2025-09-26- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

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Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

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

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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.

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

Transcript

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Caller]

Wow.

[Shannon Dawson]

Where did that come from?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I can't take credit for it.

[Shannon Dawson]

The light bulb just went off.

[Ryan Lemond]

My first ever broadcast of a college of a game. Yeah, I was doing color commentary for a Kentucky Wesleyan football game and a guy by the name of David Wallace was doing play by play. It was the first time I've done a play by player color of a TV game. And we did the opening segment. You know, the two guys are standing there on the field, you know, welcome to Rash Stadium. Kentucky Wesleyan going to host Bellarmine, whatever, blah blah, BL. And he said, he said that and he said autumnal Splendor. So I tried to, I've tried to use that over the years. I've used the hurricane a couple times.

[Shannon Dawson]

Makes you sound sophisticated.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, David Wallace got did that for me. I don't think I've ever said the word autumnal splendor.

[Drew Franklin]

I gotta start working that into my, my vocabulary.

[Ryan Lemond]

So whose segment sponsors this show here?

[Drew Franklin]

Drew.

[Ryan Lemond]

What sponsor sponsors this show? This segment? Drew.

[Shannon Dawson]

See, he gives and takes. He gives us autumnal splits. What was it?

[Ryan Lemond]

Splendor. Splendor. Splendor.

[Shannon Dawson]

And then couldn't say what segment he's.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sponsored by Drew, who sponsors this segment on this show.

[Drew Franklin]

Can you say Noche Linda Farm?

[Ryan Lemond]

I can say that we talk about.

[Drew Franklin]

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[Ryan Lemond]

He tries to get us out at all the pains.

[Drew Franklin]

He's the man. I got a freeze freezer full of stuff now. You can too if you place an.

[Ryan Lemond]

Order at noche Lindafarms.com 859-280-2287 that's the Clark's publish out phone number. We got a caller. Want to get on real quick, Rick. So who is it? It's Brian. Brian. Go ahead, Brian.

[Caller]

So you ended up someone filled you.

[Drew Franklin]

In on Rex Chapman and Ron Mercer, but Shannon missed somebody too that actually.

[Caller]

Was picked above Michael Jordan in the NBA draft.

[Shannon Dawson]

Who's that?

[Ryan Lemond]

He said Samuel.

[Shannon Dawson]

That was my very first. Thanks for listening.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes, my bad, my bad.

[Shannon Dawson]

Well, I'm just saying if you're calling me out, you got to be right.

[Caller]

Yeah, you're exactly right. You're exactly right. And Mario could probably use Melvin Turpin on his team.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's true. Yeah. Mario needed some help inside, I think for his team. So appreciate the phone call. 859-280-2287. We need to cut. Somebody texted me on my text machine. Our next project's come up with a team of our last name, first letter of our last name. I'm trying to think. That's gonna be tough.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I'm gonna struggle with that.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's gonna be tough.

[Shannon Dawson]

So do I get to use dude?

[Ryan Lemond]

No.

[Shannon Dawson]

Oh, okay.

[Ryan Lemond]

He already did. D. So think about that. You'd have to use G. I'd have to use L and use f Just off top of my head. Devin, greeny, Shay gilgis, al G, you'd be fine.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, f L, you'd be alright too. I don't think I have much hope with that.

[Ryan Lemond]

I can't think of an L just off the top of my head. Yeah, well, Marcus Lee, there you go.

[Drew Franklin]

There's your team.

[Ryan Lemond]

My team, Marcus Lee and everybody else.

[Shannon Dawson]

Liggins.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, I got three already.

[Drew Franklin]

Here you go. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

859-282-2287.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, there you go.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean we're just putting bodies together. I don't think I can form five people with that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Cutter Bowley. This is not only his first road start, it is first sec start. What do we expect from cutter Bowler tomorrow night?

[Drew Franklin]

You know, it is his first road start but they threw him into the fire In Gainesville and in Austin, Texas already. So it's not like he hasn't seen an atmosphere now. Those games are a little out of hand already. He comes in in the second half, you know, he didn't have all week to prepare, so it is different. But I think that will help him at least with getting out there and shaking off a little bit nerve since he has been in front of those atmospheres. I said this in the first hour, but 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. He'll hit his tight ends a couple times, but for the most part they're going to run and play defense and play field position. And I think 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 in this stage. I think he has that in him for down the road. But in this game you just want McGowan, Dowdell, Patterson, need them running the ball, control the field. Stoops is going to want to be low scoring, especially if it rains and just get stops. You can get some three and outs, maybe a turnover and you're running well, then that's how you win.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, I think it's gonna be a run heavy offense. We were trying to set the over under. How many attempts Ketter would have last week? I think it was 22. So if we set the over under at 20 for tomorrow, do you guys go over or under?

[Ryan Lemond]

If the weather is supposed to be as bad as they say it's going to be, I might even go to under because I think there's going to feed the Studio, Dowdell and McGowan the whole whole game.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I'll go over but with a lot of short pass. I think they'll try to get Law some more looks. He's gradually gotten a little more as time gone goes on, but nothing too far down the field. I don't think much of. They might run a lot of screens just to mix it up. So I'll say barely over 20. But those are short passes.

[Ryan Lemond]

What do you think?

[Shannon Dawson]

I would probably go over but slightly kind of like what Drew said there. I. I don't think that they're going to throw the ball 30 times, but I could see little, you know, dink and dunk type of passes, you know, just to be able to move the offense a little bit, not. Not be too predictable and run every time. So I would go slightly over 20.

[Drew Franklin]

So focus on Kentucky's offense and our quarterback. But South Carolina's offense has huge problems of its own. I mean, they can't get in the end zone. Four of their touchdowns this year, non offensive touchdowns. So even though they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country, he doesn't have much help around them. That's why I'm thinking it's going to be a low scoring game tomorrow. Not. Not even considering the rain from the.

[Ryan Lemond]

Text machine, which is my phone today. Last road start for Cutter Bowley was in Mayfield in the playoffs and he threw three pick sixes.

