2025-02-26 LEACH REPORT

Tom talks with Jack Givens, Jon Hale, and Chris Fisher.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
The Leech Report Radio Network is on the air with
the voice of the Wildcats, Tom Leech. It's the daily
gathering spot for the Big Blue Nation to hear the
latest news and views on the Cats. If you have
a question for Tom, email Leech Report at gmail dot
com or send a tweet to add Tom leech Ky.

(00:23):
Now here's Tom god.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Day from Oklahoma. And I'm not gonna break into Rogers
and Hammersteed, not gonna inflict that pain on you, but
we are coming to you with the Leech Report, presented
by Bobcat Enterprises from Norman, Oklahoma, where the Wildcats play
the Oklahoma University Sooners tonight late one nine o'clock Eastern Tip,

(00:48):
and we will talk about that today with Chris Fisher.
The Cats pause the goose Jack Gibbons gonna move up
to Wednesday this week since we'll be getting back in
the we of Thursday morning. And then John Hale will
be our final guest today and we'll talk some Kentucky
football with John as Mark Stoops and the new players

(01:10):
on the Kentucky football roster met with the media yesterday.
Wildcat News of the Day always presented by just Setpiece
of Lexington and The big news heading into this game
tonight was the availability report that came out last night
that is required before SEC games. Lamont Butler and Jackson
Robinson both listed as probable, and that means there's a

(01:34):
seventy five percent likelihood that they will play. So we'll see.
As Mark Pope mentioned the other night, it always depends
on you know, until they were you know, you think
fully over what has been ailing them. You put them

(01:54):
through practice, and if it goes well, then they wake
up the next morning and they haven't regressed well, then
you do a little more and that just kind of
keeps going on and at some point they're well enough
to play. So we'll see if tonight is that night
they face an Oklahoma team that comes off a upset
of Mississippi State. The Sooners had lost five in a

(02:15):
row and then upset State here in Norman on Saturday,
and now Oklahoma is maybe off the bubble or certainly
at least no worse than flirting with it. I think
they were projected as an eleven seed, and some of
the bracketology reports I was looking at yesterday, and so
now they are in that desperation mode. A win over

(02:38):
Kentucky would further solidify their spot in the NCAA Tournament.
So the thing is your team, like Oklahoma, there's always
other things going on, like Georgia upsetting Florida last night,
So you just have to try to keep winning. And
so it'll be a desperate Oklahoma team that Kentucky will
face tonight. They have one of the top reshman in

(03:00):
the country and Jeremiah Fears. He's six' four guard averaging
scored twenty seven points Against Mississippi state and had ten.
Assists so If Lamont butler is back, tonight that would
be welcome for the matchup With. Fears, Otega, oway And
Colin chandler talked to the media. Yesterday Oh, wait of,

(03:21):
course played here At oklahoma for two seasons before he
transferred To kentucky When Mark pope signed, on And oway
told the media yesterday back In lexington that he didn't
want to overthink. This guess he's got. Friends one of
his good friends Is oklahoma's leading, Scorer Jalen, moore and
they've talked on a regular. Basis But otega says his

(03:44):
plan for this season was to just focus on each
game as it, came and, so, Ye i'm, sure there's you,
know feelings here that are a little different than other.
Games now that it's finally, here he, said he'll have
a lot of family, here so. Otagaway that's a storyline
that is an additional one for this particular game. Tonight

(04:06):
And otega coming off his poorest performance of the season
in terms of point, production just two points down At
alabama On, saturday so that will certainly motivate him to
want to bounce back in this. Game and Then oklahoma
And kentucky will tip at Nine, eastern so coverage will
start at seven point thirty with The countdown to Tip

(04:27):
off show on THE uk Radio. NETWORK espn is planning
all access coverage for The Kentucky auburn game On. Saturday
it will be coaches miked up cameras in the locker.
Room THE a team Of Dan, Shulman Jay billis And
Jess simms will be on the, call even though the
game day show will be down In. Florida, Yesterday Mark

