Barry Alvarez, Big Wave Surfer Garrett McNamara And NFL Week 3 Preview

Episode Description

On today's Pardon My Take... BARRY ALVAREZ! The now retired Athletic Director for the University of Wisconsin joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter today to discuss the HUGE game for the Badgers against Notre Dame at Soldier Field this weekend, the future state of the College Football Playoff, who the best player he ever coached was, and much more.

In case you live under a rock, our guy Mr. Cat is a Wisconsin graduate. The closest the Badgers got to a National Championship in the last decade came in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed, took town then-undefeated Kentucky in the Final Four, and secured a date with Duke two days later with a chance to win it all. The Badgers and Blue Devils were tied at 31 at the half, and unfortunately for Wisconsin, Duke ended up winning the game 68-63. How do Mr. Cat and Barry Alvarez feel about that game six years later? Take a look:

Mr. Cat: This is the toughest question. As the AD, have you gotten over the Duke loss? Because I have not, and Duke fans will always say I'm salty about 2015, and I'll say, "Hell yeah, I'm salty." That will never happen again, halftime of the National Championship Game. Are you over it? Maybe you being over it could get me over it.

Barry Alvarez: I'm pissed because the officials changed how they called the game from first to second half.

Mr. Cat: Thank you! Thank you! Coach K paid them off.

Barry Alvarez: He didn't pay them off, but I tell you what, that's part of coaching, I give the credit to Coach K, he wore them out. Bo [Ryan] does his own fair job of working the officials, but Coach K worked them really hard, especially hard, and they changed how they called the game. And I will say that to my dying day.

Mr. Cat: OK, so you are exactly like me. You're not over it. Good. 

Barry Alvarez: We should have won a National Championship.

Mr. Cat: Yes! Alright, I feel good then, because people will just come at me all the time and be like, "Dude, it's been six years, get over it." I'm like, "No, I'm not. I refuse to get over it. I will never, ever get over it."

Barry Alvarez: You don't get there that often. You got to win when you got a chance.

Mr. Cat: Right! Oh, man. A small part of me died in that Fieldhouse that night. I say it, it's still sitting there, in the end zone. It's just sitting there and it's just never coming back. So, what are you going to do? That's why they play the games. 

Barry Alvarez: That's gamesmanship, that's part of coaching. If you can influence the officials, that's what you do.

What a rollercoaster of a Final Four that was for Wisconsin fans. In the semifinals, you take down Kentucky and spoil the undefeated season of one of the best college basketball teams ever. And then two days later, you become *thisclose* to cutting down the nets and beating Duke. Pain.