The Drive with Jack
*Jim Gumm, The Blitz Newsletter
(upbeat music) - Jack, I believe you're my good friend, Matt Sloatt, grab a Volcomist, lots of excitement at the two dealerships. What's new with Chevy and Nissan? - Well, Jack, great question. At Nissan, everybody seems to be talking about interest rates. We're offering 0% financing on new vehicles, and we have the all new completely redesigned 2025 kicks on the lot and ready for delivery. It is fantastic. At Chevy, same thing. People are talking about interest rates. Guess what? We have 0% financing on new, and as low as 1.99 used. You gotta come check it out. - Great time to get a car and a great place to do it. Grab a Volcomist. (upbeat music) - Welcome back. It is a drive with Jack, spotlight radio network. I'm playing motoring nut because we're talking about motor city bowl or music city bowl or anything else going on with that. We're gonna talk about the college football playoff. With Jim Gump, the brains behind the Blitz newsletter. Jim, how are ya? - I'm doing good. How are you doing, Jack? - Are you ready for tonight? - I'm ready, man. I am so ready to get the semifinals going, and we'll just see how it all plays out. - I'm looking here, and I must be missing something. - Who does Alabama play in the quarterfinals? - Yeah, yeah, they get embarrassed today. They did not play well at all, especially in that first quarter, and they just simply don't look like a Nick Saban Alabama team. I mean, it's the first time Alabama has won 10 games to 2007, and they will not be ranked in the top 10 in the final poll for the first time since 2007 as well. So, yeah, that's a big look down if you're an Alabama fan, that's for sure. - Well, you're living in Tennessee, and that's another team that had an inglorious exit in the college football playoff. At least they got there. What do you think the last two games I mentioned say about the strength of the conference, or is it ludicrous to try to read into that? - Well, I think it shows that there's a lot more parity between the Southeast 3 Conference and the Big 10 than what it used to be. And if you look at the rosters, Jack, you look at a lot of the kids. They're from all over it. All these schools recruit nationally, and they go to the portal nationally. So, it's not like you get a bunch of Midwestern kids versus Southern kids. You get kids from California, kids from Texas, on all these teams all over the country. They're everywhere. So, you don't see the geographical differences and the rosters that you once did. I mean, I know there's a lot of California quarterbacks playing all over the country these days. And, you know, I think that's the reality. That's the world of college football 2024. - Do you think we could see an upset this week with Boise State against Penn State or, or Arizona State against Texas? - I think if Penn State and Texas play their B game, yes. If they both play their A game, I like their odds of winning. But I'm telling you, I think that Boise State is going to have some success running the football. My thing is, can Boise State to stop Penn State running game? I don't know. I think that's, I think that game has to make things of a, you know, 35, 31 final score. Now that I said that, it'll probably 19, you know, 13, just like the Alabama Michigan game. But to me, I see a lot of scoring in that game. I really do. But I could see an upset, but the favorite team has to be off their game a little bit. - I went back when we were talking about the Heisman Trophy candidates and watched the Boise State Oregon game again, Jim. And I don't want to say that the better team didn't win, but that Boise State really acquitted itself well and lost on that field goal at the end. You know, you're talking about one snap being the difference between Boise State being the only unbeaten team. - Yeah, absolutely, you know. And, you know, here's staying, Jack. Let's say Boise State was the undefeated team. Where would they be ranked? - I don't think they'd be number one. - No, probably wouldn't. - I just think that that's the reality of a team coming out of the American Athletic Conference or the Mountain West Conference or, you know, the Sun Belt, you're not going to ever elevate to the number one plot. I remember back in '84, back in 1984 when BYU won the National Championship. And there are so many people who are like, there's no way that's the best team in this country. There's just no way. But they were, and I think that, I think stuff like that's going to always keep teams from smaller leagues down. I do. - Yeah, well, the second seed in the 12 team playoff, Georgia has two losses, right? - Correct. - So, if Boise had beaten Oregon and your candidates for the number one seed were 13 and oh, Boise, 13 and one Oregon, which had a loss, had to head on its own field to Boise, or two lost Georgia, the SEC champ, who do you think the number one seed would have been? - I think it'd have been Notre Dame. - Oh. - Yeah, I think it'd have been Notre Dame. I really do. - That, yeah. - Yeah, that comes