WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Big blin Sider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:06.160 on a Thursday edition of our program One Step Closer 3 00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:09.679 to Kentucky Football. The Wildcats open up, as you know, 4 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:13.400 one week from Saturday, so we are nine days away 5 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.600 from the season beginning for the Cats. And tonight well 6 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:20.519 are going to hear my conversation a special visit to 7 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:24.559 the garage with Bill Ransdell. He dropped in yesterday, so 8 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:29.600 we recorded a conversation with a former UK quarterback among 9 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:32.799 some other things, we talked about the Wildcats, his career 10 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.479 and how things are going under Mark Stoops. So yeah, 11 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:38.640 we're going to talk with Bill. Coming up at the 12 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:41.920 bottom of the hour. Also coming up a conversation with 13 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.520 Brian Milem of WKYT, the sports director and a long 14 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:48.640 time colleague, will talk about the football Cats, but also 15 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:52.240 High School of Football which begins this week. So there's 16 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:55.840 a lot going on, no doubt. And Darren Headrick of 17 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.600 the UK Network will join us to talk football and 18 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:04.400 UK women's basketball because Kentucky announced its schedule for the 19 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:07.719 women's team, which of course will make its debut under 20 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:11.560 Kenny Brooks on Madness Night October eleventh. Then the Blue 21 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:16.599 White Game in Memorial Coliseum on October the eighteenth. Ticket 22 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:21.000 info coming up soon on those. Kentucky with five straight 23 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:25.359 home games to open the regular season, including a matchup 24 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:29.480 with Louisville on November the sixteenth, Game one the official 25 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:33.719 game one November fourth with USC Upstate Dennis Wafford. Then 26 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:38.319 U OFL Kentucky will go to Nashville for the Music 27 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:43.159 City Classic Thanksgiving weekend, no opponents announced as of yet, 28 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:46.879 and a big game glowing on the schedule UK North 29 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:52.680 Carolina Women's basketball the second sec ACC Challenge that will 30 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.640 happen down in Chapel Hill. So there's a lot to like, 31 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.640 a lot that's interesting on the UK schedule. We'll talk 32 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.480 to Darren about that. But a reminder that Darren is 33 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:05.879 also part of our crew on college football game Day. 34 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:09.719 He is our scoreboard announcer and he keeps track of 35 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.520 everything going on nationwide, and he's going to have a 36 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:17.120 challenge keeping track of all these teams that have moved 37 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:19.840 throughout the last couple of years in a brand new 38 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:23.960 homes in different conferences. So we'll talk to him about that. 39 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:28.159 A couple of headlines from baseball, Big League Baseball and 40 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:30.800 if you're just a casual fan, especially of the Reds. 41 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:35.439 This jumps out at to Joey Vado, former league MVP 42 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:40.280 in the long time face of the Reds, officially has retired. 43 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:43.000 Remember he left the Reds for the Blue Jays, not 44 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:45.719 of his own volition, but he was trying over the 45 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:48.280 past six months to get back to the big leagues 46 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.199 one more time. He had signed a minor league deal, 47 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:53.520 saying he wanted to try out for what he called 48 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:57.719 a local club, Vadawis, Canadian, but an ankle injury cost 49 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.960 him half the season and he would love to have 50 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.199 played this past weekend or this week's series with the 51 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:07.520 Jays and the Reds, but he did not get the 52 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:11.599 call up from Triple A Buffalo, so he released a 53 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:17.039 video saying that's it. I'm done. I'm officially retired from baseball. 54 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:20.759 He was standing in a parking lot outside Buffalo's ballpark. 55 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:25.879 So Joey Vado wraps things up. Twenty ten National League MVP. 56 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:29.520 When he batted three twenty four with thirty seven home runs, 57 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:33.719 he had the second most hits in Reds franchise history 58 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:36.639 twenty one hundred and thirty five plus three hundred and 59 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:40.759 fifty six home runs. You know who in first place 60 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:44.159 and always will be there. But what a career for 61 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.840 Vado five times All Star led the National League an 62 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:52.879 on base percentage seven times, so you're talking about walks 63 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:57.840 and base hits combined the OBP. That was a frustrating 64 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:59.680 stat for some fans. You believe you should have been 65 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.879 swinging anymore, but you can't argue with the results. And 66 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.479 