2025-09-11- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1

September 11, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Crew: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude

Episode Overview

In this powerful and emotionally-charged episode, Matt Jones and the KSR team address the tragic public shooting of political advocate Charlie Kirk in Utah, sharing their reactions and calling for a return to empathy and human decency. The episode then shifts to Kentucky sports topics, including the upcoming UK football game against Eastern Michigan and fan excitement around quarterback Cutter Bowley. The show also answers listener calls about UK basketball, football history, and even some lighthearted banter about hot yoga and Blind Melon.

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Main Theme:

Tragedy in Utah and Its Ramifications

From the outset, the hosts focus on the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk during a public speaking event at a Utah college campus, reflecting on the human and societal implications and the disturbing tendency of social media to exploit such tragedies for political gain.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflecting on the Tragic Shooting of Charlie Kirk

[01:05–15:10]

• Matt Jones opens with a somber and direct address:

  • “It is awful to see any human being killed for basically speaking their beliefs… It's the exact opposite of what America stands for.” (Matt Jones, [03:04])
  • Matt and Drew recount learning of the incident while recording, expressing sadness and the inhumanity of murder tied to political activism.

• Condemning the Dehumanizing Effect of Polarization:

  • “We are so quick ... to label people in groups ... and what happens ... is you end up dehumanizing the people on the other side.” (Matt Jones, [04:45])
  • They emphasize that, regardless of political beliefs, the murder is simply “wrong. Full stop. That's it. That's the end of the conversation.” (Matt Jones, [10:56])

• Social Media and Distorted Responses:

  • The hosts are disturbed by ghoulish responses on social media – both celebrations and apocalyptic rhetoric – but urge listeners to remember this is not representative of America:
    • “Social media sometimes takes the worst of humanity and throws it out there and makes people think it's the norm. I don't think it's the norm.” (Matt Jones, [06:57])

• Core Message About Humanity:

  • “At its core, when we get to the Pearly Gates, they're not going to ask what political party you were in; they're going to ask how you treat your fellow human being.” (Matt Jones, [08:01])

• Panelist reflections:

  • Ryan Lemond: “That was a husband and a daddy that didn't get to go home to his wife and kids last night. It's awful. It's disgusting.” ([09:14])
  • Drew Franklin: “People just need to get over that there are other opinions out there. You don't get to take someone's life because what they're saying isn't exactly in line with what you believe.” ([10:08])
  • Shannon the Dude: “It's a cowardly act to shoot somebody because you don't agree with their opinion.” ([11:55])

• Debate and Empathy:

  • Matt salutes Kirk’s willingness to debate opposing viewpoints, reminding listeners that “at the end of the day he would go home and two children would run up to him.” ([12:18])

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2. Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

[15:19–18:29]

• Frustration with Law Enforcement Progress:

  • The shooter, at broadcast time, is still at large, prompting surprise and concern:
    • “I'm really surprised... Aren't you that something that, like high profile, that the person would have been able to get away and that we don't have a name or even a picture?” (Matt Jones, [15:23])

• Media Rumors and the Spread of Misinformation:

  • “When you try to look for real information on the Internet... there's just so much stuff that's inaccurate.” (Drew Franklin, [16:12])

• Ominous Parallels to Recent Violence:

  • The discussion recalls the recent Trump assassination attempt, raising anxiety about public safety for political figures:
    • “If I was a political person... I don't know if I would do it right now.” (Matt Jones, [17:13])

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3. Transition to UK Football

[19:04–23:34]

• Fan Excitement Around QB Cutter Bowley:

  • Cutter Bowley expected to start for Kentucky in a favorable matchup.
  • “I really feel like we're seeing the beginning of the Cutter Bowley era. It starts, I think, Saturday.” (Ryan Lemond, [19:57])
  • The crew discusses whether the fan base will turn out for the game due to Bowley’s debut and debates what would constitute “success” for the young quarterback.

• Quarterback Controversy Concerns:

  • “Once you make this decision... you made it.” (Matt Jones, [23:09])
    The hosts agree that UK should stick with Bowley rather than flip-flop between QBs.

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4. Listener Calls & Community Pulse

[23:40–34:54]

• On the “Two Sides” Mentality:

  • Matt stresses the majority of Americans are “living their lives…not screaming online”: “When I see these dudes, that's not what they're talking about...So I think that's how most people are.” ([26:15])

• Callers Bring Up UK Basketball & Football History:

  • A caller, Alex, spots Coach Mark Pope on a Paris-Atlanta flight. Panel speculates he was recruiting or on personal travel. ([27:34])
  • Jason asks about the 2019 Eastern Michigan game’s impact on UK football history—Drew details the chain of events leading to the memorable Lynn Bowden season. ([29:59])

• Prayers and Hopes for the Team:

  • Joe offers encouragement for Matt’s trip and hopes for UK’s post-bye-week performance: “This cannot turn into a quarterback controversy.” ([33:01])

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5. Lighter Segments

[34:54–42:19]

• Blind Melon Banter:

  • Light-hearted discussion on the band Blind Melon playing Bourbon & Beyond, and whether anyone can emulate their unique sound.
  • Matt and Shannon joke about how sad song lyrics can sound deceptively cheerful.

• NFL and Fan Behavior:

  • Lamar Jackson’s post-game apology to a fan:
    • “I shouldn't have hit you, but, man, chill.” (Paraphrased, Matt Jones, [36:14])
    • Panel debates effectiveness of NFL stadium bans.

