Unwired Appalachia

The football previews keep rolling on Unwired Appalachia as Randy is joined in the studio by East Ridge High School head football coach Donnie Burdine for a look ahead to the 2026 season.
Coach Burdine breaks down how the Warriors have progressed throughout the offseason, what he’s seen from his group during summer workouts, and how the team is coming together heading into fall camp. The conversation also highlights key returners, areas of focus, and what it will take for East Ridge to compete this season.
With kickoff getting closer, get a full preview of the Warriors and hear directly from Coach Burdine on the expectations for 2026.
Watch the full podcast and follow here:https://youtu.be/8fF16buJps8

The football season previews continue this week on Unwired Appalachia as Randy welcomes first-year Pike Central Head Football Coach Chris Slone to the studio for a look ahead to the 2026 season.
Coach Slone discusses how the Hawks have progressed throughout the offseason, what he's seen from his team during summer workouts, and how the players have responded as they prepare for kickoff. The two also break down key returning contributors, areas of improvement, and the expectations for Pike Central heading into the new season.
With the season just around the corner, get an inside look at the Hawks and hear what Coach Slone believes it will take for Pike Central to be successful this fall.
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://youtu.be/eAoDZ1wuqes

Football season previews continue on Unwired Appalachia as Randy sits down with Pikeville Head Football Coach Chris McNamee to break down the Panthers' outlook for the 2026 season.
Coach McNamee reflects on last season, discusses the players returning to the lineup, and shares what he has seen from the Panthers throughout the offseason. The conversation also covers summer workouts, team leadership, and the expectations that come with leading one of Kentucky's premier high school football programs.
From preparing for another challenging schedule to continuing Pikeville's tradition of excellence, this episode gives fans an inside look at what to expect from the Panthers this fall.
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://youtu.be/72MgTAe6Mqw

Football season previews continue this week on Unwired Appalachia as Randy sits down with Belfry Head Football Coach Matt Varney to preview the 2026 season.
Coach Varney reflects on his first year leading the Pirates, a season that ended with a trip to the KHSAA State Semifinals, and discusses the expectations heading into year two. The conversation covers returning players, offseason development, key positions to watch, and what Belfry fans can expect as the Pirates prepare for another run at a district title and beyond.
Get ready for another season of one of Eastern Kentucky's premier football programs as Randy and Coach Varney break down everything you need to know before kickoff.
Watch the video podcast on our Youtube Channel:https://youtu.be/fQ2Xb_e9Z78https://linktr.ee/unwiredapp

In this special episode of Unwired Appalachia, Randy unveils the 2026 All Mountain Baseball Team, recognizing the top high school baseball players from across the mountains for their outstanding performances this season.
Along with announcing this year's Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, Randy takes viewers behind the scenes of the selection process, explaining what goes into building the All Mountain Team while highlighting the statistics, accomplishments, and standout performances that earned each player a spot on the list.
Join us as we celebrate another outstanding season of high school baseball and honor the athletes and coaches who made 2026 one to remember.
Watch the video podcast on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/OywfmGOtCus

Football season is right around the corner, and Unwired Appalachia is kicking off its 2026 football season previews.
To get things started, Randy is joined by Shelby Valley Head Coach Eric Ratliff as he begins his second stint leading the Wildcats. The two discuss Ratliff's return to Shelby Valley, what brought him back to the program, and what fans can expect from the Wildcats heading into the upcoming season.
Get ready for another season of mountain football as Unwired Appalachia begins its look at teams from across the region and the coaches and players preparing for Friday nights this fall.
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://youtu.be/Stuo4oHOVj4

From Pikeville High School to the JUCO World Series and now NCAA Division I baseball, Dylan Thompson's journey continues.
This week on Unwired Appalachia, Randy sits down with former Pikeville standout Dylan Thompson to look back on his career since graduation. Dylan reflects on his time at Wabash Valley College, what it was like competing in the JUCO World Series, and why Murray State was the right fit as he prepares for the next chapter of his baseball career.
The two also discuss the work it takes to play at the next level, the lessons Dylan has learned along the way, and what he's looking forward to as he heads to Murray State this fall.
Join us for a conversation with one of Eastern Kentucky's rising baseball talents and hear the story behind his journey.
 
To watch the video version of this podcast check out our Youtube: https://youtu.be/_pNCVHGEhTI

This special episode of Unwired Appalachia is dedicated to recognizing the best softball players from across the mountains.
Randy unveils the 2026 All Mountain Softball Teams, along with the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors. He also takes listeners behind the scenes, explaining what goes into selecting the teams and breaking down some of the statistics and performances that helped separate this year's honorees.
From standout individual seasons to championship-caliber performances, this episode celebrates the athletes and coaches who made the 2026 softball season one to remember.
Be sure to watch and see who earned All Mountain honors.

This week, Randy makes the trip to Morehead State University to sit down with Kelly Wells, the new Director of Athletics at Morehead State University and former UPIKE men's basketball coach.
The two catch up on Wells' transition from UPIKE to Morehead State, discussing what led him to make the move and how his new role differs from coaching. They also dive into the differences between NAIA and NCAA Division I athletics, from recruiting and scholarships to the day-to-day responsibilities of leading an athletic department.
It's an inside look at one of Eastern Kentucky's most respected basketball minds as he begins a new chapter while continuing to shape collegiate athletics in the Commonwealth.
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This week on Unwired Appalachia, Randy catches up with Kentucky sports broadcasting legend Brian Milam to talk about his journey since leaving Eastern Kentucky.
Brian reflects on getting his start at WYMT-TV, his move to WKYT-TV, and the career path that eventually led him to his current role as Director of Communications and Media Relations for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
The two discuss Brian's passion for high school athletics, how his role has changed from telling the stories to helping promote them statewide, and why staying connected to Kentucky's student-athletes continues to be so important to him.
It's a conversation about broadcasting, career growth, and a lifelong commitment to high school sports in the Commonwealth.
#UnwiredAppalachia #BrianMilam #KHSAA #KentuckySports #HighSchoolSports #MountainSports