KSR - 2024-03-25- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 25, 2024

Matt, Drew, and Shannon talk John Calipari's future at Kentucky. Also, NCAA Tournament talk and everything else from the weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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and they're still bringing the best and stand-up comedy to the area 37 years later. Call 859271 joke or visit Comedy OffBroadway.com. This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones. Welcome, everyone, Kentucky Sports Radio Monday, March the 25th. I am Matt Jones here at the KS Bar and Grill with Drew Franklin. Ryan is off today. He'll be back tomorrow.

Shannon is in Louisville. You give us shout on Clark's Pumpin Shop phone line 859-280-2287. We'll open up the phones at the end of this first segment. I am going to take your calls to hear what you guys have to say, because my guess is this will be one of our most listened to shows of all time. A Vision Auto Glass Text Machine is 772-7745254. And this edition sponsored by the T.J. Smithlaw office, you call T.J. He'll make them pay.

The reason I say that, Drew, the post-game show after the game Thursday. Thursday night. Second most listened to live stream of a show ever after the national championship game. The second most listened to podcast ever. Our website hit record traffic last night and my Twitter space had the most I've ever had on one. So I would say there's a little bit of, I guess, intrigue and what's going to happen in the UK world. It's been a long weekend. I'll go over everything in a second. But what are your thoughts? now three days after the loss to, you know, to Oakland. By the way, ESPN first take thing is, is the current NCAA tournament selection model flawed?

Like, all the favorites made it. They clearly did a really good job with it. But anyway, go ahead. Yeah, right. We have all the ones, all the twos, and only two three seeds missing. So I did a pretty good job. But unfortunately, we're one of those three seats. It is crazy and not surprising how the fan base is,

on every app listening to everything. It's all anyone wants to talk about. All my text messages are John Calipari. As you know, just trying to watch the Sweet 16. You got random people yelling at you. What's happening? You know, I mean, it's all anyone talks about around this town. And 99% of it seems to be on one side.

Well, I was going to ask you that. Do you think it is primarily negative for Cal? Oh, yeah. I mean, I obviously don't know everyone in Big Blue Nation, but from my seat in this nation and where I've been, I haven't found a person yet that wants them back. And I don't mean that. I mean, strangers here at KS. Barr, strangers at the Sweet 16.

Now, those people are going to be a lot more vocal because they're negative and the ones that want to be more quiet. But I'm just saying from what I've seen since the game ended, it is all negative. I've actually not had one part. So just so you know, Drew and I were at the Sweet 16 Saturday day and night. I came by the bar Saturday day. I was around town a little bit yesterday.

Now, granted, negative people will come up and talk to you more about it. And, you know, I think maybe because of what I said, people think I'm more on their side on it. So maybe that's what it is. I've not had one person come up to me and say, I hope we keep it. Now, there's some of that online, some. Shana, what about you? I mean, I didn't get to hear the pre-show. Do you hear a lot of support?

Not much, maybe one or two, but not a whole lot. Most people are kind of on the same line of thinking as what you guys are saying. He needs to go. It's time to split ways. You know, I don't, we haven't been a part of KSR, or I guess you guys have. I haven't been a part of KSR since a coaching change. No, the radio, the radio, we have never had a basketball coaching change since the radio show. And our football change was in the first year, Shannon, before I think you were even on it.

Right. So this is extremely interesting to me to see how all of this is going to be. play out and I think that's the big reason why everybody's listening to the shows. And also remember the women's basketball thing is going. Right. I mean, I, you know, the guy that I think is the favorite Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech just lost last night. So, I mean, Mitch has one coaching search he has to do and maybe depending on what happens today and another. So let me catch everybody up in case you weren't online. So here's where it is today. John Calapary flew back with the team on Thursday, but then immediately flew to New Jersey

and has been there since. He is flying back to Kentucky today and will meet with Mitch face to face. From what I understand they have not met, I'm not sure if they've talked, but they have not met since then. I think the decision, whatever it is, will be made tonight.

