2025-11-24- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

KSR Podcast – Hour 2 (Nov 24, 2025): Episode Summary

Main Theme:
The KSR crew, led by Matt Jones, discusses the future of Kentucky football and its head coach Mark Stoops, focusing on fan sentiment, financial realities around coaching decisions, the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) on college sports, and the university’s place in a changing athletic landscape.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stoops’ Future & Fan Frustration

• The episode opens with intense listener and panel debate about whether Kentucky should fire head coach Mark Stoops, given a large buyout (~$37 million).

• Most hosts and callers express frustration with both the performance of the football team and the financial constraints the buyout imposes.

• Buyout Parallels:
  Matt compares the Stoops situation to the 2008 financial crisis:

  “It reminds me of the 2008 financial crisis...Banks all screw up...then they need bailed out by the government. The government is like, if we don’t bail these banks out, our economy crashes. But Shannon, taxpayers are like, why are we giving the same people that screwed up the money?”
  (06:23)

• Some hosts openly state they wouldn’t contribute money to help with the buyout, echoing the wider sentiment that fans shouldn’t foot the bill.

2. Booster & Fan Involvement

• The crew agrees that while many fans want Stoops gone, very few would actually pay for his buyout. This makes it unlikely boosters will act without broad support, explaining why AD Mitch Barnhart has trouble raising funds for a buyout.

3. Big Blue Nation Culture & Fun Moments

• There’s a humorous segment celebrating an epic UK fan (“blue Legion of Doom gear, blue wedding ring”) who was still in the stands at the end of a tough game.
• Drew Franklin hopes he’s a player’s dad, but Matt says, “I hope it's a regular person.” The hosts invite listeners to identify him:

  “If you have the text machine and you know him...I'd like to know who it is. I salute that guy.”
  (08:09)

4. College Sports Traditions & Viral Moments

• Matt recounts a favorite viral video from the Cal–Stanford “Nerd Bowl,” where non-players (students, dubbed “nerds”) do the postgame trophy handoff:

  “They have random student nerds do it to each other…cast of Revenge of the Nerds…one of the football players for Stanford...just starts yelling at the Cal nerds. These poor students...are scared to death.”
  (10:23)

• The hosts joke about how such student handoffs would turn out in Kentucky–Louisville rivalry games: “There would definitely be a fight.” (12:48)

5. Assessment of the Football Program’s Future

• Multiple callers weigh in, mostly with skepticism about Stoops’ future and little optimism. Caller Mike likens keeping Stoops to realizing a financial loss:

  “First loss is best loss. You go ahead and realize your loss. We're gonna take a loss regardless of when this happens.” (16:32)

• Discussion of whether Mitch Barnhart (AD) should oversee the hiring of a new coach, especially if he is retiring soon. Consensus is that if Barnhart leaves, someone internal like Mark Hill might become interim AD and run the search.

6. University Athletic Department Management

• Caller Wilson offers a “business” analysis:

  “Fans are the shareholders, Mitch is the CEO, and the university the board…We've struggled due to Mitch…putting personal beliefs over what is best for the business…not embracing NIL…failing to connect with BBN.”
  (18:05 to 19:30)

• Matt agrees, noting that UK’s athletic department is in its “worst shape physically …in 20 years,” though still doing better than many schools.

7. Moments of Sports Camaraderie

• Matt reflects on a viral video from Scotland’s soccer World Cup qualification, highlighting the power of sports to unify people and create shared joy, drawing a parallel to Kentucky fans’ need for such moments:

  “It’s a bar full of people that don’t know each other...music, happiness, camaraderie…this is why I love sports…I want it again with Kentucky so bad.”
  (25:03)

• Segues into another viral/fun story: an elderly New Yorker, “Bob,” gathers 2,000 strangers in a park to smoke a cigarette.

• Ryan: “I feel like we should maybe not be encouraging the cigarette smoking, but just that...everyone is just in unison for firing up their cigs in the park.”
  (28:30)

8. Analogy for the Stoops Situation

• Caller Junior compares UK football’s bind with Stoops’ contract to “a loveless marriage you can’t afford to leave.”

  “You’re trapped. You can’t get out and there’s no good solution. That’s kind of what you’re saying.”
  (39:13)

9. NIL’s Transformational Effect

• The show repeatedly returns to NIL’s impact:
  • UK has reportedly lagged behind peers by being slow and conservative with NIL initiatives, and it’s hurting both on-field results and recruiting.
  • Caller Jason: “Mark Stoops has not forgot how to coach football...They were successful: recruit and develop. When did that stop? That stopped in the NIL era and...Mitch Barnhart…made a terrible mistake [by dragging his feet].”
    (50:09)
• Matt sums it up as Kentucky being “two to three years behind on NIL,” directly tying this to current struggles.

10. Basketball Tournament Frustration

• Matt criticizes Kentucky Basketball’s (under Mitch Barnhart) decision to skip next year’s Player’s Era Festival, a lucrative NIL event, in favor of the “BBN United Tipoff Classic” believed to earn UK more money.
• Points out nearly every elite program will join the event, except Kentucky:

  “Next year this tournament is going to have every good team in the country except maybe us…There’s going to be no reason to play in it except for money. And I hate that for our fans.”
  (35:24–35:58)

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Notable Quotes & Segments

• Matt Jones, on fans paying for coaching mistakes:
  “Why do I have to give my money? I didn't put us in that situation.” (05:47, Ryan)

• Ryan Lemond, on being asked for donations:
  “I'm getting pretty tired of them asking another blue collar coal miner for $50 when all this is going on.” (06:59)

• Caller, on firing Stoops:
  “First loss is best loss. You go ahead and realize your loss. We're gonna take a loss regardless of when this happens.” (16:32, Mike)

• Matt Jones, reflecting on NIL:
  “It's a new generation. What worked last time ain't gonna work going forward…We got stuck in the past two or three years behind and we got behind.” (52:46)

