2025-07-03 - BBI

Best of the BBI with radio personality Tony Cruise; (19:00) UK beat writer Ryan Black of the Courier-Journal and (39:00) UK football network radio analyst Jeff Piecoro in the garage with DG...

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's stick Gabriel taking a little bit of time off,
so we thought we would replace some of the best
interviews from over the last several months. Please enjoy the
best of the Big Blue Insider joining us now is
a longtime buddy of mine. You might remember him as
a member at times of the UK radio network, the
EKU Radio Network, most recently the morning drive announcer for

(00:22):
WHS Radio for many many years. Now retired. A cruise man,
Tony Cruz, my good friend who's actually on vacation right
now with his wife up in Montana. And good for you.
Are you relaxing, big man? Are you able to not
look at the clock all the time?

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, I'm I'm forgetting you know what day it is?

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Good?

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Good?

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Of course, anybody that listened to anybody in my audige
would say, you've forgot a lot of stuff. Kids.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
I just man, I remember meeting you, and I think
you were You might have been either still in school
at w at Eku. You're a proud colonel.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yes, I was my sophomore year when I was just
thinking about getting into radio, and well, I know I
kind of started getting entrenched into it, and I met
you at the press box stick Gabriel and everything, and
you were just so nice to me and then you
just started talking to me and then you know, you're
just a kind of mentor. You and Greg salam are

(01:23):
two of my mentors during that.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
Time, two old farts. And Stotts is still going strong
on the Colonel. Isn't that amazing?

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah? He's awesome. Great guys. Got We got some tut
ted coming around here pretty soon. Our annual event I
worked with Greg.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
We alternated on the Sweet sixteen this year on the radio,
and which I so so thoroughly enjoyed because I hadn't
done it in so long, and man, his level of
preparation is off the charts. But I digress. We're talking
to Tony Cruz who for how many years were you
Morning Drive at.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
H AS twenty one year?

Speaker 4 (02:01):
Wow?

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (02:03):
And prior to that one year. Prior to that, Tony
of course hosted a sports talk show which is no
longer in existence. I hate to say on WHS started
I think by Van Vance, wasn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
That's correct? Van Vance started that show. It became a
super uber popular back there in the day, and of
course Van and Kwood two great legends that I got
to know. And Van is not only a sports guy,
but I mean he plays classical guitar. He's I won't

(02:38):
give you his age, but he still walks twice a
day around park in southern Indiana and rides a bike.
And the only time he won't do that is if
there's ice and or lightning every day.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
So you you were exposed to and you know, Kwood
worked at wh S for the long, longest time before
he moved to lectioningon and worked with Jim hosts. But
just the fact that it's such a great radio station,
fifty thousand. Watson for the longest time was the sports
voice in Louisville, and really because of its power in

(03:15):
central Kentucky had both UK and U of L games.
And here you are doing the sports talk show. How
much has the landscape, if at all, changed with UK
and U of L sports since you did sports talk
And really, how did it change while you were doing it?

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, when I started sports talk, it was ninety four,
maybe somewhere between ninety four and ninety five, the little
thing called AOL was starting to come around. There you go,
and soon after that we're about to see it even
explode more with AI about probably a year or two later,

(03:57):
all of a sudden, you know, we would do these
recruiting shows were very popular for our audience's UK or
U of L, whatever the case may be in Indiana
and our case at has. All of a sudden, we
had competitions, you know, we couldn't just have Clark Francison
or somebody else from all these different guys that would
go out. You started seeing a real quick, you know,

(04:20):
convergence of these different sites. So then you got to
kind of change your game right about the way you
go about doing your show. And it became a lot
harder to you know, try and make it interesting because
everybody was always interested in recruiting. It still are now
it's you know, payoffs and I.

Speaker 1 (04:39):
Help, but craft no, And as you said, thanks to
the Innerweb, it's immediate. You know, we're playing from behind
on this show and your show, I mean, unless something
breaks while we're on the air. Yeah. And the hard
thing too, Tony, is you remember and it was just starting,
as you said when you were doing sports talk, was

(05:00):
there's no accountability. So even though something like beyond the Internet,
you can't trust that it's true, right right.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
And it was interesting also because sometimes you got to
trust of some coaches or even athletic directors, whatever the
case may be. I did not tell. I mean, I
didn't have to beat somebody to a story, you know,
or anything else. But sometimes you would find out things
that you didn't want to hear, you know, that were coming.

(05:32):
Maybe somebody's going to be dismissed or or something like that, right,
and you know, there's those moments where you could break that,
but I didn't want to break relationships, and so you know,
I just didn't, you know, I show and tell all
the time. I didn't think it was right. I understand
that it's not right to the families that are you know,
about to be exposed to this, particularly that they're going

(05:54):
to be dismissed, you know, their husband's going to be
dismissed or or you know, women coach whatever.

Speaker 1 (06:01):
You referred to UK U of l and Indiana, That's
what I always I always respected you guys. All you
got TV and radio in Louisville because you're serving so
many different audiences, both high school and college. But the
emotional ties that fans have. I don't know how many
IU fans tuned into your show, but I know UK

(06:21):
fans and U of L fans. It was almost an
even split. For the longest time there were more UK
than U of L in the city of Louisville. But
as Denny Crumb started to have success, the level of
backing for U of L roles, and it's basically fifty
to fifty, I would think, at least in terms of
the temperature of the room. But what was that like
for you? First of all, you had to keep up

(06:42):
because you would call me all the time, but you
had to keep up yet well, which was smart. Not
that I'm any smarter, but I'm sure I wasn't the
only guy you called. But you got to know what's
going on, what's happening, and you got to, as I said,
read the room and know how to talk to the fans.
What kind of challenge is that like for you?

Speaker 2 (06:59):
Big challenge because when I started, even though we had
both universities on Louisville took preference if you want to,
because I guess we made the most money on that
or whatever the case may be, and then UK would
be on one of our sister stations or something like that.
The UK came in with a big offer and they

(07:21):
became you know, the BBN thing, and then Louisville fans
got mad and then we converted a radio station dedicated
to U of L sports. But what I did was,
you know, Van, I suppose I think he called you,
and he called some up, maybe Tom or at that time,
Ralph Hacker or something. But there wasn't as big a

(07:43):
presence of the UK as there was U of LU
at that time, and Bob Knight was such a dynamite
stick that you know, there's a lot of shows, yeah,
with the with the Van, with the Southern Indiana audience.
So what I tried to do is tried to split
it as much as I could, and I got known
as a big UK fan by U of L fans

(08:06):
or charged with that from the standpoint because I started
doing a little bit more UK shows like I could
have dig gaber Lawn now or do that I just wanted,
and you know, I would take some heat from some
of U of L people, and I go, look, my
job is to get the biggest audience possible, and there's
not just one team, and you know, this isn't just

(08:29):
a one team city. So that's why I did it.
And let's be honest, what do you do more than
follow your own team. You follow who you think are.
I'll put in an air quotes your enemy, you know
what I mean. That's why we watched The Godfather. We're
not going to be we're not going to be in
the mafia. But there's something intriguing about something even though

(08:51):
we would never do any of these things. And it's
the same thing with sports. Sports fans, I think.

Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, yeah, but trying to understand sports fans quite the challenge,
isn't it.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah. What I did find though, is when you just
you know, talk to the players, they're just guys wearing
T shirts. A lot of times they didn't know anything
about Kentucky or anything about Louis Woe or whatever the
case may be. You start meeting a friend of theirs
and certainly family members and things like that. So when

(09:26):
I told people that, yeah, I'm really a U of
l UK or UK U of L fan, however you
want to you know, displace it, they go, you can't
be Well, it's kind of like in your line of work.
If you're a salesman, you know you're going to sell
your car to anybody. You didn't care if they were
a UK fan or U of l fan if you're
on the lot trying to sell a car, you know,

(09:48):
And I'm not saying that these people are tokens. I'm
saying they're part of your job. Yeah, you know, I
just made it like that.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'm with you. We're talking to Tony Cruz, long time
morning driving out your bus, also prior to that, sports
talk host and at times a member of the UK Network,
the EKAU Network. He is now retired and we are
We'll take a break, come back and talk more with
a cruise man on the other side of the break
here on six thirty WLAP. It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back

(10:16):
to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. We're talking
with Tony Cruiz, my buddy, a long time morning drive
host for WHAS Radio. Prior to that sports talk host,
at has has worked for the UK Network, the EKAU Network.
A proud EKU colonel. We call each other big man.
That is h I don't know if homage is the
right term, but that's a reference to Claude Bassett who

(10:39):
called everybody big man because I'm sure he couldn't remember
their names. But it's it's just a real blast from
the past. But it also kind of underscores Tony what
we have seen through the years with coaches coming and
going and and you know, programs being up and down.
I remember when when Rick Beatino got the Louisville and
people saying, we're never gonna beat Louisville again, and Tuffy

(11:01):
Smith beat him five straight and then for a while there,
Kentucky couldn't beat Louisville in football for lover money. And
then the next thing, you know, Louisville couldn't beat Kentucky
and football. So if you hang around long enough, you
see it all, don't you.

Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah. Yeah, And that's why they call him rivalries. You know.
When Patino came, Uh, Terry Miners and I were for
it and for you Wildcat fans, I totally understand why
you wouldn't want Patino to come, because, let's face it,
the one thing he was was a great coach and
is a great coach. He proves it again this year

(11:36):
and so. Uh. But when you're in a market and
you know, great things and great people and winning uh
means great ratings, you know, and income for the radio
station uh and and that kind of thing, then you
know you want you want that to happen. Well, of
course we took a lot of guss for that, and understandably. So, However,

(12:01):
if you were in our positions and Patino could come
to your city, or in your case, let's say that
Nick Saban could go to Lexington, you no offense coach
stud right now with termoil what's going on? But would
you take him? Of course you would? Would you be
would you be a lightning rod? Would it be all
around the country that Nick Saban is going to be

(12:21):
the coach at the University of Kentucky. Just look like
Bill Belichick is doing it North Carolina, and you know
they've been a nothing burger. You've got to heard more
about North Carolina football than what you're hearing right now.
So why wouldn't we want Rick Patino to come to
the city where we're making our living.

Speaker 1 (12:39):
No, I get that, And my take on that it
finally was, Look, Rick Pattino could have taken a lot
In fact, he took the Michigan job for two hours, right,
could have gone to a lot of places he wanted
to be like you and me, and you you weren't
born here, but you are Tony Cruise a Kentucky and
by now I am by birth. And you know, he

(13:00):
he wanted to live in our state, in our great state,
and live in Louisville because he had obviously the job opportunity,
but he had interest in horses and things like that,
and again did not come directly from UK. Now, Vince Marrow,
that's a different story. And I'm sure that ripple has
reached you in Montana, hasn't it.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
Oh yeah, I don't say keeping up. I don't say
using Twitter slash x is keeping up. But it's but
it's you know, it's a show about it. Yeah, no
doubt about it. Oh man, Yeah, yeah, that does seemed
it seems a bit odd. But I didn't know that
Jeff brom had the relationship with Vin.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
I didn't. Yeah, I didn't either, But then we should
have known him because everybody had seen playing the XFL
or the USFL or the World League or something. But
Vince was a pretty Vince played in the NFL. I
don't know how long. But and he won't hesitate to
tell you he was a great basketball player too. But
again this is a sign of the times. He's going

(14:02):
to be the GM and oversee the NIL operations. I mean,
you know, since you gave up sports talk to Move
in the morning drive. You know, the changes in sports
have been just staggering at times, haven't they.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
Oh yeah, yeah, And you know I'm not one of
those guys. I was one of those guys back in
the day and people were just you know, crowing at
me for saying, I think the athletes should be paid.
If you can pay them, I don't have a problem
with it. Yeah, you know, back my whole reasoning was that,
you know, a guy that the music major can still give,

(14:39):
you know, juba lessons or drum lessons or whatever as
a part time job, making seventy five bucks every half hour,
why can't student athletes have an opportunity to do that.
Of course, I had no idea that we were going
to make them pro athletes, not to make pro it's
they're pro athletes. And now the NCAA needs to go

(15:00):
ahead and put a little letter there L in THEA
league and we get salary caps and we make it work.
I don't think, with all due respect, the big ten
in the SEC with the most viewership are going to
allow that to happen. But I also think that the
well can dry up for what they think too, because

(15:24):
at some point if you're only going to have forty
teams that can actually play for a championship for fifty teams, yeah,
and it's still going to be the same seven or
eight decade after decade after decade after decades. Guess what.
Audience ratings still get bored and they'll lose them. That's right,
just as soon as they game.

Speaker 1 (15:40):
But if it takes twenty thirty forty years decade after decade, literally,
you know a lot of us aren't going to be
around for that. But yeah, I have fully agree with you,
But Tony, I think it had happened within for four
five years, I really do. I mean audience fatigue for
the same old teams. That's what's compelling about the College
World Series this year, an entirely different field of eight

(16:03):
for the first time since nineteen fifty seven. I know
you cannot have a level playing field, but things need
at least to be equitable. And you know that's why
one of the things I don't agree with everything Mitch
Barnard does and says, but I like the fact when
he got here he said, I want all the athletes
on all of our teams to at least have a

(16:25):
chance to compete for a championship. That's all I didn't expect.

Speaker 2 (16:29):
Yeah right, he did a marvelous job with it. He
put it, and I'll say that for Tom Juris as well.
Look what women's basketball dance. You know the tennants was
up to a high, high level back then. You know,
they've had some good golf team facilities, UK had great team.
Look at UK's track and field, ul swimming. I mean,

(16:52):
both of these programs have had good athletic directors here
the last several years.

Speaker 1 (16:57):
In a time. I remember the day routinely, just a
UK Athletics board meeting when they announced that the budget
had reached one hundred million dollars and I was stunned.
It's one hundred and fifty. Now, one hundred and fifty.
You know what it is that your alma mater twenty
three million, twenty three million, And yet well it is.

(17:19):
But they're expected to compete for the same trophy, you know,
and everything but football. They're D one and everything but football,
and they're trying to get to D one. But again,
I've told this over and over, but I remember Larry
Ivy telling me that the high the fastest growing expense
when he was ad many many years ago, was insurance. Well,

(17:39):
you know that's not getting any cheaper. And Barnard told
me one day that he had just been checking on
the price of jetfield and like jet fuel, it goes, yeah,
I got teams flying charters. I got to find out
what the cost is for Jetfield'm like, wow, you know
we think that it's just about tickets and facilities, but.

Speaker 2 (17:54):
It's not you. That's eye opening. I'm glad you brought
that up, because I don't think about our house. He needs, uh,
those kind of things. I have thought of this. We're
in Montana, you know it, two hours behind you there
in lections and and and I'm going, well, how do
these guys like Stamford being in the a CEC. It's
kind of ridiculous. And there are another you know, you know,

(18:16):
hour or two away or whatever, you know, and and
mid I know that uh you know at u c
l A. Uh, I'm trying to figure that. I can't.
I can't remember remember they the basketball coach there that
was under Patina. Anyway, it's been complaining about Nick. Nick.

(18:38):
I'm sorry, try to make it here if you're listening
to to Di Gabriel right now, but uh, he complained
about that. I mean, yeah, think about it. You played
three games, you know, and you're having to flip through
schedules for these guys. But that's getting a little too much.

Speaker 1 (18:54):
Well, and I've said before that that Patino it probably
wasn't the only guy, because I know Chip Kelly said
it too, but they were the most vocal or at
least the highest profile when they said and it makes
perfect sense. Let football do its own thing and leave
everybody else alone. And I don't know if it's possible,
but you know, go back to the traditional conference affiliations.

(19:17):
Let football do this thing, but then with everybody else,
go back to the way it was. And that, to
me is the greatest solution. And you know what, it
would be tough, but hell, they all went to college.
They're smart people. They can figure it out, you know.

Speaker 2 (19:31):
I think that is the best way to look at it.
You know who started all this. You'll remember this, Vince
Dooley at Georgia. And that's when you started losing because
they remember, the NCAA had this rule that you had
to have some regional games make it fair for one
A or one double A team right to participate. In
other words, you used to see Eastern Western games, used

(19:52):
to see Eastern Murray games, those kind of things, you know,
TV really right for TV and things like that, And
was that all went away? Obviously we're just so yeah,
yeah and so. And Seda Defsky said that this was
going to happen. He was the head of the NCAA,
you know what, forty years ago, and he was very

(20:16):
concerned about it, wrote a book about it.

Speaker 1 (20:18):
Well. And Oklahoma also it was a two prong suit
Oklahoma and Georgia. They sued so they could sell their
own TV rights and they won. This happened when I
was moving down to Texas to Dallas because it affected
my job down there. I won't get into that, but
it's just complicated. But anyhow, they thought, oh, we're going
to get rich, and you know what, they ended up

(20:39):
taking a loss. They did not get They put their
bids out, did not get the money they expected. Had
to pull them off the table. Tony Kruz right now,
we're going to let him get back to his vacation
with his wife in Montana. Brother, Thank you so much.
I'm so happy for you, and we'll talk again soon.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
I hope I'll see you, a big man. Thank you until
Thomas said, Hey, Su.

Speaker 1 (20:58):
We're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider.
More to come here on six thirty w LAP. It's
Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the best of the Big
Blue Insider. Joining us now as a guy who's been
on the show several times. Welcome back Ryan Black at
the Courier Journal. It is the off season, of course,
but Ryan, thanks to the portal, thanks to the interweb,
which you must endeavor to fill as we all do,

(21:21):
you never really you get to take some time off
now and then, but it does. Kid. The beat keeps
you busy. Ryan covers the basketball and football Cats. But
you really don't get to slow down much, do you.

Speaker 5 (21:32):
No, it's I mean, Dick, I feel like we've talked
about this so many times. Anything to have me on,
and thanks again for having me honest. Yeah, I feel
like there used to be, you know, prior to the
transfer portal and prior to so many changes that have
up into college athletics in the last decade.

Speaker 6 (21:49):
But there used to be a.

Speaker 5 (21:50):
Little bit more of alone, a little bit more time
to catch your breath, and now it just seems like
it's just constant roster shuffling and then all these other
off season events that go on. Now I was like,
you kind of there's just not as much time to
catch your breath as or what.

