Blue Raider Podcast | 7/31/2026

[00:00:01] This is the Blue Raider Podcast on WGNS. Presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee, it's your all-access pass to everything Middle Tennessee sports. Game recaps, player spotlights, and the latest from the heart of Blue Raider Nation. Now, here's your host, Jake Bolden.

[00:00:24] Welcome back to another episode of the Blue Raider Podcast. Today, we've got a special edition with soccer season starting up tomorrow with their blue and white game. We're going to be previewing the women's soccer season, and joining us is going to be junior goalkeeper Demi Gronauer. We're going to be talking all about her offseason, as well as what to look forward to for this upcoming year, and stick around for the end of our episode, where we're going to be highlighting back to last week's conversation with media days on football.

[00:00:51] Also, a little look ahead to more basketball content. But before we get into today's episode, I've got to remind you to follow us on our social media accounts. We're at Blue Raider Pod. We're on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and of course, our live stream today, as we do every Friday at 5 p.m. over on YouTube. Again, that is at Blue Raider Podcast. And don't forget to follow us on all of our streaming services, where you can also listen to today's podcast replay every Saturday morning, like we do every Friday.

[00:01:18] So, without further ado, waiting in the wings for our interview today, it is junior goalkeeper from Las Vegas, Nevada. It's Demi Gronauer. Demi, thanks for joining us. Hi, thanks for having me. We're in a unique situation for those that are tuned into our live stream. Demi is in the middle of one practice. I'm sure she's off to eat or something. This week has been hectic for you. I know it's media week. I mean, do you ever get a break this time of year?

[00:01:45] Sometimes, no. But luckily, it's like a different block this time. We got in to be able to go in a little bit earlier, and we did one-hour blocks. And now we just started our first, like, two-hour block session. So, it's a little bit of a quick turnaround to get to dinner, but we're going to make it work. Well, this week is particularly special because of media day. I know you guys aren't back in school, but I guess how long have you guys been back on campus seeing one another?

[00:02:13] We've been back basically all of July. We were really fortunate enough to be one of the schools to be able to come up here in, like, a very different transitional period where we have 10-hour weeks, like an hour session with non-contact and an hour with contact or something like that. But we've been here for a month now. There's a lot of new faces, and we will certainly dive into that a lot more, especially as we preview this season. But let's talk a little bit about you, Demi, and your offseason.

[00:02:41] You've started every game since you've been here. Going into this offseason, you know that there's going to be a lot of turnover, but you've decided to stay in Murfreesboro, which obviously is admirable for a lot of reasons. But how much is circulating about transfer portal or what really brought you to stay here, if that was an option? You know, all those kind of talks. What brought you back to Murfreesboro? Honestly, a lot. Like, I love the team here. I love Murfreesboro. I love, like, just the place, the atmosphere.

[00:03:10] The coaches are great. Like, they really do care about us. They show up every day for us, and they bring a lot of energy, and they preach and teach a lot, and I really love that. The culture of the team is really great. I'm in a unique situation because we have a lot of newcomers that I'm, like, really kind of feeling like a senior role this year. But it's nice. It's a good responsibility. And just I love the team.

[00:03:34] This place in Murfreesboro is really nice, really cool place because it's, like, 40 minutes from Nashville, which is really nice. And, yeah. I want to know more about the goalkeeping aspect of it because when we talk about players transferring or getting playing time in particular, looking at football, you know, there's only one quarterback. When you're looking at soccer, there's only one goalkeeper.

[00:03:59] I'm sure the amount of playing time, one, that you've already received, I'm not necessarily saying anything is promised going into your junior year, but I'm sure going into your junior year, you are looked at as, as you said, a leader, but also taking over a really, really important position for this team. Is that kind of something that you take pride in is, like, knowing that you have a place where, one, you're already appreciated, and secondly, you're very important to this team?

[00:04:25] Yeah, I mean, my role on the team, I feel is important just as anybody's role on the team, whether it's a newcomer or one of our captains. But, yeah, I think that my experience is something that's nice to have, and it kind of backs me up, and it gives me confidence to be able to, like, help the newcomers out and, like, help them to know, like, our style of play, get feedback from the coaches and take it.

[00:04:52] But, yeah, like you said, nothing's promised, and just, like, having a good, like, competitive mindset every day is just something, like, that's good to have. Tell me about your offseason and preparing for this year. What were your days like? Did you go back? I know you're from Las Vegas. Do you go back home? Do you stay here? What are you doing in the offseason? So this summer, I actually did something a little different. I stayed here. Usually I do go home. I have a goalkeeper coach at home, running coach at home, everybody at home.

[00:05:16] But this summer, I really wanted to do, like, an internship, and I was fortunate enough to be able to work at the Boring Company in Nashville. And then I played for a WPSL team, Nashville Rhythm, this summer. And I got to play with some of the girls that I play with here at MTSU, which is really nice because it just bonded us even more. And so, yeah, I stayed here, worked with them, and got a little experience, like, in the business side of the world, too. The Boring Company. Yeah.

[00:05:47] Please explain. What is the Boring Company? So the Boring Company is, like, Elon Musk's company. They, in Vegas, actually, they also work in Vegas, and they tunnel underneath the city. And they have, like, Tesla tunnels underneath. They have two unidirectional tunnels that go. They're working right now, boring, from Lot 16 in Nashville down to the airport. So what was your role on the internship this summer?

[00:06:17] I was on project development, and I just kind of helped get permits or, like, look up what we needed for permits. And I just kind of helped in any way I could. Whatever my manager had for me that day is something that I would work on. Every day was a little different. A lot of community outreach, which was really nice because that's a big, like, thing for us here at MTSU, too, is community service. So I was fortunate enough to be able to bring that over to my internship as well.

[00:06:46] Well, a different type of boring. But that's certainly interesting because it sounds like you're already kind of doing some professional development for life after soccer in the future. Is that kind of an area where you see yourself? How did this opportunity really arise for you? I was fortunate enough to where at home I have a connection through my stepmom to be able to work for such an elite company because they're really high tech, high intelligence.

[00:07:13] And this summer, going into junior year, I really just wanted to get my resume up and, like, start looking for my future because you never know when your soccer career is going to be over. So it's just smart to think ahead sometimes, too. Well, outside of your internship, what else do you do to fill your time? I trained or I worked out in any way I could, really.

[00:07:37] Or I just try to also, like, just see Nashville just because since I've been in Murfreesboro, I've not really seen that much of it. And I've explored, like, the Gulch and different areas of Nashville. Any areas – I know you said the Gulch. Any areas in particular about Nashville that kind of stand out to you that you enjoy going to? 12th Avenue is really pretty. Over there, there's some shops. And there's this really good coffee place called La La Land. It was really good. La La Land.

[00:08:06] There's your endorsed NIL. La La Land listeners. Let's hit up Demi for this upcoming season. Demi, also another topic I'd be remiss. We're talking soccer. The World Cup was this last summer. You know, obvious I would hope that your allegiance is back to the United States. But how much – I mean, do you enjoy the World Cup? This is kind of a silly question for a soccer player, but I think it brings a lot of people together. But is it one of those things that you do look forward to when it does arrive? Yes, of course.

[00:08:34] Like, I love – I love to watch soccer, obviously, and analyze it because it really helps. Like, watching soccer really helps you develop as, like, a player and stuff to see, like, how different positions in the professional world, like, do it. So it's good just to, like, learn and grow, one. And then, two, it's just really fun to watch. I text about it with my friends and family, and we always have, like, little side hustle bets going on, being like, oh, I bet this person's going to go on, or I think this person's going to make it.

[00:09:02] And so, yeah, it's just a lot of fun just to – and it really brings people together. Did you ever have an opportunity to go to one? I know, unfortunately, it was never here in Nashville. Yeah. I did, actually. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the Norway versus Senegal game up in the MetLife Stadium, New York, New Jersey Stadium, something like that. So, yeah, it was a lot of fun to do that. Very cool. Very cool. Well, let's get back into the Lady Raiders soccer team this year.

[00:09:32] A ton of new faces. We talked about this earlier. So, you had 11 graduate last year, and I have counted that you have 16 newcomers on the roster. I mean, that alone says enough. But what has that experience been like for you on so much turnover and having to welcome so many ladies into your locker room? Obviously, like I said before, our team culture is, like, really good. We have a really welcoming culture. So, everybody's been really welcoming. It's sad to see everybody leave last year.

[00:10:02] Like, it was – and you can tell that, like, we had to adjust because they are a big role. They've been here for four years, a lot of them. So, trying to fill their shoes is a big step. And I know that that's why I needed to step up, like, personally, because we lost a senior mentor goalie. And I know that I, like, needed to step up. And a lot of girls have stepped up, and it's really nice. And it's just every day, like, you have to come with the mentality of, like, wanting to work together and, like, just appreciative and, like, stuff like that.

[00:10:31] Just to – you don't want to come across as rude. So, you don't want to create bonds off the field. So, when it comes time on the field, it's just, like, if you're saying something quick and snappy, it's not received the wrong way. So, how often is a language barrier a problem? I'm going to say problems are the right word. But how often do you come across language barriers? Because soccer is such an international sport, particularly at the college level. Honestly, I don't think that we have that many language barriers.

[00:11:01] Sometimes, like, somebody new on our team doesn't know, like, the same, like, phrasing as us. But it's just, like, a quick little, like, oh, hey, like, this is what I mean when I'm saying this. Like, next time if I'm saying this, this is what I want. And it's just, like, quick. And then, like, vice versa. They're telling me something. I'm, like, I have no idea what you're saying. It's just a quick, like, it's never anything big. It's always just, like, quick. Like, we try to resolve everything really fast. Were you here when Manon Labargi was on the team?

[00:11:31] Yes. I just remember when I interviewed her two years ago. Her name is Manon. And she said that in – I think she was French. She said that in French that that meant that there was someone behind them whenever you would say that name. Or it was something along those lines. Yeah, Manon, yeah. So she remember – yeah, she remember telling me that, like, that was the hardest part for her was learning that phrasing because her name as well as someone was behind her. Well, you talked about the culture. Where do you think that that comes from?

[00:12:00] I mean, there's only so many of you that can kind of generate or carry a culture over. I mean, how important is the coaching staff as well, as you said, some of these girls that are older that are returning? I mean, is it as simple as you girls just have to carry that torch on to this next group of girls? Yeah, I mean, our coaches are wonderful in that aspect. Last spring, some of the girls were able to, like, transfer in early. And, like, our culture was instilled in us, like, from the spring throughout the summer.

[00:12:29] And, I mean, yes, it does fall on us at the end of the day because we're the people on the field. But our coaches are a big help. And, like, this is our culture. This is who we are. And then, like, we just carry it out and try our best to help mold and shape everybody. Who else on this team? I guess you have captains already. Who else on this team has been identified as leaders for you guys? Megan Murphy are our two captains, and they're our go-to.

[00:12:56] And then there's a few, like, really everybody in themselves is, like, a leader and takes pride in their ownership. And so, just really, if you look at anybody, like, they could be a leader on our team. When we come back from this short break, we're going to be talking more with Demi. Looking at who is going to be the biggest surprise for this upcoming season, as well as hitting her with a lightning round of questions about her teammates, herself, and life in Las Vegas. We'll be right back. You're listening to the Blue Raider Podcast. Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast.

[00:13:25] We are currently with Demi Gronauer. We are previewing the upcoming season. Their blue and white game is tomorrow. And as well as their season kicks off next week on Friday at home at 7 p.m. against Southern Miss. We are talking all things Lady Raiders soccer. But before we get into our final segment with Demi, I want to remind you to follow our social media accounts, at Blue Raider Pod, X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and, of course, our live stream today over on YouTube is at Blue Raider Pod.

[00:13:54] And don't miss tomorrow's re-upload of today's episode with Demi. So if you missed the first segment, you can tune back in over there for the full interview as well as today's entire episode. Demi, we're wrapping things up here talking about your upcoming season. Again, the blue and white game is tomorrow. Tell me the roster situation. How do the teams get shuffled out for the blue and white game? So it's actually really fun. Like, our coaches, they take two teams. Coach Hannah will have one.

[00:14:23] Coach Pritchard will have one. And they just kind of go their own way about picking us. I'm not entirely sure how they pick us, but they pick us. And it's just a big celebration when we get to learn our teams. So is there like a reveal party, like a draft party, if you will? Yeah, we'll get like a draft party. We'll go through each position about goalkeepers. And then each one gets like a – you get to get your jersey and it's like a whole moment. So it's really nice. Okay, I'm going to flip it on its head here. Which coach do you want to play for? I've been with Coach Hannah for the past two years.

[00:14:53] So I'm hoping Coach Hannah. But Coach Pritchard is also my goalie coach. So honestly, it doesn't really – it doesn't matter to me. Both are fine picks. So if you're in that situation, what are you looking for? Who would you pick and why? Honestly, I would pick anybody on this team. I think we all – like everyone can own their role on the team. Everyone has a good role on the team. And yeah, I honestly – I couldn't pick anybody over anybody.

[00:15:20] It's just like work with what we got because everyone's great. Well, there's so many new faces like we talked about in the last segment. You've got 16 newcomers on the roster this year. They all contribute in different ways, I'm sure. So tell me, who has been the biggest surprise to you so far? I'm really not sure. There's so many of them. Yeah, there really is. Every single one of them brings something to the table.

[00:15:49] And it's just fun to get to learn each single one of them. I know for me, a big one is the forwards, trying to learn them, trying to work around them. Sashi, when she comes to my head, actually, I'm not going to lie. She comes to my head. She's very technical, very – you never know what you're going to get with her. So she definitely comes to my head. Is there anyone else on roster that maybe has already been here that you think is going to be standout for this team this upcoming season? I think a lot of girls are going to step it up this season. I think it's going to be a really good season.

[00:16:18] I think our captains are going to really take shape and morph our team into a really good position. Well, you've got certainly a big season ahead of you guys. Last year didn't necessarily the way you guys wanted to. Going into this year, what's kind of a motto or a mantra that this team has adopted going into this year to perform at their best? One of our mottos is just like next play, like the next thing. What's your next step? What's your next mentality step?

[00:16:46] Like you have to have a quick reset because you're going to make a mistake. You're not guaranteed a great, a perfect game. So you just – you've got to prepare for your mistake and then just reset and quickly go about it. Anything in these last couple practices before your upcoming season that you guys really need to focus and lean on to get better for that first matchup? I think something that we should lean on and something that we've been working a lot on is just our identity.

[00:17:12] Something that we talked about today in our meeting was just like learning who we are as individuals, learning each other so that we can – like I said, we have so many newcomers that you've got to like learn their strengths and like their weaknesses and go about it. And so that's just something like learning ourselves and then also who we play with around us. If you had a way to describe this team, you know, how would you describe this team to someone that's watching them for the first time?

[00:17:37] I think that we're young, athletic, energetic, and I think we're going to be really fun to watch. That's good stuff. So lastly here, like I said, the lightning round where we're just going to go through, bang out some questions. You've got to think quick on your feet, all right? A little bit about you, a little bit about your team, a little bit about your life in Las Vegas, albeit, all right? So we're going to start off. I want to know, Demi, what is your pregame routine? I always get a Starbucks every day and then I have my music. It's kind of it.

[00:18:07] What's the order at Starbucks? Fenty, strawberry, sigh, lemonade, light ice, no inclusions. Then that's it. You never change that order. All right. You talked about music. Who's the go-to artist you're listening to? I love – I really – just anybody who pumps me up. Like, my favorite song is like In the Air Tonight. So it sounds like more like pop. You don't have a genre you kind of gravitate towards? I guess like I just want something to like pump me up. I don't want to be chill.

[00:18:36] Like, I need something that just gives me some energy. You've come here now to Nashville. Have you taken to country music? Yeah, I love country music. Big Morgan Wallen fan. Has Ella Langley taken over everything now? Yes. Love her too, actually. She's great. Favorite place to eat in the borough? I got to go to Joni's. I really like their – I like their coffee. And like they always have – their fries are amazing. So, again, another NIL opportunity for Demi.

[00:19:06] If they're listening, they have to tune in for this upcoming year. If you could play another sport outside of soccer, what would it be? Probably volleyball. Do you have a position in mind for volleyball? Probably like the libero. I think that would be like just a fun position to try. So, you're the goalkeeper, kind of the solo position, and then you want to be in volleyball. The libero, the one true position. Yeah, probably sticks to that. Who – this is now reflecting on your team. Who is the most competitive person on your team?

[00:19:35] I think Hannah Murphy. Very competitive. She's a – if someone's not following the rules and it's affecting her team, she'll jump on you. She says, you take it off of soccer if you guys are playing ping pong or mini golf. Is she also the most competitive? Oh, yeah. She just never – it never turns off. No. One player on your team, if let's say Coach Roden, Coach Haves, Coach Pritchard, they're all gone. You needed a player to step in as your manager for a game. Who is the player that would be the best coach?

[00:20:04] I would go Megan. She's going into her fifth year. She's been here. She knows the ropes. She's got it. She's got us. If you were stranded on an island, you get one teammate who would be the best one to help you survive or get you off the island. Who would that person be? Jess Gray. She's so resourceful. She's going to get me. She's going to carry me on her back. Who is the last person you want on the island with you? Maybe one of our newcomers. Like any other freshmen maybe.

[00:20:34] Any of them. It's hard. I'm sure they're still trying to figure life out now as freshmen. They're so young and they're still coming out of their shell. You know, you don't know them yet. Sure. Sure. All right. Back to your team. Pre-game, you get an aux cord for the locker room. Who are you giving the aux cord to? Scotty Newton. She just knows the vibe. She's just always in it. Who is banned from the aux cord? I'd go Jess. I personally, she likes her scouse rap and it's not for me.

[00:21:05] All right. Back to Vegas. What is the most vaguest thing about Demi? I don't know. A lot of people just say I give off like a very valley girl. Like my accent seems very valley. I was like, okay, I guess. Have you ever adopted anything from Nashville that when you went back home, they're like, wow, this has changed about you? Some, some words they say, I say a little, a little funny, but I think it's just because

[00:21:33] of the people I'm around, but nothing. I don't really, I haven't really like, I haven't adapted y'all. I haven't adapted anything. So y'all is kind of the one that people seem to take. Yeah. What's so if someone was to travel to Vegas, they have 24 hours and it can't be the strip. Where do you, where do you suggest people to go? I tell them to go to Summerlin. That's kind of like the area I'm from. It's where I've like went to high school and stuff. So I would suggest there because it's fun. It's cutesy and all that.

[00:22:01] How far is that from like the, like when people think of Vegas, how far is that from the strip? From the strip, it's probably 30 minutes, but everything at Vegas, it's not like here. It's really fast drive. It's, it's like a nothing drive. Yeah. Oh yeah. They don't have an interstate 24. Is that what you're saying? No, no, no. It's like driving from here to like Joni's or something. Like it's so quick. It's funny you say that because like 30 minutes for us, Murfreesboro to Nashville is every bit of 30, maybe even 45 minutes depending on the day of traffic.

[00:22:29] But you're saying it's, it's a quick little drive to Vegas. Back to lastly, we're going to finish this up on, on team talk. What's the best advice you've received either from a coach or from a teammate since you've been at MTSU? Um, I would just say like the best advice I've gotten is to put the team first, always put the team first and then like yourself will come after. Favorite memory from 2025?

[00:22:57] Um, I would say senior night. I think senior night was a really, really cool moment. We got a shutout, a big win. And I'm pretty sure it was like when we clenched our conference. So I was going into the tournament. Sorry. So if you had to describe your game to someone who's never watched you play, how would you describe your game? Uh, I would say that it's a very like possession oriented, uh, like the ball at our feet and

[00:23:27] we just try and build and progress the ball. Tell me about your game. What about your, yeah. Yeah. What about your game? If I was describing your game, what would you tell me? I would say I would like, I would like to describe myself as like somebody who's confident with the ball at my feet. Uh, a good shot stopper and yeah. Perfect. I need, I need a good shot stopper and my goalkeeper. So lastly, what's a statement that this team is trying to make this year?

[00:23:55] We want to win our regular season and make it straight into playoffs, number one seed, and then win our conference tournament. When people watch this team play, what's something that you hope that they remember about this team? I hope they remember just like our style. Cause I, I want them to think that we were like the best team that they've never seen anyone play soccer like us. Absolutely. That is junior goalkeeper, Demi Gronauer.

[00:24:25] Thank you so much for taking the time to join us today ahead of your blue and white series. Thank you. And again, their season blue and white is tomorrow at home, but their season actually kicks off next Friday at 7 PM at home against Southern Miss admission is free this year. I believe as it has been in years past, but of course we look forward to seeing Demi and the lady Raiders. When we come back after this break, we're going to be highlighting a lot more from media

[00:24:52] days last week, talking football, and of course, a little bit more basketball news. So stick around. You're listening to the blue Raider podcast. This is the blue Raider podcast presented by gold's gym of Tennessee on FM one Oh 1.9 and AM 1450 Murfreesboro 100.5 Smyrna WGNS radio.com and the blue Raider podcast, YouTube channel. Now back to your host, Jake Bolden.

[00:25:23] Welcome back into the blue Raider podcast. We are getting into our final segment of today's episode, but we're going to be highlighting a little bit more of conference USA media days last week. And of course, a little bit more basketball news is now players are getting onto campus. So thanks for sticking around for us for our final segment. If you missed our first half segment where we had junior goalkeeper Demi Gronauer join us talking all things lady Raiders soccer season.

[00:25:51] That's upcoming their season starts tomorrow with their preseason blue and white game inner squad game, but their actual regular season does begin a week from today at 7 PM over at the MTSU Dean Hayes track and soccer stadium. Again, that admission is a hundred percent free for those that come and it will be all season long. So if you missed that part of the interview though, with, with Demi, make sure you're following us on anywhere that you consume your streaming services.

[00:26:20] We're at blue Raider podcast, Spotify, Apple podcast, Google podcast, anything we are available to you. And of course, make sure you're following us on your social media outlets at blue Raider pod X, Instagram, Facebook, Tik TOK. And of course your live stream every Friday at 5 PM. Like I said, we are going to be getting into more conference USA football talk. If you missed last week's episode, we spent some time highlighting conference USA's media days.

[00:26:48] Coach Mason brought along as quarterback and his kicker along or punter to be specific along talking all things blue Raiders. But I wanted to spend a little bit of time in our final segment today, highlighting what we learned a little bit about the rest of the conference in the last couple of weeks, really diving into some conference USA preseason previews. Kind of where do the blue Raiders stack up in this conference? We know where the bowl confidence index put a lot of teams in this conference.

[00:27:15] Now that there's just down to 10 teams after the polls went out to media members and coaches, the top six teams, there's high confidence that they'll make a bowl game this year, but the bottom four are very, very low confidence, quite a gap between those groups. So let's take a second really to dive into those teams and what makes all these, their season something to watch. And really, as we look forward to the blue Raiders season, how do they stack up against these opposition?

[00:27:39] Well, the favorite, it really is funny who you talk to for this upcoming season for conference USA, who's going to be the favorite. I think a lot of people will put Western Kentucky and Liberty up in that first echelon every single year for no reason, other than the fact that they are just consistent with the coaching staff they've had over the last couple of years. Tyson Helton, big storyline, at least for us in Murfreesboro, they have a new offensive coordinator.

[00:28:05] Derek Mason let go of Bodie Reeder over this last offseason and Tyson Helton surprisingly took coach Reeder as his new offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. However, I believe Tyson Helton is the play caller in Bowling Green. So I don't know that Reeder will have that responsibility up there, but definitely a storyline when the Blue Raiders do meet up for homecoming in November. But outside of that, other storylines really falling with the Hilltoppers.

[00:28:30] They also have a young phenom quarterback, just like Derek Mason does with Roman Gagliano. Rodney Tillsdale Jr. exploded on the season on the scene last year late in the season with some injuries. A freshman, a guy that has really all the weapons. He's got the legs. He's got the arm to make all the throws. A little bit wild. The interception numbers are a little bit higher than I think most Hilltopper fans are comfortable with. But he's certainly, you could make the case that he is in that upper class of quarterbacks

[00:28:58] when he's playing at his absolute best. They've also got one of the more dynamic running backs in Conference USA in a Jay Allen. It was a preseason All-CUSA selection as well. The big questions for them is, can the defense improve enough to always keep up with this high-power offense? And can Rodney Tisdale be strong enough for the Hilltoppers and Tyson Helton to carry them over that hump? They're always a game short of being Conference USA champions.

