Boomo Bugg Show 050426

[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 the free ride around the Tennessee Valley. Brett Beaird, welcome in where the goppy pride of the Shoals wins again.

Good afternoon, welcome in and may the 4th be with you. Happy Monday to you. Yes, Stuart Sink is on a roll after winning the Regions. So are the Atlanta Braves, Harold Bugg. The Braves have the best record after 35 games, 25 and 10 since 1892. Wow. Dan Thomas of AOL.com will preview the high school baseball quarterfinals. Adam is here right now, though, to talk some SEC football, basketball and baseball. Adam Spencer is the man at Saturday Down South. Adam, welcome in. How are you? I'm doing great, fellas. How are you?

We're doing all right. Let's just start with the most important thing in the world. People ask, what's the answer to the question? To me, it doesn't matter the question. The answer is the same, M-O-N-E-Y. The Big Ten pays member schools almost a half billion dollars more than last year, 490 mil big ones. The Big Ten is rolling in the cash. Maybe that's why they're having so much success, Adam. You think? Yeah, I think money is king in this era of college football. Yeah, I think we're starting to see a level playing field there.

And when the playing field is level, then the deep pockets win out. And the Big Ten schools have bigger alumni bases. Indiana has the biggest alumni base. So it's no real surprise when you can point to a guy like Mark Cuban and a bunch of other rich guys that kind of fund that program. It's easy to see why they suddenly made the right hire at coach. And suddenly now they're a national champion. So, yeah, I think it's no surprise that the Big Ten is printing its own money right now.

But, you know, I don't think anybody in the SEC should be allowed to cry poor too much, especially when you got LSU basically printing its own money down there in Baton Rouge. Absolutely. And, Adam, on the field, we know they've won three national championships or quite a few when you include basketball. Again, this goes in cycles, but there's no question right now. Tony Padetti is really the king. Kirby Smart was at the Regents. We talked about that a few minutes ago. Paul Feinbaum interviewed him, and they talked about the SEC championship game and going from 12 to 24, maybe in a couple of years.

Greg Sankey's still trying to stay at 16. Adam, where are we going? Will the SEC championship game be going in two years, and will it be a 2014 playoff? Yeah, I mean, it's looking that way. You know, I would like it to not. I mean, I think that there's still a lot of value in the SEC championship game. I think it's a really cool event and it's a big deal to the players. You know, I'd rather win the SEC championship than make an exit in the first round of a 2014 playoff.

You know, so I just don't know what you do. I mean, I guess the answer would be to, like, shorten the regular season. That's something that I haven't really heard talked about, but, like, what if you shorten the regular season to 10 games, you know, so that you can eliminate some of these, you know, non-conference cupcake week stuff that nobody likes anyway. So what if you eliminated two regular season games and then you could keep the conference championship games and add a round to the playoff and still be done around a similar time in the calendar?

I mean, I think that that's something that I would suggest that, you know, maybe you look into 10-game regular season. Adam Spencer sat in it down south. Of course, the pushback for the bow ties in the corner office is going to be, see, well, we're going to lose that revenue. But your thoughts about that, they're going to have to do something. Would you agree, Adam? I mean, I like the proposal myself. But here's the bottom line. Either start earlier, which down south means it's really going to be hot.

If you're hosting a team from up north in the middle of August, that might be an advantage. The other side of the coin is you're going to have to push it late and then compete with the NFL for TV money. And we know who's going to win that battle. That's here we're going to win. But across the country, the big TV executives, they know the power of the NFL in these major markets. So outside of cutting it to 10 games, what would be reasonable? Start it earlier with all the potential of an extra game or two in the heat or push it later and try to go heads up with the NFL.

[5:19] You know, I think that it would be starting earlier and you just have to take your chances with the heat. I mean, it's still bad in September. So, I mean, they're kind of used to it. But I just think that, you know, we're coming up on a, you know, you mentioned, you know, they don't want to lose that revenue. And you're absolutely right about that. And it's just, but like, at some point, this thing's going to break. You can't just keep growing. This is the problem with, you know, not to be all dark on a Monday here.

It's just the problem with capitalism. At some point, like, you can't push the players. These are still human beings. You can't, at some point, you can't push the players even further. And at some point, you just have to be, you have to be happy with the billions of dollars that you're making. You're making $12 billion. You have to be happy with that. You can't push it to $14 billion. You know, at some point, you just have to be happy with what you have. You can't keep doing all these money grabs.

And I think we're coming up to that point. And it's getting close. And, you know, I think that there's some real decisions that are going to have to be made. Or this sport, like, just any of these sports. You know, you look at the NBA with the 82-game regular season and, you know, the playoff grind and all this stuff. You know, all these guys are popping their Achilles and getting hurt and sitting out game seven. We're reaching the limits of how hard we can push these elite athletes.

And, you know, it's just a money grab. And it's going to have to stop at some point. Adam, we talked with a lot of guests last week and asked them, were they in favor of expanding the NCAA basketball tournament in 76? The majority of them said no. It's going to be watered down. Now, if a one-bid league picked up another bid, but will it be just another SEC or Big Ten team added to the fold? Adam, your thoughts. Are you in favor or against it? I'm against it.

I mean, I think, you know, again, why are we expanding just for TV money to see Auburn play, you know, like this year's Auburn team play? Like, what's the point? Like, what are we doing here? Like, it's just not smart. You know, they're just, like, you just should take a poll of the fans. Like, it was like a 95% against thing. And they're like, ah, well, we're just going to do it anyway. And it's just like, well, why don't the fans have a say in this? Why do only the TV executives have a say in this?

You know, 68, we made peace with that. 64 is a perfect bracket. We made peace with 68 to allow a couple of, to allow Syracuse to get into the first four a couple times. Like, well, fine, we made our peace with that. But now why do we have to do this even more? It just doesn't make sense. It was, should have been an easy decision if you ask the fans and had a 95% disapproval rating. But, you know, they just don't, they can't help themselves is what it comes down to.

Here's the bottom line, Adam. The fans actually do have the final voice because, and here's why, it may sound like a convoluted reason to get to the point. But the TV people are going to sit here. They don't care. They couldn't care less how much you gripe and you kick the can down the road and you fuss and you yell at the cat and all that stuff. But when you stop watching and the revenue dries up, that's when the bow ties are going to say, maybe we need to rethink this.

But they also are smart enough to know, it's almost like we're addicted. They know that we're going to fuss, but we're still going to watch. Until we say we're going to say it and we're going to play it, they're going to keep on playing these games. Yeah, I mean, that's totally fair. And, I mean, it's just because it's not, you know, not going to be the most compelling basketball for these new first four games. You know, it's going to be on a Tuesday and a Wednesday night in the middle of the winter and there's not going to be a, you know, baseball is not on yet.

It's just the NBA regular season where half the guys are sitting out with load management. So, they're going to be the only thing on TV. And so, yeah, it's just going to be interesting. And I think, yeah, you're right, it's either the fans have to stop watching or we're just going to have to get, like, we're just going to have to push these athletes too far. And then it'll get to the tournament time and everybody's down three of their top five guys. And then those games aren't going to be very exciting either.

So, I mean, we'll see how it goes. But, yeah, I think, yeah, you're right. They're just going to keep putting them on TV if everybody's still tuning in. So, we'll see. And you've got some insight into this. We discussed this last week. Brendan Swordsby in the gambling, the reported gambling issues that he's got. Thousands of small bets, including games with his own team. Lana told you he should be suspended or et cetera. You've got a unique insight with sports betting dying. It's so easy now to lay a prop bet or bet on sports.

Adam, your thoughts on this? Yeah, I mean, I think that, yeah, I think there's some bets that he placed on his own team, even if they're for, you know, like the Pete Rose situation was, you know, he was betting on his team to win. They're still betting. And, you know, I think it's just something that you have to take a hard line stance with. You know, these games are, you know, people are betting on them. You know, good or bad, it's happening. People are betting on them.

[10:35] The regulated market, you know, actually helps this case because it's easier to see when there's suspicious things happening. So, you know, that's why the Alabama baseball coach got caught with the thing with, you know, the guy in Ohio trying to place a bet. These regulated books are just, you can't, like, fool them. So they're the ones that sniffed this stuff out and they catch it. And, you know, it's, you know, the Jontae Porter situation with the Raptors. And so it gets caught and fixed, you know, whereas the offshore and, you know, the online betting stuff that's, you know, not regulated, that's where you get into trouble.

And so, you know, I think that it's good that this was caught. And, you know, it's tough for this young man because, you know, he's got an addiction and hopefully he gets help for that. But, yeah, I mean, I think you have to, if he was betting on his own team and stuff, then I think you have to, you know, really lay the hammer down with the suspension that's pretty significant. Adam, SEC baseball, two weekends to go. Georgia leads the peg, 18-6. They're just playing gorilla by ball and hitting the ball.

Alabama surprisingly sweeps Vandy. Vandy may be in tough shape as far as making a regional. We'll see Auburn wins the series against Texas A&M. Joe Cox and some of your other guys do a great job of covering SEC baseball. Adam, your thoughts on the league as we go down the stretch headed toward Hoover. Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, Georgia's a bit of a surprise. But, you know, they've just been consistent all year. And they've got a couple games up on the Texas schools and a little bit easier of a road down the stretch.

You know, I think Vanderbilt is an interesting one, you know, having gotten swept. But they end with South Carolina and Missouri. So, you know, there's a chance that they can go 6-0 there. And then it's just going to be, does that impress the voters? Does that bump their RPI up enough? Because they have a pretty weak RPI. And it would be tough for them to make a bid for an at-large if they lose even two of these next six games against the bottom feeders in the SEC.

So we'll see. Vandy's the team that I'm watching here. And, you know, we'll see if Georgia can hold off the Texas schools for the title. Absolutely. Great stuff. We always enjoy beginning the week with you. A lot of thought-provoking topics today. But I know you've got it covered along with the team. Where can we get online to get all the great stuff? Yeah, SaturdayDownSouth.com. We just published our SEC baseball recap. SEC baseball power rankings coming on Friday. So check it all out. Sounds great, Adam.

Listen, man, kick back and enjoy. And thank you so much for your time today. Yeah, thanks for having me, guys. Always appreciate it. Thank you, bud. Same to you, Adam. Adam Spencer, Saturday Down South. So if you're an Alabama recruiting fanatic, watch the latest, and better yet, watch down the pipeline. Brett Greenberg on that and more straight ahead of the Boomo Bugg Show. Stay with us. 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. At First Metro Bank, we're more than just a place to keep your money. We're a proud part of this community, committed to helping you achieve your dreams. Whether you need a mortgage, a car loan, or just some sound advice, we're here to offer a friendly face and a helping hand. Come see us at First Metro Bank, where your neighbors are your bankers.

First Metro Bank, member FDIC. Is your business insurance tailored exactly to your individual needs? Are you getting the best coverage for your money? That's what the Michael Noe Agency is for. They're your local independent insurance agency that specializes in helping you protect your business, including liability and property, commercial, auto equipment, and workers' compensation, all while ensuring you're getting the best possible rate. Visit your local independent agent, Michael Noe or Bill Cochran, on Mobile Plaza in downtown Florence. Or call 256-767-4237. Indeed presents, hires you can't afford to get wrong, like customer service associate at a dry cleaning shop.

