Boomo Bugg Show 080726

[0:00] Now, get ready to roll Shoals, Decatur, Athens and all of Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee. It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. The Boomo Bugg Show. Your exclusive inside track to the Tigers, Tennessee and the rest of the SEC. Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9, The Score. Good afternoon and welcome here to the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird. Thank you so much for giving us your ride around the Tennessee Valley. Brett Beaird, welcome in. We're only three slash four more Saturdays to toe meets leather.

Good afternoon. Welcome in. A lot to get excited about, but some also sad news. Not only for the Shoals Community BB, but for the entire state of Alabama, the coaching ranks. Yeah, Coach Deegan passed away. Bill Deegan, in fact, his funeral is tomorrow in Tuscumbia. We'll talk about that a little bit later. The Shoals Christian Jim is named after him, and that was a big loss for the Shoals because he meant a lot for a lot of people. But for the show today, Bill Shanks gives us his unfiltered opinion about the Braves' trade deadline of their eight-game winning streak.

Hank South previews the 2026 season for the Texas Longhorns. But Jimmy is here right now to recap the first few days of summer camp for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Jimmy is busy. Jimmy Stein, co-host of the Daily Lockdown Bama podcast. There with Luke Robinson, part of the Lockdown Network. Jimmy, welcome in. How are you? Oh, I'm doing great now that football's here. It feels like all was right with the world. Oh, wow. What, day three? Everybody anticipating the year three of Kaelin DeBoer. Let's start, Jimmy, the first week, obviously, and let's go ahead and preface saying folks think that they're going to sit here and you're going to go wall-to-wall watching these practices.

It doesn't work that way in the real world. But you're locked on Bama, got a lot of inside sources. Jimmy, to the extent that you are hearing, what are you hearing so far in these first three days? Some call it fall. We still prefer summer camp here. Well, there's a few things that are standing out. One is the size of the defensive line. I mean, everyone that has been able to watch in person, it's almost their first comment is, wow, they're a lot bigger up front, especially on defense, which was a goal both in the transfer portal and recruiting and with David Ballou in the strength program.

So, a lot bigger in that front seven. They were a good defense a year ago, even a top ten defense, but they weren't as good against the run as they wanted to be. So, it was a goal of theirs to get bigger and more physical up front on defense and on the hoof, because that's really all you get to go about right now. They're not even really playing real football. And on the hoof, their onlookers are extremely impressed by the size of the front seven. And then there's a handful of individual, particularly younger players, you know, usually when practice starts like this, a lot of eyes go towards the new, the freshman.

And E.J. Crowell and running back and Sadarian Morgan at wide receiver, they're impressing people. They go looking for those guys, and they're impressed by what they see so far. You know, the measuring stick for that is with some of the veterans who have earned their stripes, so to speak, in this college football army, when they basically come back after practice and they go, wow, did you see that kid? To me, that's the best measuring stick. Oh, absolutely, absolutely. And, you know, we won't, we'll know so much more when they scrimmage, and it feels like a long time from now, but really, it's only Thursday.

This upcoming Thursday, obviously, that full pad, it's a scrimmage. It means so much more than just these daily practices. It's the closest thing they can get to a real game environment. And when you've got guys making wow plays in the scrimmages, now you're doing things like affecting the depth chart. I mean, right now, it's just wow, it looks like we're getting what we thought we were getting. But until you see them in the scrimmage action, in full pads and real tackle football, you don't really know what you have until then.

We're going to find out quick, again, the first scrimmage next Thursday, August 13th. Jimmy, your thoughts, we've been asking the question about the offensive line, as everyone else has, to the point of nauseam this year. But, again, these guys look quicker, certainly good size. But, again, as we've talked with you about, left guard, William Sanders coming back, seems to be healthy. Mal Waltrip may be there. The competition at right tackle with Jevin James, Nick Brooks from Texas, Ethan Fields in there somewhere. Very, very early, but your thoughts on the offensive line.

[5:13] Yeah, I think that sums it up pretty well. Three spots just seem cemented. I mean, barring bad health news, I think you've got a left tackle in Jackson Lloyd, a center in Rayson Del Dottie, and a right guard in Michael Carroll. And those guys, you can put that in ink. I mean, you don't even have to put it in pencil. They're in ink. The other two spots are in light, light pencil, and that's because there's real competition. I would call Will Sanders the favorite in the competition with Mal Waltrip, but you cannot rule Mal Waltrip out.

I'm not even surprised at all that we're hearing that Mal Waltrip is in this position. My sources near the team have told me all through this offseason, watch out for Mal Waltrip. He's going to be a significant factor on the offensive line. So, he's battling with Will Sanders, who missed the spring, and is knocking the rust off. And at right tackle, two transfers, Javon James from Mississippi State, Nick Brooks from Texas. Javon James apparently had a lead after the spring, but Nick Brooks really worked hard on his body over the summer and his strength and conditioning.

And Nick Brooks has closed the gap to the point that you're sort of talking about them at a dead heat. At right tackle, you know, the end result for Alabama just needs to be one good player. But it would be great if they had two guys they could trust at right tackle. Obviously, Ryan Grubb would like to pick out one to be the guy because he mentioned yesterday when speaking to the media that he would like to have his best five picked out soon so they can start gelling as a unit.

One other note, though, that I would make about the offensive line that's been a surprise and interesting is that the number two center, which was assumed to be Caden Strayhorn, a Michigan transfer. Caden Strayhorn is actually starting out this fall camp playing guard, and the number two center has been Casey Poe, who's in year three at Alabama, and maybe finally healthy. He was a very highly ranked recruit coming out of high school that has made no noise at all in years one and two in the program.

But he's been banged up and hurt. And when you're hurt and you're an offensive lineman, it's different than the other positions because at that position with those bodies, if you can't play, you can't practice, you can't even work out, you lose a lot. Those offensive linemen, it takes a while to get back. It's much easier for skill guys to be out for a while and then come back and be healthy. But Casey Poe is apparently totally healthy and, as of right now, is earning a role as the number two center.

Can never get enough depth, especially with a nine-game conference schedule. Jimmy Stein in the huddle with us. One thing that we know that's a different era than Nick Saban, you mentioned Ryan Grubb talking to the press. Right there, you didn't say no more. One of the things he said I thought was interesting, circling back to Crowell, obviously he knows football players. He says, wow, this guy's got speed, he's got burst, he's this, he's that. But basically, if I read the tea leaves right, like a lot of kids coming out of high school where they are the rock star, they got to learn to practice and pick up things at the next level.

So, I think he's sending a shot of the bow that may be a little more concentration in practice. Namely, let's get to blocking those big uglies and keep them off the quarterback when you ain't touching the ball. No, that's right. And E.J. Crowell has a lot to learn. Let's remember, he was here in the spring, but unable to practice. Now he's able to practice. And there's some urgency. I think the staff would love to see E.J. Crowell play in the first quarter of the East Carolina game.

I think they would love to see that. But they're not going to hand it to him. That's not good for him or the team. So, he's going to have to earn it. And he's going to have to earn it in a practice in which he is completely unfamiliar with. Because I'm sure they work pretty hard down at Jackson High School and Jackson, Alabama. I'm sure they do. But I don't know how many, I don't know how, that's a good high school team, but I don't know how many guys that they had that could really physically match up with Crowell every day in practice like he's seeing now.

And so, it's a steep learning curve. There's this physicality that's a whole level of it that's new to him and only four weeks to get him ready. So, there's some urgency there. But at the same time, everyone who has seen him in these three days is impressed. He looks fantastic. Jimmy, a third receiver. Lonnie Brooks, Coleman Williams, of course, one and two. C.D. Morgan, Derek Mattis, Rico Scott, Noah Rogers, maybe when he comes back later in the year, maybe late September, early October. Who could be that third receiver?

I think that a lot of eyes are going to be on C.D. Morgan, the freshman from Alexander City. Yeah. But early on, I would think early on, Derek Meadows is probably, if I had to bet right today, about the third receiver versus East Carolina, I'm going to say Derek Meadows. Now, mid-season, Mike would change to C.D. Ryan Morgan as he learns. But, you know, wide receiver is different than running back, even though there is a rotation at both spots. But you know there's going to be five or six wide receivers playing as part of the first-team rotation.

[10:42] So, really, who starts out as the third receiver doesn't matter a ton because, you know, wide receiver four, five, and six, they're all going to play, too, even early in games. But I still think Derek Meadows, there's a Derek Meadows that Alabama fans haven't seen. He had a very weird season last year where he was so good in practice that he earned a role with the first-team rotation and played quite a bit. He even started the LSU game a year ago. But he had zero receptions on the season.

When he played, he just wasn't a high priority in the route tree, in the progression. And so Derek didn't catch any balls last year. So we haven't really seen a lot of him in action. But he was really good on A-day and no doubt is headed for a bigger role this fall. Only one direction to go with those zero receptions from last year, right, Jimmy? Obviously, folks are saying the obvious question is what about any separation at the quarterback spot? From everything we're able to read right now, let's be real here.

Let's just, as they say, keep your powder dry. It's only three practices so far. But what are you hearing at the quarterback competition? Well, I wouldn't say that anything has necessarily changed. But Ryan Grubb did intimate that he would like to name someone a starter in fall camp on a similar timeline to what he's done in the past. That's a little different in the sense that it just sort of felt for a while like there was some momentum towards maybe both would play against East Carolina and then the games would kind of sort it out.

