2025-09-3 - LEACH REPORT

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnestown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily. Boons Butcher Shop.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good day. Everybody will welcome in.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
It is the Leech Report coming to you from Heirian
Lexington courtesy of Bobcat Enterprises. Coming up on the show today,
we will catch up with Larry Vaught. Normally we visit
with Larry on Tuesdays, but pushed him back a day
because of the holiday. This week, Chris Fisher from The

(00:39):
Cat's Pause and Charles Walker, former Wildcat White Out, will
get his take on Kentucky football. Wild Cat News of
the Day presented by Joseppies of Lexington. Offensive coordinator Bush
Hampden and some of the guys on that side of
the ball talked to the media after practice yesterday. Bush
said they were not happy on that side of the

(01:00):
ball with a performance. Buddy says that group of players
this team is hungry to get better on the deep
balls that they struggled to hit in the game. Him
then said quarterback Zach Calzada was not decisive enough at
times need to give the wide receivers a chance to
make the play. And Kalzada also talked to reporters after

(01:24):
practice yesterday.

Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, just getting better. I mean, the passes behind us,
Saturdays behind us. This is a new week, a new opponent,
and for us, it's just getting better every day. You know,
we got a couple of practices to really get better,
a couple of mental days, and for us, we just
want to be prepared physically and mentally for Saturday.

Speaker 4 (01:39):
There were parts of Saturday probably felt frustrating, but all
the coaches they said, when you went back and looked
at film, that wasn't quite as bad as it felt.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
Did you see at the same day, Uh No, definitely,
I mean there was definitely some good stuff out there.

Speaker 5 (01:54):
I think, well, on third downs we were phenomenal. I think,
you know, for.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
The most part, we did a good job of, you know,
staying ahead of the sticks, keeping us in third and shorts,
and I think for you know, those explosives that we
could have had, we're definitely frustrating to watch. But you know,
for us, it's a new week and it's a new
game Saturday, so we're excited to go get those.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
When you've had frustrating games before parts and games anything
you did to kind of you know, get in your
own head to get your back on LiLine.

Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yeah, I mean, I think self talk is really important, man.
I mean, it's really just the next play. And it
get gets to sound, you know, really cliche, but at
the end of the day, that's what's important.

Speaker 5 (02:26):
You know, every game you're playing, the only thing that
matters is the next player.

Speaker 6 (02:28):
Well, what's it going to.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Take to keep the pass game on it?

Speaker 3 (02:31):
Technically, practice and reps, practice and reps. I think just
being really intentional about this week. I think we had
a great practice today. You know, it felt it felt
really good with those receivers today. We got to do
the same thing tomorrow and you know, just prepare really
well for Saturday.

Speaker 4 (02:43):
You've been around the college game for a long time now,
do you believe in that old same about the big
lead between week one and week two?

Speaker 5 (02:51):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (02:51):
You know, I've heard it a lot, but I think,
you know, for us, it's just want to get better
every week. It doesn't matter what week it is. You know,
for this we happen to be in week one to
week two right now. But always continuing to get better,
alway taking steps to get better.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
How thankful are you to have not one, but two
really productive running backs?

Speaker 2 (03:06):
That was awesome.

Speaker 5 (03:06):
That was really awesome to see it there.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
I always say, you know, it's amazing when you get
to hand the ball off and you get the jobs,
you know, five.

Speaker 5 (03:12):
Ten, fifteen yards for the next place.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
So that was awesome.

Speaker 5 (03:15):
You know, our offensive line did a fantastic job. Running
backs did a.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Great job, and I think, you know, as a group,
quarterback receiver wise, we need to pull that away. This
week could just talk about players being the best version
of themselves. What's the point do you?

Speaker 5 (03:26):
How confident are you that we'll see the best version
of you this week? I'm confident.

