WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:04.320 Oh, oh, guess what day it is? Guess what day 2 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:05.639 it is? Huh? 3 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:11.919 Anybody, It's hump Day. 4 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:15.400 Yes, it is hump Day. Welcome to the Big Blindsider. 5 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:17.640 Dick Gabrielle with you on a Wednesday edition of our 6 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:21.160 program after taking a couple of days off. More to come, 7 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:23.399 I will warn you of that, but we are live 8 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:27.000 on tape in the garage today with our usual Wednesday lineup. 9 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.399 Aaron Gershan of the Cats Balls. Although he is a 10 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:32.000 short time he has taken another job. We'll talk to 11 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:34.240 him about that, but we'll get his thoughts as he's 12 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.679 heading out the door on the football and basketball Wildcay 13 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:40.119 and the baseball Wildcats as well. Sewn Wood's the unforgettable 14 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:43.960 guard and the coach of La Famiya, the UK entry 15 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:47.560 into TBT, the Basketball Tournament, and West n Bura chief 16 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:50.799 Geary More will join us as well in our number two. 17 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:54.640 It is summertime, but as always there is news about 18 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:57.799 the Wildcats. It's the talking season, as you know when 19 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:00.560 it comes to Kentucky football and coming up in a 20 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.600 couple of weeks now, as he's seen media days down 21 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:07.480 in Atlanta, so Mark Stoops will be front and center. 22 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:09.480 He's the last guy to talk though, believe it or not, 23 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:11.640 so we will have to wait a few days to 24 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:14.120 find out what he has to say about his team. 25 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.680 Some preseason honors starting to come in, and the Atlon 26 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:24.439 preseason All Conference Team for Kentucky. And you know it's 27 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.439 not going to be great going into this season. How 28 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:31.319 much expected of the Wildcats. So now you've got Atlon 29 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:35.599 with a third team offensive lineman Joshua Broun. One of 30 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:40.840 the new faces, Alex Afari named fourth team defense. He 31 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:45.680 has been moved to linebackers. He's an undersized linebacker. But 32 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:47.799 coming up in a few minutes, we hear from a 33 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:52.000 guy who was an undersized linebacker, Danny Trevathan, now in 34 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:55.040 the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. All he did 35 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.159 was become an All Conference linebacker and go on to 36 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:00.879 win a Super Bowl in the NA so it can 37 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.799 be done. So Afari named fourth team defense. Also fourth 38 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:10.400 team defense defensive back j Q Hardaway. So some preseason honors. 39 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.759 There will be more for the Wildcats. But unfortunately, as 40 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:17.520 I said, not a lot expected of Kentucky this year, 41 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.400 so you won't hear a lot preseason about Kentucky players. 42 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:25.360 Good news on the recruiting front for the Wildcats. UK 43 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.639 has managed to flip a four star wide receiver. He 44 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:33.120 had said yes to Auburn, but now he says he 45 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.599 will be a Wildcat. He's the fourth wide receiver to 46 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.000 commit in the class of twenty twenty six. His name 47 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:44.120 is Denarius Gray. He had been committed to Auburn since 48 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:48.680 January of twenty four. He had visited Washington, NC State 49 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:53.520 and Old Miss and two four to seven sports reporting 50 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:59.439 the Ladamion Washington really like what he saw in Danarius Gray, 51 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:03.000 so they kept after him and now he says he 52 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:06.080 will be a Kentucky Wildcat. So there's a long way 53 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:09.479 to go before signing day, but that's a good sign. 54 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:13.560 Looking at the baseball side of campus, Tyler Bell another 55 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:19.960 Accolade first Team Freshman All Americans, so named by D 56 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.599 one Baseball. Tyler Bell right now is busy playing for 57 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:28.919 USA Baseball, but maybe obviously the SEC All Freshman team 58 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:32.639 and now a first team Freshman All American per D 59 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:37.520 one Baseball. So congrats to Tyler Bell. There is a 60 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:42.039 lot of information out there right now about UK's new 61 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:48.919 blueprint for funds in athletics, the LLC model, but there's 62 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:53.280 also news according to on three dot com Nick Roush, 63 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.159 writing about the fact that UK has changed its employee 64 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:03.000 ticket policy and pricing as a revenue sharing era kicks off. 65 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:07.719 It actually kicked off officially yesterday July one, the beginning 66 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:10.599 of the fiscal year. Schools have got to