In this heartfelt episode of Fans First, Jim Powell reminisces about his 13-year tenure with the legendary Bob Uecker at the Milwaukee Brewers. Powell shares hilarious and touching stories, illustrating Uecker's incredible sense of humor, humility, and the unique bond they created. The episode also features a discussion with Tony Barnhart, 'Mr. College Football,' on the upcoming national championship game, addressing topics from the NIL to the future of college football, and insights on various college teams, including Ohio State and Notre Dame. Listeners are also invited to participate in upcoming episodes and join the Fans First community on social media.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Starting with the Milwaukee Brewers
• (00:27) First Impressions and Icebreakers
• (02:10) Spring Training and Bob's Advice
• (02:49) Life on the Road with Bob Uecker
• (03:53) Bob Uecker's Loyalty to Milwaukee
• (06:02) Upcoming Special Episode Announcement
• (06:21) Personal Reflections on Bob Uecker
• (09:11) College Football Playoff Discussion
• (12:02) Analysis of the Notre Dame vs. Ohio State matchup and why Tony views Notre Dame as a "team of destiny”
• (18:20) Future of college football: NIL challenges, transfer portal, and the need for collective bargaining agreements
• (24:20) Future of College Football
• (29:15) Closing Remarks and Farewell

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Bob Uecker’s natural humor and kindness were integral to his character. He was able to ease the tension in the room with his jokes, helping others feel comfortable, and he always treated people with respect.
• While the playoff system has added excitement, flaws remain in how teams are ranked and seeded, causing mismatches.
• Tony believes Notre Dame has intangibles that could make them a "team of destiny," even if Ohio State has more talent on paper.
• The NIL and transfer portal have fundamentally changed college sports. Solutions like salary caps or collective bargaining agreements could help stabilize the system.
• Tony predicts 2026, when current contracts expire, as a pivotal year for addressing these challenges and reimagining the sport’s structure.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Tony Barnhart is a former reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who currently appears as a college football insider for CBS Sports on their college football coverage.

Barnhart graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1976. He began his career as a reporter for the Greensboro News & Record. He moved to Atlanta in 1984, where he covered mostly ACC action. In July 1987, he started as the college sports editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Before going to CBS, he was a reporter for ESPN's college football coverage beginning in 1993. He started appearing as a regional beat reporter on their "halftime blitz." Starting with the 1997 season, he began appearing on