August 10, 2023 • 50 mins
Join Namath as he welcomes Coosa Christian Head Coach Mark O'Bryant and BB Comer Tigers Head Coach Adam Fossett to the show. Football season is officially underway this week with jamborees.
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Episode Transcript
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All right, you're listening to newsradio one oh one nine Big Wax.
This is the Pitt Stop and I'myour host, name of Pitts. We
have reached August twelfth, and thatmeans football season is here. Jamboree's kick
up this week, and I amexcited to be joined this morning by one
of my favorite coaches in the area. He has been welcomed me. He
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has welcomed me with open arms tohis facility numerous times. We are joined
this morning by Custer Christian head coachMarc O'Bryant. Coach Marcobrant began his head
coaching career back in two thousand andnine at Cleveland High School. He coached
two years at Cleveland, where theywent fourteen and nine. He led the
program to back to back playoff appearances. In twenty twelve, he took the
Asheville head coaching job, where hewent three and seven. Was there for
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only one season, few assistant coachpositions in between. He was spent some
time at Oxford, some few differentplaces, and then in two twenty coach
Marc O'Bryant became the head coach ofthe Custer Christian High schools. He is
entering his fourth year at Custer Christianwhere they are sixteen eighteen, but he
has completely flipped a script. Hehas completely changed the culture of Custer Custer
Christian and they are coming off atnine and five season where they lost in
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the one A state semifinals. Coach, good morning man, thank you for
spending some time with us. Goodmorning, buddy, It's good to hear
from me. Absolutely, coach.Let's just get right into it. Let's
talk about last season. You guysfell in the state semifinals. It was
a devastating loss. You kick afield goal, looks as if you're just
moments away from clinching a spot onthe one A state championship game, and
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then it was one hell Mary anda very controversial call at the end of
the game that prevented you guys fromthat ultimate goal of reaching the state championship
game. But last season is inthe past. So when I say we're
turning the page, I just wantto quickly recap, you know, how
you turn the page from a momentlike that, how you take that as
a moment to get better. Andthen I want to transition into the guys
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that you lost to graduation and talkabout the guys that you have coming back
this season. Okay, so we'llstart with the first question, how do
we transition? Well, the thingis, yeah, it was a controversial
call, but you know, whenyou leave it into the hand, Like
I told the guys after the game, you know, they crying, I
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told them, drive the tears up. You know, nobody, nobody cares
about whiners. You know, here'sthe thing. You go, you go,
you go drama team by thirty fiveforty two points. They won't be
no controversial call. Okay, Sothat is our own fault, our own
demise. We I hope we learnedfrom it, and I hope we've gotten
better from it. And you know, of course we were placing some starters.
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I think we've had three off statekids last year, two of them
which were seniors. And I feellike I feel like we're setting in a
good position if we stay healthy.Coach, who are some of those guys
that you have returning to your programthis season. Well, you gotta always
start off with the trigger man atquarterback, and you'll be a junior as
John David Jess is really really goodfootball player. You know, we've had
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some additions to this team. SoI don't know how they're going to perform
the new editions. You'll never knowuntil the season starts. But you know,
I feel like, you know,John Davis gonna have that offense,
and I think on defense. AndI hate to even mention this one because
he happens my son Clido Bright.I mean, yeah, he made All
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State. I mean that, youknow when he mote, you know,
a linebacker as well. I meanI think those two guys will anchor that
defense. You know, when they'retwo really good players, they're going to
be juniors as well. So Ithink that's where it starts. And then
you know, we got some youknow, we had an influence of kids
to transfer in. Uh. Ijust don't They're very talented, but you
know, I don't know how they'regonna play until I see them play a
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game. Yeah, absolutely, andthe coach. One thing about coach O'Brian,
I figured out he don't like tothrow names out there. He's gonna
keep things as close as he canto his vest. So the coach,
let's talk about you got a night. You got some nice facilities, especially
for a one A program. Youguys got a new weight room, you
got facilities, a turf, indoorfield, you've got a nutritious program this.
I mean, just talk about thefacilities you guys have at Cousa Christian.
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Well, when I got here,we had no facilities, and I
think you remember seeing that, andso we made a real conscious effort to
try to improve that. And youknow, and so I feel like our
weight rooms as nice as anything inthe state of Alabama. It's very functional,
you know, it's uh and ofcourse you know with these forty yard
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indoor uh that we have. Andbut I think the biggest thing is the
nutrition program. I think that's whatseparates us from everybody else. I know,
I know Rush does it the FellCity because I know that because I've
copied it. Uh. So whenI think that is the that is the
determinative factor. You know, thesekids are getting fed a ton of food
every day and then each snacks.It's it's you know, I have food
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catered in every single day, andso these kids go home full, they
come they come here and they getfull, and they stay full throughout the
course of the day. And Ithink that's really important because the most important
part weightlifting is not weightlifting, itis eating. All Right, and so,
and we're supplying them with that food. So I think that's our biggest
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momentum mover, right, there isthe amount of food that we put in
these kids bodies. Coach, wherehave you seen the biggest growth this summer
personally out of your team? Butalso what do you feel like is the
thing you guys need to improve onmost is the football season is almost here.
The other thing that we've got toimproved most is always, this will
always be the answer every year,is chemistry. Because you're only as good
is you know, we had wehad a seen the seal teams. You're
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only as fast as your slowest man. And what that means is, you
know, you're only as good asyour weakest link, right, And so
your chemistry, you know a lotof times in one day through seven day,
you know your top five players oryour top five players are always going
to perform. That's not how youwin the state championship. You win the
state championship with the bottom end ofyour lineup. And so that's where you've
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got at its seal at is thebottom end of the lineup. So chemistry
is definitely the most important thing thatwe've got to continue to improve on that
will make or break our season.That did and kids stand healthy, the
things that I see, that's thebiggest improvement. I think we're a lot
faster, and I know we're alot stronger. I think we have twenty
two kids on our roster under afive flat to forty and that's huge.
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We also have about twenty three twentyfour kids cleaning over two hundred pounds and
that's always the barrier I used tosee the strength of the kid absolutely.
Coach, let's talk about the strengthof your quarterback. I mean, he's
probably your probably I would say,the strongest player on your team, arguably
up there with cleet if offensively anddefensively. Statistics prove that, and he
had over two thousand and two hundredand twenty seven yards last year, twenty
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five touchdowns. Just talk about whathe brings to your program and what are
your expectations for him this season?Just to continue to grow. You know,
we didn't do you know, wedidn't do audible checks with him last
year and on a lot for himto grow into that. I think that's
the next evolution of him. Youknow, he's a three year starter.
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He started since eighth grade, sohe's you know, he's really a this
is going into this fourth year ofstarting offer us, you know. But
the thing that I think he bringsto the table, he's a different bird
now. Uh. He is sucha calm kid. I mean, you
know, and I told somebody thisother day on the interview. You know,
you can read him out naming andhe'll look at you and you're like,
is this kid even listening to me? Yeah, he's listening. It's
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just nothing rattles it. He's he'sthe most calm kid I think I've ever
coached in my life. Nothing Likeyou can literally get in the space,
ream him out yet at him,and he's just gonna look at you and
say yes, sir. And that'sit. And that's that's not coach talk.
That is the truth. And I'mthinking, no, walk away And
you're like, did this kid evenpay attention to me? Yeah, he
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pay attention. He's just that kid. He's he's just that kid. But
you know, he's been raised wellby his parents. You know, when
he's he's a he's a big baseballkid, and he's always been a dude
in the baseball field, and youknow, he's that guy in the baseball
field this year. I mean,you know, when no two outs you
wanted him to line up, hedidn't strike out, and and and that's
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the thing. You know, Youshow me a kid that don't strike out
baseball, and I'll show you akid that can make clutch plays. That's
good. I like that. Coachone A Region seven. This is it's
not an easy region in one ofyou got Appalachian Cedar Bluff, the cat
Heritage, Gills, will Valley,Hood, Woodville. Just break down this
region. It's a really good region. You know, it gets overlooked by
the Pickens County region, and Iguess rightfully. So Pickens County's got a
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great history in that region's got agreat history of winning a lot of games
and knocking this region out in thefirst round. But if you go back
and you look the last couple ofyears, this region's really I thought performed
well in the playoffs, and soI think it's often overlooked. It doesn't
get a lot of love. Youknow, statewide, everybody overlooks it.
But there's a lot of really goodteams and no well coached teams. These
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teams are well I coached at thebiggest level and I'm telling you this team,
these teams that we play are wellcoached, often very well coached,
and so you know the challenge infront of us. We're not a surefire
region winner by no chance. Imean, there's some really really well coached
football teams in this region, andso you know we're gonna have to bring
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our a game every time we playa region game, period. Absolutely,
and coach. With that being said, you come off on one at final
or state semifinals appearance. And I'llbe honest with you, the people that
I've talked to personally, there's alot of people that have high expectations of
Cousa Christian football this season. EvenI would go as far to give you
some rat poison on air right nowand say my pick to win one A
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right now is Cousa Christian. Andso, how do you get your guys
to stay focused on the task eachweek and not be influenced by the pressure
that the media might put on themas the season goes Yeah, that's that's
a million dollar question. And allyou can do is tell the kids,
and you hope they're mature enough torealize that. And I'm not knocking you.
I think the world are you,Okay, But how in the world
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can anybody in the media predict AndI'm not knocking you, okay, your
job and I certain and you know, I appreciate what you do, absolutely,
but how how anybody in the worldcan predict we're gonna win when they're
not here every day and I can'teven make that prediction. I'm here every
single day with these kids, eighthours a day, all right. So
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that's the things that I tell thekids. And ain't no knock on you
guys. I want y'all to keepdoing what y'all doing. Hey, that's
what it's all about, right,that's what makes it fun. Right,
So the same token, I've gota different mission statement on the football field.
And so the ones that knows thesekids the best is me and and
so I don't even know if wecan make it to the state championship.
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I don't even know if we makeit the playoffs, okay, So you
know, and that's what I justreiterate that the kids is, don't listen
to anybody that's not here with youevery single day. So you know,
that's just what it is. Well, coach, that's a good answer,
a good response. Everybody listening.He's a humble guy. Just remember that
too. After his response for coach, let's talk about you got a jamboree
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this week. There's gonna be somereally good teams. They are gonna make
their way up to Gas and AcoustaChristian. You've got six a head coach
Rush Propes, he's one of thegreatest coaches in the country period, and
he's bringing Pell City to Cousa.You've got for a powerhouse Hanley, who
has, in my opinion, oneof the greatest coaches in Alabama history.
And Larry Strain. And then you'vegot seven eight Albertville and first year head
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coach Burt Brown coming to Cousa.So to just talk about Jamber eight Thursday
night. Yeah, it's a greatcollege, isn't it? You know?
And and like I told, likeI told our boost club, who would
have thought three years ago that wewould have these teams coming to Cousa Christian
and Gas in Alabama? You know, you would have thought they would have
come to gas and City High School. So that's that's the really cool thing
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with the transition. But I dobelieve, you know, Rush is a
mental He's been you know, he'smentor me and and so and so,
I think the world of Russ.He's like a honestly, he's like a
a very very close brother mine.I came from his coaching tree. So
I think the world for us.I think I've said it a million times.
I said to me in one Ibelieve he's the greatest high school coach
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to every coach high school football,all right, And that's enough set on
him, all right. So CoachShrane legend, he's a Hall of Fame
coach. So and I really believethey've got a shot to win this thing
in for rate. Absolutely. Andthen you've got coach Brown, who is
unbelievably first class guy. Okay,I taught to him quite a bit,
and he comes from the college level. He knows how to coach football.
