WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:02.680 Uh. Oh, guess what day it is? 2 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:06.719 Guess what day it is? Huh anybody? 3 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:14.560 It's hump Day. Yes, it is hump Day. Dick Abriel 4 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:16.920 with you on a Wednesday, and it puts us one 5 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:21.160 step closer, one giant stride closer to college football four 6 00:00:21.239 --> 00:00:23.760 days away, less than four days away. As you hear this, 7 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:26.679 a couple of minutes after six o'clock. So it's not 8 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:29.359 going to be long now before the wild kids suit 9 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:32.920 up and take on those Southern Miss Golden Eagles. People 10 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:35.679 cannot wait. And I've talked a little bit over the 11 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:39.159 last couple of weeks about whether there is the same 12 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:43.439 the representative amount of excitement with their quotes when it 13 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:45.799 comes to Kentucky football that we've seen in the past. 14 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.280 I don't know that I have felt it as much, 15 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:52.079 but you all have come through with your wallets, your 16 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:56.640 check books, your your Vimeo accounts, whatever. Because season tickets 17 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.280 are sold out. Man, I remember years when they they 18 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:04.920 were lucky to get twenty five thousand sold. Now forty thousand, 19 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:09.359 eight hundred season ticket packages have been sold. That's up 20 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:12.760 six hundred from last year, new record for the Mark 21 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.879 Stoops era going back to twenty thirteen. Also going back 22 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:21.079 through the current configuration of Kroger Field, which was renovated 23 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:23.680 first in twenty fifteen. And by the way, in case 24 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.680 you're wondering about the student's sixty five hundred student season 25 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:32.359 passes also sold out. That's all of them. So students 26 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:38.400 sellout regular ticket buyers they buy them all. So right now, 27 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:42.640 apparently there is excitement for Kentucky football, possibly beyond what 28 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:45.519 I thought. I guess maybe when I hear people talk 29 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:48.200 about it, they're still a little bit cautious, the old 30 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:52.879 cliche cautiously optimistic. I think that holds true simply because 31 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:56.640 Kentucky failed last year to win a couple of games 32 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.879 it should have won. And now you might have a 33 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:03.879 team it's even better, but you've got a much tougher schedule. 34 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.000 I will say this, though, for a team that has 35 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:13.879 not made anybody's preseason top twenty five, Kentucky finally made 36 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:17.520 not just a top twenty five, but a top five. 37 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:21.919 Here's what I'm talking about. The Action Sports Network Brett 38 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:26.199 McMurphy used to write for ESPN dot com, tweeting this 39 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:32.199 morning that they have put together both an overrated Top 40 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:36.199 twenty five and an underrated Top twenty five based on 41 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:42.039 preseason and final polls, and this dates back to twenty fourteen. 42 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:44.919 All Right, I'm gonna give you a little bit of 43 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:49.759 suspense here because the most overrated in the last ten years, 44 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:56.000 most overrated Division one team based on preseason rankings, happens 45 00:02:56.039 --> 00:03:00.960 to be on Kentucky's schedule this year. Auburn. Auburn has 46 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:08.120 performed poorly when it comes to preseason rankings versus final polls. 47 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:13.240 Number two Southern col you better believe it, Number three, Wisconsin, 48 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.039 number four, Texas A and m. That's got to go 49 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:18.080 back to a couple of years ago and everybody picked 50 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:23.080 him and they flopped LSU number five overrated. The rest 51 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:30.800 of the top ten Texas, Oregon, Oklahoma, Miami, and Florida State. Now, 52 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:35.240 Georgia's fourteenth on the overrated in the last ten years. 53 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.360 So that tells you just how overrated Georgia was prior 54 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:42.000 to the last two or three years when the Bulldogs 55 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:45.639 became one of the powerhouses. In case you're wondering, South 56 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:52.680 Carolina sixteenth on that list, Alabama seventeenth on the overrated list. Michigan, 57 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:56.520 which won the national title last year, ranked twenty fifth. Now, 58 00:03:57.159 --> 00:03:59.919 what is the most underrated team according to the Action 59 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:07.400 Network math based on preseason rankings versus postseason rankings. May 60 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:13.719 surprise you, Northwestern, Yeah, those Wildcats ranked number one underrated, 61 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:21.560 Cincinnati second, TCU is third, Missouri fourth at that huge 62 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:27.000 year last year, and Kentucky is number five. You could 63 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:30.560 see that because for the longest time Kentucky wasn't in 64 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.160 anybody's top twenty five, but would end up, you know, 65 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:37.519 eighteenth or twenty second or something like that. Last couple 66 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:42.079 of years not so much, but Kentucky ranked fifth among 67 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:47.240 Insea Division one teams underrated based on preseason rankings and 68 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:53.959 postseason polls. After them, after the Wildcats, Central Florida, then 69 00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:00.000 four teams tied for seven, Arizona, Houston, Louisiana and oklahom 70 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:05.680 So I really found that fascinating that somebody, first of all, 71 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:09.399 took the time to do the math and the Wildcats 72 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:15.160 fared well in this particular top twenty five. How will 73 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:17.759 Kentucky do against Southern miss Well, we're all going to 74 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:20.680 find out together, but we're going to see bush Hamden's offense. 