Season 2, Episode 5 feat. Chip Walters, Holden Willis, and Bull City Coordinators

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[00:00:39] Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast on your host, Jake Bolden, and we have a football

[00:00:44] filled episode for you today that we're going to recap the 100 miles of hate game with

[00:00:49] the voice-to-blue Raiders chip Walters followed up by an interview with all CUSA tied in Holden

[00:00:54] Willis and then lastly we will go behind it in the lines once again with the College Huddle Partner

[00:00:59] that is the Bull City coordinators there for the Duke Blue Devils.

[00:01:04] Ben Bird is joining us today, but before we get in to today's episode I would like to thank

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[00:02:28] again thanks to our sponsors Mighty Dog Reefing and the Consecor Group now. We will roll into a recap

[00:02:34] of this weekend and what a weekend was and I'm excited about today's guest is it is this first time

[00:02:39] joining the Blue Rader podcast. He doesn't really need much of an introduction but voice the Blue Rader

[00:02:44] on WGNS I joined today by Chip Walters Ship Housing Going. Doing fine it's a reaction Monday,

[00:02:53] sometimes an overreaction Monday but it is Monday nonetheless in homecoming week would do coming in

[00:02:59] and yeah you know disappointing Lawson on Saturday and but you know Hope Springs Eternal this week

[00:03:07] with another home game. Absolutely and I'm sure from my perspective there will be no overreactions

[00:03:14] from this weekend I will be as level headed as I possibly can be as I'm sure you will as too.

[00:03:20] That's the goal for sure yes well before we get into the discussion one thing I'll

[00:03:25] love to start our episodes off with is we'll get the post game opener from head coach Derek Mason

[00:03:31] first off you know heads off to Western Kentucky those guys those guys were opportunistic

[00:03:39] I thought they played hard they're a good football team and you can spot good football team 21 points

[00:03:48] period you know you look at the night and it starts with some miscuse early from us on special teams

[00:03:57] which was unfortunate you look at you know where we sit we move the ball you know my offense

[00:04:05] believe but wind up getting turning it over on downs and then they go down in score

[00:04:13] I look at where we sit right now we have to start fast man we have to make sure that positive

[00:04:20] things happen for us you know early and fight through this it's it's something for this football

[00:04:28] team and this football team in particular as it looks at itself I take forward responsibility

[00:04:33] for you know how we come into these games I thought we were prepared and ready to play and

[00:04:39] with the momentum change of some of those plays you know we're just not mature enough to handle

[00:04:43] all parts of it so we have to continue as a staff to put this group in position

[00:04:49] to be better as I look at some things you know that showed up red zone chances man we were

[00:04:54] one and three and those two missed red zone opportunities you know 14 points we had the ball close

[00:04:59] and you know my punch the ball in for touchdowns and that that that shows up you know we were

[00:05:07] over three on third on four down not very good for us they were seven to ten on third down and

[00:05:14] we really didn't get their quarterback their back home quarterback or anybody else off the

[00:05:20] spot all night and that's that's not necessarily what you want you got to you got to be able to win

[00:05:26] third down and obviously we have to set edges in tackle better you know it's been in a

[00:05:32] keely's hill you know like this season and we have to scratch where it is but as I look at this

[00:05:37] football team that that may be down right now we're all down but we're not out to fight so the

[00:05:43] thing that we got to do is move forward all right well you heard it from him there I think one

[00:05:49] thing I can always appreciate thus far in the day of Mason air as he takes a lot of accountability

[00:05:53] doesn't really hold anything back he understands some of those areas that need improvements

[00:05:57] so chip I'll let you kind of take it away what was what was kind of your your reaction from that from

[00:06:02] that well you know I think Derek you're right I think he's very open in his assessment whether it's

[00:06:11] immediately after a game or like today he had his normal weekly press conference it's always kind of

[00:06:18] interesting to kind of compare what the immediate reaction after a game is compared to when they

[00:06:26] have 48 hours to kind of digest it and go back and look at it but you know the pretty the one

[00:06:35] thing that coaches are very you know they they don't want to throw out there too heavily in the

[00:06:43] look arena is is with the you know that injuries play to roll well you know when you look at where

[00:06:50] this football team is right now injuries have played a role in what they are not that that means

[00:06:57] you go to Ole Miss and Winner that you win a game against Western Kentucky but you know if you think

[00:07:03] about in particular against Western in a conference opponent if you have you know Julius Pearson

[00:07:11] and Justin Baudaford in the offensive line who started in the opening game if you've got

[00:07:17] Frank P's on and Jakeel Middlebrook available you feel like you're with take all four of those pieces

[00:07:24] right there you feel like your run game is going to be a little bit better you also have to think that

[00:07:30] if you've got Drew Francis and Parker Hughes healthy who they've not played yet this year

[00:07:38] you know we're just kind of waiting I know they're practicing but we haven't seen them out there

[00:07:43] you feel like those guys who have you know how many crossing routes have they covered in their careers

[00:07:48] as linebackers you feel like that you're going to be a little better in that situation against

[00:07:57] how Ole Miss likes to play and how Western likes to play and and then you've got a seventh year

[00:08:03] in Britain and Harris who was injured against Ole Miss but finished the game and did not play so there's

[00:08:09] seven guys right there that you would like to have out there that you didn't but that being said

[00:08:16] what Derek said in my estimation was was absolutely true in that you know you can chalk up a lot of it

[00:08:26] the the two empty possessions that they came up with inside the red zone and in the one

[00:08:34] at the one yard line you know it is so true that football is a game of inches or even sometimes

[00:08:43] seconds or inches that you know had Omaric Kelly been able to take one more step you know that

[00:08:49] becomes a scoring drive but then you had you know you you end up with four snaps inside the

[00:08:56] the two yard line and can't put it in and that I think let a lot of air out of the sails there was

[00:09:04] some hope at that point and that took it away but also go back to the very beginning in coach Mason

[00:09:11] talked about it and they put a lot of effort into special teams play this year I mean for the first time

[00:09:18] you have a special team's coordinator and that is at the coordinator level with Luke Pascal

[00:09:25] and and then you have a miscube on the opening kickoff to where you start to drive at the one

[00:09:31] yard line and even though you do drive at 59 yards before turning it over on downs it's still

[00:09:40] you know it felt like it sucked some air out of the building right off the get go so

[00:09:46] that's a whole big long rambling answer to what was a very short question Jake but

[00:09:52] you know this football team did a lot of good things on Saturday night they put up a ton of

[00:09:58] yards you had you almost had two single game records go by the wayside that we can obviously we'll

[00:10:05] talk about but you know it's it's I think there is a level of frustration right now among

[00:10:11] the fan base not necessarily where coach Mason is in his building of the program or the reboot

[00:10:19] as he calls it but just in that that's six in a row to the folks up north and that that in

[00:10:27] itself it doesn't matter who is coaching that that is the frustrating part.

