- 9 hours ago
The Heisman Trophy winner - Gino Torretta - praises the Hurricanes and Hoosiers for last night’s great National Championship game. His thoughts on Mendoza’s big plays, Carson Beck’s INT and more from the game.
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00:00Gino Toretta is on the Toyota of Hollywood hotline.
00:04The Heisman Trophy winner joins us weekly, courtesy of the local 519 Plumbers Union.
00:10In football and in life, it's about being on the right team.
00:14Join the winning team at local 519 Plumbers Union, a proven path to a strong career.
00:20Visit plumbers519.com.
00:24So I said at the beginning of the show, and I'm imagining you could speak to this,
00:28as a quarterback, last night is what you dream of, right?
00:32One drive, a minute and a half on the clock, you score a touchdown,
00:38you win a national championship.
00:39If you don't, you go home, and that's the scenario that you envision in your head, right?
00:48When you're a kid, whether it's a basketball player, it's for that moment,
00:53and it was there for them, Gino.
00:55Yeah, it's what you play pickup when you're playing on the street.
00:58You know what I mean?
00:59When you're playing with your boys, it's like go down two cars, and that's the touchdown,
01:02and we got to get it past there at a certain point in time.
01:07And, yeah, we obviously had a chance.
01:11And, you know, it was a great game.
01:13Kind of obviously not a great first half for Miami,
01:17and then the second half was just gangbusters.
01:21I thought both teams played great.
01:22It was kind of a heavyweight bout.
01:25They swung and hit us, and we swung and hit them.
01:29And, yeah, it was an impressive performance.
01:33But as a quarterback, yeah, it's like you envision, all right, last drive,
01:36I got less than two minutes, and I won a Super Bowl.
01:39I won a state championship in high school.
01:41I won a national championship in college.
01:42And we had a chance.
01:46We had a chance.
01:47And, Gino, I actually saw it on a text line with the people talking about the
01:51coaching or being outcoached.
01:53To your point, like we destroyed them.
01:56I'm still saying we, Gino.
01:57But we outcoached them in the third quarter.
02:00First half, I think Heatherman did a crazy job coming out with those edge
02:03blitzes where Mendoza didn't know where the pressure was coming from.
02:07He was handicapped because Xavier Lucas was out, so he had to play off.
02:10He didn't feel comfortable playing, man, you know, chest-to-chest, man-to-man.
02:14But he adjusted to that, and then Shannon Dawson came out with that little cute
02:18pass package, and it didn't work, and then he got away from it.
02:22Like, I don't think there's any question, there's any reason to question Mario
02:27and his staff after this game.
02:29No, there's no question.
02:30I was just impressed.
02:32I mean, listen, we've talked about the offensive line all year.
02:35We talked about, you know, Bain and Mesidor and those guys coming up big.
02:38I mean, their defensive line, I don't know.
02:42I'm sitting there watching.
02:43I'm like, it didn't seem like they came near Beck.
02:46I mean, it was like, man, they were dominating the line of scrimmage.
02:50I thought early on, and Channing, I don't know if you noticed, we took some risks
02:56because they took some shots at Mendoza, like on RPO fakes,
03:00where he wasn't nowhere near the ball.
03:02And I'm like, damn, they didn't call that.
03:06I mean, I'd have been, you know, as well as I do, Tom Brady would have been crying
03:09for a flag saying, hey, dude, I'm the Heisman Trophy winner.
03:13You know, throw a flag on that.
03:15And they didn't.
03:16And I thought they got to him.
03:19They rattled him out.
03:19It wasn't even in passing situations in there, and they were hitting him.
03:23I thought the wind was a little bit much where we missed that field goal on that side
03:29because he was just fractionally off.
03:31For a guy that's been that accurate as he's been all season in the two playoffs games,
03:35when he was going that way where we missed the field goal in that direction,
03:39I thought the ball was just a hair off, maybe not – didn't have kind of the velocity
03:44that I had seen all season.
