UNA Football Night @ Lost Pizza w/ Benjamin Ray 08/31/26

[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. Hello and welcome to week number two of UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals. It's a packed house as we're celebrating North Alabama's week zero win over Sanford over in Huntsville at Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium, 22 to 10.

Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel. We got a full slate tonight. Coach Dierman's going to join us. His leadership team is here tonight. We got Jaheim Ingram, Josh White. They're going to swing by, talk some defensive line. Nolan Forche, Will French III as well. Mike, season opening win. We talked last week how this was one of the most anticipated UNA football seasons in some time. Well, the Lions opened it like it certainly is. Yeah, and everybody's talking about September 19th. Of course, season tickets on sale right now for Bank Independent Stadium, on-campus stadium.

That's been a lot of the talk, but there's some business to take care of, you know, week zero, and the Lions did that against Sanford. What a great game. You kind of alluded to that defensive line in that front seven and just how dominant they looked in that game. The offense really got it going there, too, and got the job done. It was a really good game, really good team effort. Excited to hear from Coach Dierman about it. Let's start out with the defense on Saturday, Mike. Just how dominant were they?

Second in FCS in rushing totals, negative eight yards allowed. I mean, that is a Division I record for UNA. Second most, or second fewest by any team rushing in the nation. And then second in sacks with six sacks. Second in total tackles with 13 tackles for loss. It was just a great effort. I mean, you just saw the chaos and the pressure all night. Guys like Jaheim and Josh that we're going to talk to today, but also guys like Kamor Harris, Kaden Adkins, Avery Howard. The list goes on and on. Those guys in the front seven really did their job well.

And then offensively, it was sort of fireworks in the first half and then just ground control in the second half. That's right. And Coach Dierman, he hangs his hat on running the ball, and he knows that those conversations with his dad, that's usually what it's going to be about. How well did you run the ball? Well, the other team ran for negative yards. They ran for positive. Jalen Fletcher, man, what a great game he had. Redshirt freshman, a guy that's really emerged for this team. And Chris McMillan looked good. Rod Taylor looked good. The offensive line did a great job in the run game.

I think that's one thing that's really going to be good about this team. And, of course, the explosive pass plays. Let me get that. My tongue untied. Xavier Johnson with that big catch. I mean, everything just seemed to really work. Man, that's a good segue, but I'm not ready to go to it with your tongue being tied. We're going to tie it here in just a second with some tailgate food. Oh, how about a tongue torch? Tongue torch. Well, hey, Mike, it wasn't just a great weekend for North Alabama football.

Volleyball, soccer, we're all rolling. Yeah, that's right. The volleyball team, nine straight set wins there. 3-0 sweep. So they finished August with three wins. UNA soccer's undefeated in the month of August. So UNA Athletics has not lost a single game in any sport in the month of August. So we're heading into September undefeated. Riding some momentum. It's been busy for the SIDs. Soccer had a player of the week. Volleyball had two players of the week. Football had a player of the week. Every sport took on some honors from the conference.

They sure did. It was a great week. Volleyball with two honors. Kinsley McGowan still doing what she's been doing. Ava Martindale did what she does. It was great. And on the soccer side, too, another player of the week award there. They've been really good. 13 goals, 10 different goal scorers for UNA soccer. Just a great start for both of those programs. All right, let's do this. Katie McDonald, manager here at Lost Pizza, is here. She's got some goodies. This is Mike and I's favorite segment. We're going to talk some food. She's going to tell us what we have right here.

She brought two platters out. Super excited about this. All right, Katie, grab the headset and tell us what we have here. It smells delicious. One, two, three, four different items. What do we have? All right, a little of everything. Let me help you out here. A little tingled. There we go. Sweet. All right, a little bit of everything. Starting with our tamales over here. They're our Delta Hot tamales. You can do 24-48 if I'm remembering correctly. They come with jalapeno ranch and crackers and hot sauce.

They're one of my favorites. Not my favorite, but this is my favorite. How does the crackers complement with the tamale? So, I like to get a little bit of tamale, a little bit of jalapeno ranch. Perfect bite. Okay. That's how you do it. All right, moving on to the star. In my opinion, this is my favorite. We've got a bunch of wings. Traditional, bone-in, and then boneless. So, we've got two flavors right now. We've got our Delta Dust dry rub. That's going to be this one and that one right there.

[5:12] And then our lion's roar sauce. It's going to be a mix of golden barbecue, jalapeno ranch, and mild sauce. The wings are incredible here. The tamales as well. And all of this is part of the special tailgate packages that you guys are putting together for home games, right? Yep. Last week, we had the sandwich platter. This week, the wings. We're going to keep rolling some things out. How can people start ordering this for that September 19th ballgame? I'm not sure if we have our link up yet, but we will have a link. I'm sure we'll post it on all our socials.

But you'll be able to order straight through us. We'll be delivering straight to Pine Street on the stadium every 30 minutes. And how early do people need to get these orders in? For caterings, we typically ask for 24 hours in advance, but I'm probably sure you'll be able to order all week just so we can go ahead and prepare everything and have everything as hot and ready as we can. There you go. If you're tailgating out at the Pines this year, we've got great sandwiches. We've got wings. We've got tamales. Of course, we've got pizza.