• Ole Miss Staff Does Hot Yoga in Lexington:

  • “What are the chances the UK staff would ever do that?” Matt jokes about UK coaches hitting a hot yoga class before a game. ([39:07]) Crew doubts it would ever happen, poking fun at the idea of Mark Stoops or Vince Marrow doing yoga poses.

• Call from Jerry:

  • On the need to work UK’s passing game against Eastern Michigan: “I hope they really take this chance to work on their passing game.” (Jerry, [41:17])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Jones [03:04]: “It is awful to see any human being killed for basically speaking their beliefs… It’s the exact opposite of what America stands for.”
• Matt Jones [06:57]: “Social media sometimes takes the worst of humanity and throws it out there and makes people think it’s the norm. I don’t think it’s the norm.”
• Ryan Lemond [09:14]: “That was a husband and a daddy that didn’t get to go home to his wife and kids last night. It’s awful. It’s disgusting.”
• Drew Franklin [10:08]: “You don’t get to take someone’s life because what they're saying isn’t exactly in line with what you believe.”
• Matt Jones [10:56]: “It’s wrong. Full stop. That’s it.”
• Shannon the Dude [11:55]: “It’s a cowardly act to shoot somebody because you don't agree with their opinion.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:05–15:10] – KSR crew addresses Charlie Kirk’s murder and its social implications.
• [15:19–18:29] – Updates on the shooter, law enforcement, and public safety questions.
• [19:04–23:34] – UK football: Excitement and questions around Cutter Bowley’s debut.
• [23:40–34:54] – Callers discuss politics, UK athletics history, and Coach Pope’s Paris trip.
• [34:54–36:14] – Blind Melon music and light banter.
• [36:14–39:13] – NFL fan incidents, stadium bans, and Lamar Jackson’s apology.
• [39:13–41:17] – Ole Miss staff’s hot yoga; more sports and community discussion.

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Takeaways

• Empathy Over Division: The episode is a call for unity and basic human decency above politics, using the tragedy in Utah as a rallying point for reflection.
• Kentucky Sports Hopefulness: Shift in sports discussion shows the crew’s resilience and the community’s continued excitement for UK athletics, even amidst national tragedy.
• Humor Amidst Hardship: KSR blends serious commentary with levity, offering listeners emotional relief and a sense of normalcy through familiar sports talk and friendly banter.

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[Ads, intros, and outros have been skipped in this summary.]

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Off Broadway.

[C]

This is Kentucky Sports Radio, presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[A]

Welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio, Thursday, September 11th. I am Matt Jones here. I am in New York and the guys are back in Lexington and Shannon is in Louisville and you can give us a shout on the Clark's Puppet Shop phone line, 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254 in this edition, sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. If you call TJ, he'll make them pay A lot of stuff to get to Today Football game is Saturday. This the last time I will be on this show, at least regularly in terms of the whole show until October 3rd, although I may check in at some point from South Africa as I get on a plane tomorrow night. These guys will be at Clark's Pump and Shop tomorrow and I want to get to all that stuff. But I think you do have to start with what happened yesterday in Utah where a political advocate, Charlie Kirk, was speaking at a college campus and was shot murdered from afar and in what was a tragic, tragic act and just a murder that I think has long term ramifications for the country. So I just want to address this by starting with this. As soon as it happened, I was with Drew. Actually, we were, we were, we were doing the show for Cover zero and I Drew said that the video was online and it's a shame that in 2025 things like that just show up on your timeline. Just an absolutely horrific scene. We were in the middle of taping the podcast. We kind of stopped, took a minute to take it in and my initial reaction was simply this it was. It is awful to see any human being killed for basically speaking their beliefs or, you know, being in a public setting. We don't know exactly the. They don't have the person who did it yet, so we don't know the. Exactly the motives. But in a public setting, speaking their beliefs and being killed, it's the exact opposite of what America stands for. And when I saw the video, the first thing I thought of was, what an absolute tragedy. That's a human being. It's a human being with a wife, It's a human being with two young children. And it's a human being that is in front of a mass of college students, all of whom are engaged in. In public affairs and are interested in the state of their government and the state of society. And I was just really saddened by it. This is not what America is supposed to be. This is the kind of thing you hear happening about in other countries, far away, around the world. The idea that you would be an advocate for whatever your political beliefs are and would be shot down in public while speaking them, it's awful quickly thereafter, if you got on social media, it became a conversation about something else. And I actually tried yesterday, after making a couple statements to say, stay off social media for that reason, because I don't think as a starting point, people should skip over the basics that a human being was murdered in front of a group of college students while speaking. It's horrible. It's absolutely horrible. And it is the type of thing that can lead to real negativity. Even beyond that, in society. We're so quick in this country to label people in groups, whatever groups you want to have. In this case in politics, it's conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat, whatever. But what happens when you do that, in my opinion, is. Is you end up dehumanizing the people on the other side. It's easy to say I joke about the people that call me liberal. And it's easy when to say, oh, that's just a MAGA person, whatever. But it's easy when you do that to then forget that it's a human being. And I think yesterday, very quickly, the murder of Charlie Kirk became not about Charlie Kirk and not about the act, but a chance to. To then make your political points, whatever they were. I saw comments online that were, you know, there were people cheering it, which is awful. There were people saying, this is the beginning of, you know, World War Three, let's get them. Also awful. But I want to be clear that I think that is a very, very, very Very small minority of people. I think most people saw what I saw, which was a human being being murdered, and just were horrified by it. Absolutely horrified. Social media sometimes takes the worst of humanity, throws it out there and makes people think it's the norm. I don't think it's the norm. I think the norm is a lot of people who saw that and said, that's awful, that cannot happen in America. And maybe being worried that it will happen more. You notice nowhere during that did I say what his political beliefs are. It does not matter. It doesn't matter. You cannot have a world where whatever a person does and gets up and speaks that they're then no longer with us. That is a recipe for a disaster. I heard somebody else, I read somebody else said last night, it's like a forest fire that once lit, cannot be put out. And I agree with that. I hope the country sort of uses this as a moment to take a step back and say, we can't go down this path. We can disagree with each other, but we are human beings. We are, at its core, we have a humanity. And that is a person who's 31 years old, who has a wife and two kids and who, whether you agreed with him or not, had a movement of young people who he really engaged with and who, if you spent any time on like non Twitter, social media and you went to like Instagram, a lot of people really sat, people who felt like they knew him. And it has to change. We cannot have a world where people are scared to get up in public and say what they think. Last night I had multiple friends write me and say something like, hey, man, when you get up and say stuff in public, like, look around. And I hadn't even thought about that. But it can't be like that. I'm just a sports host. Imagine what people who represent us or who are in government, who are political commentators, that that world cannot exist. So my heart was broken last night, One, as a human being, that a person was killed in that respect. But two, looking forward for the future and saying, I hope, I genuinely hope people use this as a moment to remember that at its core, when we get to the Pearly Gates, they're not going to ask what political, what political party that you were in. They're going to ask how you treat your fellow human being. And hopefully we start to remember that we're more than these labels that we put on us. This morning, apparently the FBI did a press conference. The shooter is still at large. They say they have some ideas about who it is. They found the rifle, but the person's still not caught. That was the last I saw before the show started. I don't have an update beyond that. Ryan, Drew, I'll go to you. What were your sort of initial thoughts when you saw it yesterday?

