Boomo Bugg Show 110426

[0:00] Now, get ready to roll, Shoals, Decatur, Athens and all of Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee. It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. The Boomo Bugg Show. Your exclusive inside track to the Tigers, Tennessee and the rest of the SEC. Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Good afternoon and welcome here to the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird. Thank you so much for giving us a free ride around the Tennessee Valley. Brett Beaird, welcome in. Where? Tide fans are asking the national media, would you like a little cheese, that Alabama wine? Good afternoon. Welcome in. How are you? Oh, by the way, I got a feeling the big lion is asking UNA fans, are you hungry for a little home cooking this weekend? How are you?

Happy Wednesday to you and the listeners. We'll go over the selection committee who had a surprise ranking for Alabama last night. And Alabama men's basketball coach Nate Oates begins the season with a big victory over Salma Houston. But right now, UNA head football coach Brent Dierman joins us to recount a big 14-9 win over Central Arkansas. Time to break out the big C for Coach Brent Dierman. Congratulations, Coach. Welcome in. How's your Wednesday going? It's always a better week after a win, fellas. I know that.

The big question, Coach, has your eyes adjusted yet? That's a unique field to play on, is it not, Coach? It is. And when you watch it on tape, when you watch it on the computer, people watch it online, it's probably tougher doing that. Once you get on it, it's not that big of a deal. You get used to it quickly, playing on it. I thought our kids did a good job. You know, the tough part for us is we played in a storm. And so you never could get the passing game going on either side of the ball.

So to get a road victory in the rain, I will always take it. Talk to us about it, Coach, because you bring up a good point. You can practice and practice and practice. And the NCAA says you only got so much time on the clock, and then when weather comes in, that's another factor. If you don't mind, talk to us about that from a coach's standpoint. Every coach has to answer that question, how you prep for those things. And then, of course, where do you start in breaking down the game itself?

Yeah, I mean, you can try your best to simulate a rain game. You know, last week we took some water bottles and sprayed the balls with water from the water bottles to try to emulate it. But it is just not the same as two and a half to three hours straight of a rain pouring on you. You're drenched. Your cleats are drenched. The surface is slick. And for a quarterback, when your hands get kind of waterlogged, as we all know from being in a pool for about an hour, when your hands get that kind of waterlogged, it's hard to hold on to anything.

So you can try to simulate it all you want to. The only way to really get the experience is to be in it. The offense, after two second-quarter passing touchdowns by Destin Wade, you had a 14-3 lead. And in the second half, three punts and two fumbles. Talk about the offensive issues, particularly in the second half. Yeah, on the three punt drives, we just never could get a flow. And we tried to probably steam up one drive away to get Xavier Johnson, our most explosive player.

We get him a reverse. And they tackle it for minus eight. Well, now you're second and 18. You're trying to generate an explosive in a play like that, and it backfires on you, and it's hard to get out of that hole. So that's what happened on one drive. Another drive, we have a schemed-up pass play that we try to feel like, all right, they're overcrowding the box because of the rain. So we throw it twice and don't complete either one of them. Then you're in third and 10, and you already hadn't completed passes.

So that drive ended up kind of being a wash there. And then another one, we had some decent momentum and just missed a couple blocks, shot ourselves in the foot a little bit, so we end up punting there. So the tough part about both of the fumble drives is we had the momentum. We had gained a couple first downs. Our quarterback pulls his own read and probably would have had a big gain and fumbled it in the mesh. And then we hand off a speed sweep to Xavier Johnson, and he actually picks up a first down as he's going down to get tackled and fumbles the ball.

So it started to create some momentum, and we decided in the fourth quarter to make the game even more interesting with the turnovers. You and the head football coach, Brandon Jeremy. Coach, on the other side of the coin, is it true that defense travels? Thank goodness. Talk to us about your D, and they say it's a game of inches. I think you would agree with that, or Braylon Sims certainly would. Talk to us about that huge play there at the goal line in your defense overall.

[5:13] So the UCA had four red zone possessions, and out of their four red zone possessions, they got three points out of it. So we had two red zone turnovers. We had an interception early on by Dallas Johnson. They got down to about the seven or eight-yard line on that one. Because of the rain, they had a missed snap between the snapper and the holder on a field goal, and ended up making the tackle. I guess it's considered a blocked field goal, but it was really all because of the rain and the conditions.

And then the last play of the game, they get the ball all the way down to the red zone again, or the last play of our defense. The quarterback scrambles, looks like he's going to get in the end zone, and about two inches away from getting in, Braylon Sims puts a hit on his back. Ball squirts out, and Dallas Johnson, who had the interception earlier, recovers it. And just a bend but don't break and never quit mindset out of our defense that even though that drive actually went a decent amount of yards, they never stopped.

They never stopped believing and then created the big play that won the game, sealed the game for us. I know you don't make excuses for losses or even tough wins, but your offensive line has really been beat up. When you get to this point in the season, no matter what level of football you're playing in, you've got to shuffle some offensive linemen. And that's one of the reasons why a lot of these guys practice a guard and tackle and even center during the summer. James Simmons broke his ankle against Eastern Kentucky.

Levi Johnson had some illness issues. Eli Long, Isaac Rule, Will French has been a mainstay for you at center. Talk about some tough situations on the offensive line. Yeah, I think we've started nine different offensive linemen this year in our nine games. So, I don't know if I've had a year in my career. I've started a lot of quarterbacks in years past. I don't know if I've ever had to have so many different starting lineup matchups. It's just been free things. You know, you said it, Jaden Simmons, our starting right tackle, broke his ankle earlier in the year.

So, he's out for the year. Our starting left tackle just gets a weird kind of sickness, illness that leads to dehydration, which leads to a serious case of rhabdo. He's in the hospital. And then we've had a couple guys. This has been – Noah Boltskopf was a starter last year. He just had some nagging shoulder, ankle, knee. Once you get to be 22 years old and you've played offensive line your whole life, your body hurts. So, we've got just some guys' body hurts and some that are playing through it and some of them that can't play through it yet.

So, but to see them just continue to stay together, I mean, I think we had a decent rushing day the other night in a rain game where we had to run the ball to win it at the end and to lean on guys that you're down to your night though, Lime. And it's pretty good to say that you're able to still run the ball. Coach, talk to us about that. I would imagine if you could get in a room with your fellow coaches, I don't care what level they are, would it be safe to say that everybody's going to ask the same question?

In the modern era, how can we recruit a quality offensive line and depth at that spot? Everybody wants O-linemen, everybody wants D-linemen, but since we're on the OL here, talk to us about the challenge in 2026. Just compared to a few years ago, it's always been a challenge, but let's face it, nobody wants to sit on the bench. You can't play here, I'll go there. Talk to us just about the challenge of a good O-line and also depth because, as you mentioned, over the course of the season, you're going to get nicked up.

Yeah, you try your best to build depth at that position, but everybody in the country is looking for 15 individuals that are 6'4 plus. And the good Lord above didn't create many human beings that are that big. So it's just the toughest position because of demand. It's the toughest position because just the qualities needed to play that spot. So what happens is, in this modern era of college football, we get a kid that's a starter for us, and we feel like he's going to be a really good player for us right about the time that we develop him.

Somebody at a higher level may want him, and they may throw money at him. And so there's two kids that were starters for us last year. That one's playing power four football O-line, one of them's playing with a group of five school at the offensive line. So we have got to always be recruiting. We've got to always be developing. And you just never feel like you have enough because of all the injuries that happens in that room. And I think that's why you're seeing so much parity in college football now is Alabama doesn't have the two-deep at O-line like they used to have.

I mean, because kids don't want to sit anymore, and Alabama's backups from five years ago are now going and playing at Kentucky and starting. So it's tough to build depth there. Back home again Saturday night, West Florida fell to Eastern Kentucky 16-13, four and three, one and three. In the conference, I keep telling people, don't look at the final record. Go and look at who they played and what the scores were. Well, I know we've talked about that for years. Talk about your next opponent. Yeah, I mean, West Florida is four and three.

[10:37] This is their first year from transition from D2. And the crazy part is their roster last year may have been even more talented. They've always competed since they started football for the D2 National Championship in just their short time having a program. Last year's starting quarterback is now the starting quarterback at Memphis. That's how talented they were last year. And they've got another good team this year. They beat two ranked SDS opponents this year. They beat a tough SEMO team this year as well. So their wins are not against Slough's team.

So we've got to take care of business at home against a very talented team. Coach, it's hard to believe, correct me if I'm wrong, only three games to go, two out of three at home, including this weekend. Talk to us about the importance. I know as far as the playoff, you and a fan is saying, what is the scenario as far as the playoffs? I think right now in some of the polls that our SDS playoff committee looks at, we're somewhere between number 20 to 25, which means we're sitting in a pretty good position.

I think you get two straight wins, and then our last game, we played the number one team in the country here. And you're essentially, you got three straight playoff games is what I'm telling our team. We went out. It's going to be hard for a committee to look at our resume of eight and four of three, one possession losses to ranked teams and a win against the number one team in the country and not put us in. So, that's the big picture. Now, to our team, we're talking about today.

We're not talking about three games down the road. We're going to take care of business today. But we've put ourselves in a position where there's a road that gets us into the playoffs. Absolutely. Coach, we always enjoy the… Hey, think about that. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Think about that for a second. Think about how far UNA football has come. In November, we're talking about playing meaningful playoff football games. Yeah. Quickly, Coach, for the folks brand new to the table, remind us how many wins this team had last year now in the context of what we're talking about here.

