Transcript

Canes vs Ohio State: Can Miami Win It All? + FIU First Responder Bowl Hype

From Stay Tranquilo · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 38 min · 9,402 words · 184 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Canes vs Ohio State: Can Miami Win It All? + FIU First Responder Bowl Hype", an episode of Stay Tranquilo published December 26, 2025 (38 min, about 9,402 words). It mentions 42 people, works and ideas, including Fiu, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs, UTSA, NIL.

What this episode is about

The discussion centers on the Miami Hurricanes' recent performance against Texas A&M and the implications for their chances at winning the national championship. While one contributor highlights Miami's win as a significant achievement, there is skepticism about the team's offensive capabilities and overall potential in upcoming matches, setting the stage for a debate on their true competitiveness.

Key takeaways

  • Grace is the ultimate game plan, but laughter proves an unpredictable MVP when sports chaos ensues.
  • The Canes claim they're back on top, but awkward laughter suggests the cotton is yet to bowl.
  • The game was so bad it turned hilarious; as if both teams forgot victory's playbook.
  • Miami-U's play was a punchline, saved only by a freshman's thrilling game-saving interception.
  • Kickers experienced the wrath of the wind, aiming for the uprights yet delivering comedy gold.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Cotton Bowl, Kyle Field
  2. – 10:00: Dr. Belinda Beck, Jerry World
  3. – 15:00: Bryce Fitzgerald, Cotton Bowl, Julian Sain, Keonte Scott
  4. – 20:00: College Football Playoff, Dr. Belinda Beck, First Responders Bowl
  5. – 25:00: Conference USA, Keon Owens
  6. – 30:00: First Responders Bowl, Jerry World, Master Chief, San Antonio
  7. – 35:00: Boise State, March Madness
  8. – 38:07: Billy Napier, Boise State, DJ Lagway, Dolphins

Notable quotes from "Canes vs Ohio State: Can Miami Win It All? + FIU First Responder Bowl Hype"

  • Don't care about it. We went in there, took care of business, and we move on to the Cotton Bowl. And of course, Dave and Andre here to fight me over the reason that the Canes…
    about Cotton Bowl · at
  • You're back to zero. You play over at Jerry World indoor against Ohio State.
    about Jerry World · at
  • To be it's it's all going to fall onto your offense and whether or not you trust in Carson Beck because you know it's not the offense, it's Carson because we can run the ball.
    about Dr. Belinda Beck · at
  • To do. Just don't let him run and then become make him a passer. So now we go we're going to go and play Julian Sain who's more of a pocket style quarterback obviously a very…
    about Julian Sain · at
  • Looks and he's ready to go for the cotton bowl. One of our safeties went down but obviously Bryce Fitzgerald stepped up and got two picks. So, I'm really confident in our…
    about Bryce Fitzgerald · at
  • Christmas. All right, let's talk about the real game. we are talking about the first responders bowl here, baby.
    about First Responders Bowl · at
  • The ball all year long. Had some red zone trouble, but Conference USA player of the year, Keon Owens, is playing in this game, and him I trust. So, yeah, I'm I'm just excited that we're going to a bowl game. I'm excited that I'm going to be.
    about Conference USA · at
  • I mean even last year Boise State with John they gave they're a top four seed. like they deserve it and they gave Oregon a run for their money. Like those are those.
    about Boise State · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Ruben Bain — Person · 4 mentions
  • Dr. Belinda Beck — Person · 3 mentions · first at
  • Julian Sain — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Keonte Scott — Person · 1 mention · first at
    So I mean overall and then obviously we got our DB back. Keonte Scott number zero had a great game.
  • Bryce Fitzgerald — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Keon Owens — Person · 1 mention · first at
    The ball all year long. Had some red zone trouble, but Conference USA player of the year, Keon Owens, is playing in this game, and him I trust. So, yeah, I'm I'm just excited that we're going to a bowl game. I'm excited that I'm going to be.
  • Billy Napier — Person · 1 mention · first at
    And now they have Billy Napier coming in. So, who knows if DJ Lagway will follow him over there to JMU.
  • DJ Lagway — Person · 1 mention · first at
    And now they have Billy Napier coming in. So, who knows if DJ Lagway will follow him over there to JMU.
  • Andrew Tate — Person · 1 mention
  • Mario Cristobal — Person · 1 mention
  • Willy — Person · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

Concepts & topics

  • NIL — Concept · 4 mentions
  • G5 — Concept · 3 mentions
  • Heisman Trophy — Concept · 2 mentions
  • Master Chief — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Did you guys see the Xbox Bowl the other day? Master Chief delivering on a freaking Humvey delivering NBC.
  • March Madness — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Still needs to be in there because and I hate that like the people like now are like turning on March Madness who's like no one wants to see a Cinderella. Yeah, everyone wants…
  • Roadrunners — Concept · 1 mention

Places & events

  • Jerry World — Place · 2 mentions · first at
  • Kyle Field — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Taking over Kyle Field. Hostile environment performance.
  • San Antonio — Place · 1 mention · first at
    It's at SMU. So, it's right outside Dallas and San Antonio. So, it's like not far at all. Maybe like a two three hour drive. But, yeah, I'm I'm curious to see. I know that I'm writing on the charter that the school's.

Full transcript with timestamps

I've shown nothing but grace to you. I've shown nothing but grace. YOU GUYS [ __ ] TALK ME ALL THE TIME.

