1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,636 (female announcer)   Production funding   for Sports Files is 2 00:00:02,636 --> 00:00:04,338 made possible in part by... 3 00:00:04,338 --> 00:00:08,775 (male narrator)   Infiniti of Memphis   has moved to Germantown 4 00:00:08,775 --> 00:00:10,177 road just half mile north of   Wolfchase Galleria and is proud 5 00:00:10,177 --> 00:00:13,280 to support WKNO for its quality   broadcasting and service 6 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,314 to our community. 7 00:00:14,314 --> 00:00:16,783 Quality and service --   No wonder Infiniti of Memphis 8 00:00:16,783 --> 00:00:19,786 feels at home on WKNO. 9 00:00:27,728 --> 00:00:30,564 - My guest today on Sports Files is iconic sports figure, 10 00:00:30,564 --> 00:00:33,333 television analyst and basketball Hall of Famer, 11 00:00:33,333 --> 00:00:35,068 Dick Vitale. 12 00:00:35,068 --> 00:00:52,452 [theme music] 13 00:00:52,452 --> 00:00:54,655 Dick Vitale has had an amazing run. 14 00:00:54,655 --> 00:00:56,657 He's as well known a sports figure 15 00:00:56,657 --> 00:00:57,691 as the athletes themselves. 16 00:00:57,691 --> 00:01:00,928 In fact, he's probably more popular than most. 17 00:01:00,928 --> 00:01:04,097 But if you think Vitale is all glitz and no substance, 18 00:01:04,097 --> 00:01:07,334 then you have no idea who the real Dick Vitale is. 19 00:01:07,334 --> 00:01:10,070 For years he has been in the forefront in helping raise money 20 00:01:10,070 --> 00:01:12,773 and awareness about pediatric cancer. 21 00:01:12,773 --> 00:01:16,009 He also serves on the board of the Jimmy V foundation and has 22 00:01:16,009 --> 00:01:18,011 made appearances throughout the country, 23 00:01:18,011 --> 00:01:21,348 using his celebrity to help out numerous causes. 24 00:01:21,348 --> 00:01:24,584 In simple terms, Dicky V just gets it! 25 00:01:24,584 --> 00:01:26,586 He also knows how to fire up his audience, 26 00:01:26,586 --> 00:01:29,389 with a passion and flair few others even attempt 27 00:01:29,389 --> 00:01:30,757 to replicate. 28 00:01:30,757 --> 00:01:32,726 He is a true original. 29 00:01:32,726 --> 00:01:35,529 His catchphrases are timeless and he's surely been 30 00:01:35,529 --> 00:01:37,831 impersonated by thousands. 31 00:01:37,831 --> 00:01:41,702 When you hear the words "Diaper Dandy" or "PT-PE-ER", 32 00:01:41,702 --> 00:01:45,806 or" Dipsy-Doo Dunk-a-roo" or "It's awesome baby", 33 00:01:45,806 --> 00:01:47,708 you know it's Dicky V. 34 00:01:47,708 --> 00:01:50,510 Today, the fun side and the serious side of the iconic 35 00:01:50,510 --> 00:01:51,645 Dick Vitale. 36 00:01:51,645 --> 00:01:54,448 And he's next on Sports Files. 37 00:01:54,448 --> 00:02:04,257 [theme music] 38 00:02:04,257 --> 00:02:06,293 Dick, first of all, great to have you in Memphis. 39 00:02:06,293 --> 00:02:07,661 Happy Father's Day to ya. 40 00:02:07,661 --> 00:02:08,395 - Well, thank you. 41 00:02:08,395 --> 00:02:10,530 I think Father's Day is certainly very special. 42 00:02:10,530 --> 00:02:14,434 I've been getting Tweets from my grandchildren and my daughters. 43 00:02:14,434 --> 00:02:16,336 You know, you take that responsibility. 44 00:02:16,336 --> 00:02:18,672 A lot of guys don't understand, you know, 45 00:02:18,672 --> 00:02:21,575 it's probably easy bringing a child in the world but taking 46 00:02:21,575 --> 00:02:23,910 care of that child and nurture them and having the 47 00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:27,180 responsibility to raise them with lots of love. 48 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:29,182 I know I miss my father so much. 49 00:02:29,182 --> 00:02:33,787 My dad really set an example for my family in every way possible. 50 00:02:33,787 --> 00:02:38,058 I can't remember him missing a day's work because of a headache 51 00:02:38,058 --> 00:02:39,059 or the flu. 52 00:02:39,059 --> 00:02:40,227 And he worked. 53 00:02:40,227 --> 00:02:43,697 I mean, pressed coats in a factory. 54 00:02:43,697 --> 00:02:45,699 The more coats he pressed, the more money he got paid. 55 00:02:45,699 --> 00:02:46,867 Came home, we ate dinner. 56 00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:49,803 I learned more at my dinner table than any class I ever had. 57 00:02:49,803 --> 00:02:50,804 I learned about love. 58 00:02:50,804 --> 00:02:51,905 I learned about family. 59 00:02:51,905 --> 00:02:53,440 I learned about togetherness. 60 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:54,708 I learned about adversity. 61 00:02:54,708 --> 00:02:57,477 And then he put a security guard uniform on. 62 00:02:57,477 --> 00:02:58,545 You're from Jersey. 63 00:02:58,545 --> 00:03:01,682 And he would go to the Bergen Mall in New Jersey and he would 64 00:03:01,682 --> 00:03:05,585 walk the mall from 6:00 to 12:00 as a security guard. 65 00:03:05,585 --> 00:03:06,753 That was his life. 66 00:03:06,753 --> 00:03:08,989 Up at 6:00 in the morning, go to the factory, 67 00:03:08,989 --> 00:03:12,192 press coats, eat dinner and go walk the mall. 68 00:03:12,192 --> 00:03:15,929 And if you don't think that affected me to learn about 69 00:03:15,929 --> 00:03:19,833 discipline and learn about family and love, 70 00:03:19,833 --> 00:03:21,468 it really impacted me big time. 71 00:03:21,468 --> 00:03:22,536 So, I miss my dad. 72 00:03:22,536 --> 00:03:23,537 - Values as well. 73 00:03:23,537 --> 00:03:25,539 I lost my dad when I was 13 years old. 74 00:03:25,539 --> 00:03:27,074 He died at the age of 35. 75 00:03:27,074 --> 00:03:29,509 So, it's very special, this day, to me, 76 00:03:29,509 --> 00:03:32,079 not having been with him for many, many years. 77 00:03:32,079 --> 00:03:34,114 Dick, this is quite the hardware you have next to you. 78 00:03:34,114 --> 00:03:35,615 You've won a lot of hardware. 79 00:03:35,615 --> 00:03:38,151 Of course, being elected in to   the NBA Hall of Fame probably at 80 00:03:38,151 --> 00:03:39,352 the top at that list. 81 00:03:39,352 --> 00:03:41,988 But to be honored by the   AutoZone Liberty Bowl, 82 00:03:41,988 --> 00:03:45,092 a college football game with   the distinguished citizen award. 83 00:03:45,092 --> 00:03:47,094 What do you think about this honor? 