• Caller Junior, on being stuck with Stoops:
  “Sometimes you do get in a situation where you are trapped and you cannot get out and there’s no good solution.” (39:13)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:15 — Show opens ("Hour 2"); Stoops buyout debate begins
• 06:23 — Stoops buyout compared to 2008 financial crisis (Matt Jones)
• 07:23 — Fun segment: “Blue Legion of Doom Gear” fan at the game
• 09:40 — Cal–Stanford “Nerd Bowl” trophy handoff; viral moments
• 12:48 — “Louisville–Kentucky trophy handoff would end in a fight”
• 13:03 — First call segment on Stoops’ future
• 15:55 — Fans as “shareholders” and the AD as “CEO” (Caller Wilson)
• 19:30 — Reflection on Mitch Barnhart’s old-school approach
• 23:44 — Return from ads/music; searching for the “Legion of Doom” fan
• 25:03 — Matt on unity/joy in sports (Scotland soccer video)
• 27:03 — “Bob and his Cigarette” viral moment in NYC
• 29:07 — Caller connects cigarette giveaway to Stoops’ buyout
• 32:02 — Season predictions and fan disappointment
• 33:40 — “It’s not how many losses, it’s how badly we lost.”
• 34:20 — Discussion: UK skipping the Players Era Festival for money
• 35:51 — “Money thing” keeps UK out, to fans’ detriment
• 39:13 — “Loveless marriage” call on being stuck with Stoops
• 50:09 — NIL impact and legacy; caller: “Stoops didn’t forget how to coach”
• 52:46 — Matt summarizes episode’s main question: Are Stoops and Mitch the future?
• 53:29 — Wrap-up and praise for callers, episode ends

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Style & Tone

• The show is lively, conversational, with moments of sharp humor and pop culture references.
• Honesty and frustration permeate the discussion, but the hosts also display warmth for the Kentucky fan base and regional quirks.
• Listener calls are integral to the show: hosts listen, debate, and give voice to fans’ real anxieties and opinions.

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Useful for Listeners Who Didn’t Tune In

• This episode is a candid, multi-sided look at Kentucky athletics’ crossroad—caught between tradition, fan unhappiness, and a new era driven by NIL and market realities.
• Provides deep fan and expert perspectives, real-time comparisons to recent sport/culture phenomena, and honest debate on financial and sports management issues at UK.
• Captures the emotional pulse of the Big Blue Nation after a trying football season and sets up ongoing debates about leadership and necessary adaptation in college sports.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

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[Shannon]

Welcome to hour two of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. Hour number two, Kentucky Sports Radio, 859-280-2287 text machine is 772-774-5254. A lot of texts coming in. A lot of people with strong opinions. A lot of people want Ryan to talk more about Diego Pavi's mom. Those people don't get. Those people don't get to get a pound. Okay, sexy. It's just, it never stops with him. And he can. Guys, Mario, Mario, you're. This is what you're supposed to be doing. I'm not. I'm not there. I'm not going to be there tomorrow either. By the way, Mario, you're going to have to step up on this tomorrow night. By the way, if Kentucky wins tonight in volleyball tomorrow night, we'll have a watch party at KS Bar. I'm coming. Drew's coming. Maybe we could talk Ryan into coming. But we will for the SEC tournament finals tomorrow night. So put that on. You know, it's Thanksgiving. It would be a good fun Tuesday night they got a win to tonight. One person writes. Matt, I love this conversation, but I have a question for Drew. I think it's hypocritical to say he should be gone, but he wouldn't contribute. How does that make sense? All right, I'm going to take it for Drew and then I'll let him. I would say, I think most people who want him gone wouldn't pay for the buyout. And I can understand it's. Drew's like, it's not. Drew can say it's not my responsibility, but. And I, I get it. But I think most people would say that, which is why it's hard for Mitch to, To raise this money. Drew.

[Ryan]

Yeah, I mean, if this were like a private business that's just him asking for another bailout because he's messing up the books. Like, why do I have to help you out? You know, I mean, we, we recently talked about how he might step away. He gets 800,000 a year in retirement for a couple of years. Why would I have to give my money? Like, I didn't put us in that situation. And that's not just Drew Franklin. That's. I think that most people.

[Matt Jones]

But then you can't get mad, Shannon, if the boosters don't want to do it, because I think most of us wouldn't do it either.

[Shannon]

Totally agree. And I'm in the same camp as people that maybe think that there should be a change if the buyout weren't a thing. But I'm going to contribute my money.

[Matt Jones]

You know what it reminds me of? It reminds me of the 2008 financial crisis, right? The banks all screw up, give people loans that can't get them, then they need bailed out by the government. The government is like, if we don't bail these banks out, our economy crashes. But Shannon taxpayers are like, why are we giving the same people that screwed up the money?

[Shannon]

Right?

[Matt Jones]

And I get it. And Mitch is now like the government trying to figure out what do we do?

[Shannon]

And I'm, yeah, I'm not going to give my money. Drew's not going to do it. Ryan, would you. I don't, I don't think any of us would.

[Ryan]

I wouldn't leave me aside. I'm getting pretty tired of them asking another blue collar coal miner for $50 when all this is going on.

[Matt Jones]

Totally agree with you. So that's how I think. That's why people say to me, how can they bring him back? I think that is ultimately how it would end up happening. Let's do a couple things different here. Before I go back to phones, can we talk about, do we love the guy on TV in the blue Legion of Doom gear with his blue wedding ring.

[Shannon]

Shout out to that guy. He's the MVP of Big Blue Nation. Sticking around, face paint and all. Shoulder spikes, shoulder pad spikes.

[Matt Jones]

I think he was. To me. He's king of the BBN for the week. He is in. In part because he's what he's wearing, but more importantly because he's still there at the end of the game, right? Still there, hanging in. And like, I put his picture up and I was kind of worried, oh, will people mock him? They actually, Ryan kind of embraced the guy and so I don't know who he is. No one's told me yet who he is. Does anybody know? Has anybody heard who he is?

[Ryan]

No. I've seen people saying he was so nice and they have a selfie with him and several people met him in Nashville, but no idea or no one really knew him.

[Matt Jones]

So if you have the text machine and you know him. 772-774-5254. I'd like to know who it is. I salute that guy. Ryan.

[Drew Franklin]

I hope it ends up being a player's dad because, you know, Boom Williams dad kind of did that when Boom was here. And I think he just summarized what we all felt at that moment. That one shot you put out there.

[Matt Jones]

I hope it's a regular person because.

[Shannon]

One would argue that he deserved more camera time wearing.

[Matt Jones]

If he was wearing thigh high boots, though. Yeah, I think that would have been short.

[Drew Franklin]

Short.

[Matt Jones]

What did you think about the blue wedding ring, though? Have never seen that before, have you either?

[Drew Franklin]

No, I'd never seen that before.

[Ryan]

I bet this guy's got an unbelievable.

[Matt Jones]

Man cave at home.

[Ryan]

The fact that his wedding ring is UK blue, he has UK emblems on those shoulder pad, the whole bit. If he's wearing that to an away game, I gotta see this guy's house.

