One of the true rising stars in the college football media is one, Travis Haney. Travis was nice enough to join the podcast nearly two years ago to discuss his first book “Gamecock Glory” and has since gone on to write two more books, and change jobs twice, recently landing at ESPN.com, as their college football insider.

Well late last week Travis was nice enough to join the podcast, where he discussed a number of topics entering the season, including the Alabama vs. LSU debate, the time he spent with Lane Kiffin this summer, NFL betting on Top Bet and more in the college football season.

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Included were the following:

- Travis’ short, yet windy road to his current gig at ESPN. What did he learn covering South Carolina and Oklahoma the last few years that will transition to what he’s doing now in 2012? Also, what is different in covering a local vs. national beat?

- The surprise Travis had when ESPN called him earlier this spring, and why he thought the phone call was about anything but a job.

- Moving to college football, Travis shares the funny story of how USC SID Tim Tessalone “threw him under the bus” when he met up with Lane Kiffin. Travis is a Tennessee grad, and as expected it made for some interesting conversation with the coach.

- Travis’ take on Alabama vs. LSU and who has the edge entering 2012. Also, what is it about Alabama that allows them to garner so much respect, after losing so many players?

 

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After a short hiatus, the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast is back and with one of our favorite guests: The Orlando Sentinel’s Coley Harvey!

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Coley covers one of the most polarizing teams in college football entering 2012, the Florida State Seminoles, and on Tuesday he stopped by to discuss everything about the ACC favorites, from their disappointing 2011 campaign to the excitement around 2012 and much more.

Amongst the topics we discussed included the following:

- After entering the 2011 season with high expectations, for the most part, Florida State disappointed. How much of that had to do with injuries, bad luck, and how much had to do with the team just not being prepared for the pressure which faced them week in and week out.

- Staying with the 2011 season, how much did the early Oklahoma game impact the Seminoles? It seemed like following the loss the team never really recovered physically or mentally, losing the next two games that were to follow. Is that a fair assessment?

- Entering 2012 how has quarterback E.J. Manuel evolved from 2011? Also, how did working with famed quarterback guru George Whitfield help his focus and preparation as we head into this season.

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While it’s safe to say that there are plenty of more talented teams in college football than the Ole Miss Rebels entering the 2012 season, it’s hard to argue that few are more intriguing. Houston Nutt is out, and the fiery, passionate and (a little bit) zany Hugh Freeze is in, and with it, excitement around the program is through the roof.

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And on Tuesday, Ole Miss beat writer Hugh Kellenberger stopped by to talk about it all. Hugh covers the Rebels for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger and he spoke with me about the following subjects:

- The craziness of SEC Media Days last week, and how Hugh Freeze stole the show, and was the most dynamic coach in the building.

- Looking back on the Houston Nutt era, what went wrong? Was it just a matter of Nutt not bringing in enough talent, or was it what happened to the talent on when it got to campus? Also, why Hugh believed that Nutt took entirely too many chances on kids that had no business being at the school.

- Does the college football world as a whole have a true understanding for just how bad the situation that Freeze inherited is? Also, the subtle, little changes that Freeze has made to change the “character” of the program, in addition to the on the field results as well.

- Freeze’s zany, yet effective recruiting strategies. Ole Miss has offered more kids than just about any school in the country, but is also receiving commitments from kids who might’ve never considered the school before. Is his recruiting strategy working? Are more kids at least thinking about Ole Miss than might’ve in the past?

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While schools like Tennessee, Michigan and North Carolina get credit as the most dysfunctional college football programs over the last few years, it’s actually West Virginia which has probably had the most fascinating last decade of anyone in the sport. From Rich Rodriguez’s rise and departure from the school, Oliver Luck’s coup d'etat of Bill Stewart’s job and the fallout afterward, all the way through the team’s Orange Bowl triumph last January, it seems like the headlines never end- both off and on the field- in Morgantown.

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Regardless, it’s clear that someone needed to capture it all in book form, and thankfully current West Virginia beat writer Mike Casazza did exactly that in his new book “Waiting for the Fall: A Decade of Dreams, Drama and West Virginia University Football.” It was a truly fantastic read, and earlier this week Casazza came on the podcast to discuss it, as well as the 2012 West Virginia football season.

