WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:02.520 Welcome to the Big Blue and sider Dick Gabriel with 2 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.120 you on a Thursday, one day closer, you got tomorrow, 3 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:11.759 then one more sleep until UK Football Saturday seven forty 4 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:14.839 five kick. We're on the air with you on the 5 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:18.000 UK Sports Network at five point thirty for the Cats 6 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:21.000 and Southern Mists. And of course college football kicked off 7 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:26.039 last weekend on zero week, but the real slate begins tonight. 8 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:29.000 You got a bunch of games going on tonight, including 9 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.359 Rutgers at home with Howard. You've got NC State with 10 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:38.399 Western Carolina, Central Florida plays New Hampshire. Not a lot 11 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:42.320 of great games, but there's all kinds of college football. 12 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:44.799 If you want to check out an SEC team, Arkansas 13 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:47.159 is home with Arkansas Pine Bluff. 14 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.320 That's going to be on the U. 15 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:52.399 Missouri with Murray State tonight at eight o'clock. That's on 16 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.520 the SEC network. That's going to get a lot of eyeballs, 17 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:59.200 I would predict. So yeah, college football tonight, a little 18 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:02.759 bit tomorrow, right, and then everybody, it seems, cranks things 19 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:09.560 up on Saturday. The ABC C SEC contract begins in earnest, 20 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:12.680 of course, and it's gonna be weird. It's gonna be 21 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.400 weird not seeing the SEC. We've talked about this all 22 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:21.359 summer on CBS and now ABC, Slash ESPN has released 23 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:24.079 it's theme music. Earlier in the summer, there was a 24 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:28.079 promo that went out basically with the phrase this is 25 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:31.719 how it's done, and people began to compare it to 26 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:36.200 the SEC theme song, saying it's not as good, it's 27 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:40.280 not the same all it. But back then I warned 28 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:43.519 it don't compare the two because they're not the same thing. 29 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.640 One was a promo, one was a theme song. This, remember, 30 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:49.920 was the CBS theme song. You would hear Uncle Vern 31 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:53.719 and Gary Danielson. As soon as you'd hear this song, 32 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:56.680 you knew exactly what was coming up. It was the 33 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:01.359 SEC on CBS, the three thirty game. Everybody wanted to 34 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:03.519 play at three point thirty. That was where the national 35 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.040 eyeballs popped in. And technically, Noah wasn't primetime at eight 36 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:10.560 o'clock at night. I always said, the primetime on Saturdays 37 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:12.120 and Sundays is the afternoon. 38 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:14.360 That's when people start watching football. 39 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.719 That's not how they measure viewership for advertising ratings and 40 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:22.360 all that. But now instead of this song, which I 41 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:26.639 guess goes to the archives forever or until maybe CBS 42 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:29.120 ever gets the SEC back. I don't think they'll use 43 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:32.080 this for their Big ten covers. They haven't released any 44 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:35.159 info or music saying what they're going to do, but 45 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.840 this is what it's going to sound like on ABC. 46 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.360 This will be the theme music. 47 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.800 They released this earlier today or last night for the 48 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:48.759 theme music the anthem if you will for the SEC 49 00:02:49.520 --> 00:03:00.000 on ABC. There is a musical clip out there. One 50 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:03.000 it's about a minute twenty five. It's got all the 51 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:07.719 teams represented, it's got different representations. 52 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:08.719 Of the graphics you're going to see, and all that just. 53 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:12.479 To prep you for the SEC on ABC. Make of 54 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:14.159 it what you will if you like it, and if 55 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:15.199 you know, if you don't like it. 56 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:16.479 But it's gonna be in brain. 57 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.240 They're gonna you're gonna hear that going in and out 58 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.319 of promotional spots and breaks and all that. So that's 59 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:24.680 gonna be your new Saturday afternoon when you watch the 60 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:25.960 SEC on ABC. 61 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:27.800 It's gonna be different, it's gonna be weird. 62 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:30.680 But in the as they say, at the end of 63 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:35.280 the day, it's Southeastern Conference football, which of course includes. 64 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:36.479 Your Kentucky Wildcats. 65 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:40.319 And they are prepping like crazy for Southern Myss, including 66 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:44.319 first year quarterback Brock Vandergriff, who told the assembled media 67 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:47.439 last night really anxious to get started. 