UNA Football Night @ Lost Pizza w/ Benjamin Ray 08/24/26

[0:00] It's time for UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza. For the next hour we'll go in depth as we talk to your University of North Alabama Lions. UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza is brought to you by Lost Pizza Shoals, Burnley Spine and Sport, Singing River Brewery, Southern Pride Pest Control, Alabama Health Guidance, The Carriage Wine and Market, and Brown Equipment Company. Live from Lost Pizza in historic downtown Florence, here's the voice of the Lions, Benjamin Ray. We're back and better than ever from Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence. It's UNA Football Night.

Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel with you, we're excited to be back. Mike, it feels like just yesterday we were here, wrapping up football, basketball, baseball, softball season. Now here we are, it's August, that means we're officially back. Yeah, and Lost Pizza's kind of been the hub for all of this, and it's been really exciting to be here, be back here. And I look out and I see a tremendous crowd once again. People love coming out here to support UNA Athletics. Football Night kind of kicked it off last year, and it's kicking it off again this year. It's great to be back.

The football staff is in the house. We're going to talk with them momentarily. Brent Dierman's back for his fourth season at North Alabama. Both coordinators are here, Clint Bowe and Travis Partridge. They're going to make their UNA Football Night debut. And we're going to talk some marching pride with Dr. Gray. He's here as well. The 2026 football season marks the 78th campaign for the University of North Alabama football program. And this might be the most anticipated season since football returned to the university back in 1949. There's nothing that this program has not accomplished over the last 77 years.

The Division II Heisman is named after a UNA player in Harlan Hill. Ronald McKinnon won that in 95. UNA was the first program in the state of Alabama to integrate when, in 1968, Leonard Rabbit Thomas and Bobby Joe Pride became the first African Americans to play in a collegiate football game in the state of Alabama. We're talking 13 Gold South Conference championships, over, I think, 22 Division II playoff appearances, second most all-time, five national championship game appearances, of course, with the three wins from 93, 94, 95. There's been 80 All-Americans and no telling how many all-conference players along the ride.

But, Mike, there's been one box UNA football has never checked. UNA's never played a true home football game on campus. We've never had tailgating. Campus has never truly been a part of those college football Saturdays. And for the first time, that's going to change with the opening of Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium on September 19th. And, Mike, we're getting to witness history in the making. And you're talking about one of the most monumental moments in UNA football history. You went through a lot of milestones there, Ben.

And going all the way back to 1949, after two decades without football, bringing football back just in general, you know, bringing back the football program. Thank goodness President Norton had that meeting back on March 30th, 1949, to say, we're bringing football back 77 years later. We've hit a lot of milestones, national championships. He went through all the accolades, but never an on-campus stadium for our fans, for our students, for our community to call home. And now we have that. This is definitely going to be one of those milestone, memorable seasons.

A lot going on, a lot of excitement. And I'm ready to open up Bank Independent Stadium. The Lionhead, the logo on midfield. We got our first real look at it with some aerial photos earlier today. It's on the UNA social handles. You can check that out. I mean, it gives me chills to see that. Yeah, the Lionhead in the middle and the gold accents there with the UAC logo. Seeing Bobby Wallace field. And Bobby Wallace's name on the stadium, just right there on the turf, is tremendous to me.

That's one of my favorite parts. And just how aesthetic it is. If you look at it from the baseball stadium, looking over at the press box at Sunset, I mean, that is just one of the most tremendous views you could have. And I think our fans are really going to enjoy it. And I'm ready to see it full, a sellout we're expecting for September 19th. It's going to be a party indeed on campus, Saturdays in the South, in Florence, Alabama. Won't ever be the same. We cannot wait.

We got a lot to get into in this show. And with the most anticipated game on campus coming up here in a couple weeks, we're going to introduce you to some things here at Lost Pizza Shoals. And we want to bring up Katie McDonald now. Where is Katie? Katie's here in the house with us. Lost Pizza is launching a special tailgate menu. And over the next three weeks, we're going to be showing off some items. I don't know if we discussed this part. Katie's got to put the headset on right here.

And tell us what we have right here. Katie, you've been with us every year we've done this show here. How are you doing? I'm doing great. How are y'all? We are phenomenal. Tell us what we have here. So we've got our brand new tailgating trays going on this fall. We're going to be delivering them straight to Pine Street, straight to the stadium. We're starting out with our sandwich trays. Got all of our sandwiches from our menu and a couple extras. I heard a rumor the full court press is coming back.

[5:09] The full court press. The full court press is coming back. Breaking news. Yeah. I don't know if that was supposed to be breaking news or not. Well, we break news here on UNA Football Night. Mike was just absolutely locked in. Tell us what's on this tray. Yeah. So it looks like we're starting with the Yardbird right here. That's our chicken sandwich. It's the best. It's one of my favorites. That's what I always get. This one right here. This one right here. Okay. Yeah. Yardbird. It's got tomatoes, lettuce, chicken, mayo, and provolone.

Solid chicken sandwich. Can't go wrong with it. Then going around, we've got our full court press right here. Oh, it's back. That's our full court. The mini bread. Yeah, it's pressed with the sliders. I know Braden's wanting to buy to that. The sliders, yeah. Heck, yeah. And then we've got our Meemaw. That's our meatball sandwich right in the middle. Our Delta Mel. That's like a ham and turkey sub. And then our Mr. G right on the front right there. That's our Italian sub. That's my wife's favorite.

That's her go-to. It's a good one. How can fans get this? What do they need to do if they're tailgating on campus? So we'll have a link, I'm sure. You can just order directly through us. We'll be delivering it straight to the stadium. You'll have a place to pick it up on Pine Street where the tailgating spot is. So every week we're debuting something, right? Everything is. This is the first of, what, three or four of these that we're going to do? All right, Mike, which one are you going for?

Man, obviously the full court press. I already know what it's all about. I've been begging for it to come back. And thank you, Chuck. Full court press. I'm glad it's finally back. But look at this. What did you say? Meatball? I knew you were going to go for that one. Meatball 2.0. Meatball 2.0. I've been staring it down. It's got some sprinkle of cheese on top right there. Provolone on top, a meatball, meatball sauce. Provolone's one of my favorite cheeses. It's very underrated. You said the chicken, so I'm going for the chicken, all right?

