WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to the Big Blue and Sider Dick Gabriel with 2 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.480 you Friday edition of our program as we wrap up 3 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.839 the week heading into another football weekend. It is overlap time, 4 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:12.640 so we've got a lot going on tonight, football and 5 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:16.359 basketball specifically, we'll talk about, of course, Kentucky Auburn. That 6 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:19.960 game comes up tomorrow night seven forty five kickoff, five 7 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:23.760 point thirty pre game with Christy and Jeremy and Logan 8 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:26.679 and then Tom Leech, Chef Pcory and yours truly with 9 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:29.839 the action as the Cats take on the Tigers, Kentucky 10 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:33.640 looking for its first win over Auburn in fifteen years. 11 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.159 Although you don't play all the time, but you got 12 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:38.719 to go back to the big night on the planes 13 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:41.399 and nine, and we're gonna talk a lot about that 14 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:46.520 with both Morgan Newton and Will Fiddler, two former Kentucky quarterbacks, 15 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:50.200 and they along with Randall Cobb, each scored a touchdown 16 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:53.640 in the twenty one to fourteen win over the Tigers. 17 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:56.119 And what kind of gets lost a little bit in 18 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:59.560 that story was the fact that Auburn led it fourteen 19 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:04.159 to six at the half, Kentucky's defense shut out the 20 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:07.560 Tigers in the second half and that was rich Brooks's 21 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:12.640 final season as the Kentucky head coach, so a huge 22 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:15.599 win for the Cats. They needed it badly. Then they 23 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:18.319 need to win badly. Now we're gonna find out more 24 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:24.439 about Auburn from John Longshore from WAKATV as well as 25 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:28.280 a podcast you can watch on YouTube. We'll get a 26 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:31.959 scouting report on the Tigers who have been struggling with 27 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.159 turnovers this year. And I don't know if it's a 28 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:38.719 quarterback controversy, but I know fans in media aren't happy 29 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:41.519 right now with quarterback play there. So we'll learn more 30 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.159 about those guys coming up in our number two. But 31 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:47.239 coming up at our next segment, we're gonna hear from 32 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:50.519 Morgan Newton. As you may know if you've been following 33 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:55.760 along with our radio broadcast, we have been employing former Wildcats, 34 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:59.840 well once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat to open our broadcasts. 35 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:05.879 Rich Brooks did one week, Bernie Scruggs, Kenneth Horsey, and 36 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:09.680 this week it is Morgan Newton to open our broadcast 37 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:13.280 little monologue and it opens our play by play segment 38 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.360 as well. And I had a chance to chat with 39 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:19.199 Morgan after we were done recording what we needed for 40 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:23.240 that monologue. So we'll get Morgan's thoughts on that game 41 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:26.039 back in on nine and then Will Fiddler joined Jeff 42 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.599 Icorol and me for The Wildcat Whip. That's our podcast 43 00:02:29.639 --> 00:02:34.400 that appears via the UK Sports Network Twitter handle as 44 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:38.039 well as my Facebook page. Tom and Jeff share it 45 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:40.919 on Twitter and Facebook. So if you want to get 46 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:45.560 a deeper dive on what we think about the game 47 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:47.240 coming up, because they only get about two and a 48 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.719 half minutes prior to the playbook play segment and the 49 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:53.719 Mark Stoops interview beginning on the pregame show, so we 50 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:57.599 go a little deeper and we recorded it South of Wrigley, 51 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:02.919 which is a great sandwich Shopsigo style sandwiches on Southland Dry. 52 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:06.199 We have a lot of fun doing that. Tom was 53 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:11.080 on assignment this week, so filling in for Tom was 54 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:13.719 Will Fiddler. Now he couldn't come to South the Wrigley, 55 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:17.560 of course because he lives in Charlotte now, but Jeff 56 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:19.439 and I prepped him. It was like, when you come 57 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:22.360 to town, you got to check this place out. So 58 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.639 that's coming up a little bit of our conversation with 59 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:27.759 Will comes up as well. A little bit later on. Plus, 60 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:30.800 we'll talk basketball with Ben Roberts of the herold Leader. 