[00:00:00] Speaker A: They just got done lifting. We're. We were just lifting.
[00:00:06] Speaker B: Did he just say we're not allowed in the film room?
[00:00:09] Speaker A: He said do not go in the film room.
[00:00:27] Speaker B: Hey, prep rally. Welcome back to another episode of this week's podcast. We have Cruz Coatney from Greenwood. How are you doing? Thanks for joining us today.
[00:00:36] Speaker A: I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Thanks for having me.
[00:00:38] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, Cruz, I'm going to ask you, like, you're the starting quarterback at Greenwood, and as we all know, Greenwood is such, you know, a highly favored program, but what does it mean for you kind of coming into this starting role this year?
[00:00:51] Speaker A: I mean, I think you kind of know what you're getting just from all the previous quarterbacks that have played here, from Kane last year to guys like, I mean, Peyton Holt, Connor Nolan, Tyler Wilson, my dad who played here back in 1998, you know what you're getting when you get a green quarterback. And it really is an honor, and I'm. I'm so grateful. It's a challenge, but I just love doing it and waking up every day and coming to. Coming to be the quarterback. It's awesome.
[00:01:17] Speaker B: And I mean, with such a highly touted quarterback like last year, Kane Archer, now at Utah, and just so many great players from that group last year, I think, I mean, how many wins did they have? I mean, they won three years straight, so kind of, they were.
[00:01:31] Speaker A: They were 38 and. Oh, so they finished their career 38 and one.
[00:01:35] Speaker B: That's incredible. But, like, watching, watching that and kind of also stepping into this leadership position this year, I mean, how do you hope to kind of replicate that? Or at least some of what they did?
[00:01:46] Speaker A: I mean, it definitely trying to figure out. It's definitely like, you know, that it's going to be really hard. Obviously, even moving down in conferences, 5A is just as tough as 6A in my opinion. But we're. We're going to do what we do is what we tell ourselves, and we're not going to change based on who we're playing or who we have in the locker room. It's going to be the same team. You're going to get the same effort, the same intensity every week, and that's our goal and that's what we're going to give you.
[00:02:15] Speaker B: And I mean, you guys have been proving it. I mean, for years, you guys have kind of come up here and played some 7A team. So for y', all, I mean, what does it mean to kind of play those 7A teams knowing that you are in the 5A.
[00:02:29] Speaker A: I mean, it. It definitely is a challenge, but we expect to win those games. And last week against B West was. It was a heartbreak. And we don't go into those games. Some teams will go into those thinking we're getting ready for conference and we get to conference, it'll be easier, but we're going to those games to win them. And I think every. Everybody on this team has that same goal. And not doing that last week really, really hurt us. But we came back today, we had a practice this morning, and I think we're. We're ready to go for this week.
[00:02:57] Speaker B: And I mean, speaking of just getting ready for this week, I mean, you played for a program like Fayetteville, and now you're at Greenwood. And up here in Fayetteville, obviously there's. There's just so many teams, but there's lots of different sports to focus on. I mean, in Greenwood, football is the sport. So what.
[00:03:16] Speaker A: It.
[00:03:16] Speaker B: What was it like coming from Fayetteville? Kind of. Football is big, but it's kind of the back burner to. It's the thing.
[00:03:24] Speaker A: Yeah, it's. It's. It definitely was a challenge, but you do get used to it. It's. It's weird not having. We're one of those schools that doesn't have like, seventh period athletics. So. Seventh period every day you're showing up to football. And then so in baseball season, when I'll go play baseball in the spring, I'll show up for football lifts for seventh period and then I'll go to baseball after school. So it's like that for all sports. So it's a little different. And it definitely took a while to get used to. And you're like, you hate this so much because it's awful.
But it is fun once you get used to it. It's it. But it's just great time.
[00:03:56] Speaker B: And obviously, like, Fville is a great program, but coming to Greenwood, knowing how much they truly do, like, invest in their football players, how do you think that you kind of advance as a football player by making the change to Greenwood?
[00:04:08] Speaker A: I think it. It's been. Relationships with my coaches have been definitely a little better. And then the reps you get every day is just.
Is. Is way more. I'm trying to figure out way. But just way more than anything I've ever experienced. And just the coaching you get is on a whole nother level.
[00:04:28] Speaker B: And. Yeah. And speaking of coaches, you know, you guys had a coaching change this year, so kind of like walk through. I'm sure. I'm sure at a place like Greenwood, you know, it's kind of a, you know, an easy transition in a way, because he didn't. You're. You know, your former coach didn't really go away, so.
