Latest / The Mike Keith Show / The Mike Keith Show | ARION CARTER, DEWAYNE BROWN, JOE KIRT (9.15.26)
Transcript
- 0:00SPEAKER_14: From the peaks of the smokies to the banks of the Mississippi.
- 0:06SPEAKER_14: This is your home for the University of Tennessee.
- 0:10SPEAKER_14: What a boo coaster.
- 0:12SPEAKER_18: That doesn't work.
- 0:14SPEAKER_18: Ball's getting driven by Orange Stirns.
- 0:20SPEAKER_14: This is the Vall Network.
- 0:26SPEAKER_14: Inside Access, behind the scenes.
- 0:29SPEAKER_14: From Rocky Top, direct from the coaches.
- 0:32SPEAKER_14: Insight from the players.
- 0:34SPEAKER_14: The inside track.
- 0:36SPEAKER_14: Mike Keith starts now.
- 0:40SPEAKER_18: So glad to have you with us for the Mike Keith show delivered by Uber Eats.
- 0:44SPEAKER_18: In Tennessee, Saturday night went over Georgia Tech, a lot of interesting storylines.
- 0:49SPEAKER_18: The most interesting of which the return of senior linebacker Ariane Carter.
- 0:55SPEAKER_18: By now you know the whole story.
- 1:00SPEAKER_18: But he got back on the field, totaled eight tackles, and took control of the Tennessee defense once again.
- 1:07SPEAKER_18: Google Gemini presents inside the return of Arion Carter on the Mike T show.
- 1:15SPEAKER_20: Inside the Orange, presented by Google, the official generative AI partner of Tennessee Athletics.
- 2:13SPEAKER_15: Ladies and gentlemen, it's finished.
- 2:37SPEAKER_30: You have to deal with it like anything in life.
- 2:41SPEAKER_30: Like me and my mom would always say, you control the controllables.
- 2:46SPEAKER_30: And you can control your attitude and how you look at things.
- 2:48SPEAKER_30: So it would be hard, obviously, for me to look at this perspective and be like, dang.
- 2:57SPEAKER_30: What good is gonna come from this, right?
- 3:00SPEAKER_30: But I say why not?
- 3:02SPEAKER_30: I say why not me?
- 3:03SPEAKER_30: That's my perspective on life.
- 3:05SPEAKER_11: I tell you what, you fight to your brother, you fight to the man next to you.
- 3:09SPEAKER_11: Remember why you do this?
- 3:11SPEAKER_15: We home, baby.
- 3:12SPEAKER_15: We home, it ain't nothing like home, man.
- 3:14SPEAKER_15: And that's our job to protect this house.
- 3:16SPEAKER_15: Like I said on Monday.
- 3:18SPEAKER_05: The person and the player that he is every single day.
- 3:30SPEAKER_15: Oh my goodness.
- 3:32SPEAKER_05: His character, how he impacts the people around him in a positive way, who is on the field, off the field.
- 3:40SPEAKER_05: Uh, I think it's exactly uh what you would want in a son if you're his parent, and as a coach, uh the player uh that you want inside of your program.
- 3:51SPEAKER_29: The NCAA suspended Tennessee linebacker Arian Carter.
- 3:55SPEAKER_29: Why did he get suspended?
- 3:58SPEAKER_29: Because he was planning to enter the draft.
- 4:01SPEAKER_29: His agent bought him a flight, which Arian Carter had then subsequently paid back.
- 4:06SPEAKER_29: But because his agent bought him a flight while he was preparing for a draft, that is him taking an improper benefit as a professional.
- 4:14SPEAKER_30: It hurts, obviously, not playing a game that you love.
- 4:17SPEAKER_30: One opportunity out of 12 taken away from you when you work so hard during the offseason, building chemistry, bonds, sweating, and putting in so much sweat equity to not be able to be given that opportunity.
- 4:28SPEAKER_05: First three years here, he's an uh SEC uh academic honor roll member.
- 4:35SPEAKER_05: He's a member of SEC Football Leadership Council.
- 4:38SPEAKER_05: At the end of the month, he's gonna graduate uh with honors.
- 4:42SPEAKER_05: He's done everything the right way.
- 4:43SPEAKER_05: Uh you ask anybody inside of our program, their staff, and players, uh, he is uh the leader uh of this program.
- 4:51SPEAKER_05: Uh the ruling that came out uh from the NCAA, uh the two-game suspension, I truly believe is looking back on it, it gave me a lot more gratitude for the game.
- 5:05SPEAKER_30: It honestly made me a better person.
- 5:09SPEAKER_30: I had to look back and see myself for not just a football player, but as a young man who has purpose in his life.
- 5:17SPEAKER_30: And if I have to be the example, so be it.
- 5:30SPEAKER_30: Coach Hypo actually came up to me on Thursday um afternoon and uh was just letting me know that he greatly appreciates what I do for this program um and who I am and what I stand for, and he wanted to show that I have so much gratitude for Coach Hypel and what he means to me as just a man.
- 6:04SPEAKER_30: Um just being able to back me, it kind of took a weight off my shoulders.
- 6:16SPEAKER_30: Just being out in the middle of the field at the 50 and looking to my left and seeing the tunnel, and then looking to my right and seeing the student section and then just looking all around and just taking it all in of 102,000 screen fans.
- 6:42SPEAKER_30: It just is the it's an unfathomable um feeling, you know, it's electrifying.
- 6:51SPEAKER_30: Man, it was just uh it was just great.
- 6:58SPEAKER_18: Baker on the right side of this room.
- 7:00SPEAKER_18: 30, 40, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, end zone.
- 7:13SPEAKER_30: With me not being able to play, I just wanted to look at it from a different perspective.
- 7:17SPEAKER_30: How do I get into coaching mode?
- 7:19SPEAKER_30: How do I be able to help the young guys and the guys that are after that and the next man in, as we would say?
- 7:25SPEAKER_26: The thing about AC is whenever all this happened, nothing changed with his preparation and his intensity at practice.
- 7:32SPEAKER_26: Literally nothing changed.
- 7:33SPEAKER_26: It was hard to tell that he was down about it at all because he was just still studying all the film like he always does, and he was giving great effort and energy and practice.
- 7:42SPEAKER_30: I made sure that I did everything in my power to get my guys in my group, but the defense in general, on the same page.
- 7:49SPEAKER_18: And Tennessee will open the season 1-0 by a final score of 56-9.
- 7:56SPEAKER_18: Another one of the books, man.
- 7:58SPEAKER_30: It just gives me more discernment for when I go out on the field.
- 8:02SPEAKER_30: I know what I want to do and I know what I want to accomplish.
- 8:05SPEAKER_30: I am who I say I am every single day.
- 8:07SPEAKER_30: Make sure I keep my head high, and I'll make sure I keep the main thing the main thing.
- 8:12SPEAKER_30: And when the opportunity presents itself for me to go out there on Saturdays, I make the most of it.
- 8:17SPEAKER_30: So it just adds more fuel to the fire.
- 8:32SPEAKER_18: But to the 2026 Yellow Jacket and Volunteer teams, all that matters is recent history.
- 8:39SPEAKER_18: Georgia Tech has promised more physicality tonight.
- 8:44SPEAKER_18: Tennessee has promised more physicality this entire season.