Speaker 3 (03:31):
You know, I'm bringing the best version of myself to
this facility every day, you know, whether you know, starting
getting good sleep, being up here early, making sure that
I'm a most prepared player on the team and on
the field Saturday, and you know, getting my body ready
physically for the game.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
Thank you, sir, Zach Calzati yesterday chatting with the media
after practice. So it's a big week for him because
he didn't have his a game on Saturday. You look
back at what he did at Texas A and M.
He was there for two years, but the last game

(04:03):
he played there was in twenty twenty one. Still, it
is a guy who has played in the SEC and
they went to Auburn, but it got hurt, didn't end
up playing there. But if you look back at twenty
twenty one, he played in twelve games. I'm not sure
how many he started, but it was more than one
through three hundred and twenty eight passes, fifty six percent
completion rate, seventeen touchdowns, nine interceptions. So that guy doesn't

(04:29):
jive with the numbers that we saw on Saturday. So
I would think for Zach, it's just a matter of
trust yourself. You've played the game a long time. Obviously
you know how to play the position, so just go
out and do your thing. So we'll see how it
turns out against an SEC defense.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
On Saturday.

Speaker 1 (04:51):
Running back sh Mary and Wilcox is due in court
here in about twenty minutes report, according to media reports,
to answer a charge of domestic and interperson a little violence.
So he remains suspended from the team for a violation
of team rules associated with this until further notice.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
Bleach your Report has a new NBA mock draft.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
Out three Wildcats on that list. Jade and Quainton's still
in the top ten, projected at four. They have Cam
Williams projected thirty eight and Otaga Oway fifty seven. If
Kentucky it's the kind of year I think they're going
to have. I suspect a lot of you think they're
going to have. I think Otaga will move up significantly.

(05:34):
At this point. There's he's not playing any games. He's
done everything he can do to have a draft position
that's about where he would have been had he decided
to go into the draft. Probably, so once the games
start and he can show improvement, and if Kentucky does well,
I think he could chance he could move up either way,

(05:56):
but especially if Kentucky does really well, I think he'll
have a substantial move up from fifty seven. If indeed
that's where he is right now. Again, it's just a
bock draft. Links to the stories that we talk about
each day. You can find them on the Bud Light
Leach Report page. You tell Leachky dot com, We'll come
right back. Chat with Chris Fisher The Cat's Pause. Our
opening segments presented by Just Sepies of Lexington out off

(06:18):
Nicholasville Road, just past Man of War Boulevard. Here in Lexington,
go to Open Table and get your reservation on the
books because Keehlan's coming up. And nothing better than finalizing
a day at Kielan with a great meal at Just Sepies.
Any special occasion. It's a perfect place to celebrate because
nobody beats the food, and then the ambiance is just
really special. Sit in the lounge area it's been expanded,

(06:41):
enjoy the live jazz music while you enjoy a fantastic
meal at you Just Seppees. We'll be right back on
the Leech Report. Leach Report coming to you from the
Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's says.
We welcome Chris Fisher into the program. You read them
Catspaws dot Com at Chris Fisher twenty four to seven

(07:03):
on X. What's your review of the game one win
for the football wild Cats?

Speaker 7 (07:09):
Chris, Obviously a lot of things could have been better,
but you know, you see a lot of you know,
those types of things in week one, whether they be
you know, penalties or you know, the offense out of rhythm,
or you know, simple mistakes, I think they can be
correct that. I think that's why typically you see a

(07:30):
team's biggest jump occur between week one and week two.
You know, I think a lot of people, you know,
in the twenty four to forty eight hours after the
game kind of look at the negatives. But I think
you also have to look at the positives. I mean,
just one penalty which occurred on the first play of
the game, no sacks. You know, everybody looks at kind

(07:54):
of Zach Calzada's passing performance. But you know, if you
have the thirty one yard completion the JJ Hester and
the you know that that touchdown to Kendrick Law that
you know maybe just missed by you know, six inches
or so, you know, I think that would have looked
a lot different. But the ground game was efficient, the
offensive line was great, the past rush was great, the

(08:15):
defense was dominant for you know, fifty of the sixty minutes,
and so I think there are a lot of positives
to take from Saturday as well.

Speaker 1 (08:25):
I think when you initially certainly walk away from that,
you see the score and you think that your team
was more dominant than that score reflects, which I think
is true, but you know when you they gave Toledo
two points and with the safety they had an interception

(08:46):
prior to that, then they have a fumble down inside
the twenty five yard lines if you're at least in
fuelg goal range there. And then in the second half
you take a bunch of deep shots and can't connect
on them, and it just I can understand the frustration
people leave with. But there were a lot of the
boxes that they wanted to check they did check in

(09:07):
this game.

