KSR - 2025-08-01- KSR - Hour 2

Episode Date: August 1, 2025

More player interviews from UK Football Media Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Now, here's Matt Jones. Welcome back, our number two, Tegu Sports Radio. We will hear at UK Football Media Day. We will be joined at some point here with players. They're talking to the print and TV media. right now after having just taken the team picture. Although it didn't look like that wasn't the full team, was it? Because I feel like we have a lot more players than that.

I still haven't seen, like, the big offensive line group, like Jagger Burton and those guys have not come out yet. I don't know who these people are. I think that was the team photo, though. They wouldn't do it without their offensive line. Yeah, it's only like five rows of people. Isn't it? It usually go up like 20?

I wouldn't paying that close attention. Well, anyway. Yes, so we've had fun here first hour, a lot going on. A lot of news made. and now we are, we'll kind of wait for the players and everybody here. Let me ask you, now you were already on the ship before all of this. Are you more on the ship now? Absolutely.

Every time I hear Mark Stoops talk, I get more and more sucked in. I'm not going to lie. I mean, a couple months ago I was thinking they're going to struggle to get four wins. Now I'm almost up to Shannon. Why can't they put together a good team? You're going to have a eight to eight. By the time of the kickoff, I'll be going eight and four. Yeah, I'm sure.

I enjoyed the interview. It didn't change any... Well, I mean, I've already bet over four and a half, so it's not like I'm naysayer over here, but those two conversations didn't have me ready to run through a while. I enjoyed them, but I'm still right where I was as far as my expectations for wins, but I did like them clearing up a lot of things.

Yeah, I did too. I like, I do... One of the things I like about Mark is that he wears his emotions, honestly. Yes, he does. For good or bad. As someone over the years, who has been the recipient, of happy, sad, and mad phone calls from him.

I know his emotions pretty well. I actually don't know him really well, but I know his emotions. And I can tell, generally speaking, when I think he's in a good frame of mind and when he's not, and he is in a good frame of mind. He looks good. He's lost weight. He looked happy. He had that.

You know, we've done interviews with him. We know. We know. You can tell when he was. up here. Like, you know what I mean? You can tell what where he is. And I thought that was, that was very good. You were dead on when you said you just look like you're a different person, like the guy you used to be. And you remember he did an interview with this one time here at me today. We leaned back and put his feet up on the table. I feel like he's getting close to that guy.

I mean, when he came in, I'm glad he came in during the spring. But he was very defensive, and it was clear very frustrated. He was. And that wasn't the same guy. here, right? I mean, I think that was much more what we're used to when things have been good with Mark. Right. Yes. So, all right, so now we have, my goodness. Yeah. We have this, all right, so how do I say is that person? Shee-Hase Pete. She-Oz-Pete. You are a big person. How are you doing? Matt, nice to see you. Come on and join us. We are already on the air. So, uh, Ryan. Okay, first, I got to stand next to you. Nice to be sure. Let's turn over here. I want you to look. Stand right here next to me. This is the biggest person I've ever seen. Sheaaz, Pete. Sheaas, join us here on the air. Thank you very much for walking,

for coming with us. She has, you are from New Mexico, am I right? Thank you for inviting me. I am. And you are the, are you six eight? I feel like you are. Six eight, three hundred twenty four pounds. Three hundred and twenty four pounds of, now you, look how big he hits in there. I mean, my goodness. Look at him next to Drew. That is a. Amazing. Chiaz, thank you very much. You played last year for New Mexico State. Came to Kentucky.

What made you become a wildcat? Wildcat, the competition, for sure. The food. The food. Really? My official visit, Coach Wolf took me to Tony's, I believe, the state house. Ah, incredible. Incredible.

Good. It is very good food. We've been to, or I have been to, was it, Los Crucese? Los Cruces. Yes. Not a lot going on there, is there? Well, it's laid back. It's a good community.

It's close to Roswell. Okay. We went through there. Yes. Isn't it? Yeah. If you do take a trip out there, I highly recommend you visit White Sands. I've been there.

We went through there to Roswell, and I've been to White. It's beautiful. It's incredible. The sunsets are gorgeous out there. It's a different kind of heat. And a good community that kind of developed me into Well, let's tell me about your background, because I saw an interview with you that I thought was fascinating. I think that's probably the easiest way for you to start.

Just tell me about your background, where you grew up, all that. Okay, well, I'm originally from Montana, grew up there. I'm in a military family, so that had to move around a bit. Ended up getting stationed in Colorado, Fort Carson, spent some time there, and eventually, you know, eventually, you know, worked my way down to New Mexico, and to the Navajo Nation, and went to high school. school there, did football there. When you say Navajo Nation like on a reservation, so you played football on a reservation in New Mexico? Yeah. Yes. And tell me about what life is like there. A lot of people listening would have no idea. Well, it's a very, it's humble beginnings.

I'll tell you that. It's a very small town. And I played, I played football there for two years. not a lot of exposure there not a lot of i guess media attention or whatnot very small football and there were times where i only had to play we only played with 11 guys and i had to play both sides so i mean football wise you know that happened but you know i i enjoyed the school if anything you know being around the teachers and how many people were in your school 600 okay when i first got there all navajo On Navajo. Majority, yeah.

Yeah. I did all sorts of sports there. I did cross country for a bit. You did cross country. Yeah. Wow, okay. Yes. Nice.

I guess everybody plays most things, right? Got into shape there. But within the Navajo Nation, it's a lot of rural communities, you know, spread out throughout. So the commuting is a big, big part of it. You've got to drive a long ways to see family to get groceries. But that's, but that's, but that's, It wasn't where you were when you were a little kid. So what was, but that feels like that would have been a big change, was it?

Oh, yeah, big change, big change. Culture shock, of course. What was the culture shock? Tell me about it. Okay, well, coming from Montana, I was within the Salish community, that tribe of people there. And those individuals move differently, communicate differently, of course. That's their community. You come out of that community, you go on to a military base per se.

It's entirely different. People are more, there's a lot more structure and people are, it's more militant. Okay. You could say that. The military, they've been a military base, so it makes sense. Then you go from being one of the only Native American people in Colorado to being surrounded by a bunch of, you know, being back in your community, the community that my mother's from. Did you enjoy that?

Yeah, a good change. It's perspective, right? I didn't know it at the time, you know, being in it, but, you know, I looked at. Looking back in my life, yeah. And now you're in Lexington. What has that been like? It's fun. Different.

Again, another angle to look at life from. Now, you've played not against SEC football. You all beat Auburn last year, right? We marched in there. So tell me what that was like. I mean, I remember if, like, Mexico State goes into Auburn and when that had to be unbelievable. Oh, man, it felt so good to be an Aggie that day to wear crimson to. to have our entire team rally together and just, I mean, just stare down our opponent like that.

There were times, man, like the stadium, I mean, it was one of the first SEC games I'd ever really been a part of. So like the fireworks, the roar of the crowd, I mean, it was captivating, but we were so focused on our objective. Their coach, our head coach at the time got us, got us going. You know, Coach Mitchell, my former offensive line coach, you know, rallied us together. kept the objective, the objective. Did you play with Diego Pavia? Was that right? Yeah, Pavia.

So now you've got to beat him this year, though, right? Like, I mean, you can't, now you're going to be playing against him. Ah. You're not going to be going up against him, but you got to, like, you used to protect him. Now you got to make sure we get at him, right? Yeah, that's, it's, um. He beat us last year. You can't let that happen again.

I understand that. He knows the mission. I love it. And we go to Auburn again. So you're going to get another chance at that. Yeah. Yeah, a huge opportunity with this new group of guys here, too. So I'm looking forward to it.

Did you, I mean, did you ever dream you would get a chance to play football at an SEC school? I mean, you know, if I were to tell myself at a younger age that I'm doing this, I don't think I'd believe myself. So it's incredibly fulfilling. I'm extremely grateful. And I'm cherishing each and every single day. an hour, every interaction I have, like this one. So I'm extremely grateful.

That's awesome. Mark Stoops was saying when he was here a minute ago, he looked at me and said, you would really like him. He's a dude who's very, like, he thinks deeply. Would you agree about that about yourself? Yeah, I try to see, like, I always remain curious about, you know, people, opinions, life, events. You know, it helps me. What are your interests, like, away from football?

My interests away from football Well, I like history I like reading about the past It helps me determine the future But it gets a bit confusing So I try my best to stay in the present What are your favorite parts of history What's like if I were to if you were to sit there

And read a history book or listen to a history podcast What are you choosing? I'm listening right now about The Mexica and Cortez in 1519 and all that I've been listening to a podcast What do you listen to? those. Well, I was for a bit of time reading about Napoleon. I watched some videos about some of his recent battles, some of, within the Middle East, some of other, like, ancient battles or

whatnot. Just seeing how these leaders command and maneuver their troops, it's pretty cool. And now you are the head of, or one of the members, but I think most people think going to be the core strength of this offensive line. That was a weakness on this team. team last year. What do you think it's going to be like this year? New set of guys for the most part except Jagger. Yeah. Jagger's done a good job, you know, getting us together, you know, keeping our objective, the objective. We got a lot of you guys, inexperienced ones, and we also have a bunch of experienced guys coming in from a different, we're beasts of no nations. Beasts of no nations! Oh, I love that! What do you think of that?

I mean, yes, love it. Do you have the shirts yet? We need to get the shirts. Beasts of no nations. Well, first of all, that's what I'm calling it. Yes. All right. Our offensive line, beasts of no nation, and it will be you that, how do I, I want to get your name pronunciation, right?

