Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: September 26, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon Dawson
Location: Live at Bywater Farm, Georgetown, KY

Episode Overview

This episode captures the signature blend of Kentucky Sports Radio: a lively roundtable on UK football (with a focus on the upcoming matchup against South Carolina), offbeat banter, fan engagement, and local flavor. Broadcasting live among pumpkins and autumnal splendor, Matt Jones is off, with Ryan, Drew, and Shannon dishing candid and occasionally irreverent takes on all things Wildcats—including Cutter Bowley’s readiness for his first SEC road start, UK’s game atmosphere woes, DraftKings parlay picks, high school recruiting buzz, and interactive calls with the Blue Nation faithful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Broadcast Banter & Setting the Scene

• The show opens with friendly banter about Ryan’s use of “autumnal splendor” (03:26), inherited from a former broadcast partner, and sponsor shoutouts.
• The KSR crew is at Bywater Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky—a place described as perfect for fall festivities (pumpkin launches, hayrides, etc.), with heat and sunshine providing comic fodder.
  • Shannon jokes: “I feel like I’m in a tanning bed over here. This sun is beating down. I’m stripping down slowly. … I wish I wore shorts like you guys.” (12:44)

2. Kentucky vs. South Carolina Football Preview

Focus: Cutter Bowley’s First SEC Start

• Cutter Bowley: Kentucky’s young quarterback will make his first SEC road start.

  • Drew Franklin offers tempered optimism:
    “I don't think they're going to ask him to do too much and I'm confident he's going to do exactly what they need. … For the most part, they're going to run and play defense and play field position.” (07:14)
  • On expectations:
    “If you get to a point where you're asking Cutter to go out and win a game, you might be in trouble, at least at this stage. I think he has that in him for down the road.” (07:33)

• Playcalling Philosophy & Weather Impact:

  • Expect a run-heavy, risk-averse attack, especially with rain in the forecast.
    • Shannon Dawson: “I think it's gonna be a run heavy offense. ... If we set the over under at 20 [pass attempts], I'd probably go over but slightly. ... I could see little dink and dunk type of passes, you know, just to move the offense a little bit.” (08:08–08:47)
  • Over/under on Kentucky rushing yards set at 180.
    • Consensus: UK needs to surpass this number to feel good about winning. (11:01)

• South Carolina Concerns:

  • Despite having a talented QB, the Gamecocks “can’t get in the end zone”—four TDs this season have been non-offensive.
    • Drew Franklin: “That's why I'm thinking it's going to be a low scoring game tomorrow. Not even considering the rain…” (09:07)
  • Key concerns: South Carolina’s ability to create explosive plays, especially with mobile QB “Sellers.” (11:34)

• Special Teams as a Decider:

  • UK’s kicker and punter praised for reliability.
    • Drew: “Kentucky’s kicker was like six for six. 51 yarder, Jacob Callaway and then LaRose ... those two guys have been nearly perfect.” (12:18)
  • South Carolina’s NFL-level special teams coach is seen as an edge.

3. DraftKings Parlay & Betting Banter

Making the KSR Parlay

• The crew assembles a parlay live, with much comic indecision and risk-taking.
  • Shannon: “I'll pick an early game, too. ... Notre Dame money line.” (21:16)
  • Ryan: “Lane Kiffin's daughter comes out this week is dating LSU star linebacker Wit Weeks. ... I'm going Ole Miss with the win.” (21:29)
  • Drew: “Texas A&M is at home hosting Auburn… I think they'll lose at College Station.” (21:45)
  • Mario’s initial pick of Oregon State (plus points) is vetoed for being off-format, replaced with Kansas State by committee consensus.
  • Drew recaps: “We just need winners. Notre Dame at Arkansas. That's Shannon's pick ... Kansas State hosting UCF. That's Mario's pick ... A&M ... and then you're Ole Miss hosting LSU. Yours is by far the riskiest.” (31:42)

4. Kroger Field Atmosphere & Fan Surveys

UK’s Efforts to Engage and Improve Stadium Atmosphere

• UK sent out a fan survey seeking input on how to improve the game day experience.
  • Ryan: “I was very proud. ... They sent a questionnaire ... what can we do to help the atmosphere at Kroger Field?” (24:30)
  • Drew cautions: “I hope a lot comes out of it. They have a lot they need to work on. ... I would actually love to read those [fan comments].” (25:07)
  • Criticism emerges about a net worth question in the survey.
    • Drew: “That has nothing to do with what you're asking. ... If people are just giving their input ... what does it matter what they make?” (26:55)
    • Shannon: “It almost feels like they're going to skew your opinion based off what your net worth is...” (27:34)
• Calls for more direct input from players and students on music and fan engagement strategies.
  • Shannon: “First, I would ask the players what kind of music do you want to hear? I would ask the fans…Why not ask them?” (26:19)

5. High School Recruiting Buzz & Local Shoutouts

• Shoutouts to Scott County High (football), Great Crossing (state basketball champs), and under-the-radar Kentucky high school recruits with national attention (Malachi Brown of Corbin, Seneca Driver of Boyle County, Evan Hampton of Owensboro).
  • Ryan, on Malachi Brown: “Ohio State is recruiting a kid named Malachi Brown at Corbin.” (33:31)
• Concern about top recruits leaving Kentucky, especially with new Louisville staff in the mix.
  • Drew: “We're worried about the big dog at Louisville taking some players away because Kentucky had such a good grip on the state for so long.” (34:07)
• Playful aside: Ryan admits to answering telemarketer calls just to chat—“I mess with them, you know, talk to them a little bit…” (34:21)

6. Is Mark Stoops’ Job "the Best in College Football?"

• National pundit Josh Pate, via Colin Cowherd’s podcast, claims Mark Stoops has “the best job” in CFB: $10M/year, modest expectations, low pressure for championships.
  • Drew: “It's really hard to argue against it. … The pressure isn't nearly what it is in the SEC, but you get the benefits of being an SEC school.” (36:27)
  • Shannon: “Stoops has a great deal ... making $10 million a year and the goal is to win seven games. … He's done just enough over the years to kind of just hang on to his job.” (37:00)
  • Ryan: “There was a stretch where the fans were happy ... we're kind of ready to build a statue for him.” (38:18)
  • All agree the bar is now higher; home SEC wins are desperately needed to renew fan enthusiasm.

7. Fan Call-Ins: Traditions, Pricing, and Stadium Experience

• Caller Dan (45:03): Advocates celebrating jersey “lineages” instead of retiring numbers, laments rising costs pricing out lifelong fans.
  • Ryan: “I mean Kentucky still has kind of the cheaper ticket prices than everybody else in the SEC.” (46:21)
  • Drew: “Everything’s outrageous as we all know. … There’s a million things you can do with your money these days and a lot of it you can do without getting off [the] couch.” (46:37)
• Caller Quinn: Suggests UK needs to consult students (not just fans) to improve game experience, possibly even hire from NFL or Big Ten for expertise. (47:23)
  • Host agreement: Students rarely respond to surveys, attention span is an issue, but efforts should still be made to get their perspective.
  • Drew: “Are they not looking around and stealing ideas [from other campuses]? Something as simple as … play a remember when [clip] or trivia [during breaks].” (48:37)
• Caller Jerry: Worried about rumors UK may start charging for tailgate spots, fears it will ruin a core part of the fan experience; wants better stadium Wi-Fi (“…they’ve never done it”). (49:35)

8. End-of-Show: Game Predictions & MVPs

• Shannon: “Cats win on the road. … Kentucky wins it 24-21. Seth McGowan is my MVP.” (50:48)
• Drew (the pessimist): “I’m taking the Gamecocks. … South Carolina pulls away at the very end, wins 20-16 in a field goal fest.” (51:07)
• Ryan: “I’m going to take Kentucky 21-20. The Cutter Bowley era gets its signature start … Why not us?... Cutter Bowley, your MVP.” (51:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cutter Bowley’s opportunity:
  “He’s got an opportunity. He’s got to go out there and capitalize.”
  – Shannon Dawson (10:11)

• On UK's fan outreach:
  “At least to me, gives the impression that UK is trying. They've reached out to the fans.”
  – Ryan Lemond (24:53)

• On stadium music selection:
  “I would just ask the players. First of all, what kind of music do you want to hear?”
  – Shannon Dawson (26:19)

• On ticket prices and experience:
  “Everything's outrageous as we all know. ... It's not the old days where it's Saturday, there's just a game going on. There's a million things you can do with your money these days and a lot of it you can do without getting off couch.”
  – Drew Franklin (46:37)

• On Mark Stoops’ job perks:
  “It's really hard to argue against it. ... The pressure isn't nearly what it is in the SEC, but you get the benefits of being an SEC school.”
  – Drew Franklin (36:27)

• Comic aside:
  “I know you're an empty nester, but you're not so, like, lonely that you're now talking to telemarketers for company, are you?”
  – Shannon Dawson to Ryan Lemond (34:42)

Important Timestamps

• 07:14 – Drew’s breakdown of Cutter Bowley’s task against South Carolina
• 09:07 – South Carolina’s offensive woes & why it might be a “field position” game
• 11:01 – Rushing yardage over/under set at 180
• 12:18 – Kentucky special teams get “nearly perfect” praise
• 21:16–24:03 – The KSR Parlay: picks, indecision, and adjustments
• 24:30–27:58 – In-depth on UK’s fan survey and stadium atmosphere
• 31:42 – Finalization of the KSR DraftKings parlay
• 33:31 – Local HS football recruiting chatter (Malachi Brown, Seneca Driver, Evan Hampton)
• 36:27 – Stoops’ job is the “best” in College Football—panel weighs in
• 45:03–51:24 – Caller segment; listener praise and criticism of UK, and final score predictions

Closing Segment

• KSR wraps from Bywater Farm, encouraging listeners to join the autumn festivities and teasing Drew’s postgame show after the UK–South Carolina matchup.
• Final reminders: “Why not us?” as Cutter Bowley’s moment arrives, with a Saturday that could dictate the rest of Kentucky’s season trajectory.

This summary presents a thorough snapshot of the episode’s topics, personalities, and lively, fan-first atmosphere—true to the KSR spirit.