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Thank you.

Well, welcome to a holiday weekend edition of Game Notes here on LPB.

For those who are in town for the holidays, welcome.

Great to have you with us.

Hope you and yours had a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

We're introductions.

That is my Super Bowl champ partner.

His name is Scott Shanley.

My name is Victor Howell.

It's great to have you with us as we are on the final weekend.

Believe it or not, of the regular season for college football, though for Scott, for some they know today is hunting for some raging Cajuns.

I'm talking to you.

You need a win to extend that for bowl season.

And then some like the Lions we're already in the playoffs.

So that is an unbelievable already Thanksgiving week.

I mean it feels like just yesterday we were doing the pre-season show in August and prepping to do all the teams we covered this year.

And you're right, there's there's teams that are still playing and a lot to play for.

And teams entering playoffs, teams trying to get to the playoffs.

So it's a long journey.

But it happened so sudden it so quick.

A lot of memories are made over this football season.

Yeah no doubt.

And we have a lot to talk about it.

We're going to start with that playoff matchup that kicks off in just about an hour and a half from now over in Hammond, America, for the first time since 1980.

And really, for the second time ever, Southeastern and Illinois State are going to face each other on the football field this time, it's in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.

To the surprise of many, one week ago, the Southland Conference got not one, not two that we knew were in Stephen F Austin and Southeastern, but three teams from the conference because Lamar got in at the very end.

The Lions well, they got the number 16 seed nationally.

And they are kicking off at noon at Strawberry Stadium this afternoon against the number 17 team.

And that's Illinois State.

So let's get to know the Redbirds a little bit for this big time matchup.

In the first round of the playoffs they play in the Missouri Valley, which got a record six teams into the 32 team field, including number one overall North Dakota State.

They finished just one of three teams with an eight and four record in the conference.

Were ranked every week of the season, anywhere between number six and number 18 in the country.

Statistically pretty much smack in the middle of most of the major categories in the Missouri Valley on offense and defense.

But they have an experienced quarterback, an outstanding linebacker who's a three time player of the week and a finalist for the national Defensive Player of the year.

Head coach Brock Spak was impressed with what he saw the Lions when he watched film of their win over Murray State, another conference opponent from earlier this season.

You know, they have a plan on what they're going to do and how they're going to play.

And, and they stick to it.

They're they're really good at and, you know, they make the two quarterback system work.

I remember seeing him back.

We played Murray, they played Murray.

Before we played Murray saw them.

I thought that was interesting.

You have a two, two quarterback system.

And when we, we pick them up, pick them up, in the playoffs here, we, as you mentioned, see if they're still doing that and that they are they said they've done it all year.

So their teams are very much used to it.

So Illinois State looking to see if that two quarterback system was just a fluke or the real deal.

No, that's the real deal for the Lions.

It's a second straight playoff appearance for Illinois State in the seventh under their head coach.

And walks back 11 and three on the road for the last two years.

Illinois State they finished tied for fourth in the Valley.

As I told you earlier.

And the last time these two teams met was back in 1980.

Earlier this week, Frank Southall showing he can have a dual role as I had a chance to catch up with the southeastern head coach to talk about Illinois State while he was breaking down Redbirds film.

Coach, let's look ahead now.

You've got Illinois State coming to Hammond Saturday at noon at Strawberry Stadium.

This is a team from the Missouri Valley, and I think I go back to week three.

You were playing Murray State, I believe out of Missouri.

And you talked about then how important it was for you all to compete and get a win against teams from that conference.

Now you're getting an Illinois State from that conference.

Does the game against Murray State help you any?

And can you give us a scouting report on what you plan on seeing from Illinois State?

Yeah, I don't think the Murray State game helps much.

You know, because it was so long ago in the season, the, scouting report on, on, Illinois State, they got a veteran head coach been there 17 years.

His program is in place.

They know what they want to do, and they do a great job of it.

Their kids play hard.

The physical, they're big on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

And they they play a physical brand of football.

I think everything for them offensively will go to the quarterback.

Tommy Rittenhouse, one of the best players we've seen all year long, being able to throw the football but also being able to run the football.

And you can tell they got a lot of confidence in him.

It seems like they give him a lot of leeway, that it's not just something where, they call a play and he has to run it, and you see a lot of things happening with him.

Some of it is probably ad lib, but when he scrambles, when he takes off, he keeps his eyes down the field.

He's a very effective runner, but he keeps his eyes down the field.

And there are some huge plays being made when, he takes off.

I think on the other side of the football, the, they got an All-American linebacker that is all over the place.

Their defensive line, is is as big as anybody we played this year, including LSU.

They're very active up front.

That's they're difficult to move out of there.

Secondary wise.

You're going to see a lot of different coverages.

They roll their coverages, do a lot of movement and stuff up front, but they really adjust and really give you a lot of different looks on the back end.

We got to really be on our game from, the quarterback's perspective as to where he's looking, make sure he's got eye discipline, know what he's looking at and know what he's seeing and understand what's about to happen.

Hey, look, it's going to be a great day in Strawberry Stadium on Saturday.

That's why I want so many people to show up and see.

There's two really good teams.

Is eight eight FCS teams in the country being played, games being played this week.

And we're one of them right here in Hammond, America.

Come on out and just check this thing out too, because there's two really good teams and you appreciate playing the one thing you didn't say in the scouting report, this is a home game.

And just ask every opponent that roll through even the highest scoring team in the Southland Conference, you got the better of them by double digits.

You talked about the importance of the City of Hammond to the school, and how important the school is to the city of Hammond.

If there's ever a weekend to come out home coach, I know this would be it for you.

With the playoffs there.

Strawberry Stadium, which is proved to be difficult for everybody this season.

We play well here.

This is a good place for us.

It's, you know, home field advantage is a good place for us.

So we do play well in Strawberry Stadium, but, I think there's there's some people that's never been here that have never seen us play.

And what I tell you is, come spend a few hours.

It's easy to get in.

Takes you five minutes once you park to walk inside the stadium, when the game's over, you can walk right out.

You're going to see a great product on the field.

And it's it's you know, sometimes people get upset about the way things are going in the schools that they support come check us out.

And if you like us, come back.

If you don't like us, don't come back.

But if you do like us, come on back or spread the word.

Because I think you will.

I think it'll be.

You'll see a quiet to a quality matchup again on two nationally ranked teams to be able to come in here and playing on Saturday.

I got to do a better job of asking question, because you can tell he's looking at film the whole time, but I couldn't get him to break down what he's watching.

He can't give me.

Coaches are trained.

You're not going to break him.

So to get that inside, look, we told you a lot about Illinois State.

But let's focus back on the Lions because since we last saw you, K.K.

Reno's been named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the year.

But Caleb Proctor, who we've talked about a lot, he's the conference's overall player of the year.

So yes, they've got an experienced quarterback, but you're going up against one of the best defenses in the South in conference playing at home this afternoon.

Yeah you heard coach give give Illinois State a lot of credit in what their defensive line is able to do and what they're bring to the table.

And I'm sitting there thinking coach you got a heck of a defensive lineman yourself and a really good defense.

But Caleb Proctor's been outstanding.

You go all the way back to even the LSU game earlier in the year.

I don't think it's far fetched that Caleb Proctor was the best defensive lineman in the state of Louisiana this year.

He's been an outstanding player defensively.

I think southeastern has done a lot of good things all year long.

We said all three phases offensively, they've been well.

Defense has been the strength of those teams, special teams.

They played well, but there's no doubt about it.

First round playoff game at home against a team who plays really good on the road.

You saw that record 11 three on the road.

But the state, it's going to come down to defensive football and running.

The football is how you win playoff games.

It's going to be a matchup that's been great.

And again they're kicking off at High Noon and Strawberry Stadium so should be a outstanding afternoon.

As coach said it's playoff football.

Get out there to see it.

This is number 16 against number 17.

You see what the Lions defense has done.

Second in the South in terms of points.

Allow the Redbirds offense as I mentioned kind of middle of the road.

The winner plays number one overall seed.

And that's North Dakota State who's also in the Missouri Valley.

And Scott, just to wrap up with southeastern here on the offensive side of the ball, this defense is good enough.

As long as your offense don't have a lot like they did it UW where you want Lamar which is that tough loss.

But we've seen this offense be explosive.

Remember Texas Rio Grande Valley came to Hammond high scoring team in the South End Conference.

The Lions beat them by double digits.

