BIG NOON KICKOFF Talks Pac-12, Prime Time, Air Raid and More

Today on BIG NOON KICKOFF, host Rob Stone and analysts Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer discussed the Pac-12’s playoff chances, if Texas can knock off Oklahoma in the Big 12, opening week in the SEC and more.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott and Stanford head coach David Shaw joined to discuss the conference’s return to play, and Jackson State head coach and Hall of Famer Deion Sanders dropped by to talk about his new role.

Meyer opened up his playbook with help from USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell to break down Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense and if it will work in the SEC.

Select quotes and clips from today’s show are below.

USC Offensive Coordinator Graham Harrell joins Urban’s Playbook for a look at Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense:

Urban Meyer on if Leach’s Air Raid will work in the SEC:“Will it work? Give me the definition of work. Will he throw for yards? He’ll always throw for yards.

“One of the issues they have – no spring practice, very little time during training camp, and the principles are about high-end execution because of repetition, repetition, repetition, which they didn’t have, so it might take a little while to get this thing going.”

Brady Quinn says a seven-game schedule could work in the Pac-12’s favor:“Will seven games be enough? It’s hard to determine now, but only because there are so many unknowns. I do think with their daily testing protocols, it’s going to help them be able to get through those seven games, and I think there’s a chance that they very well could [have a team] go undefeated.

“This has been a conference that has played nine conference games, and a lot of teams in the Power 5 that have played nine conference games have been plagued by beating each other up. They don’t have to worry about that, unlike the SEC, unlike the Big Ten and some of the other Power 5 conferences that are trying to play more games.

“Maybe this actually works out to their advantage. But the problem is the perception of the Pac-12 right now. They only had three teams in the top 25 – that’s obviously working against them.”

Meyer says only playing conference games may help the Pac-12 this season:“Recent history: non-conference games knocked out the Pac-12 early in the season. They’ll play a non-conference game, have a bad loss, and they’re done. This year there is no Alabama-USC, there is no Oregon-Ohio State. So, the SEC beats each other up, the season starts going, and you might see a USC – I think USC is going to have a heck of a team – and Oregon at the end of the year, and you’re 7-0, you have to be in that conversation.”

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott discusses the conference’s return to play and criteria for the College Football Playoff:“It’s amazing in the period of 44 days how much changed, leading with changed advice from our medical advisors, driven by the fact that we’ve gotten access to daily testing now for our student-athletes.”

“I’m on the CFP management committee, and we agreed at the beginning of the season and reaffirmed recently that there’s no minimum number of games, because everyone’s got uncertainly about how many games they’re going to play.”

Reggie Bush reacts to Oklahoma cornerback Chanse Sylvie’s initiatives for change and commends the younger generation:“When I was in college, when I was playing football, I wasn’t fighting for social justice, and that’s why this is so important. Because change is not going to happen with my generation. Change is not going to happen with your generation. It’s going to start with the younger generation – with the kids in college, with my kids, with your kids.”

“I love when kids like this and people like Chanse get a chance to go out and experience and to lead and to be a part of the change, because what they’re doing is they’re building themselves up inside, and they’re also doing it for everybody else. I love what he’s doing. We need more like him. I love what I’ve seen from all college football players – it’s not just him. We’ve seen it from a lot of different people. We’ve seen coaches marching, we’ve seen players and coaches marching in the communities. I love that because football embodies so many different cultures, so many different people all from different walks of life coming together for one common goal, and that’s what our country should represent.”

Jackson State’s Coach Prime, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, checks in:

Bush says Sanders was huge influence on his career:“I love Prime. I grew up watching him. He had one of the biggest influences and impacts on my career. I wanted to be him. I wanted to be like him. I love the showmanship, the high-stepping.”

Meyer says Texas’ defense will determine if the Longhorns can overtake Oklahoma in the Big 12:“Defense. Defense. Defense. The continuous theme in the Big 12 is can you play defense. They made the best coordinator hire of 2020 – that’s Chris Ash. Chris Ash is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had on our staff. He was instrumental in our national championship.”

Matt Leinart says first-year Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is playing like a veteran:“What jumped off the tape the first week was just the arm talent and the composure. It’s your first start – I don’t care who you play – there were no butterflies. He looked like a veteran.”

“The hype is real. He’s a really talented football player, but conference play starts today and that’s when we’re going to find out what he can do.”

Stanford head coach David Shaw joins to discuss the Pac-12’s return to play:

Bush on LSU head coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers’ change in offensive coordinator:“The sign of a great coach is when you lose a great coach or lose a great player, you replace them. He lost Joe Brady last year, then he went out and got Scott Linehan. I had my most productive season in the NFL under Scott Linehan. Scott Linehan is a great coach and he’s going to bring that NFL experience to this team, who’s ready to go out and defend that national championship.”

Orgeron checks in with Leinart: