Boomo Bugg Show 121625 (Partial Show -Power Outage)
93.9 The Score WYTK - December 16, 2025
https://www.939thescore.com/boomo-bugg-show-121625-partial-show-power-outage/

This transcript was generated automatically from the broadcast audio. Names and some words may be misspelt; the audio is the official record.

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Now, get ready to roll Shoals, Decatur, Athens and all of Northwest Alabama and Southern Tennessee.
It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice.
The Boomo Bugg Show.
Your exclusive inside track to the Tigers, Tennessee and the rest of the SEC.
Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9.
The Score.
Good afternoon and welcome here to the Boomo Bugg Show.
I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird.
Thank you so much for giving us free ride around the Tennessee Valley.
Brett Beaird, welcome in where it looks like Kalen is staying.
A starting SEC quarterback is leaving for the portal.
And what would Bear Beard have said to Diego Pavia's post-Heisman spiel?
Good afternoon, welcome in, and how are you?
Happy Monday to you and the listeners.
We'll talk about Diego a little bit later in the show.
In fact, in the next segment, an Alabama judge has granted former Tennessee and Alabama coach
to Jeremy Pruitt an injunction against the NCAA preventing it from enforcing its show calls
or interfering with his employment opportunities.
Kalen DeBoer issues a statement,
I'm fully committed to this program in Prince's, Alabama,
and look forward to continuing as head football coach at the University of Alabama.
Adam is here right now to talk about Kalen DeBoer's announcement,
Pavia's comments, and to preview the SEC in the first round of the playoffs.
Hard to believe, is it not?
Adam Spencer's got it all covered there.
It's Saturday down south, Saturday tradition, sports betting time.
He's got it all covered.
Adam, welcome in to the Monday of the playoff week.
How are you?
Hey, guys.
I'm doing great.
How are you?
Hey, bud.
Man, we're doing okay.
How shocked are you that Kalen DeBoer says,
I know I've got to talk about this Monday because I've got a big old powwow.
It's playoff week, so I'll just go ahead on a Sunday and get this baby out of the way.
Adam, your reaction to the news from Kalen DeBoer saying he's staying in Tuscaloosa?
Yeah, I'm not surprised.
I think that, you know, he's got a good thing going there.
You know, it's not like Nick Saban left the program in bad shape.
You know, he's got a good thing going there.
The program is in bad shape up in Ann Arbor.
You know, Jim Harbaugh left it in a mess.
And then, you know, obviously everything that's happened with Jerome Moore is just further staying to the program.
So, I'm not surprised that he didn't want to take that on.
You know, I think that, you know, there's a good chance that he'll end this year with four losses like he did last year.
But, you know, the playoff berth was there.
They made it to the SEC championship game.
So, you know, he took the steps that, you know, I think were good to take in year two in Tuscaloosa.
And, you know, now it's going to be next year he's got to start putting some trophies back in the trophy case.
But, for now, I think, you know, this was the easy choice to make.
And I'm surprised it even got this much buzz.
Well, yeah, I would agree with you.
A lot of people are glad this is over and done with.
Harold alluded to this.
Fernando Mendoza wins the Heinzman Trophy.
But Diego Pavia made the headlines afterwards with an emotional media post basically saying F all the voters and it gets loose outside of a club and does a few other things.
Listen, I think everybody knows Diego Pavia is one of the best players in the country.
He should have won the Heinzman.
I know he got a lot of votes.
And a lot of people have really enjoyed following his career the last two years, and particularly at Vanderbilt, as Vandy continues to come back into national respectability.
But, Adam, did he go a little bit too far after the ceremony?
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, it's just a bad look.
I mean, you could be frustrated that you didn't win and stuff like that.
Just keep it private.
Like, there's just no benefit to doing that on social media now, you know.
It just, you know, it sucks when you have somebody like this and there's nobody around them telling them that this is a bad idea, you know.
So now you have to reevaluate your inner circle there, too, because, you know, somebody should have stopped this thing before it got to social media posts.
And, you know, I think that Pavia had a case to win, but the voters decided that Mendoza and, you know, Mendoza had a stronger case because they went undefeated.
You know, if this was, if Indiana had two losses and didn't make it to the playoffs, then, you know, I think that Pavia probably gets it.
But there is a certain amount of team success that goes into it.
And, you know, Mendoza was a worthy choice, and it's no surprise that he won.
And Pavia's got to learn to control his emotions better.
You know, you like to see the emotion that he plays with on the field because that's why he's so great.
But, you know, just like you can't go too far on the field or you'll get a flag, you know, somebody should have flagged this before it went out to social media.
Well, for one thing, I think the Vandy family, they give them a lot of rope.
And I think what happened here was somebody, some were agents or somebody says, this is costing you a lot of money because the NFL ain't going to babysit you like Vanderbilt did.
If you come in and perform, you make good money.
Otherwise, you can take an order for fries.
So I think the bottom line is I think somebody said, this is costing you money, knucklehead, straighten it out.
And, of course, he comes out with the cookie-cutter apology.
We'll see going forward.
Back to the business at hand as far as the news now is in-house as far as the bore.
It's always obviously a distraction if you've got to deal with that as a team.
Alabama and Oklahoma, we know what happened the first time around, Adam.
I'm looking at what Vegas says is going to happen this time around.
They've got Bama favored by one and a half on the road.
The critics are going to say, where are they going to find a running game to live up to that, Adam?
Your thoughts about the matchup?
No, I mean, they didn't have a running game last time.
And, you know, if it wasn't for Ty Simpson being so careless with the ball, Alabama probably would have won that game in Tuscaloosa.
I think that Alabama outplayed Oklahoma.
But Oklahoma, you know, to their credit, they, you know, make the plays when they need to make the plays.
The defense, you know, made one more play than the Alabama offense.
And John Mateer was able to do just enough to get them the win.
So I'm not surprised that Alabama is favored even in a road environment because they have the potential to have the more explosive offense.
But Oklahoma is going to be tough to beat.
So going in there, playing that defense, you know, I think that Oklahoma probably should be favored by one and a half or so.
But I think that it's two even teams.
And, you know, we'll see if Ty Simpson can take care of the ball a little bit better this time around.
Adam, the SEC well represented in the first round of the playoffs.
I think one of the most intriguing games, Miami at Texas A&M.
This game is on TNT.
It's not ABC or ESPN.
It's on TNT.
It's an early game Saturday at 11 a.m.
Marcel Reed, Carson Bank are going to be the two highlights.
We've talked about Texas A&M throughout.
Obviously, they did not play well against Texas.
Texas deserves a lot of credit with that.
But they've got a very good defense.
Howell, Cassius Howell, let the SEC, I believe, in sacks.
Miami, a little bit inconsistent.
But, Steve, they're delighted to be in the playoffs.
Adam, your thoughts.
Texas A&M, a four-point favorite in College Station Saturday morning.
Yeah, I think that that's about right.
I think that the defense for Texas A&M is a strong one.
Howell's there.
They have strong on the back end.
I'm not punishing them too much for losing on the road in that environment,
Texas, in a rivalry game.
So, you know, I think that they'll be hungry to, you know,
prove that they're still one of the top teams in the country.
And Miami, you know, Miami, the matchup's going to be, you know,
right there along the line of scrimmage
because Miami has a potential top-ten pick at right tackle.
And Cassius Howell's a guy who, you know,
can work his way into plenty of money in the first round of the NFL draft here
with a strong finish to his year.
So, I think that that's the matchup to watch there.
And, you know, we'll see what Mike Elko and his defense to kind of get
Howell some more favorable matchups
and see if he can get after Carson Beck.
Because if you make Carson Beck uncomfortable,
he'll throw you the ball a couple times.
We've seen that.
We've seen Beck last year at Georgia.
So, yeah, I think that, you know, they'll try to force him into some mistakes.
But they're going to have to get some pressure on that big, strong Miami offensive line.
So, I expect it to be a little bit more low-scoring than people think.
But, yeah, I like the Aggies in that one.
You mentioned Carson Beck.
Interesting observation.
Adam, get your thoughts on it.
Over the weekend, the Heisman vote wanting to transfer a portal again.
Quarterback, Indiana.
Quarterback, Vanderbilt.
Carson Beck makes millions at Miami.
He's not even in the conversation.
Your thoughts about how these coaches are going to sit here and say,
maybe, yeah, that kid's good coming out of high school.
I've got to take him.
He's a five-star.
But how many of these coaches are going to start saying,
maybe this is not a bad consideration either.
It seems to be working to Indiana.
It seems to be working to all places at Vanderbilt.
We'll supplement it with these others.
But we've got to go get a proven guy with some age on him at quarterback.
Your thoughts about what we saw over the weekend with the Heisman
and how that may influence the blueprint going forward,
particularly at the quarterback spot.
Yeah, I think it's going to be –
I think that's definitely a path that teams could take.
But you look at the number four finisher, Julian Zane.
I mean, he's a transfer.
He transferred from Alabama to Ohio State after Nick Saban retired.
