Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Jack Pilgrim and Larry L. Vaut coming
to you from Clark's Main Street Market Studios and beautiful
downtown Lex, Kentucky, Clark's Pumpy Shop, Return, Refresh and Refuse.
(00:22):
The number was just given so I don't have to
jump on the big ass fans outline. Let us know
where you stand. I know a lot of people had
to see our team play before you, you know, felt
comfortable about how this season is going to go. We
got old miss coming to town. Lane Keiffin has a
chip on his shoulder, as everyone has already stated a
thousand times, and he's going to do something to us
(00:42):
based off what you saw yesterday. Where do you stand
at as far as your confidence in Kentucky football? Larry Vaught,
you know, I like giving you a hard time, and
Alan Cutler told me to get he enjoys listen to
the show when I give you a hard time. So
I mainly give you a hard time for Alan Cutler's entertainment.
(01:05):
But where do you stay? Honestly, what are you standing?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Right though?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
You said you need to see a couple of games,
but you saw one. You watched a lot of football
here in the Commonwealth. What do you staying with us?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
I think I'm still in the waiting see mode. I'm
still waiting for you to address the biggest issue from
the game, and that is on how Zach Calzada played.
I mean, I didn't see a whole lot there that
inspired a lot of great confidence in me. I mean,
we talk about what the wide receivers did or didn't do,
(01:38):
but how much of that is on what the quarterback
did or didn't do? And I thought a seven year guy,
the reason he was supposed to be starting was because
he had that experience factor. He knew how to handle things,
he'd been there. He would make mistakes like maybe the
safety and the end zone. Those are the kind of
things he wouldn't do. And I just was not very impressed.
And maybe you're going to explain to me why I
(01:59):
shouldn't be, why I should have been more impressed, shouldn't
be his worried. But I just didn't see a lot
a lot out of Zach Calzada that maybe you want
to jump up and down and say, hot, damn, this
guy is gonna have it because you look back at
Brock Vandergriffs opening game of Kentucky a lot better. You
look back at Devin Leary's opening game of Kentucky a
lot better you look back at Will Levis's opening game
(02:22):
of Kentucky a lot lot better. So that that to
me puts a big question mark on what's going to
happen going forward, and is Cutter Bowley is going to
stand over there and watch the rest of the year
if that continues, And how long do you go before
you might you talk about make it might have to
make a change at punt returner or what about what
(02:42):
about to play at quarterback? Because Kasada was supposed to
be the gather that had all this experience where this
wouldn't happen, is what I thought is the reason he
was starting. So to me, that's a I don't know
if it's a head scratcher, but it's a big concern
to me going forward. And maybe this week he'll come
out totally to change my perception. But some of the
(03:03):
worries and doubts and things that I just had heard
from some different people, I didn't see anything to put
those things to rest.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
To me, why would you, why would you put me
under the gun like you know, I don't bash players
without reason, and I tried not to. I have never
I have never praised that Galzada. If you watch my podcast,
why do you think I want to die? I tried
about telling Van Hiles that, look, man, just listen to
me when I tell you something, because I I'm not
(03:33):
saying I'm sold on the guy. And he put it
like this, he did not do anything I did not
expect him to do yesterday.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Does that answer your question?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
He did say that again, he did not.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
He did not do anything I did not expect him.
He played exactly like I expected him to play. No, no,
don't don't say don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I'm not. I'm not answering any questions. I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Sounds to me like he didn't have very big expectations.
What about you?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Who Jack?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Then why'd he start? That's a great point. If the
intel and all the kind of behind the scenes rumbling
suggests that that is kind of who Zach Calzada is,
and you hear all of the QB one battle cutter
bowlies in, you know, nipping at his heels and all
that stuff, then why not make the move to the
(04:26):
future and the future faces of the program. As Mark
Stoops is said one hundred times, like I feel like
it's kind of wasted development for Cutter, not getting a
chance to kind of work through the same rust that
Kalzada clearly has as well.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And like I said, I do think and one thing,
and this could be the case. I do know a
couple of those plays, even when bad, when the safety happened,
when interception happened. I think Zach was trying to do
the right thing. Maybe his processor is not his opinion too,
Maybe he didn't process it quick enough, or maybe he
he's just not accustomed to the playbook because a lot
(05:03):
of success we saw in the spring, and a lot
of success we saw in the summer was based off
of them not being able to hit them. Like even
in the Spring showcase or whatever they call it, he
threw the long passed down the right sideline through the
long fade, the guy off the edge pulled up like
he would have been hit in the regular game. He
(05:23):
would have been hit while he was trying to release
that ball, which would not have made it a pinpoint.
But I understand Mark Stoops. Everybody has to do something,
do things to let the fan base be excited to
bring excitement to the fan base. So we just don't
let the Lindebackers hit them, and they get to throw knighteball.
And that's why when we were watching the game on
the SEC network, everybody kept saying, or Mark stoops to say, yeah,
(05:46):
now it's live football. Yeah, because he hadn't played live
football with our offense line, with our receivers. So you
just get the freedom to throw the ball with our
expectation of anyone hitting you. So but I do, I
would if I have to give you a bright spot.
He was looking at the right people. He was trying
to make the right players all the time. And like
I said, I'm not opposed with Jack Pilgrim and saying,
(06:09):
if we're going to have a whole season of him
trying to grow into a position, and we only have
one year with him, why not just and this is
not a knock on Zach, why not.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Just get Cutter Bowley.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Let Cutter Bowley take this year to cut his teeth
learn because Cutter Bowley, from what I understand what I
have seen, throws sporadically, erratically, throws a good ball here
and there.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
He makes some bonehead of plays.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
He's young, but as Larry Vaught said, Zach has been
at this for a long time, Like your learning curve
is probably behind you. If we have to have a
learning curve, we should do it with the future. And
we know we have a history of not producing quarterbacks.
So give Cutter a chance. If this is Zach, now,
maybe this is the first game, Zach just getting live
(06:55):
bullets and trying to figure out everything live ammunition, trying
to get acclimate it to Bush Hampton system.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That's fine.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
But if it's if this is our baseline, then our
defense is not going to put up with this all year,
pitching shutouts and then we get in the fourth quarter
and all were let And that's the luxury of being
a quarterback at Kentucky. Right now, our defense can hold
a team to six points, three point zero points, but hey, look,
come on, man, we're gonna need you to score. We're
(07:24):
gonna need you to score one touchdown. We'll take a
seven to three wins, seven and six win, but we
can't hardly get a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's it's our defenses. It's gonna gonna get tough.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Let's get back to the big ass fans hotline and
see what Jake has to say, good morning, Jake, what
do you got for us?
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Hey?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
How are you doing? Anthony? I'm doing pretty good, feeling
pretty good. After yesterday's game. Has wanted to see, uh
where everybody was on the prediction on where the where
they see the record in the season this year. I'm
more of a seven and five than a five and seven.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
They's Jack, thank you see Jake, I'm with you. Go ahead, Jack.
He told you he's more seven and five like me.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
And what you're wanting to.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Go ahead? Jack?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yeah, our fun go fort Anthony.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Would you say, Jake?
Speaker 4 (08:18):
I said, did it?
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Are you a seven and five?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I've been a seven and five? Yeah, okay, I've been
a seventy five. Go ahead, Jack, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
If you're wanting to talk seven and five into existence,
I think there was enough out there that you saw
yesterday that suggested that that was on the table. Because
we've seen Mark Soops coach teams go seven and five.
Y's in the exact same recipe, the exact same formula
of stout, high level defense, solid special teams, and just
(08:51):
enough stuff there on the on the you know, the
run game to put points on the board. And that's
how you know, it's it's got not gonna be pretty,
it's not going to be the sexiest thing in the world,
and you might fall asleep watching it, but hey, it
wins football games, and you know that that is. I
saw enough there with the defense and special teams to say,
(09:12):
all right, and you know, I think I think McGowan's
a player, and I think that Dadell's a player. So
put all of those things together. Yes, I do tend
to lean more optimistic than pessimistic, but there is still
a massive, massive question market quarterback and receiver that it
could go south in hurry if it's not if it's
not addressed. So yes, you know, if you make the
(09:35):
change to Cutter and Cutter has better chemistry with some
of the other years, I would have I'm I'm.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
There, Like I point, you're at what point? At what point? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
This past week, I mean halftime. I don't know if
it was the right call for week one, but I
think that Stoops could very well look at himself in
the mirror this week and go all right, what are
we doing here? Like if the gap is close enough
right now and we still got a seventh year guy
that needs to knock off a ton of rust. Then
why are we waiting to, you know, until what you
(10:12):
lose to oms Like, are you waiting for a in
season rock bottom before you make the change? Or do
you trust your gut and say, hey, you know, he
was trending in the right direction at the end of camp,
whereas Calzada's kind of plateau the entire time. Why not
go for the guy that was trending in the right direction.
