Jeff:00:01:00:29
Welcome to Season Pass, the AF1 podcast. I'm your host, Jeff LeVac, and for those of you who have caught up with me in other venues, whether it be Terrestrial Radio or the world of arena football, you know that I'm usually accompanied by a large, bald human being. His name is Tom Goslowski. We lovingly call him Gaz. He was actually on the call this week on Vice. Nice enough to take some time and kind of do a different version of LeVac and Gaz right here on Season Pass. Gaz, how are you doing?

Goz:00:29:00:47

Thank you for the invitation, my friend. We've been doing this for a long time, you and I, and it feels different but exciting. Usually I'm a little closer to you. Usually people aren't forced to see our faces, but we've made it. We're on this show doing this in a whole different fashion. Thank you for the invitation. And as always, we're going to have a lot of fun together.

Jeff:00:47:01:48

Oh, trust me, we'll edit this. No one's going to see us. It's going to be all audio. Don't miss a minute of the action right here. Evergreen now, of course, the home base where we get this done, but you can get the Season Pass podcast anywhere you get your podcast. So make sure you like, subscribe, download every little button you can possibly hit. Hearts, stars, lucky charms, don't care. Hit it for us because we want to keep this thing rolling and keep it going. And of course, Evergreen now, wherever you stream like Roku, Fire Stick and more. Very, very great and free. Free app, my friends, that's what my budget is. So guys, let's get into this. Week five of the AF1 season. It started with the battle for Kansas as the Salina Liberty hosted the Southwest Kansas Storm. It was a solo Saturday night spotlight right here on Evergreen. And it was a defensive slobber knocker. I have struggled to try and think of any other game I've ever seen where the total was 42 points in the world of arena indoor football. Can you think of any other time you've seen the defense's step up the way these two did?

Goz:01:49:02:21

No, this is stands alone. It's different. It's unique There's so many reasons as to why you see a low scoring game Someone points is still an early season matchup understanding the office I think that's more about limiting plays and trying to find out who can have the advantage it feels like it's been a theme of the first month of the season of we want the ball is often and is much as possible as we can. This seems an example of defense can win us this game, but the offensive pace can control us. So a little mix of both, but shout out to the defenses for putting up historic numbers.

Jeff:02:21:02:48

It's got that NFL feel to me, like those teams that, hey, look, we can't score with, you know, the Chiefs or the Vikings, but what we can do is we can bring them down into the mud, make a little bit of a street fight out of this thing, limit their possessions, and then go ahead and have the ball at the end and win it. Are you seeing that? I mean, you just called Albany Billings who can have, I mean, they put 70 points each on the board this year. Is this that kind of thing where people are just like, no, we ain't gonna play your game. We're gonna play ours.

Goz:02:48:03:35

That's exactly right. And especially with teams who have that first possession in the game, you can watch some teams who, if they do it correctly, can eat up 50% of an overall quarter with a running clock. I think a lot of fans who are coming in and out of the league forget sometimes how impactful a running clock can be, especially when there's an incomplete pass, especially you're calling the setup plays where, oh, we're just going to put a run on a second down. make sure our receivers get a full juice before they do that high motion play. So we're seeing some teams eat away at that clock. So a little mix of both and defensive backs. It feels like the defensive backfields have been really good, healthy and strong and playing up on the hips. The officials, at least in some games, have let guys get away with some contact in the open field too. So a little mix of everything is probably the reasons why we saw such a low scoring game in that one.

Jeff:03:36:04:27

I'm glad you brought up the secondary, because the third quarter is kind of where this game was decided. Both teams trading interceptions, and then the Storm were able to make the most of the exchange. They scored, and then this amazing goal line stance. The Liberty never really recovered from that, even though Javen Kilgo did come in as Liberty quarterback. He was the starter early in the year, and now, you know, coming off the bench with that change of pace, he almost got them all the way back. Final score ends up being 22 to 20. I have said this to you in multiple venues, whether it's our radio show or wherever, the Liberty feel like that team, like Nashville Cats of a year ago in that other league that shall not be mentioned, where once you add a quarterback, that guy they know is their guy, they're going to be a problem. Is that something you're seeing? Are you reminiscent of that when Hippert came out and kind of took Nashville to the next level last year?

Goz:04:28:05:21

There's so many similarities between those two teams you've referenced there about a slow start, the schedule not working in their favor, but the talent so good on the team. You almost look at those teams like that here in 2025, it almost feels like a stock, right? Like you're going to buy low on this team who hasn't played its best football in March and in April, but all of a sudden you're invested in the squad and by the time May or June rolls around, you feel like it's a completely different team with the same players. That's the way I feel about them. Like, look, they have a great start. Yes, it's not the season that they want so far, but there are so many games where they're so close. I believe the stat was it was three losses by combined 13 points, which is outrageous thing about that's what it was so early in the season. So, yes, it feels like a great stock. If AF1 had like a market, no tariffs included, don't even need it. Don't worry about that stock market here in this league. That's a stock you want to buy.

