Talkin' Old School with Roger Franklin Williams

Chicago Bears Legend Doug Plank Talks "Bears 46 Defense" and His Story of Perseverance

Chicago Bears Legend Doug Plank, the namesake for the famed "46 Defense", brainchild of Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan, shares about how the "46 Defense" came about and how this now legendary defense came to be named the "46 Defense" (Doug Plank, starting Free Safety was #46 on that Bears Defense). He also talks in detail about his journey from lightly recruited high school player to career backup Defensive Back at Ohio State during the Woody Hayes era to entering the NFL as an unheralded late round draft choice to making the team and earning a starting position as a rookie, where he became the first rookie to lead the Bears in tackles, to his now legendary status as being recognized as one of the hardest hitters in NFL history and being recognized as one of the 100 greatest Chicago Bears of all time. 

COACH PAUL LOUNSBERRY TALKS UCF FOOTBALL & NIKKI COOK OF FLORIDA DOOR SOLUTIONS

Coach Paul Lounsberry, longtime UCF Knights Offensive Line Coach talks UCF Spring Football and tells the inside story of how UCF beat out Elite Power 5 College Football Programs to bring Daunte Culpepper to campus. Nikki Cook also joins us to share exciting news about Florida Door Solutions. We also talk UCF Spring Football, Coach Scott Frosts' second tour at UCF and High School Football Spring Football which began this week, specifically Spring Football at Lake Brantley with new Head Coach Garrett Kruczek and a dramatic change in offensive philosophy from the option offense to a "pro-style" offense with emphasis on the passing game.

2025 APOPKA BLUE DARTER BASEBALL REMOTE BROADCAST FROM APOPKA MOWER

The annual Talkin' Old School broadcast celebrating the history and tradition of Apopka Blue Darter Baseball from Apopka Mower & Equipment Repair featured interviews with Head Coach Bobby Brewer; current Apopka ballplayers Senior LHP Wyatt Jaggers, Junior RHP Tyler Spaid, Junior SS Nico Posluszny and Sophomore CF Aiden Rieli; Blue Darter Baseball Alumni from "Back in the Day" including Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson; Booster Club President Mike Posluszny and Apopka Mower Owner and former Blue Darter Baseball player Mike Martin. Coach Bobby Brewer was the Head Coach of the 2001 USA Champion Little League team and is also an Apopka Baseball Alum. Presenting Sponsor Mike Martin talked about the culture of Blue Darter Baseball during his era of the early 2000's, which included stories of future MLB Cy Young Award Winner Zack Greinke; Coach Bobby Brewer spoke about Mike Martin's versatility as a player as a 2B, SS & RHP and his leadership. Talkin' Old School Host Roger Franklin Williams was a 3-year starter and a 2-time All-Conference first baseman and regular season batting champion on Coach Pete Dunn's famed 1975 Elite 8/District Champion team.

The Colorful Life of Florida Gator's 1970s Defensive Lineman David Starkey

This Talkin' Old School episode features the colorful life and unique career path of Dr. David Starkey, Florida Gator Football Player from the 1970's Doug Dickey-era. Currently, Dr David Starkey is a successful Doctor of Chiropractic in Tennessee. His path to his current career includes being a highly recruited "Blue Chip" multi-sport athlete out of Troy, Ohio. He chose the Florida Gators to play football where he became an instant legend due to his tremendous physical gifts and athletic ability, 6'5" 275 pounds of chiseled muscle and track sprinter speed, as well as notorious off-the-field activities which endure as legend in Gainesville. After football at Florida his career included wrestling, kickboxing and fighting future heavy weight Champion Buster Douglas as a professional boxer. Co-Host Jim Flanagan, former National Sales Manager of Nautilus Industries and member of the National Fitness Hall of Fame joins host Talkin' Old School host Roger Franklin Williams in this behind the scenes look at the world of big-time college football in the '70's and Dr. David Starkey's non-conventional path to his current success.

