Boomo Bugg Show 092826

[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. New 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 a few rides around the Tennessee Valley. Brett Beaird, welcome in to the good, bad and ugly Monday after and UNA fans are busy trying to grow a new set of fingernails. Good afternoon, welcome in and how are you?

Happy Monday to you and the listeners. We'll recap Alabama-Auburn wins and Tennessee's tough loss to Texas. You alluded to UNA, Matt St. Charles of the Times daily recaps. UNA's consecutive win at home. But Adam is here right now to recap a monster weekend in the SEC. Adam's got it all covered up there at the Saturday Down South. Adam, welcome in to the Monday after the good, bad and ugly edition. How are you and where do you start answering those questions, my friend? Yeah, I mean, it was a crazy week as we've come to expect. I mean, I think that you have to start down in the swamp.

You make a stop on Rocky Top. You know, you go to Tuscaloosa where one coach left feeling happy and one might be counting down the last days of his job here. So, yeah, we learned a lot this weekend. And that's kind of surprising because usually we learn all these things in October, but we're still a few days away. Adam, a lot to unpack here, but the one thing that I think that's emerging is in 2026, the P word comes into play, parity. In the old days, throw out what our grandpas and mamas did back in the day.

Any given week, with the way that you can put together a roster and all that good stuff, what I'm getting to is a lot of teams now are coming to the middle, which means the X factor could be the home field advantage. But you look at what Ole Miss did at home against LSU, and then you look what happened to Florida when Ole Miss was the visiting team. And seven days, does that illustrate that? And the reason we do that is because Alabama is going to be facing this weekend what your team faced last weekend on the same home surface in Cowbell Heaven.

How big of a factor now with all this parity is that home field advantage being the X factor? Yeah, I mean, you know, not to sound like sour grapes here, but it also helps when you can ring the cowbells. You're supposed to stop when the center is over the ball. The next time that they stop when the center is over the ball will be the first time. Yeah, I think that they get a little leniency for the rules there. Credit to them for, you know, just powering on through it and claiming it as a tradition and making the SEC adjust.

You know, they've been doing it for a hundred years, so I guess that's, you get a little leeway there. So, yeah, I mean, that's a tough environment. You know, I think that it is worth, it's worth a few points probably. I mean, it's, you know, Mizzou didn't play poorly by any stretch of the imagination until some of Eli Drinkwitz's continued struggles with clock management late in fourth quarters. But, yeah, I mean, you just can't keep giving a guy like Kamario Taylor chances. So that's something that Alabama is going to have to work on.

You know, I've been, you know, we were talking about that Alabama secondary being among the nation's best heading into the season. I haven't seen that quite fully yet. You know, they've been good, but I haven't seen anything great or historic about it. So this would be a good time to, you know, force multiple turnovers from a young quarterback and, you know, hope that the trends that Alabama showed, you know, starting quickly, no freshman mistakes from Keelan Russell. You've got to continue those, but you've got to force the other electric quarterback into some mistakes early.

Absolutely. Texas and Tennessee, that was quite a game. Texas actually controlled the line of scrimmage with an amazing 10 sacks. Colin Simmons, when he behaved himself, had a school record five sacks. And then there's forcemen like Peely on at least one of them. Brandon, I thought, had a good game at times, got a little bit banged up, came back in. But Texas defense eventually won the game. But I tell you, Texas kept trying to give it away with double-digit penalties and some other issues. But the Longhorns hold on to beat Tennessee 20-17.

[5:08] The craziest thing about that celebration is that he, like, looked genuinely surprised that it was five-front sportsmen like conduct. Like, what did you, like, I want to live in Colin Simmons' world where he thinks that he can do that celebration and not draw a flag. Like, just the genuine surprise on his face. You can't fake that. It was just, like, I rewound it a few times to just watch him and his reaction. That was crazy. It seemed to be just, it seemed to be some of the top pass rushers from the SEC hurting their draft stock a little bit.

You know, Dylan Stewart a little more than others. But Colin Simmons, I mean, he had that early mistake and then made up for it with, you know, five total sacks in the game. So we'll forgive him a little easier than we will Dylan Stewart. But, yeah, there's something broken about the Texas offense. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's Sarkeesian's play calling. You know, they didn't, I don't think Cam Coleman had a catch at halftime. And he didn't really have, he really didn't have much of an impact on that game.

They ran it for, like, 62 yards, you know. They were without Hollywood's mothers, of course. But, and, I mean, Relique Brown found the end zone twice. So, I mean, he was good around the goal line. It's just, like, I just don't know where the disconnect is. Like, is it just because they don't have a guy like Gunner Helmet tied in? Like, they haven't had him in a while. But that's when they kind of looked their best. You know, I just, I don't, I don't know what's broken about the Texas offense.

I don't think it's Manning because, you know, a couple weeks ago he had that game where he did hit Cam Coleman for a diving attempt at a deep ball. And somehow it ended up in the defender's arms. You know, so I don't know what's broken. But Steve Sarkeesian's got to use this bye week to figure out his play calling. And they've got to come out strong against Oklahoma and the Red River rivalry in a couple weeks. Adam, Spencer, Saturday down south. To go and follow up on that theme, Adam, the situation there with the Texas Dues.

Brown did his own thing. You felt you have learned after what happened with Simmons. We saw what happened with Stewart and South Carolina's sidelines. We saw the Dues from South Carolina take out the Oregon quarterback. You contrast that with what's going on with a guy like Matt. So three-star Alabama comes out and says, I just want to hit somebody. Thirteen tackles. You look at Ford, who just pancaked Stewart Dernick. The point I'm trying to make is, are these coaches starting to realize when you get these five stars, it's a Hollywood marriage.

You're getting a lot of baggage. You can't say anything really to them. They just transfer out or they don't care. They're going to get paid. Your thoughts just about the culture that we basically have created where some of these guys are prima donnas and they don't know the word no. Yeah, I mean, I think that it's interesting because, you know, you just have to have a really strong coach. You know, I don't think we don't see these issues at Georgia. I mean, the one guy that you point to over the years was George Pickens.

You know, he was just, you know, an emotional hothead at Georgia. He wasn't necessarily, like, sulking or pouting. Like, he was just, you know, playing through the whistle and very, very far into the extended whistle. You know, sometimes going after DB. It just seems like when you're a receiver and you just hate defensive backs, I mean, that tracks. So, you know, it's hard to really take that fire away from a guy like George Pickens. But you really don't see the on-the-field stuff. You know, we could talk about Georgia's driving issues during the offseason and all the arrests that they have for vehicular incidents.

But on the field, you know, nobody's showing up Kirby Smart. And if they do, they're getting benched. So, I do, you know, I do think that Shane Beamer did the right thing by, like, suspending Dylan Stewart indefinitely. You know, I don't know. I'd be surprised if the indefinitely was beyond a week. But, you know, we'll see. Because, you know, maybe Dylan Stewart just feels like he's on a sinking ship there in South Carolina and thought things were going to be a little different this year. I don't know.

But, yeah, you've got to control yourself a little better. But it just seems like the teams that have better and stronger coaches don't really have those issues pop up like that. Adam, I'll tell you what, if they gave away, if they gave an assistant coach of the year award at midseason, Buster Faulkner, the offensive coordinator of Florida, would probably get it hands down. The Gators rolling 302 rushing yards behind probably the best running back in the SEC, if not the nation, and Jaden Ball. Hugh Clark did a pretty good job himself.

Philo, 16 of 23 for 196. Ole Miss, I thought, really missed. He won Lacey. But their defense looked suspect against Louisville in the first game. But I'll tell you one thing. Florida fans are absolutely giddy. Florida is back, and they think that John Summerall can take them to heights unknown they haven't seen in four or five years. Yeah, I mean, I think that, you know, another team that you don't see, you know, guys misbehaving on the sidelines or during games, you know, John Summerall just come in and just immediately imposed his will on that team and that program.

[10:29] And, yeah, Buster Faulkner, I mean, we've been talking about this since the summer. That was an incredible hire by him. To run the offense and just get out of the way. And Summerall's focused on the defense. And, you know, the defense has been pretty good. You know, they've – but that's better than they were last year. You know, they were bad last year. They were pretty good this year. And, yeah, they have a guy who's striking Heisman poses after touchdowns now. And I think it's fair. Danny Connell might disagree.

He seems to be pretty bothered by it. But, you know, he seems bothered by a lot of things. Yeah, he does. So, you know, we'll see how that plays out. But, yeah, I think Jaden Ball, I mean, that offensive line is a little better than I've expected so far this year. So, I've been impressed with that. And Philo looks like a top seven or, you know, maybe even top five SEC quarterback this year. So, yeah, it's been a lot of fun to watch. And it's not going to be as fun for me to watch this weekend, though, when they head up this way towards Columbia.

Well, Connell, he gets upended by gravity. He can't stand there. But I looked at that game. And, by the way, in spite of the high praise Florida's getting, I saw where basically they're only favorable like fun. They're anywhere from four to five points. But as painful as it was, if you're a first-timer to the show, thank you for joining us. Hope you stay with us. You are a Missouri fan. And I know it's painful to answer this question. But you saw Taylor over the weekend. How good is this kid?

He's 19 years old. He'll be facing another 19-year-old quarterback this weekend. Both of them are now in the top ten as far as the Heisman pitch as teenagers. How about that? Your thoughts about that and the fact that you better not count State out. This is two weeks in a row they have come from behind and pulled out a win with a teenager quarterback. How good is Taylor and what's going to happen Saturday starting morning in Starkville? Well, yeah, I mean, so two weeks ago after the Minnesota win, I was already in on him.

I looked into the data and stuff, and I wrote a column, and part of it was, you know, why Kamario Taylor won't win the Heisman. And it was nothing to do with his play, which was outstanding. I just, the threshold is nine wins. Like, the worst players that have won the Heisman, you know, you have, you know, RG3 at Baylor. That team was nine and three in the regular season. You got Lamar Jackson, they were nine and three that year. There's a couple others. Tebow, the year that he won, was nine and three during the regular season.

And, of course, that was sandwiched between two national titles. But, so, he was nine and three the year that he won the Heisman. So, I just didn't think that there was any way that Mississippi State could get to nine wins. That was the knock on it. Not anything that he's doing. But, yeah, now they're 4-0. You know, they've gone on the road in SEC play. You know, this is a team that could win nine games. And if he does, if they do, then it's going to be because of him.

If he misses any games or any significant length of time, then they're not winning those games. He's that important to what they're doing. And he's that dynamic. So, if he stays on the field, they've got a real shot at nine wins. And if they get to nine wins, I think he wins the Heisman. Adam, you're going to have your power rankings up a little bit later today on Saturday down south. And I'm guessing you may have a sentence about Marcel Reed and John Matier having a terrible Saturday for their teams.

