Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR)
Date: December 5, 2025
Episode: KSR - Hour 1
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude
Location: Ashley Furniture Outlet, Glasgow, Kentucky
Episode Overview
This KSR episode broadcasts live from Ashley Furniture in Glasgow, Kentucky, bringing a festive, community vibe as fans lounge on sofas and beds while the crew delivers UK sports updates, breaking program news, and a major personal announcement from the KSR family. While it dives into UK basketball, football staff changes, and rivalry storylines, it also features recaps on high school state championships and banter about the quirks of covering live broadcasts from a furniture store.
1. Celebration & Breaking Personal News
Drew Franklin’s Big Announcement
- [05:06] Drew Franklin shares that he and Abby are expecting a baby girl.
- Quote:
- Drew: “We are on our way to Nashville and we want to share with everyone that we are expecting a baby girl. Ready for my girl dad era. I will take any tips that you guys...”
- Matt: “Baby girl, after 15 years of Kentucky Sports Radio on the radio, this is the first KSR child...I almost feel like a proud uncle.” ([06:07])
- The team jokes about naming options (“Ryan Franklin has a nice ring,” “Ashley” after the furniture store), and emphasizes this milestone for the KSR crew.
- Drew mentions Masters Sunday as the due date—a nod to sports fans.
2. UK Sports News
Volleyball Update
- [07:24] UK Volleyball wins its first NCAA tournament round, beats Wofford, faces UCLA next (game at 7:00 PM, may be a rolling start).
- Team acknowledges UK Volleyball's consistent postseason performance.
Basketball:
- Preview: Kentucky vs. Gonzaga
- Critical road test in Nashville (7:00 PM game).
- Team expresses concern over Kentucky’s recent on-court issues.
- News that point guard Jalen Lowe is expected to return from injury soon.
- Quote:
- Matt: “That is huge news right? Because I mean I don’t mean to be pessimistic but I feel like if we didn’t have Jalen Lowe, I don’t know if we’re going to be good this year.” ([20:57])
- Drew: “He’ll get the offense moving. I don’t know if we’ll see him tonight. I hope we do because we know how desperate it’s getting already this early in the season." ([21:13])
- High ankle sprain for Mohamed Diabate could keep him out until SEC play.
- Concerns about Kentucky’s offense, lack of chemistry, and rebounding issues—especially after the recent North Carolina loss.
- Quote:
- Matt: “We look so discombobulated on offense...we can’t shoot. We have like two guys that can beat people off the dribble.” ([25:55])
- Drew: “No effort. That was a big problem, too. I mean, they got crushed on the board.” ([25:57])
- Quote:
- Speculation about team chemistry:
- Matt: “It does not look to me like the team likes each other.”
- Shannon: “If there is off the court chemistry issues, that’s a bigger issue in its own.” ([28:51–29:16])
3. UK Football: Staff Moves & Recruiting
Major Staff News
- [08:45] UK to appoint Joe Sloan (from LSU) as Offensive Coordinator and hire Pete Nocta (Louisville’s head recruiting coordinator).
- Quote:
- Matt: “They are going to steal Louisville’s head recruiting coordinator...Pete Nocta is coming to Kentucky...in what I think is a very surprising move.” ([08:45])
- Ryan: “I’ve known him since he was like five years old...His dad is a longtime high school football coach in Lexington. Pete grew up running the sidelines...people love him, and that’s why they’ve done well in recruiting, because. Because of. He’s just that guy you like.” ([10:20])
- Discussion of rivalry implications; both schools now have staff with deep Kentucky roots. Vince Marrow’s reaction noted as potentially related to Nocta’s move.
- The team's optimistic about building a “Kentucky-connected” coaching staff, expecting positive recruiting momentum and rivalry fuel.
- Shannon: "Let's keep the guys here home." ([11:23])
- Matt: "They have Vince. We now have their recruiting director…on the football side, this is the spiciest this rivalry has been in a while, wouldn’t you think?" ([15:20])
Offensive Coordinator Discussion
- [12:32, 30:00–33:58] Joe Sloan’s hire discussed:
- Experience at LSU, coached Jaden Daniels.
- Hand-off of play-calling from Will Stein to Sloan considered a major trust move.
- Some skepticism from callers about Sloan’s record at LSU (offense struggled last year).
- Matt’s perspective: “One bad season...you could say that about a lot of people, but I would say our head coach is one of the best offensive minds in the country. He chose this guy…I think you got to give him some leeway.” ([30:33])
- Drew: “I completely agree. And LSU just had problems overall...I'm willing to, you know...let Will Stein do that and we'll judge how it looks after first year.” ([32:08])
- Optimism about offensive improvement with the new staff mix.