I want I'm very curious to hear Stoops tomorrow on
(10:34):
his press conference at noon and then his really the
Colin radio show at six o'clock where he can kind
of dig in a little bit deeper and share his
kind of unfiltered thoughts a little bit with his you know,
feet kicked up. I'm really interested to see what he
thinks about that quarterback battle, if there is one in
his mind right now.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Thanks, Hey, thank you for the call, Jake.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
My two cents is I honestly if well, I know
Mark Stoops ain't particularly on the hot seat because the
biout is so high, But if he wants to regain
the fan base, regain the team, I think you give
Cutter a package or two. So if we run, if
we go into like, where do we go yesterday? A
two quarter loll of offense? Okay, after two or three
(11:17):
possessions without any production, Get Cutter a package. Give Cutter
and if he is just the same thing they do
with running backs when they say give the running backs
a hot hand. If the running back is chipping off
four or five six yards of carry, you just you
stay with the hot hand. But if they're not doing
you know, we try some different. Why not do that
at quarterback? But Cutter has to get reps and he
has to get I said, give him a package. Have
(11:39):
Cutter a package that when he goes in he knows
exactly what he's coming in to do. He's coming in
to pick up move the chains. And that's all I
want to do. But let's get back to the big
ass fans hotline and see what Dennis has to say.
Good morning, Dennis, what do you got for us?
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Well, y'all created a quarterby controversy, and I don't. I
was there at the game, and I I was not that.
I think Kyles Oda is getting a lost slack. Uh,
just me personally. I mean, these receivers has got to
these receivers has got to help the quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I agree with that.
Speaker 7 (12:16):
I mean, I mean, indeed, I thought the receiver play
was pretty much pretty much pretty bad. Just today they're
not really of course, I know it's hard to get
the separation and especially in the SEC and but they
got no separation yesterday. The safety, in my opinions, not
on the quarterback. The safety, uh, in my opinions on
(12:39):
the offensive coordinator. You don't put the quarterback in the
position out there to make a decision. You you you
are you put a play in there where you do
a dive I went through running back. You don't put
You don't put that decision on on the quarterback, whether
the on that play right there. To me, that's on
the offensive coordinator right there. And I don't I'm not
a big Dennis.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
He could have, Dennis, he could have handed the ball
off like he had an option, and Mark Stoop says
he should. And here's the other thing, Dennis, if they
if they put ten people, if they put ten people
in the box just to come, that is why they
had an option because if they if they just basically
they could have stopped running back in the end zone.
(13:21):
So I do think the option of having a path
throw option is not a bad idea. He probably should
have handed the ball off. The idea that you feel
like they shouldn't put a quarterback in the position to
make a play if you gotta, if you have a
point guard on the on the field, and you are
you scared to have to make decisions. This ain't This
ain't the conference for him.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
Go ahead, Dennis, Well maybe that's so, but you know,
you get I don't know, but I just know that,
and I hope that he proves me wrong. But I
just know that the thirteen games seeing Bush Himton's offense
most soon enough you, I mean, this guy doesn't know
(14:04):
when to kids scratching? What's itching? If you understand why
I'm coming round, I got you. You get you get
around the forty yard line, and you're you get you
get down that you get down to the four on
their side of the field by running the football. I'll say,
you want to run three pass plays in a row,
and when you get around the forty yard line, you
(14:26):
got to start thinking about getting in the field goal position.
I just have a lot of problems with thought, and
I hope he proves me wrong. But what I saw
yesterday didn't look much different from the offensive coordinator and
what I saw last year. And so I'm not putting
all this on Zach Calzada. I'm not saying he had
a perfect game yesterday, but he's got to get some
(14:47):
help from receivers. And that's that's just my take. I
mean that the defense looked great. Uh. Of course, you know,
we'll see what they if they hold up against the SEC.
But I just I came away after saying this offense again,
I just you know, my good feeling going this season
(15:09):
was we was going to be a five hunred football team,
But after what I saw yesterday from the offense, I'm
leaning for more to a four and eight three nine season. Uh.
And I hope, I hope those are I'm a bigger
UK football fan in myself, but I was very unimpressed
to this offense. And to me, it's coming from this
due to the offensive coordinator. That's gon take.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Thanks for the call, Dennis. We will discuss that when
we come back from this break. You're listening to Stockyards
Bank Sunday when the sports Talk on News Radio six thirty.
Speaker 8 (15:37):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Mornings Sports Talk presented by
the lead Troop Barge Radio Network on six thirty.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
W l A p LP Welcome back Stockyards Banks Sunday.
Want a sports talk. I'm Anthony Hite along with Larry
Vaughda and Jack Pilgrim. Stockyards Banks is your trusted partner
SYS nineteen oh fourths ahead on over to syb dot com.
We got a listen lane coming up at ten thirty,
and we got the big ass fans hotline lit up,
So we're gonna try to do some rapid fire and
(16:06):
get these questions out of the way before we have
our guest at ten thirty.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Good morning, Alvin, what do you got for us?
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Hey?
Speaker 9 (16:13):
Asthdy, how you doing good? I'm enjoying the commentary back
and forth. Of course, you know, Kentucky football is different
from Kentucky basketball. You know, if it was a basketball game,
we always talk about, you know, the good player of
the players, the players that come in, and it's always
good commentary about that because that's the brand here in
(16:33):
Kentucky's Kentucky basketball, Kentucky football is it's the little brother
to the to the basketball program. I get that, but
seemed like over the last few years, I think Larry
Vault made a very interesting observation that the last three
quarterbacks before the one that played yesterday was pretty good
(16:53):
on Opening Day that the fellow yesterday was. You know,
it's disappoint him.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (17:01):
He may needs to go back and look at the
great game he had against Alabama and maybe they can
encourage him to do better. Because he seemed like he
was off target. I don't know if the receivers was
running bad routes. I think I don't think that you
can use your tight ends to to win games and
(17:23):
get chunk yardage in the SEC. I think you're gonna
have to have the White House to do good. And
I also look at the what what did n I
L do to Kentucky football? I think it's a game
where you look and you miss Burying Brown trying to
return punts. He probably been a little more courageous to
(17:46):
go get that ball and try to take it to
the house. He was probably done the same on kickoffs.
On a kickoff you missed Dame Key. That probably is
a better route round right rather than the other receivers.
And so Nil, you know, probably hurt us. With those
two guys with Stephen Core seem like they're a little
bit not in stealth of that intumans as the veterans
(18:09):
that left. So the two questions I.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
Have is is that have the.
Speaker 9 (18:15):
The continuity been fractured because we had shifts and offensive
coordinators and new quarterbacks coming in? Is the play call
is not in touch with the talent that we have
in what is Mark Stoop's strategy? You talked a little
(18:35):
bit about like the run and play defense. Is he
going to have to just let the offense just cook
and come up with new age plays because it seemed
like that the plays that we use are still antiquated
and has that we've got caught up in the new
age of offensive football.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Thank you for the call, Alvin. I appreciate the call.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Let's head and we will put a pin in that
and we will talk about that app there our guests.
But let's get to the phones and see what she
Will has said. It's been a long time. What do
you got for she Will? Oh, she Will's gone, Okay, Well, Larry,
what Jack Pilgrim's leaving?
Speaker 6 (19:11):
So?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Uh do you think that the nil heard us?
Speaker 7 (19:17):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Do you think we miss Barry and Brown and some
of the guys that left Yesterday's Jack Pilgrim. We only
got about a minute too, though.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
No, I mean, I mean, I maybe from a pure
talent perspective, but if you're going to be serious about
resetting a culture and all those things, then that getting
rid of the nil I don't want to see even
say cancers, but the guys that were definitely here for
the you know, the nil checks and once things kind
(19:46):
of started wavering a little bit, kind of they became
more of the negative voices in the room. But like,
you had to get rid of those guys. And even
if it means that you didn't get you know, their
on field production, you know, so be it. But the
culture was more than half the issue than the raw talents.