Yeah, hi. I'm here to pick up my suit. Ah, yes. Here you go. There must be a mistake. This is too small. It shrunk a whole lot. Look on the bright side. Now you have a suit you can give to a child. This is a job for sponsored jobs. This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. Next time, get matched with quality candidates with Indeed-sponsored jobs. Visit Indeed.com slash hire now and sponsor your job today. Hey, Mom, now that I have an after-school job, I think I want to buy a drum kit.

[15:45] Okay, rock star. Let's look at your account. When kids start making money, Chase has easy-to-use tools and expert bankers to help them learn how to manage it. And next month, I'll buy the bass drum and the cymbals. Oh, and maybe some noise-canceling headphones for you. Aw, you've thought of everything. Help kids save, budget, and build financial independence all with Chase. That's good for kids and good for parents. Visit your local Chase branch and get started. Account subject to approval. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and a member FDIC.

It's time to spring into deals at Lowe's. Freshen up your yard with Stay Green Premium 2-Cubic Foot Mulch. Five bags for $10. Then, get what you need to keep clothes, food, and dishes fresh with up to 35% off select major appliances. Plus, save an additional $100 on select laundry pairs. Our best lineup is here at Lowe's. Valid through 5-6. Mulch offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. While supplies last. The selection varies by location. See Lowe's.com for more details. My name is Whitney Allen, and I'm a widow. My husband, Ryan, died.

We never thought we'd ever have to use life insurance, but the unexpected happened. With Ethos, signing up was fast and 100% online. You can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes, and get same-day coverage. No medical exams, and you can get up to $3 million worth of coverage. I am grateful we were prepared. Get your free quote at ethos.com slash play. That's ethos.com slash play. Paid spokesperson. Time spent on application may vary. Online health questions required. You know the rush when you reach that goal, when something you've worked for pays off?

That's success. At University of Maryland Global Campus, we believe you should never stop chasing it. That's why we offer a skills-based education that helps move your career forward. Learn how to apply emerging technologies like AI and data science. Build your leadership and critical thinking skills. Apply now and save with no application fee. Classes start May 13th. Learn more at umgc.edu. Certified to operate in Virginia by Shaff. At Target, finding something for every kind of mom and every side of mom just got easier. Does she love fashion?

Take 20% off select women's clothing and accessories and find a dress she'll love to wear. Is she into the outdoors? Freshen up her favorite spot with up to 40% off planters, pillows, and poofs. Or keep it classic. Fresh tulips for just $12 and a dossier fragrance trio for $32. Whatever mom is into, we've got it. Celebrate mom her way. Only at Target. Restrictions apply. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. Time to say hello to the man when it comes talking Crimson Tide, Brett Greenberg. He's busy there at 24-7 Sports.

Bama, 24-7 to be more specific. Brett, welcome in. Happy Monday to you. How are you? How are we doing, guys? Always a fun time. I appreciate you having me on. Man, we appreciate you taking time out. All right. We're into May now. We know traditionally this has been kind of a crazy time. Your thoughts on the meter. Where is Alabama in May? And how busy will the balance this month be and the balance of June for Alabama? Yeah, I think if you look even dating back to the Nick Saban era recruiting-wise, then you look at those last two classes under Coach Calendal Board.

It seems to be kind of all status quo. Obviously, Alabama's sitting in, I think, their ranked number 41 overall. The team ranking that over 24-7 Sports with six commits. Obviously, the big one with number one quarterback Elijah Haven coming into the fold on April 26th. I don't think there's any cause for concern. I know some people may, you know, harp on to that number 41 overall class rankings. But like last year, like the year before, and years beyond that, like I just said, there's a lot of guys that Alabama has at the top of their board and vice versa.

Alabama's in a good spot for a lot of highly ranked kids that are going to be coming down to campus for that first official visit weekend, May 29th through the 31st. Then you've got June 5th through the 7th, June 12th through the 14th, and then June 19th and the 21st that's going to be kind of very, very, very busy for the Crimson Tide on campus, getting a lot of top targets, got a lot of guys that are expected to make decisions during that time and soon after that as well.

So I think, you know, kind of the word that I've used a bunch over and over is patience with this staff. And I believe when, you know, looking at these last two cycles in particular, you've got to give this staff the benefit of the doubt. And they've got a process of how they're going about things. They brought in tons of guys during the spring visit, during, you know, spring practice over that month or six weeks or whatever way exactly the days were. They've positioned themselves well.

It's in the middle of the spring contact period right now. The staff is all over the place visiting with the guys in every part of the country, further establishing the gray relationships they already have heading into the summer. Brad, could Alabama's next commitment be Kenneth Simon, a four-star linebacker for Brentwood, Tennessee? He was announcing literally a week, I believe, from today. Yeah, absolutely. Glad you brought him up. May 11th, it will be Kenneth Simon's big day. A lot of these, you know, kind of just, you like seeing these guys that have put all their hard work, all their lives into playing at the Connects college level.

[20:58] He's got a set date for May 11th, exactly a week ago, a week from today, like you said. Number seven linebacker, number 133 overall prospect in the country, six foot two, 210 pounds, big body, previously played safety growing up, kind of as an underclass, but has since moved into that linebacker role. And I think that's what this staff, you know, we've seen the versatility that this staff is going after, especially on the defensive side. That's a big reason why Alabama has prioritized Kenneth Simon for so, so long.

I remember talking to him back in January during All-American Bowl, and he kind of harped on the relationship he's built with this Alabama staff. Inside linebackers coach, Chuck Murrell in particular, obviously head coach, Cale DeBoer, defense coordinator, Cade Womack, Alabama continuing to hit all the right buttons here. Now it's the kind of a unofficial top three or top three finalists, if you will, between Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee. His dad, Kevin Simon, played for the volunteers, I believe, in the 90s. But he had told me back in January, again, at the Navy All-American Bowl, then over and over again, like, that's not going to be a reason he, you know, a big factor in his recruitment.

They've talked about it. He joked with me a week ago, he's like, if I told my dad I wanted to go to UCLA, he wouldn't care. He's just happy if I'm happy. So I really, really, really like where Alabama stands. Have a crystal ball prediction of David the Crimson Tide to add one of their long-time top defensive targets to the fold, again, on May 11th, choosing between Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. By the way, his dad, a two-time former All-SEC player under Fulmer up there, and later on, he's the director of player development, so they got roots deep to Knoxville.

It sounds like the kid marches to his own beat. Brett Greenberg hooking up with us, Bally 24-7. Brett, for people who don't follow recruiting, timing to me is something that sometimes probably doesn't get enough talk, and you look at, and every class wants to get that star quarterback in for obvious reasons. They want to secure the commitment as soon as possible, but also, these kids, they're like, that five-star quarterback's like a magnet more times than not. They can sit here and influence people on the fence.

Your thoughts just about the timing and the influence of having a guy like Elijah Havens in the class right now. Yeah, it's absolutely spot on, like you said. It's not only Elijah Haven. Trent Seaborn, obviously, is a big, big factor in state as well in attracting guys, but, you know, I've talked with, you know, the two Alabama tight end commits in Colt Lumpris and Oakley Keegan. They're that much more comfortable with their decision coming off the exciting news of Elijah Haven joining the fold. Again, like you said, the timing of it is all, you know, is very important as well.

Having Elijah Haven and Trent Seaborn in the fold coming into official visit weekend when your official visit season, excuse me, in a couple weeks now is very, very big, and, you know, these wide receivers, the Alabama's going after these tight ends, and even the running backs as well. They're all looking at who can get them to fall at the college level. That's the most important thing for a lot of these receivers, and rightfully so, and you look up, and Alabama doesn't have just one guy going to the Elite 11 finals.

They've got two between Elijah Haven and Trent Seaborn, so that's very, very cool. They'll be up in California, I believe, the May 29th to the 31st weekend. Would you like to have those guys on campus for that big official visit weekend? Of course, but having those guys go out to the national scene and further proving themselves I think is a very big positive for the Crimson Tide, and Trent Seaborn in particular is going to be at every other official visit weekend and every game in the fall, so he's completely locked in Elijah Haven the same, so I know those guys are already, I know for a fact Trent Seaborn, you know, he said it to me over and over again, he's heavily recruiting guys.

You talk to receivers, they hear from Trent Seaborn all the time, and Elijah Haven's picking that up as well, so like you said, the timing of it is really just great if you're looking at a Crimson Tide from a recruiting perspective just to get Elijah Haven finally in the fold, and quite frankly, it felt like he would have been in the fold as early as November, then December, February, March, and then late April obviously goes official with it, but it's just another big win for Alabama to get this class really getting rolling over the next couple weeks into the next few months.

You mentioned on the article you dropped this morning that Alabama will not sign a lot of offensive and defensive linemen, but two are a priority, and I believe they've already been crystal balled by you a little bit earlier, four-star defensive lineman Mitchell Turner from Louisville, Mississippi, another Mississippi defensive lineman, three-star edge Antoine Jackson from Memphis, Tennessee. Are you still positive about those two crystal ball forecasts? Yeah, absolutely. We'll start with Mitchell Turner. You mentioned him, the number three defensive lineman out of the state of Mississippi, and every time I kind of bring up Mitchell Turner, I do want to bring up London Simmons of the 2025 class, Nolan Wilson of the 2026 class. Those are two more guys in the state of Mississippi along the defensive line that Freddie Roach and his staff were early to the party to, one of the first major offers for all of those, for those two guys, and Nolan Simmons and Noah Wilson, and very similar with Mitchell Turner. Alabama was the first SEC offer for this kid who continues to bring that up in conversations. I have to talk with his father as well. They're like, they were first to the party. They really got my recruitment going. Now you look at Mitchell Turner's list, I believe he's probably got, if not all, majority of the SEC programs got an offer in on him. A lot of Big Ten, a lot of the SEC is well, but that early established, you know, kind of trust and, and, you know, love in their evaluation of Mitchell Turner is going a very long way. He'll be down for an official visit May 29th to the 31st. Continue to believe that a decision won't come until after he takes all of his multi-day trips in the summer, but this staff's going to want to look to try to really lock that down during that weekend, and it wouldn't be entirely surprising if that does happen. Another guy you mentioned is Antoine Jackson, who just extreme length, versatility, athleticism, a guy that can play along the outside, kind of the edge, but also put on that weight and play into your defense alignment as well, similar to who Alabama already has in the fold, and A.J. Pauley, and his staff, like so many others, prioritize him from the jump over, you know, since that offer in September, he's been to campus, I believe, four times since then. Continues to reiterate to me, hey, Alabama is the number one school in my recruitment. A commitment date should be coming soon, so I really like Alabama to eventually land Antoine Jackson as well. You know, again, we talked about the five stars, and certainly that's huge news, but you know how recruiting fanatics are. Anytime you take anything below a four, they hit the panic button. Explain to the folks why in 2026 that may not be as big a deal as it was two, three, and certainly four or five years ago because of the expanded rosters. Yeah, absolutely. It's a good point. I mean, of course, you want to get as many five stars as you can, as many four stars as you can.