61 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.120 Of course, the Wildcats coming off that blowout went over 62 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:38.919 Kentucky Wesleyan, which was totally overpowered and out manned, but 63 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.400 still the way Kentucky did it is worth discussing. So 64 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.759 we will do just that with Ben coming up at 65 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.479 the bottom of the hour. Mark Troops talked to the 66 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:50.719 media yesterday. Of course, he lost his mom this week 67 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.879 and as he pointed out, though his mother would want 68 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:58.280 him to basically keep his head down and keep working 69 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.400 and get this football team better. She was a coach's wife. 70 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:04.439 You all know this by now. Mark Stoops a dad, 71 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.599 was a very well known football coach up in Youngstown, 72 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:11.479 and of course his sons became really good football coaches 73 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.680 as well. Mark trying to help his team turn things 74 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.240 around against Auburn, which as we said, is struggling. You 75 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:21.720 know this, and Auburn's one of those teams like Kentucky 76 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.519 that if it doesn't take care of the little things, 77 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:29.199 that's how things get away from it, that's when games 78 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.800 fall apart. And Stoops talked about that there. This team 79 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:35.839 is Kentucky team, like a lot of teams, is so 80 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:39.639 close to being where it wants to be and needs 81 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.399 to be. But taking care of the little things like 82 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:46.720 not turning it over, not penaly not being called for penalties, 83 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.279 that's what gets you in trouble. That's what you got 84 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:49.839 to take care of. 85 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:52.480 There's a lot of talented teams. There's a lot of 86 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:56.759 good teams in the league, and you know, a lot 87 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.560 of games you know there's it's a possession here or there. 88 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.199 Know what plays they are and how important they are. 89 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:04.439 But you know, we got to do all of the 90 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:07.079 things right, you know, and put ourselves in a position, 91 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:10.040 you know, to make plays in the fourth quarter to 92 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:10.680 get a victory. 93 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:13.560 And that's the key, isn't it. You just get the 94 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:17.240 game into the fourth quarter where you can exert your will, 95 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.399 where you've got a chance to make more plays than 96 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:25.040 the other guy and pull away. Sounds simple, but it's not. 97 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:28.279 We've seen stoops as teams do it, you know, We've 98 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.399 seen them control the middle eight, the last four of 99 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.000 the first half, first four to the second half and 100 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:36.399 put itself in a position to be on top going 101 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:39.560 into the fourth quarter and then lean on your defense, 102 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:43.319 lean on your ground game. But again, got to take 103 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.399 care of the little things including don't turn the ball 104 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:49.319 over and when you can make the other guy turn 105 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.399 it over, and Auburn's been doing that a lot this season, 106 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:56.279 but Stoops basically said, you can't count on that. You 107 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.120 just got to count on what you can do and 108 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.519 take advantage when the other guys make a mistake. 109 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:03.399 It's very important, but we can't always control what they're 110 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:06.480 going to do, right, you know. And it's like, you know, 111 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.680 I mean, obviously if you could talk about defenses and 112 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:12.399 trying to create turnovers, but obviously they're coaching over there 113 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:14.600 as well, so I think their records would be a 114 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:16.879 whole lot different if their turnover. 115 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:17.360 Ratio is better. 116 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.720 And you know, in our games, you know, certain games, 117 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:25.040 you know, the turnovers were a huge difference. So it's 118 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.639 it's always a factor, and for a team like us 119 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:31.199 that's going to be in tight games, it's it's super important. 120 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.319 It has not been a banner year for turnovers for 121 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:37.000 the Kentucky defense so far. The Cats have picked off 122 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:41.240 only six passes and they've recovered just the two fumbles 123 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:43.959 they have forced a total of ten. But as you know, 124 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:46.560 for a while there, they just could not seem to 125 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:50.040 fall on the football, so If they can improve those 126 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:54.399 numbers this week, that would be really helpful. Defense has 127 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:58.079 played well this year except for the Florida game, and 128 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:00.720 I'm throwing a South Carolina game in there as well. 129 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.759 Kentucky's defense, I thought, held on for as long as 130 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:07.480 it could against South Carolina, but without really much support 131 