Zone Podcasts

In this week’s edition of Big Orange Sunday, we kick off July by setting the stage for Tennessee’s upcoming fall camp and celebrating a historic week for the university. We highlight the latest Vol Hall of Fame inductees—including legends like Monica Abbott, Reggie Cobb, and Jason Witten—before diving into the massive business move that has everyone talking: Tennessee’s official 10-year apparel partnership with Adidas. With Nike in the rearview, we explore why this lucrative, multi-million-dollar contract positions the Vols as a top-tier priority in college athletics and what this groundbreaking third-party deal means for the players' ongoing name, image, and likeness opportunities.

Coach also  focuses  to the gridiron, offering a comprehensive contrast between the continuity of the offensive coaching staff and the complete overhaul on the defensive side of the ball. With Jim Knowles taking the reins as defensive coordinator, we break down his meticulous evaluation process and his aggressive approach to the transfer portal, bringing in heavy-hitting senior depth to immediately bolster the squad. Finally, we shine a spotlight on the "sokers"—the dedicated developmental players who have been quietly grinding in the weight room and absorbing the system for years—and discuss why their time to step up and make a defining impact on this new-look defense is right now.

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Join us for a special Fourth of July edition of Forklift Systems Football Saturday as we dive into the biggest storylines shaping college football’s 2026 season. From conference realignment and playoff expansion to NIL, media rights, coaching changes, and the programs everyone will be watching, this episode sets the stage for an unforgettable year.We also talk about the off-field forces changing the sport, the impact of new coaching hires, and the key matchups that could define the season.Main Topics

• 2026 college football preview
• SEC and Big Ten realignment
• Playoff expansion discussions
• NIL and athlete branding
• Media rights and revenue sharing
• Coaching changes and program rebuilds
• Key non-conference matchups to watch
• What the future of college football could look like

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Coach is joined by  veteran college football journalists Dennis Dodd and Tony Barnhart to preview the highly anticipated 2026 season. Coach leads the panel through a comprehensive breakdown of the sport's current landscape. The guests provide their seasoned perspectives as college football enters its 157th year, bringing deep industry knowledge to the complex intersection of on-field competition and off-field economics.

The segment heavily focused on the financial realities of college athletics, specifically the "rise of athlete media" in the sixth year of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The panel discussed Opendorse data revealing Instagram's dominance in influencer deals, the massive athletic spending gap between the Big Ten and the Big 12, and the potential impact of the Cruz-Cantwell bill on conference realignment and collective bargaining. The conversation then shifted to a draft of the top storylines for 2026, featuring debates over championship-or-bust expectations for teams like Oregon and Texas, Lane Kiffin’s high-pressure tenure at LSU, and the Big Ten's quest for a fourth consecutive national title. The episode wrapped up with a look ahead to premier matchups—including Ohio State at Texas and Clemson at LSU—and a nod to the upcoming SEC Media Days in Tampa.

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Coach  and  Tony Barnhart gear up for the upcoming season  with festive nostalgia, exchanging humorous stories about their respective small-town roots, childhood fireworks mishaps, and the long-standing Dunwoody parade tradition. Shifting focus to the gridiron, they preview the highly anticipated SEC Media Days, highlighting its historic move to Florida and analyzing how six new head coaches will navigate the high-pressure media environment. Their conversation also touches upon the broader landscape of college football, including the survival tactics of a reconstructed Pac-12 and the shifting dynamics of conference realignment.

The heart of the broadcast features the "Five Questions for the Coach" segment, where Barnhart grills Matthews on the sport's most pressing structural evolutions. Matthews offers sharp insights into Indiana's long-term sustainability under Curt Cignetti, Vanderbilt's quarterback outlook following major roster departures, and the heavy physical toll of the new nine-game SEC conference schedule. To wrap up, Matthews crowns Ole Miss as his definitive dark horse for the championship due to their deep roster and high motivation, while firmly backing a future expansion to a 24-team playoff format that leverages high-stakes matchups hosted directly on roaring campus sites.

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Welcome to the 4th of July episode of High School Sports Saturday With Tate Mathews! This show  kicks off with an energetic Fourth of July greeting, celebrating America's 250th birthday. Tate quickly sets the agenda for the morning's broadcast, announcing upcoming interviews with newly appointed Rutherford County Athletics Director Coach Greg Wyant, Nolensville volleyball coach Brett Young, and regular guest Tom Kreager from The Tennessean. Tate  lists numerous local athletes and coaches who recently earned mid-state and all-state honors in boys' and girls' lacrosse, baseball, and softball. Wrapping up the block, he issues a vital reminder for student-athletes to hydrate as the state's mandatory two-week athletic "dead period" comes to a close.