You know, I think Zane, he's more of a development guy
because he transferred after his true freshman season.
So, I mean, that's – you know, I credit Ryan Day mostly for developing.
Right.
So, you know, there's –
Marcel Reed is a homegrown Texas A&M guy.
You know, I think that you're just going to see coaches have to be really honest
with themselves, you know, going into each year.
Just because you've developed a guy doesn't mean you have to stay loyal to him
because, you know, the guy would leave for more money if he could get it elsewhere
for a better, more playoff rating.
You know, it goes both ways.
So, I think, you know, we're just going to see some hard decisions being made
at the quarterback position from now on.
And, you know, the coaches know that that's the position that you have to get right
in order to compete.
And, you know, there's not a lot of teams in the playoff field here
that are hiding their quarterbacks.
You know, that's – Georgia's Gunner Stockton really took off
and that made Carson Beck expendable.
But Miami, you know, needed a better option than what they had,
and Beck provides that.
So, there's – for the top tier guys, there's plenty of options for them.
And, you know, I'm sure we'll see more transfers standing atop the podium
and holding that Heisman Trophy.
But, you know, for now, I just expect, you know, it's just a decision
that these coaches are going to have to make going into each year.
Do I have the guy that I've developed or do I need to go get a guy?
And speaking of transfer quarterbacks, DJ Lagway at Florida
announced this morning on social media that he is going to hit the transfer portal
as soon as it opens on January the 2nd.
Been frequently injured when he's playing well.
He's one of the better quarterbacks in the country.
But 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.
If he can stay healthy and get in the right system, again,
we're going to be seeing a lot more of this as we get closer to the transfer portal.
And exactly piggybacking on what you just say,
one of the SEC's best-known quarterbacks announcing he's hitting the portal.
Yeah, and it looks like, you know, to add to this, LSU looks like it's in the mix.
And I'm seeing the reports, the earlier reports are Taylor, LSU, and Miami.
So, I mean, those would be interesting.
But, yeah, pairing him with Lane Kiffin would certainly be something.
You know, and we'll see what running back Kiffin gets.
We'll see if he's able to get Lacey from Ole Miss.
I don't know if that'll happen.
But you can bet that Lane Kiffin is going to have a good, strong running game there.
And that's, you know, we'll see where Lagway ends up.
But you're right, it doesn't matter if he can't stay healthy.
So, if Lagway does end up at LSU, then Kiffin better get another Trinidad Chambliss in there,
ready to take over if and when Lagway gets hurt.
So, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see because he's got a cannon of a right arm
and he makes it.
He's got to be better when he's on the field.
But he's got to be on the field more often.
Absolutely, should have beat Georgia, could have beat Georgia two years ago
and got hurt toward the end of that game.
Always enjoy beginning of the week with you.
I know Saturday Night South is going to be previewing the SEC in the first round.
I know you're going to be doing your power rankings for SEC basketball.
Alabama misses a real opportunity.
They played really well in the first half against Arizona.
And then Arizona took over the boards and turnovers led to a loss for the time.
But you don't have much more on SEC basketball later this week.
Where can we get online and get yours and the team's good stuff?
Yeah, SaturdayDownSouth.com.
We'll have some power rankings up sometime tomorrow for basketball.
And we'll have you covered this weekend as the playoff gets underway.
Friday Night Football this week.
Adam, listen, man, thanks so much for your time today and have a great week, okay?
Yeah, you too, guys.
Thanks for having me.
Thank you, Bill.
Adam Spitz, working up with us there at Saturday Down South.
Why do you say we go to the max next?
Stay with us.
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The score.
Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score.
Welcome back in, Brett.
I don't know if you heard it or not, but we just got word that after much deliberation,
Max Howell is staying in the state of Mississippi.
Did you get that memo?
Well, quite frankly, as fun as we are of Max, we'd be glad if he moved back to Alabama.
But again, I understand if he wants to stay there.
Yeah, Max Howell is a pioneer in a thing called Sports Talk in the entire southeast,
former assistant coach in a place called Ole Miss in Florida State,
and the pride of the Tom Bigby Waterway in the Magnolia State.
Max Howell, welcome in.
How are you?
Well, when I got up this morning and stepped my head out the door, it was 17 degrees at my house.
So, I don't know how you guys are working out, but now, I'm looking at it, now we are up to at least 32 right now.
Well, you're heading there, right, Rich?
That's what we call North Mississippi.
I literally live about, I live eight miles from the Alabama line and about 15 miles from the Tennessee state line.
Wow.
So, I live in the East Quarter.
Yeah, I got you, brother.
I know all about that dirt over that neck of the woods.
And what you're saying is it's colder than divorce court, right?
Well, it does.
Yeah, absolutely.
And, you know, it springs on you.
You know, they don't give you a whole lot of advance notice with all that high-tech equipment and all the weather people have today.
They said, you know, if it's going to go to a drop, it'll be a little bit easy.
16 degrees will freeze.
I mean, that'll freeze rain water.
I'm going to tell you about it.
I'm going to tell you something, Max.
I'll tell you what's crazy.
Over the weekend, they ran the Rocket City Marathon over in Huntsville.
They started it before the sun came up.
It was like zero to five degrees.
Can you imagine with an 18-mile-an-hour wind out of the north?
And here's the punchline, Max.
They paid $150 to do it.
Oh, my gosh.
We're in the wrong business.
How did both of us finish?
Cold and colder, I guarantee you.
Max, listen, Ken and the Boar is staying in Alabama.
People said, why did he wait so long?
Well, could it be that, Greg, I'm entertaining some thoughts here.
Do you have any extra cabbage that maybe you'd throw my way here?
Your thoughts about the news out of Tuscaloosa.
Well, I think it's going to depend maybe how comfortable he feels by staying is how he does
in this upcoming ballgame Friday night.
I'm telling you, they've lost the last two to Oklahoma.
I'm looking at my score sheet right now.
Guys, I'm picking Oklahoma with this one.
Not so much that they've lost it, but the fact is they haven't played very well in the last week or two.
I don't know.
I believe Simpsons must be hurt to some degree.
They don't want to release that.
And the younger kids just hadn't got enough experience yet to stick them in there.
So, I don't know.
It's just, I guess, I revert way back to when Coach Saban first came and we all looked and talked about him and all.
But if you remember, his season by season got better.
It was all incremental how much better he got each year.
I hadn't seen any inclination that this is going to happen with this bunch.
For some reason.
I don't know.
I'm just doing from pure observation.
I've always been what they call an eye guy.
That's E-Y-E, eye guy.
How do they look?
Because if they look good, that tells you they will be performing very well at the same time.
And the weeks that they have a poor ball game, the next week, I cannot see a lot of improvement.
Normally, if they improve, it comes just mainly because they played a weaker team than they did the week before.
And I hate to be that critical about it.
But when you have what is obvious that you've got something to compare them to, and it hadn't been but a couple years back,
the fact is, I think that's true.
If you pull the fed base, I think you're going to get something very similar to that.
Banks, this is such a quarterback-centric offense, and you're right.
Ty Simpson does have physical limitations with injuries from the Missouri and South Carolina game.
I appreciate – the kid's a tough kid.
He's taken a lot of hits, and particularly in the last three or four games.
His offensive line is a solid offensive line, but it's not good.
I saw Cam Miller running well in practice today.
He's going to be back.
Cuevas is still a question mark.
But, Max, in the first game in November, Alabama outgained Oklahoma 2-1, but turnovers.
They had an 87-yard pick six.
They fumbled a punt.
Oklahoma scored on short fields.
What can Alabama do, Max, to turn around in Norman?
I'm going to tell you that the points that you make right there, Brett, I'm just telling you,
those are the things you correct in practice every day.
I'm not convinced right now that they have all-out, full scrimmage, what I call correction practices,
where you go back and look at the tape.
What did we not do well against this defense?
Let's work on that, you know, give a buddy off or shorts and headgear or whatever.
But Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, that's the days you're correct.
And you don't have to ruin them 50s with sprints.
Put them in just – put number twos or threes in the same defense that the tape showed that the opponent was using
and ruin your offense against it.
It does not take a genius to do that.
I don't know why that I don't see – I just don't see the improvement this late this season
for that very reason that you just brought out on those situations that are correctable.
If what you've got designated as words, if they can't get it corrected, then you put twos in there.
Thank you.
That's why you have that many kids on the roster to find – you know, keep running.
And I know they say, well, you know, you ought to do all that in the spring.
That's okay.
I understand all the things where you can or can't do that.
But the fact is, it's all about winning.
And if you don't – you know, if you don't make the big – the most – 100% effort to win,
I don't care where it's at practice.
I don't care, you know, where it is.
Would – the officials tee that thing – give you the term to tee it up.
And they blow the whistle.
It's time to play 100% every snap.
And I think that was Coach Saban's philosophy.
I just don't think we see that right there.
Max Haldenhuddle with us.
Max Tulane, Ole Miss, you're in the state of Mississippi.