03:46And that I thought the wind messed with both quarterbacks.
03:50And Malachi, Tony, I just – they can't tackle the dude.
03:55I just – you know what I mean?
03:56You just – you watch the kid, and it's just like, I don't know if he's got, like,
04:01the 360 vision like our backup cameras have on our cars.
04:06But homeboy would be running to the right, and it would be, like, two moves ahead,
04:10and he cuts to the left.
04:11I'm like, how did he see these people?
04:13And then it's like, guys look like they've got free shots on them.
04:16It reminds me of, like, Barry Sanders, and they can't take him down.
04:20He's just – he's amazing.
04:22And I thought they all played great.
04:25I just thought it was what a championship game is supposed to be.
04:30I think that both teams took their best shot, and we took some hits.
04:35They took some hits.
04:36And, you know, I thought, man, the team that's got it last is going to win the game,
04:40and we had it last, just couldn't finish that last drive.
04:44Were you impressed with Mendoza yesterday?
04:46I know it's hard not to be impressed watching him.
04:49He won the Heisman, so you already have a high expectation for him.
04:52He's played better since winning the Heisman, which was a big part of the broadcast.
04:57A lot of times that doesn't happen.
04:59But I'm not going to lie, Gino.
05:00I kind of, you know, thought he's a little limited,
05:04and the team itself is what was carrying him.
05:08Yesterday, when he converts that fourth down play in the red zone
05:11to put them up two scores, I was like, wow.
05:14That was badass.
05:15This dude's the real deal.
05:17It was a gutsy call, too.
05:18Listen, from the shots he was taking in the first half slot,
05:22like, I thought he has played better in the season.
05:25Seriously, like, if you go – those first two playoffs games,
05:27when you watch him, you're just like, holy crap, nobody can stop this kid.
05:31And I just think – I've always been impressed,
05:35and probably more and more as it's gone on, his toughness,
05:41but the guts of Cignetti to go for – I mean, I'm like, wait a sec, bro.
05:48You just kick a field goal.
05:49You go by seven.
05:51You're good.
05:51Fourth and four from the 12.
05:54Okay.
05:55You know, maybe they practiced something.
05:56You know, Chaney knows.
05:57It's just like, you practiced a two-point play, and you're like, dude,
06:00they're not going to cover this.
06:01They've never seen it.
06:02We're running this.
06:03But to call quarterback draw – and Fernando, he's a good athlete,
06:08but let's not confuse him with Marshall Falk or somebody like that
06:12in the backfield.
06:12You know, it's going to be hard to take down.
06:15And, I mean, he spins around, and I seriously – I thought they knocked him out.
06:20I was like, holy crap, when he spun around near the goal line,
06:24because that was at the far end.
06:26I was on the other side – on the sideline on the far end.
06:29And I'm like, they knocked him out.
06:31I'm like, he's out.
06:32You know what I mean?
06:33They're picking him up.
06:34And then he was like, you know, whatever did their – I don't even know
06:37what their celebration is.
06:38And I was like, that is gutsy to not – oh, we go for it,
06:43but to call a quarterback draw in there, and they got it.
06:48And the heck did – you know, I think Bain said it in an interview.
06:51He goes, we knew what they were going to do.
06:54He goes, they just – they executed it.
06:56It's just like, you call it, both teams get their best shot.
07:00And, yeah, it was impressive.
07:02But I would say this.
07:03I was more impressed by his toughness last night than all of the other things
07:09that he showed me during the season.
07:11Is he going to be – because Tom Brady was there, Mark Davis was there.
07:15Is he going to be – the thought is he'll be the number one overall pick
07:19from the Raiders, is he going to be an NFL star from what you watch?
07:24And I'm curious what you think Carson Beck will be in the NFL.
07:29Listen, for quarterbacks to be a star, I think they have to have –
07:33you know, you rely on 10 other players to do their job –
07:37to do your job outstanding.