84 00:03:47,094 --> 00:03:49,096 - Well, I'm really touched by it. 85 00:03:49,096 --> 00:03:51,098 I know when Steve called me and Dave Woloshin, 86 00:03:51,098 --> 00:03:52,099 they called me about it. 87 00:03:52,099 --> 00:03:54,334 I was touched by it because obviously they're involved 88 00:03:54,334 --> 00:03:55,335 with St. Jude. 89 00:03:55,335 --> 00:03:57,604 And St. Jude is so special to me. 90 00:03:57,604 --> 00:03:59,606 St. Jude has been part of my life. 91 00:03:59,606 --> 00:04:01,608 I can't begin to tell ya. 92 00:04:01,608 --> 00:04:02,642 I lost my eye as a youngster. 93 00:04:02,642 --> 00:04:04,644 I thought it was the end of the world. 94 00:04:04,644 --> 00:04:07,214 And my mother gave me a Saint Jude card. 95 00:04:07,214 --> 00:04:10,550 And Saint Jude has been with me for over 70 years in my pocket. 96 00:04:10,550 --> 00:04:14,121 Saint Jude has been a part of my life. 97 00:04:14,121 --> 00:04:15,355 It's the Saint.. 98 00:04:15,355 --> 00:04:18,492 I'm not here to preach religion. 99 00:04:18,492 --> 00:04:21,361 But in the Catholic religion, it's all about hopeless times. 100 00:04:21,361 --> 00:04:23,063 You reach out to Saint Jude. 101 00:04:23,063 --> 00:04:25,932 And I know I've reached out a number of times, 102 00:04:25,932 --> 00:04:28,235 begging and pleading to have one good eye. 103 00:04:28,235 --> 00:04:30,804 And Saint Jude has been good to me, man. 104 00:04:30,804 --> 00:04:31,938 Been good to me. 105 00:04:31,938 --> 00:04:35,642 So, when I took a tour today and went with Steve and the 106 00:04:35,642 --> 00:04:37,644 beautiful people at the hospital, 107 00:04:37,644 --> 00:04:40,814 taking my wife and I on a tour of the St. Jude's Hospital, 108 00:04:40,814 --> 00:04:43,950 I was blown away, blown away by what they have done. 109 00:04:43,950 --> 00:04:47,387 I only would hope and dream and pray that Danny Thomas could 110 00:04:47,387 --> 00:04:50,524 have been living to see what this has built in to. 111 00:04:50,524 --> 00:04:53,393 The impact he has had on lives, generation after generation. 112 00:04:53,393 --> 00:04:55,395 Isn't that a sign of greatness? 113 00:04:55,395 --> 00:04:56,396 - Absolutely. 114 00:04:56,396 --> 00:04:58,398 - To win a basketball game is one thing. 115 00:04:58,398 --> 00:05:01,368 When you're affecting people's lives like he has and what he 116 00:05:01,368 --> 00:05:04,237 does because of what he started, to have the vision. 117 00:05:04,237 --> 00:05:06,807 The vision I feel when I look at that, 118 00:05:06,807 --> 00:05:08,542 I feel like a no body. 119 00:05:08,542 --> 00:05:11,645 'Cause, man, what he did is something special. 120 00:05:11,645 --> 00:05:13,647 - But you have affected lives, Dick. 121 00:05:13,647 --> 00:05:16,850 And I want to talk about what you have done with obviously 122 00:05:16,850 --> 00:05:18,852 your great friendship with the late Jim Valvano, 123 00:05:18,852 --> 00:05:20,854 what you do for cancer research. 124 00:05:20,854 --> 00:05:21,855 And it's so dear to your heart. 125 00:05:21,855 --> 00:05:25,325 So, yes, you may be calling basketball games and making a 126 00:05:25,325 --> 00:05:28,328 lot of people happy with the way you call a game but you've done 127 00:05:28,328 --> 00:05:30,330 a lot of things for a lot of people. 128 00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:31,331 - Well, I appreciate that. 129 00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:34,034 I think it's important in life to give back. 130 00:05:34,034 --> 00:05:37,938 I think celebrity-hood has given me an opportunity to open up 131 00:05:37,938 --> 00:05:41,041 doors to where I can get the CEOs and the presidents, 132 00:05:41,041 --> 00:05:44,544 people that can make instant decisions in donating money and 133 00:05:44,544 --> 00:05:45,545 giving money. 134 00:05:45,545 --> 00:05:49,049 And it's really something I try to utilize in a positive way. 135 00:05:49,049 --> 00:05:51,751 And I try to use celebrity-hood in a positive way. 136 00:05:51,751 --> 00:05:54,621 And we've been blessed that we've raised we like to think 137 00:05:54,621 --> 00:05:56,923 some good dollars with the V Foundation. 138 00:05:56,923 --> 00:05:58,925 I'm a member of the board of directors. 139 00:05:58,925 --> 00:06:03,697 We've raised over $120 million that's utilized in all kinds of 140 00:06:03,697 --> 00:06:06,132 research of breast cancer, lung cancer, 141 00:06:06,132 --> 00:06:09,502 you name it, prostate cancer, right down the line. 142 00:06:09,502 --> 00:06:14,874 But my specific gala through the V Foundation is for kids. 143 00:06:14,874 --> 00:06:16,476 It's all about pediatrics. 144 00:06:16,476 --> 00:06:17,744 I've said it once. 145 00:06:17,744 --> 00:06:18,745 I'll say it again. 146 00:06:18,745 --> 00:06:22,649 There is very little being done to help kids with dollars for 147 00:06:22,649 --> 00:06:23,650 research in cancer. 148 00:06:23,650 --> 00:06:24,651 Only four percent.. 149 00:06:24,651 --> 00:06:26,920 It breaks my heart when I hear this. 150 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:31,858 Only four percent of every dollar raised for cancer 151 00:06:31,858 --> 00:06:34,094 research goes to pediatrics. 152 00:06:34,094 --> 00:06:35,528 And that is sad. 153 00:06:35,528 --> 00:06:36,563 That is sad. 154 00:06:36,563 --> 00:06:37,831 It's got to change. 155 00:06:37,831 --> 00:06:38,965 That's got to change. 156 00:06:38,965 --> 00:06:40,433 The kids, that's our future. 157 00:06:40,433 --> 00:06:42,535 Seeing these youngsters battle this disease. 158 00:06:42,535 --> 00:06:44,037 We had at my gala.. 159 00:06:44,037 --> 00:06:45,238 I introduced to the crowd.. 160 00:06:45,238 --> 00:06:47,040 The crowd was filled with greatness. 161 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:48,174 You name the coaches. 162 00:06:48,174 --> 00:06:49,609 John Calipari was there. 163 00:06:49,609 --> 00:06:50,777 Bob Huggins. 164 00:06:50,777 --> 00:06:52,145 Jim Larranaga. 165 00:06:52,145 --> 00:06:54,447 Over the years, we had Calipari, Pitino, Donovan. 166 00:06:54,447 --> 00:06:56,016 You name them, they been with us. 167 00:06:56,016 --> 00:06:58,151 Heisman Trophy winners have been with us. 168 00:06:58,151 --> 00:06:59,920 Vinny Testaverde has been with us. 169 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:01,988 This year we had Jameis Winston with us. 170 00:07:01,988 --> 00:07:03,256 We've had Kenny Chesney. 171 00:07:03,256 --> 00:07:04,791 We've had Magic Johnson. 172 00:07:04,791 --> 00:07:06,259 I mean, we've had greatness. 