Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Mornings Sports Talk, presented by
the lead Troop Boards Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Jack Pilgrim, coming to you from Clark's
Main Street Market Studios in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Jack Pilgrim,
we're at three and two. Are you feeling comfortable about
our season?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Not really?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
But let's continue.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Next SEC game on the scheduleist Texas and I know
where you're gonna go at. I know you're gonna go
with the Manning hype. We do have them at home
this year, so that's a plus for us. But I
if you don't give us that game, I can see
why I'm not. I wouldn't be upset with you, but
we do have to we do have to discuss those
(00:58):
We do have to discuss these things. You have any
reason to believe that we can beat Texas at home
where you or on the bandwagon with everybody else that
Arch Manning is the second coming of any of the Mannings.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
I don't know. I think that's a.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
I don't think that one is going to be as
far apart as maybe it's thought to be that one.
I think there was a lot to like about Kentucky's
trip to Austin last year. You know, that was kind
of the cutter Bowley breakout performance. Maybe we have something
there kind of performance. So I think if you look
at a lot of what we saw in the second
(01:42):
half of that game, where it was a lot of
the backups taking on the backups, you know, that's kind
of if you want to look at it in that
on paper, that's a lot of what we're going to
see this upcoming season in in Lexington.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So we'll see.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
I'm going to pick a Texas win, but I don't
think it's gonna be an absolute, you know, beat down
in Lexicon.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, we only ran fifty five plays against Texas to
their seventy seventy eight, So we didn't we didn't. We
didn't stay on the field a whole lot. And that's
why I think a lot goes to the comments that
I think Bush and our offenses realized that, you know,
we have to at least stay on the field to
give the defense some rest, but also again move the
move the chains. But big ass fans. Hotline is lit up,
(02:31):
so let's get to the big Ass Fans Hotline and
see what Doug has to say. Good morning Doug, what
you got for us?
Speaker 6 (02:39):
Hey?
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Good morning guys, Good morning Doug.
Speaker 7 (02:43):
Hey. Yea, with you all talking about the upcombery season
and U as a as a big UK football fan,
I'm just this time to hear it gets me going.
But I was securing off before and eight. You guys
are trying to talk going through the schedule a little bit,
but I was gonna fill out a couple of scenarios
why I'm just a little bit optimistic. I mean, the
bottom line, we came off a pretty bad year, and
(03:05):
I understand why media and national media.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
Is down on us.
Speaker 7 (03:08):
They have every right to be. But what kind of
gives me a little bit of hope for this season
with the major changeover of players? I mean, I think
we all know and what we've come to learn coming
out four and eight that locker room was a mess
last year? Would you all agree?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I absolutely agree with that.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
Okay, And then the next thing that that was just
a total failure that I see created a lot of
problems and probably kept us from getting maybe at least
three more wins just for a simple fact we couldn't
give our quarterback time to make plays or anybody else
on that offense. The offensive line was that bad. So
(03:48):
if we can have hypothetically fifty percent improvement on that
offensive line, would you think last year that would have
given us a chance that maybe three three more wins
at a minimum, if if our own line had been
fifty percent better than what was the Parker was out
there last year.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And that's what we talked about our podcast. I think
it does give us two I think it give us
two or three more wins. That puts at least five hundred.
I'm with you on that. I'm following it.
Speaker 7 (04:16):
And then what I didn't know what I've kind of
seemed like in off season we've come to learn is
and this is no, no, I'm not trying to disparage
an individual player, but obviously Dion Walker wasn't Eon Walker
for us last year, and apparently it was a backhander.
I mean, he uh, he was really out there and
more to be a target, but we really, just to
(04:38):
be honest, I don't think he was that effective. And
I'm kind of excited with some of these guys that
got hurt last year that weren't out it seems like
an war early on in the camp is very impressed
with a depth that he's got and and boy, you
know that to me, that depth goes a long way
in along SEC season. So those are kind of three
things that are I would I would labels cautiously giving
(05:01):
me some optimism that we can right a little bit
of the wrong of last year. And I think our
ceiling six or seven if things were to fall in
place and people stay happy. But I'll let you off
shoot that, shoot that around and kill it or tell
me I'm crazy or just too optimistic. As a UK
fan bleed too much Blue.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
No not, Doug, I do agree with it, and and
I do think that's the case. Jack Pilgrim, thanks for
the call, Doug, And Doug hit the nail on the head.
He said a lot of things I said. And I
do think the offensive line is improved. You know, I've
talked that we're gonna have coach ste On at ten
thirty so he can address some of those things what
he's seeing going against our offensive line. But Jack Pilgrim,
(05:40):
he hit the nail on the head. I don't think
if our team falls apart, I think we win two
more games if our offense line is a little bit better.
I think we win too much games. Our quarterback walked
away from football, just walked completely away from football at
the conclusion of the season. So may he may have
been under the rest too much for him to want
to continue to play that position, or whatever's going on
(06:01):
in the locker room. I'm sure Georgia. I'm sure Georgia
has a brotherhood. Like I mean, for you to be successful,
you have to. That's why Ohio state Georgia out of something.
You just continue to plug along because everybody wants to
come there and win for each other. You're you're a
New England Patriots fan. When Tom Brady was there, tom
Brady didn't look Tom Brady's never been in a conversation
for the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. No, spread
(06:23):
that money around, Get me some protection, Give me somebody
to spread that money around. Twenty or thirty, thirty millions.
There is enough for me to I don't have to
have forty or fifty million. Man, take that other ten million.
Get me some protection, make sure I have people to
distribute the rock to. And so so I think Doug
is only something that Doug convinced you a little bit.
(06:44):
I wanted you to I kind of respond to what
Doug said because I think he echoes a lot of
things that I feel and know he's not crazy for
feeling the way he feels.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
Dude, I think Doug nailed it. I thought that was
a really, really good call. And yes, that that is
why I am, on paper more optimistic in believe that
this could be a five hundred football team or better.
I mean, I think they could get to a six
to seven win type of season if a couple of
(07:16):
those things work out because of the positive notes this offseason.
It's the you know, offensive line play is massively improved.
Quarterback a massive question at this stage. But it was
last year and we still were in the ballpark. I
don't think you know, it wasn't like we showed up
every single week and expected to lose. We were still
(07:39):
in the ballpark with things that just didn't go our way.
And I think that is just kind of in a
vacuum exactly what you're looking for. Kind of just be
in the conversation every single game and hope that the
difference is is Dug so eloquently said fifty percent better,
That is the difference in closing the gap in two
or three extra wins.
Speaker 8 (07:59):
I do.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I totally agree, but I can't buy into that yet
until I see it with my own two eyes because
we heard similar, Well, this is so much changed and improved,
and this is where we're going to be better. We
have so much more pop on the outside with playmakers
and oh man, this dual threat and brocking Vandergriff.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
The ball is just not touching the ground.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Like you hear so much of that stuff that it's
it is just as a boy who cried wolf, I
can't hear it anymore and use that as my justification.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
For Yep, there we go.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
It's gonna be winning season, can't you know? We'll see
you in December at the Citrus Bowl, like whatever the January,
whatever the bowl game will be for Kentucky. I just
can't buy into that until I see it with my
own two eyes. But yes, the path is there for
all the reasons Doug said.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
I thought he nailed it.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Just for the people that are listening, and like you said,
I agree with you. I agree with what Doug said.
Everybody keeps going back to last season four and eight.
Last season was a foreignating. I don't know if you
if you read through the lines when I discussed this
foreign eight season that we had last year, and I said,
the people are no longer here. Now, this is what
I want to ask you, and this is what I
want to ask Big Blue Nation. If you want to
(09:13):
continue to support or be if you want to be pessimistic,
that's fine. Do you subscribe to this. The guys that
were there last year are who I told you they were.
They are who the coaches told you they were. If
they don't want to put in the work, or they
decide to not show up mentally, physically, emotionally, whatever, if
they do not show up, then it looks bad. But
(09:36):
if they were to show up, grind, strain, stress, that's
two more games. Do you not under Do you not understand?
The guys were not playing.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Jack?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
So when so you're saying the team on paper and
what you were hearing, Yes, all that stuff is true.