(04:50):
stoops talked to the media first time he'd had an
extended session like THIS q AND a session since the
signing day back In. DECEMBER a lot of discussion about
the leadership and Discipline stoop said, quote they want to
get back to being who we are and that is being,
Physical so that will be the theme of spring. Practices

(05:14):
we'll talk about football With John hale when he joins
us later in the. SHOW uk baseball Obliterated evansville yesterday
At Kentucky Proud park and the home opener twenty four
to three on a beautiful day In, lexington most runs
since two thousand and seven For kentucky baseball. Team Devin
burks led the charge with four runs batted in For.

(05:35):
Kentucky links to the stories that we talk about each
day can be found on the Bud Light Leech report
page At tom leechky dot. Com coming, up will visit
With Chris fisher from The Cats, pause a Little Kentucky,
basketball a little. Recruiting our opening segment's always presented by
Just sepies Of. Lexington and if you are looking for

(05:55):
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(06:19):
it all out Of Giuseppes lexington dot com and we'll
be right back With Chris. Fisher welcome back into The Leech,
report coming to you from the Mobile Clark's Pumping shop studio. Today,
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(06:40):
you're a frequent customer and items in the store as.
Well Chris fisher on The Club bluenil dot com hotline
with us here on The Leech. Report This kentucky gets
set to take On oklahoma tonight and maybe they Get
robinson And butler. Back if, not it's certainly with them
being probable, tonight seems like it'll happen sometime. Soon and
we've talked in recent days here in the, Show, chris

(07:02):
it'll be important For kentucky to get them. Back you,
know the earlier the better in terms of getting graded
on the curve by the selection committee for games that
they lost when these guys Or Andrew carr didn't, play
and but you also have to go out and then
have success once you get your all your guys.

Speaker 3 (07:20):
Back, Yeah AND i don't Think Mark pope is going
to put these guys in a situation where they're at
risk of a, setback because at that, point we're getting
to a late point in the season and you don't
want a bunch of stops and starts because you have
to play differently as we've seen over the last couple

(07:42):
of weeks With Lamont butler And Jackson robinson in or
out of the. Lineup it changes a lot of What
kentucky wants to do and is able to do it
and how they're able to do. It and SO i
don't think he's gonna put himself in a situation where
he runs those guys. Back it'll be interesting to see

(08:03):
considering that they're probable for tonight if they. Play are
they on a minute? Restriction is he trying to ease
them back in the lineup or does he feel, like you,
know they're ready to go full Tilt and he, wouldn't you,
know put them in the game unless they were ready to.

Speaker 4 (08:19):
Go and so.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
You, know the Last, AGAIN i think the last thing
you want is a bunch of stops and, starts because
as of right, now you're trying to gain speed and
gain momentum going into THE ncaa. Tournament and as we've
seen With Andrew, carr just because you're back in the
lineup doesn't mean you're automatically one hundred percent and you're

(08:42):
gonna look one hundred. Percent and so it'll be good
for those guys to have a little bit of runway
in the regular, season see what it looks, like play
themselves back into form heading into into the.

Speaker 2 (08:54):
Postseason, yeah it's a good. Point you, know With, carr
he came back and was playing significant, minutes but it's
really just been in the last couple of games that
he started to look like his old.

Speaker 3 (09:03):
Self, yeah, Exactly and you don't want, that you, know
while you are in a do or die, situation and
whether it be THE sec tournament or THE ncaa. TOURNAMENT
i think ABOUT i go back to That kentucky team
in twenty two twenty, three where you, know Ty Ty
washington was less than one hundred. Percent Kellen grady was

(09:25):
dealing with the planner fasciitis and those guys were much
less than one hundred, percent and Then kentucky was never
quite able to regain that offensive rhythm that they had
prior to those. Injuries and so with these, guys you
want as much runway as possible to see what it
looks like in the regular season before you head into postseason.