Your thoughts about the buzz on the ground there?
John Somerhal finding out today that he won't have – looks like anyway.
The service is a DJ lag way.
He's hitting a portal once.
He wraps things up at Tulane, heads on down to Florida.
Your thoughts about that and how that's going to be pretty big – a big story going forward
to all these coaches and changing and everything else.
And at the end of the day, how much will Lane raid that Ole Miss roster in the portal to bring to LSU
just to further his PR image in Oxford?
Listen, he could care less about the PR image, I'm going to tell you.
He's going to have this medium that can sign their name.
If they run a 4-4 or better, I guarantee they're going to be in Baton Rouge this year.
Here's a way I can say that with all confidence.
We know his personality.
We know how he does.
He was raised with an NFL background, and that's exactly what he's doing right now.
Okay.
How – I'm going to give you the reason he chose LSU over Florida.
He had his choice.
He takes LSU because literally – this came from one of the top contributors to their program financially.
They were willing to give him up to $100 billion.
The seven-year contract is a paper contract.
They know there's a very possibility if a good NFL job comes along after three or four years,
he's out of there and be going.
They know it, but you know what?
They don't care.
They don't care.
If he does – if it's worth that to them, the amount of money they'll contribute to bring him out of the portal
and really put the program back on track where it used to be.
They're willing to spend that kind of money.
If it's safe in three – I'm sure they won't go in two years, but I heard the guy say three to four years.
So if they're happy with that, why should everybody else be all up in arms about his attitude and the way he does it?
Look, he's a – literally, guys, he's a capitalist, to say the least.
He's going after – if you've ever been around very long, if you've really observed what he does,
the guy's got a photographic memory.
I was told from a couple guys on that staff that he could go with the tape and sit there and flip the tape on
from last week's game or from an opponent's game coming up that they reviewed.
He said within two to three minutes he could call the defense before – based on the way they've lined up.
Even if they shift him to another defense, he could call it right there.
So if that be the case, if he's got that kind of magnitude as far as his projection is concerned, he's going to win.
He'll get – with the benefit situation like it is, guys, he's going to get the players.
I don't think he's too down about that.
All he's got to do is, you know, put them together based on what he sees week by week.
I've already looked at the schedule.
He's going to win eight or nine, I guarantee you, my first year.
And after that, you know, it'll be all – it'll be strictly up the hill.
So, you know, that's the way – that's my evaluation.
I think the game coming up this week, I think they'll win by –
I think the Lions win 17 to half or something like that.
Yeah.
He'll win by 20s, 30 points.
Well, he won't.
He's not talking about giving up, but I'm talking about Ole Miss Will.
Now, the next game, the winner of that ball game, I believe, has got Georgia.
So, you know, we'll see how that works out after that.
Max, just quickly, Pete Golding tutored under Nick Saban for five years now with Kiffin.
I got him used in his press conference.
He said, guys, I don't do hot yoga, which, of course, was a little bit of a job at Lane Kiffin.
He said, I'm just a football coach.
Max, how well will Pete do at Ole Miss?
You know, I think – here's the thing I think he's going to have to –
he's going to have to correct on his own.
He's been an assistant coach all these years.
He's done a very good job with the defensive side.
With Ole Miss's own defense, he's going to have a hard time not trying to call the plays.
There you go.
Clear his mind.
Be sure.
Yeah.
Try to pick up – you know, he's observing the game.
Try to pick up any deficiencies that they may have or that he can find holes in their defense for every time as well.
I think that's going to be – holding attention to the whole picture is – I'm telling you guys,
having been on the field before, that's a – that's a big – that's a challenge for you.
It is.
You know, he's going to be on the sideline, not in the box.
He's going to be having – people are going to be pulling on him on timeouts.
What does he do?
Does he go to the team?
We've seen some coaches now on the timeouts.
They don't even go to the team huddle.
They walk up down the sideline.
I don't – I think he's going to be more involved in that.
I think he's going to try to win emotionally.
The kids like him a lot, and I think they'll play hard for him.
And, you know, I think this is a great game for him to cut his teeth on.
Because they're their favorite house.
They've already played him.
He's got a current tape on him.
They know what they're going to break to the table.
They know what Joe Subroff is going to throw at him from Dave Wood.
So, you know, he should come away with a nice win and a nice victory.
I'd be interested to see, you know, where they line up against Georgia
or where they line up against, you know, Texas A&M or those kind of teams.
Well, you know, I think we'll get a better read at that particular time.
I hope he does well.
I think he's got a great future.
All the stuff that was going on, if you recall, though, beforehand,
he didn't want to be a head football coach.
He was a great assistant.
His family lives in Pontotock County.
You know, he was home.
He was going to be there.
He was a – I think he was the highest-paid assistant in the SEC,
the second or third highest-paid assistant in the country.
At the time, a little over $3 million.
So, I think it's something to watch.
And I'll be doing the same thing, guys.
I'll be watching right now to see how smooth they operate now
when somebody else really calling the shots.
Quickly, before you get away, Max, Alabama's latest pickup on the recruiting trail
is your neighbor up the road there at Ittawamba Community College.
You've got a B from over there to know how to pronounce Ittawamba.
Ittawamba.
He is – Ittawamba, he's a 6'3", one now, 6'2", 190 defensive back at Ittawamba.
I know you don't follow Ittawamba, but it's very interesting that here in this late cycle,
Alabama goes to Fulton, Mississippi for the latest pickup.
Well, I mean, one thing about it, they had a decent year.
They changed coaches.
This was, I think, his first year.
And they had a decent year.
I think six or seven wins this year, which they have not done that in a couple years.
The junior college system, guys, at this state, you both know that.
The fact is, I got really involved with that.
In fact, before I started in the radio business, after I left Ole Miss,
I was doing a junior college recruiting guide nationwide,
but I was anchored in Mississippi.
And the way I got in the radio business, I was doing the work in Mississippi
and driving to Atlanta two days a week to have it printed.
And I walked in the shop, but that guy said,
well, you've done a little football background.
Why don't you sit down and interview with this radio station?
Well, I did, and they signed me up.
That was six days to the Fed, and I got it up.
I saved a little bit of years with them.
Listen, I love the junior college players.
I love the way they get there.
Those kids, people that really do know a lot about that,
they ought to go to a ballgame sometime and watch.
Thank you.
You can see some really good talent, particularly come out of these,
out of Mississippi.
Absolutely.
Max, we've got to run to a break.
Always enjoy it.
Have a great week.
Let's do this again next Monday.
I'll be sitting right here.
We'll talk about those games on Saturday and Friday night.
Thank you, man.
And between now and then, fall out, okay?
Max, now, former assistant Ole Miss in Florida State,
coming up a lot of shuffling down the plains.
Brian Matthews, the latest snack.
Stay with us.
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Now, back with Boomobug on 93.9 The Score.
The Score.
Welcome back in.
It is a pleasure for us to say hello to Brian Matthews.
He's a senior editor for AuburnSports.com.
Brian, welcome in.
How are you?
I'm doing great, guys.
Thanks for having me on.
I'm doing great.
Man, we appreciate you taking time out.
Brian, obviously, any time you change the ball, sometimes the shuffle gets rocking and rolling.
Talk to us about the latest.
We know we're coming up.
The official window is coming up here as far as the transfer in a few weeks.
Rumblings about prize wide receiver Malcolm Simmons heading that direction.
What can you tell us, Brian?
Yeah, he is planning to enter the portal.
I'd say he's one of the top guys of the 13 now that have announced their intention to enter the portal.
I'd say he's probably the one that Auburn would have fought the most to keep, the one they wanted to keep the most.
But, you know, he'll be going to his junior season looking for a new home.
He'll be out there.
So, you know, that is a room that Auburn has some talented young players.
I know Auburn's working to keep Cam Coleman.
They'd love to keep Eric Singleton, the Georgia Tech manager.
And then they've also got some young guys in there they want to keep, too.
So I do think they'll look in the portal for some help there.
But, you know, it's not the guy they want to keep, but it's not the end of the world, so to speak.
Let me ask you about some of the positions when January 2nd begins.
Auburn's going to be very active.
Tied in.
They're losing.
Brandon Frazier and Johnson.
Offensive tackle.
Two-tone Miller.
Mason Murphy out of eligibility.
What will Xavier Chaplin do?
Probably need an offensive tackle or two.
And we talked about this a couple weeks ago as far as pass rusher.
Auburn's got some very talented guys who are probably likely going to the NFL.
Kedrick Falk, Keron Crawford, Chris Murray is there.
Maris Williams is going to be one of several.
I know Auburn's got some young guys.
What's your one, two, or three top portal positions Auburn's going to be looking to fill beginning of January?
Well, you mentioned tight end first.
And I think there's a good reason for that.
I think that room is in bad shape right now.
Hollis Davidson is another young guy who was a freshman this fall who redshirted, I believe,
who's already announced his intention to enter the portal.
I could see that as a total rebuild.
They're that position.
That'll be a big one.
You know, offensive line you brought up.