The guys just shut down.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
It didn't show up.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Yeah, I mean I agree with that, and but is
that not a a coaching thing to have them be
The difference in keeping that locker locker room engaged and
motivated and making sure that you don't lose that lot
that that group. Yeah, the group was lost. It ended
(10:25):
up being just a in all systems failure. It wasn't
one person to blame. I think it was coaching. I
think it was player personally. I think there was just
a lot at play that ended made that season an
absolute failure.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
So I agree, I feel you, but you know, we'll
see that.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
I feel like we just kind of keep going back
to the we'll see with twenty days until kickoff, and
I don't.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
You are absolutely right, and I've said this all alone,
Mark Stoop. Mark Stoops was the reason for last year
last season's failed He did not keep those guys engaged.
He did not discipline the guys, He did not form,
He did not have enough structure amongst the team that
the guys wouldn't jump off side, the guys wouldn't have
extra after the play penalties, and there was just no
(11:16):
discipline and that was obvious. But and this is what
gives me the pause. Mark Stoops is not a foreign
eight coach. UK Football is not a foreign eight team.
Last year was an anomaly from what he's done the
past eight years. So everybody's saying, well, he's okay if
he does not provide structure. If he does not provide discipline,
(11:36):
everybody's absolutely right and his job deserves to be in question.
The thing is everybody keeps saying, well, we were so
motivated or we were so optimistic last year, and now
you guys went four and oh or four and eight,
so we're not really gonna and rightfully so you should not.
I am telling you, and I am telling Big Blue
(11:57):
Nation that four and eight season. Those were not fourign
eight players. We can't take what's on paper, you cannot
take what's in the record books at this point. But
coming into this year, we have went out and got
guys who were hungry. We have went out and got
guys who probably didn't play in the SEC or at
this level of football, but can play at this level.
(12:17):
And they're going to be hungry. Who's gonna be disciplined,
who's gonna do with the coaches ask them and going
to strain and grind every play. And that's where we
came from. That's how we got there. That's how Josh Allen,
Benny Stell, Chris Ry, all those those guys weren't the
top players in the country. Now Dian Walker was, and
like you said, as Doug said, maybe he was hurt.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
You know, some things may have went on, but he
didn't give us what.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
We expected out of him last year, said, we had
some of the top receivers in the country. Show me
those look at those stats. Whose fault was that? That
really wasn't Mark Stoop's fault. But you know we had
some problems up front.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
That's so.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
The Foreign eight season was an anomaly. I don't think
we go Foreign eight. This show is all about convincing
because because we are, as you said, a couple weeks
away from the beginning of the season. But I don't
want you guys to miss out on a I'm not
gonna say it's remarkable season.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
But don't pin that.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Four and eight on Mark Stoops because of what you
saw last year. You can pin it on him because
he did not change it. He did not change the course.
He did not provide to discipline and structure. But those
guys that are coming in this year don't deserve that.
David Gusta and those guys don't deserve that. We'll be
back after this. You're listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday morning
sports talk on news radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk presented by
the lead troop Forge Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
white Line with Jack Pilgrim, coming to you from Clark's
Main Street Market Studios and beautiful downtown Lexting, Kentucky. Stockyards
Bank is your trusted partner since nineteen o four, so
head on over to syb dot com for all your
(14:05):
banking and financial needs. Jack Pilgrim, The Big Ass Fans
Hotline is loot Up and we went through sixty games,
so you got us about three and three. Tennessee was
next on the schedule, but we've been having pretty good costs.
We're going to get back to the Big Ass Fans Hotline,
but I want to ask you first before we go
over there. I'm not gonna get in the talk a
(14:28):
whole lot of details, but Aguilair at Tennessee as the
quarterback because they lost their quarterback, does do you get
who has an edge at who do you have who
do you give the edge at the Tennessee game here
in Lexington.
Speaker 5 (14:48):
That that's an interesting one if you if you read
Tennessee message boards right now they are on fire. Thinking
that their their season is going to be a four,
four and eight dumpster fire in the quarterback position is
a disgrace, and it's just there's a.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Lot of bad vibes come out of the noil.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
So I do kind of see that one as a
sneaky possibility that we could kind of make some magic happen.
You know that that game was interesting ish last season
before you know, some injuries and just it was, you know,
the wheels kind of fell off. But I do think
that that could be one that we look at and go, hey,
that could be you know, the difference in a six
(15:26):
and seven win season and you know, really kind of
prove prove some people wrong, maybe on the national level.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
So I'm not.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
Going to predict that win, but I think that one
could be sneaky as well.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Well, I'm with you on that. I'm not I'm not
convinced about Tennessee. And I think Josh Hipel is starting
to be I think they're figuring out, you see his
offense enough, it's starting to be figured out. They lost
a NFL running back, so they have to still replace
running back. They have to replace their quarterback who went
to UCLA who decided he wanted more money in the
middle of his career. So I think they do have
(16:00):
a lot of instability in their locker room, and I
think that could be advantageous to us. And we got
a lot of one hundred guys. But let's get back
to the Biggest fans hotline to see what Mike has
to say.
Speaker 9 (16:09):
Good morning, Mike, what do you got for us? Good morning, gentlemen.
Good to be with you this Sunday morning, on this
beautiful hot day. And speaking of a hot day, I
got a little bit of a hot take.
Speaker 10 (16:21):
And we'll see what you guys think.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Let's happen.
Speaker 10 (16:24):
I'm going to try and say the quiet part out loud.
I think with fifty new football players on this team,
the chances of the fifty who left all leaving voluntarily
are incredibly slimmed to none. I think most of those
people were asked not to come back and told you
(16:45):
will not have a scholarship here next year. You're part
of the culture problem. You need to leave now. I
don't have any way to prove that, but I also
don't have any way to refute it, so in case,
until somebody proves me wrong and somebody comes out and
says most of those kids were not asked to leave.
(17:06):
They left on their own. I'm going to be left
to believe what I think is the truth, and it
looks to me from the outside looking in, the culture
was the issued last year. Even part of that goes
into performance and wanting to do what you're supposed to do.
The best way to fix culture is to replace them,
(17:29):
take them out, replace them with a new person. And
the second point, and now I'll get off and let
you guys comment. A lot of SEC media folks and
national media folks are traditionally lazy when it comes to
examining the entire conference. They will spend most of their
time on the top ten or twelve teams, and then
(17:52):
they'll pooh poo the rest of the teams at what
they perceived to be the bottom of the heap. That
used to be Kentucky okay, And then we were went
to eight Tree Bowl games, and then we got a
little bit of respect. And then last year we had
a bad year and the media reverted back to their
old ways and said, I Stoops is on the hot seat,
(18:14):
he's on the way out. They lost fifty players. They're
gonna suck again this year, and they didn't look in
to who the talent was that was coming in, and
they didn't take into consideration wild they might actually be
a lot better this year than they were last year.
I'll get off and I'll let you guys talk.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Thank you, Thank you for the call, Mike.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
See see, we're getting great calls in here, Jack Pilgrim,
because you and Larry Vaught don't believe. So now everybody's
calling there. There are people out there that believe. And Jack,
I'm gonna ask you. We only got about two minutes,
but I will ask you based off what Mike said,
and he says that they were asked to leave. I'm
gonna give another scenario that Mike may have meant, not
maybe so much. They were asked to leave, but if
(18:55):
you return, we're not putting up with that bull dyve.
Do you think that more of that, Jack, or do
you think that they were asked to leave? I'd like
I said, if you come back, We're not gonna We're
not giving you this much money, We're not allocating this
many plays to you. If you come back, you just
gonna be part of the team. You not, We're not
giving you anything.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Yeah, I think that's exactly, and.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
I think it was you can come back, you know.
I think some were told you are not welcome back.
So I think there is a little bit of truth
to that call there. But the other side of it
is if you come back with your handout and say
I'm demanding this, this, this or this, and if you
want me back, this is what it's gonna cost and
(19:36):
all those things.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
It was don't let the door hit you on your
way out.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
That that was the So it wasn't necessarily forced out,
but we're not welcome back, but it was a you're
you don't have a place here, if that's what you're
prioritizing right now.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
So yeah, I do think there was a lot of
truth to that. Yeah, I think it is.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
But I think the accountability and stuff also, since the
coaching staff not it wasn't just a personnel issue that
you know, just because you replace these players it's magically fixed.