out of nowhere, yeah. I think that that had been, you know, Oregon would have been sitting there at 12 and one, Notre Dame 11 and one, and you're not going to put the team head to head, ahead of the team. I think you've seen Notre Dame one. - But you can't have Notre Dame, because they're not a conference champion, right? (laughs) - Yeah, you're probably right. No, it would have been interesting. I'm now obviously-- - Those first four seeds have to go to conference champions. - That's right. Yeah, they would have had to have been a, they could, they can't be in the top four. That's the high thinking these are five seeds. - That's right. - And they agreed to that. They knew that because they don't have the risk of going into a conference championship game. And that's the reason they, you know, they had no choice but to accept that. So, yeah, you're right. - Yeah, so I agree with you about Notre Dame, the quality of the team. But if they are prohibited from being one of the top four seeds, I'll ask again, who do you think the one seed would have been? - Well, I think there's no, well, based on this year's rules, I think we've probably had, the top four teams would have been the same. But I think we'd have seen Boise State maybe number one in Oregon, number two. - Ah, okay. - But I think, you know, but I think Georgia would have made three and probably Arizona State four. - Yeah. - I think that's how they would have done it. But there again, it's all speculation. - Right. - You know? - Right. - So, how would you like to be Caitlyn DeBor, this winner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama? - Yeah, I think there's a lot of pressure on him. You know, isn't it crazy? I mean, nine and four, and people are already ready to run him out of town. I mean, it's kind of like what Brian Day's been going through for the last couple of years at Ohio State. I mean, it's just one of those things where the expectations are so high. And, you know, you always hear the old ad is you don't want to be the guy that replaces the guy. You want to be the guy that replaces the guy that replaces the guy. And, you know, Caitlyn DeBor, obviously he's getting paid handsomely and he's going to, you know, hear a lot of pundits talk about what a terrible job he did this year. But listen, they're trying to, you know, build up some NIL money for Alabama. So I think Alabama's going to be just fine. I do. - I do too. - There's going to be, there's always pressure when you're the head coach at Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan. You name the school, there's pressure on these guys. And it's, sometimes it's, well, most of the time, it's unrealistic expectation. - It's a little bit like Kentucky basketball. - Exactly, exactly. Kentucky basketball, North Carolina basketball, Kansas basketball, Duke basketball. I mean, those guys are always feeling the heat when they lose a game. - You know what else Ryan Day and Caitlyn DeBor have in common, Jim? - No. - They both lost to a Michigan team that couldn't gain 240 yards. - In that case. - Today, Michigan had 190 and one. - Yeah, I mean, the best thing that happened to Michigan was the first of that game when it was just coming down like crazy. And Alabama couldn't hold on to the ball. Michigan took advantage of it. Listen, you got to play in the elements. And it's the same when it's real cold and windy, real wet and rainy. You know, ball, you got to take care of that football. And Alabama didn't, and Alabama, they lost the game basically in the first five, 10 minutes of that football game. - I don't think I've ever seen the team slip more. It's like they had ball bearings on the bottom of their shoes. And it was Milro and Ryan Williams, and they were just flying everywhere. Everyone would look like some sort of a comedy routine that they'd set up. But I thought it was a stat I'd never seen before, Jim. The first four possessions for Alabama started at the Alabama 25 on four touchbacks. The first four possessions for Michigan started at the Alabama 21. That was the average. So four yards closer to the goal for the team defending. And they only got 16 points out of it. - Yeah, you're right. I mean, you got to actually get your hat to the Alabama defense. It could have been a lot worse. Could have been a lot worse. So, you know, yeah, but Alabama defense was put in a no-win situation. They only gave up that one touchdown when there was a turnover. But the other ones, they, you know, limited to field goals. But I thought Alabama defense looked terrific today. But the offense, in your eye, you know, they were slipping a lot. And of course, they did change their cleats at halftime. At least Milro did, and I figured a few others did, but, you know, too little, too late. - Yeah, so much has been made about James Franklin and his ability to win big games. Is he part of this club? Should the Nittany Lions lose the Boise State? Boy, I tell you what, you know, I know that that was a nice win for him over SMU, but still SMU was not even a top 10 ranked team. Yeah, I