Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) — Hour 2

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Matt Jones with Shannon, Ryan Lemond, and Drew Franklin
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Main Theme

Hour 2 of KSR dives into UK (University of Kentucky) sports news, quirky fan mysteries, an extended and humorous debate about wedding ring etiquette, candid critiques of the UK athletics administration — especially regarding fan relations and the football program — and memorable, offbeat tangents about pop culture and personal stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. In-Season Tournament Format and Its Flaws

[03:37–05:07]

• The team discusses the new college basketball in-season tournament rules, specifically the point differential cap of 20 points, expressing frustration at how close games can "punish" good teams.
• Quote: "I actually hate this format because...Iowa State wins by one, but they’re gonna get punished for a good win that came down to the wire because they didn’t win by ten. Should be a bracket format." — Drew Franklin, [04:52]

2. The Mysterious UK Superfan

[05:07–07:36]

• The KSR crew has been trying to identify a well-known, enigmatic Kentucky superfan seen at games, but no listener or community member has provided his identity despite widespread attention.
• Quote: “Over the years, I’ve been able to get senators’ phone numbers. How do we not know who this guy is?” — Matt Jones, [06:30]
• Jokes and speculation ensue about the superfan’s possible anonymity, parentage of UK players, or even being a high-profile (Andy Beshear) in disguise.

3. Wedding Ring Etiquette: A Panel Debate

[08:06–15:25]

• A lively and extended discussion arises about when it’s acceptable to remove your wedding ring, prompted by news about the Vice President’s wife appearing without hers in public.

• Ryan and Drew offer opposing real-life practices, and Shannon and Matt (unmarried) push for clarity.

• Memorable Exchange:

  • “I always felt like you never took it off ever.” — Ryan Lemond, [10:25]
  • “This feels like a setup because I’m currently not wearing mine…” — Drew Franklin, [11:13]
  • “Is it considered a symbol of something bad if you do not wear your ring?...Do wives or husbands generally get upset?” — Matt Jones, [14:05]

• Extended call-in and write-in audience engagement with personal stories about factory workers, injuries, and even someone owning 11 different wedding bands ([24:05]).

4. University Administration and Mitch Barnhart Critique

[15:31–22:43]

• Multiple callers and Matt critique the UK board of trustees’ and AD Mitch Barnhart’s management, especially their disconnect with fans and reluctance to adopt modern business/fan engagement practices.
• Quote: “That athletic department has no connection to the fan base...They are in an old era.” — Matt Jones, [17:22]
• Quote: “In football, they are playing in a different era...barely gotten to the blog era, forget about the social media era.” — Matt Jones, [25:06]
• Anecdote: Mario (a social media hire) was kicked out of a press event for not being “real media," highlighting administrative tone-deafness ([18:40]).

5. Improving UK Fan Experience & Staff Turnover

[26:47–29:49]

• Callers and hosts discuss what’s needed for UK football to improve, from overhauling staff (retaining only coordinator Brad White) to hiring new specialists in game-day experience.
• Repeated notes on stagnancy: “...we’ve been dealing with the same people for 20 years and there’s no new blood.” — Matt Jones, [28:30]
• KSR’s own embrace of new talent (like hiring Mario) cited as a needed model.

6. Pop Culture Sidebar: The White Stripes Marital Saga

[29:54–33:59]

• Lighthearted tangent on bands with ex-couples, focusing on The White Stripes falsely presenting as siblings after divorce. Discussion features group amazement at their ability to keep up the appearance and maintain their working relationship.
• Quote: “Does no one think it's weird? For 15 years, say you were brother and sister, and then you were—why didn’t they just say they were married?” — Matt Jones, [32:11]

7. Listener Questions and Community Mysteries

• Birth Certificate Card Mystery:
  • Caller “Sebastian” asks if anyone else has ever seen a credit card-sized birth certificate [36:43].
  • Multiple listeners respond: It was a novelty offered in Kentucky in the ‘80s/'90s for $3 extra but is not officially valid ([45:10]).
  • Memorable Moment: “Apparently, for 14 years in the 80s and early 90s, you had the option…to also, for $3 more, get a plastic, credit card–size birth certificate you could carry in your wallet.” — Matt Jones, [45:10]
• Humorous speculation about its origins, and a motherly listener confirms it was “like a little souvenir gift shop” ([45:19]).

8. Memorable Basketball Story: LeBron, Gambling, and Petty Revenge

[45:44–50:04]

• Matt shares a story from Shay Serrano’s book about LeBron James orchestrating a playoff-winning shot for teammate Damon Jones to spite Gilbert Arenas over a gambling debt.
• Quote: “He was mad that he [Arenas] had embarrassed his friend about this $50,000 and he waited until the playoffs and then got it to where his friend hit the shot to knock him out.” — Matt Jones, [49:04]

9. Quick Hits and Picks

[51:12–end at 52:02]

• Game picks for Tennessee vs. Houston (basketball):
  • Ryan and Drew pick Tennessee to cover, Shannon and Matt take Houston.
  • KSR events: Volleyball watch party at the bar, remote from Columbia, KY tomorrow.
• Brief notes on Matt’s book-reading goal (“ten in December to hit one a week for the year”).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Over the years I’ve been able to get senators’ phone numbers. How do we not know who this guy is?” — Matt Jones, [06:30]
• “This feels like a setup because I’m currently not wearing [my wedding ring] ...” — Drew Franklin, [11:13]
• “That athletic department has no connection to the fan base...They are in an old era.” — Matt Jones, [17:22]
• “They are playing in a different era...barely gotten to the blog era, forget about the social media era.” — Matt Jones, [25:06]
• “Does no one think it's weird? For 15 years, say you were brother and sister, and then you were—why didn’t they just say they were married?” — Matt Jones, [32:11]
• “He was mad that he [Arenas] had embarrassed his friend about this $50,000 and he waited until the playoffs and then got it to where his friend hit the shot to knock him out.” — Matt Jones, [49:04]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:37]—In-Season Tournament Format Critiques
• [05:07]—UK Superfan Mystery
• [08:06]—Wedding Ring Etiquette Begins
• [15:31]—UK Athletics Administration Critique
• [25:06]—Fan Relations and PR Shortcomings
• [26:47]—Staff and Fan Experience Overhaul
• [29:54]—White Stripes Relationship Tangent
• [36:43]—Credit Card–Sized Birth Certificate Mystery
• [45:44]—LeBron/Damon Jones/Gilbert Arenas NBA Story
• [51:12]—Game Picks and Show Close

Overall Tone

Conversational, humorous, candid, and occasionally irreverent. The hosts blend deep UK sports knowledge with pop culture references, listener interactions, and their trademark banter — making it lively and highly engaging for both sports fans and casual listeners.

This summary should provide a comprehensive and engaging overview of Hour 2 of KSR on November 25, 2025, covering all notable moments, key themes, and memorable quotes.