I do think that it took some accountability with coaching
and you know, except that the culture issue did extend
(20:15):
to that as well, you know, and how they handled
you know, resist, you know, how to be resilient, how
to respond adversity, how to make these guys tick the
way they used to in demanding certain things that I
think that they're a big portion of the coaching staff
got comfortable and and you know, complacent, and I think
(20:36):
it took some, you know some some some looking at
themselves in the mirror this offseason for them as well.
Some of them left, some of them weren't welcome back.
And you know, the stoops extended to him as well,
so it it extended.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
To everybody that is Jack Pilgrim.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
When we come back, we will have Van Howe's pinch
hitting for Jack Pilgrim, and we would have coach and
Warh Stewart on to talk about this upcoming season and
what's going on in the trenches. We we'll be back
after this year. Listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday Moon of
Sports Talk on news Radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk presented by
the Lee Troop Borde Radio Network on six point thirty
w LAP.
Speaker 11 (21:16):
Seven oh six left, fourth quarter Alabama thirty one, Kentucky
twenty seven. Tucker will hold at the thirty four yard line.
Paul is on the left, hash Mark Cunningham's gotta push
this to the right, a little bit, good.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Snap, it's blocked.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Push up much shot at the morning.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
He's in the deal, he's in a go.
Speaker 9 (21:42):
Hit the twenty at the ten bus touchdap tip Tuckey.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
And war Stewart. David damn the man.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Who blocked it.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Whoo unbelievable. If somebody make a play, somebody make a
play and you get the bounce. Haven't had a bounce
in the last couple of weeks to get a bounce
down there in Mississippi State.
Speaker 10 (22:14):
They got the bounce tonight, six point fifty four on
the clock.
Speaker 11 (22:19):
Confusion for Kentucky is they're trying to get more players
out on the field.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
They may have to burn a time out here.
Speaker 11 (22:33):
Still looking to the sidelines as Jimmy Carter thankfully the
whole offensive unit looking at the sidelines. And now they
finally do call the time out.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
To try to get things straightened out. Come out, Kentucky.
Speaker 8 (22:46):
That's the first time out of the second.
Speaker 11 (22:48):
Half, the first time Alabama's had a field goal block
since nineteen ninety one.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
Time out on the field for Kentucky. But we'll keep
it right here.
Speaker 11 (22:58):
Thirty three to thirty one.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Welcome back, please, Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talking.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I'm Anthony White and.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Now out of the bullpen, we got Old Van House,
former NFL defensive back, UK defensive back, and now breakdown
story and there and my partner on the locker, Van House,
good morning, and how are you doing?
Speaker 6 (23:24):
Good morning man, I am. I'm doing well. When your
feet touched the ground, everything else is gravy. So it
started off on a great note, and let's see how
it continues on the radio with my man, it's going.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
To be on a great note.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
We're trying to get in contact with coach Anwarrish Stewart.
I know he's typically in the Big House, so I
don't know if he stepped outside to come on air
with us, but he ain't interest his phone. So we
will have a coach Stewart on with us here shortly.
But Van House, I'm gonna update you on the show.
You'd be interested to find Jack Pilgrim and I and
(24:00):
reference a show by saying that I'm going to convince
Big New Nation that we're gonna least we're going at
least five hundred, okay, And I gave us the three
out of conference wins and uh.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Or then Louisville. You know it's up there.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
So I just had to convince three more wins and
we and I think when Jack Pilton got off, I
think we're at four and three where I think he
may have gave us a Tennessee. But let's put let's
put a pin in that because we do now have
coach and war Stewart. Thank you for joining us this morning. Coach,
how was it going.
Speaker 8 (24:36):
What's up, guys? What's happening?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
We're doing good, man, not as good as you, but
we're doing good. But I'm not then maybe.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
Well you all man. Thanks Stuart. Remember this is not
the locker, so you know there's governing agency.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Hey, coach, the big talk this morning. We've been looking.
We have the schedule. I know last year may have
been an anomaly. Some people seem to think that that's
the direction we're headed back toward, you know, the nineteen
ninety four seasons, in those type of seasons.
Speaker 8 (25:11):
But we.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
But right now on the show, we I think we
convinced that we can go six hundred the better was
last year and anomaly or or how does the coaching
staff feel in the public and the media, is it
is feeling like we're a four and eight squad.
Speaker 8 (25:27):
Yeah, we don't. You know what, We're not worried about
what the media and what the fans think. It's all
about you know, us in that building, man, and all
the hard work that these young men have put in,
the hours that we've put in. Man, we're ready to go.
Speaker 11 (25:41):
You know where.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
We've had two weeks really good preparation. We got two
more weeks, man, to really continue to take it to
the next level. I think one of the big thing is, Man,
we don't listen to the outside voices.
Speaker 10 (25:56):
Man.
Speaker 8 (25:56):
It ain't about what they think. It's about what we
go out and doing. We had a very competitive team, and.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
The big thing was last year some of the things
in the trenches on both sides, and you get to
see what the offensive line looks like. And I think
I don't know if you've really had a down year
coming into the season as far as the defensive front.
But the question you guys going against office from what
are the trenches looking like with you guys through the
first few weeks, very competitive.
Speaker 8 (26:27):
You know they've been together now since January. Very competitive.
Little coach Wolfs is doing a really good job with
those guys develop them, getting those guys all caught up,
especially the new guys on my end. You know, I
got three really good additions, man, and they fit in perfectly.
You know, we're not gonna be that really huge, big
(26:47):
front we've had in the past, but we're all gonna
be strong, gonna be quick, explosive guys, guys that could
get on edges fast and be disruptive. Coach White's gonna
put those and situations to be very successful. And we're excited, man,
We're excited about where we are. I think the biggest
thing Anthony and Van is that we're all healthy. You know,
(27:10):
this time last year, Josiah Hayes and Tavian Gason went
down in the spring, and you know they missed the season.
Josian end up coming back, both end up coming back
at the end, but they weren't one hundred percent. I
have right now, you know, fifteen really healthy bodies, probably
an eight man rotation right now that I feel really
(27:33):
good with no drop off.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And how did how did you guys coming out of
the spring or coming out of spring with health issues.
How much did that impact the season in general?
Speaker 8 (27:44):
Well, it was huge because those two guys, you know,
we expected to really give us the depth and give
us what we needed. And then when Keith, Shaun and
you know the beat up and not being being able
to practice in the move that's hard. That's four of
(28:05):
your top guys that you expected to really play at
a high level and because of injuries they were And so,
you know, when you look at championship teams, you know,
they've always had a dominant, uh defensive offensive line and
they've had depth. And we didn't have the depth because
of the injuries that we had, you know, in the
spring last year and so and then going into the
(28:27):
season with Dion and Keisha and so uh, you know,
having that depth, having guys that two things are not
looking to get out of work, but trying to find
work and trying to be great is what you want.
And that's what I feel like I have right now.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
And did you guys, did you you guys use offensive
line last year just to make it through the spring,
did you guys they should make some defensive linemup, put
some office alignment on the just to get through practices
last year?
Speaker 8 (28:57):
I had to. I had no choice. You know, we
had to get through the fifteen practices and so you know,
we're so down in numbers that you know I did.
I took three three guys and bottom over, you know,
just to get through you know, the Blue and White game.
I mean, I had to do what I had to
do to give guys the looks. And you know, like
(29:18):
we talk about, the fans are like they have no
idea when we talk about depth and depth trust and
having you know, those type of guys like you got
to have that, you know, and most championship teams they
have guys behind guys and that's what we gotta deal.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
And you know, we got some guys drafted last year
and some guys left the program for different reasons. So
we got a whole lot of new faces. Who are
you gonna be hearing from this year? What are some
names that the fans can can start preparing to hear?
Speaker 8 (29:47):
Well, well, defensely, you know, like I said, you know,
David Guss is gonna be you know, he's gonna be
a really good guy to anchor that inside. Uh he's
a physical guy. You know, Marquise Grace is one and
he's an asked guy that unbelievable talented. You know, we
we got you know, we defensively, you know, I have
(30:10):
Jaden Williams who also gives us depth, you know, up front,
and so you know, they just gonna have to wait
since they want to be you know, Debbie Downerds and
tell us we're gonna be four and eight. They ask him, wait,
they can wait till the first game and see what
we have?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Who what are some going?
Speaker 7 (30:29):
Man?
