S4E14: NCAA Championship Recap, Tourney Expansion, Transfer Portal

WEBVTT

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<v Chad Gordon>Can we get some actual like theme music going on or something?

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<v Chad Gordon>Or like we should.

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<v Matt Houlihan>You know, I want like uh can you put Kellen on uh on his trumpet err.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I have Eli play oh yeah Eli Kitty on the violin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, Eli Eli on the violin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's what I was looking for.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I got the wrong son's name and the wrong instrument over to Welcome to the Coach's Group Chat, the final episode.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We're here, we're back after our our uh our offsite.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We had a full-on travel trip extraordinaire for the national championship, and we've got some things to talk about because it was a great it was a great one day for me.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I came back feeling I went down there feeling great, I came back feeling great.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I'm stoked.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So you guys, did you feel the same way?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Were you yeah okay?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Environment was hot, spicy.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Chad, were you uh were you as caliente over there too?

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<v Chad Gordon>I was so in Fuego, it's crazy.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, absolutely.

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<v Matt Houlihan>It was uh a heck of a time.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Flew down to UCLA, went straight from the airport, over to the Luskin, checked in and went right over to the to the gym, picked up our passes.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We had media passes.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Irresponsible, yeah.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I I will not take the NCAA seriously now.

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<v Matt Houlihan>My goodness, yeah.

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<v Matt Houlihan>The fact that the fact that they gave that to us, shout out to Michael Abbott for uh forgiveness, those media passes.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Uh man oh man.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And then they we just got to walk right in with the UCI band.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Also irresponsible.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Like we just came into the floor and we're yeah, just got to roam around.

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<v Matt Houlihan>It was hilarious.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And I will say, pretty damn good environment inside of that arena.

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<v Matt Houlihan>So I was I was very, very happy with the uh the the way that that tournament kind of played itself out.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah.

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<v Chad Gordon>I mean, 8,400 plus, I mean, you wouldn't be able to tell if you're watching on TV.

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<v Chad Gordon>Like the guys, you know, I'm getting texts from people like, how is it in there?

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<v Chad Gordon>And they're like, the first ten rows were like the main camera is focused.

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<v Chad Gordon>No one but like Mason's parents seated over there, right?

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<v Chad Gordon>I mean, it's just dropped the ball on that one.

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<v Chad Gordon>But it was it was rocking in there.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I mean, it was it was loud and it was Irvine brought multiple buses full of students, they had like four buses, and Hawaii obviously traveled very well, and they were they were packed, they were loud.

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<v Matt Houlihan>But yeah, I mean I took a video during it, and you're the you're painting the lower bowl.

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<v Matt Houlihan>The lower bowl is filled, except for you had looked on the Seat Geek and it was 120 bucks for those seats or something.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, I thought it was like a little bit more.

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<v Chad Gordon>I mean, it was I don't know, maybe poorly priced or whatever.

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<v Chad Gordon>So we were we were joking, like what would be the spontaneous upgrades for here's a lucky fan.

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<v Chad Gordon>Like we need to move 45 of you.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Do it 400 times, yeah.

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<v Matt Houlihan>No, literally, I zoomed in, I did this whole panning video, I gotta post it, and then I zoom in on the one spot that's empty is the only spot that matters, yeah, which is where the TV is facing down at the R2 at the table where the benches are, and it just looked empty.

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<v Matt Houlihan>It's like that's not the environment that was there at all.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I we set the Chad set the line, I thought it was a pretty good line at 62.5.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We post on the story and everyone was smashing the over, and I was like, I'm not convinced.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And sure enough, a solid 8400 walked in the walked in the doors, but it did not look like it on TV.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We had lunch today and we asked, and we're like, hey, how did it look on TV?

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<v Matt Houlihan>It's like it looked empty.

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<v Chad Gordon>It's like, yeah, which is tough.

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<v Chad Gordon>I mean, we were doing our job.

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<v Chad Gordon>I mean, someone had to fill out the table on the other side.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yes.

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<v Chad Gordon>There were some open seats for the semis, and we we remedied that.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Note for next year, NCAA, Mike Abbott, uh, if you're still in charge, but you're probably not.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Uh, flip it.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Put the put the media over there.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Let us let us fill it out.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We'll be your pretty faces.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Easy.

