Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – 2025-08-26, Hour 1

Host: Matt Jones
Co-hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude
Date: August 26, 2025
Location: KS Bar & Grill, Lexington
Purpose: First day back live at KS Bar & Grill. The crew covers UK football updates, KS Bar reopening, NIL in college sports, and a state benefits mishap.

Episode Overview

The KSR crew returns to KS Bar & Grill with a new look and upgraded menu. This episode covers the excitement of reopening the bar, new Kentucky football depth charts and roster analysis, heated debate about a state EBT program error, college sports transfer/NIL drama, and a humorous mix of personal anecdotes. The lively, conversational tone features plenty of friendly ribbing and real talk about the UK sports scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. KS Bar & Grill Reopening & Upgrades (00:35 – 06:52)

• Back at the Bar:
  Matt welcomes listeners back for the first live show since their summer break, held at the newly renovated KS Bar & Grill.
• Upgrades Highlighted:
  • New floors, shiny tabletops, blue paint, updated pictures/jerseys, switched-up televisions.
  • Major menu refresh: Addition of smash burgers (from Noche Linda), new appetizers (notably potato "tater kegs"), and the return of crowd favorites like wings and cheese logs.
• KSR Community:
  • Loyal listeners show up early. Team celebrates the return with friendly banter (“feels like we haven’t left.”) (01:01)
  • “It’s nice to be back.” — Matt Jones (01:18)

Notable Quotes

• “KS Bar & Grill is back open. And we will be open all day today starting at 11 o'clock for lunch.” — Matt Jones (00:40)
• “If you look around…we changed the tabletops…redid the floors...most importantly, I think we very much improved our menu.” — Matt Jones (04:47)

2. Ryan Lemond’s Commercial & Local Fame (02:13 – 04:28)

• Ryan Lemond’s Commercial Gig:
  • Shooting a national TV testimonial for Alarm.com/Silent Guard after their system saved his house from a fire.
  • Turned down a trip to DC to stay for KS Bar opening & game week, opts to film locally.
  • Doing it unpaid—feels “indebted” to the company.
• Matt & Crew Tease Ryan:
  • Good-natured ribbing about Ryan's famous "one polo shirt" for fancy days and speculation about late-night infomercial potential.
• Generosity or Undervaluing?
  • “You could get paid for these things.” — Matt Jones (04:03)
  • “They saved my house and they saved my dogs. I kind of feel like I owe them a little bit.” — Ryan Lemond (04:14)

3. UK Football Depth Chart & Roster Deep-Dive (10:11 – 15:51 and 16:18 – 18:14)

Offense Preview

• Names & Backgrounds:
  Matt reads through the projected starting offense, focusing on newcomers and their transfer history:

  • Shiash Pete (LT), Joshua Braun (LG; Arkansas/Florida/Shawnee), Jagger Burton (Center), Jalen Farmer (RG—one of the few known returnees), Alex Walchschlager (RT; from Bowling Green State).
  • Wide Receivers: Kendrick Law (Alabama), JJ Hester (Oklahoma/Missouri), Jamari Macklin.
  • Tight Ends: Josh Cattus, Willie Rodriguez.
  • QB: Zach Calzada (Incarnate Word/Auburn/Texas A&M).
  • RB: Dante Dow (Nebraska) or Seth McGowan (New Mexico State).

• Kicker from Montana:
  Jacob Kawhi—first Montana UK kicker, “can kick it 60 yards over a mountain.” (14:06)

• Special Teams Tweaks:
  Ty Bryant to return punts, replacing Jamari Macklin.

• Team Chemistry & New Era:

  • Noted high turnover—almost an all-new offense.
    • “Probably of the guys that are going to start on this week compared to…last year, you're looking at like one guy…It's a new group.” — Matt Jones (15:21)

Defense Preview

• Key Starters:

  • McQuees Humphrey (DE; South Dakota/Princeton), David Gusta (Washington State), Khalil Saunders (returning).
  • Outside LB: Sam Green (USC), D Vern Rayner (Northern Illinois/TikTok guy).
  • Secondary: Mostly returning players (Safari, Scott, Waller, Hardaway, Bryant, Lovett).
  • “Secondary and defensive line shouldn't be too concerned”—Drew Franklin (17:56)

• Big Picture Analysis:

  • Defensive line and secondary look stable; linebackers are mostly new. Health, cohesion are major variables.

