WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:02.759 Welcome to the Big Blue Sider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:07.759 Friday edition of our program, one day closer to Kentucky's kickoff, 3 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:11.599 of course, one week from tomorrow Wildcats in Southern Mississippi. 4 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:14.000 It's a game you'll hear right here on six thirty 5 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.320 WLAP and it's a night game. So not only do 6 00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:20.519 we wait through next week, we wait through several hours 7 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:23.719 on Saturday. But I personally like that a little bit. 8 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.199 I like night games, but at least on that day 9 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:28.120 it's going to be a little cooler at night. Plus 10 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:30.640 you get to watch a lot of football, don't you 11 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:33.880 in the hours leading up to the ballgame. Although I 12 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:35.880 get there so early that I'll get involved in a 13 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:38.079 game and then suddenly I have to leave and find 14 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:40.000 out when I get to the stadium what happened. But 15 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:43.640 it's still going to start for reel for the Wildcast, 16 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:47.280 we'll talk a lot of Kentucky football tonight. Anthony White 17 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:50.039 is going to join us aunt Be they call him. 18 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:53.079 He is a co host of Sunday Morning Sports Talk. 19 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:56.520 He is a co host of a podcast with former 20 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:59.960 UK defensive back Van Hile's Anthony of course announced standon 21 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:03.479 running back during the hell Mummy era. He was part 22 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:06.120 of the Bill Curry Hell Mummy change over, one of 23 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:10.239 the several guys who really benefited from the air raid offense. 24 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:13.040 By the time he left, Anthony I always pointed this out. 25 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:17.719 Anthony was top five in the history of the SEC. Yes, 26 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:19.760 they threw it a lot, but he grabbed it and 27 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:21.799 ran with it. He would catch a lot of balls 28 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:25.400 behind the line of scrimmage like an extended handoff and 29 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:27.480 run like hell. But he was one of the top 30 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:31.719 five all time in all purpose yardage when he left 31 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:33.920 the UK. Of course, since then more people have racked 32 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:36.519 up yards and all that, But for the time he 33 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:39.959 was at Kentucky, Anthony Richardson, or Anthony Whitish should say, 34 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:42.439 was one of the all time best. We'll talk about 35 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:44.840 Anthony Richardson here in just a minute, but we're going 36 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:48.439 to talk to a bee who got his nickname from 37 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:51.319 Tim Couch. He told his story more than once on 38 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.799 a show. For some reason. They were talking about him 39 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.879 in a meeting room, and I think it might have 40 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:59.239 been when Mummy was there. I don't know who said 41 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:03.040 he needs nickname and Tim Couch. According to Anthony yelled out, 42 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:06.159 let's call him aunt Bee and that was it. He's 43 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.800 been amby ever since, so we'll talk with him coming 44 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:10.960 up at the bottom of the hour. Next hour, I'm 45 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:12.879 gonna catch up with Billy rut Ledge. Now we're gonna 46 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:15.719 start our state wide show on Monday Night with Billy 47 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:19.000 and Aaron, but that has ended in Jeff Pikorro, but 48 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:22.159 that is more of a focused show on game week 49 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:24.360 and things like that. I wanted to pick Billy's brain 50 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:28.360 about what the summer has been like here in election 51 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:31.800 in Central Kentucky, the Big Blue Nation. He and Shannon 52 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.319 the Dude with their show at nine am following the 53 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:38.479 Leech report. Has there been as much football talk this 54 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:40.919 summer as there has been in the past, So we'll 55 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.960 talk with Billy about that coming up in hour number two. 56 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:46.680 We'll also look back. It's been an eventful week here 57 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.919 on The Big Blue Insider, including Bill Ransdell dropping by 58 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:53.560 the garage, so we will talk about that recap the week. 59 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:57.479 Actually got to talk to an Olympic gold medalist this 60 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.439 week on the show, something I've never done, not a 61 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:03.680 current Olympic gold medalist. I talked to people who won 62 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:06.199 him back in the day, but we got a chance 63 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:09.199 to talk to Messi Russell. So yeah, that was fun 64 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.599 and we'll hear from her. You may know by now 65 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:15.080 the coaches All Conference team preseason is out, for whatever 66 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.360 it's worth, part of the talking season. Carson Beck quite 67 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:21.719 naturally is the first team quarterback. He's been rated as 68 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:26.719 highly as fifth in a pre NFL draft poll, so 69 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:31.639 people think highly of Carson Beck. No Wildcats first team offense. 70 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.800 Of course, Dion Walker named to the first team defense, 71 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.639 but so was Maxwell Hairston, which is great because he 72 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:42.240 had such a good year last year and it did 73 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:45.479 not go unnoticed. But then again, how can it. When 74 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:48.800 you pick off not one, but two passes and run 75 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:52.879 him back for touchdowns in one game, you're gonna get noticed. 76 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:58.319 Also first team preseason All Conference as a specialist. Barrion 77 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:02.800 Brown again because he made quite the impact last year, 78 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:05.159 more I think as a return guy than he did 79 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:09.080 as a receiver. He is on the verge of setting 80 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:13.520 records in that department. Tons and tons of players from Georgia, 81 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:19.279 many from Alabama, Texas, from Tennessee players preseason All Conference. 82 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:23.920 Nobody from the Wildcats made second team. Quinn Ewers of 83 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:28.480 Texas is the quarterback on the second team All Conference squad. 84 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.560 You go to third team All Conference though Jalen Milroll, 85 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.399 the quarterback from Alabama, is your QB there. But you 86 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:40.000 got two Kentucky offensive linemen, Marcus Cox and Eli Cox, 87 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:43.240 the Cox brothers who are not related on that o 88 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:45.959 line what they hope will be the second coming in 89 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:49.959 a big blue wall. Third team preseason All Conference per 90 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:53.639 the coaches, Barry and Brown on the third team as 91 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:57.079 an all around athlete if you will, and you look 92 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.959 at the defense, and Jamon Dumas Johnson is one of 93 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:05.560 the linebackers on the third team. So Wildcats well represented 94 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:08.920 on the coach's preseason team. I don't know how much 95 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.800 is expected of Kentucky, but the coaches, like a lot 96 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.600 of the players that Mark Stoopson's staff have brought in 97 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:18.240 a couple of scores from last night. The women's soccer 98 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:23.360 team still perfect. They beat Detroit Mercy to nothing, and 99 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:27.600 the men's team opened up their season with a victory, 100 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:30.519 so it was a doubleheader sweep for Kentucky soccer. The 101 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:34.120 men beat Oral Roberts three to two last night at 102 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:38.439 the Bell Soccer Complex, which was rocking. So again, if 103 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:40.480 you've not been over there, even if you're not a 104 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.000 huge soccer fan, I recommend it. It's a great atmosphere 105 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:47.639 and a great way to go get caught up with 106 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:52.959 Kentucky soccer. I mentioned college football beginning for the Wildcats, 107 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:57.160 as we all know, it starts internest tomorrow at noon, 108 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:01.639 sort of the official unofficial opener. It's the highest profile game, 109 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.199 of course. Florida State Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. Florida 110 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:08.560 State ranked number ten. You might recall last year thirteen 111 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.319 and oher left out of the playoffs. They went to 112 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.279 a bowl game, but it seemed like half their team 113 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:15.560 blew it off and they lost, so they finished up 114 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.839 thirteen and one Georgia Tech seven and six. They did 115 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:21.279 get a bowl game victory and beat a couple of 116 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:25.639 ranked opponents, but not great then. In fact their bowl 117 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:29.439 game first time they've been in the postseason since twenty eighteen. 118 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:32.680 Florida State is a ten and a half point favorite 119 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:35.920 if you have an account somewhere, and the over under 120 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:39.319 fifty five and a half. And I always am tempted, 121 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:41.639 not that I'm a gambler, but I keep an eye 122 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:45.120 on such things. Tempted to take the over almost every time. 123 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:48.000 I hate to watch a game and hope neither team scores. 124 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.600 That's not fun. But fifty five and a half, that's 125 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:55.639 a tough number because Florida State could win, you know, 126 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.720 thirty two to twenty, and that's an easy win, thirty 127 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:02.439 five to twenty, and you're still going to lose money 128 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.480 if you take the over. So it's tough. But you know, 129 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:08.319 these guys who set the lines, they know what they're doing. 130 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:12.240 A couple of other stories about college football. One of 131 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:15.879 these on the Athletic where there's a story out that 132 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:20.279 says opposing coaches tampered with a quarterback on Michigan's roster 133 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:26.199 who later transferred to Iowa, Hayde McNamara, And in fact, 134 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.319 a couple of Iowa coaches have been suspended for a 135 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:34.399 game because of tampering with him during the recruitment process, 136 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:36.959 and there's no surprise that this is going on. I'm 137 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.639 a little surprised at Kirk Farren's, the head coach at Iowa, 138 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:44.279 along with his wide receivers coach, had been suspended. Generally, 139 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:47.720 that's something that assistant coaches may do by mistake or 140 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:51.560 on purpose, but the head coach is being held accountable. 141 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:56.399 Plus the head coach at Miami of Ohio blasting Alabama 142 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:01.279 for quote unquote stealing our kicker. He basically flat out 143 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:05.120 said Alabama came in and stole our kicker. I think 144 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:07.959 you're gonna hear a lot more about that as the 145 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:11.519 years go on because of NIL. I don't know that 146 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:15.439 it was about tampering, but it was about poaching players. 147 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.800 And that's the first thing I thought of when NIL 148 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:24.759 was approved. Cbssports dot com has a story out there 149 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:29.000 one of their surveys, their candid coaching surveys. Guys get 150 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:33.559 to vote anonymously and they were asked basketball only, now, 151 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:39.600 which program do you believe has the best NIL situation? 152 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:44.559 Goad and ranked them And as you might expect, Florida 153 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:49.159 rank rather, Kentucky rank highly nationally. But some of the 154 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:52.200 names might surprise you. Arkansas near the top, was at 155 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.360 the top seventy three point seven percent of the coaches 156 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:01.720 polls said Arkansas. Arkansas Calipari's program far away number one 157 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.919 according to the anonymous coaches. Kansas next at forty three percent, 158 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:11.559 Brigham Young at thirty percent, and Kentucky was fourth twenty 159 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.399 five percent of the coaches pulled said Kentucky as the 160 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:20.159 best Innil situation. Indiana's fifth at seventeen percent, but that 161 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:23.360 didn't surprise me. Arkansas's way up there because you know, 162 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:28.200 we learned everything about their Nile situation when Caliperi changed, 163 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.840 and Kansas we kind of knew about Brigham Young. Really Louisville. 164 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.879 By the way, eleven percent of the coaches thought U 165 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:40.679 of l as the best situation. So perception is off 166 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.679 in reality. But when it comes to cold hard cash, 167 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:48.360 not so much. Speaking of cash, this could have a 168 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:52.240 far reaching effect. The National Women's Soccer League has granted 169 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:57.039 unrestricted free agency to its players and eliminated the draft. 170 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:02.840 Now minimum salary had been forty eight five hundred. Next 171 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:08.519 year it begins to climb, and by twenty thirty it'll 172 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:11.679 be up to eighty two thousand, five hundred dollars a year, 173 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.480 still a mere pittance compared to other leagues, but when 174 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.360 you look at attendance and television, maybe where it needs 175 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:22.559 to be. But the players love it, obviously because now 176 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:25.759 they're free to move. There'll be some backlash and there'll 177 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:28.279 be some players without a place to go now that 178 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:32.240 you open it up to the highest bidder. But maybe 179 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:35.879 this spills over to other pro sports. Just have to 180 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:39.679 buckle up and see all Skins and the Pirates beat 181 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:43.200 the Reds yesterday seven nothing skiins, going six shutout innings 182 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:46.360 only eighty seven pitches, dropped his z the area down 183 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:49.559 to two point one six. It would lead Major League Baseball, 184 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:53.399 but he hasn't pitched enough to qualify for consideration. And 185 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:56.840 while we're talking Cincinnati Bengals and Colts last night, I 186 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:01.200 did not watch it's preseason, eh you know, Anthony Richardson 187 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:04.759 did not play. Neither did Joe Flacco, his backup. But 188 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:08.960 Kirk Herbstreet talking to Al Michaels on the Prime broadcast, 189 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.679 he wondered about the fact that with Richardson struggling a 190 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:15.399 bit and the Bengals very frank and saying they are 191 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:18.519 not impressed with what they've seen in the joint practices, 192 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:22.840 Herbstreet brought up an interesting point about Richardson, who has 193 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.840 a veteran backup. 194 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:26.320 Let me let me ask you something here. If you're 195 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:30.960 Shane Steike in best case scenario, Anthony Richardson, he lives 196 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.679 up to what we all hope he can do, running, throwing, 197 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.559 his healthy. This team has a great year, and he's 198 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:40.000 a superstar, right, what if he struggles? What if he 199 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:43.360 has a good a good drive or a good game 200 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:44.879 and then a bad game, a good game. 201 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.879 And a bad game. He's a pick. 202 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.720 Everybody's kind of expecting him to be the guy. 203 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.559 You got a guy like Joe Flacco with the roster 204 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.600 they have. I just wonder how you handle that if 205 00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:59.799 it goes down that path, if you're Shane Steiker, because 206 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:01.519 you know what you get to get in Joe Flakha. 207 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:05.519 Yeah, that's Hevin Hall, you know. I think I would 208 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.240 think you can feel it inside the team at that 209 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:08.919 point too. 210 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:12.480 What are the guys thinking, you know, do we make 211 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.240 the change here? 212 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.679 What do we do? Yeah? 213 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.080 I think you read the room? 214 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.320 Yeah is what I would do. 215 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:18.679 Yeah. 216 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:23.879 Anthony Richardson has great skills, great physical ability, But anybody 217 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:27.240 who watched him play in college, including the way Kentucky 218 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:30.159 beat Florida when aar was there, you had to know 219 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.960 he was going to struggle in the NFL. So the 220 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.879 Colts are going to have to be patient with him. 221 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.799 And why not play Flaco? He knows I don't win 222 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.440 a Super Bowl all right? Coming up next to UK football, 223 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:42.600 Brad White and the Wildcats on six point thirty WLAP 224 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.559 Welcome back to the Big Bull Insider coming up next 225 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.279 to Anthony White of Sunday Morning Sports. Talk to former 226 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.120 Kentucky running back. A little bit later on, Billy Rutledge 227 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:54.320 talks Kentucky football with us while we talk to Kentucky 228 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:57.279 defense going into the weekend. Let's start with the big guy, 229 00:12:57.320 --> 00:13:02.240 the biggest name, biggest person, Deon Walker. Everybody's all everything, 230 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:07.679 preseason listed, tackle, listenman, noseguard, whatever. He will attract a 231 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:10.679 lot of attention, but he's not the only guy on 232 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.320 that side of the football. He listed the strengths as 233 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:16.240 he sees it of the Kentucky d We. 234 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:19.200 Got a bunch of strengths. You know, I say that 235 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.960 we play together. You know, we're a bunch of experienced guys. 236 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:26.600 We got years together, you know. But like on our 237 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:30.120 defensive line, we got me Octavis Oax and Trey Ripka, 238 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:33.840 Khalil Sanders Key, Sean Silver, Josiah Hayes. We got a 239 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:38.080 bunch of guys. We got our secondary with three four 240 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:40.679 years of experience with Maxwell Harriston. You know who just 241 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:43.879 had a breakout year last year, Zion Children, who's been 242 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:48.519 a consistent player all year. Uh ty Bryant, He's going 243 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.200 to be a sophomore this year. 244 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.279 Jordan love it. 245 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:55.000 Then we got Pop and d Jack in the middle. 246 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:59.159 You know, we're a complete defense right now, but we 247 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.279 just got to work on and staying together and never wavering. 248 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:06.480 As for what the Wildcats need from him and expect 249 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.840 to see out of him, Brad White answered that question 250 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.960 yesterday afternoon. 251 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:13.120 I want to see what everybody wants to see, right 252 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:16.039 We want to see a dominant defensive lineman, you know, 253 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:19.519 we want to see a guy that can absolutely alter 254 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:24.279 a game, change an offense, how they plan to attack us, 255 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:30.360 and so yeah, and I think he's ready to do that. 256 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:32.559 He's been dialed in. 257 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:37.480 And if they see that, Kentucky will live up to expectations. 258 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:41.039 If they do not, they meaning the coaches, the players, 259 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.840 the Big Blue Nation, And it's a lot to put 260 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.080 on a guy. But if they don't, it's going to 261 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:48.600 be a lot tougher, obviously, But you start with a 262 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:51.879 guy in the middle like Deon Walker. He'll command attention. 263 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.600 He's the guy on the whiteboard every week with an 264 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:58.080 opposing team. All right, how do we deal with this guy? 265 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:01.000 How do we block this guy? How many people will 266 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:04.120 it take. It might take two offensive linemen might take 267 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.080 what they say one and a half, you know, aligneman, 268 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:08.919 and then an end or a running back what they 269 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:12.919 call chipping. That's helping out and staying with them or 270 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.000 hitting him for a little while then going out in 271 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:17.919 a route or something like that. But they've got to 272 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:21.639 deal with him, and that'll make everybody better. I'm really 273 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.840 curious to see how Alex Safari does at linebacker. We 274 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.320 talked about this a couple of weeks ago. But here's 275 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.399 a guy who was a d back and was always 276 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.879 around the football making plays, and now they've moved him 277 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:37.039 to a linebacker spot, which he sold, he has told 278 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:40.120 me believes will make him a better player. 279 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.279 Man, it's been great. You know, I'm closer to the ball, 280 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:46.159 you know. I feel like that's what I wanted. That's 281 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.519 the change I wanted to do too as well. Why 282 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.440 just because I just wanted to be closer to the ball. 283 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:53.960 Just make more plays, you know. I like being physical 284 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.480 in the bogs and stuff like that, and I feel 285 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:57.200 like that's gonna benefit me in the future. 286 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.840 Seems like you're always around the ball a littt. 287 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.639 Yeah, I feel like even putting me close to the 288 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:05.120 ball would be more even more close to the ball. 289 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:05.720 Yeah. 290 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.120 What do you think of the way you've contributed here 291 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.320 at Kentucky so far? 292 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:12.159 Yeah, I think it's been good. You know, I feel 293 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.879 like I still got a lot I still gotta do. 294 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.320 You know, I feel like the job not done. I 295 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:18.000 got a live I still got to pool, you know. 296 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.080 So it's gonna be a great year this year. Why 297 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.440 just go out the work I put in, all the 298 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.639 offseason work got put in. You know, I feel like 299 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.960 it's my junior year and it's my that's my the 300 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:31.080 year I got to you know, put everything together. I had, 301 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:33.080 I got experience on my belt, so you know, I 302 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:33.919 feel like it's the year. 303 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.840 You really do have a lot of experience. I mean 304 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.919 from day one, they stuck you in there and you 305 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.519 made play. Yeah, that's just so vital in the sec Yeah. 306 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.320 Yeah, you know, I was prepared, you know, coming out 307 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.720 of high school, I was prepared. So I knew they 308 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:49.039 threw me in the fire, I'll be ready. 309 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:52.879 That's Alex Safari, And you have a tendency to kind 310 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:55.679 of forget about him because but he's played in twenty 311 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:59.480 six games the first two years started fifteen in fact 312 00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:03.679 started twelve out of thirteen games last year, forty nine tackles, 313 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:08.160 five and a half for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry, 314 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:11.240 a breakup, of forced fumble, of a fumble recovery. Like 315 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:14.160 I said, he was always around the football, it seemed. 316 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:17.559 Had his best game against Florida with nine tackles, including 317 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:22.480 five solos. And it's just a guy, it's a cliche, 318 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:27.200 but knows for the football. So Alexafari a linebacker. I 319 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:32.079 expect even better numbers from him. Everybody expects better numbers 320 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:35.279 and better performance from the safeties who did not play 321 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:39.160 too terribly well last year except for Afari and at 322 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.640 times Jordan love it. He had a pick against Louisville. 323 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:43.839 He had a pick in the bowl game, but was 324 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:46.880 a little inconsistent. But Jordan said, it's been a good 325 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.559 camp so far. That's a good sign. 326 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:51.680 Camp's been great for everybody, literally both sides of the ball. 327 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.559 Can's been great though. 328 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.440 It's made it great this year. 329 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.400 It was made it great. 330 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.000 I feel like just the cams to the defense to 331 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.559 bring it back. 332 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:00.680 He know, like really like like coach who said, you know, 333 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:04.480 we're having more like a player led like player lead team. 334 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:07.039 You know, and it's like we're developing the young guys, 335 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.960 young guys coming along. 336 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.519 Everything's been executed. 337 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.960 Will like Afar, I love it. As a junior to 338 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:15.480 be who has played a lot of football, twenty five 339 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:18.640 career games, twenty one stars. They just threw him out there. 340 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:23.599 Eleven games last year, ten starting assignments, thirty tackles, those 341 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:26.000 two picks that told you about total of three and 342 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:28.240 the fumble recovery. Had to sit out a couple of 343 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:31.400 games with injury, missed the Tennessee game, missed the Mississippi 344 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:36.119 State game with injuries, but he says the entire safety 345 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:39.279 crew he hopes and believes will be better this year. 346 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.960 Yeah, we didn't have the year we had last season, 347 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.279 and you know, we had a really high expectation. But 348 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.880 this year just just looked forward to us being different, 349 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.839 you know, like we're gonna set the standard. We're really 350 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:50.920 not trying to talk too much. We're really trying to 351 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.640 put the film out there. Y'all gonna see what we do. 352 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:52.880 Man. 353 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:56.200 Well, getting back to that de front with Dion Walker 354 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:59.759 and Octavia Sox and Dine and all those guys should 355 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:04.039 help the back seven obviously create those quarterback hurries, give 356 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.160 them a chance to pick off some passes, and generally 357 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:10.559 Greek have it all right. Coming up next to Anthony White, 358 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:14.480 co host of Sunday Morning Sports Talk, former Kentucky running back, 359 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.359 we'll talk about these football Wildcats and get his take 360 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.519 a little bit later on Billy Rutledge on six point 361 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:23.279 thirty Wlap Welcome back to the Big Blue side of 362 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:26.440 joining us now is a former football Wildcat and the 363 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:29.480 current host of Sunday Morning Sports Talk. Here meachin every 364 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:32.839 week in this radio station. Anthony White, Anthony, I know 365 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.680 you have got to be as happy to get this 366 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.759 season started every week. You're looking for something new to 367 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.640 talk about, aren't you. 368 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:42.720 Yeah, when you go into the off season and you 369 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:47.079 come into we will coming to our defense is stack 370 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:50.599 got a couple new people on the offense and the 371 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.240 offensive positions that we gotta see what. 372 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.680 They gotta do. 373 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:56.880 But I think everybody's optimistic about it. I will say 374 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:01.079 this Thoughkay. The pleasure we did half this year was 375 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.920 that we came into it where we didn't have to 376 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.960 worry about a lot of talking because we had a 377 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.480 lot of people in the Olympics. The last two weeks 378 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:12.079 we were talking about UK players, UK. 379 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.839 Athletes the Olympic. 380 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:16.680 That's very true. Yeah, uh, and we'll come back to that. 381 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:18.519 I do want to talk about that with you, But 382 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:22.480 you talked about the defense. I got to start with 383 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:24.559 you on the offense. That was a position you played 384 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.880 and played very well. And for those of you who 385 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.680 don't know, I talk about it all the time. He's 386 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.400 too modest to say it. Anthony was one of the 387 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.880 best and still is in the history of the SEC 388 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:36.680 when it came to running the ball and catching the ball. 389 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:40.599 One of the best combo backs ever. And I think 390 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.160 Anthony you could talk about quarterback, but with Chip train 391 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:48.000 him out. Are you worried about the power run game 392 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:51.839 because I am power? 393 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.000 I don't know. 394 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:58.759 I'm I think. I think Wish Hampden wants to run 395 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:02.799 fast pace. He wants so fast, and Demy can line. 396 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:05.480 Demy can do everything I can do, and Demmy's bigger 397 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:10.079 than me. So I think that Ship being out will 398 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:14.880 not hurt us against Southern Mys. South Carolina will be 399 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.200 a challenge, but I. 400 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:18.279 Still think our deferens is gonna keep us in the game. 401 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.920