2024-08-08 - BBI

versus number four. You'll hear all the games right here on six thirty. Wlap and Darren'll have pregame tomorrow at six fifteen, six thirty, first pitch, and I've got to think that coach Madison, Keith Madison, will be in the booth at least some of those games, I would certainly hope. So right next door, Doug Flinn and I will have it for you on TV, the SEC streaming channel. So if you can't get out to the ballpark, we urge you to get out. It's going to be a great weekend.

You can hear it, you can see it, and Kentucky with a great opportunity to build on its lead in the SEC East and the overall conference Chase Wildcats have done remarkably well this year, coming off to win Tuesday at Louisville seventeen to thirteen. Can you imagine, but now set your sights on Tennessee. If you're a Wildcat and everybody knows, it's going to be a crazy night, great crowd,

good weather, atmosphere should be outstanding. They have had that kind of thing before for Louisville games, for tournament games, and now with Tennessee coming in, Wildcats want it and as Nick Menzilm pointed out, the craziness, they want it, they need it.

and the overall conference. And that only happens because there's been intentional effort by a lot of people from our administration to build a stadium like this that number one could even hold that many people, the former players that have just put their blood, sweat and tears into this program, coaches, staff members, previous teams. As I mentioned, the players are this current team. There's just been a lot of people, staff members that have put a lot of intentional effort

and work into this. So therefore, I mean, I'm excited and then the big Blue Nation for them to be able to show up, and it sounds like they're going to and we got some great weather, so yeah, that always helps.

what's going on around him. And that's how I need my team to be. And they're mature, they've done it. But I'll be happy for them. I will say this to see all the people here and all the fame. I'll be happy for our players.

is better than we thought it would be. This year, the Tigers have pulled off some surprising when including one over Kentucky. The only win for the only lost router for the Wildcats in conference play three to two, and two of the runs for Miszoo came in on wild pitches, so that's one that got away. Otherwise, the Cats are undefeated in conference play, but through the last few years they have struggled. Indeed, with Tennessee. They lose the series

last year in Knoxville, twenty twenty one. In Knoxville they lose in twenty Of course, twenty twenty didn't play because of COVID. They are swept in twenty nineteen. They dropped the series at home in twenty eighteen, but in twenty twenty two they actually took the series two games to one. Here in Lexington. He was a Tennessee team that went on to win forty nine games and hosted a Super regionally here before they had gone to the World Series.

That Tennessee team hosted a Super Regional but lost in an upset to Notre Dame. Really great Tennessee team won something like nineteen out of its first twenty or something like that. And then you go back to twenty seventeen and the Wildcats swept the Volunteers. That was Kentucky's first regional championship team in Nickmnjones' first year. Tennessee is good. Tennessee could come up here and win this series if the Wildcats aren't careful. But I think Kentucky's going to

be Razor sharp. Question is can the Cats pull off two wins this weekend? We're all going to find out together. So again, Darren Hedrick coming up to talk about that series, if you will indulge me right here. Kind of a personal matter, but I just stuff like this just always kind of confounds me. Yesterday, April seventeenth, was would have been my father's one hundredth birthday. He was born in

nineteen twenty four in Fairmount, West Virginia. And you may have heard me talk about this before we lost him. He's way too young. He died actually on his fortieth birthday April seventeenth, nineteen sixty four. He had a bad heart. He had a heart disease when he was a kid. It damaged his heart. But people have always asked me, why are you a Green Bay Packers fan? And they accused me of being on the bandwagon with Brett varv

and all that. In the nineties, said no, no. Since the early sixties, growing up in Louisville, my dad was reading the newspaper one day and he mentioned Paul Horneck, who was one of the Heisman Trophy winner Hall of Famer Green Bay Packers World champion multiple times, MVP, one of the greatest ever from Louisville. They wanted him at Kentucky, you know, the governor tried to get him to come. Everybody went to not here name anyway, So Horning was

suspended for gambling. Now you've got Johntay Porter dismissed forever from the NBA for gambling. But Pete Roselle suspended Horning in the early sixties for gambling. He had to sit out a year. And my dad was reading about that and he said, he told me who Horning was, who he played for, and was from Louisville, and he said, you should always root for your hometown players. I said, well, who does he play for. He plays for the Green Bay Packers. I thought, green Bay Packer. That's a cool name,