Two wins. So, two wins last year. One of them was a D2 win. So, you really had one Division I win, and we're sitting here this year with five legitimate Division I wins with three games left to go in the season. That's what I was going to say. There has been a lot of progress on and off the field with this program. Have a great week of practice. Hope everybody stays safe and healthy for the week, and get a WS Saturday night. Absolutely. Appreciate you guys, and like always, we're all eyes.

There you go. There you have it. UNA head football coach Brent Dierman getting ready for a little home cooking this weekend against the boys from West Florida. Coming up, speaking of Florida, let's go down to Orlando and check in with Andrew Adelson on deck. Stay with us. Hey, play some jazz. Got it. Playing your jazz playlist. No, more like jazz. Okay, here's more pizzazz. No, just calming jazz. Calling jazz. No. Instead of more ways for machines to talk to people, Chase is helping people talk to people.

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Calling all shows basketball fans. Something exciting is coming to the Shoals. On November 20th, join us for the first ever Shoals Hoops High School Basketball Media Day. For the first time, high school basketball programs from across the Shoals will come together under one roof to celebrate our local teams, players, and coaches as they gear up for another exciting basketball season. Come watch your favorite local teams and coaches take the spotlight with media interviews, team introductions, and plenty of basketball excitement. The day also features an FCA breakfast and a special learn from the best coaching clinic featuring college coaches and championship winning coaching legends.

And we want you to be a part of it. The entire community is invited to come out, support our local athletes, and help make this inaugural event something special. That's November 20th from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. at the Lauderdale County Workforce Development Center, 250 Career Drive in Florence. Presented by Turbo Coffee, SCA, and the Triple Threat Podcast. Shoals Hoops Media Day, where our basketball stars take center court. Hey, it's Evan Cohen. Coming up Wednesday, we'll react to the release of the first official college football rankings.

Plus, we'll look ahead to the best weekend of the college football season. 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. You've heard of a place called ESPN. That's where Andrea Adelson works when she's not busy there in Orlando, her hometown. Andrea, welcome in. How are you? Hopefully we'll be able to hook up with Andrea. She may be working up with Mike Norvell, BB. She's real close to that program.

Did you see these numbers? There you go. There you go, dear. Yeah, we're going to call Mike and get a better phone. We'll call him Mike Norvell and get a better phone here, Angie. Would you agree with that? No, I mean, he could lend me one of his $1,500. Yeah, I bet that's right. Let me ask you this, Angie. I want to see if you can confirm this. Would you be willing to be fired, okay, if I was going to pay you for the next X number of years, $1,117 per hour or $26,800 per day from now almost until eternity?

Would you agree to those terms, Andrea? Well, fellows, considering I've got to do a home renovation and I don't know where I'm going to get the money from right now, I would take that in a second. Nope. Andrew, you're close to that program. Talk to us about, I think we all know the story, but from a financial standpoint, how do these schools afford that, the staff buyout, hiring a new staff, and oh, by the way, NIL, talk to us about this story. Where do you begin in breaking it down?

Well, there'll be a nice, juicy story on ESPN.com tomorrow, breaking down a lot of different ways in Florida State has gone wrong, but the money is obviously huge. You know, last year when they were thinking about firing him after the loss to Stanford, which was a complete humiliation, they estimated it was going to cost them about $170 million when it came to his buyout, the coach's buyout, hiring a new staff, and of course, the NIL. And at that point in time, they didn't think it was worth the cost.

They just thought, we'll spend more money on the roster, we'll put in a new personnel department that can help Mike. And obviously, that didn't work either. And you get to the Clemson game against a bad Clemson team. They are down double digits in the fourth quarter at home, playing in front of an empty stadium. Wow. And the president looks around and says, well, we can't afford not to do this anymore, right? Like, now they're losing more than whatever it's going to cost, right? They've completely lost the fan base, right?

[21:35] You can't play in front of an empty stadium. And of course, you guys, they've got the specter of trying to change conferences at some point in time, right? Like, you can't be bad at football right now. You've got to be as attractive as possible to put yourself in position whenever there's another shift in the landscape to take advantage. So, with that kind of in the backdrop there, they just realized we can't keep going on like this. We've got to be good at football again. Where do they get the money is a great question because it was a problem last year.

Now I've been told they'll find a way to get the money. What that means, fellas, you know, your guess is as good as mine. It wasn't broken down to me where they're finding the money. I will say this about the Norvell contract. When he gets another job, and I say when because he will get another job. And, you know, the perfect fit may just be at Oregon with Dan Lanning, who he worked with at Memphis. They're very close, and they need an OC. And Mike is still a very good coach.

A lot of things went wrong for him at Florida State. Maybe that happens. Maybe it doesn't. I don't know. But he will get another job. He's young. So, when that happens, there will be a mitigation involved with the contract. They will not be paying out the full $50 million in a lump sum, right? So, there's that. And the people at Florida State have been very clear on that. We're not just going to write a check for $50 million and that's that, right? So, they have ways to be able to at least take care of that.

And, of course, when you hire a new staff, you're also not paying the full bulk of the contract as soon as that coach, right, comes into the building. Obviously, Mike was making somewhere in the $10 million range. I don't think they're going to go back down to paying $5 million a year for a head coach. That's not feasible right now in college football. But they also know they've got to spend more on their roster. And that's somewhere they've been lacking behind. They've spent money on their roster and they're angry that people don't think they've spent money on the roster because the results have been so bad.

But they're not spending Miami, Ohio State, Texas money on the roster, right? That still doesn't mean you should be three and five. I mean, look at what Lake Forest is doing with less money, right? That's the argument. So, where they find it, where they come up with it, that's up to the university and the Seminole Boosters and all those fundraising folks to figure out. But I have been told repeatedly by multiple people that money is not going to stand in the way from them finding the best coach they can possibly find and putting the best team on the field that they can possibly find.

Double A, ever since this happened, you wrote a really good article and I look forward to reading the one about behind the scenes as far as what transpired. It still amazes me that he only had two winning seasons in seven. That's incredible. I couldn't imagine that happening at Alabama. Double A, who are some legitimate? And I use the word legitimate because I've seen 47, you know, top five coaches. Jimbo is in Tallahassee. He's been campaigning for this job for a long time. He's still got the buyout from Texas A&M.

Eli Drinkwith is another name, very good coach, who has really carved quite an inch at Missouri. Who are some legitimate candidates to replace him? Well, that's part of the problem is when you use the word legitimate, right? Because everybody can come up with a list. Oh, yeah. I'm sure. It's easy to put Jimbo on a list, right? Because Jimbo wants the job. I can tell you right now that people at the university don't want to hire Jimbo, right? So what is the list, the dream list versus what is actually happening here?

Drink came out yesterday and said he's not a candidate. Nanny Diaz's name has been out there. He said on Monday he's happy with where he is. Brian Kelly, of course, came out. Of course, Brian Kelly's interested in this job. I mean, is Florida State interested? I doubt it. But his name now is out there because he says, me, pick me, guys. I'll do great. So, no, they've got a search firm right now that's running the search. And so I hesitate to put a list of names out there because every name that has been out there has not been right so far.

And there is no AD at Florida State, right? So it's not like you have somebody in the building, right? Every AD has their list of guys they would go after for a coaching change. Every single one, right? If my coach leaves, these are the five names I want to go after. Michael Alford had a list of five names, right? And I can tell you who was on his list, but he's not there anymore. And so now you've got a situation where you have the school president who hasn't really been involved in a lot of these coaching searches in terms of the nitty-gritty of it, having his own list.

That's always been up to the AD. And you've got the board that has been involved. And now you've got a search firm who's going to tell them, here's who we think are viable fits and who you should be looking at. I think Florida State needs to go after somebody who knows how to develop a quarterback because that has been problematic for them since Jimbo left beyond Gordon Travis. They've had nobody step up at that position. And I think they need to find somebody who's going to do more with less because Florida State's not all of a sudden going to start spending Miami money or Ohio State money.

[27:08] That's not the way their university, their athletic department, or their booster organization is structured. They're spending enough to win in the ACC, right? They're spending enough to beat Pitt and Boston College and Georgia Tech, which they did not do the last few years under Mike Norvell, right? So that's why I feel like you've got to go after a coach who knows how to develop a quarterback and knows how to win with a budget that isn't going to be in the $50 million. They're not going to start spending $50 million on the roster.

Who that is, I would call Jake Dickert. I would call Rhett Lashley. I would call Kenny Dillingham. Whether those guys are on the list or not, those are guys who'd be on my list. Glenn Schumann at Georgia. Because the other thing that's important about this, guys, they need somebody in there who is a good high school recruiter. And I know a lot of people are like, but portal, portal, portal. Florida State went that route. Florida State was all portal and eh on high school recruiting. And what did that just get them?

You're in the state of Florida. You need to be able to recruit at a high level and also add in key transfer portal pieces the way you need them. Kind of like what Miami has been able to do. They've developed the guys they've recruited. Plus, they've added those game changers to the portal. That's gotten them to the spot that they're in. Right? Glenn Schumann's a guy, for example, who knows how to recruit against Florida, Alabama, Miami, Georgia, when you're at a place like that. Right? So, whether they bring someone who has the power of four head coaching experience or not, they need somebody who has that background in recruiting who can go up there and get those big wins against teams that they're going to be fighting for.

