Boomo Bugg Show 092426

[0:00] Now, get ready to roll, Shoals, Decatur, Athens and all of Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee. It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice. The Boomo Bugg Show. Your exclusive inside track to the Tigers, Tennessee and the rest of the SEC. Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Good afternoon and welcome here to the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird. Thank you so much for giving us a ride around the Tennessee area. Brett Beaird, welcome in where? Boom over radar in Hawkeye.

The big mass report is in the house. Good afternoon, welcome in. And by the way, in the case of Alabama, where do they go with a B plan now that not one but two edge rushers are on the ship this week? How are you? Happy Thursday to you and the listeners. We'll talk about that throughout the show. By the way, Harold Bugg used to cover the Huntsville Stars many years ago. And last night, last night, the Rocket City Trash Pandas won the Southern League Baseball title.

Back. Beating Biloxi. They came literally, I think, from worst to first, but congratulations to the Trash Pandas. Yeah. You've got many a memory there. Caleb Suggs of the Decatur Daily looks at the regional high school football races and hands out some midseason awards. But right now, he is here to predict the best slate of SEC games in one day in history. He must be smart. By the way, speaking of that theme about the Huntsville Stars, one of the guys on one of those early teams I covered is now the manager of the Atlanta Braves, Walt Weiss.

Look it up. Bill Bender's always available there as the man at the Sporting News. Double B, welcome in. How are you? Yeah. And if Oklahoma was still in the top 25, you would have five ranked games in the SEC. You're exactly right. Wow. What to play, guys. How's it going? Well, we're sitting here loading up on our vitamin E, as Rod Stewart would say. Lots of big games. Obviously, by now, we know what happened last weekend. How what happened last week affects your views. To me, a game that kind of flew under the radar that a lot of folks says, we had all these expectations, and now what?

It would be Kentucky and Oklahoma. Alabama fans were ready to jump off a cliff after that Kentucky game up there. And this past weekend, they said, maybe that wasn't such a bad team after all. Just ask Texas A&M. Your thoughts about what we learned from last week relative to what we thought we learned. Your conference is a little wild. I think Kentucky under Will Stein, they're going to be a factor. I think Mississippi State with Kamario Taylor. Florida with Jon Sumrall, who you guys know very well.

All have a chance to make a couple statements here this weekend. I mean, Kentucky made theirs last weekend. Mississippi State plays Missouri at home. Florida's favored against Ole Miss. And yeah, and then some teams like A&M and Oklahoma, for example. I can't explain A&M other than I think the turnovers have been a factor. Oklahoma's offense isn't working. And I don't think Georgia's going to take it easy on them, guys. That's one that I think we might be predicting a little too easy. But I really like Georgia in that ballgame this Saturday.

Absolutely. Texas at Tennessee in Knoxville. Texas' three-and-a-half-point favorite. A lot of people say that Sark does not do well. His team's on the road. We're going to find out. Is this the game that Arch takes over? Tennessee ran for over 200 yards last week, being in Kennesaw State. The 38th time a Tennessee team under Josh Heupel's run for more than 200 yards. Deshaun Bishop had a hip injury, but I hear he's not on the injured list. Brandon has played really well, but Arch, of course, everybody knows, played exceptionally well in the fourth quarter.

Bill Bender has got Texas winning that game 30-24 and covering that three-and-a-half-point spread. Yeah, you know, Brett, a couple things here. Tennessee's fourth in the nation in rushing behind the three academies. So, they're basically number one, you know what I mean, Mike? And that's how you support a young quarterback like Faison Brandon. You know, obviously, game day's going to be there. President Trump's going to be there. We have a story at Sporting News about Archie Manning and Peyton Manning and Arch and the dynamics of that.

It was a lot of fun talking to Archie this week. He's such a good man. All that said, Texas, I think, can go in there and do it, especially if Arch gets going, throwing the ball down the field. Their defense stops that run, makes Faison Brandon, makes a couple plays. I mean, you guys have been there when Tennessee's got that place rocking. Oh, yeah. It can be tough. And that's going to be a madhouse with all the things going on before the game. Johnny Knoxville doing the picks.

[5:24] I don't know if you guys, I'm of that age where I watched a lot of that show when I was in college, and I still remember the skit where Knoxville, the Tennessee punk returner, by himself against USC. And go back and watch it if you get a chance. It's pretty funny. So, it'll be a fun game. I can speak from personal experience. I've been on the field there for a Tennessee game. In fact, I was standing. You may remember Scott Hunter, who, by the way, had that great game against Ole Miss and Archie Manning.

Back in the day, you mentioned Archie. Scott was working at a TV station in Mobile. Alabama had the lead. Tennessee, I've forgotten all the particular. It's been a while back. Tennessee intercepted the ball, ran it back, and literally, Bill, the play shook. They picked it up on the seismograph in Colorado. So, that house, as the late Stevie Vaughan would say, don't come a-knocking when that big house gets a-rocking. Your thoughts about another game, an intriguing matchup. I mean, Ole Miss knocks off LSU. What do they get this week?

The underdog role at Florida. Yeah, you know, that's what you guys have rolling in the SEC is these environments. If Ole Miss comes out and is a little flat off of all of the emotion of last week, and they get down like 7-0, 10-0, the swamp can become one of those places. You know, Sumrall's got them rolling with Aaron Filo playing well, throwing the ball down the field. Jaden Baugh, incredible running back. I looked at his yards after contact today. It's around 4.6, so you've got to get him down.

And, you know, on the other end, Trinidad's been fantastic, and he's hard not to root for. Going to be a fun game. I stay away from games like that when, you know, Sunday night as I started to do the initial run-through of everything, I was like, why are they really an underdog? But, you know, we know what Lee Corso used to say about games like that. You know, somebody knows something. So, we're going to find out. Texas A&M at LSU, isn't it hard to believe one of these two teams are going to have two losses going into October.

Now, LSU's got two big injuries. Trades Green, maybe the best tight end in the SEC, Deshaun Spears, their star. He's going to be out for the year with an ACL. Marcel Reed has not lived up to expectations so far. In fact, Reed and Leavitt have got eight interceptions, LSU a nine-and-a-half point favorite. Bill Bender has got LSU winning 30-20 and covering that spread. Yeah, I mean, it's a tough one because, I mean, it's full circle, right? This was the game that spread where Texas A&M beat LSU very badly in Baton Rouge last year.

And that was the end of Brian Kelly coming off, same thing, coming off an emotional game. Are they hung over from that? Is Texas A&M hung over? There's got to be a little bit of desperation here. When you have a conference that has this many good teams, somebody's got to lose the games. And the loser here will be up against it and trying to get back in the race. So, I'd expect both teams to play with a lot of urgency. It's hard to pick against LSU here.

It's going to come down to Leavitt and Reed. Maybe this is common sense, but, you know, protecting the football. Both of them throwing a few too many picks. Bill Bender, the Sporting News. Bill, you've got the national seat at the table here. Your thoughts about this weekend's game between Alabama and South Carolina. And if you just looked at the numbers, you'd say, wow, this team is unreal. 45, 48, 50 on offense. First two games, all that in a bag of chips on defense. And then last week, boom, almost 400 yards.

That pass defense gave it up against, you know, where are you with this Alabama team? What's going to happen this weekend against the Gamecocks? A little chaotic. And I think they'll have South Carolina's full attention. You know, obviously, this was a tight game last year. South Carolina's got some playmakers, some first-round types like Dylan Stewart, Nick Harbor. You know, I look at last week's game. Those are hard to break down, Harold, because the rain delay. Like, what do we do? Like, they come out of the delay and they look, Keelan is scary when he's on.

And we're starting to figure that out. Defense, obviously, needs to shore some things up. I look for them to get going a little bit and get that win at home and then, you know, prep for next week. Because, man, Kamario's got a lot of momentum there at Mississippi State. Speaking of that, Missouri at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs' five-and-a-half-point favorite. Kamario Taylor, one of the top two early Heisman favorites. Austin Simmons, who transfers from Ole Miss at Missouri. Eight touchdowns, no interceptions. Ahmaud Hardy, not back yet.

But Jamal Roberts is running the ball pretty well. But I'm like you. Mississippi State is the talk of the SEC right now. And you've got State winning this game 31-24. They're tough to beat down there when they're in the Cowbell. We have one. And Kamario is throwing the ball down the field in an exceptional clip. I don't think this is a layup, though. I think Austin Simmons has played well for Missouri. Their defense has some holes. This will be an extremely entertaining football game as a result.

[10:45] You mentioned Hardy. I don't know that, you know, I can't speculate. I don't know when or if we'll see him this season. You know what I mean? Like, we're getting midway through. And, you know, but Eli, they've won a couple trips down there to Mississippi State and Starkville. And I think it's a one-score game either way. So, excited to see it. Auburn and Vanderbilt. Last week, Auburn fans were over the moon and said, this is the game that the new era is going to kick in.

We've been on a horse with no name, so to speak, with all those bad coaches. Goalish is going to get us back to the promised land. And we saw the Alabama native Jon Sumrall come in and take care of biz at one of the toughest venues to win anywhere, and he did. Your thoughts about both programs. We talked earlier about Florida and their matchup with Ole Miss this weekend. But, Auburn, can we possibly put into words how important this game is trying to get back to that seven-win mark after losing last week and a very daunting schedule down the road?

Well, Harold, what about, I mean, cash your lottery tickets if you're a Vanderbilt fan, like my editor, Bill Trocci, about the way they won last week. Jared Curtis has progressed. Byron Brown thing is getting sacked a lot, getting pressured a lot. And I think they're going to have to clean that up against Vanderbilt. Another just, I mean, top-bottom is this. I mean, you guys have been around this conference for a very long time. This has got to be the best single week I've seen in. No question.

Everybody's right. No question. Right. I mean, we haven't even talked about Oklahoma and Georgia and what the Bulldogs might do to them at Sanford Stadium. Kirby's got them doing D-line drills during timeouts. Yes. Because they're bored. Yes. So, I mean, yeah, it's an awesome schedule. That should be a fun game. Kind of like Vanderbilt there, but we'll see. Let me close with this. Oregon and USC. Will Lincoln Riley ever win a really, really big game? This is one. His record against ranked opponents is 5-14, but I haven't been impressed with Oregon.

Should have lost to Boise State. They beat Portland State 84-0 to try to get that bad taste out of their mouth. Bill Bender's got USC winning this game 33-30 since Oregon is favored. Your thoughts on that, and where can we get on line to get all your great stuff? Yeah, you know, Brett, I'm excited. I think this is a plant-your-flag moment for USC. Yeah. I think the crowd will be there. They don't have Mosley. Up and down, going to be a really fun game. I picked USC because I told you guys I was going to do it, but we'll see how foolish that looks about 11 o'clock on Saturday.

Michigan, Iowa should be good, too. If you're into defense and tackling and low-scoring games, you're into it there. But, you know, you guys got to check out that Archie Manning story today. We'll have some more stuff on the Trinidad Chambles. Like Harold said, I just wanted to say it one more time. Archie, generous with his time. And I just wanted to ask him, the best part of that interview was he's like, I root for the Giants, I root for the Colts, I root for the Broncos.

You know, he's got – Archie has to wear a lot of hats these days, and he deserves that. And I guarantee he remembers Scott Hunter as well. Bill, as always, good to hook up with you, man. It's going to be a great weekend. Bad news for the lazy boy in the popcorn bowl. But stay busy, and thanks so much for your time today. Hey, any time, guys. Thank you, buddy. Thank you. Double B, the sporting news coming up. We got it all covered. The big scene across the country and across the Tennessee Valley with Caleb Suggs next.

Stay with us. It doesn't matter if you're running drills at the park, playing pickup on a Saturday, or sinking the final putt. When you compete with your friends with Michelob Ultra on the line, competition isn't that friendly. The trash talk, next level, and the stakes. Oh, those are crystal clear. With only 95 calories and superior smooth taste, it's the ultimate trophy. Superior is worth playing for. Michelob Ultra, Superior Light Beer. Enjoy responsibly. Covered by 2025, Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Ultra Light Beer, St. Louis, Missouri. 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. Game day's coming, and your tailgate crew is counting on you. That's why Lost Pizza Company Shoals put together the tailgate playbook specialty pizzas, wing trays, and subplatters, all built to feed a crowd.

It's why we're the go-to pizza place in Florence, Alabama, now bringing that same lineup straight to your tailgate. Order for pickup or delivery to UNA tailgate only. Call 256-415-8693 or order online at lostpizza.com front slash shoals. From our playbook to your plate. Pat Boyle here to help you feed the book for Western One Sports. Packers and the Falcons kick off week three, and I think the ATL keeps it close. The Falcons have been abysmal through their first two games, but it's the season debut of Michael Penix, and it should give this offense a big shot in the arm.

[16:07] Plus, the Packers' offensive line is a sieve right now. They're down two starting linemen, and receiver Jaden Reed is out after that scary neck injury. The line already has crashed from over a touchdown of four and a half. I wouldn't play it if it moves further, but for the time being, I'll take the points with the Falcons. I'm Pat Boyle, BetSmoder and Beat the Books. Download the BetMGM app today. My name is Amanda Klutz, and I'm a widow. You enter a different reality when you lose your husband, especially as a parent.

Life insurance doesn't fix it, and it helps. With Ethos, you can get covered in minutes. No medical exams, up to $3 million in coverage, and it's all online. Get your free quote at ethos.com slash game. That's ethos.com slash game. Paid spokesperson. Time span on application may vary. Online health questions required. This is Sports Radio 993.9. The Score. When's the last time payroll was the easy part of your week? With Gusto, it can be. Gusto is the all-in-one platform designed to take the hassle out of managing your team, from payroll and compliance to hiring, onboarding, and more.

With Gusto, you can get back two full days each month with all the time you've saved. Go to Gusto.com today and learn why over 500,000 small businesses choose Gusto. That's G-U-S-T-O.com. Gusto.com. Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need.

Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at LinkedIn.com. Terms and conditions apply. Scott Graham here from Westwood One. Coming up, NFL Week 3 kicks off with the Falcons at the Packers on Thursday Night Football. Jordan Love and Green Bay moved to 1-1 last week with an overtime win over the Jets. Now they host an Atlanta squad, still looking for their first win. Kevin Coogler and Derek Rackley will call the action from historic Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football.

Right here on 93.9 The Score. This is the story of the one. The shipping manager who's there before the first truck backs in and the first pallet is loaded. Coordinating schedules, clearing bottlenecks, keeping freight moving. He counts on Grainger for the industrial grade products he needs to stay ready. From shipping supplies to PPE to hand tools. So when the doors roll up, he's ready to roll. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click Grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. My name is Amanda Klutz and I'm a widow.

You enter a different reality when you lose your husband, especially as a parent. Life insurance doesn't fix it, but it helps. With Ethos, you can get covered in minutes. No medical exams, up to $3 million in coverage, and it's all online. Get your free quote at ethos.com slash gold. That's ethos.com slash gold. Paid spokesperson. Time span on application may vary. Online health questions required. It's an evening with Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy and All-American pitcher Jocelyn Briskey. Benefiting the Howard Gamble Scholarship for the Red Elephant Club.

Monday, September 28th at 2807 East Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals. There'll be a meet and greet at 530. Dinner at 630 with speaker and Q&A session to follow. Space is limited. Get your tickets early. $25 for coaches and student tickets. $30 for adult tickets. For tickets and more information, call Robert Newton at 256-366-9616. From the heart of the SEC to the national stage. No filters, no fluff. Get the real story and all the hard-hitting analysis on AP as we see it. Saturday mornings at 7 a.m. Sports Radio 93.9. The Score.

The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in. Really giving us free ride around the Tennessee Valley. I'm checking in on the 93.9 The Score app wherever you may be on this great place called the planet Earth. Caleb Suggs hooking up with us. He's got it all covered over at the Decatur Daily. Caleb, welcome in. I would imagine like a lot of us, it finally feels good to have some football weather to work in. Does it not? How are you? Yeah. I'm doing good.

There we go. Caleb, a little bit of a hiccup there. We'll get to Caleb there. Caleb, obviously, we're kicking off the second half of the regular season schedule. Your thoughts, any of the major surprises of the first half of the regular schedule if you're still there with us? Obviously, a little bit of a bump there with Caleb. We'll get back with him just as soon as possible. Caleb Suggs, the Decatur Daily. Bibi, obviously, in our neck of the woods, this Florence team has made history. And every time they go out and chalk up another W, they just add to their history this year.

[21:21] I'll tell you one thing. I was reading the Decatur Daily today, and I was amazed at what Caleb had on. He's got the region standings. He's rejoined us. Mid-season awards in the power rankings. And you were alluding to Florence, Class 5A, Region 7. Florence at 5-0, but they're 3-0 in the region. 2-1, Russellville. Athens at 2-1. Mustard-Scholes, 2-1. Caleb, welcome back in. Talk about that Class 5A, Region 7 standings. Your revised predictions. Florence, the winner, followed by Mustard-Scholes. Austin, Russellville, and Hartzell, first team out. Yeah, I think the best way to put it is that region's just a myth right now.

I think there are 16 or four playoff spots. And, you know, I kind of, you know, Florence is a hot team right now. It's kind of predicted they'd win it. But honestly, I mean, you know, I really think this could go a number of ways. I think, I mean, Florence and Russellville, Mustard-Scholes, those three have been kind of the ones that have, you know, asserted themselves. But I think Austin found something last week. You know, they were really successful. I think Athens, even though they did lose to Austin, has really found something, too.

They finally found a quarterback. They've got Caden Bledsoe, who's been an amazing player. You know, Hartzell, they're kind of struggling. But you never know if Hartzell. They might click at some point. So, you know, Florence and Mustard-Scholes, they seem to be the top two teams right now. But, I mean, trying to figure out how this is going to end. I think there could definitely be some upsets and some stuff, and this is going to go down to the very end. Caleb, anyone who's been in this neck of the woods knows.

I want to follow up on what you made there, and that's Athens High. It's one thing to sit here and see the Jimmys and Joes, but you better look at the coaching staff, folks who've been there and done that under pressure. And any time you've got a coach who has three national championship teams missed days as a college quarterback at UNA, and he's now an old vet at the high school wars, it's one of those things where you may get me in the first half, but I'm going to learn from my mistakes.

I know from experience how to adjust. Your thoughts about having someone like Cody Gross, who's been through the wars, kicking off the second half of the schedule? I think you can say, well, just from the season, that it's helped. You know, they're 3-2, which is, you know, an amazing record. You know, I know they prefer to be 4-1 and 5-0, but it's still pretty solid when you play, you know, in this region. And I think, you know, coming in, there were a lot of question marks around their program.

They had so many new players, and they've already changed quarterbacks, and, you know, Cain Bledsoe was an unknown. So I think having a coach that has as much experience as he has has helped them navigate that early on. And now they look like a team that has found some answers, and a team that can be, you know, a dark horse, and they can, you know, snag some upset wins. So, you know, I've been, you know, it's kind of been, you know, recent years, they're always a solid team, but they've usually been that third or fourth spot in the region.

You know, they don't normally get the love for a region championship. I think they're a team that needs to be watched going forward. They've got Lawrence, Muscle Shoals, Hartsell, and Russellville. So I think they can beat all these teams. I'm not saying they will, but I think they can. Let me ask you about Class 4A Region 7. Dessler leading. They've been on the roll. They lost to Russellville 28-27 to begin the season, and then they have just snowballed everybody else. It has been incredible, including Priceville. I think you saw that game.

Maybe Priceville, who was undefeated at the time, 51-7. West Morgan got off to a known start, 3-2, but they're 3-0 in the region. Priceville is third. Hamilton, who I saw Dessler beat. But you mentioned this, West Morgan is beginning to roll. Who meets next week? West Morgan and Dessler, probably the winner of that, may win the region. Yeah, I think Dessler is good, but like you said, I got to see them in person last week. Blew me away. They're really good. They are. I thought that they were going to beat Priceville.

I predicted that, but I did not expect them to blow them out the way they did. I mean, they just completely dominated them. And then West Morgan, they're as good as ever. I know they started 0-2, and people might have thought that they were going to take a step back. But they were playing two really good teams in Athens and Madison Academy, and really they should have won the Madison Academy game, had three turnovers, gave that away. You know, they found some answers. You know, Coach Phillips' son has taken over as quarterback.

He's kind of cemented himself there. They found their new running back. Their offensive line is amazing. Just the maulers up there, all five starters back in the last year. They're a defense. It's going to be an exceptional game next week. It's probably going to decide the region. Unfortunately, it's going to be in the backdrop of Rock to South, which is like a mile away. The traffic is going to be insane, but it's also going to make for a great atmosphere. I can't wait. That's why you love high school football like you do and the rest of us.