Speaker 7 (09:09):
Yeah, there were plays to be had, and you know,
there were missed opportunities. I think it was those drives
there in the second half that Kentucky just simply wasn't
able to kind of capitalize on that that you know,
probably stuck with fans the most, But you know, there's
a lot to build on as well. I mean I
harped on it all summer. I think, you know, the
play of the offensive line was gonna make or break

(09:31):
this team, and I think you have to be extremely
encouraged by what you saw. You had the you know,
the two big backs staying ahead of the chains, and
then you have the explosive run that more or less,
but the game away didn't give up a single sack,
which is you know, a night and day difference from
from last season. And so, like I said, I think

(09:54):
there's some some things to be encouraged about, especially if
you know you you feel like you can take that
jump from from week one to week two.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
That was a solid defensive unit. I think that they
face certainly the secondary against Toledo, but it's a it's
a different level when ole Miss comes in. They Bush
Hampton yesterday talked about the interior of the defensive line.

Speaker 2 (10:17):
For the Rebels.

Speaker 1 (10:18):
How good those guys are talking about you know, NFL
caliber prospects. So this is a great test. A talk
a little bit with Josh Braun about that yesterday. I mean,
you know, for those guys, if you want to prove
something about getting to play at the next level, this
is a resume tape game.

Speaker 7 (10:34):
Yeah. And you know, a guy like Josh Braun is
no stranger to you know, the SEC. He's a guy
that's that's been around the block. And certainly you know
Ole Miss always has those guys up front that can
cause havoc and and get penetration. And you know, but
I think having a guy like Zach Calzada, who can
you know, move around a little bit, I think is

(10:55):
certainly certainly helpful, but it'll be a big test. But
I think Kentucky has matched up extremely well with ole
Miss on both sides of the ball here in the
past over years, and it seems like every time these
two teams play, it comes down to one or two
plays or comes down to a play at the end,
And so I have a feeling that Saturday will be

(11:16):
no different.

Speaker 1 (11:17):
Yeah, the game's last four times they've met have been
decided by a total of ten points. In the three
games with Kiffin have all been close through The one
here was in the forties in overtime with a missed
extra point deciding it.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
But then the two.

Speaker 1 (11:35):
Down in Oxford, the winning scorer was in the was
twenty last year and I think twenty two the previous time.
So defensively, Kentucky has held up pretty well against Lane
Kiffin's high powered offense.

Speaker 7 (11:51):
Yeah, Brad White has done an unbelievable job every time
they've played Ole Miss in kind of slowing down their
tempo and defending against that. And I was extremely impressed
with Kentucky's defensive effort in Oxford last season. And you know,
you look at what Kentucky could expose, you know, that

(12:14):
pass rush, I think it was great a Pro Football
Focus as the highest in the country for Week one.
The Old Myth offensive line has had some issues in
fall camp, and so if Kentucky is able to get
after the quarterback kind of keep ole Miss behind the
chains and maybe play a little bit slower than they
would like to, I think that could could make a
big difference.

Speaker 1 (12:33):
And Simmons put up good numbers. Their quarterback through for
four hundred yards, but he did have two interceptions. So
if the pass rush can create a little havoc there
would be great I think, you know, the Knary was
minus one of the turnover margin at a couple of
fumbles they could have recovered that would have given him
a chance to win that stat. But I think it's

(12:54):
a stat that if they could win that one would
be a significant booster their shape.

Speaker 2 (13:00):
Answers.

Speaker 7 (13:01):
Yeah, that's you know, that's always going to be the
biggest X factor is kind of the turnover margin, and
Kentucky was you know, they don't count as turnovers, but
you know, was able to force two turnovers on on
fourth downs. And Kentucky was so good in those third
and fourth down situations on on Saturday, and certainly we'll
want to get off the field and limit Ole Missus

(13:25):
offensive opportunity as much as possible on Saturday.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
We'll get your take on something else. I just saws
a story at CBS sports dot com. Uh, some players
at Vandy are taking the NCAA to court, and what
they're challenging is the red shirt rule. In other words,
they want to They're not saying that they should be
able to play for more than five years, but they're
saying they should be if you can, if you're gonna

(13:49):
give them five years of college, they should be able
to play all five years. And because it restricts an
alibility if if you don't and just a quick read
of the story, I think it probably makes sense.