75 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:23.759 And I'll tell you a guy I expect to have 76 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:28.000 a really good year is Jimury Macklin. You know, we 77 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:30.480 talked so much about Barrion Brown, we talked so much 78 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:34.079 about Dante Kean a good reason. But remember Jamurry Macklin 79 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.720 is coming off two big seasons as a receiver at 80 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.839 North Texas, but prior to that, he was at Missouri. 81 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:44.800 Didn't do much there, didn't get to play much, no 82 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:50.000 stats to speak of, but he played under Bush Hamden 83 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:54.519 at Missouri. That means with everybody learning this new offense, 84 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:56.920 Macklin had a bit of a leg up. He's the 85 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.879 new guy, but he was able to help the veterans. 86 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:02.040 Everybody's on the fresh slate man, and I kind of 87 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.600 came from this type of offense. I've, you know, played with 88 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:06.720 Bush my first year of the Malus, so everything that 89 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.839 I know he expects, like I already know what it is. 90 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:10.560 So I'm just trying to help those guys out. And 91 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:12.000 you know we all started fresho. 92 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:16.759 Yeah, Macklin, you got Fred Ferrier along with Key and 93 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:20.240 Barry and Brown. Of course, Harley Gilmore's out for most 94 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:22.519 of the season with that broken collar bone. But still 95 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.399 there's a lot of talent in that wide receiver room 96 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:26.759 and Macklin's a big part of it. 97 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:28.959 Dogs Man, we got a bunch of dogs in that room. 98 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:30.759 We got a lot of different players. Man, We've got 99 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:33.120 a speed guy, barry On. We got a taller guy, Danny. 100 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:35.040 You got like a more versatile, shorter guy in me. 101 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:36.959 We've got a bunch of other guys that can step 102 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.519 up as well. Ab Harley Fred like just we all 103 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:42.240 just push each other every day to be better. And 104 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:43.800 I'm excited and. 105 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.160 By all accounts, Brock Vandergriffkin get them the football and 106 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:50.079 he's going to be doing it with an uptempo style, 107 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:54.399 thanks in large part to Bush ham Dan and his 108 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:58.519 new offense. So it's going to be fun on Saturday night. 109 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:01.240 It's a catch stick on So and Miss Coming up 110 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:02.680 in a few minutes, we're going to talk more about 111 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:06.879 the Kentucky volleyball team. Wildcats lost last night over in 112 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:11.680 Louisville towo Nebraska, three to one. Kentucky took a fifteen 113 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:14.720 to ten leave fifteen to eleven in the first set 114 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.519 and was having its way with Nebraska, but out of 115 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:21.959 the media timeout, Nebraska really flexed and took the first set. 116 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:25.639 So I thought, oh, here we go. Because Nebraska really big, 117 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:30.279 really talented, but Kentucky fell down eight to three in 118 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:34.680 the second set and came back to win it, which 119 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:39.279 was really impressive to me. And then Nebraska really found 120 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:43.560 a rhythm and beat Kentucky the next two sets. In fact, 121 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:47.040 for the match, Nebraska hit two fifty eight Kentucky hit 122 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.839 just one thirty nine. Again, think of it as batting 123 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:55.680 average Wildcats with fifty one kills to forty seven for Nebraska, 124 00:07:55.720 --> 00:08:01.879 but Kentucky thirty errors to only sixteen Nebraska and sixteen 125 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:06.519 service errors for the Wildcats. So good learning experience. We'll 126 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.439 hear from Kentucky's Craig Skinner and one of the Wildcats 127 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:12.480 coming up in our next segment. But not a bad 128 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:16.560 showing for Kentucky and a great showing for the AVCA event. 