Season 2, Episode 9 feat. Isaiah Davis, Idun Kvaale, and Kai Millette

[00:00:07] Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Blue Raider Podcast hosted by Jake Bolden and presented by the Canseco Group, General Contracting, and Mighty Dog Roofing.

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[00:00:41] Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast. I'm your host, Jake Bolden, and today it is another action-filled episode for you.

[00:00:50] Quick turnaround for football. They're coming off the loss Thursday night against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on the road.

[00:00:56] Looking to, again, capitalize on that quick turnaround tonight at the Johnny Red Floyd Stadium against the Kennesaw State Owls.

[00:01:03] That kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. I hope to see all of you there, and we're going to preview a little bit of that game

[00:01:09] with Kai Millett of the Owl Chat Podcast, also the sports editor for the Sentinel, the Kansas State student-run newspaper,

[00:01:18] as well as talk with Isaiah Davis, host of the Champ Pod, to talk a little bit about the upcoming matchup,

[00:01:24] as well as reflect back on that Louisiana Tech loss on Thursday night.

[00:01:27] And then, of course, make sure you stick around for our featured player interview.

[00:01:31] Today, we have Eden Kuale, who is the junior forward on the women's soccer team, the second leading scorer for the Lady Raiders this year.

[00:01:39] So, great interview with her to talk a little bit about the success the Lady Raiders have,

[00:01:42] because they are going to make the Conference USA tournament this year.

[00:01:45] So, big things for them, and some big matchups ahead for them as well.

[00:01:49] But before we get into our episode, as always, I have to take a second to thank our sponsors,

[00:01:53] and I want to begin with our sponsor, the Canseco Group.

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[00:03:13] Thanks again to the Canseco Group and Mighty Dog Roofing

[00:03:16] for sponsoring the Blue Raider podcast and today's episode.

[00:03:20] Now, without further ado, I am pleased to bring in our first guest.

[00:03:24] He is the host of the Champ Pod.

[00:03:26] He's a young gun.

[00:03:27] He's the youngest guest I've had on the podcast.

[00:03:30] Really exciting to hear about him.

[00:03:31] But Isaiah, welcome to the show.

[00:03:33] Hey, Jake.

[00:03:34] Appreciate you having me on, man.

[00:03:35] Super happy to come on the Blue Raider podcast.

[00:03:37] Been waiting for this for a while.

[00:03:39] Just going to have a great episode today.

[00:03:41] Absolutely.

[00:03:42] And like you said, we've been kind of teeing this one up for a little while.

[00:03:46] Isaiah's new to the podcasting game, but he's had on a lot of guests.

[00:03:48] So again, if you haven't heard of his stuff, we'll tee up all your social media

[00:03:52] as we tie things together at the end here.

[00:03:54] But Isaiah is a staple on the sidelines every Saturday,

[00:03:57] or I guess now where it's midweek games, as well as there in the press conferences.

[00:04:01] So I appreciate having Isaiah on.

[00:04:03] But before we get into our talk about Louisiana Tech,

[00:04:05] I want to, as always, we'll bring in the postgame presser from Derek Mason

[00:04:10] and hear a word from him.

[00:04:12] You know, first of all, I want to say hats off to Coach Comby.

[00:04:18] His team played hard.

[00:04:19] They played physical.

[00:04:21] So, you know, for us, common mistakes, you know, may continue.

[00:04:27] And it's some of the same mistakes.

[00:04:28] So unfortunately, like that's on me.

[00:04:31] You know, we look up and we have to protect the ball.

[00:04:36] We have to do a better job, again, of setting edges.

[00:04:39] The ball fell off the table way too many times tonight.

[00:04:43] And so, you know, defensively, just the understanding of what they were doing.

[00:04:48] The ball was coming out fast.

[00:04:49] They were doing a good job on first down of getting to, you know, second and short.

[00:04:54] And when you do that, man, it makes it a rough night

[00:04:57] because I think they wound up like 12 or 16 overall on third down.

[00:05:01] And that's a tough thing defensively because you're not getting off the field

[00:05:07] and you're not getting your offense the ball back.

[00:05:09] I thought we just didn't do enough to get our offense the ball back tonight.

[00:05:12] So as I look at it in its totality, I thought we made some plays early.

[00:05:20] But after that, man, we lost momentum and we couldn't gain it back.

[00:05:23] And that's sort of been the story of this football team as we've gone through the season.

[00:05:28] So it's a fast turnaround.

[00:05:30] We've got to get ready to turn around versus Kansas State and go fix it.

[00:05:35] So much there to unpack, as always, for Mason

[00:05:39] as he kind of addresses all the issues going on.

[00:05:41] That's five straight losses now, the 48-21 loss down in Ruston.

[00:05:46] And it really wasn't the fashion in which I thought we would lose that game

[00:05:49] if we were going to lose that game.

[00:05:50] I kind of thought we had an opportunity to turn the season around, if you will.

[00:05:54] Get yourself to two and four.

[00:05:56] Kind of be optimistic about, obviously, the game that's going to happen tonight

[00:06:00] and then the Jacksonville State game next week

[00:06:02] and see if you can't get yourself to six wins.

[00:06:03] But now that optimism has dwindled, Isaiah, I'll turn to you.

[00:06:07] What did you see from the Raiders on Thursday night?

[00:06:10] I think Coach Mason absolutely nailed it.

[00:06:13] I mean, you can't get off the field on defense.

[00:06:16] You can't provide Nicholas Fadiato to maybe throw a pass

[00:06:19] to Holden Willis on the offense.

[00:06:21] You can't use targets that we've got on offense

[00:06:23] if you can't get off the field on defense.

[00:06:25] I think on our notes, we had one of the worst teams on third down.

[00:06:29] On defense, we're allowing 10-plus yards per play.

[00:06:32] I mean, we're just getting run over the whole time.

[00:06:35] I mean, you can't make offense plays if your defense isn't going to give you the ball.

[00:06:39] So somebody needs to step up the whole defensive side.

[00:06:42] I think Coach Stewart is going to be going up to the box.

[00:06:45] So I wonder if that's going to change anything for next week.

[00:06:48] Yeah, that's a great tidbit there.

[00:06:50] They spoke about it in yesterday's press conference

[00:06:53] is that Stewart's now going to be going up into the box.

[00:06:55] I don't know necessarily if that does change anything,

[00:06:57] but you have to think that changing something is going to hopefully stir up some magic for the defense.

[00:07:03] But yeah, to shore up some of those statistics you threw up there,

[00:07:08] you're third worst in college football at 47% third down defense.

[00:07:13] You're the seventh worst in college football at 69 rushing yards a game.

[00:07:16] You're the fourth worst in college football at 10.4 yards per attempt.

[00:07:20] And I think the ultimate disappointment really is Louisiana Tech,

[00:07:24] a defense or offense that has really struggled all season.

[00:07:27] Sonny Cumbie relinquishes the offensive play calling to his offensive line coach.

[00:07:31] And now you get a freshman quarterback that just throws 290 yards and five touchdowns.

[00:07:35] So, you know, that's quarterback.

[00:07:37] I mean, that's video game numbers, you know?

[00:07:39] That's just stuff you can't really relinquish.

[00:07:43] But you run into that same buzzsaw opportunity tonight when you get all,

[00:07:47] I'll talk about a whole new quarterback.

[00:07:49] Now, Kennesaw State is their own beast in themselves,

[00:07:51] and they've had a lot of their own issues and stuff like that.

[00:07:53] And we'll get into that a little bit more.

[00:07:55] But I still want to keep our attention on Thursday night.

[00:07:58] You know, Isaiah,

[00:07:58] are there any positives that you felt you could take away from this game?

[00:08:02] I mean, I think we definitely showcase our offense.

[00:08:05] One of the first plays I saw from the game was Nicholas Fadiato throwing the right to Holden Willis

[00:08:09] into the end zone.

[00:08:10] And I just think maybe if we try to get the ball to our offense, make some plays,

[00:08:16] I think we really could have a dominant offense.

[00:08:18] This team is built to have a dominant offense with Holden Willis,

[00:08:22] Credle in the backfield, Nick Fadiato, Omari Keller.

[00:08:26] And there's so many names on the offense that we should not be only scoring 21 points in a game.

[00:08:32] Yeah, I couldn't agree more.

[00:08:34] I think the rollercoaster ride of Omari Kelly right now,

[00:08:38] he leads the conference in receiving.

[00:08:40] And I know that a lot of fans may hear this,

[00:08:42] and they may get upset with Omari because of his untimely fumbles,

[00:08:45] like we saw in the Memphis game.

[00:08:47] And then he had an untimely fumble there in the first quarter against La Tech

[00:08:50] that really kind of turned the game on its head for us.

[00:08:53] But he's kind of an asset.

[00:08:54] He's a guy that we've got to have.

[00:08:57] He's got the hands.

[00:08:58] He's got the speed.

[00:08:59] He's got that top-end speed that you need from your wideout.

[00:09:02] So I hate to bag on him too much.

[00:09:06] The fumbles are bad, and that's something that can be addressed.

[00:09:09] But like you said, this is a good offense.

[00:09:11] I don't see any reason as to why they're not there.

[00:09:14] But I think the glaring thing is going to be the offensive line.

[00:09:18] You know, that personnel, they've been hurt.

[00:09:21] They're shuffling through a lot of those guys.

[00:09:23] So you kind of hope that you get a little bit healthy.

[00:09:25] But you're in this stretch now where you have three games in two weeks.

[00:09:29] Healthy is kind of on the back burner right now until you get to that next bye week.

[00:09:33] So, you know, you hope to feel better about Kennesaw State.

[00:09:38] And we'll turn our attention there now.

[00:09:40] You got that kickoff tonight, 7 p.m., there at Johnny Red Floyd Stadium.

[00:09:45] Isaiah, how are you feeling about this game tonight?

[00:09:48] Well, I just watched the press conference, and I learned that Kevin Byard's coming.

[00:09:51] So I might have a chance to see him.

[00:09:53] Super excited for that.

[00:09:54] I mean, I heard some people are painting up for the game.

[00:09:57] So there should be a lot of atmosphere around this game.

[00:10:01] I think it gives some motive for this offense.

[00:10:03] And like you said, the offensive line, I heard some of our guys are coming back

[00:10:08] through this midweek game.

[00:10:11] So super excited.

[00:10:12] I think we'll have a – I think we'll have a chance.

[00:10:15] When I'm looking at the schedule here, Kennesaw State was the game.

[00:10:18] Now I'm like, man, we have to win that game.

[00:10:21] Like, if we don't win this game, we're already in a whole lot of trouble.

[00:10:25] We're going to be a lot deeper for sure.

[00:10:29] The current betting line is at 10 points right now.

[00:10:32] And I know you're young, Gunn, and I don't want you to get on the betting advice

[00:10:34] and things like that.

[00:10:35] But that just goes to show that this is a game, even as bad as our season has been,

[00:10:40] this is a game that you've got to win, and you're expected to win it

[00:10:42] by at least two touchdowns.

[00:10:44] Do you think that's doable, Isaiah?

[00:10:47] Do you think a two-touchdown victory tonight is plausible?

[00:10:50] I mean, from what we've seen, we keep on starting off real hot in the first half

[00:10:55] and then due to the second half.

[00:10:57] And I feel like that's what I've seen from just a lot of my time being a fan of

[00:11:00] MTSU is we'll start off real hot at the start,

[00:11:02] and it was kind of die at the end there.

[00:11:05] And, I mean, you saw that last week.

[00:11:06] You've seen that Tennessee Tech game.

[00:11:09] I mean, we just let off the gas against teams that we need to keep on pushing forward.

[00:11:13] So I think if we keep on playing all four quarters,

[00:11:16] and sometimes maybe this game might take a fifth quarter,

[00:11:19] maybe go into overtime for us to win it, we've got to play the full game.

[00:11:23] Yeah, I couldn't agree more.

[00:11:24] I've been saying that all season long.

[00:11:26] You've got to play a full 60 minutes to feel some level of confidence,

[00:11:28] and you've really got to have one because your next matchup is Jacksonville State.

[00:11:32] And they've made a change of quarterback.

[00:11:35] They're going to Tyler Huff now.

[00:11:37] Rich Rodriguez has made the switch.

[00:11:40] And Jacksonville State looks poised to kind of work themselves back in that top tier of Conference USA.

[00:11:45] So you've got to get some level of confidence under your feet as you move into that game.

[00:11:50] But to talk about the Kennesaw State again tonight, some of the keys to success,

[00:11:56] I've got a few, and I say I'll give you an opportunity to kind of share a few of yours.

[00:12:00] One of the things that we've already talked about is the Owls' defense.

[00:12:05] And our ability to – we've got to be able to move the ball on that poor defense.

[00:12:09] They're one of the worst scoring defenses in Conference USA.

[00:12:11] So I think it comes down to the passing game opening back up.

[00:12:16] Vadiato's got to get the time tonight to make those passes and find his receivers.

[00:12:19] Holden Willis is a guy that's kind of been hiding.

[00:12:22] I mean, he makes the big play here and there, but he's a guy that I expect to have a big breakout game.

[00:12:25] Amara Kelly, I still expect him to have a good game.

[00:12:27] So I think capitalizing on the poor passing defense from Kennesaw is going to be vital to their success

[00:12:34] as well as, again, back to the whole getting your mojo, getting that wind in your sails

[00:12:40] as you move into that Jacksonville State game.

[00:12:42] But what are some other keys you might have for the game tonight, Isaiah?

[00:12:47] I mean, yeah, I think kind of the same things I said.

[00:12:50] We've got to keep the offensive going.

[00:12:51] Got to get that score up.

[00:12:53] I mean, the defense, we need to pick it up for sure.

[00:12:56] I mean, you mentioned this is one of the, like you said, it was the worst passing teams in the NCAA.

[00:13:03] Yeah, I mean, we saw that last week, though, with Louisiana Tech.

[00:13:06] Not a very offensive team in our defense.

[00:13:09] I mean, it definitely did not show one of the worst passing teams.

[00:13:13] So defense wins championships.

[00:13:15] And if we're going to go out and try to win some type of championship,

[00:13:19] I don't think we're in Conference USA polls anymore.

[00:13:24] But a win is a win.

[00:13:26] We need to get a win tomorrow or tonight.

[00:13:29] Yeah, absolutely.

[00:13:30] I agree.

[00:13:32] One of the topics of discussion, too, is for Kennesaw State and their camp

[00:13:36] is the quarterback situation.

[00:13:38] So as I've already teased at the beginning of this episode,

[00:13:40] we're going to have Kai Millett from the Owl Chat podcast and the Synodal,

[00:13:45] the Kansas State, sorry, Kennesaw State student-run newspaper.

[00:13:50] They're going to have a new quarterback under center tonight for the Owls.

[00:13:53] They've done away with Davis Bryson.

[00:13:55] They've seen enough of him.

[00:13:56] Two touchdowns, the six interceptions.

[00:13:59] So I think they're ready to try something new.

[00:14:01] And to credit Brian Bohannon, the head coach there at Kennesaw State,

[00:14:05] I think it's time that they do that.

[00:14:07] And there's really no better week.

[00:14:08] You're going to play the worst-scoring defense in Conference USA

[00:14:11] in Middle Tennessee.

[00:14:12] So you're hoping to get some sort of offense rolling,

[00:14:14] and this would be the week to try those things out.

[00:14:16] So from what I've heard in their camp,

[00:14:19] they've had three separate guys take snaps this week.

[00:14:22] You've got Caleb Johnson.

[00:14:23] He's the registered sophomore.

[00:14:24] He transfers from a junior college,

[00:14:26] but he actually signed to Louisville out of high school.

[00:14:29] But he did not play for the Cardinals.

[00:14:32] But any guy that signs with Louisville out of high school

[00:14:34] has got to be some level of athlete.

[00:14:36] Braden Bohannon, the redshirt sophomore.

[00:14:38] He's the son of head coach Brian,

[00:14:40] who's actually received some snaps last season

[00:14:42] before taking the redshirt.

[00:14:43] And then Lucas Shearhorn, who is a high school signee,

[00:14:46] a true freshman out of Spring, Texas.

[00:14:48] So those are the three guys that I'm told

[00:14:50] have been taking snaps in camp this week.

[00:14:52] We could see any one of them.

[00:14:54] I think that they all provide something a little bit different.

[00:14:56] My understanding is Caleb is a lot more of an athletic

[00:14:58] and uses legs, very similar to that of Davis Bryson.

[00:15:01] Braden Bohannon is more of a pocket passer,

[00:15:03] but again, still pretty versatile.

[00:15:05] And I don't really know much about Lucas Shearhorn.

[00:15:07] I mean, you can go back to his high school tape,

[00:15:08] but it's just a different ballgame.

[00:15:10] But you've got to have some level of confidence

[00:15:11] if he's getting first-team snaps this week.

[00:15:14] So, Isaiah, before we hang this call up,

[00:15:19] I want to talk about a little bit on the vision.

[00:15:21] You touched about it there.

[00:15:22] I know you're talking championships,

[00:15:23] but really I think objectively,

[00:15:24] if this team could still get to six wins,

[00:15:26] you'd feel pretty good about it.

[00:15:29] But right now, I'm a pessimist when it comes to that.

[00:15:31] I don't know that they can get to six wins.

[00:15:33] But it does start in tonight's game against Kennesaw State.

[00:15:36] So, I want to ask you,

[00:15:38] do you think six wins is still attainable for this team?

[00:15:42] Jake, I think six wins is attainable for any team

[00:15:44] if they really put the mindset in.

[00:15:46] I think a lot of our guys and a lot of the culture

[00:15:48] that the borough has really built around MTSU

[00:15:51] has been, man, we're just horrible.

[00:15:54] We can't win a game.

[00:15:55] We're 1-5, we're almost losing to Tennessee Tech,

[00:15:58] this, this, and this.

[00:15:59] I think our players and our fans,

[00:16:03] everybody in the middle of Tennessee area

[00:16:05] needs to switch their minds out to,

[00:16:07] we can win games.

[00:16:08] We've had success in the past.

[00:16:10] We won a bowl game, what was it,

[00:16:12] one or two years ago.

[00:16:13] This team can win.

[00:16:15] This team can win, and they can win good.

[00:16:17] And we've shown that we have the strengths

[00:16:19] and the team to win.

[00:16:22] We are a win-now team.

[00:16:24] We are a win-now team.

[00:16:25] And I think that we just need to go out there

[00:16:27] with a different mindset.

[00:16:29] And I think we can get the job done.

[00:16:33] So tell me, we talked a little ahead of the schedule.

[00:16:36] I know we said Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State.

[00:16:38] You got UTEP, Liberty, New Mexico State, FIU.

[00:16:40] Those are your final four games of the season.

[00:16:44] Liberty looks tough,

[00:16:45] but you had the benefit of that being at home.

[00:16:46] And then you got UTEP, New Mexico State, FIU.

[00:16:49] You gotta win now.

[00:16:52] Like you said,

[00:16:52] if you want to get the six wins,

[00:16:54] you can't afford to take another game off.

[00:16:56] Realistically, you've got to obviously win

[00:16:58] this Kennesaw State game.

[00:16:59] Jacksonville State game was a swing game

[00:17:00] I had at the beginning of the year.

[00:17:02] But again, Jacksonville State is kind of,

[00:17:04] they found a rejuvenation with a change of quarterback.

[00:17:06] And then we've kind of fallen off.

[00:17:08] We haven't played to the level

[00:17:09] that I think that we're very capable of.

[00:17:10] And I'm sure from what it sounds like, Isaiah,

[00:17:12] you think this team is very capable

[00:17:13] of doing the same thing.

[00:17:14] So hopefully MTSU and Derek Mason

[00:17:19] has carried that message on to the team as a whole.

[00:17:22] So Isaiah, I'll turn this over to you.

[00:17:24] I know you talked a little bit.

[00:17:26] You feel really confident about this game tonight.

[00:17:29] What's a good score prediction for you?

[00:17:32] Man, I think it's gonna be a tough battle.

[00:17:33] I think it's gonna be a,

[00:17:35] I think it could be a high scoring game.

[00:17:36] It could have been like a,

[00:17:38] kind of a shootout going on here.

[00:17:40] I think we could maybe see like a 35-28.

[00:17:44] I think we could see that.

[00:17:45] I think MTSU will prevail though.

[00:17:47] This game could go into overtime.

[00:17:49] I mean, these are some balanced teams.

[00:17:51] Kennesaw State, we can't look past them.

[00:17:53] This is a good team.

[00:17:54] And we don't have a lot of tape.

[00:17:56] Like we said, we can only hear

[00:17:58] of this quarterback that they're putting in.

[00:18:00] And especially with this midweek,

[00:18:01] we don't have a lot of time to hear

[00:18:03] what this quarterback is gonna show us.

[00:18:05] And I think that's gonna throw us off a little bit.

[00:18:07] And our defense, I mean,

[00:18:09] we make a few plays on defense.

[00:18:11] I think we'll stick in this game

[00:18:12] and we'll come out with the window.

[00:18:15] Yeah, that's a great point about the quarterback,

[00:18:17] lack of having tape on those guys.

[00:18:19] Yeah, that's a good point.

[00:18:19] And I agree with you.

[00:18:20] I think there's gonna be a lot of points scored

[00:18:22] if the history has shown anything this year.

[00:18:24] When MTSU plays bad offenses,

[00:18:27] the scoreboard gets lit up.

[00:18:28] And when MTSU plays good offenses,

[00:18:31] the under would hit, as we would say.

[00:18:33] So a lot of defense typically prevails in those games.

[00:18:35] So a lot to look forward to tonight.

[00:18:37] All right, Isaiah.

[00:18:39] I appreciate you having, joining us, I should say.

[00:18:42] Isaiah, tell the fans a little bit about,

[00:18:45] tell them a little bit about yourself.

[00:18:46] Again, I know that you're young

[00:18:48] and we're excited to have you on,

[00:18:50] but tell a little bit about the Champ Podcast.

[00:18:52] You know, how can they listen to your episodes?

[00:18:54] You know, anything exciting coming down the chute for you?

[00:18:58] Yeah, guys.

[00:18:59] Isaiah Davis, 16 years old.

[00:19:01] I would say I do reporting at MTSU

[00:19:03] and I have the Champ Podcast.

[00:19:05] Originally started it with my friend,

[00:19:07] but eventually just took it over

[00:19:08] and it's been all up there.

[00:19:10] We don't just interview MTSU players.

[00:19:12] I mean, we've gone to Tennessee.

[00:19:14] We've gone, where else?

[00:19:16] I mean, Auburn.

[00:19:17] I mean, any school that has a player

[00:19:20] that we can get on there,

[00:19:21] you know, we just shoot them a DM

[00:19:22] and then we try to get them on.

[00:19:25] Again, I mean, you can find me on the sideline.

[00:19:27] If you guys want to listen to the episodes,

[00:19:29] there should be a YouTube.

[00:19:30] You might have to look up the Champ Podcast,

[00:19:32] Isaiah Davis.

[00:19:34] Not too big, apparently, on YouTube.

[00:19:36] You guys have put my name there.

[00:19:37] We are on Spotify as well, the Champ Podcast,

[00:19:40] and our Instagram as well is the Champ Pod.

[00:19:45] Excellent stuff, as he said.

[00:19:47] A lot of people come through the doors

[00:19:48] of the Champ Podcast,

[00:19:49] so really good stuff.

[00:19:51] Exciting for Isaiah and his future

[00:19:53] in sports reporting,

[00:19:55] and I'm very happy to get him

[00:19:56] some opportunity here

[00:19:57] to talk a little football.

[00:19:59] Isaiah, thanks for stopping by.

[00:20:01] Appreciate you, man.

[00:20:05] Did you know the Blue Raider Podcast

[00:20:07] has an online store?

[00:20:08] You can now support your favorite podcast

[00:20:10] by checking out our selection

[00:20:12] at our website, blueraiderpodcast.com.

[00:20:14] And stay tuned for new merchandise releases

[00:20:16] as we collaborate with athletes

[00:20:18] in NIL partnerships.

[00:20:21] And now it is time to get

[00:20:22] to our featured player interview of today.

[00:20:25] In today's episode,

[00:20:26] I'm really excited.

[00:20:27] We're talking a little bit about

[00:20:28] Lady Raiders soccer,

[00:20:29] and joining us is the second leading goal scorer

[00:20:32] for the Lady Raiders.

[00:20:32] She's up to five goals already,

[00:20:34] and with three matches remaining,

[00:20:36] coming to us from Molde, Norway.

[00:20:38] It is Eden Kowale.

[00:20:40] Eden, how's it going?

[00:20:42] I'm doing well.

[00:20:43] How are you?

[00:20:44] I'm fantastic,

[00:20:45] and it's a pleasure to have you.

[00:20:47] As I said,

[00:20:48] talking to you prior to this interview,

[00:20:50] you're my third soccer player,

[00:20:52] and it's really exciting

[00:20:53] to have a lot of you on

[00:20:54] for the fact that

[00:20:55] the tide is kind of turning

[00:20:57] for the Lady Raiders soccer program.

[00:20:59] I've got you fresh off of the win

[00:21:00] against Western Kentucky on Sunday.

[00:21:03] That's always a big win,

[00:21:04] especially in this scenario for you,

[00:21:05] because this is your third year

[00:21:06] here in Murfreesboro,

[00:21:07] and you finally got

[00:21:08] 100 miles of hate win.

[00:21:09] So tell me a little bit

[00:21:10] about that matchup on Sunday,

[00:21:11] and how does it feel

[00:21:12] to finally get that win

[00:21:13] under your belt?

[00:21:15] It's a very important game for us,

[00:21:17] for sure.

[00:21:17] The rivalry is very,

[00:21:19] very big,

[00:21:20] and it's just something

[00:21:22] that we've been looking forward to

[00:21:23] for a long time.

[00:21:26] It's definitely last year,

[00:21:28] we felt like we did a little bit

[00:21:30] of a slip-up with that game,

[00:21:32] and we also haven't won

[00:21:34] a little bit against WKU,

[00:21:36] and so we had just a lot.

[00:21:40] We were so eager to get this game

[00:21:41] and get this win,

[00:21:42] and I'm just really happy

[00:21:44] that we got it,

[00:21:45] and I felt like we played well

[00:21:46] and did the job,

[00:21:47] so yeah.

[00:21:49] In your career,

[00:21:50] like I touched on,

[00:21:51] your freshman year

[00:21:51] was a 1-1 tie.

[00:21:52] Last year,

[00:21:53] it was a 3-0 loss,

[00:21:54] and then on Sunday,

[00:21:56] you got a 2-0 win,

[00:21:57] so really exciting stuff there.

[00:21:59] The team is on a little bit

[00:21:59] of a win streak right now.

[00:22:01] As things sit on the day

[00:22:02] of the release of this episode,

[00:22:03] you guys are in third place,

[00:22:05] 12 points.