I know they're going to have to improve quite a bit in the next couple of weeks. I always enjoy getting the week started with you. Power rankings, recounts of the games, previews of the upcoming. But where can we get online to get all your good stuff? Yeah, Saturdaydownsouth.com. I published the power rankings right before we came on the air. So, those are fresh off the presses there. We'll have a newsletter coming out tomorrow. So, check it out at Saturday down south. Adam, I know it was a rough weekend, but have a great rest of the week.

And thanks so much for your time, Dave, buddy. Yeah, thanks for having me, guys. Always appreciate it. Thank you, bud. Absolutely, Adam. Especially with us, Saturday down south. Bulldogs and Bulldogs. Alabama got Mississippi State this weekend, of course. And then the Georgia Dawgs. What time will that game start? The answer to that and more straight ahead, including a Nail Binder for UNA with Matt St. Charles next. Stay with us. Is your business insurance tailored exactly to your individual needs? Are you getting the best coverage for your money?

That's what the Michael Know Agency is for. They're your local independent insurance agency that specializes in helping you protect your business, including liability and property, commercial, auto equipment, and workers' compensation. All while ensuring you're getting the best possible rate. Visit your local independent agent, Michael Know or Bill Cochran on Mobile Plaza in downtown Florence. Or call 256-767-4237. Hello, this is Kevin Arnold with Village Discount Drugs. We've been in the shoals since 1979. We live here. We go to school here. Do you want to do business with someone local or a company from Rhode Island, Illinois, or Arkansas?

[15:35] The large chains just don't reinvest in our community. The large chains don't sponsor little league teams. And they certainly don't sponsor Falcon football. And don't just buy from Village Drugs, but support all our local businesses. Let these local businesses give you the service you deserve while keeping your local economy strong. So make the switch to Village Drugs, a local pharmacy. Where we are the show's problem solvers and people pleasers. All right, grab some buds and listen up. Grilling season's here. Now we find out what we're made of.

Are we going to fold under pressure and overcook the burgers? Or are we going to nail the carne asada and the brisket and pack the coolers with ice cold Budweiser and Bud Light? Because that's the difference between winning and losing, between flipping burgers and grilling like a pro. This summer, grill like a pro with Bud and Bud Light. Stock up today. Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser, and Bud Light beer, St. Louis, Missouri. New Game Plus with Oxy makes your laundry smell incredible and fights stubborn smells. Like the ones your dog, Biscuit, brought into your freshly made bed last night.

But you wash that all away with game. And now you're drifting asleep to the scent and sound of waves. Ah, no. That's a dog licking your ear. Biscuit. It just might be our greatest scent ever. Now with odor fighting power. New Game Plus with Oxy. Sniff the difference. Game. Imagine you're reading Pride and Prejudice. Except you're not reading it. Harris Dickinson and Marissa Abella are reading it to you on Audible. Her barbs sting you. This coldness sends a shiver up your spine. Your heart aches. Your ears burn.

You yearn for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy to profess their undying love for one another. You can't bear it any longer. Well, maybe a chapter longer. Performance is so good, you'll give love a second chance. Audible. Stories that speak to you. Pat Boyle here to help you beat the books with Westwood One Sports. Texans in the cold, slurred ants in Indy with desperation oozing out both teams' pores. The big issue for Indy is the injury to number one receiver Alec Pierce. Without him, they don't have anybody that can stretch the field and keep Houston's defense honest.

Expect to meet go-ryans to stack the box to limit Jonathan Taylor. And then it's good luck to Daniel Jones. Texans defense will reign supreme. I'm taking Houston on the money line as a slight favorite. I'm Pat Boyle. Bet some order to beat the books. Download the BetMGM app today. My name is Whitney Allen and I'm a widow. My husband Ryan died. We never thought we'd ever have to use life insurance, but the unexpected happened. With Ethos, signing up was fast and 100% online. You can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes, and get same-day coverage.

No medical exams, and you can get up to $3 million worth of coverage. I'm grateful we were prepared. Get your free quote at ethos.com slash play. That's ethos.com slash play. Paid spokesperson. Time spent on application may vary. Online health questions required. The home of the Atlanta Braves, the Florence Falcons, and the Alabama Crescent Tide. Sports Radio 93.9. The score. Football season is here, and every great team needs a winning game plan. For your home, that's Pella Windows and Doors. They're not just window and door experts.

They're experts at taking care of you and your home. Pella helps find the products that meet your needs, and their experts install them. That means quality products, expert installation, and real pricing. Real simple, really beautiful. 0% financing options are available. Certain restrictions apply. Find your local Pella showroom at Pella.com slash eisen. Make life brighter with Pella Windows and Doors. Shohei Ohtani's interpreter was fired today. Ipe Mitsuhara ran up gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation. The inside story of the biggest scandal in modern baseball.

He was absolutely bananas, the amount of bets he was making. I've never seen anything like it. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, this is The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani. Presented by Gusto. New episodes available now. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. It's an evening with Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy and All-American pitcher Jocelyn Briskey. Benefiting the Howard Gamble Scholarship for the Red Elephant Club. Monday, September 28th at 2807 East Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals. There'll be a meet and greet at 530, dinner at 630 with speaker and Q&A session to follow.

Space is limited. Get your tickets early. $25 for coaches and student tickets. $30 for adult tickets. For tickets and more information, call Robert Newton at 256-366-9616. Dishler Basketball will host Dinner in the Dome on Saturday, October 17th at 7 p.m. in the Dishler Dome with guest speaker, former University of Alabama men's basketball coach Mark Godfrey. There will be a silent auction from 7 to 730, along with a meet and greet with Coach Godfrey and a steak dinner that starts at 730. Tickets are $100 and reserved tables are $1,000 with eight tickets included.

For more information, call Coach Brian Pounders at 205-246-0644. That's Dinner in the Dome at Dishler High School on Saturday, October 17th. Hey, it's Evan Cohen. Coming up Tuesday, the Eagles head to Chicago to take on a Bears team without Caleb Williams. So, should we assume Philly gets the win? It's on Sportsmanlike, 6 a.m. Eastern, right here on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. Is there anything like sweet home cooking? Matt St. Charles followed the UNA Lions over the weekend over there with the Times Daily.

[21:09] Matt, welcome in. How are you? Hey, guys. I'm doing good. How's it going? Hey, good. Been fine, man. Is it true that UNA wants to play every game at their brand new confines? Bobby Wallace Field, Bank Independent Stadium. This one was bad news for the fingernails for Lions fans, was it not? Yeah, it was definitely an exciting game that swung a lot of times there in the end. Hard to get grades on things like that when you're changing them at the last minute there like I was doing.

But definitely a fun one down the stretch there for sure. Man, I thought the UNA defense won the game. They had seven sacks. Western Illinois had been averaging 191 yards a game, and UNA held them to just 88. They only ran, I believe, 10 plays in plus territory. They gained 11 yards and took two field goals after two unfortunate Destin-Wade fumbles. It kind of reminded me a little bit of the effort they had against Sanford to begin the season. But the UNA defense played strong. Yeah, I think there's a lot of avenues to go down there when you talk about the defense.

Number one, I thought Avery Howard was just phenomenal in that game. Three sacks was just named Defensive Player of the Week in the conference. And I think that's a game that kind of hinges on those two Western Illinois possessions there after the Destin-Wade fumbles. If they get two touchdowns, that game is fully out of reach. And I think, you know, Clint Bowen and his defense made Kennedy McGill, the Western Illinois quarterback, into a passer as the game went on. And in all honesty, there was really only one play that Western Illinois had success with.

It was kind of that QB run option that ended up being a jump pass that they scored on the first play on. They hit big with it at another point in the game. And then on that second to last play where Camor Harris chased the guy down at the one, that was that same play again. So that was really the only thing that worked for the Western Illinois offense. In the huddle with Matt St. Charles over the Times Daily, Matt, it's safe to say one of the easiest questions to answer in the world would be if the MVP for UNA was handed out right now, it would be the ex-man, Xavier Johnson.

What's it, four for four now, freshman of the week in the conference? Four for five, yeah. Four for five. I missed one. It's amazing. Yeah, I mean, he's really just been phenomenal and just finds a way to impact the game week after week. And, you know, I've said it a few times, I think, coming into camp, they thought he would provide them with sort of just a vertical threat. And he's really brought everything to this offense to the point that, you know, he was seeing some brackets and some double teams kind of in that game.

But still found a way to make some plays, especially that 43-yard connection with Wade kind of down the sideline to the one-yard line that set up QB sneaks. So, I mean, they love the versatility that he brings and everything they're able to do with him. Running the ball was an issue for UNA. 28 rushing yards, that's less than a yard per carry. Again, UNA made the plays to win. But I'm guessing that Coach Brent Dierman is going to put a little emphasis on running the ball more successfully moving forward.

Yeah, I think, you know, one thing to note in that game is Western Illinois really, really stacked the box defensively and wanted to make it hard to rush the ball. And I think there's some running backs in this room that really, really want to impact the game in the right way. And it kind of gets them ahead of themselves in their head. And they're not as patient, kind of waiting for their hole. But I also think, you know, the offensive line needs to get, you know, sort of back on its technique.

And one thing we see on occasion from UNA is the quarterback run where you can get sort of an extra blocker with your running back, an extra body. And twice in that Alcorn game, they used it and Wade went down with, you know, somewhat of an injury or sting or whatever it was. So, you know, I think they were sort of hesitant to use it this week. I would imagine it will come back as the season kind of wears on, especially if the running game continues to struggle.

But, I mean, they had 14 third downs in that game. Eleven of them were five yards or more. So they're just not getting ahead of the sticks when it comes to running the ball. They're at 3.2 yards per carry on the season. So that will definitely be one of the bigger emphasis this week for UNA. Matt St. Charles again in the huddle with us. Matt, we're nearing, it's hard to believe, the midway point in the regular season. Right now, above water, three and two. They've had the last two at home.

[26:32] Couldn't have gone any better, breaking a brand new stadium. But now you've got to pack the bags and head to Eastern Kentucky. Your thoughts, what kind of overall grade at this point in the season and then the matchup this weekend on the road at Eastern Kentucky? Yeah, I think overall, if you wanted a grade, I would probably give them a B, a B-. I think compared to what we've seen the last three years out of this team is a huge, huge step forward. And I think, you know, it's definitely a program headed in the right direction.

There are definitely things to iron out. But, I mean, three total, three wins is higher than their win total last year. Yeah. It ties their win total from two years ago. So, I mean, a huge step forward. But, you know, one thing to note with Eastern Kentucky, in the four years, or I guess this is the fourth year of Brent Dierman, this is a team that's only won one road conference game. So, getting out to a 1-0 starting conference play on the road, heading into your bye week, is going to be huge for this group.

Matt, you do a great job of covering Husky, too. You did a fun game. Brooks at Central. Heath Wood came in undefeated. But Brooks, who's had a hammerlock on this series for many years. Jackson Hartman had a tremendous game, 264. Tanner Bowens, who was the quarterback last year, Brooks, had 158 yards. Nice win by Brooks over Central. Yeah, definitely. One that they really had to work for. That's such an odd Central offense. And to put up nearly 50 points was probably what they had to do. Yes. But those two Brooks running backs are really, really good.

And it allows them to really control the pace of the game. And any time they needed a big third down or whatever it was, it was always Tanner Bowen. So, I think he would tell you and the whole offense would tell you moving to a wide receiver was probably the right move for him because it's paying off. Absolutely. Big weekend this weekend. Most of the shows at Russellville, Dester, West Morgan, Lexington, Colbert County. Colbert County going for win number 700. And Whitesburg Christian and Morris Hill. In fact, Whitesburg Christian beat Rogers last week.

And they were, Whitesburg Christian is a very good team. I always enjoy beginning of the week with you, Matt. Great recap of UNA. You also cover high school, bud. Where can we get online and give you great coverage on social media, et cetera? Yeah. Online, you can find all my stuff at timesdaily.com. And then mostly on Twitter or X at Matt underscore St. Charles. That's S-T-Charles. So, yeah, that's about it. Sounds great, man. Listen, man, thanks for your time, Dan. Have a great week, okay?

All right. Thanks, guys. Thank you, bud. That's St. Charles Times Daily. We mentioned earlier starting time. Now the house for Bulldogs Part 2. That's Bama and Georgia. Break out the moon shades. A 630 kick down in Tuscaloosa when Kirby comes back to town. In the meantime, a man who created sports talk in the state of Georgia, the Max, next year on the Bama Bug Show. Carbine Construction is honored to be a part of building projects with the Florence City School System. We're also glad to cheer on the Falcons as they celebrate milestone achievements as well.

Good luck to head coach Kenny Morrison and the Florence Falcons football team on building a special season to remember as Carbine Construction wishes you the very best this season. Remember, at Carbine Construction, we build trust, we build relationships, and like the Florence Falcons football team, at Carbine Construction, we continue to build. Well, you know what happens when the seasons change. The pests come looking for a place to stay. Don't give them an invitation. Southern Pride Pest Control has year-round prevention plans protecting your home from pests, termites, bedbugs, moisture, ants, rodents, and mosquitoes.

Proudly serving the Shoals area since 2010, we're here when you need us most. Send those unwanted guests packing. Call 256-383-1890. Southern Pride Pest Control. Locally owned and operated. Protecting what you're proud of. When you have pests, we have solutions. Scott Graham here from Sunday Night Football on Westwood One. Another full slate of Sunday games wraps up with a great primetime matchup from Denver when Bo Nix and the Broncos host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. Ryan Radke and Mike Golick will have the call as both teams look to bounce back from opening week losses with a second straight win.

Join us on Sunday Night Football. Right here on 93.9 The Score. It's football season on Polymarket. Trade your football predictions against other fans before and during the game. You can even combine multiple trades with Polymarket combos. Promo code WWFOOTBALL. New customers deposit $10 and get $50 instantly to start trading. 18 plus. See Polymarket's terms of service for more information about restrictions and eligibility. The Polymarket app is an independent affiliate of Polymarket U.S. and not CFTC regulated. Trading always involves risk. Complete loss can occur. The $50 offer is issued as non-withdrawable trading credit for use on the platform.

[32:06] Offer exclusively available to first-time depositors. Not available in all jurisdictions. This is the story of the one. The shipping manager who's there before the first truck backs in and the first pallet is loaded. Coordinating schedules. Clearing bottlenecks. Keeping freight moving. He counts on Grainger for the industrial-grade products he needs to stay ready. From shipping supplies to PPE to hand tools. So when the doors roll up, he's ready to roll. Call 1-800-GRAINGER. Click Grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

ESPN Radio for the Shoals. Sports Radio 93.9. The Score. Rich Eisen here. A SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something one's thought impossible. Overcoming high-interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed-rate monthly payment. No fees required. And as soon as the same-day funding. That's right. Pull off your own debt-defying stunt with a SoFi personal loan. Visit SoFi.com slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. Heading to Walmart for game day essentials?

Add a cooler, some snacks, and a manscaped lawnmower to your cart while you're there. Choose the Streamlined Lawnmower Go or the Lawnmower Ultra. Featuring dual-tone spotlights and up to 100 minutes of runtime. Both feature skin-safe technology and a waterproof design for easy cleanup. So next time you're in Walmart or on walmart.com loading up for the tailgate, add a manscaped lawnmower too. And make sure you are game day ready. Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93-9. The score. The Braves wrapped up the regular season with a 5-3 loss to the Marlins in Miami yesterday.

The Braves 94-68 will now play the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-three NL wildcard series. Game 1 is tomorrow afternoon. The Braves will host the best-of-three series. Saints fell at home yesterday. They lost to the Raiders 35-27. Tyler Shug with four touchdown passes in the loss. The Saints with the setback are now 1-2 on the season. College football this week. Alabama beat South Carolina 49-18. The Tide 4-0. Auburn is 3-1. They beat Vanderbilt 21-15. North Alabama was the winner this week. They beat Western Illinois 23-20. The Lions are 3-2.

Tonight, catch Monday Night Football as the Bears host the Eagles. Joined in progress after UNA Football Night. I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash presented by Progressive on 93-9. The score. Kohl's has 20% off ball outfits. So stylish, you won't recognize your own family. Your teen's sweater makes them look oddly responsible. Your husband's jeans earn a double take. Your boho dress has you whispering, who is she to the mirror? Save on standout styles for the new season at Kohl's and Kohl's.com. Careful, you might need name tags.

Select styles. Offer ends October 4th. Some exclusions apply. See store or Kohl's.com for details. Knock, knock, Capital One Bank Guy. Wow, Charles Barkley? I just moved into the neighborhood. Can I borrow some Wi-Fi? Sure, Chuck. That's what the Capital One Cafe is here for. Open seven days a week. Oh, can I use your ATM? My dog walker only takes cash. Anything for a neighbor. Can I try the cash phrase? Sure, take it for a spin. There's no fees or minimums on Capital One checking accounts.

Nice, Chuck. I'll take it from here. Capital One. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. Visit CapitalOne.com slash BankGuy for details. Capital One and a member of DIC. The Alabama defensive line isn't the only one with skills. Ask your Amazon Alexa devices to tune in to 93.9 The Score. Listen to The Score streaming live anywhere on Alexa-enabled devices. All of your favorite shows and teams are waiting. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. It's Monday, which means the M in Monday must stand for Max.

Max H***, Pioneer, radio sports talk in the entire Southeast. Also knows what it's like to be an assistant coach at Florida State and Ole Miss. He knows where all the bodies are buried. Max H***, welcome in. How are you? Doing very well, Harold. Very well. A little cool today. Well, it feels like football, does it not, finally? Yeah, about 76 up in North Mississippi. So, yeah, I'm ready to get ready for the next week. I think we've had our shares of up and downs up to now, but the real season's already started.

Is Mississippi now the new home of college quarterbacks, Max? How's this thing working out, man? Well, yeah, I hope he stays in Mississippi. I think that's a big question right now. $20 million? You can do it. Well, there's some out there right to check. I guarantee it is. Anyway, I think that's going to be a heck of a ballgame coming up this week with Alabama and Mississippi State. We'll get a chance to see, you know, when he plays on the big stage. We'll find out. I mean, he's got the talent.

[37:21] I don't think there's any doubt about that. Mississippi State kind of kept him with the reps, and, you know, they opened up, and they've done well with him up to now, and he's done well with them. So, I'll be anxious to watch. I believe that's a 11 o'clock kickoff, too, on Saturday. Yeah. To me, that's a plus for Alabama, because the late Pat Dye once said, Max, and you know this, and anyone who's ever been to a game at Starkville, it is a different universe. I don't care how many, I don't know what numbers as far as, it's 80s if you're wearing the opposing jersey.

Your thoughts about a 19-year-old kid and the fact that Russell went on the road early to Kentucky might have been the best thing that happened to him this year, as opposed to, like, let's face it, Auburn's playing every game at home. When you go on the road, it's a different beast. For the folks that have never been to a game there, what's it like going to a game in Starkville? Well, you know, let me just put one thing aside. All the rules that they passed to not allow the cowbell, not to be ruled during the game, you forget that.

That's part of their culture. I mean, it really is. And if you've never sat there standing with 65,000 or 70,000 people in it and in the cowbell for you constantly, you better take a Tylenol bag with you, because you're going to have a headache when it's over. I'm just telling you. And they thrive off of that. They really do. And I'm hearing it already, and, you know, they all got, you know, the big answers about the upset COVID and this thing. And we know that can happen. It didn't happen in Oxford last week, but who knows what will happen this week or not.

But you know what it does? It generates that enthusiasm about college football at this point. Yeah, yep. And I'm thankful for that, I'll be honest with you. I get just as excited sitting there watching that ball game on TV by myself as I drive off over the sideline. I tell you. Thank you. Max, I tell you one thing. Speaking of giddy fans, Florida Gator fans are a little bit giddy, too. Buster Faulkner, along with Jon Sumrall, looks like the hire of the year. Florida rolled over Ole Miss, a good Ole Miss team, for 302 yards.

Philo is playing well. Ole Miss was shorthanded without Keywon Lacey, and I hope he gets back soon. I tell you one thing, though, Max, this Florida team right now looks pretty good. I'm going to tell you, I've known Jon Sumrall a long time. I mean, I just got to know him really well when he was a coach at Troy. He took that team. He lost two ballgames while he was a head coach. He goes to Tulane the next year. In two years, he loses two ballgames.

So, I mean, he's on the track right now. He's literally, guys, he's a player's coach. Yeah. I mean, he talks, you know, let's put it this way. He can talk their language. That's why if you watch a press conference, they bleep out about how he's talking. Yeah, they do. So, they do. And the reason, he gets so, if you watch him, he gets so fired up. He gets frightened they need to go, you know, in the gutter with them. He can talk their language, and they'll play for it for that.

I can tell you that, too. Max, he's in North Alabama. What do you expect, buddy? Come on. I want to know how he got out of Madison County and got to catch him to play. That's right. Let me ask you this. Obviously, every fan base, when they hire somebody in the preseason, he's walking on water. And then about this point in the season, you say, man, we screwed up. We should have hired that guy. Your thoughts just about what's going through Auburn fans? Because, from all indications, Sumrall, his wife is an Auburn grad.