68 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:49.960 Just ready to go really against somebody not wearing blue 69 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:52.599 and whites. The main thing, I've been hitting these dudes 70 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:55.080 since spring, winter and stuff like that, in condition with them, 71 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.520 been fussing with them, stuff like that. So I just 72 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:59.919 ready to get out there. And I guess see if 73 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:04.840 plays work, No, but they do. But I mean, we're 74 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:08.039 looking forward to a good game. And you know, hopefully 75 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:10.919 this practice is a tough practice. It's been hot out here, 76 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.520 but it should be. Shouldn't be as hoot on Saturday, 77 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:15.199 but you know, this is just making a stronger for 78 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:16.199 whenever it is hot. 79 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.800 Like all the Wildcats, he wants to see how this 80 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:23.199 offensive attack is going to function under Bush Hampden, and 81 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:24.959 it all starts with the old line, as you know, 82 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:28.240 and Brock Vandergriff says he is confident and the guy's 83 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:29.680 up front the lines. 84 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:32.560 The line's been doing really well. And whether it's pass 85 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:34.959 blocking or run blocking, those guys are gonna get ready. 86 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:37.480 They're gonna be looking forward to it obviously. Like I said, 87 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.639 hitting somebody not wearing blue and white, so they're all 88 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:40.199 jacked up. 89 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:40.600 You know. 90 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:43.279 The line is always wanted to rush, so we'll see 91 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:44.319 what that's all about. 92 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:48.720 Vandergriff himself sounds pretty confident, but he will admit that 93 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.319 on game day, especially when he first runs out onto 94 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.279 the field. Yeah, there's gonna be nerves. 95 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:55.399 I always just kind of get pretty emotional, like just 96 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.759 walking out on the stadium. Whether I'm the thirst string guy, 97 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:00.639 four string guy, the second first, don't even matter. I 98 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.879 think it's just kind of a testament to just like 99 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:05.439 I love ball, Like walking out there, like probably get 100 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:07.199 a little teary eyed and stuff, but that's just that's 101 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:10.560 what's all about. Obviously, gonna be some nerves, and just 102 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:12.279 that means you care at the end of the day. 103 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:15.240 So we're looking forward to that and just that's what 104 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:18.040 you do it for men, your BBN, the people, your 105 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:21.079 friends and family and coaches stuff like that. So it 106 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:22.680 all comes full circle when you walk out there. And 107 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:24.120 he also want to player. 108 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:24.439 Best for him. 109 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:27.360 John Hale asked Brock if he could recall his first 110 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.680 start in high school, and Brock had a hard time 111 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:33.439 thinking back that far. He's been to a lot of 112 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.079 games and a lot of practices since then, but he 113 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:38.160 said the nerves were pretty much the same. 114 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.279 It's kind of bad. I don't really tell the coaches, 115 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.480 but like I will not sleep the night before at all, 116 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:45.680 just so jacked up, the same thing like before I 117 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:46.519 get hon or something like. 118 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:47.720 It's just I love it. 119 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:49.759 And he was right for him. 120 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:53.720 That is Brock vander Griffkentucky's new starting quarterback. Courtesy Jeff 121 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:57.360 Drummond and Kat Illustrated. He also had some comments from 122 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.759 JJ Weaver, who said he I can't wait to see 123 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:02.120 what the defense dials up. 124 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:05.879 This little just more younger, you know, but they listen, 125 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:10.439 they leave by the by example, and they eager, they 126 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.920 ready to go. Lastly, if I've been on, they already 127 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.720 knew it. They have been through the system already. But 128 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:20.600 this my fresh brand Newton to be excited. 129 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:25.040 JJ, of course a veteran linebacker. When you think about 130 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.279 what Kentucky has up the middle defensively, it might be 131 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:31.600 a young defense, but up the middle it doesn't get 132 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:32.120 much better. 133 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:34.319 Got Dion right there and then. 134 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:35.639 Me just clean everything up. 135 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:40.079 US three us for you forgot about Jerk Jackson too, 136 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:43.480 so you're just adominant force should have just added pop. 137 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:46.920 For sure JJ Weaver, who needs to have I think 138 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:49.839 his best season as a Kentucky linebacker. They helped that 139 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:53.120 defense be what it can be. One of the swing 140 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.959 games for Kentucky each year, it seems, has always been Tennessee. 