I SHOW NOTHING BUT LOVE TO all the schools. I don't talk about it by anyone. What is going

Welcome back. No, you started D. No, no, no, no. Pucci, go for it. Uh, what is going on guys and welcome back to Tranilo Sports. I am at the head of the table today because obviously the Canes are on top as per usual. They're back on top.

No, back on top. Taking over. I don't know. That's a bold statement. I This is so embarrassing.

Taking over Kyle Field. Hostile environment performance. Don't care about it. We went in there, took care of business, and we move on to the Cotton Bowl. And of course, Dave and Andre here to fight me over the reason that the Canes did not have a good game, and they it was a bad game overall. So, let's get into it. Guys, what did you think of the game?

Oh, non fans. The game was awfully hilarious. Like, that's the best way to describe it. It was an

Just look at the group chat. The amount of laughing emojis that went on. It was an awful game of, you know, um, two teams that really were trying to lose, I think, more than win. Um, and, you know, one had to lose, so that was ended up being Texas&M. Uh, it was just, you know, it defense definitely played well. You know, they definitely held their own. Um, but both offenses were pretty anemic. I think Yum's offense is terrible. Um, I don't think they're very creative. I think they're going to get exposed uh against an actual threat this weekend or next weekend, whatever, and their their little game is. Um, and yeah, so that those are my thoughts. Uh, but listen, I jokes aside, obviously it's a huge win. You know, you guys won, you advanced. Um, but yeah, I'm I'm not like I don't it doesn't change my opinion that I I think I I think that they're not going to win the national championship. Like I I I think

there's a t a very clear tier of team like a very clear difference like of a tier one and tier two uh in the playoffs this year.

Even tier three there's worse than Miami. Um but yeah, I I don't know. It just it it was it was a funny game to watch because it was like it was very entertaining, but it was also because of how many mistakes were happening and you know all the mis kicks and all the you know the the turn obviously the turnovers

play both into good defensive schemes and things like that. Some of them bad throws, some of them bad fumbles, some of them just good plays, like you know what I mean? Like it's always a mix. But the miss kicks were hilarious that just like it just like felt like everything was going like again nobody was like trying to win this game. Like it was like let's just keep the other team in it u till the end and then of course then even Miami scores and then Texas&M just drives all the way down to the five yard line. There's a whole bunch of things that that that just I don't know this game was just was just fun. It was funny to watch but I don't I didn't think either team really looked great.

Like if that's what you're asking, but I thought they both looked terrible. I I said it and I think my friend said it to me. It was like this is a great game for like the fans of the teams because it was like one of those like hard fog gritty kind of games where it was just a defensive shootout. And I mean for the most part I mean I was like I started dry heaving on the last drive of the game. Like I was I was literally on the verge of throwing up like when they're at the they're on third and goal like our guys

I think you guys were going to blow it too to be honest. So like the fact that you didn't is impressive.

Like we had like our guy made a crazy play, put his life on the line, like knocked himself out of the game essentially to break up, you know, what would have been the the game tying touchdown. Then obviously the the true freshman came up with the pick. Like I I was dry heaving the whole time and like a little bit of vomit did come out. Like I was so freaking mad. And I mean like obviously like you know it was one of those games where the weather wasn't great. It was super windy so God knows how those balls are traveling. Obviously for the kicks it was super effective,

you know. We left nine points on the board. You get those nine kicks. I mean, we got, you know, all those kicks happened before Texas even had their first true clean look at a field goal, which they didn't make. Obviously, their first kick got blocked, but it wasn't because the kicker just outright missed it. Our kicker just outright missed all his kicks. Like, one of them was two of them were wide right and one of them hit the the upright.

So, we left a lot. One of only one of them was really close though, like right like weren't the other ones at least one.

One hit the outright and then two were just wide. Same thing, but like distance wise. No, one one was like

No, he all them all them were like between 30 40 yards out. That's what I'm saying. Well, I thought I thought I thought there was one that was like

Well, we hit the one that was right there. He made it. That's what I'm saying. He just booted it. He just forced it in. Okay.

Um, but for the most part, I mean, like, look, it was not the game we wanted. I mean, I'm sure I mean, it's more exciting when people are putting up points. It's a little bit of a back and forth kind of shootout game, but I mean, you sometimes have to win games like that. And you know, I think that, you know, our offense definitely should have stick stuck with the run longer than it has. I think the play calling was suspect, especially early on. Then we kind of committed more to the run. We're able to get a couple more plays kind of in their and their on their side of the territory. I think our defense for sure showed up. I think our defense was the big reason. I mean, it's the only reason we really won that game.

Your defense is Yeah, your defense is the reason you guys won. Yeah, it was the reason and they've been the reason that we have been as good as we have been, you know, and

Yeah. Yeah. They're very, you know, and our offense has been, you know, doing pretty well up until this point. We ended the the the year pretty high on offense. We're scoring a lot of points. Obviously, not the level of competition that we should, you know, we're playing now. Obviously, Texas&M before their Texas game was the number three team in the country. They lost one game all year, now two with us. So, it was a good team that was averaging 34 points a game in the SEC, right? We talk about SEC glory, which reality is, you know, I think that's kind of being exposed on some sort of end right now because I don't think has lost to the SEC in the last two years. I think the SEC as a whole wasn't as good. Now, obviously you saw Bama and Georgia left in there, but I think that's the only teams left for SEC representation

in the playoffs. Yeah, it's BMA, Georgia. And right now, really the team that's running the playoffs is the Big 10.