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So I think, you know,he'll make big improvements with him as well.
And I think you'll see a differentOpera Bill team this year and the
years to come. Absolutely, we'llkeep our eyes on Albertville looking for some
consistency for the first time in alittle while under coach Brown. But Coach
Mark O'Brien, thecousa Christian Conquers coach, thank you so much. For taking
time this morning to join us onBig Wax. Thank you, brother,
You're wating anytime, okay, allright, Coach, see you Thursday night,
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all right, thank you, allright. Coach Mark O'Brien joined us
this morning on Wax and Cusa Christian. Let me tell you this team.
I said it to him on theair, and I will say it again.
They are my pick to win Classone A. They made the state
semifinals last year. They were rightthere and it was a controversial play that
was the reason they didn't make thestate championship. And again Custer Christian was
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right there. It was nineteen secondsleft in the twenty twenty two won A
state semifinals. They were on theroad down at Pickens County. If you
know anything about one A football,you know that Pickens County is a powerhouse.
They are there every single year,competing, always making appearances in the
state championship game. The Tornadoes arelegit. Couster Christian nineteen seconds left in
the game, Jaden Burns made afield goal to give Custer Christians the lead.
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And it was not a short fieldgoal neither, guys. It was
a long field goal. In nineteenseconds left, a lot of people started
celebrating, knowing that they've won thegame, They've clinched the spot in the
state championship game. But Pickens Countydrove within range. They threw a hell
Mary pass, the guy come runningout of the end zone to catch it.
He caught it as he was runningout of the end zone and was
tackled right outside of it, connectedby a matter of inches in the rough.
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Freese said that it was a touchdown. Some say that it was not
a touchdown. Some say that itwas a touchdown. The question was did
he catch it in the end zonebefore he crossed the plane going out of
the end zone. The referees atthe time thought he did. I personally
watching did not think he did.But again, everybody has their opinions on
it, and that just goes toshow you that the game is literally not
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over until that buzzer rings. Nomatter if it's inches, the game is
still going. So as Custer Christiangets ready to start another year, the
goal is simple not to feel thesame way that they felt at the end
of last season. KUSA wants tobring a state title back. They want
a Blue Map trophy to go toCuster Christian they want to go undefeated.
They want to achieve that goal.Don't let coach o'brant for you. They
want to do those things what coachand what team would not. They're coming
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off at nine and five season again. They return about eighteen starters, nine
on each side of the ball fromlast year's team. But more importantly,
it returns their star quarterback Justice,who accounted forever twenty two hundred and twenty
seven yards and twenty five touchdowns.He heard coach O'Brian talk about his son
cleto'briant. He recorded one hundred andforty six tackles last year, including twenty
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four loss. He cost six turnoverslast season, and the defense returns a
bunch of its leading tacklers beyond justO'Brien. That includes Moats, Drake Dupre
and DJ mackey and Moates and Justicewill lead the offense once again. What
could end up being a major differencemaker this year is they are special teams,
especially at the one eight level.It's Burns who went on to forty
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went forty nine for fifty three onextra points last year, and he went
six for nine on field goals.Puntingwise, he had thirty seven points,
averaging more than forty yards with eightdropping inside the twenty yard line. Special
teams is a big deal, especiallyin one A football. If you got
that guy that can make those pats, can put a team back deep is
a recipe for success. The biggestchallenge that coach O'Brien his team are gonna
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have to battle is what you heardhim talk about, and it's staying composure.
It's staying consistent week by week,not getting caught up. It's building
chemistry ultimately as a team playing selfplus football. And again, the biggest
change they're gonna have is death.O'Brien would tell you that he has around
twenty seven players that are gonna makecontributions this year, up from around twenty
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last year, so high expectations forthe Cockers of CUSA. Christian coach Marc
O'Brien joined us on news Radio oneoh one nine. Big Wax has always
we do. Our congrats and condolencesin this week's congratulations goes to Jose Altuve
of the Houston Astros. He hadjoined the two hundred career home run list
this past week. He became justa fifth player to hit two hundred career
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home runs. As an Astro whenhe blasted a third inning home run off
of the Yankees at Yankee Stadium,it was just one or it was one
of just two hits for the Astrosand what was it? Three to one
loss? Altuve joins Jeff Bagwell,Lance Bergman, Craig Biggio, and Jimmy
Winn as the other players with atleast two hundred home runs as an Astro.
He's also just twenty one hits awayfrom joining Bagwell and Big Yeo as
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the only players in franchise history withtwo thousand career hits. So congratulations to
Jose Altuve on joining the two hundredcareer homer list. Of course, the
thirty three year old second baseman isall over the Astros offensive leader board besides
hits and home runs, a secondin career bat and average, third in
runs, third in doubles. Healso stole a base last week, giving
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him two hundred and eighty eight forhis career, tying him with Jose Cruz
for third on the franchise all timeleaderboard. The four teams who have given
up the most alt two home runsall reside in the American League East,
led by the Texas Rangers with twentyseven. The team outside the division that
has surrendered the most at two roundtrippers the Yankees with twelve. Congratulations to
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jose Al Tuova on joining the twohundred career home home run list. Our
condolence this week goes out to thePack twelve. Oh what it was,
but oh what it will soon notbe. The sadness in the pain they
have all left already. It wasa colorful, colorful initiation. Back in
two thousand and six, after oneof the first games of Marshawn Lynch's career,
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he took the injury cart for ajoy ride. Standing on the field
as Lynch bobbed his head and weavethrough traffic, it feared him and a
hundred other people that he was ayoung beast mode being beast mode, celebrating
after scoring the winning touchdown in anovertime victory against Washington. It was just
another wild afternoon in a conference thathad stood stubborn but lovable for one hundred
and eight years. This league atthe time was called the PAC ten,
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now known as the PAC twelve.But this Pac twelve division might not make
it another year. And I gottabe honest with you, guys. It's
depressing. College football has seen abig realignment here lately, and it has
conquered the West and sold it forits parts. It scattered eight of the
schools, forcing the remaining four inscrambles. It was in twenty twenty It
will be in twenty twenty four whenthe Big Ten will add usc, UCLA,
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Washington, and Oregon to form amonster eighteen eighteen team league. The
Big Twelve will take Arizona, ArizonaState, Colorado, and Utah to create
a Monster sixteen team division. Neitherconference will change its names because as well,
why I'm bother anymore. To behonest with you, guys, this
makes no regional sense. It makesno particular sense for athletic departments to trek
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across the country in all sports becauseof football power struggle demands it too.
What about the baseball players that playa weekend series? What about the softball
players, the basketball players? Whatabout mental health? Do you want them
to be in Maryland? You wantto go from Eugene, Oregon to Maryland
to play a game on the weekendand then be in class the next day.
I'm telling you, I think thisis bad for the mental health,
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which is a problem we've seen acrossAmerica. It's more than just the game
of football. Now, I thinkthe Pac twelves week absolutely is there a
division that you need to get ridof. If you're going to get rid
of one of the major ones,it's the Pac twelve. So don't get
me wrong. I'm excited for Saturdays. I'm ready for college game day and
to see what happens. But tounderstand the mental healthness of these athletes,
that is something that I don't thinkis being considered. And I'm just I
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have mixed feelings about this, tobe honest with you guys, and to
just understand the deaths of what's reallyhappening. Look at Stanford and Cal eight
area rivals that share academic prestigious havelong standing commitments to excellence through their athletic
departments. Stanford has won one hundredand thirty four NC Double A national championships,
dominates the annual Director's Cup, themeasures proficiency across all sports, and
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here they are stranded with nowhere togo and if they're not desirable, and
the platitudes about caring for student athletesand valuing the entire athlete department hold even
last credibility. I mean, whatdo you do. I mean, you've
got Stanford and cal who Yes,they have struggled recently, and you've had
a little interest from the ACC.But there's no more joy rides for anyone.
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And this is what happens when youlop off an entire region in the
PAC twelve has done plenty of selfharm, failing to modernize, hiring bad
commissioner fits, to navigate a changinglandscape, and basically, it's it that's
gone. That's all we're gonna see. And there's five teams in this season's
PAC twelve that were in the preseasoncoaches poll. Usc was number six,
Washington was number eleven, Utah wasnumber fourteen, Oregon was number fifteen,
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and Oregon State was number eighteen.The PAC twelve turned six quarterbacks who surpassed
three hundred or three thousand excuse mepassing yards last season, including Heisman Trophy
winner Caleb Williams, who is thetop pick presumably in the twenty twenty three
NFL draft. So condolences go tothe PAC twelve as the division is all
but gone. Good news this weeknot good news for the United States soccer
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team, but good news for someonelike me who, honestly, I'm not
gonna lie. I kind of wantto see them lose because I don't I
have a hard time finding respect forpeople that disrespect are military, the ones
that put their life on the frontline. And although as an American I
would like to have seen them winbecause they are the United States in terms
of the players and individuals who refuseto support our country, I did have
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a little bit of a bad tasteabout that. I am a conservative to
keep that in mind, but theUnited States women's soccer team has been eliminated
from the Women's World Cup. Itwas a heartbreaking loss to Sweden in the
round of sixteen. The defending championslost on penalty kicks five to four,
with the final dagger barely breaking theplane of the goal to send Sweden to
the next round. The Americans bidto win an unpresidented third consecutive title ended.
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It's the earliest in tournament history forthe United States. The two time
ranning champions and four time winners,the United States was eliminated in the round
of sixteen for the first time inteam history, and the Americans worst finish
had been third place three times.The loss was somewhat expected based on the
Americans listless play through three group stagematches, but they played their best game
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of this World Cup against Sweden,only to have it decided on penalty kicks.
It was the first match at thisyear's World Cup to go to extra
time, and it was the fourtime the Americans went to extra time at
the World Cup. But ultimately Swedenknocked the United States out. And man,
you hate to see it, butin a way, again, they
didn't want to stand, they didn'twant to sing our national anthem. They
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didn't want to respect the ones thatput their life on the front line.
And I personally don't have empathy forpeople that do that. So I'm sorry,
but that's how I feel in myopinion on that. I don't see
changing. Did you hear what happened? Jose Ramirez and Tim Anderson got in
a fight. I've got the audioright here. Listen to this and another
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house Soul double right over the bagat first down, Jose and Anderson sweare
up. They're fighting. They're swingingdown. Goes Anderson down, Goes Anderson
down, Goes Anderson down, GoesAnderson. What a call by the Cleveland
Guardians. Tom Hamilton's and that's rightChicago White Socks. Tim Anderson was at
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second base when Jose Ramerera slid inunder him, had a little bit of
a controversy, a fight broke out. Jose Ramire has definitely won. He
got the best punch, knocking TimAnderson on his butt. And I can
just hear Bruce Ruffer going na thewinner by knockout Jose Rameraz of the Cleveland
Guardians up anyway, Jose Romerez hasbeen suspended three games, Tim Anderson six.
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Of course, both are gonna pill. This pill's probably gonna fail.
We also seen the managers get suspendedone game and all parties are in curred
fines. Yeah, when something likethis happens, there's a price that's got
to be paid. And that's exactlywhat's gonna happen. The two teams clash
when Ramerez Anderson squared off in nearsecond base after Ramerez slid in safely on
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a double and the bottom of thesixth inning. The fight really had been
built up over several days of trashtalking and gesturing between the teams. But
needless to say, yeah, we'llsee what happens. But fight broke out
between Tim Anderson and Jose Ramerez andJose Ramerez did get the last laugh.