And I think we're going to keep rolling some stuff out the next couple of weeks. Yep. All right, Mike, what are you going to try? You know, the lime drawer. Is that what you call it? Lime drawer, yeah. Describe the sauce again. So it's a golden barbecue sauce. My favorite. Mild sauce. I like that. And then jalapeno ranch all mixed. I think I could get behind that. It's a little spice. A little bit. A little sweet. Yeah. But it's good. A little spice, a little sweet.

I'm going for that. And I think for the sake of the show, I would usually go traditional. I might go boneless just to be safe. You're going to get the bone. I'm going with the bone. Okay, if you go bone, I'll go bone. It's like hot ones. I'm easily influenced. Cheers, Mike. Here we go. Oh, wow. You really taste the mild and the, I mean, obviously the golden. That's like the big hit there. And it's got that hint of spice with the jalapeno. I love it.

This is really good. That's a top-tier wing right there. Wings are my favorite food in the world. I eat them all the time. I almost cleared that in one bite. I was pretty proud of it. But these are absolutely delicious. Make your plans. Get these. Shout out, Ty, for being the napkin guy. Oh, yeah. We're going to need some more napkins as well. Gotcha. Katie, this has been phenomenal. Wings, tamales, we're going to keep rolling it out. Thank you for sharing this with us. Y'all enjoy.

We'll be right back. When we come back, we're going to get Coach Stearman up here. We're going to give him some food. We'll let some others come up and get some of this. We'll talk about U&A's win against Sanford. This is U&A Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. 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.

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 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. Get comfortable. Football season is back at the carriage. There are a few things we love more than a good Saturday in the South, and football season is officially back at the carriage.

All season long, we'll have the games rolling with plenty of cold drinks, good food, and a comfortable spot to settle in for a quarter, a game, or the better part of the day. Game day Saturdays get $5 craft drafts, $2 off wine slushies, drafts of mimosas, and game day bites from the kitchen. Stock up in our markets before kickoff with plenty of snacks, dips, cheeses, something sweet, and all the good stuff for your game day spread. Football season looks pretty good from the carriage on East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence.

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When you have pests, we have solutions. Food, football, and fellowship. That's the recipe here at Lost Pizza. We got the tamales. We got the wings. You got Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezeko, and we now got the head football coach at the University of North Alabama, Brent Dierman. And, Coach, we're going to talk about a lot before we get to football. Your honest take of the wings. You didn't know if you wanted to do it before we went on air. Mike and I hyped them up, and I noticed you went back for a second bite before we came, so I take it you liked it.

Well, I went with the dry rub, boneless. That way I didn't have something on my fingers when we started this thing off. So between, like, the next segment, next episode, I'll probably try one of the actual wings, too. But that was – I don't know what the flavor is, but it was really good. All right. Ty over there, he's our in-house audio guy. Mike mentioned he came in clutch with some paper towels for us, so we appreciate Ty. He's the MVP of this one. We'll test it out after this next break.

Coach, a 22-10 win against Sanford on Saturday, the opening game on the road, week zero. You've been with this team pretty much since January, right? You go through spring ball off-seasons. You feel like you've got a good team. You don't know until you play that first game. How are you feeling after Saturday? I feel good. Anytime you win, it makes the weekend a little bit easier. It's hard to win in college football. I had an old boss say that all the time, so we enjoy the win.

You celebrate the win. There's a lot of things to clean up. I'm sure we're going to talk about some stuff tonight, but, man, I was excited for these players. We have a very close-knit family brotherhood between this team that we haven't had before, and that's why I wanted to bring out our whole leadership council over here tonight, all 14 of those guys, and really love them up and celebrate them. Yeah, and that was going to be my next question. Before we even get to on the field, like having these guys here, tell us about the leadership group.

What do they do? What do they do for the team? So we voted as a staff and let the team have an input on our leadership council is what we call it. We've got a good mix of half offense, half defense, and then one special teams guy. But it's anywhere between guys like Colin Wright, K.J. Fields, that I feel like have been here for eight, nine years almost, to some guys like Josh White, Will French, that just got here in January. So you've got local guys, you've got guys from a good distance away, you've got offense, defense, you've got skill guys, you've got big guys.

So it's a great mix of the team, and they really help me to kind of be an extension of me in the locker room. We meet about once or twice a week. They came over to my house last Wednesday night, and we ate, broke bread together, and talked some things going into the game one that I needed them to do. And the cool part, they get to pick the uniforms every week, so that's probably the best part of the job. But love this group of guys.

That may be the more heated debate amongst the team, I'm sure, picking out the uniforms. Yeah, it's kind of shocked me since I've been here. I've always loved all white uniforms on road games. But I don't think our guys are fans of our white game pants, I think just because they're a little bit tighter than the purple. So they usually pick the purple game pants more often. But they have a big input on a lot of the decisions that happen within the program. You know, Coach, you ran through a lot of those guys and a lot of familiar names there.

But then tons of newcomers as well. And what does it say about, one, the quality of guys that you brought in, but, two, the willingness of this program to let new guys come in and say, hey, you're leaders as well? Well, we kind of had to take a step back where usually your unity council, your leadership council team is kind of put in place in January, February, where really with 30 new transfers coming in, I don't think you would have done it justice by trying to force it on us in January.

So we really waited until about April this year to do it because I bet if we would have voted in January, all 14 of these guys wouldn't have probably been the 14 guys that the team picked. So let's everybody get to know each other a little bit more. The only downside for me is I don't get to do as much leadership training in January, February, March. We have to push it more into the summertime and in the late spring. But it helps us to make sure we got the right guys on that group of guys.