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:10.720 at all from the offense, things finally got away from 132 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.279 the Wildcats in that game. Offense is better since then, 133 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.160 but not exactly where the Wildcats needed on either side 134 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.160 of the football. This would be a good week to 135 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:25.839 straighten that out. Auburn quarterback Peyton Thorn has six interceptions, 136 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:30.600 four of those came in one game, but there isn't 137 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:33.839 a whole lot behind them. They got a freshman named 138 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:38.160 Hank Brown who is the backup and he hasn't played much, 139 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:43.240 so they are obviously committed to playing Peyton Thorn, and 140 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:45.399 according to some of the people who cover the team, 141 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:48.120 that's one of the problems. But they've got a running 142 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:52.680 back named Jaquest Hunter who was really really talented as 143 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:58.079 a senior from Philadelphia, Mississippi, and averages five yards per carry. 144 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:02.399 So if Kentucky can keep him from getting off and 145 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:06.199 getting loose, then the Wildcats have a chance to dominate 146 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.560 when it comes to time of possession, and that's something 147 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:14.160 Kentucky has been good at most of the season, and 148 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:16.519 in fact didn't do a bad job in that department 149 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.399 against Florida, but kept trying to come from behind against 150 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:23.000 the Gators, and again at one point twenty seven to 151 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:28.160 twenty and one more stopped by the defense, one more 152 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:32.159 good possession by the offense, at least from where I 153 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:35.320 was standing on the sideline, and it looked like Kentucky 154 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.360 could have begun to slowly turn that thing around. But 155 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:44.840 the crowd, which Kentucky had eliminated on a couple of 156 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:48.759 occasions down in the swamp, really into it. From the 157 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.679 opening drive. Florida drove the ball down the field. Wildcats 158 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.840 fought them off and forced a field goal, but still 159 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:59.200 the crowd was engaged and stayed that way all night. 160 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:02.559 It was a big party in the swamp, and the 161 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.159 Wildcats missed their opportunity to shut things down. So they 162 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:08.679 need a party Saturday night. They need the crowd to 163 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.120 show out the way it did at the last home game. 164 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.440 I have a feeling at will, so we'll have it 165 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:16.279 for you. And coming up next well here from Morgan Newton, 166 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:20.279 who helped quarterback the Wildcats to that upset win over 167 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.559 the Auburn Tigers back in twenty nine. Bottom of the hour, 168 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:26.600 Ben Roberts will talk Kentucky basketball here on the Big 169 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:31.919 Blewin Sider six thirty WLAP Welcome back to the Big 170 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:34.759 Bluin Sider. Coming up tomorrow night Kentucky Auburn football, and 171 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:38.000 the first voice you hear on our broadcast will be 172 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.279 that of Morgan Newton, former Kentucky quarterback, one of in 173 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:45.080 fact three at Kentucky qbs who scored against the Tigers 174 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:47.919 the last time Kentucky beat Auburn, which was back in 175 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:54.039 twenty nine. Morgan, Will Fiddler and Randall copy here from 176 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:57.039 Will a little bit later on the show. But as 177 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:00.639 you know now, we use former wild catch to open 178 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:03.799 our broadcast and Morgan gets the nod this week. And 179 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:06.480 after we got done working on that project, I had 180 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.919 a chance to fire some more questions at him. What 181 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.120 was your like going down there and knowing you all 182 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.240 needed a win and anytime you're on the road, but 183 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:16.399 that's a tough place to play, tough place to win. 184 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:19.000 Seemed like everything was against you, guys. What do you 185 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:19.919 remember about that? 186 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:21.440 Yeah? 187 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:24.519 So for me, it was the memories were. 188 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:29.159 Sort of fuzzy because at that particular point in the year, 189 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:33.879 I was heading towards the red shirt and heartline was 190 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:36.440 the quarterback that had recently gotten injured, and I thought 191 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:37.240 there was as good a. 192 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.919 Chance Will Fiddler was going to play as I was. 193 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:45.480 But that week in preparation, Coach Brooks and team and 194 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.879 staff told me that I was going to be a 195 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:51.080 one of the guys playing a lot in that game 196 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:55.120 and alongside with Randall. And so, you know, I always 197 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:59.360 say ignorance is bliss because I probably didn't think much 198 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:03.840 of the moment or the environment, and I was young 199 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.080 enough that I. 200 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.440 Was just eager to get out, to get on the 201 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.440 field and contribute. 