[00:04:44] Speaker A: Yeah, no, he's still there. We see him almost every day, and he's. He's always trying to help out a little bit. He still misses it. But Coach Gill's done a great job with this team, and he's took it over, and he's very vocal. He's done a great job. And I got props to him because it's tough stepping in the role for Coach Young, but he's. He's done a fantastic job.
[00:05:03] Speaker B: And, I mean, with Coach Gill in this new role, at the same time, I mean, what are some of the goals that you hope to have this season? I know that you guys have a tough matchup with Farmington.
I think a big tester this year. But how do you guys think you'll face that challenge?
[00:05:20] Speaker A: Like I kind of said earlier, we're going to do what we do no matter who we're playing. So, I mean, I think we do a great job at that, is focusing on being the best at ourselves and not kind of some teams. You'll hear them kind of.
They'll change just based on what team they're playing, and we try to stay the same for. No matter who. Who we play. So Farmington is a great team, but they're going to get our best, and we're going to get their best, and that's part of being at Greenwood. And I love it. I'm. I'm excited for it.
[00:05:46] Speaker B: Well, I'm excited for that game, too. I. I hope y'. All. I hope both sides play well. I mean, it's always good when you have just a good football game. I mean, the one you guys had at B West was insane till the end. So that shows the testament of you guys as a team. And even if you're at a lower conference like the 5A, you can still compete with the 7.
[00:06:06] Speaker A: Sure. Yeah.
[00:06:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
All right.
We are about to play a fun game, which I think you saw with Will Canton.
Oh, my gosh.
Wow. A bunch of athletes.
This is crazy. Detour.
[00:06:27] Speaker A: I had to kick him out.
Oh, I had to kick him out of the film room.
[00:06:33] Speaker B: What? I knew. I knew they were joining in because you could hear them from outside.
[00:06:39] Speaker A: Yeah, they just got done lifting.
[00:06:40] Speaker C: We're.
[00:06:40] Speaker A: We're just lifting.
[00:06:46] Speaker B: Did he just say we're not allowed in the film?
[00:06:48] Speaker A: He said, do not go in the film room.
[00:06:55] Speaker B: We're gonna go into a little segment that we like to call here at Prep Rally. Winner, dump.
Winner, fumble. Winner, dump or winter fumble. But you have to answer some hot take questions, and you have to answer honestly, because if you don't, then the next time we see you, which will be the Greenwood Farmington game, you need to do the reel of our choice.
[00:07:18] Speaker A: Okay. All right.
[00:07:19] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:07:20] Speaker A: You had to do one of your reels at the. With the.
Which one it was, I don't remember.
[00:07:26] Speaker B: But they can get bad. So, yeah.
Answer honestly.
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[00:08:16] Speaker B: Okay, this one's just pretty crazy. Okay. People often call soccer football worldwide.
Oh, my gosh.
[00:08:28] Speaker A: They're. They're still coming in here.
[00:08:33] Speaker C: Jeez.
[00:08:34] Speaker B: Like, every other second there's a door slam.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
Okay.
[00:08:40] Speaker B: Wow.
Okay. People often call soccer football worldwide. But if that's the case, do you think tackling should be a part of the game?
[00:08:51] Speaker A: People call soccer football?
[00:08:54] Speaker B: Yeah, no, like,
[00:08:59] Speaker A: I think soccer is properly named football.
Just. I mean, really.
I mean, I really do. Like, if you think about it, it's.
You were using your foot. I mean, technically, but that's not to say you can't have football, too.
[00:09:16] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:16] Speaker A: Like American football.
I've getting more people just looking at me crazy.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: Should tackling be a part of the sport, though? Of soccer?
[00:09:27] Speaker A: No, I don't really watch soccer, though. That's the thing. Like.
Like, I mean, I really don't. I maybe catch a game in the world Cups on, but, like, yeah, I'm not actively turning on soccer. Like, I'm gonna watch this for sure.
[00:09:42] Speaker B: But if there was tackling, though, I would watch it.
[00:09:45] Speaker A: If they're just tackling.
[00:09:46] Speaker B: Okay. I feel like that's a better question. Would you watch it if they tackle? Yeah.
[00:09:50] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah. I probably would watch it if they're tackling.
[00:09:54] Speaker B: Instead, they just get flagged for it. They just get, like, a red card if they fall on one another.