And I love how quickly we were able to learn a lot of these guys, like Josh and Will, who are both here tonight and will be on the show, just how ingrained they've already been in the community. Coach, let's go to the field a little bit. And a lot of great things happened in that game. But a lot of the talk in fall camp was about this front seven. And, man, they really showed out. You know, I thought our whole defense played very well. But our run defense, our D-line, our linebackers really set a tone for the game.

[15:26] We showed a clip of the whole team yesterday. It was really the second drive of the game for Sanford that they drove the length of the field. I think they got third, three three-and-long conversions, that drive. And I told our team that last year our mindset, our defensive mindset, we would have crumbled. After giving up three third-and-longs, just kind of would have give up and probably would have gave up points in that situation. This group of guys is just different. And it was led by Tay Martin.

You know, Tay Martin's a name that our fan base needs to get to know. Tay Martin comes off the edge, creates a sack. Then we get another TFL, another, I think, incompletion. And then they had a self-inflicted wound. They go to kick the field goal and miss the field goal. I thought that drive won us the football game where offense was able to then create a spark, start moving the ball, get a big explosive play. But our front seven set the tone for not just that game, but hopefully for our season.

Ten different players recorded a tackle for loss. You had six sacks as well. So it wasn't like it was just one dude out there wreaking havoc, Coach. I was really having to watch as I'm calling the game because it was a different guy almost every play. Well, you can probably ask Jaheim this question when he gets up here. There's two things, really a couple things that go into a sack. Scheme can get sacks. One guy doing his job extremely well can get a sack. But we're highlighting the front seven.

But if the quarterback is getting to his third and fourth read because the DBs are doing such a great job of playing coverage, there's also a reason you get a sack. So I think the whole defense contributed to that. When a corner's name does not get called, it's usually a good day. And we had a couple corners that played really well, and that's why we were able to get sacks too. But Jaheim told a couple people after the game, he's used to playing 50, 55 snaps in a game and being a little bit more tired.

I think this game he played more about 40. Because we're so deep at D-line, they can play fresh more often. And you get a full speed Jaheim Ingram more often than you get an 80% Jaheim Ingram. Yeah, you highlighted Tate Martin there. He was big in the secondary. You got guys like Ken Nigel came down with the interception there at the end. Coach, offensive side of the ball, you talk about it a lot. Hanging your hat on the run game and those calls with your dad go a little bit easier when you get to talk about a good run game.

They had negative yards. You guys had positive yards. You had a lot of guys involved. Just talk about that side of the ball a little bit. You know, I thought it took us a little bit longer than we probably wanted to to get into a flow. First two drives going three and out. Getting to a third and short. I think Sanford actually probably was misaligned and made it tough for us on that third and short play. But we've got to convert there. But we needed a spark.

And you're backed up. You're coming off of a penalty. And Destin Wade hooks up with a freshman receiver that first game of playing in. College football sets a school record. There's nothing like a spark more than a school record, longest pass play in school history. So I thought that really ignited our offense. We've got to finish some drives out better. But any time you rush for over 150 yards, it's usually a pretty good game in college football. It was a good win for North Alabama to open up the season.

1-0 winning that game over in Huntsville last Saturday. We're on the road this week at Arkansas taking on an SEC opponent. We're going to take a timeout. When we come back, we're going to play some trivia with Coach. We're going to have our play of the game. We actually have two plays this week to talk about. And in the meantime, we're going to chow down on some wings and tamales during the break. This is UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. You've 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. 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.

[20:51] 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. Get comfortable. Football season is back at the carriage. There are a few things we love more than a good Saturday in the South, and football season is officially back at the carriage. All season long, we'll have the games rolling with plenty of cold drinks, good food, and a comfortable spot to settle in for a quarter, a game, or the better part of the day.

Game day Saturdays get $5 craft drafts, $2 off wine slushies, perhaps some mimosas, and game day bites from the kitchen. Stock up in our markets before kickoff with plenty of snacks, dips, cheeses, something sweet, and all the good stuff for your game day spread. Football season looks pretty good from the carriage on East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. A lot goes into taking care of your property. You need equipment with more reliability and versatility built in. Like Kubota, BX, and L-Series compact tractors that get the job done right.

Z-Series mowers that deliver a quality cut and sidekick utility vehicles where durability meets speed. Visit your local Kubota dealer for a demo today. Stop by Brown Equipment, located at 826 North Military Street in Loretto, or visit them online at brownequipmentcompany.com. We're back having fun down here at Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence. Don't forget we'll be out here every Monday night during football season with the exception of next Monday. We will not have a show because Lost Pizza is closed. It is a holiday Monday, so we'll take off.

And then we'll be back the next week, which will be a good week to have a show. That'll be the Monday of the home opener, September 19th. So make your plans to join us, not next week, but the week after. That would be the 14th, I believe. I don't have my calendar in front of me, but no show next week. We'll be back the week after. Chatting with North Alabama head football coach Brent Dearman after we just had some wings during the break. And, Coach, so many great individual efforts on Saturday.

Total team win. It wasn't just one dude. I'm sure you had a hard time picking your players of the week. Yeah, it was very hard. You know, Mike texted me and the coordinators after the game. And in that moment in time, you just go what's fresh on your mind. Then after you get back and you watch tape, man, you go, wow. I didn't realize that kid made that play. I didn't realize he set that edge like that. I didn't realize that pass set looked that way.