Amongst the topics we discussed included:

- A quick preview of the 2012 West Virginia Mountaineers and how they will handle the transition to the Big XII. Are they equipped talent-wise and schematically? More importantly, do fans have “orange tinted” glasses after the Orange Bowl beat down of Clemson last year?

- In discussion of the book, how Casazza came up with the title “Waiting for the Fall,” and why it has deeper meaning than most realize.

- Why the 2005 West Virginia football season (which ended with a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia) was one of Mike’s favorites to cover. And why that team was so successful, after a much more talented team in 2004 (and Big East favorites) fell flat on their faces. - Mike gives his detailed account of the famous 2007 loss to Pittsburgh, which is now simply known as the “13-9 game.” What went wrong, and what could Rich Rodriguez have done differently that evening?

- Staying on the subject of Rodriguez, what exactly happened with his departure from the school? We now know that Rodriguez felt like his requests as head coach were not met and that the administration felt like he was asking for too much. Who is really to blame? Also, could he have co-existed with current AD Oliver Luck?

 

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Of every coach in college football, there might not be a single more divisive and controversial one than the man coaching the preseason No. 1 team in the country- USC’s Lane Kiffin. But according to someone who recently spent time with Kiffin, the same coach who is divisive and controversial may be the most misunderstood guy in the sport as well.

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That man who feels that way is CBS Sports national columnist Gregg Doyel who spent some time with Kiffin last week and penned this excellent profile of the USC coach titled "Sorry to disappoint, but Lane Kiffin isn't the jerk you think he is." Kiffin misunderstood? Doyel thinks so, and on Tuesday he joined the show to discuss his time with Kiffin, his impressions of the man and much more.

Included in our rapid-fire 20-minute conversation:

- Why it was actually the suggestion of colleague Dennis Dodd that brought Doyel to Kiffin’s doorstep, and why it only came after Doyel realized that he didn’t dislike the “USC Lane Kiffin” nearly as much as the “Tennessee Lane Kiffin.”

- Why it was actually Kiffin who actually opened the conversation by apologizing for his behavior at Tennessee and why Doyel was taken aback by Kiffin’s self-reflection and introspection.

- Why Doyel truly does believe Kiffin has changed from the immature guy he was at Tennessee, and why he also understands why Kiffin actually the way he did while on Rocky Top.

- What the reaction to Doyel’s column has been by casual college football fans, and why there are still some people who will never believe that Kiffin has changed, regardless of what anyone writes.

- What Kiffin does on the recruiting trail that makes kids like him so much. He’s not as dynamic as some other coaches, but it’s impossible to deny his success.

 

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Of every conference in college football, few have had a more dynamic, fascinating, and at times frustrating few months than the ACC. Realignment rumors nearly ripped this conference apart, a new TV contract didn’t live up to previous billing, and for a while it looked like the conference might get squeezed in playoff conversation as well.

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Thankfully, the ACC not only survived but came out looking better than expected, and on Tuesday, the great Michael Felder of the Bleacher Report joined the podcast to talk about it all, as well as preview the 2012 season. Michael is an old friend of the show, and always fun to catch up with, and we did exactly that, discussing the following subjects:

- How the ACC survived all the turmoil this off-season, and how despite it all, the conference actually came out looking better than expected. In addition, how conference commissioner John Swofford furthered the ACC “brand” by inking a long-term deal with the Orange Bowl.

- Among the other changes in conference are Pitt and Syracuse joining the fold, maybe as soon as 2012. What do the two programs actually bring to table, and did they actually help improve the conference’s stature in the college football world?

- Moving to the 2012 season, what should we make of preseason favorites Florida State? Yes, they disappointed last year, but they were also a year or so ahead of schedule in the entire rebuilding process. Do they have the offensive weapons to break through this year? Also, why Mark Stoops has been such a God send in Tallahassee.

- Speaking of God sends, how excited should Clemson fans be about the hiring of Brent Venables as defensive coordinator? Yes he brings a strong pedigree, but with a new system and so many new pieces, will it “work” in time for this season. In addition, could it actually be Clemson’s offense that is the bigg/est detriment to their defense?

