2025-09-23- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

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Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1

Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Drew Franklin (filling in for Matt Jones), Ryan Lemon, Shannon the Dude, Mario Maitland

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Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with Drew Franklin hosting in Matt Jones’ absence, coming to listeners live from KS Bar & Grill. The crew dives deep into major UK basketball and football stories, most notably the bombshell SEC basketball news of Bruce Pearl stepping down at Auburn, as well as updates and lively speculation about Kentucky football’s upcoming South Carolina matchup. The episode features the characteristic mix of sports analysis, personal anecdotes, and listener calls that make KSR a staple for Wildcats fans.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major SEC Basketball Shock: Bruce Pearl Resigns

[06:24]

• Bruce Pearl, longtime Auburn coach, unexpectedly steps down on the first day of practice after 11 seasons.
• His son, Stephen Pearl, is promoted to head coach with a five-year contract despite lacking head coaching experience. The hosts are incredulous at the "national search" Auburn claims to have conducted.

Ryan Lemon:

"There were some rumblings that Pearl was maybe considering running for a political office in the future... I guess he decided the time is now." [07:03]

Drew Franklin:

"With all the rumors of Bruce in the Senate run lately, even though he denied it last week... he's taken on a new role at Auburn—Ambassador. I think he even said, 'I'm becoming a senator for Auburn.'" [07:29]

• Discussion centers on the optics of the transition and whether Auburn truly had time or intent to consider other candidates.
• Notable skepticism about Auburn awarding Stephen Pearl a five-year deal and the likelihood of success given his lack of top bench experience.

Shannon the Dude:

"It kind of feels like he backed Auburn into a corner, you know, quitting with what, I guess a month and a half before the season starts. And if you're Auburn, how do you do a national coaching search that soon?" [08:58]

• They reflect on Bruce Pearl’s polarizing but impactful career, both regionally and within UK rivalries.
• Anecdotes include Ryan Lemon covering Pearl at USI and Drew’s grudging admiration during Kentucky's past coaching searches.
• The episode gets personal and playful about a “bar in Nashville” story between Drew Franklin and Stephen Pearl, ultimately dispelled as overblown.

The Nepotism and "Will it Work?" Angle

[12:23]

• The crew debates whether Stephen Pearl’s heavy involvement as lead assistant gives him much of a shot.
• Consideration of how much Bruce will be involved as "ambassador," possibly even in recruiting, and how the new NCAA 30-day transfer portal rule for coaching changes might spell more instability for Auburn's current roster.

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2. Kentucky Basketball: Practice Tips Off, Legends Drop In

[15:08]

• UK basketball practice officially began, with high energy in the gym as seen in social media snippets.
• Rondo and Tayshawn Prince spotted watching practice in Rupp Arena—a moment of "legend meets next generation."
• Segue into how today's recruits might not know UK legends by sight, making a case for mandatory Wildcats history education.

Drew Franklin:

"It should be mandatory viewing when you become a Kentucky Wildcat that you sit down and watch the five threes against North Carolina." [15:58]

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3. Kentucky Football: QB Update and South Carolina Preview

[19:28]

• Cutter Bowley officially named QB1 for his first road & SEC start at South Carolina, following an injury to Calzada.
• Ryan and Drew discuss the challenge of South Carolina’s raucous night environment—particularly the effect of "Sandstorm" and the fan intensity.

Ryan Lemon:

"South Carolina is the best [game atmosphere]. I mean, I hate to say that, but that night, the way the Sandstorm and the white towels...you could tell the team was just feeding off that a little bit." [21:36]

• Ryan calls for a simple gameplan to allow Cutter to focus, given the Gamecocks’ weak rush defense.
• Parallels drawn to past close contests with South Carolina and the importance of this week for UK’s season momentum.

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4. Listener Calls: Takes, Nostalgia, and Some Lightheartedness

[23:25]

• Flood of calls about coaching, UK legends, and some ribbing.
• Topics include whether nepotism sets a precedent for Brad Calipari at Arkansas, memories of Tayshawn’s legendary game, and fan anxiety about Mark Stoops' relationship with the UK fanbase.

Notable Quotes:

• Caller (Nathan): "Do you guys think there's any way [Stoops] can win the fan base back over?" [27:00]
• Drew Franklin: "It starts—winning Saturday will go a long way...but also worried that if they don’t look good Saturday, it's going to get real hard to win them back." [27:44]

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5. NFL Talk & Betting Laments

[29:56]

• Brief interlude on NFL woes—discussion of bad beats, DraftKings misfortunes, the state of the Titans and Packers, and how it all makes UK football’s own struggles hit closer to home.
• A comedic rundown of recent “meltdowns” from Ryan Lemon and family betting experiences.

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6. College Football Coaching Carousel: Billy Napier & Florida

[43:58]

• A Florida caller asks about the rapid trigger on firing Billy Napier; the hosts agree the Gators' patience has worn thin, but discuss pros/cons of firing mid-season.
• It’s noted that DJ Lagway, the Gators’ star, isn’t practicing—a sign of Gator turmoil beyond coaching.

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7. Reed Sheppard: Big NBA Responsibility for a Wildcat

[47:05]

• Former Cat Reed Sheppard, now with the Houston Rockets, is upgraded to starting point guard after Fred Van Vleet's ACL injury, meaning he'll be next to Kevin Durant on a contender.
• The crew reflects on his rookie challenges and expresses high hopes for the Kentucky alum, with only minor concern about defense and shooting.

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8. More Bruce Pearl & Auburn Reflections

[35:08], [36:53]

• Callers and hosts reminisce about Bruce Pearl’s SEC legacy, share funny or weird fan interactions, and tell stories from their own Kentucky and regional sports upbringings.

Ryan Lemon:

"There’s a group...they would buy Kentucky Wesleyan home season tickets right behind the opposing bench just so they could yell at Bruce Pearl when he came in." [38:24]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "You know, Matt is in South Africa on day two of his big time safari with nine women and zero cell phones in his pocket. We hope he's doing well." – Drew Franklin [28:12]
• "It kind of feels like he backed Auburn into a corner..." – Shannon the Dude [08:58]
• "I think it should be mandatory viewing... the five threes against North Carolina." – Drew Franklin [15:58]
• "South Carolina is the best [atmosphere]. I mean, I hate to say that, but that night...you could tell the team was just feeding off that a little bit." – Ryan Lemon [21:36]

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Key Timestamps for Segments

• [06:24] Bruce Pearl steps down at Auburn; Stephen Pearl gets 5-year deal
• [12:23] Debating Stephen Pearl’s potential and nepotism in the SEC
• [14:00] Portal opens for Auburn players—possible roster shakeup
• [15:08] UK Basketball practice begins; Rondo & Tayshawn drop by
• [19:28] Kentucky football QB update – a new era with Cutter Bowley
• [21:36] Gamecock stadium atmosphere, "Sandstorm," and crowd impact
• [23:29] Listener calls begin – takes & nostalgia
• [29:56] NFL “bad beat” stories and Kentucky sports betting woes
• [43:58] Florida coaching drama, Napier hot seat
• [47:05] Reed Sheppard gets called to start—big NBA opportunity

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Tone & Style

The conversation is loose, humorous, and candid, with hosts ready to poke fun at themselves and each other—typical of the KSR brand. The episode is upbeat but honest when tackling Kentucky’s challenges, and always weaving in personal angles and fan connections.

