KSR Postgame UK FB at Vanderbilt 11/22/25

Summary

KSR Postgame UK Football at Vanderbilt (11/22/25)

Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Producer/Co-host: Billy
Podcast: KSR Postgame Show (iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 - WKRD-AM)

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Episode Overview

This postgame episode centers on Kentucky’s (UK) crushing 45-17 defeat to Vanderbilt in Nashville—a loss that wasn’t as close as the score reflects. Matt Jones and the KSR team field calls and discuss the state of the UK football program as it heads toward a critical matchup with Louisville, debate the future of head coach Mark Stoops, and reflect on issues of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and program direction amid growing donor and fan frustration. The tone is frustrated, candid, and analytical, with Matt emphasizing the pivotal crossroad facing UK football.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Postgame Reactions: Total Annihilation by Vanderbilt

• Kentucky was “never in it” after the first quarter (03:03).
• Star Performance: Diego Pavia had one of the greatest individual performances ever against UK—second most passing yards allowed since Peyton Manning in 1997 (04:00).
• Offensive Ineptitude: UK’s offense was non-existent until mop-up time in the fourth quarter.
• Defensive Collapse: Injuries in the secondary exposed, but even veteran players were beaten.
• First Time Blown Out by Vandy: This was Vanderbilt’s first major blowout of the season, typically they play close games.

“Kentucky got completely annihilated and it's really the first time Vandy is annihilated a team this year.” — Matt Jones (04:28)

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2. State of the Program: Morale, Direction, and the Stoops Dilemma

• Only a few weeks ago, morale around the program hadn’t been lower since the Joker Phillips era.
• Recent wins alleviated pressure—but this blowout restored fanbase anxiety regarding Stoops and the trajectory of the program.
• The next Louisville game is framed as the season—and perhaps program—defining pivot.

“For Mark Stoops, the Louisville game is probably the difference between a frustrating, ultimately mediocre season ... and a fan base that likes would like to see a change most likely and then won't get it." — Matt Jones (06:22)

• Stoops’ Future: Matt doubts Stoops will be fired regardless, citing economic and donor realities.

Notable Quotes:

“I don't think Mark Stoops is going to get fired regardless. But I also wonder if at 5 and 7, especially if you lost to a Louisville team that is now reeling, I don't know how you build up a fan base in that off season.” (07:44)

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3. Immediate Program Concerns: Fan Experience, Team Culture, and Broadcast Frustration

• Fan Apathy: “Not that happy and uneasy Kentucky fan base.” (09:17)
• Women’s Team a Bright Spot: UK women beat Louisville for the first time in Louisville since 2014, but “besides that, it’s... uneasy.”
• Dissatisfaction with the game broadcast and the excessive focus on Diego Pavia’s mom.

“By the end of the game, I'm not sure I'd ever… I was ever more ready to stop listening to two people talk…” — Matt Jones (10:13)

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4. NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and Roster Building Realities

• Caller Discussion: Questioned why Vandy outperformed UK in the transfer/NIL space.
• Matt’s Take: UK has not failed due to lack of money, but by spending money on the wrong players.

“We just picked the wrong guy. Or they came and he, they coached him up better than, than we did. I mean, that's the answer.” — Matt Jones (16:55)

• Future Parity: Starting next year, the revenue-share era levels the playing field financially; success will hinge on how money is spent.

“And how you choose to spend it is going to be huge. And right now, we haven't done a good job spending our money the last few years.” (17:39)

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5. Calls for Change: The Stoops Buyout Dilemma

• Many callers express frustration, some calling for Stoops to be fired.
• Matt repeatedly highlights the reality—the $37 million buyout (due in 60 days), the lack of an obvious donor willing to pay it, and a donor base that largely supports Stoops.

"Who's going to pay that money? Because everybody skips over that piece... I don't know where that money's coming from..." — Matt Jones (32:17)

Even as fans want a change, Matt stresses the practical limitations:

“I think a very reasonable opinion is to be upset at Mitch Barnhart for that contract because the 60 day provision is kind of, I don't think any other coach in the country has that provision.” (64:24)

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6. Modernization and Future Vision for UK Athletics

• Matt advocates for a shift to “visionary thinkers” in the athletic department—"modernization" at Vandy (light shows, fan experience) is contrasted with Kentucky’s stagnation.
• Suggests current AD Mitch Barnhart is unlikely the person to lead into the “post-NIL” era.

“We are not a modern athletic department... that needs to change quickly.” — Matt Jones (27:06)

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7. Cutter Bowley and Player Development

• Callers praise true freshman QB Cutter Bowley’s effort and toughness, dubbing him the future of UK football.
• Matt: Bowley will be “the whole thing” UK sells to fans in the offseason.

“He is the Kentucky football going into next season... Because he is and he is exciting.” (13:58)

• Discussion around whether offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan will survive, hinging on Cutter Bowley’s preferences.

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8. Fan/Booster Sentiment vs. Reality

• Matt explains the gap between the message board/social media fans (often more reactionary), and the donor base, which, in football specifically, dictates major changes due to the scale of their financial support.
• Many donors are personally close to Stoops; Matt highlights the practical difficulty of firing a coach given this dynamic.

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9. Long-Term View: Impact of NIL and Next Era of College Football

• Matt ranks NIL/revenue share as the second most transformative thing in college sports after integration (21:23).
• Projects that successful programs/coaches in the NIL era may be totally different from previous eras.
• Warns that decisions next 6 months (coach, AD) will decide UK’s future for 20 years.

“Next five years are going to decide the next 20 years of college sports, of what programs are good and all that. And I don't want us to be in the wrong place.” (24:53)

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10. Special Segments and Memorable Moments

Excessive Coverage of Diego Pavia’s Mom

• Nearly 20% of listener texts were about her being continuously shown on the broadcast.

“That was more than Taylor Swift, wasn't it?” — Matt Jones (12:33)

Stoops’ Press Conference

• Caller notes that Stoops said, “Cutter Bowley’s got a great future ahead of him” (47:05), raising concerns about whether Stoops sees an immediate UK future.

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Important Timestamps

• 03:03 — Matt’s immediate postgame summary and breakdown.
• 13:58 — Cutter Bowley as the future of UK football.
• 16:55 — Matt on NIL decisions and “picking the wrong guy”.
• 21:23 — The impact of NIL in college athletics.
• 27:06 — Modernization: Vandy’s game day experience vs. UK.
• 32:17 — Stoops’ buyout reality and fan/donor divide.
• 64:24 — Criticism of Mitch Barnhart's contract decisions.
• 69:00 — Matt: “I think it would be better for the program for [Stoops] to be somebody else.”
• 74:05 — Comparison to Joker Phillips' firing; lack of fan revolt this year.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Exchanges

• On the season’s pivotal moment:
  “It’s kind of a week where there’s a pivot where Kentucky football can go one of two sort of dramatically different directions.” — Matt Jones (07:22)

• On NIL spending:
  “We didn't fail because we didn’t have enough money. We failed because we spent money on the wrong people.” — Matt Jones (15:55)

• On program modernization and fan experience:
  “We are not a modern athletic department. Football program. I think basketball, we are closer to it, but football… just not.” — Matt Jones (27:06)

• On the challenge of firing Stoops:
  “Everybody skips over that piece… Who’s going to pay that money?” — Matt Jones (32:17)

• On the call-in audience:
  “On these calls, this is the most… whoever calls is on… I did expect people to be more negative on this.” — Matt Jones (40:43)

• On Cutter Bowley:
  “He is the Kentucky football going into next season... Because he is and he is exciting. And kudos to him for coming back. I'm really shocked that he did.” — Matt Jones (13:58)

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Representative Callers and Perspectives

• Rooney (17:51): Frustration over ESPN switching off the UK game, concern that repeated embarrassments may force Stoops’ ouster.
• Scott (20:54): Asks about NIL’s impact and Stoops’ ability to re-adjust.
• Ryan (25:41): Expresses embarrassment about Kentucky’s standing vs. even "the Vandy’s of the world."
• Walker (65:26): Questions about UK’s transfer/NIL player evaluation—“Who’s making the final decision?”
• Joe/Joel (56:17; 58:40): Vents anger, threatens fan disengagement, challenges Matt on possible solutions, illustrating fanbase’s emotional fatigue.

