The Mike Keith Show (May 7, 2026)

Don't miss the final episode of the Season!

Transcript

SPEAKER_13 0:00

From the banks of the Mississippi to the peaks of the Smokies. This is the home field of champions.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Country Cupway is the work. And don't hold it down. Nobody can catch a let you like penetration. Travis Henry scores for Tennessee.

SPEAKER_13 0:26

More than 75 years of broadcast excellence. We are the Fall Network. We're big orange fans. Get ready for game day. Your guy, The Voice of the Falls, Mike Keith. Delivered by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_10 0:47

So glad to have you with us on the Mike Keith Show, delivered by Uber Eats. Exciting final show of the school year. We'll be back in late August, we think, if we're renewed. This segment of the program is brought to you by First Horizon Bank, official bank of the Valls. And we have so many good guests on this show. But I want to open, and we've never done this, I want to open with the Quinn for the win, brought to you by Quinn Appliance, your home for the best selection of GE appliances. Visit their showroom in Alcoa or at QuinAppliance.com. GE Appliances Built for America. On Monday, Vol fans woke up to good news. Great news. Juke Harris, the number one player in the transfer portal, not only committed to Tennessee, he signed with Tennessee, and Vol fans everywhere rejoiced as this class of transfers, along with the freshman coming in, have everybody already excited about Vol basketball for 2026 and 2027. So without further ado, let's bring him in. The native of Rowan County from Salisbury, North Carolina, home of cheerwine.

SPEAKER_12 2:02

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_10 2:02

Juke Harris. How are you?

SPEAKER_12 2:04

I'm good. How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_10 2:05

I'm doing tremendous. I'm doing tremendous. Great to have you on. And let me just ask you first and foremost, the timing of how this came down on Monday, what all went into it, and why you decided to get everything out of the way in terms of announcement signing, withdrawing from the NBA draft all at once.

SPEAKER_12 2:27

I feel like my main focus coming to Cali was uh going through the whole NBA process, even going to the combine, but uh having different conversations uh with different colleges and also um maybe some feedback from the NBA scouts. I will I feel like it was the best opportunity to uh just lay out everything that I have in front of me, actually take a few uh conversations with different coaches and just seeing what was best for me. And I felt like Tennessee was the best place to option for me to return back to school to.

SPEAKER_10 3:01

All right, so let me ask you how much of your initial recruitment out of Salisbury played into this decision two years later.

SPEAKER_12 3:11

I think it played a huge factor into it. Uh I gained uh a true relationship with uh Coach Barnes. Uh it's crazy. I think that's besides him and uh Coach Ford, those two head coaches are uh coaches I consider that I have so much love for. So uh when it came to me entering the portal, Coach uh Barnes was only heavy, Coach Brian Wentz was on me heavy the whole program. Even how much love I got on uh social media before I even announced I was coming from all the Volvo fans. So I'm super ready to come play in front of you guys, and it's gonna be a big show.

SPEAKER_10 3:44

All right, so let me talk to you about your backstory, which is fascinating. You actually played a little high school ball in your eighth grade year, right? Yes. Okay, so and you played in ninth grade and you played in tenth grade, but it seems like the thing that really happened to you as I read it was you'd always been a guard, and then you had a growth spurt to six seven, and you were able to keep all those guard skills, and then summer after your sophomore year, everybody went crazy about you in recruiting circles. Do I have that pretty much right?

SPEAKER_12 4:21

You have that completely right. I always play uh point guard, shooting guard. I want to say I was about, I want to say five, seventh, eighth grade. Uh I probably got up to maybe around like six, two, six, three, ninth, and tenth grade, but then I had a huge growth sport uh going to maybe about six five, six, six going into my junior year. So I kept all those school, uh kept all those skills, the same shooting abilities. And um I was I went to Team Load of Virginia, and that was my first time playing circuit basketball, and ever since then it just took off.

SPEAKER_10 4:55

Were you kind of surprised by all the attention that came so suddenly at that point?

SPEAKER_12 5:01

Yeah, it was kind of a surprise, but uh I knew at one time it was going to be where I put myself in a situation where uh I can show everyone my skills and everything I was capable of doing. So when I had the opportunity, I took full advantage of it.

SPEAKER_10 5:16

How it heated up in that way probably helped you get ready for your recruitment in the portal, which was blue blood after blue blood after blue blood being interested in you. Was all of that a help to sort out this process in the best way possible?

SPEAKER_12 5:33

I think all of it was a help. Uh I feel like I told you like the relationship I built with uh Coach Barnes. I knew coming into this time in the transfer report, I felt like that was going to be a big thing with me. I'm a real family loyal type guy. So whenever I feel like someone genuinely cares for me outside of the basketball um aspect of it, it's kind of hard to look away and show uh it shows a whole bunch of light on them. So I think Rick Barnes and the whole coaching staff did that, especially from me not even choosing them out of high school, and they had the same love for me when I didn't choose them. So I feel like it was the right choice to uh choose them this time.

SPEAKER_10 6:11

You made a big jump from your freshman year to your sophomore year at Wake Forest. What did Coach Forbes and the staff there emphasize to you that allowed you to make the big gains from six points a game to 21 points a game?

SPEAKER_12 6:26

It started my freshman year, and the whole freshman year they telling me just to stay until I had two great guards in front of me, and Cameron Hildriff, uh Hunter Silas. So they told me just to stay in that this would be my team the following year, just learn everything that they do, uh, and then things that I can build on, the things that they didn't do, some stuff I could have built on. So uh coming into my sophomore year, I knew I was gonna be in a lot of actions. I knew I was gonna be the focal point of the offense and stuff like that. So in the summertime, just making sure I kept polishing my game and getting back into the role where I get a lot of shots and a lot of touches, and you know what I'm saying? So just keep this kept on polishing my game.

SPEAKER_10 7:06

Coach Forbes keeps it real, as you know. We certainly know him from over here, too, with his time on the Tennessee staff. Coach Barnes is the same way. You know, he's gonna he's gonna tell you he loves you and certainly he's proud to have you as part of the program, but he challenges everybody in this program. How do you feel like he's already challenged you in terms of the areas where he wants to see you take your overall game?

SPEAKER_12 7:33

Another thing that he did that separated himself from everybody else is he came in and told me how good I was, but he also got on me about some stuff they can see that I need to work on, like more like turning my body when I come off screen, turning my body facing the goal, different things that I need to do on the uh defensive side, fighting over screens, making sure I'm closing out. So they show me little stuff like that, and I seen some stuff that I needed to work on that I didn't even know that they seen. So uh I feel like I'd be more of a complete player going into Tennessee next year.

SPEAKER_10 8:04

How much is the off-court stuff, the weight room, all of the training gonna factor into what you're looking to do to have a successful 26-27 with the ball?

SPEAKER_12 8:15

Yes, I want to pick on, put on a few more pounds to be uh to get into the paint, um, get into the paint, finish through contact, uh, continue getting to the free throw line. Uh, and just also I feel like the weight room also helped me on the defensive end, also. So just being able to blow up through screens. Uh we it's a time I have to switch them to the bit man, making sure I'm holding my ground, little things like that.

SPEAKER_10 8:38

You've been described as a as a downhill player. That you you like to take it to the rack and you get fouled a lot. You think that's a fair characteristic of where your offensive game starts, at least.

SPEAKER_12 8:51

I think I think that's a plus. I also I normally would get the comparison to more of a catch-and-shoot guy, more knowing and knowing like a shooter guy. So I never really got a comparison of like really driving. So I think that this gives credit to the things that I worked on offseason. I worked on a lot of getting downhill, playing through contact, uh, getting to the mirror rings, getting the different spots on the floor instead of just being a catch-and-shoot guy. So I feel like that that's a plus.

SPEAKER_10 9:16

Do you know any of the guys that you're either transferring in with or even any of the guys already on the team?

SPEAKER_12 9:21

I had a few conversations with a few of them. Uh, this is my first time uh really getting in contact with any of the guys. So hopefully the communication keeps going all the way until we get to uh get the camp because we'll be with each other 24-7 every single day. So uh just looking to build up that connection with those guys, build a brotherhood over there.

SPEAKER_10 9:40

It's a little further than Winston-Salem, but Knoxville's not that far from Salisbury. Family gonna still be able to come over and have a chance to see you play?

SPEAKER_12 9:48

Yeah, family still be able to come to almost every game. Awesome.

SPEAKER_10 9:53

Well, uh, this was a big thrill to have the chance to have you open our show today uh to discuss this and to get a chance to meet you. He is Jaden Juke Harris of Salisbury, North Carolina. He's a Tennessee volunteer. And the Vols, uh again, Vall fans are already looking forward to uh those summer practices, to hearing about what all of you guys are going to get done. Thanks so much for taking time with us.

SPEAKER_12 10:19

I appreciate you for having me.

SPEAKER_10 10:21

All right, back with more of the Mike Keith Show, delivered by Uber Eats right after this.

SPEAKER_13 10:26

The Mike Keith Show, sponsored by Pilot, official travel stop of the balls.

SPEAKER_26 10:32

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SPEAKER_29 10:58

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SPEAKER_10 11:27

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SPEAKER_14 11:58

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SPEAKER_01 12:28

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SPEAKER_13 13:13

Delivered by Uber Eats, Mike Keith continues the countdown to fall action.

SPEAKER_11 13:20

Garrett, five home runs, 21 runs driven in. RBI opportunity here with two outs and a runner at third. 4-1 Tennessee pitched to Wright, and that one has hit pretty well. Left field going back is Albertus. He's at the wall, and that is gone. The second two-run homer of the inning for the Big Orange. And Tennessee on the two-run homer by Garrett Wright, scoring Mandy Merrin. Leads Presbyterians 6 to 1. Offensive explosion here. In the sixth, four runs, two two-run homers. Single home run. Single home run. Garrett Wright, sixth long ball in the year. Runs driven in up to 23 now.

SPEAKER_10 14:10

That's your Uber Eats delivery of the game, brought to you by Uber Eats. On game day, you don't want to miss a single play. Uber Eats brings your favorite food right to your door. Wings, pizza, burgers, whatever you're craving. It's just a tap away. Download the Uber Eats app and use the code GOBIGR for $15 off all orders. Uber Eats, official on-demand delivery partner of the Vols. Welcome back to the Mike Key Show delivered by Uber Eats. Look who's joined us. Back for our final show. It is Mr. 865, Dr. Andy Brock, and the host of the Everything Orange Podcast, Sarah Deadwater. Thank you so much for being back. It is so good to see both of you.

SPEAKER_15 14:56

It's great to be here. As always. Wrapping up. Can you believe it? Crazy.

SPEAKER_19 15:01

It flew by.

SPEAKER_15 15:02

What was the first show in in August? Late August? And now I think that's right. Yeah. I think so.

SPEAKER_19 15:08

30-some episodes later here.

SPEAKER_10 15:10

30-something episodes later, and uh it sounds like we're being renewed. Wow. Official? I I don't know that that's official, but I'm just floating out there. Let's do one thing officially before we start talking. I I want to tell you a couple things about Adidas. Just to make sure that you that you everybody watching, listening, streaming, whatever you're doing, that you know Tennessee is switching to Adidas as every ball fan knows. The official switch day is July the 2nd. When you will be able to buy Adidas merchandise at retail is July the 10th. So July 2nd is the switch. July 10th is when you'll be able to buy Adidas merch. The different designations for home games were announced this week for Tennessee football. Some people were confused because they didn't see dark mode listed there. Dark mode is never listed among the designations. Adidas will make a dark mode jersey. Tennessee will have dark mode, but that will not be announced until a few days before the game. And that's been standard policy. So if you were worried about that, don't worry about it. Dark mode will return under Adidas, and that will be announced like several days before the game that is chosen as dark mode. So you will know in plenty of time. Feelings, thoughts, emotions on Adidas from Dr. Brock and Sarah Cohen.

SPEAKER_15 16:48

July is normally pretty quiet times, but not this year. I think the rollout is going to be really special to see. You're gonna probably see some throwback stuff from when Tennessee was last wearing Adidas. Obviously, some good memories in those jerseys, and then I think it's gonna be a frenzy for everyone trying to get their gear. It's gonna be a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_19 17:06

Yeah, we have uh a super shoot coming up in a couple of weeks where we're able to put all the media pieces together for you guys to see the unveiling of all of the new jerseys and looks that we have for the team. So Andy and I don't know too much about that, but I'm super excited to get the ball rolling and see what we're able to do this summer for Adidas.

SPEAKER_10 17:25

So that will be shown July 2nd.

SPEAKER_19 17:28

It will roll out that week, yes. We have different days delegated to different jerseys, different colors, um, different teams, and so you'll get all Adidas all week long. Um, and it'll be exciting to wake up and see which one they choose that day.

SPEAKER_10 17:43

Okay, so it will all of that will start July the 2nd. July 10th is where you'll be able to buy merch and dark mode will be back. So don't sweat it. It's it's all good. This is all fine. And now it's time for the Firehouse Subs Hot Take Firehouse. Enjoy hot subs all across Big Orange Country. By the way, I went to Firehouse Subs yesterday. Okay, and I got a free sandwich because my name is Mike. Really?

SPEAKER_19 18:13

I didn't mind that's amazing.

SPEAKER_10 18:14

It was it was the most incredible thing. I I've never won anything. I mean, I've won a couple, I've won a couple scratchers at times. But other than that, I've never won anything. But I go to Firehouse Subs and they say anybody with the name Mike, or sort of a male or female offshoot of that. Okay. Mikey, Michelle, Michael, on and on and on. So you just walk in and you say Mike and they give you a sub. It was the greatest thing.

SPEAKER_15 18:44

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_10 18:44

I felt like a winner.

SPEAKER_15 18:46

They'd been watching the show and knew that you deserved a sub.

SPEAKER_10 18:49

I didn't think you deserved it. I I mean I I it just it was incredible. Do you realize that Mike or a form of Mike is still the number one name in the country?

SPEAKER_19 18:59

Is it really?

SPEAKER_10 19:00

Really? One out of this is crazy. One out of 100 Americans. So one percent, one out of every 100 Americans has Mike as their name or the female equivalent Michelle.

SPEAKER_15 19:15

Okay, so we're looping in all of the different mics. It's over four million people. I need a rats on that.

SPEAKER_10 19:22

Firehouse subs could have given away four million subs yesterday. I doubt everybody went.

SPEAKER_19 19:29

Right.

SPEAKER_10 19:30

Somebody might have had lunch plans.

SPEAKER_15 19:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_19 19:32

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_10 19:33

Someone had plans. But my hot take is super cool, Firehouse Subs okay. I'm ready for Andy Day.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Yeah, Andy Day.

SPEAKER_10 19:42

Andy Day would be great, but actually. I don't know why they did it. I mean, it just it's just a fantastic idea. You can try the new chicken and cheddar rancher at Firehouse Subs. Ordering the Firehouse Subs after getting delivered today only at Firehouse Subs. Alright, hot take. Sarah Dead Waters.

SPEAKER_19 20:00

Alright, my hot take is that our men's basketball team is going to have a Final Four finish next year. Oh!

SPEAKER_15 20:06

May 7th!

SPEAKER_19 20:08

Circle it on the calendar. I said it.

SPEAKER_15 20:10

Whoa.

SPEAKER_19 20:10

Rick Barnes is getting his first banner hung.

SPEAKER_10 20:13

That's a hot take.

SPEAKER_19 20:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 20:15

Andy Brock, top that.

SPEAKER_15 20:17

I don't think I can top that. Did you see, Mike, for the SEC tournament in baseball, the ABS challenge system is coming for the first time at the collegiate level. It's been introduced to the pros this year. It's kind of been an exciting wrinkle. Every team will have three challenges per game, and only the pitcher, the catcher, and the batter can use them, and they can tap their head and then figure out and then go to the review and see if the call indeed was a ball or a strike. So they're gonna try that for the SEC tournament. My hot take is I kind of like it. I'm a fan of it. I know it's it's different. And uh I I know maybe just for baseball purists standpoint, it's not great, but I I like it. I think it adds some fun wrinkles to it. I'm excited to see it.

SPEAKER_10 21:00

Aaron Judge and some other big time hitters. I saw one the other night, he was gonna be called out on strikes anyway. Tap the old head. And sure enough, he was not. Yeah. I I just wonder how soon it is that it eliminates the umpire who calls balls.

SPEAKER_15 21:19

Yeah. I think it's a good start, at least, to ease in, and I think it it it still has some strategy to where you don't just want to do it every time, because if you get three of them wrong, you're out of challenges. You want to use it for a situation in which it's late game. But I like the SEC's gonna do it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 21:36

I I think it's a it's a good thing. But I just wonder, are we far away from having every pitch called by the system? I think that's probably next. I think that's probably next. Alright. Let's let's have a heavy lift, shall we? A heavy lift, some heavy sets. Put some pressure on it. Presented by Planet Fitness. Black card, only $24.99 a month. We're all strong on this planet. Join today. See Home Club for details. The Planet Fitness Heavy Lift has been a part of the show. Thank you to Planet Fitness. Thank you to Firehouse subs who've just been fabulous all year. Just fabulous. All right. So Andy Brock.

SPEAKER_15 22:19

My heavy lift is how the summer's going to look with all the pieces that Rick Barnes has brought in. You've got five transfers that average 15 plus points per game coming into this team. You've got a ton of offense. Now you've got to figure out what they look like, what the pieces are, how this puzzle works together. It's going to be a completely different look than Rick Barnes' team has really ever been in his Tennessee career. And you've got, I think, 11 new players in total. So it'll be very fun this summer for him to get his hands on them for the first time, go through summer practice, and just kind of get a feel of what the rotation might look like.

SPEAKER_10 22:50

Yeah, the heavy lift, you know, dividing up the minutes. You know, these guys have mostly been starters and been leading scorers on teams. And I mean, quite obviously, they're not all going to be the leading scorer. But if there's anybody who can figure it out, it's Rick Barnes.

SPEAKER_15 23:05

Yep.

SPEAKER_10 23:07

You know, that's the nice part of what he has. He's got enough water in his bucket that they're not going to come in and challenge him. For a younger coach, that's hard. Because there's only one basketball. We've all heard that for a hundred years. There's only one basketball. But um, yeah, that's a that's a good thing. I I think that's a that's a good heavy lift there. Diane Brock strong there. Sarah Detweiler under a lot of pressure here.

SPEAKER_19 23:33

Well, on Monday night, Carlin Pickens was drafted first overall in the AUSL this year to the Carolina Blaze, her home state. And it was a heavy lift to get her prepared for that moment. Obviously, it doesn't happen by accident. And I'm really excited for her that she gets to go home after she finishes her time here on Rocky Top and represent North Carolina. Um, and she's a wonderful person, so very proud of her for that accomplishment.

SPEAKER_10 23:57

Now, where does that team play in North Carolina? Is it in Charlotte?

SPEAKER_19 24:01

No, it's actually in Durham. Oh, Durham. Yeah, and they play at Duke Stadium.

SPEAKER_10 24:05

Oh, super.

SPEAKER_19 24:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 24:06

Yeah. And well, that's a great area. I've been on that campus, and man, their facilities are outstanding. And that whole triangle area is just an amazing part of the country. So good for her. She's gonna get to live and and perform in in such a great area. Well, that's tremendous. By the way, do we do we have an Everything Orange podcast this week?

SPEAKER_19 24:28

We do. It's Kyra Fun Khan, who was the uh title clinching putt performer to win the women's golf SEC title this year.

SPEAKER_10 24:36

That was huge.

SPEAKER_19 24:37

Huge for the program, huge for university, and she's absolutely fabulous. So it's a great listener.

SPEAKER_10 24:43

I would say that's the biggest putting in Lady Ball golf history.

SPEAKER_19 24:47

It really was. Could you say that? Oh, a thousand percent. Especially if you watched that final hole, like the stakes were higher than ever, and her competitor did everything she needed to do, but Kyrie just did it a little bit better. So she she didn't let the music of the moment scare her as only a sophomore, and uh they brought home the title because of it.

SPEAKER_10 25:06

Closed it up. Uh Andy, Sarah, I've so appreciated you being part of the program this year. You have brought youth, vitality, topics that the majority of the audience is interested in. You've brought hot takes, you've brought heavy lifts, you brought Quinn for the win. Uh it has been such a joy to have you as part of the program. And if we are renewed, as has been rumored, then uh I I would love for you to come back next year.

SPEAKER_15 25:34

I'm ready, Mike. It has been an honor to be here. Thanks for including us.

SPEAKER_19 25:38

Yeah, we appreciate it so much, and we couldn't have enjoyed the past year together more. So thank you so much.

SPEAKER_10 25:44

And thanking another group, uh, UT Medical. UT Medical, the official healthcare provider of the Vols and Lady Vols, sponsor of this segment, but even more. Um thanks for taking care of everybody over here and for what you do uh for the University of Tennessee, for athletics, and for this community. Thank you, UT Medical. We're back with more of the Mike Keith show after this.

SPEAKER_29 26:12

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SPEAKER_30 27:02

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SPEAKER_15 27:09

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SPEAKER_31 27:39

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SPEAKER_13 28:31

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SPEAKER_10 28:37

This is the show within a show. Presented by Calhoun. This is Ross Kibbett, better known as Kibb, assistant baseball coach recruiting coordinator for the University of Tennessee. And he comes each week, presented by Calhoun and brings a guest with him, and we talk baseball life and um about the individual.

SPEAKER_16 29:10

So would you introduce Sir Long time coming on this list? Okay. His SEC numbers have been off the hook the last month. A little bit of a slow start, but after a very promising freshman year, he has finally got it going. Finally being your term, not mine. He's always been consistent with his prep and how he handles his business, and it is starting to show with some results. He's from Marietta, Georgia.

SPEAKER_10 29:33

Marietta, GA.

SPEAKER_16 29:35

A rich baseball state where his dad played at a rival football player, though. Okay. Okay. And his name is Levi Clark.

SPEAKER_10 29:45

Levi Clark, welcome to Kiff's Corner. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_16 29:48

I forgot to mention coming off an unbelievable Sunday at Kentucky. That was great. Unbelievable.

SPEAKER_10 29:54

Thank you for the ninth inning home run. Thank you.

SPEAKER_16 29:57

We were getting a little well, it's funny, and I would like to take credit because it's a very humble no-ego show. We chatted right before a pregame, and it was hey, if you don't hit, it doesn't go like it's supposed to. And you said, Well, I think I got two today. And you did. He did have it. And he needed both of them. He's called it before, though. Don't let him kid you. But Levi Clark! Levi Clark. We'll just talk about you right next to you. Welcome to Kib's Corner. The last episode, which I am very sad about because this is so much fun to do and get to know you guys and your teammates. What's one thing with the last two weeks that you're you're really focused on?

SPEAKER_17 30:36

For myself and the team, yeah. I think the postseason's starting to be like a big conversation. I think we are coming to and I think the big thing we need to do to have success is just not worry about that. Play our game, honestly, because we're two weeks away from that, I think. Or not including the SEC tournament. So I I think we're just gonna go play our game and we'll be okay. Does that get talked about?

SPEAKER_16 30:58

I didn't I've never asked you this. Well, I guess it's only been two years. Do people talk about that in the clubhouse like postseason, or is it like Tuesday was Presbyterian, now it's we're focusing on Texas? Like, is that something that needs to be addressed?

SPEAKER_17 31:11

No, I think E brought it up the other before Kentucky about how like if we're talking about the postseason right now, we're crazy, which I think was a good point because we're so far away from it and locking out from then. So I think that kind of dyed everything down, but before then, a little bit just to like everyone's kind of doing the math, but since then nothing really. Let me piggyback on that.

SPEAKER_16 31:31

So E brings it up the postseason, there's two weeks left. Anything can happen in this league this year. It's been I I don't want to say it, it's been consistently consistent in the fact that everyone's so bunched up between place nine, ten to even place three or four. Is that something that gives you guys motivation going into weekends? Knowing, hey, if we handle our business at home and then you have a road series that you can certainly play well and win, that you control everything that you want to control?

SPEAKER_17 32:00

Oh, yeah. I mean, you look at the standings, I think there's like 10 teams tied right now. Like it's kind of crazy. I've never really seen something like that before. So it's definitely a good feeling for us that we kind of control our own destiny.

SPEAKER_16 32:12

How about the slow start? Your second year, you had a really good freshman campaign, in and out towards the end, but really good in that regional. And then you're getting every day at that. You're you're in there every day, whether you want them or not. How what was the mind shift, or maybe it was a physical shift that has gotten you over the last dude, I would say seven, eight weeks to be one of the toughest outs, not only in our lineup, but in the league.

SPEAKER_17 32:38

Everything's kind of for a reason. Like it happened, it happened to me for a reason. You know, I went through it for a reason and like lessons were learned, and you know, you can never get too high and you can never get too low. So that's what I would say. Kind of just focusing on that.

SPEAKER_10 32:50

Had you ever been through something like that as a hitter, what you went through in the first half of the season?

SPEAKER_17 32:56

Nothing to really that extent. Um, I've definitely been through slumps before. Every hitter has, I'd say. Uh, nothing to that extent though. Not in 2013, I did it, but you were pretty good then.

SPEAKER_10 33:06

But when you're in sort of the desert, which is where you were, and you know you have to pull yourself out at bat by at bat, and you haven't been there before. What's the thing you learned from bat that you're applying now that's helping you start to take off as we go down the stretch?

SPEAKER_17 33:23

That when you're struggling, you can't make up for every at bat just in one at bat. I would say that's such a good answer. That's the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_10 33:30

He's coached. It's kind of life, too. It makes me so happy that he said. But it really is because you I mean, you want to go up and you want to hit a 10-run home run to make it all better, and you can't.

SPEAKER_16 33:41

You want to get three hits and one at bat. What is a a way that maybe you can lift a teammate that might be struggling the same way that you were and say, hey, look, man, I've been through this. Uh, you you can't do it all by yourself. Let's trust the next guy.

SPEAKER_17 33:55

I think another big thing was the coaches and like the players in our lineup, like giving me confidence over and over and over again, knowing like sure, you're not going through it by yourself and truly believing that the guy behind you is gonna pick you up when you're struggling or the guy in front of you.

SPEAKER_10 34:08

I remember seeing your batting average in February of 25, and it was something like 583 at one point early in the year. They couldn't get you out to go from that to what you went through the first half of the year. I mean, that's really baseball, right?

SPEAKER_16 34:25

I I think too, and I'll answer this one for you, Coach. The work ethic here is a is a gene or a trait or a characteristic that he was born with. Every every Tuesday and Friday, early work on the infield, even if he's catching that day. He's always doing his cage routine, he's always in the meetings early, he's staying in the meetings late, getting with Ricky and Chuck and Coach E. Lander on stuff that whether it be defense or offense, or honestly, even some base running stuff, and we were starting to talk about that throughout the league. Eventually, a hard worker gets rewarded. And he's starting to kind of see the fruits of his labor. So everyone needs to lay off him on Twitter because this guy's been carrying us the last month. Well, and I mean what a prospect. Prospect. I had just left for Houston when we started recruiting it. And when I left, I told Tony and Josh his dad played football at Georgia. We don't have a chance, no chance, no chance. Boy, was I wrong. The recruiting hats turned on for for both of those guys. And your relationship with Coach E Lander, I as you're going through that recruiting process, one, so it's a two-parter. And then when Tony leaves and he's going through the head coaching, what's going through your mind?

SPEAKER_17 35:33

I don't know if you know this. At first, it was only V recruiting me. Really? Yeah. Like I only talked to E, I think, one time before I committed. And then once I committed, me and E got really close and we started talking a bunch. And then um, I honestly never really wanted to go to Georgia. My dad knew that from a young age that I never really wanted to go to Georgia after.

SPEAKER_28 35:54

Now, why is that?

SPEAKER_17 35:55

I don't know. I went there a bunch growing up, just wasn't really I didn't really think it was me.

SPEAKER_10 36:00

I didn't think Athens was big for your dad to be willing to let you go other places and because I'm sure it hurt his heart some. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_16 36:10

Yeah, but that's it took him a while to get used to orange. Well, he's still not wearing orange on football Saturdays. Let's be honest. And that's that's okay. And then Tony leaves, and it's like, okay, now what? As a leader on the team, even being a sophomore, vocal leader, and by example. What are you thinking?

SPEAKER_17 36:26

I mean, we all knew that that's the guy we wanted. And I mean, when he got the job, I don't think there's anyone happier than us. I mean, you can see by our research, and I mean, he's done a great job coaching this year. And I I know like us as a team has caught a lot of heat, but I mean, throughout the whole course of the season, he's done a great job keeping it level-headed.

SPEAKER_16 36:45

He is steady, so steady throughout the game that sometimes people think that's a fault. How is that a positive and and doesn't get talked about enough? Because there are some hot heads down the down the rail that are doing it for him. But uh looking at your captain when the waters get a little rocky and being that steady, how does that instill confidence into you and the group?

SPEAKER_17 37:06

I don't think you can ever really tell when he's like mad or happy, like like he's always the same person no matter what. And so when you look over at him and he's kind of just sitting there and he's like, let's go, like we gotta figure it out when it's going bad and we gotta keep it going when it's going good. You're like, let's do it. Sure. Part of the Vol Leaders here.

SPEAKER_16 37:24

What makes the Vol Leader program so exciting? It's a great question.

SPEAKER_10 37:29

Well done. Gotta have Vall Leaders, Vall Leaders.

SPEAKER_16 37:32

You guys are stupendous. And obviously, that's one of your classes, but what's something that excites you most about being a ball leader?

SPEAKER_17 37:39

I think one of the coolest things is we were just doing our final presentation and we were kind of talking about what we really learned. And I think what I talked about was like coming into college, you always think the leader is like the oldest guy or like the person who's the best on the field. And that's not always the case. The leader can be someone who doesn't even play at all. It's just someone you believe in and someone you trust. I think that's one of the biggest things that taught me.

SPEAKER_16 38:01

Trust is a big word in recruiting because their parents have to trust us with, and then they have to trust us as well with their development. What's one thing that was talked about in your recruitment or on those phone calls with Koach E about hitting that has certainly been fulfilled that you feel confident going in these last two weeks and then even into the postseason plus summer?

SPEAKER_17 38:20

One of the biggest things me and him talked about was just being myself, kind of like we said earlier, not trying to do too much and just believing in yourself and knowing that you belong there.

SPEAKER_16 38:28

I have another positional one because he is part of the infield club, but also does some catching. Because you have to juggle a staff, then you have my crazy self doing a bunch of the positioning stuff with you. How do you manage it all?

SPEAKER_17 38:39

I think y'all do a great job um juggling both for me and knowing what I need to do that day and that certain um for that certain weekend. And I think that helps me a lot, but also just making sure I feel comfortable at both positions because when I am playing first, something can happen. I can go back there at any point.

SPEAKER_10 38:55

Well, he plays on one of the best defensive teams in America. I appreciate that coach.

SPEAKER_16 38:59

Yeah, yeah, he does.

SPEAKER_10 39:00

I mean, feel it. What are you feeling?

SPEAKER_16 39:02

985? 985. That's crazy. I know, and it's a lot because you're saving Henry Ford's pits. You want to do you want to give a shout out to Henry for making you look like a gold glover over there? Or Henry maybe hit him in the chest. We could do that too.

