KSR - KSR Pregame UK FB at Georgia 10/4/25

Episode Date: October 4, 2025

Matt, Drew and Ryan preview the Cats' game at Georgia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's the Central Kentucky Select Chevy Dealer's KSR Tailgate Show. Here's Matt Jones. That's right. It is the Central Kentucky Select Chevy Dealer's KSR pregame show. I am Matt Jones here. We are in studio for a road game as the cats get ready to go to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. It is Matt Jones, Ryan Lemon. and Drew Franklin and fellas Saturday morning. If there's anything to get excited about,

it's going to get ready for a two and two Kentucky team on the road against Georgia's 19 point underdogs. How pumped up are you? I'm pumped. I kind of feel like that was ESPN Matt to start there. There was like a, you got deep in the stomach there for that intro. You got to be excited. Look, it's football time.

Fire it off. Between the hedges, noon, ABC. Between the hedges. Georgia, we own them. What's another? Well, they won the last 15 in a row. Yeah, but we own them kind of. Oh, okay.

I think we own them covering. That has gone well. We have been a good covering team. So eat that, dogs. Eat it, dogs. It's time to cover. The script is awful, too, because this early morning game on a Saturday, you're playing a Georgia team that just lost Alabama.

And if you get embarrassed today, there's a bye next week when Midnight Madness starts. It's just a horrible script for the UK football program. Well, we're going to, we're going to pre-examination. give you the game. I mean, I think breaking down the X's and O's. That's our specialty. Well, I also just think it's going to lead to a result of we don't have a lot of matchups in our favor today. I think we maybe have a better punter.

I did my homework. I can share some stats throughout the show. Do you think there's any position we have a better situation? Unlikely. Outside of special teams. I think we've got a better punter. I would say better kicker. He's not missed in his career.

Okay, so this is like classic UK football. Well, they got a good putter. You can be better than a guy. By the way, this week was very much taking up for stoops. He was like, I hope Kentucky fans appreciate what they have. It kind of felt like to me when Cala Perry used to say how good Mark Fox was. Do you think that there was, and by the way, who's now on the staff, do you think there was ever a little bit of that? Yes, that's a great comparison because every time we played Georgia, you hear Cal talk about, they got a great coach down there.

He's one of the best in the game in the game right now. Kirby's trying to spin it with that same thing because they're buddies. You know, they play golf together. They're buddies. Yeah. And I mean, if Kirby only watched Kentucky play one game a year, we play pretty well against them usually. So if you only watched us play against Georgia, you might be like, it's pretty impressive, you know, cover streak. Yeah, I mean, they've been one of the best teams in college football the last five years,

but Kentucky's played them close every time. But once, I think it's 13 to 12 last year. Yeah, we gave them the best. game that they got the year they were dominant and won the national championship. It was like 16 to 10 or something. Yeah. And then last year. But what we'll talk about today.

I think the thing, 859, 280, 20287, we didn't take any calls yesterday because it was my first day back. We will take some today because we got an hour. I'll be on for the post game show, whatever time that ends with Billy. But we got to start, I think, with after we went off the air yesterday, cut man. Jimmy Bring it hits Cut man

Cutman came with his new camera Does he have his own Mario now I think he has his own Mario out there with his video And he had a report I would play it for you But this show is only an hour

And with all of those dramatic pauses Ryan I don't know that we could get through all of it I love Cutler but the pauses always get me. He's done it ever since, as long as I've known him. Can I do my impression? Okay. I'm going to report on Ryan Lemon's new national ad for alarm.com, but I'm going to do it.

As if you were doing Alan in color. As if I was the cut man. Got you. Are you ready? Okay. Okay, Jimmy. Sources are coming in. Ryan Lemoned has signed a national.

endorsement with alarm.com it's dramatic. That was what it was. That's the dramatic pauses. By the way, that's a great endorsement.

It was pretty good endorsement. I think his pauses... Did you get nothing for that, really? No. Not even for the picture. They sent me a box full of doggy toys. Because now you're on like social media ads. What a minute?

They sent you. A box full of doggy toys. Yes, because my dogs survived, you know. So your payment for being the face of a national endorsement campaign was a box of doggy toys? It was my favor for them. The alarm.com saving my house. It's not your favorite. You paid for it.

I didn't. But, I mean, you paid for it and doing the ads. Just driving there? It took like 30 minutes my time. No, I mean, the reason you had the alarm system, the reason you had the alarm system, was because you were an endorser for. Right. Yeah.

So you paid for the alarm by doing work for them. Correct. So, I mean, while it's an awesome thing, now it's a whole new campaign. Yeah. Don't you think you should have got more than doggy toys? On a lot more platforms. It's on social media, TV.

This ad campaign for you is more than any ad campaign I've ever been in nationally. In terms of how much they're using it. You guys are telling me something I didn't know. I didn't know how far it was out there yet. It's on the alarm.com, TikTok, Instagram, like all of those pages, it's on. This is a big bag, you fumbled. Silent Guard, which is the local affiliate of Alarmwood.

They sent me a $200 gift card. So I got $200 and a box of doggy toys. Do you think, like, when Siddy Sweeney did the jeans ad, she asked for $200 in a doggy toy? Maybe a free pair of jeans? So I got, you know. I mean, we've got to, like he's, we got to work with him. I think you left a lot on the table on that one.

A national campaign, that's a lot of money. We know the connection and that you're very grateful for them. Yeah. I've done one national, just to give you an example, I've done like one national eye campaign my entire career. And it was for ESPN. And it was a pretty good payday. And it was like, and I wasn't even the feature.

You're the feature. I just felt like I owed him. that and then but you okay this is like leonara de caprio doing a scorcasing movie for free just because he likes him you're just so much money all right hey alarm come i hope you enjoy your doggy toys so so the cut man jimmy jimmy he reported he is acupuncture that bark uh mark uh mark stoops had gone to mitch barthart last year and said, buy me out. And he sort of played it like Mark wanted to leave.

I don't really understand the timing of that now nine, ten months after it happens. So people have asked me all the night since that last night. Is that true? And here's my answer to that. No. Well, yes, but no. I mean, yes. Do I think Mark Stoops and Mitch Barnhart had a conversation?

about their future, yes. It was put to me, and I think this is the correct way to put it, that Mark Stoops basically said, look, if you don't want me to be here, you can buy me out. If you want to fire me, essentially, you can buy me out. It wasn't like a angry thing. It was in the conversation.

Mark Stoops is different than, say, John Caliperi was, in that he is stubborn in his own, way, but like he feels the criticism, Drew. You know what I mean? Like, he kind of gets, he has a sense of the pulse of the fan base. Do you agree with that? Yeah. He is not delusional about what fans think.

And I think he knew at the end of last year, people were upset. And he was just like, look, if you don't think this is going to work, I'll help you come to a resolution. And I think that resolution was Mark wanted, if not all of his money, the vast majority of I don't think it was a, perfect that I know he didn't go to him and say, I want out. He basically said, if you don't want me here, we can figure out a path to me not being here, but I'd like, but then Stoop's wanted to be here. So that's what it is.

That's been out for a long time. I mean, if you, if you've read, we've talked about it on KSR in a, in maybe not that direct way, but that, that's, so that's how I believe the whole thing occurred. I do not believe Stoop said, I want to leave by me out. I'm almost certain. I mean, I am certain he didn't say that. Is that what you think? Yeah, I don't know.

I can't remember exact timeline of Tennessee game, whatever game. But I know at one point, someone had told me that Stoops would listen if Barnhart could get close to the buyout. But then like Barnhart couldn't even get close to the buyout. And that was like the extent of the conversation. Yeah. So maybe Stoops would have taken a million off. But you don't think he went to him and said, I want to go. Not directly like that.

What I remember is just that Stoops would be willing to take a little bit lesser of that insane buyout if they could meet somewhere. But they were just so far apart at the beginning of the conversation. They didn't even really have a conversation. You know, I worked with Cutler for 12 years. He would not put that out there unless he was 100% certain of his sources. I mean, he just wouldn't. He's a really good reporter. So I think there's a lot of truth in it.

And I kind of agree with Drew. I think once they got the, they started negotiating, they realized how far apart they were, everything just stopped right there. So you do think that Stoops went to Mitch Barthart and said, I want to leave. I think they had that conversation. There's a difference between having the conversation, which I think there's actually no disagreement from people having the conversation. Yeah.

And that Stoops wanted to leave. I think the wanted to leave, I don't think that's true. But let's say, if you think that's true, that's a strong statement. Do you know or are you? No, I don't know. I just, okay. I trust Cutler's reporting.

I don't think, like I said, I don't think he'd put it out there unless he had it from 100% from a source he trusted. That's like he trusts me and you drew. I don't know who went to who. I mean, I'm serious. Like,

it is a big detail. When you put stuff out, I trust you 100%. Well, but we're putting different things out. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like they probably just had a conversation. They talked about a buyout.

It was, they were too far apart. And the talk stopped right there. Well, I would agree with all of those. sentences, except I don't agree with the sentence, and I'm very confident. I don't agree with the sentence that Mark Stoops wanted out. I think Mark Stoops was like, if you want to fire me, don't let it be that it's just the money. If you want me out, we can talk about a way. And then I think we all agree that that number was very, I mean, the reality is Mark is not going to take a significant amount less than what he's owed. He's just not. And my question, and even no,

at the end of the year, we may all agree a party needs to happen. I'd like to know how many people out there would take. I used to say this about Cal. Who out there is owed $40 million, $50 million and going to say, yeah, just, you know, I don't need it. I said this on Thursday show. Why should he take a pay cut? They sat down at the table and it shook hands and made an agreement. Why should he now have to bend?