[00:22:06] I don't want to jinx anything,

[00:22:07] but you kind of look like

[00:22:08] a lock already

[00:22:09] for the conference tournament

[00:22:10] at the end of the year,

[00:22:10] so again,

[00:22:10] that's kind of something

[00:22:11] that's new for you as well.

[00:22:12] The program hasn't been

[00:22:14] to the conference tournament

[00:22:14] since 2021.

[00:22:16] What about the team this year

[00:22:17] is just clicking for you guys?

[00:22:18] Why are you performing

[00:22:20] so well

[00:22:21] through the conference season?

[00:22:23] I think,

[00:22:24] obviously,

[00:22:24] there's a lot of great talent

[00:22:26] and amazing players

[00:22:28] in our team.

[00:22:29] I think this year

[00:22:30] we have a lot of trust,

[00:22:31] and I think that's been

[00:22:32] the little key factor

[00:22:34] that's been keeping us

[00:22:35] up and going this year.

[00:22:37] As far as hard work

[00:22:38] and skill can take you,

[00:22:39] I feel like the trust

[00:22:40] that we have

[00:22:40] has been very crucial,

[00:22:42] the trust that we have

[00:22:43] in the coaches

[00:22:44] and the teammates

[00:22:46] when I'm playing

[00:22:47] and the bench

[00:22:47] when someone comes in for me.

[00:22:50] I think we prove that

[00:22:51] when we have 12 different

[00:22:52] goal scorers so far

[00:22:53] in the season.

[00:22:55] Trust,

[00:22:55] I'll say,

[00:22:56] is a very big part

[00:22:57] of our success this year.

[00:22:59] Another little tidbit

[00:23:01] to add into the success

[00:23:02] is Emma Pedersen,

[00:23:04] she's out for the year

[00:23:05] with an injury,

[00:23:06] which is kind of

[00:23:06] through a wrench in it

[00:23:07] because she was performing

[00:23:08] so well for you guys

[00:23:09] to start,

[00:23:09] and yet you guys

[00:23:10] haven't really missed a beat

[00:23:11] and you've been a part

[00:23:12] of that as I teased

[00:23:13] at the introduction.

[00:23:14] You're up to five goals.

[00:23:15] You scored three last year.

[00:23:17] You still got three games

[00:23:17] in hand this year.

[00:23:18] Tell me a little bit

[00:23:19] about Eden's success.

[00:23:21] Where is that coming from?

[00:23:24] That's definitely,

[00:23:25] obviously as a forward,

[00:23:26] that's your whole goal

[00:23:27] is to score goals

[00:23:28] or at least create some

[00:23:29] if it's assists

[00:23:30] or just being part of

[00:23:31] that final play

[00:23:32] that creates a product.

[00:23:34] But obviously getting

[00:23:35] those goals in,

[00:23:37] that's kind of what you want.

[00:23:39] That's like the big goal

[00:23:40] for any forward.

[00:23:41] So it feels really good

[00:23:42] to be able to have

[00:23:44] that success

[00:23:44] and create those products.

[00:23:45] So, yeah.

[00:23:48] In seven straight matches,

[00:23:49] you've gotten a shot on goal

[00:23:50] and that brings

[00:23:51] your season total up to 18.

[00:23:53] And again,

[00:23:53] to draw back on the success

[00:23:54] you had last year,

[00:23:55] you had 11.

[00:23:56] So it seems like

[00:23:57] the opportunities

[00:23:58] are there for you this year.

[00:23:59] And a player in specific

[00:24:01] that I love talking about

[00:24:02] on the podcast

[00:24:03] is Manon Labargi.

[00:24:04] She's kind of a catalyst

[00:24:05] for this team.

[00:24:06] She has tons of energy.

[00:24:08] I loved interviewing her

[00:24:09] in the summer series.

[00:24:09] For those that haven't heard that,

[00:24:10] I do encourage that interview.

[00:24:12] Tell me about

[00:24:13] the relationship

[00:24:13] you have with Manon.

[00:24:15] Again,

[00:24:16] the player that she is,

[00:24:17] she's second in the conference,

[00:24:18] tied for second

[00:24:18] in the conference

[00:24:19] with goals scored at 10

[00:24:20] as a midfielder.

[00:24:21] She's just,

[00:24:21] she's a ball of energy,

[00:24:22] not only her personality,

[00:24:24] but on the field too.

[00:24:25] Oh yeah,

[00:24:26] I absolutely love her.

[00:24:27] She is,

[00:24:29] first of all,

[00:24:29] an amazing person.

[00:24:30] We're also an amazing player.

[00:24:31] And I feel like

[00:24:32] the connection we have

[00:24:33] is really good.

[00:24:34] We've had a lot of

[00:24:35] combination play between us

[00:24:37] if she assists me

[00:24:38] or I assist her.

[00:24:40] And so that's definitely

[00:24:41] a duo that,

[00:24:42] I mean,

[00:24:43] she's one of my favorite

[00:24:44] players on the team too.

[00:24:45] She is just,

[00:24:45] you never know

[00:24:46] what she's going to do.

[00:24:47] She always has something

[00:24:48] funny or

[00:24:49] just amazing up her sleeve.

[00:24:52] So yeah,

[00:24:53] she's just an amazing player

[00:24:54] and we're really grateful

[00:24:55] to have her.

[00:24:57] What's the chemistry like

[00:24:58] between you two

[00:24:59] off the field

[00:25:00] and as well as a lot of

[00:25:01] the international players

[00:25:02] alike?

[00:25:03] I mean,

[00:25:03] you've been here for three years.

[00:25:04] I'm sure you're a part of the group

[00:25:05] that kind of shows

[00:25:06] the incoming freshmen

[00:25:07] and the new transfers

[00:25:09] around Murfreesboro.

[00:25:10] What's kind of the relationship

[00:25:11] you have with your teammates?

[00:25:14] That's everything for me,

[00:25:15] honestly.

[00:25:15] That's,

[00:25:16] especially as an international,

[00:25:17] that's my family.

[00:25:19] And I think

[00:25:21] they'll say the same.

[00:25:22] All the others

[00:25:23] in the nationals

[00:25:23] will say the same for that.

[00:25:26] But it's the people

[00:25:27] that you hang out with

[00:25:28] every day,

[00:25:28] especially freshman year

[00:25:29] when we all lived

[00:25:30] in the same complex,

[00:25:32] the same building.

[00:25:32] We would run to each other's rooms

[00:25:33] and hang out

[00:25:34] every single day.

[00:25:35] And so it's just,

[00:25:36] we've just created

[00:25:37] a great relationship.

[00:25:38] And I think

[00:25:39] as new people come in,

[00:25:40] we've definitely been able

[00:25:41] to transfer that relationship

[00:25:43] and yeah,

[00:25:44] showing that

[00:25:45] what a family is

[00:25:46] and what a great team we are.

[00:25:48] So yeah.

[00:25:49] What are some places

[00:25:50] you enjoy in Murfreesboro?

[00:25:52] Places like you like to eat,

[00:25:53] things you like to go out to?

[00:25:54] What about Murfreesboro?

[00:25:55] Where's the spot

[00:25:56] you take these new players?

[00:26:00] Obviously around campus

[00:26:01] for sure.

[00:26:01] You gotta show them.

[00:26:03] I love going to

[00:26:04] all of the sporting events

[00:26:05] that we have.

[00:26:05] And I think

[00:26:06] especially bringing

[00:26:06] international players here,

[00:26:08] showing them

[00:26:09] like a tailgate

[00:26:10] and like the football,

[00:26:11] the baseball,

[00:26:12] all of the American sports

[00:26:14] and the American.

[00:26:16] But also around

[00:26:18] Murfreesboro,

[00:26:18] like just taking people

[00:26:20] to Target

[00:26:20] or going around

[00:26:21] the Avenue

[00:26:23] or going out

[00:26:23] to eat at

[00:26:24] different restaurants.

[00:26:26] Yeah,

[00:26:26] that's mostly it.

[00:26:28] So the shopping scene

[00:26:29] is where you're at.

[00:26:30] You like the Avenue.

[00:26:31] What about food?

[00:26:32] I know you said

[00:26:32] you like to take them

[00:26:33] out to eat.

[00:26:33] What kind of cuisine

[00:26:34] do you like here in America?

[00:26:37] I'm a big fan

[00:26:38] of Mexican.

[00:26:40] I love La Siesta

[00:26:41] just outside of campus.

[00:26:43] It's a really great place

[00:26:44] and we always

[00:26:46] take people there

[00:26:46] and just go with my roommates

[00:26:48] or whoever wants to join.

[00:26:50] Absolutely.

[00:26:50] La Siesta

[00:26:51] always an excellent option.

[00:26:53] We'll turn our attention

[00:26:55] back to the soccer team here.

[00:26:56] So you're currently,

[00:26:57] like I said,

[00:26:57] third place,

[00:26:58] CUSA,

[00:26:59] 12 points.

[00:27:00] You've got three matches

[00:27:00] remaining.

[00:27:01] You're going on the road.