- 8:53SPEAKER_18: I've been voted.
- 8:54SPEAKER_15: Okay, no.
- 8:59SPEAKER_18: Someone is gonna be right.
- 9:01SPEAKER_18: Someone is gonna dominate the line of scrimmage.
- 9:03SPEAKER_18: Someone is gonna win a football game tonight in Atlanta that takes recent history and puts it away.
- 9:14SPEAKER_11: To where when they're done, they go one way.
- 9:18SPEAKER_11: That's when you know you've done your job.
- 9:20SPEAKER_18: A showdown in the ATL.
- 9:24SPEAKER_18: And we remind you that wherever you are listening throughout the world, it's football time in Tennessee.
- 9:35SPEAKER_15: Looking he's gonna run it, hurts it up closer, he gets smacked, gillium, and T-Lander say no, Alberto, hunt the football.
- 9:46SPEAKER_15: Playfate, Brandon throws over the middle, caught Davis 10, Davis 5, Davis in the zone.
- 9:54SPEAKER_15: Atlanta EA zone, Ethan Davis, and Tennessee.
- 10:01SPEAKER_15: Great playmate, uh plays on Brandon, line like a game up for the run.
- 10:06SPEAKER_15: Ethan Davis wide open in the middle of the ball field with four second touchdown on the year.
- 10:11SPEAKER_18: It's still third and twelve.
- 10:13SPEAKER_18: Showing pressure.
- 10:15SPEAKER_18: Here they come.
- 10:16SPEAKER_18: Brandon, pass time, goes deep downfield for Jackson.
- 10:20SPEAKER_18: He's got it at the 38, past the 35, and he is finally run out of bounds by Mabakwe at the 32 at the first down Kikari.
- 10:29SPEAKER_18: Snap, set, kick on the way good.
- 10:36SPEAKER_18: Renvier from 32, and we've got a tie ball game.
- 10:40SPEAKER_18: Tennessee going with four linebackers here.
- 10:43SPEAKER_18: Team Lander, Carter, Campbell, and Feldman.
- 10:47SPEAKER_18: Play fake, Mendoza.
- 10:50SPEAKER_15: 40, 30, 20, 10, 5, 80, 8, 2, 1, touchdown, tennis.
- 11:04SPEAKER_15: Break up the place on the lane, jump in the bump of screen, they would trip formation to the right.
- 11:09SPEAKER_15: He's been making plays off on the camp.
- 11:11SPEAKER_15: Another place, tennis city for the touchdown, breakdown defense.
- 11:16SPEAKER_18: Mendoza in a pass.
- 11:17SPEAKER_18: Fire to the middle bump hit complete.
- 11:20SPEAKER_18: Intended for Heron's Harry and Carrier.
- 11:24SPEAKER_18: Staley motions right to left.
- 11:27SPEAKER_18: Brandon, looking, thrown for Staley.
- 11:31SPEAKER_18: He's got it.
- 11:32SPEAKER_18: Is it a touchdown?
- 11:33SPEAKER_18: Let's see.
- 11:36SPEAKER_18: Yes!
- 11:37SPEAKER_15: Hey, Rule Man! Touchdown! Tennessee! Jordan Tech out of position! Staley goes in motion.
- 11:48SPEAKER_15: Dorothy Tech how to communicate.
- 11:50SPEAKER_15: And go man to man, Bayley with the wheel route.
- 11:54SPEAKER_18: Mendoza drops the throw, steps up higher, right?
- 11:58SPEAKER_18: Intercepted.
- 11:59SPEAKER_18: T-Lander 20! T-Lander 25.
- 12:02SPEAKER_18: He's taken down at the 29.
- 12:04SPEAKER_18: What a catch by Jeremiah! Last year, unbelievable grab at Mercedes-Menz Stadium, right here in Atlanta in the opener.
- 12:14SPEAKER_18: And that one, he's got high into the air to bring it down.
- 12:19SPEAKER_18: Tennessee will be happy to take their 24-10 lead into the locker room.
- 12:24SPEAKER_18: What a wild first half! Hey!
- 12:26SPEAKER_15: Start fast in the third quarter! Ready for something right off the bat, right here.
- 12:31SPEAKER_15: We got the ball.
- 12:32SPEAKER_18: Here they come.
- 12:33SPEAKER_18: Give Bishop 15, 10, 5, and some standing up.
- 12:39SPEAKER_18: Touchdown! Tennessee Deshaun Bishop with a 17-yard gallop.
- 12:46SPEAKER_15: Give those big boys some love because Deshaun Bishop was untouched.
- 12:51SPEAKER_18: Mendoza to throw it.
- 12:53SPEAKER_18: Mendoza in trouble.
- 12:54SPEAKER_18: Mendoza sacked.
- 12:57SPEAKER_18: T Lander takes him back to the 12-yard line and down.
- 13:05SPEAKER_18: Second sack of the game for the big artist.
- 13:07SPEAKER_18: Here they come after Mendoza.
- 13:09SPEAKER_18: Pressure, pressure, sack.
- 13:13SPEAKER_18: Marion die.
- 13:15SPEAKER_18: That's two for number nine tonight.
- 13:19SPEAKER_18: Here come the balls.
- 13:21SPEAKER_18: Sack! Norman! Taking down Mendoza back inside the 25.
- 13:30SPEAKER_18: Bishop with a big hole.
- 13:32SPEAKER_18: Bounces on the tackler to the 25 to the 20, to the 15, to the 10, to the 5 to the end zone.
- 13:38SPEAKER_18: Dagger through the heart from Cards to Sean Bishop.
- 13:43SPEAKER_18: Touchdown! Tennessee! And this incredible Tennessee crowd won a job by the volunteer fans.
- 13:53SPEAKER_18: You could say this showing tonight might be the highlight of the whole evening.
- 13:59SPEAKER_18: They packed it here at Hobby Dodge Stadium.
- 14:02SPEAKER_18: It did not feel like a road game because of their presence.
- 14:07SPEAKER_18: And Tennessee had to battle and fight and scrape and do everything they could.
- 14:14SPEAKER_18: They were the better team and they proved it.
- 14:17SPEAKER_18: Final score, Tennessee 45, Georgia Tech 24.
- 14:30SPEAKER_18: When we come back, a conversation with Nathan Robinson from Tennessee defensive tackle.
- 14:37SPEAKER_18: That's next on the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
- 14:40SPEAKER_14: This is the Mike Keith Show, inside access, delivered by Uber Eats.
- 14:46SPEAKER_12: Today's show is sponsored by Pilot, official travel stop of the vault.
- 14:50SPEAKER_12: See you out here by First Horizon, big bank muscle, small bank hustle.
- 14:56SPEAKER_12: By Food City, the official supermarket of the Tennessee volunteers.
- 15:00SPEAKER_12: UT Medical, the official healthcare provider of the vault.
- 15:03SPEAKER_12: Bradley Roofing, let us fix your lead, the proud official roofer of the big horns.
- 15:09SPEAKER_12: By Farm Bureau Insurance, the official insurance of the vault.
- 15:13SPEAKER_12: Tennessee insurance for Tennessee Life.
- 15:19SPEAKER_22: Out of here.
- 15:27SPEAKER_22: Out of here.
- 15:34SPEAKER_22: Out here.
