Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnstown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily. Boons Butcher Shop. Good Friday, everybody, well,
come in. We've made it to the weekend SEC opener
(00:21):
tomorrow for the Cats and we will talk about that
our show presented by Bobcat Enterprises each day.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Coming up.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
David Kellum, the voice of Old Miss, will join us
for a bit of a scouter report on the Rebels.
Keith Farmer from BBN tonight in l exaighteen and we'll
lead off with the UK football and NFL legend der
Monty Dawson Wildcat News of the Day, presented by Joseppies
of Lexington. NFL season kicked off last night with the
(00:51):
Eagles beating the Cowboys in a lightning delayed game twenty
four to twenty up in Philly. There's another game tonight,
Chiefs and Chargers. I think that one was in Brazil,
Kentucky and number twenty Old Miss going at it tomorrow
at three thirty Eastern time. ABC will have the TV coverage.
Our pregame will start at one thirty Eastern on the
(01:11):
UK Radio Network. Last year, Kentucky upset number six Old
Miss twenty to seventeen. Went back and looked at the
box score. A few key points. Kentucky didn't have any turnovers,
and they held the ball for almost forty minutes. A
time of possession isn't always the defining stat that it
might sound like, because if the other team's only got
(01:31):
the ball for twenty minutes, but they're making big plays
and getting long touchdown plays, then they can still beat you.
That didn't happen. Kentucky held them in check. Big Key
was forcing them into a good number of third and longs,
and so even when you add in two fourth down conversions,
Ole Miss kept the chains moving three times out of
ten attempts. Kentucky was seven of sixteen with third and
(01:55):
fourth down conversions. So those are numbers that one would
think would need to be in place again for Kentucky
to pull off a second straight upset. Rebels have a
first year starter in Austin Simmons at quarterback.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Big arm looks.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
In talking to coach Stoops said, Simmons looks he can run,
but he's always looking to throw more so than run it.
Transfer wide out from Penn State had a big game
last week and they're blow out of Georgia State, so
Kentucky will have to have a good plan for Harrison Wallace.
The thirty at five catches for one hundred and thirty
yards also had sixty seven yards on punt returns. Kentucky
(02:35):
did very well in the kicking game last week, so
that will be crucial in this matchup. One change of
note in the availability report for Kentucky, Abisselma backup at
guard has been upgraded to probable, so it gives Kentucky
a little more of its depth in the offensive line.
Courier Journal had a report yesterday about Kentucky running back
(02:56):
to Mary and will Cox facing three separate legal issues now.
On Wednesday, Judge issued a temporary protective order related to
an allegation.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Of sexual assault.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
There's also a speeding charge from the spring according to
the CJ report, and citations for four violations of vaccinations
or licenses for two dogs.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
That he owns.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So that's in the Courier dash Journal report that came
out yesterday. I think from Ryan Black, Kentucky Volleyball in
a top five match up on the road tonight at
Penn State. The game will be on the Fox National
TV Network eight Eastern time. Kentucky and number one Nebraska
(03:38):
and their five set match that the corn Huskers prevailed
in last week drew one point two million viewers on ESPN.
That was an ESPN record for a regular season volleyball match,
So another tough test tonight for coach Skinner and company.
The lex two point fifty celebration is continuing. Football Week
is the focus this week and we've been talking about
(04:00):
this and the latest list is the final names on
the top high school players of all time in Lexington
and here are those names. Landon Young for a future
Wildcat from Lafayette. Dane Key went on to play, of
course at Kentucky White Out, Frederick Douglas, Ralph Kerschivell back
in the twenties at Henry Clay was a UK star
(04:23):
as well. David Akers, great kicker from Tates Creek, played
at U of L in the NFL. Eric Shelton from
Brian Station class of two thousand and two, Jedrick Wills
from Lafayette class of twenty seventeen, Mark Logan former Wildcat
from Brian Station class of seventy nine and his future
Wildcat running back teammate George Adams Lafayette class of eighty
(04:44):
Frank Minifield one of those two great corner tracks for
the Cleveland Browns in the Dog Pound Glory Years from
Frank from Henry Clay High School class of seventy nine
and then Dermondy Dawson Brian Station class of eighty three,
UK great and an NFL Hall of Famer with the Steelers,
and we're gonna hear from Dermanti. Would we come back?
(05:05):
It is the Leach Report and we are presented each
day our opening segment by Giuseppes of Lexington. There on
Nicholasville Road just past man O War. Go to open
table and get your reservation for a Giuseppes dieting experience
around a big event like Keeland or a UK game
or some special occasion. It is the Leach Report Radio
(05:28):
Network and we will be right back. Leach Report is
presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises. They have four locations
around the state, so google Bobcat Enterprises when you need
to buy or rent some heavy equipment for a job,
or if you know somebody who has that need. Bobcat
Enterprises will take great care of you during and after
(05:50):
the sale. Lexington is celebrating its two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary and part of that celebration is Football Week. This
week we've been doing some lists of coaches and games
and today and yesterday players and we're going to catch
up to one of the best players ever in Lexington
high school football right now. Well, come in de Monni Dawson,
(06:11):
a UK football legend, high school football legend here in Lexington,
and NFL Hall of Famer with the Steelers and Dermanti.
You were included in the last part of the list
of the best high school players in the history of
Lexington for this two fifty lex celebration. Has to be
(06:31):
a nice feeling that you're still remembered, right, Yeah, it
really is.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yeah, I mean it's an honor you know, to be
you know on any list, you know from Lexing because
you had so many different athletes come from Lexington that
have done well. So it's an honor.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now, didn't you guys have on your Brian Station team
three guys that made it to the NFL.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Oh, we did, myself, Mark Logan and Corneill Berbich. All
three of us, you know, played for a few years.
I think Mark played for twelve, I'll play for thirteen,
and I think Cornell played one or two years. But yeah,
I mean all three the same graduating.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Playss of eighty three how about that?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Well, I'm sorry, eighty seven from UK, but eighty.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Three of Basia.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
The caliber of football was pretty strong back then in Lexington,
was it not.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
It was you know Henry Clay and Lafayette, I mean
all those guys and Tates Creek was a pretty good
team as well. You know, all of us had pretty
good teams, you know, back in the early eighties. And
you know, I know the one year that we lost
to Christian County in eighty two in the championship state
championship at large. That game, you know, those guys, man,
(07:44):
they had so many, so many guys on their team.
I just couldn't believe it. But you know, all the
teams that at one point had some really good teams.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
When you went on to play for coach Clayburn at Kentucky,
what do you remember about that time in the Blue
and White.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
I'll tell you what, you know, I enjoyed being in UK.
It was nice to be able to stay home, you know,
say a UK and not go to Michigan State or UCLA.
But it's an honor to play for your your home college,
and you know, it just it was a great time.
You know, I had a great time at University Kentucky.
You graduated from the University of Kentucky and then went
(08:22):
on to you know, get drafted in the NFL, and
I can't thank the UK enough.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I know you played guard at Kentucky. Did you play
any center at all in your time at UK?
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Well, you know, I used to play center on the
scout team for the first team defense where we would
go into the first team defense on scout team and
coach John Jeff Devlin, you know, would switch me to center,
and then also you know, coach Clayburne at one point
switched me to center I think right before my junior
year in spring practice, and then I think before that,
(08:59):
the only time I really played center was you know,
in the Hall of Fame boat game when Kim Petroviac
got hurt and so I went in and finished up
the center that game in eighty What game was that
was that?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Eighty eight three or eighty four?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Okay, Okay, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, eighty three or
eighty four, but yeah, that was the only time that
I played center.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
And yeah, you go on to the Steelers, did they
immediately put you at center or how did that come
about when you got to the pros?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Well, you know, they came about after my second year.
My first year, I started the four fourth game of
the season at guard and I played out the whole
season for that And then during the off season, I
was coming in for weightlifting during the off season and
Chuck Noell called me into the office and he wanted me.
He said, well, I want to switch you to center,
and I want you and Chuck Lanza, who was the
(09:51):
third round draft choice in eighty eight, to fight it out,
and luckily I won the job.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, and play for the Steelers, went on to a
Hall of Fame career. The thing I always heard from
people talking about you that followed the NFL closely was
that the thing that you brought to the position was
an athleticism that centers didn't typically have. Did you feel
that you had an advantage in that area?