He's from Huntsville. He's in Alabama, as far as a state, a native. Because, you know, probably, in terms of baseball, Auburn was probably on third base if they gave him everything he wanted. From everything we were able to gather, Sumrall, being true to himself, and I agree with this, go into an interview and say, this is what I need. If you can agree and we can agree, then we've got a deal. If not, then good luck and go find somebody who wants to check those boxes for you.

And, apparently, Auburn didn't want to check certain boxes, and that's why he winds up at Florida. Your thoughts about that and the situation at Auburn. Okay. That's where to start. First off, I know for an absolute fact why he didn't go to Auburn. Because they issued him a list before he interviewed. Well, he never went to the interview because of that. Well, they issued him a list of what he had to do. And, guys, you want to wonder, let's just be up front. Auburn's seven years and they're not a winning season.

Whoever the administration is involved in making those calls like that, they're going to be in their eighth year without a winning season. I can promise you that. They'll follow the pictures internally because of that. Of course, I saw the interview with John. He got asked the question from the media, why, you know, doing all your background, why do you take Auburn? He said, I didn't want Auburn, and basically, Auburn obviously didn't want me. And he just laid it out and went on down, you know, went on.

[42:39] But another part of the story, and I was fortunate enough to be involved in the last part of it, it actually bore down to John and to Ray Kiffin for a Florida job. And my recommendation was the guy that got the job. And I didn't make the recommendation to the people that hired him, but I made the people to the people that contact me about doing the background check on him. Because I had all his records about, you know, when he started coaching and how he got to Troy and what he was able to accomplish.

And that was his first-hand job, and he didn't let it go to his hand. He still took a, basically, inferior program at that level when he took it, and they won. And he's won every way he's ever been. And like I say, that's a program. When you go from three to one, you know, to beat the number four team in the country, that's going to get some national attention real quick. But if you watch him, if you watch him on the sideline and you watch what the staff does with him, I mean, that program has all the credentials.

There's some programs that it doesn't matter who the coach is, there's a limit how far they can go. I think Mississippi State's one of those programs. There's a limit way because the money's not there, the alumni base is not large enough. We can just go through the reasons. Guys, they don't have any of those problems at University of Florida. I know one insurance agency there, if Kiffin came, was willing to write him a $15 million check a year for five years. And that's just one guy. I'm just saying, they got all kinds of people there that can take care of, you know, the financial side.

And a lot of schools don't have that. I mean, I'll be honest with you. They don't have that. Or if they have it, they don't have the administration that will allow those dollars to flow to where they need to do to have a successful program. Well, they got more ego than they got know-how because you look at what Mal Moore did. He was the blueprint. Mal knew Alabama, knew football as much as anybody. But he also knew where to draw the line with Nick Saban. And smart managers will give you, they identify their person and they say, here, here's an open checkbook.

Tell me what you want. Yes, yes, yes. When can you start? Yesterday. Let's go. That's what smart managers do with Mal with Nick. And then you get some of these guys who are ego maniacal and they want to be a control freak. And you get what you get. No doubt about it. It is. It's a people's game. It's what it is. And, you know, the great programs that evolve in any industry is somebody that's led by people that has some foresight in what happens. Right. They realize where they are, where they want to go, have great communication skills.

And, you know, basically I've always said, you get what you pay for. And I think that's, you know, I think that's the case. And then we can go to the other side of that where you got the money, you pay, and you make the wrong decision, and you make the wrong choice of the guy. I think, you know, I've already identified probably two openings already that's going to be in the conference next, you know, at the end of this year. Regardless of, you know, regardless of what it's going to cost to get them out, we don't worry that we probably shouldn't be open already, but they didn't have the school, they didn't have the money to pay them out.

So, but they still negotiate that. That's some interesting things that's happened down in Tallahassee. I got, I'll tell you, later on in this season, I can guarantee you, everybody's going to stand up when this thing surfaces. I don't know. I don't know how much better they'll be. But when people get involved, when the personalities get involved at that level, guys, it's hard to predict. You know that. I mean, you got some that will merge, and, you know, they'll have a little power within their group, and they'll make a decision.

Sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong. But that guy that makes that decision when it's right, then everything falls into place. And I think that's exactly what they did at Florida. Well, Max Auburn is going to Knoxville to play Tennessee on Saturday, and that was quite a defensive battle with Texas and Tennessee. Texas had 10 sacks. Colin Simmons had an amazing five. He's a very talented player when he behaves himself. Tennessee sacked Arch Manning six times. Tennessee had a chance to win the game. Texas did everything they could to try to give Tennessee the game, and they couldn't do it.

Max, your thoughts on both teams, Texas and Tennessee. See, I've had a problem with Texas for a long time. Go back and check. They've won one national championship in 20 years. Look, think about where they are in the state of Texas. Think about their economic affiliations that they have at that university. Probably better than anybody else in the country, dollar-wise. The administration just can't seem to – and they've rotated coaches in and out. It's hard for me to identify the real reason. But you know what? In that state, they don't want to look at Texas A&M.

[47:58] I'm not sure right now. They're not going to have an opening at the end of the year. But, for example, with A&M, the last championship, they won was 18-30 there. Yeah, something like that, yes. So I'm just saying, you know, you can be in the right place, but if the pieces together aren't there, you're not going to win the championship. Now, you talk about this weekend, basically with Tennessee and Auburn, you know, that thing could be six to nothing or, you know, six to three.

I mean, it could be – I don't know how those $110,000 go in there. I know most of them already got season tickets, but they'll be hard to do it. I'm afraid before that game's over. I don't know how good Auburn's defense is. Tennessee can score. I mean, they've always – Josh Heupel's always had – you know, of course, he came from the best position he played in college. So he's got a good bird for a good offense. And I think he's got some assistant coaches now that can coach also.

The talent level has always been there. I mean, they've always recruited well. I don't know. Is Larry Allen happening already? I'm sure it is. I haven't looked at it and seen it yet. But I think right now that game could come – if you like a good defensive ball game, I don't – I can't see a high-scoring game in that one at all. I think Tennessee wins it. I think Tennessee's better organized. I think they've got – I think they've got a better talent right now than Auburn's got.

And they don't kind of – they know what they want. Auburn's still going through that, you know, that transition with the new coach and still getting players there that know what – you know, know each other, know what to expect from each other. But, guys, let me tell you, the game itself – you know, we can sit and talk all the way down, and I love to do that. But the game is in transition. The whole college football seed is. But I will say this. I've watched games. I watch – I sat on my chair at 9 o'clock on this past Saturday morning, and I got up at 11.30 that night.

And I saw all the games that counted. And not only did I watch, I chart just like I did when I coached. So I know what they're doing on the field. I can relate to that. But I'm telling you right now, the game on the field overall is better than it has been. Regardless of how they got there and the money being involved, I know there's a lot of controversy on that. You know, I'm afraid the federal government's going to get involved because we don't have any leadership at the college level, I'll tell you the truth.

But the fact is, if they do, they're going to set guidelines for handling the money with agents and all that. And that needs to be done. But I think in another year or two, we'll get an equated system out there that when those kids go and sign a contract, they won't be going to the university for an education. They'll be an employee of that university. They'll have that opportunity to go to college and get an education, but they don't have to to play. So that's just some more things coming down the road.

That's down the road. What's going to happen? We talked about Knoxville. What's going to happen in Starkville as far as the final score? I saw Vegas. It opened Bama in favor by three and a half. It's now five and a half. What do those people out there in the desert know, Max? Well, they know that this is 11 o'clock game in Starkville. They know that cowbells are going to ring. Some of those young guys that had never been there before, when the bells start ringing, they're going to stand up and look around.

You can't do practice during the week. You know, they can't play. They play music, but they can't play cowbells. So I've never seen a tape on that. But anyway, it's going to be, I think it's going to be, I don't know if we should win it, but without a doubt. You know, this past week, I saw great improvement on their team. They scored in the first half. Something they've struggled with before. So that means they're getting together, the system, because I still have some questions about how they handle practice every day, being Alabama, how they handle practice every day, and how they read scouting reports and so forth.

Unfortunately, they've got enough talent. They can win most ballgames. They might be pretty, but they can win them. But the fans, after a while, when you've won as much as Alabama's had, they don't like to sit around and wait to the fourth quarter to win a football game. I mean, they just don't like that. So I understand that very well. And the fact is, I know it's interesting, it's exciting for a lot of people that don't, you know, I don't bid on ballgames. All I've got is that emotional interest, and I've got my list of teams I like to see win.

Of course, when they don't, you know, I say, well, just wait until next year. That's all I'd say. Max, Tennessee's seven-and-a-half point favorite over Auburn. And I'm sure we're going to be talking about Shane Beamer's coaching future at South Carolina in future shows. Max, we've got to run to the break, but always enjoy the conversation. Listen, have a great week. Thank you again for probably pulling off the side of the road to literally talk to us. Listen, have a super week. Let's do this again next Monday.

[53:19] I appreciate you guys always. I'll talk to you later. Thank you. All right. The one, the only, the Max, Max Al. Coming up the next hour, we've got it all covered. Whether it's Tide Tigers or Tennessee, we've got Charlie Trotman, Vince Ferrara, and the Redfish himself. It's all straight ahead here on the Boomwell Bug Show. Stay with us. Built upon a solid foundation of cast iron and steel, the Kubota L01 series is part of the number one selling compact tractor lineup in the U.S. They feature powerful Kubota diesel engines and easy operation.

The durable Kubota L01 series. Talk to your local Kubota dealer today to schedule a demo. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer. Visit Brown Equipment Company in Loretto or at BrownEquipmentCompany.com. At River Restoration, we proudly serve the Shoals area with dependable roofing repair, emergency services, and storm damage solutions. With years of hands-on experience and a commitment to quality, we're the local roofing team homeowners and businesses trust when it matters the most. Whether you're facing leaks, hill damage, or need urgent repairs after a storm, our experts are ready to restore and protect your home with speed and precision.

We know how stressful roofing issues can be. River Restoration. Call Project Manager Bentley Sharp. 256-349-8533. It doesn't matter if you're running grills at the park, playing pickup on a Saturday, or sinking the final putt. When you compete with your friends with Michelob Ultra on the line, competition isn't that friendly. The Trash Talk, next level. And the stakes, oh, those are crystal clear. With only 95 calories and superior smooth taste, it's the ultimate trophy. Superior is worth playing for. Michelob Ultra, Superior Light Beer. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2025, Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Ultra, Light Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

It's game day. Are your moderate to severe Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms keeping you from the action? Sky Rizzy, Rizzenkizumab Rizza, could help you get back to the game. Sky Rizzy is proven to help people feel significant symptom relief, achieve remission, and visibly improve damage of the intestinal lining. Sky Rizzy is a prescription injection medicine for adults. Don't use if allergic to Sky Rizzy. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections, or lower ability to fight them may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor about any flu-like symptoms or vaccines.

