KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 1

Episode Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Regulars: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon The Dude
Producer: iHeartPodcasts/Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Summary Prepared for: Those who want a detailed, lively recap of the key discussions, quotes, atmosphere, and takeaways from this episode.

Episode Overview

This episode marks the eve of the University of Kentucky football season opener against Toledo. The KSR crew brings a high-spirited, sometimes combative, and always entertaining discussion that encompasses UK football’s prospects, the impact of key player transfers–notably Dane Key, the general mood around UK’s program and fanbase, some betting analysis, and, in true KSR fashion, the latest Kentucky viral oddity: the “Couch Car.”
Intertwined are fan calls, inside jokes, and the hosts’ signature rapport.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Countdown to Kentucky Football vs. Toledo

• Excitement and Anticipation
  • KSR crew is amped for the first game (12:45 pm kickoff); pregame energy builds.
  • “Football starts tomorrow.” – Matt Jones (02:52)
• Change of Venue for the Show
  • Originally planned to broadcast from a hemp field; now, possibly taking the show into the streets of Lexington.
  • “Right now, Billy and Mario are efforting… to try to make it where we can do our number two of this show out on the street.” – Matt Jones (09:00)
• Predictions and Fan Confidence
  • Betting lines have moved from Kentucky being a 7- to 10-point favorite; hosts bullish on UK’s odds.
  • Both excitement and some anxiety over the season opener’s implications.

2. Dane Key, Transfers & Fan Emotions

• Debate: Why Did Dane Key Leave?
  • Friendly-but-tense exchanges about whether Key “wanted to stay” or “had to leave.”
  • “If he wanted to stay, he would have stayed.” – Matt Jones (04:41)
• Fan Reactions and Personal Ties
  • Hosts reflect on fans’ lingering disappointment.
    • “He’s a local kid… his dad played here… he wanted to stay here.” – Ryan Lemond (26:01)
    • “Him leaving did send shockwaves. I think people are like, ‘Well, what is wrong if Dane Key’s leaving?’” – Matt Jones (26:16)
• Transfer Reality Check
  • Most outgoing UK transfers not projected as impact players elsewhere.
  • “The transfers out felt really bad, but… a lot of these guys just may not have been very good.” – Matt Jones (27:06)

3. The Toledo Matchup & UK Football State of the Program

• Breaking Down the Matchup
  • Discussion on why Toledo is touted as a threat; hosts mostly dismissive of “Toledo hype.”
    • “Do they have a top 30 raw talent like Kentucky does? No. Do they have a seven year quarterback like Kentucky does? No. Kentucky’s gonna run them well.” – Shannon (11:43)
    • Drew and callers note: Toledo has national consistency, P5 wins, but “Kentucky should dominate them in the trenches.” – Drew Franklin (11:11)
• Consequences of a Loss
  • Losing would trigger panic and program-wide questions.
    • “If we lose, you think about the whole Stoops era, which is a lot of pressure… but I don’t think that’s ridiculous.” – Matt Jones (13:17)
• Season Preview
  • Offensive line is supposedly rebuilt–the “Big Blue Wall.”
  • Running game expected to be the backbone.
    • “Run, run, run. Hey look, we’re going to pass. Nope, just kidding. We’re going to run again. That’s going to be the offense tomorrow.” – Drew Franklin (45:27)

4. UK Fanbase Morale and Motivation

• Plummeting Offseason Optimism
  • Athletic survey: Only 11% of UK fans say they’re optimistic about football.
    • “That’s a huge mistake. When Minnesota’s fan base is more excited than ours, that’s a problem.” – Matt Jones (30:36)
• Failure to Energize
  • Compared to Louisville at 100% optimism, the crew laments UK’s lack of offseason hype.
  • Matt offers unused tickets to listeners to boost attendance and engagement.

5. KSR-Style Humor & Kentucky Oddities: The Couch Car

• The Viral Sensation
  • A Lexington local built a fully functional “Couch Car,” complete with lamps, carpet, and decor, now spotted cruising city streets and racking up Instagram followers.
  • Hosts debate legality and brainstorm money-making plans.
    • “How’s that street legal?… But that can’t be legal.” – Matt Jones (33:49)
    • “Come like sit at KS Bar parking lot. Drive people to Commonwealth Stadium. Yeah, on a couch.” – Matt Jones (36:10)
• Local Legend Status
  • The Couch Car is now “famous,” and potentially ripe for KSR to broadcast from.