Whether it's announced tonight or announced tomorrow, I think remains to be seen, but it will be made tonight. It may already be made, but both sides will know tonight. And just it's the nature of things. I would think it would leak out soon after. I think right now, the amount of people that really know what's going to happen might be two or three. And I don't believe any of the leaks that people say, because I don't think

those people are talking. But here's what, and I said this last night on Twitter, what I can say confidently is that one of two things is going to happen. He's either going to be replaced or if he's brought back, he's going to be told you all don't get to operate on an island anymore and do your own thing. You're going to be treated like the rest of the sports. You don't get to do whatever you want. etc. I said I leaned slightly, and I mean slightly, like 5248, that he could be gone because

I don't, A, I think there's a 40% chance. Mitch just is ready to move on. But then I think there's a greater than 10% chance that Cal hears all that and says, I ain't doing all that. And that leads me to be over 50 that he's not the coach here next year. What about you? I can agree with that. I can agree with that. I think what you just said, I have a hard time believing. John Calipari is just all of a sudden going to be listening to Mitch Barnhart. Even if Mitch lays that on the table, I mean, he's been here 15 seasons now. He hasn't listened to a peep. And we know man's a little stubborn, likes doing it his way.

I just find a hard time believing that he would agree to I'm now under Mitch Barnhart. Now, if that's what Mitch puts out there, we'll see what happens. but that's a scenario I can't really see happening. I think Cal would walk away before he would come back and do it Mitch's way. Well, I think Mitch will say to him, first of all, you have to make a couple of staff changes. I don't think fans realize that there are at least two staff members that, how would you put it? Stealing money.

I'll put it that way. I don't care. Stealing money is what is happening. Yeah. I think that's fair. And the administration knows that, has been frustrated by it, and I don't think there's any way they allow those two to return. I guess to not be literal, they're not actually taking money away.

Just what they're paid, I don't believe they're doing what they're paid for to the best of the ability. I think then there's a lot of frustration with the way money is spent, and there's a lot of frustration with, well, let me put it like this. Seth Greenberg is on TV. Seth Greenberg is Cal's very good friend. And he was on ESPN radio on a show. I just heard the audio this morning. And he said, cow is my friend, and he knows I feel like this.

But this is Seth's quote. He's not the same cow. He doesn't live college basketball like he once did, and it's catching up to him, basically saying he doesn't quite work his heart. And he said, this is Seth that said it. Seth, who is his friend, said, I can't believe he said after the game that they played zone and that they weren't ready. He knew they played zone.

Twitter, everyone on Twitter was talking about the zone, just casual fans talking about zone. He said, how could he not, he had a wiserie. week to get ready. That's Seth saying that. Seth, who at one point stopped talking to me because I criticized Cal. So, you know, everybody knows that. And I think all of that has led to a frustration that reaches a boiling point tonight.

Well, we had the Kyle Tucker story last fall that I think upset a lot of people. I don't think there was a lie in that. And a lot of that was about work ethic. And Kyle took a ton of criticism. and I took criticism and everything in that article was true. Everything. And all the people that came at Kyle. And you know, I've had my things with Kyle over the years,

but Kyle and I get along now. But all of you that came after him, you really ought to sit and look about, do you actually want to know what's happening or do you just want to like, you just want to be told what's like something positive? Everything Kyle wrote was right. Those quote unquote disgruntled staffers,

They're disgruntled for a reason. And those are all people that really like Cal. Still to this day. They were trying to help. There was a thought, I know this. There was a thought, if we get this out there, Cal will see it and it'll motivate him. And that things will change.

But go ahead. I know someone about two years ago told Cal, you're letting people around you and work ethic kind of hurt your legacy a little bit. I'm just, as your friend, let's wake up a little bit because things that are being said about you, that's not the real John Cali Perry. and you don't want that to be the last memory at Kentucky

or maybe your career kind of tighten up everything around the offices and that was before we even got to this point. So I think, you know, Cal is a great coach. He's in the Hall of Fame for a reason. We still love Kyle. I think work ethic and staff are a big part of while we're here. I think that's part. I do.