So no, don't believe that at all.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
And I agree with you, Jack pookel.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
When we come back, we will have a Lissa laying
on sideline SEC sideline reporter to talk about what she
saw yesterday, what the energy was like, what does she
think about Kentucky moving forward, Because there ain't a whole
lot of optimism on this side unless you're in the
studio of me. All the optimism is coming from Anthony White.
We'll be back after this. You're listening to Stockyards Bank
Sunday one of Sports Talk on news radio six thirty WLP.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk, presented by
the lead Troopports Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Larry Vault. This hour Sunday Morning Sports
Talks brought you by Country Boy Brewing, and we are
now proud to be joined by SEC sideline reporter Alyssa Lane.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Good morning, Alyssa.
Speaker 6 (21:03):
Thank y'all for having me. I know it's always good
to wake up on a Sunday after a cat's win.
So I'm sure y'all are are feeling good despite maybe
some of what we saw yesterday.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
And yes, and I appreciate you for joining us here
in beautiful Lexting Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
And I love your work.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I kind of regret the fact that you are again cock,
but you are great at your job and you're on
our show, so we appreciate you.
Speaker 6 (21:32):
Thank you for making the exception. Yeah, I know we've
developed a little bit of a rivalry over the past
couple of years. Huh, Like we never really thought about
each other too much. South Carolina and Kentucky fans at
least not recently, but over the last few years that's
become bitter, which is fun.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Let's be honest before we get before we get to yesterdays.
The game you were in school with Deebo.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Samuel, No, Deebo was after me, I was. I think
he was a little bit after for me. Oh my gosh,
I'm my wires twist on this stuff. Sunday morning, I
I was. I had freshman English with Jadavian Clowney. Oh
is that that like pinpoints? Where where I was at Carolina?
We uh, we sat next to each other in our
(22:15):
freshman English classes South Carolina, So I was there with
that class, which was a great time to be a
game clock student certainly in those years.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
All right, well, let's get to what we came before.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
So you you saw the game up close and personal yesterday.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Our fan base is kind of torn.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Like you said, a win is always good for us
me as a player, an ugly win is just as
good as a beautiful a loss. So uh, it was
ugly win. From from the sideline, what was your take
on yesterday's game from marcuats?
Speaker 6 (22:47):
Yeah, I mean I think a lot of it was
week one. You know, you were going to see ugly
football Week one. That's just you saw it across the country.
If you watched anybody else play yesterday, it was a
lot of sloppy football across the country. I think that
my major takeaway, My main takeaway was how good Kentucky's
(23:08):
defense looked right off the bat. Now they started to
lose some guys as the game went on, certainly along
the defensive front, some guys going down with some injuries.
Humphrey Grace was one of the big ones we were
kind of monitoring, and he was not able to go
back in in the second half of that game. But
you know, there's certainly some kinks for the offense to
work out. But let's be honest when you've got fifty
(23:29):
five new players on the roster. Like I was sitting
in the Friday meeting with coach Stoops and I said,
you know, when you're watching your team and you're getting
to the fourth quarter knowing that you haven't seen half
the team yet play in a game atmosphere and he
kind of stopped me. He was like, oh my god,
I hadn't even thought.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
About it like that.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
I haven't seen half the team play yet, so I'm
not necessarily surprised by some of the ugliness that we saw.
But yes, it is a little concerning at times, certainly
along the offensive line. You want them to be able
to go and body Toledo. Zach Calzada and some of
the decision making left Caps fans I'm sure a bit worried.
(24:11):
But again, game one, there's still plenty of football left
to play, and I hope they are able to tune
up a lot of those things this week because we
two ole missed. That's not going to be easy after
a big win that they got yesterday and their.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Opener and a lot of people asking on social media.
You kind of stated it perfectly as far as zach Zada.
To me, the big question from the fan base is
are those things can be maybe corrected. Do you feel
like it is something that is bad decisions or processing?
Processing will get better over time once you get acclimated.
(24:47):
Bad decisions mean that you just aren't thinking on the
right path, which you and the office coordinator aren't on
the same page.
Speaker 6 (24:56):
Yeah, I think a lot of it is more between
the ears of Zach cal thought of himself. Let's be honest. Processing,
you just said it gets better with time, Well, this
is his seventh year of college football, right like, you
would hope that that is something that looks a little
bit better if it's that, If that is the issue,
he said himself. You know when we were talking to
him on Friday and we were talking to Bush Hampton,
(25:18):
they did not mince words. He's a guy that loves adrenaline.
He wants to make the big play. He wants to
make the big throw. We saw that a couple of
times attempted to Kendrick Law yesterday. Unfortunately it wasn't didn't
hit in the end zone in the way that they
would have wanted it to. But that is something that
Zach is very aware of. I know I want to
(25:39):
make the big play. I'm willing to make the big play.
I'm willing to put my body on the line to
do whatever I need to do to advance the ball
or score. But Comma, I also know I need to
slow down to make the smart play. And he emphasized
to me on Friday, I need to take the check
down when it's there. That is something that I'm going
(26:00):
to work on this year is making sure that I
am looking for it and willing to take the check
down versus trying to force that next big bomb. So
I am very curious to see what next week looks like. Right,
you've got one game under your belt, you're back in
the SEC. You feel like you've got so much to prove,
which is what he told us he always wanted to
(26:23):
be back in this conference to prove that he could
be a winner at this level. I think all those
things are going to manifest in those Week one jitters
still trying to develop with Bush Hampden, like you said,
getting on the same page. And Bush even said this
to us Friday. I thought it was interesting. He said,
there will be times this year where Zach fails me
out on some calls. So I'm not worried about the
(26:44):
chemistry or the relationship them being on the same page.
For me, it's just okay, what will Zach look like
in week two, Week three, week four, as far as
what's between his own ears with going through his progressions,
not trying to force it, and of course continuing to
try to be as accurate as possible and make the
next best decision. If that doesn't improve, it could be
(27:08):
a long season for Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Let's be honest and a Lissa say, let's let me
ask her this, Larry, what so say your name is
a less of stoops. You're making nine point eight million,
nine point six million dollars a year, you paid to
do a job paid handsomely Alyssa, and everybody's saying that
Zach goes out of he Like you said, there's some
time our fan base may not be as patient as
as the Gamecock fan base. So so everybody the rumbling.
(27:34):
Now it's not a huge rumble, but there's a little
rumble that maybe we should start getting Cutter BOLDI ready,
you know, just in case, are if you're a list
of stoops and you're making nine point six million dollars,
do you start getting your backup prepared to start getting
more reps in practice, maybe put them a package in
or are you just you know, we're gonna we're just
gonna fix that and just right, we're just gonna roll
with Zachi the way.
Speaker 6 (27:55):
Well, from what it sounds like, Cutter got a lot
of good reps during fault camp, and the competition really
was good between the two of them. I know they're
excited in what Cutter has I actually asked, specifically Bush
Hampden if whatever the situation is, whether it be injury
or Zach has to come out. How does the offense
change if Cutter were to come in? Are we more limited?
(28:18):
And he said no, it doesn't change at all. So
that's a good sign, right. If Kentucky ever gets to
a point where maybe they're trying to give a different
look to an opposing defense, I'm maybe using both of
those guys, which we've seen more and more as the
season goes on. If I'm the head coach of this
football team, though certainly in the position that Mark Stoops
is in, knowing that last year was unacceptable, nobody will
(28:43):
tell you more that last year was unacceptable than Mark Stoops.
And again, I go back to our Friday meeting. I've
been around him a lot. He's the most tenured coach
in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Now.
Speaker 6 (28:53):
My very first game actually on a crew at ESPN
was Toledo at Kentucky in twenty nineteen. So I've talked
to the man a lot. And I'm telling you he
got up and left, and I said to Susan Lax
the great s idea at Kentucky. There's a fire in
that man's eyes. Like I'm not saying that. I think
Kentucky's gonna go win the SEC championship or make a playoff.
(29:16):
But you can tell he is pissed still about how
last year went and he is excited to turn the page.
