KSR Hour 2 – October 15, 2025: Episode Summary

Overview

In this energetic episode of Kentucky Sports Radio, Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, and Shannon Dawson bring listeners the latest UK sports talk live from KS Bar. The crew covers the buzz around Kentucky basketball’s media day, SEC pre-season rankings, expectations for the Purdue exhibition, and UK football coaching debate. The episode features trademark banter, fan calls, and friendly jabs, all peppered with local flavor and plenty of blue-blooded optimism and humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Whimsical Military Rankings and Banter

[01:53–04:38]

• The crew riff on which branch of the U.S. military is the "toughest." Ryan, with Army pride, rates Army first—then after confused shuffling, revises to: Army, Marines, Air Force, then Navy.
• Shannon jokes about the Air Force’s “zero toughness,” with Drew and Matt pointing out Navy SEALs’ reputation and the existence of Space Force.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Shannon: “Air force is the Aiden Larose of the military. Zero toughness.” [04:10]

2. Kentucky Basketball Media Day – Culture Shift

[04:58–07:28]

• Mark Pope (coach), Jalen Lowe, and Otega Oweh were the UK representatives at SEC media day.
• All hammered the “number nine” theme, referencing the drive for UK’s ninth national title.
• Drew observes the cultural change after Calipari: “Now you go around the room, the answer every time is, we want number nine.” [05:46]
• Oweh's return to practice is a positive note for the team’s health and chemistry.
• Pope scheduled Purdue early to challenge the team: “He wants to see where we are now so we can see where we're going.” [07:01]

3. Scheduling Big Teams Early and the Purdue Matchup

[07:28–09:30]

• The hosts debate the impact of scheduling a major opponent like Purdue as an early-season exhibition.
• Anticipation among fans is sky-high, expectations on a win or loss likely exaggerated.
• “If we win, you will not be able to shut us up… we’ll be the most obnoxious fan base in sports.” – Drew [08:49]
• The tone is one of excitement and pride, with a realistic grasp on how Kentucky fans will react to both outcomes.

4. Frustration About Early Louisville Game and Game Timing

[09:38–10:34]

• Matt dislikes the historic rivalry with Louisville moving to so early in the season (Nov. 11), breaking tradition.
• Ryan and Drew agree, noting the change affects the season’s excitement curve.
• The Champions Classic is now scheduled as the fifth game rather than the opener, reflecting broader shifts in college basketball scheduling.

5. Air Force and Political Humor

[10:50–11:26]

• Listener challenges Matt’s ranking of Air Force, referencing Amy McGrath, which leads to playful shots at Kentucky’s political scene and election “spreads.”
• “Amy McGrath +9 is not a bet that you should... invest in.” – Matt [11:20]

6. Stoops’ Job Status & Fan Mood

[11:33–14:06]

• Callers steer discussion to UK football’s coach Mark Stoops and the possibility of hiring Jon Sumrall.
• The crew agree: last year, fans wanted Stoops out if Sumrall was in; this year, they just want change regardless of the next hire.
• Major frustration centers on the offense–UK hasn’t scored three touchdowns in a Power 4 game in over two years.
• Notable quote:
  • Drew: “Boring and losing is a tough combination.” [24:45]

7. Streaming Frustrations: SEC Network Plus

[14:11–16:53]

• Callers ask for help with SEC Network+, which confuses many older fans (and even the hosts).
• Matt clarifies: if you have SEC Network via cable or satellite, you can access SEC+. There are six games this year only on SEC+, prompting concerns about accessibility for many fans.

8. Correcting Military Trivia & Toughness

[19:09–20:27]

• Corrections: Amy McGrath is a Marine pilot, not Air Force. Army’s Delta Force is tougher than Navy SEALs, according to some listeners.
• Light banter ensues about Coast Guard and general military service toughness.

9. Coaches, Statues, & Legacies

[20:27–23:08]

• Matt comments on coaching legacy: “You can be great at something, and that doesn’t mean you should keep doing it forever.”
• “The day you start rewarding coaches for what they did in the past and not what they’re going to do in the future... is the day you start losing.” – Matt [22:13]
• The group agrees Stoops should, in time, be honored for his achievements, but it may be time to move on.

10. Entertainment Districts Near Kroger Field

[25:37–27:49]

• Matt expresses skepticism about the university investing in a restaurant/entertainment district near the stadium, pointing out its remote location and lack of foot traffic except on game days.
• Drew and Ryan agree, noting it’s unlike successful entertainment districts in other cities.

11. KSR vs. UK Coaches Basketball Game Fantasy

[28:14–31:54]

• The crew jokes about potentially playing the UK coaching staff in basketball. They debate who would make the KSR starting five from staff and friends, with self-deprecating humor about age, stamina, and experience.
• “The first team to cramp loses.” – Drew [30:13]
• “I’m gonna be doing hockey shifts, in and out.” – Matt [31:54]

12. Fan Calls: Meditation & Trivia

[32:00–33:59]

• A colorful caller, Matt, asks for World Series trivia, which the crew aces. The banter turns to Matt’s meditation habits and tales from safari vacations.

13. Football Big Blue Madness?

[34:39–35:30]

• Caller asks if UK football should have a “Big Blue Madness” style event. Hosts support the idea of a special pre-season fan event to boost excitement and engagement.

14. KSR Parlay Picks and Betting

[35:30–37:10]

• The hosts recap their KSR Parlay, highlighting Drew’s and Matt’s better gambling records, Ryan’s “lazy picks,” and office betting banter.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Air force is the Aiden Larose of the military. Zero toughness.” – Shannon Dawson [04:10]
• “Now you go around the room, the answer every time is, we want number nine.” – Drew Franklin [05:46]
• “If we win, you will not be able to shut us up… we’ll be the most obnoxious fan base in sports.” – Drew Franklin [08:49]
• “Boring and losing is a tough combination.” – Drew Franklin [24:45]
• “You can be great at something, and that doesn’t mean you should keep doing it forever.” – Matt Jones [21:53]
• “The day you start rewarding coaches for what they did in the past… is the day you start losing.” – Matt Jones [22:13]
• “The first team to cramp loses.” – Drew Franklin [30:13]
• “I’m gonna be doing hockey shifts, in and out.” – Matt Jones [31:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:05] – Show start, KS Bar food and drink specials
• [01:53] – Military branch “toughness” rankings debate
• [04:58] – SEC basketball media day recap: Pope, Oweh, Lowe
• [07:28] – Scheduling Purdue, expectations for early marquee matchups
• [09:38] – Early Kentucky-Louisville rivalry game, scheduling gripes
• [11:33] – Debate on Stoops’ coaching future, Sumrall rumors
• [14:11] – Explaining SEC Network Plus, streaming frustrations
• [19:09] – Military trivia corrections, Delta Force vs. Navy SEALs
• [20:27] – On coaching legacies, statues, and when to move on
• [25:37] – Entertainment district skepticism near Kroger Field
• [28:14] – KSR vs. UK coaching staff fantasy basketball game
• [32:00] – World Series trivia, fan meditation calls
• [34:39] – Should UK football have a Big Blue Madness–style event?
• [35:30] – KSR Parlay betting recap and office banter

Tone and Language

The episode features the familiar, upbeat, and witty banter KSR fans love: playful jabs, honest sports takes, heavy fan engagement, and local flavor. There’s a mix of serious sports debate, heartfelt tributes, and lots of self-effacing humor—anchored by Matt Jones’ sharp wit and Drew’s sardonic insights.

This summary captures the essence, pace, and key moments of the episode, providing a vivid picture for those who missed it or want a quick refresher of Kentucky Sports Radio Hour 2 from October 15, 2025.