SPEAKER_17 39:16

Hey, he's been good recently.

SPEAKER_16 39:17

Did you play first at all in high school?

SPEAKER_17 39:20

Very rarely.

SPEAKER_16 39:21

See, that's what I'm most impressed with, too, because his footwork is built like a catcher. He is, and he can throw. So it's like, yeah, he's got so many um just traits of a really solid backstop, but also he's kind of like a cat. He can move around there, his hands are obviously clean with some of the picks. I've been really impressed with your first base, and I think it's only gonna help you going in. What did Cape Cod teach you as far as I can handle the best players in the country that gives you confidence going into this season, obviously, but then going forward?

SPEAKER_17 39:49

The biggest thing was like I wasn't really too confident in my defensive abilities last year because I DH'd and I kind of like didn't really know what it was like playing in the game. And I mean, I played every day up there. Um, but somewhere new defensively, whether that was catching first or left. I mean, just kind of installed the confidence I needed for this year defensively.

SPEAKER_16 40:08

I want to touch on Kentucky before we have to run. That Sunday you were in a different zone. It was kind of like when Michael Jordan got his magic back and beat the monsters. When you're in that type of rhythm, what is something that you can bottle up and bring to the next game? And how much of it is just, hey, it's a really good matchup for me.

SPEAKER_17 40:29

I think just the confidence it gives you, like obviously you feel pretty good that day, um, but just the confidence it brings and the confidence in the stores in you and the team, and just knowing that you can do that at any point.

SPEAKER_16 40:42

He went up from nine to six because he keeps having that confidence and keeps banging it around in SEC, which leads me to the preview of Texas. They have a Dragon on Friday with Atlantis, it's a good club, top five team in the country. Been there before when we went down to Starkville. What's something that their pitching matchup uh may cause a little bit of an issue? And what do you like about the matchup with Texas?

SPEAKER_17 41:05

I mean, it's gonna be fun. You know, we played them last year in game one game. I feel like fans wanted a few more. So that game was a lot of fun, a little extras, and we got to face their Friday night guy because he was released right now in the tournament last year, Atlantis. Yeah, and I mean both guys on Friday and Saturday are really good. So we just gotta prepare the way we do, and uh, I mean, we'll figure it out one way or another, you know?

SPEAKER_16 41:27

We always do the league is a gauntlet, man. How fun is it? It's literally our double-A baseball every single weekend, and I think that would be you didn't ask me the question because it's my corner, but it if if you asked me about the SEC and why it's so close, it's because the players are so good. You're seeing the portal and freshmen starting to make it to campus, and guys develop through the system that might not have played in two years, and every team's good. So this weekend should be fun. It should be packed, right, Coach Keith? It's gotta be. The last weekend, the weather looks beautiful. Weather looks fantastic. Mother's Day on Sunday. Shout out, shout out, shout out, mom.

SPEAKER_17 42:03

Shout out Michelle. I know. Happy Mother's Day. We have a um me, Arvin Ford have a little thing on Sunday that we're gonna play.

SPEAKER_16 42:10

Good little teaser. He's getting into broadcasting too. Good. Shout out to Jacqueline Kivitt, mother of Reese, and Mary Kivitt, mother of Ross. How about that? Yes. Thank you uh for finally coming on, Lee. Thank you all for having me. Well, you gotta earn it. And he did.

SPEAKER_10 42:24

He earned it on Sunday. I've enjoyed it. Dude, I've had Cal Holmes has enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_16 42:29

I I'm bummed it's the last one. I wish we had more weeks, but you earned a vacation. It's gonna be a 2.0. The Mike Keith show is so fun. Well, we think it's gonna be renewed. If it does, can you please help and get this show? Absolutely. The show is gotta make you laugh. Each quarter, you do.

SPEAKER_10 42:46

And you ask good questions. He's the goat. Come on. Renew him. He's the goat.

SPEAKER_25 42:51

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SPEAKER_10 43:24

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SPEAKER_29 43:54

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SPEAKER_27 44:24

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SPEAKER_13 45:18

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SPEAKER_10 45:20

We're glad you're back with us on the Mike Keith Show. This segment of the program is brought to you by CertiPro Painters of East Tennessee, proud sponsor of the Vols. Kind of got a theme. Painting the field, things to do with the field, Shields Watkins Field, who else is on the field, the Pride of the Southland Band. This is Sidney Flinakin. She is the head drum major with the Pride of the Southland Band for 2026. Congratulations.

SPEAKER_20 45:47

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_10 45:49

I'm so fascinated by this because I started going to Tennessee games as a little guy. I mean, second grade. Don't know anything about band, never been in band, can't play an instrument, nothing. What I'm wondering is how does one become the head drum major at the University of Tennessee?

SPEAKER_20 46:04

I feel like you have to show interest kind of early in it. Like I know personally, I took lessons, not knowing I wanted, like, was even going to come to UT at this point when I was this age, but starting my sophomore year of high school, I took lessons with the then exiting drum major Rebecca Percy.

SPEAKER_10 46:18

To get to be a drum major, you've got to be in the band and play an instrument.

SPEAKER_20 46:21

Yes, for college.

SPEAKER_10 46:22

So you get to Tennessee. Are you playing an instrument or are you straight into the drum major program?

SPEAKER_20 46:29

I marched Mellophone my freshman year.

SPEAKER_10 46:31

What's a melophone?

SPEAKER_20 46:31

It looks like a trumpet, but it's a little bit bigger, the bell's bigger, it's in a different key. Um, and it's a little bit heavier than a trumpet, but smaller than like a baritone.

SPEAKER_09 46:39

And so then how do you switch to drum major?

SPEAKER_20 46:41

There's a whole audition process. Dr. Lyon does drum major classes, like typically three or four, starting in January and February, where you go over some short tunes like strut with basics, where it's like here's a three-four pattern, like here's how you move your arms like at the right time. He shows you the strut, he like gets all into like the nitty-gritty of it. The little kick where you lean back, your legs are flinging up. That's the strut.

SPEAKER_09 47:00

Okay. So did you get that pretty easily?

SPEAKER_20 47:03

Not at first, no. It took practice, but I'd been working on that since my freshman year of college.

SPEAKER_09 47:07

I mean, you gotta be in shape.

SPEAKER_20 47:08

It's kind of necessity. Dr. Lyon explains that as being like a super athletic position. So you kind of need to be flexible because you have to be able to get your leg high. Like I know Christian, the previous drum major, he was big on stretching. Like he is a guy and you can get like a full split almost. Like it's very impressive. So kind of working on that and getting your foot high. And if you you gotta be able to like stretch and do it, because if not, you're gonna hurt yourself going off there. And you have to keep time because if you go too far, then you hit the majorette line in front of you. But if you don't go far enough, then you get hit by the band behind you. So you gotta don't want that. You gotta kind of keep the pace going.

SPEAKER_09 47:38

So Christians out front. Where are you in this process?

SPEAKER_20 47:42

So I've done it two different ways. So my sophomore year, the first year I was assistant, I was a squad leader. So I was actually marching on the field in uniform still. And then the past two years, so my junior and senior year, I was a black suit and assistant drum major. So they're the people literally in the black suits on the sideline. You kind of just make sure like everything's going okay. There's not people trying to run on the field, nobody's like down. If stuff gets dropped, you kind of pick it up, and then you walk alongside the band like in parade block, and you're literally just in like a black suit. Part of the assistant's job is to do the wife pet band. So they do the vol, and then you do the volleyball pet band. So like anytime the volleyball has their team out, like your pet band will go with them as well.

SPEAKER_09 48:17

The hat.

SPEAKER_20 48:18

The hat.

SPEAKER_09 48:18

Have you been practicing that? Is a big hat.

SPEAKER_20 48:21

It's a big hat.

SPEAKER_09 48:22

Is it heavy?

SPEAKER_20 48:22

It's actually not, it's hollow on the inside, so it's not too bad. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 48:26

It's quite a hat.

SPEAKER_20 48:27

It is quite a hat. So do you practice in that to get practice the back bend in it so I can make sure like the plume can touch when you go back for the halftime shows?

SPEAKER_10 48:36

You want the plume to touch the the grass.

SPEAKER_20 48:39

That's the goal, yes.

SPEAKER_10 48:41

I mean, I would be broken if I tried to do that. Serious question Are you training differently or do you plan to train differently to get ready for this role for the season?

SPEAKER_20 48:50

Slightly, yes. Like I definitely have to amp it up a little bit more than I did as assistant because there are times, like as assistant, you run pregame and rehearsal sometimes, just so like they know that you know it in case you have to go in. And there'd be times we'd get done with pregame and I'd sit there and I'd be like having to yell instructions but catching my breath. So definitely getting my stamina up a little bit more. So like I've taken up running, I need to take up stretching a little bit more and do that more frequently to kind of get ready for that role.

SPEAKER_10 49:11

When they told you you were taking over that role, how were you told and what was your reaction?

SPEAKER_20 49:17

It was kind of funny. So Grace Debrescu, she's the assistant now this year. We were both in our high school methods class at like 8 a.m. on a Wednesday. I got a text from Dr. Sewart at first, like asking if he could hop on a phone call at some point after class because he was at it, like all the directors were out of town at this point. They were off doing different things. And I was like, okay, this is rather good news or it's bad news. So we're gonna find out. And then like later on in the class, and obviously, like I'm freaking out in this class at this point. And it's funny because at the time I'm I'm a music ed student and I had to teach that day. So I was like up teaching my peers, like freaking out a little bit, knowing like I have to make this phone call after class. He actually texted me in the middle of that class as well and was like, Hey, can you actually like grab Grace and like pull her in? And I was like, Oh, okay, I know I know what this is kind of go for. It's just like I didn't know who was who, like, I didn't know what the order was. So we went back into the conference room of the band office and he FaceTimed us and he gave us the news and we were both sitting there, and he made sure like we accepted the positions at first, which we did. Um, so that was super, super exciting. So we actually found out together, and I felt like that was really nice. And we immediately got sent downstairs to film the little video that they sent out from the College of Music. Like it was a very quick turnaround. He's like, Okay, go get polos, go downstairs, get interviewed, and do all this stuff.

SPEAKER_10 50:20

What is gonna be the biggest challenge for you being head drum major?

SPEAKER_20 50:23

I'm so used to like watching the game 24-7 and seeing what's going on, knowing when to stop communicating with the headset, and now kind of leaving that in Grace's hands and taking a step back and focusing more on the band, on the ensemble, because my focus needs to be on them starting, stopping, still being aware of the game, but my full focus can't be on that. It has to be on the ensemble, like it's split, but like the directions change.