Florida State lost just about every single high school recruiting battle that they were in. Starting with Travis Hunter at the very beginning of Mike Norvell's tenure, who was committed to Florida State and ended up with Deion at Jacksonville. So, you know, this is something that has been problematic for them, and they need to spend more than what they are on high school recruiting. Mike's priority was spending money in the transfer portal. I think they need to reevaluate where that money allocation is going and to be more willing to pay high school players so they can get in on some of those wins and start to develop that program back in terms of building depth through the high school recruiting ranks, which is also missing for them as well.

As always, great points. By the way, the first big poll out last night, and Andrea, Todd fans are trying to send some cheese to all the national media that's whining about where Alabama is. I mean, what is up with all these people complaining, Andrea? Wait, so I'm not allowed to complain? That was, okay, that was not my number one complaint, guys, to make folks feel better. Wake Forest at 16 wasn't my number one complaint. Because here's the thing, fellas, if you were to scratch out Wake Forest, okay, and replace that with Clemson, the same record, the same schedule, Clemson would be ranked in the top 10.

I can all but assure you, fellas, that Clemson would be ranked in the top 10 if they were 7-1 and their only loss was by 10 points to the number one team in the country. And played a great fourth quarter, by the way. So that was my number one complaint. Alabama would be my second complaint. And it's only, it's because, I understand why they did it. Because they're right ahead of Kentucky. They demolished Kentucky. They're trying to make the head-to-head stand for something. Obviously, Alabama has beaten some quality teams.

I wouldn't say they've beaten top 25 teams. I'd say they've beaten quality teams. But where they are in the rankings, I think, made it hard for the committee to justify putting them behind Kentucky, even though Kentucky has a better record, because of how dominant that victory was. But then you look at poor Tennessee, okay, for the same sport as Alabama. That's different down here. That's different here. Come on, fellas. Why does head-to-head matter for Bama and Kentucky, but it doesn't matter for poor Tennessee and Alabama with the same record?

Just make it make sense, fellas. I just need it to make sense for me. Brett. Go, Brett. Dear, dear, if we had more time, I'd be more glad to elaborate on that. But a lot of this is going to take care of itself. It is. That's right. Saturday afternoon and Saturday night with separation Saturday. Listen, I look forward to reading your in-depth article about what happened to Florida State. Where can we get on the line, young lady, and get that and all your other great stuff?

Appreciate that, fellas. ESPN.com. Go to the college football page. You'll find that there. And I will be at Miami-Notre Dame on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it. It's only my second trip to South Bend, and this is going to far exceed the one I was at the last time, which was for South Florida playing Notre Dame. I feel like this one has just like the higher station, just a little bit higher for this Saturday, fellas. I'm looking forward to it. A repeat of the Catholics versus the convicts.

[32:24] Safe travels to and from, Andrea, and thanks so much for your time today. All right, fellas. Good talking to you again. Thanks for having me. Always, dear. Double A, Andrea Adelson, ESPN. Speaking of Alabama, let's take you there. Next with Rodney, you are on deck. Stay with us. You're unbelievable. This is Icotide, Icotrokinra 200-milligram tablets for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It's a new kind of treatment. Just one pill, once a day. You're unbelievable. Icotide is an oral IL-23 receptor antagonist prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds, who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

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Call them at 256-764-3038 or visit longshorecycles.com. Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance. Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give us a call at 256-648-5710. Again, that's 256-648-5710. This is Sports Radio 93.9. The score. Hello, folks. Smart Company, new car sales manager, Ray Miller, GMC.

We treat you like family. We understand that buying an automobile is the second largest purchase you'll do in your lifetime. And just like Alabama Athletic Programs, we take pride in what we do. So if you're looking for a new GMC or pre-owned automobile, we now have you covered with Car Bravo Certified. That gives you 12 months, 12,000-mile warranty. And also, don't forget to schedule your next oil change or any of your mechanical needs with our award-winning service and parts department. So remember, folks, we're at 246 Coss Creek Parkway, Florence, Alabama, right underneath that big American flag.

We hope to see you real soon. The Florence Beautification Board invites you to a Florence holiday tradition. The North Court Street Tree Lighting will take place on Sunday, November 22nd at 5 p.m. This festive evening will feature treats from U&A Culinary and joyful music from community carolers. Gather with family and friends as we light the tree and welcome in the holiday season to downtown Florence. That's the North Court Street Tree Lighting, November 22nd at 5 p.m. For board information or project details, visit the Beautification Board at the City of Florence page at FlorenceAL.org.

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Why, this thing fits the floor of the car snugger than a gumdrop button. It's got all my crumbs contained. Oh, and come to think of it, it'd make one heck of a Christmas gift, you know? So visit WeatherTech.com for everyone on your list today. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile, with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop. With Mint, you can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments, but that's weird.

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Welcome back in. A pleasure to have you on board. BB, obviously, ever didn't hook up with Rodney. I can't imagine what's going on. One of two things was going to happen last night with this first big poll. Alabama fans were going to peel the paint off the wall if it's too low. And the national media was going to peel the paint off the wall if it's too high. We just got off the phone there with Andrew Adelson talking about it. Of course, the national folks, they're sitting here scratching their heads.

And it's a free country. Have your opinion. Alabama fans are entitled to their opinion. Where are you when someone says you start out in the traditional polls at 9 and you start out at 5? I will say this. It gives them wiggle room because everybody pretty much already had Alabama written out with a loss this weekend to LSU. The question now comes, what will be the influence if that's a tight game when you're starting in at 5 as opposed to down near the bottom of the list, BB? Hopefully, we'll be hooking up with Rodney and Brad here in a second.

A little bit of a technical issue there. In case you missed it, last night, the poll came out. Alabama started out at number 9, the AP and the coaches poll. And it's moved all the way up to number 5. I think the issue was the folks said that when they did the committee, they said, look, Alabama, how could they be ranked below Kentucky since they beat Kentucky? But here's the issue. Tennessee fans saying if you're going to use that logic, then how do you explain where Tennessee is in the poll?

I think you're now with us, Brett. Your thoughts about just observations in the first big poll last night. Well, Harold, I've been trying to explain what the criteria for the college football selection committee uses for years. And I haven't been able to do that. They said, Eurocheck came out last night and said they really don't use the head-to-head until the last two polls, which didn't make a lot of sense to me. But here is the logic, I believe, that the committee used last night to put Alabama at number 5.

They beat the number 6 team, Kentucky, by four touchdowns on the road. Right. They beat South Carolina, who right now is number 21 by 31. Right. This is one that I think is interesting because I've advocated this for years. I think the selection committee should look at when a team beats an opponent. For example, Mississippi State, when Alabama beat them, they were ranked in the top 25. They beat them by 23. They were pretty much healthy. Fluff Bothwell did not play in that game. But they beat a ranked team, an undefeated ranked team, by 23 on the road.

Then they lost to number 2, Georgia, by three. And then, of course, they got discombobulated to Tennessee. But all five wins have been double digits. Now, that to me is, and Brody's joined just now, but I think that's the logic the committee used at putting Alabama at number 5. As we mentioned, Rodney Orr is one of the busiest guys when it comes to being plugged in to the Alabama football nation there at tighterinsider.com. He's a founder and editor of it. Also, his book is called Bigger Than Bama.

Rodney, welcome in. An interesting Wednesday. Would you agree? How are you? I'm doing well, guys. How's it going? Hey, bud. Man, we said you're trying to figure this thing out. We were talking at the top of the show, Rodney. One of the two things that's going to happen last night. If this committee had come out and ranked Alabama too low, Bama fans are going to sit here and fuss online with tighterinsider. If the committee comes out and ranks Alabama too high, then the rest of the nation is going to be looking for some cheese to go with their whining.

Rodney, where are you? It is what it is. Bama number 5 in the first big poll. You know, I tell you, it's the first one. That's the key. That tells me kind of where it is. I mean, I don't pay attention to it. There was a few, like, 10, 12 years ago, Mississippi State came out and won that first poll. That's right. That's right. We saw how that turned out. So, I mean, it really, to me, it is what it is. You know, great. I think Alabama's in a really good position.

But the bottom line for Alabama is this. It's not really where they're ranked right now. They have to win. And, I mean, you know, they've got LSU, obviously, and Baton Rouge. And I know a lot of people say, well, they're number 5, so perhaps that helps them if they were to lose to LSU. I just think if they lose to LSU, not that they're out. Not that they're out because so many things can happen, but it just kind of jumbles it up for them. Well, and the thing is, that would be their third loss.

[43:03] But it's all relative to what happens around. How many other teams are going to have two and three losses after all is said and done? So we tend to sit here and just focus on one piece of the pie. But, obviously, I think a lot of folks were shocked. It does give them that proverbial room there. If it's a close game at LSU, a one- or two-point game, or even goes to overtime, and maybe the officiating influences or whatever, then that's going to be factored into it.

You're right, Rodney. It is what it is. But Alabama basically says, if we're going to go to the playoffs, don't worry about the committee. Don't worry about the national media and all the talking heads out there. We've got our hands on the steering wheel. We control our destiny starting this weekend. Rodney, Vegas says the odds are against Alabama. What does Rodney Orr say about this weekend's game? Well, I mean, you know, to be honest with you, Lane Kiffin has a history, especially against Alabama, of laying an egg, you know?

He does. And, you know, remember the popcorn game a few years ago? Oh, yeah. Yeah, get the popcorn ready. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you saw how that turned out, right? That's cool, man. But, you know, with that said, I mean, look, they're really talented. I've watched some of their games here this week. And they have a lot of weapons. But here's what really strikes me. It kind of seems like, and people say, well, the competition. Well, it doesn't really matter. I'm talking about the execution. The execution has been really, really good.