Speaker 2 (09:46):
Play there's been a good bit of a fan discussion
and a couple of questions came up On Mark pope's
radio Show monday, about you, know managing minutes Rotations Amari
williams in, particular because he's playing, well there's some fans
that want to see him play, more maybe north of
thirty minutes a, game And pope, explained you know that

(10:07):
they're looking at analytics and the efficiency and the twenty
to twenty eight minutes is the right range For. Amari
and you posted an interesting note on social media on
x as it relates To amari versus, say you, know
wanting a guard to play thirty plus minutes a.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
Game, YEAH i think it's easy for fans to forget
That Amri williams is seven foot and two hundred and
sixty pounds and so that's a lot, different you, know
playing those types of minutes than a guard, playing you,
know thirty five. Minutes it's a lot more weight to carry.
Around there's a lot more pushing and shoving in physicality

(10:52):
close to the. Rim and on top of, that as
much responsibility As Amar williams has on the offensive end
and in thisating the offense and you, know also Anchoring
kentucky's defense at the other, end there's so much placed
on his shoulders that it's just not the same as
a guard running up and down the floor for thirty five.

(11:14):
Minutes AND i said this also on social. Media if
you're free to Question Mark pope's coaching, decisions but just
know he has the analytics to back him. Up he's
going by the. Numbers if he's making a, decision it's
based on the. Numbers AND i think we're seeing that
play out with the substitution patterns and the minutes, distribution

(11:37):
especially With Lamont butler And Jackson robinson on the.

Speaker 2 (11:40):
Shelves chatting With Chris fisher From katspaws Dot com on
The Leach report presented By Bombcat, Enterprises oklahoma has an
outstanding guard In Jeremiah. Fears his dad actually played Against
kentucky when he was At ohio back in two thousand
and five game In, cincinnati scored fourteen. Points jeremiah's coming

(12:03):
off a twenty seven to ten assists game and they're
upset Of Mississippi. State what impresses you about him as a.
Player he's just.

Speaker 3 (12:12):
A dynamic kind of a combo guard who can get others,
involved but also has the ability to put the ball
in the. Basket and had a huge game For oklahoma
Against Mississippi.

Speaker 5 (12:25):
State they had.

Speaker 3 (12:26):
Five game losing streak coming into that. Game when we're
able to get off the schnid And oklahoma is firmly
on the bubble right. Now AND i look At florida's
game last, night you, know going into four and Ten,
georgia who also desperately needed a, win And georgia jumped

(12:47):
all over them, early built a twenty six point. Lead
AND i think that's Something kentucky's going to have to
be mindful of tonight as. Well this is An oklahoma
team that's squarely on the bubble and they're going to
be desperate wins that you better come out and play
with juice and energy right away and try to stay
on top of, them because if they get some, momentum

(13:08):
get an early, lead that crowd gets into, it it's
going to be a much much more difficult game to.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
Navigate last, Question Nate ament has cut his list of
five Schools, Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Tennessee. Arkansas any insight into
what he is thinking ahead of His april first.

Speaker 3 (13:28):
Decision, YEAH i think this was a recruitment That kentucky
had a lot of ground to make, up obviously focusing
On Caleb wilson for as long as they did and
then trying to get back in the mix With Nate.
Amen they've done a good job of. That they were
able to get him on campus for an official. Visit
also Saw kentucky Beat tennessee In knoxville on an unofficial, Visit.

Speaker 5 (13:51):
AND i think they've been able to make up some.

Speaker 3 (13:53):
GROUND i think they've been able to put themselves in the.
Mix i'm just not sure it's gonna be quite enough
to get over the hump. Now, obviously in.

Speaker 4 (14:02):
High profile recruitments like this With nil and those types of,
things that these things can change quickly and. Drastically but.

Speaker 3 (14:12):
As of right, NOW i would Put duke And louisville
probably a little bit ahead of the other three schools
in situations like, This i've just learned not to bet
Against duke for a kid that they really. Want and
even though they have The boozers coming in and some
other high profile, guys this is a guy that they

(14:33):
really want as, well and so just learned not to
bet Against duke in these types of.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
Situations Chris fishercatspaws Dot com At Chris fisher two four
seven ON X thank you.