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Conclusion: What’s Next for UK Football?

This episode paints a picture of a program in limbo—successful enough to stoke expectations, but not enough to create satisfaction among fans, nor to make necessary change financially feasible. The balance of donor power, massive contract buyouts, and NIL realities has UK at a crossroads. The looming game against Louisville carries outsize importance: win and salvage momentum (and bowl eligibility), or lose and risk a “5-7 purgatory” that could poison fan enthusiasm and cast a critical spotlight on the leadership and vision at every level of UK athletics.

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Summary Prepared For:
Listeners who want a thorough understanding of UK football’s post-Vandy loss mood, NIL realities, Stoops’ job security, and the passionate, conflicted dialogue around the program’s future.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

It is the local toy dealers KSR postgame show cats get annihilated in Nashville 45 to 17 in a game that probably wasn't even that close, if we're all being honest. You can give us a shout. I'm gonna let you guys do a lot of the, the talking after this first segment in part because I, you know, I, I don't, I don't really know what the sentiment of the fan base kind of is at this point. It was, it's a really odd thing. I went into this game sort of thinking Kentucky had a real shot. I thought for certain it would be close. And it was never close. And Kentucky was really after the first quarter, never in it. Diego Pavia did whatever he wanted. Produced probably one of the great individual performances against UK football ever. Most passing, second most passing yards against UK since Peyton Manning back in 1997. Made some amazing, couple of amazing deep throws but, and he was, he was hugely significant to the game. But Kentucky just in general was, was off awful offensively. Nothing, I mean until the fourth, until basically mop up time. Kentucky's offense was non existent defensively. You saw for the first game you really saw the impact of having all the guys hurt in the secondary. But, but you know, there's hurt and then there's, I mean the first guy that got beat was a veteran in Hardaway. So it wasn't even one of the young guys playing. It was just a disaster. I mean Kentucky got completely annihilated and it's really the first time Vandy is annihilated a team this year. They've played so many close games, but it happened in this one and you know, so now you're left in a weird situation. Kentucky was, I'm not sure, morale or why no morale around the team. And the program had not been lower than it was three weeks ago or four weeks ago since Joker Phillips was the coach, which of course led to a firing and then you win three straight games. And I don't know if people were, you know, gung ho, but certainly the, the dogs kind of got called off a little bit and people were like, okay, well things have improved. We like Cutter Bowley still don't know about where the program is long term, but at least it's been stabilized. And I said the only thing that can't happen is to get blown out these next two games. And they got blown out in the first game. So you're five and six and you play a Louisville team next week that themselves is reeling that has lost three straight that got blown out today against smu, maybe not as many points, maybe not as thoroughly as we did, but still 38 to 7 and the, you know, the battle of the bluegrass next week, the Commonwealth Cup, I guess is two programs reeling, two programs with fan bases frustrated. And I guess the question will be which one will end up more frustrated. I was sitting here trying to think of what that line will be going into it, and I really have no idea. I guess Louisville will be a favorite. Maybe like three and a half. Maybe. That's just a guess, though. I. I don't know. Usually you'd have some idea. I really don't know. I would say Louisville, maybe three and a half, something like that. But for Mark Stoops, the Louisville game is probably the difference between a frustrating, ultimately mediocre season, which would occur with a win, a bowl game where you would get another month of practice, a chance to keep momentum well, if not keep it going, at least keep the program from suffocating, and a fan base that would be still not happy, but go well, at least. We beat Louisville three years in or three times in a row on their home field and made a bowl game a loss. And you get the scenario that we have been dreading since July, which is a 5, 7 purgatory season with no bowl, no momentum losses to your rivals, and a fan base that likes would like to see a change most likely and then won't get it. That is the worst option. And it's an option that I think if they lose to Louisville, is very likely to happen with an athletic director that I think is very likely to not be the athletic director at the end of the, at the end of the school year. And so it's kind of a week where there's a pivot where Kentucky football can go one of two sort of dramatically different directions. I don't think Mark Stoops is going to get fired regardless. But I also Wonder if at 5 and 7, especially if you lost to a Louisville team that is now reeling, I don't know how you build up a fan base in that off season. So it's a tough spot. And it comes on the heels of a tough week for UK sports after a very embarrassing Loss Tuesday to Michigan State and now a very embarrassing loss Saturday to Vanderbilt. So the women's team won, beat Louisville on the road. First time they've beaten them in Louisville since 2014. Kenny Brooks team, by the way, is really good. Did you watch any of that game, Billy?

[Billy]

Yeah, I saw him pull away in the second half.

[Matt Jones]

We're good. Like, we got. We block, like every shot. The women's team, that's what. That's got to be the tallest women's team I've ever seen. And they looked really good today. But besides that, it's kind of a not that happy and uneasy Kentucky fan base. So a lot online next Saturday in. In the former Papa John Stadium, and I really don't know what's going to happen. 859-280-2287. I want to take your calls, hear what you have to say. We've got to stop letting Ryan pick in the KSR parlay. We have to because Shannon's pick already won. My pick is winning Western speeding LSU right now. Billy. Three to nothing.

[Billy]

That's right. Yep.

[Matt Jones]

And Ryan's pick is getting annihilated, which was Georgia Tech. Remind he doesn't get to pick again.

[Billy]

Okay, I'll remind you.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I have to quit giving him a chance because he, he's like trying to get every question wrong on the act. It's hard. It's as hard as getting them all right. Yet he does it on these picks. 859-280-2287. By the way, before we go to break, I'm sure they're nice people, but those two announcers, by the end of the game, I'm not sure I'd ever. I was ever more ready to stop listening to two people talk then Mark Jones, who I think is pretty good. And who was the other guy? Roddy something.

[Billy]

They run out of things to say or something?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, my goodness. They said 6, 7, 150 times. And they, like, were trying to use, you know, big vocabulary words and Diego pave his mom. I mean, that was the most tedious broadcast. And what was weird is the first quarter flew by, so quarters two through four took like four hours. And by the end of it, and I'm sure those two guys are nice, but I was like, I can't. I cannot listen to the two of you talk anymore. That was a. That was a tough watch from as a Kentucky fan. 859-280-2287. We will take your calls. Tough night for UK football. This is the local toy dealers. KSR post game show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR postgame show. I would say 20% of the comments on the text machine are about Diego Pavia's mom, which should give you a sense of how often she was on the telecast. I'm trying to think, Billy. I can't think of a parent ever being on that much ever. I mean, no, I mean, I can't. When I try to think of the parents that have been on broadcast the most. Christian Laitner's mom, when she had that neck bracelet, which is before your time. But her, like, with her eyes beaded and like her neck brace, that was on a lot during that run. Donna Smith, I guess you could say during the Saul Smith era was on a lot. But I don't remember a game ever where I saw. They must have gotten a memo out to him in the second half because they didn't do it as much in the second half. But in the first half, I mean, that was more than Taylor Swift, wasn't it?

[Billy]

It was egregious.

[Matt Jones]

It was. Agreed. It really was egregious. Like, nothing against that woman. I'm sure she's a lovely person, but that. I don't think I can ever remember that, ever. It was like every play.

[Billy]

Yeah, it was way too much. And the Ovon was there for senior night as well.

[Matt Jones]

I think the Ovon thinks he's on the team. Like, what's crazy about the Ovon is he is my age. You know, he's in his mid-40s. Like, he looks young. So I think. I think people just think he's, like, in college. But I mean, he, you know, he's having fun, though, so I guess that's good. One person writes, matt, this just shows how bad the teams we beat were. I mean, yeah, but no, I don't, you know, I don't buy that. Auburn almost beat this Vanderbilt team a couple weeks ago. Like, literally should have. Beep. So, you know, we played awful and Auburn's not good. But I don't think, like, Auburn's not 50 points worse. I mean, you know, we. That was a good win for us. Florida was a good win for us. This was an awful loss. One person writes, matt Cutter Bowley is the real deal. Our coaching staff stinks, but he is a real player. I'm surprised he came back in, but it shows what a tough kid he is. I'm excited about having him next year. I mean, he's the.

