WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:02.680 Welcome to the Big bluin Sider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:05.200 on a Wednesday edition of our program, and of course 3 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:08.519 the midweek brings us each and every week if we're 4 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:16.679 not preempted. Sean Woods, the all the Unforgettable guard whose 5 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.120 jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp, and West End 6 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.359 Bureau chief Gary Moore. They will both be with us 7 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:24.600 in hour number two. Coming up a little bit later 8 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:28.679 at the bottom of this hour. Bernie Scruggs, former Kentucky quarterback. 9 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:32.320 He played under John Ray in what was it sixty nine, 10 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:36.920 seventy seventy one were his varsity seasons, and those were 11 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:40.759 high school years for me, and I remember listening to 12 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:44.079 Kaywood Lefford on the radio. Those were not good Kentucky teams. 13 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:48.280 And I remember as I delivered my newspapers on Saturday afternoons, 14 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:53.119 listening to Kaywood described the exploits of those UK teams. 15 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:57.200 It just came so agonizingly close, but in true UK 16 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:00.719 football fashion back then, just couldn't quite over the hump 17 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:05.719 on most days, but on one magical day, Bernie Scruggs 18 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:09.680 in nineteen sixty nine, a sophomore who was filling in 19 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:13.159 for the injured Stan Forston, who was the starting quarterback 20 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:17.359 in the season opener against Indiana, a wild game that 21 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:21.760 saw IU beat Kentucky fifty eight to thirty. I distinctly 22 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:26.280 remember listening to that game thinking, man, Kentucky scoring a 23 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:29.120 lot of points, but every time they scored, Indiana would 24 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:34.959 score even more. So anyhow, Bernie came in and subbed 25 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:38.439 for Forston in the Indiana game and then started the 26 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.000 Old miss game and they pull off the upset of 27 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:48.280 ninth rank Mississippi, which featured all everything and now legend. 28 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:50.439 He was a legend back then as a high schooler 29 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.480 Archie Manning and of course better known now as the 30 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.799 father of Peyton and Eli and the grandfather of arch Manning. 31 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:05.480 But seriously, he's probably better. He was probably better than 32 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:08.199 all three of those guys, plus Cooper, who was a 33 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:12.560 tremendous wide receiver at Ole Miss Or had a great 34 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.439 career ahead of him, but then he was diagnosed with 35 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:18.639 a medical condition that made it too dangerous for him 36 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:21.479 to play keep playing football. So anyhow, and he is 37 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:26.639 Arch's dad, So anyhow, Bernie Scruggs will open our broadcast 38 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:31.599 on Saturday. We've been calling upon former Wildcats to deliver 39 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.639 a little monologue, little speech to open our broadcast. Bill Ransdell, 40 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:39.479 Jojo Kemp Dermoni Dawson, and this week it be Bernie 41 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.639 Scruggs taking us back to that day when the Wildcats 42 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:46.520 upset the Rebels and didn't do much else that season, 43 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:50.199 but man, what an upset. Ten to nine was the 44 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:54.080 final score. Kentucky blocked an extra point, Bernie Scruggs scored 45 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:57.400 Kentucky's only touchdown. Arch Manning scored for Ole Miss on 46 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.879 a sixty four yard run. In the first half. Kentucky 47 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.360 forced atting four turnovers, including two or three in the 48 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:08.240 fourth quarter alone, including a fumble at the three yard 49 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:11.840 line by all Miss taking it into score. Wildcats forced 50 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.280 a fumble and then picked off an arch Manning pass 51 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.159 that basically assaulted the game away or not an arch 52 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:21.400 man em an Archie Manning pass. So Bernie will open 53 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:24.400 the broadcast, and I had a conversation with him, which 54 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:27.000 I will share coming up at the bottom of the hour. 55 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.919 But as I said, as long as I've covered Kentucky football, 56 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:31.879 and I've been to functions and events, and of course 57 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.039 he played before I got here. He played what three 58 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.319 or four years before I got to UK, I hadn't 59 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.199 never had a chance to meet him or talk to him. 60 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:42.280 So he had a chance to zoom with him. And 61 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:45.240 we'll hear from Bernie Scruggs at the bottom of the hour. 62 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:48.520 He'll share the story of that game and other stories 63 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:51.360 from back in the day. Those were some dark days 64 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:55.280 for UK football. But the John Ray era gave way 65 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:59.479 to two different things, and they were intertwined. Frank Kersey, 66 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:03.240 the man they hired to replace John Ray, and Commonwealth 67 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:07.759 Stadium because John Ray lobbied like mad for upgraded facilities, 68 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.960 including a new stadium. He said, I got to have 69 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.240 a stadium that I can recruit to. John Ray had 70 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:16.319 been to the mountaintop. He had worked for Ara Parsigen 71 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:20.759 at Notre Dame as his defensive coordinator. John Ray was 72 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.639 known as the guy who finally came up with a way, 73 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:27.519 at least one way to beat the wishbone. Texas and 74 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:30.519 Oklahoma Nebraska. They were killing everybody with a wishbone, and 75 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:32.639 John Ray came up with what he called the mirror 76 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:36.480 defense and basically had his linebackers mirror the movements of 77 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.759 the offensive backfields and it worked. So he was the 78 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:44.040 hottest defensive coordinator in America when Kentucky hired him away, 79 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.000 and of course things didn't quite work out. But not 80 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:50.319 only did he lobby for Commonwealth Stadium, but he signed 81 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:53.519 Sonny Collins, and Sonny was one of the greatest running 82 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:55.560 backs and still is one of the greatest running backs 83 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:00.399 in the history of UK football. But Bernie scro Rugs 84 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:03.680 was the man who led the Wildcats quarterback. The Wildcats 85 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:06.079 today went over all missed so well. Here from Bernie 86 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:08.360 at the bottom of this hour, and as I said, 87 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.000 we'll hear from Sean and Gary coming up in our 88 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:14.480 number two. We need to start off, though, with this 89 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:20.000 bizarre story involving of all things UNLV football. That's right, Nevada, 90 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:25.000 Las Vegas. There's a quarterback out there who has announced 91 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:29.279 that he will no longer play. He will not finish 92 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:35.199 the season with the Rebels. Matthew Sluka released via x 93 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:39.399 via social media a statement saying I've decided to utilize 94 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:42.600 my red shirt year and will not be playing in 95 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.279 any additional games this year. He said, I committed to 96 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:50.600 UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me 97 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:54.399 which were not upheld after I enrolled, meaning he didn't 98 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:58.600 get his money. He didn't get his nil money. Goes 99 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.040 on to say, despite discussion, it became clear these commitments 100 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.959 would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my 101 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:07.600 teammates the best of luck this season, hopeful to continued 102 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:10.560 success of the program. By the way, UNLV is three 103 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:14.759 and oh and has beaten, among other teams, Houston and Kansas, 104 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:20.000 so it appears that he was promised X amount of 105 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:25.720 dollars and did not get them. However, subsequent to that, 106 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.040 a man named Carl Reid Carl Reid Junior, who goes 107 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:34.839 by coach Reid Live on Twitter, is an analyst for 108 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:39.240 two four seven Sports, was a successful high school coach 109 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:43.120 in the Saint Louis area. He has tweeted, did not 110 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:48.480 quote any sources, didn't at attribute it to anything, but 111 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:52.399 he wrote all financial commitments for UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluca 112 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:56.519 were completely met, but after wins against Kansas and Houston, 113 00:06:56.839 --> 00:07:01.800 Sluca's family hired an agent and they collectively feel that 114 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:08.439 his market value has increased. Per a source, And however 115 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:13.680 you feel about unnamed sources, this is eminently believable. It 116 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:19.480 really is. Sluca came over to UNLV because they needed 117 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:24.480 a transfer portal QB. Their QB from last year pretty good. 118 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:31.160 Jaden Malava or Mayava came on and had a great 119 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:39.000 season and then left for Georgia but then decommitted and 120 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.839 now he's at USC. He's the number two behind Miller Moss. 121 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:45.439 Sluca played at Holy Cross. He's a fifth year senior 122 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:51.160 and had a pretty good career there. Won twenty two 123 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:55.439 for one, ninety seven passing for seventeen hundred yards, twenty touchdowns, 124 00:07:55.480 --> 00:08:00.560 five picks in twenty twenty three. Not bad, So clearly 125 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:03.839 he's got skills. I mean Vegas is three and oh 126 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.199 right now, they had two quarterbacks left. One guy is 127 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.839 thrown one pass, another guy played but didn't throw any passes. 128 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:15.600 In another game, they beat Utah Tech to open the season, 129 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:20.560 so what a mess at UNLV. We'll talk about this 130 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:24.439 with Sean Woods, who of course himself a coach and 131 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:29.279 has had several D one basketball jobs, And we've talked 132 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:33.639 a lot about the nil with Sean. So this is 133 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:38.120 a new twist, isn't it. While we're talking college football. 