129 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.319 A couple of interesting stories over in the NFL. We've 130 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:23.079 heard so much about the technology they're going to use 131 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:27.360 to measure first downs and everyone's so excited to do 132 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.399 it with the chain Gangs. Apparently, during the preseason games, 133 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:36.639 mixed results mean the NFL will shelve the automated first 134 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:38.919 down system for the upcoming season. They're not going to 135 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:45.559 use it. It's a multi gazillion dollar prospect, but apparently 136 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:49.960 it's way too primitive right now to trust it in 137 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:53.559 regular season games, they say that it took way too 138 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:58.000 long to operate, slowed the game down even more, and 139 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.840 it's something that is disappointing because so many people were 140 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:05.159 looking forward to doing a way for the Chain Gang, 141 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.240 but the technology just not there yet. Speaking of last night, 142 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:13.840 in the volleyball match, they did not have line judges. 143 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.679 They used cameras and computers and they had two or 144 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:20.039 three challenges. They took about the same amount of time, 145 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:22.919 but they didn't have as many challenges, So I think 146 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:26.240 that was the bright spot. If you listen to the 147 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:29.480 Kelsey Brothers podcasts and they also have it on video, 148 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:33.120 you may really enjoy it, and you may enjoy the 149 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:35.200 fact that they are trying to cut a deal. I 150 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:38.759 think they've done it with Amazon, and I saw this 151 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:45.320 reported on Awful Announcings website. The headline says the deal 152 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:49.840 is worth one hundred million dollars. I dove into the 153 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:53.360 story and I read the story four times, and nowhere 154 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.960 in the story does it say one hundred million dollars. 155 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:01.679 But it's in there somewhere. He's out there somewhere. Show's 156 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:06.039 been on hiatus since July third. But Jason Kelsey has 157 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:09.320 become popular with his commercials, and of course Travis still 158 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:12.919 playing at a high level and dating a fairly high 159 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:17.159 profile singer. So they are the hottest thing in podcast 160 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:20.480 right now. And if indeed they have signed that check, 161 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:24.399 they got paid, all right. Coming up next, we'll talk 162 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:27.720 more Kentucky volleyball. Bottom of the hour, Tom Leach. Coming 163 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.840 up in hour number two, Sean Woods, the Unforgettable Guard 164 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:32.799 will join us as well as West End Bureau chief 165 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:36.320 Gary Moore. That's our Wednesday lineup and it's all ahead. 166 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:39.320 You're on a Big Blue Insider six point thirty waap. 167 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.480 Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabrielle with 168 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:45.519 you coming up in just a few minuteses the voice 169 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:48.279 of the Wildcats, Tom Leech. He'll call the action when 170 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:51.799 Kentucky opens up with Southern Miss on Saturday. But as 171 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:54.240 you know, a couple of sports already in action so 172 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:57.120 far on the UK campus and all over the country, 173 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:01.559 really men's and women's soccer and volleyball, which opened its season, 174 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.600 the regular season last night with that loss. As we 175 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:09.600 said to Nebraska, it was a great atmosphere. It was 176 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:15.159 the American Volleyball Coaches Association Classic, a double header matching 177 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:21.320 two of the locals, Kentucky and Louisville against Nebraska and Wisconsin. 178 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:23.679 And if you don't know women's volleyball, and you should 179 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.480 by now living in Lexington, if you follow UK at all, 180 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.600 but you know, those are two of the absolute powerhouse 181 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:35.279 programs in all of women's volleyball. And it was a 182 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:39.879 great night, both Kentucky and Louisville losing, but there was 183 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:43.879 a really great exhibition although the games counted for real, 184 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:47.159 but just great examples I guess I should say of 185 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:52.960 athleticism and great plays. If you watch Kentucky win the 186 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:57.240 national title and you haven't watched much volleyball before or since, 187 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:00.840 similar action. I mean, these kids are just throwing themselves 188 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:05.000 on the floor, making incredible plays. And it was well 189 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:08.080 worth staying up late last night if you were watching 190 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:10.200 U of L or if you were at that match, 191 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.720 because that one didn't start till about nine o'clock. And 192 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:15.519 there were some grumbling I heard from some media people 193 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:17.360 believe it or not, like I don't know why they're 194 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:20.480 starting this game so late. Well, our friends on TV, 195 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.039 this thing was on ESPN two. That's a big deal. 196 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:28.120 Everything's on ESPN now, we say, but for women's volleyball 197 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:32.639 in a regular season situation like this to play and 198 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:36.360 of course, what do you have going on otherwise baseball? Okay, 199 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:40.559 no disrespect to baseball, but college football isn't playing on 200 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:43.399 a Tuesday night. The NFL isn't playing on a Tuesday night. 