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Wrap-Up

This episode encapsulates why KSR remains must-listen radio for the Commonwealth’s sports fans: a lively mix of breaking news, thoughtful analysis, nostalgia, and the blend of local color and national significance that keeps fans engaged—even in the midst of drama, change, and disappointment.

Transcript

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[Drew Franklin]

From hit comedy specials and social media Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Kelsey Cook September 11th through the 13th and catch rising comedy star and UK grad Zhao Ying Summers, September 19th and 20th. And from TV and the Movies, don't miss Kevin Farley. September 25th through the 27th. For tickets to all Comedy Off Broadway shows, call 859-271-joke or visit comedy off broadway broadway.com.

[Shannon the Dude]

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

[Drew Franklin]

Welcome into ksr. Here is not Matt Jones. This is Drew Franklin at KS Bar & Grill with my good friends Ryan Lemon and Mario Maitland. We have Shannon producing the show out of the Louisville studio. As always, and also as always, we are brought to you by T.J. smith, personal injury lawyer. Ryan, what'll happen if you call to call tj?

[Ryan Lemon]

He gonna make you pay?

[Drew Franklin]

He absolutely will. If you'd like to talk to Ryan specifically, not the rest of us, you can text him directly on the a vision glass text machine. How could we ever forget that? Number 502 easy. 7:35, 36, 80 easy.

[Ryan Lemon]

Just kind of rolls off the tongue.

[Drew Franklin]

502-735-3680. And then the Clark's pump and shop phone line at 859-280-2287. If this is a little weird for all you listeners hearing my voice first, it's a little weird for me, too. But after several days off and wore a lot of hats last week, I said, ryan, why don't you sit back? I'll program the show. I'll get us some topics. I'll drive. I'll take the calls. And though I still need you to be a big part of it, we're gonna let you lighten the load a little bit today.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, you know, Mario has kidnapped my phone. He's anxiously trying to Dropbox me a video we shot this morning out in the parking lot. We shot a promo video out in the parking lot for Paul Miller Ford. They'll come and do the oil change for you. You don't have to go get an oil change. They bring the oil change to you in the parking lot. So we've got this video we shot. Mario's trying to Dropbox it to my phone. He's having some issues right now.

[Drew Franklin]

I see that. Maybe we'll have Mario on, too. I have some a social media gripe with Mario that I might have to.

[Ryan Lemon]

Bring up a little bit later. He is our social media director.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, you already. You might know what it is already, Mario, but we'll get you on in a minute when you're done checking Ryan's emails there. But it'll be fun driving the show today. I really want to get some calls because I never get to do this. The calls have been good for already for this week. Yesterday we had a lot of fun with Tayden Lorenzen. I know it's mostly interviews, but you had some good callers last week. But I want want some now.

[Ryan Lemon]

And nice.

[Drew Franklin]

Even if it's not about football, we can talk about whatever. We can talk about Matt. I'll tell stories from way back when. I'm not gonna make it ask anything Wednesday because I might dial something up for that tomorrow if need be. But we'll just, you know, just please give me a call on the Clark's Pump shop phone line. 859-280-2287. And Ryan, Shannon, Mario over there, we got a lot of news to get to.

[Ryan Lemon]

A lot.

[Drew Franklin]

We also have a very special guest in the second hour.

[Ryan Lemon]

We do.

[Drew Franklin]

I was sitting at home last night watching a little Monday Night Football actually, you know, putting some pen to paper about what we're going to talk about today. I had a few creative segments I was excited about. And then out of the blue, here comes a green text message. And we all know who that is. Ryan Lemon. And you told me you booked somebody for us.

[Ryan Lemon]

Dennis Johnson, one of the greatest defensive players in the history of UK football, now the head coach at Woodford County High School. You think that's enough to get him on? But he also has a son that we're very interested in and Jasper Johnson. So Dennis Johnson is going to join us for the second hour to talk football. Basketball, wofo, you name it, I got it.

[Drew Franklin]

I got a compliment. That's a big get. That's a real good get.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, I know Dennis and we're kind of buddies, so.

[Drew Franklin]

Also this time of year, though, football is about to back up out of a bye week. Also, the basketball team started practice yesterday. We'll talk about that in a moment.

[Ryan Lemon]

But good timing, I think, to bring him in.

[Drew Franklin]

Thank you for helping out there. We're really looking forward to him in the second hour. But first, we'll just jump in right into the big news from yesterday. I'm going to go basketball first. Oddly, even though we're excited about South Carolina.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

There was a bomb dropped in the Southeastern Conference about a guy that you and I kind of like a little bit. How about the news that Bruce Pearl, stepping down after what, 11 seasons? Seasons at Auburn on the day practice begins, a shocking development from the plains. He's handing it over to his son Stephen, who got a five year deal with no head Coaching experience. That's another thing we'll talk about. They claim they did a national search. I don't know if I believe that. It seems that Bruce might have lined this up perfectly with the timeline. But, Ron Lemon, did you ever expect anything like that to drop there on September 22nd as basketball gets around the corner?

[Ryan Lemon]

You know, there were some rumblings that Pearl was maybe considering running for a political office in the future. Like, I think he's really kind of leaning that way. I guess he decided the time is now. It's not the future. I'm doing it right now. So the timing stinks. I mean, they had this all set up. Wait till the first day of practice to make the announcement so Stephen can hand it over to him as, like, quote, interim coach. That was all set up so he wouldn't do a national search. They wouldn't hire somebody ahead of his own son. Steven. Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

And with all the rumors of Bruce in the Senate run lately, even though he denied it last week, it looks like maybe he. He's denying it. He says he would even have to step away from Auburn if he were to do that. But instead, he's taken on a new role at Auburn Ambassador. I think he even said, I'm becoming a senator for Auburn. So he will be hanging.

[Ryan Lemon]

Do we believe him? Maybe.

[Drew Franklin]

Maybe for a year or two. We'll see. I don't completely believe him. It would be perfect for a senator to say one thing and to do the opposite, really. So maybe he's walking right into that. That career change. But, you know, as I mentioned, we're both kind of Bruce. Guys. You go back to USI covering him in Evansville.

[Ryan Lemon]

I was there the day he was announced the head coach at the University of Southern Indiana. USI in 1994. It was his first head coaching job. He ended up winning a national title over there. Went to the final game, the championship game, two years in a row, won the title, and then he went on to Wisconsin, Green Bay, and then, of course, Tennessee. And where he's been, Iowa. I'm a Bruce Pearl fan. I've always been a Bruce Pearl fan. I know he's. My dad is not a Bruce Pearl fan. He's a little obnoxious, but to me, I like the guy, and I wish him nothing but the best.

[Drew Franklin]

Now, yeah, I was pro Bruce in the Kentucky coaching search. I'm not afraid to admit that I even had a ranking and he was ahead of Mark Pope. Now that I know what I know now, I would absolutely not want that. But I. I'VE always liked Bruce a little bit, even though he's been in a lot of rival schools, including Tennessee. But I, I feel like Shannon will have some opinions about how Stephen goes from no coaching experience to just getting dad's job at a. At a major program.

[Shannon the Dude]

It's interesting how that works. It kind of feels like he backed Auburn into a corner, you know, quitting with what, I guess a month and a half before the season starts. And if you're Auburn, how do you do a national coaching search that soon, right before the season's about to begin? So it almost feels like he left Auburn in a situation to where they really had no other option. But if you're Auburn, why do you sign the guy to five years? That would be my other question. So if Auburn wasn't necessarily happy with the situation, I wouldn't think they would sign him for five years as they did. It's going to be interesting to see what happens. Bruce Pearl, it shocks me, I thought he would be a guy who would coach until he was 90. You know, I thought he would be around forever. But he says he's going to be an ambassador. I don't know what the job description looks like for that. I think that Bruce Pearl would be a great analyst if he ever wanted to do that on tv. But kind of a shocking news story coming out yesterday with this, especially this close to the basketball season starting.

[Drew Franklin]

Drew, he put out a video that looked very dramatic, had like dim lights in the office. And I went to watch it and then I saw it was 15 minutes long and I just thought, no, no one has time for that. Bruce, this is, this is 20, 25 social media. We need like 25 to 30 seconds max. Did you watch the 15 minute video?

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, I guess the, the end of it where he gets up and throws the ball to Steven. Steven sits down in his chair. Little, little dramatic, but I'm with Shannon. I think he kind of backed Auburn into a corner because that's why he waited till this first day of practice to do it. I'm sure he knew this back in June or July, but that would have given Auburn a chance to find somebody else.

[Shannon the Dude]

Do you think Auburn knew about this before or do you think that they just got the bomb dropped on them like everybody else? You know, did they know about this back in. Back in the summer and Steven was the best they could have gotten.

[Ryan Lemon]

They had to hear what everybody else is hearing, that he was really considering thinking running for political office. So they had to kind of get their ducks in a row. Just in case that happened, I would think.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it's a big shake up. Obviously, none of us think it's gonna work, right? I mean, you and I have known.

[Ryan Lemon]

Stephen Pearl for a long time. I know Stephen.

[Drew Franklin]

Hang on now. I know him a little bit.

[Ryan Lemon]

You.

[Drew Franklin]

You've known him much longer?

[Ryan Lemon]

Stephen, I think, was about 7 years old when Bruce got the job at us. I. So he was the little kid that was always rebounding the basketball and always at practice and always at the shoot, around the stuff and around everywhere. But didn't you and Stephen have an incident at a bar in Nashville, Steven?

[Drew Franklin]

I've never, never had any incident.

[Ryan Lemon]

There's something you're talking about, Shannon. There's a story of Drew and Stephen Pearl at a bar in Nashville. Yes, there is.

[Drew Franklin]

Couldn't have been me. I've never been to a bar in Nashville. I ain't never been to Nashville before.

[Shannon the Dude]

Yeah, I don't know the story. It sounds like, though, the way Drew's talking, there is something.

[Drew Franklin]

There is no, there. Okay, okay. There's a story. This gets blown out of proportion. There was a day where I had a conversation with Stephen Pearl. He was trying to get into medical school, and I had some blog posts that weren't great for him on. On a Google search, it was more me mocking Tennessee. I think it even goes back to when he was a player.

[Ryan Lemon]

So he was playing just like, respectfully.

[Drew Franklin]

Because we have a lot of mutual friends. I got nothing against Stephen Pearl, but, you know, any Kentucky, Tennessee game, we're getting our jokes off. So I'm, you know, it's like, sure, we'll clean that up. That's also another thing. He went to medical school. Medical school. And now he's the head coach of Auburn.

[Shannon the Dude]

So he. So you took down the article, Is that what you're saying?

[Drew Franklin]

I don't even remember, to be honest.

[Shannon the Dude]

This was so long ago.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm telling you. I think he played for Tennessee when this was happening and that's how long ago was. So I genuinely don't remember this. The beef is nothing like what you all just tried to make it.

[Ryan Lemon]

He approached you, asked you to take down the blog post. You probably said, no, I'm not going to do it.

[Drew Franklin]

Something like that. I don't know. Regardless, it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter.

[Shannon the Dude]

Well, it doesn't matter because now I'm going to see if I can find it on Google.

[Drew Franklin]

Back to will it work? Does anyone have any confidence? I mean, if you were to make the case for him. He has been A lead assistant there.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Since Bruce got the job now there's no head coaching experience, but if you wanted a little continuity. Yes, you could argue that. You know, this big rise that Auburn has had there just in the Final four, just won the sec. He's been there since Bruce flew in on the first day. Is there any you give that any credit?

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, here while we're going, you know, voicing our. The will it work argument, he if you've watched Auburn the last couple years, he is doing as big as an active role as a coach as Bruce. You know, he's the one kind of up directing the offense, calling the plays, directing the defense. And when Bruce looks to the bench for advice or you know question, he goes to Stephen. So Stephen, as you said as lead assistant has been acting the role as a head coach for a couple years, I think. So that part of it, I don't think it'd be a transition. He knows the locker room, he knows these kids, recruited a lot of these kids. That won't be an issue. I guess the issue is can he continue what Bruce built up there?

[Shannon the Dude]

I think he can if he relies heavily on his dad. I don't know how actively involved Bruce Pearl is still going to be behind the scenes. So if Bruce is still heavily involved, you know, and can help out with recruiting, I don't know what the. The rules are on that as an ambassador, if you're allowed to step in and help in any way. But if Bruce is involved in it, I think there is a chance that it could work. But if he's not, then I don't see it succeeding.

[Drew Franklin]

There's one other angle to this is there's a new rule where they get to open the portal for 30 days for all those players and they've got some studs.

[Ryan Lemon]

So I mean, oh, they open the coaching change.

[Drew Franklin]

We talk about continuity but I mean they are able to leave if. If they want to. It's just like football. I mean this just happened to I guess Wofford recently with Perry.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

That's a new rule where any Auburn player can leave right now. So it's good to make that higher. But this new rule doesn't make it as easy as it would have been a year ago.

[Ryan Lemon]

I didn't realize that. So.

[Drew Franklin]

So yeah, Pettifords a star. His phone will blow up. I mean that I assume a lot of these guys will stay cuz they just start practicing, you know. But I mean they are able to leave. You got the Elijah Freeman from what's the Matt school down here at Lincoln Memorial we were talking about ended up there.

[Ryan Lemon]

Right.

[Drew Franklin]

They got a very talented roster and those guys by rule have 30 days to look around if they want to.

[Ryan Lemon]

That's. That's crazy. Schools already started, classes have already started and they can leave and transfer to another school.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't know how that would even work.

[Ryan Lemon]

I don't know how can another big.

[Drew Franklin]

Part of this anymore.

[Ryan Lemon]

That's true. I don't say how can another school accept somebody in the middle of a semester. We had that problem with Z when Z enrolled in October. So I guess it can happen.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think Z enrolled it right before Thanksgiving when he was so late this season. But big news out of the sec.

[Ryan Lemon]

It was big news also.

[Drew Franklin]

I'll hit this quickly. UK basketball practice started yesterday for everyone. It goes up to 20 hours. They had the early morning when early morning practice. We mentioned yesterday where we saw some highlights, got a Trent Noah corner three and then had a couple good dunks from Mount and a few unexpected players making highlights. But in the afternoon at 2 o' clock they practiced in Rupp arena for their, their two a day and the Kentucky Roadshow from here in town. They happened to be there and tweeted out a picture. And in the background were Rondo and Tayshawn watching practice yesterday. What do you think about that, Ryan?

[Ryan Lemon]

Two Kentucky basketball legends right there, especially Tayshawn, what he did there. Rondo left early. But yeah, you look on the, if you're a kid like you or me and we look over on this island, we see Prince and Rondo. Do you think the Malachi Renos, the Jasper Johnson's of the world, they know even who Tayshawn Prince is standing over there.

[Drew Franklin]

I think it should be mandatory viewing when you become a Kentucky Wildcat that you sit down and watch the five threes against North Carolina. It's like here, here's your letter of intent. We're gonna get you in school, fill out your paperwork. Here's your classes. Now if you will turn here we have a special presentation and it's just Tayshawn hitting the five threes and with.

[Ryan Lemon]

Tom Leach doing the play by play call.

[Drew Franklin]

So I hope they're all familiar. I'm assuming he's been around a little in the past.

[Ryan Lemon]

I think he's a guy that eventually I would like to see on maybe on the staff as a coach, you know like the Tyler Ulis role that he did with Calipari when he was here.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep. So that was very cool to see those guys at practice. Yesterday. Also just practicing in Rupp Arena. It's also very cool to see whatever this sweater Mario has on that looks nice and fashionable. We're here at KS Bar and Grill. Come join us. I'm leading the show today, Drew Franklin with Ryan Lemon Shannon the Dude in Louisville. And we'll be right back after this break.

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[Drew Franklin]

Welcome back Kentucky Sports Radio Drew Franklin with Brian Lemon and Shannon the dude in Louisville talking a little basketball in the first segment. But then we got to get to the football news. It is South Carolina week and game week. Yesterday was a big Monday. Mark Stoops at his Monday press conference. I think we got our first update to a depth chart in forever. They usually kind of just send the same one out every week, but we addressed this briefly yesterday. But Ryan, as expected, Cutter Boley is listed as Quarterback 1. He will get his first ever road start this upcoming Saturday in Columbia. Mark Stoops yesterday kind of said it was a number of factors the way he played against Eastern Michigan. Calzada still got some lingering issues, even though he didn't really get into how bad Calzada's issue is. He did kind of mention that that played into the decision, but there's no more speculating. It's official. It's the Bully show coming up on Saturday.

[Ryan Lemon]

It's a big deal. You know, the Cutter bully, arrogant and away. This is his first SEC start. This is his first start on the road of any kind. You know, he's coming off a bye week. He's had two weeks to work with the ones to get ready for South Carolina, a team that's kind of struggling a little bit. So if Kentucky's able to go out there and have some success, I mean, you can't ask for a better script for how this story is going to start.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, and I was listening to the press conference live coming back from our trip to Cincinnati and the reporters in there, I got to give them credit. They were trying to get Stoop to say something about Calzada, but he just wasn't budging. So we don't really know a whole lot of just how bad that is, even though he did acknowledge that something's going on.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, that's kind of the the rumble. The scuttlebutt is that maybe his shoulder is really banged up and that's why Bo Allen was the number two quarterback in the Eastern Michigan game. So I don't know if and when Calzada, Calzada will be able to be healthy enough to play again, but all the chips are on the table. It's Cutter Bowley show Now, so you've been down there.

[Drew Franklin]

Hopefully Bowley's experience is a little different than yours. I hope he doesn't leave with someone punching him in the face. Yeah, but it is a wild place to play, especially you know, making your first true road start, I assume. Does he just put on noise canceling headphones and listen to Sandstorm all week? Walking to class, sleeping. I mean, how, just really, how intimidating is that type of environment? Because I've never been there, but I know it's one of the best.

[Ryan Lemon]

Josiah and I, you know, we just went to the Nebraska, Michigan game and Nebraska atmosphere is one of the best. And so we kind of talk about it, which is the best atmosphere we've been in. We both said South Carolina is the best. I mean, I hate to say that, but that night, the way the Sandstorm and the white towels and they just, you could tell the team was just feeding off that a little bit. So it is, it can be kind of an intimidating place to play down there. For sure.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm confident Kentucky's gonna be in the game just because the South Carolina, Kentucky games always seem to be tight. I mean, they kind of pulled away with it last year in Laxington, but it was, it was close for a lot of the game. Turnovers really got them. But I, I do worry that, you know, we haven't even been able to get some plays in on our home field and we've had the mistakes that we've had that are operational game management without roosters crowing in that loud environment. What? What is it, Shane? I heard you all say this on the pre show. How many games in a row have they won there at night? Like seven?

[Shannon the Dude]

They're like seven or eight. I think maybe, maybe eight. But regardless, a lot. So it's going to be tough, we know that. But this is a chance for Cutter Bowley to go in there in a tough road environment and solidify himself as, as the guy for Kentucky.

[Ryan Lemon]

You know, Bush Hamden doesn't need to make it too complicated. Like you said, Cutter's gonna have so much going on in his mind with the game. The atmosphere, the intensity of it. You know, don't try to be, don't try to call the perfect play, call the right play for Cutter, you know, let him go out and make some plays for you.

[Drew Franklin]

And they're one of the worst rush defenses in the conference. So if we're talking about Cutter starting and he's got to play well, but this is also a game where if Kentucky's going to win it Might be a go rush for 225 for some three and outs and get a couple turnovers and come home.