Speaker 7 (14:06):
I believe that is something that John Calla Perry has
talked about here recently. I don't know if it was
right before he left Kentucky or since he's been at Arkansas,
but making the proposal that you have five years to
play five years, no matter what, no matter if you're injured,
if you transfer, you know what have you? You have

(14:28):
five years to play five years. And I guess that's
what these guys are looking for. Yeah, I mean, and
I would think they would get it.

Speaker 1 (14:35):
Yeah, I kind of think if you're it always well,
I always hated it when you know, back in the day,
when you know, maybe late in the year, there'd be
injuries at a position and maybe a freshman would be
pulled into action late in the season and they'd quote
burn the red shirt and uh, you'd you know, lose
a year of eligibility because your team needed you to
play a couple of games at the end of the year.

Speaker 2 (14:55):
Uh. And it's silly to have to even make that decision. Yeah.

Speaker 7 (15:01):
For the most part, it seems like every time the
NCAA is taken to court, they don't fare very well,
you know, because of all the rigid, you know, rules
in place, and now we're entering in just a completely
new world. You know, those things don't really tend to
hold up in a court of wall. So if that's

(15:23):
what they're fighting for, I would expect that to happen
at some point.

Speaker 2 (15:27):
Chris, Thank you much.

Speaker 7 (15:29):
All Right, thanks.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
That's Chris Fisher from Catspaws dot Com joining us here
on the Leads Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises. We'll come
right back chat with Larry Vaught. Bobcat Enterprises four locations
around the States, so google them when you need to
buy or rent heavy equipment. They'll have what you need. Loaders, tractors, excavators,
whatever it might be, forklifts, they'll have it. They'll give

(15:50):
you a great service after the sale as well. Bobcat
Enterprises twenty seventh's the top of the hours to lead
to report and Larry Vatt joins us from your sports
edge dot com and Vaunce Views to talking to Little
Kentucky Football first, little high school football here to bid

(16:11):
as well.

Speaker 2 (16:12):
But Larry, what was your takeaway from what you saw
on Saturday?

Speaker 8 (16:19):
I think, Tom that the defensive line has a chance
to be as good as what I thought. That the
running backs were as impressive as what I hoped they
might be. That the quarterbacks and receivers, I still need
to see a little bit more out of them before
you can really get excited about the season. But there

(16:40):
are no bad wins. You got to win, and now
we'll see how they stack up against a better team
than Toledo, but not probably the best team they're going
to play all seasons. Are really anxious to see what
kind of juff they make from week go into one
week two and whether Zach and those receivers can kind
of figure something out. They don't have to throw for

(17:01):
three hundred yards a game, but I think they're gonna
throw for more than eighty five.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yes they do.

Speaker 1 (17:05):
And you use the phrase in there in your comments
there get excited. And there was very little in the
way of those kinds of plays that bring you up
out of your seat for Kentucky, and I think that
was probably what some of the frustration was for offsetting

(17:26):
a solid performance overall in a lot of the areas
where they needed to get better, they did, but only
two plays at more than twenty yards. You had one interception,
but it was cutting in front of a receiver and
he immediately goes down.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
So there's no big.

Speaker 1 (17:38):
Return there, no big kickoff returns. They couldn't hit the
big plays in the passing game. They had the one
big run, but they're gonna need, I think more explosives
against a team like Ole Miss.

Speaker 8 (17:51):
Absolutely and I think they know that. And they got
close a couple of times on the pass plays, the
close stud Caunt for you still got to go ahead
and get it done and I'll be anxious to see
this week whether they try as be any of those
big explosive type of plays. It's what they tried in

(18:11):
the pacing game where they dial it back down or what.
But they've got to find something to get more completions
in that pacing game.