Jeff:05:21:05:38

Southwest Kansas Storm, they get the W. Jalen Morton, he's obviously their quarterback, dual threat guy, a lot of fun to watch. They get the win. When I look at the Liberty guys, what if I told you, I don't know, they added a guy like, I don't know, Rakeem Cato. Does that change your vision of them for the future?

Goz:05:38:06:04

Yes, it should. It should change everybody's vision. That guy from outdoor football to indoor football, arena football, has had such a illustrious career. There are certain dudes who just have it, whether it's a mind for football, a gifted arm, precision in the pocket. Kim Cato's had that forever. And the fact that he continues to bounce around and find different spots, it feels like no one's complained about him. Like there's certain things you can't deny outwardly.

Jeff:06:04:06:07

In locker rooms it happens.

Goz:06:07:06:11

But there's nothing you can deny when it comes to the talent on the field and on the turf with him.

Jeff:06:12:06:23

It's weird to say this, Rakim Kato might be the best deep ball thrower in the world of arena football when you're talking about a 50 yard field, but he throws that rainbow pass and his guys get underneath it and they score six.

Goz:06:25:06:35

He's been so good. He's had that forever. It's a quality of his game that people can't turn it off. They see it with their two eyes, and they're like, how is he not on our team? So yes, he's always going to be a force when it comes to this style of football.

Jeff:06:36:07:26

And now, like I said, the transaction report, as of Tuesday morning, he is a member of the Salada Liberty. So that could be a big difference moving forward for them. The Battle of Kansas doesn't go their way, but the Battle of the Transaction Wire kind of does. That's never a bad thing. We are here on Evergreen now having a blast as we always do. That was the only Saturday action this week. Normally you get all the action on Saturday with that one game on Vice on Sunday. Not this week. We had two Sunday night games and guys I've deemed three teams going into this week as part of the and zero club because you want to make sure that it's like three and zero, two and zero, that there was three teams going into it and one of them headed to Washington to take on the Wolfpack. That is the Corpus Christi Titans, Triton, sorry they were called the Titans on air and I screwed up and did it my dang self.

Goz:07:28:07:49

The Titans, that's right. That's it, right. I don't like Titans though. I knew where you're going with that transition of how tall and how strong they've been so far this season. Preseason expectations were so high for them going into the year and it feels, can we say they've exceeded their expectations so far? I know they've played in close games, but like this is a really good team over the course of the first few games of the season.

Jeff:07:50:09:14

Well, it's, it, you know, it's a blueprint that's worked, right? So what you do is you've got a team, you're joining a league, you're the first time in, you go and you get, you get the dogs, you get the goats, you go and buy goats. I mean, Darius Prince and Darius Prince brings with him Dwayne Hollis. Dwayne Hollis still has plenty left in the tank. He was a coach last year. We, I mean, I know you and myself and everybody who was around the Albany program last year. Would take every opportunity had to say dude. Why are you standing over? I mean, you're still on the field as a defensive coordinator in the in the af1, but why are you standing here in a headset? Why aren't you wearing a helmet anymore? Because you still got it and he proved it this week as he has this season The Wolfpack were able to jump out to a 15-0 lead in this matchup that was right here on evergreen now But the Tritons would score 27 unanswered points We mentioned the GOAT, Darius Prince, he had two touchdowns during that. We mentioned Hollis Island, he had a pick six during that. Four touchdowns, Quintavious Workman, one of the other scorers, and I mean this is a pretty over-the-shoulder catch that he gets for the touchdown. It looks like the Tritons are starting to click, they started to click in this game for sure. You add all that talent, you put it together with a young, beautiful area. I mean, people love being down there in that part of Texas. It's a little bit of a resort area at points. You got a recipe for success, it looks like.

Goz:09:14:10:28

You know, we joked around about the Titan nickname that has been slipped out there and the Triton nickname. There's a third nickname that starts with the letter T that might be the best way to describe this Corpus Christi team. How about the Thoroughbreds? Like, you and I got Capital Region connections. We know about Saratoga and the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown's not too far away. But like a true Thoroughbred horse, you might see the best ones start off a little slow in those first few turns around the track. But down the stretch, they come and they turn on another gear. For as good as Corpus Christi's been this season, they have not started 75% of their games. They've been struggling early on. The Liberty gave them a test. There's a test in this game. They feel like a good horse that has the horsepower that can turn it on. Now again, they're undefeated. The record reflects how good they've been this season. If you had to pinpoint and criticize one thing about that team, You wonder if those slow starts will eventually catch up to them, and it hasn't happened so far. The thoroughbred mentalities work for them. And when you've got those type of players on the field, when you've got the the Joe's roster to roster and you can beat teams just out-talenting people, that's right, I made that an adjective and a verb, out-talenting people. That's what Corpus Christi has been able to do.