So the film really tells a little bit different story than you get to see in game. And we, even though you guys, we named three on our social media stuff. We actually gave three different defensive players, kind of co-defensive player of the game. Tay Martin being one, Caden Atkins and Kamor Harris were our three defensive players of the game. Destin Wade was our offensive player of the game. And then we gave Xavier Johnson something as well. And how about a freshman punter stepping in for a former All-American and averaging 46 yards a punt?

That's pretty big for a true freshman punter as well. So a lot of big-time performances. Yeah, and let's go back to Destin Wade. This is a guy you kind of advocated for there. And, you know, how he protected the ball, how he moved the ball, how he's such a dual threat, and his leadership. Just talk about all those things. You know, I chewed Destin out yesterday. I hope he's listening. He's smiling over there. He's looking over his shoulder. The one coaching point that I had for him is he's got to learn how to not take hits when he doesn't need to.

And there was one down in the red zone that the look wasn't there. He just needs to throw it away. He gets collided by two different guys as he's trying to run the ball out of bounds. But he's a competitor. That's what makes him as good as he is. He doesn't want to have a zero-yard gain. He wants to get as much as we can get. And to see his completion percentage go up from what it was last year and to take care of the ball, if we play great defense and we take care of the ball, that's a pretty good winning formula right there.

So to watch him interact with the defense in between drives and encourage them, encouraging the offense, my off-season challenge for him was to be the man, be the guy that this program can look at in times of adversity. And game one, he checked that box for us. It was good to see him out there rolling. All right, Coach, let's talk about our play of the week from Saturday. And we actually have two from both sides of the football. Let's start with the record breaker. Destin Wade to Xavier Johnson, 95 yards, a school record.

You can see it in-house here behind us on the television screen. Coach, take us through this deep ball connection. All right, so I think that's a dance that Coach Ellis works on in individuals right there. But, you know, we're kind of backed up. Leading up to this, Chris McMillan just made a heck of a run. We're on to get us out of the end zone. We get a holding call. I'm not sure who that holding call was on. But holding call backs us back up. And we just do a fake play.

[25:53] We draw them off sides, which means we get a freebie because of the penalty. And Destin knows kind of our deep ball guy has been X early in the year. Puts it up for grabs because it's a freebie. And X went and made a play. And he's a fast player. So, it was off and running from there. That pass was really close to the midfield. I mean, he could definitely air it out. And to do it under a lot of pressure because two plays before that, he had to scramble out of trouble and dove for the pylon.

That was the play I was talking about, that he shouldn't have taken that hit. That was that play. But I've been kind of showing Destin in practice how to make that throw. He's getting there. He's getting there. So, a couple of cool notes. Mike and Jeff Hodges do a great job. I think before he scored, Ashley Balch was in our booth telling us it was a school record. But 95 yards, a school record. Destin Wade joins A.J. Milwey, big name there, as the only two quarterbacks in North Alabama history to have two touchdown passes of 90 yards or more.

Destin had one of 91 last year against Utah Tech, 95 this year, the school record. And then kind of a cool note, the record prior to that was Travis Carswell to James Moore in 1997 against Arkansas Tech. Did not result in a touchdown. The second longest in school history prior to that was Luke Wingo to Corey Jones against West Alabama in 2013. That was an epic game in Brawley Stadium. Also not a touchdown. So, kind of wild that the longest two pass plays in school history were not touchdowns until Destin Wade connected to Xavier Johnson.

Let's jump to the next play, Coach. So, Destin's two of the top five? He's two of the top six. Two of the top six in school history. I guess he's first and fifth, but there's been six 90-yard touchdown passes in school history. Pretty impressive. So, let's get a couple more, Destin, right? Yeah, no pressure. So, let's talk about the other play to watch, Coach, play of the game. And it's on the defensive side of the football with this sack right here. Kind of a tag team for the safety.

I tell you, you really get to this because our defense was dominant on first and second down. Again, we as a program have got to work on our celebrations a little bit better. But we got them into a third and long. Because of that, we were able to put four of our pass rushers on the field. You see Camor and Caden Atkins and Avery Howard are three of our better pass rushers, all three in the game at the same time. Jaheim Ingram is getting to be the anchor inside.

And to see both of those guys collide there and get half a sack apiece was just a fun moment to watch. Gave us two more points. Was a big momentum swing in this game. And like I said, we've got to get better at dancing after you see both of those. But, man, I'm excited when you have guys that can get after the passer. Avery Howard, pure athlete right there. Just absolutely bullrushed the guy. Didn't even absorb it. He just went around him and made the play.

And, you know, you two know this. This is a guy that I've been raving about for about a year now. That I've said when it comes on, when the light comes on for Avery Howard, big things are going to happen. He is gifted. He can run. He's physical. Earlier in the game, he took on a counter block, splattered both the guard and the pull and tight end as well. A big year ahead for Avery Howard. All right, Mike, we've got to get some theme music or a name for this next little segment we're going to do right here.

I'll let you take over and tell people what's happening. All right, it's time for Brent Dierman Trivia. Coach, are you ready? I don't think so, but I'll do my best. All right, here we go. Well, you have a little bit of a tie to Arkansas, as a lot of us know here. You coached at Arkansas Tech for a little bit. So we're going to go back to those roots. Anybody that's followed UNA football for a long time knows the Arkansas streak. From 2005 to 2010, UNA defeated a team from Arkansas 27 times in a row.

