Former ECU football coach Ruffin McNeill

Financial capital financial.

This is the gold shell motion line down. This is the Adam goal gel for the first time in 2022 Carolina Panthers are going to be playing at Bank of America Stadium with the deponent on the other side. It's the first game. By the way, I'm obviously not Adam gold. I'm merely Josh Graham just a kid from Youngsville, North Carolina, who attended East Carolina University now mostly hoe shows in the triad corner of the universe. WSJ S happy to be here again, things are about to get busy, Bank of America Stadium blame the chili peppers right now. Dennis Cox yeah back to the producer of the show there going to be at Bank of America Stadium next Wednesday night next Wednesday or Thursday six events over the next 16 days at the bank. 12 over the next 44 Agee Eagle, classic that's going to be at Bank of America's that I am not want this Saturday but next Saturday. I can't think of a better opening weekend in the history of this state than North Carolina going up the mountain for the first time to play at state at the same exact time East Carolina the Pirates in Greenville America. Welcome the top 15 and see stating and you get Agee Eagle in Charlotte are top that's unbelievable.

I don't know which of those going to be the best environment. Out of the three. Speaking of NC State East Carolina Ruffin McNeil whose VCU alum former ECU head coach now a special assistant to Dave Doran NC State he's been enjoying the show and about 1/2 hour I get that. We've already had preseason football and that it's week two of high school football. The night but today really feels like the first football Friday of 2022 with Zeke, week, week zero kicking off tomorrow North Carolina and Florida A&M so with gridiron, top of mind it's all football out of the gate the day. As I mentioned tonight is the Carolina Panthers dress rehearsal. Side note, did you ever do a school play. Once upon a time dress rehearsals. Yeah, what a theater production within a few years ago. So yeah, I know all about real dressers with theater production, have you been in recent years Tony and Tina's wedding get into more later. I'd like to do that. My only theater experience was at Franklin Academy high school in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where I was this loud loud kid shocker talked a lot and in an effort to get me to shut up. We had like a detective play and they created like a sidekick to the main detective and it was a playoff TJ who Sherman's auto. They called him detective Sherman's auto and I had no lines.

The entire play nice. I was in every scene but I had no lines. It didn't seem like that was a coincidence, we will see the starters for one quarter tonight one quarter and there going up against the bills second teamer. The bills are not playing any starters this is what I want to see Baker Mayfield leave the touchdown drive yet one drive against Washington. Only one negative play mishandled snap backwards kicked a field goal.inside the 20 yard line, you're going up against the bills to use your playing. Probably one or two drives we get into the end zone.

I'll tell you what I don't want to see Krista McCaffery not of it. I don't need to see anything from him nothing do not want that guy to play. There's no reason for it whatsoever. 7 o'clock kick Panthers bills tonight. I was about to say let's get spicy around here cube enough if you buck if you've got it because practice fight are being talked about again the Aaron Donald helmet swing is the flock of the NFL.

There is no scarier dude in the league. There is nobody I would want.

Swing and a helmet at meal place last lease is Carolina education. Then Aaron Donald right scary. There was John McVeigh on what exactly happened here so I know how you bring your hand you guys a chance to be okay, that was really just what you follow-up question. What stupid things did you do as a meathead, John McVeigh doesn't really strike me as a meathead type you'd be shocked. There's my question. How did nobody see this coming about, we get the two teams that played in the Super Bowl and get them together. I'm sure there are any bad feelings. I'm sure everybody's cool with each other now playing in the most important game in the Western Hemisphere about six months ago. I'm sure everybody's going to stay cool now, he's not going to be suspended. That's not going to happen. This is not like Miles Garrett because it didn't happen again and the NFL has rules that they stay out of it when it comes to joint practices. Should that change, maybe we could talk about that later, but do not expect the league to step in and punish Aaron Donald for swinging his helmet around all why it is week zero Eve for North Carolina Kenan Stadium 815 kick 120 mL network that Carolinas can win this game by a million times this game getting in 1230 at night. Yeah, that's one thing on Sunday. You're not that guy though that says 1230 is actually Sunday morning.

Are you that guy down but still Saturday night.