Miss and Miss, excuse me, I forgot about Miss. So, they obviously those guys, they're in there. I mean, Miss, they play two lane. Like we can get into a whole conversation about the whole G5 scenario.

Hell yeah. Way to represent JMU. JMU, way to go, baby. 34 points on Oregon. We love

I'll tell you for the and we'll get into that, but you know, finishing off with the Canes, I'm happy that we won. Honestly, it's one of those games like the best thing about the playoffs is that you're you're back to 0 and0. If you win, you're move on. If you lose, you're out. It's not going it's going to affect the trajectory. You just got to win.

You're back to zero. You play over at Jerry World indoor against Ohio State. I think that will make a difference. By the way,

the number two team in the country. Obviously, we know that their Yeah, their defense very, very good. Their offense maybe not as good as they were last year, but still can score. They have,

I think, one of the best players in college football. The guy might argue being the number one pick in the draft when he comes out in Jeremiah Smith. They obviously have a Heisman uh that a Heisman runner up at quarterback. They have a good O line, but I do see this playing out very similarly in terms of like it's not going to be a shootout. It's going to be a very backtoforth maybe a lot of field goals in the game. It's going to be low scoring, a lot of field goals, but you know, like I was saying before we even got in here at that game, you know, and we'll talk about it when we get there. It's going to be a matter of, you know, both teams should get points where they get because I think both defenses are Ohio State a little bit better, but I don't think Miami is that far apart when it comes to defense

on the defensive end. Yes, in a sense. Yes. Here, I'm I'm busting your balls. I'm giving you crap about this terrible game that we just witnessed. Obviously it is huge that you got you're in the next round and you know it it is

in terms of Ohio State in their defenses I agree Miami's defense is very very good. I think Ohio State's the best defense in the country. I do know they are well. Yeah. Right. So it is a little gap but the at the end of the day your playoff run

is not We've already seen what the defense does. The defense can hold anybody in in check. It's really going to be it's it's all going to fall onto your offense and whether or not you trust in Carson Beck because

you know it's not the offense, it's Carson because we can run the ball. Yeah. But the reality is

it's whether it it's the play calling is so scared and and what that was the biggest thing of uh what I saw from the game is that the the play calling on offense is so scared of Carson Beck and the fact that they don't let him you know they don't want him to make big mistakes which you're in the playoffs at this point like it's do or die. So like you're going to have to make he's going to have to make plays eventually. You can't mask him. You can do it against Texas&M where it was a very close lowscoring game and it ended up working out. You had a 200 yard rusher. Fletcher ended up breaking one. Um, which which is great, but you hypothetically you're not going to be able to do that again against Ohio State and Georgia, let's say, or then Indiana, you know what I mean? So eventually you are going to have to rely on

No, because I mean obviously what happened to us against Louisville and what happened to us against SN when we did lose those games is that

they're going to put eight people in the box and be like, "Yeah, go on. You're going to make you're going to make him have to beat you."

Yeah. you're going to make Carson Beck have to beat you. And I think we have the talent on the outside to do it right. I don't know how much weather affected the play calling. Maybe those balls just couldn't travel. You know, I think Marcel Reed, I think, you know, you can see some of his balls coming out and they were wobbly the whole time. whether it's the wind, whatever it may be. You know, I'm gonna assume that the weather was so bad that we couldn't play call because what I saw from you in the last four weeks and how innovative that play calling was to what I saw kind of like it was almost like a going back in time from when we first started that all we have to do is run the ball and we win games.

Like we might obviously we're going to have to throw the books. We're going to have to throw everything at

Ohio State because reality is we beat Ohio State and we go on to play a Georgia. I don't think Georgia's as good as Ohio State. So at that point you beat Ohio State then you can run the table essentially because after that I mean

yeah if they can beat Ohio State they can beat anybody right because I mean that's defending champs that's I mean again that's the that

that the that number two team in the country right now um so realistically yes I agree with you now I think Ohio State's going to be a very big trouble for you 100% no good you're gonna it's you will have to play a perfect game which I know they have that in their bag they can't they have the skilled players they have the players for it for sure a lot of it's going to fall into uh Uh, obviously coaching, play calling, and um, and yeah, and Carbec is going to have to make some plays and let's see. I I agree. They could have been weather related. You're playing in a dome. It's more controlled environment. So, let's see. I just I don't know. I have to see it to believe it, but but yeah, let's

What do you think, Dre? You've been awfully quiet. I want to hear your takes. I mean, it wasn't a good game. It was I wasted three hours of my life watching that game.

I had fun watching. I had I did have a blast watching. Um Reed played terrible unfortunately. Um let me see what else. Kicking obviously was a problem in that game. Um but I wasn't sold on any team. Like I I watched that game and I said whoever wins this game before the outcome happened if they either team wins and plays like this against Ohio State is just going to be a long day for them.

Uh so we'll see. I mean, obviously every week things change and there's adjustments made and

you you know, game plans obviously change week to week because your opponent's different, conditions are different. So, we'll see if we see a different iteration of M going into Ohio State. But, if if they play the way they played, you know, this week, specifically on the offensive side, they just will get uh steamrolled against Ohio State.

I agree that the off I mean, it's it really is only the offense. I mean, I have no problems with how our defense defense played well, but I I I think also you have to look at the fact that&m just played a really bad game, too.