Notable Quotes

• “I think [Jagger Burton] is going to be an NFL center at some point in his career. So I think this just the start of a big season for Jagger.” — Ryan Lemond (11:27)
• “That's why we, you know, somebody got on us yesterday about we don't know the names or how they're going to do because…It's a whole new offense, a whole new look, whole new position these guys are playing.” — Ryan Lemond (15:51)

4. Will the Team Be Better? Football Prognosis (18:45 – 20:13)

• Is this UK football team better than last year?
  • Group consensus: Yes. Significant improvement via transfers and position upgrades.
  • Reference to last year’s QB Wilcox leaving football for hunting, implying disastrous past performance.

Memorable Moment

• “To me, the most legendary UK football quarterback story is that we had a quarterback skip the final game to take the LSAT. … We'll never top that.” — Matt Jones (19:19)

5. College Basketball & NIL Transfer Drama (20:13 – 23:00)

• Todd Golden (Florida coach) comments on Denzel Aberdeen’s UK transfer:
  • Golden claims Aberdeen left for “financial reasons” and implies Kentucky simply paid more.
  • Matt and crew mock the hypocrisy—Golden left San Francisco for Florida for money: “Why does he think it's somehow a reason to be angry that Denzel Aberdeen might have done the same thing?” (21:38)
• Prediction of More NIL-Sour Grapes
  “We're going to be hearing this a lot in recruiting…making an excuse for why a player…went to another school.” — Drew Franklin (22:07)
  Matt: “It annoys me to no end because they never hold themselves to the same standard.”

6. EBT Mistake & Paying Money Back to the State (26:38 – 34:00)

• The Issue:
  State (actually local school districts) mistakenly gave extra EBT (food benefit) money to ~1,400 families, now demanding repayment—even for those who already spent it.
• Hosts' Stance:
  • All (Ryan, Drew, Shannon) agree recipients shouldn’t have to repay; state should “eat it.”
  • Banter about personal payroll mistakes at KSR and how each would have handled (or has handled) surprise money windfalls/losses.
• Moral/Ethical Nuance:
  • Matt: “For me, it’s weird. It’s almost like the knowledge makes a difference…When it’s the state, you have to assume the state’s not gonna screw up.” (30:48)
• Listener Call (Chris) (35:52 – 37:28):
  • Shares story of being accidentally refunded $2,300 instead of $80 for returned tile.
  • Ultimately chose to "give it back" via another purchase, but the situation was confusing.
  • Matt: “I’m generally of the view that the person that makes the mistake has to eat it unless…the entity that knows [but still takes the money], but how do you prove that?”

7. Fun Extras: Haircuts, Athlete Bonding, Horse Cave Revival (23:54, 38:12–42:12)

• Famous Athlete Haircuts:
  Carlos Alcaraz shaves his head for “ease of movement.” Crew discusses whether it’s disrespectful for those with great hair to cut it, including UK’s Mark Pope and Buzz Williams.
• Basketball Team Bonding:
  • Mark Pope takes the team ziplining, boating, pickleball, jet skiing, visiting Kentucky natural spots.
  • Matt approves “all things bonding,” not sure about pickleball.
• Horse Cave, KY Revitalization:
  • NYT feature on the town’s transformation after cleaning up cave pollution.
  • “All that stink is gone…Horse Cave is on the way up now.” — Drew Franklin (42:09)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “If you get money from the state, you have to assume the state knows what it's doing. Right. Wouldn't you think?” — Matt Jones (30:01)
• “I don't want to be lied to…For Shannon, it's much…the thing for Shannon is and has always been money.” — Matt Jones (34:13)
• “There is value in what they're a part of…show them the fan base they're representing.” — Matt Jones (40:08)
• “I had this happen earlier this year where I got some money put in my account, and…it was obvious it wasn’t supposed to be mine.” — Drew Franklin (37:53)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35 – Show opens live from KS Bar, excitement for grand re-opening.
• 04:47 – In-depth run-down of bar renovations and menu improvements.
• 10:11 – Football depth chart detailed, player bios and transfer stories.
• 16:44 – Defensive starters previewed, transfer dynamics on defense.
• 18:45 – Will the team be better? Hosts give opinions and reminisce on past UK football oddities.
• 20:13 – Discussion of Todd Golden’s comments about NIL and transferring.
• 26:38 – EBT overpayment–should recipients pay back state error?
• 35:52 – Call-in segment on money mistakes (Chris’ home improvement refund story).
• 38:12 – UK basketball team bonding outings, local Kentucky pride.
• 41:20 – Horse Cave, KY, transformation story.

Conclusion

This episode weaves UK football analysis with the excitement of KS Bar’s reopening, real-life ethical questions about government error, the realities of NIL in college sports, and the lighter side of KSR’s community. Witty banter and frank opinions—plus classic Kentucky hospitality—make for an entertaining, engaging hour for both UK faithful and casual listeners alike.