134 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.480 The top ten most watched games a week four, they 135 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:47.000 might surprise you the top game was not Tennessee Oklahoma, 136 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:51.039 even though it wasn't quote prime time. Like I've said before, 137 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:57.200 to me, Saturday from noon on is prime time. They 138 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:00.840 like to say it's from six o'clock on, but is 139 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.200 it really On a college football Saturday, that's when the 140 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:07.799 TVs go on. Come on USC at Michigan. I guess 141 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:13.200 it's understandable. Was the top rated game, and that was 142 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:16.639 a three thirty game on CBS, which forever had been 143 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:20.000 the SEC time slot. Now it's the Big ten time 144 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:25.639 slot and it's still CBS. So they got six point 145 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.679 three two million viewers. However, they measure it for Southern 146 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:33.639 calim Michigan, big win for the Wolverines. Tennessee Oklahoma was second. 147 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:39.120 That was, of course the SEC game on ABC at 148 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.000 seven thirty pm. Six point twenty seven million, so not 149 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:45.360 too far behind. The third game kind of surprised me. 150 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:51.639 Illinois Nebraska on Fox, which was a Friday night game, 151 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.559 so maybe it shouldn't surprise me since it was Friday night, 152 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:57.759 but the folks who did not go off to high 153 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.279 school games watched that one to the two in a 154 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:04.159 four point two to one million. Illinois won that one 155 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:08.759 by a touchdown in overtime, and Nebraska had a touchdown 156 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:15.080 taken away by review. About halfway through that one quarterback 157 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.679 throws it up in the end zone. Receiver and defensive 158 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:22.000 back come down with it. Defensive back ends up with 159 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:26.639 a football, but generally that kind of position goes to 160 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:28.600 the offense. I did not see the play. I don't 161 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:32.919 know how or why it was called an interception, but 162 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:37.559 it ended up costing Nebraska the game at Nebraska. About that. 163 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:43.240 The fourth game among the highest rated games, Marshall at 164 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:48.360 Ohio State. That was the big noon game on Fox. 165 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.240 Three point nine to six million. That's the power of 166 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:57.720 the Buck guys drawing eyeballs. Number five, coach Prime in 167 00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:02.679 prime time Saturday night, Baile They're in Colorado, three point 168 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:07.960 six million. Six game Ucla at LSU on ABC. That 169 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.879 was the three thirty game on ABC. Seventh Florida and 170 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:15.799 Mississippi State. Again the power of the SEC. These are 171 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:19.279 two mediocre teams in the Southeastern Conference. That was the 172 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:24.480 ESPN noon game, the eighth most watched game, Utah at 173 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.120 Oklahoma State Fox at four o'clock. Now you're starting to 174 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.519 get in just the other games. Ninth with Arkansas at Auburn. 175 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.679 That's the ESPN Another ESPN three thirty game and number 176 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:43.000 ten ABC's ACC game NC State at Clemson noon drew 177 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:48.759 fewer than two million viewers. So it's amazing to me. 178 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.320 I guess it should be because those are two of 179 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:56.080 the highest profile programs, USC and Michigan at three thirty 180 00:11:56.120 --> 00:12:01.120 timeslod on CBS still golden. And I got to think 181 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:05.720 if Tennessee, Oklahoma had been moved to three thirty or 182 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:09.480 sliding for three through that might have outdrawn Southern Calm Michigan. 183 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:11.720 So we'll keep an eye on that kind of thing 184 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:16.360 for you. But with everybody changing conferences and conferences changing networks, 185 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:20.480 it's interesting to see where viewers are going up next 186 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.759 way here from the football Wildcats. More to come, all 187 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.799 on the Big Blue and Sider six thirty WLAP. Welcome 188 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.440 back to the Big Blue Insider. Coming up Saturday, Kentucky 189 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:31.759 and Old Miss a game you'll hear right here on 190 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:36.240 six thirty WLAP. Bush Hampden talked to the media yesterday. 191 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:39.399 One of the questions was about crowd noise. They're expecting 192 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:42.519 a big one down there. Although it's not a huge stadium. 193 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.200 It is loud, there's no question about that, but it's 194 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:48.600 not nearly as big as say Nayland Stadium in Knoxville 195 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:52.399 or an M Stadium, But they do need to deal 196 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.679 with communications. You got the helmet comms right now, but 197 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.320 also they can turn the hand signals if need be. 198 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.240 So Hampden answered a question about comm's and how they're 199 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.799 going to handle things on Saturday. 200 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:09.279 Again, we have practiced as if our quarterback Colm has 201 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:12.240 not worked at times as well. You know, so quarterbacks 202 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:16.399 know that from the standpoint of our signal operation, you know, 203 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:18.559 we don't think it's going to be a huge effect, 204 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:22.080 but again, you know, get those environments. You know, we 205 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:24.480 just got to do a great job communicating playing fast 206 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:26.320 one in the pre snap things we've been talking about 207 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:27.519 since we've won. 208 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:30.799 No word yet on Chip training him. He had been 209 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.960 cleared to practice this week, but Mark Stoops stopped short 210 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:37.480 Monday of saying training them would play. Also talked about 211 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:40.039 it on his Coaches show. They've got to make sure 212 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:44.120 that that injured hand, that left hand is strong enough 213 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:46.480 to grip the football. You know, if running backs have 214 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.840 to use both hands to grip the football. And this 215 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:51.559 is a strong guy, a big guy, a power runner, 216 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:54.200 so you know, no matter what hand he's going to 217 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:56.799 carry the football. They're going to be grabbing at it. 218 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:58.799 Defenders will be ripping at it. And this is a 219 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:02.879 really good Miss defense with all kinds of transfers. I 220 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:06.679 think ten of their eleven starters are portal guys. It's 221 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.600 a portal program and most of them came from SEC programs, 222 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:13.159 so they know what they're doing. Maybe they weren't playing 223 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:15.159 a lot where they used to be, or maybe they 224 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:17.960 were offered more nil bucks at Ole Miss, but they're 225 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.240 good players, so train them is going to have to 226 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:23.440 deal with that if he plays. Hamden talked about what 227 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:27.279 they are hoping he'll bring whenever he gets into a ballgame. 228 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.480 I think there's just the two things. 229 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.360 One will be leadership. 230 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.360 We've talked about the guy that's played in big games, 231 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.639 knowing what it's supposed to be like. 232 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.960 And I think the. 233 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:38.200 Second thing is just from the side standpoint of big back, 234 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:41.759 you know, big physical back. So we're anxious to get 235 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:43.519 them back, obviously and to take them one day at 236 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:43.799 a time. 237 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:47.360 It's Bush ham Dan. Of course we'll be calling the 238 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:50.679 offense for the first time as the UK coordinator when 239 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:52.840 the Wildcats play at Ole Miss, and you'll hear it 240 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:58.240 right here on six thirty, wlap UFL released it's basketball schedule, 241 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.759 and you already know that the Cardinals take on those 242 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:08.440 Kentucky Wildcats Saturday, December fourteenth. Time and TV to be determined, 243 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.919 But the Cards have a couple of exhibition games starting 244 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:17.240 October twenty first under Pat Kelsey, first game, first real 245 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:21.799 game is against Moorhead State on November fourth, Then they 246 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.440 played Tennessee. These are all at home, Bellerman and Winthrop, 247 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.720 and watching looking at that Bellerman game on the schedule 248 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:34.240 reminds that that was not the first red flag under 249 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:36.200 Kenny Payne, but it was one of them. Because you 250 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:40.320 might recall the Cardinals in that first disastrous year under Kennedy, 251 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:42.840 and neither one of them was wants to write home about. 252 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:47.960 They lose to leonor Ryan in an exhibition game. And 253 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.440 then the Cardinals lost to Bellerman on a Wednesday, November 254 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:56.279 the ninth, back in twenty twenty two, and it was 255 00:15:56.279 --> 00:16:00.000 a one point loss, all right. If you might recall 256 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:04.600 all that Kenny Payne's first three games as the head coach, 257 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.879 they beat Shamanad after they beat Lamar, Lenoir Ryan, and 258 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:12.320 that was an exhibition as well. But then they lose 259 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:17.000 by a point to Bellermant, then a point to Wright State, 260 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:21.960 and another one point game the app State. So we're thinking, well, 261 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:24.440 he's he's got him close. You know, they're they're they're 262 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.320 doing good things, but just can't quite. Then they got 263 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:32.440 blown out by Arkansas by twenty six points, destroyed by 264 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:36.879 Texas Tech. These were games in the Maui Invitational, and 265 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:43.039 blown out again by Cincinnati, and it just kept getting worse. Maryland, Miami, Florida. 