[00:10:32] Yeah absolutely I think from a fans perspective that's where a lot of this frustration comes from

[00:10:38] and and I want to take a step back and kind of look at this from a thousand foot view here

[00:10:42] the reality is it's going into this season you're you're looking at the first five games

[00:10:47] and you're thinking you know one and four should realistically be the expectation I think

[00:10:52] for whatever reason this maybe this that we the fan base or whoever kind of created this fall

[00:10:57] sense of we've got a chance this Saturday and I think going into it you thought you do have

[00:11:02] a chance because Western looked very vulnerable obviously in their Alabama game and then they

[00:11:07] didn't look you know like the stars that we saw on Saturday against Easter Kentucky I think

[00:11:12] you could make the argument that Western probably played their best game all they're going to

[00:11:16] play all season on Saturday. I mean that was a really good football team that came in here

[00:11:20] and and they just put the beat down on with the bat and some will say with the backup quarterback

[00:11:24] and again that might feed a little bit of that frustration but I would like to make the argument

[00:11:28] for those that don't necessarily follow Western that closely. Cate and Bill Camp going into

[00:11:32] to spring ball was in a battle with TJ family that's a good quarterback that we face and

[00:11:36] that's a kid that would start I'd have to imagine on a hundred and thirty three other division

[00:11:40] one football teams had he had been given the opportunity so I want to make that I say excuse

[00:11:46] but that's the reality I think that that team was just better than us on paper and they were

[00:11:54] got fallback into those things what you were talking about the injuries we all understand that

[00:11:59] we're we're hand-strong by injuries you gotta finish those drives but to go back to kind of

[00:12:04] the new ones of those two drives I thought that the playbook maybe I don't want to say closed up

[00:12:09] but when you're on the one yard line the thing I keep I keep saying in my head is you've got a

[00:12:14] sneak it you know you four plays from the worst case scenario you're fumble and that happened

[00:12:19] and so where I get concerned is the execution isn't there and in a marie and we don't have

[00:12:24] the clip here today but a marie and even Nick said in their post game after that game is that

[00:12:29] maybe that those situations they maybe don't have that focus and execution in practice and

[00:12:35] that came back to bite him and a key situation because if you look back at this game on Saturday

[00:12:39] if you if you score those two drives you're going into half time worst case scenario 21 14

[00:12:45] but I would assume given the amount of time going off the clock that you would be 14 14 and

[00:12:49] half time and the complexion changes entirely so if really does fall back to those attention to

[00:12:54] details that their constantly preach is on but again I say all that it just really feeds into

[00:13:00] I say the the frustration that these are the little things that we shouldn't be dealing with in week

[00:13:05] three and it seems like we are in and another fine detail that is really really hindered us

[00:13:10] is the tackling the tackling is one of those things that I've got to be fixed but I agree with you

[00:13:14] guys like Parker and Drew guys that are known for their tackling numbers I would assume the

[00:13:19] defense would improve it just it would it would just have to and luckily Duke a team that hasn't

[00:13:25] moved the ball particularly well on offense you got an opportunity to maybe write that ship

[00:13:30] a little bit and kind of get that confidence back underneath yourself for homecoming you know you

[00:13:35] we were joking at at the launch table today the goal has to be to score 27 points this week

[00:13:41] because Duke has scored 26 and each of their three games to start the year they opened up

[00:13:48] saw a little bit of their Elon game and one at home kind of pulled away late then we were in the

[00:13:56] hotel in Memphis getting ready for the old misgaming and they came had to come from behind to beat

[00:14:02] North Western and overtime and then did the same thing had to come from behind against you kind

[00:14:08] to win they've got a quarterback who who does a nice job obviously we're familiar with you know

[00:14:15] some folks on their staff including many D.S. the head coach former defensive coordinator here

[00:14:20] and Justin Watts former wide receiver coach here and Willie Simmons former offensive coordinator

[00:14:28] here they're all part of the Duke staff but you know I think the football team in itself

[00:14:35] that the whole everybody in the building has the luxury of being able to get it

[00:14:45] whatever happened the previous weekend they have the luxury of being able to turn the page move on

[00:14:51] where us out here in the fandom can sit here and stew on it for the next week and they're on

[00:14:58] to whatever's next and I think you know the the Derek and his staff are very organized and what they do

[00:15:04] which is you know most every football coach I've ever known has been and the one thing I do

[00:15:11] like in Coach Stock started this and they've continued it as they practice on Sunday and Monday

[00:15:19] ends up being there off day during the normal part of the schedule not the midweek part of the schedule

[00:15:25] but you know they're able to go and address the issues that they had go to the practice field

[00:15:33] and make their corrections on here's what we did here's what we need to do in those situations

[00:15:38] and then they start moving on to to the next opponent and so that way they kind of get all

[00:15:46] of that out of their system literally within 24 hours after the game has happened

[00:15:53] and some of that stuff I want to highlight to the things that they actually didn't will and I think

[00:15:57] that they're not getting credit for because of the circumstances of having a poor showing

[00:16:00] but the offense in my opinion has looked to the part that we thought I think the offensive line is

[00:16:06] still trying to find their way out with the injuries that you've already mentioned with peers in

[00:16:10] bought a firm and you got Ethan Ellis who's working through some offfield things but he's kind of

[00:16:15] getting back in the groove and when it talk about offensive line and blocking schemes there's a

[00:16:20] so much chemistry that has to be created that you can't just manufacture and practice when you get

[00:16:25] the game things like that happen but highlight some of those big things like you the two

[00:16:30] record breaking performance as we practically saw this week I mean I'm already I thought after

[00:16:34] his his second touchdown I said he's got to be near 200 yards and sure enough he finishes with

[00:16:39] 239 five short of the record and and I've said the first two games I actually said preseason

[00:16:44] this guy is going to be someone that's going to be a thousand yard receiver he's going to be on

[00:16:47] everyone's watch list he needs to be if he's not and he went to sleep the first two weeks not

[00:16:52] I don't think that's so marries I think the game plan wasn't drawn up for him to get as many targets but

[00:16:56] we saw the reemergence of a marry Kelly and boy was exciting and I hopefully rate her fans look

[00:17:01] forward to what this kick can bring because when I when I see his game I mean thousand yards feel

[00:17:06] easy I mean he's already a quarter the way there and just one game yeah and you know he is he's

[00:17:14] obviously he already has more catches this year than he had all of last season and he he's an

[00:17:21] exciting guy and he's it you know being an older player he he has some maturity about him and

[00:17:27] and he said you know today that you know the relationship that he has with Nick Vadiado that

[00:17:35] chemistry began really during spring practice and then all during the summer when they had the

[00:17:41] player lead practices those were you know very they really got on the same page and when you think

[00:17:47] about that big three of Nick Vadiado O'Mari Kelly and Holden Willis you know and I think Derek

[00:17:57] talked about after the Tennessee Tech game that you know Willis didn't get enough targets or

[00:18:03] Kelly didn't get enough targets so I think there's a you know there's a conscious effort

[00:18:08] to make sure that those guys do have the opportunity to make plays that does not mean that

[00:18:16] you don't continue to use the depth in your tight end position or in your wide receiver position

[00:18:21] and they're also something we you know they are determined to continue to develop the run game

[00:18:29] and you know where does that go is it you know to develop it further is it gonna remain

[00:18:36] between the tackles or a little more of what we saw with Terry Wilkins over the weekend

[00:18:42] where he you know trying to bump it outside or maybe even you know get Nick's legs involved a

[00:18:48] little bit more in the run pass option type of game but Baudi Reader has a history of

[00:18:55] of having offences that can put up a lot of a lot of yards and a lot of points and and this team

[00:19:02] put up a lot of yards had the opportunity to put up a lot of points and you had those two

[00:19:08] misfires within inside the red zone so you know I'm not pushing the panic button by any

[00:19:14] stretch and in this team showed a lot and I can't wait to see it continue to play when it's

[00:19:21] when it gets to be you're never 100% healthy but when you're somewhere close to it at least

[00:19:28] absolutely and and I've and I've pushed and pushed on the boards over go middle dot com that

[00:19:33] the fact that this is this is a stretch that again going into the year I didn't anticipate going well

[00:19:39] at all I mean I thought we'd go into the biweek at one and four and this is and at that and at that

[00:19:44] turn that's when things kind of you really kind of judge what kind of season you're gonna have I think