a lot of people think he'll be a first ballot 67 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:07.960 Hall of Famer. I think there'll be some stubborn people 68 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.520 who don't vote him, but I think he belongs in 69 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.560 a Hall of Fame on the first ballot. But I 70 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:17.360 don't have a vote, and we'll find out in the 71 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:20.680 next five years. Another note from last night's Red's Blue 72 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:25.759 Jays game. The Reds gets slacked by the Jays and 73 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.480 they didn't necessarily run out of pitchers, but they didn't, 74 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.319 I guess, want to waste anymore. So they're down ten 75 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.120 to two, bottom of the seventh and who do they 76 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:40.759 send out to pitch? Backup catcher and former Blue Jay 77 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:45.160 Luke Maylee, who at one point was an off conference 78 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:47.959 performer for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was on that twenty 79 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:51.120 twelve team that made it to the top of the 80 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:53.720 college baseball polls a couple of times, the top rank 81 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:59.000 Kentucky team. So they sent Melee out against his former team, 82 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.879 and all he does is set him down in a 83 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:07.120 row twice, retired all six hitters he faced through twenty 84 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:11.000 eight pitches, twenty for strikes, and at times throw in 85 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:15.000 a knuckleball which topped out at seventy seven miles an hour. 86 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:19.120 In fact, on Twitter or x there is one clip 87 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:23.920 of him striking out, not striking out, but inducing a 88 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:27.480 ground ball with that knuckleball. It looks like an ephis pitch, 89 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:30.360 like a big looping pitch drops in, but it's a 90 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:37.000 knuckleball and he'll need eleven pitches. But he gets Davis 91 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:40.040 Schnyder to end the game on a ground ball. He 92 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.680 raked it the third base, got a good swing at it, 93 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:47.079 but he was thrown out. So here's a guy who 94 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.399 is a veteran. Now, gosh, he's thirty three years old. 95 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:56.040 Pretty amazing. But this is evidently the ninth pitching appearance 96 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:00.319 of Melee's career, second in Cincinnati over the last four games. 97 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:04.040 I didn't realize he had pitched earlier for the Reds. 98 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.560 Apparently his era eight point six eight. He does have 99 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:14.920 three strikeouts, but this season has yet to allow base runner. 100 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:20.040 How about that? So became the first position player of 101 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:24.240 twenty twenty four to pitch multiple perfect innings in one game. 102 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.079 And by the way, there is movement of foot there. 103 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:32.519 The towers that be believe that there is too much 104 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:37.240 of this position players taking the mound in the major leagues, 105 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.519 and they think that that somehow cheats the fans. Look 106 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:44.600 when a position player takes the mound. I have never 107 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:47.639 seen that happen in a game that was still on 108 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:52.360 the line. It's always during a blowout. And I happen 109 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:56.079 to think fans are a little curious about that. There's 110 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.480 some thought that while you're cheating the fans, no you're not, 111 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.879 because who's still there in a ten to two game 112 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:06.040 in the eighth inning? And I have a feeling that 113 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:09.680 fans rather enjoyed that, both Reds and Blue Jays fans 114 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:15.240 seeing Luke Mayley. So that's kind of ridiculous to me. 115 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:19.000 And this stuff about forcing starting pitchers to go six innings, 116 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:23.680 that's dangerous and it should not happen, but you may 117 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:28.560 see it shift over to college football. You know that 118 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:33.439 the SEC has moved from CBS to ABC. Well, here 119 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:39.319 comes an announcement that the broadcast crews on the CBS game. 120 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:43.279 You know for years, at three point thirty you turn 121 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:48.120 on the SEC on CBS, there's Verne Lundquist and Gary 122 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:57.439 Danielson and I can't remember I was Todd Blackledge for 123 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:00.319 a long time, who actually grew up in Lexington at 124 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:03.079 eighth Street Junior High. Anyhow, you knew you were going 125 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.480 to get them at three thirty, and then after Verne retired, 126 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:12.360 Brad Nessler. But now we find out that you're going 127 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:17.720 to see rotating crews for the SEC on ABC. You're 128 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:22.959 gonna get Sean Mcdonogreg McElroy, Molly McGrath or Joe Tessitoor, 129 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.720 Jesse Palmer, Katie George. I really liked that team. I 130 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:31.279 don't dislike the other ones. Who's the third one? Oh yeah, 131 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.639 the top team is Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreet and Holly 132 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:36.759 Row that's a good group as well. But yeah, they're 133 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:40.000 going to rotate. It won't matter, you know, it depends 134 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.840 if the game is any good or not. And by 135 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:46.600 the way, the SEC Networks top team will come back intact. 136 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:50.679 Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Kobalik, and I really 137 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.320 like that team as well. And Tom Hart is one 138 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.879 of the best in the business. I don't think he 139 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:57.799 gets enough credit for that, but yeah, I get used 140 00:08:57.799 --> 00:08:59.960 to that. Folks. You're going to see and hear different 141 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:04.159 voices in different faces practically every week. They're going to rotate. 142 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:08.360 Yesterday we were talking about rookie quarterbacks and who might 143 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:11.200 start in the NFL, and it is official. The Broncos 144 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:15.600 are the first to announce that their quarterback will be 145 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:19.759 the rookie. Bo Nix, who finished his career at Oregon 146 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:22.480 had a nice time up there. But remember now, he 147 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:28.399 was a widely recruited and highly coveted quarterback who signed 148 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:32.039 with Auburn back in the day. And I talked about 149 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.399 this again the other day. Kentucky opened the COVID season 150 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:39.000 with Auburn. Wildcasts were ranked twenty third going into the 151 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:44.360 season and Auburn was ranked number eight and Auburn won 152 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:48.600 at twenty nine to thirteen. Kentucky was I think it 153 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:53.120 was what fifteen to thirteen, No, eight to seven at 154 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:56.519 the half? It was weird, fifteen to thirteen. At the 155 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:59.799 end of three periods. Auburn put up two touchdowns in 156 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:02.600 the fourth quarter. Now, what I remember about that two things. 157 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:06.440 Bo Nicks was very good through three touchdown passes and 158 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.480 extended plays with his legs. But the other thing I 159 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:13.039 remember is Kentucky was denied a touchdown early in the 160 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:16.519 game when they went for it on fourth down, and 161 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:20.679 it was apparent to me and I was literally sixty 162 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.799 five to seventy yards away toward the other end of 163 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.440 the field, and I could tell that Chris Rodriguez got 164 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.320 into the end zone and Tom and Jeff called it 165 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:34.440 a touchdown, only to say, wait a minute, what and 166 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:39.200 they were denied the touchdown, And it really changed momentum. 167 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.679 And it's not why Kentucky lost the game, but it 168 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:48.919 really hindered the Wildcats ability to win the game. And 169 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.480 in fact, Kentucky had opened up. First touchdown came on 170 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:56.879 a ninety three yard drive punctuated by Cavasier smoke on 171 00:10:57.039 --> 00:11:02.200 thirty five yards for the touchdown. But then after that, 172 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:05.720 after that touchdown, they were denied. Things just did not 173 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:09.120 go well for the Wildcats. But bo Nicks looked really 174 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:12.799 good in that game. But his career began to founder 175 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:15.279 a little bit at Auburn, and in fact, he was 176 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:19.200 eventually benched, fans turned on him, and he left the 177 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:23.200 planes for a new home in Oregon. Hey, it has 178 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:28.360 worked out. He'll be the starting QB for the Denver Broncos. Oh, yes, 179 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.759 one other quarterback. Note, there is a little bit of 180 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:33.840 I don't want to say bad blood, but it's really 181 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:38.639 interesting what's going on between Patrick Mahomes and a flag 182 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.519 football star. You know, flag football is going to be 183 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:45.279 in the Olympics in four years, and there was some 184 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:52.200 loose talk going around from Darryl Househ deuceet, quarterback of 185 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:55.080 the US national flag football team. They won a lot 186 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:58.360 of championships evidently, and I guess there was some talk 187 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:02.440 about NFL players believing they can jump right in and 188 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:06.279 play flag football in the Olympics. This guy, and he 189 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:10.159 was taken up for his sport, saying it's disrespectful that 190 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:13.200 they automatically assume they're able to just join the Olympic 191 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:16.039 team because of the person they are. They didn't help 192 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:18.559 grow this game to get it to the Olympics, which 193 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.759 is true. These guys have played a lot of flag 194 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:24.639 football and it's very popular. But he said, give the 195 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.360 guys who helped this game get to where it's at 196 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:30.440 their respect, okay, But then he goes a little too 197 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:36.159 far by comparing himself to Patrick Mahomes only the best 198 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.279 quarterback in the game. 199 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.440 At the end of the day, I feel like I'm 200 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.320 better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game. 201 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:45.519 I know he's right now the best in the league. 202 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:47.360 I know he's more accurate, I know he has all 203 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.320 these intangibles, but when it comes to flag football, I 204 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:52.120 feel like I know more than him. 205 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:56.360 Hey, you may know how flag football is played, clearly 206 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.759 you do. But to compare yourself, first of all, in 207 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:05.000 general to Patrick Mahomes ridiculous. To compare your football IQ 208 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:09.799 to Patrick Mahomes even more ridiculous. You got guys coming 209 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.159 after you trying to grab that flag around your waist. 210 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:16.080 Patrick Mahomes says, guys coming after him trying to crush him. 211 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:20.799 He's just trying to preserve himself out there, and by 212 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.440 the way, he lead his team to a super Bowl. 213 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:28.039 So just smile, enjoy the experience, and do not bring 214 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.799 up Patrick Mahomes again. Up next way from the Football 215 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:34.360 Cats bottom of the hour. Bill Ransdell comes by the 216 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:38.399 garage here on six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the 217 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:41.000 Big Blue and Sider. The football Wildcats have been cleaning 218 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.039 things up as they wrapped up what they call fall camp. 219 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.960 Next week, they dig into the game plan in earnest 220 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.879 as they prepare for Southern Myss. You're going to see 221 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:54.240 all kinds of pregame specials, including one on WTVQ now 222 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:57.679 the home of SEC football BB and Tonight's got a 223 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:02.080 lot of programming Hite Fox fifty six. But I was 224 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:06.200 nearby when Jeff Bicoro of Channel thirty six and r 225 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:11.960 UK Radio Network talk to jam Dumas Johnson the transfer 226 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:15.919 from Georgia the linebacker about why he chose Kentucky for 227 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.679 his new stop after he left UGA. 228 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:23.159 Really really just the difference of mindset that Chris White 229 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.639 and of course Stoops has here at Kentucky. The personnel. 230 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:29.039 Of course, White plays with the different kind of flavors 231 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:31.240 he got in his bag to throw out never in 232 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.799 the same defenses can switch it up any kind of 233 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.799 any day. He went never letting the offense know what 234 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:39.320 he's in and know what he's doing. So I think 235 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:41.399 that was a big part of my decision making. 236 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:44.200 When I look at this defense, and especially from a 237 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.960 linebacker standpoint, when you were at Georgia, you had those 238 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.480 big guys up front who took up the blockers. They 239 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:52.240 gave you clear pass. You look at this Kentucky team, 240 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.840 it's kind of the same front that you're gonna be 241 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.679 playing behind, right. 242 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:55.960 Yeah. 243 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.960 You know you got a big, big, big D big 244 00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:59.720 zero up there. You know you got trail there on 245 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.159 the head, you got you got Ox up there, you 246 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:04.279 got j J up there. You know you gotta got 247 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:06.480 a couple of Kalil up there. You got a couple 248 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:08.559 couple of guys with that that's big. I can got 249 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:11.159 the help. He can hold their own up there. So 250 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:16.039 I don't think it's much difference within the change of 251 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.159 my D line. So you know, I'm excited what they're 252 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:18.480 gonna do. 253 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:20.639 I like, you've got a big spile on your face 254 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:22.360 when you started drigging up the names. That are you 255 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:23.279 gonna be playing around? 256 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:27.279 Yeah yeah, uh, you know, just making that connection last 257 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:31.039 three days in camp, you know, uh, you know, you 258 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:33.559 gotta bring that leadership out. You know some sometimes some 259 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:37.200 people need some some help to bring bring they they 260 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.240 better part out, they better stuff out. So you know, 261 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:41.720 that's that's what I'm been trying to do. Uh, you're 262 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.440 trying to lead, you know, not trying to do too much. Uh, 263 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.080 you know, not your born leader. That's what I had 264 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:50.080 to call myself. Uh so not trying to take the 265 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.279 role that it come to you and when it happened, happened. 