[00:09:59] Speaker A: No, that'd be. That would make it entertaining.
[00:10:02] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly.
[00:10:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:04] Speaker B: Okay, this one's really dumb. Okay, so let's say you're in an overtime. Right?
Okay. You're in overtime.
Should football replace overtime with a live game of rock, paper, scissors between the two head coaches to decide who wins?
[00:10:24] Speaker A: I mean, I think that would save time, but, no, I really don't.
[00:10:30] Speaker B: I think it'd be kind of entertaining. You don't have. You don't have faith in Coach Gill. He could win rock, paper scissors.
[00:10:35] Speaker A: Oh, I got faith in Coach Gilly. Win rock, paper, scissors. I'm just saying.
[00:10:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:39] Speaker A: Like, I mean, people love overtime.
[00:10:43] Speaker B: Do you like overtime?
[00:10:45] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, I mean, I'd rather win the first game, but we'll strap it up for a second game if we need to.
[00:10:53] Speaker B: Okay. I'm gonna take that as. I don't know if. I don't know if you think Coach Gil could win that.
[00:10:58] Speaker A: Oh, no. Coach Gill could win rock paper, scissors. I just want to play football.
[00:11:02] Speaker B: You should test that theory out for us today. You should just come up to coach and be like, you know what? I just want to play rock, paper, scissors.
[00:11:08] Speaker A: Okay, I'll ask. I'll ask him, and when I see
[00:11:10] Speaker B: him again, if he loses, you need to.
[00:11:12] Speaker A: Message back to you. I will tell him who wins. Mayor.
[00:11:16] Speaker B: Yeah, just.
Just respond back to us being like, yeah, we'd be cooked if. If he loses to you.
[00:11:22] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:11:23] Speaker B: Okay. Oh, this is good.
So sports in the, you know, recent years, especially football, has had, like, you know, pregame fashion, you know, like.
[00:11:35] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:11:36] Speaker B: Like.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, people walking in with some. Yeah. Crazy. Okay.
[00:11:39] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
Is pregame fashion getting out of hand, or do you think it's good for the sport?
[00:11:46] Speaker A: It is. No, it's definitely getting out of hand.
That's my. That's my take. It's definitely getting out of hand.
[00:11:52] Speaker B: Why? What's the. What's the worst one you've seen? Like, you just looked at it and you were like, bro, you're making me, like, embarrassed.
[00:11:59] Speaker A: I don't even remember, but it's like, I think, like, Halloween. Like, those are cool. Like, when they come in on Halloween wearing a costume, I think that's cool. But, like, when you see someone pull up with, like, a.
A sheep on their back, like a
[00:12:13] Speaker B: big fur, like, I don't like, like, anything Jackson dart wears. Right.
[00:12:18] Speaker A: I mean, I guess, like, I haven't seen much of what he wears. That's what.
[00:12:25] Speaker B: But, but no, I guess I, I guess I kind of get what you're saying. Like, if it's like intentionally, like, it's not like, you know, if you're trying to be cool.
[00:12:36] Speaker A: Like, it's like, this is cool.
[00:12:37] Speaker B: No, no, it looks bad.
Yeah.
The only good one I've seen is like before the game, the, the Bruins, it's a hockey team. Like, they, they were wearing all Patriot. Like they were dressed from like the 1700s.
[00:12:52] Speaker A: Yeah, like that'd be cool.
[00:12:54] Speaker B: Yeah, that was funny. But like, it's like nice.
[00:12:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:57] Speaker B: Yeah. But if it's like Cam Newton, I'm
[00:13:00] Speaker A: not a fan of it.
[00:13:01] Speaker B: Yeah. Okay, good to know.
Oh, well, speaking of people like Cam Newton, which current superstar in football, this could be college or NFL, is the most overrated player right now in college or NFL? Yeah.
Gotta answer. Truthfully, I'm trying to think of
[00:13:31] Speaker A: who.
I mean, I think like, Shadur Sanders.
[00:13:39] Speaker B: Really? Okay.
[00:13:40] Speaker A: Like, I like him. Like, I think he's.
[00:13:43] Speaker B: Yeah, I don't.
[00:13:45] Speaker A: But again, he hasn't played much, so I haven't seen him.
I just think he was kind of bailed out by the people he was around in college.
And I'm trying to think, if I think of another one.
Overrated
[00:14:02] Speaker B: Shador is a good one, but I feel like he's lost some of his aura over time because, like, he just doesn't play. So I feel like we never hear about him.