I can be viewed only as far as I'm concerned, I'm to be there tomorrow night through what's to be a blow out the golden rule in coaching is respect your opponent. Do not look ahead. So if you're a coach or player is been told this your entire life.

I want you to do Vince Vaughn and old-school for a second year mouse for for a minute that does not apply here at state needs to be top of mind for North Carolina in this game tomorrow. Yes, look ahead yes have that state of mind. You don't need to completely respect your opponent fan you because we got 60 scholarship players you're paying them to beat them by a ton, and you should be able to do that. The reason you're playing in week zero is because you don't want a repeat of what happened last year where you went into a hornets nest. The first game of the year on the road and you are prepared for now. Prior to going to Boone you are at home and you're gonna win by a ton, so don't show a lot to get that state coaches in advance of an advantage in scouting, you and how about you play under the Chessmaster have some deep balls scripted and therefore Drake may set at state coaches at the parent scalper that and perhaps not load up the box for that week one game when appellees North Carolina so there is real chess match the fear at hand, North Carolina, even though at states not on the field tomorrow night last night and preseason, it became clear to me that Trey Lance is the quarterback Green Bay hope Jordan love would be both an action last night just in separate games. Both teams traded up for their quarterback in the first round, but only one teams moved on from the incumbent peak current guy they had in favor of looking to the future.

San Francisco still is Jimmy D on the roster, but Trey Lance is going to be the guy Green Bay begged and pleaded for Aaron Rodgers to stick around after back to back MVP seasons loves to bust if he wasn't. The Packers would've moved on from now. By now, excuse me, and gotten a huge hole in exchange for Aaron Rodgers to help equip Jordan love with all that they got don't draft the quarterback in the first round. If you don't have an intent on him to play in the first three years, so they know what they got, and it's not good when you watch Jordan love play. You can see that he's just not it yet another interception last night. Some of this is coaching to Kyle Shanahan gets the most out of people get the most out of Jimmy to get the most out of Trey Lance.

That's great coaching. Do we know about that when it comes to Matt Lafleur/intake Aaron Rogers to the Super Bowl strike to NDP seasons last couple years didn't win a playoff game last you're losing to San Francisco so I think the real concerns that you have about Lafleur.

Obviously real concerns that you have about Jordan. Love and San Francisco to me is an incredibly compelling team in 2022 circling back to the Panthers.

As I mentioned first preseason game of 2022. First of 2022. The last time the Carolina Panthers were at home was the day after Christmas lost the Tampa Bay by a ton in the fire. Matt ruled chance of rain through Bank of America Stadium. Here is my question to you Dennis Cox document more Panthers fans of the Stadium the night were Buffalo Bills fans, bills, Mafia one shock me if it's 50-50. They travel man wall that loses a lot of upstate New York transplants that live down here in North Carolina. I remember I went to training camp in Spartanburg. When the bills and pampers the joint practices a few years back five years ago and I was stunned.

There were twice as many bills fans there than there were Carolina Panthers fans, so they're not to be deterred by the fact Josh Allen's not playing in their art starters out there to be jumping through tables preferably better on fire.

Yes, of course, and they're going to pack out that Stadium.

I don't think it's unrealistic what you're talking about their 50-50 bills, Panthers fans because it doesn't seem like to me. There is a lot of energy among Panther fans getting excited about this team adding Baker Mayfield helps. There's no doubt but there isn't a great buzz surrounding Carolina and I think that's a shame because I'm bullish on Carolina being better than they were in the last two years and I don't think the NSC is that strong 89 wins could be enough to make the playoffs in the NSC this year. I think Carolinas in that mix.

I really do is about time for the NFL to tighten up joint practices. The Aaron Donald incident might be the final straw, but we saw when the Panthers and patriots got together last week, then we everywhere there's a joint practices joint practice breaking out there's a fight breaking out to the knock at the box. After all, and the reason that is I think at the core guys are not fearful that they're going to be punished for mixing it up in a joint practice. The way that you would and again I think there's some truth to that. I think they know that it would be up to the teams the punisher got an Rams are going to punish their best player in Aaron Donald and suspended the NFL says that they're gonna leave that to the teams.

How much does that change moving forward as the lead roles back more on preseason games in favor of more and more joint practices players and coaches love joint practices more coaches love having guys in certain situations and being able to run to minute as much as they want to have about do some individual work and you get more out of the guys you get more information on what you actually have versus running vanilla formations and preseason games because you don't want to show future opponents anything and you don't learn much about guys because that's not what the games are some of the games look like in the regular-season coaches love those situations. Players love how controlled it is, there are fewer injuries there out there so if there's more emphasis on joint practices moving forward and preseason games. The NFL I think needs to step in here because I think that is the future.

That is where were headed. You just gotta manage it. You gotta have more restrictions on what players can and cannot do.

It's not just Carolina playing in week zero. Here are three other games that could be decent Dennis Cox. There are some bad games on the board games that you should pay attention. Probably most of them if I'm being honest were starting with Will Healy Charlotte 49ers there playing FAU quick trivia question. You know who coaches FAU plaintiff Willie Taggart is a really Willie Taggart Willie Taggart's there was that the cozy Perry still playing quarterback over there former Miami cutie and Charlotte has this Reynolds kid is going into its sixth year in college to see a lot of that skill for the next couple years because the coven season will be a really good game and competitive the last few years between these two CBS sports network at 7 o'clock tomorrow.

You got a conference game in Ireland, Nebraska, Northwestern 1230 on Fox. I expect that to be a slugfest that the chilled steam is two years removed from being in the Big Ten title game. They were not good.

Last year I think the be strong defensively.

Scott Ross is on an incredibly hot seat in Lincoln needs to win this year in order to meet expectations. Can't really afford to lose your opener against Northwestern. So that's a conference game states attached to it and then get someone to do it. Vanderbilt, Hawaii 1030 kick CBS sports. You know you know why playing the late-night game a week zero dollars every year guarantee you it will be a one possession game at 1 o'clock in the morning right when I'm getting back into my house in Winston-Salem from the Carolina game tomorrow night. That's gonna last a million years I will be watching the end of a Vanderbilt high Hawaii game that's close at 1 o'clock in the morning. Last thing real quick. It was that debut of Amazon's Thursday night football telecast.

Yeah, and I loved it is very better tandem in the NFL right now. Then Al Michaels and Kirk Street, part of top my wife every time she hears her Kirk Street name.

She has the tendency to say out loud in my present program Street on the wife Street everything without now every time I say is, damn that's all I can think of Kirk Street's recording of the program Street. Yeah, I think it might be as good as you get and Kaylee Hartung who's been in news and been in storage. She's on the sideline. I didn't know that were doing MBA style quarter. In interviews in the NFL now yeah were doing that which coach do you think's going to be the worst. All Bella Jack Doug Webb is best as you are getting in the third. It's he's losing by two touchdowns. Bill what needs to happen in the four well it's going to be just gotta talk more. Do your job. Can't wait can't wait, that's excited. Ryan Fitzpatrick really good studio analyst.

I enjoy them, and Richard Sherman. You knew that was good to be good to be Carissa Thompson. We already know that very assessable, you could find advanced stats and it is a nerds delight.

I'm sure there are a lot of people upset where's the television to see a lot of that, of course, but I was pleased with the Amazon prime Thursday night broadcast debut that they had last night. Texans, 49ers okay in 10 minutes, rubbing McNeil's going to join the show. It will be his first game back at East Carolina since he was fired he was inducted into the East Carolina sports Hall of Fame last year he was back for a Friday night ceremony, but then left early Saturday to rejoin the Wolfpack at Florida State. Why did rejoin the Wolfpack because the last few years he's been special assistant to Dave Doran with NC State. So when NC State goes to East Carolina next week it's going to be his first game back in the first time rough at any stop has ever competed against ECU. He was a player. Therefore Pat died in the 70s yes… I will coach Bo Jackson and returned as a coach or he hired some guy named Lincoln Riley to be the youngest offense of coordinator in college football. Then after he was done agreeable Lincoln brought in the Oklahoma, where he helped coach. Some dude named Baker Mayfield and then Kyla Murray and Jaelyn hurt so is a really interesting guy. This is something I'm not gonna bring up the Roscoe I like the Pirates next weekend. All off-season I've had this tingle.

