Big Blue Insider

Mark Stoops says UK football may be on the verge of a special run; (11:00) Chris Doering of the SEC Network on how UK might re-gain college football prominence; (39:00) veteran video journalist Steve Moss of WKYT talks HS and UK football; (58:00) Mark Pope compares UK hoops to chess; (1:01:00) Heroes, Fools and Flakes and sometimes in baseball, mound meetings cover a lot of topics...

Comments from a college football coach on the portal/NIL that have gone viral; (13:00) an SEC analyst says Auburn, which is on the UK schedule, is flying under the pre-season radar; (19:00) Jeff Drummond of Cats Illustrated; (39:00) Paul Finebaum on the Big 0 vs the SEC; (50:00) Taylor Swift's appearance on the Kelce brothers' podcast; (58:00) WKYT reporter/anchor Lindsey Gough and sometimes you just have to say "no" to Spam -- and not the junk mail...

We begin with an apology - and an explanation - for a couple of weird-sounding segments from Tuesday's show; (8:00) Rick Pitino says he's forgiven U of L for firing him and takes the responsibility for what went wrong, plus he's SO high on Mark Pope; (20:00) Cole Parke of The Cats' Pause; (39:00) Unforgettable guard Sean Woods talks football AND basketball; (:59:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore plus even broadcasters need to keep their head on a swivel...

Latest from the football Wildcats in fall camp; (19:00) WKYT's Brian Milam on UK football and his move to the KHSAA; (48:00) more UK football chatter with Mark Stoops and Brad White; (59;00) UK stat guru Corey Price on the top 25 UK TD's in the last 25 years...

tonight — Last week of vaycay before footbal starts so it's the best of the Big Blue Insider. Tonight -- UK All-American Derek Abney; UK radio voice Darren Headrick; ex-Cat Sean Woods; top college hoop teams from this century and we talk donuts. Garage opens at 6 on WLAP-AM

Mark Stoops (UK), Walt Wells (EKU) on fall camp; (13:00) MLB Network sings the praises of Elly De La Cruz; (19:00) ex-Cat Van Hiles; (39:00) Jeff Piecoro of the UK Sports Network on fall workouts; (58:00) EKU Colonels on goals for 2025; (1:08:00) Wells on challenges the Colonels are facing and an example of a challenge well-met...

Lots of UK football media day chatter, starting with Mark Stoops; (11:00) AD Mitch Barnhart on what's expected from this season; (19:00) Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan; (28:00) QBs Calzada, Boley and Allen; (39:00) Defensive Coordinator Brad White and powerful nose guard Dave Gusta; (49:00) new OL Josh Braun and Hamdan on the offensive line; (55:00) defensive back Jordan Lovett; (1:00) volleyball All-American Brooklyn Deleye and we hear from a great, albeit fictional, motivational speech that could occur on Any Given Sunday...

UK adds 6 new names to its athletic Hall of Fame; (8:00) my longtime broadcast partner Doug Flynn on being one of those named; (19:00) ex-Cat OL Kenneth Horsey on what it takes to build a Big Blue Wall; (39:00) HL's Caroline Makauskas on the UK women's bkb Cats; (58:00) WDKY's Michael Epps on wrapping up his stay in Lexington and sometimes, in basic training, it's every man for himself...

UK QB Zach Calzada on his upcoming debut; Boogie Cousins on wanting to stay at Ky; (12::00) Darren Headrick on how his dad helped prank HOFer Ryne Sandberg; (19:00) Unforgettable guard Sean Woods; (39:00) Cole Parke of The Cats' Pause; (59:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore and how long has it been since a Cinderella Boy, a hometown hero, won the Masters?

Mark Stoops on opening opponent Toledo, just picked to win the MAC; a MAC fan torches the SEC with a viral post; (12:00) Stoops on lessons he learned since arriving at Ky; (19:00) the passing of baseball HOFer Ryne Sandberg, on playing the game the right way; (31:00) Will Levis posts about his mangled shoulder; (39:00) ex-Cat and co-host of Sunday Morning Sportstalk Anthony White; (58:00) UK baseball chatter with Derek Terry of BatCats Central and... Who's On First?

Ex-Cat Josh Hines-Allen, helping his son battle leukemia, was there to support then-teammate Josh Paschal and HIS bout with cancer when they were Wildcats; (12:00) Ichiro on being snubbed by a HOF voter; (19:00) Mark Stoops' comments to the media earlier today; (39:00) UK voice Tom Leach talks UK football; (:59:00) Josh Edwards of CBSSports.com and The Cats' Pause and it's great when everything is all right, all right, all riiight...