Speaker 1 (22:03):
That's right, But on the other hand, for fans, it's
kind of fun because now it's the way way too
soon preseason top twenty fives and the rankings of the
portal classes, and you still got the recruiting classes that
people like to rank. But does it seem to you
like the portal classes were for obvious reasons. Now our
front and center used to be who had the best

(22:25):
recruiting class, now is who's got the best portal class? Right?

Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (22:29):
And I mean I know I wrote about this, you know,
a few weeks ago, just about the fact that at
that time Kentucky football only had one commit you know,
for twenty twenty sixth class, and I kind of let
off with just saying that, hey mean, there are certain
schools like Ole Miss, for instance, that they just prioritize
the portal over, you know, over high school recruiting, because
you know, Laying Tiffin just kind of used like, hey,
I'd rather bring in a guy already know who has

(22:51):
been through the rigors of college and knows how to
pick a bug college playbook versus this is just a
little bit more of a risk, you know, projecting a
high school guy to come to college level. So I
think you're right, dick it. And here's the other thing too,
and I think you would agree with this for as
long as you've been around it, Man, National Signing Day
in February used to be this just massive bonanza of
an event in the college sports calendar. And now especially

(23:13):
because it's kind of just sandwich into December with all
the early enroll leagues and juco transfer, its Nashal Sun
Day favorite and that seems like a complete afterthought.

Speaker 1 (23:22):
So it's just.

Speaker 5 (23:24):
And like it just used to be one of the
biggest things to me in the college sports calendar, especially
if you were at a big time football school where
the football recruiting wasn't a big deal that But now
it just seems like it's just they just throw it
in there. And there might be a couple of guys
who were signing in February, but the ninety ish percent
of your class of signing in December now, so it's
exactly it's just a different deal.

Speaker 6 (23:43):
It's a different deal for sure.

Speaker 1 (23:44):
Well to that end, that presentation of Recruiting Day on
the web by UK. It evolved from me sitting in
a chair in front of one camera if I had
something report, Okay, they got a new signing or is
it a podium or something. They asked me to come
in and do that, and then you know, I would

(24:07):
walk off camera and it would just be the video
of an empty podium, you know, until somebody else signed. Well,
that quickly evolved into one of the biggest and most
intricate and involved broadcast events I've ever worked. We had
you know, six or seven people on the broadcast, you know,
and all these lights and camera. I don't know if

(24:28):
you ever attended one of those things, because a lot
of media people came. But it was a huge production.
Christy Thomas anchored and you know, he interviewed stoops in Maryland,
every coach we could find. And now, like you said,
it's like, oh, by the way, here's what's happening.

Speaker 5 (24:42):
So yeah, like that it was literally just like I
feel like it's just an email in February, like, hey,
you know, they they've added maybe one or two guys
to the you know, eighteen to twenty five. They signed
back in thember, you know what. And I'll I was
like to say, I do kind of miss the one
signing day February simply because right there was always those
crazy twists and turns of like, well hey at three pm,

(25:05):
and every other member of the tries to sign, but
the superstar we haven't seen his facts come through. And
maybe because his mom didn't want to go there or
is there some other school making a laugh that there
was just so much kind.

Speaker 6 (25:15):
Of a circus atmosphere too, and.

Speaker 5 (25:17):
I really enjoyed all the twists and turns and drama
and like, now that's just it's just it's it's very
much like, uh it's cold roofless efficiency now, well, you know,
everything everybody signed still delivered.

Speaker 6 (25:27):
It's good to go, just a different time at.

Speaker 1 (25:30):
That time, back when you were a little fella and
were recovering. Well that's how that's what recruiting was like.
They would issue, they would fax us or even hand
deliver a mimeographed list of play here's our recruits. Okay, thanks,
and that was it, you know. Uh so yeah, this
kind of the pendulum has swung back in the other direction.

(25:50):
We're talking with Ryan Black of the Courrier General covers
of football and basketball gats since we started with football.
You are there when Mark Stoops speaks every week and
of late, when he is spoken about how they intend
to do business this coming year, he has made it
very clear you don't even have to read between the

(26:11):
lines that he wants to get this thing back obviously
in terms of wins and losses to where it was,
but the way they do business, you know, and I
really think he made portal mistakes and he made management
mistakes with regard to how he ran his team. He
also had some tough breaks with injuries, you know, new coordinator,
all that stuff. But it sounds like he is going

(26:34):
to put all of his energy into making this the
Mark Stoops program. It was back four or five years ago.
I get that read, don't you.

Speaker 5 (26:44):
Yeah? I think you know when I kind of did
a season interview after last season ended, as you kind
of have mentioned that he's kind of gone, and he's
been pretty open about like, hey, you know, the way
that we won and that we built this program. It
wasn't flashy. You know a lot of times it was
like a very you know, run heavy ball, control pass

(27:05):
enough to keep monis and played great defense and hold
on to leads, and certainly that has not been really
the offense they've really tried to put out there, you know,
in the last few years.

Speaker 2 (27:14):
And so I think it's kind of like.

Speaker 5 (27:15):
What you're saying is a return to the earlier years
when they were still ascending, you know, obviously, because and
then you know, I mean they were in a rough
place before he got here, and it took a few
years to get it on track, and then we know
what happened after that. I mean, they had the longest
streak of bowl appearances in program history. And I know
some people say, well, again, I know it's a lot
easier to make bowls now, but fact for fact, and uh,

(27:38):
and I think that, hey, all that matters, you know, Dick,
at the end of the day is winning. So it
doesn't matter if you're if you're flashy while doing if
you're losing. Yeah, So it's like, as long as you
know you win, that's that's what fans here.

Speaker 1 (27:49):
Well, people can dismiss the bull streak. What Marks Tubes
always had at the ready, the numbers that backed it up.
And again, if it's that easy, why aren't more schools
doing that? Not even Alabama had a bull run like that.
Uh yeah, you can schedule yourself wins, but you've still
got to win enough to get the ball games. And
not a lot of schools were doing that the way

(28:11):
Kentucky was back then. And I know fans got a
little restless when they weren't going to some of the
bigger bulls. But what is it, three trips now of
the Citrus Bowl. That's not too bad, right.

Speaker 6 (28:22):
And yeah, no, go ahead, I would just say that.

Speaker 5 (28:26):
I mean, for the longest time, you know, the Citrus
always have been considered really the biggest bowl that was
not one of against the Roads, Orange Cotton, right and
now of course even now, I guess say they dropped
the name ors come back to the Peach. But it's
like it's always been a like the biggest bull payout
for the outside.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Of those bowls.

Speaker 5 (28:43):
I mean, I think, like that's that's nothing. That's nothing
so golf at I mean, Citrus Bowls a heck of
a heck of a good game if you're not able
to get kind of in the mix for those kind
of traditional kind of January first time games.

Speaker 1 (28:53):
Never heard anybody complain about the Citrus Bowl. People kind
of began to grumble about the Music City Bowl because
the weather wasn't obviously is great, but I never heard
anybody complain about the Citrus Bowl. We're talking to Ryan
Black of the Courage general covers of football and basketball Cats. Obviously,
line play is going to be the focal point really

(29:14):
every day leading up to and through the season, and
I don't think it's oversimplifying it Ryan to say that
is going to be I think the key to their
success this year. You got a second year with Bush Hampden,
you got a brand new quarterback, you got new guys
carrying the ball in the backfield, your star wide receivers
have moved on, But none of that matters if the

(29:35):
old line doesn't do a better job than it has
over the last three years. Do you see it that way?

Speaker 5 (29:41):
Oh well, I mean, Dick, one hundred percent, I think it.
We've kind of talked about this before, but at the
end of the day, I mean, yeah, you can have
a quarterback, a running back, your receiver, you who can
get the ball in their hands and make guys miss,
but they can't do it every single play for you know,
sixty seventy eighty however many snaps in a game that
they're going to get so you know, if you don't
have guys up front who can just move the you know,

(30:04):
opposing defensive guys out of the way, you know you're
gonna have a long day. And that's why we saw
Kentucky struggle just so mightily on offense last year. You know,
kind of ranking either at the bottom or among the
bottom court, you know, quartile of the SEC and pretty
much every every major offensive category. And as you said
to me, and they say that that it all starts
up front.

Speaker 1 (30:24):
He is Ryan Black covers the wild Cat for the
Career General. We'll come back and talk some basketball in
just a minute. You're listening to the best of the
Big Blue Insider. More to come here on six point
thirty w l A p. Hey, it's Dick Gabriel and
you're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider.
Welcome back with chatting with Ryan Black. Kid is the
UK beat writer for the Career Journal. Covers both football
and basketball, and with the football in our rearview, maryor

(30:47):
let us turn to basketball. What was your responsor for
your reaction, I should say, when you had to write
about Travis Perry leaving the program.

Speaker 5 (30:54):
Huh, well, it was certainly a surprise to me, Dick,
you know, simply because you know, I asked, you know,
point blank after after the Lost in the Sea in
the Sweet sixteen. You know that well, first I mentioned
I hate that I even have to ask.

Speaker 2 (31:06):
This, you know, the old days you didn't have to write.

Speaker 6 (31:08):
But it's like, hey, you know, are do you at
this point in time?