[26:30] Caleb, Caleb Suggs, the Decatur Day. Let's go to Class 3A, Region 7. And it's the big boys playing some football there. Central and Rogers on beating across the board. Wilson at 3-1, 2-1. Lauderdale County is trying to hang in there. Your thoughts about 3A, Region 7? I think, you know, Central has kind of cemented themselves as the top team in the region. They beat Lauderdale County by a point, I think, a point or two points, one of the two. And then I know Lauderdale County has been up and down to start the season, but they've played some good teams, and most of those losses have been really close.

I still think Lauderdale County is the second-best team in that region. Wilson's been a surprise, I think. They've got a chance to secure a playoff spot, and Rogers as well. And, you know, you've got four souls teams, I think, that could all end up in being a playoff for that region. And is that the reason with Phil Campbell as well? I'm trying to say. No. No, Phil Campbell, no. It's not. No, Phil Campbell's 2A. 2A. I'm sorry. That's okay. I get it. I know you do.

It's easy to do. The new classifications have kind of thrown me off a little bit. But, yeah, I think, you know, the four souls teams. I think it's not a playoff spot for that region. But, yeah, I think Central and Monroe County are still the best two teams in that region. I've only done that about three times so far this fall. You also handed out the mid-season awards. I agree with you. The MVP so far, Severius Evans of Hatton. Hatton, and I know you mentioned last week, you think they're going to make a deep run in the playoffs.

East Lawrence is Kane McClure. The offensive standout, Aiden Davis. I know we've talked about it a lot. And the, as you call him, the honey badger for priceful, Tripp Sivley. That's a pretty good name. Kane Bledsoe. Harold asked about Athens. And the coaches of the year, Nikita Stover and Jamie Suggs. And you've also got your power rankings. Certainly, listen, you outdid yourself this week as far as a great mid-season update on the regional standings, your awards, and also the power rankings. And, again, most of the games this Friday are going to be non-region games.

And, again, there's some dillies next week. Listen, tell us where we can get online to get all the great stuff. Yeah, you can get online at DakotaDaily.com and find all that content you just said. You know, like over half of our teams are off this week. So, it felt like it was time to do like a little mid-season check-up. So, yeah, you can go in there and see, you know, how all the teams are doing. And, yeah, like you said, next week is going to be a crazy week.

I'm looking forward to it. Enjoy the weather as well. Okay, listen, man, thanks for your time today. Kick back and enjoy, okay? All right, thanks, guys. Thank you, buddy. Caleb Suggs is with us. Music is there at the Decatur Daily. It's back to the SEC from A to Z. Joe Cox got it all covered next day with us here on the Boomo Bugg Show. 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, Russellville, Cherokee, and Killen. Or visit us on the web at valleycreditunion.net. Valley Credit Union, rooted in community, committed to you. Let's win together. Irons Electric has been family-owned and operated for over 65 years. Irons Electric is deeply rooted in the Florence High School tradition and is happy to be a part of many past projects, including the band room.

Irons Electric Company was voted the number one electrical contractor in 2023. Our professional team on staff and master electricians provide the expertise to make sure your project is installed per code to operate safely and flawlessly. From small residential jobs to large commercial projects, call Irons Electric at 256-766-3870. You won't be shocked by their reputation. Hey guys, this is Mark down at Warehouse Tackle. So we offer the best fishing tackle and outdoor supplies in the Shoals area. We're located on 417 East College Street. Our phone number is 256-980-0951.

And you can find us on the web at www.warehouse-tackle.com. Come and see us. We're proud to be a sponsor of Florence Falcons football and we wish Coach Morrison and the team good luck to you in your season. 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.

[31:32] 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. This, this, this is Sports Radio 93.9. The Score. Summer's winding down and life is ramping back up. And Aleve is here for all those moments that matter. From early mornings to late afternoons, Aleve relieves pain in 30 minutes for up to 12 hours with just one pill. For busy schedules packed with school drop-offs, long meetings, and endless to-do lists, Aleve delivers long-lasting pain relief so you can keep on track.

From sunup to sundown, you'll be ready for whatever's next. Feel Aleve. Use as directed for minor aches and pains. When you have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core, it feels better. With thin and light design, it feels smooth. With a touchscreen, it feels fast and precise. And with long-lasting battery life, it feels like non-stop energy. Yeah, that's definitely better. Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS. Built for you. Game day prep means packing the cooler, washing your jersey, and finding the perfect tailgate spot.

But there's one more step. Grooming. Walmart has the Manscaped Lawn Mower lineup, including the Streamlined Lawn Mower Go and the Lawn Mower Ultra. With dual-tone spotlights and up to 100 minutes of runtime. Both features skin-safe technology and waterproof design for easy cleanup. So next time you're at Walmart loading up for the tailgate, swing by and grab a lawnmower, too. One less thing to think about before kickoff. A small business affirmation from Progressive. Plumbers, today will be a good day. You will be profitable. Your clients will be nice.

No one will stand over you and tell you how to fix the thing they actually hired you to fix. You will also feel at peace after switching to Progressive, America's number one commercial auto insurer. See if you can save in as little as eight minutes at ProgressiveCommercial.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Number one commercial auto insurer from the NAIC's 2024 National Bring-Em Data. Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93-9. The score. Austin Riley hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie things up.

And the Braves won it in the tenth as they beat the Reds yesterday 3-2. Chris Sale went five and two-thirds, giving up four hits, striking out ten and allowing one run in the no decision. The Braves are now 93-65. Braves and Reds will play a truest part tonight. New week in the NFL gets underway tonight. The Falcons are on the road in Green Bay. They'll take on the Packers at Lambeau Field. Atlanta is looking for its first win. The Falcons are 0-2. Michael Penix will get the start tonight at quarterback for the Falcons.

The Packers come into the home matchup with a 1-1 record. Tune in tonight for Braves baseball as a take on the Reds at 6-15. The Falcons and Packers will be joined in progress. I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash, presented by Progressive on 93.9 The Score. It's so easy to customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, you'll feel like you can do just about anything, like wrestle above your weight class. In this corner, Doug and Lemu Lemu. And the challenger, Derek the Destroyer. I'm going to customize you in the next week.

Why don't you go first, Lemu? Get over here! Only pay for what you need at LibertyMutual.com! Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty! What moves back and forth, but can't move up? Give up? It's Rain-X Wiper Blades! You see, Rain-X is already America's number one brand of Wiper Blades. So we can't move up any higher. We're number one because keeping your car's windshield clear is our priority number one. So reach for Rain-X, the number one brand of Wiper Blades in America. Rain-X. Outsmart the elements. Based on 2025 retail market share data.

Hey, it's Evan Cohen coming up Friday. The Green Bay Packers haven't looked impressive through two weeks. Will this be the week? Jordan Love finally quiets down the noise. It's on Sportsman 9, 6 a.m. Eastern, right here on ESPN Radio, ESPN2, and ESPNU. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9, The Score. The Score. Welcome back in. It is a pleasure for us to say hello to JC. Joe Cox got it all covered there at Saturday Down South. It's called A Fine Team Man. Joe Cox, welcome in.

How are you? Well, I don't know if the weather's moved the same way there that it has here, but after a couple of weeks of borderline unlivable, it's cool. It feels like fall. It feels like football. What about this Kentucky team? What do they feel like? Is Kentucky putting the wild in wildcats? We saw what happened in the first half of Alabama, and then the second half, they said, well, that was fool's goal. Texas A&M bought it, and then, boom, guess what happened over the weekend?

[36:55] Help us figure out this Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde show there in Lexington. Yeah, I think I suspected that the Kentucky team that played the last quarter and a half against Alabama might have been the real Kentucky team, when, in fact, it might have been the team that played the first two and a half quarters against Alabama. Big win, big momentum shot for Will Stein, and, you know, before you run, you've got to walk. Kentucky really just needed to be relevant again in the SEC, and really, this is the first time in, I guess, a couple seasons that it's felt that way.

So, now, how do they handle success? They better show up this weekend, because my guess is South Alabama would love nothing more than to come in and win a game against an SEC team. Absolutely. Listen, the three of us have been following this league for decades. Joe, I still, I know it's been a lot of hype out there. I think this, I think Saturday is the best slate of games I've ever seen in the SEC. And let me ask you about Texas and Tennessee. I wish that was a night game.

Instead, they've got to show, ESPN's got to show, or ABC's got to show Lane Giffen again. Interesting how Texas responds from that fourth quarter comeback against Ohio State. And a lot of people wondering, how good is Tennessee? They're running the ball very effectively. Fourth in the nation. May have a little injury with Deshaun Bishop. How will Arch respond on the road? Joe, your thoughts? There's a lot going on, and believe you me, I think you would prefer it be at night. I would prefer it be at night.

Those people who are going into Knoxville at the same time the president is are going to prefer that it would be at night, too. Because they're going to have an early morning tailgate. Oh, yeah. But, yeah, there's a lot of fascinating storylines here. I mean, either one of these teams is really interesting. Tennessee looks great, but they haven't really been tested. Of course, freshman quarterback. And Texas, you know, it's one of those things that the resurgence of Texas seems to happen almost constantly, and then the inevitable stumble back of Texas seems to happen almost as constantly.

And, boy, this does set up really well for that narrative to come up again. I've just never really seen the moment from Arch Manning that everybody's expected to see. He's been certainly capable, competent. But a game like this, it may need more than capable and competent. And so this is very much a stage that he needs to fill. I'm not even going to go back and circle the wagons again on Heisman and talk with him. We've been down that road so many times. But if you want to think about the playoff, if you want to think about those sorts of individual achievements, showing up in this game in Knoxville is a big part of that.

Joe Cox looking up with us Saturday down south. Joe, for the folks brand new to us, just say why you start with Kentucky. Well, Joe, obviously there's in Kentucky. You saw the game this past weekend, but let's go back and you know our zip code. Now that we have a better perspective, we saw what Alabama did against Kentucky, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde. And in some ways, Alabama had a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde show this past weekend. Your thoughts on Alabama to date and, of course, what's going to happen this weekend against South Carolina, which, by the way, has a history of giving Alabama fits of late.

Yeah, they really do. And that's kind of the only thing that I think really works in their favor here. I mean, Alabama, you're in the top ten and you haven't really played a complete game yet. So, you know, this is another chance probably to see, you know, a quarter or two of sloppy football of some struggles, but then I think they can right the ship. I've just never entirely been sold on Lenore Sellers. And the way he played a year ago against Alabama is the closest I've come to being sold on him.

But, you know, I just feel like Alabama is a step too far for South Carolina this year. I like where the Tide are at this week. And it's just going to be moving forward about getting that more consistent effort and putting together a more complete game because the luck of being able to get by with a couple of good quarters won't continue forever in this league. Joe, I think this is the best game on Saturday. Ole Miss at Florida. Both teams with emotional wins. Ole Miss coming back and beating you-know-who.