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Since starting this podcast a couple years back, few guests have been on as regularly as Adam Kramer of KegsNEggsBlog.com, and now of Bleacher Report. And after a long winter hiatus, Adam was back on the show earlier this week to talk about his new gig at B/R, a college football playoff, and most importantly his favorite subject… gambling odds.

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That’s right, Adam and I did a whole hour talking the best and worst bets in college football, but we began with…

- Adam’s new role at Bleacher Report, and how he’s liking it so far. Adam discusses the transition of going from short-form, quick-hit writing, to longer form, as well as what his “kryptonite” is in regards to shooting video.

- We discuss the good and the bad of college football’s new playoff. Adam likes the idea of four teams, but is still wrapping his head around the idea of a selection committee. We both agree that the “argument” over the fifth best team won’t be nearly as fierce as the third best team, and that overall, this is a step in the right direction for college football.

- Switching back to 2012, Adam and I discuss the USC Trojans heading into the fall. They opened up in the middle of the pack, but have quickly become the odds on favorites to win the BCS title. At 3-1 odds (which they’re going off at in most books), Adam isn’t sold on them as a good bet. I’m just not sold on them period.

- In the SEC, the odds have shifted in most books, where LSU opened as a heavy favorite, and now appear to be co-favorites with Alabama. Is that because Alabama has more talent than people realize, or strictly because the Crimson Tide are a heavily bet on “public” team.

- Staying in the SEC, how have Arkansas’ odds been impacted by the departure of Bobby Petrino? More importantly, even with slightly longer odds than most teams of their caliber, could Adam possibly justify putting money on them?

- Moving to the Big XII, Adam and I both agree on Texas being undervalued and West Virginia being overvalued. Later, we turn the subject to Oklahoma, and both agree that we’re terrified of all things Landry Jones.

- Wrapping up, we’ve got Notre Dame… and my oh my, what is Vegas thinking putting them at 30-1 odds? More importantly, how could anyone possibly justify betting them at that number?

Plus much, much more…

Folks, college football is still about two months away, but if you’re thinking about placing a few wagers, now is the time to do it. Nobody knows the sport and knows gambling quite like Adam Kramer, and before you make your bets, this is a podcast worth listening to.

Speaking of the interview, you can access it in any number of ways. If you can’t listen to the show live here, you can always download it straight from iTunes, just by searching for the “Aaron Torres Sports Podcast.” You can also subscribe to the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast by clicking here.

Also for updates on the show, my writing and much more, be sure to follow on Twitter @Aaron_Torres. While you’re there, make sure to give Adam a follow too @KegsNEggs.

And finally, please remember that Exclusiv Vodka is now an official sponsor of the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast. And as a thank you for listening, they want to give you a free bottle of their product.

To be entered all you’ve got to do is go to Exclusiv’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/ExclusivVodka. From there, be sure to “Like” their product, and then tag yourself with Exclusiv and the phrase “Aaron Torres Sports Podcast.” Do that, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a free bottle.

Regardless, I want to quickly thank Aaron again for joining the show, and thank you for taking the time to listen.

Until next time…

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Entering the 2012 college football season, there might not be a single more fascinating program in the country than Texas A&M. The Aggies are changing conferences, head coaches, and seemingly the attitude around their program, as Kevin Sumlin takes the reigns of the program from previous head coach Mike Sherman.

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Well on Tuesday, a man who knows this program well, Brandon Leone stopped by the show. Brandon is an ex-Aggies running back and current analyst for TexAgs.com, and we broke down all things A&M football, starting with:

- Brandon’s role at TexAgs. How did he get started, why did he get involved and the ironic timing of his hiring, which came just days before Texas A&M officially began their transition to the SEC last summer.

- Why Texas A&M’s decision to leave for the SEC really was a “100 year” decision. And why in a lot of ways, geographically and culturally, the SEC is a better fit for the program than the Big XII was (Aaron’s note: It took some convincing on Brandon’s end, but as time goes on, I really am starting to like the decision more and more for the school).

- How Kevin Sumlin’s arrival on campus has changed the entire culture around the program. And why, from booster club meetings, to recruiting, to the practice field, there is a completely different vibe around A&M now.

- Briefly going back to the 2011 season, what went wrong exactly for the Aggies? Was it talent? Scheme? Coaching? Some combination of all three? Also, why Brandon believes losing all those close games can help Texas A&M in 2012.

- Speaking of 2012, why Brandon believes the real questions come on defense. Even as they transition to Sumlin's spread offense, Texas A&M will be able to score points. But will they be able to stop the ground and pound offenses of LSU, Alabama and some of the conference's other elite teams?

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One of the biggest stories in the lead-up to the 2012 college football season is the excitement surrounding the launch of the Pac-12 Network. What will it look like? How will it operate? These are all questions that most college football fans and Pac-12 fans in general are asking, with the network set to debut in the middle of August.

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And on Tuesday some of those questions were answered, as one of the Pac-12 Network’s first hires, Summer Sanders, joined the podcast to discuss her new role at the network. Summer is a former Stanford and Olympic swimmer, and will take on a multi-purpose role with the network.

Amongst the topics that we talked about, included:

- What her reaction was when she heard about the new Pac-12 Network last year, and why she actually reached out to Pac-12 officials about getting involved.

- Why working for the Pac-12 Network is a lot like “coming home” for Sanders, who is originally from Walnut Creek, CA, and swam at Stanford. Walnut Creek is the home of the network’s headquarters.

- All the “mysterious” things going on around the Pac-12 Network as they get set to launch in a month.

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It’s been awhile since we podcasted here at Aaron Torres Sports, but it only seems appropriate that with my return, I make it for a special occasion. Well, that is exactly what we have today, as our old friend Barrett Sallee from the Bleacher Report talks about his interview from earlier this week with the nation’s No. 1 high school recruit in the class of 2013, Georgia defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (you can watch the interview here).

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This is a bit of a shorter podcast than usual, but Barrett brings the goods as always, discussing Nkemdiche, his college choice and more, starting with:

- After originally stating that he’d commit this spring, Nkemdiche decided to put things off until the fall. Why was that? And what does it say about the character of Nkemdiche to wait?

- Why the most important variable in his college decision could have nothing to do with college at all, but instead with how pro scouts project Nkemdiche at the next level. Will he be a 3-4 linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end? And how the answer to that question, may decide his college fate.

- If he is projected as a 4-3 defensive end, does that mean that Alabama is out of the mix completely? And if so, is there anything Nick Saban can do- using his wealth of NFL knowledge- to help sway the kid the other way?

- After saying that he’d like to visit a couple schools outside of SEC country, is there any chance Nkemdiche could end up going far away from home? Do schools like Texas, USC or Oregon stand a chance in landing him?

- With his brother already on the roster, could Ole Miss potentially land the No. 1 recruit in the country?

- And finally, where does Barrett think Nkemdiche will end up after making his decision a year from now?

Folks, over the next nine or so months you’re going to hear a lot about the recruitment of high school football superstar Robert Nkemdiche, but why listen to others when you can instead get information straight from someone who talked to him earlier this week? Barrett Sallee is that guy, and if you’re a fan of a school recruiting Nkemdiche, this is worth a listen.

Speaking of which, as always you can access this interview in any number of ways. If you can’t listen to the show live here, you can always download it straight from iTunes, just by searching for the “Aaron Torres Sports Podcast.” You can also subscribe to the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast by clicking here.

Also for updates on the show, my writing and much more, be sure to follow on Twitter @Aaron_Torres. Make sure and give Barrett a follow as well @BarrettSallee.

And finally, please remember that Exclusiv Vodka is now an official sponsor of the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast. And as a thank you for listening, they want to give you a free bottle of their product.

To be entered all you’ve got to do is go to Exclusiv’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/ExclusivVodka. From there, be sure to “Like” their product, and then tag yourself with Exclusiv and the phrase “Aaron Torres Sports Podcast.” Do that, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a free bottle.

Regardless, I want to quickly thank Barrett again for joining the show, and thank you for taking the time to listen.

Until next time…

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