senior world championships. Yeah, he went to NC state and and and he trains at NC state. Like, if you want if you want to train against that guy, come to NC state like Pat Popovich. Just like heck yeah I'll take that. Yeah. Sounds like a plan to me. So yeah. Um, hey. Real quick, if I can just do a correction on the Garrett Pennington thing, I did have the Whitecaps, right. Um, but he was actually getting promoted from the Whitecaps. It wasn't to the Whitecaps. So he was going from West Michigan Whitecaps to the Erie Seawolves. Double-A. Want to make that correction? Yeah. Hi. Yeah. Hi. So if people don't know a has two different levels low A, high A, and for some reason I was still thinking he was that low at Lakeland. But it's actually he was at high eight. So it's high A to Double-A. Mhm. There you go. Yeah. So if if if, if you if you accept Greg's apology there do us a big big favor. Hit that like button to let us know that you forgive him and we'd appreciate that. So yes because I will not get to sleep tonight if I'm not forgiven. Exactly. Like it. Right? Exactly. right. So with that being said, Wolfpack Nation, it's time to move on to one of our favorite segments of every single show, which is our tweet of the week. Okay. See who I did it right. Let's go. I'm learning y'all. I'm getting better. You see that? I'm getting better, y'all. So bah! Oh my gosh. Come on. Hey, hey, if you're going to throw it at me, I'm throwing it back. Okay, listen, Greg, if you if you learn anything about me, I can dish it, but I can't take it, okay? That is a true fact. That is a fact. All right. Yeah. Greg, you and I both know if I'm out of here, this ship is going down, baby. I'm muting all of y'all. That's right. Yeah. Hey, hey, I've done it before. I've done the spotlight before. So you have. Anyway, so our first tweet of the week, which we have a couple of really good tweets. But in my opinion, y'all, this is arguably the biggest man from Chris Bernini here. Boston too. It's it's across the board is being talked about right now. Big news in college sports. The D1 cabinet has approved a new age based five year eligibility model five years of eligibility, no redshirts or extensions. So no. So does that mean no injury? Red shirts either? Nothing. Five years sounds five and five. Like that's fine. If you get injured five years in a row, that's on you. Yeah. Because it also says right here the only exemptions are for pregnancy military or or mission trips basically. Um, and so the clock starts at 19 years old or college enrollment, whichever comes first. So I mean, Ethan, I think really this just comes down to just really just simplifying the whole process here and also to as well with the Nil model and, you know, NFL things like that. Just let's just just keep it simple. You know just you get five years boom. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of clarity here. Right. Um, there's no there's no questions. There's no, like you said, there's no exceptions. Right? You know, the exceptions going in. If you get pregnant, if you're in the military, if you go on a mission trip, which I'm pretty sure just applies to the Mormons, if I'm not mistaken. Mostly you haven't heard? Yeah, I haven't heard of that in an in another situation. It's really hard for men to get pregnant to do so well. Boy oh. Boy. Going there. We're not going. There. Oh. Sorry. And, uh. No, no, I lost my train of thought. I can't stop that. I was like. Oh, sorry. Yeah. It clears it up, though. Like, you, you know, going in, and there's no need to. Oh, I need to. Red shirt. I need to sit out. Uh, all this other stuff. No you don't. Um, you know, guys get an extra year. I like that they did not, um, grandfather in this year's seniors. I think that would have been a real mess. Uh, yeah, we had that problem with Covid, didn't we? Mhm. Right. Right. And that one was different across sports. Right. So. Yeah. Yeah I, I, I like it. It's definitely a change. But it feels like a change that will be for the better. And in two years you'll, we'll be sitting here saying man why why didn't this happen sooner. Yeah I mean. Go ahead Megan. Well, my thought is to me, I think it's this is a win for college athletics and like the quality of games because those are guys. I was I was texting some other boys of mine. There's guys on I can think of on the basketball and football side that think about like they they're not eligible now obviously, but they like if this rule been applied to them like a Madeira like this would be a huge for a guy like him to come back or okay, see more so on the basketball side, um, you know, even like ten years ago, like, I don't think CJ Leslie didn't get drafted in the NBA like, or Scott Wood didn't get drafted. Like those have been huge things. Football side uh, longer draft. But there's a there's a bunch of guys that you could get, you could see hey there Jeff Stock like a Kelvin Harmon could not he could have come back, you know, when he was available. I'm just kind of curious. Does that mean a guy like Paul McNeil's got two years hypothetically, if he wanted to stay, but he's not going to because he's he's probably he's got his draft stocks too high. But something like that would be pretty awesome for N.C. state basketball. Um. You know they cleared that up. They, they they they put that into the like there's another screenshot that kind of goes with this. But um, they don't they don't get like if they, if this is their third year, they don't get two more once this is enacted. Okay. So it's not like they're a junior now. Yes. So basically it's this they it goes into effect now, but it really pertains to next year when that class comes in, um, with the age based and all of that stuff. Right. Okay. Yeah. I was just thinking, like how, like some of those guys that are friends, draft picks. It gives them another option to come back for another year, I just think. The one question I had, I did not see it clear for me was does this include injuries? So yes, it's five and five. No matter what happens. No matter what. Okay, okay. Now the one question I have, if I can. That seems. A little. Yeah, I, I feel like sometimes if someone gets, like, really hurt, there could be exceptions there, I would wonder. But if they're in this case, the wording is there are no exceptions. So yeah you can't start with exceptions. You can't start with exceptions because that's when you open it up. Right. This has to be it. Like this has to be there's there's no exceptions. Yeah. My only I'm. A bachelor sports. So go ahead. And I would assume I would assume this is five and five consecutive years. Like I don't like. Yeah. To that point. Like, you know, if you get injured, that doesn't count against you. Or if you're. Being a military. Professional, that doesn't mean you can come back. Right. That's the I think that's the big thing, especially with the whole basketball situation. That's kind of was starting to get out of hand a little bit. I think that kind of addresses that problem there with, with this, um, with this eligibility rule. Well, and also to as well, I think that honestly from a, from a coaching perspective and like I think this really opens up everything because now it's, it's it's not a well like, you know, which I think we all have agreed that now in today's day and age, there's no reason to redshirt anybody. Just, just, you know, just, you know, just don't even worry about it. Just just put the best 11 players in basketball or sorry in football on the field. Put the best five players on the court on the court period. Um, but so now it's even more so like, yeah, like there is no red shirting. There is no. Well, you know, should we burn this red shirt? Like, nope. Just if if he's the best option to make the play, put him out there. Period. So I think I think it's I think it's good for the college athletics. I think the quality of the sport of sports will go up, um, because guys want to stay longer, that yeah, they have the option to. You know, get paid. I think, Macon, I think we saw that with Covid, right. When guys were able to stay, you saw for, you know, the caliber of of games when. You had Covid plus nil right. Yeah. Yeah. Both of those at the same time. Obviously now it's going to take away it's just a good thing for sports. And I think good. Know as I say like I wonder how the players feel about this. Like we as fans like it maybe mentioned clarity there. Um, Ethan like this brings clarity. I wonder how the players throughout this because, uh, I don't know. I just I'd be curious about that. So I, I, If I remember correctly, Dave Dorn was in favor of this. I think I remember him saying something not too long ago when they were talking about this, because now it just as someone said, I don't remember who that. You just go play the best guys, whether they're a freshman or a senior. Right. You don't, you don't, you don't. Now again, the NFL changes everything from a year to year perspective to begin with. But I think this takes it one step further. And you're not worried about okay, well I need this guy maybe in two years because of my quarterback depth or wide receiver depth or whatever. Like you just go play and you got five years. And I think, I think that maybe brings the talent pool up a notch. Right. Like now you got guys fighting for positions a little, a little better. Um, you know, maybe in a sport like basketball where you've seen, you know, you try to stash a guy or two, uh, you know, in basketball where state has done that? Um, I just don't think you're worried about that anymore. You just go play the best. Best five, best ten. Best 11. Whatever your sport is, and you just go with it. Mhm. Yeah. Absolutely. So uh, so again big news for, for college sports. Uh, again a really addresses a lot of issues at one time and also two from a fan perspective. Uh, you know, just it's just when did they get here and add five years to that. That's the last year that they can play at in college. It's and then and then we move on here. So, uh, moving on