[00:27:02] You're going to play Sam Houston,

[00:27:03] a really tough opponent.

[00:27:04] They've kind of surprised

[00:27:05] a lot of the conference

[00:27:06] this year.

[00:27:08] And then you draw back

[00:27:09] to the other teams

[00:27:10] that you've played

[00:27:11] at the top of the conference,

[00:27:12] FIU.

[00:27:12] I know that's a game

[00:27:13] that you probably look back on

[00:27:14] like it was a closer game

[00:27:16] than the score would entail.

[00:27:17] So from my eyes,

[00:27:19] and obviously I'm asking

[00:27:20] about your insight here,

[00:27:22] what does it take

[00:27:23] for this team

[00:27:23] to kind of overcome

[00:27:24] those top teams

[00:27:25] in this conference

[00:27:25] and really make a run at it

[00:27:27] in the conference tournament

[00:27:28] coming up?

[00:27:30] I really think that

[00:27:31] we have been doing

[00:27:32] really great so far

[00:27:33] and with FIU,

[00:27:35] we're the only team

[00:27:35] that has been able

[00:27:36] to score against them,

[00:27:37] which I think is

[00:27:37] a very important detail.

[00:27:39] They've let in two goals

[00:27:40] and those two goals were ours.

[00:27:42] And I think that's

[00:27:43] very important

[00:27:43] to just know.

[00:27:46] With Sam Houston,

[00:27:47] obviously we haven't

[00:27:48] played them yet

[00:27:48] and I know they're

[00:27:50] tough to me

[00:27:50] at their home field.

[00:27:53] But then again,

[00:27:54] we score a lot of goals,

[00:27:55] a lot of different goal scorers.

[00:27:56] And so,

[00:27:57] I have full trust

[00:27:58] in my teammates

[00:27:59] when we go on the road

[00:28:00] and yeah,

[00:28:02] I trust that we can do

[00:28:03] the best that we can

[00:28:03] and I'm sure

[00:28:04] we'll get a product

[00:28:04] out of it.

[00:28:06] Absolutely.

[00:28:07] And like you said,

[00:28:08] the close matchup,

[00:28:09] FIU,

[00:28:09] New Mexico State

[00:28:10] was one I didn't mention.

[00:28:11] Again,

[00:28:11] that one kind of

[00:28:12] at the very final minute.

[00:28:13] So,

[00:28:13] the Lady Raiders

[00:28:15] are right there

[00:28:16] and I'm excited to see

[00:28:17] what you guys do

[00:28:17] coming down the stretch.

[00:28:18] So,

[00:28:19] before we finish

[00:28:20] the interview here,

[00:28:21] Eden,

[00:28:22] one thing I was

[00:28:23] super interested to know

[00:28:24] is about where

[00:28:25] you come from.

[00:28:26] So,

[00:28:27] Molde,

[00:28:28] Norway,

[00:28:28] you're Norwegian,

[00:28:30] but your hometown,

[00:28:31] your birthplace,

[00:28:32] can you

[00:28:33] re-pronounce

[00:28:33] that city for me?

[00:28:35] Shishkanes.

[00:28:36] Okay.

[00:28:37] So,

[00:28:37] you're way better

[00:28:38] than I will.

[00:28:39] So,

[00:28:39] from there,

[00:28:40] they're 250 miles

[00:28:42] north of the Arctic Circle.

[00:28:43] I know I'm using miles

[00:28:45] for our listeners.

[00:28:46] Very far north

[00:28:48] of the Arctic Circle.

[00:28:48] So,

[00:28:48] that means you get

[00:28:49] to experience

[00:28:50] what we call

[00:28:50] the midnight sun

[00:28:51] or the polar nights

[00:28:52] where the sun

[00:28:53] doesn't set

[00:28:54] for a period of time

[00:28:54] and then you go

[00:28:55] through periods

[00:28:55] where there is

[00:28:55] no sunlight.

[00:28:57] I don't know,

[00:28:58] again,

[00:28:58] how long you were able

[00:28:59] to be raised

[00:28:59] in that environment,

[00:29:00] but like,

[00:29:01] what is life like

[00:29:02] north of the Arctic Circle?

[00:29:03] Because that's

[00:29:03] an experience

[00:29:04] that none of us

[00:29:05] would ever share

[00:29:05] that are listening to this.

[00:29:07] Right.

[00:29:08] It's definitely something

[00:29:09] that you don't

[00:29:10] necessarily think

[00:29:11] too much of

[00:29:12] before you come here

[00:29:12] and you realize

[00:29:13] that that's just

[00:29:14] not how all the places

[00:29:16] in the world are.

[00:29:18] It's very special

[00:29:19] for sure.

[00:29:20] It's,

[00:29:21] even where I live now,

[00:29:22] I didn't live up there

[00:29:23] for too long,

[00:29:24] but even where I live now,

[00:29:25] which is just right south

[00:29:26] of the Arctic Circle,

[00:29:28] we do have,

[00:29:30] it's light,

[00:29:31] like the sun

[00:29:32] isn't necessarily up

[00:29:33] but in the summer

[00:29:34] during the night,

[00:29:35] if it's 1am,

[00:29:36] 2am,

[00:29:37] 3am,

[00:29:37] it'll be light outside.

[00:29:39] Like the sun sets

[00:29:40] but just barely

[00:29:41] and so the light

[00:29:42] will still be there.

[00:29:43] But yeah,

[00:29:44] up north where I was born,

[00:29:45] the sun doesn't go down

[00:29:47] so the sun will shine

[00:29:48] at 2am,

[00:29:49] 1am

[00:29:50] and it's definitely

[00:29:51] something that's very special

[00:29:53] and definitely appreciate that,

[00:29:55] especially in the summer

[00:29:56] because it's very cool.

[00:29:57] But then again,

[00:29:57] in the winter,

[00:29:58] we do have those

[00:29:59] 24 hours of darkness

[00:30:00] which is less fun.

[00:30:02] But yeah,

[00:30:03] makes up for it

[00:30:04] in the summer.

[00:30:05] The climate too

[00:30:06] is something that's interesting

[00:30:07] because when you talk

[00:30:09] about the weather

[00:30:09] that you experience here,

[00:30:10] you would expect it

[00:30:11] to be very cold

[00:30:11] and a little bit of research

[00:30:12] that I was doing,

[00:30:13] it showed that

[00:30:13] your winters are relatively

[00:30:15] mild.

[00:30:15] It's a wet snow.

[00:30:16] It's not a freezing snow

[00:30:17] per se.

[00:30:18] So really like

[00:30:18] the temperature

[00:30:19] is not as drastic

[00:30:21] as we may think

[00:30:22] that it is.

[00:30:23] That's something

[00:30:23] that I thought

[00:30:24] was pretty neat

[00:30:24] but I want to hear

[00:30:25] from you

[00:30:25] as someone that

[00:30:26] it sounds like you travel

[00:30:27] back to Norway

[00:30:28] when you can,

[00:30:30] how long does it take

[00:30:31] you to get acclimated

[00:30:32] back when you're

[00:30:32] in Norway

[00:30:33] as well as when you

[00:30:33] come back here

[00:30:34] into the United States?

[00:30:37] I think for winter

[00:30:38] it's not that much

[00:30:40] of a difference

[00:30:40] just like you said

[00:30:41] it's a little bit

[00:30:42] it's not as cold

[00:30:42] as you would think

[00:30:44] and that's mostly

[00:30:45] because we have

[00:30:45] a lot of mountains

[00:30:45] and so it shields

[00:30:47] like the wind

[00:30:49] so that's definitely

[00:30:50] helping a little bit.

[00:30:51] So we do have

[00:30:52] like the snow

[00:30:52] and the cold weather

[00:30:54] but it's not

[00:30:55] the Arctic frost

[00:30:56] and not unbearable

[00:30:58] but the winter

[00:31:00] transition I'd say

[00:31:00] isn't too bad

[00:31:01] and the summer

[00:31:02] it's definitely

[00:31:03] a little bit colder

[00:31:04] coming back

[00:31:05] to Norway

[00:31:06] but the change

[00:31:07] of in July

[00:31:09] coming from Norway

[00:31:10] to the US

[00:31:11] can be hard

[00:31:12] because it's

[00:31:13] a big change

[00:31:14] and it's very hot here.

[00:31:16] Yeah, the humidity

[00:31:17] is something

[00:31:18] that I'm sure

[00:31:18] even people

[00:31:19] I've lived here

[00:31:19] my entire life

[00:31:20] and I still

[00:31:20] am not entirely

[00:31:21] 100% acclimated

[00:31:22] to the humidity

[00:31:23] when it comes

[00:31:23] in the summer

[00:31:24] so I was

[00:31:25] super interested

[00:31:26] I know I trail

[00:31:27] off in a geography

[00:31:27] talk here

[00:31:28] but Norway

[00:31:29] is a very unique

[00:31:30] place

[00:31:31] and obviously

[00:31:31] we're glad

[00:31:32] to have you

[00:31:32] here in Murfreesboro

[00:31:33] but Eden

[00:31:35] excited about

[00:31:36] what the Lady Raiders

[00:31:37] have in store

[00:31:37] for them

[00:31:37] so I wish you

[00:31:38] the best of luck

[00:31:40] upcoming in Huntsville

[00:31:41] as well as

[00:31:41] the rest of the season

[00:31:42] and then good luck

[00:31:43] in Miami

[00:31:43] at the Conference

[00:31:44] USA Tournament

[00:31:45] and thanks for

[00:31:45] joining us today.