173 00:07:06,259 --> 00:07:08,561 But I told the crowd this year, I said, 174 00:07:08,561 --> 00:07:10,430 "You know, with all the greats that are here, 175 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:12,565 and I think every one of you for coming.." 176 00:07:12,565 --> 00:07:14,200 Because they all come free of charge. 177 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,238 They all pay their own way, pay their own expenses and many of 178 00:07:18,238 --> 00:07:21,074 them give us thousands and thousands of dollars. 179 00:07:21,074 --> 00:07:22,942 I mean, thousands. 180 00:07:22,942 --> 00:07:25,679 So, I told them, I said, "Now I'm going to introduce a team 181 00:07:25,679 --> 00:07:29,282 that to me is what courage is all about." 182 00:07:29,282 --> 00:07:31,051 I brought up ten youngsters. 183 00:07:31,051 --> 00:07:33,286 And I told them about each one because I get to know them. 184 00:07:33,286 --> 00:07:36,690 A name doesn't mean much to the people here but Jake Turaska. 185 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:39,592 Jake Turaska was told, "You will never walk. 186 00:07:39,592 --> 00:07:41,594 "You will never talk. 187 00:07:41,594 --> 00:07:43,430 "And most likely, you're going to lose your life 188 00:07:43,430 --> 00:07:45,598 to Neuroblastoma." 189 00:07:45,598 --> 00:07:47,967 Today Jake is 16 years old. 190 00:07:47,967 --> 00:07:51,071 And I'll tell ya he's an outstanding baseball player. 191 00:07:51,071 --> 00:07:52,072 - God bless him. 192 00:07:52,072 --> 00:07:53,206 - One of the best in our area. 193 00:07:53,206 --> 00:07:54,641 And I introduce Jake. 194 00:07:54,641 --> 00:07:55,909 Then I introduce the young guy. 195 00:07:55,909 --> 00:07:58,111 You see him and you just want to hug him. 196 00:07:58,111 --> 00:08:02,082 Seven years old, Josh, the cutest smile, 197 00:08:02,082 --> 00:08:03,483 light up a room. 198 00:08:03,483 --> 00:08:07,187 Josh did 1,600 doses of chemotherapy. 199 00:08:07,187 --> 00:08:08,488 Chemotherapy. 200 00:08:08,488 --> 00:08:11,925 And he can't do enough to want to help other kids. 201 00:08:11,925 --> 00:08:13,760 And it just blows me away. 202 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,762 And I introduced all these kids to the crowd. 203 00:08:15,762 --> 00:08:17,964 And obviously was tears in the crowd, 204 00:08:17,964 --> 00:08:21,534 standing ovation, over 900 people that paid $1,000 205 00:08:21,534 --> 00:08:22,535 a person. 206 00:08:22,535 --> 00:08:24,204 And we raised $2.38 million. 207 00:08:24,204 --> 00:08:25,338 But that's not enough. 208 00:08:25,338 --> 00:08:28,641 - Well, Dick, as you've said, you've used your celebrity 209 00:08:28,641 --> 00:08:29,676 for good. 210 00:08:29,676 --> 00:08:32,078 But there was a point, you didn't know you were going to be 211 00:08:32,078 --> 00:08:33,079 this celebrity. 212 00:08:33,079 --> 00:08:35,081 Let me go back to the late '70s. 213 00:08:35,081 --> 00:08:36,182 I was in high school. 214 00:08:36,182 --> 00:08:38,184 I remember you 'cause I was a, you know, 215 00:08:38,184 --> 00:08:39,185 budding sportscaster. 216 00:08:39,185 --> 00:08:41,187 I wanted to be a sportscaster since I was a kid. 217 00:08:41,187 --> 00:08:42,188 So, I followed sports. 218 00:08:42,188 --> 00:08:44,190 I knew that you were the head coach at the University of 219 00:08:44,190 --> 00:08:45,558 Detroit, now Detroit Mercy. 220 00:08:45,558 --> 00:08:46,659 I'm looking at your numbers. 221 00:08:46,659 --> 00:08:48,461 79 and 29 in four years. 222 00:08:48,461 --> 00:08:51,431 26 and 3 in that fourth year. 223 00:08:51,431 --> 00:08:52,432 Why did you become an AD? 224 00:08:52,432 --> 00:08:54,834 And then eventually you went to the Pistons. 225 00:08:54,834 --> 00:08:56,836 I'll talk about that in a second. 226 00:08:56,836 --> 00:08:58,838 But why did you get out of it there? 227 00:08:58,838 --> 00:09:00,840 - Well, you know, I made a mistake. 228 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,842 I shouldn't have went to the NBA. 229 00:09:02,842 --> 00:09:03,843 I belonged in college. 230 00:09:03,843 --> 00:09:05,845 Jimmy Valvano used to always say never mess with happy. 231 00:09:05,845 --> 00:09:08,848 If one is happy, don't mess with it. 232 00:09:08,848 --> 00:09:10,984 And I knew too many people mess with happy. 233 00:09:10,984 --> 00:09:13,820 The happy with it but you're a free agent and you can get more 234 00:09:13,820 --> 00:09:15,155 money going somewhere else. 235 00:09:15,155 --> 00:09:16,156 They take the cash. 236 00:09:16,156 --> 00:09:18,324 And cash is not always the answer. 237 00:09:18,324 --> 00:09:20,326 I mean, if you're making a good living. 238 00:09:20,326 --> 00:09:22,328 And when the job came open with the Pistons, 239 00:09:22,328 --> 00:09:24,330 I was shocked, you know, and stunned. 240 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:25,331 I got offered the job. 241 00:09:25,331 --> 00:09:26,933 I was like in my thirties. 242 00:09:26,933 --> 00:09:28,268 And it was an ego trip, too. 243 00:09:28,268 --> 00:09:30,270 I mean, financially, here it is. 244 00:09:30,270 --> 00:09:32,105 I mean, 1970. 245 00:09:32,105 --> 00:09:34,808 I'm teaching the sixth grade, coaching the high school. 246 00:09:34,808 --> 00:09:38,077 Seven years later, I'm in the NBA as a head coach. 247 00:09:38,077 --> 00:09:39,079 I'm sitting there in awe. 248 00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:41,881 I mean, you got Jerry West on the other sideline. 249 00:09:41,881 --> 00:09:42,882 Jack Ramsay. 250 00:09:42,882 --> 00:09:45,418 I want to get my autograph book and go get autographs. 251 00:09:45,418 --> 00:09:46,686 Man, it's unbelievable. 252 00:09:46,686 --> 00:09:50,990 But really, my personality belonged in college. 253 00:09:50,990 --> 00:09:53,426 You know, we see now Billy Donovan has moved on. 254 00:09:53,426 --> 00:09:54,861 Freddie Hoiberg. 255 00:09:54,861 --> 00:09:59,699 But as opposed to when John Calipari or Pitino or myself or 256 00:09:59,699 --> 00:10:03,269 the late Jerry Tarkanian, we didn't go to good teams. 257 00:10:03,269 --> 00:10:06,339 We didn't go to teams that really had the personnel to win. 258 00:10:06,339 --> 00:10:10,009 Billy and Fred right now are going to teams 259 00:10:10,009 --> 00:10:11,177 that have a chance. 260 00:10:11,177 --> 00:10:13,813 Then you've got a Kevin Durant and a Westmore. 