Speaker 5 (14:44):
Sir all, right thanks.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
Leads report coming to you From, Norman oklahoma today ahead
of The cats matchup with The suitors later, tonight and
we'll talk about that with The Goose Jack gibbings when
we come right back twenty six past the top of
the hour here on The report presented By Bobcat. Enterprises
it'll be a first tonight For kentucky men's basketball playing
a game in the state Of. Oklahoma they've Played oklahoma three,

(15:10):
times twice In lexington and once In, mawe but never
here In oklahoma football team played out here in the early.
Eighties they did a two year home and home with
The sooners on the CLUB blueinil dot com. Hotline now
is The Goose Jack gibbons head of the broadcast tonight
that we'll have for you on THE Uk Sports. Network

(15:31):
And oklahoma's coming off a big win On, saturday so
it's another. Team seems like there's a lot of these
this time of, Year. Goose it, JUST i guess kind
of the, norm and especially for those teams that are
kind of around the, eleven twelve thirteen level in the
sec that everybody's on the bubble that you're playing and they're.

Speaker 4 (15:51):
Desperate, yeah so you better be, ready AND i Think
kentucky will. Be they understand what's at stake. Tonight SO
i look for a good ball. GAME i look for
a good effort from our. Team, uh and you, know
this is a fun time of the year for a
lot of, People So i'm excited about the.

Speaker 2 (16:13):
Challenge what about Otega oway coming back to the place
where he played for two. Seasons he's not From oklahoma's From,
newark but he came here and played for two. Seasons
so how do you Do does that impact him at
all or is he more thinking about bouncing back from
a tough game At.

Speaker 4 (16:32):
ALABAMA i think it absolutely will affect him. SOME i
as much as you'd like to, Say tom that you
know every game is. Us you approach him the same
and you want to say all of that kind of, stuff,
man as much as you want, to you it's just human,

(16:53):
nature man to look at this one on the schedule
when you first get it out and uh, say put
a big circle around, it. Man and he's looking forward to.
It i'm sure he's gonna try his best to approach
it like any other, game but it's almost impossible to.
DO i would imagine coming back to a place where you,

(17:16):
played you have friends on the, team, people you, know
it's just gonna be a whole different challenge and.

Speaker 2 (17:25):
They face an outstanding guard In Jeremiah, fears freshman From
oklahoma at twenty seven points tennisis On. Saturday have you
or what do you see in his game that impresses?

Speaker 4 (17:37):
You, WELL i think he'll be some Like Trey johnson
that we saw With. TEXAS i, mean he's able to
do a little bit of, everything and because of, that
he is very capable of having big nights as he
did last game. Out you, know he's a, freshman so

(18:01):
everything is new for. Him first time we've seen him
and he's seen. Us SO i hope that we can
bring some stuff that's different for him that he'll have
to deal. With but this time in the, year he's
seen pretty much, everything and he's gone against a lot
of really really good, players and he did in That
Mississippi state. Game so it's gonna be a big challenge

(18:22):
For kentucky's.

Speaker 2 (18:23):
Defense talking about the Goost Jack, gibbons and we'll continue
when we come right back on The Leech, report presented
By bob Kat. Enterprises it's The Leech report and we're
coming to you From, Norman oklahoma. Today back to the
club blunil dot com hotline as we visit with The
Goose Jack, Gibbons kentucky And oklahoma tonight and we may

(18:47):
get to See butler And robinson they listed as probable
on the availability. Report if not, tonight then they would
certainly suggest that sometime. Soon and assistant Coach Mark, FOX
i think this has may been down At, ole Miss
he walked over WHILE i was sitting with The Jimmy
dykes And Carl ravish and he related a story that

(19:07):
from his coaching, TIME i think when he was AT
i think At. Georgia, Anyway Brick magerish. Played he played
against Coach magerius's team and had some players, out And
majerius told him, that, look this will make you better For.
March and that's what you know can happen potentially for
This kentucky. Team goose is whenever they Get butler And robinson,

(19:31):
back because the three freshmen have all gotten to play
meaningful minutes and had some games where they had good
nights and even in, Defeat Travis perry played well the
other night with twelve points down At, alabama didn't have a,
turnover had four steals and you got a chance to
visit with him after the. Game and this he, has you,

(19:53):
know been thrown into the, fire but he has emerged
just seemingly stronger for.