201 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.519 So for women's volleyball to grab Tuesday night and work 202 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:51.320 this out with ESPN two, that was huge. And then 203 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:55.919 to put these high profile programs on the air equally huge. 204 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.279 And for Kentucky to be a part of it, for 205 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:01.000 UL to be a part part of it that UK 206 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.840 used to regularly trounce u of L. Now u of 207 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:07.600 l's got a powerhouse program thanks to its coach. So 208 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:12.759 things are really really soaring right now for women's volleyball. 209 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:15.559 And I'm telling you, I know I sound like a show, 210 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:20.279 and yes I do the matches on the SEC streaming channel, 211 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.360 but please believe me when I tell you, if you 212 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:27.960 go to a volleyball match, you'll love it. If you 213 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.799 like women's basketball, that's great. This is a different kind 214 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:36.279 of sport, different pace, different tempo, different skill sets. There's 215 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.200 room for both. But if you go to a volleyball 216 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:44.360 match Kentucky against preferably a good team, so it's you know, contentious. 217 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:47.600 But even if it's Kentucky, you know, sweeping somebody in 218 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:50.759 three sets, I'm telling you you'll enjoy yourself. And of 219 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:53.720 course coming up on Friday night, it's the Wildcats and 220 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:57.799 Northern Kentucky. But Kentucky's going to be all over ESPN 221 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:00.720 this year, all over the SEC new worked this year, 222 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.279 because that's how good it is. One of the interesting 223 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:07.679 side notes to this match last night Kentucky and Nebraska 224 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.759 was Craig Skinner, you may know, was an assistant in Nebraska. 225 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.720 I talked about this last night. That's where Mitch Barnard 226 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.000 found him, hired and brought him to Kentucky. And he 227 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:21.879 has excelled as Craig Skinner. Well, he worked for John Cook, 228 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.759 the head coach at Nebraska, more than once. In fact, 229 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:29.679 Cook said he hired Craig twice at Wisconsin and again 230 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:34.000 in Nebraska. Apparently he hired Craig at Wisconsin, Craig at 231 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.720 one point walked away and then he re hired him 232 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.039 when he wanted to come back, so it was a 233 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:42.679 real And then everybody knows everybody of course in this sport, 234 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:46.559 but so it was a real gathering of athletes and 235 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:50.720 coaches who enjoyed the atmosphere. And after the match, one 236 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:53.559 of the first things Cook talked about was just how 237 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.960 happy he was with the win over Kentucky and happy 238 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:58.639 to see the kind of atmosphere at the Young Center. 239 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:03.039 Great atmosphe Kentucky does some really nice things. Brooklyn and 240 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:06.720 that cet are really good players. It took us a 241 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.840 while to get in a good rhythm, but I really 242 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:12.279 we started finally offensively. Games three and four started clicking. 243 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:16.120 We got our middles going, and I mean there's some 244 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.960 pretty good volleyball. 245 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.360 He's referring to Brooklyn Delay, who was a tremendous freshman 246 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:25.720 last year and got off to a good start this season. 247 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:29.039 With nineteen kills last night led Kentucky, although she had 248 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:31.480 eight errors, so she only hit one ninety think of 249 00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:34.919 it as batting average. It was great when it came 250 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.759 to the kills, but way too many errors. In fact, 251 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:41.000 Kentucky had more kills than Nebraska, just had way too 252 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:45.120 many errors. Had sixteen service errors. You talked about the center, 253 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:48.120 that's Emma Gron, probably the best setter in the country. 254 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:51.080 She had forty two assists last night. It was a 255 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:55.320 learning experience, obviously for the Wildcats, and that's how Craig 256 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.000 Skinner saw it. 257 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:58.519 We've always scheduled tough. It wasn't in the initial plan 258 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:00.639 to play Nebraska ra off the bat in the first 259 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:03.600 Hear showcase, but when Jamie offered, I was like, absolutely. 260 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:07.320 You know, our players love these situations, and you know 261 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.720 we're going to be a team that's going to be 262 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.919 continued learning through November. 263 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.559 So his great, great mass for us in that regard. 264 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.960 One of the bright spots for Kentucky was the return 265 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:20.519 of Brooke Boltimo, but she didn't exactly have a great match. 