That doesn't seem to be the case or certainly not what Ryan Grubb and Kalen DeBoer want. So it does appear that one or the other is going to be named a starter probably 10 or 11 days out from the opener because it is that close in competition. But, you know, people are trying to pick apart every little thing. It was notable that yesterday when the media is there viewing practice that when they were working on center quarterback exchanges that it was Austin Mack working with Rayson Delgatti. That's certainly interesting because Rayson Delgatti is no doubt the starting center.

So normally the number one quarterback works with the starting center. However, that was one period over one time. And are we making too much of a small thing? No doubt. But all we get are small things. We don't get to view the entire practice. That's exactly right. I saw some of the beat writers say, you know, is that exactly what Ryan Grubb meant yesterday with his comments? We'll try to read into it a little bit. Jimmy, you and Luke Robinson do a great job every day with the best podcast of Alabama sports.

And with summer camp beginning, you've got a lot more to go. Where can we get online and get the great stuff? Oh, I appreciate that, Brett. Locked on Bama. You can find us on YouTube if you want the video. If you prefer just to get the audio version, you can find Locked on Bama wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify or Amazon. So we're out there wherever you find your podcasts. But our YouTube channel does pretty well, too. Locked on Bama. You are about to get really busy.

I've got your next off day, Jimmy. Is it through February 31st, 2027? Is that right? That sounds about right. But, hey, I don't want days off. I don't want days off on football starts. Your wish is our command. Thanks, Jimmy. Have a good weekend, all right? Hey, y'all have a good weekend. Thank you, Jimmy. All right, buddy. Jimmy Stein, co-host of Locked on Bama. Coming up, what's shaking down at Hackelberg? Coach, Rod Hudson, and more straight ahead. Stay with us. This is an important notice to all U.S. taxpayers.

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The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back, Ken. Really appreciate giving us a free ride around the Tennessee Valley and for checking in on the 93.9 The Score app, wherever you may be. With that, we say hello to Coach Rod Hudson down at Hackleburg High. Coach, welcome in. How's life in Hackleburg today? Well, today it's hot. It's very, very humid hot out here today. Hey, it's August in North Alabama, right? So, put it another way, we can almost reach out and touch the season.

But before we get into your schedule, how are things going? Obviously, a lot of success. And I'm looking at a number here. Are we looking at the 18th year that you're entering as far as the head coach at Hackleburg, Coach? Yes, it's my 18th year, and I think this is, let's see, my 31st as a head coach at Hackleburg and my 33rd overall. Wow. Before we get into this year's team, talk to us about how things have changed from the day you stopped out there. I don't even know if you were shaving then as a kid, basically, to now.

How has the game and the kids changed over that tenure? Well, the game's changed a lot because, you know, usually back when we first started, if we threw it maybe six or eight times, you know, that was a lot. And now you can throw that, you know, the first maybe ten plays, you can't throw it as much. And, you know, the kids, they've changed a little bit. I mean, you've got to change with the times. I mean, they're not, I mean, the kids a little bit, I don't know, you've got to, I mean, coaching styles, you've got to change a little bit.

Ron, Harold alluded to it, and we've talked with you about this. Hackleburg, to me, is one of the most underrated athletic programs, certainly in the Shoals area, but even North Alabama. For example, I know two years ago, the football team went 12-2, the basketball team went to the regional tournament, and the baseball team won the Class 1A state title. And, obviously, you've got a lot of incredible athletes who play two or three different sports. But, as Harold mentioned, this is your 18th year. In 17 seasons, Rod Huntson has made the playoff 16 times.

[20:56] Pretty good, Coach. That is absolutely incredible to me, not only your tenure, but the athletes that you've seen over the years and coached. Yes, we're blessed here at Hackleburg. I mean, we have some good athletes. I mean, year in, year out, you know, we have some pretty good athletes. As far as the 1A program, you know, we got, I think it's 53 or 54 out. Wow. In our total program, junior high, marching mode. So, you know, we're fortunate there. And I've just had some good players. I've had some good coaches along the way.

And, you know, it takes good players to be a good coach, that's for sure. You know what else? I think it takes coaching. That's good fans. At Hackleburg, I think anyone who's been around this neck of the woods, any length of time, knows the challenges that your community and the greater community around us has faced with the tornadoes over the years. I thought, I saw a blurb the other day. I don't know the source. It says, basically, at Hackleburg, this is their kids and their grandkids.

Talk to us about the fever. I know a lot of communities, the high school team is the hub of the wheel. But talk to us about just what that means as far as a football team to that greater community. Yes. I mean, like a lot of small schools and small towns, like on Friday night, you know, everything in Hackleburg is closed down, but everybody's at the game. And, you know, if you win, I mean, if you win, especially in any sport here, I don't care what sport it is, you know, we're going to get a big support from the community.

It means a lot to them. I mean, you just lose a game and you go in, you know, the Pantamark, and, you know, they're going to be asking you what happened. Wow. Yep. Yeah. Tell us about reclassification. That was the big buzzword, certainly, when the Alabama Husky Athletic Association split public and private. But, again, as far as changing regions, how much did that impact you? Who are some of the new teams that you're playing this year? And how much did reclassification impact your schedule? Well, our jamboree were going against Seligia, and, you know, they dropped down from 2A to 1A.

I think they have 17 seniors. And in our region, you have Red Bay and Bell Green drop down. Actually, it kind of hurt to 1As because, you know, a lot of the private schools that started in 1A, now they're 3A, 4A, 5A. So, it actually hurt us because then it dropped down the numbers, and, you know, the 2A's come down, so it actually hurt us. But, I mean, anytime you put, you know, Red Bay in, and we got Addison, and Amik, and Bell Green, and us, and, you know, I mean, they're going to be four really good playoff teams.

You know, I have to give, you know, Addison probably the favorite going in because they retire a lot. And, you know, like in our region, they'll be four that is pretty good in playoffs, first round. Coach Rod Hudson down at Hackleburg. Coach, you mentioned returning. Every coach wants a lot of good experience coming back. Talk to us about your roster this year, if any names you want to throw out, feel free to do so. But as far as numbers, how much experience have you got coming back?

Well, as far as the skill guys, we got some speed coming back. But what we lost last year was, last two years, we lost 21 seniors, and that's a lot for us. Out of them, 21, you know, a lot of them had key roles. And, you know, we had some players that graduated last year that have been starting for us since the eighth grade. Wow. But this year, we returned one offensive lineman. I mean, that's going to be a thin spot. But as far as the skill guys, we returned some speed.

But, you know, unlike the last couple years, we're going to be thin. I mean, we're going to be starters, and then after that, it'll be ninth graders. Wow. Ron, talk about winning the line of scrimmage. I know the game changes, but I've been talking about this. Run the ball, stop the run. Some guy by the name of Nick Saban talked about that all the time. Ron, again, no matter how much the game changes, you win the line of scrimmage, you win football games. That's exactly right.

You know, that's where it's won, like, in the second quarter and then fourth quarter when you can lean on the other team by the running game, you know, up front. Almost 90% of the time, the team that wins up front is going to win the football game. And the most physical team. And the one that doesn't turn it over, I guarantee you, Coach, you know what you're talking about. We talked about at the top of the interview, you can almost reach out and touch the season. Two weeks is when the season starts for most teams.

But correct us if we're wrong, it will be three weeks for Hackelberg because you're going to have an open date, that opening week, the end of the 21st. And then you take on your neighbors from Marion County. Talk to us about your schedule. Yeah. Well, we're going to play a jamboree with Sullivan next Friday night. Then we'll have an off week. Then we'll get ready for Marion County. I kind of like that because we get to judge and play against somebody else. And then we have two weeks to prepare for our opponent.

[26:05] And, like, in the season, I know a lot of coaches, they like off weeks. I really, I just prefer to play. I just want to play through. When we start playing, I like to play every Friday night. Mm-hmm. Ron, several of the coaches have asked us just to allow them to talk a little bit about support. And I know, as Harold mentioned, you've got incredible support there. But leading up to the season, a lot of them are, coaches and assistant coaches do so many things. They line off the field.

They mow the grass. They wash uniforms. We've had two of the coaches ask me. They said, look, we need water, Gatorade, and laundry detergent. And I know some people laugh at that, but it's not funny because you need these resources. They're trying to get sponsors for signs on the stadium or the scoreboard or in their football program. But we have a pretty good audience here. Is there anything in particular for an in-kind gift or sponsors that you're looking for leading into the season? Yes, water will be fine.

And like any Washington tournament, I think it was two years ago, we had like the inter-squad game. And that's what we ask people to bring, either water or either laundry detergent. So, yeah, that's good. Well, anybody who's ever been in a locker room as an athlete, I promise you, the better it smells, the better they like it. So, I guarantee you, Coach, for the folks who want to sit here and get busy for you, talk to us again about the opening kickoff and again about your jamboree game.

Well, like I said, we're going to go up against Soulja with a drop down from 2A to 1A. They have 17 seniors, so it's going to be a challenge for us. We're going to probably a half varsity, and then the second half will be our JV. And, you know, we're going to have a pretty good – we've got a pretty good JV. You know, there's stretches you go through Hackenberg here, and, you know, we've got some pretty good kids that's coming up that we'll try to get them a half, too, that we're excited about.