Jeff:10:29:11:23

And I mean, it's just it looks like the kind of place where you see people talk about that from the outside looking in. They don't quite understand it all. They don't see just how good Fred Payton really is as a dual threat quarterback. But he is. He's there. He's getting it done. Not as much rushing in this last game, but he didn't really need to. The defense played stellar. The offense got it done. Darius Prince is that guy who, in this offense, he's not necessarily the deep threat feature like we've seen him in the past. But he has said forever, I'm willing to be the decoy. If that's what it takes to win football games, I'll be the decoy. I think he's been the decoy and now he's starting to be the GOAT. He's starting to get those big touchdowns, those tough catches that nobody else really wants. When you've got his kind of reputation in the league, you're not usually asked to lower your shoulder and go across the middle. I think he asked to do it. I mean, you've seen him in multiple uniforms. What do you think of Prince so far this season?

Goz:11:23:11:43

I feel like this discussion, I know we had another few games coming up here, but it's something that was hit on the Vice TV side of it when we talked about the Outlaws and the Firebirds, about one of the classic sports conversations, you and I have had it before, everyone's cousins and friends at the local bar have had it, one of the best ones of most outstanding versus most valuable.

Jeff:11:43:11:46

This is your favorite argument of all time. I love it.

Goz:11:46:12:36

I love the most outstanding versus most valuable because look, somebody could have statistically better numbers. They could be your best player on your fantasy teams and all the other places. But what is the impact that certain players have on that respective franchise, whether it's college or professional? Darius Prince is on a new team in comparison to teams he's been in different leagues in the past, and the team that he's been acquired by is undefeated. And you just laid out the things that he's done so far for the season. So look, it may not be his career best number so far, month end of the season, but it's hard to have a discussion about who's the most valuable player in the league. and not say Darius Prince's name when the team that he plays on is undefeated. So that's how good he's been. That's how good Dwayne Hollis has been. That's how good that Triton team has been. Darius Prince's name is in the discussion, if not the number one vote getter for the MVP of the league so far a few games into this.

Jeff:12:37:13:53

Going to give some love to that Washington Wolfpack defense. They did do what they could to keep this thing close. Four interceptions in the game, but Corpus Christi just too tough. The Tritons remain The Tritons remain in the and zero club. Now three and zero undefeated on their way. Who knows if they can do one more week, maybe we have another and zero versus and zero matchup because as we keep this rolling, we go to the Vice TV game of the week. This featured two members of the and zero club, the three and zero Albany Firebirds versus the two and zero Billings Outlaws. This is a bad blood matchup. These are two teams that even though there's a ton of respect between them, there is not a like. at all, like no like, no love, no warm and fuzzies. There was, I don't think there was many handshakes after this game. Guys, you were on the call. For those people who were watching Vice Television on Sunday night, they heard Tom Goslowski and Brian Mariano live from the MVP Arena on the call. Obviously, I'm a little close to one of these teams, so why don't you go ahead and tell us what you saw as Albany and Billings couldn't get along, so they got it on.

Goz:13:53:14:12

Well, before even any kicks in the game or all that, the you laid it out there, the storylines that surrounded that game. I now wonder back about coach Damon Ware for the Firebirds about how often and how personal he took what had happened in the previous matchups against Billings. And I get it. Like you could wash away.

Jeff:14:12:14:14

You don't have to wonder. He took that very personally.

Goz:14:14:16:14

So it basically was the last dance. It was Michael Jordan looking at the iPad saying, I took it personally. Not just the losses against Billings and how those games had gone down, but in particular, the most recent matchup between the franchises, it was special teams. He said that to you, and he said that to me. Special teams was the difference the last time these teams played in a different league in a different matchup for a championship. If special teams was different, then we feel like we could have won the game. That statement alone felt so true in this matchup, because you had a Markel Wade kick return touchdown. You had a recovery for a touchdown as the Firebirds kicked off to the Outlaws. You had a deuce in the game. So those three plays alone, you could pinpoint and say that changed the tide of the game. But it goes back to what you brought up a few minutes ago, talking about time of possession and style of play and pacing. Billings' first offensive possession out of the game. They get the ball. On the road, they get to set the course of the game going forward in a battle of undefeateds. They hold the ball for about seven and a half minutes. And before they can get in the ends on a fourth down play, Albany takes it all the way back on an interception down to their two yard line. Sam Castronova, QB sneak. It felt like the whole game was different after that. You know, one of my favorite stats of that game, it gets to 35 to seven, a little less than halfway into the second quarter. And the Firebird offense had run a total of five plays where else what other league can you have a 28 point lead in the second quarter and your offense has been on the field for five plays so that's the impact of special teams that's how personal coach Ware took it that those plays in particular and how the defense was slowing it down and the advantage for the Firebirds they dominated That score reflects the game, the stats don't reflect it because Billings out gained Albany in that game. But you talk about those things, the blowout, Albany dominated Billings, which I feel like across the league was the most surprising result of anything from this past weekend.