I want to see if you can name the seven teams that were involved in that streak. Seven teams involved in that streak. It's Arkansas Tech. Yep. It's Southern Arkansas. Yep. It's UCA. Yep. It's Harding. Yep. Wachita. Yep. Arkansas Monticello. Yep. One more. Oh, man. Do you need – you're getting some audience help. Do you want to phone a friend? Arkansas State? No. Close. We'll give you one more. Six out of seven. One more. That answer is just across the street, man. I'm telling you. Henderson State. There it is.

Yeah, Henderson State. My bad. Seven to seven. I think you get credit for that. You are 2-0 in trivia. Yes. I got a little help last week. But, yeah. How cool is it for you to go back to Arkansas this week? It's very cool. You know, I got a lot of ties to the state. Spent three years at Arkansas Tech. A lot of my mentors, with Gus being from Arkansas. Tim Horton, my guy I worked under at Auburn as well, is from Arkansas. Tim's dad was the head coach at UCA for a long time.

Rhett Lashley from Arkansas. So, there's tons of ties there. And, actually, what was pretty cool, Gus called me yesterday. And, Gus is going to be at the game and just called me to wish me luck. So, a pretty cool moment for me to have my mentor being in the stands. I doubt he's in the stands as a regular person. I'm sure he's going to be up somewhere in a box. Pretty cool, indeed. Well, Coach, this has been fun. We appreciate you breaking that down. We're going to give you a little break.

[31:12] Mike and I are going to have to spread out a little bit because we've got some big dudes coming up. I don't know if they're going to fit at the table. We can try our best. I know these wings will probably be gone by the time they get done with their segment. We've got some impressive dudes coming up next. We're going to talk to Josh White and Jaheim Ingram. This is UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. You've 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, 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 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. Get comfortable. Football season is back at the carriage. There are a few things we love more than a good Saturday in the South, and football season is officially back at the carriage. All season long, we'll have the games rolling with plenty of cold drinks, good food, and a comfortable spot to settle in for a quarter, a game, or the better part of the day.

Game day Saturdays get $5 craft drafts, $2 off wine slushies, drafts of mimosas, and game day bites from the kitchen. Stock up in our markets before kickoff with plenty of snacks, dips, cheeses, something sweet, and all the good stuff for your game day spread. Football season looks pretty good from the carriage on East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. 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. As Mike mentioned during the break, we just finished playing Human Tetris, but we are all up here joining us here at UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals.

I'm Benjamin Ray. Mike Ezekiel's up here as well. We got the big dogs in the house. Josh White, number 064305, a newcomer. He's a captain. He made his UNA debut this weekend. And you all know, I'm hard to believe, it's been four years, Jaheim Ingram from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, 6'1", 280 pounds. He's a captain as well. Fellas, thank you both for joining. Jaheim, let's start with you, man. You've been at North Alabama for a long time, four years. That was your 36th game played on Saturday, man. How sweet was that one?

It was awesome. You know, I got to go into a new environment. I think when I got there, I said I've never seen the stadium before. So it was just awesome going in there, you know, with a new group of guys, pretty much a brand new team, and, you know, making history starting off winning those for the first time since 2019. Yeah, Josh, I'm looking at this photo of you right now. You got the C on your jersey, and I'm sure that's got to mean a lot, knowing that you haven't been here a year yet.

You've been here since, what, January, February? Yes, sir. You went through spring training, and your teammates sought enough of you to make you a team captain. What does that mean to you? A lot that my team trusts me. You know, that goes in with practice, you know, not having off days, you know, being able to help everybody play their position at D-line, just communicating, just, it means a lot to me, just, that they trust me. Josh, let's stay with you. Number zero. What made you want to go with that?

[36:18] I don't know. It's just somebody D-lining a single digit, and I just wanted zero, and, you know, thank Coach Dierman and the coaching staff for trusting me to get a single digit that I rep it right. It looked right out there on you. Thank you. Jaheim, third straight year for you wearing 44, and for people that don't know, Coach Dierman gives out 44 every year in honor of Ronald McKinnon, perhaps the greatest to ever play at North Alabama, up there with Harlan Hill, the linebacker leader of the three national championships, 10-year career in the NFL.

It means so much to the University of North Alabama, man. Third straight year in 44, man. What does that mean to you? It's special, man. Like I said, you know, I've embraced 44. I rep it around my neck every day with the chain. And, you know, people on the team, they start to call me fours now. It's kind of something I've embraced. You know, I love it. Jaheim, we had a fun time when we went to Texas back in July for media day. We had a lot of conversations in the Uber cars that we were in, trying to get everywhere we were going.

And you were talking a lot about this defense. And then after the game on Saturday, you and I walked by each other, and you said, I told you, I told you this in Texas. What did you tell me? I told you it was going to be special. I think that first game is just, you know, just a glimpse of what we could be capable of. I think that, you know, we got a lot of things to clean up, you know, a lot of mishaps. But at the end of the day, it's 11 guys that are going to be on the field every time playing for each other.

And that's all you could ask for with a defense. Josh, just how dominant was this group on Saturday, man? How proud are you guys of what you did? I'm very proud. But, you know, you see it on Tuesdays and Wednesdays how the game on Saturday be. Tuesdays are hard. It makes Saturday easy. So, on Tuesday, we seen everybody fly to the ball, you know, communication about the players, the backfield, the wide receivers. You know, I knew what was going to happen. We got a special group here, and everybody loves football.