They use the words total reset. All that being said,
if Zach Calzata was not their best chance at a
total reset to change the four and eight narrative from
(29:36):
last season, he would not be out there. And I
don't believe that Mark Stoop says any kind of superiority
complex or personality that he would say, Yeah, I'm just
gonna put the less talented quarterback out there because I
gotta save face. No, that man does not care. He
just wants to win football games. So I do really
trust that whatever they are seeing in practice, that is
(30:00):
the best guy. And let's be honest, he has the
most experienced He played for two different SEC schools. He
beat Bama when Nick Saban was still there and it
meant something, right like, it doesn't really mean as much
after yesterday beating Alabama, it feels like. But I do
think that Zach Calzatta, to answer your question, is the
best option. Everybody's favorite player is the backup quarterback when
(30:24):
the starting quarterback is struggling. And I'm sure that will
be a conversation that we have for the rest of
the season.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Listen TOI Larry about just kind of wondering you touched
on just a little bit there, just the overall perception
you had of Kentucky football from being here this weekend,
kind of compared to say, a year ago, when the
bottom just kind of fell out on them.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Yeah. So I don't think I actually got to be
around the team last year. I don't think I called
any Kentucky games, So it was more so from afar
and just converse stations that I had with folks around
the program. It does feel like a rejuvenated team. It
feels like, you know, all the check boxes that we
want to hit with Mark Stookes, you know, the blue
(31:12):
collar mentality, the physicality, the relentless aggression upfront on the
offensive and defensive line. Yet they may not look like
the best line in the SEC, but I do see
the attitude being back there. And if we know anything
about college football and the SEC is that's half the
battle right there. Right So I can't speak to last
(31:34):
year's team and if they were bought in or not,
because I didn't I wasn't around it enough to see,
but I can tell you that this year's team sure
does feel bought in and being down there on the sidelines,
I actually wasn't able to get a camera to go
over there fast enough because it was over by the
time I walked over there. But Josh Braun, one of
the transfer offensive linemen, was giving an impassioned speech to
(31:59):
the offense in about the second quarter. I think it
was yesterday. I mean, you hadn't had any rhythm at
this point. The offense is doing really nothing outside of
that opening touchdown. And I heard the back end of
his sentence. He said, the fans know it, you know it,
everybody knows it. Let's go. And I don't know what
(32:19):
he was saying at the beginning of that sentence, but
I have to imagine it was we're better than this,
or we can be better than this. And he was
pissed off. Guys, I am not gonna lie. He was
furious that I have been around a lot of laceadaisical
football teams. That is not the sign of a lackadaisical
football team that doesn't want to get better. So I
(32:41):
do really feel like this total reset is going to
be different. And one more thing on that too, that
they talked to us about a lot of times. Alabama
is a great example. You get a team of guys
to experience adversity this season before, and they can not
wait to come back and prove everybody wrong and they've
(33:02):
got the chip on their shoulder and we're not going
to be the same team we were last year. Well,
Coach Stukes and the staff were talking about how nice
it was to have people on the team that didn't
experience last year. Some that did, obviously, but some that
came in fresh space. You can teach them what went wrong,
but they weren't there to get so I guess down
(33:23):
in the dumps about it, and so like, oh, well,
you know, well we were a foreign eight football team,
why are we going to be They came in with, no,
we want to we want to change the narrative. We've
got an opportunity here, like a Seth McGowan who's got
an opportunity to be in the best conference in America.
And I really do feel like that blend of players
and that blend of mentality will be different.
Speaker 7 (33:46):
Now.
Speaker 6 (33:46):
Executing it on the field with the top five schedule
in the country is going to be hard, but I
do feel like it's possible for this year's team.
Speaker 7 (33:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Yeah, and let's it take just a second. I agmnuted
here to kind of tell our listeners having different ways
they can follow and see you, because you cover so
many different sports or on so many different things, I'm
not sure I can list them all.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
Yeah, it's a little bit of everything. I'm on social media. Obviously,
you can follow me on Twitter. I'll never call it
x at Alyssa Lang on the SEC network on weeknights,
I'll be on Tomorrow and Wednesday this week, and then
of course on the sidelines throughout SEC football, basketball, baseball, softball.
Now some gymnastics and soccer added to my plate as well.
(34:31):
So anywhere in the SEC UH, you might look up
and I might be waving to you from somewhere.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
And listen before before we let you go.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
I know, we talk a lot about offense, and you know,
I guess I don't want to beat up on Zach
calls out of a lot. Everybody's gonna have a lot
of questions because they don't line they don't line up
underneath the center and play as you say. I play
against the toughest conference, one of the toughest UH our
schedules in America. Our defense from the from the field level,
our defense is I don't know how we keep Brad White.
(35:02):
I don't know why he sticks around here. He's got
to be one of the top three in the country,
if not top two in the country. But what does
that defense look like on the field level? Are they
aggressive and as mean and nasty and fast as it
looks like on the screen.
Speaker 6 (35:16):
Yeah, it's funny. I asked the same question too Brad White, like, man,
you must really love it here because I'm sure you've
had an opportunity to leave and take head coaching jobs,
and he really does. He talked about how valuable it
is to love where he's at and his family to
love where he's at, and coach Tups gives him a
lot of autonomy to run that defense, which I think
means a lot to your question, though, Yeah, they look fast,
(35:38):
they look nasty, like it's always like, I don't even
need to dive into a Kentucky defense in the preseason,
because you know Brad White's gonna have death playing like that, right.
The one thing that they were talking to us about
which I'll be curious against an SEC offensive line, this
weekend is the pass rush. They're still looking for that
(35:59):
guy who could end up being the go to pass
rusher or that that face that opposing offensive coordinators or
offensive line coaches look across and go, how are we
going to prepare for that guy?
Speaker 7 (36:12):
So?
Speaker 6 (36:13):
I think you look at the linebackers, you look at
the secondary, and that group looked good yesterday. Right The
defensive line looked good as well. But if you want
to compete in the SEC, as coach Dup said, you
have to have a nasty defensive line. Who is going
to be that edge rusher for Kentucky this year that
imposes their will and puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks. I
(36:34):
think that still remains to be seen. So that's probably
Bradwhite's biggest question right now.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Well, Larry V, unless you have anything else, well, I.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
Just want to give her a quick change right here
to Since you've talked about all the other sports you
do covered studio shows that you host, basketball season will
be around around the corner. What do you kind of
think about Mark Stoops and Kenny Brooks teams both since
you've cover both the men and the women all Lessen.
Speaker 6 (37:03):
Yeah, I'm not gonna lie to you Larry, I'm in
football modes, so I could not tell you that much
about what the team's going to look like. I'll dive
into that a little bit in October, but I will
say I had Mark Pope a couple of times last
year and was on the sideline to a few those games.
I know, we don't really want to talk about the
Arkansas Kentucky game and lex Suton very much, but I'm
(37:25):
so impressed by him. I love every conversation I get
to have with him, but more importantly, I love the
way the players talk about him. I was actually out
in Vegas for the NBA Summer League this past July,
and I had a couple of former Cats that I
got to catch up with who were out there, and
they still talked so lovingly about Coach Pope and how
(37:47):
much the time in Lexington meant to them. Knowing that,
you know, they wouldn't be the player that they are
competing for an NBA roster in Las Vegas without Coach Pope.
So you know, year one is always going to be
tough no matter where you are, certainly when you wear
the Kentucky logo. Coach Bo understands that better than anybody
having done it, so I have no doubt that they
(38:09):
will be better than last year with a full season
under his belt, whatever that team ends up looking like,
and staying with Kenny Brooks, I mean, I couldn't believe
we got Kenny Brooks to the SEC when he ended
up leaving Virginia tack here. It was just such a
great get, such a great fit, the way he has
continued to build on Kentucky women's basketball and change the
(38:33):
face of the program already in such a short period
of time. As much as I'm excited about football season,
when basketball tips off conference play in January like that
is maybe the next best time of the year. So
I can't wait to see what both of them have
for us.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
That is Alyssa Lane. Follow her on all social media platforms.
One of the best in the business. We appreciate you
for joining us this morning.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (38:58):
Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Already, have a good day. We will be back after this.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
You're listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on
news radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 8 (39:09):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk, presented by
the lead Troop Fordge Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Larry Vaught. We would like to thank
Alyssa Lange for joining us this morning. Very exciting to
Offset Bow in the background and Larry Vaught. But if
you would like to join the show, we got a
whole hour, no no guests lined up, We got a
whole hour for you to give your opinion on yesterday's
game and the rest of the season. Eight five nine
(39:41):
two eight zero two two eight seven eight five nine
two eight zero Cats, We'll be back after this. You're
listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on news
Radio six thirty WLAP
Speaker 6 (40:00):
Say
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Jack Pilgrim and Larry L. Vaut coming
to you from Clark's Main Street Market Studios and beautiful
downtown Lex, Kentucky, Clark's Pumpy Shop, Return, Refresh and Refuse.