But Seth himself, I hate to keep bringing up Seth. But this is Seth. This is said this. Seth said, Cal's not the same. and he's not he hasn't been for like three years he's just not he's still a good man he's still a good coach but he has not been the same since the lifetime contract that's your take on it that's my take that's my and i'm not saying you're wrong but that's been your take for a long time my take is something changed around covid and i don't know what it was but you know for all the ksr's just

mad at him because they got cut out. I'm not mad. I'm disappointed at how and how and I'm, listen, people who know him and love him a lot more than me have the, have had these opinions. This has been a long time coming. Something changed. Shannon thinks that the lifetime contract, I think around COVID, but around that time, something changed with him. And it hasn't been the same. And it's not a coincidence that it manifests itself in the, these games. I remember the exact moment we were sitting at the Omni last year before the SEC tournament started, and I brought up that he said he wanted to watch the Waltons. I was like, I don't even want to bring this up, but I can't believe this man said out loud, we could play two teams.

I'm not going to watch tape of two teams. And maybe he was just saying that to radio to be loose, whatever, but I couldn't believe a coach would admit that he's not going to scout two different opponents because he doesn't know which is going to win. And then we came home to the very next game. Now, he probably did watch tape, but I just can't believe saying that out loud, I'm not going to scout this. We were at Roosters coming home from Pittsburgh last Friday. I'm in the bathroom, and they're talking about Dan Hurley. All I can hear it, Yukon's playing. And they say, when Dan Hurley goes home, he watches European basketball, mid-major basketball.

He's just constantly trying to consume more and learn more. And as they're saying that, I'm thinking, we've got a coach who tells us he doesn't have to watch the other team because the only worries about his. It's just that I think there's a fire there that has gone out a little bit. I had an assistant coach for a Power 5 program. Tell me about a month ago, Matt, the easiest team in America to scout is Kentucky. Easiest team. Now, you might not be able to beat them because their talent is so good. But they're the easiest team to scout.

They run the same stuff. They do the same things. And you can scout them in an hour. That's what he said. Well, it's catching it up to us. All right. Especially defensively last Thursday. At the Sweet 16, a lot of coaches around there.

Some of the college ranks, and I had conversations with them, and they were like, we couldn't believe that they didn't know how to play a basic defense. It was clear those players had no game plan in their hands going into that game. That's crazy for the University of Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. And when you get to the NCAA tournament, you can't ask the other coach to not play zone, if you remember that from earlier in the year. Can you not play zone? So now the question is what happens.

I think tonight is the night, one way or the other. We find out probably tonight or tomorrow. Do you think he's the coach here next year? On Friday, you three said no, or you three said yes. I said no. Where are you today? I still lean no. I just.

No, you said yes, he wouldn't be the coach. No, I said no. I said he wouldn't. You gave us like a timeline. No, I didn't think he'd be the coach. Okay. All right, go ahead. No, I think it's too broken around here.

All right. What about you? I mean, there are fans that he could have the greatest team ever, and they will not care to walk in that arena or turn on our TV at this point. So you're just so. I'm still no. I'm still no. I'll just put it this way.

I'll be very surprised if they fire Calopary. So you tend to. Well, that's not what I asked you. I asked you, will he be the coach? Yes. You say yes. Yes. Okay.

Eileen no. But Eileen no. I don't think Mitch wants to fire him, but I think there is so much pressure on him. Let me throw in a little point that somebody made to me last night that I forgot. Remember, in April, they're restructuring the seats down here at Rupp Arena. Oh, yeah. And they're asking the people who have the biggest donors to pay the most money this April for the top six, for the first six rows.

Those people's opinions are about to matter a lot more than they do. did a year ago. They're asking them to front big money for the first six rows. Remember, it's led to a lawsuit. Yeah, we thought this offseason would be about that, not all this other stuff. And now, Shannon, the people in those rows are the ones who are the maddest. Yeah. Could you imagine paying that kind of money to see that type of product? Somebody mentioned that to me last night, and I forgot. They're asking the biggest donors to make their biggest donation ever this offseason. you don't think Mitch is going to have to listen to them right now? I had forgotten that, but I do think that'll be a big factor.

859-280-2287. Shannon, go ahead and open up the lines. We'll be talking about this all day. Plus, one of the biggest errors I've ever seen a media outlet make in my entire life occurred this morning. We'll take a break. Very back, KSR. Oh, wait a minute.

Shannon playing a little Clay Walker. So, let me ask you a question. Let's say you were making the decision. Forget everybody else. You're Shannon the AD. What are you doing? I'm going to sit down with them and say, look, we're going to give you one more chance. If this happens again next year, you're done.

