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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.

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 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.

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 The Score.

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 Good afternoon and welcome in to the Boomo Bugg Show. I'm Harold Bugg alongside Brett Beaird. Thank you so much for giving us your ride around the Tennessee Valley. Brett Beaird, welcome in to 5-5, a.k.a. Cinco de Mayo Day. And are you ready for some SEC tourney times? Good afternoon. Welcome in and how are you?

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 Matthew Cinco de Mayo Day. And you and Harold Bugg. The Braves lose to Seattle last night 5-4, but Matt Olsen hits home run number 300.

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 Josh Fowler, head baseball coach at Central High School. We'll preview quarterfinal baseball action for the Wildcats a little bit later in the show. And as I'm sure you have, I've listened to several of these signature calls by the late John Sterling, voice of the Yankees and the Braves.

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 For the last 24 hours? Well, Roger Hoover had a signature call after back-to-back home runs by Bill Fines and John Lim in Alabama's 5-1 win over Vanderbilt during commencement weekend.

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 And with that, we will graduate to sing hello to the voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide. It's always nice when you're mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Sturdum with the Yankees, gone far too young at the ripe age of 86.

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 But Roger Hoover's still rocking and rolling there on the Alabama Crimson Tide Network. Roger, welcome in. The stage is all yours. How are you?

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 Boomo Bugg. I'm doing really well. Yeah, that was a fun call to make. I like when good things happen, like home runs and back-to-back shots, like we got over the weekend.

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 And yeah, I give that ball a diploma. I gotta confess, it's not the first time I've used it. I only break it out when Alabama's at home during commencement weekend.

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 And we got everybody lining up outside Coleman Coliseum ready to get there. Gorgeous piece of paper that proves that they're a legend that has been made at the University of Alabama.

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 So it was a very fun moment. I appreciate the shout-out, Brad.

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 Roger, talk to us about that before we get into the obvious. I mean, as a play-by-play guy, I've always equated it to being on a high wire in a high wind with no net.

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 There ain't no do-overs when you're doing a live play-by-play, and it either comes or it doesn't. How sweet is it when it comes in moments like that?

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 I don't have it happen too often, so I'll report back.

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 I feel lucky every now and then, but no, I think sometimes you go into it trying to script it or trying to think about, okay, if this happens, you really can't do that.

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 And I think it's time to do that. It comes off kind of flat or not right. But when it does come together, and a lot of times, as you say it, you don't know if it kind of resonated, if it kind of fit the moment.

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 I've always been drawn to people like, you know, John Sterling got a chance to meet when I was doing a few Marlins spring training games against the Yankees a few years ago.

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 It could not be nicer. You know, he had a way, you know, with his unique catchphrase, it's a really punch moment to make it memorable for a lot of fans.

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 And even though he would think about them, he would never write them out or anything like that.

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 What you heard was very authentic, and I think the best broadcasters are able to do that.

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 Yeah, now, Roger, talk to us about this team. Obviously, it's all about timing in baseball. You've got to get hot at the right moment.

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 And they're coming off some milestones. First win at Texas in a long, long time, even against Texas, period.

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 And over the weekend, completing a sweep of the Vanderbilt Commodores. First time since a long time ago, 2009, for that to happen with this Bama baseball team.

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 Your thoughts about the team and the milestones that they're setting right now?

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 Some really good ones right now. And I think playing at home certainly helps getting that sweep against Vanderbilt.

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 Playing some tight ballgames, I'm more impressed that Alabama found a way to win, especially when down 4-1 that opening night.

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 Because, again, the Tennessee weekend had not gone well. We obviously remember the midweek before that against UAB.

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 It had been a while since that team. Even in the win in Knoxville, that was kind of a strange ballgame to Tennessee and to Alabama.

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 So, for Alabama to come back, get the three-run homer by Eric Kimes, tie that ballgame, the walk-off later by John Lim.

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 I thought that was a real game that could move as a springboard for this group.

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 Kind of like Tyler Faye no-hitter did a few weeks ago as well against Florida.

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 That led to a great three-week stretch of Crimson Side baseball.

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 We're really hoping that the walk-off by John Lim is the springboard to finishing out the final three weeks of the season on the right note.

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 And I think it's a group that's still capable of a lot if they play smart, clean baseball.

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 And by clean baseball, Limit the Errors had a couple pop up and nothing fatal over the weekend against a pretty good Vanderbilt team.

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 So, I think it's a group that kind of, again, Rob Vaughn has really stressed to them,

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 you know what you look like at your best.

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 You do look like one of the top eight teams in the country that can host a Super Regional and get to Omaha at your own ballpark.

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 But you've also seen if you kick the ball around, you make errant throws,

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 you look like a team that will be on the road and get bounced out to the barbecue on the road in a regional.

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 So, Alabama has got to chase down the vision of the team that we really saw this past weekend

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 and maybe not the one that's really popped up in some of the really tough disappointing weekends we've had this year.

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 Well, Drew, I thought the key to the entire series was Eric Hines' three-run homer to tie the game at 4-4 Thursday night,

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 and then Alabama went on to win 5-4.

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 I agree.

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 Eric is just playing at a very high level for a freshman.

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 And Rob Vaughn talked a lot about it a few years ago, Justin LeBron.

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 Well, we kept playing him as a freshman, and he did pretty well batting eight.

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 So, it's like, all right, he passed that test, we'll move him up to the middle of the order.

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 All right, he did pretty well passing that test, keeps getting on base, hitting home runs.

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 We're going to put him at the top of the order, play him every single day, and, you know,

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 he couldn't take him out of the lineup.

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 Eric Hines is on a very similar trajectory at this point of his freshman season.

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 Just every time he's been challenged by something, he keeps rising to the challenge and passing the test.

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 So, that has me excited, though, because we know the power is there,

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 but Eric is doing a lot more than just hitting home runs.

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 He is playing pretty sound defensively in the outfield.

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 He's being very, very smart, and at times drawing walks and getting on base as his team needs to.

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 And then he has provided the stuff that his lineup is really needed,

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 because we've seen the home run numbers go down for a while for Justin LeBron,

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 and even, you know, guys like Jason Torres has not had quite the year he would like to have

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 in terms of the home runs, but he did have a good one for us on Sunday.

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 But, you know, somebody's had to step up for this group offensively.

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 I think everybody felt that coming off the Texas weekend, especially,

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 and then the way the doubleheader went against Tennessee.

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 And so far, that person has stepped up as Eric Hines.

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 Roger, I think one of the big additions to the SEC baseball tournament is

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 they have added the strike zone challenge,

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 similar to the ABS system in the major leagues.

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 It's limited usage, but I thought that was huge to add that to the SEC tournament at Hoover.

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 I like it a lot.

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 It's something we've, you know, anybody that loves baseball has been watching these major league games.

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 I mean, it's refreshing just to get the calls right as it turns to, you know,

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 being very obvious when calls are wrong, and, you know,

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 you kind of have to live with it like we have for so long.

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 I like the fact that it's a very quick mission system.

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 To me, it hasn't really made the games longer or anything like that.

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 And at times, it's just the way they're able to get that video on the screen instantly.

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 I know the SEC is going to have pretty similar technology to make it happen.

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 I don't think it's going to lead to a three-hour game becoming a four-hour game or anything like that.

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 I think it's going to help just speed along and make sure the calls get right.

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 And I was a little surprised that there are going to be three challenges for these teams

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 as opposed to the major league.

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 I kind of like to keep it consistent with the major league and professional baseball rules.

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 But I think it's a huge positive for SEC baseball.

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 And because major league baseball umpires, with all due respect,

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 they get the calls far more often right than what we see day in, day out in college baseball.

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 Even with some good umpires, there's a wide gap between an SEC umpire and a major league umpire.

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 So I think you're going to see a lot of calls being overturned with this system.

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 And a lot of people get some extra light to the plate

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 or some pitchers that were cheated out of the final strike or something like that

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 until they're finally here to work in the right way.

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 You know the umpires love that new system.

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 Roger, first things first, before Alabama gets ready for the SEC tournament,

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 they've got some business to take care of now, and that is against Troy.

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 And people say, well, that's just Troy.

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 Troy's had some good runs on the Diamonds.

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 Just go back to other teams that Alabama could have said on paper.

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 This is on cruise control.

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 Look at UAB.

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 What happened?

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 What was it last week?

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 Your thoughts about tonight's game with the Trojans?

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 Well, Troy's playing better baseball than the last time Alabama faced them

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 in Tuscaloosa a few weeks ago at the end of March.

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 So, you know, Skylar Meade always has a really scrappy bunch to play Alabama tough

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 in one of the classic games for that regional in 2023.

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 And let's face it, guys, it is Vico de Mayo around the college town.

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 And I think they're going to be following all around Riddle Bay Field.

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 And the students and the Troy supporters are going to be in quite a mood

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 to welcome in Big Bad Alabama.

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 Roger, talk about Alabama's softball number two seed in the SEC tournament

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 in Lexington.

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 We'll be in Madison the year after that.

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 Alabama playing very well.

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 Right now, Thursday, 1 o'clock.

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 That's going to be on 93-9 to score.

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 Talk about this softball team.

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 Really well-rounded.

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 I mean, this looks like the best championship in a World Series contender

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 like Patrick Murphy has had in a while.

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 You can go back to the Montana foul seed, but I think offensively,

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 it's a better team than what they had when Montana was dominating in the circle.

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 And you've got somebody that is having a Montana foul season,

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 maybe without some of the hype and the buzz that Montana brought

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 because she was, you know, that number one of the nation

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 and she's captured everyone's attention instantly.

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 Well, Jocelyn Britsky just very quietly has put together

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 the best season of any SEC softball pitcher.

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 I'll be shocked if she's not named the SEC softball pitcher of the year.

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 And then to compliment her, freshman Big Bowden,

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 who I got the interview on Crimson Drive from by NASCAR,

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 she could not have been more entertaining.

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 She could not have been more confident as a freshman.

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 And really, in any sport, anybody I've talked to in the last four or five years,

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 nobody has carried themselves to the confidence of young Big Bowden.

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 I love the ones that much they have in the circle with those two.

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 And again, I just think offensively, this is a much better team,

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 much more well-rounded.

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 Freshmen, veterans, I mean, they have the perfect recipe for a championship caliber squad.

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 I know they just missed out on winning the regular season title of the SEC,

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 but that may turn out to be a good thing.

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 I think it's going to be a pretty good motivating factor to leave Lexington with a trophy

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 and be one of the top seeds in the nation.

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 And we already know, even if Alabama loses its first game of the SEC tournament,

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 we already know the road to Oklahoma City is going to go through Rhodes Stadium

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 and Tuscaloosa.

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 It's the best home-field advantage in softball.

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 And I can't wait.

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 I really can't go to some of the ballgames of our baseball going on at the same time,

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 but I cannot wait to see the team that's going to be there for the postseason very shortly.

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 Roger, talk to us about the secret of the sauce in the eyes of a lot of people.

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 Pat Murphy, do people really appreciate not only what he is doing,

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 but what he's been able to do consistently.

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 It's hard to win, have a winning season.

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 It's so much tougher to put together a string.

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 Now, I know Alabama had that run, and by that standard, they haven't hit that number.

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 But overall, do people appreciate what Pat Murphy has done,

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 not only for the team, but for the program and the university as a whole?

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 I honestly don't think they do.

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 I think Alabama fans have gotten kind of too used to winning

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 and far too critical of Patrick Murphy.

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 He doesn't reach the heights that he's had before when it comes to SEC championships,

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 obviously the one national championship in 2012.

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 And I think there's been far too unfair criticism of him in the past,

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 in the last two or three years.

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 He took some great young players, molded them into good veterans,

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 and they're performing at a high level right now.

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 And he has added in probably the best freshman class he's had in a decade.

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 That's making quite an impact already on the results on the field.

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 So I don't think Alabama fans appreciate enough the great job he does.

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 As you mentioned, for the whole university, there is not a bigger cheerleader for other sports on campus.

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 Dan Patrick Murphy, I love the fact that NATO's used him in a motivating way prior to the final four run a few years ago

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 and kind of popularized some of the ideas of CEDA and having vicarious joy and other success.

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 That was great to see a larger audience be exposed to what he has been doing behind the scenes kind of quietly for a long, long time.

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 And he's got a great relationship with his baseball program as well.

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 I get a lot of texts from Coach Murphy listening to our baseball games and being like, you know,

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 asking about strategy and being like, is anybody up in the bullpen thinking like that?

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 I mean, he is as dialed in as ever.

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 I know a lot of baseball players kind of lean on him to the point where it was a couple years ago,

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 our first captain of the Rob Vaughn era, Evan Slite.

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 On his senior day, he had his girlfriend, Brooke Spear, down there with him,

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 who is a member of the Alabama soccer team.

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 And then Patrick Murphy, I believe Evan's family couldn't make it to campus for some reason for his senior day.

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 So Coach Murphy kind of stood as part of Evan's family on that senior day.

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 He's one of the absolute best, and I'm thrilled that the results are going in his favor.

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 But he's been a winner every single moment he's been on our campus.

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 Yeah, absolutely.

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 Tell us about your week.

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 You've got Troy in Crimson Drive.

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 Today, Bryce Fowler is one of the guests.

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 South Carolina coming up later this week.

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 Tell us about Roger's week.

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 Yeah, a little bit of time on the road.

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 Cruising down 65 south right now.

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 I'm on my way to Troy.

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 So we look forward to getting down to the wire graphs for that ball game coming up later tonight.

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 And then to the Palm Meadows, as you mentioned,

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 I guess, like you mentioned, Bryce Fowler, Peyton Steele, a native of Decatur, played at Hartsville High School.

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 He'll be on the show today as well.

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 And then Marty Hubbard, also from your neck of the woods, she'll be talking about softball coming up as well on our Thursday show.

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 So we're going to be very, very busy previewing what's going to be an exciting few weeks for Alabama baseball and softball.

205
00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:12,900
 Roger, safe travels.

206
00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:16,500
 Remember, it's 5-5 Cinco de Mayo in front of a student body.

207
00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:17,840
 So be safe down there, okay?

208
00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:19,600
 Absolutely.

209
00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,280
 I'm hoping graduation will come and go on and they've all gone home.

210
00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,640
 But they may stick around for the baseball and it will be the Crimson Tide.

211
00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:26,900
 And of course, those are amazing.

212
00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,120
 Another great call, I know, on the way.

213
00:15:30,220 --> 00:15:31,760
 Roger, thanks so much for your time today.

214
00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,220
 Roger, who were voiced to the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

215
00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,840
 By the way, speaking of the softball tournament, underway even as we speak in Kentucky.

216
00:15:39,980 --> 00:15:43,760
 And right now, Auburn is only three outs away from advancing.

217
00:15:44,540 --> 00:15:47,040
 They hold a 6-2 lead over Missouri.

218
00:15:47,900 --> 00:15:49,820
 Three outs away, Missouri coming to bat.

219
00:15:49,900 --> 00:15:51,560
 Remember, they only play seven in softball.

220
00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:56,400
 So it's go-get-em time for those Tigers from Missouri against those Tigers from Auburn.

221
00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:01,140
 Coming up, speaking of what's going on in our neck of the woods, Caleb Suggs on deck.

222
00:16:01,220 --> 00:16:01,740
 Stay with us.

223
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 A lot goes into taking care of your property.

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239
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 Indeed presents, hires you can't afford to get wrong, like a hospitality manager at a five-star hotel.

240
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,760
 So, I just checked into room 318, but someone was in there.

241
00:17:16,020 --> 00:17:17,440
 Room 318.

242
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,140
 Oh, you were supposed to be booked in 813, which is now booked.

243
00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:23,140
 So, what do we do?

244
00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,060
 How about, uh, rock, paper, scissors for who gets the bid?

245
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 This is your job for sponsored jobs.

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249
00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:42,600
 Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score.

250
00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:46,580
 It's time to take a little road trip to the Peachtree State, and that is Georgia.

251
00:17:46,780 --> 00:17:49,460
 The king of it is Bill Shanks, host for The Bill Shanks Show.

252
00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:50,520
 Bill, welcome in.

253
00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:51,100
 How are you?

254
00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:52,320
 I am doing great.

255
00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,960
 I'm headed to the best college town in America, Athens, Georgia, right now.

256
00:17:57,020 --> 00:17:58,800
 You said best college town in the country?

257
00:17:58,860 --> 00:18:00,320
 You're not going to Tuscaloosa, Bill?

258
00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:01,820
 No, I'm going to Athens.

259
00:18:01,940 --> 00:18:03,040
 I ain't never been to Tuscaloosa.

260
00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:11,980
 Bill, you know, after our last conversation, Brett and I, we have been on a guilt trip,

261
00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,140
 and we agree that we do not talk enough about the Atlanta Hawks, Bill.

262
00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:15,720
 We don't.

263
00:18:16,060 --> 00:18:17,040
 Bill, here's your chance.

264
00:18:17,060 --> 00:18:18,420
 Oh, now you're going to talk about it.

265
00:18:18,420 --> 00:18:23,220
 Oh, what I'm saying, you told us to talk about the Hawks, so the platform is yours.

266
00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:26,320
 Yeah, thanks a lot.

267
00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,060
 Now you're going to talk about them.

268
00:18:28,180 --> 00:18:30,180
 Yeah, everybody is humiliated.

269
00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,520
 Now you want a whole segment on the Hawks.

270
00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:34,500
 It's never too late.

271
00:18:34,540 --> 00:18:35,240
 What do you mean?

272
00:18:35,540 --> 00:18:39,460
 The Boomo Bugg Show, weekdays, noon to two on 93.9 The Score.

273
00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:47,000
 Speed on the bases, power at the plate, gold glove defense across the diamond.

274
00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,140
 The stars of Atlanta are ready to take the field.

275
00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:55,380
 Michael Harris is going to spread back, and he somehow makes the catch Willie Mays style

276
00:18:55,380 --> 00:18:57,020
 and goes into the wall.

277
00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,200
 Tonight, stay up for some Atlanta Braves baseball from the left coast

278
00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,180
 as Austin Riley and the Braves get another shot at the Seattle Mariners.

279
00:19:05,180 --> 00:19:11,500
 Braves Radio goes on the air at 825 Eastern, 725 Central on the Braves Radio Network.

280
00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:18,540
 Brought to you locally by the law firm of Johnson Pasher, Medley & Virtual, J.C. Hammonson,

281
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282
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 Mefford Jewelers, Valley Credit Union, Certified Alarm, Lost Pizza, and Alabama Health Guidance.

283
00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,420
 Atlanta Braves baseball tonight versus the Seattle Mariners on 93.9 The Score.

284
00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:40,840
 The Score.

285
00:19:41,260 --> 00:19:46,020
 Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score.

286
00:19:46,460 --> 00:19:50,640
 Welcome back again to get updated ACC softball tourney in Kentucky.

287
00:19:50,860 --> 00:19:53,520
 Auburn leading Missouri 6-2.

288
00:19:53,660 --> 00:19:55,520
 Missouri down to their final out.

289
00:19:55,660 --> 00:19:57,360
 Two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

290
00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,200
 Auburn would move on with a win over those Tigers from Missouri.

291
00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:02,440
 We'll keep you updated on that.

292
00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:06,860
 In the meantime, it is an absolute pleasure for us to say hello to Caleb Suggs.

293
00:20:06,860 --> 00:20:08,900
 He's got it all covered over the Decatur Daily.

294
00:20:09,060 --> 00:20:09,840
 Caleb, welcome in.

295
00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:10,600
 How are you?

296
00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:12,600
 I'm doing good, guys.

297
00:20:12,660 --> 00:20:13,040
 How are you all?

298
00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:14,500
 Yeah, we're doing all right.

299
00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:20,420
 Let's start with a name that, folks, he's almost, what, at least of late, a local legend

300
00:20:20,420 --> 00:20:21,960
 there in Morgan County.

301
00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:23,560
 And I'm going to take a shot.

302
00:20:23,660 --> 00:20:25,180
 Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

303
00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:28,200
 Kane Falciani, I won't steal your thunder.

304
00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:31,360
 It doesn't matter if it's football or baseball.

