Guests - Dr. Kerwin Urhan, Kevin Garner, Jason West
What an exciting time of year! This weekend the Class 1, 2, and 3 high school basketball teams of the Missouri State High School Activities Association will crown new state champions, while Class 4 and 5 will hand out titles next weekend. We had the triple threat in studio with Executive Director Dr. Kerwin Urhan, Assistant Executive Director Kevin Garner, and Communications Director Jason West. Go to MSHSAA.org for all of the information.
Guests - Bill Rowe, Lucas Harrell
Spring training has arrived! This strong tradition for so many has become a routine vacation because of many reasons, but mainly because fans get the sneak peak at their favorite players and teams. Coaches get to experiment with different rotations and positions and players get to feel some heat while they battle for positions, levels, and spots on that major roster. It also helps that the weather is spectacular in Florida and Arizona! Former Missouri State University Coach and Athletic Director Bill Rowe joins us along with former veteran Major League Baseball player Lucas Harrell. Lucas gives us his insight into how players prepare and view spring training.
Guests - Joe Turner, Jodie Adams, Dwain Banner
In this episode, we explore the obvious statement of why athletes make the best employees. Joining us on our panel: President and CEO (and presenting sponsor for our show!) from Great Southern Bank Joe Turner, Missouri State University professor and retired Director of Springfield-Greene County Parks and Recreation Department Jodie Adams, and Owner of Creator Designs and Creator Delights Dwain Banner. We explore Christina DeMarias article on inc.com “Seven Reasons that Athletes Make the Best Employees” while each executive expressed the important characteristics of valuable employees. No surprise that the intangibles expressed are the same characteristics that one may obtain from being involved in co-curricular activities. Our panel did an excellent job dissecting these traits and relating them to how they may serve us as we move throughout our career endeavors. My thanks to an excellent panel and their insights!
Guests - Becky Oakes, Greg Stephenson, and Dr. Julie Leeth
In this fun episode we learned from former Executive Director of the Missouri Sports High School Activities Association, and retired National Federation administrator, Becky Oakes how YOU can be involved as a team host at this years Show Me Showdowns in March. Listen to the details she gives and call the Springfield Sports Commission to apply!
We kept Becky around and spoke with her, Greg Stephenson, and Dr. Julie Leeth about the new local mentoring program they are involved in called CHAMPS. We learned about the mission, vision, logistics and explored how important it is to have a mentor and even more important to BE a mentor.
Justin Britt, Ryan Touhey, Jason Whittle, Jesse Branch
In this episode, we first hear from Seattle Seahawk player and former Lebanon High School and University of Missouri standout Justin Britt about his career and how he keeps his career rolling in the NFL.
Then we caught up with former All-Missouri Valley Conference Missouri State Football Bears, Ryan Touhey-who coached after his college career and is now successful in the medical field-and Jason Whittle-Missouri Sports Hall of Famer and 11 season veteran of the NFL and is now successful in Real Estate. We spoke about their time with the Bears and how it has continued to shape them as men, husbands, and fathers. Each one is also a sports parent and is enjoying their new role in sports. Coach Jesse Branch also joined us as our surprise celebrity guest and talked about why he recruited each of these talented players and how proud he is of the men they have become.
Guest - Dean Blandino
In this episode, former Vice President of NFL Officiating and current Fox Sports Rules Analyst Dean Blandino shares his interpretations and insights in to professional and college officiating. Mr. Blandino does an excellent job expressing the process and procedure of trying to get the calls right. We appreciated his in depth review of recruiting quality officials, getting the calls to be as accurate as possible, preparing for the Super Bowl, and evaluating multiple angles in order for officials to be a vital part of the National Football League. We covered a lot in this episode! Our gratitude to Mr. Blandino.
Guests - Nate Lucas and Callie Carroll
Tonight we caught up with the multi-talented Callie Carroll on her path as a producer, anchor, reporter, reality star, and now, back home with the Bears as the Director of Athletics Development. Check out her role on “Breaking Greenville” on Amazon! My thanks to Callie for her time and conversation. Also, thank you to the accomplished Nate Lucas as my co-host in this episode. We always appreciate his discussion and two cents!
Guests - Marty Marsh, Josh Scott, Don Louzader, Andy Taylor
What a fun show! One of the best, and highest attended, high school basketball tournaments is coming up this weekend (1/17-1/19), the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (TOC) at JQH Arena! My thanks to Marty Marsh and Josh Scott for providing the tournament information and team previews. Thank you to my co-host, Don Louzader and the TOC Stadium Announcer, Andy Taylor for talking about the added energy and entertainment for the tournament. Thank you to Don and Andy, too, for showing me “how it is done” in our voice off contest. Two legendary talents and tremendous gentlemen!
Guests - Don West, Trevor Casterlin, Scott McCauley
What a fun show, reminiscing on memories of games, teams, and experiences throughout the decades of covering sports. Don West, Scott McCauley, and Trevor Casterlin showed that they are definitely used to on air chemistry together and had a lot of fun talking about their past broadcasts. We thank these gentlemen for their dedication and energy in covering local high school and college sports.
