Welcome to a new episode of Big Orange Sunday!

On this episode, we are diving deep into the heart of Rocky Top athletics. We analyze the high-stakes Tennessee quarterback decisions and look ahead to the intensity of spring football preparations. We also recap a thrilling basketball game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

To help us make sense of it all, the legendary Jimmy Hyams joins the show to provide his signature expert insights. We’re taking a deep dive into:


College Sports Dynamics: Navigating the current landscape of the game.


Player Development: Who is making the biggest leaps this spring?


Team Strategies: The X’s and O’s behind the latest roster moves.

Whether you’re here for the gridiron or the hardwood, we’ve got you covered with the analysis you need.

Welcome to a new episode of Big Orange Sunday!
On this episode, we are diving deep into the heart of Rocky Top athletics. We analyze the high-stakes Tennessee quarterback decisions and look ahead to the intensity of spring football preparations. We also recap a thrilling basketball game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
To help us make sense of it all, the legendary Jimmy Hyams joins the show to provide his signature expert insights. We&rsquo;re taking a deep dive into:
<ul data-path-to-node="3">
<li>
College Sports Dynamics: Navigating the current landscape of the game.
</li>
<li>
Player Development: Who is making the biggest leaps this spring?
</li>
<li>
Team Strategies: The X&rsquo;s and O&rsquo;s behind the latest roster moves.
</li>
</ul>
Whether you&rsquo;re here for the gridiron or the hardwood, we&rsquo;ve got you covered with the analysis you need.

Former University of Tennessee coordinator Doug Mathews brings you the latest news and analysis every weekend on 104-5 The Zone. Find the show LIVE every Sunday morning at 8 AM and check out the full podcast right here every weekend.

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BIG ORANGE SUNDAY 02-22-26

Coach is joined by Jimmy Hyams to break down the fallout of the Knoxville judge’s ruling that denied quarterback Joy Aguilar an additional year of eligibility. This decision leaves Tennessee with an incredibly young and inexperienced quarterback room, forcing the staff to rely on "good-on-good" drills this spring to accelerate the development of players like McIntyre and Brandon. Hyams notes that while the coaches expected this outcome, the pressure is now on the offensive line and the running backs to provide elite pass protection to help these young signal-callers succeed.

The duo also celebrates a hard-fought 69-67 basketball victory over Vanderbilt, a game that saw Rick Barnes officially pass John Calipari for the most active career wins in the SEC. They credit the win to Gillespie’s defensive lockdown of Tyler Tanner and the team's ability to dominate the paint while committing fewer than ten turnovers for the second straight game. To wrap up, they touch on the Diamond Vols' surprising upset loss to Kent State and the Lady Vols' ongoing struggles with consistency, though they find a bright spot in the softball team's unanimous No. 1 national ranking.

Coach is joined by&nbsp;Jimmy Hyams to break down the fallout of the Knoxville judge&rsquo;s ruling that denied quarterback Joy Aguilar an additional year of eligibility. This decision leaves Tennessee with an incredibly young and inexperienced quarterback room, forcing the staff to rely on "good-on-good" drills this spring to accelerate the development of players like McIntyre and Brandon. Hyams notes that while the coaches expected this outcome, the pressure is now on the offensive line and the running backs to provide elite pass protection to help these young signal-callers succeed.
The duo also celebrates a hard-fought 69-67 basketball victory over Vanderbilt, a game that saw Rick Barnes officially pass John Calipari for the most active career wins in the SEC. They credit the win to Gillespie&rsquo;s defensive lockdown of Tyler Tanner and the team's ability to dominate the paint while committing fewer than ten turnovers for the second straight game. To wrap up, they touch on the Diamond Vols' surprising upset loss to Kent State and the Lady Vols' ongoing struggles with consistency, though they find a bright spot in the softball team's unanimous No. 1 national ranking.

BOS - Jimmy Hyams 02-22-26

Coach is joined by Jimmy Hyams to discuss various updates in Tennessee sports.

Baseball


Stadium Renovation: Jimmy notes that the ongoing renovations at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are approximately 90% complete, and the stadium looks "fantastic."


Increased Capacity: Since Tony Vitello took over as head coach, the stadium's capacity has nearly doubled, growing from around 4,400 to 8,000.


Strong Performance: Tennessee's baseball team displayed a strong performance against Nichols, winning with a 12-2 run-rule in the seventh inning and another 10-0 victory.


Key Players: Transfer player Blaine Brown had an impressive series, hitting three home runs and achieving five RBIs.

Basketball


LSU Victory: Tennessee’s men's basketball team secured a 73-63 win against LSU.


Standout Performance:JP Estrella was a key player in the victory, contributing 16 points and nine rebounds.


Three-Point Shooting: The team struggled with three-pointers, with only two players successfully hitting them during the game.


Women's Team: The women's basketball team has experienced significant inconsistency, becoming the first ranked team to lose a game by over 40 points and then win the next by over 40 points.

Football


Joey Aguillar Eligibility: A local judge is currently considering arguments regarding Joey Aguillar's eligibility to play another season, with a ruling expected soon.


Spring Practice: Tennessee's spring football practice is scheduled to begin on March 16, with the spring game following on April 11.


Free Admission: Admission to the upcoming spring game will be free for fans.

Coach is joined by Jimmy Hyams to discuss various updates in Tennessee sports.
Baseball
<ul data-path-to-node="2">
<li>
Stadium Renovation: Jimmy notes that the ongoing renovations at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are approximately 90% complete, and the stadium looks "fantastic."
</li>
<li>
Increased Capacity: Since Tony Vitello took over as head coach, the stadium's capacity has nearly doubled, growing from around 4,400 to 8,000.
</li>
<li>
Strong Performance: Tennessee's baseball team displayed a strong performance against Nichols, winning with a 12-2 run-rule in the seventh inning and another 10-0 victory.
</li>
<li>
Key Players: Transfer player Blaine Brown had an impressive series, hitting three home runs and achieving five RBIs.
</li>
</ul>
Basketball
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
LSU Victory: Tennessee&rsquo;s men's basketball team secured a 73-63 win against LSU.
</li>
<li>
Standout Performance: JP Estrella was a key player in the victory, contributing 16 points and nine rebounds.
</li>
<li>
Three-Point Shooting: The team struggled with three-pointers, with only two players successfully hitting them during the game.
</li>
<li>
Women's Team: The women's basketball team has experienced significant inconsistency, becoming the first ranked team to lose a game by over 40 points and then win the next by over 40 points.
</li>
</ul>
Football
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li>
Joey Aguillar Eligibility: A local judge is currently considering arguments regarding Joey Aguillar's eligibility to play another season, with a ruling expected soon.
</li>
<li>
Spring Practice: Tennessee's spring football practice is scheduled to begin on March 16, with the spring game following on April 11.
</li>
<li>
Free Admission: Admission to the upcoming spring game will be free for fans.
</li>
</ul>

BOS - Jimmy Hyams 02-15-26

Welcome to another episode of Big Orange Sunday The conversation today covers various aspects of Tennessee athletics, focusing on the upcoming spring practice for football, significant coaching changes, and the analysis of the football team's defensive and offensive strategies. It also touches on the kickoff of the baseball season and a recap of recent basketball games, including discussions on player performances and eligibility issues.

Welcome to another episode of Big Orange Sunday The conversation today covers various aspects of Tennessee athletics, focusing on the upcoming spring practice for football, significant coaching changes, and the analysis of the football team's defensive and offensive strategies. It also touches on the kickoff of the baseball season and a recap of recent basketball games, including discussions on player performances and eligibility issues.

BIG ORANGE SUNDAY 02-22-26

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