It has been. You can kind of see it growing. And, you know, you look at the quarterback. He seems to be more and more comfortable with what they're asking him to do. They've got a lot of really quick throws. They get the ball out fast. Thank you. They kind of negate the pass rush. They've got really quick backs that catch the ball well. Both Dylan Jones and Arlen Berry, they're very dangerous, whether they're running or catching the ball. And they've got the weapons. You know, they've got some other weapons.

And Trey Green is back. He caught five passes against Auburn. He's a 6'7 tight end that runs like a deer. You know, that's going to be a real weapon. So they've got all the things offensively. And then on the other side of the ball, they're one of the top defenses. You know, again, they're pretty good against the run. That 85 yards a game they give up. And then they only give up like 258 total, 16 points a game, I think it is. So, you know, defensively, they're very athletic and fast.

So it's going to be a real challenge to go down there in that environment. You know, Harold Britt, the one thing that stands out to me is this. Okay, so two years ago, Alabama really did not handle the environment in Arlen very well, Arlen Stadium. And then they did in Baton Rouge later in the season. And so it's kind of the same thing. I thought they really seemed overwhelmed in Arlen Stadium again this year. But they did. You know, we'll see how they kind of, if that experience helps them on Saturday there in Baton Rouge, because I think that's going to be a real key.

And I think they can help Keelan Russell out a little bit and get the ball out of his hands quick. Thank you. Get it out quick. Establish some rhythm. Try to get the run game going some. But, you know, I think it's going to be a real challenge. Now, I will tell you, I was about to pick LSU. I just haven't picked against Alabama in such a long time on TITV, you know. But, so, I went ahead and went to, I stuck with Alabama in this game.

Because, and the reason is, you know, a lot of times we've seen family divorce teams when they've got their backs kind of to the wall. They've responded really well. And Kiffin's teams, you just don't know. So, I'm going to go that route and use that theory kind of and see what happens. And I went Alabama 31-27. You know, Gary, he picked it 34-24 LSU, Gary Harris. And, you know, listen, I can't argue with that pick. Ronnie, one thing we do know, if Alabama has a winning November or goes undefeated, Jeff Allen may be the MVP, the trainer, the athletic trainer, and his staff.

Kittle and DeBoer seem to be rather optimistic earlier in the week about the bye week, getting some of these guys healthy. Zabian Brown, Coleman Williams, EJ Crowell, Terrence Green, and even Josh Ford, Yonsei Pierre, and others have been beat up. And you could tell that from time to time. With your sources, Ronnie, will the majority of those guys right now schedule to play against LSU? I think so. Will Sanders, obviously, out. Zulu, De Zulu, out. Yeah. You know, with turf toe. So, but I think most of those other guys should be ready to go.

Terrence Green's expected back. Matter of fact, I know someone close to Terrence said he could have played in the previous game against Texas A&M, but they held him out for cautionary reasons. So, I mean, yeah, I think Delgatti's ready. I think, you know, they should be close to full force. Now, I think LSU, too. I haven't seen all their injuries from the past several weeks, but it sounds like they're close to being 100%, too. So, it kind of balances out. Rodney Orr, he's a fatter dentistry of tighterinsider.com.

[48:16] On the other side of the ball, Rodney, Bama fans are frustrated with the schemes, playing soft coverage. And if you do that against Lane, he will eat your lunch. Your thoughts about any adjustments. Why does this staff learn to sit here and say, we just can't keep going to the bank with this game plan and try to beat Lane Kiffin on his home turf? What adjustments will they make on that side of the ball, Rodney? Well, that's a good question because I'll tell you what, they hit those slants.

They hit those short routes. That's right. Quick routes. They utilize the tight end in those zones, you know, and all of that. So, they're really good at it, man. And look, nobody's better than Lane, really, devising all this stuff. I mean, let's just be honest. He took Blake to him. That's right. Blake had some natural throwing ability. That's right. But he took a guy that was a plate running back in other positions at Alabama and turned him into a 3,500-yard passer with 28 touchdowns. That's right. Of course, it didn't hurt that he had a Mari Cooper.

Were you? But still, so, you know, Lane's going to be Lane. I mean, the question is, does Lane do anything, you know, how he is? He just has a penchant for wanting to do something to get cute, and it backfires. But, so, I just, look, honestly, if LSU doesn't turn the ball over and if they play like they have been playing, it's going to be really, really tough. And I don't know why I make it because they get the ball out so fast. You know, LSU gets it out fast.

No sacks. Yeah, I mean, it's just, well, and speaking of that, you know, their defensive line, their starting defensive front has 20 sacks. Yep. There you go. Alabama as a group, as a team, has 20. Mm-hmm. And LSU has almost double total sacks, and so the pass rush is going to certainly be a key. And that's why I say, you know, you've got to get the ball out of Keelan's hands quick. Yep. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Rodney, Titer and Sider TV, the best 24-7 message board on the planet. Alabama basketball ramping up this week.

A lot of games. Alabama men win last night over Sam Houston. Where can we get online to get TI for a very nominal price? And also, Bud, buy your book. Okay, yep. It's TiterInsider.com. It's only $48 a year. You can get instant access right now with a credit card if you prefer. There is an address there to send a check. It gives you all our premium information, which, of course, are all sports for them. It's pretty, pretty, it's been pretty hooked up. Yeah. So that and also the book, Bigger Than Bama, as you mentioned, you can find that at RodneyOr.com or you can find it at Amazon or, you know, and it'll give you all the details there about the book.

You can just go Google it, Bigger Than Bama. Welcome to November, Rodney. Listen, man, thanks so much for your time today. Have a good rest of the weekend, weekend, all right? Well, Brett, as always, appreciate it. Thank you, bud. Thank you so much. RodneyOr, TiterInsider.com. Quickly, baby, big news out of Decatur High. Yeah, John Ritter, who has been just finished last week, his third season at Decatur, resigned on Monday. He just could not get the program turned around. I thought he would because he was so successful at Russellville, West Morgan, and Red Bay, and he's a very good coach.

I'm going to be curious to see where he goes from here. But certainly, good wishes to him. He's been on our show multiple times over the years. So, again, John Ritter resigning as head football coach at Decatur yesterday. All the best, Coach. Coming up the next hour, I'm going to be taking you all over the place through Jarman, Jim Gomm, and the man back from California, Coach Tony Fujo. It's all straight ahead. Stay with us. 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. I've always felt that sports imitate life, and in both arenas, everyone loves a good comeback story. I sold my dynasty almost three years ago and have missed coming to the ballpark every day since.

Once my old team dispersed and our fan base hinted about wanting to come back, we built a new stadium, made some calls to our old players, and signed some new ones off of waivers and trades. Midtown Meat House now has the finest team of butchers, caterers, and sandwich makers in the league, and we're playing to win. Our new location is 123 Magnolia Street in Florence, but our lineup with the very best steaks, chops, burgers, and sandwiches has remained the same. Don't call it a comeback. We'll be here for years.

Irons Electric has been family-owned and operated for over 65 years. Irons Electric is deeply rooted in the Florence High School tradition and is happy to be a part of many past projects, including the new Braleigh Stadium Fieldhouse. Irons Electric Company was voted the number one electrical contractor in 2023. Our professional team-owned staff and master electricians provide the expertise to make sure your project is installed per code to operate safely and flawlessly. From small residential jobs to large commercial projects, call Irons Electric at 256-766-3870. You won't be shocked by their reputation.

[53:42] 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. All sports, all the time. Sports Radio 93.9. The Score. Sound familiar? At Mattress Firm, we understand there are many problems that can keep you up at night, like snoring, aches and pains, or sleeping hot.

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Go bananas! I will! Hey, make it a large! Bundling. Just another way to save with the Personal Price Plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state. Basketball fans, get ready. The Shoals is making history with its first ever Shoals Hoops High School Basketball Media Day. Join us November 20th at the Lauderdale County Workforce Development Center in Florence as local high school teams and coaches take the spotlight.

The day also features an FCA breakfast and special coaching clinic with college coaches and championship winning legends. And the best part? The public is invited to come out and be a part of the excitement. Presented by Turbo Coffee, FCA, and the Triple Threat Podcast. Don't miss it. 18-19 News. Republican Barry Moore defeated his Democratic challenger in the U.S. Senate race. Moore will now join fellow Republican U.S. Senator Katie Britt in Washington, D.C. this coming January. Moore has been a member of the U.S. House representing Alabama's congressional district since 2024 when that district was redrawn by a three-judge panel as part of a lawsuit brought by Democrats.

Before that, Moore was a congressman for congressional district too. He was elected to that seat in 2020. I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this. Covenant Rescue Group seeks to directly support organizations and agencies that are fighting the global battle against human trafficking. They do this through funding, procuring, and advocating. You can go to covenantrescue.org for further details. They need your donations, guys. Hop on and donate. Democrat state lawmaker Chris Englund has some very harsh words for Governor Ivey, the Alabama Department of Corrections, and the two mega prison projects that have been conducted in this state since Ivey became governor.