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<v Matt Houlihan>No, I could be a body double for what do they call those people at the Oscars that like just keep seat warms seat fillers?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, yeah, I could be your seat filler.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Come on, we need just give me 45 kids as seat fillers just to fill in whatever gaps you need.

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<v Matt Houlihan>But the band, you know, bring the tubas.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I don't know.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Honestly, give me something more raucous there.

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<v Matt Houlihan>But I mean, that was definitely one part where, you know, the the optics could have been much better portrayed for men's volleyball.

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<v Matt Houlihan>We did see we saw a beta bay family uh walk over there, the Wangs.

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<v Matt Houlihan>The Wangs walked from their seats and they're like, no one's sitting here, so we're just gonna go sit down and no one stopped them.

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<v Matt Houlihan>So they they stopped.

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<v Chad Gordon>Ben and Evan is like 50 yard line.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, this is great.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Ben's like, no one said anything to me, so I'm just gonna take it.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Uh but I think on the on the whole, it seemed like they had about 9,000 for the semifinals and returning 8,400.

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<v Matt Houlihan>That's pretty darn good.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, on a Monday at 4.

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<v Matt Houlihan>On Monday at 4 p.m.

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<v Matt Houlihan>in LA traffic.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Really good.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Uh it seemed like, I think we we would all agree that tournament expansion did its job this year, right?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Getting the 12 teams, even more specifically, getting to two weekends, where you have weekend one and then a week of tension to build, and it builds the storylines and it builds the hype, made this a very special tournament.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And obviously, we had some really nice upsets that that made it even more intriguing.

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<v Matt Houlihan>What was your guys' thoughts on?

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<v Matt Houlihan>I mean, Dan, you you coached in, you played in multiple tournaments where it was four teams, six teams, and it's over in a weekend.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Right?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Compare compare contrast for me.

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<v Matt Houlihan>What was your what was your thoughts looking at it over the past two weeks?

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<v Daniel Rasay>I think it like you already said, it just allowed for storylines to develop, right?

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<v Daniel Rasay>More opportunities for upsets.

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<v Daniel Rasay>And I think that is what men's volleyball needs.

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<v Daniel Rasay>It's there's so many great teams that should be in the tournament that you know missed out Irvine for many years, and just to allow for those upsets to happen and those teams that were left out in in some tournaments to show what they're capable of doing when the bright lights are on, I think that was the greatest thing about the expansion.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah.

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<v Chad Gordon>Jan, thoughts?

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, I mean, just more quality is always a good problem, right?

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<v Chad Gordon>I mean, when you can allow Pepperdine and SC and Irvine and all these, all these guys, I mean, it's Long Beach is like these are you get great first round matches, and then yeah, you get, oh shoot, like NIF's jacket is becoming a thing in round one, and now in round two, and now like what's he gonna do in the finals?

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<v Chad Gordon>This is crazy.

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<v Chad Gordon>It's like, why are we talking about this head coach's jacket?

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<v Chad Gordon>Like, but you know, it's it's something at least that you know was engaging for people, and it's you know, when you play Thursday, Saturday, it's like, oh man, I don't have time to like book a flight and get out there and see that because what's he gonna do this weekend?

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<v Chad Gordon>But it was it was great to see more good teams uh get a shot.

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<v Chad Gordon>And I think Nif said it right, like you run it a hundred times, and like probably the distribution is is pretty varied because of the the strength that was in it, and that's good for the sport.

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<v Chad Gordon>Like, I mean, it's tough if you're the top team to have more people you got to go through than just two, but sorry, like it's better for everybody.

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<v Chad Gordon>So I'm a fan.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, niff niff nailed it during his press conference, and then right afterwards when he was done, he came he came down and you know, we gave him a hug and said, Great job.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And he's like, Hey, we we got what we wanted, right?

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<v Matt Houlihan>We wanted let us in and let us cause some chaos, and that's exactly what we got to do, and that's that's what you're looking for every single season, is you just want March Madness is fantastic because of Cinderella.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And yes, like Cinderella doesn't end up winning usually at the very end, but Cinderella gets in and causes chaos through the round of 64 or through Cinderella.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Cinderella throws an elbow once in a while, and then all of a sudden it's like this is anybody's game.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And so someone from the wings all of a sudden has this path that wasn't there before that now is, and man, it's just that's what you need, and that's what you want.