Speaker 5 (31:12):
Are you planning on being back that season? He's like, well,
he's a straight up yet like, of course I'm planning
on being back. And so I kind of thought, you know,
to myself, Dick, that really, of of the guys who
would you know, you would think would come back, the two,
for certain would be the two the two Kentucky guys,
the two Kentucky native him and Trent Noah. And so
certainly when I when I found out he was he

(31:33):
was transferring it, it certainly caught me by surprise. But
I guess it just I mean, it's just if we
just go back to this all time that it's just
the state of modern college athletics right now is you
cannot bank on anybody saying at any school for the entirety.

Speaker 6 (31:47):
Of their career.

Speaker 1 (31:48):
You know, No, it's a sign other times are there's
no question about that. And if somebody stays somewhere for
their entire career, they might have stayed two or three
years only because they've left earlier. There for the whole,
the whole shebang. But another guy coming back otega Olway,
I got to think you weren't surprised by that, But

(32:09):
you can't blame the guy for getting all the information
that he can.

Speaker 5 (32:12):
Right well, I wasn't surprised that he's he's, you know,
coming back. What I would say that I was surprised
about was that that it kind of took as as
long as it did, and if you kind of have
read and seen things, is that it really it came
down to the wire with him in terms of that
that he had made enough progress in the eyes of
of NBA talent evaluators that it made it a much

(32:34):
tougher decision for him than originally was thought, because I
at least know that, you know, when he when he
decided to go through the draft process, it was more
kind of like what Jaalen Lowe, his now new teammate,
which was more about going there and getting feedback by Hey,
what should I work on in my senior season? It was,
and so the fact that it kind of uh that
that it came maybe as close to him staying in

(32:54):
the draft as it was surprised me. But I think,
you know, Dick Gauga, you know, you got to look
at now, I mean Canucky with what with him coming
back essentially preseason as is he player of the year,
very possibly a preseason first team All American and then
everything else they've got.

Speaker 6 (33:09):
On this roster.

Speaker 5 (33:10):
I mean, Kentucky, you know, you don't have a heck
of a team on as we're looking on paper.

Speaker 1 (33:14):
He ended that, and of course everything's on paper now,
and you kind of answered my next question, what do
you foresee for him this coming year?

Speaker 2 (33:23):
Uh?

Speaker 1 (33:23):
And I keep going back to, uh, what Antonio Reeves
did his last year a Kentucky after getting all that
info from the scouts, and he did it within the
framework of what caller Perry's team was doing that year
and what they needed him to do. I don't see
and or take a Oway going crazy jacking up as
many shots as he can. I don't think that's what

(33:44):
the pros need to see from him, you know, I
think they probably need to see a better handle and
as good as defense as he can play, and he's
pretty good. Uh So, I you know, there's concerns some
might be concerned that he's going to go out and
just play for himself. I don't think that happens.

Speaker 6 (33:58):
What do you think I hundreds agree.

Speaker 5 (34:01):
I mean, I think, as you mentioned, Dick, I mean
he's already shown I mean, he can get to the rim,
you know, with these he as you said, he also
tied to the team lead and steals, So I mean
he's already a pretty good defender. I think the two
really primary things are, you know, showing that he can
create for other teammates, and the number one thing Dick,
because of the way the NBA emphasizes, is more consistency

(34:21):
on his three point shoo. Yeah, you know, if you
can lead, and I don't think he'll ever be, you know,
on the level of like you kind of mentioned Antonio
Reeves or obviously a couple of the guys last season
who were such incredibly good shooters. But at least if
he can make if he can make it more consistently
than he has to this point his college career, I
mean that that really unlocks a lot of things for
him because he's kind of got all the other tools
that you would want for a pro player.

Speaker 1 (34:43):
I've seen Kentucky ranked in a top ten preseason and
it's jug in just for fun, in the top fifteen.
So high expectations which Mark Pope obviously is known and
which fans know now are being thrust upon his team,
which is still, for the most part, a brand new roster.

(35:04):
What do you think of what you've read so far
from from your national colleagues about what's expected of Kentucky
this year.

Speaker 5 (35:12):
Yeah, I mean I think I'm a little surprised a
few of them have Kentucky ranked a little lower than
I would expect. I feel like I've seen a lot
of like nine, ten, eleven, twelve rankings with really I
kind of feel like they seem much closer to the
top five than fifteen. Just PROMI and again Dick kind
of like that we're literally talking about hypotheticals here. At
the end of the day, everything to play itself out.
But to me, I just feel like, man, seeing what

(35:35):
Mark Pope did in year one, overcoming the injuries they did,
get winning some of the games they did, you know,
get to the final four teams, I guess I'm a
little bit pprised it doesn't seem like he's getting a
little more of the benefit of the doubt already heading
into year two. But I don't know if that's part
of it is there's still people who who still want
to see more from you know, Mark Pope and his
staff to maybe give them that benefit of out that

(35:57):
so many other programs already get because of a long time,
you know coach who's been in you know, in place.

Speaker 1 (36:02):
I thought some of Pope's comments were really fascinating when
he talked about the improvements from years one to two
for his returning players, and of course he has you know,
kind of an intricate approach offensively, but also for his staff,
which was not just a cookie cutter lift, you know,
copy and paste from from BYU. He has new assistant coaches.

(36:24):
I'm really curious to see how this team functions this
coming year compared to last because of what Pope said
about year one of year two, it's like, you know,
people always talk about freshman to sophomore year you make
your biggest jump. It's that That's what it sounded like
to me.

Speaker 2 (36:38):
You know.

Speaker 5 (36:40):
Yeah, and as you said, I mean, the only the
only person who previously built his staff who came with
him with with Cody Seeger, how he had worked with
with Mark Fox. That Mark Fox was his boss at Georgia,
So a little bit a little bit different kind of
dynamic there. But I think that's honestly what I'm most
interested to see, you know, Dia, because I mean, I
think we just know, uh, the team's score points, because

(37:01):
the offense, the way that is they are going to
I'm just I'm mostly interested seeing what improvements we see
defensively because you know, there were definitely some times last
year they were they were rough, they were pretty bad.
You know, they did show improvement as he went on,
but I'm kind of curious to see how quickly from
the jump can they be better, you know, especially with
and Adica. What I love one one thing I do love,

(37:22):
you know, in college athlet it's actually gonna get dough
and play real teams in these exhibitions, and.

Speaker 6 (37:27):
You know, and I don't I don't.

Speaker 5 (37:28):
I don't want to take away from them playing Georgetown
College or Transylvania or whatever, because I know at least
that that that that gives those guys an experience of
play and rough. But I guess as as a sports
writer who's kind of being asked to make observation by
a team. You learn a heck a lot more from
them playing Purdue and Georgetown University than you do from
playing you know, Like, like I said, some of these
smaller schools that are in state, so well, I think

(37:51):
that's a little bit of Yeah, he.

Speaker 1 (37:52):
Keeps pushing for forty regular season games, so I guess
maybe this is a start. But he's not afraid to
share that opinion. I'll let you go with this. It's
going to be a fun season. Uh, the schedule is
going to be really incredibly fun. I think I don't
know about you, but I can't wait for that Atlanta
match up with Saint John's.

Speaker 2 (38:13):
Oh.

Speaker 5 (38:13):
I think, like I said, there's some great, great, great,
great great, you know matchup, And of course we don't
even know what the SEC scipt is gonna be yet,
But man, you know, I think of all the games
they've got that we know of right now, that the
one that jet to circle is the one to gainst
your rick Tinos. Think John's in Atlanta at the CBS
Sports class that that could be a bar burner of

(38:34):
a game.

Speaker 6 (38:34):
Can't wait for that one?

Speaker 1 (38:35):
Yeah, me, too, and when it happens, Ryan Black will
be there covering, presumably for the Courier Journal. H He
is the beat writer for the CJ, cover in the
football and basketball cats. Thank you, Sar, and we'll talk
to you. I'm Sue. I'm sure soon this summer, but
have a good one.

Speaker 6 (38:50):
Hey, thanks so much having me on, Dick. I always
always enjoyed.

Speaker 1 (38:52):
You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider.
Our number two is next year on six thirty w
l A P.

Speaker 3 (39:02):
S Ant staaeting. Don't donnything, it's Dick Gabriel.

Speaker 1 (40:59):
Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider Hour number two.
Taking a little time off, so please enjoy the best
of the Big Blue Insidercoro joined us here in the garage.
You've been in the garage, AH A million times, that's right. So,
but I thought we would bring in Jet because there
is so much to discuss that a phone line just
can't hold. Starting with the headline earlier this week, I mean,

(41:22):
how shock were you when you saw the tweet or
text or whatever about Vince merriw.

Speaker 4 (41:27):
What about him? You know, you know it's interesting because
I've talked to a couple of people over there, and
I can't name names, but I think this has been simmering,
it's been on the pot for a while, and it
just kind of boiled over. And I think that you've
talked about this and everybody else had ad nausea about

(41:50):
the change maybe in the dichotomy of how things work
in that football office with recruiting clearly where he had
carte blanche for a long time time, and now there's
other guys that the coach and Eddie Grant are listening to.
Eddie one of those. But also I think that and
we talk about this all the time, Dick, in any

(42:11):
sport and in any business, you have to keep getting
better people to keep to get you better. For a
long time, no, I mean coaches that are recruits. For
a long time, it was Vince and well this guy
got a guy over here, and this guy got a guy.
But Vince got this guy and this guy and this
guy right Well now you got You brought in Chris

(42:33):
College and the defensive backs coach has done a fantastic job.

