Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2 | April 22, 2026
Host: Matt Jones, with Shannon and Will Stein
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Main Theme:
Hour two of Kentucky Sports Radio features robust discussion about objectivity in sports talk radio, the state of UK Athletics leadership, Mark Pope's hiring as UK Basketball coach, fan expectations, football recruiting and roster-building in the NIL/transfer era, and an extended, candid segment with Coach Will Stein.
Episode Overview
This episode grapples with the challenge of maintaining objectivity and fan engagement during turbulent sports seasons, especially when UK teams are underperforming. The crew addresses criticism from fans, takes calls about the athletics director search and recruitment strategy, and wraps up with an in-depth interview with UK Football Coach Will Stein on spring practices, recruiting in the NIL era, roster management, and his philosophy on program building.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. On Objectivity and Tone in Sports Radio
(03:09–06:45, 13:19–14:07, 24:28–25:25)
- Fan Reactions: The majority agree KSR's balanced criticism is appropriate, though some fans accuse the crew of being either too negative or too supportive depending on outcomes.
- "Most people are probably 75, 80% saying that they think we take the right tone." — Matt Jones (03:23)
- "There's no winning. If I come on here and say everything's great, then people will go, Matt, you're making it to where they won't make a change. You just can't win. So all you can do is just say what you actually think." — Matt Jones (04:59)
- KSR's Impact: The hosts describe how Kentucky’s athletic success significantly affects everything from local business revenue to show ratings and morale.
- "The difference in the bottom line for KSBar when we win or lose is hundreds of thousands of dollars." — Matt Jones (05:35)
- Objectivity & Authenticity: They reject the idea of becoming cheerleaders for the university, aiming for honest takes over fan-pleasing fluff.
- "I tried [being positive during down years]. I was on the official network for a few years...You don't feel like you can say stuff." — Matt Jones (25:25)
2. UK Athletics Leadership & Coaching Search
(07:24–09:49, 09:26–09:49, 27:20–28:18)
- Administration Criticism: Callers voice frustration with Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and the university president’s involvement in selecting his replacement, especially as leadership turnover looms.
- "Barnhart is a black cloud over this program." — Caller (07:24)
- "Why is this president hiring an AD when he's getting ready to leave?" — Matt Jones (09:26)
- The Mark Pope Hire: Discussion of the process, with confirmation that Pope was likely hired due to being a “UK guy”—and if not, the job would’ve gone to Shaka Smart, with other more controversial candidates deemed off-limits by university higher-ups.
- "If Mark Pope was not the hire, the coach here would be Shaka Smart...is that better or not?" — Matt Jones (07:50)
- "There was a moment...I thought Bruce Pearl was going to be the coach here...then late in the afternoon it was told that he could, they could not hire him. And then they quickly moved on Pope." — Matt Jones (09:01)
3. KSR as ‘Group Therapy’ for the Fanbase
(13:19–13:27, 13:39–13:50)
- Show as therapeutic for fans: "At times, you're like our group therapist leader. This show becomes group therapy. You have to lead us through...It's tough right now, but light." — Matt Jones (13:19)
- Differences with other fanbases: "When we lose, we want to talk about it. Other fan bases just move on to something else." — Shannon (13:44)
4. Caller Interactions and KSR Culture
Memorable Callers and Humor (14:07–15:18, 16:15–17:17)
- Highlights include a former UK football player seeking bumper sticker advice and a classic non-sequitur call about “Afro Man” running for president, which the crew laughs off as typical KSR unpredictability.
5. Notable Sports Headlines and Fun Debates
(21:07–23:32)
- Yankees to wear alternate uniforms for the first time.
- "The Yankees have never worn alternate uniforms. Only franchise to never do it. The players want to do it this year." — Matt Jones (21:33)
- Devin Hester, Hall of Fame inductee, receives a lifetime supply of ketchup; lighthearted debate on ketchup brand loyalties ensues.
6. Breaking UK Football Commitment News
(25:59–26:51)
- Antoine Higgins, an edge recruit from Cincinnati, commits to Kentucky. His unusual name spelling draws some on-air banter.
- "His quote: 'You can tell it's a whole new program. It's different. Everybody is buying in.'" — Matt Jones quoting Higgins (26:25)
In-Depth Interview: Coach Will Stein on UK Football
(31:45–52:07)
One of the most insightful and engaging parts of the hour—with detailed takes on program-building, recruiting, transfers, and NIL.
