Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: February 6, 2026
Location: Media Row, San Francisco (Super Bowl Week)
Hosts: Matt Jones, Shannon, Billy, Drew Franklin
Key Guests/Callers: Ryan, Wendell, Mary, Steve, Isaac, Jake, Daniel

Episode Overview

In this lively and wide-ranging episode of KSR, the crew broadcasts live from Media Row in San Francisco during Super Bowl week. The hour blends insider Kentucky basketball analysis, colorful live observations of NFL legends passing by, heated debates about city management, and the joyful chaos that only KSR brings. Listeners get not only a taste of the on-the-ground Super Bowl energy but also classic Bluegrass banter about UK sports, city politics, and fan rituals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Row & NFL Star Sightings

Throughout the episode, the hosts share their excitement (and occasional starstruck moments) as legends of football stroll past their broadcast set on Media Row.

• Notable NFL Stars Spotted: Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Rich Gannon, Gerald McCoy, Cameron Jordan, and Seth Rollins.
• Atmosphere: The crew is visibly thrilled, often pausing conversations to marvel at the parade of Hall of Famers.
  • "[29:21] Shannon: Some of them within 10ft of us at the exact same moment were Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders, Drew Breeze, Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kley."
• On Meeting Bo Jackson:
  • "[29:46] Shannon: For people our age. Yeah. Who was cooler than Bo Jackson."
  • "[31:07] Billy: I'm a little star struck. The last five minutes were insane."

2. KSR Crew Hijinks & Fun Moments

The camaraderie and friendly teasing are in full swing.

• Bounty Football Toss Challenge:
  • Billy’s come-from-behind win is recounted with pride and humor.
    • "[10:53] Billy: Like that I saw nipple in the celebration."
  • "[12:41] Shannon: ...I'm glad you got that. And you went on a run to do it too. You came from behind, kind of like Kentucky versus LSU. You had your Malachi Moreno moment."
• Gerald McCoy & NFL Awkwardness:
  • Billy openly roots for his favorite (Gerald McCoy, a Bucs legend) and refuses to interact with rival Cameron Jordan.
    • "[22:21] Shannon: ...You're a producer here on the set. Why don't you walk right over there? Will you walk right over?"
    • "[23:01] Shannon: He could probably tell. That's Why? I didn't want to do it."

3. Kentucky Basketball & Off-Court Storylines

A roundtable on fan culture, coaching, and recruiting developments.

• Technical Fouls Record (Arkansas Game):

  • Caller Mary wonders if there’s ever been three technicals within 38 seconds.
    • "[26:37] Shannon: ...to have three different incidents trigger a technical within 38 seconds, three different plays, I have to think that has almost never happened."
    • "[27:04] Drew Franklin: Because usually after one and certainly after two, you do something to make sure it stops."

• Mark Pope’s Sideline Demeanor and Officiating:

  • Discussion on whether Pope’s ‘good guy’ image affects how refs call technicals on him.
    • "[27:34] Shannon: ...I feel like if you are as good a guy as he is, even a little screw up gets you a technical."

• Recruiting Woes & NIL:

  • The hosts express concern about top Kentucky high school prospects not committing to UK.
    • "[33:08] Drew Franklin: No, I would love to be surprised. This looks like a year where it's going to be mostly returners and portal."
    • "[34:58] Drew Franklin: ...the closing is already an issue because they've been all the way to the last step with a lot of players and none of them ended up signing."
    • "[33:34] Shannon: ...there needs to be an answer because this is Kentucky and we are going to get none of the top Players, most likely."

4. Lexington Snow Response & Political Drama

A digression into local politics with a state-wide twist.

• Andy Beshear vs. Linda Gorton (Mayor of Lexington):
  • Discussion on the governor publicly criticizing the city's handling of snow removal and alleged refusal of state help.
    • "[05:13] Shannon: ...if it's true that he offered the states help in cleaning up the roads and they said no, that's probably a bad look."
    • "[06:19] Billy: ...those roads are still terrible, I, I don't expect every, you know, back road to get done, but like turning lanes and busy intersections are still full of ice."
  • Later, a "clarification" from the mayor's office claims it was a misunderstanding.
    • "[35:26] Shannon: I got a message from the mayor's office that said the city did not refuse state help with roads. It was a misunderstanding."

5. San Francisco & Travel Perceptions

Callers and crew discuss misconceptions about big cities, especially San Francisco.