But anyway, we're gonna keep talkingto MLB Baseball in a little bit,
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but we do have to take abreak on Wax again. We gotta take
a news and weather break. You'relistening to the pit Stop on one O
one nine. Big Wax will beright back and talk more high school football
with BB Comber Tiger's head coach AdamFawcett. Welcome back into news radio one
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O one nine Big Wax. You'relistening to the pit Stop and I'm your
host, name of Pitts, andI am joined by my favorite coach.
I tried to say it every timeand it has not changed. He is
my favorite coach in the area,probably in the state of Alabama. Just
from the first time I met CoachAdam Fosse of the Bbcomber Tigers, he
just man was such a nice guywho loves the Lord, does his best
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to lead us program in a godlyway, and they proved something in two
twenty two. They're looking to dothe same thing in two thousand twenty three.
Let me give you a little backgroundinformation on head coach Adam Fosse of
the Bbcomber Tigers. He began hishead coaching career in two thousand and eight
at Winniborough High School. He coachedfour years at Winnerborough where they went thirty
and fifteen. He led them tothe playoffs three out of four seasons.
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In two twelve, he took tothe head coaching position at Childsburg, where
he went twenty three and twenty oneone and led that team to the playoffs
three out of four seasons. Itwas in twenty and sixteen where coach Fosset
made the jump to seven eight footballat Smith's Station. Things were a little
rocky in his two seasons there.After going two and eighteen, Coach Adam
Fossett found himself back in the Silicagaarea as the head coach of the Bbcomber
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Tigers. In twenty eighteen, CoachFosset became the head coach of what was
a struggling Bbcommer program. They barelyhad enough players to even field a team.
But he is now entering his sixthseason at Bbcomber where he is thirty
nine and twenty two. He hascompletely changed the football program. He has
completely changed the community. They arecoming off a twelve and three season where
(26:36):
they lost in the two A statechampionship game to the five Red Devil's coach
Fawsett, it is an honor tobe with you. Thank you for taking
time this one and to join me. Yes, sir, I appreciate you
having me, oh man, Iappreciate that. That was a lot of
accolades. Man. I don't knowif I'm worthy of all that, but
been blessed to be in a coupleof different places and enjoying being here and
(26:57):
things that are going on here,and just excited about a new season.
Absolutely, Coach, you said thatthat was too many accolades. I could
probably go on with more, tobe honest with you, But Coach,
let's just kind of recap last season. I don't want to get deep into
it because nobody likes talking about thingswhen they end on a bad note.
But you did get to you didget the experience of playing in a state
(27:18):
championship game. So this is kindof a two parter. What was it
like to get to coach in agame like the state championship game at Jordan
Hare And then let's talk about whoyou lost to graduation and who we can
expect to have returning for you thisseason. Yeah, first of all,
the environment and Jordan Hare was great, man. This to build up to
it, and the support that ourcommunity gave us, and the support that
(27:42):
the people in the Auburn Ople Igave us. You know, we were
assigned some two hosts and man,they made sure everything was kind of taking
care of for as they got aschedule. You know, we worked together
to get a schedule together and alot of moving parts when you're doing that.
So I enjoyed that a lot.You know, being on the sidelines
(28:03):
there and just just coaching there waswas kind of surreal. It was some
people of best you know where thewhere your kids overwhelmed. I'm like,
man, I'm forty four years oldand I was overwhelmed. So you get
out there and you get ready foryou for all the normalcy and there's nothing
normal about it. So you're you'remeeting with people and talking to people and
(28:25):
having to take some pictures and thingslike that. So it's a it's a
it's a lot different than a regularFriday night. So when we got to
experience under us and uh, youknow, it didn't obviously didn't turn out
the way we wanted to proud ofour guys for continuing to fight, obviously,
but just come up short and uh, too many turnovers for us to
stay in the game. So asfar as seniors we lost, we lost
(28:49):
a handful of seniors. You know, losing Brandon ling Chip and Zach Carpenter
were too big losses for us onthe offensive and defensive line. And uh,
both of those guys, we're reallyreally solid for us, and they've
been in the program since eighth grade, so they knew the system front and
back, and uh, we're we'rebig contributors for us. Lost the receiver
(29:12):
in dB and James Carmichael, andthen lost Ji Gadis on the defensive end
and as a fullback sniffer type guyfor us, played a little tighty end
for us. So, uh,losing those guys, uh, and then
losing Adam Odem was was that wastough for us to lose those guys,
(29:32):
but uh, you know, ina way, it's set up you gotta
you gotta move forward and move on. And uh we're trying to fill those
boards now and trying to figure outwhat works best for our program. And
uh, have we've got twelve seniorsthis year and a lot of a lot
of a lot of guys back,a lot of guys ready to get after
it, and uh, you know, hopefully we can we can fill those
(29:53):
boards and and continue to be successful. Coach, Like Nick Saban says all
the time, and when you builda w program, other schools come colin
they need coaches. And so youlost several coaches this off season and you
had to replace them. So justtalk a little bit about the coaching staff
this season and then talk about whereyou've seen your team grow the most this
summer, but also where you thinkthey need to improve the most as the
(30:17):
season quickly approaches. Yeah, weyou know, we've had we've had to
replacement coaches and that comes with thecomes with the territory. You know,
you just have to you have tohave to move on, you know,
And that's uh, that's been beenone of those things you talk to the
kids about a lot, is youknow, it's not personal. You know
that the guys are going to otherthings, and uh it may work out
(30:40):
for him and it may not workout for him, just based on their
decision, but always supportive of that. Lost lost two really good coaches that
defence Cornery coach Stafford and the coachStrickland who was all around and coach linebackers
running backs, helped me with offensiveline when he needed to. So UH,
losing those two guys hurt us alot. UH losing coach Bryant Hurst
(31:03):
just from a dB standpoint and coachedthose guys and did well with that.
So so we brought some guys in. UH. Coach Blackerby UH came from
Nicholas Lawson. UH coach Puco camefrom Alexandria. UH he was a long
snapper who played at UAB and thenUH coach Teague is a guy that has
(31:26):
college experience as coach at the highschool level in this area UH some in
the past couple of years, andbrought him in to help us with our
D line and help us all ourdefense. So you got you got guys
that are here and then are readyto go. And you know it's once
you're once you're in year six,you you you're able to establish your system,
(31:47):
so to speak, and and justbuild on the system that you have.
And that's that's what we're trying todo now, is just build on
what we have and UH and continueto improve and not be complacent. You
know this summer us. You knowthey're talking about the summer work and things
like that. The big issue onthe front end was complacency. And you
(32:07):
know, we we we got there. We didn't win the whole thing.
We got there, but you know, explain to our guys, Hey,
everybody is going to give you theirbest game. Now you're gonna get every
team's best game because they're gonna wantto beat you, especially in our region.
You know, we we win theregion, and some of those other
(32:29):
region teams they you know, theywant that crown as well. So so
that the overcoming some complacency was probablyone of our issues. And then how
we've started to to overcome that andget after is one of the things that
I'm proud of them, especially latein the summer. And we had seven
on sevens and things like that whereearly on they did not did not turn
(32:52):
out well and we just didn't performwell. And then we finished up at
Westbrook Christian and play well and winthat seven on seven there. So uh
and I'm not a yeah at sevenon sevens two coaches in the love them
or hate them. When we goto seven on sevens, man, we
do our stuff. We're not.We're not coaching to win a seven on
(33:14):
seven, So so we continue todo our stuff. When we do that,
we're not We're not throwing verticals allthe time and just going deep all
the time. So we're trying toget better at our trade and get better
at what we do. Coach,you got one of the best running backs
in the state of Alabama in anyclassification. He's the best running back in
Class two A without doubt, KamoreHarris, and he's racked up some incredible
(33:37):
statistics in his high school career.In just the last two seasons, he's
amazed three thousand, five hundred seventyeight rushing yards and forty five touchdowns on
offense. But people don't even talkabout defensively, the fact that he's recorded
one hundred and sixty two tackles infive sacks. So he's committed to Memphis,
I don't know. I mean,Memphis is a great program. I'm
not knocking Memphis by any means.They got to steal. I was talking
(33:59):
about this with a g the otherday in a meeting. I could definitely
see Kemore Harris as the guy inthe NFL. One day that people go
where did this guy come from?And he just went to Memphis quietly,
had an impact career at Memphis,has a great combine, and ends up
going on the NFL. But justtalk about him, talk about the impact
he brings to your program. Obviouslyhe's let's I know, you don't want
to downplay any other player, buta lot of people talk about him when
(34:20):
they talk about bb comer. Butjust talk about the impact he does bring
to your program more than just football. But then talk about your expectations for
him this year. Yeah, youknow, he's uh, he's a game
changer for us. He's the kindof face of the program and people know
him hobnously. So you know,I didn't know his last two year stats.
(34:42):
I didn't. I hadn't really putthem all together and even looked at
it like that. But that's that'sa lot, you know, and you
look at you go to the statechampionship game. He wrenches for like one
hundred and eighty nine yards and hasfifteen tackles, so uh, and and
one of the one of the tackleshe has and tackle for loss that absolutely
shows up on a lot of people'shighlights films. So uh, he got
in the backfield and and uh,blew the play up pretty quick. And
(35:07):
uh, but he's, man,he's matured so much, he's growing so
much. Really proud of where he'sat and and with his efforts and and
and things like that. You know, it's easy. It's easy to get
to this point and commit and sayall right, you know, I'm just
I'm just gonna try and play throughmy senior season hopefullyings go well. But
(35:27):
he's uh, he's a practice everyday, getting after it. He's still
you know, he's still got thesame motor. He's not he's not sitting
back rested, he's not uh,he's not in chill mode, just just
trying to get it the next thisthis high school season or with He's committed
to it. He wants us tobe successful and and that spekes a lot
about him. And you know,him committing to Memphis, I think it
(35:50):
was felt like a good fit forhim, and and he was kind of
you know, excited about about whatthey told him and what the plans are
for him. But you know,I also think that he's I think schools
are sleeping on him. Honestly.I think there's you know, there's some
I think there's some Power five schoolsthat that could possibly reach out to him,
(36:14):
and and if that happens, thatmay change the landscape for him.
You know, So a lot ofus going to depend on on the first
half of this season and what theseschools are doing and what they're looking for.
So I could go on and onabout transfer portal, but you know,
the transfer portal of things, youknow, it kind of it kind
(36:35):
of stirs things up. You know, early on there was interested, you
know, like an Auburn for example, early on, big interest from Auburn,
and then UH coach comes in andand he lies as the transfer portal
and builds a team, and Iget that that's what he has to do.
He's got to win now because Auburn'syou know generally they're not patient.
So so he had to do that, and you know, I'm not faulting
(36:59):
him for it. But but again, the interest goes cold, and you
know, stuff like that makes makessure as a high school coach, and
I like to transfer for it atall. So but I understand both sides
of it. Or coach just calledKirby smart and asking what his problem is.
I mean, you're a faithful Georgiafan. I mean, come on,
man's see what the problem is thecoach. Let's talk two A region
(37:21):
seven or two A region four.I don't know why I said seven.
You're in the south two A regionfour. Two A region four. You've
got Central Cousa, Fayetvil, Isabella, Ramburn, Thorsby, Vincent and Woodland.