(00:22):
The number was just given so I don't have to
jump on the big ass fans outline. Let us know
where you stand. I know a lot of people had
to see our team play before you, you know, felt
comfortable about how this season is going to go. We
got old miss coming to town. Lane Keiffin has a
chip on his shoulder, as everyone has already stated a
thousand times, and he's going to do something to us
(00:42):
based off what you saw yesterday. Where do you stand
at as far as your confidence in Kentucky football? Larry Vaught,
you know, I like giving you a hard time, and
Alan Cutler told me to get he enjoys listen to
the show when I give you a hard time. So
I mainly give you a hard time for Alan Cutler's entertainment.
(01:05):
But where do you stay? Honestly, what are you standing?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Right though?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
You said you need to see a couple of games,
but you saw one. You watched a lot of football
here in the Commonwealth. What do you staying with us?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
I think I'm still in the waiting see mode. I'm
still waiting for you to address the biggest issue from
the game, and that is on how Zach Calzada played.
I mean, I didn't see a whole lot there that
inspired a lot of great confidence in me. I mean,
we talk about what the wide receivers did or didn't do,
(01:38):
but how much of that is on what the quarterback
did or didn't do? And I thought a seven year guy,
the reason he was supposed to be starting was because
he had that experience factor. He knew how to handle things,
he'd been there. He would make mistakes like maybe the
safety and the end zone. Those are the kind of
things he wouldn't do. And I just was not very impressed.
And maybe you're going to explain to me why I
(01:59):
shouldn't be, why I should have been more impressed, shouldn't
be his worried. But I just didn't see a lot
a lot out of Zach Calzada that maybe you want
to jump up and down and say, hot, damn, this
guy is gonna have it because you look back at
Brock Vandergriffs opening game of Kentucky a lot better. You
look back at Devin Leary's opening game of Kentucky a
lot better you look back at Will Levis's opening game
(02:22):
of Kentucky a lot lot better. So that that to
me puts a big question mark on what's going to
happen going forward, and is Cutter Bowley is going to
stand over there and watch the rest of the year
if that continues, And how long do you go before
you might you talk about make it might have to
make a change at punt returner or what about what
(02:42):
about to play at quarterback? Because Kasada was supposed to
be the gather that had all this experience where this
wouldn't happen, is what I thought is the reason he
was starting. So to me, that's a I don't know
if it's a head scratcher, but it's a big concern
to me going forward. And maybe this week he'll come
out totally to change my perception. But some of the
(03:03):
worries and doubts and things that I just had heard
from some different people, I didn't see anything to put
those things to rest.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
To me, why would you, why would you put me
under the gun like you know, I don't bash players
without reason, and I tried not to. I have never
I have never praised that Galzada. If you watch my podcast,
why do you think I want to die? I tried
about telling Van Hiles that, look, man, just listen to
me when I tell you something, because I I'm not
(03:33):
saying I'm sold on the guy. And he put it
like this, he did not do anything I did not
expect him to do yesterday.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Does that answer your question?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
He did say that again, he did not.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
He did not do anything I did not expect him.
He played exactly like I expected him to play. No, no,
don't don't say don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I'm not. I'm not answering any questions. I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Sounds to me like he didn't have very big expectations.
What about you?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Who Jack?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Then why'd he start? That's a great point. If the
intel and all the kind of behind the scenes rumbling
suggests that that is kind of who Zach Calzada is,
and you hear all of the QB one battle cutter
bowlies in, you know, nipping at his heels and all
that stuff, then why not make the move to the
(04:26):
future and the future faces of the program. As Mark
Stoops is said one hundred times, like I feel like
it's kind of wasted development for Cutter, not getting a
chance to kind of work through the same rust that
Kalzada clearly has as well.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And like I said, I do think and one thing,
and this could be the case. I do know a
couple of those plays, even when bad, when the safety happened,
when interception happened. I think Zach was trying to do
the right thing. Maybe his processor is not his opinion too,
Maybe he didn't process it quick enough, or maybe he
he's just not accustomed to the playbook because a lot
(05:03):
of success we saw in the spring, and a lot
of success we saw in the summer was based off
of them not being able to hit them. Like even
in the Spring showcase or whatever they call it, he
threw the long passed down the right sideline through the
long fade, the guy off the edge pulled up like
he would have been hit in the regular game. He
(05:23):
would have been hit while he was trying to release
that ball, which would not have made it a pinpoint.
But I understand Mark Stoops. Everybody has to do something,
do things to let the fan base be excited to
bring excitement to the fan base. So we just don't
let the Lindebackers hit them, and they get to throw knighteball.
And that's why when we were watching the game on
the SEC network, everybody kept saying, or Mark stoops to say, yeah,
(05:46):
now it's live football. Yeah, because he hadn't played live
football with our offense line, with our receivers. So you
just get the freedom to throw the ball with our
expectation of anyone hitting you. So but I do, I
would if I have to give you a bright spot.
He was looking at the right people. He was trying
to make the right players all the time. And like
I said, I'm not opposed with Jack Pilgrim and saying,
(06:09):
if we're going to have a whole season of him
trying to grow into a position, and we only have
one year with him, why not just and this is
not a knock on Zach, why not.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Just get Cutter Bowley.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Let Cutter Bowley take this year to cut his teeth
learn because Cutter Bowley, from what I understand what I
have seen, throws sporadically, erratically, throws a good ball here
and there.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
He makes some bonehead of plays.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
He's young, but as Larry Vaught said, Zach has been
at this for a long time, Like your learning curve
is probably behind you. If we have to have a
learning curve, we should do it with the future. And
we know we have a history of not producing quarterbacks.
So give Cutter a chance. If this is Zach, now,
maybe this is the first game, Zach just getting live
(06:55):
bullets and trying to figure out everything live ammunition, trying
to get acclimate it to Bush Hampton system.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That's fine.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
But if it's if this is our baseline, then our
defense is not going to put up with this all year,
pitching shutouts and then we get in the fourth quarter
and all were let And that's the luxury of being
a quarterback at Kentucky. Right now, our defense can hold
a team to six points, three point zero points, but hey, look,
come on, man, we're gonna need you to score. We're
(07:24):
gonna need you to score one touchdown. We'll take a
seven to three wins, seven and six win, but we
can't hardly get a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's it's our defenses. It's gonna gonna get tough.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Let's get back to the big ass fans hotline and
see what Jake has to say, good morning, Jake, what
do you got for us?
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Hey?
Speaker 5 (07:43):
How are you doing? Anthony? I'm doing pretty good, feeling
pretty good. After yesterday's game. Has wanted to see, uh
where everybody was on the prediction on where the where
they see the record in the season this year. I'm
more of a seven and five than a five and seven.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
They's Jack, thank you see Jake, I'm with you. Go ahead, Jack.
He told you he's more seven and five like me.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
And what you're wanting to.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Go ahead? Jack?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yeah, our fun go fort Anthony.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Would you say, Jake?
Speaker 4 (08:18):
I said, did it?
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Are you a seven and five?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I've been a seven and five? Yeah, okay, I've been
a seventy five. Go ahead, Jack, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
If you're wanting to talk seven and five into existence,
I think there was enough out there that you saw
yesterday that suggested that that was on the table. Because
we've seen Mark Soops coach teams go seven and five.
Y's in the exact same recipe, the exact same formula
of stout, high level defense, solid special teams, and just
(08:51):
enough stuff there on the on the you know, the
run game to put points on the board. And that's
how you know, it's it's got not gonna be pretty,
it's not going to be the sexiest thing in the world,
and you might fall asleep watching it, but hey, it
wins football games, and you know that that is. I
saw enough there with the defense and special teams to say,
(09:12):
all right, and you know, I think I think McGowan's
a player, and I think that Dadell's a player. So
put all of those things together. Yes, I do tend
to lean more optimistic than pessimistic, but there is still
a massive, massive question market quarterback and receiver that it
could go south in hurry if it's not if it's
not addressed. So yes, you know, if you make the
(09:35):
change to Cutter and Cutter has better chemistry with some
of the other years, I would have I'm I'm.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
There, Like I point, you're at what point? At what point? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
This past week, I mean halftime. I don't know if
it was the right call for week one, but I
think that Stoops could very well look at himself in
the mirror this week and go all right, what are
we doing here? Like if the gap is close enough
right now and we still got a seventh year guy
that needs to knock off a ton of rust. Then
why are we waiting to, you know, until what you
(10:12):
lose to oms Like, are you waiting for a in
season rock bottom before you make the change? Or do
you trust your gut and say, hey, you know, he
was trending in the right direction at the end of camp,
whereas Calzada's kind of plateau the entire time. Why not
go for the guy that was trending in the right direction.