Go for the yard bird. Are we good to eat now? Let's do it. We're doing this, Mike. Go for it. Cheers, my friend. Cheers, my friend. First bites. You ready? I'm going to need a napkin. That is incredible. You talk about the pizza here, the sandwiches as well. Wow. You guys have done it again. Again, this will be part of the tailgate package. Everybody's going to be able to get some stuff. Katie, thanks. I guess you're going to be with us every week to open. Yeah.

All right. We're not done yet. My favorite guest. We've got more to debut part of this tailgate package. Is Edward Speaker here? Come on up, Edward. Katie, we'll let you pass the headset off. Thank you so much. Thank you, Katie. I'm going to try to finish my sandwich. That was delicious. Yes. I'm ordering that. Chew, chew, chew. Yum. Edward is with The Carriage. That's right. Next door. I got to talk to you at Media Day a few weeks ago. All right. Yes. What are you guys doing as a part of this tailgate package?

So we want to be a part of the tailgating fun, too. Right. So everything that we have in our store can be available to tailgate. So all you've got to do is go to our website, carriagewine.com, and we're going to have it built out to where you can build a case of wine. And we've got two different levels. We've got our intro level, which we'll call the standard, and we've got our reserve level that will be a little bit nicer price points. And you can go through it, and you can click as many as four different options, four different styles of wine, rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, red blends, sparkling wines, whatever you feel like you want to have.

Build that box online. Pay for it online, and we'll have it ready for you to come pick up. We'll even have it chilled for you, and you can come grab it, and it'll be ready to drink. That easy. Easy walk from the carriage to the pines where people will be tailgating. Easy, easy, yes. So what is a go-to tailgating wine? What goes well with Saturday football? What would you get? Well, you've got to start with a mimosa, right? You've got to ease into your day. So I'm starting with some sparkling wine that I'm going to mix with a little bit of orange juice.

After that, we'll start taking it into some Sauvignon Blanc, get it going. By the time these meatball sliders come around, we need something a little hardier. We need some red wine to go with that, too. You know, especially if it's a night game and it starts getting a little bit cooler in the fall, I'm going to want some hardier reds to go with that. So, you know, the choice is yours. Lots of options. The Lost Pizza tailgate packages coming together. The carriage as well. Man, it's going to make these Saturdays so much better, isn't it?

It's going to be so much fun. I can't wait. Thank you so much for stopping by to break it down with us. Hey, check it out, Lost Pizza. And the carriage will have you taken care of for tailgate Saturdays at the Pines as we open up Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independence Stadium. Let's take our first time out. When we come back, head football coach Brent Dierman. We'll get him to try a sandwich, find out what he's in the mood for as well. We're off and running.

It's UNA football night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. You got a craving they won't quit. Lost Pizza Company Shoals just dropped something new, and it's only around for a limited time. Say hello to our jalapeno mac and cheese bites. Crispy, cheesy, packed with a little kick, and serve with our house-made ranch for dipping. Pair with the fillet, y'all. Our loaded fillet cheesesteak pizza that's quickly becoming a fan favorite. This is for a limited time only, so don't wait. Come dine in or call ahead for to-go.

Lost Pizza Company Shoals, 201 North Seminary Street in Florence. Dine in or to-go. 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. Welcome to Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic, located in downtown Florence.

[10:40] We offer a large array of therapies and techniques to help you get back in the game of life. One of those therapies is red light slash infrared light therapy. Dry needling is used to help reduce pain associated with painful trigger point. Our class 4 laser therapies are used to decrease inflammation and improve the speed of healing, of sprains, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is proud to partner with UNA to keep our lions performing at their best. Roar, lions. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun.

Ready to serve delicious drinks and host an amazing event? Try our Golden Manor Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine and Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.

In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine and Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! It's summertime in the Shoals, which means sunshine, hot weather, and a lot more bugs. Ants, mosquitoes, termites, they love this time of year just as much as we do.

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We welcome in North Alabama head football coach Britt Dierman, year number four. Coach, hard-hitting question out of the gate. Which sandwich did you go with? I did the Cuban, what was it called? The full-court press. Full-court press. It was pretty good. Very good. I might have pressured him to do that because it's my favorite. There's just so many options here. I had to have somebody push me one way, or I'd be eating with three of these. It was really good. We're excited to be back here.

We'll be here every Monday during football season. Come on out from 7 to 8 p.m. You can hang out, get some great pizza, sandwich options, and hear us talk about some UNA football. Coach, you're number four for you. How does it feel to be back down here gearing up for a season? I tell you, it doesn't feel like four years. I know that. The time has flown by, but, man, I love this place, love UNA. I love the staff, the players, love the community here. So every year has been a joy, and this one is going to be the best one.

One thing you've done in your four years that I've noticed, especially from year one, you wanted to honor the traditions of UNA. Obviously, the last era of Brawley Stadium, got to close that and do it the right way and try to honor everybody the best you can. And, Coach, just hearing Ben kind of rattle off some of that history earlier, just how the program started, all the All-Americans and all-conference guys that have came through, and now to open a new era in the stadium, what does that mean to you?

You know, all the players and coaches that put blood, sweat, and tears into this place, it's our job to honor them. You know, they did so much to elevate the program and get us to where we're at now, and I feel like I'm in debt to them to make sure that we continue to carry it on and continue to build this thing the right way. Everywhere we go, it's our job to wear the logo. It's our job to represent this community, this fan base, the alumni, and I pray and I hope every day that I coach in such a way that honors them, but also our players play in such a way.

I was just sitting here thinking, when you got hired, you were probably shown a photo of what a stadium could look like, right? And now we've all been watching the dirt move, anxiously awaiting. I was thinking today of all the different renditions we've seen of dirt from a mound to a pond, now to a stadium coming up. What's it been like for you to watch this process? You are 100% right. When I came on my interview here, there was pictures, there was renderings, there was talk of it, there was promises of it, and to see it just go from nothing, to see it go from a practice field, and some that have come out and watched practices out there, a practice field where in the spring, if a foul ball was hit the right way, a player was probably taking one on the dome or on the ankle or something like that, and to watch it transform into what it is now.

[15:40] I think there was a three-week time period where we had a pond. They dug the hole in the ground, didn't put the ditches in yet, and I felt like we had a fishing pond out there for a little bit. But it's been fun to watch. It's been amazing to watch. It's kind of helped us big time in recruiting. It's helped us in retention. So it's been a really fun year. And, Coach, you can look right out your window and kind of watch it every day. I know you've been doing that a lot.