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Oh? Yeah, yeah, because I was pretty quick and strong
too so and I could run so that kind of
gave me an advantage over other centers. But for me,
when Bill Cower came in in ninety two, because the
first one I was switched at switched to center in
the second year, we had a trapping offense. And the
only way the doctors showed my athleticism was when ron
(10:41):
Erhart became coordinator. When Bill Cower came in ninety two,
and you know, I started, we started fooling around with stuff,
you know, blocking schemes in training camp. So I told him,
I said, look, I'm fast enough to get around, you know,
I'll take the responsibility of the guard bill blockdown on
my guy. I'll make a love call or false call.
I'll say it in the huddle and let those guys know,
(11:04):
just communicate it on the backside, in front side of everybody,
so everybody knows what we're doing. And we started to
do it, and he got it on film. He wanted
to see it on film before he implemented it into
a game. So you know, once we started to do it,
started doing that and practicing, and he loved it and said,
you know, they can't stop us. So that's how it
all came about.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
How about that and that's the thing about you know, football,
Sometimes it's just a different set of circumstances where you
get to or you in that case, or any player
gets to show a particular set of skills.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah. Yeah, he let me have the input into it,
and the coaches know the players know what's best when
it comes to making play, so they just allowed us
to have the involvement in the scheme, the blocking scheme,
and so you know, it all turned out great.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Jagger Burton is making that move this season for Kentucky
went well in the first game where he he's been
a guard throughout his career here at UK Lexington High
School product as well, and then now has moved over
to center and so far, so good, and that I
would think makes him more attractive to the NFL if
it goes well for him, doesn't it?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
I will? Yeah, yeah, because you know, for me, when
I have just my listent of switched to center University
Kentucky's then when I went to the Combine and also
some of the All Star games, the scouts wanted to
see if I could play center against some of the
best guys in the country, and so they switched me
to center and I was playing guard also, so that
(12:36):
kind of raises your stock, and you know, it's just
going to take a wild form to kind of get
acclimated to it because you already disadvantaged and and and
the most important thing is getting that quarterback center exchange.
And it just takes repetition and time, you know. And
I think he's going to be a good one once
he gets it down.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Do you get to follow the Cats much? I know
you live out in California.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Now, yeah, I'll watch the game. Yeah, I'm I try
to watch as many games as I can, So I'm
always trying to see what station the Cats are going
to be on, and I try to watch it if
I can.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Well, hopefully you'll you'll see them start SEC play with
a win against Ole Miss this weekend.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Miss.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yeah, I'm excited about it. So I'm wishing them all
the best of love.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Great to visit with you, DERMANI as part of this
football week celebration for the two anniversary and fiftieth anniversary
of your hometown.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
So it's a special.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Event Lexington, Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yeah, thank you, Dermi.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Well, Hey, Tom, thank you for having me on the show.
I greatly appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Thank you. For doing this. I appreciate it. I figured
it'd be anytime.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Man, Hey, you can call me anytime. I don't ghost anybody.
I always get back with appreciated and yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I figured this would be better than getting up.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Go to Mermonnie Dawson joining us here on the Leech Report.
It's high school football night around Lexington. So if you're
going to one of the games here in Lexington, they're
going to have the special Football Week t shirts that
are going to be tossed out and they'll recognize the
players from the respective schools at those games that were
(14:11):
on the list of the top twenty five of all time,
like Dermanti Dawson, who you'd have to think would be
right there at or near the top for the career
that he had some great high school football over the
years in Lexington, really all over the state of Kentucky.
Go to head to the break with a quick reminder
about our friends at Cornbread Hemp. There are four months
(14:33):
into their new and few seltzers that have been such
a big hit. They taste great and only thirty calories
and they give you that light lift that helps you
relax after a tough day. So give them a try Also,
the infused gummies are very popular, especially the new cherry
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(14:53):
If you're a first time customer at Cornbreadhemp dot com,
put in the code Tom at checkout and you can
get twenty eight off your first order at cornbreadhamp dot com.
This is the good life. We'll be right back with
David Callum for the Old Miss Radio Network on the
Leach Report. Twenty six past the top of the hours
(15:14):
The Leach Report from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return,
Refresh and Refuel at Clark's. David Callum joins us now
he's the radio play by play voice for Ole Miss football.
As the Rebels head into Lexington, Let's see this will
be for the first time since twenty twenty, David, I think,
and we know if recent history is any guide, then
(15:36):
it'll be close.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Oh I know it.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I mean recent games Tom between Old misson Kentucky have
been decided by less than a field goal. Seems like
we've had some fantastic matchups so far, including the one
just a year ago here in Ox.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I know there's been a little feeling on the Kentucky
side this year. From you heard from media folks or fans,
you know that coach Kiffin's gonna want to score as
many points as he can. After they lost to Kentucky
last year, my response has been, that's who is in
every game.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
He wants to score as many points as he can.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
That's right, that's just that. Don't be fearful. That's just
the norm he's to do that. I mean, it is
amazing though. He's just a brilliant offensive mine and over
the since twenty twenty, averaging five hundred and seven zero
point two yards per game, which is just amazing. But
he's really had some great talent on that side. He's
(16:29):
done a super job in the portal since the Portal
Day started.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
But yeah, he's have to score.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
As much as he can every time he steps on
the field. But yo, Kentucky did a good job of
slowing that.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
Now.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
We had our coaches show last night and he gave
UK a lot of credit. It was early in the
year before some injuries that occurred, and this one's going
to be kind of early in the year too, so
I think we've got a good matchup.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
They're intense competitors, but no coach Kiffin and Coach Stoops
are buddies because I remember Coach Stoops so we last year.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I like Lane.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
He makes me laugh, yeah, yeah, Well, and he even
talked about the Coach Oops last night too. From a
standpoint of what an outstanding coach. His teams are always
very physical and they're a little bit concerned obviously about
that part of it as well. But you know, Coachtops
is a cool coach and Lane is Lane's just Lane
(17:18):
likes to you know, enjoy life, so to speak. But
Coach Oops spent about, I guess time about fifteen minutes
with our radio crew the last time you hear last
year before the game, just talking and divisitying. A lot
of coaches don't do that, especially right for a game.
And we had a great visit with him ourselves, and
so he is definitely one of the best coaches in
(17:39):
the league and a really good guy too.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Well, chat with David Callum. We're gonna get coming up
to the heartbreak at the bottom of the hour, so
we'll exit out for that for a couple of minutes
and come back and get one more segment with David.
Get a little more of a scouting report on Kentucky's
opponent and the Old the matchup for the SEC opener
for both teams Tomorrow three thirty Eastern time. Kentucky and
(18:02):
Ole Miss and our pregame will start at one thirty
on the UK Radio Network. It is The Leech Report
and we are presented each ay by bobcat Enterprises, Keith
Farmer from l e X eighteen and BBN. Tonight, he'll
join us coming up in the second half of the
show as well more of a David Callum when we return.
It is The Leech Report Radio Network and we're presented
(18:24):
by Bob KNT Enterprises. Second half of our Friday show,
Game Day Eve for Kentucky and Old Miss. David Callum
with us. He's the radio play by play voice for
the Rebels and New KB and Austin Simmons. He's been
in the program but was backing up Jackson Dart last year.
(18:45):
So what can you tell us about how Simmons will
challenge Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Well, he's a unique kid, extremely talented. Of course, time
he pitched on a baseball team a couple of years
ago before he heard an elbow was just fantastic. Left
He throws into mid nineths and so there may be
a future there someday too. But he got to Old
Miss at seventeen years old, had taken some college credit
before he got here. He already has his degree. He's
only nineteen. He's working on a master's. I was picking
(19:12):
at each other day. I said, if you make it
the next year, we'll have to start calling you doctor Simmons.
And this brilliant young kid, but very very gift. That's
got a great arm, one of the best arms I
think I've seen here in a long long time. But
that huge lack of experience is there. He threw a
couple of picks early in the first game year, then
settled down did pretty good jobs. I think when you
(19:33):
look at the quarterback match up, of course they don't
go head to head. But Kalzadas, you know, been out
there while is a lot older than Simmons, let's put
it that way. And so it'll be interesting as we
move along with Austin Simmons if he can keep the
mistakes at a minimum. Even Jackson Darkness first year at
Old Miss had you know, a high number of picks.