Speaker 1 (18:19):
More with Larry Vott when we come back. Here are
the Leach Report, presented by Bob gat Enterprises. It's the
Leacher Report coming to you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return,
refresh and refuel at Clark's Chatting with Larry Vott. You
follow him at your sports edge dot com. A great

(18:41):
champion of many things, including high school sports and Larry.
For the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Lexington, the
two fifty lex Committees doing a lot of special events
and one of them is declaring September as Sports Month
and this is football in conjunction with that, and so

(19:03):
they are giving us some different lists for sports fans.
We love lists of things to talk about. The first
one came out yesterday top ten Lexington High School coaches
of all time and this is in no particular order,
and I would also remind folks that it's compiled by
a list of former and current coaches, players, locals, sports journalists, historians, broadcasters,

(19:29):
various sports media members, and it weighs team success, NFL legacy,
college career, high school greatness all given equal consideration and
when they get to players, players must have played high
school football in Lexington. Obviously the coaches were coaching here.

Speaker 2 (19:44):
So here's the list. Larry will see what names jump
off the page.

Speaker 1 (19:48):
At you You've got. Terry Clark at Brian's Station, for example,
was brought the first public school states title to lexingtonnineteen
seventy one. Roy Walton, a legend at Tates Creek and Lafayette,
Doctor Norman Passport senior at Dunbar High School and the

(20:09):
Dunbar won three state titles during segregation had four under
undefeated season. Sam Simpson winning his high school coach in Lexington.
Jake Bell won a state title at Henry Clay in
eighty one, Eric Shaw Lafayette, Paul Rains lexingder Christian and Dunbar.
Mike meh And at Dunbar took them to the state
title game. John Hebrew at Henry Clay, the man for

(20:33):
whom their field is named, and Bob Spier, Lexington, Catholics.
So your thoughts on that list.

Speaker 8 (20:41):
Well, a lot of terrific names there, probably know the
most of them. I think they're going through my mind
right here. I still think Roy Walton's only hit coach
I know that made have tackled during a game, more
unique experiences to be around.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
Tell folks that story then that don't know it.

Speaker 8 (21:05):
Well, there was a player another team that's getting ready
to go down the sideline and score a touchdown. Royd
has stepped out and made to play to keep it
from scoring. I can't remember exactly how many years ago
that was, but it was a long long time ago,
but it was something that later in life Roy was
kind of able to walk life about a little bit
and say he wasn't exactly sure what got into him

(21:27):
there and all, But it's still the only one that
I've ever known that did something like that. And Jake
Bail and Sam Simpson were probably two of my favorites
watching what just being around and then and the Bob's
fire and think about all the time of the games
I saw with him coaching, what a terrific coach that
he was and everything that put that whole list it

(21:49):
really really brings back a lot of memories and it's
really nice to see him.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
Doing something like that.

Speaker 1 (21:54):
Jake was a long time basketball official as well, and
at one point was supervisor of officials in the SEC.
And my brother was the quarterback behind the center Jake
Bell at Georgetown College in their college days, and then
my brother's high school center was Rogers Reading, who went

(22:15):
on to be, uh this is Georgetown High School went
on to be the national supervisor of officials.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
So at least learned a lot about the rules, that's right.

Speaker 1 (22:24):
And Roy Walton used to come over to I mean
you talk about it and obviously the story you told
an intense competitor.

Speaker 2 (22:33):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (22:33):
And he came over to football practices after he retired
and came exactly the time frame. But just always enjoy
visiting with coach Walten and Jeff Mcoro, my partner on
the broadcast, played for it with Tates Creek, but uh,
just a he would have such fun just coming over
and being a fan at football practices and he everybody

(22:57):
respected him so much for the success that he had.
So it is an impressive list for the Lexington two fifty.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yes it is.

Speaker 8 (23:07):
And remember when the Indry Clay Football field was on
Nicholas Field Road.

Speaker 2 (23:11):
Oh I don't remember that one.

Speaker 8 (23:14):
Yeah, yeah there was. That was many, many years ago,
but it used to be right before the new school opened.
There used to be a football field right down there.

Speaker 1 (23:25):
One of the tapes I put on my tape when
I auditioned for the Kentucky play by play job was
a game at that Sam Simpson coached over at Henry
Clay in ninety five. I think Bill Ransdall was on
the crew with us and it was Sean Alexander and
Boone County came in and Kentucky was off that week,
so they played the game on a Saturday afternoon, had

(23:46):
a massive crowd, a great game. I think Boone County
pulled it out late. But Sam had a great run
there at Henry Clay too.

