Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) — Hour 2, August 26, 2025

Host: Matt Jones
Co-hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon Dawson
Live from: KS Bar and Grill

Overview

In this lively episode, the KSR crew reconvenes at the newly re-opened KS Bar for a classic Monday hour of Kentucky sports news and banter. The team dives into the upcoming UK football opener, the perennial debate over improving the game day experience, quarterback Calzada’s prospects, SEC atmospheres, and the viral "Daddy" Nick Saban story. They also debate Dave Portnoy’s ban from Ohio State's field and relive an embarrassing post-game family fight in college football. The show maintains its light, sardonic tone throughout, with plenty of humor and good-natured ribbing among the hosts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. KS Bar Re-Opens and Scheduling (00:57–01:35)

• Matt Jones announces KS Bar and Grill is open again after a three-month hiatus.
• "The moment this show ends... I flip it over and ESPN begins." (01:18, Matt Jones)
• The team jokes about Matt "going in naked" for ESPN production, Matt reassuring: "I'm going to go ahead and wear my clothes during the entire show today." (01:44)

2. UK Football: Game Day Experience & Weather (02:18–07:12)

• Expectations for upgrades to the UK football game day experience are low.
• Drew Franklin admits: “I have very little expectations that that has happened, but I’m hoping there’s stuff new. ... As far as any upgrades... I don't have a lot of faith in UK doing that.” (02:47)
• Ryan and Matt highlight perfect weather for the opener—“like 79 degrees for August”—and low ticket prices. (03:17)
• The conversation turns to failed traditions (the Big Blue Drum). They reminisce:
  • Drew: “We tried to make it a thing.” (04:08)
  • Matt: “We hit it and we said, yeah. We were like, all right. Drum.” (04:22)
  • The drum “only lasted a season or two. Did not take off.” (04:35, Ryan)
• Email marketing from UK is critiqued as not helpful—just shoes, not real experience improvements. (05:26)
• Critique of AD Mitch Barnhart's “old school” approach. Matt says:
  • “He thinks all fans are like him... You have to talk to people… I just don’t know how much of that happens with him.” (06:16)

3. Ranking Game Day Atmospheres: Football vs. Basketball (07:12–09:22)

• Kentucky’s football game day environment ranked near last in the SEC; basketball, by contrast, is “number one” for average experience.
• Matt: “Of the game day experiences, we’re probably 14th of the 16 now… In basketball, that’s not true.” (07:12)
• On basketball, Drew notes, “If you got Kentucky coming to your school, you circle that the minute the schedule comes out and you’re camping out.” (09:03)
• Matt: “On a game-in, game-out basis, Kentucky’s number one.” (08:34)

4. UK Football Season, Calzada & Bowl Hopes (09:31–11:38)

• Caller Bobby and the hosts discuss expectations for QB Calzada and the team’s bowl prospects.
• Bobby: “There is not a very long list of SEC quarterbacks that have beaten Saban... Calzada is one of them.” (09:38)
• Drew: “We run it, run it, run it, run it, and then he throws a bomb off play-action...” (10:18)
• Ryan: “Calzada did not throw a lot of interceptions at Incarnate Word... makes good decisions.” (10:42)
• Matt: “Ultimately, that’s all we can ask...” (10:53)
• Drew: “I’m pretty ready to just go back to hand it off if we have the offensive line to do it... win 22 to 21.” (11:09)

5. Nick Saban ‘Daddy’ Story (11:38–15:39)

• Discussion of Seth Wickersham's book claim that Alabama assistants call Saban “Daddy.”
• Matt: “If Ryan just looked at me and said, daddy, I would fire him on the spot.” (13:25)
• Drew: “I’m not calling anybody Daddy.” (14:01)
• General consensus: “bizarre,” “embarrassing,” and “funny to think of football coaches calling each other Daddy.” (13:11–14:29)
• “I think this story should be getting more attention.” (14:48, Matt)