[Matt Jones]

It's probably uk Awesome. I bet he's got, like a lot of memorabilia. I. I've gotta think he's listening to this show.

[Drew Franklin]

Call in, dude.

[Matt Jones]

Well, he's gonna have a hard time getting in. The lines are full. But I bet you. Shannon, don't you think he's probably listening to this show?

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And either now or on podcast, we.

[Shannon]

Could track this guy down.

[Matt Jones]

Someone's gonna know it. So. So let me know. I. I want to. I'd like to have this guy on. So, like, somebody, one of y' all people know him. If he's not listening, let me know because I think he deserves. I'd like to know more about him. Second, I thought of You. When I saw this. Shannon, did you see the nerd off at the Cal Stanford game?

[Shannon]

No. No, I didn't.

[Matt Jones]

What?

[Shannon]

What?

[Matt Jones]

This might be next to Diego Pavia's mom and this guy. My favorite video of the weekend. So Cal and Stanford play each other. It's the Nerd bowl, okay? Two nerdy academic schools. They play for an ax. Okay.

[Shannon]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. It's like, you know, it's like their equivalent of the whatever, Commonwealth cup or, you know, whatever. They play for an axe. Cal and Stanford are just a few miles from each other when the game is over, though. I've never seen this before. They. The losing team hands the ax to the winning team. All right, but here's what's weird. They don't have the players do it. They have random student nerds do it to each other.

[Shannon]

Sounds dangerous.

[Matt Jones]

So they. They face each other. You've got to look at this video online, all right, Drew, maybe you can find it and tweet it out or something. The two groups of nerds are eyeing each other, and one set of nerds hands the ax to the other nerds. And it is like, you look at the kids. I'm sure they're wonderful people. But it is the cast of Revenge of the Nerds, and they are all trying to look hard while they're doing it. They hand it over. I think Stanford wins. They hand it over. And Stanford students start celebrating. And one of the football players for Stanford, Shannon, just starts yelling at the Cal nerds. These poor students who didn't play in the game and are just standing there with their pocket squares. This, like, six, five, huge lineman gets in their face and is like. And they are scared to death.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

If you're a player. The nerds are off limit. The nerds fight each other.

[Matt Jones]

Play, you know.

[Shannon]

Yeah, that's not fair.

[Matt Jones]

You've got to see the video. The Cal student nerds are so scared, and this Stanford player is yelling at them in their face.

[Shannon]

Bad look for the California team not to have one player to come out and defend their nerds.

[Matt Jones]

No. No one was there to defend their nerds.

[Shannon]

Their nerds are.

[Matt Jones]

Their nerds were on the front line with no backup.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I would. I could see why there's scared. There's a 6, 5 guy yelling at you, and you just gave him an axe.

[Ryan]

It's a fair point.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I'm telling you, if you're watching, we.

[Shannon]

Talk about an actual ax I've never seen.

[Matt Jones]

I think it's a mounted ax. I don't think it's Like a usable.

[Shannon]

Ax off the thing it's mounted onto and just start.

[Matt Jones]

I love the idea that when the game is over, the students who didn't play have to confront each other.

[Shannon]

I would refuse to give them the axe.

[Matt Jones]

Can you imagine if at the end of the Kentucky Louisville game, a group of Kentucky students had to stand with a group of Louisville students and hand them the trophy?

[Shannon]

I'm seeing it right now. Okay. Yeah. It's like a standoff between dorks.

[Matt Jones]

It's a dork stand.

[Shannon]

It takes two dorks to hand over one ax. They can't. Like they're not strong enough to just.

[Matt Jones]

Have one person and then watch the Stanford guy come in and yell at him.

[Shannon]

Yeah, he is number 74.

[Matt Jones]

74. Needs to calm down.

[Shannon]

Why is he even in there?

[Matt Jones]

Plus he has a helmet on. Yeah. Anyway, you're right though.

[Drew Franklin]

If, if Louisville fans and Kentucky fans had to do it, there'd be a fight.

[Matt Jones]

There would definitely be a fight. Only out there at the academic schools on the west coast do they know there won't be a fight. You did that here. There would be a fight.

[Drew Franklin]

Big fight.

[Ryan]

Mike.

[Matt Jones]

Go ahead, Mike.

[Caller]

Yeah, I'm a 73 year old lifetime Kentucky fan and my thoughts on. I'm. I'm flip flopping back and forth weekly. You know about Stoops, but I'm going to say this. I'm going to make a prediction. UK is going to beat U of L next week and. And Stoop's going to keep his job. And I think even if they lose next week this far, Hunt won't get rid of Stoops.

[Matt Jones]

All right.

[Caller]

That's what I think.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. I think that's very reasonable. By the way, Louisville's close to quitting, Drew.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes, they are.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, they are close to quit. They might show up and if we scored two touchdowns early, they might roll over.

[Ryan]

That's why I think if Kentucky's defense can get healthy, just a few guys, especially Alex Afari, I think Kentucky can win that game because even though Vandy was so bad, I still think Stoops has that locker room going into the Governor's cup and they're one win from a bowl game. I think they can pull it off as long as that injury report looks a little better.

[Matt Jones]

I'm mad at Alex Far. His girlfriend. Right. She gave, she gave us bad info.

[Drew Franklin]

She gave us some bad info the other day. That's a pretty good source to have.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I feel like she's one of our hosts. Like I feel like we'd know.

[Shannon]

Oh, she was the one. Because I didn't know. You said you had a really good source.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't know his, his girlfriend works at the bar.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, and he was in uniform and like I, he was warming up.

[Matt Jones]

He tries to play it. It didn't work.

[Ryan]

Maybe he thought governor's cup's more important. Mom, this is going to be all about Pavia. I'm going to rest up and be ready for Joe.

[Matt Jones]

Go ahead, Joe.

[Caller]

Hey guys. You know the biggest thing that two things that hurt Kentucky football right now is one obviously the contract with Stoops. Obviously he's probably going to stay just because of the money. But the other big thing is that the success of Indiana, Vanderbilt, even Louisville's perception is better than us. I mean their success, they're not. You know when that guy called in earlier say he's been seasonal since 98. 98, we'd be thrilled to death. One went away from a bowl game like bowls are great. But now it's when you see Indiana and Vanderbilt, even Tulane making, maybe making the playoff and Kentucky football is. Feels light years from those schools.

[Matt Jones]

Correct. I agree with you. And by the way, that's why I think the job is more attractive now by the way though, because you can do that at those schools when in 98. I don't think you. We would have thought you could do that here. You now can and I appreciate the call. You can do that now. The new era of the way players are paid makes it to where you can now do this. You just have to do it. And the fact that Indiana and Vandy have done it without question makes this more difficult for, for Mark. Mike. Go ahead, Mike.

[Caller]

Gentlemen, good morning.

[Matt Jones]

Good morning.

[Caller]

Really, ultimately I think what this boils down to, if you keep Stoops, you're looking at maybe two to three year window of just a downward, maybe four year downward spiral. If you get rid of them cut bait, you're looking at it maybe a two year into a three year window of a downward spiral, but getting out of it sooner, you realize your financial loss quicker. And speaking of the 08 crisis, I had a very smart financial guy that I worked with professionally, commercially who said first loss is best loss. You go ahead and you get rid of it. You go ahead and realize your loss. We're going to take a loss regardless of when this happens.

[Matt Jones]

And that's by the way, what in 08, that's what they did. And it kind of saved the economy. I mean.

[Caller]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

It took a while, but it did. I mean for better or worse, Bush and Pelosi and McCain and Obama, they all sat there, they agreed to do it and everyone hated it, but they kind of had to. And there are some people who argue that you kind of have to do that. Go ahead.

[Caller]

Last thought on this though is do we want our current AD involved in a new search for a new football coach, period? I don't want that. I'd rather see his ass retirement.

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate the call. I think there's a lot of people that feel that way. And I think he's going to be retired at the end of the year. So let's assume, Ryan, he's going to be retired at the end of the year. Should he hire the next coach?

[Drew Franklin]

Well, that's where I think Mark Hill becomes a viable candidate to replace bench because he's already in place. He'd be involved with the search from the get go regardless if Mitch leaves.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, do you think if they make a change at ad, do you want someone internal?

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I think that's what I'm saying. I think he would be involved with the search from December1 whenever this move happens.

[Matt Jones]

But you would only have him do it if he was going to be the new id?

[Drew Franklin]

Absolutely. That's why I think if, if something happens, he's. Mark Hill's going to be our AD because of that reason, right?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah. Just because they have to. Because they have to hire a coach.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

No, I mean, that's not, that's actually not a bad thought. Yeah. I mean, it's not easy. None of this is easy. Let's do one more. Wilson. Go ahead, Wilson.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. I want to look at this through the lens of a business and the athletic department as a business, which is what it is, where the fans are the shareholders, Mitch is the CEO and the university represents the board of directors.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Caller]

You just said the athletic department is in the worst shape physically that it's been in, in 20 years.

[Matt Jones]

It is, but let me, let me, let me just say one thing before you say that. Yes, but relative to other universities, we're actually in pretty good shape. Honestly. Most universities are in a crisis. Kentucky, this is just the first year they lost money. But it is, it is probably in the worst shape it's been, but relative to other schools are actually. Okay, but go ahead.

[Caller]

Okay, fair enough. So when you look at that, I believe we're in the shape for a large part due to Mitch as our leader, putting personal beliefs over what is best for the business. I'm responsible for people in multiple states and multiple leaders. And every one of those leaders gets asked a question and that's how would you execute something or a directive from the company that you were personally in disagreement with? They asked that reason. For example, what we're seeing with Mitch Barnhart, he chose not to embrace nil. He chose not to make the other changes that he's needed to do. And he's also failed to connect with the majority of this business, which is the bbn. And he's not responded to the things that matter to them the most. Instead of to some of these larger donors, which I get. He has to.

[Matt Jones]

I think those are fair points. I'm gonna have to go to break, but I think those are completely fair points. That is a completely fair point. I do think too often Mitch has done what Mitch personally would do because Mitch's belief is in an old school system that does not exist anymore. 859-280-2287 we'll take a break. Be right backs. KSR incoming with the Old Gays, it's Jesse, Bill, Robert and Mick with a special bonus episode of Silver Linings with the Old Gays. No matter what time of year it is, we know it's important to uplift the spirit of pride, which is relatively easy when Palm Springs celebrates in November.

[Caller]

The first pride I went to, it made me feel like I was really part of something. People being so joyous in the streets and being themselves, we've really come a long way. And I realized I am standing on the shoulders of so many millions of queer people who sacrificed their lives for what we have today.

[Matt Jones]

Silver Linings with the Old Gates is brought to you in partnership with iHeart's Ruby Studio and Veeve Healthcare. Listen on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Commercial Announcer]

Hi, I'm Martine Hackett, host of Untold Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition, a production from Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenex. This season, we're sharing powerful stories of resilience from people living with MG and cidp. Our hope is to inspire, educate and remind each other that even in the toughest moments, we're not alone. We'll hear from people like Corbin Whittington. After being diagnosed with both CIDP and dilated cardiomyopathy, he found incredible strength through community.

[Matt Jones]

So when we talk community, we're talking about an entire ecosystem surrounding this condition, including, of course, the patients at the center and that are all trying to live life in the moment, live life for the future, but then also create a new future.

[Commercial Announcer]

Listen to untold life with a severe autoimmune condition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Hello.

[Ryan]

Hello.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast smart talks with IBM. I recently sat down with IBM's chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, and I asked him, how can companies use AI to its fullest potential to create smarter business? My one advice to them, pick areas you can scale. Don't pick the shiny little toys on the side. For example, if anybody has more than 10% of what they had for customer service 10 years ago, they're already five years behind it. If anybody is not using AI to make their developers who write software 30% more productive today with the goal of being 70% more productive.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

So we are not asking our clients to be the first experiment on it. We say you can leverage what we did. We are happy to bring out all our learnings, including what needs to change in the process. Because the biggest change is not technology, is getting people to accept that there's a different way to do things. To listen to the full conversation, visit IBM.com smarttalks.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

The only thing between you and your best self is a start button this Black Friday Explore the world with NordicTrack. From the peaks of Peru to the streets of Paris, every workout moves you somewhere new with iFit trainers leading the way. The equipment's amazing, smooth, quiet, and those screens make it all feel real. Ready to start your next workout adventure with the number one treadmill brand in the U.S. shop, NordicTrack.com for Black Friday savings NordicTrack train anywhere. Explore everywhere.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. Techy Sports Radio 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. I don't know. Have a ton of messages here. I don't seem Shannon to have the guy yet. Is he mysterious?

[Shannon]

I mean, somebody has to know this guy with the. The reach that we have through this show.

[Matt Jones]

Somebody knows, right?

