She Calls It with Tes Sawyer & Clynch: #HookEm spring football concludes & UT parking tickets

Fan Appreciation Day at DKR gives us a safer, more relaxed way to watch Texas football while still getting real clues about culture, depth, and what might translate in the fall. We talk through why skipping a traditional spring game can help in the NIL and transfer portal era, then wrap with a few off-field stories that keep sports in perspective. 
• impressions from the open practice format at DKR and why it still satisfies fans 
• why we prefer fewer spring game injury risks and less scheme exposure 
• Sark’s comments on competitiveness, toughness and a close-knit roster 
• how preseason hype can distract from the culture that actually wins 
• our picks for under-talked-about impact players including Sterling Burkhalter, Michael Masoonis and Jermaine Bishop 
• the UT parking ticket problem through Rasheem Biles’ brutal welcome to campus 
• tell me something good including the Capitol 10K and Austin community energy 
• NBA playoff check-in plus the OKC tribute tied to the bombing memorial anniversary 
Go Check It Out And Use The Promo Code MAN Cave

Transcript

Digital Shoutouts And Sponsor Plug

SPEAKER_01 0:46

You gotta love that. Hey, the digital team for the University of Texas Longhorn Athletics, they are crushing it as usual. Derek Ochoa and his team. This is like a shameless plug, not for me, but I am uh overly impressed every year by what UT Athletics does with their digital marketing team. I'm Sean Clinch, the host of Stories Inside the Man Cape Podcast, and the well, co-host of She Calls It, Test Saw Your Name. We collaborate for an episode or two every month, and it's brought to you by Spirit Dress. You can log on to spiritdress.com, uh, our mutual friend crutching it. Spirit Dress test will tell you more about it. But yeah, we're gonna talk heavy about the the fan appreciation dayslash non-spring football game. It was more or less a practice. And regardless if you don't appreciate that, we're gonna tell you why it probably helps out that they didn't play a spring game. So before we get this episode rolling, go ahead and follow, like each of our social media platforms are all listed right there. Subscribe for free to our YouTube page, just smash those like buttons. Alright, I can tell Tassing the bottom, she's she's anxious, she's got a lot to say, which is per the usual, and it's been a while. Let's ride.

Fan Day Replaces Spring Game

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Sawyer, nice reunion. Uh, it's it's been a minute, it's been about a month since you and I have gotten together. Uh, you have that, I'm not saying you're hungover, but you have that post-end of spring football look on your face like we gotta wait until August. Does that pretty much accurately describe that look on your face?

SPEAKER_02 2:51

Yes, it is not a hungover look. Um, so yeah, I'm yeah, I might be a little hungover and from seeing some action, a little bit of action yesterday at the fan day. I mean, uh, I think a lot of players were not playing for various reasons, either nursing injuries or avoiding injuries and things like that. But um, it was exciting to be in DKR. And it's, you know, it's like it's like a little tease. You go in there and then they're like, all right, now you're gonna have to wait. So um, but it's really fun, you know, very the fan day was not the traditional orange and white game that we're all so accustomed to. So it was a little different, but it was still getting um an opportunity to go in there and see the guys on the field play play some little, you know, seven, seven on seven, and then like some little scrimmages and things like that, and just see some passing, see some see some defense. So you still got you still got a taste of it, even though you didn't get the traditional orange and white game. But yes, I can't wait for football season.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

You and 103,000 of our closest friends uh can't wait, and up, I'm sure up millions of more. But we're about to dive into this. And and two things a reminder you know what? Everybody has something going in their lives. I love this shirt, just keep going.

SPEAKER_02 4:21

I love that. I thought it was keen, I thought it was like a Robert Old Keen shirt, the Persians. Keep going, keen, keen going. Um, I love your keep going heart shirt, Charlie. That's very inspiring.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

Thank you. That's I've done something right today. I inspired one person, that's what we all need to do. I'm inspired. Thank you. I and and you go look at yourself, you test, but you watching, go look in the self in the mirror and you keep going and you inspire yourself. Um, one thing we do have to do, and because we love promoting her business, uh, spiritdress.com, Mercer, she's one on the far left, and you are one of her models, so to speak. Uh, she's got it. I know there's a lot of active wear for football season for ladies, but she has something coming up, and and I'm going to create a promotion for it for the Independence Day. She has July 4th gears or apparel, if you will. Can you give us some insight on what that may look like?