[Caller]

He.

[Matt Jones]

He is. He is the Kentucky football going into next season. Like we were saying. What are they going to sell the fans in the off season? He's it like he'll be the whole thing. Because he is and he is exciting. And kudos to him for coming back. I'm really shocked that he did.

[Caller]

And.

[Matt Jones]

Hopefully he gets us a win against Louisville next week.

[Billy]

Rough night for Hampden, though.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, it was a rough night. Terrible. Especially the first half. The office really was atrocious. But yeah, I mean, Hamden took a step back. I think that's fair. And I think his future, no matter what happens with Mark Stoops, Bush, Hampden's future probably comes down to Saturday. Because if Mark Stoops comes back and we're five and seven, the pressure is going to be for a move to be made and they'll probably end up being Bush. Whether that's fair or not. It probably will be. Unless Cutter Bowley really likes him and says I don't want him gone. And then he might be back. So we'll see who's at first. Zach. Zach. Go ahead, Zach.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, I'm just want to know when it comes to the nil and things like with a team like Vanderbilt, when, you know, for years, you know, I'm 31 and I've always seen that Vanderbilt usually was a game that we would win. Yeah. And we see now that Bandy is paying these, you know, getting the quarterbacks coming in, doing that. We got our guy on Twitter do it, doing these things and, you know, comes in, gets that opportunity, throws an interception for a way that could be, you know, could be swinging for the game. And I'm. I'm just realizing.

[Matt Jones]

What do you mean, a guy on Twitter? I don't know what you're talking about. A guy on Twitter. What do you mean?

[Caller]

Zach, Zach.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, Zach Cazada.

[Caller]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Caller]

No, getting the money and getting things like that. Gets his opportunity to come after that in the show and throws the interception. I'm just saying we. We failed in nil when it's coming.

[Matt Jones]

No, we did, but we didn't fail because we didn't have enough money. We failed because we spent money on the wrong people.

[Caller]

No, no, exactly. But that's what I'm saying. Like, you get. You get teams like Vandy. Right now Bandy's talking about going to the. The college playoff, you know, having an opportunity of finding that way in it. I'm just saying, how do they have a better package?

[Matt Jones]

They don't. Again, you're assuming that they had more money, they picked better Players. I mean, I, I would bet you, and I appreciate the call. I would bet you we spent more on Calzada than they spent on Pavia last year. Now, they probably spent more on Pavia this year because he returned and he was good last year. But I'm just gonna guess that when Pavia came from New Mexico State, I think we paid Calzada like one, I don't know what we paid him. You hear different things. I mean, part of it is we don't really know the numbers. I've heard everywhere from 1.25 to 800,000, but let's just say it's between 800,001.25. I bet you Pavia made that or less last year. He certainly makes more than that this year. So we just picked the wrong guy. Or they came and he, they coached him up better than, than we did. I mean, that's the answer. So, you know, it's going to be weird going forward within il. This is a unique season for reasons we've talked about. We won't go over it. It was a double money year. You got the, the old, the old regime money and the rev share. But starting next year, rev share, everybody in theory is going to be equal. Of course people are going to get around it, but like, everyone's going to have money next year. Vandy's going to have money. We have money. Like, everyone is going to have money. And how you choose to spend it is going to be huge. And right now, we haven't done a good job spending our money the last few years. Years. Who's next?

[Billy]

Rooney.

[Matt Jones]

Rooney. What's up, Rooney?

[Caller]

Hey, man. How are you doing?

[Matt Jones]

Good.

[Caller]

I can say suck on the radio, correct?

[Matt Jones]

You can? Yes.

[Caller]

All right, listen, man, I love uk. I love Mark Stoops. I want to keep him. And I'm praying that we beat little by 40. But here's the deal. With four minutes in SEC game, they move us from ESPN to ESPN News to be replaced by ACC game of Pitt and Georgia Tuck Georgia Tech. I'm pretty sure that means we suck. And if they perform tonight against Louisville, I think Stoops is gone. And in, in the last.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, why do you, why do you think Stoops is gone? Like, what do you base that on? You basing that on, As I used to say, the preacher said. Do you think so or do you hope so?

[Caller]

No, I don't hope so. I, I, I think that if we get, if we get beat 45 to 17 by Louisville, then he's probably Going to get fired.

[Matt Jones]

Who's paying that buyout? Who's paying that buyout, though?

[Caller]

Yeah, I don't know, man.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, so you can't just say that's the most important fact. Like you can't just say he's getting.

[Caller]

But I don't want him gone, though. I'm not, I'm not one preaching from to be gone. I want him to stay.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Caller]

I just, I don't know how you, if you get killed two games in a row, that's tough. And the last thing I got for you is the post game show before this one. They were so positive. The interview.

[Matt Jones]

That's Kentucky runs. Yeah, I mean, JMI runs that. Listen, I have a belief and I appreciate the call. I have a belief that the. In 2025, you need to acknowledge like you can't fake truth in 2025. Like you, the days of you being able to act like everything's fine. People have too many other outlets. So I love the people involved, a lot of the people involved on the, the official pre game, post game, you know, some of the folks, not as much, but most of them I really like. But I don't, I mean like the JMI thing about like feeding, like they, they, they try to create this reality that is not a reality. Instead of just going, this stinks. We have to act like, well, there's some positive things coming through. There's not. And there was nothing positive about this. I mean, there was nothing positive at all about it. So I'm with you. I've expressed that to them. I'm like, we need to create stuff people that like, connects with the fans. Not this, but we've. I've had that conversation right now. I know Billy is probably trembling listening to me say this right now in studio, wondering what I'm gonna say. But I'm with you. Right after I lose 45 to 17, I need frustration and sometimes that's not what comes out. What's next?

[Billy]

I have no comment on that.

[Matt Jones]

I knew you would.

[Billy]

Scott is next.

[Matt Jones]

Scott, go ahead, Scott. And there's a reason why I'm not on those shows anymore, by the way. And it's. It was probably the last two minutes of what I just said. Scott, go ahead, Matt.

[Caller]

That's their loss totally. Hey, I have two quick questions and I'll hang up and listen to your answer. Question number one is for as far back as you can remember, where do you think the nil NCAA lawsuit outcome regarding pay for the athletes, where does that rank as far as impact on.

[Matt Jones]

The College game, second most important thing in college. Let me ask that because I do believe this. I think the, the NIL ruling, all of that is the second most important thing to happen to college sports besides integration. I think if you go back and you look at the entire history, integration is the most important for social sports, societal reasons. But this is second in terms of what it has done and I don't think it's negative, but just in terms of completely changing what the sport is. So that's my answer to that. What's your second question?

[Caller]

There you go. Yeah, you nailed it. So my second question is, considering that if we remember Stoops took years to build our program up to the success it reached at its pinnacle under him, is it possible that this sea change because of NIL and the lawsuit money, that it will require a recalibration and then is it possible that maybe it's taken him a year or two to adjust and that he has the possibility that he will follow the same path and elevate up again just like he did when he got here?

[Matt Jones]

Possibly. I mean, I, you know, I don't know, I appreciate the call. Like in five years we're all going to look back like, like I feel like the next five years, really this year, and like the next five, you know, they say, Billy, time and like time is, you know, time is a figment, right? Like they said with physics. I don't understand physics, but they say, you know, the time space continuum, we're going to look back in like six years. If we could do it right now and look at the six years prior, the sport is going to look entirely different than it looks now. And I don't know what that's going to exactly look like. And some people are going to succeed and, and some people are going to fail. And there's a very good chance that the people that succeed are going to be different than the people that succeeded in the pre Niall era. There'll probably be a couple people who are able to do both, but I bet it won't be most people. They're going to be nil successful coaches and programs and pre nil successful coaches and programs. By the way, just like there were post segregation successful programs and pre segregation successful programs and post television explosion programs that were good and pre television explosion programs that were good in aisle is going to be one of those. I'm a big advocate for the University of Kentucky going forward. We have to position ourselves for the new era. And as wonderful as I think Mitch Barnhart is, has been. I don't think he is a post nil visionary thinker for what's coming, which is why I think it would be good for a new person in charge there soon. And with Mark Stoops, I don't know. I don't, I really don't. With Mark Pope, I don't know. I think Mark's more suited for it because he's like embraced it. But with Mark Stoops, he didn't embrace it. Now he kind of seems like he wants to, but then you have all this baggage of 13 years and potentially a blowout loss to Vandy and all this. So there's a part of me that says whatever decisions come in these next six months, the AD position at the football coach position, it all needs to be with the mind of the next five years because the next five years are, are going to decide the next 20 years of college sports, of what programs are good and all that. And I don't want us to be in the wrong place. So, you know, I think everybody's got to decide with all of these people are they the right ones? You know, and I worry about it as somebody whose economic and career interest is with UK sports, I worry that we are not modern thinking on a lot of stuff and I think that needs to change quickly. What's next?