Would you? I mean. No, I would not. I know a lot of us want him to, but if you're in his shoes. I mean, just think about your job here at Eyehart. If I was owed, you know, whatever amount of money. $1.25. If I'm owed whatever, what incentive do I mean, well, let me just use, in the real world,

I got fired at, hey, Kentucky because of a, you know, fighter pilot. And which is a, she was a fighter pilot. She was a firefighter, you know, I mean, that's, that's, that goalie. Golly. And a mom. I got, and they owed me another. year's salary. And when they called me and said they were going to let me go, I said, well, you're going

to pay me that year's salary. And they were right, I said, look, I'm a lawyer. I don't want to hear this. I was like, you're going to pay me a year's salary. And if you don't want to do that, then that's fine, then I'll make a big deal about this. And if you want to, we can deal with that that way. And 20 minutes later, they called me and said, all right, we'll give you the year's salary. But I wasn't going to go, you know what?

you're letting me go. Let's see if we can make this better for everybody. Here, let me take a cut for you. Let me take a pay cut just because while you're letting me go. Ain't happening. They're not going to do that. And I understand why Mark Simpson's not going to do it. I do too.

So there's your situation, right? You know, as a fan sitting here with this kind of trying to absorb all this, you know, the flirtation with A&M, now this story coming out, it makes me just feel like I've lost my best friend in a relationship type of thing. What? I just feel like the glory days of Mark Stoops as our coaches. I do need a hug.

Is Mark Stoops your best friend? He's my best football coach. He's my best football coach. He didn't die. I feel like maybe part of it is, part of him has. Do you need a hug? I need a hug. What's going on here?

That's Ryan Limmonalarm.com. All right. Well, there you go. So that's where we are. It's harder than others. So just to summarize. Drew and I Maybe me even a little more than Drew

We're on the I think we all agree that discussions took place Is that fair? Yes. I think we all agree with that I think Drew and I are more under the It was the hypothetical If you don't want me to go

And then you are staying loyal to the cut I'm kind of in the middle You can't be what's to be I'm Switzerland You can't always be in the middle I'm neutral I'm Switzerland Yeah that's what happens when I'm gone You start going

to lunch with the old 18 guys every week. That's what happened. Oh, they were going out at night. Yeah, we were at the pickleball place, a country ball. You went out at night. He said beers with cut this week. This week. That's why.

That's why. That's why this happened. If we took him for beer. Not even this week, like two nights ago. I go out of the country for 18 days. Don't say 18. He'll get excited and go meet up to all those guys again. That's exactly what it is.

All right. 859-2-2-2-287. We'll take your calls. It's UK, Georgia, but honestly, this is more interesting than that. We'll be right back. This is the, Kentucky select Chevy dealers KSR pregame. Quarterback, Tucky Sports Radio, Matt Drew, Brian, alarm.com.

Mario's up early this morning, too. Feeling back in the vibe. Did you say the cut man's listening? I believe he is. All right. He sent me a text says in a conversation. Oh, here we go. Now, wait a minute.

Do you sure he wants you to read this? Like this is a private text. Yeah, but I think this is with our conversation. Okay. If you think it's fine. In a conversation, things happen. I think he's saying it. What does that mean?

Like the conversation may have started one way and then he said. In a conversation, things happen. Yeah. During the course of the conversation. But I don't know what that means. I think maybe they started with just a meeting just to talk about the way things are. And during the course of that conversation, maybe that's what things happen. If you want me, things happen.

If you want me out, buy me out. But that's what I said. Yeah. I think that's what I think things happen. That's different than what he said. Things in quotes, I think includes stuff what you said and stuff what Alan. said. But Alan said he went to him and said, I want to leave. I think that that's different than what I said. I think that came up in the conversation. It was one of those things. Alan said he

went to him to say that. That's not the same as it came up in a conversation. I think that was one of the things in the conversation. It was a thing. This is making my head hurt. Alarm.com. Alarm.com, baby. My dogs love their doggy toys, by the way. Love them. God someone profited from this. A bag of doggy treats. The one person that got something out of it was the car. Oh, 859-9-280-22. You were saying during the break,

the worst scenario today is exactly what's going to happen, which is like we're going to lose by like 11. And it'd be moderately competitive, but with no chance for us ever to win. Yeah, Ryan and I were talking about something. He's like, yeah, after a blowout today, I was like, no, I'm, fully prepared. I am conditioned to watch them keep it within a touchdown today. I'm not going to

predict that, but that's kind of what Mark Soups would do in this scenario. I mean, last year, people were very upset before the Ole Miss game. He goes down there and throws a bomb on fourth down and wins it. You know, I don't think they're going to win today. But if they go out there and, you know, put up a fight and they're in it late in the game won't be the least. That would be exactly what he, you're exactly right. That would be exactly what they would do. I feel like this is a good pregame show. And it's early to warding and it's a game that nobody wants to watch. So I feel like it's not going to be one of the most listened to shows, but I think those first 20 minutes were really funny. And I'm afraid people are not going to get to