305
00:20:32,180 --> 00:20:34,180
 He lives for the big moment, does he not?

306
00:20:35,180 --> 00:20:36,740
 Yeah, he certainly does.

307
00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:43,400
 He's a great kid, too, and been one of my favorite players to cover throughout this entire year.

308
00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:50,460
 But yeah, when you look at it, his catch and Jasper gets Jasper last football season to win.

309
00:20:50,580 --> 00:20:55,360
 That was extraordinary, but, you know, here in this moment, you're playing in a playoff game

310
00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:58,780
 against Coleman in baseball, you know, at number five versus number three.

311
00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,400
 It's already a huge rivalry, so that's a huge moment for us.

312
00:21:02,540 --> 00:21:07,760
 So for him to step in and, you know, get that RBI in, and yeah, I think it was a sacrifice.

313
00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:10,520
 But, you know, for the game-winning play, that was huge.

314
00:21:10,740 --> 00:21:13,240
 And what's great about it was, I mean, he kept battling.

315
00:21:13,420 --> 00:21:16,100
 I mean, he had two strikes on him for the longest time.

316
00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:21,020
 And, you know, he had one that he thought was going to be the sacrifice and ended up going foul.

317
00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:26,180
 And he kept battling and battling, and then he ends up getting the hit that, you know, wins him the game.

318
00:21:26,340 --> 00:21:27,860
 So huge game.

319
00:21:28,020 --> 00:21:33,780
 It was a great ending to what was a thrilling extra inning game between two, you know, great teams.

320
00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:35,200
 And it was a great atmosphere.

321
00:21:35,660 --> 00:21:38,340
 And unfortunately, game two didn't quite live up to the hype.

322
00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:41,620
 But game one was certainly – it felt like a state finals game.

323
00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,440
 I mean, the atmosphere and everything, I mean, it was great in high school baseball.

324
00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,720
 Talk to us about that, because you were a prophet.

325
00:21:48,860 --> 00:21:51,900
 You said that was probably going to be the best matchup anywhere in the state.

326
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,360
 You just mentioned why, the high rankings coming in.

327
00:21:54,460 --> 00:21:59,660
 Hartsell actually was, I guess, in some ways the underdog relative to their respective rankings at the time.

328
00:21:59,740 --> 00:22:02,560
 But never overestimate this team.

329
00:22:02,780 --> 00:22:04,440
 Tradition has a way of rearing its head.

330
00:22:04,540 --> 00:22:06,740
 Your thoughts just what that means going forward.

331
00:22:06,740 --> 00:22:11,860
 When you take on a team that good, that early, relatively speaking, in a way, in the process of playoffs,

332
00:22:12,220 --> 00:22:13,740
 what does that do for you going forward?

333
00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:22,300
 Well, I just don't think – I don't think anybody that Hartsell's going to see in 6th and 12th is going to be shocking to them.

334
00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,260
 And that's not me downing the teams that are left in class.

335
00:22:25,420 --> 00:22:25,720
 Right.

336
00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:27,280
 There's a lot of great teams.

337
00:22:27,460 --> 00:22:29,620
 But honestly, they've already played a bunch of them.

338
00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:30,740
 I mean, they'd already played Coleman.

339
00:22:30,940 --> 00:22:32,980
 They've already played Hazel Green, who's still left.

340
00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,520
 I mean, you just look at the first half of their schedule.

341
00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,900
 I mean, they literally weren't home for basically the first – until area play started.

342
00:22:40,060 --> 00:22:43,720
 They hardly played any games at home because they were all playing these perfect game tournaments

343
00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:49,860
 and all these other teams were – you know, these types of tournaments were literally – they only invite the best teams,

344
00:22:49,940 --> 00:22:53,440
 not even from the state of Alabama, but from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee.

345
00:22:53,820 --> 00:22:57,440
 So, you know, they're playing – you know, and their record was what it was.

346
00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:58,480
 It was around 500.

347
00:22:58,620 --> 00:22:59,880
 It wasn't a fantastic record.

348
00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:03,620
 But they were going up against some of the best teams around the southeast and, you know,

349
00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:08,580
 playing against guys that are throwing – you know, throwing 90, you know, plus, you know,

350
00:23:08,660 --> 00:23:10,180
 every single time that they're facing.

351
00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,140
 They're not seeing – you know, so, you know, then they get in the area of play

352
00:23:13,140 --> 00:23:17,320
 and they're in a – you know, not seeing bad teams, but, you know, I remember talking to Coach Phillips.

353
00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:22,860
 He said it was kind of a gesture for us because we've been seeing 90-plus for every game so far

354
00:23:22,860 --> 00:23:24,620
 and then we had some guys that weren't throwing 90.

355
00:23:24,820 --> 00:23:28,040
 So, that just kind of shows you, I mean, that's what they do with their schedule.

356
00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,180
 They stack it and, you know, they may not come out of it with the best record,

357
00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,880
 but now you look at it, they've won 16 games in a row now.

358
00:23:34,340 --> 00:23:36,340
 I mean, you know, so it's obviously paying off.

359
00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,200
 I mean, you know, so – and that's kind of what it was last year.

360
00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:41,780
 They had a pretty good record for the first half of the schedule

361
00:23:41,780 --> 00:23:45,000
 and then they went on and won like 20 in a row and won a state championship.

362
00:23:45,220 --> 00:23:46,520
 And that's kind of the Hartzell formula.

363
00:23:46,940 --> 00:23:49,080
 And right now we're seeing it working again here.

364
00:23:50,060 --> 00:23:53,380
 Yeah, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a repeat of that too,

365
00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:55,260
 winning 20 consecutive games.

366
00:23:55,820 --> 00:24:04,920
 Class 1A, Athens Bible at Huberville because Athens Bible sweeps Skyland 7-1, 4-2.

367
00:24:05,260 --> 00:24:08,860
 Jake Banta tripled and singled.

368
00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:14,680
 Gavin Butler, Chandler James, one of the most underrated teams in North Alabama.

369
00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,140
 Talk about Athens Bible now, 20-11.

370
00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,700
 Yeah, I think underrated is a good way to put it because, you know,

371
00:24:22,860 --> 00:24:27,340
 they kind of share – they share a county with another private school that's in Lindsay Lane

372
00:24:27,340 --> 00:24:30,760
 that's doing a lot of headlines because they're so good, you know, this season

373
00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,040
 and they're usually good every season.

374
00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,040
 But Athens Bible is another one that's just right there every year.

375
00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:40,160
 And, you know, they have guys now that you mentioned Banta, but Luke Myrtle, Butler.

376
00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,500
 I mean, these kids now have been playing for about three years.

377
00:24:43,620 --> 00:24:45,060
 They've kind of been building towards this.

378
00:24:45,180 --> 00:24:48,020
 So it's not a surprise to me to see them in the quarterfinals.

379
00:24:48,540 --> 00:24:51,840
 I think beating Skyline was a heck of a win, especially sweeping them

380
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:56,000
 because I think Skyline has a traditional good 1A power in baseball.

381
00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:57,420
 So I think that was a huge win.

382
00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,220
 And so now they've got a chance to go on to the quarterfinals and, you know,

383
00:25:01,260 --> 00:25:02,200
 go on the road again.

384
00:25:02,380 --> 00:25:03,160
 It's going to be tough.

385
00:25:03,340 --> 00:25:05,580
 And I'm not going to lie, Hoverville's a really good program.

386
00:25:05,740 --> 00:25:09,640
 But, you know, I think when you've got guys that have kind of been, you know,

387
00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,200
 that are juniors now that have been playing for three years, I mean,

388
00:25:12,220 --> 00:25:14,800
 they've kind of been through it and they know what to expect.

389
00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,800
 I mean, this is a program that I think definitely has a chance to keep winning.

390
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,320
 Caleb Suggs to Keter Daily.

391
00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:25,760
 Could it be safely said that maybe this matchup that I'm about to mention here

392
00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,380
 could be one of the headliners not only in our neck of the woods but the state?

393
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,060
 You mentioned Lindsey Lane taking on Mars Hill Bible.

394
00:25:32,780 --> 00:25:34,840
 You talk about two Titans locking horns.

395
00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:35,560
 That is it.

396
00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:39,960
 Yeah, no, I think it's definitely one of the best series in the entire state.

397
00:25:40,340 --> 00:25:40,520
 Yeah.

398
00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:42,220
 Definitely around here.

399
00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:44,060
 Because you look at it, I mean,

400
00:25:44,060 --> 00:25:45,960
 Lindsey Lane is obviously the number one team in 2A.

401
00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:47,960
 They've been kind of a benchmark this year.

402
00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:50,960
 They've won around 30 games, 30 hits or something like that.

403
00:25:51,740 --> 00:25:54,480
 So, you know, they're really good and they've got good pitching.

404
00:25:54,620 --> 00:25:55,080
 They can get.

405
00:25:55,220 --> 00:25:57,100
 So, obviously, you know, they're a favorite.

406
00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:03,000
 If you look at Mars Hill, they've kind of been the standard in 2A for baseball

407
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:03,880
 the last few years.

408
00:26:04,020 --> 00:26:06,360
 I mean, they've been to the state finals, won state championships.

409
00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:11,140
 You know, so even though Lindsey Lane is the number one team, you know,

410
00:26:11,140 --> 00:26:13,500
 going on the road, I feel like, you know,

411
00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,540
 it's kind of like this is the last, you know, obstacle we've got to do.

412
00:26:18,540 --> 00:26:20,080
 If we want to get back to the state finals,

413
00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:21,760
 this is the obstacle we've got to get through.

414
00:26:22,380 --> 00:26:26,300
 And so it may sound weird to say when you're the number one team,

415
00:26:26,340 --> 00:26:28,400
 but I view them as the underdog just going in this

416
00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,460
 because I think Marshall's really good, especially at their place.

417
00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:32,440
 It's going to be really tough.

418
00:26:33,180 --> 00:26:33,820
 I've been there.

419
00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:34,840
 It's a tough place to play.

420
00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:37,180
 So, it's going to be – I think it's going to be a great series.

421
00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:38,460
 I think it's going to be a good three games,

422
00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,640
 and I think it's going to come down to, you know,

423
00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:45,420
 just one of two key plays and maybe, you know, pitching at the end.

424
00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,820
 But I really think whoever wins is going to go on to the state finals

425
00:26:48,820 --> 00:26:51,220
 and, you know, have a really good chance to win a state championship.

426
00:26:51,460 --> 00:26:52,900
 So, this is definitely a huge series.

427
00:26:54,340 --> 00:26:55,860
 I think you're exactly right.

428
00:26:55,860 --> 00:27:01,420
 Lindsey Lane, 32-6 after sweeping Cole Springs, 4-0, 13-3.

429
00:27:01,540 --> 00:27:05,620
 Morris Hill wins game three against Vincent.

430
00:27:06,420 --> 00:27:10,420
 Josh Willingham, of course, is the coach for Morris Hill.

431
00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,020
 We talk about Athens, football and basketball,

432
00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,620
 but East Limestone is another program.

433
00:27:17,740 --> 00:27:19,120
 I've mentioned it to you before.

434
00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:21,540
 In all sports, they're good.

435
00:27:21,540 --> 00:27:26,520
 They're hosting American Christian, East Limestone 25-9,

436
00:27:26,660 --> 00:27:29,320
 American Christian 32-10.

437
00:27:30,340 --> 00:27:34,380
 East Limestone beat Lincoln in three games.

438
00:27:34,580 --> 00:27:37,320
 Your thoughts on this should be a pretty good series, too.

439
00:27:37,420 --> 00:27:40,420
 The Indians hosting American Christian.

440
00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:45,540
 Yeah, I think, no, I think if you look at it, I mean, we talked about it last week.

441
00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:49,760
 I think East Limestone is a fun team to root for because, you know,

442
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:54,560
 you look at what they did in basketball, losing several key guys off last year's team,

443
00:27:54,620 --> 00:27:57,500
 so then they come in this year's team and go even further to go to the lead eight.

444
00:27:57,500 --> 00:28:01,740
 And, you know, a lot of those guys, like I said last week or two weeks ago or whatever it was,

445
00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,960
 a lot of those guys are on the basketball team and are playing for the baseball team.

446
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,860
 So, you know, it's one of those things where you have guys that aren't specialized in sports

447
00:28:08,860 --> 00:28:10,660
 that play multi-sports for their school.

448
00:28:10,860 --> 00:28:16,080
 And I'm always a fan of rooting for teams like that because I think that's the way it should be.

449
00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:23,280
 So, you know, and I think there's a lot of good kids at East Limestone and very underrated sports program.

450
00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,100
 So, you know, what they've done this year has been fantastic.

451
00:28:27,260 --> 00:28:29,080
 It's going to be a tough pass.

452
00:28:29,140 --> 00:28:29,740
 I'm not going to lie.

453
00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:37,040
 No one of the best teams in the state, you know, not just 5A, but the entire state.

454
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,520
 So it's going to be a tough pass to go on there on the road.

455
00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:45,680
 But if they do win, it's obviously going to be, you know, on to have a real good chance to go to state finals.

456
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:50,200
 But even if they don't win, it doesn't take away from what's been a great season for a program.

457
00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:52,320
 Definitely a win-a-block season for them.

458
00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,000
 But that's not me saying that they can't win.

459
00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,800
 But I'm just saying, you know, win or lose, it's been a great season for them.

460
00:28:58,820 --> 00:29:02,060
 Yeah, it's been a great season for a lot of teams in softball.

461
00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:04,460
 We'll be talking about that a lot the next week.

462
00:29:05,100 --> 00:29:10,400
 Austin wins the Class 7A Area 8 softball, beating Bob Jones.

463
00:29:10,660 --> 00:29:16,580
 West Morgan beats Danville to advance to the north region in Florence.

464
00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:18,780
 And congratulations to Athens girls.

465
00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:20,300
 They beat Coleman in soccer.

466
00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:23,740
 They're going to Huntsville, in fact, this week.

467
00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,780
 I know you've got pre-game, post-game.

468
00:29:26,980 --> 00:29:28,980
 You can get it online and in the paper.

469
00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,880
 Where can we get all your great stuff covering preps this week?

470
00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,760
 Yeah, you can get it online at DecaturDaily.com.

471
00:29:36,060 --> 00:29:37,640
 We've already had softball this week.

472
00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,100
 We'll have baseball later, more softball and soccer.

473
00:29:40,100 --> 00:29:44,680
 And it's just a fun ride until we get in a couple more weeks, I guess, until some are brave.

474
00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:46,880
 But we're going to enjoy all the time we have well.

475
00:29:47,940 --> 00:29:48,740
 Hold on.

476
00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:50,580
 The end is near.

477
00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:52,840
 In the meantime, thanks so much for your time today, Caleb.

478
00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:54,260
 Thanks, guys.

479
00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:54,900
 Thanks for having me.

480
00:29:54,980 --> 00:29:55,540
 Thank you, bud.

481
00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:57,760
 Caleb Suggs checking in from the Decatur Daily.

482
00:29:57,860 --> 00:30:01,340
 Time to take a long road trip to the other side of Decatur.

483
00:30:01,420 --> 00:30:02,200
 It's called Las Vegas.

484
00:30:02,500 --> 00:30:03,680
 On deck with Bruce Marshall.

485
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486
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490
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496
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497
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532
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 Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93-9, the score.

533
00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,760
 The Atlanta Braves fell short last night in Seattle.

534
00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:17,880
 They lost to the Mariners 5-4.

535
00:32:18,020 --> 00:32:23,920
 The Braves had nine hits in the loss as the Braves drop to 25-11 on the season.

536
00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,180
 The Braves and Mariners are back at T-Mobile Park tonight.

537
00:32:27,620 --> 00:32:29,540
 Bryce Elder will start for Atlanta.

538
00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:32,380
 He's 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA.

539
00:32:32,900 --> 00:32:35,540
 George Kirby is scheduled to start for the Mariners.

540
00:32:35,900 --> 00:32:39,320
 He's 4-2 with an ERA right at 3.

541
00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:44,020
 In college baseball action tonight, 19th ranked Alabama is on the road to play at Troy.

542
00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,460
 6th ranked Auburn will travel to Birmingham and take on UAB.

543
00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,740
 North Alabama will host Samford and South Alabama.

544
00:32:52,740 --> 00:32:54,920
 He's set to host Alabama State.

545
00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:59,560
 Bundle auto and home, renters or condo, and save with Progressive.

546
00:32:59,700 --> 00:33:05,120
 I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash, presented by Progressive on 93-9, the score.

547
00:33:09,980 --> 00:33:13,840
 The Colonels cooked up a new $10 bucket of the day just for you.

548
00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,040
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549
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550
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 Wednesday, 10 wings for $10.

551
00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:23,340
 Thursday, 8 tenders for $10.

552
00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,140
 Friday, 24 nuggets for...

553
00:33:26,140 --> 00:33:28,020
 Ooh, you guessed it, didn't you?

554
00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:29,240
 $10.

555
00:33:29,860 --> 00:33:32,640
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556
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 Every weekday.

557
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 Only at KFC.

558
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 It's finger-lickin' goo.

559
00:33:36,180 --> 00:33:37,280
 Prices and participation vary.

560
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 Well, supplies last-hand available on third-party ordering platforms.

561
00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:39,760
 Tax extra.

562
00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:43,300
 The score.

563
00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:48,500
 Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93.9, the score.

564
00:33:49,060 --> 00:33:49,740
 Welcome back in.

565
00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:53,140
 Time to head west and say hello to the king of Las Vegas.

566
00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:55,660
 Bruce Marshall, busy there with the Las Vegas Insider.

567
00:33:56,500 --> 00:34:00,860
 Sports.net, CBS Sportsline, Bent Rivers, Vegas Insider.

568
00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,780
 The gold standard in more ways than one.

569
00:34:04,060 --> 00:34:05,140
 Bruce Marshall, welcome in.

570
00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:05,720
 How are you?

571
00:34:06,380 --> 00:34:07,000
 Hey, Harold.

572
00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:07,500
 Pretty good.

573
00:34:07,540 --> 00:34:07,980
 How are you doing?

574
00:34:08,460 --> 00:34:08,740
 You good?

575
00:34:08,820 --> 00:34:09,660
 Yeah, we're doing all right.

576
00:34:09,740 --> 00:34:13,640
 Well, we need to come to you and ask for some enlightenment here.

577
00:34:14,380 --> 00:34:20,680
 Remember when this guy came from Miami to Tuscaloosa for $4 million and people were just saying,

578
00:34:20,860 --> 00:34:21,440
 how in the world?

579
00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:22,920
 This sport's going crazy.

580
00:34:23,020 --> 00:34:25,340
 How can you pay a coach $4 million?

581
00:34:25,980 --> 00:34:34,100
 The reason I bring that up, Bruce, Tennessee just got done signing Duke Harris from Wake Forest

582
00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:36,440
 for a reported $5 million.

583
00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:42,520
 I said Tennessee basketball, not Tennessee football, a player, not a coach.

584
00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,560
 Bruce, welcome to 2026.

585
00:34:47,100 --> 00:34:49,680
 Yeah, how can we explain some of this stuff?

586
00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:55,880
 It's like, you know, there's a bunch of Jimmy Sexton clones running around here being an agent

587
00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:57,060
 for these guys, I guess.

588
00:34:57,300 --> 00:35:00,220
 I don't think Jimmy's involved with some of these basketball guys.

589
00:35:00,340 --> 00:35:00,800
 Maybe he is.

590
00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:04,820
 It's a world that's gone crazy, and you just get the point.

591
00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:13,560
 I mean, Harris is good, but I mean, you know, this is now to the point where there's some

592
00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:19,900
 sort of insanity about it, and I don't know where it stops.

593
00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:21,600
 I mean, where does it stop?

594
00:35:21,780 --> 00:35:23,580
 I mean, this is crazy.

595
00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:26,160
 Tennessee wants to pay that much.

596
00:35:26,420 --> 00:35:26,840
 Let him do it.

597
00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:30,000
 Happy for Duke, but I'm not sure what I think about this if I'm a Tennessee fan.