[Ryan]

Yeah, he goes all the home games. I've seen him before.

[Matt Jones]

I've seen him before, too.

[Shannon]

Maybe he's a podcast listener and we'll get, you know, tomorrow or something.

[Matt Jones]

I'm just surprised there's not someone listening. Even if he's not listening. Who. Who knows him? All right, so this reason I'm playing this, I remember, Ryan, I talked to you about how Scotland made the World Cup.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes, you did.

[Matt Jones]

There is an amazing video on the Internet that I've watched conservatively 50 times of in the moments after Scotland Won this song playing at a bar, and the whole bar is singing it, all right? And they're going crazy celebrating. And you can see on the tv, Scotland celebrating the background. And there are grown men crying, okay. And they're hugging each other, and strangers are, like, going nuts. And this is playing in the background, and they're all singing it. And I watch that video, and it's, like, exactly why I love sports.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

It's a bar full of people that don't know each other. It's music, it's happiness, it's camaraderie. Some people are filming it, but some people, Shannon, are just living in the moment, right? Yeah. And I sat there and watched it, and I said, this is what I. This is why I'm a sports fan in some ways or, like, this situation. And I want it again with Kentucky so bad, because we've had those moments. I think of Ryan taking his shirt off when we beat Florida in football. Right. I think about the various celebrations I've been in in 2014 and 2012 and et cetera, and I want that again. But I. There's so much, negativity, understandably, right now, but if you want to be cheered up, find that video of this, because there's an. And I want you to look for. There's an old man in the center of the bar, and he's by himself. You have to look for him, okay? And he's holding his fingers up in the air and just pointing and dancing, crying. And he, next to this guy at the Vandy game, may be my favorite person. This old Scottish guy celebrating Scotland going to the World cup with this song playing, Ryan. It's why I like sports. And I got to. I've literally watched it 50 times. I posted on my Instagram story, and I'll probably watch it again after the show's over.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

You're right.

[Drew Franklin]

Sports is that one thing. No matter what your race, no matter what your generation, no matter what your political affiliation is, you're all drawn together for one cause, and you're seeing it right there in that video.

[Matt Jones]

And I think, Shannon, this is the perfect song for.

[Shannon]

Oh, yeah. I mean, who. Who listens to this song and isn't happy?

[Caller]

Right?

[Matt Jones]

First, does anyone not like this song?

[Shannon]

No, everybody loves the song.

[Matt Jones]

Do you like this song?

[Ryan]

Oh, I love the song. I remember singing it in school when I was in, like, elementary school.

[Matt Jones]

Best song. And we just played all of it. And on podcast, none of you heard any of it during the case. One last feel good thing. Have you heard Ryan the story about Bob and his cigarette.

[Drew Franklin]

Who is Bob and what do we have to story about his cigarette?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know why I love this, but I think I do. And I don't even like cigarettes. I actually hate cigarettes. An old man named Bob, like 73 years old, he posts flyers around New York a week ago that said, I'm going to smoke a cigarette at Washington Square park at 2 o' clock on Friday. If you would like to come have a conversation, come join me. Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Post them all over New York. It's just an old man standing there saying, come to Washington Square Park, 2 o' clock on Friday and smoke a cigarette with me. Shannon. He went and bought two packs of cigarettes. All right, Again, I'm anti cigarette, but I do like these moments. 2,000 people showed up. Wow. Wow.

[Shannon]

I was gonna say you might be a little optimistic buying two packs of cigarettes. He should have bought a few cartons.

[Matt Jones]

2000 people showed up at this. At the park.

[Drew Franklin]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

And there's this great video of somebody brings him a, you know, what do you call it, a megaphone or whatever where you can. And he talks and he's crying and all these people just hang out and smoke a cigarette with Bob and have this like communal moment. Drew, I don't know why I think that's so cool, but Bob and his cigarette, I think is a neat thing.

[Ryan]

Yeah. I feel like we should maybe not be encouraging the cigarette smoking, but just that. I know, but I'm about to say he yells, everybody fire him up. It's like he's all leading them to their cigarettes. I saw the video too. I think at one point he's like.

[Matt Jones]

All right, let's have another one.

[Ryan]

So everyone is just in unison for firing up their cigs and in the park.

[Drew Franklin]

And he looks exactly as I thought he would look. When you said a 73 year old man from New York.

[Matt Jones]

He's just standing there. I did. That's kind of a cool. A cool thing that also happened. So to really feel good, he thinks that story. Go ahead, Sean.

[Caller]

I heard your cigarette thing. Now I just got to think. And give 2000 people cigarettes in New York. That would be almost the same amount as the bio.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, probably so it'd be close.

[Caller]

So I was thinking about this because I like to try to think of, you know, how would I solve this problem with Stoops? And I personally, I think you almost have to bring him back just because of the money for one more year. And you can tell me how much does the change to buy out if we do this next year, I mean not a ton.

[Matt Jones]

I think it goes down to like 28 or 29.

[Caller]

Still better. So I'm an owner, operator, truck driver. I had a truck go down. I have, you know, a backup truck. So I have to make a decision in my business. My livelihood is what do I do? Do I go out and buy a new truck or do I go buy a used truck? And well a new trucks gonna is beyond my budget. So I go out and I'll buy me a used truck.

[Matt Jones]

20 seconds, real quick use truck.

[Caller]

If that used truck lasts me for five or six years, it's okay. But what if I get the joker Phillips model and it gets worse. Now I'm so upside down in that truck that I don't know how I go forward. And that's what I'm afraid.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky, that's a fair point. We always, we all assume the new coach will do well. You're right. There's a chance they wouldn't appreciate. By the way, really good calls today. Really had in a long time. We'll be right back.

[Commercial Announcer]

TJ Smith, personal injury attorney.

[Matt Jones]

Call tj. He'll make him pay.

[Shannon]

Now more of Kentucky sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

Is this your group stone tipple box? I thought sounded like that guy.

[Caller]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

Yep. If you're a bourbon lover in a UK fan, grab a bottle of Club Blue Bourbon. Their white label and blue label won gold medals at the Ascot awards and are supporting athletes through JMI's NL services. Ryan and Drew helped select the Club Blue Bourbon recipe. You know bourbon makes a great Christmas present. Bespoken spirits is maker of the Club Blue Bourbon. They're on the bourbon trail. We've done shows out there. Schedule your Lexington Distillery tour today. It's Bespoken Spirits Be spoken spirits dot com. They also make private labels as well that Bespoken Spirits. One person writes, matt, I think this has been a really good discussion of all this and I've now left more confused than I was before. Another person then says, matt, this is an easy decision. You can't bring back a football coach that's lost the fan base. You're never going to convince me that the fan base supports it. Yeah, I mean, well, if I can't convince you, I mean I'm not, I'm not even gonna try. But I don't think he. I think a lot of the fan base is fickle, but I also think that it's hard to know what the fan base thinks. I Think most of the fans want to see a change, but I do think there's a difference between Drew wanting to see a change, insane firing. That's. Those, I think, are not necessarily the same position.