hear. But that's all right. Let's go to Jerry. What's up, Jerry? Hey, guys. First off, what you're talking about with the stoops and the bow and all that, I'm going to say is what Ray Crock, the founder of McDonald's, told the McDonald's brothers contracts like hearts, they're made to be broken. So we'll see what happens with that. But as far But not when you're Jimmy Sexton and not when you're Mark. I mean, like, remember, Jimmy Sexton was Jimbo Fisher's, Jimbo Fisher's agent. And Jimbo Fisher ended up getting his money.

And they fired him, and he got his money. But wasn't he? And his contract was not as bad as ours. Even though his contract was like $80 million, it was paid out. He's still being paid. It was paid out over the course of a number of years. Mark's contract is you have to pay me within 14. days of being fired.

Like I said, you know, we'll see. I'm not saying they're going to be able to fire him. I'm just saying, we're looking at three wins. If that happens. I don't think anybody disagrees with that. Although I might say four. If that happens,

you know, they've got to get people in that stadium next year and with that schedule. And we'll see. I don't know. We'll see. But as far as the game today goes, I'm hoping that they keep it respectable like you guys are saying.

But I'll tell you about these next three games is that all three of these teams have offenses that can hang 60 on you. And they all have defenses that can shut down our offense. The thing about our defense is, and this is what worded me coming into the season, is it they might be pretty good, but they were out. And the offense is doing nothing but three and out. No, you're right. I think our defense is all right.

I appreciate to call, Jerry. I think our defense is okay. But you can't have them out there the whole game. they'll just, they're going to end up breaking. You can't help it. Yeah, I mean, they've got some things they need to fix. They have some holes, but overall, I'd say they're even a good defense, especially the defensive line's been awesome. Last week, you had Lenora Sellers dead to rights a couple times, and he just showed why he's an NFL talent. He broke out of tackles, turned it to a gain. But otherwise,

the front's been really good. And I think they're going to keep them in it. But, I mean, you go back to even the home games here. The defense sets the offense up in great spots and still don't do much with it so they can only do so much. By the way, KSR Parlay is up. Yeah. If you want to get there. A thousand people have bet it, including us. So get ready.

We'll need some positivity, you know, after all this. What's the first game on that? Do we have the times on them? First game is something well, I don't know. Virginia Louisville's in the afternoon. So the game's at two minutes or you tell me there's two minutes left, Billy? Left in the segment. Okay, got you. Let's go to

John Short. What's up, John Short? Nothing much. I haven't talked to you in forever. How are you doing, John? Listen, you talked to me to first couple of games, and I said that I mentioned to you about the college of my playoffs. Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Alabama, probably in Pennsylvania.

Well, all those other teams might make it but us. I always like the SEC and everything, and not the other conferences. We're going to be Georgia today by five bigs. If we can beat them in volleyball, which we did expect we beat them in football. Yeah. Well, good to hear from you, John.

Remember, you can call us during the week sometimes. I know you, I know you're busy. You got a lot going on, but I do like, I do like saying hi to you. Oh, you know. He turned 60 years old when you were gone. 60 years old. Yes. At a 60 years.

Happy birthday, Johnny. What'd you do for your 60th birthday? Just so you're home and a hat for frog legs. Would you have guessed frog legs? You have frog legs. Where do you get frog legs? Let's make it to me Well be careful just getting second-hand frog legs

Make sure they're certified John from a frog leg dealer All right, I appreciate the call That's how you get warts Just sitting here eating frog legs Never would have guessed that John 60 years old eating frog legs Hey man There are worse things to do with 60 years old

Amen There are worse things you just sit there and eat some frog legs 859-28027 we're going to take your calls it was a fun first half hour here on a saturday morning alarm dot com matt drew ray to rock we'll be right back it's a tucky select chevi dealers ksr pretty good big hole cuts right and it's a foot race down the near sideline across the 40 across the 30 you're ready this is the central kentucky select chevy dealers ksr tailgate show Matt Jones. It is the Kentucky Select local central Chevy Dealer's KSR pregame show.

981 to Bull now joining us. Thanks to folks at WHAS in Louisville. We got here, LAP in Lexington. We got our folks in Somerset. A lot of people listening. Great first 30 minutes. Billy, actually, I don't think Billy can chime in. But Billy's doing the producer.

Billy, I think we should put the first 30 minutes up. Maybe even the whole show. Let's just put the whole show up. Let's just put the old show up. We don't do that very often. No, we don't. Not for a pregame show. But I think, I think the first 20 minutes are worth doing in case people,

in case people missed it. So we'll put that up. We'll do it. You want to just put it up right after this, Billy? Yeah, I can do that. It could be good distraction from the game. People want to hear your Alan Cutler impersonation over and over on loop. Yeah.