Spring Practice Review & Team Strengths
- Teaching a New Culture: "It’s really teaching these guys how we practice, how we meet, how we operate...I was really pleased with how they responded." — Will Stein (32:19)
- Offensive Line: Stein touts the o-line as potentially NFL-caliber.
- "Our first five, six, seven guys are as good as I've been around in a long time...Potentially all five could play in the NFL." — Will Stein (34:13, 34:30)
- Defensive Secondary: Likes depth at safety and corner, with special mention of transfers and returners.
- Recruiting Philosophy: Focused evaluations over merely buying talent. “The fun's in the winning...but it's not just a sales pitch, they see the energy, every conversation.” — Will Stein (41:01)
Roster Building in the NIL/Transfer Era
- Market Value and Depth: Acknowledges talent is more spread out because elite programs can’t hoard backups thanks to transfer rules.
- "Now those second and third string dudes might want to go start somewhere else...Is that, am I correct in that? Yeah, that's 100% true." — Matt Jones & Will Stein (37:04–37:35)
- Approaching NIL and the Transfer Portal:
- Players are evaluated with a dollar “market value”: “There's gonna be a few players that are $5 signs that we want...if you pay a $5 player, they better play right away.” — Will Stein (46:16)
- Portal recruiting is like the stock exchange: "You better make a deal and get it and be aggressive or you're gonna lose it...Portal recruitment is wild." — Will Stein (49:29)
- Recruiting Never Stops: "It's not over until it's over. And even when it's over, it's still not over." — Will Stein (42:27)
Coach Stein’s Recruiting Approach & Philosophy
- Building Staff: Blending "football guys" and "nerds" in personnel for smarter evaluation and broader reach.
- Energy and Competition: “I want to stay in Lexington for a really long time, you know, and if I don't go get great players, shoot, you're going to be talking trash about me...And how do you win? Get great players.” — Will Stein (44:10–45:22)
- Paying for Impact: Spending big on crucial roster holes, especially offensive line, and refusing to overpay for depth.
- Culture and Continuity: “They see the energy. They saw it in January, March, April...it’s not just a sales pitch.” — Will Stein (41:01)
Looking Forward
- Excitement about the Fall: "I'm so excited...Kroger Field needs to be like it has been, a home field advantage. I want people hating to come to Kroger Field..." — Will Stein (51:47)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "[The only thing that's] win-loss proof is this show. But everything else is...much better when we're winning." – Matt Jones (06:17)
- "If you want a show that just affirms your beliefs, go watch one made by the university." – Matt Jones (03:23)
- "When we lose, we want to talk about it. Other fan bases just move on to something else." – Shannon (13:44)
- "I want people to understand...if Mark Pope had not been the coach here, it would have been Shaka [Smart]." – Matt Jones (08:16)
- "It's not over until it's over. And even when it’s over, it’s still not over. Nowadays. You can get out of a commitment or a sign deal after you sign." — Will Stein (42:27)
- "[Portal recruiting] is like being on the stock exchange in New York City...be aggressive or you're gonna lose it." — Will Stein (49:29)
- "When I have great players, I've been a part of 69 wins over the last six seasons...When you have better players, you win more games. It's pretty simple." — Will Stein (44:10)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- Objectivity and Criticism of KSR: 03:09–06:45
- Administrative Leadership Drama: 07:24–09:49
- Mark Pope Hiring Backstory: 07:50–09:26
- Caller Bumper Sticker & Humor: 14:07–15:18
- Afro Man-for-President Caller: 16:15–17:17
- Fun: Yankees Uniform Debate & Ketchup: 21:07–23:32
- Breaking UK Football Commitment: 25:59–26:51
- Extended Will Stein Interview: 31:45–52:07
Tone and Style
The hour is lively, conversational, and often self-deprecating—leaning into the show’s role as both information source and communal sounding board. While deeply knowledgeable about UK sports, the crew maintains an approachable, relatable banter and isn’t afraid to lampoon themselves or the wider sports media landscape.
For New Listeners
If you missed the show, this episode is a quintessential slice of KSR—honest, at times irreverent, blending hard sports analysis, phone-in banter, fan culture, and deep-dive recruiting talk with the key personalities that have made this show a Kentucky staple.
