KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 1
Date: November 26, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon The Dude
Location: Don Franklin Ford, Columbia, KY
Episode Overview
The KSR crew broadcasts live from Columbia, Kentucky, on the eve of Thanksgiving. The episode blends nostalgic local stories, deep dives into the UK sports landscape, and some lighthearted debates. Hot topics include UK Volleyball’s SEC Tournament comeback, current concerns with men’s basketball, the looming Kentucky-Louisville football showdown, and a candid live interview with UK Volleyball coach Craig Skinner. The show closes out with a friendly, rapid-fire debate on the state of UK football.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Live From Columbia – Nostalgia & Community (02:29–05:02)
- Hosts share childhood and college memories connected to Columbia, Kentucky.
- Anecdote: Shannon recounts being caught cheating the “campus mile” during his freshman baseball year at Lindsay Wilson.
- Quote (Shannon, 05:23): “...when we got closer back to where the baseball field is...I jump off [the golf cart] and wait for everybody else to catch up. And then...he calls me out and knew...I cheated on the campus mile and had to stay after practice and clean up the field.”
[05:23]
- Quote (Shannon, 05:23): “...when we got closer back to where the baseball field is...I jump off [the golf cart] and wait for everybody else to catch up. And then...he calls me out and knew...I cheated on the campus mile and had to stay after practice and clean up the field.”
2. UK Women's Volleyball’s Dramatic SEC Title Comeback (05:54–09:12)
-
Kentucky defeats Texas in a tense, come-from-behind thriller, clinching an undefeated SEC run and the tournament title.
-
Crowd energy at KSBar and the role of “bad luck” (Drew leaving improves the outcome).
- Quote (Drew, 08:03): "I'm like, oh, for 50 at KS Bar. I told Ryan. I was like, I'm leaving and watch this. And I texted you before I was home. I said, told you."
[08:03]
- Quote (Drew, 08:03): "I'm like, oh, for 50 at KS Bar. I told Ryan. I was like, I'm leaving and watch this. And I texted you before I was home. I said, told you."
-
Coach Craig Skinner to join at 10:30 for insights into the victory.
-
Analyst talk: Matt correctly diagnosed UK's struggles as “bad sets,” verified by Skinner later.
3. NCAA Volleyball Tournament Outlook (09:12–09:20)
- UK volleyball set to host first two NCAA rounds; tickets on sale soon.
4. Men's Basketball Health Updates, Roster Concerns, and Chemistry (09:22–15:57)
- Jalen Lowe and Jaden Quaintance progressing but still out.
- Team needs more from Cam Williams (especially at the 4 spot) and struggles when combining non-shooters in the frontcourt.
- Quote (Matt, 12:14): "...Cam Williams is huge because you can put him at the four and he can make three."
[12:14]
- Quote (Matt, 12:14): "...Cam Williams is huge because you can put him at the four and he can make three."
- Negative trend for Trent Noah: started strong but now out of the rotation; panel speculates it’s due to lack of physicality and confidence.
- Team chemistry: Social media reaction to alleged discord after the Michigan State loss.
- Panel feels issues are mainly on-court chemistry, not off-court relationships.
5. Strength of Schedule and SEC Concerns (15:23–17:30)
- Importance of beating North Carolina, Gonzaga: UK must secure quality wins with a down SEC.
- Quote (Matt, 16:05): “...I do worry about we got to beat some of these teams, Drew. Because the SEC is not going to give us the same amount of sketch...these teams aren’t nearly as good. The Hulk lost by like 40...”
[16:05]
- Quote (Matt, 16:05): “...I do worry about we got to beat some of these teams, Drew. Because the SEC is not going to give us the same amount of sketch...these teams aren’t nearly as good. The Hulk lost by like 40...”
- UK’s schedule mostly features bottom-ranked teams; the panel is cautious about national perception come March.
6. Football: Kentucky vs. Louisville, The Vince Marrow Factor (21:42–26:55)
- Louisville favored, but both teams face injury and depth questions.
- Emotional subplot: Former UK recruiter and coach Vince Marrow now on Louisville’s sideline after years of vocal loyalty to UK.
- Quote (Matt, 24:27): “...if you go to Louisville, I hope you lose every game and I will boo you every single time you walk on the field. And then he went. So I owe it to him to...boo right in his face. Drew, I mean, I don't. I have to. He's my friend, but I don't care.”
[24:27]
- Quote (Matt, 24:27): “...if you go to Louisville, I hope you lose every game and I will boo you every single time you walk on the field. And then he went. So I owe it to him to...boo right in his face. Drew, I mean, I don't. I have to. He's my friend, but I don't care.”
- Panel expresses that for both staff and players, this rivalry game carries added personal weight.
7. Volleyball Victory: Interview with Coach Craig Skinner (27:36–34:04)
- Coach reflects on the team’s resilience and mid-match adjustments.