266 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.080 But you know, just just happy for the guys and 267 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.039 see what they can do. 268 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.879 Brad White, Kentucky's defensive coordinator, was asked about doing much 269 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.519 and who said he'd rather not be called pop anymore. 270 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:06.799 And that's fine, but he said Doomius Johnson more and 271 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:09.799 more transferring in from Georgia is learning the way they 272 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.440 need things done at Kentucky. 273 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.559 Every day he gets a little bit better and more nuanced, 274 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:17.600 you know, at our terminology, the way we operate, the 275 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.600 techniques that we run, because every defense that you go 276 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:23.600 into is slightly different. But you can see that the 277 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:29.559 confidence level really rising in the understanding level. And it's 278 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.759 like anything like when you finally make that connection point 279 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:35.039 and you bridge the gap to say, okay, this is 280 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:37.480 what it used to be. How do I execute it 281 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.360 without always. 282 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.759 Having to think? 283 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.440 You know, you think about a foreign language, right the 284 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.080 moment that you can actually think in the language that 285 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:46.360 you're trying to speak as opposed to always translate it. 286 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:48.159 Man, you're off and running. 287 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.080 One of the other transfers backup quarterback Gavin Whimsit from Rutgers. 288 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:54.039 He right now is number two on the depth chart. 289 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:58.639 Talk to us about why Kentucky. He liked bush Hamden, 290 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.679 He liked the offense, and he like what he saw 291 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:03.279 when he researched the Wildcat program. 292 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:07.640 It's smart knowledge about like going into different schools and 293 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:11.799 just my comfortability with with with offenses and just football 294 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:15.839 in general. I think that made me look into it. 295 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.839 I'd say if I was a freshman and I entered 296 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.640 the portal, then I probably wouldn't have looked at it 297 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:24.200 as much. But I think now from especially coming from 298 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:28.200 Rutgers and just seeing how I fit in that offense, 299 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.119 I think it's just I wanted to get into offense 300 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.440 that fit me, fit me best. 301 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.440 So how do you think you fit in the South best? 302 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:36.200 Because when they talk about you, they talk about your 303 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.960 running ability. 304 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.119 I think I can fit in with passing as well, 305 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.519 just uh, you know, just consistency and making the routine play. 306 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:47.680 I feel like sometimes you know, get out of whack, 307 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.240 But I think it's just getting back to that spot 308 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.240 where I can just keep on playing, you know, you know, 309 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.839 easy catching and throws, so. 310 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:59.039 No shortage of weapons in this offense. 311 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.880 Is that exciting to be part of? 312 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:03.039 I think that is super exciting. You know, you got 313 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:06.759 guys who can play multiple positions and you AD's depth 314 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:10.759 and I think that's that's super amazing. You know, just 315 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.920 put guys everywhere you can mix some of it Mattham 316 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.200 and I think it's it's amazing. 317 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:18.480 Really curious to see how and when they use Wimsedd 318 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:22.039 as a backup to Brock vandergriff Up. Next, Bill Ransdell 319 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:25.160 visits the garage on six thirty WLA. Welcome back to 320 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.599 the Big Blue Insider. Every now and then we have 321 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:30.720 guests here in the garage. And the other day the 322 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:34.359 man who dropped by happened to rewrite the Kentucky record 323 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:38.119 books when it came to passing, and the record stood 324 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:41.559 until Tim Couch showed up on campus. I'm talking, of course, 325 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:45.079 about Bill Ransdell, who lived the Wildcats to the nineteen 326 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.519 eighty four Hall of Fame bull victory forty years ago. 327 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:52.559 This season, we'll be talking about that in our season 328 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:56.359 opening broadcast as Wildcats take on Suttern Miss. So my 329 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:01.400 conversation here in the garage with Bill Ransdell. Bill Ramsdell, 330 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.480 Welcome to the garage. 