green Bay. I bet that's just this wonderful, gorgeous place. I kind of in my mind pictured like a acup in Oregon, or you know someplace even something is tropical. No, I've been there, and that town is right in the middle of Wisconsin farm country, and you know, it's a great setting, of course for a pro football team. But I kept trying for years. I couldn't remember was my dad telling me about Horning, who was going to be suspended or was he coming off suspension. I don't know

why I wondered about that, but I did well. Not long ago I read an autobiography by Paul Horning, and he talked about when he got the phone call from Roselle telling him he would be allowed back in the National Football League. Because Horning said, when he suspended me, I never knew if I was going to be allowed to come back. Can you imagine a guy with his rep his abilities and what hey, he had no idea what lay ahead of him, you know. But he was already in the middle of a great pro career and

he thought it might be over. But he got a phone call. He said, I'll never forget the day that I got the phone call from Pete Roselle telling me I was going to be allowed to play in the NFL again. And as I read, he mentioned the date April seventeenth, nineteen sixty four, as I said, that was the day my dad died. So what that tells me, obviously, is when Dad told me about hornering a year prior,

it was that Horning had just been suspended. I've told this story to a few people, just the coincidence of Horning finding out about his future on the day my father passed away, and people I see them react and it's nice and they dropped their oh you know. To me, it's not. It's sad that my dad died when I was young. I was eight and a half. But it's a reminder to me that he gave me the Green Bay Packers. I mean, and I'm on here, I talk about him, and as I mentioned, I'm a stockholder. My

kids bought me a share of stock. My son is not a Packers fan because he wanted to root against the Packers. I was being so obnoxious going into Brett Favre's second Super Bowl against the Broncos. He rooted for the Broncos. They win. He'd been a Broncos fan ever since. I've actually bought him Broncos gear for Christmas. But they buy me the Sheriff stock makes me an owner and I have so much fun with that. And people kid me if the Packers were going back, can't you do

something about that? You know? But as I said, yes, it was devastating to lose my dad on that day, but when I look back, I'm right now I have a coffee cup in my hand with a Green Bay Packers emblem on it that my daughter gave me. It's a yetty and she had stenciled on it pops, which is what actually my kids call me, my granddaughters call me. And I've got my phone with the Green Bay Packers case.

And yesterday I was wearing Green Bay Packers socks. So like I said, sad that I lost him on that day, but before he died, he gave me my allegiance to the Green Bay Packers. And again it was yesterday that he would have turned one hundred. You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider. More to come here on six thirty WLAP. It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the Big Blue Insider, turning us down.

Our celebrity Hodline is a friend and a longtime coworker WKYT the legendary Rob Bromley, who was enjoying retirement now and Rob, you and I were talking before we went on the air. You covered since Joe B. Hall resigned every other coaching change, and now you can sit back and just watch what's happening. Now that's gotta be kind of nice.

to rest. But what's that like to be in the middle of that situation, Because some people think you stuck your neck out, But after I felt good about it, After talking to you, I knew kind of who you were talking to and and and what the situation was. But what do you remember about that?

decided that he'd stay out in Tucson. So but you know, you bring in still a very accomplished coach and Eddie Sutton, a coach that could have easily have made it to the final four or won the championship. In nineteen seventy eight, came very close to beating Kentucky in the semifinal game in Saint Louis. It's a very very tense game along with the regional final and date were both very very

tense games. But you certainly got a, you know, the very experienced coach and Eddie Sutton, a very very good one man with a good track record.

It's a special time. Certainly you have the final fours and the postseason success. After twenty fifteen, they're out of the final fours, you know, and it tails off and we just start to lose some games that everybody thinks you should win, and when they get to be postseason games, it's just it's just pretty damaging. It just kind of became an untenable situation. Dick with cal talking to.

a tough loss. But you know, yeah, most of them dealt with it graciously, didn't they?

it all you know, that it all comes through. That isn't always the case, but and I I I certainly would feel that way about Mark Pope coming in here to pull for him and wonderful guy Deck. I haven't. I have not talked to him since he came in here with Georgia.

overseas and was drafted fairly. It was a second round pick, I think, yeah, But I'm not sure how many years he played, but it seems like there were quite a few there that that he was playing. Profess.

