x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

footballacrosstexas

Go beyond the Friday night lights and get an insider’s look at the world of Texas high school football and the coaches and towns that make it so unique. Hosted by retired head coach and athletic director Brandon Brown. Follow Beyond the Lights Instagram: @FootballAcrossTexas Facebook Beyond the lights: Football Across Texas and X: @fbacrosstexas

sports football

All Episodes

86:49

Episode 57: Andy Howard, head football coach and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/12/17

Coach Andy Howard can name drop with the best of them as he recalls the long list of great coaches he has worked for and with. These opportunities have served him well in preparing him for his role as athletic director and head football coach for Goldthwaite ISD. Having been in west Texas his whole life, the country setting of this community is the perfect fit for the cotton farmer turned coach. The uncomfortable should be comfortable, as he likes to put it and

en

96:04

Episode 56: Pete Hart, former head football coach...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/12/10

Pete Hart has spent almost 40 years positively influencing young men and women through coaching. One of those young men was me. My classmates and I were fortunate enough to have him arrive in Bridgeport our 8th grade year and follow us through high school. Coach Hart has influenced and inspired many young men and women to go into the education field and many with great success, such as Carl Abseck of Lufkin and Jeff Riordan of Chapel Hill. His passion, not just for the game of football, but for

en

83:00

Episode 55: Jason Reynolds, athletic director and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/12/04

Jason Reynolds is in his second stint in Natalia ISD. His first role in the district was the OC several years back before leaving for the OC job in Wichita Falls. But as soon as one of his mentors vacated the big seat in Natalia, he jumped at the opportunity to return and take over as AD and head football coach. Coach Reynolds and family are in year two back with the Mustangs and he and his staff are working hard to keep a solid foundation built on character and a positive culture.

en

67:59

Episode 54: John Penn, of the Dallas Football...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/11/19

John Penn has been officiating for over 30 years and is following in the footsteps of his father, Percy. He has a deep understanding of the game, which allows him to tolerate a lot of the things that go along with officiating at a high level of play. This understanding allows him to see intense situations through eyes of the players and coaches which helps him manage and sometimes de-escalate potentially volatile situations. Randy Jackson joins me for our second episode of the officials

en

63:45

Episode 53: Wayne Elliott, Executive Secretary for...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/11/12

Wayne Elliott has been officiating for 47 years, from the junior high level all the way to the NFL. Currently he is the Executive Secretary for the Austin Football Officials Association and officiates high school and college games. We discuss the differences in officiating at the different levels and the challenges of officiating in general. Join me as we take a look at the game from a different set of eyes.

en

73:21

Episode 52: Jeff Riordan, athletic director and head...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/11/06

Jeff Riordan, head football coach and athletic director for the Chapel Hill Bulldogs, lives out his motto of Code Blue for his program. With the backing of the district administration all the way to the top, they put character and life before all else and keeping priorities straight has led to high levels of success for the Chapel Hill program.

en

64:11

Episode 51: Kody Yeager, head football coach and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/10/29

As the son of a coach, Kody Yeager spent his share of time traveling through Texas working his way to the top. Now he has returned home to find the paradise he left, unchanged from 20 plus years ago. Same hard working kids, same family atmosphere and the same swimming and fishing spots he enjoyed as a kid are now enjoyed by his own family and kids. We talk about what it was like playing and coaching for his father and how he has put the lessons he learned from him into practice.

en

71:51

Episode 50: Steve Huff, athletic director and head...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/10/22

Steve Huff, head football coach and athletic director for Decatur ISD has coached in 7 different states across our great country from the lower levels to the college ranks. But he found his home under the Friday night lights of Texas in College Station and now in Decatur. Coach explains his program's foundation; built on character, commitment, sacrifice and effort that he expects to be lived out through his staff as an example to his athletes.

en

67:19

Episode 49: Tate DeMasco, head football coach and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/10/15

Ingram Tom Moore athletic director and head football coach, Tate DeMasco, believes that the foundational pillars for a successful athletic program are the same as those for a successful life. The tragic flooding of the Guadalupe in July put that foundation to the test and Coach DeMasco is proud of the response from their students and athletes. From the tragedy, the community has grown stronger and closer and athletics playing a major part in the healing process.

en

79:10

Episode 48: Ozona Lions head coach and athletic...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/10/08

Jason Pitts is in year one with the Ozona Lions and is farther west than his family has been before. Leaving the trees of east Texas for the western edge of the hill country, Coach Pitts is bringing his positivity with him to his new program. His positive attitude and rise above mindset have caught on with his players helping them to a 5-0 start.