- 15:37SPEAKER_22: Passion prevails.
- 15:46SPEAKER_14: Brought to you by Foods City.
- 15:48SPEAKER_05: It's the Ask Coach Hipel Show.
- 15:51SPEAKER_05: Hello, and welcome to Ask Coach Hypel.
- 15:53SPEAKER_05: I'm your host, Josh Hypel.
- 15:55SPEAKER_05: Jim asks, Coach Hypel, got any tailgating tips?
- 15:59SPEAKER_05: Boy do I.
- 16:02SPEAKER_05: Jim, did you know Foods City's gourmet burgers are handmade in store by a certified butcher?
- 16:08SPEAKER_05: Saturday is almost here.
- 16:09SPEAKER_05: Are you game day ready?
- 16:12SPEAKER_05: This has been Ask Coach Hyple with me, Coach Hypel.
- 16:27SPEAKER_28: Thanks.
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- 17:14SPEAKER_18: Not funny, guys!
- 17:16SPEAKER_23: Being at the Balls game saved my life.
- 17:20SPEAKER_23: It was a normal day going to the game with my son, but this time it felt like a sledgehammer hit my chest.
- 17:26SPEAKER_23: The UT medical team knew exactly what they needed to do and just kept me calm throughout the process.
- 17:32SPEAKER_23: It was probably the most serious heart attack that you could have.
- 17:36SPEAKER_23: The team took care of me, worked quickly, efficiently, and I did catch the end of the game.
- 17:43SPEAKER_24: These are the stories of the region's academic health system.
- 17:48SPEAKER_05: When you travel across the great state of Tennessee, one thing you're sure to find is big orange passion.
- 17:53SPEAKER_05: You see it throughout every inch of the volunteer state, just like you see First Horizon, serving communities big and small, offering big bank products with small bank passion.
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- 18:49SPEAKER_18: Nathan Robinson is one of the biggest players on Tennessee's football team, and he has learned to use his size to his advantage in the defensive line.
- 18:59SPEAKER_18: Not only does he take up a lot of space, but he knows how to move people, and he understands what it takes to help his teammates be able to make plays.
- 19:09SPEAKER_18: He's a true team guy.
- 19:11SPEAKER_18: Nathan Robinson visits with us on the Mike T.
- 19:15SPEAKER_18: Now I went back and looked at 94 to 19.
- 19:38SPEAKER_08: I wore that all the way to that.
- 20:44SPEAKER_18: You came here and went to my gold crack.
- 21:03SPEAKER_18: And um, that is a real All right.
- 22:00SPEAKER_18: So what does that lead to as far as a postgraduate degree and then what you want to do whenever football ends?
- 22:07SPEAKER_08: So for postgrad, um, I'm not going crazy into the kinesiology part of it.
- 22:12SPEAKER_08: Um, I think I'm doing a leadership course.
- 22:15SPEAKER_08: Um, but I'd like to I'd like to do something where I can stay working with athletes.
- 22:21SPEAKER_08: Um, I don't know if I'd want to do it with college athletics because those those guys are workaholics and they do a great job down there in the training room, but that ain't for me.
- 22:30SPEAKER_18: Um but you think you could be like a physical therapist or a trainer or yes, sir.
- 22:35SPEAKER_08: Uh just something more private.
- 22:36SPEAKER_08: Um, but again, still working with athletes.
- 22:39SPEAKER_08: Um, and of course, in my long injury history, um, but my first surgery in high school, my first day of rehab was in this it was in downtown Nashville.
- 22:51SPEAKER_08: It was, you would know, um, I think it was elite physical therapy.
- 22:54SPEAKER_08: Yeah.
- 22:54SPEAKER_08: Um and that vibe was just awesome.
- 22:57SPEAKER_08: I mean, they those guys are wearing dry fit polos and joggers, ESPN plastered everywhere, um, indoor turf, outdoor turf, full rack set set up everywhere.
- 23:07SPEAKER_08: Um, I really like that vibe.
- 23:08SPEAKER_08: Um, so yeah, just something to keep me working with athletes, keep me around sports.
- 23:13SPEAKER_08: Um, that's something I would really look into.
- 23:15SPEAKER_18: I think about this the advantages that you guys have with with different things as far as athletes toward the academics and being able to get a degree in three years.
- 23:26SPEAKER_18: I mean, what a great thing, right?
- 23:28SPEAKER_08: Definitely, absolutely.
- 23:29SPEAKER_08: So, I mean, I got another two years to get some more in.
- 23:33SPEAKER_08: Um, being able to get that done in three and a half, that that degree, um, it's definitely a blessing.
- 23:40SPEAKER_08: Um, that frees me up to just get as much as a free university as I can.
- 23:46SPEAKER_08: Yeah.
- 23:46SPEAKER_18: Well, you're taking advantage of it.
- 23:48SPEAKER_18: That's fantastic.
- 23:49SPEAKER_18: Um let me ask you, you you brought up the injury history.
- 23:53SPEAKER_18: And that's taboo to discuss in some cases, but since you brought it up, let me ask you the frustration that you dealt with, especially after you got off to the great start last year.
- 24:03SPEAKER_18: How hard.
- 24:05SPEAKER_08: Like you said, it was frustrating.
- 24:07SPEAKER_08: Um, but it was something I was able to push through.
- 24:10SPEAKER_08: Um I I mean, just casted it up and went out there with a club and kept it pushing.
- 24:16SPEAKER_08: Um I I want to be someone who can be relied on.
- 24:20SPEAKER_08: Um, so I mean, the as if there was any question whether I would play or not do something that I could play through, I'm playing through it 100%.
- 24:29SPEAKER_08: Um and again, shout out the guys in the training room because they they got me rolling and kept me in all 13 games or however long we played.
- 24:37SPEAKER_08: Mentally, how hard is that to push through?
- 24:41SPEAKER_08: Is that the hardest part?
- 24:43SPEAKER_08: I think I think with all my prior injuries, um it it those kind of helped me through last season.
- 24:52SPEAKER_08: Um, because maybe there's a day I can't practice, but it like the approach I went in is I'm I'm just gonna be a good teammate and I'm gonna find another way to grow.
- 25:01SPEAKER_08: Um so whether that's leadership or or walking through stuff or taking mental reps, um, I I used that a lot yet last year.
- 25:09SPEAKER_08: Um and again in the spring, that was the first incident with the thumb, and then I was sat for spring because that was that first surgery.
- 25:15SPEAKER_08: And so I just took a different approach from my freshman year injuries where I was just beat down and let it defeat me.
- 25:22SPEAKER_08: And I just went out there and said, you know what, I'm gonna find a different way to get better today.
- 25:25SPEAKER_18: How personally did you take how the end of the year went down for the 2025 balls?
- 25:32SPEAKER_08: It it was it was rough.
- 25:34SPEAKER_08: Um, I I remember I went straight back into the locker room.
- 25:37SPEAKER_08: I think it was just me and Deshaun in there for a minute, and we just sat there in silence while guys started trickling in in silence, and it was it was hard to end that way.
- 25:48SPEAKER_08: Um I mean you you want to be in a better situation than Music City Bowl in the first place, but then to go and lose Music City Bowl in a rough fashion, that that was that was hard.
- 26:00SPEAKER_08: Um, but I think that's brought us closer together.
- 26:04SPEAKER_08: Um, I think we've done a great job with integrating all the new guys we have.
- 26:08SPEAKER_08: Um we all love each other, we're all brothers.
- 26:10SPEAKER_08: Um very close and kind of motivated us in going into this season because that's not where we want to be.
- 26:17SPEAKER_08: We we have higher aspirations, so we need to do everything we can to go take advantage of them.
- 26:21SPEAKER_18: Do you feel that fire among your teammates?
- 26:24SPEAKER_08: Absolutely.
- 26:25SPEAKER_08: Yeah, we uh it's brought up frequently.
- 26:27SPEAKER_08: Um just out there when we're bringing it up after practice or something.
- 26:33SPEAKER_08: It's uh again, that's just not a position we want to be in.
- 26:35SPEAKER_08: We we feel like we're destined for better things than that.
- 26:40SPEAKER_08: And to start, we just can't be ourselves.
- 26:43SPEAKER_08: Um the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win, and that's something we really gotta focus on this year is making fewer mistakes and not beating ourselves.
- 26:54SPEAKER_18: What is your fellow new defensive lineman, Xavier Gillam, bringing to the Tennessee Balls D line?
- 27:01SPEAKER_08: Everything.
- 27:02SPEAKER_08: He I love that dude.
- 27:04SPEAKER_08: He he comes in to work every day, he's the same guy every day.
- 27:07SPEAKER_08: Um a lot of energy, um, a lot of focus.
- 27:10SPEAKER_08: He he's just a stud and he's been a he's been a great guy to have in the room.
- 27:14SPEAKER_08: Um he's stepping each and every day into a stepping into more of his leadership role.
- 27:19SPEAKER_08: Um, because we all look up to him.
- 27:21SPEAKER_08: Um, even me, even Tyree Weathersby, even Hobbs.
- 27:24SPEAKER_08: Um, he's just a great guy to have in there, and um he he brings it every day.
- 27:28SPEAKER_18: What is Nathan Robinson expecting from the Tennessee defensive line in 2026?
- 27:34SPEAKER_08: Viciousness.
- 27:36SPEAKER_08: We we gotta stop the run, we have to get after the quarterback.
- 27:39SPEAKER_08: Um and just just staying focused on what on what we need to do with the tip of the spear, and and we gotta prove that.
- 27:48SPEAKER_18: What is Nathan Robinson expecting out of Nathan Robinson in 2026?
- 27:55SPEAKER_08: I just wanted to contribute at the highest level.
- 27:57SPEAKER_08: Um I I want my my teammates to be able to look at me and r rely on me um when when things are going great, when things are going rough in a game in the season or something um in any situation, just to be able to rely on me to keep pushing um and just trying to pull those guys with me.
- 28:19SPEAKER_18: When we come back, we stay on the defensive line with another Middle Tennessee prospect.
- 28:24SPEAKER_18: Sophomore defensive tackle, Ethan Utley.
- 28:28SPEAKER_18: He's up next after this.
- 28:31SPEAKER_14: This is your home for coaches and players.
- 28:34SPEAKER_13: One-on-one from Rocky Top.
- 28:37SPEAKER_13: This is your ball network.
- 28:43SPEAKER_07: I'm here with Ethan Utley, and this segment is brought to you by Pilot.
- 28:48SPEAKER_07: Now, Ethan, Pilot is all about making road trips possible.
- 28:52SPEAKER_07: So, what is your favorite road trip memory that you've ever had?
- 28:56SPEAKER_09: Uh, okay, that's funny.
- 28:58SPEAKER_09: I was saying, um, I was going on a visit to another school throughout my recruitment process, and uh me and my mom actually ran out of gas.
- 29:08SPEAKER_24: No way.
- 29:08SPEAKER_09: And we were in a really cold city.
- 29:10unknown: Oh no.
- 29:11SPEAKER_09: Like below, it was probably about like 15, 20 degrees outside.
- 29:16SPEAKER_09: I'm not gonna say we're obviously on the vault now.
- 29:19SPEAKER_09: Of course.
- 29:19SPEAKER_09: Yeah, we ran out of gas.
- 29:21SPEAKER_09: I had to walk probably about because it's my mama.
- 29:24SPEAKER_09: You know, I'm gonna take care of it.
- 29:26SPEAKER_07: Of course.
- 29:27SPEAKER_09: So, you know, she had a sit, well, she didn't have a syndicar.
- 29:29SPEAKER_09: I was like about the center car.
- 29:31SPEAKER_07: Yeah, stay warm.
- 29:31SPEAKER_09: You know, well, no, we're gonna stay warm, but in the car, she don't got no gas, but I walked, got some gas, had to buy a little gas can, took it back, to the car up, you know, we got that on the road.
- 29:43SPEAKER_07: Yeah, you know, for better or for worse, that is pretty memorable.
- 29:45SPEAKER_07: So that's a good one.
- 29:47SPEAKER_07: When you do stop at pilot, going between Nashville and Knoxville, making stops to home and back to school.
- 29:54SPEAKER_07: What are some of the go-to things you're getting inside?
- 29:57SPEAKER_07: Snacks, drinks, all the things.
- 29:58SPEAKER_09: Uh I gotta go some type of sports drink.
- 30:01SPEAKER_09: Whether that's power gator and body armor, doesn't really matter, whatever I'm feeling.
- 30:05SPEAKER_29: Okay.
- 30:06SPEAKER_09: Um if I'm driving, I won't get any hot chips, but I am a big hot chip eater.
- 30:12SPEAKER_21: Okay.
- 30:12SPEAKER_09: Not like just direct spice, but anything with a little cake.
- 30:16SPEAKER_09: I like yesterday.
- 30:17SPEAKER_09: Yes.
- 30:17SPEAKER_09: Then I'm not a big chocolate guy.
- 30:19SPEAKER_09: Like if I eat chocolate, I used to like my chocolate cold.
- 30:21SPEAKER_09: So I gotta be like at home to throw in the refrigerator for a little bit, let it get out.
- 30:25SPEAKER_09: But I don't really get chocolate, but I do like sour gummy candy.
- 30:29SPEAKER_07: I was gonna say you have to have some kind of sweet treat.
- 30:31SPEAKER_09: Like the blue box mic and I'll do or the blue pack of Skittles.
- 30:34SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
- 30:35SPEAKER_09: Anything of that nature, you know.
- 30:37SPEAKER_09: You know, I mean, I'm I'm never against grabbing anything new.
- 30:40SPEAKER_07: Of course, yeah.
- 30:41SPEAKER_07: If something catches your eye.
- 30:42SPEAKER_09: But the blue box mic and I'm stable.
- 30:45SPEAKER_07: Now, if you're going on a road trip, who out of the guys are you taking to fill up the car with you?
- 30:51SPEAKER_09: How many seats do I got?
- 30:53SPEAKER_07: Okay, you and and four others.
- 30:55SPEAKER_09: Oh, here we go.
- 30:56SPEAKER_09: Okay, cool.
- 30:56SPEAKER_09: Okay, Marion die, Tyramen, Dylan Lewis, Tim Mary.
- 31:02SPEAKER_07: Nice! I like the mix of all the guys.
- 31:04SPEAKER_07: Who's getting on ox in the car?
- 31:07SPEAKER_09: You know, so it's funny.
- 31:08SPEAKER_09: So we're taking some trips already.
- 31:11SPEAKER_09: So we tie gets on ox.
- 31:13SPEAKER_09: Tyramen gets the ox, you know.
- 31:15SPEAKER_09: I feel he meets everybody's needs.
- 31:18SPEAKER_07: Okay, so he's not just thinking of himself, he's thinking of the group.
- 31:21SPEAKER_09: Mm-hmm.
- 31:21SPEAKER_09: And we gotta shit.
- 31:22SPEAKER_09: We were actually just out of Arizona for the 4th of July, so he's he meets everybody's musical needs.
- 31:28SPEAKER_09: Ty gets the ox.
- 31:29SPEAKER_07: Okay, good.
- 31:30SPEAKER_07: Now, what is one road trip that you would love to go on or a place you would love to see?
- 31:34SPEAKER_09: So me and Mario were just actually Okay, in the States, we were just talking about New York.
- 31:40SPEAKER_09: Out of the States, we were talking about Italy.
- 31:43SPEAKER_09: Definitely want to see what it's like.
- 31:44SPEAKER_07: Okay, I've been and you would absolutely love it.
- 31:46SPEAKER_07: So you definitely have to go.
- 31:48SPEAKER_09: I've had some people say it's boring, but now you told me I gotta go.
- 31:51SPEAKER_07: So you have to go.
- 31:52SPEAKER_07: We'll talk offline.
- 31:53SPEAKER_07: Okay.
- 31:53SPEAKER_07: Okay.
- 31:54SPEAKER_07: I'll help you plan the itinerary.
- 31:55SPEAKER_07: Appreciate it.
- 31:56SPEAKER_07: Okay, great.
- 31:56SPEAKER_07: So let's talk now about this group of guys because there are so many new faces to the team.
- 32:02SPEAKER_07: How would you say this team has been gelling and creating a culture amongst the group?
- 32:06SPEAKER_09: I think it's more so like the off-the-field activities that we do with each other, just you know, just hanging out.
- 32:10SPEAKER_09: You know, obviously, summertime is not many people here during spring, you know.
- 32:14SPEAKER_09: They just had got here, so it was kind of hard to between school, football practice, it was hard to really just you know spend good time together.
- 32:20SPEAKER_09: But I think over the summer, we definitely took a big step just as far as like our chemistry, because you know, can't trust you guys off the field.
- 32:26SPEAKER_09: It's kind of hard just to automatically gain that trust on the field.
- 32:29SPEAKER_09: So I think just the time that we've been spending off the field with each other, just whether it's going bowling, top golf, taking trips, like whether whatever it is, whatever's needed to, you know, have that team chemistry come game time.
- 32:39SPEAKER_09: You know, we've been taking those steps, you know.
- 32:41SPEAKER_09: I'm ready to go out there and get it with my guys.
- 32:43SPEAKER_07: Is there one or a couple of different guys that have really surprised you and how they've stepped up in the offseason?
- 32:48SPEAKER_09: Uh definitely uh Xavier Gilliam, you know, he on paper, he's technically a registered sophomore, but you know, going to his third year of college football, he uh definitely took those steps, you know, just to step into a leadership role.
- 32:58SPEAKER_09: And then obviously, uh David Hobbs, you know, he's been a staple here for however long, you know, going to his senior year.
- 33:03SPEAKER_09: I think he's gonna finally take that big step.
- 33:05SPEAKER_09: I'm praying my guy stays healthy, because, you know, who knows what he's capable of having a full healthy season, but I'm really excited to go out there and get it.
- 33:11SPEAKER_07: And how would you describe your leadership style when it comes to working and collaborating and uh giving advice, mentorship with your group?
- 33:18SPEAKER_09: Uh I'm definitely the type of guy who's gonna keep everybody's spirits high.
- 33:20SPEAKER_09: Like, I'm gonna crack a joke when a joke doesn't need to be cracked.
- 33:22SPEAKER_09: That's just, that's just how I am.
- 33:24SPEAKER_09: Like, you know, smiling's healthy.
- 33:26SPEAKER_09: It's good for you, you know.
- 33:27SPEAKER_09: Smile can be contagious, so I just always try to keep everybody's spirits high, especially when things go bad because, you know, I I've experienced being a freshman, especially with Coach G, it can be an interesting experience.
- 33:35SPEAKER_09: But uh, because you know, you gotta take take everything day by day, and you know, everything's all about perspective.
- 33:40SPEAKER_09: You know, I'm not gonna say I'm a big optimistic guy.
- 33:42SPEAKER_09: Like, when stuff's bad, stuff is bad, but it's just all about a matter of how as you want to make it seem.
- 33:47SPEAKER_09: You know, not every, like, my favorite thing is to tell guys, well, I was like told this a lot growing up, just working out, like, you're not gonna die.
- 33:53SPEAKER_07: Yeah, it's not up to you.
- 33:55SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
- 33:55SPEAKER_07: That's it.
- 33:56SPEAKER_09: You know, you it's gonna be the your favorite thing to do at the moment, but.
- 33:59SPEAKER_07: But you're gonna wake up tomorrow and the sun will be shining and it'll be okay.
- 34:02SPEAKER_09: You gotta ever thing your body, you're gonna be all right.
- 34:04SPEAKER_07: So talking about the weight room, w all the work that you guys have been putting in there, the the transformation photos have been unbelievable.
- 34:11SPEAKER_07: What have those morning workouts, those lifts, whatever it is, what have they really looked like being in that room with that group of guys and DL?
- 34:19SPEAKER_09: Well, you know, everybody in the country's working out, you know.
- 34:22SPEAKER_09: So I'm not gonna just say we just in there doing some lab science experiment, doing all these crazy things, you know.
- 34:27SPEAKER_09: Just all matter about your intent.
- 34:29SPEAKER_09: I think uh DL came in and definitely like sustained or pushed that into it's like off the muscle.
- 34:36SPEAKER_09: It was just like, well, you're either gonna buy in or you're not, and it's gonna show.
- 34:39SPEAKER_09: And so, you know, if you want to get better, you know, you wanted to grow and get ready for the season, you did that.
- 34:43SPEAKER_09: If you didn't, it showed.
- 34:44SPEAKER_09: Because, you know, guys are in there, we are doing the same workout.
- 34:46SPEAKER_09: So if you're not taking the right steps off the field, it was gonna show.
- 34:49SPEAKER_09: But if you were taking the right steps off the field, I mean, you see the results, like be a bitch, like the whole.
- 34:54SPEAKER_07: Well, Ethan, thanks so much for walking and talking with me.
- 34:57SPEAKER_20: It's time for the Sonic Big Play moment.
- 35:00SPEAKER_20: Brandon looking.
- 35:02SPEAKER_20: Throws for Staley Touchdown, Tennessee! If you're looking for a meal that's never boring and guarantees fun, look no further than Sonic and the$7 big deal meal, Sonic cheeseburger, small premium chicken bites, medium drink, and your choice of a medium tot or fry.
- 35:21SPEAKER_12: You're one-on-one with Mike Key, sponsored by Food City, the official supermarket of the Tennessee Volunteers.
- 35:28SPEAKER_12: By Farm Bureau Insurance, the official insurance of the vault, Tennessee Insurance for Tennessee Life.