And also we're hoping that Austin can mature quickly on
(19:55):
the field as he has off the field.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Both of these teams went heavily into the portal and
the white out from Penn State. Wallace seemed to make
a big splash last week.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Yeah, he really did. And it's weird, you know, how
this portal thing works. He scored a touchdown against US
with Penn State and Peach a couple of years ago,
and now he's ours. It's just amazing how that works.
But yeah, he's very, very gifted. That room may be
the best room on the offensive side of the ball.
Deshaun Stribbling, who came in from Oklahoma State, was at
Washington State for a while. I was outstanding big target.
(20:30):
Caleb Odam is this well. De Kwon Wright returning tight
end who's at Virginia Tech a couple of years back.
It's really good. Then Kayden Lee is the guy that's
been around a little while. He's a junior, the veteran
of that group and just had a wonderful year last
year with Dart. So we've got some really good weapons
in the receiving room. You're not gonna find a lane
Kiff in the offense that doesn't have some targets to
(20:52):
throw too, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, that's kind of like when coach Mummy was here.
They were never going to run out of whiteouts, right.
What about the new running back from Missou.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Well, Keywan did a good job. We hit him on
our coaching show last night.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
It's from Dallas, Texas.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
And you got Set McGowan on the Kentucky side from Mesqigue, Texas.
One transferson from Oklahoma. One comes in from Missouri. So
there's some newness of those two guys as well. But
Key one's really got a great versus speed first steps
really good. He was listed by one service as the
number two running backs out in the country out of
(21:32):
Lancaster High School in Dallas. Got off to good starts,
scored three touchdowns in the opener. But there's a logan
digs is getting back to speed. Logan you know, was
at LSU and Notre Dame and now at Ole miss
and suffered injury, was here all last year basically rehabbing,
played only one snap. He's he's good in that group too.
And Damian Taylor, to transfer from Troy, has come in
(21:55):
and he reminds me Kentucky fans won't know this as much,
but he reminds me of a joke and that we
had several years ago. It's kind of a short, stocky
guy herded to the knocky maf balance and so that
that's a pretty good room for the offense too.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
What about the O line, how did that group hold
up in Week one?
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Well, that's that's a little bit of a question mark,
I think right now and doing my prep for you guys.
You know, Kentucky's got so much experience on that offensive
line one hundred and sixty something starts, you know, and
we've got some pieces that are that way. But we
had a couple of injuries in camp that pulled a
couple of guys out of the mix, and so we
opened the season, you know, a little bit deeper in
(22:34):
the offensive line, and two of those guys, Jayden Williams
and Patrick Cootis on the right side, missed pretty much
the entire camp they got in and the last scrimmage
played a little bit. So that was their first game
to go against Georgia State. You know, the continuity unique
with an offensive line, but Diego Pounds, the left tackle
has been around a while. I was really good player.
And then Wilkins is at left guard at the moment,
(22:57):
Bryson Sanders at the center. But it's a good, good group.
I think that if this group is gonna have to
go as a unit for a while, they're they're hoping
to get better.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Ash we moved down the road on the defensive side, David,
what are the areas where they think they're strongest. What
are the spots where there's maybe still some concern?
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Well, the defensive front is good again, and you know, Tom,
last year we had probably the best one we've ever
had since I've been doing this, and you know, I've
been around a while, but we had quality depth. And
I think that's what the portal has done to help
the old misses of the world. You can where you
may have been slim in depth and really kept your
fingers cross, you didn't have injury, you know, in a
(23:36):
particular position because you know, you follow depth wise pretty quickly.
We now have really good depth at most places, and
on the defensive front. You know, last year that was
the best quality depth. I hacked a lot of those
guys in the NFL now, but he had a couple
of pieces back. Zavid Harris is the main guy in
the middle. He's just done a fantastic job. He got
(23:58):
his sixth career block kicked this past weekend. Uh He's
got just great length and does a super job. Seems
to getting the backfield a lot. And so that group
has got a chance to get close to what we
were a year ago with Franklin and another Umine miel
and work on your pronunciation.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Princewell, oh yeah, I remember him from Florida.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
Yeah, we got a different one as brothers here transferred
in from Nebraska. But that's a good group, and I
think that's the key always. You know, if your defensive
front can can reach a little have, it takes a
lot of pressure off your linebackers and defensive backs. And
you know, on the back end, we're we're pretty strong.
Got daughtery back at linebacker, does a good job, and
(24:41):
we've added some new pieces there. But that that defensive
front is probably going to be the strength of the team.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I hate to see, speaking of pronunciations, Tennessee change quarterbacks
because I had uh Emaieva down after one season. Now,
it's just all that effort is wasted.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
We didn't we didn't have to play there. I was
very grateful, you know, I was thinking we got to
come up with a nickname for some of these cats,
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Yeah, I'm with you there, kicking game. They have a
freshman punters you're talking about. Simmons came in at twenty seven.
The punter comes in at twenty four as a true freshman.
That's that is college sports these days. But he had
a nice averaging game one and you know Wallace in
the return game was a big factor.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
Yeah, you know. Oscar Bird's an interesting story. Had a
chance to visit with him for the first time. Actually
last week could have practice. He's from Sydney, Australia. Aren't
they all from Australia.
Speaker 6 (25:35):
Yes, it's crazy. He played three years.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
Of All See football and I asked him about the game.
I said, you know, I was told this was the
very first game American football game you played in. He said,
mister Callum, that was the very first game I had
ever seen in person. So we're like, wow, that's crazy.
But Oscar did a good job, and he said he's
he's watched American football on TV, but had never attended one,
(25:59):
and so he was blown away by the atmosphere. You know,
the weekend gin up in our colleges and all he
just he was good. And then yeah, Wallas is outstanding
in the return game as well. He's done a good
job there and I think his longest return was twenty
six yards in the punny game. That's a huge flip
of the field if you can get those occasionally.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
David, I appreciate you jumping on with us, and safe
travels up to Lexington. We'll see you tomorrow in the
press box.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
We're heading out at noon with the team looking forward
to getting there. Should be a lot of fun in
the grass country.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Not as hot as it normally would be this time
of year, so enjoy that.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
Oh I know, I flipped on looked at the weather
this morning. I said, oh, but again a pullover for
this one.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Thank you, David.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
All Right man Goode.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
That is David Kellum, longtime voice of the Old Miss Rebels.
And there's a scouting report on Kentucky's opponent for the
sec opener tomorrow. It is the Leech Report. We're presented
each day by Bob Kat Enterprises. We're about eighteen away
from the top of the hour. When we come back,
Keith Farmer will join the program. It is the Leach
Report Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Yeah, we spent a lot of this offseason on Kentucky.
You know, that was a really hard loss to deal with,
especially with the offensive struggles in the game. So yeah,
we paid a lot of attention to that film.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
That was ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin on the SEC
teleconference earlier this week. His team was number six in
the country last year, got upset at home by Old
by Kentucky and had that not happened, Ole Miss would
have probably been in the college football playoffs. So do
they have a chip on their shoulder? Yeah, I would
imagine that they do. We are joined now by Keith
(27:47):
Farmer from l e X eighteen and the BBN Tonight Show,
and Kentucky ought to have a chip on its shoulder.
That comes with winning just four games, so it shouldn't
be a lack of one two on either side Tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
That's totally correct, tom You know, Kentucky really came into
the season wanting to prove something. You know that they
were much improved, and even with the fifty new faces,
I think that they all recognized the filling around the offices,
the fields and all that and the workout room, realizing
Kentucky wanted to get things changed around. But we certainly
(28:25):
heard from all miss this week. It's one that they're
thinking about, at least the guys that came back there
that Xavian Harris, big defensive line and TJ. Doddery, the linebacker,
both bringing up the fact that I almost couldn't even
talk about it the way they they said, you know,
this is one we want to get back. This is
the you know, the team that got us last year.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
And you know, there are times when you can want
something so badly that it affects your performance in a
negative way. I thought that might might have been part
of the problem for Calzada last week, because you know,
and been four years since he had played in a
for or against an SEC school, and so now he's
(29:04):
in an SEC game this week he had won under
his belt and it wasn't the best performance he wanted
to put on tape. But if you you beat the Rebels,
that's all anybody will be talking about. And for Zach,
I think the challenges to trust trust his instincts. Bush
(29:25):
Hampden this week said that he thought that Zach was
maybe a little hesitant on some throws. They wanted to
look at several different things, and look, I said, look
in this league, you got a you know, as you know,
as Calzato would know, the window for being open as
much smaller than it is at at lower levels.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
So when it's there, throw it.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Yeah, exactly. And you know, I would like to believe
they didn't have the playbook wide open last week either.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Good point.