[B]

Well, first of all, great job, what you just said. I think we can all piggyback exactly what you just said, because you're right, man. That was. That was a husband and a daddy that didn't get to go home to his wife and kids last night. And it is. It's awful. It's disgusting. And I stayed off social media. I did not want. Once I heard that the video was on social media, I haven't seen it. I don't want to see it.

[A]

I wish I hadn't seen it, but, you know, I wish I hadn't seen it, but there's a natural inclination to want to see it. I guess that's just human nature.

[B]

But somebody who was, you know, he was speaking and speaking to some college kids, you know, in public, kind of like, you know, they were rallying around him and to be taken.

[A]

That was a Utah Valley state. Right. Is that's where Pope was? Is that exactly right?

[B]

Yeah, it's just. It's just disgusting. And so I echo everything you just said. You did a good job with that.

[D]

Yeah, well said by you to start. But it's. People just need to get over that there are other opinions out there. You don't. You don't get to take someone's life because what they're saying isn't exactly in line with what you believe. As you said, dude was on a college campus talking to a bunch of students. I don't care what he's saying. I don't care if he's right, left, center, middle, upside down, talking about reptile people. You don't. It's not your decision to take someone out of the world or even intervene in what they're doing. So we got to get over the fact that there are other opinions out there. We don't have to hate each other because of it. We certainly don't have to get violent because of it. And it's just sad that it's gotten to this point that he's up there expressing what he believes to people who are wanting to listen. They're there to hear him. And it ends in a tragedy like this. It's just completely unacceptable as a society that we've gotten to this point.

[A]

The thing to say to me, Shannon, is this. It's wrong. Full Stop. That's it. That's the end of the conversation.

[C]

There is no but on that.

[A]

There's no but.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It's wrong. Period. Period. Period. I've said the same thing. When other things have happened, we have to stop saying, but what about this? It's wrong. It's. There are acts that occur that are simply wrong, and you can use other people's behavior to justify anything you want, and that's a race to the bottom that leads to us all falling apart. It's wrong. It's horrible, it's tragic. And I don't care anything about his life before. It's wrong, Shannon. And it's awful. And it seems like to me, 12, 15 hours later, or however long that some people are kind of coming around to that opinion. I was worried in the moment, which is why I got off social media last night.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's a cowardly act to shoot somebody because you don't agree with their opinion. If you have a problem with somebody, go up and address it with them face to face. But it's a sad world that we live in where somebody doesn't agree with you and you feel the need to go shoot them and take their life and take them away from their family and friends just because you don't agree with them.

[A]

He's in a little bit of a. He was in a little bit of a different generation than me in the sense of. I didn't hear as much of him as I think a lot of people that are younger on social media did, but I did hear some. And I, you know, his beliefs are. Were his beliefs. But I also. One thing I did like about him is that he would debate and talk to people that disagreed with him. That was kind of how I think he got into prominence, was doing some of that stuff I saw that he had scheduled in a couple weeks that there's a kind of. The closest thing. The left has his aversion to him. They were going to do a public appearance together and debate. And ultimately that's a good thing. You need to talk to each other. Because one of the things I like about this show is people get a chance to maybe hear a different opinion from me or from other people, but it's awful. It's a tragedy. I hope we use it as a chance to. I don't want to use the word unify. I'm not sure that that's going to happen through this, but at least start seeing the humanity in. I was glad to see people who put a picture of his kids put a picture of his wife out so that everyone, myself included, can be reminded not of the times you see clips of him taking a stance on a controversial issue, but saying at the end of the day he would go home and two children would run up to him and his wife, who everyone says was a lovely person, would, was there. And he had friends and he had family and he had millions of people who never had met him, probably who felt a connection to him. And if you can't have the humanity for that, then we're losing track of what's important, in my opinion. 8592802287 I don't want the calls or the show, I hope you understand, to be about that because then it will just kind of go down that path. We will take a break and when we come back we'll talk about other things. But I thought it would be irresponsible not to address that. To start. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. Tech Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. Some of you write me that's fine. You feel free to write your comments on the text machine. I will say one thing I do hope what two things that I and then I'll move on. One, I hope people do agree with me because I do think it's true that a lot of what you're seeing online is not like representative of society. I mean, it's just not like it's, it's people who have accounts where they don't use their names so they can say whatever they want or even people who are like, just trying to get things stirred up. I hope people realize I do not think that represents America. I think 98 to 99% of Americans would say this result is awful and they would agree on it. Secondly, just a little bit on the aftermath. Shannon, are you. I'm a little surprised they haven't caught the guy.

[C]

I am too.

[A]

With all of those people there.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And, and the FBI and everybody. I mean the FBI announced last night that they, they had them and then said, well, sorry, no, we don't, I don't really know how that happens, but I'm really surprised. Aren't you that something that, like high profile, that many people there that the person would have been able to get away and that we don'. Have a name or even a picture of.

[C]

Right. Yeah, I saw that the video of them hauling off this old man, it turns out it wasn't him. And they don't know who it is. I know there's like.

[A]

I knew it wasn't him when his pants were falling. I was like, he was not gonna be. That guy did not do it.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You could just tell. But I'm really surprised.

[C]

Yeah, it was, like, some wooded area behind that they were showing. So I would assume there's a manhunt going on now. And if you don't find the suspect within the first 48 hours, it gets even more difficult.

[A]

Are you. Were you surprised, Drew, about that, that. That he's still at large?

[D]

Yeah, very surprised. And I think that's another problem with the world today, is when you try to look for real information on the Internet. Everyone with an account is trying to break a story, and there's just so much stuff that's inaccurate.

[A]

Like you don't know what's real.

[D]

Like that older guy. It's almost like, well, I guess I'll just wait till we, you know for sure something's out. Because if you go out just trying to seek news, there's just so much crap out there mixed in.

[B]

Now, I want to ask you something while we're talking about this. We're not that far removed from the assassination attempt on President Trump at a rally outside, are we?

[A]

But they knew who that guy was immediately or fairly soon after, I think they didn't. They catch. I mean, I was killed.

[B]

They killed him.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. So they killed him, like, that day. So, I mean, they. They knew that quickly. I'm just. Now, granted, there are more people on the scene with the president, so it's probably easier in Secret Service, their whole job right there. But you're going to go ahead, finish what you were saying, right, about being outside.

[B]

Well, are we to the point where, you know, this lot, what America is based on, where you get to speak your mind, and then now this is.

[A]

I'd be scared.

[B]

Yeah, I would be scared.

[A]

If I was a political person on the right or the left right now, and I went and spoke in public settings like that. I'd be. I don't know if I would do it right now, like today. You know, I think. I think it would be. I don't know. I don't know that this would be the time to do it. Would you all, like, if you were. Let's say you were a liberal commentator, would you want to be in public in the next week or a conservative commentator, would you want to do that? I don't know if I would.

[D]

Certainly not outdoors. And a lot of places don't even want him do these outdoors. I mean, Charlie, Kirk, even Lexington. I mean, a lot of people on college campuses, they're doing these in auditoriums because you don't. It's like when the president comes through, you have Secret service, you have like a campus police community to watch out for this. That's why a lot of them won't even.

[A]

Would you do something like this outside?

[C]

No, I don't know if I would risk it.

[A]

Yeah. I do wonder, Ryan, I do wonder if that's over, you know, if they don't do anything now. Not in a controlled environment, which is a shame, but you could understand why people wouldn't want to do it. Right?

[B]

100%. You got to understand that, you know, this now happened twice. A political rally, somebody takes an assassination.

[A]

There's just so many variables, I guess, when you're outside. Right. So many. So many different ways. Yeah, I mean, it's. It's. Yeah, it's. It stinks. All right, let's switch gears. UK an Eastern Michigan playing Saturday. It looks like Drew, according to reports that Cutter Boli will start. Ryan Lemon Scoop had that thought earlier in the week, but now multiple people are saying it. So what is. What are we going to get now with the Cutter bowling experience?

[D]

I think you couldn't ask for a better time to have Eastern Michigan. They're not good. They've. They've lost to some teams that, you know, directional teams. One of the Texas teams. I know who they've lost to. Long Island. Did they play Long Island?

[A]

Long island, yeah.

[B]

Point.

[D]

Point is Cutter gets a team that's not an SEC opponent to kind of go out. Let's see what you got a little bit. This one shouldn't be an issue. It's better than, you know, if he had the next week go to at South Carolina or, you know, God forbid, one of the later games. So I hate that the Calzada run was short lived for him. But if you're going to make the switch, I think now is the best time to do it because you kind of have this buffer game to one of the easier defenses you'll face.

[A]

I agree with you. I mean, this is the. That you couldn't ask for a better game. Ryan, do you think this is now a. Cutter Bowley is the quarterback at Kentucky unless he gets hurt. Like, is that where we are right now?