Speaker 6 (30:30):
All right, stude, I got a question, a couple of questions,
as we always hear about players having to integrate into
the locker room and get familiar with teammates and all
that stuff. My question is for the coach, how do
you integrate these new players when they have come from
a different style, for different system, with maybe good technique,
(30:51):
maybe bad technique. How how difficult is it for you
as a coach to integrate these guys into your system
and in a way that you coach.
Speaker 10 (31:01):
Well?
Speaker 8 (31:01):
First of all, man, you know, as a coach just
integrated them just into our locker room. You know, Coach
Steuss does a really good job with you know, brother
and ball in the summers on Wednesdays where we get
we we have somebody a speaker that comes for four
for four and then you know we break bread. You know,
we're always together. We do events, We go bowling, we
(31:23):
do a lot of different things, you know, to get
these guys around each other and get to know each other,
you know, from January to now. Uh. And then as
as a player, we do a really good job evaluating guys.
And so you know, myself, Coach White, the defensive staff, like,
so we're not we're not like closing our eyes and
(31:45):
then picking a number or name out of a hat.
We're gonna evaluate, you know, several guys, several hundred guys,
and then we're gonna eliminate, eliminate, eliminate, and then what
guys fit what we do, who can help us? And
then we go after those guys. And that's what I did.
That's what we did as a staff, and you know,
getting David and Murky Easton, then getting James how we
(32:08):
you know how we went and we we grabbed those guys.
But we're gonna evaluate those guys. We're gonna make sure
that those guys fit what we do. And then when
they come in, man, I treat them just like a freshman.
I build them from the ground up, man, from you know, eyes,
hands and feet, you know, to our my building blocks
to the three jobs to hand placement, eyes, reach together, footwork,
(32:32):
strike it and drive, I mean the whole Nun and
I And then what happens is then they get caught up.
They get caught up. After the spring we go, we
keep it through the summer, and now we hear in
fall camp man and so man, we're not missing a beat.
We're hitting the ground running, all.
Speaker 6 (32:48):
Right, My my, My last one is this Now, I
know you can't say too much, so I'm gonna I'm gonna,
I'm gonna take that with no house. Well, one thing
that perked my ears up was hearing Coach Stoops say
things about the athletic level of the guys a front
and we might have to do some things differently. So
are we gonna go more even front, are we gonna
(33:08):
stunt a little more? Or we're gonna do some things
that we haven't there in the past because we had
big Big Q and big Bully in the middle and
and and we didn't have to do so much movement.
Or we're gonna see some some of that some multiple fronts.
Speaker 8 (33:24):
Well, then you know we are multiple fur defense. You
know that's where we are. You know, Coach Steuss came in, Uh,
you know this off season and we all sat down,
we talked about, you know, who are we gonna be.
What are some of the things that do better how
you know those type of things. You know, we sat
down at the defense and so coach stuts is also
(33:44):
you know he talks with a lot of the coaches
in the old season around the league. We do a
lot of stuff that's hard for teams to, uh, to
prepare for. And so, man, we we are I mean
we're not. We're gonna be a multiple front.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Now.
Speaker 8 (33:55):
I'm gonna tell you this. We are very athletic. We
are very athletic. It from the front, you know, from
from from the D line to you know, the secondary man,
the live backers, and so, man, we're gonna play fast
and you're gonna see what You're going to see us.
You're gonna see us continue to move and do some things.
But we're gonna sit in there. Man, we're struggling. We
(34:16):
got heavy hands. Man, we're thinking that we're gonna anchor
that thing down.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Man you're talking about you know, the front. Things got
going on.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Having Tyy Bryant, who's three years in so he's got
a lot of experience. He ain't a senior yet like Jordan.
But having those guys that experience back there, does that
allow you guys to do different things or is those
two things completely uh have.
Speaker 8 (34:40):
Nothing to do to absolutely no, Absolutely, Anthony. The front
end has the compliment to back end. When you have
smart guys like Todd and you have loved you know,
Cam Dooley's doing a really good job, he's coming along.
We're able to do something because sometimes you know, depending
on the coverages, they have to fit. You know, they
have to fit inside you know, a gap sometimes or
(35:03):
or b gaps you know, when cover three. So to
have those guys back to that's smart and that can
communicate and put backers and put everybody where they're supposed
to be and communicate is huge. You know, having a
veteran team man speaks volumes, and so we feel really
strongly about you know where we are in the secondary
(35:24):
linebacker and up front man, and we're ready, like man,
we're working really hard. Uh. Coach Coach White is really
challenging us, challenging them, you know, different calls and stuff
and just written us in situations where we get ourselves
out of so that when you give them that situation,
you don't flinch. And so man, it's been really fun
(35:47):
the last two weeks and we got to.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Head the break.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
But I would if you had to make a statement
to the medium, big blue nation, where would that be?
Speaker 8 (35:56):
You know, well, I would just tell them to trust
trust the process. You know, Coach Susan has been here
for eight years. I mean, being the eighth straight Bowl games.
You know, one year doesn't change. Okay, one year doesn't change.
We'll get back to that and you know what, come
on out. You know, the end of the end of
the month versus Toledo, and let's see, let's let's let's see.
(36:19):
You know, if if what you guys thought lastually, if
there's not a difference, you know, we're ready to roll. Man,
We're ready to go. The guys are hungry, they're working
their butt off. They paid the they've paid the price,
and now it's time to go.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Thank you for your time this morning, coach, Thanks for
joining us.
Speaker 8 (36:36):
All right, ma, man, appreciate y'all. Y'all have a good time.
Speaker 10 (36:39):
Man.
Speaker 8 (36:39):
I'll holler back at y'all.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Thank you. We will be back after this.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
You're listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday when in sports Talk
on News Radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning sports Talk presented by
the lead Troop Boards Radio Network on six thirty w.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
LAP back Stockyards Bank Sunday one is sports Talk. Come
in Throughy White the Love with Bed House. This hour
sun sports Talk has been brought to you my country
boy brewing Man.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
How's we.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Thanks to coaching and work Steward Defensive line coach, University
of Kentucky. Uh good stuff by coach ste seems motivated, colorful,
colorful language.
Speaker 6 (37:23):
Man, Look I'm out. Look, this is what I've been saying.
I said it on the lock of Wednesday's nine pm
me since standard time. It's not what coaches say, really,
because this is this is talking season for everyone, right.
It's not what they say I want sayings to take heretous.
It's how they said. It's the tone. Don't listen to
(37:46):
what they say, because they're going to say everybody's doing great,
the team is progressing, and we are well. Father had
this year and we were last year, and we've got
great captains and leaders like. All that stuff is coach speak.
Listen to the home lisen to how they say things,
and man, I'm a TV these past couple of weeks
(38:06):
hearing these coaches talk and and and the level of
of confidence, quiet confidence, the level of these guys are
working hard, and and we know that we're going to
be better than what we have been and and and
that like remember when coach Stoups did at Penn State
(38:28):
thing with James Franklin, did the did the fake punt? Yeah,
that is that. That's the tone that every coach I've
heard is given off this talking season.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
And he talked a little bit about the offense line.
We're in good things about the offensive line, and after
what we've seen in the past couple of years. I
don't know, except there's been a whole lot of back
or there's been a transitions. And that's why, you know,
everybody's happy that Bush has come back for the second year.
Probably it's been five or six years since he's been
(39:00):
able to relax and say, you know, I got the
same offensive coordinator return. It's been a while, so you know,
to have an offensive line sounds they're making improvement. And look,
I said, Stud's not the type to blow smoke at you.
So if he say those guys are doing better things
over there, and they're getting better. Do you you buy
that as coach speak or you think they probably are
(39:20):
getting better.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
I'm a well, first of all, I think they're gonna
be better, just off of counter wise. But here's the thing,
ever go with springs well, fall camp, spring football, etc.
Is when one side of all does well, that means
the other side of bollsteink right. So how how do
you truly take it? And we don't know until you
(39:42):
play somebody with with a different color jersey on, Because
if the offense is breaking ten fifteen yard players every time,
I'm not sure. I feel good about the defense, and
there's the defensive stuff in the offensive two yards, I'll
feel good about the offense. Let's see and wait until Saturdays.