How do I say it? Cheage. Shias. Okay. No, no, no, no. Shiaj. Like massage? Shish.

Jaj. Shish. Shias. Shiaj. Shia. Shia. Chi-Yage. Like massage.

I got that. Shiyaj. All right. Zach Cosado, we've never seen him play. Tell me about him. He's coming over here after you. Well, sure, yeah. He gets us going.

I don't really see him throw the ball when I'm past walking. That's good. That is a good thing. I don't want to have my eyes on him. You don't want to be falling into him. That means a sack, yeah. So he's good. He gets the ball out.

He tells us to play. He leads us He gets our huddle right He's good He's a good man to block for Well, I've really enjoyed getting to meet you I always have Ryan Lemon here He gets to ask one question to each player

So Ryan, you're up to back So you said you went to Tony's on your visit What do you eat now that you're here? Like what do you mean, in Kentucky We're kind of known for hot browns And have you tried to sample a lot of our different kind of food? Hot browns! Do you even know what a hot brown is?

I'm not. Don't learn. None of us have had hot browns. No one eats hot browns. What is a hot brown? It's a Kentucky staple. But tell you what's in it. Ham, cheese, bacon, biscuits, it's awesome.

You know what I have had, dads. Dads is good. Dads is good. The Rushmore's? Yes. I love them. That's what I need to hear. Dads is very good.

Dad's very good. Dad's very good. Football players go there a lot, right? Yeah, our whole line throughout the year would stop in and, yeah, they'd serve us up really good. We have a sports bar. When we open it back up, I want you to bring your offensive line out one day, and we'll let you have wings and burgers after our big game. How's that?

Sounds good. All right. Thanks for the invite. I've really enjoyed getting to meet you. Good luck. You are, we were saying, Deion Walker, who was last year, you two are the biggest guys I can remember playing at Kentucky. So I'm looking forward to watch you play this year.

Thanks. Thanks for having me on, guys. Okay. We will take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where SportsLice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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He's walking up right now. Here comes Zach Kalsana, the UK quarterback this year. This will be my first chance to speak to the young, well, yeah, the quarterback closest to my age of all time. I'm excited. I'm still young. Yeah, Zach, thank you very much. Yes, sir.

So tell me, what? Are we excited? This is, you're the guy here for a team ready for a rejuvenation? What's it like? Oh, it's awesome, man. It's been a great experience since I've been back. You know, the players, the coaches, I feel like everybody has a great mentality. So that's what was really refreshing coming in.

And everybody's just ready to work. You know, you can feel the sense of urgency since January. And now that we're camp and we're rolling, I think it's awesome. And we've had a really good start and we just got to keep stacking days. How'd you end up deciding to come to Kentucky? I mean, you had a number of choices. What made you end up here? Yeah, man, a number of choices for sure.

You know, wasn't sure if I wanted to take my shot at the league or if I wanted to come back to school. And, you know, when I decided I want to come back to school, Kentucky really stood out to me. You know, being back in the SEC was something that I've wanted for a long time. I've been eager to get back. And, you know, just meeting with Coach Bush and Coach Stoops and, you know, getting a good feel for their mentality

and how they feel going into the season. and, you know, Coach Bush does a really good job with the offense. He's a great mind, and we've got some good weapons, so everything felt good about it. You've played on a number of different levels, so you know when you have a team that, you know, very talented, when something's missing. How do you feel about this group? I feel really good about it. From talent perspective, you know, we're in a really, really good spot, and I think even more importantly, from a mentality perspective, we're in a great spot. I think, you know, from our skill position guys all summer, you know, I could text them.

What do you mean mentality? Because that was an issue for this program for the last couple years. What makes this good? Right. It's just been everybody's approach for me. You know, skill guys, you know, I text them on a Sunday, hey, we're going to throw in an hour. And I got, you know, 10, 11, 12 guys out there ready to work, running full speed, you know, our offensive line. You know, we'll be in lift sometimes.

And, you know, you can see them out there in the sand getting extra work. they're the last group to leave and our running backs too i think dowdell in the addition of set and those other guys willcox and jp you know they do a really really good job do you you i mean you played a and em you played at auburn so you've played in the SEC does this team have the makeup to be competitive in the league oh yeah i feel good about it i feel really good about it and like i tell guys we got a chance and i think that's all you need and now it's just a matter of putting our best foot forward every day i think you know offensively we've had a really good start to camp, but we got to keep stacking. We got to keep improving. We know it's going to be a long,

tough season with some tough opponents, but we're built for it and we're getting ready for it. Your journey's an amazing one. I mean, you've been all over the place, and you've been on different levels. You're doing Auburn, you're doing A&M, you're doing that, and then you end up an incarnate word, which is a completely different thing. Tell me about what that transition is like. How do you get yourself, because it's a completely different, it's like a different sport in some ways. Yeah, it was awesome. I think, you know, I've said it was a blessing that I needed more than I knew. And, you know, getting there and looking around at, you know, the facilities and the, you know, the three, 400 person stadium.