100%. I mean, they could have the ball e even if you know I dude I don't know. I felt like anybody could have won that game the way that game went. Anybody could have won.

I'll tell you what happened is that and I told you this before like we didn't let Marcel Reed really use his legs much,

right? But that's that's what you have to do. Just don't let him run and then become make him a passer. So now we go we're going to go and play Julian Sain who's more of a pocket style quarterback obviously a very good O line and Texas&M Texas&M's O line was very good but obviously our D line is very good as well and you know they had the smart idea to call out Ruben Bane which is the worst thing they could have done you called out the only maniac left in college football the guys and he went out and and our whole and I hate that Ruben Bane's getting all the attention because meidor is just as good but he's going under the radar but besides the point

he said that in the game too that that somebody either they announced so Keemador getting in was a reason allowed Ruben Bon go in and get those sacks cuz he would get Marcel Reed to step up and Ruben Bane's right there waiting for him.

So I mean overall and then obviously we got our DB back. Keonte Scott number zero had a great game.

You know we'll see now. I mean I mean a couple of our guys especially on defense got banged up. Obviously we had the guy our our starting middle linebacker take that hit. Probably going to be in protocol. We'll see how he looks and he's ready to go

for the cotton bowl. One of our safeties went down but obviously Bryce Fitzgerald stepped up and got two picks. So, I'm really confident in our defense that they're going to give us a chance to win. I don't think will Ohio State maybe go out and score? Yeah, because when you have playmakers like that, Jeremiah Smith, you throw a ball up, they can come down with the ball, make a play, you know, but our offense is going to have to come ready to play. But the thing that I think was the best thing about, and you guys have watched us, one of the worst things that were the worst qualities is we get too many penalties

where we were one of the most penalized teams. And in this game, it's a home game, especially for Texas&M. loud 100,000 fouls. We had no false starts. We had no pre- snap penalties. We had very little penalties. I mean, overall the game was very not a lot of penalties at all, which I liked,

but usually that's our Achilles heel. We kill ourselves to either give the the the opposing side yards or we get we we get ourselves out of like a third and shorter, third and medium,

which&m had a couple of those in that game. They had a couple of those and funny enough, it was their own team getting false starts in their home stadium.

So, that was really good to see. Hopefully that carries on because obviously if you get if we go and we go get you know one of these 10 penalties 90 yard games

it's going to make like against Ohio State we have to play perfect but I'm I'm done with the Texas&M we're looking straight to Ohio State I'm super happy obviously it's the first

big win I've seen you win in my lifetime really because obviously 2001 I was a kid I didn't know what the heck I was doing I was still born yet

of course yeah I was 200 I was born 99 too little 2000's kid no I was 99 so I was alive but like I I haven't experienced a win of this caliber.

Like me saying like I watched Dam Marino like Exactly. Exactly. I did, but like I don't know.

And this is definitely one of the biggest wins in Crystal Ball's career. So this is huge for him in terms of overall confidence.

You know, it's definitely a stamp of like this team has improved again from last year. Last year we were the same record going in. We didn't make the we were the we were the first team out last year. This year we got in. We're able to win this first game. Now we got to go and you know hopefully give Ohio State a run for their money. It's like you said we have to play perfect. Ohio State, they're the national. They're they're they won last year. They're the reigning champs for a reason. You know, they only lost to Indiana by three points.

You know, they've been there. They know what they're doing. Ryan Day, hell of a coach, has been in this level, has played here every single year, probably the championship. Like,

they know what they're doing. Yeah. So, it's going to take us going in there and, you know,

hopefully catch them with their feet flat cuz, you know, they're coming out as almost 10 pound underdog.

I wouldn't say they're coming out flat. It's to me what could be interesting is a slow start from Ohio State.

Not coming out flat, but coming out in the sense like we're 10 point favor like we're gonna win.

They're not going to do that. Well, it's not that. No, they're not going to overlook Miami. But they the flat what he's talking about is like fact that they haven't played in now a couple weeks, right?

I think it's going to be four weeks that they haven't played football. Exactly. And that that's a long time. So there's just getting into that game speed, getting into that flow. Those things take time, you know, and if you could take advantage of the fact that they maybe are a little flat in the fact that they just haven't played football in a while,

that's that's where, you know, it could it could make it interesting. Yeah. I mean, it's going to be it should be a good game. I do I I don't think that Ohio State's going to steamroll us, and I don't think we're going to steamroll Ohio State. I do think that this is another game that could be decided by a field goal for all. You know, I think we're going to be competitive. I think it's going to be close and it's going to be a matter of similarly who's going to make the less mistakes and we really can't have I mean even one turnover can be the the difference between losing a game and winning a game in this case. We can't have any turnovers. We have to play clean football. No holdings, you know, put pressure on the QB. Don't let him, you know, have time to find Jeremiah Smith, Carninal Tate. You have two first round receivers out there, you know, and then our offense, you know, be innovative. give Carson Beck time to go

out there and, you know, give him a put him in a position to go out and make, you know, these quick throws. Not everything has to be a long bomb, you know, quick 10 yard, 15 yard shots. So,

we'll see. You know, like I said, the game still at this point, we're still about a week out.

