Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) - Hour 1

Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Matt Jones, with Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude, and Billy Rutledge
Location: KS Bar and Grill, Lexington, KY

Overview

The KSR crew gathers at KS Bar and Grill for a wide-ranging first hour featuring light-hearted banter, Kentucky trivia, in-depth discussion on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) finances at UK, the college football coaching carousel, and some candid listener interactions. The show's mood is energetic and irreverent—the signature KSR blend of sports talk, Kentucky pride, and playful ribbing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. KY Trivia and Banter (00:50–12:52)

• Local Restaurant & Adam Sandler Show
  The episode opens with Matt Jones chatting about local restaurant recommendations and Adam Sandler’s show at Rupp Arena.

  • "They said the best restaurant there is called 'Our Best.' It’s a good name for a restaurant in a county." (00:50)
  • Discussion about Adam Sandler’s popularity, his wealth, and his down-to-earth fashion (“hoodies and shorts club”).
    • Matt: "He is a fellow member of the hoodie and shorts club." (03:09)

• On-Air UK Sports Trivia
  Matt quizzes Drew and Shannon with questions from the previous night's trivia event:

  • UK Basketball Transfers (Jamal Murray Era to COVID):

    • Matt lists the full eight—Johnny Juzang, Charles Matthews, Sasha Killeya-Jones, Marcus Lee, Jemarl Baker, Quade Green, Tai Wynyard, and Brad Calipari—with most answers proving stumpers for both co-hosts and regular trivia teams (04:11–06:57).
      • "Not one person out of 33 teams we had here got Brad Calipari." (06:34)

  • NCAA Programs with 2-3 National Championships:

    • Participants try to name the eight programs fitting the criteria, showcasing both their knowledge and the difficulty of recalling schools like San Francisco and Cincinnati (07:08–08:40).

  • 10 Richest Counties in Kentucky (Median Income):

    • Discussion about why some populous counties (e.g., Fayette, Jefferson) do not rank high, with emphasis on how median income is calculated and some local color about each county (08:40–11:18).
      • "Oldham county is the richest county in the state of Kentucky." (09:19)

  • The trivia segments highlight the camaraderie and the Kentucky-centric focus crucial to KSR’s personality.

2. UK Athletics NIL Spending & Revenue Share Breakdown (12:04–16:46)

• Highlights from Herald-Leader's NIL Coverage:

  • Matt applauds the paper's deep-dive into UK athlete compensation.

    • "I feel like I’ve gone four to five years without praising the Herald Leader three times, and I’m now going to do it for the third time this week." (12:04)

  • Basketball Spending:

    • Reported $22 million on men's basketball player compensation for 2025 (vs. $4M under Calipari’s last season, $10M for Pope’s previous squad).
    • "Kentucky might have the highest paid roster in the country."
    • Drew: "That 22 million is higher than I’ve heard. But I’m not going to say it’s crazy." (14:20)

  • SEC Rev Share Formula:

    • Most SEC schools allocate 75% football/15% basketball; Kentucky is at 65% football/25% basketball, which is unusual and puts extra emphasis on basketball.

  • Expectations & Implications:

    • Should fans expect more given UK's massive investment in basketball?
    • Would Stoops' job be affected by having a smaller share of rev compared to peers?

3. Billy Napier “Pre-Firing” & Coaching Carousel (20:18–22:57)

• Florida’s Coach on the Hot Seat:
  • Reports: Florida’s Billy Napier has been “pre-fired” (decision made, announcement pending).
    • Drew: "I feel like he’s been pre-fired for two years." (20:38)
    • Billy: "That's awkward. That's like when the coach is leaving and doesn't get to tell the players." (21:05)
  • Broader outlook:
    • Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina potentially joining the coaching search.
    • KSR ponders Kentucky’s position should UK need to compete for a new coach amidst widespread SEC openings.
      • "Not the best time for Kentucky to go shopping because there's going to be teams that have to get their fifth or sixth option." (21:52)

4. SEC Coaching Market Realities & Fan Call-In (22:57–24:33)

• UK’s Prospects for Luring a Big Name:
  • Matt: "We ain't going to get a big name over these schools. If Florida wants a big name, they'll get it more than we will." (22:56)
  • The caller, Clay, speculates (with technical issues on his end) about Texas possibly entering the market if Sarkisian falters, and highlights the potential impact of Indiana’s coach (Signetti) moving.
  • Call segues to basketball: potential for “Yelloc” (transfer) to be a wildcard at the 5 if he can adapt and defend.

