October 23, 2025 • 38 mins
Dick Gabriel fills in and talks with Jeff Piecoro, Justin Rowland, and Jack Givens.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good morning everybody. Dick Gabrielle is sitting in for the boys.
Tom getting some work done out at Keenland, so happy
to sit in. It's game week with Kentucky basketball coming up,
Kentucky football coming up. Just a lot going on as
you might expect in the month of October, as we
are closing hot October man one more weekend then we're
in November. Leach Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises. It's a
(00:23):
great lineup on today's show. Jeff Pikorro the UK Sports
Network will join us as well as Jack Gibbons of
the UK Sports Network, so Tom's football broadcast partner, followed
by his basketball broadcast partner, and then of course Justin
Rowland of Cats Illustrated to preview a big weekend of
Kentucky sports.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Wildcat News of the.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Day presented by Giuseppes of Lexington, and we start off
with good news for the men's soccer team, the twenty
fifth rank Kentucky Wildcats with their second ranked win of
the season. They went down to Statesboro, Georgia and upset
Georgia Southern, which was ranked number twenty by a final
of two to one. It kept the win over the
(01:03):
Eagles keeps Kentucky in a three way tie for the
top in the Sun Belt Conference, tied with West Virginia
and Marshall. You got three more games in the regular
season for the Wildcats, and it's a tough schedule, but
a good one. West Virginia tenth rank comes to election
in this Sunday the bell should be hopping. Then it's
a senior night matchup against these same Georgia State Eagles
(01:24):
on Halloween, and finally a road trip to Norfolk, Virginia
to take on Old Dominion on November fourth, So the
Wildcats are right in the thick of the race. We
mentioned the basketball Cats, as you know, taking on Perdue
tomorrow night, and they will do so. As the number
nine rank preseason team in the AP and also ninth
(01:45):
ranked in the Coaches poll, which was released yesterday afternoon.
Kentucky has a fixture, of course, in the polls. The
Wildcats have made nine hundred and seventy seven total appearances
in the rankings, coming up up on season number seventy six.
But as we all know, Purdue is ranked number one
(02:06):
in both polls preseasons, so it's going to be an
interesting exhibition matchup on Saturday, and Mark Pope will speak
later today. I'm sure about the point guard situation with
janlen Lowe going down in the Blue White game, and
may or may not be available tomorrow night, so we
will hear more coming up at the SEC Championship Game
(02:28):
weekend talking football now. Unfortunately the Wildcats will not be there.
I was part of the SEC radio network for fifteen
years producing that game on radio, the Championship Football Game.
It is one of the greatest sporting events literally in
the world, and I so want Kentucky fans to be
able to experience it at least once. It's a tremendous
(02:49):
week of activities which includes the SEC legends being honored,
and the announcement came yesterday that Jacob Tammy has been
announced by the SEC as this year's UK football Legend.
Of course, Jacob from Danville, Kentucky at a Boyle County
High School, was an All American as a senior, first
(03:10):
team All Conference as a junior and senior, and just
had a tremendous career for the Wildcats, ranked first in
UK history, second in SEC history for catches by a
tight end. Get that second in SEC history. For catches
by a tight end and no disrespect to how Mummy
in his offense.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But this was not an air raid situation.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
This was Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips drop back play
action offense triggered by Andre Woodson, and Jacob Tammy was
the perfect guy at tight end. He helped lead the
Wildcats to the Music City Bowl win wins plural over
Clemson and Florida State. And you might now remember this.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
But the big catch Stevie got loose.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Against Louisville that was preceded by a clutch fourth down
conversion by the Wildcats, And that was a catch, a
tumbling catch made by Jacob Tammy. And I talked to
him after the game. He didn't even remember making it
until I brought it up. That's just how much of
a his mind was in a whirr. But anyhow, Jacob
went on to win numerous awards, first Team Academic All America,
(04:17):
the Bobby Bowden Award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes SEC,
Scholar Athlete of the Year, and part of the SEC
Community Service Team. Jacob is also a member of the
UK Athletics Hall of Fame, nine years in the NFL,
and a couple of Super.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Bowl appearances, so congratulations to Jacob Tammy. Links to these.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Stories on the bud Light Leach Report page at Tom
leachky dot com. Coming up, Jeff Bikoro, the UK Sports Network.
That's all ahead here on the Leech Report.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Welcome back to the Leach Report.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Dick Gabriel sitting in for the voice and a reminder,
The Leach Report comes to you from the Clark's pumpin
Shop studio, joined now by mister Jefficorro, former Kentucky wide
receiver and Tom Leach's broadcast partner. When it comes to
UK football, of course, the Wildcats with Tennessee coming up Saturday.
That's the team Jeff loves to hate, dating back to
(05:13):
his days as a Kentucky Wildcat prior to the Louisville rivalry.
Taking ruper, Jeff, Before I talk to you about football,
I got to ask you about baseball because SEC baseball
now is intersected with Major League Baseball. Tennessee's Tony Vittello
leaving the balls to become a Major League manager for
(05:34):
the first time in history, somebody goes from coaching college
ball with no pro experience to the Giants. You covered
pro baseball as part of the Reds Network for more
than two decades.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
How can this work or can it?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
You know, it's really interesting you look at some of
the guys and now the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, Murphy,
but Murfy at least had twenty years as an assistant
in in in Major League baseball before he went the
college route and you know, then came came to the
(06:10):
Brewers through that. But with Botello, he's never coached, he's
never played in in minor major league or even minor
league baseball. That's that's so that's the scary part. And
and here's the other thing. Did you do the games
in the SEC? New So you've done Tennessee games. And
the thing that I think the perfect person to talk
to would be someone like Doug Flinn or you know,
(06:32):
one of those guys at Austin Currents here in town.
But you know, the one thing about Tennessee, they kind
of rubbed. The other fifteen teams in the SEC hate Tennessee.
They you know, and and Bottello even says, look, I
rub people the wrong way. I go against the grain.
He he is the ESPN coach, meaning you know, he
(06:56):
wants to be on Sports Center as much as his
players do. They have waggery, they push things, they do
the backflips, and they're just you know, it's one of
those teams that just aggravates you, unless, of course, you're
a Tennessee guy or fan. But I just don't know
if that raw raw you know, we're gonna again. I
(07:20):
call it the ESPN because everybody wants to dunk the
basketball now in basketball and shoot threes and you know,
make the incredible hit. In football and baseball, they just
push things to the limit. And I just don't know
in one hundred and sixty two game season how that
plays out, because remember they call it the Big Grind
(07:40):
for a reason, And I just don't know if you
can be that raw raw on a Tuesday night in
Pittsburgh with six thousand people there, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yep, So unfortnately.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Max Scherzer, who will play for a World Series championship
this weekend with the Fronto Blue Jays, says, I absolutely
believe in him. He's to this day one he's one
of my closest friends, and I believe he's gonna get.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It done at the big league level. So that's that's
really going to be fascinating to see.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Three million dollars is what he was making that. He
was making three million at Tennessee, and he's making more
in San Francisco, So more power to him.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Sure's are played for Mattello at Missouri. Vittello was the
pitching coach at Missou before he went to Tennessee. All right,
let me shift over to football now. As I said,
Tennessee to team you love to hate the most. Wildcat's
coming off. They bitterly disappointing loss to Texas, as you know,
but a lot to love about that game. However, Jeff,
(08:36):
this Tennessee couldn't be more different from Texas when it comes.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
To at least the way it plays offense.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Right, No, you're exactly right. I mean they average five
hundred yards of game forty four points. The quarterback agli Yar,
who was a late addition when Nico left, they just
kind of switched. He came from UCLA at Tennessee and
Nico was from Tennessee to UCLA. Aguilar has been a
hit almost toootown yards already halfway through the season. He
(09:03):
is three receivers, two of them in the top five
in the league, and receiving yards offense is like a
fast break basketball game. They it's amazing and even Brad
talked about it yesterday after practice, saying, you know, the
three receivers don't leave the field the entire game, and
(09:24):
he says, I don't know how they do it because
they're like marathon runners, you know, every play. But the
flip part of that is their defense gives up thirty
points a game. So if you can get what Tom
likes to call that break serve, you get an interception,
or you get it, you know, a three and out,
(09:44):
or or they get the ball right at the end
of the half and don't don't do anything with it,
and then you get it coming out in the second half.