come up 67 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:12.800 with a way to cover that twenty million dollars a 68 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:16.040 year that they have to pay out the student athletes, 69 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.319 and so they're looking for new revenue streams. At UK, 70 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:26.920 kids will require tickets to attend big games. Back in 71 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:30.120 the day, up until this past year, if you had 72 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:32.160 a kid and you wanted them to sit on your lap, 73 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:36.319 it was ten bucks. Now every person has to have 74 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:42.639 a full priced ticket, regardless of age. Children two and 75 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:45.680 under can still sit on appearance lap for free, though 76 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:51.959 at volleyball, women's basketball, gymnastics, baseball softball, dis kound of 77 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:55.920 tickets will be available for kids three to eighteen, senior 78 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:00.639 sixty five and older. UK also phasing out in employee 79 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:05.519 and faculty discounts this fall. Eligible employees get a twenty 80 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:09.560 percent discount on up to two season tickets, as well 81 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:13.959 as a twenty percent discount down from fifty percent on 82 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:17.680 the Associated K Fund donation for the seats. In twenty 83 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:23.639 twenty seven, discounts on tickets and k fund donations no 84 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:31.839 longer apply for men's basketball and football, women's basketball and baseball, 85 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:35.920 single game and mission for our university employees will transition 86 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:40.040 to a paid model in twenty twenty six. No more 87 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:47.519 employee discounts from twenty twenty seven on, and other sports 88 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.879 will follow suit, but a lot of changes. Men's and 89 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:54.519 women's soccer games are still free, but there had to 90 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:59.199 be a way for Kentucky to cover this cost. And 91 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.920 Mitch Barnard had said and has said more than once, 92 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.279 and he also said it in an article on cbssports 93 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:09.839 dot Com that they didn't want to immediately raise ticket 94 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:13.920 prices across the board. He said he just didn't think 95 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:18.040 that was fair that a fan base to tax them 96 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:22.319 all the time every time they need more money. And 97 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:24.600 he said, frankly, it's not going to be viable in 98 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:28.279 the state of Kentucky because of the population in the state. 99 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:32.079 It's just not as great as you know of other states. 100 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:35.199 And a reminder, and we talked about this before the 101 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.279 recent UK Board of Trustees meeting. The board approved a 102 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:41.759 one hundred and forty one million dollar loan, which will 103 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:45.240 include one hundred and ten million in capital investment loans. 104 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:49.360 Thirty six million go to the improving of Kroger Field. 105 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:53.079 They're also looking at exploring an entertainment district on campus. 106 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:55.560 They're just looking at more ways to make money, and 107 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.399 we talked about that a lot. They got to cover 108 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:02.959 this bill. The things they're gonna do very likely raise 109 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:09.399 the rent on Kroger Field for other events, concerts, probably 110 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:12.399 high school games. They don't have a you know, they're 111 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:13.959 not going to make a lot more money on TV 112 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:18.639 and radio or advertising if you will, so they got 113 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:23.319 to look around and do whatever they can. Maybe you 114 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:27.079 also charge more money for Rupp Arena for hosting NCAA 115 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:32.399 tournament events. But UK now with the model the LLC, 116 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:37.879 which should make things easier, should allow UK to be 117 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:43.439 more aggressive. And two schools in particular, Oklahoma and Mississippi State. 118 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:48.959 According to cbsports dot com, they're athletics directors are examining 119 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:54.000 what UK is doing right now. So there's a lot 120 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:57.040 to it. Go to cbssports dot com. There's a really 121 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:00.720 good article that will help you understand how the things work. 122 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:04.120 But they, like I said, they got to cover that 123 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:08.439 somehow twenty point five million. They can't you, and they're 124 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:11.839 not right now gonna jack up your ticket prices, So 125 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:16.160 it's worth a look. Speaking of big money, Shay Gildess, 126 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:20.079 Alexander is rolling in it now. He's got a brand 127 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:23.360 new contract. He has re signed with the Oklahoma City 128 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:27.040 Thunder after leading OKAC to an NBA Championship. It's first 129 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:31.399 new deal four years, two one hundred and eighty five million, 130 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.559 called the Super Maximum Contract Extension. I would think so 131 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:40.039 keeps him with the Thunder through twenty thirty thirty one. 132 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:45.879 He is now the richest player per contract in league history. 