Speaker 6 (29:55):
So maybe some of those shots that they were taking
were just that, just trying to take shots downfield, and
it wasn't you know, necessarily you know, I mean, they
were trying to figure out if they those guys can
make a connection. But but I think it was just that,
I think it was shots. I think this week we'll
see the playbook open more and we'll see you know,
that improvement from week one to week two. The thing
(30:16):
I was impressed by was the way that Kentucky is
approaching this game. Heard from some of the defenders this
week just saying, look, we can't you know, and you
hear it all the time, but they're like, we can't
take this, we can't get up like Ole Miss seems
to be getting up for Kentucky. And they were like,
we we got to just treat it just like it's
anybody else, you know, because if we don't we're going
to get up, like you said, and that's where you
(30:38):
make mistakes, where you're trying to press and trying to
do too much.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
So here from Lane Kiffin again on the SEC teleconference,
talking about Kentucky's performance in Week one and a little
about Zach CALZAA.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
I've told you can't base anybody, but especially Kentucky, off
of what a game before or whatever was, because games
before you look at back that they Mountain beat us
last year. You know, here's a couple of weeks after
that South Carolina game up there and so and also
it's a quarterback that's thrown for like nine thousand yards,
(31:11):
you know whatever in his tenth year of playing. So
it's a guy who's won a lot of games, played
a lot, throwed really well. I was like, you know,
college football's turning like it's like Joe Flacco now or something.
So you know, you can't bet on because they struggled
last week in the passing game and that's gonna have
that's gonna show up this week.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Slight exaggeration there.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
It's not quite ten years and not quite nine thousand yards.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
Oh you know there's that. I don't think it's out yet.
Is it. But I saw yesterday or day before where
there's gonna be like a sit down interview with Lane
Kiffin about his career and everything and just how he
kind of became the bad guy. And it is funny
like every time he's trying to change the narrative, he'll
say something like that, you know, just like little jabs
here and there, you know. But I mean, yeah, he's right.
(31:58):
I mean, Calzada, you know, has a lot of time
under his belt. He's probably going to figure it out
much quicker than you know, an eighteen nineteen year old
is going to. So he has to be ready for
calzttic because you don't know what's going to happen. On Saturday.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Calzada played against ole Miss when Zach was at Texas
A and m I was in twenty one. It was
in Oxford. Ole Miss was ranked eleventh this Calsata was
twenty four of forty two hundred thirty seven yards, no
touchdowns and two interceptions on the offensive side for Kentucky.
While the passing game struggled, the running game clicked in
(32:35):
the fashion that I think everyone from coaches to players
and fans was hoping for. He had over two hundred
yards rushing. The two running backs looked good, dow Dell
and McGowan coming in Keith. We were led to think
that Dowdell was the short yardage guy. He'd get the
tough yards between the tackles, McGowan would provide the flash
(32:58):
on the outside right. Instead, there was dal Dell who
hit the big home run and uh Seth who got
his touchdown run between the tackles, and mcgallan talked to
us about uh the combination of those two guys and
how teams will find out that they can both do
both things.
Speaker 7 (33:17):
You know, most teams that we play, just from experience
in film will find out that. You know, that's that's
not necessarily the case. You do have to account for
all of us. And in both of those categories. I
think we're both good running downhill. I think we're both
good getting around the perimeter as well, and also reading,
reading out and setting up our block. So you know,
it'll be it'll be great to see what all we
(33:39):
can put together and you know, how how much we
can contribute to this offense.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
It's gonna be an interesting matchup in the trenches because
Kentucky looked good in both lines I thought last week,
but obviously it's a tougher opponent.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
Well, and you know, everybody talked about it being thunder
and lightning. I thought it was thunder and thunder. I
thought they were pretty much the same, you know, running back,
I mean, you know, and the thing that was encouraging
was the fact that they got the handoff, they hit
the hole, and they just kept the legs churning. I
just thought that that was really impressive to see. There
was no dancing in the backfield. They took it, they
(34:15):
knew immediately where they were going, and they just kept
pushing with their legs. I mean, you know, yeah, Dante
Hip for that big, you know, seventy nine yarder, but
the fact that they would pick up what just seemed
like three yards with ease was something that was impressive
to me. And you know, you get a couple of those,
you're now looking at third and short rather than third
(34:35):
and eleven, twelve, you know, even ten. You know, So
that's what was encouraging to me. From the run game.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Yeah, to your point, Kentucky hit minus ten in negative plays.
They averaged minus thirty six a game wow last season.
So that was a noteworthy improvement. Keith, thank you much
and I appreciate you fighting through a little sore throat there.
So get some hot tea or honey or something and
(35:02):
we'll see you in the press box.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
We'll do. Thank you, Tom.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
That is Keith Farmer from l e X eighteen and
the BBN Tonight Show. This is the Leach Report Radio Network,
presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and we will be right back with.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Our final segment.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Its Report is now also on TV on l e
X eighteen weeknights around five fifty Eastern time. A little
quick update on Wildcats sports. Most of the time, we
talked about the NFL season last night, but tonight got
an interesting note about the friendship of Kentucky linebacker Joe
(35:44):
Fettersfield and ole Miss quarterback Archie Maning. They played against
each other here in Lexington in nineteen sixty nine when
ole Miss was ranked eighth in the country at Kentucky
upset the Rebels at Stallfield and then Joe fed and
Archie became longtime teammates with the Saints in the NFL,
and the friendship has endured and they have a little
(36:05):
friendly wager each year with Kentucky and ole Miss play,
So we'll talk about that and a little bit about
the matchup tomorrow on that segment coming up on l
e X eighteen at Run five.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Point fifty this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Kentucky women soccer got a nice win last night three
nil over Mercyhurst, so they're back on track after suffering
their first loss last weekend. Now it's here from Kentucky.
Linebacker Alex Safari had a career high thirteen tackles of
the win over Toledo.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (36:33):
I definitely feel more comfortable, you know, putting some weight on,
and have been playing in that position for two years now,
so I feel like I know the answer out about
that language spot and I can help the younger guys
around me too. Just chusting myself, you know, chusting my eyes,
rusting my keys, and just playing fast and just exploding
and just running to the ball, isn't.
Speaker 5 (36:51):
Yeah, And this will be your third time, I think
playing against lest the right.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
Yeah, what did.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
You learn from those two games previously?
Speaker 4 (36:58):
And what are you maybe telling some guys who weren't
on this until recently, like what to expect went up
against this offense.
Speaker 8 (37:03):
I just told them that temple like a temple is
gonna be huge because not live team wants that temple
like they do, and they do a good job running
that temple. So I told them they got to get
their odds to the sideline, get our singles, and just
get ready to line up and just play ball.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Were you surprised at ALMH just saw the stats seat Saturday.
Speaker 8 (37:20):
A little bit, But I knew I was playing well.
I could feel it.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
I was.
Speaker 8 (37:24):
I felt it going into the game, like right the
first now, I knew it was gonna be a good
game for me.
Speaker 5 (37:29):
What do you remember about last year's matchup?
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Old Mill said, there's any of that.
Speaker 8 (37:34):
To this timeline. Yeah, I feel like we matched them.
We matched up pretty well with them their offense. I
feel like Coach White did a great job game planning
for us to go out there just played freely and fast,
and we're gonna do the same thing this year.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Alex Safari and they'll need a big game out of
him tomorrow to help slow down that Old Miss offense instead.
Wild Cat History Present about Kentucky Road Show, sports cards,
head Memorabilia, nineteen ninety eight. On this day, Tim Couch
seven touchdo down passes in the season opening win at
U of L in their new stadium. Sixty eight thirty
four Kentucky and happy birthday Nazi Mohammed.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Enjoy the game tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
We'll be back with Van Hiles to talk about it
on Monday here on The Leech Report.