It's almost like an extra possession they're gonna score. Nobody's
really stopped him this year. But again it's it's can
you at least break serve once or twice. But there's
a lot to build on from that Texas game, I think,
especially for the Kentucky offense.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Well, yeah, and going back to Tennessee Kentucky when Levis
was here, I mean there was a track meet where
Kentucky was thrown into the end zone all last play
of the game, and I think the final was forty
five to forty two. I don't know if Kentucky can
keep up in a game like that, Jeff. But Wildcats
coming off their best by far, I think their best
effort defensively. But now it's a different kind of challenge.
(10:27):
How and Van Hiles was on my show The Excadey's
On with Tom every Monday and said the same thing.
The best way to keep Tennessee's offensive base keep your
offense on the field.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
And you pointed it out repeatedly during the game.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The crazy stats for the Wildcats, how they dominated Texas
on the stat sheet.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Kentucky almost had him off for three quarters. Yeah, in
the remember in the first quarter there was two possessions,
one for Kentucky, one for Texas, and then we're playing
the second quarter. That's what Kentucky have to do well,
thirteen fourteen play drives. Kentucky had what eighty six plays
in the game. I think that's exactly what they have
(11:07):
to do in this game. And it's just it was amazing.
Stay ahead of the chains. And here's the thing the
other and it's so hard to do against them. Don't
get caught up in you know, It's the same thing
in basketball. You know, team starts hitting threes and you
start shooting threes. Don't get caught up in that type
of game. Play your game.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Yeah you're okay with that orange last week, but not
this orange.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
I know.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
I don't even want to talk about it. It's a
horrible color.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I mean, yeah, if.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
You want to, if you're a criminal and you want to,
you're working on a roadside picking up trash, that's what
you wear. And of course that's what their fans are.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
The trash and Tennessee. It does not go well together.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Thank you, buddy. We'll see you at the stadium.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
A man, have a good one and.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
A reminder of that.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Tom and Jeff Finia here each week via the interweb
on the Wildcat Whip gives you a little bit of
a deeper look at the upcoming Kentucky game. Jack Gibbons,
another guy who doesn't like Tennessee Orange, is coming up next.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Welcome back to the Leach Report.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Dick Gabers singing voice sitting in for the voice, joined
now by Tom's broadcast partner on Kentucky basketball, mister Jack
Gibbons and other guys we said. He does not like
those Tennessee balls. But he'll just be a fan when
it comes to Saturday night. But he's working tomorrow night
when the Wildcats take on top rank Purdue in an exhibition.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
Good morning, Jack, Good morning Gabe.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
I'm well, sir, Thank you so much. Let's get right
into it.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
When you and I worked the pro day broadcast, we
were talking about position by position and I expressed a
little bit of concern about a lack of depth at
the point guard spot, and you immediately said, no, they've
got several options. And we were a little precident there.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We didn't know Jalen Lowe was going to go down hurt.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
But tell us about solutions then they're not long long term,
of course, we hope. But what can Mark Pope do
if Jalen Lowe was out obviously.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
For this game and any other games in the future.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Because last year, we know point guard, the depth of
point guard was a problem, you believe it's not as
much of a problem this year.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Correct, Absolutely, I think and I'm just kind of judging
from what I've seen in practice, and you know, Denzel
Aberdeen will be able to step in and run the
point guard spot with the first unit. I think that
(13:39):
is almost for sure game. I'm sure that will happen.
I think after that, there's a number of different things
I think Mark can do. I mean, obviously, Colin Chandler
ran a lot of point guard last year. He's played
a lot of point a lot of point guard and
(14:01):
up and down so far in practice, so I don't
know that you will lose a whole lot there. Obviously,
he's not quite as quick as as Low or as
Aberdeen for that matter, so I think there are plenty
of options. I think, kind of like we saw last year,
(14:23):
unexpected guys would run the point guard. I remember Otega
ran the point guard at times and looked good doing it.
With Mark's offense, I think it's a lot easier because
a lot of times the point guard just starts to
play and then the movement of the players and of
(14:44):
the ball kind of takes care of where it ends up.
So I think I think Kentucky will be all right.
I don't want to have to do it without Jayalen
Low very long, just because he's that good, but I
think they'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
His defense as well.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
He's not the biggest guy, but he's a smart guy.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
He's crafty, isn't.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
He you're speaking of Jayleen Low. Yeah, yeah, oh, no
doubt about it. I mean, he knows how to play.
And the thing that is, uh, what has been interesting
for me is he's a better defensive player than he
was given credit for when he came in here. I mean,
and and I've got to be honest about it. Mark
(15:27):
has has kept him on point and on focus when
it comes to what he wants from him on the
defensive end of the floor, and Jalen has accepted that
and is turning into a pretty good defensive player. Sometimes.
I remember in high school, and not so much with me,
but on on on a bunch of high school teams,
(15:50):
you know, that star, the guy who is their point getter,
the guy who is their leader. Sometimes has asked not
to play defense, and I think, and I don't mean
not to play defense, but don't get in foul trouble,
you know, because if you get in foul trouble, we
can't score. And I think that's the way it was
(16:12):
a lot with Jalen last year, and that's part of
the reason why he got the reputation of not being
a really good defensive player.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Yeah, and again, you know, This is something that Mark
Pope is emphasizing right now, isn't it kind of flipping
the script from last year when they went offense then
defense in early season development.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
So really everybody's getting that message, aren't they.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Yeah, Mark has more players on the floor who have
been in his system, and you know, these guys who
went through it last year do not hesitate at all
given the information to the players. So Mark is not
required now to be the one that says, no, you
(16:55):
missed this, you missed that. You're supposed to be here.
You're supposed to be there now, you know you You
get that from Trent Nora, from Brandon, guys who went
through it, and that helps Mark to be able to
put more emphasis on defense and spend more time on
that end of the floors opposed to his offense.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Mark talked about that a lot last year, how he
was looking forward to hearing the players basically coaching each
other and it started to happen. He was talking specifically
earlier about offense because his offense got a.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Little intricate at times or all the time.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
But he took great delight in hearing his players in practice,
you know, picking each other up and correcting each other
and really, I know, I'm sure all the best teams
are like that as well. We're talking with Jack Givens,
of course, is Tom Leach's broadcast partner on Kentucky basketball,
and he'll be behind the mic and sitting next to
Tom in Rupp Arena when the Wildcats take on those
(17:53):
Purdue boiler Makers who are ranked top in the tops
in the country in both of the preseason polls. The
Wildcats and rank number so it's gonna be a great
exhibition matchup tomorrow night on most of these same stations.
We'll talk more with Jack on the other side of
the break here on the Leach Report. Welcome back to
the Leach Report. Dick Gabrielle sitting in for the boys.