All right. We got some folks on the phone here. Let's just do a couple things before I go to it. Some good news. It is basketball, but it's good news. Tyron Stokes is number one player in America. We, the last time. we got the number one player in America at Kentucky was what? Carl Towns. Scowl. Scowl. That's how we forget that

Scowl was number one. Well, Tyron Stokes, number one player in America. And last night, a lot of the recruiting, you know, bennies, all the people that follow it, put in picks for Tyron Stokes to Kentucky last night. Yeah. He signed with Nike yesterday, which is a good sign. there was a time he was thought to definitely be going to Louisville and then there was a time that I mean there have been other schools organs on him there are others but lots of picks for Kentucky it would be massive for Mark Pope to get the number one player in the country when he still had I mean he's gotten a lot of great players but he hadn't gotten that elite non-Kentucky recruit this one would be just a game

changer right yeah there's so many good angles to the I mean, Louisville thought they had him for a long time, looking like with the Nike update, that's probably going to push them and anyone else out of the picture that's not a Nike school. And then just, you know, not all number one players are the same. He's one of those true number ones,

one of those dudes that don't come around very often. Like, you know, no one's a surefire thing, but he's pretty dang close to being a guy that you know is going to be a one and done and pan out for you right away. So hopefully they get it done and Pope could answer a lot of questions. and concerns about being able to recruit top guys.

Well, we'll wait and see, but that's some good news from last night that would be, that'd be, it'd just be massive because he's the real deal. I'll look into the camera and say, you mark this down. If this kid ends up at Kentucky, he will be a superstar here, superstar. If he goes to Oregon, see you in the draft. We won't even know you played. But if he comes to Kentucky, superstar. Better Oregon than the alternatives, though.

As long as he goes from a little. from a card's family. Listen, I want him to come here. As long as he doesn't go to Louisville, because the Louisville fans are going to be really sad if he doesn't go, and that will be entertaining. All right, let's go to Matt. What's up, Matt?

What's up, guys? I'm sitting out here in my garden, barefooted, been meditating, and I have a strong feeling the cats are going to do something amazing today. Oh, really? And I got to know. I do. I've got a strong feeling.

I mean, our defense looks really, good. Their defense is kind of weak, you know, in the in the back field and, and their linebackers are not really that strong. As long as we don't turn the ball over, I feel like the cat's a big thing. Yeah, that's a big thing. All right. I like it, Matt. Appreciate the call. I like your positive energy. We got the meditation going. To his point, it is weird. You think of Georgia just being a dominant defense and they have the roster, but they've only have five sacks this season. They're like towards the bottom of the country in sacks and getting pressure on quarterbacks. I mean, Alabama's quarterback had a clean pocket all day.

So it's crazy to say that about Georgia, but bully. Yeah, I mean, they've had 13 guys go in the top three picks in the last, or top three rounds in the last three years off their defense. That ain't happening with this group. They've got one or two guys, but this is not the defense that they've had the last few years. Let's go to another Matt. What's up, Matt? Hey, morning, guys.

You know, kind of just a big picture question. It seems like for a long time, and I'm not from Kentucky, but sort of watching it from afar, that Kentucky football has sort of been a low investment, lower term proposition. They didn't win a lot, but also it was accessible for fans. Parking was good. And probably it didn't cost as much to go to Kentucky football than other SEC schools, if we're being honest. Certainly, that was definitely true until a decade ago, for sure.

Like, until a decade ago, I think that would be a perfect analysis of it. So for most of the past decade, the you know they ratcheted up the requirement from the fans but it was met with winning and now that's sort of the bottom has fallen off of that second half of that equation and and is there anything the athletic department can do other than lower the prices and basically charge people what they're getting which we know they're not going to do that can sort of get the fan base back on great question i think that's it that's it sometimes it takes and i appreciate the call mad it takes an outsider to note that this was my worry i think i said this ryan a decade ago when they went into the push of, okay, now we're winning, now we can start doing stuff, right? Now we can get rid of the parking, right? Now we can start renovating, especially the luxury suites. Like, now we can start doing all these things. As soon as they did that, I said, you know, all those things are fine, but you better

hope you keep winning. Because if you're going to start treating this program not like the fan sort of love affair that it was when we stunk, you can do that, but then you have to win. because when you stop winning and then it's not affordable and it's not accessible and you stop having fan day and you stop doing the spring game you stop doing the women's clinic and you stop having any connection with the fans well you better win it's like people will go to their mom and pop restaurant because they like mom and pop and if they go one time the food's not great they still like mom and pop but if you're McDonald's you better

be good because there's no connection to those people you better be good And I think we have moved from mom and pop Kentucky football to, I wouldn't say we're McDonald's. We're like Long Johns. The new Long Johns. Trying to be good. Well, you better be good. Do you agree with that? Yeah, 100%.