Liver problems leading to hospitalization may occur when treated for Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. Control is everything to me. Ask your doctor about Sky Rizzy, the number one prescribed biologic in Crohn's and ulcerative colitis combined. Learn more at SkyRizzy.com or 1-866-SKY-RISZY. Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. Every small business owner dreams of scoring a touchdown. For thousands of companies, that touchdown was finding Gusto, the online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Gusto is all-in-one, remote-friendly, and has every play covered. You can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere with unlimited payroll runs and no surprise fees.

Go to Gusto.com today and see why over 500,000 small businesses call Gusto their MVP. That's G-U-S-T-O.com, Gusto.com. Whether it's a crisp fall morning, a full-blown thunderstorm, or you're loading up the car and heading to the game. Whether you're kicking through piles of leaves or trudging through puddles of mud. Whether you call it fall, or autumn, or you're one of those sweater season people. You're gonna want weather tech for your vehicle. Whether the mess is your fault, your kid's fault, the dog's fault, or just the weather's fault.

You're gonna want weather tech. For American-made floor liners and seat protectors that laugh in the face of fall weather. Visit weathertech.com today. 1819 News. A group that is in favor of sexually explicit books and LGBTQ-themed content being made available to minors in public libraries is now getting an influx of money from a left-leaning organization. Read Freely Alabama is being granted $40,000 from the Nathan Cummings Foundation to continue work here in the state of Alabama and conduct events that would promote these sexually explicit books in public libraries.

Read Freely Alabama is going to host events across the state to oppose what they deem to be censorship when it comes to library boards determining that certain books are not appropriate for minors to have access to within the public libraries. The group says the grant money from the Nathan's Cummings Foundation will allow for several in-person events and some online events to be held to get Alabamians involved in fighting for what they call social and racial justice. I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this. Brian Dawson here, CEO of 1819 News.

I'm also the host of 1819 News, the podcast, and we'd love for you to join us by listening to our weekly show on all the top podcast apps, both in audio and video format. At 1819 News, the podcast, we are in pursuit of a free and flourishing Alabama. Every week, we're having important conversations with guests from across this great state, all with the goal of equipping Alabamians to be in pursuit of a free and flourishing Alabama with us. New episodes are released weekly. I hope you'll join us.

[58:43] The body of a missing Florida woman has been located in Alabama. 67-year-old Linda Krieger was with her husband at a campground in Andalusia when she left the couple's RV and never returned. Krieger's body was found on Sunday by police not far from that campground. Krieger suffered from Alzheimer's and a bipolar disorder, and investigators believe she may have left the campground to find a ride back to Fort Myers. I'm Andrea Tuss. For more news affecting Alabamians, go to 1819news.com. And while you're there, subscribe to the daily newsletter.

Join us this fall on Wednesday nights for Hey Coach and the Kaelin DeBoer Show presented by Alpha Insurance, live from Baumhauer's Victory Grill in Tuscaloosa. The show starts at 6 p.m. and you don't want to miss it. Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shores, Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. It's time for another Florence Falcons one-minute timeout with head coach Kenny Morrison, following Florence's 34-16 win over the Decatur Red Raiders. Good win over a good, solid program tonight. They came ready to play. What a great game plan they had.

Running back, what a monster he was tonight. Quarterback was not a starter. Phenomenal job by him. My hat's off to John Ritter and his staff. Boy, they did a phenomenal job tonight. They outplayed us. We're just fortunate to hit some big plays. We got to get better or it's going to be a tough year down the stretch. Everybody thinks 5-0, we're all this. We're not very good right now. Got a lot of good reps in tonight for some of the young guys. Some look great, some need some work.

Yeah, I mean, it's glad to get those young guys in. We got to go back to the drawing board. Great time for an open week this week. We need to get healed up. We played banged up like crazy, but we got to be better. Join us for the next Florence Falcons broadcast, Friday, October 2nd, as they welcome the Athens Golden Eagles to Bralee Stadium. Airtime at 6 p.m. with a kick at 7 here on 93.9, The Score. 93.9, The Score weather. Today sunny with a high around 85. Tonight mostly clear with a low near 55.

Tomorrow sunny with a high around 90. Tomorrow night mostly clear with a low near 65. Ampere Wednesday mostly sunny with a high around 90. Your weather from 93.9, The Score. Now, get ready to roll, Scholes, Decatur, Athens, and all of northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee. It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. Now, your host, Harold Bugge on 93.9, The Score. Welcome back in. I'm Harold Bugge alongside Redbeard. Thank you so much for giving us free ride around the Tennessee Valley and for checking in wherever you may be on this third rock in the sun on the 93.9, The Score.

Now, what a pleasure it is to welcome in the man who knows what it's like to take a licking and keep on ticking as a quarterback in the SEC, former Auburn QB, Charlie Trotman. Charlie, welcome in. How are you? Hey, guys. Doing really good. How are you? Hey, buddy. Man, we're doing all right. Charlie, we're getting in some serious stuff. October is coming up on us. Every one of Auburn's games, shock, shock, has been at home. They're going to be packing the bags this weekend. Before we take a sneak peek ahead, let's take a sneak peek back.

Charlie, what is your assessment of this Auburn team through the first quartet of games? Well, I think they've done, you know, some good things. You know, it's been a mixed bag at best. The game against Baylor, I think Baylor is a better team than people realize, but Auburn had to struggle to get past Baylor. And, you know, the Southern Miss game, they put a pretty good game together, all three phases, and had a good outcome. And, of course, the Florida game, they started really slow on offense and got into a shootout a little bit.

And Florida was a little bit more powerful, and the running game was a little lacking. And then in the Vanderbilt game, had it not been for a block punt, I think, you know, it might have been a different outcome because Auburn struggled mightily in the running game. And they really didn't do a whole lot in the passing game, either. The offense only scored twice. And, you know, Vanderbilt is not a ferocious defensive team. They got a good defense, but they're not, you know, one of those teams that you only ought to score twice against.

So, and then, you know, they have a pretty good quarterback, the true freshman Curtis, Jared Curtis, is, you know, kind of a handful. It was a handful for Auburn. We couldn't get him down. He kept, you know, running out of the pocket and making first downs and making things pretty interesting for Vanderbilt fans and pretty treacherous for Auburn fans. So, I would give us a C-minus, you know, probably not playing great football right now. And I thought the defense played pretty well, holding Vanderbilt to 15 points.

[1:04:14] But, you know, of course, the offense, there's a lot to be corrected on offense. I think the offensive line is struggling a little bit in pass protection and run blocking, which is not good. You know, if you're struggling in one of those guys, you can try to, you know, couch your offense toward the other. In other words, if you're not running the ball well, you can throw it a little bit more and even throw some quick screens and things like that that are like long runs.

But, gosh, when you're not doing either one of them well, it makes it tough on the quarterback and the receivers and the running backs. I stand corrected. Obviously, it was a pseudo-home game in Atlanta, so make sure we're clear on that to kick off the neutral site game, first game of the year. But I think most folks would count that relative to Baylor coming in with their fans as a home game. So, we stand corrected on that. But your thoughts just about two things on that.

A lot on Brown's shoulders coming in. And he was walking on water. What is the objective grade so far? I mean, again, it's all relative to the blocking you're getting. And I think we both can agree. He's going to be facing, and that's Texas, one of the best defensive coordinators in the league this year in Jim Knowles. Well, no doubt about it. And, you know, I think when you're Byron Brown and you're coming into a new program in the SEC and, you know, it's not a group of five.

You're playing against stellar athletes at all positions, especially those edge rushers. And, you know, they're all fast. They're as fast as you are. You're not faster than anybody else anymore. And it's a daunting task to be exceptional and elite in that regard. And he has not been exceptional or elite yet. I do think Byron Brown has the ability to be elite. I think he's got the ability to be exceptional. I just don't think he's done it yet. He's got some pretty good receivers in Singleton and Coger and Nimrod.

And he's got a really good group of running backs in Cobb and Mabson and Washington. So I think the problem so far has been really the offensive line. Now, he has thrown five interceptions. A couple of them have bounced off, you know, people who have been, one of them was tipped in the Baylor. And, you know, things like that. But still, you can't turn the ball over and expect to be successful in Knoxville, Tennessee. Charlie, let me ask you about the offensive line. It's obvious it's a work in progress.

They've been trying to mix and match. They did that again against Vandy. Kenneth McManus got the start at right guard in place of Cole Skinner. Jacob Strand started at left tackle in place of Joe Simmons. Wilson Zier has played pretty good at left guard. Cole Bass, I think, will stay at center. Stanton Ramil at right tackle. Charlie Will McManus and Jacob Strand, do you foresee that same offensive line starting against Tennessee? Well, I do, especially at left guard. I think I see Jacob Strand starting there.

I think, you know, we've just had some minor injuries on the offensive line. They're not, you know, significant, but they're enough to, you know, get somebody else a little bit of playing time. And then poor play has made room for some other guys. So, yeah, I mean, I think Auburn's trying to find the right chemistry on the offensive line. I think the right mix of players, you know, which lineup gets in there and gets it done. You know, that's what they're searching for. And it's going to take a concerted effort on the offensive line because Tennessee's got a good front.

They played well against Texas. They, you know, they're looking to bounce back from a close loss to the number one team in the country at the time. And, you know, it's going to be tough. I mean, nobody is hiding that fact. And Auburn certainly knows that going in. Absolutely. Charlie, I always get amazed. And everybody gives lip service to special teams. And you mentioned this earlier. If Auburn does not, if Omar Mampson doesn't block that kick and Kay Carlson scoop it up for a scoop and score, you put Auburn ahead 14-3, that was so key in the game.

The Auburn defense had seven tackles for a loss, four sacks, and the interception on Jared Curtis. But, Charlie, once again, if you're solid in the special teams, that can win you ballgames. Well, it does. I mean, you know, we've got an opportunity to be really good in the kickoff return, you know, situation, too, with Rayshon Pleasant. He's got three touchdowns from kickoff returns. But nobody, he doesn't get any opportunities because they're always kicking it in the end zone. So you've got to try to make, you know, do.

[1:09:44] And I will say this, Auburn was fortunate because they ran, Dandy ran a fake punt, and they had guys that would have been wide open. But for some reason, there was a miscommunication between the guys that were supposed to be the receivers from the punt. The punter was throwing the ball. He didn't have anybody to throw it to. But they were wide open if they would have turned around. And that could have been, in the kicking game, a huge factor. But, and Auburn got it in Dandy territory, was not able to do anything with it.

So, you know, it didn't, that didn't come as a big play for Auburn, really. And it should have been. Former Auburn quarterback, Charlie Trotman. Charlie, after all is said and done, again, anyone, you've been there. We talked about Alabama going to Starkville. That's a unique environment. They may not have as many seats, but they're allowed over there. Knoxville's got seats, I guarantee you, that you still remember back in the day. Talk to us about what's realistic this weekend. I saw where, I know this, Tennessee's going to be in a bad mood after losing to Texas.

