Episode 4.1 – College Football in the Time of Corona with Chris Paschal

Summary / Introduction

Season 4 of the Direct Examination Podcast kicks off with a special introduction by Todd Ellis—former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback, attorney, and “Voice of the Gamecocks”—broadcasting from Williams-Brice Stadium. Co-hosts Dane Phillips and Joseph Bias return to celebrate their third consecutive selection to Columbia/Upstate’s Legal Elite (with co-host Amber Fulmer busy with trials). The hosts welcome Chris Paschal, law school graduate, clerk at the Goings Law Firm, and co-founder of Front Porch Football (frontporchfootball.com). In this episode, the panel breaks down the SEC’s COVID-19 10-game conference-only schedule, Gamecock football under Will Muschamp and new offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, SEC predictions, and the unique challenges of launching a college football media venture during law school.

Key Topics Covered

  • Legal Elite Recognition: Celebrating the hosts’ third consecutive Legal Elite distinctions (Dane Phillips for Criminal Law in the Upstate; Amber Fulmer for Family Law; Joseph Bias for Education Law).

  • The Origin of Front Porch Football: How a conversation over South Carolina barbecue between Chris Paschal, his mother, and his brother Brendan evolved into a popular SEC football website, newsletter, and social media brand.

  • College Football in the COVID-19 Era: Navigating a 10-game SEC-only schedule, reduced stadium capacity at Williams-Brice Stadium, and the psychological impact of playing in front of sparse crowds.

  • Gamecock Football & Will Muschamp Analysis:

    • The 4th-and-12 Field Goal Debate: Analyzing Will Muschamp’s late-game decision to kick a field goal against Tennessee in the season opener.

    • Mike Bobo’s Offense: How Bobo’s pro-style, ball-control scheme impacts time of possession and protects the Gamecocks’ defense.

    • Player to Watch: Running back Deshaun Fenwick as an underrated playmaker in the backfield.

  • 2020 SEC & National Championship Predictions:

    • Gamecock Season Record Predictions: Chris Paschal (5-5, including an upset prediction over LSU); Dane Phillips (4-6); Joseph Bias (2-8).

    • SEC Champion Pick: Alabama (driven by Nick Saban’s organizational discipline during pandemic disruptions).

    • National Champion Pick: Clemson.

    • Dark Horse Heisman Candidate: Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill in Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense.

  • Muschamp’s Job Security: Why Chris believes Will Muschamp is 99.9% guaranteed to return for 2021 barring an 0-10 or 1-9 collapse.

  • Law Firm “War Story”: A humorous look inside the Goings Law Firm, where trial attorney Robert Goings routinely fills the office refrigerator with mail-order barbecue meats from across the country.

Transcript

Todd Ellis: Hello everybody, and welcome to Williams-Brice Stadium! This is Todd Ellis. I’ve been on Direct Examination, and we hope to see you this fall as Carolina takes on its entire slate of opponents on Gamecock Football!

(Intro Music Plays)

Dane Phillips: Welcome y’all to the Direct Examination Podcast! I’m Dane Phillips.

Joseph Bias: And I’m Joseph Bias! Dane, we’re back!

Dane Phillips: Unbelievable! Here we are for Season 4!

Joseph Bias: Joseph is wearing the official Direct Examination Podcast T-shirt right now! If you want a shirt, email us at directexaminationpodcast@gmail.com and we’ll get you hooked up.

Dane Phillips: We are back for Season 4! Amber got caught up with trial prep today, but she’ll be back on future episodes. If you’re a new listener, welcome to South Carolina’s premier legal podcast where we talk about South Carolina lawyers, trial practice, and everything in between.

Joseph Bias: That’s right. And for the third year in a row, all three of your hosts were named to the Legal Elite—Amber in Family Law, Dane in Criminal Law, and myself in Education Law. Dane’s jurisdiction expanded to the Upstate this year!

Dane Phillips: My greatness knows no jurisdictional bounds! (laughs)

Joseph Bias: (laughs) Today, we are thrilled to welcome a future Legal Elite member, Chris Paschal! Chris is a law school graduate currently clerking at the Goings Law Firm while awaiting bar results. He and his brother Brendan are the co-founders of Front Porch Football! Welcome, Chris!

Chris Paschal: What’s going on, guys? Thank you so much for having me on!

Joseph Bias: Chris, tell us how Front Porch Football started.