[00:29:24] The other favorite is Liberty. Liberty always is going to get benefit of the doubt because of the amount of money and how hard they hit the NIL marketplace. Truthfully, I wasn't too impressed with Liberty this offseason. They're still with a little bit of a quarterback situation. Deshaun Purdy transferred in, a former P4 coming in this year. He's still going to be fighting it out with Vasco, who's still on roster. Someone who I thought might hit the portal who had a really rough

[00:29:52] season last year. So if Jamie Chadwell can figure out the offense, maybe get that offense back to the way it was in 2024, I think that this team has potential. I think there's still a better football team than they had last year, but I don't think that these are conference champion Liberty that we may be accustomed to. The team that I do really like though is Jacksonville State. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that they return their quarterback, Caden Creel, who I think fits that

[00:30:20] offense so well that Jacksonville State, as long as Caden Creel, again, a guy who I didn't think would be returning, but did return. He's a preseason second team, all CUSA selection. So this is a guy that I think with Jacksonville State, and they do lose Cam Cook, who was one of the best group of five, group of six running backs in the country last year. They do lose him. He does go to follow Rich Rod up to West Virginia. But I think Jacksonville State offense is one of the best, probably the most

[00:30:50] underrated. And they had one of the best defenses in Conference USA last year. So again, a group that I think returns enough production that they should certainly be on everyone's radar. And now we're talking about to the fourth team, and they're the defending Conference USA champions from 2026. Coach Jerry Mack did a great job coaching a team, in my opinion, that really lacked great quarterback play. They're going to have to still find answers, in my opinion, at quarterback,

[00:31:17] losing their star this last year. And I say star within quotations because he didn't even have the starting role to the end of the year. So Kennesaw State, I think will rely heavily, much like they did last year, on their running attack and on their defense. They had one of the better defenses again in Conference USA, which is what pushed them over the edge that kind of made up for a lackluster offense. And truthfully, the offense didn't turn the ball over too much that took themselves out of

[00:31:44] ballgames, which hurt teams as I get to Delaware, FIU, and MTSU alike, where the turnover bug just kind of bogged those teams out. But I don't think Kennesaw State makes that same return. If Jerry Mack does, then he's the guy deserves to move out of Conference USA. But I feel pretty confident that Kennesaw State will make a bowl game this year. But I don't know that they could repeat as Conference USA champions this upcoming year. Now that middle tier teams, I already prefaced Delaware, and I've

[00:32:12] actually talked about them a lot this offseason because they're top five, top 10 in the country in returning production from 2025. And I've also, they've been to the news about how they've used and allocated their NIL because of NCAA football and all these kinds of things. But I think more importantly is that returning production, something that has been so difficult for all the teams in Conference USA, but for Delaware to do it, not just in the G6, not just in Conference USA, but be one of the best in the country and being able to retain their production from last year,

[00:32:42] I think is going to go, I think much further for them because a lot of their mistakes last year were just young, youthful mistakes, turning the ball over. Games would get out of hand very quickly for them. It'd always be a third quarter out of the halftime fumble, blunder, something. But they do return quarterback Nick Minacucci, was an MVP in their bowl game last year. I think Nick Minacucci is another guy who possibly gets slid under the radar because of how good the

[00:33:10] quarterback play is in Conference USA. But when you tag him along with Joe Silver, first team, also USA running back, they have a great backfield in the offensive side of the ball. If their defense can get better, I think Delaware could certainly push for a top spot in Conference USA. And then we get to our friend Willie Simmons down in Miami for FIU. They've got a new quarterback coming in with

[00:33:34] JJ Cole. This one's going to be an interesting season to say the least for Coach Willie Simmons. If Cole is the quarterback that they needed last year, I think that this team could easily get back to seven wins. I think FIU is in great hands with Coach Willie Simmons. And I'll hold my tongue about, you know, his potential return to Murfreesboro a few years ago. But obviously, he was able to take

[00:34:00] a dying program from Coach McIntyre, turn it around in one season and make himself into a bowl game. So by FIU, they have to rework a little bit of this offense because of the quarterback play because they they had Jenkins and then they had to make a change late in the year. Actually, the MTSU game was where they made that change. They changed their style of offense. So I'm interested to see what kind of identity Coach Willie Simmons has for his Panthers offense in this upcoming year. Now we get to that

[00:34:29] bottom four tier. Missouri State, they're probably the best of these bottom four teams. They do have a lot of returning production on the offensive line. They are going to have to make some adjustments with coaching staff and improving their depth throughout. But this team was a big surprise last year, particularly when they got into Conference USA season. But still a lot of question