Always keep that pipeline full. Coach, all the best to you. Thank you so much, and let's do it again as soon as possible, okay? Okay, thank you all for having me. Thank you, Ron. Hackenberg High Head Football Coach, Ron Hudson. Coming up, I don't think Kirby Smart needs a lot of detergent or water. He's pretty much locked and loaded, is he not, BB? Yes, yes, he is. The latest on the dog family with Bill Shanks next. Stay with us. Bush light is cold and smooth and waiting for you to get out there.

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Progressive Insurance presents the Sports Flash on 93.9. The score. The Atlanta Braves were winners yesterday as they beat the Marlins 11-3. 14 hits for the Braves' offense in the victory. The Braves are now 70-45. The Braves are back in action tonight. They're on the road in New York as they take on the Yankees. The Braves have won 8 straight. The NASCAR Cup Series is back on the track on Sunday afternoon in Iowa for the Iowa Corn 350. The first preseason game where the NFL was played last night in Canton, Ohio.

It was the Hall of Fame game. The Carolina Panthers defeated the Cardinals 33-30. The preseason continues in the NFL next Thursday. The sports update brought to you by Progressive Bundle Auto and Home, Renters or Condo and Save with Progressive. I'm Tony D'Aziri on 93.9 The Score. With Fidelity Wealth Management, a dedicated advisor gets to know you and your goals to build a comprehensive plan to help grow and protect your wealth. Act by a team of specialists, they'll analyze all your accounts, even the ones they don't manage, to keep an eye on taxes and provide proactive portfolio insights that can help you unlock your wealth's full potential.

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It's just complete, honestly. Order the Chick-fil-A hash brown scramble burrito and Simply Orange Juice on the Chick-fil-A app today. Real guests paid for their testimonials. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. Time to say hello to the big dog in the state of Georgia. Bill Shanks, host of The Bill Shanks Show on 93.1 FM in Macon, Georgia. Online at thesesuperstations.com and on the TV at 41NBC. Bill Shanks, welcome in. How are you? Good afternoon, Huckleberry. How are you? Man, we're doing all right, Mr. Finn.

Let me ask you this, Bill. Has it not been an interesting few days for Braves fans? Winners of eight straight. 25 games over 500. But, dogs, how do you explain what you did at the trade deadline? Very interesting time in the Braves nation, isn't it, Bill? Well, it is. And it's ironic, obviously, that they are winning games in the rotation. I think the ERA, the all-star break, is 2.77. Yeah. So, it's like, hold on. You guys are complaining about the rotation, and it's got a sub-three ERA. It's just the all-star break, what's going on.

But, you know, you do have to be logical about the possibilities in October. And know that if they go up against the Brewers or the Dodgers or Cubs and Padres now, that the Cubs and Padres have gotten two starting pitchers, you know, what's the matchup going to look like? And I think, you know, we're still asking the question, even after the trade deadline, well, who's going to start game two? Yeah. Yeah. And the answer, according to Alex Antopoulos, was whoever's hot. Well, that's kind of weird for October.

What if they're not? Oh, man. You know, Bill, that's the question. What if nobody's hot? Where do you go there? I mean, the Dodgers, all they do is just bring up the next multimillionaire and plug in the answer to that question. But, you're right. He's a genius as long as you've got somebody hot. But, how do you know that's going to be there? Well, Bryce Helder is an example of that. That's right. I mean, Bryce is in, you know, there's like two Brycees, good Bryce, bad Bryce.

Yeah. When bad Bryce is there, he's awful. And he doesn't even belong in a major league rotation when he's in that little funk F-U-N-K that he'll be in. But, if he's good, like he's in right now, then you're okay. So, it's like, well, tell us which Bryce will be there. Because, I think if he's good, he's Bryce. If he's bad, he's Bruce Helder. And we don't know who the heck that is. But, listen, we understand that they tried, you know, supposedly through media and channels, they tried to get Jacob deGrom, Scooble, which I thought that was a reach.

[36:25] If the Dodgers wanted him, I thought that's where he was going to go. Yeah. But, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, and some of these other guys, look, I understand that they were not going to outbid the Dodgers, et cetera. But, how close did they come to getting a big-name pitcher? Did they kick the tires on, how much, on Robbie Ray and Casey Mize? What exactly happened behind the scenes? Well, I think there is some shock that the thing with deGrom did not happen. I mean, look, deGrom has verbalized numerous times his desire to be in Atlanta Braves.

So, because of that, I think it made it to where they perhaps assumed that it was going to get done and that, okay, that's our number two. And if we have Sel and deGrom, there's not going to be a better combination. And there wouldn't have been. I mean, that would have been an unbeatable combination with those two if they were healthy in the playoffs. For whatever reason, he decided to stay in Texas. And, you know, I've asked the people about that, like, why would he do that?

And it's like, well, you know, the state tax issues come up. But, I mean, he's got so much d*** money. Why does he care about the state tax? I don't buy that, really. You know, I think from a couple people told me that he's just, Texas, number one, is a good place to play. It's a good environment. It's a good ballpark. They treat their players very well. And there was obviously a little bit of loyalty that, hey, you guys paid me this money with this big contract and I promised to try to help you win.

Now, I don't know what he's going to do this winter when they decide to tear down the team and tear down the payroll because then he may regret that he didn't come to the Atlanta Braves and try to win. So that was obviously a big part of it. But your question, to your question, Brett, it's like, okay, when DeGrom is no longer an option, why didn't you go to Ray and to Surmise? And I think that's what people are really confused about. The one and the only, Bill, is James.

Bill, on the other side of the ledger, the Braves bats are good with a long ball. I saw a stat yesterday. They are actually, this is yesterday, tied with the Bo Sox for the most homers since the All-Star break. So it looks like they got some caffeine in the lumber. They went totally cold in June. And since July 1st, they have just been back to where they were before that month of doing very well. The Braves had a three-week stretch where they got no pitching. And I think they went 4-11.

And they just really struggled. And that was kind of where things fell apart on the mound and at the plate for the same three-week period. And so, you know, it was like June 9th through June 30th or something like that. And so it was just real odd that that happened and kind of threw them off. But the offense has gotten back to normal where they're producing and doing what they need to do. I mean, they went from 5.2 runs to 2.9 runs per game in that period in June.

Wow. And now they're back to over five. So it's just been a weird season where you just had that hiccup in the middle of the month of June that was a rough deal. But, yeah, having the offense back and, you know, Acuna got two home runs, one kind of cheaply last night. And then Olsen just continues to mash, and he's got 32, I believe, now. Riley doing a little bit better, showing some signs, which is a good thing. But especially if there were two big problems with that pitching staff, that offense has got to get big hits in September and in October.

Let me ask you about some of the guys. They did get Mailey pitches tonight. And you look at his overall record, 3-9, 5.1 ERA, and you say, my Lord, why did he do that? But in June, or July, he was 2-1 with the 2.82 ERA. Can he help them? Lane Thomas is coming in, and he's going to be platooning, I believe, with Yaz. Can those two guys help? Yes, Mailey is pitching tonight. He was really good for Texas last year. The Braves wanted him last year before he signed with Texas.

They've always liked him. They think that they can make a few recommendations to him to help him get the batters. Yeah. And so I'm sure they've done that over the last couple of days. So we'll see tonight. He pitches against Max Freese. It's not going to be easy. But so you'll see Malley. Thomas is a good player. He got a hit last night, and that was good to see. You know, I don't like platoons. I think platoons suck. But, you know, there's no question that Thomas is better against Lesseys.

[41:27] And Yaz isn't too much better against righties, but he's a little bit better. So he's better against righties than Thomas is. So we'll see. We'll see if that works out for them. And Brent Suter pitched last night. He'll be fine. I mean, you know, those trades were okay. Just like the starting rotation after Cristel is okay. It's not that those guys, Perez and Holmes and Elder and Lopez are awful. They're okay. And okay that work in the playoffs. That's why people are worried. Right. Now when you're going up against the juggernaut called the Los Angeles Dodgers, check him out, thesesuperstations.com.

Bill, we know anybody that's been around baseball a long time knows it's a game of streaks. We mentioned the Braves got out hot. Then they went just as cold the other way. Now they're back hot. How many times have we seen this? The team will reel off six, seven, eight wins. And then for some crazy reason, they'll go the other way with it. They're riding an eight-game streak. They're going into the most famous baseball venue in all the world, Yankee Stadium. Your thoughts just about not taking anything for granted and trying to put another log on the fire.

Well, look, the schedule's getting ready to get more difficult. They've got the Yankees in New York. They've come back to play the Mets. And then they have Arizona at home. And then they, you know, they have, I think, the Brewers two weeks from this weekend. I know that obviously they've got seven games left for the Phillies. So the schedule is getting ready to be a little bit more challenging. And, look, I'm thrilled they've won eight games in a row. But the first of those eight against the Mets, who have won four of six against the Braves, or no, more than that.

I can't. They've won the series so far. Right, right, right. And then they swept the Nationals. The Nationals have not played well as of late. And then they played the Marlins. And, obviously, the Marlins had played well in June, fell off in July. That's right. Baseball. The cliff now. And now they've traded their talent to the Marlins. In other words, these eight games, I'm great. I'm glad they won them. But they've not played great teams. Let's just be honest about that. And the Marlins were awful.