I'm confident that this team is gonna be better than
(40:03):
they were last year.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Though for sure that is Van Howes will continue this
show after this break. You're listening to stock Yards Bank
Sunday went in sports talk on news radio six thirty
WLAP
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Mornings Sports Talk, presented by
the lead Troop Boards Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Jack Pilgrim, coming to you from Clark's
Main Street Market Studios in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Jack Pilgrim,
we're at three and two. Are you feeling comfortable about
our season?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Not really?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
But let's continue.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Next SEC game on the scheduleist Texas and I know
where you're gonna go at. I know you're gonna go
with the Manning hype. We do have them at home
this year, so that's a plus for us. But I
if you don't give us that game, I can see
why I'm not. I wouldn't be upset with you, but
we do have to we do have to discuss those
(00:58):
We do have to discuss these things. You have any
reason to believe that we can beat Texas at home
where you or on the bandwagon with everybody else that
Arch Manning is the second coming of any of the Mannings.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
I don't know. I think that's a.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
I don't think that one is going to be as
far apart as maybe it's thought to be that one.
I think there was a lot to like about Kentucky's
trip to Austin last year. You know, that was kind
of the cutter Bowley breakout performance. Maybe we have something
there kind of performance. So I think if you look
at a lot of what we saw in the second
(01:42):
half of that game, where it was a lot of
the backups taking on the backups, you know, that's kind
of if you want to look at it in that
on paper, that's a lot of what we're going to
see this upcoming season in in Lexington.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So we'll see.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
I'm going to pick a Texas win, but I don't
think it's gonna be an absolute, you know, beat down
in Lexicon.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, we only ran fifty five plays against Texas to
their seventy seventy eight, So we didn't we didn't. We
didn't stay on the field a whole lot. And that's
why I think a lot goes to the comments that
I think Bush and our offenses realized that, you know,
we have to at least stay on the field to
give the defense some rest, but also again move the
move the chains. But big ass fans. Hotline is lit up,
(02:31):
so let's get to the big Ass Fans Hotline and
see what Doug has to say. Good morning Doug, what
you got for us?
Speaker 6 (02:39):
Hey?
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Good morning guys, Good morning Doug.
Speaker 7 (02:43):
Hey. Yea, with you all talking about the upcombery season
and U as a as a big UK football fan,
I'm just this time to hear it gets me going.
But I was securing off before and eight. You guys
are trying to talk going through the schedule a little bit,
but I was gonna fill out a couple of scenarios
why I'm just a little bit optimistic. I mean, the
bottom line, we came off a pretty bad year, and
(03:05):
I understand why media and national media.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
Is down on us.
Speaker 7 (03:08):
They have every right to be. But what kind of
gives me a little bit of hope for this season
with the major changeover of players? I mean, I think
we all know and what we've come to learn coming
out four and eight that locker room was a mess
last year? Would you all agree?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I absolutely agree with that.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
Okay, And then the next thing that that was just
a total failure that I see created a lot of
problems and probably kept us from getting maybe at least
three more wins just for a simple fact we couldn't
give our quarterback time to make plays or anybody else
on that offense. The offensive line was that bad. So
(03:48):
if we can have hypothetically fifty percent improvement on that
offensive line, would you think last year that would have
given us a chance that maybe three three more wins
at a minimum, if if our own line had been
fifty percent better than what was the Parker was out
there last year.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And that's what we talked about our podcast. I think
it does give us two I think it give us
two or three more wins. That puts at least five hundred.
I'm with you on that. I'm following it.
Speaker 7 (04:16):
And then what I didn't know what I've kind of
seemed like in off season we've come to learn is
and this is no, no, I'm not trying to disparage
an individual player, but obviously Dion Walker wasn't Eon Walker
for us last year, and apparently it was a backhander.
I mean, he uh, he was really out there and
more to be a target, but we really, just to
(04:38):
be honest, I don't think he was that effective. And
I'm kind of excited with some of these guys that
got hurt last year that weren't out it seems like
an war early on in the camp is very impressed
with a depth that he's got and and boy, you
know that to me, that depth goes a long way
in along SEC season. So those are kind of three
things that are I would I would labels cautiously giving
(05:01):
me some optimism that we can right a little bit
of the wrong of last year. And I think our
ceiling six or seven if things were to fall in
place and people stay happy. But I'll let you off
shoot that, shoot that around and kill it or tell
me I'm crazy or just too optimistic. As a UK
fan bleed too much Blue.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
No not, Doug, I do agree with it, and and
I do think that's the case. Jack Pilgrim, thanks for
the call, Doug, And Doug hit the nail on the head.
He said a lot of things I said. And I
do think the offensive line is improved. You know, I've
talked that we're gonna have coach ste On at ten
thirty so he can address some of those things what
he's seeing going against our offensive line. But Jack Pilgrim,
(05:40):
he hit the nail on the head. I don't think
if our team falls apart, I think we win two
more games if our offense line is a little bit better.
I think we win too much games. Our quarterback walked
away from football, just walked completely away from football at
the conclusion of the season. So may he may have
been under the rest too much for him to want
to continue to play that position, or whatever's going on
(06:01):
in the locker room. I'm sure Georgia. I'm sure Georgia
has a brotherhood. Like I mean, for you to be successful,
you have to. That's why Ohio state Georgia out of something.
You just continue to plug along because everybody wants to
come there and win for each other. You're you're a
New England Patriots fan. When Tom Brady was there, tom
Brady didn't look Tom Brady's never been in a conversation
for the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. No, spread
(06:23):
that money around, Get me some protection, Give me somebody
to spread that money around. Twenty or thirty, thirty millions.
There is enough for me to I don't have to
have forty or fifty million. Man, take that other ten million.
Get me some protection, make sure I have people to
distribute the rock to. And so so I think Doug
is only something that Doug convinced you a little bit.
(06:44):
I wanted you to I kind of respond to what
Doug said because I think he echoes a lot of
things that I feel and know he's not crazy for
feeling the way he feels.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
Dude, I think Doug nailed it. I thought that was
a really, really good call. And yes, that that is
why I am, on paper more optimistic in believe that
this could be a five hundred football team or better.
I mean, I think they could get to a six
to seven win type of season if a couple of
(07:16):
those things work out because of the positive notes this offseason.
It's the you know, offensive line play is massively improved.
Quarterback a massive question at this stage. But it was
last year and we still were in the ballpark. I
don't think you know, it wasn't like we showed up
every single week and expected to lose. We were still
(07:39):
in the ballpark with things that just didn't go our way.
And I think that is just kind of in a
vacuum exactly what you're looking for. Kind of just be
in the conversation every single game and hope that the
difference is is Dug so eloquently said fifty percent better,
That is the difference in closing the gap in two
or three extra wins.
Speaker 8 (07:59):
I do.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I totally agree, but I can't buy into that yet
until I see it with my own two eyes because
we heard similar, Well, this is so much changed and improved,
and this is where we're going to be better. We
have so much more pop on the outside with playmakers
and oh man, this dual threat and brocking Vandergriff.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
The ball is just not touching the ground.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Like you hear so much of that stuff that it's
it is just as a boy who cried wolf, I
can't hear it anymore and use that as my justification.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
For Yep, there we go.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
It's gonna be winning season, can't you know? We'll see
you in December at the Citrus Bowl, like whatever the January,
whatever the bowl game will be for Kentucky. I just
can't buy into that until I see it with my
own two eyes. But yes, the path is there for
all the reasons Doug said.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
I thought he nailed it.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Just for the people that are listening, and like you said,
I agree with you. I agree with what Doug said.
Everybody keeps going back to last season four and eight.
Last season was a foreignating. I don't know if you
if you read through the lines when I discussed this
foreign eight season that we had last year, and I said,
the people are no longer here. Now, this is what
I want to ask you, and this is what I
want to ask Big Blue Nation. If you want to
(09:13):
continue to support or be if you want to be pessimistic,
that's fine. Do you subscribe to this. The guys that
were there last year are who I told you they were.
They are who the coaches told you they were. If
they don't want to put in the work, or they
decide to not show up mentally, physically, emotionally, whatever, if
they do not show up, then it looks bad. But
(09:36):
if they were to show up, grind, strain, stress, that's
two more games. Do you not under Do you not understand?
The guys were not playing.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Jack?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
So when so you're saying the team on paper and
what you were hearing, Yes, all that stuff is true.