141 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.319 Not a whole lot of success, as you know, with 142 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:03.600 the volunteers, Kentucky missing some opportunities to take down some 143 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:08.360 substandard Tennessee teams. But that standard seems to be rising 144 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:11.639 again under Josh Heipel and the guy who hired him, 145 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:15.920 Danny White, the athletics director, is now the highest paid 146 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:19.839 ad at a public university in the country. That's according 147 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.920 to USA Today. White apparently just signed a contract extension 148 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:29.680 that pays him at least two point seven five million annually. 149 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:33.720 Evidently this went into effect on August. The first big 150 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.240 rais from his two point four to five million, and 151 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.519 he'll get the same five percent annual increase from his 152 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:44.920 original contract. So many people believe that college sports are 153 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:49.120 out of whack, if for no other reason soaring salaries, 154 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:53.000 of course, mostly with the coaches, but ads are making 155 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.480 a big chunk of change as well, and White can 156 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:59.519 get as much as six hundred thousand in bonuses. If 157 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:04.199 ut it's either academic or athletic benchmarks or both, which 158 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:08.639 it routinely has done, according to the story during his tenure. 159 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:14.160 So Danny White gets paid down at Tennessee. Yeah, you know, 160 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:18.240 congratulations to him. A couple of baseball notes. Don't run away. 161 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:21.000 It's not the usual scores and highlights. I will tell 162 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:24.120 you if you're a Reds fan, a frustrated Reds fan, 163 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:29.839 at least the future may be coming up close. Ret Louder, 164 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:34.480 the red number seven overall draft pick, is coming up 165 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:39.600 from the Miners tomorrow. He is a great pitching prospect 166 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.960 at a wake forest, and MLB dot Com is reporting 167 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:48.080 that the Reds, he's listed as their number two prospect, 168 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.399 will start game two of a doubleheader against the Brewers 169 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:57.600 tomorrow at Great American Ballpark. No confirmation yet from the team. 170 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:01.840 He was the second pitcher taken after the Pirates took 171 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.679 Paul Skeen's first overall did not pitch in the Red 172 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:08.480 system last year because he had already reached his innings 173 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:13.320 limit in college. But once he makes his first appearance 174 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.399 five at the top seven picks in the twenty twenty 175 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.159 three draft will. 176 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.720 Have made their MLB debut. 177 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:23.440 Skeiens of course lighting it up for Pittsburgh, Dylan Cruz 178 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:28.440 out of LSU for the Nats, Wyatt Langford at number four, 179 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:31.840 Jacob Wilson at number six, and now Louder the number 180 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:37.120 seven pick. Apparently we'll be pitching tomorrow in Great American Ballpark. 181 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:39.759 Dylan Cruz got his first base hit the other night, 182 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:44.480 it was a double, and then he follows up last 183 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:49.240 night with his first home run in the NATS Series 184 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:51.039 clinching win over the Yankees. 185 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:51.840 How about that. 186 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:56.679 Cruise, of course, was a teammate of Paul Skeens at LSU, 187 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:59.919 part of that LSU team that won the national champion 188 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:02.399 two years ago and had to go through Kentucky to 189 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:07.879 get there, beat the Wildcats in the ense Super Regional 190 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:11.919 down in Baton Rouge. Of course, the Wildcats got that 191 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:15.360 taste of success, followed that up with the Super Regional 192 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:19.240 of their own this past year. But imagine having to 193 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:23.639 face Paul Skins and Dylan Cruz and company in the 194 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.519 same weekend at a super regional the way Kentucky did. 195 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:27.960 But they just learned from it. 196 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:35.080 Shohai Otani Bobblehead Night was last night in La. Obviously 197 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:37.879 you know how popular he is, and now. 198 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:38.720 His dog is too. 199 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:44.080 His dog is named deck Opin, which is Japanese for decoy, 200 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:51.279 and the dog throughout the first pitch, apparently the bobblehead 201 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:54.960 included an image of the dog or the dog itself. 