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnstown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily. Boons Butcher Shop. Good Friday, everybody, well,
come in. We've made it to the weekend SEC opener
(00:21):
tomorrow for the Cats and we will talk about that
our show presented by Bobcat Enterprises each day.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Coming up.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
David Kellum, the voice of Old Miss, will join us
for a bit of a scouter report on the Rebels.
Keith Farmer from BBN tonight in l exaighteen and we'll
lead off with the UK football and NFL legend der
Monty Dawson Wildcat News of the Day, presented by Joseppies
of Lexington. NFL season kicked off last night with the
(00:51):
Eagles beating the Cowboys in a lightning delayed game twenty
four to twenty up in Philly. There's another game tonight,
Chiefs and Chargers. I think that one was in Brazil,
Kentucky and number twenty Old Miss going at it tomorrow
at three thirty Eastern time. ABC will have the TV coverage.
Our pregame will start at one thirty Eastern on the
(01:11):
UK Radio Network. Last year, Kentucky upset number six Old
Miss twenty to seventeen. Went back and looked at the
box score. A few key points. Kentucky didn't have any turnovers,
and they held the ball for almost forty minutes. A
time of possession isn't always the defining stat that it
might sound like, because if the other team's only got
(01:31):
the ball for twenty minutes, but they're making big plays
and getting long touchdown plays, then they can still beat you.
That didn't happen. Kentucky held them in check. Big Key
was forcing them into a good number of third and longs,
and so even when you add in two fourth down conversions,
Ole Miss kept the chains moving three times out of
ten attempts. Kentucky was seven of sixteen with third and
(01:55):
fourth down conversions. So those are numbers that one would
think would need to be in place again for Kentucky
to pull off a second straight upset. Rebels have a
first year starter in Austin Simmons at quarterback.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Big arm looks.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
In talking to coach Stoops said, Simmons looks he can run,
but he's always looking to throw more so than run it.
Transfer wide out from Penn State had a big game
last week and they're blow out of Georgia State, so
Kentucky will have to have a good plan for Harrison Wallace.
The thirty at five catches for one hundred and thirty
yards also had sixty seven yards on punt returns. Kentucky
(02:35):
did very well in the kicking game last week, so
that will be crucial in this matchup. One change of
note in the availability report for Kentucky, Abisselma backup at
guard has been upgraded to probable, so it gives Kentucky
a little more of its depth in the offensive line.
Courier Journal had a report yesterday about Kentucky running back
(02:56):
to Mary and will Cox facing three separate legal issues now.
On Wednesday, Judge issued a temporary protective order related to
an allegation.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Of sexual assault.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
There's also a speeding charge from the spring according to
the CJ report, and citations for four violations of vaccinations
or licenses for two dogs.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
That he owns.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
So that's in the Courier dash Journal report that came
out yesterday. I think from Ryan Black, Kentucky Volleyball in
a top five match up on the road tonight at
Penn State. The game will be on the Fox National
TV Network eight Eastern time. Kentucky and number one Nebraska
(03:38):
and their five set match that the corn Huskers prevailed
in last week drew one point two million viewers on ESPN.
That was an ESPN record for a regular season volleyball match,
So another tough test tonight for coach Skinner and company.
The lex two point fifty celebration is continuing. Football Week
is the focus this week and we've been talking about
(04:00):
this and the latest list is the final names on
the top high school players of all time in Lexington
and here are those names. Landon Young for a future
Wildcat from Lafayette. Dane Key went on to play, of
course at Kentucky White Out, Frederick Douglas, Ralph Kerschivell back
in the twenties at Henry Clay was a UK star
(04:23):
as well. David Akers, great kicker from Tates Creek, played
at U of L in the NFL. Eric Shelton from
Brian Station class of two thousand and two, Jedrick Wills
from Lafayette class of twenty seventeen, Mark Logan former Wildcat
from Brian Station class of seventy nine and his future
Wildcat running back teammate George Adams Lafayette class of eighty
(04:44):
Frank Minifield one of those two great corner tracks for
the Cleveland Browns in the Dog Pound Glory Years from
Frank from Henry Clay High School class of seventy nine
and then Dermondy Dawson Brian Station class of eighty three,
UK great and an NFL Hall of Famer with the Steelers,
and we're gonna hear from Dermanti. Would we come back?
(05:05):
It is the Leach Report and we are presented each
day our opening segment by Giuseppes of Lexington. There on
Nicholasville Road just past man O War. Go to open
table and get your reservation for a Giuseppes dieting experience
around a big event like Keeland or a UK game
or some special occasion. It is the Leach Report Radio
(05:28):
Network and we will be right back. Leach Report is
presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises. They have four locations
around the state, so google Bobcat Enterprises when you need
to buy or rent some heavy equipment for a job,
or if you know somebody who has that need. Bobcat
Enterprises will take great care of you during and after
(05:50):
the sale. Lexington is celebrating its two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary and part of that celebration is Football Week. This
week we've been doing some lists of coaches and games
and today and yesterday players and we're going to catch
up to one of the best players ever in Lexington
high school football right now. Well, come in de Monni Dawson,
(06:11):
a UK football legend, high school football legend here in Lexington,
and NFL Hall of Famer with the Steelers and Dermanti.
You were included in the last part of the list
of the best high school players in the history of
Lexington for this two fifty lex celebration. Has to be
(06:31):
a nice feeling that you're still remembered, right, Yeah, it
really is.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yeah, I mean it's an honor you know, to be
you know on any list, you know from Lexing because
you had so many different athletes come from Lexington that
have done well. So it's an honor.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now, didn't you guys have on your Brian Station team
three guys that made it to the NFL.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Oh, we did, myself, Mark Logan and Corneill Berbich. All
three of us, you know, played for a few years.
I think Mark played for twelve, I'll play for thirteen,
and I think Cornell played one or two years. But yeah,
I mean all three the same graduating.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Playss of eighty three how about that?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Well, I'm sorry, eighty seven from UK, but eighty.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Three of Basia.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
The caliber of football was pretty strong back then in Lexington,
was it not.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
It was you know Henry Clay and Lafayette, I mean
all those guys and Tates Creek was a pretty good
team as well. You know, all of us had pretty
good teams, you know, back in the early eighties. And
you know, I know the one year that we lost
to Christian County in eighty two in the championship state
championship at large. That game, you know, those guys, man,
(07:44):
they had so many, so many guys on their team.
I just couldn't believe it. But you know, all the
teams that at one point had some really good teams.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
When you went on to play for coach Clayburn at Kentucky,
what do you remember about that time in the Blue
and White.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
I'll tell you what, you know, I enjoyed being in UK.
It was nice to be able to stay home, you know,
say a UK and not go to Michigan State or UCLA.
But it's an honor to play for your your home college,
and you know, it just it was a great time.
You know, I had a great time at University Kentucky.
You graduated from the University of Kentucky and then went
(08:22):
on to you know, get drafted in the NFL, and
I can't thank the UK enough.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I know you played guard at Kentucky. Did you play
any center at all in your time at UK?
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Well, you know, I used to play center on the
scout team for the first team defense where we would
go into the first team defense on scout team and
coach John Jeff Devlin, you know, would switch me to center,
and then also you know, coach Clayburne at one point
switched me to center I think right before my junior
year in spring practice, and then I think before that,
(08:59):
the only time I really played center was you know,
in the Hall of Fame boat game when Kim Petroviac
got hurt and so I went in and finished up
the center that game in eighty What game was that
was that?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Eighty eight three or eighty four?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Okay, Okay, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, eighty three or
eighty four, but yeah, that was the only time that
I played center.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
And yeah, you go on to the Steelers, did they
immediately put you at center or how did that come
about when you got to the pros?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Well, you know, they came about after my second year.
My first year, I started the four fourth game of
the season at guard and I played out the whole
season for that And then during the off season, I
was coming in for weightlifting during the off season and
Chuck Noell called me into the office and he wanted me.
He said, well, I want to switch you to center,
and I want you and Chuck Lanza, who was the
(09:51):
third round draft choice in eighty eight, to fight it out,
and luckily I won the job.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, and play for the Steelers, went on to a
Hall of Fame career. The thing I always heard from
people talking about you that followed the NFL closely was
that the thing that you brought to the position was
an athleticism that centers didn't typically have. Did you feel
that you had an advantage in that area?
