Hank, Chad, and Michael are back for this year's BIG FAN Football Kickoff Show! In this episode, the gang discusses your tailgating essentials, reminisces about past Fantasy Football Draft shenanigans, and talks High School, College, and NFL predictions for this upcoming tackle football season.
Music included in this episode: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit "This Ain't It"
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[00:00:02] What you want, when you want it, where you want it. This is The MESH.
[00:00:30] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to episode 101, volume 5 of a special tailgate slash football edition of Big Fan.
[00:00:40] When the hot summer nights turn into fall gridiron lights.
[00:00:45] When the new brisk in the air brings on the memories of county fairs.
[00:00:49] When the leaves change their hue and you roll out your tailgate grill all shiny and new.
[00:00:56] When the heroes are made on a slant pattern or fade.
[00:00:59] When the quarterback goes in from the one and then the party has just begun.
[00:01:04] When the victors hold up their crown and they become legends in their own hometown.
[00:01:09] It's fall, y'all. We ready to play some ball.
[00:01:13] And to commemorate the beginning of high school, college, and football season,
[00:01:16] we have another special guest host with us today, Hank.
[00:01:20] Making his third appearance on Big Fan, the man with the velvet voice and shiny spatula.
[00:01:26] Please welcome Mike Chigger Willard.
[00:01:30] Well, thanks guys so much for having me here on the podcast.
[00:01:35] I don't know how I can kind of surpass that, but I'll tell you that I'm a big fan of barbecue at the tailgate.
[00:01:41] Marching bands and concession stands.
[00:01:44] Cheerleaders and metal bleachers filled with bodies for the return of the holiest of holies
[00:01:49] that convenes around a gridiron altar every Friday night.
[00:01:54] That's high school football.
[00:01:56] And yes, Chad, I'm a big fan of all those things that you said.
[00:02:00] But there's just something special when they gird up the loins, they're toot on their horns,
[00:02:06] and make it happen under the big lights.
[00:02:08] And it's right upon us, Mike.
[00:02:10] Well, actually, it has already started.
[00:02:13] Hank, hello.
[00:02:14] Hello.
[00:02:14] Welcome to the podcast.
[00:02:15] Let me tell you what just happened here.
[00:02:17] You want to hear something?
[00:02:18] It was like evolved in front of me.
[00:02:19] It was great.
[00:02:20] Chad works tirelessly over this intro.
[00:02:23] I see tireless work.
[00:02:24] Okay.
[00:02:25] Three minutes.
[00:02:26] No, this has happened for weeks of work, right?
[00:02:29] I looked over when he was in the middle of this.
[00:02:31] He gave himself goosebumps.
[00:02:34] He gave himself goosebumps.
[00:02:36] And then to watch his face when you tidal waved over his was amazing.
[00:02:41] So thank you for your intro.
[00:02:42] It was amazing to watch.
[00:02:43] I'm always ready to roll with the tide.
[00:02:45] Okay.
[00:02:46] Always.
[00:02:46] Oh, that was a good one right there.
[00:02:48] Yes, sir.
[00:02:49] Well done, Michael.
[00:02:49] And welcome back to the big fan.
[00:02:51] Your third appearance.
[00:02:52] Did you realize this is your third?
[00:02:54] I did not.
[00:02:55] Yes.
[00:02:55] This is news to me.
[00:02:56] You came and joined us many moons ago for your first appearance before your most popular
[00:03:01] podcast was even invented.
[00:03:03] Right.
[00:03:03] And we were talking about just some high school football.
[00:03:05] Okay.
[00:03:05] That's kind of where we were getting at.
[00:03:06] Yeah.
[00:03:06] Then the second was another high school football.
[00:03:09] And now we're here, 2024.
[00:03:12] Well, look here.
[00:03:12] It's high school football again.
[00:03:14] Is that why we're here?
[00:03:15] Yes.
[00:03:15] Excellent.
[00:03:15] Well, we're here for that reason.
[00:03:16] And another reason, too.
[00:03:18] Hank and I talked last week about what we were going to talk about on this podcast,
[00:03:21] and it was going to be football and tailgating, a tailgate special for our listeners.
[00:03:27] You can't have football without tailgating.
[00:03:28] Absolutely.
[00:03:28] And Hank is a big, big tailgater.
[00:03:31] So we're going to put Hank on the spot real quick before we jump into you, Michael.
[00:03:35] Always does.
[00:03:35] Top five tailgate necessities needed for a proper tailgate.
[00:03:42] Okay.
[00:03:42] We're talking equipment and food.
[00:03:44] I mean, it can be either.
[00:03:45] Either or.
[00:03:46] How about top five?
[00:03:47] You got to have.
[00:03:48] Well, I'm going to go with number one, and I'll spout these out, but I'm going to go with
[00:03:52] number one is a tailgate.
[00:03:53] I mean, you got to have something where you can pull this out, whether sit on the back
[00:03:57] of a truck, whether you have an SUV that you open up.
[00:03:59] What about, can you take a table and create a space?
[00:04:02] Sure.
[00:04:03] Okay.
[00:04:03] I mean, in my mind, I don't see the guy coming in the Miata, you know, coming to tailgate
[00:04:09] and pulling out the big thing.
[00:04:10] It may happen.
[00:04:11] It may happen.
[00:04:12] But I'm just saying, I don't see it as that.
[00:04:14] Okay.
[00:04:14] I think chairs.
[00:04:15] If you're going to have any good tailgate, you better have chairs because you're going
[00:04:20] to be out there for some time.
[00:04:22] Right?
[00:04:22] Right.
[00:04:23] Next thing.
[00:04:23] If you got a tailgate, you just sit on the tailgate.
[00:04:25] Well, that's true.
[00:04:26] But it can't be your table and your chair.
[00:04:28] Very fair.
[00:04:28] Very fair.
[00:04:29] Okay.
[00:04:30] What about the ground?
[00:04:31] Have you ever just sat on the ground?
[00:04:32] No.
[00:04:33] No, that doesn't seem...
[00:04:34] I don't want to do that.
[00:04:34] No, I'd make a kid sit on the ground.
[00:04:36] Yeah.
[00:04:36] Like, you know, you guys can have the ground.
[00:04:38] Okay.
[00:04:39] So that's two things that you're going to have.
[00:04:40] Okay.
[00:04:40] Okay.
[00:04:41] Next is probably the most important.
[00:04:43] You better have a cooler.
[00:04:44] Yes.
[00:04:44] You better have a cooler.
[00:04:45] Whether you got...
[00:04:46] Great call.
[00:04:47] ...sodas, Capri Suns, beer, whatever you're going to have, you got to have a cooler.
[00:04:51] And you know, the thing is, is you've got to have a big enough cooler that you can accommodate
[00:04:55] those around you because there are plenty of people, Michael Banks, that will come to a
[00:05:00] tailgate and not bring a thing.
[00:05:02] Right?
[00:05:02] But then you'll want to...
[00:05:03] Empty-handed?
[00:05:03] But he'll want to know where your cooler is.
[00:05:05] And you know, usually I tell them, oh, it's the blue one and that isn't the blue one.
[00:05:08] So the cooler is certainly important.
[00:05:13] Next would be a grill.
[00:05:14] Okay?
[00:05:15] Whether a small grill, big grill.
[00:05:16] I think if you...
[00:05:17] I think the act of cooking out there is really important, especially in the college atmosphere.
[00:05:22] I don't feel like high school.
[00:05:23] High school, you get there a little bit late.
[00:05:24] But if you're going to an Alabama game or a Tennessee game, you tend to get there 9, 30,
[00:05:29] 10, you know, somewhere in the morning, if not earlier.
[00:05:31] And you're going to be there for a while.
[00:05:33] So a grill would be the next thing.
[00:05:34] All day affair.
[00:05:35] All day affair.
[00:05:36] Okay.
[00:05:37] So the next is easy.
[00:05:38] It'd be the food.
[00:05:39] You got to bring the food.
[00:05:40] But more importantly than that, I think some people do a poor job of bringing food without
[00:05:44] condiments.
[00:05:46] You know what I mean?
[00:05:46] They bring in hot dogs.
[00:05:47] They got buns.
[00:05:48] They have no ketchup, no mustard.
[00:05:50] That's poor planning.
[00:05:52] Very true.
[00:05:52] Poor planning.
[00:05:54] That's big world necessities.
[00:05:57] I saw you guys were jotting down some stuff.
[00:05:59] I'd like to know what else is on there.
[00:06:00] Right.
[00:06:01] Well, let me just charge right in there.
[00:06:03] I don't feel like I'd have a tailgate or any of those things.
[00:06:06] Okay.
[00:06:06] But I feel like I have to have paper towels.
[00:06:09] Okay.
[00:06:09] And everything like that is generally the most overlooked thing that you're talking about.
[00:06:14] You know, you get up there, you're having food, you're having coolers, you're having
[00:06:17] drinks, you're having tailgate.
[00:06:19] And where are you going to wipe your hands off?
[00:06:20] On the grass, maybe?
[00:06:22] Paper towels slash garbage bag, too.
[00:06:24] Because you've got to throw the garbage away.
[00:06:26] Those are high-level, real-world necessities.
[00:06:30] A true tailgater right here.
[00:06:30] Yeah, it just felt like my tailgate fell into place right there.
[00:06:33] Yeah, for sure.
[00:06:33] The first two I wrote were the paper towels and the chairs.
[00:06:37] Yeah.
[00:06:37] Because I feel like you can put everything else on the ground if you have to.
[00:06:41] Right.
[00:06:41] But chairs and probably a table would be good.
[00:06:43] Those are must-haves.
[00:06:44] And now also, would you put music in there?
[00:06:48] Some form of music.
[00:06:49] Are we listening to hip-hop?
[00:06:52] Are we listening to country?
[00:06:53] Or do we just have it on the pre-game show?
[00:06:55] You know?
[00:06:55] Well, if it's Big College Saturday, I want all the ballgames on.
[00:06:59] You know?
[00:06:59] Yes.
[00:06:59] If there's TVs available and the power for music, I just as soon have the other games that I'm
[00:07:04] not seeing by being wherever I am.
[00:07:06] Yeah.
[00:07:07] I think Friday night football, you'd have music on.
[00:07:09] You know what I mean?
[00:07:10] Yeah, for sure.
[00:07:10] You're not sitting there waiting on another game to start.
[00:07:13] You're not listening to the commentary.
[00:07:15] We kind of know what we're walking into.
[00:07:17] But, you know, I think that music on a Friday night, high school football games, certainly
[00:07:22] appropriate.
[00:07:23] And what about games?
[00:07:24] What about cornhole and a football to toss or pin the tail on the donkey?
[00:07:30] Pin the tail on the donkey.
[00:07:31] Bobbing for apples, maybe.
[00:07:33] Bobbing for apples.
[00:07:34] I mean, do we need games at the tailgate?
[00:07:35] Not in the post-COVID era, there's no bobbing for apples.
[00:07:37] Fair.
[00:07:38] That's exactly.
[00:07:39] But you know what?
[00:07:39] I think that the funny thing is, is that I think we all can agree that tailgating has
[00:07:43] gotten way more advanced from when we were little, you know, from where the kids, people
[00:07:48] buy whole RVs, suit them up, whether it's an old school bus or whatever.
[00:07:53] And you're not worried about games.
[00:07:56] You've got 70 inch TVs on the side of like RVs now.
[00:08:01] Trailer's fully dedicated to that.
[00:08:03] Yeah.
[00:08:03] And following the Alabama Crimson Tide from Southern City to Southern City.
[00:08:07] Can't wait till those retirement days arrive.
[00:08:10] Yes, sir.
[00:08:10] And our lovely production manager has listed a few other things to make sure you bring
[00:08:16] to your tailgate because we are informing our listeners of what you got to bring to a
[00:08:20] tailgate.
[00:08:21] Interesting.
[00:08:22] Matches are lighter.
[00:08:23] You always seem to need them and you never seem to have them.
[00:08:25] Meat thermometer, I don't normally eat, but I'm sure a meat thermometer is something that
[00:08:29] you need to have so you don't get botulism or something, correct?
[00:08:33] Yes.
[00:08:34] You would hope the meat preparer had brought the meat thermometer, but you never know.
[00:08:39] I'm not going to whip it out on somebody trying to surprise them.
[00:08:42] That'd be embarrassing, but not half as embarrassing as throwing up at their house the next day.
[00:08:46] Very true.
[00:08:47] A bottle opener.
[00:08:48] You know, these little things.
[00:08:50] We're here to remind you.
[00:08:52] If you've got a door handle, you can use a corkscrew maybe.
[00:08:56] You can use a corkscrew for a wine bottle.
[00:08:59] That's fair.
[00:09:00] And then, you know, last, this wasn't going to be here 20 years ago, a phone charger.
[00:09:05] Sure.
[00:09:05] Someone's always running out of juice at the tailgate party.
[00:09:08] You know what I mean?
[00:09:08] So, anyway.
[00:09:09] Well, thank you, Moose.
[00:09:10] Thank you, guys.
[00:09:11] Wonderful start to the podcast.
[00:09:13] Put us on the spot.
[00:09:14] What are we bringing to a tailgate?
[00:09:16] Now, next thing I'd like to talk about is we're all coming off a little bit of a fantasy
[00:09:21] football weekend or two, right?
[00:09:23] To kick off, you know, the football episode of Big Fan, Hank, let's talk briefly, not necessarily
[00:09:29] about the team that you drafted because I'm sure it's terrible, but more importantly,
[00:09:34] the environment, the atmosphere, the time that we had just two Saturdays ago on lovely Lake
[00:09:41] Hickory as we set up the draft board, Michael, on the lake this year.
[00:09:46] We were on the dock and it was gorgeous.
[00:09:49] I thought I saw some pictures of that.
[00:09:51] Yeah.
[00:09:52] Nice.
[00:09:52] And so, Jeff Osborne, one of our members of our league, created boards.
[00:09:57] So, we had the draft boards out there in the open.
[00:10:01] Gorgeous.
[00:10:01] We were waiting for the wind to catch it and flip it into the lake.
[00:10:05] For sure.
[00:10:06] Thank goodness it didn't happen.
[00:10:07] Hank, give me a couple of the standout memories of that Saturday evening.
[00:10:12] Well, that's a great question.
[00:10:14] You know, the biggest thing for me is it kind of goes in like sections, right?
[00:10:19] The hellos are always a little bit more fulfilling because you haven't seen some of these guys
[00:10:24] in some time, you know?
[00:10:25] So, a lot of times when I'm walking down the steps to go to that back porch and I get
[00:10:29] to see somebody I may not have seen since the draft or maybe a couple, you know, months
[00:10:33] ago.
[00:10:34] And then there's people that I see quite often.
[00:10:36] It's that feeling of, you know what?
[00:10:38] We're going to accomplish something today, right?
[00:10:40] This is the day, okay?
[00:10:41] Then we walk right into that cornhole tournament and I got to tell you, I like cornhole.
[00:10:46] It's a fun game.
[00:10:47] I get paired with the worst player every year, every year.
[00:10:52] And so, it makes it difficult.
[00:10:55] But the good thing about that is, and one of my favorite things, we got knocked out early.
[00:10:59] I was able to go down to the dock, jump in the lake, sit there with the noodle and enjoy
[00:11:05] a little bit of the sunset, right?
[00:11:08] Absolutely.
[00:11:09] Before you all yelled at us from on top of the dock, get out of the water!
[00:11:13] It's time to draft!
[00:11:14] Let's go!
[00:11:15] Yes, yes, yes.
[00:11:16] So, you know, those are the parts that I really kind of enjoy outside of it.
[00:11:20] The draft is the draft.
[00:11:22] I mean, I think it's funny because when somebody makes a bad pick, we, you know, we scold them
[00:11:26] and tell them to jump off the dock and, you know, stuff.
[00:11:29] But it is, it's the things before.
[00:11:33] But then the other thing is, is early, early in our drafting years, the draft would end
[00:11:40] and the night would begin.
[00:11:42] Yes.
[00:11:43] Right?
[00:11:43] Yes.
[00:11:44] Now, when that last sticker gets stuck on, people are running up to their car.
[00:11:51] Except for a few.
[00:11:53] A couple people might linger.
[00:11:54] Except for a few.
[00:11:55] A couple people might linger, yes.
[00:11:56] So, that's my draft night memory.
[00:11:59] Lovely.
[00:12:00] Lovely.
[00:12:00] Michael, your draft was when?
[00:12:03] Well, I had mine just this recently on Sunday night.
[00:12:06] Okay.
[00:12:06] Wonderful.
[00:12:07] Just recently.
[00:12:08] Is it online or is it online draft?
[00:12:11] Not as much fanfare as all that.
[00:12:13] Just a group that we've been together for 20 some odd years and playing all along and
[00:12:17] did it online and some people are online and some people are not.
[00:12:21] I've definitely been through the big party atmosphere.
[00:12:24] It's certainly something cool.
[00:12:26] But I'll ask you guys, since y'all do that and you do that on a regular occasion, do you
[00:12:31] feel like kicking off the season with something like that allows you to build a little bit
[00:12:36] more competitive spirit during the course of the season?
[00:12:40] So, does the smack talk really get started at the kickoff weekend and go all through and
[00:12:46] make the season better?
[00:12:48] Sure.
[00:12:48] Whereas, you know, again, I'm detached from being in an online scenario with some people
[00:12:52] that are a long way off.
[00:12:53] But I'm not going to have that fraternizing smack talk that started from the outset.
[00:12:59] Michael, I can speak to that directly because I'm just coming off my Raleigh League who we've
[00:13:05] been drafting for now over 22, 23 years.
[00:13:08] And we do a live draft and after the draft, one fellow will commentate on who they think
[00:13:14] is the best drafter like we do in ours.
[00:13:16] Yeah.