598
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,820
 What does that say about the sport, though, Bruce?

599
00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:35,060
 I mean, obviously, these programs are finding the money somewhere.

600
00:35:35,260 --> 00:35:38,460
 Have they always had this money, and they just squirreled it away somewhere else?

601
00:35:38,500 --> 00:35:43,320
 Or all of a sudden, have they found the goose that lays the golden egg day after day?

602
00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,600
 Well, here's what I equate it to a little bit.

603
00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:51,480
 I mean, you've probably heard the story about Live Golf here, and the Saudis are, it looks

604
00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:57,660
 like they're getting out of that, and it sort of reminds me of that in a way, and that at

605
00:35:57,660 --> 00:36:01,740
 some point, I mean, well, as far as Live goes, the Saudis realize, you know, this is just

606
00:36:01,740 --> 00:36:04,340
 decorative, and we really didn't, we don't need to do this.

607
00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:11,240
 We're just throwing money out the window, and at some point, the same boosters who are putting

608
00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:18,520
 up this cash, if you're not getting rewarded with something, and there's no equity in this

609
00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:24,980
 for these guys, it's all just decorative, then you wonder, does this continue to come, or

610
00:36:24,980 --> 00:36:29,120
 is there just a new pool of suckers who want to come, and I'll call them that, suckers who

611
00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:35,420
 are throwing this money at these players, but at some point, you've got, you could see

612
00:36:35,420 --> 00:36:43,460
 this whole thing collapsing at some point, and that's when I think, well, go away, though,

613
00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:49,220
 that's, that's, I think there's another step to this, and it may be private equity coming

614
00:36:49,220 --> 00:36:55,340
 in, and they're already talking about that, and then you start talking about giving up part

615
00:36:55,340 --> 00:36:59,320
 of your, you know, ownership in your whole enterprise to do this stuff.

616
00:36:59,780 --> 00:37:04,620
 That's where this is headed, not quite there yet, but I'm afraid that's where, inevitably,

617
00:37:04,820 --> 00:37:05,760
 it might end up going.

618
00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:12,360
 I'll say this about Rick Barnes, he's got this defensive mentality, but he has brought in

619
00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:21,920
 six or seven transfer portal dudes, they average a combined 100 points, Len Bland from Belmont,

620
00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:29,940
 J.D. Ames, Terrence Hill from VCU, Duke Harris from Wake Forest, we'll see what happens, because

621
00:37:29,940 --> 00:37:33,940
 they lost seven or eight players, but I'll tell you one thing, Rick Barnes is taking one

622
00:37:33,940 --> 00:37:36,140
 more big swing before he retires.

623
00:37:37,100 --> 00:37:43,360
 Yes, that sure looks like it, and with help from the boosters here, to pay all these guys,

624
00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,200
 I wonder what Josh Heupel's thinking, I mean, I'm sure they're paying that money to him, but

625
00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:52,140
 I mean, what happened to this supposed 20 million, I mean, that's like way in the rear view mirror.

626
00:37:52,700 --> 00:37:57,220
 Yeah, it looks like he's making one more swing, but boy, it's tough being a college coach now

627
00:37:57,220 --> 00:38:00,840
 to have to go through this every year, and Barnes is sort of fortunate, because he's got,

628
00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:06,620
 he's able to go out there in the market and buy some of these guys, but I mean, every year

629
00:38:06,620 --> 00:38:11,320
 they have to redo this over and over again, my goodness, I mean, it's tough.

630
00:38:12,100 --> 00:38:15,960
 Michael Malone is going to miss being in the NBA, even though he was fired by Denver

631
00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:23,740
 to get this mad, you know, this mad carousel at Carolina, which is, you know, involved in

632
00:38:23,740 --> 00:38:24,800
 the same sort of things, too.

633
00:38:25,580 --> 00:38:27,400
 College hoops, not for the faint of heart.

634
00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:33,140
 Bruce Marshall is the man to go to Vegas and see there at the gold standard.

635
00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:37,760
 Bruce, you can bring up North Carolina, what's going to happen there in football this season.

636
00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:42,160
 Bill Belichick making the rounds at the Kentucky Derby with some candy there.

637
00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:44,840
 What's going to happen to Belichick?

638
00:38:45,620 --> 00:38:48,460
 What's up with New England football coaches, anyway?

639
00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:50,120
 Well, I know.

640
00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:56,460
 I mean, Vrabel's got himself into some hot water here, you know, kind of a humor.

641
00:38:56,460 --> 00:38:59,940
 Do you go to counseling for what, you know, what he did?

642
00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:01,600
 I don't know if that's going to work.

643
00:39:02,780 --> 00:39:04,860
 North Carolina, I thought it was interesting.

644
00:39:04,980 --> 00:39:07,680
 Last year, I mean, there's so much hype and so much talk about Belichick

645
00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:09,600
 until the opening game against TCU.

646
00:39:10,180 --> 00:39:12,560
 And then it sort of stopped for good reason, because we realized, I mean,

647
00:39:12,580 --> 00:39:13,740
 this team's just not that good.

648
00:39:14,420 --> 00:39:17,140
 And we've been hearing stuff out of North Carolina.

649
00:39:17,300 --> 00:39:20,080
 Okay, and the quarterback, Lopez, okay, now I'm getting ready this year.

650
00:39:20,460 --> 00:39:24,820
 I always really, my antenna goes up when I hear that a guy suddenly is getting

651
00:39:24,820 --> 00:39:25,800
 serious about stuff.

652
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:27,760
 Well, you've been in college football a few years.

653
00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:29,080
 You had the new region last year.

654
00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:30,440
 Why weren't you serious last year?

655
00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:34,340
 They were just, they were a mediocre team last year.

656
00:39:34,420 --> 00:39:35,560
 Just completely mediocre.

657
00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:37,660
 There was nothing special about them whatsoever.

658
00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:39,140
 The offense was stagnant.

659
00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:40,940
 They lacked playmakers on defense.

660
00:39:41,180 --> 00:39:43,520
 Yes, maybe he can get a few more guys in there.

661
00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:49,420
 But this looks like an idea that has gone, is going really bad at Carolina.

662
00:39:49,420 --> 00:39:55,840
 And I have a feeling if this doesn't get much better this year, they may, this

663
00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,000
 experiment might end.

664
00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:01,480
 It just looks like it's not going the right way for North Carolina.

665
00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:03,580
 But maybe more painful.

666
00:40:03,700 --> 00:40:06,740
 I mean, people stop talking about Carolina once they realize how bad the team was

667
00:40:06,740 --> 00:40:07,160
 last year.

668
00:40:07,300 --> 00:40:16,720
 In the meantime, Bruce, your thoughts just about the reality of the obvious race in terms of

669
00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:17,160
 conferences.

670
00:40:17,420 --> 00:40:18,900
 We know the SEC had the crown.

671
00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:21,520
 And then over the last few years, people say it's one-off.

672
00:40:21,620 --> 00:40:22,620
 The Big Ten's come on.

673
00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:24,180
 Here's the reason I bring it up.

674
00:40:24,220 --> 00:40:25,580
 I'm looking at some numbers here.

675
00:40:25,620 --> 00:40:27,640
 And you know money better than anybody out in Vegas.

676
00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:34,480
 The Big Ten pays member schools almost a half billion dollars or 72 mil per school.

677
00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,180
 They ain't got a lot of money up there.

678
00:40:37,260 --> 00:40:39,300
 We know what happens if you've got the money and brains.

679
00:40:39,380 --> 00:40:40,240
 That can be destructive.

680
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:43,400
 Your thoughts just going forward as far as the Big Ten and the SEC?

681
00:40:44,620 --> 00:40:45,020
 Yeah.

682
00:40:45,180 --> 00:40:48,100
 I mean, the Big Ten looks like it has sort of just pulled ahead a little bit in the

683
00:40:48,100 --> 00:40:48,640
 money game here.

684
00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:50,420
 But there's still plenty for the SEC to do.

685
00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:53,060
 And that's just from TV distributions and media rights.

686
00:40:53,060 --> 00:40:56,320
 You've still got the booster class and all that who can make up some of the

687
00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:57,420
 difference in the nil market.

688
00:40:57,640 --> 00:40:58,480
 And things like that.

689
00:40:58,700 --> 00:41:00,680
 So there's really not much of a gap.

690
00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:04,760
 It all depends upon the people you have in charge and the people who are pulling

691
00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:05,220
 the levers.

692
00:41:05,740 --> 00:41:07,880
 And it applies to the coaches, too.

693
00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:12,300
 And it applies in the Big Ten because you do have some guys in there who have

694
00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:12,880
 made it work.

695
00:41:13,240 --> 00:41:18,260
 Now, we saw, though, what happened the last two years at Michigan when they didn't

696
00:41:18,260 --> 00:41:19,480
 have the right guy in charge there.

697
00:41:19,980 --> 00:41:23,880
 It can go sour, you know, kind of quickly there.

698
00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:27,280
 And even, you know, Penn State, it fell apart the last year.

699
00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:32,920
 So those are two brand names in the Big Ten that have new coaches coming in this year

700
00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:38,240
 and try to get back up to speed while, you know, Indiana came in there and, you know,

701
00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:42,040
 jumped them in the line and jumped them in the queue with Cignetti.

702
00:41:42,180 --> 00:41:43,500
 But I think that's the key here.

703
00:41:43,640 --> 00:41:48,200
 You've got the money is great and, you know, the media rights are what they are.

704
00:41:48,260 --> 00:41:53,020
 But if you don't have the right coaches in charge and you don't have the right guys pulling

705
00:41:53,020 --> 00:41:57,780
 the levers, you're going to end up, you know, stuck in quicksand.

706
00:41:58,900 --> 00:41:59,340
 Interesting.

707
00:41:59,540 --> 00:42:01,740
 I was in, you know, California the last few days.

708
00:42:01,820 --> 00:42:05,480
 I actually went to UCLA's spring game, if you can call it that, the other day.

709
00:42:05,580 --> 00:42:09,820
 But there was a different attitude you could sense around that with the new coach, Bob

710
00:42:09,820 --> 00:42:11,500
 Chesney, coming in from James Madison.

711
00:42:11,820 --> 00:42:15,340
 So, you know, he might, I'd keep an eye on them because he might make a difference.

712
00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:18,300
 And it still comes down to the guys you've got in charge.

713
00:42:18,300 --> 00:42:22,380
 If you've got the right coach and you've got the right system in place, you can win.

714
00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,800
 But if you don't have that, no matter how much money you've got, it's not going to work.

715
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:33,540
 Kirby Smart was on the Paul Feinbaum show last Wednesday at the Regents Pro-Am and said,

716
00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:39,940
 I still love the SEC championship game, but at some point it's going to go, but by the way,

717
00:42:39,940 --> 00:42:43,780
 the hoolie hoop because of the expansion of the playoffs.

718
00:42:44,020 --> 00:42:51,260
 Do you foresee an announcement this summer, Sankey wants to stay at 16, everybody else wants

719
00:42:51,260 --> 00:42:52,120
 to go to 24?

720
00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:57,660
 Are we going to skate past 16 and go to 24 with an announcement later this year?

721
00:42:58,620 --> 00:43:01,460
 My gut feel is sooner or later, yes.

722
00:43:02,980 --> 00:43:06,240
 Though Sankey's 16 may come first.

723
00:43:07,100 --> 00:43:12,660
 They seem to go in, you know, these stages and that'd be a pretty big leap, although, you

724
00:43:12,660 --> 00:43:14,320
 know, the TV network certainly want it.

725
00:43:14,380 --> 00:43:15,240
 They want more games.

726
00:43:16,180 --> 00:43:18,760
 And in the end, I guess they're going to end up winning.

727
00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:23,720
 Sankey realizes that as much as anybody, but I think he's trying to keep the SEC in a position

728
00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:24,380
 of prominence.

729
00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:28,700
 And he's probably not thrilled if we're going to get more entries in there, if that means

730
00:43:28,700 --> 00:43:31,000
 more schools that don't come from the SEC.

731
00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,620
 I noticed, you know, basketball is going to go to 76, it looks like, and he'll be very

732
00:43:35,620 --> 00:43:38,760
 happy if the SEC keeps it 12, 13 bids.

733
00:43:39,780 --> 00:43:45,220
 But I, that seems like a pretty big, uh, bite there.

734
00:43:45,220 --> 00:43:50,000
 When you go, if you go from 12 to 24, that's in one swoop, I think it's going to get there,

735
00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:52,000
 but I think that's maybe the next step.

736
00:43:52,040 --> 00:43:56,960
 And it sort of depends on the TV networks do it, but I kind of think it goes to 16 first.

737
00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:01,120
 So Sankey will win in the short term, but long term, I think, I think it's going to go

738
00:44:01,120 --> 00:44:02,520
 to 24 or 28.

739
00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:06,500
 Bruce, you know, it's always football season in our neck of the woods.

740
00:44:06,580 --> 00:44:07,920
 It is college football season.

741
00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:11,980
 In your opinion, what is the most intriguing team or program in the country?

742
00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:14,920
 Whether it be SEC, you got to look at Indiana.

743
00:44:15,020 --> 00:44:16,240
 What are they going to do for an encore?

744
00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:18,840
 Can Ohio State, can they take another punch?

745
00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:22,800
 They lost another heavy load in the first round, the first 10 or so picks.

746
00:44:23,180 --> 00:44:25,000
 Of course, Alabama goes without saying.

747
00:44:25,100 --> 00:44:26,520
 Auburn's got a brand new top tiger.

748
00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:31,240
 What is, in your opinion, Bruce, and in Vegas's opinion, maybe the most intriguing storyline

749
00:44:31,240 --> 00:44:32,480
 right now in May?

750
00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:40,840
 Yeah, you could go to a variety of SEC locales, you know, with Alabama and Russell coming in

751
00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:41,140
 in the quarter.

752
00:44:41,240 --> 00:44:42,580
 I mean, there's some things here.

753
00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:45,480
 Auburn's got an interesting storyline with the new coach coming in, goalish.

754
00:44:46,180 --> 00:44:50,000
 But I think, actually, we mentioned Notre Dame a couple weeks ago.

755
00:44:50,460 --> 00:44:56,440
 Miami is interesting because they got all the way to the championship game last year.

756
00:44:56,740 --> 00:44:58,460
 They beat Ohio State in the way.

757
00:44:58,860 --> 00:45:00,540
 So good for them, good for Cristobal.

758
00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:02,420
 It's like he finally has established that.

759
00:45:02,700 --> 00:45:07,220
 But, you know, now Carson Beck has moved out of the NFL, where he may play for the Cardinals

760
00:45:07,220 --> 00:45:07,600
 this year.

761
00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:08,120
 We will see.

762
00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:11,560
 The guard in Darian Mensah, though, from Duke.

763
00:45:11,900 --> 00:45:15,400
 And all Duke did last year is actually win the ACC, believe it or not.

764
00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:16,380
 Miami didn't win the ACC.

765
00:45:16,620 --> 00:45:18,280
 Duke did because they won the championship game.

766
00:45:18,720 --> 00:45:21,260
 So I think that's a really interesting storyline.

767
00:45:21,260 --> 00:45:25,380
 And if Miami can keep this going, I mean, they have worked the portal extremely well.

768
00:45:25,940 --> 00:45:27,600
 Give Cristobal credit for that.

769
00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:31,180
 And there was a real plug-a-war with Mensah getting him out of Duke.

770
00:45:31,760 --> 00:45:36,960
 But a lot of people think, look, they found another quarterback here who can maybe get them

771
00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:37,640
 to the promised land.

772
00:45:37,720 --> 00:45:39,960
 So I think Miami is a very interesting storyline.

773
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:43,640
 Also, I mentioned those two in the Big Ten.

774
00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:47,880
 I know Matt Campbell coming into Penn State.

775
00:45:48,380 --> 00:45:51,820
 But I think this Kyle Whittingham hire at Michigan is really one they're going to watch.

776
00:45:52,380 --> 00:45:58,240
 Because that thing sort of fell apart for some ridiculous reasons there at Michigan the last

777
00:45:58,240 --> 00:45:58,820
 few years.

778
00:45:58,820 --> 00:46:03,780
 So now, I mean, they've brought in, you know, Mr. Clean to sort of clean up the image there.

779
00:46:04,320 --> 00:46:05,800
 And that's good.

780
00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,740
 But they will want to win at Michigan pretty quick.

781
00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:11,080
 Let's see if the Wolverines are ready to do that.

782
00:46:11,200 --> 00:46:15,720
 I think there's a lot of eyes on Kyle Whittingham in a very interesting move, in his last move

783
00:46:15,720 --> 00:46:16,300
 of his career.

784
00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:17,340
 I mean, he's not a young guy.

785
00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:18,960
 And that surprised some people.

786
00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:21,600
 But I think that's the one move a lot of people will look at this fall.

787
00:46:22,600 --> 00:46:25,800
 You mentioned attending the UCLA spring game.

788
00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:31,460
 And you also went to a USC regular season game, met with the quarterback's dad.

789
00:46:32,300 --> 00:46:35,800
 Lincoln Riley had the number one recruiting class last year.

790
00:46:36,480 --> 00:46:41,260
 And the defense seems to be getting a little bit better as he brought some coaches in.

791
00:46:41,880 --> 00:46:49,060
 Is this finally the year that they make a step up to a top five, top eight team?

792
00:46:49,520 --> 00:46:50,820
 Your thoughts on USC?

793
00:46:51,640 --> 00:46:54,540
 Well, if it's not, I think Riley's got a lot to answer for.

794
00:46:54,540 --> 00:46:57,460
 Because they've been kind of spinning their wheels their last couple of years.

795
00:46:57,640 --> 00:47:04,700
 The last we saw them, they were blowing that game to TCU in the Alamo Bowl last December.

796
00:47:05,080 --> 00:47:07,680
 So there's some people getting a little antsy there.

797
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:11,920
 There's a new school president and a new AD at USC since he was hired.

798
00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:14,420
 And you mentioned that with the recruits.

799
00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:16,280
 Yeah, they're in there.

800
00:47:16,900 --> 00:47:19,540
 And he did his coordinator.

801
00:47:19,860 --> 00:47:22,580
 Dan Tunnelin moved to the defensive coordinator and moved to the NFL.

802
00:47:23,740 --> 00:47:26,360
 So he does have a new defensive coordinator in there.

803
00:47:27,120 --> 00:47:30,960
 That's gotten a little better the last couple of years, but still not up to championship level.

804
00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:35,740
 I think the pressure's on him this year to get something done.

805
00:47:36,200 --> 00:47:41,080
 And like you said, I think it's playoffs or bust for USC if they're not there.

806
00:47:41,700 --> 00:47:43,260
 Riley is still marketable enough.

807
00:47:43,380 --> 00:47:45,800
 I mean, there's been talk about him going to the NFL at some point.

808
00:47:45,900 --> 00:47:47,040
 That still might be on the table.

809
00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:51,440
 He's expressed, you know, his old alma mater, Texas Tech.

810
00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:52,700
 Now they're not making a change soon.

811
00:47:52,840 --> 00:47:55,860
 But he won't have any shortage of suitors.

812
00:47:56,220 --> 00:47:57,740
 I think it's a big year for him at USC.

813
00:47:57,860 --> 00:47:58,280
 It really is.

814
00:47:59,160 --> 00:48:01,720
 Bruce Marshall, the gold standard in Vegas.

815
00:48:01,860 --> 00:48:02,880
 Let's talk a little baseball.

816
00:48:03,100 --> 00:48:07,200
 First of all, is Vegas, are they buying or selling on the Braves?

817
00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:09,420
 We know it's still a long way to go in the season.

818
00:48:09,580 --> 00:48:11,100
 Nobody's doing it better right now.

819
00:48:11,220 --> 00:48:14,060
 Carly Simon and the Braves to date.

820
00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:17,960
 Your thoughts about that and a team near and dear to your friends there in Vegas.

821
00:48:17,960 --> 00:48:19,260
 How about those athletics?

822
00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:25,560
 From worst to first, they lead the AL West, although it was an 18-16 record,

823
00:48:26,140 --> 00:48:29,780
 and against a team that the Braves had problems with last night, the Mariners.