Speaker 4 (19:58):
It, yeah none of those guys have backed down from the.
Challenge and that's the thing that is is really good
and very. Positive And mark both hasn't back down from
giving them. Opportunities mat He he's put him right in.
There and all of the young guys that have, Excelled,

(20:19):
Uh Trenton noah hasn't shot the ball quite as well
the last couple of games as he was, before but
he's doing a lot of other good. Stuff of, Course
Colin chandler is doing some good. Stuff so both all
of those guys have come, along But i'm ready to get.
Reloaded Tom, Frankly, uh you, know we we need those, Guys, Jackson,

(20:42):
Robinson Lamont. Butler we need them getting some pre tournament.
Minutes i'd be really surprised if they don't play uh.
Tonight you never. Know they they they both have worked
out and have looked good and doing doing some good.
Stuff so whether or not he decides to play them,

(21:03):
tonight it's going to be. Interesting But i'm ready to get. Reloaded.
Man we have proven we could be so dag gone
good when we have those guys in the lineup on
both ends of the, floor both ends of the. Floor so,
yeah the young guys have done, great But i'm ready

(21:24):
to get these guys back so we can start building
for the.

Speaker 2 (21:28):
Postseason Kobe bred comes off a twenty point game down At,
alabama and he got up seventeen, shots which is not
just a season, high but a career high for. Him
he'd averaged about six field goal attempts per, game which
was what he averaged At, dayton so he had not
been a volume. Shooter BUT i know you have been

(21:49):
calling for him to be more. Aggressive in looking for his,
shots so maybe that was a step forward for, him
even in defeat down.

Speaker 4 (21:57):
Here, YEAH i, mean, Yeah, TOM i think IT'S i,
MEAN i don't think a guy can think in the
terms of seventeen shots until you take seventeen shots and
figure out how you have to go about getting. Those
and what he did was he Got he got him
a lot of different ways in that game down At.

(22:19):
BAMA i, mean they were he came out shooting the,
three they made the adjustment to chase him off of
a three point, line and then he started coming in
closer and pump faking and shooting it off the dribble
and those kind of. THINGS i, mean that's what you
gotta do to get seventeen. SHOTS i mean it's it's not,

(22:41):
easy but, man you have to be all out every.
Minute and that's the way he played and that gun.
IT i don't want to sound, Greedy, tom BUT i
thought he probably passed up three or four other opportunities to,
shoot to tell you the. Truth but BUT i get.
It he's not his. Game he's an efficient, shooter BUT

(23:04):
i want him to be a volume, shooter even with
these guys, back because that just makes everyone around him.
Better BUT i saw the stat sheet after the game
and he had seventeen, shots AND i sat back AND i, Said,
Man i'm calling for him to shoot. More i'll take.

Speaker 2 (23:20):
Seventeen another guy who is getting more shots in terms
of the three point line Is Andrew. Carr he's taken
eight in the two games that he has returned to
the starting, lineup made three down At. Alabama and you,
know he was a thirty eight percent three point shooter
last season At Wake. Forest hasn't been quite to that
level this. Year AND i hope he is going to

(23:44):
start looking for looking to take that three point shot
a little more, often because that's something you, know new
that he can give them for other teams to have to. Defend.