You know, I and team. Yeah, a special group indeed. And I want to talk about both of you guys working together now. You all are on the interior. You got a lot of great players around you, on the edge, behind you, the defensive, the secondary. But you two guys together, how do you feel that you complement each other? And, Jaheim, you can take that one first. Oh, well, for one, Josh is a way bigger body than I am. Probably the biggest person I've ever played beside.

So, just having a presence like that in the interior, it's a force in itself. I mean, he's 6'4", 330 pounds plus. So, you know, you're having a guy like that that can take up a few double teams here and there, you know, take some pressure off of you. It's amazing, man. Well, Jaheim, Jaheim plays everything. Jaheim on every, you know, pass where Jaheim can do everything. And I just love the way Jaheim plays football. Like, he's not a selfish person. If Jaheim got to go in there and take three people for somebody to get a sack, Jaheim's never mad.

You'll never see Jaheim. It was poking out of nothing. He's a great guy to play with. Josh, for you, man, I know you got two little girls at home. Oh, a little boy and a little girl. A little boy and a little girl. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Tell us about your kids and what they mean to you. They mean a lot to me. I took a picture with them at the game, you know. My son, I just want to show him a better life than I had.

And my little girl, she just, oh, she just, oh. She got me riding around her finger so much. Like, at the game, I look at the stand, she's looking at me. I'm like, how did she see me? She was like this. You know, they're my babies. I love them, definitely. You know, it just means a lot. Every day I go out on the field, I do it for them. How old are they? Two, just turned two. Wow, I love that. That is amazing. Well, hey, while we were talking, you probably saw the clips.

They were a little distracting. You had Xavier dancing. You had Avery dancing. Who had the better dance? Neither. If I had to give it to one, he would be Xavier. But we all, the whole D-line had a conversation with Avery about his celebration. We got to work on it. We're going to get better. Jaheim, for you, man, let's circle back to the family. And we actually, Mike and I got back to Flowers Hall, Lot O. It was about 1.30 in the morning. And your family was pulling in right in front of us, man.

And again, every year they go just about to every single road game. I don't think I've been to a game where they are not there, man. Just how cool is that? It's awesome. Yeah, we actually pulled in at the same time. But, you know, I thank God for my family every day. My family is really my number one support system. They keep me turning. They keep me going. You know, they keep me fed, most importantly. So, I love them for that. Shout out my mom back there as well.

They keep me fed indeed. Last thing for me, guys. I mean, this big game next week, obviously coming off a win, going into Arkansas, an SEC opponent. How exciting is that for you guys? And what do you all expect? You got it first. Very exciting. You know, me, a player like me, it's just another game. We don't treat nobody different. We respect everybody we play. We're going to go ahead and play our game. For me, I think it's just, you know, it's just another opponent at the end of the day.

It don't matter if it's Alabama, Arkansas, Central Arkansas. At the end of the day, we all playing football. We all trying to win. So, it don't matter who it is. We're going to play. We're going to have fun. Jaheim Ingram, Josh White, the big daddies inside. Great having you both here. We appreciate you joining us. Shout out D-Line. Shout out D-Line. Hey, we're going to go defense-offense when we come back. Nolan Forche and Will French III will swing by. This is UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score.

Thank you. 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 Philly, 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.

[41:42] 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 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. Get comfortable. Football season is back at the carriage. There are a few things we love more than a good Saturday in the South, and football season is officially back at the carriage. All season long, we'll have the games rolling with plenty of cold drinks, good food, and a comfortable spot to settle in for a quarter, a game, or the better part of the day.

Game day Saturdays get $5 craft drafts, $2 off wine slushies, perhaps some mimosas, and game day bites from the kitchen. Stock up in our markets before kickoff with plenty of snacks, dips, cheeses, something sweet, and all the good stuff for your game day spread. Football season looks pretty good from the carriage on East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. When getting the job done right is job one, you need construction equipment that's built right. From compact track loaders to the world's number one selling compact excavator, the Kubota construction lineup features durable Kubota engines, more comfort, and the versatility to do it all and do it right.

Visit your local Kubota dealer today. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer. Stop by Brown Equipment, located at 826 North Military Street in Loretto, or visit them online at brownequipmentcompany.com. Welcome back down to Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence, Alabama. Benjamin Ray and Mike Ezekiel with you, and we're still talking with the Big Daddies. We got some newcomers here. First up to our left, a linebacker from Nashville, Tennessee. He had two tackles and a tackle for Lawson in his North Alabama debut. Nolan Forche is in the house.

And then the starting center from Memphis, Tennessee, a newcomer as well, Will French III, making their debut here on the show. Gentlemen, we're excited to have both of you. And let's hit you with a hard-hitting question out of the gate. Nolan, why North Alabama? What made you want to come to UNA? I just felt the community and the support that everybody had. And the coaching staff, I really believed in what they were telling me. And, yeah, I felt like the brotherhood was amazing. Will? Yeah, kind of like what Nolan said when I came down here on a visit.

It was, I love the community. I'm kind of more of a small-town guy. That's what Florence has to offer. The people down here are great. And it's just overall a great community. Love the coaches. Yeah, and you've never been outside of Memphis as far as places that you've lived, right? No, sir. So this will be your, so kind of a leap of faith, I guess, coming, but at least you're close to home. It feels good getting away from home. Right. Okay, there's another. Last half full, right?