fifty second pick overall. But there's a lot going for I spoke to him, I mentioned earlier on the show for the nineteen ninety six documentary we did, and I'm like you, I think he's a terrific guy. Rob Bromley, the longtime sports director WKYT. Rob, always a pleasure. Hope you and Diana, well, thank you.

that are out there right now really interesting. Shaquille O'Neill is catching a lot of what they call backlash now because he believes Shay Gilgus Alexander should have been the MVP. And it went last night to Nicola Djokis of the world champion, reigning champ Denver Nuggets. Now, they're not in good shape right now in the playoffs, but they named him the MVP. It's kind of ironic because I was listening to a Denver radio station guy saying that Jokis

couldn't care less about being the MVP. They said to say, he's a three times now MVP in four years. They said the second time he wanted, he asked them not to present it out on the court in front of the fans, so they handed him the trophy in the locker room, just where he was back with his teammates. They said, when he left the building, he left the trophy there. He forgot it and somebody had to chase him down and say, hey man, you left us in the locker room. So that's what he really cares about,

how much he cares about being the MVP. But fans have been blasting Shaquille O'Neal, who said this on TNT when he interviewed The Joker, and he was straight with him.

So at any rate, uh, Shaquille O'Neal being called a hater and disrespectful and hates other big men and isn't going to give this guy's respect. You heard the comment, Just now make up your own mind. But you know, I thought it was really interesting that he was quite outspoken when it came to the former wild SGA should have been the MVP. I don't watch enough NBA to weigh in, but I thought it would be pretty cool

if he did. You know, watching the Pacers last night, they scored seventy three in the first half against the Knicks, and then the Knicks and all this. You know they don't play defense in the NBA. Yes, of course they do, especially in the playoffs. The Knicks hold them to eighteen points in the third quarter, outscore them thirty six to eighteen and go on to take the win. Even though the Knicks are missing Julius Randall, they're missing so many players.

They're down to seven players who have played at all this year. I mean, they got guys on the roster, but guys who have played appreciable minutes. Seven players. They're averaging forty plus minutes per game. They're gonna wear out. But if you want a rooting interest, of course, you know the Pacers have Oscar Sheebey. Although he was not on the active roster last night. If you google the team, he is. But I had almost forgotten. Isaiah Jackson is

still with the Pacers. He comes off the bench averages about six and a half points and four rebounds. And the reason you might not think about him very often is he played his one season was on that twenty twenty one team that was terrible. It was John Caliperry. He's really had a terrible season. Worst ball club. Remember that team was riddled with injury. I think the guys who they had planned on being starters at the beginning

of the year played together once. But he was on that ball club and then was drafted in the first round by the Lakers and they immediately traded his rights to the Pacers. But Jackson was a nice player coming out of high school, as you know, and then declared. But at Kentucky, that team only played twenty five games. He played only five hundred and nineteen minutes, scored about eight points a game six rebounds per game. But again that team didn't do much. Another Wildcat who made news

for the wrong reasons. We talked about him yesterday. Jamal Murray was fined one hundred thousand dollars for throwing a heating pad on the floor during live action. He finally spoke about it. He said, it is what it is. I take everything in full responsibility. So on to the next. And he wouldn't say much about his punishment, whether or not that was appropriate. He just said, and again, yeah, on to the next. I mean two days ago. Not

much for me to say about it right now. Not good and if the officials had seen it, he would have been suspended. His coach, to his credit, Michael Malone, to his team, said, guys, where the reigning world champions act like it and play like it. And I do appreciate that people are pointing fingers at the Las Vegas Raiders and the former Wildcat is trying to clean things

up there. Defensive Bacterian Arnold, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions, claims that the Raiders head coach Antonio Appears, told him it was literally a coin flip between him and Georgia tight end brock Bowers at pick number thirteen.

He told a podcast, the Raiders coach called me after the draft and said, we actually had a coin toss between you and brock Bauers that landed on him and Champ Kelly, the former wide receiver slash defensive back, is the Raiders assistant general manager, and somebody asked him about the comment last night. He said, I can't confirm that at all. He sitarian's a good player, excited to watch his career and see him play. Said, but we drafted Brock.