So, they're there getting healthy. You know, as it goes on, you know, I want to do my research about Ohio State, learn about all this, but I'm just happy that we're here. I get to talk about this. I didn't think I'll be able to talk about you being here in this game. But

with that being said, I do want to give some love to the boys over at Pit Bull Stadium.

Don't do it like that. We're going to crop this. This is the That just felt forced.

Yeah, this is No, I don't like that. That felt Look at that little kitchen table. All right.

I was like I was like little bro. Yeah, you guys got a bowl game. Don't forget Don't forget who's the last one to win our matchup, you know. And if you guys weren't scared, maybe we just

How do you want me to redo it? I'll redo it so it sounds better. We're keeping that in there. We're keeping that in there because I've shown I've shown nothing but grace to you F.

I've shown nothing but grace. YOU GUYS [ __ ] TALK ME ALL THE TIME. I SHOW NOTHING BUT LOVE TO ALL THE SCHOOLS.

I DON'T TALK ABOUT IT BY ANYONE. I talk so much [ __ ] to Foo, man. It's um basically we're gonna I'm gonna start the episode over right now. We're going to put this part in the front because obviously this is the game of the week. It's actually game week. I actually don't know why we even started with this.

Well, let me start the pod. What do you want me to I wanted you guys TO START THE POD.

I WANTED my god. My god. This guy's ruining Christmas. The Grinch who stole Christmas.

All right, let's talk about the real game. Uh we are talking about the first responders bowl here, baby. FIU. We are back in the postseason. Back in the bowl season. It is the best time of year. What are you laughing about?

You did the little Trump thing right there. There's nothing better in the postseason.

Yeah. Better greater. Yeah. Um but yeah, I'm pumped. I'm super pumped um for this game. We're December 26th after Christmas. I will be there flying out that morning.

I wish I could be there. We'll be in Dallas uh and fly back that night. What day what day is the game? It's Friday.

The 26th. Friday. Friday. So, uh we're playing UTSA, the Road Runners. Uh we used to play against them back today. Uh and they're they're a very good G5 team. They are um

they were one of the higher ranked teams going into the season in terms of uh potential to make the College Football Playoff as the G5 representative. So, I'm very interested. I I I I'm a kind of little I'm a little scared, not going to lie, because of uh you know, some of the the early names of the transfer port for FIU. We've essentially lost all our DBs, which is our strongest

strongest case on defense, but that's pretty much it. That's actually all we've pretty much lost.

Five guys in the port. Um yeah, we we haven't lost like it hasn't been like a fire like, you know, crazy fire or anything,

but um obviously losing guys like I mean Blades was a senior anyway, which I was a bit shocked. I thought he was just going to go to the draft. I think he's going to do his fifth year option. That's what it's looking like. Um, yeah, the the pretty much we've lost all our DBs. So, which worries me because the their quarterback Macau is really good,

right? But I'm pretty sure UTSA has been actually obliterated by uh Transportal to my knowledge that they've lost a bunch of guys. I don't know if their star running backs playing and I I'm assuming

I think I think uh your pops told us I think don't they have like 20 or some players?

Yeah, they somebody had like 11. I don't know if that was them. They've been they've been obliterated from my understanding.

So, with that being said, our offense is still intact. Still got Perry. We still got They haven't announced who will be.

Yeah. Pzanski is dealing with an injury. I'm I am figuring it's going to be Pzanski. He's the one who really led us on this crazy run uh to end the season and got us here. Um and then Keon came back in that final game, actually played really well. So, um I'm sure maybe both will play depending on what the inj the injury status is, but our offense is intact if offense attack. I I I trust our offense. We were been able to move the ball all year long. Had some red zone trouble, but you know, uh Conference USA player of the year, Keon Owens, is playing in this game, and him I trust. So, um yeah, I mean, I'm I'm just excited that we're going to a bowl game. I'm excited that I'm going to be there. I'm excited I'm going to be in Dallas for a real game, unlike that stupid game that he's going to. Um, but uh but no, seriously, I'm just I I'm I'm very excited. I'm curious to see what we do. Like, and I'm curious to see some of

the adjustments, some of the guys that will play. I'm sure there'll be some guys that get more playing time in this in this game to show out um and want to be a big part of next season, right? Because that's really I mean, Willy's been on the recruiting trail the last few weeks. Um he's been doing a bunch of different events, too, and and and he actually just signed an extension. So, Willie Willie,

is that official? It's official. Yeah, he signed an extension. I don't know the details of it. Um, but we've for sure I mean of course he's coming back next year. He's on the number one class of Conference USA. So that's enough of the ahead. I'm very excited and I'm I'm just excited to watch this team one more time. This team seven, you know, seven team,

some big wins at the end of the year. Some big wins. We're on a four game winning streak.

Uh, let's end it on five. Man, I was actually going to touch on that because obviously, you know, you had told me that Willy's name was kind of in the coaching carousel of teams trying to go out them. Obviously, USF I heard was a name that was going after him. Obviously, they ended up hiring Brian Hartline and everything like that, but like you know what's I guess

how important is it especially, you know, going to this game that he's still going to be your coach next year and he's kind of building this class and cuz we were saying like a rebuilding confer can take, you know, three years to really get your guys in there and get your team in there.