Basically, he'll merit the end to win. What's going to happen this weekend with Auburn at Knoxville? Well, you know, Texas Stadium is tough to play in. You know, Georgia's tough to play in. Alabama's a tough place to play down in Baton Rouge. But Tennessee has got a unique situation because when you go to their north end zone, their north end zone is encircled with an upper and triple deck. That's right. And when you get down there on the goal line, I was calling signals you can't hear.

My guards couldn't hear me. And, you know, and I was yelling at the top of my lungs. But it is a tough place to play. The Tennessee fans are very rabid, and Alabama certainly knows that. And I would say that the best thing that Auburn could do is get off to a good start. Because if they can get off to a good start, maybe score in the first offensive possession, get that crowd out of the game. And, you know, allow for your defense and your offense to be able to hear what's going on and not, you know, be so maligned by the stands and the fans.

I think that would go a long way toward a successful afternoon for Auburn. I think Auburn can win this game, but it's going to take a better effort than they've made all season. It's going to take probably a little bit of luck, and it's going to take all three phases of the game coming together and being productive. Charlie, there are freshman phenoms galore in the SEC at quarterback. You know it. Charlie, in a couple of minutes, talk about Jared Curtis' potential at quarterback for Vandy. Well, he's a big kid, number one.

He's 6'4", he weighs about 235. I mean, the guy's got a cannon arm. Matter of fact, his arm is so strong, he overthrew two or three wide-open receivers that would have probably won the game for Vanderbilt. He had one seam route down the middle, and he overthrew the guy by 10 yards because he's just so strong. He's a big guy, and he kind of reminds me of Matthew Stafford. You know, a young Matthew Stafford who can run. And, you know, I think he's got a great future. I'll also tell you this.

Another guy that I'm really, really impressed with, of course, you talk about Mississippi State's quarterback. Everybody's impressed with him. But Keelan Russell has been playing his fanny off. I mean, he is. That guy can throw the ball with anybody. He can run with anybody. He's got great, you know, surrounding players that make him better, and he makes them better. And, guys, this receiving core, when Williams is catching the ball, it's as good as that receiving core that Alabama had back, you know, when they had Waddle and the other guys.

I mean, I'm very impressed with the improvement that Alabama has made. And, you know, to beat Alabama, you're going to have to outscore them. And that's tough to do. You know, that Alabama-Georgia game in a couple of weeks coming up will be monumental. Yeah. Absolutely. Charlie, I can't tell you how much we enjoy beginning the week with you. Always been a pleasure for many, many years. Listen, have a great week, my friend. Let's do this again next Monday if we can. We'll absolutely do it. Y'all have a good time up there in the Tennessee Valley.

[1:14:45] Thank you, buddy. We'll do our best, Charlie. Thanks so much. Charlie Trotman, former Auburn quarterback. Auburn going to Tennessee this weekend. We will take you there, as the staple singers would say back in the day. Next with the V-Man. Stay with us. Hey, guys. This is Mark down at Warehouse Tackle. So we offer the best fishing tackle and outdoor supplies in the Shoals area. We're located on 417 East College Street. Our phone number is 256-980-0951. And you can find us on the web at www.warehouse-tackle.com.

Come and see us. We're proud to be a sponsor of Florence Falcons football. And we wish Coach Morrison and the team good luck to you in your season. Sunday brunch is served at Sam's Place Florence every Sunday, 10 to 2. Dig into our all-you-can-eat made-from-scratch brunch buffet for just $16.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids. We've got Louisiana Shrimp Creole, stone ground grits, scrambled eggs, triage French toast, applewood smoked bacon, breakfast sausage, buttermilk biscuits, or indulge in our made-to-order chicken and waffles. And because brunch deserves a cheer, enjoy $6 mimosas and Bloody Marys.

Made from scratch, packed with flavor, and the quality brunch you deserve. Sunday brunch at Sam's Place Florence. Make our place your place. Bush Light is cold and smooth and waiting for you to get out there. Everyone knows that the classic taste of Bush Light is brewed for the outdoors. So before cracking open your next adventure, grab a case of Bush Light. Because nature is even cooler. With Bush Light in your cooler, head for the mountains of Bush. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026, Sennheiser Bush Bush Light Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

We all have those house projects we've been avoiding. And cleaning out gutters is usually last on the list. But when heavy rain sends water spilling over and soaks the ground around your foundation, you're going to wish you tackled it sooner. Don't wait for something like clogged gutters to turn into bigger, more costly home repairs. Let the pros at LeafFilter handle your gutters for you. With LeafFilter, you get a free gutter inspection and a no-obligation estimate. Their experts can inspect, clean out, and replace your gutters before installing LeafFilter.

It works by topping your gutters with surgical-grade stainless steel micromesh that's made to keep common debris out. Plus, every system comes with a lifetime warranty and a no-clog guarantee. Help protect your home today with LeafFilter, America's number one gutter protection system. Right now, you can get up to 35% off when you go to leaffilter.com slash gametime. That's up to 35% off at leaffilter.com slash gametime. Restrictions apply. See representative for warranty and promotion details. The home of the Atlanta Braves for Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee. 93.9. The score.

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. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com slash Eisen.

Terms and conditions apply. Bundling your home and auto with Progressive could help you save without sacrificing quality. It's the smart thing to do. And as a football fan, you always know the smart thing to do. Run the ball. Run the ball. You make your voice heard. Don't get cute. Run it. Run the ball. And you're never wrong. Well, don't run it right up the middle. So bundle your home and auto with Progressive. It's the smart thing to do. But you already knew that. Get a quote at Progressive.com.

Progressive Casualty Insurance Company affiliates and other insurers. Not available in all states or situations. From the University of Alabama, this is Crimson Tide Today. It's a daily update on Bama sports and it's brought to you by Alabama Professional Services. From pest and termite protection to lawn care, foundation repair and waterproofing, APS covers your whole home. Logan, everybody. I'm Roger Hoover. Here are postgame thoughts from Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer after Alabama defeats South Carolina 49-18. All right. Good complimentary football tonight. You know, you look back to the early part of the game and just some plays that were made.

Talked to the team about that already. You know, getting stops on some downs early in our territory. A fourth down stop. And then guys, you know, having explosive opportunities. The throw to Lottie. Putting it on the money. Having great protection. And Lottie finishing off. And so execution, I thought was better tonight. I thought we did a pretty good job of playing clean football. I had a few penalties. But I thought our emotional maturity just when a couple times it got a little chippy there. I thought our guys do a really good job of putting the team first.

[1:19:52] So I'm proud of them for that. I'll have more in a moment. Protect your home from the ground up with Alabama Professional Services. Whether it's pest control, termite protection, keeping your lawn looking its best, waterproofing or foundation repair, APS is the one company you can call to help protect your entire home. Family owned and serving Alabama since 1977, APS has taken care of Alabama homeowners for nearly 50 years. Alabama Professional Services. Protecting your home from the ground up. Visit alabamaprofessionals.com. Join us tonight for Crimson Tide Rewind.

Live from Baumhauer's Victory Grill in Vestavia Hills at 6 p.m. Central. You can listen on our full radio network, the Varsity Network app, as well as catch a video replay on the CTSN YouTube channel. Crimson Tide Today is brought to you by Alabama Professional Services. Crimson Tide Today is a production of the Crimson Tide Sports Network from Learfield. Listen to the Crimson Tide Sports Network for Crimson Tide Rewind. Live from Baumhauer's Victory Grill in Vestavia Hills, Monday nights at 6 p.m. Tune in and roll tide.

The score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back, weekend. What a weekend for the man. Vince Ferraro hooking up with us. 99.1 The Sports Animal in Knoxville. V-Man, welcome in. And didn't the Texas players commit a personal foul against you this weekend? No, I stayed dry and I didn't tell anything. So, yeah, it was ridiculous. But, you know, there was a lot going on and emotions running high for a lot of reasons. Yes. Time to rain on a clear day up there from the Texas players.

V-Man, talk to us about the experience this weekend. What did we learn? We know the score, but what did we learn about this Tennessee team? I think one thing we learned is you got one heck of a defensive coordinator. Yeah, there's no doubt. I tried to tell people in the offseason that I thought Tennessee's defense would be much better. They need to be, you know, a top-ten defense in the country for them to be much better. It's poor a tackling team and all the bust they had defensively last year.

To do that against Texas is pretty impressive. And that is something that I think can at least give them a chance in games this year. You obviously have to complement that with better offense than what we saw. They also may not see a defense like that all year. And maybe a team as talented as that all year. LSU has a ton of talent. Alabama's obviously playing really well with their talent. So it's not like they will be void of really good teams. But, man, that front was insane, including Colin Simmons, 10 sacks, five of them from Simmons himself, who is absolutely unblockable in all the different ways.

So what did we learn? I think the defense is they got to stay healthy. They just lost another safety, Dylan Lewis, who was a backup safety. But, man, they were already thin. So their front guys in the back end are really good. But, man, they cannot afford any more injuries. It gets crazy young after that. And then, you know, Tennessee's front seven. They're getting a lot out of those guys. Tennessee was already high in sacks nationally going into the weekend. And they had six against Texas with a bunch of TFLs and a pressure percentage on Arch Manning that was equal to what Faison Brandon faced.

And everyone was talking about how unblockable Texas was. It was very, very impressive what Texas did. And Noles has a lot to do with that. And changing the look, and I said this in the offseason too, changing the look post-snap to what he shows pre-snap. And then you just have to have dudes that are big, strong, and fast. And so those are all positives. But a lot of the talk obviously has been on the other side of the ball, as you guys can imagine. V, I think when we come down to the end of the season, the two teams playing in Atlanta are going to be the ones who stay the most healthy on the offensive line and who's got depth there.

Wendell Moe, Tennessee's left guard, of course, went down with a leg injury very early in the game, I believe, in the first quarter. Umaroff shifted over to the left guard. Haslam entered the game at right guard. What is Moe? And I know Tennessee's rather tight-lipped on injuries, but what will the offensive line look like when they lined up against Auburn? I will give you Josh Heupel's entire breakdown of the Wendell Moy Jr. injury status. We'll see you on Wednesday. It's just the relief of the availability report.

[1:25:03] At least he put it nicer than Sarkeesian did last week when I asked about some guys. Yeah, that's the default now. Here it is, and it's what everybody uses now as their deflection from having to talk about it. So, yeah, it's big. I mean, there's no guarantee that he wouldn't have struggled also, just because everybody did. David Sanders Jr., man, what a really rough game. And, you know, they couldn't handle the twists and the stunts and the games that Texas was playing up front. That's a staple of must champ.