Speaker 8 (23:56):
Yes he did, and his son played for him, and
that was pretty cool to see. But it's really nice
to see a list like break a lot of history
and a lot of great names there.

Speaker 1 (24:06):
Yeah, maybe at some point that somebody can do that
for just all of the state because there are a
lot of be hard to pair the list down. Maybe
that's the problem. Now there's another list they've done for today, Larry,
and this is the top fifteen most memorable UK home
games of all time. Now two keywords there. It's just
home games and it's most memorable, so it's not maybe

(24:28):
the most doesn't have to be the most exciting. For
As an example, I can't remember the outcome of the
Kentucky Ole Miss game in nineteen sixty seven, but it's
the game that Nate Northington broke the color barrier in
the SEC and that suddenly is noteworthy and definitely had
to be included on a list like this. But I
can't even remember the result of the game. But number

(24:51):
one on the list was the upset of LSU, the
number one team in the country, in two thousand and seven,
in triple overtime, and I can't imagine any argument with that.

Speaker 8 (25:01):
No, I don't know all I can still remember that
the excitement on the field from players fans after the game,
it was clear Number one I would I would agree.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
With that that season had another game I actually on
the list. It was even though Kentucky lost it. It
was the one time college Game Day has come to
the University of Kentucky, and that was on the heels
of that LSU win and Kentucky lost to the Gators
and Tim Tebow forty five thirty seven, and the week
before LSU played on National TV on a Thursday night

(25:34):
and just had a rash of turnovers and lost it
to an inferior South Carolina team. If Kentucky wins one
of those two games, and certainly if they win both,
they would have won the East and been in the
SEC Championship game.

Speaker 8 (25:47):
Yeah, and I know, guys like Jacob Tammy, that still
bothers a lot. Both of those games. That Florida game
was won, they just couldn't ver tame. You thought they
were right there where they be on the verge of winning.
They just couldn't quite make the play either to get
this touchdown they needed or to get the stop that
they needed. But yeah, well what a game that was.

Speaker 5 (26:09):
Though.

Speaker 1 (26:09):
Let me give you the rest of the list and
you can offer any thoughts. The number two on the
list is the ninety seven win over Alabama, first went
over the Tide in seventy five years, the twenty twenty
one win over Florida, the two thousand and seven win
over Louisville, so three games from that season on the list.
The Stevie got loose game twenty eleven when Kentucky beat

(26:30):
Tennessee for the first time since eighty four, the seven
overtime loss to Arkansas in three, the six win over Georgia.
Fans storm the field after that one, like they did
the Alabama game, the Bluegrass Miracle game against LSU that
LSU won on the last play of the game, seventy
seven win over Tennessee at number nine, which clinched a

(26:51):
ten in one season, the Nate Northington game at ten.
Then the nineteen fifty team beating number seventeen Florida forty
to six.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
Seventy six.

Speaker 1 (27:00):
I went over number twenty penn State ninety seven. Tim
Couch's debut, I'd put that one probably higher against Louisville.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
His essay, his debut.

Speaker 1 (27:10):
He's actually all the team the year before, but it
was his debut as the full time starter, and kind
of the launching the air raid era. The twenty fourteen
win over South Carolina, the Grove Street Party game is
how it's listed here, and then the game day game
against Florida. So any game immediately would jump to mind
that you would have put on that list in place

(27:30):
of one of these.

Speaker 2 (27:32):
Not right, off.

Speaker 8 (27:33):
I really like the Penn State game being on there
because that was back when Kentucky played Penn State four
straight years and went to and two against someone got
that memorable win of at Penn State. I think the
next year, Yes, that was because and I like you,
I think the Tim Couch how Mommy debut game, I
think needed probably a little bit higher, would be on

(27:55):
my list anyway.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, I think I would put that went up higher.

Speaker 1 (28:00):
Just quickly glancing at this, I think ninety seven and
O seven are the only ones with multiple games on
this list. Certainly the you know, there was a lot
of excitement with coach Stoops coming in thirteen and the
fourteen that game against South Carolina, the bud to pre interception,
that's a you know that one. Or Stevie got loose,

(28:21):
or the tackle by Braxton Kelly against LSU, I don't know.
Those are three of the probably the loudest moments in
that stadium.

