Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) - Hour 1

Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Matt Jones, with Shannon, Drew, and other KSR crew
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a new week following a packed UK sports weekend, focusing on:

• A lively deep-dive into Kentucky Basketball’s 2025 Big Blue Madness and Fan Fest
• Reactions to Penn State firing James Franklin and the broader college football landscape
• UK football coaching speculation and the evolving nature of college athletics
• Notable moments, including wrestler retirements, viral TikTok trends, and pop-culture asides

The tone, as always, is candid, playful, and passionate—heavy on personal anecdotes and fan connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Weekend Recaps & Event Hosting

[00:35-02:37]

• Drew’s Wedding in Colorado: Drew was a groomsman; the group jokes about wedding attire and post-travel exhaustion.
• Matt’s Hosting at the Ford Center (UK NIL Panel):
  "I'm not the star of the show. There are other people there. I just have to introduce them and then get them to talk to each other… I have to do some research… supposed to give [a] 7 to 8 minute summary to start of the transition from amateurism to NIL. It’s kind of hard." (Matt Jones, 02:19–02:54)
• Panel includes NCAA officials, athlete representatives, and Mark Story (Herald-Leader). The panel is publicly accessible at UK's Singletary Center.

2. Big Blue Madness & Fan Fest: Best in Years

[03:44–13:40]

• Matt’s Praise for Big Blue Madness:
  "This is, in my opinion, one of the best Big Blue Madnesses in many years… this one gives us a bunch of moments that people will remember." (Matt Jones, 04:46–04:51)

• Three planned highlights, only one succeeded:

  • John Wall’s Return—the showstopper, despite logistical uncertainty until hours before.
  • Horse Entrance—planned (referencing Wall’s original entrance) but nixed due to logistical issues.

• John Wall’s Entrance & Icon Status:

  • "Even though he only did this [dance] twice, I still thought it was great… you’re recreating the best thing that’s happened at Big Blue Madness." (Matt, 06:26–06:54)
  • On Wall as the "face" of Kentucky Basketball: "I kind of think it's John Wall now… even though Anthony Davis was better… I still think it’s kind of John Wall, isn’t it?" (Matt, 08:01–08:09)
  • Drew: "People think John Wall and the University. No one thinks the Wizards." (08:21–08:24)

• Trent Noah, Jordan Smith & “Never Leave Harlan Alive”:

  • Emotional moment as Jordan Smith (from Harlan, notable singing show contestant) delivers heartfelt performance for Noah’s introduction.
  • "I got chili bumps during that." (Shannon, 08:57)
  • "It felt like a real, day-long celebration of UK fandom, which is what you want." (Matt, 09:34–09:49)

• Fan Fest Highlights:

  • "You had Billy from True Blue Customs at a station painting shoes, Pope going over game film for 30 straight minutes, Aaron Kaiser painting, play one-on-one with Khalil Whitney… they considered just about everything." (Drew, 09:49–10:15)
  • "NBA people and actual entertainers did in-arena stuff… hint: get people who do that to do it. It worked!" (Matt, 10:34–11:12)

• New Intro Video & Mark Pope’s Emphasis on History:

  • "Pope’s got a little bit of everything… that video, it shows players watching moments from the past. That’s cool." (Matt, 12:24–12:45)
  • Drew: "On stuff like that with Kentucky basketball, the sappier the music, the better." (13:40–13:45)

• Appreciation for Free Fan Access:

  • "The mere fact that they did it, everyone should praise. In 2025, where there's just money, money, money in college sports, to have a completely free event that rewards the people that get there earliest… the UK basketball people deserve all the credit in the world for doing that." (Matt, 15:19–15:38)

3. TikTok Trends & Generational Gaps

[16:57–18:31]

• Jasper Johnson and the “67” Trend (TikTok): KSR crew humorously confesses cluelessness about trends their own athletes help popularize.

4. John Wall—Most Fun Year Ever?

[18:31–19:10]

• “That was the greatest rock star year ever [2009-10]… if you’re just talking fun, they’ll never be a year as fun as that one.” (Matt, 18:31–18:51)
• Callers and hosts marvel at the impact and culture-shifting presence of Wall’s team.

5. Fan Fest—More Details

[19:10–20:28]

• Mario recaps tattoo giveaways: over 60 fans got tattoos (UK logos, state outlines, even an “L’s Down”). Kenny Brooks autograph tattoo and interactive games on-court with former players. An entire “media row” gave access to up-and-coming UK podcast creators—a major stride in transparency and community.

6. UK Basketball—Roster Impressions

[21:08–21:43]

• Positive takeaways from pre-season:
  • "This is a team that can shoot… Trent Noah may be the best shooter I’ve seen in my lifetime. The dude just doesn’t miss." (Shannon, 21:19–21:26)
  • Playful debate over the word "hyperbole".