07:40And there's a reason why K.M. Ward struggled this year.
07:43The Tennessee Titans offense sucks, and they can't block.
07:47I mean, let's just be honest.
07:49And I think that that – so will he be a star?
07:53It depends on the situation.
07:54He's going to be a David Carr and get sacked 70 times in a season.
07:57Well, will he be a quality NFL quarterback, given the right –
08:01I think with the – I think, listen, with his talent, yes.
08:05I think he can be.
08:06It's just a matter of, okay, is he going to have some guys to throw to?
08:09Are guys going to be able to block?
08:11Because, like I said, you can be a hell of a quarterback,
08:15but if you get put, you know, players that can't block in front of you
08:20and guys that can't catch, it doesn't matter how good you are.
08:23I mean, you know, you're not going to be that good.
08:24Yes, he will prepare.
08:27He's been relentless in his preparation.
08:29That's what the coaches will tell you.
08:33Leaves no stone unturned.
08:35I think he's tough.
08:36He's got all the physical attributes.
08:38And, yeah, I think he'll be successful.
08:41But that ceiling, to me, is determined by how good are the players around you.
08:48What about Carson Beck?
08:50He has the physical ability.
08:52You know, my question is on the arm stuff.
08:55I think that elbow, I think he's still coming off that,
08:59and I think he's going to get better.
09:01And I think that he'll be given an opportunity of size, ability.
09:06I mean, he has all the physical tools and the physical capabilities, you know,
09:11to be successful.
09:12But, you know, it's a fine line, and it could be just an opportunity
09:19or not an opportunity, like Brady.
09:21I mean, let's be honest.
09:22I mean, had Bledsoe not got, you know, his head taken off in a game,
09:27would he have ever gotten in the game?
09:30Because Bledsoe was hitting his prime at that point in time,
09:32and maybe the Patriots extend him, and we don't see.
09:36You know, is it going to be like Matt Castle where you get a chance,
09:39you become lights out, you get paid a scat of money,
09:41you go somewhere else, and, you know, you're not very good.
09:44So, you know, so I'm bad at projecting, I guess,
09:50success in the next level in the NFL.
09:54And, Gino, with even losing, but just going to the next championship game
09:58and with the college football playoffs now being on TV every primetime games
10:03for three weeks now, damn near a month, I want to say are the Canes back?
10:08I think that's an overused term, but, like, does it really change the –
10:11is this going to change the landscape of college football now
10:14that UM has this under their belt, Mario has a national championship to sell,
10:20keep, you know, win the state of South Florida type thing?
10:23Like, can this get back to hell when you played in those early 2000s?
10:27Yeah, you know, I think success breeds more success,
10:30and I think maybe it makes it a little bit easier, but Mario's not slowing down.
10:36I mean, like, you know, you talk to the security,
10:39and he'll be in there calling guys three hours after.
10:42I mean, I sat in a box last night next to Mrs. Saban.
10:46Nick comes up, you know, after he's doing his halftime game day,
10:50and, you know, they were cheering him on.
10:53And I think he learned from Coach Saban it's relentless pursuit,
10:59relentless of players.
11:01So, add in, he has the support and the resources behind him to get the recruits,
11:09to get the players with NIL, however they factor in all the stuff for the players.
11:14So, I think that that combination is a damn good combination.
11:19And he doesn't – you know, listen, his recruiting pitch, he lived it.
11:23I mean, we're both same class.
11:26We're 55-5 going through here.
11:28We won two national championships.
11:29He doesn't have to say, hey, this is why you go to Miami.
11:33This is what – you know, it's like he was part of that.
11:37So, I think that it will help.
11:41It may make it a little easier.
11:42Maybe some guys' decisions are made up to come to Miami even before he makes those calls.
11:51Because, you know how it is, kids, they want to be on a successful team.
11:54And they're like, man, these guys are – you know, and I can be honest.
11:58Like, when I first started getting recruited by Miami, my brother came here in 85 and 86.