UK took away some of the basic elements that these loyal, diehard football fans that have been coming to games when we stunk for years and years and years. And those fans have not forgiven them. You talked about that took away some of their tailgate areas, rearranged their seat, them in their seats away. They've been sit with the same people for 10, 15 years, and they took that away. I think those folks have not fully come back yet because they

don't feel appreciated anymore. And to the extent they did come back, it was because they were winning. Because they were winning. Now when you lose, well, then that's a harder case. Yeah, and I know sometimes, I know for a fact, they play this up, is, you know, radio those guys whining again, but we just

had yesterday, and his name escapes me, but a listener came up during a break. What do you say? I'm like a 22-year season ticket holder. He's like a think I'm out. Those are real people that have been doing this for a long time. I love the people at UK. A lot of the same people have been here since we started. And I love them and they're nice people.

Like the people that work at UK in athletics are almost universally kind, sweet people. I don't want to listen to anybody involved in athletics. Tell me y'all are whining too much because we are more connected to the fans than the administration. It's just the case. You know, I will listen to Mitch Barnhart. or anyone in athletics say, Matt, you don't understand this economic reality or this,

and I will listen to it and I will incorporate it into my opinions because they do know more about that stuff than I do. But you cannot tell me what the fans think and you think you know better because you all don't interact with the fan. Right. Mitch Barnhart has no interaction with the small fan. He has interaction with boosters. That's just the nature of the job.

But he's not, I mean, we had 150 people at Shady Race. 30 of them came up to talk about UK football. When's the last time you think Mitch Burenhardt has taken 30 random citizens of Louisville and talked to them that didn't pay money to be in a building with him? Can't name a time. I'm just being honest. He might have been there for the UK alumni club, but that ticket costs, what, 100 bucks to get in or 150 to go to that? That's different. These are just 30 fans that could come from any walk of life, the only common nominator they have.

is a radio show, and we hear from them. And they don't. And so, like, I do think we have a sense of the fans. And the fans are out. You were standing there when that guy was like, I've had 10. I think he said 22 years. The fans are out. They're out.

And so it's up to you if you want to fix it. But I can tell you the one thing that will not fix it is denying there's a problem. Right. Right. And they totally won't accept the fact that they'll just little things like the spring game or the women's clinic. That means a lot of fans. They haven't had a women's clinic apparently in six years. Two different women were like, I used to go.

That's where I learned to care about the place. That's exactly right. Their exact words yesterday was we don't feel a connection to these players at all. You've got to fix that. And denying it is the worst way to fix it. Mark Pope, one of the things he did great here is when he got here, he knew we had to win, but he also realized there are little day-to-day things that matter. So that if you lose, remember, our basketball team lost in the Sweet 16 last year to Tennessee.

Do you ever hear anybody bring that up? No, you really don't. If you had told me we'd lose in the tournament to Tennessee and everybody be okay with it, you know, part of the reason they're okay with it is because they really like Mark Pope. Yeah. That's gone the other way now, and you've got to fix it.

Let's go to Landon. What's up, Landon? What's up, Matt? Me and my dad here, we're actually headed to Athens, Georgia for the game today. This is the first time I can say in a long time that we have our Kentucky gear on, And when a Georgia fan says something to us or bark something to us, we have nothing to say back.

I mean, they beat us in Athens last year in basketball. And football team, not much hope this year. Normally people are kind of scared a little bit. But that'll bring me to my question. If Mark Stuf was to get fired, what's your top three coaches that we might go get? Well, I mean, that's a whole, you know, I appreciate the call. I don't like doing that when people are still here. And I don't think firing is happening yet.

With that said, the reality is, because, Kentucky will initially try to get John some wrong. I think there was a time that Brad White would have been one of the contenders. I think if you end up in a situation where you feel like you have to let Mark Stoops go, then Brad White's not going to be a contender at that point. And then if that doesn't work out, you're just, it's going to end up, it'll probably be somebody like Mark Stoops that we don't think about it. We can see her and talk about all the big names you want, but the reality is it'll probably be.

And honestly, it probably should be. I can't think of a name out there that you would go, yeah, go get that guy. I like Will Stein at Oregon. He's in my summer. He'd be great. But to be fair, the reason we know Will Stein is because he played at Louisville, right? That's why we know it. There are other Will Stein's out there.

We just might not know because we, you know what I mean? There could be another dude like Will Stein at a school. We just don't know his name because he didn't play at Louisville. Well, I put him on the Sumraw thing because we know Sumerall because he went here. Well, no, Will Stein's dad went here and people, like he has family here. There's word that he wants to live in. Like I'm saying those are two coaches that actually want to be in Lexington. Fair enough.