[00:19:48] unfortunately Western Kentucky was your measuring state game is this team championship contending we got

[00:19:54] that answer and the truth though is with the conference in the way the outlook it is so far Western

[00:20:00] in my opinion and maybe Sam Houston state you can make an argument for them or the two best

[00:20:04] teams in the conference at Liberty looks extremely vulnerable how to have a rough go against

[00:20:08] you tap this last week they weren't that shut out against New Mexico state in week two in my

[00:20:14] opinion the conference is wide open which should vote well when we get to that biweek and then

[00:20:19] we have that three three game stretch over two weeks because you got Louisiana tech you got

[00:20:24] Kinesaw State you got Jacksonville State well fortunately for MTSU in the fans those three are

[00:20:29] sitting in the bottom with this right now as well Louise in attack looks a little bit more

[00:20:32] favorable than they did in the past but I say all this for the fans really hold on don't hit the

[00:20:38] panic button as you said there is there is there is a there's a sunrise ahead we just got to

[00:20:43] get there and really at this juncture I'm thinking if we can just get their healthy as you mentioned

[00:20:48] and maybe a pure speculation on my part some of these guys may be holding out for that stretch

[00:20:53] because that's a stretch in regards to having a successful season if you want to get to five

[00:20:56] wins if you want to get the maybe get to six wins you've got to do really well in that

[00:21:00] and that three game stretch so chip is as we kind of close up on our time here I want to hear

[00:21:04] from you as you look forward to that three game stretch what are some of those areas that you

[00:21:08] you think need to be addressed in these last two non conference games well I think tackling is

[00:21:14] to me is the number one issue I mean we had we've had guys with you know in open field areas

[00:21:23] being able to you know to make solid tackles to be able to get guys a lot of guys surrounding the

[00:21:34] ball is coach Brian Stewart likes to call he likes to populate around the ball that's his his phrase

[00:21:40] but I thought we we've missed a lot of tackles against you know receivers who were kind of

[00:21:48] running free and again being able to keep things in front of us so I think that the continued

[00:21:56] development of the run game and and also you know coaches one of the biggest things they have

[00:22:04] is trust and and and for players they have to be able to instill trust in that offensive coordinator

[00:22:15] or in that defensive coordinator or in our case the special teams coordinator you've got to go

[00:22:21] out and I think in these next couple of non conference games to go out and when loser draw

[00:22:27] you've got to go out and establish as Derek says you know the tape is the tape and every day

[00:22:35] is is adding to your resume you've got to put some trustworthy things out there for the coaches

[00:22:42] and you know right now there's a lot of players who are doing that there's several more

[00:22:47] who who need to continue to to move in that direction but to me I think the offense is going to be

[00:22:53] fine the defense right now you know when you've given up 100 points in the last two weeks

[00:22:59] you know people are scoring points like they've never scored before but and and I would dare say we

[00:23:05] have ever faced two offenses as prolific ever as what we faced the last two weeks between

[00:23:13] Ole Miss and and Western Kentucky so you know that's a bit of an anomaly and you know from here

[00:23:22] on out although Memphis is really good offensively which we've seen but everybody else is kind of like

[00:23:28] everybody else once you get into that stretch after the Memphis game and and and so you know

[00:23:35] that's when you know execution and and game planning and scheming and all that can can really

[00:23:41] start to pay off and go down the stretch where everybody's kind of unveiling themselves within our

[00:23:48] league of who exactly they are and some are better than expected some are not quite what was expected

[00:23:55] some are almost exactly what was expected so but within this age of the transfer portal it is

[00:24:02] really hard to gauge a roster from one year to the next like we had been able to do 10 years ago

[00:24:10] that's so great insight from chip walters is always voice the blue radar you can hear him

[00:24:15] W. G. and S. F. M. 101.9 100.5 A. M. 1450 as well as on the Nashville classic hits 93.3 F. M. chip I've been

[00:24:23] listening to you for years I've got that almost almost nailed down don't I? Oh that and we're

[00:24:29] streaming everywhere. Strang with whether it's goblirriters dot com the blue rider game day at

[00:24:35] totally hits app tune in we're also even on the serious XM app so you can catch us there every week

[00:24:43] absolutely chip while I appreciate you taking the time to join us this week and look forward to our match

[00:24:49] at this Saturday thanks a lot Jake the BRP is proudly partner with rivals never capillate

[00:24:57] go middle dot com subscribe for premium content for all the inside scoops on MTSU athletics recruiting

[00:25:03] or join our free forums to discuss today's episode in all things blue raders the BRP is also

[00:25:09] partnered with the college huddle a nationwide collaborative effort with over 80 division one program

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[00:25:18] content with daily articles and episodes provided by the largest college podcast community on the

[00:25:23] internet. Now joining the blue radar podcast is the 2023 CUSA first team tied in selection

[00:25:32] he just had a huge game at Ole Miss where he led the team in yards and reception and we look

[00:25:37] forward to seeing what he's capable of doing at WKU this upcoming weekend joining us is tied in red

[00:25:43] shirt senior hold and will us hold the naza going man. It's going good that video. Absolutely man

[00:25:48] before we start diving in to a little bit about the football season and it's early going right now one

[00:25:53] of my favorite things about you is that you're from green back and most people that might be

[00:25:58] listening to this have no idea where green back is I know it's an east Tennessee and it vaguely

[00:26:02] it's south of of Knoxville but when people ask you where you're from I'm interested to know what

[00:26:07] what do you tell them? Most people I just tell them that I'm from south of Knoxville like you said

[00:26:16] I'll like if they're somewhat from the area or like familiar with the north of

[00:26:20] south Knoxville area I'll just ask them if they know like we're merrible and how close that

[00:26:25] now they're right there with them but yeah it's a really small town so not many people really

[00:26:30] know where to add or have you been ever heard of it so I usually just say south of Knoxville.

[00:26:35] Right yeah and another interesting fact about that being such a small area is that you come from a

[00:26:44] school football you get recruited out of there you go to a division one school you win

[00:26:48] Mr. football I also have you down as as the touchdown reception leader in a single season

[00:26:53] there's so many nuances that come with coming from a small school I myself went to Eagleville

[00:26:58] a one-day school here in southwest weather for county so I understand that and being in the

[00:27:02] shadows of the river itails in Oakland as much like you're in the shadows of Alcoa and Marable

[00:27:07] I want to know from your perspective what is it like that recruiting process and kind of outwating

[00:27:12] all those naysayers and say well you go to green back you go to a small school your chances of

[00:27:16] going to you want us so limited what was kind of your your mentality going through your senior

[00:27:20] your high school and getting you to where you're on this big stage now at Ole Miss and you're the

[00:27:24] best receiver of the game for him to issue yeah I would say the big thing was with my mindset was just

[00:27:32] like trusting the plan that got had for me it's faith is really being in my life so I try to make

[00:27:38] that the main thing and everything that I do but like coming out of a small school like that

[00:27:44] it definitely is a little bit harder kind of like you said being overshadowed by some of the

[00:27:48] bigger schools that are around us and despite even on top of that like not many people see

[00:27:53] Tennessee as like a football powerhouse state so and then in that I'm in a one-day school that

[00:27:59] is K through 12 not big at all like so definitely easy to be looked over but the recruiting process

[00:28:06] is kind of slow in the beginning and my first two to and half years of high school but one thing that

[00:28:12] really helped me like get my name out there and stuff was obviously just what I did on tape and

[00:28:17] stuff like that in high school and making it to the state championships that we made it to and

[00:28:20] the runs that we had in the playoffs but going I went to a lot of camps I was going to schools

[00:28:26] performing in front of coaches and stuff getting my name out there and then also went into the opening

[00:28:31] and then rivals camps and stuff like that just to get my name a little bit more out there on

[00:28:36] Twitter and all the other media sites that coaches use to like recruit high school kids.