266 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:26.519 She had what four kills and five errors, so she 267 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.320 hit in the negatives, but she played. That's the big thing. 268 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.480 She was supposed to be a contributor last year, coming 269 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:36.080 out of Cincinnati, one of the best players in Ohio, 270 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:39.840 but she injured her ankle severely in the preseason. I 271 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.559 had to red shirt last year. But healthy and able 272 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.960 to contribute this season and just happy to be back. 273 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.039 It's kind of like gripping a band aid off. It 274 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.879 felt like, you know, just getting out there for the 275 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:55.080 first time, you know, training for so long in practice 276 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:58.960 and then coming out here and applying that they learned 277 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:01.720 a lot from this MAC. We have a great opportunity 278 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:04.000 this next coming weekend. We've got three more matches to 279 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.720 apply what we learned and continue to carry with that. 280 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:10.839 But yeah, I just I think I'm learning to trust 281 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:13.559 my training going those moments and continuing to apply what 282 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.960 I've been working on in practice. 283 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.599 Brook also congratulated the AVCA for putting on such an 284 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:22.720 event and also said she loved the atmosphere. There were 285 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:26.000 so many kids in that arena, a lot of little 286 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:28.319 girls as you might expect, but just that's what I 287 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:30.839 love seeing. I love seeing the kids come to these events. 288 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:34.799 And back to John Cooked and Nebraska coach, he took 289 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.359 notice of the fact that there were a lot of 290 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:38.559 youngsters who showed up for this event. 291 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.680 I'm glad those kids are out there because i know 292 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:45.920 it's Tuesday night and school's in so so but you know, 293 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.079 the AVCA is in Jamie's doing a great job of 294 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:52.400 trying to build events to continue to build on the 295 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.480 momentum that I think really started with the Stadium match 296 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:59.400 last year and then the Final four and it's and 297 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:01.920 then in the Big Ten Conference I mean almost every 298 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:04.720 arena is selling out and it's hard to get tickets. 299 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:07.079 I think I've read we have seven thousand people on 300 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:13.359 the waiting list. So it's happening. And volleyball is a 301 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.440 great sport and there's a lot of great players that 302 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.400 are great role models for these kids as well. 303 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.799 And you got to think some of those kids will 304 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:21.359 be back in that building at the end of the 305 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:24.559 season coming up in December at the Final Four. That 306 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.720 was one of the great things about this event. It's 307 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:29.680 a preview to what we'll see in terms of the 308 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:33.200 facility and the crowds. The crowds will be much bigger 309 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:36.279 of course for the Final Four in December in Louisville. 310 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:39.480 So what an advantage of if UK or U of 311 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:42.720 l are both can make it at the Final Four 312 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:45.559 at the Young Center when it comes to women's volleyball. 313 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:48.119 One other personal note, got a chance to sit with 314 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.359 and talk and hug Kathy to Borr, my former broadcast 315 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:54.759 partner on the SEC Network. Work with Kathy for several years, 316 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:58.480 of course, a tremendous coach at UK administrator and has 317 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:03.000 retired now after a long stint as the executive director 318 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.400 of the Coaches Association. Had to step down a little 319 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:09.480 early because of health issues. But she's doing great and 320 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:14.039 she is loving what she saw in Louisville. Wanted a 321 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.000 bigger crowd, but hey, of course you think she's going 322 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.880 to say that, right, But it was good to see 323 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.680 Kathy last night. Up next, Tom Leach, the Voice of 324 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:25.039 the Wildcats here on six point thirty WLAP. Welcome back 325 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:27.200 to the Big Bluing Sider, joining us on our celebrity 326 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:30.960 hotline as my buddy, my teammate, longtime voice of the Wildcats, 327 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:33.839 Tom Leech. Hear him on this very radio station every 328 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:37.559 morning at eight o'clock on the Leech Report. And Tom, 329 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:40.960 you're like every other talk show host in Kentucky. You're 330 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:43.680 dying to talk about something new when it comes to 331 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:47.640 Kentucky football. But you're the only guy who is preparing 332 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:51.319 to broadcast the game on the radio for the UK Network. 