[B]

I really feel like we're seeing the beginning of the Cutter Bowley era. It starts, I think, Saturday. I think that.

[A]

So, like this quarterback that they got out of the portal it's like two and out absent an injury.

[B]

I think that's it. I think the fact he got injured kind of maybe has pushed this plan a little faster along than they thought it was going to. But I think Drew said this is a perfect scenario for Cutter to kind of get your feet wet against a team you should handle pretty easily. You know, they threw him his first start last year against Louisville. Half that team had checked out by the time that game had even started. Well, not. Kind of not fair to throw him into against Texas. And then, I mean, the first time.

[A]

He played was against Texas. Yeah. No, no, no. They threw him.

[D]

They threw him in the Swamp without warming up. He stood up off the bench and went through a pass in the Swamp was. So he's done in the Swamp, at Texas, in the Governor's cup have been his three auditions.

[A]

Yeah, he's probably going to be excited to see Eastern me. Michigan. That's right. I didn't think about that. So his first start last year was Louisville.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you're right. Half the team had probably quit. So what do you expect to see from, like, when he actually gets in there? How do we. What do we think he's going to do?

[B]

Well, like Drew said, this is a perfect scenario because the defense is not that strong. I think they're going to put. Move the chains a lot, put a lot of points on the board, and I think it's just going to not only jumpstart the fan base, get them excited about Cutter being a quarterback, but I think that locker room needs that. I think they need that little excitement, little push, and maybe. Maybe they play a little harder because Cutters out there doing some good things.

[A]

Do you think you get Drew like some people who weren't sure whether or not to make the drive Saturday, do they now make the drive because Cutters there. Ooh.

[D]

I don't. You know, there's an excitement for Cutter. I don't know if it's. Honey, let's get in the car and get to the Lexington excitement, if you haven't already planned that.

[A]

Lexington.

[D]

Yeah, get to the Lexington.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

I don't. I don't know if it's. Let's change our plans and get to Kroger Field because Cutter starting. But there is. The fan base is excited and at least playing Ole Miss close the night game coming up. Haven't had too big of a disaster outside that first half. I think you'll still get some decent tailgating just because it's the first all day Saturday.

[A]

Yeah, I think it probably helps with it. So what success, Shannon? I mean, it can't just be beating Eastern Michigan. People are going to want to see them. Are they going to want to see them throw the ball? They're going to want to see him mention like, move like. What do you think is success?

[C]

Well, the spread is 24 and a half just to give you a gauge on that. So I think if Kentucky were to cover that, that would be success. I think that Kentucky is going to run the ball a lot because Eastern Michigan has given up over 600 yards in the first two games this year so far. I don't know. I mean, I'm sure Cutter's going to throw, but how much is he going to throw? I think it's going to be a heavy running game against them, but. Oh, here's my thing. What if Cutter looks great against Eastern Michigan, then starts against South Carolina and doesn't look so great and Calzada is still available? What do you do the next game then? Then you got that quarterback controversy all over again and you got to pick.

[A]

I think let's assume that he's available, although I, maybe he's not.

[C]

Well, you said he's available for this game. Stoop said that, but then they.

[B]

Somebody said he hadn't practiced all week.

[C]

But he said he's.

[A]

But then it's hard to go back to him. I think, I think you can't just keep going back and forth. I don't think that does either one of them. Right, right. Yeah.

[C]

You got to pick one.

[A]

I think once you did, if, if Calzada is available and you start cutter, then you got to play cutter. Unless it just doesn't work. Because. Because if I, if you go back to Calzada, then cutters, you lose cutter. Right. So I. Yeah, yeah. Once you make this decision, in my opinion, you made it. 859-280-2287. We'll take your calls. Be right back. T.J. smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. he'll make him pay.

[C]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[A]

Welcome back, Techie Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. I get a lot of messages, so I'll answer a couple of these before we go the phones. One person writes, Matt, what would you say about all the people on your side who were cheering yesterday and saying that it was a good thing? Well, the. Your side implies that there are two sides of humanity, America and That one of them, the whatever, the one you believe and the other one. Whatever, the one you don't believe, are constantly at war. And I just don't believe that's the case. Drew, Franklin and Shannon and Ryan and Billy and Mario. I mean, just all five of them. Let me use them as an example. Like, I care about these things. I follow politics on a pretty regular basis. It's always great to be with these five guys, because they don't. All five of them, they don't. I'm not gonna say they don't care, but I wouldn't say that their lives. I would say less than 5%, maybe less than 3% of all five of their lives are really following those kinds of things. They live their life for the things that they care about, the things that they love, and that's what drives them. And they each have different beliefs. Like, if I were to put them on a political scale, I'd probably put, like, Mario the farthest left, then Drew, then Ryan, then maybe Shannon, then Billy. But for all five of them, I don't know that they really drives them at all. And so you know what I think? I think 99% of Americans are like them. I do. I think 99% of Americans are Like them. And then the 1% that are not like them are online and are online disproportionately, and they drive all of our discourse, where 99% of people feel like, that's not me. That's what I think. Now, am I one of the 1%? I'm not one of the 1%. Screaming. I probably care about it a lot, but it's driving me to be more like the 99%, because I don't want to spend my life screaming at people. And I'm not. I'm not. But I do think it's worth remembering there are more people like Mario, Billy, Ryan, Shannon, and Drew than there are everybody else. So that, to me, is how I have, like, comfort that things can be okay is. Because when I see these dudes, that's not what they're talking about. We're making fun of Ryan for the various things he does, and Mario's telling him he's inconsistent.

[C]

Dolly Madison and.

[A]

Yeah, Dolly Madison, like, that's what life is for a lot of these folks. So I think that's. That's how most people are. I'm here in New York. I was walking around last night. There were tens of thousands of people on the street, and no one. Shannon was talking about this. No one.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. I think you're right.

[A]

They were living their lives. They were just doing whatever they do. What most people here are talking about is this is the anniversary of 9 11.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I'm staying at this moment five blocks from the World Trade Center. And I walked by there yesterday. It was very powerful. There's people everywhere, officers everywhere. I watched a group of pilots that were dressed in pilot uniforms, and they were putting up a memorial for today's events for the pilots that. That were. That died on 9 11. Like, that's what people are talking about today because I'm so close, literally, to where the building is. But so that's how I kind of feel better about it, is this is an awful thing. But people, most people don't. Don't focus on it the way those of us that do or you all that do care to that strong a degree. Who's first? Shannon.

[C]

Let's start with Alex.

[A]

Alex, Go ahead, Alex.

[E]

Hey, Matt. First time, long time.

[A]

Who are.

[E]

I was on a flight from Paris, France, to Atlanta. And to my astonishment, as I was walking to my seat, I see Mark Pope in first class. Do you have any clue on why he was there?

[A]

He was going from where?

[E]

France.

[A]

He was going from where to where?

[E]

From Paris, France, to Atlanta. Actually, we never actually got off the tarmac. This was on Tuesday.

[A]

Oh, well, maybe a vacation or maybe. Maybe he was there to see a player. I don't know. Why. Why do you think Drew, he would be in Perry.

[D]

With Pope? Who knows? The man does not stop.

[A]

Yes. I don't know.

[D]

I mean, we. We know they've branched out with international recruiting. Also. I don't think it's Paris, but one of his daughters is over London. Maybe she's somewhere over there. I remember when Kentucky was over there. Or he was over recruiting. He made a trip to see her. But I mean, it really, with him, it could be anything. I don't have the answer.

[A]

It could be anything. My guess is that if he flew, it was flying commercial. It was probably a personal trip and he was there for vacation or something like that. Did you say hi to him?

[E]

Yeah, of course I did. I shook his hand, said, I'm happy he's the coach and happy with everything he's done. And he was very kind. He asked for my name, seemed like a great guy. But actually, funny enough, we actually never ended up taking off on that plane. We sat on the tarmac for three and a half hours. No, that's like.

[C]

I can't ask him, Alex, why? He was embarrassed. I mean.

[A]

Yeah. Did you Not. Did you not want to ask him?

[E]

Well, I was going to my seat, so, like, I was just. So, like I had a line of people behind me and then afterwards I was, I was just in the back. So, like, there was no chance.

[A]

I didn't.

[E]

I felt uncomfortable, like going up there and bothering him as we're dealing with like a three and a half hour delay.

[A]

Yeah, I understand. Well, I appreciate the call. You know, everybody gets to have a life. Ryan, some people need to go to Paris. If, If I was UK coach, maybe you would do that.

[B]

But you guys say, I would not be shocked if he's going over there to see a player. I mean, you know, they just. He picks up and he. In a minute and I'll go drive somewhere, fly somewhere to go see somebody, meet somebody, talk to somebody. Wouldn't shock me if he flew to Paris, came back the next day.

[A]

Who's up next?

[C]

Jason.

[A]

Jason. Go ahead, Jason.

[E]

Hey, Matt, thanks for taking the call. I specifically waited for the week we played Eastern Michigan. I asked this question. I would call it another hindsight hypothetical. If you remember, I asked you about California. You did, yeah. So this one goes a little farther back than even that one did. So I was at the Eastern Michigan game back in 2019 when Terry Wilson got hurt.

[A]

Yes.

[E]

And you know how you scrutinize all the mistakes and everything that was made this past week and everything. I go back to that game at the time he got hurt. Kentucky was up 17 to 3. But they had been at the goal line and lost a fumble. They lost one touchdown or they fumble going in and then they had another one called back because of a hold. What do you think if they had been up, had scored those two times and been up 31 3, would Terry Wilson have already been out of the game and you know, the backup been in there, we might have had a completely different season that I actually think that 29.

[A]

Explain to people. I appreciate the call.

[E]

And healthy.

[A]

Yeah. Drew, there was an. There was an article on KSR where someone said. And I didn't read it, I just saw the headline.

[D]

I wrote it, so I could probably help.

[A]

Okay. Yes. Talk about what you. What you meant by that.

[D]

Yeah. Well, Terry got hurt on that horse collar tackle against Eastern Michigan. It was a flag, nasty play, hurt. His knee goes off waving. And that was following the Citrus bowl year. Stoops even said earlier this season, talking about Toledo, he was very optimistic about that 2019 team. Week two, Eastern Michigan, we lose Terry Wilson at the very end of the third quarter for the Season, Sawyer Smith comes in, throws two touchdowns, but then two weeks later, Sawyer Smith gets hurt. And that opened the door for Lynn Bowden. So the Eastern Michigan game kind of paved the way for one of the. The seasons we'll remember forever as a Kentucky fan because they are the ones that injured Terry on a nasty horse collar.

[A]

And the caller's right, like that ended of season, we remember positively because of the Lynn Bowdoin experience. But Drew, I think people thought if Terry Wilson had played the year, maybe we could have been really, really good again.

[D]

Definitely. And even, I mean, I think not think. I know I wrote it. So I saw your first pass was a 54 yard touchdown pass. Even when he came in, we're like, all right, well, let's just keep this thing rolling. And then you get down to Lynn and we throw our arms in the air like, oh, season's over. But then Bowdoin won six of eight. So, yeah, I mean, Terry might have. I don't know, was he going to win 7, 8. So it's just. It was a neat connecting Eastern Michigan to how that special year, how it all started in this game, how they had to go off script and doesn't.

[B]

Get near enough credit for what he did that year. Design, you know, everybody get ready for Terry Wilson. Design that offense. Then he had to design an offense for Sawyer Smith. Then he had to completely change for a third time and design it for Lynn Bowden.

[A]

The Lynn Bowdoin games are just. That's a wild thing to think in hindsight, that we had a dude who didn't even play quarterback and he won as many games as he did. Who's next? Joe. Joe. Go ahead, Joe.

[E]

Quickly, Matt, have a great trip. South Africa. The big question all Wildcat fans got on her mind. We got an open week after Eastern Michigan, Matt, as you well know and everybody there knows, we don't do very good on an open week. I'm praying this is the exception. This is the exception. Matt, have good vibes over here in South Africa. I'm gonna have good vibes back here in Lexington and Louisville and just pray that somehow, if the Wildcats could get a roll victory against South Carolina and they. The quarterback is not a problem. And Matt, you well know too, this cannot turn into a quarterback controversy or just he will go 3 and 8 or 3, 3 and 9. So hopefully have a great trip. And I praying in the open week that somehow Coach Juice finds a way to get a victory against South Carolina.

[A]

I agree. Listen, if we, if while I'm gone, we beat South Carolina. I'll be in that game when I get back because I think it'll be. That would be an awesome, awesome thing if we're able to do it. Noche Linda Farms I've been telling you about this beef forever, and now we use it in our burgers at KS Bar. I've gotten so many compliments on the burgers, especially in the last week and a half. People just keep telling me they're great. Well, they're Noche. And the reason we're cooking them different be also the Noche Linda Farms beef. They've done an amazing job and you can get them at the bar. You can also get them at home. Noche lindafarms.com N O C H E lindapharms.com Kentucky Proud Beef Right here in Kentucky. I love it. It's completely changed the taste and the way our burgers work at the bar. And it can do it at your home. 859-707-7005 7004 Steve Grissom Place an order noche linda farms.com if you if you haven't had them telling you. Absolutely. Excellent. We'll take a break. Barry Bags Kentucky Sports Radio I like this song. Shannon. So there's a guy that sings with Blind Melon. Now, does he sound like this?

[C]

I haven't really heard them live, but I'm playing this because they're playing at Bourbon and Beyond Fest later today. So I'll let you know. I guess whenever I talk.

[A]

Let me know in October. But I do wonder because this guy's a very unique voice. Right? Like that sort of falsetto. I think that would be a hard voice to emulate.

[C]

I didn't even know that. Yes. And I didn't even know they were still a band, but that they are. They'll be there.

[A]

They have other songs besides this.

[C]

They do. I don't know that anybody who's not a Blind Melon fan would know them.

[A]

Yeah. I love this song, though, Although it's very sad when you hear the words.

[C]

No, that's why you don't pay attention to the words.

[A]

Yeah, you can't. This is what we talked about this about a couple years ago about this song. You can't listen to the words. The words are really tragic. Like she is. He's like, I don't want to cry. Please stay with me. So I don't cry.

[C]

But he sounds so happy singing, though.

[A]

But he sounds happy, right? He sounds. I start to complain because there's no. He's complaining because there's no Rain. Because he's so depressed. The rain makes it better for him.

[C]

Yep. That's good stuff.

[A]

Yeah. It's depressing, though. If you sit, don't think about it.

[C]

But again, that's why I always say if. If it. Don't listen to words, melody and good music, the words don't matter.

[A]

The Margaritaville effect.

[C]

Exactly.

[A]

Don't listen to the words. He stepped out drunk in his house because no one's with him and he's by himself and he's drinking margaritas. That's. It's not happy, but it sounds happy.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

Lamar Jackson. Drew apologized. Said about the guy that he. That. That hit him at the. At the Bills Ravens game. He apologized, said, I shouldn't have hit him, but then he said, but, dude, just chill. Which I thought was kind of a funny comment. Do you think he should have apologized.

[D]

Being Lamar and his status? I guess. Sure. It's a good look to apologize, even though we didn't really need it. We're all on your side, Lamar. The kid needed to be shoved. Probably should have shoved him again. He got two licks on Ravens. Lamar should have gotten two on him.

[A]

I like that he goes, though, Ryan, just chill. You know what I mean? I shouldn't hit. I shouldn't hit you, but, man, chill. Which I think that's a fair response. I don't think. Lamar. I mean, I guess you have to apologize, but I don't really think he did anything wrong. Dude hit him in the head, and he didn't hit him.

[E]

He.

[A]

He just pushed him. He didn't hit him in the head.

[B]

So Lamar Jackson did absolutely nothing wrong, but it is a good look for him to go ahead and apologize. Didn't the NFL ban that guy now from every stadium for life or something?