Chris Paschal: Like most great Southern ideas, it started over barbecue about five years ago. My mom was sick of hearing me complain about how mainstream media covered college football and SEC football. She said, “Why don’t you start your own website?” So my brother Brendan and I went home and launched Front Porch Football (frontporchfootball.com). We cover SEC football, deliver a weekly Friday newsletter, and share memes and analysis across Twitter (@FrontPorchFBL) and Instagram (@frontporchfootball).

Dane Phillips: We are in the middle of a wild 2020 college football season right now due to COVID-19—a 10-game SEC-only schedule, limited fans in the stands, and constant uncertainty. What was the atmosphere like at Williams-Brice Stadium for the season opener against Tennessee?

Chris Paschal: I was actually one of the few fans in the stadium. Seeing a quarter-filled stadium was bizarre, but there was still enough energy to feel like college football. Sports both let us forget about the pandemic for a few hours, but also remind us of it every time you look at empty bleachers.

Dane Phillips: Let’s talk about that Tennessee game. Fourth-and-12, late in the game, Will Muschamp decides to kick a field goal instead of going for it. Did you agree with the call?

Chris Paschal: A lot of fans killed Muschamp for it, but I actually agreed with kicking the field goal. If you go for it on 4th-and-12 and fail, your defense comes onto the field completely deflated. By kicking the field goal, you make it a one-score game, give your defense a boost of momentum, and put the pressure back on Tennessee. Carolina actually got the ball back with a minute and a half left—which is what you wanted—before the muffed punt turnover ended it.

Joseph Bias: Looking ahead at Carolina’s 10-game SEC schedule—Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Missouri, Georgia, and Kentucky—give us your record prediction for the Gamecocks.

Chris Paschal: I’m going to be optimistic and say 5-5. I think we lose to Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Georgia, and Kentucky. But I think Carolina beats Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M, and pulls off a wild upset on the road at LSU!

Dane Phillips: I have Carolina at 4-6—beating Vandy, Ole Miss, Missouri, and Kentucky, but losing the rest.

Joseph Bias: As the only non-Gamecock fan on this panel, I’m predicting 2-8! (laughs)

Dane Phillips: Who is your player to watch on Carolina’s offense this year?

Chris Paschal: Running back Deshaun Fenwick. Every time he gets touches, he produces. Against Tennessee, he had six carries for 31 yards and four catches for 45 yards. In Mike Bobo’s pro-style, physical offense, Fenwick is going to be a huge asset.

Joseph Bias: Who wins the SEC and the National Championship this year?

Chris Paschal: Alabama wins the SEC. Nick Saban is the ultimate planner, and his organizational discipline thrives in a chaotic COVID season. And as much as it pains me to say it as a Gamecock fan, I think Clemson wins the National Championship. They are just too talented on both sides of the ball.

Dane Phillips: Who is your dark-horse Heisman Trophy pick?

Chris Paschal: Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill. In Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense, running backs catch a ton of passes out of the backfield. In Week 1 against LSU, Hill had over 150 receiving yards alone. If he puts up 350 rushing yards and over 1,000 receiving yards in a 10-game SEC season, he’ll be in New York for the Heisman presentation.

Joseph Bias: Is Will Muschamp back as head coach in 2021?

Chris Paschal: 99.9% yes. Financially, given the athletic department budget hits from COVID-19, and given the new coaching staff hires like Mike Bobo and Tracy Rocker, Muschamp will be back unless the team completely collapses to 0-10 or 1-9.

Joseph Bias: Chris, we end every episode with a war story. Since you’re clerking and awaiting your bar results, give us a war story about working for Robert Goings at the Goings Law Firm!

Chris Paschal: Robert Goings is obsessed with barbecue! You’ll open the office refrigerator expecting to find normal lunches, and instead, it’s packed with mail-order briskets and ribs shipped in from Michigan or Texas! You’ll walk past his office, and his suit jacket literally smells like hickory smoke because he’s been smoking meat on his smoker all morning! (laughs)

Dane Phillips: (laughs) That is incredible! Robert Goings truly lives the barbecue life!

Joseph Bias: Chris, thank you so much for joining us! Follow Front Porch Football at frontporchfootball.com, @FrontPorchFBL on Twitter, and @frontporchfootball on Instagram.

Dane Phillips: Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @SCLawPod, follow Joseph @JosephPBias, Dane @SCCrimLawyer, and Amber @RedJudicata. Leave us a five-star review and we’ll see y’all next week!