Kentucky Sports Radio - Hour 2 (November 4, 2025)

Podcast: KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio, iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790/WKRD-AM)
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude
Date: 2025-11-04
Episode Focus: UK vs. Nicholls State basketball, UK sports news, a debate over pregame show personalities, fun audience interactions, and side discussions about food and other news.

Episode Overview

Hour two of the KSR episode centers around the Kentucky vs. Nicholls State basketball game, with the hosts providing background on Nicholls and Thibodaux, Louisiana, the site housing the university. The guys share trivia, discuss local and national news, do a deep dive into a quirky ongoing UK pregame show beef, take listener calls, and end with a lively tickets giveaway via a joke contest.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Nicholls State & Thibodaux, Louisiana

[01:35 – 06:17]

• Matt delivers trivia about Nicholls and Thibodaux, Louisiana ("It's been referenced in a number of country songs..." - Matt, 02:38).
• Nicholls hosts the famed Manning Passing Academy since 2005; no one on-air is quite sure why it landed there.
• It is the sole Louisiana university offering a four-year culinary degree ("You could actually just go get a degree in gumbo and cooking jambalaya" - Drew, 05:09).
• Basketball note: Nicholls has a new player, Nick Crass, previously with Billy Gillespie at Tarleton, and "they beat LSU last season," which the crew finds slightly concerning (05:57–06:17).

2. Craig Skinner’s Volleyball Press Conference Stunt

[06:17 – 07:41]

• UK volleyball coach Craig Skinner's charismatic move: he "stood up on a table, held his arms out, and begged the UK fan base to pack Memorial Coliseum for their game Sunday against Tennessee" (Matt, 06:37).
• The panel loves the energy and creative stunts to drum up volleyball support.
• "I don't just like it, Shannon. I love it. We wouldn't have talked about his press conference otherwise, right?" (Matt, 07:06).

3. Election Day, NYC Mayoral Race, and Wild Candidates

[07:41 – 12:07]

• On Election Day, the hosts confirm there's no major election activity in Kentucky, then breakdown the New York City mayoral race.
• Matt tells the wild backstory of GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa, the red-beret-wearing founder of the Guardian Angels, known for subway vigilante work and a Mafia assassination attempt:
  • "He had a radio show, and he would talk trash about the Mafia... They wanted to kill him ... And then they shot him. He jumps out of the window of the cab at 45 miles an hour and rolls down the road and gets away. Crazy story." ([10:15–11:21])
• They marvel over how political candidates' profiles have evolved ("Times have changed a little bit" – Drew, 12:18).

4. News Brief: Dick Cheney’s Death

[12:07 – 13:05]

• Dick Cheney, former Vice President, has passed away. The hosts reminisce about his reputation for being "the most powerful vice president in the history of America" (Matt, 12:28), and, with characteristic levity, recall the infamous hunting accident:
  • "Unfortunately for me, my one memory is then he accidentally shoots somebody on a hunting trip one time." (Ryan, 12:52)

5. Listener Calls: Cameron Mills vs. Dave Baker Pregame Show Debate

[13:18 – 21:00]

• Caller Peggy complains that Cameron Mills is "so rude to Dave Baker" on pregame, interrupts, and is disrespectful.
• Matt and the crew reflect—some see it as part of the act, with "chemistry or do they really think, oh, here, I gotta go sit down with him" (Drew, 15:19). Ryan confirms, "They 100% like each other. It's just part of the act" (15:34).
• The discussion sparks a flood of texts from listeners, pro-Baker, anti-Cameron, and some defending the current dynamic:
  • "It sounds like these people have strong feelings Drew, that's good, right? That means the show...people have strong feelings" (Matt, 20:13).
  • Listener quote: "When you guys in the pregame show, I just start hearing Cameron yelling and it stays in my mind until I go to sleep that night." (19:18)

6. UK Basketball: Exciting Games & Upcoming Matchups

[21:04 – 25:25]

• Caller Madison asks about the most exciting early-season UK basketball game; Matt picks "Pope and Patino" (UK vs. St. John’s) for the symbolism.
• The panel is most nervous about playing Louisville ("I actually think...that's the hardest game in our non-conference schedule," Matt, 21:23), especially with possible roster gaps.

