Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: December 16, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Shannon The Dude, Adam Luckett
Producer: iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the University of Kentucky (UK) football program's latest coaching hires and staff changes, the challenges and strategies facing the program in recruiting, roster management, and the current financial realities in college sports. The KSR crew also tackles interesting listener calls about recruiting rumors, in-state rivalries, and even some lighthearted discussions about holiday gift-giving and pet ownership. The episode is rich with candid analysis, news tidbits, and trademark Kentucky wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Will Stein Hire and UK Football Staff Changes

• Will Stein’s Fit and Offensive Philosophy

  • Adam Luckett shares that Will Stein was among his "top tier" of available candidates after Summerall was off the table (06:04).
  • Stein was seen as the best remaining option, with Brian Hartline also high on the list (06:09).
  • Stein’s offense is described as “balanced,” not a pure speed/tempo team but one that “mix[es] in tempo” occasionally with a priority on running the football (06:28).
    • "They're not going to be this crazy tempo offense...they will, one to two series a game, go as fast as any offense." – Adam Luckett (06:43)
    • Trick plays are also a hallmark, with the passing game described as simple but effective, featuring vertical and short throws.

• Youthful Staff and Its Potential

  • UK’s new staff under Stein is considered "probably the youngest" Luckett has seen in college football (07:28).
    • Offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich is 26, a 2017 high school grad (07:51).
  • The approach is characterized as "taking chances and betting on ascending coaches," which Luckett sees as suited for Kentucky's situation (07:34).
  • Luckett assures that despite youth, the staff have strong recruiting backgrounds and come from “coaching families” (08:42).
    • "Once he's at his ten-year high school reunion, he'll be a multi-year SEC offensive line coach." – Matt Jones on Leftwich (08:11).

• Defensive Coordinator Concerns

  • Jay Bateman’s hiring as defensive coordinator is viewed as a "risk" due to mixed results at previous stops (09:46).
    • "It's a risky hire. It’s not necessarily a guy who’s had more recently proven results." – Adam Luckett (10:23).
  • The hope is that Bateman learned useful lessons from his time under Mike Elko at Texas A&M.

2. Quarterback & Recruiting News

• Cutter Bowley as Projected Starter

  • "It’s trending that way." – Adam Luckett on Bowley starting (10:51)
  • There will be competition, but not a “real” one—Bowley “is the guy for them” (10:58–11:14).
  • UK is not seriously pursuing Florida’s DJ Lagway or the Oregon QB transfer; the focus remains on Bowley (16:27, 50:53).
  • "They are invested in making sure Cutter Bowley is here next year and...want him to be the starting quarterback." – Adam Luckett (51:06)

• Portal Activity, NIL, and Program Finances

  • Luckett is confident UK can land an impactful portal class: “They’ve got money, they're going to have cap space. I think they’re going to be able to make a splash.” (11:34)
  • The big test for UK’s football finances is this portal period—how much money is available for talent, especially given basketball’s share of resources (11:53–12:18).
  • Uncertainty remains about which (if any) significant players might transfer, but no departures are expected imminently other than Stephen Souls (12:54, 28:21).

3. Listener Q&A & Notable Call Segments

• On Portal Priorities & Team Needs

  • Discussing young receiver retention versus adding portal talent (13:00).
  • "If you go get a receiver, a receiver on your team might be like, see you, I'm out of here." – Adam Luckett (13:06).

• Should Fans Root for or Against Stein in the Playoff?

  • There’s debate over whether it’s better for UK if Stein’s Oregon beats Texas Tech, possibly delaying his boots-on-the-ground presence for UK’s portal season (13:32–15:24).
  • "I do not [want him to win]. I want him to lose. It’s better for the program if his boots [are] on the ground in Lexington when the portal [opens]." – Adam Luckett (13:44)
  • Jones speculates on potential PR/recruiting value if Stein won a national title, but consensus is it’s a fleeting benefit (14:16–15:24).

• Basketball Roster Building in the Nil Era

  • Caller Randall questions the need for multiple freshmen on the basketball roster; Jones ponders whether COVID years and NIL have changed the “veteran team wins” paradigm (25:28).
  • Both hosts and callers seem to agree a blend of upperclassmen and select freshmen is key going forward (25:53–27:17).