Texas would stem, which is something that Georgia has always done a lot, where, you know, they'll line up and then they'll all in unison slide to one side. And so to see and handle that and just too many false starts and just from a physical standpoint, not able to hold up. Look, there's some that goes to the quarterback, too, and the receiver's not getting open and the coaches running vertical routes when they can't block. There's no time nor to go to the football. So it was absolutely a shared deal on how rough it was.

But, man, they don't have a lot of proven depth on the O-line. They don't have a ton of other answers and people that they can go to that they know about or they trust on that O-line. And typically, other than David Sanders, Jr., they have not trusted young guys in those roles. So it has to get better because guess what people are going to do? People are watching that tape, seeing what they were doing, what Texas was doing, copycatting it. And then what defensive linemen do and what football players do is they see blood, and now they're going to be extra motivated because they're like, I can take this guy, this guy isn't very good, I'm going to get some stats, I'm going to make a name for myself.

And then they're locked in during the week and they're even more motivated, even if it's from a personal standpoint. So now Tennessee's got to deal with all of that, everyone's best maximum effort, because of what they just put out on tape, giving up 10 sacks, a million pressures, and hits on the quarterback. So everybody's got to be much better, play calling, quarterbacking, seeing things, and not holding the ball, all those things. And honestly, he escaped a bunch of other sacks. He could have more if it wasn't for him.

But it was just a collective, all the offensive line, all those guys, running backs, tight ends, all of them have to be better, or else they're going to be a low-scoring game, so they're going to come up on the short end of things. I can share them about to go viral. That's the name of the game these days. V-Man, what's going to happen this weekend when Auburn makes their first road trip of the year in K-Town? Well, a lot of familiarity. I mean, obviously Alex Golesh on the other side, and Heupel said there's really no advantage one way or the other.

I tend to think in terms of who has more information, I think for the guy that left the staff and now is doing his own thing, knowing how things work on the inside and what the head coach is like, I would think there would be a little bit more of an advantage for Auburn with Golesh. Now, does he have the dudes to do something about it? That's a different story. But in terms of intel, I would think there'd be a little bit of an advantage there.

But also, there's Tim Banks on the other side. He's on the defensive staff at Auburn. The leading receiver in Auburn's win over Vanderbilt was Chaz Nimrod, who's a former Tennessee wide receiver. And there's other staff members that have followed Golesh to USF and then back to Auburn that are there as well. So, it will be very interesting and all of the familiar faces on the other side. But, you know, Auburn has not been overwhelming. They've got the win against Vanderbilt, but just kind of been pedestrian.

They may, you know, they play their best. If they have one of their better games or their best game, they can beat Tennessee unless they fix those problems on the offense. But then if Tennessee fixes that, then they can also run away from Auburn in Neyland Stadium. So, just we'll see which version of those two teams we get. Yeah, you're exactly right. The coaching staffs know each other well. There's no question about that. V-Man, great stuff. As always, I know you had a video cast. After the game, on the field, as you always do, listen, pet wonder dog Daphne Forrest, have a great week.

And where can we get online and get that interview? I think it was you and Josh, if I'm not mistaken, and all the other great stuff, buddy. Yeah, I appreciate it. In fact, I had some takes on Tennessee there at the end of their final drive and not spiking the football to give themselves a chance at a calm and true, organized Hail Mary, instead of just being frantic. Daphne is better at situational football than Tennessee was in that spot. So, you can follow me on all the socials.

[1:30:22] It's at VinceSports, V-I-N-T Sports, including Instagram, where you can not only see football stuff, but my cute mini golden doodle that we're talking about. V-Man is always a great way to kick off the week. Have a great weekend, and thank you so much for your time today, buddy. Always enjoy the highlight. You guys are the best. Appreciate you, man. Right back at you, V-Man, Vince. I always say, V-B, over the course of the season, every team is going to have an off week where anybody can beat them.

But then, every team has a chihuahua, and look out. When you think they're not going to win, boom, here they come. Will this be the weekend? Stay tuned for that. And the redfish talking crimson. Next. Stay with us. Getting the kids to practice on time. Remembering if it's your day to bring snacks. Making it to the game with a clean jersey. Why are simple things sometimes so complicated? Thankfully, with auto owners, insurance doesn't have to be one of them. Auto owners works with independent agents who answer when you call, so you can worry about more important things.

Like whether your kid is going to run toward first or third base. That's simple human sense. Hennigar Johnson & Layton Insurance. 120 East 5th Street, Tuscumbia. Or call 256-383-3400. T-Mobile has an exclusive bundle for customers 55 and up. I'm Sarah Bull. Yeah, I'm Frank Bull. A reliable network is key for us. And with T-Mobile, it's been wonderful. And going to the 55-plus plan saved us so much money. A lot. And that's important. Trying to keep costs down. The home internet's been perfect. It's fast. It's quick. The setup was so easy.

It took less than 15 minutes. It was like, ta-da! If you want simplicity, coverage, reliability, you want the whole package, T-Mobile has it. Right now, T-Mobile customers 55 and up can get two phone lines on America's best network. Plus, America's fastest 5G home internet for just 30 bucks each. $30 per month each line with auto pay plus taxes and fees. Minimum age 55. Pricing for home internet rely on two lines of essentials choice 55. $35 connection charge per line required. Best mobile network and fastest 5G home internet based on analysis by Oakley.

Speedtest intelligence data 2H 2025. All rights reserved. 162 game season and now one inning can change everything. On Polymarket, trade playoff predictions or combine multiple trades into one with combos. Now live in the app. Combo your trades now. Download the Polymarket app. New customers use promo code linebacker. Deposit $10 and get $50 to trade instantly. 18 plus. See Polymarket's terms of service for more information about restrictions and eligibility. The Polymarket app is an independent affiliate of Polymarket U.S. and not CFTC regulated. Trading always involves risk. Complete loss can occur.

The $50 offer is issued as non-withdrawable trading credit for use on the platform. So I've got this right. Flat repairs or replacement if needed. Rotations and rebalancing every 5,000 miles. All included with the tire purchase. With paid installation and tax? That's the… Don't make me say it. I was gonna say it. You don't say it. You back it up. That's the limited lifetime tire guarantee. Free with every tire purchase. So they're the… The best around. Nothing's gonna ever keep you down. Not the best. Minus. The best around.

Get more than just a score with Brett Beaird and me, Harold Bugg, on the Boomo Bugg Show weekdays, noon to two, here on 93.9 The Score. Women Life and Feeding America are having their Fight Hunger Charity Golf Tournament to benefit school backpack programs Monday, October 12th at Blackberry Trail Golf Course in Florence. Calls for the four-man scramble is $400 per team and breakfast, lunch, and mulligans are included. It's a 9 a.m. shotgun start with prizes for longest drive, closest to pin, hole-in-one, and first through third place teams.

Call 256-760-1581 for more information or to register. That's the Women Life and Feeding America Fight Hunger Charity Golf Tournament from Blackberry Trail Golf Course, Monday, October 12th. Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93.9 The Score. College football this week. Alabama beat South Carolina 49-18. The Tide 4-0. Auburn is 3-1. They beat Vanderbilt 21-15. North Alabama was the winner this week. They beat Western Illinois 23-20. The Lions are 3-2. The Braves wrapped up the regular season with a 5-3 loss to the Marlins in Miami yesterday. The Braves 94-68 will now play the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-three NL wildcard series.

Game 1 is tomorrow afternoon. The Braves will host the best-of-three series. Saints fell at home yesterday. They lost to the Raiders 35-27. Tyler Shug with four touchdown passes in the loss. The Saints with the setback are now 1-2 on the season. Tonight, catch Monday Night Football as the Bears host the Eagles, joined in progress after UNA football night. I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash, presented by Progressive on 93.9 The Score. Hey, it's Flo here to say drivers who switch and save with Progressive could save hundreds. Nice.

With my new savings, I'll get some hiking gear. It'll be great for my outdoor era. I don't know if it counts as an era if you just buy stuff. Um, I got a cute hiking backpack. It's an outdoor era. Well, you only bought one thing. I don't think it's an era. Well, I think we're in a agree-to-disagree era. Yeah, sure. You're probably right. Anyway, with the money you could save by switching to Progressive, you can afford to switch to other things in life. It's my savings era.

[1:35:40] Also, everything you do is not an error. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. What's happening this week in college football? The Lindy's Football Report has the answers. 30 minutes of college football discussion on the biggest matchups of the week. Concise, engaging, accurate, with opinions thrown in from some of the most knowledgeable reporters in the business. The Lindy's Football Report. Check it out. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. The Score. Welcome back, Ken. Time to check in to the Redfish. William Barger, former Alabama offensive lineman, calls to Bounce Radio now.

William, welcome in on the Monday after. How are you? Doing good, guys. Hope y'all are as well. You're good, man. We're doing all right. A lot to get to. I don't know how Ford is doing in Talladega, but I guarantee you the Ford in Tuscaloosa is, they may not be driving the road, but they're driving people into the dirt. This guy is very impressive, isn't that, William? Yeah, you know, I think you're going to continue to see the, you know, the growth offensively. You know, now that, you know, the offensive line has shown that, you know, they can pass, protect for four or five seconds and let, you know, deep ball patterns down the field get open.

You know, you saw the usage of the tight ends kick up a little bit, you know, against South Carolina. And so, you know, this is going to become kind of a, you know, a pick your poison for opposing defensive coordinators. You know, South Carolina still weren't believers Saturday night. They kind of chose to, even with the poor secondary going into the game, they kind of chose to creep up and crowd the line of scrimmage and, you know, try and slow that running game down first. And they paid a price for it.

Redfish, along that line there, also, it's one thing to do that, but a quarterback still has to, in real time, recognize that. How impressed are you that a 19-year-old in his fourth start was able to identify that in real time? And your thoughts overall about Keelan Russell? Well, I mean, you know, we talked about these things over the, you know, the summer during fall camp. And, you know, I think that was, you know, one of the things that we discussed was, you know, we still hadn't seen it on a big stage yet.

But, you know, just how easy the intangibles that it takes to play quarterback come for Keelan. You know, processing things, the ability to, you know, improvise when things don't go well and the pocket breaks down. You know, we've kind of seen him use his legs more so than, you know, wheeling and dealing and ditching the ball off to people so far. But I'm sure that part of it's, you know, coming. But, no, you know, I honestly, I mean, especially when you factor in, you know, we're just four games into this.

It's really kind of mesmerizing to watch. He never gets rattled. You know, he always seems to keep his eyes downfield. You know, it's a scary proposition for me to think about, you know, I don't want to wish my life away. But, you know, when you look at Ryan Williams is probably only the only guy projected to not be a part of this offense again next year. But, you know, just watching the growth and the progression week to week, I mean, you know, it's really kind of fun.