Let's go back to fall camp a little bit. But it's been kind of interesting knowing you're playing week zero, you've got to move everything kind of up a week. You're practicing in July, fall camp in July. It's always kind of fun to talk about that. But how different is it, I guess, preparing for a week zero game versus week one? I'll tell you, three of the four years that me and you have been here, we've been in a week zero game. So it's more different to not playing a week zero game.

So the one season that we didn't play week zero, that was the weird year for me. I mean, we're accustomed to it. That's all that we've known since being here. Every time we talk week zero, to me, it just messes with my mind because it's really week one. You know, we had an interview about Arkansas today, and they were talking about week one. And I was like, nope. Arkansas is definitely week two for us. So it's fun. But at the same time, you have to rush your process.

You have to rush things. You're practicing in the end of July, which you're not used to usually. But with college football nowadays, the kids don't get much time off. The coaches don't get much time off in the summer. It's summer training right into fall camp now. Speaking of coaches, I've seen everybody come in. I believe your entire coaching staff is here. I'm not going to make you name off everybody, Coach. You've got a great staff, though. I've enjoyed getting to know the new faces, a lot of faces we've known for a while, the returnees as well.

What have you liked the most about this coaching staff assembled? I think we have a very well-educated staff that loves teaching and coaching. We've got guys that have been from the Big 12 to we've got Coach Craig Schurig in the room, who's going to be a Hall of Famer at Washburn from Travis Partridge has done an excellent job everywhere he's ever been. Colby Ellis' second stint here to former players with Mike and BoJack. Our staff is just full of guys that care about players, and I try to make it a point this offseason to go out and find guys that love, serve, and care for players, that put the players above everything else, but are great teachers.

You know, I think great teachers can get the most out of the players, and it's been really fun to watch the staff. We've got yellers and screamers. We've got quiet guys. We've got a great mix of all things, but you'll find out more about those guys this year and a couple of them tonight. Got a question for Ben. Do I do Dierman Trivia now or do I save it for the end of the show? What do you think, Coach? I think you throw it out there right now.

You can't save trick plays for later in the game. When you fill it, you just got to go with it. Hey, you know, I might score a 91-yard touchdown with this one, so let's go right away. All right, so we're playing Sanford. That's our week one opponent. Week zero, whoever, depending on how you look at it. See, it messes with you. It does. It really does. We're playing that game in Huntsville, Neutral Site Field, Joe Davis Stadium, first college football game in history at that venue.

But Sanford being the opponent, the last time we played Sanford was in 2002, and it was the season opener. Who was the quarterback of that UNA team? The quarterback was definitely Will Hall, and Will Hall was taking snaps from a buddy of mine, Lance Ancar. Yeah. Probably the best quarterback center duo in school history, I would say. You nailed it. Will Hall was the quarterback in that game. UNA was a great job coach or 1-0 on trivia so far. So, yeah, and that was interesting because that was Will Hall's debut for UNA as a junior.

It was an overtime game where Sanford was Division I, UNA was Division II. Didn't do so well offensively. That was maybe one of the worst performances he had, but then obviously went on. He had a lot of good ones after that. He had a ton of great ones and ended up winning the Harlan Hill Trophy. So, kind of interesting to go all the way back to 0-2. And then, Ben, when was the first meeting? 49. That's right. Second game. Did you call that one? I was not alive yet.

Okay. I've got the beard. It would have been a fun one to call. I wish we had the archive footage of that. I'm sure it's somewhere. Well, Coach, we'll get your thoughts on Sanford coming up here in just a little bit. We've got a jam-packed, fun lineup. Coming up next, we're going to talk with Director of Bands, Dr. Joseph Gray. You got to go talk to the band a few, gosh, days, weeks ago. I don't know, fall camp. I know it all runs together. What was that like for you?

It was a couple days ago. That's all I remember. I tell you what, Dr. Gray's been fantastic to work with. We used to run into each other in Kilby carpool lines, picking up children. But you're talking about a guy that cares and loves this university, cares for his people as well. But it's been really good working with each other. I'm excited about the future of the band and the football team coming together. We can't wait. We'll talk to Dr. Gray coming up next. And we'll check back in with Coach here in just a little bit as well.

[20:44] We'll take another time out. This is UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals. You got a craving that won't quit? Lost Pizza Company Shoals just dropped something new, and it's only around for a limited time. Say hello to our jalapeno mac and cheese bites. Crispy, cheesy, packed with a little kick, and serve with our house-made ranch for dipping. Paired with the fillet, y'all. Our loaded Philly cheesesteak pizza that's quickly becoming a fan favorite. This is for a limited time only, so don't wait. Come dine in or call ahead for to-go.

Lost Pizza Company Shoals, 201 North Seminary Street in Florence. Dine in or to-go. 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. Welcome to Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic located in downtown Florence.

We offer a large array of therapies and techniques to help you get back in the game of life. One of those therapies is red light slash infrared light therapy. Dry needling is used to help reduce pain associated with painful trigger point. Our class 4 laser therapies are used to decrease inflammation and improve the speed of healing, of sprains, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is proud to partner with UNA to keep our lions performing at their best. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun.

Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly a thousand different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.

In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! A lot goes into taking care of your property. You need equipment with more reliability and versatility built in.

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He was at Mississippi State last year. He's back leading the bands here at North Alabama. Dr. Joe Gray. Dr. Gray, thank you so much for swinging by and joining us. Yeah, of course. I'm glad to. First year as head band director. You submit your resume. You get the call. You've got the job. What's the feeling? Great. It was a little surreal leaving after being here for six years and then going down to Starkville for a year. But, you know, I was down in Starkville for a couple of months, and I missed being here because this is just such a special place.

So as soon as that opportunity arose, I was all in, you know, trying to get back. Well, we're very fortunate that that happened, and we're glad that you're back. And, you know, some of the memories I have of kind of coming back to UNA when you were here was going to basketball games and just seeing how electric the environment was, and you guys were such a big part of that. What does that mean to you and, I guess, that part of working with the band? Yeah.

So I'm a big sports fan, and I do love football. I love marching band. Basketball is one of my favorite things, and I love where the pet band is set up in the arena. It's just right on top of the away team, and we try to do our best to disrupt whatever we can. And I think they do a pretty good job, and we're going to try to make that even more so this year. And we're trying to do the same thing with the marching band, being in the new stadium.

At Brawley, we were kind of set up on the other side, kind of away from everything, and where we're set up in the new stadium this year is right around the corner, right next to the student section. And I think it's going to help us create a much more unified atmosphere, and hopefully it's a little more intimidating than what we were able to achieve at Brawley. I didn't think we were going to go this way, but I've got to ask you this. Two years ago, we make that electric run in the ASUN tournament.