Jeff:16:15:17:47

It's definitely an interesting outcome. Obviously, you know, again, for those of you who don't know my day job, I'm the team president of the Albany Firebirds. I take that hat off, I hang it on the wall when we start season pass the AF1 podcast, which you're listening to right now, but it's a little difficult to do for this Actual game there is like there is respect off the field very very much so but One of my more interesting interactions is right after the game Dwayne Brown who was the star receiver for Billings last year scored four touchdowns Against the Albany Firebirds in the brawl in the mall, which we don't talk about then goes and has a touchdown and a great game against his former team and the Billings outlaws with the Albany Firebirds, saw him after the game, I went, you know, how did that feel? He goes, it happened the way it was supposed to happen. I'm happy to be here. I go, welcome home. And he just, he almost teared up, gave me a hug, and then went and signed autographs. Like this, this rivalry, like normally it's, it's closeness. It's, you know, Orlando used to be the rival of the Albany Firebirds because of how easy it is to get up and down the coast. You know, in the past, it was the Philadelphia Soul that would have a problem with Albany. The real rival for this team right now is all the way over in Billings, Montana. You got to go across the country almost to get to them. And it's a real, real rivalry. Guys, you were on the call. At what point, I mean, I know you said like five plays and you already have this lead. At what point did you really look down and go, as much as you can always come back in the game of arena football, I think this one might really, really be over?

Goz:17:48:19:15

Well, we'll go back to the comparison we talked about in the pregame show for that broadcast. And if you do end up seeing the video side of this, behind my left shoulder is a famous boxer, Muhammad Ali, the poster behind me. And Ali, we talked about it being a big fight feel. And you've heard this a bunch. Some people have not heard this yet, but you've heard me use the term the lineal champion, right? Like to be the man, you've got to beat the man. Ric Flair used to say that Billings in 2024 is a franchise. said, we're the underdogs, Albany is the favorite, the team that we're going up against that we think is considered the champion, however you want to view that, is Albany. And Billings went out and beat them twice. So rather than being the hunter, they are the hunted in 2025. And it changed. And that big fight feel, now Billings was stepping in feeling like they should be considered the favorite. We had a lot of fun about power rankings and who should be the number one team in AFL. We're going to get into that. Don't worry. who should be the number one team at AF1 because of the previous matchups and it being a clean slate, however people viewed that. But what happened in that, like a big fight, whether the heavyweight boxing side of it, whether the UFC, they stepped inside of the ring, they were in the octagon, and Albany came out and laid a haymaker. They hit an uppercut and for the rest of the fight, the rest of the game, Billions couldn't recover. They were stumbling. They were changing their game plan. Mike Tyson fought some fights in Albany. And what was the old expression? Everyone's got a game plan. It'll get punched in the mouth. Billions got to believe. I believe it was.

Jeff:19:16:19:19

Everybody's got a plan to get punched in the face. I believe that was the quote.

Goz:19:20:19:44

Yes, that's right. Thank you, Mike, for correcting me. I don't want to be punched in the mouth or the face by you, but that's what happened. Billings got punched in the mouth, face, gut, wherever you want to do the punch, and they never recovered like a big time fight. But like we've learned about big time fights, there's a rematch on the way. So they're going to go to the corner. They're going to push that weird Bruce thing that people use. They're going to stitch up the cuts, and they're going to have another bout with Albany very soon.

Jeff:19:45:21:07

Yeah, that will be spoken about very shortly. The rematch will not have to wait. The Albany Firebirds are now 4-0 as they win 62-24 over the Billings Outlaws. I would argue, and it's one of those statements that it's a cliche one, it's something that radio people and sports star people have to do, I don't think this game was as close as 62-24. I think there was a moment early on, maybe it was when the the Henry Nell kickoff hits the crossbar of the rebound net, is recovered by Singleton and run back into the end zone. That's one of those crazy moments in the world of arena football that people don't get to see. You very, very rarely see a kick off the crossbar that gets recovered in any kind of way in the world of outdoor football. But arena football, it hits those nets, it bounces off that bar, it's a live ball. And once that happens, it is such a change. In the way the teams are looking, Uncle Mo, the momentum factor goes to that, whoever recovered that ball. That was that moment where I looked around and I saw the Billings guys and I was just like, they were like, what, like, what do we need to get the ball to literally bounce our way? And that was, that was not it for them. Question is, can that happen for them in their own gym when this happens again next week?

Goz:21:07:22:03

And that's the great question. That's the best storyline, because there's two ways you can look at this. If you're a coach, if you're a fan of Billings, there's the two terms you hear sometimes are easy yards, or if you're a baseball fan, you like this term better. Unearned yards. If you're a Billings fan, you could look at that and say, whoa, we gave them the ball at our own two yard line to punch that in. We didn't recover the kick. We didn't tackle on special teams. We gave them those opportunities to convert. So whether you want to call them unearned yards because we gave it to him like in baseball, ball goes through somebody's legs or they made an error or easy yards where all the offense has to do is walk off onto the field and move barely two yards. So look, Billings has some ways to view that match would say if certain things have went in our favor, we would have been much tighter in that game. However, that expression can be used almost in any type of competition. So that's what makes this weekend even more compelling. Is that the truth? Is there truth somewhere in that statement? We'll find out very soon.

Jeff:22:04:22:14

Sam Kashkova, quarterback of the Firebirds, was named the Real American Beer Player of the Game. Of course, Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer, proud sponsor of AF1 Arena Football.

Goz:22:14:22:18

By the way, real quick, broadcasters aren't eligible for that, we found out.