We're excited to get him here. I don't think anyone else in our whole draft room felt any other way. Now can't confirm isn't exactly no way that happened. And I also think it's interesting. Champ Kelly is the guy being quoted right now, the former Wildcat. We're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider or to come here on six point thirty WLAP. It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. I wanted to share with you a couple of things you

just heard about the Wildcats and their big win earlier today. Well, standing with baseball the LA Dodgers in Chavez Ravine, if you're sitting up high, you can see across the expanse of the parking lot, and last night a fan was added near the top of the stands looked out and saw smoke. Really, anybody in the ballpark saw it. But this particular fan shot video of would appear to be

a car fire, and he got bigger and bigger. I mean, if you've ever seen a car fire, you know, with the fuel, the gas, the oil, the fluids, the rubber on the tires, it can burn spectacularly and generate tons of smoke, which this did. All right, Well, that happens something within that car ignited in the car caught fire and burned and burned. Who else noticed besides thousands of fans. The Dodger organist Deter Rule, and in fact, my buddy

Gary Moore sent this to me. He of course, is our Western bureau chief who covered the Dodgers for many years while he was in Los Angeles. But he says, Dieter has an enormal, enormous musical rolodex in his brain. And he says, the TV announcers make an obscure band reference, and the next thing you know, a few seconds later, he's fire enough notes from one of their songs. So what does he play when he sees the smoke and the car on fire? Listen to this good evening and

welcome to Dodger See that's right. We didn't start to fire Deeter rule. The organ is very very clever. How about that. One other note on the Dodgers, Walker Bueller is back, or at least trying to come back. According to a story on Dodgersway dot com, he has been quote butting heads with the Dodgers over his injury recovery. Made his third start of the year Saturday, when six scoreless, gave up only three hits, no run, struck out seven

in the Dodgers win over Cincinnati. But after the start he told reporters, and I'm quoting, I finally have to start listening to people, not just doing whatever I want all the time, which seems to acknowledge the fact that Bueller and Dodgers' management were clashing over his recovery period, his rehab, and his schedule. This is after two Tommy John surgeries for the election and native staying with baseball.

Back to the SEC tournament. Kyle Peterson, who's a good analyst, paired up with Tom Hart, who's a really good play with play guy, and he's been on our show before. They got to talking. During a down period of the Tennessee Vandy game, which had become at and if you watch the SEC tournament at all, I mean beyond Kentucky games. And even if you're watching Kentucky and it turns into a route like the LSU game, did, you can get

a little punchy. I mean, I did Neil Price, and I did radio for two three years all the games, and you can get a little punchy. Well, Heart and Peterson began to talk for some reason about avocados, and Peterson made a startling admission to Tom Hart. Can I be like brutally honest with it again? I didn't know avocado's growing trees until right there. But what your guessing? I was like a bush or something rub?

And apparently they pulled it up through the Amazon website. I mean it looks like a shrub.

SEC network. Maybe Chris Burke and Dave Neil will have it, but I'll promise you if that thing shows up, you'll see it on coverage of the SEC tournament. All right. Moving over to the NBA, really to the WNBA, because this popped up on inside the NBA, and as you know, I love pulling off clips from Charles Barkley talking about whatever, and he came out last night in support of Lebron James,

who had come out in support of Caitlin Clark. Lebron James made remarks about the expectations on Caitlin Clark's shoulders her advice via social media, and this was in response to some of the criticism that Caitlin Clark has gotten or some of the attitude she's gotten from veteran players. Diana Tarossi was the first to do it, and now there's backlash to Lebron and Charles Barkley from some players whoman saying, and I'm paraphrasing, why haven't more people been

excited about the WNBA before? Why does it take Caitlin Clark to do this, and I would think the underlying theme there is she's white and most of the other players are black. Well, I will say this, there are tremendous players in the WNBA and who came through the college ranks, but how many of them lit it up like Caitlyn Clark. She became college basketballs when you factor in and it's not the same, I know. But she

made headlines as Pete Maravich. She made lines scoring in the women's game the way Pete Merriviage scored in the men's game. You cannot touch Pete marrivitage. I'm sorry you can't. No three pointer. Only played three years varsity ball. But Caitlyn Clark created the conversation. But what else has she done lately? Well, now they're gonna fly charter because I have a flute charter. So Charles Barkley went to bat through Lebron for Caitlyn Clark last night on Inside the NBA on TNT.

