KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 1

Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Drew Franklin (filling in for Matt Jones), Ryan Lemond, Shannon the Dude, Billy R Sports
Location: Live from Ham Days festival, Lebanon, KY

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Hour 1 of today’s KSR brings the trademark blend of Kentucky sports discussion, local festival hijinks, and easygoing banter that listeners love. With Matt Jones away on safari in Africa, Drew Franklin takes the host seat, guiding regulars Ryan Lemond, Shannon the Dude, and Billy through a remote broadcast at Lebanon’s beloved “Ham Days” festival. The hour balances festival fun (like tales of hay bale tossing, hog calling, and local legends) with updates on UK basketball and football, other Kentucky sports, and the woes of the Cincinnati Reds. Stories of KSR’s past live shows and behind-the-scenes antics add to the freewheeling, entertaining tone.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Ham Days Festival Fun

• Setting the Scene: The show broadcasts live from Ham Days in Lebanon, a major local event with country ham breakfasts, music, a 5k, and quirky contests.

  • “We are at Ham Days in Lebanon, Kentucky, one of the best festivals all across the Bluegrass here in Marion County.” — Drew Franklin (00:30)

• Past Victories & New Competitions:

  • Billy reminisces about his win in last year’s hay bale toss, and the crew teases his prowess—prompting a new challenge: a hog (or pig) calling contest.
  • “Your big victory here where you beat all of us in the hay bale toss and you still carry that trophy around like it's the Lombardi trophy.” — Drew (01:51)
  • “I'm sad because you're not defending that title. What kind of title do you not defend?” — Shannon (02:32)
  • “We will be doing a hog calling competition.” — Drew (02:45)
  • Playful suggestions that “pig calling” might sound more professional.

• Festival Details:

  • The festival includes live music, a 5k, and food highlights like country ham and breakfast from local spots.
  • “I really just came to eat; like I'm just doing a radio show, secondary. I've already had a country ham biscuit…” — Shannon (04:30)

• Local Legends and KSR Memories:

  • Lebanon’s celebrated sports figures are named: Anthony & Mikayla Epps, Elton Scott, “Toothpick” Williams.
  • “Of course it starts and ends with the Epps family. Anthony Epps, Mikayla Epps, two of the greatest high school players this state has ever produced right here in Lebanon.” — Ryan (05:05)
  • Reminiscing about wild festival guests like “Turtle Man” and how KSR has made Lebanon a favorite road location.

• KSR On-the-Road Antics:

  • Recounting technical mishaps, like the time Ryan’s phone switched to German minutes before the broadcast.

2. Matt Jones’s Safari Adventure & Show Updates

• Matt’s Whereabouts:
  • The team updates listeners on host Matt Jones, who’s in Africa on safari. Thanks to a pre-loaded iPad (shoutout to Billy), Matt can still participate in their NFL podcast (“Cover Zero”) and send updates via borrowed phones.
  • “We have long conversations with Matt. We're like the only people able to speak to him because he doesn't have a phone over there...He is alive. We can report.” — Drew (08:53)
  • Matt has posted rare updates to Instagram by borrowing strangers’ phones.

3. Behind the Scenes at iHeart

• Accidental Podcast Seminar Attendance:
  • Drew, Billy, and Mario unintentionally get roped into an iHeart client seminar after wrapping another show, describing a humorous scenario of feigned enthusiasm, networking, and taking home leftovers.
  • “Because me, Billy O and Mario are unable to say no, we're very nice. We're trapped.” — Drew (11:22)
  • Ryan jokes he “slept right through it. No idea.” — Ryan (11:45)
  • “People seem to be questioning how into the presentation I was. Me and Mario were showing each other pictures on our phone during the video…” — Billy (11:51)

4. Kentucky Sports Highlights & News

A. Basketball

• Scheduling News:

  • UK vs. Michigan State in the Champions Classic is an early game (6:30 PM) this year—a rare win for the crew used to late assignments.
  • “We are finally the first game in the Champions Classic playing Michigan State at 6:30...usually Kentucky gets that second game...” — Drew (15:48)
  • “Nobody happier than brother Billy right here.” — Ryan (16:08)
  • But the ACC/SEC Challenge (UK vs. UNC) earns the dreaded 9:30 PM slot, prompting jokes about sleeping at the studio.

• Bracketology:

  • Early Joe Lunardi projections put UK as a 3-seed in the West (San Jose).
  • “The fact that ESPN employs Joe Lunardi year round to do bracketology, which means absolutely nothing. Joe Lunardi's got it figured out. I want that job.” — Shannon (18:43)
  • “Three seed should be the floor. Let's be a one or a two.” — Billy (20:26)

B. Football

• Injury Updates:

  • Secondary remains banged up, but Terry on Nichols, Josiah Hayes and others are set to return. DJ Waller likely still out (28:23).
  • South Carolina, UK’s weekend opponent, is even more shorthanded, missing several starters.