266 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.639 Say these were all by twenty points or more. He 267 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:50.799 finally got a win over Western Kentucky and then Florida 268 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.600 A and M back to back wins, but went right 269 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.720 back to the losing. But when they lose to Leonore 270 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:01.000 Ryan in an exhibition and lose to Bellerman in the 271 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:03.759 season opener, and no disrespect to Bellerman, but come on, 272 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:08.039 it's Louisville. You got to win that one. That was 273 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:12.200 an absolute red flare under Kenney Payn And I was 274 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.319 one of many who thought it would get better, but 275 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:18.200 it got worse. Speaking of getting worse, terrible news or 276 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.920 an announcement by Brett Farr of the Hall of Fame 277 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:25.599 quarterback for the Packers. He disclosed during a congressional hearing yesterday. 278 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:31.400 He was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and he was 279 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.480 talking to the House Ways and Means Committee on welfare reform. 280 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:38.519 You know, his company had received two million bucks that 281 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:43.920 it shouldn't have. But long story short, far making headlines 282 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:47.519 today for a different reason. And of course you gotta 283 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:49.720 wonder did all those and he believes it did. All 284 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:53.960 those hits that he took as the tough rugged I'm 285 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.599 not coming out of a game quarterback for the Green 286 00:17:56.640 --> 00:18:00.799 Bay Packers had something to do with this diagnosis of 287 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:06.000 this deteriorating disease. I hate that for anybody. All right, 288 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:09.039 Coming up next, speaking to quarterbacks, Bernie Scruggs led the 289 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:13.720 Wildcats to the upset of Ole Miss, ninth rank rebels, 290 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:17.119 back in nineteen sixty nine. That's all I had here 291 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:21.759 on the Big Blue and Sider six thirty WLAP Welcome 292 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:24.799 back to the Big Blue Insider. Coming up Saturday, Kentucky 293 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:27.720 at ole Miss, and our celebrity monologue will be delivered 294 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:31.400 by none other than Bernie Scruggs. He quarterbacked the Wildcats 295 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:34.519 back in the early seventies, and he led Kentucky to 296 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.400 the upset win over then ninth ranked ole Miss in 297 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:41.960 nineteen sixty nine ten to nine. Kentucky had lost or 298 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:45.279 Indiana fifty eight to thirty on opening day, but a 299 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:49.920 week later held the ole Miss to nine points, and 300 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:53.160 thanks to a missed extra point or blocked extra point, 301 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:57.079 the Wildcats with one touchdown for Bernie Scruggs beat ole 302 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:59.839 Miss here in Lexion in ten to nine. And I 303 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:03.240 caught up with Bernie when we recorded for the opener 304 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:07.000 and for the opening of the broadcast. So here's my 305 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:12.160 conversation with UK quarterback Bernie Scruggs. Tell me what it 306 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:16.079 was like going into that game, Bernie, because you guys 307 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:19.759 had had that wild game with Indiana, so I think 308 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:22.279 you probably knew you could score points, but here you 309 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:24.440 are playing against one of the best teams in the country. 310 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:32.759 Yeah. Well, to tell you the truth, Stan Jones, excuse me. 311 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:37.720 Stand Forston was the starting quarterback at that particular time, 312 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:41.279 and he got hurt early early in the game against Indiana, 313 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.079 and I can remember still walking over the field and 314 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:48.119 at that time, I think I had two touchdown passes 315 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:51.960 against Indiana, and we were throwing the ball well, and 316 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:56.839 I was feeling my own red shirt freshman rich shirt 317 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:01.799 sophomore at that particular time, and I thought we had 318 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:04.480 an opportunity to beat Ole Miss. I really did so. 319 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.400 I think a lot of our players felt the same way. 320 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:11.519 We scored the points, uh, and you know that's usually 321 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:17.039 enough to win. But they they were underrated. I think Indiana. 