133 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:51.440 It's the richest annual salary for a player in league history. 134 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.039 Pretty amazing. Led to the league in scoring thirty two 135 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:58.919 point seven points during the regular season, average thirty points 136 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:02.679 a game in THES and one of the few ever 137 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:07.480 to win the MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. 138 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:11.080 Jordan did it four times, Lebron twice, Larry Bird twice 139 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.480 and a few others but Sga in the conversation, and 140 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.360 also the first player to win a scoring title NBA 141 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.600 title in the same years since Shack did it back 142 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:25.720 in two thousand. Michael did it six times, Jabbar, George, 143 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:28.039 mikeh did it a couple of times, and Joe Folks, 144 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:34.399 and it's just an incredible run for SGA, and that 145 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:38.120 money is just crazy. And people are pointing out that 146 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:42.519 Michael Jordan in his career made ninety three point nine million. 147 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:45.519 If you saw the Last Dance, you know, he made 148 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:50.840 an extraordinary amount of money through Nike and other endorsements, 149 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:54.720 and he kind of kept his salary down so the 150 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.000 bulls will be able to spread it around a little 151 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:01.840 bit and sign talent new players around him. But people 152 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.480 also pointing out that, you know, Jordan played back in 153 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:07.279 the nineties and the early oughts. So I looked it 154 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:12.559 up to see how much money in today's dollars Michael 155 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:17.960 Jordan's ninety three million would be worth today. It would 156 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.039 be worth one hundred and sixty two and a half 157 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:24.360 million dollars. So SGA still got him. But as I said, 158 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:30.240 Michael made so much money in endorsements and again kept 159 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:33.480 his salary down a little bit just so the bulls 160 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:38.039 could spread it around. Smart while we're talking about money, 161 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.559 I would hope Shay gilgis Alexander is smart enough to 162 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:46.159 keep an eye on his right now Malik Beasley under 163 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:52.080 investigation in a federal gambling probe. It was so bad 164 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:56.519 that Beasley, well, first of all, had borrowed six hundred 165 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:00.240 and fifty thousand dollars from a marketing agency, was part 166 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:05.639 of actually a two plus million dollar advanced, but they 167 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.200 wanted the money back and he couldn't pay it. And 168 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:13.759 then came word that he couldn't pay fourteen thousand dollars 169 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:17.279 in rent at his historic high rise apartment building in 170 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:23.960 downtown Detroit. A celebrity barber shop sued him for nearly 171 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:30.000 twenty seven thousand dollars and one Cairo Cuts operates in Milwaukee. 172 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:33.279 That's where he played for the Bucks for two or 173 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.080 three years. And so, you know, I have this ongoing 174 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.679 discussion with my buddy Doug Flynn, who now believes Pete 175 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.399 Rose ought to be exonerated. Yeah, he bet on baseball, 176 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:45.360 but he'd bet, as Doug said, well, so what baseball's 177 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:48.320 in bed now? With fan duel and DraftKings in the 178 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:53.080 gambling outfit. Still, my argument is athletes should not be 179 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:58.600 allowed to bet, especially within their own league, their own sport, 180 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:03.000 because you just don't know when a guy is gonna 181 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:07.600 get upside down with his or her finances and start 182 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:12.840 looking around for a quick payday. I'llah fixing games. And 183 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.120 every time you think now that ain't gonna happen, a 184 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:19.360 Malik Beasley pops up. Guy was in terrible financial trouble 185 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:25.320 and evidently allegedly turned to gambling. Keep that in mind. 186 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.679 Up next, I chat with Danny Trevathan, now member of 187 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.879 the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here in the 188 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.720 Big Blue Sider six point thirty WAP. Welcome back to 189 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.840 the Big bluon Sider. Coming up in a couple of minutes. 