Guests - Mikayla Pilley, Collin Clark, Allie Burnett, Tommy Burnett
In this episode, we went straight to the source. We have talked about youth sports and if we are doing it right, but never actually asked any youth athletes! Well, that is not that case anymore! Tonight we had a wonderful panel of insightful and interesting youth athletes, Tommy and Allie Burnett, Collin Clark, and Mikayla Pilley, did a wonderful job of telling us what they expect from coaches, parents, and spectators for a positive experience in youth sports. Awesome job, panel!
Guests - Chuck Hepola, Kelsey Keizer, Caira Dortch
In this episode, we study a vital variable in successful coaching and that is the art of scouting your opponents. All of the hours of film, the thousands of variables observed and documented and compiling all of it for the ultimate game plan that gives your team the advantage. Coach Chuck Hepola from Evangel University football, Coach Caira Dortch from Southwest Baptist University Volleyball, and Coach Kelsey Keizer from Southwest Baptist University Women’s Basketball give us a small peak into their scouting style and routines. These college coaches, known for their diligent preparation, shared valuable tips on scouting and how they utilize it as a part of their success.
Guests - Marty Marsh, Robert Vestal, and Willie Russell
In this episode, we preview the traditional holiday tournaments in the southwest Missouri area. The Pink and White Lady Classic has a terrific field this year and Tournament Coordinator Marty Marsh gave an excellent preview of this historic girls tournament. Robert Vestal, local basketball historian, helped us preview the Blue and Gold and gave us a top ten of fun facts about the Blue and Gold. At Parkview, the Kinloch Wrestling Tournament will be in full swing and Coach Willie Russell previewed it for us.
Guests - Bryan Tucker
My gratitude to BSN Representative Bryan Tucker for talking with us tonight about sports equipment and gear, plus (bonus!) bringing in trivia questions and giving away some very cool stuff! He also talked about what it was like to be a sports parent at the high school and college level with his talented sons and offered some valuable advice. Great show because of a great guest!
Guest - Stan Van Gundy
On this episode, we welcomed long time NBA coach and current ESPN Analyst, Stan Van Gundy. We discussed a wide range of topics including his career, college basketball, NBA basketball, and he answered questions sent in by high school basketball players. Coach Van Gundy did an excellent job sharing his experiences and perspective.
Guests - Bill Gunn, Guy Newcomb
In this episode, we catch up with Coach Bill Gunn in a Fast Five segment. We, Guy Newcomb and I, also read listener letters to their former coaches and express the gratitude and impact they had on their lives. Happy Thanksgiving!
Guests - Kelly Holt, Kevin Garner
My thanks to MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Kevin Garner and Southwest Missouri Coordinator of Officials and MSHSAA Observer Kelly Holt for clarifying and interpreting the new rule changes and reminders for points of emphasis for this high school basketball season. We were able to review and refresh on some of the rules of the sport.
Guests - SASHOF Board Members
Tonight we hosted a room full of sports contributors. The Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors met and then stayed for the show which was on location at Coach Terry Allen’s own Ebbett’s Field. We had several there that joined us on air to answer questions and play Head’s Up, sports style. Art Hains (who was crowned champion of the games), Corey Riggs, Don West, Tom Mast, Ray Meyer, Bill Rowe, Mark Stillwell, and Tim Blasi all braved the airways while Lynne Miller, Don Keaton, Ned Reynolds, Becky Oakes, and Ron Snodgrass cheered them on. It was a successful night and I appreciated the good sports!
Guests - James Reynolds, Holly Hesse, Jordan Fife
Thank you to all that sent in questions for our college coaches panel. Our panel did an excellent job contributing to the questions. Missouri State Softball coach Holly Hesse, Missouri State Track and Field coach Jordan Fife, and Drury University Wrestling coach James Reynolds gave some excellent insight and advice. Listen to it right here on Apple iTunes Podcast.
Co-Host - Art Hains
Wow! The listeners of this show know their sports! Thank you to everyone that called in on our Halloween trivia show. Impressive listeners! Thank you to my gracious co-host, Art Hains for sticking around after his show and helping out. Also, gratitude to my generous sponsors for providing the prizes, Great Southern Bank, Hiland Dairy, and Rib Crib. Thank you, also, to Missouri State University and Drury University Athletic Departments for donating the tickets. We appreciate your contributions, we couldn’t do it without you! Also, a gigantic shout out to my wonderful and talented producer, Duane Darr. He did an amazing job multi-tasking and making this show happen. Sports trivia - gotta love it!
Guests - Bill Gunn, Landon Cornish, Jenny Perryman
In this episode, we continued answering your questions to our high school coaches panel. We covered a lot. Thank you for sending them in! Bill Gunn from Kirkwood High School and Jenny Perryman from Nixa were back along with Landon Cornish from Parkview. Great insights by all!