here to our second big news though of the week. I know Ethan is quickly losing that Brighton is my man. We're going to have a black square here. Oh, there we go in one second. Uh, you know, I know that you've you've been talking a lot about this. I know when we, uh, did our, uh, uh, schedule, uh, break down too, as well, for in state men's basketball. This was one of the games we were talking about in this home and home series versus VCU. Uh, the two teams are scheduled to play next season at Segal Center, but the Wolfpack have opted to buy out of the agreement. So everybody right now, Ethan, as I'm sure you've seen on Twitter, is going, what the heck is NC state doing buying out of this agreement? They don't have VCU fans coming out and saying, oh, they didn't want that smoke. You know, uh uh, so Ethan, give us some sense of this, my man. I mean, I, I think the VCU people saying that would be right. I mean, I think this is completely normal to, um, to see, like, this isn't some weird situation or anything like that. Like this. This stuff happens, and, and guys say, hey, I don't it happens in football most notably, but it happens in basketball too, where you're like, I don't want to make that trip. For whatever reason, I don't think I don't think we know that reason right now. I don't know the reason. Um, I, I know some people said, oh, they gotta schedule another game. I mean, they have 13 non-conference games. You don't have to. It's not a one for one proposition. I'm sure there will be plenty of throw away home games that they could have otherwise replaced. Um, now, I'm sure there's a quota of number of home games that they want to hit, but I wouldn't be doing that at the expense of this game personally. So yeah, I mean, it's this is a game that would have tested you late. And you said we talked about it. You know, this is a game that would have tested you would have made you better. Um, and state I'm sure they have their reasons, but it sucks. Sucks as a fan, uh, you know, both for a cool game to go to but also for, you know, uh, evaluating your team. I've been vocal. I don't really think stacking wins really matters. I just I don't think the committee cares about that. I think they want to know who you play. Um, so I'm. I'm bummed out about this one. Yeah. Greg, what's your thoughts on this when you when you first saw the news break out? Yeah, just just NC state keeps kicking me in the in the, in the big toe. I'll, I'll I'll say it that way. This was a game. Yeah, well, I wanted to say something else, but, um. I don't think I've ever heard that one. It's the best I could come up with and not use the word I wanted to use. Um, you know, this was probably the the closest, easiest game for me to get to on the schedule. It's 70, 75 minutes from my house, and that would basically be a home game. Um, I, I agree with with Ethan, it's a it's a good quad one probably, if not worse quad two. Um, early in the season, you can see, you know, VCU is a good, good road environment. It's, you know, one of those tougher mid-major locations or environments. I also think that, you know, this, this schedule or this this home and home was made with the previous coach, um, who had ties to that school. And I think that, you know, I, I don't know if Justin Gagne wanted to deal with that. Um. Now. But why does that matter? I don't know, I'm just. I'm just throwing it out there for for conjure. Like, if we want to talk about that, we can. Obviously, you wanted to. So, um. I don't know. I've had you with that. No. Yeah, I, I just don't know, like, who cares? I mean, that was his old school. I mean, like, he scheduled this, right? This was a will wait special. So maybe Gagne, maybe it doesn't fit Gagne scheduling philosophy like it does. Well, wait, that's that's all I'm kind of just getting at here. Yeah, I don't know why. I mean, he's put together a a tough non-conference schedule. He has. Absolutely. And that part of it too, right? Yeah, absolutely. Go ahead. Ethan. Sorry I cut you off. Like, one game doesn't change that. You know, so, like, all of a sudden, now, this is a bad schedule, but it is like, okay, why would you back out of this game? I would rather if you're talking about it from a metrics perspective, I'd rather back out of like the Ole Miss game. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, because you I think you get more. You get more points for a true road game, right? Instead of a neutral. Right. Right. I yeah, again. And I think South Carolina. But that would I mean that would be ideal. But I don't I don't know what the downside is. Like I don't I just don't get this one. I'd love to hear the reasoning from state. Well I think the buyouts a lot different. Right. I think the buyout would be more against South Carolina than would VCU. So if you got to choose one, I think you would be the cheaper option for sure. That's definitely true. I don't think buying out South Carolina is an option because that's the SEC. No it's not. No you don't. The Ole Miss game. Yeah. Right. And the Tennessee is a nonstarter because, you know, that was a handshake agreement for Gainey. And and um. Yeah, they scheduled that game. That was correct. You know. So. Correct. But I'm saying but the the South Carolina I'm sorry, not South Carolina, the Ole Miss and the VCU games were done on the previous regime. And so if you're going to if you're going to kick one, it makes sense to be the VCU. Now I will say, like Richmond's only 2.5 hours from Raleigh. Like. And you've got some alumni here in Virginia. Like, I felt like state would had a had a good, you know, turnout for that game. Um, but I mean, I don't know. And I guess the other thing before we jump to too many conclusions is like, what are you replacing it with? That was are you replacing it? Well, you got to replace it somehow. I wonder, you know, my personal thought is I and this kind of. Maybe it's not a good reason. Well, side note, Corey apparently has to. He knows the inside reason why he keeps innuendo ING on his Twitter page or his X page. Whatever it is, I'm like, I'd be curious what he's implying there, but, um, other than other than clicks, but, um, to me, like, I like it was a key one game. My opinion the coach there is like one of the was listed as like one of the top young rising coaching stars, um, upcoming coaches in the in the. I remember his name, but, um, I know he's kind of got some getting some regard as being a really good coach at his young age there. I know that state's got a really tough non-conference schedule, and I just wondered if this was something that he was wanting to maybe do. I don't I don't know. I do something sounds very softer, but I don't know why he would do that. But I don't buy that argument. If you lose a Q1 game, you don't really lose anything. Like, I don't I just don't buy that argument because you look at Carolina a couple of years ago, they scheduled tough. You saw state kind of schedule tough last year. Like I just don't I don't think that one could make. The argument go ahead. You could make the argument. You're right, Greg, it doesn't make or break it. You can make the argument. State made the tournament last year because of their non-conference schedule 100%. And again, it's not to say that this is going to be a bad non-conference schedule. I don't think it is. And yeah, maybe it gets replaced, I guess if if those guys are right, we'll see. But you don't have to replace like you. You're allowed to schedule more tough games. There's not a quota on you. You can only schedule so many tough games. I don't think there's a home game coming. Like, I know some people have brought that up. I don't I don't think that's happening. I don't think it's being replaced with like a big home game. That would make some sense to me if you were like, you know what, we're playing a bunch of interesting games away from home, but not at home, but not at, uh, not in Raleigh. To me, that would make a little bit of sense. I don't, and maybe it happens, but I don't. I don't think that's the case. I think you're going to see a pretty soft non-conference schedule at home. And I mean, again, like you've already got half of the schedule, right? So you've got the two Baja Ma, you've got Tennessee, you've got Ole Miss, you've got South Carolina. Suppose you've got eight more to play with. Supposedly there's one more coming. Like I said, if they're right so then you've got seven. I'm guessing it's might be seven by games. Megan, you got a final thought on this. Clip that. It is very interesting. I'm sure I imagine Gaffney will. Maybe. I wonder if you would talk about it, because it's kind of getting there at some point briefly, just kind of say a little bit about it, but probably he won't say anything until maybe he'll just know until the next thing is booked. But I just didn't see it. It's like you're if you play that game when or when you get a cue on, when you lose a cue. One game on the road, nobody is kicking you for it. So I, I just didn't see what you you know, what you what? You're not gaining from playing that game. So, um. And it costs you $200,000 to get out of it. Technically, we. Haven't talked about the money. Like, I know it's chump change in the grand scheme of things. Yeah. Yeah, I, I mean, let's put it this way. Uh, reporters have long term memories, so I guarantee you which which when. It doesn't matter how long Arnie puts off his next press conference, I guarantee you, at the next press conference. It's going to get brought up now. Does he actually say anything? That's another thing. But he'll he will be given opportunity to answer that question, that's for sure. And, uh, Ethan, do you remember, uh, when we did the basketball, uh, schedule breakdown? Do you remember which out of conference game I forgot to bring up that you had to bring up for me? Was it this one? Yep. VCU so I, I, I jinxed it. Sorry, y'all. You were foreshadowing me. Exactly. Yeah. I jinx it. I foreshadowed whatever. Which game is it being replaced with? Uh. Uh. Kansas. So anyway, with that being said, Wolfpack Nation, we're going to move on here to a huge signing. Literally and figuratively here. Huge guns. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Uh, and and Ethan, save for say it for myself and and the fans. Once again it is pronounced. As far as I know, it's Shah Hall. Shah hall? Yeah. Sha ha! So it's not my fault. Yeah. We're gonna. We're gonna, quote, tweet that forever. Now, look, just a little more shall show. Uh, but, yeah. Uh, so, so, Macon, I, I, I know you always love talking to the basketball here, man. So, you know, Shelton State transfer was looked at by a lot of big school shooter. Like, when I even looked up Shaw Hall on YouTube, there was probably, like, ten different videos from Arkansas. People talking about them. Uh, so they were goo goo goo and guy, you know, all over him for sure, uh, you know, wanting him so bad at Arkansas. But we got him and and he's a guy probably going season that you're not expecting to be the number one. Uh, you know, Kyle Evans is more likely going to be that guy. I mean, time will tell. Here's still plenty of time between now and next season. Uh, but, yeah, I mean, like, I think now you are feeling a lot better now. And what you have at the five position now. Yeah. I mean, what? I guess I'll start. You mentioned the Arkansas thing. There was a lot of stuff on ex, just people talking about him there. So I think that was probably one of the main competitions for this guy. Um, Kyle Evans is, uh, unless something happens with Jerkovic. Um, it's he's the guy at the five. Um, and this is really a depth piece, um, behind, um, Kyle Evans and potentially Djokovic if they, um, if that's if they end up playing some of the five and four, I'm not really sure how that would go. Um, it just kind of adds a nice little cushion in case of emergency, in my opinion. I mean, this guy is a JuCo player, right? You're not you're not bringing the guy this late in the game to be an immediate impact player from the JuCo ranks. Like he's just going to be probably not even a guy that you see play the floor much at all this season. I mean, um, I don't know. I don't even know who you. You hope. You hope. You don't have to. Correct. Right. I mean, again, as I said, it's an emergency thing. Like, if you're playing this guy in regular minutes, you're in trouble at five, in my opinion. So he's not saying he can't do anything. He's definitely a dunker. Like, he kind of plays right around the rim. I mean, yeah, that makes sense to me. Being 611, um, seems pretty athletic of a player. Obviously you're one of the guns there. Greg. He's definitely jacked. But you know who he reminds me of? If you guys remember Sean Kirk? I don't see that Sean Kirk is more of a small forward. Um, yeah. I can see that. I can see this is very raw. Yeah. Dunk. John Graham's a dunk machine, but, uh, I don't. I just get this guy just, like, lives around the basket. I could see if Ed Meade, you know, is the one or. And, you know, distributing the ball. It kind of nice, uh, dime to this guy who can dunk it in spot minutes for this for state, but I just. You're not looking to him. I don't think unless something crazy happens for major minutes. And, um. But it does give you a peace of mind, I guess, in the background, if you you don't have, you know, really mainly two guys that you would count on. You know, unless you're talking about some Micah, uh, Mikey Wilkins. Um, maybe he's playing some of the five two. So it's just just an option as an emergency piece for you, but very athletic. Uh, peace. A good little a good, uh, cheap flier on a guy to see if he pans out for you. Um, I don't know how his rebounding, um, stats were there either, but, um, he definitely looks like he. I think he averaged just under ten points a game. His community has a JuCo college there, so, um, I think it was something like four rebounds a game or something like that. I had him an eight eight. Okay. So I was wrong. So so he's he's he's pretty decent rebounder and that would be good for his size. So that's all I'll say about that. I'd like to pick up for what it's going to. Probably what he's probably worth. What he means the team I like, the, uh, the additions. So, uh, Ethan, anything you would add to this? No, I think Macon hit it on the head. Not not big expectations. But sometimes you bring guys in and they exceed, you know, your expectations. I think it's hard to, um. If, you know, look at what he did at a JuCo and say, okay, this is going to translate. Um, you know, the stats there aren't super reliable like some games. It just says, oh, we played one minute. But then he's got, you know, eight points and five rebounds or something like that. So I don't know how those are, how reliable those are. But like I said it was you said what nine was it nine points making and eight rebounds. 