190 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.799 Aaron Gershan of the Cat's pause, but not for long. 191 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.799 He is going to be moving on. We'll talk about that, 192 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:45.240 and we'll talk of course about the basketball and the 193 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:49.320 football cats. Say. Speaking of basketball cats, Sean Woods, the 194 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:51.960 ex Wildcat, the unforgettable guard, will join us. He is 195 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:57.279 also coaching the La Famia entry in TBT, the basketball tournament, 196 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:01.360 and we'll talk about a roster addition, it popped up 197 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:04.639 over the last few days. Also our West MBUA chief 198 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:08.360 Gary Moore coming up in our number two. While I 199 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:11.039 was taking a couple days off and of course over 200 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:14.279 the weekend, had a chance to go to the Kentucky 201 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:17.759 prof Football Hall of Fame banquet once again, and prior 202 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:20.919 to the dinner, we talked with my pal Jim Dapolis, 203 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:24.440 who was inducted this year. He's always shown up at 204 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.480 the banquet as a supporter, but some of us wondered 205 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:32.120 why he wasn't in, and sure enough now he is. 206 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:35.799 But we also got a chance to chat with Danny 207 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.720 Trevathan the night of the banquet. We talked to Jim 208 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.919 a few nights prior to the banquet. We talked to 209 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:44.600 Danny the night of. He, of course, a really talented 210 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:49.080 and popular Kentucky linebacker, played for the Wildcats from eight 211 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:53.840 to twenty eleven, played under Rich Brooks and then Joker Phillips. 212 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.759 He was an All Conference performer at Kentucky, led the 213 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.440 SEC in twenty ten in tackles with one hundred and 214 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:06.120 forty for He might have been the leader again his 215 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.720 last year, but he was injured, missed a couple of games, 216 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.559 and I'd forgotten about this. He went through the draft 217 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:16.279 evaluation process after his junior year, came back for his 218 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:20.200 senior year and it helped him. He was drafted in 219 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.360 the sixth round by the Denver Broncos. Even though he 220 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:28.039 was quote unquote undersized. He was only two hundred and 221 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:32.879 thirty seven pounds six feet tall, but so fast, and 222 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:36.080 the Broncos saw that they signed him. He played for 223 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:39.799 their Super Bowl champion team, super Bowl number fifty, led 224 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:43.399 by Peyton Manning, and after four years he signed a 225 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.600 free agent deal and finished his career the last six 226 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:50.720 years with the Chicago Bears. Not as much team success 227 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:54.879 with the Bears, but certainly had a great career. Ended 228 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:59.559 up with seven hundred and forty one tackles, ten sacks, 229 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:04.440 deflected thirty nine passes, picked off eight, and even had 230 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:06.600 a pick six. We got to see that in the 231 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:09.519 video when he was introduced at the banquet, But as 232 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:11.279 I said, I had a chance to chat with Danny 233 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:14.519 prior to that. He was already wearing the purple jacket 234 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:16.840 you know in Canton it's a gold jacket. Well, the 235 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:20.120 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, it's a purple jacket, 236 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:23.320 which is a good idea for one thing, it's regal, 237 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:26.039 it's a royal color. But the other thing, now, you 238 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.360 got a lot of UK guys, a lot of U 239 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:31.720 of L guys put purple or put red and blue together. 240 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:34.840 He got purple. Danny looked pretty good in it, and 241 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:38.360 he remembered me. He was surprised that I remembered him. 242 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:41.320 Of course I'm gonna remember him. He was one of 243 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:44.320 the greats and followed in the footsteps of the great 244 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:47.799 Wesley Woodyard. We talked about that, among other things, the 245 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:51.320 night of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here's yours, truly, 246 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:55.879 and Danny Trevathan, Well, what was your reaction when somebody 247 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:56.559 gave you the call? 248 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:01.879 At the time, I just play. But I felt honored. 249 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:06.080 I felt blessed. I really know how hard I worked here, 250 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.919 and you know, just to see people who actually see 251 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.720 that work man and and then not go n noticed 252 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:12.200 a lot. 253 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:13.399 Of long nights. It felt great. 254 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:14.679 You know. 255 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.559 When I got away from the game, I got to myself. 