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<v Matt Houlihan>So it was a beautiful mixture of getting to see from the first round through to those that you know, those basically quarterfinal games, getting some really high-quality matches on that first weekend, letting it build, getting to that final four.

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<v Matt Houlihan>It's everything that we're looking for, and absolutely something that of course we want to we want to see continually growing, hopefully, but continuing moving forward and not taking steps backwards with it.

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<v Matt Houlihan>So what was our other?

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<v Matt Houlihan>We had some other gripes, not you know, maybe gripes is a strong word, but we had some other observations when we were sitting down in our bench area watching the game, one of them being specifically revolving around challenges, which at this the this tournament has definitely had some controversy surrounding the challenge system, the idea of bringing in a bolt six or something that's a more expensive proposition.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I believe, Daniel, you can you can pitch your idea to the people here of how could we make this more feasible to get the the best of the best of the replay systems in place for instant play men's volleyball?

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<v Matt Houlihan>And women's volleyball.

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<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah, I think we we search for sponsors for for challenges.

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<v Daniel Rasay>You know, this challenge is brought to you by the coaches group chat.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And this challenge is brought to you by a Dodge Challenger.

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<v Chad Gordon>Easy.

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<v Chad Gordon>The the what the Marcus Barriota, Marriott Marquee.

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<v Chad Gordon>Missed opportunity, Marriott.

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<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah, I mean, that allows you to pay for better systems, but better systems mean shorter, shorter amount of time for challenges, but we need it.

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<v Daniel Rasay>I mean, I think it's it's you know, the energy was great in the arena, and the challenges didn't really take anything out of it, but yeah, you know, the kind of the flow, it affects the flow of a game.

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<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I would say I will I'll give them credit that they were quick in in arena for the national championship, but a part of it seemed like I forget who was saying it, but there were a couple that were inconclusive, right?

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<v Matt Houlihan>They just went inconclusive, like we're not they must have been on shot clock or something where hey, TV wise, you've got 30 seconds to figure this thing out.

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<v Matt Houlihan>If you can't inconclusive, move on.

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<v Matt Houlihan>And I don't know if that's what the case was, but just taking from the tennises of the world, like you make the replay, and we talked about it last week as well.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Make the replay a part of the suspense.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Show us what you're seeing, or hey, give us that slow-mo graphic of the ball going down to the line.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Is it in?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Is it out?

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<v Matt Houlihan>And then flip it.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Where's the shadow?

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<v Chad Gordon>Literally, like having watched VNL matches live, like the crowd is like you can hear them like and then like ah, you know, like it's a thing.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, you know, I think to like volleyball world's credit, right?

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<v Chad Gordon>Like, they have tried to make the in-game, the in-venue experience like really enticing for the fans, and part of that is like, hey, we're gonna show you, we're gonna make it fun, and all this kind of stuff.

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<v Chad Gordon>And I think in the NCA, like I I like when when it's on TV and they cut to the like the view of the actual challenge system.

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<v Chad Gordon>I can't quite make out exactly what's going on, but like the fact that they're thoughtful enough to at least show us, like, no, there's actually a system, it's not like a guy being like, What do you got?

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<v Chad Gordon>Out inconclusive.

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<v Chad Gordon>All right, it's like um I would I would love to see more of that in venue, obviously.

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<v Chad Gordon>You know, not just because of what happened, you know, in in a previous match.

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<v Chad Gordon>Um, but I think it's just healthy for the for the sport to have some accountability and it it's fun for the fans that are in the gym.

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<v Matt Houlihan>I just love seeing Daniel come up with the capitalistic ideas on the coach script chat.

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<v Matt Houlihan>It's usually it's usually Chad and I that are spit spitballing how we can make make money off of this.

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<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, I was like, I don't want bold six because then they can't be sponsored by snails.

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<v Chad Gordon>Um the Jeopardy theme song.

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<v Chad Gordon>Like, it's just not gonna, they're not gonna pitch money at this.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Like well, talking about the experience, we did not watch the live broadcast.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Did you anyone go back and watch the live broadcast?

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<v Matt Houlihan>No.

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<v Matt Houlihan>But got to talk, talk a little bit, and then I saw some clips just on social media, and one of the main things that came up right at the end of the match, this is literally like Kevin Barnett goes and grabs Charlie Wade and he's interviewing post-game.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Tell me about yours, tell me about your season, tell me about this team.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Oh, yeah.