[Billy]

Ryan?

[Matt Jones]

Ryan. What's up, Ryan?

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. How are you doing?

[Matt Jones]

Good.

[Caller]

I guess for me, I'm just a casual football fan for uk but just watching them play, it's just, it's kind of embarrassing to watch them play in the sec and then you watch other teams and you're like, why can't we have something like that? Even like the Vandy's of the world. There's no reason that we can't have something like that on a football field.

[Matt Jones]

Well, there is a reason we don't have Diego Pavia. I mean, if we did, it'd be interesting. Like, like again, I think Cutter Bowles is going to be really, really good. But it would be interesting to see if you put Diego Pavia, like on this Kentucky team, what happens, right? I mean, like, because Mandy, when the NFL draft comes, there's only going to be a couple of Andy dudes that get picked, right? And one of them will not be Diego Pavia. So it'd be interesting to see if. Is it him? I think Clark Lee is clearly a brilliant football mind. We're getting out schemed without question. But I think it's a. But I actually don't think the talent gap is all that Huge. But we look like two completely different teams.

[Caller]

Yeah. The last thing I got is just watching Vandy's end game, like, stuff going on, light shows, everything. It's Vandy, and they are so much better. That is insane.

[Matt Jones]

Totally agree. And that's what I talk about. Modernization. I appreciate it. I mean, I. It's. We. We are not a modern athletic department. Football program. I think basketball, we are closer to it, but football and. And just kind of the athletic, we're just not. And I think it's got to change. And, you know, you watch a night like tonight, like it used to be, Vandy would be always, well, we're better than Mandy. And I watched that and I thought about that tonight, watching the light shows and watching, you know, I was like, man, are we not just not as good on the field as Vandy? Are we just kind of as a modernized athletic department, are we behind Vandy? That's not. That's not good that you would even be having those thoughts.

[Billy]

Yeah. You're 13 of stoops, too. You're going into the fourth quarter down 45 to 3 to Vandy.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And if you. If you accept my premise a minute ago about the next five years will determine the next 25. And maybe people don't. But let's just. If you accept that premise, is this the leadership that you think is that group? Are these the visionaries for the future? You know, I think that's fair to question that. What's next? Will. Will. Go ahead. Will.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. I think something that does go by the wayside. Talk about the effect to Diego Pavia is when they brought him in last year, they brought with him his tight end, the last hours, his head coach, Jerry Kill, and his offensive coordinator, Tim Beck. That helped him out a lot with the true continuity stuff.

[Matt Jones]

That's true.

[Caller]

If you told me before the game he was gonna have the amount of rushing guards that he ended up having, I would have thought we were in a good spot because I didn't imagine him throwing for however many 456, 476, however many yards. That was a little bit disheartening.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. He had some plays now. He had some plays that I think there wasn't much we could do about. Right. I mean, Jake Hardaway is clearly not as fast as that guy. Pavia. Put him right on. Put it right on the money. Probably not much you can do about that. But in general, you're exactly right. You wouldn't have thought Pavi is going to throw for 463 or whatever it was.

[Caller]

Yeah, yeah. And in pivoting to looking towards next week, trying to be as opposite I can, I watched as much as I could could my toddler of the Louisville game for our game. And as much as we talk about what we did in garbage time, it did seem like it's had at least some fight. And I don't know if I could say the same.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they quit. They completely quit. So you're exactly right. Like, we certainly can win that game Saturday. I appreciate the call. Like, they've quit. First of all, we don't know if Miller Moss is going to play. It is clear that the dudes behind him are worse. All right? So I think they. I think their fans really don't like Miller Moss, but I think they saw today that whatever's behind them is worse. So you might get a Miller Moss that the fan base doesn't like or a couple guys who don't look good at all. I don't know what the status of their running backs will be. They did not play. It looks like they've quit. So we should win that game. Well, I say should. We certainly can win that game. So as bad as this was, that team we're playing Saturdays a lot worse. So we do. I mean, we still have a shot of winning that game. We need to do it, actually, because I think if we lose, this program's at a real crossroads that I don't really want us to be in. Is Western still beating lsu?

[Billy]

They are.

[Matt Jones]

So do we have any chance of having Ryan's pick come back?

[Billy]

I don't know. I got to check the score of that game.

[Matt Jones]

It's 2814. Okay. It was 28 nothing, so now it's 2814. All right, well, maybe we'll take a break. 859280, 2287. It is the local toy dealers KSR post game show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR Post Game show. So I decided to look, Billy, at the on KS board on the show thread for this show. Okay, so on KSBoard, that's like the KSR plus the message board. And first of all, not a group of. Of Mark Stoops fans, I think it's fair to say. And not necessarily a group of fans, at least of what I've said on the show. So I'm going to answer a couple of these because I do think, like most of the call, most the callers so far haven't been too negative. So I just want to answer a couple of these. One person said so one person writes, matt thinks he's back no matter what. So that's really exciting. That was Jay Wilson. I don't. I mean, I just want somebody to tell me where the $37 million is going to come from. If we're 5 and 7, if we were 3 and 9, I don't think they had a choice. But if we're five and seven, my question for you is who's going to pay that money? Because everybody skips over that piece. We have one booster who in theory could pay that money, and he is very. And they are very close to Mark Stoops. I don't know who you all think is going to pay it. I'm not sure that I think mark stoops at 5 and 7. It's a good decision for him to come back, but if he wants to, I don't think Kentucky. I don't know where that money's coming from. Do you, Billy?

[Billy]

No, no, but I mean, three wins, five wins, it's the same amount of money. I guess it's just the sentiment.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I think three wins, I think UK would have had no choice. But, you know, James W. That guy's on Twitter. He really, he really doesn't like us, Billy. Yeah, that. That's a nice one. I recognize Matt shows In the first 10 minutes of the show. He's clueless about the pulse of B when it comes to football. Plus, he isn't going to say Stoop should be fired because Stoops is his boy. The narrative that Stoops and I are somehow friends is always odd to me. I mean, I haven't talked to Stoops in a year. Well, not a year, but probably six to eight months because, I mean, I don't know what to say to him because, like, things we were. We've been very critical of him. Vince was my boy, but Stoops, I like him, but we're not friends. When he leaves, I'll probably never talk to him again. As far as the pulse of bbn, the pulse of bbn, in my opinion, you have to balance more than just like the folks that are hardcore, like the people that post on message boards or on social media. We're hardcore fans, all of us. The majority of fans are casuals. The majority of fans, that's the people who pack Commonwealth Stadium and they are unhappy about the priority about this, but they're not going to pay $37 million to buy him out. And maybe you are, James W. But I don't know how much you contribute. But where Is that money you're going to come from in a year where you're going to have to pay 22 million in rev share? You would have to hire a new coach. You would have to. And I think Adam Luckett said there's like 8, 6 to 8 million you'd have to pay an assistant coach buyout. So that 37 is more like 5. 45. Where's it coming from? Like, where's it coming from? I don't know. I mean, if you know, tell me, but I don't know. So I think the fans can be like, I want to change, but there's a, there's a financial reality. That's part of it. And that's the part that I think is harder to come up with. Who's up next?

[Billy]

Craig and Guam.