6. Listener Calls: Optimism and UK’s Path to a Bowl (18:03–31:09)

• Callers weigh in on Calzada, the schedule, and the importance of optimism.
• Callers argue a path to six wins is plausible, but Matt cautions about being underdogs in many games (22:29–24:57).
• Matt: “Of Auburn, Vandy, Louisville… win one of the home games—Florida, Tennessee. … That’s the path to six wins.” (25:24)
• Ryan: “Kentucky’s 2 and 11 in their last 13 SEC home games. 2 and 11, that can’t happen.” (26:07)
• William calls in to invoke Scott Van Pelt: “Being optimistic costs the same at least to start the year... Might as well be positive.” (30:12, 30:54)
  • Matt: “You only get 12 football games a year... this been a long offseason. Maybe the most boring offseason I can remember.” (31:08)

7. Baseball Segment—Catcher Home Run Records (20:04–21:46, 27:12–28:26)

• Cal Raleigh’s record for home runs by a catcher and why catchers rarely reach 50 HR.
  • Ryan: “They don’t play as many games. They get a break, you know, every once in a while. Maybe that’s why.” (21:11)
  • Matt: “Only eight times in history has any player who’s a catcher hit 40 home runs in a season.” (27:51)

8. Dave Portnoy Barred from Ohio State’s Field (31:59–35:59)

• Barstool’s Dave Portnoy, a Michigan fan, is blocked from field access at OSU game; Matt contends this is incredibly petty.
• Drew: “It definitely seems soft.” (33:59)
• Matt’s media lesson: “If you really want something to not be a deal, ignore it. ... By being outraged, you made him much more relevant.” (34:21)
• Matt likens it to when UK banned Drew Franklin from postgame court access—only made the show more popular. (35:10)

9. Viral Family Fight After College Football Game (37:22–39:48)

• A Kansas State QB’s dad and brother fought after a game in Dublin, Ireland.
  • Drew: “A father, son fist fight. You don’t get that very often.” (37:22)
  • Ryan: “I mean, it was just. It was. It was awful. Both those men need to grow up.” (38:19)
  • Matt: “Can you imagine if Will Levis’s dad was fighting his brother outside of Kroger Field?” (39:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He thinks all fans are like him... You have to talk to people that are not in your zone.” —Matt Jones on Mitch Barnhart (06:16)
• “We tried to make [the Big Blue Drum] a thing.” —Drew Franklin (04:08)
• “I guess you can just assume it’s not going to happen.” —Matt Jones on game day innovations (05:36)
• “I think this story should be getting more attention. ... I feel like I’m the only person that brought this up.” —Matt Jones on the ‘Daddy’ Saban story (14:48)
• “I’m not calling anybody Daddy.” —Drew Franklin (14:01)
• “Kentucky’s 2 and 11 in their last 13 SEC home games. That can’t happen.” —Ryan Lemond (26:07)
• “Being optimistic costs the same at least to start the year.” —Caller William/Scott Van Pelt (30:41)
• “[Banning Portnoy] definitely seems soft.” —Drew Franklin (33:59)
• “If you really want something to not be a deal, ignore it. … By being outraged, you made him much more relevant.” —Matt Jones (34:21)
• “[The Kansas State family fight] was so embarrassing. ... Both those men need to grow up.” —Ryan Lemond (38:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57 — Show begins, live at KS Bar
• 02:18 — Tailgating, game day atmosphere, Big Blue Drum failure
• 06:16 — Mitch Barnhart and “old school” administration
• 07:12 — Football SEC environment ranking; comparison to basketball
• 09:38 — Caller Bobby: Calzada’s upside and bowl hopes
• 11:38 — The Nick Saban ‘Daddy’ controversy
• 18:03/21:46/27:12 — Listener calls: football optimism, game predictions, and catchers’ HR records
• 31:59 — Dave Portnoy banned from Ohio State’s field
• 37:22 — Kansas State post-game family fight

Tone & Style

The hour is conversational, irreverent, and witty, with the hosts frequently teasing each other and poking fun at regional sports quirks. Matt Jones keeps a sharp edge, challenging assumptions while remaining light-hearted. Listeners are welcomed as fellow fans and media insiders alike.

For new listeners:
This episode is classic KSR—part insightful breakdown, part soapbox, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, deep local color, and healthy doses of skepticism about authority (in both sports and media). It’s essential listening for any UK fan seeking community and candid takes.