202 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.840 How is it to prepare knowing that that Randa was 203 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.960 gonna play and then Will did play, You guys kind 204 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.919 of shared the position. 205 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:21.399 Yeah, So you know it was when you when you're 206 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:26.320 in that preparation for that week, you know, Coach Sanders, 207 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:29.480 Coach Joker, you know, they're trying to put together a 208 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:31.200 game plan where we could be successful, and we knew 209 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:33.480 Randall was gonna be a big component of that. With 210 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:37.200 a wildcat, I mean, he'd been doing wildcat you know, 211 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:40.960 really his entire career at Kentucky at that point. And 212 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.639 so my job was really more or less to make 213 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.759 some plays if things kind of broke down, tried to run, 214 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:50.480 you know, run a few in certain scenarios, be mobile 215 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:53.399 and uh, and really just distribute the ball. I think 216 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.720 at that time primarily to Randall, to Chris and to 217 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:57.440 Derek Lock. 218 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.000 Chris had a big game and then do you remember that. 219 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.559 Yeah, I mean Chris is Chris was a stud. I mean, 220 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:06.600 and Chris and I came in the same year. He 221 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:08.639 came from Juco, I came from high school. 222 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.840 And I always say, if Chris was a guy that 223 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:13.879 had four years at Kentucky, he'd have been, you know, 224 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.159 an All American type player. 225 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:20.120 We nearly won the Super Bowl MVP when he was 226 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.000 in the pros. 227 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:24.200 Yeah, I mean tons that he had a ton, tons 228 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:27.799 and tons of talent and ability. And then you know 229 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:33.600 when you couple Chris with with eighteen and then with Lrod, 230 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:37.519 I mean, that was a formidable bunch. And I only 231 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:40.559 mentioned at that time we had John Connor and the 232 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.720 Turtle and. 233 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:46.000 Uh, you know d Locke in the backfields. So some 234 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:48.159 really really good football players. 235 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:51.639 A lot of talent, and you all signed on when 236 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:56.639 Kentucky was finding it success under Richard Brooks. You know, 237 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.919 the guys you signed on early, they were they were 238 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:02.159 coming out of probation. But so the expectations were kind 239 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.840 of high for you guys, weren't they. 240 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:07.919 Sure, Yeah, they were high. I think, you know, and 241 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.639 I've talked to several people about this. I think those 242 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:16.480 that seven year was truly in catalyst to getting a 243 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.080 lot of good players both. I mean, it's proven on 244 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.679 the football side, but then also I've heard John Wall 245 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:25.679 and some other guys talk about it in their interviews 246 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:29.720 that that was that was a time where they could 247 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.240 really get a sense of the culture and what and 248 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.960 what was kind of building at Kentucky and maybe even 249 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.519 DeMarcus Cousins and those. 250 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.399 Guys in two thousand and seven. So if you think 251 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:41.279 about two thousand and seven, Randall. 252 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:47.159 And a lot of that class were seniors in high 253 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:52.240 school and they were probably either committed or close to 254 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:57.840 being committed, and then put edge. Yeah, I think it 255 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:59.840 kind of put them over head with a lot of people, right, 256 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.679 and so you know, that was a critical critical year 257 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.320 in recruiting. 258 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.799 It's certainly a catalyst. 