It was different. It was a lot different. But, you know, it was kind of, it was a great reset for me, you know, coming off of, you know, being out for a year. Did it humble you a little bit? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And, you know, I think it's funny, I tell people, we had a home field advantage because it felt like a scrimmage. You know, you had a hundred.

It was parents and friends in the crowd. But, you know, I think as a team, we embraced that. And as a player, I embraced that. And, you know, just didn't have the facilities. We didn't have the resources. But it was just all about football. You know, we said, you know, everybody on this team, two things. Everybody's been told no and everybody loves football.

And we embrace that. Forgive me. Is it Cam Moore? Who was at that same place? So you've seen the path? Yes, sir, absolutely. Right. And is that what you're hoping to follow?

Yes, sir, absolutely. And the quarterback before me, Lindsay Scott, you know, they showed me through for 4,600 yards a year before. I was like, no question. You know, let me come do the same thing and just reset and, you know, game back my love for the game and go back. So have you gotten your love back? Oh, absolutely. I love the sport. And, you know, just being here every day, I'm extremely grateful.

All right. Now, I look at that schedule. Mm-hmm. I mean, we go to Auburn. So, like, it's right there. I know, you know, first game, Toledo, I get it, but there's got to be a part of you that just sees that right there and it's kind of excited.

Right. No, it's definitely exciting to be able to go back there. And, you know, for me, I know I'm going to have to tell myself, like, look, this is another game. I have to prepare for this game. I think the way I approach every other game, you know, with the mentality that I have, I think it's going to be the same. There's going to be that part of me that, you know,

it's Auburn. It's my old school. But at the end of the day, it's a football team. And, you know, as somebody that a lot of these guys look to, I've got to treat it the same. go in the game. What, you know, what, what's the, are you, are you, are you, are you, do you, because there's so many guys, I mean, what was he said, what was it, does that, no, is that,

the Pate said. Pete, he said, what was the name of all nations? What was it, the phrase? Oh, Beast of no nation. Beast of no nations. Like, there's 50 different new players. How do you make a leadership role with that? Right.

I mean, I think for me coming in, I just wanted to be the best teammate I could be in, be somebody that could be trusted. You know, that's something that I think has to be established first before your voice has any weight to it. So, you know, in the spring, January, just wanted to be somebody that, you know, is here doing what I need to do, somebody that the teammates know they can count on. And, you know, as we get rolling into camp, just somebody who's voice. And that comes from a lot of conversations with, you know, a lot of the other leaders on the team and just making sure that, you know, we're all on the same page and we're moving in the right direction. What do you do off the field? Like what are your interest away from football?

Well, she says, I've been in Kentucky. I joke with people. I'm either in my apartment or I'm at the facility. Okay, well, we've got to get you out. Well, actually, after the season. I'm dabbled. I've dabbled. I went to Keenland.

You know, I've gotten to see some cool parts of Kentucky and Lexington with some of the guys. But you're here in some ways here for business, right? Oh, absolutely. I know, I mean, at the end of the day, it's one and done for me, and that's how I'm treating it. Do you, and you still obviously have goals and aspirations of the next level? What's it like working with Mark Stubes and Bush every week? Oh, it's awesome. I mean, they're a big reason that I came here, conversations that I had with them.

So just to be around those coaches and be with guys with the same mentality as me and just keep preparing and whatever we can do every day to get better and get ready for this. Have you gotten a feel yet for how much we hate Louisville and Tennessee? Have you gotten that yet? I was seeing it around a little bit. Man, I was at a restaurant the other day, and they had a, like, some Louisville made a volleyball game on or something. I was like, why do we have that on the TV?

Did you demand they turn it off? I was like, why is this on the TV? They would change the channel. So that was funny. But, yeah, no, absolutely. You know, I love a good rivalry. It's awesome. Give me a player.

I always think players know this better than anybody. Give me a player that maybe the fans don't know that they will know at the end of the year. Is there a receiver or something that you would say, hey, just keep an eye out. Man, really just all of our skill guys, you know, Willie Rodriguez, Josh Cadiz, two receivers. Tell me about the law kid, because we don't know him. Oh, Kendrick?

Yeah. He's explosive, man. He's ready. He's a weapon like I haven't had in a while, so I'm excited. He's tiny, so he's got to be fast, right? Oh, he's big. Have you seen him? I haven't just from afar.

I mean, like, well, maybe he is a bit. Maybe I just can't get the... Probably about six foot. Oh, well, then. He's a lot bigger than Ryan. Oh, he's big too, man. You know, him, Jamory Macklin, DJ Miller, JJ Hester, still alive.