5. National/Cultural Moments & Listener Participation (25:40–45:17)

• Pop Culture Interludes:

  • Reminiscing about Adam Sandler’s comedy albums and SNL bits—"Lunch Lady Land," Chris Farley tributes, and the era of comedy records/cassettes (24:43–25:23).

• Texas vs. Kentucky Football, SEC Pressure:

  • Anticipation for Texas fans coming to Lexington.
    • Matt: "We are three days from the game and there are already Texas fans landing here." (26:54)
  • Drew’s pessimistic forecast: "I think we might get shut out." (27:12)

• Coach Signetti at Indiana—Are They Now an 'Elite' Program?

  • Matt critiques IndyStar columnist Greg Doyle's assertion that Indiana is now an elite football school.
    • "What’s the definition of elite football school? If Indiana gets in it, seriously, are we an elite football [school]?" (28:28)
  • Parallels drawn to rising programs (Vandy, Mizzou), and how others' success ratchets pressure on Stoops.

6. NIL Funding—Football vs. Basketball Debate (33:40–37:32)

• Caller Confronts KSR on Football Funding:
  • Dennis implies Kentucky underfunds its football program (10% shortfall vs. SEC peers), impacting recruiting and on-field results.
    • Matt: "Do you think $2 million is what causes the coaching mistakes at the end of the first half ... why we have players going to the concession stand during games?" (34:13, 34:47)
  • The crew largely dismisses the funding gap as the primary problem; discipline/coaching decisions are identified as more pressing issues.
    • Drew: "Both went to halftime laughing at Kentucky ... That wasn’t because we’re 2 million behind. That’s because we’re dysfunctional." (37:22)

7. UK Football & Basketball Legacy News (44:05–45:17)

• Zadarius Smith Retirement:

  • Celebrating Stoops’ first big recruit, now retired from the NFL.
    • Drew: "I love Big Z. ... He panned out, had two great years with him here and been keeping up with him as NFL careers. ... The original Big Z." (44:05)

• Jamal Mashburn Joins TNT Sports' Basketball Studio Crew:

  • Mashburn to work with Jalen Rose and Bruce Pearl.
    • Drew: "And they got Weber. They got a big crew. I think that's a great crew. I wish our games were occasionally on there, but they won't be." (45:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Adam Sandler, Riches & Fashion:

  • Matt Jones: "He is a fellow member of the hoodie and shorts club." (03:09)

• On UK Athletics’ NIL Budget:

  • Matt: "They say that we are spending $22 million on our basketball program this year in players. ... They say Kentucky might have the highest paid roster in the country." (14:05–14:20)

• On Texas Football Fans Arriving Early:

  • Matt: "We are three days from the game and there are already Texas fans landing here." (26:54)
  • Drew: "I drive into downtown every morning ... and you can just see them walking the sidewalks, getting their coffees, coming out of the hotels." (27:00)

• On the Disparity in Football Revenue Share:

  • Matt: "Do you think $2 million is what causes the coaching mistakes at the end of the first half ... is $2 million why we make boneheaded decisions? ... why we have players going to the concession stand during games?" (34:13–34:47)

• On Listener Perceptions of Billy:

  • Matt: "I think you have grown more likable as the years have gone on ... Your on-air persona has become more likable over the last few years." (31:46)
  • Billy (self-deprecating): "Well, the pre-show made a thousand episodes, so we must be doing something." (31:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Local restaurant & Adam Sandler discussion | 00:50–03:36 | | UK trivia and sports banter | 03:36–12:52 | | NIL reporting & UK athletics finances | 12:04–16:46 | | Coaching carousel talk (Napier/SEC) | 20:18–22:57 | | Call-in segment on Signetti/Indiana | 22:57–24:33 | | Culture—Adam Sandler’s old albums | 24:43–25:40 | | Football, Texas fans, & SEC pressure | 26:18–28:01 | | NIL rev split debate with listeners | 33:40–37:32 | | UK/SEC legacy news (Big Z, Mashburn) | 44:05–45:17 |

Tone & Style

• Tone: Conversational, irreverent, Kentucky-proud, occasionally feisty
• Style: Rapid-fire and playful with local references, tangents, and a blend of sports analysis and humor

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This hour is a classic KSR blend: insider trivia, local flavor, sharp takes on NIL and coaching, and goofy sidetracks into pop culture and listener polling. The detailed breakdown of Kentucky’s NIL budget and its impact on athletic expectations is a must-listen for fans curious about how UK stacks up nationally. If you enjoy a fusion of UK sports info, candid caller banter, and spirited debate about what makes Kentucky unique, this episode delivers.