Just talk about this region. Breakit down obviously you guys and Isabella
or the front runners I would haveto imagine, but just talk about this
region as a whole. Yeah,I'll tell you that the region's gonna be
It's gonna be interesting. I think, you know. I don't. I
(37:45):
never want to like overplay us thesame means, but I do think US
and Isabella are the top teams inthe region. I think it's gonna be
a dog fight for the next twospots. You know, ram Rammond and
Thorsby are going to be interesting asfar as where they come from. Last
(38:05):
year, Rammond's always gonna be wellcoached. They were very young last year.
I lost a couple of guys,but the fairly young team. And
then Thorsby's got that They've got acouple of guys back that were injured.
Late last year and they've got alot of numbers, so I've heard as
many as sixty kids Alfred Thorsby,which is a ton for for two day
(38:30):
football. So it'll be interesting tosee the Isabella. I coached track as
well. And we're at the sectionaltrack made in north Ridge and Tusa Loosa
and Isabella's in the same section weare, and a couple of their guys
were done throwing disc and we're allwalking back to the to our tents or
(38:50):
whatever, and one of the guyssaid, your football coach to come runch
and I said yes, sir,And he said, man, we can't
wait to play all at our place. And I said, yeah, I
really am not looking forward to comingto off place. So it's a it's
a crazy environment. It was acrazy environment two years ago for that second
round game. So you know inthe middle has got it, They've got
it marked on the counter, andthey're gonna be They're gonna be ready to
(39:13):
go. So and we can't sleepon any other team neither. You know,
there's any team can beat any otherteam in any given day. So
we've got to you know old Clichecoach taught we gotta take them one at
the time, but that that's true. You know, we've gotta tell you
these things one at the time.And I do like how our schedules set
up. We get two non regionsout kind of new two nine regions the
(39:36):
week zero and week one, andthen we jump into region play so and
then week five we'll play saxon nonregion our regions, our non region schedule
be over. So I do likethat aspect of it where we can get
into that region play and get rolling, and then we have week two and
off. So that's that's more sodesigned and in our minds, Hey,
(39:58):
we're gonna be a playoff team,so we can go scout and week teen
and and be prepared for whoever ourpoem's gonna be. Coach, I don't
know if you realize this, butI just noticed something. Looking at your
non region schedule Dayville, Childersberg andSax. You basically are playing two A
Region four and three A Region four. I mean you book three three area
you wear's my Welbn Panthers. Whydidn't you play my Welbourn Panthers. You
(40:21):
don't have to answer that question,please don't. But coach, let's uh,
let's just be real for a minute. I'm gonna give you some rat
poison, which I know you justlove. And I went on record and
said this a couple of weeks ago, and I truly believe it. I
think your team's gonna win two A. I just talked to coach Marc O'Brian
the Cousa Christian Conquerors just a littlebit earlier ago, and talked about their
loss to Pickens County and them havingbasically everybody back this year, and I
(40:45):
told him I really truly believe they'regonna win one A. And I truly
believe you guys are gonna beat fiveand A rematch. I know you're like,
I don't even want to think aboutthat. So this is the purpose
of the question is exactly that,how do you get your guys to stay
focused on the week to week task? When they see social media, they
see the news, they see mediapeople like me who are saying we want
the five bbcomer rematch. How doyou get them to stay focused on the
(41:07):
week to week task. It's it'stough to do, and uh you know
it's something that uh you know,every time something is brought up, we
kind of bring them back to reality, so to speak, and and and
put some put some some twist onit as far as, hey, you
know, we've got to prove somethingfor this year and and this team's this
(41:29):
team's not last year's team. Sothis team has different chemistry and different makeup
and can be a successful and moresuccessful and last year's team. But we
have to prove it. We havesomething to prove. So, you know,
quote quoting my my, uh myGeorgia Bulldog coach, the best never
risk, so uh we can't.We can't sit and risk. We gotta
(41:51):
go to work every day, andand that's what we've done. I'll tell
you, yesterday was probably one ofthe best practices I've been around since I've
been at Comer, and I was, you know, I was, I
was searching for a good practice.I mean, had some some matter practices,
and the weather kind of toyed withus a little bit in the first
day of school, and all ofthe psychological things that you know, non
(42:13):
coaches don't even think plays into things. I've been enough after. I mean,
yesterday, we go out and havethis great practice and we're bouncing around
and we're hitting even we're doing allthese great things. So we just got
to keep that keep that energy,and keep that emphasis and then get after
it. Coach, last question Igot for you. You opened the season
up against Dadeville, who was aplayoff team in three A last season.
(42:37):
They did lose a lot of seniorsI think twenty two or twenty three.
But let's talk about Dadeville opening theseason against them. It's a really good
program. You typically play them everyseason. Talk about playing Dadeville and your
guys getting to play another team forthe first time. Yeah, so last
year I felt like they were theywere loading. They had had some some
(42:59):
players they where and I know helost all those guys, but he has
some young guys that we're dang goodtoo. So, Uh, one thing
about coach McDonald's he's gonna do whathe does. So we're we're pretty familiar
with what he's gonna do offensively,and uh, just being able to stop
it is gonna be key and thenbe able to put put our offense in
(43:20):
motion. So offensively, I feellike we have a ton of weapons and
a ton of options that we canuse. Everybody focuses on more, but
uh, I can't forget about RichardWeed and Rayley on sims and the different
things that they can do at thereceiver position or or even in the backfield.
So we're able to have a differentcombination when we throw Tristan gear and
(43:45):
in Uh in the backfield let himrun the ball. So he's a completely
different runner than Uh Camorious. Sooffensively, we have some weapons. We've
gotta uh excuse me, I'm kindathey have our identity. And I talked
to coach coach figm offense corner isa great young mind, great young coach,
(44:06):
and he's a man. He's gothe's got the offense down to the
science, and he's gotten better everyyear that he's been here. We've broke
our own scoring record every year sincehe's been here. And so you know,
for us to first met to getthe offense on the field and four
points, it's gonna be key andputting our defense in good situations when they're
on the field. So our ourkicking game's gotta be key. And obviously
(44:29):
we we have you know, wehave Chris Chris Wilson his offense and defensive
linement for us, and he's anotherguy that should be getting getting offers left
and right that that nobody's uh,committed to yet, but he also punts
for us. He can average aboutforty yards of punt, so he's he's
split the field for us a coupleof times and over the seasons, and
(44:52):
he's got to be on to helpus out defensively. And then Devin Harvey,
it's our quarterback in safety. Twothose two guys are are college athletes
that are somebody's gonna get a stealon those two guys. And Bbcomer Tigers.
(45:12):
They proved they belong in twenty twentytwo. What will they prove in
twenty twenty three? That is tobe determined. Head coach Adam Fossett on
Big Wax Coach, thank you somuch for taking time this morning. Hey,
thank you. I appreciate having meall all right, Coach Adam foss
the Bbcomer Tigers, we will seehow they do this season. I'm expecting
them to play five and a rematchfor a two A state championship. You
heard him talk about Kamar Harris anda few different guys. There's a lot
(45:36):
of key players for Bbcomer that aregonna make this team one of the most
dangerous teams into a football And let'sjust be honest, nobody wants a moral
victory. But here's the hope thatBbcomers football team can take some satisfaction from
what it accomplished last season's The Tigersgave a tremendous effort in what was of
forty to twenty eight loss last seasonto football powerhouse five in the Class two
A state finals. Nobody played fivecloser last year than bbcmor did. And
(46:00):
if it was not for an awfulsix minute stretch in the second quarter,
who knows A turnover on downs,a fumble, a misplayed kickoff led to
fives three touchdowns the first three touchdownsthey had, and just before the end
of a half, before the endof the half, an interception result in
four touchdown. You cut those issuesin half and perhaps we're talking about Bbcomber's
(46:22):
first state football championship or not.Either way, Fawcett's program reached the highest
stage in high school football, improvedthat it belonged, and Bbcomer is not
far away. They're not going anywhere. He only had six seniors, with
a bundle of returning players including elevenjuniors and a collection of sophomores. These
(46:43):
guys contributed plenty of the last year'stwelve wins season, and they'll serve as
the base for another good team thisseason. This is what you get when
you build a solid program like whatFawcett and his staff and players have built
is basically a program, not ateam, and so Bbcomer hasn't built a
here today, gone tomorrow team.They built a program that will last.
So don't be surprised when bb Comeris right back in the finals this year.
(47:05):
Don't be surprised if they win thetwo A state championship. And you
know what's even cool about this storyis that when Fawcett arrived at Bbcomer back
in twenty eighteen, the program hadwon seven games in four years, and
his second season, the Tigers managedsix wins in their first playoff victory in
nineteen years. They've won thirty ninegames in Fawcett's five years. They've gotten
to the second round of the playoffsin each of the last four seasons,
(47:27):
and last year they won reaching Crownand made the state finals. They had
not done either of those since nineteenninety five. They have a star level
player in Camore Harris. He's asenior. He picked up one hundred and
eighty yards and a pair of touchdownsin that state championship game against Five.
He had eight hundred eight rushing yardsin five playoff games along along with eleven
Russian touchdowns and two scoring receptions.He's the reigning two eight back of the
(47:49):
Year and he has verbally committed toplay football for the University of Memphis.
The Memphis The Memphis Tigers are amember of the American Athletic Conference and they
have been high on Camarre Harris forquite a while. Where the second school
overall to officially offer him a scholarshipback in January. So bb Comer is
a proud football traditional program. Theywere spotty until Fawcett came. But now
(48:09):
let me tell you he has completelychanged the culture and changed the program and
community. And hey, it's unfortunatethat Bbcomer run into Five in the state
finals. If you're looking for thebest high school programs in the state of
Alabama, you're likely gonna look atThompson, Piedemont and Five, who have
been standing on the top of thathill. Five has won six state titles
in the past nine years under PaulBenefield, who's a state legend. He's
(48:31):
won two hundred nine two games atfive, his alma mater, and he
began coaching there in nineteen ninety seven. It would be fun to see five
in BB Comber in a rematch inTusca Loosa for a two A state championship,
and it would certainly be challenging forboth sides. Coach Adam Fawcett of
the b B Comber Tires. Wegot we got about one minute left on
this week's show. Michael Lorenzen ofthe Philadelphia Phillies through a no hitter this
(48:55):
week, and we have got thefinal call for you. You right here,
So here we go. Here's theno hitter. The three two pitch
swang on popped up shallow center field. Roha sprinting it. He's under it,
he has space, makes the catchat Michael Lorenzen, let's throw the
fourteenth no hitter in Philadelphia Phillies history. You heard it. Michael Lorensen completed
(49:20):
the fourteenth no hitter in team historyin a seven to zero victory over the
Washington Nationals. It was the Philadelphias. It was Philadelphia's first no hitter since
Cole Hamil's back in twenty fifteen,first at home. Since Roy Holliday back
in twenty ten. Congratulations to MichaelLorenzen on having a no hitter. He
only in a second start for Phillygot traded at the deadline from the Detroit
Tigers, and only in a secondstart for the Philadelphia Phillies does he throw
(49:44):
a no hitter. Nick Saban broughtPete Rose to Tuscaloosa to speak to the
football team about gambling. Alabama camein third place and the coaches pulled to
start this season. But that's allwe got this week on the pit Stop.
I hope to see you next weekon news Radio one oh one nine Big Wax
All right, you're listening to newsradio one oh one nine Big Wax.