Do you remember in the offseason that was mentioned that Auburn had six offensive linemen with NFL grade?
Okay.
Well, I don't know about that.
But that's going to be a bit of a rebuild, too.
It looks like Conor Liu would be back, which would be great.
He's a talented dude who competes and gets out for it.
And, you know, I think Cal Ellis, with his starting experience, a year in his belt in offseason in college, will help him tremendously.
I don't know, as you mentioned, what Xavier Chaplin would do.
But if I'm Auburn, I would try to recruit above him.
I'm not trying to be mean here, but Auburn needs players at offensive tackles, and they haven't had those players in quite a while.
And they tried last year, and, you know, they did okay.
But I just, it's not good enough to win in this conference.
The production Auburn's getting or not getting at that position.
So we'll see.
But I think that will be a big area of need.
I think, you know, defense Auburn's in good shape, except for what you mentioned, the defensive line, especially the pass rushers, and some depth up there.
And it'll be interesting to see how some of those young defensive linemen come around that Richard this year didn't play a lot.
I'm thinking of, oh, gosh, Jared Smith, of course, as a pass rusher.
J.J. Falk moved to defensive end.
Malik Autry, another freshman there that could be in Jordan Crawford.
So they got some young guys.
Darren Smith, another guy, but we'll see how much they can step up.
And one other guy, you mentioned Amaris Williams.
I think that's a guy they're fighting for that could also win at the portal.
Brian Matthews, AuburnSports.com.
You mentioned guys getting their grades.
Brent and I had grades.
They weren't A's in college.
So you get a grade.
It's not always A.
Brian, you've got plenty of experiences, a lot of folks do, with a brand-new coach coming in.
My goodness gracious.
How many times have we had this conversation over the last just relatively last few years?
How is it different now as far as the vibe with this new boss and this new staff coming together compared to the last two or three or whatever it's been?
Well, I think in some ways it's changed.
You know how fan bases in the South, right, tend to put the coaches on a pedestal and kind of maybe worship isn't the right word, but you know what I'm talking about.
Yeah, I know.
Adolize to a point.
Yeah, idolize is probably a better word, yes.
And I think a lot of Auburn people are going to restrain from that in a lot of ways because I think they're a little fed up and just want the right guy here.
And if Al Skollis can step up and start winning games and start running a program, you know, that's competitive, then I think that will change.
But I think in that way it's a little bit different.
And in the other way, it's really different for me.
You know, when he started, you know, you had your, what was it, an on-field assistant, you had maybe an old guy and one graduate assistant or maybe two.
So now you've got this giant staff of personnel guys and recruiting guys.
I kind of thought, and I was mistaken, but I kind of thought when the transition went through that more of those guys would remain.
But, you know, to me it looks like most of those guys have been replaced by a whole new group of guys.
I've got to try to get to know a little bit.
So that's going to be a transition.
So, you know, you're not just talking about the regular coaches coming in, changing.
You're talking about, you know, 20, 25, you know, personnel, analysts.
But, you know, you've got a defensive line coach and the assistant defensive line coach.
Just a lot of new coaches and new faces.
You had a great Monday musings today as far as Brian Matthews' playoff suggestions.
And I agree wholeheartedly with quite a few of these.
Just quickly to highlight these, the schedule's too long.
We shouldn't be playing a national championship game on January the 19th.
Start the season on week zero.
I've been advocating this for years.
The other thing you do if you start week zero, you might be able to get two buys in there.
This year they've only got one.
Here's some of your other ones.
I'll just highlight these.
The CFP committee goes out of its way to not consider rematches or conference affiliation setting up brackets.
Oklahoma and Alabama, one we talked about last week, no more weekly reveals.
Tulane Joel.
Thank you to God.
No more guaranteed group five teams.
Here's one everybody agrees with.
No more special treatment for Notre Dame.
And you've got several there.
Great job by you.
It's logical and reasonable, which is one of the things college football doesn't have now.
Summarize that for us.
You had some great suggestions.
I think we might have lost Brian.
Brian, are you with us now, bud?
It's like we might have lost that connection.
And just to elaborate while we make that effort there, baby, I agree with him.
He mentioned rematches.
Not only is Oklahoma and Alabama getting back together.
Look at Ole Miss and Tulane.
So what is the point?
And the other point about Notre Dame, at what point are they going to sit here and say,
hey, look, if you're going to play, you've got to play with the same rules as everybody else.
You can't pick and choose when it's good for you.
That's almost like what happened over the weekend with Diego Pavia.
You know he's the king of Nashville, but once he steps outside of that bubble
and people start treating him just like another guy, they have problems with that, B.B.
They do.
And you mentioned this last year when we talked about special treatment for Notre Dame.
Look, you and I certainly understand they're a brand.
They're one of the college football icons.
But why don't you give special treatment to Utah or California or someone else?
It's always Notre Dame.
But I really do like a lot of his suggestions and certainly advocate getting online,
looking at Monday Musings with AuburnSports.com.
Well, there's one thing that Alabama and Auburn basketball fans can agree.
Stay away from Arizona.
B.B., Arizona is a good basketball team.
Just ask both Alabama and Auburn.
Yeah.
Harold, Alabama dropped to 16 in the Associated Press rankings this morning.
They have lost this year to number one, Arizona, number six, Purdue, and number seven, Gonzaga.
But Alabama had the same issues in the second half with rebounding or lack thereof.
Arizona is a tremendous team.
They've got a big front line.
They've got excellent guards.
Alabama played really well in the first half.
They have team basketball, played some defense, rebounded some balls.
But, unfortunately, Nate decided not to call a timeout during Arizona run.
That was another mistake.
He didn't play Jaleel Bethea.
I thought that one was two in Arizona.
Unfortunately, Alabama got caught up and just Arizona ran away in the second half.
Well, it's the same thing we said from the early part of the season.
Until Alabama can get consistent crashing the boards, they're going to win 20-plus ballgames.
The question is, can they win a championship?
As long as the threes fall from heaven, they're going to stay in the ballgame.
But when they're not, they cannot sit here and win a championship until they get that part corrected.
There's still plenty of time.
We'll see.
But speaking of basketball, quickly, BB, UNA, Monday night in the Battle of the Valley on the Hill in normal Alabama, BB.
Yeah, that should be an interesting game.
Again, they haven't played, I believe, Harold, in about 10 days.
And I know Tony Pujol's looking forward to getting back there.
They should have a good crowd in normal Alabama.
That stadium seats about 6,000.
It's a nice place over there, too.
Easy drive to and from.
Coming up the next hour, I'm going to be taking it all over the place.
What are former Alabama players saying about the huge news coming out of the weekend in Tuscaloosa?
William Redfish Barger on that.
Big Orange Taco events for all.
And Ben Thomas got everything else covered at AL.com.
Stay with us.
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The president of the Brown University Republican Club, Martin Berteo, says that Mountain Brook
native Ella Cook was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served in that
Republican chapter.
Berteo says those who knew her at the university are devastated at the loss.
Cook was one of two students shot and killed by a gunman this past Saturday on campus.
The founder of the College Republicans of America, William Donahue, believes that Cook
was targeted in that shooting for her conservative beliefs.
Donahue says Cook was known in conservative circles not only on campus but across the nation,
and he says this loss of Cook is rocking college Republicans just as the assassination of Charlie
Kirk affected the nation.
I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this.
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If so, consider joining 1819 News as a member.
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An appeal is being made by students and staff from various universities here in Alabama
who are challenging a state law in court.
The law bans the teaching of diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts in public schools,
including universities.
These concepts are considered divisive when it comes to race and gender.
A federal judge already ruled that the law could go into effect
and that a professor's academic freedom does not override a public university's decision
on content offered in the classroom curriculum.
The Legal Defense Fund is providing lawyers for this appeal by the plaintiffs.
Prattville police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who used counterfeit money
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The suspect was seen leaving in a red vehicle after making a purchase.
I'm Andrea Tyson.
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Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, the Shores,
Sports Radio 93.9, the score.
The road to the national title starts now.
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The score.
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Our tour to the Boomo Bugg Show.
I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird.
Thank you so much for giving us a free ride around the Tennessee Valley.
And BB, it never stops for BT on the other end of the state.
Ben Thomas coming at us from the Port City Mobile.
Busy there with AL.com.
Ben Thomas, welcome in.
Let's hope you don't have as much frost on your pumpkin down there as we do on ours up here.
How are you?
No, no frost, but it was in the 20s last night and early this morning down there on the Gulf Coast.
So, we'll probably all be sick about Wednesday because it'll probably be any tomorrow.
Ben, we're not the smartest people in the world, and I think most folks would agree with that.
But we have figured out how to win most football games in the high school world.
And that's how Daryl Higgins, your coach, and Crowell running the ball and Morgan catching the ball,
not to mention some more, the Alabama All-Stars showing out over the weekend.
And yet another win for Daryl Higgins out of Mars Hill, this time with the Alabama All-Stars.
What a show from these guys.
Yeah, it's kind of become routine.