202 00:10:55.159 --> 00:11:00.120 It's got show Hi holding the dog right. So Deco 203 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:02.639 quote unquote threw out the first pitch. What he did 204 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.799 was basically deliver it to the plate. He had in 205 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:08.720 his mouth of course, and trotted up to the plate 206 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:13.279 and handed the ball off to the catcher Shohaiotadi, his master. 207 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:17.360 So the crowd loved it. At Dodger Stadium, of course, 208 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:21.399 everybody who got a bobblehead of both show Hi and Decoy, 209 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:25.159 they were happy. First forty thousand fans to enter the 210 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:30.159 stadium on Wednesday got bobbleheads, and by one o'clock, maybe 211 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:34.480 one thirty in the afternoon, fans, hundreds and hundreds of 212 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:39.399 fans were lined up at the gates, at the parking gates, 213 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.600 at the stadium gates. Some of them got there, it 214 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:46.799 says here prior to eleven am. They wanted that bobblehead. 215 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:51.480 They wanted to see show Hi and Decoy on their mantle, 216 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.480 and they hung in there and they got it and 217 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:57.480 Decoy delivered that pitch and I will tell you based 218 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.200 on the video it was a strike. That's pretty cool. 219 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:04.879 A bobblehead with a player and his dog and the 220 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:08.960 dog delivers the first pitch. Coming up next, we'll talk 221 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.600 about NFL quarterbacks a little bit later on John Clay, 222 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:15.000 The Herow Leader. Forrest Tucker of WTVQ will join us 223 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:19.320 as well on six point thirty WLAP Welcome back to 224 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:21.399 the Big Blue Insider. Coming up in just a few minutes, 225 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:23.840 John Clay from The Hero Leader. We'll look ahead, of 226 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:27.759 course to Kentucky football and the new quarterback we just 227 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.600 heard from Vander Griff. All kinds of quarterback news from 228 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:34.480 the NFL. As you might expect, the opening week is 229 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.440 coming up fast. 230 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:35.879 To me. 231 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.200 The biggest story is about the former quarterback Tom Brady, 232 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.759 who is of course joining Fox TV much money and 233 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:48.799 much attention, much ballyhoo, But he is also trying to 234 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:51.720 buy a piece of the Las Vegas Raiders, trying to 235 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:56.039 become part of the ownership group there with Mark Davis. 236 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:00.320 They have agreed in principle, but the move is yet 237 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:04.120 to be passed. By the NFL's finance committee. If the 238 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:07.000 move is cleared by that committee, Brady would also need 239 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:10.080 to have at least twenty four of the league's thirty 240 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.720 two owners approve the agreement for. 241 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.840 It to be allowed. 242 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.519 It is a tight knit club, and if indeed they 243 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:22.200 approve it, this could have what are being described as 244 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:27.200 severe repercussions on Brady's broadcasting career, because you think about that, 245 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.679 You've got a guy on the lead broadcast and one 246 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:33.240 of the biggest platforms, and he's an owner of one 247 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:39.159 of the teams. So ESPN's Seth Wickersham, writing on the 248 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:45.159 website about tuesday's NFL meetings in Minneapolis, talked about and 249 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:48.559 wrote about some of the restrictions Brady would face if 250 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:54.360 he would simultaneously serve as an analystic Fox and own 251 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.960 a stake of the Raiders. Now think about it, he 252 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.200 would be subject to the league's gambling policies. He'd be 253 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:07.120 permitted to quote only strictly social communication with members of 254 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.440 other clubs. So how's he going to do research, you know, 255 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:13.960 on the games? If he can only have strictly social 256 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:19.360 communication with other teams. He could not publicly criticize game 257 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:28.879 officials he couldn't publicize or critically. He couldn't publicly criticize 258 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:32.600 other teams, other ball clubs, front offices, things like that. 259 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:39.000 There would be some real problems logistically for Brady talking 260 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.600 to players and coaches and general managers, which you know 261 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.919 he's going to do. You know he's going to go 262 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.919 and prepared. He was extremely well prepared as a quarterback. 263 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:53.240 He's not going to skate on his TV job. So 264 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.759 this is going to be really interesting. 265 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.399 The New England. 