SPEAKER_02 5:25

She does. And um, you know, you could also wear it for, you know, we have memorial weekend, you know, obviously it's it's celebrated for a very different reason than July 4th, but a lot of people still do get together and have barbecues and pool get togethers and things like that. So if you want to sport your red, white, and blue on uh Memorial Weekend and obviously on July 4th, yeah. Murcia has really cute stuff that is completely not related to you know sports teams and colors. Like I said, like you know, blue bonnets in the spring. She has a blue bonnet collection, and then she's got a whole red, white, and blue collection. So if you're looking for a cute outfit to wear to a barbecue or 4th of July party, she's got it. So girls, go check it out.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

And use the promo code MAN Cave, and you will get a cut of uh I think it what is it 20% off?

SPEAKER_02 6:20

Yes, I believe so.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Yeah, man cave. And you know, man cave. I do want to state this. Uh, when during the UT women's basketball run to the Final Four, there I've heard um Sean, y'all need more women in the man cave. And I said, You're not wrong. We had, you know, we we we did wish happy birthday to Kat Osterman. She was one of the first 50 guests that we had early on in the podcast history. And we've had quite a few, but yes, we need more women in the man cave to tell their stories, and uh alongside Tess Sawyer, and uh we're supporting women-owned business like Mercer Black and uh the 1972 pub down on the drag at UT. That's a great place, great place for everybody to go. All right, we are going to move on. I can't I cannot wait to hear more from Tess, but let's hear from Stark

Why Skipping The Spring Game Helps

SPEAKER_01 7:15

as he wrapped up. Um basically what spring practice looked like yesterday being Saturday.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

I've been seeing this for for quite some time. I really like the team. You know, it's one thing to like the talent on the team, but I I I like the I like the makeup of these guys. They're competitive, they're tough, they're close-knit. Um, they they like to practice, it's a get-to, not a have to, and and it exudes out of them every day we get to get on the ground.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

I'd I've never I know all coaches have coach speak, but we are in a new era, and we I I know we say it over and over. This is a new era. Your roster changes drastically every year. NIL transfer portal. But I think this is a good cop. It's not people, some people are saying Texas is top heavy. I think it's a balanced roster, and I honestly think for the first time I'm this close to picking Texas as the preseason number one for the stories inside the man cave preseason poll in July. And you know, I do not like to do that at all.

SPEAKER_02 8:23

You do not, we don't like anything poll poll related, preseason polls, coaches poll, all that stuff. We all know how that turns out, and a lot of times the person the person, the teams that are selected never end up, it never ends up being that way. It actually gets flipped on its head. So um it's almost like a quote unquote a curse to get picked. But yeah, I mean, you know, my mom was sitting next to me in the stands, you know, yesterday at Fan Day was like, I think this is our year. And I'm like, I mean, I I wish I wish those words weren't uttered every year. But I mean, you know, I do agree this is a special team, and yeah, there's a lot of talent. It is a very stacked team, but you know, Sark saying how close knit, I think the culture is is something we were missing. Um, maybe especially at the beginning of the season last year. So if they're already tight knit and meshing well together, you know, that's priceless, talent or no talent, right? Um, so I I hope that he's right. And I I'm damn happy that he likes the team um and that has positive things to say about it. So yeah, I just can't wait to really see them because um the, you know, a lot of a lot of the players, uh, you know, starters per se too were not on the field yesterday for various reasons.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

So right, and you know, Sark had said, like he's had the last couple of years, uh, we don't have enough linemen right now, we don't want to risk injury. So I'll ask you this. You call it. Um, I have never met a spring game the last 20 years that I enjoy. I I get it, it it's development, and I know this wasn't a spring game, it was a fan appreciation day, and watch them practice. I I think it's great. I think what but how what would you what would you like to see that to do differently from your experience? You guys sat in the north end zone due to construction, right? Right. What would you like to see different? You call it from Tess's point of view. You don't mind not having a spring game, but what would you do differently for this?

SPEAKER_02 10:42

Um, well, I mean, it would have been fun to have both sides of the stadium open, but I know that was because of renovation. So, I mean, and the way you were sitting, the way they were what they were doing is they were flopping the defensive offensive practice from one end zone to the other. So actually the end zone was the best place because you could see the defense practicing, then they switched and they, and so actually being in the middle of the stadium, you the quote unquote 50-yard line, you know, like uh was actually the worst seat in the house because you didn't get to see the practicing that was going on at each end zone. Now, when they played their little scrimmage, that was a little bit, but I mean most of it was like, you know, watching each quarterback throw passes, watching, you know, each running back take runs, and then the defense and and offense playing on each other too. So I thought actually it was a pretty good view. And I mean, in all honesty, I'm like, maybe we don't need an orange and white game. I'm the last thing we need is is somebody to get injured. Please, for the love of God, let's not get injured in a spring scrimmage. Like let's just not do it, or let's not get an injury that was already almost there. Let's not, let's just not do it. It's not worth it. And then I mean, I think the other reason why people aren't doing these games is because I mean, you don't want to lay any of your cards on the table. Not like we would ever expose ourselves, but um, you know, I kind of liked the idea of it being a practice. It was really casual, it was relaxed. You know, we got to see some plays, but you know, nobody was blowing it, you know. So, and it gave an opportunity for the fans to like do meet and greets afterwards and things like that. So I kind of like this this new new version of what was the orange and white game. Because we had nothing last year, so at least we got something, you know. So I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 12:32

Well, oh, you uh definitely had one. No, that's a good take. Oh, you definitely had one. A lot of programs still do it, but yeah, I just I've just they're fun. Spring games are fun, but I I've never I just me personally, I'm I'm against spring games, I really am. Um, and I've yeah, I remember years ago, um, the late Mike Santiago was a head coach at Stephen F. Austin, and he he wanted me to be the guest coach. I got so I coached the purple team against the white. I had to deliver a pregame speech and I'm what to my side in the locker room, and that's fun and all, but in for the players, I you you want to create competition on every rep. It's pride and whatnot, but man, I just don't like spring games.

SPEAKER_02 13:23

Yeah, I know you don't. I think I think I think what they did was a nice little just giving the fans a little taste, letting them, you know, come out and appreciate the team and and letting the team have a little fun, you know, taking pictures, doing autographs and stuff like that. You know, seeing seeing how supported they are, which I think was great. You know, I mean the kids loved it. There were a lot of kids there that just you know, and I thought it I thought it was kind of neat. So I I'm cool if they just want to like have an open practice. Like, let's just watch them practice. That was enough for me.

SPEAKER_01 13:57

Talking about Alan Iverson. We're talking about practice. Talking about practice. He calls it. This is I can't wait to hear what you say.

Underrated Players To Watch

SPEAKER_01 14:12

We know we we know about Arch, we know about Cam Coleman, we know about the two transfer running backs, the freshman running back. Um O-line, it's gonna look a little different. D-line may look a little different. They're picking up, they picked up linebackers, uh obviously in other positions. But to you, Tess, I want to hear your call on this. Who is the most who will be the most impactful player that maybe nobody is talking about enough right now?

SPEAKER_02 14:45

Okay, well, that's really hard because you you listed out a lot of very impactful players, which I'm I think we can all a lot of those names you just mentioned, but I I you know really enjoyed being able to see some players play yesterday that I had never seen play because I never watched them. And um, I'm gonna say that um they were all I think they're all well the two of them that I that I liked the most were transfers. So Sterling Burkhalter, okay, wide receiver. He's um, I'm gonna go with like I'm gonna pick two seniors and then one freshman that I'd never seen play. So um, so Sterling Burke Halter, I really liked him. He reminded me a lot um of um Xavier Worthy. He even looked like him a little bit. Oh my goodness. He's very um very tall and lanky and very long legs. Like, you know, uh Xavier How always had those real long legs and always wore like white, you know, coverage. So like you could just see him and see how fast he was. Obviously, being we all we all know how fast he is. But I mean, I really liked him the way he moved and the way, you know, he moved across the field and the way he caught passes. Like, I just I I don't know. There's something about him. I mean, I know he's behind, you know, some really talented wide receivers in the Dutch depth chart, but I mean, I I think he was a good pickup. Liked him. I like Michael Massoonis too, the tight end. I mean, he's got um, you know, that very typical tight end build, just big, you know, and big and just running through lines of guys and things like that. And so I really I'm excited to see what he's gonna do. I mean, he looks like he looks like one of our traditional like Texas um tight end individuals. So would love to see what he's gonna do. And then my last is a freshman, and I think people are talking about him, but Jermaine Bishop and oh my goodness, and uh Goodnight Almighty. And I know that I know that he's you know down the depth as well, especially being a true freshman. But I really think this kid is gonna be really good. Um, you know, he was just all over the field and making catches and dynamic and fast and um this and actually the couple sitting in front of me were even talking about him too. We were talking back and forth about him, how they had been watching him and all this stuff. So, anyway, those are just three players that I know people are talking about, but they're not as you know, the Cam Coleman of the world, you know, and and no offense to Cam Coleman, you're fantastic. So I mean, but I'm just talking about people that aren't getting as much uh limelight right now that may show some stuff that we might be pleasantly surprised. And I think they're all great players, two great transfers, and obviously great recruitment on on Bishop. So I'm excited to see what these players bring. Um, you know, the seniors maybe this year, and then the freshmen later, later on.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Hopefully, it's a crown. That's phenomenal. That's a good list. Um, you know, even Dez Bryant quote tweeted, um, you know, Des Bryant, the great Lufkin Panther, great Oklahoma State Cowboy, and great uh number 88 for the Dallas Cowboys. Once was uh uh and he's his he's been retired for a few years now, but he even endorsed Jermaine Bishop, saying, He said, not verbatim, Sark. Let this guy basically let go of the reins on this kid. He is going to be essentially a freak show.

SPEAKER_02 18:29

I mean it it's it's pretty, you know. I mean, he's got it, and he's three, let's say he's third, so we've got wingo locket, clique locket, and then bishop and in depth. But you know, we all know that can change. Um I will be interested to see how Ryan Wingo does this year. You know, he was kind of up and down and stuff like that, and like you know, it'll be interesting. I mean, he may get some opportunities, so I I would love to see him get played.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

I think rest assured, mark it down. Wingo will be a better receiver this year, number two receiver because of Cam Coleman's presence, and then the others takes the pressure off. Uh-huh. He'll he'll I think he will improve incredibly on the drops, the focus and the decrease in drops. So, I mean, the kid not enough people are talking about him, and that that kind of falls under your list. And I think I do think Wingo is going to have the best season of his career to date.

SPEAKER_02 19:39

Well, and and that's what we wanted from him. And I think a lot of people, you know, thought he was going to come in and do that last year, right? And so, and God bless him, because I mean I think I think he's phenomenal, and he just needs to have his moment in the sun. So, if it's if he comes out next year and does that, I would be thrilled. So, because I think I think he's got you know all the ingredients, he just needs to put it out on the field, you know. Oh, there's no doubt.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

There's no doubt. I I have no doubt about that. I think we're in agreement.

SPEAKER_02 20:11

We are in agreement.

UT Parking Tickets And Player Life

SPEAKER_01 20:14

He calls it. All right, this is kind of a fun one, Tess, for you to call it. We all know most college campuses, uh, their PDs, traffic citation or parking uh fraternity, they are relentless, they're unforgiving, and I'll just call myself out. Um, one time when I was back in the media, so before we transition to a certain transfer, so I had been falling victim to parking tickets at UT like everyone else. Uh, I was in the K use vehicle, the good old Subaru Forester, I think it was, um, parked across the street from UT's practice at the bubble. Parked across the street, and we're waiting to get in. I see we see traffic cops or UTPD traffic patrol pulling up to issue tickets for those of us who clearly had placards in our window, but we had to we what we couldn't use those there, and they were writing me a ticket. I I lost my cool, and it ended well, but we didn't know if there was going to be a good ending, so but I I'm just angry, and yeah, it was awful, and then they're relentless. So this young man, so have let me ask you this have you how many tickets did you think you received when you were at UT?

SPEAKER_02 21:47

Well, so Sean, I I'll do you one better than that. So I was so bad about driving on campus in areas I wasn't supposed to be driving because I was either getting picked up or dropped off that they had. Had a picture of my car in the booth. I'm not kidding. Yeah. So I was, I was, um, I was a little bad about um driving around campus when I shouldn't be. I wouldn't even park, I would just drive into areas and get dropped off, and then somebody would take my car, or vice versa. So I was really bad about that. Parking tickets, I don't want to tell you. It's embarrassing.

SPEAKER_01 22:24

I had my share.

SPEAKER_02 22:26

Yeah. Let's say I could make like a cape out of them.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

Yeah, I I could do that.

SPEAKER_02 22:32

Like a CVS receipt.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

It's from Austin Community College to uh Stephen F. Austin, and then some at UT. It's been terrible. So one of the transfers, linebacker Rasheem Biles from Pitt, he was asked about what his biggest transition has, what it's been like to Austin, and he loves it. But he said, you know what? The parking ticket situation. In the short time frame, he's been on the UT campus, he's had an estimated 10 to 15 parking tickets. And he transferred in this in the last few months.

SPEAKER_02 23:12

Somebody needs to get him a little space. Why can't he just have a little space? I mean, he uh, you know, I will say Rasheem Biles is somebody that's being talked about. Um, he's probably, you know, Arch Manning has even said, you know, he's a dog. And I quote, so I mean, this guy's gonna be uh a force. So why don't y'all just give him a little parking space or something or get a manuber, help this guy out?

SPEAKER_01 23:39

Uh why not? I mean, help him out.

SPEAKER_02 23:42

He's about to help out the Texas football team in Spain. So let's let's help him out with this parking problem.

SPEAKER_01 23:47

It's and you know Arch Manning had when he started, he had some parking tickets.

SPEAKER_02 23:53

I mean, if you have a car, it's almost impossible.

SPEAKER_01 23:56

It's it's highly pistifying.

SPEAKER_02 24:00

Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

And I get the I get the students who are that's their they get a little income while students as the parking staff, parking uh ticket staff, but come on, man. We're first of all, the media, you're right there. Student athletes should have an all you park anywhere on campus.

SPEAKER_02 24:22

Uh yeah, or there should be some sort of designated area. I mean, they have to be there, they have to be there for practices and meetings and all these things. So they need to make it a little bit more accessible.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

In addition to going to class, and I'm not saying preferential treatment, but no, they do have a lot of things for the football-related things because they have a lot of more on campus responsibilities than say a normal student does as well.

SPEAKER_02 24:48

So, I mean, you gotta you gotta help these kids out a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

100% you need to. Hey Rashim, we're behind you. It's tough out there, it's tough out there, it's not fun at all, at all, because that comes out of your NIL money.

SPEAKER_02 25:07

But I bet he could probably, I mean, what are they like 20 or 30 bucks now? I think they're about actually. I know I got one the other day, it was about $35. So I'm still collecting tickets, I'm not even a student anymore.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

And they will boot you quickly.

SPEAKER_02 25:23

Yes, do not get the boot.

SPEAKER_01 25:25

Don't get the boot.

SPEAKER_03 25:28

Hey Ben, tell me something good.

Positivity Corner And Local Wins

SPEAKER_01 25:35

Tell me something good, the voice of the pre-pubescent uh DJ Hard. She is now one of the best high school basketball players in the Austin area, and he does not sound like that anymore. Um, Tess, what what's something positive you'd like to spread positivity about to our viewers and listeners right now? Is there anything in particular? Tell me something good.

SPEAKER_02 25:57

Sure. Last weekend I got the opportunity to run in the Capital 10K for I really don't know how many times. I think I might have been close to like eight. I think you you've done more than me. But um, you know, it was really fun to get out there on a Sunday, run with that many people, and be a part of that. And then I was uh, you know, people were running with their kids and they were running with their dogs, and people, the bands were playing music, and you know, it was just a good, uh, really good time, and it just kind of reminds you how cool it is to um be an Austinite and be living in Austin and be a partner of an event like that. So that and the turkey trotter probably my two races that I like to do a year, so it was a really good feeling. It was it felt good to be out there and get a part of it, and I finished, so I got a medal.

SPEAKER_01 26:45

All that matters, it's all that mattered.

SPEAKER_02 26:47

I crossed the finish line along with Mercer, who is our the owner of Spirit Dress. Um, no coincidence, but um, yeah, it was fun, and then we got to have brunch with you, which is great.

SPEAKER_01 26:58

That's right. And at a great place. I met you two ladies there for a quick lunch, and then you guys went home. I went back to the north side that you guys never visit, and uh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

I know I'm over too.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

Oh, goodness, yeah.

NBA Playoffs And OKC Tribute

SPEAKER_01 27:12

I get it. It was a great Sunday, it was a great Sunday. I'll tell you something good. You know, you you you look at this time of year, and it's uh, you know, there's a lot of things going on that people deal with, but this time of year helps you think recalibrate and think, you know what? It's not as bad as it seems in every situation. And number two, the reason why I'm doing this, the NBA playoffs started yesterday and today.

SPEAKER_02 27:43

This is big for me because these guys we know you love OKC Thunder.

SPEAKER_01 27:52

So OKC Thunder baby, defending champions. Yeah, I look like a uh I don't is that bad?

SPEAKER_02 28:00

That's pretty cool. Flag slash cave. I like it. I'm digging it.

SPEAKER_01 28:04

I love it, and this is from their championship parade.

SPEAKER_02 28:09

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

Behind there is the bombing memorial, and I want to tell this story because they won it exactly 30 years after it. And if you look, bus number 30, they had all the players 30 years ago.

SPEAKER_02 28:29

Oh, that was a nice that was a nice tribute.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

It and they're in game one of their Western Conference first round series against the Phoenix Suns, and I think I'm not playing, but we the Thunder are up, I think, by 30.

SPEAKER_02 28:45

Um amazing.

SPEAKER_01 28:47

But I know you're a huge fan, so that's a big fan, big fan, love the thunder, Steve. Um Presty, the GM, and that whole organization, their class act, they do it right. Same with the Spurs. I think it's gonna come down to the Spurs and uh and the Thunder in the Western finals.

SPEAKER_02 29:09

Yeah, you think that's gonna it's gonna come down to them? I saw the Spurs beam down to the down to the wire, I thought for sure. And then yeah, Thunder and Spurs one of their team. Yeah. Well, I hope it's them. I hope it's the thunder for you. Because I don't really have a I don't really have a lot of skin in that in the NBA playoffs. You know, I'm I don't really have um, you know, I guess I have been a but a little bit of a Rockets fan, my mom growing up in Houston, but it it's nothing like you and your fan. So I'll pull for you, Sean. I'll pull, I'll pull for OKC.

SPEAKER_01 29:40

Awesome. And today is the um the anniversary of the bombing. Um April 19th, 1995. If you've never been to that bombing memorial, it's very moving, touching. Um, the little bitty chairs signify all the kids who were who perished that day. Um where all the places I've lived, and a lot of people I know you where you lived in New York City, places you live, I make sure that I learn about where I'm living. And I I had to dive into the fabric there deeper than other places because I didn't know a lot. I knew about the bombing, but it's so it's become part of me too.

SPEAKER_02 30:27

So that's that's well glad you got to go there, and um, I'm glad they made a tribute to them.

SPEAKER_01 30:34

And so let's go thunder, thunder up,

Wrap-Up And Where To Follow

SPEAKER_01 30:37

baby. Let's go. Hey, Tess saw your good job. All your takes. Somebody will learn something from all of those. Those are good, solid takes. And I and thank you to Mercer Black and SpiritDress.com and go visit there and be sure to like and follow each of our social media platforms. I say you and I connect for another couple weeks, another episode. Um, baseball will be near the postseason by then.

SPEAKER_02 31:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:08

And uh, I think they're back, but we'll talk about that here in a couple weeks. For the test sawyer, I'm Sean Clinch. That's this as she calls it. We'll see you here in a couple weeks. You guys have an amazing, amazing evening.