[Drew Franklin]

That's Mayfield. That's different.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, Mayfield may be better than South Carolina.

[Drew Franklin]

It could be.

[Shannon Dawson]

I don't know about that, but I don't think that one necessarily correlates to the other.

[Ryan Lemond]

No, it doesn't.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay, so I think we're fine. What he did at Mayfield, I don't think has any, you know, any say on what's going to happen tomorrow.

[Drew Franklin]

So like at Texas, you know, they didn't got win the game or anything, but wasn't like he was over there tripping over his shoes and throwing in the stands.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, he looked good.

[Drew Franklin]

Against Texas he was. He looked comfortable. Now he's still got things he's got to improve on, but it's only his second year in his first start. But as far as just getting out there and looking composed, I think he has that already.

[Shannon Dawson]

And remember, I mean, this wasn't supposed to be his team anyway this year. Right. It's supposed to be Calzada. So here he is, he's got an opportunity. He's got to go out there and capitalize.

[Ryan Lemond]

Was it Matthew McConaughey chased Cutter Bowley down after the game. He said like, great job, young man or something, or you got a bright future. I forget what he exactly said to him, but he was impressed enough to chase him down after the game.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, and oddly, I thought of what we've seen so far of the quarterbacks. You know, Zach Calzada is in year seven. And if just based on what we've seen through three games, somehow Cutter looks the more comfortable and more experienced. I mean, sure, it was Eastern Michigan, but he came right in there, even against Ole Miss. Came right in there and got to fire. And now he's still got things he's got to work on. Might hold on a little bit too long or stare down his first read little things like that, but just looking like he belongs and he's got confidence in himself. I think he has that He's a.

[Shannon Dawson]

Quarterback of your future. You're going to get a look into the future, I think tomorrow to see what you got.

[Ryan Lemond]

So we ask you, like what the magic number was you thought rushing yards. I did get a text. They put the over under at 180 rushing yards tomorrow. Over or under?

[Shannon Dawson]

I'm gonna go over because I think they're gonna run so much. I think that if Kentucky is going to win, they, they better hope that It's. It's over 180.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, they need to get over 180. I'll say barely over.

[Ryan Lemond]

They get over 180 of how bad.

[Drew Franklin]

South Carolina was against Missouri, but Missouri has the best running back in the country.

[Ryan Lemond]

They get over 180, I feel pretty good about their chances to win the football game.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, you still. I still worry about Sellers hitting on big plays. It lives in my brain. The 65 yard touchdown you give up to Eastern Michigan at home. Sellers is a guy that if you even give him a little inch, he'll make you pay on something like that. So even if the run game works, Kentucky has a lot of other areas they got to perform well to even have a chance.

[Ryan Lemond]

Another text I saw there during the break. Aiden Laross may be valuable in this game because the field position in a rainy game when they're not moot. Neither teams moving the ball very well. He may be very valuable if he can boom a couple.

[Shannon Dawson]

It's gonna take a lot of booming.

[Drew Franklin]

It, keeping it out of their punt returners.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's it. Yeah, we talked about that yesterday. Don't even kick to him. But you know, he's a tough guy, though. I don't care what the college football game says with the toughness of zero. I think that, you know, if it came down to it, he would tackle the returner.

[Drew Franklin]

And South Carolina is known for special teams. They have an NFL special teams coordinator right now. It's what Beamer does. But Kentucky special teams this year have been pretty awesome, especially the two guys kicking it. I mean, Kentucky's kicker was he like six for six. 51 yarder, Jacob Callaway and then LaRose has. He had one shank that ended up not being too costly and then he had one that was almost inside the 10 that ended up, you know, rolling out of the back of the end zone. But otherwise those two guys have been nearly perfect.

[Ryan Lemond]

What are you doing?

[Shannon Dawson]

I feel like I'm in a tanning bed over here. This sun is beating down. I've got. I'm stripping down slowly. I had a quarter Zip on. I took that off. Then I'm wearing black. Black pants, and I'm rolling them up past my knees because it's hot. I wish I worn shorts like you guys.

[Drew Franklin]

We do need the temp to drop to get into fall spirit. Like, I wanted to make chili this weekend, and I look at the. The forecast, it's like 88 degrees. Can be making chili in 88. So we need that to come down a little bit to get all the way into fall. But filling it with the pumpkins around at least.

[Ryan Lemond]

I gotta tell you something Mario did to me last night. We were at KS Bar and Grill watching the NFL game, the Cardinals and the Seahawks, giving away Eric Church tickets.

[Shannon Dawson]

How many Eric Church tickets do we have? We've been giving away Eric Church tickets at every remote for the past month.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, you know, he's a popular dude.

[Shannon Dawson]

Did anybody buy tickets?

[Ryan Lemond]

Springsteen.

[Shannon Dawson]

Let's go to this Eric Church show.

[Drew Franklin]

I like Eric Church, but the amount of tickets that are being given away makes me wonder if Eric Church, is.

[Shannon Dawson]

He gonna make any money? We gave all his tickets. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Mario and staff at KS Bar have planned an end of the season pool party at my house.

[Shannon Dawson]

Oh, really?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

They just planted at your house. We're just coming over whether you want us or not.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm gonna stay away from that one.

[Ryan Lemond]

We got a day off. We're gonna have a pool party. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

[Shannon Dawson]

Is it Mario and his girl?

[Ryan Lemond]

No, it's the staff. The KS Bar staff.

[Shannon Dawson]

Oh, okay.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm. I'm gonna avoid that one. You guys tear it up, though.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, you're probably gonna be welcome. They're probably gonna send you an invite. So I don't know if everybody can come over, but you guys can come over.

[Drew Franklin]

I like Mario. Just throwing parties together.

[Ryan Lemond]

Spearheaded it right in front of me. Like, let's have a party at Ryan's house. He's got a pool. Let's go.

[Shannon Dawson]

By the way, next Wednesday is not a party at my house. I just want to make sure. No, no.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Shannon Dawson]

So the people, they're not invited.

[Ryan Lemond]

I know you've talked about it on the pre show, but we've done a show at my house. We've done a show at Drew's house. We've done a show at Matt's house. We're gonna do our first ever show at Shannon's house next Wednesday. But it is not open to the public.

[Shannon Dawson]

Correct.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're gonna be in your man cave. Well, you can't come in.

[Shannon Dawson]

Great. You Got to know this, the special code. It's like a speakeasy.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's a speakeasy.

[Shannon Dawson]

You got to know how many times the knock and then you got to know the code to get in. Otherwise you're not going to get in.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I've already got messages from people like, hey, I live in Mount Washington. Can I.

[Shannon Dawson]

Well, that's great. I'm happy. Yeah, I'm happy that you live in Mount Washington. It's a great city. I listed it as my top city on Mario's list yesterday of our top favorite cities. Doesn't mean you get to come to my house.

[Ryan Lemond]

You've got people know where you live. You get. They send you money all the time.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's true. I got one yesterday. I haven't tweeted this one out yet. It was a card from somebody in Charlotte, North Carolina and said, just because I think you look cute in a Speedo in the card signed Bess. And it had like some sort of foreign currency. I have no idea. But this is the type of stuff that I get on a weekly basis that's been happening every single week of my life since COVID And it's a trend that I feel like you started, Ryan. And I'm blaming you. I'm blaming you because when we brought your brother on to translate that, that foreign letter that was sent, ever since then, ever since then, it's been happening every single week. And it gets weirder.

[Ryan Lemond]

You continue to send money to Shannon?

[Shannon Dawson]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

Just don't show up at his house next Wednesday.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah. You know, you could send American money if you want to. It doesn't all have to be foreign. If you want to send me a couple hundred dollar bills, I mean, that's fine.

[Ryan Lemond]

Ryan, Drew and Shannon, we'll take our break, come back, go back to the phone lines. 859-280-2287. We're live at Bywater Farms. It's beautiful out here. It's an awesome day. It's autumnal splendor here at Bywater Farms. We'll be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitsel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent as a new student.

[Brian Bissell]

You may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue? How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Want to do that, bissell told me. You could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.

[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com agents.

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[Shannon Dawson]

It's time to level up your game.

[Ryan Lemond]

And bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra durable.

[Shannon Dawson]

LG XP Boom Portable speaker and enjoy.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Drew Franklin]

Bring the boom. Xboom. All right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Welcome back, Kentucky sports radio. Yeah, Brian, Victor. Let's go.

[Shannon Dawson]

Our crowd is sort of dispersed into different parts of the. The area here, depending on where the shade is.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, it's 125 degrees on the asphalt here by water farm has disappeared over here in the shade where Mario's been. You know, he's been there the whole show, hiding out there. Look at him. He's all dressed up. He's got, like a date or something after the show today.

[Drew Franklin]

My. It's. My legs feel like they're just roasting. I put a little sunscreen on my face knowing we'd be out here. But, Shannon, we have maroon legs being up here with you all.

[Shannon Dawson]

My question about Mario is, can we help the guy out with our draftkings pick? I mean, that was his pick last week. Needed some help. So who's gonna pick for. For Mario?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, we need a fourth pick.

[Shannon Dawson]

Do we let him pick? I don't think. I really don't think we should let Ryan pick.

[Ryan Lemond]

Really? His track record as good as mine.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, let's go ahead and do it. We heard what you were considering.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah. Tell everybody what you're wanting to do.

[Ryan Lemond]

Andy, the caller. Andy has given me some betting advice.

[Shannon Dawson]

Huh.

[Ryan Lemond]

And he said to take Missouri 44 and a half over UMass.

[Shannon Dawson]

Don't do that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Why not?

[Shannon Dawson]

I took UMass. Well, you know, I. I think I did take umass. Yeah. To cover like 50.

[Ryan Lemond]

Huh.

[Shannon Dawson]

They still lost. So, I mean, I guess that would. If it played out that way again, you would win that bet. But don't take that many points.

[Ryan Lemond]

He said they've been right.

[Drew Franklin]

Our parlay loses because you bet on a 44 point spread.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

You are not allowed back. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, you guys go ahead. Let's go ahead and make our draft kings pick our parlay. KSR parlay as you can find it on DraftKings. My track record's not doing well. Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

Come on over here, Mario. Okay. I'll go ahead and jump in first. All right. I'm three and one on the year, and I. I'll pick an early game, too. This is a 12 o' clock kickoff. Arkansas and Notre Dame. I'm just going to pick straight up money line. Notre Dame.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right. Arkansas. Notre Dame.

[Shannon Dawson]

I mean, I would take the four and a half, but Drew was saying that the point is Just to hit right.

[Drew Franklin]

Y' all are being unnecessary picking spreads on a 4 and 5 team parlay. We're just. You just got to do winners here.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay, so Notre Dame money line.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'll go next. I'm on the Lane Kiffin Bowl, Ole Miss hosting lsu. Lane Kiffin's daughter comes out this week, is dating LSU star stud linebacker Wit Weeks. Whit Weeks. I'm going Ole Miss with the win at Ole Miss in Oxford over lsu.

[Drew Franklin]

It's close. When that spreads only a point. I'm sorry. I'm punching these in to make sure we're getting some good odds here on the money lines. I will do. This is a six point spread. But Texas A and M is at home hosting Auburn. Auburn's pretty good. They're a lot better than I expected this year. I had. Oh, no. I didn't have Kentucky beating them, but I definitely. I'm worried about that game when we get to it. But I think they'll lose at College Station, so that leaves Mario. You need a little time, Mario?

[Shannon Dawson]

I do.

[Drew Franklin]

We can come back to you. Nah, I' ma just pick a random one.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's how we lose.

[Ryan Lemond]

Pick Missouri 44 and a half over you masks.

[Drew Franklin]

Pick what?

[Ryan Lemond]

Missouri?

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, we don't want.

[Ryan Lemond]

They wouldn't let me pick that one.

[Drew Franklin]

Shannon doesn't want.

[Shannon Dawson]

We got to veto that.

[Drew Franklin]

Do.

[Shannon Dawson]

Did anyone pick.

[Drew Franklin]

Let's see, Houston at Oregon State. Anyone pick that one?

[Shannon Dawson]

Nobody picked that one.

[Drew Franklin]

What's the spread?

[Shannon Dawson]

I'm gonna do money line.

[Drew Franklin]

Oregon State. Well, what's the spread on the game? Because I don't. We'll figure it. All right, Morgan, Oregon State. We just got a big one.

[Ryan Lemond]

Ole Miss, Notre Dame.

[Drew Franklin]

All right. That okay.

[Ryan Lemond]

And who did you pick, Drew?

[Drew Franklin]

I think we're gonna need a different one. That's a.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay. He took Oregon State.

[Drew Franklin]

We'll figure it out. We'll figure it. I'll put it in for now.

[Shannon Dawson]

Oregon State plus +390 +3 9. Is that good or bad?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, you took them to win.

[Shannon Dawson]

He took Oregon State to be Houston.

[Drew Franklin]

We'll put a pin in Mario's.

[Shannon Dawson]

Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Okay, back to that one.

[Ryan Lemond]

But watch that be the one that hits.

[Shannon Dawson]

Well, it could. I mean, that's gonna definitely, you know, increase our winnings.

[Drew Franklin]

Going with my gut here. Yeah, that takes it from about 4 to 1 to 17 to 1.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, that's a good payoff for us. What do you think about that, Drew at Oregon State?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it is.

[Ryan Lemond]

But I mean, you never know.

[Drew Franklin]

We're doing that thing where we Say no, and then it will hit because we push it out.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, right.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, we'll come back to that.

[Ryan Lemond]

What? It's. What's the over under on Kentucky, New South Carolina, tomorrow night, 47 and a half.

[Shannon Dawson]

Oh, I feel like maybe you should have taken the under.

[Drew Franklin]

I think that's too high.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay. Maybe that should be our fourth pick.

[Shannon Dawson]

Well, we don't pick Kentucky, though, right?

[Ryan Lemond]

You just pick the under.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, if you want, but we're just trying to pick winners here.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

I can put Mario's. If y' all want to vote for it. I'm not the. I'm not the here.

[Shannon Dawson]

I just.

[Drew Franklin]

I just.

[Ryan Lemond]

I just feel like we need to go with him. It's his.

[Shannon Dawson]

All right. I mean, if it were Oregon State to cover, I would feel a lot better about that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Is that what you want? You want Oregon state to cover 13 and a half?

[Shannon Dawson]

Are you sure?

[Drew Franklin]

All right, we'll give them that. We'll do that.

[Shannon Dawson]

That. I feel better about that.

[Drew Franklin]

That makes it about seven to one.

[Shannon Dawson]

There you go. There you go. Good job, Mario.

[Drew Franklin]

650. So. So, just to rehash, we got Notre Dame winning, Texas A M winning, Ole Miss winning big marquee games, and then we have Oregon State covering 13 and a half.

[Ryan Lemond]

I like it.

[Shannon Dawson]

Let's go, Beavers.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're Team Beavers now. We have been a little critical of the atmosphere at Kroger Field. We've been a little critical of how UK has handled the atmosphere at Kroger Field.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

But we need to give them some props. I was very proud of what UK did yesterday. They sent out a questionnaire survey to ticket holders, to fans, asking them, what can we do to help the atmosphere at Kroger Field? What would you like to see?

[Shannon Dawson]

You're complaining, you don't like it here. What could we do better?

[Ryan Lemond]

So I, at least. At least to me, gives the impression that UK is trying. They've reached out to the fans.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's good.

[Ryan Lemond]

Not to the players, not to the coaches, not to administrators, not to the board. The fans asking them what they would like to see at Kroger Field.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I mean, I'm glad they are reaching out. I can't just sit here and criticize them and then when they do something, you know, keep criticizing them. You know, I hope a lot comes out of it. They have a lot they need to work on. I'm sure they're going to hear from a lot of people. There's even a section, like additional comments or something. I would actually, like, love to Read those on the side. But no, it's good that they're doing this to try to get that entertainment district going in game atmosphere stuff. They know they have a long way to go. They have, as we heard a few weeks ago, they've got a budget in place to improve things. So at least they're listening to the fans and we don't know how much they'll listen, but at least they're. They're putting that out there for input.

[Shannon Dawson]

It's a good start because otherwise, if you have a problem with the atmosphere and a lot of fans do, we've heard about them on this show. How would you get that communicated to. To UK and the offices that, that make those decisions? So this is a good way to do that all in just one survey. You can fill out and see what people have to say. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of, you know, same common topics that people are going to bring up.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, hopefully then they'll listen.

[Shannon Dawson]

Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I'm with you. I think it's a great start. At least they're trying to make, you know, get it, know what the fans want. But then they have to listen. They have to implement whatever the fans are saying.

[Shannon Dawson]

Like, that's what I was saying last week when we were talking about in game atmosphere and like the music being played.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

And Billy asked me what I would play and I said I would just ask the players. First of all, what kind of music do you want to hear? I would ask the fans, what do you want to hear? Because those are the two, you know, groups of people we're trying to appease. We want to make sure that the players are happy. We want to make sure the fans are happy. Why not ask them what they want to hear?

[Drew Franklin]

I said something nice. Now can I be critical? There's one thing I love you, but I didn't like. Okay, well, we always say they focus on the money fans, not the people up at the top and section whatever. There was one part in the survey that asked your net worth and I just thought that has nothing to do with what you're asking.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's what they're really trying to find out.

[Drew Franklin]

But I saw that enough room was like, why, why do, you know, need that? Like, if people are just giving their input on what the stadium needs, what does it matter what they make?