[00:13:16] And so, normally when he says your draft sucks, people will say, well, if you think it sucks,
[00:13:22] let's bet something on it.
[00:13:23] So, during this last one, we have a Caitlin Clark jersey competition.
[00:13:28] Whoever wins next year's draft, they've got to purchase a Caitlin Clark jersey and wear
[00:13:33] it to the next draft, which is cool.
[00:13:35] You know?
[00:13:35] Actually, I would like that.
[00:13:36] You know?
[00:13:37] Next one is we have this huge meal on Friday night.
[00:13:40] This gentleman, he said, I will challenge you.
[00:13:44] If I lose against you, I will pay for the entire meal Friday night.
[00:13:47] And the meal is like $1,500.
[00:13:50] Oh, wow.
[00:13:50] So, I mean, he's really putting his money where his mouth is.
[00:13:53] You're not putting his wagers down unless you're there yucking it up to get it going.
[00:13:56] Exactly.
[00:13:56] So, throughout the year, people are just running that mouth all year.
[00:13:59] Like, double that bet.
[00:14:00] We'll do this one.
[00:14:01] Two Caitlin Clark jerseys.
[00:14:02] That kind of stuff.
[00:14:03] So, yes, it just kind of gets the fire going and it gets you ready for the football competition
[00:14:09] ahead of us.
[00:14:10] And, you know, what we do, our group, we have something that we do every year, which is
[00:14:13] really, really incredible.
[00:14:15] And I think it was kind of the reason for the collapse of one of our previous owners
[00:14:21] is we have something called the Ring of Champions.
[00:14:24] Okay?
[00:14:24] And so, in the Ring of Champions, every champion, and Chad has won three and a half.
[00:14:30] Four.
[00:14:30] No, it's three and a half because you shared one.
[00:14:32] Four rings.
[00:14:33] Chad's won three and a half, four.
[00:14:35] I've won two.
[00:14:36] There's people that, multiple that have won two.
[00:14:38] Right.
[00:14:38] There's people that have won one.
[00:14:39] But we had three individuals that had never won one.
[00:14:42] So, we get up on the front and we have dun, dun, dun, dun.
[00:14:46] And we get to look at them and mock them for not having won one.
[00:14:50] Three sucker losers.
[00:14:51] Yeah.
[00:14:51] Left on the pier.
[00:14:52] Right.
[00:14:52] And so, that right there starts, like, the competitive juices.
[00:14:56] Now, we had a gentleman who decided that he did not want to participate anymore.
[00:15:02] And oddly enough, every team name this year ended up being something about him.
[00:15:09] And it's been amazing, right?
[00:15:10] It's pretty wonderful.
[00:15:11] And the good thing is, is he's been part of our chats, like, our online chatting, and it's
[00:15:14] been fun.
[00:15:14] So, I think, without a doubt, being there in front of each other creates, like, a competitive
[00:15:21] spirit.
[00:15:21] Sure.
[00:15:22] Absolutely.
[00:15:23] And always, there's always one standout guy at the draft who might have just had one too
[00:15:28] many, you know, cold beverage or whatever.
[00:15:32] And so, we're getting old.
[00:15:34] Michael, we're 50.
[00:15:35] So, the majority of us kind of play it cool.
[00:15:38] You know, we're cool.
[00:15:39] We might have a couple or two, two or three here or there.
[00:15:42] Sometimes.
[00:15:42] But, you know.
[00:15:42] Sometimes there's a time for playing it cool and a time for letting it loose.
[00:15:46] And this particular weekend, this fine gentleman was like, there's these new drinks that come
[00:15:51] out.
[00:15:52] They're not alcohol-based, but they're the CBD.
[00:15:55] No bad, really, things for you, I guess, supposedly.
[00:15:58] But, whatever, right?
[00:16:00] That's how they have it.
[00:16:01] You can buy them in a store.
[00:16:02] Yes, you can buy them in a store.
[00:16:02] Sure.
[00:16:03] Well, so there's the light version, and then there's the full octane version.
[00:16:07] Yeah.
[00:16:07] Oh, boy.
[00:16:08] And so, our friends brought a couple full octanes, and majority of the light ones.
[00:16:12] Yeah.
[00:16:12] Because, really, if you don't feel like having a hangover, you just drink this, and it
[00:16:15] kind of just mellows you out.
[00:16:16] It's cool.
[00:16:17] Well, the full octane things do not.
[00:16:20] And so, we challenged this gentleman after a night on the town.
[00:16:22] It's probably about midnight.
[00:16:24] You won't drink the full octane, will you?
[00:16:27] No.
[00:16:27] Oh, yes, I will.
[00:16:29] Knocks the whole full octane down.
[00:16:32] Night-night.
[00:16:34] Night-night.
[00:16:35] So, we saw him the next morning, crawled out of the bed around three in the afternoon.
[00:16:40] So, anyway, just be careful during these drafts.
[00:16:43] You know, do not succumb to peer pressure.
[00:16:46] Say no-no to the high-octane ones.
[00:16:48] Okay?
[00:16:48] Maintain.
[00:16:49] Got it.
[00:16:50] Yes.
[00:16:50] Maintain.
[00:16:50] Absolutely.
[00:16:51] Stay within your lane.
[00:16:52] Yes.
[00:16:52] Exactly.
[00:16:53] Stay within your lane.
[00:16:54] So, Michael, we know you're an expert in many things, but two of the things,
[00:16:57] the things that I know you are a highly decorated professional in are, first, high school football.
[00:17:05] High school football.
[00:17:06] Yes.
[00:17:07] Can you tell us a little bit about what to expect this year?
[00:17:11] We've got a state champion team in our area, actually.
[00:17:15] Yeah, we do.
[00:17:16] Our high school that we went to.
[00:17:17] We do.
[00:17:17] Hickory High School.
[00:17:18] I mean, we got a chance to run it back.
[00:17:20] Who's the competition this year?
[00:17:22] Give us a little bit of feedback of what to expect in North Carolina high school football
[00:17:26] this year.
[00:17:26] Well, I'll tell you, you mentioned it right out of the gate.
[00:17:28] Hickory High School.
[00:17:29] 17 wins straight coming into this Friday when they take on the Newton-Conover Red Devils.
[00:17:34] We're coming off a tough loss.
[00:17:36] That game's been played for 82 years, Chad.
[00:17:39] It's one of the longest running in the state.
[00:17:41] Unbelievable.
[00:17:42] I have some numbers here that are scribbled and marked her that are probably close to right.
[00:17:45] I did poor math.
[00:17:46] I didn't let Alexa do it.
[00:17:48] But that record is 50-27-2, Hickory over Newton-Conover.
[00:17:52] Okay.
[00:17:53] Again, 82 years that they've been playing.
[00:17:56] They didn't play all those years.
[00:17:58] There was a COVID year that they set out.
[00:17:59] So right out of the gate.
[00:18:00] Hickory, I think, is probably the strongest contender.
[00:18:03] They have so much talent coming back in the quarterback, as well as his running back in
[00:18:08] Lackey.
[00:18:09] He's got targets on the outside.
[00:18:11] They are a little bit experienced on defense, and they could allow some points, and that
[00:18:15] was a question mark.
[00:18:17] However, last week, they shut out High Brighton in a game that sounds like the defense did pretty
[00:18:24] good.
[00:18:24] So those guys, I think, will be good.
[00:18:25] Michael, is this team so good that Hank could actually suit up and maybe get some playing
[00:18:32] time with the four stringers?
[00:18:34] You know, when they're up by 80.
[00:18:36] I don't know what position Hank was looking to try to play.
[00:18:38] I'm a tight end.
[00:18:39] I'm thinking tight end.
[00:18:40] Tight end.
[00:18:41] I mean, could he get any run?
[00:18:42] More of a just blocking tight end?
[00:18:44] Hey, I'm right here.
[00:18:46] I want him to run some patterns and try to catch a ball, right?
[00:18:48] Oh, yeah, no.
[00:18:49] Okay.
[00:18:50] Very good.
[00:18:50] That's how strong they are.
[00:18:52] I wouldn't think so.
[00:18:52] Because he's an athlete.
[00:18:53] You know Hank is an athlete.
[00:18:54] Yeah, I know, but I still wouldn't think you'd want to do that.
[00:18:56] I don't think I'd want to do it.
[00:18:58] I mean, let's be honest on there.
[00:18:59] Maybe with the four string.
[00:19:00] No.
[00:19:00] No.
[00:19:01] The other kid's playing the first string.
[00:19:02] If the four string's in, he'd get killed doing this.
[00:19:05] I don't want to wake up on Saturday and know that some 16-year-old put me in traction.
[00:19:11] But he has a memory for life.
[00:19:13] That's right.
[00:19:14] He's done that.
[00:19:14] That's exactly right.
[00:19:15] So other guys around the area, Bunker Hill I think is also going to be good.
[00:19:18] Okay.
[00:19:18] For similar reasons, their running back's very strong.
[00:19:22] They got a lot of experience along the line of scrimmage.
[00:19:25] They do have some new holes to fill in.
[00:19:26] Their quarterback is new.