[Matt Jones]

Craig and Guam, how are you?

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. I think we can come up with that money. 37 million if Garrett can get his money up.

[Matt Jones]

That's true. A lot of this would be Garrett. Yeah.

[Caller]

And I think that, I think that it's unfortunate that this is the reality of Kentucky's position in SEC football right now, but we went to, we went to a Buffalo wing cook off and we took a veggie tray tonight.

[Matt Jones]

You, you did for Billy.

[Billy]

Now, I.

[Caller]

Mean, Kentucky, Kentucky went to one.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I thought you. I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought. Yeah, you're exactly right. Although Billy's veggie tray was more successful and this veggie tray did nothing but kill us our momentum. I mean, this is a momentum killer for a program that had gotten a little bit of it going. I'm with you, Craig. This is an absolute dude.

[Caller]

Yeah, I think I, I feel like Cutter was just had his mind on the NBA tonight.

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate the call. I, I am proud of Cutter for coming back. I don't know if that was smart, Billy, to be honest with you, but you know the caller that said those dudes. Cutter was still playing, Willie Rodriguez still playing at the end. Those two guys are going to be a big key for the future of Kentucky football. You know, Jared, Jeff Pocoro said on the post game he thinks Willie could be the best tight end, pass catching tight end to ever play here.

[Billy]

Yeah, he had an aggressive tackle late. It's good to see him still playing. I would just go to Cutter at this point and ask him if he wants Bush Hampton as the offensive coordinator. I would allow him to make the decision.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I'm trying to think. I mean, when I think of the best pass catching tight ends here, Jimmy Whalen is the one that comes to. To mind. Some of the old timers probably can give me ones that are right there with him, but Willie's good. That. That's. That's very high praise from Jeff. Who's next?

[Billy]

Dwayne.

[Matt Jones]

Dwayne. What's up.

[Caller]

T, man? I got about 10 things for you, but I'll. I'll keep it short and make down to three. First thing. I went to the restaurant after the Redo Wings Burgers. Top notch. Phenomenal.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you very much. Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Caller]

Yeah, because before when I went, I was like, yeah, these are okay, but now they're like, top notch. Tonight's game, I wasn't expecting a whole lot because Vanderbilt was playing for a lot more than we was, so it was upsetting, but it wasn't that bad. And.

[Matt Jones]

Do you. Do you really. You really weren't that upset?

[Caller]

No, because as I was watching it, I was like. As things kept happening, I'm like, yeah, yeah. And I mean, offensively, we didn't play good at all. And defensively, we got burned a couple of times, and it. I mean, it just trickled down. And we had then that play when. When Cutter went out and they brought in Calzada and he threw that pass into the end zone, and that guy was definitely pass interference. And they never called it. I was like, that could have like.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but I mean, there were a couple of those calls. Like, I don't think he got that first down early in the game. And that could have been pass interference, but they were way better than us. I mean, a call here, there is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. I mean, we were get. We got smoked.

[Caller]

Absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

They could have scored 80. Honestly, if they really pushed the. If they really kept their foot on the gas, they could have scored 80.

[Caller]

I mean, I absolutely agree with that. So, I mean, we was out class tonight, but there was a couple of things that. But no, it really wasn't. It didn't really bother me the whole game, like, because it just didn't. I don't. I don't know why, but I just wasn't bothered.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Well, I appreciate the call. By the way, one more thing on that KSR thread. There's people who say, and I want you to speak to this, Billy, that we don't take anti stoops calls. Do you. How do you screen the calls, tell everybody in case they. They don't know? Yes.

[Billy]

We have six lines that are open, and I take them in order that I get them. So there's no.

[Matt Jones]

And the moment he hangs up, we hang out for one. We get another call. So we put the people that are on. I intentionally tell Billy on every show, put who? Like you. Do I tell you to not take anyone's call? No, no, never. I. We. We. So if you are like, I am so done with Stoops excited, just call. But like this part of the reason why I say that the fan base is not what you always. What everyone thinks is because, like on these calls, this is the most. Like, whoever calls is on. Whereas, you know, sometimes in other forms it's self selecting. But I do. I did expect people to be more negative on this. But so far you've heard the same calls I have. Who's next?

[Billy]

And I've been burned in the past. There's no way I'm taking calls out of order anymore.

[Matt Jones]

Well, you deserve that. Yeah, I go. Excuse me, who's next?

[Billy]

J.L.

[Matt Jones]

J.L. Go ahead, J.L.

[Caller]

Thanks, man. Thanks. My car. I got two things and I'll get off here. What worries me mad about more than anything is I just think if we bring Stoops back, we're gonna lose a lot of players. And I heard you say something earlier about you didn't think if we got, you know, beat pretty good by Louisville or whatever that they were still, they would still bring stuff back. But what worries me more about than anything is he was talking about Willie Rodriguez, who I love. And I heard you say something earlier that, you know, they just bragging on him. Don't you think that some of these top programs are gonna come after him? Let me say one more thing, then I'll leave.

[Matt Jones]

All right, Go ahead.

[Caller]

How about the kid from New. How about the kid from New Jersey? I can't think of his name. It was playing so well. Was he even on the field tonight?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know who you.

[Caller]

Thank you for taking my call. Appreciate you, brother.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. Who's he talking about there? Do you know? Kid from New Jersey.

[Billy]

I'm not sure.

[Matt Jones]

No, I'm not sure either. Yeah, I, I, you know. Yeah, the first part of what he said, the kid from New Jersey threw me off. I tried to answer his first one. What was it?

[Billy]

I'm not even sure.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I'm sitting here going through.

[Billy]

Go after somebody. Cutter. Was it Cutter? People.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yes. I think those kids. I think Cutter's back. I. Willie Rodriguez. I can't say that I know, but kids from Kentucky, right? But will he have other opportunities? Yes, of course. He Will I think in again in this Rev share world where we're going to have every school is going to have money, including us. I think the dudes part of the, part of what I hear coaches say and I don't know if this will be true or not, we'll have to let it play out and see. But coaches believe that the fact that all these schools are going to have rev share money means they'll be able to keep their guys who want to stay and give them raises. I'm going to assume that's probably true. So while I do think there'll be other schools that want him, I think Willie will come back now for his senior year a la Dankie. Might he go somewhere else? Yeah, I could see that. But he's just, I believe he's just a sophomore. I would expect those guys because they're from Kentucky to be back. I would assume Kentucky will take guys like Willie Rodriguez and Cutter Bowley and make bringing them back a priority. One person on the show thread here, this is Sam says Matt, didn't you say a while back that the money was there for a bio? Yes, when we were under the assumption we were going to finish three and nine. I mean the amount of people who have. Let me give you the realities of UK athletics. There are only a handful of people who give the amount of money to football where anyone where that where like they kind of make the decisions. That's just the reality. Basketball is a little different because there are a lot of people that give money and it's more spread out football. In order for a change like this to occur, you're going to have to have a handful of people who are behind it. And I think there had been an acceptance early in the year, especially after that South Carolina and Georgia game, that if we finish three and nine we can't continue this. But I think after they won some of these games, some of those people who you have to remember really like Mark Stoops, have friendships with him. It's part of the reason, the reason we have a roster at all is a handful of people. There's only a handful of people that, that use the paid the nil that got us a roster at all. I think those people and I think Mark Stoops got reinvigorated and I at that point I'm not sure that money exists now. Now if we lose by 30 to Louisville, then that might be a different situation. But yes, things changed from when we it looked like we were going to become three and not just remember what it was like then we were getting destroyed. It felt like the teams was about to quit. We had the Calzada thing. It's different now, even though today was a huge step back. Who's next?

[Caller]

Ed.

[Matt Jones]

Ed, Go ahead, Ed.

[Caller]

Ed. Hello?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, sir.

[Caller]

Yeah, can you hear me?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, I can.

[Caller]

Okay. Hey. I'm ready for change. And let's get a go from me going with the fans. We can get. We can make change, and that's all.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Thank you, Ed.

[Billy]

Cameron Miller's from New Jersey.