- Quote (Craig Skinner, 27:59): “...for us to pull that out after basically being dead in the water after set two...was just an amazing accomplishment for our team.”
[27:59]
- Quote (Craig Skinner, 27:59): “...for us to pull that out after basically being dead in the water after set two...was just an amazing accomplishment for our team.”
- Confirms Matt’s observation: their setting and on-court connection was off early, improved after lineup tweaks.
- Quote (Skinner, 29:54): “No, the connection was not where it needed to be...but yes, the last, you know, spike, kill shot, whatever you want to do, was not...getting full gas. And that’s a combination of the tempo and rhythm of execution...it got better as the match went on.”
- Anticipation builds for hosting NCAA first and second rounds; ticket and scheduling details provided.
8. Callers, Pleated Pants, and Stoops’ Future (34:33–38:10)
- Updates, Thanksgiving shoutouts, and a light moment: a caller supports Billy’s choice of pleated pants.
- Football talk: Stoops’ job security will be decided by the Louisville game, not the bowl outcome.
- Quote (Matt, 36:18): “...the bowl game is going to have no impact because you’re not going to make the change after the bowl game...the final determination...is [the] Louisville game.”
[36:18]
- Quote (Matt, 36:18): “...the bowl game is going to have no impact because you’re not going to make the change after the bowl game...the final determination...is [the] Louisville game.”
9. NCAA Calendar Crunch & Coaching Carousel (38:10–39:39)
- Tough logistics for coaches and recruits, with signing day and the portal crammed right after rivalry week. Some coaches will make job announcements during prime TV (possibly College GameDay).
10. Debate: Should Mark Stoops Stay or Go? (45:05–48:47)
- Matt moderates a “one-minute case” from each side—Drew wants change; Ryan backs Stoops.
- Drew (Frank Franklin, 46:06): Critiques UK’s recruiting, game day atmosphere, and lack of progress; urges broad reform of the program’s football priorities.
- Ryan (Ryan Lemond, 47:28): Emphasizes Stoops’ unprecedented success, program turnaround, and warns against assuming a new coach would do better.
- Crowd sides more with Drew’s stance for change, though exact breakdown unclear.
Notable & Memorable Quotes
-
Shannon on getting caught skipping conditioning:
"I jump off [the golf cart] and wait for everybody else to catch up. And then...he calls me out and knew...I cheated on the campus mile and had to stay after practice and clean up the field.”
[05:23] -
Matt on energy shift at KS Bar:
"The moment he left, it turned around, and probably half the crowd stayed. But then it was really exciting.”
[07:04] -
Craig Skinner on his team’s mental toughness:
“...the sign of great teams is they have no recollection of what just happened. They're just totally consumed with what's going to happen on the next whistle.”
[29:03] -
Matt on the Vince Marrow rivalry dynamic:
“...if you go to Louisville, I hope you lose every game and I will boo you every single time you walk on the field. And then he went. So I owe it to him to...boo right in his face. Drew, I mean, I don't. I have to. He's my friend, but I don't care.”
[24:27] -
Drew on the program’s stagnation:
“...we have the longest tenured ad, the longest tenured coach. What are we the best at? What are we even halfway up the SEC at? We're almost dead last in recruiting. I think we're currently 15th. Vandy's 20 spots ahead.”
[46:06] -
Ryan defending Stoops:
“Mark Stoops is the best football coach at UK in my lifetime. In most of our lifetimes, he's done things here most of us thought never could be done...So be careful what you wish for. The grass isn't always greener…”
[47:28]
Important Timestamps
- Columbia nostalgia & Shannon’s baseball story: – [03:44–05:54]
- UK VB's SEC comeback, bad luck superstitions: – [05:54–09:12]
- Basketball health/chemistry talk: – [09:22–15:57]
- State of SEC basketball, concern for quality wins: – [15:23–17:30]
- Vince Marrow rivalry discussion: – [21:42–26:55]
- Coach Craig Skinner interview: – [27:36–34:04]
- Pleated pants caller: – [34:33–35:40]
- Stoops’ future & coaching timeline logistics: – [36:02–39:39]
- Debate: Should Stoops stay or go?: – [45:05–48:47]
Tone & Atmosphere
- Conversational, playful, locally-rooted: The hosts riff off each other, share laughs, and seamlessly blend sports analysis with personal stories and gentle ribbing.
- Community-focused: Frequent nods to regular listeners, Kentucky locales, and inside jokes.
- Informative but accessible: The show educates listeners on volleyball and football intricacies without being overly technical, keeping things relatable.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This hour captured the warmth of Thanksgiving week with classic KSR humor and storytelling, peppered with real analysis on the future of UK sports, celebration of volleyball triumph, and the emotional stakes of the coming rivalry football game. The episode’s highlights are the volleyball discussion (including Coach Skinner’s insights), debate over Stoops’ future, and the sense of Kentucky sports community—making it a memorable pre-holiday listen.