256 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:19.200 I got thinking about my career and where I started, 257 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.000 and this is one of the stopping grounds where I 258 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:23.759 started to pick up my pace and started to see 259 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:25.320 what type of world I was gonna be in, what 260 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.759 type of profession I was gonna do. So it's an 261 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:29.720 honor to be back here, and I'm looking forward to 262 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.519 receiving this this jacket and just wearing it every day. 263 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:36.240 For I know, I never thought it would look good 264 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.840 in purple. Who ever thought red and blue would go good? 265 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:42.600 But it's all about what it means, right, exactly exactly Royalty. 266 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:44.360 Man, You're from Florida. You came a long way to 267 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:48.240 play up here in the cold, but refresh you. Our 268 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.000 people are listeners memories. What brought you here? Why was 269 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.759 this the place for you? Well? 270 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:57.759 I was looking, I was really close committing to Miami, 271 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:02.559 and last second, Kentucky just beat LSU in that bowl 272 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:06.160 where I think Braxton Kelly and Wesley Woodyard and. 273 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.599 I stopped him on the yard. I was like, man, 274 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.200 that deep just looking excite. I don't want to be 275 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.240 part of that. You know, you know they want to 276 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.880 up and coming. Nobody sees him coming. 277 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.720 That's how people always looked at me in my life, 278 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.960 like like I'm an. 279 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.880 Underdog, but I can always fight my way up. 280 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.279 So when I came here and they told me how 281 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:22.400 the opportunity to play, I worked my tail off and 282 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.319 I'm grateful for that. 283 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:26.559 Well, rich Brooks appreciated your work ethic. That had to 284 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.160 mean a lot to you. 285 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.519 I think, right, oh yeah, we'll supposed man, that's like 286 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:31.240 the follow that I never had. 287 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:33.440 Man. You know, he really mentored me. 288 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:36.119 Not only on the field, but off the field. Man, 289 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.680 And I think that go I noticed a little bit. 290 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.799 So I want to get him his credit for that 291 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:44.640 and tell him that it's very appreciated. Him and his 292 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:49.279 wife is doing great. And he was one of the 293 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.200 main reason why I worked so hard just to see 294 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:53.920 somebody really believe in you. That's all people need, somebody 295 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.119 just to believe in you a little bit and push 296 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.519 you towards that direction. And he was the guy who 297 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:01.440 did that. So hopefully he sees this, and you know, 298 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.599 he he he realized how much you mean to some people. 299 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.240 You were not the biggest linebacker, but you might have 300 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.000 been the fastest linebacker I've ever seen you. Plus at 301 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:13.039 one point you were liveying and return kicks. You remember 302 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.640 that then? Yeah, I think, didn't you do it launch 303 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.519 in a blue white game? Yes, and it's spring game. 304 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:19.200 Was like, I broke my wrist after that, and he 305 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:21.119 was like, oh no, get him out of there. 306 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.480 He was like, He's like, he can't. 307 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.720 You can't have him out here running. But I was 308 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:27.279 definitely wanting fast. Probably still I don't know how many 309 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.680 people can beat me and racing still, but I hold 310 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.680 my head high for that. 311 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:31.920 One, and. 312 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.400 It did. The game was changed when I got in 313 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:37.279 the league. You know, they used to be like he's 314 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.920 too small, he can't go type of play. 315 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:41.119 But you know, once I got in that league, they 316 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:45.039 was changing to shotguns, quick passes, you know, no huddles. 317 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:48.160 So I came in right in time. You had to cover. 318 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:51.000 I had to cover, and I love covering. My first 319 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.039 person I covered. 320 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:54.240 Was I think it was Jimmy Graham that had doing 321 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.880 twenty oo gates and then I had a Julius Thomas 322 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:02.319 on my team was crazy against and pay Many. Once 323 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:05.759 pay Many knew my name and practice, I knew nobody. 324 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:08.880 Nobody's gonna get over. Nobody's gonna get over what we mentioned. 