824
00:48:29,880 --> 00:48:32,440
 But your thoughts about the Braves and how about the A's?

825
00:48:33,440 --> 00:48:38,600
 Well, yeah, I mean, the Braves right now, and I think they have been helped by the fact

826
00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:42,240
 the Phillies, who have made a managerial change in the Mets, who didn't,

827
00:48:42,340 --> 00:48:45,640
 but at least yet, have had such slow starts.

828
00:48:45,640 --> 00:48:47,780
 Now, the Phillies are rallying a bit for Mattingly,

829
00:48:48,220 --> 00:48:54,100
 and maybe the Mets, they've won three or four now, with Mendoza on the hot seat.

830
00:48:54,540 --> 00:48:58,820
 But they are still so far behind, and the Braves have got off to such a big lead there.

831
00:48:59,320 --> 00:49:00,420
 That's a huge advantage.

832
00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:04,020
 So I think as long as they don't have injury issues there,

833
00:49:04,340 --> 00:49:06,800
 and everybody else in the NL East is struggling,

834
00:49:07,660 --> 00:49:11,400
 the Braves have a clear path, and you can see that right now.

835
00:49:11,480 --> 00:49:14,000
 I mean, that's a lot of ground the Phillies and Mets have to make up,

836
00:49:14,120 --> 00:49:16,020
 and the Mets, I was watching them.

837
00:49:16,120 --> 00:49:18,380
 I actually was out, I watched them against the Angels in the Mets.

838
00:49:18,460 --> 00:49:20,980
 That lineup's not that good with some of these guys hurt right now.

839
00:49:21,920 --> 00:49:26,640
 The A's are very interesting because, much like the Braves in the NL East,

840
00:49:26,800 --> 00:49:29,200
 the AOS looks kind of weak this year.

841
00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:32,140
 Houston is down, Seattle is struggling, the Angels are terrible,

842
00:49:32,680 --> 00:49:34,220
 and I'm not sure what to make about Texas.

843
00:49:34,360 --> 00:49:35,500
 So it's right there for the A's.

844
00:49:35,900 --> 00:49:36,520
 It's interesting.

845
00:49:36,700 --> 00:49:39,100
 You know, three years ago, this team won 50 games.

846
00:49:39,780 --> 00:49:42,500
 And also, by the way, last year, I mean, two years ago,

847
00:49:42,540 --> 00:49:44,760
 the White Sox won only 41 games.

848
00:49:45,320 --> 00:49:47,380
 Yet here we are in 2026.

849
00:49:48,100 --> 00:49:51,840
 The A's are now better than a lot of those teams in the West.

850
00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:53,900
 Everybody in the West just took them a few years,

851
00:49:53,980 --> 00:49:57,580
 and the White Sox are better than teams like the Angels.

852
00:49:57,700 --> 00:49:59,440
 So things can turn around pretty quick.

853
00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:02,440
 By the way, one other note, Tarek Skubal's injury,

854
00:50:03,060 --> 00:50:08,540
 first of all, takes him out of the Detroit rotation maybe until September

855
00:50:08,540 --> 00:50:11,200
 or certainly until after the All-Star break.

856
00:50:11,560 --> 00:50:13,660
 That changes the AL Central somewhat.

857
00:50:13,780 --> 00:50:17,300
 It also changes the AL Cy Young race.

858
00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:19,760
 I've got a guy to watch here, a long shot.

859
00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:22,680
 Davis Martin of the White Sox.

860
00:50:23,520 --> 00:50:25,100
 I watched him again last night.

861
00:50:25,160 --> 00:50:26,160
 He just toyed with the Angels.

862
00:50:26,160 --> 00:50:28,800
 Now he's not going to play against the Angels all the time.

863
00:50:29,260 --> 00:50:30,620
 But look at the numbers he's putting up.

864
00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:32,520
 This is a much better team, the White Sox,

865
00:50:32,600 --> 00:50:34,700
 and I think the AL Cy Young race is wide open.

866
00:50:35,140 --> 00:50:38,440
 You get a really fat price on that guy to win it.

867
00:50:38,540 --> 00:50:40,180
 I think that may be worth a flyer.

868
00:50:40,580 --> 00:50:44,740
 You're such a historian in so many sports.

869
00:50:44,900 --> 00:50:47,180
 Baseball lost an icon yesterday.

870
00:50:47,440 --> 00:50:51,560
 And John Sterling played by the Yankees and the Braves.

871
00:50:51,900 --> 00:50:53,300
 Were you a fan of John's?

872
00:50:54,740 --> 00:51:02,100
 Yes, I was, and I got to listen to him only occasionally because I wasn't in the East that much.

873
00:51:02,860 --> 00:51:10,260
 But once he could get the Yankees on a serious, until a couple years ago, because I guess 2024 was his last year.

874
00:51:10,320 --> 00:51:12,560
 I enjoyed him and the Yankees winning and all that.

875
00:51:12,680 --> 00:51:15,500
 And he was colorful because he had all his phrases.

876
00:51:15,660 --> 00:51:17,720
 The guys who had homers, he had different things for them.

877
00:51:18,420 --> 00:51:19,240
 Very colorful.

878
00:51:19,800 --> 00:51:26,980
 And I listen to a lot of these guys now, and a lot of them sound not bad, but I mean, there's very few of these guys with real personalities.

879
00:51:27,520 --> 00:51:28,180
 Cookie cutters.

880
00:51:28,680 --> 00:51:28,840
 Yep.

881
00:51:29,180 --> 00:51:30,180
 Yeah, they're cookie cutters.

882
00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:31,320
 Sterling had a personality.

883
00:51:32,220 --> 00:51:32,960
 He'll be missed.

884
00:51:33,520 --> 00:51:37,460
 And I guess he hadn't been doing the Yankees for a couple years and then sadly passed.

885
00:51:37,740 --> 00:51:41,580
 But, you know, I wish there were more guys like him who were kind of colorful.

886
00:51:42,000 --> 00:51:45,260
 There just aren't as many as those play-by-play guys like that anymore.

887
00:51:46,340 --> 00:51:49,340
 Well, I wish there were more guys like Bruce Marshall.

888
00:51:50,300 --> 00:51:53,400
 We always thoroughly enjoy the conversation.

889
00:51:53,660 --> 00:51:56,160
 A lot of stuff going on entering May.

890
00:51:56,920 --> 00:52:00,160
 The gold standard, the gold sheet, Wager Talk.

891
00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:02,600
 Where can we get online to get all the great stuff?

892
00:52:03,320 --> 00:52:04,160
 Yeah, Brett, thanks.

893
00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:06,940
 My stuff, all is under the WagerTalk.com umbrella.

894
00:52:07,120 --> 00:52:07,940
 That's gold sheet, too.

895
00:52:08,000 --> 00:52:10,520
 We'll get some more of that coming up towards football season.

896
00:52:10,620 --> 00:52:13,520
 But right now, we've also got WagerTalk.com.

897
00:52:13,560 --> 00:52:14,880
 All my picks have a really good run.

898
00:52:14,960 --> 00:52:16,660
 NBA, baseball's going really good.

899
00:52:16,740 --> 00:52:17,160
 NHL.

900
00:52:17,880 --> 00:52:21,200
 And also Winners and Winers and picksandparlays.com.

901
00:52:21,260 --> 00:52:21,880
 But it's all there.

902
00:52:22,300 --> 00:52:24,240
 And picks also at WagerTalk.com.

903
00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:27,420
 Speaking of baseball, always a home run, Bruce.

904
00:52:27,420 --> 00:52:29,560
 Keep it up, and thanks so much for your time today.

905
00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:30,840
 Thank you, gentlemen.

906
00:52:31,380 --> 00:52:32,000
 Thank you, bud.

907
00:52:32,180 --> 00:52:36,240
 Bruce Marshall's gold standard Vegas from baseball to softball.

908
00:52:36,340 --> 00:52:39,140
 Now final Auburn sixth, Missouri two.

909
00:52:39,860 --> 00:52:43,960
 First win in the SEC tournament for the Auburn Tigers softball team since 2023.

910
00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:49,240
 They will now take on Texas A&M in the Bank Internet special again tomorrow morning,

911
00:52:49,340 --> 00:52:52,260
 starting at 10 o'clock hour time up in Kentucky.

912
00:52:52,640 --> 00:52:55,020
 Coming up in the next hour, we'll take you to Kentucky.

913
00:52:55,020 --> 00:52:56,120
 Speaking with Joe Cox.

914
00:52:56,200 --> 00:52:58,720
 He's going to cover the entire SEC on Saturday down south.

915
00:52:58,860 --> 00:53:00,700
 Andrew Adelson from ESPN.

916
00:53:01,420 --> 00:53:05,220
 And Coach Josh Feller from Central Florence High.

917
00:53:05,300 --> 00:53:06,000
 It's all straight ahead.

918
00:53:06,080 --> 00:53:06,680
 Stay with us.

919
00:53:06,680 --> 00:53:15,100
 Hello, I'm Eddie Buckley, president of Certified Alarm.

920
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 No matter where travels take you, Certified Alarm will help you be worry-free.

921
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 Our security systems have all the latest technological features.

922
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 Certified Alarm has North Alabama's only UL-listed central station.

923
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 Our Halo Alarm transmitters give the fastest and most secure monitoring available.

924
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 Certified Alarm since 1960, keeping the Shoals secure and in touch.

925
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 Call 256-383-1225 or online at Certified-Alarm.com.

926
00:53:44,340 --> 00:53:48,000
 T-Mobile has an exclusive bundle for customers 55 and up.

927
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 I'm Sarah Bull.

928
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 Yeah, I'm Frank Bull.

929
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 A reliable network is key for us.

930
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 And with T-Mobile, it's been wonderful.

931
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 And going to the 55 Plus plan saved us so much money.

932
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 A lot.

933
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 And that's important.

934
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 Trying to keep costs down.

935
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 The home internet's been perfect.

936
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 It's fast.

937
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 It's quick.

938
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 The setup was so easy.

939
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 It took less than 15 minutes.

940
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 It was like, ta-da!

941
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 If you want simplicity, coverage, reliability, you want the whole package, T-Mobile has it.

942
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 Right now, T-Mobile customers 55 and up can get two phone lines on America's best network.

943
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 Plus, America's fastest 5G home internet for just $30 each.

944
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 $30 per month each line with auto pay plus taxes and fees.

945
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 Minimum age 55.

946
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 Pricing for home internet.

947
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 Rely in two lines of essentials.

948
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 Choice 55.

949
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 $35 connection charge per line required.

950
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 Best mobile network and fastest 5G home internet based on analysis by Okla of Speedtest Intelligence

951
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 Data 2H 2025.

952
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 All rights reserved.

953
00:54:44,020 --> 00:54:45,280
 My dad passed away unexpectedly.

954
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 Of course, it was awful in every way.

955
00:54:46,840 --> 00:54:49,660
 But we are very grateful that he had life insurance.

956
00:54:49,940 --> 00:54:53,060
 So even after he was gone, he was still able to provide for us.

957
00:54:53,260 --> 00:54:55,300
 And that's why I have life insurance for my family.

958
00:54:55,620 --> 00:54:56,700
 Ethos.com.

959
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 They make it fast and easy to get covered.

960
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 It's 100% online.

961
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 You get a quote in seconds.

962
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 You can apply in minutes.

963
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 You get covered the same day.

964
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 Get your free quote at ethos.com slash game.

965
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 That's ethos.com slash game.

966
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967
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 Time spent on application may vary.

968
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 Online health questions required.

969
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 Rates may vary.

970
00:55:15,840 --> 00:55:33,680
 Montgomery lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow for special primary elections to be held for two state Senate districts in the Montgomery area if the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals permits Alabama to use a previously approved Senate redistricting plan for these upcoming elections.

971
00:55:33,680 --> 00:55:41,040
 State Senator Chris Elliott is the one who offered the bill on Monday on the first day of a special legislative session that was called by the governor.

972
00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:51,760
 This bill would allow for the governor to call a special primary for Senate districts 25 and 26 if a court ruling does come out, but it's after this upcoming normal primary election.

973
00:55:52,120 --> 00:56:02,960
 Elliott said the bill preserves Alabama's option to return to maps that were passed by the state legislature, which occurred before District Judge Anna Monasco ordered that those two Senate districts be redrawn.

974
00:56:02,960 --> 00:56:05,520
 I'll be back with more Alabama stories after this.

975
00:56:05,520 --> 00:56:13,020
 Some of the greatest blessings is just having the people that care about you, to have someone that's just going to love you and make you feel important.

976
00:56:13,380 --> 00:56:15,060
 They encourage you to be in church.

977
00:56:15,200 --> 00:56:16,200
 They encourage you to be in prayer.

978
00:56:16,300 --> 00:56:18,020
 They encourage you to be in your Bible.

979
00:56:18,540 --> 00:56:20,760
 Now it's a part of my day every day.

980
00:56:21,180 --> 00:56:28,160
 My house parents planted seeds in me that you can see where those seeds have sprouted in my life and helped change my life.

981
00:56:28,980 --> 00:56:32,400
 Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children needing a chance.

982
00:56:33,580 --> 00:56:38,560
 New leadership is now running the Pine Rest Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Foley.

983
00:56:38,900 --> 00:56:45,900
 1819 News reported on a series of customer complaints claiming that they have never received the headstones that they paid in full four.

984
00:56:46,180 --> 00:56:50,640
 The former manager of that Pine Rest Funeral Home, Tim Street, is no longer in charge.

985
00:56:50,900 --> 00:56:53,800
 New management says they are working on completing these headstone orders.

986
00:56:54,520 --> 00:56:58,380
 A family of three in the town of Clay was able to escape a house fire with their lives.

987
00:56:58,460 --> 00:57:02,780
 The family was able to get out of the blaze after a smoke detector went off and woke them up.

988
00:57:02,900 --> 00:57:04,240
 The house is totally destroyed.

989
00:57:04,640 --> 00:57:05,340
 I'm Andrea Tux.

990
00:57:05,340 --> 00:57:09,940
 For more news affecting Alabamians, go to 1819news.com.

991
00:57:10,120 --> 00:57:12,940
 And while you're there, subscribe to the daily newsletter.

992
00:57:15,160 --> 00:57:17,420
 Alabama's beauty belongs to all of us.

993
00:57:17,920 --> 00:57:19,960
 And keeping it that way starts with you.

994
00:57:20,600 --> 00:57:26,220
 Participate in an Alabama Pals project and help people against a littered state make a lasting impact.

995
00:57:26,880 --> 00:57:29,420
 Teach litter prevention through our Clean Campus program.

996
00:57:30,120 --> 00:57:34,880
 You can request school visits, supplies, and participate in the annual Clean Campus contest.

997
00:57:35,440 --> 00:57:42,880
 In April, join thousands of volunteers in all 67 counties for Don't Drop It on Alabama, our statewide spring cleanup.

998
00:57:43,520 --> 00:57:47,920
 And mark your calendars for this year's coastal cleanup on Saturday, September 19th.

999
00:57:48,580 --> 00:57:52,520
 Help protect our shorelines during the state's largest one-day volunteer event.

1000
00:57:53,740 --> 00:57:55,640
 Together, we're making a difference.

1001
00:57:56,660 --> 00:57:59,560
 Visit alpals.org to register today.

1002
00:58:00,540 --> 00:58:02,460
 That's alpals.org.

1003
00:58:03,740 --> 00:58:11,120
 Sponsored by Alabama People Against a Littered State, ALDOT, the Alabama Broadcasters Association, and this station.

1004
00:58:14,740 --> 00:58:18,580
 Did you know VA home loans are a key to home ownership for those who served?

1005
00:58:18,980 --> 00:58:21,900
 It was a personal goal of mine to try and purchase a home before the age of 30.

1006
00:58:22,200 --> 00:58:24,760
 I do remember the first moment I walked into my home.

1007
00:58:24,880 --> 00:58:26,300
 I remember that real clearly, actually.

1008
00:58:26,500 --> 00:58:29,940
 I walked in, and I could hear my footsteps echo off the back wall.

1009
00:58:30,380 --> 00:58:33,420
 And the first thing I thought in my head was, man, furniture is going to be real expensive.

1010
00:58:33,740 --> 00:58:37,940
 The VA not requiring any down payment prior to buying the home is actually really beneficial

1011
00:58:37,940 --> 00:58:44,300
 because it allowed me to take that money I had budgeted to go out and buy furniture, food, cleaning supplies, pretty much everything I needed.

1012
00:58:44,600 --> 00:58:46,620
 Using the loan itself wasn't too complicated.

1013
00:58:46,880 --> 00:58:53,120
 It's very user-friendly, and the VA was really helpful showing me what I needed to do and how I would go about it.

1014
00:58:53,740 --> 00:58:54,960
 Purchasing a home is scary.

1015
00:58:55,180 --> 00:58:56,240
 There's a lot of moving parts.

1016
00:58:56,440 --> 00:58:59,020
 There's a lot of things that are new to you and that you won't understand.

1017
00:58:59,500 --> 00:59:03,240
 But ultimately, it's not impossible, and they make it so that anybody can do it.

1018
00:59:03,500 --> 00:59:04,720
 I'm extremely glad I did it.

1019
00:59:04,820 --> 00:59:07,240
 It was one of the best things I could have done for myself, I think.

1020
00:59:07,900 --> 00:59:13,040
 To learn more about VA home loans, visit va.gov forward slash home loans.

1021
00:59:16,640 --> 00:59:24,880
 Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shores, Sports Radio 93.9, The Score.

1022
00:59:26,220 --> 00:59:33,260
 27 tournament trips, five journeys to Omaha, 72 major leaguers.

1023
00:59:33,520 --> 00:59:36,480
 It's good to be a Bama baseball fanatic.

1024
00:59:36,700 --> 00:59:39,000
 Swing and a fly ball lifted high in the air.

1025
00:59:39,260 --> 00:59:40,240
 Deep left field.

1026
00:59:40,500 --> 00:59:44,920
 A go-ahead do-run homer over the high left field wall at Auburn.

1027
00:59:45,240 --> 00:59:51,080
 Alabama's favorite pass time plays right here on your home for Alabama baseball.

1028
00:59:51,440 --> 00:59:54,360
 The Crimson Tide Sports Network from Learfield.

1029
00:59:55,060 --> 00:59:58,460
 This week, Alabama goes on the road to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks.

1030
00:59:58,620 --> 01:00:02,960
 Airtime Saturday is 11.45 with the first pitch at noon here on 93.9, The Score.

1031
01:00:03,460 --> 01:00:05,920
 Everybody, Bill King, Bill King, show, listen to me.

1032
01:00:05,920 --> 01:00:13,680
 9 until noon, 93.9, The Score, Monday through Friday as we talk college football like nobody else does.

1033
01:00:13,820 --> 01:00:15,160
 Because he listens in Florence.

1034
01:00:15,300 --> 01:00:17,300
 Our show's, Charlie, our show's on down there.

1035
01:00:17,780 --> 01:00:21,040
 Bill King, show, Monday through Friday, 9 until noon.

1036
01:00:21,260 --> 01:00:23,820
 Every league, every big topic is covered.

1037
01:00:24,120 --> 01:00:25,160
 93.9, The Score.

1038
01:00:25,960 --> 01:00:28,200
 93.9, The Score weather.

1039
01:00:28,560 --> 01:00:32,420
 Today, a 30% chance of midday showers with a high around 75.

1040
01:00:33,360 --> 01:00:38,120
 Tonight, mostly cloudy with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight with a low near 65.

1041
01:00:39,200 --> 01:00:42,620
 Tomorrow, showers and possibly a thunderstorm with a high around 75.

1042
01:00:43,500 --> 01:00:47,820
 Tomorrow night, mostly cloudy with a 90% chance of showers overnight and a low near 55.

1043
01:00:48,680 --> 01:00:53,740
 And for your Thursday, mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of afternoon showers and a high around 70.

1044
01:00:54,180 --> 01:00:56,820
 Your weather from 93.9, The Score.