Good group. All right, great group. Good luck to you. Thank you very much, and let's get some Ws. Yes, sir. Thank you guys. All right. We'll take a break. Be right back.

KS.R. Good stuff, man. 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. All right, welcome back. We are now joined by U.K.'s punter, who's already been a guest

on this show with Ryan Lemon. We had him on when you were off that week. I talked about his toughness rating. Was he in person? On the phone. On the phone. So this is the first time to see it. Aidan LaRoss, our punter from South Africa. Where did you play last year? Lost year I was here with the UK. No, before that.

UT Martin. UT Martin. Okay, got you. Because you, yeah, my, my, you know, I'm good friends with Max. Duffy and he was he was when you came he was like this is the dude so you know Max obviously yeah so tell me a little bit at your journey here what you've been here a year but now the job looks to be to be yours are you excited super excited I've obviously received some preseason awards to me that doesn't mean much but I I want to obviously exceed what they've given me I think that's that's my goal yeah you got you you know are

taking a job that has some good history with Max and our success with punters from overseas. Are you ready to follow in the footsteps? Of course, yeah. I think putting South Africa on the map as a punter would be amazing. I don't know if it's been done. I know there are a few Division I, South African players, D-Linmen, offensive linemen, that have gone through and played in the NFL. But I'd like to be a punter. Well, tell me about your job.

I mean, how did you end up playing college football? Because you're right. I don't know of any other South African player. Yeah, so my family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2017, so through high school. And I joined the football team to make friends. I played rugby. Rugby was my main sport. I wanted to play for the USA Eagles.

And I had a coach in high school that punted a little bit in the NFL and took me under his wing. And because of COVID and how it worked out, I didn't get recruited, but he knew somebody at UNC Charlotte that pretty much gave me a true walk-on spot. First day of practice didn't even go to full camp. kind of made my way up. I believe, am I right? Wasn't there a Kentucky guy that was an assistant or a volunteer assistant at UNC Charlotte?

He was Max's friend. I can't remember which player it was. Do you remember? No, we had their guy for there for a year or two. But then you went from Charlotte to UT Martin. Is that right? Yes, I walked on to Charlotte. I did the kickoff for my second year,

had some good film being the backup field goal kick and backup punter. And at that time, I was actually more of a field goal kicker. I got the scholarship to UT Martin to do all three. And the rest of history, I got to, didn't do as well as I wanted on field goals, it excelled on punts. So I took that under my wing and I was like, let's go, let's get it done. Now, I have to tell you, I ask specifically for you because I'm going to South Africa here in six weeks. Oh, yeah.

I'm going to, well, I'm going all over, but I'm going to Cape Town, Johannesburg, and then going to Kruger. You're going to go to the bush? Yes. Yeah. So tell me about it. What am I in for? I mean, my parents are there right now. They just took four weeks there, and they started off in the bush and the Kruger. They went straight from there to Cape Town. And, I mean, they've just sent me loads and loads of pictures.

They can't wait to come back. Where did you live there? Cape Town. Cape Town. So I hear, like, the most beautiful city. In the world. Tell, how? Explain to people.

I mean, just the, how, we've got the ocean and the mountains right in the same spot. I mean, it looks like San Diego, but the culture is way better. I mean, I love it. I love it there. Like, what? Like what am I in for? Great food? Good food.

great people people are just going to be surround you everybody's happy and the ocean so they have tell me I think they have me is there a mountain white

mountain table mountain table mountain tell me about I'm supposed I'm supposed to like go to the top of it or something I mean you could do two ways is there like a gondola that takes you up there probably the better option or you can hike it I probably won't hike it I probably take the gondola

views up there are beautiful and then right next to it's the lion's head which you can go up to too I mean there mountain There's regions you can hike. I think we're going to see, are there some sort of octopus or is that, am I wrong? Maybe there's an aquarium there. Okay.

I think they have me out in the water for some of it. Oh boy. Are you ready for that? No. There's not a penguin, is there? Yes, there's a boldest beach. Yeah, we're going there. What's that? So it's a beach that has penguins.

And it's like regular penguins. They live there and you're able to go there. And if you can go for a swim, too. I'm going to go say hi to the pink. Well, I'm proud of you. And when you say the bush, I'm spending like three or four nights. They said Kruger National Park. Can I call it?

Do I sound like a logo if I say in the bush? Yeah, if you go to the bush, yeah. So what am I going to see in the bush? I hear they have all of the things. Yeah, I mean, you'll see it all. It's probably the most beautiful experience you'll ever see. It's like you get to see the nature for what it is. And the true wild, it's really cool.

The people there will treat you like one of them, and they're amazing. But we're talking like, elephant, giraffe. Oh, yeah, lions. Zebra, you'll see it all. Zebra. Zebra. I want to see a zebra. Yeah, zebra. I want to see a zebra.