I want I'm very curious to hear Stoops tomorrow on
(10:34):
his press conference at noon and then his really the
Colin radio show at six o'clock where he can kind
of dig in a little bit deeper and share his
kind of unfiltered thoughts a little bit with his you know,
feet kicked up. I'm really interested to see what he
thinks about that quarterback battle, if there is one in
his mind right now.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Thanks, Hey, thank you for the call, Jake.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
My two cents is I honestly if well, I know
Mark Stoops ain't particularly on the hot seat because the
biout is so high, But if he wants to regain
the fan base, regain the team, I think you give
Cutter a package or two. So if we run, if
we go into like, where do we go yesterday? A
two quarter loll of offense? Okay, after two or three
(11:17):
possessions without any production, Get Cutter a package. Give Cutter
and if he is just the same thing they do
with running backs when they say give the running backs
a hot hand. If the running back is chipping off
four or five six yards of carry, you just you
stay with the hot hand. But if they're not doing
you know, we try some different. Why not do that
at quarterback? But Cutter has to get reps and he
has to get I said, give him a package. Have
(11:39):
Cutter a package that when he goes in he knows
exactly what he's coming in to do. He's coming in
to pick up move the chains. And that's all I
want to do. But let's get back to the big
ass fans hotline and see what Dennis has to say.
Good morning, Dennis, what do you got for us?
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Well, y'all created a quarterby controversy, and I don't. I
was there at the game, and I I was not that.
I think Kyles Oda is getting a lost slack. Uh,
just me personally. I mean, these receivers has got to
these receivers has got to help the quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I agree with that.
Speaker 7 (12:16):
I mean, I mean, indeed, I thought the receiver play
was pretty much pretty much pretty bad. Just today they're
not really of course, I know it's hard to get
the separation and especially in the SEC and but they
got no separation yesterday. The safety, in my opinions, not
on the quarterback. The safety, uh, in my opinions on
(12:39):
the offensive coordinator. You don't put the quarterback in the
position out there to make a decision. You you you
are you put a play in there where you do
a dive I went through running back. You don't put
You don't put that decision on on the quarterback, whether
the on that play right there. To me, that's on
the offensive coordinator right there. And I don't I'm not
a big Dennis.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
He could have, Dennis, he could have handed the ball
off like he had an option, and Mark Stoop says
he should. And here's the other thing, Dennis, if they
if they put ten people, if they put ten people
in the box just to come, that is why they
had an option because if they if they just basically
they could have stopped running back in the end zone.
(13:21):
So I do think the option of having a path
throw option is not a bad idea. He probably should
have handed the ball off. The idea that you feel
like they shouldn't put a quarterback in the position to
make a play if you gotta, if you have a
point guard on the on the field, and you are
you scared to have to make decisions. This ain't This
ain't the conference for him.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
Go ahead, Dennis, Well maybe that's so, but you know,
you get I don't know, but I just know that,
and I hope that he proves me wrong. But I
just know that the thirteen games seeing Bush Himton's offense
most soon enough you, I mean, this guy doesn't know
(14:04):
when to kids scratching? What's itching? If you understand why
I'm coming round, I got you. You get you get
around the forty yard line, and you're you get you
get down that you get down to the four on
their side of the field by running the football. I'll say,
you want to run three pass plays in a row,
and when you get around the forty yard line, you
(14:26):
got to start thinking about getting in the field goal position.
I just have a lot of problems with thought, and
I hope he proves me wrong. But what I saw
yesterday didn't look much different from the offensive coordinator and
what I saw last year. And so I'm not putting
all this on Zach Calzada. I'm not saying he had
a perfect game yesterday, but he's got to get some
(14:47):
help from receivers. And that's that's just my take. I
mean that the defense looked great. Uh. Of course, you know,
we'll see what they if they hold up against the SEC.
But I just I came away after saying this offense again,
I just you know, my good feeling going this season
(15:09):
was we was going to be a five hunred football team,
But after what I saw yesterday from the offense, I'm
leaning for more to a four and eight three nine season. Uh.
And I hope, I hope those are I'm a bigger
UK football fan in myself, but I was very unimpressed
to this offense. And to me, it's coming from this
due to the offensive coordinator. That's gon take.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Thanks for the call, Dennis. We will discuss that when
we come back from this break. You're listening to Stockyards
Bank Sunday when the sports Talk on News Radio six thirty.
Speaker 8 (15:37):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Mornings Sports Talk presented by
the lead Troop Barge Radio Network on six thirty.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
W l A p LP Welcome back Stockyards Banks Sunday.
Want a sports talk. I'm Anthony Hite along with Larry
Vaughda and Jack Pilgrim. Stockyards Banks is your trusted partner
SYS nineteen oh fourths ahead on over to syb dot com.
We got a listen lane coming up at ten thirty,
and we got the big ass fans hotline lit up,
So we're gonna try to do some rapid fire and
(16:06):
get these questions out of the way before we have
our guest at ten thirty.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Good morning, Alvin, what do you got for us?
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Hey?
Speaker 9 (16:13):
Asthdy, how you doing good? I'm enjoying the commentary back
and forth. Of course, you know, Kentucky football is different
from Kentucky basketball. You know, if it was a basketball game,
we always talk about, you know, the good player of
the players, the players that come in, and it's always
good commentary about that because that's the brand here in
(16:33):
Kentucky's Kentucky basketball, Kentucky football is it's the little brother
to the to the basketball program. I get that, but
seemed like over the last few years, I think Larry
Vault made a very interesting observation that the last three
quarterbacks before the one that played yesterday was pretty good
(16:53):
on Opening Day that the fellow yesterday was. You know,
it's disappoint him.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (17:01):
He may needs to go back and look at the
great game he had against Alabama and maybe they can
encourage him to do better. Because he seemed like he
was off target. I don't know if the receivers was
running bad routes. I think I don't think that you
can use your tight ends to to win games and
(17:23):
get chunk yardage in the SEC. I think you're gonna
have to have the White House to do good. And
I also look at the what what did n I
L do to Kentucky football? I think it's a game
where you look and you miss Burying Brown trying to
return punts. He probably been a little more courageous to
(17:46):
go get that ball and try to take it to
the house. He was probably done the same on kickoffs.
On a kickoff you missed Dame Key. That probably is
a better route round right rather than the other receivers.
And so Nil, you know, probably hurt us. With those
two guys with Stephen Core seem like they're a little
bit not in stealth of that intumans as the veterans
(18:09):
that left. So the two questions I.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
Have is is that have the.
Speaker 9 (18:15):
The continuity been fractured because we had shifts and offensive
coordinators and new quarterbacks coming in? Is the play call
is not in touch with the talent that we have
in what is Mark Stoop's strategy? You talked a little
(18:35):
bit about like the run and play defense. Is he
going to have to just let the offense just cook
and come up with new age plays because it seemed
like that the plays that we use are still antiquated
and has that we've got caught up in the new
age of offensive football.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Thank you for the call, Alvin. I appreciate the call.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Let's head and we will put a pin in that
and we will talk about that app there our guests.
But let's get to the phones and see what she
Will has said. It's been a long time. What do
you got for she Will? Oh, she Will's gone, Okay, Well, Larry,
what Jack Pilgrim's leaving?
Speaker 6 (19:11):
So?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Uh do you think that the nil heard us?
Speaker 7 (19:17):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Do you think we miss Barry and Brown and some
of the guys that left Yesterday's Jack Pilgrim. We only
got about a minute too, though.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
No, I mean, I mean, I maybe from a pure
talent perspective, but if you're going to be serious about
resetting a culture and all those things, then that getting
rid of the nil I don't want to see even
say cancers, but the guys that were definitely here for
the you know, the nil checks and once things kind
(19:46):
of started wavering a little bit, kind of they became
more of the negative voices in the room. But like,
you had to get rid of those guys. And even
if it means that you didn't get you know, their
on field production, you know, so be it. But the
culture was more than half the issue than the raw talents.