doesn't win. The purse at the end of the rainbow on the eighteenth green is huge because Tiger was playing for it and it'll stay that way. So how do you feel about women's basketball and Caitlin Clark? Yeah, there are great athletes in the WNBA, but like it or not, it was Kaitlin Clark who brought the eyeballs, brought the attention and now, hey, among other benefits, you get fly charter. I'll bet the salaries go up as well. You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider. Our number

two is next year on six thirty WLAP. It's stick Gabriel taking a little bit of time off, so we thought we would replace some of the best interviews from over the last several months. Please enjoy the best of the Big Blue. Insider joining us on our celebrity hotline is a longtime friend that is show. In fact, he was a regular until life happened to Max Gotby. He has moved on. He is over in Louisville now a Louisville native and a former football wildcat. Once a Wildcat,

always a Wildcat. How are you, sir, Dick.

all that. And he and I really sat down the start back in the winter and he decided, you know, is he really going to continue to be just this divisive person in Louisville. And he said, of course I am. In fact, I'm going to be worse, and he's going to do that with one snarky T shirt of a time. He is actually with me kind of helping on the operations side develop Round Daddy T's which is louisville first ever kind of trash talk T shirt and merchandise line.

great group in Louisll, Kentucky called tax Flag. It's a local company in Louisville, Kentucky, and they are a great group. So the biggest thing we want to do is make sure it's somehow better the state and bettered the city that both me and him currently live in as well. So it goes you're supporting local when you buy from Round Daddy Teas, and it's again it kind of just brings them full circle, this bluegrass rivalry.

You've got you've got the Kentucky Special for when we play against Florida, which is a feature of a smoke Gator with a smoker and chef boy Ord just giving a chef's hits, or and how we're going to beat the Gators again. You have the introduction for uh introduction of Texas into the SEC, especially having to play Kentucky. One thing Kentucky fans know how to do is to take a hand signal and make fun of it. So you've got your Forever Horns down and L's down shirts.

They'll be ready for the Texas game as well. And you may be a louisvill fan as well. Louisville fans, we've got your notre bum shirts. We've got a Louisville Vice shirt for when they play against Miami. And we've got a startup for also for our basketball season with Mark Pope centric merch that's going to be of course making fun of pack Pack Kelsey and you know how

he's the size of a leprechawn. He steals shoes from people and videos and then the new video he put out of his Reviveill is going to be a whole shirt line in itself. But we've also got a vintage line as well that's going to really embrace kind of the old vintage look, the vintage swag of the day, which is still a very popular style look we've got.

We've got a collegiate line as well, that's like, you know what, maybe Dick Gabriel, you want to have gone gone d one in football, I bet you would have gone d one in pickleball or you know, beer pong. We've got that line as well. We've got a collegiate champion line for our grillers, our smokers, our pickleball players, beer pong. I mean, we've really thought of every single thing.

But it's a it's a great line of shirts. The website goes live accepting orders August first, but you can go ahead and get online now take a look at it. Go ahead, get your wishless ready for want to hit midnight on August first to be able to place those orders.

talked trash about Louisville, at least I am. I'm fair with criticism Kentucky and Screabull may not be, but you've got enough for these fans that are on opposing side that come up with ideas. And we talked to a few of the listeners of the shows on what they would like to see and they've brought some great insight on it, and a lot of them is what we can help develop that vintage line.

Folks deciding right Max on what they want, not just shirts, but hats and accessories and all that stuff.

of the time. And as well. One of my favorite shirts actually, or one of the favorite lines on here is actually the Comfort Colors line, which is, I kid you not, is probably the most comfortable clothing I've ever worn.

a those little bit heavier, colder fall day. It's a it's a great line up.

we'll come back and talk actual football. You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider. More to come here on six thirty WLAP. It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. Max Godby as my guest. You might recall Max used to be a regular on this show. He and his wife now living in Louisville and he's on the air on ESPN Radio six point eighty over there flying the UK flag.

