2025-09-29- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

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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

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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.

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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.’”

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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)

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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.

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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.”

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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.

Transcript

[Dusty Bonner]

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[Dusty Bonner]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Shannon Dawson]

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

[Ryan Lemond]

Welcome in ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles, this is the Monday morning edition of Kentucky Sports Radio and it's going to be a tough show. Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin and our special guest we'll introduce here in just a minute. Kentucky Sports Radio, sponsored every day by the T.J. smith Law Office called T.J. what happened, Shannon?

[Shannon Dawson]

He'll make them pay.

[Ryan Lemond]

He will absolutely. Make him pay. Our Clark's Puppet Shop phone number will be open. We'll play group therapy today. 859-280-2287. That's the Clark's Puppet Shop phone number. And the aviation glass text machine, which I forgot at My house is 502-735-3680. You can use my own personal phone because I forgot to bring the aviation glass text machine phone.

[Drew Franklin]

This is twice now, Ryan.

[Ryan Lemond]

Twice.

[Dusty Bonner]

Mario.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, yeah, we need. Yeah, your consistency's off and we need to just give out Ryan's phone number since you don't have the other phone number. How will that contact you without knowing your personal phone number?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, you know, those people that have it can send us text match because it was just blowing up all weekend. The aviation glass tax machine blew up all weekend because unfortunately we had to play Monday morning quarterback and we're bringing in an old quarterback. Dusty Bonner had agreed to do the show today. But you picked a great day to do a show after the Kentucky lost kind of embarrassingly at times, 35 to 13 at South Carolina Saturday. First of all, great to have you on. I think this may be your first time ever on Kentucky sports radio.

[Dusty Bonner]

It is. I appreciate it. Having fun. Yeah. Well, what are your stressed the old part there for you?

[Drew Franklin]

There was an emphasis on that.

[Dusty Bonner]

He kind of hung in there a little bit. Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, he admitted to me he's 46 years old. That makes me feel like ancient when Dusty Bonner is 46 years old. Well, just the other day you were playing with the Lexington Horseman in the uk.

[Dusty Bonner]

Seems like a different life ago, man. It does been a long time.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let's get into it with you. We're playing Monday morning quarterback. What just what are your thoughts about what you saw on Saturday? We'll start with that.

[Dusty Bonner]

You know, I think everybody that's ever played has been in those games where no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, it's like the wheels just keep coming off. And it was just kind of one of those games where it just felt like no matter what they did, it just, it just, you know, the wheels came off. Man, it was just. Just started out hot, looked great, and then it was just. Things just started just falling apart, you know, and, you know, part of that is as you're playing a quarterback in South Carolina, the Sellers kid, he's a fantastic quarterback. Very, very difficult to defend. Probably one of the better players in the country. So that certainly is part of it. But then their defense, you know, the way that we had to play offensively, and you're trying to come back and you've made some mistakes and given them the ball and they've scored, now you got to come back. And those guys that their defensive style, where they can pin their ears and come after you, is what we had to play into and didn't work out very well.

[Ryan Lemond]

Drew Franklin.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I mean, I was convinced it would be a game in the fourth quarter. I picked South Carolina to win before the season, so I stuck with that in my final prediction. But I was shocked that they came back with a 3513 loss. I mean, it all happened right there in the second quarter with those turnovers. Completely inexcusable. But it was. We knew it was over from there. It's. Sometimes it just feels like a comedy of errors with how Kentucky football loses. Not to pick on Pete, but if you just fall on that ball and you punt and get out of there, who knows, It's a different game. But, you know, they went up 7o, scored on the first drive for the second time this year. Get a little bit of life, and I think we have something. It just stinks. The way it got absolutely ripped away immediately was all downhill from there. Not really any hope after that first drive.

[Ryan Lemond]

So let's start with that. They go down, march right down the field and score on their opening drive. That ends up being their only touchdown of the game. What. What happened after that first drive that was different?

[Dusty Bonner]

Well, I mean, I think some of it was just our own mistakes and things that we did. You know, not securing the football and then not protecting the quarterback in some of those deals. But, you know, at the end of the day, our run game was really effective and really strong in the beginning of that. And I think South Carolina could just kind of pin their ears a little bit and load the box and do some things to take the run away from us. And then whenever we did get into those. Those positions where you get down to the third down and it's not third and short where you can really. You're really a threat to run the ball. Like, if, you know, if it's third nine, they don't have to load the box. They can play, play the pass and they can still, still stop the run if you decide to do it. But you know, you get in those positions where you're behind the chains a little bit, they know you got to pass the ball and they pin the ears and here they come. And I think that was just, you know, they talked about it on the broadcast a little bit, but you're really kind of playing in their hands with the defense that they have and the Stewart kid in particular, the defensive end, I call him defensive end, outside linebacker. But you know, when, when it's, when it's an obvious third down situation where you're going to pass the ball, that's. That's one of the best guys in the country, right? That's one of the best guys. And so, but, but I, but I do think, you know, like you said on the. When, when cutter got sacked and fumbled and we didn't recover that ball, that that was the moment that everything just kind of went downhill. And, and that's what I was talking about, like when the wheels fall off, you know, that was, that was the first sign that the wheels were. Something bad was going to happen. We needed something good to happen right away. And again, instead of that, something bad happened right away and you know, you just start digging that hole and you can't get out of it.

[Drew Franklin]

To win, they just needed to run the ball cutter, manage, get out of there without any mistakes. Once they fell behind, what, South Carolina score like four straight touchdowns there for a stretch?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Once you get to that point and you can't just lean on your run game and play field position, you're actually trying to play from behind. That's. That was just too much to ask of that offense in Cutter Bowley, especially in that spot. And the fact that it's now what's the stat? Every Bush Hampden game, SEC game, they haven't scored more than two touchdowns. It's like 10 and oh or oh and 10 and oh and 11, whatever it is. I mean it's the, the cast is changing, but it's now been a year and two more SEC games and not even being able to score more than two touchdowns in a game just gets frustrating. I didn't expect this one to be high scoring, but when you turn it over like that, you can't expect to win at all. Especially in Columbia.

[Dusty Bonner]

You know, another part of that is what you just ended with. South Carolina is a tough place to play play. Oh my goodness, that is rowdy play. We're rowdy when I played and they were like 1 in 10, so they were terrible. And it was still rowdy, you know, until everybody realized they were going to lose and then left. But, you know, so when those big play type things happened, that happened in that game early on, just all the momentum and all the energies on the South Carolina sideline and that, that plays into it and I think it probably did in this game.

[Drew Franklin]

And they already have energy. But when you get back to back defensive touchdown.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

The place is you got a scoop.

[Ryan Lemond]

And score and a pick six within 45 seconds. That just makes the roof blow off the top of a place like that.

[Dusty Bonner]

It does, yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

So Drew mentioned Bush Hampden. He's getting a lot of, a lot of pushback now. What's your thoughts about the game he called? Is he calling the right plays to put Cutter in the best position where he can succeed or what are your thoughts?

[Dusty Bonner]

Well, you know, for me I'm, you know, you remember when I played, we threw a lot of short passes and we threw a lot of short passes and dinked and dunked all over the field and you know, that's something that I would love to see in the Kentucky Arsenal is more just simple pass plays, you know, instead of kind of some of the longer stuff where you got to hold the, hold the ball for a deeper drop and then you got to make a great throw. Because in the SEC, if you're throwing a 15 yard out route or you're throwing a 20 yard dig, there's not very much margin for error. When you're throwing those kind of big, you're asking a lot of your quarterback in those plays. And I certainly think Cutter is capable. You know, I'm very high on Cutter as a quarterback, but just some of the, just some of the little stuff, man, just, you know, a tight end over the middle, 5 yards, 10 yards, shallow routes, just little stuff across the middle of the field just to help a little bit get them outside the pocket. I think sometimes when you have a younger quarterback, you know, you know, get them outside of the pocket. Just give them something easy to start out with.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, right.

[Dusty Bonner]

Again, the course of that game kind of, kind of determined what happened. Right when you get behind like that. Now all of a sudden you, you've gone away from who your identity is. Because I think their identity wants to be let's pound the ball and let's do enough in the passing game to win, play great defense. Well, they took that identity away from you and you had to be something that you're not, which is now we got to figure out a way to move the ball down the field in the air. And you know, that's not our game plan.

[Ryan Lemond]

What's your take on the Bush Hampden experience right now?

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, I just. The fact that you can't score two touchdowns. Also, I keep thinking about this season. Go back to that safety against Toledo, that fake pitch on 4th and whatever when Bowley first came in a couple weeks ago. Then what was it, third and five and they tried the little reverse to Gilmore.

[Ryan Lemond]

You're in.

[Drew Franklin]

It's almost like you were settling for a field goal. There weren't very aggressive, you know, I'm not just sit here and start firing people. That's not my spot. But it has been very disappointing. Extremely disappointing. But it's also consistent across this several years. It's not just been on him, but he does not seem like he has the. The answers either. After two games this year. I gave him a little bit of a break last season because he came in February. Wasn't his roster. Cohen kind of left him in a bad spot when he left for the NFL, I thought maybe we'd see a big jump. So far, through four games, I haven't seen any jump at all in the play call.

[Dusty Bonner]

And that's the other thing too. When you bring in a new offensive coordinator or you bring any offense coordinator and we don't know all the behind the scenes. So last year, you don't know, is the quarterback hurting a little bit? Is the shoulder messed up? Are they afraid that, hey, we can't really pass the ball because we can't protect the guy? You know, that kind of stuff, a lot of that plays into it too, and it hamstrings an offensive coordinator. But to your point, I think, you know, regardless of who you know trying to blame who or whatever the end result is, something's got to happen. Something's got to. Something's got to change offensively to where we can. We can move the ball through the air because I just don't think you can line up in this conference and we're going to run the ball and we're going to get away with winning. You know, I think that was a model years ago, but it ebbs and flows and it's back to, you got to be able to score a lot of points in this league now. I think if you don't score 20, if you score 28, you're in the game. You got to be able to score 35 to win it. You know, so at the end of the day, I think it's. Something's got to be figured out.

[Drew Franklin]

So, you know, it's fun getting the tight ends involved for a couple of weeks.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's where I was going.

[Drew Franklin]

Now Catus, I don't think was targeted once. No Columbia, but Rodriguez led yards. If there's one thing that, that has been good of the offense, it's after years, you know, Kentucky fans, every season, it's when we get the tight ends going. They've at least gotten that going a little bit. It's the only thing that's been working in the passing game so far.