259 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.639 But the perspective that a lot of us had is 260 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.200 we wanted to be a part of a program that 261 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.960 was ascending, and it felt like under coach Brooks the 262 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.440 program was ascending at that time. 263 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:18.279 Yeah, and then you got to a bowl game. You 264 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.799 didn't win, but you maintained that streak, didn't you. 265 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:23.879 Yeah, you know, that was really cool to do. I 266 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.480 mean stinks that we didn't win it. 267 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:28.399 It was kind of shockingly cold that night and that 268 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.960 and so I don't know that we really expected that 269 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.519 per se, but it's kind of amazing that when. 270 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.159 You look back on it. I mean, that was fifteen 271 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:39.720 years ago. 272 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.240 Maybe it's been a little bit about probably about fifteen 273 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:45.080 years ago, we played in that Bowl with Clemson, and 274 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:48.279 so you get to see kind of how their program developed. 275 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:50.480 I think that might have even been davos first year 276 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.120 and then sort of where we were at that time. 277 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:55.039 So the programs were similar. 278 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.279 I guess you could say we probably had a similar 279 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.759 on a similar playing field. 280 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.919 You at l c A worked with Cutter Bowley, right. 281 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:07.919 Yeah, cut yeap. Cutters A worked a lot within the 282 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:11.279 last two years. He's got great, great, great, great family 283 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:17.080 and they love Kentucky and so you know, Cutter's got 284 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.480 a very bright future. 285 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.799 You and I last spoke the day that that he 286 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.919 committed to UK been the day that he's literally signed. 287 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:28.240 Yeah, and then to what. 288 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.360 He he had, he came in in a tough spot 289 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:34.879 man in Florida, you know that. Yeah, But as Mark 290 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:37.000 Stuke's pointed out, that's not going to phase his kid 291 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.480 at all. 292 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:37.679 Is it. 293 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:44.720 No, he's a really resilient, really resilient guy, tough, he's 294 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.840 kind of he's a really mentally tough player. 295 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.600 He'll be okay. I mean, it's it's really good to 296 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.759 get that exposure and that experience. 297 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:55.320 You know, I always said what we have in common 298 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:59.279 is I had the ability early on to watch Mike 299 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.679 Heartline in some of those early years and although it 300 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:06.519 was unfortunately got injured. You know, Mike was my roommate 301 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:09.639 on the road, so we got to spend a lot 302 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:11.679 of time together. I got to see how he prepared 303 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.360 and how he how he got ready for a lot 304 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:17.720 of the games, and he's a great mentor that way. 305 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:22.320 But as you know, you know, being able. 306 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:26.840 To go to Florida and that momentum starts to happen 307 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.480 and it just kind of they were rolling downhill and 308 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:32.480 so he'll learn from that. I think the speed of 309 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:36.799 the game will slow down for him over time and 310 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.039 he'll really get a chance to prepare to play in 311 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:39.600 the future. 312 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:43.840 Yeah, they have yet tried to develop. I mean, the 313 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:47.200 plan with Drew Barker was to to develop him and 314 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.799 then recruit and keep on developing, and injuries kind of 315 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:53.440 short circuit of that, and they've led to the to 316 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:56.919 the steady parade of transfer quarterbacks. But that seems to 317 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:59.960 be the plan with Cutter now, and he seems to 318 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:03.600 be a guy worth investing in. I'm sure you're a 319 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:06.960 little biased, but he should be kind of that that 320 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.119 bedrock kind of player that they could use. 321 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.920 Yeah, you know, he's I think it really helps to 322 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:16.920 be an in state player. I think in this current 323 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.599 landscape of n I L. You know, he certainly has. 324 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:22.759 Support from you know, n I L. 325 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.359 Contributors in this state. I mean, I think that's certainly 326 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:30.319 something that can help, you know, keep him home. 327 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:31.519 Right. 328 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.400 But yeah, I mean I think this staff, I mean, 329 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:39.119 it's it's no secret the staff has hasn't really produced 330 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:43.200 and recruited a quarterback and then kind of, you know, 331 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.839 turn those guys that person into a you know, starter 332 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:49.720 over over the course of their career, and so I 333 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:53.119 think Cutters as good a chance to to see that 334 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:56.279 happens as any of the ones we've had. 335 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:59.559 To this point. So he's a great kid. He's going 336 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.440 he's going to work really, really hard. 337 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:05.759 Yeah, and I think that he's probably the best candidate 338 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:12.519 we've seen since Barker or maybe before that. I mean everything, right, yeah. 339 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:15.680 I mean, you know, I've learned not to get too 340 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:20.720 caught up in the stars and the rankings. I mean 341 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.519 a lot of times the stars and rankings are determined 342 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:28.680 based on tangibles and the quarterback position and kind of 343 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.200 you know, understanding if somebody's gonna be good at it 344 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:36.759 or not as far more than just the tangibles. But 345 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:44.599 you know, Cutter has had a He's every school on this, 346 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.960 you know, in the country seemed like was in to 347 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.559 see him at l c A. When when we had 348 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.559 him there in the last couple of years. I mean, 349 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.240 there were people flying in from everywhere, and it's it's 350 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.759 the who's who of that came to see him. So 351 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:03.640 he's a highly sought after player. They're not all wrong, right, 352 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:07.680 So you know, I I I expect Cutter to be 353 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:10.759 a good player in the future. He's, like I said, 354 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.000 he's got all the tools. 355 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.799 Great family. 356 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:19.440 Jeans, elite jeans, he's got an elite gene pool. They're 357 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.680 just the bullies are great, great people that care a 358 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.599 lot about this state. 359 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:25.400 I tell you what, though, It's just like any of 360 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.880 you quarterbacks, man, you're only as good as your O line. 361 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.759 They got to keep building that O line. 362 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.440 Yeah, they used to have. 363 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:39.119 Yeah, you know, it's since since Schlarman, since Coach Schlarmon, 364 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.559 you know, the rest of soul. 365 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.359 It's kind of been a little bit of it. It's 366 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.680 been a little bit of a challenge. 367 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.640 These the last few years up front the blue wall, 368 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:51.799 and and I know that Coach Bush and company are 369 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:55.480 trying to do some things to protect Brock. You can 370 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:58.960 tell from watching the tape that they're really trying to 371 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:03.000 help out those tackles and and really protect the quarterbacks. 372 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:06.759 So you know that's a work in progress. 373 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:12.960 But you know, hopefully cutters talking to and spending time 374 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:15.559 with every offensive line recruit that comes in there. 375 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.599 I'm your best friend, right. 376 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.640 That's exactly right, exactly right, Well, Morgan. 377 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:25.240 I do appreciate the time and looking forward to hearing you, 378 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:28.880 hearing you open our broadcast on Saturday night. Yeah. 379 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.000 Likewise, I'm excited about that game. 380 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:34.400 It's I think we've beat him since since two thousand 381 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:37.160 and nine, so that's we got to break that streak, 382 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.839 right right. 383 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.359 That's Morgan Newton, one of three Wildcat quarterbacks to score 384 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:45.720 against Auburn last time. Kentucky beat the Tigers, and you 385 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.480 will hear Morgan. Open our broadcast tomorrow night at five 386 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:52.640 point thirty, and you'll hear it again. The opening segment, 387 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:56.039 just before play by play begins is Kentucky takes on Auburn, 388 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:59.240 and you'll hear it right here. Up next, Ben Roberts, 389 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:01.920 a The Harold Leader talk Kentucky basketball. You're on six 390 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:04.240 point thirty w Welcome back to the Big Moon. Cider 391 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:06.279 joining us now is a long time friend of the show, 392 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:09.279 the excellent beat writer for The Hero Leader covers Kentucky 393 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:13.920 basketball and more. Ben Roberts and Ben, I guess we're 394 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:16.839 all tired of saying, well, it was just Kentucky Wesleyan, 395 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:21.599 and really, I think another mitigating factor there was the 396 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:25.480 Wesleyan coach after the game saying he apologized to Mark 397 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:29.640 Pope for not giving him more of an effort. But still, 398 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:32.920 you put up numbers like that in the school yard, 399 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.480 you've accomplished something, haven't you. 400 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:38.440 Yeah, I mean yeah, it wasn't just you know, the 401 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:44.359