Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1

Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode of KSR, minus regular host Matt Jones, sees Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin, and Shannon the Dude steering lively conversation about the UK (University of Kentucky) football team’s current woes, recapping some off-air hijinks, speculating about the future of coach Mark Stoops, and mixing in listener calls and central Kentucky color. With basketball season and key coaching interviews on the horizon, the hour feels both anxious and tradition-heavy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Off-Air Antics and Shannon's Man Cave

• The crew recounts their visit to Shannon’s home in Mount Washington, marking their first on-site show at his “man cave.”
  • Moped adventures: Ryan’s “badass” moped ride (“Women love a man on a motorcycle.” – Shannon, 06:17), causing neighbors to stir as he drove down the street singing "Born to Be Wild."
  • Backyard football: Spirals compared between Ryan, Shannon, Mario, and Billy, with Shannon claiming the best throw (06:48), and some good-natured ribbing about football prowess.
  • Pumpkin gifts: Shannon handed out pumpkins for Halloween carving, and Ryan put his on display for neighbor envy (08:55).

2. UK Football: State of the Program and Stoops’ Future

• Listener frustration is high due to the troubled offense and recent performance against South Carolina. Defensive prowess is acknowledged but rarely considered enough to rescue the season.
• Ryan relays the argument of a defensive-minded friend: Kentucky’s defense is still capable of keeping games close even if the offense struggles. (“This defense is still an elite defense that can still keep you in some games.” – Ryan, 10:08)
• Drew and Shannon remain skeptical (“I can get behind this being a good defense… I just, I don’t know if it’s good enough to go actually win a game for an offense that is quite the opposite.” – Drew, 11:42; “To me, the problem is the offense.” – Shannon, 12:32), noting that statistics on scoring under offensive coordinator Bush are damning.

Notable Segment:

Kentucky’s Defensive Hope

• [09:46]–[13:44]: The crew debates if good defense can salvage the season or if looming locker room issues, lack of touchdowns, and Georgia’s dominance make hope futile.

On Mark Stoops' Buyout:

• Multiple callers ask: Is it even possible to fire Stoops given the $38m buyout?
  • Both Ryan and Drew agree that Stoops is not likely to step down himself and that UK is contractually bound, likening the situation to a “hostage” scenario. (“He ain’t stepping down… 9 million a year and a 38 million dollar buyout, I’m not stepping down. Stoops is not stupid.” – Ryan, 21:59)
  • Alternative solutions like moving Stoops into an administrative role are floated but deemed unlikely unless Stoops agrees.

3. Fan Frustrations and Emotional Pulse

• The Aviation Glass Text Machine is cited as overwhelmingly negative, though Ryan shares one optimistic fan message as a “unicorn.” (“Negativity sells these days. Go cats.” – fan via text, 18:50)
• Listeners express concern that, absent a spark, the program risks sinking into irrelevance or necessitating costly leadership change.

Quotes:

• “He's starting to feel so eerily familiar to the end of the Cal era, where people slowly started turning against the guy that we idolized.” – Ryan, 32:02
• “A new football coach is much more important than this entertainment district around the stadium.” – Ryan, 32:44

4. Call-in Highlights

• Several callers vent about contract terms, coaching legacies, and whether administration would ever “pony up” for a buyout or court changes through the entertainment complex instead of football.
• A comedic moment occurs when a listener, Jake, tries to invite himself over to Shannon’s house. (“Have you ever known a bad Jake? Jakes are all good guys.” – Ryan, 33:55)
• Discussion also touches on recent local events, like Northern Lights sightings and curiosity over failed attempts to see the International Space Station.

5. Lexington Traditions and Nostalgia Game

• Drew quizzes Ryan on Lexington’s oldest continuously operating businesses, sparking nostalgia and local pride:
  • Notable mentions: Barney Miller, P-Rats, Columbia Steakhouse, Chevy Chase Inn, Transylvania University, Wheeler Pharmacy, Red Mile, Lexington Cemetery, Thoroughbred Restaurant.
  • “Wheeler Pharmacy… That group still gets together. Who all used to be in the Wheeler Pharmacy group?” – Drew, 47:56

6. Playoff Recaps and Cincinnati Reds

• The Reds' season ends abruptly with a short-lived playoff appearance. Reflection is tinged with resignation, including mention of their long postseason drought.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Moped Antics:
  “Riding this moped… I'm a badass. Women love a man on a motorcycle. And people are like, what is going on over there? What is this guy?”
  – Shannon the Dude, [06:17]

• On Stoops’ Buyout:
  “He ain’t stepping down… 9 million a year and a 38 million dollar buyout, I’m not stepping down. Stoops is not stupid.”
  – Ryan Lemon, [21:59]

• On Fans' Frustration:
  "He's starting to feel so eerily familiar to the end of the Cal era, where people slowly started turning against the guy that we idolized."
  – Ryan Lemon, [32:02]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [03:02–09:09] – Recap of Mount Washington man cave outing, moped story, football spirals, and pumpkins
• [09:09–13:44] – Deep dive into Kentucky football, defense vs. offense debate, and Stoops' future
• [18:29–22:05] – More fan reaction, reading texts, revisiting defense, and buyout implications
• [23:39–25:05] – Listener calls analyze Stoops’s play calling, future, and legacy
• [35:31–37:22] – Local color: International Space Station, pickleball outings
• [45:29–48:44] – Nostalgia quiz: Oldest Lexington businesses
• [48:53–50:04] – Callers respond to Arkansas’s coaching decisions, Kentucky’s future
• Throughout – Aviation Glass Text Machine readouts, reinforcing tone of fan pessimism

Tone & Atmosphere

• The episode captures a blend of frustration, resignation, nostalgia, and gallows humor. The hosts keep things light with personal stories but don’t shy away from honest assessments of the football program’s difficulties.
• Much of the language retains the hosts’ colloquial, self-deprecating style, illustrated by the ribbing about moped adventures, playful takes on contracts (“contract, was that like a Freudian slip?” – Shannon, 22:21), and call-in banter.

Memorable Moments

• Ryan’s Moped Escapade: Set the relaxed and humorous tone opening the show.
• Fan Message Unicorn: Illustrates dominant mood—rare optimism among widespread negativity.
• Nostalgia Game with Lexington’s Longest-running Businesses: Bridging community and KSR’s place in local culture.
• Caller Jake's Quest to Visit Shannon: Added levity to the hour.

Coming Up

• Teased future segments include an hour with EKU football coach Walt Wells and a call-in from Richie Farmer about UK basketball practice, signaling more of the blend between football anxiety and basketball anticipation.

Summary prepared for KSR Hour 1, October 2, 2025 – covering all core sports discussion, fan mood, show traditions, and natural KSR banter.