KSR Podcast – Hour 1 Summary

Episode Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon

Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) delivers Kentucky sports talk with Matt Jones and the crew sharing UK basketball and football updates, behind-the-scenes stories from recent events, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments, speculation surrounding Coach Mark Stoops’ future, and Kentucky campus happenings. The hour mixes analysis, storytelling, and light banter while reflecting the style and humor that fans expect from the show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pregame/Postgame Show Schedules & “Too Much Matt”

• Debate on Basketball Pregame Times: The hosts humorously debate when basketball pregame actually starts (02:00–02:35), poking fun at their collective aging memories.
• Matt's Broadcasting Marathon: Matt lists his upcoming radio commitments (including KSR, pre-/postgame shows, ESPN), joking it’s “a lot of Matt” for any listener, even by his standards.
  • “If you listen to me that whole time, then your wife has to hate you or your husband has to hate you. That’s too much me… even for me.” – Matt Jones (02:39)
• Delegating Shows: Matt suggests letting Billy handle future postgame shows, particularly for games likely to draw fan anger, noting the energetic fit (03:52–04:06).

2. Wendell Ford Lecture: VIP Treatment, Campus Security, and NIL Event

• Event Recap: Matt thanks listeners for attending the Wendell Ford Lecture about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and shares anecdotes about his VIP parking and dressing room.
• Unexpected Police Escort:
  • Matt recounts being nervously surprised when told a police officer would escort him to his car post-lecture due to potential political tension. Though grateful, he says the gesture made him more paranoid.
  • “Somebody gives you something to make you feel more comfortable. And I was completely comfortable. Then it almost switched it off.” – Matt Jones (07:18)
• Context: Increased security stems from heightened campus precaution after recent high-profile political events. (06:56–08:12)

3. NIL Revenue Sharing: Only 6 UK Sports Receive Payments

• Revelation from Mark Story: Only six UK sports get NIL revenue sharing: men’s basketball, football, women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball, and softball. This was fewer than hosts and listeners assumed. (09:56–10:10)
  • “The answer is six. They're giving it to men's basketball, men's football, women's basketball, baseball, volleyball and softball. And that’s it.” – Matt Jones (09:56)
• Louisville Comparison: Louisville gives NIL revenue to five sports, omitting softball. Kentucky is actually above average nationally for number of sports included (10:28–11:27).
• Why Only Six? Matt discusses the strategic allocation of NIL money, suggesting resources must be prioritized to stay competitive in revenue-generating sports (11:27–12:26).
  • “This is a socialist sport that has had to enter into capitalism… College sports has been socialism for 80 years… now having to become capitalist.” – Matt Jones (11:49)
• May Drop Further: Discussion of the possibility that the number could shrink to 3-4 sports as NIL economics evolve.
• Smaller Schools' Dilemma: Bellarmine (and likely others) opt out of NIL revenue sharing to retain larger athletic scholarships and support male enrollment (13:55–14:16).

4. Campus & Community Announcements

• Rupp Arena Postgame Party (16:02–17:13): After UK’s exhibition game vs. Purdue (6 PM), there’ll be a free postgame party downtown featuring country singer Cam Thompson. (Hosts try to guess his musical style, speculate he’s “bro country,” then find out he’s from Owensboro.)

5. Mark Stoops & the Virginia Tech Rumors

• Stoops Linked to VT: Virginia Tech’s main sports site names Mark Stoops as a “hot name” for their head coaching job (17:20).
  • “Kentucky fans heard that news after it was put out by KSR and reacted with, I think excitement is fair to say. There’s a little bit of jubilee.” – Matt Jones (17:20)
• Speculation on Source: Drew thinks Stoops’ agent may be quietly floating his name to other jobs, possibly as a backup plan (18:20–18:50).
  • “I took it as that might actually be happening behind the scenes on the Stoops in.” – Drew Franklin (18:53)
• Is the UK Job Better than VT?: The hosts debate which job is better—Kentucky in the SEC or Virginia Tech in the ACC (19:19–21:56).
  • “What makes you think Virginia Tech’s a better job than Kentucky?” – Matt Jones (19:19)
  • “We’re in the SEC. That’s a lot better than the ACC.” – Matt Jones (20:16)
  • Consensus: UK is a mid-tier SEC job; Virginia Tech has a better historical football brand but less revenue.
• Coaching Carousel: General consensus—many top jobs opening, so “hot candidate” types will be more in demand than Stoops (26:00–26:28).