• Quarterback Room Shuffle:

  • Cutter Bowley expected to start; Calzada’s shoulder possibly more seriously injured. Crew agrees Bowley offers upside—"silver lining” in injury.
  • “I think that this team is better with Cutter at the quarterback spot. At least their ceiling.” — Billy (29:15)

• Special Teams:

  • South Carolina’s punt returner Vicari Swayne has already run back 3 punts for TDs this year.
  • “Seven times people punted to him. Three times he took it back for a touchdown.” — Drew (39:17)
  • Ryan: “Just don't punt to this guy, man. This game could depend on a big play like that.” (40:21)
  • Derek Abney’s record at UK and the specter of Beamer Ball discussed.

• Coaching Decisions/Strategy:

  • Debated UK coach Mark Stoops' fluctuating game management, specifically when to go for it on 4th down.
  • “Do you like them more aggressive? Let's go for it on fourth down. Or do we need to play conservative...?” — Shannon (40:37)

5. Miscellaneous & Memorable Moments

• KSR’s Legendary Contact Lists:

  • Drew claims to have both “Turtle Man” and Marilyn Manson’s numbers in his phone; everyone wants Turtle Man to call in and do some hog calling.

• Jimmy Kimmel Topic Explodes:

  • Discussed the “text bomb” their text machine received when Jimmy Kimmel was mentioned last week.

• Upcoming Remotes:

  • Next stop: Bywater Farms in Georgetown for more autumn festivities, including apple canons and pumpkin patch antics.

• Kentucky Volleyball Shoutout:

  • UK opens SEC play with a sweep over South Carolina, now ranked #3 nationally—hopes for revenge against top-ranked Nebraska.

6. Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On crowding for freebies at Ham Days:

  • “We had a few giveaways...and literally everyone got up at once and just stormed the stage.” – Drew (36:10)
  • Shannon: “People will take anything that's free.” (36:48)

• On Living Kentucky Legend Lore:

  • “I have the most random contacts. I have Turtle Man’s number.” – Drew (23:43)

• On Matt Jones’s Safari:

  • “He is alive. We can report. He's mid-safari. We were able to get through a show yesterday...” – Drew (08:53)

• On UK’s NCAA Tournament Forecast:

  • “If you're gonna give me Purdue, Purdue doesn't scare me. Of course, you know I hate Purdue. I never liked Purdue...Produce stink.” – Ryan (19:36; 19:43)

• On South Carolina’s Special Teams Threat:

  • “Just don't punt to this guy, man. This game could depend on a big play like that. I think it's gonna be that close.” – Ryan (40:21)

• On behind-the-scenes iHeart experiences:

  • “Me, Billy, and Mario are unable to say no, we're very nice.” – Drew (11:22)

• On Lane Kiffin Documentary & Unexpected Nick Saban Fandom:

  • “She goes, that guy’s attractive...Nick Saban! ...Billy better watch out because Nick Saban’s going to come take your girl.” — Billy & Shannon (30:28–30:47)

7. Callers Add Local Flavor (33:23)

• Caller Wayne phones in to add legendary local football player Tommy Simpson to the region’s luminaries, noting he was part of UK’s famous “Thin Thirty” team.

IMPORTANT SEGMENTS (TIMESTAMPS)

• [02:45] – Announcing this year’s Ham Days competition: Hog calling replaces hay bale toss
• [05:05] – Celebrating Lebanon’s local sports legends (Epps family, Elton Scott, Toothpick Williams)
• [07:25] – German phone fiasco story: KSR Lebanon remote
• [08:53] – Matt Jones safari update, “Cover Zero” podcast adventure
• [15:48] – UK basketball schedule and Champions Classic time revealed
• [18:43] – Joe Lunardi’s 3-seed bracketology for UK
• [21:03] – Cincinnati Reds update, fans’ heartbreak after another loss
• [28:23] – Football injury report and UK-South Carolina preview
• [39:22] – South Carolina’s special teams prowess—punt returner Vicari Swayne
• [40:37] – Coaching philosophy: Go-for-it vs. conservative play calling
• [33:23] – Caller Wayne adds “Thin Thirty” legend Tommy Simpson to Lebanon history

TONE & LANGUAGE

The show maintains the informal, lightly irreverent, and upbeat tone that characterizes KSR. The hosts banter, tease each other, and sprinkle inside jokes throughout, even while discussing serious sports news and analysis. Language is conversational and friendly; the audience is often addressed directly and with inclusion (“We want to hear from the callers as always...” “We love it here..." “That’s why you come to a KSR...”).

FINAL THOUGHTS

This episode is a classic KSR blend: local celebration (Ham Days), sports insight, behind-the-scenes stories, and memorable characters, all delivered with infectious humor and camaraderie. Listeners stay informed about UK sports and entertained—whether reliving hay bale heroics, strategizing against special teams aces, or keeping up with Matt Jones’s globe-trotting adventures.