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

So that, that kind of sent off a little red alert. Like, well, they haven't completely changed their ways because to me, we know you need money to build this stuff. We Know you can find your donors. But simply asking, how can we improve our stadium? What would you like to see? I don't need to know. You don't need to know what I make. Why does it matter what I make?

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

If I have a thoughts on how it should be better and I'm buying a ticket at the top, my opinion, I mean, sure, you might need their money. Of course. We're not idiots. You need the donors. Yeah, but I just thought in this one survey that was like a little bit like, does that really need to be in there?

[Shannon Dawson]

It almost feels like they're going to skew your opinion based off what your net worth is.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

You know, like, if your net worth is higher, then we'll take your opinion in higher regard than somebody who's down.

[Drew Franklin]

Here, which has kind of been a complaint for a while. But I know they need the money. I'm not stupid. I know how the world works. I just thought that question was kind of if I'm filling that out and I make 40,000 a year and I'm giving my input, I'm someone that's tailgating every day. I probably get to that question. I'm like, well, what's that got to do with anything?

[Shannon Dawson]

Just put a two in front of that four.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, if you. If you got one of these questionnaires, I urge you to fill it out. I mean, this is important. I mean, if you want this atmosphere to change, they're gonna. If they're gonna listen, take the time, fill it out, turn it in, let them know what you think.

[Shannon Dawson]

As long as it's genuine and they're actually going to listen.

[Ryan Lemond]

Exactly.

[Drew Franklin]

And it had a lot of stuff on there. Like they are trying. I don't. I have a hard time envisioning how this entertainment district would even fit, but that. I'm not paid to do that. I'm not. That's not what my brain does. But it is there at least trying to come up with new and exciting ways to do something different.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I think is one of the questions was, what events would you like to see outside of the stadium? I think that was part of the questionnaire.

[Drew Franklin]

So, yeah, just so they are trying.

[Ryan Lemond]

To give them credit and kudos to them. You know, we've all agree it needs to have some help to improve. They're at least going to reach out to the fan base, see what the fans want. That's what it's all about. All right, we're out here at Bywater Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. You can take a hay ride you can launch some pumpkins, you can toss some apples. Go to the spooky house. It's all here at Bywater Farms in Georgetown. Ryan, Drew and Shannon, we'll be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Rick, did you play a little hoodie right here for us?

[Shannon Dawson]

You bet.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let it play. I'll do the read. It'll make the read sound so much better when you got this greatest song ever going on. Stop overpaying for sunglasses. Are you tired of buying? I got a phone call. Are you tired of buying expensive sunglasses only to lose or break them? Or worse. You never even wear them because you don't want them to get dirty. You need Shady Rays. Shady Rays is an independent American owned company that started right here in Kentucky. Shady Rays has premium polarized shades for everyday activity. Running, fishing, biking, golfing, you name it. KSR show when you're sitting in the sun, they got you from their tailgate. Free aviators that won't get stuck in your hair to their color rush lenses that provide ultimate color enhanced visibility. Every member of the family can find their perfect Shady Rays. They offer the best protection program in the industry with lost or broken replacements. So take on your next adventure with the team that has your back. We're talking Shady Rays.

[Shannon Dawson]

Very good.

[Ryan Lemond]

Great song.

[Shannon Dawson]

I was so distracted by the Hootie and the Blowfish in the background that the podcast listeners can't hear, but. Yeah, I know, I know. That made you happy. You always what you love. You listen to the same songs every morning on repeat. You somehow never get tired of them.

[Ryan Lemond]

No.

[Shannon Dawson]

So what's the playlist? Bowling for soup, 1985.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Shannon Dawson]

What else?

[Ryan Lemond]

I bought 10 Hootie songs. 10 Darius Rucker songs? Yeah, about 10 John Cougar melon Camp songs.

[Shannon Dawson]

And then you're ready to go to.

[Ryan Lemond]

Work, and I'm ready to go to work.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay. Same way you never mix it up or anything?

[Ryan Lemond]

No. Why? Well, you like what you like. Just listen to that and leave the house happy.

[Shannon Dawson]

You're like Kroger Phil. You play the same stuff every time. It doesn't matter.

[Drew Franklin]

From the pre show.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I mix in a little Alice Blue.

[Shannon Dawson]

There you go.

[Drew Franklin]

My favorite thing ever is when you learn who who won the presidency from the pre show. You get up, you listen to your songs in the preshow.

[Ryan Lemond]

They didn't decide the president till, like after midnight. I'm in bed. I'm not waiting up to see who our president is.

[Drew Franklin]

But no part of you thought, I'll wake up and just look at my phone. You Learned on the pre show in the shower.

[Ryan Lemond]

Shannon and Billy's talking about President Trump winning the election.

[Drew Franklin]

You feel that people are getting news from pre show like that at least one person.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah. We don't get a whole lot of breaking news in the 9 o' clock hour. But for Ryan, you know, news that happened 10 hours ago was breaking news to him. So it works.

[Drew Franklin]

I have some breaking news. We really that parlay and we got to call. I was trying not to to captain the ship and you know, be too overbearing over here, but one of the picks was just not good. We won't say who it was, but we cleaned it up.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, they. Plus the game is apparently tonight. Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I'm betting it now. The fact that we've thrown it. I will fully be betting it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Going to bet Oregon State tonight.

[Drew Franklin]

But it's a game tonight. It didn't really fit our format of what we're going for.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right. So we got to kick it out.

[Drew Franklin]

But we're on the Beavers tonight. So here's the final answer after meeting with the committee. And we all have early games, by the way, I'm gonna go in order. We have two noon games.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right.

[Drew Franklin]

We just need winners. Notre Dame at Arkansas. That's Shannon's pick. Just gotta win.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Kansas State hosting ucf. That's Mario's pick.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's the new.

[Drew Franklin]

He went with the Wildcats. Mario's a fan of when the quarterbacks brother and dad fight in the parking lot after games. So he's on Kansas State, then Shannon or both or excuse me. Ryan and I are both at 3:30.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm a and M hosting Auburn in College Station. And you're Ole Miss hosting LSU in Oxford. Yours is by far the riskiest pick when it comes to odds.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm not going to count out Lane Kiffin going against the boyfriend of his daughter. I think he'll do everything he can to run that score up and right up the scoreboard.

[Drew Franklin]

There you go. Parlay. You heard how it was made. A lot of analytics involved in that. Lots of analytics. We watched lots of tape and we made our four picks. Go find it on DraftKings sportsbook.

[Ryan Lemond]

So we're here in Georgetown. I got to give a shout out to Scott County High school. Cardinals are 4 and 1. They were number one in Class 5A until last weekend. They went to Madison Central and got beat. But they're still 4 and 1. By the way, last weekend the number one team in 5A got beat Scott County. The numbers. Number one team in single A got beat in Pikeville.

[Shannon Dawson]

Is that your phone? Who's calling you?

[Ryan Lemond]

And the number two team in Beechwood. Two A team in Beachwood. So three number one teams got beat last weekend. Pikeville, Beachwood and Scott County. So we need to give them a shout out. I want to tell you guys about a guy.

[Drew Franklin]

Do you realize Corbin, I got applause there.

[Ryan Lemond]

Got applause for Scott County. There we go.

[Shannon Dawson]

There we go.

[Ryan Lemond]

Do you realize in Great Crossing just won the state basketball title earlier this year from here in Scott County. So shout out to both schools. There's a kid plays for Corbin that was on official visit last week to Ohio State. Ohio State is recruiting a kid named Malachi Brown at Corbin. Did you think Corbin had a player that's being recruited by some of the top, ultra top schools in the country? Malachi Brown?

[Drew Franklin]

You know, of all this, if I was going to pick one in Kentucky, they might be on my list because after going to that Douglas Corbin game a few years ago, that's a different level of high school ball that they're playing there. I am surprised to hear of it. But if there's one that could do it, Corbin's in the mix.

[Ryan Lemond]

They. He followed the coach. The coach came from West Virginia. This kid came with the coach from West Virginia and he's like a top, obviously a top defensive lineman in the country. Yeah, was on a visit last weekend, Ohio State. And then we talked about Seneca driver down in Boyle County. He was just on a visit to Oklahoma. He's just a junior. So these two kids, these major kids are going. Are they going to sneak out of our state and not end up in Kentucky?

[Drew Franklin]

They better not. We're worried about the big dog at Louisville taking some players away because Kentucky had had such a good grip on the state for so long. But your phone is.

[Shannon Dawson]

Are you. Are you one of those people that, like, answer telemarketers when they call?

[Ryan Lemond]

I do. Sometimes I mess with them. Yeah, I mess with them. You know, talk to them a little bit till they get to the final.

[Shannon Dawson]

Do you realize, like, when you pick up, they record that and it says this number. This buffoon will actually answer if we call. So let's call him some more. They put that in a call log so when you answer, like, you're just encouraging more calls.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, you know, you're bored driving and the phone rings, you can kind of talk to him a little bit, maybe help time pass the time limit.

[Shannon Dawson]

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?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I am.

[Shannon Dawson]

Somebody please call me and sell me a vacuum. I'm lonely.

[Ryan Lemond]

I got one more high school kid we gotta talk about. Evan Hampton from Owensboro is going to Vanderbilt. Shannon, he's the bright running back in the state. He's committed. He was originally committed to Louisville, decommitted going to Vanderbilt.

[Shannon Dawson]

You know, I don't know really what's happening down there at Vanderbilt. A lot of people are, I think, sort of attributing Vandy's success last year and this year to Diego Pavia.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

I think that coaching staff, maybe one of the best coaching staff Vanderbilt football has had in a long time. You know, bringing in like Diego and then. And then the recruit you're talking about right here, one of the best running backs in the state of Kentucky, we.

[Ryan Lemond]

Know he's Grandpa Doug, a lot of his. So, yeah, he's getting out of the state. Now it looks like these other two kids, Seneca Driver and Malachi Brown, may also be leaving the state. Kentucky finally producing some top level power five type kids and they're getting. They can't keep him here.

[Shannon Dawson]

Stoop's not recruiting him at all.

[Drew Franklin]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

I don't know what situation.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay.

[Ryan Lemond]

Honest.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

Hampton. I just knowing his family so well, I hated when he committed to Louisville. I know they're a big UK family, so I was thrilled when he decommitted. Sure, he's Vandy. You got to see him on the schedule. But it would have really hurt to see him in red. Yeah, Owensboro kid with that team.

[Ryan Lemond]

I know you guys talk about this on the pre show, but I want to hit it for the weekends. Guy named Josh Pate did a podcast with Colin Cowherd and he said that Mark Stoops has the best job in all of college football. And his argument was he makes $10 million, he doesn't have to win a championship. If he can just win six or seven games a year, people are happy and he gets to live in beautiful Kentucky. He said that is the best job in all of college football. What are your thoughts?

[Drew Franklin]

It's really hard to argue against it. I mean, you got Mitch Barnhart drawing up some contracts that you probably wouldn't get in a lot of other places. The pressure isn't nearly what it is in the sec, but you get the benefits of being an SEC school. You get the money, you're on the big stage, you're able to recruit even though you might be the 15th or 16th best team. And like, yeah, We're. We know what we are. Get us, get us to bowl games every year and then every once in a while, knock on a. Knock on a bigger door and get us in a bigger bowl game. And it's. We saw how happy we were with Stoops, just with a couple citrus balls. So it's hard to argue.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, I mean, Stoops has a great deal. Right. He's not going anywhere because they don't want to pay the buyout. He's, like you said, making 10 million year. 10 million a year. And the goal is to win seven games. And, you know, he's done just enough over the years to kind of just hang on to his job. You know, I feel like there's a couple of times, if you go back in history, was it the Mississippi State game where they needed a field goal at the last minute? Stoops was kind of on the hot seat then and, you know, just doing just winning enough to keep his job, basically. And that's the good thing at Kentucky. You can win six, seven games and everybody's happy when he had it rolling.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, we were doing videos like, should there be a statue?

[Ryan Lemond]

Absolutely.

[Drew Franklin]

Really? Not to take away from what they did. Those were good teams. But as I said earlier, really to get Kentucky to that level, just beat South Carolina and Missouri. Now the schedules change. That won't be there how it was for many years, but if you just beat kind of the mid tier teams and at least hang with the top ones, we're pretty happy in Lexington. I know some fans won SEC championships. I don't know that that's a realistic thing, as I see it. But yeah, if you can, if you can be a college coach and come beat South Carolina, knock off Tennessee or Florida every once in a while and get to bowl games, you're paid well here, and then, you know, you get a contract where it's impossible to fire you.

[Shannon Dawson]

When I say everybody's happy, I don't necessarily mean the fan base. I mean the administration, Mitch Barnhart, you know, like he's happy enough to keep him around and not fire him.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I think like Drew said, there was a stretch where the fans were happy. Yeah, he's beaten South Carolina every year. He's beaten Missouri every year. He's beaten Mississippi State every year. We'd kind of raise to that Middle east echelon of the sec.

[Drew Franklin]

Into the Florida streak, into the Florida.

[Ryan Lemond]

Streak, into the Tennessee streak. Got to bowl games every single year. We were ready to build a statue for him. Greatest coach we've ever had here. But now it's like everybody's kind of looking for him to the door to be open and push him out and bring in somebody new. I can see why he doesn't want to leave. I mean, he's got it made here as long as he can win some games.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to leave our him either. I'd like one of those contracts like your stoops.

[Shannon Dawson]

Where are you going to go?

[Drew Franklin]

But he did. But when you're looking at the grand scheme of college football, you know, beating Florida when they're down, that's not a huge task to ask to get all the pay and the benefits of being in the SEC or beating South Carolina or beating a Tennessee that's got Jared whatever face throwing pick sixes. Those were all huge accomplishments at Kentucky. But if you're a coach looking around for a job and you're like, wait, that's all I have to do to go get paid like that. Yeah, I would say it's one of the better jobs someone could go get.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's got to win some SEC games at home. That streak has got to end. He's got to get the fan base back engaged. Knowing that they go to the stadium, you got a chance to win the game. You can't go in there thinking everything, oh, well, how bad is Texas going to be us? How bad is Tennessee going to beat us? Got to get that optimism back that we had for a long time.

[Drew Franklin]

And I go to every game and I hang out with tailgaters. I do the thing after I talk to the people that are actually paying money and putting butts in seats. And the not winning home games is really getting big. Now, some of these are Georgia's. No one expects to go in and beat teams like that. What is it? Nine straight losses at home.

[Shannon Dawson]

So tell me the next home game that Kentucky is going to win.

[Ryan Lemond]

Florida.

[Shannon Dawson]

Is it going to be Florida?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

All right.

[Shannon Dawson]

And if you don't get Florida, then that's it.

[Drew Franklin]

I think they can beat Florida, but that's so far away. I worry what everyone's mindset will be if there's not one before that.

[Ryan Lemond]

You said you got Georgia, Tennessee and Texas.

[Shannon Dawson]

Georgia on the road. Yeah, Georgia on the road.

[Drew Franklin]

And then you're flipping the basketball switch with Purdue here in a few weeks.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yep. Texas and Tennessee at home gonna be tough games.

[Ryan Lemond]

Just win a couple sec home games, get the fans excited again and we'll support you. We don't. You know, you get a six, seven every now and then get us eight wins we're gonna be but tomorrow is.

[Shannon Dawson]

A big start in that how the rest of the season goes I feel like depends on how tomorrow goes.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm leaning negative but on Monday we could be talking about how he just went won another that's true SEC game which they do. I'll be surprised if that's what we're doing Monday morning.

[Ryan Lemond]

Bywater Farm, the largest fall farm festival in Kentucky. It's right here in Georgetown. Come on out and join us and take a look around. It's a beautiful place. You get your pumpkin, your pumpkin, your mum, your apple butter, your cinnamon donuts, your apple cider. You got everything out here. Come out here. Buy water farms in Georgetown. We'll take our final break, come back our final segment. Wrap it up, make our predictions. Kentucky and South Carolina tomorrow. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent.

[Brian Bissell]

As a new student, you may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue? How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Shannon Dawson]

Want to do that.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Bissell told me you could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.

[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive. Automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com agents.

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[Ryan Lemond]

All right, welcome back Kentucky Sports Radio. Ryan, Drew and Shannon here wrapping it up final segment on Kentucky Sports Radio. You don't don't let this buying season slip by. Stockton Mortgage can help you get into your new home before the holidays. From first time home buyers to seasoned homeowners, Stockton Mortgage has programs that fit your needs. So explore your options [e-mail] NMLS8259/Allo housing lender NMLSConsumerAccess.org There's a Stockton Mortgage right down the road. If you go out here and take a left and keep going, you'll go right past it. It's on the right hand side.

[Shannon Dawson]

I'll wave hello on my way out.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, we got a couple callers we want to get on before we get out of here. Rick. So who we got first?

[Drew Franklin]

Got Dan up next.

[Ryan Lemond]

Dan. Go ahead Dan.

[Caller]

Hey guys, first of all, I love you. I never give up. 44 man. I don't care if they're going against themselves. Listen, I'll talk fast. I know you stress for time. Two quick topics. One is why retire jerseys? I mean I know it's an honor to retire jersey. Let's just say number four, say Cliff Hagen war. Then give me Dan Connor Then Kyle Macy, wouldn't it be an honor to hang those jerseys and shirts and look, the new guys come in. Maybe he's got number four and see all those who weren't the years before him. That were great. Second topic. And then after this I'll get off there and listen to you guys comments. I'm an old timer back from the 70s and I, I hate it now because it seems like if y' all were talking about the prices, they want to know how much money you made and things like this, man, they're pricing people out anymore. It's like it's not happy. They're going from millionaires. They want to be billionaires. And people are fighting to go to a ball game with their kids or to park and. Or buy a jersey for their kids and watch the games. You can't even watch the games a lot of times anymore. They're putting them on ESPN plus and all this. And man, come on, think about the fans that supported you through all the years.

[Ryan Lemond]

Appreciate it. All right. Thank you, buddy. Thank you, Dan. Appreciate it. I mean that's just the nature of the world we live in. I mean Kentucky still has kind of the cheaper ticket prices than everybody else in the sec. It may seem a lot to us, but if you go to another school, it's maybe double that to go to a game.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. I mean everything's outrageous as we all know. And UK also has to fight with this isn't 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. So it's. It's tough spot on other end and they're as they're trying to improve that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Talking about retiring jerseys. I think Kentucky actually does a good job. I think in the locker room they used to have like if somebody had number four, they would have some of the other guys listed who also wore number four. Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Unless they've recently changed that. I can't place exactly where it was. But that exists.

[Ryan Lemond]

It does, yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. And then they have their, you know, their actual jerseys and RUP the numbers on them.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Hanging there with their name and number right there in the interruption. Alright, let's get another phone call. Rick, who we got? Quinn is next. Quinn, Go ahead, Quinn.

[Caller]

Okay. Louisville resident now, but lived in Lex for 11 years. However, living in Louisville, I go to a game anytime I'm offered because the fan experience is awesome. It's just a fun Time. And the solution to the UK fan experience problem isn't asking the fans. Go to the students.

[Ryan Lemond]

You'll get a smaller sample size and.

[Caller]

They know what's cool.

[Ryan Lemond]

So go to them.

[Caller]

And if you're not going to do that, then hire someone that's from the.

[Ryan Lemond]

NFL team that is related to fan experience.

[Caller]

And if you can't do that, then go to like a Big ten school where someone is close to a larger city and that will fit the like.

[Shannon Dawson]

Cool or the not cool fan experience to.

[Ryan Lemond]

To uk. That's just my thought. Okay. I appreciate it. I like that going to the students. Get their input as well, because I'm probably not going to answer this questionnaire, this survey we just put out.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's the thing. Yeah. Well, I mean, if they did, though, how many would actually respond? When you were in college, would you respond to some survey? No.

[Ryan Lemond]

If anything took me longer than five seconds, I'm not getting into it. That's just, you know, the attention span of our youth right now. They're not going to waste any time doing that out. But I think they. It is a good idea to get the student perspective, I think, on what you want to do.

[Drew Franklin]

And I've never been to a Louisville game, really hope to never go to one. But I have heard what that caller just said. Yeah, just about how fun it is. And some of it, like Kentucky travels to these stadium. Are they not looking around and stealing ideas? We're not saying build new areas, simple things. And this sounds so basic. But just downtime during a commercial. Play a. Remember when and play the radio, call over a play or a trivia, anything. You just got to keep it moving. The video, you have a video board for a reason. Keep it active. That keeps the fans going. Something as simple as that could go a long way because the fans are good at building up energy when the game's going on. You know, third down, Croaker Field. Pretty good at doing its job. But it's when there's downtime and everyone's just looking at each other, then you have to go rebuild that energy. You need to do your best to keep it moving.

[Shannon Dawson]

Fans, too, they're just there for the party. I don't even think they care about the football game. They don't come until halftime to begin with a lot of times, but they're more of a party fan base.

[Ryan Lemond]

Get another call. Rick, who we got?

[Drew Franklin]

Got Jerry on the line.

[Ryan Lemond]

Go ahead, Jerry, you're up.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Yeah, I got one of those surveys, too. And what the area really Kind of concerned me was all the stuff about charging for tailgates. And I think that's what they're going to try and do next is they're going to start charging for those tailgate errors. And if they do that, that's going to ruin the tailgate experience. But me and the guys I tailgate with been talking about all morning that we're, we're not paying for tailgates. They're going to ruin that if they, if they start charging for tailgates. But they did ask about WI FI again and for the fifth time I thought it makes WI FI better, but they've never done it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jerry, appreciate that. You know, he brings up a great point. They start charging for tailgating, that's just going to tick the fans off even more. Trying to work with the fans, not make them more mad than they already are.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I can sit here on the radio and give my opinion, but it really doesn't matter because I'm sitting in the press box on my computer. It's the Jerry's that they need to really worry about because I hear a lot of it from them too. And it's the people that have set through winless seasons. They've set through Vandy games getting blown out. They've been there through thick and thin. So if you've got them reconsidering things, I would really, really, really try to try to keep them happy.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, we got to wrap it up and make our predictions here. Shannon, you go score and mvp, who you got?

[Shannon Dawson]

All right. I got the Cats winning on the road. I think this is going to be the game that's going to shift all the momentum in their favor. They're going to end up with a six win season as I've been talking about for months now. I think it all starts tomorrow. Kentucky wins at 24, 21. I'm going to go with Seth McGowan as my pick.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's a good pick. He'll probably get a lot of carries.

[Drew Franklin]

Drew, boom if you want, but I'm taking the Gamecocks. The good news is I'm wrong very often, but they are. They have come down to to where they're beatable though. I think Kentucky will be in it. I just say South Carolina pulls away at the very end, wins 20 to 16 in a field goal fest.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm going to take Kentucky 21 to 20. My MVP. The cutter bowler era gets its signature start with the win on the road at South Carolina. Why not us? JoJo Kemp said. Why not? Why not us Cutter Bowler, your MVP. Thanks for joining us. Pregame show starts tomorrow at KS Bar.

[Drew Franklin]

At 4:30 and I'm post gaming.

[Ryan Lemond]

Drew's doing a post game tomorrow.

[Drew Franklin]

Let's get weird.

[Ryan Lemond]

We'll see you then. Goodbye.

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Caller]

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