1045
01:00:57,720 --> 01:01:06,440
 Now, get ready to roll, Shoals, Decatur, Athens, and all of northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee.

1046
01:01:07,100 --> 01:01:10,440
 It's time for the Valley's exclusive FM Sports Voice.

1047
01:01:13,440 --> 01:01:15,720
 The Boomo Bugg Show.

1048
01:01:16,280 --> 01:01:21,500
 Your exclusive inside track to the Tide, Tigers, Tennessee, and the rest of the SEC.

1049
01:01:22,320 --> 01:01:27,720
 Now, your host, Harold Bugg on 93.9, The Score.

1050
01:01:28,760 --> 01:01:30,840
 Welcome back in, hour two to the Boomo Bugg Show.

1051
01:01:30,940 --> 01:01:32,620
 I'm Harold Bugg, alongside Brett Beaird.

1052
01:01:32,720 --> 01:01:35,640
 Thank you so much for giving us a free ride around the Tennessee band.

1053
01:01:35,640 --> 01:01:41,640
 And one of the little known facts, BB, you cannot spell ESPN without two A's.

1054
01:01:41,720 --> 01:01:42,400
 Did you know that?

1055
01:01:42,600 --> 01:01:43,400
 That's correct.

1056
01:01:43,980 --> 01:01:46,580
 Andrea Adelson checking in from ESPN.

1057
01:01:46,700 --> 01:01:47,760
 Double A, welcome in.

1058
01:01:47,820 --> 01:01:48,320
 How are you?

1059
01:01:49,320 --> 01:01:50,820
 Oh, I'm doing great, fellas.

1060
01:01:50,900 --> 01:01:51,680
 How are y'all doing?

1061
01:01:52,220 --> 01:01:52,520
 Good.

1062
01:01:52,560 --> 01:01:53,620
 Well, we have a question.

1063
01:01:53,880 --> 01:01:54,240
 Yeah.

1064
01:01:56,980 --> 01:02:00,740
 Andrea, have you got your itinerary plan for your girls?

1065
01:02:00,860 --> 01:02:02,120
 They're about to get out of school.

1066
01:02:02,120 --> 01:02:05,240
 Have you got the detail itinerary plan?

1067
01:02:05,360 --> 01:02:07,980
 Because as I say on the straight corner, the end is near.

1068
01:02:09,000 --> 01:02:10,200
 Yeah, the end is near.

1069
01:02:10,440 --> 01:02:15,360
 And, fellas, I have got a daughter graduating high school.

1070
01:02:15,860 --> 01:02:16,120
 No!

1071
01:02:17,260 --> 01:02:18,020
 I know.

1072
01:02:18,220 --> 01:02:22,580
 It's hard to believe because I sound like I can't be a day over 25, right?

1073
01:02:22,960 --> 01:02:25,320
 I was thinking 24, but if you say so.

1074
01:02:25,820 --> 01:02:26,320
 That's okay.

1075
01:02:26,460 --> 01:02:27,760
 You know, I appreciate that.

1076
01:02:27,760 --> 01:02:40,080
 But, yes, the time has come for our dear oldest daughter to have all the pomp and circumstance and move on to great college.

1077
01:02:40,540 --> 01:02:41,720
 And we're very proud of her.

1078
01:02:41,920 --> 01:02:49,080
 But, yes, you know, I can't think about it because if I think about it, I need a box of tissues to help me make it through the day.

1079
01:02:49,460 --> 01:02:52,800
 But, you know, she's great and we're proud.

1080
01:02:53,100 --> 01:02:58,880
 But, yes, she's going to have a busy summer working, fellas, because she needs to save up some money for college.

1081
01:02:58,960 --> 01:02:59,760
 You know what I'm saying.

1082
01:03:01,240 --> 01:03:03,040
 Yeah, I got that same memo.

1083
01:03:03,180 --> 01:03:04,380
 A lot of us did years ago.

1084
01:03:04,480 --> 01:03:06,520
 So, some things have never changed.

1085
01:03:06,740 --> 01:03:13,000
 But, you know, speaking of that, even as we speak, the SEC baseball or softball tournament is underway up in Kentucky.

1086
01:03:13,100 --> 01:03:15,020
 Auburn, pressure knocking off Missouri.

1087
01:03:15,140 --> 01:03:20,900
 The reason we bring that up, if you've ever watched a softball game, it's contagious, is it not?

1088
01:03:20,980 --> 01:03:22,580
 It's a whole different vibe.

1089
01:03:22,680 --> 01:03:23,760
 Guys are getting a dugout.

1090
01:03:23,860 --> 01:03:24,440
 They're serious.

1091
01:03:24,560 --> 01:03:26,040
 They're over there doing this and doing that.

1092
01:03:26,420 --> 01:03:28,240
 The girls, they've got their hats turned around.

1093
01:03:28,400 --> 01:03:29,140
 They're dancing.

1094
01:03:29,960 --> 01:03:33,560
 And the other side of that, the people really get – we asked this question earlier.

1095
01:03:34,040 --> 01:03:39,680
 The people in our neck of the woods give people like Pat Murphy enough credit for putting Alabama softball firmly on the map.

1096
01:03:40,680 --> 01:03:41,860
 No doubt about that.

1097
01:03:41,860 --> 01:03:49,420
 I think earlier today was at the Mizzou softball team was eating popcorn, and they've got something about popcorn in their dugout that I was watching earlier.

1098
01:03:49,700 --> 01:03:52,080
 But, yeah, you're absolutely right.

1099
01:03:52,720 --> 01:03:55,620
 I'm actually going to be doing a little bit of softball coverage for us.

1100
01:03:55,680 --> 01:03:59,780
 You guys know I've done that off and on over the years for ESPN.

1101
01:04:00,400 --> 01:04:02,120
 And you're absolutely right.

1102
01:04:02,200 --> 01:04:10,440
 In the years I've been doing this, the standard has been Alabama or Florida, quite frankly, in the SEC.

1103
01:04:10,440 --> 01:04:19,240
 And the fact that they're ranked, what, top three right now, continue to do a phenomenal job with that program.

1104
01:04:19,700 --> 01:04:31,260
 Even in this new era where it's a lot harder because of NIL and other programs out there that are, you know, going out and spending money on rosters.

1105
01:04:31,900 --> 01:04:46,320
 The fact that they've got this consistency with Pat, the fact that they continue to have elite pitching staff, the fact that they continue to put themselves in position year after year to make return trips to Oklahoma City is simply outstanding.

1106
01:04:46,880 --> 01:04:52,560
 And truly, it's one of the most consistent programs in college softball.

1107
01:04:53,020 --> 01:04:57,360
 And looking forward to seeing whether these young ladies can make a run this year.

1108
01:04:58,400 --> 01:05:03,720
 Let me ask you about a school we've talked about with you for years, and that's Virginia Tech.

1109
01:05:04,240 --> 01:05:06,340
 There are a lot of alumni in North Alabama.

1110
01:05:06,520 --> 01:05:09,780
 Hokey Tiger Mike's one of our favorite listeners.

1111
01:05:10,580 --> 01:05:17,600
 Long-time athletic director, Whit Babcock, announced recently his upcoming retirement.

1112
01:05:18,440 --> 01:05:20,820
 James Franklin is now in the house.

1113
01:05:21,020 --> 01:05:29,680
 Virginia Tech also announced $230 million investment, primarily in football, over four years.

1114
01:05:30,320 --> 01:05:32,160
 It's amazing to me, AA.

1115
01:05:32,880 --> 01:05:39,400
 Virginia Tech has had one, one 10-win season since 2012.

1116
01:05:39,860 --> 01:05:40,180
 Wow.

1117
01:05:40,180 --> 01:05:42,700
 Zero ACC championships.

1118
01:05:43,360 --> 01:05:46,900
 AA, it's time for a reboot at Virginia Tech.

1119
01:05:47,020 --> 01:05:53,400
 Yeah, there's no doubt about that, and a shout-out to Hokey Tiger Mike for all the years of listening.

1120
01:05:54,560 --> 01:05:56,780
 Look, this is not a surprise.

1121
01:05:57,020 --> 01:06:07,020
 I think that a lot of people thought that this would be coming for Whit Babcock, and I think it's time for an overall athletic department reset.

1122
01:06:07,020 --> 01:06:14,380
 And quite frankly, there's going to be a university reset because their president announced last month he would be stepping down.

1123
01:06:14,920 --> 01:06:24,460
 One of the interesting things here, right, is Whit Babcock was obviously very involved in getting James Franklin to come to Virginia Tech, and so was President Sands.

1124
01:06:24,460 --> 01:06:35,340
 But, you know, since essentially September, there's been this urgency to get Virginia Tech athletics, but football in particular, right.

1125
01:06:35,840 --> 01:06:45,060
 And a lot of it is driven by the fact that this era that we're in can easily leave programs even more far behind than they already were.

1126
01:06:45,460 --> 01:06:47,320
 And Virginia Tech's been behind, right?

1127
01:06:47,320 --> 01:06:55,760
 And one of the things that James Franklin told us when we visited there last month was, it's hard to catch up with teams that already have a 12-year head start on you.

1128
01:06:55,920 --> 01:06:57,600
 And that's exactly what has happened.

1129
01:06:57,800 --> 01:07:08,680
 You know, Virginia Tech did not want to invest because they wanted to continue to do things the way Frank Beamer did them, ignoring the fact that in the last years under Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech wasn't very good.

1130
01:07:08,740 --> 01:07:20,240
 And there was a reason why they had to make that transition, but even under Justin Fuente and then Brent Pryde, there wasn't the investment in football that other programs around them were making.

1131
01:07:20,420 --> 01:07:28,700
 And suddenly, you're looking at all the teams around the country, NIL and Reds there, and you're like, wait a minute, like, where do we rank?

1132
01:07:28,860 --> 01:07:35,300
 Oh, we rank near the bottom of our own conference, which isn't even among the best in the entire country, right?

1133
01:07:35,660 --> 01:07:38,200
 So that's why since September, there's been this urgency.

1134
01:07:38,360 --> 01:07:40,220
 That's why they poured more of the money in.

1135
01:07:40,260 --> 01:07:47,980
 And because Whit Babcock was the leader while Virginia Tech was being left behind, there was the thought that, okay, we need to make a change here.

1136
01:07:48,420 --> 01:07:50,200
 James Franklin knows what it looks like.

1137
01:07:50,420 --> 01:07:51,380
 Coming from Penn State.

1138
01:07:51,820 --> 01:08:01,060
 So I think at least from that vantage point, they're going to know exactly what they have to do to be able to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak.

1139
01:08:01,060 --> 01:08:10,820
 The question is, is going to be making sure they've got that same alignment, wants to hire the new president and the athletic director to make sure they're all on the same page with James Franklin.

1140
01:08:11,660 --> 01:08:15,040
 Hokey Tiger, Matt, we totally agree with that, I guarantee you.

1141
01:08:15,040 --> 01:08:19,280
 Andrea, speaking of that, what's, in your opinion, let's say that neck of the woods in general,

1142
01:08:19,360 --> 01:08:20,820
 what's the most intriguing story?

1143
01:08:20,960 --> 01:08:23,940
 James Franklin coming down with his name, Brand, from Penn State.

1144
01:08:25,220 --> 01:08:27,360
 A guy by the name of Dabo down at Clemson.

1145
01:08:27,540 --> 01:08:30,780
 And, oh, what was that guy's name who was at the Kentucky Derby over the weekend?

1146
01:08:30,920 --> 01:08:32,800
 I think his name is Belichick in North Carolina.

1147
01:08:32,940 --> 01:08:36,000
 What is, of those three, what's the most intriguing storyline?

1148
01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:37,800
 Oh, my gosh.

1149
01:08:38,080 --> 01:08:42,880
 Well, I, wait, see, you've asked me a softball question before, and I'm thinking I'm going to get softballs,

1150
01:08:43,000 --> 01:08:45,280
 but no, that was a fastball down the middle right there.

1151
01:08:46,560 --> 01:08:49,120
 You know, that's a great question.

1152
01:08:49,260 --> 01:08:56,440
 I do feel like some of the curiosity with Belichick has kind of worn off a little bit going into this year.

1153
01:08:56,440 --> 01:09:03,460
 And I think there's probably a lot of people who are wondering what James Franklin is going to do at Virginia Tech.

1154
01:09:03,960 --> 01:09:16,640
 But you all know as well as I do that Dabo Sweeney continues to make headlines despite the fact that his team has fallen off the pace a little bit

1155
01:09:16,640 --> 01:09:21,000
 from where they were at the end of the 2010s, right?

1156
01:09:21,280 --> 01:09:28,320
 And so, to me, because of what Clemson did last year, because of what happened in the draft,

1157
01:09:28,320 --> 01:09:35,420
 having nine teams drafted but only winning seven games, to me there's a lot more curiosity about Clemson

1158
01:09:35,420 --> 01:09:38,480
 because, hold on, you had that many players drafted.

1159
01:09:39,260 --> 01:09:42,500
 They didn't even come close to competing for a championship.

1160
01:09:42,820 --> 01:09:43,660
 And you did.

1161
01:09:43,880 --> 01:09:45,420
 We were close to making Clemson, right?

1162
01:09:45,660 --> 01:09:49,000
 Yes, and they went into the portal a little bit more.

1163
01:09:49,320 --> 01:09:51,620
 We don't know what the quarterback situation is going to look like.

1164
01:09:51,660 --> 01:09:54,040
 They are raving about a true freshman named Tate Reynolds.

1165
01:09:54,040 --> 01:09:57,600
 I would not be surprised if he eventually becomes the starter this season.

1166
01:09:57,720 --> 01:10:01,920
 They went, you know, back of the way, way back machine to bring Chad Morris back to town.

1167
01:10:02,100 --> 01:10:07,160
 I think there are so many questions but so much intrigue about Clemson.

1168
01:10:07,240 --> 01:10:08,940
 For how many years now have we been asking?

1169
01:10:09,220 --> 01:10:10,720
 Is Clemson, like, what is the situation?

1170
01:10:10,720 --> 01:10:11,660
 300 and counting.

1171
01:10:12,280 --> 01:10:12,680
 Right?

1172
01:10:12,920 --> 01:10:13,840
 It's what it feels like.

1173
01:10:14,080 --> 01:10:16,000
 I don't think those questions have gone away.

1174
01:10:16,380 --> 01:10:20,840
 So while I feel like James Franklin may be the shiny new toy and what's it going to look like at Virginia Tech,

1175
01:10:21,360 --> 01:10:29,000
 nobody moves the needle in the ACC, at least in my opinion, from a what-the-heck-is-this-going-to-look-like perspective to Davos Sweeney.

1176
01:10:29,420 --> 01:10:31,540
 And I don't think that's going to change heading into this year.

1177
01:10:32,540 --> 01:10:39,060
 Devil A, so many questions going into the summer, now that all the spring game is pretty much over with.

1178
01:10:40,300 --> 01:10:43,920
 Will the NCAA adopt the five years to play five?

1179
01:10:44,420 --> 01:10:46,520
 Are we going to start week one?

1180
01:10:46,860 --> 01:10:48,800
 Week zero is going to be week one.

1181
01:10:49,320 --> 01:10:52,320
 Are we skating past 16 to get to 24?

1182
01:10:53,320 --> 01:10:59,120
 And many others, how many of those questions will be answered before the season begins?

1183
01:10:59,120 --> 01:11:00,720
 Oh, my gosh.

1184
01:11:01,680 --> 01:11:12,520
 If I was to guess, I would say the five for five would be, like, number one to be answered because that one is coming up for a vote soon.

1185
01:11:12,900 --> 01:11:20,980
 And it feels as though, based on conversations I've had, there's a lot of support for that to be passed, right?

1186
01:11:21,060 --> 01:11:24,240
 You get five years, and that's what you get.

1187
01:11:24,420 --> 01:11:29,020
 Five years, you could play five, you could not, but we're going away from the waiver process.

1188
01:11:29,360 --> 01:11:33,940
 We're going to try and make it more standardized when it comes to what eligibility looks like.

1189
01:11:33,940 --> 01:11:40,000
 I feel like that has the greatest chance of being answered before the season starts.

1190
01:11:40,720 --> 01:11:43,740
 I don't know that we're going to get an answer on playoff expansion.

1191
01:11:44,060 --> 01:11:51,200
 I just feel like there's still too many people with a lot of questions about what exactly is this going to look like

1192
01:11:51,200 --> 01:11:55,120
 and what is it going to mean for all these other parts of our calendar.

1193
01:11:55,740 --> 01:12:00,960
 Week zero potentially could get an answer as well when some of these come up for a vote in the next few months.

1194
01:12:01,280 --> 01:12:08,120
 But if I were to guess, I think I would put the five for five on the top of the list as something that is going to get done sooner rather than later.

1195
01:12:09,040 --> 01:12:11,060
 Well, it's going to be an interesting summer.

1196
01:12:11,220 --> 01:12:14,900
 I know a lot of people want some answers to many, many questions.

1197
01:12:15,420 --> 01:12:18,400
 Congratulations on your daughter graduating.

1198
01:12:18,580 --> 01:12:21,380
 I feel like we've watched her grow up.

1199
01:12:22,060 --> 01:12:27,860
 Where can we get articles like Virginia Tech and many others with you and the team?

1200
01:12:28,640 --> 01:12:30,340
 Well, I appreciate that, fellas.

1201
01:12:30,660 --> 01:12:31,680
 ESPN.com.

1202
01:12:31,740 --> 01:12:33,520
 Just click on the college football page.

1203
01:12:33,720 --> 01:12:41,260
 And we have got a phenomenal file up there right now for my colleagues, Eli Letterman, Max Olsen, and Adam Rittenberg,

1204
01:12:41,420 --> 01:12:49,520
 breaking down every single team's offseason, ranking them in their individual conferences, who had the best, so on and so forth.

1205
01:12:49,860 --> 01:12:51,320
 Tons of work those guys did.

1206
01:12:51,400 --> 01:12:52,520
 Extremely comprehensive.

1207
01:12:53,060 --> 01:12:59,380
 This is your cheat sheet for who left, who's now in, and what things look like after spring.

1208
01:12:59,520 --> 01:13:00,660
 So highly recommend, folks.

1209
01:13:00,760 --> 01:13:01,400
 Check that out.

1210
01:13:01,480 --> 01:13:02,040
 Bookmark it.

1211
01:13:02,100 --> 01:13:03,340
 You'll want to keep coming back to that.

1212
01:13:03,380 --> 01:13:06,640
 As you refresh your memory, when we get closer to the season, I'll wait.

1213
01:13:06,700 --> 01:13:07,600
 Who's on my team again?

1214
01:13:07,840 --> 01:13:08,640
 Oh, yeah, that's right.

1215
01:13:08,700 --> 01:13:09,160
 Now I remember.

1216
01:13:10,540 --> 01:13:12,460
 Andrea, I echo Brett's sentiments there.

1217
01:13:12,520 --> 01:13:16,120
 It's not true that she's going to be going to Florida State or Miami right after college?

1218
01:13:17,840 --> 01:13:20,080
 No, she is leaving the state of Florida.

1219
01:13:20,400 --> 01:13:23,240
 I'm not going to have a future gator, but that's okay.

1220
01:13:24,080 --> 01:13:30,700
 You know, we all know the gatordom lives in my heart, and it doesn't need to go past the generations.

1221
01:13:31,020 --> 01:13:36,760
 But we're just very proud, and, you know, she's going to be off to do great things, guys.

1222
01:13:37,780 --> 01:13:40,700
 Good luck with the Kleenex, and thanks so much for your time today, Andrea.

1223
01:13:41,420 --> 01:13:42,180
 All right, fellas.

1224
01:13:42,260 --> 01:13:43,320
 Appreciate you guys as always.

1225
01:13:43,440 --> 01:13:44,080
 Thanks so much.

1226
01:13:44,480 --> 01:13:47,260
 Double A at ESPN, Andrea Adelson.

1227
01:13:47,940 --> 01:13:50,200
 Softball tournament time in the state of Kentucky.

1228
01:13:50,340 --> 01:13:53,380
 Why don't you say we just go there ourselves next with Joe Cox.