Speaker 4 (23:55):
Yeah, yeah he played to the scouting. REPORT i think
the Sco obama's scouting reports that let's just back off
of him and uh be ready to help If otaga
takes a trip to the basket or tries to create
off the. Dribble AND i think that's What bama was
doing to try to Take otega out of the. Game,

(24:17):
uh they were leaving a, car so he shot it
and he didn't, hesitate which was really really big because.
You you you just have more confidence when you shoot
that thing in rhythm and there's no second guessing in
your mind as to whether or not it's a good.
Shot uh, yeah they they he played to the scouting,

(24:39):
report then they had to make an adjustment and uh
and then he came in and he scored some around the.
Basket so uh, so, yeah if he, can if he
cannot hesitate to put that thing up when he when
he's open front on the, perimeter that's gonna be another
thing that teams are going to have to worry about With.

Speaker 2 (24:59):
Kentucky two weeks from, today THE Sec tournament will be
starting In. Nashville AND i know you have plans to
do another signing with The Alumni association for your. Book
they call me goose.

Speaker 4 (25:11):
Right, yeah we have one actually this, Afternoon tom here
in normal a lot OF uk, fans a lot OF
uk fans out this. Way if you're going to be
at the, game it's a pep rally type situation At Coach's.
Corner it's located eleven Fifty West Lindsay. Street we'll be

(25:33):
Going we'll be there from. Five i'll be there from
five to about six thirty or so BEFORE i come
over to the, arena So i'm looking forward to. Meeting
this is my first trip To, oklahoma one of the
four or five States i've never been, in so this
is going to be really good for me to meet

(25:53):
some new folks and have a good time this afternoon
before the.

Speaker 2 (25:57):
Game So Coach's corner if you are here In, oklahoma
or if you know somebody.

Speaker 4 (26:02):
That is get the one you have Coaches corner.

Speaker 2 (26:05):
Thing coming and Meet jack and get the book, signed
and then there'll be an event down at THE sec
tournament as. Well goose appreciate it. Much we'll see you
later today at the.

Speaker 4 (26:15):
Arena thanks so, Much. Tom That's jack.

Speaker 2 (26:18):
Givansin he joins us on The Club blue nil dot com.
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John hale talking To Little Kentucky. Football it's the lead

(27:22):
report From, Norman oklahoma. Today we presented By Bobcat. Enterprises
John hale joins us now from The Lexington Herald Leader
Kentucky sports dot com on the Club bluelinnile dot com
hotline to Talk kentucky. Football Mark stoops met with the
media yesterday and then reporters got a chance to talk
to a lot of the newcomers on The kentucky football,

(27:44):
team transfers and. Recruits But, john the theme seemed to
be pretty clear from Everything i've read in the scene
Of Coach stoop's remarks that it was getting to use his,
phrase getting back to who we are.

Speaker 5 (27:58):
Right, absolutely and he seems very genuine in that. ASSESSMENT
i mean he you, Know mark hates to look back
on the past too, much even when we were talking
about good. Things he likes to stay in the. Present
but he brought it up several times In south, Yesterday so,
LIKE i have to own what happened specifically last, season
BUT i think also the indication is the last three

(28:18):
years as there's been kind of a downward, trend and
he acknowledged that some of the accountability issues that we've
heard from players both immediately after the season and even
more recently were issues that they that they had to
start the off season by clearly defining.

Speaker 4 (28:33):
What they expected to their.

Speaker 5 (28:34):
Team and with thirty one newcomers between twenty transfers and
eleven high school early en rolies this, spring you've got
almost essentially an entire new, boss especially on. Offense they're
just not a lot of returning veteran guys and getting those,
transfers especially the, veterans to buy into what the culture
and the identity That mark wants to set and, help you,

(28:56):
know make bring that forward through winner, workouts and spring
practice start here in a few weeks is key to
having any chance to bounce back to what happened last.

Speaker 2 (29:04):
Year do you think it was a case for certainly
the landscape was just changing from year to year with
THE nil and the, portal but also you had a
coach that had taken you, know a program to places
that hadn't been before or at least in a long long,
time with you, know The Citrus bowl winning eighteen and

(29:27):
then another one in twenty, one and that trying to
then maybe evolved to be more of a contender at
the top of THE sec and maybe some things they
did didn't work out the way that they.