en

50:35

Episode 47: We talk football and golf caddying with...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/09/30

Tony Salazar is the head football coach for Westlake HS and also assistant athletic director the district, Eanes ISD. These roles keep him very busy leading one of the top 6A programs in the state. But he still takes time for the important things, like caddying for his son, who plays competitive golf around the state. Whatever the activity is, his expectations are high. As a member of the Westlake Chaparrals, players know their roll on the team and each roll is important. Whether it is a scout

en

70:08

Episode 46: Adam Cummings, head football coach and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/09/24

Adam Cummings is beginning year 4 for West Plains high school as the only man to have headed the football program in the schools existence. Coach Cummings was born and raised in west Texas and has spent all of his coaching years there as well, learning under some west Texas legends. In the schools first 3 years he has already accumulated 30 wins but winning isn't priority #1. For him, it's faith and family first. He and his staff work to reinforce family values and work ethic through character

en

64:34

Episode 45: Kevin Salazar, head football coach and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/09/16

Coach Salazar is a Goliad native who has spent most of his coaching years within a stones throw of home. He begins his 6th season at the helm for the Tigers and hopes to continue their successful ways. He believes "attitude reflects leadership" (as Julius reminded Gary- you football movie fans should get that) and he models this for his players. He loves what he does and it shows in his smile when he talks about football and the town he has called home for most of his life. And if you're a Texas

en

70:23

Episode 44: Brian Hodnett, Head football coach and...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/09/09

Brian Hodnett knows the history of Sweetwater football, having grown up just down the road in Hamlin. Although one day he might go back to the cotton farms he came from, right now he has answered the call to help grow and develop young men and women to be successful after their athletic careers have ended. Promoted to the head coach and AD this year, he is looking to take his 10 years of experience as a head coach at Jacksboro and Haskell and combine them with his predecessors teachings to battle

en

64:33

Episode 43: Jim Kerbow, head football coach and AD...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/09/02

There are a lot of good coaches and men in Texas high school football, and Jim Kerbow definitely ranks towards the top of the list. Every school across this great state where Coach Kerbow has been, he has gone above and beyond to meet the needs of his students and athletes at school and also at home. He stresses the importance of being someone others can depend on and he works to instill this trait in his athletes.

en

01:01:58

Episode 42: Joel Fontenot-Amedee, head football...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/08/26

Joel Fontenot-Amedee, head football coach and athletic director for the Bandera Bulldogs, talks about the importance of having a community that feels like family and balancing priorities not just for himself but for his athletes. He has know he wanted to be a coach since high school but did not expect to wind up in Texas high school football after growing up and playing college ball in his home state of Louisiana.

en

01:27:19

Episode 41: David Lucio, head football coach and AD...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/08/14

David Lucio starts year 10 in his hometown of Tidehaven with his Tigers ranked as one of the top 3A-2 schools in the state. His background of Madden football and the military have created the perfect combination of strategy and discipline that have helped him to be successful everywhere he has been. The pillars of his program are hard work and toughness, and with his son, Eric, at his side, the Tigers will look to make another run at Jerry's World this year!

en

01:09:40

Episode 40: Head football coach and AD for the Mart...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/08/08

Head football coach and Athletic director for Mart ISD, Chris Lancaster, has spent his entire life on the football field, from high school to the college level and back to high school again. His years of experience and travel have brought him to one of the most successful football programs in the state, with 8 state championships and 15 state appearances. There is always pressure in a program with this kind of history, but Coach Lancaster is welcoming the challenge in his new home where putting

en

41:46

Episode 39: Jax Brown, Pflugerville Weiss graduate,...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/07/30

Jax Brown recently signed with Arkansas State to play football for the Red Wolves. But previously he had signed and played spring ball at Sam Houston State before entering the portal. Jax is a good example of why the portal is necessary for athletes. We discuss the portal and how he managed his serious injuries in high school to keep on his path to the D1 level. I am joined in this episode by co-host Josh Brown, who coaches at Salado and is also my oldest son.

en

01:00:05

Episode 38: Head football coach and AD for the...

Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas ·

2025/07/25

Head football coach and AD for the Giddings Buffaloes, Luke Hobbs, started his journey from over 1200 miles away but knew Texas was the place to be on Friday nights. His family has been in Giddings before, but this time he is holding the reigns for the program. He has a good staff around him and hopes to do big things for the Buffaloes.

en

58 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN