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Brandon Kravitz: Barstool Made It Possible For Deion Sanders to Land Top Recruit

“He’s using the portal of Barstool to create an opportunity for the guy that he just recruited.”

Jordan Bondurant

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96.9 The Game

The early national signing window opened with a bang in college football on Wednesday, as the nation’s top college recruit announced he would be committing to play under the leadership of Deion Sanders at Jackson State University.

Travis Hunter had offers on the table from Georgia, Auburn and Florida State, where Sanders made himself a household name. But instead he chose to play at an HBCU at the FCS level.

Brandon Kravitz, host of “In the Zone” on 96.9 The Game in Orlando, alongside co-host Stefan Gilliam, said relaxed Name Image Likeness (NIL) rules, coupled with Sanders having a platform on Barstool, ultimately led to Hunter’s commitment.

“I did not realize that Deion Sanders was in the pockets of Barstool Sports,” Kravitz said. “He’s got a podcast (21st and Prime) on their site, he’s got his own webpage on barstoolsports.com, there’s a video feature to (the podcast) as well, and then he gets this recruit.”

Kravitz added that there’s likely a lot of NIL money on the table for Hunter by going to Jackson State, and they played a clip of a recent appearance by Sanders on a podcast with Barstool president Dave Portnoy and Dan “Big Cat” Katz where Sanders eluded to a big-time signing. Katz said Sanders basically pioneered NIL and the transfer portal in college football.

“He’s using the portal of Barstool to create an opportunity for the guy that he just recruited,” Kravitz said.

Barstool has also been on a warpath signing student-athletes at all levels and sports to NIL deals. Gilliam said the popularity of Barstool with college-aged kids and the platform presented not just to hall of famers like Sanders but to student-athletes with their NIL program is changing the landscape of recruiting.

“It shows you the leverage that’s now available to schools everywhere in order to be able to bring recruits and kids in the portal to their university,” he said. “Because in a true competitive marketplace, you’ve opened the doors where a five-star recruit can go to an FCS school and not only get paid, but he’s still a kid that loves to play football. So you know he believes that he’s going to do well.”

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Sports Radio News

Mike Felger: Being 2nd Chair in Sports Radio ‘Sneaky Hard’

“I’m just used to running my mouth and setting the pace, and that sort of thing.”

Jordan Bondurant

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Mike Felger
Courtesy: Nantucket Current

Morning drive on Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub will have a new co-host alongside Fred Toucher starting in January, and speculation continues to swirl about who will replace longtime co-host Rich Shertenlieb.

The Boston Herald last week reported the latest in the station’s search for a new morning co-host. Kendra Middleton, a familiar voice in the mornings, has interviewed, and other current station talent like Jim Murray and Rob “Hardy” Poole are believed to be getting consideration.

Mike Felger, co-host of Felger & Mazz on The Sports Hub, has been jokingly suggested as the next co-host. But Felger said in a digital video reported on by the Herald that it would certainly be a challenge, and that he and Toucher would have success.

“I think it would go well,” he said. “What is a sneaky hard spot is to be in the second chair, to be in the Mazz chair, the B chair, because listening is harder than talking… that would be the only discomfort.”

Felger added that it would be an adjustment.

“I’m just used to running my mouth and setting the pace, and that sort of thing,” he said.

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Former NFL TE and 104.5 The Zone Host Frank Wycheck Dies

The Tennessee Titans announced Wycheck’s death Sunday. He was 52.

Jordan Bondurant

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A photo of Frank Wycheck
(Photo: WZTV)

Tennessee Titans fans were saddened to learn over the weekend that beloved tight end Frank Wycheck died. He was 52 years old.

Wycheck passed away after falling and hitting his head at his Chattanooga home on Saturday, according to a statement from the family.

“We are all devastated to hear the news of Frank’s passing,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. “He was loved by so many, and his memory will always be cherished. Frank’s name was synonymous with Titans football. He was such a huge part of our team’s success both on and off the field. He embraced this community and fan base immediately, and everyone loved him right back.”

In 11 seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Wycheck recorded 505 receptions for 5,126 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Frank is in both the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the team’s Ring of Honor.

Wycheck was part of one of the most memorable plays in NFL history when his cross-field pass to Kevin Dyson in a 2000 playoff game set up what’s now known as the “Music City Miracle.” Wycheck’s only Super Bowl appearance came that season.

Post-retirement in 2003, Wycheck went into sports radio, hosting a morning drive talk show with Kevin Ingram and Mark Howard on 104.5 The Zone.

Howard passed away last year, but Ingram on Sunday did post his condolences on X.

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Channing Crowder: I Still Underestimate How Many People Listen to Radio

“We make fun of it like ‘Oh, AM radio’ and this, man, but here are people who when I went to the bathroom, and they’re walking up to me ‘Hey, love the show, man’.”

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A photo of Channing Crowder and the 560 WQAM logo
(Photo: Audacy)

Even though he’s been in the sports radio game for more than a decade, 560 WQAM’s Channing Crowder admits he still doesn’t appreciate just how many people listen to his show.

While hosting Hochman and Crowder at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino ahead of sports betting going live in Florida, co-host Marc Hochman shared a story that one of the employees at the casino told him he often deals with giant celebrities.

However, despite his dealings with major music and movie stars, the employee was excited to meet Hochman and Greg Cote of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.

That led Crowder to admit he often underinflates the size of his daily audience.

“It’s funny, because like, I underestimate, still –12-13 years into radio — how many people listen to radio,” Crowder said. “And it’s funny because we make fun of it like ‘Oh, AM radio’ and this, man, but here are people who when I went to the bathroom, and they’re walking up to me ‘Hey, love the show, man. You and Hochman are hilarious’.”

Crowder has hosted afternoons alongside Hochman on 560 WQAM since 2015 after previously hosting the early afternoon window on the Audacy station. In addition to his radio work, he hosts The Pivot podcast with Ryan Clark and Fred Taylor.

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