333 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:54.480 So let me ask you. Have you done anything different 334 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:57.519 in game prep or is there anything in particular you're 335 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:57.920 looking for. 336 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:05.519 Nothing different in in game prep is a little Every 337 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.759 few years, I'll kind of figure out some way to 338 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:11.359 make my spotting bord a little more efficient, or you know, 339 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.440 something will change in the way you have, like over 340 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:16.519 the years, I've had to put more wide receiver slots 341 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.400 on there, things like that, But that's about the only tweaking. 342 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:23.440 But just eager to especially to see adds a pretty 343 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:27.160 good that they're going about what we'll see on defensebo 344 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:29.720 Kentucky and how good they will be on that side 345 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:32.680 of the ball. Eager to see what the offense is 346 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:37.160 going to look like. And I think you know it's 347 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:42.200 a new coordinator, new system. You know, the running back 348 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:44.720 positions of question mark because you get the number one 349 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:47.559 guy to that chart injured, and then not much to 350 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.880 go on for the guys who will be in that spot. 351 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:55.720 And then you've got a new quarterback. You've got NFL 352 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:59.960 caliber talent among the tight ends and wide receivers, maybe 353 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:02.599 one or two in the offensive line depending on how 354 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.200 things go. So just eager to see how it kind 355 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:08.960 of all gets put together and plays out offensively. And 356 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:12.960 I'm saying that I don't know that we'll you know, 357 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:15.359 depends on how good Southern this is as to how 358 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.799 much we really learn until they play an SEC team 359 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:22.319 in Week two. So they missed three nine last year, 360 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:26.000 but they flipped over the whole defensive staff and these days, 361 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.880 you can change the look at your team a lot 362 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.000 quicker than you used to be able to. 363 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:31.799 Oh yeah, Stoop's talked about that with you on the 364 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:35.759 air last night and at his news conference. And the offense, 365 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:39.559 of course, the tempo is going to be different, and 366 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:42.920 Stoop's very pleased by all early reports from what he 367 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:46.720 has seen in the spring and in summer camp. You 368 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:48.640 and you and mister Bracoro are going to find a 369 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:50.880 new rhythm. You might not be throwing it down to 370 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:54.680 your sidelines reporter as much because things should by by 371 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.480 design be clicking a lot faster. 372 00:21:56.680 --> 00:22:00.119 Right, Yeah, that's the plan I think is you know, 373 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:02.359 I think at times they'll be at more up tempo 374 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:06.279 than at others. I mean, I think ideally the way 375 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:09.400 Mark Stoops likes to play is if they can get 376 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:11.279 a lead, and when they've been at their best, they've 377 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:13.880 been good at protecting leads in the fourth quarter and 378 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.799 so then you know, you'll play a little slower and 379 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:18.640 U I think his main thing is to getting more 380 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:24.480 back to being more physical in the run game. And 381 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:27.640 you know that's the area when you look at you know, 382 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.319 when when this program started to ascend really in the 383 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:33.680 sixteen season when they got to the first ball game 384 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:38.359 or stoops. It was with that building that identity of 385 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.839 the Big Blue Wall and by John Flarman, and then 386 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:46.440 as John passed and they've gone through a different guys 387 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:48.519 coach of the old line, and it had some you know, 388 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:52.440 bad luck with guys that they recruited. They were promising 389 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:54.880 prospects that got injured they ever got on the field. 390 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:57.960 You know, Nick Hall pushing one example, guys like that. 391 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:02.799 So you know, they now seemed to be several guys back. 392 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:04.759 We got a couple of transfers, one from Florida, one 393 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.519 from Tennessee that look like they'll start on the right side. 394 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:12.799 And if they can get back to recapturing that identity 395 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:16.599 of just being you know, the two the program that's 396 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.079 going to have always have an outstanding offensive line and 397 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:22.480 it's going to be physical, then I think they're moving 398 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:24.240 back in the right direction that they can pull that off. 399 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.599 You know, when you think back to when things fell 400 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.240 into place for the Big Blue Wall those years ago, 401 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:31.680