[00:34:54] marks, much like I had last year with Missouri State. Next is New Mexico State in that eight spot. They've got one of the best wide receivers in the conference in TK King. He's coming back. I think New Mexico State has a really good defense on paper, but their biggest problem as it has been the entire time of the Sanchez era going on, I think this is his fifth year in Las Cruces is the offense. It's just an atrocious offense that has at times been one of the worst,

[00:35:21] but has trouble just even keeping the offense on the field, turnover bug. But I think that if they can find some rhythm on offense, much like we saw early in the Conference USA season for them, New Mexico State could creep into that four or five win team. We already know MTSU was coming in at ninth in that bowl confidence index. The big story, I know when I'm listening to a lot of other podcasts is the big storyline around Mason going into year three, the president's vacation and

[00:35:50] vacating, I should say his position this upcoming December has been a little bit of the buzz amongst the G6 chatters. How does that play into what happens at the end of the season? How does that play into Mason, I guess, pushing for this year, knowing that how important this year could be for his future? But I've talked plenty ad nauseum about this, so I won't get too deep into the weeds.

[00:36:15] But lastly, Sam Houston in the 10 spot. I don't think that this team is good, personally. I know that they have good defense, but offensively, there's just nothing that Phil Longo has done that, at least again, from guys that he's brought in, that has made me think that he's going to turn a corner. I think Phil Longo is a good coach, but maybe Sam Houston doesn't give him the resources to really, I guess, take advantage of how good of a recruiter he is. And sometimes his personality

[00:36:43] gets in the way, but I don't buy into Sam Houston taking any sort of steps ahead. I think that they are much like they were last year, going to be bottom of Conference USA. It is only the second year. And again, Sam Houston isn't known for their money, much like the rest of Conference USA. I think their endowment is the lowest in all of Conference USA, maybe close with Missouri State. But I digress. I think Sam Houston is going to be one of the bottom teams, if not the bottom team

[00:37:10] in Conference USA this year. So I wanted to put a nice little bow on that. Real quickly, before we wrap it up, talking a little bit more hoops talk, a big storyline, I think, for the Lady Raiders that is worth mentioning, even though we are here late July, is that Maya Kone has made her way to campus. The only reason I think that this is really newsworthy is because Matt Insull, as someone who is completely transparent with his practice, he loves to put practice film over on his social

[00:37:37] media. If you don't follow him on his social media, it's always a great peak because I don't make practices. But he does post their film. And something that I thought was interesting now that Maya Kone is on campus is that she was being utilized a lot in those films as a point guard. And for the most part, I kind of wrote off when she was a part of the transfer portal, one of the one of, I guess, in that middle group of commits, big splash for Conference USA. I mean, this is a preseason All-CUSA selection

[00:38:06] before she got hurt and then transferred out to Miami for a season. So this is a big time player for Conference USA sake. But I always wrote her in as someone that would potentially play the five for Blair, but they really like Blair at the five. Maybe she's so versatile enough that they can put her at the four, much like someone who Macy Pfeiffer did. But she's so lengthy. So I don't know how they plan to utilize her. But she played a lot of reps anyways in this practice film at point guard position. But

[00:38:34] I'm super impressed with the ball handling skill that Maya Kone has. And I think reverting back to who I remember Kone was when she was at FIU two years ago. And it was limited film. So I really should say three years ago, they she didn't utilize she wasn't running point that often, but she has great handles in the film that I'm seeing. And of course, they play game like repetitions in practice in

[00:39:01] these practice films. So she looks great as someone who is coming two years removed from a leg injury, almost two years removed from a leg injury. I think she moves great. She's quick, she's got great touch. She can obviously shoot from all three levels. So super excited one that she's on campus, but to kind of see that Madden stills playing around with the lineups a little bit. So it'll be interesting to see how they decide to use Maya Kone. Once again, a big appreciation to junior

[00:39:28] goalkeeper Demi Gronauer for joining our episode earlier today. Don't miss the re upload of this. If you missed our first two segments with Demi talking about their preseason ahead matchup tomorrow, blue and white game. And then of course, their season does kick off next Friday at 7pm. Thanks for you for tuning into another episode of the Blue Raider podcast. Don't forget to follow us on our social medias at Blue Raider pod X Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. And of course, if you're listening to our

[00:39:55] Friday 5pm live stream, make sure you hit that subscribe button. So you don't miss another one of those. Thanks to my producer, Jackson Smith, you're listening to the Blue Raider podcast.