Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: October 13, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude

Episode Overview

This second hour of Kentucky Sports Radio dives into the latest UK football and basketball developments, with passionate debates about coaching culture, the Mark Stoops job situation, shifting college sports dynamics (NIL, transfer portal), and some lighter moments covering UK fandom. The hosts also weigh in on national sports stories (Kirby Smart controversy), discuss crypto market drama, and take multiple listener calls on Big Blue Madness, football program marketing, and potential coaching changes. The tone is lively, humorous, and opinionated throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Modern College Football Coaching Mindset

• Age vs. Adaptability:
  • Discussion opens with speculation on coaching hires, emphasizing that success is not about age but openness to change.
  • "If I heard in public in a press conference a coach bitch about the transfer portal and NIL, I wouldn't hire him." – Ryan ([01:20])
  • The crew critiques coaches like Mike Gundy and Dabo Swinney for complaining about new realities in NCAA sports.
  • John Calipari praised for prior adaptability but critiqued for resisting NIL and organizational changes:
    • "He used to be [ahead of the curve]. Then that was a change he was comfortable with. Then came changes he wasn't." – Matt ([03:05])

2. Kirby Smart Timeout Controversy

• Lying and Sportsmanship:
  • The group roasts Georgia's Kirby Smart for his transparent lie about calling a timeout, drawing parallels to televangelists and other “holier-than-thou” personalities.
    • “When people's natural personality trait is to lie, they forget their line. I believe that. They start to believe the lie themselves.” – Ryan ([05:25])
  • Criticism extends to officiating error and broader issues of sportsmanship.
    • "If you can lie to me that blatantly...I'll never trust another word Kirby Smart says." – Matt ([07:48])
  • Memorable moment: Shannon jokes, "Do you think we're all stupid, Kirby?" ([07:31])

3. Mark Stoops’ Job Security: Percent Chances & Scenarios

• All hosts give their percentage chances of Mark Stoops remaining UK football coach as of January 1st:
  • Matt & Drew: 10%
    • "I don't see how this team's going to win maybe one more game....It's too toxic." – Matt ([08:59])
  • Shannon: 40%
    • Contemplates a scenario where UK scrapes together five wins and the decision falls to the Athletic Director ([09:31])
  • Ryan: 25%
  • They detail scenarios, noting a "combustible train wreck" is possible if another blowout occurs, triggering fan and donor backlash.
  • The “five win” scenario is seen as the worst for decision-makers—awkward, uninspiring, and costly ([11:19]-[12:09]).

4. Program Marketing and Fan Connection Critics

• Fan Engagement Lacking for Football:
  • Callers and hosts compare vibrant basketball promotions to football’s lackluster outreach.
    • "They did everything they could have wrong. This is...part of the reason I'm not confident about the future, is they did everything wrong this offseason." – Ryan ([32:39])
    • Drew: "It's easier to want the team to lose or be disappointed when you don't even know the people under the helmet."
  • Inadequate fan days, lack of personal player stories; all contribute to diminished excitement and attachment.

5. Listener Call-Ins: Fans Share and Gripes

• Callers mention Big Blue Madness takeaways, bar staff shout-outs, and desire for better straws ("paper straws" become a recurring joke, leading to playful political banter).

6. Crypto Market Manipulation Story

• Insider Trading in Crypto:
  • Ryan relays that someone shorted crypto markets moments before a major Trump announcement, netting $192 million—sparking a debate on insider trading legality and lack of regulation.
    • "In 15 years if we don't do something with AI and crypto, our society is going to collapse because we were arguing about stupid stuff." – Ryan ([19:23])
  • Drew chimes in as a self-described "crypto nerd," describing similar past events.

7. Basketball: Big Blue Madness & Roster Depth

• Excitement for UK's deep, versatile basketball roster.
• Key player mentioned: Andrea (Yellow Vich) and potential roles; positive impressions but some skepticism about starting readiness ([22:00]-[23:45]).
• John Wall's return at Big Blue Madness is praised for its emotional resonance, especially after Wall's public mental health struggles ([31:17])
• Breaking news: Otega Away named SEC Preseason Player of the Year, yet receives little show attention; underscores program's recruiting/development strength ([37:59]-[38:58]).

8. The James Franklin (Penn State) Coaching Situation

• Debate on whether Franklin would be a fit at UK; hosts express strong doubts due to character and recent baggage ([26:51]-[27:46]).
• Noted widespread lack of respect for Franklin among media and peers.

9. Stoops’ Buyout and Coaching Transitions

• Detailed discussion of contractual buyouts, financial hurdles to firing Stoops, and why UK's situation is uniquely inflexible ([40:36]-[41:46]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you're complaining about a system that is not changing, gotta adapt. Then I'm not hiring [you]."
  – Ryan Lemond, on hiring coaches in the new era ([01:54])

• "That's one thing that made Calipari so successful. He was always a little ahead of the curve. But now he's not."
  – Matt & Ryan ([03:00])

• "When people's natural personality trait is to lie, they forget their line. I believe that. They start to believe the lie themselves.”
  – Ryan, on Kirby Smart ([05:25])

• “Do you think we're all stupid, Kirby?”
  – Shannon ([07:31])

• "I don't see how this team's going to win maybe one more game... It's too toxic."
  – Matt, on Stoops’ future ([08:59])

• "In 15 years if we don't do something with AI and crypto, our society is going to collapse because we were arguing about stupid stuff."
  – Ryan ([19:23])

• "It's easier to want the team to lose or be disappointed when you don't even know the people under the helmet."
  – Drew ([33:05])

• "Nobody likes paper straws."
  – Multiple, recurring theme for comic relief ([25:43])

• "Congratulations to [Otega Away], that's a kid who...when he came here, you would have never imagined that something that would happen."
  – Matt, on Otega Away winning preseason SEC POY ([38:58])

Key Timestamps

• 01:04-03:33 – Adaptation in coaching, NIL, transfer portal & Calipari’s attitude changes
• 04:46-08:14 – Kirby Smart timeout controversy, sportsmanship, officiating blunders
• 08:37-13:08 – Hosts predict Mark Stoops' job security, breakdown of scenarios and implications
• 17:31-20:55 – Crypto market manipulation, regulation debate
• 22:33-23:45 – UK basketball roster depth, Andrea Yellow Vich discussion
• 26:50-27:46 – James Franklin debate, coach respect in NCAA football
• 31:46 – John Wall’s Big Blue Madness return and its impact
• 32:39-33:58 – Fan engagement and football team’s off-field marketing missteps
• 37:59-38:58 – Breaking basketball news: SEC preseason honors
• 40:36-41:46 – Stoops’ buyout, financial details if he leaves

Overall Episode Tone & Takeaways

• The crew is candid, humorous, and at times frustrated.
• There is an undercurrent of exasperation about the state of UK football and national college athletics.
• They are skeptical of coaches who fail to adapt to changes in the game and critical of athletic administration indecision.
• Significant focus is placed on empowering fans to understand behind-the-scenes business and cultural issues impacting their teams.
• Listeners will come away with a well-rounded view of UK sports politics and a sense of the passionate, often heated, sports talk that defines KSR's community.

This summary delivers a comprehensive, timestamped guide to the episode for listeners and non-listeners alike, capturing the original tone, debate, and unique KSR banter.