Next, Tate speaks with Greg Wyant, the newly appointed Athletic Director for Rutherford County Schools. Wyant reflects on his transition to this county-wide administrative role after a 34-year career coaching and directing athletics at local high schools like Riverdale and Siegel. A major focal point of their conversation is the critical importance of middle school athletic programs. Wyant emphasizes that developing foundational skills at the middle school level—and retaining those athletes—is essential for building highly competitive high school feeder programs across the county's rapidly growing athletic landscape. The discussion also covers the strategic expansion of the county's athletic administration, specifically highlighting the hiring of Jenna Jones as the new athletics compliance director. Wyant explains that he and Jones will divide administrative and compliance responsibilities to better support all of the county's schools, ensuring they adhere strictly to TSSAA regulations while advocating for smaller schools. As the interview wraps up, Wyant confirms he will also maintain his seat on the TSSAA Legislative Council, which provides a strategic advantage for Rutherford County by keeping them on the front lines of state-wide athletic policies and best practices. Tate is also  joined by Brett Young, the head volleyball coach for the Nolensville Lady Knights, on this segment the two discussed how local teams navigate the summer dead period. Coach Young emphasized the importance of resting his heavily scheduled club players, noting that after the break, the team will resume practice in mid-July. He detailed that preseason camps are slated for early August, with the Lady Knights’ first official match scheduled for August 17th. The conversation then shifted to the high level of competition in Williamson County and Nolensville's promising roster. Coach Young shared his excitement about returning eight of his top nine rotation players from last year, praising the skills of senior ETSU commit Taylor Collins and the team's two returning setters, Avery Ethridge and Sadie Demming. They also touched on the formidable local volleyball landscape, recognizing the historic strength of Brentwood and Ravenwood while agreeing that Franklin looks to be the district favorite this year. Tate  is  finally  joined by Tom Kreager of The Tennessean for a festive 4th of July edition of High School Sports Saturday. After kicking things off with some holiday grilling banter about Kreager's brisket and messy mac-and-cheese, the energetic duo quickly pivoted to the highly anticipated return of high school football. They highlighted the upcoming 7-on-7 tournament week starting on Monday, specifically pointing out major local events and competitions scheduled at Lebanon and Riverdale high schools. The conversation then shifted to a recently published article ranking Tennessee's top ten high school athletes of all time. The two sports minds eagerly debated the ever-changing list and broke down a few notable inclusions: #1 Wilma Rudolph: They offered immense respect for the Clarksville track legend, acknowledging her incredible Olympic achievements and unparalleled legacy despite her untimely passing. #10 Steve Spurrier: They shared a fun historical nugget about the Science Hill standout, noting he chose to play for Florida instead of Tennessee because UT's single-wing offense didn't suit his forward-passing style. Mookie Betts: The segment wrapped with unanimous agreement that the Nashville-area native is not only on a first-ballot MLB Hall of Fame trajectory, but is also undeniably the best bowler in baseball.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tate is  joined by Tom Kreager of The Tennessean for a festive 4th of July edition of High School Sports Saturday. After kicking things off with some holiday grilling banter about Kreager's brisket and messy mac-and-cheese, the energetic duo quickly pivoted to the highly anticipated return of high school football. They highlighted the upcoming 7-on-7 tournament week starting on Monday, specifically pointing out major local events and competitions scheduled at Lebanon and Riverdale high schools.

The conversation then shifted to a recently published article ranking Tennessee's top ten high school athletes of all time. The two sports minds eagerly debated the ever-changing list and broke down a few notable inclusions:

• #1 Wilma Rudolph: They offered immense respect for the Clarksville track legend, acknowledging her incredible Olympic achievements and unparalleled legacy despite her untimely passing.

• #10 Steve Spurrier: They shared a fun historical nugget about the Science Hill standout, noting he chose to play for Florida instead of Tennessee because UT's single-wing offense didn't suit his forward-passing style.

• Mookie Betts: The segment wrapped with unanimous agreement that the Nashville-area native is not only on a first-ballot MLB Hall of Fame trajectory, but is also undeniably the best bowler in baseball.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tate was joined by Brett Young, the head volleyball coach for the Nolensville Lady Knights, on this segment of High School Sports Saturday. Following brief Fourth of July pleasantries, the two discussed how local teams navigate the summer dead period. Coach Young emphasized the importance of resting his heavily scheduled club players, noting that after the break, the team will resume practice in mid-July. He detailed that preseason camps are slated for early August, with the Lady Knights’ first official match scheduled for August 17th.

The conversation then shifted to the high level of competition in Williamson County and Nolensville's promising roster. Coach Young shared his excitement about returning eight of his top nine rotation players from last year, praising the skills of senior ETSU commit Taylor Collins and the team's two returning setters, Avery Ethridge and Sadie Demming. They also touched on the formidable local volleyball landscape, recognizing the historic strength of Brentwood and Ravenwood while agreeing that Franklin looks to be the district favorite this year.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tate talks to Greg Wyant, the newly appointed Athletic Director for Rutherford County Schools. Wyant reflects on his transition to this county-wide administrative role after a 34-year career coaching and directing athletics at local high schools like Riverdale and Siegel. A major focal point of their conversation is the critical importance of middle school athletic programs. Wyant emphasizes that developing foundational skills at the middle school level—and retaining those athletes—is essential for building highly competitive high school feeder programs across the county's rapidly growing athletic landscape.

The discussion also covers the strategic expansion of the county's athletic administration, specifically highlighting the hiring of Jenna Jones as the new athletics compliance director. Wyant explains that he and Jones will divide administrative and compliance responsibilities to better support all of the county's schools, ensuring they adhere strictly to TSSAA regulations while advocating for smaller schools. As the interview wraps up, Wyant confirms he will also maintain his seat on the TSSAA Legislative Council, which provides a strategic advantage for Rutherford County by keeping them on the front lines of state-wide athletic policies and best practices.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3HL - 7-1-26 - Hour 3- Jaylen Brown is a 76er & Rhett Bryan Joins

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Rhett Bryan on 3HL- The Most Underrated Titans & Chris Johnson's Legacy

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