[00:31:47] Thank you.

[00:31:49] The BRP

[00:31:50] is proudly partnered

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[00:32:21] As always

[00:32:22] to wrap up

[00:32:23] our Blue Raider

[00:32:23] podcast

[00:32:24] we like to go

[00:32:24] behind enemy lines

[00:32:26] and once again

[00:32:26] this week

[00:32:27] we've got another

[00:32:28] friend of the

[00:32:29] Conference USA

[00:32:29] Roundtable

[00:32:30] joining us

[00:32:31] he is the

[00:32:31] sports editor

[00:32:32] for KSU

[00:32:33] student newspaper

[00:32:33] The Sentinel

[00:32:34] as well as a

[00:32:34] co-host of

[00:32:35] the Owls Chat

[00:32:36] podcast

[00:32:37] joining the

[00:32:37] Blue Raider

[00:32:38] podcast

[00:32:39] is Kai Malet

[00:32:40] Kai how's it

[00:32:40] going man?

[00:32:41] It's going alright

[00:32:42] in all things

[00:32:43] but football

[00:32:44] but yeah

[00:32:45] thanks for having

[00:32:45] me Jake

[00:32:46] absolutely

[00:32:47] I know

[00:32:48] you said it

[00:32:49] there

[00:32:50] I think

[00:32:50] a lot of

[00:32:51] excitement

[00:32:51] going from

[00:32:52] the FCS

[00:32:52] to the FBS

[00:32:53] is always

[00:32:53] behind

[00:32:54] where the

[00:32:55] football team

[00:32:56] stands

[00:32:56] I know

[00:32:56] one thing

[00:32:57] about

[00:32:57] Kennesaw

[00:32:58] State

[00:32:58] that

[00:32:58] unfortunately

[00:32:59] Blue Raider

[00:32:59] fans and

[00:32:59] the Conference

[00:33:00] USA

[00:33:00] like hasn't

[00:33:01] really seen

[00:33:01] yet

[00:33:01] is what

[00:33:02] the other

[00:33:02] programs

[00:33:03] that

[00:33:03] Kennesaw

[00:33:04] State

[00:33:04] does

[00:33:04] excel at

[00:33:05] and this

[00:33:05] just

[00:33:05] happens

[00:33:06] to be

[00:33:06] the football

[00:33:07] program

[00:33:07] isn't that

[00:33:08] right now

[00:33:08] I know

[00:33:08] you kind

[00:33:09] of had

[00:33:09] some

[00:33:09] expectations

[00:33:10] for them

[00:33:10] going into

[00:33:12] your first

[00:33:12] Conference

[00:33:12] USA

[00:33:13] season

[00:33:13] we've seen

[00:33:14] some mixed

[00:33:15] results last

[00:33:15] year

[00:33:15] you have

[00:33:16] Sam Houston

[00:33:17] State

[00:33:17] who has

[00:33:18] a three

[00:33:18] win season

[00:33:19] I think

[00:33:19] that was

[00:33:19] kind of

[00:33:19] expected

[00:33:20] and we

[00:33:20] kind of

[00:33:20] all thought

[00:33:21] Jacksonville

[00:33:21] State

[00:33:21] would have

[00:33:22] the same

[00:33:22] they surprised

[00:33:23] Conference

[00:33:23] USA

[00:33:24] with a

[00:33:24] nine win

[00:33:24] season

[00:33:25] and a

[00:33:25] Conference

[00:33:25] USA

[00:33:26] runner-up

[00:33:26] so I

[00:33:27] know

[00:33:27] you're

[00:33:28] already

[00:33:28] down

[00:33:28] it

[00:33:29] sounds

[00:33:29] like

[00:33:29] a lot

[00:33:30] of

[00:33:30] people

[00:33:30] there

[00:33:30] in

[00:33:31] Kennesaw

[00:33:31] are

[00:33:31] down

[00:33:32] now

[00:33:33] that

[00:33:33] you've

[00:33:33] had

[00:33:33] the

[00:33:34] reality

[00:33:34] hit

[00:33:45] say

[00:33:45] that

[00:33:45] lightly

[00:33:46] that

[00:33:46] probably

[00:33:47] should

[00:33:47] have

[00:33:47] been

[00:33:47] the

[00:33:47] expectation

[00:33:48] we

[00:33:48] all

[00:33:48] had

[00:33:48] coming

[00:33:48] into

[00:33:49] the

[00:33:49] year

[00:33:50] but

[00:33:50] if

[00:33:50] we

[00:33:51] can

[00:33:51] get

[00:33:51] out

[00:34:15] game

[00:34:15] attribute

[00:34:15] to

[00:34:16] that

[00:34:16] or

[00:34:16] was

[00:34:16] that

[00:34:16] an

[00:34:16] expectation

[00:34:17] going

[00:34:17] into

[00:34:17] the

[00:34:17] year

[00:34:18] that

[00:34:18] you

[00:34:18] thought

[00:34:18] winning

[00:34:19] a

[00:34:19] game

[00:34:19] would

[00:34:19] be

[00:34:19] good

[00:34:20] for

[00:34:20] us

[00:34:20] in

[00:34:20] general

[00:34:21] I

[00:34:22] think

[00:34:22] we

[00:34:22] were

[00:34:22] all

[00:34:23] a

[00:34:23] little

[00:34:23] bit

[00:34:23] higher

[00:34:24] than

[00:34:24] we

[00:34:24] should

[00:34:24] have

[00:34:24] been

[00:34:25] last

[00:34:27] year

[00:34:27] we

[00:34:28] had

[00:34:28] a

[00:34:28] poor

[00:34:29] season

[00:34:30] in

[00:34:31] three

[00:34:31] and

[00:34:31] six

[00:34:31] but

[00:34:32] we

[00:34:33] were

[00:34:33] playing

[00:34:33] red

[00:34:33] shirt

[00:34:33] roulette

[00:34:34] our

[00:34:45] So

[00:34:54] I

[00:34:58] don't

[00:34:59] think

[00:34:59] any

[00:34:59] of

[00:34:59] us

[00:34:59] thought

[00:34:59] it

[00:35:00] was

[00:35:00] going

[00:35:00] to

[00:35:00] be

[00:35:00] as

[00:35:00] bad

[00:35:01] as

[00:35:01] it

[00:35:01] has

[00:35:01] been

[00:35:02] but

[00:35:04] we

[00:35:06] have

[00:35:06] come

[00:35:07] down

[00:35:07] to

[00:35:07] earth

[00:35:07] that

[00:35:08] for

[00:35:08] sure

[00:35:10] and

[00:35:10] tell

[00:35:10] me

[00:35:11] coach

[00:35:11] Bohannon

[00:35:11] there

[00:35:12] I

[00:35:15] nature you talked you touched on it there a second about the style that is kinesaw state football

[00:35:19] have you seen a sort of transformation this year that's unlike what you've seen in years past

[00:35:24] because of that transition or is it a personnel thing since the since the the level of opponents

[00:35:30] has risen this season as have you seen the transition there with his with his coaching

[00:35:35] style per se well we're things really um kind of went the wrong way for us were some of the rule

[00:35:41] changes that came into play two or three years ago um where essentially the triple option was

[00:35:47] outlawed as we know it um and that was our brand of football for you know seven or eight years and

[00:35:52] that's how we were successful so um we switched over to the pistol um we're now on our third offensive

[00:35:58] coordinator in three years and i think the most discouraging thing um about the state of the

[00:36:02] program is the lack of progress we've seen you know in the pistol offense um i mean it's it looks

[00:36:09] debatably worse um

[00:36:11] than how it looks you know uh on day one um and then it's frustrating when you see the teams who

[00:36:17] were also impacted by the rule changes like the armies and the navies of the world who you know

[00:36:21] are killing it and were able to transition cleanly um but that was definitely a wrench and we're still

[00:36:26] trying to kind of figure things out there and we are yet to establish um the sort of offensive identity

[00:36:32] that we want so well you know not not to to bag on these bad numbers here but the the offense the

[00:36:40] largest discrepancy is the owls offense averaging just 14.6 points per game it's the worst in conference

[00:36:44] usa and then secondly their defense is allowing uh 36 points per game which is second worst to

[00:36:50] fortunately for you guys the team that you play tonight so you know tell me you know you've already

[00:36:55] touched a little bit about the offensive having to change a lot you know coordinating rolling over

[00:36:58] year to year is always gonna be a problem no matter if you keep personnel or get new personnel

[00:37:02] it's an adjustment for everybody the language changes obviously the schemes change all that stuff

[00:37:07] but i want to know from your perspective where do you think um what's the bigger issue what needs

[00:37:12] to be addressed first you think it's the offense not being able to put up points or the defense

