The HD Experience

The HD Experience Episode 46: Local Football Discussion from 9 TOES Brewery

• Hunter Dawkins

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The HD Experience Episode 46:  Local Football Discussion from 9 TOES Brewery

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the award-winning newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, Sports Correspondent SuperTalk Mississippi News, Gulfport High Radio Host G96.7, Member of the Football Writer Association of America (FWAA, Heisman Voter), Member of the Associated Press Sports & Editors (APSE)

PRODUCER:  Jeff Clark - Award-Winning Journalist, Multimedia/Podcast Host, South Alabama Beat Writer, Director for the Harrison County Senior Services



GUESTS:

  • Bob Reeves - Long Beach School District Athletic Director
  • Tony McGill - Local Broadcaster, Long Beach High School Sports
  • Joseph W. Gex II - St. Stanislaus Track & Field Coach, Sea Coast Echo/The Gazebo Gazette Sports Reporter, Ole Miss Beat Writer
  • Mitch Gibbs - WGSO 990AM New Orleans Radio Host, "In the Zone" & "Breakfast with Bayou Bengals"
  • Matt "Stats" Toth - Mississippi Gulf Coast High School Sports Analyst, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Broadcast 
SPEAKER_00

Nine Toes Brewing Company is a Gulf Coast destination for craft beer, great food, and interactive entertainment. Enjoy a rotating selection of small batch brews, a menu of comfort food favorites, and state-of-the-art golf simulators featuring world-famous courses. Whether you're meeting friends or just unwinding after work, Nine Toes delivers a laid-back atmosphere with something for everyone. Located at 110 West Scenic Drive in the Pass, Nine Toes is your spot for bold brews, big swings, and better nights. For more information, please go to 9toesbrewery.com.

SPEAKER_10

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12th, and head to Nine Toes Brewing Company and pass Christianne for the hookum for heroes block party. It's a free event from 1 to 10 p.m. featuring live performances by JJ Gray and Mofro, Mark Broussart, Cedric Burnside, Honey Island Swamp Band, and more. Best of all, the event supports local veterans and first responders. So come enjoy great music while giving back to those who have served our communities.

SPEAKER_12

Here's your host, Hunter Dawkins.

SPEAKER_04

Good afternoon. My name is Hunter Dawkins, and I am the host of the award-winning podcast, The HD Experience. This is the 46th episode of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Sports Podcast, sponsored by the Gazebo Gazette, Harrison County's independent newspaper, the Beau Revage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, and the Nine Toes Brewing Company, who we're here live at the Nine Toes Brewing Company, and Pastor Shannon, who has live music every weekend. Eduire Realty Agent, Stephanie Bankwitz, Joseph Kelly's attorney at law, coach casual at Pastor Shannon Insurance Barn in Gulfport. We have a new one, Hook'em for Heroes block party on Sunday, September the 12th, right here at Nine Toes Brewing Company. And we're always in the U.S. Marine Studio. I'm here with my wonderful producer of the show, Jeff Clark. Jeff is a well-accomplished award-winning journalist, a South Alabama beat writer, and is the director of the Harrison County Senior Services. Additionally, Jeff Clark is my good friend. Jeff, how are you?

SPEAKER_02

Hunter, I'm well, man. Always happy to be here at Nine Toes. I mean, Nine Toes Brewing Company, right here in the bungalows and uh Pastor Jan. You know, we love hanging out here. We've been watching the World Cup here over the past few weeks, uh, having a good time, been people in and out all day. There was live music. It's just always a great time to be here. Always exciting to do the HD experience from Nine Toes.

SPEAKER_04

Our theme is local football discussion.

SPEAKER_02

No song today, huh?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, exactly. And Nine Toes Brewing Company in Paschas. And it's one of your favorite places, Jeff. Not only to talk about watching football and just being involved in here doing trivia and all the rest of the noise. Football season is right around the corner, and we're going to be recording from the Marriott Convention Center in New Orleans on Radio Row next week during the Sunbelt Conference, football media days. But today we are discussing the local football. Additionally, we're getting a local perspective not only about uh high school football, but about college and about professional. And so, what are some of your interest in finding this out at the local level?

SPEAKER_02

You know, Hunter, I'm I'm I'm looking forward to the Gazebo Gazette Oyster Bowl. Long Beach and Pass Christiane, first game of the season. Just like it's just coming up. We're getting there, you know, we're getting getting geared up for that. We'll be doing uh some special podcasting that week. It's gonna be exciting. Um I'm I'm telling you, man, I've never lived in a neighborhood that has a a sports bar before. So I am so excited about on Saturdays coming down to nine toes, and you know, they have a lot of TVs in here watching games with people who that's when you're not in Mobile. Yeah, well, yeah, absolutely. And you know, speaking of mobile, uh, you know, I I I saw where uh six of the guys from USA are going to be were named to the uh uh Sunbelt Conference, you know, team, all Sunbelt Conference team, you know, second and third teams on that. I think what hopefully, and we'll talk to Major Apple White about this this week, but you know, they're gonna put a lot, they're gonna the expectations on uh Keenan Phillips are gonna be through the roof this year. You know, you lost Ken Charles Bullock, but Keenan Phillips played in every game last year behind Ken Charles Bullock or beside Ken Charles Bullock, uh ran for over 600 yards, caught something like 48 passes. So uh, you know, expectations are high.

SPEAKER_04

But as you know, Jeff, you want to know, and I know you already know this will be the main number one question, which not only am I gonna ask Major, but the fact is you're thinking it too. Who's QB1?

SPEAKER_02

Who's QB one? What's the offense gonna look like with Major taking it over? There's a lot of questions. Um, you know, on a local level, man, I can't wait to see Paris Tavillion play in at pass high. Uh I look forward to seeing what what Quincy does at uh at West Harrison. You know, those are the teams that I cover. Um, I cover pass high football. Um, love doing that. I love covering West Harrison and just whatever else. So uh, you know, looking forward to it. So let's uh let's see what what our guests have to say about it, and we'll be right back after this commercial break.

SPEAKER_11

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SPEAKER_03

The Gazebo Gazette is Harrison County's only independent newspaper publishing news from Gulfport debate St.

SPEAKER_04

Louis every Friday.

SPEAKER_03

Hi, this is Hunter Dawkins, owner of the Gazebo Gazette.

SPEAKER_04

If you're looking for local news without the hassle of sorting through story after digital story, log on to thegazeboGazette.com. Add your name to the digital audience of 250,000 plus coastal residents who already know where to find the stories that matter to them. We would love to introduce my good friend Long Beach School District, because I'm not saying Long Beach High School, because you're more than high school, Long Beach School District Athletic Director Bob Reeves. Before being an administrator, Coach Reeves was a coach for 14 years, I believe, at least that's what I read, you know, uh, not only for Long Beach, but for New Hope High School, his alumnus too as well.

SPEAKER_07

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04

And how are you, Coach?

SPEAKER_07

Uh doing well, doing well. It's that uh kind of that perfect little slice of the summer right here, where we're in between wrapping up one school a year, but uh right on the cusp of getting ready to start another one.

SPEAKER_04

Coach, you mentioned to me a little bit earlier after the MHSA coaching clinic this week in Jackson, which was available for all of the high school coaches. Where are there were there any changes in the MHSA rules for football for this upcoming season?

SPEAKER_07

You know, there's there's always uh tweaks to the rules that come down um from the National Federation of High School Sports. Um, but the biggest thing that came out of the sessions that I went to, the athletic director sessions, are some of the things that will be coming up um with the reclassification that that the uh will be taking in October. Um they the five, six, and seven A classifications all have 24 teams apiece. Um, and since they made that decision, they said, hey, we're gonna have four regions of six teams. Uh make it even. Uh, and they've come out and they have uh tweaked that. So going forward, they're saying, hey, if it geographically makes sense to have five in one and possibly seven in another, we're gonna give ourselves the flexibility to do that. And uh I don't know if it's gonna be like a hard rule, but somebody threw the the mileage out of like 150 miles. Yeah, um, and as a football coach, you know, it was it never really was a huge deal because we played once a week and it was on Friday. But you know, when you get to some of those sports uh that are midweek games that you're traveling, like a basketball game, like a basketball game, like a baseball, softball. Um, that that that's taxing on the on the kids, on the coaches. Um, it's just it's tough on everybody all the way around. And then and then, of course, this this kind of came out, I guess, several weeks back. Uh, MHSA has come out with the the private schools that are uh members of the MHSA. Multiplier. The multiplier. Um, and there there really wasn't uh a whole lot of discussion about that, but that's that's one of the things that that you know kind of got some some buzz when it was put out. And and then you know, down here on the coast, we have Stanislaus and OLA, and it's not going to affect them because they've they've been operating under a multiplier for a number of years. Sure, sure.

SPEAKER_04

Um, speaking of these changes, and you talked a little bit about this classification switches, of course, as you said, in a few months later on this year. Does Long Beach have foresee any future classification changes?

SPEAKER_07

Uh I mean, it's a it's a possibility. I think nationwide, a trend that we're seeing is uh decreases in enrollment. You know, Long Beach and it's across the state, and I really think across the country. Um, some of these states have um a little more mobility for their students, uh whether you call it school choice or or voucher program or whatever it may be. Some places have um top-notch private schools that they can send their kids to. Uh, so it it's possible. Now, that being said, I don't know what the multiplier will do for a school like um like St. Patrick. You know, Saint Patrick is a is a 3A school, I believe, and and that 1.5 multiplier might might push them up and it, you know, it it might skew the you know classifications. Um so you know, I I can't say for certain that there will be, uh, but it's it's possible just based on our enrollment.

SPEAKER_04

Based on that, before I get to the next question, really a scenario that I was wondering about, you know, since you had spoken of the the least amount of attendance, what do you think about the possibility? Now, of course, it has to go through the legislature, which is above year in my pay grade. What do you think about a Tebow rule, you know, like it did out in Jacksonville with Nice High School? I'm sure you've heard about that before.

SPEAKER_07

I have, and honestly, that was one of the more frequent questions I got this year from community members or people outside of Long Beach that were looking to move in, possibly was homeschooled. That's right. How do I homeschool uh my my student uh and allow them to uh participate with the local school? Exactly. Um personally, I'm not in favor of it. Sure, sure. Um but of course, if the legislature comes down and says this is the rule, then then we will adapt and we'll figure out um we'll figure out how to implement that and and how to manage that. I just think it has too many questions at this point, and I maybe they've been answered, but I don't know enough about them uh to have a to have a favorable opinion of it right now.

SPEAKER_04

Do the Bearcats have anything different in the athletic department this year?

SPEAKER_07

Uh nothing, no new sports. Um we we started wrestling last year and and had a had a successful had a successful season. Um we, I think, qualified 24 of our 28 lifters uh for the individual state championship. Um just I mean, it was took off like gangbusters. I mean, it just you know, and the coolest thing that I saw from it was it really, when you think about the quote unquote typical high school athlete, a lot of these kids that joined the wrestling team weren't. Really? They were they were somebody looking for a place to plug in, looking for um a positive group to belong to. And uh coaches Brierton and Dorner, uh, they did a great job building a culture, uh trying to create a family. Um, but that to me was one of the neatest things. Because to me, that's the that's the best thing about high school athletics. I, you know, I'm an old miss fan, and and I love it when we recruit great talent and we can be really good. Uh, but with high school, uh it's really that that community. Um, and the kids that are walking your halls are the kids that you get to put in in competition. And so giving all those kids a place to plug in, a place to belong, to me is what's special.

SPEAKER_04

You definitely need to come here a little more times, too. They're a big old miss crowd here, too, as well. So good deal. Absolutely. But anyway, getting on the next question. This will be the ninth consecutive oyster bowl between Pascal Shane and Long Beach. And I know you were a part of it too for a little bit of time this year at Lumpkin McGee Stadium. Yes, sir. Uh with an exception of two years, Pasker Shan has dominated this uh this uh series for the last decade. However, the Bearcats had the all-time record 41, 24, and one, to believe what I've seen, uh, over the Pirates. How important is this rivalry to the Long Beach Bearcats?

SPEAKER_07

You know, the the coach speak is every game is another game, and and it's uh, you know, just a a faceless opponent, you know, it's just the next person on the schedule. Um but I think in Mississippi, in small communities like the Pass, like Long Beach, games like this are important. Yeah, and it's I don't want to say doubly important, but it is as important because this is the opener for both teams. Yeah, everybody wants to get a good start. Both teams are working hard over the summer. Coast Stocksdale does a great job uh over at the past, and they've got some really talented kids. I've seen some that are getting some kind of big time offers, you know, um, which is great. That's great. That's what that's what we want for our athletes in Mississippi. Um, but you know, we want to we, you know, we don't want to compete. We we are we want to work hard, do things the right way, and and we want to start to build a culture of of winning. Uh Coach Finley and his coaches, they've they've been getting after it this summer, had good attendance in their summer program, which is important. But you know what? Right now, everybody's doing that. Everybody is, yeah. Everybody's doing that. That's the easy part. That's the easy part because everybody's doing it right now. Yeah. Um, but you know, we feel like we've got some pieces in place that are gonna help us be successful, and we really hope to put that on the field, week one against against the past.

SPEAKER_04

Coach, final question. Let everyone, oh, this isn't really a question, more of a statement. Let everyone know how they can reach out to your booster club, your Long Beach Booster Club, to support Long Beach football in general.

SPEAKER_07

Sure, sure. Uh so Long Beach Booster Club's active on Facebook, have a have an active Facebook page putting out stuff on our on our uh on our behalf. Uh, and one thing that we have going on right now is this year, I was told back in the spring, this year is the 100th year of Long Beach High School football. And so this fall, uh we are going to have uh, I believe it's September 4th.

SPEAKER_04

It's the second home game, right?

SPEAKER_07

Okay, that's what I thought.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Um, and we are going to to host any uh former football player, cheerleader, band member. Uh we have we we've got a Google format that we're they were pushing out kind of weekly. They can register, and we're gonna recognize people by class. So from our kids that just graduated in May, I believe the uh the I'm gonna say oldest, but how about most seasoned uh alum right now, I believe, is 1962.

SPEAKER_04

That's that's before Mayor Bass. So I think he thought he said he said to me that he was eventually one of them, but you know, no, I agree with that. That's definitely that's great.

SPEAKER_07

It's great. So uh so we're you know, we're excited. We got a lot of good things going. Um, you know, like you said at the beginning, I'm I'm not a I'm not a coast native, uh, I'm a North Mississippi transplant down here, but I've been here for 12 years. And so this is home. You've been here a lot. I I have, I have. And so uh Long Beach has been good to me and my family. The administration is top-notch. That's the number one school district by all metrics that are used in the state of Mississippi to judge school districts. Uh, so we got a lot of positive things going. And uh this fall, really, I mean, a week from tomorrow, fall sports start outside of football. Uh so we're we're hoping to have a uh a springboard into a great school year starting July 20th with fall sports practice.

SPEAKER_04

Coach, we appreciate having you on again. We look forward to seeing you again.

SPEAKER_07

Absolutely. Go bear cast.

SPEAKER_09

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SPEAKER_04

I would love to introduce my good friend, Tony McGill. For over three decades, Tony has been here broadcasting play-by-play for high school, junior college, college, and professional sports. You can find him on the Long Beach Broadcast Network doing play-by-play for all of the Bearcats football, wrestling, include wrestling, wrestling. Wrestling this year, yes. And baseball games. How are you, my friend? Doing good, Hunter Dawkins. How are you, sir? I'm doing well. With over three decades of experience, what has changed most about high school football during your time?

SPEAKER_14

Well, starting off, you know, you're in a uh like a wing T or something like that, and that wasn't, you know, I formation or power perfect. D'Angelo comes in in mid-90s, uh, early 90s and spreads it out. Chris Ronicu signed at Southern Mississippi State to pitch was a great quarterback and just slung it all around, breaking records, and that's kind of what you saw. Uh the big change was when they spread like a West Coast offense.

SPEAKER_04

So okay. Well, since you were on broadcast for the Mississippi Fire Dogs, do you think the Mississippi Gulf Coast could benefit from having another arena football team around the college?

SPEAKER_14

Absolutely. Absolutely. Some of the best times I've had watching football was arena football with the Fire Dogs, uh, you know, John 4K, ex-New Orleans Saints. I think he was when they went on strike that year, he was supporter back then. He was a part owner. Brett Favre's dad, Irvin Favre, uh, was on her, and Jim English, who started Coast TV Cable, yeah, was one of the all owners. So the three of them put that together, and it was just unbelievably run and packed that Coliseum.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, a lot of Hancock County residents too, Stu Rayburn and all those guys.

SPEAKER_14

Well, Stu was quarterback there. Then he went on to Stanislaus, but Stu was uh quarterback. I interviewed Stu. I interviewed him probably five or six times before he ever started coaching high school football. Wow. So it was a lot of fun. I was the color commentator for the guest team. Sure, sure. And then after that, we of course would, you know, we're employed by the fire dogs, so we would do our interviews and uh you know, I told Bobby A. Bear at Spring practice in the Saints one time that my funnest interview was John Fourcade. Yeah, and it was just his antics and Before and after the game stuff, it's just a blast.

SPEAKER_04

And seeing that we're in an old miss facility here, you usually John 4K name is definitely not mentioned as much as it probably should be. But uh but that being said, though, okay. Well, covering three different sports, which sport has given you the most enjoyment for your last decade?

SPEAKER_14

Oh, it has it, it would be football. I love football. And you know, we don't we're not winning a whole bunch of games at Long Beach. And we, you know, I'm we're in the offseason and I'm sitting at the house even last night and I'm thinking, I could name 10 kids, I could name five quarterbacks that started at Long Beach that moved to either Stannis Lost or Gulfport.

SPEAKER_06

Sure.

SPEAKER_14

And so you're if you're not winning, you're gonna lose some of those better kids.

SPEAKER_04

Same thing with baseball. Kids that are from Long Beach or Pascus and then ended up moving to Stannis Laws too as well.

SPEAKER_14

So yeah, that happened quite a bit. I mean, one of the best quarterbacks went on to LSU. Uh my old Brendan is a Long Beach kid. So uh so so that's always been a problem. And until you can turn it around and keep our kids at home, uh, it's gonna be tough to be successful. I think we have a successful program. We Cody Finley, our head coach, he's this will be his second round, is will do a phenomenal job. I know I remember I was on the search committee uh for the last couple coaches, and uh talking to Cody about, I mean, you know, this guy could be down at the field house all day. Kids coming in, weight room, and all that, but he wanted at least two of his blocks, two out of four periods, to stay at the high school so he's interacting with the kids. Sure. There's not a there's not a big kid walking the hallway that's not playing football. He's been recruited by Finley. And he and he surrounded himself with good uh uh good coaches, and and I and I I I think he'll be successful. I really do. I thought you know, I and I don't know if we're gonna win five games this year, six games, or whatever, but I've but I really am looking forward to the season. I think we'll have a good season.

SPEAKER_04

Well, I asked uh coach Reeves this question too, as well. And and this is another one I'm gonna ask you. Um since um what what do you think if there is uh after the coaching clinic last week where they discussed classification, do you think there is any possible change for Long Beach for classification? I don't know. Is it good or bad?