Speaker 1 (42:37):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (42:38):
You brought in the new wide receivers coaches, who's very good.
You brought in Bulwear who's very good. Each of them
have different areas that they pursue Florida, Texas. Uh, things
like that, mostly more the South than the North. Now
they haven't really got a bunch of guys from Ohio
in the last couple of years. Yeah, but I think

(43:01):
Mark might want to change that. I mean, Eddie used
to make bank everywhere he has been in Florida. That
was his fight, as Frank Cursey was too. So there's
different guys and so now it's kind of like you're
the four Beatles sitting in there and hey, I've got
a song. Sit to the side. What do you got?

(43:21):
You know, what do you got? Okay, now what do
you have?

Speaker 1 (43:23):
Like a young George Harrison trying to make So everybody's
trying to, you know, to get the room because you
only have so much. But plus otherwise, well before we
get to that, uh, stoops has let people go when
they're recruiting, prowess has last. I haven't gotten the job done.

Speaker 4 (43:43):
Correct because it's the lifeblood until a couple of years ago.
And now with the passage of the bill that you
can simply just pay guys, now it's changed everything. And
I feel so sorry for people like Walt Wells Eastern

(44:03):
Kentucky's coach used to be on the staff here.

Speaker 1 (44:06):
Uk Uh.

Speaker 4 (44:07):
But those kind of guys are just, I don't know
what to call it. Now, you're a feeder system. It's
just like the Reds and the Pirates and Kansas City
Royals kind of are in baseball, where you're just a
feeder for the other teams.

Speaker 1 (44:24):
It's almost like you're the miners.

Speaker 4 (44:25):
Yeah, but because you get guys that are okay players,
we'll go, you know what, go to Eastern great coach,
great coaching stuff. Right, You're gonna get to play, You're
gonna mature, you're gonna hit weights with real guys telling you,
not the universal machines that they have at most high schools.
You're gonna get better nutrition, you're gonna get bigger, stronger, faster,
And in a year, we'll pay you one hundred thousand

(44:47):
to come to us.

Speaker 1 (44:48):
You can almost shop yourself.

Speaker 4 (44:49):
And that's basically what's being done. And unfortunately, all the
MAX schools, Toledo, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Central Michigan,
all these schools Bowling Green feeder systems now to Michigan
to Ohio State, to Michigan State to Penn State, they're
just they just grab whoever they want from there because
those teams have no recourse. They can't come back and

(45:10):
offer what these teams have. So it's changed the way
you stack a team. Old Miss has done it unbelievably.
So you're not bringing in as many freshmen because would
you rather have an eighteen year old kid or would
you rather have a twenty one year old man. It's
a big difference in those three years.

Speaker 1 (45:27):
Literally, and you you go geographic on the MAC and
of course the D one school is in and around
the MAC. The SEC it's national in terms of their scope,
isn't Yeah, I mean that's that's a great advantage.

Speaker 4 (45:42):
Well, I mean, look at Kentucky what they've done and Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt got New Mexico State their best players. Kentucky said,
wait a minute, that is a pretty good team. I'm
going to take that offensive lineman looks like.

Speaker 1 (45:54):
Lurch from you know that the h doesn't play that way. Yeah,
I mean, he's not a bounce of body fat. It
doesn't look like the thing.

Speaker 4 (46:03):
Is his armspan, wingspan? What have you called Sam Bowie.
So by the time the defense been just if he
has to run around him. Yeah, if the quarterback hasn't
thrown it by them, then there's something.

Speaker 1 (46:12):
I hope his footwork is as good as Booie's.

Speaker 4 (46:14):
Yeah, yeah, there you go.

Speaker 1 (46:15):
But yeah, well, and you bring me to another point
of the old line. But I want to double back though,
to Vince. The Vince Merrill situation. Sure, so much discussion obviously,
and he hasn't had a chance to speak publicly yet.
Not that that will assuage ninety percent of the fan base, however,
I think just the optics within the conference, within the country,

(46:40):
it's really striking startling, isn't it.

Speaker 4 (46:42):
Well, you know you and I have been friends for
forty years, right, I mean we've been friends for forty years.
A great I've been friends with Kenny McPeak since we
were six years old, really that first grade all the
way through college. And in that time period you have
ups and down, you know, if fun yeah, or one
guy's moves away or does this or does that. And

(47:07):
I just think that it got to a point with
those two in their professional lives. Both of them make
seven figures. One makes a lot more seven figures than
the other. But you can't be a buddy anymore. You know,
there's a difference when you're when when it's an inn underling.

(47:28):
How do you how do you describe it? There has
to be a clear deligation between you're the boss and
you're underneath me. Right, and guess what, we haven't been
doing that great? And again I look back at Vince. Look,
I like Vince, great guy. You know, we get along well.
I talk to him every Saturday. I go down on
the field of team. You know that. But how great

(47:51):
were these tight ends? Was it the offense? Because none
of these guys who have come to this school with
all this great hoopla around them every year we got
the best, you know.

Speaker 2 (48:04):
A C.

Speaker 4 (48:04):
J was a great example. But unfortunately he had you know,
a problem, right injury finds a heart or something with him.

Speaker 1 (48:11):
No, it turned out there wasn't a problem. But but
he did deal with injuries about it. But the other thing, too,
is I never get excited anymore about the tight ends
because the old line. Yes, and you talk about it
with Tom on the air. Yeah, you got to keep.

Speaker 4 (48:24):
Him in the bolodock, and if you don't, it's just
as you know, a mad dash to the quarterback. But
to get back to Vince, he the what they're gonna
miss is this Vince was good cop. Every kid that
had a problem on the team came to Vince. Vince

(48:45):
had tentacles all over Lexington with people that he could
ask favors for for his players and for him, quite frankly,
that's what they're gonna miss. I don't know if anybody
else has that on this team. Most of the other
guys are are you a little younger, married, younger children,

(49:08):
so it's a little different.

Speaker 1 (49:10):
Or they're not built that way.

Speaker 4 (49:11):
Chris is built that way. Yeah, Vince's Vince is almost
like and yeah, an NFL kind of coach, a guy
that you know, and.

Speaker 1 (49:18):
He's all that's a great point. He's also the NFL
as yes for the program.

Speaker 4 (49:24):
And then that's again, those are the things you have
to replace. I think that's where it's going to hurt
him the most is the kids all went to him. Now,
who's their filter before they have to go to coach,
you know, because coach is a bad cop the way
Yeah you got to be. I mean you think a
kid when he had when he had a problem, went
to Nick Saban. Nick's like, the hell you doing to

(49:47):
my host? You know? The correct Yeah, you see him
on the practice field seriously. And that's another thing I
think that Mark has kind of learned is he's gotten
a little bit more trusting of his assistant coaches. I
think where he's letting them do a little bit more
and he's doing a little bit less. But I do
like what he said after last season he's going to

(50:08):
get back to the old school tactics and stuff.

Speaker 1 (50:10):
We'll talk about that on the other side of the break,
because that has been lacking evidently. Well, the results on
the field prove that. We're talking to Jeff Piicorrel, the
UK Sports Network, you're listening to the best of the
Big Blue Insider. More to come here on six thirty WLAP.
It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the best of the
Big Blue Insider here in the garage with Jef Piicorrel,

(50:32):
the UK Sports Network and WTVQ, and we're talking, of
course about Kentucky football. And before the break you brought
up the fact and you're at the news conference when
Mark's troops said out and talked to us after spring
practice and the kind of the middle of the season,
middle of the summer. I should say press conference always
like how he says, good to see you guys. I'm like, really,

(50:54):
but I think he does like talking football with us,
and I think to his credit, I keep me. I
haven't had the opportunity to ask him at some point,
but I would like to know how much did he
have a chance to interact with media when he was
a coordinator or an assistant because as you know, in
some places they're not allowed. Assistants aren't allowed. And I
felt like stoops, you know, it wasn't great, but he

(51:17):
was good when he got here at talking to the public,
talking to the media, that kind of thing, and he's
gotten better at it. But I thought his message this time,
as you said, was really interesting. They want to get
back to what what is it they need to get
back to. I think that.

Speaker 4 (51:34):
There's a fine line these days now once you start
paying people in disciplinary terms, and my question is this,
are you allowed to and this would be a great
question for somebody that within UK are you allowed to
penalize them with fines?

Speaker 1 (51:53):
Good question?

Speaker 4 (51:55):
If a kid is out, he gets he gets pulled over.
Some it's speeding tickets like we've seen one hundred of
them at Georgia. I mean it's a race track down there.
It seems like with his players, can you find those guys?
Can you say, hey, guess what you're making one hundred
thousand dollars, Well, we're taking five thousand because of this.
That will hit you. But I'm talking about getting back

(52:16):
to the discipline lack thereof. When you have pre snap penalties,
that's all discipline. It's all mental. That's guys that are
just not engaged in the game. The quarterback says, the
play right wing whatever, blah blah blah blah blah. On
to on too, ready break if you can't remember that

(52:38):
in the three seconds it takes you to turn around.
And most of the calls now are from the line,
and it's a word is when the ball is snapped, yeah,
so what do you mean, they'll either clap or they
yeah yeah, or or it could be two claps.