12:04And I remember watching the 87 National Championship.
12:07And Jim Kelly, who I sat with last night at the game, it was January 1st of 88.
12:15And Jim Kelly said, why would you want to go anywhere else?
12:19It's 75 degrees, and it's January 1st.
12:24And I'm like, he's got a great point.
12:27So, yeah, and that was – I was like, I was done.
12:30I didn't need to go on a recruiting visit.
12:33And then you see our guys on the sidelines.
12:36You see Ed Reed and his crazy hat and EJ and Andre and Ray Lewis and all that.
12:42And you're just like, these guys got something different.
12:45Those guys played a long time ago.
12:47So, I want to be part of that.
12:49So, maybe it makes it a little bit easier.
12:51But I don't think Mario is going to take his foot off the gas pedal at all.
12:55Ed Reed trying to console players after the game.
12:58I don't know if you guys saw the video.
12:59Did he take his hat off?
13:01No.
13:01He didn't.
13:01He didn't.
13:03It's hard to pick anybody.
13:05And I love – man, Ed Reed's my favorite game of all time.
13:09When they showed him on the Jumbotron, I was like, is that one of those, like, animated things that they do for some guy that's in the stands?
13:17I was like, 20.
13:18Wait a second.
13:19Is that Ed on the field?
13:20Like, Ed Trill rolls in the box I was with.
13:24I was like, Ed Trill, is that Ed?
13:26He goes, oh, yeah, that's Ed.
13:28Big-ass hats.
13:29It's just comical.
13:30Like, they're really –
13:31I'm with Solana.
13:32Don't console me in a big-ass hat.
13:34I'm not looking at you the same.
13:36He had his arm around – I don't know if it was Malik.
13:38I don't remember who it was.
13:39There's a video.
13:40He had his arm around him.
13:41And you can tell, like, whoever the player was was distraught.
13:43But Ed Reed has a big-ass hat on.
13:45Right.
13:48Gino, do you agree with the notion?
13:51Because this was, I think, a take yesterday that I saw a lot.
13:54That Signetti almost redefined how coaches will build through NIL.
14:00And it's no longer go get the most talented player.
14:02But it's go get the more experienced player, the older player.
14:07And I just wonder if you kind of prescribed to that notion
14:11that he almost redefined how college football will be played moving forward.
14:16Well, I think there's a blueprint of that.
14:20Heck, I think Miami basketball.
14:22When Coach L took his team to the Final Four,
14:24we had a bunch of experienced dudes.
14:27And think about when college sports in general,
14:30basketball, football, started changing,
14:31that experience, especially maybe more so in basketball,
14:35was like, hey, you have successful guys that are juniors and seniors.
14:39Maybe they can go out as a team and beat a bunch of one-and-dones.
14:43And that basically held true.
14:45They can.
14:46I think with Signetti, it was a little different situation
14:49from the standpoint of he had coached at another, at James Madison.
14:55He was successful at James Madison.
14:58And, oh, by the way, he could then, with the transfer portal,
15:02okay, I'm going to cherry pick.
15:04I want this guy, this guy.
15:05Because I want these, I don't know how many guys he brought with him.
15:08But he's like, if I know I get those guys,
15:11they're the nucleus of the locker room.
15:13And they can teach a bunch of other guys.
15:15And I think with that experience, it's awful tough to do that.
15:22Okay, how do I get these older guys in the locker room?
15:26I think he was able to convince lower level,
15:29like the non-power four guys to come with him.
15:32And I would even think, like, guys I play with, it's kind of like BYU.
15:39I mean, I can remember we played BYU.
15:41I mean, we were playing against, there were some guys on our defense,
15:4325 years old.
15:44And I was like, man, who the hell is this?
15:46This guy's like, you know what I mean?
15:47They've been on a three-year Mormon mission.
15:50Okay, but that's exactly kind of what Indiana went through this year.
15:54They had a bunch of dudes that were older.
15:56The average age was 23.