266 00:14:57.159 --> 00:15:00.360 Patriots had decided to keep Joe Milton as their number 267 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:04.039 three quarterback, and remember him from Tennessee, a good player, 268 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.879 but he is right now the number three guy in 269 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.039 New England, not really a surprise. They're trying to figure 270 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:13.960 out who they want to start, Jacoby Brissett or Drake May. 271 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:18.080 But that meant they had to cut Bailey Zappi, and 272 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:21.840 he of course spent his last college football season at 273 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:25.360 Western Kentucky. But he has landed on his feet. Bailey 274 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:29.559 Zappy signs with the Kansas City Chiefs their practice squad, 275 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:34.159 so he is gainfully employed. Patrick Mahomes and his backup 276 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:37.480 Carson Wentz will be the only quarterbacks on the regular 277 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:41.360 season roster. But Zappi on the practice squad, which means, 278 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:44.399 of course, not just a paycheck, but he could also 279 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:48.960 be signed off that practice squad by other teams. And 280 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:52.799 just in case you're wondering about the other Western Kentucky 281 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.519 grad who is floating around the NFL, that would be 282 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:01.120 Mike White. He was cut recently, he signed on as 283 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:05.639 a practice squad QB for the Buffalo Bills, So I 284 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.799 got a couple of former Hilltoppers out there at least 285 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:11.840 drawn paychecks in the National Football League. White was most 286 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:15.120 recently with the Miami Dolphins, but he lost out in 287 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:19.159 competition with Skuyler Thompson for the backup role there as 288 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.200 they back up two Toungavaloa in Miami and one other 289 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:25.879 name you might recognize as a backup QB. The Los 290 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:30.159 Angeles Chargers have signed Taylor Heineke in a trade with 291 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:33.919 the Falcons for a conditional six round pick. Justin Herbert's 292 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.559 been hurt in training camp. He was hurt last year 293 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.519 for a little while, but he had planted our fasci 294 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:43.799 itis in his right foot, and the backup qbs did 295 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:48.519 not perform well apparently in camp for the Chargers, including 296 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:52.600 Easton Stick I have to be honest, never heard of him. 297 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.960 He's in a sixth year in the NFL. He came 298 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.120 from North Dakota State. That wild offense up there. North 299 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:00.679 Dakota States put some guys in the league, but apparently 300 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.759 he did not play well. He played well last year 301 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.640 filling in for Herbert, but didn't play well in camp. 302 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.640 So they went out and got Taylor Heineke, who was 303 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.640 kind of the flavor of the week a couple times 304 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:14.519 for the team in Washington, but not so much lately. 305 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.519 So they trade him to the Chargers, and if Herbert 306 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:21.000 can't stay healthy, Taylor Heinekee might be back in the 307 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.599 starting role. 308 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:23.160 You might recall that when. 309 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.160 He was signed, he was going to school, he was 310 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:29.880 taking college classes. He was pretty much done with the NFL, 311 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:33.400 or so he thought, but there was a need in 312 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.519 DC for a quarterback, and Taylor Heineke made a comeback 313 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:40.160 and now he's still in the National Football League. While 314 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:44.480 we're talking injuries, Jamar Chase may not be ready. Less 315 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:47.960 than twenty four hours after Zach Taylor said that Jamar 316 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:53.480 would practice this week, he did not practice yesterday, and 317 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:56.759 Taylor said he may have spoken too soon, said I 318 00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:58.400 might have been putting. He said, I might have put 319 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:01.200 my foot in my mouth. Speaking too quickly. He said, 320 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:05.039 it's day to day. We will just keep seeing after 321 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:11.480 Jamar Chase now, Taylor said Chase remains healthy, but he 322 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:15.759 did not practice beyond some stretching on Wednesday. He has 323 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:18.559 two years left on his rookie contract, including a fifty 324 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.240 year option worth twenty one point eight million in twenty 325 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:25.720 twenty five. While we're talking people with big bucks, that's 326 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:28.920 Jimbo Fisher, the former Texas A and M coach who 327 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:32.440 has paid a lot of money to go away. Well, 328 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:35.680 he has a new job now on Serious XM Radio, 329 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.240 the network announcing last night that Jimbo was going to 330 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:43.319 join the network's college football coverage. He will co host 331 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:48.480 Off Campus every Tuesday at three pm alongside former Florida 332 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:52.640 State quarterback EJ. Manuel and former LSU running back Jacob Hester. 333 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:56.480 They already got a show going on, but Jimbo now 334 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.960 becomes one of their costs. 335 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.440 He served as. 336 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:03.480 LSU's offensive coordinator from two thousand to six, which is 337 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.799 where he got to know Hester. All right, when we 338 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.839 come back, John Clay at the Harold Leader will join 339 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:11.680 us here on the Big Bluwinsiders six thirty WLAP Welcome back. 340 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:15.079 Joining us on our celebrity hotline is a longtime friend 341 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:18.039 and colleague, mister John Clay at the Herald Leader sports 342 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:21.200 columnists who's covered a lot of Kentucky football and we'll 343 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:24.480 be there when the Wildcats open up this weekend. John, 344 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:28.279 you were at the Mark Stoops news conference on Monday, 345 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:32.359 and it was fairly routine. I do recall the one 346 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:36.519 of the reporters asking Stoops to comment on all the 347 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:39.759 excitements surrounding the program and building up to it. Fairly 348 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:43.599 innocuous question and answer. But I just remember thinking, I 349 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:46.720 don't know that I've heard that much excitement. I mean, 350 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:51.000 there's a lot of chatter, but I'm not knocking the 351 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:54.079 program at all, But I just think Kentucky fans have 352 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:56.359 got a little bit of a barrier up. 353 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.599 How do you feel about that? 354 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:01.759 No, I think that's right. Uh, you know, I haven't 355 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:05.480 the same. It's not I haven't heard necessarily that, you know, 356 00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:08.559 people are down on the football program or anything like that, 357 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:11.599 but I haven't heard know a lot of a lot 358 00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:15.279 of talk about you know, I think they're I've heard 359 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:17.720 you know, people glad that football is starting, but not 360 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.880 necessarily a lot of it, So I would dra fift team. 361 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.480 I think there's a couple of reasons for that. I 362 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:24.799 think number one, they're not sure what to expect out 363 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.799 of this team. You got a new quarterback, you got 364 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:29.519 a new offensive coordinator. I think also people are a 365 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:32.400 little concerned because you're coming off back to back seven 366 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:35.680 and six seasons and then you got Texas and Oklahoma 367 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:38.400 coming into the league, so in a tough schedule. The 368 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:40.359 other thing I think is most of the people that 369 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.960 I've seen the summer, they want to talk about Mark Pope. 370 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:45.680 They want to talk about basketball because he's the new guy. 371 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:49.400 He's the new guy with an entirely new team. And 372 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:51.480 I think that, you know, and people don't know what 373 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:54.759 to expect, you know, from basketball, and I think that's 374 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:58.440 kind of taken up. They have been most of the chatter. 375 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:00.880 The other thing I hear from football people that I know, 376 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.680 it's our too, and they're all talking about the Texas game. 377 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:06.440 I think it's just go to They want to go 378 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:10.079 to Austin because that's something new for Kentucky football. So 379 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:12.279 there's been a lot of chatter. At least one people 380 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:15.160 I know about that. But as far overall, I think 381 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:17.839 people are happy, they're interested to see what's going to 382 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:20.200 happen with the team, and they're happy the football starting. 383 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.680 But I think it's more if they're not sure what 384 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.440 to expect. 385 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.039 Yeah, I fully agree with you. 386 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:28.440 I think that on all of it, especially the Mark 387 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.599 Pope basketball angle. And I don't think we're going to 388 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.960 regret unless football just bottoms out, which I don't expect. 389 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:37.839 But I don't think we're going to go back to 390 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:41.440 spending the entire summer talking about basketball recruiting. As you recall, 391 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:44.720 that's why Schnellenberger and Curry got together on the uk 392 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:47.839 U of L series as a season opener. They're retired 393 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:50.839 of hearing the basketball recruiting talk. But I also do 394 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:54.440 think John that now that this league is so much tougher, 395 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:58.599 and I think it is just enormously more difficult now 396 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:02.960 to think about Kentucky making the SEC title game. We 397 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:05.519 were talking on the show last night, on the State 398 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:07.279 Wide Show. But it's going to be tougher now for 399 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:10.039 Kentucky to get to Atlanta that it will be I 400 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.640 think to get to the football. 401 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.279