Mark Stoops on remaking his team; (8:00) serious shade being tossed about in college football among conferences; (19:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore; (39:00) WTVQ anchor/reporter Hallie Devore; (58:00) a look back at the Week That Was with some former all-star football Wildcats; (1:08) Heroes, Fools and Flakes and a classic tantrum on the tennis court...

Mark Pope on progress by Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno; (9:00) Johnson and Moreno talk hoops; (19:00) Maggie Davis of BBN Tonight; (39:00) Joe Burrow of the Bengals and ex-Cat Maxwell Hairston of the Buffalo Bills; (51:00) what are the top NCAA basketball teams NOT to win a title? (58:00) author Kevin Cook on his new book about Memorial Coliseum and... just how big can a Twinkie get?

We talk about the bitter loss in TBT for La Familia; (8:00) new Patriots coach Mike Vrabel chastises a reporter for not paying attention in a news conference; (19:00) Coach Sean Woods on how fans responded to TBT; (39:00) new UK beat writer Cole Parke of The Cats' Pause; (58:00) Jordan Adams of Fox 56 WDKY and time is fluid in outer space...

Calipari on bringing common sense to the transfer portal; (13:00) UK volleyballer Molly Tuozzo on chasing a 9th straight SEC title; Scottie Scheffler wonders, what's it all about? (19:00) ex-Cat LB Wesley Woodyard; (39:00) ex-Cat DE Jeremy Jarmon; (1:14) Bengals begin camp minus two key players and let's get things straight on just who is the Dude...

Mark Pope with an update on his squad; (8:00) coach Sean Woods and GM Twany Beckham on La Familia advancing in TBT; (19:00) UK All-American WR/Kick Returner Derek Abney; (39:00) Cats' Pause editor Darrell Bird; (58:00) WKYT Sports Director Brian Milam on SEC Media Days & TBT didn't it seem as though John McEnroe needed a hug?

Preview of La Familia in TBT with coach Sean Woods and ex-Cats Willie Cauley Stein and DeAndre Liggins; (11:00) Jeff Piecoro of the UK Sports Network on SEC Media Days and the football Wildcats; (31:00) excerpts from The Leach Report special edition featuring old-time radio calls PLUS the clips that didn't make it on Tom's show, appearing on the BBI along with Tom and Darren Headrick AND... getting your chest waxed isn't always a great idea...

Dick Gabriel on Mark Stoops' appearance in Atlanta at SEC Media Days, then the Best of the BBI with UK greats Dan Issel, Jack Givens, EKU coach Walt Wells and former Cats' Pause reporter Aaron Gershon...

The Best of the BBI with Jon Hale of the HL, UK Network's Christi Thomas, Keith Farmer from BBN Tonight and retired NFL ref Jim Daopolous...

The Best of the BBI with Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com, ex-Cat Danny Trevathan, Unforgettable guard Sean Woods and David Sisk of Rivals.com...

The Best of the BBI with Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post, Cats' Pause founder Oscar Combs and UK commit Matt Ponatoski...

UK raising ticket prices for students; Texas Tech hits an NIL gusher thanks to an alum; (11:00) the value of a huge hat at a ball game; (18:00) Noah Cierzan, new face at WLEX Sports; (39:00) WLAP's Billy Rutledge on skyrocketing cost of college sports; (59:00) a look back at a busy Week That Was; (1:07:00) Heroes, Fools and Flakes and inspiring words from a successful (but fictional) coach...

Mark Pope on incoming Ky natives Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno; (13:00) a KC radio personality calls Patrick Mahomes "fat?" (19:00) Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated; (39:00) Darren Headrick of the UK Sports Network; (58:00) what are the most hostile football stadiums in the SEC? (1:05:00) UK volleyball coach Craig Skinner and... it's okay to let someone else be a hero.

Kudos to Tayshaun Prince and Randall Cobb on induction into the KY Sports Hall of Fame; (12:00) new Wildcats Kam Williams and Jayden Quaintance; (19:00) Aaron Gershon of The Cats' Pause; (39:00) Unforgettable Guard Sean Woods on preps for TBT; (1:00:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore and a mysterious stranger has questions about cereal...

Steve Spurrier with another swipe at UK fans; (15:00) the WNBA needs to prep its players better when it comes to media; (19:00) Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com on why expanding the NCAA men's basketball tournament is pointless; (39:00) sportswriter/author John Huang on Marrow's defection and the upcoming football season; (59:00) adjusted way-too-soon pre-season basketball Top 25; (1:01:00) where does UK fit into top college football rivalries? and the ever-popular Q: "Who's on first?"

UK lands a high-profile football/basell recruit and he talks about his decision to be a Wildcat; (12:00) ex-Cat Koby Brea is part of a record NBA trade; (18:00) legendary journalist Oscar Combs; (39:00) Cameron Drummond of the HL talks recruiting; (59:00) NBA/ABA legend Rick Barry rips the way the pro game is being played now; (1:01:00) Johnny Bench on meeting the Mick and a caddy gets no money from the Dali Lama but doesn't leave empty-handed...

Best of the BBI with radio personality Tony Cruise; (19:00) UK beat writer Ryan Black of the Courier-Journal and (39:00) UK football network radio analyst Jeff Piecoro in the garage with DG...

Tonight: back in the saddle after a couple of days off; (12:00) Kentucky Football LB Danny Trevathan on being inducted into the Ky Pro Football Hall of Fame; (22:00) Aaron Gershon on moving on from The Cats' Pause; (39:00) Unforgettable Guard Sean Woods; (58:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore and we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the release of "Airplane!" with some little known facts about how the producers tried to cast the film. Garage opens at 6pm on WLAP 

DG taking some time off - it's the Best of the BBI with UK hoops assistant Cody Fueger; (19:00) thoroughbred trainer Kenny McPeek; (31:00) retired jockey Robbie Albarado; (39:00) ex-Cat Van Hiles talks football; (59:00) Louisville-based writer Tim Sullivan talks Cats/Cards...

Mark Pope on transfers who are ready-made for the SEC battles they're about to experience; (12:00) is "Kroger Field" really a bad nickname? (19:00) Aaron Gershon of The Cats' Pause; (39:00) Unforgettable Guard (and La Familia Coach) Sean Woods; (58:00 West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore and Kramer has what you should remember if SHE moves in...

GM Twany Beckham and Coach Sean Woods on the Ky entry to TBT; 2 UK women's bkb players excited about this upcoming season; (10:00) legendary trainer D Wayne Lukas stepping away from horse racing; (19:00) Maggie Davis of BBN Tonight; (39:00) Chris Fisher of 247 Sports/The Cats' Pause; (59:00) new Wildcats Denzel Aberdeen and Mo Diabate on joining UK: (1:08:00) basketball and football recruiting updates and... just bring the guy his wheat toast, would ya?

Two ex-Cats now are NBA champs with SGA the playoffs' MVP; MCWS umpires were NOT up to the moment on the big stage; (17:00) two prime examples of discretion by officials, both involving the basketball Wildcats; (22:00) ex-Cat Ansley Almonor, now a member of La Familia, the Ky-based entry in TBT; (39:00) Gold Glove-winner Doug Flynn on the upcoming documentary about is life; (59:00) WKYT's Lee K. Howard and it IS possible to go on with just a flesh wound...

Great news for a UK bkb signee but a UK fb commit backs off; (9:30) SEC veteran Will Muschamp pitches in to help raise NIL funds at EKU, where he once worked as an assistant under Roy Kidd; (17:00) UK baseball coach Nick Mingione looks back and looks ahead (39:00) videographer David Patrick on the documentary he has produced on Gold Glove-winning infielder Doug Flynn, now a broadcaster for the SEC Network and you'd better speak up when the substitute teacher calls role -- looking right at you, A-A-Ron...

A tough road in the SEC for Ky hoops; brutal loss for Arkansas in the MCWS; (12:00) a dark chapter in college bkb re-visited with a distant UK connection; (19:00) UK women's bkb coach Kenny Brooks reflecting on an outstanding first season; (39:00) Aaron Gershon of The Cats' Pause on the challenges facing UK football; (1:00:00) FDHS girls' coach DJ Moberly, who coached new Wildcat Jasper Johnson in middle school -- how he saw star potential back then plus Mr. Spicoli gets a little upset...

Trent Noah on why he never considered leaving UK; (10:00) more Caitlin Clark controversy in the WNBA; (19:00) Unforgettable guard Sean Woods on Caitlin Clark, Collin Chandler and AAU hoops; (39:00) HOF coach Keith Madison back from the MCWS in Omaha; (55:00) West Coast Bureau Chief Gary Moore and everybody got a shot at Rodney...

Vince Marrow's message to the BBN; Collin Chandler on year 2 under Mark Pope; (10:00) Murray State's classy farewell to the College World Series; (18:00) UK's new tight ends coach, Derek Shay; (39:00) WHAS Sports Director Kent Spencer on the Marrow Move & UK football; (59:00) Mark Stoops grilled by one of his own players; (1:07:00) an NCAA PSA aimed at curbing harassment of players & coaches may be working and it IS possible to get even dumber sometimes...

Watching the College World Series brings back memories of UK's trip and a dramatic walk-off win; (18:00) retired NFL referee and UK grad Jim Daopoulos, one of the new inductees into the Ky Pro Football Hall of Fame; (39:00) Jon Hale of the Herald-Leader on Vince Marrow's move and the state of UK football; (59:00) UK Sports Network host Christi Thomas talks football and women's basketball and an NFL referee has a specific complaint...

Vince Marrow speaks out; Travis Perry on his first practice as an Ole Miss Rebel; (13:00) Brandon Garrison on how he plans to improve this upcoming season; (19:00) Washington Post writer Chuck Culpepper, formerly with the HL; (39::00) ex-Cat DB Van Hiles on the impact of Marrow's departure; (59:00) a look back at an eventful week; (1:11:00) Heroes, Fools and Flakes and a wise man on the value of equality - as long as nobody is more equal than I am...

Tonight: Mark Stoops comment on the departure of Vince Marrow; UK vs UNC pops onto the basketball schedule; (8:00) Otega Oweh is not disappointed that he won't be in this year's NBA draft; (19:00) veteran (and retiring) broadcaster Tony Cruise; (39:00) UK network analyst Jeff Piecoro joins us in the garage and sometimes a fat guy in a little coat IS funny... Garage opens at 6 on WLAP...

Proposed NCAA review changes; Brandon Garrison looks ahead; (12:00) how the Pacers have beaten incredible odds; (19:00) Aaron Gershon of The Cats' Pause on the Vince Marrow move; (39:00) Unforgettable Guard Sean Woods on new NCAA legislation affecting NIL; (58:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore + sometimes you just have to admit your flaws -- all of them...

Otega Oweh on his return to UK; (9:00) revisiting Secretariat's Belmont Stakes romp; (18:00) HL columnist John Clay on his impending retirement; (39:00) UK Voice Tom Leach on the Vince Marrow announcement as well as UK hoops; (58:00) BBN Tonight co-anchor Keith Farmer on Marrow's move, the football Cats and his beloved Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers plus -- another villain feels the sting of Archer's wit...

Thoughts on the House settlement; Mark Pope and Otegah Oweh re-live the moment the player returned to the fold; (11:00) UK hoops recruiting update; (20:00) Rick Bozich of Fox 41 WDRB in Louisville; (39:00) Jeff Drummond of Cats Illustrated; (59:00) Colby Wilson from Fox 45 WDKY and first -- try a little tenderness...

060625 Friday Ex-Cat SGA & OKC blow Game 1 and so does a TV station in Indiana; (15:00) great story unfolding at the WCWS; (19:00) WKYT Sports Director Brian Milam on his playing days of college baseball and the NIL/portal today; (39:00) Ubercapper Ellis Starr preps us for the Belmont Stakes; (58:00) on National Donut Day, we look back on our convo with ex-Cat Cameron Mills on his attempt in 1998 to bring Krispy Kreme franchise to Lex and (1:02) Heroes, Fools and Flakes with a special nod to the WWII vets of D-Day + how did the end of Pacers-Thunder sound in Korea?

060525 Thursday Mark Pope would like to see a rule change that The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy abhors; (12:00) more bad news for the Reds; (19:00 Darrell Bird of The Cats' Pause, back from the SEC meetings in Destin, Fla,; (39:00) Ryan Black, UK beat writer for the Courier-Journal; (58:00) new EKU (and ex-Cat) baseball coach Jan Weisberg and who wouldn't enjoy a nice Orange Whip?

060425 Wednesday New York media bashing ex-Cat Karl Anthony Towns; (11:00) lots of familiar faces on this year's college football HOF ballot; (19:00) Aaron Gershon of The Cats' Pause; (39:00) Unforgettable guard Sean Woods; (59:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore and be alert for flying foul balls -- even if you're on the air...

060325 Tuesday Cameron Mills pays a visit to the garage. We talk college hoops, Mark Pope, Rick Pitino, his step-son's new book plus coffee and donuts.

060225 Monday Nick Mingione on UK's loss to WVU; (12:00) Journalism is ready to run in the Belmont; (19:00) UK Sports Network analyst Jeff Piecoro; (39:00) Derek Terry of BatCats Central; (58:00) UK superfan/podcaster Mike Safo and it's tough to get off sniffing airplane glue...