Six straight victories for the Alabama All-Stars over the Mississippi team.
They scored more points.
40, it was 40-10.
That was the most points they'd scored in games played in Mississippi.
This one was in Hattiesburg.
Pretty good crowd over there.
I was over there for the game.
But, yeah, they just whooped them.
I mean, they were worried in talking to the coaches before the game and last week.
They were a little bit worried about the size of Mississippi's offensive line, which was really big.
But it didn't matter.
I mean, they just, you know, the guys on the defensive line, they were in the backfield constantly.
Tink Jones and Kamarian Johnson and Muscle Shoals and Tristan Lyles of Central Phoenix City and the other guys were, they were too quick for them.
And they just, Mississippi couldn't get anything going.
Their best player, Tristan Keys, who's the number one player in Mississippi, who's fine with Tennessee, a wide receiver.
He played a little bit, but wasn't really very effective.
He was a little bit injured.
I don't think it would have made a difference.
I mean, just as you said, and as Randy Kennedy and I wrote, the stars on the Alabama team really showed out.
Speaking of showing out, obviously you had a 50-yard run call back talking about Crowell.
But the one that, what's the modern word, went viral was the touchdown run that did count.
Has that kid from Mississippi, has he come back too yet from that run at the end of it?
Yeah, probably not.
I don't know.
But, yeah, I mean, just, you know, I've seen Crowell play the last three games, the semifinal against St. Michael.
I didn't know then that the St. Michael coach was going to be in the NFL a few weeks.
So, we could talk about that.
And then, obviously, the state championship game against Aniston and this game.
And he really, you know, he was the MVP of this game.
He really, maybe I'm just used to seeing what he does and expecting what he does.
Because I didn't think, you know, he had the greatest performance in the world.
But I think he ran for 60 yards on 10 carries.
Like you said, he had a 50-yard touchdown run call back for a hold on the complete other side of the field that would have made no difference at all in the play.
So, you know, had that not been called back, he rushes for, what, 120 yards and two touchdowns.
But, yeah, we were laughing in the press box.
Because when he got that ball in the touchdown run that counted, once he got by the tackle, you could look at it.
And I told Randy Kennedy, who was next to me, I'm like, well, that's a touchdown.
And sure enough, he just cut it up the middle and went into the end zone.
So, he continues to be, you know, very impactful in everything he does and I think probably is the leading contender to be Mr. Football this year.
We'll see next month.
But, yeah, certainly in the running for that.
But another good performance by Mr. Crowell.
B.T., you mentioned the Mississippi offensive line.
One of those guys was four-star offensive lineman Bryson Cooley, who is a commitment to Alabama.
And so, I was reading some of the reports how people were, he's obviously a huge kid, but his ability to pull, his athleticism, a lot of people were impressed with that.
But there are just stars on this team everywhere.
Mississippi had Daniel Hill's younger brother, J.J. Hill.
Landon Duckworth, the South Carolina signee.
Brock Bradley from Spain Park.
Clemson, 6 of 9 for 59.
Corey Barber was Ole Miss, now flipped to LSU.
I mean, you can nearly look at every position on both sides of these teams and find very good players.
Yeah, and they showed out.
I mean, like I said, Mississippi didn't do a whole lot offensively.
I think they thought their big offensive line could wear down Alabama.
They tried to run Hill up the middle a bunch, and he just, I don't think he gained more than three or four yards a carry.
You know, C.D. Morgan, the Benjamin Russell wide receiver that's going to Alabama showed out, made an unbelievable catch.
Yeah.
Back corner of the end zone.
He caught it over two Mississippi defenders who were basically both interfering with him.
You know, and still caught the ball.
There's an awesome picture of that by Vasha Hunt on AL.com if you haven't seen it.
You can check that out.
You can go to our stories on the high school sports page.
So, he was, that was an elite play.
I tell you, a guy that we probably haven't talked enough about this year is Zion Crumpton of Carver-Montgomery.
Zion's going to Mississippi State.
He played quarterback for Carver this year, but kind of out of necessity.
He's going to be, I would assume, a wide receiver, a DB in the SEC.
He made an unbelievable catch in the other end zone where he got both feet down before he went out of bounds.
And so, it was just, it was just an all-around good performance.
And talking to the coaches before the game, they were talking about, you know, the great players.
You know, there were some good players, some great players on the Alabama team.
And I'm talking about through practice, not just through the game.
And then there were two elite players that seemed to be head and shoulders above them all.
One of them we've already talked about multiple times.
That's Crowell, the running back from Jackson.
The other one they mentioned was Anthony Tank-Jones, the linebacker from St. Paul's, who's headed to Oregon.
They said he was unbelievable, almost unblockable in practice all week.
And had another good day on Saturday.
The stack keeper, we lost the stack keeper for Southern Miss.
So, we didn't have the tackle stats.
I think we hope to get those this week.
But that's why the tackles weren't in the game.
But clearly, he made an impression.
They blocked one of the craziest plays.
He and Kamarian Johnson, the special teams weren't really great on either side.
And he and Kamarian Johnson, they really crushed the Mississippi punter at the goal line.
And he somehow got off kind of a little wedge shot that Theodore's J.J. Bush caught at the seven and dived into the end zone for a special teams touchdown.
So, really impressed.
Kirk Johnson was the head coach for Benjamin Russell, or for the Alabama team, for Benjamin Russell.
You mentioned Coach Higgins was there.
Jake Gaines was there.
Juan Johnson from James Clemens was the offensive coordinator, and a lot of other guys.
So, fun day in Mississippi.
And Thomas, looking at us from AL.com, his name has been invoked.
So, Ben, let's talk about old man Rivers.
You talk about leading by example.
44, how many people get to have their grandkids watch them come and play in the NFL, sitting on the bench for that long?
What a weekend for the pride of Athens, Alabama.
Well, when you guys, when we talked to you guys last week, I never could have guessed that was on the horizon.
I wrote my column on Friday.
You know, it surprised me from the fact that I wasn't expecting it, and yet it didn't surprise me,
because Phillip is probably the most competitive person I've ever met in my entire life.
And, you know, he said to begin with, when he first came down here and took the St. Michael job,
that one of the reasons that some people had talked to him about maybe being a TV commentator,
but he thought that one reason he didn't feel like he could do that was because he just didn't feel like he could not have an impact on the scoreboard in some way.
I think this was a unique situation, obviously.
He wouldn't have gone back just anywhere.
This was based on the fact that he and Colts coach Shane Steichen are really good friends.
He knew 12 or 14 of the current Colts players from his last run and all the injuries.
I mean, I think all those things combined led to what we saw yesterday.
And I didn't get to see the game because we were watching the Broncos down here.
We didn't get the Colts game, unfortunately.
But it looked like he performed pretty well for 44.
He did.
You know, he turned 44 last week and he threw a touchdown pass through an interception.
That was at the end of the game when they were at 18 seconds left and they're trying to get in field goal position.
So we'll see.
I mean, I hope he doesn't get hurt.
But the St. Michael team had a watch party yesterday and it was fun to watch them all fired up.
So, but I told you as I wrote my column that I was starting to feel bad about asking him every week, every summer, hey, are you going to go back to the NFL?
Well, I'm not going to feel bad about asking him that question.
There you go.
There you go.
It just shows you, though, this, he is a, to your word, a C word, a competitor, because he obviously stayed in decent shape.
Now, think about it.
The Colts, how many guys would like an opportunity much younger than Phillip?
But it just shows you that if you're determined and you can stay in shape, that at the end of the day, the people who sign the checks, they'll take you over some of those, those younger Colts.
Yeah, they said he had a great week of practice, too, that the ball never touched the ground.
I mean, you know, Riley Leonard, ironically, of course, Phillip lives in Fairhope now.
Riley Leonard is from Fairhope and he's the other quarterback that had a knee injury.
So I hate it for Riley that he hadn't been able to get in there.
But it's cool.
I'm pulling for Phillip.
I'm hoping he doesn't get injured.
No.
You know, he's asked one of the players last week when this happened, one of the St. Michael's players.
You know, obviously, we all know Phillip is known for a little good-natured trash talk, even a high school coach.
And I said, you know, you think he'll be –
High school player.
That's right.
And I said, you know, after five years, you think he'll still be talking?
And Noah Moss, who signed with NC State, said, oh, he'll be chirping.
He might be a little bit more careful about it.
He'll be chirping.
BT, I thought today we'd be talking about which teams went down and which teams went up in the reclassification.
But the Alabama High School Athletic Association announced last week they have postponed that announcement until January the 23rd.
And I believe it has to do with the mediation between the Montgomery County Judge J.R. Gaines ordered lawyers for the Alabama High School Athletic Association
and Governor Ivey's team to mediate the ongoing dispute over the athletic ability, over the CHEWS Act,
the longstanding rule that requires students who receive financial aid to transfer to a private school to sit out a year.
BT, talk about that a little bit.
I've heard Austin and Florence are going down to 6A.
