Caroline Fenton of Yahoo Sports gives a look around the Southeastern Conference and at how LSU stacks up against some of the best in the nation. ESPN’s Dave Neal, who called the 2002 LSU-Kentucky “Bluegrass Miracle,” relives the iconic moment and previews the Tigers’ trip back to Lexington, Kentucky. Ryan Black of the Louisville Courier-Journal covers the Wildcats, and he gives the scouting report on Kentucky under first-year head coach Will Stein.
Here is the complete transcript of the show from YouTube. Tiger Rag apologizes for any AI generated mistakes:
0:00
0 seconds
Louisiana radio network sports. I’m Case Kishnik. LSU’s big 63-4 win over Mcnes let a lot of backups see extended reps.
0:08
8 seconds
Third string quarterback Hassan Longre saw some action under center and at punt returner. LSU coach Lane Keifin says he and his staff try to think outside the box as much as anyone.
0:17
17 seconds
Sometimes if you don’t have that type of mind or you don’t think that way, there might be answers right in front of you.
0:22
22 seconds
Say that in life sometimes answers are right in front of you and you don’t realize them because you’re not open to them. So we really have a program like that. Did anybody bring up ideas? And we
0:30
30 seconds
challenge old ways of thinking all the time to try to find things like that.
0:35
35 seconds
With seven more SEC games remaining, the Tigers will shift their focus to Kentucky this weekend. And quarterback Sam Levit says he’ll be fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered against Texas A&M.
0:44
44 seconds
You know, it’s feeling really good. I’m I’ll be 100% by Saturday. It was just a super light hamstring thing and um got it back really good for the game and I just didn’t really have to run around.
0:54
54 seconds
Kickoff against the 4 in1 Wildcats is set for 6:00. Louisianaarraietwork.com.
1:00
1 minute
If you love LSU, don’t settle for headlines everyone else already has at tiger.com. And in tiger magazine, you’ll find breaking news, exclusive
1:08
1 minute, 8 seconds
interviews, recruiting, game analysis, and the investigative reporting that’s making headlines across Louisiana.
1:13
1 minute, 13 seconds
Recently named Louisiana’s first place breaking news winner by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Tiger Rag delivers independent journalism covering
1:21
1 minute, 21 seconds
the business, the politics, and the games of LSU athletics. Visit tiger.com everyday. Tiger, independent, fearless
1:29
1 minute, 29 seconds
LSU. The Falcons crashed New Orleans domecoming 20th anniversary celebration with a 45 to 24 thrashing of the Saints.
1:36
1 minute, 36 seconds
New Orleans turned in a disappointing performance and quarterback Tyler Shuck says there’s no way to sugarcoat it. you lose to the Falcons like that and
1:43
1 minute, 43 seconds
especially on um in a Monday night game, it sucks and there’s no nothing you can say. It was oh man, doesn’t suck. It definitely does, but I do know as a team
1:52
1 minute, 52 seconds
that we’re extremely close and that we’re going to keep going and keep our eyes forward.
1:55
1 minute, 55 seconds
The Saints will host the 4 and0 Vikings on Sunday. UL Lafayette visits Louisiana Tech this weekend in the Bulldogs first Sunbelt Conference game. Kinjun’s coach
2:04
2 minutes, 4 seconds
Michael Dermo says the dogs play defense the way it’s meant to be played.
2:07
2 minutes, 7 seconds
They play extremely hard. They fly around. They run to the football and they’re physical tacklers. I think their staff does a great job of putting the
2:15
2 minutes, 15 seconds
pieces in position and it’s hard to figure out, but they don’t ask guys.
2:19
2 minutes, 19 seconds
They don’t put guys in position to do things that they’re not capable of, which I think is good coaching. Kickoff in Rustin is set for 6:30.
Chapter 2: Introduction to hour two
2:27
2 minutes, 27 seconds
Louisiana Radio Network Sports. I’m Case Kishnik. Y’all ready? Y’all ready? Let’s go. Come on. Tiger Rag Radio is on the air.
2:35
2 minutes, 35 seconds
Let’s crank this thing up. We’re statewide breaking down [music] the latest happenings with LSU athletics. This is up. Hear from the coaches.
2:42
2 minutes, 42 seconds
Our time is now with LSU basketball.
2:45
2 minutes, 45 seconds
The players having fun and we working, baby. That’s it, man. The recruits.
2:48
2 minutes, 48 seconds
One way or another, we’re going to make history.