1229
01:13:53,460 --> 01:13:53,960
 Stay with us.

1230
01:13:59,260 --> 01:14:01,180
 An official message from Medicare.

1231
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 I turned 65 this year.

1232
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 I knew it was time to figure out Medicare, and I had questions.

1233
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 Like when to enroll and how to enroll.

1234
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 So I went straight to the official source, medicare.gov, to get the facts about Medicare.

1235
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 I found answers to all my questions, and I'm ready to get started.

1236
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 And so can you.

1237
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 Just go to medicare.gov to get the real facts about Medicare.

1238
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1244
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1245
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1247
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 To get everything he needs, from lighting and HVAC parts to plumbing supplies, all in one place.

1249
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 And with fast, dependable delivery, he's stocked and ready for the next tip-off.

1250
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 Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by.

1251
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 Grainger, for the ones who get it done.

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 My name is Whitney Allen, and I'm a widow.

1253
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 My husband, Ryan, died.

1254
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 We never thought we'd ever have to use life insurance, but the unexpected happened.

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 No medical exams, and you can get up to $3 million worth of coverage.

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1260
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1261
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1262
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1263
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 Online health questions required.

1264
01:16:00,980 --> 01:16:04,720
 Boomo Bugg on 93.9 The Score.

1265
01:16:05,060 --> 01:16:08,600
 Time to take a little road trip to the Peachtree State, and that is Georgia.

1266
01:16:08,820 --> 01:16:11,460
 The king of it is Bill Shanks, host for The Bill Shanks Show.

1267
01:16:11,660 --> 01:16:12,540
 Bill, welcome in.

1268
01:16:12,580 --> 01:16:13,100
 How are you?

1269
01:16:13,400 --> 01:16:14,340
 I am doing great.

1270
01:16:14,420 --> 01:16:18,980
 I'm headed to the best college town in America, Athens, Georgia, right now.

1271
01:16:19,040 --> 01:16:20,820
 You said best college town in the country?

1272
01:16:20,880 --> 01:16:22,320
 You're not going to Tuscaloosa, Bill?

1273
01:16:22,500 --> 01:16:23,820
 No, I'm going to Athens.

1274
01:16:23,940 --> 01:16:27,120
 I ain't never been to Tuscaloosa, because nobody can come there.

1275
01:16:28,700 --> 01:16:34,000
 Bill, you know, after our last conversation, Brett and I, we have been on a guilt trip,

1276
01:16:34,060 --> 01:16:37,140
 and we agree that we do not talk enough about the Atlanta Hawks, Bill.

1277
01:16:37,180 --> 01:16:37,720
 We don't.

1278
01:16:38,060 --> 01:16:39,060
 Bill, here's your chance.

1279
01:16:39,060 --> 01:16:40,440
 Oh, now you're going to talk about them.

1280
01:16:40,440 --> 01:16:45,260
 Well, what I'm just saying, you told us to talk about the Hawks, so the platform is yours.

1281
01:16:46,400 --> 01:16:48,340
 Yeah, yeah, thanks a lot.

1282
01:16:48,460 --> 01:16:50,080
 Now, now you're going to talk about them.

1283
01:16:50,160 --> 01:16:52,160
 Yeah, okay, you're humiliated.

1284
01:16:52,620 --> 01:16:54,540
 Now you want a whole segment on the Hawks.

1285
01:16:55,380 --> 01:16:56,500
 It's never too late.

1286
01:16:56,520 --> 01:16:57,240
 What do you mean?

1287
01:16:57,460 --> 01:17:01,460
 The Bumbo Bug Show, weekdays, noon to 2, on 93.9 The Score.

1288
01:17:03,740 --> 01:17:08,140
 Speed on the bases, power at the plate, gold glove defense across the diamond.

1289
01:17:08,140 --> 01:17:11,260
 The stars of Atlanta are ready to take the field.

1290
01:17:11,420 --> 01:17:18,140
 Michael Harris going to spread back, and he somehow makes the catch, Willie Mays style, and goes into the wall.

1291
01:17:18,700 --> 01:17:22,340
 Tonight, stay up for some Atlanta Braves baseball from the left coast,

1292
01:17:22,460 --> 01:17:26,300
 as Austin Riley and the Braves get another shot at the Seattle Mariners.

1293
01:17:26,520 --> 01:17:32,640
 Braves Radio goes on the air at 825 Eastern, 725 Central, on the Braves Radio Network.

1294
01:17:32,640 --> 01:17:34,420
 Brought to you locally by

1295
01:17:34,420 --> 01:17:37,680
 The Law Firm of Johnson, Pesher, Medley & Virtual,

1296
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1297
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 Nationwide Insurance Agents Michael Doe and Bill Cochran,

1299
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 and Alabama Health Guidance.

1304
01:17:55,180 --> 01:17:56,340
 Atlanta Braves Baseball,

1305
01:17:56,460 --> 01:17:56,720
 tonight,

1306
01:17:56,820 --> 01:17:59,520
 versus the Seattle Mariners on 93.9 The Score.

1307
01:18:00,680 --> 01:18:01,880
 The Score.

1308
01:18:02,300 --> 01:18:02,580
 Now,

1309
01:18:03,060 --> 01:18:04,520
 back with Boomo Bugg,

1310
01:18:04,620 --> 01:18:07,100
 on 93.9 The Score.

1311
01:18:07,620 --> 01:18:07,840
 The Score.

1312
01:18:07,840 --> 01:18:08,560
 Welcome back in.

1313
01:18:08,640 --> 01:18:10,000
 Let's head on up to Ken.

1314
01:18:10,100 --> 01:18:11,820
 Ken says hello to Joe Cox.

1315
01:18:11,900 --> 01:18:12,740
 Got it all covered there.

1316
01:18:12,820 --> 01:18:14,380
 It's Saturday down south.

1317
01:18:14,460 --> 01:18:16,480
 His book's called A Fine Team Man.

1318
01:18:16,620 --> 01:18:17,420
 Joe, welcome in.

1319
01:18:17,480 --> 01:18:18,060
 How are you?

1320
01:18:22,220 --> 01:18:24,540
 Hopefully, we'll be able to hook up with Joe here in a second.

1321
01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:27,300
 I tell you what, baby, after that Kentucky Derby run over the weekend,

1322
01:18:27,300 --> 01:18:29,160
 I imagine everybody's pretty much speechless.

1323
01:18:29,300 --> 01:18:30,280
 Did you see that race?

1324
01:18:30,280 --> 01:18:32,240
 You go from worst to first.

1325
01:18:32,360 --> 01:18:33,180
 What a finish.

1326
01:18:33,420 --> 01:18:35,160
 I actually did see it.

1327
01:18:35,500 --> 01:18:36,400
 You're right.

1328
01:18:36,440 --> 01:18:39,480
 It was incredible what Golden Temple did.

1329
01:18:39,640 --> 01:18:42,000
 And also, we were not the only people watching it.

1330
01:18:42,060 --> 01:18:44,560
 I think it was the highest ratings in history of the Derby.

1331
01:18:46,100 --> 01:18:50,720
 And the thing is, history was made, the first female trainer to ever win there.

1332
01:18:50,940 --> 01:18:52,460
 So, history made over the weekend.

1333
01:18:52,880 --> 01:18:55,220
 Hopefully, we'll be able to get up with Joe after that weekend.

1334
01:18:55,320 --> 01:18:56,500
 Who knows what's going on?

1335
01:18:56,820 --> 01:19:01,160
 We mentioned earlier, Kentucky's kind of the hotbed for sports over the last few days.

1336
01:19:01,240 --> 01:19:03,320
 The Derby last weekend with all the mint juleps.

1337
01:19:03,900 --> 01:19:06,460
 And softball tournament's going on up at Lexington.

1338
01:19:06,660 --> 01:19:07,540
 They're hosting it.

1339
01:19:08,220 --> 01:19:12,220
 Auburn earlier, in case you missed it, knocking off Missouri by the count of 6-2.

1340
01:19:12,220 --> 01:19:15,740
 And now, they will take on Texas A&M tomorrow morning.

1341
01:19:15,860 --> 01:19:17,160
 Again, a 10 o'clock start.

1342
01:19:18,500 --> 01:19:19,400
 Your thoughts.

1343
01:19:19,800 --> 01:19:21,340
 This is big for Auburn.

1344
01:19:21,380 --> 01:19:25,580
 The first time they have won a tournament game, that is, the SEC, since 2023.

1345
01:19:26,460 --> 01:19:28,480
 This is a program that's been down, baby.

1346
01:19:28,640 --> 01:19:31,440
 So, there's only one direction to go for the Auburn softball team.

1347
01:19:31,960 --> 01:19:35,940
 Well, Harold, that was a big win today for another reason.

1348
01:19:36,120 --> 01:19:37,840
 They lost 25-0.

1349
01:19:38,480 --> 01:19:38,700
 Wow.

1350
01:19:38,900 --> 01:19:39,760
 I'm serious.

1351
01:19:39,760 --> 01:19:40,820
 Over the weekend.

1352
01:19:40,820 --> 01:19:43,420
 And they needed a, quote, reboot.

1353
01:19:43,580 --> 01:19:44,240
 But you're right.

1354
01:19:44,360 --> 01:19:50,520
 The softball program, which used to be very, very good, has gone down a little bit the last couple of years.

1355
01:19:50,720 --> 01:19:52,200
 That was a big win for them.

1356
01:19:52,420 --> 01:19:55,260
 They can make some noise in Lexington.

1357
01:19:55,520 --> 01:19:59,580
 And if you're wondering about Alabama, they don't play until Thursday.

1358
01:19:59,720 --> 01:20:02,080
 And you can catch that game here on 93.9 The Score.

1359
01:20:02,080 --> 01:20:08,660
 But, Bob, while we're on the topic of the tournament, BB, obviously, the state of Kentucky hosting it this year.

1360
01:20:09,020 --> 01:20:16,560
 But the folks over in the Madison slash Huntsville area, when you start talking about something this big, it's not just Huntsville and Madison.

1361
01:20:17,120 --> 01:20:20,040
 This is going to be a party for the entire North Alabama area.

1362
01:20:20,300 --> 01:20:25,360
 That's big news for this area in general to be able to host the upcoming SEC softball tournament.

1363
01:20:25,880 --> 01:20:28,220
 Yeah, that was announced a couple of weeks ago.

1364
01:20:28,520 --> 01:20:34,500
 Trash Pandas, Toyota Field, their capacity is actually 7,500.

1365
01:20:34,800 --> 01:20:36,620
 But, Harold, there are a couple of advantages.

1366
01:20:37,280 --> 01:20:42,680
 Again, the stadium is five minutes literally from an international airport.

1367
01:20:42,820 --> 01:20:43,540
 Could almost walk.

1368
01:20:44,080 --> 01:20:46,320
 Yeah, it's centrally located.

1369
01:20:47,320 --> 01:20:59,920
 Lexington is really not – and I know they moved it around, but they were looking for basically a venue, Harold.

1370
01:21:00,160 --> 01:21:06,880
 They've been having it in the respective conference stadiums, and they wanted to find a neutral site.

1371
01:21:07,200 --> 01:21:07,420
 Right.

1372
01:21:07,520 --> 01:21:12,420
 They made their contract in Madison, and, boy, they are excited about that.

1373
01:21:12,480 --> 01:21:19,860
 Going to be curious to see, literally this time next year, action will be taking place at Toyota Field.

1374
01:21:20,000 --> 01:21:23,980
 It's going to be fascinating to see the response and the economic impact there.

1375
01:21:24,020 --> 01:21:28,880
 Well, it also shows you how aggressive those folks are over there when it comes to landing these type deals,

1376
01:21:29,020 --> 01:21:36,880
 because if you haven't been over there in the last few years, it would be amazing if some of the grand folks could come back

1377
01:21:37,120 --> 01:21:43,820
 take a drive out of the Shoals area or the general Shoals area and drive through that neck of the woods there on I-565.

1378
01:21:44,200 --> 01:21:47,800
 I mean, it's just – it's almost like somebody just dropped a bomb and exploded.

1379
01:21:47,920 --> 01:21:49,780
 They got all kinds of restaurants in there.

1380
01:21:49,860 --> 01:21:51,080
 They got all kinds of amenities.

1381
01:21:51,720 --> 01:21:54,960
 So it's more than just going to a field.

1382
01:21:55,200 --> 01:21:57,000
 It's almost like going to an event.

1383
01:21:57,500 --> 01:22:02,400
 And I got a feeling once they get over there and experience that, and it all comes back to attendance,

1384
01:22:02,920 --> 01:22:04,720
 but they hit their numbers on that, BB.

1385
01:22:04,820 --> 01:22:07,700
 As you mentioned, the airport, all these teams can come in from Timbuktu.

1386
01:22:07,940 --> 01:22:09,460
 That's – again, we're not joking.

1387
01:22:09,600 --> 01:22:10,900
 You could almost walk over there.

1388
01:22:11,280 --> 01:22:13,000
 Certainly, these kids, it's that close.

1389
01:22:13,380 --> 01:22:17,620
 With all the hotels – in other words, you don't have to travel all over creation to get to it,

1390
01:22:17,640 --> 01:22:20,740
 and once you get there, there's something to do just about for every age group and everybody.

1391
01:22:21,560 --> 01:22:24,960
 But let's talk a little bit more about the other side of the coin, BB,

1392
01:22:24,960 --> 01:22:30,920
 and that is the upcoming Alabama baseball team and the Auburn baseball team, the SEC tournament.

1393
01:22:31,560 --> 01:22:37,300
 And before we do that, I like the fact of the strike zone challenges coming to the SEC tournament.

1394
01:22:37,300 --> 01:22:44,140
 To me, when I first heard this in the world of Major League Baseball, I was a little skeptical it's going to be one of those deals

1395
01:22:44,140 --> 01:22:46,780
 where they're going to drag this thing out and go back and forth.

1396
01:22:47,320 --> 01:22:54,920
 But you get two challenges, and to me, just one person's opinion for what that's worth, to me, it's added to it,

1397
01:22:55,020 --> 01:22:58,120
 and that's going to be fun to see how it impacts the SEC tournament.

1398
01:22:58,840 --> 01:23:04,960
 Well, Major League Baseball, Harold, to me, the two biggest changes in the Major League in the last two or three years

1399
01:23:04,960 --> 01:23:11,780
 is the pitch clock, which is shaved off 30 minutes, and this year is the ABS Challenge.

1400
01:23:11,780 --> 01:23:12,900
 Now, they've got three.

1401
01:23:13,040 --> 01:23:14,840
 The SEC's going to have three.

1402
01:23:15,580 --> 01:23:19,560
 And, again, these umpires get it right a lot more than they get it wrong,

1403
01:23:19,640 --> 01:23:23,900
 but I think that's going to be huge in critical situations.

1404
01:23:24,840 --> 01:23:26,480
 And Alabama's playing well.

1405
01:23:26,600 --> 01:23:29,500
 They really needed that sweep over Vandy.

1406
01:23:30,100 --> 01:23:34,320
 Harold, Ella, it's amazing at the discrepancy to me between Alabama and Vandy.

1407
01:23:35,000 --> 01:23:37,200
 Alabama's got a 5 RPI.

1408
01:23:37,320 --> 01:23:38,500
 Vandy's got a 71.

1409
01:23:39,140 --> 01:23:39,540
 Wow.

1410
01:23:39,660 --> 01:23:40,800
 Vandy's got coming up.

1411
01:23:40,920 --> 01:23:47,620
 They have got South Carolina, Missouri, two of the worst teams in the SEC.

1412
01:23:48,140 --> 01:23:52,360
 And Alabama's got South Carolina, then finish with Ole Miss at home.

1413
01:23:52,460 --> 01:23:53,620
 But that was huge.

1414
01:23:54,060 --> 01:23:59,620
 That 5 RPI will help Alabama as far as hosting a regional.

1415
01:24:00,280 --> 01:24:03,060
 And Auburn has won five consecutive series.

1416
01:24:03,060 --> 01:24:07,520
 They surprised a lot of people in SWELP, Texas A&M, on Saturday.

1417
01:24:07,780 --> 01:24:09,140
 They're really hitting the ball.

1418
01:24:09,260 --> 01:24:11,180
 They have good pitching, as Alabama does.

1419
01:24:11,680 --> 01:24:18,880
 I think Alabama and Auburn are both in good shape for the SEC tournament in Hoover and also hosting a regional.

1420
01:24:19,280 --> 01:24:22,280
 Well, to put it in perspective, Auburn right now is filth in the league.

1421
01:24:22,380 --> 01:24:23,640
 They're 14 and 10.

1422
01:24:23,800 --> 01:24:25,160
 Alabama is 6.

1423
01:24:25,240 --> 01:24:26,780
 They're 13 and 11.

1424
01:24:27,180 --> 01:24:28,720
 Let me ask you about this Bama team.

1425
01:24:28,720 --> 01:24:35,480
 If they could just sit here and plug up some of the holes in that Swiss cheese defense, how far could this team go?

1426
01:24:36,280 --> 01:24:46,680
 Well, Harold, one of the holes is a shortstop who may be drafted in the top 10 of the major league draft.

1427
01:24:47,860 --> 01:24:50,660
 And he struggled at the plate.

1428
01:24:50,960 --> 01:24:52,760
 And so, I think that's the one area.

1429
01:24:52,940 --> 01:24:54,360
 Kanter has been pretty solid.

1430
01:24:55,160 --> 01:25:04,240
 But, yeah, that's what they really needed to work on because they booted the ball all over the guard against Tennessee when they lost two out of three the previous weekend.

1431
01:25:05,240 --> 01:25:15,800
 But once, again, I mentioned it earlier, they had that three-run homer from Eric Hines who tied the Vaney game, 4-4, and Vaney and Alabama would on to win that game.

1432
01:25:15,940 --> 01:25:19,480
 And they swept on Tyler Faye to not have his best game.

1433
01:25:19,940 --> 01:25:21,000
 But that's the key to me.

1434
01:25:21,000 --> 01:25:28,680
 If Alabama can continue to improve their defense, they've had very solid pitching with Adams and Faye.

1435
01:25:29,260 --> 01:25:34,560
 If they can continue doing that, this team may make some noise in Hoover and the postseason.

1436
01:25:35,080 --> 01:25:39,680
 Well, I think you get a good read starting tonight against Troy because it's not a conference game.

1437
01:25:39,680 --> 01:25:41,340
 And you get a team that's focused.

1438
01:25:41,420 --> 01:25:42,940
 It doesn't matter who you're playing.

1439
01:25:43,020 --> 01:25:45,360
 You're still going to go out and be pretty consistent.

1440
01:25:45,360 --> 01:25:52,160
 But sometimes, if you're not taking on a team with a reputation as far as baseball in the way of Vanderbilt, it's easy to lose your focus.

1441
01:25:52,160 --> 01:25:57,420
 So, it's going to be interesting to see how they focus tonight against Troy trying to get some big moe heading into the postseason.

1442
01:25:57,560 --> 01:25:58,620
 You mentioned Tennessee, B.B.

1443
01:25:58,660 --> 01:26:00,120
 They are filth from the bottom.

1444
01:26:00,260 --> 01:26:04,580
 And the reason I bring that up, obviously, Tony Vitello, he was the energizer.

1445
01:26:04,700 --> 01:26:08,740
 Bunny Rabbit, now with the San Francisco Giants, you're not going to say no to that.

1446
01:26:08,800 --> 01:26:12,020
 Because, first of all, he's going to be able to go to the MLB.

1447
01:26:12,360 --> 01:26:16,140
 Whether it works out or not, he's going to have a set financially going forward.

1448
01:26:16,300 --> 01:26:21,700
 And even if it doesn't work out, you know Arkansas is chomping at the bits.

1449
01:26:21,760 --> 01:26:24,280
 If they ever make a change, that's probably where he would land.

1450
01:26:24,340 --> 01:26:26,640
 He can always come back and get a plum job in the college ranks.

1451
01:26:27,000 --> 01:26:34,000
 But your thoughts about Tennessee, and to me, the sidebar story to this, sometimes programs take things for granted.