The defense can get the job done.

The offense has to be sharp this afternoon.

Yeah, and we've talked about it all year long.

I think the two quarterback system is outstanding.

It keeps defenses on their heels.

But when it comes playoff time how do you how do you use that two quarterback system.

Do you go with the hot hand.

Do you continue to roll it 5050.

How do you play out that two quarterback system.

But I think it comes down to defense.

And they've ran the football well taken advantage of at home field advantage.

And I think the fun thing about the FCS is seeing these the Inter conference matches come playoff time.

It's going to be an exciting game.

And I agree, coach said it best.

If you're there, go check out a quality football game and quality football matchup.

Absolutely.

Early this week I had a chance to catch up with two of the other coaches in the state who coach in the Southland Conference to get their thoughts on the conference, not only getting three teams into the playoffs, but also the pass of the Lions.

I think it's great.

And I think, you know, I don't think we've had that many in for a few years.

I think we've been A11 bid team for a few years now.

And I think they'll all represent us really, really well.

And I think they all you know, Stephen has got the first round.

Bye.

So good for them.

Yeah.

They're already advanced if you will.

And I hope they play well tomorrow in the second round.

You know they got the old Texas bracket over there Lamar play and Abilene Christian.

And hopefully they can knock them off.

And we can have a Southland match up in the second round.

And and then we're southeastern I think Illinois State's a great draw for them.

They've got to come to Hammond.

That's it's a great stadium.

It's a great place to play.

And they got to come all the way down from Illinois.

And hopefully for them the weather kicks up and it's about 85 degrees.

But I'm pulling for all those guys because you know it's good for all of us.

You know wind blowing things in our Southland.

Well it just brings attention to us.

And I mean, it's a great thing and I'm really, really proud, excited for those three schools.

Yeah.

Well deserved.

You know, you look at all three teams, Lamar Southeastern and Stephen F Austin, all three of them really good football teams, experience football teams.

They're all senior laden football teams.

And so, when those teams win eight and nine games in a regular season, they deserve to be in the field.

And I think any time a Southland Conference team wins eight games, I mean, they should be a shoo in.

And I know there was a little bit of bubble talk there towards the end with both Southeastern Lamar, but I thought that was a little bit, you know, wild because eight and nine wins in our conference is a great record and deserves to go into the playoffs.

And so I look forward to those guys getting matched up against some teams from the other conferences and looking to for them to make a run.

Well, that will be a big time game that kicks off at noon.

But what about one of the other massive games in the state that will kick off at 1:00 down in New Orleans in the Superdome?

You know, there's some fun and exciting football played in the HBCU throughout the country.

And certainly the halftime shows are next, second to none.

But the one marquee game every year for the HBCU comes on Saturday after Thanksgiving in New Orleans.

And it happens this afternoon when it's Southern and Grambling and all.

You have to say, it's the Bayou Classic.

The Tigers from Grambling, the four game win streak snapped last week on the road, and the loss to Alcorn State.

But remember, the Tigers were short 18 players due to suspensions following that Bethune-Cookman fight, the Tigers have come up short the last few years in the classic, but head coach Mickey Joseph is feeling more confident heading into today's game, especially now that he has one of these games under his belt.

This event this year was a little different for me last year.

Last year I was a rookie.

Now I'm a second year vet.

If you if you focus on what we're doing on the field, we have this thing turned a little bit.

We had it turned in the right direction when we came in the first time we said, we want to restart, all or no, the order was already restored.

We had we had to come up with something else.

One family, one legacy.

When I say one family, family united together, striving for excellence and we're going to get to that legacy.

So when we take the field on Saturday, our coaches, our players, they know the impact of this game, that they know this game means something.

But this game, it's not a while.

You're right, because last year after the game, I can see our players and our coaches hugging the southern players, hugging the southern coaches, you know, because after only for three hours is going to be divided.

So come Saturday, the Grandma's State Tigers will be ready.

Southern University Jaguars will be ready.

We're going to battle for three hours.

Then after that, we're going to go back and become that one big family.

Because being southern is not playing grandma.

I'm rooting for southern because at the end of the day, just to boot, and we take care to boot.

By the way, if you sit in the line of three hours, I'm taking the over by a mile.

Yeah.

No way.

It's three hours.