It's been telling me you see a doctor. East Carolina has a shot here. I'm ready to go there.

I think he's Carolyn's can win this game out right okay there a lot of people state dancing there scared of this game. There are some media said you better watch out upset alert him to go ahead and say it.

I think the Pirates win this game and I got a handful of reasons for stock to a state band this morning telling the teacher not listening to the show around 1215 1220 why you have a target one. What is that okay yet. I was with you yesterday.I I think ECUs can win this game and I'll tell you why it reminds me a lot of Carolina last year were you lose your top receiver, you lose your top two running backs you lose a top 10 ticket left tackle, and it reminded me of a conversation I had with Matt right before the game in Virginia Tech a year ago I asked are you at the point yet, as a program that you can afford to lose multiple draft accident not hurt you. He told me the only team in the ACC that is built that way is Clemson yeah so there's some real questions there on offense and then the first time to step on the field with all these expectations be in the top 15 team you're stepping into a bleeping hornets nest like Blacksburg like Greenville America is going to be. I don't like using the expression Super Bowl, but let's be honest about that's what this is for ECU. It would make their season, it would justify the first few years for Mike Houston and we know squarely things happen when state goes to that building. I was there in 2016 when NC stating that should be the national champion Clemson Tigers in death Valley lost to Scotty Montgomery, the guy who only beat UConn Carolina NC State and FCS schools in three years. Weird things happen in this East Carolina team is the best pirate team they've had since rough was there. They did something they do something that Rothstein never did Lincoln play defense and they run the ball and you got hold mailers back for 1/5 or sixth year, so it has all the makings cylinders can go ahead. I've got East Carolina beating NC State out right eight days from now. I don't know what that line is I think it's 10 10 1/2 guarantee you are placing our bets next hour.

Yeah that's something that you be there for Galasso's 11 point spread.

Yeah, I hope this doesn't hurt your feelings. I hope this doesn't come between her rhyme. Yes okay Joe Julio is good to be on later in the roundtable. Steve and I go from which the colors in.

He's been given the grief is been saying Josh you are the one. Gotta pick pit last year.

Josh you are right about Georgia. What you got for me now is think these Carolina is good to be that the state what counted IT.

Do you believe that yes I write and say okay now it said it.

I can't wait to see your twitter feed, I don't have it up right now I'm on twitter at Josh Graham radio you're just in these Carolina guy oh your home or all you're just trying to stir it up, make radio you're trying to do Josh Graham but I am conflicted because while East Carolina is my alma mater and their play next week and gets the pack.

I can't help but root for Roth and McNeil. He is the friendliest and perhaps most well-traveled coach in the state of North Carolina and rough is now it NC State is going to be our guest. Next on the culture supposed to have a rooting interest in this business for teams. I don't really feel emotionally invested anymore except I guess for my bottom Orioles made hurricanes, but I can't help rooting for people to and there are few people I root for more than our guest now it is rough and McNeil former East Carolina head coach ECU alum now special assistant for Dave Doran at NC State. Heading into his third year coach.

Be honest with me. Do you expect there are going to be any tears when you return to Greenville America 80 days of those earlier that I don't know what emotions I will feel. I'm sure there will be to deal with never been in my entire career for the years 20 team play that goes so it would be a sure emotional, but you're right competition. I'm sure very quickly, but member experiences I'm looking for first time goes, here's what I know about you getting to know you the last dozen years or so. You are an emotional guy you wear your emotions on your sleeve but also your coach coaches are control freaks you would love to control everything to prepare for everything. So how do you even prepare for what you might be able to feel what you might feel when you see the purple smoke and Hendrix playing and you're not the one running through that smoke. And I'm sure that they would be rated golf and receive in and get ready for the game to start so again I'm not sure response never will.

I'm sure quickly will both dreams and no fan bases that we get right will be ready for the gaming right.right into the competition. McNeil is with us here. I know you hate making it about you. So I'll get to your team in just a bit, but I wanted to ask one more thing, because I'll never forget the first time we spoke after your coaching tenure in Greenville ended and there were wounds there you are emotional and it's easy you know it it's easily the most wounded I've ever heard you are some of those wounds still there is no experience as a chance to experience their experiences know is my third school of work vessel are spiritually learning and great works of Brockman and all their already close what I learned so much. Working with staff.