[27:43] Alabama, Kalen DeBoer, Courtney Morgan, his staff has certainly done that over the last two cycles, signing back-to-back top five classes. I believe both were number two overall in 25 and 26. 27, you know, may not be as many five stars in the fold, but I think they're still in a good spot for some very highly ranked guys, top 100 guys, and quite frankly, there's still, you know, I know recruiting is, you know, sped up timeline these days, but there's still multiple updates to go, so a lot of these guys that might be three stars right now have the ability to jump into that four-star ranking after strong senior season. I have a feeling a couple of those guys will, like I, you know, just mentioned, but yeah, it's a good point. It's this recruiting has completely changed. It's filling out your roster, going from 85 scholarships to 105 scholarships, so it's interesting to see how each of these staffs are going about it. Kalen DeBoer talked about it in Huntsville, I believe it was a week ago, or a week and a half ago, said this is going to be a little bit of a smaller class, and you mentioned it in the previous question. It's going to be kind of a smaller group along the trenches, and some people may, you know, freak out about that, but they brought in five along the offensive line and five along the defensive line in the 26 cycle, so those are guys that they feel convicted about. They're going to continue to go after high-ranked guys, like I said, and Anton Jackson, who I know is a three-star, but this staff has prioritized him. London Simmons was a three-star, for those who don't remember.

There's number two edge, KJ Green, and I like Alabama as well, so doing a little bit of rambling there off your question, but like you said, it's completely changed, and each staff's kind of going about these things a little bit differently as you look across the country, but again, I feel like this staff and people who follow recruiting should know this, you know, they know what they're doing, and they should, you know, kind of earn the benefit of the doubt going forward. I mentioned the article you dropped this morning, the smaller line class. Something else that caught my attention, the state of Georgia. Alabama signed eight prospects from Georgia last year, including Xavier Griffins, Marion Matthews. Look out now to the number two wedge, KJ Green, you just mentioned.

Quarterback Darius White, a three-star. Nigel Newkirk from Gainesville, Georgia, a three-star running back, and here we go again with Mo Lindquist, a 6'5 safety. Where does he find these guys? MJ Burnett from Marietta. The Peachtree State has been very, very good to Alabama recruiting. Yeah, absolutely, and it's funny, man. You mentioned where do we find these guys, and quite frankly, I don't know, and you guys have followed recruiting probably longer than I have, been around the game longer than I have, but you don't really, there seems to just be more and more length in the secondary this day and age compared to years ago. I think a lot of those guys probably played receiver, but the versatility that specifically Alabama demands for and asks for is intriguing. A lot of these guys, I always kind of joke, like, that secondary room is like one of those signs at the, you know, rollercoaster amusement park, like, you must be this height to enter type of thing.

But you mentioned MJ Burnett, Alabama in a good spot for him, along with Georgia Tech, his father playing at Georgia Tech, so the Yellow Jackets are always going to be in that, but also playing alongside Ha Ha, Clinton Dick with the Green Bay Packers, and was talking to MJ, that's a big factor for him. Darius White, like you mentioned, he's six foot three. I know he might have that three-star ranking towards him. I think he has the ability to rise up as well. He's going to make a college commitment on July 4th. He'll be on campus May 29th through the 31st. That's another guy similar to Mitchell Turner, but the staff's going to really, really, really push for, try to get a commitment on campus, and it wouldn't be surprising if that doesn't happen. Another guy, like you mentioned, is Niles Newkirk. Again, I know he's got that three-star, but plays in a very, very tough division.

The state of Georgia had over 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. As a junior with the Red Elephants over in Gainesville, Georgia, 5'11", 200 pounds, so he fits the bill. So there's a lot to like in the state of Georgia, and I don't know if it's going to be quite as big of a haul compared to last year when you're looking at eight total, like you mentioned, but there's four guys that Alabama has prioritized, and there's four guys that wouldn't be surprised if they're joining the Crimson Tide in the 20-27 cycle.

The Red Elephants. Listen, great stuff, as always. The crystal balls, your latest, Harold and I look for themes, and that really caught my attention this morning, the success in Georgia. Brett, where can we get online to get all your great stuff? Absolutely, guys. You guys do a great job of kind of plugging my information at Bama247.com. We've got it all. Again, it's going to be, it's starting to really ramp up. Recruiting really never dies, but it's the spring contact period. Official visits will be here starting at the end of the month. We've got a great running list of multi-day visitors for the summer, over 40 guys already. So it should be an exciting summer, and for those recruiting folks worried again, worried about the rankings. Bear with me. Bear with the staff for a couple more weeks. I think there's going to be exciting news to come soon.

[32:50] Brett, we're going to have to catch back up with you, because we've got folks on the ledge right now, so you've got to talk them down, okay, Brett? Absolutely. That's what I'm here for. Thanks, guys. Thank you, Brett. Thanks so much, and keep up the good work. Brett Greenberg, hook up with us. Bama247, part of the 24-7 Sports Family. Coming up, that's tied. What about the Tigers? Logan Fowler on that and more straight ahead. Stay with us. Shoals drop everything. This is not a drill. Lost Pizza Company Shoals is running the full court press. The full court press Cuban sandwich, inspired by Coach Tony Pujol. This sandwich brings championship flavor, and it's only available at Lost Pizza Company Shoals. And coming off the bench hot, our brand new buffalo chicken dip. Creamy, spicy, straight up MVP material. Run the full court press at Lost Pizza Company Shoals, where every bite beats the buzzer. Since 1952, J.C. Hammond Sons has been keeping the Shoals comfortable year-round. As the oldest family-owned heating and air business in the Shoals area, they've built a reputation for reliable service you can trust, whether it's for your home or your business. Need installation, repair, or maintenance? The experienced team at J.C. Hammond Sons is ready to help with all your residential and commercial heating and cooling needs. Visit them at 2536 Florence Boulevard or call 256-764-7386 today.

J.C. Hammond Sons, serving the Shoals with dependable comfort since 1952. Alabama license number 1-2-1-7-9. Did you know about one in three people with plaque psoriasis may also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling? Does this sound like you? Listen to what it sounds like to be a million miles away. Imagine being a million miles away. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Trimfaya. Visit Trimfaya.com or call 1-800-526-7736. Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93-9. The score. In college baseball action yesterday, North Alabama fell to Bellarmine 9-6. North Alabama is 15-9 in the A-Sun.

South Alabama won at Texas State 7-4 yesterday to sweep the weekend series. Jaguars are 14-10 in the Sun Belt. Troy won 10-3 yesterday. They salvaged the final game of the weekend series. The Trojans are 13-11 in conference play. Auburn Tigers fell to Texas A&M 4-3, but Auburn did win the weekend series. Alabama wrapped up their series Saturday. They swept the weekend series with Vanderbilt. Atlanta Braves beat the Rockies yesterday in Colorado 11-6. The Braves will play tonight in Seattle against the Mariners. Bundle auto and home, renters or condo, and save with Progressive.

I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash, presented by Progressive on 93-9. The score. Progressive's Accident Response can detect and send help when you need it most, after a major car accident. But other accidents, you're on your own. Like when you accidentally call your wife, Mom. When you accidentally say, Happy Holidays on someone's birthday. When you accidentally wave at someone you thought was waving at you, we can't help with those accidents. But Progressive's Accident Response provides peace of mind after major car accidents. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates.

Limited availability in California. Driver is responsible for emergency and towing charges not covered by the policy. Join us at Camping World's Red, White & New Trade Event. Our biggest trade event of the year. May 14th through the 17th. Trade in your RV and get the highest value guarantee. Then upgrade for less with new RVs starting as low as $94 a month. Plus, take 25% off select maintenance services. Save up to 40% on camp-ready must-haves. And enter to win a new RV. Don't miss the Red, White & New Trade Event at your local Camping World.

May 14th through the 17th. We'll see you there. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. Really appreciate your ride around the valley. And for Logan Fowler, taking time out of his schedule, following the Auburn Tigers there at 1819 News. Logan, welcome in. How are you? Doing very well, guys. How are y'all? You got a lot of things juggling in the air. You got baseball. You got football. Why don't we start in the swing of things with baseball? Your thoughts before we get into some of the, obviously, the football talk here.

[37:55] Auburn, to me, illustrates what baseball is all about. I don't care if it's college. I don't care if it's Major League Baseball. I don't care if it's down at McFarland Park with the kids. It is a season. It's a marathon. You're going to have your ups. You're going to have your downs. It's all about timing. It's all about getting it right at the right time. The SEC tournament's right around the corner. Logan, your thoughts as you get into it here as far as Auburn baseball and the timing of where they are right now.

Yeah. I mean, obviously, coming off a huge weekend in College Station where they picked up that 2-1 series win over the Aggies. You know, arguably the toughest, you know, environment to go and play in and all of the SEC. They go in and, you know, this weekend marked the first time that Auburn's won the first two games against the top-10 team on the road since 2023. You know, Auburn has now won five straight SEC series. That's the longest in the conference, which was previously held by Texas A&M.

So, huge weekend for Auburn. I think that they are obviously swinging the bat at a different level right now. I think it's 30 home runs in the last 11 games after, like, 29 in the first, you know, 20, 20-plus, whatever it was. So, obviously, they're seeing the ball really well in the box. And then talk about a pitching staff right now that is just – they've been stellar all year. They're the national leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio and whip, walks allowed per nine, and then they rank second in the ERA. You know, all that to say, they're going on the road again to play Mississippi State this weekend, which is going to be Auburn's fourth straight top-10 opponent.

You know, three have been on the road. So, talk about an absolute gauntlet of a schedule. There's going to be some shakeup in the SEC standings this week, obviously, with Mississippi State sitting at 12-8 in conference and then Auburn at 11-8. So, there's going to be some shakeup there. And then, you know, you've got to go to – you've got to host Georgia to round out the conference play before the SEC tournament. So, obviously, if you can just pick up a series win, you know, with Mississippi State on the road or at home against Georgia, then I like where Auburn sits to, you know, to host, obviously.

In the postseason, I think that if you continue this level of play and take care of business in your midweek games against UAB tomorrow and then Jacksonville State, you know, next week, I really do like the way that Auburn's playing right now. And I think that you're going to see that carry on into the postseason. Talk about some of the guys who are hitting the cover off the ball. Chase Fralick, Bingaman has had a good season. The McCrane boys have done well. Those three in particular are leading the hit parade.

Yeah, you talk about Chase Fralick who – oh, what was the – he hit two homers in game two on Saturday after hitting one in game one. So, I think he was the first player since, like, 1985 to hit a home run for a fifth straight game. So, he is absolutely knocking the cover off the ball. He hit 4-17 on the weekend against Texas A&M. And then you talk about Ethan Bingaman. That guy's on a heater. He's homered for – he homered for the fourth time in a span of two games and had a couple of two-run home runs this weekend.