And then Florida just manhandling Auburn at the line of scrimmage. Jane Ball now leading second in the FBS with 458 yards. Philo has been really good. His coordinator coming from Georgia Tech has helped a little bit too. Ole Miss, listen, Chambliss, I've been saying since the summer, I think wins the Heisman Trophy if he stays healthy. Joe, this should be an incredible game in the swamp. Ole Miss at Florida. It absolutely should. And I'm glad you mentioned the other Heisman candidate here who I don't think has gotten talked about much.

[42:07] But if the people in Vegas have this one right, and Florida really is a slight favorite here, Ball is a guy who we're going to only hear more and more about moving forward. So Chambliss is certainly, I think, on everybody's radar. But Ball should be on your radar, too. He's as good a running back as there is in the country. And I know they're going to look to lean on him. I still feel like they've got this one wrong, though. You know, Florida, I know they've looked really good.

But I just feel like this is a big ask for a coach in his fourth game to take on a top five team as a favorite. And I can't help but think that Chambliss will have, you know, he's just always got another play up his sleeve. And I feel like he's going to have one on Saturday again. So what are your thoughts about the Auburn-Vandy game? Obviously, Auburn coming out, fans are disappointed because they've been through the dark jungles, hoping this will be the start of this past weekend of a brand new era against Florida.

We saw what happened. They got Vanderbilt coming in, a relatively new quarterback. But on the other side, the reality is one of Auburn's big bugaboos giving up sacks. One of the bailiwicks of this Vandy team is they love to get sacks. Check it out through the stats. Your thoughts about Auburn and Vandy this week, minus one Diego Pavia finally. Yeah, yeah. You've got to protect the passer. And certainly, if you find yourself in the final seconds looking to run out the clock, protect that passer. I think that was the message out of Nashville last week.

But I think Auburn's got enough juice to avoid that situation. It's been a tough transition for Vanderbilt. And I think they're finally realizing that the time for Curtis was sooner rather than later. And they're going to move in that direction. But yeah, Pavia, it's funny. He, in many ways, just was a unique spark for this team. And they're 3-0, but they're one of the worst 3-0 teams out there. And I really feel like Auburn, you know, off a tough game last week, as long as they can come out and protect the football and take care of business, I think they'll be in pretty good shape for this one.

Yeah, Harold alluded to it. Auburn's given up 13 sacks. That's worse in the nation. Vandy's third in the nation in getting 12 sacks. Texas A&M at LSU. LSU's nearly a 10-point favorite. A lot of people disappointed in A&M. They jumped out 10-0 last year, Joe, and, of course, lost their last two games. Marcel Reed, I think it depends on how he plays. Sam Limbitt didn't exactly play great either. Now, LSU's got two big losses, injuries, stress. Trey Daz Green, the tight end, and Deshaun Spears, their star.

Joe, I think Texas A&M plays better than they did against Kentucky. But in Baton Rouge on a Saturday night, I think LSU's going to win this game. Yeah, that's a tough ask. The thing that's funny about it, if you'd looked at this game two weeks ago, you would have thought this might be the high-profile game that everybody would focus on because nobody would have thought A&M was going to lose to Kentucky at home. And, of course, LSU, you know, they were the hot young thing at the moment.

And then they went to Oxford and got a little bit of humility. But desperation will be a good motivator for these two teams. You don't want that second loss this early in the season. Certainly, you're going to still be in playoff contention with two losses. But with the third one, you know, starts to get a little dice here. So nobody wants to get out of September with two already in the L column. And this should be pretty fascinating, really. Joe, for the folks in Stockville, is this a tailor-made season?

Stay in the weeds and come out and make a lot of people look foolish. You talk about a team that's sending some headlines that was not expected. Your thoughts about Missouri coming to town this weekend? Yeah, really, this is another game. Here we go. We've got four matchups ranked on rank. It doesn't get any better, as you say, schedule-wise. And this is one that's sliding by. I'm not sure this won't be the most fascinating game of all. Missouri's really been kind of under the radar. They're just kind of cruising along, taking care of business.

And nobody was thinking about State, Kamario Taylor, and a win last week in the league. And all of a sudden, State's everybody's darling. So, you know, this is really interesting stuff. I feel like it may be a little much to ask of State to go from who are they to they're the team. And maybe Missouri can cash in on that. But at the same time, Taylor has been fascinating. And, again, let's throw out – let's have four different SEC guys we talk about for the Heisman. Now, make him the fourth one because if they can win this one on Saturday, he's right there in that conversation.

Absolutely. Every week you do season predictions. This one after week three. Alabama, you're still staying at 10-2. Arkansas, 2-10. Auburn, 5-7. And, again, as Harold mentioned, this is a really key game with Vanderbilt. Florida, 8-4. Georgia, 11-1, yeah. Kentucky, 6-6. LSU, 9-3. Mississippi State, 7-5. Missouri, 7-5. And, Joe, we – Oklahoma and Georgia, a lot of people are overlooking this game, thinking Georgia's going to win pretty easily. Now, I thought David Stone and Kip Lewis were going to be out. And I think they might play. But it's a tall order.

[47:51] Joe, you've got Oklahoma going 7-5. Yeah, and I might be generous at that. I mean, their offense has just been really, really bad. They're 2-1. They're about to play Georgia and Texas. It's not hard to see this season getting away from Oklahoma in a hurry if something doesn't change on offense. Absolutely. And, Joe, you've got Tennessee going 8-4. The Texas game's going to be huge. They've got Alabama and Knoxville again. Going to be very interesting, Joe. Tennessee could go anywhere from 7-5 to even 10-2 or 9-3.

Absolutely. And this game is key. You want to get ahead of the curve a little bit and put yourself in really good shape for the CFP, win this game Saturday. And I think the Vols are very much in the thick of that conversation. Absolutely. We had to talk to Joe Koch today with all these incredible games on the slate for Saturday. Great job. By the way, you'll be ranking the TV games from one star to five stars. I think you're going to have about four or five stars on this one.

Where can we get on line and get all the great stuff, Joe? It's coming on Saturday down south. It's written. It's submitted. It's not out there. So, I was tough on myself. I held it to two five-star and two four-star games. But, frankly, in another week, those would all be five-star games. It's a great weekend for football. Joe, in the meantime, enjoy some five-star weather, okay? Yes, that sounds like a plan. Thank you, bud. BB, where's James Moody these days? James Moody is right in front of me.

By the way, we have got a celebrity. A lot of people don't know this. He was on TV, did a feature on shows last week. James Moody, who is the celebrity in Florence tonight? Well, John T. Edge is going to be at the Florence Lardale Public Library tonight. Him and Hank Klobinoff will be doing, like, a forum or whatever on Shoals history, identity, and culture. And True South is the best show on television, and it's on the SEC network. And it uses food as an underlying theme to explore the modern culture of the South.

And it's wonderfully done, wonderfully put together, wonderfully made. And they're going to show the Shoals episode of True South tonight at the library, and there will be a Q&A with John T. Edge. Wow. So that's tonight at 530. Sounds great, James. Listen, I'm proud you said that, because Brent and I still got something on our bucket list, our first trip ever to a library, so now we have a good reason. So, hey, my friend, check it out. Coming up in the next hour, check out the latest time talk with Ryan Fowler.

Helen McGrenahan says, what's going on in South Carolina country? And Jason Caldwell, Auburn fans, if you've been waiting for a house call to find out what's going on, Jason, with that and more, spread ahead of the Big Bowl Bug Show. Stay with us. At North Alabama Bone and Joint Clinic, our Shoals roots run deep. We provide quick access and familiar, friendly faces, so you never have to feel just like a number. From sports medicine to joint replacement, expert care happens right here at home. As UNA Athletics, choice for orthopedics, and the trusted orthopedic team of the Shoals families for over 30 years, North Alabama Bone and Joint Clinic is here for you.

Learn more at nabjc.com. Getting the kids to practice on time. Remembering if it's your day to bring snacks. Making it to the game with a clean jersey. Why are simple things sometimes so complicated? Thankfully, with auto owners, insurance doesn't have to be one of them. Auto Owners works with independent agents who answer when you call, so you can worry about more important things. Like whether your kid is going to run toward first or third base. That's simple human sense. Hennigar Johnson & Layton Insurance, 120 East 5th Street, Tuscumbia, or call 256-383-3400.

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. Bush Light is cold and smooth and waiting for you to get out there. Everyone knows that the classic taste of Bush Light is brewed for the outdoors.

So before cracking open your next adventure, grab a case of Bush Light. Because nature is even cooler. With Bush Light in your cooler. Head for the mountains of Bush. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026, Sennheiser Bush Bush Light Beer, St. Louis, Missouri. All sports, all the time. Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. We all hear the radio ads about the IRS. They tell you to be afraid, to be scared, and they try to frighten you into calling. I'm not here to do that. Tax relief advocates is different. TRA is here to tell you that if you owe money to the IRS, whether it's $5,000, $50,000, or $500,000, we have a solution.

[53:23] It doesn't matter if you're sitting in your car, at work, or with your kids. No matter where you are, call now, 800-575-8124. Don't lose hope. TRA can eliminate or reduce what you owe to the IRS. Generous programs are now available that can give you a fresh start. Our passion is taxes and helping individuals fix their IRS problems. We have over 1,000 five-star reviews on Google and an A-plus with the Better Business Bureau. You don't need to be afraid of the IRS any longer. End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at tra.com or call 800-575-8124.

That's 800-575-8124. Tax relief advocates, real solutions for real people. Rich Eisen here. A SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something one's thought impossible, overcoming high-interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed-rate monthly payment, no fees required, and as soon as the same-day funding. That's right. Pull off your own death-defying stunt with a SoFi personal loan. Visit SoFi.com slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891.

Polymarket Squads is now live in the app. Squad up. See everyone's football positions. And trade if your friend's on a heater. If not, let them hear about it. Download the Polymarket app. New customers. Use promo code LINEBACKER. Deposit $10 and get $50 to trade instantly. 18 Plus. See Polymarket's terms of service for more information about restrictions and eligibility. The Polymarket app is an independent affiliate of Polymarket U.S. and not CFTC regulated. Trading always involves risk. Complete loss can occur. The $50 offer is issued as non-withdrawable trading credit for use on the platform.

18-19 News. U.S. Senator Katie Britt is joining forces with Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia in urging the U.S. Department of Justice to take steps regarding flock cameras. Britt and Warnock are asking the DOJ to guide state and local law enforcement agencies on how to prevent the misuse of these automatic license plate readers, which are often referred to as flock cameras, which is simply one of the companies that makes these surveillance systems. The letter expresses great concern over widespread reports of the ways in which these APLRs have been misused and abused.

Britt acknowledged that the APLR cameras are a valuable tool for law enforcement, but she also believes that safeguards must be put in place to prevent bad actors from abusing the technology. The automatic license plate readers will read a license plate along with the make, model, and color of a passing car. The Daily Caller recently reported on the details of the Flock camera patent that was submitted to the U.S. Office of Copyrights and Patents, where the design of that camera is beyond just merely reading a license plate, but it also is for creating a network of surveillance on targeted vehicles through the data that's collected and can even include facial and body recognition.

I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this. Covenant Rescue Group seeks to directly support organizations and agencies that are fighting the global battle against human trafficking. They do this through funding, procuring, and advocating. You can go to covenantrescue.org for further details. They need your donations, guys. Hop on and donate. State Senator Chris Elliott is planning to offer a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would provide tax credits for residents in Mobile who must travel over a new toll bridge. The tax credits will help reimburse the drivers for the daily costs accrued by using this toll bridge to do business.

Elliott said it should not be a burden on Alabama taxpayers or his constituents alone to fund this large interstate project. I'm Andrea Theis. For more news affecting Alabamians, go to 1819news.com. And while you're there, subscribe to the daily newsletter. Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shores, Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. September baseball is what it's all about. And as the race for the East comes down to the wire, your Atlanta Braves are trying to reclaim the crown. Redo to Drake. And he swings and hits a miss on a deep right field.

To the chop house and out of here! Tonight, it's the final game of the regular season here in Atlanta as the Braves wrap the homestand against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park. Braves radio goes on the air at 6 p.m. central on the Atlanta Braves radio network. Brought to you locally by… The law firm of Johnson, Pasher, Medley & Birchall. J.C. Hammond Sons. First Metro Bank. Nationwide insurance agents Michael Doe and Bill Cochran. Champy's Famous Fried Chicken. Mepford Jewelers. Valley Credit Union. Mugshots Grill & Bar. Certified Alarm.

Southern Pride Pest Control. Lost Pizza. Cypress Creek Indoor Range. And Alabama Health Guidance. Atlanta Braves baseball. Tonight versus the Cincinnati Reds on 93.9 The Score. 93.9 The Score weather. Today, cloudy through mid-morning, then gradually clearing with a high around 85. Tonight, partly cloudy with a low near 60. Tomorrow, mostly sunny with a high around 85. Tomorrow night, partly cloudy with a low near 60. And for your Saturday, mostly sunny with a high around 85. Your weather from 93.9 The Score. Now, get ready to roll Shoals, Decatur, Athens, and all of northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee.

[59:00] 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, our tour to the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg, alongside Ray Beard. Thank you so much for giving us free ride around the Tennessee Valley and for checking in on the 93.9 The Score Out. With that, we say hello to Jason Caldwell. He's got the Auburn Tigers covered at Auburn 24-7.

JC, welcome in. Happy Thursday to you. How are you? Hey, guys. I'm doing good. Hey, bud. Appreciate you taking time out. Jason, by now, you've heard a lot of fussing. Anytime your team loses, it's a bad taste, your mouth. But it's time, as they say, to move on. Jason, your thoughts. First of all, your analysis that you've now had a little time to digest what happened over the weekend. And to me, the thing that's more important about that, five things Auburn must fix to get rolling this weekend.

Yeah, no, I think there's, you know, you have to stop somewhere, but five was a number I came to. Just five, right? Yeah, a few things you have to fix. Now, if you would have told me that Auburn was going to score 39 points, there's no way. I don't think, I said they're not losing to anybody on the schedule, because I thought this defense was going to be good enough to do their thing. Right, good point. But you have to go out and execute, too. And they just didn't execute defensively, and it was across the board.

It was alignment, obviously assignment, missed tackles, a couple of just, you know, penalties. You give up, you know, third and longs, one where you miss a tackle, one where you blow a coverage. I mean, it was a combination of everything, and then offensively, like you scored 39, but you still didn't play anything close to a complete performance, which I guess is a positive in itself, because it shows this team's going to be able to score some points, I think. But they've got to find a way to run the football.

They've got to find a way to protect the quarterback better, whether that's getting rid of it quicker, blocking better. It's a combination of everything. So, that's it. You look at it and go, I don't think there's anybody just good enough to win games with as many mistakes as they made the other night. And if they can clean that up, then they can go compete with folks. But you've got to play cleaner football starting Saturday. Jason, starting Saturday is a good time to find out if they can do what you said, because, as you mentioned, Auburn so far has not exactly lit the world up protecting the quarterback.

While on the other side of the coin, Vanderbilt, it's all rough with competition, stats be what they may. They've done an outstanding job of getting to the other quarterbacks. So, this is not the matchup you want if you're an Auburn fan, unless you can say, listen to Jason and fix it. Yeah, and you're right, competition, you know, you didn't know what Florida was last week. And, look, they saved up a bunch of things. And now you look at Vanderbilt, they had to turn it loose against NC State last week.

But you're right, they have a bunch of sacks. But 11 of the 12 were against Austin Peay and Delaware. That one against NC State, and NC State had a lead, so they were able to run the football as well. NC State ran it well. And so, look, it's a risk-reward defense. They're going to create a bunch of pressure, try to create a bunch of negative plays. But can you find a way to make some plays? You know, on the other side of that, too, that's going to be a key for Auburn.

But got to find a way to run it and avoid, you're right, avoid those long situations. And that's what Vanderbilt hopes to do, is to create some negative plays and get you in third long. JC, the running backs only carried the ball 12 times. That's what Cobb should have had by himself. Did Auburn get away? And, again, I know when you get behind, sometimes there's a tendency, well, we've got to throw the ball to catch up. Did Auburn get away from the run too soon? And will there be any changes again on the offensive line?

Yeah, the second one, first, we haven't been told there will be changes. But I would not be surprised to see changes. When you look at the offensive line, they've done it three weeks in a row. And so we'll see if they do that again and have a different look offensive line this week. You know, running game, yes. I thought there were opportunities to run it a little bit more. And, you know, the key stat for me, we heard from Alec Scullish on Monday, was, look, they had six possessions where they got that initial first down as a tempo team.

And they scored touchdowns on five of the six, which to me means you better find a way to get that first first down. And I thought there were some opportunities to do that. And it felt like a little bit like Baylor sometimes where you're trying to dial up too many big plays in the passing game. And it's okay when you hit those. But when you don't, then those aren't high percentage targets. Then you leave yourself in a long yardage situation or because it's slow developing. That's a sack risk that you don't need to take a lot of time to do.

[1:04:27] So we'll see if they get the ball out of the hands quicker, get the ball to the backs, and maybe in the backs in the passing game as well. I think there's some opportunities there. But I think, yeah, there's some positives out from this offensive group, but still got a lot of things that need to get better. Jason Caldwell, again, Auburn 24-7 sports. There's two surprises. One, the offense scoring 39 and losing, which means the other side of the surprise is I think a lot of folks put their hopes on this Auburn defense to have this offense catch up to an SEC level.

Your thoughts, what in the world? I mean, it's a head scratcher, is it not? Because DJ Durkin got one of the best reputations out there. You thought he had a lot of pieces, got one of the best defensive individuals in the entire country. Where are you starting trying to get through the head scratching about what happened Saturday night on that side of the ball? Yeah, you know, you hear from some things like where you go, you know, were they too amped up? We heard they never got settled in.

And I think there's a little bit of truth to that, too. But a minute or later, you have to just start playing football. And so often, unless we've been doing this long enough, you'll hear coaches go, well, we need to simplify things, just let guys play football. And I think that's probably some of it, too. And you get a group that's played together, and you've got some older guys, and you keep adding to a defense. And sooner or later, you go, you know what? Those guys are thinking instead of playing.

And so now, maybe you go back on it and just say, look, this turn guy's losing football. And so that sometimes can solve some issues when there's enough talent. And there's enough talent on this defense to go make plays. But they do have to get better at rushing a passer from the edge. They've got to start getting some production from, you know, Deshaun Womack and Nate Johnson. Do we see maybe Demarcus Riddick more off the edge a little bit as a pass rusher? I think there's some things that you can still try to tweak on that side of the ball in addition to just executing.

J.C., I thought going in this was going to be a developmental year for Auburn. I had wondered. It's very difficult to compare because they're different eras. But as far as starting Coach Dye's first year, some of the other Auburn coaches who came in, at least the ones who were successful, and we've got a long way to go here. I still think this is a very good Auburn staff. I think Alex Golidge was a good choice as far as the coach. And I still think D.J. Durkin's one of the best defensive coordinators.

Have you thought, how could you relate Alex Golidge's first year to Pat Dye's? Yeah, I thought Baylor was probably a lot of that, where you went and you found a way to win a game. You grinded one out. Listen, it's going to look very different than it looked in 1981 because you're not going to find 44 to 39 games. But I do think there's some similarities. You make these mistakes and you come up just short. That's the thing now. It's like if you clean it up and you lose some of those close games and you're just losing.

Look, Florida's a good team. And they've got some really talented players. I was in the prisoner of the moment Saturday night. You go, man, that was just a terrible football game. And then you go back and go, look, if there's five plays different in that game, it's probably Florida 20 points less if you just do what you're supposed to do on defense. And you look up at the scoreboard and you go, okay, that's what you could have expected. You maybe win the game. But because you allowed them to extend drives and keep the ball and get chunk yardage on third and long situations, the game got out of hand there in the middle.

But I don't think there was a ton of difference between those rosters. And so can you find ways to execute? And that's, you know, that 81 team, they weren't the most talented team. They battled. And I think this team will continue to battle. But if you do that and you see growth, that's the thing. I don't think we've seen growth. Even against Southern Miss, they had a bunch of mistakes. They had a bunch of mistakes last week. You've got to start cleaning those things up to start to see growth for this roster moving forward.

And that's what you want to see Saturday. I haven't looked at the complete list, Jason, but it looks like from a match standpoint, in other words, the availability report, looks like Auburn is relatively healthy. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, looks like they've got some guys missing in action coming up this weekend. Yeah, you know, I think they've got a few guys. Nobody that's really, what you would say, one of their key guys, though, I think, for Vandy. And they could get Cole Spence back, who's one of their best tight ends.