SPEAKER_10 50:45

So for an East Tennessee girl, do you have any idea what September 5th against Fermin is gonna feel like when that whistle hits and here you go?

SPEAKER_20 50:56

I'm super excited. Like, I think back to my first time being on the field, like as a freshman marching it, and just like the overwhelming sense of like excitement. Like I had like static in my ears because like, oh, I have to like if I can't mess up was the big thing. Cause like if you mess up, like everyone's gonna see that. But just like, oh, I get the opportunity to do this thing that I love with the peers that I love in front of all these people that came here to watch football and watch us. So that's just a super exciting thing, and I'm excited to like feel that unique feeling. I guess that's a good idea.

SPEAKER_10 51:25

Yeah, you're gonna be a big part of what is a special tradition that sort of blends into everything about a football Saturday at Tennessee.

SPEAKER_20 51:34

I know. It's just I'm very, very excited.

SPEAKER_10 51:36

Well, congratulations.

SPEAKER_20 51:37

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_10 51:38

Sydney Flinakin, the head drum major for 2026 from Seymour, Tennessee. Seymour High School. That is so great.

SPEAKER_13 51:47

Catch up on today's show anytime.

SPEAKER_26 51:49

Presented by Uber East.

SPEAKER_13 51:51

UTSports.com. Search Mike Keith. We are the Vall Network. The weekend's coming. Time to get ready for Big Recent. The voice of the Vall. Mike Keith is here with your weekend scouting report. Delivered by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_10 52:11

The Mike Keith Show is delivered by Uber Eats. This is Brett Hubb, 30 plus years with the Vol Radio Network. The editor, founder. What all do you have for Vault?

SPEAKER_04 52:25

I'm just trying to stay out of the way.

SPEAKER_10 52:27

Volquest.com. There you go. He has a lot of information. And this segment is sponsored by KUB Fiber, the world's fastest internet and Vol Nation's favorite way to connect. Only fitting that Brent Hubs would be sponsored by something related to KUB because Well, my wife works at KUB, and I have KUB Five.

SPEAKER_04 52:45

So there you go. Tell us about KUV Fiber. It works very well in my whole thing. The world's fastest center. It is fast. It handles everything I need to be done. And I'm doing quite a bit these days.

SPEAKER_10 52:54

All right. So thank you for coming on to our to our last show. And what I wanted to do is I came up with five topics from realistically this semester, from January on. And I want to hit these five topics with you. They are not listed in order of importance, but they're just interesting to me. And I'm going to start and end with basketball. So uh wanted to book in those since there were two involving basketball. Topic one for Brunt Hubs. The significance of Rick Barnes getting this past volunteer team, the 25-26 balls, to the Elite Eight, which is the program's third straight.

SPEAKER_04 53:31

Well, I think it's just the model of consistency and the ability to do it in different ways. I would contend that this past year might have been Rick Barnes's best year coaching. He didn't have all the weapons that he needed. You also set a standard that you can put a team together in short order. They had a lot of new moving parts. And it's a team that got better throughout the season. His patience level, I think, with this team was was pretty remarkable. It was not easy at times, but that was a team that got better and kept finding ways, even though they were short-handed in a lot of ways offensively. But I I think it's you can make a case it was Rick Barnes's one of his best year, if not his best year, coaching a Tennessee basketball team.

SPEAKER_10 54:17

So you think from the coaching standpoint, making this Elite Eight was the most impressive of the three?

SPEAKER_04 54:25

I think so. Just because there was so much newness that you had, and you you didn't have as many options. So as Rick Barnes likes to say, he doesn't want to joystick, meaning he doesn't want to call a set every half-court possession, but he had to do that a lot with this team. He had to generate offense in different ways for various reasons. And I think they did a really good job maximizing this team. I think that that they would have liked to have played better against Michigan, obviously, and been more competitive, there's no doubt. But I think when you look at this team, getting them to an Elite Eight is a heck of an accomplishment. Whereas when you look at maybe some previous, the two previous trips to the Elite Eight, I mean, yeah, you're you're playing Purdue and Etney and all that, but you're right there at the end and just couldn't make enough plays in the final four minutes. You felt like there's a little meat left on the bone. I don't think you walked away from this past season and went, man, this team didn't, this team underachieved. They came up short somewhere. I think he got the most out of this team, I guess is what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_10 55:28

Yeah, you saw the Michigan game. You're like, yeah, but they're better.

SPEAKER_04 55:30

Yeah, they are. And that and that's I mean, and look, part of getting to the next step in in basketball, getting to a final four, is you've got to have a little help along the way. All Tennessee did was play the best team in the country. And the team that was playing the best of anybody in the country, and they were better, and they would have been better if they'd have played the next day as well. It's just where you were. All right, second topic.

SPEAKER_10 55:53

Josh Heipel's decision to, for the first time as a head coach, that's eight years counting UCF, upend his staff. Specifically, Heipel's decision to turn over his defensive and strength and conditioning stacks.

SPEAKER_04 56:09

I think it says a lot about the growth or the maturity of Josh Heipel as a head coach. Um look, look, making staff changes, fans on the outside say fire somebody, fire someone, but that's not an easy thing to do. It's not easy to walk in and and and get rid of someone or fire someone, relieve them of duties, whatever phrase you want to use. Um sometimes doing it for the first time ever is really hard. And I think for Josh Heupel, it just he came out of this past season going, okay, to get to the proverbial next step, we have to do some things. And we have to be better from a strength and conditioning standpoint. We have to be able to finish games better, we have to be able to finish seasons better, and defensively, uh, we just they struggled, you know. And I think that he made hard decisions for the betterment of his program in the short term and the long term. Those aren't easy decisions to make. Sometimes, as coaches, you know, they just like to draw up ball plays and call ball plays. Sure. There's a CEO factor to being a coach. And this was a really hardcore CEO decision for Josh Heipel. I think it shows his continual growth into this job. And when he was hired five years ago, Mike, one of the questions people had with Josh Heipel was this job too big for him? I think when you see the decisions he made at the end of this year, you feel better that it's not, that he can handle all the CEO responsibilities beyond the X's and O's and call them ball plays.

SPEAKER_10 57:40

Okay. Third topic. The end of the Lady Ball season, which was a disastrous eight-game losing streak. And then 24 days later, three and a half weeks later, a whole new team with Tennessee women's basketball having a lot of hope and a lot of enthusiasm around it again.

SPEAKER_04 57:59

Yeah, I mean, I think when you look at the big orange caravan and you say, what was the most compelling storylines to come out of the big orange caravan in those three stops? It's Kim Caldwell. Because Kim Caldwell appears different. She appears more relaxed, she appears more comfortable. She was much more open and did a lot more self-reflection publicly than I think any of us thought that she would. She acknowledged mistakes she made. She also acknowledged why she's excited about moving forward. She also said she knew everybody was most everybody was leaving. She wasn't stunned by the departures on her roster. They clearly had a plan. They clearly had a plan of attack. She knew what she wanted. And I think she was much more stern in this go-around of we're going to get what I want, and we're going to get players who want to play my way and understand this is the way we're going to do it. And there's no real compromise. I thought she was fascinating on the caravan stop. And um, she's got to win. The ultimate, the ultimate thing with her is going to be wins and losses. But there's certainly a different vibe about this program now than there was 24, 25 days ago.

SPEAKER_10 59:12

It's crazy to think about how quickly she had to literally flip the script and everything else, which gives me the thought, and I want to see what you think. I have the thought that even when they were 16 and 6, she was thinking, I'm going to have to do this. Before the losing streak even started, before things went the wrong way, she was thinking this is not what is going to fit me and going to be best for Tennessee basketball, maybe as early as January. Do you get that sense too?

SPEAKER_04 59:44

Yeah, I I agree with you, and I would take it a bit of a step further. I would say their best week of basketball after the first of the year, maybe all year long, was a win over Alabama and a win against Kentucky. But in those two wins, they didn't score a lot of points. Now, defensively, they held both teams to under 60 points, but they didn't play the brand of basketball that she wanted. Now, she was trying to make the most that she could out of that team before the schedule got really hard. But yeah, I think she had an idea of where things were. And I think you could sense in her answers and her body language that she knew that it was going to have to be different in year three. She was going to have to do things differently. She was willing to make staff changes. Obviously, she had to go get a new roster. She went and got a roster and a staff that fits what she described as her lens, her view better than she's had. I think was an important step for her. Again, we talk about growth as a CEO. She's a young coach. She's a young coach at this level. And she admitted this level can be overwhelming from the standpoint of you have every resource known to man. And I think she has done a real self-evaluation over the she won't talk about everything she's thought the last three months, obviously. But I think during the process, she's figured out I got to get back to being me. And I think that's what they're trying to do.

SPEAKER_10 1:01:06

She sure was impressive on the caravan. Agreed. You hit that right. All right. Speaking of young coaches. Tennessee has been under Josh E. Lander for just over six months. Remember, he took the job on October 25th. Put him in a hole, you know, a little bit. How would you characterize his first six months on the job?

SPEAKER_04 1:01:28

No, I think he's learning. I think he's learning the learning the job. I mean, he was very involved in everything that was done here previously with Tony Vitello. He was very hands-on in all parts of it. So he was not just handed the keys to the car, so to speak, without knowing how to drive. But there's also driving the right way, not just driving. And I think for Josh Elander, he's continuing to establish his personality on the program, his stamp on the program, how he wants to go. There's certainly short, short in some areas that you didn't really probably expect them to be. They haven't been as well or as good in the bullpen as you thought. They haven't been able to finish some games. There's some games where I'm, you know, I'm sure he admits he would have liked to have done a few things different along the way. You know, that's baseball. It's a quirky sport. You know, you never know from one game to the next. So I just think there's been some on-the-job learning for him in year one. And I think anytime you hire an assistant to move into a role like this, that that's part of it. And I don't think it's been a bad thing. I think that he will learn greatly from this season and will incorporate that this summer, this fall into making his second team at Tennessee more in the mold of what he wants it to be. It was a really hard transition. Yeah. Because everything was established, and you know, you you this is your personality, and then all of a sudden, bam, everything gets thrown out of whack. And even some of the staff members that left him didn't leave immediately. It was a trickle-down deal. So, I mean, he was deep into preparation for the season when he was still getting staff organized and trying to get things together. So it was it was a tough deal from a timing standpoint, but he's learned a lot of lessons, I'm sure, this year about being a first-time head coach.