- 35:34SPEAKER_12: By First Horizon, Big Bank Hustle, Small Bank Hustle.
- 35:39SPEAKER_12: By Pilot, official travel stop of the vault.
- 35:42SPEAKER_12: See you out here.
- 35:43SPEAKER_12: By Rackley Roofing, let us Victor Lee, the traveled official roofer of the Vigor, and by UT Medical, the official healthcare provider of the vault.
- 36:57SPEAKER_18: From the roar of Neeland Stadium to the energy of the tailgate, one thing belongs on every game they mentioned.
- 37:04SPEAKER_18: Calhoun.
- 37:05SPEAKER_18: Whether you're dining in one of Calhoun's nine area restaurant locations, taking the feast to your tailgate, or grabbing a bike from one of Calhoun's locations inside Nealand Stadium, Calhoun's face is easy, so you can focus on curing the balls to victory.
- 37:21SPEAKER_18: Calhoun.
- 37:25SPEAKER_25: In the heart of every community, tailoring comes naturally.
- 37:29SPEAKER_25: At Farm Bureau Health Plants, we are your neighbors, your friends, and partners in health.
- 37:36SPEAKER_25: We believe everyone deserves the very best care tailored to your unique needs.
- 37:40SPEAKER_25: Become a valued member of our family, and we'll take care of you and yours.
- 37:45SPEAKER_25: Together we care.
- 37:47SPEAKER_25: Together we grow.
- 37:49SPEAKER_25: Together, we thrive.
- 37:53SPEAKER_25: Plan on us.
- 37:54SPEAKER_10: Valve Lane instant oil change technicians train hard.
- 37:59SPEAKER_10: As a proud sponsor of the Tennessee volunteer, we gave Facebook a chip, owning their speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
- 38:09SPEAKER_10: To be a champ, you have to train like one.
- 38:54SPEAKER_18: At Rackley Roofing, we are not a one-man team.
- 38:58SPEAKER_18: We're actually not a two-man team.
- 39:00SPEAKER_25: Everyone is a critical part of the journey.
- 39:02SPEAKER_00: Championship teams are not built on one person.
- 39:05SPEAKER_00: Great companies aren't either.
- 39:07SPEAKER_25: Like the balls, coaches and players need to learn to handle the pressure, including the pressure of success.
- 39:14SPEAKER_18: We invest in the next generation.
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- 39:17SPEAKER_18: And most importantly, we invest in our employees.
- 39:21SPEAKER_01: Want to change the world?
- 39:22SPEAKER_01: Change it one roof at a time.
- 39:28SPEAKER_18: Welcome back to the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
- 39:32SPEAKER_18: Dwayne Brown was a guy as a freshman that when we were doing the pregame interview, we had to pull words out of him.
- 39:40SPEAKER_18: The 6'8, 255-pounder from the state of Alabama was a guy who just never talked.
- 39:47SPEAKER_18: Well, he's turned that around, becoming one of the most vocal guys on the ball basketball team as a leader on a team with a bunch of newcomers.
- 39:56SPEAKER_18: Number six, Dwayne Brown, sat down to discuss his new role for 26-27.
- 40:03SPEAKER_18: How different is this being the sophomore leader of the team from where you were a year ago?
- 40:12SPEAKER_02: I'll definitely say it's definitely different, but it's a pretty good experience.
- 40:16SPEAKER_02: It's kind of where every player wants to be.
- 40:18SPEAKER_02: You know, last year I came in as a freshman.
- 40:20SPEAKER_02: I was kind of behind a lot of veterans, a lot of guys who have been here.
- 40:22SPEAKER_02: So just kind of watching them, watching how they talk to the younger guys, I mean, including me, but watching how they talk to everybody, how they kind of lead everybody.
- 40:30SPEAKER_02: I just kind of took that in, and I just this year I kind of try to be that same person, everybody, to kind of keep the Tennessee culture going in the basketball.
- 40:38SPEAKER_02: You didn't say much last year.
- 40:40SPEAKER_18: Yeah, I mean, you're not a wild talker anyway, but you didn't say much.
- 40:43SPEAKER_18: As we have talked to members of this year's basketball team, they say Dwayne Brown leads us in this, Dwayne Brown talks about this, Dwayne Brown told me to do this.
- 40:52SPEAKER_18: How difficult is it to become more vocal when that's not really your nature?
- 40:58SPEAKER_02: Um, I wouldn't really say it's difficult, but it's just kind of a step that I feel like everybody kind of got to take and kind of what you want to take.
- 41:05SPEAKER_02: So I just kind of look at it as something I want to embrace, you know, something I want to be better at, something I want to do for this program.
- 41:11SPEAKER_18: How did Coach Barnes challenge Dwayne Brown, both on and off the court, entering the sophomore year?
- 41:20SPEAKER_02: Um, I could definitely say on the court.
- 41:22SPEAKER_02: I say my role definitely got bigger.
- 41:23SPEAKER_02: He kind of expects more out of me.
- 41:25SPEAKER_02: He expects me to know things.
- 41:26SPEAKER_02: He's expecting me to help other guys pick up on things quicker, kind of things like that.
- 41:30SPEAKER_02: And I mean, kind of off the court is just kind of pretty much the same thing.
- 41:34SPEAKER_02: Just kind of talk to the guys, you know, uh get them comfortable with everything, you know, show them around, just kind of things like that.
- 41:40SPEAKER_02: Just kind of lead them still off the court so we can still come back together on the court and be connected.
- 41:45SPEAKER_18: In terms of your on court role and what you're looking to do, how are you looking to expand your game this year?
- 41:52SPEAKER_02: Um, I'm looking to definitely be a way better playmaker.
- 41:55SPEAKER_02: I'm looking to shoot it a little bit better, just kind of, I'll kind of say all around, kind of do everything better, rebound better, do everything, just be more dominant on the court and kind of show a better presence when I'm on the floor.
- 42:06SPEAKER_18: You played with a lot of confidence as a freshman.
- 42:08SPEAKER_18: What led to that confidence and how are you carrying that over this year?
- 42:12SPEAKER_02: Um, I can say what led to the confidence is just how much we work and how much I work on my own.
- 42:17SPEAKER_02: I mean, we're in the gym long hours every day.
- 42:20SPEAKER_02: So when you're in the gym, you know you put in the time.
- 42:22SPEAKER_02: When you get on the court, I just feel like it's kind of effortless to just play hard and do what you do because that's what we do in practice and workouts every day.
- 42:28SPEAKER_02: Have you tried to bulk up because you look yes, sir, I have.
- 42:32SPEAKER_18: So is that a matter of gaining weight, or is that a matter of just trying to change your body, or what's been the focus from a conditioning standpoint?
- 42:39SPEAKER_02: Um, I'll kind of say both.
- 42:40SPEAKER_02: Just not really trying to change my body, but just gaining weight, um, stay in the weight room with G.
- 42:44SPEAKER_02: I mean, he's tremendous, so you know how that goes.
- 42:47SPEAKER_02: He's gonna get he's gonna get us right.
- 42:48SPEAKER_02: He's gonna get everybody looking how we need to look, how we need to be.
- 42:50SPEAKER_02: So just taking that part serious, taking my nutrition serious, and yeah, that's kind of come with working hard, I guess.