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<v Chad Gordon>Like, what's make what makes them special?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, what makes these special and almost immediately Charlie turned it from uh what makes his team special into the transfer portal of like he's in a national championship, but he's having to recruit his guys right now because the transfer portal is open, and to I believe his quote was there's sharks in the water trying to trying to peel guys away from our team.

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<v Matt Houlihan>With that being the current status of collegiate sports across the board, is there a case to be made?

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<v Matt Houlihan>And it's the same thing with women's volleyball, right?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Craig Skinner said the same thing, of opening the portal Tuesday after the national championship, right?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Of opening it up right at the end of it, or is there a case where hey, it's a timing thing and kids need to be able to, they need these two weeks because of the ability to transfer and hit the different windows of different colleges that they may be going to.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Does that make sense?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Or is it more, hey, like this for the sanity of a coach to be able to just differentiate, like we're in season, this is our job right now.

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<v Matt Houlihan>Our our only thing that we should have to focus on is trying to go win this national championship, but instead you're also worrying about you know your your freshmen that are getting getting backdoor information from someone else about hey, you should get in the portal so we can get you X, Y, and Z.

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<v Matt Houlihan>What's your guys' thoughts there?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Is that uh is that a rational rational take of uh legislation that we should try and see NCAA enact?

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<v Matt Houlihan>Start with you, Daniel, since you've got the NCAA background uh a little bit deeper than Chad's.

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<v Daniel Rasay>Uh I mean I think you touched on it already.

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<v Daniel Rasay>It's looking at it from the two perspectives of the student athlete and the coach.

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<v Daniel Rasay>Athletes, they're finishing up school, you know, all of this transfer stuff is there's a lot of moving parts to it, and they gotta figure out sooner than later for their peace of mind.

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<v Daniel Rasay>But on the coach's side, same thing.

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<v Daniel Rasay>Like it's their peace of mind having to, you know, do their job on the recruiting side, but stressing about trying to win a national championship.

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<v Daniel Rasay>That's just too much on the plate of a coach to have to worry about all those things.

00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:14.159
<v Daniel Rasay>And you know, you're probably thinking conspiracy theories in your head about you know, there's other coaches in the stands watching my guys right now, you know, and it's from a from a coach's point of view that that's just too tough and too much for them to handle at that point in time.

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:20.480
<v Matt Houlihan>Is there is there a degree though where regardless, like some of the stuff just happens, right?

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:28.399
<v Matt Houlihan>Like those Hawaii guys aren't in the portal, but Charlie is talking about the sharks in the water of them people trying to get them into the portal, right?

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:33.039
<v Matt Houlihan>And so it's not a matter of those kids already being there or being open, I believe.

00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:41.200
<v Matt Houlihan>It's more a matter of tampering to try and get kids into the portal so that those can be more official conversations, right?

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:50.080
<v Matt Houlihan>So is there is there a part where this is just the race to the bottom that is collegiate athletics currently?

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:56.960
<v Matt Houlihan>Or is that actually something that does make it better in the long run?

00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:06.879
<v Matt Houlihan>If you know it's it's like a gentleman's agreement in in reality, you need people to all play by the same rules in order for there to be not a race to the bottom, but that seems to be not the case currently.

00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.519
<v Matt Houlihan>Chad, what's your what's your perspective on that?

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.919
<v Chad Gordon>I think it's I think it's tough, right?

00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:16.399
<v Chad Gordon>Because the the incentives are just not aligned, right?

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:21.679
<v Chad Gordon>Like, you know, you want to you want the team to do well, right?

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:39.200
<v Chad Gordon>And you want cohesity and you want camaraderie and you want to be able to enjoy that without worrying about wait, is my roommate like gonna be here next year, or like, you know, as as a coach, like, is is this guy that I'm working with every day like am I training him just for somebody else?

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.559
<v Chad Gordon>Like what's what's going on here?

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:47.919
<v Chad Gordon>But if you're the player right now, to you know, the same to be fair, the same as how it works for coaches, you can pick up and go, right?

00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.240
<v Chad Gordon>Hey, there's a better offer, there's more money.

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.600
<v Chad Gordon>I need to think about my family.

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.200
<v Chad Gordon>I gotta I have to go.

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:59.440
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, you know, we haven't historically thought about athletes like this, but it's it's a really tough balance.

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:07.679
<v Chad Gordon>And so I don't my guess is like these conversations are gonna go on, whether you say the window is here or there, whatever.