Speaker 1 (52:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (52:58):
But that's all pre snap stuff where guys aren't sure
of what the heck's going on and they they jump
at that first you know, inflection, that's all mental, that's
all that is all discipline. And his teams have become
very undisciplined and he knows it because we all see it.

(53:20):
And that has to change and you cannot have And
I don't know this, but you know I talk about
this all the time. If you have a rule, it
has to be a rule for the first teamer or
the scout teamer. It can't change because you're the star
wide receiver, because that's the look. Ryan Lemon is a

(53:44):
good friend of mine. But I'm sorry. Losing dang Key
is not going to hurt this football team. As a
matter of fact, it helps his football team.

Speaker 1 (53:51):
They're close.

Speaker 4 (53:52):
Yes, he's almost like father team Barry Unbrown. Not a loss.
The kickoffs. Yes, If I'm a defensive backguardian, I cannot
wait till Kentucky plays them. There's no way if he
gets an outside release, that kid comes out of the game.
He'll never play for me again. If he gets an

(54:13):
outside release, make him go inside. He can't and he won't.
He's scared to death. It's not a loss for Kentucky.
The speed, you can't replace that. But they've got some kids. Now.

Speaker 1 (54:26):
I think dan is a loss. I think Dan Key's
a talent. You know, the program will not implode, you.

Speaker 4 (54:33):
Know, but you can't see I can't get into some
of the things that I wish I could say during
a game, if the ball is not coming to you
as a receiver, you still have to do every other
thing because it takes eleven guys on every single play
to work.

Speaker 1 (54:51):
And and Dane not perfect. And I can't remember the game,
but he made a knucklehead play, early penalty helmet. Yeah,
that kind of stuff, you know, And he did that
down at Vandy. You know, he had some growing up
to do, but I thought he did. I do think,
yeah he has, he still has more growing up.

Speaker 4 (55:10):
He does, he does. And I think the other players
see that.

Speaker 1 (55:13):
And they're like, dude, yeah he's a star.

Speaker 4 (55:17):
But I think that that that discipline has to come back.
Not fear your coach, it's not when I'm talking about,
but discipline. Guys want discipline.

Speaker 1 (55:26):
I think there are kids, and look, you've got children.
I've got children. As they grow, you know, they have
to decide you. All you can do is shepherd them.
What direction do you want to go?

Speaker 2 (55:39):
You know?

Speaker 1 (55:40):
And I think you can see that in some ballplayer.
Do you know what what guys in the locker room
do you want to hang with?

Speaker 2 (55:46):
You know?

Speaker 1 (55:46):
Do you want to go with this group over here?
What they're out there having fun? They're doing this and that,
and they're not getting their work done. It's or this
group over here that's going through the tougher times. But
I remember when there was a rift in a in
a Tubby Smith team where you had a group over
here that followed players X, Y and Z, or this

(56:07):
group over here to follow Chuck Hayes. Yea, you know
you need your kids to follow Chuck.

Speaker 4 (56:12):
He I mean even more recently that look at Oscar
and the point guard. Oh yeah each other. Yeah, yeah,
I couldn't think of his name. That's your two best players.
And once it get me the ball and the other said,
well I'm gonna take this. Yeah, it had to change,
and it did finally. But but the other thing, and.

Speaker 1 (56:30):
You've been in those locker rooms, not up to you,
but uh, is that the kind of thing that can
just take hold like wildfire, like you know, in a hurry?

Speaker 4 (56:38):
Well yeah there guy. You know you've got you've got
guys who are serious about playing. And it's changed so
much since I played, it's ridiculous. But you had the
guys that wanted to party and play, and then you
had guys that were.

Speaker 1 (56:56):
And really, what about and you played with guys like this?
What about guys wanted to party and we're still great players.

Speaker 4 (57:02):
That's I know, right, Look, everybody knows I'm not I'm not.
Cam Jacobs was a perfect example. Couch clayverg just said,
I was what to do with this. I don't know
what to do. Yeah, here's a guy fun and here's
here's a guy. I want to tell you one story
about a guy from Lowell played a Bishop David. Maybe

(57:23):
the best athlete I've ever been around in my life,
and it's Paul Calhoun. Oh yeah, Paulkham never lifted a
weight never.

Speaker 1 (57:31):
He hated the weight room, blessed.

Speaker 4 (57:33):
He hated running. You know, in the summer we had
to come back and run sixteen forties and a four
to forty two twenty five. He would screwl around in
the weight room and then he'd run his forties like
it was nothing. He'd lift his weights like it was
I'm like, he sleeps all day, how do you do this?
He wasn't a party I'm not kidding about it, but

(57:54):
I mean it was like, but there are just those
guys that are gifted. Cam was one of those guys too.
He could party all night and at the next morning, Dude,
I just saw you at four o'clock in the morning
when you crawled to your room and now here you
are and you're ready to go and it's eight am. Yeah,
but those guys. But the other thing, the other point
I want to make you have to call the game

(58:17):
to win the game, not to appease players. And I
think as a coordinator, as a coordinator too, and and
I think Mark Mark understands that now because you've gone
through it and see it doesn't work when we're trying
to make this guy happy. He makes happy. To make
this guy happy, we're here to win. If you don't
want to be a part of that, if you're gonna
be selfish, then you're not gonna be a part of this.
And that's kind of what I was getting at with

(58:38):
the two wide receiver.

Speaker 1 (58:39):
Because if you're yeah, if you're a coordinator, you're like, well,
we haven't thrown the bottle this guy in a while,
or let's go to jet sweep again, because we haven't
given the ball to Barrian in a while, and everybody
instead of knew it was coming right and that has
to change. You think I did?

Speaker 4 (58:52):
I do? I really do, because I think I think
Bush has implemented the system that he likes, and I
think the receiver serve is gonna be fine. There's a
lot more debt than see. That's the other thing. You
had really two guys at receiver. Yeah, and then we
saw at the end of the year. Wow, this guy's
not too bad. And this guy's not too bad because
two guys came out at the end of the year
back then and Uhri and Farrier and you're saying, okay,

(59:15):
and now they're deeper. Kendrick is going to be a real,
real nice player. Law they got, so they got they
have some nice size and nice speed, and we got.

Speaker 1 (59:23):
To hang on to the football enough to run seventy
plays so they can show what they about this.

Speaker 4 (59:28):
How about this point? Who was the last three thousand
yard passer for Kentucky?

Speaker 1 (59:32):
Oh man, the last three thousand yard pass.

Speaker 4 (59:37):
And it wasn't Will Levis, was it Terry Wilson?

Speaker 2 (59:41):
No?

Speaker 1 (59:42):
Further back? Oh, you're kidding, Mike cart Line.

Speaker 4 (59:45):
No, who's a coach?

Speaker 1 (59:47):
Wow? Wow? How about that? Interesting? Jeff Percora's in the
garage from the UK Sports Network in WTVQ will come
back with more. You're listening to the best of the
Big Blue Insider more to come here on six thirty
Double Lap. He it's Dick Gabriel and you were listening
to the best of the Big Blue Insider. We're in
the garage with Jeff mcorol, the UK Sports Network in WTVQ.

(01:00:10):
We've talked a lot of Kentucky football, of course, and
Jeff covers a lot more than just that, and by
the way, is also the voice of UK women's basketball
on SEC Plus. And Kenny Brooks, just like Mark Pope,
constructing a new roster does have some folks coming back though.
He's got some talent and a team. Boy. I tell
you you were there in the coliseum when they lost

(01:00:32):
in the nca tournament. But what a game, what an atmosphere.
I firmly believe that's just a preview of things to
come to you.

Speaker 4 (01:00:41):
Yeah, the thing that jumps out at you is the
size difference from just two years ago to today. You're
like six seven six' five six four sixty four sixty
three the guards this year because unfortunately you Lose, amore
but the two guards you have now are both six feet. Tall.
Uh just the size and they look more like A

(01:01:02):
South carolina or A Notre dame and, uh you Know
stanford and those those teams that are Perennial. Connecticut, uh
just great, Teams. Kenny the one THING i think that
they have to work on is. TOUGHNESS i think they
got pushed around THE N City. Tournament but, yeah that's
a huge.

Speaker 1 (01:01:20):
Player.

Speaker 4 (01:01:21):
Yeah well even when they Played, texas you, know the
bigger the schools that had, bigger stronger girls Really South
carolina because again and and It's kenny's kind of m
oh it's a more of a finesse style that he.
Plays but you, know he even said in THE sec
after after a couple of sec good lord they let him.
Go yeah, Dude yeah he. Understood he's a great coach

(01:01:44):
and and uh he's got a really good staff. Too
that's that's the, key it really.

Speaker 1 (01:01:48):
Is Matthew mitchell hit that area where his team and
his staff kind of fell. Apart he sure, is and,
Uh i'm curious see what kind of staff he's together.
There But georgia, aymore you mentioned generational, talent you, know
And i'd love the story about how That kenny told us,

(01:02:09):
preseason because remember how weird the schedules where you work
Game you And Christy. Thomas you, know an eleven am
game or a game three days or two days after.
Another you're, like what's up with the scheduling because it
was such a challenge to build a schedule. Together After
Georgia aymore transferred From Virginia, tech he, said at first
of Was. Kentucky, yeah we'll play, it thought Bubble, bee

(01:02:30):
and we'll beat the crap out of. You you know my.
Words but then when The Georgia aymore, TRANSFERRED i don't
know if we're going to be available to Play. Kentucky
and we saw why didn't?

