Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) - Hour 2

Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Shannon the Dude, Drew Franklin
Location: Live at Country Boy Brewing, Georgetown, KY

Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) delivers the latest on University of Kentucky (UK) sports and current college athletics debates. The group discusses:

• New NCAA transfer portal rules and their impact
• The rapidly growing popularity of college volleyball, especially following UK’s game against Nebraska
• SEC Nation coverage drama stirred by Paul Finebaum
• UK football offensive coordinator criticisms and preview of the Ole Miss game
• Lighthearted banter about travel, snoring, and Michael Irvin’s “money move”
• KSR’s game picks and a rousing return of the Ryan Lemond Motivational Speech

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NCAA Transfer Portal Rule Changes

• Background & New Rules:

  • NCAA voted to narrow football transfer portal to a single January window (similar to basketball).
  • Previous “double-window” (post-season, post-spring practice) is now condensed.

• Show Reaction:

  • Hosts mostly approve, seeing it as a move to calm roster chaos.
  • Matt Jones notes playoff teams may face player distraction:

    “You got to do it before the semester starts.” (03:32)

  • Drew Franklin likens playoff teams’ burdens to pro teams getting late draft picks:

    “If the teams in the playoff have a little bit of a disadvantage... sorry, you got a little bit more to do.” (03:58)

  • Consensus that ultimate effects will become clear after one season.

• Wider System Shifts:

  • Matt Jones highlights momentum “shifting back” toward schools, away from “pro-player” chaos.
  • NIL deals facing stricter scrutiny.
  • Major concern over a Congressional bill (endorsed by Trump, written by Tommy Tuberville) granting NCAA antitrust exemption – fears it could make NCAA rules unchallengeable in court:

    “If that passes, it will be a massive loss for the players.” (06:04)

2. UK-Nebraska Breaks Volleyball Viewership Records

• Notable Stats:

  • UK-Nebraska regular season match becomes most-watched volleyball game ever: 1.2 million viewers.
  • More viewers than all but 7 CFB games week 1.

• Hosts’ Take:

  • Huge exposure boost for UK and the sport.
  • Ryan Lemond:

    “We led for two sets and were right there in it with the best team in the country.” (07:45)

  • Against Penn State next (on network TV) could break record again.

• Recruiting & Exposure:

  • Drew Franklin:

    “Just the fact that you’re playing top two teams within a week… both nationally televised… that’s huge for the program.” (08:35)

  • Scheduling lauded; Shannon the Dude:

    “Coach Skinner has done a great job in his scheduling… it’s played well into their success.” (09:12)

3. Paul Finebaum & SEC Nation "Snub"

• Paul Finebaum steers SEC Nation broadcast to Kansas-Missouri instead of Ole Miss-UK, “trash talking” for attention.
• Hosts’ Reactions:
  • Matt Jones:

    “Finebaum’s on thin ice with me anyway… now I’m more so to push him away… Who listens to Paul Finebaum?” (10:07)

  • Ryan Lemond:

    “Game Day is a different thing. Game Day is an experience… SEC Nation doesn’t move the needle for me at all.” (11:44)

  • General apathy toward SEC Nation’s importance compared to ESPN College GameDay.

4. UK Football - Offensive Coordinator Scrutiny

• Caller Dennis expresses zero confidence in Offensive Coordinator (OC) Bush Hamdan after 13 games.
• Matt Jones:
  • Calls upcoming game versus Lane Kiffin a key test:

    “We’re about to go play against one of the best offensive minds… Lane Kiffin… Bush Hamdan, I don’t understand.” (12:57)

• Play Calling Frustrations:
  • Ryan Lemond:

    “They can say [we’ll run more] but then they don’t even always execute that.” (13:46)

  • Drew gives OC partial pass for last year but says “this year, no excuses… over 1 on passing the test” (14:02)
• Outlook for Saturday:
  • If playbook remains as limited as in opener (“18 plays”), it could be brutal vs. Kiffin.

5. Game Picks & College Football Banter

(16:14–20:27)

• Iowa vs. Iowa State:
  • Most pick Iowa State.
• Baylor vs. SMU:
  • Baylor favored for emotional bounce-back; Matt: “They’re mad they got beat last week… Go Baylor.” (17:36)
• Oklahoma vs. Michigan:
  • Split; Drew picks Michigan for the upset, Matt confident in Oklahoma.
• Arizona State vs. Mississippi State:
  • Arizona State gets majority, but Shannon forecasts Mississippi State upset.
• Vandy vs. Virginia Tech:
  • Drew and Shannon on Vandy, Matt and Ryan on Virginia Tech.