Jeff:22:19:22:27

Uh, guys, you didn't leave your seats. Uh, Brian Mariano had to run up and down the stairs. He might've had a shot at it, but you stayed put. Didn't move the entire broadcast.

Goz:22:27:22:30

I assumed the beer was going to be there and that's not the case.

Jeff:22:30:22:34

Oh, you just wanted the beer. Okay. Well, that's something we can talk about. Put that in your rider for future.

Goz:22:34:22:35

Thank you.

Jeff:22:35:23:25

This is the Season Pass, the AF1 podcast, Evergreen now our proud, proud home. And guys, let's get to know you a little bit. His name is Tom Goslowski III. I'm sorry, Thomas Goslowski III. You might know him as Gos, you might know him as Todd McCloskey. There's a lot of different names he goes by, but you have been a part of arena football just as long as I have been. Like obviously in the Albany market, my fandom started before you, but we were doing a show back in 2018 when the Albany Empire came back to town, brought arena football back to town I should say. It was the inaugural season of the Empire. You and I were the on-field jesters. We ran around, we hosted games. You know, obviously I got bit by the bug. You're still in it. What about that year? Can you look back at and go? Okay.

Goz:23:25:25:33

Yeah, it makes sense that I'm still in the world of arena football now Yes, and just to add a little bit more context to those almost inside juncture capital region people the closed Captioning for local television networks across the capital region have a trouble with Kozlowski and Tom So Todd McCloskey kept hopping up and YouTube awesome on their closed captioning I had so yes, thank you to arena football fans who have kept that nickname alive. Yes, in my dad's and that's right, right? My dad's in film, so we have to throw the junior the third in there. Yeah, you mentioned 2018. The fun part about being the on field emcees or we've nicknamed it the court jesters running around and entertaining people so they're not on their cell phones every time during a commercial break is you felt the energy of the crowd in the fans in the arena caring about the action. What's the great quote? There's a party going on, but a football game broke out. You really feel that when it comes to arena football, indoor football, AF1. That's the vibe that people want. So we saw that evolution in 2018. That was our role in 2019. We did it a second time as well. And then the world changes. Life changes. And then 2021 rolls around. You are named the team president. You want to put the jersey away and put a suit on and broadcast the games? I said, yeah, I actually do want to do that. That sounds like a lot of fun. And it's been fun following the evolution of the Albany team from different leagues and where we stand now. Look, rules have changed in different leagues, too, and you have to do this in comparison to broadcasting other games. There's this weird line you have to step on between how much do I explain to the audience of what they're watching or how many people already know the rules and don't want to be talked down to, which is it's an interesting game to play because a lot of the viewers know the rules and almost at times want to say they knew the rules better like any other sport. You know, they want to argue with a coach or a manager or a broadcaster who might be working for the home team. So it's been fun. I'm very happy. I was asked back for 2025 and so far so good for AF1. The feedback's been awesome from the broadcasting side and the season's been great so far.

Jeff:25:34:25:54

All right, you've mentioned it. We've seen a lot of different kinds of football, styles of football. You know, back in 18 and 19, you had the Nets, it was the AFL. Then it comes back where the NAL, it doesn't have the Nets at first, it's a whole different game. We bring the Nets back, it's a guy who calls it. Do you prefer calling it with or without the Nets?

Goz:25:57:26:04

I hopefully won't get myself in trouble with this tank. I would prefer it without the nets.

Jeff:26:04:26:05

Wow. You're the one.

Goz:26:06:27:07

Well, hang on. No, here's how I would chop this up, though, right? If I was a fan, I would prefer the nets. If I was somebody who had just watched it on television, was learning about the sports, I would prefer the nets. But as a broadcaster, it is challenging with the nets. because like there's no other sport that does that. So like when the nets are involved, I wish there was like almost like a camera on us while we're watching the net coverage. Cause like you're Bob, where'd it go? Okay. Where's it? And you're trying to play the bounce and you don't know how to call it. Like he's going to play it off the one hop to two. You feel like you're doing like all of a sudden like baseball meets pickleball meets here comes a defense. So again, that's a very selfish answer, but as a broadcaster, the nets make it much more complicated to figure out what in the world's going on. Oh, and by the way, we played in leagues where there was like UNOs, right? So like, if you don't get out of the end zone, you get the one. If you do get out of the end zone, how's the recovery rules? So if I can selfishly make my job easier, I would like the nets removed just for me to make my calls and Andrew's calls easier.

Jeff:27:08:27:22

Why would I expect any less from you? I mean, come on. The nets are one of the best parts of the game because of what you just said. It's the excitement. You don't know where it's going. You don't know how it's going. This is happening for the players in real time, and you're up there just crying because you got to squint a little bit. Come on now.

Goz:27:22:27:28

What's happening? Why is it bouncy? It's good for everybody else except the broadcasters.

Jeff:27:28:27:29

You'll get used to it.

Goz:27:29:27:32

Bouncy would be where two people don't like it. Play-by-play in color.