So, you know, I guess like you know, how important is it that he gets to actually like play this game through and then, you know, be able to build off of this and, you know, what would a win mean for FIU? I think a win would I I think a win would mean a lot because it also would just be the final cherry on top to his his pitch right of of building this culture and building this team's like yeah like first he's winning well this guy's literally never lost and he's like yeah you want to come here and be a part of something special and you can win here right so that's why and and the bowl exposure I mean we'll obviously be on national television you can use that for obviously the first part of recruiting but for transfers right like people because now really once the season's ending we'll We'll see who we bring in the transfer portal and even if some of these guys might even come back, who knows

how it works, but um I think it's very important and I think for him too, it's just, you know, obviously um especially with the younger guys that are going to get some playing time in this bowl game. I I think it's I think it's huge to see that they their coaches at least staying for another year. So that's that's super important. And obviously again with being a G5 team, you you never know like this guy can have another great year, which is what we hope for. And then it's like then you know then it gets really scary in terms of getting poached. But

you know at the end of the day like that's the reality we live in. That's the reality we have to adjust to right. So in my opinion I've always thought that we should and I know it sucks. It sucks that our best players will usually get taken elsewhere but use that right use that to our advantage. Be like you you can come here and play right away. You can do something.

There's a coach I forget what's here and then you can leave. you know, if you leave, you leave. Yeah. But make it about,

you know, playing time and make it about like look, look what we can do anyway. Um, and so, yes, it's harder to build that threeyear, fouryear function with this new system because guys think that they that the grass is greener on the other side when a lot of times it's not. Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not. Um, it's greener in this terms of your pockets are greener because you are getting paid more. U, but you're not playing as much or you're not making as much of an impact. So, it's kind of like tossup, but let's see. Let's, you know, he's he was able to keep some guys last year and as of right now, like, yeah, we've got five guys in the portal, and some of them are very important guys like our DBs. Um, you know, obviously, I would love for them to all come back, but, you know, he he's proven that he can he can win with new guys. He can win with guys who are there already, so let's see what he can do. But,

yeah, sorry. Were you No, that there there was a coach that was uh basically that's his recruiting angle. He's like, "I know I don't have the NIO money. I know we don't have the big program."

So, I'm telling these guys like, "Come here because it'll open the opportunity for you to maybe get into a larger program and get that NAL money elsewhere."

Yeah. And it's just the reality of the truth. Like, I think you just got to take advantage of it at this point. You got to take advantage and I think, you know, I'm sure we are like, you know what I mean? Like, I don't know what's going on behind closed doors.

I mean, look at Mustaker from North Texas. The guy was a third stringer, fourth stringer walk-on. And now, you know, he's probably going to get paid a good amount of money. He's going to go to Texas Tech, follow his coach at Texas Tech.

Uh, so I mean, he's a perfect example, a guy that just went through the system, the G5 system, and now he's going to go

get his payday. And even though North Texas had a hell of a year, I mean, if he stayed there, they can build a pretty good team around. Obviously, their coach got poached like we saw.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, but again, you know, I definitely get it, you know, as like a platform to kind of rise up or if you just want to be in there and be the guy that

elevates it until, you know, you eventually guy unless you're a fourth year senior, you got to transfer and, you know, you got to go somewhere else by by because you're forced to.

You know, I get that. You know, some guys play their fourth years and their their last year they go play somewhere else. You know, I can see that happening, too. But,

I mean, dude, it's been awesome to see the turnaround that Willy's made in such a quick year. And, you know, it looks like the guys are bought in. Obviously

some tough losses along the road, but it was just growing pains and you know you guys are know you guys are making it happen. I think this bowl win will just be kind of a stamp of like great first year and that was always your goal. You always said let's go bowling bowl game. That's that was always the goal and the fact that it's

like it's just for me it it's just the experience of a bowl game is cool and it's cool for these players like they get to go and there's all the festivities around it and it's like you know the added elements of it. Yeah. Um, but it also has it comes with financial um, like I financial plus too because we get we make a lot of money from going to bowl game, right? We make money just playing it. You win it, you get more. Um, the conference more the more teams that are in Bulls, the more money you're the whole conference is getting. So, it's it obviously has that achievement, too.

But, you know, as a fan, it's just awesome to see us playing more football in December and getting an extra game and and it's around always around the holidays, obviously. So, it's literally the day after Christmas. We're taking off. So, I couldn't be more excited for this.

Do you think that uh you guys are going to travel well? You think the Panthers are going to travel well over there or it's going to be a because UTSA I mean there

I mean it's a home it's going to be almost maybe what's maybe like a two-hour drive

where they are are they playing it at Jerry World too or not? No, it's at SMU. It's at SMU. So, it's right outside Dallas and San Antonio. So, it's like not far at all. Maybe like a two three hour drive. But, um yeah, I'm I'm curious to see. I mean, I know that I'm writing on the charter that the school's putting together, so at least 300 Panthers will be on that plane.

There you go. But I already know a bunch of other people that had already booked their stuff beforehand. So, you know, I'm hoping for a good turn on. They're trying to target a lot because we have a lot of alumni in the Dallas area, too. Okay.

So, they're trying to get uh, you know, decent crowd out there. So, hopefully we can see if you're a Panther in the Dallas area and you watch State Drailo, baby, you better be out there because you will see me there.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. What about the You want to talk a little about the seminals or not? Really?

What is there to talk about? I just feel bad you've been quiet here. I want to give you a plug for the talk too. I feel bad.

