What happens when a former WWE “Raw” announcer joins forces with a former NFL/XFL quarterback known for his personal mix of moxie and verbosity?
Well, you half-think there’s going to be a chair — or two — broken.
Or maybe an RKO, a flying elbow, a ripped shirt or (in the hopes of attracting a national sponsor) maybe even a discount-double check.
Well, no. But the result will definitely be all-State.
Penn State journalism grads Tom Hannifan (Class of ’11) and Matt McGloin (Class of ’12) have teamed up to create and produce their own Penn State and Big Ten football podcast called, appropriately enough, “Paydirt.”
The show is part of the Bleav Podcast Network and will drop every Monday at 9 a.m. on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever else people get their podcasts. The first episode comes out this Monday.
Watch the trailer here:
For the most part, Hannifan — known as Tom Phillips during his recently-completed nine-year run with WWE — and McGloin were on Penn State’s University Park campus at the same time. Phillips…er, Hannifan…even called some of McGloin’s Nittany Lion football games for the student-run station, CommRadio.
After graduation and a short stint calling Juniata College football and basketball games for $50 a pop, Hannifan found himself on the WWE Network, which included a turn as the youngest announcer in “Smackdown!” history. He lives outside of Philly these days.
McGloin, a gritty QB who threw for 58 touchdowns as a three-sport star at West Scranton High, won the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s top walk-on. Under Bill O’Brien’s tutelage, he threw for nearly 3,300 yards and 24 TDs on an arm-tiring 446 passing attempts in an 8-4 senior season, Penn State’s first campaign post-Sandusky. McGloin went on to play four seasons with the Oakland Raiders — throwing for three TDs in win over O’Brien’s Houston Texans in his debut as a starter. He finished his pro career with a stint with the XFL New York Guardians in their pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season.
After football, McGloin settled back in Scranton as a private QB coach, with wife Bailey — a former PSU cheerleader — and son Marshall. He’s done broadcast work for the Penn State Football Network, Sky Network and hosted his own podcast, titled in so-on-brand fashion, “The Underrated Hour with Matt McGloin.”
When Hannifan became a free agent this past spring, the two graduates of the Bellisario College of Communications renewed an acquaintance that began during the pandemic.
It’s a marriage made in Nittany Lion football heaven:
Two Pennsylvania guys with a Penn State heart, both of whom who often favor heavy 5 o’clock shadows, they’re candid to a near-fault. Each stands 6 feet tall and they were born just nine 197 days apart (in 1989).
WHEN MATTY MET TOMMY
McGloin explains their meet-cute moment:
“I’ve always been a big fan of pro wrestling,” says the former quarterback. “I obviously knew who Tom was from his days in WWE. I reached out to him to be on the show when I was doing my last podcast and talk about wrestling. We kept in touch during last year’s football season.
“When the Bleav Podcast Network approached me to do a Penn State/Big Ten football podcast, I told them I wanted to pick the co-host. Tom was my first call. I thought that both of our perspectives on Penn State and Big Ten football would make for some great football talk. “
Tom’s take: “While I’d certainly watched Matt play at Penn State and followed his NFL career, we didn’t actually interact until 2020. I was tweeting about Matt and his opportunity in the XFL. He was nice enough to tweet back. Months later, he invited me on his podcast as a guest. We have stayed in touch via text ever since, even going back and forth during the 2020 Penn State-Ohio State football game.”
Now, two of Penn State’s most visible sports guys of the past decade are ready to grapple with all things PSU football year-round.
“We’ll be covering Penn State football 52 weeks a year,” Hannifan says. “Naturally, we’ll also be discussing Big Ten football as a whole, and touch on NCAA football altogether. There are so many hot button issues, from conference realignment to NIL developments. Plus, Matt and I have plenty of stories from our respective career paths. I have no doubt we’ll be able to entertain our listeners and viewers.”
The two will carry the show, and guests will be limited.
“The show is built around Matt and I,” says Hannifan, “but for special episodes we will look to bring in the right guest. There’s so many big dates on the Penn State football calendar, and we’ll look to amplify those with a relevant guest when it feels right.”
McGloin promises lots of “game breakdowns” and analysis of upcoming Penn State opponents. He knows his stuff and isn’t afraid to speak out. But you already knew that. I watched a Penn State practice, standing alongside McGloin, a couple of years ago and through his running commentary I learned more about what the team was really all about in 20 minutes than a month of Saturdays in the press box.
(Full disclosure: I taught both guys in separate communications courses at Penn State; both were really good students, with incredible work ethics and a flair for the creative.)
THE SEASON AHEAD
The podcast isn’t the only gig for either of them. Hannifan, who has #115k Twitter followers, says he “has several irons in the fire,” while McGloin is currently working for SiriusXM ESPNU/BIG TEN Radio and says he “will have some other media opportunities this season.”
But their focus every Monday morning will be quarterbacking “Paydirt.”
They can’t wait to start. Hannifan predicts an 8-4 regular-season mark for the Nittany Lions, while McGloin is more of a wait-and-see guy…if you can believe that. (As an undergrad QB, he always predicted an undefeated season.)
“No prediction as of now — training camp hasn’t even started yet,” cautions McGloin. “What I do know is that Weeks 1 through 4 can make or break this 2021 season for Penn State, especially opening up in Madison. Penn State has a new offense, a new system and you’re going against one of the most consistent teams on both sides of the ball in the Big Ten. I think we’ll be able to tell a lot about this offense after that Week 1 game.”
Hannifan is bracing for a reversal of fortunes.
“I truly believe this program is primed to redeem itself from last year,” Hannifan says. “And above all, I expect them to play angry after what happened last year. James Franklin has shown plenty of fire this offseason on the recruiting trail. I’m curious to see how that translates to the field for 2021 for him and his new staff.”
Angry? Wait’ll Franklin hears of that 8-4 breakdown. He just might go all Stone Cold Steve Austin on Hannifan.