[26:04] Some of the best nights of basketball. Things I used to dream about when I started working at UNAS. The Lipscomb game. And the pet band. Well, I'm talking about inside CES Bank Arena, the semifinal games, just magical nights, sold out. But the pet band was such a large part of that run. I want to hear your perspective of what that championship season was like to be a part of from the band perspective. I mean, it was electric for us, too. The students that are in our program enjoy these moments just as much as, I don't know about just as much, but, you know, they enjoy them as much as they do with the athletes.

And I know that we've had a special bond with a lot of these athletes in the past few years. And, I mean, Damien Forst, you know, and he would always come and talk to our kids. And I remember we were just rooting for them as people and our students being able to be involved. And feeling like they actually have an effect on the outcome of the game is huge. Yeah, it was always felt. The energy was just so great. And without you there, it was a lot more difficult to achieve that.

But I think that was a big part of it. And let's go back to the football side. And, obviously, the Marching Pride, just such a great history and tradition. And now, just like you and a football will open a new season and a new era, you guys will get to do that as well. And let's hear about this first show. What are the plans and what can fans expect? So we're really excited to have this on-campus stadium. And something that's going to be useful for us or change for us is that our band room is right near the stadium.

So, first and foremost, we're going to be able to come down to the stadium together, parade down, and make that more of an event. The athletes, the football players coming in from the team meal, entering the stadium, that's going to be much more of an event for us, too. And just having that kind of being in our home base is huge. Like I had mentioned, where we're sitting and being able to connect with the other portions of the cheer and the roar and the student section, being able to create this kind of unified event is going to be great.

Pre-game, our new pre-game show, it's making me nervous right now because this week zero schedule is tough. But our new pre-game is what you would maybe expect more from a traditional football atmosphere. So it's a little bit more involved. There's a few more tunes that we're doing. And then the halftime show is going to be what you would expect from the marching pride. You're getting to start traditions. It's pretty cool to think about the origin of how some of these traditions will come. We talked to a lot of football players throughout this offseason.

Who's going to score the first touchdown? What's going to be the first big moment? Have you thought about what's the first song you guys are going to play in the stadium? Do you already know? Yeah. Well, yeah, it's scripted. Of course! It's part of the pre-game. It's going to be the fight song. I think every pre-game should start with a fight song and end with a fight song. That's all of our pre-game performances is going to be that way. So the first thing that we play in the stadium in uniform is going to be the fight song.

It's going to be magnificent. And this may be a biased opinion, but it's an opinion I've held for a long time. Ever since I was a student, I've always thought UNA's fight song is one of the strongest in the nation. I think if you go across FCS and you listen to other fight songs, I always think ours is the best. I mean, where would you rank our fight song? Top. Let's go. It goes top and then on Wisconsin because I'm also a Wisconsin fan. But, you know, interestingly, I just received an email last week from a cheer team in Georgia that asked for the rights to use our fight song for their competition cheer.

Oh, wow. Yeah, which was surprising to me, but it is. It's a really fantastic fight song. It's a fight song that gets stuck in your head. That's what you want, right? Halftime show. What's the theme? What are fans going to see? Yeah, so I'm going to have a hard time saying this word, but 250 years semi-quincentennial. I think I nailed it. You nailed it. I'm not going to try. So 250 years. Word of the day. Yes. So we wanted to do a patriotic show, but we wanted it to be – we've done patriotic shows in the past.

We wanted this one to have a little more character to it. So this one is called Sea to Shining Sea, an American road trip. And what we're doing is starting off with a patriotic – we're starting off with America the Beautiful right off the bat, full sound. That's going to move into Rhapsody in Blue, representing New York City. Then we're going into Johnny Cash's I've Been Everywhere, which represents the start of the road trip. We're going to have that traditional production in the middle, which feature all of our auxiliaries with Viva Las Vegas.

And then we're going to do Ella Langley's Chews in Texas, which is pretty cool. The students are excited about that. Route 66. And then when we get into the drum solo, which is going to be a song by Deep Purple, then we're going to end in California with California Dreaming and Good Vibrations before we hit the America the Beautiful again at the end. When do you start planning this, dreaming this? Well, I did on day one. Of when I got hired, which was March 30th. Typically, it would be, you know, I mean, where are you thinking about next year, to be honest with you?

[31:07] And then January rolls around. We're starting to map things out. I saw some excitement over on this side of the table when you said Chews in Texas. We got some LFLs. We got some LFLs. LFLs at the group. Are you an LFL or are you just doing that for the kids? I'm doing it for the kids. I do like that she quotes Amarillo by Morning in it. Yes. That was the other one that we were thinking about doing, Amarillo by Morning, but we wanted to choose in Texas because that's what the students kind of connected with more.

So I talked to you about this earlier, but the three things I always love most from the band, being a drummer, the drum feature. You already mentioned that. I always enjoy when the trumpets start hitting those high notes. We're going to have some blaring trumpets. There will be a couple, yes. And then the lionette leg kick. Yeah. Signature move, right? Yeah. That's going to be during Route 66. So the lionettes are going to get their kicks on Route 66. There you go. All right. Last question for me, because I'm just genuinely curious about the formations.

And, you know, I've been to, what's the big event that they do with, it used to be in the Georgia Dome. You probably know what I'm talking about. The big competition. In the summer or in the fall? I don't even remember when it was, but it was like professional band competition. Yeah, Drum Corps International in the summer. Yeah, DCI. So my sister used to be really into that. And I was just amazed at how some people had to change formations and go, almost sprinting. Is there any specific transitions that you want to highlight where maybe we could look for somebody that's got like a really hard transition?

Yeah, well, in week zero, no. But maybe in a month I'll start pointing some of those out. Or maybe I want you to watch them. But, I mean, this week zero timeline has been tough, you know. And plus this weather for band camp this year was very intense. It was very hot. But our kids pushed through. But, yeah. In a month I'll let you know what to look out for. Right now, just enjoy the music. I'm ready. You didn't know some football guys were going to have so much band stuff to talk about.

Yeah, that's right. All right, last thing, a couple things before we let you go. Numbers, can you give us a rundown, you know, tubas, drums? What does the band lineup look like? In terms of numbers? Numbers, yeah. Oh, so we are, so last year was the big Macy's and we knew that that was going to be a huge band. I think it was the biggest band that we've had in history. So we knew that there was going to be a little bit of attrition after that.