SPEAKER_10 1:03:21

All right, finally, fifth topic. Tennessee basketball's phenomenal success and incredible financial commitment to the transfer port.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:31

Well, Danny White said it best. He said, you know, we're all in for Rick Barnes to go win one, to go win it. And that starts with a financial commitment. We're seeing the elevation of salaries and roster salaries across the board in college basketball and in all of college athletics. Tennessee's commitment to Rick Barnes is notable. Rick Barnes has acknowledged it and has been very appreciative of it. The thing that stands out to me, Mike, about this, and this is where I credit Rick Barnes, and Danny White has as well. He's adapted to the world we're in now, and the world that we're in now, particularly in basketball, and it's really starting to morph into other sports that have more than 15 players, is it's about now. It's not about two years down the road. You're not going and okay, we think this guy's going to be our guy in two years, and then two years from now we need to go get a replacement, you know, at the forward position or whatever. It is about this season. And I think Rick Barnes likes that. And I think that he has approached it that way for the last couple of years, but really approached it this way this year. I think his quote front office staff and everybody had a great plan of what they wanted and what they needed, much like Kim Caldwell. I don't think that was a plan that was devised simply because of the Michigan game. I think Rick Barnes knew, hey, I need more offense. We got to go find offense. Tell me who the best offensive players are going in the portal. Let's go attack that direction. Their preparation for the portal, to me, is what stands out as much as the financial commitment. You're not going to get there if you don't have the financial commitment. But they did not go in wildly swinging. They knew exactly what they wanted. And I believe in this day and age of college athletics, Mike, you have to have someone working the portal 365 days out of the year. You have to be working your portal plan year-round. Who's staying? Who do we want to stay? Who do we not want to stay? If this guy leaves, what does it mean? What do we need here? Somebody has to be focused on that year-round. Clearly, that basketball program was focused on the portal long before the portal opened.

SPEAKER_10 1:05:41

And how they stacked the class with the idea that they would wait till the end and see kind of what Nate A. Met did and give themselves a chance there. And then, if he went to the NBA, as was expected, staying with the Juke Harris process and He went through his NBA process and still had the dollars, the opportunity, the wholesales pitch still left to give him. In other words, I think their timing was unreasonable.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:12

I think their timing was terrific. I think their plan was was was really good of what they wanted to get done. They knew they had one piece left that they needed to go get, and they wanted to get, and it was Juke Harris, assuming Nate left. They had a previous relationship with Juke Harris, which helped them. It helped them understand his personality, what his patience level was going to be, how he was going to approach all this, which allowed you to be more patient and your timing to be better, if you will. It goes back to when a guy doesn't come to your place in the beginning at a high school, keep the relationship there. Yeah, I mean, it was an easy phone call. Remember me? You want to have a conversation and talk? And he certainly did. I just think their approach to it from the standpoint of targets, timing of targets, how you go about it. Their whatever this formula is that they've created for value seems to be working very well for them. And I think that's allowed them to have a cleared plan that somewhat takes the emotion out of it. And I think that's the challenge for coaches. And that's the battle we have in sports with a GM and a coach. Because the emotion of a coach in the college game has always been keep everybody. Everybody. We keep them all. You have to take that emotion out of it, and you have to do what Tennessee has done. And they said, you know what? We need more production. So we'll take production over retention. We're going to let guys go that may be guys that we really like. We wish them best, but we're not going to pay them what they're asking for. They were very business-like and very unemotional in their approach, which I think you have to be in college athletics.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:57

Yeah, I do think that would be hard for Rick Barnes being at the age he is. For him to be able to do that shows a lot about adaptability because they did make offers to current players, but they didn't go above them. They said this is the number, and if you if you want to leave, we love you. We understand, we're not ending in it a bad way, but this is what we have to do. Well, that's what they did.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:22

Yeah, and I think it's it's a it's kind of two-sided because one, for a veteran coach who's done it the other way for so long, the fact that you're willing to adapt to it is impressive. On the flip side, too, because he's so experienced and where he's at, he's not afraid to make a move because he's Rick Barnes and he's established. He's not a young coach trying to get we're gonna do it my way, or I just I'm gonna have to be here. I can go do whatever I want to go do. That maybe allows him to be a little less emotional about it. Where 30 years ago he wasn't gonna do that as a young basketball coach.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:57

That's a great point. And that's where Kim Caldwell, Josh E. Lander, and to a certain extent, Josh Hyper want to get to. They want to get to that point where every move you make is not the end of the world. So you have the ability to make moves as you see good opportunities.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:15

Well, and I think that's the positive sign you see from Kim Caldwell and the way she approached the portal and saying, My way. I'm not gonna give in to something else. I have to be me all the way through. It's a sign of growth and maturity as a head coach and a CEO. Same thing with Josh Hyden.

SPEAKER_10 1:09:35

That's another great point. Uh the fact that he's always been, for eight years, he's been the model of stability, and he said, we can't do it. We just can't do it. I think it says a lot. Yep. Many great points, Bruno. That's a rare day for me. It's time for the Sonic Smash of the Week presented by Sonic Refreshers. Hey, these are great. These are fantastic. An incredible mix of green tea and real fruit. You can try it, sparkling or still, and the three flavors. I want to make sure I get them right. Berry citrus, mango peach, and strawberry passion fruit. Live free. Eat Sonic.

SPEAKER_11 1:10:14

Runner at first. Nobody out. Runner goes, and that is crack. Blast of the left field. The ballpark won't hold it. Levi Clark has gone deep again for Tennessee. He's in double digits on the season in home runs. That's the Volunteers' third home run of the game. And that doubles up Tennessee's run total in the ballgame, a two-run blast to laugh.

SPEAKER_13 1:10:41

Mike T on the Ball Network.

SPEAKER_26 1:10:44

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SPEAKER_13 1:13:35

With Mike Keith. Welcome back to the Mike Keith Show.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:39

This segment brought to you by Food City. Fall third baseman Henry Ford is here. How are you doing? Doing great. Appreciate you having me on. Last time we visited with you, you told us about the fact that you had spent a good bit of March being ill into April. You'd lost a bunch of weight, and that you were starting to feel good. How good do you feel now physically?

SPEAKER_18 1:14:02

I feel great. Keaton's been great in the weight room and you know helping me with my diet and stuff like that. So I feel like I'm in a good spot right now.

SPEAKER_10 1:14:17

I was going over your stats. And I I just crossed your bio line. And I'd forgotten you went to Baylor. Yeah. You have to tell me this story because you're in Charlottesville. You play in high school there for two years, and you spend your last two years in Chattanooga at Baylor. How'd you get to Baylor?

SPEAKER_18 1:14:34

I was kind of in a tough situation where, you know, it was me and one other kid uh that played baseball, you know, outside of high school on my high school baseball team. It's a big basketball school. So really, you know, all my you know best friends were, you know, four-star, five-star basketball players, and they were they made up our whole baseball team because they just wanted to come hang out with me, get a credit, you know, be able to, you know, cross that off the list. So I kind of find myself like, you know, kind of hidden in the cage, you know, at the Little League field on my own. You know, my dad um works an hour away, you know, five days a week. So, you know, he would come and you know throw it to me whenever he could. Um really just found myself kind of doing everything, you know, kind of by myself, didn't really have a facility to train at, um, wasn't playing great competition. So, you know, I called my UVA coach and um was just like, hey, what do you want me to do? And um, he kind of gave me two options. He was like, you know, we would love to have you here early, you know, class up and graduate from St. Ann's and you know, come a year early. Or there was a kid at the time, um, Henry Gogbaut, who uh I played at Virginia with one of my best friends who was playing at Baylor at the time. So tried to class up, my high school wouldn't let me. I ended up going out there and visiting and um you know decides coming here, you know. That was one of the best baseball decisions I ever made was you know to go there and you know met Coach Kenny and Coach Alley, and um they were huge for me. I mean, I hit with Coach Kenny every week, you know, still to this day. He'll be my heading coach for the rest of my life. So it was just you know a great time down there. I feel like I got a lot better.

SPEAKER_10 1:16:00

How did you stay away from Coach Kembree to not be part of the football team? Yeah, did you have to like avoid him in the hall? Because you're 6'5, 2'2, you say. Yeah. I can't believe he wasn't chasing you around.

SPEAKER_18 1:16:13

I grew up playing football. I started, you know, like AU to eighth grade, and I was actually gonna play at St. Ann's. I was you know gonna be a quarterback in my freshman year, and we switched to eight-man football. So really, yeah, we didn't have enough kids. So I kind of just shut it down at that point. I was a big basketball player, so um, you know, that was a big decision for me to uh you know go to Baylor and leave, you know, all my buddies. We had a you know a state championship level team, you know, in my high school. So when I made that decision to go to Baylor, it was kind of like, you know, I'm gonna focus on baseball. And um, you know, if I wanted to play basketball too, I would just stay at stab, you know, and play there.

SPEAKER_10 1:16:48

Sorry about your stats. Still hitting over 300, 15 homers, 49 runs batted in going into this weekend. You're pretty satisfied with your overall numbers at this point in terms of the fact that they are tracking almost directly with what you did in your two years prior to coming to Tennessee.

SPEAKER_18 1:17:07

The numbers, you know, are can play a scary game, you know, and can be pretty detrimental. Um, I try not to focus on them. Even if I had 20 home runs and, you know, was hitting 330, I'd still think I should have better numbers. You know, at the end of the day, it's all about winning games. And, you know, especially in a position where and that's all I'm focused on is trying to have, you know, quality at bats and um, you know, just just help the guys win, you know, pass it on to the next guy and be a good leader. So, you know, I try not to think too much about him, but I definitely think I could do better.

SPEAKER_10 1:17:35

Levi Clark was on the show earlier, and he has really started to come on, and I mean he was in the desert at one point. How did you guys help him as teammates to keep the mental approach that he was able to keep so that he would get on track like he is now?

SPEAKER_18 1:17:54

Yeah, I mean it's a it's an extremely hard game, and you know, to be honest, that kid is just an elite hitter, you know, like elite hitters are gonna hit, you know, like it doesn't you might take a little while, you know, you might go through some slumps, but that kid's too good not to hit, and uh, we all knew that was gonna come. So um I think he did too. You know, I think it's sometimes the game can can really knock you down, and you know, that's when you got to be there for your guy and just remind him of how good he really is, you know, even if he if he doesn't know it. But um, you know, he's an extremely hard worker, and with that, you know, comes extreme confidence, which he has.

SPEAKER_10 1:18:28

There are guys that players on the team, players on the other team like to see in the cage hitting. They'll just stop and watch. Is Levi Clark one of those guys?

SPEAKER_18 1:18:38

Yeah, I mean, he hits the ball really far. He hits the ball really far. And um he's a good one because he can do it to all parts of the field. You know, you see a lot of guys in BPA just try and yank bullside Homers. Um, so he's fun to watch because you know he's going to dead center, you know, over the batter's eye, you know, right field, you know, wherever he wants.

SPEAKER_10 1:18:55

You're gonna see some good pitching this weekend out of Texas. What are the keys for the offense to be able to make some things happen against this Longhorn pitching stamp?

SPEAKER_18 1:19:05

Yeah, I think it's um just continue to stick to our approach as a group and um continue to operate as a group and um you know, not get outside in the you know what each individual is doing. And um, you know, we'll have a plan going in, and you know, if we stick to it, and um, you know, we've got so much talent. And uh, you know, if we can just, you know, stick to our plan and kind of let the game come to us, I think it'll be a good weekend.

SPEAKER_10 1:19:27

Let me wrap with this because you're talking about the plan. I know you don't want to give away the plan for Texas, and I don't want you to, but could you just explain to those who might not understand what a plan actually is for a team when you go against any any SC team for a weekend? What does that look like?

SPEAKER_18 1:19:45

Every arm's got you know different stuff and um you know has different strengths and and different weaknesses. So trying to attack that, it might be um you know, laying off one guy's pitch or um, you know, doing something else. Um, but it will always have a plan going in on you know how we want to attack a guy and you know what we want to execute. And you know, it's up to the group to execute, you know, as one unit. Good stuff. Good luck against the Longhorn Fish.

unknown 1:20:10

Get three.

SPEAKER_18 1:20:11

Yeah, get three.

SPEAKER_10 1:20:12

Henry Ford, brought to you by Food City. Back with more of the Mike Keats show right after this.

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SPEAKER_13 1:22:40

Mike Keith, delivered by Uber Eat.

SPEAKER_10 1:22:43

So glad to have you back with us on Mike Keith Show. This segment presented by Pilot, the official travel partner of the University of Tennessee Athletic Marpet. And this gentleman here is brought to you by Valvaleen Instant Oil Change. His name? Amari Cam, linebacker, University of Tennessee. So glad you're here. Yes, sir. It's a pleasure to be here. Okay. I gotta tell you backstory. So go with me on the journey, if you will.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_10 1:23:08

You're from the DMV. Oh, sir. Manassas, Virginia. Yes, sir. You go to North Carolina.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:13

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_10 1:23:14

You play a good bit as a freshman.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:23:17

As a sophomore, you're a starter for Coach Brown. And in that time, you become the second leading tackler on the team. It's announced that Coach Brown is going to leave. You enter the transfer port. Okay? Then you come out of the transfer port. You go through spring with Coach Belichick and the whole thing. And then you enter the spring transfer. And then you decide to go to Penn State. So when you get to Penn State, you can't start practicing until last fall. You have a great year. Great year. Lead the team in tackles. And then another changeover for you as the staff leads. And you decide to come to Tennessee. Okay, so here's what I'm wondering. As you go through all of that, how much is it just for you that you have stability starting in January 26th? And you're gonna have it all through a calendar year with your defensive coordinator back, some of the other coaches you knew. AJ Jackson even recruited you for West Virginia, so you you know him, you were with him last year. How big a deal is that for Amari Campbell, the football player, the student, and just a human being?

SPEAKER_03 1:24:32

Yeah. It's huge, man. Like really thinking about it, talking back with my family. Like I've never had like a long, sustainable, like sustainable sustainability at a place for maybe longer than a year or like six months, man. Like, like you said, going to North Carolina, being there with Coach Back Brown for two years, like that was the most stable I've ever been until that uh my sophomore year, he got fired. And then yeah, like that whole thing changing up, going to Penn State, you know. I chose Penn State for the stability, you know, Coach Franklin's been there for 12, 15 years, maybe. So, you know, I'm meeting with him, he's telling me he's been here for this long, it's like one of the most sustainable places. And then, you know, he loses his job at Penn State, and it's just like, you know, it's just a lot of adversity I went through, you know what I'm saying, just trying to find a place, find a new home. You know, me being here where there's no more port, there's no more spring port or there's no anything. So I'll be here for 12 months, so I'm excited, man. Like, just for my mental to be able to like I've been moving from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to Knoxville, man. I've been moving all throughout the eastern side of the country, man. It's just it's just it's gonna be huge for my mental to just be able to sit on one spot for 12 years and just really, you know, focus.

SPEAKER_10 1:25:38

You're obviously a bright guy and you have aspirations post-football, whether that's college or probably certain help the NFL. You're academics, getting a degree. I know mom and dad are are big on that. So, where are you in that process? What are you studying, and how has the jumping between schools affected you getting that degree?

SPEAKER_03 1:25:57

Yeah, you know, starting at North Carolina, they're a very prestigious school, man. You know, academics is everything there. Uh transferring to Penn State, I lost a good amount of credits. So, you know, just coming back here to Notchville, I was able to uh retain some of my credits from North Carolina, you know, get some credits for those classes. And yeah, I'm just, you know, I'm just loading up in the spring. You know, we don't have the season right now, so I can catch up on my credits. You know, I'll catch up this summer and then eventually catch up in the fall. Hopefully uh graduate this fall or early in the spring next year. That's great. Communications. No kidding. Yeah. What do you want to do? Man, I'm just, you know, I just want to use my the knowledge that I have and just use the degree that I get, everything that I've learned through Knoxville to just, you know, branch out maybe into some type of you know, sports. But if I if I don't go pro, just branch into sports and communications. I feel like I can connect a lot of people in a lot of ways. Well, it's good, it's an easy job.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:47

Yeah, it's really easy. Um the the thing that's interesting from that standpoint, though, is you are always known back to Unity Reed High School, to North Carolina, to Penn State, and now here as the focal leader. Yeah, as the guy who calls the defense, as the guy who brings everybody together. So that communication goes on the field as well. Have you always been like that?

SPEAKER_03 1:27:14

Yeah, I feel like, you know, growing up where I grew up, you know, growing up uh going to high school, middle school, elementary school with a lot of minority uh minorities, you know, I'm able to connect with a lot of different people in a lot of different ways. And like going to North Carolina, going to Chapel Hill, being around a different type of uh group of people, you know what I'm saying? Like I'm able to learn, uh, you know, regardless of race, regardless of upbringing, like I could connect with every person. So, you know, that that helps a lot.

SPEAKER_10 1:27:42

Yeah, that's interesting. And one of the things that we hope for all of our kids about college, wherever they go, if it expands your world, and you found that on and off the field. Yep. That's great. Um mom and dad. Yeah. Okay, so you played a variety of sports growing. Yep. Excellent. Soccer player. Yeah. Strong basketball player, largely because of dad. Yep. Dad's a big hoops guy. Big hoop guy, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:28:07

Mom wasn't crazy about you playing football. Nah, you know, you know how those moms they all like see their baby get hit, man. But you know, you can't. That's the one thing. Like, I grew up, I grew up playing basketball from five till about like 14. And like the thing about basketball is just like the contact, man, all those fouls, man, the rest, man. Control the game. It's like, I just had to draw basketball. You were fouling out too much? Man, what? I was I was getting ticky tack fouls, man, little reach in fouls. And I'm like, man, we ain't gonna do that, man. I'm trying to play football. I'm trying to hit somebody.

SPEAKER_10 1:28:39

So I spent time around a great linebacker coach in my life. And he really liked that his linebackers had played basketball and had played soccer because of the improved football. He thought they naturally he said, I can teach them because they know how to move their feet. Yeah. With your background, when you hear that, you agree with that?

SPEAKER_03 1:29:03

Oh, for sure. Man, soccer that teaches you endurance, you know, your footwork is everything. You can't be tripped up over the ball, your endurance, uh, basketball shuffling, side to side, playing defense, you know, block points, switching off, man. It's just this overall IQ of sports, man. Like one thing about sports and IQ, like everything is connected, man. You can use what you learn from soccer or what you learn from basketball, what you learned from baseball, or any sport to apply to the next sport. So it definitely helps.

SPEAKER_10 1:29:29

You were at North Carolina under Coach Mac Brown for two seasons, but during those two years, they did change defenses, change coordinators. So you went through two different variations there. You get to play for Coach Knowles for a second straight year. Yeah. Back up for a second and tell me how involved was he in your recruitment to Penn State?

SPEAKER_03 1:29:50

Oh, yeah. He was a huge part of it, man. Uh, one of my best friends, Talek Williams, he was at Ohio State with Coach Knowles, and he was just telling me like great things about the schematic things and like the success that they had on defense, you know, production that those linebackers had at Ohio State was everything for me. Like, I wanted to put those numbers up and I wanted to control the defense how Coach Knowles presented. And you know, walking into that first meeting with Coach Knowles on my visit at Penn State, it was just it was so professional. Like the way, the way he speaks, he just kind of got that like that that like pull about him. Like, you know, he's just he's about his business, man. He's a man you could trust and he knows what he's talking about.

SPEAKER_10 1:30:26

But you only had him from August on in the 2025 season. This year, you get him all the way through, and you go from being a newbie in his defense to being one of the guys helping other people to learn his defense. Is that exciting?

SPEAKER_03 1:30:44

For sure, man. You know, I was only there for May till December. So, you know, I was late uh coming in with those guys. They had had that whole spring. And, you know, just believing in his defense, believing in his techniques, and you know, once you apply it to the field and it works for you on the field, I mean, there's nothing left else for you to trust, man. Like if you trust what he says, you will make plays and it's on tape. Like the tape doesn't lie.

SPEAKER_10 1:31:07

When you read your background that we just went over, it makes a ton of sense why you would end up at Tennessee.

SPEAKER_23 1:31:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:31:14

Um you've been here before at a point in did you ever come here during like high school for a trip or okay? All right. So when you come back with Coach Knowles, how does he entice you to have the opportunity to come to the University of Tennessee?

SPEAKER_03 1:31:32

Yeah, man, just just talking, talking it up, man. Everything about it, just talking about Rocky Top, talking about the place, the fans, the culture, the SEC culture, you know, the schedule that we have this year, you know, with a lot of uh tough opponents, respectful opponents. So just just a whole part of it, you know, it being my last year, Coach Franklin uh departing, you know, just just everything tied in well. Was it hard to say no to Coach Franklin, especially because he was in your home state at Virginia Tech? Yeah, that was definitely a tough one for me, you know, me being a Virginia Kid, you know, that story, you know, come back home, come back home, you know, it was definitely tough. But you know, it's a lot of love and respect to Coach Franklin. He understands what I wanted for my future and everything. So, you know, that's just still a great relationship there.