So no, don't believe that at all.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
And I agree with you, Jack pookel.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
When we come back, we will have a Lissa laying
on sideline SEC sideline reporter to talk about what she
saw yesterday, what the energy was like, what does she
think about Kentucky moving forward, Because there ain't a whole
lot of optimism on this side unless you're in the
studio of me. All the optimism is coming from Anthony White.
We'll be back after this. You're listening to Stockyards Bank
Sunday one of Sports Talk on news radio six thirty WLP.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk, presented by
the lead Troopports Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Larry Vault. This hour Sunday Morning Sports
Talks brought you by Country Boy Brewing, and we are
now proud to be joined by SEC sideline reporter Alyssa Lane.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Good morning, Alyssa.
Speaker 6 (21:03):
Thank y'all for having me. I know it's always good
to wake up on a Sunday after a cat's win.
So I'm sure y'all are are feeling good despite maybe
some of what we saw yesterday.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
And yes, and I appreciate you for joining us here
in beautiful Lexting Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
And I love your work.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I kind of regret the fact that you are again cock,
but you are great at your job and you're on
our show, so we appreciate you.
Speaker 6 (21:32):
Thank you for making the exception. Yeah, I know we've
developed a little bit of a rivalry over the past
couple of years. Huh, Like we never really thought about
each other too much. South Carolina and Kentucky fans at
least not recently, but over the last few years that's
become bitter, which is fun.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Let's be honest before we get before we get to yesterdays.
The game you were in school with Deebo.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Samuel, No, Deebo was after me, I was. I think
he was a little bit after for me. Oh my gosh,
I'm my wires twist on this stuff. Sunday morning, I
I was. I had freshman English with Jadavian Clowney. Oh
is that that like pinpoints? Where where I was at Carolina?
We uh, we sat next to each other in our
(22:15):
freshman English classes South Carolina, So I was there with
that class, which was a great time to be a
game clock student certainly in those years.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
All right, well, let's get to what we came before.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
So you you saw the game up close and personal yesterday.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Our fan base is kind of torn.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Like you said, a win is always good for us
me as a player, an ugly win is just as
good as a beautiful a loss. So uh, it was
ugly win. From from the sideline, what was your take
on yesterday's game from marcuats?
Speaker 6 (22:47):
Yeah, I mean I think a lot of it was
week one. You know, you were going to see ugly
football Week one. That's just you saw it across the country.
If you watched anybody else play yesterday, it was a
lot of sloppy football across the country. I think that
my major takeaway, My main takeaway was how good Kentucky's
(23:08):
defense looked right off the bat. Now they started to
lose some guys as the game went on, certainly along
the defensive front, some guys going down with some injuries.
Humphrey Grace was one of the big ones we were
kind of monitoring, and he was not able to go
back in in the second half of that game. But
you know, there's certainly some kinks for the offense to
work out. But let's be honest when you've got fifty
(23:29):
five new players on the roster. Like I was sitting
in the Friday meeting with coach Stoops and I said,
you know, when you're watching your team and you're getting
to the fourth quarter knowing that you haven't seen half
the team yet play in a game atmosphere and he
kind of stopped me. He was like, oh my god,
I hadn't even thought.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
About it like that.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
I haven't seen half the team play yet, so I'm
not necessarily surprised by some of the ugliness that we saw.
But yes, it is a little concerning at times, certainly
along the offensive line. You want them to be able
to go and body Toledo. Zach Calzada and some of
the decision making left Caps fans I'm sure a bit worried.
(24:11):
But again, game one, there's still plenty of football left
to play, and I hope they are able to tune
up a lot of those things this week because we
two ole missed. That's not going to be easy after
a big win that they got yesterday and their.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Opener and a lot of people asking on social media.
You kind of stated it perfectly as far as zach Zada.
To me, the big question from the fan base is
are those things can be maybe corrected. Do you feel
like it is something that is bad decisions or processing?
Processing will get better over time once you get acclimated.
(24:47):
Bad decisions mean that you just aren't thinking on the
right path, which you and the office coordinator aren't on
the same page.
Speaker 6 (24:56):
Yeah, I think a lot of it is more between
the ears of Zach cal thought of himself. Let's be honest. Processing,
you just said it gets better with time, Well, this
is his seventh year of college football, right like, you
would hope that that is something that looks a little
bit better if it's that, If that is the issue,
he said himself. You know when we were talking to
him on Friday and we were talking to Bush Hampton,
(25:18):
they did not mince words. He's a guy that loves adrenaline.
He wants to make the big play. He wants to
make the big throw. We saw that a couple of
times attempted to Kendrick Law yesterday. Unfortunately it wasn't didn't
hit in the end zone in the way that they
would have wanted it to. But that is something that
Zach is very aware of. I know I want to
(25:39):
make the big play. I'm willing to make the big play.
I'm willing to put my body on the line to
do whatever I need to do to advance the ball
or score. But Comma, I also know I need to
slow down to make the smart play. And he emphasized
to me on Friday, I need to take the check
down when it's there. That is something that I'm going
(26:00):
to work on this year is making sure that I
am looking for it and willing to take the check
down versus trying to force that next big bomb. So
I am very curious to see what next week looks like. Right,
you've got one game under your belt, you're back in
the SEC. You feel like you've got so much to prove,
which is what he told us he always wanted to
(26:23):
be back in this conference to prove that he could
be a winner at this level. I think all those
things are going to manifest in those Week one jitters
still trying to develop with Bush Hampden, like you said,
getting on the same page. And Bush even said this
to us Friday. I thought it was interesting. He said,
there will be times this year where Zach fails me
out on some calls. So I'm not worried about the
(26:44):
chemistry or the relationship them being on the same page.
For me, it's just okay, what will Zach look like
in week two, Week three, week four, as far as
what's between his own ears with going through his progressions,
not trying to force it, and of course continuing to
try to be as accurate as possible and make the
next best decision. If that doesn't improve, it could be
(27:08):
a long season for Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Let's be honest and a Lissa say, let's let me
ask her this, Larry, what so say your name is
a less of stoops. You're making nine point eight million,
nine point six million dollars a year, you paid to
do a job paid handsomely Alyssa, and everybody's saying that
Zach goes out of he Like you said, there's some
time our fan base may not be as patient as
as the Gamecock fan base. So so everybody the rumbling.
(27:34):
Now it's not a huge rumble, but there's a little
rumble that maybe we should start getting Cutter BOLDI ready,
you know, just in case, are if you're a list
of stoops and you're making nine point six million dollars,
do you start getting your backup prepared to start getting
more reps in practice, maybe put them a package in
or are you just you know, we're gonna we're just
gonna fix that and just right, we're just gonna roll
with Zachi the way.
Speaker 6 (27:55):
Well, from what it sounds like, Cutter got a lot
of good reps during fault camp, and the competition really
was good between the two of them. I know they're
excited in what Cutter has I actually asked, specifically Bush
Hampden if whatever the situation is, whether it be injury
or Zach has to come out. How does the offense
change if Cutter were to come in? Are we more limited?
(28:18):
And he said no, it doesn't change at all. So
that's a good sign, right. If Kentucky ever gets to
a point where maybe they're trying to give a different
look to an opposing defense, I'm maybe using both of
those guys, which we've seen more and more as the
season goes on. If I'm the head coach of this
football team, though certainly in the position that Mark Stoops
is in, knowing that last year was unacceptable, nobody will
(28:43):
tell you more that last year was unacceptable than Mark Stoops.
And again, I go back to our Friday meeting. I've
been around him a lot. He's the most tenured coach
in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Now.
Speaker 6 (28:53):
My very first game actually on a crew at ESPN
was Toledo at Kentucky in twenty nineteen. So I've talked
to the man a lot. And I'm telling you he
got up and left, and I said to Susan Lax
the great s idea at Kentucky. There's a fire in
that man's eyes. Like I'm not saying that. I think
Kentucky's gonna go win the SEC championship or make a playoff.
(29:16):
But you can tell he is pissed still about how
last year went and he is excited to turn the page.