2:49
2 minutes, 49 seconds
And those who cover the Fighting Tigers [music] of LSU and the SEC.
2:53
2 minutes, 53 seconds
LSU is the best job in it’s 2 [music] hours of non-stop LSU talk.
2:58
2 minutes, 58 seconds
I came here to win. We’re going to win immediately.
3:00
3 minutes
Tiger Rag Radio is brought to you by Cumins. [music] Cumins creates power solutions that the world depends on.
3:06
3 minutes, 6 seconds
Louisiana Beef Industry Council, Budro’s Electrical Services, and Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
3:16
3 minutes, 16 seconds
Get ready to talk Tigers with producer [music] Case Kishnik and our hosts Todd Horn, Jeff Polmo, and Glenn Gilbo.
3:23
3 minutes, 23 seconds
[music]
3:25
3 minutes, 25 seconds
Players are better people than they are players.
3:27
3 minutes, 27 seconds
This is Tiger Rag Radio and welcome to hour number two of Tiger Rag Radio. Jeff Poll, news and sports director of Louisiana Radio Network along with our producer Case Kishnik.
3:38
3 minutes, 38 seconds
Glenn Gilbo has the night off and it’s Todd Horn, our executive editor that’s with me here tonight. Dave Neil will jo be joining us here later on in the hour
3:47
3 minutes, 47 seconds
and we’ll also hear from Ryan Black from the Louisville Colonel Courier Journal.
Chapter 3: Interview with Caroline Fenton
3:52
3 minutes, 52 seconds
But first, we haven’t had her on in a while. And that is Caroline Fenton from Yahoo Sports who joins us here on Tiger Rag Radio. Caroline, how you doing?
4:01
4 minutes, 1 second
Well, Doug, I’m still licking my wounds from the absolute butt whipping that happened in the Superdome last night, but I am recovering and I’m happy to be on with you guys today.
4:11
4 minutes, 11 seconds
Carolyn, we don’t talk about that. Yeah, unless Yeah. Sorry [laughter] to bring up old news. It was pretty rough.
4:18
4 minutes, 18 seconds
On to the next one.
4:19
4 minutes, 19 seconds
Yep. Pretty rough watch. And uh we’ll see if uh Justin Jefferson will be able to play uh this Sunday against the
4:27
4 minutes, 27 seconds
Saints. Uh it would be a homecoming for Justin if he’s able to uh get back out there for the Minnesota Vikings who are 4 and 0. But enough of that talk. Uh
4:36
4 minutes, 36 seconds
it’s already been a great season. Uh a lot of exciting games especially in the SEC. If you had to put together and
4:44
4 minutes, 44 seconds
maybe you already have done this, Caroline, uh if you had to put in a a top five teams in the SEC, how would you rank them?
4:52
4 minutes, 52 seconds
Yeah, I think right now time is a flat circle. Georgia and Alabama sit at the top of that list. Even though the more things seem to change, the more they
5:00
5 minutes
stay the same. And those two teams look like not just two of the best teams in the conference, but two of the best teams in the country. And we will get to
5:08
5 minutes, 8 seconds
see them headto-head this weekend, which is going to be an absolute blast. If that game does happen, we think [laughter] if that game does happen with the storm, everybody stays safe with the with the storm that’s coming through.
5:17
5 minutes, 17 seconds
But those two teams, I mean, Keelin Russell doesn’t look like a firstear starter. Gunnar Stockton is quietly one of the better quarterbacks in the
5:25
5 minutes, 25 seconds
country. Uh Alabama, whatever run game issues they had last season, clearly are not plaguing them this year. Georgia’s defense is elite. So, those two teams
5:34
5 minutes, 34 seconds
look like two of the best teams in the SEC. And I didn’t mention the number one team in the country of the two top teams in the SEC right now in Texas. And
5:42
5 minutes, 42 seconds
that’s because I understand why Texas is the top team in the country. because they have one of the best, if not the best wins in beating Ohio State earlier
5:51
5 minutes, 51 seconds
this year. But Texas doesn’t look like the best team in the country. I watched every snap of that game against Texas, excuse me, against Tennessee. And I know
5:59
5 minutes, 59 seconds
that it was on the road at Neland Stadium, which is not an easy place to play. That defense is elite. Defense might be one of the best, if not the
6:07
6 minutes, 7 seconds
best in the country, but Arch Manning, he has got some issues that they need to work out. They struggled running the football. Arch Manning had a couple of
6:14
6 minutes, 14 seconds
really good throws. like top off the page type of throws, which ultimately ended up being the difference in that game. But Arch Manning doesn’t look like
6:22
6 minutes, 22 seconds
the number one overall pick, eventual savior of an NFL franchise to me. And then I think you kind of get into that that next grouping of teams that might
6:31
6 minutes, 31 seconds
not necessarily look yet like a legitimate national championship contender. They might still have some to prove. Miss fits into that category.