1452
01:26:34,000 --> 01:26:37,380
 Tennessee baseball, they pretty much fit on auto pilot under Tony.

1453
01:26:37,640 --> 01:26:39,660
 And you can see some football programs.

1454
01:26:39,780 --> 01:26:42,460
 I won't mention any that's had a good run.

1455
01:26:42,820 --> 01:26:44,720
 And I'm not saying that's going to happen here.

1456
01:26:44,780 --> 01:26:48,240
 But the point I'm trying to make is, don't take anything for granted.

1457
01:26:48,440 --> 01:26:50,080
 Head coaches matter, baby, obviously.

1458
01:26:50,780 --> 01:26:51,720
 Well, it does.

1459
01:26:51,940 --> 01:26:53,400
 Harold, isn't it amazing?

1460
01:26:53,520 --> 01:26:56,720
 Ole Miss and Mississippi State win a World Series.

1461
01:26:57,020 --> 01:26:58,980
 And then a year later, they fall apart.

1462
01:26:59,140 --> 01:26:59,380
 Yeah.

1463
01:26:59,380 --> 01:27:04,540
 Well, she was 9-15 with one of the best coaches in the game.

1464
01:27:05,080 --> 01:27:10,940
 And they're probably not going to make a regional right now unless a minor miracle happens.

1465
01:27:11,160 --> 01:27:14,840
 As you mentioned, Tennessee's 11-13, 31-17.

1466
01:27:16,360 --> 01:27:19,300
 They lost the series over the weekend.

1467
01:27:19,860 --> 01:27:23,320
 One of the reasons, they couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag.

1468
01:27:23,760 --> 01:27:27,740
 Had runners in scoring position one game, there were something like 3 out of 12.

1469
01:27:27,740 --> 01:27:32,580
 Well, the pitching's been there, but Tennessee's got to get going the next few weekends.

1470
01:27:33,180 --> 01:27:34,980
 Have you talked with our friend Bill Shanks?

1471
01:27:35,180 --> 01:27:37,700
 I mean, how humble is Bill now?

1472
01:27:37,840 --> 01:27:41,960
 The top dog in the SEC is a team near and dear to Bill's heart.

1473
01:27:42,080 --> 01:27:43,660
 If you're with us on Fridays, you know that.

1474
01:27:43,720 --> 01:27:45,000
 He's kind of shy about it, I'm sure.

1475
01:27:45,600 --> 01:27:51,440
 Have you talked with Bill about Georgia basically grabbing hold of the brass ring

1476
01:27:51,440 --> 01:27:54,120
 and not letting go this season in baseball, not football?

1477
01:27:54,960 --> 01:27:57,880
 Harold, their power is amazing.

1478
01:27:58,020 --> 01:27:59,800
 They've hit 130 home runs.

1479
01:28:00,680 --> 01:28:02,700
 They've got a six-game winning streak.

1480
01:28:02,820 --> 01:28:04,740
 They've won eight of their last ten.

1481
01:28:05,560 --> 01:28:12,120
 Listen, Bill Shanks, when it comes to Georgia, he can't be humble about anything when it comes to Georgia.

1482
01:28:12,620 --> 01:28:16,060
 But I'm telling you, this Georgia team is really good.

1483
01:28:16,400 --> 01:28:18,300
 How many home runs again?

1484
01:28:18,780 --> 01:28:19,560
 They're close.

1485
01:28:19,780 --> 01:28:21,780
 They may be over 130 now.

1486
01:28:22,120 --> 01:28:22,560
 Wow.

1487
01:28:23,160 --> 01:28:26,700
 High school coaches would like that, including Josh Scheller.

1488
01:28:26,800 --> 01:28:31,140
 He's a ball set at Central Florence, and he is on deck on the Boomo Bugg Show.

1489
01:28:31,240 --> 01:28:31,740
 Stay with us.

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1499
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1500
01:29:12,140 --> 01:29:14,920
 So I just checked into room 318, but someone was in there.

1501
01:29:15,160 --> 01:29:16,600
 Room 318.

1502
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 Oh, you were supposed to be booked in 813, which is now booked.

1503
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 So what do we do?

1504
01:29:22,300 --> 01:29:25,220
 How about rock, paper, scissors for who gets the bid?

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1506
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1509
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 You served behind the desk.

1510
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 You served in combat.

1511
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 You did four years and got out.

1512
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 You were drafted.

1513
01:29:43,420 --> 01:29:44,700
 You gave 20 years.

1514
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 You gave exactly what your country needed.

1515
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 You are a veteran.

1516
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1517
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1518
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 And you deserve support.

1519
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 If you're struggling with life after service, don't wait.

1520
01:29:58,360 --> 01:29:58,960
 Reach out.

1521
01:29:59,220 --> 01:30:01,840
 Find resources at va.gov slash reach.

1522
01:30:02,220 --> 01:30:05,920
 Brought to you by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Ad Council.

1523
01:30:06,620 --> 01:30:10,660
 Progressive presents the Sports Flash on 93-9, the score.

1524
01:30:11,000 --> 01:30:15,140
 In college baseball action tonight, 19th-ranked Alabama is on the road to play at Troy.

1525
01:30:15,280 --> 01:30:19,560
 Sixth-ranked Auburn will travel to Birmingham and take on UAB.

1526
01:30:20,200 --> 01:30:26,000
 North Alabama will host Samford and South Alabama is set to host Alabama State.

1527
01:30:26,500 --> 01:30:28,880
 The Atlanta Braves fell short last night in Seattle.

1528
01:30:29,040 --> 01:30:30,980
 They lost to the Mariners 5-4.

1529
01:30:31,120 --> 01:30:37,040
 The Braves had nine hits in the loss as the Braves drop to 25-11 on the season.

1530
01:30:37,220 --> 01:30:40,300
 The Braves and Mariners are back at T-Mobile Park tonight.

1531
01:30:40,720 --> 01:30:42,660
 Bryce Elder will start for Atlanta.

1532
01:30:42,800 --> 01:30:45,520
 He's 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA.

1533
01:30:46,040 --> 01:30:48,660
 George Kirby is scheduled to start for the Mariners.

1534
01:30:49,020 --> 01:30:52,460
 He's 4-2 with an ERA right at 3.

1535
01:30:52,900 --> 01:30:57,160
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1536
01:30:57,320 --> 01:31:02,720
 I'm John Thayer with the Sports Flash, presented by Progressive on 93-9, the score.

1537
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 Liberty Mutual's got the covers that could save your money.

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 Thanks to Doug and Lee Moon, well now you can go and take that cruise.

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1551
01:32:07,700 --> 01:32:08,900
 The score.

1552
01:32:09,320 --> 01:32:14,100
 Now, back with Boomo Bugg on 93-9, the score.

1553
01:32:14,620 --> 01:32:14,820
 The score.

1554
01:32:14,820 --> 01:32:15,500
 Welcome back in.

1555
01:32:15,560 --> 01:32:17,820
 If it's Senko De Mayo, let's put it another way.

1556
01:32:18,040 --> 01:32:22,240
 A lot of good baseball teams are still rocking and rolling in the high school diamonds,

1557
01:32:22,380 --> 01:32:27,580
 including out at Central Florence High School, where we're taking it with head coach Josh Fowler.

1558
01:32:27,680 --> 01:32:28,800
 Coach, welcome in.

1559
01:32:28,920 --> 01:32:30,160
 How are you?

1560
01:32:30,160 --> 01:32:30,680
 Yes, sir.

1561
01:32:30,800 --> 01:32:31,180
 I'm good.

1562
01:32:31,280 --> 01:32:32,660
 Good to join y'all.

1563
01:32:33,360 --> 01:32:33,860
 Hey, Coach.

1564
01:32:33,860 --> 01:32:34,720
 Good to have you on board.

1565
01:32:34,800 --> 01:32:36,340
 First of all, congratulations.

1566
01:32:36,540 --> 01:32:42,800
 How sweet is it to turn the calendar, and here you are in May still playing baseball.

1567
01:32:43,560 --> 01:32:44,560
 Yeah, appreciate it.

1568
01:32:44,560 --> 01:32:45,260
 It has.

1569
01:32:45,340 --> 01:32:46,480
 It's been a special year.

1570
01:32:46,580 --> 01:32:51,640
 You always want to still be playing at this time, and it's been two years in a row we found

1571
01:32:51,640 --> 01:32:55,700
 ourselves in the third round, so we're excited to be here.

1572
01:32:56,380 --> 01:32:59,800
 Coach, let's talk a little bit about that, because for the folks who don't follow the

1573
01:32:59,800 --> 01:33:04,640
 program as religiously as some impressive is the way you can describe it.

1574
01:33:05,280 --> 01:33:10,300
 Correct us if we're wrong, but the last time Central reached the quarterfinals in back-to-back

1575
01:33:10,300 --> 01:33:16,060
 years, and that streak had a four-year streak, was from 1995 to 98.

1576
01:33:16,180 --> 01:33:17,660
 It just shows you how tough it is.

1577
01:33:17,700 --> 01:33:19,020
 That's a long, dry spell.

1578
01:33:19,520 --> 01:33:22,460
 Talk to us just about what it means to be a part of history out there.

1579
01:33:23,320 --> 01:33:24,720
 Yeah, it's exciting.

1580
01:33:24,720 --> 01:33:30,480
 This is my sixth year out here, and when I took over, I remember that tradition.

1581
01:33:30,680 --> 01:33:35,280
 I went to Deschler and remember growing up and having some battles with Central in the

1582
01:33:35,280 --> 01:33:42,760
 late 90s and early 2000s, so I knew what this program had been, and it is exciting to get

1583
01:33:42,760 --> 01:33:46,560
 back, but like you guys said, it's so tough.

1584
01:33:46,700 --> 01:33:50,260
 Our area has been brutal the last several years.

1585
01:33:50,260 --> 01:33:56,560
 We've had a five-team area, and we've said for several years now, if we can just sneak

1586
01:33:56,560 --> 01:34:02,820
 in, we feel like we can compete just because our area is so tough, but we're very fortunate

1587
01:34:02,820 --> 01:34:05,540
 we definitely don't take it for granted because it is very tough to do.

1588
01:34:06,420 --> 01:34:08,040
 Let me ask you about the team.

1589
01:34:08,040 --> 01:34:12,400
 You swept Plainview 7-0 and 7-4.

1590
01:34:12,560 --> 01:34:16,000
 Reed Bruce, a four-hitter in game one.

1591
01:34:16,860 --> 01:34:19,300
 You're 25-12 on the season.

1592
01:34:20,100 --> 01:34:22,500
 Mason Myers had knocked in two runs.

1593
01:34:22,640 --> 01:34:23,440
 Reed Nix.

1594
01:34:24,000 --> 01:34:26,740
 Colin Barnes scored two runs.

1595
01:34:26,860 --> 01:34:32,080
 Cole Wilkinson had a one-hit shutout through six innings of game two.

1596
01:34:32,680 --> 01:34:33,660
 Very impressive.

1597
01:34:33,860 --> 01:34:38,560
 Talk about some of the guys who've been your leaders in your produce for you this season.

1598
01:34:39,400 --> 01:34:41,720
 Yeah, we've got a special group.

1599
01:34:41,800 --> 01:34:48,860
 We've got 10 seniors, and this group, we've got some guys that have been kind of up and

1600
01:34:48,860 --> 01:34:53,740
 down all year, and I think that's what's allowed us to be so successful is we don't

1601
01:34:53,740 --> 01:34:57,340
 have to just count or rely on one or two guys.

1602
01:34:57,340 --> 01:35:03,000
 We've got 10 seniors, and it seems like every week these couple of guys are stepping up,

1603
01:35:03,160 --> 01:35:05,100
 and then you know how baseball is.

1604
01:35:05,300 --> 01:35:06,360
 It's a roller coaster.

1605
01:35:06,620 --> 01:35:11,100
 You're hot for two weeks, and then you feel like you can't catch it up and hit it, but we've

1606
01:35:11,100 --> 01:35:15,980
 done a really good job of just different guys stepping up, and you named off several guys

1607
01:35:15,980 --> 01:35:21,200
 just being, that's the way it's being all year, just different guys stepping up.

1608
01:35:21,200 --> 01:35:26,660
 Last week, we played about as good a baseball as we played all year.

1609
01:35:26,740 --> 01:35:31,500
 Plainview was tough and really better than I was expecting.

1610
01:35:31,620 --> 01:35:36,400
 We got there, and the arms they threw, and we played really, really well.

1611
01:35:36,500 --> 01:35:38,760
 We were very fortunate to get out of that series.

1612
01:35:40,040 --> 01:35:41,920
 That's a long trip, too.

1613
01:35:42,000 --> 01:35:42,900
 I guarantee you.

1614
01:35:42,940 --> 01:35:44,380
 Coach Josh Fowler hooking up with us.

1615
01:35:44,480 --> 01:35:48,780
 Talk to us about that, Coach, because as you mentioned, baseball, like so many sports, but

1616
01:35:48,780 --> 01:35:53,080
 maybe in baseball sometimes more than others because it is such a long season.

1617
01:35:53,220 --> 01:35:54,100
 It's a roller coaster.

1618
01:35:54,240 --> 01:35:55,580
 You're up, you're down, you're sideways.

1619
01:35:56,240 --> 01:35:58,180
 Talk to us about the timing of it.

1620
01:35:58,240 --> 01:36:01,900
 It's all about getting hot at the right time, and I've seen teams.

1621
01:36:01,980 --> 01:36:03,260
 They get to the postseason.

1622
01:36:03,440 --> 01:36:08,940
 They got very impressive records, maybe even unbeaten or anything, and then the first time

1623
01:36:08,940 --> 01:36:12,120
 they had to face adversity on that stage, they fall apart.

1624
01:36:12,260 --> 01:36:13,360
 You've been up, and you've been down.

1625
01:36:13,480 --> 01:36:18,880
 Talk to us about how the schedule has gotten you prepared now when basically there's no

1626
01:36:18,880 --> 01:36:19,180
 choice.

1627
01:36:19,260 --> 01:36:20,960
 If you want to keep rocking, you've got to keep winning.

1628
01:36:21,780 --> 01:36:23,780
 Yes, you're exactly right.

1629
01:36:23,980 --> 01:36:27,080
 We've had, if you look at our schedule, it has been a roller coaster.

1630
01:36:27,220 --> 01:36:28,460
 We started off pretty hot.

1631
01:36:28,520 --> 01:36:34,420
 I think we were 8-1, and then we went through a stretch where our schedule got tougher, and

1632
01:36:34,420 --> 01:36:35,740
 we lost some close games.

1633
01:36:35,740 --> 01:36:38,060
 I think at one time we lost 11 out of 14.

1634
01:36:38,720 --> 01:36:41,880
 I just kind of kept telling the guys, hey, hang in there, hang in there.

1635
01:36:42,040 --> 01:36:42,600
 We do.

1636
01:36:42,840 --> 01:36:49,220
 We felt like our schedule would battle test us, and I think that's been true.

1637
01:36:49,360 --> 01:36:51,540
 We've won now 13 in a row, and we have.

1638
01:36:51,620 --> 01:36:53,380
 We've kind of gotten hot at the right time.

1639
01:36:53,880 --> 01:36:55,360
 Some guys stepping up at the plate.

1640
01:36:56,040 --> 01:37:00,780
 We've been fortunate enough to score some runs, so we have gotten hot at the right time.

1641
01:37:01,140 --> 01:37:05,500
 I've had teams before where you feel like you peak in the middle of the year.

1642
01:37:05,500 --> 01:37:07,180
 I feel like that happened to us last year.

1643
01:37:07,240 --> 01:37:08,040
 We had a good group.

1644
01:37:09,020 --> 01:37:12,920
 You know, middle of the year, about spring break, we were playing our best baseball, and

1645
01:37:12,920 --> 01:37:17,760
 just for whatever reason, you know, come playoff time, we just, the sticks kind of went a little

1646
01:37:17,760 --> 01:37:19,800
 cold, and we just, we weren't playing terrible.

1647
01:37:19,940 --> 01:37:24,820
 We just wasn't as, you know, playing our best baseball, and I feel like this year it's been

1648
01:37:24,820 --> 01:37:25,520
 different.

1649
01:37:25,660 --> 01:37:29,800
 We just had that lull in the middle, and we're able to kind of turn it around and get

1650
01:37:29,800 --> 01:37:31,240
 hot at the right time.

1651
01:37:31,400 --> 01:37:34,320
 So, it's our schedule, I do think.

1652
01:37:34,480 --> 01:37:38,040
 If you look back, we've played a tough schedule, and that was by design.

1653
01:37:38,220 --> 01:37:39,120
 Again, 10 seniors.

1654
01:37:39,640 --> 01:37:44,900
 I thought it was a group that could handle us losing some games and being able to bounce

1655
01:37:44,900 --> 01:37:47,620
 back, and they've done exactly that.

1656
01:37:48,640 --> 01:37:50,260
 Let me ask you about your opponent.

1657
01:37:50,440 --> 01:37:56,220
 You're going to be hosting Alexandria, the Valley Cubs, one of the best names in hosting

1658
01:37:56,220 --> 01:37:58,900
 sports in the state of Alabama.

1659
01:37:59,960 --> 01:38:04,600
 Listen, as you all know, when you get to the quarterfinals, there are no bad teams.

1660
01:38:05,120 --> 01:38:08,800
 They swept Fayette County 7-0, 9-6.

1661
01:38:08,800 --> 01:38:12,600
 They had a kid, Sawyer Coggins, who had a no-hitter in game one.

1662
01:38:13,680 --> 01:38:16,680
 Zach Welch is a very good coach there.

1663
01:38:17,040 --> 01:38:20,940
 Tell us a little bit more about the team you've got coming in, Alexandria.

1664
01:38:21,880 --> 01:38:24,840
 Yeah, we've got a lot of respect for Alexandria.

1665
01:38:26,400 --> 01:38:27,860
 Historic program.

1666
01:38:28,460 --> 01:38:29,700
 I had some battles with them.

1667
01:38:29,820 --> 01:38:31,060
 I went to Dester, and we played.

1668
01:38:31,140 --> 01:38:36,960
 They actually put me out my sophomore and junior year, and once in the semis, once in the quarters,

1669
01:38:36,960 --> 01:38:41,780
 Zach Welch was actually a big-time player for them on those teams.

1670
01:38:42,000 --> 01:38:47,280
 So I've had some run-ins with Coach Welch as a player and now as a coach.

1671
01:38:47,500 --> 01:38:48,820
 But, yeah, great, great program.

1672
01:38:48,920 --> 01:38:49,760
 We've got a lot of respect.

1673
01:38:50,680 --> 01:38:52,600
 They're going to do things right.

1674
01:38:52,680 --> 01:38:53,880
 They're going to be well-coached.

1675
01:38:54,400 --> 01:38:58,160
 They're going to put pressure on you and bunt and play small ball and run.

1676
01:38:58,560 --> 01:39:01,740
 So we'll have to be ready to defend that.

1677
01:39:01,820 --> 01:39:04,960
 But, yeah, a lot of respect for Coach Welch and that Alexandria program.

1678
01:39:04,960 --> 01:39:06,520
 We're going to have our hands full for sure.

1679
01:39:06,960 --> 01:39:08,540
 You talked about Alexandria.

1680
01:39:08,640 --> 01:39:10,120
 Let's talk about your team.

1681
01:39:10,360 --> 01:39:13,180
 Obviously, they've been there and had their medal tested.

1682
01:39:13,340 --> 01:39:14,680
 Talk to us about some of the players.

1683
01:39:14,820 --> 01:39:19,340
 I know it's one of the situations where you've got so many, but to the extent you can,

1684
01:39:19,420 --> 01:39:22,120
 talk to us about some of the personalities on this team.

1685
01:39:22,980 --> 01:39:26,540
 Yeah, 10 seniors, which, again, those are our leaders.

1686
01:39:26,840 --> 01:39:30,840
 And, like I mentioned earlier, it really has been, and I felt like it was going to be the case,

1687
01:39:31,280 --> 01:39:36,040
 we've got guys that have just stepped up in different spots of the season.