Brandon McCrane got his first home run of the weekend in a timely manner over the left field wall. He hit 385 on the weekend. Eric Guevara the past couple weeks has just been hitting the cover off the baseball as well. Still want to see Bob Terrell pick it up a little bit. You know, yesterday, I know that, you know, before his last at-bat, he was 0-3 with three strikeouts on nine pitches. So, we've seen what that guy's capable of doing. He can swing it as well. He's just kind of got to figure it out.

But, overall, I mean, Auburn's really swinging the bat well, and it's led by, right now, Chase Fraylick and Ethan Bingaman. Logan Fowler's got it all covered there at 1819 News. Logan, here's the topic. It's always – it's timeless. Big Cat Weekend back under Alex Golesh. Talk to us about the upcoming Big Cat Weekend. Yeah, you know, I think that if there's been one, I guess, you know, question mark throughout the first few months of the Alex Golesh tenure at Auburn, it's maybe been high school recruiting, which, you know, you've got to, again, take it with a grain of salt.

The guy had to rebuild his roster completely through the portal and got here three days before the 2026 signing day. So, now he's trying to make some – you know, get some relationships going in the 2027 class. He's picked up a couple of big commits throughout the last week. He got Brylin Adora, wide receiver, big physical guy, out of Tennessee to commit, I believe that was yesterday. And then last week, Mice and Johnson Cook, huge running back out of St. Louis, 6'2", 235. And he's not just a bruising guy.

[43:04] He's a guy who can absolutely run as well. So, I think you're starting to gain a little bit of momentum on the trail. And I believe Big Cat's set for May 16th. So, you know, I think it's awesome that they're keeping the Big Cat tradition, which has always been an Auburn thing. They're – I don't think they're quite, you know, flooded with visitors as of now. If I'm not mistaken, they have, you know, a handful of guys in the 27 class and then a couple of guys set to visit, you know, locked in for the 2028 class as well.

So, all it's going to be is, you know, as the summer months continue, you're going to start seeing Auburn pick up steam in the recruiting class and the recruiting rankings. Still trying to build relationships. You talk about – I mean, they just got here a few months ago. And Alex Golesh has repeatedly said that he wants to build his teams, his future teams, through the high school class. He said that, you know, in the southeast region, it's a gold mine for talent. And, you know, Alabama has recently, in the last five or ten years, become a recruiting hotbed as well.

So, you know, I think that – I think as the summer months come on and starting with Big Cat Weekend, you're going to start seeing, you know, things pick up for Auburn on the trail. Logan, this – Harold and I have been covering this event since Gene Chizik started it in 2009. I remember he had the bus, had a wrap on it. The NCAA didn't like it. But it really is a signature event. And you're right, it's cultivation. This is pool parties, watermelon eating contest. It's a very relaxing day just to get to know the prospect and his family and for them to mingle with the other ones.

It's a signature event for Auburn recruiting. Yeah, yeah. Like you mentioned, it's always been more of a relaxed, you know, fun type day. Lots of games and activities planned. Lots of, you know, mixing and mingling with families of other recruits. And just a big, I don't know, big party, I guess you could say. I remember, you know, a couple years ago in Hugh Freeze's first year when they got the commitment of Perry Thompson to flip over from Alabama. You know, the videos were surfacing around of everyone jumping in the pool at the rec center.

You know, it's just that type of vibe. And it's always been, you know, barbecue and swimming, all these good things. And especially if, you know, if you've got Auburn baseball in town on that given weekend, you know, if it ever correlates to where that happens, that's a fun thing to do. But, yeah, I mean, yeah, you talk about it. It's essentially a big party. I've never actually gone and covered a big cat weekend, but it's always been something that fans and especially, you know, fans who keep up with recruiting can always look forward to.

You mentioned vibe. If you were looking for one way to, one word to describe the vibe this year compared to where it was under Hugh in years past, what would it be at this point in the tenures? Yeah, I mean, I think the right – I'm going to say they're high, but look, I'll be completely honest. You know, when Hugh Freeze first got here and, you know, things were rolling on the trail for him, you know, I liked everything that Hugh Freeze said off the field heading into his first year, right?

So I think that the difference, again, between this staff and what you had under Hugh Freeze is just kind of the way they run their program. You know, with Alex Golesh, we've talked about it before, just kind of the intensity that he brings to the table. And then, you know, I think that just because of that in itself, you know, you're going to see a team that, again, probably not quite as talented on paper as last year. You probably lost some of your top-end talent from last year.

But I think your team plays and takes after how the head coach approaches things. You know, and if you have a group of 11 players on each side of the ball that are ready to go head-to-head and, you know, whoop the other teams still, then I think that in itself is going to give Auburn a better shot at winning football games next season. You know, Auburn, can they find a way to win football games in the fourth quarter, to win those close games? That was something that was just, it was brutal under Hugh Freeze.

It kind of, not to say that Auburn was soft, but, you know, they just kind of found ways to lose football games. And I think that, you know, if you're taking a head coach who is ready, who is as intense and detail-oriented as Alex Golesh is, I think that that's going to carry over to the players. And I think that, as a result, you'll see players find a way to maybe squeeze out a win or two, you know, in the fourth quarter, on the road, and in an important situation.

Switching to basketball, Stephen Pearl mentioned we need one more spot to fill. And they've done a really good job. Six transfers. Well, I know we've talked with you about some of these guys. Brought the core back, Pettiford, Overton, and friends. Walker from Huntsville, I think, is going to be one player that's going to be a surprise. Auburn is going to Greece. The NCAA has waived this rule to where you, it would be every four years. Now you can go every year if you can work it out.

[48:35] Your thoughts on basketball, are they waiting on the one international guy from France whose name I can't pronounce to save my life? How does Stephen Pearl end up in class? Yeah. You know, it's going to – I've been having to take a couple days to study how to pronounce some of these names that Auburn's picked up to the portal. And I'm still probably going to get it wrong throughout the whole year. You know, it's kind of like last year with Keyshawn and Keyshawn. It took me a solid three or four games to figure out which one was which, as in spelling.

So that was always fun. But, yeah, no, look, I think that, again, we've talked about, you know, what he's done through the portal. I think, you know, we talked about how Auburn addressed its main problem, which was a lack of size. And as you mentioned, that's going to lead to can you go get one more combo guard, maybe somebody that can, you know, combo the two and the three. That's what Stephen Pearl mentioned last week. And, you know, I don't know who that's going to be just yet.

It could be the international guy. It could be someone that we hadn't even heard of just yet. But, you know, I think that that is what they're going to look for is somebody to kind of combo that two and three spot. Again, you mentioned Auburn's going to head to Greece in August. You know, dates and times are to be announced. But, you know, this is obviously the first trip overseas for Stephen Pearl as a head coach. His father took Auburn, two Auburn squads overseas to Italy and Israel.

You know, so, I mean, I like that. I think that, you know, obviously you're going to have seven newcomers. You've got the three returnees. And then, obviously, the possibility of one addition before August. So, you know, it's going to be a great moment for this new Auburn squad to bond, to get a chemistry on the floor together, to, you know, kind of see what they can do against some international talent. And I've always liked the, you know, trips overseas for these collegiate teams. I think it's a fun way to go and give the kids an opportunity to see the world.

You know, maybe something that they wouldn't previously have been able to do if they weren't playing college ball. So, I think it's great. I'm ready to see what this new squad will look like come August. It's a great way to build and cultivate a team. I'm glad the NCAA waived that to make it annual where you can go overseas. A lot of stuff going on, Logan. Where can we get online and get all the stories, basketball, football, and baseball? Absolutely. You can check me out over at 1819news, and then you can give me a follow on ags at Logan F Fowler.

Logan, thanks so much for your time. Keep up the good work, my friend. Thank you. Thank you, Buck. Logan Fowler, 1819news. The question, baby, where were you in 1892? I was a twinkle in my great, great, great grandfather's eye, but I'll tell you one thing. The Braves are on a heater, Harold Bugg. 25 and 10, sweeping the Rockies. They've got Seattle tonight. J.R. Ritchie playing. But my goodness, they're hot. Best number since 1892. We won't have to wait that long to say hello to Ben Thomas. He's going to lead off the second hour.

Ben Serrar, we're talking Tennessee. And Ryan Fowler, he's going to talk tight. And more straight ahead of the Boomel Bug Show. Stay with us. Shoals drop everything. This is not a drill. Lost Pizza Company Shoals is running the full-court press. The full-court press Cuban sandwich, inspired by Coach Tony Pujol. This sandwich brings championship flavor, and it's only available at Lost Pizza Company Shoals. And coming off the bench hot, our brand-new buffalo chicken dip. Creamy, spicy, straight-up MVP material. Run the full-court press at Lost Pizza Company Shoals, where every bite beats the buzzer.

At First Metro Bank, we don't just do business in the Shoals community. We're part of it. Our roots are right here, and we know what matters to you because it matters to us, too. Whether you're saving for a dream vacation, buying a first home, or starting a small business, we're here to help you with that hometown touch. First Metro Bank, where your neighbors are your bankers. First Metro Bank, member FDIC. The Colonel's cooked up a new $10 Bucket of the Day just for you. Monday, 24 nuggets for $10.

Tuesday, 8-piece fried chicken for $10. Wednesday, 10 wings for $10. Thursday, 8 tenders for $10. Friday, 24 nuggets for… Ooh, you guessed it, didn't you? $10. The $10 Bucket of the Day deal. Every weekday, only at KFC. It's finger-lickin' good. Prices and participation vary while supplies last. Not available on third-party ordering platforms. Tax extra. Indeed presents… Hires you can't afford to get wrong. Like a data analyst. Hey, what model did you use for these quarterly projections? Astrology. If Mercury's in retrograde, sales tank. If Venus is rising, we crush Q4. You built our revenue forecast off horoscopes?

[53:48] Yeah, the Zodiac never lies. This is a job for sponsoring jobs! This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. Next time, get matched with quality candidates with Indeed-sponsored jobs. Visit Indeed.com slash hire now and sponsor your job today. My name is Whitney Allen, and I'm a widow. My husband, Ryan, died. We never thought we'd ever have to use life insurance, but the unexpected happened. With Ethos, signing up was fast and 100% online. You can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes, and get same-day coverage.

No medical exams, and you can get up to $3 million worth of coverage. I am grateful we were prepared. Get your free quote at ethos.com slash play. That's ethos.com slash play. Paid spokesperson. Time spent on application may vary. Online health questions required. 1819 News. U.S. Congressman Barry Moore wants the U.S. Senate to not give up on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE Act. Over the weekend, Moore spoke on Nextstar Media, saying he is in favor of ending the Senate filibuster rule in order to pass that bill.

Moore pointed out that the majority of Democrat and Republican voters, as well as independents, are in favor of this legislation, which increases election integrity by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and ID at the time of voting. Moore says that adding on these regulations is not too much to ask in order to enforce election integrity. Moore believes there's a lot more voter fraud occurring in other states rather than here in Alabama. I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this. Did you know that 70 percent of people experience a potentially traumatic event in their lifetime and that six out of every 100 adults face PTSD every day?