This is the Pitt Stop and I'myour host, name of Pitts. We
have reached August twelfth, and thatmeans football season is here. Jamboree's kick
up this week, and I amexcited to be joined this morning by one
of my favorite coaches in the area. He has been welcomed me. He
(00:26):
has welcomed me with open arms tohis facility numerous times. We are joined
this morning by Custer Christian head coachMarc O'Bryant. Coach Marcobrant began his head
coaching career back in two thousand andnine at Cleveland High School. He coached
two years at Cleveland, where theywent fourteen and nine. He led the
program to back to back playoff appearances. In twenty twelve, he took the
Asheville head coaching job, where hewent three and seven. Was there for
(00:49):
only one season, few assistant coachpositions in between. He was spent some
time at Oxford, some few differentplaces, and then in two twenty coach
Marc O'Bryant became the head coach ofthe Custer Christian High schools. He is
entering his fourth year at Custer Christianwhere they are sixteen eighteen, but he
has completely flipped a script. Hehas completely changed the culture of Custer Custer
Christian and they are coming off atnine and five season where they lost in
(01:11):
the one A state semifinals. Coach, good morning man, thank you for
spending some time with us. Goodmorning, buddy, It's good to hear
from me. Absolutely, coach.Let's just get right into it. Let's
talk about last season. You guysfell in the state semifinals. It was
a devastating loss. You kick afield goal, looks as if you're just
moments away from clinching a spot onthe one A state championship game, and
(01:32):
then it was one hell Mary anda very controversial call at the end of
the game that prevented you guys fromthat ultimate goal of reaching the state championship
game. But last season is inthe past. So when I say we're
turning the page, I just wantto quickly recap, you know, how
you turn the page from a momentlike that, how you take that as
a moment to get better. Andthen I want to transition into the guys
(01:52):
that you lost to graduation and talkabout the guys that you have coming back
this season. Okay, so we'llstart with the first question, how do
we transition? Well, the thingis, yeah, it was a controversial
call, but you know, whenyou leave it into the hand, Like
I told the guys after the game, you know, they crying, I
(02:12):
told them, drive the tears up. You know, nobody, nobody cares
about whiners. You know, here'sthe thing. You go, you go,
you go drama team by thirty fiveforty two points. They won't be
no controversial call. Okay, Sothat is our own fault, our own
demise. We I hope we learnedfrom it, and I hope we've gotten
better from it. And you know, of course we were placing some starters.
(02:38):
I think we've had three off statekids last year, two of them
which were seniors. And I feellike I feel like we're setting in a
good position if we stay healthy.Coach, who are some of those guys
that you have returning to your programthis season. Well, you gotta always
start off with the trigger man atquarterback, and you'll be a junior as
John David Jess is really really goodfootball player. You know, we've had
(03:00):
some additions to this team. SoI don't know how they're going to perform
the new editions. You'll never knowuntil the season starts. But you know,
I feel like, you know,John Davis gonna have that offense,
and I think on defense. AndI hate to even mention this one because
he happens my son Clido Bright.I mean, yeah, he made All
(03:21):
State. I mean that, youknow when he mote, you know,
a linebacker as well. I meanI think those two guys will anchor that
defense. You know, when they'retwo really good players, they're going to
be juniors as well. So Ithink that's where it starts. And then
you know, we got some youknow, we had an influence of kids
to transfer in. Uh. Ijust don't They're very talented, but you
know, I don't know how they'regonna play until I see them play a
(03:44):
game. Yeah, absolutely, andthe coach. One thing about coach O'Brian,
I figured out he don't like tothrow names out there. He's gonna
keep things as close as he canto his vest. So the coach,
let's talk about you got a night. You got some nice facilities, especially
for a one A program. Youguys got a new weight room, you
got facilities, a turf, indoorfield, you've got a nutritious program this.
I mean, just talk about thefacilities you guys have at Cousa Christian.
(04:06):
Well, when I got here,we had no facilities, and I
think you remember seeing that, andso we made a real conscious effort to
try to improve that. And youknow, and so I feel like our
weight rooms as nice as anything inthe state of Alabama. It's very functional,
you know, it's uh and ofcourse you know with these forty yard
(04:26):
indoor uh that we have. Andbut I think the biggest thing is the
nutrition program. I think that's whatseparates us from everybody else. I know,
I know Rush does it the FellCity because I know that because I've
copied it. Uh. So whenI think that is the that is the
determinative factor. You know, thesekids are getting fed a ton of food
every day and then each snacks.It's it's you know, I have food
(04:48):
catered in every single day, andso these kids go home full, they
come they come here and they getfull, and they stay full throughout the
course of the day. And Ithink that's really important because the most important
part weightlifting is not weightlifting, itis eating. All Right, and so,
and we're supplying them with that food. So I think that's our biggest
(05:10):
momentum mover, right, there isthe amount of food that we put in
these kids bodies. Coach, wherehave you seen the biggest growth this summer
personally out of your team? Butalso what do you feel like is the
thing you guys need to improve onmost is the football season is almost here.
The other thing that we've got toimproved most is always, this will
always be the answer every year,is chemistry. Because you're only as good
is you know, we had wehad a seen the seal teams. You're
(05:32):
only as fast as your slowest man. And what that means is, you
know, you're only as good asyour weakest link, right, And so
your chemistry, you know a lotof times in one day through seven day,
you know your top five players oryour top five players are always going
to perform. That's not how youwin the state championship. You win the
state championship with the bottom end ofyour lineup. And so that's where you've
(05:54):
got at its seal at is thebottom end of the lineup. So chemistry
is definitely the most important thing thatwe've got to continue to improve on that
will make or break our season.That did and kids stand healthy, the
things that I see, that's thebiggest improvement. I think we're a lot
faster, and I know we're alot stronger. I think we have twenty
two kids on our roster under afive flat to forty and that's huge.
(06:16):
We also have about twenty three twentyfour kids cleaning over two hundred pounds and
that's always the barrier I used tosee the strength of the kid absolutely.
Coach, let's talk about the strengthof your quarterback. I mean, he's
probably your probably I would say,the strongest player on your team, arguably
up there with cleet if offensively anddefensively. Statistics prove that, and he
had over two thousand and two hundredand twenty seven yards last year, twenty
(06:36):
five touchdowns. Just talk about whathe brings to your program and what are
your expectations for him this season?Just to continue to grow. You know,
we didn't do you know, wedidn't do audible checks with him last
year and on a lot for himto grow into that. I think that's
the next evolution of him. Youknow, he's a three year starter.
(06:57):
He started since eighth grade, sohe's you know, he's really a this
is going into this fourth year ofstarting offer us, you know. But
the thing that I think he bringsto the table, he's a different bird
now. Uh. He is sucha calm kid. I mean, you
know, and I told somebody thisother day on the interview. You know,
you can read him out naming andhe'll look at you and you're like,
is this kid even listening to me? Yeah, he's listening. It's
(07:19):
just nothing rattles it. He's he'sthe most calm kid I think I've ever
coached in my life. Nothing Likeyou can literally get in the space,
ream him out yet at him,and he's just gonna look at you and
say yes, sir. And that'sit. And that's that's not coach talk.
That is the truth. And I'mthinking, no, walk away And
you're like, did this kid evenpay attention to me? Yeah, he
(07:41):
pay attention. He's just that kid. He's he's just that kid. But
you know, he's been raised wellby his parents. You know, when
he's he's a he's a big baseballkid, and he's always been a dude
in the baseball field, and youknow, he's that guy in the baseball
field this year. I mean,you know, when no two outs you
wanted him to line up, hedidn't strike out, and and and that's
(08:03):
the thing. You know, Youshow me a kid that don't strike out
baseball, and I'll show you akid that can make clutch plays. That's
good. I like that. Coachone A Region seven. This is it's
not an easy region in one ofyou got Appalachian Cedar Bluff, the cat
Heritage, Gills, will Valley,Hood, Woodville. Just break down this
region. It's a really good region. You know, it gets overlooked by
the Pickens County region, and Iguess rightfully. So Pickens County's got a
(08:26):
great history in that region's got agreat history of winning a lot of games
and knocking this region out in thefirst round. But if you go back
and you look the last couple ofyears, this region's really I thought performed
well in the playoffs, and soI think it's often overlooked. It doesn't
get a lot of love. Youknow, statewide, everybody overlooks it.
But there's a lot of really goodteams and no well coached teams. These
(08:48):
teams are well I coached at thebiggest level and I'm telling you this team,
these teams that we play are wellcoached, often very well coached,
and so you know the challenge infront of us. We're not a surefire
region winner by no chance. Imean, there's some really really well coached
football teams in this region, andso you know we're gonna have to bring
(09:09):
our a game every time we playa region game, period. Absolutely,
and coach. With that being said, you come off on one at final
or state semifinals appearance. And I'llbe honest with you, the people that
I've talked to personally, there's alot of people that have high expectations of
Cousa Christian football this season. EvenI would go as far to give you
some rat poison on air right nowand say my pick to win one A
(09:30):
right now is Cousa Christian. Andso, how do you get your guys
to stay focused on the task eachweek and not be influenced by the pressure
that the media might put on themas the season goes Yeah, that's that's
a million dollar question. And allyou can do is tell the kids,
and you hope they're mature enough torealize that. And I'm not knocking you.
I think the world are you,Okay, But how in the world
(09:54):
can anybody in the media predict AndI'm not knocking you, okay, your
job and I certain and you know, I appreciate what you do, absolutely,
but how how anybody in the worldcan predict we're gonna win when they're
not here every day and I can'teven make that prediction. I'm here every
single day with these kids, eighthours a day, all right. So
(10:16):
that's the things that I tell thekids. And ain't no knock on you
guys. I want y'all to keepdoing what y'all doing. Hey, that's
what it's all about, right,that's what makes it fun. Right,
So the same token, I've gota different mission statement on the football field.
And so the ones that knows thesekids the best is me and and
so I don't even know if wecan make it to the state championship.
(10:37):
I don't even know if we makeit the playoffs, okay, So you
know, and that's what I justreiterate that the kids is, don't listen
to anybody that's not here with youevery single day. So you know,
that's just what it is. Well, coach, that's a good answer,
a good response. Everybody listening.He's a humble guy. Just remember that
too. After his response for coach, let's talk about you got a jamboree
(10:58):
this week. There's gonna be somereally good teams. They are gonna make
their way up to Gas and AcoustaChristian. You've got six a head coach
Rush Propes, he's one of thegreatest coaches in the country period, and
he's bringing Pell City to Cousa.You've got for a powerhouse Hanley, who
has, in my opinion, oneof the greatest coaches in Alabama history.
And Larry Strain. And then you'vegot seven eight Albertville and first year head
(11:20):
coach Burt Brown coming to Cousa.So to just talk about Jamber eight Thursday
night. Yeah, it's a greatcollege, isn't it? You know?
And and like I told, likeI told our boost club, who would
have thought three years ago that wewould have these teams coming to Cousa Christian
and Gas in Alabama? You know, you would have thought they would have
come to gas and City High School. So that's that's the really cool thing
(11:43):
with the transition. But I dobelieve, you know, Rush is a
mental He's been you know, he'smentor me and and so and so,
I think the world of Russ.He's like a honestly, he's like a
a very very close brother mine.I came from his coaching tree. So
I think the world for us.I think I've said it a million times.
I said to me in one Ibelieve he's the greatest high school coach
(12:07):
to every coach high school football,all right, And that's enough set on
him, all right. So CoachShrane legend, he's a Hall of Fame
coach. So and I really believethey've got a shot to win this thing
in for rate. Absolutely. Andthen you've got coach Brown, who is
unbelievably first class guy. Okay,I taught to him quite a bit,
and he comes from the college level. He knows how to coach football.
(12:30):
So I think, you know,he'll make big improvements with him as well.
And I think you'll see a differentOpera Bill team this year and the
years to come. Absolutely, we'llkeep our eyes on Albertville looking for some
consistency for the first time in alittle while under coach Brown. But Coach
Mark O'Brien, thecousa Christian Conquers coach, thank you so much. For taking
time this morning to join us onBig Wax. Thank you, brother,
You're wating anytime, okay, allright, Coach, see you Thursday night,
(12:54):
all right, thank you, allright. Coach Mark O'Brien joined us
this morning on Wax and Cusa Christian. Let me tell you this team.
I said it to him on theair, and I will say it again.
They are my pick to win Classone A. They made the state
semifinals last year. They were rightthere and it was a controversial play that
was the reason they didn't make thestate championship. And again Custer Christian was
(13:15):
right there. It was nineteen secondsleft in the twenty twenty two won A
state semifinals. They were on theroad down at Pickens County. If you
know anything about one A football,you know that Pickens County is a powerhouse.
They are there every single year,competing, always making appearances in the
state championship game. The Tornadoes arelegit. Couster Christian nineteen seconds left in
the game, Jaden Burns made afield goal to give Custer Christians the lead.
(13:37):
And it was not a short fieldgoal neither, guys. It was
a long field goal. In nineteenseconds left, a lot of people started
celebrating, knowing that they've won thegame, They've clinched the spot in the
state championship game. But Pickens Countydrove within range. They threw a hell
Mary pass, the guy come runningout of the end zone to catch it.
He caught it as he was runningout of the end zone and was
tackled right outside of it, connectedby a matter of inches in the rough.
(14:00):
Freese said that it was a touchdown. Some say that it was not
a touchdown. Some say that itwas a touchdown. The question was did
he catch it in the end zonebefore he crossed the plane going out of
the end zone. The referees atthe time thought he did. I personally
watching did not think he did.But again, everybody has their opinions on
it, and that just goes toshow you that the game is literally not
(14:20):
over until that buzzer rings. Nomatter if it's inches, the game is
still going. So as Custer Christiangets ready to start another year, the
goal is simple not to feel thesame way that they felt at the end
of last season. KUSA wants tobring a state title back. They want
a Blue Map trophy to go toCuster Christian they want to go undefeated.
They want to achieve that goal.Don't let coach o'brant for you. They
want to do those things what coachand what team would not. They're coming
(14:41):
off at nine and five season again. They return about eighteen starters, nine
on each side of the ball fromlast year's team. But more importantly,
it returns their star quarterback Justice,who accounted forever twenty two hundred and twenty
seven yards and twenty five touchdowns.He heard coach O'Brian talk about his son
cleto'briant. He recorded one hundred andforty six tackles last year, including twenty
(15:03):
four loss. He cost six turnoverslast season, and the defense returns a
bunch of its leading tacklers beyond justO'Brien. That includes Moats, Drake Dupre
and DJ mackey and Moates and Justicewill lead the offense once again. What
could end up being a major differencemaker this year is they are special teams,
especially at the one eight level.It's Burns who went on to forty
(15:24):
went forty nine for fifty three onextra points last year, and he went
six for nine on field goals.Puntingwise, he had thirty seven points,
averaging more than forty yards with eightdropping inside the twenty yard line. Special
teams is a big deal, especiallyin one A football. If you got
that guy that can make those pats, can put a team back deep is
a recipe for success. The biggestchallenge that coach O'Brien his team are gonna
(15:50):
have to battle is what you heardhim talk about, and it's staying composure.
It's staying consistent week by week,not getting caught up. It's building
chemistry ultimately as a team playing selfplus football. And again, the biggest
change they're gonna have is death.O'Brien would tell you that he has around
twenty seven players that are gonna makecontributions this year, up from around twenty
(16:11):
last year, so high expectations forthe Cockers of CUSA. Christian coach Marc
O'Brien joined us on news Radio oneoh one nine. Big Wax has always
we do. Our congrats and condolencesin this week's congratulations goes to Jose Altuve
of the Houston Astros. He hadjoined the two hundred career home run list
this past week. He became justa fifth player to hit two hundred career
(16:32):
home runs. As an Astro whenhe blasted a third inning home run off
of the Yankees at Yankee Stadium,it was just one or it was one
of just two hits for the Astrosand what was it? Three to one
loss? Altuve joins Jeff Bagwell,Lance Bergman, Craig Biggio, and Jimmy
Winn as the other players with atleast two hundred home runs as an Astro.
He's also just twenty one hits awayfrom joining Bagwell and Big Yeo as
(16:55):
the only players in franchise history withtwo thousand career hits. So congratulations to
Jose Altuve on joining the two hundredcareer homer list. Of course, the
thirty three year old second baseman isall over the Astros offensive leader board besides
hits and home runs, a secondin career bat and average, third in
runs, third in doubles. Healso stole a base last week, giving
(17:15):
him two hundred and eighty eight forhis career, tying him with Jose Cruz
for third on the franchise all timeleaderboard. The four teams who have given
up the most alt two home runsall reside in the American League East,
led by the Texas Rangers with twentyseven. The team outside the division that
has surrendered the most at two roundtrippers the Yankees with twelve. Congratulations to
(17:36):
jose Al Tuova on joining the twohundred career home home run list. Our
condolence this week goes out to thePack twelve. Oh what it was,
but oh what it will soon notbe. The sadness in the pain they
have all left already. It wasa colorful, colorful initiation. Back in
two thousand and six, after oneof the first games of Marshawn Lynch's career,
(18:00):
he took the injury cart for ajoy ride. Standing on the field
as Lynch bobbed his head and weavethrough traffic, it feared him and a
hundred other people that he was ayoung beast mode being beast mode, celebrating
after scoring the winning touchdown in anovertime victory against Washington. It was just
another wild afternoon in a conference thathad stood stubborn but lovable for one hundred
and eight years. This league atthe time was called the PAC ten,
(18:22):
now known as the PAC twelve.But this Pac twelve division might not make
it another year. And I gottabe honest with you, guys. It's
depressing. College football has seen abig realignment here lately, and it has
conquered the West and sold it forits parts. It scattered eight of the
schools, forcing the remaining four inscrambles. It was in twenty twenty It
will be in twenty twenty four whenthe Big Ten will add usc, UCLA,
(18:45):
Washington, and Oregon to form amonster eighteen eighteen team league. The
Big Twelve will take Arizona, ArizonaState, Colorado, and Utah to create
a Monster sixteen team division. Neitherconference will change its names because as well,
why I'm bother anymore. To behonest with you, guys, this
makes no regional sense. It makesno particular sense for athletic departments to trek
(19:06):
across the country in all sports becauseof football power struggle demands it too.
What about the baseball players that playa weekend series? What about the softball
players, the basketball players? Whatabout mental health? Do you want them
to be in Maryland? You wantto go from Eugene, Oregon to Maryland
to play a game on the weekendand then be in class the next day.
I'm telling you, I think thisis bad for the mental health,
(19:29):
which is a problem we've seen acrossAmerica. It's more than just the game
of football. Now, I thinkthe Pac twelves week absolutely is there a
division that you need to get ridof. If you're going to get rid
of one of the major ones,it's the Pac twelve. So don't get
me wrong. I'm excited for Saturdays. I'm ready for college game day and
to see what happens. But tounderstand the mental healthness of these athletes,
that is something that I don't thinkis being considered. And I'm just I
(19:51):
have mixed feelings about this, tobe honest with you guys, and to
just understand the deaths of what's reallyhappening. Look at Stanford and Cal eight
area rivals that share academic prestigious havelong standing commitments to excellence through their athletic
departments. Stanford has won one hundredand thirty four NC Double A national championships,
dominates the annual Director's Cup, themeasures proficiency across all sports, and
(20:14):
here they are stranded with nowhere togo and if they're not desirable, and
the platitudes about caring for student athletesand valuing the entire athlete department hold even
last credibility. I mean, whatdo you do. I mean, you've
got Stanford and cal who Yes,they have struggled recently, and you've had
a little interest from the ACC.But there's no more joy rides for anyone.
(20:36):
And this is what happens when youlop off an entire region in the
PAC twelve has done plenty of selfharm, failing to modernize, hiring bad
commissioner fits, to navigate a changinglandscape, and basically, it's it that's
gone. That's all we're gonna see. And there's five teams in this season's
PAC twelve that were in the preseasoncoaches poll. Usc was number six,
Washington was number eleven, Utah wasnumber fourteen, Oregon was number fifteen,
(21:00):
and Oregon State was number eighteen.The PAC twelve turned six quarterbacks who surpassed
three hundred or three thousand excuse mepassing yards last season, including Heisman Trophy
winner Caleb Williams, who is thetop pick presumably in the twenty twenty three
NFL draft. So condolences go tothe PAC twelve as the division is all
but gone. Good news this weeknot good news for the United States soccer
(21:22):
team, but good news for someonelike me who, honestly, I'm not
gonna lie. I kind of wantto see them lose because I don't I
have a hard time finding respect forpeople that disrespect are military, the ones
that put their life on the frontline. And although as an American I
would like to have seen them winbecause they are the United States in terms
of the players and individuals who refuseto support our country, I did have
(21:45):
a little bit of a bad tasteabout that. I am a conservative to
keep that in mind, but theUnited States women's soccer team has been eliminated
from the Women's World Cup. Itwas a heartbreaking loss to Sweden in the
round of sixteen. The defending championslost on penalty kicks five to four,
with the final dagger barely breaking theplane of the goal to send Sweden to
the next round. The Americans bidto win an unpresidented third consecutive title ended.
(22:10):
It's the earliest in tournament history forthe United States. The two time
ranning champions and four time winners,the United States was eliminated in the round
of sixteen for the first time inteam history, and the Americans worst finish
had been third place three times.The loss was somewhat expected based on the
Americans listless play through three group stagematches, but they played their best game
(22:32):
of this World Cup against Sweden,only to have it decided on penalty kicks.
It was the first match at thisyear's World Cup to go to extra
time, and it was the fourtime the Americans went to extra time at
the World Cup. But ultimately Swedenknocked the United States out. And man,
you hate to see it, butin a way, again, they
didn't want to stand, they didn'twant to sing our national anthem. They
(22:52):
didn't want to respect the ones thatput their life on the front line.
And I personally don't have empathy forpeople that do that. So I'm sorry,
but that's how I feel in myopinion on that. I don't see
changing. Did you hear what happened? Jose Ramirez and Tim Anderson got in
a fight. I've got the audioright here. Listen to this and another
(23:15):
house Soul double right over the bagat first down, Jose and Anderson sweare
up. They're fighting. They're swingingdown. Goes Anderson down, Goes Anderson
down, Goes Anderson down, GoesAnderson. What a call by the Cleveland
Guardians. Tom Hamilton's and that's rightChicago White Socks. Tim Anderson was at
(23:40):
second base when Jose Ramerera slid inunder him, had a little bit of
a controversy, a fight broke out. Jose Ramire has definitely won. He
got the best punch, knocking TimAnderson on his butt. And I can
just hear Bruce Ruffer going na thewinner by knockout Jose Rameraz of the Cleveland
Guardians up anyway, Jose Romerez hasbeen suspended three games, Tim Anderson six.
(24:04):
Of course, both are gonna pill. This pill's probably gonna fail.
We also seen the managers get suspendedone game and all parties are in curred
fines. Yeah, when something likethis happens, there's a price that's got
to be paid. And that's exactlywhat's gonna happen. The two teams clash
when Ramerez Anderson squared off in nearsecond base after Ramerez slid in safely on
(24:25):
a double and the bottom of thesixth inning. The fight really had been
built up over several days of trashtalking and gesturing between the teams. But
needless to say, yeah, we'llsee what happens. But fight broke out
between Tim Anderson and Jose Ramerez andJose Ramerez did get the last laugh.
But anyway, we're gonna keep talkingto MLB Baseball in a little bit,
(24:45):
but we do have to take abreak on Wax again. We gotta take
a news and weather break. You'relistening to the pit Stop on one O
one nine. Big Wax will beright back and talk more high school football
with BB Comber Tiger's head coach AdamFawcett. Welcome back into news radio one
(25:07):
O one nine Big Wax. You'relistening to the pit Stop and I'm your
host, name of Pitts, andI am joined by my favorite coach.
I tried to say it every timeand it has not changed. He is
my favorite coach in the area,probably in the state of Alabama. Just
from the first time I met CoachAdam Fosse of the Bbcomber Tigers, he
just man was such a nice guywho loves the Lord, does his best
(25:32):
to lead us program in a godlyway, and they proved something in two
twenty two. They're looking to dothe same thing in two thousand twenty three.
Let me give you a little backgroundinformation on head coach Adam Fosse of
the Bbcomber Tigers. He began hishead coaching career in two thousand and eight
at Winniborough High School. He coachedfour years at Winnerborough where they went thirty
and fifteen. He led them tothe playoffs three out of four seasons.
(25:55):
In two twelve, he took tothe head coaching position at Childsburg, where
he went twenty three and twenty oneone and led that team to the playoffs
three out of four seasons. Itwas in twenty and sixteen where coach Fosset
made the jump to seven eight footballat Smith's Station. Things were a little
rocky in his two seasons there.After going two and eighteen, Coach Adam
Fossett found himself back in the Silicagaarea as the head coach of the Bbcomber
(26:15):
Tigers. In twenty eighteen, CoachFosset became the head coach of what was
a struggling Bbcommer program. They barelyhad enough players to even field a team.
But he is now entering his sixthseason at Bbcomber where he is thirty
nine and twenty two. He hascompletely changed the football program. He has
completely changed the community. They arecoming off a twelve and three season where
(26:36):
they lost in the two A statechampionship game to the five Red Devil's coach
Fawsett, it is an honor tobe with you. Thank you for taking
time this one and to join me. Yes, sir, I appreciate you
having me, oh man, Iappreciate that. That was a lot of
accolades. Man. I don't knowif I'm worthy of all that, but
been blessed to be in a coupleof different places and enjoying being here and
(26:57):
things that are going on here,and just excited about a new season.
Absolutely, Coach, you said thatthat was too many accolades. I could
probably go on with more, tobe honest with you, But Coach,
let's just kind of recap last season. I don't want to get deep into
it because nobody likes talking about thingswhen they end on a bad note.
But you did get to you didget the experience of playing in a state
(27:18):
championship game. So this is kindof a two parter. What was it
like to get to coach in agame like the state championship game at Jordan
Hare And then let's talk about whoyou lost to graduation and who we can
expect to have returning for you thisseason. Yeah, first of all,
the environment and Jordan Hare was great, man. This to build up to
it, and the support that ourcommunity gave us, and the support that
(27:42):
the people in the Auburn Ople Igave us. You know, we were
assigned some two hosts and man,they made sure everything was kind of taking
care of for as they got aschedule. You know, we worked together
to get a schedule together and alot of moving parts when you're doing that.
So I enjoyed that a lot.You know, being on the sidelines
(28:03):
there and just just coaching there waswas kind of surreal. It was some
people of best you know where thewhere your kids overwhelmed. I'm like,
man, I'm forty four years oldand I was overwhelmed. So you get
out there and you get ready foryou for all the normalcy and there's nothing
normal about it. So you're you'remeeting with people and talking to people and
(28:25):
having to take some pictures and thingslike that. So it's a it's a
it's a lot different than a regularFriday night. So when we got to
experience under us and uh, youknow, it didn't obviously didn't turn out
the way we wanted to proud ofour guys for continuing to fight, obviously,
but just come up short and uh, too many turnovers for us to
stay in the game. So asfar as seniors we lost, we lost
(28:49):
a handful of seniors. You know, losing Brandon ling Chip and Zach Carpenter
were too big losses for us onthe offensive and defensive line. And uh,
both of those guys, we're reallyreally solid for us, and they've
been in the program since eighth grade, so they knew the system front and
back, and uh, we're we'rebig contributors for us. Lost the receiver
(29:12):
in dB and James Carmichael, andthen lost Ji Gadis on the defensive end
and as a fullback sniffer type guyfor us, played a little tighty end
for us. So, uh,losing those guys, uh, and then
losing Adam Odem was was that wastough for us to lose those guys,
(29:32):
but uh, you know, ina way, it's set up you gotta
you gotta move forward and move on. And uh we're trying to fill those
boards now and trying to figure outwhat works best for our program. And
uh, have we've got twelve seniorsthis year and a lot of a lot
of a lot of guys back,a lot of guys ready to get after
it, and uh, you know, hopefully we can we can fill those
(29:53):
boards and and continue to be successful. Coach, Like Nick Saban says all
the time, and when you builda w program, other schools come colin
they need coaches. And so youlost several coaches this off season and you
had to replace them. So justtalk a little bit about the coaching staff
this season and then talk about whereyou've seen your team grow the most this
summer, but also where you thinkthey need to improve the most as the
(30:17):
season quickly approaches. Yeah, weyou know, we've had we've had to
replacement coaches and that comes with thecomes with the territory. You know,
you just have to you have tohave to move on, you know,
And that's uh, that's been beenone of those things you talk to the
kids about a lot, is youknow, it's not personal. You know
that the guys are going to otherthings, and uh it may work out
(30:40):
for him and it may not workout for him, just based on their
decision, but always supportive of that. Lost lost two really good coaches that
defence Cornery coach Stafford and the coachStrickland who was all around and coach linebackers
running backs, helped me with offensiveline when he needed to. So UH,
losing those two guys hurt us alot. UH losing coach Bryant Hurst
(31:03):
just from a dB standpoint and coachedthose guys and did well with that.
So so we brought some guys in. UH. Coach Blackerby UH came from
Nicholas Lawson. UH coach Puco camefrom Alexandria. UH he was a long
snapper who played at UAB and thenUH coach Teague is a guy that has
(31:26):
college experience as coach at the highschool level in this area UH some in
the past couple of years, andbrought him in to help us with our
D line and help us all ourdefense. So you got you got guys
that are here and then are readyto go. And you know it's once
you're once you're in year six,you you you're able to establish your system,
(31:47):
so to speak, and and justbuild on the system that you have.
And that's that's what we're trying todo now, is just build on
what we have and UH and continueto improve and not be complacent. You
know this summer us. You knowthey're talking about the summer work and things
like that. The big issue onthe front end was complacency. And you
(32:07):
know, we we we got there. We didn't win the whole thing.
We got there, but you know, explain to our guys, Hey,
everybody is going to give you theirbest game. Now you're gonna get every
team's best game because they're gonna wantto beat you, especially in our region.
You know, we we win theregion, and some of those other
(32:29):
region teams they you know, theywant that crown as well. So so
that the overcoming some complacency was probablyone of our issues. And then how
we've started to to overcome that andget after is one of the things that
I'm proud of them, especially latein the summer. And we had seven
on sevens and things like that whereearly on they did not did not turn
(32:52):
out well and we just didn't performwell. And then we finished up at
Westbrook Christian and play well and winthat seven on seven there. So uh
and I'm not a yeah at sevenon sevens two coaches in the love them
or hate them. When we goto seven on sevens, man, we
do our stuff. We're not.We're not coaching to win a seven on
(33:14):
seven, So so we continue todo our stuff. When we do that,
we're not We're not throwing verticals allthe time and just going deep all
the time. So we're trying toget better at our trade and get better
at what we do. Coach,you got one of the best running backs
in the state of Alabama in anyclassification. He's the best running back in
Class two A without doubt, KamoreHarris, and he's racked up some incredible
(33:37):
statistics in his high school career.In just the last two seasons, he's
amazed three thousand, five hundred seventyeight rushing yards and forty five touchdowns on
offense. But people don't even talkabout defensively, the fact that he's recorded
one hundred and sixty two tackles infive sacks. So he's committed to Memphis,
I don't know. I mean,Memphis is a great program. I'm
not knocking Memphis by any means.They got to steal. I was talking
(33:59):
about this with a g the otherday in a meeting. I could definitely
see Kemore Harris as the guy inthe NFL. One day that people go
where did this guy come from?And he just went to Memphis quietly,
had an impact career at Memphis,has a great combine, and ends up
going on the NFL. But justtalk about him, talk about the impact
he brings to your program. Obviouslyhe's let's I know, you don't want
to downplay any other player, buta lot of people talk about him when
(34:20):
they talk about bb comer. Butjust talk about the impact he does bring
to your program more than just football. But then talk about your expectations for
him this year. Yeah, youknow, he's uh, he's a game
changer for us. He's the kindof face of the program and people know
him hobnously. So you know,I didn't know his last two year stats.
(34:42):
I didn't. I hadn't really putthem all together and even looked at
it like that. But that's that'sa lot, you know, and you
look at you go to the statechampionship game. He wrenches for like one
hundred and eighty nine yards and hasfifteen tackles, so uh, and and
one of the one of the tackleshe has and tackle for loss that absolutely
shows up on a lot of people'shighlights films. So uh, he got
in the backfield and and uh,blew the play up pretty quick. And
(35:07):
uh, but he's, man,he's matured so much, he's growing so
much. Really proud of where he'sat and and with his efforts and and
and things like that. You know, it's easy. It's easy to get
to this point and commit and sayall right, you know, I'm just
I'm just gonna try and play throughmy senior season hopefullyings go well. But
(35:27):
he's uh, he's a practice everyday, getting after it. He's still
you know, he's still got thesame motor. He's not he's not sitting
back rested, he's not uh,he's not in chill mode, just just
trying to get it the next thisthis high school season or with He's committed
to it. He wants us tobe successful and and that spekes a lot
about him. And you know,him committing to Memphis, I think it
(35:50):
was felt like a good fit forhim, and and he was kind of
you know, excited about about whatthey told him and what the plans are
for him. But you know,I also think that he's I think schools
are sleeping on him. Honestly.I think there's you know, there's some
I think there's some Power five schoolsthat that could possibly reach out to him,
(36:14):
and and if that happens, thatmay change the landscape for him.
You know, So a lot ofus going to depend on on the first
half of this season and what theseschools are doing and what they're looking for.
So I could go on and onabout transfer portal, but you know,
the transfer portal of things, youknow, it kind of it kind
(36:35):
of stirs things up. You know, early on there was interested, you
know, like an Auburn for example, early on, big interest from Auburn,
and then UH coach comes in andand he lies as the transfer portal
and builds a team, and Iget that that's what he has to do.
He's got to win now because Auburn'syou know generally they're not patient.
So so he had to do that, and you know, I'm not faulting
(36:59):
him for it. But but again, the interest goes cold, and you
know, stuff like that makes makessure as a high school coach, and
I like to transfer for it atall. So but I understand both sides
of it. Or coach just calledKirby smart and asking what his problem is.
I mean, you're a faithful Georgiafan. I mean, come on,
man's see what the problem is thecoach. Let's talk two A region
(37:21):
seven or two A region four.I don't know why I said seven.