SPEAKER_14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Well, I don't think it can be up.

SPEAKER_14

So you and I both No, I don't think it'll be up. We're not gonna be in a West Harrison situation, you know. That that's gonna be tough for them. I was just reading yesterday also that they're gonna have the problem, they probably have the worst, the hardest the uh schedule that you'll see all year. But we're eighth or ninth in the south that have a tough schedule. When you play Picky Yoon and Pearl River, you know, the feaster, you know, we have three quarterbacks in our division that are in the top ten in the state. Sure. So you're gonna see some good play, and then we open up the Oyster Bowl, uh sponsored by the Gazebo Gazette, but we open open up with them against Trion from uh Pascus Champions.

SPEAKER_04

Paris is good, yeah.

SPEAKER_14

He's in the top 10. So uh so we'll we'll you get to see a lot of good football at Long Beach. Uh we'll also see the what you know one of the fifth-ranked running back out of Picky Yoon, fifth ranked running back in the nation. So uh, so we'll see that. And his name escapes me, right? Xavier Dennis. Okay, yeah, that's right. Amazing, number five in the state. So he's so he he's fun to watch. You just don't like sports. Those broadcast guys over there give me fits.

SPEAKER_04

So what does long be what does Long Beach football need to do to win more than two games this year?

SPEAKER_14

Like I said, you don't have anybody that I think could play walk in the halls that hadn't been recruited on the uh coach's end. I mean, you know, they work hard. Uh the booster club is good, you know. Uh the the everything's there for them. We just have to keep the kids at home.

SPEAKER_04

Is it a scheduling format? Is it a well? I know that's a lot of complaints.

SPEAKER_14

You mentioned divisions and you know, this and that. If we drop the division maybe from 6A to 5A, you'd have a you know a shot at winning some more football games. But we have to win non-district games before we get into the district to have a chance to have a good season.

SPEAKER_04

Who looks to be in playoff contention in your region, the top four in your region that you know of? Well, you know, Picky.

SPEAKER_14

Picky un is going to be there. Pearl River Central will be there because their quarterbacks coming back, and his dad is the uh feaster, is the uh head coach. Uh, I think Hancock brings back uh a good football team, and then again another top 10 quarterback out of Goshe. Wow. Uh, so you'll see you'll see some good football there. Well, coach, and I'm probably uh no, you're absolutely right about that. Thinking about some of the teams, but uh there's some good football teams in our division.

SPEAKER_04

Well, coach, we also tell all the fans and all to check out the Long Beach High School Broadcast Network on YouTube and on NFHS Friday night, their football games, and you'll hear and see Coach McGill and Coach Delaney, Coach Tim Delaney, who they uh does your uh color. Am I correct on that?

SPEAKER_14

He is an ex-nickel state and Tulane University football coach, and he brings, and if you want to hear two two voices clash, and we go at it pretty good, but we've we've coached both of his sets of twins in football and baseball, basketball. So we've coached together.

SPEAKER_04

Not in tennis, though, right?

SPEAKER_14

No, no, they win at tennis, they win at tennis, so all kinds of awards, and just to say one thing too special season this year. This is our hundredth year of Bearcat football, and we're we're in the process of uh putting some stuff in the can. We're we're interviewing I have like William Skelly, former mayor of Long Beach. I have him scheduled for Wednesday, Coach Fortinberry. Uh, some uh, you know, his dad was a coach and he coached me when I was in the seventh grade. So the Fortinberries have been there for years and really want to concentrate on uh, like I said, Billy Skelly, former mayor, his dad announced for 42 years. So he's got a big plaque on the press box, and uh uh we really want to bring some of that. 1963 team was undefeated, and the 1973 team was undefeated. So we want to really focus in on that. People like Red Daniels who went on to play, and Jerry Daniels with the Giants and some X Pros, Robert Taylor with the Bears.

SPEAKER_04

Well, we look forward to hearing more from you, Coach.

SPEAKER_14

Take care, sir. Looking forward to it, Hunter. Always a pleasure. Take care. Thank you, my friend.

SPEAKER_01

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SPEAKER_04

I would like to introduce one of my good friends and former teacher. I know that's that long ago, right? Joe Jex, the head track and field coach at St. Stanislaus. Additionally, Coach Jex is a sports reporter for the Gazebo Gazette and the Seacoast Echo. And finally, above all, I know his favorite thing to do. He's the old miss beat rider. Coach, talk to me about the West Coast football teams, the West Mississippi Gulf Coast high school football teams. Who appears to be strong in this region, you know, 49 and West, all the way to the state line, and who could cause more damage in the playoffs?

SPEAKER_06

Well, Hunter, it's great to be on here again. Uh, thank you for having me. Um, and um for the West Coast football um for the Mississippi Coast, uh, there are several teams that I think can can complement what they did last year. Uh Hancock was a second-round football uh team last year. They do have to replace their all-everything quarterback and Kison Canaan, who will be at Southwest.

SPEAKER_04

But um who turned down a bunch of bigger offers.