322 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:21.559 They they had a good quarterback named Harry Gotzo and 323 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:23.880 a couple of wide receivers. I think one of his 324 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:27.200 name was Jade Butcher. I still remember that because it 325 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:30.960 was such an odd name. And uh, they were a 326 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:34.119 good team. So we felt like we were in the 327 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:37.519 game even though the score really didn't indicate it. 328 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:41.599 Yeah. So because of that, that's why you were competent 329 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.559 against Ole Miss. 330 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.519 Yeah. Yeah, I felt like we were going to put 331 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:48.440 some points up and it was that Old Miss game 332 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:51.960 was a really hard hitting ball game. It was Ah. 333 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:57.079 I don't know how many people realize, but that defense 334 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:59.960 that we had, we had Dick Palmer at one end, 335 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:04.119 Dave Hard at the other. We had Dave Rohler, Bill 336 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:09.720 bush All had Joe Fetish built linebacker with Wilbur Hackett, 337 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:14.279 and I mean five out of six of those guys 338 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:17.279 played pro and played for a while. Yeah, I mean 339 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:19.480 they were they were a good defensive unit, So I 340 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:22.400 felt like we had a good chance to beat these guys. 341 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:25.119 You had to get excited every time they turned them over. 342 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:27.759 Because it wasn't just those turnovers in the fourth quarter either, 343 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.039 was it. 344 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:31.400 No, it really wasn't. We played them tough the whole game. 345 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:35.839 Yeah. Uh, John Ray was confident going into the game, wasn't. 346 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:39.119 He was quoting the newspaper beforehand is saying he thought 347 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:39.839 you all would win. 348 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:48.079 Well. I think I think he was confident up until 349 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:53.759 we went down to Halbard. I think that that's uh, 350 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:56.559 that was a telling moment for us. I think he 351 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:59.200 kind of got shook at that point. 352 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:02.400 Remember he came in right away and was talking about 353 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:05.039 going to the Sugar Bowl. And he later told me 354 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.559 many years later, he said, I had to pump some 355 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:10.880 excitement into the Kentucky fans. He said I couldn't come 356 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:12.359 in and say, folks, it was going to be another 357 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:15.039 four years and we need a new stadium. Yeah, and 358 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.880 he said he'd do it again the same way. So 359 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:19.440 he kind of put it on you guys, didn't. 360 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:25.160 He Yeah, he he was. He was an interesting character, 361 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:29.000 he really was. He had he had a really good 362 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:32.960 assistant coaching staff, at least on the offensive side. I 363 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:37.680 loved George Sepsick. I thought he was exceptional. He was 364 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:42.039 a he was a teacher, and he didn't get overly excited, 365 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.400 and he didn't he didn't jump down your throat if 366 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:49.359 you made a mistake. And he he taught footwork as 367 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:53.039 as well as anybody I've ever been involved with. And uh, 368 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.960 I enjoyed playing for him. 369 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:57.519 So he was a quarterbacks coach. 370 00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:02.680 He was the offensive coordinator, all right, and he yes, 371 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.319 he was a quarterback coach. 372 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:08.799 Basically talking to former Kentucky quarterback Bernie Scruggs. He led 373 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:11.880 the Wildcats, he and his teammates to an upset win 374 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:15.039 over Ole miss Back in nineteen sixty nine. And the 375 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:17.960 great Archie Manning, hey, by the way, quarterback to quarterback, 376 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.279 How good was Archie Manning? 377 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:23.680 To me? He was the best in the four years 378 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.880 that I played. 379 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.920 He was. 380 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:32.880 He was quick, he was agile, he was never got shook. 381 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.119 I enjoyed watching him play. I like Pat Sullivan a 382 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:40.799 lot too, but it was he was. I thought Archie 383 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:42.440 was athletically the best. 384 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:46.960 You were from Atlanta originally? Is that correct? Yeah? What 385 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.160 brought you to Kentucky? 386 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:54.480 Well, coach Brashaw. He was the coach of the All 387 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:58.839 American Game, I think in sixty four sixty five and 388 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:04.759 my high schol coach was at the Atlanta UH Stadium. 389 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.960 He did concessions and it was it was involved in 390 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:11.440 all that and he got us uh uh to be 391 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:15.000 ball boys for the for the All American Game. And 392 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:19.240 I met Coach Bradshaw, and uh he was he was 393 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:22.039 a He was a really good man. Uh. I know 394 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:24.319 there's a lot of negative press about him, but he 395 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:30.359 was He was never ever untruthful, uh in any way 396 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.119 to me or any of the people that I know 397 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:35.680 that were recruited by. He was just he was just 398 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:38.440 a hard nose marine. That's what he went. I mean, 399 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.319 he was a good man. 400 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.880 Some people think he just tried to be the second 401 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:44.920