[00:19:28] But I think that they're also going to be good.
[00:19:30] The rest of the teams, it's always just kind of like there's a mentality in Hickory
[00:19:34] that these teams are going to play and the best teams around here are really going to run
[00:19:38] with what's good outside in the rest of the state.
[00:19:42] And sometimes they do.
[00:19:44] And Hickory definitely did that last year.
[00:19:46] And I think Hickory's built to do that.
[00:19:47] But then sometimes they don't.
[00:19:49] And most of the times, that's what happens down in the smaller 2A and 3A schools.
[00:19:54] So Newton Conover and Maiden and Bandies and guys like that, they may get into the playoffs.
[00:20:01] But once they start really kind of going up some of the cream of the crop,
[00:20:04] they don't really build for a run like that.
[00:20:07] Although Maiden could be good.
[00:20:08] They're always kind of a contender.
[00:20:09] Absolutely.
[00:20:10] And for our friends from Fred T. Ford, it's specifically one that I'm thinking of now,
[00:20:15] Mr. Jeff Osborne.
[00:20:16] Well, we've got other friends.
[00:20:17] We do, but this is the guy that we always talk about high school football.
[00:20:21] Yeah.
[00:20:22] They don't normally win football games, right?
[00:20:24] How long has it been since they've tasted victory?
[00:20:28] Well, it's interesting that you mention that because they seem to hold what is the current active state record
[00:20:36] for consecutive games lost.
[00:20:38] Wow.
[00:20:38] And I think with this week, it's 35.
[00:20:41] Whoa.
[00:20:42] Now, I think that the Hickory Record reported on some of this, so I'll give them credit.
[00:20:47] So if it's wrong, it's on them.
[00:20:49] Sure.
[00:20:49] Because my co-broadcaster in the press box, he said that the number was around 80, and it was somebody else.
[00:20:58] You know, this down east is probably a 1A school that's just getting it handed to them.
[00:21:04] But that could have been years ago, and that could be the difference that Fred T. Farmer,
[00:21:09] the Plateau Prowlers are 0 for 35.
[00:21:14] And the schedule that they've got this year, there is no hope.
[00:21:17] Any chance.
[00:21:17] No relief.
[00:21:18] No relief.
[00:21:19] Let's keep the streak alive, boys.
[00:21:20] Because, I mean, like North Lincoln is building a pretty good program,
[00:21:23] and then East Lincoln two years ago won it.
[00:21:26] East Lincoln always very good.
[00:21:28] North Lincoln is Coach Nick Basil, formerly Newton Conover, and Alexander Central, excuse me,
[00:21:34] a couple of different places, he's got something going there.
[00:21:37] East Lincoln's good.
[00:21:38] Lincolnton's always good.
[00:21:39] West Lincoln's good.
[00:21:41] You know, and again, all these guys are good against one another.
[00:21:46] Right.
[00:21:46] But then they go and they play, you know, to a certain level, Crest or Shelby or, you know,
[00:21:52] somebody else that's got a little bit more size that really has a lot more talent that does well.
[00:21:57] Sure.
[00:21:59] Excuse me, you never can tell.
[00:22:00] Well, Hickory has a great team and they have a good program going,
[00:22:04] and I think that they'll have some good strength for several years.
[00:22:07] And exciting.
[00:22:07] We were talking about that before.
[00:22:08] It's exciting to have that kind of thing around the school system.
[00:22:11] All the teams are starting to have some success.
[00:22:13] You know, the kids are turning out to play.
[00:22:16] That will only continue to build success.
[00:22:18] And it's a fun night to go out and, you know, whatever the sport you go see is fun.
[00:22:22] It builds community spirit as well.
[00:22:24] You know, the companies support as being sponsors of the athletic departments at the schools
[00:22:29] and everybody just comes out and you see your neighbor over here and the guy you go to church with over here
[00:22:35] and the guy you play pickup basketball over here.
[00:22:38] So anyway, a good community event for sure.
[00:22:41] Yeah, moms and dads are working the concession stand.
[00:22:43] Of course.
[00:22:43] You know, in the press box.
[00:22:45] They're working the chain gang, you know.
[00:22:48] There's guys that have been doing that job for 40 years at some high schools.
[00:22:51] Yeah.
[00:22:51] And, you know, you see people out there now that don't have kids at the school, probably haven't watched a game in 20 years.
[00:22:58] And last year they came out and watched half the games, which is really cool.
[00:23:02] And so I read in the Hickory Daily Record that they were talking about the student population for Hickory City Schools was up on the first day of school.
[00:23:09] I don't think percentage-wise it was huge, but it's always good to hear that it's going up and not down.
[00:23:14] And, you know, I think that that's part of the big plan for these towns is, like, if you're buying into education, it's something that you can get behind.
[00:23:24] Like, the whole community can get behind because there's other options.
[00:23:27] And if you feel like that's your best option, then that's good for your community.
[00:23:31] So, I mean, outside of football, just school, I'm really excited as a parent of a kid in Hickory City Schools that they're in a good spot right now.
[00:23:40] Sure.
[00:23:40] So, Michael, you've been doing this – it's not really – it's press booth work, right?
[00:23:46] What do they call you?
[00:23:47] Are you the color commentator?
[00:23:48] I'm the color commentator.
[00:23:49] You're the color commentator, yes.
[00:23:50] On the Sports Voice, WNNC, 1230 AM, 101.3 FM on your FM dial, obviously.
[00:23:57] The Sports Voice, they've been doing it for years and years and years.
[00:24:00] We talked about the Coca-Cola Golden Helmet Award.
[00:24:02] I know they've done that for 44 years, 45 years.
[00:24:08] They've been doing that for a long time on that radio station.
[00:24:11] Wow.
[00:24:11] So, WNNC's been doing it a long time.
[00:24:13] And I have the pleasure of having served many roles from the sideline mic carrier, which was one of my favorites because you get to interview the coaches.
[00:24:20] Sure.
[00:24:21] To, you know, the side – sitting beside the play-by-play and doing the play-by-play and all the roles.
[00:24:25] But now I just kind of flap my gums when he stops.
[00:24:28] Very cool.
[00:24:29] And so in your travels, you probably encountered many exciting things.
[00:24:34] Like, for one, for example, if you don't mind giving it to us, the best band that you have ever heard in your travels.
[00:24:42] You know, where – because sometimes, you know, the high school halftime show can really bring out some energy in you.
[00:24:48] So what would be the best band you can remember hearing in your travels?
[00:24:52] Well, I mean, it's hard to say.
[00:24:55] Nothing one thing stands out.
[00:24:57] You know, you remember experiences about them.
[00:24:59] And keep in mind, during halftime, we're doing things.
[00:25:01] So I'm getting the scores, and we're having these guys call in with their hotline reports.
[00:25:06] And we are having the band part of that.
[00:25:08] But the bands that always have the most players, the most instruments, the most people out there on the field are always the ones that have been really good.
[00:25:17] I see.
[00:25:17] And, you know, I have some ties to Newton Conover and some friends there.
[00:25:21] And I feel like when they've had some of their larger bands, they've been really good.
[00:25:25] Right.
[00:25:27] I feel like St. Stephen's has had some larger bands too.
[00:25:32] Yeah.
[00:25:32] When we were on that state title run last year, there was a team from Greensboro that came in to Hickory.
[00:25:37] It might have been the second-to-last game we played.
[00:25:40] Was it Dudley?
[00:25:40] Dudley.
[00:25:41] Yeah.
[00:25:41] Terrible weather.
[00:25:42] Yeah.
[00:25:42] Right?
[00:25:42] Yeah.
[00:25:43] Their band was really big.
[00:25:44] Yeah.
[00:25:44] And I think they were exceptionally trained, loud, choreographed.
[00:25:53] They were a really good band.
[00:25:55] Yeah.
[00:25:55] You know, when I was sitting there, I was like, man, they're one to deal with.
[00:25:59] Yeah.
[00:25:59] Yeah.
[00:25:59] How about best stadium you've ever broadcast from in the area?
[00:26:03] Like, is there a stadium that sticks out in your mind like, man, they got it together over here.
[00:26:08] This is nice.
[00:26:09] You know, maybe historical or maybe because it's new.
[00:26:13] What do you think?
[00:26:13] Yeah.
[00:26:14] That's hard, too, because everybody's got their strengths and their weaknesses.
[00:26:18] And one thing that they always seem to do is they go and build a new press box.
[00:26:22] Right.
[00:26:22] But nobody really asks what the media needs for a press box to be.
[00:26:28] So there might be one press box where your seat's right here, and you can't see half of the field.
[00:26:33] Really?
[00:26:34] You know, and you kind of have to lean back or lean forward to see it.
[00:26:37] You know, there might be some that, you know, is right in there with the PA guy so that you're getting on top of one another's voices.
[00:26:44] Right.
[00:26:45] You know, and then the hospitality is a different thing, too.
[00:26:48] You know, I enjoy coming to Hickory High School very much.
[00:26:51] It's close to home, so that's nice.
[00:26:53] The hospitality's nice.