[00:37:15] not being able to stop points um for the defense it's a lot easier to just um write it off as a

[00:37:21] personnel issue this is still a mostly fcs um talent level roster um and it's nothing against the kids on

[00:37:29] the roster you know there are there are good players on that side of the ball and um we give them

[00:37:33] their props you know whenever we can um but with the offense it's it's like even though those

[00:37:39] challenges are there we still feel like we should be further along in this process than we are um and

[00:37:45] i'll i'll be honest with you it's it's an ugly watch um you know i mean the the weapons aren't great

[00:37:52] um the quarterback situation isn't great and the o-line isn't great so um there's not a whole lot of

[00:37:57] redeeming qualities on on the offensive side well one bright side that i was able to look into is

[00:38:04] was the amount of sacks allowed from uh the owls offensive line um and i would say partially due

[00:38:09] to the fact that you guys do opt to run the ball a little bit more 62 percent of your plays

[00:38:13] is the run game um but the running numbers aren't there so it's again that's kind of a weird

[00:38:18] discrepancy that the sacks aren't happening but neither is the run game um so again i dissect this

[00:38:25] owl's offense a little bit for me my my assumption is because i don't have the opportunity to watch too

[00:38:29] much kennisall state football besides the jacksonville state game your previous one

[00:38:32] um my my assumption is there's a lot of there's a lot of lateral passing horizontal passing that

[00:38:38] spaces the field out left to right per se than the vertical game that you might see at the f at the

[00:38:42] fbs level um would that be an accurate description of what we're going to expect tonight

[00:38:47] yeah and uh here's the thing is our offense is so focused on kind of getting the ball to

[00:38:53] playmakers in space um and there's one really really good player on this offense or one really

[00:38:59] good offensive playmaker and that's uh gabriel ben yard who's been hurt for most of the season

[00:39:03] so when you take him out of the equation um it makes things really difficult um i would say that stat

[00:39:09] you brought up about the sacks is fairly misleading um the pass protection is not great by any means i

[00:39:15] mean every throw is pressured and it's at a point where you almost get the super conservative play

[00:39:21] calling that has annoyed a lot of the fan base where it's like okay well you know we can run it up the

[00:39:26] gut and hope to get two or three yards or we can drop back to pass and uh have a serious risk of

[00:39:31] losing eight so it's like do you take the second and eight or do you you know gamble and risk putting

[00:39:36] yourself in a second and 17 situation um it's it's hard to see out of uh we're hoping that we get

[00:39:41] ben yard back and um really that's a game changer uh because that's that's you know i believe an all

[00:39:48] conference caliber player um who doesn't have the numbers because he hasn't played a ton this year

[00:39:52] but if he's back then um we will have more ease moving the football that's for sure another aspect

[00:40:00] especially in conference usa and really you could make the argument for all of college football is

[00:40:04] is who is under center for your team and it it changes everything for you look at liberty and

[00:40:08] cate and salter um even mtsu and nicholas fadi auto we see with what jacksonville state does now

[00:40:13] that they're at their quarterback um with that is tyler huff who's finally got that team off the ground

[00:40:17] so it seems like the quarterback play is something that is is you've got to have at least someone in

[00:40:22] the top echelon of the conference to be a relevant team um you got registered sophomore davis bryson

[00:40:27] um who's your quarterback now young guy um two touchdowns six interceptions all a lot of those

[00:40:33] actually all those interceptions are happening in the last three games so um and he had three i

[00:40:37] believe in the jacksonville state game what about his game does do you need to see change to kind of

[00:40:43] get the offense moving in that right direction um he's had a rough start um and a lot of that has

[00:40:49] been on him but it's hard to pin all of it on him because the weapons are just not there um i mean

[00:40:56] the receivers struggle to get separation they've struggled um in each and every game um we've been

[00:41:02] unable to really establish the running game outside of the jacksonville state game um you know uh last

[00:41:08] friday um so it's he's got you know he's got intangibles he's really fast he's i think more

[00:41:17] accurate than people give him credit for um a handful of those interceptions really weren't his fault

[00:41:21] they were the product of tip balls and you know um just miscommunications on the part of the receiver

[00:41:27] so it's hard to pin it all on him but he definitely needs to be better um but you know he he has no time

[00:41:33] back in the pocket and like when he can't really utilize his legs and get to the edge because we

[00:41:38] can't set the edge on offense um it's hard to ask a whole lot of them so on the defensive side you know

[00:41:46] who are some players that have the ability to kind of wreck the game for for the owls and make a

[00:41:50] difference on uh tonight um so the one defensive unit that's been um really average i guess and i say

[00:41:59] that as a compliment like our one kind of middle of the pack in college football unit has been our

[00:42:03] run defense um i say poota walker's a name you're probably going to hear a lot defensive tackle

[00:42:07] um he's been good at stopping the run up the middle um the dbs have been great uh the linebackers

[00:42:13] haven't been great and we've been able to get zero pressure so um there's there's not a whole lot of

[00:42:18] names that really deserve to be highlighted um i say that in the nicest way but i would say

[00:42:22] poota walker is really the standout um i i would go as far to say the the clear-cut best

[00:42:28] defensive player on this team mtsu hasn't played louisiana tech at the time of this recording

[00:42:36] so really would put into perspective how desperate either one of these teams are to get a win tonight

[00:42:42] um at the time of the release of this recording um because if mtsu were to lose they're one in five

[00:42:47] they they basically have to win out to make a bowl game and then i don't know that it doesn't sound

[00:42:52] like kennesaw state has bowl game in their aspirations not that i think that they could i think

[00:42:55] i think they're in they're in a probationary period anyways with bowl game so but you still want to

[00:42:59] get a win under your belt i want to hear we've talked a lot about the a lot of the downsides with

[00:43:04] that transition for you guys what needs to happen tonight for kennesaw state to get a win in

[00:43:11] murfreesboro uh force a lot of turnovers that's one that's been one positive is you know our defense

[00:43:18] can't not necessarily stop anybody but we've been able to force turnovers i mean i think we had

[00:43:23] three against san jose state which is a really solid group of five team uh we had a couple

[00:43:27] against jacksonville state that set up um scoring opportunities for us um so we're going to need a

[00:43:32] bunch of lucky bounces against any opponent um any conference opponent's going to be a tough game for

[00:43:36] us um we need to be able to get some push on the line we got to get bryson or you know there's always

[00:43:43] the chance that they throw out caleb johnson the quarterback for his first start um they just need to

[00:43:48] have time um we're going to need to have seven or eight you know lucky to great plays that we didn't

[00:43:56] expect um to be in any game this year that's just the way it is last question for you here i know

[00:44:04] you're you're a lot more deep rooted into kennesaw state football than i would be or anyone else that's

[00:44:08] in our conference usa roundtable um what's the outlook for kennesaw state i know from an mtsu

[00:44:13] perspective we feel really good about next season this isn't really our year we don't think

[00:44:17] how how far along are the owls away from what in your opinion being competitive in this conference

[00:44:23] i think at least two or three years um that doesn't mean that you don't hope to see improvement

[00:44:28] next year um in the year after that but um i don't want to say this season's a wash because look

[00:44:34] we're only five games in uh there's still a lot of football left to be played um but i think the

[00:44:39] fans focus needs to be on the future um there's been a lot of speculation about the current administration

[00:44:44] and you know where the athletic department is going to go with that um so there's a lot of unknowns

[00:44:49] um and to be frank it's kind of hard to be optimistic right now but we keep leaning on the things that

[00:44:55] are going or you know that are in our favor being the recruiting base we have you know up in north

[00:45:01] georgia um some of the money that's rolled in um hopefully going towards some better facilities

[00:45:07] um we're close to reaching some of those goals so it's it's a long-term project um expectations

[00:45:13] aren't going to be anything serious uh for a little while here and i think the fan base me included

[00:45:19] um have really settled into that being the reality and we're kind of okay with it at this point

[00:45:26] this podcast is is an all sports podcast and as i teased at the beginning i think kennesale

[00:45:30] state offers a lot for conference usa and we'll turn the talk off of football now is this kind of the

[00:45:35] first opportunity i've had to speak with you personally as well as anyone from kennesaw state

[00:45:39] for that matter other programs you know where should where should our attention be i know i know basketball

[00:45:44] is always competitive one thing i'm doing a little bit of women's basketball research now ahead of that

[00:45:48] i think the women's team returns a lot of talent from that team um i i don't know much about the

[00:45:53] baseball program any other thing else but but tell us a little bit kai about about kennesaw state

[00:45:57] and what they bring as far as teams that are already competitive at this upcoming season sure um so our

[00:46:03] baseball program historically um has been very successful um we've always been or we were always

[00:46:09] at the top or near the top of the atlantic sun conference um we've always recruited very well

[00:46:15] once again um that's the state of georgia thing you know ton of talent in all sports really in the

[00:46:20] atlanta area um basketball uh historically um one of the worst programs in america until two or three

[00:46:28] years ago um we made our first ever run to the ncaa tournament uh won the atlantic sun and since

[00:46:34] then the attitudes really changed towards the program um our previous coach amir abdurrahim