Help us bring hope to these survivors by signing up for your Alabama distinctive PTSD awareness license plate today. The great thing is you can sign up no matter when your current plate renews and the first year is complimentary. All you need is your FIN number on hand. Drive awareness, drive hope and customize your plate today at at ease dot org. There will be a temporary repeal of the state sales tax on groceries starting this month and going until June 30th. The sales tax suspension will involve the two percent tax on food like produce, meat, dairy and other items.

The sales tax does not apply to hot prepared meals, alcohol and tobacco products. The body of a missing fisherman has now been located off the coast of Dauphin Island. 20-year-old CJ Pitts fell into the waters while he was trying to untangle fishing line off of a pier. His body was located this past Sunday. A grand opening ceremony is happening today in Dothan for the Wiregrass Innovation Center. Governor Ivey will be in attendance for this ceremony along with other state leaders and leaders from the Wiregrass region.

For more news affecting Alabamians, go to 1819news.com. And while you're there, subscribe to the daily newsletter. It's a new season and a new fight. Atlanta, it's time to rise. And your 2026 Atlanta Braves are ready. Swung on, drilled. Chophouse bound. That baby is on the roof. Tonight, the Braves' West Coast swing continues from T-Mobile Park in Seattle as Ozzie Albies and the Braves take on the Seattle Mariners. Braves Radio goes on the air at 825 Eastern, 725 Central on the Braves Radio Network. Brought to you locally by…

The law firm of Johnson Pasture, Medley & Virtual, J.C. Hammonson, First Metro Bank, nationwide insurance agents Michael Doe and Bill Cochran, Medford Jewelers, Valley Credit Union, Certified Alarm, Lost Pizza, and Alabama Health Guidance. Atlanta Braves baseball tonight versus the Seattle Mariners on 93.9 The Score. 27 tournament trips, 5 journeys to Omaha, 72 major leaguers. It's good to be a Bama baseball fanatic. Swing and a fly ball lifted high in the air. Deep left field, a go-ahead, do-run homer over the high left field wall at Auburn. Alabama's favorite pastime plays right here on your home for Alabama baseball.

The Crimson Tide Sports Network from Learfield. This Saturday, Alabama is on the road taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Airtime is 1245 with the first pitch at 1 here on 93.9 The Score. Everybody, Bill King, Bill King Show. Listen to me. 9 until noon. 93.9 The Score. Monday through Friday as we talk college football like nobody else does. Because he listens in Florence. Our show's, Charlie, our show's on down there. Bill King Show. Monday through Friday. 9 until noon. Every league, every big topic is covered. 93.9 The Score. Valley Broadcasting Corporation. WITK-FM.

Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shores. Sports Radio 93.9 The Score. Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Time to take a little road trip to the Peachtree State. And that is Georgia. The king of it is Bill Shanks, host for the Bill Shanks Show. Bill, welcome in. How are you? I am doing great. I'm headed to the best college town in America, Athens, Georgia, right now. You said best college town in the country? You're not going to Tuscaloosa, Bill? No, I'm going to Athens. I ain't never been to Tuscaloosa.

[59:08] Somebody invited me to come there. Bill, you know, after our last conversation, Brett and I, we have been on a guilt trip. And we agree that we do not talk enough about the Atlanta Hawks, Bill. We don't. Bill, here's your chance. Oh, now you're going to talk about it. What I'm just saying, you told us to talk about the Hawks, so the platform is yours. Yeah, yeah, thanks a lot. Now, now you're going to talk about them. Yeah, I'm humiliated. Now you want to hold sex with all the Hawks.

It's never too late. What do you mean? The Boomo Bugg Show, weekdays noon to two on 93.9 The Score. 93.9 The Score weather. Today, mostly sunny with a high around 80. Tonight, partly cloudy with a low near 55. Tomorrow, partly sunny with a 20% chance of afternoon showers and a high around 80. Tomorrow night, mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of overnight showers and thunderstorms and a low near 60. Ampere Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a 70% chance of showers and a high around 75. Your weather from 93.9 The Score. Now, get ready to roll Shoals, Decatur, Athens, and all of Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee.

It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. The Boomo Bugg Show. Your exclusive inside track to the Tide. Tigers, Tennessee, and the rest of the SEC. Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in, hour two of the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg, alongside Redbeard. Thank you so much for giving us a street ride around the Tennessee Valley and for Ben Thomas taking time out of his busy week to join us here on 93.9 The Score. Ben's got it all covered there at AL.com.

BT, welcome in. Happy Monday to you. How are you? I'm doing good. We've got some sunshine down here today, which is becoming a rarity in the last week or two after three or four months without rain. But how are you guys doing? We're doing all right. We love some high school baseball. And this is, it's hard to believe that we're here in May, which means we're down the stretch. If you say May and you start talking about baseball, you know that the end is near. Ben, your thoughts about some of the stories across the state when it comes to baseball playoffs?

Well, I mean, you know, one thought right now is we're not done with the second round yet. That's right. We, because of the weather down here on my end of the state, we have at least two game threes today. McGill Tulan is hosting Northridge in the Class 6A second round game, game three. And then down here a little bit below me, Fairhope, hosting Central Phoenix City in their game three from their Class 7A series. So we're still not finished with this round. Interestingly, I haven't talked to Northridge, but I've heard that Central Phoenix City has been down here in Fairhope for five days.

So they came down, and the game, of course, you know, we had pretty good rain Thursday and Friday, and they can't play Sunday. So they split the double hitter on Saturday, and now we're finally going to finish it up today. So that's a long stay to play a first-round series in Class 7. Absolutely. BG, we talk about pitching depth being so key this time of the year. Arcel's got it. Brad Phillips knows they've five out of the last six years. They swept Coleman 5-4, 8-1. Another team in our area, and you profiled this young man.

One of the best triathletes in the state is Garrett Reed at Dessler. They swept Cordova 36-6. Reed literally, I think, one hit in the first inning, and then he sat down 19 and struck out 13. Dylan Olive had a complete game. Just incredible. Morris Hill won the third game against Vincent. Bo Willis, Chris Willis' son. The Willis boys have done really well. I'll tell you one thing, though, BG, this time of the year, timely hitting, pitching, and defense win baseball games. And patience. I mean, you know, you get these rain delays, and, you know, coaches have to decide, you know, okay, we think there might be rain.

Is it worth it to go ahead and start knowing that we might have to stop and then not play again until tomorrow? And how does that affect our pitching? I mean, you know, a lot goes into those decisions, you know, when it comes down to rain. Dessler, you mentioned Garrett Reed. He's got to be one of our top candidates for our overall statewide athlete of the year, right? I mean, just finished a great basketball season, and now moving into the quarterfinals of baseball. They get Westbrook Christian, which, you know, those two teams always seem to be there at this time of year.

[1:04:22] So we've got some good races left. But you're right, Brad. I mean, it comes down to, you know, normally I think the key, especially at this level, is who's got pitching depth. I mean, everybody's probably got at least one really good pitcher. And, you know, we've talked about this before, but we're all old enough to remember when the first three rounds were one game. And so if you had a Freddie Kitchens, you could throw them out there three times, and you're in the quarter, and you're in the semifinals before you even have to get to a best-of-three series.

But now you've got to have that pitching depth to get you into the next round. So especially now, we've kind of, you know, we got past the teams that weren't real strong but made the playoffs, and now pretty much everybody's strong at this point. And so you've got to have clutch hitting and good pitching. Ben Thomas is always in the clutch here at AL.com. Ben, is it a coincidence that Mars Hill Bible is consistent? I don't care what shape the ball is. But in baseball, the question in high school baseball in the entire country, how many coaches have a World Series ring on their finger, like Josh Willingham?

The guy knows how to win. Back in the day, what a story. Played at Mars Hill, then at UNA, and then went on to the majors. Picked up a World Series ring with the KC Royals. And all he has done since he's gotten back is taken on the coach's role at Mars Hill Bible, and they just roll every year. No exceptions this year. They beat Vince in the game three. Now they advance to play another neighbor, an upstart, Lindsey Lane. Your thoughts about Mars Hill Bible and Lindsey Lane?

Well, I'm sorry. Was that Brett or Harold asking me that question? We're checking the tape right now, Ben. Man, he's wearing off on you, Harold. I'm a little bit upset about this. I know. And not always in a good way, right, Ben? Yeah, I mean, you know, look, Mark, we joke about it, but Mars Hill, you know, when you're at the top of the heap in every sport, now we'll see what football looks like without Coach Higgins there in the fall. But, you know, basketball's always competing for a state championship, and now you've got this baseball team.

And you're right, Lindsey Lane has been there recently. They've been to a state championship game, and you look, you know, above them in the semifinals, you've got Red Bay and North Sand Mountain. That's an interesting matchup for the quarterfinals. And then below, I mean, look, I'm working on my newsletter right now. There's GW Long, who just, I think they have 17 state titles now. Earl Miller holds the record with 11, I think. They're playing Tuscaloosa Academy. And then below that, you've got Ayrton, which has been really good against Realtown.

I saw Realtown last week against Bayshore Christian. They've got good pitching depth. So those are eight good teams right there with a chance to keep playing in Class 2A. BT, you have a great column on Thursday. You talk a lot of times about coaches, players who have had a tough, challenging year and talk about their faith. But we've had the privilege of getting to know a lot of people. Johnny the Flash Thornton, anytime you went down to Common, Hensville, for the regional, Johnny was there. So many people knew him was at Wallace State.

Their SID for years was just a legend for the regional tournament, passed away last weekend. And you talk about people like this who make, as he said, Jeff Spiegel of 3340 played with him in high school. And he had a nice tribute to him and said, Johnny said one day, Jeff, I've never worked today. And you've had a chance to meet people like this. And Johnny was, I'm sure, one of them. Yeah, I didn't know Johnny real well. Certainly not as well as a lot of people across the state.

But I certainly know of his reputation. I know he was well respected in North Alabama. But you just hate to lose guys like that who have invested so much in our student athletes. You know, and we've lost a bunch of them, guys. We're having our Sports Writers Convention in June. And, you know, if you think about what's happened since the last time we met in June, of course, we lost the great John Pruitt. Yeah. Legendary Huntsville Times sports editor and Hall of Famer. We lost Reuben Grant, who we all know.

Yeah. We covered high school sports for a long, long time. Phillip Marshall and Mike Bolton. All those guys. And then, you know, we had the heartbreaking death of Christina Chambers in the Birmingham area, who had a well-known TV personality who went on to teach at Thompson and died in just a terrible, terrible situation. So we've lost a lot of good people this year. And I say we've lost them. Heaven's gained them. I mean, because they always tell people if they're in heaven, they wouldn't want to come back and see us.

[1:09:24] But for us, anybody that has invested that much in high school student athletes, as much as Johnny did and those others, it's a loss. And, you know, in a world where we don't have as many writers and we don't have as many people in the media investing in these student athletes, sometimes it's hard to replace those people. They were the Internet before the Internet. They worked not necessarily for a paycheck. They worked from passion out. The paycheck was added, but they did it out of heart.