SPEAKER_06

Yes, he did. He turned he turned down uh an opportunity to go to West Point um to go to uh Southwest. Um, you know, I think I think Kison will do a fantastic job out there, but his replacement is going to be uh Justin Wedgeworth. Um he um uh he's very much uh cut out of the same mold as Kison Canan. He's a dual threat quarterback, uh, stands about as tall as Kison did. Um, you know, he's an unproven quarterback as far as what Kison has done the last two years, but uh he's cut out of the same mold. So I think they won't skip a beat with Coach King and uh Wedgeworth back there throwing the football. They got some other players coming up uh as well. Uh Colton Hopgood, that's former Behigh head coach Jeff Hopgood's son, his youngest son. So uh he's a uh linebacker foreman or running back and also a backup quarterback. Uh so Wedgeworth will have uh Hopgood back there with him. Um they have some some talent out at wide receiver in uh Megea Tally and Aspen Favre. I think West Harrison could do some stuff. Um uh Quincy over there is doing a great job, and you know, they're taking it step by step. You know, the biggest step they have to take is making the playoffs for the first time in school history. That's right. Uh this year could be that year. They they started off um with a uh a great opportunity last year, and um I think it just it got away from them uh talent-wise, and just having to continue to play um you know the teams that they had to play in that division. Uh Ashkist Chan, again, uh another another team that was a uh that advanced to the third round and lost to Columbia 41-6. And uh, but they return their all-everything quarterback Paris Travilion. And anytime you have that young man lining up behind uh behind center, uh anything can happen for Pascus Chan. They always have the skill athletes. So the real question is um, how does their line produce? How does their defense produce? Uh Sammy King coming up to the to the varsity um on the line. Um, he is an outstanding track and field athlete and just a mountain of muscle. So it'll be interesting to see how Sammy King and uh Kenneth Dalcor and others contribute on that line. Uh could on the rest with the rest of the West End of the coast, uh Behigh was um 0-9 last year. Um they have um this is the second year under Catelyn French, and they have their quarterback or part-time quarterback coming back this year, Cam Garsha. Um, they have a transfer from Stannislos, Javian Thompson, who was the starting quarterback at Stannislos last year. Um, he transferred over to Bay High. And um Javian is a Javian is an athletic talent. I don't um I'm not sure where they have him playing right now, but uh I think his natural position is running back. I think he could uh churn up some yards for them. But they got Q Victor as well um back uh at Bay High this year. Um uh let's see, St. Stannislaus. St. Stannislaus was one and nine last year, and um a lot of people may not like what I have to say about it, but last year's football team may very well have been one of the worst in the 112-year history of St. Stanislaus. Oh, yes, and yes, uh, I mean, this bit last year's team struggled mightily to um have a thousand yards of total offense. That means over a 10-game season, because they were one and nine last year, they're averaging a hundred yards of offense a game. Wow compared to the high octane offenses that Stanislaus has exhibited in previous years. So they have a new head coach, Evan Gay. He has come in and he has um um straightened some things out, um, has implored a uh military-style um background to everything because he is a former United States Army infantry officer um deployed to Iraq. And uh so he he has seen some stuff in in his short life.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06

Um, and the kids um the kids have responded to what he has done. Uh they have a few new coaches on staff. Mark Logan will return to being defensive coordinator. He was the uh he was the defense coordinator in 09 when we won the state championship, and uh he is going to be employing a new um uh new a new defense, uh a defense that's familiar to him, but a new defense to these kids. Um so they have some they have some pieces in place. Sal Ricardi is, in my opinion, um our best football player at this moment. Um, but we have a new wide receiver, Liam Haynes, uh, who really showed out during the spring game and had roughly close to about 190 yards receiving in the uh in the spring game. So um things are looking up over at St. Stannis Laws. Uh, will they win more than one game? I certainly hope so. Will they win 10? Uh I I'm not holding out any hope for 10, but you know, if they get to four wins, that is an incredible improvement. And hats off to hats off to these coaches and hats off to those young kids playing.

SPEAKER_04

All right. So now let's get to what is really of your and my discussion interest, not only uh on the on the network, but also, you know, personally, we talk about quite a bunch. Does Ole Miss want to play within the box and try to lessen the effect the playmakers are on the perimeter? And what I guess I mean by that is is Trinidad and Kwan are are they going to try to play within that box of those players and focus on the playmakers, you know, outside of that? Are they going to try to minimize everything else from everybody, or they're going to try to expand it and you know give it a across the board, I guess you could say.

SPEAKER_06

Well, the new OC uh at Ole Miss, John David Baker. Yes. Uh, he was co-offensive coordinator with Charlie Weiss for about two seasons, maybe three. Um, he was the tight ends coach, but also a co-offensive coordinator when he was at uh Ole Miss previously. And he then went to UCF, correct? On that? No, it was East Carolina. East Carolina, East Carolina, and had uh, I think last year they were the number three offense in all of in in all of the NCAA, I think last year. Sure. Um, so the the new OC, John David Baker, has proven that he can call plays. Yeah. Now, can he call plays in the SEC? We're gonna find out.

SPEAKER_12

That's true.

SPEAKER_06

Um, but you have you have a video game backfield. It it is arguably the best backfield. Kawan Lacey is on the main video game picture as well. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I don't I don't mean to I don't mean to do it that way. I know what you're saying, but uh Kawan Lacey is the number one running back in college football, and Trinidad is the number one returning quarterback in college football.

SPEAKER_04

Well, with that question, that leads to my next question. What is the greatest strength this Ole Miss football team has this season? Running football.

SPEAKER_06

You they they return their three starting interior linemen, their center and their two guards. Didn't they get a transfer portal? Uh they got two tackles out of the transfer portal because they lost both of their tackles. Okay. Okay. Uh one tackle, uh, Terrence Davis, I believe is his name, um, was already on the team. He is a projected starter. They signed another offensive tackle for depth.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06

Uh then the Karius Kern uh tackle from LSU, who has some SEC starts.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06

He'll be a sophomore at Ole Miss this year. Um, but that that's where they really have to find uh some security is on the outside to protect the outside. And then um Luke Haas is one of the uh tight ends, and Caleb O Caleb Odom is returning. Uh both of them saw snaps last year at tight end. So, and both of them can block decently. So, first and foremost, this football team is gonna run the football. You have the best running back in America. Why do you not give him the football? And then the Michigan State transfer, I forget his name, but the Michigan State transfer at running back provides excellent depth uh behind Lacey. So they're gonna run the football. Um, defensively, and I'm sure that's maybe where you want to go next. Well, not necessarily, but well, you can go ahead if you're ready. Okay, all right. Uh defensively, uh, they have some playmakers returning, especially on the defensive front. Sunterine is what I'm guessing. Well, Sunterine Perkins, he'll line up anywhere. Anywhere they want to put Sunterine Perkins, he will excel. Uh, he's an edge rusher by nature. Um, but he can he can drop off in coverage and and you know, challenge for an interception.

SPEAKER_04

They're not gonna face a quarterback. They're not gonna pull a Harold Perkins like LSU did a few years ago, moving him to inside linebacker. Okay. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_06

He's on the edge. He he his speed, his speed and football IQ um requires him to be there because he can, and we saw that in the Georgia game and in the Miami game last year. Uh, the the the advantage he has with closing speed and to shut a play down. Uh so they'll use him. But then on the defensive front, you've got uh Jamarius Brown from Loss Point. You've got Will Eccles, who is by some by some experts, a first-team All-American, preseason All-American. Best interior lineman in the nation. And then your opposite edge rusher and Cam Franklin. All of these guys return. And then you have Keaton Thomas coming in from Baylor, um, who Pete Golding has said may very well be the best linebacker he has ever coached, and that includes at Alabama. And then you have you have some season starters returning in the defensive backfield, and you have some transfers coming in. But that front seven for Ole Miss on defense, if if they're able to um continue where they left off last year, um, it could it could provide some real fits for opposing offenses in the SEC.