15:59And then get a superstar at quarterback.
16:03But you got a bunch of solid players that are experienced.
16:07And, yeah, experience matters, man.
16:09Making decisions, how you perform in big game situations.
16:13Like, how you prepare.
16:15And that helps.
16:16But I don't know how you could do that again.
16:21I really don't.
16:22I mean, are you just going to scour rosters?
16:26Because, one, there's no more COVID year.
16:30You know, that this is the last year a guy can take a COVID year.
16:34So, you're going to scour non-powerful rosters and try to pick guys off on their senior season.
16:40And then you add in what the NIL numbers got to be for them to come and play.
16:46But, because he had that experience of seeing players, actually.
16:52He knew what they were.
16:54He knew what their attitudes.
16:55He knew, like, how to push their buttons.
16:57And I think that was his core nucleus.
17:00That's what he started with.
17:01And then he went from there.
17:03So, I don't know if there's going to be another situation where you can emulate that.
17:10And, to be honest, like Channing said, I don't know.
17:15Fourth and four from the 12.
17:17There ain't many coaches that are saying, yeah, I'm going for it.
17:20Run quarterback draw.
17:22I mean, outside of him.
17:24Because I was saying the same.
17:25I'm like, damn, kick the field goal.
17:27I'm like, really?
17:28I'm going for it on fourth and four.
17:30Wow.
17:31You know, you would have been a monster if you played three more years in college.
17:35Hell, yeah.
17:36Man, can you imagine, like, 27 years old?
17:38I'd be, like, 26, 27 years old.
17:41Because he already had the psyche of an old soul.
17:44Like, he looked like a veteran QB out there.
17:48Give him eight years.
17:49Man, I had something better.
17:50I know than a Toyota pickup truck that I was driving.
17:53With the big subwoofers right behind the seat, Channing.
18:02That's what I say.
18:03I was making five million a year, Gina.
18:05I ought to stay in college forever.
18:07Heck, yeah.
18:08Heck, yeah.
18:09Why not?
18:09Why not?
18:10You know, Toretta, the Heisman Trophy winner.
18:12He joins us every week, courtesy of the local 519 Plumbers Union.
18:15With all the changes in how America does business, you can count on one thing.
18:19The union-trained plumbers of Local 519.
18:23Join a winning team today with Local 519 Plumbers Union, a proven path to a strong career.
18:29Visit Plumbers519.com.
18:31Did they have good food up in your suite?
18:34I was in a box right next to the President of the United States.
18:39So, I can tell you this.
18:41I don't know who paid for the catering, but it was filet.
18:44It was filet roast, lobster, pork.
18:49Yeah, it was the best catered box that I've ever been in.
18:54You look a little bloated today.
18:56Yeah, very nice.
18:58All right, we'll see you, Gino.
19:02We'll see you guys.
19:03There you go.
19:03Gino Toretta, the Heisman Trophy winner on what could have been a day
19:09where we celebrate the sixth, Natty, but instead we have our five
19:14and we lament the one drive that ended in the INT.
19:19Could have ended a different way.
19:20Anyway, fun game last night, just not the outcome we wanted.
19:24But we did cover, so there's that.
19:26We did cover, fellas.
19:28We did cover, so we did cover, so we did cover, so we did cover.
19:30We did cover, so we did cover.
19:31We did cover, so we did cover.
19:32We did cover, so we did cover.
19:33We did cover, so we did cover.
19:34We did cover, so we did cover.
19:35We did cover, so we did cover.
19:36We did cover, so we did cover.
19:37We did cover, so we did cover.
19:38We did cover, so we did cover.
19:39We did cover, so we did cover.
19:40We did cover, so we did cover.
19:41We did cover, so we did cover.
19:42We did cover, so we did cover.
19:43We did cover, so we did cover.
19:44We did cover, so we did cover.
19:45We did cover, so we did cover.
19:46We did cover, so we did cover.
19:47We did cover.
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