- 42:57SPEAKER_02: I want you to give us a little bit of a preview.
- 42:59SPEAKER_18: Talk about the post-play.
- 43:00SPEAKER_18: Talk about those inside guys for this basketball team and who's really jumped out to you so far.
- 43:06SPEAKER_02: Um, I think we got I think we've got a very good inside group, but I'd say one guy who's kind of jumped out to me and kind of pretty much everybody on the coach staff is uh Brayden Lou.
- 43:15SPEAKER_02: I think he's been great.
- 43:16SPEAKER_02: Um, he can definitely guard, he can shoot it.
- 43:19SPEAKER_02: And so yeah, he and he can make plays kind of come up the floor because we adding in some new stuff, so we was able to see kind of everybody's new skill gap.
- 43:26SPEAKER_02: So I think it's great.
- 43:27SPEAKER_02: He's great.
- 43:28SPEAKER_18: The basketball team appears to have a lot of versatility in terms of lineups that they could that this team could be used a lot of different ways.
- 43:36SPEAKER_18: Are you already seeing that?
- 43:38SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
- 43:39SPEAKER_02: Coach Barnes talks about it all the time.
- 43:41SPEAKER_02: I mean, when he's trying to kind of motivate guys to work hard, he just kind of lets us know that it's a lot of guys who can do a lot of things.
- 43:47SPEAKER_02: So um, that's kind of a good thing for us.
- 43:49SPEAKER_02: I feel like that we have so many different lineups that we can have on the floor.
- 43:52SPEAKER_02: So yeah, I think it's great.
- 43:53SPEAKER_18: The other attorney is Troy Henderson, who spent a lot of last year dinged up with a shoulder injury.
- 43:58SPEAKER_18: I know you and here.
- 44:00SPEAKER_18: Close.
- 44:00SPEAKER_18: How do you feel like Troy's making progress back from the injury and looking so far as we get ready for the year?
- 44:06SPEAKER_02: I think Troy, I think Troy's looking great.
- 44:08SPEAKER_02: He had his first practice, and I think he did great.
- 44:10SPEAKER_02: He brought a lot of energy for us.
- 44:12SPEAKER_02: Um he guarded well.
- 44:14SPEAKER_02: I mean, he's just another guy who kind of knows what he's doing.
- 44:16SPEAKER_02: So it's kind of again easy for him to get on the court and kind of lead everybody else, bring a lot of energy and just kind of pick up everybody.
- 44:23SPEAKER_02: So I think he's doing well.
- 44:24SPEAKER_18: Dwayne Brown's visit with us is brought to you by First Horizon.
- 44:28SPEAKER_18: I know you're enjoying working with them.
- 44:30SPEAKER_18: Yes, sir.
- 44:31SPEAKER_18: All right.
- 44:31SPEAKER_18: Dwayne, thanks so much for the time.
- 44:32SPEAKER_18: Yes, sir.
- 44:33SPEAKER_18: Thank you.
- 44:33SPEAKER_18: We've got more of the show coming up right after this.
- 44:37SPEAKER_14: Getting you ready for the game.
- 44:39SPEAKER_14: The Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
- 44:43SPEAKER_13: This is your ball network.
- 44:50SPEAKER_18: Welcome back to the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
- 44:53SPEAKER_18: This is Joe Kurt.
- 44:54SPEAKER_18: He is the head coach of the Lady Ball soccer team.
- 44:57SPEAKER_18: 6-0-1, ranked number eight in the country.
- 45:01SPEAKER_18: Joe is in his fifth year as the head coach of the Lady Balls.
- 45:04SPEAKER_18: Is it 19 or 20 overall?
- 45:08SPEAKER_18: I believe it's 20.
- 45:09SPEAKER_27: I believe it's 20.
- 45:10SPEAKER_27: I stopped counting after about 10.
- 45:12SPEAKER_27: Well, we're glad you're here.
- 45:13SPEAKER_27: Glad to be here.
- 45:13SPEAKER_18: And congratulations on the start to the year, the big win over LSU at LSU, three to one.
- 45:19SPEAKER_18: Um, are you surprised this team is off to as good a start as it is?
- 45:24SPEAKER_27: Honestly, no.
- 45:25SPEAKER_27: They, you know, we've had the group together for the most part since January.
- 45:28SPEAKER_27: So we've got a really good feel of kind of where they are, and and they've done a tremendous job of growing through this process.
- 45:35SPEAKER_27: And we know they're young, but they're really taking information and applying it, um, both from us, from games they've played in.
- 45:42SPEAKER_27: Um, and they're they're a talented group that's committed to getting better, and I think that's evident in where we stand right now.
- 45:48SPEAKER_17: Give it up only three goals in seven games.
- 45:51SPEAKER_27: Yeah, not bad.
- 45:52SPEAKER_27: Not bad.
- 45:53SPEAKER_27: That's very good.
- 45:53SPEAKER_17: What yeah, is it defensive strategy?
- 45:56SPEAKER_17: Is it goaltending?
- 45:57SPEAKER_18: What's it been so far?
- 45:58SPEAKER_27: I think it's a commitment to um being great on both sides of the ball.
- 46:02SPEAKER_27: You know, Mike's done a great job of getting them organized first and foremost, but um they're playing with physicality, um, they cover for one another really well.
- 46:10SPEAKER_27: Um, they're disciplined um and they're able to handle a lot of different situations.
- 46:14SPEAKER_27: I think it's really been helpful.
- 46:15SPEAKER_27: We've seen a lot of different things from our opponents so far.
- 46:18SPEAKER_27: So um they're getting more and more familiar with kind of different looks and different pictures and are really able to take the information that that we're giving them.
- 46:25SPEAKER_27: And like I said, Mike's done a great job organizing them and and they're really, you know, trusting that and competing at a really high level.
- 46:31SPEAKER_18: Your goalkeeper, Caden Norris, is one of your Tennesseans on the team from Sideshill High School in Johnson City.
- 46:38SPEAKER_18: Talk to us about her a little bit.
- 46:40SPEAKER_27: Yeah, I mean, she's building off last year, obviously, with I think 13 shutouts second in the country last year.
- 46:46SPEAKER_27: Um, you know, she knows what what it should look like, and um, she's done a great job managing the players in front of her.
- 46:52SPEAKER_27: And I think she, you know, as goalkeepers go on, um, they they really start to impact the game outside of their own individual space.
- 46:59SPEAKER_27: And um, Caden instills confidence in the players in front of her and has really been able to become more of um a game, I don't want to say game manager, but she's able to see what's going on before things happen and is much more pre proactive than reactive.
- 47:14SPEAKER_27: And you can see that now as she gets older and is an upperclassman now, game slows down for and and she's in really good spots.
- 47:21SPEAKER_27: Marty's done a tremendous job of again helping grow her her expertise, her knowledge, her tactical understanding.
- 47:27SPEAKER_27: Um, and she's really gotten better in possession too.
- 47:29SPEAKER_27: Um, so not giving the ball away very often in bad spots.
- 47:32SPEAKER_27: So she just um, you know, is really grown.
- 47:34SPEAKER_27: Like, like I said, it starts with growth and and taking information and applying it.
- 47:38SPEAKER_27: And um Caden's doing a really good job of that.
