Cully

My legendary coach Mr. Tom Wells joins the show to talk about the college football playoff selections. Offering expert analysis on the state of the NCAA and future of the conferences as expansion is coming next year. We agree Florida State should have been left out, while Alabama and Texas are more deserving because of playing a tougher schedule. Mr. Wells is the best and most accomplished, successful coach in NY State with over 850 wins combined in multiple sports. Currently, a book is in the works about his life and his appearance on the show was exceptional. Michigan plays Alabama and he believes the winner of that game will go on to be the National Champion. Texas vs Washington will be a track meet of scoring on offense and his picks will be a shocker. Mr. Wells and I discuss the state of Syracuse football, the new head coach, along with what needs to be done for them to move forward to the top of the ACC. He believes between NIL money deals, the transfer portal, and conference realignment, college football is a free for all, schools only care about the money and the players get lost in the shuffle. Mr. Wells is the best swim coach in the history of NY state, his son Jim went on to receive a scholarship at USC where he had an outstanding career, while his daughter Stacey got a scholarship at Syracuse and was a key performer all 4 years. An amazing father who lead both kids to be division 1 scholarship athletes, along with coaching many more to also compete at the college level. An informative, entertaining guest who provides excellent insight on the college football season. Thank you Mr. Wells!

After over a decade of not having a chance to speak to each other, Maryland Coach Rob Ambrose joins the show. Currently, he is an analyst and I learned a tremendous amount about his life. Born in Chicago, Rob grew up in Maryland and worked on a farm from an early age which taught him the value of a strong work ethic. It also made him appreciate sports where he competed in football, basketball, and baseball. Rob was taught if the cattle or farm were not tended to, his family was going to be without dinner. Rob's father was the Head Coach at Middletown High School in Western Maryland where after a few rocky seasons early on, he never looked back and became the winningest coach in school history. It can be challenging to play for your father, Rob lost a quarterback competition as a sophomore to an upperclassmen. However, he was brought up for the playoffs and when the team was 9-0, made a game winning interception. After scholarship offer fell through at James Madison. Rob was accepted to schools in the Ivy League but did not receive a good enough financial aid package. He landed at Towson, know as Towson State at the time, playing in the Patriot League. Rob became the first player in school history to line up and play every position on offense besides the offensive line. He was behind two excellent quarterbacks and moved to Wide Receiver to try and get on the field, he claimed to run a 4.7 40-yard dash with the wind at his back. After a hip injury, his playing career ended and had no plans to ever coach. Towson offered him a job as offensive coordinator and his career took off. Wanting an opportunity to be a head coach, he traveled to Catholic University where he stayed a year before coming to the University of Connecticut as Quarterbacks coach where we finally met. Normally I am a miserable, grumpy, energy vampire, Coach Ambrose changed my attitude very quickly because he was upbeat, happy, positive, enthusiastic and passionate. He would come hit the sled with the offensive linemen because they needed us to win. Star Quarterback and top recruit ever in the state of Connecticut Dan Orlovsky had a tumultuous freshmen year from not having the best Quarterbacks coach. Rob Ambrose stepped up and earned Dan's trust, Dan believed in him because coach Ambrose always had his back. They developed a close relationship that goes on to this day. Rob will say part of his success came from being in the right place at the right time. Towson losing their offensive coordinator in the spring, Catholic University needing a head coach, Having a chance to work with the greatest quarterback in UConn history in Dan Orlovsky, UConn losing Norries Wilson. Rob having an opportunity to build Towson's program. Timing is important, but you can't have an outstanding resume everywhere you go. I gravitated to Coach Ambrose because he cared about and loved his players. He did not get the best recruits, but he believed and developed them from the ground up. He was fiercely loyal, and never gave up on his players. Towson University was a trainwreck of a football program in 2009, playing in the toughest conference in Division 1 FCS. No problem! Eddie Robinson coach of the year in 2011, Colonial Athletic Conference Coach of the year in 2011 to go along with two conference championships, multiple playoff appearances and oh, by the way, a little accomplishment playing in the National Championship game. Rob Ambrose was not my position coach and I spent one year with him at UConn. Coach Ambrose has resonated with me 20 years now because he legitimately cares about his players, current and former. His frenetic energy made you know you could beat anyone. Despite not expecting to coach football, he put together a remarkable career, is an excellent family man, a father watching his son play college football in West Virginia. Rob is a brilliant mind, will help out anywhere needed. Overall a first-class person, knows how to develop young men, and have incredible success!

The coach Frankie C returns to talk about the end of the college football season. All the bowl games and major ones recapped. We turn to the NFL and discuss the importance of the Quarterback position. Teams investing 30 plus million dollars into one player and when they are injured, these teams do not have an answer. Plus we pick the national championship between Michigan vs an up tempo Washington team.

Moneyline is back with the Coach Frank Cristiano gutting through the show with an illness. Nothing was going to stop him from giving his analysis. We discuss Bill Belichick being unemployed and if his coaching style fits with the players of this generation. Coaching staffs growing to 20 plus people and if there are too many voices in locker rooms. Debating toughness and if it can be developed over time. Frank believes toughness can be built in a player to an extent. I think you either have it or you don't and nothing will help a player become tough. We review the playoff teams and outlooks for 2024. Then go into our bold Superbowl picks. Fun episode and we hope Frank feels better.

Coach Tom Wells is back by popular demand, along with his 854 career victories. Frank was spot on with his prediction of a low scoring contest and the injury to a key defender on the 49ers caused Chiefs TE Travis Kelce to make big plays in the second half. Mr. Wells felt San Francisco played too conservative after taking a lead into halftime and had plenty of opportunities to put the game out of reach. A heated debate, incredible episode from two experienced coaches who will go at each other hard to get the last word or point across. Coach Tom Wells, Coach Frank Cristiano, Best Host in the Universe Steve Cully, never a dull moment and MORE TO COME!

Thomas Andrew "The Skull" Hartmann returns with a lot on his mind. First, he loathes the descriptions I write for our shows. Says they are too long, and nobody will listen if they already know everything.

We discuss a new law allowing illegal immigrants to own guns. Andrew has several thoughts to share. He is an American and not allowed to protect his home with a firearm.

The Major League Hall Of Fame is argued over, along with their selection process. Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sousa never have been convicted of a crime. Roger Clemens and Bonds were charged in federal court, both were found not guilty on top of never failing a steroid test or being suspended. Nobody will vote for them.

Lastly, we do our NCAA pool picks and it was pure gold. Andrew is riding Colgate, Vermont and I won't give away more of his outrageous picks. Back to a show of comedy and laughter mixed in with the brilliant mind of Thomas Andrew "The Skull Hartmann.

Andy Weimer joins the show, which was a pleasant surprise and completely unplanned. A few years ago, Andy reached out to me, and we had not spoken in years. Very gracious, he knew I was leaving coaching, offered to help anyway possible, and cleaned up the monstrosity that was my resume.

Growing up, we became friends in 5th grade due to our love of football, the NY Giants, and Tecmo Superbowl on Nintendo. We competed in little league on opposite teams and were kind of opposites, besides playing sports.

Andy was quiet, polite, and respectful. I was loud, obnoxious, and always right. Andy was bright, worked hard in school and stayed out of trouble. I didn't study, was lazy, and found my way into a mess here or there.

We played on a legendary CYO basketball team coached by his father, and it was a blast, helped me develop tools to finally make the JV squad.

Remarkably, we both excelled in high school after finding our way, Andy was drafted by Major League Baseball and took a chance walking on at LeMoyne College. He learned to pitch side arm himself and became an all time great relief pitcher. From there, he had an impressive professional baseball career, which saw him play all over the country, for different franchises and at several levels. Andy received a special honor being inducted into the LeMoyne College Hall of Fame in 2021.

From coaching at Utica University, Andy has his own company AMW Financial, where you guessed it, he works as a financial advisor.

The twist of the story is we saw each other at the Redeemer church. Andy explained that growing up, we are brought into whatever religion our family pushes upon us. We don't always have a choice. As he got older, and with a family of his own, he found the Redeemer church. I saw him at mass and thought what are the odds two confirmed Catholics would run into each other at the Redeemer.

It was a warm reunion; Andy knew about my story but shared a big part I didn't even know about. We connected and he reinforced my faith, we talked about the excitement of arriving to church, finding guidance in the service and being disappointed when mass ends.

Andy is one of the best people I know, kind, respectful, intelligent, hard working and a dedicated father now. He bet on himself, started his own business and was not afraid to take a risk because it was in Gods hands. Andy is a pocast veteran starting as a guest for Pete Logue and his baseball show which is excellent. Andy and I definitely have more to talk about and I am excited to bring him back for future episodes.