I've known every one of them, and I get that generation. It's going to be hard to mimic that one. Obviously, a lot of things have changed, including a topic that at one time would have been, like, foreign to those guys. And that is NIL with Alabama High School. In terms of baseball, this thing changes like the weather. Ben, what base are we on with Alabama in NIL talk? Well, I mean, it seems like it's getting closer. I mean, I think, you know, our state has tried to keep away from it as much as possible.

And I think a lot of the states around us that have so-called NIL for high school, a lot of them, it's just kind of the same stuff they've had. They just kind of renamed the law or whatever. So we'll see. I mean, you know, Steve Savarese told me a long time ago that he hopes we're the last of the states to ever get into NIL. But it seems like that's just what people want. I asked a question in our newsletter about, you know, should we have it in high schools?

And one of the responses I put was, no. Have you seen what's happening in college athletics? I mean, I just can't understand why this is something we need to have for 15-, 16-, 17-year-olds. But we've put it off for a while, and it seems like it's getting closer and closer at this point. Here's to put a face to it. A little town like Buckhorn. Now, it used to be a little up in Newmarket. And you lose a guy like they lost with Holt. I mean, in the smaller of the town, I've always said, and Ben, I think you would agree, the bigger high school sports means to that community.

And if you have a phenom like that come through ever so often, and then you lose him, that just crushes that community. Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, we've had a lot of basketball players like that. Hillcrest Evergreen, you know, they had a player who had a triple-double in the state championship game a couple years ago left after his junior year, and they weren't the same team. You know, you build around that team, and you're thinking, okay, we've got this player to build around for the next couple years.

And, you know, I remember talking to Caleb Holt after he won Mr. Basketball as a junior at that banquet. And, of course, at that point, he said, no, I love Coach Harding. I'm not leaving. And then everything changed in the next couple of months. You know, the other side of it is, like, I don't like it, but if you're a kid that age and parents that have a child who's very talented, NBA, you don't get any shots at the NBA. I mean, there's no guarantee, no matter how great you are in high school, that you're going to make it to the NBA.

And so if you've got a chance to go and make money on the high school level and certainly on the college level, it's hard to argue about that. I don't like what it's done to our sports, but I can't blame a parent if somebody's going to offer their child, if they make a legitimate move and do all the things that, you know, you need to do within the rules of the HFAA or wherever you're going. But it's hard, you know, I'm never going to have that option.

Like, my son is a great young man, but he's not going to, nobody's going to pay him a bunch of money to go to Georgia and play. But I understand that would be a hard situation to pass up if you do have that going on. Yeah, unlike you, just whatever coach we've talked with for the last two years doesn't want it. And I'm guessing your surveys have more or less said the same thing. Jeremiah Haynes leaving North Sand Mountain to become the basketball coach at Guntersville High School.

The softball regionals across the state begin this week, quarterfinal baseball we talked about. P.T., what else have you got on the agenda? A busy week this week. Yeah, interesting with Coach Haynes moving, I mean, going from one state champion in North Sand Mountain to another. And a team with a lot of young players in Guntersville, so that's interesting. I do think, back to the NIL, one quick thing. You know, the concern with it on the high school level, certainly, is that it's going to be used as a recruiting advantage.

Yeah. You know, and that's the big concern with it, I think. So, we've got a lot going on, obviously. We've got the state, we haven't talked about the state soccer tournament, which starts Wednesday, whether it's a meeting, I guess. I understand we've got some more rain on the way, but Thomas Ashworth is going to be anchoring our coverage there on Wednesday and throughout the weekend, so we'll have that covered. At some point, we're going to get this round of baseball completed, I think, today, and then we'll move into the second round.

And then, Randy Kennedy's got another recruiting watch list this week. On Thursday, he's going to be talking about some of the great edge-rushing recruits in the state of Alabama. So, Plank, you can just go to AL.com, or you can follow me at BenThomasPreps on the X, and you can hear me on the Boomo Bugg Show every once in a while. There you go. The best place, Ben. Thomas, by the way, you mentioned your kid not getting any offers from Georgia. Back in the day when Brett and I paid, other teams paid the teams.

[1:14:46] We were on the stave where we were, so. I may have to be the same. We never figured out why. There you have it, the one, the only, Ben Thomas, AL.com. Coming up, UT with the V-Man, Vince Forrar on deck. Stay with us. At Valley Credit Union, we believe every great team starts with a strong community. We're proud to help our neighbors save, borrow, and build brighter futures together. Whether you're planning for your first home, growing your family, or supporting local dreams, we're here with personalized service and competitive rates.

Stop by any of our convenient locations, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, Florence, Rossville, Cherokee, and Killen, or visit us on the web at valleycreditunion.com. Valley Credit Union, rooted in community, committed to you. Let's win together. 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. Wouldn't it be great if you could have your insurances for auto, home, business, farm, and RVs in just one agency? That's what the Michael Noe Agency is for. We can help protect what is important for you. Why not simplify your life? Visit Michael Noe or Bill Cochran on Mobile Plaza in downtown Florence, or call them at 2-5-6-7-6-7-4-2-3-7. Nationwide is on your side. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliates, Columbus, Ohio. Subject to underwriting guidelines and approval.

T-Mobile has an exclusive bundle for customers 55 and up. I'm Sarah Boll. Yeah, I'm Frank Boll. A reliable network is key for us. And with T-Mobile, it's been wonderful. And going to the 55-plus plan saved us so much money. A lot. And that's important, trying to keep costs down. The home internet's been perfect. It's fast. It's quick. The setup was so easy. It took less than 15 minutes. It was like, ta-da! If you want simplicity, coverage, reliability, you want the whole package, T-Mobile has it. Right now, T-Mobile customers 55 and up can get two phone lines on America's best network.

Plus, America's fastest 5G home internet for just $30 each. $30 per month each line with auto pay plus taxes and fees. Minimum age 55. Pricing for home internet rely on two lines of essentials choice 55. $35 connection charge per line required. Best mobile network and fastest 5G home internet based on analysis by Oak Cliff Speedtest Intelligence Data 2H 2025. All rights reserved. It's time to spring into deals at Lowe's. Freshen up your yard with Stay Green Premium 2-Cubic Foot Mulch. Five bags for $10. Then get what you need to keep clothes, food, and dishes fresh with up to 35% off select major appliances.

Plus, save an additional $100 on select laundry pairs. Our best lineup is here at Lowe's. Valid to 5-6. Mulch offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. While supplies last. Selection varies by location. See Lowe's.com for more details. My name is Whitney Allen, and I'm a widow. My husband, Ryan, died. We never thought we'd ever have to use life insurance, but the unexpected happened. With Ethos, signing up was fast and 100% online. You can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes, and get same-day coverage. No medical exams, and you can get up to $3 million worth of coverage.

I am grateful we were prepared. Get your free quote at ethos.com slash play. That's ethos.com slash play. Paid spokesperson. Time spent on application may vary. Online health questions required. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. The Score. Welcome back in. It is a pleasure for us to talk to the man who knows UT like nobody. He's Mr. V. Vince Rawren, 99.1. The Sports Animal in Knoxville and on the Wild Radio Network. V-Man, welcome in. How are you? Gentlemen, how are we doing?

We're doing all right. Vince, can you confirm or deny reports that Tennessee is just going to give up on baseball? They're just going to do away with the program. Well, because of the football mentality that exists in a lot of fan bases, yeah, some have alleged that, but there's no confirmation. We'll have to check Twitter just to make sure. That reliable source of all sorts, right? Your thoughts on that, V-Man? And obviously, it's a two-edged sword, is it not? Tennessee baseball, relatively, and over the last few years, unbelievable success.

The other side of that coin is when key components leave, like Tony V, and he goes on up to the land of the Giants. Your thoughts, obviously, it just kind of illustrates what happens. Don't ever take somebody for granted. I don't care if it's sports, work, whatever. But your thoughts about the program and this, I guess, a safe way of putting it, transitional stage. Yeah, I don't think any of the fans took Tony Vitello for granted. Honestly, I don't think the university did either. He went to get a managerial opportunity that he had.

[1:20:10] That's right. I know a lot of, there's a narrative that, well, he wanted more money, more in-isle money, and said he went to the Lady Balls program and that kind of stuff. Tennessee is doing the standard amount of distribution and how they laid those out. And it's pretty normal. So it's not like they're taking away from baseball to give more to women's basketball. Oh, by the way, even if he wanted more of a piece of the pot, isn't the reason why he left. He left because he had an MLB opportunity.

They're interested. He wants a lifetime. Yeah. So, and knowing he could always come back to the college game and be the most coveted guy out there. So, that, he was, Joshy Lander was behind, you know, the eight ball and the work in an uphill battle to begin with. Oh, by the way, it's not like that was the only change. He took a number of his staffers, key staffers that have been there a long time with them. So there was a lot more change. And this is one of the younger teams in the SEC.

And at times they play like it. Just when they started to turn things around, they had won six of nine in the SEC. And they were swinging hot bats. Then Kentucky's pitching shut them down. And they got blown out the first two games before at least salvaging a game. Now, salvaging a game was important because it gets you to 11 and 13. You know, 13 is kind of like that minimum spot, that cutoff you got to get to in terms of SEC wins. 13 and 17 sometimes can get you into the NCAA tournament.

14 is a lot safer, 14 and 16. So, that means either two and four or three and three in those two scenarios with Texas at home this weekend and then at Oklahoma to close things out. So, certainly not easy, especially with as inconsistent as this team is. You just never know which team you're going to get day to day. I'm always curious when the big orange caravan rolls around in April, and particularly trips to Nashville, Chattanooga, some of the news that comes out of it when the coaches and Danny White, Tennessee's athletic director, goes on to meet the fans and alumni, had a couple of interesting comments.

Number one, Danny White mentioned he's in favor of a 24-team playoff. Greg Sankey won't 16. And he also mentioned that Tennessee will break ground this summer on what he calls the Nayland Entertainment District, a.k.a. Knoxville's The Battery, to where it will be a year-round, to where fan students can come eat. There will be events there. This is becoming very popular. Your thoughts on the interesting week listening to Danny White. Yeah, you know what? The Entertainment District, the fact that he spoke about them breaking ground this week, I think that was newsworthy because we hadn't heard really any timetables.

So, that's been approved. And then what it's going to do is one of the big garages that's used for football and basketball is going to be about two-thirds demolished. So, it's really going to make it difficult, and there's going to be a lot of inconvenience, you know, with parking this fall, and until that gets done. But he said that, like, that garage was built for student parking. It wasn't built to hold massive events. They just ended up using it for that. And so, they're going to build a garage which will be able to handle events and the Entertainment District as well.