[00:46:39] um left to take the south florida job and he's doing well over there but we brought in

[00:46:44] antwan petway who we've all been really excited about and he's been killing it in recruiting

[00:46:48] i think that program is still a year away from really being competitive in the conference and

[00:46:54] having a chance to contend but i think uh in the following year uh we're going to surprise some

[00:46:59] teams i expect us to be hovering around the middle of the conference to the bottom of the conference

[00:47:04] um with us pulling a couple of upsets along the way um because they're really really young um but

[00:47:10] you know it's a talented group it's a lot of fresh faces um women's basketball once again historically

[00:47:15] has not been great uh there is some returning production that we're excited about but

[00:47:20] that program's kind of been treading water and they're just kind of subject to being brought

[00:47:25] along with the other sports um but yeah um i'd say baseball is definitely kind of the top the top

[00:47:33] program in the whole department right now and i think they're going to be um you know making serious

[00:47:38] noise really quickly in conference usa well we appreciate uh kai malet joining us today again he's co-host of

[00:47:46] the owl chat podcast i know you guys do a midweek episode and again much like the blue raider podcast

[00:47:50] you guys do stuff through all um throughout the entire season for all your sports um so of course

[00:47:55] check them out check out um any sort of collaborations we do over at conference usa roundtable

[00:47:59] um kai i appreciate you stopping by um and it sounds like i'll be seeing you tonight

[00:48:04] yeah uh thanks so much for having me it was a great time thanks for sticking around to the raider wrap up

[00:48:10] portion of the episode where we will review this last week in blue raider athletics as well as look

[00:48:14] ahead to the incoming week in all things blue raider athletics and we will kick things off

[00:48:19] with football who had a loss on thursday night against the louisiana tech bulldogs by a score of

[00:48:23] 21 to 48 talked a lot about it at the beginning of the episode with isaiah davis uh not really much i

[00:48:30] want to continue to harp on but nick barriotto is our player of the week who went 24 of 39 passing

[00:48:35] for 276 yards and two touchdowns so he continues to be the bright spot for the raiders on the offensive end

[00:48:41] hopefully he can continue to find some connections and put more points up on the board this week as they

[00:48:49] that is the owls and that game will kick off tonight at 7 p.m so tune in there or if you're

[00:48:53] not already at johnny red fluid stadium we look excited to hopefully get ourselves back into the

[00:48:58] win column against a struggling kennesaw state team on the topic of eden kowale's interview i've got the

[00:49:05] lady uh raiders picking up a win in the 100 miles of hate for the first time uh in her career and it

[00:49:10] has been i believe it's three years since the last one over western kentucky but they defeated the

[00:49:14] hilltoppers two to zero sunday night um it was manila barji who got her 10th goal tied for second

[00:49:20] in conference usa as well as a another assist to add to her two-point evening i'm in a big matchup

[00:49:25] for the lady raiders as they jockey for better position in the conference tournament coming up at the

[00:49:29] end of the year they are in huntsville texas to face sam houston lady cats and that will be that

[00:49:35] fixture will begin at 1 p.m on sunday the 20th lady raiders volleyball has a 500 week they drop both

[00:49:43] of their matches to the hilltoppers in bowling green zero three match one and then a one three

[00:49:48] match two um tough um going there against the very strong western kentucky program they were able to

[00:49:55] get a win on the third set against them in match number two but nothing uh came of it as they dropped

[00:50:01] that match but fortunately they had a very dominating performance against jacksonville state

[00:50:06] over the weekend defeating the gamecocks three one and match one and then winning match two three to zero

[00:50:11] and actually won their last six sets there so really dominating performance there as they continue

[00:50:17] to move closer to the tournament as well trying to clinch that last spot and they will have an

[00:50:22] opportunity to hopefully pick up a few more wins against liberty this weekend as they are in lynchburg

[00:50:26] virginia match one is on friday the 18th at 6 p.m and then match two is on saturday at 6 p.m as well

[00:50:33] and i don't want to miss our player of the week honors going to loud jansen who got 69 digs this last week

[00:50:39] uh comfortable enough to keep her in first place in conference usa in total digs at 348 so been a

[00:50:46] very impressive year for lao as she's moved into that libero position um and continues to um play that

[00:50:52] defensive game of hers men's tennis return back from west lafayette at the ita ohio valley regionals

[00:50:59] um a doubles win for andre horak and karam al-amen who both like as i said were champions of the doubles

[00:51:06] um they will have the opportunity to compete for a national championship this coming fall

[00:51:11] as they've changed the formatting to the ita national championship but um i also want to give

[00:51:17] a shout out to shu matsuoka and um yakub kroslak who picked up a win and moved all the way to the

[00:51:24] round of 16 in the doubles as well on the single side of things al-amen was not done he got third place

[00:51:30] finish for the singles they fell in a very close semi-final matchup but did pick up the win in the

[00:51:36] consolation third place game so big congratulations to the junior there um expecting big steps from

[00:51:41] him this upcoming year and if this is any indication of that i'm really excited to see

[00:51:44] um what um al-amen brings to the table for the raiders this year and then uh his doubles partner

[00:51:50] andre horak did pick up a few wins and moved himself all the way into the round of 16 just

[00:51:54] shy of the quarterfinals so um always expect great stuff from horak um but this team in general

[00:51:59] this doesn't get you excited for the upcoming year they're gonna have i don't i don't know what it

[00:52:03] does so i'm excited to see what orak and al-amen do um in the national championships coming up in

[00:52:09] november then women's tennis hosted their own ohio valley regional here in murfreesboro this last

[00:52:15] week uh alicia trudin got all the way to the round of 32 in these singles and then lena pierre also made

[00:52:22] it to the qualifying second round she was just one round shy of making it into the main draw but

[00:52:26] good to see some of the our ladies picking up some wins there and um some highly competitive

[00:52:32] um singles matchups here early in the fall season men's golf give you a little uh step in

[00:52:40] view of where they're at right now they are currently had a little change in schedule

[00:52:44] they are now uh in burlington north carolina at the elon phoenix invitational um have had a great

[00:52:50] round one and two yesterday monday the team is currently at three strokes under par and it's good

[00:52:56] enough to have them in third place out of 18 teams uh jj zimmer and marcus vargin are both tied for

[00:53:02] 10th place at three strokes under thad whitfield tied for 20th at one over sheldon mcknight tied for

[00:53:08] 35th at three over and then carter mannett tied for 40th at four over and then charlie bell um who

[00:53:15] also is having um had a great round one actually was under par um and had a tougher round two but he

[00:53:22] currently is sitting at uh tied for 60th at six strokes over par so um eyes peeled today to see where

[00:53:28] they wrap up round three there in burlington of course stay tuned to social media and then we will

[00:53:33] have it wrapped up next week as this is the final tournament on schedule as of now for the fall

[00:53:38] season for men's golf and women's golf also wraps up their fall season this weekend uh they will be at

[00:53:45] the mercedes-benz intercollegiate in knoxville tennessee the that their first round will actually

[00:53:51] begin on sunday the 20th and that will go all the way into tuesday so again stick around as we'll be as

[00:53:56] up to date as we possibly can for that tuesday morning release episode as the lady raiders conclude

[00:54:00] their fall season and then lastly it is cross country they will have their final regular season

[00:54:07] match in quotations uh this friday that the arturo baros baros invitational there in college station

[00:54:16] texas again that is this friday the final little tester for the the cross country team for both men and

[00:54:22] women's before their conference championship coming up in early november so um stay tuned for social

[00:54:28] media for the results of that one and that will do it for our radar wrap-up portion of the episode i

[00:54:33] appreciate everyone tuning in this week um again thanks to our guests isaiah davis eden kuale and then

[00:54:40] kai malet of the owl chat podcast for joining us today i look forward to next week's episode

[00:54:46] where we will actually be talking um a little bit of basketball once again uh and then obviously we're

[00:54:52] going to have a little uh football talk um but next week we've got um connor newt and we've got

[00:54:57] oliver balts coming on they're going to be talking we'll recap the jacksonville state we'll preview the

[00:55:02] jacksonville state game recap the kennesaw state game with connor and then we will have oliver on to talk

[00:55:07] men's hoop and then uh stick around uh for the behind enemy lines portion where we will talk with

[00:55:13] 700 pelham road podcast our friends over the conference usa podcasting roundtable

[00:55:18] to preview the game cox and our upcoming midweek game next week on wednesday as well so i appreciate

[00:55:25] everyone tuning in again thanks to our sponsor the cansego group mighty dog roofing for sponsoring

[00:55:29] this episode and the blue raider podcast if you haven't already we've got a giveaway going on so

[00:55:34] make sure you are tuned in on our social media accounts so you don't miss out on an opportunity to

[00:55:38] win season tickets to both men's and women's basketball you've got it you got to tune in

[00:55:42] there so if you want to win those tickets find our socials like those posts make sure you're

[00:55:47] following us and of course share it in the directions will be listed there in uh the comments or in the

[00:55:52] quotes so uh thanks for tuning in and i will catch everyone again next week and until then it is go blue