I mean, like, what the h*** happened to you? You guys won 14 in a row in June. Now you look like Chico's Bell Bonds out there from California. That's what you got to the owner, catching checks, Bill. That's what you got there. That's right. That's right. So, you know, it's going to get tougher. And we'll see how they do. I mean, they've got to continue to play at a high level. And they've got to continue to. I mean, they're eight and a half up. They're going to win that division.

I don't think even with 47 games left, they're going to screw that up. You know, they've gone for two up for the All-Star game. And now in the last three weeks, they've expanded that lead to eight and a half. So, I'm not worried about that. But it's all about getting ready for October. And, you know, they've given Chris Sale extra days off rest. He pitches tomorrow night a nine days rest, which is a big deal to him. But, you know, they're just trying to preserve him and get him ready.

Because I want to tell you something. They need to put him in bubble wrap. That boy doesn't have nothing wrong with him. If Chris Sale gets hurt, it's sayonara, sweetheart. I can tell you that. Listen, I have read three or four articles this month about baseball, you know, the power rankings, all this kind of stuff. And they seem to end every article with, enjoy this season, enjoy the playoffs, because we have no idea how much baseball we're going to have the opportunity to watch next year.

And I know your favorite commissioner, Rob Manfred, that's another issue here. How much, do you think we're going to miss half the season next year because of a lockout? I think it's a very good chance, yes. I do. I think we are headed down a very rocky, horrible road that could ruin the game. And it's going to impact the sport for years to come. I think the owners are dug in and the players are dug in. And I don't know how they'll bulge or come to a middle ground.

They're going to have to. But if we're in April next year and no spring training happened, I mean, I can't fathom it, but it could happen. So for once, we're all wrong about that. Bill, let's switch gears a little bit. Georgia Dawes got camp rolling and rocking here. But your thoughts about Georgia and every team in the SEC, are they just going to sit back and play for the bridesmaid spot? Because according to all the experts, it's the Big Ten's world and we're just living in it.

Well, I think people who are saying that are crazy because, I mean, I understand that Indiana and Ohio State and Oregon are going to be very good. I understand that completely. But I think that the SEC is going to be very strong. And, you know, I think they're a very good team for the SEC. I think Georgia and Texas are obviously the top. You know, I don't think anybody's talking about Texas A&M, which is kind of interesting to me. But they're not. And it's like, well, they've got a quarterback back.

[46:34] And usually that ought to be a sign they could be pretty good. I mean, I know they've got some areas they've got to address. But the quarterback is back. And I think the SEC is in good shape. I mean, I still take the SEC over the Big Ten. And I'm partial. Obviously, there's not maybe as much objectivity as needs to be. But, I mean, you know, each conference has got areas of teams that have question marks. But I still think even the top, say, four in each conference, I think five through 12 is still going to be a strong.

I mean, we were talking on this show two weeks ago about the fact that, you know, you get to like seventh in the SEC, seven to 12, and you might be able to flip a coin. Well, that's not because those teams are bad. That's because those teams are kind of close and they may be good. But, yeah, I think so. And so I don't, you know, the Big 12 needs to think that. And I understand they've won the last three. I get it. I totally understand. But I think our football is still pretty good down here.

Listen, we've talked about this two or three times this week. Indiana's future non-conference schedule. This year is North Texas, Howard, and Western Kentucky. Next year is Kennesaw State, Indiana State, and UMass. And you're thinking, well, it's going to get better. In 2028, it's Austin Peay, Eastern Michigan, and Miami of Ohio. 2029, it's Ball State, Eastern Illinois, and Western Kentucky. And 2030, Indiana State, and Delaware. Now, when we talk about cash for clunker games, which week 11, which gets you going, isn't that incredible to look at their non-conference schedule? That's embarrassing.

Yeah. It's awful. I mean, I think, and if it was Georgia, I would say it's embarrassing. I know. I don't like each of them. You know how vocal I've been about them. I think they're bad for football. I think they're a waste of time, a waste of money, a waste of effort. The positive, I don't, I don't, and you know, I know people can say, well, you know, let's take Kennesaw State here in Georgia. All right. So I'm sure Indiana's going to write Kennesaw State in 2028 or whenever it was.

Okay, good. That's fine. I'm glad. But I don't care about Kennesaw State. I'm not an Owls fan. And with all due respect to their fans, I don't agree with paying to get my butt kicked. I have noticed, why would I, as a fan, want to say, oh, well, it's such a treat. We get to go to Indiana for a road game. Well, you get to go to lose. Why would you want to go to get your butt kicked and, oh, the experience is there. Give me a break with the experience c***.

I have no interest in that whatsoever. I think it's thin. I think it's shallow. You know, they need to, they need to, if getting more money to the lower level teams and the other conferences are so important, maybe they would be helped if they had their own d*** championship, which could funnel money to them in that direction. And I'd rather you write a check to, I'd rather all the Division I teams, Power 5, Power 4, whatever the heck they're called this week, to write a check. Like, I'd rather Georgia and Georgia Tech come together and write a check where the money goes to Kennesaw State and Georgia State and Mercer and Georgia Southern compared to having to play them.

Well, just wait until we get to November with the college football playoff committee and the SEC's been talking and banging the drum for years about strength of schedule and the college football playoff committee brings up Indiana's non-conference schedule. Well, I hope they bring it up. I hope it's loud. I hope they, I hope they do recognize it. And I, I think that's why these, these cash for clunkery games need to go. They need to go. I mean, they're because at some point those games need to hurt somebody.

They need to really be an indictment on a team's season. And until that happens though, Brad, I don't know if it's going to make a difference. Yeah, I know, bud. And again, we're not being drunk toward these schools. It's just, if you're going to play, if you're going to be in the playoffs, you need to be playing a more demanding non-conference schedule. Well, do we, do we want the Atlanta Braves in the middle of May to play a cash for clunker game against the Toledo Mudhens?

Yeah, I know, I know. Yeah, yeah. The difference. What, what, what is the difference? Because the Toledo Mudhens are not in the same league as the Atlanta Braves. Kennesaw State is not in the same league as Indiana. What's the difference? Mm-hmm. How about just, just have a spring game and say, look, it doesn't count against the record for or against, it's a way of generating income. This goes to that school. We'll have a spring game and fans can come out if you want to, that money goes to school A, B, or C.

Do it in the spring? Yeah. Do an exhibition game in August. Yeah. I don't care. Absolutely. Right. You know, and, and I don't want to hear from the coaches about, oh my God, our schedule is so tough. You know what? Every game in the NFL is tough. I don't care if you suck or you're good. You ask the Kansas City Chiefs every year what it's like to play a bad team. And it's like, you can't take them for granted. You got to be careful. You got to play home.

[51:52] You got to play well. So I, I don't want to hear that from, oh, well, we need to, we need to blow. Oh, well, you know, give me a break. I just, the worst vacation of America has gotten to the end. And I'm serious. It's like. You're going to make them cry, bro. You're going to make them cry. I'm not saying to, you know, keep people out there on the football field until they bleed or, you know, die or whatever. But it's like the worst vacation of America needs to end.

Let me tell you, when I become president. Yeah. Right. I'm going to do an executive order that says that if a, if a starting pitcher in the big league does not go seven, you have to take a, they, they cut his, they cut his wiener off. He's a woman. Cut his, cut his, what was that again? His wiener. Okay. With a W. It's just over. It's just, I mean, if you can't, if you're, if you're, if you're, if you can't pitch seven innings, you're just, you're a woman.

And then if you, if you, if you, if you, if you play a cash for clunker game in college football, you're going to have to donate $3 million to my reelection campaign. It's that kind of stuff that will make America better. Let me ask you this. If you are the president, what are you going to say to the beard boys, Bill? God, y'all were old. You know, you know what I'm going to, you know what I'm going to say, Harold? I'm afraid to ask. I'm going to say, my God, you're bankrupting social security with the amount of money I got to pay you two people.

Groundhog day at never end. Now, now, if any of our esteemed listeners would like to call your show this afternoon and have a rebuttal or get into a discussion with what we just talked about the last five minutes, where can they get online and call in? They can go to theseuperstations.com. We will be starting our football coverage today. We'll be talking about all about it now. You know, I'm usually going to have an Auburn guy on the show on Fridays, but he's not there this, this week.

He's actually on vacation in Boston. He went to the Red Sox game yesterday. So I'm going to make fun of Auburn all day today. I mean, I like doing it to his face. I know you do. Somehow you will survive, Bill. Listen, man, spend your time. Have a great weekend. Okay, buddy? All right, guys. Take care. Thank you, buddy. One of the only, the superstations.com. Bill just made a lot of pictures not going seven innings. Very nervous, baby. Yes, he did. Coming up the next hour, what about the folks out in Texas?

Hank's house is going to be checking in. Mike Heugan has got everything covered. Justin Ferguson, he is talking the Auburn Tigers. And Elmer Pierce, he's ready to slide behind a wheel and give you a good ride. That is all straight ahead. Stay with us. DQ presents the Blizzard Double Flip Deal. For a limited time, when you buy one Blizzard treat, you get a second for just 99 cents. That's two Blizzards, two spoons, two flavors, and two flips. So don't miss out on the Blizzard Double Flip Deal, available only for a limited time and happening now at DQ.