But we are at about 220, which is about what we were in 2022. So it hasn't fallen quite as steeply as we thought that it would. And then what about the breakdown of sections? Oh. Can you rattle that off? Really quickly? Do it. Let's hear it. It's all right. Well, where do you want me to start? The trumpets, we've got 21 trumpets, we've got 16 mellophones, we've got 27 baritones, we've got 12 contract dubas, we've got 13 piccolos, we've got 16 clarinets, we've got 17 saxophones, we've got 49 auxiliaries, we've got 7 snares, we have 5 tenors, we have 4 flubs, we've got 6 basses, we have 4 cymbals, we have 3 drum majors, and we've got 19 in the front ensemble.

Wow. Incredible. Incredible. Incredible. All right. You guys don't just play at home football games. You have a full schedule. How can people find it? What are some of the highlights of that? Okay. So we typically go and do exhibitions, and we are doing exhibitions all over the place. We're going up to Rockville, up outside of Murfreesboro on the 12th of September. We are going to Prattville on the 10th of October. We're going to Deschler High School. We're going to Hewitt Trustville High School. We're going to Muscle Shoals High School.

And then plus all of our home games, we've also got – oh, we're going to Albertville High School, which is a big one for us. And then we've got our marching band extravaganza on November 7th. We're inviting all the high school kids to come and enjoy the new stadium and perform with us at halftime. We cannot wait. Week zero, we'll get the first taste. But September 19th is when the real fun happens. It's going to be a magical night inside of Bank Independence Stadium. Dr. Gray, thank you.

Thank you. Your first appearance here. We'll have to do this more often. Yes, please. Yeah, thank you. We'll take a time out. We're going to jump into some coordinator conversations. When we come back, this is UNA Football Night for Lost Pizza Shoals. You got a craving that won't quit? Lost Pizza Company Shoals just dropped something new, and it's only around for a limited time. Say hello to our jalapeno mac and cheese bites. Crispy, cheesy, packed with a little kick, and serve with our house-made ranch for dipping.

Paired with the fillet, y'all, our loaded fillet cheesesteak pizza that's quickly becoming a fan favorite. This is for a limited time only, so don't wait. Come dine in or call ahead for to-go. Lost Pizza Company Shoals, 201 North Seminary Street in Florence. Dine in or to-go. 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.

[36:10] Again, that's 256-648-5710. Welcome to Burnley Spine & Sport Chiropractic, located in downtown Florence. We offer a large array of therapies and techniques to help you get back in the game of life. One of those therapies is red light slash infrared light therapy. Dry needling is used to help reduce pain associated with painful trigger point. Our class 4 laser therapies are used to decrease inflammation and improve the speed of healing of sprains, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. Burnley Spine & Sport Chiropractic is proud to partner with UNA to keep our lions performing at their best.

Roar Lions. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine, and an unmatched selection of nearly a thousand different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.

In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! It's summertime in the Shoals, which means sunshine, hot weather, and a lot more bugs. Ants, mosquitoes, termites, they love this time of year just as much as we do.

That's why so many homeowners and businesses trust Southern Pride Pest Control, locally owned and operated right here in Muscle Shoals. With years of experience, honest service, and a commitment to doing the job right, our team doesn't walk away until you're completely satisfied. Let us help you take back your home this summer. Call Southern Pride Pest Control today to schedule an appointment. When you have pests, we have solutions. And we're back. UNA football night, night one, week zero action. UNA and Samford kicking off 6 o'clock over in Huntsville at old Joe Davis Stadium.

We'll have you covered on Roar Lions Productions and on ESPN Plus. UNA and Samford meeting for the first time since 2002. Happy to welcome you to the show for the first time ever. First year defensive coordinator Clint Bowen makes his first appearance here at Lost Pizza Shoals. Coach, hard-hitting question out of the gate. What did you order tonight? I went with the beekeeper. The beekeeper? That's my go-to as well. It's my favorite pizza. The little drizzle of honey. It's just the chef's kiss on top of that.

Did you do the hot honey or the regular honey? I don't know. Whatever they brought it up. Get the hot honey next time. All right. As you can tell, Mike and I love to talk food. We love eating food. We love the football talk and fellowship down here. You arrived, I guess, announced back in December, right? Correct. However many months ago that was. Nine months ago. What has the journey been like to this point? You know, it's been great. You know, one, the community of North Alabama, you know, the athletic department and all the people involved with that make the transition really smooth.

You know, my wife and I moving to the Shoals area has been a smooth transition. Really love the area here. So, you know, getting around the new staff and all that, getting to know people, it kind of happens in a hurry and, you know, you gather all the time. So, it's been really smooth. You played at Kansas. You lived in Lawrence, Kansas, almost your entire career. And, obviously, you had that coaching stint at Lawrence High School. And you had your son with you, too. And then you get to go together to Oklahoma State.

You get to come together to UNA. And your family's kind of been with you every step of the way. How special is that, knowing that your son is on the team at quarterback, you're on the other side of the ball? Yeah, no, it's been, obviously, a unique experience. You know, I've been very fortunate to have it happen. Really wasn't a plan. Just kind of keeps falling that way, you know. So, you know, to have him there, to be able to coach him in high school, high school was one of the most exciting things I've done in coaching.

Like, I mean, a lot of years doing this. In those years, coaching my two sons in high school was really special. And then us ending up at Oklahoma State together was just kind of almost just dumb luck. You know, he had signed with Tulsa and was at Tulsa an hour down the road. And we needed a QB at Oklahoma State. So, we came over. So, that part worked out. And then, you know, Coach Dierman giving us the opportunity to come here and keep this little thing going.

It's been a really neat situation for our family. This defensive unit that you've been building since you got here in December, what's kind of molded into shape here as we get set to kick off this week? You know, we did in college football now, you know, putting together a new roster. And, you know, by the time I got here, most of that was already done. Coach Dierman and his crew, Ben Hamner, they'd already recruited all the kids and got them here. And, you know, you've got to mesh a new group together.

[41:25] And there's a lot of different personalities, a lot of different, you know, guys coming from different backgrounds, different level of experience and all that. And, you know, we just kind of started from the beginning that we're going to have a certain personality, but we'll definitely have a singular mentality. And developing a mentality amongst our defense has been, you know, the number one goal from the beginning. You know, I think you have to believe in a certain way of playing the game. You have to believe in certain aspects of what you're going to do and how you're going to do it.