Jeff:27:33:28:31

Yeah, you'll get used to it. You'll like it. I'm telling you, it's going to be fine. You stepped in a little bit of hot water here in the Capital region as we were getting ready for this major matchup, which, you know… You as a radio hack, me as a radio hack, we're not wrong when we say that the biggest matchup in the history of AF1 was when the Albany Firebirds hosted the Billings Outlaws for the third matchup just this week. You had your own personal power rankings that you did. You ranked all eight AF1 teams. And even though you saw the dominance that was happening here in Albany, on the road and whatever we did, you still put Billings ahead of Albany. The 3-0 Albany Firebirds were behind the 2-0 Billings outlaws in your world. the flock, the fan base in Albany, not happy with you. Would you do it different if you could? And you haven't done your recent power rankings, would you like to tell us where they are now?

Goz:28:31:29:42

Yes, I will do that. And, you know, I'll just argue that I won't call this hacks, I would like to say professional bloviators, or trained hot takers, you know, the Those are the reasons they've been paying us. Professional overreactors. There we go. I like that one better. That one sounds less insulting to us. You know what? We'll cut that back in. That's right. Okay, so back to the power rankings. Yes, as a professional overreactor, I gave my power rankings. I'm not a big J journalist, but I gave him and I said, I can't put Albany out ahead of billions, even though I'm in the Albany market, because billions hasn't lost to Albany. And that was almost fuel because I said it to coach wears face. I owned it. A lot of us might not do it. I think coach where respected it and was also annoyed by it. But, you know, that's a part of the gig as well. And yes, the fans were upset with me so much so that they showed up to the show. and then booed me at my face during the show. They showed up to one of the sponsored remote show. And one guy in particular, he knows who he is, Steven, who showed up with his dog. And then when I put Albany at two, released his dog off the leash, I had a dog sicced on me during the show. And you know this. I'm not an animal person.

Jeff:29:42:29:44

This is all true, by the way. This is all true.

Goz:29:44:29:50

This is not true. That dog came right at me. He did. That dog came right at me. And I'm not a dog person.

Jeff:29:50:29:51

I'm not an animal person.

Goz:29:51:31:06

I'm frightened. It was like UGA in Tennessee, like Georgia, it was like… So look, I had Albany in two. I owned it. I was mocked during the broadcast. I didn't need you people in my direct messages reminding me we're in the power. So yes, Albany is one. Albany is the number one team now in the power rankings. They deserve to be number one. They've got the zero next to their name. They beat Billings. And even so, there's a chance. Let's say Billings beats Albany this week, all right? But let's say Billings wins by three or Billings wins by 10. Albany won by four plus touchdowns. Albany will remain the number one team. The only way that potentially gets thrown off by the end of next week is if Corpus Christi does something that is so impressive or Albany suffers some type of injury, something happens that Corpus Christi has a more likely chance now to be the number one team over Albany. I don't see that happening, but Albany would be one. Billings would be two, Corpus Christi with a win in their next recent game, or I should say their upcoming game. If Billings drops a second and Corpus Christi remains undefeated, they should be now considered the number two team in the AF1. So I'll do still those three. Right now would be Albany, Billings, and Corpus Christi with potential for that to move by the next time the next edition of the show airs.

Jeff:31:07:31:14

All right. I mean, listen, you finally, you know, you finally got it right. Everybody's, everybody's okay with you now. Well, you want a little hot take Tommy on us.

Goz:31:14:31:19

No dogs, no dogs in the arena. I don't need dogs or animals sicced on me because of my power rankings.

Jeff:31:20:31:24

I'll tell you what, you mess up the power rankings again, I know a guy we might have to have like pets at the park today.

Goz:31:24:31:26

No, no, that's fine.

Jeff:31:26:31:40

Animals in the arena, maybe we'll do that. I'm not paying for that cleanup, so you're safe. Tom Goslowski, guys, if you were the guy who had to tell somebody why they need to start paying attention to AF1 football, what's your sales pitch?

Goz:31:40:32:33

The action never stops. You know, I joked around a little bit a few minutes ago, like people will just go on their phones. So many people consume sports content so differently. They're just going to check social media, check updates, double, triple screening. When it comes to AF1 football, it doesn't stop. Whether it's offense, defense, every play, a scoring play can happen. How often can you say that in sports? So many other leagues are just setting up, you're waiting in their space. Everything can happen. Even during when pace of play ends and people are going to their huddles, there's timeouts, there's fun stuff going on on the turf. I have just as much fun and a big smile on my face watching the crazy catch up upset get my mustard during the race. We had crazy kicks going on to win prizes. AF1 is action nonstop. It's quick. It's a great way to spend your weekend. So go out and support it. And wherever you're listening, however, look, take the road trip to a home game and have some fun for a weekend.

Jeff:32:33:33:24

Especially, you know, at all AF1 arenas, you can enjoy Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer, which just heightens the excitement a little bit more. And also, don't forget about Better Edge. It is the official betting partner of the AF1. If you go to Better Edge, you'll see the lines, you'll see the scores. You actually make wagers against fans just like yourself. So, if, you know, Goss hadn't smartened up and he still was on the side of Billings, he could have put a wager out there, and then somebody like myself could have went, no, I'll take the Albany side of that wager. I personally am not allowed to do it, team president of the Albany Firebirds, but you guys all can. And you can have a great time at Better Edge. It is a fun, fun app. I would say you should check it out. And I like their lines. I think the lines they set are pretty fair. They don't always get reflected because the game of arena football, the ball bounces and you can have a very big swing easily. But the lines are fair and that's a good place to get those if you're looking for them.