And so, both teams will, in terms of the key players on their rosters, both of these teams should be pretty healthy going into Saturday. JC, it's very easy, as you said, to get caught up in the moment. And, you know, nobody played well. Well, some of the guys did play well. Who caught your eye on either side of the ball? Who actually did have a good game? Yeah, I think this wide receiver group right now has been the most consistent group on this entire roster. And that's, you know, I wasn't expecting to say that before the year started.

[1:09:49] So, I think the wide receivers have been really good. Elijah Melendez continues to be exceptionally good on that defensive side of the ball. Just got to get some other guys to come along. I think Cody Sigler's been as advertised. I think he's done a good job up front for them. And so, there's some guys playing good enough football. Just got to get everybody playing on the same level, you know, for this team now. As you get ready for, you know, it's game four of year one.

But it feels more important than that because of what's ahead, because of the road schedule ahead for this team. It feels like this is a really, really big football game come Saturday. I'll tell you one thing, Alabama and Auburn have got the toughest October at Tennessee, at Georgia. Of course, there's a bye week game between LSU, Ole Miss, my Lord. It is going to be a tough, and I've already heard some ACC coaches complaining, you know, we may have thought, it took another second to think about adding that ninth conference game here with the schedules.

Listen, I always enjoy the conversation. Have you got any specials with Auburn 247? How can we go to a line to get your stuff, Nathan's, and the teams? Yeah, yeah. Before we do that, you're talking about schedules. I don't know that Oklahoma's right now would be one I would want either. They're at Georgia. Absolutely. Bye week. Texas. Yes. Kentucky. At Mississippi State. And then at Florida. Ole Miss. Texas A&M. That's a tough one for them, too, down the road. But, you know, right now, 50% off. So, you can do 50% off of new subscribers at Auburn 247.

So, lots of things to look at. Obviously, started some basketball as well. So, we have some basketball coverage from yesterday moving in towards basketball season. So, yeah, come check us out there. All the social media platforms, YouTube as well, Auburn 247. Sounds great, Jason. Thanks for your time, Dave, and have a good weekend. All right? Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Thank you, Boone. Jason Caldwell hooking up with us, Auburn 247 Sports. South Carolina is going to take their Gamecocks and fly into Tuscaloosa this weekend. We'll take you to SC Country with Helmut Grenahan on deck.

Stay with us. At First Southern Bank, we always cheer for the home team. We are homegrown with deep roots, and we're invested in this community. With checking and savings accounts, mobile and online banking, and a mortgage department to help you with the home of your dreams, First Southern Bank is your neighborhood bank. Sometimes, a local financial institution with deep roots and a commitment to the community can provide just the banking services you need. We always root for the home team, because we are the home team.

First Southern Bank, equal housing lender, member FDIC. Built upon a solid foundation of cast iron and steel, the Kubota L01 Series is part of the number one selling compact tractor lineup in the U.S. They feature powerful Kubota diesel engines and easy operation. The durable Kubota L01 Series. Talk to your local Kubota dealer today to schedule a demo. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer. Visit Brown Equipment Company in Loretto or at brownequipmentcompany.com. Surprise. Wait, do I know you? You use your Discover cashback card to earn 5% cashback on restaurants all quarter.

Uh, yeah. Now, it's payback time. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Uh, hold on. Go ahead. Oh, you mean my Discover cashback. I told you there'd be payback. You know, you have a weird way of delivering good news. I'm working on that. Activate and earn 5% cashback at different categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases. Terms apply. See discover.com slash 5 for details. If there's one thing you can count on, it's 24-7 protection when you bundle home and auto insurance with Progressive. And if there's two things you can count on, it's your smoke detector battery dying at 3 a.m.

Not 3 p.m. on a Saturday when you have nothing going on. But in the middle of the night when you're fast asleep. Oh, come on. Get 24-7 protection when you bundle home and auto with Progressive. Just one more thing you can count on. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company affiliates and third-party insurance. Not available in all states or situations. Nothing says legendary like the Atlanta Braves. But here in the Shoals, there's another hometown legend you can taste. Step up to the plate at Champy's Famous Fried Chicken, where the fried chicken is as unforgettable as a walk-off home at a Braves game.

Load up on those legendary homemade sides. And don't forget a true Delta classic, Champy's Homemade Hot Tamales. Lunch, dinner, or any time you're craving something unforgettable, it's always a winning play at Champy's. 122nd Street in Muscle Shoals. Famous fried chicken, legendary sides, and a meal worth cheering for. All sports, all the time. Sports Radio 93.9. The Score. The Score. It's game day. Are your moderate to severe Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms keeping you from the action? Skyrizi, Risenkizumab Risa, could help you get back to the game.

[1:14:59] Skyrizi is proven to help people feel significant symptom relief, achieve remission, and visibly improve damage of the intestinal lining. Skyrizi is a prescription injection medicine for adults. Don't use if allergic to Skyrizi. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections, or lower ability to fight them may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor about any flu-like symptoms or vaccines. Liver problems leading to hospitalization may occur when treated for Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. Control is everything to me. Ask your doctor about Skyrizi, the number one prescribed biologic in Crohn's and ulcerative colitis combined.

Learn more at skyrizi.com or 1-866-SKYRIZI. There's nothing worse than waking up sick. In this time of year, with the kids back in school surrounded by hundreds of others, yours may bring home a whole new world of viruses and bacteria your family may have no immunity to. No kids, viruses are still everywhere. And one ugly strain just showed up. Now it's 2 a.m. Your throat feels like strep and your fever is spiking. Urgent care? Get dressed and wait in a room full of sick people.

Your doctor? Good luck. Or open your medicine cabinet and smile because you have a fully stocked medical emergency kit from the wellness company. It's like an urgent care and a drugstore right at home. It contains essential prescription medications in your name for over 30 common conditions. Strep throat, sinus infections, pneumonia, UTI, stomach bugs, and more. Plus, telehealth doctors standing by for questions. I trust my medical emergency kit and I can save you $45 right now. Visit urgentcarekit.com slash sports promo code sports. That's urgentcarekit.com slash sports promo code sports.

Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93.9 The Score. South Alabama's on the road this week as they travel to Lexington. They'll take on the Kentucky Wildcats. Jaguars and the Wildcats are both 2-1 on the year. Auburn Tigers are home Saturday as they host Vanderbilt. The Tigers are 2-1 on the season, 0-1 in SEC play. Vandy is off to a 3-0 start. Eighth-ranked Alabama will host South Carolina under the lights on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide 3-0 on the year, 1-0 in the SEC. South Carolina is 2-1 on the season, 0-1 in conference play.

Troy Trojans on the road this week to play at Utah State. Troy's 2-1. Utah State is 0-3. North Alabama's home to host Western Illinois. Both teams are 2-2. Tune in tonight for Braves baseballs to take on the Reds at 6-15. Falcons and Packers will be joined in progress. I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash presented by Progressive on 93.9 The Score. Pro football is back. Trade your predictions on Koushi, America's number one prediction market platform. Indy is currently trading at 28% tops at Kansas City, meaning a $100 trade pays out $350 if they win.

Download Koushi. Use code JUMP to get $25 when you trade $25. K-A-L-S-H-I. Koushi. Trade on anything. 18 plus only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Koushi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see Koushi.com slash regulatory. Hey, it's Flo here to say drivers who switch and save with Progressive could save hundreds. Nice. With my new savings, I'll get some hiking gear. It'll be great for my outdoor era.

I don't know if it counts as an era if you just buy stuff. Um, I got a cute hiking backpack. It's an outdoor era. Well, you only bought one thing. I don't think it's an era. Well, I think we're in a agree to disagree era. Yeah, sure. You're probably right. Anyway, with the money you could save by switching to Progressive, you can afford to switch to other things in life. It's my savings era. Also, everything you do is not an error. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates.

The Alabama defensive line isn't the only one with skills. Ask your Amazon Alexa devices to tune in to 93.9 The Score. Listen to The Score streaming live anywhere on Alexa-enabled devices. All of your favorite shows and teams are waiting. The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. The Score. Welcome back in. As you well know, South Carolina comes to Tuscaloosa this weekend. Right now, we take you to South Carolina. Say hello to Hale McGranahan. He's got it all covered there with Gamecocks 24-7. Hale, long time.

Welcome in. Welcome back. How are you? Doing well. Always enjoyed being on with you guys. Thanks for having me. Thank you, bud. Yeah, it's that time of the year. Hale, obviously, everybody's kind of getting their legs under them. You've got fans who are happy and some who are sad, ready to already fire coaches and we're not even to the third mark in the regular season yet. Let's talk about South Carolina, Hale. Where are things right now? What have you learned about this Gamecocks team as they gear up to fly into Tuscaloosa this weekend?

Well, the third quarter last week was pretty awful. We learned that they're still capable of blowing a sizable lead like they did last year at Texas A&M and they blew a couple leads before that game. Obviously, the Alabama game last year and the Missouri game before that as well. So, we learned that they've still got that in them. So, maybe they can figure out a way to get past that at some point sooner than later and get things figured out here this weekend in Tuscaloosa.

[1:20:20] So, we do know that they've still got that streak in them. Yeah. Is it safe to say, Hale, I think it goes without saying, every fan base, they say this fan base is more rabid than that. It's one thing all fan bases have in common. They don't have a lot of patience when you sit here and basically do the groundhog thing, when you rinse and repeat. Where's the fan base right now with Shane? There are a lot of people who are, quite frankly, ready to make a change.

And plenty of them were feeling that way after going 4-8 last year. And like those three games I just laid out for you, Missouri, Alabama, and especially the A&M game when they're up 27 points at halftime. All that added fuel to the fire, quite frankly. And, obviously, they brought him back, and here he is. And, you know, the cries are getting louder and more boisterous. So, yeah, there are plenty of folks who are ready to see the end of this thing. And it's only three games into this season, and so maybe a little premature.

But that's only going to get louder if they don't win this weekend. So, there are some people who still want to give him a chance, for sure. It's not like totally everybody's ready to cut bait, but that bandwagon is getting more crowded. Well, Hill, South Carolina's given Alabama fits the last two years. Kendall Bryles, the offensive coordinator, I think a lot of people saw that the Mike Shield experiment last year was not working and ended up ending. But Lenore Sellers has been on Heisman's list for the last couple of years.

He's got potential. He's off to a good start, 650 passing yards, five touchdowns. But he had two interceptions last week. What does Kendall Bryles as an OC bring? Is it more of a balanced attack? And how much has he improved Sellers? Yeah, I mean, Bryles brings an up-tempo system, and it's obviously spread-oriented and all that. They didn't go real fast last week against Mississippi State, and I think some of that was just by design, given that Mississippi State's super explosive and you didn't want to necessarily let them get going in a hurry.