SPEAKER_04

How does the old how does Ole Miss prove that last year was a success and not a fluke?

SPEAKER_06

Well, first of all, they can't they can't listen, they can't listen to these so-called experts out there uh who say that um they are a mid-tier SEC team. They have to go out and they have to play football how they are um expected to play football within with their own expectation. Not the outs, not the experts' expectation, their own.

SPEAKER_04

But let me ask you this would that be a playoff berth? Is that what that takes? I'm just wondering. Um I think anything over ten games or not.

SPEAKER_06

I think anything, I think anything that exceeds eight wins will disprove any of these experts out there that say they're a mid-tier team. Okay. Because um you're gonna have you're gonna have an opportunity to be in the playoffs with nine wins.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06

Okay. So OBS could lose three ball games and still be in the playoff. It just depends on who they lose to, because they've got some key SEC matchups this year.

SPEAKER_04

That's the segue to my final question. If the SEC has five teams that make it to the playoffs, who will they be? Georgia, definitely.

SPEAKER_03

Yes.

SPEAKER_06

Okay. Um Texas. If Texas plays the way Texas is expected to play, then yes, Georgia, Texas are your top two, and they should meet in the SEC Championship. Okay. Outside of that, I think it could be a combination of four other teams.

SPEAKER_04

Okay.

SPEAKER_06

All right. LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida. Really? No Texas AM. No. I don't I don't think I don't think Texas A M will um I don't think Texas AM is gonna make make the cut. I think I think I think the other teams opportunities at their schedules will give them a better shot.

SPEAKER_04

You see the light in Summerall already. I mean, I noticed John Summerl, the last two years covering the Sunbelt, well, two years before that. He's a great football coach, but jumping into that mess at Florida, you think he's ready?

SPEAKER_06

Well, I I is anybody really ready for a mess in Division One? Okay, you have to answer that question. Is anybody and that includes any coach out there? That includes Lank Giffin, yeah, absolutely, because he's he has been he has been given tremendous expectation, which I have stated numerous times previously, uh what LSU expects him to do in the next two years, or he will be unemployed. Um so you know, is John Summer all ready? We're gonna find out.

SPEAKER_12

That's right.

SPEAKER_06

But I think the talent has followed him there to have an opportunity. Uh, one team, one team that could also be thrown into that next would be Oklahoma, uh, with Brett Venables and uh uh and what they have coming in, John Mateer um at QB. So uh, you know, there's a combination for those for those um for those three other spots out of those five teams. Um but but I think those five those other five teams outside of Texas and Georgia, um, and some of Those some of those five teams will play each other this year. So those games automatically become that much more important, especially down the road in November. Nobody remembers what you did in September. They remember what you do in November.

SPEAKER_12

That's right.

SPEAKER_04

Coach, it's always a pleasure.

SPEAKER_06

Hunter, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_08

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SPEAKER_04

My guest, my next guest, is someone that I talk to virtually every week. WGSO 990 a.m. Radio host, we're in the red zone, and breakfast with the Bayou Bengals. Mitch Gibbs. How are you, my friend? Doing great. Thanks for inviting me again. Absolutely. Mitch is reported by Yahoo Sports yesterday an email to the top 40 donors of the LSU Athletics of an invitation to the governor's mansion for a potential alternative to the NI NIL for discussion. Can you explain this? And is this even worth anything since it's politics getting involved in sports?

SPEAKER_15

I mean, from I just think it's kind of interesting that LSU's invested a lot of money in trying to win a national championship. They spent a lot of money getting rid of Brian Kelly. They spent a lot of money bringing in a new coach in Lane Kiff. And so I and I think the NIL they've done very well too in terms of the money spent. And there's a lot of new players and not a lot of moving parts there. So I don't know what the necessity for this is, but to me, the overall thing is uh is they want to win a national championship. There's a lot of pressure from the boosters, from the alums, from the fans, and they're it's it's all costs at this point with trying to win a national championship.

SPEAKER_04

According to Athlon Sports, the defense, the LSU defense, the defensive line and the secondary are going through a major restructure. How will the Tigers be able to handle dominant ground attacks like Alabama, Texas, Texas AM, Ole Miss, et cetera?

SPEAKER_15

I mean, they brought they brought in a lot of new players on both sides of the ball. And uh I just think that LC Steven was not very good last year. Uh, I don't know if you call it coaching or there was some other issues. Maybe the players weren't playing, uh, they weren't motivated, they weren't very thrilled with with Brian Kelly being the coach. But Lane Kipitt is not a um, you know, he's not a defensive guy. So uh they kept their, you know, their their guy in place, the defensive coordinator was, you know, potentially gonna be the two-lane football coach. And and but there's a lot of new players, and uh it's hard to predict how LSU's gonna do this year. I know I'm gonna have to talk about a lot on my show coming up next month, but uh there's just a lot of uh you know moving parts there. And so the I think LSU will be better later in the season when these guys kind of learn to play together.

SPEAKER_04

If the SEC has five teams in the playoffs, who will those five be?

SPEAKER_15

I kind of think Ole Miss is going to be the best team in the conference. I I feel I know they have to, we have to be sure about their defense, but I think they've they've addressed that in the portal. They'll like you at nine toes here for the Ole Miss fans. But anyway, but just given my objective opinion. I told you a few years ago my thoughts about Lane Kevin. So uh, but I just think they have the best quarterback. I think Trinidad Shambles is just the guy. I mean, I think he's just really good, maybe the best quarterback in the country. And then with with uh Kawan Lacey, they may have the best running back in the country. They've got other good running backs, and I know they have some new wide receivers, but everybody is. LSU's got a bunch of new wide receivers as well. So I put Ole Miss there. Um, again, Arch Manning has kind of been up and down, but I think Texas got the talent around them to get in. Uh I think Georgia, you know, with Kirby Smart, they're always there. Another new quarterback, probably. No, they actually, I believe we're gonna have the same quarterback. So Georgia would be there. So I'd have Ole Miss, um, Texas, Georgia. Alabama always gets a little bit of the benefit of the doubt because they're Alabama. I'll put them in four. And then I think it's a wild card. Uh, I don't know who the fifth team is. I think LSU could be. I think LSU's just like kind of one of those teams that's going to be right on the fence at getting in. So I think there's like teams like LSU. I think there's a team like Florida. We'll see how uh Sumerall does the ex-Tulane coach there. I think there's a bunch of teams for that fifth spot. Whether you want to talk about Florida, LSU, maybe throw in Tennessee as well.