Speaker 8 (28:27):
Right absolutely, and then they win over Alabama, which again
wasn't a great Alabama team, but be able to storm
the field. See the go post carried out us here
and everything like it. My buddy Craig East had the
excitement he had to scoring that winning touchdown. And of
course my radio co host Anthony White was on that team,
so that one's what it was pretty special to me.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
Yeah, I agree.

Speaker 1 (28:50):
That was my first year doing games, so okay, what
always told me you sound better when they win, and
we sounded good that night, yes.

Speaker 8 (28:59):
Sir, and Hope, hope you can sound that good this
Saturday exactly.

Speaker 2 (29:04):
And and and war Stewart, I wonder if he could
still run as fast with a blocked field goal as
he did that, I'm sure he would say.

Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yes, Larry, it's fun talking about that. I appreciate you
joining us as always. We'll talk to you next week,
all right, Tom.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
That is Larry Vaught.

Speaker 1 (29:22):
And they also as part of this Football Week celebration
here in Lexington, they're having a trivia contest at Etherey
of Brewing on Manchester so you can test your football knowledge.
You get a special gift for just showing up and
you have a chance to win a pair of tickets
to the game along with a nice cash prize. So
the Kentucky Ole Miss game, so that's tonight at there

(29:45):
of Brewing on Manchester and then the Lex two fifty
or two fifty Lex Commission did a great job and
partnership with brain Box Marketing putting together these lists and
celebrating football week here in Lexington. I will have one
tomorrow talk a little bit about some of the great
players that have played. In the meantime, let's get to

(30:06):
a break back with Charles Walker and we'll be talking
Kentucky football with a former Wildcat wide out on the
Leach Report Radio Network. It's the lead tri Report presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. As we welcome Charles Walker to the program,
the former Wildcat wide out, the guy from CBI Insurance
joining us to talk about his Alma Maters opening win

(30:28):
over Toledo. You're out of the country though, Charles playing golf.

Speaker 9 (30:31):
Right, I was out of the country playing golf. And
you know, funny enough, I think our offense reminds me
Tom of a decent nine handicap. And when I say
that we can hit it into the fairway and we've
got one hundred yards into the hole and somehow we
end up making double bogie. It was not frustrating to

(30:54):
watch because I will say this, at no point that
I think we were going to lose that game, which
does make me feel good. Our defense came out as
we thought they would, and honestly, I think our offense
simply needs to find their identity.

Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah, I think they've got to be able to have
something in the passing game and more than we saw
on Saturday. Part of that is probably why the running
game struggled to get bigger plays. But they you know,
they get the two twenty, so the number was was great,
but seventy nine of it came on one play. Or

(31:30):
they'd like to have a few more longer runs. But
you're going to face a loaded box by the defense
if you can't loosen them up with the pass. So
that's the challenge this weekend. Obviously they know that, but
what what do you look for them to try to
do to get the passing game going.

Speaker 9 (31:47):
I think we need to make it easier, and I'll
go back to the golfling go. You know, sometimes you
hit a good shot, but the caddy gives you, you know,
the wrong distance, and I think, you know, Bush can
do a better job making it.

Speaker 6 (32:00):
A little bit easier. On this offense.

Speaker 9 (32:03):
I didn't see many many mid range throws. It looked
like we were throwing some dump passes to the tight
ends or We were trying to take it deep with
with our receivers, which is all.

Speaker 6 (32:12):
Good and dandy.

Speaker 9 (32:12):
It led to, you know, a couple of flags, but
sooner or later, our receivers have to make a one
on one play.

Speaker 6 (32:18):
And honestly, they were in some bad you know, space scenes.

Speaker 9 (32:22):
And when I say that, they were closer to the sideline,
not really given Calzada anywhere to throw. So I think
we need to connect on that medium ball, get the
run game going, throw some play action in and take
a deep shot, but catch the deep ball.

Speaker 1 (32:35):
Yeah, there were some overthrows, certainly, but there were a
couple of balls that they had a shot to make
a play on and didn't, so that you know, it's
it's not just the quarterback in that situation obviously, No,
of course.

Speaker 9 (32:50):
And I'll say this, you know, the O line did
did a decent job. You know, they were decent in
the run game, they were decent in protection.