6:42
6 minutes, 42 seconds
Florida fits into that category. you have to put Missouri in that category, fresh off the heels of what they just did to Florida off of the heels of what
6:50
6 minutes, 50 seconds
they did to Miss. Um, so I would put them in that category. I think Austin Simmons had his coming out party against Florida. And I think LSU belongs into
6:58
6 minutes, 58 seconds
that category as well. You have to take care of business against teams that you should be taking care of business against. That starts with Kentucky this
7:05
7 minutes, 5 seconds
weekend. That starts with Mississippi State the weekend after that. Um, but I would put LSU into that mix as well.
7:11
7 minutes, 11 seconds
Well, so Carolyn, LSU is, you know, as of right now, back in the top 10 at number 10. And when you watch that team
7:20
7 minutes, 20 seconds
play, do does that ranking match what you see? I realize you said they’re in the second tier of the SEC right now.
7:28
7 minutes, 28 seconds
Um, but do they does that match number 10 ranking match what you see? And and what is the strongest qualification or
7:35
7 minutes, 35 seconds
the biggest reservation you may have about them right now? Yeah, and when I say LSU is in that second tier, that’s a tier below Alabama and Georgia. Um, they
7:44
7 minutes, 44 seconds
just feel like they’ve I feel like they’ve been on in a tier of their own.
7:47
7 minutes, 47 seconds
I know that neither of them have lost a game this season. I think win loss record, you have to take it with a grain of salt at this point in the season, but they just look different than the rest
7:55
7 minutes, 55 seconds
of the conference. So, I say second tier, but that’s a tier outside of two of the best teams in the country. I do think a top 10 ranking is totally fair
8:01
8 minutes, 1 second
and totally justified. What gives me a promise for that? Why I do believe LSU is a top 10 team in the country is because of the defense. That’s an elite
8:10
8 minutes, 10 seconds
defense that can completely take the runaway. That’s a Blake Bakerled unit that makes life a living hell for
8:17
8 minutes, 17 seconds
opposing quarterbacks, at least not named Trinidad Chamblas in the first half. Uh the defense, a defense travels, the defense has been consistent. It’s
8:26
8 minutes, 26 seconds
been one of the most consistent units so far this season. I think what gives me reservation is what will give me reservation every single week until he
8:34
8 minutes, 34 seconds
proves otherwise and that’s Sam Levit in the passing game. You know, when Sam Levit is on, it is such an a blast to watch what we saw against Clemson, what
8:43
8 minutes, 43 seconds
we saw in a large bit of the first half against MC. And I know that this team isn’t and shouldn’t be judged about by what they do against MCNE, but it still
8:51
8 minutes, 51 seconds
just watching the process and what he’s been able to do. Sam Levit can be explosive in the pass game and surely what he does with his legs is going to
8:58
8 minutes, 58 seconds
be a reason why LSU wins a lot of football games on their schedule upcoming. But it’s the turnovers. They’re absolutely back breakers.
9:07
9 minutes, 7 seconds
It’s uh it is eventually kind of what what lost South Carolina that game to Kentucky last week. It’s kind of what
9:14
9 minutes, 14 seconds
plagued this team and has stopped a lot of drives, have stopped a lot of momentum in games so in the past. So, as
9:22
9 minutes, 22 seconds
long as Sam Levit can just get a hold of the interceptions, and look, interceptions are going to come. You’re not going to eliminate that entirely. If
9:30
9 minutes, 30 seconds
you eliminate interceptions entirely, that means you’re taking risky pass plays away, and you don’t want to do that. I don’t want to take part of what
9:36
9 minutes, 36 seconds
makes him Superman away from him. Um, but it is cleaning up some of the decision-m, especially in the red zone,
9:43
9 minutes, 43 seconds
and it is cleaning up uh some of the decision- making when you don’t have to play hero ball. You know, just take what the defense gives you. hand the ball off
9:52
9 minutes, 52 seconds
to Dylan Jones or Harlem Barry who’s had a couple of great games the past couple of weeks and don’t put the ball in harm’s way.