SPEAKER_04

Tulane is projected to finish with six and a half wins by ESPN's SP bet. Is this justified? Or, I mean, is this where they're at with the coaching staff, with the players? Talk to me about your thoughts about that.

SPEAKER_15

I think Tulane's gonna be back, sort of back to where they were uh before, you know, they had uh Billy Fritz with the Fritz and Sumrol. Though there were two outstanding coaches they got. And uh I know they had good quarterback play, but again, they have to replace a quarterback, new head coach. Uh, but but they're like they're sort of in the same situation as the Saints, in the sense that they're just like the Saints division-wise, the uh Tulane's conference is not that good. So I think Tulane's gonna be a bowl team. I think they're gonna, yeah, I think you have to win six games. I think Tulane can win seven or eight games because of the conference. And uh I I think it's gonna be a couple of lean years, and we're gonna see how they do because they could, you know, they could make a change down the road. But I would say that I would go over on six and a half just because I think they're gonna probably be able to win most of their conference games.

SPEAKER_04

Final question, Mitch. Do you believe the outcome, the 2026-27 season for the New Orleans Saints depends on the development of Tyler Shuck, or is it something else on the team?

SPEAKER_15

Well, I think it's gonna be more than just Tyler Shuck. I think it's uh that's one of the most important things is the is is how he progresses because again, we're going back to the question of was it the competition at the end of last year, or was it the guy had really no running game and threw some great passes? So we're gonna figure that, we're gonna find that out this year. But I think that uh they're gonna have to be able to run the ball. And they brought in Travis Etienne. I don't know what they're gonna do with Kamar. I don't know if Kamar's gonna be in the team, but the health of Travis Etienne having established running game is important. And I'll and I'll throw in two more things. The offensive line has to be better. And I still think they really didn't address the issue of edge rusher in the offseason, and that's a concern. I know they're bringing Cameron Jordan back. It's a good PR move, Hall of Fame guy. He had a lot of success last year, but uh they've got to have a better pass rush to be competitive. And then again, you throw in just like I said with Tooling, NFC South. I don't think anybody's really necessarily any better. It gives him a chance. I still favor probably Tampa to win the division, but I would just say to answer your question, the development of Tyler Shuck, his progression, being able to run the ball, uh the offensive line, and of course the pass rush.

SPEAKER_04

All right, Mitch, tell everybody where they can reach you and contact you, at least in listening to the show. So the show's coming out in August, correct?

SPEAKER_15

Yeah, so so I'm on Facebook a lot in terms of uh posting uh uh different uh things about what's going on in the world of sports. But yeah, beyond that, we're we're only a few weeks out from uh uh the Saints show in the red zone, our 17th year. It's amazing to in 17th year, and that's gonna be a Premier Nissan, which is on Veterans right off the interstate between um David Drive. And I say we're we're we're minority meets Kenner. And then the LSU show, I'm looking forward to being on the North Shore for the first time at an Irish pub, which should be really cool. So I know a lot of people want to come out there and try some good. I didn't have a drink with you. Yeah, some red, I just talked to the owner, we're ready to roll on August 1st. I think we're gonna actually do a show August 1st. The same show, we're not gonna start till that Friday uh uh into next week. And that's gonna be right off I-12 in Covington. On your way to the LSU football game, you can just take I-12 into Baton Rouge and stop by at 9 to 11. They can have breakfast, brunch, whatever you want, some really good beers. So I'm looking forward to it. So I think it's gonna be uh interesting. LSU in the Stinks will be interesting. I don't know if the either one of them's gonna be in postseason, but they'll be fun to watch. Thank you, Mitch. Appreciate you. Thank you, man. Take care.

SPEAKER_03

The Gazebo Gazette is Harrison County's only independent newspaper publishing news from Gulfport to Bay St.

SPEAKER_04

Louis every Friday.

SPEAKER_03

Hi, this is Hunter Dawkins, owner of the Gazebo Gazette.

SPEAKER_04

If you're looking for local news without the hassle of sorting through story after digital story, log on to thegazeboazette.com. Add your name to the digital audience of 250,000 plus coastal residents who already know where to find the stories that matter to them. Introduce my friend and one of the experts of high school football across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, whose fans, students, coaches, and scouts follow through Twitter and Facebook. Mad Stats, how are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_13

Honor, HD experience, no other place like it. Glad to uh the beat of the dessert on this uh this appetizer, the app the meal that you've just served up. Uh glad to be part of it. And again, the sports fans, you know, just all you have a plethora of sports that you cover and and all the sports fans get their feel, and I'm glad to be part of it.

SPEAKER_04

Appreciate you, Matt. Since we don't want to leave high school football fans waiting, and technically, you promised on last week's podcast what teams have the toughest schedules and who has the easiest schedules for the upcoming Mississippi Gulf Coast high school football season.

SPEAKER_13

Yes, the numbers have been run and they will be officially put out on Facebook, Golf Coast High School Football, on Monday at 7 p.m. Fans, this you know, when this comes out on Monday or Tuesday, but you'll be able to hear it first on the HD podcast. And just then we do a uh a rating as far as the last two, three years of the opponents. This is the full schedule, just not non-region and region. It's the full 10 games, mostly I'm gonna play 10 games on the coast. And last year it was West Harrison had the toughest uh schedule. The year before that, Ocean Springs had the toughest schedule. And of course, fans are gonna are which that's what I want is to talk about it because everybody has their opinion on it. So just quickly, uh, I can give you the top 10 all the way to number one in the point system, which will be posted on Facebook page. Uh, and at number 10, Hancock uh will have has the 10th toughest schedule. You have Pearl River Central at number nine, St. Martin at number eight, you have Biloxi at number seven, ocean Springs at number six, West Harrison, who was last year at number five, the Iberville at number four, Picky at number three, and number two, you're familiar with it, and that is Golfport.

SPEAKER_05

Wow.

SPEAKER_13

The number one team with the toughest schedule. Wow. Now, if I tell you the schedule that they're going to host Biloxi, they're going to play at Ocean Springs, they're going to host the Iberville, they're going to play at Golfport, they're going to play at Pick Eune, they're going to host Long Beach, they're going to play at Pearl River Central, they're going to host Hancock, and they're going to be at Goshe. All those teams there, and I say all those teams, Moss Point, they'll they'll play Moss Point, they'll host Moss Point in game one. That was a playoff team last year. Balexi was a playoff team. Golfport, Diabaville was a playoff team. Pick Eune, Pearl River Central, Hancock, uh, all playoff teams, and that team is the Pascagola Panthers.

unknown

Wow.