And creating that mentality that our players have, you know, started to buy into has been, you know, that's always the hardest part. And the part when you start to see it happen is usually the most rewarding, when you see kids start to believe in something and start to buy into a system and a way of playing. And I think our players are starting to get there. I'll tell you this, it's been a lot of fun to watch the defensive side of the ball in practice. A lot of position battles and a lot of depth at various positions.

But without giving away too many philosophies or too many schemes, things like that, what can you and a fans expect in week zero when they watch this defense for the first time? You know, we, you know, we're always going to hang our hat on one, being a fundamentally sound team. You know, we want to, and that, and that shows up when the fans watch a game, usually with tackling. You know, if, if you're a defensive unit and you don't tackle, there's not a whole lot of things that go really well that day.

So it's a, it's a big emphasis. It's something that, that, you know, like it's getting harder every year. Like when, you know, 20 years ago, high school kids showed up and they could already tackle pretty good. Well, the game's kind of gotten different and, and tackling, unfortunately gets put on the back burner, but you're trying to keep kids healthy. There's all those different mixes of, of, of things going on. So it's a skill that, that, that isn't as developed when you, when we get players as it used to be.

So, you know, for us to go out there, you know, don't, I always kind of say this, don't, don't make the mistakes that, that my 80 year old mom can know that someone messed up really bad and play a physical brand of football and, and, and, you know, be a physical hard hitting tackling team. And that's where we want to lay our identity. Well, coach, this is the first of many conversations we're going to have with you throughout this upcoming season. We're all excited that you're here in Florence, part of this program.

Our offices are next door and I can hear you teaching a lot. I hope we don't ever bleed over and, and disturb you while you're, you're doing that. I see players and coaches in your office all the time. We can't wait to see this unit in action on Saturday. We appreciate you joining us. Yeah. Thank you. That's North Alabama defensive coordinator, coach Bo. We'll take a timeout. We're going to jump over to the offensive side with coach Partridge. That's next. U and a football night from lost pizza.

You got a craving, they won't quit. Lost Pizza Company Shoals just dropped something new and it's only around for a limited time. Say hello to our jalapeno mac and cheese bites. Crispy, cheesy, packed with a little kick and serve with our house-made ranch for dipping. Paired with the fillet, y'all, our loaded fillet cheesesteak pizza that's quickly becoming a fan favorite. This is for a limited time only, so don't wait. Come dine in or call ahead for to-go. Lost Pizza Company Shoals, 201 North Seminary Street in Florence.

Dine in or to-go. 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. Welcome to Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic, located in downtown Florence. We offer a large array of therapies and techniques to help you get back in the game of life.

One of those therapies is red light slash infrared light therapy. Dry needling is used to help reduce pain associated with painful trigger point. Our class 4 laser therapies are used to decrease inflammation and improve the speed of healing of sprains, tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is proud to partner with UNA to keep our lions performing at their best. Roar Lions. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?

Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence. In the mood to relax and wind down?

Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! When getting the job done right is job one. You need construction equipment that's built right. From compact track loaders to the world's number one-selling compact excavator, the Kubota construction lineup features durable Kubota engines, more comfort, and the versatility to do it all and do it right.

[47:02] Visit your local Kubota dealer today. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer. Stop by Brown Equipment, located at 826 North Military Street in Loretto, or visit them online at brownequipmentcompany.com. It's been a jam-packed hour here on the first night of UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals. Benjamin Ray and Mikey Ezekiel with you, and we're happy to welcome in again, making his UNA Football Night debut, first-year offensive coordinator Travis Partridge in the house, the newest member of the Missouri Western Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach, we're going to talk some UNA Football with you, but getting that call that you were going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the college that you played at was one of the all-time greats.

What was that feeling? It was really cool. You know, I think, you know, so my dad was the head coach of Missouri Western for 20 years. You know, I'm a coach's kid, so home is kind of where you are the longest, right? And, you know, we were, we were, my dad was pretty fortunate we were there for 20 years, so all of, you know, I tell people that, like, some people grew up with professional heroes, right? Maybe a big college hero, or my heroes were all the people that my, you know, I wore number 12 in college because Casey Waterman, a quarterback at Missouri Western.

So to go into the Hall of Fame that, first off, my heroes are in, and then my dad is in, really, really cool. Really, really cool moment for my family, and I'm looking forward to, you know, who knows when I can go back and actually do the ceremony and stuff, but I'm looking forward to it. Well, when I saw your tweet, and you talked about those heroes being the guys you grew up watching there at Mo West, I mean, I think that's special. But also, you got to play for your dad.

Yeah. You got to coach with your dad, you know, as a young coach, and now you're in this position. I mean, what does being a coach's son mean to you? It means a lot. I was telling Banks, actually, I was telling Banks on his official visit, and Coach Bowen was there, and they just got done doing the, you know, he played at Lawrence High, and Coach Bowen was coaching Lawrence High. I was like, it's the coolest, most hardest, most rewarding experience, playing for your dad because it is a, the highs are really, really high.

The lows are really, really low, and there's a lot of added pressure, eyeballs. There's a lot of stuff with it, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. You know, I've actually, you know, hopefully Banks keeps wanting to coach and stuff, and hopefully he goes and coaches. I tell people that I think it was even more rewarding and cool to coach with my father at a couple of different places. I was a GA at Delta State when he was at D.C. I was, we were at UT Martin together, so it was, it's been pretty cool to do the football experience with my dad, too.

Yeah, we won't hold the Delta State thing against him. Yeah, yeah. They're like, hey, are you familiar with North Island? I was like, yeah, I got my butt kicked. In 2017? Sounds right. 2017, we played out there, and it was a rough day. It was a rough day. Story for another day, I almost got ejected from a game in Cleveland, but Mike Johnson was playing by the cops for yelling too much. So, yeah, but Mike and I don't think highly have dealt the state over our way. But, Coach, we don't hold it against you.

So, you know, we talked about your father there. Yeah. And then time at UT Martin with Jason Simpson, one of the great FCS coaches. Your career, you've learned from a lot of great coaches. Yeah, I mean, I think any coach, all you can draw from is your experiences, right? What you can learn, you know, the right way to do things, the wrong way to do things, how people handle adversity. I was just telling Coach Dierman this week, I learned a lot from him when he was at Kansas, going through a very, very challenging transition with COVID and all different experiences in Kansas.