[00:28:42] Yeah it's it's a tough challenge and really that's kind of a testament to the character that you have

[00:28:46] you go to South Florida you spend three seasons there is that right and then you transfer into

[00:28:52] to MTSU and you're going through a coaching change much like this season but I want to lean

[00:28:57] back on the whole you're having a grind get to where you want to be in life as a division one

[00:29:02] tied in a slot receiver wherever you want to define it but you kind of you are that that character

[00:29:07] personality that that Derek Mason's looking for someone that's willing to pick themselves up from

[00:29:11] a boot there bootstraps work hard every single day I want to know from you what what kind of

[00:29:16] similarities do you see from yourself and Derek Mason is another guy who kind of went through the same

[00:29:21] upbringing when it came to getting into college. I would just say the mindset that you have to

[00:29:32] and you're kind of like you're sent behind kind of like a behind everything else and everybody else

[00:29:38] because you don't have stuff given to you. You kind of have to make a name for yourself it's nothing's

[00:29:44] really given to you but I will say one thing about that is I think that is in some cases better

[00:29:50] than the other because then you get to like discipline comes along with that and all that stuff

[00:29:58] that just builds you into the person the care like your character gets built up your dis one gets built up

[00:30:03] you have to be strong mentally strong to get through stuff like that and when it does come

[00:30:08] time for like those big games and stuff like that you're able to persevere through tough stuff because

[00:30:13] that's kind of what you're accustomed to throughout your whole life. Right and tell me about Mason

[00:30:19] you know when stock still the news comes that he wouldn't be returning in the 2024 season

[00:30:23] you had the opportunity much like everyone else did to enter the portal you opted to stay

[00:30:28] you know when you're telling me about your first interactions with Mason how do what

[00:30:32] do you how are your feelings about him and about this new coaching staff. Yeah um new coach Mason

[00:30:40] from his years of Vanderbilt I was a Tennessee fan growing up so I was big on the SEC and all those

[00:30:46] schools and stuff so I knew a coach Mason coming in but yeah after the first few meetings team meetings

[00:30:51] that we had an individual meeting stuff it was really easy to rally behind him no another man that

[00:30:57] he is of integrity and just the man of his words stuff like that he's really easy to get behind

[00:31:04] and that's kind of coaching you want to play for no one that when you go out there on the field

[00:31:08] he you got a coach that's going to have your back. Tell me about offensive coordinator

[00:31:13] Boady Reader yeah a little bit different play style than you're used to he really likes the

[00:31:17] tie-in position utilizes it a lot I mean you were utilized a lot last year don't get me wrong but

[00:31:20] Boady Reader seems to be someone that that really likes to utilize his tie-dens. Yeah um

[00:31:26] it's a really interesting I guess you call skiing because we have for one we have a lot of weapons

[00:31:33] on our offense and he's his scheme and what he does he's really good at using those weapons in

[00:31:41] different ways. We don't really have a bunch of plays but through his scheme it looks like a

[00:31:48] bunch of plays because we can get into those plays out of different formations different motions

[00:31:52] different personnel and stuff like that but to us it's our base plays and he's really good at doing

[00:31:58] that and getting guys in space and putting plays in for certain people and stuff like that

[00:32:03] and just connecting all the pieces and he's really fun playing for him. When you tell people

[00:32:08] you play tie-in and I say this is this is my viewpoint doesn't really matter I mean anything to anybody

[00:32:14] but when you tell people you play tie-in you kind of play an untraditional version of a tie-in

[00:32:18] you know we've seen you come out you're not traditionally in the three-point stance. You are part of

[00:32:23] the run-blocking game at times but when you're in the game you're kind of a threat in the passing game so

[00:32:27] I mean when you kind of define your position would you really would you truthfully call yourself a

[00:32:32] tie-in or you kind of on this badge of a very versatile slot receiver slash tie-dens position

[00:32:39] in the scheme is the tie-dend now the way that you use me certain games and certain game plans

[00:32:45] kind of depends on what the defense presents if they're a really heavy nickel package which is like

[00:32:51] they're gonna put more like coverage guys in then they're gonna put me in the box hand

[00:32:56] to the dirt and we're trying to run down their throat but if they're a base for three not as many

[00:33:01] cover guys and they're gonna try to load the box up and make this throw it now I can split out

[00:33:06] and it puts the defense in a tough spot for mismatch because now they have to say okay do we

[00:33:11] want to make them throw and just have a linebacker guard me or do we want to sub in our

[00:33:15] nickel package and put a nickel on them and like and kind of feeding off your last question that's

[00:33:21] what he's really good at is he's able to put those pieces together and really kind of just play

[00:33:28] off what the defense is given us and we he likes to control we don't we don't based our offense

[00:33:33] based off what the defense is giving us we try to we're gonna call our plays regardless and we're

[00:33:38] going to make the defense change to honor us we're not not vice versa there's so many guys in

[00:33:43] tight in room and you all kind of offer something a little bit different like in Zalaz is a great

[00:33:48] run blocker you've got Cedar through can do a little bit of both you got Slate Oggs Andrew has great hands

[00:33:52] also tell me about your connection with a lot of those guys and the things you're you're able to

[00:33:56] learn with one another yeah I love the room that we got definitely different than last year last

[00:34:02] year I think we had three maybe four what guys that you would call the tight ends and our room was

[00:34:09] mixed with also the slatter severs from last year so it was a bigger room but it wasn't we weren't just

[00:34:14] tight ends and now this year we have 11 12 that are true just tight ends and going through

[00:34:23] spring and summer and fall camp and all that with those and now for those guys and now going into

[00:34:28] the season we all have a great connection we all joke around with each other we're all hanging out

[00:34:33] with each other on and off the field and on the field we were I feel like we are really good group

[00:34:37] communicating Slate will come off I can help Slate with a certain look whether it's in the past

[00:34:41] game run game I'll come off and like Gonzo or some of those guys Jc he can help me teach

[00:34:49] teach coins like hey get your elbows to guy tighter get your hands up get your hips through

[00:34:53] like stuff like that we kind of just feed off each other and help each other and one of the bigger

[00:34:58] connection you got us with with Vadiada tell me about you guys you know you guys really hit it off

[00:35:02] last year you're the team's leading receiver the tight end position things are off to a great

[00:35:06] start for you so far you know what about you guys makes that connection so special um I would

[00:35:15] when I first got here he was kind of one of the first guys that I talked to the most just because

[00:35:21] obviously it was an even a place to live reach out to him talking stuff like that and he kind

[00:35:26] of helped me around the area and talking to different guys you may be available with the open room

[00:35:31] and stuff like that and then of course when I first got here I wanted to get out on the field

[00:35:35] throw around with some of those guys Nick was always inviting me to come like hey we're going

[00:35:39] to go throw this day on Saturday and off season this time show I so just doing that weekend a

[00:35:46] week out and stuff and overtime just getting that connection with him getting our time and down

[00:35:50] and stuff like that and meeting him communicate really well and whether it's past pro run game

[00:35:56] running routes stuff like that um that connection just kind of formed over time just constant reps

[00:36:02] and just kind of figuring it out throughout the summer like our playerland practices and stuff

[00:36:07] went back and then that just let's straight on into the season. And as I tease at the very top of

[00:36:13] the episode or our interview here you know you earn 23 conference USA first team honors at the

[00:36:18] tight end position does that come with any pressure for you this season have you noticed and you