But wasn't that what this year was? Well, it was for us, but I don't know that that conversation was had between Barnhart and Calgary. But it was for you. So he's already failed that test for you. So why do you do it again? Because I'm afraid of what's next. Because look. But how can it be any worse?

I'll tell you how it could get worse. Right down the road, what happened to Louisville? They won 12 games and two seasons. But they hired arguably the worst coach we've ever seen in Division I. They hired a guy with no experience. I mean, we're not going to hire somebody that. I mean, Kentucky's not going to hire a dude who's never coached before. No offense to Kenny, but he had never coached.

The FBI was involved over there. They had a lot going on. I mean, I'm not saying you can't have a coach that's worse than we've been the last four years. You can. Billy was. but isn't that a risk that it's look we this is one I keep saying to people we're doing this at some point soon right he's leaving at some point soon so the issue of well you'll lose your recruits he the next coach won't be as good I agree with all that maybe but you know what that's going

happen whether we like he can't coach into infinity right so the question is only when do you want to rip the bandaid off you want to rip it off now or do you want to rip it off in three or four years or one year? The recruiting class next year, Drew, is not great. I mean, it's great for everybody else's standards. But for the Cal standards, it's probably not one of our best ones. And not much shooting, and we've fallen in love with shooting recently. And, you know, to Seth's point, and this isn't a big deal to me.

I'm going to acknowledge you, like, it doesn't matter a lot to me. but Seth, or excuse me, not Seth's point, to other people's point about him working on. Shannon, on Saturday morning, a Kentucky commit, Travis Perry, was playing against a guy, Kentucky is recruiting, the Moreno kid at Great Crossing, and not one member of the staff was there. Yeah, and they should have been. Playing head to head. No doubt they should have been there. They're playing head to head in Lexington.

And then one of your players wins the state championship. and is named the MVP and not one of your staff members is there. I felt like Calipari in the past, like the old Calipari would have been there. There are people telling me that they've had a staff member at the Sweet 16 every year for decades. It's like a coaching convention, really. Yes. Even when we weren't recruiting players in it, we had somebody there. No one was there this weekend.

And it wasn't just that no one was there. We have a guy who's coming to this school playing against a kid. You want to come to this school in an amazing. amazing game and you didn't have anybody there. And it's down the road. And even if cows in New Jersey, where are the other assistants? One of them was downtown. Is I not supposed to say that? It's like whatever you want. Shannon, I mean, like, isn't that worrisome? Yeah, it is. It is. But if I'm Travis Perry and I'm having this dream moment, it'd be nice if one guy from the staff was there. How often do we have a signee who was named Mr. Basketball last year,

finished the job and win a title in Rupp Arena? Not a coach there? There was a coach from one of the other teams that's recruiting him there. So are they just completely checked out or what? Just in case. Well, I don't know. I mean, there have been reports, Jack Pilgrim reported, that the assistants are still telling the guys the commits,

we'll be here next year. How do they know that? They don't know that. They don't know that, but they need to say that. But then how do you not come down here? I mean, Moreno, the kid from Scott County, had a row of coaches watching him. All with their logos on. As I say, Scott County, great crossing.

All with their logos on, you could sit and see them. Kentucky's not there. I mean, and it's down the road. And by the way, an amazing game. Let me say something about that because I do want to go to the phones. but for as frustrated as I was Thursday, Saturday was a good soul cleanser. Saturday was an awesome, awesome day of basketball at Rupp Arena. The morning games were both really good.

Lyon County, you know, Travis Perry really didn't play well to the finals. He played well in the finals, but he started playing well against Great Crossing. Great Crossing was good. It was back and forth, two crowds that were into it, a ton of fun. Then the afternoon, later in the day, Harlan County. 13th region, Shannon, gets to the finals for the first time since Richie. That's awesome. I mean, Trent Noah, South Carolina's got a good player.

He was awesome. Played Evangelo Christian, the smallest. Their student section, Shannon was like six people. But, you know, they got some guys that are pretty good, too. Another good game. And then the finals, two small rural schools playing each other. the gym had 13,000 people, highest championship game since like 2014. The first three quarters were a battle.