think if he loses this game, the Heat's back on there in the Happy Valley. I think this is a very important game for Penn State to win. Like I said, I think they're going to win that game tonight, but I think Boise State's going to put points on the board. I do. I think it's going to be, like I said, I think it's going to be a nice, fun, high school game tonight. Like I hope it's. - Jim, what do you want to see in the National Championship if they said you pick the teams that make it all the way through? Who do you want to see play for the title? - I want to see Ohio State play Notre Dame. - Ooh, I like that. - I think, and, you know, Marcus Freeman, you know, he's a four-year-old, Ohio State guy, and, you know, I think that would be fun. Obviously, George has been there. And the reason I say that, because I don't like guys being having all the heat on them all time. I want Ryan Davis successful, because I'm tired of hearing people wanting to, you know, get fired. And, you know, and I'm Kirby Smart Safe, Kirby Smart Safe. Either Ohio State versus Penn State or Ohio State versus Notre Dame, because I think James Franklin takes a lot of heat. And frankly, I'm just a real fan of Marcus Freeman and the way they turn this team around after that Northern Illinois law. So I'm just kind of rooting for guys to get the heat off of them, you know? - Yeah, I think Notre Dame and Ohio State, that would be, I say, a lot about Midwest football for a change, but I'm kind of pulling for Arizona State and Boise State, because I'd like to see Ash and Jenny and Cam Scataboo. - It would be amazing. - And Jack, if that comes true, people are going to be clamoring for, you know, a 16 team playoff field like now. Oh, my gosh, that would be, that's got to be the highest odds out there of those two teams advancing all the way. - Hey, I want to talk about the National Football League and what has happened now? We've got a game here Sunday night at Ford Field Gym, Minnesota, and I don't think anyone saw the Vikings doing what they have done, and the Lions who have been incredible with all these injuries, rallying last night to win in Santa Clara, their personal house of horrors from last January, and you're going to have one team, 15 and two, the other's 14 and three, you're going to be a five seed. - Yeah, it kind of mimics what the Utah football brackets like. - Yes. - But, you know, that, oh man, that would be rough. That would be rough, the team that loses this game drops all the way to a five seed, and they're playing on the road. That would be almost unfair, but that's the way the NFL has said it. It's been like that for a long time, the NFL. It's not like this is something new. But no, I'm telling you what a tremendous game, two 14 and two teams playing each other. Who would have ever thought you'd see two 14 and two teams playing each other in the regular season? - Right, right. - You know, I mean, we've seen stuff like that happen in the Super Bowl, but not in a regular season, that's unbelievable. - Yeah, and you would assume you got a 14 and two team that you got Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen or someone like that quarterbacking him. I don't think many people would have thought, "Well, yeah, of course, you're going to be good." You got Jared Gough and Sam Darnold. - Yeah, the big question also does Minnesota sign Sam Darnold? Because I mean, he's free agent. And listen, we all know that Sam Darnold has not had a great NFL career up until this year. So is this an anomaly or is this the real Sam Darnold? I guess that's what the Vikings have to kind of figure out. - Well, they're paying JJ McCarthy and I think they think he is the future. I don't know that many teams that can pay two marquee quarterbacks and they're going to have to pay Darnold a boatload of money unless they want to move him or they want to say, "Okay, well, thanks. Appreciate your year." But I could see Sam Darnold making money somewhere else, right? - Yeah, and boy, if you're a Vikings fan, let's say the Vikings go on and go to the Super Bowl, you know? - Yeah. - I mean, do you want a guy that he's shown he can win 14, 15 games? - Yeah. - Or a guy that you think can maybe win 14, 15 games? We know that Sam Darnold can. We don't know. I mean, how many first round busts we seen in the quarterback realm in the NFL over the last 10, 15 years? Guys, you think, oh, this is a no doubt. This is a guy that can't miss guy. Any misses? No, I don't know, man. That's a hard thing for what's gonna go on there with the Vikings after the season. But right now, boy, what an amazing year. A lot of people had high hopes for the Lions. Nobody had high hopes for the Vikings. - No, no. I'll give you another team. It's gonna be in the playoffs, Jim, that no one had any hopes for. In fact, most people are thinking, will they pick first, second, or third in the draft? Is a Washington commanders? - Yeah, Jayden Daniels has been a real spark for that team, but they've got weapons. I mean, they've got some real weapons on that offense. And