And eventually they figured out how to get going. But I think the biggest thing that Bryles did, especially early on last week, was find some ways to get Lenore into a rhythm and get comfortable. And, you know, he was 13 of 20 for, I think, like 176 yards and a touchdown in the first half. So he was off to a pretty solid start. I mean, it wasn't perfect by any means. I mean, he threw an interception on a play they got bailed out on because of a penalty. But, you know, things were going pretty well.

I mean, they had 24 points and 273 yards or something like that of total offense in the first half. So it was like, all right, they're cooking. They're doing great. Like, things are, you know, not perfect by any means. They had to settle for some field goals. They had the ball in the sixth-inch line and had to kick a field goal. But if you had told anybody 24 points and that many yards at halftime, they'd have taken it. But the third quarter happened. So, you know, Kendall did a pretty solid job overall.

But, you know, Lenore had some issues during the third quarter, and they got behind in a hurry. H***, McGranahan, Gamecocks 24-7. H***, I'm looking at the stats. You know what to say about stats. They can lie on you sometimes. But statistically right now, if you're a stat nerd, total offense, South Carolina has the edge on Alabama. Total defense, South Carolina has the edge on Alabama. If you buy into the numbers, your thoughts about those numbers and coming in, what would be South Carolina's, in your opinion, biggest strength against Bama, and, conversely, their biggest weakness against this team?

Yeah, those numbers are pretty misleading. Obviously, as everybody who's listening knows, Bama's played, what, Florida State and Kentucky. They've got two power conference games, whereas Carolina just had the one against Mississippi State last weekend. I mean, they played Kent State in week one, and I don't think Kent State's very good. A ton of yards against them. And then against Towson, I mean, they had nine drop passes in that game, and some of that was due to some weather. But they rushed for, like, 405 yards against Towson.

So, like, yeah, they did some stat padding in the first two weeks. So there's definitely some truth hiding behind those numbers. But, yeah, as far as this matchup goes, what concerns me for Carolina is that I think Alabama seems to be better running the ball, right, guys? Yeah, absolutely. They found their run game. Yeah, so that's an issue. I mean, Carolina's pretty strong up front on defense, but it's alarming. It could be alarming what that matchup has in store. Just me going back and watching a little bit of that Florida State game last weekend and seeing Daniel Hill and E.J. Crowell and I can't remember the other running back's name, but they look really good.

[1:25:50] So that's potentially going to be a challenge. And offensively for Carolina, it's, you know, Lenores and the receivers of the passing game trying to figure out what they can do through the air against that secondary, which seems to be really good. And, you know, I know Florida State was able to do some things and, you know, Deuce Robinson, that receiver for the Seminoles, is really good. But Carolina doesn't have anybody, quite frankly, who's inherently as good as Deuce Robinson. So it'd be nice for Carolina if he stuck around in Tallahassee and could suit up for the Gamecocks next weekend.

Have y'all heard anything about that? No, I haven't. No, I haven't. No. Yeah, so that's probably going to be a challenge for Carolina. Let me ask you about the Bama boys. There are three on the team who played for Alabama and, of course, transferred. Kelby Collins was at Florida, was at Gardendale High School in Alabama. Five tackles so far. Linebacker Sean Murphy, 10 tackles and a half sack on the season so far. Justin Okoronkwo, 19 tackles, leads the team. But there are a lot of people, he was one of the players that Alabama lost who they thought if he would have stayed patient, he'd be starting right now.

And I think he would be. But how are the Bama boys doing so far? Yeah, J.O.'s been really good. He started in eight games last year and started in all three so far this year. And, I mean, he's always around the ball. He's been a bright spot for sure and was pretty good last week, too. Murphy didn't have a very good game last week, and neither did Fred Johnson, one of their other linebackers. I mean, they have that 4-2-5 base, but they played those three linebackers a lot, and they all play about the same.

Murphy maybe a little less than the other two. But, you know, Murphy had his struggles last week for sure, instead of Fred Johnson for that matter. But, yeah, J.O.'s been good. And Kelby Collins, who's played a good bit, he's been pretty solid, too. You know, when they go into some three-down stuff on occasion, he'll go play on the end and work out that way. But, yeah, he's a tackle, and they've gotten some good play out of him so far, too. So, yeah, that's kind of where those three guys are at right now.

They all play a good bit. Hey, old, two things. One, tell us where we can get on line and get your great stuff. And every year going into the season, I hear what a freak Nick Harbor is. And I know you've been asked this question for years about reaching his potential or getting to the next level. Why does he not do that? Yeah, so that's been a conversation that's been ongoing at Gamecock 247 for, really, since before he reported to Carolina back in what would have been, 23?

Yeah, so, you know, coming out of high school, he was a five-star athlete. And when Carolina first started recruiting him, they were recruiting him to play defensive end. And I think most everybody else in the country was, too. And at some point along the way, I guess maybe during his senior season, Nick decided that he wanted to play offense because he played defensive end and tight end in high school and was really good at both those positions. And so Carolina and a lot of other people started recruiting him as a tight end.

And there, towards the tail end of his recruitment, when he committed in February of his senior year, one of the few guys that waited until the actual February signing day, he decided pretty last minute, hey, you know what, I want to play wide receiver because I'm not trying to gain a bunch of weight. I want to run track still. And he did run track for a couple seasons at Carolina and was obviously really good as a sprinter. So that's kind of the long story with him.

And I think part of what's been a challenge with his development is he, A, never played wide receiver at all during high school. B, it's not his most natural position, in my opinion. Like, he's not a real natural hands catcher. Like, he's really had to work it at that aspect of his game. So he doesn't pluck the ball out of his air, out of the air all the time. He does a lot of still now trying to catch the ball in his body. And I think anybody who played JV football knows that that's a no-no.

And so, yeah, he's been kind of still dealing with that this season. And we saw, I mean, there were a couple examples I can point to just last week in the Mississippi State game where that was an issue. So that's been the biggest thing. It's just like it hadn't been a natural transition for him. And that was to be expected. And, again, something we talked about on the site as long as four years ago. And it's been an ongoing conversation. And, you know, he's big and tall and super fast.

[1:30:54] But he's not the most reliable in a contested catch or jump ball situation. And you would think somebody who's 6'5 with an 80-inch wingspan could do that. But that's not him. In other words, looks like Tarzan sometimes plays like Jane. Hale, listen, man, it's always good to hook up with you. Again, the play is called Gamecocks 24-7. Correct us if we're wrong. Listen, we've got eyes on you there. Thank you so much for your time. If you make it down, safe travels to and from, okay?

All right. Appreciate it, y'all. Thank you. Thank you, Hale. Thank you, Hale. McGrenahan, hooking up with us. Busy at Gamecocks 24-7. South Carolina is on the way to Tuscaloosa. And so are we with Ryan Fowler on deck. Stay with us. Hungry for something big? Head to Mugshot's Grill & Bar. Our famous dogs and smash burgers are here to stay. And you must try the new Mug's Fried Chicken Sandwich or the Caesar's Lemon Blackout Wrap. It wouldn't be game day without loaded nachos with jalapenos and buckets of cold beer.

Also, every Saturday, enjoy $3.00 Mimosas and $5.00 Bloody Marys from 11 to 3. And remember, Mugshot's is the U&A on the Road watch party place. Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 2 to 6 at Mugshot's Grill & Bar. Great food, cold drinks, and your game day headquarters in historic downtown Florence. All right, grab some buds and listen up. Grilling season's here. Now we find out what we're made of. Are we going to fold under pressure and overcook the burgers? Or are we going to nail the carne asada and the brisket and pack the coolers with ice-cold Budweiser and Bud Light?

Because that's the difference between winning and losing, between flipping burgers and grilling like a pro. This summer, grill like a pro with Bud and Bud Light. Stock up today. Anheuser-Busch Budweiser and Bud Light Beer, St. Louis, Missouri. Good call or bad call, officials always have the final say in sports. And at Alpha Insurance, we know it's important for you to have the final say on the insurance plan we build for you. You'll have peace of mind knowing that we will work hard to get you the lowest rates and best discounts available.

Alpha Insurance, always a good call. In the Shoals area, call David Jordan at 256-978-6732. Or stop by his office at 103 West 6th Street in Tuscumbia. Or call Mike Mitchell at 256-3830-678. Or stop by his office at 211 East Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals. I'm still going for it. Even with higher stroke risk from atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. In a clinical study, Eliquis apixaban reduces stroke risk and has less major bleeding than warfarin. Don't stop prescription Eliquis without asking your doctor.

Stroke risk may increase. Eliquis can cause serious and potentially fatal bleeding. Don't take if you have an artificial heart valve, abnormal bleeding, or antiphospholipid syndrome. While taking, you may bruise more easily or bleed longer. A spinal injection increases blood clot risk, which may cause paralysis. Get medical help right away for unexpected bleeding or bruising. Or back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or incontinence. Aspirin products, NSAIDs, SSRIs, SNRIs, and blood thinners increase bleeding risk. Tell your doctor about planned medical or dental procedures. Learn more at Eliquis.com or call 1-855-Eliquis.

Ask your doctor about the number one cardiologist prescribed blood thinner, Eliquis. Listen to ESPN Radio all night on Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. I'm still going for it. Even with higher stroke risk from atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. In a clinical study, Eliquis apixaban reduces stroke risk and has less major bleeding than warfarin. Don't stop prescription Eliquis without asking your doctor. Stroke risk may increase. Eliquis can cause serious and potentially fatal bleeding. Don't take if you have an artificial heart valve, abnormal bleeding, or antiphospholipid syndrome.

While taking, you may bruise more easily or bleed longer. A spinal injection increases blood clot risk, which may cause paralysis. Get medical help right away for unexpected bleeding or bruising, or back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or incontinence. Aspirin products, NSAIDs, SSRIs, SNRIs, and blood thinners increase bleeding risk. Tell your doctor about planned medical or dental procedures. Learn more at Eliquis.com or call 1-855-Eliquis. Ask your doctor about the number one cardiologist prescribed blood thinner, Eliquis. From the University of Alabama, this is Crimson Tide Today.

It's daily update on Bama Sports and it's brought to you by Crimson Drive, driven by NASCAR. Streaming live at 2 p.m. Central on all CTSN social media platforms, Tuesdays and Thursdays at UA underscore CTSN. Hello again everybody, I'm Roger Hoover. On Thursday's Crimson Drive, we catch up with Alabama defensive back, Red Morgan. We know there was a heavy RPO team, you know, so, I mean, honestly, I played it wrong. I'm not going to lie, like, I seen him run, but I seen him pull the ball, like, I seen him pull the ball.