[Ryan Lemon]

Just run all over them. Just pound it. Grounded, pounded run all over them. They obvious they could not stop Missouri's run game. Missouri ran all over and I'm sure, I'm sure coach Dubes and Bush hand are licking their chops thinking okay, well that's what we do best is our offensive line give us some push to run the football. So I'm sure we're going to heavy dose of that.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep, yep. Shannon, let's get to the phone lines. I hear they're full and I want to hear some people.

[Shannon the Dude]

Let's go to James.

[Drew Franklin]

James, thanks for calling in.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Oh yeah, I'd like to say if Kentucky really wants to want it win in football to go to Florida State and Har. Gus Malzon.

[Drew Franklin]

All right, James, appreciate the call. That, that is, that is a take of all the takes I've heard. That is, that is certainly one of them. Ryan. Gus Malzahn, where is he on your list right now?

[Ryan Lemon]

Mark Stoops is my coach and I'm not ready to jump ship and hire Gus Malzahn, who I guess he's the offensive coordinator now at Florida State. Right. Which by the way, did you hear Mo Williams on the Leech Report this morning?

[Drew Franklin]

Bits and pieces. I was kind of just around the house and it was on.

[Ryan Lemon]

Mo Williams said he has a son that plays for Florida State and just scored a touchdown for the Seminoles. Did any of us have any idea that that Mo Williams had a son playing for Florida State?

[Drew Franklin]

No. Kentucky. Great. One of the best. Maybe the best running back here ever, depending who you ask. I kind of like to would have known. Got a little legacy recruit out there.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, today is the what? The 30 year anniversary of the day Mo ran for 299 yards against South Carolina. That's why Tom had him on, you know, South Carolina week. This is the big anniversary date. Mo ran for 299 yards in a game. Still the school record.

[Drew Franklin]

But you're not on the must bus.

[Ryan Lemon]

I don't think so, are you?

[Drew Franklin]

Or the Gus bus.

[Ryan Lemon]

Gus bus.

[Drew Franklin]

No, no, no, no. But no hard pass on that one. Thanks for calling in, James. Who's up next?

[Shannon the Dude]

Tanner.

[Drew Franklin]

Tanner, what's up?

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Hey, Drew. First time, long time.

[Drew Franklin]

Who are.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Hey, first of all, good to hear you back on the radio, buddy. Been thinking about you.

[Drew Franklin]

Thank you.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

I have a. I have a question. I know y' all just pivoted to football. I'm Gonna take it back to basketball real quick.

[Drew Franklin]

That's fine.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

First and foremost, did the Bruce Pearl. Did the Pearl family just set a dangerous precedent and lay the foundation for Brad Calipari to be the next coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks?

[Drew Franklin]

I think they absolutely did. You know, Cal has seen that this has been done, and he's probably got that in the back of his mind. Steven's a little farther ahead than Brad, but I could see Cal trying to set this up.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

I wouldn't. I wouldn't be sad to see him take over head coach. I think that we might have a good chance to beat Arkansas if that was the case. And second, I just wanted to say it was. It was awesome to see Prince at practice. I watched your YouTube video of him hitting those five threes against Carolina more often than I should. I know a couple weeks ago, y' all talked about retiring jersey numbers. Carolina comes to Rupp this year. How sweet would it be to let him stand where he hit that logo 3 and put 21 up in the Raptors?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, it's great suggestion. Appreciate the call.

[Ryan Lemon]

He's. Tayshawn is definitely one of the next in line to have their jersey retired. You know, enough time has passed. It's time to do it. I love that idea. The North Carolina game, bring Tayshawn out there. The place would go crazy. That when he hit the five threes, I was sitting on press row. It's the only time in my professional career I just spontaneously stood up, started clapping. You know, you're not supposed to clap, not supposed to applaud when you're a member of the media down there. I couldn't. I couldn't help it. It was just one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[Drew Franklin]

And he mentioned. He said my YouTube video, don't get me in trouble with YouTube. But if you go find it, I'm the one that put it up there. Because it wasn't like this needs to be on the Internet.

[Ryan Lemon]

Amen.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't exactly have the rights to that, so.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Shh.

[Ryan Lemon]

But it is your YouTube video.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes. Yes. Your post. Who's up next? Shannon.

[Shannon the Dude]

Let's go to Nathan.

[Drew Franklin]

Nathan, thanks for calling in. Hello.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

I got a. I got a couple things for you guys. First, if you're hearing this, I love you, Carrie. Second, do you guys think we love Carrie for stoops to win back. Win back over the fan base? And if not, how can he do it? How can he. I'm a. I'm a student here at uk and everywhere you go, there's not a lot of positive feelings around Stoops and the entire program. So do you guys think there's any way he can win the fan base back over?

[Shannon the Dude]

I just want to know who Carrie is first before we get to that.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, we all, we all love Carrie.

[Shannon the Dude]

Who is Carrie?

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Carries my aunt.

[Ryan Lemon]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay.

[Ryan Lemon]

All right.

[Drew Franklin]

Good shout out to Carrie.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Appreciate the call.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemon]

Maybe Carrie can call some plays for us this weekend down in South Carolina. Maybe.

[Drew Franklin]

But to answer the question, he still can. It's going to take some work, but it starts winning Saturday will go a long way. It's going to take more than winning Saturday, but also worried that if they don't look good Saturday, it's going to get real hard to win them back.

[Ryan Lemon]

There's some tough games coming up.

[Drew Franklin]

All right. Well, coming up, we got a lot more of UK football and basketball talk. It's Drew, Ryan and Shannon on ksr. TJ Smith, personal injury attorney.

[Ryan Lemon]

Call tj. He'll make him pay.

[Shannon the Dude]

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

[Drew Franklin]

Here's not Matt Jones. This is Drew Franklin. Matt Jones is in South Africa on day two of his big time safari with nine women and zero cell phones in his pocket. We hope he's doing well. I hope to hear from him on when I guess tomorrow. We'll do cover zero. I'll get more updates. I'll get more, more hot goss from the, from the safari trip. Ryan.

[Ryan Lemon]

So Sunday, you guys did the show Sunday night that posted yesterday. So you'll do another show Wednesday. That'll post Thursday.

[Drew Franklin]

As long as we can find him somewhere on a safari without a cell phone.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah. He has had no contact with any of us now since his phone got messed up. So we have no idea what's going on.

[Drew Franklin]

I might be ready to be a one man cover zero that day, but we'll figure that out tomorrow. But Drew and Ryan here at KS Bar Shannon in Louisville. Shannon, who's this segment Brads with spot.

[Shannon the Dude]

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[Drew Franklin]

It was a good audiobook.

[Shannon the Dude]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Thank you.

[Ryan Lemon]

To get longer and longer and longer.

[Shannon the Dude]

I will say thing is a disclaimer.

[Drew Franklin]

It's a little too soon for me with DraftKings. I have not not the best showing by me this past weekend. I had some some bad beats. I wasn't on the Rams, but did you see that beat? If you bet on the Rams, they're plus three and a half with the Broncos Eagles. They led the whole game. And then even at the end you're kicking a field go like. Well, we still cover the three and a half but then they block it and go the other way for a touchdown. That's one of the worst beats I've ever seen.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah. The Broncos lost again on another last second field goal, this time to Chargers. So we're talking about this. Josiah had a bad weekend also.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, let's, let's, let's share our bad beats. People like bad beats.

[Ryan Lemon]

He likes Clemson. Clemson lost again. We were at the Nebraska Michigan game. Nebraska lost. Devin plays for the Broncos. He bet the Broncos. The Broncos lost on that second field goal. Everything he bet was like losing this weekend.

[Shannon the Dude]

Last second. That Syracuse game was a beat down.

[Ryan Lemon]

It was a beat down.

[Shannon the Dude]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

You just described my household every weekend. We are Titans, Cowboys fans. Gonna be a long year. And if Kentucky does doesn't get it together, we're gonna be looking at a lot of Owen threes at our house. I had a bad one. I had parlayed a bunch of teams to win and I had the packers over the Browns and it was looking good until the very end. So Shannon.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, I forgot about that one.

[Shannon the Dude]

I have no that was what happened, bud. Meltdowns I have ever seen. Did. Did you guys actually I guess you watched it Drew Ryan.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes, I watched it. Ryan still have some furniture to pick up from that one?

[Ryan Lemon]

No, I forgot Josiah had. He's a Packers fan like you too.

[Shannon the Dude]

So he missed that quickly. I mean, it was a defensive game throughout. It was 10 nothing. Fourth quarter, like four minutes left in the game. Browns end up getting a field goal, 10 to 3. Packers still looking good. Jordan Love throws an interception. Browns end up scoring a touchdown. Still looking okay for the packers because they get the ball back. They're in field goal range, 43 yard field go. Not a chip shot, but one. You feel comfortable that our kicker is going to make block field goal. Browns run two plays, getting full goal range of their own. Kick the field. Go win 13 to 10. It was so frustrating to watch as a Packers fan, but yeah, they blew the game in the last four minutes. Ten nothing. Pretty incredible.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep. Not even a fan. But that was the last leg of my mega parlay, so appreciate that. I wasn't planning on doing this NFL talk, but can I talk about how the Titans need to just shut down shop and never play football again?

[Ryan Lemon]

Who's their quarterback?

[Drew Franklin]

Quarterback's fine. Maybe. Well, who is it? Our coach, Brian Callahan.

[Ryan Lemon]

I.

[Drew Franklin]

He should not have a job. Guys, if I may tell you what happened in the first half the other day. If you. If you think Kentucky has some meltdowns at the end of the first half, watch the time. I've never seen anything like this. They're across the 50 with a stud quarterback. Everybody wants to see right before the half. Down to the Colts. There's not big expectations. So why don't we just see what the number one picks got? Yeah, but we go run, run, run. Just winding the clock down. We're like, well, okay, whatever. Gonna settle for a last second field goal. But then there's a timeout, there's another timeout, and then they get a delay a game on a field goal after two timeouts. How do you get a delay a game on a field goal after two timeouts? Then the field goal was blocked in. The Colts scored.

[Ryan Lemon]

I saw that. I did see that.

[Drew Franklin]

I had friends there in Nashville. They go to several games. They said loudest it's ever been and it's because we were booing Brian Callahan. I don't know how that man has a job. So there's my Titans take. It's gonna be a long year. There's a meme that says I can't say one of the words, but it says I had low expectations of you, but holy bleep, that, that's me on Sundays watching the Titans.

[Ryan Lemon]

There's no excuse for that. You scallop two. Two timeouts. You're an NFL organization and you're so disorganized. You have a delay a game coming out of this second time out.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm getting worked up. We got to take some calls. Who's up next?

[Shannon the Dude]

All right, let's go to Bill.

[Drew Franklin]

Bill, make me happy. Get that off my Titans.

[Ryan Lemon]

Bill.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Well, well, first of all, Carrie, if you're listening, I love you too.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

But secondly, secondly, a caller before stole my point. I was going to say that there's no chance that Brad Caliperi isn't calling.

[Drew Franklin]

The Hogs in a, in a few years.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

But we all know that that job will be earned and not given. But lastly, I want to say this. Lastly, I want to say this, that Auburn, for years all their fans have said they are blue bloods, blah, blah, blah. I find it really ironic that they want to be Kentucky so bad that Drew just broke this story that they went and hired somebody who has a medical school background as their head coach. Have a good day, guys.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, that's, that's true. I don't know how far into medical school he got, but that was his path. So Bruce, Bruce gave him a job.

[Ryan Lemon]

That path worked pretty well for another dude, Mark. You know, he went the middle school, school route and then went into coaching. That. That worked out pretty well for him.

[Drew Franklin]

That's the Ryan Lemon point of the day. Yeah, we have our own medical school.

[Ryan Lemon]

Medical school coach, so we can't make too much light of it when our guy did the same thing.

[Drew Franklin]

It's working for us. I like the idea of Brad being at Arkansas. We just have just nepotism all over the conference.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, that wasn't that one of the reasons he was having issues here at Kentucky, wanted to hire Brad as a full time assistant. He wasn't allowed. So he's like, well, I'll just leave then. I'll just take Bryson with me.

[Drew Franklin]

I couldn't do that here. So he went on to chicken land so he could make it work. Who's up next? Shannon?

[Shannon the Dude]

Let's go to Gabe.

[Drew Franklin]

Gabe, thanks for calling in.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

Morning, guys. It feels kind of like the. The end of an era. With Pearl leaving, I'm. I really only ever had one interaction with him. It's kind of a weird little story, but about nine years ago, I worked at ABC 36 as an editor. First job out of college. It was a great time. Ryan, I think you understand this better than anybody else. When you work for a local news station, you end up wearing more than one hat.

[Ryan Lemon]

Oh, yeah.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

And so this, this particular weekend, the weekend sportscaster asked me to get footage, get video footage of the, the Cats game against Auburn. And so I was like, okay, we'll twist my arm. Sure. I'll head on down there. So I'm, I'm down there in rup. I'm on the court pre game for the first time. We were, we were just coming off of Hobby Watch, so I was getting footage of Hamadu on the court wearing some blue for the first time. And out of the, out of the corner of my eye, I see a figure move and I hear these, these stomping feet heading towards me. And I glance over and I see Bruce Pearl looking like a raging bull. Eyes locked right onto me, just storming towards me. And I'm. I'm wondering if I'm like too close to the Auburn bench. Am I like, am I in his way or something? And he, he just keeps coming towards me. And so at this point I'm going, am I gonna have to post up against Bruce Pearl and defend my camera? I don't know what's going on. He gets within about three feet of me, stops Ed still pivots on his foot, and then just starts heading the other way, leaving me in the dust. And I'm. I have no idea what was going on or why he was doing that, but it's, it's left an impact on me and I'm. I think we're all going to miss his presence here in the sec.

[Drew Franklin]

Appreciate the call. Yeah, we'll miss a little bit. I miss Bruce sweating. I'll miss his good comments about Kentucky. We gotta get Bruce little credit on that. Anytime he was in front of a microphone, even it might have been sucking up for a job on down the road. He spoke highly of Kentucky, I believe is the 2015 season when Kentucky was obviously just dominating everyone. And he had a postgame press conference and he's like talking about his own team, how good they are. He's like, I think we can beat anybody. Well, anybody but Kentucky. I don't think we can beat Kentucky, but just hear a coach say that, that was a unique moment.

[Ryan Lemon]

You know, Shannon said he mentioned earlier that he would be good at the analyst during a broadcast. He did that for a short minute after he got let go at Tennessee, before he went to Aubrey, he did a little desk job.

[Drew Franklin]

He had the show cause penalty and.

[Ryan Lemon]

Was good at it. He was really good at it. Yeah, that's right.

[Drew Franklin]

He also, maybe even this past season, it's in the last year or two, said something like, there's no fans more knowledgeable than Kentucky Fans. I mean, there's several examples of those. So, you know, I got people texted.

[Ryan Lemon]

In like, man, I can't stand Bruce Pearl. He's the worst. We didn't hire him. I'm with you. I can understand that side of the argument. But you and I are on the other fence.

[Drew Franklin]

We just have, like, I was a kid not far from Evansville, Indiana, and there was, like, Bruce mania. It was long before he got to Tennessee and became a rival. So I kind of liked him from the beginning. My dad's always liked him for that reason.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

So that's why you and I kind of have.

[Ryan Lemon]

Did you go to the Bruce Pearl basketball camp when you were a young kid?

[Drew Franklin]

No, I never did that. I was more of a Mike Phillips camp. I didn't miss that any year. Big fan of the Mike Phillips camp. Patino's camp. One year, Patino's camp became Tubby's Camp, and I was like, well, let's go see what this guy's all about. And I think that was my last one.

[Ryan Lemon]

I gotta tell one more Bruce Pearl story. Of course, I'm a Kentucky Wesleyan guy, and Kentucky west and USI are as bitter rivals as Kentucky and Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee. So there's a group, there's these three brothers. They would bike by Kentucky Wesleyan home season tickets right behind the opposing bench just so they could yell at Bruce Pearl when he came in. For us, I mean, it was the Stein brothers. They sit right behind. Yeah, I guarantee you that's Bruce Pearl today. He knows exactly who the Stein brothers are because they would sit right behind him every time he came into the Sports Center.

[Drew Franklin]

I've mentioned this several times, but I'm very excited to go to the Gonzaga game in Nashville this year. And we accidentally got tickets behind Mark Few instead of UK bench. So we all laughed like, well, we're going to be those guys.

[Ryan Lemon]

You'll be those guys.

[Drew Franklin]

But to tie it in to my guy, man, he's one of the got him. And we're leaving an open seat for him. And we're going to be giving Mark Few and Gonzaga extra help doing the exact same thing that happened to us. But, you know, sometimes you gotta let the other team know what's up. There's good fans that. That root on their own team.

[Ryan Lemon]

That's right.

[Drew Franklin]

And there's fans that need to tell the opponent what's going on.

[Ryan Lemon]

That's gonna be your job. Sit behind Mark Few and I let him have it.

[Drew Franklin]

We'll take another quick break. Go back to the phone lines. 527. Oh wait, I was about to give the you have the aviation glass machine text machine stuck in my head.

[Ryan Lemon]

I'll give that.

[Drew Franklin]

Anyway, text Ryan at 5353680 or give us a call at 859-280-2287. It's Drew, Ryan and Shannon. We're at KS Bar and Grill.

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[Drew Franklin]

Welcome back to KSR. Drew Franklin driving the show today, helping out Ryan Lemon a little bit. He's here with me, but he had quite the long week last week, so I'm a.

[Ryan Lemon]

We missed you.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm gonna take a little off your plate. I think you still have a little anxiety from Thursday show. I heard you were. That was a tough one for you.

[Ryan Lemon]

Shannon and I and Mario struggled through one couple times, but we got through.

[Shannon the Dude]

Keep saying that. I didn't feel like it was that bad of a show. Like you said, we were struggling through it.

[Drew Franklin]

He talks about it like you all went to war. That's why I brought it up. I didn't hear it, so I don't even know the details.

[Shannon the Dude]

I thought it was a good show.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, I appreciate you saying that, but when you're standing there in front of a live audience and you're trying to do the show and make sure they're not bored to death, it seems to sometimes.

[Shannon the Dude]

No, we had that. Remember we had that group of guys there in the front that were talking about breaking into the united center in Chicago.

[Ryan Lemon]

That was funny.

[Drew Franklin]

That sounds funny.

[Shannon the Dude]

They were engaging. So I thought it was good. And we had like all those kids. What was thousands of kids. It look like walking through.

[Ryan Lemon]

Did the hunger walk.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, this sounds awesome. So yeah, you're just. You're beating yourself up.

[Ryan Lemon]

Oh, okay.

[Shannon the Dude]

It was a good show.

[Drew Franklin]

All right. Yeah. We want to hear from you today. 859-280-2287. Shane, you said we have someone now. Let's just go and knock that out before we get to the heart.

[Shannon the Dude]

Daytona.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, Bobby and Daytona. Thanks for calling in.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

How are you guys this morning?

[Drew Franklin]

We're excellent.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

That's great. I just got a couple things. Number one, I'm old enough to remember when Tayshawn hit all those threes against North Carolina. That was an awesome day. I was standing yelling at my TV all the whole game, just loving it. But the main thing I want to call it, I want your guys opinion on something.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay.

[VGW Group Disclaimer Voice]

I'm in Florida and they're talking about Billy Napier. If he loses another game, he's out. What are you your guys opinion on firing a Coach in the middle of a season.

[Drew Franklin]

I appreciate the call when it comes to him. He's been on the hot seat so long, I'm even surprised he might still be there. So if they were to let him go, I wouldn't think that'd be crazy at all. They're so disappointed in him. But at the same time, I think with him and the schedule they have just let him go, lose a few more times, let him get beat up a few more, and then do it. I hope he makes it to the Kentucky game in November. I'm worried that's not going to be the case, but I would love to see him here. My big takeaway this summer or my big pick. We do like the predictions for YouTube video and you have to give your hot take. And mine was that Kentucky will beat Florida. And I wanted that to be like a nice upset pick. Like, wow, what a call. But now it's looking like that might not even be that big of a. Big of a win. Obviously it's nice to beat Florida, but I mean, it's. Kentucky could even be favored that game. Florida looks so bad.

[Ryan Lemon]

You know, he was on the hot seat last year when he came in here to Kroger Field. He beat us. Kind of helped save his job because then they got on a kind of a streak and kind of played well the end of the season. I'm sure they're hoping that's going to happen this year, but I just don't see it, man. I mean, so they do have a tough question to make. Who's the AD down there? He's a. He's a. Scott Strickland. Scott Strickland from a Kentucky guy here. So he's got to make that decision. We pull the trigger in the middle of the year or do we. Does he want to stay on as an interim, you know, like lame duck coach? I mean, they got. That's. That's a tough call to make because you don't want to lose the recruits, you don't want to lose the fan base. You know, you got to keep everybody engaged somehow. But if you keep losing games, that ain't going to happen.

[Drew Franklin]

And he's got. What did he say about their fans and their basements on their mom's computers or something? He said that a few years ago. It's just, it's been pretty sour since he's been there. So with them, I don't think anything's too soon, but I hope he's. I hope he's still around.

[Shannon the Dude]

I would say, unless you are 100% confident that you're going to hire within, then you probably shouldn't fire your coach. But if you're like you already know the next guy is going to be somebody that's already on on your staff and the season's falling apart, then I think it's okay to do that. But if you're not sure who the next coach is going to be mid season, I mean there's still a chance they could turn it around. I don't think you mess with it unless you're going to hire within.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, quite a fall for the Gators. Used to own Kentucky and be a power and then they've quite fallen down from people's opinion. And Kentucky's even had their number a little bit in the last.

[Ryan Lemon]

He's won what, three of the last five, maybe something like that. So I don't know, man, I'm on with you. I don't know if he'll still be the coach when they come here in November. It's the one time we get Florida in November when it's cold. But if you're a Florida, if you're Scott Strickland, you have to decide, you know, can you wait that long to make it to make a move.

[Drew Franklin]

They also DJ Lagway is not practicing right now. I think they're calling it a toe. He's going to miss a couple games, but that also is it like is he really got a toe or is this because that's a guy with big NFL aspirations? You don't want to just be on a sinking ship if you're on a lot of draft boards next year. So I mean it's not just Napier. They got, they got Lagway issues too. Whether it's, you know, completely injury or him considering his future. Also, there was one pit of one piece of big news yesterday from the NBA one want to get to real quickly. Reed shepherd is the starting point guard for a Finals contender.

[Ryan Lemon]

How about that?

[Drew Franklin]

You hate the circumstances for Fred Ventures Van Fleet, but he tore his acl. Reed was already going to take up a big role. They promoted him to be the full time backup there but now with the injury, it's the Reed and Durant show in Houston. Ryan Lemon, what a world are we living in. Reed Shepard, Kevin Durant and a contender in the NBA next year.

[Ryan Lemon]

If you're read shepherd, you got to be thinking, okay, you know, this is what I've been dreaming for my whole life. I hate that the injury happened, but they're handing the keys over to him. They Just made this huge deal to get Durant. You know, Reed's name came up, the Durant deal. And Houston did not want to give up Reed shepherd because in the Durant deal, and obviously it's a good move. They need him now more than ever.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, this summer they had an opportunity to go get another guard, assuming, you know, Van Vliet would still be healthy. And they're like, no, we expect a big jump for Reed Shepherd. We're going all in on him with Van Fleet. But now with the injury, I mean, it's. You got a man, Thompson. Amen. Thompson, I think, is going to back him up a little bit. I think, like, Aaron Holiday is on the team, but we could be looking at, like, an NBA semifinals with Reed shepherd running the show next to an NBA legend and Kevin Durant. Just a huge opportunity for him. I know last year, a little disappointing for number three pick. He turned it on a little bit later in the year, and he had a few games where we got to play some extended minutes. He looked well, but, you know, spent some time in the G League, but they're all in on reads, so I'm looking forward to it.

[Ryan Lemon]

Is there any doubt in your mind that he's not going to be able to succeed?

[Drew Franklin]

I worry about him guarding a little bit. His shot was off last year. I think that's going to come back. You don't go from shooting 52% at Kentucky. I think he was, like, low 30s a year ago. I think he'll be fine there. But, no, Houston knows what they're doing, and with the. With what they put in Durant and got a win now and got to get to the Finals. I don't. I don't think they would give him the cars and the keys to the car unless they were confident in him, too.

[Ryan Lemon]

I agree. You know, this is a big season for Houston, and they're not going to trust somebody that they don't, you know, they're not going to put all their trust in somebody they don't believe in.

[Drew Franklin]

Shannon, where are you on Reed shepherd and the lingering Arkansas T shirt issue from ever go? I. I hate bringing it up because I was over it an hour later, but it still exists. I'm on the message boards, really. They show his face in Rupp. Do you think people just need to finally get over that?

[Shannon the Dude]

I thought that people had forgotten about it.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, it's a small minority. Very, very small.

[Shannon the Dude]

Yeah. I mean, let it go at this point.

[LifeLock Announcer]

Right?

[Shannon the Dude]

I mean, I think everybody voiced their opinion. We weren't too happy about it. But I mean, he did it. It's over. Let's just not do it again. Reed, if you're listening and I think let's move on, you know, but I think I'm fine with it now. I wasn't too happy with it then. I'm over it now.

[Drew Franklin]

Me too. And I'm rooting for Reed big time. Our special guest just walked in, Dennis Johnson. Ryan, what a get today.

[Ryan Lemon]

Kentucky football legend right there.

[Drew Franklin]

We're going to hear from him after this break. I mean, we're going to talk Johnson, legacy, football, basketball, his friendship with Ryan. Whatever else comes up, we'll have Dennis right after the break. And we're excited to hear from him. This is ksr.

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[Drew Franklin]

Can small acts make a real impact in the world?

[Public Rec Announcer]

Sometimes a small thing has the power to become more something big and meaningful. And when it comes to helping children.

[Drew Franklin]

No act is too small. When you fill up at the Purple Giving Pump at Shell, a portion of.

[Ryan Lemon]

Your purchase will be donated to support charities in your community.

[Public Rec Announcer]

The Giving Pump Easy to Stop, Easy to donate from 9125 to 10 30.

[Drew Franklin]

125 participating Shell stations will donate a.

[Ryan Lemon]

Minimum of $0.01 per gallon of the.

[Drew Franklin]

Fuel pump from the Giving pump or.

[Ryan Lemon]

A minimum donation of $300.