DAHLONEGA -- With the 2024-25 season just around the corner, University of North Georgia (UNG) head women's basketball coach Buffie Burson joins the Nighthawk Sports Network for an all new edition of The Hawks Nest. 

In this exclusive episode, Burson talks with UND Director of Athletic Communications, Brendan Schabath, about a number of different topics surrounding her program. 

She starts with a discussion on the foundation values of the Nighthawks and what keeps her coming back everyday for 31 years. Burson also shared a conversation about the infamous DAWG week, delving into the history and growth of UNG's proud training regimen. Burson also touches on the things away from the court and outside of basketball that still make her relationship with her players fruitful and important. 

Burson's father, Jimmy, was a legendary football player and coach in the state of Georgia who played collegiately at Auburn before an extensive NFL career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. After his playing days were over, Jimmy Burson became a football coach at then Northside High School as well as Milton High School. Buffie Burson was beautifully close with and supported by her father along with her mother, Harriet, and discussed the lessons her parents taught her over her three-decade-plus coaching career. 

Finally, Burson and Schabath talk basketball ahead of what is a highly anticipated 2024-25 season. 

Last year the Nighthawks went 17-12 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. Season ending injuries to 2022 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American Caroline Martin (zero games played) and Dasha Cannon (13 games played) derailed the cohesiveness of the roster before the season could get off the ground. 

This season, Cannon and Martin are back and healthy and return for another year, joining 2024 Peach Belt Conference All-Conference First Team selection Emily Trushel. The graduate forward from Brentwood, Tenn. averaged 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds last season to lead the Nighthawks. Trushel was one of five players across the league named to the Preseason All-Conference team for 2025. 

Burson also discussed this year's schedule which currently features six different matchup against preseason WBCA top-25 teams. 

The season starts this weekend at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center as the Nighthawks take on Emmanuel on Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Peach Belt/Conference Carolinas Challenge to jump start the year. Less than 24 hours later, UNG will square off with Young Harrris on Sunday at 4 p.m. to conclude the preseason event. 

Check out all that and more on a brand new edition of The Hawks Nest.