Englund was a guest on FM Talk 106.5 out of Mobile with host Jeff Poore, where he said the financial irresponsibility of state leaders in this area is going to hamstring the progress of the state's next governor. We have to have a transition plan. Well, we don't have one. Because of that, the facilities aren't open, but also we've got 1,200 state prisoners in county jails all over the state. That comprehensive failure at the top is now making lives more difficult across the state. And can you imagine whoever wins, whether that's Superville or Jones, the first thing they have to deal with is a billion-dollar crisis with facilities not being open, already a billion or so dollars over cost overdue, and they'll be overwhelmed the day they open if they ever do.

I'm Andrea Tice. For more news affecting Alabamians, go to 1819news.com. And while you're there, subscribe to the daily newsletter. Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shores, Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. J. Jeffcoat here with the AHSAA Radio Network, inviting you to join us for another fantastic season of high school football on the AHSAA Radio Network Scoreboard Show. Every Friday from 10 to midnight, we'll bring you all the scores and analysis from our team of experts across the state. Presented by the Alabama Department of Transportation, Russell Dewitt Center, the Alabama Community College System, the Alabama National Guard, and Southeastern Land Group and the Southeastern Land Show.

Join us Friday nights for the AHSAA Radio Network Scoreboard Show, right here. Brought to you locally by Lost Pizza, John C. Saylor, attorney at law, The Courier Journal, Southern Pride Pest Control, Bank Independent, and Miller's Place. College football Saturday on ESPN Radio. Second-ranked Georgia arrives in Oxford looking to tighten its grip atop the SEC, while 12th-ranked Ole Miss is undefeated at home, but a third loss could severely damage their hopes in the SEC and their college football playoff hopes. Second-ranked Georgia at number 12 Ole Miss. Now, get ready to roll, Shoals, Decatur, Athens, and all of Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee.

[59:10] It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. The Boomo Bugg Show. Your exclusive inside track to the tie, Tigers, Tennessee, and the rest of the SEC. Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9, The Story. Welcome back in, our tour to the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg, alongside Brett Beaird. Thank you so much for giving us a free ride around the Tennessee Valley. And Brett Beaird, look who just walked through the door from the great state of California. You recognize that young man? Yes, I do.

Young man is the exact proper term. By the way, he got a big win over UC Davis Monday night as the season opener trailed at 1.15-2. But the final score, 79-75, UNN. It's not how you begin, it's how you win. If you don't believe us, just ask Coach Tony Pujol, UNN men's basketball coach. Tony, welcome in. Welcome back from California. Congratulations. How are you? Brad Harrell, how you guys doing? Hey, bud. Man, we're trying to be as good as you and his team, Coach. What a way to open up.

I mean, when you do a road game, you do a road game. What was that? Right in the shadow of the state capital of California, Sacramento, they're against UC Davis. Congratulations, Coach. Talk to us about getting the ball off and rolling on the right foot for you. Yeah, I think, you know, you mentioned that it wasn't the way you started, it's the way you finished. I'll tell you this. You know, obviously, we started off the game kind of a little jittery. I'm going to be completely honest with you.

I don't, I'm not a guy that likes to burn his timeouts, but if you look at it, I, we started the second half with only one timeout left for the game and burned three timeouts in the first half. I'll tell you this about our team. We turned the ball over 14 times in the first half. Wow. Which led to 23 of their, of their scoring points in the first half. So out of their, I don't even know how many they scored in the first half, but 23 of them came from, just basically came from turnovers from us.

For me, I thought the guys, the adjustment they made in the second half to turn the ball over five times only, where they only, they only scored, I think it was six points off those turnovers, just spoke volumes of our guys, not panicking, staying with what we're doing, believing in, in, in, in the process, believing in, in, in the game plan. And, um, you know, I thought that, I thought that was evident, uh, with the outcome of the game that these guys just never gave up.

They just kept, they, they were gritty and just fought through everything. Absolutely. Tony, talk about your roster. Uh, I know you got two guys coming back, sophomore Braylon Patton and Cortez Graham Heimer. We talked about him last year, but 12 newcomers, including 10 transfers and two freshmen. Tell us about your roster. Yeah, I'll tell you this. Uh, first, I want to just correct that. We have three returners or walk on Mitchell Chafee last year. So we got three guys that are back. Uh, and then we brought in 12 newcomers.

And, um, the one thing I can tell you about these guys is, um, you know, to, to a man, they're, they're all, they're all about winning. Right. The style of play that we play, it's gotta be about that. Right. Cause we platoon 10 players in the game. Uh, if you look at our, our, our, our, you know, the, the, the game sheet, you'll see that. I think the guy that played the most minutes was, was Mike at Baggeroo. And I think he's, he played just 30 minutes. Everybody else you'll see play from 20 to the low, to the mid teens, to, to the, to, you know, or, you know, under, just under 10 minutes.

So you're going to have 10 guys that are going to be playing double digit minutes. So we need guys that are going to understand that they, that this program, the way that we play, um, it's going to be, it's going to be positionless and selfless basketball. And, uh, when you've got guys that are bought into that and winning is the most important thing. I think that really lends to the success of the program. I agree with you, coach. You got to have the, we, not the me thing going on, especially the season where it's on.

And with that comes inevitable nicks and bruises along the way. Coach, talk to us about just this, obviously a win anytime's good, but when you go on the road, let's face it, you want what? Two or three time zones away. That is a road trip. Uh, you fall behind. It is a character test. You're going to sit here and get in a fetal position. You're going to sit here and grow, grow up and get tough. Talk to us about what a win, not only a win, but a win like this means setting a tone for the season because a road win and you had to sit here and test your character.

And you had to depend on the complete roster, not just one or two guys. No, you're absolutely right. And you know, the versatility of the roster, right? Like you got, you got guys that can really do a lot of things. We got, we feel like those 10 guys can all dribble, pass and shoot the ball, right? Whenever you can, whenever you got 10 guys that understand how to play together and understand, uh, you know, what the game plan is. I think you, you, you'll get to see, uh, guys out there that, you know, no matter what, what, what adversity, what challenges the game provides, uh, you'll get to see, um, you know, uh, a team that'll just stick together.

[1:04:28] And this team's done that right. They, they went out to California. Like you said, it's a four and a half hour flight, uh, did that on a Sunday, um, practiced over there that night, got up the next morning, got shoot around, um, and then played the game that evening. And now another four and a half hour flight back home, got in late last night, around 10, 1030. And, and now today, you know, like, like, you know, you've heard before. Uh, I remember when I was in Tuscaloosa, you'd hear Nick Saban say this all the time.

Uh, you know, we're, we're going to enjoy the heck out of this game today, but tomorrow we got to get ready. Yeah. And we got to remind ourselves that it's just one game, right? It's one game. So I'm just very proud and very pleased, uh, the way that this team has come together, uh, and the way that they had showed grit and, and finished that game out. Tony, you've always believed in playing a tough non-conference schedule. Now, again, I'm not trying to get ahead of myself.

You've got union tomorrow night at the bank, but, uh, to, to, you've also got road trips, November, uh, trip to Oklahoma, Norman, November the 9th, Miami, November the 13th, DePaul in Chicago, December the 1st, Charlotte, December the 2nd in North Carolina, of course. Morehead State, December the 15th, and then, of course, former A-Sund rivals, Bellarmine and Lipscomb, December 31st and 2nd. Yes, that is a challenging non-conference schedule. Yeah, and don't, and don't leave out the conference champion, Queens, that comes to us this upcoming year as well.

Uh, so yeah, if you look at our non-conference, the one thing I could tell you that the non-conference gives us that we haven't had here in a, ever, not even in a long time, ever, in the Division I era, is we actually have eight home games in the non-conference. That's almost unheard of. It is. Normally, with, with all the bye games we've got to play, uh, it's always kind of lopsided with home and away. But for us, it worked out pretty good, where now our folks get to see 16 games here at CB&S Bank Arena, which is something we've never done before.

Coach, let's talk about the very next one tomorrow night. First chance for the home folks to get out without having to make that four-and-a-half-hour trip to California. Talk to us about the matchup with Union there in a friendly confines at CB&S Bank Arena. Oh, listen, here's my expectation, and I got a feeling, you know, folks are not gonna, uh, they're gonna, they're gonna definitely show up. That's been the greatest thing about being the head basketball coach here, is seeing how this community has just embraced men's basketball and the way that they come out and support these young men, uh, and, and every sport that we have, right?

Like, if you come back to football, I was out for the first football game here at this, at, uh, at Bank Independent, and I can tell you right now, that was, that was an amazing, I mean, it's just a game-changer for, for not just athletics, not just for the university, but for our community to have a stadium like that on campus. So, I know they're not, they're not gonna disappoint. I promise you that. Our, our fan base has, has, has turned CB&S Bank Arena to one of the toughest places to play in, in college basketball.

And I got a feeling Union's gonna feel that, uh, when they get, when they get in here, they're gonna feel the support. They're gonna feel the energy. They're gonna see how our guys play off that energy. So, uh, you know, I, I know our, our folks are not gonna disappoint. As far as Union is concerned, you know, you, you got a, you got a program that has, you know, has, has had tremendous success. Their coach has been there as a head coach for 17 years. And, uh, I don't even know how many more years is in a system.

So it's some, it's a staple in that, in that program. Uh, you can expect, um, you know, a very disciplined team from an offense and defensive standpoint. So I think it's going to be a great game. And for our fan base, it's a, it's a, it's a program that they're familiar with. It's a former GSC foe, uh, that we used to back in our D2 days. So, uh, we're excited to have Union come in and we're, we're excited to play in front of the fan base here at CBNS Bank Arena.

Tell us a little bit more about your staff. Ahmaud Smith has been with you for a long time, done a great job. Drew Stutz coming in. Harold and I have interviewed him on our show two or three times over the years. He keeps winning national championships at Freed Hardman. And then some guy by the name of Iron Lion, Will Susey is on the staff too. Obviously you've got more and more guys there, but tell us a little bit more about your staff. I mean, I'll start at the same order that you, that you, that you have, right?

Like having, having Ahmaud Smith here, this is year nine for the both of us. Uh, can't tell you how excited I am to have him in the program. Um, you know, Ahmaud and I go back to our days at Appalachian state back in 2003, where we were both assistants there for Houston Fancher. Um, Matt McMahon was the other assistant who was the former LSU basketball coach. Um, you know, so, um, I, I, it was, it was, it was just a great time to be around him. And the first chance I got, when I got the job here, I knew I wanted to bring Ahmaud here.

[1:09:42] And, um, you know, obviously he's, he's, he's, he's been my right hand man since, since we've gotten here. And I'm, I'm really excited that, that, that he's joined us for year nine. Um, you mentioned Drew Stutt, uh, played against you, you know, we played against Drew, uh, seven years ago. Right. And, uh, we had a game here at home and I told him, um, this is going to be the last time you and I are going to play. He, he does, he just does a tremendous job.

And, and what he, what he was able to do at, at Freed Harden, I mean, I mean, just think about it guys. So when two out of the last three national championships, and to be honest with you, the final four, that third year, so could have been repeat, um, if it wasn't for a last second shot or something like that. So what, what, what I, what I can share with you is you got somebody that, um, has a ton of experience as a head coach, uh, has had a success in not only from a basketball standpoint, from our recruiting standpoint.

And, and he's also somebody that's from here. He's a local, he's, he grew up in, in Florence. So he's very, very familiar with the community. He's very, very familiar with the area. Uh, and then what else can you say? I got parents foot also, uh, on my staff. We just brought them in from Florida state. Uh, you know, this, this guy's done a tremendous job since he's come in here from a recruiting standpoint, as well as working on the offensive end of the floor. And then we'll Susie, right?

What can you say? Uh, he's the, he's, he's right now our culture coach. He's the guy that lets these guys understand what, what this program is about and what it is to be a lion, uh, for the men's basketball program. So to have Susie back has, has been a, a blessing for all of us, right? Because he's, he's not, he was, everybody says, well, it's his first year coaching. Well, to be honest with you, um, the guy also coached his last three years of college because he was a player, he was a player coach on the floor.

By far, it was the leader, was the voice and, and everybody, everybody truly depended on, on Will when the game started. They, they, they knew that's the guy that was going to lead us out there on the court. So just blessed to have a staff that we have. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm very appreciative of that. Coach, correct me if I'm wrong. You mentioned nine years with you. Is this the ninth season of division one basketball? That's hard to believe you're, you're, and it's always a room, as I say, a jello world for, for, for another first, the first member of, of, of the year of the United athletic conference.

Talk to us about nine seasons at the D one level. It's been a process. You go back to Nick Saban's mentioned there in Tuscaloosa football. It's a process across the board, that process and your thoughts about being in the United athletic conference now. Yeah. I mean, um, I mean, I remember my first conversation with you guys, I was in the parking lot out here of the, uh, what used to be the, uh, where the old, uh, practice facility was right across the athletic building. We were in, I was in the parking lot talking to you guys and we were talking about, you know, the first year of division one and what it looked like.

And I can tell you right now, I couldn't have asked for any other way to have these nine, these, these, these, the former eight years ago. And now in year nine, because no matter if people can look at it as good or bad, uh, for us, it was, it was always good because it, it, it always pushed us to be better. So it wasn't a surprise to anybody by year three that we were playing for a championship, right? It wasn't a surprise that we were the first team, uh, in the, at the university of North Alabama to win a regular season championship in the division one era.

Uh, because again, uh, we accepted and we, we accepted the challenges and all we are doing was showing up the next day and how do we get better? Right. And I think, I think when, when you look at all the years, I can't tell you how much I appreciate those four years of transition because it was, it was a gauntlet and it was tough and it was demanding, uh, but, but look at where we're at today. Look at this place. Look at, look at our campus.

Look at, look at the fan base. Uh, just look at it. And, and if you're, if you're from this area, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The growth has been amazing and it's been amazing for everybody. Uh, as far as the UAC is concerned, you know, for us, five of the teams that are in it, um, including ourselves are, we're very familiar with, right? The other four teams were very familiar. We've been playing, we've been playing against them, uh, in the ASUN for, for some a couple of years, some for the whole nine years.

Right. And then you got, and then you got the, the, the four newcomers and they're all, I don't need to tell you the three Texas schools, uh, you know, uh, Evelyn Christian, uh, UT Arlington and Tarleton state. These, these are going to be three formidable opponents. They're going to come at you and they're, they're, they're just good. And all the way across the board, just look at their football program, look at just their athletic department, the whole thing. It's all three of them provide a culture that's going to be challenging for every team in our league.

[1:14:54] And then Arkansas little rock, right. With, um, you know, you've, you've got now, you've got now a new coaching staff there. Uh, you, you, they go, they just finished playing VCU to a 10 point ball game. And I can tell you right now that if an opponent goes into VCU and, and can stay within 10 points, that that's a huge win. Other than beating them, that's a huge win because that is a tough place to play. I coached there for three years and I know what it's like, man, opponents hated coming to our place.

And, and, and for them to go in there and be as competitive as they were, just goes to show you how strong this league truly, truly is. So I'm, I'm really excited about, uh, not only the nine years that we've been here, but also what this year is going to bring in the new UAC, in the UAC league. Uh, you've always had a vision for this program. I know we've talked about that off, off the air several times and then we can see it coming to fruition.

Listen, always great to catch up with you. Congratulations on the opening win, by the way, get to W tomorrow night against union. Well, that's it guys. That's the plan. You know, that's the plan. We gotta, we gotta keep this, we gotta keep this rolling. Absolutely. We want to be two and O after Thursday. There you go. All the best coach. Thanks for your time today, my friend. Thank you guys. Appreciate your time. Thank you, Tony. Thank you. You and the head basketball coach, Tony Pujo. You remember the most famous football coach ever coached at union in Jackson, Tennessee, BB.

It's on the tip of my tone. His name is Bear Bryant. Coming up, uh, speaking of the state of Tennessee, we'll take you there with Jim Gobb next day with us. Florence Utilities now offers new bill pay options. Sign up for paperless, auto pay, text pay, and more to make your life easier. When you go green and go paperless, you'll no longer have paper bills filling up your mailbox and you'll be helping the environment. Sign up for text pay. Bill notifications go directly to your phone by text.

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[1:20:07] 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. Also, everything you do is not an era. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. 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 Conecuh Sausage, a true Southern flavor since 1947 and the official smoked sausage of the Crimson Tide. Learn more and order online at ConecuhSausage.com. Hello again, everybody.

I'm Roger Hoover. On Thursday's episode of Crimson Drive, driven by NASCAR, we'll be joined by Alabama tight end, Josh Ford. I was on a down block and I kind of had a poor first step and I was a little behind on the snap. So I was letting a little bit of penetration through my gap and Will Sanders coming around and he was taught, you know, if you see his color, blow it up. And so my arm was stuck between the finish helmet and his helmet and it snapped my radius.

But I knew I did something immediately. That was a pain I never felt before. But no, I was able to go after halftime, wrap me up, you know, and get me ready to go to finish the game. Yeah, that's amazing. First of all, you were able to finish that ball game. And then what happened afterwards to make sure you were good to go for the next week? Man, just, it was a whole team effort. I'll have more in a moment. Hello, Tide fans. This is Chris Stewart for Conecuh Sausage.

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Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. It is a pleasure for us to welcome in the man, Jim Gomm. He's the owner and editor of theblitzsports.com and the author of Conference Pride. Jim, welcome in. How's life at the Blitz today? It's rainy, nasty, but it feels like fall, man. It feels like fall. I saw her old Jack Frost may come see us this weekend or early part of next week. Jim, in the meantime, I'm sure all you Tennessee neighbors totally agree with the first big poll that came out last night.

Am I correct on that, Jim, or are some Tennessee fans asking questions today? Oh, man, if you were living around here, it has been entertaining, man. Yeah, there's some upset people, and, you know, and they're all mad at Alabama, and I keep telling them, I say, listen, Alabama didn't vote for the children. Everybody else voted for them. I just be mad at the people, not at the school, you know. Oh, my goodness. It's fun. It's fun, man. And I'm like, yeah, this is the first week, guys.

I said, just give it time. Yeah. And I said, just win all the rest of your games. That's it. You'll have to make it work out. That's right. Make it work out. Yeah. And you and Jim, we were talking earlier. When this thing started rolling, remember that back in the day? Mississippi State was number one, and they went the same way of an ice cream cone and a July 4th picnic after that. The first one is, it's nice to have. It gives you some wiggle room, but you're right.

It's still up to you to take care of business. Your thoughts about, as far as the overall poll, and let's face it, this weekend, we're going to talk about that. This weekend, I've got a feeling they're going to reshuffle the deck next week. Oh, there's no question about that. I mean, listen, I mean, it starts right at the top. Miami's going to Notre Dame. Notre Dame's favored to win that game. I mean, you've got Georgia playing Ole Miss. There's so many good, Alabama, LSU. So there's so many intriguing games out there.

And it's so funny, because if you look at the top of the poll, all of the top teams, they're all on the road this weekend, other than Utah. Utah's the only top team that they're hosting, BYU. But Miami's on the road. Georgia's on the road. You've got Indiana. Well, they're open date, I should say. Alabama's on the road. Kentucky's on the road. Texas is on the road. All these road teams, they've got to do something. And listen, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see about half of them teams come up short.

[1:25:10] And then, like you said, next week, we've got to reshuffle the deck. Jim, let me ask you about one of those big marquee games this weekend in the SEC. Georgia at Ole Miss, the Bulldogs, a three-and-a-point favorite. That's a 6-30 game on ABC. Ole Miss has beaten Georgia, too, in the last three meetings. They've got a close game with Auburn. Auburn fails to convert a two-point conversion. And then, Trinidad, Chambliss explodes and does what he can. They outscored Auburn 28-0 to end the game. When he is healthy, doing his thing with his arm and his legs, it's tough.

Georgia may be the best team in the league. Again, the most complete team. They've got the better defense. But if Chambliss does Chambliss things, this could be quite a game. Oh, there's no question. And like you said, Georgia may be the best team in the SEC. But this Georgia team is not what we saw back in 2021 and 2022. Those Georgia teams are way better. And so I just see a situation where playing on the road, that's a huge disadvantage. Every time you're at home, and I just think there's such a big advantage for Ole Miss in this game.

Trinidad, Chambliss, you know, with that offense and how explosive they can be. And this Georgia team has shown that they're vulnerable. You know, do I think Georgia on a neutral field? Yes, I'd take Georgia on a neutral field. But this is not on a neutral field. This is in Oxford. Which shocked me at all to see Ole Miss win this game. And Trinidad Chambliss, I believe, is the best quarterback in the SEC. Jim, I'm busy there at theblitzsports.com. Jim, let's talk about Tennessee fans' favorite team other than the one there in Knoxville, Alabama.

Can Alabama, speaking of on the road, can they win their game against Lane? Man, I'm telling you, Lane Kiffin has got a really dynamic team. And they look like they're better today, much better today than they were earlier in the year. I really like the way that they're playing overall. I think Alabama's going to be in for an ambush. Can they sustain an ambush early on? If they can, I think they'll be in good shape. But I just have a sneaky suspicion LSU's going to jump early, and we'll see what Alabama's got.

If they can, you know, if they go into half, you know, maybe a field goal behind or tied, then I'll like Alabama's chances to win the game. But I just have some kind of a sneaky suspicion that Alabama's going to have to rally to win this football game. Again. Jim, we've been talking about Tennessee. Tennessee, they host Kentucky, the darling of the SEC this year. They've been really good. Their run defense only allows 113 yards, but Tennessee can run it with Deshaun Bishop and friends. The real difference in this game may again be Tennessee's defense, 4.4 sacks a game.

Xavier Gilliam has been really good. But, Jim, Kentucky plus 13 in turnovers, and, again, they've just played so well. Such good chemistry. Kentucky going to Knoxville. Yeah. I mean, I'm probably the worst person to ask because I have my mind, and I'm still in the old Kentucky mode. This is not your normal Kentucky. And I'm like, you know, okay, I know Kentucky's having a good year, but, man, this is Kentucky. Tennessee owns Kentucky. And I'll probably regret saying this, but I think that Kentucky's going to be in trouble on Saturday.

I think Tennessee is going to win this game. That being said, that being said, Tennessee's quarterback situation is unsettled. But, George McIntyre, you know, he's a young guy. He's just now getting, you know, his feet on the ground. And we know if Faison Brandon doesn't look like he's going to see the field until, you know, as long as McIntyre's healthy. I just think that Tennessee is very limited offensively. Tennessee's not going to blow anyone out. But, man, that defense Tennessee's got is just second-level good. But I think Kentucky's going to have a really difficult time moving the ball on this volunteer defense.

I think Kentucky will find themselves settling for field goals, much like Ohio State did against USC. They're going to get the ball in the red zone. Can they put it in the end zone or they have to settle field goals? If they settle field goals, Tennessee's going to have a really good chance to win this game. I get the feeling that Tennessee may have a man on coming into that game as well. Jim, come in the huddle with us. Jim, talk about a game that's kind of flying under the radar.

Number 10 versus number 19, Texas. They're like a boxer. They've been taking some blows, but they're still in the top 10. Missouri, they've got the show mistake going on up there. Can the Tigers show Texas some woe this weekend? Yeah, this is interesting because, I mean, Arch Manning has looked a little bit better lately. But, I mean, going on the road, I consider Missouri to be a hostile environment. Not sure what the weather's going to be like there this weekend, but Missouri is not your typical SEC weather. They're more like a Midwest name, so get ready for some, you know, cold and blustery weather there.

[1:30:43] And I just, something about Missouri, man, I'm a believer in this Missouri town. I think Drinkwitz is so underrated as a head coach. I see Missouri, man, giving Texas a really difficult time on Saturday. Yeah, and I'll tell you what, Jim, South Carolina, three consecutive wins. They're hosting Texas A&M. They're averaging 36 points a game in their last three wins. And Shane Beamer, I believe, has saved his job. Jim, everybody loves the blitz. We certainly do. How can our listeners, tell us a little more about it, and how can our listeners get online and get a copy of it?

Yeah, the blitz has been in business. This is our 16th year doing this. And, listen, I appreciate you guys, all the time that you promote my publication. But we've been doing this for 16 years, and we've got subscribers and clients all over the country that we do this for. But the best, if any of your customers or any of your listeners, I should say, are interested in an issue, just email me direct, and I'll shoot you this issue out so you can check it out. Jimgum.blitz at gmail.com.

That's J-I-M-G-U-M-M dot blitz at gmail.com. And I'll be more than happy to shoot this latest issue to some of your listeners out there. Jim, as always, good to hook up with you. Say hello from your friends down in Alabama to all your neighbors up in Tennessee this week, okay? I'll do it, guys. Thank you, Jim. Jimgum. This is absolutely theblitzsports.com. That's jimgum.theblitz or .blitz at gmail.com. Coming up, we're going to see if Drew DeArmond is going to be able to hook up with us, going to be checking in with Drew, and also reflections on the hardwoods.

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Nope. Instead of more ways for machines to talk to people, Chase is helping people talk to people. Opening new local branches with bankers ready to listen. Hi, welcome to Chase. Oh, hi. JP Morgan, Chase Bank, and a member FDIC. Gifts mean more when they have the power to unwrap more of who you are. This Black Friday, give a gift that goes beyond the box. The Dell XPS 13 laptop. It's the thinnest, lightest XPS laptop yet. With a long battery life, beautiful design, and powerful performance with Intel Core processors.

The XPS laptop unlocks more of what you love. Plus, at Dell.com, you'll find perks like Dell Rewards, fast-free shipping, and flexible financing, and big savings on monitors and accessories. Head to Dell.com slash deals. That's Dell.com slash deals. Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93-9. The score. Thursday night football. Tomorrow night, the Baltimore Ravens are at home. They'll take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mids basketball action last night. Number 20, Alabama. Winner over Sam Houston, 96-74. Alabama was led by London Jemison, who had 15 points in the victory.

[1:36:06] The Auburn Tigers will open their season tonight. They're at home to take on southeastern Louisiana. Spire Motorsports announced yesterday it suspended Carson Hostelbar for the final race of the season. The Cup Series championship race at Homestead, Miami Speedway. Justin Haley will drive the number 77 Chevrolet this weekend. A suspension came after an on-track incident with Austin Sindrick last Sunday. Tune in tonight for Alabama women's basketball as they take on New Orleans. Joined in progress after hate coach. I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash presented by Progressive on 93.9 The Score.

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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.

Also, everything you do is not an era. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Listen to the Crimson Tide Sports Network for Crimson Tide Rewind. Live from Baumhauer's Victory Grill in the Stavie 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 in. It's a pleasure for us to say hello to Double D. Drew DeArmond, host talking ball on Huntsville's 97.7 FM The Zone. Drew, welcome in. How are you? I'm good, guys. How are you?

Hey, buddy. Man, we're busy like you. Alabama-Auburn basketball off and rolling. Tennessee as well. Alabama last night, Auburn tonight. Was your takeaway the same as a lot of folks about this Bama team? The defense a little more aggressive, a lot of deflections. Maybe the rebounder could use some work, but they spread the wealth around last night, and the team seems to have more length. Where are you in your impressions of Alabama after the first showing of the regular season? Well, I thought they're a deeper team.

I think they're very, very athletic. I thought they did a really nice job, you know, getting in the passing lanes, being disruptive. They had 17 steals. They forced 23 turnovers overall. They had very, very active hands. And on the glass, certainly they've got to do a better job of doing it on the defensive glass. They gave up 15 offensive rebounds, but they did have 42 rebounds overall, and so they did hit the glass. They just got to do a little bit better job. Probably need to be over that 50 mark.

Got to do a little bit better job of shooting free throws. I thought they left too many points out there. I thought they could have hit the 100 mark. And then they did all this, and they did not start off well offensively. I mean, as Nate said last night, Coach O's after the game, I mean, they were stuck on 20, you know, after the 10-minute mark, which for Alabama and the way they play, and really even having a 40-point half, that's not a good offensive half. Now, under other head coaches at Alabama, it is.

Under Nato's, it's not. They weren't really putting the ball in the basket. And I think there was a little bit of frustration there. But overall, I thought Drew Fielder, after starting off looking a little nervous, he settled in, did a really nice job. You know, and I really like Terrence Booty and his ability to play on both ends and play with a lot of confidence offensively. Amari Allen didn't have an all-American type game, and he missed a couple free throws that normally would use. Especially, I thought he got a little bit more aggressive in the second half.