• "[13:13] Ryan: ...Not only is that city beautiful, geologically, geographically...I think that is the biggest problem…people want to talk ill about a place…but whenever you go there and you experience it, now that's a totally, totally different."
• Crew’s Reflections:
  • "Don’t be scared to travel – every city has both good and bad areas."
    • "[14:36] Shannon: ...Every place has got places where you shouldn't go, right?"
    • "[15:24] Drew Franklin: ...they feel like we, we hate them in Kentucky. But also he was so nice, was like, take these back and pass it around."

6. Fan Rituals & Game Day Traditions

Fans, players, and hosts reflect on the culture of college basketball.

• Whiteouts & Fan-Led Initiatives:

  • Discussion about Malachi Moreno suggesting a "whiteout" for the next game, and resistance from some fans claiming "that's not what Kentucky does."
    • "[48:59] Shannon: Well, first of all, nobody gets to say like the, the fan. Like fans don't get to say, we're Kentucky. We don't do it. A white out would be awesome."
    • The consensus: fun is good, and UK is not above a whiteout.

• Who Would You Want Next to You in a Fight? (Classic KSR)

  • "[39:08] Drew Franklin: Yeah, Jamal's good..."
  • Shannon picks Jamal Magloire; others debate crazy vs. tough.

7. Personal Highlights & Seinfeld-ian Tangents

The guys revel in their brushes with celebrity and inside jokes.

• Seth Rollins Recognizes Matt Jones:
  • "[44:44] Shannon: Seth Rollins just told me he recognized me from Wrestlers. He said, aren't you...the guy that was in Wrestlers?"
• Clothes Commentary & UK’s Throwback Uniforms:
  • Warm reviews for the new/old denim UK uniforms.
    • "[46:16] Drew Franklin: ...I love the. They do that different UK logo. It's like the throwback..."

8. Listener Q&A

A cavalcade of quick-hit calls about technical fouls records, earthquake scares, recruiting, game traditions, and more.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On star athletes walking by:
  • "[29:34] Billy: There's a lot of talent. A lot of talent right there."
• On the Bounty contest win:
  • "[10:53] Billy: Like that I saw nipple in the celebration."
• On recruiting issues:
  • "[33:34] Shannon: there has to be an explanation as to why that is. It's probably an off season conversation, but it is going to be one we're going to have to have."
• On snow removal politics:
  • "[06:19] Billy: ...those roads are still terrible...turning lanes and busy intersections are still full of ice. So like, I just, I, I completely agree with Andy."
• On starstruck moments:
  • "[31:07] Billy: I'm a little star struck. The last five minutes were insane."
• On San Francisco’s image:
  • "[14:36] Shannon: ...Every place has got places where you shouldn't go, right?"
• On Seth Rollins recognizing Matt Jones:
  • "[44:44] Shannon: Seth Rollins just told me he recognized me from Wrestlers."
• On game day rituals:
  • "[48:59] Shannon: ...A white out would be awesome. So yes, if...it would be awesome. And they don't get to say that it's not awesome."

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment & Content | |--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:18-08:48 | KSR live from Media Row – bourbon, missing Mario, and the NFL media circus | | 08:48-12:18 | Bounty Challenge: Billy’s epic come-from-behind win and the Christian Watson roast | | 13:01-16:47 | Callers: Defending San Francisco’s reputation, travel fears, and misconceptions | | 23:01-24:18 | Awkwardness with Cameron Jordan: Billy’s sports grudges, refusing to interact | | 25:30-28:06 | Three technicals in 38 seconds – has it ever happened before? | | 33:00-35:26 | UK recruiting: Wavering hope for top Kentucky prospects, NIL implications | | 35:26-35:59 | Lexington snow response "clarification" from the mayor’s office | | 39:08-40:11 | "Who would you want in a fight by your side?" – favorite tough-guy UK players | | 44:43-45:52 | Seth Rollins recognizes Matt from Wrestlers | | 46:05-46:24 | UK’s new denim throwback uniforms – fashion nostalgia | | 48:22-50:07 | Should Kentucky do a "whiteout"? Debating fan rituals and traditions | | 50:25-51:24 | Tennessee preview and game predictions |

Tone & Style

The wit and fraternal ribbing distinctive of KSR is on full display—part sports radio, part sitcom. The tone oscillates from gleeful fan energy to frank, thoughtful debate over issues serious (NIL, snow removal, city reputations), creating an accessible and engaging listen for diehards and casual fans alike.

Summary Sentence (For the Uninitiated)

This episode is a buzzing, in-the-moment snapshot of Kentucky sports fandom as the KSR crew reports from the heart of Super Bowl week, riffing on encounter after encounter with NFL greats, engaging in deep-dish debates on UK basketball and city politics, and reminding listeners that sometimes, the best moments in sports are unscripted and unrepeatable.