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Oh? Yeah, yeah, because I was pretty quick and strong
too so and I could run so that kind of
gave me an advantage over other centers. But for me,
when Bill Cower came in in ninety two, because the
first one I was switched at switched to center in
the second year, we had a trapping offense. And the
only way the doctors showed my athleticism was when ron
(10:41):
Erhart became coordinator. When Bill Cower came in ninety two,
and you know, I started, we started fooling around with stuff,
you know, blocking schemes in training camp. So I told him,
I said, look, I'm fast enough to get around, you know,
I'll take the responsibility of the guard bill blockdown on
my guy. I'll make a love call or false call.
I'll say it in the huddle and let those guys know,
(11:04):
just communicate it on the backside, in front side of everybody,
so everybody knows what we're doing. And we started to
do it, and he got it on film. He wanted
to see it on film before he implemented it into
a game. So you know, once we started to do it,
started doing that and practicing, and he loved it and said,
you know, they can't stop us. So that's how it
all came about.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
How about that and that's the thing about you know, football,
Sometimes it's just a different set of circumstances where you
get to or you in that case, or any player
gets to show a particular set of skills.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah. Yeah, he let me have the input into it,
and the coaches know the players know what's best when
it comes to making play, so they just allowed us
to have the involvement in the scheme, the blocking scheme,
and so you know, it all turned out great.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Jagger Burton is making that move this season for Kentucky
went well in the first game where he he's been
a guard throughout his career here at UK Lexington High
School product as well, and then now has moved over
to center and so far, so good, and that I
would think makes him more attractive to the NFL if
it goes well for him, doesn't it?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
I will? Yeah, yeah, because you know, for me, when
I have just my listent of switched to center University
Kentucky's then when I went to the Combine and also
some of the All Star games, the scouts wanted to
see if I could play center against some of the
best guys in the country, and so they switched me
to center and I was playing guard also, so that
(12:36):
kind of raises your stock, and you know, it's just
going to take a wild form to kind of get
acclimated to it because you already disadvantaged and and and
the most important thing is getting that quarterback center exchange.
And it just takes repetition and time, you know. And
I think he's going to be a good one once
he gets it down.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Do you get to follow the Cats much? I know
you live out in California.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Now, yeah, I'll watch the game. Yeah, I'm I try
to watch as many games as I can, So I'm
always trying to see what station the Cats are going
to be on, and I try to watch it if
I can.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Well, hopefully you'll you'll see them start SEC play with
a win against Ole Miss this weekend.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Miss.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yeah, I'm excited about it. So I'm wishing them all
the best of love.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Great to visit with you, DERMANI as part of this
football week celebration for the two anniversary and fiftieth anniversary
of your hometown.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
So it's a special.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Event Lexington, Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yeah, thank you, Dermi.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Well, Hey, Tom, thank you for having me on the show.
I greatly appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Thank you. For doing this. I appreciate it. I figured
it'd be anytime.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Man, Hey, you can call me anytime. I don't ghost anybody.
I always get back with appreciated and yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
I figured this would be better than getting up.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Go to Mermonnie Dawson joining us here on the Leech Report.
It's high school football night around Lexington. So if you're
going to one of the games here in Lexington, they're
going to have the special Football Week t shirts that
are going to be tossed out and they'll recognize the
players from the respective schools at those games that were
(14:11):
on the list of the top twenty five of all time,
like Dermanti Dawson, who you'd have to think would be
right there at or near the top for the career
that he had some great high school football over the
years in Lexington, really all over the state of Kentucky.
Go to head to the break with a quick reminder
about our friends at Cornbread Hemp. There are four months
(14:33):
into their new and few seltzers that have been such
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and they give you that light lift that helps you
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(14:53):
If you're a first time customer at Cornbreadhemp dot com,
put in the code Tom at checkout and you can
get twenty eight off your first order at cornbreadhamp dot com.
This is the good life. We'll be right back with
David Callum for the Old Miss Radio Network on the
Leach Report. Twenty six past the top of the hours
(15:14):
The Leach Report from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return,
Refresh and Refuel at Clark's. David Callum joins us now
he's the radio play by play voice for Ole Miss football.
As the Rebels head into Lexington, Let's see this will
be for the first time since twenty twenty, David, I think,
and we know if recent history is any guide, then
(15:36):
it'll be close.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Oh I know it.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
I mean recent games Tom between Old misson Kentucky have
been decided by less than a field goal. Seems like
we've had some fantastic matchups so far, including the one
just a year ago here in Ox.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I know there's been a little feeling on the Kentucky
side this year. From you heard from media folks or fans,
you know that coach Kiffin's gonna want to score as
many points as he can. After they lost to Kentucky
last year, my response has been, that's who is in
every game.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
He wants to score as many points as he can.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
That's right, that's just that. Don't be fearful. That's just
the norm he's to do that. I mean, it is
amazing though. He's just a brilliant offensive mine and over
the since twenty twenty, averaging five hundred and seven zero
point two yards per game, which is just amazing. But
he's really had some great talent on that side. He's
(16:29):
done a super job in the portal since the Portal
Day started.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
But yeah, he's have to score.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
As much as he can every time he steps on
the field. But yo, Kentucky did a good job of
slowing that.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
Now.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
We had our coaches show last night and he gave
UK a lot of credit. It was early in the
year before some injuries that occurred, and this one's going
to be kind of early in the year too, so
I think we've got a good matchup.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
They're intense competitors, but no coach Kiffin and Coach Stoops
are buddies because I remember Coach Stoops so we last year.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I like Lane.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
He makes me laugh, yeah, yeah, Well, and he even
talked about the Coach Oops last night too. From a
standpoint of what an outstanding coach. His teams are always
very physical and they're a little bit concerned obviously about
that part of it as well. But you know, Coachtops
is a cool coach and Lane is Lane's just Lane
(17:18):
likes to you know, enjoy life, so to speak. But
Coach Oops spent about, I guess time about fifteen minutes
with our radio crew the last time you hear last
year before the game, just talking and divisitying. A lot
of coaches don't do that, especially right for a game.
And we had a great visit with him ourselves, and
so he is definitely one of the best coaches in
(17:39):
the league and a really good guy too.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Well, chat with David Callum. We're gonna get coming up
to the heartbreak at the bottom of the hour, so
we'll exit out for that for a couple of minutes
and come back and get one more segment with David.
Get a little more of a scouting report on Kentucky's
opponent and the Old the matchup for the SEC opener
for both teams Tomorrow three thirty Eastern time. Kentucky and
(18:02):
Ole Miss and our pregame will start at one thirty
on the UK Radio Network. It is The Leech Report
and we are presented each ay by bobcat Enterprises, Keith
Farmer from l e X eighteen and BBN. Tonight, he'll
join us coming up in the second half of the
show as well more of a David Callum when we return.
It is The Leech Report Radio Network and we're presented
(18:24):
by Bob KNT Enterprises. Second half of our Friday show,
Game Day Eve for Kentucky and Old Miss. David Callum
with us. He's the radio play by play voice for
the Rebels and New KB and Austin Simmons. He's been
in the program but was backing up Jackson Dart last year.
(18:45):
So what can you tell us about how Simmons will
challenge Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Well, he's a unique kid, extremely talented. Of course, time
he pitched on a baseball team a couple of years
ago before he heard an elbow was just fantastic. Left
He throws into mid nineths and so there may be
a future there someday too. But he got to Old
Miss at seventeen years old, had taken some college credit
before he got here. He already has his degree. He's
only nineteen. He's working on a master's. I was picking
(19:12):
at each other day. I said, if you make it
the next year, we'll have to start calling you doctor Simmons.
And this brilliant young kid, but very very gift. That's
got a great arm, one of the best arms I
think I've seen here in a long long time. But
that huge lack of experience is there. He threw a
couple of picks early in the first game year, then
settled down did pretty good jobs. I think when you
(19:33):
look at the quarterback match up, of course they don't
go head to head. But Kalzadas, you know, been out
there while is a lot older than Simmons, let's put
it that way. And so it'll be interesting as we
move along with Austin Simmons if he can keep the
mistakes at a minimum. Even Jackson Darkness first year at
Old Miss had you know, a high number of picks.