1688
01:39:36,360 --> 01:39:43,320
 And, you know, each one of them brings their own thing to our team and allows us to be who we are.

1689
01:39:44,140 --> 01:39:48,660
 Reed Bruce has kind of been our, he's been our most steady guy all year long.

1690
01:39:49,100 --> 01:39:50,440
 He's hitting over 400.

1691
01:39:50,580 --> 01:39:52,200
 We give him the ball game one.

1692
01:39:52,340 --> 01:39:54,820
 We've been doing that since he's been a sophomore.

1693
01:39:55,080 --> 01:39:58,640
 So he's thrown game one for us for several years now.

1694
01:39:58,700 --> 01:40:00,980
 We've got a lot of confidence in him.

1695
01:40:01,460 --> 01:40:05,660
 I'll tell you a guy that probably don't get as much credit as he deserves is Cole Wilcoxon.

1696
01:40:06,180 --> 01:40:08,000
 Cole's been throwing game two for us.

1697
01:40:08,460 --> 01:40:15,400
 He also catches every time he doesn't pitch, and he's done that for several years now.

1698
01:40:15,920 --> 01:40:17,160
 Too tough kid.

1699
01:40:17,240 --> 01:40:21,040
 He's kind of been banged up all year, and you wouldn't know it.

1700
01:40:21,260 --> 01:40:24,300
 I mean, there's times where I'm thinking, man, you know, he's not going to be able to go today.

1701
01:40:24,380 --> 01:40:25,280
 And he says, coach, I'm fine.

1702
01:40:25,380 --> 01:40:27,220
 He just keeps going out there.

1703
01:40:27,220 --> 01:40:31,000
 So tough kid, again, another senior.

1704
01:40:31,200 --> 01:40:34,040
 But he's been really good for us.

1705
01:40:34,520 --> 01:40:36,720
 And then we've just had some different guys.

1706
01:40:36,800 --> 01:40:40,600
 Like right now, Colin Barnes and Brock Price kind of hit the bottom of the order for us.

1707
01:40:40,660 --> 01:40:42,700
 But they've been as hot as anybody.

1708
01:40:43,300 --> 01:40:47,380
 Elijah Lambert leads out for us and has been a great player for us.

1709
01:40:47,640 --> 01:40:53,600
 Just a lot of different guys are stepping up and kind of make us go.

1710
01:40:54,480 --> 01:40:58,420
 Coach, if you don't mind, talk to us about the secret for any team out there.

1711
01:40:58,600 --> 01:41:00,300
 And that is, I'm old-fashioned.

1712
01:41:00,440 --> 01:41:03,420
 It comes down to strong pitching and defense.

1713
01:41:03,720 --> 01:41:07,420
 Talk to us about where you are as far as pitching coming into.

1714
01:41:07,520 --> 01:41:09,280
 If you've got one A's, that's great.

1715
01:41:09,400 --> 01:41:16,040
 If you've got two in a bullpen and some good leather to back them up, you can go as far as you want to go sometimes.

1716
01:41:16,100 --> 01:41:18,820
 But talk to us about your pitching and how it's setting up for the postseason.

1717
01:41:19,280 --> 01:41:21,260
 Yeah, that's kind of my philosophy, too.

1718
01:41:21,340 --> 01:41:25,120
 I always want to throw strikes and play good defense.

1719
01:41:25,360 --> 01:41:29,580
 You know, when I took over out here, that's something that we kind of harped on.

1720
01:41:29,640 --> 01:41:31,060
 We've had some really good arms.

1721
01:41:31,560 --> 01:41:36,340
 We haven't thrown as much strikes, you know, with previous teams as we've wanted to.

1722
01:41:36,540 --> 01:41:40,880
 And we've just, you know, that's something we've preached from really day one.

1723
01:41:41,040 --> 01:41:47,680
 And I think this group has finally kind of bought in and just, hey, we're going to try to eliminate the walks.

1724
01:41:47,780 --> 01:41:51,320
 We're going to give up a few more hits than maybe other teams.

1725
01:41:51,440 --> 01:41:54,860
 We don't have guys that are going to go out and, you know, strike out 10 or 12.

1726
01:41:55,000 --> 01:41:58,860
 We don't have the guys that are going to throw mid to upper 80s.

1727
01:41:58,880 --> 01:42:04,080
 But we try to pound the strike zone and we try to be really athletic on defense, especially up the middle.

1728
01:42:04,520 --> 01:42:07,080
 And so far, our guys have been able to do that.

1729
01:42:07,180 --> 01:42:11,340
 Again, Bruce and Wilcoxson have been strike-throwing machines for us.

1730
01:42:11,340 --> 01:42:15,980
 And our guys up the middle defensively have been really good for us, especially as of late.

1731
01:42:16,560 --> 01:42:18,420
 So that's – I agree.

1732
01:42:18,540 --> 01:42:25,640
 That is definitely the formula for success, and lately, especially, we've done a good job with throwing strikes and making plays.

1733
01:42:25,720 --> 01:42:29,640
 But that's very important to our team and our success.

1734
01:42:30,800 --> 01:42:35,120
 You've alluded to it a couple of times, playing a tough schedule, which you had.

1735
01:42:35,520 --> 01:42:38,860
 The areas, the area region's tough enough.

1736
01:42:39,080 --> 01:42:45,320
 But when you look across the board with teams that are in the quarterfinals, we've got two –

1737
01:42:45,320 --> 01:42:48,900
 we've got a couple of teams in Madison County.

1738
01:42:49,100 --> 01:42:51,440
 Bob Jones has been there.

1739
01:42:52,320 --> 01:42:54,320
 Limestone has got, I believe, four.

1740
01:42:54,540 --> 01:43:01,620
 East Limestone, Lindsay Lane, Athens Bible, Hartzell's there every year.

1741
01:43:01,840 --> 01:43:07,420
 As you well know, when you play these guys week in and week out, I keep telling people,

1742
01:43:08,020 --> 01:43:13,140
 football, it may be south of Birmingham, but when you come to basketball and baseball,

1743
01:43:13,980 --> 01:43:18,400
 North Alabama, Phil Campbell is another team that's there every year.

1744
01:43:19,200 --> 01:43:21,520
 The teams – it's not by accident.

1745
01:43:21,700 --> 01:43:26,240
 Teams in North Alabama, particularly in basketball and baseball, are very good.

1746
01:43:27,180 --> 01:43:28,540
 Yeah, I agree.

1747
01:43:28,700 --> 01:43:30,340
 I've been saying that for years.

1748
01:43:30,960 --> 01:43:34,540
 We've tried to go different places for spring break.

1749
01:43:34,920 --> 01:43:38,160
 We actually went to Baton Rouge this year and played some teams.

1750
01:43:38,280 --> 01:43:40,380
 We went to Knoxville last year.

1751
01:43:40,440 --> 01:43:41,800
 The year before, we went to Nashville.

1752
01:43:42,300 --> 01:43:44,420
 And we play some really quality teams.

1753
01:43:44,540 --> 01:43:47,820
 And I get on Game Changer and I look at their records and their schedule,

1754
01:43:47,940 --> 01:43:49,740
 and I'm thinking, man, this team's going to be really good.

1755
01:43:50,100 --> 01:43:51,720
 But we're able to go compete.

1756
01:43:51,720 --> 01:43:56,600
 I don't think people really understand how good baseball is in our area.

1757
01:43:57,020 --> 01:44:01,580
 We may not, you know, be sending guys to Division I places left and right

1758
01:44:01,580 --> 01:44:05,780
 and may not have those guys that are, you know, hitting 10 and 12 home runs

1759
01:44:05,780 --> 01:44:07,420
 and are, you know, lighting the radar gun.

1760
01:44:07,860 --> 01:44:09,700
 But there's some really good coaches

1761
01:44:09,700 --> 01:44:12,220
 and there's some really good players in our area.

1762
01:44:12,320 --> 01:44:16,880
 And I do think, you know, this time of year that shows itself.

1763
01:44:17,300 --> 01:44:21,680
 And like I said, when we've been able to go and play teams from out of state

1764
01:44:21,680 --> 01:44:26,940
 or different parts of the state, I think it allows me to reflect

1765
01:44:26,940 --> 01:44:30,540
 and say, man, we have some pretty good baseball in our area.

1766
01:44:31,820 --> 01:44:34,780
 Coach, obviously in football, they call it the 12th man.

1767
01:44:34,860 --> 01:44:36,640
 In baseball, let's call it the 10th man.

1768
01:44:36,780 --> 01:44:41,980
 How important is not only still be playing, but where you're playing.

1769
01:44:41,980 --> 01:44:43,580
 You keep the bus parked.

1770
01:44:44,160 --> 01:44:46,120
 You get the home cooking against Alexandria.

1771
01:44:46,520 --> 01:44:49,740
 And back to the 10th man, your message to the fans,

1772
01:44:49,840 --> 01:44:53,260
 I would imagine it's get there early and get you a seat.

1773
01:44:53,420 --> 01:44:56,600
 Your thoughts about having the home cooking against Alexandria

1774
01:44:56,600 --> 01:45:00,300
 and what it means for a community like Central to still be here

1775
01:45:00,300 --> 01:45:01,680
 with what all is on the table.

1776
01:45:02,440 --> 01:45:03,620
 Yeah, very exciting.

1777
01:45:03,760 --> 01:45:05,380
 You know, we've traveled the first two rounds.

1778
01:45:05,740 --> 01:45:09,860
 Last year we made it to the third round, but we only got to host once.

1779
01:45:10,680 --> 01:45:11,440
 Very excited.

1780
01:45:11,440 --> 01:45:12,140
 I don't know.

1781
01:45:12,260 --> 01:45:13,800
 I need to check back.

1782
01:45:13,880 --> 01:45:16,260
 I'm not sure when the last time we've hosted a third round.

1783
01:45:16,520 --> 01:45:20,340
 It's been several years.

1784
01:45:20,460 --> 01:45:21,420
 Our fans are great.

1785
01:45:22,480 --> 01:45:24,220
 You know, win or lose, we have good crowds.

1786
01:45:24,740 --> 01:45:26,960
 And we've been a little better lately.

1787
01:45:27,440 --> 01:45:28,300
 They've shown up.

1788
01:45:28,360 --> 01:45:30,940
 So I anticipate having a big crowd.

1789
01:45:31,120 --> 01:45:35,800
 And, again, it's definitely an advantage to be able to play where you're comfortable

1790
01:45:35,800 --> 01:45:41,100
 and, you know, what you know and playing in front of your friends and family and students.

1791
01:45:41,100 --> 01:45:45,380
 We're very excited and anticipate having a big crowd.

1792
01:45:46,100 --> 01:45:46,940
 Heaven forbid.

1793
01:45:47,360 --> 01:45:47,640
 Okay.

1794
01:45:47,740 --> 01:45:48,320
 Heaven forbid.

1795
01:45:48,580 --> 01:45:52,580
 But we know we're in North Alabama, which means the weather's going to do what it's going to do.

1796
01:45:52,700 --> 01:45:57,300
 What kind of contingency plans if, and I'm hoping I'm dead wrong on this,

1797
01:45:57,840 --> 01:46:01,220
 if the weather's a factor tomorrow, or, I'm sorry, Thursday?

1798
01:46:01,740 --> 01:46:01,960
 Yeah.

1799
01:46:02,000 --> 01:46:04,800
 We actually originally had Wednesday penciled in.

1800
01:46:04,880 --> 01:46:07,940
 I think that's what the state, you know, kind of penciled in for 4A.

1801
01:46:08,280 --> 01:46:13,780
 And just talking with Coach Welch, I just thought tomorrow would not be ideal.

1802
01:46:13,780 --> 01:46:17,100
 You don't want to get in a situation where you start and then you have to pause.

1803
01:46:17,400 --> 01:46:23,160
 It happened to us a couple of years ago at corner and kind of messes everybody's pitch in and up.

1804
01:46:23,300 --> 01:46:24,320
 And it makes it tough.

1805
01:46:24,400 --> 01:46:26,820
 So we did bump it back a day.

1806
01:46:27,000 --> 01:46:30,080
 And, you know, if it does just continue to rain or comes in a little later,

1807
01:46:30,180 --> 01:46:33,920
 we'll just keep backing it up and play it as early as we can.

1808
01:46:34,000 --> 01:46:40,940
 But I think as dry as it's been, I think a little rain tomorrow might do our field some good.

1809
01:46:41,020 --> 01:46:43,160
 And hopefully we'll be able to go on Thursday.

1810
01:46:43,300 --> 01:46:46,800
 But worst case scenario, we would just bump it back and go Friday.

1811
01:46:46,800 --> 01:46:48,620
 But I think we're going to be okay.

1812
01:46:49,260 --> 01:46:51,340
 Let me close with this.

1813
01:46:51,340 --> 01:46:58,680
 I tell people all the time, I think Central Athletics is one of the most underrated programs in North Alabama.

1814
01:46:59,500 --> 01:47:02,600
 You're in the quarterfinals for two consecutive years.

1815
01:47:03,260 --> 01:47:06,080
 Your softball team is 40-11.

1816
01:47:06,800 --> 01:47:09,900
 Now, Heath Wood, I believe he's been there 15 years.

1817
01:47:10,620 --> 01:47:12,740
 They were only 5-5 last year.

1818
01:47:12,840 --> 01:47:14,800
 But he's had some very good seasons.

1819
01:47:16,100 --> 01:47:17,860
 Basketball is very competitive.

1820
01:47:18,280 --> 01:47:22,560
 You've got a lot of multi-sport athletes, which has kind of crossed the board.

1821
01:47:23,100 --> 01:47:29,100
 Look, I know how good Dashler is, Mars Hill, Muscle Shoals, in Florence.

1822
01:47:30,080 --> 01:47:40,480
 But, Josh, listen, a lot of these programs don't – Central is very competitive in all sports and I think very underrated.

1823
01:47:41,480 --> 01:47:44,960
 Yes, I appreciate you saying that and we think the same thing.

1824
01:47:45,080 --> 01:47:52,620
 And I think a lot of it just has to do with, number one, our principal, Dwayne Keener, he is – he's a sports guy.

1825
01:47:52,760 --> 01:47:53,500
 He gets it.

1826
01:47:54,000 --> 01:47:55,260
 He's very involved.

1827
01:47:55,480 --> 01:47:57,940
 I mean, you're not going to come to really any sporting event.

1828
01:47:58,040 --> 01:48:02,040
 But I think he's been to pretty much every baseball game that we played.

1829
01:48:02,140 --> 01:48:03,560
 And if he hadn't, softball was playing.

1830
01:48:03,780 --> 01:48:05,060
 He didn't get to come last week.

1831
01:48:05,140 --> 01:48:10,900
 But softball was playing in big – hosting the area tournament on Friday.

1832
01:48:11,140 --> 01:48:13,680
 So, it starts with him and just our coaches.

1833
01:48:13,980 --> 01:48:15,360
 We all get along.

1834
01:48:15,740 --> 01:48:16,920
 We do have to share players.

1835
01:48:17,020 --> 01:48:19,840
 That's just part of it, being at a 4A program.

1836
01:48:20,180 --> 01:48:21,340
 You know, we've got to share.

1837
01:48:21,440 --> 01:48:22,440
 We work well together.

1838
01:48:22,900 --> 01:48:28,620
 And I think the success in one sport builds with the other and he kind of adds on.

1839
01:48:28,620 --> 01:48:34,580
 So, you know, I feel like when we have good baseball seasons, it's because, you know, the football team's been competitive

1840
01:48:34,580 --> 01:48:39,260
 and the basketball team's been competitive and those guys are, you know, competing and winning.

1841
01:48:39,580 --> 01:48:41,740
 And so, we are very fortunate.

1842
01:48:41,860 --> 01:48:43,800
 But I think it starts with the coaches.

1843
01:48:43,960 --> 01:48:48,580
 And then we just got good kids, good families, hard workers.

1844
01:48:48,760 --> 01:48:50,840
 Very fortunate to be where I'm at.

1845
01:48:50,920 --> 01:48:51,920
 This is your exact right.

1846
01:48:51,980 --> 01:48:53,060
 It's a very special place.

1847
01:48:53,900 --> 01:48:59,020
 Listen, thank you so much for taking some time to tell us about the program, about the school.

1848
01:48:59,520 --> 01:49:02,100
 Good luck against Alexandria, as Harold mentioned.

1849
01:49:02,280 --> 01:49:03,600
 I hope the rain holds off.

1850
01:49:04,100 --> 01:49:06,320
 God bless you and the players and the team.

1851
01:49:06,740 --> 01:49:09,320
 Hopefully, the plan's going to have a lot to celebrate.

1852
01:49:09,580 --> 01:49:11,420
 Come Thursday or Friday.

1853
01:49:12,060 --> 01:49:15,580
 Listen, good luck and bring back a blue map in a couple of weeks.

1854
01:49:16,500 --> 01:49:16,940
 Yes, sir.

1855
01:49:17,000 --> 01:49:17,920
 Appreciate you guys.

1856
01:49:17,980 --> 01:49:19,200
 And thanks for covering us.

1857
01:49:19,280 --> 01:49:20,340
 And I appreciate you having me on.

1858
01:49:21,000 --> 01:49:21,420
 Absolutely.

1859
01:49:21,560 --> 01:49:25,480
 Thank you so much for taking time out of a pretty doggone busy schedule these days.

1860
01:49:25,740 --> 01:49:28,060
 Coach Josh Feller at Central High.

1861
01:49:28,140 --> 01:49:31,680
 BB, are you ready for some Atlanta Braves baseball tonight?

1862
01:49:32,020 --> 01:49:33,060
 Do you get a nap?

1863
01:49:33,140 --> 01:49:34,400
 How do you handle that, by the way?

1864
01:49:34,400 --> 01:49:35,600
 Well, yes.

1865
01:49:36,040 --> 01:49:41,380
 I advise that strongly as you and I are a little bit above 39 now.

1866
01:49:41,680 --> 01:49:41,880
 Yeah.

1867
01:49:42,020 --> 01:49:42,880
 It should be.

1868
01:49:43,380 --> 01:49:45,420
 I think the Braves rebound tonight.

1869
01:49:45,600 --> 01:49:47,240
 They had a 4-0 lead.

1870
01:49:47,800 --> 01:49:49,920
 Seattle came back, scored five runs.

1871
01:49:50,060 --> 01:49:53,640
 The bullpen, a bummer in particular, was bummed out.

1872
01:49:53,780 --> 01:49:55,560
 But I think the Braves rebound tonight.

1873
01:49:55,760 --> 01:49:56,320
 Start tonight.

1874
01:49:56,500 --> 01:49:59,460
 Eight and a half up on both Washington and Miami.

1875
01:49:59,700 --> 01:50:00,600
 Elder will take the man.

1876
01:50:00,720 --> 01:50:02,680
 Watch out for the fields right now.

1877
01:50:02,680 --> 01:50:04,260
 They got a new skipper in there.

1878
01:50:04,380 --> 01:50:06,560
 And he knows a thing or two about winning baseball.

1879
01:50:06,780 --> 01:50:08,000
 So, but watch out for the fields.

1880
01:50:08,160 --> 01:50:09,780
 The Mets still 11 and a half.

1881
01:50:09,820 --> 01:50:14,480
 And that doesn't bother us one bit to say the Mets are 11 and a half behind the Braves.

1882
01:50:14,520 --> 01:50:17,400
 As they start the night, again, you're on 93.9 The Score.

1883
01:50:17,780 --> 01:50:18,800
 It's going to take care of business for now.

1884
01:50:18,860 --> 01:50:21,340
 On behalf of BB, Greg, James Flair, the entire crew here.

1885
01:50:21,460 --> 01:50:23,540
 Harold Buck, thank you so much for your time today.

1886
01:50:24,080 --> 01:50:26,840
 Let's do it again tomorrow at noon at 2 with Stuart Sink.

1887
01:50:27,200 --> 01:50:30,980
 Scheduled to join us right here on the Boomwell Buck Show on 93.9 The Score.

1888
01:50:32,680 --> 01:50:36,260
 We'll see you next time.