[00:26:54] It's one of the ones that have, you know, been that way for a long time.
[00:26:58] My disagreement or disappointment is that the field is so far away from the stands.
[00:27:04] Right.
[00:27:04] Like, Bunker Hill is still, they've got a new stadium, but some of those playoff games from last year when they were in a deep run,
[00:27:13] the stands are right down there on the track, and the track is right there on the field, and it is a very tight, loud, rocking environment.
[00:27:22] Yeah, I mean, that's, you know, a good time there for sure.
[00:27:25] So they've got some cool stuff.
[00:27:28] Bandies is kind of an old school, old historic one,
[00:27:31] and I'll say apologies sort of to the people at Fred T. Ford, but we just don't go there because there's not anywhere to go.
[00:27:39] You know, we get on the roofs of places.
[00:27:41] If I had a choice, I'd be on the roof every time.
[00:27:43] But there's just not any space in there because we're right next to the PA guy.
[00:27:50] So it's like us broadcasting through his microphone and him broadcasting through ours at the times that we don't want them to.
[00:27:56] Yeah, understood.
[00:27:57] And lastly, we'll leave this conversation regarding the high school footballs with Hank's favorite thing to talk about is food.
[00:28:03] And so the best concession stand or best item in a concession stand that you've had in your travels,
[00:28:10] like does somebody make just a hellacious hot dog or is there a special nacho dish at one of the stadiums?
[00:28:16] Well, I'll just give the shout out to these guys because you won't see it everywhere,
[00:28:20] but Bandy's High School serves liver mush and fried bologna sandwiches as well.
[00:28:27] So that's not one that you'll find everywhere.
[00:28:29] And I'm not saying that it's the greatest in the world,
[00:28:32] but it's a solid liver mush or fried bologna sandwich,
[00:28:35] and they put it on a hamburger bun.
[00:28:37] You get that?
[00:28:38] And some mustard on there.
[00:28:39] Sure.
[00:28:39] You know, that's hard to beat.
[00:28:41] I love it.
[00:28:42] And the one thing I like about Hickory's concession stand is they sell those big pickles.
[00:28:47] You know, you don't find those big pickles everywhere.
[00:28:49] They don't.
[00:28:50] Dollar?
[00:28:51] Pickle?
[00:28:51] They'll give you a shot of pickle juice with it if you ask for it.
[00:28:54] Can't beat that.
[00:28:55] It's hard, and I'm, you know, humble bragging here,
[00:28:58] but they feed us in the press box too when we're up there.
[00:29:00] So there's really always kind of a spread up there.
[00:29:03] Right.
[00:29:04] So I don't get to get out and have the concession stand food.
[00:29:07] Yeah.
[00:29:07] Unless I'm seeking out a liver mush sandwich from Bandy's.
[00:29:10] Absolutely.
[00:29:11] Well, you know, the funny thing too is as high school football gets deeper in the season,
[00:29:14] it gets colder.
[00:29:15] Yeah.
[00:29:15] Right?
[00:29:16] And so the thing that I think, you know, candy's candy.
[00:29:19] Hot dogs, there's good hot dogs and bad hot dogs, but I'll eat them.
[00:29:23] You know, the hot chocolate at a game, you can be like, hey, this is good hot chocolate
[00:29:28] or this is water with a little bit of chocolate mix in it.
[00:29:32] And so that's where I can define, like, I can get through hot dogs, hot dog,
[00:29:36] but if you got good hot chocolate, I'm in on that.
[00:29:39] Good point, Hank.
[00:29:40] Good point.
[00:29:41] Moving on.
[00:29:42] Actually, let's stay here with the food because Michael was not only a world-renowned public
[00:29:48] speaker in the booth color commentator, but he also has another podcast regarding barbecue.
[00:29:55] Is that right, Michael?
[00:29:56] That's right.
[00:29:57] The Low and Slow Barbecue Show.
[00:29:58] Yes.
[00:29:58] Low and Slow BBQ Show.com.
[00:30:00] Yes.
[00:30:00] Following in you guys' podcasting footsteps, hoping to make great things to make the barbecue
[00:30:05] world go wild.
[00:30:07] So we interview pitmasters, we have recipes, we talk about adventures and tours and stuff.
[00:30:14] Awesome.
[00:30:14] Barbecue.
[00:30:15] So this brings me to my next question.
[00:30:17] So I was with a lot of buddies this past weekend for our draft that are from the eastern part
[00:30:21] of the state.
[00:30:21] Okay.
[00:30:22] And there's always this huge fight, whose barbecue is better, eastern or western, blah, blah, blah.
[00:30:27] Right, right.
[00:30:27] And I always say, western's the best just because I live over here.
[00:30:31] Yeah.
[00:30:31] Because in reality, I'm not supposed to be saying this on the mic because they'll hear, but
[00:30:34] I really like the eastern style.
[00:30:37] Sure.
[00:30:37] However, I learned something new this past weekend.
[00:30:40] So there's this place in Lexington, Lexington Barbecue, world famous, right?
[00:30:44] Honey Monk's.
[00:30:44] Bingo.
[00:30:45] Yep.
[00:30:45] Which I think is just so wonderful.
[00:30:48] It's the best.
[00:30:49] Yep.
[00:30:49] Fire.
[00:30:49] And they call that Piedmont Barbecue.
[00:30:53] Yeah.
[00:30:53] Did you know Piedmont Barbecue existed?
[00:30:56] No.
[00:30:56] I always thought there was eastern or western.
[00:30:58] Yep.
[00:30:58] So can you give the listeners, first of all, a little bit of history about western, Piedmont,
[00:31:05] and eastern, the differences?
[00:31:07] Because there's a few subtle differences, right?
[00:31:09] Okay.
[00:31:09] Well, so as I know it, the western and the Piedmont are the same.
[00:31:13] Okay.
[00:31:13] Right?
[00:31:13] So the western is generally pork shoulder smoked, and then you've got vinegar, but it's heavily
[00:31:21] ketchup-based.
[00:31:22] Sometimes there's Worcestershire sauce in it.
[00:31:24] Sometimes there's sugar.
[00:31:25] There's usually red pepper flakes.
[00:31:27] Yes.
[00:31:28] It's what they serve in Lexington and parts west.
[00:31:31] Yes.
[00:31:31] Now, what might be a western style is like, a lot of people think Casey Masterpiece.
[00:31:36] Right.
[00:31:36] Like that thick brown sugary molasses-y stuff.
[00:31:40] That's not really Carolina western.
[00:31:42] It's just kind of western.
[00:31:43] Got it.
[00:31:44] So generally, the western is the Lexington style.
[00:31:47] Now, the eastern is whole hog generally, and it is smoked, the whole hog, and they pick
[00:31:54] it all together, and they chop it all and mix it all together.
[00:31:56] And then the sauce is just vinegar, vinegar and butter, and maybe some Frank's Red Hot
[00:32:03] Sauce, and some red pepper flakes.
[00:32:05] But it's just, there's no ketchup in it at all.
[00:32:09] Yeah.
[00:32:09] So that's kind of the difference in the two.
[00:32:12] And a lot of times, you're going to baste the hog with the vinegar while you're cooking
[00:32:16] it, and so it'll have some of that come through it, and then you serve it with that.
[00:32:19] The Lexington style also has the dip, so there's the red slaw.
[00:32:23] Yes.
[00:32:24] You generally have the eastern with a white slaw.
[00:32:26] Got you.
[00:32:26] So in your travels with the barbecue podcast, so you met probably so many people and dined
[00:32:32] at some hole-in-the-wall places that just have the best food ever, right?
[00:32:36] Yeah, yeah.
[00:32:36] Can you tell us, and you can rank them if you like, or if you just want to just give me
[00:32:40] a top five, you don't have to go in any order, are there some barbecue spots that you've
[00:32:46] been to that just kind of knocked it out of the park that you remember?
[00:32:50] Yes, there are.
[00:32:51] And there's some that I've had that I haven't gotten to, but I met them at a festival that
[00:32:55] I'll show you, but number one is John G's in Peachland.
[00:32:59] So that's between Charlotte and Monroe.
[00:33:02] It's an hour and a half from here.
[00:33:05] And with John G's, the line starts about 6 a.m., and they don't open until 11.
[00:33:11] Oh, wow.
[00:33:12] So you get down there, and you get in line, but the line is like a tailgate.
[00:33:15] So there's free beer, two per customer.
[00:33:18] No.
[00:33:18] You can bring your beer along.
[00:33:20] You bring your chairs.
[00:33:20] You bring your tents.
[00:33:21] You bring all that list that you saw, your paper towels and your utensils and your corn
[00:33:25] hole and all that stuff.
[00:33:26] And you make friends with the people sitting next to you in the line.
[00:33:28] Love it.
[00:33:29] And you guys just sit there and wait.
[00:33:30] And then at 9 o'clock, he opens up his food truck, and they sell kolaches, which are like
[00:33:36] breaded, doughy, biscuity things with either a sausage on the inside or something sweet
[00:33:42] and jello-y or like cream cheese and bacon.