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I can't believe the deal we got on these seats for the game. Wow, they must be pretty high up here. I think my ears just popped. Yeah, here, put this on. Is that an oxygen mask? An official team oxygen mask. Well, I can kind of see the feel. Good, your senses are still sharp. You're going to need them for phase two of your scent. Don't save money by sitting in the nosebleeds. You can save hundreds by switching to Progressive. Get a quote at Progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company affiliates and other insurers.

Not available in all states or situations. ESPN Radio for the Shoals. Sports Radio 93.9. The Score. 1819 News. State lawmaker Ernie Yarbrough is calling on city and county leadership as well as law enforcement agencies here in Alabama to serve the public and uphold the U.S. Constitution rather than continue to push for 24-7 high surveillance of Americans through the use of flock cameras. Writing an opinion piece for 1819 News, Yarbrough is reminding Alabamians that the sole object and legitimate and legitimate purpose of government is to protect the citizens in their enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and not the violation of their privacy, possessions, and movement.

[57:18] Yarbrough takes issue with the argument that is being used to usher in these high surveillance cameras, which is that it's needed to fight crime and keep people safe. Yarbrough points to the fact that there were low crime rates that occurred decades ago without all of the current technology. Yarbrough contends that the government's failure to bring swift justice to criminals through the judicial system has contributed to the increase in crime, and he says government should be supporting and empowering the law-abiding individual as they maintain their own safety while not trampling on their constitutional rights of privacy, liberty, and freedom.

I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this. The news cycle can be overwhelming, to say the least. Andrea Tice cuts through all the noise with The Daily Detail from 1819 News, Alabama, and National News in just 10 to 15 minutes. What you need to know before you start your day. Find The Daily Detail wherever you get your podcasts. A former basketball coach at Cold Springs High School in Coleman County has entered into a plea deal regarding charges against her that she engaged in an unlawful sex act with a student.

Paige Adams has now been sentenced to 12 months in prison and 36 months of supervised probation. Adams must also surrender her teaching certificate and register as a sex offender. Adams was indicted this past May. I'm Andrea Tice. For more news affecting Alabamians, go to 1819news.com. And while you're there, subscribe to The Daily Newsletter. Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shores. Sports Radio 93.9, the score. The Atlanta Braves are built for October. And every single night between now and then is another step toward that goal. Swung on and hit with massive force.

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Your weather from 93.9, the score. Now, get ready to roll Shoals, Decatur, Athens, and all of northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee. It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. The Boomo Bugg Show. Your exclusive inside track to the Tide. Tigers, Tennessee, and the rest of the SEC. Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9, the score. Welcome back in. I'll tour the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird. Thank you so much for checking us out around the Tennessee Valley and online anytime at 93.9, the score.

We're out. What do you say? We'll head on down to Orlando and say hello to Mike Hugen. He is the college football slash basketball guru. Mike, welcome in. Happy Friday to you. How are you? Three more weeks, and we got football. College football. Mike, I'm sure you like the rest of us. You've seen all the preseason polls. We know what they say, which begs the question, if the SEC is going to break the yoke that the Big Tens had them right now at three, and according to those folks, it's going to be four.

Mike, where are you with, first of all, one of the great debates, SEC versus Big Ten, Big Ten versus SEC entering this. We know where it enters. How is it going to exit as far as the final standings? I think on paper, the top of the Big Ten is as good as the top of the SEC. I think the difference is the middle and bottom of the SEC are a lot better. Ohio State is exceptionally talented. I think Indiana is talented, has a great coach, plus the court case last week from Colorado.

[1:02:21] They now have one of their best pass rushers from last season back, Stephen Daly. He got hurt last season. He's back for that extra year. I think those two, and Oregon, I'm sorry, Oregon. I'm not a huge Dante Moore fan as others, but they have a lot of talent. The schedule isn't overly difficult. I think those three teams have fewer questions than the top three teams in the SEC. But again, how good is Michigan going to be with a new coach? I'm not a big fan of their quarterback.

Penn State's a mystery with the new coach. Illinois needs to throw the ball better. Iowa needs to realize it's not 1986 anymore. They have to throw the ball much better. USC and Washington are interesting. USC, though, lost its starting center on the first day of camp to a non-contact injury. Fifth-year senior, that's a gigantic blow with this time of the year. They're probably going to have to move a presumptive starting guard to the center. So, I mean, there's a lot. Again, on paper, I think the three best Big Ten teams are better than the three best SEC teams.

But, yeah, Texas, I'm still not totally buying Sarkeesian. Georgia, their wide receiver core is a gigantic mystery. They're counting on a dude who was the number three receiver at Georgia Tech to be their go-to guy. They don't have, you know, their defensive line, I think, is talented. They don't have a stud player up front. If the third best team in the SEC is Texas A&M or Ole Miss or LSU or Alabama, I think all those teams have gigantic question marks. So, I think the SEC, I'm more interested in seeing how this SEC season unfolds than it has been in a long time.

I think this year, I think the SEC race is going to be extremely interesting. More so than in years past and more interesting than the Big Ten race. I'm sorry, on that topic, as far as in our zip code here, who would you put in that race right now? And this may sound crazy. Alabama and, I mean, I know that right now they're not going to be talked about, but Auburn, a lot of folks have got to pick for a dark horse, who knows. But relative to our audience here, where would you put them in that race right now?

The eighth or lower. I like Byron Brown. I don't like the rest of the offense. I think Goalish has a good offensive mind. I think the offense after the last couple seasons will be, for an Auburn fan, a heck of a lot more entertaining to watch. Defensively, they're obviously going to be fine. I just don't believe in their offensive skill, guys. Alabama, first time starting quarterback in the SEC, there's going to be growing pain. How good is the running back going to be? How good is the offensive line going to be?

I talked about Georgia earlier. They're going to have a talented defensive front without a stud. I'm not sure the Alabama defense has a stud up front either. I think the Alabama linebackers are good, not as good as Georgia's. Secondary's got some players. They're also going to need some young guys to step up. I think Alabama is going to finish fifth or sixth in the SEC. But that might be enough to get into a playoff. Yeah. Let me ask you about some quarterback battles. Let me mention three and see which one you think has the best season.

Jared Curtis threw for nearly 5,000 yards. I know it's in high school, but 76 yards in Nashville. Faison Brandon for Tennessee. A lot of people feel he's the future of the Vols. He's got to get beat out McIntyre first. And then Keelan Russell, Austin Mack, maybe start the first game. I think he will come on. Who has the best season of those three? The passing stats, that's a good question. I think Brandon has an advantage in that Tennessee's returning four starters on the offensive line and a pretty darn good running back.

The offense that Heupel likes Bishop is going to get his carries and get his yards. I'm not sure Brandon's going to be a high-level passer. Jared Curtis certainly has all the physical tools. You wonder about the surrounding talent. In Alabama, if it's Mack or if it's Russell, is the offensive line going to be better than it was last year? Is the running back situation going to be better than it was last year? And I think all that plays into it. I don't think Faison Brandon is going to have the high-level passing yardage, but I think he's going to benefit a heck of a lot from Deshaun Bishop.

[1:07:58] But, you know, Brandon and Curtis are both two freshmen. How does that play out? And, again, I think the overarching thing for me about a first-year starting quarterback in the SEC, that to me means you automatically lose one game. Maybe you shouldn't because the quarterback is going to make a mistake. So, you know, Alabama's guys I think are exceptionally talented. Mack has been a guy that DeBoer likes. So, I think that's interesting in and of itself. But, yeah, that's a tough question for me to answer.

I think Brandon going into the season has an advantage because Deshaun Bishop will be lined up behind him. And I think Brandon will beat out Mack. Mike, you're going to hook it up with us, BZ, down in Orlando. Mike, a team that we haven't talked a whole lot about, but I thought it was interesting the other day. We've seen all these preseason teams come out and preseason All-American teams, individuals. And on one of the surveys, they had the number one quarterback, the dude from Ole Miss, not one Arch Manning.

Chandler's edging him out. They've got a running back that's got plenty of experience at the highest level. Are people basically going soft on Ole Miss? I know they're down in Oxford. Your thoughts on us. William Faulkner Country, he likes a typewriter and a booze bottle there at his place at Roanoke. But are people overlooking Ole Miss? I don't think so. I think that they had a lot of things go right last year. They also, their offensive line returns three guys, but they have two new starters at tackle.

Yeah. I'm not totally convinced they have a legitimate, true, go-to receiver. They have a defensive line that I think will be okay, but this is also a defense that got shredded frequently on the ground last year. They finished seventh in the nation in Russian defense. I also think that Kiffin being gone is going to matter. I think that Chambliss is, I think Chambliss, he's not as physically gifted as Manning, but I think that he obviously had a much better season last year and it's poised to have another huge season.

But that's where the Kiffin stuff comes in. You know, basically the entire Ole Miss offensive staff is gone. The play call is gone. Kiffin's gone. So I think that is going to be something to watch. But I am a believer in Trinidad Chambliss. Kiwan Lacy is a stud. But I don't think people are sleeping on Ole Miss. I think Ole Miss is a 9-3-10-2 kind of team. The LSU game on September 19th obviously is going to tell us a heck of a lot. They also go to Texas and Oklahoma.

They get Georgia at home as well. So I think of those four games, they're going to lose at least two. Are we sleeping on Texas A&M? And, you know, that's after winning 10 consecutive. I know they lost two to end the season. But Marcel Reed, Reuben Owens, the running back, Mariel Craver, and Isaiah Horton. I've heard Horton has made a big difference for them. I hear the offensive line, Torrey Adams, Sycop from their defensive end, Dez Riggs who is in Alabama. Are we sleeping on A&M a little bit?