I was thinking about this and I may ask Mark Stoops Max this question if I get a chance to down, I may wait before you know, if I'm down at the SEC meetings, it would it would do a disservice, I think to everybody else. But when there's time to answer this question, I would love to hear him, and I think I know what he's saying. But let me ask you the same question. Because you were there in the early days of the Mark Stoops era, helping to build a foundation literally as an old lineman, as an

early player. Why has he and the staff why have they been so successful? And I know it's a relative term, but relative to UK football the past, why has UK football been successful over the last decade?

great resources State. But I think it's this mentality of understanding what his niche is within the sec of being the blue collar team, run first mentality and really knows to the grindstone mentality, but then also building on success and slowly adapting his style because the Mark Stoops style of twenty twenty four and what the UK football team looks like when it comes to just philosophically, what this team looks like is completely different than the team back

in twenty thirteen or twenty fourteen. From a defensive philosophy where he came in as a four to two defense. That's what he cut his teeth on as a defensive

coordinator at Florida State. Now really diving into the three to two and basically all that started when he had Bud Dupree and Zadarius Smith really dived into a three to two and a three to four, really focusing more of having a really sturdy defensive lineman in the middle and then really athletic ends on the edges that are able to be stand up and then able to get

into coverage and then causing chaos for offensive lineman. And I think as well from an offensive perspective, you've seen where they developed from the Neil Brown air raid to Eddie Grand run first spread style offense, to go into a pro style with Liam Cohen. Unfortunately with s Gangarello

didn't really turn out well. And then the second tent of Liam Cohen there is issues that had happened, and now you're seeing that he's adapting again to a Bush Hampden style offense, which at Boise State is not really the same style as.

Those were more attributes that they had. Vander Griff has the ability of being a running quarterback, not comparing him to a Cam Newton or a Tim Tebow, but more of that being able to be a read option quarterback. So it's going to be very interesting to see how this offense evolved and again, gradually evolving and bringing that consistency has been shoots a success and you know.

defensive styles, offensive styles. But I think the fact that he and Merrow and other coaches he's brought in, they play such a high premium as well any coach should in the SEC, especially on recruiting and then development Max and I think that has just been done here at Kentucky as well as it ever has.

all these guys coming from? But I think, even taking a step further, it's their ability to win the transfer portal as well, which plays into their ability on recruiting to where a player decides to leave us, not to commit to a different school instead of Kentucky and instead of them just going, well, burn a bridge with them. It's an open door when if it does not, I wish for the best that it works out for you, but if it doesn't, you.

It makes no sense for Dion Walker to still be at Kentucky in this world of nil And it's because he's saying it's because of the development that he gets from the defense Brad White and his staff, and then the relationship with Marrow and students and.

a receiver for crying out aladd in high school. But when you get those hybrid players and you can developed them, coach him up, feed him, put them in the weight room. Now they're guys who can set the edge, drop back, rush the quarterback, do everything you need him to do. Again, not easy, but is it more manageable? Is that the better word when it comes to recruitment and development? I think so.

door frame. And I still have a larger sized frame, but I'm nowhere to the size that I used to be where I was playing right And the PTSD nick that hit me of like this dude could take it at his arms are so long he could push me in the chest and put me right into Jalen Whitlow and it's like it all came back for a second. I'm like, dude, I'm glad I don't have to block you.

experience that that those guys had. But I think just again, you go through that type of wear and care of two seasons. Now you've got a pretty veteran group now at this point that has been able to see some things that it's been not great, but at least it's been time that you've been able to see and I'm hoping that Wolfe is able to put these guys in the position to succeed. He could coach officsive lines like

the best of them. He took a offsive line at Alabama that was not the strongest that they've ever had and still turned that group into Maler's turned them into extremely disciplined players. So I really have faith that he's going to be able to adapt that off of the line to where it's a off of the line of old when Foreman was coaching.

is a good thing. So you'll have to come back on later in the summer and talk more football.

You cover it all. Yeah, listen, when the SEC meetings crank up next week, a lot of people from Oklahoma are going to be there because the Sooners will be there. You're an Oklahoma state girl. How weird is this going to be for you to cover a conference that again has the Sooners in it.

I for the expansion? It's like yes to know? I mean, you know me, I have mixed emotions being a passionate Oklahoma Salem. Is it exciting to know that os Who's going to get a chance to dominate the Big twelve like they never had before, especially the season with the amount of guys they have returning. Absolutely, but you know that excitement is a little painted knowing Texas to know you is part of what made the Big Twelve relevant.

