Sophomore Howard Hyneman and junior James Blackwood continue the tradition of hosting the “Coaches Show” on Wednesday nights before football games at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Hyneman and Blackwood host a show/podcast where they interview players on the Oxford High School Football team. The goal is to help the community hear from local athletes and discuss each week’s game predictions, as well as highlights from past games.
“I would say the idea for the podcast and show came from our love for Oxford sports,” Hyneman said. “James and I enjoy learning about the teams and sharing that information with others. The show at Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux is a fun way for us to showcase local sports to the Oxford community, allowing people to watch interviews with coaches and players. It is a great way for us to support high school sports.”
The first episode of the show covered the jamboree against Winona, where they interviewed senior football players Ja’lyen Judson and Levi Blount, as well as football coach Isaac Boose.
“The beginning of the show was exciting,” Hyneman said. “James and I prepared for about three weeks before school started, which was the most ready we have ever been for a show.”
To help get the word out, Hyneman and Blackwood set up an official Instagram account in order to share their content through social media.
“We worked hard to promote our show, and it helped people find out about us,” Blackwood said. “At first, it took a while to get permission to host our show at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, but the manager was very supportive once we got in touch.”
Right now, the “Coaches Show” focuses on football, with the hopes of expanding to other sports in the future. Each show is structured in a similar manner.
“During our podcast, we talk about the season and what the players hope to achieve,” Blackwood said. “We ask personal questions about the player’s or coach’s experiences, which helps listeners get to know each guest on the show better.”
Both Hyneman and Blackwood realize there is still room for improvement on the show.
“We could have prepared a little more for the jamboree episode, and we need to work on spreading awareness about our show,” Hyneman said. “You can never be too prepared.”
Senior offensive lineman Gray McGown appeared as a guest on one of the early episodes of the show.
“Being on the show was really fun,” McGown said. “We even had a surprise visit from Coach Taylor. I think it is a great way for people to get to know the players and a lot of fans come to the restaurant to listen.”
McGown explained how the atmosphere in the restaurant adds to the experience and popularity of the show.
“I think it’s good just for everybody to get to know the players,” McGown said. “ I that everybody in the restaurant can listen if they want. And there’s always a decent amount of guys from the football team that go just to listen.”