They use the words total reset. All that being said,
if Zach Calzata was not their best chance at a
total reset to change the four and eight narrative from
(29:36):
last season, he would not be out there. And I
don't believe that Mark Stoop says any kind of superiority
complex or personality that he would say, Yeah, I'm just
gonna put the less talented quarterback out there because I
gotta save face. No, that man does not care. He
just wants to win football games. So I do really
trust that whatever they are seeing in practice, that is
(30:00):
the best guy. And let's be honest, he has the
most experienced He played for two different SEC schools. He
beat Bama when Nick Saban was still there and it
meant something, right like, it doesn't really mean as much
after yesterday beating Alabama, it feels like. But I do
think that Zach Calzatta, to answer your question, is the
best option. Everybody's favorite player is the backup quarterback when
(30:24):
the starting quarterback is struggling. And I'm sure that will
be a conversation that we have for the rest of
the season.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Listen TOI Larry about just kind of wondering you touched
on just a little bit there, just the overall perception
you had of Kentucky football from being here this weekend,
kind of compared to say, a year ago, when the
bottom just kind of fell out on them.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Yeah. So I don't think I actually got to be
around the team last year. I don't think I called
any Kentucky games, So it was more so from afar
and just converse stations that I had with folks around
the program. It does feel like a rejuvenated team. It
feels like, you know, all the check boxes that we
want to hit with Mark Stookes, you know, the blue
(31:12):
collar mentality, the physicality, the relentless aggression upfront on the
offensive and defensive line. Yet they may not look like
the best line in the SEC, but I do see
the attitude being back there. And if we know anything
about college football and the SEC is that's half the
battle right there. Right So I can't speak to last
(31:34):
year's team and if they were bought in or not,
because I didn't I wasn't around it enough to see,
but I can tell you that this year's team sure
does feel bought in and being down there on the sidelines,
I actually wasn't able to get a camera to go
over there fast enough because it was over by the
time I walked over there. But Josh Braun, one of
the transfer offensive linemen, was giving an impassioned speech to
(31:59):
the offense in about the second quarter. I think it
was yesterday. I mean, you hadn't had any rhythm at
this point. The offense is doing really nothing outside of
that opening touchdown. And I heard the back end of
his sentence. He said, the fans know it, you know it,
everybody knows it. Let's go. And I don't know what
(32:19):
he was saying at the beginning of that sentence, but
I have to imagine it was we're better than this,
or we can be better than this. And he was
pissed off. Guys, I am not gonna lie. He was
furious that I have been around a lot of laceadaisical
football teams. That is not the sign of a lackadaisical
football team that doesn't want to get better. So I
(32:41):
do really feel like this total reset is going to
be different. And one more thing on that too, that
they talked to us about a lot of times. Alabama
is a great example. You get a team of guys
to experience adversity this season before, and they can not
wait to come back and prove everybody wrong and they've
(33:02):
got the chip on their shoulder and we're not going
to be the same team we were last year. Well,
Coach Stukes and the staff were talking about how nice
it was to have people on the team that didn't
experience last year. Some that did, obviously, but some that
came in fresh space. You can teach them what went wrong,
but they weren't there to get so I guess down
(33:23):
in the dumps about it, and so like, oh, well,
you know, well we were a foreign eight football team,
why are we going to be They came in with, no,
we want to we want to change the narrative. We've
got an opportunity here, like a Seth McGowan who's got
an opportunity to be in the best conference in America.
And I really do feel like that blend of players
and that blend of mentality will be different.
Speaker 7 (33:46):
Now.
Speaker 6 (33:46):
Executing it on the field with the top five schedule
in the country is going to be hard, but I
do feel like it's possible for this year's team.
Speaker 7 (33:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Yeah, and let's it take just a second. I agmnuted
here to kind of tell our listeners having different ways
they can follow and see you, because you cover so
many different sports or on so many different things, I'm
not sure I can list them all.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
Yeah, it's a little bit of everything. I'm on social media. Obviously,
you can follow me on Twitter. I'll never call it
x at Alyssa Lang on the SEC network on weeknights,
I'll be on Tomorrow and Wednesday this week, and then
of course on the sidelines throughout SEC football, basketball, baseball, softball.
Now some gymnastics and soccer added to my plate as well.
(34:31):
So anywhere in the SEC UH, you might look up
and I might be waving to you from somewhere.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
And listen before before we let you go.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
I know, we talk a lot about offense, and you know,
I guess I don't want to beat up on Zach
calls out of a lot. Everybody's gonna have a lot
of questions because they don't line they don't line up
underneath the center and play as you say. I play
against the toughest conference, one of the toughest UH our
schedules in America. Our defense from the from the field level,
our defense is I don't know how we keep Brad White.
(35:02):
I don't know why he sticks around here. He's got
to be one of the top three in the country,
if not top two in the country. But what does
that defense look like on the field level? Are they
aggressive and as mean and nasty and fast as it
looks like on the screen.
Speaker 6 (35:16):
Yeah, it's funny. I asked the same question too Brad White, like, man,
you must really love it here because I'm sure you've
had an opportunity to leave and take head coaching jobs,
and he really does. He talked about how valuable it
is to love where he's at and his family to
love where he's at, and coach Tups gives him a
lot of autonomy to run that defense, which I think
means a lot to your question, though, Yeah, they look fast,
(35:38):
they look nasty, like it's always like, I don't even
need to dive into a Kentucky defense in the preseason,
because you know Brad White's gonna have death playing like that, right.
The one thing that they were talking to us about
which I'll be curious against an SEC offensive line, this
weekend is the pass rush. They're still looking for that
(35:59):
guy who could end up being the go to pass
rusher or that that face that opposing offensive coordinators or
offensive line coaches look across and go, how are we
going to prepare for that guy?
Speaker 7 (36:12):
So?
Speaker 6 (36:13):
I think you look at the linebackers, you look at
the secondary, and that group looked good yesterday. Right The
defensive line looked good as well. But if you want
to compete in the SEC, as coach Dup said, you
have to have a nasty defensive line. Who is going
to be that edge rusher for Kentucky this year that
imposes their will and puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks. I
(36:34):
think that still remains to be seen. So that's probably
Bradwhite's biggest question right now.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Well, Larry V, unless you have anything else, well, I.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
Just want to give her a quick change right here
to Since you've talked about all the other sports you
do covered studio shows that you host, basketball season will
be around around the corner. What do you kind of
think about Mark Stoops and Kenny Brooks teams both since
you've cover both the men and the women all Lessen.
Speaker 6 (37:03):
Yeah, I'm not gonna lie to you Larry, I'm in
football modes, so I could not tell you that much
about what the team's going to look like. I'll dive
into that a little bit in October, but I will
say I had Mark Pope a couple of times last
year and was on the sideline to a few those games.
I know, we don't really want to talk about the
Arkansas Kentucky game and lex Suton very much, but I'm
(37:25):
so impressed by him. I love every conversation I get
to have with him, but more importantly, I love the
way the players talk about him. I was actually out
in Vegas for the NBA Summer League this past July,
and I had a couple of former Cats that I
got to catch up with who were out there, and
they still talked so lovingly about Coach Pope and how
(37:47):
much the time in Lexington meant to them. Knowing that,
you know, they wouldn't be the player that they are
competing for an NBA roster in Las Vegas without Coach Pope.
So you know, year one is always going to be
tough no matter where you are, certainly when you wear
the Kentucky logo. Coach Bo understands that better than anybody
having done it, so I have no doubt that they
(38:09):
will be better than last year with a full season
under his belt, whatever that team ends up looking like,
and staying with Kenny Brooks, I mean, I couldn't believe
we got Kenny Brooks to the SEC when he ended
up leaving Virginia tack here. It was just such a
great get, such a great fit, the way he has
continued to build on Kentucky women's basketball and change the
(38:33):
face of the program already in such a short period
of time. As much as I'm excited about football season,
when basketball tips off conference play in January like that
is maybe the next best time of the year. So
I can't wait to see what both of them have
for us.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
That is Alyssa Lane. Follow her on all social media platforms.
One of the best in the business. We appreciate you
for joining us this morning.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (38:58):
Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Already, have a good day. We will be back after this.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
You're listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on
news radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 8 (39:09):
This is Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk, presented by
the lead Troop Fordge Radio Network on six thirty w LAP.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Larry Vaught. We would like to thank
Alyssa Lange for joining us this morning. Very exciting to
Offset Bow in the background and Larry Vaught. But if
you would like to join the show, we got a
whole hour, no no guests lined up, We got a
whole hour for you to give your opinion on yesterday's
game and the rest of the season. Eight five nine
(39:41):
two eight zero two two eight seven eight five nine
two eight zero Cats, We'll be back after this. You're
listening to Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on news
Radio six thirty WLAP
Speaker 6 (40:00):
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Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.