9:59
9 minutes, 59 seconds
So when LSU overwhelmed Clemson and they overwhelmed Texas A&M, did that tell you which one of those told you more about
10:08
10 minutes, 8 seconds
this LSU team of between Clemson and Texas A&M or was it the second half against Old Miss that told you the most?
10:16
10 minutes, 16 seconds
The answer to that is yes. be all of the above, which sounds a little bit like a copout, but you know, five games into
10:23
10 minutes, 23 seconds
the season, you you just want to pick up a few little cookie crumbs, a few little pieces along the way. Each game, each drive, each quarter is a new data set to form your opinion of a specific team.
10:35
10 minutes, 35 seconds
Doing what they did to Clemson, I I think I learned in that moment, okay, you know, look, if you dominated a power four opponent with the caliber of a
10:45
10 minutes, 45 seconds
program like Clemson, that’s great. But I think we we’ve learned since then Clemson is not what it used to be. Like this is Deshun Watson, Trevor Lawrence,
10:52
10 minutes, 52 seconds
they’re not walking through that door, but you still dominated a non-conference power four opponent. You can’t take anything, you know, away from LSU for
11:01
11 minutes, 1 second
doing that. Um against Texas A&M, same thing. When they lost to Kentucky, I my jaw was on the floor. And then we’ve seen some of their offensive issues
11:10
11 minutes, 10 seconds
since then. And look, they put up 34 points against Arkansas. I think Arkansas is terrible. I’m not going to take much away from that game. But still, I don’t think that this is a Texas A&M team that’s going to be
11:17
11 minutes, 17 seconds
hosting a playoff game like they did last season, but that is still fixing issues that have plagued you in the
11:24
11 minutes, 24 seconds
past. Marcel Reed still gives me nightmares of what he did to LSU in Death Valley last season. You took Marcel Reed’s legs away from him. That
11:33
11 minutes, 33 seconds
shows improvement on that side of the ball. What they were able to do in the third quarter against Miss. It’s that if LSU is what they did in that third
11:41
11 minutes, 41 seconds
quarter, LSU is a not just a playoff contender, they’re a national title contender because they were able to get smacked in the face on the road in a
11:50
11 minutes, 50 seconds
really rowdy environment and come out of the tunnel and come out of uh the the locker room at halftime and have that kind of bounce back. That shows
11:58
11 minutes, 58 seconds
resilience. That shows offensive firepower. That shows that you’re able to take away what makes a Heisman caliber quarterback so great and what
12:06
12 minutes, 6 seconds
they were able to do uh to Trinidad Shamblas in that third quarter. It’s all a mix of those things. Dominating inferior opponents, that checks a box.
12:14
12 minutes, 14 seconds
Running the football, that checks a box.
12:16
12 minutes, 16 seconds
Uh getting pressure on a quarterback and taking a running quarterback’s legs away from him, that checks a box. They’re all little um small sample sizes that show
12:25
12 minutes, 25 seconds
me slowly but surely the makings of a playoff contending team.
12:30
12 minutes, 30 seconds
Caroline, what does LSU have to do in these next three games against Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Auburn that would win you over that would make you elevate
12:39
12 minutes, 39 seconds
them to that next tier with Alabama and Georgia? Or is there anything that they can do before they play Alabama? Is it just going to come down to once you get to November and you play the Alabamaas
12:47
12 minutes, 47 seconds
and the Texases that we’re just going to have to wait and see until then?
12:50
12 minutes, 50 seconds
I think it’s consistency. There’s absolutely something that, you know, things that they can do against these next three opponents. First and foremost, it’s win. Don’t mean to
12:58
12 minutes, 58 seconds
oversimplify it, but that’s the most important thing. Beat those next three teams on your schedule because those are teams that frankly with the talent on
13:06
13 minutes, 6 seconds
this roster, with the coaching prowess on LSU’s roster, those are three teams that they should beat. I want to find some consistency. What was the story of that Old Miss game was inconsistency?
13:17
13 minutes, 17 seconds
Couldn’t replicate what you did in the third quarter in the first half. I want to see four complete quarters of football. Continue to do what you do
13:25
13 minutes, 25 seconds
best. run the football and create and play great defense, clean up the passing game. Uh you know, these are three great
13:32
13 minutes, 32 seconds
opportunities. Two, on the road at Krogerfield this weekend and then at Jordan Hair uh later in October, a really difficult place to play, an underratedly difficult place to play.
13:42
13 minutes, 42 seconds
Show that you can win games on the road.