Like, you take things from people as they're experiencing it until you finally get to experience it yourself. So, being there with Coach Simpson, Coach Simpson hired me twice. He hired me as a restricted earnings slash analyst. That was before analyst. So, something. He hired me as something in 2018, and then I went to Kansas, and then he hired me back in more of a coordinator role in 2022. But being able to learn a lot from a lot of great guys, you know, like, in the front of the notebook, you're taking notes on your current offense.

In the back of your notebook, you turn it over, and you start, all right, I like this, this, this, this, and this for your personal offense, you know. So, when, actually, when Coach Dierman brought me on the interview, he's like, all right, tell me a couple things. I'm like, well, you're going to recognize some of these words because I stole it from Coach Dierman. So, I pass it off to our kids as original ideas, but they're really not, not all of them are. So, but, no, all you can do is draw from the really great people I've worked under and been around.

[52:03] Well, let's talk about your connection to Coach Dierman. We know that since Coach Dierman's been here for four years, there's always a connection somewhere, and obviously Kansas, you talked about that time where you were there together. But, but when you interviewed for this job, knowing that, hey, I'm going to give you the play calling duties, and, and you're the guy that he trusts with that. I mean, I'm sure that means a lot to you coming from him, but also just being in that position. I mean, what does that mean to you and having that connection?

No, for sure. I mean, I think, you know, when he called me, he was, we're talking about the job. And, you know, I, we were, you know, it was a really, really easy, nothing's easy in sports, but an easy transition, right, of, of, I trust him, you know, I probably ask him more questions than he's willing to answer, even, even this morning. You know, so it's, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's easy to do things with people that you, you value their opinion, you value them, and there's a level of trust going forward.

Because, you know, coaching's hard. There's, there's ups and downs, but you got to work with people that you trust, and they give them a foxhole with you, and Coach Dierman is a foxhole type of guy. So, that's, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm where I'm supposed to be, and a lot of good to come. Certainly, we can't wait to see the offense in action for the first time on Saturday. Week zero against Sanford, got hired in December, nine months, I think is what we've counted up.

Nine? Something like that, hard to, hard to count on the fly like that. But how far has this unit come since you got here? A long way. You know, I think, first off, it helps to have really good football players. It's funny how, like, when you have really good players, you're a really, really good coach. You know, and then when you, when you don't have, you know, then you're not as good. But we got a really good group, really good group, deep in a lot of spots.

Now it's just, you know, if the offense court doesn't screw it up, we'll be pretty good. And you don't have to, kind of like with Coach Bowen, don't, you don't have to go into your schemes and your full philosophy. You want to know what the first play is called? I want to know if I'm the one calling it or if it's going to be you. Okay. You know, can we put a social media thing up? Yeah, just pop in and I'll write it down. We'll go with it.

Who's called the first play? What can fans expect when they see this offense? What's a Travis Partridge offense? What do you hang your hat on? You know, it doesn't have to be complicated. You know, I think of, you know, complexity through presentation, right? It's, you know, for us it's play A, play B, play C. But to defense it may look like two different ones. You know, I think from, you know, our guys are going to play fast. I told the offense just two days ago when we were on the Sunday practice, I was like, hey guys, the only way we're not good is if you guys don't believe it.

You know what I mean? And I think they're starting to believe that they've been coming along, they're starting to believe, and now it's just kind of put the ball down and let's go play. You know, let's go play fast. People are going to make mistakes, but make them go on 100 miles an hour, right? I tell the quarterbacks all the time, my favorite word to use is decisive. Don't have to be right, just be decisive. Make a decision, go with it, and go execute. And we have a really good group, high character group.

A lot of good, lots of different pieces to move around here and there. I'm looking forward to kind of putting it together and going to play someone that's not a Coach Bowen-led defense. Those guys are pretty good, too. So I'm looking forward to not playing those guys. Have you thought about that first play? Do you know what it is yet? Or does that come later this week? I think so. I think I know what it is. Well, we can't wait. I think. That's going to go tomorrow.

I might change this. You might change your mind. We'll all be in for a surprise on Saturday. Coach, first of many conversations we're going to have with you. The Hall of Famer at Missouri Western Offensive Coordinator here at North Alabama, Travis Partridge. Thanks for joining us, sir. Awesome. Oh, anyway, one last thing. What did you order? What was your pizza? I had the Beekeeper. Yeah? Popular choice? Yeah. My wife really likes spicy food. She's back there. She thought it wasn't very spicy. I think it's really, really spicy.

But no, I'm just a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Pepperoni. Yep. Meat lovers. You know, the more meat you can throw on a pizza, the better. That's right. I saw some lettuce on there. It's not really my style. I know a lot of people go with it. Fruit on pizza. Why? Yeah. You know what I mean? But there's plenty of options here. Well, Coach, we appreciate you breaking down not just some football talk, but some pizza talk as well. Pizza talk. Best of luck on Saturday.

Absolutely. Thanks, guys. We'll be back with North Alabama Head Coach Brent Dierman to wrap up this first episode of UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals. You got a craving they won't quit? Lost Pizza Company Shoals just dropped something new, and it's only around for a limited time. Say hello to our jalapeno mac and cheese bites. Crispy, cheesy, packed with a little kick, and serve with our house-made ranch for dipping. Paired with the fillet, y'all, our loaded fillet cheesesteak pizza that's quickly becoming a fan favorite.

This is for a limited time only, so don't wait. Come dine in or call ahead for to-go. Lost Pizza Company Shoals, 201 North Seminary Street in Florence. Dine in or to-go. 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.

[57:24] Again, that's 256-648-5710. Welcome to Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic, located in downtown Florence. We offer a large array of therapies and techniques to help you get back in the game of life. One of those therapies is red light slash infrared light therapy. Dry needling is used to help reduce pain associated with painful trigger point. Our class 4 laser therapies are used to decrease inflammation and improve the speed of healing of sprains, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is proud to partner with UNA to keep our lions performing at their best.

Roar Lions. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine, and an unmatched selection of nearly a thousand different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.

In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! It's summertime in the Shoals, which means sunshine, hot weather, and a lot more bugs. Ants, mosquitoes, termites, they love this time of year just as much as we do.

That's why so many homeowners and businesses trust Southern Pride Pest Control, locally owned and operated right here in Muscle Shoals. With years of experience, honest service, and a commitment to doing the job right, our team doesn't walk away until you're completely satisfied. Let us help you take back your home this summer. Call Southern Pride Pest Control today to schedule an appointment. When you have pests, we have solutions. Man, what an opening night it has been here at Lost Pizza Shoals for the first episode of the season of UNA Football Night.

Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel, UNA Head Football Coach Brent Dierman. Coach, final segment here. We're running a little long tonight. That's all right. We're having a lot of fun. You were looking at the monitor here, and Braden and Grant had a great shot, live look at the stadium. They actually turned the lights off while we were looking at it, but you just kind of looked at it and said, man, isn't that incredible? It absolutely is. And for me to be able to watch out of my window every day, to go at night and to be able to, they popped them back on.

We're good. And the lights are on. Lights just popped back on. They heard us, and they threw them back on. But, man, what an awesome experience to be able to see this from nothing, from a practice field to what it is now. It's been fun. You know, how much has it re-energized the program? And I say that thinking, you know, the transition years were long. It almost feels like we have not been super re-energized since this came about. Does it feel that way? It definitely feels that way.

You know, from the product of players we're able to get now to the product of coaches that we're getting now, it's bringing a new juice and a new energy. Now we've got to go out on that surface and win football games. Coach, kind of as we're wrapping up here in this last segment, you introduced your captains last week, and you've got a very diverse room. You've got two guys from Muscle Shoals, but, you know, you've got a long-time guy like Colin Wright. You've got a second-year captain like Jaheim.

Really, you can count it three with him wearing the number 44. You've got a new guy like Joshua White that's impacted since the spring. And, of course, your QB1, Destin Wade. Talk about this captain room. Well, any time you have three guys that are O-line and D-line being a captain, it's usually a pretty good sign. It's rare for an O-lineman to get a captain. And for Colin Wright, he's really the face of what we're doing here, of a local guy that worked his butt off to be a starter.

Once he became a starter, stayed here, even though he had interest from schools to try to go other places. He stayed here. He wanted to go into that new stadium and leave the jersey in a better place than he found it. Jamie Ingram, same way. Local guy. I bet it's probably the first time maybe in UNA football history that two captains came from the same high school. Could be. Some trivia right there for you I should have thrown at you. I'll start researching. And then when your quarterback wears a C on his jersey, it's always a great sign.

So having our starting quarterback wearing a C, and then Josh White got here in January. And if you've seen Josh White in person, Keith, he's a massive human being. And not only is he a massive human, he's got a massive work ethic. He's got a massive heart. Josh has got twin girls that he takes care of. He cares for his teammates. He works his butt off. And to see two guys that got recruited here out of high school, two guys that were transfers. We've got a good mix there in our captain room.

[1:02:45] And then I was also going to tell everybody this so they see it in game one. We're starting a new thing this year with the stars on the helmet. The white stars on the helmet you can earn in games. But in game one, we're going to have some guys that have a gold star on their helmet. If they earned a 3.0 or higher, they get one gold star. If they have two gold stars, it means they had a 3.5. And then if they've got three gold stars on their helmet game one, they had a 4.0 this past year.

So we're making a big deal out of academics as well with the stars on the helmet. Let's jump into our Burnley Spine and Sport preview. Coach, week zero, game one. The Samford Bulldogs. John Gross taking over his first year back since having a great run at Jacksonville State. He's been at Clemson the last couple of years as an analyst on Dabo Sweeney's staff. I know he's probably a man you have a lot of respect for going back to high school days, I imagine. But what are you expecting on Saturday with the Samford Bulldogs?

You know, Coach Gross is a heck of a coach. Me and him have kind of the same kind of upbringing starting in the high school football ranks in this great state. He has built programs. He has taken over and done even higher things than when he took places over. He's a great offensive mind. I think that he's going to turn that place around quickly. So nothing but respect for Coach and the staff that he's put together. I know that we've got to strap it on and be ready to go.

A tough part for us is anytime you go into game one nowadays, you really don't know what to expect because of the transfer portal. You can't watch last year's film and see the same players on tape. And then for them, Coach Gross hadn't called a play in four years. Is he still running the same offense that he ran at Jacksonville State? Has he changed a little bit since being at Clemson? Their defensive coordinator has not called a defensive snap in college football. Another former great high school coach.

But he's been on some really good defensive staffs that he's had his hand in and his flavor on. So we're taking a little bit of a guess of what they are in all three phases of the game. But I've got a ton of respect for him and that staff that he's put together over there. Well, Coach, we can't wait for Saturday, 6 o'clock, Joe Davis Stadium. Kind of cool, the old home of the Huntsville Stars, Mark McGuire, Jose Canseco, tons of greats have played there. UNA football played the first college game over there, Mike.

Yeah, it's going to be a really exciting first college football game in stadium history. And we both have great memories. Coach, I'm sure you do too, kind of being in the Huntsville area when you were playing for the Vipers. So really exciting and excited to see how this field plays out with it being the surface it is. Yeah, that cool story, backstory with the Huntsville. Back when I was playing with the Vipers, you look up in the rafters and there was a jersey and the rafters said Fields on it.

K.J. Fields, his dad, was an all-time great Tennessee Valley Viper that played at Alabama A&M. So for him to go back to Huntsville where he's from, where his dad was a legend, is another kind of tie to the city of Huntsville as well. So shout out to K.J. and his dad. K.J. will be one of the key returnees on offense. Well, Coach, we've had a lot of fun here tonight. Your staff was here. We appreciate all of them taking time and bringing their families here.

I know it was great for them to fellowship. Thank you to Dr. Gray for being in the house, talking some UNA band information. And Saturday, 6 o'clock, we'll do it in Huntsville. Absolutely. Thank you, Coach. Thanks for everybody coming out. We're off and running. Thanks to everybody for coming out tonight. Happy birthday to Ryan Adams, our director of events and facilities. It's actually tomorrow, but we want to wish him a happy birthday here tonight. We appreciate Ryan and all the hard work he does. Thanks to everybody for coming out tonight.

For Braden, Grant, and Ty in the house. For Chuck, who always does an excellent job. For Greg Thornton, who's at the beach right now. Some of us got to work. Enjoy your time at the beach, Greg. For Blair back at the station, Mikey Z, who I'm Benjamin Wright saying roar lions. You've been listening to UNA football night from Lost Pizza. Tonight's show is brought to you by Lost Pizza Shoals. Burnley Spine and Sport. Singing River Brewery. Southern Pride Pest Control. Alabama Health Guidance. The Carriage Wine and Market.

And Brown Equipment Company. Thanks for listening and roar lions.