KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 1

Date: October 1, 2025
Location: Live from Shannon the Dude's man cave, Mount Washington, Kentucky
Hosts: Shannon the Dude, Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin
Overview:
In this episode of KSR, the crew goes on the road to broadcast their first-ever show from Shannon the Dude’s childhood home and newly christened man cave in Mount Washington. The hosts dive into small-town Kentucky life, personal anecdotes, listener calls, UK football struggles, and some lighthearted chaos, all with their trademark wit and Southern banter.

Main Themes

• KSR on the Road: The experience and stories from doing the show in Shannon’s man cave, a converted garage in Mount Washington.
• Life and Community in Mount Washington: Reminiscing about the town’s growth, neighbors, and local businesses.
• UK Football Woes: Breaking down Kentucky’s current season struggles, upcoming games, and coaching questions.
• Listener Interaction: Calls about UK sports, local pride, and even grilling mishaps.
• Memorable Offbeat Moments: Injuries, grease fires, Fazoli’s breadstick candles, and a mountain of foreign currency letters.

Detailed Breakdown & Key Moments

1. KSR’s First Show at Shannon's Man Cave (03:06–07:00)

• The crew enjoys donuts and chocolate milk at Shannon’s “garage bar.”
• Shannon shares how he repurposed his dad’s old garage for his man cave.
• Ryan refers to a previous failed donut eating contest at his own house, setting a playful tone.

Notable Quote:
“I love your place, man. It’s awesome in here.” — Ryan Lemon [04:31]

2. Garage Bar & Neighborhood Vibes (04:35–08:38)

• Shannon describes buying a real bar from The Twisted Cork in Lexington via Facebook Marketplace, the drama of almost losing it to another buyer, and assembling it with friends.
• The man cave attracts neighbors: “It’s like a garage bar in the neighborhood.”

Notable Quote:
“It’s almost like its own little sitcom. All the characters are the same that have been here since I was a kid.” — Shannon [22:56]

3. Games, Candles & Injuries: Man Cave Antics (07:03–09:43)

• Drew guesses what’s in the garage—jokes about a Fazoli’s breadstick “warmer”—and discovers Shannon actually has a Fazoli’s breadstick-scented candle.
• Billy injures himself before the show by pulling a vintage club from Shannon’s golf bag and stabbing himself on a sharp Vanderbilt logo.

Notable Moment:
“As he was pulling out this golf club, right above it is a metal Vanderbilt logo … he stabs himself and immediately starts bleeding all over my garage.” — Shannon [08:38]

4. Tech Fumbles & Accountability (09:51–11:22)

• Light ribbing as Ryan repeatedly forgets the A Vision Glass text machine (an iPhone used for reading texts from listeners) on past shows. Today, he finally has it.
• The text machine overflows with anti-Stoops messages.

5. Mount Washington Pride & Local Color (11:22–13:40)

• Discussion of notable athletes (Derek Willis, the Bullet East football champs) and everyday local institutions, painting a picture of small-town Kentucky life.
• Drew’s complaint about a Starbucks coffee leads to talk of local coffee shops, the brewery, and how Mount Washington’s grown from “nothing” to a quasi-suburb.

6. Classic KSR Storytelling: Yesterday’s Guests & Matt Jones Abroad (13:57–16:57)

• The crew fondly remembers yesterday’s show with Richie and Buck, their Kentucky basketball stories, rural childhood adventures, and their unique chemistry.
• Updates on Matt Jones’ South Africa trip. A listener worries after an actual safari elephant attack in the news, but the crew jokes Matt wouldn’t get close to calves (since “he hates babies”).

Notable Quote:
“I can’t just envision our boy Matt. Even if it’s glamping I can’t imagine Matt being in a tent.” — Shannon [16:27]

7. UK Football Panic: How to Fix the Team? (23:31–28:19)

Core Discussion:

• Kentucky is 2–2, entering a brutal schedule (Texas, Tennessee, Georgia).
• The group debates if the slow, “grind it out” Stoops style gives any upset hope vs. Georgia.
• Quarterback crisis: Recent ESPN rankings have UK QBs dead last in the Power Four.
• Lack of offensive firepower to recover from deficits (key to modern football).
• Running backs are the only reliable group; elsewhere, there are questions about the roster and coaching choices.

Notable Quotes:
“When Kentucky was down 28 to 10 at halftime, I thought it’s over. I didn’t think our offense had the firepower to come back from that type of deficit.” — Shannon [27:27]
“It’s weird when they say things like, ‘When we get behind, we’re just not a team that can come back.’ Why did you build a team that can’t come back from down 11?” — Drew Franklin [27:10]

8. Path to Bowl Eligibility? (28:19–28:43)

• Ryan, Shannon, and Drew try to piece together six wins from a tough remaining schedule.
• Consensus: Most optimistic fans hope for wins against Florida and Tennessee Tech.

9. Local Color: Neighborhood and Braves News (22:31–23:31 & 30:03–33:32)

• Shannon reminisces about his neighbors, including Ralph and Dorothy in their 90s, and local sports fandom.
• Breaking news for Braves fans: Brian Snitker out as manager after a disappointing season — Drew and Shannon reflect on Atlanta’s underperformance and Bobby Cox nostalgia.
• Reds are battered by the Dodgers; Ohtani and Teoscar both go deep.

10. Grease Fire Disaster at Ryan’s House (33:33–37:20)

• Ryan hosts a pool party for KS Bar staff, accidentally starts a grill grease fire, and (wrongly) throws water on it — “It worked!”
• Discussion about the right way to handle grill fires (don’t use water; use a fire extinguisher!) and joking about cleaning the grill pan.

Notable Moment:
“We had a Rick Pitino fire—it only lasted 15 seconds.” — Ryan Lemon [37:11] (joking about the infamous short Pitino incident)

11. SEC Allegiances Beyond Kentucky (37:20–39:46)

• Callers ask if the hosts have a second favorite SEC team; mostly they cheer for underdogs, with a slight fondness for Vandy (as a non-threat) or Ole Miss (Lane Kiffin).
• Ryan notes a family connection to Auburn.

12. Highlighting UK’s Tight Ends (40:00–42:44)

• Call from a listener noting that UK’s tight ends are leading the team, possibly due to coaching changes and former local player Cole Britain assisting.
• Drew and Ryan agree the tight ends have been a rare bright spot: “They might be the highlight of the season.”

13. Shannon’s Foreign Bills & Pumpkin Harvest (46:42–49:48)

• In a lighter segment, Shannon shows off his “international money collection”—a big stack of random bills mailed to his house.
• He’s also proud of his home-grown pumpkins, offering some to the crew and marveling at his 90-year-old neighbor’s active lifestyle.

14. End of Hour – Coaching Rumors & Stoops’ Future (49:49–51:09)

• A caller brings up unsubstantiated rumors about Mark Stoops; Shannon promptly shuts it down as hearsay.
• The crew discusses Stoops’ job security — consensus is three wins would lead to firing, four is borderline, and five is a tough conversation.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the man cave bar:
  “I got a U-Haul…had to take a shot in the dark, take a chance, drive all the way to Lexington. Then…another guy tried to come in and buy that bar from underneath me.” – Shannon [05:26]
• On small-town Kentucky:
  “Back then, when I was growing up, we didn’t have anything…now this basically turned into an extension of Louisville.” – Shannon [12:57]
• On UK’s football limitations:
  “It’s weird when…they say, ‘We’re just not a team that can come back.’ Why did you build a team that can’t come back from down 11?” – Drew [27:10]
• On the grease fire:
  “I went in, grabbed a big cup of water, put it out, no problem…You guys are telling me that’s the wrong thing to do.” – Ryan [34:21]

Important Timestamps

• 03:06 — Show kicks off from Shannon’s man cave; donut contest callbacks.
• 05:13 — Detailed story of acquiring the authentic Lexington bar for the garage.
• 07:08 — Discovery of Fazoli’s breadstick candle.
• 08:38 — Billy’s minor injury, stabbed by a Vanderbilt logo.
• 09:51 — Text machine accountability; anti-Stoops messages.
• 12:00 — Local athletes and Mount Washington pride.
• 13:57 — Recapping Richie and Buck’s memorable guest appearance (previous show).
• 16:51 — Jokes & worries about Matt Jones on safari in South Africa.
• 23:31 — Segment transitions to UK football’s current state/problems.
• 27:10 — Analysis of UK system and recruiting woes.
• 33:33 — Ryan’s grill grease fire story, grilling advice, and jokes.
• 37:20 — Call about “second” SEC teams.
• 40:00 — Mount Washington’s Cole Britain and UK’s effective tight ends.
• 46:42 — Shannon’s pumpkin and foreign bill collections; neighbor stories.
• 49:48 — Call about Stoops rumors and speculation on his future.

Engaging Moments & Takeaways

• Homegrown, hometown: The episode is loaded with nostalgia and Kentucky pride, from pumpkin harvests to stories about how a Dairy Queen sparked the town’s growth.
• UK Football concerns: The show pulls no punches on the state of UK football, with open critique, fan frustration, and realistic discussion about the program’s direction.
• Humor & Chemistry: The crew’s banter—over donuts, grilling disasters, and local gossip—keeps the show lively and connected to its Kentucky roots.
• Community Feel: Regulars, longtime neighbors, and listener calls give the episode a closeness unique to KSR, making it both sports talk and a slice of local life.

For Those Who Missed It:
This hour exemplifies KSR’s mix of Kentucky sports breakdowns, offbeat humor, and community storytelling. Whether covering Mark Stoops’ hot seat, the emotional ties of small-town Kentucky, or a ridiculous grease fire, the episode delivers laughs and insights for Wildcats fans and bluegrass locals alike.