6. Sports Betting & Week 1 Gambling Strategy

• General Advice
  • Week 1: Avoid heavy betting, upsets are rare, public overreaction common.
    • “People overreact to week one… it’s very hard for a team to [lose] in week one.” – Matt Jones (24:47)
• KSR’s DraftKings Parlay
  • The crew picks their locks for the weekend (with much comedic fumbling from Ryan Lemond, who forgot his phone).
    • “That’s a winning ticket right there… the one that’s going to lose us is at noon when Texas beats Ohio State.” – Matt Jones (47:09)

7. Listener Interaction

• Fan Calls and Texts
  • Score predictions collected via text machine (772-774-5254).
  • Notable banter with callers about the season, Dane Key, and the Couch Car.
• Running Jokes
  • Ongoing Dane Key debate becomes stand-in for breakups (“He wanted to stay, but he didn’t.”).
  • Friendly ribbing of Ryan Lemond for confidently giving dubious car law advice.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Dane Key and Commitment:
  • “At the end of the day, there came a time for a car to leave. Shannon. And he got in it. Right?” – Matt Jones (05:10)
• On UK Offseason Engagement:
  • “It is for a motivated program. It’s a failure of motivation. Again, starting tomorrow. It doesn’t matter.” – Matt Jones (31:09)
• The Couch Car Phenomenon:
  • “He and his wife are just sitting on a couch driving through downtown… they have lamps.” – Matt Jones (33:29)
  • “Does the lamp work?” – Matt Jones (36:21)
• On Betting and Week 1:
  • “Week one, I do go for a lot of underdogs to cover the spread.” – Drew Franklin (24:47)
• On Kentucky Fans' Mood:
  • "I've been on the radio 15 years. Never been a time that talking football has been worse to get the fans motivated." – Matt Jones (31:14)
• On Show Planning Mishaps:
  • “Now, Shannon, it’s almost certain this won’t work.” – Matt Jones, on taking the show outside (09:47)
  • “Just put on Stone Temple Pilots and walk out of here. That’s what I’ll do.” – Shannon (10:04)
• Caller Comedy:
  • “Ryan left his Home. At home. But he really didn’t want to leave his home. The phone.” – Sky Gas Man (47:47)

Important Timestamps

• 02:52 — Show opens in earnest; football excitement builds.
• 04:21–05:10 — Debating why Dane Key left UK.
• 09:10–09:49 — Plans to take the show on the street (“almost certain this won’t work”).
• 10:09–11:55 — Betting lines on UK/Toledo shift; hosts analyze why confidence is rising.
• 13:17–14:13 — Stakes of losing to Toledo; would reflect on the whole Stoops era.
• 21:08–21:55 — “Give me one fact why Toledo has a shot” — Drew Franklin responds with a rundown.
• 30:36–31:09 — Athletic survey: UK fans’ (lack of) optimism is discussed.
• 33:29–37:06 — Extended riff on the Couch Car viral video and Kentucky culture.
• 45:27 — Drew Franklin sums up UK’s offensive game plan: “Run, run, run…”

Episode Tone and Style

• Energetic and playful, with plenty of inside jokes, sarcasm, and the “we’re one big family (with arguments)” feeling typical of KSR.
• Lively debate (especially about transfers and program direction).
• Self-aware pessimism/realism about fan mood.
• Infusion of Kentucky-specific oddball news (Couch Car) to keep the show grounded in local culture.
• Light-hearted dismissals of show/technology mishaps (“almost certain this won’t work”).

Conclusion & Takeaways

• The KSR crew is fired up but realistic ahead of UK’s season, aware that a shaky opener could cause widespread panic about the program.
• Both the hosts and callers are emotionally invested, especially about the fate of transfers like Dane Key.
• The show reflects on the “lost motivation” among UK fans, calling for last-minute unity and pushing for a full stadium—and entertaining the audience with Kentucky quirkiness in the form of “Couch Car.”
• The mood is a classic mix of anticipation, good-natured skepticism, and community spirit amplified by local humor.

For newcomers, this episode is an ideal window into KSR’s blend of UK sports talk, fan engagement, and Kentucky culture.

(End of summary)