261 00:10:13,813 --> 00:10:15,548 You got a chance to win. 262 00:10:15,548 --> 00:10:17,016 You go with Derrick Rose.. 263 00:10:17,016 --> 00:10:19,018 You guys obviously know well here. 264 00:10:19,018 --> 00:10:21,387 But Derrick Rose and company down there in Chicago, 265 00:10:21,387 --> 00:10:23,156 you got a chance to win. 266 00:10:23,156 --> 00:10:24,157 And I just.. 267 00:10:24,157 --> 00:10:25,191 I couldn't handle losing. 268 00:10:25,191 --> 00:10:28,127 Best thing to ever happen to me was getting fired. 269 00:10:28,127 --> 00:10:30,129 Because had I stayed in coaching, 270 00:10:30,129 --> 00:10:33,066 I firmly believe I would have never made it to 50. 271 00:10:33,066 --> 00:10:35,068 Because I really couldn't handle losing. 272 00:10:35,068 --> 00:10:36,069 I couldn't lose. 273 00:10:36,069 --> 00:10:37,437 I tore my heart out. 274 00:10:37,437 --> 00:10:40,673 - But you went from that situation where you were out of 275 00:10:40,673 --> 00:10:41,674 a job. 276 00:10:41,674 --> 00:10:43,676 You coached some college and the NBA. 277 00:10:43,676 --> 00:10:46,212 You were trying to figure out what to do next. 278 00:10:46,212 --> 00:10:48,781 This fledgling company ESPN asks you to do games. 279 00:10:48,781 --> 00:10:50,783 And it took a while. 280 00:10:50,783 --> 00:10:54,354 You didn't become Dicky V for a few years. 281 00:10:54,354 --> 00:10:55,355 - Nobody knew us. 282 00:10:55,355 --> 00:10:56,356 Nobody watched TV. 283 00:10:56,356 --> 00:10:57,357 - But were you.. 284 00:10:57,357 --> 00:11:02,061 You could not have been the broadcaster you are today when 285 00:11:02,061 --> 00:11:03,062 you first started, right? 286 00:11:03,062 --> 00:11:04,097 Did you even like it? 287 00:11:04,097 --> 00:11:05,165 - Well, I liked it. 288 00:11:05,165 --> 00:11:06,165 I liked the idea. 289 00:11:06,165 --> 00:11:08,167 But I was still thinking about, you know, 290 00:11:08,167 --> 00:11:10,170 coaching in college until one day. 291 00:11:10,170 --> 00:11:12,171 I didn't understand what he meant. 292 00:11:12,171 --> 00:11:13,573 I got hired first of all. 293 00:11:13,573 --> 00:11:16,176 It's amazing how something can change your life. 294 00:11:16,176 --> 00:11:19,546 My last game I ever coached as a college coach, 295 00:11:19,546 --> 00:11:20,547 ever coached. 296 00:11:20,547 --> 00:11:22,549 We played at Rupp Arena and we played 297 00:11:22,549 --> 00:11:23,550 the University of Michigan. 298 00:11:23,550 --> 00:11:25,552 And they were number one in the country. 299 00:11:25,552 --> 00:11:27,554 It would be like, I guess, equated to -- Oh, 300 00:11:27,554 --> 00:11:28,555 I don't know. 301 00:11:28,555 --> 00:11:31,057 A Memphis playing when they're super at Tennessee. 302 00:11:31,057 --> 00:11:32,058 We were playing. 303 00:11:32,058 --> 00:11:34,961 We're the little guy, basically the eyes of the public. 304 00:11:34,961 --> 00:11:36,462 And Michigan is the giant. 305 00:11:36,462 --> 00:11:39,165 Their full budget is bigger than our whole budget. 306 00:11:39,165 --> 00:11:40,333 But there were are. 307 00:11:40,333 --> 00:11:42,735 We win 21 in a row that year. 308 00:11:42,735 --> 00:11:45,438 We beat the likes of Michigan State and Arizona. 309 00:11:45,438 --> 00:11:46,639 We had great teams. 310 00:11:46,639 --> 00:11:48,741 We beat Marquette in fact at Marquette, 311 00:11:48,741 --> 00:11:51,444 Al McGuire's team that won the national title two-and-a-half 312 00:11:51,444 --> 00:11:52,946 months after we beat them. 313 00:11:52,946 --> 00:11:54,447 But anyway, we were good. 314 00:11:54,447 --> 00:11:55,949 I had three NBA players. 315 00:11:55,949 --> 00:11:56,950 We were good. 316 00:11:56,950 --> 00:11:58,651 And we wanted to play Michigan. 317 00:11:58,651 --> 00:12:00,753 We couldn't get them on the schedule. 318 00:12:00,753 --> 00:12:02,755 Finally when appearings came out, 319 00:12:02,755 --> 00:12:05,258 one of my assistants comes running in and he says, 320 00:12:05,258 --> 00:12:07,327 "Coach, you're not going to believe this. 321 00:12:07,327 --> 00:12:11,364 If we get to the Sweet Sixteen, we play Michigan." 322 00:12:11,364 --> 00:12:12,398 I called a team meeting. 323 00:12:12,398 --> 00:12:13,533 Got them in there. 324 00:12:13,533 --> 00:12:15,768 All you guys, all you do is bitch and moan how much you want 325 00:12:15,768 --> 00:12:16,769 to play Michigan. 326 00:12:16,769 --> 00:12:17,770 Alright. 327 00:12:17,770 --> 00:12:18,771 You want to play them? 328 00:12:18,771 --> 00:12:19,772 Roll down appearance. 329 00:12:19,772 --> 00:12:20,773 There they are. 330 00:12:20,773 --> 00:12:21,774 Sweet Sixteen. 331 00:12:21,774 --> 00:12:23,776 - There's your momentum right there. 332 00:12:23,776 --> 00:12:24,777 - Now we go and we played. 333 00:12:24,777 --> 00:12:27,213 And the day before at practice.. 334 00:12:27,213 --> 00:12:29,349 There's three people at practice. 335 00:12:29,349 --> 00:12:31,584 Two I recognize right away. 336 00:12:31,584 --> 00:12:33,152 One I have no idea. 337 00:12:33,152 --> 00:12:36,022 The two I recognize -- John Wooden and Curt Gowdy. 338 00:12:36,022 --> 00:12:37,023 You're a broadcaster. 339 00:12:37,023 --> 00:12:39,258 Curt Gowdy is as big as it gets. 340 00:12:39,258 --> 00:12:41,261 I'm saying to myself, "What are they doing here?" 341 00:12:41,261 --> 00:12:43,363 The third guy comes up to me and he says, 342 00:12:43,363 --> 00:12:46,532 "We've decided because as David and Goliath, 343 00:12:46,532 --> 00:12:51,070 "we're going to televise the game on NBC and Mr. Gowdy is 344 00:12:51,070 --> 00:12:53,673 "going to do the play by play and John Wooden is going to be 345 00:12:53,673 --> 00:12:54,674 the analyst." 346 00:12:54,674 --> 00:12:55,675 Oh, my God. 347 00:12:55,675 --> 00:12:57,110 I was like a little kid. 348 00:12:57,110 --> 00:12:58,111 John Wooden! 349 00:12:58,111 --> 00:13:00,113 So, I bring my team over to meet him. 350 00:13:00,113 --> 00:13:01,114 We take a picture. 351 00:13:01,114 --> 00:13:04,751 And then I give a talk, a five minute talk about greatness. 352 00:13:04,751 --> 00:13:06,052 I told my players. 353 00:13:06,052 --> 00:13:08,054 I said, "I'm going to define greatness. 354 00:13:08,054 --> 00:13:09,722 "Greatness is right here. 355 00:13:09,722 --> 00:13:12,291 "Coach Wooden, ten national titles. 356 00:13:12,291 --> 00:13:16,329 "Curt Gowdy with every award imaginable as a broadcaster. 357 00:13:16,329 --> 00:13:17,864 This is greatness." 358 00:13:17,864 --> 00:13:20,066 Little did I know we get beat. 359 00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:22,068 Heartbreaker, last minute, we lose. 360 00:13:22,068 --> 00:13:23,903 Unbelievable game. 361 00:13:23,903 --> 00:13:28,474 Well, I get fired by the Pistons November 8, 1979. 362 00:13:28,474 --> 00:13:30,376 A week later the phone rings. 363 00:13:30,376 --> 00:13:33,179 It said, "Dick, you're not going to remember me but my name is 364 00:13:33,179 --> 00:13:34,514 "Scotty Connal. 365 00:13:34,514 --> 00:13:37,583 "I've just been named the head of a new network, 366 00:13:37,583 --> 00:13:38,584 ESPN." 367 00:13:38,584 --> 00:13:40,186 He said, "I was the third guy. 368 00:13:40,186 --> 00:13:42,455 "I was the head of NBC sports. 369 00:13:42,455 --> 00:13:46,025 "I was the third guy with Mr. Gowdy and Mr. Wooden. 370 00:13:46,025 --> 00:13:48,628 "And when we left the arena that night, 371 00:13:48,628 --> 00:13:51,864 he said, "John Wooden and Curt Gowdy said to me.." 372 00:13:51,864 --> 00:13:54,801 Said, "Scotty, I think that guy -- interview him, 373 00:13:54,801 --> 00:13:56,402 "he'd be great at TV. 374 00:13:56,402 --> 00:13:57,403 His personality." 375 00:13:57,403 --> 00:14:00,540 He says, "So, I want to give you a chance. 376 00:14:00,540 --> 00:14:03,976 I want you to do our very first game on this new network." 377 00:14:03,976 --> 00:14:07,113 And to tell you the truth, I said, 378 00:14:07,113 --> 00:14:09,549 "No, I have no interest, no television. 379 00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:10,917 "I don't want no television. 380 00:14:10,917 --> 00:14:12,452 I want to coach in college." 381 00:14:12,452 --> 00:14:14,454 - Didn't your lovely wife urge you on? 382 00:14:14,454 --> 00:14:16,456 (Dick)   She's the one that threw me out. 383 00:14:16,456 --> 00:14:19,392 She actually threw me out of   the house because my wife.. 384 00:14:19,392 --> 00:14:20,727 Let me tell you this. 385 00:14:20,727 --> 00:14:23,129 I was watching Luke and Laura on General Hospital. 386 00:14:23,129 --> 00:14:24,464 I was so down, man. 387 00:14:24,464 --> 00:14:25,765 I was down and depressed. 388 00:14:25,765 --> 00:14:26,766 My career exploded. 389 00:14:26,766 --> 00:14:28,768 And all of a sudden you get fired. 390 00:14:28,768 --> 00:14:30,036 No body calls you back. 391 00:14:30,036 --> 00:14:31,104 You can't get calls. 392 00:14:31,104 --> 00:14:33,973 You can't get anybody to call you and return calls. 393 00:14:33,973 --> 00:14:34,974 It was depressing. 394 00:14:34,974 --> 00:14:38,644 And then, all of a sudden he called me back a week later. 395 00:14:38,644 --> 00:14:41,481 And my wife said, "Go do the game. 396 00:14:41,481 --> 00:14:42,949 "Stop feeling sorry. 397 00:14:42,949 --> 00:14:45,084 "You're not the first guy to be fired. 398 00:14:45,084 --> 00:14:46,085 You're not the last guy." 399 00:14:46,085 --> 00:14:47,720 I went and I did that game. 400 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,889 It was like a fresh breath of air. 401 00:14:49,889 --> 00:14:50,957 It was unbelievable. 402 00:14:50,957 --> 00:14:52,291 I never thought.. 403 00:14:52,291 --> 00:14:55,161 So, Scotty kept saying to me, "Don't go to coaching, 404 00:14:55,161 --> 00:14:56,262 Dick." 405 00:14:56,262 --> 00:14:58,931 He said, "There's something you connect with people. 406 00:14:58,931 --> 00:15:00,099 "You connect. 407 00:15:00,099 --> 00:15:02,068 There aren't that many guys announcing that connect." 408 00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:03,169 He said, "You connect." 409 00:15:03,169 --> 00:15:04,070 I didn't know. 410 00:15:04,070 --> 00:15:05,138 What are you talking about "connect"? 411 00:15:05,138 --> 00:15:07,206 He said, "Whether they agree with you or disagree, 412 00:15:07,206 --> 00:15:08,941 "they react to you. 413 00:15:08,941 --> 00:15:10,576 They react." 414 00:15:10,576 --> 00:15:15,381 Well, 1983, I go to my first Final Four as a TV broadcaster 415 00:15:15,381 --> 00:15:17,150 for ESPN. 416 00:15:17,150 --> 00:15:20,186 I walk in the arena and people are coming up for pictures, 417 00:15:20,186 --> 00:15:21,020 autographs. 418 00:15:21,020 --> 00:15:22,955 And Scotty says, "Didn't I tell ya? 419 00:15:22,955 --> 00:15:24,557 "You connect, my friend. 420 00:15:24,557 --> 00:15:25,825 You connect." 421 00:15:25,825 --> 00:15:28,928 And right then and there, my life sort of changed because 422 00:15:28,928 --> 00:15:30,463 offers came. 423 00:15:30,463 --> 00:15:35,034 And if you would have told me from then on I'd have 13 books 424 00:15:35,034 --> 00:15:37,904 I've written, that I've been on David Letterman, 425 00:15:37,904 --> 00:15:41,274 the Bill Cosby Show when it was number one. 426 00:15:41,274 --> 00:15:43,276 - You were offered a sitcom, were you not? 427 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:44,277 - Yeah. 428 00:15:44,277 --> 00:15:45,545 Well, we had so much fun. 429 00:15:45,545 --> 00:15:47,547 They did a phony kind of sitcom. 430 00:15:47,547 --> 00:15:49,582 But I was offered an opportunity. 431 00:15:49,582 --> 00:15:52,785 They flew me to Hollywood to do a sitcom. 432 00:15:52,785 --> 00:15:55,888 And when I got done, I told my agents. 433 00:15:55,888 --> 00:15:57,290 I said, "I'm not interested." 434 00:15:57,290 --> 00:15:59,792 And they couldn't believe it and neither could the people. 435 00:15:59,792 --> 00:16:01,661 They met with me a second time. 436 00:16:01,661 --> 00:16:03,663 You know we're talking a lot different money than what you're 437 00:16:03,663 --> 00:16:04,664 making in television. 438 00:16:04,664 --> 00:16:06,999 And I said, "I have no desire, none. 439 00:16:06,999 --> 00:16:08,367 "I love what I'm doing. 440 00:16:08,367 --> 00:16:09,402 "I'm making enough money. 441 00:16:09,402 --> 00:16:10,403 I'm happy." 442 00:16:10,403 --> 00:16:15,575 And I realized, you know, you don't just run for dollars. 443 00:16:15,575 --> 00:16:17,577 And I think too many people do that. 444 00:16:17,577 --> 00:16:19,579 - We only have a few more minutes, Dick. 445 00:16:19,579 --> 00:16:21,581 But I want to ask you -- is there ever a point where you're 446 00:16:21,581 --> 00:16:22,582 just -- leave me alone. 447 00:16:22,582 --> 00:16:23,983 You know, I can't always be on. 448 00:16:23,983 --> 00:16:26,185 I need some time to myself and my family. 449 00:16:26,185 --> 00:16:28,087 Does that happen to you? 450 00:16:28,087 --> 00:16:29,088 - Absolutely. 451 00:16:29,088 --> 00:16:31,924 But you know, I get so much time with my family. 452 00:16:31,924 --> 00:16:34,460 People that really know me, my intimate friends, 453 00:16:34,460 --> 00:16:37,496 know that every day of my life, my wife, 454 00:16:37,496 --> 00:16:40,132 my daughters, my sons-in-laws and my five grandkids, 455 00:16:40,132 --> 00:16:42,602 my whole life evolves around them. 456 00:16:42,602 --> 00:16:44,604 I'll be gone tomorrow to a party today. 457 00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:46,873 My little granddaughter, Ava, she's ten now. 458 00:16:46,873 --> 00:16:47,940 She turned ten yesterday. 459 00:16:47,940 --> 00:16:50,443 Papa, Papa, you gonna take me for my birthday? 460 00:16:50,443 --> 00:16:54,247 I said, "Tomorrow, Monday night, we're going out and we're going 461 00:16:54,247 --> 00:16:58,551 "to have a great time at the Cheesecake Factory and go out 462 00:16:58,551 --> 00:16:59,552 for her birthday." 463 00:16:59,552 --> 00:17:00,553 But my family.. 464 00:17:00,553 --> 00:17:02,755 A lot of people don't know this but my daughters went 465 00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:03,756 to Notre Dame. 466 00:17:03,756 --> 00:17:05,758 I was telling today Steve Erhart.. 467 00:17:05,758 --> 00:17:09,662 I said, "A lot of people don't know it cost me a lot of money," 468 00:17:09,662 --> 00:17:14,433 because I closed my calendar from Thursday to Sunday and I 469 00:17:14,433 --> 00:17:17,236 have a lot of offers to speak making a lot of money, 470 00:17:17,236 --> 00:17:19,238 because I do a lot of corporate events. 471 00:17:19,238 --> 00:17:21,540 And I said, "I'm not going." 472 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:24,744 I did not miss, in four years that my daughter was at Notre 473 00:17:24,744 --> 00:17:29,115 Dame, I did not miss one Notre Dame home football game. 474 00:17:29,115 --> 00:17:33,219 And I would always take some couple with me that was good to 475 00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:35,221 me whether it be from New Jersey, 476 00:17:35,221 --> 00:17:38,124 somebody who was good to me in my career would be my guest. 477 00:17:38,124 --> 00:17:41,193 And we would go to South Bend, Thursday to Sunday 478 00:17:41,193 --> 00:17:42,395 and see the Irish. 479 00:17:42,395 --> 00:17:45,364 And my daughter who started off with like six people and then it 480 00:17:45,364 --> 00:17:48,267 ended up with like 30 every Friday night and Saturday. 481 00:17:48,267 --> 00:17:50,836 All their friends and you know whw picked up the tab. 482 00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:52,004 It cost me a lot of money. 483 00:17:52,004 --> 00:17:56,275 - Dick, I like to end all our interviews with something I call 484 00:17:56,275 --> 00:17:57,310 "Five for the Road." 485 00:17:57,310 --> 00:18:00,479 So, I just need a quick answer, first thing that comes to mind, 486 00:18:00,479 --> 00:18:01,480 simple questions. 487 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,816 Favorite professional sports team of all time? 488 00:18:03,816 --> 00:18:05,184 - Favorite sports.. 489 00:18:05,184 --> 00:18:07,019 Oh, you're kind of tough. 490 00:18:07,019 --> 00:18:09,488 You're kind of tough, man. 491 00:18:09,488 --> 00:18:10,790 Wow, this just floors me. 492 00:18:10,790 --> 00:18:13,192 Favorite pro team, probably, I would have to say, 493 00:18:13,192 --> 00:18:16,896 uh, growing up as a kid, the Yankees when they had the great, 494 00:18:16,896 --> 00:18:17,897 great players, man. 495 00:18:17,897 --> 00:18:21,934 When they had all those guys. 496 00:18:21,934 --> 00:18:23,069 - They weren't too shabby. 497 00:18:23,069 --> 00:18:25,504 How about your favorite pro athlete of all time? 498 00:18:25,504 --> 00:18:26,839 - Favorite pro athlete, Magic Johnson. 499 00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:27,740 I love Magic for his passion and pride. 500 00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:30,009 - What's your favorite music or musician or band? 501 00:18:30,009 --> 00:18:33,713 Who do you like to listen to when you just kick back and 502 00:18:33,713 --> 00:18:34,847 listen to music? 503 00:18:34,847 --> 00:18:38,551 - I love all kinds of music but give me Kenny Chesney and give 504 00:18:38,551 --> 00:18:39,685 me Lionel Richie. 505 00:18:39,685 --> 00:18:40,686 - Really? 506 00:18:40,686 --> 00:18:43,689 So, a little country, a little bit of R and B soul. 507 00:18:43,689 --> 00:18:46,292 - We are absolutely fanatics, my wife and I, 508 00:18:46,292 --> 00:18:47,293 for concerts. 509 00:18:47,293 --> 00:18:48,828 We go to concerts galore. 510 00:18:48,828 --> 00:18:52,164 Every kind from Josh Groban to you name it. 511 00:18:52,164 --> 00:18:55,401 Hey, I got a great Josh Groban story if you want to hear it? 512 00:18:55,401 --> 00:18:56,402 I'll give you a quick one. 513 00:18:56,402 --> 00:18:57,703 Josh Groban. 514 00:18:57,703 --> 00:19:00,473 Wife comes home so we go to see Josh Groban in concert. 515 00:19:00,473 --> 00:19:02,475 I said, "I'm not going to see Josh Groban. 516 00:19:02,475 --> 00:19:03,476 "I don't know Josh Groban. 517 00:19:03,476 --> 00:19:04,510 I don't know his music." 518 00:19:04,510 --> 00:19:06,512 And, "No, no, you gotta go." 519 00:19:06,512 --> 00:19:08,514 My daughter says he's great now. 520 00:19:08,514 --> 00:19:10,516 So, I put on Twitter that I'm going. 521 00:19:10,516 --> 00:19:11,517 I put on Twitter.. 522 00:19:11,517 --> 00:19:12,518 I have 700,000 followers. 523 00:19:12,518 --> 00:19:14,754 Hey, tell me about this guy Josh Groban. 524 00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:15,755 Is he any good? 525 00:19:15,755 --> 00:19:16,756 I'm going to see him. 526 00:19:16,756 --> 00:19:18,090 I get all these Tweets. 527 00:19:18,090 --> 00:19:19,091 He's fantastic. 528 00:19:19,091 --> 00:19:21,360 He does the prayer. 529 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:23,362 Middle of the concert, he's singing. 530 00:19:23,362 --> 00:19:24,463 The place is packed. 531 00:19:24,463 --> 00:19:25,965 Twenty thousand people. 532 00:19:25,965 --> 00:19:29,568 Josh Groban goes to the crowd, "I understand Dicky V is in the 533 00:19:29,568 --> 00:19:32,772 "house and he sent a Tweet out wanting to know if I'm any good. 534 00:19:32,772 --> 00:19:34,106 Am I any good, Dicky V?" 535 00:19:34,106 --> 00:19:37,276 And then we met with him after the show. 536 00:19:37,276 --> 00:19:39,278 - And you learned quickly about Twitter that it gets back to 537 00:19:39,278 --> 00:19:41,280 some people that you Tweet about. 538 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:42,281 Favorite movie of all time? 539 00:19:42,281 --> 00:19:44,283 Can be a sports movie or anything. 540 00:19:44,283 --> 00:19:45,284 - I love "Rocky". 541 00:19:45,284 --> 00:19:46,552 I love the original "Rocky". 542 00:19:46,552 --> 00:19:48,821 - And finally, your favorite TV show. 543 00:19:48,821 --> 00:19:51,257 What's your simple little pleasure? 544 00:19:51,257 --> 00:19:52,958 - Ed Sullivan years ago, man. 545 00:19:52,958 --> 00:19:53,959 Give my age away. 546 00:19:53,959 --> 00:19:55,061 - What about in this century? 547 00:19:55,061 --> 00:19:56,162 - My favorite TV show.. 548 00:19:56,162 --> 00:19:57,663 I don't watch much TV. 549 00:19:57,663 --> 00:20:02,234 ESPN Sports Center. 550 00:20:02,234 --> 00:20:04,370 - Hey, Dick, it's been an absolute pleasure. 551 00:20:04,370 --> 00:20:05,671 Thank you so much. 552 00:20:05,671 --> 00:20:07,039 - You're well prepared, man. 553 00:20:07,039 --> 00:20:09,041 You have a chance in this career. 554 00:20:09,041 --> 00:20:11,043 I wish I had your looks and I was your age. 555 00:20:11,043 --> 00:20:11,777 I wish I had some hair on my head. 556 00:20:11,777 --> 00:20:13,045 - The great Dick Vitale. 557 00:20:13,045 --> 00:20:13,479 We'll take a break. 558 00:20:13,479 --> 00:20:14,747 Overtime is next. 559 00:20:14,747 --> 00:20:15,915 - T-O baby! 560 00:20:15,915 --> 00:20:17,183 [laughter] 561 00:20:17,183 --> 00:20:32,465 [theme music] 562 00:20:32,465 --> 00:20:36,535 - We're less than two months away from college football camps 563 00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:39,638 opening up across the country, but it's never too early 564 00:20:39,638 --> 00:20:41,006 to talk pigskin. 565 00:20:41,006 --> 00:20:43,542 Last year was the first year of the national college football 566 00:20:43,542 --> 00:20:46,779 playoff which resulted in Ohio State winning the first ever 567 00:20:46,779 --> 00:20:49,281 championship, taking down the Oregon Ducks, 568 00:20:49,281 --> 00:20:50,816 42-20. 569 00:20:50,816 --> 00:20:53,586 With several weeks left before the end of the regular season, 570 00:20:53,586 --> 00:20:56,522 there was a lot of uncertainty as to which four teams would 571 00:20:56,522 --> 00:20:57,890 make-up the playoff. 572 00:20:57,890 --> 00:21:00,493 The incredibly competitive SEC West, 573 00:21:00,493 --> 00:21:03,162 considered by most as the best top to bottom division in 574 00:21:03,162 --> 00:21:06,599 college football, had a number of teams in the mix. 575 00:21:06,599 --> 00:21:10,035 One of them was the surprising Mississippi State Bulldogs. 576 00:21:10,035 --> 00:21:12,605 In Dan Mullen's sixth season at the helm, 577 00:21:12,605 --> 00:21:15,574 the Bullies shot to number one in the country for the first 578 00:21:15,574 --> 00:21:17,109 time in school history. 579 00:21:17,109 --> 00:21:20,045 And while the Dogs were unable to sustain that top ranking, 580 00:21:20,045 --> 00:21:23,082 they did go on to produce one of their greatest seasons in the 581 00:21:23,082 --> 00:21:25,684 110 year history of the school. 582 00:21:25,684 --> 00:21:27,853 Mississippi State would finish ten and three, 583 00:21:27,853 --> 00:21:30,389 their second ten win season ever. 584 00:21:30,389 --> 00:21:32,391 They would also get an invitation to play 585 00:21:32,391 --> 00:21:33,392 in the Orange Bowl. 586 00:21:33,392 --> 00:21:36,729 Once again only the second time in school history the dogs got 587 00:21:36,729 --> 00:21:39,198 to play in one of the major bowls. 588 00:21:39,198 --> 00:21:41,667 Last month, Head Coach Dan Mullen payed a visit to Olive 589 00:21:41,667 --> 00:21:44,537 Branch and our Sports Files camera caught up with him. 590 00:21:44,537 --> 00:21:48,007 (off screen male)   How did your spring practice   go and what did 591 00:21:48,007 --> 00:21:49,108 you learn from it? 592 00:21:49,108 --> 00:21:51,110 - Well, you know, I think it went really well. 593 00:21:51,110 --> 00:21:53,112 Really pleased with the effort our team gives 594 00:21:53,112 --> 00:21:54,113 and how our guys play. 595 00:21:54,113 --> 00:21:56,115 We got a lot of inexperienced players. 596 00:21:56,115 --> 00:21:58,117 You know, we got some guys coming back. 597 00:21:58,117 --> 00:22:00,119 But for us, you know, we like to have a lot of depth. 598 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,521 We play a lot of guys and develop and roll guys through an 599 00:22:02,521 --> 00:22:03,522 awful lot. 600 00:22:03,522 --> 00:22:05,524 So, we got some inexperienced guys. 601 00:22:05,524 --> 00:22:07,526 We've still got a lot of work to do before we play 602 00:22:07,526 --> 00:22:08,527 the first game. 603 00:22:08,527 --> 00:22:10,529 But we have a lot of time until we have to play that game. 604 00:22:10,529 --> 00:22:12,531 (off screen male)   What did you try to accomplish   in spring training? 605 00:22:12,531 --> 00:22:14,533 - Well, just that to get guys ready to go play. 606 00:22:14,533 --> 00:22:16,535 Teach these young guys who haven't played a whole lot of 607 00:22:16,535 --> 00:22:18,537 football to learn how to play with maximum effort. 608 00:22:18,537 --> 00:22:19,872 That's really important to me. 609 00:22:19,872 --> 00:22:21,874 And so, you know, if we get those guys, 610 00:22:21,874 --> 00:22:24,944 they're learning how to play to the level we expect them 611 00:22:24,944 --> 00:22:25,945 to play at. 612 00:22:25,945 --> 00:22:27,947 (off screen male)   Well, you had a pretty good   year last year. 613 00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:28,948 Ten wins. 614 00:22:28,948 --> 00:22:30,316 How do you build on that? 615 00:22:30,316 --> 00:22:33,352 - Well, we got to get 11, 12, 13 and 14 or 15 this year. 616 00:22:33,352 --> 00:22:35,354 We got to find a way to get more. 617 00:22:35,354 --> 00:22:37,356 And, you know, I think with our guys, 618 00:22:37,356 --> 00:22:39,358 we've built the program to the point where, 619 00:22:39,358 --> 00:22:41,360 you know, we can compete for championships year in and year 620 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:42,394 out and we need to do that. 621 00:22:42,394 --> 00:22:46,265 (off screen male)   And you've got   Dak coming back. 622 00:22:46,265 --> 00:22:48,434 What does that mean to you? 623 00:22:48,434 --> 00:22:49,435 - Well, it certainly helps. 