Goz:33:24:33:51

Shout out to all those great sponsors that are making the 2025 season of AF1 so successful. And I just want to give some personal love to the people that I love, and that's Evergreen now. I love Evergreen now. Everyone's so good looking who works here. The bosses are, I heard the bosses were in town in Albany. I didn't get a chance to introduce myself, but I'm a fan of this content, whether it's on demand, all the stuff that's been on it. I love Evergreen now, and I'd like to learn more about it. And hopefully I do throughout the season.

Jeff:33:51:34:06

It's odd that your first game that's going to be popping up will be that Vice game that now can be seen on Evergreen now. And now you're doing this first time to pop on with me and do season pass, the AF1 podcast. And all of a sudden, you're flirting with my bosses. What's going on here, guys?

Goz:34:07:34:14

They're great people, is what I've been told. They're good-looking people. I want to be with them, if that's what they have to say. I want more content. You're going too far.

Jeff:34:14:34:15

You're going too far.

Goz:34:15:34:16

That's too far? All right.

Jeff:34:16:34:16

You're going too far.

Goz:34:16:34:18

I'm going to be desperate.

Jeff:34:18:35:12

Everything now is who I love. Let's do this. So you got to know Gaz a little bit. Gaz, help me. We're going to go into week six. This is the first week of the season where all eight AF1 teams are going to be on display. There's four games this week. All eight teams are going to be in action. I think we're going to see where the rubber meets the road for some of these teams. Let's get this thing going. It starts Thursday night, guys, right here on Evergreen Now. The Nashville Cats travel to Washington to take on the Wolfpack. This is a 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time kick. Eight o'clock out there. I think Nashville is that team that is going to get better each and every week, and I think they've shown us that. They brought in guys like Antoine Grant and other players that you may have seen in the past make big plays. The Wolfpack's defense has been playing phenomenal. Their kicker, Manny, is a beast. This is going to be a lot of fun, this game, this matchup Thursday night. I would favor the Cats in this one, guys, but what do you think?

Goz:35:12:35:42

I'm leaning cats as well. And it feels like you hear this term thrown a lot now in 2025 called the wise guy pick the social media rumblings that I got a secret. I got a secret. Nobody knows about Nashville is really good. It feels like Nashville is getting that like swell on social media that people are underrating the cats. I'm had the Internet talk me into something, which is also is a dangerous way to pick things. But I'm going to trust the Internet and social media, and I'm going to go with Nashville as well. You picked them as well. Hopefully the Internet didn't affect you like it did me.

Jeff:35:42:35:51

Yeah, hopefully. Well, it happens. I mean, there's stuff all over the place. You got to wash your hands, kids. Don't touch your face. The Oregon Lightning will be on Saturday. I'm sorry. Go ahead.

Goz:35:51:35:53

No, no, no, no. That's a great piece of advice.

Jeff:35:54:36:32

The Oregon Lightning on Saturday head to Salina to take on the Liberty. Saturday, 7.30, kickoff on this one. The Lightning, they got the man. Cold don't I mean don't call I like you I read in the phone book for you real quick. Can you see it stone cold? Stone cold don't man this guy he's been a lot of fun since he's gotten here So Lana now it looks like Kato gonna be there this game. I don't even really know where to take it I've said if you had a quarterback for the Liberty you'd be a team to beat they got a quarterback I guess I'm forced and is thinking that the Liberty are gonna be able to be not great host to the Oregon Lightning and

Goz:36:33:36:59

I have to lean towards the Oregon Lightning in this one because as good as the Liberty have been in losing efforts, at times you feel like, can they get over the top? I get it. I've given the Liberty so much credit over the last two weeks that they're going to get there, they're going to get there. But eventually you have those prove it games. I feel like what is the old term you and I've talked about, right? Potential will get you fired. That's what the Liberty are at this point. So let's see if they can break through. I'll lean advantage towards Oregon in this matchup though.

Jeff:36:59:37:43

Remember that game as well as the Thursday night to game between the cats and the wolf pack right here on evergreen now wherever you watch your Streaming content wherever you get the apps evergreen now free download free viewing. It's there for you Saturday night continues So the beauty of the streaming platform is it's not like you have to go to a you know a blah blah blah to or whatever No, right there on that same evergreen now A half hour later, eight o'clock kickoff Saturday, the Southwest Kansas Storm are at the end zero. Corpus Christi, Tritons, this game guys, this is the one I think Corpus Christi can show that they are the top tier or Southwest Kansas can show, hey, don't forget about us while you're breaking out your rankings.

Goz:37:43:38:33

This is surprising, I think, for some people to think about this tag, this storyline. Isn't this going to potentially be the best game of the entire slate of games for the upcoming week? It feels like it could be. For a lot of the storylines you just mentioned, for what it could mean for Corpus Christi, for Southwest Kansas, feeling like they're trying to find their footing in the stadiums of if they're a playoff team, a home team contender, if they're going to be in that other tier of the league, it's the prove it game again here for both these teams but this feels like a fourth quarter final two possessions who has the lead how you can swing it corpus christi wins but southwest kansas is gonna have some opportunities in that fourth quarter to take the lead if not have the lead in the fourth quarter corpus christi will the slow starts cost him in this potentially but i'll give them like a six point win here over the storm

Jeff:38:34:40:35

It feels like people are starting to really notice what the Tritons are up to. I mentioned it earlier this week to a couple of guys on the Insiders that I talked to, and they're all like, don't turn a blind eye to Corpus. I mean, obviously, and Zero, they haven't lost yet. You'd think you couldn't, but it's so easy to get wrapped up in what Albany and Billings are doing and the fact that Darren Arbette, who's a Hall of Fame coach, is running Nashville. Don't sleep on Corpus. They keep their momentum rolling. They just won by 40. It's hard to pick against them. I'll roll with you as well on Evergreen. You're going to see Corpus get this done. But Southwest Kansas is that organization, man. You can see them. They're building. They're not trying to do anything crazy, anything rash. They're building a foundation, and they're going to keep rolling with it. You said the biggest matchup might be Saturday night. I believe. It's a run-it-back game. It's Sunday night on Vice, the game of the week, when the Albany Firebirds, who just hosted the Billing Outlaws, now go, hey, let's do it in your house. Going to Billings, facing the Outlaws. It's the Firebirds. It's the 420 game. Make your weed jokes here. 6 p.m. on Vice. Is that your vice? Whatever. I don't care. As long as it's legal and you're responsible. Obviously, I'm taking the Firebirds here, but I will tell you it is so easy to celebrate that game and I have so much respect for Steven Titus and Cedric Walker the owner and the head coach both walked into the Albany Firebirds offices after the game Congratulated ownership and Damon Ware and everyone else said great game You guys did it all the talking is over for right now Like you know Titus went and found his Maserati keys because they have a bet between him and Andy Gelcher of the Firebirds, that the Losers' vehicle gets wrapped, that thing's going to be a Firebird mobile in no time, that Maserati. I think this is the game of the week again because I think Billings is going to look at what happened last week and say, you know what, we're still 2-1. Even though that's another league, we're 2-1. We're not letting you even this up.

Goz:40:36:41:47

If there is a change in the game plan for Billings, it might be more touches for McFarlane out of the backfield, who is a beast. It might be Wingle being a little bit deeper on the deep ball, so many quick short passes in that first half against Albany. This feels like if the Billings Outlaws get something in their advantage at home, a low-scoring game, I keep leaning towards like 3529 Albany, 3521. I can see Albany like having a two possession lead, but then coach Walker playing the analytic game, like going for too late and then an onside kick and hoping the crowd gets into it. I believe that's insane. close to what happened in 2024 when they matched up some interesting finishes there in the second half. So even though it was a monster blowout last time, if Billings can actually keep the offense off the field like they did and don't have those easy yards again, this should be a close game again. So I'm going to go 35-29 Albany. I'm not on the call for Vice as of when you and I are talking. So if I am on the call, I redact my prediction. I'm a professional Big J journalist. I will not predict the game at home on the call. But if I'm not on the call, That's my pick. If I'm on the call, this never happened.

Jeff:41:48:42:53

I'll do this. Here on Season Pass, the AF1 podcast, all predictions are merely entertainment based. We're not here to actually take sides with any team, even if they do provide our payroll. I want to thank the great sponsors of AF1 and of course the season pass. Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer, the official beer of the AF1 brother. Better Edge, the perfect way for you to wager against fans just like yourself. Vice TV, the host of the Sunday night game of the week, which again this week will be the Birds at the Outlaws on Vice 6pm and of course Evergreen now. Get it wherever you get your streaming services. It is growing by the minute. Had a great chance to meet with some of the higher-ups from Evergreen. It's one of those ones where when you hear people talk, they make sense. Which, you'll be shocked, in the world of entertainment, in the world of business, I don't get a lot of those conversations. So that was nice to have done. Thank you very much to Tom Goslowski III for joining us on the Season Pass this week. You probably did well enough, you might get a call back.

Goz:42:54:42:57

All right, let's go. Oh, not for me.

Jeff:42:58:43:15

It's not up to me. I don't know. You have to ask Producer Bill. Producer Bill Huffman, of course, always great, always taking care of us. If you have anything you'd like to add, questions you want to ask, hit me up on X at the Jeff Leveque. That's T-H-E-J-E-F-F-L-E-V-A-C-K. If you want to talk to Gaz, Gaz, what's your handle there on X?

Goz:43:16:43:18

At TomGaz, T-O-M-G-O-Z-Z.

Jeff:43:19:43:37

Thank you so much to everybody, of course, again, for producer Bill Huffman in the studio, making us sound a little bit more professional, and the rest of the Evergreen Now crew. I'm Jeff Levesque, wishing you a wall-bashing, turf-scorching, douche-kicking rest of your week from the Season Pass podcast, the AF1 podcast.