ROLLINS TARS GREATS BLAKE LORENZ & JOHN CASTINO AND GATOR BASKETBALL GREAT TEDDY DUPAY

Rollins College Baseball Greats RHP Blake Lorenz & 3B John Castino join Roger Franklin Williams to talk about their experiences during the Coach Boyd Coffie-era. Blake Lorenz and John Castino were leaders on two of Rollins College greatest teams, the 1975 and 1976 Tars. Blake Lorenz was an All-American RHP and led the nation in wins in 1975. John Castino was an All-American at Rollins, a standout 3B for the MLB Minnesota Twins where he was recognized as the 1979 American League Co-Rookie of the Year and is recognized as Rollins's greatest all time baseball player. John Castino shared a first hand personal story about the late George Foreman that illustrated the former Heavyweight Champions' fortitude, perseverance and Christian Faith. Blake Lorenz spoke about his worldwide Evangelical Ministry, World Evangelism Center Orlando, and the annual Golf Tournament, Golf With A Mission, aka GWAM, on April 5, 2025. Talkin' Old School listeners can learn more about Blake Lorenz ministries, the GWAM tournament and also make contributions to the ministry at www.worldevangelismcenterorlando.com.   In the second half of the show, Gator Basketball Great Teddy Dupay talked about 2025 March Madness and specifically the Florida Gators stirring victory over UCONN in round 2. Teddy Dupay was the starting Point Guard on the 1999-2000 Gator Basketball team, which was the first Gator team to reach the Finals of the NCAA Men's Tournament. He was also the first player recruited by Coach Billy Donovan and the center piece of Donavan's first recruiting class as Florida Head Coach.  

SUPER BOWL VETS MIKE DITKA JACK YOUNGBLOOD & BILL CURRY TALK SUPER BOWL w ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

The Talkin' Old School with Roger Franklin Williams presented by Gatorland featured a Super Bowl Preview with a twist, a Retro Super Bowl program where Super Bowl Veterans Mike Ditka, Jack Youngblood & Bill Curry discussed their experiences is some of the most impactful games of the Super Bowl era. The first half of the program features Bill Curry, who was the starting Center for Lombardi's Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 1, where the Packers defeated the KC Chiefs 35-10. Curry also talks about his experiences in Super Bowls III and VI with the Baltimore Colts. In the second half, Hall of Famer Mike Ditka talks about the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears and their Super Bowl XX victory and his experience as a player for the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. Finally, Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood talks about playing on a broken leg in Super Bowl XIV for the LA Rams in a game where they were leading the Steelers after 3 quarters, but finally fell 30-19.

GERALD LOPER, FLORIDA All-SEC LINEMAN 1973-75 TALKS DICKEY-ERA GATORS AND UPS & DOWNS AFTER FOOTBALL

Florida Gators All-SEC offensive guard Gerald Loper, 1972-75, talks Coach Doug Dickey wishbone-era Gators, which included 3 Bowl Games including the 12/31/74 Sugar Bowl vs Nebraska and a Dickey-era best 9-3 record in 1975. He also shares about the acclaimed offensive line of the '75 season, The Family, and the interesting fact his small time high school, the Eustis Panthers, produced 3 Gator starters during the mid-70's; Jimmy Ray Stephens, Robby Ball and Gerald Loper. The program also includes the powerful story of the ups & downs faced by many players of his era in raw detail including his insightful training camp experience with the 1976 San Francisco 49ers and his poignant exit from the game of  football. His account of his triumphs & successes as well as his perseverance in overcoming disappointments & failures ends with powerful Old School Wisdom from Gerald Loper to young ballplayers  and students. 

Author Mary Flynn and Derrick Hicks President of Thompson Jewelers review President Trump's Inaugural Address

Award winning author Mary Flynn and Derrick Hicks, President of Thompson Jewelers and authority on the Revolutionary War, discuss President Donald Trump's Inaugural Address with host Roger Franklin Williams on The Roger Franklin Williams Show.

Frank Pomarico, Tri-Captain of the 1973 Notre Dame National Champions, Talks 2025 College Football Playoff Review

Frank Pomarico, Tri-Captain of the 1973 Notre Dame National Champions and author of the book, "Ara's Knights, Coach Ara Parseghian and the Golden Era of Notre Dame Football",  talks 2025 College Football Playoff with host Roger Franklin Williams. It's the final segment of the "Talkin' Old School 2025 College Football Playoff Series" presented by Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster and Gatorland, the Alligator Capital of the World in Orlando, Florida.

Hall of Fame Coach John Hemmer Talks Oak Ridge Pioneers Hall of Fame with Roger Franklin Williams

Coach John Hemmer, who led Oak Ridge High School to 5 State Championships, was a member of the coaching staff on the USA Track & Field team at the 1982 Barcelona Olympics and is a member of 9 Halls of Fame, including St Francis Prep in NYC, talks Oak Ridge High School Hall of Fame. He is joined by fellow St Francis Prep Alum Frank Pomarico, author of the book "Ara's Knights" and Tri-Captain of the 1973 Notre Dame National Champions, as we also talk about the current state of college football.