Coach Doug Mathews and Jimmy Hyams discuss the rare occurrence of both baseball and softball hosting Alabama in the same weekend, followed by a deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft results for the Volunteers, the SEC's dominance and success for the Vol's spring sports. 

Coach Doug Mathews and Jimmy Hyams discuss the rare occurrence of both baseball and softball hosting Alabama in the same weekend, followed by a deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft results for the Volunteers, the SEC's dominance and success for the Vol's spring sports.&nbsp;

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.

Big Orange Sunday

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BOS - Jimmy Hyams 4-26-26

Welcome to another episode of Big Orange Sunday! This week, Coach Doug Matthews takes a deep dive into the evolving landscape of Tennessee football, looking at how the program is navigating the modern challenges of NIL and the transfer portal. The conversation highlights the importance of keeping top-tier talent close to home by recruiting heavily in Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, while also emphasizing the personal role coaches play in supporting their players off the field. Later in the show, Jimmy Hyams joins the booth to break down the latest news across the Vols' baseball, softball, and basketball programs, giving you a full look at everything happening in the world of Big Orange athletics.

Welcome to another episode of Big Orange Sunday! This week, Coach Doug Matthews takes a deep dive into the evolving landscape of Tennessee football, looking at how the program is navigating the modern challenges of NIL and the transfer portal. The conversation highlights the importance of keeping top-tier talent close to home by recruiting heavily in Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, while also emphasizing the personal role coaches play in supporting their players off the field. Later in the show, Jimmy Hyams joins the booth to break down the latest news across the Vols' baseball, softball, and basketball programs, giving you a full look at everything happening in the world of Big Orange athletics.

BIG ORANGE SUNDAY 5-3-26

Coach and Jimmy Hyams takes a look back on the 2025-2026 athletic year for the University of Tennessee. reflecting on how the year was successful in many ways but faced its challenges in some areas, specifically football and baseball.  mentioning how both football and baseball went through transitions in coaches and faced difficulty in finding their rhythm on the field. They also touch on the changing landscape of college sports, specifically name, image, and likeness (NIL) and revenue sharing, as well as the impact these changes have on university athletic programs and facilities. The conversation also highlights the success of some programs, such as women’s golf winning the SEC tournament for the first time in school history, and the softball team ranking number eight in the country. Overall, the segment provides a detailed overview of the athletic year for the University of Tennessee and how it navigated the challenges and successes across various sports.

Coach and Jimmy Hyams takes a look back on the 2025-2026 athletic year for the University of Tennessee. reflecting on how the year was successful in many ways but faced its challenges in some areas, specifically football and baseball.&nbsp; mentioning how both football and baseball went through transitions in coaches and faced difficulty in finding their rhythm on the field. They also touch on the changing landscape of college sports, specifically name, image, and likeness (NIL) and revenue sharing, as well as the impact these changes have on university athletic programs and facilities. The conversation also highlights the success of some programs, such as women&rsquo;s golf winning the SEC tournament for the first time in school history, and the softball team ranking number eight in the country. Overall, the segment provides a detailed overview of the athletic year for the University of Tennessee and how it navigated the challenges and successes across various sports.

BOS - Jimmy Hyams 5-3-26

Doug Mathews discussing the multifaceted "art of recruiting" in the modern college football landscape. Mathews highlights that recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, but notes how significantly the process has evolved due to the transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives, and advanced scouting technologies like Hudl. He explains the strategic "roster management" phase currently underway at the University of Tennessee, where coaches evaluate their depth charts, subtract graduating seniors, and identify critical positional needs—such as safety—for the 2027 class.

Mathews also emphasizes the human element of the profession, arguing that a coach's job is to support players through "problem times," such as homesickness or personal struggles, to fulfill the promises made to families during the recruitment process. He concludes by detailing the strategic importance of "proximity recruiting," noting that while Tennessee's traditional foundations in Georgia and Western North Carolina remain vital, the explosive growth of high school talent in Middle Tennessee (specifically Williamson and Rutherford counties) has become a primary advantage for Coach Josh Heupel’s staff.

Doug Mathews discussing the multifaceted "art of recruiting" in the modern college football landscape. Mathews highlights that recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, but notes how significantly the process has evolved due to the transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives, and advanced scouting technologies like Hudl. He explains the strategic "roster management" phase currently underway at the University of Tennessee, where coaches evaluate their depth charts, subtract graduating seniors, and identify critical positional needs&mdash;such as safety&mdash;for the 2027 class.
Mathews also emphasizes the human element of the profession, arguing that a coach's job is to support players through "problem times," such as homesickness or personal struggles, to fulfill the promises made to families during the recruitment process. He concludes by detailing the strategic importance of "proximity recruiting," noting that while Tennessee's traditional foundations in Georgia and Western North Carolina remain vital, the explosive growth of high school talent in Middle Tennessee (specifically Williamson and Rutherford counties) has become a primary advantage for Coach Josh Heupel&rsquo;s staff.

BOS - Jimmy Hyams 4-26-26

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