I got FIU. That's all I need. There you go. No, but I mean like I you know, college bowl season. It's exciting. You know, I think you know

bowl attendance has been terrible though. It has. And they're they're trying to Listen, here's the thing with bowl games. Uh that

But have bowl games already started? There's been a handful of them. Doesn't help my argument here. Uh

yeah, exactly. But that's that's the thing, right? the bowl games. People don't even know that they're even happening.

They've lost they've lost the the the lust, not the luster, they've lost like some of the uh the magic, right? Because people obviously with the opt outs and people not just for the draft for the transfer portal and

and then obviously with the playoff expanding, you know, more of the focus goes to that. Yeah.

But I love that when bowl games try to do something to stand out like the Pop-Tart bowl, right? Incredible. It's the freaking best.

Did you guys see the Xbox Bowl the other day? Master Chief delivering on a freaking Humvey delivering NBC.

I didn't see that. That's actually played in that game. Uh it was Missouri State and Arkansas State. Uh and it was a great game and um and so like that's what I love about bowl season and I don't care. Um they better not ever take away bowl season because I love when they get unique and creative with it. Uh and I'm I'm curious to see what they do with the first responders bowl. I'm sure there's obviously going to be a lot of um

a lot of first responders. Yeah, a lot of first responders and uh I don't know. I don't Yeah, I don't know what they're going to do in terms of like like because obviously those are like fun standout things, but I don't know, man. I I'm a firm believer in the bowl in the bowl season and the fact that it should never they should never take this away from us. It's the one of the best things about college football and I think it's it's unfortunately been

overshadowed by the NIL and uh the transfer portal and it's been tarnished a little bit because of it

but uh I am a strong believer and I still love watching I love tuning in to random bowl games and I will continue to do that. So yeah, shout out to the first responders bowl, shout out to the Xbox and shout out to the Poptart pool.

I freaking love those bulls, dude. I know there's like a handful of games I think like on the 27th on the 26th be a handful of games. Obviously a lot of these teams are going to be playing in it and then you know we'll have to wait till New Year's to get back to the college football playoffs which

that could be another argument that I think there's too much gap between like when these guys play games but that could be an argument for another day. But overall I mean we'll see how that plays out. I mean a lot of good games. You have Indiana playing uh

Oregon Bama or Indiana playing Bama uh Texas Tech Oregon. You got Miss Georgia and then obviously you got the Canes versus Ohio State. So it should be another electric uh environment. I think um is the only game on New Year's Eve and then the rest of are going to be on New Year's Day.

I think uh the first game that you either have a nice start to your New Year's or a bad start.

Yeah, it's going to be cuz essentially the game might it could very well be like by the time the game's over, it's like New Year's is like 30 minutes away.

So that that that'll be crazy. So I mean we'll see. I mean, it's like I said, I I haven't seen UN football being played on a New Year's in a while. So, I mean,

you take it for what it's worth. I mean, the fact that we got to this point is is crazy. Obviously, you know, we got to play the gauntlet of Ohio State, you know, the number two seed, right?

So, I mean, we'll see. But I I'm I'm super excited for it. I definitely think that, you know, these are the games you you wish you play, right? The games that, you know, any team is like you want to go and show you can belong and you show you can play with the big dogs. Like, here it is. It's being served up to us on a on a platter that the second best team arguably maybe even the first

talking about them again. No, just in general like these are the games, you know, for these teams, right? The all the every team.

It's it's it's it truly is like the college football. I mean, obviously for the the New Year's Eve stuff is just it's just so fun. It's a college football and the fact that it it's go it goes on even longer now is is is always a nice treat. Now, the last thing I want to touch on before we finish out, I think we have to mention something about the whole G5 kind of like

arguments are being made. Should be absolutely no argument. Uh, it's not our fault that the ACC sucks.

I'm not I'm not against it. It's a damn seven win team. All right. I'm not against it.

I think people are mad that it they like obviously like I think JMU put up a better fight. Obviously, they gave up a ton of points, but like

two lane like wasn't even like close. like they had they showed nothing in there to show that obviously like two lane like their coach is going to leave. He's still there but he's going to leave.

And by the way people and and if you didn't watch that game like Tain was driving the ball at will in the beginning of the game. It was actually like back they just couldn't they couldn't close the

they had they had an interception in the red zone the first drive they fumbled the second one had a fourth down like they were there they were driving they just couldn't convert. But um listen, for me it's I I hate the argument of like, oh, just put the 12 best teams. Well, it's not like that in any other league. It's not. It's about winning. You know, you got to win your whether it's your conference, your division, you know, whatever. You have that has to matter. And then the rest of it, you know, by ranking is all it's really all subjective, right? It's a bunch of people that vote. Right.

Right. Um and college football is obviously hard to determine that. But if you're not going to include half of the entire college football landscape, then what's the point? Like you have to you have to have them represented. Granted,

I'm of the opinion that they that because I understand I understand obviously there's a huge gap and I believe I mean there's an even bigger gap now with the amount of money that's in this sport. Uh there's going to be probably even get bigger to be honest, but you can't leave them out. And I also don't believe that um that sorry I don't believe that any G5 team should just be allowed in there just because they won their conference. Right. I think you have to have a very good reason. I think JMU had the best

resume in terms of G5, right? They went 11 and one uh and their one loss was on the road to Louisville and it was actually still pretty competitive game. It was like 28.