[00:36:23] kind of change and now you haven't got in the conference play yet at the time of this interview but

[00:36:28] you notice anything so far is the way that you're you're defended per se and then you're

[00:36:32] back to yourself you know is there anything that you think you need to do to continue to

[00:36:36] grow your game going into your your red shirt senior year um yeah so we haven't really got

[00:36:44] in the conference play yet I'm sure that we'll be able to see that pretty early in conference play

[00:36:49] if teams are gonna adjust to stuff like that um I know there was a few games towards the end of

[00:36:55] season last year were certain teams would have different coverage is were sometimes it would be hard

[00:36:59] to get me to ball whether it was they would play in hour they have a db on the inside and outside

[00:37:04] to where I had no choice um different stuff like that um I don't know how to play out I think

[00:37:12] I think this early in the season and this early in the conference play I don't think that'll be

[00:37:17] a major thing um and like I said our offense has a lot of weapons so I would love for them to try

[00:37:23] double team or schema how to stop me because then that's just gonna open up some of the other

[00:37:28] receivers on our team and we're still gonna be able to do what we do best um and as far as

[00:37:33] I don't think that'll change my game plan going in I mean the same way I've played last year

[00:37:39] before any of the nominations or any of that stuff is the same way I'll play this year

[00:37:44] football has always been like I just love football so much regardless I don't

[00:37:49] do it for accolades and stuff like that I just want to win um not not big on how many yards

[00:37:55] I have or how many catches I just I can't care more about key plays whether it's a block

[00:37:59] or whether it's past pro whatever it is I just want to be on the field to help the team win at the end of

[00:38:03] the day so the end really the most important win to most of the fans is what's coming up this weekend

[00:38:09] or the release this interview would happen this last weekend with the hundred miles of hate game

[00:38:13] you had your first experience with it last year now you're in a unique position as a leader on the

[00:38:17] you have 60 new guys on this squad I want to hear from the from a players perspective who

[00:38:24] maybe didn't grow up in the atmosphere that is Murphy's Burrow Bowling Green this hatred that these two

[00:38:29] universities have for one another the fan bases I really should say how are you able to I mean

[00:38:35] emotionally you got to you got to ramp up at your first conference USA game but as far as these

[00:38:40] your teammates is that something that you have to teach these guys like hey this game really matters

[00:38:44] you know where where does that come from for players who didn't necessarily grow up in this

[00:38:48] hundred miles of hate environment yeah now like you said I definitely did get my first taste of it last

[00:38:54] year and that game didn't really end how he wanted it to so that kind of gives me a little bit more

[00:39:00] edge going this one so that rivalry kind of built up for me more so than what it was last year

[00:39:06] but for me rivalry games are important and it's big it can be a lot of momentum especially going

[00:39:12] to the rest of the season really good for the fan base and other fans enjoy those kind of

[00:39:17] games and stuff and there's a little bit more you can kind of feel that on the field with the fans

[00:39:23] but one thing for me kind of like especially what I've told that some of the tight

[00:39:26] ingroups and then of course some of the guys that talk to on the team and stuff we're in the

[00:39:30] locker room and I've on practice field and stuff one of the big things for me is like to us it's just

[00:39:35] another game we can't go out there and play it like it's our conference championship or like

[00:39:39] this is the one we want because yeah this one matters but all eight of our conference games matter

[00:39:45] and we can't look past if other ones just for this one or later on down the sea like stuff like

[00:39:50] that is where it can come back and make you in the butt because if you overlook that's like

[00:39:55] the Tennessee tech game to start the season we weren't looking past Tennessee tech we weren't

[00:39:59] looking for a prepare for Ole Missing we had to prepare for the Tennessee tech game and that's kind of

[00:40:03] the same way now um Western Kentucky adds the rivalry game but it's also the first conference game

[00:40:09] of the season and that's how I like to look at it because to me it's just another game and

[00:40:13] that could be another win in the win call absolutely will hold in I appreciate you taking

[00:40:18] the time in the middle of your season a busy week I know is you're preparing for Western

[00:40:22] Kentucky obviously I wish you to best of luck this upcoming weekend and get yourself a win

[00:40:26] but again thanks for stopping by and we wish you the best of luck the rest of the season

[00:40:31] yes I appreciate you thank you for having me did you know the blue rider podcast has an online

[00:40:40] you can now support your favorite podcast by checking out our selection at our website

[00:40:44] we ratedpodcast.com and stay tuned for new merchandise releases as we collaborate with athletes

[00:40:49] in NIL partnerships our final guest on the blue rider podcast we go behind enemy lines and once again

[00:40:56] it is another college hotel collaboration don't forget to follow all the college football

[00:41:01] information you could possibly handle over at college hotel on x slash twitter whatever we're

[00:41:06] on at this day but now I am joined by Ben bird he is host owner founder of the bull city

[00:41:13] coordinators you can find him on twitter as well at Duke FB coverage Ben how's it going

[00:41:19] it's great man thank you so much for having me on I'm glad we can do this collaboration it's been

[00:41:24] a lot of fun getting to know all these people as part of the college hotel

[00:41:29] absolutely and I'm excited to have you join I just had a portion over on his show as well that

[00:41:35] we're releasing soon but I want to get to know a little bit about Duke I know I spent the last few

[00:41:40] minutes talking about my own team over on your show but one similarity between the two programs

[00:41:45] as I'm sure into issue fans already know about is the new coaching change there many DS he was the

[00:41:51] DC here at MTSU from 2006 to 2009 he already had his opportunity to head coach once in Miami very

[00:41:58] much similar to like what Derek Mason did at Vanderbilt I want to know from you you know how is the

[00:42:03] Danny Diaz era off to to the people of Durham I think that we're all pleased with it we had a lot

[00:42:12] of roster turnover although not to the extent that you guys had so we're breaking in the quarterbacks

[00:42:19] new starting running backs we've got a new old tight end lot of new faces on the offensive line some

[00:42:26] guys have stepped up defensively we don't have the same depth that we used to have especially

[00:42:33] to program like Duke when you lose the guys that we lost it's hard to replace so our expectations

[00:42:41] were cautious going into this season and having Diaz and company having Duke at 3-0

[00:42:48] chance get a 4-0 if this team can just get to a bowl game that's really about all that we need to

[00:42:55] see happen this year which I think is very doable given the rest of the schedule when you're looking

[00:43:01] at hopefully get a win against Wake Forest for junior tech I'm not knocking the hockies they've

[00:43:07] had some issues with the way they've looked this year losing at Vanderbilt Caroline has been a

[00:43:12] little inconsistent but I can't really talk smack at all the heels of just you know they've owned us

[00:43:18] for a while since Mac 2.0 occurred but also Florida State looking at least today like again maybe

[00:43:27] you could win the student think he could win to start the season and we'll see what happens

[00:43:30] within the state so the path to six wins is there we just have to see Diaz and company do it

[00:43:38] and I think we're all very glad to be 3-0 scoring that cool clip of 26 per.