[Matt Jones]

That's him. He played a little bit tonight. Not a lot, but. Or I think he. I think he got played a little bit. One of the announcers, I believe, mentioned him. Well, once. Did you see the pass in the Harvard Yale game?

[Billy]

No.

[Matt Jones]

That they called a completion. It's online. The ball bounced twice. Twice it bought. The ball bounced twice and the receiver caught it. And they still called it a touchdown, called it a completion. Watch the play. The guy drops it and I think it bounces twice. And then he keeps running and they catch it and call it a touchdown. And I assume at the Harvard Yale level, they don't have replay.

[Billy]

Oh, come on. They don't have replay there?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, they certainly have the money for it, but I don't know if they. If they do it for the football games, but I saw it earlier tonight on. On social media, and assuming it was an AI, which I don't think it was, it was one of the worst football call, maybe the worst football call I've ever seen in my life. Who's next?

[Billy]

Let's go to Rick.

[Matt Jones]

Rick. Go ahead, Rick.

[Caller]

Thanks. But the only thing I have to say about this whole football deal, I've watched it for years, is Mark St's facial expression throughout the last two quarters was terrible.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it was.

[Caller]

He just looked beat down.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Caller]

And then at the end, at the conference thing he done afterwards, he said, well, Cutter Moly's got a good future ahead of him. He didn't say our team or anything. He said, cutter Bowler has a good future ahead.

[Matt Jones]

Was that in the press conference or with Tom?

[Caller]

With Tom, I think it was. I was listening to.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Yeah. I don't.

[Caller]

Yeah, I didn't hear that.

[Matt Jones]

But that's interesting. I. I didn't. I. If he said that, that's. That is interesting wording.

[Caller]

Yeah, well, that's what that tastes. He said, gunner Bowley has done great. He's come on and come back, you know, from the injury thing there. And then he said he's got a great future. Ahead of him.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, he does not. We. I think that future's here. I'd be very surprised. I mean could it could, could. I mean anything can happen. I appreciate the call. Anything can happen. I remember two years ago, John Cal Perry did an interview on a Tuesday set arm in arm with Mitch and they talked about how they were going to rebuild the program and on Saturday he was gone. Right. So. So anything can happen. But I would be. I, I think there's a very, very good chance. I believe Drew and Ryan and I all put it this morning at 90% that Cutter Bowley would be back next year. And I think that's true almost regardless of who the coach is because I don't think they would hire a coach without seeing what he wanted. So I think you'll. I would be very surprised. Very surprised. Billy of Cutter's not to go.

[Billy]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And I don't think not he's not back.

[Billy]

I don't think Stoops. His comments there were pointed to anything. It was just him giving praise to Cutter. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Okay. 859-280-2287 we're gonna, I guess we're going a little long here, but we're gonna do that and we will take a break and come back for a final segment. This is the local toy dealers KSR postcape show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR postgame show. 859-280-2287 the Georgia Tech. It is 2814 pit or I'm, I'm still hoping for Ryan's sake Georgia Tech can come back.

[Billy]

What was the line? Do you remember?

[Matt Jones]

It was, I think two and a half for Georgia Tech. You asked me a question right before we went to break and ask it again there because I think it's a, it's a good.

[Billy]

You mean right after we went to break.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, right after we, we went to break.

[Billy]

Well, I was just saying that you really do have to walk a fine line being friends with coaches when you have to also be the post game show host and make comments like why.

[Matt Jones]

But they still. I'm not, I keep saying this. I'm really not friends with. I've been friends with two people. Dwayne pv, who's gone and Vince Merrow who's gone. And you know, there was a time I had a decently close relationship with Cal, but then that ended. But yes, I mean you. It's almost impossible. I mean I barely know Mark Pope. Like we've, we've talked a handful of times, but the number One thing is to like be true to what I think because you can't do this job otherwise. But I also like, you know, I think Kentucky's in a really difficult spot. They have a fan base that has some people, probably a majority of the fans are kind of over Stoops but a majority of the donors like Stoops. So you gotta. Usually it's the other way around. By the way, usually the donors are the people that push coaches out. But here that most of our donors are donors because Stoops brought them in. I don't think Billy, people think about that. Yeah, but like the biggest football donors, most of them did not donate to UK football before Stoops got here. He brought them in. So it's just natural. It's going to be harder for them to flip on him.

[Billy]

But we can't be beholden to the donors.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, fair enough. So then where do you get the money if you don't get it from the donors when you're already having to? The school for the UK athletics used to be self funding. We actually used to give money back to the school but now because of nil we have to give $22 million in rev share for the first time since I've been doing this, UK has had to take a loan and UK athletics I think took a loan to kind of catch up with all this. So when you say, I agree with you, we shouldn't be beholden to the donors. But if you have to pay a 37 million dollar buyout, how do you do it if you don't get it from the donors?

[Billy]

Yeah, I'm not sure. I mean.

[Matt Jones]

Well then you can't just skip over that, right? You can't just skip over that. Like you have to come up with the money. That's like going, I'd like to buy a car. Well, I don't have the money. You can't skip over that.

[Billy]

Yeah, you did save yourself a lot of money not having to pay cows buyout. But that's not, you know, money there available.

[Matt Jones]

But the money was there for cows buyout if they wanted to do it.

[Billy]

Well then why is it not because.

[Matt Jones]

The donors wanted Cal gone? See, I mean like that's the thing. Cal had. Cal had actively made the donors mad. The donors like Mark Stoops. That makes it hard. I'm not saying that he should come back. I think objectively, I feel like I've said this a lot. Think objectively. It would be better for Kentucky football in a lot of ways if there was a change of direction. But I also know there are a lot of practical problems for making that happen. Whereas last year, last year, it was a flip. Some of our fans wanted. Or two years ago, some of our fans wanted to keep Cal, but the donors were done. And this is just the opposite situation.

[Billy]

Well, the conference pays out money every year, but this revenue share does put a wrinkle into things because that's a lot of money you've got to give back to athletes that you could be using for buyout instead. Those.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I think if the rev share was not here, if they didn't have to pay the 22 million, then that's a different situation. But, you know, if you're balancing a budget, you all of a sudden got $22 million added to your budget with no. Like, with no. What's. What's the word I'm looking for? You had no, like, notice. It just happened, right? Like. Like almost overnight. And I just think a lot of schools are having to deal with that. And the ones that are having to also do that and pay buyouts, they gotta have some donor to pay for it. I think at lsu, wasn't it the case, like, a couple of guys paid for it.

[Billy]

LSU is a whole different situation.

[Matt Jones]

But all these schools that got rid of their coaches, they had like one or two donors step up and pay. And I just don't know if Kentucky has that. Who's next?

[Billy]

James.

[Matt Jones]

James. Go ahead, James.

[Caller]

How you doing that, Matt?

[Matt Jones]

I'm good.

[Caller]

You know how we talk about in basketball, they play for the name on the front instead of the one on the back?

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

I think we need more kids like that. More kids from Kentucky like Cutter.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but I mean, if we had a team full of guys from Kentucky, we'd lose every game by 50. I mean, we got the best kids from Kentucky. The best kids from Kentucky can compete with anybody. The problem is this state produces like eight of those a year, maybe 10. And some of them are going to go to one or two of them will be from the Catholic schools in Louisville, and they're going to have dreamed of going to Notre Dame or Ohio State. And so Kentucky. And then you're going to have a couple kids from Louisville who are going to want to go to Uoflu. So when it all comes out, like, we'll get like half of them, which will be like four or five. You can't build a roster like that in the sec.

[Caller]

I can get. I understand that part, but it just seems like with his recruitment or where we are based at it Seems like it'd be so easy for him to get players out, especially where he's from. Ohio, Youngstown.

[Matt Jones]

Well, he did, but the guy that recruited Ohio, they were kind of a guy that recruited Ohio, that went to Louisville. But the other part of it is like, you have to remember the state, sir, we compete against. Do you know how many athletes come from Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Georgia? They produce. They produce. Yeah. I mean, they produce. I mean, I bet you in the state of Georgia there's a hundred dudes that are as good as the top five or six from Kentucky. That's just like. That's just the reality of being in the sec.