I mean even last year Boise State with John they gave they're a top four seed. like they they deserve it and they gave Oregon a run for their money. Like those are those are the stories and those are the reasons why G5 teams should

continue to get that spot. Um granted, of course, if there's there are years that like,

you know, the best G5 team is nine and three, should they get in? Probably not. You know what I mean? I think they have to at least have

some sort of criteria. I think they have to at least have I think one loss is probably two is the max if you're two or like

depending on who they are. Yeah, exactly. You know what I mean? But like I think I think you have to really do something more special. Like I think you can get a three loss P4 team in there, but a three loss G5 team should not be in there. With that said, a G5 representative that POS that position of a of a lock

still needs to be in there because you know, and I hate that like the people like now are like turning on March Madness who's like no one wants to see a Cinderella. Yeah, everyone wants to see a Cinderella. Like that's that's the beauty of college sports. Uh, and also like you look at the NFL, like the NFL's basically got uh a freaking gimme spot for for either whether it's the NFC South or the AFC South.

I say the Ravens won a Super Bowl going 8 and8 in the regular season. That's what I'm saying. Like, you know what I mean? It's never about it's never about your perceived top 12 ranking. It's about one, you know, winning your division, whatever. I do believe that the winner of the P4, even if it was Duke, I honestly believe this should be in in the playoff. Like, I really believe that. I believe you win your division or conference, right? You should be in that playoff,

which I think they're going to have. They're going to change a lot. It is they've changed it for next year.

Um, and like I I really believe Duke should have been in this. Do I do I think Duke's a top 12 team? No. But they they did what they were supposed to do. Like you can't penalize somebody for doing that. Same with G5. G5 team did what they were supposed to do. They cannot be penalized for that. So, you know, and I think JMU put I mean, listen, obviously it wasn't it was never really close like Oregon was not never going to lose.

No, but they put up what 30 24 and they were driving at will, too. That offense is pretty like was really good. I mean, well, that's a detriment.

Yeah. I think their quarterback I think I think their their quarterback's pretty solid. I think the quarterback can go and play at a big at a big school next year if you really wanted to.

Yeah. And I mean, now they have Billy Napier coming in. So, who knows if DJ Lagway will follow him over there to to JMU.

Wait, that's who JMU hired? Yeah, Billy Napier. Oh, [ __ ] I had no idea. Yeah, they hired

I didn't realize that. Oh, wow. They hired Billy Napier to to take over at JMU. So, they're obviously they just lost their head coach. So, like I I mean it sucks too that both G both G5 schools like their coaches both got coached.

The G5 spot is the G5 spot is also like if you get to the playoffs your coach is gone,

right? A big There's always a big school that needs a coach. Exactly. So, like if FIU got to the playoffs next year, like Willy's gone, but you know, who will get to the playoffs? You know what I mean? So, it's like that's why I I I think, you know, I I will always be for more G5 teams. I want I want six of them in there. Screw it. Like, I don't care. Like, people are crying that there's two of them. I want more. I want I want five. All right. I don't care.

I like I like I like I like the representation, too. I think they deserve it. Like I said, man, there's kids there that, you know, maybe they're not the biggest recruits, but give them a chance, you know?

Yeah. These guys like Give them a chance to be in there. Who knows? They They earned the chance. It's not giving them a chance. They They earned it.

They earned it. Yeah, give them a spot to go out there and do it, you know. And like I said, if they really do climb the ranks normally, like if they're like a top 15, like Boise State was what, top top 10 when they made it last year, like that's a top 10 team, you know?

So, I I agree with that. But overall, I mean, just look, college football, it's the prime time of college football, bowl season championships playoffs.

Yes. You know, we can talk about the Dolphins a little bit, but we won't we're not we're not going to touch on it. But

there's nothing to talk about with that. You know, we'll see how that ends up over there. But overall, you know, I'm excited to see these games. I'm excited, you know, to see how the Canes do. So, you know, we'll see. But with that, you know, it's a merry Christmas all around here. It's a merry Christmas from the boys here on set.

I wish for a win. You wish for a win. You wish for a win. We all wish. We're all wishing for a win today.

Depends who, but yeah. No, FIU. You're wishing for an FIU win. I'm What do you wish for? There you go.

And I'm uh yeah, I'm wishing that uh Carson back doesn't throw four interceptions against Ohio State. But with that, we wish you a very happy holidays. We'll be back with you guys next week for pre preview of the second round of the college football playoffs. Maybe some reactions live from Dave over in Dallas.

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I'll be live in Dallas sending my reactions for FIU's return to bowl season.

I hope guy the guy And with that, we appreciate you guys for joining us. Enjoy your holidays and we'll catch you in the new year later.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Canes vs Ohio State: Can Miami Win It All? + FIU First Responder Bowl Hype"?

Pucci (Host), Dave (Guest), Andre ("Dre") (Host).

What is "Canes vs Ohio State: Can Miami Win It All? + FIU First Responder Bowl Hype" about?

The discussion centers on the Miami Hurricanes' recent performance against Texas A&M and the implications for their chances at winning the national championship. While one contributor highlights Miami's win as a significant achievement, there is skepticism about the team's offensive capabilities and overall potential in upcoming matches, setting the stage for a debate on their true…

What is mentioned in this Stay Tranquilo episode?

42 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Fiu, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs, UTSA, NIL, Ruben Bain. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Canes vs Ohio State: Can Miami Win It All? + FIU First Responder Bowl Hype"?

The episode runs 38 min; the transcript is about 9,402 words in 184 timestamped sections.

More from Stay Tranquilo

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.