[Ryan]

Yeah, I get it. And to me, it just all boils down to how we're stuck in this situation because the decision makers above Stoops, you know, Stoops has actually shown that he fixed the culture what people wanted. Now, I'm going to be careful to not defend this season as a whole because I'm still disappointed. But some of the things he said he would fix in March, he did fix. And they could go to a bowl game on Saturday. Starting to get into sunshine. Pumping a little bit here.

[Matt Jones]

Boy, when you say disappointed. I went back and looked at our season predictions and I picked 5 and 7 and I believe all of the rest of you pick six and six. So if we lose, we'll finish with mine. If we win, we'll finish what you all have. If they finish six and six and that's kind of what you thought would happen, are you still disappointed?

[Ryan]

Yeah, because some of the blowouts, like we just live in a world where Tennessee is going to score 50 points on us with the current setup of Kentucky football. And then the Vandy thing, I know the defense was so beat up, but the offensive line didn't look good, the offense didn't look good.

[Matt Jones]

But we all did say the one thing he needed to do was make a bowl game.

[Ryan]

Well, that's my point. If he wins Saturday, I think it makes it very hard to fire him.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan]

That does not give me any optimism moving forward.

[Matt Jones]

I don't.

[Ryan]

But I do think him making a.

[Matt Jones]

Bowl game moving forward. I agree with you. I. One thing where I think I'm definitely in unison with you is I don't have optimism moving forward. You know, also, I don't know if.

[Ryan]

You'Ve seen Louisville's injury report, but it's coming out. They're going to have no. 1 on offense. Their top receivers now out. Their top three running backs are out.

[Matt Jones]

So now we better win.

[Shannon]

They got a quarterback. Quarterback problem.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan]

I mean, they might have it. They might have a team when we get to that game.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Drew, but up a good point.

[Drew Franklin]

It's not just the losses they had this year. It's how they played in those losses. It's kind of a lingering hangover.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with that. By the way, today starts feast week, the Players Era Festival. I don't know if you've. Have you seen the schedule for this players era festival today.

[Ryan]

Tonight's or today's TV show slate starts at one. Is incredible. Let me just give you nine top 25 games.

[Matt Jones]

This is the Players Era Festival. Here are the games. Rutgers, Tennessee, Creighton, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, St. John's Iowa State, Houston, Syracuse, Auburn, Oregon, Alabama, Gonzaga, Michigan, San Diego State.

[Drew Franklin]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

And you can see all of those in the same building.

[Shannon]

Well, next year Kentucky needs to be.

[Matt Jones]

A part of Kentucky.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Matt Norlander did a story that said Kentucky will not be a part of it.

[Shannon]

Oh, man.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky apparently told Matt Norlander that we make $5 million from the BBN United tip off Classic sponsored by Kentucky Tourism. No, I'm not kidding.

[Shannon]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

And they say they can't give it up to play in the Player as Air Festival next year. This year the Players Era Festival has 16 teams. Next year it's going to have 32, possibly 48. And it's going to be and the winning teams get a million dollars in nil for their players. And Kentucky has gone on record, Ryan, and said they're not going to play in.

[Drew Franklin]

Sounds like nearly every other higher profile program is going to be there.

[Matt Jones]

Well, dude, North Carolina and UConn. I've also not agreed to play in it, although they are leaving open the possibility they might play in it next year. Kentucky was the one program that said we are not playing.

[Shannon]

Kentucky says they're not going to. That sounds like a Mitch Barnhart thing right there.

[Matt Jones]

Doubt in my mind that's a Mitch Barnhart.

[Shannon]

It doesn't feel like a Mark Pope thing.

[Matt Jones]

It's a money thing. It's a money thing. And it's tough because at the same time that we're asking them to consider getting rid of a coach with a $37 million buyout, we're saying they care too much about money. But it's a money thing. These other schools are playing. And next year, folks, this tournament is going to have every good team in the country except maybe us.

[Drew Franklin]

And Duke will be home playing Valpo.

[Matt Jones]

And we're going to be playing Eastern Illinois Valpo. And I don't know how that's better.

[Shannon]

Nichols, don't forget about nickels.

[Matt Jones]

There's going to be no reason to play in it except money. And I hate that. I hate that for our fans. Imagine you could go to Vegas this week and with a ticket, watch all these games. Our fan base would pack it and then imagine that you could win a million dollars.

[Ryan]

Actually, I think you get a million for playing. I think everyone that's in it gets a Million dollars to their nil.

[Matt Jones]

Is that right?

[Drew Franklin]

Sponsors million dollars?

[Ryan]

Yeah. Last year I think it was to win a million. I think this year, if you're in it, you get a million.

[Matt Jones]

But then UK says we make 5 million from this.

[Ryan]

The team we play Wednesday night is ranked 321st in KINPOM.

[Matt Jones]

Well, hopefully we'll win.

[Shannon]

Imagine you're the last guy on the bench, though, and you get a million for being on the team that plays in that tournament.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think they all get a million. I don't think every team to their nil gets a million.

[Shannon]

Oh, I thought you meant per player.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, a million per player. My goodness.

[Shannon]

I didn't know how much money they had to throw around.

[Ryan]

ESPN story this day says each team is guaranteed at least a $1 million payout, a significant sum for the new climate of college sports.

[Shannon]

Even then, though, you divide that up. Oh, yeah, 12, 13, 14 different ways.

[Drew Franklin]

You know what? The top recruits are watching this tournament. They're going to watch these teams.

[Matt Jones]

TNT and True TV today are going to have these games. I mean, it's just banger after banger now. What's weird, though, what's interesting when you're watching it today and tomorrow, each team only plays two games. But how do they decide who goes to the finals? You want to know the answer? Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Let's hear it.

[Matt Jones]

It's the two teams that win both games by the largest margins.

[Drew Franklin]

So they encourage.

[Matt Jones]

So you're not even going to just have an incentive to win, Shannon. You have an incentive to beat the crap out of the.

[Shannon]

Actually love this.