the defense is pretty good. They could be better, but that's a pretty darn exciting football team they have there in the nation's capital, that's for sure. - So much of the coach of the year conversation around here was focused on Dan Campbell for much of the season. And now you're hearing about, well, you know, what about Minnesota? What about the job of O'Connell's done up there? And then you have to think about Washington, right? Wouldn't Quinn be in that discussion too? - Yeah, but I think, man, O'Connell, I have to give to him. I mean, I love Dan Campbell, don't get me wrong. I think he's just, I love the way this guy is. But like I said, Minnesota, nobody was picking empty, even sniff playoffs, and here they are. They could be 15 and two, 14 and three at the very worst. You know, so I think he's done an amazing job there in Minnesota, and yeah, I bet two I would give it to. - Well, you could have a guy there tie the NFL record for most wins in the season. That's 18, right? With the Patriots. - Yeah, when they win 18 and one, yeah, yeah, yeah. - They lost that championship game to the Giants, trying to go 19 and O, but hey, if you're 14 and three, and you win out, you win four playoff games, you got 18 wins, and no one's ever done better than that. So it'd be awful hard to argue with that along the way. - Would they play four or would they play three playoff games? - Well, they would play four. - If they win, they got to buy, they wouldn't have to play in the wildcard round. They would miss that. - If they got to buy, then they'd be 15 and two to get the buy, because you got 14 right now. - Yeah, you're right. - They would either have 15 regular season and three playoff wins, or if they lose, 14 regular season and four playoff. - That's right, you're right. I was thinking of the, yeah, you're right, you're right. That would be 18, unbelievable. - Jim, what are the big plans for the Blitz in 2025? I'm so glad that you are extending the coverage now, all the NFL stuff you're doing with it that is available, if people want that option. Can you tell us a little bit about that? And for people who are missing out, I always tell them, hey, you wanna be smart, you wanna make people think you know more than you know, or you just wanna have that information at your side to really enjoy the postseason, what should they do? - Yeah, obviously we're trying to redo what we did again this year and come up with some more stats to make everyone go, oh, I didn't know that. So I work on that stuff over the summer, but the Blitz is a publication that's designed for businesses, it's a customer service tool for the most part, and any businesses out there that does this, we have a last year we have 100% renewal rate, because the customers that businesses give it to, they love it, but no, anyone can reach out to me and I'll give you all the information, jimgom.blitz@yahoo.com, so this JIMGMM.Blitz@yahoo.com, so if you're a business owner out there, just ask what it costs, and I'll give you all the lowdown, it's very, very affordable. - It is the most addicting information source because once you get hooked on it, every week you look for it and you say, I wonder what it came up with this week, and you never cease to be amazed by some name that pops up or some stat that you say that can't be right, but of course you've done all the research and it is, you've worked hard to compile all this stuff, so congratulations on that, on all the issues we've received so far, and I look forward to all your hard work in 2025. - You got it, Jack, appreciate it partner. - To everyone who craves a sweet treat with a little something special, let us tell you about our concrete mixers at Culver's. - There's so many reasons I love fresh frozen custard, it's so rich, so creamy, it's the perfect treat, but when I handcraft it with all of your favorite mix-ins and see your smiles after every spoonful, it's clear what makes our concrete mixers so special to me is making them just for you. - From Wisconsin with love. - Welcome to Delicious. 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At Chevy, same thing, people are talking about interest rates. Guess what? We have 0% financing on new, and as low as 1.99 used, you gotta come check it out. - Great time to get a car and great place to do it. Graph of ochemists. - Time for a career change, looking to make a difference. Dean Transportation is looking for compassion at people to join our dedicated team of school bus professionals. Dean Transportation has immediate openings and offers paid training to obtain a commercial driver's license. With increased starting pay, benefit packages, flexible scheduling with weekday hours and more. Dean Transportation may be the career choice for you. No experience needed, apply now and train all summer. Head to deanjobs.com. - So, it's been a while since you've had your jewelry clean and inspected, right? Where will you go and who will you trust with your most valuable and treasured heirlooms? 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