The guys just shut down.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
It didn't show up.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Yeah, I mean I agree with that, and but is
that not a a coaching thing to have them be
The difference in keeping that locker locker room engaged and
motivated and making sure that you don't lose that lot
that that group. Yeah, the group was lost. It ended
(10:25):
up being just a in all systems failure. It wasn't
one person to blame. I think it was coaching. I
think it was player personally. I think there was just
a lot at play that ended made that season an
absolute failure.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
So I agree, I feel you, but you know, we'll
see that.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
I feel like we just kind of keep going back
to the we'll see with twenty days until kickoff, and
I don't.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
You are absolutely right, and I've said this all alone,
Mark Stoop. Mark Stoops was the reason for last year
last season's failed He did not keep those guys engaged.
He did not discipline the guys, He did not form,
He did not have enough structure amongst the team that
the guys wouldn't jump off side, the guys wouldn't have
extra after the play penalties, and there was just no
(11:16):
discipline and that was obvious. But and this is what
gives me the pause. Mark Stoops is not a foreign
eight coach. UK Football is not a foreign eight team.
Last year was an anomaly from what he's done the
past eight years. So everybody's saying, well, he's okay if
he does not provide structure. If he does not provide discipline,
(11:36):
everybody's absolutely right and his job deserves to be in question.
The thing is everybody keeps saying, well, we were so
motivated or we were so optimistic last year, and now
you guys went four and oh or four and eight,
so we're not really gonna and rightfully so you should not.
I am telling you, and I am telling Big Blue
(11:57):
Nation that four and eight season. Those were not fourign
eight players. We can't take what's on paper, you cannot
take what's in the record books at this point. But
coming into this year, we have went out and got
guys who were hungry. We have went out and got
guys who probably didn't play in the SEC or at
this level of football, but can play at this level.
(12:17):
And they're going to be hungry. Who's gonna be disciplined,
who's gonna do with the coaches ask them and going
to strain and grind every play. And that's where we
came from. That's how we got there. That's how Josh Allen,
Benny Stell, Chris Ry, all those those guys weren't the
top players in the country. Now Dian Walker was, and
like you said, as Doug said, maybe he was hurt.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
You know, some things may have went on, but he
didn't give us what.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
We expected out of him last year, said, we had
some of the top receivers in the country. Show me
those look at those stats. Whose fault was that? That
really wasn't Mark Stoop's fault. But you know we had
some problems up front.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
That's so.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
The Foreign eight season was an anomaly. I don't think
we go Foreign eight. This show is all about convincing
because because we are, as you said, a couple weeks
away from the beginning of the season. But I don't
want you guys to miss out on a I'm not
gonna say it's remarkable season.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
But don't pin that.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Four and eight on Mark Stoops because of what you
saw last year. You can pin it on him because
he did not change it. He did not change the course.
He did not provide to discipline and structure. But those
guys that are coming in this year don't deserve that.
David Gusta and those guys don't deserve that. We'll be
back after this. You're listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday morning
sports talk on news radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk presented by
the lead troop Forge Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
white Line with Jack Pilgrim, coming to you from Clark's
Main Street Market Studios and beautiful downtown Lexting, Kentucky. Stockyards
Bank is your trusted partner since nineteen o four, so
head on over to syb dot com for all your
(14:05):
banking and financial needs. Jack Pilgrim, The Big Ass Fans
Hotline is loot Up and we went through sixty games,
so you got us about three and three. Tennessee was
next on the schedule, but we've been having pretty good costs.
We're going to get back to the Big Ass Fans Hotline,
but I want to ask you first before we go
over there. I'm not gonna get in the talk a
(14:28):
whole lot of details, but Aguilair at Tennessee as the
quarterback because they lost their quarterback, does do you get
who has an edge at who do you have who
do you give the edge at the Tennessee game here
in Lexington.
Speaker 5 (14:48):
That that's an interesting one if you if you read
Tennessee message boards right now they are on fire. Thinking
that their their season is going to be a four,
four and eight dumpster fire in the quarterback position is
a disgrace, and it's just there's a.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Lot of bad vibes come out of the noil.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
So I do kind of see that one as a
sneaky possibility that we could kind of make some magic happen.
You know that that game was interesting ish last season
before you know, some injuries and just it was, you know,
the wheels kind of fell off. But I do think
that that could be one that we look at and go, hey,
that could be you know, the difference in a six
(15:26):
and seven win season and you know, really kind of
prove prove some people wrong, maybe on the national level.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
So I'm not.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
Going to predict that win, but I think that one
could be sneaky as well.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Well, I'm with you on that. I'm not I'm not
convinced about Tennessee. And I think Josh Hipel is starting
to be I think they're figuring out, you see his
offense enough, it's starting to be figured out. They lost
a NFL running back, so they have to still replace
running back. They have to replace their quarterback who went
to UCLA who decided he wanted more money in the
middle of his career. So I think they do have
(16:00):
a lot of instability in their locker room, and I
think that could be advantageous to us. And we got
a lot of one hundred guys. But let's get back
to the Biggest fans hotline to see what Mike has
to say.
Speaker 9 (16:09):
Good morning, Mike, what do you got for us? Good morning, gentlemen.
Good to be with you this Sunday morning, on this
beautiful hot day. And speaking of a hot day, I
got a little bit of a hot take.
Speaker 10 (16:21):
And we'll see what you guys think.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Let's happen.
Speaker 10 (16:24):
I'm going to try and say the quiet part out loud.
I think with fifty new football players on this team,
the chances of the fifty who left all leaving voluntarily
are incredibly slimmed to none. I think most of those
people were asked not to come back and told you
(16:45):
will not have a scholarship here next year. You're part
of the culture problem. You need to leave now. I
don't have any way to prove that, but I also
don't have any way to refute it, so in case,
until somebody proves me wrong and somebody comes out and
says most of those kids were not asked to leave.
(17:06):
They left on their own. I'm going to be left
to believe what I think is the truth, and it
looks to me from the outside looking in, the culture
was the issued last year. Even part of that goes
into performance and wanting to do what you're supposed to do.
The best way to fix culture is to replace them,
(17:29):
take them out, replace them with a new person. And
the second point, and now I'll get off and let
you guys comment. A lot of SEC media folks and
national media folks are traditionally lazy when it comes to
examining the entire conference. They will spend most of their
time on the top ten or twelve teams, and then
(17:52):
they'll pooh poo the rest of the teams at what
they perceived to be the bottom of the heap. That
used to be Kentucky okay, And then we were went
to eight Tree Bowl games, and then we got a
little bit of respect. And then last year we had
a bad year and the media reverted back to their
old ways and said, I Stoops is on the hot seat,
(18:14):
he's on the way out. They lost fifty players. They're
gonna suck again this year, and they didn't look in
to who the talent was that was coming in, and
they didn't take into consideration wild they might actually be
a lot better this year than they were last year.
I'll get off and I'll let you guys talk.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Thank you, Thank you for the call, Mike.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
See see, we're getting great calls in here, Jack Pilgrim,
because you and Larry Vaught don't believe. So now everybody's
calling there. There are people out there that believe. And Jack,
I'm gonna ask you. We only got about two minutes,
but I will ask you based off what Mike said,
and he says that they were asked to leave. I'm
gonna give another scenario that Mike may have meant, not
maybe so much. They were asked to leave, but if
(18:55):
you return, we're not putting up with that bull dyve.
Do you think that more of that, Jack, or do
you think that they were asked to leave? I'd like
I said, if you come back, We're not gonna We're
not giving you this much money, We're not allocating this
many plays to you. If you come back, you just
gonna be part of the team. You not, We're not
giving you anything.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Yeah, I think that's exactly, and.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
I think it was you can come back, you know.
I think some were told you are not welcome back.
So I think there is a little bit of truth
to that call there. But the other side of it
is if you come back with your handout and say
I'm demanding this, this, this or this, and if you
want me back, this is what it's gonna cost and
(19:36):
all those things.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
It was don't let the door hit you on your
way out.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
That that was the So it wasn't necessarily forced out,
but we're not welcome back, but it was a you're
you don't have a place here, if that's what you're
prioritizing right now.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
So yeah, I do think there was a lot of
truth to that. Yeah, I think it is.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
But I think the accountability and stuff also, since the
coaching staff not it wasn't just a personnel issue that
you know, just because you replace these players it's magically fixed.