[Caller]

I love it.

[Shannon]

Don't put in the bench.

[Matt Jones]

No, the bench ain't playing.

[Shannon]

No, you keep your starters until the very end.

[Matt Jones]

The bench is not playing. So they'll have the top two teams will play, then third and fourth, fifth and sixth. That's how they'll decide who plays is. But in order to make the finals, you're going to have to go to an oh, but you're going to have to win by a lot.

[Shannon]

I love it. Just keep, keep shooting threes when you're up by 50.

[Matt Jones]

So when you're watching these games, it's going to be fascinating because teams are not going to stop at any point during the game.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, that theory where you got to, you know, rest your starters to getting ready for the next game. Nope, leave them out there the whole time.

[Matt Jones]

So that'll be great to see who really runs up the score to try to win. Junior, go ahead, Junior.

[Caller]

Hey, fellas. Let me sum this Stoops debacle up for you. I've been a supporter for a good long time. I've been a fan since Claiborne. I've seen a lot of bad UK football. I'm glad these young folks don't. Haven't lived through what I've lived through. But let me describe it to you like this. Let's say you're in a loveless marriage. You got a bloated mortgage. You got a couple kids still in school. You can't afford to get divorced. You go the mailbox and you find out you wanna. All expenses paid, weekend in Gatlinburg and dog.

[Matt Jones]

Are we losing? No, no, no. Keep going. Keep going.

[Caller]

Well, it's just. That's what it is. You're trapped. You can't get out. And you just like, how could my bag. Getting worse. Just a trip to the mailbox.

[Shannon]

At least you're going to Gatlinburg.

[Matt Jones]

I'm kind of with you on Gatlinburg, sir, and I know. I see. Okay. What you said was funny. But there is a sense, though, I think, what you're saying, Junior. Sometimes you do get in a situation where you are trapped and you cannot get out and there's no good solution. That's kind of what you're saying.

[Caller]

You can't afford the divorce. You can't afford the divorce. Yeah, I gotta stay. It's. Well, I. Sucks.

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate the call, Junior. That sounded like something I think he's dealing with.

[Ryan]

That sounded like it came from the heart.

[Matt Jones]

Like that was a theoretical. I mean, he's not. But he's not wrong. There is a sense that there. I don't really think there is any good solution. Which goes to Drew's point about, well, how did we get here? Corey, go ahead. Corey.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. How's it going?

[Matt Jones]

Good.

[Caller]

I. I just catch here and there on the show because I'm working. So I apologize if I ask questions. It's already been asked before. But a couple of perspectives that I would like Yalls opinion on is there's. There's a lot of components to a successful football team, or any team for that matter. And the head coach is arguably, like, not one of the top components. Like, one of the top components is probably your recruiters, which we lost one of our great recruiters, Louisville, this past year. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall, I don't know. But instead of paying Stoops to get out of the position, why don't we kind of double down? Yeah, why don't you spend money that Money on.

[Matt Jones]

I would disagree with you about your initial premise though. If the head coach is a CEO and if the recruiters aren't good, that's on you. If the OC is not good, that's on you. If the defensive coordinator is good, not good, that's on you. You're the CEO. So now sometimes you might say my offensive coordinator is not doing a good job. I'm gonna bring in another one. He's done that a number of times like. But ultimately at the end of the day, the buck does stop at the head coach.

[Caller]

I definitely agree. Of course when play, you know, it gets down to the wire. I mean look at Texas. I mean we had, you know, right there where we could have scored, you know, that's on the head coach to make that decision on what plays call and how to, how to score in that position. I mean for sure. But there's other components that you could add to to the team. Like instead of spending a bunch of money to get the, the coach out, like could we spend money elsewhere in the program?

[Matt Jones]

A lot of money. We spent a lot of money and I appreciate the call. We have a assistant coach budget and we spent a lot of money on players this year and it didn't work. Well, it worked, but it didn't work the way we wanted it to. Blue tag savings are here all month long at Don Franklin. Over 6,000 new and certified pre owned vehicles. John Franklin's got quality installed. Peace of mind. Mile after mile, it's Don Franklin Auto. We're going to be at one Wednesday in Columbia, Kentucky for the pre Thanksgiving show. Donfranklinauto.com Blue collar dollars meet off road grit at the Franklin truck league only at Don Franklin Auto driven by family. We'll take a break. Be right back. Final segment KSR incoming with the old gays. It's Jesse, Bill, Robert and Mick with a special bonus episode of Silver linings with the old gays. No matter what time of year it is, we know it's important to uplift the spirit of pride, which is relatively easy when Palm Springs Spring celebrates in November.

[Caller]

The first pride I went to, it made me feel like I was really part of something. People being so joyous in the streets and being themselves, we've really come a long way and I realized I am standing on the shoulders of so many millions of queer people who sacrificed their lives for what we have today.

[Matt Jones]

Silver linings with the Old Gates is brought to you in partnership with iHeart's Ruby Studio and Veeve Healthcare. Listen on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Commercial Announcer]

Hi, I'm Martine Hackett, host of Untold Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition, a production from Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenics. This season we're sharing powerful stories of resilience from people living with MG and cidp. Our hope is to inspire, educate, and remind each other that even in the toughest moments, we're not alone. We'll hear from people like Corbin Whittington. After being diagnosed with both CIDP and dilated cardiomyopathy, he found incredible strength through community.

[Matt Jones]

So when we talk community, we're talking about an entire ecosystem surrounding this condition, including, of course, the patients at the center that are all trying to live life in the moment, live life for the future, but then also create a new future.

[Commercial Announcer]

Listen to untold stories, life with a Severe Autoimmune condition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Hello. Hello, I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Smart Talks with IBM. I recently sat down with IBM's chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, and I asked him, how can companies use AI to its fullest potential to create smarter business? My one advice to them, pick areas you can scale. Don't pick the shiny little toys on the side. For example, if anybody has more than 10% of what they had for customer service 10 years ago, they're already five years behind. If anybody is not using AI to make their developers who write software 30% more productive today with the goal of being 70% more productive. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Wow.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

So we are not asking our clients to be the first, first experiment on it. We say you can leverage what we did. We're happy to bring out all our learnings, including what needs to change in the process. Because the biggest change is not technology, it's getting people to accept that there's a different way to do things. To listen to the full conversation, visit IBM.com smart talks.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

The only thing between you and your best self is a start button this Black Friday Explore the world with NordicTrack. From the peaks of Peru to the streets of Paris, every workout moves you somewhere new. With iFit trainers leading the way. The equipment's amazing, smooth, quiet, and those screens make it all feel real. Ready to start your next workout adventure with the number one treadmill brand in the U.S. shop NordicTrack.com for Black Friday savings? NordicTrack. Train anywhere. Explore everywhere.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. Techie Sports Radio 859-280-2287. All right, so let's go from DraftKings here. Go to DraftKings. Use my promo code. Ryan, you killed the parlay again.