• Freshmen in Football & Portal Philosophy

  • Adam Luckett advises balance: neither loading up on freshmen nor treating the portal as a cure-all is optimal for long-term stability (26:45–27:58).
  • UK must adjust OL recruiting—the last years have seen "a mistake" in not signing more offensive linemen out of high school (41:12–41:46).

4. Light Moments & Side Conversations

• Kentucky County Rivalries & Banter

  • Discussion (with Shannon and Luckett, both from Bullitt County) about regional stereotypes and local pride (17:21–18:23).
  • "Bullitt County is way nicer than Jefferson County...I've lived in Jefferson County. Parts of Jefferson County are an absolute dump." – Shannon (18:04)

• Dog Ownership and Local Ordinances

  • Exploration of Lexington and Louisville’s bans on retail dog/cat sales—a surprisingly nuanced conversation about pet overpopulation, rescue/adoption, and “designer” dogs pricing (31:04–37:05).
  • "These dogs cost more than I realized. People are telling me they paid $5,000 for a doodle!" – Matt Jones (46:12)
  • FYI: Most expensive breed discussed is the Tibetan Mastiff (46:45).

• Law School Joke & Potluck Protocols

  • A caller delivers a law school exam joke at Shannon’s expense (16:57–17:21), prompting laughs and commentary on Kentucky stereotypes.
  • Later, Shannon laughs off being called out for bringing only a can of green beans to a holiday potluck—defending his minimal effort (37:57–38:11).

5. Basketball: Elite Talent Debate

• Ongoing discussion about whether UK basketball currently has an "elite" player besides possibly Quinton; consensus is that truly elite talent (by Calipari-era standards) has been rare of late (28:47–29:30).
  • "If you say 'define elite', then by definition we don't have it...We know what elite looks like." – Matt Jones (29:30)

6. Listener Calls: Rumors, Staff, and Fun

• Confirmation of rumors around former coach Billy Clyde, and playful speculation about Mark Pope’s teaching of “pump-fake” tactics (48:45–50:22).
• Local football staff shoutouts (Cole Britt) and updates that only Anwar Stewart is likely to stay from old staff (47:22).
• Final segments include quick picks for bowl games and general hilarity around college football names and formations (51:06–52:24).

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On the New Coaching Staff:
  "You gotta be willing to swing the bat and take chances and bet on ascending coaches." – Adam Luckett (07:34)

• On Risk in Staff Selection:
  "It's a risky hire. It’s not necessarily a guy who’s had more recently proven results." – Adam Luckett on Jay Bateman (10:23)

• On Player/Coach Development:
  "I'd rather have seniors that have been in my program for a few years. Year-to-year success comes from a backbone in your organization of guys going up through the program." – Adam Luckett (27:17)

• On Culture of Political Discourse:
  "If you’re going to justify bad behavior by pointing to someone else with bad behavior, we’ll end up in a cycle of the worst behavior on earth...Who should be held to a higher standard than the president?" – Matt Jones (23:27)

• On Football Program Finances:
  "They’ve got money, they’re going to have cap space. I think they’re going to be able to make a splash [in the portal]." – Adam Luckett (11:34)

• On Community Pride:
  "Bullitt County is way nicer than Jefferson County...I've lived in Jefferson County. Parts of Jefferson County are an absolute dump." – Shannon (18:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Will Stein/Staff Discussion: 06:04–10:23
• Cutter Bowley QB News: 10:48–11:14, reinforced at 16:27, 51:06
• Portal & NIL/Finances Discussion: 11:34–12:18
• Oregon Playoff Debate & Recruiting Impact: 13:32–15:24
• Listener Calls (Lagway, Law Joke, etc.): 16:24–18:23
• Basketball Roster & Elite Talent Debate: 25:28–29:30
• Dog/Pet Ownership Segment: 31:04–37:05, 46:12–47:06
• Offensive Line/Recruiting Philosophy: 41:12–41:46

Summary

Hour 2 of this KSR episode is a lively and insightful journey through Kentucky football’s transitionary period with the hiring of Will Stein and a young, energetic staff. The dialogue is refreshingly honest—both about the risks and potential rewards lying ahead. Adam Luckett is especially confident (and definitive) on key roster decisions, including the quarterback situation. The episode is also punctuated by quintessential KSR banter, reflective listener calls, and offbeat Kentucky humor—making it an engaging listen for fans eager for a concise, candid update on both the gridiron and local culture.