6. UK–Ole Miss Preview; Defensive Analysis

• Caller Parker: “Stoops’ defense will win us the game.” (20:30)
• Hosts discuss “bend, don’t break” scheme and Lane Kiffin’s dislike for short-yardage grinds.
• Drew Franklin:

  “It can be annoying… they do hold up most years with that bend, don’t break mentality… Lane Kiffin gets impatient.” (22:20)

7. Country Boy Taproom Banter

• The Country Boy Brewing taproom praised for atmosphere.
• Favorite brews: Cougar Bait, Hazy Jumper, Shannon the Dude Brew.
• Ryan Lemond:

  “24 different beers… Awesome day to have all the fans here.” (23:32)

8. Fun & Off-Topic Moments

Notable Quotes and Moments

• "Pickleball" facility in Lexington is popular—“a lot of people out there going ding ding, ding, ding.” (01:47)
• Michael Irvin’s “Million Dollar Check Move”:
  • Irvin allegedly left a copy of his $1M signing bonus on his nightstand to impress—

    Shannon: “You don’t think I’ll leave a four-pack of Shannon the Big Crew on my nightstand after me?” (26:32)

  • Much laughter as hosts riff on money, women, and nightstand flexes.
• Snorkeling vs. Scuba Debate/Travel Talk:
  • Matt prepping for Africa—confuses “snorkeling” and “scuba.”
  • Long-haul flight tips (compression socks); jokes about airport fashion and “safari pants.”

Bill Belichick's Petty Ban on Patriots Scouts (27:55)

• North Carolina bans Patriots scouts from practice after Belichick supported forced resignation.
• Drew Franklin: “That is very petty.” (28:27)
• Matt Jones: “I absolutely would do it… If they fired me, I don’t want them around my people.” (29:12)

9. KSR Podcast Growth

• NFL Cover Zero podcast got national NFL Network scroll mention.
• Hosts excited and grateful for rapid rise in charts.

10. Parlay Picks of the Week

• Washington State -1.5 @ San Diego State (Shannon)
• Michigan State ML vs. Boston College (Drew)
• West Virginia ML @ Ohio (Matt)
• Illinois -2.5 @ Duke (Ryan)

11. UK–Ole Miss Predictions & Motivational Speech

• Predictions:
  • Shannon: UK wins 21-20, Dowdell MVP
  • Ryan: Ole Miss wins, “too much on the other side”
  • Drew: Ole Miss wins 27-17, but Calzada (UK) will show improvement
• Return of the Ryan Lemond Motivational Speech:
  • Matt/Jones lampoons Lane Kiffin:

    “Lane Kiffin always looks like he just smelled a fart. Don’t smell farts.” (41:48)
    “Lane Kiffin’s the guy who’d go to a dance and stuff socks down his pants. No stuff socks.” (41:58)

  • Epic humor and crowd response:

    “Motivated and I got a whole lot of money!” (42:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Portal Rules

• Matt Jones (06:04):
  "If that [NCAA antitrust] passes, it will be a massive loss for the players."

On Volleyball Viewership

• Drew Franklin (08:35):
  "Just the fact that you're playing top two Teams within a week of each other to start the season both nationally televised... that's huge for the program."

On SEC Nation

• Ryan Lemond (11:44):
  "Game day is a different thing now… SEC Nation doesn't move the needle for me at all."

On Offensive Play Calling

• Drew Franklin (14:02):
  "This year, no excuses and I think he's over one. On passing the test through week one, there's just a lot of the fans. Heck on your postgame show felt like every call where people just asking what the hell is even doing out there."

On Bill Belichick Ban

• Matt Jones (29:12):
  "I absolutely would do it. If they let me go and fired me I don't want them around my people."

On Michael Irvin's "Move"

• Shannon the Dude (26:32):
  "You don't think I'll leave a four pack of Shannon the Big Crew on my nightstand after me?"

Ryan Lemond Motivational Speech

• Matt Jones as Coach (41:28):
  "Undefeated... Whoopi freaking do. Who'd you beat? You beat Toledo. Toledo Lady Frickin da. Now, who's in that other locker room? Lane Kiffin. I hate Lane Kiffin..."
• ”Lane Kiffin always looks like he just smelled a fart. Don’t smell farts.” (41:48)
• ”Lane Kiffin’s the guy in high school who’d go to the dance and stick a roll of socks down his pants. No stuff socks.” (41:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NCAA Portal Rule Changes: 02:15–06:52
• Volleyball Viewership Record: 07:07–09:12
• Paul Finebaum/SEC Nation Sideline: 09:20–11:53
• Offensive Coordinator Criticism: 12:27–15:10
• Game Picks Segment: 16:14–20:27
• Defensive Preview: 20:30–22:44
• Offbeat/Irvin Banter: 25:57–27:47
• Belichick Ban: 27:55–29:32
• NFL Podcast Growth: 35:03–35:34
• KSR Parlay Picks: 37:44–39:45
• Game Prediction & Motivational Speech: 40:08–42:21

Final Notes

• Tone: Conversational, humorous, and passionate—classic KSR.
• Engagement: Mix of inside jokes, crowd rapport, and in-depth CFB debate.
• Structure: Alternates sports talk with lighthearted commentary and fan interaction, culminating in the beloved comedic motivational speech.
• For Listeners: A must for UK fans—well-rounded coverage with a blend of news, honest analysis, fan banter, and fun.

End of Summary—This episode captures KSR at its freewheeling, opinionated, and engaging best, blending UK athletics coverage with broader college sports debates and the signature personalities of its hosts.