So, it's going to take some sacrifice short-term for the long-term. We'll be cool when it ends up being done in the end. But certainly, people are probably going to be pretty upset. And people already referenced that, too, in connection with Tony White-Tello. And when everything's not going well, they're like, oh, you're spending money on the Entertainment District but not to get the best players in NIL. Well, it's not the same money. And so, another thing that you mentioned, B.B., was the 2014 playoff. Yes. Okay, he's actually told John Wilkerson and I on our show, we've discussed that a couple of times.

He's mentioned that he is pro. He is for that. He thinks with all the teams in division and now the FBS, there's like 132. He said it's completely out of ratio in the teams that make it to the postseason. So, he's all for that. It didn't sound like Josh Heupel was as, you know, adamant in that direction, even though he wouldn't take an exact stance. I'm not for it. But he is. He's for opportunities. Rick Barnes actually is okay with the expanded basketball playoff. And it's not like he's worried about losing his job.

[1:25:27] You know, it's not like he's going to improve his job security. Like, that's the theory for these other coaches that are for it. So, I guess Stephen Pearl said that he's not for that expanded basketball tournament. But, yeah, Danny White has been all for larger playoffs. I mean, he's coming from, he came from UCF where he certainly wanted the little guys in. So, the access is something that he definitely believes in. V-Man, 99.1, the Sports Channel. Well, V-Man, talk to us about football recruiting and, in particular, an interesting name here.

Kenneth Simon II. The name rings a bell in Knoxville. Daddy played under a guy named Fulmer there, two-time All-SEC, deep roots to Tennessee. His son now is at a money school, Brentwood Academy. He can't be too poor and go there. And it looks like he's going to be making his announcement here within a week. And the projections are Alabama. Talk to us about Kenneth Simon. You know how this game is played. If it's a legacy player and we steal him, he is great. The school where he is a legacy player is like, well, he's not that good anyway.

What is the take on your take anyway on Simon? It's interesting you guys ask me that because his dad is a friend of mine. And his dad was my analyst for high school football for two, three years. And he fills in for John Wilkerson often on our show. Yeah, no him and called his son's games. Some of his son's games when we had our game of the weekend he was on. So I think it's, you know, for SEC teams, he's going to make the circuit here soon and go on those visits.

And, you know, hopefully we'll give him some clarity on when to go. I think he likes all four of those spots. I think it's Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama. So he's got interest from a ton of other schools. He's going to visit a bunch of other schools as well. I think it comes down to them and, you know, he likes William Inge and Jim Knowles. And they sat down with, you know, Kevin Simon and his dad, both of them kind of, you know, showing like how his role would be in the defense and things like that.

So I think that was really cool for him to see what it would be like now versus before with Tim Banks. So I think Tennessee's in a good spot, but his dad is not pressuring him, directing him to go towards Tennessee or anything like that. He wants him to make his own decision as his own man. He is there to assist him and give him knowledge, and he goes with him and, you know, whatever he wants to lean on him for. But he is not pressuring him.

And I think it's awesome that he's letting him make his own decision and kind of sort through those things. And when he wants some, you know, some perspective, then dad's there for him. V, Rick Barnes has recruited too well. He picks up Vuk Harris, the latest, averaging 21.4 points a game in the ACC. Yeah, Rick Barnes is washed up. It's all defense, no offense. I think that will change this year. He's adjusted, and I know that's hard for some people to comprehend. Within this whole family, it's not just outside of Knoxville, but within this fan base, people have made up their mind on Rick Barnes, and it is what it is.

So it doesn't matter if they're straight Elite Eights or anything like that. Some of those teams have no business getting the Elite Eight, and they did. And so he's adjusted to today's basketball, where you need scoring threats throughout. You need guys that can play. Universal can make multiple positions, can shoot, can score. And he says, I can teach them defense. And they'll be about culture. Defense will be required. But I don't think it's going to be at the loss of their ability to show what they can do offensively.

I think you've seen some of those limitations on offense, because he has brought in, in the past, high school players, and then with a multi-year process of developing them, that they weren't as advanced offensively to start. They were the kind of players he liked, and he could teach them offense. Now he's got to bring in guys that are already ready to go offensively that he can teach defense to in a shorter period of time. So it's adapted to today's basketball, and he wants to get up and down the floor.

People think Rick Barnes wants to slow it down. He hasn't had the players to do that. So now I think this will unlock their style of play that will look different, they'll be smaller, they'll be more athletic, they'll get up and down the court, and they'll be able to do a lot more things that they have not been able to do, because he's got the offensive personnel, and he's bringing in guys that are willing and want to be coached and develop. And the guys that they've hit big time with in the portal before have had that willingness and have all gotten tremendously better at Tennessee.

[1:30:35] That's what should be exciting to Tennessee players, is he doesn't just bring them in on the arm of the arm. He brings them in and then rounds out their game as well. And Duke Harris, he waltzed Tennessee into likely, to me, when they update those preseason polls, a top five in the country. Eleeched in the top five. I agree with you. He's done a phenomenal job. So does the V-man. Where can we get online and catch you? And Daphne, the Wonder Dog. Yeah. Yeah, we had a big weekend.

We went at a park here, and I had my longest walk in many years with all the hip surgery I had. Over a mile, maybe a mile and a half, something like that. So we both had a grand old time. So that was a nice personal achievement this weekend with a nice weather. But you can get more on Daphne and more on sports, at Vince Sports, on all the social platforms, and then SportsSource TV for the Saturday and Sunday TV shows that I'm on most weeks.

V-man, it's always good to hook up with you, and as you would say, when you go to the dog park and walk, watch your step, right? Yeah. So I'm trying to get my dog to not just focus on sniffing the ground where the dogs have been. Look up, and you'll see actual dogs. So we're still working on that part of it. It's a meat factory down there. V-man, listen, man, thanks so much. Have a great week, okay? Always enjoy it, you guys. Do the same. Appreciate you.

Thank you, buddy. The V-man, Vince Raw, and 99.1, the eSports Animal. Sound like in the old days while we were at Studio 54? Yeah. Coming up, let's don't go there, but let's go to Tuscaloosa and Ryan Fowler next. Stay with us. When getting the job done right is job one, you need construction equipment that's built right. From compact track loaders to the world's number one selling compact excavator, the Kubota construction lineup features durable Kubota engines, more comfort, and the versatility to do it all and do it right.

Visit your local Kubota dealer today. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer. Stop by Brown Equipment, located at 826 North Military Street in Loretto, or visit them online at brownequipmentcompany.com. Wouldn't it be great if you could have your insurance for auto, home, business, farm, and RVs in just one agency? That's what the Michael Noe Agency is for. They're an independent insurance agency that can help protect what is important for you. So simplify your life. Make one call for all your insurance needs. Visit your independent agent, Michael Noe, or Bill Cochran, on Mobile Plaza, downtown Florence, or call 256-767-4237.

Since 1952, J.C. Hammond Sons has been keeping the Shoals comfortable year-round. As the oldest family-owned heating and air business in the Shoals area, they've built a reputation for a reliable service you can trust, whether it's for your home or your business. Need installation, repair, or maintenance? The experienced team at J.C. Hammond Sons is ready to help with all your residential and commercial heating and cooling needs. Visit them at 2536 Florence Boulevard or call 256-764-7386 today. J.C. Hammond Sons, serving the Shoals with dependable comfort since 1952.

Alabama license number 12179. Indeed presents, hires you can't afford to get wrong, like customer service associate at a dry-cleaning shop. Yeah, hi. I'm here to pick up my suit. Ah, yes. Here you go. There must be a mistake. This is too small. It shrunk a whole lot. Look on the bright side. Now you have a suit you can give to a child. This is a job for sponsored jobs! This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. Next time, get matched with quality candidates with Indeed-sponsored jobs.

Visit Indeed.com slash hire now and sponsor your job today. Hey, Mom, now that I have an after-school job, I think I want to buy a drum kit. Okay, Rockstar. Let's look at your account. When kids start making money, Chase has easy-to-use tools and expert bankers to help them learn how to manage it. And next month, I'll buy the bass drum and the cymbals. Oh, and maybe some noise-canceling headphones for you. Aw, you've thought of everything. Help kids save, budget, and build financial independence all with Chase.

That's good for kids and good for parents. Visit your local Chase branch and get started. Accounts subject to approval. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and a member FDIC. You know the rush when you reach that goal, when something you've worked for pays off. That's success. At University of Maryland Global Campus, we believe you should never stop chasing it. That's why we offer a skills-based education that helps move your career forward. Learn how to apply emerging technologies like AI and data science. Build your leadership and critical thinking skills.

Apply now and save with no application fee. Classes start May 13th. Learn more at UMGC.edu. Certified to operate in Virginia by Chef. At Target, finding something for every kind of mom and every side of mom just got easier. Does she love fashion? Take 20% off select women's clothing and accessories and find a dress she'll love to wear. Is she into the outdoors? Freshen up her favorite spot with up to 40% off planters, pillows, and poofs. Or keep it classic. Fresh tulips for just $12 and a Dossier Fragrance Trio for $32.

[1:35:51] Whatever mom is into, we've got it. Celebrate mom her way. Only at Target. Restrictions apply. Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93.9. The score. Golden Tempo went from last to first to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Ridden by Jose Ortiz. Golden Tempo navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn at a hard charge down the stretch, Cherie DeVoe became the first woman trainer to have a horse win in the Kentucky Derby. The Derby averaged 19.6 million viewers, which is the most on record since tracking began in 1988.

On the NASCAR Cup Series in Texas yesterday, Chase Elliott won the race, racing to the finish ahead of Denny Hamlin. Alex Bowman was third, Tyler Reddick was fourth, and Chris Buescher was fifth. Bundle auto and home renters or condo and save with Progressive. I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash presented by Progressive on 93.9. The score. This deer season, John Deere wants to give you the home field advantage. We're bringing you the best offers of the season, whether that's cash off on select new machines or a shot at the ultimate Major League Baseball prize package.

Because right now, you can enter for a chance to win an MLB All-Star experience for you and three friends. Complete with travel and lodging for All-Star Week this July. Deer season is going on now through June 3rd. Visit JohnDeer.com slash Deer season to enter and view the offers and complete contest rules. Major League Baseball trademarks used with permission. This is the story of the one. As a maintenance tech at a university, he knows ordering from multiple suppliers takes time away from keeping their arena up and running.

That's why he counts on Grainger to get everything he needs from lighting and HVAC parts to plumbing supplies all in one place. And with fast, dependable delivery, he's stocked and ready for the next tip-off. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click Grainger.com, or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in May 4th, September 4th. It doesn't matter. It's always time for football in his backyard of Tuscaloosa. Ryan Fowler is host of the game down there on Tide 109 FM.

Ryan, welcome in. How are you? Oh, we're good. Man, we're good. We're just, you know, we're getting this slow time. But, you know, I've learned in this business is if you talk about football, it can actually be the biggest point of growth, okay? And I tell these young hosts that get into the radio all the time because they get to May and they get to April and they're like, well, I don't know how we're going to survive until SEC meeting day. But the guys, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

I said, if you really get to thinking about it, I said, when I first got in the business, and you guys remember this, college football was about nine months out of the year. It was, yeah. So, I guess that was training us for what we're going through now because I feel like that there's a lot of things that can talk about, whether we're talking about odds, whether we're talking about, we've been doing favorite plays in Alabama history for the last couple of days. That was fun.