Speaker 6 (32:58):
Our defense gave us so many opportunities with.

Speaker 9 (33:00):
A short field, and we just had some miscues that
led to unproductive drives.

Speaker 6 (33:06):
And when you play a team like Ole miss it's
gonna put up sixty points. That's not gonna work.

Speaker 1 (33:11):
Yeah, to you to continue with your golf analogy. Yeah,
it was a game where, uh, if you think look
at it like a golf round. You played okay, but
you walked away thinking you left a bunch of birdies
out there.

Speaker 2 (33:25):
And I mean your safety in.

Speaker 9 (33:29):
You know, absolutely, and the safeties on Calzada it's a misread.
You know, hand the ball off to McCowen and he
gets six or seven yards. You know, time we saved
time and time again. It's all about momentum, and as
soon as we start to gain some we shoot ourselves
in the foot, which I know Stoops has said in
ten interviews since the game. That's all good and dandy

(33:50):
when you play a team like Toledo that that is
a decent ball club. But when you go out and
you play a top twenty team at home, a top
twenty team that's after your butt because you beat him
at home last year, you better have your ducks in
a row.

Speaker 1 (34:02):
In fairness to the play call, I'm not even sure
it was a misread. I think as Stoop said, you
know they work on those situations coming off. I mean
you remember that from your days in practice, you work
on a lot of different situations and from you know
coming off out of a hole like that, and I
think he was supposed to hand it off, and if
he does, they had it blocked really well. It was
actually going to be a big play.

Speaker 9 (34:22):
I think m h absolutely, and I think McCowan gets
at least eight yards.

Speaker 6 (34:26):
There is a safety there in the hole, but.

Speaker 9 (34:28):
Who knows if he makes a miss. McCowan, who kind
of runs like Isaiah Pacheco.

Speaker 6 (34:33):
He runs angry, but if you get him in Dowbted
running downhill.

Speaker 9 (34:38):
They're going to fall two or three yards forward versus
falling back. So we've got a good run game. I
think we can have a good pass game. Again, this
is our first time playing against someone that is not
our own team. It takes a bit to get that identity,
and I have full belief that this offense can put
up points.

Speaker 1 (34:56):
We see it frequently where somebody plays at mediocre or
even poorly, but certainly just kind of an average game.
A win like that where you win a game that
you're never really in danger of losing, but you just
don't walk away feeling you know you impressed anybody, and
then the next week it's much better. South Carolina actually

(35:17):
was like that last year when they came in here
and drilled Kentucky after a sub subpar opening performance in
a game that they won but didn't look good. So
that's the challenge this week because you know, you you
get a chance to make a statement for Kentucky. These
guys to put in a lot of work and this
is a chance for them to make a statement.

Speaker 6 (35:38):
One thousand percent. And you know for the fan base.
Look at these other teams and I know, but you
could say better matchup, but.

Speaker 9 (35:45):
Clemson against LSU. Kate Klubnick's been there. He didn't exactly
look so great in that opener. I think again, finding
our identity, protecting the ball, and making things easier are
three of the keys that can have us win this.

Speaker 1 (36:00):
Game on Saturday, Charles Walker, thank you much, Thank you
go katz Old number eighty eight. Charles Walker joining us
here on the Leech Report. We'll take a break, come
back and close out this edition of the show in
just a moment. Stan wild Cat History persaid about Kentucky
roadshow sports cards at Memorabilia on Romedy Road in Lexington
and at roadshowcards dot Com. Nineteen eighty three. On this day,

(36:23):
Jerry Clayburn got his first win as head coach at
his alma mater. He had returned at eighty two, but
it went to ten and one in that first season.
So win number one for coach Claburn came on this day,
thirty one to fourteen over Central Michigan. Congrats to Ryan Howard,
named w NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for

(36:43):
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twenty six Wing Maximo Adams set to visit UK this weekend.
He has trimmed his list to eleven schools. Remember to
check out the Lead Tripport on WLX one minute focus

(37:50):
on UKA Sports and Kentucky Sports weeknights around five fifty
Eastern time on LAX eighteen. We will see it tomorrow
on the Lead Triport presented by Bob Kada Enterprises