Speaker 5 (29:42):
Wanted, YEAH i think that's part of it for. SURE
I mean we heard From Jamoy macklin and typ Ber
ryant immediately after that lost all well the end of the,
season and both of them brought, up you, know player,
accountability like even the small things like in the weight,
room like being the guys who do. Things talking about
couple of the transfers, Yesterday that's that's clearly a point
of that's it's like putting your weights, up something as

(30:04):
simple as, that not waiting for somebody else to do.
IT i talked To Zion childress a couple of weeks,
ago is obviously not there. Anymore he's trying to you,
know prepare to get AN nfl, contract and asked him
about those, issues and he, said, yeah it's it's clear
that in the locker, room when guys are getting away
with things like that has an. Effect and SO i
think part of that is IN il in terms of you,
know maybe players trying to figure out that self motivation

(30:27):
that wasn't as much of an issue. Before there's also
clearly an issue and for every team that when everybody
knows who's making the most IN il money in the
locker room and when those guys aren't, performing which was
the case in a few instances last, year that causes
some dissension. Too and so all of that is a
factor of. It and the transfer portal in THE nil
and the threat that you could leave, immediately like that

(30:48):
wasn't an issue When mark was building this up to
where he got it in that run from especially you,
know sixteen to twenty, one and now they've got new
challenges and they got to figure out a way to adapt.
It it seems like like this this, offseason like building
those connections for a bunch of players who you haven't
had on campus for three or four, years you didn't
go in their homes as high school. Recruits you, know multiple,

(31:11):
times that's been a big key this offseason for the,
coaches trying to build that so they don't have to
they have that base at least going into the.

Speaker 2 (31:18):
Season, yeah with, nil you, know as you, say guys
know who's making, what or at least they know they're.
Not you, know somebody's making more than than THAN i
am kind of. Thing BUT i think that can that
can be managed if the guys at the top of

(31:38):
the food, chain so to, speak are also you, know
working the hardest and doing all those things that you're
talking about in the weight room and not missing meetings
and being late or being late to practice or all
those little just little things that go into it that
in one of them in itself is not a big,
deal but maybe if they add up over, TIME i guess.

Speaker 5 (31:58):
Right, yeah, Absolutely and we've seen this in professional sports for.
Decades you always hear about the superstar players who operate
by a different set of rules than everybody. Else and in,
college you, know if it trickles down, there that's that's a.
Problem and and let's be honest, too like their transfer
class didn't work out last. YEAR i mean that, yesterday
the guys we talked to you are really really, impressive

(32:18):
especially you, know some of the veteran offensive linemen who
have clearly have the kind of mindset they, need but
we don't know how they're going to performed. Yet and
this time last year we thought they had a great transfer,
class and outside of a couple of, guys they just
didn't lead up with up the, expectations whether that was
injuries or por performance or. Whatever and when you have
that much of YOUR nil budget devoted to players who aren't,

(32:39):
succeeding and then you have maybe some other guys who
are returners you had to pay a lot to keep
and don't have the attitude that you need in the locker,
room that it's just a trickle down effect because then
those young guys see, that you, know the veterans are
getting away with things and maybe they're not giving the
effort they. Want so it felt like it needed a total, reset,
refresh and based on What mark said, YESTERDAY i think

(32:59):
that they're on their way to doing.

Speaker 2 (33:01):
That of all the new guys that were there. Yesterday
one who was missing was a wide receiver True edwards
transfer and is the feeling still optimistic that he'll get
HIS ncaa approval for another.

Speaker 4 (33:15):
Year, yeah that's my.