And I'm kind of one who wants every conference to be relevant because that's a mixed college football fun and unexpecting. But I will say, for someone who's followed OU in Texas throughout the years, being from Oklahoma, I mean, my last station I was in Texas, these fan bases are going to be brutal, honestly, a lot like, if not very similar to the passion of BBN. So I think it's gonna be really fun to watch and see how this all pans out. And I know, the last time,

you know, we talked about the expansion. You know, I ain't broke, don't fix it, right, But I think it's hard to argue against the fact. And Coach Toupe said this last year at SEC media Days that bringing in oh you in Texas and the history and the heights that surrounds these programs, it's just going to elevate, you know, the SEC to what it already is, which is the conference to be the conference everyone wants to talk about. I kind of compare the SEC to the Dallas Cowboys.

You know, you love them or you hate them, but either way, you're talking about them, right, yea, and we know everyone in the SEC is crucial. So I think the biggest thing this year with the amount of talent and the leade competition in your face. Now adding Texas in Oklahoma, it just makes those wins that much more important, especially when you're talking about the playoff expansion this year. So Texas I think is obviously going to pose more

of a threat than Oklahoma this season. I think Oklahoma's going to struggle, especially when you look at their schedule. But Texas, obviously with the amount of momentum, they're coming off of the foundation that the Sakisian has made, the recruiting he has said he's taken over three years ago. I'm looking forward. I think we're all looking forward to Texas versus Kentucky at the end of the regular season. I don't think I'm gonna be going to that one,

but man, I wish I could be. But I actually I actually remember asking Jane Walker a while back doing the preseason which games he was most looking forward to, and of course that's right. Oh yeah, Texas is number I'm number one on that list.

the top of the league. But yeah, they've bitten off a big chunk, haven't they Listen.

identity of this team. And I mean, you're losing Dylan Gabriel to the portal. So not a lot of guys are turning on offense. I mean, they have a solid defense, but I think I think the first year in the SEC will not be kind to them. I was surprised me if Texas doesn't do you know, pretty well. But I think it's going to be a hard slap in the face for sure. That's why I'm excited to see it, because you know, I'm an Oklaima State fan, so I'm like, let's go.

I mean, I know it's hard to say that with the way he comes across sometimes in the media, but I think it's sort of like a humble confidence, which I think is important to have in sports, you know, the way that you portray yourself, because I think you need to be confident. I mean, I think with Gundhi, he always had to put up that guard, in that wall of going against teams and fan bases like you know, Oklahoma throughout the day because that's what he's wanted Oshu

to be. He's built his program to be consistent in the Big twelve, but to be relevant and to be known for people to talk about them. I mean, growing up being an Oklahoma State fan, you would watched the media and the SEC network or college game there or whatever it is, and you're always just like, man, I just wish they were talking about Oklahoma State more because I remember that year in twenty eleven when we really

had a chance with Brandon Weeded and Dustin Blackman. But it's like it's he still felt like we weren't getting a whole lot of media covers. So I think that's that's why Mike Gundy is the way that he is, and I think that's why, you know, he has the whole bullet thing, because he wants to bring that attention in to the program and show people, Hey, this is who we are. And I remember, gosh, what game was that that he said that where he was like, hey, listen,

you know when we beat Notre Dame. I believe he was like, hey, listen, we're relevant too, We're here too, like look at us and see us. So I just think that's why he is so passionate, and why every OSC fan is so passionate, because we're just like, hey, come on now.

it's disappointment. But when you look at Kentucky's schedule, which I think in terms of the calendar, Kinzie, not the teams they're playing, although those are tough, it's when they occur on the calendar. I think it's as tough as I've seen it in years. What are you in your opinion, what are the reasonable and I have air quotes on that. Expectations in your opinion for Kentucky fans, Oh man, I mean.

I think people are hungry to see it because of an inconsistency last year with it. But man, it's all going to come down to this offensive line, right and I highlighted by Marcus Cox and Sima. See chance for Jerald Minty coming in. I think that's going to be the game changer. We're all ready to do what Brock Vandergrift can do and bring to the SSC because you know, he hasn't seen the field much at all, but I can't protect him. You know, it's going to be a

really long season, So I I think it's exciting. I think we're all really excited. I'm excited to talk about it, going to Dallas here a little bit, the media days and these new pieces that are coming in. I mean defense in general. I just think they're gonna have another good year. But yeah, I'm excited. I'm ready. I think you're probably if I'm being realistic, it wouldn't surprise me if you have a four last season, maybe more than that.