And then I thought Harlan just kind of wore out there right at the end. But they were just back and forth. Guys making shots, the Harlan players mountain through and through. I mean, we had a guy look like Sebastian Bach playing point guard, Shannon, for Harlan. I mean, it was, and I just loved it. I love seeing these two small schools going at each other, two of the three. all-time leading scores in the state. It was such a, it reminded me of why we love this.

And I, I have to say, to the Sweet 16, that was as good a day of basketball as I've seen in a long time. You were there for a while. It really was. One thing that stinks about this job is we're usually out of town during Sweet 16, and because of the circumstances, we were able to make it. And partially glad we are, because that was an amazing time. And I'm really happy for Lyon County and Travis Perry's finishing that legacy with the title.

East versus West Kentucky. 13th region. Well, you know, you win once. 13th region and the second region. It was awesome. It was great. All right for this. KS.S.R. T.J. Smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. He'll make them pay. Now, more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

I love that guy. I'm not kidding you, Arlen. I mean, the hair was immaculate. Like, he's got to use good shampoo. What's the herbal essence for the commercials? Oh, he's got better than herbal essence. I'll admit, when I saw him on the court right away, I didn't expect him to be as good as he wasn't. He was good. Great example.

Don't judge a book by that's cover. He was tough. He looked like he should play in a band in the 80s. He really did, Shannon. And yet he was out there balling. I loved that. I mean, yeah, you look at what Jack Olkey did to Kentucky. Dude, I love Harlan out there.

That's exactly. I love Harlan County. I love everything about it. I love, first of all, they had a ton of people there. And I love the dude in the student section just shirt open, just like literally. beach nut like i mean not worried about it at all and then when they won in the semifinal shin and they sang you'll never leave harland a lot oh that's cool how cool is that yeah hopefully somebody got that on video i don't yeah somebody did i didn't but somebody else did that was the perfect

championship you had perry versus trinnova you had two counties that aren't here very often i was sitting with the lion county people i know it's an old joke but i really don't know who was back in lyon county there were so many people there i think the whole town made the trip and the on the other side of the arena with all of Harlan County. So you got probably the two best players and then maybe two of the most rabid and excited fan bases for a 13th regioner. I mean, it's the first time since Richie. They've been in the finals.

Since Richie. I mean, that's 40 years ago. And then they're in. And it was tied going in the fourth quarter. Yeah, the score doesn't show how close it really was. Lime County pulled away. They pulled away at the end. But Harlan had a chance.

It's some big shots to get in it late. Yeah. One person writes, I'm a Cal supporter. He should get another year. But I do have a question for Shannon. It has always seemed like to me he was the most negative one among you all year. Why the change now? Good question. I don't know. Was I the most negative? I don't know that I really was. I think you and Drew were pretty consistently the most negative. But I wasn't negative this year. I was very negative the last two years. But you, Shannon, you would always make jokes about stuff. Well, sure. I joke on everybody. But you're just worried about what's the next.

Yeah, I mean, I felt like if you go back before the Texas A&M game, it felt like everybody was pretty positive about this team, right? What they did before that? Yes, oh, no doubt. And it's just, I don't know, it's just crazy how, I guess everybody that's a coach, you get judged on what you do, but it's based off of what happens in one game. That's true, that's true. Like Dusty May is the coach at Michigan only because they got a tip in at the buzzer against Memphis.

That's right, yeah. If they don't get that tip in last year and they lose in the first round, he ain't the coach at Memphis. No. We were positive in March because we were positive in February because we were excited about March and then they went 0 and 2 and without having any game plan. If Cal gets fired, I'm not going to cry about it. Don't cry. No.

I don't think it's probably not going to be too many tears shed in Kentucky. If you cry, I'm going to have to like be nice to you. Yeah. Who's up first? I've got to be very careful with the situation. That's all I'm saying. Let's go to Donnie. Donnie.

Go ahead, Donnie. Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my call. listen, I'm 75 years old. I go back to rubs of ruts. This problem with Cal hasn't just started here in the last four or five years. I mean, we're in a bad place of basketball-wise at UK. I remember the West Virginia game.

That was the worst UK team I have ever seen since I've been watching basketball, as far as a perimeter game. We couldn't throw it in the ocean all season long. We get into the game against West Virginia, and we take like 32 or 33-3s, and you've got arguably the best center cousins in the middle, and he doesn't get the ball. To me, as a fan, that's where it started.

Then you go on to the Wisconsin games. There's no way we should lose that game. I love Cal. He's such a great. great ambassador, but if he were my brother, I would say, coach, I love you. It's time to go. It's just a sad day. I agree with that, and I appreciate the call.

I am sad about it, especially, I was especially sad Thursday night and Friday, because I kind of got the feeling like this is it. His press conference genuinely was sad. He seemed sad. Mitch, I looked at him, seemed sad. You and I were sad. It did seem like this thing that I do. Where I disagree with that caller a little bit is I think this has been a positive relationship for the vast majority of it.

It's sad. It reminds me of like a movie where you see a couple, Shannon, the night before they're about to break up lying in bed kind of crying again. Yep. Remembering the good times. Remembering the good times and being like, this is, this is it. That's kind of how I feel. What I worry about is you do another year and we do this again, it goes from sadness to anger. And I don't want that.

I don't want that. I also think. I've already gone through the anger and now we're to the apathy part of it. No, it's not apathy. There's too many people who care. It's not apathy. I mean, we're breaking all these records and everything we do. It's not apathy, Shannon.

Apathy's what was at Louisville for the last two years? It's not apathy. People care. But you risk apathy if you keep this going long enough, right? Yeah, I don't think it's apathy. I got yelled at getting down to my car at a restaurant last night. Just trying to go to dinner. People are.

I had a man literally, Shannon, you know where I live. As I was walking home from the Sweet 16th Saturday night, a man followed me and hubby and was screaming at me as I walked into my backyard. Because is that like a normal behavior? No, screaming at me going, keep Kyle, keep Kyle! And then his buddy was yelling at him going, get rid of Kyle! And I was like, good, all right, folks. I think it's time, and I've voiced some frustrations, but I'm also in the sad camp.

There's a little bit of kind of dancing on Cal. I'm not a part of that at all. Like, you know, there's a bar I like and a guy like that celebrated the shot and let's get rid of some of it, I think is a little over the top. I like, I don't, it hurts me that Cal's leaving and it's ending. I want it to happen, but there's also some celebrating that he's there. And I think that's too far. I agree. I mean, Cal gave us a championship and a lot of great memories.

This is not fun for anyone. I'm totally with you. I hope they finished the meeting tonight with a separation and a shaking of pain. That's what I want. Because I'm with you. I don't want to, I don't think. people should dance on his... This isn't a party.

This isn't a party. This has been great here. But all good things come to an end, right? And what worries me is you bring him back, then it starts getting angry. Well, if you come back and you have... We have a couple of friends who are pretty angry about him. I don't want the whole fan base to be like that. I had a friend last night text me, we're a little group chat with three of us,

and he said, I'd rather have Mick Cronin. And two of us immediately replied, dude, you've got to go outside, drink some water. you're too far. Go get some vitamin C. Like there are people there down that bad. Who's next? Doing good. Doing good.

Go ahead. Hello, gentlemen. Just now hearing about the nobody from UK to Sweet 16, that's inexcusable in my eyes. I've got a quick point and then a solution to this mess, I think. I'm pretty disappointed about just, you know, cows, how he approaches the race. regular season and the SEC tournament, et cetera. I understand he's trying to take some pressure off of the players, et cetera. But, I mean, if you take it off of the regular season and SEC tournament, you're putting it all on them. Yes, you are exact. That's a really great point. When you,

every game in the regular season, act like it doesn't matter and then act like the SEC tournament doesn't matter, you're only making the NCAA tournament have more pressure. And those guys have look scared to death two of the last three years on the court. They have, and that can't be a coincidence. I think that's a good point. Yeah, I mean, this is Kentucky. You're going to have pressure every single game. If you make that a daily thing that you have to fight through, then by the time the NCAA tournament comes around, you're able to play free and loose and the other teams, you know, let them be the ones that have to play with pressure, et cetera. This is a solution I thought of for the cow situation. I appreciate everything that he's done. I don't really want to see him go right now

under these circumstances, I guess. If they decided to make a change, I'm not going to be, you know, I'm not going to be crying any tears. But what about, from a financial standpoint, letting Mitch Barnhart go say thank you so much. I mean, that's not a nice little, but why is it Mitch Barnhart's fault that we've been back? I mean, Mitch Barnhart, there are things to criticize him about. But it's not Mitch Barnhart's fault we lost these games. How's it his fault? Well, I wanted to make sure we got Dwayne Peevy back here.

But let me, well, but that's a different point. But in all honesty, and look, Mitch and I've had our issues. But to fire Mitch Barnhart, because John Cal Perry hasn't done well, and then leave Cal, like, what does that do? That doesn't do anything. That would only give Cal more power. Like, you think Cal, and I appreciate the call, is unaccountable now. Imagine if they fired the AD because,

he didn't do well. I think if Mitch were to bring Cal back and you have a repeat performance, then next year we're having the Mitch talk. Mitch needs to worry about Mitch's own job in this situation. I'm glad you said that because I was thinking about this last night in a conversation.

Shannon, you and I both know Mitch and Cal have not gotten along over the years. The fan base, especially these donors, want to change. If Mitch brings Cal back, he is sticking his neck out for Cal. if you had an employee, Shannon, who for 15 years basically didn't do what you said and who you've had an antagonistic relationship with, and then all of a sudden, are you willing to risk your job to save him?

No, you're looking for an excuse to get rid of that person. I am. I mean, honestly, like, who does, who would do that? You know, I mean, it's not, there are coaches. I mean, think about this. Mitch had to get rid of Joker, and he liked him. Very close. You know, I don't know.

What they all need, though, is a clear-cut hero drink. Yeah, that'll fix it. Yeah. I think that will fix it. Get one of these, you know, get the Nova Orange and sit and drink it. Everybody's going to feel better because when it comes to staying hydrated, you don't want mediocre performance. you want clear-cut hero.

Six electrifying flavors. Every bottle is loaded with essential electrolytes. You can get blue with cosmic blue raz. There's one for you. Don't settle for second-rate hydration. Go to Kroger or Amazon for clear-cut hero sports drink. We'll take a break. Come right back, KSOM.

Shannon, I just posted a new picture of the Harlan County players' hair. That is so glorious. What's amazing to me about that hair is that he doesn't tie it up when he plays. Yeah, so it's just going everywhere. It just flows everywhere. When he's kind of lean over, like going for a loose ball, it looks like someone could step on it, or he could trip over it. I mean, it's so long. It's so awesome. I mean, imagine he's backing you down and that hair is going all over the place. Like, you can't even see which way he's going because the hair. I know. Yeah, I just put it up on Twitter. You got to see it. Like, that's it at its most

glorious, most glorious times. 859-2807. We're at KS bar, come out and have lunch all week. Listen, We had a great week in here, but we'd love to have you, believe me, because, you know, we lost. So it'd be nice to have you come out, say hi, we'll be here this weekend, or this week for the show. One person writes, Matt, do you think Mitch has made contact with people in case he were to make a change? It's hard for me to say, I mean, it wouldn't shot me if someone from UK has reached out to say, hey, would you be open to it? I don't think Mitch would have done it. I think that would probably, you know, it's a small world, right? Things could leak and that might not be good.

So I would think if they did that, it would have been like on the DL. But I don't know, to be honest with you. I assume there's been a little bit of, hey, Mitch wants to know if you would have any, you know, just a very casual, should we call if it gets to that point. My hope has already been out there because it's been three days. I hope Mitch would have at least or someone on his behalf gauge some interest I do think there's been conversations about whether or not the money would be there. And what I've been sort of told is the money.

I do not, here's, okay, so there have been some like internet gossip that there's a group of donors raising the money to get him out. I do not think that is true. Matter of fact, I'm sure that's false. I do, however, think it has been said that the money is there if Mitch wants to make a change. I think a lot of people, to be honest with you, Shannon, a lot of people don't want to have as their responsibility the decision. Right. Yeah.