Morris Hill is going up to 4A, but we ain't going to know officially into January the 23rd.
Yeah, or later.
I mean, you know, it could be postponed again.
I mean, everything is up in the air.
And I think if I understand it right, there's a mediation this Wednesday between the lawyers and, I guess,
Heath Harmon and his folks and whoever, whatever legislators are involved.
I mean, it's an interesting situation because, you know, they didn't want to go ahead and reclassify on Monday
and then have to come back something major changed and have to come back and do it all over again.
So, you know, will it be solved by January 23rd?
I'm not sure.
I mean, it kind of puts coaches behind the eight ball as far as meeting your schedule.
You know, a lot of those guys, a lot of that, usually by this time,
a lot of those teams have already had their region meetings and know what their schedule is
and are trying to find opponents for non-region games.
And so, we'll see.
I mean, I still think the private school issue is big.
I still think there's a chance they're separated.
Maybe not this cycle.
We'll have to see.
But there's a lot of stuff going on.
I mean, I think some of the private schools are frustrated with the competitive balance.
I don't think.
I know.
They're frustrated with the competitive balance and the multiplier.
I think some of the public schools will not like it if this Choose Act goes through
and private schools are able to, you know, get kids in and give them $7,000 and play them immediately,
which is the big meeting right now.
So, I don't know.
I mean, as I'm on record saying, I hope we still play together.
I'd like all of them to play together.
But it seems like we're headed down a path that I'm not fired up about.
Something else I know you and Thomas Ashworth of AL.com will be following will be coaching changes.
You mentioned Jake Gaines.
He stepped down, the very successful Moody coach.
Hazel Green has a new head coach.
Former Alabama standout, Juwan Simpson.
And if he wants a challenge, he's got one at Hazel Green.
I wish him a lot of luck with that.
I think this is going to be a very active offseason for coaching changes.
BT, what else have you got working on this week?
And where can we get online to find all of it?
I think you're right.
Last year, I think we had over 100 coaching changes.
I don't know if there will be that many this year.
Jake Gaines, look, everybody knows, most people know, he's going to be the head coach of Pell City,
and that's probably going to be announced tomorrow.
And there's probably some other hires that will happen this week before we get to Christmas.
But, yeah, be on the lookout for that.
Our big thing this week, guys, is, well, first of all, the All-State team will come out on Saturday.
We voted on that last week, so we'll have the Alabama Sportswriters All-State team.
And also today, actually, within the hour, we are starting our AL.com fans player of the year bracket.
We've chosen 16 players and seeded them as we did last year.
And we're starting round one of our voting for that.
It will last this week.
And then next week, we'll have round two starting on Monday.
So, look for that on AL.com in just a little bit.
Vote on those eight first-round matchups.
And a lot of other, I think we've got one more basketball poll coming on Thursday before the holiday break.
So, a lot of good stuff still on tap.
Always got something fresh cooking here.
Keep it up, Ben.
Thanks so much for your time, Dave.
And keep that warm weather there as long as you can, okay?
I'm trying.
God bless you guys.
Appreciate everything.
Thank you, buddy.
Same right back at you, BT.
Ben Thomas, AL.com.
Coming up, watch the talk in Big Orange Country.
The B-Man, Vince Roura, with that and more straight ahead.
Stay with us on the Boomo Bugg Show.
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Hey, fans.
Welcome back to Fansville's Cheers and Tears.
Okay, so like everybody deals with losing, right?
To a rival on a last-second field goal.
Whatever, it's fine.
I totally fight.
But I cope with losing with an ice-cold Dr. Pepper.
Mmm, those 23 flavors are like so delicious.
They totally wash away the pain of your college football team taking a big fat L.
College football, it's a pepper thing.
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The score.
Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score.
The score.
Welcome back in.
Maybe quickly, things that are on the minds of a lot of Alabama fans.
How are things looking down in T-Town?
I'm going to be talking a little bit later on with Redfish Barger about that.
But as far as observations that are reported today at practice, Jim Miller was back with the offense.
We're just giving you what we were told here as far as reports.
Jim Miller back with the offense.
Parker Brelsford and Cam Dewberry were working with the OL.
Josh Cuevas was in the stretch lines, then working on a stationary bike.
And they did not see LT Overton as far as other personnel or Drake Kirkpatrick Jr.
BB, obviously a very interesting week for the Tuscaloosa boys.
Yeah, I think Vince has joined us now.
A herald of the eight that were out by the time they got to the fourth quarter.
I think Alabama is going to get six.
I don't see LT Overton coming back.
Josh Cuevas may be a game-time decision.
Yeah.
Vince, by the way, we did not see Phil Fulmer.
He was not spotted down there either.
Maybe Vince Ferrara can confirm or deny that when he's not meeting there at 991.
The Sports Network in Knoxville on the Ball Radio Network.
V-Man, welcome in.
How are you?
Never a shortage of Tennessee stuff to talk about.
I hope you guys are doing well.
Let's talk about big orange country.
Obviously, you got what looks like a home run higher as far as a new defensive coordinator.
But we know from day to day, actually now, minute to minute, you can see people entering the portal, coaches being let go, coaches come on board.
What's the latest scuttlebutt in Knoxville, V-Man?
Yeah, I mean, you hit on it.
Jim Knowles, that was a big story last week.
Late last week, it was confirmed that he's the new defensive coordinator of Tennessee.
He was the high-profile coordinator hire last year at Penn State.
Taking him and hired him from Ohio State after he won the national championship and actually beat Tennessee in the first round.
And helped him winning the national championship a couple of years ago.
So, it really showed, it's something that we haven't seen Josh Heupel do before, and that's fire a coach from his staff.
They've all left on their own for other reasons, promotions, things like that.
And so, it also shows that, you know, he, one, means business, and two, understands the urgency that is there for the head coach.
And when you make coordinator changes, then that means there's heat on the head coach.
And it's not up to the standards.
And he has talked about the standards a lot.
And so, yeah, he didn't just bring somebody in that he had a relationship with or an up-and-comer.
I mean, I don't know how anyone can complain.
I mean, there's things you can point to, like, all right, we're going to see if this works out.
The fact that he's got a very complicated system, that has had a track record of that.
And then, you know, players have said that.
He's even admitted that.
But he said at Penn State that, you know, he learned and knows that and tried to change how he would teach his system that's very complicated.
But, you know, look, you would think that he's advanced, he doesn't have the blinders on, he's advanced and understands that, hey, I have to continue to evolve as a coach.
And these new players, I've got to win with them.
I've got to have a great defense this year.
Josh Heupel doesn't have two, three years for him to get his own players in and learn the system, all that.
It's not today's world, and that's not Josh Heupel's world right now.
So, but even with that, it statistically should be an upgrade from what Tennessee put out there this year, despite some of those injuries on defense.
The Govoss247 had a list of the coaching staff contracts, updates.
Ronnie Gardner, I know there were a few questions about him making nearly a million dollars a year.
Defensive line coach, Tennessee's offensive coordinator, making 1.45.
Glenn Ellerby, nearly a million dollars.
Kelsey Pope, William Inge, $800,000.
If they got the contract, the salary updates, that would tell me these guys are coming back for 26.
Well, I wouldn't be so certain on that.
Now, the one coach that has an expiring contract, the on-field coach, is Rodney Gardner, which is the one that everybody wants to be kept.
And so, the other ones, Chris Lowe said on our station that Josh Heupel has given Jim Knowles the ability to make some changes to the staff.
Now, does that mean he can make some changes defensively, except Rodney Gardner?
We'll see.
Right, right.
But that's the guy that, to me, would be a no-brainer to keep, and they, you know, I'm sure they're just waiting for the go-ahead, and then they'll sign him to a new deal.
But some of those that have contracts expiring in 2026, and even maybe in 2027, it would not surprise me if they want to go a different direction if they eat those and then just go.
Because you don't, it's just not normal for a coordinator to come in and then have all the same coaches.
That side of the ball was too bad to not have other changes besides the head coach.
And the other big thing that, in your original question, was, you know, what people are talking about, what's going on, and that's the decisions to go to the NFL and then the portal.
There's been three guys that have declared for the NFL.
No surprise with Jermon McCoy, who didn't play this season, the cornerback that's mocked in almost all first rounds.
And then linebacker Arianne Carter, which is the one that surprised some people.
It did not surprise me, talking to scouts.
And then Chris Brazel II, who was their leading receiver this year.
And then they've had four reserve players that have hit the portal as well.
Nothing to send shockwaves to anyone.
But that's the thing, you've got to keep tabs on coaching changes, the portal, and the declarations for the NFL.
They have two big ones left, I think, at least.
And that's Colton Hood, who is showing up in some higher mocks, even though I think mocks are overrated for the NFL draft.
And then Lance Hurd, their starting left tackle.
Those are some of the big decisions still to come for the NFL.
V, what's the reaction from most of your listeners as far as the 2026 football schedule?
Yeah, it's been modest because I think people realize it's tough for everybody.
I mean, I dare people to pull up an SEC schedule and say, man, they got it easy.