[1:35:57] So, like, my first instinct was just drop back, just drop and get your eyes back. And I seen him, like, looking at me. So, I'm like, it's definitely, like, I knew they was going to run RPO slant. They was running RPO slant, like, the whole drive. So, I knew they was going to run a slant. I just got my eyes back, the ball, like, as soon as I got my eyes back, I seen the ball in the air, you know what I'm saying? So good, and also, I mean, was Luke Metz blocking your view?

Because he jumped up as high as could be, trying to come up with a tip right at the line of scrimmage, even before the ball got to you. Yeah, I think I had, because I was, like, when I seen the ball, it was kind of weird. So, I figured somebody tipped it, you know what I'm saying? I'll have more in a moment. Hey, Bama fans, it's Ron Coleman-Williams. Each Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. Central, join Roger Hoover Live for Crimson Drive Driven by NASCAR. This live streaming talk show features the latest on Alabama athletics with exclusive conversations with Bama student-athletes, coaches, and media members.

Given their perspective on Crimson Tide, you can watch on YouTube, Facebook, and A's. Roll Tide with Crimson Drive Driven by NASCAR. If you missed last night's edition of Hey Coach and the Kalen DeBoer Show, presented by Alpha Insurance, catch it on demand on the Alabama Insider Podcast. Crimson Tide Today is brought to you by Crimson Drive Driven by NASCAR. Crimson Tide Today is a production of the Crimson Tide Sports Network from Learfield. Dishler Basketball will host Dinner in the Dome on Saturday, October 17th at 7 p.m. in the Dishler Dome with guest speaker, former University of Alabama men's basketball coach Mark Godfrey.

There will be a silent auction from 7 to 7.30, along with a meet and greet with Coach Godfrey and a steak dinner that starts at 7.30. Tickets are $100 and reserved tables are $1,000 with eight tickets included. For more information, call Coach Brian Pounders at 205-246-0644. That's Dinner in the Dome at Dishler High School on Saturday, October 17th. Join us this fall on Wednesday nights for Hey Coach and the Kalen DeBoer Show, presented by Alpha Insurance, live from Baumhauer's Victory Grill in Tuscaloosa. The show starts at 6 p.m. and you don't want to miss it.

The Score. Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score. Welcome back in to numbers 8261. The forecast high and lows, respectively, for a partly cloudy weekend in Tuscaloosa. I will repeat that, 82-61. Got to find that music to the ears of Bama fans, including Ryan Fowler, who drives you home every afternoon there as host of the game on Tide 109 FM in T-Town. Ryan, welcome in. You've got the jackets ready to go this weekend. How are you? I'm doing good, doing good. You know, when you mention the weather, man, that is music.

I've been saying that for a couple days to my audience, just reminding them that it's going to be cooler weather in Tuscaloosa. Triple digits, lightning delay. Brett, I don't know about you, but that was the hardest game I've ever covered. Tough day, Ryan. It was a long day. It was a weird game, weird outcome, the way that it ended. And, hey, but at the end of the day, Alabama was able to overcome a lot of adversity and able to win the game. And I guess this is the new college football that we live in, that, you know, you're just trying to win the game.

You're just trying to win the game. Brought to you by a local cardiologist. Yeah. Well, and if you ever notice the billboard behind Coach DeBoer is like cardiology associates. There you go. Right, that brings us to this. Which team is going to show up this weekend, Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Is it going to be first half Alabama or second half Alabama? If I knew that, I'd be in Vegas. Yeah. That's the thing is I just don't know. I mean, I would like to be able to say that Alabama will do that because, listen, I do think that this team has been ready.

I think they've been ready, you know, to play. I look back at the game and it's just, it was weird. It was strange. It was the way that it all unfolded. I do think this team was ready to play. I think the lightning delay had a little bit to do with that because I think they were charged up all week for the revenge factor. I think it was beat in their head about the revenge factor. You know, it's not like you keep a bull behind a gate for an hour and 45 minutes.

At some point, you're going to lose his stamina. And you said, well, Florida State played for the same. Well, Florida State really didn't have the revenge factor. And I think Alabama was charged up all week. And then you, you, you, you, you time it out where two 30 is the release point. And then it ends up being four 15. I just think it was a, it was a unique gain from that standpoint, but looking at this one, you can't really preach revenge. But, you know, there's been a lot of things happening in Tuscaloosa, you know, from the booing and all those different things that people were, you know, upset about.

[1:40:57] I still think that pays dividends with your players. I know your fans were not very happy with it, but I still think when a coach has the players back, that that means something to them, that they, they feel like, oh, wow. So I, I look back and think about, you know, this Alabama football team. I don't know what to predict is going to happen. Alabama is, you know, the 12 and a half point favorite. Um, we'll take Alabama because I think Alabama is going to score a lot of points.

I mean, we've seen that. I mean, two, two quarters and two minutes and they scored 44 points because I'm subtracting a six at six, but, uh, two minutes to go in the second quarter and two quarters at the end, third and fourth quarter. Uh, that's a lot of points in a short amount of time. That's a lot of points in a short amount of time. Uh, bad news. First, Justin Hill and Desmond Zulu have been ruled out on the availability report. Both of them were beginning to play much better.

They've got six tackles each, which means Yonsei Pierre, uh, Devin Tompkins and Marion Latham has got some extra work to do. Maybe even Henry, uh, the good news, AK Deer and Noah Rogers, there may be a signing of both players Saturday. Yeah. And really they were able to go a lot last week. Um, when you look at AK Deer, uh, the people that I've talked to, you know, they, they kind of expected that they might have a limitation on Saturday, but they, they have been kind of, this is almost like fall camp for them, right?

It's kind of the acclimation period of, of getting back in and getting some rhythm. So I look back and, and, and look at what this team, you know, has been able to do now. Um, I think these two guys are going to be an asset and listen, that rushing attack with Keelan's ability to run and his ability to, to pass. Guys, there, that is going to be a, uh, a part of the element of the game that you're going to have to start kind of factoring in.

And when you can run the football like that and you can play the play action, and then you've got a mobile quarterback that also has accuracy. You know, it's been a long time since there was this balance. When you look at throwing and running, I still think there's more that we can see from this offense, but you know, it's kind of hard to throw darts at, at Ryan brub, you know, 47.7 points per game. Um, you know, like, I mean, we can find something to complain, but it's, and I understand the frustration from the fans.

Let me say this, these gadget plays that, that I look at, I'm trying to figure out, okay, what, what were you trying to do there? What was the, what was the, I do, I do understand that because I, I feel some of that same frustration, but you cannot argue with the end results. The end results are what it is, is you're sitting here going, okay, wow, this is, I mean, you're putting up big time points. I just think this team is, is going to have something that, uh, you know, it's going to be fun to watch.

Um, as we watch this team continue to grow and, you know, the offensive line, uh, continues to take some steps in the right direction. I still think there's more that those guys can give you, uh, tied in special teams. You know, I told my audience, I was never going to use, we use the word, uh, for Connor Talti. And, uh, uh, first word is faulty. We, we dissolved that on Monday. Uh, we used it and said, once he won the special teams player, guys, who thought special teams was going to be the most consistent unit on this all about football team?

Ryan Feller, again, they're tied 100 now, which brings us to this point all, all season. All we do is talk about what might happen now that we're basically 25% a quarter of the way into the regular season. Ryan, where are you now with this team going forward compared to where you were about a month ago before the season kicked off? I still think this team has a shot at the playoffs. I still think that this team can accomplish some goals, uh, that started prior to the season. So I look back and, and I, I think they're a playoff team.

I did. I think they, they could make it to the playoffs. Um, when I look at this team, that's what, you know, the Tennessee game may look smarter, you know, and guys, I, I'm going to be fair, but you know, I feature a long time reporter out of Tennessee, uh, Jimmy Himes. You guys feature him. I love it. He's good. You know, he came on and did the poor mouth for coach Bryant, you know, the old coach Bryant, you know, this team is barely going to be able to win six games.

And I'm sure he probably did not think that this team was going to be able to accomplish, but I mean, look at Tennessee. Um, that may be a harder game than what you say, but Texas A&M may be a little bit easier than, than, than, than what you, what you think. So it's just, when you look at this world of college football, it's, it's, it's strange. Yeah. They've done it because they, they've adjusted. I still think we're being manipulated, um, from a TV standpoint because TV ratings are through the roof.

[1:46:09] I don't know if you've seen Alabama continues to draw. I mean, I believe they could play against law tech and the ratings would be through the roof. Cause they have been, I mean, Alabama, Kentucky draw a huge rating. I don't know if I'm part of the state, lightning delay, draw a huge rating. I think it was the second highest game by LSU and Ole Miss. It was. So you just look around. Who's benefiting from this? TV. And we said this part of the season. If you went into the season with no allegiance and just as a, as a watcher, observer of college football, that this was going to be a magnificent season.

And we'll see if that continues. But I think, uh, if you ask me to bet right now, I think Alabama is a playoff team. That's just my opinion. I think Alabama is a playoff team. Uh, two things. Tell us where we can get online. Who's the guest tonight to get online to listen in. Uh, have you given Caitlin DeBoer advice on trying to eradicate these slow starts? No, actually the slow starts are my wife's fault. I know that. Oh, really? Yeah. He's got analysts all over the country, um, that are trying to analyze these slow starts.

Oh yeah. The slow start, um, the ones that have happened have happened because my wife refuses to get in her spot to watch the game. She has a certain spot. Oh my goodness. No, she has a certain spot that she reads in. And when she does, Alabama dominates. And she's not, she's not taking one for the team. And, um, we have had discussions. Uh, we're going to open up a GoFundMe account and, uh, we're going to make sure that she is in this proper spot. Oh, boy.

Uh, may not, may not need her against South Carolina, but Georgia, uh, we're taking donations. Yep. Or you'll be doing the Timmy Wynette. D-I-V-O-R-C-E, right? So, but Tide109.com, Tide109.com, we've got Rodney Orr, we've got Josh and College Football Nerds, and Bruce Marshall. Hey, I always appreciate when you guys can have me on. I hope you guys have a great rest of your day. You too, buddy. Absolutely. Ryan on his way to talk to his wife, or probably to listen to his wife. Would you agree with that?

Yes. If he's a smart man. There you go. That's going to take care of bids for today. On behalf of BB, Greg James Blair, the entire crew here. Peril Buck, thank you so much for your time today. Let's do it again tomorrow, noon to two, with the BIMO Buck Show, back here on Sports Radio 93.9 The Score.