No, I'm not sure it's possible to sleep on A&M. Every time they're expected to do well, they don't. They're the Clemson. The Clemson from, you know, everybody expects big things to Clemson and they let you down. Marcel Reed has to get better as a passer. You mentioned their receiving core. I think it is going to be really good. But they also lost their best receiver, Casey Consimpsi. I will say I think A&M's got better receivers than Ole Miss does. The running game, Reuben Owens certainly is a talented back.

There's a reason he's a five-star guy. Their offensive line lost four starters. How well, how quickly they gelled is going to make a difference. Defensively, they were pretty darn solid last year, as you'd expect them like LSU's team to be. Another team, they got LSU fourth week of the season on the road. Alabama on the road. Oklahoma on the road. They also play Tennessee and Texas at the end of the season. That's another team that I think they should be really good, like at least 10-2.

But, you know, and you can say, well, you know, yes, their history, they've always sort of underachieved when they're expected to do well, but they're different players. I don't know. It's something, maybe it's something in the water in College Station. But every time they are expected to be really good and to contend for something, they don't. And maybe Elko will be sort of a soothing, calming factor there. The talent is there for A&M to win at least 10, get back to the playoffs. But that's a team that their offensive line worries me.

[1:13:29] And Marcel Reid's upside as a passer worries me. He has to be greatly improved as a passer. I mean, their defense shut down Miami in the playoffs. You allow 10 points to Miami, you should win. And their offense was inept. And I think part of that was Marcel Reid not being good enough as a passer. Yeah, you're exactly right. Great conversation. As always, one more Saturday closer, my friend, to Toe Meets Leather, as Harold Book said, to begin the show. Always enjoy the conversation, buddy. Have a great weekend.

Let's do this again next Friday. Excellent. Thanks, guys. Thank you so much, Mike. And by the way, if you can't wait for that three weeks, how about just now over two weeks? The season actually kicks off two weeks from last night. Amongst the games, marking down Mercyhurst in Youngtown State. And here's the one, the circle of Delaware State and Stony Brook. You have been warned, BB. But first, let's jump over the Midstead River all the way to Texas and talk Hank South Texas football next. Stay with us.

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Easy. Now let's run payroll. What the? Hey, girl. I'm you with more gusto. Nice. Who's that? New social media manager. Hired and onboarded with gusto. And spoiler, we're kind of famous now. Wait, we're famous? Oh, well, I'm famous. Payroll benefits and HR. Designed and built for small businesses. Choose a future with gusto. Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes.

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I know you're talking about trade, deadline, options, talking about Alabama beating Georgia on October the 10th. Where can we get online and listen in this afternoon? Let me tell you, I have no guess whatsoever. I'm Rush Limbaugh. I'm open phone Friday. I have a rundown, and I might just have to recite and read the rundown over and over. I have no clue. I've been working. I've had to do orders. Right. I've had to appear on this Penny Annie show. So I had all kinds of stuff to do.

Thank you, Bill. H***, I may be calling you two shows in the four block hours. I mean, I have no freaking clue what I mean. I'm walking into a boardroom naked as a jaybird, not knowing what. So all you, all you, all, I'm going to take those five seconds from the Boomo Bugg Show to call my… There you go. The Boomo Bugg Show. Weekdays, noon to two, on 93.9 The Score. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Is Bill legal, baby? To you, the conversation we had with him earlier today will be another promo next week.

[1:18:35] I think I heard some Buffett back there. It's 5 o'clock somewhere. I'm not sure. Maybe Hank South has the answers west of the Mississippi. He is busy there. He's managing the answer of ontexasfootball.com. Hank, welcome in. How's life in Tejas today? How's it going, guys? Thanks for having me. Good, man. We appreciate you. Just trying to stay cool. It's almost here. Hank, this is a very intriguing storyline you've got developing out there because everybody's got Texas, Texas, Texas. You've got Arch Manning, and then all of a sudden the polls come out, and they've got Georgia, they've got Ohio State.

Who knows with all the transfers coming in? The one thing we do know is there's a lot of promise. So before we get into all the specifics, Hank, where is the vibe right now in camp? Yeah, there's a lot of excitement. And, you know, I think as it relates to the polls, I don't think there's a lot of surprise. You know, almost maybe a sense of relief that Texas is the number one team. Thank you. You know, you don't have a target on your back. But, I mean, people don't realize that Texas actually is one of the younger teams in the country despite, you know, if you look at the overall roster, they're, you know, starting positions.

They have a lot of experience. But they're still a relatively young team. So there's a lot of excitement. You know, we've been at camp the last two days, able to watch them for a couple of media viewing windows. And, you know, there's a lot of energy, a lot of excitement. And, you know, as far as, you know, as long as I've been following Texas football, it's one of the more highly anticipated seasons I can remember. Hank, I know they've got it, that you've got Arch. Relique Brown, Hollywood Smothers are going to solve the running issue.

Cal Coleman, Ryan Wingo at receivers. Trevor Goosby's one of the best left tackles in the country. But I think the difference in this Texas team this year is off the field, and that is Will Muschamp. The intensity that he brings to a defense is another level. What does Will Muschamp bring to this program? Yeah, just that. The intensity, you know, and Sark talked about the biggest thing in bringing him back to Texas was he can trust him to be the head coach of the defense to where he doesn't really have to spend, you know, key moments in the game to go over to the other side of the ball and make adjustments and, you know, focus on that.

Obviously, he's the head coach, but he's also the play caller. And so, you know, he is tied up in game, trying to come up with ways to, you know, expose defenses and, you know, get the offense down the field. So that was one of his big points. But as far as what he brings, you know, just the intensity, the scheme is going to be a little bit different. I think you're going to see a more attacking style Texas defense, you know, getting out of the quarterback.

That's kind of where it all starts with Will Muschamp is, you know, affecting the quarterback and then forcing them to throw, you know, into tight windows and then, you know, try to create turnovers, create havoc. So that's what you're going to see. You're going to see a lot more, you know, press coverage. A lot of the times, you know, Texas fans the last couple of years, you know, I think Pete Kalkowski did a really good job overall. But, you know, there was kind of the bend don't break mentality where, you know, you kind of just play not to lose.

You know, you get a big, big lead and then you kind of let teams crawl back, crawl back in. And Vanderbilt's a good example of that last year. So I think, you know, Stark wanted somebody that can, who can trust, that can run the defense where he's not having to put all his focus on it in game. And, and, you know, obviously a more aggressive style defense where, you know, you can, you can highlight your best players. Check out the Texas talk there with Hank Hank South.

It's called on texasfootball.com. Hank, talk to us about the intangibles, because let's face it, the folks behind the scenes, they have written the big checks. They've asked Steve, what do you need? He says, I need this, this, and this. He says, here's a check. Go buy it. Now that's in the house. Talk to us about the pressure to deliver the product on Steve Sarkeesian and his staff. Yeah, I think that, that goes for Texas any year, but, but certainly, you know, you look at this roster and, you know, there's no secret that a lot has gone into this Texas football roster as has, you know, other, other, other programs.

But, you know, in a year where certainly where you're coming off missing the playoffs, you know, in a, in a 2025 season where there were higher, there's always high expectations for Texas, but, you know, obviously last year you ended the season number one and, and all the preseason polls and, you know, they still kind of had a, had a case for the playoffs at the end, but, you know, it just wasn't going to happen with, with three losses. So certainly coming off last year, not making the playoffs after back-to-back playoff appearances, you know, with a returning veteran quarterback, you've upgraded really at all your skill positions and key positions across the board.

There's, there's immense pressure and they're not really shying away from that, but they're also not trying to, you know, change exactly who they are outside of, you know, we just talked about Will Muschamp and whatnot. They're still just trying to stay the course and, you know, keep building day by day. But I, I think there's, there's a ton of pressure for Texas to, to get back to the college football playoff and not only get back, but, you know, make a run in the college football playoff as well.

[1:23:39] Auburn fans are going to be asking this question. What does one count Coleman with an offensive line and a quarterback who can deliver me for this Texas team? I mean, that could be a lethal combo manning to Coleman. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. There's a lot of excitement about him. You know, we got to talk to the coaches for, you know, in a press conference style setting back in the spring. And I was talking to Chris Jackson, who's the wide receivers coach at Texas. And, you know, he, he wasn't shy about saying when Cam Coleman's done at Texas, there's not going to be a single weakness in his game, which, you know, pretty high praise, you know, for a guy who hasn't played there yet.

But everything they've said about him and what we've seen, you know, he, he, he goes about everything the right way. You know, he, he's trying to fine tune all the details he's trying to learn. He's not trying to be the big man on campus coming in. He's obviously, you know, most coveted transfer portal target for a lot of schools. And so I think, you know, that, that combo with him and Arch, I think there's going to be less pressure on him to be, you know, because he's coming from Auburn where a lot of pressure to be the guy, you know, when his number was called, I think similar to Ryan Wingo last year, there's a lot of pressure for him to make the big plays when needed.