331 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.359 Hey, I love the garage. Everybody's got to have a 332 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:08.160 man cave in their garage cave and I love it. 333 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:11.920 Yeah, well we get it done here. And Bill, of course, 334 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:15.759 the long time Kentucky quarterback, and at one point you 335 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:17.759 were with us on the UK TV network and now 336 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.759 you enjoy your tailgating. 337 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.839 You're having fun with that right absolutely. You know it's 338 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.599 you know, five kids and my wife I all love 339 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:29.079 football and you know we'd like to get out there 340 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:32.359 on Saturdays, and you know that's kind of a good 341 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:34.079 family time. A lot of people go to the lake, 342 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:36.400 a lot of people do different things, you know, horseback 343 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.799 or whatever. Ours has always been tailgating and Kentucky football. 344 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:42.400 That's good. Well, you got a chance to have some 345 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:44.240 more fun this year. I know you haven't been able 346 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:47.440 to get out to practice yet, but you know, just 347 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:51.000 from you can't help it. But read about this team 348 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:53.400 and the depth in the quarterback room. And I always 349 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:56.640 go back to your time at Kentucky when we talk 350 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.880 about depth, and I remember you talking about being fifth 351 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:02.319 or six on the depth chart. Mike Whittaker was on 352 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.000 that depth chart, and eventually you got to the top. 353 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:10.039 Tell me about the challenge for any quarterback who signs 354 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:12.720 up to play, and we'll get to the transfer portal 355 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.079 in a minute. But you know, going in, you got 356 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:17.279 to beat out X amount of guys. 357 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.680 Right, you do? And you know, you come in and 358 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:23.960 I think that it's I think anybody that has played 359 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.839 the game and gets recruited in college at any level, 360 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:33.759 but especially when you get up ato D one regardless, 361 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.559 you think that you better believe that you're the guy 362 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.519 that they recruited you for a reason. And when you 363 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.759 walk into the room, I don't really care who is there. 364 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:45.599 I'm here to win and play. I didn't come here 365 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:48.160 to sit. And if you don't think that way, you're 366 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:51.200 not going to make it to the field. And so 367 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:54.880 it's how do you get there? You have to buy 368 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:58.559 the time. And when I came in with coach Clayburn's 369 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:02.599 first recruiting class, they they're trying to build and so 370 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.599 the you know, the red shirting and where basically it's 371 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:08.559 just a whole back year, as you know, and so 372 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:11.119 then you get your your only chance is the next 373 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:14.279 spring in spring practice, and so you get a limited 374 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:18.480 amount of plays back then there's no red shirt for quarterbacks. 375 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:20.000 It was live every day. 376 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:24.519 Ridchard means hands off, not the extra year, but yes, 377 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.640 don't hit this guy. 378 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.359 Yes, no red jerseys for the quarterback. Yes, so it 379 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.920 red shirt was when we were held back. But the 380 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:35.200 red jersey you don't touch anymore. But everybody was live. 381 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.960 Is that just a clay Burn thing? No, no, no, cursey. 382 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.559 It was the time. It was just the time. I 383 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:44.839 think that probably the first time. Mummy I think probably 384 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:48.759 kept everybody off of the quarter Well. Yeah, and you 385 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:52.319 don't think they touch Dusty either before and the other 386 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:56.119 team Jared either, So yeah, I think that's part of 387 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.160 what it was. But they the big thing is you 388 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:01.960 you have at then and and it's got to be 389 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:05.480 similar now. You're gonna have X amount of plays you're 390 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:09.880 gonna get and how do you execute and and it's 391 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:13.279 that hasn't changed. You're gonna you know, are you two's 392 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:17.119 against ones? You know what what's that look like? I 393 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:20.799 mean I can remember, you know, my red shirt freshman 394 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.559 the sophomore year coming in and coach Devlin was the 395 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:28.039 defensive coordinator. Went on to the Houston Oilers. We're all 396 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:31.680 waiting to go over to to Commonwealth to you know, 397 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.880 to have a big scrimmage. And uh, he looked at 398 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:38.079 me and says, you're ready to go today? And uh, 399 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.480 this is one that we were still at Shadley And 400 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:43.720 he says, you're ready to go today? And I said, yes, sir, 401 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:47.000