And then London Jemison was outstanding. I mean, he was really efficient. Six of seven from the floor. The two guys that could be good for Alabama is London Jemison. But the other one to watch is Keith and Bristow, who I thought last year against Illinois, he helped them win a game. But after that, I really didn't see much done. He was hurt a lot. I'm not sure physically he was ready for the SEC. I think he's made a lot of physical strides. And he's been – I thought he was really good in the preseason.

And then last night, he played 20 minutes, but he gave them five points. He was two for two from the floor. He's really worked on his three-point shot. But the thing he really did, and I pointed it out to Coach Oates, four blocks and two steals in 20 minutes. And he's not even playing the five. So he has a chance to be a really good defender. And I think that was the vision Coach Oates had for him when he was at Tarleton State. And so really excited for, you know, Keaton Bristow.

[1:41:26] I think he's a really good player. And looking forward to seeing this team grow. I mean, I really like the fit of Jamarian Davis Fleming as well. I think he's a really good big for what they do. And he's been efficient offensively so far. And then you play alongside guys that can stretch it like a Drew Felder. And then we didn't see Cole Kluwer the real guy. I mean, Nate Oates admitted he'd only practiced very little in the last three weeks. And you could tell it.

He went 0 for 6 from 3. You know, only hit one basket on a follow-up layup. So he wasn't himself. But he's a guy that should be a… Anderson Diaz will be better, too. But he's rusty because he hasn't played very much because of injury. D2, before we get to LSU, Alabama not only beat Sam Houston last night, but Nate Oates picks up a high four-star or five-star commitment. Zion Green, 6'9", from Philadelphia. I believe he's playing at Compass Prep in Arizona. I know Rivals has him as the number 20 recruit in the country.

Another big pickup for Nate. Yeah, no doubt. Zion Green to go with Chase Lumpkin. That's a couple of top 30 players. I know they really think Lumpkin's going to be a really special point guard and a guy that can really play. They're really excited about his future. And he's at McKeacher and in Atlanta, a hot bed for, you know, college basketball players in that area of high… That's where Collin Sexton came out of. Not the same high school. He was at Pebble Brook, as you know, but it's the same area.

And there's a lot of high-level high school basketball played out of there. So he's got two really good players. We'll see if he can add a third. They really… It's funny. They've really only had four official visits taken from kids in the 2027 class. The first one was Anderson Diaz. He ended up being a 2026. And as you know, Lumpkin and Zion are already committed. And then I got late word before I came on with you guys from one of my hoop sources who does a great job of keeping me aware of something.

Of where things stand is that they've got another guy to watch. He told me, just watch. He said, we'll see what happens. But certainly the center that just visited, Yone Kabongo from DME, he's going to… He's got it down to Alabama, Mississippi State, and Tennessee. And he will be committing on November the 8th on a Sunday. And I believe the time is 2 p.m. Eastern, 1 Central. So he's going to commit on Sunday. November the 8th is Sunday. So we'll see if Nadeau brings in another one.

You know, I would think if they do, this will be the last high school prospect. Because, you know, honestly, guys, if you look at their roster, I think even, and I've been kind of looking at this, even Drew Fielder, you know, and Brandon Garrison might have 50 years left. Because you remember these clocks. Oh, yeah. You know, so almost everybody on the roster has some eligibility left. So, and of course, there'll be guys probably moving on in the portal. And then you'll still look at guys in the transfer portal.

But a lot of this roster could return in addition to the three signees that they've had already, one reclassed. And then maybe you get a fourth guy and a third signee in the 2027 class if Kabongo commits to you. Drew Jarman in the huddle with us. Drew, obviously, tonight, Auburn, they take the lid off their season. What do you expect from the Tigers? Well, I mean, they're much bigger. Certainly, you know, Ngoi is a 7'2'' animal. I mean, he's every bit a 7'2". He's wide as the lane.

You know, Bucky Aboye from Santa Clara is a jumping jack athlete who's nearly 7'6", 6'11", very athletic. So they've got two bigs that were bigger and better than anything. I think they had a year ago. Then you have veteran guards. I still think Kevin Overton is one of the most underrated guards in college basketball. I think he's an outstanding player. Tahod Pettiford has the talent to carry a team. Now, he's not consistent. Sometimes you don't ever know which one you're going to get. If you get the good Tahod, you know, he better buckle up because he can play with anybody.

And so I think – and I like Caleb Williams, their freshman out of Atlanta. I think he's going to be a really good player on the wing for them. So I think they're going to be better this year and better on the defensive end and certainly Coach Steven Pearl's background is defense. And I thought they more than held their own against Alabama physically. So I think they got a chance to be an NCAA tournament team and anxious to see kind of how their team develops, especially now that Montez, Roshavikazis, or I tried, the Lithuanian is not there.

[1:46:30] I mean, he was one of their best players. But he hadn't been playing. So at least they hadn't got used to him being on the floor with them. So they've kind of already moved on. Absolutely. We know you've had a busy week. I was in the dentist there, which Harold Bugg knows too well this morning myself. Drew DeArmond's prediction for Alabama and LSU Saturday afternoon. Well, you know, about a week ago, I really, really, really didn't like Alabama's chances. I actually had LSU as a double-digit favorite, but I'm waiting to see what happens with the, certainly the report as far as when you're talking about the eligibility report, the medical.

I'm waiting on the, to see what the medical availability report looks like. I think Alabama has a chance to get several guys back. I think, honestly, the one guy that, there are two guys that I think aren't going to play, and this is the ones I was expecting. William Sanders after his injury. I don't expect him to be able to go. And that's unfortunate for Alabama, certainly. You wanted him to be available. But he's not going to be available, I don't believe. And so, he's not going to be there.

And then I don't believe that, honestly, that Desmond Zulu is going to be available. So, you're not going to have those two, Zulu and Sanders. But you're going to have everybody else, I think there's a really good chance. And if you do have everybody else, I think he gives Alabama more than a puncher's chance. The only thing is, and the two most important ones, I mean, Ryan Coleman-Williams is very important. But to me, the two guys that kind of stir the drink for this team this year is Rayson Delgado.

Because Alabama ran the ball every game he was in through the Georgia game, you know, at the end of the fourth quarter when he got injured. And then Terrence Green. Because people kind of forget, Terrence Green, when he was in the lineup, Alabama's run defense was much better. Yes. And they were actually outrushing Georgia at the half. But he goes out, and then everything kind of falls apart. Because there's guys having to play out of position. So if Terrence Green and Rayson Delgado can give them snaps and are effective, then I think they can more than play LSU tough in Baton Rouge.

I still like the Tigers 28-23, but I do think Alabama's got a great shot to do it. And if they do, then I think they control their own destiny with the college football playoff rankings. And yes, I was surprised that Alabama was fifth. Never thought they would be that high. But they have everything in front of them. If they beat LSU, they're going to be a definitive favorite in the rest of their games. And they should be in the playoff. If they don't beat LSU, I think you're going to have to really sweat it and hope some people lose.

Because I think some results down the stretch in the next two to three weeks, I think there's going to be a lot of fluctuation in those rankings. No question about it. What an amazing week. You've got college basketball starting, high school basketball starting, the first round of high school football. My Lord have mercy, D2. A lot of stuff to cover. But where can we get online and get all the good stuff from you and Scott? Yeah, you can certainly connect with me at Drudy977ESPN. Certainly at 977ESPN is our station account.

You can connect with us if you want to get any of our content off our SoundCloud page. And that's ESPN 97.7 The Zone. Also, 977ESPN.com. And if you want to see our lovely faces, we're on our YouTube channel every day, WZZN TV. And we love being on with you guys. We've got Randolph football, a big-time matchup with John Carroll, a rematch coming up on Friday. Going to be doing that broadcast. But tomorrow, the Huntsville Crimson Panthers, year eight under Coach Christian Sweers. Already, it's hard to believe, man, that it's already been that long.

But, you know, he's done a heck of a job. And they're going to start their latest campaign against the defending 7A state champion, Tuscaloosa County Wildcats. And that will be over at Huntsville High's gym, 7.30 tomorrow night. Should be one heck of a game. And you can catch that action on NFHS if you can't be there at the gym. But if you can be there, I recommend it. It's two really high-level programs that are going to go head up. And they're not afraid to check each other's oil this early in the season.

Other than that, nothing going on. Drew, stay safe out there. And thanks so much for your time today. Thank you, guys. See you, buddy. Drew Yarmann, 97.7 FM, The Zone. BB, are you ready for another busy night here on the 93.9 The Score? Start with, hey, Coach. Hey, Coach. Again, going to be very interesting. I'm sure one of the questions, Cale and DeBoer, is going to be asked 14 times. Yeah. How healthy is this team going to Baton Rouge? Started at 6 o'clock, getting the answer to that. And after that, joined in progress, the Alabama women taking on, you've got to say it right, not New Orleans.

[1:52:00] If you're ever tough with a native, it's knowledge. Right. Alabama knowledge women. Again, after, hey, Coach. All right. You're on 93.9 The Score later on tonight. It's going to take care of biz for now. On behalf of BB, Greg, James Blair, the entire crew here. Carol Buck, thank you so much for your time today. Let's tune in again tomorrow, noon to two, with a little bug show back here on Sports Radio. 93.9 The Score. you