I do think that it took some accountability with coaching
and you know, except that the culture issue did extend
(20:15):
to that as well, you know, and how they handled
you know, resist, you know, how to be resilient, how
to respond adversity, how to make these guys tick the
way they used to in demanding certain things that I
think that they're a big portion of the coaching staff
got comfortable and and you know, complacent, and I think
(20:36):
it took some, you know some some some looking at
themselves in the mirror this offseason for them as well.
Some of them left, some of them weren't welcome back.
And you know, the stoops extended to him as well,
so it it extended.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
To everybody that is Jack Pilgrim.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
When we come back, we will have Van Howe's pinch
hitting for Jack Pilgrim, and we would have coach and
Warh Stewart on to talk about this upcoming season and
what's going on in the trenches. We we'll be back
after this year. Listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday Moon of
Sports Talk on news Radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk presented by
the Lee Troop Borde Radio Network on six point thirty
w LAP.
Speaker 11 (21:16):
Seven oh six left, fourth quarter Alabama thirty one, Kentucky
twenty seven. Tucker will hold at the thirty four yard line.
Paul is on the left, hash Mark Cunningham's gotta push
this to the right, a little bit, good.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Snap, it's blocked.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Push up much shot at the morning.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
He's in the deal, he's in a go.
Speaker 9 (21:42):
Hit the twenty at the ten bus touchdap tip Tuckey.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
And war Stewart. David damn the man.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Who blocked it.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Whoo unbelievable. If somebody make a play, somebody make a
play and you get the bounce. Haven't had a bounce
in the last couple of weeks to get a bounce
down there in Mississippi State.
Speaker 10 (22:14):
They got the bounce tonight, six point fifty four on
the clock.
Speaker 11 (22:19):
Confusion for Kentucky is they're trying to get more players
out on the field.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
They may have to burn a time out here.
Speaker 11 (22:33):
Still looking to the sidelines as Jimmy Carter thankfully the
whole offensive unit looking at the sidelines. And now they
finally do call the time out.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
To try to get things straightened out. Come out, Kentucky.
Speaker 8 (22:46):
That's the first time out of the second.
Speaker 11 (22:48):
Half, the first time Alabama's had a field goal block
since nineteen ninety one.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
Time out on the field for Kentucky. But we'll keep
it right here.
Speaker 11 (22:58):
Thirty three to thirty one.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Welcome back, please, Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talking.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I'm Anthony White and.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Now out of the bullpen, we got Old Van House,
former NFL defensive back, UK defensive back, and now breakdown
story and there and my partner on the locker, Van House,
good morning, and how are you doing?
Speaker 6 (23:24):
Good morning man, I am. I'm doing well. When your
feet touched the ground, everything else is gravy. So it
started off on a great note, and let's see how
it continues on the radio with my man, it's going.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
To be on a great note.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
We're trying to get in contact with coach Anwarrish Stewart.
I know he's typically in the Big House, so I
don't know if he stepped outside to come on air
with us, but he ain't interest his phone. So we
will have a coach Stewart on with us here shortly.
But Van House, I'm gonna update you on the show.
You'd be interested to find Jack Pilgrim and I and
(24:00):
reference a show by saying that I'm going to convince
Big New Nation that we're gonna least we're going at
least five hundred, okay, And I gave us the three
out of conference wins and uh.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Or then Louisville. You know it's up there.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
So I just had to convince three more wins and
we and I think when Jack Pilton got off, I
think we're at four and three where I think he
may have gave us a Tennessee. But let's put let's
put a pin in that because we do now have
coach and war Stewart. Thank you for joining us this morning. Coach,
how was it going.
Speaker 8 (24:36):
What's up, guys? What's happening?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
We're doing good, man, not as good as you, but
we're doing good. But I'm not then maybe.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
Well you all man. Thanks Stuart. Remember this is not
the locker, so you know there's governing agency.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Hey, coach, the big talk this morning. We've been looking.
We have the schedule. I know last year may have
been an anomaly. Some people seem to think that that's
the direction we're headed back toward, you know, the nineteen
ninety four seasons, in those type of seasons.
Speaker 8 (25:11):
But we.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
But right now on the show, we I think we
convinced that we can go six hundred the better was
last year and anomaly or or how does the coaching
staff feel in the public and the media, is it
is feeling like we're a four and eight squad.
Speaker 8 (25:27):
Yeah, we don't. You know what, We're not worried about
what the media and what the fans think. It's all
about you know, us in that building, man, and all
the hard work that these young men have put in,
the hours that we've put in. Man, we're ready to go.
Speaker 11 (25:41):
You know where.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
We've had two weeks really good preparation. We got two
more weeks, man, to really continue to take it to
the next level. I think one of the big thing is, Man,
we don't listen to the outside voices.
Speaker 10 (25:56):
Man.
Speaker 8 (25:56):
It ain't about what they think. It's about what we
go out and doing. We had a very competitive team, and.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
The big thing was last year some of the things
in the trenches on both sides, and you get to
see what the offensive line looks like. And I think
I don't know if you've really had a down year
coming into the season as far as the defensive front.
But the question you guys going against office from what
are the trenches looking like with you guys through the
first few weeks, very competitive.
Speaker 8 (26:27):
You know they've been together now since January. Very competitive.
Little coach Wolfs is doing a really good job with
those guys develop them, getting those guys all caught up,
especially the new guys on my end. You know, I
got three really good additions, man, and they fit in perfectly.
You know, we're not gonna be that really huge, big
(26:47):
front we've had in the past, but we're all gonna
be strong, gonna be quick, explosive guys, guys that could
get on edges fast and be disruptive. Coach White's gonna
put those and situations to be very successful. And we're excited, man,
We're excited about where we are. I think the biggest
thing Anthony and Van is that we're all healthy. You know,
(27:10):
this time last year, Josiah Hayes and Tavian Gason went
down in the spring, and you know they missed the season.
Josian end up coming back, both end up coming back
at the end, but they weren't one hundred percent. I
have right now, you know, fifteen really healthy bodies, probably
an eight man rotation right now that I feel really
(27:33):
good with no drop off.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And how did how did you guys coming out of
the spring or coming out of spring with health issues.
How much did that impact the season in general?
Speaker 8 (27:44):
Well, it was huge because those two guys, you know,
we expected to really give us the depth and give
us what we needed. And then when Keith, Shaun and
you know the beat up and not being being able
to practice in the move that's hard. That's four of
(28:05):
your top guys that you expected to really play at
a high level and because of injuries they were And so,
you know, when you look at championship teams, you know,
they've always had a dominant, uh defensive offensive line and
they've had depth. And we didn't have the depth because
of the injuries that we had, you know, in the
spring last year and so and then going into the
(28:27):
season with Dion and Keisha and so uh, you know,
having that depth, having guys that two things are not
looking to get out of work, but trying to find
work and trying to be great is what you want.
And that's what I feel like I have right now.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
And did you guys, did you you guys use offensive
line last year just to make it through the spring,
did you guys they should make some defensive linemup, put
some office alignment on the just to get through practices
last year?
Speaker 8 (28:57):
I had to. I had no choice. You know, we
had to get through the fifteen practices and so you know,
we're so down in numbers that you know I did.
I took three three guys and bottom over, you know,
just to get through you know, the Blue and White game.
I mean, I had to do what I had to
do to give guys the looks. And you know, like
(29:18):
we talk about, the fans are like they have no
idea when we talk about depth and depth trust and
having you know, those type of guys like you got
to have that, you know, and most championship teams they
have guys behind guys and that's what we gotta deal.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
And you know, we got some guys drafted last year
and some guys left the program for different reasons. So
we got a whole lot of new faces. Who are
you gonna be hearing from this year? What are some
names that the fans can can start preparing to hear?
Speaker 8 (29:47):
Well, well, defensely, you know, like I said, you know,
David Guss is gonna be you know, he's gonna be
a really good guy to anchor that inside. Uh he's
a physical guy. You know, Marquise Grace is one and
he's an asked guy that unbelievable talented. You know, we
we got you know, we defensively, you know, I have
(30:10):
Jaden Williams who also gives us depth, you know, up front,
and so you know, they just gonna have to wait
since they want to be you know, Debbie Downerds and
tell us we're gonna be four and eight. They ask him, wait,
they can wait till the first game and see what
we have?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Who what are some going?
Speaker 7 (30:29):
Man?