Speaker 4 (01:02:39):
WE i, Mean kentucky was ALMOST i kind of equate
them with Remember xavier about fifteen Years, well Once Skip
prosser got, There, yeah it changed savior Every, yeah we'll Play.
Xavier yeah we'll play.

Speaker 1 (01:02:51):
It never a homecoming upon and, ye yes.

Speaker 4 (01:02:54):
Exactly and then all of a, sudden nobody wanted to Play,
Zavys like what can we get? Anybody you, know it's
the exact same, thing because they're, like, yeah we'll play
you at our place. Twice you come here twice At
Ohio state will play. You, Yeah we're not going to
come to your gym and play right. Away that's the
problem you have and people don't realize that, that you,

(01:03:15):
know all these games football and, basketball there's a lot
of you got to read that contract all the way
to the, bottom and it's crazy some of the you
know what these teams BECAUSE i know a lot of people,
say why do we have to play this? Team? Right you,
know why can't we just.

Speaker 1 (01:03:31):
Play as you need to? Play, yeah and you need
to play at? Home, yes games you don't you don't
return because of the, Money, yeah. Exactly you, know and
you AND i talk we're going to delve back into,
football BUT i know you want to see more of
the high profile games and. Whatever AND i can understand
why you don't want to lock in with all THESE
sec games to non conference home and home Beyond louisville

(01:03:53):
because that's your. Budget the football games are so huge
in your, budget and you're going to get the. Money you,
know what do you Play ohio stayed at? Home Or
kent stay at? Home you've got to play at?

Speaker 4 (01:04:06):
Home, Yeah AND i just have a, Feeling dick that
in the next three or four years we're gonna lose
a lot of. Balls there's what forty two or forty?

Speaker 1 (01:04:12):
Three, Really, YEAH i just think THAT espn owns so
many of them and it's their.

Speaker 4 (01:04:19):
Programming but WHAT i think's gonna happen is with the
expansion of the, Playoffs, okay you JUST i just don't.
Know and especially if it goes to nine, games WHICH
i think is going to happen in THE sec because
of The big ten does? It, yeah and everybody else does.
IT i think it's gonna go to nine, games everybody's
gonna get another.

Speaker 1 (01:04:40):
Loss, yeah you're.

Speaker 4 (01:04:41):
Right so and that's AND i never even thought of
it that. Way And Mitch barnhardt was talking to me
and he, said if we go to, nine that means
half the teams in THE secu you're gonna get a.
Lost but now that it's expanded to, now it looks
like it's going to be sixteen. Teams the bulls are
going to be gobbled by. Those that's going to be
all Those New Year's Day bowl games are now all
going to be in the sixth the what eight games

(01:05:05):
or a twelve games it's gonna be, Now so that's
gonna take take a stand of thirty. BOWLS i just
don't know how many teams are gonna get the six
wins to be able to go to, balls.

Speaker 1 (01:05:14):
And we've seen in some bowl games they'll take a
team of the losing record because they've got to put
something ON. Tv and it gets. Ratings that's the. Thing
that's what's amazing about. It it does draw. Ratings getting
back to what else is going on on. Campus you
Covered kentucky baseball this year like the rest of, us
probably a surprise to see that name come up in

(01:05:36):
the nca. Tournament and Then wildcats ac quitted themselves well
a couple of times and then blew a couple of.

Speaker 4 (01:05:42):
Games dick to me AND i said this to you
guys about, football THAT i would spend every PENNY i
had on offensive and defensive. Linement, okay in, baseball same. Thing, Pitching,
YEAH i can find a second basement, anywhere, right you.
CAN i can find an outfield or anywhere that's gonna
hit to. EIGHTY i, mean there are a diameond does.

(01:06:03):
It but you can never have enough. Arms it's unbelievable to.
Me how many games and you did half of? Them
how many games Did kentucky have a lead through the
fourth and fifth inning and then you lose it through
the six.

Speaker 1 (01:06:17):
Thirty one sec? Games kentucky had the lead early twenty eight,
times and you factor in non, conference you, know which
Included Murray, state which came to town and Beat. Kentucky
and now we know that wasn't a, fluke, right you?
KNOW i RAN i ran this by listeners last. Night

(01:06:37):
let me run it by. You you having played college
ball and been yelled at by a coach or. Two
BUT i remember The Murray state baseball game watching warm
ups as we, Were doug AND i were, preparing AND
i don't know WHY i caught my, eye but it.
Did they warmed up really. Well and that sounds like
a goofy thing to say, that.

Speaker 4 (01:06:58):
You know how guys have been Coaching it, is isn't.

Speaker 1 (01:07:00):
IT i mean they were, sharp they were, precise they
were Very the WORD i kept coming back to was.
Professional that, matters Doesn't, Oh, Dick so.

Speaker 4 (01:07:10):
You did this when you were IN. Tv you know
that you preview the season On, friday you, know and
every every day leading up to the, start you go
and you Do henry Clay Tan's Creek. County then you
go to you, know all the counties around A Scott county. Club,
anyway what again is you go to some of these
practices and the head coach h, yeah high school and

(01:07:33):
they're working with the. Offense everybody else is standing, around
they're looking. Out you, know it's like a t ball.
Game everybody else is just hanging. Out and then you
go to some practices and you've got eleven guys over.
There you got eleven over. Here you've got these. Guys
everybody's doing something that's right the whole. Price you're, like
this team is very well, coached it's put together. Well

(01:07:55):
and what happens that team usually wins, eight, nine ten
games and goes to the. Playoffs it's and it's like
that in. Baseball you go and you see some of
these and you're, like this is like The Bad News,
bears and then other Teams Murray. State, wow these guys.

Speaker 1 (01:08:07):
Man you, know, Right and it's more than just watching
the catcher to see who can throw it a second
or watching the outfielders as he who's got an arm,
uh because sometimes they'll deek you a little bit. There but,
NO i, mean AND i remember really WHEN i started
COVERING uk baseball and going to practice Is, Madison Cohen.
Anderson everybody's doing. Something AND i loved playing little league

(01:08:30):
baseball up until, HELL i played TILL i, WELL i played,
adultly but, anyway in terms Of Little, league un TIL
i was sixteen or. Seventeen the only THING i didn't
like was AND i like going to practice because to,
me that was playing. Baseball but the standing around hated. That,
man and you get, bored you, know you lose your mental.
Edge but you, know typically Captain Murray state now you, know,
WELL i got to bed a minute left.

Speaker 4 (01:08:51):
In this second is the only state that has two?

Speaker 1 (01:08:52):
Teams how about? THAT i was gonna ask you About
omar and you AND i went last year we rowed. Together,
cool isn't it something?

Speaker 4 (01:09:00):
ELSE i, mean it's Like field of. Dreams you, Know
i've never been, there BUT i would assume by watching ON,
tv it's, exactly, say because you Get dome on it's
like it's Like valhalla of. Baseball everybody there is wearing
a baseball.

Speaker 1 (01:09:12):
Hat that's, right that's. Cool and, well you covered final
fours as. Well, yeah to, me it's like The Final,
four only it's twice as. Big, yeah because there's twice
as many.

Speaker 4 (01:09:22):
Teams this is so much BECAUSE i don't want to
get into all that crap at The final four in
THE Sec championship. Game that's so. Commercialized this is.

Speaker 1 (01:09:31):
Baseball, yeah there's some commercialization to. It, yeah but but
it's Still but you're, right it's really. Cool you're. Right all,
right we'll take a, break come back and talk more
With Jeff piicorro OF wtvq and THE Uk Sports. Network
in just a, minute you're listening to The best of
The Big Blue. Insider more to come here on six
thirty W. Lap It's Dick. Gabriel welcome back to The

(01:09:52):
best of The Big Blue. Insider welcome back to the
garage With jefpiicorro THE Uk Sports network IN wtvq final
segment of our. Program, UH i want to before we
forget about, it we got to talk horse. Racing two.
Things Number, one you Mentioned kenny, McPeak who told me
and my Partner tim we were over at his barn
getting some autograph stuff for The, Marks, Dukes bourbon And

(01:10:15):
cigars event coming up this. Summer he, so he, SAID
i didn't get a chance to listen to his podcast Pre.
Derby he Picked. Sovereignty he told, Us, oh and he's
gonna win The belmont two by about four. Lengths wait
one by? Three you, know really, like and when you
get a guy like, that as you want, know you
were a horse racing you've been a horse racing guy.

(01:10:36):
Forever when a guy like that tells you how much
he likes somebody else's a, horse that's. Big.