The SEC was hooking them up.
It's not possible with a nine-game schedule, especially because I think a lot of the teams that didn't have great records this year,
you can make an argument, could make a pretty good jump, you know, with their new head coaches.
And it's a wild card in what they will be next year.
It's just strange for Tennessee's schedule to not see Florida and Georgia on there.
I think just it being weird and strange is the biggest thing.
I think Tennessee, they closed the season with LSU, A&M, and Vanderbilt.
That's the toughest three-game stretch.
I think some other teams have maybe one or two more difficult two- and three-game stretches.
And then the eight games in a row to start the year, there's, I think, four other teams that had that.
That is not easy, but some have it the other way around.
Like Texas starts out with four games, then they're open a week early, and then they close out with eight straight games.
Would you rather have that?
I wouldn't.
So it's tough for everybody.
It's hard to really complain about the 20-26 schedule.
Good home games.
That's for sure in terms of interest level.
Especially, like I said, only one by weight next year, so that's going to be another challenge for that nine game.
You're adding games with fewer breaks in between.
Me, man, obviously, if Knowles is in town, that means somebody's left, and that guy is Tim Banks.
He is now scheduled to be at Auburn.
What can you tell Auburn fans about Mr. Banks?
Well, he, with Alex Golesh, they're coming to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
Lane Griffin in LSU, coming to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
Jerry Mack, ex-running backs coach, he's the G5 coach of the year at Kennesaw State.
He's coming to Knoxville.
I think it's one of his big jobs.
So all kinds of return reunions.
But I think Tim Banks is a really good coach.
For whatever reason, it came down this year, and they didn't tackle very well.
I don't know if it was accountability or what maybe went wrong.
But the last couple of years, he's had outstanding defenses.
They typically get turnovers and get sacks.
And so I think you can expect he's a DB coach, so I can expect to see extra attention to that secondary.
And, yeah, I think he'll work well with Alex Golesh, who I expect to have success there at Auburn.
Rick Barnes wanted to get back on the right track this week.
I believe they've got Louisville.
I think they're going to do that.
They're going to, again, Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn have played really a rigorous schedule.
Alabama's lost in the number one, six, and seven teams in the nation.
B-Man, where can we get online and get all of the great stuff?
Yeah, and I just saw Ryan Shumpert, I think, put it out there from Rock the Top Insider.
Tennessee is a home underdog to Louisville.
That's the first time in 86 great games they've been a home favorite.
And they went back that streak going back to, like, 2020.
So there are – Louisville's another really good team.
You can follow me on all the socials.
It's Vince Sports, V-I-N-C-E Sports.
And then I'll be in Tampa when I join you guys next week.
We'll get it on Saturday.
So looking forward to an update on mom's cooking for the next couple of Mondays.
And the word that Brent and I would like to leave you with, it's called leftovers.
Keep us in mind with that leftover word, okay?
Absolutely.
We'll get a delivery to you one of these days.
There you go.
That's the key for one of these days.
One of these days.
Maybe years or millennials.
I admit it hasn't happened yet.
It'll happen.
It's a first.
Safe travels to and from, V-Man.
Thanks so much for your time today.
All right.
You guys are the best.
Appreciate it.
Thank you, man.
The V-Man, Vince Rawlin, 99.1, the sports animal.
Coming up on a week for Alabama fans.
And who knows better than a former Alabama standout, the Redfish.
Next.
Stay with us.
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Hey, fans.
Welcome back to Fansville's Cheers.
And tears.
Okay, so like everybody deals with losing, right?
To a rival on a last-second field goal.
Whatever, it's fine.
I'm totally fine.
But I cope with losing with an ice-cold Dr. Pepper.
Those 23 flavors are like so delicious.
They totally wash away the pain of your college football team taking a big fat L.
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The score.
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It's 12-27.
The Score.
Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score.
Welcome back in.
It is an absolute pleasure for us to say hello, open the door, and say hello to William Redfish
Barger, former University of Alabama offensive lineman, and now co-host by the microphone of
BAM's radio.
William, welcome in.
Happy Monday to you.
It's game week.
How are you?
I'm doing good, guys.
Hope y'all are as well.
Hey, bud.
And we are.
We appreciate you asking, William.
Let's get to the obvious part of the pond, elephant in the room.
Kellen DeBoer says, all that stuff is just noise.
It's rat poison.
I'm rolling with the tide.
William, what's your reaction to the news?
I think a lot of folks who are plugged into the story were not totally surprised by.
Yeah, I mean, I know in today's college football world, people aren't accustomed to football coaches
telling the truth, but in this particular case, Kellen DeBoer is 100% telling the truth.
I think it was a lot more wishful thinking than reality on the Michigan end.
And I think any viable candidate that they do approach for that job is going to give it a kind of it's not going to pass the smell test, so to speak, especially for anyone that's in a similar situation to Kellen DeBoer at a program like Alabama where the AD is aligned with what his goals are.
You know, there's a better chance than not that, you know, the AD at Michigan isn't going to survive this scandal, and I'm surprised he still is employed, but, you know, there's just a big mess up there, and, you know, I don't know, you know, a whole lot of people that would want to wade off into it, you know, for any amount of money just because of the uncertainties.
And, you know, they've got two schools within their own conference now that's, you know, kind of difficult to keep up with from an NIL standpoint in Ohio State and Oregon, and it's not the job that it was when Jim Harbaugh took it, you know, 10, 15 years ago, however long it's been.
So, you know, I don't think Kellen DeBoer had any interest in Penn State or the University of Michigan, and, you know, he knew what he was getting into when, you know, he decided to take over for Nick Saban, and, you know, I think he deserves some, you know, some house credit for having the cojones to bite that animal off a little bit there.
So, you know, and I'm sure, you know, if things don't go our way Friday night, half the fan base is going to want to send a man in a U-Haul truck Saturday morning, but, you know, maybe don't even get on the plane, leave him on the tarmac like they did Lane Kiffin out in L.A.
Send him to Kennesaw State, and you make, to me, that's the central part of this whole thing.
I saw over the weekend what they call it on TV, a scroll at the bottom, and it said that they're bringing in a third party to investigate the F.A. department.
I'm thinking, who in their right mind, I mean, at this point in life, I think we've all had opportunities to go elsewhere, employment-wise, for better money, but the management was a train wreck, and why in the world would you trade peace of mind for more money, perhaps, on the front end, for a headache down the road?
You've got to look at the balance. Your thoughts about that, again, and what does it mean for Alabama? Because no longer can they have that for a distraction.
It's game on, focus on the game itself, and you bring up a good point. It seemed like everybody wanted DeBoer at one point, except a lot of Alabama fans, after the last loss, but your thoughts about what that does as far as preparation for this game this week, if any?
Well, I mean, I think Alabama's done a good job this season, you know, kind of channeling out the outside distractions, and I know it's difficult for both coaches and players to do in today's college football world because of the social media.
And a lot of the players, you know, have to be, you know, have to stay plugged into that to, you know, promote things that they're, you know, brand ambassadors for and what they're getting compensated for.
So, you know, that makes it more difficult. And certainly from back in the dark ages, when I was down there where you might find out something that was going on two days later in the Tuscaloosa newspaper, you know, at the corner store down there.
But, you know, I think Alabama's got enough, you know, distractions on the field that they need to, you know, be focused on overcoming versus what, who or, you know, who's not their head coach might be talking to.
You know, they've got a formidable opponent that they've got to travel to and play in the first round of the playoffs Friday evening in Norman, Oklahoma.
And, you know, it's a, you know, it's an interesting rematch if you really look at all of the metrics and measuring sticks that are used to determine, you know, who wins or loses a football game.
You know, you know, Oklahoma only had 200 yards, 212 total yards of offense.
Yeah.
You know, Alabama doubled them up on total yards on time of possessions.
And unfortunately, the outcome of the game came down to the fact that they tripled them up on the amount of turnover.
So, you know, I think if both teams play this game Friday night clean, you know, it's going to come.
It's going to be a low-scoring game.
I think the point total is sitting right at 40 right now, and I'd be kind of surprised if it even reaches that point.
I mean, this could be a 17-14 kind of old-school Gene Stallings type game.
Here's the deal, William.
I think a lot of folks say, what's Alabama got to do to keep giving the other guys a short field?
We saw the defense play good, but they still look what happened with the final score of Georgia.
If you look at just the stats, you say, well, you said this defense is good.
What's going on here?
But when you're starting, basically, at the points they start against Georgia, if they do that again against Oklahoma,
your thoughts just about something.
I've always said one of the big stats that kind of gets overlooked, how good are you on third down converting?
How good are you on defense to keep the other team from converting on third down?
Your thoughts just about some of the stats that kind of fly out of the radar, starting with not giving Oklahoma short field after short field.
Well, you know, a lot of people look at, you know, bang-bang turnovers or three and outs, and they think it's, well, you know, the defense is going to get gassed.
They haven't had a chance to get rested.
And, yes, that is true, and it can become a factor if it happens repetitively.