You're in the south two A regionfour. Two A region four. You've
got Central Cousa, Fayetvil, Isabella, Ramburn, Thorsby, Vincent and Woodland.
Just talk about this region. Breakit down obviously you guys and Isabella
or the front runners I would haveto imagine, but just talk about this
region as a whole. Yeah,I'll tell you that the region's gonna be
It's gonna be interesting. I think, you know. I don't. I
(37:45):
never want to like overplay us thesame means, but I do think US
and Isabella are the top teams inthe region. I think it's gonna be
a dog fight for the next twospots. You know, ram Rammond and
Thorsby are going to be interesting asfar as where they come from. Last
(38:05):
year, Rammond's always gonna be wellcoached. They were very young last year.
I lost a couple of guys,but the fairly young team. And
then Thorsby's got that They've got acouple of guys back that were injured.
Late last year and they've got alot of numbers, so I've heard as
many as sixty kids Alfred Thorsby,which is a ton for for two day
(38:30):
football. So it'll be interesting tosee the Isabella. I coached track as
well. And we're at the sectionaltrack made in north Ridge and Tusa Loosa
and Isabella's in the same section weare, and a couple of their guys
were done throwing disc and we're allwalking back to the to our tents or
(38:50):
whatever, and one of the guyssaid, your football coach to come runch
and I said yes, sir,And he said, man, we can't
wait to play all at our place. And I said, yeah, I
really am not looking forward to comingto off place. So it's a it's
a crazy environment. It was acrazy environment two years ago for that second
round game. So you know inthe middle has got it, They've got
it marked on the counter, andthey're gonna be They're gonna be ready to
(39:13):
go. So and we can't sleepon any other team neither. You know,
there's any team can beat any otherteam in any given day. So
we've got to you know old Clichecoach taught we gotta take them one at
the time, but that that's true. You know, we've gotta tell you
these things one at the time.And I do like how our schedules set
up. We get two non regionsout kind of new two nine regions the
(39:36):
week zero and week one, andthen we jump into region play so and
then week five we'll play saxon nonregion our regions, our non region schedule
be over. So I do likethat aspect of it where we can get
into that region play and get rolling, and then we have week two and
off. So that's that's more sodesigned and in our minds, Hey,
(39:58):
we're gonna be a playoff team,so we can go scout and week teen
and and be prepared for whoever ourpoem's gonna be. Coach, I don't
know if you realize this, butI just noticed something. Looking at your
non region schedule Dayville, Childersberg andSax. You basically are playing two A
Region four and three A Region four. I mean you book three three area
you wear's my Welbn Panthers. Whydidn't you play my Welbourn Panthers. You
(40:21):
don't have to answer that question,please don't. But coach, let's uh,
let's just be real for a minute. I'm gonna give you some rat
poison, which I know you justlove. And I went on record and
said this a couple of weeks ago, and I truly believe it. I
think your team's gonna win two A. I just talked to coach Marc O'Brian
the Cousa Christian Conquerors just a littlebit earlier ago, and talked about their
loss to Pickens County and them havingbasically everybody back this year, and I
(40:45):
told him I really truly believe they'regonna win one A. And I truly
believe you guys are gonna beat fiveand A rematch. I know you're like,
I don't even want to think aboutthat. So this is the purpose
of the question is exactly that,how do you get your guys to stay
focused on the week to week task? When they see social media, they
see the news, they see mediapeople like me who are saying we want
the five bbcomer rematch. How doyou get them to stay focused on the
(41:07):
week to week task. It's it'stough to do, and uh you know
it's something that uh you know,every time something is brought up, we
kind of bring them back to reality, so to speak, and and and
put some put some some twist onit as far as, hey, you
know, we've got to prove somethingfor this year and and this team's this
(41:29):
team's not last year's team. Sothis team has different chemistry and different makeup
and can be a successful and moresuccessful and last year's team. But we
have to prove it. We havesomething to prove. So, you know,
quote quoting my my, uh myGeorgia Bulldog coach, the best never
risk, so uh we can't.We can't sit and risk. We gotta
(41:51):
go to work every day, andand that's what we've done. I'll tell
you, yesterday was probably one ofthe best practices I've been around since I've
been at Comer, and I was, you know, I was, I
was searching for a good practice.I mean, had some some matter practices,
and the weather kind of toyed withus a little bit in the first
day of school, and all ofthe psychological things that you know, non
(42:13):
coaches don't even think plays into things. I've been enough after. I mean,
yesterday, we go out and havethis great practice and we're bouncing around
and we're hitting even we're doing allthese great things. So we just got
to keep that keep that energy,and keep that emphasis and then get after
it. Coach, last question Igot for you. You opened the season
up against Dadeville, who was aplayoff team in three A last season.
(42:37):
They did lose a lot of seniorsI think twenty two or twenty three.
But let's talk about Dadeville opening theseason against them. It's a really good
program. You typically play them everyseason. Talk about playing Dadeville and your
guys getting to play another team forthe first time. Yeah, so last
year I felt like they were theywere loading. They had had some some
(42:59):
players they where and I know helost all those guys, but he has
some young guys that we're dang goodtoo. So, Uh, one thing
about coach McDonald's he's gonna do whathe does. So we're we're pretty familiar
with what he's gonna do offensively,and uh, just being able to stop
it is gonna be key and thenbe able to put put our offense in
(43:20):
motion. So offensively, I feellike we have a ton of weapons and
a ton of options that we canuse. Everybody focuses on more, but
uh, I can't forget about RichardWeed and Rayley on sims and the different
things that they can do at thereceiver position or or even in the backfield.
So we're able to have a differentcombination when we throw Tristan gear and
(43:45):
in Uh in the backfield let himrun the ball. So he's a completely
different runner than Uh Camorious. Sooffensively, we have some weapons. We've
gotta uh excuse me, I'm kindathey have our identity. And I talked
to coach coach figm offense corner isa great young mind, great young coach,
(44:06):
and he's a man. He's gothe's got the offense down to the
science, and he's gotten better everyyear that he's been here. We've broke
our own scoring record every year sincehe's been here. And so you know,
for us to first met to getthe offense on the field and four
points, it's gonna be key andputting our defense in good situations when they're
on the field. So our ourkicking game's gotta be key. And obviously
(44:29):
we we have you know, wehave Chris Chris Wilson his offense and defensive
linement for us, and he's anotherguy that should be getting getting offers left
and right that that nobody's uh,committed to yet, but he also punts
for us. He can average aboutforty yards of punt, so he's he's
split the field for us a coupleof times and over the seasons, and
(44:52):
he's got to be on to helpus out defensively. And then Devin Harvey,
it's our quarterback in safety. Twothose two guys are are college athletes
that are somebody's gonna get a stealon those two guys. And Bbcomer Tigers.
(45:12):
They proved they belong in twenty twentytwo. What will they prove in
twenty twenty three? That is tobe determined. Head coach Adam Fossett on
Big Wax Coach, thank you somuch for taking time this morning. Hey,
thank you. I appreciate having meall all right, Coach Adam foss
the Bbcomer Tigers, we will seehow they do this season. I'm expecting
them to play five and a rematchfor a two A state championship. You
heard him talk about Kamar Harris anda few different guys. There's a lot
(45:36):
of key players for Bbcomer that aregonna make this team one of the most
dangerous teams into a football And let'sjust be honest, nobody wants a moral
victory. But here's the hope thatBbcomers football team can take some satisfaction from
what it accomplished last season's The Tigersgave a tremendous effort in what was of
forty to twenty eight loss last seasonto football powerhouse five in the Class two
A state finals. Nobody played fivecloser last year than bbcmor did. And
(46:00):
if it was not for an awfulsix minute stretch in the second quarter,
who knows A turnover on downs,a fumble, a misplayed kickoff led to
fives three touchdowns the first three touchdownsthey had, and just before the end
of a half, before the endof the half, an interception result in
four touchdown. You cut those issuesin half and perhaps we're talking about Bbcomber's
(46:22):
first state football championship or not.Either way, Fawcett's program reached the highest
stage in high school football, improvedthat it belonged, and Bbcomer is not
far away. They're not going anywhere. He only had six seniors, with
a bundle of returning players including elevenjuniors and a collection of sophomores. These
(46:43):
guys contributed plenty of the last year'stwelve wins season, and they'll serve as
the base for another good team thisseason. This is what you get when
you build a solid program like whatFawcett and his staff and players have built
is basically a program, not ateam, and so Bbcomer hasn't built a
here today, gone tomorrow team.They built a program that will last.
So don't be surprised when bb Comeris right back in the finals this year.
(47:05):
Don't be surprised if they win thetwo A state championship. And you
know what's even cool about this storyis that when Fawcett arrived at Bbcomer back
in twenty eighteen, the program hadwon seven games in four years, and
his second season, the Tigers managedsix wins in their first playoff victory in
nineteen years. They've won thirty ninegames in Fawcett's five years. They've gotten
to the second round of the playoffsin each of the last four seasons,
(47:27):
and last year they won reaching Crownand made the state finals. They had
not done either of those since nineteenninety five. They have a star level
player in Camore Harris. He's asenior. He picked up one hundred and
eighty yards and a pair of touchdownsin that state championship game against Five.
He had eight hundred eight rushing yardsin five playoff games along along with eleven
Russian touchdowns and two scoring receptions.He's the reigning two eight back of the
(47:49):
Year and he has verbally committed toplay football for the University of Memphis.
The Memphis The Memphis Tigers are amember of the American Athletic Conference and they
have been high on Camarre Harris forquite a while. Where the second school
overall to officially offer him a scholarshipback in January. So bb Comer is
a proud football traditional program. Theywere spotty until Fawcett came. But now
(48:09):
let me tell you he has completelychanged the culture and changed the program and
community. And hey, it's unfortunatethat Bbcomer run into Five in the state
finals. If you're looking for thebest high school programs in the state of
Alabama, you're likely gonna look atThompson, Piedemont and Five, who have
been standing on the top of thathill. Five has won six state titles
in the past nine years under PaulBenefield, who's a state legend. He's
(48:31):
won two hundred nine two games atfive, his alma mater, and he
began coaching there in nineteen ninety seven. It would be fun to see five
in BB Comber in a rematch inTusca Loosa for a two A state championship,
and it would certainly be challenging forboth sides. Coach Adam Fawcett of
the b B Comber Tires. Wegot we got about one minute left on
this week's show. Michael Lorenzen ofthe Philadelphia Phillies through a no hitter this
(48:55):
week, and we have got thefinal call for you. You right here,
So here we go. Here's theno hitter. The three two pitch
swang on popped up shallow center field. Roha sprinting it. He's under it,
he has space, makes the catchat Michael Lorenzen, let's throw the
fourteenth no hitter in Philadelphia Phillies history. You heard it. Michael Lorensen completed
(49:20):
the fourteenth no hitter in team historyin a seven to zero victory over the
Washington Nationals. It was the Philadelphias. It was Philadelphia's first no hitter since
Cole Hamil's back in twenty fifteen,first at home. Since Roy Holliday back
in twenty ten. Congratulations to MichaelLorenzen on having a no hitter. He
only in a second start for Phillygot traded at the deadline from the Detroit
Tigers, and only in a secondstart for the Philadelphia Phillies does he throw
(49:44):
a no hitter. Nick Saban broughtPete Rose to Tuscaloosa to speak to the
football team about gambling. Alabama camein third place and the coaches pulled to
start this season. But that's allwe got this week on the pit Stop.
I hope to see you next weekon news Radio one oh one nine Big Wax
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