[Ryan Lemond]

So, you know, Rodriguez had that one long pass play. Outside of that, they suck. And I, the tight ends away. I mean, obviously the game tape, they know what color Bowie likes to do. So that means our receivers need to find a way to get open. They went to Macklin a couple times, but the receivers as a group, as a core, have been kind of quiet already this season. What's the, what's the problem?

[Dusty Bonner]

Well, you know, I'd have to go back and look at a lot of tape to determine that because, you know, when you're watching it on tv, you kind of pick out the one guy or you pick out the one spot and you watch it. So, you know, I think that's hard to determine without really diving into film. But I, but, but, but to that point, there has been times where you'll see the quarterback drop back and it looks like they're waiting on somebody to get open. Now, you know, that could be something else too. But at the same time, it looks like they're waiting for folks to get open. And you know, as we saw the other night, in this league, if you're taking a five step drop, you can't wait. You don't have that kind of time. You know, people got to get open, they got to get open now. And so I do think that that is a little bit of a concern is as a group or a receiving corps. You know, Law's doing a great job and he's getting some action, but you can't get away with just one. You got to have more guys than that or else they can take that away pretty easily. You get somebody on both sides of the field that they're worried about now, all of a sudden that opens up everything, particularly in the middle, opens up your tight end. But if they can just say, hey, if we stop this guy outside, then we're good and we can kind of hunker down and take care of the tight ends. That puts you in a numbers game that's, that's not beneficial for you.

[Drew Franklin]

And that rod one of Rodriguez's catch was absolute chaos. When they started laddering laterally. I didn't love that in the first half of a game. That's something you do as the clock's.

[Ryan Lemond]

Running at the end.

[Drew Franklin]

That could have been another touchdown. Could have been as reckless as they got. But it was good. They got him going a little bit but needed a lot more.

[Ryan Lemond]

So we got Drew Franklin and we got Dusty Bonner here making his KSR debut. We want to hear from you. 859-280-2287. That's the Clark's Pump Shop phone number 859-280-2287. We're playing Monday morning quarterback. Kentucky now loses their last four games in a row to South Carolina.04 against South Carolina in their last four games. Ouch. We're right back. This is Kentucky sports radio.

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[Dusty Bonner]

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[Dusty Bonner]

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[Drew Franklin]

Where do you see the business actually heading?

[Commercial Announcer 2]

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[Caller/Listener]

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[Ryan Lemond]

Welcome back Kentucky Sports Radio. Ryan Drew and Shannon with Dusty Bonner here playing Monday morning. Quarterback. Shannon, I didn't ask you what was your big takeaway from the game on Saturday?

[Shannon Dawson]

That it was over at halftime because when South Carolina had 28 points, I had zero confidence that Kentucky's offense could score that many points. I mean their last nine possessions, I had this stat on the pre show. The last nine possessions, they averaged 2 yards per play, 0 points, 4 turnovers, and that's now 11 consecutive power conference games without scoring more than two offensive touchdowns in a game. So once they got to that 28 points, really, once they got to 21, I thought it's probably over at this point.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, that second quarter was ridiculous. Scoop and score pick six. South Carolina scores 21 and answered like quick in that second quarter. I mean I just. You, you said it. The wheels just completely fell off and you, I think we all knew as fans there was no coming back, it was over.

[Dusty Bonner]

And that's pretty tough. I think as a fan, you know, it's more fun to lose 34 to 35, you know, if you got a chance. And. But, but yeah, I mean that's the only way to say it is the wheels, you know, they just came off and look, it happens to everybody. If you play long enough, it happens to you. You know, you'll have that game or those games where, you know, you just kind of wish the ground would open up and you could just hide, you know, because it's just, it's, it's bad. And no matter what happens, it just gets a little bit worse, you know, and, you know, I've been there, I've been in those spots where, you know, Cutter, where, you know, you get hit, you know, and that's the other thing too is like, look, you know, on that scoop and score fumble, I mean, you know, he took a shot, man.

[Ryan Lemond]

He did.

[Dusty Bonner]

He took a big shot. And you know, as a quarterback coach, you always, you're going to tell your guy, hey, you got to secure the ball, you got to do what you got to do. And. But sometimes you get hit and the ball, the ball gets separated from you. And I think it was one of those deals. And you know, I've been there, done that. I got hit one time, I got sacked out at Mississippi State and no idea where the ball went.

[Ryan Lemond]

I got to tell you my Mississippi State story about Dusty, though. I'm glad you said that.

[Drew Franklin]

You all said some stuff off there. I want to hear some of these behind the scenes stories too. We, everybody can talk a little.

[Dusty Bonner]

South Carolina, we may need to approve all this in between the break here.

[Ryan Lemond]

But Kentucky was playing at Mississippi State on a Thursday night.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

It was a big ESPN game on Thursday night. So we went down there, got there with the team as they're walking on the field, Dusty walked the length of the field, spit in the end zone, walked the length of the field the other way, spit in that end zone. And I've always remembered though, you were spitting in the end zone, almost like, hey, I'll be back, don't worry.

[Dusty Bonner]

So did I ever tell you why I did that?

[Caller/Listener]

No.

[Dusty Bonner]

So literally. And you know, I was, back in those days, I was probably, I'm not superstitious at all, but, but in those days I was a little bit. And, but every, every pregame, that was my, that's what I did every time was I'd walk, I'd walk all the way down, go into the end zone, walk all the way down, come back to this end zone. In my mind it was like, hey, look, this is where we're going to be and I'm coming back, so I.

[Ryan Lemond]

Gotta find my way to get there.

[Dusty Bonner]

Just go ahead and get our path lined out here because this is what we're. But, but it also, it helped remind me like, look, your, your job as a quarterback is to get there. Like, that's your purpose is to get in the end zone. And so that was, for me, that was kind of how I did it. Like, hey, I'm gonna go ahead and do this now, and we're just gonna keep doing it during the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

Now, you, obviously, you're a former Kentucky quarterback, won the Harlan Hill Trophy at Valdosta quarterback. You know the game. I know you're an LCA guy, too. Cutter's an LCA guy. He's got. Got a lot of pushback after the game Saturday night. Is it deserved or what are your, what's your thoughts about Cutter as a quarterback?

[Dusty Bonner]

Well, first, you know, whether it's deserved or not, it's just part of the, you know, that's just what happens. You know, people give you that, but, you know, I remember before I ever saw him play in high school, I talked to another guy that knows a couple things about quarterback Couch.

[Ryan Lemond]

Tim Couch.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yeah, I've heard of him. Yeah, yeah. And he told me, you know, he said, hey, have you seen this Cutter kid? He's the real deal, you know, and when he says that, that's pretty good indicator. But then I went and watched him play and I mean, you know, he is the real deal. And like I said, 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's got that kind of arm. But the other thing, you know, I saw him in high school throw an interception that wasn't his fault, by the way. It got tipped and got intercepted. And I was watching the guy return it, and out of nowhere you just see this blur and this kid just drills him as hard as he can. And it was Cutter, you know, and that's. I think there's some things you learned about Cutter on Saturday night that were for me, you know, he took some shots, he got right back up. Every single time he got right back up things, the wheels fell off. I don't think he ever really looked flustered. He never looked flustered to me. Frustrated, yeah, because you can't not be frustrated in that situation. But he never looked like flustered. He never looked like bright eyed, like, oh, my goodness, this is too big of a moment for me. He didn't look like that at all. And so to me, you know, like I said, he's got a ton of talent. He's got the arm talent, but he's got a little bit of vinegar in his veins, too. And by that, you know, he's just, he's. He's not like, hey, I'm the quarterback. Look at me. He's a guy that's like, hey, I threw a Pick and I'm fixing up here and try to knock somebody down. And I think the other night in one of the picks, like, you couldn't see it real well because it was kind of a. Kind of a group of bodies, but I think he was one of the. Went over.

[Ryan Lemond]

He was.

[Dusty Bonner]

And you could see him. He was full speed, but he didn't make the play.

[Ryan Lemond]

But he was blocked by our own guy, thank God, his way.

[Dusty Bonner]

And so, like, to me, like, if I'm taking away anything from that game on Cutter, those are the two things is. Number one, he got. He took some shots and we got some sacked, what, six times? Yeah, he took some sh. And he got hit more than that, but he took some shots and he got right back up and he never really looked like he lost his composure. And so I think those are both really, really good signs for him. But again, talent wise, I think he's a guy that plays on Sundays. He's got that kind of arm, but I think he's got that attitude and that confidence. And like I said, I said vinegar in the veins is kind of the way to express it. He's just. He's a competitor, so I think he's got a bright future.

[Ryan Lemond]

Where are you on Cutter right now?

[Drew Franklin]

As you mentioned, him bouncing back after a play. I mean, he's got to bounce back after an UG Saturday and getting some criticism. You think he's got that. That switch where he can. I mean, of course it's Georgia and you're a big underdog, but can he at least put that behind him and try to put his best foot forward next Saturday?

[Dusty Bonner]

So I think those things that I just talked about, like, where he never looked, you know, sometimes you can see it in the guy's face when things are going that bad, where they just kind of like the moment's too big for him and it wasn't for him. So I think that that is like, answers to that question of, like. Yeah, I think. I don't think there's going to be any problem with that. But. But I will say this. You know, when you're playing and it was a completely different world when I was playing. I mean, like, you know, information you had to go look for. You had to go on the websites and stuff and look what people were saying about you. And we used to look at it, you know, you know, Nolan Devon, who was my center, he'd be like, hey, Bonner, guess what they're saying about you.

[Caller/Listener]

Don't.

[Dusty Bonner]

Don't tell me. I don't Want to know. But, you know, nowadays with the way social media is, I mean, these kids can't hide from it. Yeah, but you're right, like, listen, I don't, I don't care. I don't care if you're making money. I don't care if you're. If you're the best player on the team. That kind of stuff you say, hey, don't let it bother you. It bothers you.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sure does.

[Dusty Bonner]

You know, so that's part of it now, and it's more so than ever. But I don't. To me, he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that's going to get too bogged down. And I think he's going to be fine.

[Drew Franklin]

And right now, I think most fans are all behind me. And you can be disappointed in the game, there's a little bit of that. But people still want him to work out and be the future. Being local, they know the circumstances he was just put in. Yeah, he expected to have a. Probably a full year behind Calzada. Next thing you know, you're going, going to Columbia. So as far as the criticism he's getting, I think most fans are still behind him and kind of aware of the circumstances, even though they wanted it to go better.

[Dusty Bonner]

Listen, I mean, I think if you can frame it the right way, and I'm not trying to write off the rest of the season because we don't know what's going to happen, but, you know, to me, this year is about like, hey, let's get him some experience, let's build him, and then next year is kind of. Is kind of the year. I don't think that's a bad plan at all. And I think you got to shift. Maybe you're shifting your expectations as a fan a little bit, but to me, you know, I thought he was in a good spot sitting behind a quarterback, getting that because I didn't start and play until my third year. I was a red shirt sophomore. And having those two years, man, it helps out a lot, both physically and mentally.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sure.

[Dusty Bonner]

And so I don't think he was in a bad spot. But at the same time, you know, now that he's playing, I think you just, I think it's, you know, you just, you let him go out there and you realize there's going to be bumps in the road, there's going to be learning, but you're building towards something else. And I think that's the future, and I do think it's him.

[Ryan Lemond]

Drew, you and I both got tons of messages about fire Stoops. Now I need to have a clean, clean the house. They're not going to happen. They're not going to fire Stoops in the middle of the season. The buyout is just too big and I don't think Mitch Barnhart would do that to the program. What? How do you respond to all these people that want Stoops gone now?

[Drew Franklin]

Why? I hosted the postgame show and I think Billy could confirm. I think we batted a thousand on people wanting them out. Like not even me asking, just the calls. That's what they were saying.

[Ryan Lemond]

It was just about where are you on it?

[Drew Franklin]

Me personally, I don't see this getting any better. I mean I don't have a lot of faith. I don't think you fire the guy. Now I said this and it sounds like there's a lot of comparisons to basketball with football. You're not going to get that hard loss to a 15 seed in your season, which is obvious. Yeah, it's these gradual keep losing sec. There's not going to be a loss where you're just like oh that's cannot do it anymore like we had with Cal, with Oakland, St. Peters. But I'll admit I don't see him winning an SEC game the rest of the season. And I think you'll have to have that conversation now. Now if they were to do it, we all know it's like 38 million got to be paid in 60 days. You can't do that either. So when it gets to that point I think they'll have to come to an agreement. Stoops might have to look around and see that his legacy and what he wants to be and you'll have to come up with something. But you know, it's Matt always says no point in talk about I can't afford it. I really don't know how they would afford it if they wanted to do it right now. But the fans are definitely upset. As if anyone heard. Saturday night at 1am I want your.

[Ryan Lemond]

Thoughts on that too. We come back, we gotta take our break. Ryan, Drew Franklin, Sharon the Dude and Dusty Bonner, KS bar patio. Gotta talk about the Reds Ryder Cup. A lot of stuff to talk about yet. Don't go away. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. T.J. smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. he'll make him pay.

[Shannon Dawson]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones, Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sharing the dude and Dusty Bonner here on the playing Monday morning quarterback on ksr. And I got Dusty stop overpaying for sunglasses, would you? Are you tired of buying expensive sunglasses only to lose them or break them or worse. You never even wear them at all because you can't find them. Well, you don't want them to get dirty. You need Shady Rays Dusty Shady Rays Sunglasses. They're an independent American owned company that started right here in Kentucky. Shady Rays has premium polarized shades for every activity. Running, fishing, biking, watching bad football, you name it. From their tangle 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, all three of your kids Dusty can find their perfect pair at Shady Rays. Shady Rays offers the best protection program in the industry with lost and broken replacements. So take on your next adventure with the team that has your back. Shady Rays Sunglasses Alright. Drew said his thoughts about Mark Stoops, the buyout coaching change. I want to give you time to absorb it because I want to hear what you have to say about it.

[Dusty Bonner]

Well, I think, you know, first of all when you talk about, we talk about where do we go from here in the season and you talk about wheels falling off and this is a different world now like with transfer portal and everything that's going on. Like, you know, you got to keep your team together and when all those whispers are out there about your coach and all that sort of stuff is, you'll see teams generally do one or two things. They either come together as a team and they all stick together and they rally behind their coach or they don't. And so I think that's, that's kind of what you'll see in the future. And I expect him to rally around Stoops and you know, the whole Stoops conversation about trying to get rid of him or not, you know, at the end of the day I want to say this. You know, I think Mark Stoops has done as good of a job as anybody's ever done here as a head coach. It's fair through a period of time, totally fair. So I do think there's a, there's a, there is a, an amount of grace that he's probably, he's earned in my opinion. At the same time, I understand the fact that in the last couple years it's not going in the direction everybody wants it to go with. And I think, you know, particularly offensively, that's where we struggled and we've seen the turnover in offensive coordinators. And so I think something's going to have to happen. Whether it's this Offense comes alive under Bush Hampden, or there's going to have to be a big move made on the offensive coordinator side. That's what I think. And a big move. It's kind of a. Kind of. Kind of maybe like something like Florida State did with Miles on. And I'm not saying that they need to get rid of Hampden. I'm just saying because I'm like you. I'm not in the firing business, but I do think something's got to change there because the SEC has changed a lot. You know, and when Stoops was really doing well in winning here, there were a lot of teams that focused on let's run the ball and let's play defense. And we got really good at it. If you'd have told me, hey, we're going to be as good on the offensive and defensive lines as everybody else we played play, I'd have been like, that's not a great plan here. That's what he did.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Dusty Bonner]

You know, and so, you know, I think he's earned some grace there. But at the same time, I totally understand the fact, like, look, this world, and we all know it is. What have you done for me lately? You know, yesterday doesn't count. It's all about today and what you're giving me today. So, you know, and I think the other part of it, too, and I talked about this briefly in the break with you. You know, where are we at in the nil world? And I say this because I think that athletic directors are going to start being put more in the spotlight for every team where it's a. What are they doing in the nil world to make sure their coaches have the resources to get the players that they need. And if they don't, then it's going to shine back on them. And it should, because that's just the world that we're in right now. I don't love it. I don't love the whole nil world. I don't love, you know, all this stuff, but at the end of the day, that's where we're at. And it's like, you know, you got to have the money to go get the players. I don't love that. That's the way it is, but that's the way it is. And so where are we at there? When you're looking at the rest of the sec, where do we rank in that? I wish they would put outstandings every year in the SEC of nil nil money. Because. Because at the bottom, probably because at the end of the day, I guarantee you, I guarantee you it'll line up where you finish in the sec.

[Drew Franklin]

I completely agree. And they said they're not going to do it. I wish they would show how the revenue is split up because it's not fair to a coach if they're coaching and recruiting with one hand behind their back. Fans need to judge them and grade them kind of based on the scenario they're in. So I did wish we knew more about whenever you show up at a stadium, which side has the big bankroll, because you would. Your expectations would be a little different. And I would guess that in most games, Kentucky's is going to be a little lower. Now, I don't think that's an excuse to lose however many straight SEC games.

[Dusty Bonner]

But you look at that and you look at pro sports and that's really what this is all kind of turned into a little bit more than before. Yeah, you know, the GMs get looked at a lot, too. They get looked at a lot, too. So anytime there's dysfunctional team, they look at the coaches, they look at the GMs. And I think that's going to be a trend moving forward in college football where the GMs are going to be looked at. They're going to be looked at pretty harshly, too.

[Drew Franklin]

I look at GMs for the Titans because I want all of them fired, including the new one. I can name them all.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let me take your UK hats off for just a minute. You know, you're wearing a UK pullover Memorial Golf Tournament, so take your UK stuff off. If you tell me your current Coach has won three of their last 16 SEC games, they're lost their last four to South Carolina in a row. They're 16th out of 16 in the SEC. They're the worst team in the SEC right now. How can you be supportive? Because that's what a lot of fans are saying right now.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yeah, I think that's a fair argument and I totally understand it. I would say this, that I think, I think in the last. I think our defense has been good enough to win a lot more games than we've won. I think our offense is where we've struggled at Stoops as a defensive guy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Dusty Bonner]

And so I'm making the argument you asked me to make. Now the other part of it too is, and I had somebody mention this to me, you know, let's say, okay, you're going to fire Stoops and you're going to pay him 30 something million dollars. That's going to deplete whatever you that's supposed to be going into your nil. And so now we're in this world of college sports where it's like, if you really want to pay the buyout, that's fine, but where's the money going to come from the nil? Because you got to have that. Got to have it. And so, you know, the flip side of it is, hey, instead of us firing you and paying you $38 million, we're going to give you 10 million bucks next year for nil, and let's see what we can do with it. And I don't know how that works, but I'm just saying, in this world, you know, if you go out and you, I mean, look at Ole Miss, the quarterback they got from the D2 school that's doing so well. You go out and get the right player, you can make a huge difference. But. But again, I understand from a fan perspective, I understand, like, things got to change. Things got to get better one way or another, but they got to get better. That's. We all agree on that. It's just how you go about doing it.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't think they'll really fill it over here at the stadium until maybe the end of the year because the schedule bails them out a little bit. To actually see, you know, if we played Eastern Michigan in a week, I think you'd see a lot of bleachers. But you have Georgia, then you have, what, Tennessee and Texas. I think that'll be full, even if it's mostly orange and burnt orange. So you won't actually feel the fan disappointment until you have Florida later in the year. So they're bailed out a little bit. If you had a Toledo or Tennessee Tech or one of these games at noon coming up, I think the fans would be sending a message coming up very soon. But with those two being the games, Keeneland season people have already planned weekends around that. I think they're kind of lucky they won't actually feel it over at Kroger Field if it stays on this course till later in the year.

[Dusty Bonner]

That's a really good point.

[Ryan Lemond]

So how can they save it? How can they save the fan? Because basketball is coming up. People aren't going to switch to basketball. How do you save keep the fans interested in what's going on on the football field?

[Dusty Bonner]

I think you got to figure out you got to fix the offense because, you know, to that point, the fans are going to show up for these games. Hey, if you go out there, and you lose to Georgia 35, 28. But we're out there scoring points, and it's a great game that the fans are in. I think most of them are going to be happy about that. I think they're going to celebrate. And you got the fact like, hey, we got a young guy cutter. We're rolling with him. We're going to do some bumps and bruises, but we're growing him for the future. But I think at the end of the day, what they have to do. Offense got to start scoring some points and they gotta. And I think they gotta. They gotta do that through the air. And I don't. I don't know all the ways of how they're gonna do that, because I don't know what their system is, but I think they gotta. I think they gotta. The offense has to come alive, and I think if the offense does come alive and they can go out there and compete, I don't think it's. I think that's one of the more. One of the harder things for the fan base is that it's not that. It's not that we've lost some of these games against teams that are really tough. Is that how competitive were we in some of these games? And I think if we can go out there and compete and listen, you know, we used to say that in the mummy days, you know, we won six games a year and people were.

[Ryan Lemond]

Thrilled, having parties, naming streets after the man over there.

[Dusty Bonner]

But we could. But we could, you know, we might lose, but it'd be 40 to 45, you know, and that's a lot more fun for a fan in a Stadium than 28, 7.

[Drew Franklin]

And of all the teams to play next, I mean, you have played Georgia close, like peak Georgia. Well, you lose by one last year. I think they lost by two or three. Three years before or two years before that. You know, I don't know that I'll expect that this year. I mean, you got Georgia coming off a loss, which is unique. They're going to be dialed in loss at home.

[Ryan Lemond]

And now you got hosting us.

[Drew Franklin]

And I don't know that a moral victory could save anything right now, but it is.

[Ryan Lemond]

So. How do you say.

[Drew Franklin]

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

[Dusty Bonner]

For whatever reason, we've always played Georgia well. Yeah, that's just one of the teams we've played well. And at South Carolina, for whatever Reason that's not the team that we've played.

[Ryan Lemond]

We did, though, for so long. We won, like, was it eight out of nine? And now they've won the last four in a row.

[Drew Franklin]

Turnovers, flip that. And Stoops and Kirby are really close. Not that Kirby's gonna let up. You know, he's trying to win a national championship and they just lost. But that might play into it a little bit. Style of plays kind of similar. They're obviously a complete other level of talent, but if Kentucky can hang in, I'm in no way saying they're going to win, but at least play Georgia close like they have many times in the past when they were a big underdog. Maybe you can keep fans somewhat interested to see if Cutter can turn it around.

[Dusty Bonner]

Beyond that, I think you're. I think you hit the nail on the head when you talk about style of play with Georgia, because a lot of times when Georgia comes in here, it's in a colder month, the weather's not good, and they're just. They run the ball and play good defense, and once they get up by 14, they're just trying to get the game over with, you know, and so I think that style of play we match up really well with because that's what we try to do, is we try to run the ball and play good defense.

[Drew Franklin]

They're probably going to want to kill us after losing.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's what I'm afraid of.

[Drew Franklin]

Needed Georgia, probably when that is a Hornet.

[Ryan Lemond]

We walk in there on Saturday. You know, this is. I think it's the. The apathy is something that it's not just started. It's been going on for the last couple years. You know, they can't win an SEC home game. The. The Georgia game last year, they didn't go it on fourth down. The Missouri game was that three or four years ago. There's just kind of stuff's been kind of building through this apathy, and now it's all come to a head. That's why I wanted to ask you guys, how can they stop it? How can they save it? And I like what you said about, well, fix the offense, score some points, get us a little hopeful for Cutter as our future quarterback.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yeah, I mean, I think at this point, I mean, you got nothing to lose. You got to let it rip, you know, And I think that. But. But again, you know, how do they can. Can they. Can they do that? Can they pull it off where they can go, hey, you know what? We're going to go out there and score 35 points. That's just what we're going to do. We're going to let it rip and we're going to absolutely attack on offense. And you know, you can't completely get away from the run game because we're so good at it. But I mean I would, I would go out there and be like hey look, this is, you know, and you got to be careful too because as a coach you can't. I can say things on the radio that a coach can't say in the locker room. Like you can't say, hey look, this is about. We're going to go out here and we're just going to attack, we're going to score a bunch of points, we're going to get Cutter really ready for next year. Can't do that because the senior that's sitting there is going, wait a minute, what about me? You know, you can't say that and I don't think it's just that. But I think at this point what do you have to lose? And I think that's the way you, I mean you asked for the answer to the question of, you know, how can you get the fans to re engage and I think that's one way you can other than going out and winning a bunch of ball games.

[Drew Franklin]

I know not everybody watches the Titans. In fact you shouldn't. Maybe I'm the only one but there's so many comparisons with them every with Kentucky and the Titans and like this year I'm watching the Titans. We have a rookie quarterback people want to see we have for the future. Nobody knows we're not making the playoffs. Okay, third and four. Why don't we just go for it?

[Ryan Lemond]

Why not?

[Drew Franklin]

Let's see what we have. Let's have some fun. I feel the same way about Kentucky at this point you needed to beat Ole Miss or South Carolina to really want to get back to a bowl game. I think everyone can agree this isn't going to be some special season like they're going to flip a switch. So moving forward let's take some shots, let's gamble a little bit, let's see what we have. We're all on the same page. This doesn't look good right now. I know Stoopzz can't just abandon his philosophy and get reckless but let's play with a little aggression and see what we have. At least give Cutter few more opportunities to prove that he can be the guy on down the road. Maybe they will.

[Ryan Lemond]

We got one more segment with Dusty Bonner. He's been great so far. Breaking it down, playing Monday morning quarterback. I said you picked a heck of a Monday to come in, man. Debut coming in.

[Drew Franklin]

Let me do the postgame show Saturday. Yeah, that was my first ever post game show.

[Ryan Lemond]

First time ever. Perfect timing for Trudeau's first post game. Perfect time for you to come into your first ksr. All right, we'll take our final break. Come back. Our final say with Dusty Bonner. This is Kentucky sports radio.

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[Dusty Bonner]

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[Ryan Lemond]

Final segment, Dusty Bonner here on Kentucky Sports Radio. Ryan, Drew, Shannon and Dusty Drew, who's this segment sponsored by.

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Back to you, Ryan.

[Ryan Lemond]

We got some callers want to ask you some question, Dusty, so let's get to them real quick. Shannon, who we got first?

[Shannon Dawson]

All right, let's go to Mike.

[Ryan Lemond]

Mike, go ahead. You're on. Dusty Bonner.

[Dusty Bonner]

Good morning. I really don't have a question. This statement, two weeks to prepare and this is what we get.

[Caller/Listener]

We don't even really have a chance.

[Dusty Bonner]

To win the game. And then we look to compare to other schools. Stoops has got a foundation here. He's been here a while. Two years time. What Indiana has done and what little brother has done.

[Caller/Listener]

Are we being too harsh? I don't blame the quarterback.

[Ryan Lemond]

Appreciate it. Okay. Appreciate it. What do you think about that, Dusty?

[Dusty Bonner]

I mean, I understand that he's upset about it. I mean, I get it. I mean, he's got a point. It's not, it's not going in the right direction. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, and it's when other schools seem to be going right there.

[Dusty Bonner]

Seem to be. Yeah. And I think that makes it, that makes it even all the worse. And so I think it's at the end of the day, something, something has to change and it's, it's, we'll see. It's got to change, though.

[Ryan Lemond]

Shannon, who's next?

[Shannon Dawson]

Let's go to J.C. j.C. Go ahead.

[Caller/Listener]

J.C. hey, guys. Thanks. He forgot to mention Vanderbilt and Tulane and on.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's true. Other schools that turned it around pretty quick.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yep.

[Caller/Listener]

Right. I, I just don't understand something. You can look at them at several of them particular teams we just mentioned is they all, they have dual threat quarterbacks and I hit Stoops insistence on being a pro style offense being being a little Georgia ain't gonna work. I mean I, I just get sick and it's like we have a good defense take care of defense hiring exciting explosive offensive coordinator and let him do his job. It's like when mommy was coach is like oh my gosh, our offense is great. Just hire a defensive coordinator and let him do his job. I just get so frustrated. I appreciate.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay J.C. appreciate it.

[Dusty Bonner]

Thank you J.C. so, so one of the downsides or one of the knocks on like the mummy style air raid type offense and this is kind of throughout college football is that you know, it's great when it works and it's really bad for the defense when it doesn't. You know, when you go three and out and you put the defense out there, the defense is on the field the whole time. So a lot of these, you know, if you look at the, some of the bigger coaches in the sec like they really got away from that and they really went more to kind of the run game playing good defense. Now those schools have opened up their offenses more because they realized they had to. There came a point, I think Nick Saban kind of made some comments about this but you know, where you had to change the style of your offense because running the ball and scoring 21 points wasn't going to win. You couldn't. The, the offenses were so good, the defenses couldn't hold them to 21 points anymore. And so you do have to adjust. I don't think you have to go all the way to the Air Raid. Hey, I'm a big fan of the Air Raid. I like it a lot. Still got the hat. Yeah. And I mean, and again from a fan perspective, I mean, you know, if you're in every game you play, I think that's what a lot of the fans want. You know, they want to see that. But, but to the caller's point, I mean, you know it's. I think we've, we've been hopeful on the different offense coordinators that it was going to turn into something more than what it's been. But you know, it's something, something's got to get better. They got to figure something out and they know that. They don't need me to tell them that. But we've got to be able to pass you got to be able to do both. You got to be able to run the ball but you got to be able to pass the ball. You got at the end of the day in this, in today's sec you got to be, you got to be capable of scoring scoring 35 points to have a chance to win.

[Drew Franklin]

Most of your games will Levis's don't grow on trees but we saw how fun it was when you had a.

[Ryan Lemond]

Guy that could do they could do both.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Especially Wandell. There's any of those land around to we can God get more of those.

[Dusty Bonner]

Those don't hurt the one Dale's don't hurt.

[Drew Franklin]

You could get open.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let's get one more call before we go to the break. Shannon, who we got?

[Shannon Dawson]

Andy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Andy, you got about a minute.

[Caller/Listener]

Okay. It's all. If we finish three and nine which it seems very likely and Mitch does not pay the buyout and that seems very likely what does Mark Stoops do? I mean the schedule is going to get nothing but harder going to nine games next year. I mean how about for his mental health? Does he really want to stick around with the fan base that's checked out and has no faith in him for another year of this? I mean I think that's a realistic question.

[Ryan Lemond]

Appreciate it, Andy.

[Dusty Bonner]

Yeah, you know I think that's tough. I think you know that'd be hard as a head coach and it's kind of something that's been created with the way these buyouts are and the way nil is now is where maybe they stay longer than what they normally would have. But you know, again if it were me and this is not. I'm not taking a shot at anybody but if it were me and they were going to sign me back up for next year, we finished three and nine, they're going to sign me back up for next year. I'd probably go find that huge name offensive coordinator and then just recruit around that like crazy from quarterbacks and receivers and playmaker type guys. And then I'd look at the athletic director and I'd say I need some money, I need some help and I'm not going to be silent if I don't get it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Dude. Appreciate you coming in. You picked like I said a heck of a Monday to come in play Monday morning. Quarterback, good to have you on the airline. We miss you on the JMI pregame show. But you always did a great job with Christy Thomas and Jeremy Jarman. So appreciate you joining us on KSR this morning.

[Dusty Bonner]

Absolutely. Thanks.

[Ryan Lemond]

Alright, Dusty, Bonner, former UK quarterback playing Monday morning quarterback. We'll be back with Drew and Shannon right here on Kentucky Sports Radio.

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