Those go. Their diverse Virginia and then working you just what Lincoln Oklahoma yet again a different capacity, but it was the staff at Walmart stand here at Easter on it that time I've ever before experienced a big part of an hour now here work for Dave Doran here in Ohio State so different experiences been so into you know is the and mixed phase or makes a level that you go to when you were in Oklahoma in consecutive years. He had Baker Mayfield Tyler Murray and Jaelyn Herz. Now you got another top 15 team at NC State and a quarterback. Everybody's really excited about and Devon Leary does Devon remind you it all. Is there a common thread between some of these great quarterbacks does he remind Woodall some of the guys you dealt with before you knows about that part. But leadership and pores that have been practicing the leadership practice with the office of unit but also with hurricane when they Devon speaks just like windbreakers, poker, spoke with what about dollars required. And Devon is limited to street and charging the entire bill is so notability between those all three were at top level dissimilarities would be leadership ability and poise. McNeil with us here on the atom gold shell Josh Graham filling in for him since the Carolina Panthers are starting Baker Mayfield now I've got to ask. I know you love former walk-on's girls work award trophy when my favorite trophies that are handed out each year. Justin Hardy, who led college football and receptions. He wanted the best walk-on stories we seen in the last decade, and Baker Mayfield going from being the walk-on twice to be in the Heisman Trophy winner. What's your favorite Baker Mayfield story that speaks to the type of guy. The Carolina Panthers are getting one linking the book trying to reach out to try to get them to that second hole one second I heard this as full floor Roth multiple times from Lincoln from other folks that there was a dance Baker Mayfield could play for the East Carolina Pirates.

How true we had roots down there and you know coaches measures were no braver chosen walk on the strand and then transferred Oklahoma and then walk around when I think you know the fact that he has that passion you know the story was is amazing because he left know that this would go with the homes and he goes to Oklahoma on his own. His mom drive up from Texas and he enrolls on his own coach to his dorm room and everything on his own and then what about and one norm have chance to travel team of the walk without any help without any legal help from a coach or nearby and then came in and the rest is history. You know this is five and you know a lot of ways to me what I think they are here things about him you know how chance to see him a different light and people sometimes talk about a mission's name is imperative to punish owners and not going along with him and practice was a challenge, but also note no milk once again we have a chance to win no matter, Marion, management Matt Matt ruled out very very well. I think Matt understood that God gives each other at home in Baylor understood that that fight bring to the table and then if you get a block form so from state that he was six draft version. Block form so I look for a great great year personally playful 8:45 first snap. I enjoyed watching it last week against the patriots was one of the school tosses like finding the alley Vince Lombardi pulse learning style and if you want to just putting somebody on the rollerskates and pushing them backwards, but coach, you said that there were some misconceptions about Baker. What's a misconception you here that bothers you when people talk about Baker not seen God fall falls and falls go none of them around. I got here is more about his teammates and teammates respect and I'm on the football football and team concept between concept my one of my ecosystem team first last of our and to hear that that's not true, as my and mounting. That's a miss concept of Baker cares about team he cared about bring a team and integrate policing and everything in his possible power to have the same with McNeil last thing for you. You been talking about Lincoln Riley.

You made the youngest offense of coordinator in college football at East Carolina a dozen years ago it was funny. I was talking to Trey Boston last week and Carolina safety now doing stuff with the ACC network was a panther and talking about the 2013 game were you guys put up 55 in Chapel Hill and he I said do you know the OC was back then he goes like it was Lincoln Riley and his head almost exploded. What Lincoln Riley was calling plays for East Carolina.

No wonder we gave upset and gave up 55 but the biggest reason college football. We left to go to USC. Every 15th in the country when last year they just not really that good of a football team. How quickly do you think Lincoln can make the Trojans a contender. It was no confidence and believe I have been not just with the coach on the field but the leader often feel and you know is a person that will galvanize not just routine but you will galvanize the whole entire first of all rooms able to transfer Porter now part of college football life is no hate or not hate. Not not use it, but is there that is perfectly possible. I know you have a great staff of some of the great staff out there with them so they Carol and it would not surprise me is not friendly when you have success there not one iota rust.

