Big Orange Sunday

4.8 (30)
Football
Updated Weekly

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.

5d ago

Father Figures and Football: Dissecting the Vols' Transfer Portal Strategy 06/21/26

Welcome to todays Fathers day edition of Big Orange Sunday, Coach shares heartfelt Father’s Day reflections, emphasizing the vital role coaches played as father figures during their upbringing. Transitioning to Tennessee Volunteers football, Matthews outlines the start of the six-week NCAA recruiting "dead period" and highlights the team's strong early commitments from high school prospects. He then provides a detailed analysis of head coach Josh Heupel’s transfer portal strategy, explaining that while the Vols lose developmental role players to the portal, they strategically upgrade the roster by bringing in battle-tested starters to complement their foundation of high school recruits. Key Moments: Father's Day Tributes: Coach discuss navigating childhood without their fathers' direct guidance and honor the local coaches who stepped up to fill that void. Recruiting Dead Period: Coach and Hyams notes the beginning of a mandatory six-week campus blackout for prospects, praising Tennessee's successful early recruitment of top in-state talent. Transfer Portal Analysis: A breakdown of how Tennessee leverages the transfer portal to replace exiting backups with experienced veterans, all while maintaining a core roster of over 60 traditional high school scholarship recruits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 hr
5d ago

Historic Home Schedule and High-Demand Tickets for Vols Football

Coach and Jimmy Hyams discuss what they consider the most impressive conference home football schedule in Tennessee's history, featuring major matchups against Texas, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Kentucky. They note that ticket prices reflect this unprecedented lineup, with secondary market admission for the Texas game starting over $400. The conversation also touches on Athletic Director Danny White's scheduling philosophy, confirming the upcoming Georgia Tech game will remain at Bobby Dodd Stadium rather than moving to a neutral site in Atlanta. Finally, they briefly highlight achievements in other programs, including former Tennessee golfers competing in the U.S. Open and key transfer acquisitions for the Vols baseball team. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 min
5d ago

Knoxville Off-Season Buzz: Vols Football Expectations and Athletics Upgrades With Jimmy Hyams

Coach and Jimmy Hyams share personal reflections on Father's Day, emphasizing the vital role coaches often play as father figures for young athletes. The discussion then shifts to the Tennessee Volunteers' quiet but strategic off-season, highlighting the arrival of freshman recruits, the anticipated physical impact of the new strength and conditioning coach, and the football team's top-25 preseason rankings in publications like ESPN and Athlon. Finally, they cover positive updates across the broader athletic department, noting a massive budget increase for the men's basketball program and celebrating the men's track team's impressive third-place national finish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 min
5d ago

Tennessee Football: Father's Day Reflections and Heupel's Roster Strategy

In this Father's Day edition of Big Orange Sunday, Coach shares personal memories before diving into the operational state of Tennessee Volunteers football. As the six-week recruiting dead period begins, the discussion shifts to Head Coach Josh Heupel's calculated roster management under the 105-scholarship limit. The segment highlights how Heupel navigates the modern transfer portal like a business, balancing a foundation of high school recruits with experienced portal additions to maintain competitiveness. Furthermore, recent overhauls to the defensive and strength coaching staffs are noted as crucial steps for the program's continued growth. Key Moments Father's Day Tributes: The host honors his father and the high school coaches who served as father figures to young athletes. The Dead Period: A six-week blackout on recruiting visits begins, allowing coaches to rest while players focus on summer school and conditioning. Portal Strategy & Roster Math: A breakdown of how Tennessee manages its 105-man roster, relying on roughly 45 recent high school recruits and filling the remaining gaps with experienced transfer portal acquisitions. Staff Overhauls: A brief discussion on the recent and necessary changes to the defensive and strength and conditioning coaching staffs to improve team physicality and performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 min
Jun 14

Big Orange Sunday 06-14-26 FULL SHOW

With campus recruiting for Vol Football taking front and center, Coach Doug Mathews discusses the massive wave of official and unofficial visits happening right now. We break down the state of Tennessee's incredible high school talent pool and analyze why the program has already extended nearly 20 scholarship offers to in-state 2026 recruits. Doug is then joined by Jimmy Hyams to cover everything happening across Tennessee athletics. With over 20 top-tier recruits on campus, Doug and Jimmy analyze the shifting dynamics of college football recruiting. They discuss the critical balance of securing top high school talent (especially from the Mid-State area) while strategically utilizing the transfer portal to build depth in the secondary and on the offensive line. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58 min
Jun 14

BOH- Jimmy Hyams 06-14-26

Doug Matthews is joined by Jimmy Hyams to break down the biggest storylines dominating Tennessee athletics. From massive roster overhauls to eye-popping budget numbers, they cover it all. They dive deep into the changing philosophy of roster construction, debating whether traditional high school recruiting rankings even matter in the age of the immediate-impact transfer portal. Plus, they break down the high-stakes puzzle of maintaining quarterback depth, the strategic moves behind the Lady Vols' new-look roster under Kim Caldwell, and a staggering budget surge for Rick Barnes and the Men's Basketball program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 min
Jun 14

Mid-June Recruiting Surge, Transfer Portal Realities & Schedule Breakdown

With campus recruiting for Vol Football taking front and center, Coach Doug Mathews dives into the massive wave of official and unofficial visits happening right now. We break down the state of Tennessee's incredible high school talent pool and analyze why the program has already extended nearly 20 scholarship offers to in-state 2026 recruits. We also take a hard look at the shifting landscape of high school recruiting in the transfer portal era, how it impacts the secondary, and why proximity to home remains the number one factor for families. Plus, we analyze the Vols' favorable 12-game schedule and share some essential off-season advice for young football coaches trying to block out the noise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 min
Jun 7

Big Orange Sunday 06-7-26 FULL SHOW

Welcome to another episode of Big Orange Sunday This episode features an in-depth discussion on Tennessee athletics, including recent performances, recruiting, NIL, and conference realignment. Guest expert Jimmy Hymes shares insights on the program's current state, future prospects, and the evolving landscape of college sports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

59 min

See All (100)

4.8

out of 5

30 Ratings

Best Vol pod out there

10/29/2023

KTLA2004

I love Coaches show! He provides a great perspective from a former player and coach. He is especially good after a loss to explain it and it always calms the fanatic in me. Thanks for the great content coach! Keep up the great work!
Vol in SC

07/11/2023

Wrigley Field Vol

So glad I finally found the show!

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.