You did say, I think, we. Do you still, even though you live here, feel the connection with South Africa? 100%. I've only gone there once since we've left. And, yeah, it's still a family there. My dad's side's still there. We're all my uncles, my aunts are all there. And obviously I haven't seen my friends there for a while,

but nothing changes when you haven't seen somebody for that long with there. So tell me about this team and the guys on it. I mean, you're a little bit older than most of them, but there's like you, there's people from everywhere, and this is a team full of transfers and new faces. What's it been like? Yeah, it's been amazing. I pride myself on getting to know everybody.

I'm friends with a lot of the guys and the team, and I think the culture is amazing this year. I think we've come along together really quickly. Tell me about the difference between the culture last year and this year, because there is a difference. Yeah, of course, there's obviously a difference. Look, last year's past, but I mean, I think this year we've got a tight group of guys

that are all together in the same mission. We know last year didn't go well. The guys who weren't there, don't care. The people who were there, who were there. It's over us, so we're all together on this. You were on here earlier talking about your toughness rating. Yeah, yeah. You said you were a former rugby player.

You thought that was a kind of disrespectful? How did that happen? Has anyone from EA reached out and said it was a mistake or anything? Because there's no way. First of all, you could beat me up. There's no way that you have a zero toughness rating. Yeah, I don't know. I obviously grew up, like I said, a South African rugby player doesn't often get told that they're not tough.

I haven't heard that one before. Yeah, I don't think, if they want to change it, I hope it's higher. I don't want to, if they put it to 50 or 60, I don't think that's almost worse, rather just be zero, you know? Yeah, but it did get you a lot of attention. I mean, we're friends with the guys on part of my take. They talked about you. I mean, is there part of you that's like, hey, I'm the zero toughness guy, let's go. I've obviously taken it, you know, any publicity is good. Obviously, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the zero toughness. So, yeah, I think it's... Well, you would have been here because I had to learn about

self-hap. To be honest with you, I mean, because I'm excited about it. But it also will mean, as the year goes on, you're going to get attention. Like, it is, I think it actually is going to be kind of a blessing in disguise for you. Definitely. I think people aren't going to be going to the bathrooms on fourth down as much. It'll be good. It'll be good. You got to just declete somebody one time.

Oh, you do. Well, they'll get a penalty. But otherwise, you got to, you got to show it at some point. Obviously, if it comes down to it, I'll do it. But obviously, as a good punter, doesn't want to have to make a tackle. That's exactly right. Well, I appreciate it. What should have been your favorite thing about being in Lexington?

I mean, you were in Chapel Hill, so you were in a college town before. But I love, I think I love, I like the vibe here. I like the horse racing. I like that it's a big, it's a bigger city, but not too big. For an SEC school, it's great. And there are things to do, but also I just like the culture here. It's a good, it's a good spot. Well, good luck this year.

We are looking forward to it. And I'm going to be watching. I do the post game show. I'm going to have, once I get back from South Africa, my Aidan LaRoss play of the game. So just be ready. in the post-game show, and I hope one of them is you just knock, well. What about running a fake? Lowered his head.

Oh, yeah, that's true. Do you want to get a chance to do that in one? Yeah, that's up to the coaches, you know? I mean, obviously we... But you got, I mean, you played rugby, so you got to be fast for a punter. Yeah, no, I think I'm quite athletic compared to most, and I like to pride myself on that too, you know, so hopefully we'll see it. That's what he can do.

Call your own number. Yeah, he can call you, bowl somebody over. Right. Because you remember in that Missouri game, Max called his own number. Yep. And that was, and it worked. Well, that's the whole problem. You know, if it works, they won't say anything, but if it doesn't, you're stuffed.

Aidan, thank you very much, and good luck. Yeah, appreciate it. Tell me about Stock to mortgage. Stock to mortgage, you know, it's a good time to buy, spring, summer building season. But the best thing you want to look at, you may have a lot of equity built up in your home. You can use that equity to work on your new home. Instead, if you're buying a new home, you can maybe build a new deck, new pool, finish your basement, things like that. That's where stock to mortgage can hold your hand through the process and get you to the closing table.

You can get that home of your dream. So give them a call. Go online, stockton.com, NMLS 8259, Equal Housing Lender. We will take a break. Come back. Final segment here at UK Football Media Days, KSR. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves.

Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fantine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness.

So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds,

just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast.

Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WMBA standout, Kate Martin, and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that.

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showing up even when it's hard listen to hurdle with emily abody on the iheart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts presented by capital one founding partner of i heart women's sports welcome back kentucky sports radio it's time for our uh draft king's pick of the day uh well even though my heart got broken last night in that game we still got the let's not do the game today there's a game at 1240 between the reds and the braves but let's do the game tomorrow night Speedway Classic Chase Burns versus what Stringer. Is that his name? Strider.