And also we're hoping that Austin can mature quickly on
(19:55):
the field as he has off the field.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Both of these teams went heavily into the portal and
the white out from Penn State. Wallace seemed to make
a big splash last week.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Yeah, he really did. And it's weird, you know, how
this portal thing works. He scored a touchdown against US
with Penn State and Peach a couple of years ago,
and now he's ours. It's just amazing how that works.
But yeah, he's very, very gifted. That room may be
the best room on the offensive side of the ball.
Deshaun Stribbling, who came in from Oklahoma State, was at
Washington State for a while. I was outstanding big target.
(20:30):
Caleb Odam is this well. De Kwon Wright returning tight
end who's at Virginia Tech a couple of years back.
It's really good. Then Kayden Lee is the guy that's
been around a little while. He's a junior, the veteran
of that group and just had a wonderful year last
year with Dart. So we've got some really good weapons
in the receiving room. You're not gonna find a lane
Kiff in the offense that doesn't have some targets to
(20:52):
throw too, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, that's kind of like when coach Mummy was here.
They were never going to run out of whiteouts, right.
What about the new running back from Missou.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Well, Keywan did a good job. We hit him on
our coaching show last night.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
It's from Dallas, Texas.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
And you got Set McGowan on the Kentucky side from Mesqigue, Texas.
One transferson from Oklahoma. One comes in from Missouri. So
there's some newness of those two guys as well. But
Key one's really got a great versus speed first steps
really good. He was listed by one service as the
number two running backs out in the country out of
(21:32):
Lancaster High School in Dallas. Got off to good starts,
scored three touchdowns in the opener. But there's a logan
digs is getting back to speed. Logan you know, was
at LSU and Notre Dame and now at Ole miss
and suffered injury, was here all last year basically rehabbing,
played only one snap. He's he's good in that group too.
And Damian Taylor, to transfer from Troy, has come in
(21:55):
and he reminds me Kentucky fans won't know this as much,
but he reminds me of a joke and that we
had several years ago. It's kind of a short, stocky
guy herded to the knocky maf balance and so that
that's a pretty good room for the offense too.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
What about the O line, how did that group hold
up in Week one?
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Well, that's that's a little bit of a question mark,
I think right now and doing my prep for you guys.
You know, Kentucky's got so much experience on that offensive
line one hundred and sixty something starts, you know, and
we've got some pieces that are that way. But we
had a couple of injuries in camp that pulled a
couple of guys out of the mix, and so we
opened the season, you know, a little bit deeper in
(22:34):
the offensive line, and two of those guys, Jayden Williams
and Patrick Cootis on the right side, missed pretty much
the entire camp they got in and the last scrimmage
played a little bit. So that was their first game
to go against Georgia State. You know, the continuity unique
with an offensive line, but Diego Pounds, the left tackle
has been around a while. I was really good player.
And then Wilkins is at left guard at the moment,
(22:57):
Bryson Sanders at the center. But it's a good, good group.
I think that if this group is gonna have to
go as a unit for a while, they're they're hoping
to get better.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Ash we moved down the road on the defensive side, David,
what are the areas where they think they're strongest. What
are the spots where there's maybe still some concern?
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Well, the defensive front is good again, and you know, Tom,
last year we had probably the best one we've ever
had since I've been doing this, and you know, I've
been around a while, but we had quality depth. And
I think that's what the portal has done to help
the old misses of the world. You can where you
may have been slim in depth and really kept your
fingers cross, you didn't have injury, you know, in a
(23:36):
particular position because you know, you follow depth wise pretty quickly.
We now have really good depth at most places, and
on the defensive front. You know, last year that was
the best quality depth. I hacked a lot of those
guys in the NFL now, but he had a couple
of pieces back. Zavid Harris is the main guy in
the middle. He's just done a fantastic job. He got
(23:58):
his sixth career block kicked this past weekend. Uh He's
got just great length and does a super job. Seems
to getting the backfield a lot. And so that group
has got a chance to get close to what we
were a year ago with Franklin and another Umine miel
and work on your pronunciation.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Princewell, oh yeah, I remember him from Florida.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
Yeah, we got a different one as brothers here transferred
in from Nebraska. But that's a good group, and I
think that's the key always. You know, if your defensive
front can can reach a little have, it takes a
lot of pressure off your linebackers and defensive backs. And
you know, on the back end, we're we're pretty strong.
Got daughtery back at linebacker, does a good job, and
(24:41):
we've added some new pieces there. But that that defensive
front is probably going to be the strength of the team.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I hate to see, speaking of pronunciations, Tennessee change quarterbacks
because I had uh Emaieva down after one season. Now,
it's just all that effort is wasted.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
We didn't we didn't have to play there. I was
very grateful, you know, I was thinking we got to
come up with a nickname for some of these cats,
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Yeah, I'm with you there, kicking game. They have a
freshman punters you're talking about. Simmons came in at twenty seven.
The punter comes in at twenty four as a true freshman.
That's that is college sports these days. But he had
a nice averaging game one and you know Wallace in
the return game was a big factor.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
Yeah, you know. Oscar Bird's an interesting story. Had a
chance to visit with him for the first time. Actually
last week could have practice. He's from Sydney, Australia. Aren't
they all from Australia.
Speaker 6 (25:35):
Yes, it's crazy. He played three years.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
Of All See football and I asked him about the game.
I said, you know, I was told this was the
very first game American football game you played in. He said,
mister Callum, that was the very first game I had
ever seen in person. So we're like, wow, that's crazy.
But Oscar did a good job, and he said he's
he's watched American football on TV, but had never attended one,
(25:59):
and so he was blown away by the atmosphere. You know,
the weekend gin up in our colleges and all he
just he was good. And then yeah, Wallas is outstanding
in the return game as well. He's done a good
job there and I think his longest return was twenty
six yards in the punny game. That's a huge flip
of the field if you can get those occasionally.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
David, I appreciate you jumping on with us, and safe
travels up to Lexington. We'll see you tomorrow in the
press box.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
We're heading out at noon with the team looking forward
to getting there. Should be a lot of fun in
the grass country.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Not as hot as it normally would be this time
of year, so enjoy that.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
Oh I know, I flipped on looked at the weather
this morning. I said, oh, but again a pullover for
this one.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Thank you, David.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
All Right man Goode.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
That is David Kellum, longtime voice of the Old Miss Rebels.
And there's a scouting report on Kentucky's opponent for the
sec opener tomorrow. It is the Leech Report. We're presented
each day by Bob Kat Enterprises. We're about eighteen away
from the top of the hour. When we come back,
Keith Farmer will join the program. It is the Leach
Report Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Yeah, we spent a lot of this offseason on Kentucky.
You know, that was a really hard loss to deal with,
especially with the offensive struggles in the game. So yeah,
we paid a lot of attention to that film.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
That was ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin on the SEC
teleconference earlier this week. His team was number six in
the country last year, got upset at home by Old
by Kentucky and had that not happened, Ole Miss would
have probably been in the college football playoffs. So do
they have a chip on their shoulder? Yeah, I would
imagine that they do. We are joined now by Keith
(27:47):
Farmer from l e X eighteen and the BBN Tonight Show,
and Kentucky ought to have a chip on its shoulder.
That comes with winning just four games, so it shouldn't
be a lack of one two on either side Tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
That's totally correct, tom You know, Kentucky really came into
the season wanting to prove something. You know that they
were much improved, and even with the fifty new faces,
I think that they all recognized the filling around the offices,
the fields and all that and the workout room, realizing
Kentucky wanted to get things changed around. But we certainly
(28:25):
heard from all miss this week. It's one that they're
thinking about, at least the guys that came back there
that Xavian Harris, big defensive line and TJ. Doddery, the linebacker,
both bringing up the fact that I almost couldn't even
talk about it the way they they said, you know,
this is one we want to get back. This is
the you know, the team that got us last year.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
And you know, there are times when you can want
something so badly that it affects your performance in a
negative way. I thought that might might have been part
of the problem for Calzada last week, because you know,
and been four years since he had played in a
for or against an SEC school, and so now he's
(29:04):
in an SEC game this week he had won under
his belt and it wasn't the best performance he wanted
to put on tape. But if you you beat the Rebels,
that's all anybody will be talking about. And for Zach,
I think the challenges to trust trust his instincts. Bush
(29:25):
Hampden this week said that he thought that Zach was
maybe a little hesitant on some throws. They wanted to
look at several different things, and look, I said, look
in this league, you got a you know, as you know,
as Calzato would know, the window for being open as
much smaller than it is at at lower levels.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
So when it's there, throw it.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
Yeah, exactly. And you know, I would like to believe
they didn't have the playbook wide open last week either.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Good point.
Speaker 6 (29:55):
So maybe some of those shots that they were taking
were just that, just trying to take shots downfield, and
it wasn't you know, necessarily you know, I mean, they
were trying to figure out if they those guys can
make a connection. But but I think it was just that,
I think it was shots. I think this week we'll
see the playbook open more and we'll see you know,
that improvement from week one to week two. The thing
(30:16):
I was impressed by was the way that Kentucky is
approaching this game. Heard from some of the defenders this
week just saying, look, we can't you know, and you
hear it all the time, but they're like, we can't
take this, we can't get up like Ole Miss seems
to be getting up for Kentucky. And they were like,
we we got to just treat it just like it's
anybody else, you know, because if we don't we're going
to get up, like you said, and that's where you
(30:38):
make mistakes, where you're trying to press and trying to
do too much.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
So here from Lane Kiffin again on the SEC teleconference,
talking about Kentucky's performance in Week one and a little
about Zach CALZAA.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
I've told you can't base anybody, but especially Kentucky, off
of what a game before or whatever was, because games
before you look at back that they Mountain beat us
last year. You know, here's a couple of weeks after
that South Carolina game up there and so and also
it's a quarterback that's thrown for like nine thousand yards,
(31:11):
you know whatever in his tenth year of playing. So
it's a guy who's won a lot of games, played
a lot, throwed really well. I was like, you know,
college football's turning like it's like Joe Flacco now or something.
So you know, you can't bet on because they struggled
last week in the passing game and that's gonna have
that's gonna show up this week.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Slight exaggeration there.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
It's not quite ten years and not quite nine thousand yards.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
Oh you know there's that. I don't think it's out yet.
Is it. But I saw yesterday or day before where
there's gonna be like a sit down interview with Lane
Kiffin about his career and everything and just how he
kind of became the bad guy. And it is funny
like every time he's trying to change the narrative, he'll
say something like that, you know, just like little jabs
here and there, you know. But I mean, yeah, he's right.
(31:58):
I mean, Calzada, you know, has a lot of time
under his belt. He's probably going to figure it out
much quicker than you know, an eighteen nineteen year old
is going to. So he has to be ready for
calzttic because you don't know what's going to happen. On Saturday.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Calzada played against ole Miss when Zach was at Texas
A and m I was in twenty one. It was
in Oxford. Ole Miss was ranked eleventh this Calsata was
twenty four of forty two hundred thirty seven yards, no
touchdowns and two interceptions on the offensive side for Kentucky.
While the passing game struggled, the running game clicked in
(32:35):
the fashion that I think everyone from coaches to players
and fans was hoping for. He had over two hundred
yards rushing. The two running backs looked good, dow Dell
and McGowan coming in Keith. We were led to think
that Dowdell was the short yardage guy. He'd get the
tough yards between the tackles, McGowan would provide the flash
(32:58):
on the outside right. Instead, there was dal Dell who
hit the big home run and uh Seth who got
his touchdown run between the tackles, and mcgallan talked to
us about uh the combination of those two guys and
how teams will find out that they can both do
both things.
Speaker 7 (33:17):
You know, most teams that we play, just from experience
in film will find out that. You know, that's that's
not necessarily the case. You do have to account for
all of us. And in both of those categories. I
think we're both good running downhill. I think we're both
good getting around the perimeter as well, and also reading,
reading out and setting up our block. So you know,
it'll be it'll be great to see what all we
(33:39):
can put together and you know, how how much we
can contribute to this offense.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
It's gonna be an interesting matchup in the trenches because
Kentucky looked good in both lines I thought last week,
but obviously it's a tougher opponent.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
Well, and you know, everybody talked about it being thunder
and lightning. I thought it was thunder and thunder. I
thought they were pretty much the same, you know, running back,
I mean, you know, and the thing that was encouraging
was the fact that they got the handoff, they hit
the hole, and they just kept the legs churning. I
just thought that that was really impressive to see. There
was no dancing in the backfield. They took it, they
(34:15):
knew immediately where they were going, and they just kept
pushing with their legs. I mean, you know, yeah, Dante
Hip for that big, you know, seventy nine yarder, but
the fact that they would pick up what just seemed
like three yards with ease was something that was impressive
to me. And you know, you get a couple of those,
you're now looking at third and short rather than third
(34:35):
and eleven, twelve, you know, even ten. You know, So
that's what was encouraging to me. From the run game.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Yeah, to your point, Kentucky hit minus ten in negative plays.
They averaged minus thirty six a game wow last season.
So that was a noteworthy improvement. Keith, thank you much
and I appreciate you fighting through a little sore throat there.
So get some hot tea or honey or something and
(35:02):
we'll see you in the press box.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
We'll do. Thank you, Tom.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
That is Keith Farmer from l e X eighteen and
the BBN Tonight Show. This is the Leach Report Radio Network,
presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and we will be right back with.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Our final segment.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Its Report is now also on TV on l e
X eighteen weeknights around five fifty Eastern time. A little
quick update on Wildcats sports. Most of the time, we
talked about the NFL season last night, but tonight got
an interesting note about the friendship of Kentucky linebacker Joe
(35:44):
Fettersfield and ole Miss quarterback Archie Maning. They played against
each other here in Lexington in nineteen sixty nine when
ole Miss was ranked eighth in the country at Kentucky
upset the Rebels at Stallfield and then Joe fed and
Archie became longtime teammates with the Saints in the NFL,
and the friendship has endured and they have a little
(36:05):
friendly wager each year with Kentucky and ole Miss play,
So we'll talk about that and a little bit about
the matchup tomorrow on that segment coming up on l
e X eighteen at Run five.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Point fifty this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Kentucky women soccer got a nice win last night three
nil over Mercyhurst, so they're back on track after suffering
their first loss last weekend. Now it's here from Kentucky.
Linebacker Alex Safari had a career high thirteen tackles of
the win over Toledo.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (36:33):
I definitely feel more comfortable, you know, putting some weight on,
and have been playing in that position for two years now,
so I feel like I know the answer out about
that language spot and I can help the younger guys
around me too. Just chusting myself, you know, chusting my eyes,
rusting my keys, and just playing fast and just exploding
and just running to the ball, isn't.
Speaker 5 (36:51):
Yeah, And this will be your third time, I think
playing against lest the right.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
Yeah, what did.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
You learn from those two games previously?
Speaker 4 (36:58):
And what are you maybe telling some guys who weren't
on this until recently, like what to expect went up
against this offense.
Speaker 8 (37:03):
I just told them that temple like a temple is
gonna be huge because not live team wants that temple
like they do, and they do a good job running
that temple. So I told them they got to get
their odds to the sideline, get our singles, and just
get ready to line up and just play ball.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Were you surprised at ALMH just saw the stats seat Saturday.
Speaker 8 (37:20):
A little bit, But I knew I was playing well.
I could feel it.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
I was.
Speaker 8 (37:24):
I felt it going into the game, like right the
first now, I knew it was gonna be a good
game for me.
Speaker 5 (37:29):
What do you remember about last year's matchup?
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Old Mill said, there's any of that.
Speaker 8 (37:34):
To this timeline. Yeah, I feel like we matched them.
We matched up pretty well with them their offense. I
feel like Coach White did a great job game planning
for us to go out there just played freely and fast,
and we're gonna do the same thing this year.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Alex Safari and they'll need a big game out of
him tomorrow to help slow down that Old Miss offense instead.
Wild Cat History Present about Kentucky Road Show, sports cards,
head Memorabilia, nineteen ninety eight. On this day, Tim Couch
seven touchdo down passes in the season opening win at
U of L in their new stadium. Sixty eight thirty
four Kentucky and happy birthday Nazi Mohammed.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Enjoy the game tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
We'll be back with Van Hiles to talk about it
on Monday here on The Leech Report.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.