[00:33:45] Oh, man, that's fantastic stuff.
[00:33:46] So you get that for breakfast.
[00:33:48] You wait a little while longer.
[00:33:49] You get in there, and you get the food.
[00:33:51] And, man, the food is just phenomenal out of this world.
[00:33:54] Super good.
[00:33:55] John G's.
[00:33:55] That's number one for you.
[00:33:57] Number one.
[00:33:58] Okay.
[00:33:58] And I really probably could.
[00:34:00] I mean, there's a lot more.
[00:34:01] Yeah, I mean, we're talking subtle, great barbecue.
[00:34:04] There's a lot of other ones.
[00:34:05] City Limits, if you go to Columbia for a game day, they're out in West Columbia.
[00:34:10] He's only open on Saturday and Sunday.
[00:34:13] Barbecue's really good there.
[00:34:15] What a great model.
[00:34:17] Like, what a great...
[00:34:17] That just goes to show you how good your food is.
[00:34:20] You're like, I can make as much as I need to make in two days.
[00:34:24] Well, but they've also got work to do all the rest of the week, too, to get ready for
[00:34:28] those two days.
[00:34:29] Yeah.
[00:34:29] And for John G, he has a food truck that he rolls out and gives it a lot of the Charlotte
[00:34:33] breweries.
[00:34:34] So a lot of these guys kind of have...
[00:34:35] You know, they'll have one day in the restaurant or two days in the restaurant and then roll their
[00:34:40] food trucks out into the world.
[00:34:41] Can these pitmasters or owners of these barbecue restaurants, are they like millionaires?
[00:34:46] No.
[00:34:47] I know they do it just for the love of it, but are any of them just like filthy rich from
[00:34:52] their success?
[00:34:53] I don't get that impression.
[00:34:56] I'm sure they're probably doing okay, but it's not because they're sitting around counting
[00:35:00] their money.
[00:35:01] They're working their butt off ground fire and they built things that are really cool.
[00:35:06] So a couple of other places I'll name quickly.
[00:35:07] Black Powder Smokehouse in Asheboro.
[00:35:10] They've got a location in Jamestown, too.
[00:35:14] Lawrence Barbecue, if you're going towards the Research Triangle, that's one you want
[00:35:18] to check out.
[00:35:18] He's in the Box Yard RTPs.
[00:35:21] If you go over for Wolfpack game, check those guys out.
[00:35:25] He's getting ready to open one in downtown Cary.
[00:35:29] Another, if you go to South Carolina, Fort Grove is one that I really like a whole lot.
[00:35:33] So I went to one about six months ago and I told you I was going there.
[00:35:38] It was called Sky Light.
[00:35:41] Skylight Inn.
[00:35:42] Skylight Inn.
[00:35:43] Yes.
[00:35:43] To me, pretty amazing spot.
[00:35:47] Again, I don't eat enough barbecue restaurants to be able to rank them, but I just thought
[00:35:51] it was fabulous.
[00:35:52] And again, just this real little small place.
[00:35:54] Nothing to it, but just great food and great people.
[00:35:57] I haven't been there, I'm sorry to say, but that is like traditional North Carolina barbecue.
[00:36:02] Sam Jones and his family, and Sam Jones is doing his thing now in Raleigh and Winterville.
[00:36:06] They just inducted him into the barbecue hall of fame.
[00:36:08] Well, that's where it got started with Skylight Inn.
[00:36:11] So yeah, block of cornbread, chopped pork, white coleslaw.
[00:36:16] Yeah, that's traditional Eastern.
[00:36:19] Can I ask a question here?
[00:36:20] And I don't want to put you on the spot and you can decline this if you don't want to,
[00:36:24] but locally there's, you know, I mean locally there's a lot of good places that people have.
[00:36:28] And if you're like, Hey, I had to pick a couple of places to, if somebody was coming in town
[00:36:32] and said, I just want good barbecue.
[00:36:34] I want to try the best barbecue from around here.
[00:36:36] Like where would you send?
[00:36:38] Where would you send?
[00:36:38] Apple city barbecue.
[00:36:40] Okay.
[00:36:40] Where is that?
[00:36:40] Taylor'sville, right?
[00:36:41] Taylor'sville.
[00:36:42] Okay.
[00:36:43] If they're only open on, you know, Friday, Saturday, Thursday, they're open Thursday too.
[00:36:48] Okay.
[00:36:49] So Thursday, Friday, Saturday, JD smokehouse also Friday, Saturday.
[00:36:54] Or jalapeno grits are amazing.
[00:36:55] Oh yeah.
[00:36:56] They do a lot of good things.
[00:36:58] Apple city, I think does a lot of other, you know, kind of outside the box.
[00:37:02] JD's is going to be the same, but apple city will have a little something different.
[00:37:06] You know, it's hard to find one that's open seven days.
[00:37:09] You know, I can tell you some places not to go, won't go there, but Hughes Q out on highway
[00:37:14] 70 is good.
[00:37:18] They're seven days now.
[00:37:19] Okay.
[00:37:20] Um, and I've had good food out there.
[00:37:22] Good to know.
[00:37:22] I've always been curious about that spot because there's been some other restaurants there that
[00:37:27] came on.
[00:37:28] One of them came around COVID.
[00:37:29] I don't know.
[00:37:29] It was that oyster place.
[00:37:30] And I thought I was like, and actually I ate there.
[00:37:32] It was fabulous, but just couldn't.
[00:37:35] And that's just the places I've tried.
[00:37:36] I haven't been to all the places in town.
[00:37:38] Yeah.
[00:37:38] West End barbecue.
[00:37:39] I've not been to.
[00:37:40] Um, I think I probably should, but it's kind of sketched too.
[00:37:45] Right.
[00:37:46] And then like in, in, there's a lot of other places.
[00:37:48] And the pit has provided barbecue for a lot of people in town, I think historically.
[00:37:52] So if you've had it from the pit, you know, you've had a different places in town.
[00:37:56] So whether you knew it or not, whether you knew it or not.
[00:37:58] Yeah, exactly.
[00:37:59] That's exactly right.
[00:38:00] Well, good.
[00:38:00] Well, Michael, thank you for enlightening us with that barbecue info and the high school
[00:38:05] football stuff too.
[00:38:06] So we're not finished here with the high school or the college or the football stuff.
[00:38:09] We've got college football really kicking into gear.
[00:38:12] It kicked in last weekend and now the real season starts Thursday throughout the year.
[00:38:16] It's a playoff this year, right?
[00:38:18] 12 teams.
[00:38:20] I'm taking state.
[00:38:21] All right.
[00:38:21] So I know y'all going to laugh about it, but I feel like NC State going to make a little
[00:38:26] run.
[00:38:26] Ohio State?
[00:38:27] NC State going to make a little run.
[00:38:29] And I think they make it to the playoffs, represent the ACC as the champion.
[00:38:34] And once you get there, NC State's on a little bit of a run now, boys.
[00:38:37] We had the final four men's and women's.
[00:38:39] We won some rowing competitions, some diving competitions.
[00:38:43] We've been doing gymnastics.
[00:38:45] Bass fishing.
[00:38:46] Bass fishing.
[00:38:46] Don't worry, though.
[00:38:47] Yes, gymnastics.
[00:38:48] Baseball's been pretty good.
[00:38:49] Baseball's solid.
[00:38:50] Yeah.
[00:38:50] So anyway, let's continue the streak.
[00:38:52] I've got NC State making a little run into the 12-man playoff.
[00:38:58] Hank, give me a team that you think is going to be there.
[00:39:01] Maybe not the favorites like the Ohio State or the Georgia.
[00:39:05] I know who Michael's going to say.
[00:39:06] Roll Tide.
[00:39:06] Exactly.
[00:39:07] Is there another team that you might think can make some noise?
[00:39:10] Yeah, I think I am going to go with Oregon.
[00:39:14] Yes.
[00:39:14] Okay?
[00:39:15] I like, and that's before I could even pull my list up.
[00:39:18] I like Oregon.
[00:39:19] I think that there's no reason why that, and I think that they've, they had a couple of
[00:39:23] transfers in.
[00:39:24] Actually, the kid from around here, I think he went to Maiden, maybe.
[00:39:28] He was at Duke.
[00:39:29] I think he transferred.
[00:39:30] I might have been a wide receiver.
[00:39:31] He's a defensive back.
[00:39:32] But he's transferred out there.
[00:39:33] He's an Oregon duck now.
[00:39:35] That's true.
[00:39:36] And, you know, Oregon, and Texas too.
[00:39:40] I like Texas too.
[00:39:41] Those organizations should be able to handpick who they want.
[00:39:47] Every, all they should.
[00:39:47] But the type of money and facilities and backing and, you know, Nike and, you know, all that
[00:39:54] stuff, they should be able to pick it.
[00:39:55] And this year, I think Oregon is in a position that they're going to be right near there.
[00:40:00] Is Oregon in the Big Ten now, right?
[00:40:04] I'm thinking Oregon's in the Big Ten.