Now I think they can compliment each other where it's like, you know, Hey, you know, we can kind of feed off each other. You're not going to have all the attention on your side. They're still going to have to give me attention. And then, you know, they got other wide receivers as well. So I think you have less pressure. I think his route tree is going to open up. He's going to be asked to do more things. And I think he can really showcase, but I think the biggest thing with him is he's just like a, you know, and what Texas likes about him a lot is his power, power with the ball in his hands, power as a runner.

They think he's a really strong kid. You know, obviously he's got that big catch frame and everything. He can make those highlight reel plays, but he's really good. He's good with the ball in his hands, too, running down the field. I think as good as this team is and as talented and well coached, when I look at this schedule, road games at Tennessee and Knoxville, at Missouri, at LSU, at Texas A&M. Oh, by the way, they play Ohio State at home the second game of the year.

Of course, Red River on October the 10th with Oklahoma, Florida, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State at home. This is a tough schedule. Yeah. Yeah, I haven't seen a schedule like this in a long time. And, you know, I look, you look at even the non-conference game, guys. Like, UTSA and Texas State, I've seen projections where both of those are the 12th seed in the playoff. Like, these aren't, like, UTSA is the most veteran team in the country. But, no, absolutely, just the road slate in itself.

I feel like there's not a lot of attention given to that Tennessee game. You know, and that's going to be a, you know, top 15 matchup. Tennessee's going to be undefeated when Texas goes up to Knoxville. But, yeah, it is brutal. And, you know, with it, I look at that Ohio State game almost as a must-win situation for Texas. You know, last year you could have looked at it. Yeah, you can drop it. And, obviously, you've got the SEC. You can rebound. You can make the playoff with one or two losses.

But if you drop that game and then try to go through that SEC slate with just one more loss, I mean, that's a tall, tall task with what they have on the schedule. And, you know, you look at Florida's a sneaky good game at home or a sneaky good game at Missouri in kind of a difficult part of your schedule where you're about to go to LSU the next week. So, yeah, it is a gauntlet. And, you know, if Texas can get through that with one or two losses, I mean, that'll be playoff worthy for sure.

You know, Goliath was a strong man, but he had his one weakness right there between his eyes. Texas is strong, but do they have a weakness? So, Hank, what is their weak spot? Yeah, I think their weak spot, you know, and it's still, it's kind of a position battle in camp. You know, I want to say that interior offensive line, but I'm just not sure it is. I think they've turned it into a strength of the portal. It's just a matter of who steps up and is the guy.

They're trying to figure out that left guard spot. They bought in Lawrence Seymour from Western Kentucky. He's a little undersized, but really athletic and good on his feet. They just got an injunction with Cole Hudson, who's coming back for his fifth year with Texas, that interior offensive lineman that started 23 games for the Longhorns. And they have a few other guys that are running first-team reps in camp. Jaden Chapman, Dylan Skorsky. So that left guard spot, I mean, they're going to need that offensive line to upgrade.

But, again, you guys mentioned Trevor Goosby at the beginning of the show. They went out and got a big-time player, Melvin Cianni, as a right tackle. So they have four starters back, possibly five, you know, if Cole Hudson can win the job. But back at that left guard spot. So that could be, but I truly think it'll be a strength. Where I'm a little concerned is that safety spot. And they have Jelani McDonald, who's, you know, potential all-conference guy. But next to him, nobody has really separated themselves as they're running with him.

And kind of the question is, you know, all these safeties they have are really good in run support, which is great. But the coverage, pass coverage, has been kind of a little bit of maybe a question mark, I think, with that second safety spot. So we'll see who comes. They're rotating guys in. They have Jonah Williams, who's a five-star, former five-star, that's been nicked up from baseball and football injuries. So they're trying to figure that out. I think if there's one spot you could say maybe they're lacking, I think that's safety.

[1:28:48] And it's thin, too, with depth. Well, Hank, listen, great to catch up with you. Some of our listeners may be saying, now, is that the Hank Smith I used to talk to about Alabama recruiting? Yes, it is. Tell us about your website and where we can get online to get all the good Texas stuff. Yeah, absolutely. You know, we're on Texas football. We started, the site's been up for a couple years now. We started as a YouTube channel, and we're a big, big YouTube presence. But we're building out our site now.

We've got a big base of subscribers there on TexasFootball.com. And we're doing a promo right now. If you sign up today, $3 gets you three months. So it gets you through a good chunk of the football season. So it's a fun time. You know, fall camp just started. They're doing their third practice tonight. So the board's popping. And a lot of excitement around Texas football. Sounds good, Hank. You don't even have to own an oil well to get on, do you? $3 in three months? I think we can swing that.

Hank, listen, man, good to catch up with you. Thank you so much. And keep up the good work, okay? Absolutely. Thanks for having me, guys. Thank you, bud. Thank you. Hank South, looking up with us. Be sure to be there on TexasFootball.com. He's on Auburn. Justin Ferguson next. Stay with us. I know that hiring can be challenging. You sort through tons of resumes, and you get too many so-so applicants. You're just waiting for someone to match your role perfectly. Well, now there's a place where you can meet them fast.

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Prices may vary. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back. It's time to say hello to Justin Ferguson. Got the Auburn Tigers covered for you there at the Auburn Observer. Justin, welcome in. How are you? I'm doing all right. How are you doing? Man, we're doing okay. The question, I guess, Justin, has anybody snuck out of the Grand National and Opelika yet for this team? I think it'd be pretty difficult if you did. People around there have ever been there. It sits kind of like way off the road.

[1:34:09] You have to drive a couple miles down the driveway to get there. So, if you don't have a car, you're going to be walking a very long way to try to get out of there. I wonder if that has anything to do with girlfriends and other distractions. You think that might be what this is all about? I know that it's team unity, but I got to feel like this is almost old-fashioned stuff. Right from the very beginning, this coaching staff, they are laying down the law, are they not?

They are, and it is very old school in the way they're going about their business. It's something that Alex Gullish has had success with in the past when he was at USF. They went with this kind of format before. It's been a while since it's happened at Auburn. It's been a long time, I think, since it's happened at Auburn. But, you know, it's definitely something that I think a lot of people kind of got on board with pretty quickly inside the program. And, you know, I think they're hoping that it has, you know, the team unity, the chemistry, just when you have so many new faces, just finding a way to get these guys together even more, you know, makes a ton of sense.

Alex Gullish seemed to be in a good mood yesterday. He said, we're actually, seemed to be ahead of schedule. But let me ask you, we found out earlier in the week that Ty Buster is going to be gone maybe for half the season. A lot of people saw a lot of progress with him. How does his injury impact the offensive line? And I've heard Jacob Strand, an offensive lineman from Oregon State, missed some time last year. But he's got some tackle experience. How does Buster impact the offensive line?

And could Strand help? Yeah, Strand could definitely help for sure. I mean, Ty Buster was a guy that you saw in spring practices kind of take that right tackle job for, you know, for himself. And I think one of the big things there with him was that, you know, part of the reason because of that is they didn't have Stanton Remill. So Stanton Remill's been back out there. That's been helpful. He's been playing right tackle here this first week. Joe Simmons has stayed on the left side.

So, but, you know, coming into camp, I had Ty Buster as a guy that was probably going to start somewhere. I thought guard probably made sense for him. So that right guard spot kind of comes a little bit more open, especially if they feel like, you know, that Simmons and Remill are going to be your starting tackle. So, you know, Cole Skinner, the transfer from USF, has had a good camp so far. Jack Lehrer from Stanford is another guy to keep an eye on there. And then, yeah, you get a dude like Strand who, you know, even if you have your tackle set, he's a guy that can kind of move around a little bit and maybe have some swing versatility there.

So, you know, I think that's the thing. It's just an early test of Auburn's depth on the offensive line. I mean, I think that's the thing with this group is that it's a deep group. It doesn't have a ton of, like, you know, continuity, obviously, and, you know, some inexperience there for sure. That's what makes it such a question mark heading into the season. But there are options. It's not like they're looking around at each other saying, okay, do we have anybody who can kind of step up here?

There's several guys, and it's going to make the, you know, first couple weeks here at camp pretty interesting for the offensive line room. Now with Justin, Justin Ferguson, the Auburn observer. Justin, obviously, refresh our memories as far as the first scrimmage. We know right now it's everybody's trying, as you mentioned, trying to get acquainted. Everybody's doing the handshake. It starts getting serious with that first scrimmage. We know some guys have pretty much, for the most part, already penciled in their position. But who has the most on the line coming in that first scrimmage, either a person or a position battle?

Yeah, I think the first scrimmage will probably most likely happen next Saturday. I mean, they're not even in shells yet. They get into shells tomorrow, and then they get into full pads early next week. But, yeah, that first, that next Saturday is probably something to kind of keep an eye on there. I think in terms of battles and kind of thing, offensive line is definitely going to be the one that a lot of people are going to, you know, put a whole lot of attention on just because I think there's just some, there's some stuff up for grabs there, if that makes sense.

So, you know, I think that's the one that I think would probably have it the most. And then maybe the secondary as well. I mean, you've got a situation here with Auburn where you've got, you know, you want to play four or five different cornerbacks and trust them. Well, who do you trust behind the expected top two? Same thing as safety. You know, who all is going to get on the field? Where are they going to play? Kind of where is all that going to go?

So, it becomes a really interesting, you know, kind of dynamic in that secondary. So, other than that, I think it's just, you know, you can kind of feel pretty good about what your starting group looks like on both sides of the ball. For me, it's just going to be a matter of how many more of these guys are going to get in the rotation. And I think pretty much every position group on the field, you know, you can kind of see, except for quarterback really, is one where they're just trying to figure out and kind of establish, all right, who's reliable beyond our main guys.