I get your point. But I'm saying to you like, let's say for whatever reason you didn't get Will Stein in summer. There's another Will Stein out there. He just has no connection to Lexington. Like Memphis may end up in the playoffs. I don't even know who their coach is, right? But that might, he might be right. Because I just don't know who he is.

Who's winning at South Florida right now? You know, who's that? I don't know. uh, go, goki, Goku, whatever's name. She sounds like he'd be great. Alex,

you know what I mean? I just, I don't know who they are. So, so to, to pick who it is, I didn't know who Mark Stoops was. And he ended up being a grade higher,

right? So, uh, I think you just have to see how it plays out. I just think those two are unique because they have a connection. Yeah. Reese, go ahead,

Reese. Hey, Matt, my question's kind of on the buyout thing. So last year, the conversation was kind of, it's not worth having because of the buyout. Is it a change? a change of opinion on your end or is it a change of circumstances on UK end that now it is worth

having the conversation? It's work because things are worse than I thought they were. I expected this could go bad, but I didn't expect you would get, you know, towards the end of Cal, there was still a loud minority of people who really wanted Cal here, right? I mean, you know, believe me, just you could have checked my messages for two years. Like there was a loud minority and there were there were a loud minority of people who were very important to the program, whether it be boosters or that still wanted him here. And then right at the end, that number went down quite a bit. Right now, here's the problem.

I don't know who the people are that are, like, who are the people who are the people who want stooms? I don't know. And even the boosters who were his close friends, they still love him. They wouldn't call for him to leave. But I don't think they're reeling Ryan to put up the, fight they were a year or two ago. And it seems like the feeling has gone from, we got to make a change today. I don't get that.

I don't either. There's no, I mean, let's say we lose 50 to nothing. What would get written of him today? That wouldn't do anything. I'd be, that I'd be shocked about it. That seems to be a growing. I think that's dumb in my opinion. I mean, who knows?

Maybe they do. Why? To do what? I mean, here's what happens if you let him go. Brad White becomes the interim coach. What if he wins some games down the stretch? that either. Then what are we doing? Then we have to hire him. You got to hire him. Yeah. Is that what you want? What if you replace Mark Stoops, Brad White becomes a coach, we beat Texas,

we beat Auburn and Vandy. Bring him in. Exactly. Do you want to do that? He wouldn't be the worst choice, I guess. No. But do you think that you think the ticket sales and everybody, the momentum's going to go up next year on the Brad White regime? Probably not. That's what I'm saying. So I don't, to me, there's no reason to make a change mid-year in football, really in any sport in college. It just doesn't make sense. You're not going to change your, I mean, what are we going to do? Like, are we going to be in a playoff if we make a change?

Like, what's the point? Before I fired Stoops mid-year, I would give him the opportunity to let him fire a few people. And he deserves a chance. Now, if we come out and score zero points and you said Mark's going to make a change at O.C. That's what I'm saying. That's the next move. Now, that to me is not a ridiculous thing. Yeah.

I think you do that before Stoops. I think you give him. I think he deserves a chance. So what's the thing that could turn us around? Beat Texas, then beat Vandy, then beat Auburn. Or beat Louisville Vandy and Auburn. Yeah. Right?

That's the chance. If you're Mark Stoops, if you're Mark Stoops, let's be paused if here for a second before I take a break. If you're Mark Stoops and you say, all right, how do you want to save this job? Right. Here's the path of saving the job. beat Auburn, beat Vandy, beat Louisville. That's not impossible.

Florida at home is the easiest. That is not impossible. Get you into a ball game. That is not likely, but it's not impossible. I think you owe Mark Stoops to give him that shot. Agreed. And not to give Brad White that shot. Yep.

Is that fair? Yeah, I think so. And if Mark Stoops wants to have that shot and he wants to say, I got two weeks here, I'm changing the O.C. I think you give him the shot. Now, I don't know who on staff would even be it. Yeah, there's a lot of new pieces around him. I don't even know.

But I don't think it's fair to Mark Stoops, who would be the greatest coach, in my opinion, in modern UK history. I don't even think that's controversial. Not a debate. I think you owe it to him to give him the shot. Now, you don't owe it to him another year. But you owe it to him to finish the year.

Wilford, that's who he gives it to that. If I hear about it. imagine how excited people would be for that. That would probably about it up. All right. We'll take a break. Be right back. It is the Kentucky Select Chevy Dealer's KSR pregame. It is the Central Kentucky local Chevy dealers.

KSR. Change it up on you. You are gone. Central. I didn't know that. So, hey, Central Kentucky. Rest the state, I don't know about your local Chevy dealers. But I know about the ones in Central Kentucky.

It's KSR pregame show. 859-28022. 87. When person says, Matt, did you get a new phone? Yes. But I'm committed to being on it less. Even last night. Just put it away.

Because I'm in the vibe of not needing to be on it. But it's new iPhone 17 Max Pro Plus. Is that the top of the line now? I've been out for two weeks. Oh. Look at that thing. Look at that. Look at that.