Thanks for putting up with me for all these years is always relevant.

McNeil, one of the best there is. Really appreciate your time and I'm betting tears -120 tears were McNeil next Saturday. Tomorrow's a significant day for Mack Brown just got his teens opening up the season to get spam you are something else. It's pretty significant will share with you next on the angle chill tomorrow night. Carolina is open the college football season against Florida A&M. It's week zero, but that's not the only reason. Tomorrow is significant for Mack Brown. Tomorrow is also Mack's 71st birthday. And here's why that significant. He will be the only 71-year-old coach and FPS college football at least had coaches Frank so Lynch for the longest was the oldest coach but he retired.

Not too long ago in Ohio so I believe as far as I can see Mack is the oldest coach and FPS college football.

He's got Sabin by a couple of months. Here he was on how he plans to celebrate the wonder that that you appreciate life more than you. You enjoy what you're doing more and you you you take your purpose. More seriously, I think because you you understand what you been through and you really want to help and give back and that's something that that being older does. And I've never been able to celebrate a birthday because it's always been during the start of season or football season so we won't be able to celebrate this letter. Sally said go to dinner, something I said no when we go to training to go to dinner. We don't have time please can you imagine that yeah I said again you know it's his birthday. He should be will to choose what he wants to do were going to training table they go to his birthday.

Do you know the story of how Matt and Sally got married. I think I may have heard it, but my need refresher also been inseparable since he got married they got married. He told me once during football season. I didn't think about that at all. It didn't really resonate with me at all that that would be weird so I didn't say anything at the time, but then the next time I talk to Mac. I said wait a minute. How does a football coach get married during football season. It was early September.

I think 91 so they been together over 30 years, Sally and Matt Brown of the married. Apparently the story goes that they didn't wanted to be a big deal I just wanted to get married so Mack went up to her right before the season started, let's get married.

Okay when they pick the date on the Calendar Way, Mack described it to me. I want to pick a week that were going to lose so Florida State will be bound in that week's out yeah because my alma mater. I think it was Maryland right before Marilyn game he thought were not second Marilyn apparently was a really good time. So the day before the game early morning. He leaves a meeting picks up Sally drives the Dylan South Carolina south of the border got themselves a marriage license. Mack said that he picked up Burger King on the way asked Sally if she wanted any. She did it and when they got married they turn behind them. So another couple doing the same thing.

Asked them if they could take their picture.

This is their wedding picture I took it apparently there finger was included in the photos photo when they were when I was develop rendered useless. Mack said he saw T-shirt in that room. I said I got hitched in Dylan. He regrets not getting one.

So we just showed up later that day and the entire office was surprised that Mac was serious when he said earlier in the day that he was going to get married before for parking right so I imagine the conversation was Mac. I was morning, I got married great people of the gynecology background. I remember the day he was hired, the immediate reaction was all the Olds in the Rams club just calling back to the 90s going to hire this guy is late 60s.

It's is not in the work he's been on television the last five years. This is not a good hire wrong about that and I think the recruiting shows that I don't think it's fair in college football today to eliminate people because of age. If you can be a president in your 70s you could be a college football coach last two US presidents have been in their 70s if you can do that you to be of the bucket and how many ACC coaches are more energetic, more lively than that brownish not a lot, but this is a fair question to ask. Now that he's 71 years old as of tomorrow, but is the oldest coach in college football. What is the plan after Mack decides to step away not saying that's eminent but he 71 next year two years three years who is in line if you had to guess the day Carolinas next coach because I don't think it's the coordinators.

I don't think it's Longo. I don't think it's Jean Jessica comes back yeah I think a really good guess if I had to guess right now probably dragline really good recruiter young. One of the best players to ever play their that would be a homerun in my opinion. Now, don't abrogate this… Leave me here. I don't want to bind that clip on YouTube. When Gottlieb said that Roy is going to rip higher after if they make it to the final four and Hubert to be the next coach you would be in the next coach he was wrong about the final four bit.

The two final fours after he said that and then sat around a few years after that.

This is not be reporting anything.

I think if I had to guess today who the next guy might be my guess would probably be gray-black probably make a lot of sense.

This is the gold shell