Two Tennessee guys. 85,000 people will be at the stadium. Who you got? You know, Braves are a lot of redneck NASCAR fans on a NASCAR track. Yeah, you guys are kind of country bumpkin redneck fans, so I'm going to Braves because we're a lot of Braves fans there. You're a Cardinals fan. I'm going Reds.

In fact, I didn't even really want to win last night. We're tanking, so please beat us the next two. We need it. We got to win the next tour of the Summer Valley's over. Summer Valley might be over at 3.30 today, but I'm going to take the red. It eventually ended it last night. We ended at the summer belly. It might have. Give me the Braves. If we win the next two, I think the summer's still going if we lose. We're not.

All right, Jamarie McClain is joining us as our final guest here on a action-packed KSR. Jamari, you're one of the first face that's come over here I've seen before. So it's nice to have you back. Yeah, definitely. I'm happy to be here. You know, you are kind of, you've gone from a wide receiver that we were saying, man, we need to get that guy the ball more to you're going to probably be option one this year. How excited are you? I'm very excited, man.

Very blessed to be in this position, man, to be able to lead the guys, man. And I'm just happy to be back, you know what I'm saying, to help Kentucky football. Some people were a little surprised that you came back because, you know, you didn't get the ball probably as much as you thought last year. What made you decide to come back? Man, I just had a good conversation with Coach Thudson, Coach Hamden, after the season. I just want to come back and be able to lead the guys and make an impact on what they say to you when you said you had a conversation I think it was just like we just laid it all out on the table and how things went and you know they they were sorry for their faults and I of course claimed my false as well you

you started to get the ball more as the year went on oh yeah definitely uh shoot the target started to come so I started to make them you know I said I just had to be ready you know I'm saying and not shrinkle down and just you know be all in my head I had to keep working in there's been a big conversation over the off season about the transition, you know, I mean, in the culture of the program from last year to this year. You know, I have to worry about going over everything last year, but what do you think are the big differences that have improved around here? Because we keep hearing, culture better, culture better. I think the intentionality of all the guys, man. I think everybody's very intentional on what we need to get done. Nobody's like, I heard just being

selfish thinking about themselves. I think everybody just connected very well and just wanted to run through a brick wall for the coaches in Kentucky. That's important, though, and especially in locker room this big because it because you know when john caliperi was here he would say one knucklehead is okay but if you have two it can ruin the it can ruin a team in football you got you have to be careful about that you really do man so i think that we need to continue to we continue to have conversations about that just making sure everybody's on the same page man and just uh just continue to work you know what i'm saying go in to work so tell me about the room there a lot of new guys a lot of young talent but i i know what i'm going to get from you so

what am i going to get from the arrest these guys Man, they, boy, them boys, all of them nice. All the young guys, even the guys that we had transferred in, Troy Stilado, Kendrick Law, all those guys, man, and JJ Hester, and a bunch of those young guys, man, they all plug-and-play guys so they can plug and play at any position. They bring a lot of juice to the team, man. Mark was saying, you know, look, I got eight or nine guys that could play.

It's going to be a big competition throughout camp. Do you agree with that? Yeah, definitely will. And a lot of guys understand that, too. So they just got to go out there and approach like that trying to win a start job. They're just how football is is, it's competition, you know? Zach Kowazata, you know, been through the wars. You, a receiver's only as good as his quarterback.

So what are you seeing with him? Man, I've been connected with him very well over the past couple days of camping throughout summer OTAs as well, man. He's been doing a really good job with just, you know, being patient with me and all the other receivers and we've been patient with him because the connection takes time. He said he'll call you guys and say, hey, I'm throwing on the field in an hour and 11 guys will show up. He would. Definitely all the time. He usually did it on Sundays.

I don't work on Sundays. That's my day as well. I spend time my relationship with God and church and that I'll go home and rest on Sundays. But, man, he would always do that. You know what I'm saying? And a lot of the guys did show up for him and I appreciate him for you even doing that.

You know, part of this off season, you know, is fans trying to be energetic for this year. What would you say? Because you are a optimistic, positive guy. If you're sitting here talking to the UK fans listening, tell them why they should be excited about what's coming in the next field. We are ready to run through a brick wall. We are ready to do it.

You know what last year looked like. We understand that we were trying to grow from there. We're not honing in and just focus on last year, but we know what we got to do. And you have the same opponents. So like a lot of these teams, you're going to get a second crack. Yeah, that's fine. We need our lick back. You know what I'm saying?

I need my lick back from last year. I don't like that because a lot of those teams we could have beat. You know what I'm saying? It was just a few mistakes on our end. It wasn't that they just beat us. But we're ready to run through a brick wall, man. We ready to do it. Do you like, I mean, we look at this schedule and we go, all right, Georgia, you know,

Florida, Tennessee, Texas this year, Auburn, Old Miss, like you, I would think as a player, you got to be like, I love it. I love playing teams like that. If you don't, you ain't even, you in the wrong spot. You should love going against teams like that. I'm ready to play. I don't care who we playing. For real.

