Distant Replay

Year one of the Bowl Championship Series brought high drama to the sport of college football, and all eyes were on the Big XII Championship Game in St. Louis as #3 Kansas State hoped to clinch a national championship berth against #10 Texas A&M. 

This was just the third conference championship game for the Big XII and it would deliver a classic. 

Michael Bishop and these Wildcats had cruised to an 11-0 record and needed one upset ahead of them to get into the BCS Championship Game. On the other side, the Aggies were starting a backup quarterback but still had Dante Hall and Sirr Parker in their arsenal. 

On this episode, we take you back to that December afternoon in the Trans World Dome to relive this heartbreaking finish for Kansas State. 

Among the things we'll discuss:

• Martin 'Automatica' Gramatica
• Dante Hall the running back
• Bill Snyder vs RC Slocum
• The BCS standings heading into this final week
• Outdated observations
• Some what if scenarios
• A different era of college football
• Brent Musburger and Dan Fouts

There's much more to the episode but those are just some of the highlights. To read more and to watch this game in its entirety, visit our website: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-56-1998-big-xii-championship-3-kansas-state-vs-10-texas-am/ 

When you think back on the greatest national championship games of all-time, the 2008 matchup between the Memphis Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks would rank up there. A battle of two one-seeds with superstar freshman Derrick Rose headlining the game, it's best remembered by the way it finished.

Both of these teams were coached by men in John Calipari and Bill Self who were well on their way to Hall of Fame careers but needed to get a championship on their resume to solidify spot among the professions best. 

The similarities between the two teams did not end there, both were #1 seeds who spent most of the season in the top 5 and their team statistics were scary close, pretty much mirror images of each other. There was NBA talent all over on both sides w/ the headliner being Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose who burst on the scene in the tourney looking to complete a Carmelo type run through the Big Dance.    On this episode we discuss:   - Calipari vs Self - Memphis’ crazy good non-conference schedule  - Peak Nantz happiness, Masters looming - How similar the two teams were  - The Chalmers shot and where does it rank all-time - Memphis woes down the stretch from the line - Did the better team win? - A historic Final Four   You can go back and watch this game in its entirety here: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-55-2008-ncaa-tourney-final-memphis-tigers-vs-kansas-jayhawks/

Venezuelan-born pitcher Ugueth Urbina enjoyed an 11-year MLB career that a World Series with the Marlins in 2003 and two All-Star appearances. He even led the league in saves in 1999.

But away from the diamond, Urbina's father was murdered and his mother was kidnapped and held captive for more than five months before a military-style rescue. 

After all that, his baseball career would come to an end in 2005 when he was arrested and later convicted for attempted murder when he attacked five farm workers with a machete and attempted to pour gasoline on them. 

Learn more about his story today on Distant Replay. 

The 100th Backyard Brawl between West Virginia and Pittsburgh had a lot riding on it. A Mountaineer win and they were headed to the BCS National Championship behind the trio of Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine.   In their way was rival Pittsburgh led by a freshman RB named LeSean McCoy who was a lone shining light on a Panthers team that had struggled all season. This team was 4-7 and a 28.5-point underdog heading into this primetime matchup.   When they say records go out the window during rivalry games they are talking about games like the 2007 Backyard Brawl.   On this episode we discuss:  

• Pat McAfee’s kicking blunders
• Rich Rod and Dave Wannstedt
• Wannstedt and his crutches become a main storyline in the funniest way possible
• Mike Patrick/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe in the call
• The magical trio of Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine
• A Perry Farrell, 50 cent, and Kelly Rowland collaboration that you may have forgotten
• A completely bonkers 2007 college football season
• Outdated observations including the commercial for the 1st iPhone
• Bad play by both teams
• The 2007 BCS Championship Race
• What this game would have been like on social media

We hit that and a lot more. This is a game that changed the course of history for a lot of programs and we highly recommend going back and reliving it once again. 

You can see the entire game on our website here: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-54-2007-backyard-brawl-pittsburgh-2-west-virginia/ 

 

If you were a college basketball fan in the 1980s and 90s, you know all about the Great Alaska Shootout. 

This annual Thanksgiving tournament featured some of the greatest teams and players in the sport but it's not longer being played. 

Join us as we go back through the history of the tournament, highlight the list of MVPs through the years, discuss the Alaskan Assassins return to Anchorage, and discuss why it came to an end. 

For more, visit our website at http://distantreplaypodcast.com

The 2014 edition of the Egg Bowl featured two ranked teams, which is something that happened just four previous times in over 100 year history of this rivalry.

The pregame Egg Bowl hype delivered in a big way in this intense matchup of rivals. Mississippi State came in ranked 4th nationally and still very much in the mix for a College Football Playoff birth, while Ole Miss started off 7-0, faltered down the stretch, and was looking to ruin the postseason aspirations of the rival bulldogs.

Topics we discuss on this episode:

• Hugh Freeze and Dan Mullen, two up and coming coaches taking each program to new heights
• A young Mississippi State QB named Dak Prescott
• Ole Miss’ fishy recruiting class
• Bo Wallace – perfect SEC QB in more ways than one
• The Grove tailgates and Pimento cheese
• A little history on the Egg Bowl, some good some not so good
• The first CFP rankings

We'll talk these things and much more.

If you want to see this game in its entirety, check out the show notes here: http://distantreplaypodcast.com

When he retired from the NFL, Dave Meggett held the record for most career punt return yardage. After playing for the Giants, Patriots, and Jets, Meggett was a well-known running back with what appeared to be a successful life. 

But off the field was a different story.

Today we'll tell you about a personal life that included multiple charges and accusations from women that eventually ended in a 30-year prison sentence. It's a horrible story but one most NFL fans have never heard.

For more, visit us at http://distantreplay.com 

The 2006 NCAA Tournament East Regional Final between the Connecticut Huskies and George Mason Patriots was a true David vs. Goliath matchup.

UConn came in as the 1-seed steeped in tradition having won two of the previous si NCAA Tournament championships. George Mason was the Cinderella 11-seed looking to make their first Final Four in program history. 

The #1 question from a basketball strategy standpoint entering this game is if George Mason could hang with the UConn frontline of Rudy Gay, Josh Boone, and Hilton Armstrong when the tallest GMU player stood just 6'7" tall. Not only did the Patriots stand toe-to-toe with Huskies on the inside, but their well balanced attack would give them fits all over the floor.    On this episode we discuss:

• Larranaga/Calhoun
• George Mason’s memorable tourney run
• The great recent history of the UCONN program
• Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery on the call
• Rudy Gay and Rashad Anderson’s disappearing act
• The well-balanced Patriots
• A 15 minute stretch with no substitutions

This was a tournament classic and one you need to relive when you get a chance. If you want to watch the full game, check out the show notes here: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-52-2006-ncaa-tournament-elite-8-11-george-mason-vs-1-uconn/ 

On January 2, 1982, the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers staged a memorable AFC Divisional Round contest dubbed “Epic in Miami.” Although that nickname leaves much to be desired, the play on the field did not. 

On this episode of the podcast, we're going back to that Saturday night in Miami for one of the best games you might know nothing about. 

San Diego’s high-powered offense had playmakers all over the field led by QB Dan Fouts and TE Kellen Winslow and the Dolphins would be inspired by the play of a dashing QB right out of central casting named Don Strock.

Some of the things we discuss on this week’s episode:

• Miami in the 80s in FULL effect
• The rosters, coaches, & announcers
• Historic San Diego offense
• Why were jerseys so big in 1982?
• Did we figure out the inspiration for Ray Finkle?
• Don Strock, legend in more ways than one
• Kickers, kickers, kickers
• A cell phone in the stands?
• Again, MIAMI IN THE 80’s

This was a great game and a fun broadcast to get into as well. Join us as we take a look back!

If you want to watch the full game, check it out on our website here: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-51-afc-divisional-game-san-diego-chargers-miami-dolphins/ 

Until next week, check us out on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

One of the greatest viewing experiences in sports is the year's first golf major, The Masters. Between the impeccable scenery, top-notch production, soothing sounds of the piano, and high-level drama, nothing beats Augusta National on television.

But as old school as you think they are, the broadcast and tournament coverage has always been on the cutting edge. 

Today we'll take you through the evolution of that TV coverage - which has always aired on CBS and on a one-year contract - that includes a list of things that you can't say, banned broadcasters, and an embrace of technology. 

For more episodes, visit us on distantreplaypodcast.com.