[A]

Well, we talked about this on Cover Zero, which came out last night, in which I'd love for you to download. Drew and I did an episode. We had this conversation because I don't know how they're able to do that. Like, how do they know? Shannon?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How do they know? Like, if he puts on a fake mustache, fake beard, how are they going to know?

[C]

They're not.

[B]

I mean.

[C]

I mean, they don't scan your ID when you go into the game, so how would they know?

[A]

And if you go into games, you know, the people working there, half of them do not care. Yeah, Half of them, I think, care too much.

[C]

Yeah, I've always wondered that.

[A]

There's.

[C]

There's, you know, 80,000 people going in. How do you know?

[A]

I Don't think they know, Drew. I'm going to go on record and say they don't know.

[D]

Yeah, I don't think they definitely don't know. Like, if you're that kid, I mean, those are good seats. You just go back this week, sit somewhere else. I mean, are they going to have pictures of them at every entrance? I don't even know how you stop them from this Sunday.

[A]

You can't.

[D]

Maybe not the same exact seat, but.

[A]

I'm looking at that scene.

[D]

I meant more with him having that seat for that game. He's probably got a little access to find other tickets.

[E]

Little.

[D]

Probably a little money there. So, I mean, I would go right back to the next home game because they're not going to do anything about it.

[A]

859-280-2287. We found out from Mark Story, who did some investigative reporting, Ryan, that Lane Kiffin and his staff called Sterling hot yoga in Lexington. All right. I've never done hot yoga in Lexington. I've done it in Louisville. Might have to go visit Sterling sometime. Sterling hot yoga in Lexington said we want a class on game day. What's the earliest you can do it? And they created a special class for Ole Miss. The day of the game, 13 coaches at 6:15 in the morning went to Sterling hot yoga, took a class, and Lane Kiffin said it made them invigorated for the game. Now here's my question. What are the chances the UK staff would ever do that?

[B]

Slim to zero.

[A]

How many members of the UK staff do you think Ryan Lemon, when they go on the road to Columbia, will be calling for a hot yoga studio before the game?

[B]

I don't see any of them. No. But none of them on game day. At 6:15 in the morning, you couldn't.

[C]

See stoops doing downward dog.

[B]

No. Well, Ole Miss came out of the gate down 10 to nothing. It's like they almost works in reverse.

[A]

For been used to they'd had the downward dog and they knew how to flip it back up. They teach you that in the class.

[B]

Cat cow. Cat cow.

[A]

It is interesting though. It goes and shows a little bit drew about energy. Right. Like these guys, they're up early, they're doing the 6:15 yoga. I mean, I don't know. It was a little. Lane was a little sweaty. He had his shirt off. But he was, he was up doing his thing.

[D]

And they're an operation that, that works. Maybe we should get up at 6am and just go over the playbook. But I, I definitely can't imagine Our coaching staff doing hot yoga. Can you see Mark Stoops and Eric Wolford in there balancing each other up in the air like Belichick and his girlfriend did?

[A]

Whatever that move is in the old days. Big dog. You think Vince Marrow would do downward dog?

[C]

Downward dog.

[B]

He's sitting in the bench in the corner eating a bag of Cheetos.

[A]

I would love to see Mark Stoops. I think Mark Stoops and his staff should have to get up and do hot yoga before one of these road games to show Kiffin how it's done.

[D]

I got another problem with this, though. What are. As a community, why are we facilitating the Ole Miss coaching staff? Getting them right for game day? That should have been a. Find your own hot yoga. You're the away team.

[A]

I don't know. I'm okay with that. As a small business owner.

[C]

Money spends all the same in today.

[A]

Like the economy been slowing down. You. You bringing me a coaching staff for us. And you say to me, hey, can we get our coaching staff eat at 8am and we're already closed and it doesn't call you. I'm like, yeah, you know, greens, Green, Shannon.

[C]

Yeah, I would take it.

[A]

They paid a premium for it, too. Who's next?

[C]

Let's go to Jerry.

[A]

Jerry. Go ahead, Jerry.

[E]

Hey, man. First off, prayers out, Charlie Kirk's family, those two little kids. And I'm excited to see Cutter get his chance to play and excited to see him. But I hope they don't run the ball too much. I hope they really take this chance to really work on their passing game as they're going to have to have that in these SEC games. Doing these. When they play these really good defensive lines that, you know, they're not gonna be able to run the ball as much. They're going to have to be able to throw the ball. And these receivers have had issues. An open. They've had some other issues, and they really need to work on that in this game.

[A]

I agree with you, actually. I appreciate the call. I mean, right. Shannon talks about how bad Eastern Michigan's been during the run, but in some reason, that's the reason to pass in this game because you know you're gonna be able to run. I do think you got to make sure you win. So you get up early and then I think you throw the ball some because I think you're Jerry's. Exactly right. We're not gonna win in the SEC without being able to throw. Who's next?

[C]

Quickly, let's go to Doug.

[A]

Doug, I got about a minute quick.

[C]

That's not quick.

[A]

You know, it's.

[E]

Hello?

[A]

Like.

[C]

Can you hear me? Hey, Matt, can you hear me?

[E]

Anybody there?

[C]

Matt?

[E]

All right.

[A]

I appreciate the call, Doug. Here's the thing. Here's the thing. Like, when I have my. My friend, the turkey hunter, always says, do not say quick to people. It makes them less quick immediately. When you say a minute or quick, they get less quick. He's probably right, isn't he?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Because it seems like that happens in the disproportional amount.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

We're going to take a break. We come back, the rams are back. We'll be right back.