9.6 or something like that. 9.4. Yeah okay okay okay. So yeah I again I you don't bring him in with a ton of expectation but again things change. You know Muhammadiyah is example one a last year it happened twice with Paul McNeill and Kadir Copeland. It'll probably happen again this year where you have somebody who you're like, man, I don't know. Like to me the eight man rotation is is pretty clear at least going into the season. Um, but again, things will change. And if I had to guess, somebody who's not currently in the rotation will end up in the rotation by the time you really, you know, get into the meat of the season. It doesn't mean it's a good question. Who do you do you think it's a guy? Like, if you had to pick one person who would surprise guys by the minutes he plays. And barring not barring injury just by just skill level, maybe it's. Anybody think I could catch the the, you know, fan base the program off guard. Yeah. Do you have a guy? I have a guy. I want to know if anybody else has a guy. Well, here, how about this? How about we tease that and let's let's make that an episode for this week. And let's just tease that there. We got a couple more. Got a couple more to get to here. So? So. Yeah. So make sure to stay tuned with vaccination. Maybe without. Maybe we'll drop that here in episode uh. One real quick thing because I it's interesting. From his freshman to sophomore year, he allegedly grew two inches his freshman year. He was six nine. In this past year he was 611. So take that for so much taller shoes. There's so much gamesmanship in those nights. It's crazy. Yeah. And that's why I gave him the Sean Kirk because I thought he was six nine. But I was looking at his freshman year and he missed his freshman year with a foot injury too. So he really last year was his first year of college basketball. Uh, real quick, though, before we jump into our next tweet of the week here, uh, an emergency one that just popped up here, which I just saw is, uh, for college football 27, the, uh, video game. They announced the team overall ratings. Uh, and do you anybody want to get any Greg while here does any. Does anybody know Greg. Ethan. Megan, do. I. Know what my guess is? My guess is it overall, it's like it's like one through 100, right? It's like the numbers that give you the rankings. Correct? I'll give you I'll give you a hint, though. Uh, you all Monroe is the lowest rated. They're at 69. The highest rated is Oregon. They're at 91. Okay, so you're actually looking not not the ranked number like 22. You're looking like at a like in the 80s and 80s number. Not a ranking or rating. I'm gonna say 83. Greg. Um, I'm going to go. Are we getting down to the decimal or just an overall number? No. Just overall. Uh, I'll go 86. No, that's that's too high. Uh, 79. It's either to me, the 83 or. What was the lowest one? 60 to 69. Okay, so that's the lowest. Then I'll go. I'll go 81. Do you then do you. Do you know? I had seven, I had 79. Greg kind of took my answer to 83. Gentleman. So I've got 79. Ladies and gentlemen. 89 to. Know you. Nope. You'd switch it to 81. I know I did. I know I did. But yep, it was 79. Do you want to know what other two ACC teams are at 79? Duke and USC. Sorry. And that's why it's a video game, folks. USC at 79 and we're at 79. That's they get 70 points for putting their name on the damn paper. You want to know who got it? 82 that I'm shocked at Duke. Probably Virginia Tech. FSU. I was in state. Virginia. FSU got what number? Yeah, FSU got 82. So we were the third lowest in the ACC. Is that what you're saying? Uh, so Miami got 88. Uh, Louisville got 84. Clemson 83. SMU 83. Virginia 83. Uh, FSU 82. Uh Cal 81. Virginia Tech. 81. 81. Uh. And then it's us, Duke. And you see, it's. Just these mid-season, like, kind of basically like during the season, don't they? Yeah. I think we got better things to talk about than a damn video game. Exactly. So let's. Just. Because you're mad, you're wrong. No, I don't even care. Like, it's a stupid video game. Like. Yeah, this is the boomer in me. Just just give me three years to recruit on that thing and and say it'll be at the 99. Greg. Don't worry. Exactly. Well, come back to me in three years, then we'll we'll talk about it. Yeah. So so I wanted to jump into this one though, because in my opinion, this is, in my opinion, one of the coolest tweets for sure. Now we can kind of talk about one thing in particular, which, you know, maybe Greg, you kind of see where my my eyes are at here. But, uh, college ball 27 did come out as well with the top 25 toughest places to play. I think you know the top five. I'm actually sure you were in the 90s. Well, So. All right. So so that's so my eyes are on the 212223. Now first of all I'm actually surprised that Clemson's at nine. I actually would. Surprise Indiana at 17. Well that's because of the last two years. But that's my point. It's it's recency bias totally recency bias. Anything to do with the location. It's or how good your team was. Because if that were the case you'd put them higher right. Right. Yeah it's that one's that one's just off to me. So but so yeah FSU at 21. And so keep in mind y'all we got it. We gotta you know call these numbers out for our listeners here. Not watching us here but yeah FSU 21 Virginia Tech at 22 NC state 23. Here's my thing. And I know Macon, you can speak specifically to the Virginia Tech one. Uh, but yeah, FSU at 21. Like, well, here's my thing, Greg. If this was a good FSU program, I think it'd be top 15 easily. If not, have a case for top ten. Uh, but like you said, they they. They've removed 13,000 seats to their stadium. True. That's true. All right, that's true. All right. That puts that argument to bed. I mean, so sorry, but. Yeah, so. So there you go. So, uh, but but I don't know. Well, Ethan, I want to get your thoughts here. You think for 22 to high to low. Uh, I feel I think that's about right. Um. It's a pretty stable team. No, in the end, it's not. The one that sticks out to me is Mississippi State. I don't know what Mississippi State is. Greg, I don't know if you went to that game a few years ago. I did hear it to the TV, man. Yeah, I think I. I don't know how. That was the game that, um. Well, and I think that's what they were basing it on. Right. Those stupid cowbells. Like, it makes a lot of noise. I don't know. I don't know how you're allowed to get away with that. Yeah. To me, Indiana is too high. But again, it's like, okay, what what is this? Is it recency bias? Is it how have you performed at home. Because that's a much different equation. If it's just completely subjective like oh, this is how how loud we think it is or how loud it's perceived to be. I mean. I think Oregon's too high. Like, who's not. On this list that. Not that big of a stadium. But here's my Oregon. From what I've heard, is like, unbelievable. It's it's. Incredible. It's a bucket list for me, for sure. Uh, Oregon. Uh, here's my thing, though. Y'all, it's so clear. Here's here's my thing. Here's one thing we know for sure. Indiana being a 17 means that their home record over the last 1 to 2 years is a big factor in this ranking. And the fact also to why Oregon is at number six, because Oregon's had such a phenomenal home record over the last few seasons. So so that's one thing I want to keep in mind. Now, with that being said, Oklahoma being at 11, um, I don't know. You know about that. Greg, how many of these places have you been? Um. Two. Three. Three. One. Two. Three. Three. Okay. Clemson in state. Oh four I forgot Clemson. My bad. Sorry. Uh, Clemson Notre Dame and Virginia Tech and then obviously state so. Oh not Florida State. Clemson. Not. Florida. I'm going this year I'm. 300 Notre Dame in Virginia Tech. Yeah. Mhm. Okay. Yeah. So but I mean you see the bias here. I mean there's definitely but I will also say that those are some of the biggest stadiums as well. Right. So I think you, you attribute some of that size to noise. So if you if you're looking at it from that aspect like state Virginia. Well Virginia Tech is actually pretty big. Um, I feel like Oregon's about our size, believe it or not. Um, I think Mississippi State's around our size. Washington, I think, is around our size. Um, but everything else is in the 80s. Our Indiana is probably smaller than us. If I had to guess. Yeah. 80s or higher. South Carolina's not that big. That's another one that kind of stands out here. It's like. Wait. Wait, what? Um, I think it's in the upper 70s. I think it's like 76, 77,000. South Carolina's okay. I think it's pretty big. It's pretty big. Yeah. Uh, probably. I mean, dude, the sandstorm, man, I like, you know, it's when it's nighttime. It's it's it's incredible. Nothing is not on this. 77,000 for Bryce. Okay, well, here's my thing, though. Making before you before we talk about who's not on this list, that should be. Let's be real. Michigan. Oklahoma, NE, for the love of God to switch. Like, like just just just for my tier perspective. Like, in my opinion, I've heard. I've heard the big house is kind of quiet. Quiet for it's how big it is. Like relative. Right? I mean, if you have over 100,000 people. But I heard like like they only get make up for like Michigan State and Ohio State and maybe Penn State, like the rest of the time, they say it's fairly quiet. But if we're talking about home records, though, I do as well. I mean, I think that applies. It's not the question of this. It says toughest places to play. Not again. Why would Indiana be at 17? Because also to have factored into this has been home records. It has to be. That's the only answer of why Indiana is a 17. Go. Go ahead. Again, why are we talking about a video game? Do you really hate video games? Don't you? You gotta give that people what they want. Greg. Okay. All right. How big do you think. Indiana. Stadium is? Big. How big do you think it is? It's a little bit bigger than Carter Finley. Really? You're telling me that Indiana is louder than Carter Finley? No, they do have some of the songs that they have the largest alumni fan base in the United. They do. That's a true state. The team that's missing off of here for me is Nebraska. Yes, I would agree with that. Did you know that? You want a fun fact about Nebraska? When they have a home game, it becomes the largest city in all of Nebraska. I believe it. Yeah, no, and I've heard that before, but I totally believe it though, too. Yeah, Nebraska not being on here. But again, like, you know, one huge shout out to NC state. Uh, you know, in in the home environment that we've created. Now with that being said, we can have some conversations around, you know, if the student section played, was there for all four quarters, maybe we'd go up or spot or two. But you know, that's that's a, that's a conversation for a different day here. So, uh, well, and I will say this and we can close on this and I hope we can get them on the program as our annual guest. But Eric McClain has said that that Carter Finley is the toughest place he's ever played, and that's from a Clemson player. Um, you know, having actually played in Carter Finley. So you know, that should that should count for a few extra points. Yeah. So our last we the week here to wrap things up here. Uh NC state baseball quote tweeting uh picture of uh, rod rod Brind'Amour at the hurricanes parade wearing and you can't really see it here in the picture here, but it's actually a video, so it's just a still shot from the video. But he's wearing his, uh, wolf pack, uh, uh, hat and instate baseball coach and said, we recognize that hat. To which I'm sitting here saying, come on. Uh, NC state baseball Twitter handle. Just just tag at Tuffy talk. Now, you know, that's where this is coming from. Is is from from all the the buzz around. Well, you know, okay. Rod saying, oh, it's just the, the Wolfpack hat was in my car. You know, I needed to wear a hat for, for the parade. And I just happened to grab the NC state one, you know, like, so I don't know, just just another another funny one here. Uh, well, and baseball is tweeting it because that's the Wolfpack baseball font. Like the cursive like, basically the cursive is owned by the baseball team, essentially. Like, you don't see any other sport. We're in the cursive. Are we gotta. Push that out I love it. That's good. I didn't think about that. Go ahead. Ethan. Can we get that hat in circulation? Dude, um, it actually has been it. They've sold that at the at the baseball games. Do they have red and white shot to look how it looks familiar to me. Uh, possible, I don't know, but I definitely have seen that that that cursive font, maybe not that specific hat, but with that font, I've seen him sold it at the dope before. There you go. In fact, I got it. I got a I got an NC state t shirt right over here, um, that I bought. I've never seen a t shirt with that Wolfpack font on it. So by Adidas I found it at, um, Academy Sports. Ooh. I love that. Good. Awesome. So that being said, Wolfpack Nation wrap up there. But, uh, fellas, uh, anybody want to raise a hand for a final thought here? No. Sure, I'll do it. Greg, what you got? There was another tweet that we didn't get Ahold of that, uh, they're passing a new, uh, rule for players to transfer after coaches leave. Um, there'll be a 15 day window. Um. Oh. That's right. Yeah. That's good. So? So that'll be something that'll be coming out here. I don't know if it's already passed or if it's on the bill to be passed, but that could be something that you see coming out pretty quickly. I like that. So with that being said, Wolfpack Nation, we'll wrap it up there. But really again, as always, always love and look forward to these type of talk live shows and appreciate the patience as we were dealing with the huge storm that was coming through last night here. But again, if you enjoyed this episode and if you are loving what we've been doing because we've been putting out a ton of content on, on, on YouTube specifically, actually, I think we came out with a new video every single, every single day last week. So, uh, if you haven't already, make sure to hit that subscribe button that way. First of all, you're notified whenever we release any of our new videos and our new content. But secondly as well, because it really helps support the YouTube channel as well. So do us a big favor. Hit that subscribe button. If it's lying out for you, smash it right now. And also to hit that like button to as well. So that with the YouTube algorithm, we'll pick it up and it'll get out there to even more NC state fans, uh, to enjoy, uh, this content here as well. And make sure you give us a call. A tough talk now on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, but also to and probably as importantly, make sure to go check out our Patreon too as well. Only $5 a month, three members only videos a week from our mission, from our Mr. Ethan Berry, plus also to our members only room or chat to as well. So a ton of free. Sorry, a ton of content there for only a little of five bucks a month y'all. So with that being said, the Wolfpack Nation, we appreciate y'all. We'll be back this upcoming Monday night for another type of talk live show. And we'll talk to y'all then. As always though, go pack.