[00:14:08] Speaker A: Yeah. But like, I think once you get to like college and NFL, the overrated people are kind of gone, like high up and call it.
[00:14:16] Speaker B: But yeah,
[00:14:19] Speaker A: we'll see this year. We'll see who, like these new rookies that got drafted, who I did see Aaron Donald got signed. I can't wait to see him play.
[00:14:29] Speaker B: I know, but isn't it like his third time out of. Oh, no. Aaron Donald, who was the. Who was the guy that recently somebody came back.
I'm not sure, like after three times. But anyway, I personally think it might be Fernando.
I love him.
[00:14:48] Speaker A: I was going to say that. I was going to say that.
[00:14:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, you're a quarter.
[00:14:52] Speaker A: But I love Fernando. Like, I like, I love him.
[00:14:55] Speaker B: Yeah, but you're also a quarterback. So, like, what do you think? Like, you're, you know, you watch a guy like Fernando Mendoza go into the NFL and you want him to do great, but I don't know, NFL is just a different beast.
[00:15:07] Speaker A: It is, it is. Well, that's what I was Saying, like, we'll see with some of the rookies. That's why I said that. I was, like, thanking him, but I just haven't, like, he hasn't played at all, so. We'll see.
[00:15:17] Speaker B: We'll see. Hopefully he doesn't have, you know, all those neck tats and.
[00:15:20] Speaker A: Two years Fantasy today. I have my fantasy draft today, so I gotta.
The punishment is brutal.
[00:15:29] Speaker B: What's your. Wait. What's the punishment for fantasy?
[00:15:33] Speaker A: I cannot say.
[00:15:34] Speaker B: Why not?
[00:15:35] Speaker A: I can't. I can tell you what. Last year's. Was that the guy who lost? So it's one of our D linemen. Has he lost last year and he still has not done it. It's the 24 hours in a Waffle House.
Have you seen that one?
[00:15:46] Speaker B: No. Like, you're having him camp out in waffle house for 24 hours.
[00:15:50] Speaker A: Okay, so he has to stay in Waffle House and every waffle he eats is an hour off his time.
Yeah.
[00:15:58] Speaker B: So how is that even legal? How would they even let y' all do that?
[00:16:02] Speaker A: Waffles is open 24 7.
[00:16:04] Speaker B: Is it? I. I wouldn't know.
[00:16:07] Speaker A: What?
[00:16:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:09] Speaker A: Never, like, top tier food.
Especially in Greenwood. Okay, you gotta understand, in Greenwood, we have, like, three places to eat.
[00:16:16] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:17] Speaker A: Okay. We have. We have, like, three places.
[00:16:19] Speaker B: Huh?
[00:16:20] Speaker A: There's not very many options, so we take what we get.
[00:16:24] Speaker B: Okay, that's fair. But, like, so that wasn't as bad as this year's.
[00:16:30] Speaker A: No. No.
[00:16:31] Speaker B: What is it? Like, someone has to shave their head. What is it?
[00:16:34] Speaker A: No, no, I'm not gonna say.
[00:16:36] Speaker B: Why? Could you. Could you. No. Say it and we'll save it.
[00:16:42] Speaker A: No, I really can't. Like.
[00:16:44] Speaker B: What do you mean you can't?
It's not illegal, is it?
[00:16:49] Speaker A: It's probably close.
[00:16:52] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh, dear. What?
Oh, I'll pray for y'. All. Oh, my gosh.
[00:17:02] Speaker A: I just hope I don't lose.
[00:17:06] Speaker B: We. We hope not, too.
I guess, like, now it makes me, like, scared for you.
[00:17:11] Speaker A: Yeah. I did not come up with it, though. One of our linebackers did, so.
[00:17:16] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh.
[00:17:18] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:19] Speaker B: Well, good luck with that.
[00:17:20] Speaker A: There has been people not want to join the league that played last year because they don't want to do the punishment.
[00:17:25] Speaker B: So, like, on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is it?
[00:17:29] Speaker A: 10.
It's the worst one I've ever heard of. I've never seen it done before.
[00:17:35] Speaker B: Not even something like, oh, you have to, like, you know, join, like, a dance team. Anything like. Oh, my gosh.
[00:17:43] Speaker A: And I'm sorry. I can't tell you. It's just, you know, for my sake, so I don't get in trouble.
[00:17:49] Speaker B: Okay, please tell us at the end of the season.