Speaker 4 (01:10:41):
Yeah that's one THING i always Ask kenny when he's
when he has horses in a race And i'm there
And I'm, betty And i'll, say what do you? Think
and he, says, well we got to deal with the,
three you, know or we got to deal with the.
Site he, says that's Who i'm afraid of the. Others you,
know this one's no, count that's NOTHING i had that
one or. What but, so you, know he's pretty straight

(01:11:03):
up about. It but, yeah you, KNOW i remember growing,
UP i always loved Like Bill, mott and for some,
reason When mott's horses came on the, track you knew
exactly who they. Were they all looked exactly the, same you,
KNOW i mean just the way that the horses, looked
the shadow, roll everything like. That it was just you're, like,

(01:11:26):
oh that's A mott, horse and then you look down
you see the M, yep That's Bill. Mott, yeah but,
yeah he's he's just he's a great. TRAINER i, mean
he's had some wonderful horses throughout his, career some of
the Best cigar, obviously some of these. Others but he's
had great owners AND i really like what he did
for his. Horse Good dolphin had spent more money than

(01:11:46):
anybody in the history of horse racing to try to
win The Kentucky. Derby we finally got it right and
instead of going in two weeks to The, preakness he,
said And i'm, Sure shake and the others, said we have,
it we want let's do what's best for the. Horse
bill has always been a cautious. Trainer he's not trying
to push his.

Speaker 1 (01:12:04):
Horses so that didn't surprise.

Speaker 4 (01:12:05):
You it didn't surprise me that he did not go
to The, preakness because now everybody's what, if oh that everybody,
says well if we spaced him, Out but that's not
what it's. About it's it's MEANT i don't understand where
everybody wants everything to be easy.

Speaker 1 (01:12:18):
In, well you, KNOW i finally did a one eighty
on on not that it, matters but on The Triple.
Crown because my thing is what's best for the. Horse,
Okay that's WHY i Like. Polytrack everybody else hated. IT
i liked. IT i, mean are we really into what's
best for the. Horse if you're a horseman and.

Speaker 4 (01:12:36):
You claim you want what you, know we know that
place Of lowell and for the, HORSE i mean that's.

Speaker 1 (01:12:41):
Yeah test test show researcher And Nick nicholson When keenland is,
going it's gonna take five years to figure out to
get this data and figure it. Out and they lost
they lost patience with. It but uh, No churchill's never was.
NEVER i knew it would never take all because you
can't run The Kentucky derby on POP i get. That

(01:13:01):
but if we really want what's best Floors, now when
you started covering racing, professionally and people don't realize, this
or they might forget, That, jeff you were a fixture
At Turfway park with horse. Rats really your big break.

Speaker 4 (01:13:15):
Was, yeah that's what got me up to The cincinnati. Market,
yeah it was going up there and doing the shows
With Patty. Cooksy, yeah the people we worked, With Mike
battaglia and back then.

Speaker 1 (01:13:27):
And before as you were growing, up AS i was growing,
up the breed was such that you didn't breed as
much for speed as you did for, stamina because horses
needed to run more. Often so horsemen could win the
smaller purses back then and make a, living you, know
not live like kings on yachts and all that, stuff

(01:13:47):
like two percent of them. Do but they needed to
race a horse every three or four weeks to try
to make some money to pay the guys at the
barn and gallon all that. Stuff, well now with the
purses being, huge what does that.

Speaker 5 (01:13:58):
Do?

Speaker 1 (01:13:59):
Well look At keenland in the, spring the jockey, colony the,
fans the big purse, rate those are, fantastic but you
don't have to race your horse as. Much so now
you can be lightly raced going into The Triple crown.
Series but through the, years you, know the breed has
changed and now it's all about the speed. Horses so to,
ME i can see changing the calendar because that's what's

(01:14:22):
best for the. Horse you, know are you on the
other side of the street on.

Speaker 4 (01:14:27):
That i'm a historical old. Guy it's not supposed to be.
EASY i don't think it would be still be.

Speaker 1 (01:14:33):
EASY i don't think that would be easy relatively, speaking you,
know you know what the bellm. A. Yeah the The
preakness used to be Running New. York it was Running
Cody island at one point sometimes some point it was
run four days after the. Derby it has changed through.

Speaker 4 (01:14:50):
The year Running Churchill downs, either.

Speaker 2 (01:14:54):
Is that?

Speaker 1 (01:14:54):
RIGHT i don't THINK i knew. That the race track,
now The dirty he hasn't changed much to the correct
but The preakness, has The belmont.

Speaker 4 (01:15:03):
Has The belmont's exactly what two of the last four
or five, years it's only been a you, know a
shorter race and At. Saratoga, yeah AND i think there might.
BE i think they're gonna be done by next. Year
the track is gonna be spectacular up. There it's gonna
be really. Cool but you're also losing tracks left and,
right which is the scary proposition about horse racing right.

Speaker 1 (01:15:25):
Now, well you're you're, referring of, course to the Fair
grounds In, louisiana which is owned By Churchill Downs. Incorporated
and that's you, know it's it's weird To Churchill, downs
and most fans don't really, care but it does affect.
Them you got the backside versus the front, side, right
the shareholders and the people who have to take care of.
Them versus change the.

Speaker 4 (01:15:45):
Horse they got bought out by the gambling.

Speaker 1 (01:15:48):
Exactities not for the, BETTER i mean the facilities, better
but is the product? Better is a situation better for the?
Horsemen and now we may be seeing the fair grounds
shut down no More Louisiana. Derby, yeah and job's gone and.

Speaker 4 (01:16:03):
The problem, Yes and that's what people don't. Realize and
that's what they were trying to. Tell and Unfortunately Louis
sell it's kind of put a line in the sand
and said we're not doing. This this is where it.
Ends they will not bow To. Churchill and, unfortunately if that,
Closes look it looks Like gulfstein is probably gonna. Close
she has it for. Sale she also Has Santa anita for.

(01:16:25):
Sale the land alone around GalF stream is worth, billions
doubt and, unfortunately you, know she's not big into horse.
Racing her father Was stronik's, daughter who now runs everything
because he is mentally. Incapable and she's probably going to shut.

(01:16:46):
Down so you're gonna. Lose you've Lost, Calder you've Lost.
Hyaliyah now you're gonna Lose Gulf Stream. Park racing's, Done
Arlington park, gone one of the most beautiful, Race Hollywood
park Gone, GOLDEN i, mean all these race tracks and
if if If OAKLAND i, Mean i'm, sorry if Fair

(01:17:07):
ground Fair grounds goes, away that is a huge blow
to winter. Racing uh in The United, States Big Peak
cattle took most of his horses. There oh you're gonna
have left In florida's gonna Be Tampa Tampa.

Speaker 2 (01:17:23):
Bay.

Speaker 1 (01:17:23):
Wow not. Crazy and LIKE i, said you, know people
think of that wrongly as the sword for the. Rich and,
naturally if you're, rich you can enjoy.

Speaker 4 (01:17:31):
It but, grooms, job people that work on the, track,
right that the all in every face of, it, food, beverage.

Speaker 1 (01:17:39):
Transportation for the.

Speaker 4 (01:17:41):
Horses back in the late, eighties it's one hundreds of
millions of dollars.

Speaker 1 (01:17:44):
In the late eighties when you were, early we were
both early in our respective. Careers but the state Of
kentucky did a study on the economic impact of just
the horse business in general in the state and that
the amount of the percentage was. Staggering it's even to
people doing the study about how it just reached throughout the.
State so, YEAH i REMEMBER i Remember Bobby maxwell From

(01:18:08):
sally Horse fan and you know him just talking about
how many people he, employed just that one company devoted
to moving horses from one track to another Tech, sutton,
yeah Tex oh, yeah airplanes and you know, so uh,
YEAH i think that's something that people don't really understand
as much as as they might in the state Of,

(01:18:29):
kentucky even if you're not a racing, fan if you're
a fan of people remaining. EMPLOYED a couple of minutes
left With, jefpikoro who was of course THE uk football
sports football, analyst and uh, well let me GORECT wtv
here you.

Speaker 4 (01:18:42):
Go back to just one, thing because we didn't really
touch on this at the very start where you're talking About.
Vince is it, tough, yes because of what you said
the optics aren't. Great BUT i don't think it's the
death knell TO uk football That vince. LEFT i agree,
now him leaving, horrible going to The louisville's. Horrible BUT
i think that they're gonna weather this. Storm, Look mark

(01:19:04):
knows this is a huge year for him and at his.
Staff if they don't win that he's in some he's
gonna be deep bit of the, pool you. Know, SO
I i really think that you're gonna see significant. Changes
you're gonna see significant changes on the. Field yeah you.
Know and it's gonna start that very first game Against
toledo because you jump right into it in week. Two

(01:19:25):
so And toledo's no, pushover.

Speaker 1 (01:19:27):
No, no, no that's gonna be a challenge, scoring yeah you.
Know and, uh last year Beat Mississippi, state Beat, pittsburgh
and Beat pittsburgh in a boy and one At Mississippi.

Speaker 4 (01:19:38):
State and you're not gonna Beat toledo scoring seventeen.

Speaker 1 (01:19:41):
Points no. No SO mac teams have come down here
as you, know and pulled upsets and and Make kentucky
work hard to. Win so it's gonna be gonna be,
interesting and it's gonna be on top of us in a. Moment,
uh we're gonna turn around in, there it. Is thank
you for coming to the. Garage good to see you
again as. Always that'll do it for. Now thanks for
joining us for this special, condition the best of The
Big Blue. Insider that's. It good night from the garage In.

(01:20:04):
Lexington