Speaker 5 (33:17):
Understanding they knew when they took his commitment that this
was going to be a question because he is in
that same boat As Diego pavia At, vanderbilt Where pabas
suit THE la because he said his juco season shouldn't
count against his eligibility and the court ruled in his.
Favor THE naa is still appealing that, case but they
gave a blanket waiver for this season for anybody who
had junior college seasons who would have exhausted their eligibility

(33:41):
to keep. Playing, well the true's in that. Boat his
case a little bit different because he's already spent four
years at The division one. Level one of those would
count as a red shirt, theoretically But pababi has only
spent three years at The division one, level and so
THAT'S i think where the uncertainty. Lies but they knew
when they took his commitment that like it was going
to be a, process and it seems like anybody who

(34:03):
who applies for a waiver these days is getting them
because the NFL a just knows that, legally they haven't
had any success in. Court SO i think it would
be a surprise if he doesn't get the, Waiver but
we just don't know for sure until it actually.

Speaker 2 (34:14):
Happens AND i think fans always want to know what's
going to happen with the blue white game in the,
spring and didn't sound like Coach doops was looking at
a real, typical you know what we've been used to
over the, years a blue white, game right.

Speaker 5 (34:31):
Right and he's moved some away from that sum in
recent years just because you, know injuries and whatever. Situation
with the depth and, spring you can't really, go you,
know have the old fashioned fantasy draft and set two teams.
Against so they've gone offense defense at. Times but it
seems like it's probably going to be more of an
open practice where they have a extended scrimmage at the.

(34:52):
End they're Not. Mark didn't it sound like he wanted
to put it ON. Tv that's definitely an element that
coaches have to consider in this portal. Era if you
put all your backups on, film who's going to try
and come poach on from? You and so it will be,
Different i'm, sure BUT i think that there will still
be some sort of opportunity for fans to get in

(35:13):
there and see them something this.

Speaker 2 (35:14):
Spring John, hale you can read his coverage Of kentucky
football and more At kentucky sports dot com and in
The Lexington Herald. Leader, john thank, you thanks for having,
me and Is John hale from The Lexington Herald leader
joining us on The clubbluenil dot com. Hotline attention bourbon,
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be right back with our final segment of The Lead
report From, Norman oklahoma in just a. Moment it's The

(36:27):
Leads report coming to you from The Clark's Pumping shop. Studio,
Return refresh and refuel At clark's and Our Kentucky wildcat history.
Note Darius miller had a career high twenty four on this,
day and it was in the twenty eleven, season a
seventy six sixty eight win over The Florida. Gators he

(36:48):
also is At. Rapparina he added five rebounds three, Blocks
so the Former Mason County High school Standout Darius spiller
career high on this. Day Happy, Birthday benny snelled, you
we're talking about some of the good old days For kentucky.
Football how About benny breaking the rushing record on a touchdown?
Run the all TIME uk rushing record on a touchdown

(37:10):
run in The Citrus bowl went Over Penn state And
chuck alexanis Big man for a couple of seasons At
kentucky in the early eighties before he transferred up To
Yukon happy birthday to both of those. Guys. Now wildcat
history notes always presented By kentucky Road Show Sports cards
And memorabilia there On Romedy road In lexington and Ed

(37:32):
roadshow cards Dot. Com last night in THE, sec the
big surprise Was georgia In athens Beating florida eighty eight eighty.
Three they had a twenty six point lead in the first.
Half florida came back and went up by one, late
but Then georgia reasserted control and got a, huge huge
win for ITS ncaa tournament resume that probably Knocked florida

(37:56):
off the one line for the. Moment alabama fifteen to
three pointers In, Blue Mississippi state's doores off one eleven
to seventy. Three last night In. Tuscaloosa tennessee wins AT
lsu sixty five to fifty. Nine missouri Beat South carolina
one oh one to seventy And Iowa states one of
those teams that'll be battling probably With kentucky along that

(38:16):
three four seed line. Somewhere The cyclones were upset last
night by A Oklahoma state team that had a losing
record seventy four to sixty. Eight lee's report presented By
Bob Kat. Enterprises and that's sit From, Norman. Oklahoma Dick
gabriel hosting tomorrow back In, lexington