Now, when do I pour Diet Coke? Well, hopefully you won't. Hopefully those days are gone. Was that screen? Was that made in Kentucky, too? that looks like some good central Kentucky glass right there. Yes. So good stuff here. One person writes, Matt, I think this is a good conversation about what should happen with Stoops.

I agree with your idea. If he wants to make a change right now, you would make it an offensive coordinator. Somebody said Eddie Grand? I was wondering, like, because he's in a non-coaching role. Can you give the playbook to anybody? I mean, Speaker of the House doesn't even have to be a congressman. People don't know that. Exact same situation.

Essentially. I mean, he would be the easy pick. So any grant, so Bush Hamden comes Speaker of the House. He's going to take a look at it. Yeah, Darren, go ahead. Take a look at the country. Man, it's so good to hear here. Drew Ryan, you did a great job driving a bus while Matt was gone.

I don't know if Matt talked to 30 different Kentucky fans, but I know he's definitely got at least email from me. So you have sent emails. Well, that's good. What did you say? All right, he's breaking up. I appreciate the call. Sorry about that. I did want to hear what you said.

Jay and Lyndon, go. Hey, Matt. I was at the UK, South Carolina game, and my biggest takeaway is historically, those road fans are the most optimistic fans that are not anymore. I was going to talk a bunch of negative stuff, but forget it, I'm not.

Is there anything positive you can say about football right now, and do you know what Billy's new nickname was when you were gone? No to the same. second one and no to the first one. There's nothing positive right now. I mean, could that change? Good to hear from you, Jay. Appreciate it. Could that change over the course that, I mean, I guess. I don't, do you all know anything positive right now? No. I mean, I don't. I'm going to be honest with you. I don't even know what the, you know, to extent you would say, well, you know, cut her bowly, but he hasn't looked good yet. I'm not saying

he won't. I'm not giving up on him. Seth McGowan's awesome. Seth McGowan is good. There's something positive. He's a pro. He's a, he's a dog. South McGowan is a really good running back. and Stoops historically has done the best when he's had really good running back. So, I mean, I guess you can say that. He's second in the SEC and already has seven touchdowns. What's Billy's nickname? I don't know. What is Billy's nickname?

Yeah, I don't know that either. I was hoping someone else. That's probably came from, Billy, you there? What's your nickname? I didn't even know it. I had to ask Jay off the air. He said Matt Jones, Jr. Really?

Oh, yeah, we did realize that Billy is just slowly becoming you. Why is that? We were, he said, I went after Peter, the Kerr, Curb Street's Yeah, he doesn't like Kirk Herbst's dog. Not a fan of kids around. First of all, he goes farther on the kids than me. I like kids.

I am not anti-kid calling and all the things he is. I think they can be sweet. I like the excitement because that's me when I was a kid. So Billy and I are disagreeing on that. I kind of agree that like this whole thing of let's have Kirk's dog and let's have port noise dog. Like they're making our point. You're making our point. You two are just morphing into one person.

It's a dog. Get that dog out of the booth. Come on. You hear it, right? Billy, on that, I don't, I don't disagree with you. Let's go quickly to Jimmy and Nicholsville. Quick. Hey, Matt.

Jimmy can hear you just fine here. I got a couple things. All right. Quick. Quick. And Drew. Okay. So, listen, we're talking about how much the buyout is, but I think we need to talk about the cost of not getting rid of.

the stoops. I think that's a lot bigger. It's a high number. You're exactly right. What was the second thing? I was just going to say, just condolences to you guys. Jimmy's lost some good friends along the way, and I know it's a hard time. Appreciate it, Jimmy. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Ryan, give me a score and an MVP. I'm going to go Georgia, 35. Johnny Rocker real quick. I got it, 35, 13, and my MVP is also the Johnny Rocker role player. Have you been injured? Get small-town compassion with Big City results when you call the Rocker. Calway, the kicker. He's the only, he's the only points we get, Calway.

By the way, it's plus money on draft Kings under one and a half touchdowns for Kentucky. Oh, I know. Just saying, if you want to bet where there might be some money in Kentucky, not playing well. What's yours? I think Kentucky actually looks decent, just can't find the end zone. They lose 27 to 9. Calway was going to be my pick with three field goals. So I will say the holder, whose name I don't even know, since Ryan took the kicker.

The holder. I'm going to holder. The holder is quite a call. I didn't see that. I think it's going to be a game that is we're competitive, but never in it really. 30 to 13, Georgia. I'll take Seth McGowan, who I do think will play well. I think he is a real deal of a Kentucky running back. I'll be back for the post game show. We're going to put this pregame up on podcast, so I'll see you around 4 o'clock. I'm skipping the St. James Art Fair for this post game show. Oh, man. That's a big event. This has been the Central Kentucky select Chevy dealers KSR pregame.

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