Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2 Podcast Summary

Episode Date: September 29, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon T
Theme: Shifting from “gloom and doom” about Kentucky football to lighter, upbeat topics, discussions on the Cincinnati Reds' playoff run, KSR parlay success, fan culture, recent UK football woes, college sports coaching, and Kentucky sports’ challenges and moments of levity.

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In Hour 2, the KSR crew aims to bring positivity back to the air after a tough football weekend for UK fans, covering good news from other local sports, community events, fun viral moments, and listener discussions on the state of Kentucky football. The hosts break down the rare Reds’ playoff push, celebrate the KSR parlay’s success, and debate the Stoops coaching situation—peppered with humor, stories, and notable calls from KSR’s spirited fanbase.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Setting a Positive Tone: Reds in the Playoffs & Upcoming Events

• Matt Jones’ Absence:
  Matt, the usual host, is in South Africa and will return for the Friday show live from Shady Rays in Louisville. (03:47)
• Cincinnati Reds Playoff Run:
  • The Reds clinched a playoff spot, helped by the Mets’ collapse.
  • Matt’s journey: “The summer of Ellie turned into the fall of Ellie has now turned into playoff Ellie.” – Ryan Lemond [04:08]
  • Matt’s live reaction: Drew describes Matt learning the Reds clinched, whispering excitedly in a “glamping” tent in South Africa during a video call:

    “I can tell you he probably woke up some lions, some zebras and some fellow tourists.” – Drew Franklin [05:07]

  • The crew notes the Reds haven’t won a playoff series since 1995.
• KS Bar Specials:
  • For the playoff games (Tuesday–Thursday), KS Bar will offer the “Great American Burger” at a discount and a free side of fries for diners in Reds gear.
  • Matt plans to come straight to KS Bar from the airport if the series goes to Game 3 (Thursday). [07:50]
  • “You can wear your Reds gear, shirt, hat, hoodie pants, you get a free side of fries... you get a discount on the burger and you get a free side of fries.” – Ryan Lemond [07:23]

2. KSR Parlay Hits Again: Community Betting Fun

• The weekly KSR parlay cashed for the second time in five weeks.
• Some listeners “double dipped” thanks to Mario’s alternate picks—Oregon State and Kansas State both hit.
• Self-deprecating humor:

  “I barely watch [college football]. I just went with my gut.” – Mario (via Drew Franklin) [11:17]

• Looking ahead, Drew and Mario tease Matt needing to earn a spot on the parlay crew again.

3. Sports Fan Moments: Ryder Cup & UK Football

• Ryder Cup Recap:
  • Ryan admits watching because of the US’s comeback.
  • Drew reflects on the US team’s poor showing and American fans’ unruly behavior:

    “Somebody threw a drink and hit Rory’s wife in the head... Rory even backed off his ball one time and yelled, ‘Will y’all shut the BLEEP up.’” – Drew Franklin [13:23]

• Football Chaos & Humor:
  • Seth McGowan accidentally hits South Carolina QB Lenora Sellers’s grandfather with a football, issues a public apology. [14:09]
  • TV mix-ups: Multiple hosts joke about ESPN switching from football to professional pillow fighting mid-game. [15:00]
  • Tom Hart, broadcaster, wove in numerous KSR “isms”/inside jokes into UK game commentary: “If you know, you know.” [16:20]

4. Stoops, Coaching Tenure, and Call-In Debates

• Caller Segment: Stoops Critique
  • Heartfelt Call: One fan relays his ill father’s gallows humor:

    “‘When I die, I want you to see if you can get Mark Stoops to be one of the pallbearers at my funeral so he can let me down one last time.’” – Phillip [24:04]

  • Hosts note that calls for Stoops’s firing won’t go away as UK’s on-field struggles persist.
  • Drew: “Not winning a home SEC game in a couple years, that’s not a one-year blip.” [25:09]
• Comparisons to Calipari Era:
  The crew notes Stoops’s tenure is feeling stale, similar to Calipari’s closing years—a lack of candidness and growing sense of stagnation.
• SEC Coaching Carousel:
  • Arkansas fires Sam Pittman, makes Bobby Petrino interim HC. Shannon notes Petrino’s underwhelming record but low buyout makes the move feasible, compared to UK’s much larger buyout for Stoops. [26:52]

5. College Football in an NIL Era

• A caller argues lack of top player spending is the real issue for UK football’s struggles.
  Drew counters: “Money has nothing to do with the problems they have right now.” [32:25]
• QB Recruiting:
  Discussing successive swings (and misses) at the quarterback position and the difficulty of unearthing a “program changer.” [33:09]
• “You have to have a coach that can go out and find the Pavias.” (Referring to Vandy’s new star QB as proof schools behind the curve can still hit big in the transfer market.) – Drew Franklin [32:49]

6. Kentucky as a Basketball School & Program Expectations

• Callers and hosts weigh in on whether UK should recalibrate expectations:

  “Kentucky’s a basketball school. Their football program, if they can go 6–6 and get into a bowl game occasionally, that’s great.” – Bubba [33:35]

• Parallels drawn to the end of Calipari’s run: stagnation, media disengagement, and loss of excitement.
• Frustrations, but acknowledgment of Stoops lifting UK from the depths: “He got us out of the gutter.” [34:29]

7. Lighter Moments & Listener Favorites

• Sean Alexander’s Large Family:
  News that former Kentucky RB Sean Alexander and wife are expecting their 14th child. The guys joke about family logistics and parenthood. [38:08]
• Bad Bunny Announced as Super Bowl Halftime Performer:
  The crew riffs on not knowing his music, but acknowledging his streaming dominance. [21:59]
• Shoutout:
  Video producer Steven Peake’s wedding—brief moment of team camaraderie and good wishes. [30:01]
• Closing Calls:
  Encouragement for patience with young QB Cutter Bowley; debate over bringing in up-and-coming offensive minds; snark at Louisville basketball’s supposed "point guard U" status. [47:52][44:53]

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• “You can wear your Reds gear... you get a discount on the burger and you get a free side of fries.”
  – Ryan Lemond [07:23]

• “When I die, I want you to see if you can get Mark Stoops to be one of the pallbearers... so he can let me down one last time.”
  – Caller Phillip [24:04]

• “If you know, you know. If you don’t, you don’t.”
  – Drew Franklin on Tom Hart’s KSR lingo during broadcasts [17:25]

• “Kentucky’s a basketball school. Their football program, if they can go 6–6 and get into a bowl game occasionally, that’s great.”
  – Caller Bubba [33:35]

• “That's looney.”
  – Drew Franklin on Arkansas rehiring Petrino [26:44]

• “Maybe you’re helping one and you see chaos on the other side of the house. You just can’t help. There’s enough to figure it out.”
  – Drew Franklin on parenting 14 kids [39:04]

TIMESTAMPS – IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• 03:36: Opening: Announcing intent for positivity, Matt’s return plan, and Reds playoff push
• 07:00: KS Bar Specials for Reds playoff games
• 10:00: KSR Parlay success recap and Mario’s picks
• 11:55: Ryder Cup finish, fan behavior, and TV anecdotes
• 15:15: Sports TV chaos, pillow fighting hijinks
• 16:09: Tom Hart’s “KSRisms” on the UK broadcast
• 24:01: Emotional caller Phillip, Stoops “let me down” joke
• 26:11: Arkansas’ coaching move, Petrino’s return
• 32:06: Debates on UK football’s resources, money, and recruiting
• 33:35: UK as “basketball school” debate
• 38:08: Sean Alexander expecting his 14th child
• 44:53: Tay Kenny picks Kansas, Louisville recruiting jabs
• 47:17: Patience with Cutter Bowley, QB hopes
• 50:16: NIL and impacts on UK basketball

CONCLUSION

The episode blends classic KSR banter, UK football therapy, community engagement, and lighter moments, managing to foster a sense of Kentucky sports camaraderie in challenging times. Despite the team’s struggles, fans are encouraged to celebrate small wins, support their local teams and businesses, and keep the faith (but maybe not get too crazy with optimism).

Upcoming Shows:

• Friday Remote at Shady Rays in Louisville for Matt Jones's return
• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday: KS Bar Reds playoff specials
• Special guests (tomorrow): Richie Farmer & Buck Stivers

Next Steps for Fans:

• Wear Reds gear, enjoy discounted burgers and free fries at KS Bar
• Tune in for ongoing Stoops/football discussions and parlay picks
• Call in and be part of the conversation—positivity (and humor) encouraged