13:44
13 minutes, 44 seconds
You couldn’t go on the road at Oxford and get a win. Show that you can do that against teams that frankly you should beat. So to answer your question, I
13:51
13 minutes, 51 seconds
think it’s continuing to do what you do best and how you’ve won football games, which is play great defense and running the football, win on the road, and show
14:00
14 minutes
some consistency and and clean up some some issues that have plagued you in the past, which is the the passing game and turning the ball over.
14:07
14 minutes, 7 seconds
Do the injuries that LSU has suffered, especially to Whit Weeks and Deshawn Spears on defense, does that does that give you pause right now or do you still
14:15
14 minutes, 15 seconds
think they can overcome that with their limited depth?
14:19
14 minutes, 19 seconds
I I think they are able to overcome it and that’s where Blake Baker comes in.
14:24
14 minutes, 24 seconds
You know, it’s one thing to win football games at at full strength. They’re not going to be able to do that. Clearly, you mentioned with Weeks um mentioned
14:32
14 minutes, 32 seconds
some of the other injuries on that side of the football. I mean, Trade has Green, of course, obviously the offensive side of the ball, but that gives me pause as well. But this is where Blake Baker makes his paycheck.
14:42
14 minutes, 42 seconds
Sometimes as a coach, you’re just going to have to overcome talent deficiencies.
14:46
14 minutes, 46 seconds
Sometimes as a head coach, things get thrown at you, whether it’s in the course of a season or in the course of a game, that’s going to force you to have
14:54
14 minutes, 54 seconds
to rethink the way that you rethink your approach or rethink a game plan. That’s Blake Baker’s job. So, I think Blake
15:01
15 minutes, 1 second
Baker is one of the best defensive coordinators, one of the best defensive minds that we have in college football. Now, this is where he earns his money.
15:10
15 minutes, 10 seconds
You’re down weeks, your green dot, your leader on the defensive side of the ball. Who’s the next guy that Blake Baker is going to be able to pour into
15:17
15 minutes, 17 seconds
and scheme uh to be able to overcome some of those injuries?
15:21
15 minutes, 21 seconds
Caroline, who do you like between Alabama and Georgia?
15:25
15 minutes, 25 seconds
I am going to say Georgia. Uh I when I love what both of these two teams h have done so far. Alabama, I think their
15:33
15 minutes, 33 seconds
ability to go down early in games, we saw that against Kentucky, we saw it against Florida State, but their ability to respond has been really impressive.
15:42
15 minutes, 42 seconds
But it comes down to me pretty simple coach and quarterback. I know that Kaitlin D’vor is a really good quarterback, but between the two I’ll
15:50
15 minutes, 50 seconds
take Kirby Smart seven days a week and twice on Sundays. And when it comes to a quarterback, Gunnar Stockton has played in really difficult environments before.
15:58
15 minutes, 58 seconds
He has more experience. And sometimes at the end of the day, experience at the most important position in sports wins out. So, I’ll take the Bulldogs because
16:06
16 minutes, 6 seconds
they just simply do not shoot themselves in the foot.
16:09
16 minutes, 9 seconds
All right. Well, thanks a lot. We appreciate it. We’ll have to get you on back uh very soon. We appreciate your time, Caroline. Tell tell everybody
Chapter 4: Commercial break
16:16
16 minutes, 16 seconds
about how they can follow you uh as your morning show uh on Yahoo Sports.
16:21
16 minutes, 21 seconds
Yeah, absolutely. I am the host of Yahoo Sports Daily every morning 9 to 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. You can find that on YouTube. You can find it on the Yahoo
16:29
16 minutes, 29 seconds
Sports Network. Um I always tweet out the link every morning, so you can follow me on Twitter, Carolinefunen1, and find the link to follow along there.
16:37
16 minutes, 37 seconds
You can also find me on SiriusXM College Sports Radio channel 84. Cool. Good stuff. Thanks a lot, Caroline. We appreciate it. Appreciate it, guys. Have a good one.
16:45
16 minutes, 45 seconds
All right. That’s Caroline Fenton of Yahoo Sports. We’ll take a break. We’ll hear what Will Stein has to say about his offensive coordinator. You might have heard of him, Joe Sloan. We’ll get
16:53
16 minutes, 53 seconds
to that when we come back here on Tiger Rag Radio.