7. Football: James Franklin Firing & Stoops Speculation

[22:10–29:19]

• Immediate reaction to Penn State firing:

  • "It’s going to be a $50 million buyout—the second highest ever paid… the conversation immediately goes to Stoops, obviously." (Matt, 24:15–25:38)
  • Matt criticizes Mitch Barnhart (UK’s AD) for contract structures where buyouts are due up front:
    "Having two contracts with top coaches where we had to pay the buyout within a month was a massive disaster. He deserves a lot of criticism for that." (Matt, 25:15–25:38)
  • UK’s next coaching search would compete with higher-profile jobs; difficult timing for transitions.

• Caller Discussion: Should UK’s Next Coach Be a "Builder"?

  • "Our next candidate has to be somebody who’s done more with less rather than less with more." (Caller, 22:33)
  • Matt: "I don’t want James Franklin… Plus, why would you want to get a guy who you’re paying your buyout and you’re paying Penn State’s buyout?" (23:00–23:14)

8. UK Football’s Place in the New Era

[36:16–40:37]

• Deep dive on college football’s systemic change:
  • "There are these moments where college football makes changes, and the programs that develop move forward and the ones that don’t go away… We’re in one of those moments right now." (Matt, 37:04–37:44)
  • "This is not the time we can have a coach that’s not… ready for the new era." (Matt, 38:19–38:41)
  • "We are basically industrial barons… we own a Polaroid factory as the iPhone’s coming out." (Matt, 39:36–39:59)
  • Calls for adaptive, younger coaching talent—current top programs led by "new way" coaches.

9. Humorous & Memorable Moments

• Matt’s Ongoing Obsession with “Vaseline Guy” (Peter Thiel)
  • Extended comic bit on Thiel’s shiny appearance, his AI power, and whether he is "a human" (31:52–34:34)
• Wrestling Analogy
  • Discussion about the Dudley Boys’ retirement: "Maybe Mark [Stoops] will do that at the Louisville game—just take his boots off and hand them to Vince after we beat him." (Matt, 42:05–42:14)
• Sartorial and Social Media Commentary
  • "I just can’t do it… videos like they’re the guest of honor everywhere they go… just take yourself a little less seriously, please." (Matt on Keeneland Instagram culture, 23:49–24:15)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On John Wall at Madness:
  "The moment Ice Cream Paint Job plays, you can just hear the crowd get excited… even though he only did this [dance] twice, I still thought it was great."
  — Matt Jones, 06:07–06:26

• On Big Blue Madness Feeling Renewed:
  "It felt like a real, day-long celebration of UK fandom… I'm a complete and total sucker for putting old UK highlights. To me, yeah, I’m just a sucker. You can put any song, you just start showing and… that stuff brings me to tears every single time."
  — Matt Jones, 09:34–13:40

• On Stoops & the Football Coaching Future:
  "This is the worst time you could have a coach falter. More importantly, we have to have a coach that’s ready for the new era."
  — Matt Jones, 38:41

• On College Football’s Changing Landscape:
  "We are basically industrial barons… we own a Polaroid factory as the iPhone’s coming out."
  — Matt Jones, 39:36

Chapter Timestamps

• 00:35 – 03:13 | Personal Recaps, Upcoming Hosting Duties
• 03:44 – 14:14 | Big Blue Madness Review & Nostalgia
• 14:14 – 16:57 | Emotional Connections to Kentucky Hoops Moments
• 16:57 – 18:31 | TikTok Trends & Generational Banter
• 18:31 – 21:08 | John Wall’s Legacy from 2010
• 19:10 – 21:43 | Detailed Fan Fest Recap
• 21:43 – 23:32 | UK Basketball Roster Takes, Football Coaching Speculation Begins
• 24:15 – 29:19 | James Franklin Firing & Football Buyout Talk
• 36:16 – 40:37 | College Football Revolution—Kentucky’s Next Step?
• 41:17 – 43:52 | Wrestling Retirement Analogies & Stoops’ Future

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode delivers the KSR crew at their best—equal parts deeply informed UK sports analysis and fan-driven humor. If you’re interested in why Big Blue Madness felt special again, who "owns" Kentucky basketball history, or how the coming era of college football will change which programs thrive, this discussion covers it all with authenticity.

The hosts don’t shy from hard questions about football buyouts and coaching futures, but they also don’t pass up the chance to laugh at wrestling retirements or social media clichés.

Essential takeaway:
UK Basketball’s new regime is drawing on tradition to reconnect the fan base, while the football program appears at a crossroads—caught between cash-strapped legacy contracts and the need to modernize, all as the college football world pivots rapidly into a new era.

If you love UK sports, college athletics, or just wry Kentucky humor, it's a can’t-miss hour.