[00:40:05] So, USC and UCLA came over, and I thought Oregon.
[00:40:11] We're checking it out real quick.
[00:40:14] But anyway, while we're looking it up, so what are you thinking, Michael, besides, of course,
[00:40:18] your roll tide?
[00:40:19] Is there another team that can maybe make some noise, make a run in the playoffs, and bring
[00:40:24] the trophy home this year?
[00:40:25] Yeah, Alabama has so many uncertainties.
[00:40:27] You know, roll tide, hopefully things go well.
[00:40:31] A lot of uncertainty known.
[00:40:34] Ole Miss is kind of like, are they finally going to get it together there?
[00:40:39] Everybody's been talking them up, for sure.
[00:40:41] Lane Kiffin is Lane, and he's always going to step on his hot dog at some point along the
[00:40:45] way.
[00:40:46] But, you know, is Ole Miss going to do it?
[00:40:49] You know, I mean, I see other people like Notre Dame and Penn State and Michigan.
[00:40:52] And, hey, how about Florida State, guys?
[00:40:55] How about them in the ACC?
[00:40:56] That's the start.
[00:40:57] That's the NC State could run wild on the ACC, if that's the case.
[00:41:01] Yeah, our producer just said Oregon is in the Big Ten.
[00:41:04] So a lot of reconstruction of the conferences that we've known forever, like the SEC.
[00:41:08] Yeah, Texas and Oklahoma.
[00:41:09] They get Texas and Oklahoma this year.
[00:41:10] Can you imagine that?
[00:41:11] Yeah, seeing how that kind of shakes out would be interesting.
[00:41:13] I think, I hope that Texas is in for a rude awakening.
[00:41:17] They could be a dark horse, or they could get stomped.
[00:41:22] Right.
[00:41:23] And, in my opinion, they have never faced an SEC schedule.
[00:41:28] All the weekend.
[00:41:29] You know what I'm saying?
[00:41:30] It's going to be an awakening for them.
[00:41:32] They've got the talent to do it, but they're just not accustomed to doing it.
[00:41:35] So let's see how that goes.
[00:41:36] Now, to go one layer deeper in this, we all know people that are rabid fans of different
[00:41:43] teams.
[00:41:44] I mean, I know that you're a very passionate Alabama fan.
[00:41:46] I know that you love NC State.
[00:41:48] Is there a fan base that you would love to see lose?
[00:41:52] It's just, it's just has, I know, and I know where you're going with this.
[00:41:56] Oh, yeah.
[00:41:56] You think you do.
[00:41:57] You just, you just cannot stand watching these people have success.
[00:42:03] Yeah.
[00:42:03] Who are those people?
[00:42:04] Tennessee.
[00:42:05] Oh, yeah.
[00:42:06] Tennessee, for sure.
[00:42:07] Yes.
[00:42:08] That garbage truck dumpster driving orange factory of I don't know what.
[00:42:14] Wowee.
[00:42:14] Nothing better than the Vols going down.
[00:42:17] Well, they represent, we have three people that listen to our podcast that are Tennessee
[00:42:21] fans, so you've just alienated 60% of our listeners.
[00:42:25] I thought he was going to go with Auburn or Georgia.
[00:42:28] I was thinking Georgia.
[00:42:29] Well, Georgia's gotten to be a recent thing.
[00:42:32] Auburn is always just like little sister down the road and you feel sorry for her sometimes.
[00:42:37] And then Tennessee is just like, those people aren't right.
[00:42:41] Yeah.
[00:42:41] How about you?
[00:42:42] Well, you know, I can't root for Carolina.
[00:42:45] You know, that's just kind of where it is.
[00:42:47] I'm not really sure.
[00:42:49] I'm actually kind of rooting against Georgia this year.
[00:42:51] I mean, they've had just so much success.
[00:42:55] And, you know, Alabama, to me, kind of Georgia's taking over their spot, Michael.
[00:43:00] I know you'd hate to hear that, but they really haven't.
[00:43:02] So I'd like to see them get knocked down a little bit this year.
[00:43:05] Yeah.
[00:43:05] How about you?
[00:43:06] So, you know, I went to Elon, not big football.
[00:43:09] So, you know, I didn't sit in that same seat where every weekend I was rooting against somebody
[00:43:12] for people.
[00:43:13] But I do have friends that go to school, these schools, that have driven me crazy.
[00:43:19] One being your alma mater.
[00:43:22] There's no worse fan base when it comes to – and I'm talking to – like I'm a Carolina basketball fan.
[00:43:27] Yeah.
[00:43:27] But you guys get a little bit rabid when it comes to ACC, right?
[00:43:31] But then the other is Tennessee, baby.
[00:43:33] I love to see them.
[00:43:35] You know the thing that I hate about that is like you would be – it would be in the 90s
[00:43:39] when they were winning – you know, they were winning national championships and they were playing very good.
[00:43:44] And they would lose to – I have a very good friend that would go – they would play Florida
[00:43:48] in the fourth week of the season.
[00:43:53] And they would lose.
[00:43:54] It would be a competitive game and they'd go, oh, season's over.
[00:43:57] Season's over.
[00:43:57] Season's over.
[00:43:58] And Florida would end up winning the national championship.
[00:44:00] And I'd be like, you are such a terrible fan to think that it's over.
[00:44:05] Nothing but a national championship.
[00:44:07] But I know – I mean, Alabama sometimes falls in that same –
[00:44:10] I've probably fallen in the, oh, well, the season's over boat a few times.
[00:44:13] Yes.
[00:44:14] But, you know, I don't know.
[00:44:15] I guess there's been a loss here and there.
[00:44:17] But, you know, it's all good.
[00:44:18] It's good.
[00:44:19] So let's rank them.
[00:44:20] They'll play again another week.
[00:44:21] So if you have a regular season high school game, a college game, or an NFL game that you have a ticket to,
[00:44:26] what would you rank them the one you would want to go to the most?
[00:44:29] Like, do you want to be at a college game, at a high school game, an NFL game?
[00:44:33] Michael, we'll start with you.
[00:44:34] Just rank them from least to best.
[00:44:37] Oh, I would prefer number one a college game.
[00:44:40] Yes.
[00:44:41] Number two high school and I guess the NFL.
[00:44:44] I'm the same way.
[00:44:45] Do you feel the same way?
[00:44:45] I'd do high school first.
[00:44:47] Oh, high school in front of college.
[00:44:48] Yeah, just because I didn't grow – you know, I wasn't in college going to these college games
[00:44:52] and have that same passion behind it.
[00:44:55] But, I mean, I do feel like the atmosphere that Hickory High provided last year
[00:44:59] and then going down to Chapel Hill and watching those – and knowing those kids
[00:45:02] and seeing them at homers and watching them walk into the grocery store and talking to them,
[00:45:06] I feel like that, for me, was something special.
[00:45:09] Then I'd go to college and then NFL.
[00:45:11] Sure.
[00:45:11] NFL is kind of way down the list to go see it live because I'd rather be on the couch watching Red Zone,
[00:45:18] watching all the games.
[00:45:19] Plus, college has this spirit.
[00:45:22] You know what I'm saying?
[00:45:23] Just like the high school football has this spirit.
[00:45:26] The band's playing.
[00:45:28] It's Saturday.
[00:45:29] The leaves are turning.
[00:45:30] You can smell the grill.
[00:45:32] All that stuff.
[00:45:32] NFL, I just think it's all about business.
[00:45:35] It is.
[00:45:35] You know what I mean?
[00:45:36] The college is getting there too.
[00:45:37] That's fair.
[00:45:38] I mean, that's the only problem that I have with the college thing.
[00:45:40] It's like you have these kids demanding money,
[00:45:42] and it's getting to the point where they're no longer going to be high-fiving fans.
[00:45:46] They're going to –
[00:45:48] Signing for bucks.
[00:45:49] Yeah.
[00:45:50] Yeah.
[00:45:51] Unfortunately, you're right.
[00:45:52] And so, last football question.
[00:45:54] Michael, start with you.
[00:45:56] NFL season starts September 7th.
[00:45:58] Give me a Super Bowl champ, and we'll come back and revisit this once the year is over.
[00:46:02] Who do you think is going to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?
[00:46:06] Oh, my gosh.
[00:46:08] It's tough.
[00:46:08] I know.
[00:46:08] Just give it a whirl.
[00:46:14] The Buffalo Bills.
[00:46:16] Okay.
[00:46:16] Yeah.
[00:46:17] Fair enough.
[00:46:18] They've been –
[00:46:18] That's probably a terrible pick.
[00:46:19] No, they've been knocking at the door.
[00:46:21] You know, Josh Allen's ready to take that next step.
[00:46:24] They've got Stephon Diggs out of the building now, replaced him with Keon Coleman,
[00:46:28] who's a Florida State Seminole, who everybody loves.
[00:46:31] So, let's see how they do.
[00:46:32] Not bad of a pick.
[00:46:33] Hank, who are we thinking?
[00:46:34] I'm going to go with Green Bay.
[00:46:36] Wow.
[00:46:37] Love it.
[00:46:37] A lot of people are jumping on that bandwagon.
[00:46:39] I think that they have – I mean, you know, everybody says it's the beginning of the year.
[00:46:43] They've got a lot of weapons.
[00:46:44] They've got a young quarterback.
[00:46:45] Yes.
[00:46:45] You know, I think they're going to be exciting to watch because they've got all those weapons.
[00:46:49] So, you know, if they can figure it out, I'll go with them.
[00:46:53] Yeah.
[00:46:53] And I've been thinking about it for a while.
[00:46:55] I'm going with your Carolina Panthers.
[00:46:59] Oh, get out of here.
[00:47:01] I'm just kidding.
[00:47:01] Let's go San Francisco 49ers.
[00:47:03] I feel like it's their time.
[00:47:04] But mark my word, Carolina Panthers will have a better year than last year.
[00:47:08] It can't be worse.
[00:47:08] That's what I was going to say.
[00:47:09] I know.
[00:47:11] But I'm predicting them because Vegas has them at four and a half wins.
[00:47:15] I'm giving them five.
[00:47:17] I'm giving them five.
[00:47:18] So, over the total wins.
[00:47:21] Put your money on Carolina Panthers this year.
[00:47:24] They won't be the last place team.
[00:47:25] I think the last place team will be New England.
[00:47:27] Yeah, New England Patriots.
[00:47:29] Really?
[00:47:29] They're going to kind of suck this year, I believe.
[00:47:31] So, anyway.
[00:47:32] All right.
[00:47:32] You heard it here first.
[00:47:33] Put your money on Buffalo, Green Bay.
[00:47:34] And the Panthers.
[00:47:35] And the Panthers, right?
[00:47:36] Lock and load.
[00:47:37] All right.
[00:47:38] So, before we get out of here today, first day of school started for our kids within
[00:47:41] the last week.
[00:47:42] My oldest daughter, Olivia, we got her back in Columbia a couple weeks ago.
[00:47:46] She is just having a big old time, living in her own apartment with her friends.
[00:47:50] It's fabulous.
[00:47:51] Rihanna book.
[00:47:52] Rihanna.
[00:47:52] Got the Rihanna book.
[00:47:53] Rihanna book.
[00:47:54] And you saw the picture of it, Hank.
[00:47:55] How big is it?
[00:47:55] It's huge.
[00:47:56] It is massive.
[00:47:56] It is a massive book.
[00:47:58] Yes.
[00:47:58] And then Lucy Rose started high school, sophomore year, on Monday.
[00:48:02] So, everybody's moving right along.
[00:48:04] Hank, tell me about Harris' first day, ninth grade, Hickory High School.
[00:48:10] How exciting.
[00:48:11] Oh, it's very exciting.
[00:48:12] But, you know, we were talking about it a little bit earlier before we got on.
[00:48:14] And, you know, the fear isn't there anymore.
[00:48:18] You know, the fear is not being in your class, not finding your class or whatever.
[00:48:21] It's not that you're going to get a wedgie or get in a fight or something like that.
[00:48:24] Right?
[00:48:24] So, first day I was like, how was it?
[00:48:26] He was like, it was great.
[00:48:27] It was fun.
[00:48:28] It was good.
[00:48:29] You know, I got to see a bunch of buddies.
[00:48:31] And, you know, and in our town, it's kind of cool because you've got these two middle schools
[00:48:36] that come together.
[00:48:38] And so, these guys and girls that you don't see every day, you're now in class with.
[00:48:42] So, I think he's loving it.
[00:48:45] Got to sit in the student section at his first football game and had a grand time.
[00:48:49] And, you know, it's fun.
[00:48:51] Yes.
[00:48:51] Michael, everything go good with your first day of school?
[00:48:55] Yeah, it was.
[00:48:56] Mine's in seventh grade.
[00:48:57] So, he's in the sandwich there at Northview Middle School.
[00:49:00] So, he's been there a year, but he's still not the top dogs.
[00:49:03] Sure.
[00:49:03] He was not in the same class with any of his homies.
[00:49:08] Right.
[00:49:08] You know, I think he's got one class and then maybe in the homeroom.
[00:49:11] And, you don't even get to sit with them at lunch.
[00:49:13] Right.
[00:49:13] So, you know, he's kind of bummed about that, I think.
[00:49:16] But, he also will get a chance to meet new friends.
[00:49:19] Absolutely.
[00:49:19] You know, and he's taking the art class.
[00:49:21] They've got a couple of new teachers.
[00:49:22] And, I think he likes a couple of those teachers as well.
[00:49:24] So, it's off to a smooth start.
[00:49:26] We put him on the cheese 20 minutes earlier than we used to.
[00:49:29] So, that's the biggest adjustment.
[00:49:32] Yes.
[00:49:32] And, beat it out there at 710.
[00:49:33] Oh, yes.
[00:49:34] Instead of 730.
[00:49:35] On the cheese.
[00:49:36] On the cheese.
[00:49:37] I love that.
[00:49:38] That's right.
[00:49:38] Yeah.
[00:49:39] There's things built and developed on the cheese.
[00:49:42] Yes, absolutely.
[00:49:42] You don't get anywhere.
[00:49:43] No doubt about it.
[00:49:44] So, anyway, we've got Labor Day in front of us.
[00:49:48] Get a day off on Monday.
[00:49:50] Thank you very much.
[00:49:50] Looking forward to that.
[00:49:51] So, any big plans?
[00:49:53] Typically, in Hickory, it's kind of like a big football weekend regardless.
[00:49:57] But, I think there might be a band or two playing in Hickory.
[00:50:00] There is going to...
[00:50:02] Does LR have any...
[00:50:03] What does LR have?
[00:50:04] I don't think they have anything this week.
[00:50:05] Hickory plays.
[00:50:06] Hickory plays.
[00:50:07] That's right.
[00:50:07] Friday night.
[00:50:08] Right.
[00:50:08] Yes.
[00:50:09] And then, usually this weekend, if you're in town, there's a good lake presence.
[00:50:16] Always up people on the lake.
[00:50:17] Yes.
[00:50:17] Good lake presence.
[00:50:17] Yeah.
[00:50:18] And so, I think that that's probably what we'll do.
[00:50:21] Yes.
[00:50:21] You know, baseball season, fall baseball season kind of kicks off the next weekend.
[00:50:26] So, we're going to be in town.
[00:50:28] So, this is like your last hurrah before the baseball stuff kicks.
[00:50:31] Well, you know, I mean, it'll...
[00:50:32] It's shorter than the summer stuff.
[00:50:35] But, yeah, we kind of...
[00:50:36] His team does it kind of fast and furious.
[00:50:38] They do, you know, kind of like back, back, back, back, and then we'll be done.
[00:50:41] But this weekend, we'll be at home.
[00:50:43] Yeah.
[00:50:43] Michael, any Labor Day plans for you?
[00:50:45] Nothing out of the ordinary.
[00:50:47] Gardening, sort of the end of the season at the garden and probably at the Y pool.
[00:50:52] One time, one last hurrah at the pool is always good.
[00:50:55] Yes.
[00:50:56] Got to smoke some meat low and slow at some point.
[00:50:58] Because you'll have the football games on in the background, baby.
[00:51:01] So, yes.
[00:51:01] So, thank you to all our big fan listeners.
[00:51:04] Thank you to Michael Willard for joining us today.
[00:51:06] Hank, thank you for gracing us with your presence.
[00:51:08] You have a big, big tennis match tonight, literally in two hours.
[00:51:13] I'm ready for it.
[00:51:14] I know you were.
[00:51:15] You look ready.
[00:51:15] I mean, like, listen, they knew some...
[00:51:16] We had to win.
[00:51:18] So, they put out the best lineup.
[00:51:19] Are you going to play tonight?
[00:51:21] I'm going out of town.
[00:51:23] Exactly.
[00:51:23] Exactly.
[00:51:24] Exactly.
[00:51:26] So, are you going to come up and watch?
[00:51:28] No, I'm taking Lucy Rose to dance tonight.
[00:51:30] But remember, this is the path to states.
[00:51:34] States.
[00:51:34] This is where it starts right now.
[00:51:36] Opening weekend, tennis.
[00:51:37] This, we start here with the win.
[00:51:41] We carry through the rest of the season.
[00:51:42] Okay.
[00:51:43] Undefeated.
[00:51:43] And we go to states.
[00:51:45] Okay.
[00:51:45] Let's do it.
[00:51:46] Fair enough.
[00:51:46] I feel good tonight.
[00:51:47] Yes.
[00:51:47] Good luck to you, Hank.
[00:51:48] And thank you again to our big fan listeners.
[00:51:50] Thank you to our wonderful producer, Andrew Moose.
[00:51:52] And thank you to The Mesh for putting Big Fan on.
[00:51:55] And we're hitting all kinds of airwaves.
[00:51:57] Tons of downloads last podcast.
[00:52:00] Tons.
[00:52:01] Anyway, we'll check you guys out in two weeks.
[00:52:04] Peace.
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