Zone Podcasts

Welcome to another episode of Forklift Systems Football Saturday. The show kicks off with a nostalgic dive into Nashville sports history as the host sits down with Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Drawing on Willis’s deep roots with Titans Radio and 104.5 The Zone, the two chart Nashville’s dramatic evolution from a strictly college-focused sports town into a booming professional sports hub. Willis also pulls back the curtain on the Hall of Fame itself, detailing the meticulous and highly competitive nomination process utilized by its 18-member Board of Directors to select and honor the state's most legendary athletes, coaches, and sports figures.

The gridiron conversation quickly shifts to the national stage as Coach is  joined by premier college sports insider Dennis Dodd to unpack a chaotic landscape ahead of the 2026 season. The panel tackles massive off-field storylines, including the monumental legal battle surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby—who opted for the supplemental draft after a protracted eligibility dispute—and the potential legislative impact of the Cruz-Cantwell bill on NCAA self-governance. Turning to on-field action, Dodd breaks down the shifting conference power dynamics and top quarterback transfers across the ACC and Big 12, while locking in the early Heisman Trophy race with Arch Manning labeled as the undisputed favorite alongside premium contenders CJ Carr of Notre Dame and Josh Hoover of TCU

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Coach is joined by college sports insider Dennis Dodd, to unpack a chaotic college football landscape ahead of the 2026 season. The discussion heavily focuses on the monumental legal battle surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who opted for the supplemental draft after a protracted dispute over his playing eligibility, as well as the potential legislative impact of the Cruz-Cantwell bill on the NCAA's self-governance. Shifting to the gridiron, Dodd provides expert insight into the Heisman Trophy race—highlighting Arch Manning as the undisputed favorite alongside contenders like Notre Dame's CJ Carr and TCU's Josh Hoover—while breaking down the shifting power dynamics and top quarterback transfers across the Big 12 and ACC.

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Coach sits down with Brad Willis, the Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The conversation kicks off with a nostalgic look at Willis's background in Nashville sports radio—including his time with Titans Radio and 104.5 The Zone—and explores how the Nashville sports landscape has exploded from a collegiate-focused region into a booming professional sports hub.

The core of the conversation transitions into the inner workings of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Willis details the meticulous and challenging nomination process used by the 18-member Board of Directors to select the state's most deserving athletes, coaches, and sports figures.

Key Takeaways from the Segment:

• The 2026 Induction Banquet: Scheduled for July 11th at the Omni Nashville Hotel, this year's event will officially induct a 15-person class.

• Star-Studded Inductees: Willis highlights several notable figures from the upcoming class, including Marc Gasol, David Price, Jason Witten, Pete Weber, and Jennifer Azzi, emphasizing the geographic and athletic diversity of the honorees across West, Middle, and East Tennessee.

• Special Awards: The segment outlines the honors given to contemporary figures, such as Pro Athlete of the Year (Jeffery Simmons) and Amateur Athletes of the Year (Maya Johnson and Carlin Pickens).

• Future Expansion: Willis shares exciting news about the Hall of Fame's upcoming relocation to the new Nissan Stadium, promising a 10,000-square-foot interactive space to better celebrate the state's rich athletic history.

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Welcome to another episode of High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews. In this exciting edition, the show broadcasts live from the BCAT Ladies Hoops Fest at Lebanon High School, featuring a special guest segment with Coach Mark Vaughn, the head women's basketball coach at Cumberland University. Coach Vaughn joins the program to dive into the thriving culture of Tennessee sports, sharing his personal coaching journey and celebrating the massive evolution of the women's game.

The conversation highlights two major developments currently shaping local sports. First, they discuss the implementation of the high school shot clock in girls' basketball, with Coach Vaughn breaking down how the rule elevates late-game strategy, improves player basketball IQ, and seamlessly prepares athletes for the collegiate level. Second, they shine a spotlight on exceptional local talent and thriving programs within Wilson County and the Mid-State area, identifying elite players who are turning the heads of college scouts and showcasing why the region has become a premier destination for basketball.

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In this energetic sports segment broadcast live from the B-Cat Lady Hoops Fest at Lebanon High School, the host sits down with Mark Vaughn, the Head Women's Basketball Coach for Cumberland University. As Coach Vaughn prepares to enter his third year leading the Phoenix, he shares a mix of personal milestones and deep insights into his program's culture and future.

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This lively broadcast from the B-Cat Hoopfest features a dynamic and candid conversation with Head Women's Basketball Coach Cory Barrett of Lebanon High School and Coach Wes Shappley of Bartlett High School. The coaches dive deep into the evolution of high school women's basketball, and the business of running a program.

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Tate talks with Corey Barrett, head coach of the Lebanon High School Devilettes basketball team. Broadcasting from a massive girls' basketball tournament hosted at the school, Coach Barrett and the host discuss the logistics of running an event with over 100 teams, the highly anticipated introduction of the shot clock to Tennessee high school basketball, and the elite talent on display on the court. Barrett also highlights the impressive strength of Wilson County's local basketball programs and the significant economic boost the tournament brings to the surrounding community.

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Tate is joined with BCAT Director Bruce Slatten, who discusses the remarkable evolution and scale of girls' high school basketball in Tennessee. Coach Slaton highlights the massive growth in the athleticism, strength, and overall quality of the women's game, crediting advanced weight training and excellent coaching throughout the state for closing regional competitive gaps. The tournament serves as a massive collegiate recruiting hub, drawing nearly 80 college scouts over the weekend and culminating in a staggering 510 total games played across the boys' and girls' events to give young athletes maximum exposure right before the NCAA dead period.

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Zach and Stoney recap everything we heard and saw from 2026 Titans Mandatory Minicamp and touch on a couple of subjects and players that may still be loose ends as we head into Training Camp in July. 

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3HL - 6-18-26 - Hour 3 - Who has a REAL chance to make the Titans WR room?

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