325 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:11.319 You came up in Florida, you end up playing in Chicago, 326 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.680 you're playing Denver. You couldn't get away from the cold. 327 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.160 But did you learn to How did you learn the 328 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:18.519 cope of that orange and blue? All my life? 329 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.480 That's true, even in high school, elementary I always had 330 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:25.759 orange and blue, so I came with it to grow 331 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:28.359 into it. Whether it's gonna be cold weather, it's gonna 332 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.640 be hot, well, it's gonna be any adversary. I'm gonna 333 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:33.839 face it for that orange and blue whatever any it's 334 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:35.839 either been orange or has it been blue in my career, 335 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.599 my whole life. 336 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:39.519 Man, it's crazy to think about it. It means that 337 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.079 much to me. 338 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.519 So if I'm putting in a position where I can 339 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:44.880 work my way up to the top, nobody's gonna stand 340 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.319 in my way. 341 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:47.279 I'll let you go over there. I know Wesley was 342 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.079 a mentor to you. You talked about him being a 343 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.799 bit of a role model for you. What was it 344 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:53.000 like and he was big in Denver for a long 345 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.079 time as well. What was it like having him as 346 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:57.839 a mentor. Weshley was a brother man. 347 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.079 Wesley was a guy who really cared about the and 348 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.720 he was one of the youngest leaders I ever saw. 349 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:06.000 You know, he didn't care about whether he was a 350 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.880 freshman or sophomore, junior. He just wanted somebody who wanted 351 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.880 to lead and it can work hard. And he saw 352 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.319 that in me and. 353 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.400 He pushed me towards towards being the leader. 354 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:17.200 I saw him work not only just talk about it, 355 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:20.039 but be about it. And Wesley was a guy who 356 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:23.720 was humble. He treated everybody the same. He was just 357 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.119 an outstanding person man. And I just talked to him 358 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.920 not too long ago. 359 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.480 He was playing a video game. 360 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.839 I don't know if he wanted me to tell people, 361 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:31.759 but yeah, he was playing the video games. 362 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:34.119 He's kind of bad at it, but hopefully get better. 363 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:39.079 But just to still have that opportunity to talk to 364 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.559 him and you know, share with him. 365 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:42.000 I told him even on the game. 366 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:44.759 I know he didn't want me to get an emotional 367 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:46.359 or whatever, but I told him, you know, I'm very 368 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.839 thankful for what you did in my life. 369 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.039 Man. 370 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.759 You know, I had a lot of men in my 371 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:52.720 life that tried to come in and. 372 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.680 Teach me things. So I took what I can from 373 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:56.759 every man. It's not one person I could just pinpoint. 374 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:59.839 I took everything I could from each and every man 375 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.440 my life. 376 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:03.240 And I try to make that who I ask and 377 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.599 is Danny Travathan And yeah, he was a favorite of 378 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:08.519 Rich Brooks. Although from day one I didn't bring this up. 379 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:10.599 We had talked to Danny about it when he was 380 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:13.079 a senior and he shrugged it off. He said, I 381 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:19.160 don't even know Rich Brooks for four years called him Travathian, 382 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:22.079 and so we were looking at each other like are 383 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:24.440 we getting it wrong. It was Travathan, but Rich kept 384 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.160 calling him Traviathian. But when you're the head coach, you know, 385 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:30.359 call him whatever you want. But Rich Brooks never stopped 386 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:34.759 singing his praises. And it wasn't just about you know, 387 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.119 how fast he was, how good he was. He just 388 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:39.720 loved him as a player, as a person, and as 389 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:45.079 you can tell of the feelings were mutual between Brooks 390 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:48.799 and Danny Trevathan. Good to see him, and congrats to 391 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:51.920 Danny for now being part of the Kentucky Pro Football 392 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:54.720 Hall of Fame. Tip of the Captive Frank Minifield for 393 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:56.839 the event that he and his people put on. It's 394 00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:00.440 a lot of work but it comes off really well. 395 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:03.960 Brian Milem stepped in for Rob Bromley, hosted to Dinner, 396 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:08.160 did a marvelous job. So good night, a good weekend, 397 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:11.200 and good to see Danny Trevathan. Aaron Gershaw next on 398 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:15.400 six thirty WLAP Welcome back to the Big Bluinsider, joined 399 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.640 now as we are each and every Wednesday, but not 400 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:21.920 for long by Aaron Gershaw and the Catspaws. We'll visit 401 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.920