SPEAKER_10 1:32:13

Some people believe that the linebacker room might be the most talented room in football this year for Tennessee. What's it like being in with those group of guys, several of whom have a lot of great experience, and the young ones, man, they are yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:32:31

Yeah, it's great, man. You know, being in a room like this, it just pushes everyone every day, man. There's there's no days off, there's no days of slack. Like everybody's pushing to be the best. So, you know, that innately just pushes everyone to that to that next level. It pushes you to want to go harder, to want to study more, to want to put extra work in, man. It's great. It's great for the tour.

SPEAKER_10 1:32:48

When you see these guys coming out of high school doing what you did just three years ago when you enrolled early in North Carolina, when you see Ralphs and you see White, and you can put yourself in their shoes, what do you try to tell them that will help them along in this process? Because I mean, they're still high school kids.

SPEAKER_03 1:33:08

Yeah, man. You know, I I early enrolled as well. And, you know, I just think back to my my big brothers that I had in North Carolina, Cedric Gray, and you know, Power Eccles, man, those guys are everything for me, man. You know, coming in, being away from home, you know, you don't have a lot of people there to support you. So, you know, just those older guys in the room, being there every day, day in, then, day out through the tough days, you know, tough practices. You know, these guys are getting used to school, they're going to college now. You know, just being there for them, you know, and just someone you just want to talk to about outside of sports and just motivating them every day.

SPEAKER_10 1:33:38

Tennessee is going to not only have several guys from the DMV on the roster, gonna play a bunch of guys from the DMV. Trying to start a little tradition here.

SPEAKER_03 1:33:48

I think that's what Tennessee fans host. Yeah, man. You know, the DMV is a culture, man. You know, we cut different, man. We we bleed, we bleed, whatever it is. Fat basketball, football, work, regular life, man. It's it's a it's a uh certain breed from the DMV. We just coming out here trying to represent.

SPEAKER_10 1:34:03

All right, so for the fans who've never seen you play, what is Tennessee going to get from Amari Campbell at linebacker this fall for the big orange?

SPEAKER_03 1:34:13

Yeah, man, you're gonna get everything out of me. Every play, every snap, every game, every practice, anything. I'll do anything for my team, for my teammates, man. That's why I play the game for my brothers. So, you know, I'll leave everything out for on that field. And, you know, we go, we will expect everything, expect perfect perfectionists. We're gonna be perfect. We're gonna try to be the best that we can, and we're gonna bring it every day.

SPEAKER_10 1:34:34

Well, seeing you in the spring, you are as advertised. Samari Campbell, thank you so much. Yes, sir. We're back with more of the Mike Keith show right after this.

SPEAKER_13 1:34:41

Your weekend scouting report with Mike Keith.

SPEAKER_26 1:34:45

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SPEAKER_10 1:37:40

Welcome back, final segment of the Mike Keith Show, brought to you by Clayton Holmes, Oakwood Homes, and Love Homes of Tennessee, helping families across the state find their dream homes. This is Ashley Farrell.

SPEAKER_23 1:37:54

Hello.

SPEAKER_10 1:37:55

If you have listened to anything I've done over the last how many years?

SPEAKER_22 1:38:01

11? 12?

SPEAKER_10 1:38:02

I was going to say since 2014?

SPEAKER_22 1:38:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:38:04

So if you've listened to anything I've done or watched anything I've done in the last 12 years, you've heard Ashley Farrell's name mentioned. We've worked together now for 12 years. 12 years. Ashley is part of VFL Films here at the University of Tennessee. She is a professor. And you are.

SPEAKER_09 1:38:23

I know. It's wild.

SPEAKER_10 1:38:24

You're a professor of practice in the School of Communications.

SPEAKER_22 1:38:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_10 1:38:29

As we wrap up, what turns out to be 33 shows, I think. 33 episodes of the Mike Keith show. Episodes of the Mike Keith show. The end of it has been really fun because in the second semester, you have had your first class that you've taught at the University of Tennessee. Jmed 494.

SPEAKER_22 1:38:48

Yes, sports in Studio is the technical name of it. And that is a special topics course. When we thought of the Mike Keith show and I knew I was going to be teaching, you and I kind of got together and was like, what if we made the class around the production of our vol network programming, but then we kind of limited it to the Mike Keith show?

SPEAKER_10 1:39:12

Because our students have been amazing since last August. And when we saw that in the first semester, we saw an opportunity in the second semester, and you have just done a marvelous job with these students.

SPEAKER_22 1:39:24

Well, thank you. It's been a lot of fun. It's been a learning experience for me.

SPEAKER_10 1:39:27

But hands-on stuff and getting a chance to do that, a real passion for you, and one of the reasons you chose to come to the University of Tennessee.

SPEAKER_22 1:39:35

Absolutely. I think for both of us, our background in our broadcasting journeys started at places that had hands-on experience. School is great. You learn a lot from the classes that you're required to take. But for me, I learn more by doing. And so I wanted to bring that opportunity to the University of Tennessee to give students real life experience while they're still in school.

SPEAKER_10 1:40:02

So they can get jobs.

SPEAKER_22 1:40:03

So they can get jobs.

SPEAKER_10 1:40:05

That is our number one goal. Mom and dad, we're getting people jobs. We are. That's what we're here to do. And we have students getting jobs. We're very excited about the fact that several of our graduating seniors are getting jobs. Makes us very proud. So one of the things they learn is they learned how sort of the on-air setup of the Mike Keith show works. You gave them the opportunity to kind of not only run the cameras and do the things in the control room, but you gave them the idea to see what it would be like to be on set.

SPEAKER_22 1:40:37

Yeah. So I had to get kind of creative throughout the semester. I had 19 students in my class and I divided them up into three groups because we can't fit 19 people in our space at the same time.

SPEAKER_23 1:40:52

Right.

SPEAKER_22 1:40:52

So I div uh divided them up into three groups. And uh it was what started out as producing for the Mike Keith show with actually doing segments with you and Andy and Sarah. Schedules changed, so I had to adapt. And I was like, let me bring in the third group to be talent, and then that will still give uh the other groups a chance to practice with the cameras and the audio and the graphics.

SPEAKER_10 1:41:22

Do you have an example of how they did?

SPEAKER_22 1:41:24

I do.

SPEAKER_10 1:41:24

She brought a clip. Here's J Med 494 students hosting their own version of the Mike Keith show.

SPEAKER_21 1:41:31

What is this show called again?

SPEAKER_10 1:41:33

Welcome back to the Mike Keith Show.

SPEAKER_06 1:41:37

All right, welcome back to the Mike Keith Show presented by Uber Eats or delivered by Uber Eats. I'm not Mike Keith.

SPEAKER_05 1:41:43

Welcome to the Logan Sparrow show. I am Logan Sparrow, Joyce, Andrew and Zion. Welcome back to the Mike Keith Show. I'm your host, Mike Keith, delivered by Uber Eats. Uber Eats, whether it's pizza, wings, anything you crave, Uber Eats has it, and it's just a tap away.

SPEAKER_08 1:42:01

We're gonna get right into it, guys. We're gonna go straight in to Quinn for the win. We're gonna get right into it with our Sonic Smash of the Week where we're talking about uh Tuesday's baseball game. I personally didn't catch it, but Jay, do you have any thoughts on it?

SPEAKER_05 1:42:12

Um back to Mike Keith's show on our segment of Ben Slaining presented by Pilot. Stella, what is your take?

SPEAKER_06 1:42:22

Um, I'm not sure if this is really a hot take, but I think Oh man, I have to I have to politely disagree.

SPEAKER_21 1:42:30

Don't know why. Just think they will.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:32

I don't have a script like him.

SPEAKER_22 1:42:33

He doesn't have a script.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:35

I'm watching him read off of one right now.

SPEAKER_22 1:42:37

He has like his reader scripts here.

SPEAKER_06 1:42:39

Yeah, let me get a reader script. The Planet Fitness Heavy Lift. All right, tell us about it. What are we what are we how are we gonna do it?

SPEAKER_20 1:42:46

My hot take is I believe that the women's goal in basketball should be slightly lowered.

SPEAKER_05 1:42:54

We're gonna take this segment to unorthodox places. Oh boy, where you take it. So our producers are very excited to hear why.

SPEAKER_20 1:43:03

Well, I would just like to point out that we're doing way better than the first group.

SPEAKER_05 1:43:05

I don't know if you guys can see this right now behind you guys, but Aidan Vaughn is hanging on to those firehouse subs and that computer for dear life right now.

SPEAKER_19 1:43:15

And that segment was brought to you by um Yeah, uh I'm kind of running out of things to talk about.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:23

But this has been the Mike Keith show uh segment powered by Tay UB Fiverr and delivered by Overeats or Aurora Avery Jay, I'm Lewis, and we will be right back after this match.

SPEAKER_22 1:43:37

Mike, yes, I think you have some competition. I do. I think they're coming for your job.

SPEAKER_10 1:43:42

I do. I like the ones who refuse to like say my name. But it's like, this is me. It's not you, it's not him. He's not here. Just to let you know that if you're ever down, they're just gonna kick you out of the chair.

SPEAKER_22 1:43:57

Doesn't take very long.

SPEAKER_10 1:43:59

I think they did uh I think they did a great job, and I think that class has been a great idea, and um we have had so much enjoyment with the students, with the guests, with Andy and Sarah, um, with the sponsors who've taken part and appreciate them playing along with us, uh, bringing Smoky 12 over here, having Peyton Manning as our first guest, uh, athletes from all different sports, our coaches. This has been a really, really great experience. And want to thank our Vol Network stations for carrying the program. Want to thank Uber Eats for being the overall namesake sponsor of the show. I want to thank all who have enjoyed it on the Tennessee Athletics YouTube channel or via podcast, the Tennessee Valley Sports Network, airing it across the state. Um, a good year one. We have been renewed for year two, just to tell you the secret. And um, we're excited about what's to come when we come back in August.

SPEAKER_22 1:44:59

It'll be here before you know it. I think a hundred and some odd days.

SPEAKER_10 1:45:03

Not long. Because then it'll be time for football. Yeah. All right, for Ashley Farrell and our fine Vol Network team, I'm Mike Keith. Thanks for joining us for the Mike Keith Show, and we'll see you back here in August. You did that better than me.

SPEAKER_13 1:45:20

Mike Keith talks big orange sports right here every week. Getting you ready for a game day.

SPEAKER_26 1:45:26

Presented by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_13 1:45:28

Download the show at utsports.com. Mike Keith, we are the Ball Network.