Yeah, there you go. But for both of you guys, being close enough where your family can come and watch you play, I mean, that's got to mean something. Of course. Will, offensive line-wise, we've talked a lot of defense, man, but the offensive line was breaking in a lot of people. The sled dogs, if you guys have been coined, man. How would you rate the play on Saturday of that group? Yeah, so obviously first game, a bunch of stuff we have to clean up. It's not good to start.

Can't go three and out like we did three times in a row, but that just kind of comes with the first game, and I know Clay will get it right. Coach Clay will get us right, and we'll clean it up, move them forward to Arkansas. But overall, the culture he has brought in for the sled dogs. I really like that. We're all bought in, and I really feel like it's a good group of us in that room. Nolan, it was a record-breaking day for the defense against Sanford.

Only ten points allowed, but, man, negative eight rushing yards, and you're kind of in the center of it at linebacker. You're seeing the guys behind you doing their thing, the guys in front of you doing their thing. What was your take being kind of in the center of what you saw? Yes, sir. I feel like we dominated the trenches of that game. Whenever you can do that, I feel like it's going to be a great day for the defense, and I really believe that our guys are all bought in and ready for the season.

[47:01] I want to get the take of both of you on some individual moments. We've been talking about it. What did you make of Avery's celebration after the safety? I loved it. I thought it was hype, and I just love the energy and the passion he brings to it. I love it. So we're getting a different review here. You were all about it. What about X's celebration on that touchdown catch? Oh, it was awesome, especially for me personally. I got a holding call right before the play.

It was so nice to be able to throw that ball deep in and get the game going with some momentum. You know, when we were watching that, I got to thinking about it. I didn't think about it in the moment. From the five-yard line, right? On a pass play, you linemen are blocking two, three seconds, right? And then it was a dead sprint for all of you guys. Is it sort of a joyful sprint, or are you hitting the 50 and thinking, man, this was a mistake?

Yeah, so it starts off a joyful sprint, but you get down past the 50 a sight. Not really run all the way to that zone, celebrate, or go celebrate with the guys on the sideline. Well, I really appreciate the odyssey. You kind of took my question there with the holding. I was going to ask you about that, but to recover so quickly. But, Will, let's talk about your family and kind of the heritage you come from. Obviously, your grandfather, legendary coach. Your father played at Mississippi State.

What does family mean to you as far as the game of football, and how has that helped you as a player? Yeah, so growing up, football's always been in the family with my dad and then also my grandpa, but it's also been tough because when I don't have a good game, I hear it from them first. But overall, it's been instilled in me since I've been young, and I love the advice I get, and I can always go to them, ask questions, especially my grandpa, because he primarily coached offensive line when he was coaching the NFL.

So it's awesome to have them two there, getting advice and their opinions on all this stuff. How cool is it to have a Super Bowl ring in your family? Oh, it's awesome. I put it on sometimes. I didn't think I won it. I was going to say, were you alive for that Super Bowl? I wasn't alive, but I was just a thought of my parents. Yeah, I was going to say, you're probably pretty close to being born. Yeah, I was close, but not quite. Gotcha. That's exciting.

Well, Nolan, obviously, you're from Tennessee and kind of been in that area a while. I mean, what did that mean to you growing up, I guess, being in that area? And how familiar were you with the Shoals before coming here? I was pretty familiar. I have some family who lives in Muscle Shoals. But, yeah, I mean, I just love being from Nashville, how close all my friends and family are. They can come up to the game. And, yeah, it wasn't really that situation a few years ago.

But I really love being close to home. Fellas, we're glad both of you are Lions. We enjoyed watching you over the weekend. And it's going to be a great season. Memphis this week, one more road game. Then we're opening up CB&S, CB&B, Bank Independent Stadium. You guys are going to be a part of some special moments here at UNA. So you said Memphis. You mean Arkansas, right? Yeah, we were just talking Memphis. Yeah, whatever. All right, Mike, thank you. We're going to take a time out.

Thank you both for joining us. And good luck this weekend. Yes, sir. I appreciate it. This year's UNA Football Night for 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. 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 & 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 & 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 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. Get comfortable. Football season is back at the carriage. There are a few things we love more than a good Saturday in the South, and football season is officially back at the carriage.

[52:13] All season long, we'll have the games rolling with plenty of cold drinks, good food, and a comfortable spot to settle in for a quarter, a game, or the better part of the day. Game day Saturdays get $5 craft drafts, $2 off wine slushies, drafts of mimosas, and game day bites from the kitchen. Stock up in our markets before kickoff with plenty of snacks, dips, cheeses, something sweet, and all the good stuff for your game day spread. Football season looks pretty good from the carriage on East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence.

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, the hour flies by. Welcome back for our final segment here. UNA football night from Lost Pizza Shoals in downtown Florence. Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel. Welcome back to head football coach Brent Dierman now. And coach, we've enjoyed some good food. We've talked some football. The fellowship has been great as well. But I say this all the time. Your coaches, we talked to your coordinators last week, but they're all just outstanding human beings. Your players as well, coach. We get to see the personalities here.

You've got just a great team culture right now. I've got a great group of guys. It has nothing to do with me. It's the type of people that we've brought into the program. Like I said, these guys came to my house last Wednesday night, hung out with my kids. I have no problem bringing the core group of our guys into my home. I think that says a lot about your leadership in your program. Well, not only are they good with the coaches and the internal people, but even with the staff and the community, they're always slapping high fives.