624 00:22:49,435 --> 00:22:51,871 Anytime you have your starting quarterback coming back, 625 00:22:51,871 --> 00:22:56,742 it's going to help, especially a guy as talented as Dak is. 626 00:22:56,742 --> 00:22:58,811 Doesn't just help on the field. 627 00:22:58,811 --> 00:22:59,812 It helps off the field. 628 00:22:59,812 --> 00:23:01,347 Off season conditioning. 629 00:23:01,347 --> 00:23:03,349 All summer long when we can't be around the guys, 630 00:23:03,349 --> 00:23:05,351 Dak's going to be with the guys out there. 631 00:23:05,351 --> 00:23:08,087 And, you know, I mean, pushing guys and making sure they're 632 00:23:08,087 --> 00:23:09,355 continuing to develop. 633 00:23:09,355 --> 00:23:13,492 (off screen male)   So, um, you had some   good exposure last year. 634 00:23:13,492 --> 00:23:16,595 Uh, Game Day from ESPN,   those guys showing up. 635 00:23:16,595 --> 00:23:19,832 What did that mean to   you recruiting wise? 636 00:23:19,832 --> 00:23:22,601 - Well, you know, I think it's great for the program. 637 00:23:22,601 --> 00:23:25,704 You know, I think a lot of these young players that are out 638 00:23:25,704 --> 00:23:28,207 there, they look and they look at all of our players that are 639 00:23:28,207 --> 00:23:30,209 graduating, getting their degree, 640 00:23:30,209 --> 00:23:32,411 how they're being developed throughout their career and 641 00:23:32,411 --> 00:23:34,713 their opportunity to go on and play in the NFL. 642 00:23:34,713 --> 00:23:37,349 We're putting as many players in the NFL as any team 643 00:23:37,349 --> 00:23:38,350 in the country. 644 00:23:38,350 --> 00:23:41,287 And so, when you have that and they can live all their dreams 645 00:23:41,287 --> 00:23:43,322 at Mississippi State, they know it's a great place to come 646 00:23:43,322 --> 00:23:44,323 to school. 647 00:23:44,323 --> 00:23:45,324 And I think that helps. 648 00:23:45,324 --> 00:23:47,626 (off screen male)   What are your   strengths for this year? 649 00:23:47,626 --> 00:23:49,862 - Well, I mean, obviously we got a great quarterback coming back. 650 00:23:49,862 --> 00:23:52,197 You know, we got some guys coming back, 651 00:23:52,197 --> 00:23:55,668 some good leadership on the team with some great leaders 652 00:23:55,668 --> 00:23:56,769 coming back. 653 00:23:56,769 --> 00:23:58,771 You know, our guys expect to win. 654 00:23:58,771 --> 00:24:00,773 We've win and we go to bowl games. 655 00:24:00,773 --> 00:24:02,775 So, guys expect us to win and go compete for a championship. 656 00:24:02,775 --> 00:24:05,144 (off screen male)   So, what's your message   for the fans this year? 657 00:24:05,144 --> 00:24:06,145 - Keep showing up. 658 00:24:06,145 --> 00:24:07,146 We're on the right direction. 659 00:24:07,146 --> 00:24:08,147 You know what I mean? 660 00:24:08,147 --> 00:24:10,416 We've built this program from a program where maybe going to a 661 00:24:10,416 --> 00:24:12,251 bowl game was a great season. 662 00:24:12,251 --> 00:24:14,286 Now we're looking to win championships. 663 00:24:14,286 --> 00:24:16,989 And, you know, we've done it by selling out the stadium, 664 00:24:16,989 --> 00:24:19,725 having unbelievable enthusiasm, people wearing the school 665 00:24:19,725 --> 00:24:21,460 colors, great pride. 666 00:24:21,460 --> 00:24:22,461 And we need to do that. 667 00:24:22,461 --> 00:24:24,463 Every game has got to be sold out next year again. 668 00:24:24,463 --> 00:24:26,498 We've got to have the hardest environment to play in on 669 00:24:26,498 --> 00:24:31,170 Saturdays and continue to build on what we've built in the past. 670 00:24:31,170 --> 00:24:34,940 - The Bulldogs will open the 2015 season on September 5th at 671 00:24:34,940 --> 00:24:38,610 Southern Miss, and will begin SEC play the following week when 672 00:24:38,610 --> 00:24:43,182 they play host to LSU on the 12th at Davis Wade Stadium. 673 00:24:43,182 --> 00:24:45,884 The NBA Draft is taking place tonight and the Memphis 674 00:24:45,884 --> 00:24:49,488 Grizzlies are set to select 25th in the first round. 675 00:24:49,488 --> 00:24:52,624 The Grizzlies have no selections in the second round but a move 676 00:24:52,624 --> 00:24:54,193 is always possible. 677 00:24:54,193 --> 00:24:57,196 In other Grizzlies news, free   agent forward Jeff Green has 678 00:24:57,196 --> 00:25:01,333 exercised his player   option for the 2015-'16 season. 679 00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:03,369 That was certainly expected. 680 00:25:03,369 --> 00:25:05,537 Green will make $9.2 million. 681 00:25:05,537 --> 00:25:09,274 Of course Grizzlies fans are awaiting the biggest news of the 682 00:25:09,274 --> 00:25:13,045 off season and that is the Marc Gasol decision which is right 683 00:25:13,045 --> 00:25:14,146 around the corner. 684 00:25:14,146 --> 00:25:16,882 Several national outlets have reported that Gasol will 685 00:25:16,882 --> 00:25:19,418 entertain offers from interested parties, 686 00:25:19,418 --> 00:25:21,653 but when it's all said and done we'll re-up 687 00:25:21,653 --> 00:25:23,422 with the home town team. 688 00:25:23,422 --> 00:25:25,491 We will soon find out. 689 00:25:25,491 --> 00:25:26,492 And that will do it for now. 690 00:25:26,492 --> 00:25:29,428 Remember you can see any of our previous Sports Files programs 691 00:25:29,428 --> 00:25:33,432 by simply going to our website, wkno.org. 692 00:25:33,432 --> 00:25:35,734 Until we talk again, have a great week and we'll see you 693 00:25:35,734 --> 00:25:36,969 next time. 694 00:25:36,969 --> 00:26:08,734 [theme music] 695 00:26:08,734 --> 00:26:10,903 (female announcer)   Production funding   for "Sports Files" is 696 00:26:10,903 --> 00:26:13,272 made possible in part by.. 697 00:26:13,272 --> 00:26:15,808 (male narrator)   Infiniti of Memphis has   moved to Germantown 698 00:26:15,808 --> 00:26:18,677 road just half mile north of   Wolfchase Galleria and is proud 699 00:26:18,677 --> 00:26:21,680 to support WKNO for its quality   broadcasting and service 700 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:22,815 to our community. 701 00:26:22,815 --> 00:26:24,850 Quality and service --   No wonder Infiniti of Memphis 702 00:26:24,850 --> 00:26:27,386 feels at home on WKNO. 703 00:26:27,386 --> 00:26:31,386 CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WKNO, MEMPHIS.