(18:14):
The Leach Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises for locations in
Kentucky when you need to rent or buy heavy equipment
or a new zero turn more for your long term
to Bobcat Enterprises. We turned back to Jack Gibbons of
the UK Radio Networking and Tom will call the action
when the Wildcats take on Purdue tomorrow night. You'll hear
the game on most of these same stations pregame starting
(18:35):
at four point thirty for a six pm tip.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Jack, tell me.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
What you would like to see tomorrow night. What you
liked from the Blue White game. The Jalen Low injury aside,
it was not a pretty game, But we've talked so much,
and you and Toime have talked and Mark Pope about
how competitive this bunch is and they played hard in
that Blue White game, and now you want to see
that similar effort against the Boilers, don't you.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Yeah, you know that Blue White game has ugly written
all over it before it even starts. Cave. I mean
it's I mean, I like it because the fans get
to see the players. But as a player, man, you're
so tired of seeing that the same old guys man,
(19:21):
And you know you don't want to get anybody hurt,
as was the case with Jalen. You kind of want
to get over it because it's on the schedule and
you have to do it. The only thing really that
makes that Blue White game fun for me is if
(19:41):
we take that game out into the state somewhere. I
still remember going to Pikeville, man, and that game in
Pipeville a few years ago, with such a good game,
such a great atmosphere and you have the fans there.
I know we had fans there and that's all good,
but you have fans at those games when they're out
(20:04):
in the state that don't get to see the Cats play.
So it's a different kind of atmosphere. That really is
the only thing. And we used to travel and do
that often back when I played. But that's the thing
for me that makes that game interesting, just going again
(20:24):
at Memorial or up against the same old guys, and
I mean it just you're ready for some new faces.
So they'll see that game, they'll see that tomorrow night,
and I think it's going to be a great effort.
One thing about this team is they certainly play hard,
(20:45):
and they play hard every day, as they did you
mentioned they did in the Blue White game. But it'll
just be good to be going against some new faces.
What I would like to see is, you know, I
just want to see where we are and I don't
have any expectations. You're playing against a very very good team.
(21:07):
I think that in itself is going to help our
guys be ready. H I would like to get through
the game with always getting some good solid minutes and
not reaggravating an injury or anything. Like that, because there
was a lot of talk to keep them out even longer,
(21:30):
you know, before we brought them back. And there's really
no need to rush. So I just want guys to
get through the game without being injured and have an
opportunity to see how they're gonna how Mark is going
to try to blend combinations together.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I love the idea of the games being played us
in the state as they used to be. And I'll
take you back to a time when you would you
had been gone just a year or two year in
the NBA when the Sambuie recruiting class came in. It
was such a big class. Joe b and Leonard Hamilton
and brought in so many talented players, and there was.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
So much interest in that team.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
And the Blue White games were scattered across the state.
And I was working at the radio station that then
had the ball games, and the switchboard was overloaded with
people wanting to know. This is well before everything was
on TV. Are the games going to be on the radio?
The Blue White games? Everybody wanted to know. And Ralph
and k Wood, you know, they weren't too keen on
(22:28):
doing that. So I did the games with Jack Sutherland
all over the state and people ate it up. So
I I and the crowds were we needed police escorts
Jack to get into the arenas and into the high
school gyms because the crowds.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Were so incredible. So I love that idea.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
A couple of minutes left with Jack Gibbons. Did anything
in the Blue White Game surprise you in a pleasant way?
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Well, I know you're going to get a laugh out
of this gave. But the thing that surprised me the
most as I was headed to the game was how
bad that going it the traffic was. I couldn't even
get there. I mean, and I'm kind of being funny,
but that's the truth. I've been to Keenland for a
(23:18):
book signing and had my granddaughter there for the first time,
and we were having a great time and he didn't
want to leave. My daughter was there, she didn't want
to leave, so we stayed there longer. I dropped them off,
and just as my daughter is getting out of the call,
she reads this thing. If you're coming from north which
I live in Georgetown, and you're trying to get to Lexington,
(23:42):
it said, don't So I said, man, I'm not going
to fight this traffic and get there. I get to
see scrimmages every day, you know, But you know I am.
I just like the fact that what I heard and
what little bit I saw. The guys work so hard
(24:05):
and it's just now it's not surprising because you see
that every day. But that is the thing that I
love most about this team thus far is that, man,
they work hard. And you made a good point before
we went in to break how with the extra voices
on the floor and how much these guys talked, it
(24:28):
has taken Mark out of the mix. Sometimes he'll blow
the whistle, Gabe and start walking in to tell somebody
what they were telling. There's four guys already discussing it
and telling them here's where you want to go, and
markle turned around and walk the other way because they
they're kind of coaching themselves. And I don't know that
(24:51):
I've seen that a bunch, but that's one of the
great traits about this team.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
That is a great anecdote and a good place to
leave it. Jack Ebbans listen for his coverage along with
Tom Leach tomorrow night, when the wild Cats take on Purdue.
Jack get an earlier start to upp Arena but there
are more seats you ought to be able to get
in and I'll see you tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
We'll be listening as well. Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
All right, Gabe, Thanks, that's.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Jack Gibbons the UK, All American And when we come back,
Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated joins us here on the
Leech Report. Welcome back to the Leach Report. Dick Gabrielle
sitting in for the Voice on this Thursday morning, joined
now by Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Good morning, Justin there we go, Good morning, Justin, Good morning,
how are you.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I'm well, sir, Thanks for joining us as you do
each week with Tom.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And I'm wondering.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
I read your take on the Kentucky Texas game and
how close Kentucky came, and the mistakes and the good
things and all. You have to flush that though, this week,
don't you, because Tennessee is so different from Texas. You
take the good things away, obviously, but you know, how
do you attack this Tennessee fast break offense.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
You gotta be willing to trade blows with him. I mean, there,
we know that Tennessee is gonna put up points in
a hurry. They're gonna isolate certain matchups that are gonna
put strain on you. And uh, they're just a team
that you've got to be able to score points in
bunches against because they can. They can score bunches against
just about any any defense in the country. And so
Georgia was a very different challenge than Texas. That's one
(26:28):
of the reasons I was curious as to how Cutter
Bowley was gonna fare against Texas because Georgia was very talented,
but they don't offer a lot of pass rush. But
against a much more aggressive Texas defense, he did very
well also, So he seems to be growing and maturing,
and we'll see if they can bounce back and at
least put forth the spirited effort when the losses piling out.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Say what you will about Bush, ham Dan and play calling,
but when it comes to working with Cutter Bowley and
developing a different way to go at the offense. Back
to the Georgia game, the quicker strikes, the shorter passes
getting the ball out of his hand, it is clearly
paying off, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Yeah, Yeah, I think Bush. I don't think Bush.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
Has been a horrible play caller in most situations this year.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I think the way.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
That he's drawn the tight ends into the passing game
has been impressive. And I think the most impressive thing
about Bully the last few weeks is that the receiver
room is really weak. Let's just be real about that. Like,
they've got some guys that would be good complimentary parts
in another sec receiver room, but they don't have the
one or two up top that are winning a lot
(27:36):
of individual matchups consistently, or making a lot of yards
after the catch or blowing the roof off the defense.
So Cutter is really earning this. Not a lot of
guys are out out, you know, on those routes, and
he's putting him into tight windows.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
And you know, Bush gets.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
A lot of credit, but Cutter, just in terms of
ball placement and accuracy, is on a different level than
most Kentucky quarterbacks we've seen since Andre Woodson.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Frankly, and you've.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Been watching his kids since he was in high school,
and by his own emissions that I am not a
great running quarterback, but extending plays with his feet and
running for a touchdown against Texas, that's been a pleasant surprise,
hasn't it.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
I think he's a better runner than he would give
himself credit for. He has good instincts, Like you can
tell he has good instincts, good feel for blockers because
he climbs the pocket. When you watch Calzata play, you
know he would just roll out, roll out, and then
you end up having to throw it out of bounds
where his cutter will actually stand there in between in
between the tackles in the tackle box, and he'll climb
(28:34):
that pocket with traffic flying around him, and he knows
when to break out, and he can break a tackle,
and he's got all the tools.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
That he needs.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
It's just about to find details at this point.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, and it's fun to see a kid from Kentucky,
a local kid who if things play out properly, you
know they'll hold this job for three or four years.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
We haven't seen that in forever, have we. Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Quarterback continuity and develop has not been a strength in
the latter part, especially of the Stoops era. So you
know that, think about how much easier that makes building
your next roster if you're running it back, if you
don't have to worry about bringing new quarterback in. But
you know, we've got a lot of thing that's going
on at the same time.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
So yeah, and mind you, this was supposed to happen,
as you know, with Drew Barker starting back in twenty fourteen,
you know, but he gets hurt and then the revolving
door begins. But getting back to what's coming up with
Kentucky and Tennessee, I don't know that the Wildcats can
survive a track meet, but the way they move the
change and getting back to what you were saying about
(29:39):
the receiver room again, tip your cap to the fact
that the running backs, particularly McGowan, in terms of catching
the football, was highlighted in that game more than any
other this year. I personally love seeing that.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
What do you think, Yeah, no, no doubt. Cutter.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Cutter really works it to the backs in the flat
and checks down well and he gets it to him
and they've they've called good plays and situations for those guys.