[00:43:46] Right absolutely well I want to know the the preseason poll for ACC had you guys finishing

[00:43:51] a leavened at a 17th and you kind of touched on it there it sounds like the six win threshold

[00:43:56] is something that is now achievable now that you've already got the first three wins on your

[00:43:59] belt and you're kind of eyeballing that fourth one with a G5 opponent this Saturday you know what's

[00:44:04] the assessment as far as fans go what is considered a successful year for you guys I think generally

[00:44:11] getting to a bowl game at least right now is what we want to see and I think I think fans do have

[00:44:17] to be realistic getting to a bowl game is doable being hovering around that five to seven win

[00:44:25] mark in your average years doable beyond that maybe every couple of years you could see an eight

[00:44:32] plus win year happened last year could have been that year just a ton of injuries that could

[00:44:37] have been a year where the blue devil's get to eight plus maybe get to 10 wins but with all the

[00:44:43] injuries it just wasn't feasible but so where Duke wants to be right now is our floor as a bowl

[00:44:50] and I think we're getting close to being able to achieve that which those of you older fans

[00:44:55] you should know that saying something given where this team and program had been back in the late 90s

[00:45:02] early 2000s so let's break down a little bit about your roster there on the offensive side

[00:45:08] really collectively across the roster is you already touched on not a lot of returners

[00:45:13] but some of the area that is a bright spot at least from my perspective is the wide-out position

[00:45:19] with guys like Jordan Moore you live pancol and you got to you got the quarterback Malik Murphy

[00:45:24] who has shown signs of being a good quarterback for you guys he's kind of struggling behind

[00:45:28] the offensive line at least that on paper that's what I see tell me from your perspective been

[00:45:34] you know what are the bright spots and then follow that up with what are some areas that you

[00:45:37] would like to see get better well I think we we were fortunate you know even at why

[00:45:42] receiver which is highlighted we still had guys like John Davis Robertson and some mere haggings

[00:45:47] in addition to bringing Eli Pankleback who had a lot of game experience but just hadn't really

[00:45:54] stepped up so in addition to Jordan Moore we've got guys who can make plays I think

[00:46:00] Eli's got three or four touchdowns already this year he's having a monster season

[00:46:05] and we also had guys that running back who could make plays but that's the unit and it really

[00:46:10] hinges on the O line and I think the offensive coordinator too to be fair that is going to have

[00:46:16] to step up we're going to have to see more running the ball I think the defense has been great I'd

[00:46:21] love to see a good return game of Plunk Return game but that's a little secondary against

[00:46:28] you Khan star Thomas seemed to step up and run the ball well but part of the problem is we're in a

[00:46:36] shotgun formation we do this kind of run pass option but Malice just not a runner it's not what he does

[00:46:44] and it's easy for the defense to key in on the running backs also we have a brand new not entirely

[00:46:51] brand new but a retooled offensive line it's just going to take some time to jail so my hope is what we will

[00:46:58] see is the running game and the O line step up and have a big big game on Saturday

[00:47:07] and let me add a little hypothetical there for you touched on it toward more Eli Pancola both

[00:47:12] when you add up their yardage they're over half of the receiving yardage that the devils have put

[00:47:18] up this year in the event that let's say we're into issue which is this is far fetch given our

[00:47:24] wear first there's even to worry about a lockdown those guys we're able to limit those those targets

[00:47:28] in those receptions is there anybody else that you find that could you know like this is the running

[00:47:33] game it's got to be working if those two guys aren't catching balls well yeah I mean I think you

[00:47:40] have got Horvie who's another good wide receiver and you had a brown who had a good game who stepped

[00:47:48] up and caught that big touchdown pass on a beautiful throw from Malice Murphy those guys stepped

[00:47:55] up John Davis I think it's step up also if we can find a way to get a little more production

[00:48:01] from the tight end we're doing better with that this year you can see down Molen get some touches

[00:48:07] but I think you know I got like Peyton Jones who is a third string running back playing second

[00:48:13] string now because of the injury to more if Peyton can get a few more touches with star

[00:48:20] Thomas I think those guys could propel the team but I think shutting down Jordan Moore's going to be

[00:48:24] very hard and Eli's gonna step up in a big moment I mean that's just the kind of player he is

[00:48:29] and when Duke didn't have him last year they just the staff could not find a way to replace

[00:48:35] his lost production so I think Eli is going to continue to make plays it's going to be very

[00:48:40] hard to stop him and Jordan Moore yeah it's a to preview this upcoming week I would imagine if

[00:48:46] not one both will have a great game where bottom of division one football when it comes to pass

[00:48:52] the defense so definitely an area that the writers would need to key in on is Jordan Moore

[00:48:56] but let's switch things over to many ds is defense it's something that was obviously

[00:49:00] his specialty given his background you've you've said it yourself you've been impressed with them

[00:49:06] the front seven looks to be you know one of the best at least in the top or tier

[00:49:10] of of ACC defenses so tell me a little bit about the defense and what what makes them so special

[00:49:17] well there've been some injuries to line back her neck Morris has been out but you know

[00:49:26] Winston and Luke Murgo if I'm pronounced his name wrong I apologize but number 34 he has stepped up

[00:49:34] and played really really well and over the last several years cut cliff it accumulated a lot of

[00:49:42] talent on the defensive line when Ben Albert was the defensive line coach there it just wasn't

[00:49:48] being utilized Elco staff found a good way to utilize and he kept recruiting well and so we've had

[00:49:55] some talent on the deal line even with the guys that we lost either through the portal or

[00:50:00] through leaving school graduating finally being out of eligibility but these guys are in great shape

[00:50:08] I mean we know what coach Philly is meant to the program and they just get after it and I think from

[00:50:14] from top down D as if you watch them on the sunlight really gets fired up when there's a good defensive

[00:50:19] way he really really gets fired up about it and so I think they all just buy in and you've got

[00:50:25] talent in that secondary Terry Moore is a safety Chandler Rivers is a shutdown corner

[00:50:30] I could go on there are guys there who are making plays and I watched some film

[00:50:37] of the Miami defenses the D as ran and the 10 state defenses the D as ran they're very complicated

[00:50:45] and they get after the ball and they like to get tackles for loss and

[00:50:50] I mean everybody just seems to be bought into it so I think that's why it's working so well it's

[00:50:56] just part of the team culture if we look back on after Saturday's game and we came back and we

[00:51:03] talked and we we we discussed what happened at the game and I were to say Duke lost this game

[00:51:08] because what would you say well there's one thing that anybody could say about a game

[00:51:15] that no one will say about a game because they don't want to curse anybody it starts with an I

[00:51:19] word so I'm not going to say it I would say if Duke lost the game if they were looking ahead to

[00:51:28] Carolina one if the offense if it was bad weather and Duke throws a lot of deep balls like

[00:51:39] even on third one we'll just run get the order I mean I don't don't overthink it I mean football

[00:51:46] really look I've had a lot of former players talk to me about the game and they've all said

[00:51:52] generally the same thing is this stuff is really simple it's just we make it more complex and it needs

[00:51:58] so let's say bad weather we keep trying to throw the ball deep trying to go deep and it just doesn't work

[00:52:06] or the offensive line just struggles to to run block I think that would be it for the defense not

[00:52:14] to play well maybe there's a bunch of assignment breakdowns people get confused I haven't seen anything

[00:52:19] like that I don't know enough about your quarterback is he a really good running quarterback

[00:52:24] he's very capable of it we haven't seen much of it these first three games as we've seen in

[00:52:29] years past but he's definitely capable of being noble well you cons quarterback was mobile

[00:52:34] and cost some problems he moved around really well in the pocket they tried to option a couple

[00:52:38] of times you know they they they did stuff with him to cause problems for Duke so maybe he just

[00:52:45] takes off and nobody can stop him I'm trying to remember but I wasn't watching it too closely

[00:52:51] I have a vague memory that vandies quarterback ran a fair amount against Virginia Tech at key moments

[00:52:58] and that was part of why that game ended the way did I could be wrong because I was kind of half

[00:53:03] watching it through the side of my of my screen while trying to get some work done but if it's

[00:53:09] something like that where you know he just shows a dimension that they're not prepared for that could

[00:53:13] be an issue so I would think it would be those things absolutely and to build off of that you know

