KSR – Hour 1 (September 29, 2025)

Hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon Dawson
Special Guest: Dusty Bonner (Former UK Quarterback)
Theme: Kentucky Football’s Struggles—Post-South Carolina Loss, Fan Frustration, and the Road Ahead

Episode Overview

This Monday-morning edition of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) is a classic “group therapy” session after the Kentucky Wildcats’ football team suffered an embarrassing 35-13 loss to South Carolina. With UK on a losing streak—four straight to South Carolina and 3-13 in their last 16 SEC games—fans and the KSR crew dig into what went wrong, whether there’s hope with young quarterback Cutter Bowley, and what comes next for head coach Mark Stoops in the new era of college football and NIL.

Key Discussion Points

1. Immediate Reaction to the South Carolina Loss

• Game Recap: Kentucky started strong, going up 7-0, but turnovers and defensive lapses led to a South Carolina avalanche in the second quarter, essentially ending the game before halftime.
• Dusty Bonner (04:58):

  “You know, I think everybody that’s ever played has been in those games where no matter how hard you try ... the wheels just keep coming off.”

• Drew Franklin (05:51):

  "...I picked South Carolina to win before the season...but I was shocked at the 35-13 loss…It all happened right there in the second quarter with those turnovers. Completely inexcusable."

2. Offensive Woes and Coaching Critique

• Ongoing struggles under Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan:
  Multiple seasons have now passed without Kentucky scoring more than two touchdowns in an SEC game.
• Ryan Lemond (09:29):

  “So, Drew mentioned Bush Hampden. He’s getting a lot of pushback now... Is he calling the right plays to put Cutter [Bowley] in the best position?”

• Dusty Bonner (09:41):

  “We threw a lot of short passes...That’s something I’d love to see in the Kentucky arsenal...instead of the longer stuff where you have to hold the ball for a deeper drop and make a great throw.”

3. Cutter Bowley Under the Microscope

• Performance: Young and thrown into a turbulent scenario, Bowley showed flashes but also struggled.
• Dusty Bonner (21:50):

  “He is the real deal. I'm high on him. I think he's got a bright, bright future. I think he's a guy that can play on Sundays...He took some shots...but he got right back up...He never really looked flustered.”

• Fan patience and expectations: Despite the ugly outcome, the KSR team and callers encourage a longer-term, development-focused approach for Bowley.

4. Should Mark Stoops Stay or Go?

• Fan Calls and Crew Reactions:
  • Drew Franklin (27:16):

    “Me personally, I don’t see this getting any better...I don’t think you fire the guy…but I don’t see him winning an SEC game the rest of the season...If it gets to that point, they’ll have to come to an agreement.”

• Buyout Realities: The massive buyout makes a midseason firing unfeasible. Lemond reminds listeners that “the buyout is just too big and I don't think Mitch Barnhart would do that to the program.” (26:41)

5. The Bigger Picture: NIL, SEC Arms Race, and Expectations

• Changing Landscape: The hosts—and particularly Bonner—stress that recruiting and retention are now inextricably tied to NIL resources.
• Dusty Bonner (31:10):

  “Athletic directors are going to start being put more in the spotlight...What are they doing in the NIL world?...I wish they'd put out standings every year in the SEC of NIL money, because I guarantee you it'll line up where you finish.”

• Drew Franklin (32:15):

  “Fans need to judge and grade [the coaching staff] based on the scenario they’re in...I would guess that in most games, Kentucky’s is going to be a little lower [in NIL resources].”

6. What’s Next? How To Re-engage Fans and Turn the Season

• Offense Needs to Show Life:

  “They gotta fix the offense. If the offense comes alive and they can go out there and compete, I think most fans would be happy about that.” – Dusty Bonner (35:48)

• Georgia Next Up:
  History shows Kentucky has, at times, played Georgia close, but with UGA coming off a loss, expectations are tempered.
• Drew Franklin (37:29):

  “I hate saying Georgia is a good matchup, but their style of play can allow you to at least not get smoked...which might have people hang on another week.”

7. Call-in Segment Highlights

• Frustrations Over Offense and “Pro-Style” Commitment:
  • JC (46:01):

    “All these other schools have dual-threat quarterbacks...Stoops’ insistence on being a pro-style offense, being a little Georgia, ain’t gonna work.”

  • Bonner (47:04):

    “You gotta be able to do both. Run the ball, pass the ball. In today’s SEC, you gotta be capable of scoring 35 points to have a chance to win.”

• What If UK Finishes 3-9?
  • Andy (48:58):

    “If we finish 3-9, which seems very likely...Does he [Stoops] really want to stick around with a fanbase that’s checked out?”

  • Bonner’s response (49:30):

    “If it were me … I’d probably go find that huge name offensive coordinator and then just recruit around that like crazy … and say to the athletic director, ‘I need some money, I need some help, I’m not going to be silent if I don’t get it.’”

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Dusty Bonner on the feeling during the South Carolina meltdown:

  “You just kind of wish the ground would open up and you could just hide...” (19:17)

• Shannon Dawson on the offense’s collapse:

  “Their last nine possessions...averaged two yards per play, zero points, four turnovers...” (18:28)

• Dusty Bonner on Cutter Bowley’s toughness:

  “He’s got a little bit of vinegar in his veins…he's a competitor.” (23:32)

• Drew Franklin on Stoops’ SEC record and fan discontent:

  “If you tell me your current coach has won three of their last 16 SEC games...how can you be supportive?” (33:13)

• Bonner on the need for offensive change:

  “Something’s gotta get better. They gotta figure something out and they know that. They don’t need me to tell them that.” (47:01)

• Fan caller on two weeks of preparation and still bad results:

  “Two weeks to prepare and this is what we get...We don’t even really have a chance.” (45:00)

Summary Takeaways

• This episode is a cathartic vent session for Kentucky fans: The crew balances empathy for the struggles of a young quarterback and patience for a coach who built the program, with blunt frustration at the current state of affairs.
• Consensus: The offense must change—immediately and dramatically. Whether that’s in playcalling, coordinator overhaul, or personnel, the urgency is clear across the board.
• Big-picture, UK faces entrenched resource gaps in the new NIL world that not only explain but may justify tempering expectations—though that won't quiet the hunger of the Big Blue fanbase for innovation and excitement.
• Stoops’ job is safe for now, but the program sits at a crossroads. Without offensive identity and improvement, apathy threatens to take over, especially as attention turns to basketball.
• If there's a rallying hope, it’s development for Cutter Bowley—tough, talented, local, and possibly the face of a better UK tomorrow, if the staff and resources are aligned behind him.

Episode Timeline (Key Segments)

• 03:07 – Show open and intros; setting the tone—a “tough show” after a bad loss.
• 04:58 – Dusty Bonner breaks down the loss, “wheels coming off,” and SC’s strong QB.
• 06:32 – Offensive collapse after strong opening drive.
• 09:29 – Discussion: Bush Hamdan, playcalling, and need for short passing.
• 18:28 – Shannon’s big takeaway: “It was over at halftime—no faith in the offense.”
• 21:50 – Bonner assesses Cutter Bowley’s future and composure.
• 26:41 – Fan calls and intense debate about Stoops’ future.
• 31:10 – NIL realities and how they impact coaching evaluation.
• 35:48 – How to re-engage fans: “Fix the offense and score some points.”
• 44:54 – Call-in segment: fan complaints and high expectations vs. resource challenges.
• 49:30 – Bonner on what he’d do if kept on after 3-9: “Big name OC, recruit playmakers, ask for NIL help.”

For diehard and casual Wildcat fans alike, this episode is a candid look at a crossroads for UK football—a team searching for identity, answers, and a reason to hope.