Mcgawan has all the all the tools to.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Be a really good pass catcher.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Like you can tell he's got a fluid body movement
like he's got a good catch radius. He's he's very
he's fast. He seems the hands have been a little
bit up and down, but they get him on these
wheel routes and in the flat and he's he's very talented,
So it's impressive what the running backs have done. I
also think that there was a better approach to the
offense this year. I think they probably saw they didn't
(30:28):
have the number one receiver and they tweaked it accordingly.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Yeah, and to me, the best part against Texas was
on those shorter routes, be it a running back or
a receiver cutter hit him in stride. They were going
downhill when they caught the ball and never had to
break stride. And we've seen him, We've seen teams do
that against Kentucky, but seeing the Wildcats do that was
kind of refreshing, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Yeah, Yeah, no doubt and he was. I mean, if
you just look at the throwing chart, just to accuracy
on the short stuff was excellent. It was thirty one
of thirty nine. He's seventy percent. Yeah, over two weeks
against Georgia and Texas. And we know he can hit
the deep ball. So if he's a great deep ball
thrower under pressure, especially on the run, and he's also
(31:17):
very accurate on the short stuff, then that's another massive
step forward.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
As a quarterback.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
And you know, the average depth of target against Tennessee
against Texas was only about four point eight yards per throw.
That's about half of the length of throw you would
expect most weeks for a quarterbacks. So it was definitely
customized respecting the Texas pass for us, respecting the Texas
talent advantage in the secondary. I think you'll probably see
(31:43):
more deep shots this week a.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Couple more minutes with Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated. Speaking
of deep shots, Tennessee's got three of the top ten
receivers in the SEC, two of the top five, and
as Brad White pointed out to the media yesterday, he
said he must train for marathons because they never.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Come out of the game.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
It is severely going to test that Kentucky secondary, which has.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Been thin because of injuries.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
I think that's where the game is gonna be won
or lost Saturday, justin what do you think?
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Yeah, the difficulty with the Tennessee offense is they can
get you in a bad situation in a hurry, and
the game can just chick. It's just like you blink
and the game is different. And so even if you
play well and your sound and you think things are
going well. You can never let your guard down, but
you certainly have to withstand that initial blow so the
(32:35):
game doesn't take on a different dynamic that you want
after the first ten minutes. You can't be down fourteen nothing,
twenty one nothing. So with stand the initial blow and
then gradually start to punch on the defense with a
ground game maybe.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
And you kind of just describe what happened with South
Carolina because it was a game after one quarter and
that Kentucky started handing them touchdowns down there in Columbia
and it wasn't a game after that. You got to
be clean, as clean as you can be against Tennessee, right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Yeah, And I think they have been a little bit
more clean. Even if they might have been they might
have had an unfavorable talent situation the last two weeks,
but I think it's been a little bit more clean
other than you know, situational execution. So they got some
things going for it, but they got to be almost
perfect in those critical situations to have a chance.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
I like that term situational execution.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
That's going to be ringing in my head as I'm
watching this game on Saturday night, just about in a
minute or so with Justin But what a.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Weird year in the SEC.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
That's a broad statement, but who'd have thought we'd be
talking about Indiana and Vandy in the top ten.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
We've never seen that weird, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
It's it's crazy. It's a sign here well, I mean here,
here's the deal. Like it feels like this this one
thing or two things nil and the portal has totally
changed the character of college football. I don't know, we
don't know how many teams are now capable of winning
national championships, But this was always the sport that was
like as top heavy as top heavy gets. There's only
(34:09):
two teams in contention every year by the end of
the season. And now it's really like the NFL. And
it makes you wonder how people might be a Kentucky's
job differently into the future. If you're gonna be in
the SEC, in the Big ten, one of those two
power conferences that are gonna have all the clout, then
Kentucky is a much more enticing job than maybe it
was when it was just a bottom end of a
(34:32):
power conference position.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
So many head coaching positions open. Coaches on the move
and you know their first question is going to be
what's your nil situation? Like, you can't blame them for that.
So that's just where we are right now. Follow Justin
Roland in the pages or really online at Katzillustrated dot com.
If you're not a subscriber, you need to be justin. Thanks,
have a great weekend. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Thanks a lot.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Deck.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
He is Justin Roland and we will come back and
wrap up this edition of the Leach Report.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
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good from Cornbread Hemp? This fall well underway right now
is a really special deal and it runs through the
thirty first when you spend seventy five dollars on Cornbread
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your order and you will get the jar of gummies
(35:25):
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is the Good Life.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Welcome back thanks to our guest Jack Gibbons, to Justin Rowland,
to Jeff Pacoro. As we wrap up this edition of
the Leach Report. The Bobcat Enterprises, of course, is one
of Tom's fine sponsors for a location in Kentucky and
our final thoughts are brought to you by Kentucky road
Show Sports Cards and Memorabilia and lexingon. You can learn
(36:08):
more about them at Roadshowcards dot com. On this date
in UK football history, James Whalen set a record for
UK tight ends with four touchdown catches in a loss
down to Georgia forty nine to thirty four was the
final as the Wildcats threw for four hundred and twenty
one yards in the how mummy air raid attack rushed
(36:33):
for Well, let's put it to you this way. Anthony
White was Kentucky's leading rusher in that game four carries
twelve yards, So by then they had pretty much chucked
the run game out the window and we're trying to
win everything through the air. Can't really blame them in
a game like this, but it was quite about I
remember being down there.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
It was twenty one thirteen at the half. It was
a pretty good ballgame.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
But then Kentucky gave up twenty one points to Georgia
in the third quarter and the game got away, and
there was a point. There's one situation where how Mummy
you might remember, you went by the riverboat gambler kind
of guy, and they faked a punt and it didn't work,
And later on Mummy said it was up to the
(37:17):
kicker or one of the upbacks rather to look at
the formation and decide should we try to fake it
or should we not.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
And the guy either.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Miscounted or guessed wrong or whatever, but whoever made the
decision out in the.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Field gave Georgia a short field and.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
An easy touchdown and the Bulldogs went on to win it.
But James Whalen was an All American that year catching
passes from Dusty Bonner.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
And it's fitting that we bring that up.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Because this is also the day that we were talking
earlier about Jacob Tammy becoming an SEC legend.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
So there's been a few.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Tight ends at Kentucky that have played well. And if
the tight ends have a good time on Saturday. Maybe
the Wildcatch can throw scare into those Tennessee volunteers. You'll
hear that game right here on most of these same
stations with Tom and Jeff and yours truly. But that'll
do it for now Again Tomorrow night, Kentucky basketball, the
Cats and Purdue, thanks so much for joining us. Have
(38:14):
a great day, everybody. Tom's back tomorrow morning here on
the Leech Report.
Good morning everybody. Dick Gabrielle is sitting in for the boys.