But I get your point, Mickey.

And I love that.

Now for southern, it's been 92 days since they won their one and only game this season at Mississippi Valley State.

But for the Jags, all of that disappointment can take a backseat.

If they can find a way to play a consistent second half and get their fourth straight Bayou Classic victory.

I just want to thank, president.

She was just a player, coach, banks, board members, everybody for giving this opportunity to be there.

And I'm coach at Southern University.

I've embraced it as a great moment.

I've been a part of a leader who has southern.

And on Saturday, you will see two define teams as Grambling and Southern, coming to the stadium in this dome and compete blood, sweat and tears.

But one ultimate goal is to win at the Jaguar Nation shows up.

The University of Southern University Jaguar will show out our students.

It's not only possible on the football field, but if they prevail in the classroom as well.

So we have to acknowledge that these student athletes, that they come out and participate in this sport each and every day, for us coaches, for us at home, and to hear them out during the course of practice and still be able to go in the classroom and do that job not only in the classroom, but in the community as well.

So we'd like to thank each and every one, the football player that's going to come in this dome on Saturday and try to give you guys a great show, go Jags.

Oh, now it'll be a show.

Southern and Grambling in the Bayou Classic, nationally televised on NBC as well as the Peacock at the Jags, have won three straight and six and seven in this series.

By the way, Grambling designated as the home team in this one this afternoon.

Now, you might have heard there has been some head coaching vacancies and some searches in state Louisiana.

And I think we've got an announcement of a head coach, but it's not the big school you're thinking about.

Because late this week, it was announced that southern reportedly has found their man.

And it's somebody you not only know you played with because of his NFL ties.

How about how about Pro Football Hall of Famer to be your head coach at Marshall Faulk coming back home to Louisiana.

He obviously worked at the NFL network for a number of years.

Joined coach Brian Stafford.

Colorado is the running backs coach coming home to be the southern head coach.

This is an amazing hire.

I think Marshall Faulk I was a rookie in Saint Louis with the Rams a couple years after they won a Super Bowl.

And just to watch Marshall work, watch Marshall leave in a locker room, watch his football IQ was off the charts.

One of the best I've ever been around and played for ten years.

And just seeing his football IQ and his leadership ability, this is a home run higher for southern congratulations to southern.

Congratulations on Marshall Faulk.

He's going to impact a lot of young men in the right way.

Yeah a little bit of more information about Marshall Faulk.

Yeah.

When you hear the name like Scott mentioned, you just remember the records.

His performance on the field.

But here's a little more about the man and the Louisiana native coming back home.

Well, he'll be in Baton Rouge and in southern part of Louisiana.

Super Bowl champs with the Rams inducted the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Now he spent time most recently under De on a Colorado assistant coach, but reportedly set to become the southern head coach.

That announcement has been reportedly said to be expected on Monday.

But first things first, before that big announcement, it's southern, it's Grambling, it's the Bayou Classic, and it's this afternoon.

Scott has so often reminded us time and time again, your best ability is your availability and the raging Cajuns.

Well, they had to fall on that a lot this season.

Last week it continued when the cages lost their center to injury.

So enter Andrew Martinez, a sophomore without a lot of experience.

But he stepped up as if he's been playing all season long at the center position, helping the Cajuns get that huge must win on the road.

And his play and his effort certainly caught the attention of the Ranger Cajun head coach.

Guys all year have have stepped in there and played well.

And he played great the other night.

You know, I mean, to not have one snap issue in that game and that's almost a miracle.

You know, when you put a center in there who hasn't played a whole lot, he's got to snap every ball back there in a high pressure situation.

Made the kids did a really good job, played really well.

I think that was, you know, he was a player of the game for us.

If the Cajuns want to make it four for four and get bowl eligible, they'll have to be able to get through the Ulm Warhawks defensive front this afternoon, which has been one of the bright spots for the Warhawks this season.

They're looking to snap a long losing skid as Ulm, while the cages are looking to close out a four game win streak that would officially make them bowl eligible a few weeks back.

You know, we talked about being in this position and talked about the work it was going to take to get here, you know, and here we are.

So, you know we got a big win this week.

Obviously.

You know this is what we wanted was for week 12 to mean something for us.

Naturally senior day is always a big deal.