16:56
16 minutes, 56 seconds
Cumins is known for their commitment to quality, performance, and products that are built to last. They make it their business to understand [music] their customers priorities and partner in
17:04
17 minutes, 4 seconds
their success. Cumins has the technical expertise and experience to deliver fast, highquality repairs using genuine parts. [music] And by calling 1800
17:13
17 minutes, 13 seconds
Cummins, you have access to one of the largest and most capable sales, service, and support organizations in the industry 247. For [music] more
17:21
17 minutes, 21 seconds
information on Cumins products, service or support, call 1800 Cummins.
17:26
17 minutes, 26 seconds
Some call it overplanning. At Budro Electrical Services, we call it foresight. Be prepared for the next power outage with a GenerRack home
17:34
17 minutes, 34 seconds
standby generator. After sensing a power outage, a GenerRack [music] home standby generator automatically restores your
17:42
17 minutes, 42 seconds
home power. Generrack. It’s not just a generator, it’s a power move. Trust Budro’s electrical services for expert
17:50
17 minutes, 50 seconds
installations, proactive maintenance for home and business. Budroelectrical serviceservices.com for more information.
17:56
17 minutes, 56 seconds
I’m Richard Fontnau, president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau [music] Federation. My brother and I grow rice, soybeans, and raised crawfish on our farm in Evangeline Parish. For a fourth
18:04
18 minutes, 4 seconds
generation farmer like myself, Louisiana Farm Bureau is as much a part of my life as checking traps or harvesting rice.
18:11
18 minutes, 11 seconds
Our [music] organization is more than 145,000 members strong, and we’ve been around for more than 100 years. The Louisiana Farm Bureau spans [music]
18:18
18 minutes, 18 seconds
generations, and we want you to join our family.
18:20
18 minutes, 20 seconds
Visit lafarmbureau.org. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the voice of Louisiana agriculture.
18:26
18 minutes, 26 seconds
If you love LSU, don’t settle for headlines. everyone else already has. At tiger.com and in Tigerra magazine, you’ll find breaking news, exclusive
18:34
18 minutes, 34 seconds
interviews, recruiting, game analysis, and the investigative reporting that’s making headlines across Louisiana.
18:40
18 minutes, 40 seconds
Recently named Louisiana’s first place breaking news winner by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Tiger Rag delivers independent journalism covering
18:48
18 minutes, 48 seconds
the business, the politics, and the games of LSU athletics. Visit tiger.com every day. Tiger, independent, fearless LSU.
19:02
19 minutes, 2 seconds
LSU is more than just football scores.
19:04
19 minutes, 4 seconds
It’s recruiting battles, NIM, SEC politics, coaching decisions, public records, financial decisions worth
19:11
19 minutes, 11 seconds
hundreds of millions of dollars. Nobody covers the complete story like Tiger Rag. Every day at tiger.com and every
19:18
19 minutes, 18 seconds
month in Tigerra magazine, you’ll find award-winning journalism, exclusive interviews, insider analysis, recruiting coverage, opinion, history, and
19:27
19 minutes, 27 seconds
investigative reporting that other outlets simply don’t have. Tiger Rag was recently honored with first place for breaking news by the Louisiana Sports
19:36
19 minutes, 36 seconds
Writers Association for its coverage of LSU athletics. Whether you’re following Lane Keifin, Jay Johnson, Will Wade, Kim
19:43
19 minutes, 43 seconds
Moy, or the future of LSU athletics, Tiger Rag is where serious LSU fans begin. Visit tiger.com today. Tiger Rag,
19:53
19 minutes, 53 seconds
more than big games. The story behind LSU sports.
19:59
19 minutes, 59 seconds
No more mold, no more damage, no more outdated old bathroom, no more slipping and hurting, no more stress. Make your
20:06
20 minutes, 6 seconds
ordinary bathroom extraordinary for only $99 per month. New shower, new door, new tub, new wall, new anti-slip technology.
20:16
20 minutes, 16 seconds
Feast stress free. Call 800770-5322.
20:20
20 minutes, 20 seconds
BCI Bath and Shower is made in America for the highest quality. Ask about our military and senior discounts. Your dream bathroom in as little as one day.
20:29
20 minutes, 29 seconds
First 50 callers save $1,500 on a NeverClear glass treated door. Call now for free premium color upgrades.
20:35
20 minutes, 35 seconds
800770-5322.
20:38
20 minutes, 38 seconds
Call BCI Bath and Shower, the leader in bathroom remodeling. Be smart, save, and stay a step ahead of inflation with our
20:45
20 minutes, 45 seconds
interest free financing options. