

Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast
Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner
An independent college football podcast that covers the whole sport, led by Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner. Free episodes each week (twice per week in season), plus frequent subscriber episodes. Featuring co-host emeritus Steven Godfrey and friends. www.splitzoneduo.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 16, 2021 • 1h 26min
Michigan, and how we talk about football coaches
Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, and Alex Kirshner discuss the story surrounding sexual abuse at Michigan and how Bo Schembechler factors into the conversation. (Content warning: The opening segment of the show includes discussion of sexual abuse and its handling by college administrators and sports fans. It ends at the 31:14 mark of the show.) Much of that segment is about how we, as a college sports industry, build up coaches and then have trouble walking away from their legacies. Then the group discusses the soon-to-expand College Football Playoff, Richard defends the notion of Alabama losing multiple games, and we answer some good questions from listeners. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Jun 8, 2021 • 1h 7min
The longest dead period is over. Now what?
Old friend and 247Sports expert Bud Elliott joins Richard and Alex for a discussion of how the pandemic interrupted recruiting (hint: severely), what it will mean for the sport over the next few years, and how things are operating now that the longest dead period in recruiting history has ended. Plus, answers to audience questions on dormant rivalries, run blocking, "the Baylor offense," the Memphis Tigers, and the CFB road trip everyone should take. To subscribe to this show's Patreon and get bonus episodes and more, visit splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

May 26, 2021 • 1h 9min
All the hot Power 5 gossip fit to print
Alex and guest Steven Godfrey go into detail on why a permanent spring FCS season is a bad idea. Then, Godfrey shares anonymous coach gossip on a bunch of unnamed Power 5 schools, and Alex attempts to match the gossip to a school based on the description. Then, answers to questions on how college football treats LGBTQ people, whether Colorado regrets leaving the Big 12 for the Pac-12, how the industry sees HBCU coaching jobs, and what Jim Harbaugh does all day. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

May 19, 2021 • 1h 2min
The incredible demise of South Carolina’s president
Steven Godfrey joins the program this week for detailed discussions of three topics: 1) Week 1’s suite of big TV games, 2) the challenges facing new Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, and 3) the almost literally unbelievable story, featuring previously unreported info, of the downfall of the University of South Carolina’s president. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

May 12, 2021 • 1h 6min
What happens in CFB while nothing is happening
May is the most boring month on the college football calendar. Why is it so quiet, and what's happening during this period of relative calm? Steven Godfrey joins the program to explain. Additionally, Alex and Godfrey talk about Presbyterian's hire of famed "never punt/always onside kick" high school coach Kevin Kelley, what it suggests about where the sport is moving, and whether the industry will overreact if non-philosophical factors lead Kelley to struggle in that job. Then a discussion of the two similar yet very different programs in the FCS Championship, plus answers to questions on NIL and Congress, what Mike Gundy's eventual exit might look like, Pat Fitzgerald, public vs. private football programs, and Buffalo's hire of Maurice Linguist. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

May 5, 2021 • 1h 34min
The Grapes of CFB's Wrath
Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey discuss the 2020 census and how certain population shifts might affect college football in the long run, as has happened several times before. Plus a segment about Kansas' pick of Lance Leipold over Jeff Monken, why it happened, and what Buffalo should do next. Then answers to audience questions on TV deals, Maryland, Scot Loeffler, and what happens to Bama's booster culture whenever Nick Saban leaves. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Apr 27, 2021 • 1h 29min
An NFL Draft preview for the college football fan
Our friend Charles McDonald of USA TODAY and For The Win joins the show this week. If you haven’t followed the NFL Draft news cycle closely, or if you have, we hope you’ll like a college-oriented look at the players making up this year’s class. Plus answers to questions on the future of the draft, what Josh Allen’s pro success says about player evaluation, and how NFL facilities differ from college ones. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Apr 21, 2021 • 1h 17min
The college football Super League
Richard and Alex explain how the same undercurrents that fueled a few European soccer clubs’ breakaway gambit might show up in college football realignment in the next few years. (There are a lot of similarities, and we’re not just speculating.) The FCS playoffs are starting, and for a change, North Dakota State is probably going to lose. Plus answers to audience questions on Kirk Ferentz, Georgia State, potential rules changes, and the true cost of a football scholarship. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Apr 13, 2021 • 1h 9min
It’s April. Let’s talk Week 1 and THE NOLES
Alex and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey talk in detail about Mike Norvell’s project at Florida State, how the Noles are currently perceived in the coaching industry, and what needs to change for the program to get back to its mid-2010s stature. Then, a game where we match up vulnerable P5 teams against punchy G5 teams and pick some Week 1 results way ahead of time. Then: some of your questions, answered. Split Zone Duo’s Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Apr 7, 2021 • 1h 12min
Barry Alvarez and the end of the AD-coach
Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins Alex and Richard for a chat about the career of retiring Wisconsin AD (and former coach) Barry Alvarez: His impact on Wisconsin and why there won’t be many more administrators or coaches like him. Then, the group assesses how much #sources are willing to forgive about the 2020 seasons of Baylor, USF, Michigan State, New Mexico, Wazzu, Penn State, LSU, Houston, Rice, and FAU. Finally, answers to Patron questions on Baylor’s 2021 offense, USC’s outlook, and the jostling between the Sun Belt and Conference USA. This podcast’s new Patreon, with bonus episodes and more, is at splitzoneduo.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe


