WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.520 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dicabrielle with you Tuesday 2 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:08.320 edition of our program eleven days away from Kentucky Football. 3 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:10.519 And we know this because many of you, well some 4 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.080 of you out there are posting on the interweb, on Twitter, 5 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:17.920 on x on Facebook the countdown to Kentucky Football. Now, 6 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:22.320 I used to do this on the WKYT website and 7 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:24.359 we would repeat it on the air here on the 8 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:28.120 Big Blue Insider, But my countdown was a little different. 9 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:29.640 I don't know that I was the first one to 10 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:32.039 do it, but I'm older than a lot of the 11 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:35.000 people who are doing it now, so I was one 12 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:37.679 of the first people to do that within the Big 13 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:41.520 Blue Nation among Kentucky media and fans. But what I 14 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:45.439 also did was I would pull the number of the 15 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:49.840 countdown day. For instance, of course, numbers eleven, and I 16 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:53.960 would remind you who wore number eleven, and going back 17 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.799 several years, I brought up Rick Norton, I brought up 18 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:03.119 Chase Harp, I brought up maxwells, Jeff Speedy, and Dominic Fuci. 19 00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:05.959 Not dom the coach over at Tate Creek, but his 20 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.280 dad was a great athlete. But then I would pull 21 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:14.480 the number eleven out of the fact book and come 22 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:18.519 up with stuff like Steven Johnson ran eleven yards for 23 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:22.319 a touchdown with thirty three seconds left and UK's went 24 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:26.079 over Tennessee back in twenty seventeen, for the fact that 25 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.239 U of L was ranked number eleven when Kentucky upset 26 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:35.799 the Cardinals at back then Papa John's Cardinals Stadium, Lamar 27 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.519 Jackson the fumble, and remember now people want to blame 28 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.040 all of that on Lamar's fumble. Benny Snell had fumbled 29 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.239 the ball to Louisville. That's why U of L had 30 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:49.159 the ball, and Benny never fumbled. It's all he did 31 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.159 really was swap fumbles and then Kentucky drove for the 32 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:57.480 winning touchdown. Another one that I really liked was Mike 33 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:01.319 Edwards was ranked eleventh in the end CC and passes 34 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:06.599 defended per game the year prior, and Mike, of course 35 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:09.759 has I think two Super Bowl rings now. So anyhow, 36 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.039 I had fun with the countdown, and I'm not knocking 37 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:18.120 anybody for not doing it this way, but yeah, I 38 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:19.240 mean I had a lot of fun, a lot of 39 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.879 work putting that together. I can tell you that labor alone, though, 40 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:25.439 because it got us one day closer to football. Coming 41 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:27.280 up today, We're going to talk a lot of football 42 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.599 and some basketball and track and volleyball with Maggie Davis 43 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.120 BBN tonight. She has been back. She's back now from 44 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:38.360 her honeymoon and working hard as always. So is Michael 45 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:41.520 Epps from Fox fifty six. The sports director. Will talk 46 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:44.960 to Michael as well. We will hear from Craig Skinner 47 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:47.080 and some of the volleyball Wildcats coming up an hour 48 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:51.800 number two, because yesterday was their media day and Kentucky 49 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:53.919 is now a popular product. 50 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:55.360 For national television. 51 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:00.560 Eighteen matches on ESPN the Deuce or esp in you. 52 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:04.680 That's a high for Kentucky volleyball. That's great news for 53 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:07.159 the program. Not so much for your old dad here 54 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:11.159 because I do of course volleyball and the UK streaming channel. 55 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.680 That only leaves like four or five matches for us. 56 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:18.719 But that's okay because more and more people watching volleyball 57 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:22.120 and learning to love it as well they should. So yeah, 58 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:24.080 we'll talk to volleyball a little bit later. We're gonna 59 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:27.639 talk a lot of quarterbacks here in the first segment, 60 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:31.159 but first need to make sure you understand that Dion 61 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:35.479 Walker has made yet another preseason All America team. This 62 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:38.360 one seems to be one of, if not the highest 63 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:43.280 profile team. For whatever reason, it's the media's preseason All America. 64 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.280 You may quibble with that, say it ought to be 65 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.439 the coaches, But as I've said before, sometimes I think 66 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:53.080 the media is more in tune with what's happening because 67 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:58.120 coaches don't have time to study and rank and do 68 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.759 research and things like that. But everybody, I think has 69 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.879 Dion Walker on some form of They're All America team. 70 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:11.479 So Sporting News, ESPN, having first Team, Atlon Magazine, Phil 71 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:18.199 Steels Magazine, USA Today, the Walter Camp Award, AP, They've 72 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:20.560 all got him on the second team. He's on everybody's 73 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.680 watch list. And of course he's a preseason All Conference 74 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:27.120 first team player. And down at the SEC Media Days 75 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:31.519 in Dallas, somebody asked, Dion, what are your goals specifically 76 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:33.199 for this season. 77 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:37.040 I'm really just being more of a leader, being more 78 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:40.000 off spoken, outgoing. You know, I'm more of an introverted person, 79 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:46.920 So really just being more off spoken, making sure people 80 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:49.680 are where they need to be, making sure people are 81 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.399 doing everything that they need to do in the classroom, 82 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:56.800 because I feel like if we got everything else square 83 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.519 to the tee. Then on the field, that's going to 84 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:01.279 come no matter what. 85 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.959 He's right about that if Kentucky defensive squared away, the 86 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:08.639 Cats will have a chance in virtually every game they play. 87 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.639 Lot's going to depend, of course, on the offense and 88 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:14.480 on the rock Vandergriff. We're going to talk quarterbacks here 89 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:17.199 in just a minute. But there is some more college 90 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:20.439 football stuff in the news. You may have seen that 91 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:24.800 Mike Gundy, who is the head coach at Oklahoma State 92 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:32.120 and very outspoken, came out yesterday afternoon and basically sent 93 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:34.839 a message to players everywhere saying, tell your agent to 94 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:39.079 quit calling us and asking for more money. This guy's 95 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:43.120 pretty blunt, and this wasn't just to his players, but 96 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:45.720 to everybody, he said. He told his players, though there 97 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:51.279 is no negotiating now. The portal is over. Negotiations are history. 98 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:51.920 Now. 99 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:56.839 We're playing football, just coaching and playing football, he said. 100 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.240 The business side of what we do now is those 101 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.480 conversations with him. But tell your agent quit calling us 102 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:07.720 and asking for more money. Start again in December. And 103 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:11.279 of course, anybody who follows Kentucky football knows that Mark 104 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:16.319 Stoop's very outspoken about his job. Raising money now he 105 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:21.519 and his staff for the nil dollars that are out there. 106 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:25.839 So man, coach is just hated. You saw this coming, 107 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.639 but you just got to deal with it. And one 108 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.120 way to deal with it is to basically appoint somebody 109 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:35.279 general manager, even if you have to give him the title. 110 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:39.959 Eddie Gran helps spearhead Kentucky's fundraising and he doesn't have 111 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:43.319 the title of GM. But you know who does at Alabama, 112 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:48.399 Courtney Morgan, and he now has a brand new contract 113 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:52.959 is re signed with Alabama eight hundred and twenty five 114 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:54.279 thousand dollars. 115 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.759 A year for three years. 116 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:01.360 He is in charge of the negotiations for Alabama football. 117 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:04.519 Not everybody, of course, can do this, not every program 118 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:08.079 has this kind of money. But the board of Trustees 119 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:12.480 at Alabama approved the contract yesterday. It's an updated contract 120 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:15.040 as this guy came from Washington. 121 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:16.079 With Caitlin de Boor. 122 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:20.279 He had a similar job up there, and when they 123 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:23.839 hired Debor to replace Nick Saban, he brought this guy 124 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:28.199 with him. So it's almost a must. Now it's a 125 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:31.360 necessity to take a lot of this off your head, 126 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:35.279 coach and spread it around a little bit. You don't 127 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:38.000 want your recruiters dealing with this. You want them to 128 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:41.839 be knowledgeable and up to speed, but you don't want 129 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.360 them to stop what they're doing when it comes to 130 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.560 looking for talent and have to deal with this kind 131 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:51.480 of thing. So I think that's a pretty fascinating. While 132 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:54.560 we're on football, if you're a fantasy football player or 133 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.959 just an NFL fan, you know it's all about quarterbacks 134 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:02.439 right now, who's going to start, and it's always that way, 135 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:06.000 but this year there's a lot more talk about rookies 136 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.759 who's going to start in a lot of different spots 137 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:14.920 because some of them have played pretty well, most specifically 138 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.519 bow Knicks, who lit up my Packers the other night. 139 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:20.639 I thought he was playing against the second and third teamers, 140 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:24.560 but bo Nicks, who was the sixth player drafted, sixth 141 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:29.800 quarterback drafted, it looks like maybe the starting quarterback in Denver, 142 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:32.720 and they've needed a solid quarterback out there for quite 143 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:33.159 a while. 144 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:34.759 But he's not the only guy. 145 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:40.840 Caleb Williams was six for thirteen but so dynamic that 146 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:44.879 now you've got a case for him being the starter 147 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:49.440 for the Chicago Bears. Drake May with the Patriots making 148 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:52.720 a move Jaden Daniels has been named the starter for 149 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.840 the Commanders Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU. That was 150 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.759 kind of a no brainer, really. I mean, the Commanders 151 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.679 are a mess and they need him. Michael Pennix will 152 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.440 not be an issue. He's backing up Kirk Cousins in Atlanta. 153 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.000 I thought the kid out of Washington, I thought he 154 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:11.000 was the best quarterback in the draft. I thought Daniels 155 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.000 deserved a Heisman because he was a dynamic college player 156 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:15.759 thanks to his arm and his legs. 157 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:17.639 But in terms of the NFL, and what do I know? 158 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:21.840 I thought Pennix had the brightest NFL future and he 159 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:24.759 might still, but he's the backup the Kirk Cousins, one 160 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:27.480 hundred million dollar man in Atlanta. J. J. 161 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:28.720 McCarthy from Michigan. 162 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.399 Of course, you know out for the year with a 163 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.320 knee injury. But think about all these rookies who may 164 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:40.759 be starting for their respective NFL teams. And Tom Brady 165 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:44.919 was on Steven A. Smith's podcast and he has a 166 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:48.840 real problem with going back to the college game, the 167 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:53.080 transfer portal quarterbacks looking for places to plan. Of course, 168 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:57.799 Kentucky has benefited from the portal going back, of course, 169 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.720 to Will Levis, Stephen Johnson, tran it In, and of 170 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:06.279 course Devin Leary last season, Brock Vandergriff this year. But 171 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:11.840 we all know that while Kentucky appreciated and needed those guys, that's. 172 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:12.519 Not what they want. 173 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:15.440 I go back to when Drew Barker signed, he was 174 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:17.759 the future. He was the guy who was going to 175 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:20.879 start for three years and give Kentucky the opportunity to 176 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:26.360 develop quarterbacks behind him. But that didn't happen because Barker 177 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:29.440 got hurt and that kind of started the carousel spinning. 178 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:34.240 But it's become something in college football that has Tom 179 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.720 Brady pretty disappointed. 180 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:40.440 Now there are players transferring from schools when they're not playing, 181 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:43.639 and they're going to different programs, and they're going to 182 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.759 different techniques they're learning, they're never advancing in an own 183 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:52.799 individual system. There used to be college programs. Now there 184 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:56.279 are college teams. You're no longer learning a program, you're 185 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:59.559 learning a playbook, and the program is ultimately like a 186 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:01.240 Michigan And for me, that was a. 187 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:04.120 Pro style program. Five years. I got to learn how 188 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.000 to drop back. 189 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:08.320 Pass, to read defenses, to recoverage, is to be coach, 190 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:12.399 to deal with winning games, to deal playing in Columbus 191 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:13.120 o'hian front one. 192 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.279 Hundred and ten thousand people. 193 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.799 I had to learn from being seventh quarterback on the 194 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:19.759 depth chart to moving up to third to ultimately being 195 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:22.720 a starter. I had to learn all those things in college. 196 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:25.639 That was development. Then I went to New England and 197 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:29.679 I was developed by coach Belichick and the offensive staff there. 198 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:31.200 I didn't start my first year. 199 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:33.759 I think it's just a tragedy that we're forcing these 200 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:35.480 rookies to play early. 201 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.799 But the reality is. 202 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.519 The only reason why there is because we've dumb the 203 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:40.240 game down, which has allowed him to play. 204 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.759 I knows a little something about playing quarterback. He's not 205 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:47.200 the only former NFL player with some frank comments about 206 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.360 quarterback play. Mark Schlereth, whose nickname is Stink, has a 207 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:55.600 podcast called The Stinking Truth, and he lit up Russell Wilson. 208 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:58.679 If you're a Steelers fan, you're not gonna like this. 209 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.840 But he did not like what he saw it has 210 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.480 not liked what he has seen Adam Russell Wilson, including 211 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.279 his time spent briefly now with the Steelers. 212 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:13.960 The empty hollow statistics that he compiles that makes people 213 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:16.960 that don't know jack about football think that he can 214 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:21.039 play is incredible, right, So they'll stand on that. You know, 215 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:24.480 they'll plant their flag in eight for ten eighty percent. 216 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.480 Bam, look at Russell Wilson. 217 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:29.799 And then they'll say things like this, like Mike Commins said, 218 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:33.799 we've got to do a better job of protecting we 219 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:37.559 What are you guys a bunch of French waiters. We 220 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:41.240 Russell Wilson has got to do a better job of 221 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:46.480 understanding football and throwing the football to open receivers as 222 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.480 opposed to pulling the football and taking sack after sack 223 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:53.919 after sack, three and out, three and out, three and out, 224 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.960 three sacks. 225 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:57.279 I mean, it is absolute garbage. 226 00:12:57.559 --> 00:13:00.000 Laras went on to say he would start justin feet 227 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:02.600 was the guy who came over from Chicago if he 228 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.960 were running the Steelers. So lots to talk about when 229 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.519 it comes to quarterbacks in the college game and the 230 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:11.399 pro game. Coming up here from the Football Wildcat's Bottom 231 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.320 of the Hour Maggie Davis here on six point thirty 232 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:18.399 WLAP Welcome back over UK football practice today. They brought 233 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:22.320 out offensive people for us to talk to, including assistant 234 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:25.679 coach in his first year with receivers, Doc Keel Shorts 235 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:28.879 and he's giving thumbs up to what he's seeing in 236 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.639 camp so far. 237 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:31.639 You know, the thing I'm most happy about coming out 238 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:33.480 of his camp. They worked their asses off. I'm sorry 239 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.519 about that. They worked their tails off, they worked their 240 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:37.559 butts off. But they've been s been doing a good job. 241 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:39.240 They continue to buy in and they work hard and 242 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.639 they care about each other. So it makes it a 243 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.679 lot easier. 244 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:43.240 When you reached this point in camp. 245 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:45.399 It is it hard to keep the guys sort of 246 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:47.440 walked in and focused and discipline? 247 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:51.720 Yeah, naturally, yes, you know, human nature is just hard 248 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:54.320 to you know, stay consistent within your discipline and the 249 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:57.399 small details. But you know, like they allow us to 250 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:59.519 coach them pretty hard and we demand a lot from them. 251 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:02.399 They don't take it personal as we're attacking them. They 252 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.879 take the coaching and they try to be the best 253 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.080 that they can be. And that's all that you can 254 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:07.360 ask for. Chemistry biggest theory of growth you've seen from 255 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:08.399 barryon from when you. 256 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.759 Got here in December one. 257 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.879 I just want to say I'm extremely proud of him. 258 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.440 I think the biggest growth for him, I mean, he 259 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.120 is what he is, He's an electric He's going to 260 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.679 make plays he's just he's got some guy giving ability 261 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.720 that none of us have. But just mentally, you know, 262 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:26.320 just mentally, you really wanted him to get mentally tougher. 263 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.000 And I think that's something that he got better at 264 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:32.320 this summer, trusting his teammates, trusting his coaching, just being 265 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:35.960 more dependable and reliable. But the biggest thing is just 266 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:38.960 his mental aspect. I think he grew and he matured 267 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.639 a lot off of that. 268 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:42.399 We've heard from coach Stoop say some of the players 269 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.759 about what you brought to this group. 270 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:47.519 What did you think this group needed when you got here? 271 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:49.320 What have you brought one? 272 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.559 I would say they've done. 273 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:53.279 The guys that were here before me and the guys 274 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.879 that are here now did a hell of a job recruiting. 275 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.080 These guys got a lot of talent. But I just think, 276 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:00.120 you know, sometimes you just need a fresh start, and 277 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:02.360 a lot of these guys just, you know, you know, 278 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.080 they just want to want to see how it's supposed 279 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.240 to be done, and they just want somebody that's going 280 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.919 to demand a lot and stay on them. I think 281 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:11.320 they do want tough love. Obviously, I played the position 282 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.080 and I'm a little younger, so I'm not afraid to 283 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:16.039 challenge him and push them. But you know, it's easy 284 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:18.440 for It's easy for me. They do all the work, 285 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.600 you know, like they buy in. They come out here 286 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:22.440 day in and day out. They work pretty hard, so 287 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:24.519 you know, they make my job a lot easier. 288 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.320 Some of the names that came up that maybe you 289 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.799 haven't heard much about so far. Fred Ferrier, a guy 290 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.919 who's kind of flowing under the radar a little bit 291 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.960 but has been getting rave reviews. Mark Stewpens talked about 292 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:39.000 him the other day, and of course Anthony Brown stevens 293 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:42.519 uh five ten, one seventy six but plays big a 294 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:46.320 white out just a sophomore, but naturally everybody knows about 295 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:50.000 Dane Key and about Barryon Brown preseason, all this, all 296 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:53.000 that as an all purpose player as much for his 297 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:58.200 returns as his receiving ability. He believes in this his 298 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.000 third year, he could be hitting on a big season. 299 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.360 Man. 300 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.879 I feel great, you know, just set some goals for 301 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.039 myself and actually exceeding the goal. So feel great to 302 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:11.399 you know, actually be held accountable for some and you know, 303 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:13.960 meeting the responsibilities that I set for myself. 304 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.759 What was it like having that accountability come into your life. 305 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.039 From the coaches. 306 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:21.000 Great, you know, just just knowing that they can count 307 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:24.039 on me. If they say do something, I get it done. 308 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:27.000 Gotta be very detailed and doing it and you know, 309 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:28.480 just keeping my best for forward. 310 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:32.039 So much is expected to you this year. You know what, 311 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:33.840 how do you feel about it? I'm ready. 312 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.120 I always ready for a challeng's never never shied away 313 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:38.720 from a talent. That's you know, and it's again it's 314 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.759 just doing something I love. So nothing no pressure on me. 315 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:43.480 This is some I've been doing as a child. I'm 316 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.799 just ready for it to continue. 317 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.320 Brown said he and Brock vandergriff It worked a lot 318 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.639 on the side uh before and after practice. He said, 319 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:54.559 I'm up for throwing and catching anytime he wants to. 320 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.360 So sounds like they're putting together that kind of connection. 321 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:02.720 It's star receiver and quarterbacks have to have. But of 322 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:05.759 course you'll get double team. Barrian Brown will that's going 323 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:09.119 to open the gates for Dane Key. The tight ends 324 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:12.960 the receivers coming out of the backfield should be interesting. 325 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.400 With Bush Hampden's new offense. We hear more from him 326 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.759 coming up tomorrow. 327 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.279 Up next. 328 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:21.640 Maggie Davis of BBN Tonight and the UK TV network 329 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.839 that's ahead on six thirty WLAP. 330 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.599 Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider. 331 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:29.640 Joining us now on our Celebrity hotline is a regular 332 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.400 long time one of our favorite friends of the show, 333 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:36.519 Miss Maggie Davis. No longer you're missus what now? 334 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.240 I am missus maddingly now but I'm still going by 335 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.799 Maggie Davis on air, so no worries there. 336 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.559 Well, congrats died. 337 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:48.200 Did the wedding planning and all the fun stuff to 338 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.559 go off without a hitch? 339 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.400 I hope it did? 340 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:53.880 It did it was? I know everybody says this, but 341 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:56.319 it was the best day ever. We truly had the 342 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:58.960 best time, the best weekend. So many friends and family 343 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:01.279 members who are able to come, so I think came 344 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:03.759 to celebrate with us. And you know, it's a year 345 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.519 in the making you plan your wedding. We were engaged 346 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:09.119 for just over a year, so certainly felt like a 347 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.200 long time coming. And it was all worth it in 348 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:14.720 the end. A wonderful ceremony of fun reception and then 349 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.920 a very relaxing honeymoon on a beach somewhere. So that 350 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.640 was a lot of fun. 351 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.599 There you go, So the production paid off. Game day 352 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:24.200 paid off and now you're back hard at it. And 353 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:28.559 yesterday you were running around like a headless chicken, talking 354 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:34.319 track and field, talking volleyball. We talked yesterday about Messiah Russell. 355 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:36.000 You had a chance to sit down with her for 356 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:42.759 BBN tonight, and I had never interviewed her. I don't 357 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.720 think I've ever interviewed a gold medalist. I've interviewed a 358 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:48.000 silver medalist in the past. 359 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:50.559 But I'm amazed at how tiny she. 360 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.160 Is, which makes a lot of sense. 361 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:56.599 I guess you know, well, she's tiny, but then you 362 00:18:56.640 --> 00:19:00.640 see her when she's competing, and obviously she is absolutely jacks. 363 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:03.519 I as one hundred percent muffle, and that's why she 364 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:05.920 looks so tidy sometimes heause you just don't realize. But 365 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:09.119 I loved hearing her talk yesterday, and like you said, 366 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.839 I was able to sit down with her one on 367 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:12.880 one after the press conference as well, which is great 368 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:17.839 because I have actually probably interviewed Massai close to eight 369 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:20.720 or nine times now since she's been at UK and 370 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:23.640 then obviously into her professional career. I sat down with 371 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:26.519 her maybe two weeks before she went to Paris, and 372 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.920 so I almost hated to ask for her again because 373 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:30.839 I feel like I really called in the favor, trying 374 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.359 to get her right before Paris, and then of course 375 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:35.279 she gets home and I'm like, oh, it would be 376 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:37.599 awesome to get a follow up with her as the 377 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:40.640 gold medalist, right, And so I was a little tentative 378 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:43.319 in asking. I felt a little guilty, but ultimately knew 379 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:45.599 that you know, last time I talked to Massi, I 380 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:48.160 was so appreciative and so thankful of her time, and 381 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:50.720 she was like, listen for Big Blue Nation, I will 382 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:53.000 always sit down and talk to you, like they have 383 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.559 supported me. I can't believe how much they followed me, 384 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.319 that kept up with me. I've been gone for a 385 00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:59.839 year and I'm still getting all these Kentucky fans in 386 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:02.799 my comments, Like she loves it. She is so in 387 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:05.720 and so thankful for it that I was like, okay, fine, 388 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:08.359 I'll ask her for one more interview. So I did, 389 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:11.720 and of course, the nice, nice, nice person that she is, 390 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:14.599 she was able to do another one with me and 391 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:18.359 we had another great conversation just about truly how challenging 392 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:21.640 the season was for her and how much she didn't 393 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:24.160 even think she was going to make it through trials, 394 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:26.599 let alone to the Olympics let alone to be the 395 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.839 gold medal winner, and she had put all of that 396 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:31.200 on her vision board really early on in the season, 397 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.279 like over a year ago, and then the regular season 398 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:36.079 just did not go the way she wanted to know. 399 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:40.279 She was running five six, seven tenths slower than her 400 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:43.319 best times and what she ultimately went during the Olympic season, 401 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:47.200