But where it really gets you into is it never gives you a chance to make adjustments and look at what the team, you know, might have been successful on
and, you know, what you might have been successful on.
I know it's been expedited, you know, tremendously with those guys having the tablets to, you know, look at stuff on instantly over there on the sidelines.
But, you know, that's something that plays into it.
And, you know, when the offense can convert third downs and move those chains, you know, it tends to lead to better performances for the defense.
So, you know, that's something that Alabama, I think, should be the, you know, the first goal before we even start about talking about, you know, scoring 14-plus points is, you know, let's convert third downs.
Let's don't turn the ball over.
Let's don't give up sacks.
Let's don't whiff on blitz pickup if you're one of the running backs.
You know, there's a lot of stuff.
And, you know, I've got my own level of anxiety about this game and some concerns that I probably wouldn't have if you really go back and look at the game the first weekend in November, I think it was, the first matchup.
You know, Josh Cuavers was really Ty Simpson saving grace in that game.
I mean, I don't care what any availability reports say.
If he plays in this game Friday night, he never had a broken foot.
And really the only guy I'm expecting to be back is Jam Miller that's of, you know, significance and has a chance to come back.
There's some of them that don't.
Yeah, I mean, I expect Parker Brailsford's ankle to be a little bit better and, you know, some of the other sprains and tweaks.
But, you know, if Cuavers was available for this game, I think my attitude would be, you know, a little bit different because, you know, he was wide open for the taking, you know, every time Ty Simpson chose to target him.
And, you know, and I do think the young tight ends are probably a little bit more capable of taking up his slack as far as a receiver in the passing game goes.
But they're not quite ready to, you know, be that guy at the point of attack on a running play, you know, going up, you know, right into the seven or the nine hole.
Well, I know with the last time we talked with you in the first Oklahoma-Alabama game in November, you're quite impressed with Brent Venables.
You know, we'll see where his head coaching goes as far as CEO of a program, but as far as a defensive coordinator, he's very good.
And he seems to have two weeks to get ready for Alabama every time he plays them.
Oklahoma leads the conference in sacks with 41, tackles for a loss with 115.
When I see stands like that, I'm thinking, yeah, a lot of third and twelves, which is not good for any team.
And I know you get asked all the time, can Alabama improve the running attack?
We'll see with Cam Miller back a little bit, feeling better, maybe some of the offensive linemen.
But again, as Harold mentioned, third and long, second and long.
How can they counter that?
Well, the easiest way to counter it is to pick up six yards or more on first down and have second and four or less.
But, you know, that's easier said than done.
And, you know, Thomas is still listed as questionable, but at a bare minimum, I expect him to give it a whirl and try and go.
And, you know, it would help the cause if he is limited in plays, but, you know, because they didn't have to deal with him the first go around.
And, you know, it's to be more efficient and more productive on first down.
And, you know, Alabama kind of got a little bit of a ground game going against them, you know, in the first matchup.
I think both Daniel Hill and one other running back, it might have been Jam.
You know, they both averaged over three yards per carry.
I think one was a little over three and the other one was right at four.
So, you know, I'm sure they're going to give that a whirl.
But when you become predictable, you know, which they have been at times on first down, you know, running plays, you know, in the A gaps on either side of the center running play.
You know, they need to become less predictable on first down, and that might help the trend of second and long, third and longs, you know, becoming the norm.
Well, if you were calling the play, you know there's going to be a good chance that Venables is going to send two or three high safeties and then bring the jailhouse rush on a lot of other plays.
What is the perfect call?
Because I believe every, if you're playing chess, there's always something to counter with.
You know Venables is going to take away, if he can, the long ball, and he's going to bring everybody else.
What is the perfect antidote to that, in your opinion?
Well, you know, the first game that I'm actually a play caller in will be my first game as a play caller.
But, you know, I've got a little bit of Gus Malzahn in me.
You know, if there's something that I'm doing that's successful, I'm running it until the defensive coordinator forces me to do something else.
You know, one area with this offense, especially when you look at Ty Simpson's skill set, and the fact that it's been a revolving door of multiple offensive line, you know, matchups, or excuse me, lineups throughout the course of the season.
And, you know, one thing that's always kind of confused me is, why not, you know, move the pocket?
Yeah.
I thought the offensive coordinator my freshman year at Alabama was just a, well, he was a football spot.
I mean, he ran the ball when I thought he was going to run, and he passed it when I, you know, I thought he was going to, you know, do the opposite.
But, you know, let's move the pocket.
Let's roll Ty Simpson out and, you know, flood the tight end, the tailback, and the wide receiver and give Ty three simple quick reads.
And it's a simple read for the quarterback.
If the forced man to the side that you roll out to, if he rushes, you know, you dump it over his head to one of those three receivers.
If he drops into coverage, then you give a go-go call, and all of a sudden he becomes the running back and, you know, picks up what's there.
And, you know, that's a play along with the seam pass, or some people call it a tight end dump pass.
Those are two plays that are virtually impossible to stop.
You know, if you're the forced man to that side of that play, and you take one false step, you're toast.
And so, you know, I'm a big believer in keeping things simple, stupid, and football is not rocket science.
It's a real simple game, and a lot of times played by real simple people.
And so that's the way I think it should be presented and tried to be asked to execute.
Let's don't make it, you know, a triple reverse flea flicker throwback pass.
Let's just line up and do things that are kind of a little bit more, got higher percentages attached to them as far as being executed.
William, an Alabama judge earlier today, granted, former Tennessee and Alabama.
I knew this was coming.
You knew that was coming.
My only response is, is I think I just heard the jet from Baton Rouge fly over my head en route from to Fort Payne Airport.
There you go.
And he's not going to see Randy Owen either, is he?
Go ahead.
No, no, that's fine, William.
I knew I was going to get a good reaction from you.
I know you've been asked, well, William, is he going to be an SEC coach next year?
That remains to be seen.
I mean, yes, it does.
I mean, I don't know if that was a gentleman's agreement, if there was something signed, but, you know, I thought the plan was when this was kind of put to bed that he was going to kind of, you know, put one toe in the shallow into the pool and maybe start back up as an analyst or a coach at Jacksonville State for Charles Kelly.
But, you know, I don't know.
I mean, honestly, I don't.
I mean, I would love to see Jeremy at Alabama this afternoon.
But, you know, I don't know, you know, if he wants to start back making very little money as an off-the-field analyst.
I don't know if he's going to, you know, now with the injunction, if he's going to try and go for, you know, being a position coach.
I mean, I can't think of a whole lot of places around, you know, the SEC that are in the market for a defensive coordinator.
And, you know, that's one thing, too, guys.
You know, let's don't look past the fact that just because he's gotten an injunction from the NCAA that the big man in the big office, you know, in Birmingham, Greg Sankey, is going to give his blessing to anything beyond an off-the-field analyst.
So we'll just have to wait and see how that all plays out.
We've talked about the issues Oklahoma gives Alabama.
What's your prediction for Friday night?
You know, I really do.
I think it's going to be a low-scoring game.
The first person to 20 might win it.
I really do see kind of a 17-14.
I pray it doesn't turn into a field goal shootout.
Really?
You know, that is one thing that I think does play into Alabama's advantage is it's not like Oklahoma has been an offensive juggernaut of late themselves.
So, you know, that could change with them having another off-week and get rested.
Maybe Mateer's, you know, thumb is fully finally healed.
Who knows?
But I do think it's going to be a low-scoring affair.
I think it's going to be a defensive struggle.
And, you know, I would love it if my old pal, number 18, Bray Hubbard, could get me a couple of turnovers, mainly a pick-six.
That would certainly help the cost.
I think that's going to be one of the biggest keys, William.
You're exactly right.
Listen, we always enjoy talking ball with you on Monday.
Listen, have a great week.
Let's do some post-game analysis next Monday.
Okay, now, if it doesn't go our way, don't call me.
I'm writing it down even as we speak.
I'm just kidding.
I'll show up, win, lose, or draw.
Thank you, buddy.
Thank you so much.
Hope it's going to be all the good stuff.
You too.
Redfish Barger in the huddle with us.
Phoebe, speaking of that, keep it right here on 93.9, the score.
We've got you covered with Alabama coverage tonight.
Hey, Coach, followed by the Dolphins and Senators, a big night ahead.
What else?
You're on 93.9, the score tonight, BB.
Well, probably Monday night football at some point after, hey, Coach, it's going to be an interesting week, though.
A lot of the focus may, thank God, may turn to analyzing the games and predicting scores instead of where coaches are going.
Well, Alabama already a win.
The forecast looking pretty good for December's standards out in Norman.
Temps around 50, even around 60.
Game time about 45.
In other words, football weather.
Right now, they'll take it.
That's going to take care of us for now on behalf of BB, Greg, James, Flair, the entire crew here.
Harold LeVog, thank you so much for your time today.
Let's do it again tomorrow at noon to two for the Boom O' Buck Show back here on Sports Radio 93.9, the score.