[Caller]

I agree, but we at least have to get them to buy into that ideal.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with that. For sure.

[Caller]

It takes all of you out to do it.

[Matt Jones]

For sure.

[Caller]

Me 150 of them. They are.

[Matt Jones]

You're exactly right. Appreciate the call. For sure. You do. You have to do that. That. I agree with it. Let's do five more. Who's next?

[Billy]

Tennessee up 28 to 0 on Florida right now, first half.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I kind of felt like that was going to be a route, but Florida. Because. But, you know, Florida played Ole Miss really close last week, but it just felt like Tennessee was going to pound him. Who's next?

[Billy]

Joel is up next.

[Matt Jones]

Joe. We'll do five more. Go ahead, Joe.

[Caller]

Hey, let's. Let's make sure we're clear on something. The difference between a 5 and 6 Kentucky team and a 3 and 8 Kentucky team are two horrible SEC teams who fired their coaches mid season. Are you kidding me? We just got manhandled and embarrassed by Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt? Are we. Are. Are you serious?

[Matt Jones]

Are you talking about me or are you talking about uk?

[Caller]

Uk?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Caller]

I mean, we just got embarrassed.

[Matt Jones]

We did.

[Caller]

I get it. They're good team. Everything else but here. Who? I. I don't care no more. I am. I am. I am fed up. I'm over it. I don't care if we beat Louisville about 50 and go to some bull crap Dunkin Donuts Bowl. I'm not watching. I'm done. I don't care. I understand about the money. I get that.

[Matt Jones]

Can I say something respectfully back to you? You wouldn't. You wouldn't have called this show if you didn't care. You care like you. You can't.

[Caller]

No, I care because I want to see good.

[Matt Jones]

Just like, fair enough, but I want to see. It's not true that you don't care. You care. You know, nobody stays up and calls. Nobody calls a post game. Show after we lose 45 to 17. And gives what is a completely reasonable opinion. But hang on, hang on. Gives a completely. Your opinion's reasonable. But you do care. So once we acknowledge that you care because you care. So then the question.

[Caller]

But here's where I don't care.

[Matt Jones]

Then the question becomes how, if you were Mitch Barnhart, what would you do? No. Having the set of facts that I've told you and that you seem to agree with, what would you.

[Caller]

I agree. I totally agree.

[Matt Jones]

Then what would you do?

[Caller]

But how's everybody else doing it? And I get what you're saying about boosters and everything else. Maybe the boosters need to step up and say, okay, we love Mark. Hey, look, I'll. I'll be the person to tell Mark. Spooks, spooks. I'll shake his hand. I appreciate some of the good work.

[Matt Jones]

I want to go through this with you, but just take the emotion down a notch and just talk this through with me, okay? Because I think this is a good conversation. All right, I'm. I'm putting you in charge. You're Mitch Barnhart. What's. What's your first name, sir?

[Caller]

Is Joel.

[Matt Jones]

Joel. Joel. You're the ad. You believe that there needs to be a chain changemate. Talk me through how you're gonna do it.

[Caller]

Well, first of all, I don't know the finances.

[Matt Jones]

Right, okay, fair enough.

[Caller]

Okay, it's like, okay, I don't know the finances. Okay, so give me an idea.

[Matt Jones]

Give me some ideas.

[Caller]

Okay, first of all. First of all, let's. Let's go through past. Okay, let's go through the last few years.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. No, I can't do anything about the past. I want you go. Let's go forward. Going forward, I think Mitch, if you got him in church and got him to, like, promise that he wouldn't lie, Mitch would tell you, given that contract to Mark was a mistake. But it's. But that exists. Okay, so now what do we do?

[Caller]

We gotta figure something out with the money.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so how are we gonna do it, though? It's not a solution. Figure something out's not a solution. What are we doing?

[Caller]

So are we going to. Are we going to rely on. Because we can't find the money, we don't have the money. Or we don't want to pay somebody out. 30, 40, some million dollars in 60 days that we're going to put a product out there with the same coach.

[Matt Jones]

But you haven't given me a solution. And that's my point. It's. It's easy to. I am not saying. I mean, I'm. You're probably stronger in your position than I am on it, but I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm saying to you. Just saying.

[Caller]

Okay, but how many. I'll tell you what. I'm probably one of 20 to 30 to 40,000 that probably feel this way. All right, so. So where's it going to hit you? Is it going to hit you in the pocketbook next year when season tickets come around and nobody. Nobody.

[Matt Jones]

This is why I think It's a catch 22. I think it's a catch 22. I think you're hitting. Why? When the season started, you may remember, Joel, I said the worst. What's the worst thing that could happen? Finish five and seven. That's the worst thing that could happen.

[Caller]

Because, I mean, the conundrum this Saturday.

[Matt Jones]

The conundrum this Saturday. But what if we win?

[Caller]

Kentucky fans, they don't really care about this game this Saturday. Well, Louisville fans don't really care about it.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, you may know how.

[Caller]

Authentic the local fans are. They're going to have maybe 10.

[Matt Jones]

All right. I appreciate the call, Joe. I'm trying to have a conversation with you, man. I really am. And I. And like, you got to go back and forth. I agree with you. Kentucky and Louisville fans don't really care about it, but everybody's going to watch it. But 5 and 7 is the worst for the reasons you just articulated. Because you're right, a lot of fans are not going to buy into the program next year. But I also don't know if they have the money to buy them at. And so here we are.

[Billy]

You could have like a car wash.

[Matt Jones]

A car wash?

[Billy]

Yeah. Or you could ask, like former players if they got any money.

[Matt Jones]

Now, again, this could all change. If we lose 50 to nothing to Louisville, then there might be a universal agreement. I'm just telling you. I feel like I'm. I'm just telling you the reality of where it is. I'm not making these decisions, but it's a tough spot because I agree with you. Fans are fed up, but then you got to find a way to actually pay for all this. Who's next?

[Billy]

Dave?

[Matt Jones]

Dave. Go ahead, Dave.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, I have a quick comment and a question for you. I don't think Mark Stoops is the coach to lead us into the new era for real. Because if we get rid of Bush Hammond and we're just rinsing and repeating, it feels like. But I'm more furious that Mitch. And I'm surprised more people aren't furious at him for doing this contract. I understand at the time, but does he consult with the donors and things when he does these contracts? When he did that contract for the major buyout, does he consult with the.

[Matt Jones]

Donors about that kind of stuff? No, I don't know if he consults with the donor. Here's what, here's how I think of these contracts occurred when they happen. I'm with you. These con. Specifically the Cal. I understand why he had to do the CAL one more than I understand why he had to do this stoops 1. Specifically the 60 days part. The 60 days part is where Kentucky is screwed. Now there's always the possibility Mark could waive that and say, you can pay me over time. But the problem is the 60 days part. The problem is that it's due in 60 days. And how did Mitch let that happen? Well, the only people that have oversight over those contracts is the board of trustees and Eli Capilouto. And I think anybody who knows anything about UK athletics will tell you that Eli Capilouto kind of trusts Mitch and agrees to what he says. So I guess in theory the board of trustees would be the people who could stop it. But generally speaking, the board of trustees are people picked by the governor. When that contract happened, it was probably half Bevin, half Bashir people. They're on it usually because like either they're big donors or else they're business people or like, so you know what I mean? It's not people who are kind of dialed into the day to day. So the reality is Mitch probably had very little oversight in making that decision.

[Caller]

Okay. I, I, yeah, I'm just, I can't, can't stand that he put us in this position. I know. I feel bad for Mark scripts. I appreciate everything you did, but like I said, I just don't think he's the coach that can take us to the mid tier consistently. And the, you know, doing the SEC like being competitive in it. And I hate to say that, but that's just how I feel. But I'm just curious at Mitch.

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate the call. I think the, a very reasonable opinion is to be upset at Mitch Barnhart for that contract because the 60 day provision is kind of, I don't think any other coach in the country has that provision. How did that happen? Now there's always a world where, where Stoops waives that provision and then they probably see if it wasn't for the 60 days, I think the buyout Would not be prohibitive. The 60 days part is what makes it prohibitive. Maybe, maybe Mark Stoops, if he doesn't want to coach here anymore, says, I'll waive that. You can pay it to me over time. Because if that were the case, they could probably do it. But. But then he has all the leverage. The reality is Mark Stoops has all the leverage in all this. He has all the leverage. And that's why, you know, four weeks ago, it was so difficult to see him gone. Now, after tonight, we're kind of you. You see where we are. Three more. Who's next?