I mean, it was, you know, because, like, where were you at when second and second six happened? I know where Brett Beaird was because he was with you. He was standing next to you. I'll never forget that. Guys, that is one of the craziest. Yeah. So, anyway, it's just, I mean, it looks back and you think about memories and it's like if we were in Austin, Texas, this wouldn't last, but probably about 15 minutes because you don't have a championship that most people would be able to discuss.

But Tuscaloosa, we actually have carried this thing for about two days and I'm going to try to wrap it up today and kind of go back a little bit. But it's good. Well, here's the bottom line, Ryan. All the limitation is your imagination. I had a consultant one time tell us everybody was in there kind of young in the business. They were complaining it was that time, that slow time and everybody's griping about this and griping about that and the consultant finally sat down and said, wait a minute, there's no such thing as a boring report.

Just boring reporters. You got to have some imagination. So to that hand, let's talk about it. If you were going to sit here and have a poll, we always love to measure things. What is the greatest play in Alabama football history in your opinion and the consensus of those who are participating? Okay. It was no more near a unanimous. Okay. It was not. It was more of a consensus. But it's got to be second 26 because it's a walk-off national championship. Yeah. It's to me, that is the greatest play in Alabama history.

And I know people are going to go back and they're going to point. The problem is, is Alabama has got so many championships. Yeah. It sounds like I'm complaining about a problem, but you know, there was people that pointed out Martin Humphrey's onside kick at Clemson as a great play, a game-changing moment. Certainly, the kick six at 85. We talked about Jayla Milrow, fourth and 31. We talked about AJ McCarron and TJ Yelton down at LSU that went on to win a national title. Cody Block in 2009. If these plays don't happen, then, you know, you don't win a national title.

[1:41:15] So you look back at those plays, but to me, the greatest play of all time, you know, people talk about the goal line today and certainly, there was, what, five or six minutes, maybe more left in the game and it was significant, but it did not walk off a national championship. I mean, guys, we're talking about literally the last play of the game where a freshman threw to a freshman and it sealed a national title because you also think about the impact, okay, if that slides, because see, I thought Alabama, this is going to sound like I'm criticizing Coach Saban and really, I guess I am.

I thought he mismanaged the quarterback competition. Now, at the end of the day, he came out of it looking like a rose, okay, but he didn't play the very best guy that year. Duatango Baloa had created some confusion in that locker room and one of the reasons why that team had played so well is they had saw it in practice that the freshman gave them a better chance. You know, I talked to a lot of players on that year's team and they would talk about scout team or excuse me, good on good periods, good on good, which is the good defense and the good, you know, the best of the best and how they would drive down the field and then they would bring Jalen Hurts in and they would struggle, right?

they would struggle. Now, and you think about that moment, if he doesn't do that, I think there's a lot of second guessing of Nick Saban. I mean, I'm talking about second guessing of going, man, you know, I mean, because really I thought the programs during that year, they were at a crossroads. You know, they had won in 2015, but 2016, they got beat on the pick play down in Tampa against Clemson and it was just, it was almost like that season they just got through and then, you know, if they would have lost that, Tua would have probably transferred because they wouldn't have played him and then, you know, Burby would have won, that would have been a national title in what, year number two for him?

I mean, look at that program, how it would have got started off. I mean, who knows? I mean, that bulldozer that could got running in Athens, I mean, so it's not just a national title. There's a lot of implications to it. Yeah, and the other thing too, Ryan, is it's amazing what one win can do for that matter what one loss can do but there's another win that comes to mind since we're on this topic. It didn't win a national championship but I think it turned around a program of all things back in what was, I guess, what, 91st year Gene Stallings came, they got off that horrendous start.

They go to Tennessee, Tennessee is what, they're ranking the top three, I've gotten them, maybe number two in the country and it looked like this was just why they were showing up and Phillip Doyle comes out, I was on the gold post, the ball goes over the head, they win the ball game and from that point that built the foundation for the 92 national championship game. It's amazing what one game at some point, even if it doesn't win a national championship, what it can do for a program.

no doubt, no doubt, no doubt, and you think about these little moments that we're talking about right now, okay, let's just kind of back up just a little bit because we didn't have as much parity in the game as we do now. I mean, the parity is, so in other words, these plays, they're going to become, they're going to have a chance to get even tighter because these field goals are going to mean the difference. These one, you know, this out-of-bounds play, these little bitty things, like we went back at 4th and 31 and we talked about, no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I think that was, it was Jordan Battle, Jordan Battle with Bryce Young in the battle.

You remember when Jordan Battle jerked out Tank Bigsby out of bounds? You remember he was going out of the sideline and Jordan Battle pulled him out of bounds and it stopped the clock and that gave enough time for Bryce Young to drive down field. If that play doesn't happen, that play, and so it's become those little moments, Phillip Doyle and Ed Nani. I mean, it is, I mean, isn't that what's fun about college football is, and I hope, and this is the sad part, I hope they don't take the game that we love so much and destroy it to where we lose these fans.

I have to come back down because we've got to depend on our leaders to lead not in comfortable cruise control zones they're going to make some decisions in the next couple of years that's either going to preserve college football and these memories will last a lifetime but I see more in poor people. I'm not saying they're completely disengaging but it's not as much fun and what these conversations do is they connect you back to emotional moments with your dad, your grandfather, who you were with when you watched that national.

I've got lifelong memories of watching my dad, Cornelius Bennett and Steve Berline. I've got moments of my dad putting these cowboy boots around and running around the house stomping because Alabama had lost. I mean, it's those memories and as it becomes less important, I get concerned and college football survives a lot of uppercuts. I just don't know how many more we can take and still level of dominance where it is the second most popular sport behind the NFL. You mentioned a battle getting out of bounds.

[1:46:36] What about Greg Richardson getting out of bounds before the kick in 85, the Mike Shewlett leading that drive and some, why do people forget Shane Alexander's 25-yard run in overtime to beat Florida in Gainesville 40-39? So many, many minutes and moments in time. Brian, this is getting to be a topic that they do or are we going to 25? Greg, thank you on 16. We hear more of this at the end of the month in Sandestin. Are we going to be 24 in two years? See, I'll be honest. I had Bill Conley on the other day and he said something.

You ever have a guess and they say something and just grabs you? He said, we don't need it but we're going there. I believe it. I think we're going there and I simply think it's money. Okay? And I'm always slippery at decisions based off generally monetary decisions. We're all in it for the money. I get it. I mean, we're all, but when I look at college football and I think about 24 teams and we're going into this playoff run, 24 teams. Okay, there's a risk and the risk is that we're going to devalue the regular season where it's not going to be as important because these games that we're just sitting here talking about, they won't matter.

Like A.J. McCarron against T.J. No big deal. Don't worry if you lose that when you're still in it, man. I mean, you got 24 more teams. I mean, it's just too, it's too many and I guess, are we going to cancel March Madness and move that back to May or because we may be playing college football at the Super Bowl. No, no, I mean, I mean, these are real questions that I have and 2014 playoff. I can't even wrap my head around it. 2014 playoff. That just blows my mind.

You can see why a coach would like it. It's job security. Let me ask you before we jump off. Everybody's in love with these guys coming in from Timbuktu but to me, one of the quietest recruits that's an asset to Alabama in the upcoming class is the kid up the road there at Thompson, Trent Seaborn. He's a mere four-star. It's a room full of five-stars and every time you see a sidebar story as they call it a business, his name pops up. He says, I welcome the five-star coming in.

I'm going to go out and recruit hard. On my own nickel, I'm going to Tuscaloosa. I'm going to recruit on my off week. Can the coaching staff put a value in a guy like Trent Seaborn? It seems like he's back to our original topic. He's a throwback to where passion may outplay money. Well, and see, that goes back. That's a, that is an actual Mark Freeman because that program is built on competition. It literally is. I mean, from the minute you step on, you know, Thompson there and Alabaster's campus, it's all about competition.

It's about, hey, can you survive, you know, what they're, what they're trying to teach and to be able to start for the length of time at his position. I mean, he started as an eighth grader. I mean, you, you think about the guys he had to speed out for that. So he's been, competition is nothing scary to him, but I tell you what, it is refreshing when you hear a young man like that talking because, you know, but he's seen that it's worked. Listen, you just had a first rounder who was 13th overall.

He would argue that it worked. He would argue that the process where, you know, that he's safe and I think that's probably a reward to players like that because you look at some of the other guys, it didn't really work out for them. You know, I mean, they transferred here, there, everywhere, chasing a dollar. It's some issues and I think when you look at Trent Seaborn, it's fun. I've interviewed him, I promise you. He doesn't sound like you're talking to a junior in high school. He's fun to talk to.

By the way, did you spend the weekend parking cars for $25 a car for conditioning now that it's three days? Did you pick up some extra cash on the side this weekend? No, no, I don't tell the audience, but I slipped down. I'm looking right now at the gulf of a market. There you go. Yeah, I slipped down for the weekend and my wife's got to be down here for a couple of days, so I used the excuse and I got out. Listen, anytime Tuscaloosa gets busy like the football game, I'm out because it's already busy enough.

Like that Morgan Wallen concert a couple of weeks ago, man, I was running down the interstate. I was breaking speed limit signs to get out of town. I mean, I was trying to go back. I left late and it's packed. I mean, so no, I did not park any cars, but if that's what they're charging, hey, we got to pay NIL. Don't complain, Brett Beaird. We got a football team to cover. We got on the show today and where can we get online to listen? Well, we got Brent Norsworthy.

[1:51:45] He's going to join us at 2-15 and I'm going to bounce it off of him. He doesn't know that this is coming, but he's one of the greatest historians I've ever been around. I'm going to ask him if second and 26 is the greatest play in Alabama football history. We're going to do that. We got Rudy Arman and we got big Martin Houston fullback, 1992. He's on every Monday, so we'll do these three guests, but really it's about the callers this time of the year. I mean, I could feature, you know, everybody and I enjoy that, but I also enjoy loving taking the calls, so we'll take a lot of phone calls as well.

So, hey, I always appreciate you guys so much and you guys have a great rest of your day. We're going to try, but 10 toes and stands sounds pretty good as eight and a half games up on the second place. Marlins, are you ready for some baseball? Harold, they've won at 15 of 18 games and we were nearly joking. The best 35-game starts since 1892. Wow. They are Ritchie pitching tonight. By the way, kudos real quick to Florence soccer. They lost Saturday night but ended up 22-1 I believe was their final record.

They had 15 shutouts. They could not get the state in Huntsville but congratulations to the Florence soccer team for an incredible year. Absolutely. Echo those sentiments. That's going to take care of business for now on behalf of BB, Greg, James Blair, the entire crew here. Harold LeBlanc, thank you so much for your time today. Let's do it again tomorrow on Dune to 2 for the boom old buck show back here on sports radio from 93.9 We'll be right back.