SPEAKER_13

The Coast toughest uh schedule. And again, they are I have point systems and they're at 9.62. Golfport, just to put in perspective, is 9.51. And Hancock at 10th is 8.86.

SPEAKER_04

Wow. Come out early. Can you state any early playoff predictions for the Mississippi Gulf Coast football teams?

SPEAKER_13

Well, as far as I believe, even I go as far as region wins, Gulfport will win win the 7A region 4 uh again this year. They won last year. They stopped Ocean Springs streak uh five in a row. Uh Pascal Chan will win again their 4A. Uh at least those two are is what I have. And now Pick Eun, Pascagoula, I believe Pick Eun should win their 6A, but they will have, you know, with Pascagoula coming in there, uh, we'll have a tough competition there with Pascagoula. There's there's plenty of streaks uh also that we'll get to before the season starts, which is at about 45 days away from kickoff. We're coming up on six weeks till kickoff. And again, we'll have a lot of of streaks that are heading into the season. Um, and we can go over anything that you want to go over as far as streak wise uh there. But those are some of the predictions. Gulfport will win, pick you will win the region, uh, and Pascus Chan will win their region there. Poplaville, real good chance, I believe they will win their region over uh Columbia, who won last year.

SPEAKER_04

Of these teams that you mentioned, Matt, who amongst in these regions are the shockers, both positively and negatively?

SPEAKER_13

Uh as far as I believe Bilexi, I believe they they did I say sneak in there, they did. West Harrison had their shot at making the first playoffs. Bilexi was in the playoffs last year, and I believe Biloxi will I say shock a lot of people. I mean, Blexi and D'Aberville, I think, will be more legit this year. D'Irville is always there, you know, being legit. But uh, I believe Bilexi will be one of the teams that uh not a lot of people, I guess, are are given credit to uh per se. Uh so that that that's one of the teams there. As far as uh Moss Point, you know, I I don't think they made the playoffs last year. They just won the one game in the region against Bay. Uh is Bay ready to make that next turn, you know, to get into the playoffs. Uh we shall see there, but I believe Moss Point may take a down step this year as far as going into the uh the playoffs. Can they beat Bay? He's got to win one game. There's five teams in that region uh in that 4-A.

SPEAKER_04

What about uh Coach Patrick and West Harrison?

SPEAKER_13

Coach Patrick, they do have uh, you know, last year it was their year to make the playoffs. So they'll probably make the playoffs this year. First time ever. Uh, we shall see. Uh, I'm not sure if they'll make it in this year or not, but you know, all the expectations last year were Stapleton and the defensive end. And Coach Patrick, he's a great coach, and he'll have them there ready to go. Again, I have them as the fifth uh rated uh toughest schedule. So we shall see, you know, how they last year they played their games at home, you know, where they played, they hosted golf court, they hosted Ocean Springs, and they did went on to lose at Biloxi. If they would have won that game, they would have been in the playoffs. Uh, but this year, you know, now they'll host, I mean, they'll go play golf court, they'll go play at Ocean Springs and they'll go play at the Iberville. Those are obviously three teams in that 7-8 class there. Can West Harrison make it? Most definitely they can make it for the first time ever in the playoffs. Will they make it? Right now, I would say no, but it'll be fun to watch. They have a new, again, Stapleton's not there. They have a new running back, quarterback. I mean, Coach uh Quincy will have them ready to go.

SPEAKER_04

Final question for you, Matt. Of all these teams, who has the best opportunity, not necessarily to win, but just to be in Starkville.

SPEAKER_13

I mean, right off the, you know, I'm golfort is one of them. Uh pick you and Poplarville. There's no hesitation there. Can Pascus Chan, because they're in the same 4-A class. So Pascus Chan and Poplarville, that would be nice to meet in a South State championship game. I believe Poplarville has the edge there, even though Perry, you know, first team of Paris and their wide receiver there, Burke. I mean, they, you know, are great. So I would say those three teams off the top of uh, you know, looking at now here in July, the last month without football, you know, really looking forward to kickoff. But I would say at least those teams, and Ocean Springs still there. They have their quarterback coming up, but he's a young quarterback, and they lost, you know, several running backs there, but they'll be uh ready to go as far as the Greyhounds, you know, never count them out. But I would say Golfport Pikune and uh Popperville have a real good chance at making it to uh state championships.

SPEAKER_04

Matt, tell everybody how they can reach you and how they can contact you and follow you and do anything to be able to get as close to you as possible.

SPEAKER_13

Yeah, and and first off, before I get into it, I just want to, you know, like say send the family and friends in Nolan Wells. Played at Ocean Springs. We covered them a couple years ago, and uh certainly prayers go out to the family and friends. Uh, across all media at Coast Football, just type it in again. Monday night, you know, what you guys are listening to just now, you just heard what the toughest schedule is, is Pascagoula has it. But we still have the top 25 rankings, the hot or not, the streaks going into this 2025 uh sixth season, excuse me, players to watch, you know, the new stadiums coming out. So just type in at Coast Football and you'll be able to find us everywhere. So I certainly appreciate you having me on the HD Experience. Again, the award-winning with you and Jeff uh do an amazing job and look forward to uh the next time.

SPEAKER_04

We thank you much, sir. You take care of yourself. All right, stats is out. We gratefully appreciate you listening to this podcast, and Jeff, we thank you again. We want to thank all of our sponsors, the Beau Revise Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Nine Toes Brewery in Pas Christian for hosting us again, O'Dwyer Realty Agent, uh Stephanie Menkowitz, Joseph Kelly, attorney at law, Coast Casual in Pas Christian, the insurance barn and golf port, Hook'em for Heroes Block Party, and the U.S. Marine Inc. Make sure you follow us on and subscribe, Jeff, to us on YouTube under Gazebo Gazette Productions. Am I correct?

SPEAKER_02

That's it. If you'll subscribe, uh you can subscribe to the podcast on uh Spotify and Apple or any of the stuff, it'll go automatically to your feed every time we drop a new episode. And uh subscribe us on YouTube and you'll you'll get an alert when we get those up as well.

SPEAKER_04

And as well, you can follow us on the award-winning website, the gazeboette.com, where the podcast will be posted next week also on Facebook backslash the real gazebo, or on X at the Gazebo Gazette as the handle. HD Experience, as Jeff mentioned, is on all podcasts everywhere you get podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, iHeart, and Amazon music under the HD Experience tag. Signing out, this is Hunter Dawkins on HD Experience, and we'll catch you all the flip side.