4. UK vs. Louisville Rivalry Narrative
- Rivalry narrative heats up with staff exchanges and former Louisville players now leading both teams.
- Matt notes how rare it is for rivalries to see favorite sons cross over (“It would be like if Jared Lorenzen went and coached at Louisville...people would go nuts.” ([16:00])
- A Louisville fan at the live event is gently teased.
- The crew notes the difference in intensity between football and basketball sides of the rivalry at the moment.
5. High School Football State Championships
- Ryan previews three title games with Shannon, Drew, and Matt weighing in with predictions.
- Kentucky Country Day vs. Raceland, LCA vs. Owensboro Catholic, CAL vs. Murray discussed, with hometown allegiances, playful banter, and shoutouts to visiting teams and local support.
- Matt: “If you went to Kentucky Country Day, I don’t think you’d fit in very well.” ([45:09])
6. Memorable Moments, Quotes & Banter
The Ashley Furniture Experience
- KSR broadcasts from inside Ashley Furniture, with listeners literally lying on display mattresses—crowd described as “the most comfortable our audience has ever been.”
- Matt: “You talk about the best job in the world. Take a nap, get $25.” ([02:59])
- Billy Rutledge provides comic relief by breaking a lamp.
- “He now is going to owe Ashley Furniture money for this trip.” ([41:16])
Chemistry, Fatigue, and Subbing Debate
- Long segment on Mark Pope’s “mass substitutions” and team fatigue.
- Matt: “I don’t care what Mark Pope says about analytics. I’ve watched for two years. These teams start fast. Mass substitution turns around. Happened against...Louisville on the road.” ([35:40])
- Drew: “They were hot. You just turned it off like they were rolling. Who knows what they could have gone up by...I do not understand it.” ([37:05])
Callers’ Takes
- Paul: Skeptical of offensive coordinator hiring, frustrated by play style (“our offense seems to have a history of going east and west when we should be going north and south.” — [30:00])
- Evan: Frustration over lineup decisions, fears UK will rely too much on Brandon Garrison’s minutes.
- Ben: Congratulates Drew, then jokes about John Calipari’s recent press conference habits.
- “Just remember, like the divorced couple that goes and finds new love, he [Cal] wasn’t going to do that here...it wasn’t going to happen at this place” (Matt, [47:52])
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- “We are expecting a baby girl...Ready for my girl dad era.” — Drew Franklin [05:06]
- “Take a nap, get $25. I don’t know how you could do that.” — Matt Jones [02:59]
- “They are going to steal Louisville’s head recruiting coordinator...Pete Nocta is coming to Kentucky...in what I think is a very surprising move.” — Matt Jones [08:45]
- "He’s just that guy you like.” — Ryan Lemond on Pete Nocta [10:20]
- “It does not look to me like the team likes each other.” — Matt Jones [28:51]
- “We look so discombobulated on offense...we can’t shoot.” — Matt Jones [25:55]
- “If you went to Kentucky Country Day, I don’t think you’d fit in very well.” — Matt Jones [45:09]
- “He now is going to owe Ashley Furniture money for this trip.” — Matt Jones on Billy Rutledge [41:16]
Key Timestamps for Segments
- [02:32] Show start, location intro, crowd banter
- [05:06] Drew’s baby announcement
- [07:24] UK Volleyball & Basketball news
- [08:45] UK Football staff hiring news
- [12:32] Offensive Coordinator & rivalry talk
- [19:37] Segment return, basketball injuries and preview
- [28:07] Caller on team’s look, chemistry, shoe choices
- [35:00] Callers’ questions on OC hiring and lineup decisions
- [44:28] High school championship preview
- [41:16] Billy breaks a lamp story
- [47:28] Ben’s call: congrats to Drew + Calipari commentary
Tone & Atmosphere
- Light, community-driven, and family-friendly, with a lively, humorous edge.
- Mixture of serious sports analysis and playful ribbing typical for the KSR crew—inside jokes, Kentucky pride, and poking fun at each other and local fans.
- Genuinely celebratory and inclusive, especially during Drew’s announcement.
Summary
This KSR episode delivers the classic blend of local color and detailed UK sports talk: live community interaction from a furniture showroom, a touching baby announcement for one of the regulars, updates on significant UK football program changes, candid basketball analysis with a side of self-deprecating humor, and a strong dose of rivalry banter. The show’s energy peaks in moments of laughter, debate, and regional sports passion—reminding listeners why KSR is a unique Kentucky institution.