Let's do it. Ready to go. Yeah, let's do it. What's been your favorite part about being in Lexington? Man, the people, I feel like the people are really nice, man. And being able to fish too, a lot of fish. Oh, you're a fisher. I love a fisherman.

Where do you like to fish? Coach Whitehouse, Coach Brad White's house At his house He has like a little pond Or I don't really know what to call it But he has that in the backyard And I love fishing there Has anybody ever taken you

Like if you got out in the state You know, we got some amazing man I need to you got a little boat or something for you? No, I don't Believe me I wouldn't do that But there are people who do Like where are some of the places Jagger lives on Lake Harrington down here

I don't know that Yeah, get him and take you out fishing all the time Jagger's a big fisher Okay yeah I'll definitely I'll definitely talk with Jagger I didn't realize Brad White had a place to fish in his house. Why, we've not been invited?

Yeah, well, I mean, look at you. But, all right, Brian gets one question. What is it? Dude, receivers are cocky, arrogant, bunch of guys. So who's the fastest guy? Who's your fastest receiver we're going to see on the field this year? Freaking Kendrick, right? He's too fast, man.

Sometimes I'm just like, oh, my gosh, slow down. He's stupid fast. Him. Quincyonbury's really fast. And Troy Stalado is really fast. Man, we got a bunch of him. The fast guy. They're just out there just running, man.

I'm just looking like, I guess I must be too old to me right now. I can't do it. Yeah, so I'm getting old. I can't host this forever. I probably only got a few more years left in me. When I go, which person on the team do you think could host a radio or TV show best? Take your spot? Me, brother?

You? Yeah. There we go. Really? Come on now. I get everybody on here to listen. Let's do it. All right, I'll tell you what, then.

All right, I'm going to test you. If you're coming for my job, give me the, I'm going to the 20-25 season. You are host of the show. Your job, you're hosting the pregame show for Kentucky and Toledo. Get everybody ready for this game. Oh, you put me on the spot. I ain't got it.

I'm not ready. I got to think. I got a few years. All right, well, all right. You said a few years. Okay, you do. You have a few years to get in. We go get it.

Jamari, thank you very much. Good luck. Have a great year. I appreciate that. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Go get them. There you go.

Nice to see you. Good stuff, brother. All right. So there you go. That has been a fun, fun show. I mean, I don't, I don't know. We've ever had a show where we did seven interviews through the course of it, but I actually thought, I'm not just, I think they all were good. I think that was one of the better Stoops appearances. That is the best Mitch Barnhart appearance ever on the show. Love Pete, Zach, Aidan, and now Jamoria. I thought it was great. The players were all different, too. You know, Pete's like kind of really philosophical. But man, when he talks, I'm like holding on every word.

Exactly. You know, like he even gets me to shut up, which I can't, which nobody does. Kousaaccauses comes on, he's all business. Then you got Aidan who comes on. He's got something to prove. And then Mackin's like the cocky, arrogant, let's go play right now kind of guy. I loved every minute of those interviews. Yeah, it's a great day out here.

I was already excited for the season before we pulled up today. But just being in the stadium, talking to the guys, they all have that same message if we want to play for each other and run through a wall for Kentucky. We don't know what the final product will be, but I'm, excited to see how it pans out. Yeah, I got my UK. These are, these are custom. These are my UK shoes.

Oh, you've only break those out for special occasions. These only come out for, uh, these were, these are made specifically. Big shoe day, Ron's got his KsRs. Oh, you got your Air Monarch KSR. I got my Geiggers. When you got your KSR shoes. See your name's on there. But why did you choose Air Monarch?

I didn't choose them. They were made for me. They're dead shoes. Air Monarchs are good shoes. What? They do have red in them Red white blue why did you get red in them Red white blue coming here you're very patriotic guy

It's a good point Tony And it does say Bown Chica Bown Bown It does say that yeah Yeah well all right Hey thank you very much to folks here at UK This is one of the better ones of these I've ever had So I very much appreciate them Setting it up

Everyone enjoyed the weekend And we will be back on Monday And hopefully I don't think I'm going to go to the NASCAR game Had we won last night after that comes back they were probably going to get me to go. I think now probably, you know, I don't want to see the summer of L.A. end in person. You're going to miss the pit bull concert.

That was part of the reason I didn't go. When I heard pit bull was going to be there, that was pretty much it. Shannon, I'm glad you enjoyed the game last night. Thanks for the tickets. I appreciate it. No problem. We will see you later. This has been 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 SportsSlice 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 headline. 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 SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud.

But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get you.

your podcast.