I mean, it's really great to see that. I think about a guy like Colin Wright who really embodies that. He bleeds purple. We hear stories all the time about Colin and just how much he loves this place. It's going to mean a lot to you. Yeah, it's pretty cool to see him and his wife and their son here tonight. But this place means the world to him. It means the world to Jaheim. They grew up playing right down the road, grew up with battles in Browley Stadium against each other or them together, but them playing against Leo at Browley Stadium.

So those two guys love this place. All right, coach, let's jump into our Burnley Spine and Sport preview on the road to Arkansas. And Mike, first of all, set it up with the significance of this game playing an SEC team on Saturday. Yeah, obviously, first time in the Division I era, UNA has played an SEC team. But you've got to go all the way back to 1959 for the first win. That was a trip to Vanderbilt. UNA lost that game. But that was 1959, 67 years ago, first time since then, SEC opponent.

Pretty remarkable. Coach, and it's a familiar coach at Arkansas. We saw him at Memphis, what was that, two years ago, I believe, when we went over there. But what are you expecting out of Arkansas with it being their first game of the year? They're going to be a very well-coached team. You know, Coach Silverfield has done a great job at Memphis, and I know he's going to do a good job over there. Their offensive coordinator does a very good job of being gap sound and everything to do in the run game.

They can create problems with the schemes that they run. They've got some very talented players on the outside, that receiver and running back. So offensively, I expect for sure a tough challenge for us. Defensively, they've got one of the better defensive coordinators in all of college football. And I've been watching film from Florida, from Auburn, from all of his different stops, just trying to get a beat on them. And I know that they're going to do a great job over there. And then me and Coach Lunsford, their special teams coordinator, me and him have worked together twice at Auburn and at FAU.

So one of the best men in college football, a great family man, does a great job on the field, a motivator. So I know that those guys are going to be ready to play. And obviously we know that there's some – you've got one coach at least, Josh Long, that was kind of on his staff last year and some players that have played for him that he recruited. How many connections do you think there's going to be for the players on the other side of the ball?

I think we've got eight players on our team that played at Memphis last year. Josh, we've got a student assistant, Nick Smith, that was there as well. So we've got ten total guys that were in that building last year at Memphis. I think they took eight players from Memphis with them to Arkansas. Mitch Stewart is the quarterback coach. Mitch used to be the head coach at Murray State. Mitch was at Sanford. Mitch replaced me at Middle Tennessee. He's also a good buddy of mine. So there are a lot of ties between teams and coaching staffs with this one.

Every week. I mean, the coaching world seems so small. It feels like every week there's connections like this. There's a lot of us out there, but we know each other somehow across each other's paths in some way. What's it like? I mean, last week, Sanford, John Gross, year one. Week zero, you had a little more time. Now this week, first-year coach getting ready. They haven't played a game as well. It's almost Groundhog's Day, it feels like. It's doing it again. Last week, I got tired. I told our staff I got tired of watching Clemson on tape because their entire staff came from Clemson.

[57:35] And I have to keep reminding myself, we're not playing the middle linebacker from Clemson, guys. We're not playing the defensive end from Clemson. That was the first-round draft pick last year. We're watching the scheme, not the players. And now we're in the same boat. But the players at Arkansas are going to be good players. But I'm watching Florida. I'm watching Auburn. I'm watching the scheme of things. And sometimes that gets in your mind going, man, that kid at Florida was a second-round draft pick. So it's hard to know what the other team's going to do these first couple games of the year.

Yeah, and I'm just kind of looking. K.J. Jackson, I believe, is who they've named as the starting quarterback at Arkansas. But Gumry, Alabama kid. Yeah, I was going to say, what do you know about him other than that? I know he was one of the best football players in the state of Alabama. He's very mobile. It will be probably the most athletic quarterback that we will play. We've got to do a good job of keeping him contained in the pocket. But the flip side of that, they've got a 100-meter champion that plays receivers.

NCAA, 100-meter champion, ran a 9-800-meter dash. Wow. That plays receiver for them. They've got a receiver. Jamari Hawkins played in Mobile, Alabama with Rod Taylor. At Baker High School, I recruited him when I was in Middle Tennessee. I sat in his kitchen with his mom and dad and him and tried to recruit him. So he transferred with them from Memphis. So they've got some skilled guys that can really run and hurt us. Well, the action will take place Saturday, 3-15 start time. You can catch it on the SEC network, right, Mike?

Correct, 3-15 SEC. Of course, we'll have you covered with Roar Lions Productions out there as well. Coach, as always, we appreciate you joining us. No show next week. We'll be back the Monday after that. Coach, great time tonight. Good luck this weekend. I'll tell you what, Lost Pizza does a great job. Dan Penny Goodmans took care of me tonight, just in case you were wondering. All right. But, man, love this community. Our players said it. They all went to church yesterday and got hugs and greeted at church.

And this community has embraced this football team and really excited moving forward. We can't wait. Hope you'll join us back here at Lost Pizza Shoals in two weeks. Thanks to everybody for coming out. For Braden, for Grant, for Ty in-house, for Blair back at the station, for Mike Ezekiel, Coach Dierman, and all of our guests tonight. I'm Benjamin Ray saying Roar Lions. You've been listening to UNA Football Night from Lost Pizza. Tonight's show was 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! Thank you.