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:18.159
<v Chad Gordon>Um I think it's naive to think that the window being open during the national championship is you know going to make or break some of these things.

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:32.240
<v Chad Gordon>I think I mean maybe it brings a little bit more to the forefront, but yeah, I mean I would I would love to see it move to after the season formally concludes when the championship is done, but at the same time, like I don't I don't think you can kind of cut the head off the snake.

00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.799
<v Chad Gordon>This thing's you know, three more heads appear.

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.720
<v Chad Gordon>It's you can't really whack them all this thing.

00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.919
<v Chad Gordon>So unfortunately, yeah, I'd I'd probably agree.

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.000
<v Chad Gordon>It's a little bit race to the bottom right now, which is yeah, it's probably not healthy.

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.399
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:55.120
<v Matt Houlihan>I mean even if it's just the symbolic the symbolic gesture of when the season is actually over, so that it's there is a logical start and stopping point of of the portal.

00:16:55.440 --> 00:17:01.679
<v Matt Houlihan>But yeah, when you when you look at collegiate athletics, that is that is one of the biggest challenges that you are in.

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.679
<v Matt Houlihan>And each university is in these different places, right?

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:06.240
<v Matt Houlihan>Stanford, for example, it's very hard to get a transfer in.

00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:06.559
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah.

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:06.880
<v Matt Houlihan>Right.

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.839
<v Matt Houlihan>And so you're you're competing in a very different game.

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:16.960
<v Matt Houlihan>Like you have to nail your recruiting classes every year of who you're bringing in from a from a freshman perspective.

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.720
<v Matt Houlihan>But then you're yeah, you you're still at risk, right?

00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:27.119
<v Matt Houlihan>There's I think Stanford has less of a transfer risk just because of the degree that you're achieving, but yeah, it's a niche kind of thing.

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:32.640
<v Chad Gordon>But I mean, this is it's the professionalism just making its way down the funnel, right?

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:34.799
<v Chad Gordon>I mean, this is the exact same way it works professionally.

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:45.039
<v Chad Gordon>Guys are playing really hard until they get that contract, and then it's like, well, I don't know, man, I'm going over there next year, so like why am I gonna go super, super hard, maybe get injured and lose that contract or whatever.

00:17:45.680 --> 00:18:00.880
<v Chad Gordon>You know, it's I don't want to make it sound like people are coin operated on some of the stuff, but like it's there's a realism to that of well, I'm gonna work really hard, I'm gonna, you know, move up from some JUCO to whatever and make more money.

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:05.200
<v Chad Gordon>This is I mean, it's permeating from the top down.

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.960
<v Chad Gordon>I mean, and that's that's kind of the bummer.

00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:07.440
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:12.000
<v Matt Houlihan>I would say in men's volleyball too, there's not I it's not like every school operates like this.

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:22.000
<v Matt Houlihan>There's only a few schools that can really you know twist these knobs in in these directions of being able to give out true NIL to a men's volleyball program.

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.440
<v Chad Gordon>But there were only a couple in women's, you know, five, ten years ago, too, right?

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:27.359
<v Chad Gordon>Like well, I mean, maybe maybe more that were.

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.319
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, I'm doing my part.

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.400
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm trying to get Pacific on that NIL train, you know.

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:32.720
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm trying to help help my boy Devin out over there.

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.359
<v Matt Houlihan>Uh yeah, it's but still, yeah, I agree.

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:40.000
<v Matt Houlihan>It's it's slowly but surely there will be a filter of who wants to play this game.

00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:40.319
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:40.799
<v Matt Houlihan>Right.

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:44.480
<v Matt Houlihan>And at some point it becomes the table stakes of what you need to be willing to do.

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:52.799
<v Matt Houlihan>And yeah, I I I'm for, don't get wrong, like I'm for athletes to have an IL to get paid, to get to get their worth.

00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.720
<v Matt Houlihan>And if someone's willing to pay it, that is your worth.

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.200
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:18:55.519 --> 00:19:04.160
<v Matt Houlihan>So that being said, as a coach and being in those environments, there's a from a club volleyball perspective, athletes sign a letter of commitment, right?

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.359
<v Matt Houlihan>It's the same idea, essentially.

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.240
<v Matt Houlihan>It's a year after year.