[00:17:56] Speaker A: Okay. Okay. The end of the season. I will tell you.
[00:17:59] Speaker B: Yeah. Okay. Bet.
[00:18:00] Speaker A: Hopefully it's not me having to do it.
[00:18:03] Speaker B: Okay. Bet. We're gonna take you on your word on that.
[00:18:06] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:18:07] Speaker B: Okay. Oh, this one's pretty. This one's pretty easy to answer.
So are elite wide receivers worth massive contracts or are they just products of good quarterbacks?
[00:18:18] Speaker A: I, I, this is my hot take. I do think, like, if you have an elite quarterback that will make a good receiver. Like, I think elite receivers are kind of overrated. Like, I think you've had, like, I'm trying to think, like, Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase. I think are, are two elite receivers that will definitely make you better. But, like, if you're on a team with, like, Joe Burrow, he's gonna make dudes you've never heard of good. Like.
[00:18:46] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:47] Speaker A: Or Lamar or Patrick Mahomes or those guys like that. I think they, those guys can make people you've never heard of good.
[00:18:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:55] Speaker A: Everyone better around them.
[00:18:57] Speaker B: Like, my hot take is I don't think Julian Edelman would be in the hall of Fame if Brady wasn't his quarterback.
[00:19:04] Speaker A: That's what I'm saying.
Was good at that. Some of the receivers he had, you would have never, ever heard of.
[00:19:10] Speaker B: Exactly.
Okay, last question.
[00:19:13] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:19:14] Speaker B: This one's tough one. Well, maybe it's a tough one. Okay.
Will the Hogs have a winning season?
[00:19:22] Speaker A: God, this is gonna hurt.
[00:19:24] Speaker B: Will.
[00:19:28] Speaker A: Okay, hold on. How many games they play? They play 10.
[00:19:32] Speaker B: Yeah, I think I'm gonna give them.
[00:19:35] Speaker A: I don't know. They play.
[00:19:36] Speaker B: They play 12, I think.
[00:19:38] Speaker A: Oh, really?
[00:19:39] Speaker B: Yeah. 10 or 12.
[00:19:42] Speaker A: I think it's 10. If it's 10, I'm gonna say 5 and 5.
[00:19:45] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:19:46] Speaker A: Or 4 and 5 or 4 and 6.
But I, I would love to say better for Will because I know he's gonna see this and he's gonna, he's gonna text me, but I, I can't.
[00:19:58] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:19:59] Speaker A: So maybe we'll see. Maybe they end up going to the National Championship. We never know. But in my personal opinion, I do not think that they will have winning season.
[00:20:08] Speaker B: Well, maybe Will just needs to be on the team for them to win, you know?
[00:20:13] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. Like, once he's there, then I'll be. I'll be full Razorback.
[00:20:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
But for now, he's not on the team yet, so you need to be honest.
[00:20:22] Speaker A: Not there yet.
I do know some people on the team, though, so.
[00:20:25] Speaker B: Yeah, but. Okay. Yeah, he probably will. He'll be like, I'm so disappointed. You.
[00:20:33] Speaker A: I already know what he's gonna say. He's gonna say something.
[00:20:36] Speaker B: Well, Cruz, we've had so much fun with you on our show today, despite all the noise of your children.
[00:20:43] Speaker A: Yeah. Sorry about that. They just got in from lifting, so.
[00:20:47] Speaker B: Yeah.
Well, we're glad that you were on the show today. And, yeah, we hope you have just such a successful season and also praying that you don't have to do the punishment for fantasy.
[00:21:00] Speaker A: Yeah. But at the end of the year, I'll tell you.
[00:21:02] Speaker B: Okay, bet.
[00:21:03] Speaker A: Well, maybe the Farmington game if I. I'll tell you the Farmington game.
[00:21:07] Speaker B: Okay, Bless. I'm going to take your word for that.
[00:21:09] Speaker A: Okay. All right.
[00:21:10] Speaker B: All right, everyone. This is Prep Rally. Thank you.
Prep Rally Sports is your home for everything.
[00:21:17] Speaker C: High school sports in northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Make sure to follow our newsletter and you can follow us along on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Prep Rally Sports.
[00:21:26] Speaker B: And make sure you also watch our
[00:21:28] Speaker C: road trip series on YouTube where we cover some of the best athletes and teams in this state. And for all the latest sports coverage, you can follow along on nwaonline.com or the River Valley Democrat gazette.com we'll see you guys next time.