We could ask you about 10 players, but who has caught your eye so far? It's hard not to start with a guy like Deshaun Spencer. You know, he had a phenomenal spring. You know, he wins 8A MVP as a true freshman, the slot receiver from Sarah Land. He's a little guy, but he's a great playmaker. He had a ton of, you know, numbers at Sarah Land, and that's a program that obviously has put out some really good slot receivers over the years in the SEC. He came out in really the beginning of camp.

[1:39:38] He's the first guy up at slot receiver right now, and I think you've got those experienced USF guys they really like on the outside. You know, but he's a guy that some older dudes are having to play behind right now, so really, really impressed with him. Also on the offense, Omar Mabson has been the guy that I think has, you know, turned a lot of people's heads over the last, I guess, few months. You know, he came into this camp, you know, as the guy like, look, Auburn has four dudes in their running back room this year that were, you know, RB1s for an FBS team last season.

Omar wasn't one of those guys. He was an RB2 that just kind of had to be thrown into the fire as someone who enrolled early, who reclassified and all that. So I think that was the thing for Omar is just what could he look like in this offense, and I think right now if Auburn had to play a game tomorrow, he'd be your number two running back with Jeremiah Cobb in front of him. He is playing really, really well. He's a great pass protector. His size, he's gotten bigger and stronger in that way, in that way room, and I think he is kind of a complete back.

So even though he's a young guy and there's some dudes with some more experience around him in that running back room, you know, I think he's going to be that one-two punch, you know, that Auburn, you know, really wants at that running back spot to kind of lead the way in that rotation. Justin is going to be sending roses, candy, and money to the pollsters who got Auburn picked down the list. We talked earlier with some of our friends. They have in the SEC, they have Auburn picked eighth or even lower.

If I'm a coach, you've got to love that because what difference does it make where you picked in August? It's where you wind up. And a lot of coaches, they say, thank you very much. We're going to go in there and they're disrespecting you. It's us against the world. And they fire them up and make them run through a con. I don't know if they're paying attention to it that much, but I do think it's kind of indicative of kind of the mindset for this team.

And it's a bunch of guys who are trying to prove themselves. It's a bunch of guys who want to show that they belong, right? You know, this is not a team with all Americans. This is not a team with a lot of all SEC guys. It's a team of guys who are transfers, young guys trying to make that next step and become SEC stars, you know, over the course of the year. So I think that coaching staff has that kind of mindset of like, hey, we belong here.

We're going to be the group that puts Auburn football back where it needs to be. Here's step one. So I definitely think that that's kind of the mindset you've seen from this team. And they've got a lot of guys on this roster who really fit that bill. What's the difference in an Alex Golich practice and a Hugh Freeze? Is it intensity, accountability, attention to detail? I think it definitely attention to detail is big. I've seen Golich be really hands-on, you know, and really detail-oriented with, you know, his players that, you know, at practice, you know, walking through kind of step-by-step things.

It's a lot faster, too. It is just the energy is really high, you know, and it makes sense, right? Because if you want to play one of the fastest bases on offense, if you want to have this, you know, very attacking defense, and you want to play aggressively on special teams as well, you've got to have, you know, that kind of vibe all the way through. So it's a lot more speed. And I've seen the coaching staff really, really hone in on kind of technique and just really kind of getting more hands-on.

And I think the staff, starting with Golich on down, it's been a lot more hands-on than the ones we've seen the last couple years at Auburn. So we'll see if it turns into more wins on Saturdays. That's obviously the ultimate goal. But I do think you go out there at practice, you know, it just has a different feel and a different vibe than, you know, what you got these last couple years under Freeze. Well, I'm glad you've had, you and your cohorts have had a lot more access, at least early.

We'll see where that goes. 6 a.m. emails, the mailbag on Friday, podcast, just lights out coverage preseason. Where can we get online and get all the good stuff? Yeah, auburnobserver.com. Check it out there. Got, you know, first two days of practice. We got, you know, a viewing window and a lot of notes from that. So if you want to know anything that went on so far at camp, you can check it out at the Observer. We got podcasts as well. We're going to be back out there tomorrow for the first day of show.

So we'll, if you sign up today, as soon, you know, tomorrow afternoon, we'll give you a full practice report in your email inbox. It gives you everything you need to know about what went on at Auburn practice. So go to auburnobserver.com, sign up there. That's great. Listen, man, have a great weekend, Justin. Thanks for your time today. Yes, sir. Y'all too. Thank you, buddy. Justin Ferguson, the Auburn Observer. Coming up, it's getting into that time of the year to hit the road to your favorite game.

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Elmer Pierce, owner of Garner Pierce Autos. Elmer, welcome in. How are you? Good, guys. Good. How's everybody doing today? Man, we're doing all right. They say it's one of the biggest decisions in life right there ahead of, am I going to get married again or buy the house or buy a car with peace of mind and get a good deal or good service work if I've already got a good ride and looking for somebody I can depend on to service it right? Elmer, can you take that worry off the minds of a lot of folks?

We can, guys. We can. And, you know, we've talked about it before. We do a lot of finding vehicles, sourcing vehicles for people. And I've got an aunt right now. She's looking for something really hard to find, a newer Lexus GX 550. We're already on the hunt for that thing. And another thing I want to talk to you guys about today, you know, we get five vehicles from people all the time. I mean, we have people come to us and go, hey, can you buy my vehicle?

This is an extra vehicle. You know, I've had a loved one pass away and we've got three vehicles. We do a lot with attorneys in the area, settling estates. I mean, we bought as many as six vehicles from one of the state before. And so once you get a name for that, they kind of, you know, it kind of grows on itself. So I get a lot of phone calls from estates putting vehicles on consignment, selling vehicles for estates or selling vehicles for customers or businesses that have multiple vehicles for sale.

We do a ton of that, guys. I mean, we do a little bit of everything here at Garner Pierce. You need to come and see us because we find vehicles for customers. We find vehicles for businesses that are looking for multiple vehicles. We do this all the time, and it's what we do every single day, all day. So whether it be fixing your vehicle, fixing your fleet of vehicles, or finding you a vehicle or buying or consigning vehicles for you, it's something we do every day.

[1:50:22] So please just come and see us. We do it all day, every day. Elmer, let me ask you about how you do business. Somebody asked me about that a couple weeks ago. I said, look, Elmer's kind of old school. It's not a lot of high pressure. They don't throw a lot of numbers at you. They sit down and talk with you about common sense, what you can do, what you can't do. Elmer, talk a little bit about the negotiations and how you handle dealing with customers.

Well, I mean, guys, it's exactly like you said. I can't tell you the amount of customers that have come in and looked at me after they called me on a vehicle. We talked back and forth on the phone a few times. When I tell you something on the phone, that's the way it's going to be when you get here. And, I mean, you know, I've got three customers right now. I've got their paperwork printed. They're going to walk in here, and in 15 minutes, they're going to leave with their vehicle just because there's so much paperwork to sign.

But, I mean, you know, they look at me and go, is that it? I mean, are you serious? I mean, is that for real? Because they're so used to these franchise stores, new car stores taking six hours, eight hours to try to buy a car and going back and forth 14 ways from Sunday. And it's just not that way here. I mean, we don't do business that way. We kind of, like you said, we're kind of old school. We do everything with a handshake, even our consignments.

We don't have a form that we sign or anything like that. It's done with a handshake and my word, and that's just kind of the way we do business. And it kind of works out for us, and until it don't, we're going to continue to do it that way. Well, that's the way it should be. Tell us, Elmer, where and where are you? And if you want to eat lunch next door before you get to buy a pet the dogs, where can we find you, bud?

Well, Atticus and I are here every single day. And if you want to come and see us, we're right here at 2261 Florence Boulevard, right next to Appleby's. Come drop your car off, go next door, get you some lunch, and hopefully by the time you get done, we'll have you serviced up and take care of all of your needs. But www.garnerpearsautos.com, 256-768-5660. Garner Pierce Autos, it's our business, earn your business. So come and see us. Sounds great, Elmer. Listen, man, thanks for your time, and have a great weekend, all right?

Sure, sure. Thank you, bud. Yes, sir. Elmer Pierce, owner of Garner Pierce Autos. BBE, can the Braves make it nine straight at the house that Ruth built? They got the Yankees tonight with the weekend series. It's going to be interesting. As Bill Shank said, the schedule ramps up a good bit. But, Harold, let me mention Coach Deegan, passing away his visitation and funeral or tomorrow to Scumbia First Methodist Church. A thousand wins. Wow. Got a degree from UNA. Coached at Sheffield, Calvert County, Northwest Shoals. Covenant Christian was a principal at Cherokee and Covenant Christian School.

The basketball court at Covenant Christian is dedicated after him. He was a tremendous coach, but even a better person. And our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the family. Got a lot of wins, but he touched a lot more fellows and got families all over the North Alabama area. And he's going to be missed here and statewide again. I echo those sentiments. It's all the best and comfort to his family. He's going to take care of business for today on behalf of BB, Greg, James Blair, the entire crew here.

Paral Buck, thank you so much for your time today. Let's do it again Monday, noon to two for the Boom Up Buck Show, back here on Sports Radio from 93.9 The Score.