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:15.440
<v Matt Houlihan>You're recruiting every year, and you're trying to maintain that relationship uh with your with your families and your athletes and making sure that you're providing what they need.

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.000
<v Matt Houlihan>It's different.

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.279
<v Matt Houlihan>We're not paying them money, right?

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:34.720
<v Matt Houlihan>They're paying us, but it's still that kind of that same dynamic every season of you're trying to ensure that every player feels fulfilled in their role, understands what they're gonna get from you, how are you gonna communicate, what's the what's the level of organization that they're gonna receive.

00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:39.279
<v Matt Houlihan>It's not gonna be a, for lack of a better word, shit show when they're a part of your program.

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:55.440
<v Matt Houlihan>It's it's a similar idea, I would say, of where college athletics is right now, whereas you have some coaches who are used to the hey, this is a four-year deal, and there's a little bit of resistance in in understanding where the current status of the game is.

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:55.920
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:07.039
<v Matt Houlihan>And so you're seeing some dynamics at play with each program and where they're at on the on the playing field in comparison to their their opponents.

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.599
<v Matt Houlihan>All right.

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.559
<v Matt Houlihan>I think we we we hammered that one enough.

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.160
<v Daniel Rasay>Uh all right.

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:17.440
<v Daniel Rasay>Hey, congratulations, Hawaii, on winning a national championship.

00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:22.000
<v Daniel Rasay>I don't think we actually said said that, but uh we should probably throw that in there.

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.920
<v Daniel Rasay>I think that's an important piece of uh a national championship recap.

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.799
<v Daniel Rasay>Congratulating the winner.

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:27.599
<v Daniel Rasay>That's true.

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.079
<v Matt Houlihan>That's true.

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.480
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:32.000
<v Matt Houlihan>We only we only mentioned that they won very, very briefly.

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:36.079
<v Chad Gordon>Uh Dana wearing his uh celebratory apparel.

00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.279
<v Matt Houlihan>Championship shirt.

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:37.599
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.799
<v Matt Houlihan>Is that in like commiserating with Lewis that you have that?

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.480
<v Matt Houlihan>How did you get that shirt?

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:51.680
<v Daniel Rasay>This is the year that Stanford hosted, and I happened to stumble upon a box of these, and I was like, hey, what if one of these goes?

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.359
<v Daniel Rasay>And they lost to Loyola in five.

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.319
<v Matt Houlihan>Oh man, that honestly was one of the best finals I've ever.

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:57.759
<v Matt Houlihan>I was there, I was live at that one.

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.200
<v Matt Houlihan>That was exciting.

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.480
<v Matt Houlihan>That was a really good game.

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:02.799
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah, hey, but congratulations, Hawaii.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.759
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah, congrats.

00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:11.279
<v Matt Houlihan>Hey, Proud Alum, I will I will say Daniel was getting recognized uh multiple times by all the Hawaii fans in at least one of the elevators I was in.

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.759
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.400
<v Matt Houlihan>We had it.

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:17.519
<v Matt Houlihan>We he was in the elevator, and uh a nice old auntie was like, You used to be our setter.

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:20.400
<v Matt Houlihan>And he was like, back in the day, yes, I did.

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.279
<v Matt Houlihan>Yes, I did.

00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:30.160
<v Matt Houlihan>Shout out to old Auntie, and there and there was at least like three high school friends that came up to Daniel or high school people that were like, I played you in high school.

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:32.960
<v Matt Houlihan>Daniel's a Hawaiian celebrity, it's great to see.

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.920
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, it's great to see.

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:40.720
<v Daniel Rasay>It was it was a cool environment, just all the Hawaii people in the fan in the stands.

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:44.319
<v Daniel Rasay>And you know, I thought it was just good from both parties, too.

00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:48.480
<v Daniel Rasay>Like Irvine was loud, yep, especially in that first set.

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:48.799
<v Daniel Rasay>Oh, yeah.

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.160
<v Daniel Rasay>And they should have been.

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:59.680
<v Daniel Rasay>But um yeah, I gave an interview kind of before the match and was just like, this is an amazing thing to be a part of as a student athlete, like the amount of support that.

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.680
<v Daniel Rasay>you get just can carry you and they needed they needed the fans after that first set.

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.079
<v Daniel Rasay>Oh yeah.

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.039
<v Daniel Rasay>And they brought it.

00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.359
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.480
<v Matt Houlihan>They brought it to their credit.