You know, being back at home, you know, playing a rivalry game against, you know, like it's you Ulm.

And then, you know, there's, there's a bowl game on the line and, you know, eight years in a row that's something that I'm really proud of, you know, and it's something we're going to, we're going to fight like hell to try to get done.

So if you all am in Lafayette to take on the raging Cajuns, it's a 2:00 kick.

By the way, I know for you on Monroe, it's been reported they found a new head coach.

Brian Vincent has been the interim.

So they're going to hire Sean to.

I remember that family from the blindside.

He's been at Oral Roberts for the last year.

He might be announced soon as you almost new athletic director Scott, we talk about the Warhawks.

We know the struggles they've had this season.

But quickly, just about the raging Cajuns.

Four weeks ago, they lost at Alabama and Troy.

You had four games to go.

You knew you needed to win all four there 75% of the way there.

Whether they can pull this off or not, it's been a heck of a run for a team that has had its share of issues this year.

Yeah, they went on a run, the defense picked it up.

But it's really been centered around once Whitfield building this offense around his skill set, he ignited this locker room.

You could see the belief in this team believe in the quarterback position and xylem Perry and Bill Davis.

They've been consistent all year long at the running back position.

So again the offensive line if they can control the line of scrimmage kind of a matchup of strengths in the offensive line versus the Ulm defensive line.

That's going to be worth the games decided.

Well, I don't know where at the end of the month of November, I don't know if you remember what you did on September 27th.

It's been a few months ago, but Louisiana Tech does.

That's the last time they want a road game.

But now that the Bulldogs are officially bowl out of the bowl, they're going to try to take that momentum on the road this afternoon to improve their standings for bowl selection, here's tech head coach Sonny Cumbie.

It's a big objective of ours.

You know as far as being able to get this win on the road.

You know, it's been a while since we've done it this year.

And you know, the same people are traveling and we have to have that same mindset and that same intensity that we show up with, you know, for four quarters.

And regardless of where we're at or how we get there, you know, we we have a group that does love to play football and we have an opportunity, you know, for two more times to play football.

And we've got to practice it really well and then take all of the things that we've practiced Monday through Friday with a great mindset and the intent to to show up on Saturday.

And, and you're playing against an opponent on the field, but you're also, you know, there's there's the momentum that there crowd can generate.

You know they're going to be on Senior Day also.

So a lot of the emotions that, you know, you may feel on a senior day that we had, you know, they're going to be having those.

And so we just have to make sure that we channel all of our energy and all of our emotion into into playing winning football on the road.

Being able to win on the road is hard.

Especially like from a fan perspective, like in terms of you know, fans of energy, you got to create your own energy.

So for us, we just got to make sure we come, with our own energy, having each other's back and just, building off each other and, just executing.

We have to tackle really well.

We have to talk, you know, we have to do a great job with fitting the run at linebacker.

You know, when we have a gap, you know, we take it.

And and so it'll be a challenge with Lawrence.

And you know the scheme.

You know from what they do offensively is a little bit different in the run game.

But you know there's something we have to prepare for from the standpoint of what's given us problems.

And we have to have answers defensively for us.

Louisiana Tech at Missouri State 1:00 is that kick on the road?

Jacob Clark as you see second in the conference, the passing Bulldogs have the best red zone defense.

So in conference USA total 76% should be a good one to see if the Bulldogs can get to seven wins on the season.

Well, in the latest round of the College Football Playoff, the only two teams swap spots Oregon and Ole Miss.

If we start it today, Ole Miss will face Alabama.

Yo, how about that match up?

But you notice the bottom of the right hand.

Tulane is still there sitting at number 12.

But they have two games left one against Charlotte then in the American Conference game.

But don't talk to John Summerall about this afternoon's game being a walkover with against with a team that has only won one game.

I tell our team I want to hear about any records because nobody wins a game because of what your previous experience has been or previous success has nothing to do with future success.

Look, that this team was tied with North Texas at halftime.

I believe it was seven to nothing versus UTSA at halftime.

UTSA kicked out.

But we also know these past two covered snapshots really, really put a bad taste in my mouth.

So, you know, the the hunger, the desire is there.

Like, we really want this.

So, you know, I feel like, you know, we can't be too not we definitely still had a taste from Army, throughout the whole season.

You know, even after we played them, we still had that sense.

We always knew, like, it was always a goal to make the conference championship.

It was never going to be Duke to beat Army.

It was always a goal to make the conference championship.

So that definitely stayed in the back of our mind.

And having that taste, I'm out.

So it is it feel good to have our opportunity to hold the conference championship.

But we still got to go win.

I know this weekend I'm not trying to be a smart, eloquent.

I say this, but like, we're playing a really important football game and, and this team, I think, deserves the city, the state, whoever to show up and support it, because we got an opportunity to do something really special.

Our players deserve it.

The work they put in.

Man, I don't care who you're a fan of.

I don't care if it's Tulane or some other school, or you don't even like college football.

Just show up and support my.

It's a group of people, our young men who have given, a lot of positive, experiences and opportunities to our local community to be recognized and play for something important.

I got an idea for you have an America Strawberry Stadium at noon, and it's 35 minutes down the bridge.

Are in New Orleans at tonight's 630 kick between Tulane and Charlotte, Tulane is allowed ten sacks.

That's tied for fewest in the NCAA Double-A.

Forget about just a conference mascot.

You can't afford to stub your toe here.

There's a bigger path, and it starts with the conference championship.

If you get the win tonight.

That's right.

All your goals are right there in front of you.

But like Coach Sumrall said, this is why you play the game.

The other team comes out there.

They're trying to win as well.

They're not concerned with their record, what their record is, and you have to be ready to go because I love coach somehow alluding to the games that they've been in this year against a really good North Texas team and taking other teams all the way to halftime, just weren't able to finish games.

But they put the football out there.

You gotta be ready to play every single Saturday.

And then there's this big game this afternoon out of the SEC, where the LSU Tigers are on the road for the first time in Norman, Oklahoma, to face number eight Oklahoma, who sits nice and pretty right now in that playoff bracket.

Tigers could mess things up for them if they could get the win on the road.

Earlier this week, interim head coach Frank Wilson talked about finding positives to help his team focus on heading into this afternoon's game.

I try to find a good that they can see, all right, we're two in a row at home in the month of November.

All right.

We're 2 in 1 and a very difficult month.

How do you finish?

How do you want to be remembered?

How do you want your legacy to go out?

We can go out here.

And go play the way we're capable of playing to the best of our ability and see where the chips may fall.

We can go out here and re raise a white flag and say, you know, no one expected we're not going to the playoffs.

What's your legacy?

How do you want this team to be remembered?

In eight and four is a lot better than seven and five.

Right.

And so, for us it's about self-reflection and it's about how we want to be remembered.

It's about going on the road playing a top ten team.

Who who will be, favored to beat you.

Right.

And so here's here's our underdog story.

All right, let's talk about that and then let's prepare.

And let's see let's just see how how we perform when our backs are against the wall.

We've been here before.

Well Scott, he said he wanted to see things good for his team.

I'm going to show you good unfortunately has to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.

You know the over on about Vegas for LSU 13.5 for a struggling offense.

But here's why.

First first first look at the rankings for the Sooners defense.

It is going to be a challenge for the struggling Tiger offense this afternoon in Norman.

I think when we just talk about Coach Summerall, you're I think Brant Venables is in conversation for coach of the year as well.

What he's done defensively, he took the headset back, said If I'm going down, I'm calling the defense myself and they've been outstanding on defense all year long.

I think this is going to be a slugfest.

The advantage of having a son that goes to Norman goes to the university.

Oklahoma has his closet full of LSU gear, by the way.

He grew up a Tiger fan, but he gets me the weather report.

It's going to rain all morning.

It's going to be low 30s with windchill in the afternoon.

This could be a ten seven type game.

This I think both defense will show up.

Both offenses have been struggling.

Oklahoma's offense has not been playing well the last couple weeks.

But defensively both teams could make it a low score.

They've been they've been winning with defenses no doubt.

And it's a big one because LSU could play spoiler.

But can that offense find enough.

We'll find out this afternoon.

Hey look this is our final Saturday morning regular edition of Game Notes.

It's been our first year, and I'll be back.

We have.

Thank you.

So much for joining us all season long.

We'll see you tomorrow night.

To wrap up all the action with Scott Champions sticker haul.

Enjoy your game day.

And thanks for joining us on Alphabet.

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