And, you know, it's not just Keelan. I mean, he's got some, you know, some talented guys that are blocking for him. He's got some just, you know, guys that can run block and are also good receivers at the tight end room. You know, the running back room's gotten deeper with Deere's return. And, you know, I think the wide receiver group, you know, wants Noah Rogers as a full go. You know, I don't think I've ever seen somebody coming off of an injury that got one target in a game and turned it into a 40-yard game.

But, you know, I think this team is really, really kind of flown under the radar with the kind of, you know, talent that this coaching staff has been able to, you know, go to the portal and get, recruit and develop, you know, case in point. You know, I was a little bit nervous, and I'm not anymore when starting right tackle Jarvin James went down in the fourth quarter, you know, with an ankle injury, basically. And, you know, the JUCO transfer Tyrell Miller came in, and I went back and watched the replay and graded him out, you know, on all the snaps he was in.

[1:40:41] And, you know, certainly outperformed my expectations, and you might see him, we won't know until probably Wednesday night or Thursday, you know, what James' status is going to be. But, you know, he might be looking at his first start Saturday, and based on, you know, the snaps that he got, you know, late Saturday evening, I mean, you know, I think he's up to the task. That was literally my next question. I thought Miller, I think he was in on 16 snaps. Everything I've read about him said he had high marks for what he was able to do.

Now, Will Sanders got dinged up a little bit. Walter came back in. Kalen DeBoer mentioned this morning that he thought Sanders would be good to go for Mississippi State. Jim and James, as you said, is questionable. But I'm like you, everything I've read about Miller for 16 plays, he played really well. Yeah, and, you know, there's been some whispers since fall camp that he's a guy that's, you know, coming along and developing. And, you know, I think he only played maybe three or four games, you know, his last year in junior college.

So, you know, there's really not a lot of stuff to look at in regards to him. But, you know, I think it just speaks to, you know, you know, the addition of Adrian Clem and Richard Owens to this coaching staff. I mean, it's, if it wasn't obvious to fans up to this point, it certainly should be now that when you look at the way this unit blocked. You know, I'm talking about the offensive line and the tight ends, you know, in 2025 versus 2026. I mean, it's like watching, you know, I realize it is a totally new unit in a lot of cases.

You know, it's the aggression, the culture, you know, if, you know, Josh Ford needs an adopted family in the state of Alabama, you know, he's welcome at my house for any holiday dinner that he wants to come to. I mean, that guy, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a projected first-round draft pick in some people's eyes. I don't know why, but some people thought maybe a top 10, maybe even a top five pick. I'm not sure if I've ever seen an unknown transfer from Oklahoma State.

Just, you know, he ought to pay property taxes on Dylan Stewart. He just whipped him. He did. As we sit down south, he embarrassed him. We talked to us about, obviously, everybody's got a tough schedule. These next three are as daunting as anybody for Alabama. But first things first, if you talk to a head coach, you want to make them mad, talk about the next three. Now you've got to start with the next one. You've been there and done that. You're facing another 19-year-old phenom in Taylor.

Talk to us about the environment there. I mean, people say, how do you get ready for it? I don't know that you can. It's the first time DeBoer's ever been there, and his staff's been there for the most part. The environment, as a guy who knows what it's like to play there, and the matchup with another phenom in the state quarterback. Well, it's a little unfair for me to speculate on the environment because back in the dark ages when I was playing, you know, it was basically a glorified high school stadium.

They closed in the end zones, and I remember when we were warming up one year down there, and, you know, I thought Philip Dole was going to kick, you know, field goals and extra points into the county highway that was out in front of the state. It's kind of like up there at Vanderbilt, you know, before they blocked it, and, you know, they had some balls that would dribble out on West End Boulevard sometimes. But, you know, it's, you know, with the noisemakers, with the cowbells, you know, it's going to be a tough environment.

But I don't know if it will be any more difficult than what they faced when they got up there to Lexington a couple of weeks ago. You know, that crowd was pretty amped up. And, you know, the head coach encouraged everybody to get Blotto drunk on their way into the stadium. Yeah, yeah, but, you know, look, I think this game has maybe a chance to be a shootout to a certain extent. But, you know, Mississippi State's got one of the same issues that South Carolina had.

They're not real good in their secondary. And they let Lenore Sellers, you know, throw for 300 yards against them. And so, you know, that's something to keep an eye on. But, you know, I think this is a game where, you know, Kalen DeBoer and Kane Womack collectively are probably going to put, you know, a big emphasis on, you know, limiting the number of offenses' possessions that they give Mississippi State. You know, there's multiple ways of doing that. You know, the defense gets three and outs. The defense gets turnovers.

[1:45:55] You know, the offense keeps the ball for an extended period of time. But, you know, look, I'm a believer. I've been bought in since the day Kalen DeBoer, you know, got the job. I've seen the growth that he's brought to this program in recruiting and the player development, the player buy-in. And now that this locker room is totally his players, I mean, you can see the culture. You can see how together this team is. You know, I think it's going to be a fascinating showcase for, you know, a national television audience that's going to see, you know, the two best young quarterbacks in college football that appear to be pretty close friends off the field.

You know, going at it Saturday morning and, you know, I mean, it's what makes, you know, Saturdays in the fall in SEC, you know, so much fun, you know, or games like this. And, you know, you have to, you know, I give a lot of credit to Jeff Levy. You know, this wasn't an overnight rebuild for him. He's, you know, been drug through the mud and, you know, had to make a change as defensive coordinator. And so, you know, he's kind of a, you know, I think a lighter version of what's going on down in Gainesville with John Summerall right now.

And I always enjoy seeing guys that, you know, people think are really good coaches, you know, start getting some success. And, you know, with the financial constraints for a school like Mississippi State to go out and reload a roster when, you know, they're up against the A&Ms and the Texases and the LSUs of the world. You know, you've got to take your hat off to that. I asked you several times during the summer about the inside linebackers because Alabama lost three very solid ones. And you kept mentioning Luke Matts and Caleb Woodson.

Well, what did they do against South Carolina? Twenty-five combined tackles. And, oh, by the way, you mentioned another name, Red Morgan. Two games, two interceptions, and a pick six. Those three dudes are playing pretty well. Well, I'm going to go ahead and mention a couple more that we'll get to them in a second. But for different reasons and on different timetables, you know, some people that I was watching the game with freaked out when Bray Hubbard went to the locker. And I said, no, not me.

Give me all the – you know, Jari Edwards wants to take your soul right out of your body. I want to see him. Let him take his lumps. I love me some Jari Edwards. I like me some Drake Kirkpatrick. You know, we – you know, Matts and Woodson, for as many accolades as I could lay on them, you know, that they still need to get a little bit more consistent, you know, with their tackling. You know, there's a – you know, about a two-week consistent theme of some missed tackles.

And, you know, they're both new to the SEC. I'm sorry. I know Woodson was a starter at Virginia Tech, but this isn't the ACC they're playing in. Right. But, no, as far as their aggressiveness, as far as how they, you know, take good angles, you know, again, Mets is another Jari Edwards, man. I mean, you know, it doesn't matter if he's playing inside linebacker or covering a punt or a kickoff. You know, he's trying to take souls and ruin lives too. And that's something that can't be taught.

You know, that's something that's in that young man's blood. And, you know, if I had to nitpick him and Woodson, you know, it would just be – you know, get a little bit more consistent on wrapping people up. But, hey, I think they've both been fantastic additions to this defense. Well, now, who are the other two names you were going to add? Well, Jari Edwards and Jari Edwards. Yeah, okay. Okay. Listen, let me – no, go ahead. No, that was the other two. Okay. There's a couple more that are still to be determined.

Listen, I had a friend of mine ask me, when you get William on today, ask him about Dajon Lee. And I said, well, what do you want me to ask him about how he can play better? Listen, he's going through a slump. I know the coaches still trust him. Your thoughts on Lee? You know, I'm not a guy, whether it's Ryan Williams going through a slump of dropping footballs or, you know, anybody that goes through this, man. You know, there's a big difference. You know, he had high expectations going into this season.

You know, he did a pretty nice job last year taking a position away from a guy that at the end of the year kind of had some first-round draft pick projections, you know, surrounding his name. So, you know, he's still a young player. And, you know, I kind of, you know, you're asking me about a part of the football field that I have no experience with, and that's playing defensive back. But, you know, he's kind of had a rough call for two reasons. You know, after all the pick-sixes and game-changing plays that Zabian Brown has made in the last two years, he's not going to be at the top of any offensive coordinator's scripts to go after on a consistent basis.

[1:51:30] So they've got to find somebody to go after. And against South Carolina and against Florida State, you know, he was covering two guys that are, you know, elite athletes that have got extreme, you know, extreme size on them. And it wasn't, you know, he slipped and fell down a couple of times. You know, he was laid a couple of times. And, you know, where that can kind of come into play is, you know, his length is an advantage for him if he's covering a garden variety, five-foot-nine, six-foot-tall wide receiver.

You know, that length is negated a little bit when somebody's 6'5", or in the Florida State guy's case, 6'7". So, you know, I'm going to be a little bit more patient. You know, does he, you know, does he need to get better and more consistent? Absolutely. But, you know, I still think he's a vital part of his defense. And, you know, it would have to be a couple of more games like that, I think, before you see him standing over there with Kane Womack. Yeah, well, I'll tell you something else, William.

He can return kicks. I thought he was going to break one Saturday. And it generates turnovers in creative ways, too. That's exactly right. Yeah, I think you're going to see him break a kick, certainly in the future. Listen, I always enjoy the conversation with you. It's going to be interesting. As Harold said, it is a tough October, but when you've got a tough team, you can get through it. Listen, have a great week. I'm glad this was not the money from h***, the one you had two weeks ago.

I hope it's been a better Monday for you. Actually, it is. It's not 110 degrees. Exactly. And Alabama got off to a fast start. There you go, yeah. So, you know, now all I'm dealing with is people at work b******* about them going to sleep during the third quarter. So, you know, we've moved on to the next grind. Exactly. Yeah. Welcome back from Hades in the meantime, Redfish. Okay? Have a great week, all right? See you, bud. See you, guys. The Redfish, William Bartsch, are going to go with us.

BB, are you ready for some Braves season baseball here on 93.9 The Score? Chris Sale tomorrow. You can hear that game on 93.9 The Score. That, to me, Harold, is the key game of the series. If the Braves can win game one, then they've got a very good chance, I think, of winning the series. One o'clock starting time for that, noon to pregame, right here on 93.9 The Score. Same place, you can get UNA football night tonight, and then NFL football with the Bears and Eagles. It's all straight ahead here on 93.9 The Score.

It's going to take care of us for now. On behalf of BB, Greg, James, Blair, the entire crew here. Peril Buck, thank you so much for your time today. Let's do it again next time, noon to two, for the Boomer Buck Show, back here on Sports Radio from 93.9 The Score.