Tom getting some work done out at Keenland, so happy
to sit in. It's game week with Kentucky basketball coming up,
Kentucky football coming up. Just a lot going on as
you might expect in the month of October, as we
are closing hot October man one more weekend then we're
in November. Leach Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises. It's a
(00:23):
great lineup on today's show. Jeff Pikorro the UK Sports
Network will join us as well as Jack Gibbons of
the UK Sports Network, so Tom's football broadcast partner, followed
by his basketball broadcast partner, and then of course Justin
Rowland of Cats Illustrated to preview a big weekend of
Kentucky sports.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Wildcat News of the.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Day presented by Giuseppes of Lexington, and we start off
with good news for the men's soccer team, the twenty
fifth rank Kentucky Wildcats with their second ranked win of
the season. They went down to Statesboro, Georgia and upset
Georgia Southern, which was ranked number twenty by a final
of two to one. It kept the win over the
(01:03):
Eagles keeps Kentucky in a three way tie for the
top in the Sun Belt Conference, tied with West Virginia
and Marshall. You got three more games in the regular
season for the Wildcats, and it's a tough schedule, but
a good one. West Virginia tenth rank comes to election
in this Sunday the bell should be hopping. Then it's
a senior night matchup against these same Georgia State Eagles
(01:24):
on Halloween, and finally a road trip to Norfolk, Virginia
to take on Old Dominion on November fourth, So the
Wildcats are right in the thick of the race. We
mentioned the basketball Cats, as you know, taking on Perdue
tomorrow night, and they will do so. As the number
nine rank preseason team in the AP and also ninth
(01:45):
ranked in the Coaches poll, which was released yesterday afternoon.
Kentucky has a fixture, of course, in the polls. The
Wildcats have made nine hundred and seventy seven total appearances
in the rankings, coming up up on season number seventy six.
But as we all know, Purdue is ranked number one
(02:06):
in both polls preseasons, so it's going to be an
interesting exhibition matchup on Saturday, and Mark Pope will speak
later today. I'm sure about the point guard situation with
janlen Lowe going down in the Blue White game, and
may or may not be available tomorrow night, so we
will hear more coming up at the SEC Championship Game
(02:28):
weekend talking football now. Unfortunately the Wildcats will not be there.
I was part of the SEC radio network for fifteen
years producing that game on radio, the Championship Football Game.
It is one of the greatest sporting events literally in
the world, and I so want Kentucky fans to be
able to experience it at least once. It's a tremendous
(02:49):
week of activities which includes the SEC legends being honored,
and the announcement came yesterday that Jacob Tammy has been
announced by the SEC as this year's UK football Legend.
Of course, Jacob from Danville, Kentucky at a Boyle County
High School, was an All American as a senior, first
(03:10):
team All Conference as a junior and senior, and just
had a tremendous career for the Wildcats, ranked first in
UK history, second in SEC history for catches by a
tight end. Get that second in SEC history. For catches
by a tight end and no disrespect to how Mummy
in his offense.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But this was not an air raid situation.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
This was Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips drop back play
action offense triggered by Andre Woodson, and Jacob Tammy was
the perfect guy at tight end. He helped lead the
Wildcats to the Music City Bowl win wins plural over
Clemson and Florida State. And you might now remember this.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
But the big catch Stevie got loose.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Against Louisville that was preceded by a clutch fourth down
conversion by the Wildcats, And that was a catch, a
tumbling catch made by Jacob Tammy. And I talked to
him after the game. He didn't even remember making it
until I brought it up. That's just how much of
a his mind was in a whirr. But anyhow, Jacob
went on to win numerous awards, first Team Academic All America,
(04:17):
the Bobby Bowden Award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes SEC,
Scholar Athlete of the Year, and part of the SEC
Community Service Team. Jacob is also a member of the
UK Athletics Hall of Fame, nine years in the NFL,
and a couple of Super.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Bowl appearances, so congratulations to Jacob Tammy. Links to these.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Stories on the bud Light Leach Report page at Tom
leachky dot com. Coming up, Jeff Bikoro, the UK Sports Network.
That's all ahead here on the Leech Report.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Welcome back to the Leach Report.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Dick Gabriel sitting in for the voice and a reminder,
The Leach Report comes to you from the Clark's pumpin
Shop studio, joined now by mister Jefficorro, former Kentucky wide
receiver and Tom Leach's broadcast partner. When it comes to
UK football, of course, the Wildcats with Tennessee coming up Saturday.
That's the team Jeff loves to hate, dating back to
(05:13):
his days as a Kentucky Wildcat prior to the Louisville rivalry.
Taking ruper, Jeff, Before I talk to you about football,
I got to ask you about baseball because SEC baseball
now is intersected with Major League Baseball. Tennessee's Tony Vittello
leaving the balls to become a Major League manager for
(05:34):
the first time in history, somebody goes from coaching college
ball with no pro experience to the Giants. You covered
pro baseball as part of the Reds Network for more
than two decades.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
How can this work or can it?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
You know, it's really interesting you look at some of
the guys and now the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, Murphy,
but Murfy at least had twenty years as an assistant
in in in Major League baseball before he went the
college route and you know, then came came to the
(06:10):
Brewers through that. But with Botello, he's never coached, he's
never played in in minor major league or even minor
league baseball. That's that's so that's the scary part. And
and here's the other thing. Did you do the games
in the SEC? New So you've done Tennessee games. And
the thing that I think the perfect person to talk
to would be someone like Doug Flinn or you know,
(06:32):
one of those guys at Austin Currents here in town.
But you know, the one thing about Tennessee, they kind
of rubbed. The other fifteen teams in the SEC hate Tennessee.
They you know, and and Bottello even says, look, I
rub people the wrong way. I go against the grain.
He he is the ESPN coach, meaning you know, he
(06:56):
wants to be on Sports Center as much as his
players do. They have waggery, they push things, they do
the backflips, and they're just you know, it's one of
those teams that just aggravates you, unless, of course, you're
a Tennessee guy or fan. But I just don't know
if that raw raw you know, we're gonna again. I
(07:20):
call it the ESPN because everybody wants to dunk the
basketball now in basketball and shoot threes and you know,
make the incredible hit. In football and baseball, they just
push things to the limit. And I just don't know
in one hundred and sixty two game season how that
plays out, because remember they call it the Big Grind
(07:40):
for a reason, And I just don't know if you
can be that raw raw on a Tuesday night in
Pittsburgh with six thousand people there, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yep, So unfortnately.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Max Scherzer, who will play for a World Series championship
this weekend with the Fronto Blue Jays, says, I absolutely
believe in him. He's to this day one he's one
of my closest friends, and I believe he's gonna get.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
It done at the big league level. So that's that's
really going to be fascinating to see.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Three million dollars is what he was making that. He
was making three million at Tennessee, and he's making more
in San Francisco, So more power to him.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Sure's are played for Mattello at Missouri. Vittello was the
pitching coach at Missou before he went to Tennessee. All right,
let me shift over to football now. As I said,
Tennessee to team you love to hate the most. Wildcat's
coming off. They bitterly disappointing loss to Texas, as you know,
but a lot to love about that game. However, Jeff,
(08:36):
this Tennessee couldn't be more different from Texas when it comes.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
To at least the way it plays offense.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Right, No, you're exactly right. I mean they average five
hundred yards of game forty four points. The quarterback agli Yar,
who was a late addition when Nico left, they just
kind of switched. He came from UCLA at Tennessee and
Nico was from Tennessee to UCLA. Aguilar has been a
hit almost toootown yards already halfway through the season. He
(09:03):
is three receivers, two of them in the top five
in the league, and receiving yards offense is like a
fast break basketball game. They it's amazing and even Brad
talked about it yesterday after practice, saying, you know, the
three receivers don't leave the field the entire game, and
(09:24):
he says, I don't know how they do it because
they're like marathon runners, you know, every play. But the
flip part of that is their defense gives up thirty
points a game. So if you can get what Tom
likes to call that break serve, you get an interception,
or you get it, you know, a three and out,
(09:44):
or or they get the ball right at the end
of the half and don't don't do anything with it,
and then you get it coming out in the second half.
It's almost like an extra possession they're gonna score. Nobody's
really stopped him this year. But again it's it's can
you at least break serve once or twice. But there's
a lot to build on from that Texas game, I think,
especially for the Kentucky offense.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Well, yeah, and going back to Tennessee Kentucky when Levis
was here, I mean there was a track meet where
Kentucky was thrown into the end zone all last play
of the game, and I think the final was forty
five to forty two. I don't know if Kentucky can
keep up in a game like that, Jeff. But Wildcats
coming off their best by far, I think their best
effort defensively. But now it's a different kind of challenge.
(10:27):
How and Van Hiles was on my show The Excadey's
On with Tom every Monday and said the same thing.
The best way to keep Tennessee's offensive base keep your
offense on the field.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
And you pointed it out repeatedly during the game.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The crazy stats for the Wildcats, how they dominated Texas
on the stat sheet.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Kentucky almost had him off for three quarters. Yeah, in
the remember in the first quarter there was two possessions,
one for Kentucky, one for Texas, and then we're playing
the second quarter. That's what Kentucky have to do well,
thirteen fourteen play drives. Kentucky had what eighty six plays
in the game. I think that's exactly what they have
(11:07):
to do in this game. And it's just it was amazing.
Stay ahead of the chains. And here's the thing the
other and it's so hard to do against them. Don't
get caught up in you know, It's the same thing
in basketball. You know, team starts hitting threes and you
start shooting threes. Don't get caught up in that type
of game. Play your game.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Yeah you're okay with that orange last week, but not
this orange.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
I know.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
I don't even want to talk about it. It's a
horrible color.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I mean, yeah, if.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
You want to, if you're a criminal and you want to,
you're working on a roadside picking up trash, that's what
you wear. And of course that's what their fans are.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
The trash and Tennessee. It does not go well together.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Thank you, buddy. We'll see you at the stadium.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
A man, have a good one and.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
A reminder of that.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Tom and Jeff Finia here each week via the interweb
on the Wildcat Whip gives you a little bit of
a deeper look at the upcoming Kentucky game. Jack Gibbons,
another guy who doesn't like Tennessee Orange, is coming up next.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Welcome back to the Leach Report.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Dick Gabers singing voice sitting in for the voice, joined
now by Tom's broadcast partner on Kentucky basketball, mister Jack
Gibbons and other guys we said. He does not like
those Tennessee balls. But he'll just be a fan when
it comes to Saturday night. But he's working tomorrow night
when the Wildcats take on top rank Purdue in an exhibition.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
Good morning, Jack, Good morning Gabe.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
I'm well, sir, Thank you so much. Let's get right
into it.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
When you and I worked the pro day broadcast, we
were talking about position by position and I expressed a
little bit of concern about a lack of depth at
the point guard spot, and you immediately said, no, they've
got several options. And we were a little precident there.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We didn't know Jalen Lowe was going to go down hurt.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
But tell us about solutions then they're not long long term,
of course, we hope. But what can Mark Pope do
if Jalen Lowe was out obviously.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
For this game and any other games in the future.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Because last year, we know point guard, the depth of
point guard was a problem, you believe it's not as
much of a problem this year.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
Correct, Absolutely, I think and I'm just kind of judging
from what I've seen in practice, and you know, Denzel
Aberdeen will be able to step in and run the
point guard spot with the first unit. I think that
(13:39):
is almost for sure game. I'm sure that will happen.
I think after that, there's a number of different things
I think Mark can do. I mean, obviously, Colin Chandler
ran a lot of point guard last year. He's played
a lot of point a lot of point guard and
(14:01):
up and down so far in practice, so I don't
know that you will lose a whole lot there. Obviously,
he's not quite as quick as as Low or as
Aberdeen for that matter, so I think there are plenty
of options. I think, kind of like we saw last year,
(14:23):
unexpected guys would run the point guard. I remember Otega
ran the point guard at times and looked good doing it.
With Mark's offense, I think it's a lot easier because
a lot of times the point guard just starts to
play and then the movement of the players and of
(14:44):
the ball kind of takes care of where it ends up.
So I think I think Kentucky will be all right.
I don't want to have to do it without Jayalen
Low very long, just because he's that good, but I
think they'll be fine.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
His defense as well.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
He's not the biggest guy, but he's a smart guy.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
He's crafty, isn't.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
He you're speaking of Jayleen Low. Yeah, yeah, oh, no
doubt about it. I mean, he knows how to play.
And the thing that is, uh, what has been interesting
for me is he's a better defensive player than he
was given credit for when he came in here. I mean,
and and I've got to be honest about it. Mark
(15:27):
has has kept him on point and on focus when
it comes to what he wants from him on the
defensive end of the floor, and Jalen has accepted that
and is turning into a pretty good defensive player. Sometimes.
I remember in high school, and not so much with me,
but on on on a bunch of high school teams,
(15:50):
you know, that star, the guy who is their point getter,
the guy who is their leader. Sometimes has asked not
to play defense, and I think, and I don't mean
not to play defense, but don't get in foul trouble,
you know, because if you get in foul trouble, we
can't score. And I think that's the way it was
(16:12):
a lot with Jalen last year, and that's part of
the reason why he got the reputation of not being
a really good defensive player.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Yeah, and again, you know, This is something that Mark
Pope is emphasizing right now, isn't it kind of flipping
the script from last year when they went offense then
defense in early season development.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
So really everybody's getting that message, aren't they.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Yeah, Mark has more players on the floor who have
been in his system, and you know, these guys who
went through it last year do not hesitate at all
given the information to the players. So Mark is not
required now to be the one that says, no, you
(16:55):
missed this, you missed that. You're supposed to be here.
You're supposed to be there now, you know you You
get that from Trent Nora, from Brandon, guys who went
through it, and that helps Mark to be able to
put more emphasis on defense and spend more time on
that end of the floors opposed to his offense.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Mark talked about that a lot last year, how he
was looking forward to hearing the players basically coaching each
other and it started to happen. He was talking specifically
earlier about offense because his offense got a.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Little intricate at times or all the time.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
But he took great delight in hearing his players in practice,
you know, picking each other up and correcting each other
and really, I know, I'm sure all the best teams
are like that as well. We're talking with Jack Givens,
of course, is Tom Leach's broadcast partner on Kentucky basketball,
and he'll be behind the mic and sitting next to
Tom in Rupp Arena when the Wildcats take on those
(17:53):
Purdue boiler Makers who are ranked top in the tops
in the country in both of the preseason polls. The
Wildcats and rank number so it's gonna be a great
exhibition matchup tomorrow night on most of these same stations.
We'll talk more with Jack on the other side of
the break here on the Leach Report. Welcome back to
the Leach Report. Dick Gabrielle sitting in for the boys.
(18:14):
The Leach Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises for locations in
Kentucky when you need to rent or buy heavy equipment
or a new zero turn more for your long term
to Bobcat Enterprises. We turned back to Jack Gibbons of
the UK Radio Networking and Tom will call the action
when the Wildcats take on Purdue tomorrow night. You'll hear
the game on most of these same stations pregame starting
(18:35):
at four point thirty for a six pm tip.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Jack, tell me.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
What you would like to see tomorrow night. What you
liked from the Blue White game. The Jalen Low injury aside,
it was not a pretty game, But we've talked so much,
and you and Toime have talked and Mark Pope about
how competitive this bunch is and they played hard in
that Blue White game, and now you want to see
that similar effort against the Boilers, don't you.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Yeah, you know that Blue White game has ugly written
all over it before it even starts. Cave. I mean
it's I mean, I like it because the fans get
to see the players. But as a player, man, you're
so tired of seeing that the same old guys man,
(19:21):
And you know you don't want to get anybody hurt,
as was the case with Jalen. You kind of want
to get over it because it's on the schedule and
you have to do it. The only thing really that
makes that Blue White game fun for me is if
(19:41):
we take that game out into the state somewhere. I
still remember going to Pikeville, man, and that game in
Pipeville a few years ago, with such a good game,
such a great atmosphere and you have the fans there.
I know we had fans there and that's all good,
but you have fans at those games when they're out
(20:04):
in the state that don't get to see the Cats play.
So it's a different kind of atmosphere. That really is
the only thing. And we used to travel and do
that often back when I played. But that's the thing
for me that makes that game interesting, just going again
(20:24):
at Memorial or up against the same old guys, and
I mean it just you're ready for some new faces.
So they'll see that game, they'll see that tomorrow night,
and I think it's going to be a great effort.
One thing about this team is they certainly play hard,
(20:45):
and they play hard every day, as they did you
mentioned they did in the Blue White game. But it'll
just be good to be going against some new faces.
What I would like to see is, you know, I
just want to see where we are and I don't
have any expectations. You're playing against a very very good team.
(21:07):
I think that in itself is going to help our
guys be ready. H I would like to get through
the game with always getting some good solid minutes and
not reaggravating an injury or anything. Like that, because there
was a lot of talk to keep them out even longer,
(21:30):
you know, before we brought them back. And there's really
no need to rush. So I just want guys to
get through the game without being injured and have an
opportunity to see how they're gonna how Mark is going
to try to blend combinations together.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I love the idea of the games being played us
in the state as they used to be. And I'll
take you back to a time when you would you
had been gone just a year or two year in
the NBA when the Sambuie recruiting class came in. It
was such a big class. Joe b and Leonard Hamilton
and brought in so many talented players, and there was.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
So much interest in that team.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
And the Blue White games were scattered across the state.
And I was working at the radio station that then
had the ball games, and the switchboard was overloaded with
people wanting to know. This is well before everything was
on TV. Are the games going to be on the radio?
The Blue White games? Everybody wanted to know. And Ralph
and k Wood, you know, they weren't too keen on
(22:28):
doing that. So I did the games with Jack Sutherland
all over the state and people ate it up. So
I I and the crowds were we needed police escorts
Jack to get into the arenas and into the high
school gyms because the crowds.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Were so incredible. So I love that idea.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
A couple of minutes left with Jack Gibbons. Did anything
in the Blue White Game surprise you in a pleasant way?
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Well, I know you're going to get a laugh out
of this gave. But the thing that surprised me the
most as I was headed to the game was how
bad that going it the traffic was. I couldn't even
get there. I mean, and I'm kind of being funny,
but that's the truth. I've been to Keenland for a
(23:18):
book signing and had my granddaughter there for the first time,
and we were having a great time and he didn't
want to leave. My daughter was there, she didn't want
to leave, so we stayed there longer. I dropped them off,
and just as my daughter is getting out of the call,
she reads this thing. If you're coming from north which
I live in Georgetown, and you're trying to get to Lexington,
(23:42):
it said, don't So I said, man, I'm not going
to fight this traffic and get there. I get to
see scrimmages every day, you know, But you know I am.
I just like the fact that what I heard and
what little bit I saw. The guys work so hard
(24:05):
and it's just now it's not surprising because you see
that every day. But that is the thing that I
love most about this team thus far is that, man,
they work hard. And you made a good point before
we went in to break how with the extra voices
on the floor and how much these guys talked, it
(24:28):
has taken Mark out of the mix. Sometimes he'll blow
the whistle, Gabe and start walking in to tell somebody
what they were telling. There's four guys already discussing it
and telling them here's where you want to go, and
markle turned around and walk the other way because they
they're kind of coaching themselves. And I don't know that
(24:51):
I've seen that a bunch, but that's one of the
great traits about this team.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
That is a great anecdote and a good place to
leave it. Jack Ebbans listen for his coverage along with
Tom Leach tomorrow night, when the wild Cats take on Purdue.
Jack get an earlier start to upp Arena but there
are more seats you ought to be able to get
in and I'll see you tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
We'll be listening as well. Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
All right, Gabe, Thanks, that's.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Jack Gibbons the UK, All American And when we come back,
Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated joins us here on the
Leech Report. Welcome back to the Leach Report. Dick Gabrielle
sitting in for the Voice on this Thursday morning, joined
now by Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Good morning, Justin there we go, Good morning, Justin, Good morning,
how are you.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I'm well, sir, Thanks for joining us as you do
each week with Tom.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And I'm wondering.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
I read your take on the Kentucky Texas game and
how close Kentucky came, and the mistakes and the good
things and all. You have to flush that though, this week,
don't you, because Tennessee is so different from Texas. You
take the good things away, obviously, but you know, how
do you attack this Tennessee fast break offense.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
You gotta be willing to trade blows with him. I mean, there,
we know that Tennessee is gonna put up points in
a hurry. They're gonna isolate certain matchups that are gonna
put strain on you. And uh, they're just a team
that you've got to be able to score points in
bunches against because they can. They can score bunches against
just about any any defense in the country. And so
Georgia was a very different challenge than Texas. That's one
(26:28):
of the reasons I was curious as to how Cutter
Bowley was gonna fare against Texas because Georgia was very talented,
but they don't offer a lot of pass rush. But
against a much more aggressive Texas defense, he did very
well also, So he seems to be growing and maturing,
and we'll see if they can bounce back and at
least put forth the spirited effort when the losses piling out.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Say what you will about Bush, ham Dan and play calling,
but when it comes to working with Cutter Bowley and
developing a different way to go at the offense. Back
to the Georgia game, the quicker strikes, the shorter passes
getting the ball out of his hand, it is clearly
paying off, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Yeah, Yeah, I think Bush. I don't think Bush.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
Has been a horrible play caller in most situations this year.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I think the way.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
That he's drawn the tight ends into the passing game
has been impressive. And I think the most impressive thing
about Bully the last few weeks is that the receiver
room is really weak. Let's just be real about that. Like,
they've got some guys that would be good complimentary parts
in another sec receiver room, but they don't have the
one or two up top that are winning a lot
(27:36):
of individual matchups consistently, or making a lot of yards
after the catch or blowing the roof off the defense.
So Cutter is really earning this. Not a lot of
guys are out out, you know, on those routes, and
he's putting him into tight windows.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
And you know, Bush gets.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
A lot of credit, but Cutter, just in terms of
ball placement and accuracy, is on a different level than
most Kentucky quarterbacks we've seen since Andre Woodson.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Frankly, and you've.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Been watching his kids since he was in high school,
and by his own emissions that I am not a
great running quarterback, but extending plays with his feet and
running for a touchdown against Texas, that's been a pleasant surprise,
hasn't it.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
I think he's a better runner than he would give
himself credit for. He has good instincts, Like you can
tell he has good instincts, good feel for blockers because
he climbs the pocket. When you watch Calzata play, you
know he would just roll out, roll out, and then
you end up having to throw it out of bounds
where his cutter will actually stand there in between in
between the tackles in the tackle box, and he'll climb
(28:34):
that pocket with traffic flying around him, and he knows
when to break out, and he can break a tackle,
and he's got all the tools.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
That he needs.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
It's just about to find details at this point.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, and it's fun to see a kid from Kentucky,
a local kid who if things play out properly, you
know they'll hold this job for three or four years.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
We haven't seen that in forever, have we. Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Quarterback continuity and develop has not been a strength in
the latter part, especially of the Stoops era. So you
know that, think about how much easier that makes building
your next roster if you're running it back, if you
don't have to worry about bringing new quarterback in. But
you know, we've got a lot of thing that's going
on at the same time.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
So yeah, and mind you, this was supposed to happen,
as you know, with Drew Barker starting back in twenty fourteen,
you know, but he gets hurt and then the revolving
door begins. But getting back to what's coming up with
Kentucky and Tennessee, I don't know that the Wildcats can
survive a track meet, but the way they move the
change and getting back to what you were saying about
(29:39):
the receiver room again, tip your cap to the fact
that the running backs, particularly McGowan, in terms of catching
the football, was highlighted in that game more than any
other this year. I personally love seeing that.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
What do you think, Yeah, no, no doubt. Cutter.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Cutter really works it to the backs in the flat
and checks down well and he gets it to him
and they've they've called good plays and situations for those guys.
Mcgawan has all the all the tools to.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Be a really good pass catcher.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Like you can tell he's got a fluid body movement
like he's got a good catch radius. He's he's very
he's fast. He seems the hands have been a little
bit up and down, but they get him on these
wheel routes and in the flat and he's he's very talented,
So it's impressive what the running backs have done. I
also think that there was a better approach to the
offense this year. I think they probably saw they didn't
(30:28):
have the number one receiver and they tweaked it accordingly.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Yeah, and to me, the best part against Texas was
on those shorter routes, be it a running back or
a receiver cutter hit him in stride. They were going
downhill when they caught the ball and never had to
break stride. And we've seen him, We've seen teams do
that against Kentucky, but seeing the Wildcats do that was
kind of refreshing, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Yeah, Yeah, no doubt and he was. I mean, if
you just look at the throwing chart, just to accuracy
on the short stuff was excellent. It was thirty one
of thirty nine. He's seventy percent. Yeah, over two weeks
against Georgia and Texas. And we know he can hit
the deep ball. So if he's a great deep ball
thrower under pressure, especially on the run, and he's also
(31:17):
very accurate on the short stuff, then that's another massive
step forward.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
As a quarterback.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
And you know, the average depth of target against Tennessee
against Texas was only about four point eight yards per throw.
That's about half of the length of throw you would
expect most weeks for a quarterbacks. So it was definitely
customized respecting the Texas pass for us, respecting the Texas
talent advantage in the secondary. I think you'll probably see
(31:43):
more deep shots this week a.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Couple more minutes with Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated. Speaking
of deep shots, Tennessee's got three of the top ten
receivers in the SEC, two of the top five, and
as Brad White pointed out to the media yesterday, he
said he must train for marathons because they never.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Come out of the game.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
It is severely going to test that Kentucky secondary, which has.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Been thin because of injuries.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
I think that's where the game is gonna be won
or lost Saturday, justin what do you think?
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Yeah, the difficulty with the Tennessee offense is they can
get you in a bad situation in a hurry, and
the game can just chick. It's just like you blink
and the game is different. And so even if you
play well and your sound and you think things are
going well. You can never let your guard down, but
you certainly have to withstand that initial blow so the
(32:35):
game doesn't take on a different dynamic that you want
after the first ten minutes. You can't be down fourteen nothing,
twenty one nothing. So with stand the initial blow and
then gradually start to punch on the defense with a
ground game maybe.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
And you kind of just describe what happened with South
Carolina because it was a game after one quarter and
that Kentucky started handing them touchdowns down there in Columbia
and it wasn't a game after that. You got to
be clean, as clean as you can be against Tennessee, right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Yeah, And I think they have been a little bit
more clean. Even if they might have been they might
have had an unfavorable talent situation the last two weeks,
but I think it's been a little bit more clean
other than you know, situational execution. So they got some
things going for it, but they got to be almost
perfect in those critical situations to have a chance.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
I like that term situational execution.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
That's going to be ringing in my head as I'm
watching this game on Saturday night, just about in a
minute or so with Justin But what a.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Weird year in the SEC.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
That's a broad statement, but who'd have thought we'd be
talking about Indiana and Vandy in the top ten.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
We've never seen that weird, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
It's it's crazy. It's a sign here well, I mean here,
here's the deal. Like it feels like this this one
thing or two things nil and the portal has totally
changed the character of college football. I don't know, we
don't know how many teams are now capable of winning
national championships, But this was always the sport that was
like as top heavy as top heavy gets. There's only
(34:09):
two teams in contention every year by the end of
the season. And now it's really like the NFL. And
it makes you wonder how people might be a Kentucky's
job differently into the future. If you're gonna be in
the SEC, in the Big ten, one of those two
power conferences that are gonna have all the clout, then
Kentucky is a much more enticing job than maybe it
was when it was just a bottom end of a
(34:32):
power conference position.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
So many head coaching positions open. Coaches on the move
and you know their first question is going to be
what's your nil situation? Like, you can't blame them for that.
So that's just where we are right now. Follow Justin
Roland in the pages or really online at Katzillustrated dot com.
If you're not a subscriber, you need to be justin. Thanks,
have a great weekend. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Thanks a lot.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Deck.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
He is Justin Roland and we will come back and
wrap up this edition of the Leach Report.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
How would you like to get a little extra feel
good from Cornbread Hemp? This fall well underway right now
is a really special deal and it runs through the
thirty first when you spend seventy five dollars on Cornbread
Hamp products, you'll get a free jar of their full
spectrum CBD gummies. Just go to Cornbreadhamp dot com place
your order and you will get the jar of gummies
(35:25):
added in and if you spend one hundred and seventy
five dollars, you will also get a limited edition corn
Bread Heamp tote bag. So it's a great time to
stock up on your must halves or try something new.
And if you're a first time customer, always put in
the kode Tom and check out you'll get an extra
twenty percent off your first order cornbreadhamp dot com. This
is the Good Life.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Welcome back thanks to our guest Jack Gibbons, to Justin Rowland,
to Jeff Pacoro. As we wrap up this edition of
the Leach Report. The Bobcat Enterprises, of course, is one
of Tom's fine sponsors for a location in Kentucky and
our final thoughts are brought to you by Kentucky road
Show Sports Cards and Memorabilia and lexingon. You can learn
(36:08):
more about them at Roadshowcards dot com. On this date
in UK football history, James Whalen set a record for
UK tight ends with four touchdown catches in a loss
down to Georgia forty nine to thirty four was the
final as the Wildcats threw for four hundred and twenty
one yards in the how mummy air raid attack rushed
(36:33):
for Well, let's put it to you this way. Anthony
White was Kentucky's leading rusher in that game four carries
twelve yards, So by then they had pretty much chucked
the run game out the window and we're trying to
win everything through the air. Can't really blame them in
a game like this, but it was quite about I
remember being down there.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
It was twenty one thirteen at the half. It was
a pretty good ballgame.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
But then Kentucky gave up twenty one points to Georgia
in the third quarter and the game got away, and
there was a point. There's one situation where how Mummy
you might remember, you went by the riverboat gambler kind
of guy, and they faked a punt and it didn't work,
And later on Mummy said it was up to the
(37:17):
kicker or one of the upbacks rather to look at
the formation and decide should we try to fake it
or should we not.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
And the guy either.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Miscounted or guessed wrong or whatever, but whoever made the
decision out in the.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Field gave Georgia a short field and.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
An easy touchdown and the Bulldogs went on to win it.
But James Whalen was an All American that year catching
passes from Dusty Bonner.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
And it's fitting that we bring that up.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Because this is also the day that we were talking
earlier about Jacob Tammy becoming an SEC legend.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
So there's been a few.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Tight ends at Kentucky that have played well. And if
the tight ends have a good time on Saturday. Maybe
the Wildcatch can throw scare into those Tennessee volunteers. You'll
hear that game right here on most of these same
stations with Tom and Jeff and yours truly. But that'll
do it for now Again Tomorrow night, Kentucky basketball, the
Cats and Purdue, thanks so much for joining us. Have
(38:14):
a great day, everybody. Tom's back tomorrow morning here on
the Leech Report.
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