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:12.400
<v Matt Houlihan>And then they stayed, they stayed well after the match is over to celebrate.

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.359
<v Matt Houlihan>It was super cool.

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.480
<v Matt Houlihan>I was I mean I've played at UH coached at UH.

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:33.359
<v Matt Houlihan>I've seen that environment at Hawaii but to see it on on a travel right like at a neutral site and for all the marbles was was very cool to see how both programs sported but specifically Hawaii just knocked my socks off.

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:40.400
<v Matt Houlihan>They were the the send-offs we walked up and they have the whole alleyway between the hotel oh the vibes the vibes are vibant.

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:45.519
<v Matt Houlihan>Oh yeah it was two hours before three hours before they were they were ready to go and it was awesome.

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:50.720
<v Matt Houlihan>That's exactly like that was the excitement you want for a men's volleyball championship.

00:22:50.799 --> 00:23:05.119
<v Matt Houlihan>So having Hawaii in it obviously just elevates that even more from an experience standpoint which was as you said Daniel congratulations to to Hawaii on the win but even more so congratulations on just creating something really freaking cool.

00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:39.920
<v Matt Houlihan>And if you thought that was cool Vegas oh man get your tickets now dude Hawaii is in prime position to be back again next year in Vegas California Hotel Las Vegas is about to be UH Manoa East all right it's time it's time to get to my favorite part of the year of the of the season it's the end of year awards where all of the marbles come together for what matters the most it's individual accolades.

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:45.759
<v Matt Houlihan>Forget the team forget UH just kidding let's talk about the most important stuff.

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:51.519
<v Matt Houlihan>This is the bench of the year I'll go first.

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.000
<v Matt Houlihan>Yes.

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.559
<v Matt Houlihan>Okay.

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:58.240
<v Matt Houlihan>My bench of the year goes to Hailing from the Miva conference.

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.079
<v Matt Houlihan>Not Lewis.

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:04.640
<v Matt Houlihan>Lewis great bench but not not this one.

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:18.559
<v Matt Houlihan>My bench of the year goes to the McKendry honey badger bearcats they're the inventors of the jumping jack distraction which is now proliferated to club volleyball.

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.200
<v Matt Houlihan>It's everywhere.

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:21.839
<v Matt Houlihan>Anytime you want to miss serve you're just seeing kids jumping jacks.

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:23.359
<v Chad Gordon>I want to be clear I went to St.

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:29.759
<v Chad Gordon>Francis uh hosting Valley Christian Valley repping the jumping jack jumping jacks all game long all five sets.

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:36.960
<v Matt Houlihan>Yep that's McKendry yeah McKendry McKendry invented I mean it's not inventing a cheer but they brought a cheer that's very specific.

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:38.160
<v Matt Houlihan>They've made it happen.

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:55.680
<v Matt Houlihan>And then this year yeah they just they just bring good energy from the side and they had a good team they weren't as good as last year in comparison but the vibes remained high you could see it and uh yeah I guess you just got to give a shout to to Nikki and her squad in terms of uh in terms of what they're doing over there.

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:58.079
<v Matt Houlihan>So that's my bench of the year.

00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:21.680
<v Chad Gordon>Daniel let's go to you next I don't have a bench of the year Chad I didn't have a bench of the year either but then I remember that Finnegan is still on Season and therefore by default I mean no other benches getting the Irish jig so I mean I you know that's podium that's a podium finish straight up.

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:29.920
<v Matt Houlihan>Neil deserves that he deserves that win that's that's bad that's I think that's probably three years in a row that C Sun's gotten up gotten a vote for bench of the year it's gonna be tough next year.

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:57.839
<v Matt Houlihan>They're gonna get smoked because he's graduating yeah well he's got another year of eligibility he's in the portal he's in the portal right now speaking of Charlie Wade look out if you need a guy all right we're moving to the next our euro of the year who's your euro of the year Daniel since you abstained from our last award please go first.

00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:26.000
<v Daniel Rasay>I'm just going foreigners plural I'm going with all of Hawaii's foreign guys including the Canadian I mean North America I mean they were all four of them I mean Tread was outstanding as well but those guys were great in the national championship and you know throughout the year.