[Drew Franklin]

And that was the one time I made a pick. I thought, this is going to be the best pick of the parlay.

[Matt Jones]

And don't worry about. Shannon got Wes, Shannon got his. Shannon got Duke. Drew got Western Kentucky, I got Florida. And not only did we win those, they weren't close. Like, we could, like, sit back and chill, right?

[Ryan]

Western could have won that game.

[Matt Jones]

Western could have won that game. But who. Shannon was not close the other way.

[Shannon]

I hate to point people out, but Ryan.

[Matt Jones]

So Ryan is banned from for at least a few weeks because he has cost.

[Drew Franklin]

I'd won three in a row, though.

[Matt Jones]

I think we would have hit like five of these during the year if not for. For Ryan.

[Ryan]

I've lost one one this season on the case.

[Matt Jones]

Two maybe. It's real and it's mostly been Ryan, to be honest. Yeah, it's. It's mostly been Ryan. All right, so for DraftKings, let's do our pick today. Gonzaga is a 4 1/2 point favorite against Alabama. We will play both of these teams in the next six weeks. Who you got?

[Drew Franklin]

I love this game because I think Gonzaga is really, really good. I saw a little bit of Alabama lose to Purdue, so I'm taking Gonzaga to cover.

[Matt Jones]

You give me Bama getting four and a half against anybody in the country. I'm probably going to take Bama if you're giving me those points. I got Bama. What about you, Drew?

[Ryan]

I'm also taking Bama at four and a half even though I think Gonzaga is a little better. But of all the games today, I'm most excited about this one. This is going to be a fun one.

[Matt Jones]

And neither of these teams is going to make it the finals of the tournament because they won't be able to beat the other one by enough points. But it's still a good game for him. What do you got?

[Shannon]

I'm taking Alabama Moneyline to win.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I like that. Yeah, I think Alabama. Alabama. Give them credit, man. They're playing a heck of a schedule. They've played St. John's Purdue. Did they play Illinois?

[Ryan]

Illinois.

[Matt Jones]

And now they're playing Goods. I mean, that's a heck of a schedule to start the season.

[Ryan]

They've played three top 15 teams in their four games.

[Drew Franklin]

They got the best player in the conference, too.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Will. Go ahead, Will.

[Caller]

Yes. I'm neither confused nor fickle. I mean, if Stoops wins the U of L game, it's going to be hard, but there's absolutely no optimism. Momentum going into next year. Recruiting is in the tank right now and if I'm Cutter Bowley's dad, I'm pulling a Tim Couch dad and I'm calling Barnhart and said we will not.

[Matt Jones]

Be back next year unless you make a change.

[Caller]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, because you're not going to get any players. Recruiting's in the tank. I mean, I realize where we're at. We beat some awful teams even though it was Auburn in Florida. I don't want to take away from that, but getting our brains beat out by mid level SEC teams we were above, you know, a few years ago is just maddening.

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate that's, you know, glad you stated that opinion. The there was a report that came out, I think it was just rolling. Said that their goal in recruiting is to get JUCO players that are a little less expensive, which wasn't the most optimistic thing in the world. Jason, go ahead, Jason.

[Caller]

First time, long time, man. I've listened to you since back in the days of the closet. Anyway, there's, there's a point that, there's a point to all this that hasn't been made and I don't want to be the voice of reason. I've listened to you for years and I know you're a very reasonable guy. But Mark Stoops has not forgot how to coach football. And if you look back at why they were successful, there's one glaring reason and it was recruit and develop.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Caller]

But when did that stop? That stopped in the NIL era and, and me and Larry Vaught had a long candid discussion and ended up agreeing with each other extremely strongly. And he posted it out on your sports edge here a couple weeks ago. What we talked about and that's the fact that if you'll go back in 21, Mitch Barnhart, who I really like, he's a good guy, but he made a terrible mistake. He was the committee chair for the selection committee. He took a wait and see approach on this nil. And Mark Stoops bit his tongue, held his breath, did not throw him under the bus. And nobody's talking about this and it's so frustrating. I was at Vandy and I walked away dejected for the performance on the field. But when you look at the money in 2023, Matt, we were the 12th ranked SEC school in NIL funding. The NCAA gave University of Kentucky in 2023 $53 million. We spent $10 million on our football team. We beat this year. Two schools ahead of us in NIL and we lost to one behind us in Vandy's private. They didn't report. This is baloney. That, that Stoops does not know how to coach. Why don't we get to the crux of it? It takes money. And to the last caller, I know Cutter's family personally. School coach Scott loves uk, Cutter loves uk. And I hate to bust your alls bubble, but Cutter is here because of Coach Stoops. If, if Coach Stoops is sent packing, I think you all are going to be very surprised at the decision that Cutter makes. It's not, he's staying. If he, if, if he's leaving. If he goes, they love him.

[Matt Jones]

That was a good call. That's a good call. I don't, I've got to cut you off because the show's going to end. But, but you know, those are two good back to back calls. And I would say Mitch screwed up by being two to three years behind on nil and that's on him. And so part of my thing is. Let me, let me read you this. This was a comment that came in a few minutes ago on the post game show. You said nil is the second most important change to college sports besides integration. I do believe that. So is it cost effective to keep Stoops and Mitch? Are they the group to lead us into the next 25 years? That's the question though. And my answer is I don't think so. On, especially on the Mitch part and maybe on the Stoops as well. This is a new generation. What worked last time ain't gonna work going forward. It's the people who did radio when TV became important. It's the people who did newspapers when the blogs came important. You have to decide are you gonna embrace the new or are you gonna be stuck in the past? And we got stuck in the past two or three years behind and we got behind and that caller is right about that. Now does that mean Stoops doesn't deserve criticism? I might disagree with him on that. But it is the case that some of what's happening right now were because we were slow on the. I don't think there's any doubt that that's true. Great conversation by the way Ryan, from these folks Today callers product today.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Great.

[Matt Jones]

Well done. Tomorrow I have to go to a funeral. So I will be here in Louisville. We'll be in Columbia on Wednesday. We'll see you later. It's ksr.

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