[Billy]

Walker.

[Matt Jones]

Walker. Go ahead, Walker.

[Caller]

Hey, man. First time, long time.

[Matt Jones]

Who.

[Caller]

What's up, man? I live down here in Nashville. I was raised in Nicholasville, and rough day in Nashville. But, yeah, you know, you keep talking about. Yeah, right. The money's there. We just keep choosing the wrong guys. Like, other than the obvious thing. Don't choose the wrong guys. Who's making the final decision on the players?

[Matt Jones]

That's a great question. I think for, I think in recent years, it's been Eddie Grant. In the last, in the last two or three years, I think kind of final call on roster has gone to Eddie Graham. Before that, I think Eddie had a little bit to do with it. I think Vince had a little bit to do with it. And where there were disagreements, Mark's Stoops kind of mediated it, and there were often disagreements. But now I think it's an. It's pretty much Eddie Graham that decides.

[Caller]

Yeah, well, it's got to be figured out, man. But go Cats.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. And we just lost our parlay as Haynes King throws a interception. Run back for a touchdown. So Ryan Lemon. I felt good about this one too, though, except that pick, but I still thought he was right. I thought Georgia Tech would win this game. Two more. Who's next?

[Billy]

Stephen.

[Matt Jones]

Stephen. Go ahead, Stephen.

[Caller]

Oh, yeah, I just had a question for you. More on defensive situation. You know how Stoops was the part of state coordinator for a while, then he came back and I was just wondering, like tonight with watching the defense, why he doesn't run a stunt or like he runs more of a nickel defense. And tonight with Pavia, he could just ran a stunt and had his defensive end to run a free safety blitz and then come in and I just want your thoughts on that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I'm not the guy to ask that. I'm not, you know, I, I, I could fake an answer, but I'm really not an ex and o guy to be able to answer that. So I, I appreciate the call. That's probably a, that's probably a question for Adam Luckett or Pocoro or something. I'm, that's not my. I, so I, I, I, I'm just not. I could fake an answer, but that wouldn't be fair to you. I'll give another one since I wasn't able to answer that one. So two more. Who's next?

[Billy]

James.

[Matt Jones]

James. Go ahead, James.

[Caller]

Yeah, so I got a, a question from Matt.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

If you had the, if you had. When do you, Matt Jones, want Stoops here next year?

[Matt Jones]

Do I want him?

[Caller]

Yes. Do you want to see this?

[Matt Jones]

I think it would be better for, I think it would be better for the program for it to be somebody else.

[Caller]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

So do I think. Let me just, let me, let me clarify that because I'll, the difference is like, that'll, like get on them, you know, Matt thinks he should be gone. There's, I don't. Do I think he should be fired as of today? My answer would be no, because I think firing somebody is a different situation. But do I think in a perfect world it would be better if we started a new regime next year? Yes. So that is the, that's, that's the difficulty for me. I don't think he deserves to be fired. But I also think we need a new coach and so we're kind of like in stock, in my opinion. Now go ahead with second.

[Caller]

So do you think he'll be here in three years or from now?

[Matt Jones]

I do not know.

[Caller]

So why not get rid of him now?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think you're wrong. I don't think you're wrong. I mean, that's why I want it, because I don't think he's going to be here in three or four years. That's why I think it would be good to have a change now. But do I think Kentucky, with the realities of the economic world, can afford to pay $37 million today and then go pay another, whatever it will take to bring a new coach in? Do I think they can do that? Unless there's something I don't know. I don't, I don't know where it's coming from. Now, if you told me, though, if you told me, though, that if you, if you told me there's a guy out there, a booster that we have, like some oil guy or tech guy that went to Kentucky that will write a check for $37 million and sign it and walk away, then I would say then I would say, yeah, we probably ought to do it.

[Caller]

If we lose about 50 against Louisville. Why would they do it then?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think they will.

[Caller]

I just. It just doesn't make any sense.

[Matt Jones]

But I mean, again, do you. Let me ask you a question, sir. Do you know who would do it? Do you know who would do it?

[Caller]

No, I have no idea exactly. But I would. I would take three different coaches the next three years. As long as one of them is okay, you can hire.

[Matt Jones]

Still would cost us $37 million though, to do that. Who's up next?

[Billy]

Marcus will end it.

[Matt Jones]

Marcus. Go ahead, Marcus.

[Caller]

Hey, buddy, clarify something for me. You say that. That three wins. The administration or Mitch, I guess would. Would have had no. No choice but. But to fire March Soups.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, that's how I feel. Yeah.

[Caller]

Does two wins really make that much of a financial difference where probably 20,000 more people are going?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think that. I think you're looking at it for next year. I don't think. I think you're looking at it the wrong way. First of all, I think the amount of people. I do think there will be fewer people buy season tickets next year if they finish 5 and 7. I don't think that number will be as dramatic as you think it will. It won't be 20,000 fewer people. I mean, the reality is that the vast majority of people that buy season tickets will do it anyway. There will, in my opinion, be some, but I think it'll be a small amount. I mean, I'm not sure what was the difference in like, what was the difference in season ticket sales last year to this year? I want to say I could be wrong.

[Caller]

It was like 10,000 or so or something like that.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think that's true. I mean, I don't think. I thought it was like 1200. Maybe it was 10,000. If it was, I'll stay and corrected. But I actually think it was. It was down, but I don't think it was a massive number.

[Caller]

Well, let me ask you this. If you say if. If it was three, he would have had. Mitch would have had no choice.

[Matt Jones]

I think you have to think about what. How that would have been that. Say that again. What if the donor said what now?

[Caller]

What if the donors weren't backing that had he won three, would. Would the school have still made the change?

[Matt Jones]

What if the donors weren't backing what.

[Caller]

What if the donors were not paying that buyout? I think then though, they still wanted suture.

[Matt Jones]

So this is just my take on it you have to remember, think about these weeks when we beat Auburn, Florida and Tennessee Tech, right? Think about what those weeks were like. Now imagine what it would have been like if we had lost those games. Then I think your guess that 10,000 people might not renew. Susan, tickets would have become a lot more of a thing. There would have been nobody at the Florida game, nobody at the Tennessee Tech game. They would have been booed off the field. You know, those kind of things. Like then it's a different situation. You know, I think you go back to Joker Phillips. The reason I think Joker ultimately got fired was the scene at that UK Vandy game. Were you there? You may. I mean you may have been.

[Caller]

No, no.

[Matt Jones]

But there was no one there, right? By the end it was empty. People were booing. And I think Mitch Barnhart had a moment where he was like, I just can't do this. I thought if we lost to Auburn in Florida, that would be the Tennessee Tech game. I thought the Tennessee Tech game would be that moment. It didn't happen because it didn't happen. The UK athletic department is so insular. They don't really hear from the public. Mitch Barnhart has said he doesn't read social media. He doesn't read the media. He only reads emails. Who emails? You know what I mean? So I think they needed probably this public moment of fan revolt that ultimately, sir, I don't think happened. So that to me is the difference between three and eight and five and six.

[Caller]

Fair enough, man.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. That's just my take on it. But I remember going back because I was just starting. I remember going back before that Vandy game and I had someone tell me when Joker Phillips was the coach before that Vandy game. I think Mitch is going to bring him back. And I believe that year we were like 2 and 10 or something like that. 2 and 9. I think we only played 11 games in and then that day happened and it flipped. I don't think that day happened this year. Today was a bad day and we'll have to see what happens with Louisville. So that's my take on it. I think this situation you're hearing is a little bit of why next week is such a big deal. Thank you folks very much for staying up. Billy, you've been here all day. Go hang out with your fiance and we will see you all later. This has been the local Toyota dealers KSR postgame show.

[Commercial Narrator]

Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first. There, the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.

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