00:26:26.240 --> 00:27:09.440
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah 100% okay Hawaii just Hawaii's roster got it yeah I mean that's that's probably the the best pick um I think you could look at Irvine's uh pins there and I I think between the three of them I mean you can you can say that's a pretty strong candidate probably number two uh just because they lost so by default second maybe Fabi from Loyola but I if I had to pick who was in it at the end like those guys at at Irvine are a big big reason why they're in that match.

00:27:09.680 --> 00:28:01.759
<v Matt Houlihan>You going Yukonovich I think Yukonovich but you know give me a little Darcy too and you know Australian continent okay got it yeah it's not it's Canada to the South come on when we say euro we mean foreigner yeah I thought double American I thought we were going foreign yeah yeah so okay nice bitches love Sosa for me so fair enough no I was also gonna go Yukonovich but I think Sosa deserves a little credit in there with uh with Fabrikovich I believe is the other the other outside uh yeah he got hurt through the middle of the year but I mean the dude some did some damage that's for sure my uh my honorable mention would be the setter for pepperdine I thought he did a he was a little bit of an unsung unsung hero right that was a question mark in terms of who was going to take that uh you know how far he could take them and I thought he he put them in a lot of really good positions throughout the course of the season so he was my my my HM honorable mention.

00:28:01.839 --> 00:31:28.799
<v Daniel Rasay>All right and to close out to close out season four we have a couple shout outs we got to give each of us we're we're we can go up to two shout outs here just to to spread some wealth to spread some love to the uh could be a loyal listener could just be a fun moment from the year Daniel start us off I'm going with a loyal listener Daniel Jung whose son I coached on 12 premiere um but he's Juice Box Judah juice box judgment juice box judah uh yeah Daniel's a listener a commenter he posted on his story the backs of our heads on the the uh ESPN um footage oh nice yeah and he's he was excited for this episode so I hope we don't disappoint thank you Daniel I'll give Milan a shout out yeah for coming over and hanging out with us for a minute and recognizing the top media outlet in in the game uh he did almost try to fight doc but other than that it was it was it was mostly clean um so yeah plus one Milan plus one to Milan yet again milan Milan's a he's like he's up there with uh he's up there with Neil Finnegan and uh it's just like it's lore yeah at this point it's just mythical lore yeah him and Patrick Rogers too uh my shout out is gonna go to my shout out will go to the UC Irvine band who we walked into the arena with and they recognized us and gave us big shouts for uh for the content and the belief in Irvine uh so they uh they we had a number of them we also had a a nice Irvine fan that came in and she snuck a sign in under her shirt and then pulled it out and then they told her she had to take it down because you're not allowed to have signs in the arena but she made a bloody nose bandit sign for Cameron Costi which of course comes from uh our our conversations here so uh that's my shout out for the for my first shout out let's bring it back around the horn one more time Daniel you got another one uh my wife and family good call letting me uh jump out the house and make it down here don't want to dox the location yeah um south maybe it's maybe it's up who knows north south yeah they don't listen but shout out to them what are you talking about we did a whole Jerome no mercy cursey and Ann didn't didn't listen to that one my goodness listens to the clips I am also gonna shout out Ann shout out to you Ann nice job Chad we can all just let's just all just double click that and say our significant others and families oh I was gonna say Ann and then I forgot I should mention Bobby as well obviously um no for me I think uh second shout out random auntie who may or may not have been yelling my name someone yelled Chad as we were walking by and I don't because the UH assistant coach is also named Chad uh so maybe that's my first public appearance like getting recognized right there so that's that's big time for me personally and I will be living with that until we start this uh next season until we're back again thank you random on team maybe I'm gonna need I got I need to get something real quick for my last shout out kidding me you had a beer or what are you doing?

00:31:28.960 --> 00:32:31.680
<v Matt Houlihan>Oh and my final shout out is gonna go to the fur vest guy from ball state who made this custom made this matching beta bay chain he has the ball state chain now I have the beta bay chain with a little you matter on the back and he shipped this to me uh because he's just he's just a home I was I was rooting for ball state I was hoping I was gonna get to see him but man watching watching the footage he had plenty of airtime it was him and John Costi were like the two non-athletes that got so much airtime during these uh the final four so shout out to you Furvest guy love you appreciate you and thank you all let's give just a if you're watching this if you're one of the 100 people that watched this podcast that got us media front row seat passes to the national championship game you made it you you made our season worth it so we appreciate you uh and we'll be back again better than ever next season as long as we as long as Ann still lets us