7. UK Football: Attendance Predictions & Weather Impact

[22:04 – 23:26]

• The hosts predict a strong, if not sold-out, crowd for the upcoming UK-Florida football game.
• The panel notes that colder weather could unfavorably impact Florida, a team unused to the climate.
  • "To beat Florida, you might want it to be cold because they haven’t played a game in this temperature in years." (Matt, 23:14)

8. Food Talk: The Best and Worst States for Cuisine

[25:47 – 29:18]

• Lively debate on which state has the best/most distinctive food:
  • Louisiana and New York rated highest by Matt and the crew; Maine and Texas also receive praise.
  • Indiana and West Virginia rank low ("I can't think of an Indiana food at all," - Drew, 29:01).
  • Matt wisecracks: "Why am I going to Indiana for anything except sadness." (28:39)

9. Cameron Mills & Dave Baker Feud: Listener Reactions Continued

[29:18 – 31:04]

• Strong listener feedback on the Cameron-Dave show, recalling past "dust-ups."
• Matt reminisces about hosting the pregame show with Oscar Combs:
  • "I loved it. Like sitting there with Oscar, I felt like I was talking with my grandpa..." (Matt, 31:12)

10. Predictions: “Hot Takes” for UK Basketball Season

[32:35 – 34:51]

• Callers ask the crew for their "hottest" season predictions:
  • Matt: "I think we lose Tuesday at Louisville and then beat them in the Elite Eight...to go to the Final Four." (33:06)
  • Drew: UK goes undefeated in non-conference ("There’s my hot tip. They win the non-conference." 34:31)
  • Ryan: "Lose to Louisville, lose to Calipari, and lose to Patino, but yet make it to the Final Four." (33:37)

11. “Grim Reaper” Game: Coaches Stoops Has Helped Oust

[34:54 – 37:17]

• Listener quizzes the group: which opposing football coaches lost their jobs after a UK loss? (Muschamp, Spurrier, Petrino, Pruitt, others.)
• The guys note Stoops’ knack for being a "coach killer":
  • "It is kind of amazing...that we've been a coach killer." (Matt, 37:08)

12. Ticket Giveaway: Best Joke Contest

[40:46 – 45:26]

• Live call-in contest: best joke gets seventh-row basketball tickets. Highlights:
  • Bubba’s winner: "A hamburger walks into a bar, orders a beer—the bartender says, 'We don't serve food here.'" (41:19)
  • A dad-joke ("6:30, hands down"), the time on a clock visual pun (42:52), and a risqué bonfire joke also win.
  • "It shows you who the, like, what it is people think like. I like plays on words. These guys..." (Matt, 43:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Nicholls State Challenge:

“They beat LSU last season. That's a little concerning.”
— Matt Jones, [06:17]

On Craig Skinner’s Volleyball Promotion:

"He stood up on a table, held his arms out, and begged the UK fan base to pack Memorial Coliseum for their game Sunday against Tennessee..."
— Matt Jones, [06:37]

On New York Politics:

"He had a radio show, and he would talk trash about the Mafia...They shot him a few times while he was in the cab. The dude breaks the window of the cab, jumps out...and gets away."
— Matt Jones, [10:38–11:21]

On Listener Feedback:

"It sounds like these people have strong feelings Drew, that's good, right? That means the show...people have strong feelings."
— Matt Jones, [20:13]

On the Joke Contest:

"I know which one you're going to pick" — "The guy holding the dog."
— Matt Jones and Shannon the Dude, [44:32–44:34]

On Stoops as a “Coach Killer”:

"It is kind of amazing...that we've been a coach killer."
— Matt Jones, [37:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:35] - Opening of Hour 2; Nicholls/Thibodaux discussion starts
• [06:17] - Craig Skinner's press conference stunt
• [07:41] - Election Day & NYC mayoral race (fun Curtis Sliwa story)
• [12:07] - Dick Cheney’s death in the news
• [13:18] - Listener “Peggy” rails on Cameron Mills; pregame show debate
• [19:18] - Text machine erupts over pregame show dynamic
• [21:04] - UK hoops: most exciting game (“Pope vs. Patino” discussion)
• [22:04] - UK football: Florida game attendance prediction
• [25:47] - Food states debate
• [32:35] - "Hot takes" for the UK basketball season
• [34:54] - “Grim Reaper” UK Football quiz
• [40:46] - Joke contest for basketball tickets

Overall Tone & Style

The episode is loose, playful, and bantery—the hosts crack jokes, rib each other, and debate with affectionate sarcasm. A lot of inside fandom and listener engagement. Plenty of irreverence, regional pride, and the classic KSR style of blending sports, pop culture, and community.

For those who missed it, this hour brings you:

• Fun, obscure trivia about Kentucky’s next basketball opponent & Thibodaux, LA
• A creative plea for UK volleyball fans from their coach
• Colorful stories from the NYC mayoral race
• Candid recollections of Dick Cheney
• An unexpectedly heated pregame show host rivalry
• Bold predictions and hot takes for the UK basketball season
• Lively audience interaction through contests and call-ins
• A group quest to define the best and worst US state foods

All in the distinctive, quick-witted spirit of Kentucky Sports Radio.