I mean, you saw went off to the South Carolina game last year that was tough, and then you're opening up with them, So it's like, yeah, I'm just hoping that this year Stoops, especially with the whole debacle of that chaos is going to Texas A and M and stuff, that he can come in this year with these new pieces and really show everyone what he and this team can do and what he's trying to put together and what he's built.

walk Ons. What do you think of the way Mark Pope has pieced this team together?

and you really look at it in depth. I know we haven't really got to see him in action yet, but when you look at it on paper, I mean he talked about bringing in that experience when he was hired. I mean, no question he has done that. And you got your local Kentucky guys, Trent Travis, I mean I love covering them in the Sweet sixteen. I think people are looking forward to them being Team A. Yeah, young talent.

You certainly have the defense, which we know we're going to be excited to see with, you know, Marii Williams and Lamont Butler great shooters. Kobe Brea led the nation third best nation last year. Three point shooting kerk Krisa. He's a great shooter with what I've seen on the stuff they've been posting so far, I mean, and just when you watch him all around. Also, he's a character.

By the way, his interview hasn't air yet for our Meet the Wildcat series, so I got to sit down with him and man talk about he is hilarious and he's got a lot of bold confidence. Ansley amin Or, I mean, when you get a big guy that can shoot through, he does his goal. So you got the skill, I mean, you got the size. I'm definitely sitting on the edge of my seat and anticipation on what this first year and the Mark Pope Arrow will result it. I think it's evidence that everybody loves him. Like I

said before, the energy that he's bringing. But you can only hope that these players He's brought in can produce on the court effectively and consistently. And I'm getting to do these interviews with each of these players, each of their stories and their personality is so different, and I can really just sent so much humility too on this team and the willingness to learn from whateveryone can bring

to the table. And honestly, in my opinion, I think the players that Hope has brought in is truly just a reflection of who Cope is and why I think it's going to make it all the more exciting to see them come together once the season started.

was kind of the missing piece. The year prior. I don't know if anybody told you this, Keith Farmer or anybody, but the year prior when Kentucky would lose a battle on the boards, but Tino would say that's going to change next year because Mark Pope's on the way. Of course, he was already here practicing as a red shirt. But he wasn't wrong. I mean, you know, Hope was was kind of a raw bone, physical player. You look at him, you might not think that, but that was back before

bigs were shooting a lot of threes. Even a Kentucky they shot it once in a while. But yeah, you're right. I think this team and this roster is a reflection of him. I got a thing, Kinsey that that's a big help in the coaching process, you know what I mean?

What made you decide to be like, you know what, I'm going to come here this and be a part of something like this, this whole star from scratch, especially with a program like this, And I loved what he said, and he said it was bold confidence. He was like, I would not be here if I did not trust what coach Pope was building and what he was putting together. Yeah, and so I think that just spicks to it in itself.

I mean, when you can have your players saying that, I think that they're going to be going in with a lot of camaraderie, hopefully.

and I'm like, listen, I'm loyal and true. I love my guys, but I it is so hard not to root for this team. It just hopes that they can continue to do what they have done. I mean and watching what watching how minjeone has brought everyone from all different lights together in college baseball, and how they're talking about him, like you don't even have to like Kentucky, but when you watch him and you watch mingeone his interviews,

you're just like, man. And then seeing them advanced that last game against organ stating catching that shot that I have on my Twitter. I mean it just truly that was probably one of my favorite moments that I've ever got to cover and see him just how down tours and how much this truly messed him to get to

this point. And the fact that going into the season, you know, they were ranked what near the bottom of the the bottom of the preseason ranking, and then to do what they have done, I think just makes it. That just made it that much more special to watch and see. So Man, yeah, really really really really hoping that he can keep this going. And I think it'd

be hard not to. I think it's hard not to be appealing, appealing to come to Kentucky now with you know what they've done in the last few years when it comes to recruiting. But that's sad to see. Uh few of them go sad to see Ryan Man. I'm sure I was trying to get to talk to him this week before before the draft. But that's that's the big question. You know, a place in these guys and can you do it again, because that's the hardest part.

Once he's done it, you're like, Okay, I mean you just talked about it, so yeah, I reached Like a lot.

he is playing for. Thank you so much and we'll see you down the road.