[00:53:19] he talked about it for them to win this game what are those areas that you you think that they

[00:53:25] need to excel in or things that they would already be excelling in that would make them first successful

[00:53:30] Saturday for Duke to get a win you're gonna have to see some consistency from that unit

[00:53:38] you're gonna have to see the team come out and I was right I pulled up the stats about vandre

[00:53:45] and Virginia Tech the quarterback did run for 140 yards so I'm not I'm not seen I'll yet

[00:53:52] but for Duke to get a win you're gonna have to see consistent play and I mean this stuff is you

[00:53:58] know guys who are listening to this fans who are listening to this it's it's simpler than we're

[00:54:02] making it okay you have to be balanced and you have to be balanced in all three units

[00:54:06] you have to run the ball well and you have to pass the ball well even Steve Spurrier was a

[00:54:15] they ran the ball a lot okay it worked so we have to see more balance from the running game

[00:54:20] to keep the defense from getting gas different over the reason but also you win games on the lines

[00:54:27] the defensive line and the offensive line and I think that's gonna be the key now

[00:54:33] it could happen that Murphy just connects on every passing throws and they just keep going deep

[00:54:38] and they light it up it's possible but the Duke wants to win this game they're gonna have to do well

[00:54:45] passing the ball throwing the ball that we're gonna have to see more sanity in the return game

[00:54:53] absolutely with that it was Ben Bird from the Bull City coordinators again you can find them on

[00:54:58] Twitter at Duke FB coverage he's got all the stuff for you Blue Devils in this upcoming week again

[00:55:04] check out his episode where I step on and talk about the Blue Raiders Ben I appreciate you taking

[00:55:10] the time to do this glad to do it thanks a lot for having me on and if any of you guys like

[00:55:16] topics from antiquity grease room whatever you check out my

[00:55:22] I call the companion podcast but it's not really a companion it's just something I do it's called

[00:55:26] the classical antiquity side quest we cover topics from ancient grease in room we just dropped an

[00:55:32] episode with a professor who actually does a lot of film and TV consulting work and so you

[00:55:38] learn a little bit about the industry and what goes on with some of these big productions that are

[00:55:42] coming with the proliferation of streaming surfaces so check that out go to our YouTube channel it's

[00:55:47] all under Bull City coordinators absolutely I appreciate it Ben thanks for coming on

[00:55:54] hey thanks a lot man I appreciate it thanks for sticking around for the radar wrap up portion of

[00:56:02] the episode where we will review this last week in Blue Raider athletics as well as look ahead to

[00:56:08] the next week's action we will start things off with the lady raiders soccer team who dropped

[00:56:13] their midweek contest against south Alabama three to four big credit to Rasuiara Saki who picks up

[00:56:20] her third goal of this season assisted by Lauren Spanster who will be our player of the week on

[00:56:25] Spanster the defender picks up her first two assist of the Sikhs in on on that Thursday matchup

[00:56:32] with the Jaguars so the defender hard to get those assist but she seems to have a knack for it

[00:56:37] find an open player getting the goals when they need them unfortunately later ready to drop

[00:56:41] that non conference game but they move in to conference play this week beginning on Thursday at

[00:56:46] home against the golden panthers that will be that match will begin at 7 p.m. again big match up to

[00:56:51] start your conferences in there and then they will have their final non conference game against

[00:56:56] Alcorn State on the 22nd that is Sunday and that match is slated to begin at 1 p.m.

[00:57:04] Lady Raider's volleyball went to Charleston south Carolina this last week and they went

[00:57:08] one and two and their contest there dropping the first match to Utah Tech by score of two to three

[00:57:14] and then they won the second game that afternoon against the rubber moors three to one

[00:57:19] and then lost to the host school Charleston College of Charleston that is the next afternoon

[00:57:24] by a score of 1 to 3 and he spias picks up her second straight conference USA freshman

[00:57:31] of the week honors with her 137 assists in Charleston yeah that's right I don't know if you

[00:57:37] know much about volleyball but 137 assists and three matches is pretty ridiculous let alone she

[00:57:42] has already eclipse the 300 assists mark in just nine games in Murphy'sboro and she's only

[00:57:48] a freshman so a lot of exciting stuff from Andy and hopefully the Lady Raiders can get back

[00:57:54] to winning ways as they will travel to Virginia Cavaliers in Charlestonville Virginia their first match

[00:58:00] will begin to 9 p.m. and then they will play this second match on that road trip tomorrow so

[00:58:06] Alias on the Lady Raiders in Charleston football as we've talked about all all day today they are 21

[00:58:13] 49 losers to Western Kentucky in the 100 miles of hate not gonna harp on too much as we've

[00:58:20] already discussed in today's episode but passing was a standout form rushing still have yet

[00:58:26] to eclipse that triple figure mark since week one so you'd like to say that number improve

[00:58:31] and it was the first game this year where they lost the possession battle something that again

[00:58:34] I would say if the Raiders are able to win possession battles given the defense

[00:58:38] and their ability to get off on third down or lack of their of is going to be a big reason if they

[00:58:44] win or lose games this season so um but Marquelli player the week honors I think it's kind of a

[00:58:50] shoe and with nine catches 239 yards receiving just five yards short of a single game into

[00:58:57] a shoe program record you also grabs three touchdowns and all three of them were huge and much

[00:59:02] needed sometimes just not quite enough for that fourth one which could have really opened the

[00:59:07] game up for us early in the game but it's only so much you can ask for a guy with 239 receiving

[00:59:11] arts so great game from a Marry look forward to what he's capable of doing in the rest of the

[00:59:15] way because I think he's got a bright future here in my free throw so big congrats to a Marry

[00:59:20] with the player the week honors and then the Duke game that we've already alluded to talking

[00:59:24] with been bird from the bull city coordinators that matchup begins at three p.m. this Saturday

[00:59:29] so do not miss that I know that on the schedule or those that maybe looking at an old calendar

[00:59:33] says 6 p.m. it has moved up to 3 p.m. to accommodate for TV so do not miss that as well as it is

[00:59:41] homecoming weekend so a lot of festivities just sometimes are rundown for you get the mixer on middle

[00:59:45] that 930 a.m. the parade is going to begin at 10 a.m. you've got the tailgate lunge at noon to two

[00:59:52] which will run right into your party in the grove with which is headline by the Cadillac three

[00:59:56] that'll begin at noon to 3 p.m. at kickoff and if you want to be there for the radar walk when

[01:00:01] the radar comes down to touch the horseshoe and all that good stuff shake hands with the fans

[01:00:08] get them pumped up for their game that'll begin at 12 45 as a part of the party in the grove so

[01:00:12] look forward to seeing you all there for homecoming this upcoming weekend.

[01:00:18] across country they go to the southern showcase down in Huntsville, Alabama hosted by Jacksonville

[01:00:23] state the men run the 8k and they finish 10th out of 47 teams Brian Kipptoo and Allen Kipple

[01:00:30] continue to pace the men's program going 6th and 7th in the run respectively.

[01:00:35] you have Hacento Gaspar who is making his debut this season at 74th overall.