- 47:40SPEAKER_17: Two players coming back from D injuries, Shao Roar, Kylie Simmons.
- 47:44SPEAKER_17: They seem to have really given you a lift as fifth-year players immediately coming back from those injuries.
- 47:50SPEAKER_27: Yeah, talented and experienced.
- 47:51SPEAKER_27: Um, we've got a talented group who's not afraid to work, but experience, yeah, you got to get that somehow, and they've got it.
- 47:57SPEAKER_27: And I think they're able to, they've been able to help our players, our younger players all spring, um, even though they maybe weren't as involved as they'd like to be on the field.
- 48:05SPEAKER_27: Um, so getting them back, you know, they they've both been contributing at a high level and and really in terms of games, right?
- 48:12SPEAKER_27: The ebb and flow of games, some high moments, some tougher moments.
- 48:16SPEAKER_27: Um, that experience really helps us in some of those tougher moments of like, hey, we're good, we got this, that's just part of it.
- 48:20SPEAKER_27: So, yeah, their ability to come in and impact the game, certainly in terms of what they do, but also um their influence of how we're dealing with it is has been tremendous, and it's great having them back on the field.
- 48:30SPEAKER_18: Good lift from some transfer portal additions too.
- 48:33SPEAKER_18: Inece Darien, uh Kai Chakaris, uh Taylor Cheatham.
- 48:38SPEAKER_18: What all have they been able to do for you so far?
- 48:40SPEAKER_27: Yeah, again, it you know, experience.
- 48:42SPEAKER_27: Kai's been in the league a year, and and she's just a dynamic dribbler, right?
- 48:45SPEAKER_27: She can unlock things and and she's a handful every time she gets it.
- 48:48SPEAKER_27: And Taylor and Nez have been around uh a good amount and have seen a lot.
- 48:52SPEAKER_27: Um, both of them are playing at a really high level.
- 48:54SPEAKER_27: Um, you know, again, the experience, the experience factor does matter.
- 48:58SPEAKER_27: Um notwithstanding, our young players have stepped up and done a great job.
- 49:03SPEAKER_27: We've got Corus starting as a freshman.
- 49:05SPEAKER_27: Emerson has been playing a good amount.
- 49:07SPEAKER_27: Um, you know, Tesh is coming in and playing a decent amount, Jayla on the wing.
- 49:11SPEAKER_27: So, you know, as much as I talk about the experience we have from our older players, our younger players have really stepped up and and performed at a really high level and consistently what consistently as well.
- 49:20SPEAKER_18: Has there been a player or players who have been a surprise this year?
- 49:26SPEAKER_27: That's a great question.
- 49:27SPEAKER_27: I I don't I wouldn't call it a surprise.
- 49:29SPEAKER_27: I think they've all represented themselves very well.
- 49:32SPEAKER_27: Um, they've all been able to contribute um on the field and in training.
- 49:37SPEAKER_27: I I think we've got a really good group who's solid.
- 49:39SPEAKER_27: Like they're they're all talented, committed.
- 49:43SPEAKER_27: Um, they understand their role, and they're doing it pretty darn consistently.
- 49:47SPEAKER_27: And I think it it puts a lot of pressure on us as coaches to try and put the right group together because they're all talented and they're all working hard, they're all doing their job.
- 49:54SPEAKER_27: So what's the right mix of 11 at a time?
- 49:57SPEAKER_27: Um, they make it really hard on us to sort through that.
- 50:01SPEAKER_27: Um, but that's a that's a great problem to have as a coach, knowing that you've got you know 22 players that that can impact the game in a in a positive way for you.
- 50:08SPEAKER_27: So um I don't think there's one that stands out.
- 50:11SPEAKER_27: Um been really pleased with our young players overall, and I wouldn't want to say any one of them is better than any of the others because they're all working really hard and doing a great job for us.
- 50:21SPEAKER_17: What's the challenge for Lady Ball soccer the rest of the season?
- 50:24SPEAKER_27: Yeah, it's maintaining consistency and I think dealing with dealing with adversity, right?
- 50:28SPEAKER_27: We're 6-0-1, like you mentioned, and you know, we've had some tough moments in games, which you're gonna have.
- 50:33SPEAKER_27: Um, but this team has lost one game since we've been together, and that was in the spring to Notre Dame.
- 50:38SPEAKER_27: So, you know, obviously we want to go undefeated, and we're gonna can continue to push for that.
- 50:42SPEAKER_27: Um unrealistic, but we're gonna push for it.
- 50:45SPEAKER_27: So when when things get hard, um, how do we do with that?
- 50:48SPEAKER_27: And so far we've been really, really good.
- 50:50SPEAKER_27: Caden and Kylie as captains have done a really good job.
- 50:52SPEAKER_27: Dakota as well, of like keeping us on the on the right path and not letting us get too high, letting us get too low.
- 50:59SPEAKER_27: Um, but that's gonna be tested as we go through conference.
- 51:01SPEAKER_27: We've got a tough conference slate ahead of us, obviously off to a great start.
- 51:04SPEAKER_27: But I think that's the trials and tribulations of a long season of how do we handle those highs and lows.
- 51:10SPEAKER_27: Um, so far we're doing a tremendous job, and um we're gonna keep keep persevering through all of it.
- 51:16SPEAKER_27: But um I think that's gonna be our biggest test of how we handle you know the ups and downs of the season.
- 51:20SPEAKER_17: Oh, by the way, another road trip, number 19, Texas, this Friday.
- 51:24SPEAKER_17: What's the challenge there?
- 51:25SPEAKER_27: Yeah, really organized.
- 51:26SPEAKER_27: Um, Mark's coming over from UCLA as their head coach, won a national championship there.
- 51:30SPEAKER_27: She's got them organized.
- 51:31SPEAKER_27: They've got a couple dynamic players up top and Ava McDonald and Villa Real who are dangerous in any moment.
- 51:37SPEAKER_27: So they're organized, they can score goals, they're gonna keep the ball.
- 51:40SPEAKER_27: Tough place to play at Texas.
- 51:42SPEAKER_27: So it's a good team.
- 51:43SPEAKER_27: Um, you know, I think they've done a really good job in the non-conference side of things.
- 51:48SPEAKER_27: They can punish you in transition, um, good on step plays.
- 51:51SPEAKER_27: So they're they're well coached, organized, and talented groups.
- 51:54SPEAKER_27: So another tough one on the road for us.
- 51:56SPEAKER_27: But um, um I've got we've got a lot of a lot of confidence in our team right now.
- 52:00SPEAKER_27: Um so they've proven they can do it on the road.
- 52:02SPEAKER_27: No reason why we can't do it again.
- 52:03SPEAKER_17: Go get them.
- 52:04SPEAKER_27: That's right.
- 52:04SPEAKER_27: Hey, uh, congratulations on the start.
- 52:06SPEAKER_27: Thanks.
- 52:07SPEAKER_27: Joe Kurt, appreciate you having me.
- 52:08SPEAKER_18: Soccer coach, Lady Balls with us on the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
- 52:12SPEAKER_18: We thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next time.
- 52:16SPEAKER_14: All access all week long to the latest from the Tennessee campus, the Mike Keith Show, online, delivered by Uber Eats, UT Sports.com.
- 52:26SPEAKER_13: We are the Ball Network.