6. Fan Q&A & Listener Calls

• Stadium Accessibility for Older Fans: Listener wonders if Rupp Arena can be made more accessible (23:06–23:39). Matt notes it’s a real problem for seniors, but expensive and unlikely to change soon.
• Can UK Use “Cause” to Fire Stoops? A text question clarifies that UK cannot invoke contract violations to fire Stoops for job-hunting, as past precedent (Texas A&M incident) waived that clause (39:11–39:18).
• Why Would VT Want Stoops?: A caller contends Stoops isn’t a real VT candidate given Shane Beamer’s ties, but Matt notes Beamer may be avoiding his dad’s legacy (39:35–40:27).
• Paying Coaches Minimal Salaries: A creative question raised—could schools pay fired coaches the minimum and let their former school’s buyout pay the balance? Matt says legally possible depending on contract wording, and it’s been done before. (40:27–41:08)
• Will Young Coaches Want UK if Stoops is Fired? Matt insists that, despite historical struggles, young, ambitious coaches (like Will Stein) would take Kentucky’s job opportunity.
  • “If Will Stein was offered this job, he would take it. I know for a fact.” – Matt Jones (41:43)
• Stoops’ Shelf Life: Matt believes Stoops “stayed too long” at UK, explaining most coaches have “about 10 years” before a program needs rebooting and innovation—something Stoops hasn’t done (42:30–44:09).

7. Football: Upcoming UK-Texas Game

• Weather as Factor: Listeners ask if forecasted rain (a “bluegrasser,” in jest) would help UK; Ryan thinks wet conditions would favor Kentucky’s running game against Texas’ strong defense. (36:28–36:57)
• Lexington’s Big Weekends: The next two weekends feature major events: Parents’ Weekend, Keeneland, UK-Texas, then the Purdue basketball game, more Keeneland, and Tennessee football. The hosts highlight the city’s lively atmosphere and lack of hotel rooms. (37:16–38:06)

8. Offbeat: NFL Kicker Anecdotes & “Nor'easters”

• Bears Win in the Rain: Matt discusses the previous night’s NFL game during a “nor’easter,” questioning what distinguishes it from other storms. General banter turns to the odd lives of NFL kickers—being hired, barely knowing teammates, or even being substitute teachers two weeks prior. (26:46–29:09)
  • “Kickers are so weird… in America, our youth are not practicing enough… stop trying to be quarterbacks, why would you not just teach them to be a kicker?” – Matt Jones (29:22, 29:46)

9. UK Basketball: Cohesion & Preseason SEC Player of the Year

• Familiarity with Pope’s System: A caller asks if returning players’ familiarity will translate into early dominance. Drew and Matt agree the team should gel more quickly, and that Mark Pope’s system fosters big sophomore leaps. (31:14–32:16)
• Otago's Accolade: Only one freshman (Ben Simmons) has ever been preseason SEC Player of the Year. UK’s own Terrence Jones, Oscar Tshiebwe, Aaron Harrison, and Patrick Patterson were previously named in the Cal era; but winning the award rarely matches preseason predictions. (32:27–34:54)
  • “While I’m excited about Otaga, the history of that award has not been great.” – Matt Jones (34:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Over-Broadcasting: “That’s just a lot of Matt. And by the end of that week… So I’m probably going to give the Tennessee football post game to Billy. Because Billy likes doing it and he’s angry at people.” – Matt Jones (03:42)
• On NIL Shifts: “College sports are socialists that are now having to become capitalist. They just are.” – Matt Jones (11:49)
• On Fan Investment: “There will be people… that will listen to every second of all your shows.” – Ryan Lemond (03:33)
• On Coach Stoops’ Tenure: “I think there is a shelf life for coaches, and you have to decide… Am I ready for number two? …If they don’t, that’s when things start to fall apart.” – Matt Jones (43:10)

Key Timestamps

• 00:35: Show opens, Matt and crew poke fun at aging and show prep schedules.
• 02:31: Breakdown of Matt’s busy broadcast schedule.
• 03:52: Discussion about Billy hosting angry postgame shows.
• 05:35: Matt details VIP treatment and unexpected police escort at NIL event.
• 09:56: Only six UK sports teams receive NIL revenue-sharing.
• 16:02: Announcement of free postgame party after Purdue game with Cam Thompson.
• 17:20: Mark Stoops named as a candidate for Virginia Tech by their top sports site.
• 23:06: Listener call about accessibility issues at Rupp Arena.
• 31:46: UK basketball returns—discussion about team coming together early.
• 32:27: Trivia on UK’s SEC Preseason Players of the Year.
• 36:28: Fan question on whether rainy weather will help UK vs. Texas.
• 39:11: Matt explains legal issues with trying to fire Stoops “for cause.”
• 42:30: Matt explains the “coaching shelf life” theory.

Summary

This KSR hour delivers UK sports news, behind-the-scenes stories, and lively discussion with Matt Jones and crew. They cover updates on game scheduling, the reality of NIL revenue sharing in college sports, rumors swirling around Coach Stoops, and community happenings in Lexington. Mix in listener calls, UK basketball optimism, and signature humor about everything from stadium accessibility to the lives of NFL kickers and you get the show’s signature accessible, locally flavored sports radio blend.

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