[01:00:40] Carmelo canazara 11 16th and Sammy saying at 186 and then in the women's 5k the team goes 12

[01:00:47] of 49 amongst the group in O'Dillia Jetchumba makes her debut on the 2024 season finishing 6th

[01:00:53] as an individual Sandra Mayal 34th Eleanor Tau at 177 Nancy Mayal 122nd and then Haley Gorm

[01:01:02] rounds out the top 5 at 195 and then they will have a two week break before they go to Columbia

[01:01:08] Missouri and they will compete at Gons Creek there as they would get inch a little bit closer to

[01:01:13] that conference USA championship in November as they look to repeat as both the men's and women

[01:01:20] men's goal for going to catch up from last week's action is they concluded their play on Tuesday

[01:01:24] at our previous episode at the Argent Financial Classic in Louisiana. The team finished at 11

[01:01:29] strokes over par which is good enough for 6th out of 18 teams present but I want to make a big

[01:01:34] shout out to Jay Jay Zimmer who finished strong there finishing fourth overall just off of podium

[01:01:39] at 5 strokes under par and then they are at the barecat invitational right now as we speak

[01:01:45] where they are currently sitting at 10 strokes over par which is good enough for

[01:01:50] tied 11th out of 18 teams you've got right now the young freshman that witt will

[01:01:57] at tied for 6th place right now at two strokes under Marcus Farjane tied for 17th at one over

[01:02:03] show them at night tied for 35th at 4 over in JJ Zimmer tied 70 at 7 strokes over

[01:02:10] competing as an individual all of our baker tied for 90 seconds at plus 15.

[01:02:15] Then you've got underclassman competing at the Putme Encouch invitational in Muncio Hio

[01:02:20] home of the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks like I said that we got underclassman freshman tied

[01:02:28] for 8 Charlie Bell and four strokes over another freshman Owen Queener tied for 10th at 5 over

[01:02:34] and then another freshman and 17th place Joseph AG at 9 strokes over for so great show and

[01:02:42] from the young guys there look forward to how they finish up this afternoon and then to

[01:02:48] look ahead to the next men's golf tournament which they're going to have a little bit of a break

[01:02:52] until their next one when they go to Florida Golf Coach University and compete with the island

[01:02:56] that West Bay invitational. So keep eyes peeled for that we will definitely give get you updated

[01:03:01] next week as they conclude the Bearcat invitational and the Putme Encouch invitational in Muncio Hio.

[01:03:08] Women's golf has themselves a heck of a week as well they finish up the Betty Lou Evans

[01:03:13] invitational on Tuesday of last week where they finished 46 over good enough for 9th of 11th

[01:03:18] Kendall Maynard goes tied for 6 at 3 strokes over Lany Campbell tied 30th at 11 strokes over Nicole

[01:03:24] Johnson tied for 48th L. Amanda tied for 50th at 19 over and then the Murphy'sboro native

[01:03:30] Caroline Pardu goes tied for 55th at 22nd overall and rounding out the Lany Raiders at 57th is

[01:03:37] Julia Bowman at plus 23 but the big news for the Lany Raiders is their win in Louisville at the

[01:03:44] Cardinal Cup that's right they finish in first place at a 15 teams and Louisville Kentucky at 16 strokes

[01:03:51] over par that is the first win for the Lany Raiders program since 2022 and this is the first

[01:03:58] for new head coach Lauren Wombsley and just her second tournament as head coach so very good

[01:04:03] stuff from her big shout out to Ella Manley who led the team tied for 7th at 3 strokes over

[01:04:09] Kendall Maynard continues her hot start finishing tied for 9th for over Lany Campbell tied 13th

[01:04:15] at 6 over Abby Lee makes her return from injury tied for 16th at 7 over and then rounding out

[01:04:22] five is Nicole Johnson tied for 38 at 14 over big congrats to coach Wombsley and the

[01:04:28] Lany Raiders on that win and they look to continue that this weekend is there in the Mason Root

[01:04:32] off Championships and that will begin this Friday the 20th year in middle Tennessee area

[01:04:39] next you got men's tennis men's tennis got their falsies and kicked off in underway

[01:04:44] they started things off on Friday where they faced Indiana with the weather looming but they

[01:04:50] got that one in nonetheless with a 4 3 victory over the Hoosiers and then they hosted

[01:04:56] Tennessee on Saturday and what was a wet one by 0 to 6 and then on Sunday they were able to pick up

[01:05:03] four wins for two one thing I will say for those that are still here tune it in with me

[01:05:07] on the men's tennis side of things it falls false sports are always a little funny especially

[01:05:12] these that are mainly spring sports so mixing up some of the lineups you don't necessarily have

[01:05:17] a roster here for the men's side specifically so there they're still working through some

[01:05:22] kings trying out some new things so I always take all these scores with the grain of salt but nonetheless

[01:05:27] you know getting four wins against Indiana same could be said for the Vanderbilt lips

[01:05:30] come combo of me and wins or wins and that's always something to have underneath your belt

[01:05:34] but I don't I don't shy away from Tennessee score there I'm sure that they would like to pick up a

[01:05:39] few there but there's still there still work together getting the chemistry there especially on

[01:05:43] double side of things so I'm but which leads me to my player of the week for the men is going to be

[01:05:49] that the new addition South Carolina State transfer roster Slav Halfinger he goes two and one this

[01:05:55] week in singles and then he also goes two and one in doubles this week with his new partner

[01:05:59] Yocca of Cross Lack so I don't know if him of Cross Lack are gonna be the doubles when we

[01:06:04] return in the spring but nonetheless him and Yocca go two and one on the weekend so really good

[01:06:09] from those guys and then the team will actually be splitting up this weekend I know they have a few

[01:06:14] guys that'll be competing at the ITA all American championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma that will begin

[01:06:19] on Sunday the 22nd so we won't be able to have you a conclusion to that at the next episode but

[01:06:24] we will definitely get you tuned in and let you know what's going on there but that will begin in Tulsa

[01:06:29] on the 22nd this coming Sunday and then the others that are not competing at the all American

[01:06:33] championships will be up in Nashville as the day raiders will go against Bellmont and that will

[01:06:39] begin on Friday the 27th with a slew of games going on up there in Nashville all weekend long so

[01:06:45] that's the luck to the raiders and as they continue their fall season then the lady raiders tennis

[01:06:51] gonna have to wait for their season to begin they had their Bellmont lifts come invitational cancel

[01:06:56] this last week in due to the impending weather unfortunately up north of us from Murphy'sboro they were

[01:07:02] unable to get that one in so they will have to wait until this Friday the 20th where they

[01:07:06] will go to Montiohio as well the face Miami of Ohio Red Hawks and the other teams that have been

[01:07:14] invited to that as well so that begins this Friday the 20th and we'll conclude on the 22nd

[01:07:19] on Sunday and that will do it for the Raider wrap up portion of the episode again I appreciate

[01:07:25] everyone that sticks around this long as we're able to highlight some of these these athletes

[01:07:30] I always enjoy this portion of the episode because of that reason to give these athletes

[01:07:33] a little extra time in the spot like it lets you guys know there's more to this university

[01:07:38] and a lot of great programs too outside of just football so thanks for tuning in again thanks

[01:07:44] to our sponsors the Conceca group mighty dog roofing for sponsoring the episode

[01:07:48] I appreciate all of our guests today if you look forward to next week we will actually have on

[01:07:53] Brett Walker the editor of the MCSU sidelines at school newspaper and then we're still pending our

[01:08:00] interview but as of now we're looking to get a fall athlete on from the cross-country team

[01:08:05] to talk a little bit about their season and hopefully they're impending repeat of the conference

[01:08:09] USA championships this November and then we will of course wrap it up with a behind the enemy

[01:08:16] lines as we we look ahead to the Memphis matchup with Frank Bonner the beat writer of the

[01:08:21] Memphis Tigers for the Memphis and so once again thanks for tuning in don't forget to like

[01:08:27] and subscribe on this episode it's gonna help with the algorithm tremendously it does great

[01:08:32] things for me so I would appreciate it if you take the time after watching this or listening you

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[01:08:40] to follow us on all of our socials at Bluader pod and until next time go blue