I wouldn't want to be Mitch, honestly do. I would not want to be Mitch. Because the two sides of it are this. You bring him back, the fan base, a lot of them are going to be really upset. And it's going to be hard to win them back. You fire it and you're probably, I think he will be, if he were to be let go, I think he would be the most successful college sports coach let go for. a non-discipline reason ever. I think you're right.

It's going to take a pair. Try to think of one. It's going to take a pair. The only ones I can think of that have been, okay, Bobby Knight, discipline. Joe Paterno, a form of discipline. Woody Hayes, punch the player. Bobby Bowden was kind of encouraged to retire and did. There have been a lot of coaches like that.

But, Shannon, I cannot think of a more successful coach fired in college sports, basketball or football for non-discipline reasons than cap i'm trying to think of one and nothing comes to mount rick patino is another one that got fired but that was disciplined that's what i mean that's what i cannot think of what so do you want that it's it's hard man it is a it would be a very very hard decision either way who's next uh let's go to bob bob go ahead bob good morning yes on just got a minute bob go ahead Well, I'll humble the anything said, so I just think... No, go ahead, go ahead.

Cal came there under a cloud, and did we want a one-and-done coach? I think he did a good job for six years, but the game has passed him up. The players didn't have fun after that five or six years. They were there, but they weren't really having fun. And that's got to be a fun experience for the colleges. I thought the kids this year, Bob, though, had fun. I do. This was an exceptional year.

Yeah. But his platform was very low until he got to Kentucky, and he got all of his in six years that he was there. And for a coach to take from Kentucky what he has and to hold him up for $33 million because he's not doing the job, send me the cornbread gummies because I need all eyes. Bob, I love you. It's good to hear from you, sir.

Well, I listen to your show it's addiction because I can't get by the day without listening to you. Thank you, Bob. That's very nice of you. I appreciate the call. Bob's got jokes sometimes. You know, just that. Got a sly sense of humor, that fella. And we needed it today.

Yes, we did. Who's next, Shannon? Let's go to Jason. Jason. Go ahead, Jason. Hello. Hello? My opinion is Coach Cal is not going to be the coach.

And I really enjoy a listen to you all every weekday morning. I turn on my radio and I listen to you all. Well, thank you, Jason. I appreciate it, sir. You all have a great day. You as well. You know, he talks about having, Bob talked about having fun. I think this year's team, here's what's tough.

this is why it's hard for me to sign on to Shannon's playing because Shannon's plan on the surface is not an unreasonable one and it might be what Mitch says. Mitch says you're going to do X, Y, Z, and you got one year. That could very well be the result of tonight's meeting. Here's why it's hard for me to sign on to that. Last year was a pretty miserable year, I think, for the kids on the team. Would you agree with that?

Oh, yeah. I think they were very unhappy. There were a lot of divisions, and I think it was, I think Cal was at his lowest point in terms of how he dealt with that team, the way the team got along. It was not good. You could do a documentary about last year's team. And I feel sorry for really everybody involved, including Cal. That was a tough, tough year. So then, Shannon, to me, this year was what you're talking about.

Right. You bring in a team full of guys that the players, the fans love, Shepard from Kentucky. All the top 25 recruits, they're here, right? You got two seniors, including an All-American. Like, it seems like everything is set up for this year. This year was supposed to be the pallet cleanser from last year, and then it failed. So next year, think about this.

we have a recruiting class that's probably not as good, certainly not as good shooting, and we don't have an Antonio Reeves returning. Why do we think it's going to be better? This was the year. The year before that, you returned a national player of the year and did the same thing. Like, how many next years do we need?

Yeah, we had the, that's a great point. Two years ago, we returned the national player of the year. I thought that was the bounce back year. And then we gave an extra bounce back here. Then this year will return a. future All-American, a number one recruiting class, and the best player of the state of Kentucky has produced in 30 years, and we lose to Oakland. How do I all of a sudden get excited for next year when we maybe return almost no one?

Remember the T-shirt with all their names? We're back. Kentucky Good. We're at Drake's House. This was that year, and we're already home. Yeah. And remember, if we didn't have Antonio Reeves this year, I don't even want to think about it, right? Oakland would have won about 40.

So we'll come back. Hour number two. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves.

their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up, guys? This is Cliverts Taylor the 4th.

And on my podcast, The Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to. wave at her. What?

Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, Rhett. My mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker.

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