Speaker 6 (30:30):
All right, stude, I got a question, a couple of questions,
as we always hear about players having to integrate into
the locker room and get familiar with teammates and all
that stuff. My question is for the coach, how do
you integrate these new players when they have come from
a different style, for different system, with maybe good technique,
(30:51):
maybe bad technique. How how difficult is it for you
as a coach to integrate these guys into your system
and in a way that you coach.
Speaker 10 (31:01):
Well?
Speaker 8 (31:01):
First of all, man, you know, as a coach just
integrated them just into our locker room. You know, Coach
Steuss does a really good job with you know, brother
and ball in the summers on Wednesdays where we get
we we have somebody a speaker that comes for four
for four and then you know we break bread. You know,
we're always together. We do events, We go bowling, we
(31:23):
do a lot of different things, you know, to get
these guys around each other and get to know each other,
you know, from January to now. Uh. And then as
as a player, we do a really good job evaluating guys.
And so you know, myself, Coach White, the defensive staff, like,
so we're not we're not like closing our eyes and
(31:45):
then picking a number or name out of a hat.
We're gonna evaluate, you know, several guys, several hundred guys,
and then we're gonna eliminate, eliminate, eliminate, and then what
guys fit what we do, who can help us? And
then we go after those guys. And that's what I did.
That's what we did as a staff, and you know,
getting David and Murky Easton, then getting James how we
(32:08):
you know how we went and we we grabbed those guys.
But we're gonna evaluate those guys. We're gonna make sure
that those guys fit what we do. And then when
they come in, man, I treat them just like a freshman.
I build them from the ground up, man, from you know, eyes,
hands and feet, you know, to our my building blocks
to the three jobs to hand placement, eyes, reach together, footwork,
(32:32):
strike it and drive, I mean the whole Nun and
I And then what happens is then they get caught up.
They get caught up. After the spring we go, we
keep it through the summer, and now we hear in
fall camp man and so man, we're not missing a beat.
We're hitting the ground running, all.
Speaker 6 (32:48):
Right, My my, My last one is this Now, I
know you can't say too much, so I'm gonna I'm gonna,
I'm gonna take that with no house. Well, one thing
that perked my ears up was hearing Coach Stoops say
things about the athletic level of the guys a front
and we might have to do some things differently. So
are we gonna go more even front, are we gonna
(33:08):
stunt a little more? Or we're gonna do some things
that we haven't there in the past because we had
big Big Q and big Bully in the middle and
and and we didn't have to do so much movement.
Or we're gonna see some some of that some multiple fronts.
Speaker 8 (33:24):
Well, then you know we are multiple fur defense. You
know that's where we are. You know, Coach Steuss came in, Uh,
you know this off season and we all sat down,
we talked about, you know, who are we gonna be.
What are some of the things that do better how
you know those type of things. You know, we sat
down at the defense and so coach stuts is also
(33:44):
you know he talks with a lot of the coaches
in the old season around the league. We do a
lot of stuff that's hard for teams to, uh, to
prepare for. And so, man, we we are I mean
we're not. We're gonna be a multiple front.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Now.
Speaker 8 (33:55):
I'm gonna tell you this. We are very athletic. We
are very athletic. It from the front, you know, from
from from the D line to you know, the secondary man,
the live backers, and so, man, we're gonna play fast
and you're gonna see what You're going to see us.
You're gonna see us continue to move and do some things.
But we're gonna sit in there. Man, we're struggling. We
(34:16):
got heavy hands. Man, we're thinking that we're gonna anchor
that thing down.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Man you're talking about you know, the front. Things got
going on.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Having Tyy Bryant, who's three years in so he's got
a lot of experience. He ain't a senior yet like Jordan.
But having those guys that experience back there, does that
allow you guys to do different things or is those
two things completely uh have.
Speaker 8 (34:40):
Nothing to do to absolutely no, Absolutely, Anthony. The front
end has the compliment to back end. When you have
smart guys like Todd and you have loved you know,
Cam Dooley's doing a really good job, he's coming along.
We're able to do something because sometimes you know, depending
on the coverages, they have to fit. You know, they
have to fit inside you know, a gap sometimes or
(35:03):
or b gaps you know, when cover three. So to
have those guys back to that's smart and that can
communicate and put backers and put everybody where they're supposed
to be and communicate is huge. You know, having a
veteran team man speaks volumes, and so we feel really
strongly about you know where we are in the secondary
(35:24):
linebacker and up front man, and we're ready, like man,
we're working really hard. Uh. Coach Coach White is really
challenging us, challenging them, you know, different calls and stuff
and just written us in situations where we get ourselves
out of so that when you give them that situation,
you don't flinch. And so man, it's been really fun
(35:47):
the last two weeks and we got to.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Head the break.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
But I would if you had to make a statement
to the medium, big blue nation, where would that be?
Speaker 8 (35:56):
You know, well, I would just tell them to trust
trust the process. You know, Coach Susan has been here
for eight years. I mean, being the eighth straight Bowl games.
You know, one year doesn't change. Okay, one year doesn't change.
We'll get back to that and you know what, come
on out. You know, the end of the end of
the month versus Toledo, and let's see, let's let's let's see.
(36:19):
You know, if if what you guys thought lastually, if
there's not a difference, you know, we're ready to roll. Man,
We're ready to go. The guys are hungry, they're working
their butt off. They paid the they've paid the price,
and now it's time to go.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Thank you for your time this morning, coach, Thanks for
joining us.
Speaker 8 (36:36):
All right, ma, man, appreciate y'all. Y'all have a good time.
Speaker 10 (36:39):
Man.
Speaker 8 (36:39):
I'll holler back at y'all.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Thank you. We will be back after this.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
You're listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday when in sports Talk
on News Radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning sports Talk presented by
the lead Troop Boards Radio Network on six thirty w.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
LAP back Stockyards Bank Sunday one is sports Talk. Come
in Throughy White the Love with Bed House. This hour
sun sports Talk has been brought to you my country
boy brewing Man.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
How's we.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Thanks to coaching and work Steward Defensive line coach, University
of Kentucky. Uh good stuff by coach ste seems motivated, colorful,
colorful language.
Speaker 6 (37:23):
Man, Look I'm out. Look, this is what I've been saying.
I said it on the lock of Wednesday's nine pm
me since standard time. It's not what coaches say, really,
because this is this is talking season for everyone, right.
It's not what they say I want sayings to take heretous.
It's how they said. It's the tone. Don't listen to
(37:46):
what they say, because they're going to say everybody's doing great,
the team is progressing, and we are well. Father had
this year and we were last year, and we've got
great captains and leaders like. All that stuff is coach speak.
Listen to the home lisen to how they say things,
and man, I'm a TV these past couple of weeks
(38:06):
hearing these coaches talk and and and the level of
of confidence, quiet confidence, the level of these guys are
working hard, and and we know that we're going to
be better than what we have been and and and
that like remember when coach Stoups did at Penn State
(38:28):
thing with James Franklin, did the did the fake punt? Yeah,
that is that. That's the tone that every coach I've
heard is given off this talking season.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
And he talked a little bit about the offense line.
We're in good things about the offensive line, and after
what we've seen in the past couple of years. I
don't know, except there's been a whole lot of back
or there's been a transitions. And that's why, you know,
everybody's happy that Bush has come back for the second year.
Probably it's been five or six years since he's been
(39:00):
able to relax and say, you know, I got the
same offensive coordinator return. It's been a while, so you know,
to have an offensive line sounds they're making improvement. And look,
I said, Stud's not the type to blow smoke at you.
So if he say those guys are doing better things
over there, and they're getting better. Do you you buy
that as coach speak or you think they probably are
(39:20):
getting better.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
I'm a well, first of all, I think they're gonna
be better, just off of counter wise. But here's the thing,
ever go with springs well, fall camp, spring football, etc.
Is when one side of all does well, that means
the other side of bollsteink right. So how how do
you truly take it? And we don't know until you
(39:42):
play somebody with with a different color jersey on, Because
if the offense is breaking ten fifteen yard players every time,
I'm not sure. I feel good about the defense, and
there's the defensive stuff in the offensive two yards, I'll
feel good about the offense. Let's see and wait until Saturdays.
I'm confident that this team is gonna be better than
(40:03):
they were last year.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Though for sure that is Van Howes will continue this
show after this break. You're listening to stock Yards Bank
Sunday went in sports talk on news radio six thirty
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