Again on the show, Mike Giddance from the War Rappoor.

What's up, buddy?

Not much, Mike.

I appreciate you having me, as always, to talk a little Auburn sports.

Here it's been, I know we're going to talk a lot of football, but boy, it's been some drama on the basketball side with Auburn winning the NIT and people all over social media trying to convince me that it's a bad thing. Somehow they played five extra games and won five extra games. I don't get it, but it is what it is. Yeah, well, I'll be honest with you,

Mike. I mean, I do want to have you on to talk spring football more than anything else, but I did

see your viral post, and that made me think, hey, I got to get Mike back on the show. And again,

I'm not here to call out other media members, and I know you're not either, but, you know,

at the end of the day,

can you discuss your feelings on Auburn's decision to play in the NIT, and then they obviously

went on to win it?

You know, I think in this era, Mike, I mean, these guys are professionals now, right?

So if your team has an opportunity to keep playing, these guys are professionals now, right? So if your team has an opportunity

to keep playing, these guys are getting paid to play for the program. I don't think we should

ever have an opt-out again, even in an NIT if these guys are going to take all this money.

I agree 100%. And that was the point in one of my tweets was everyone's complaining about money

ruining the game. And now you're getting mad at kids for just wanting to play for the love of

the game. You know, like that drives me insane. So don't talk out of both sides of your mouth on

this issue. Right. If, if, you know, like you said, they're getting paid.

Stephen Pearl said in an interview, he said it wasn't even a question in his mind.

He said, guys, we're playing.

And but the players also wanted to play.

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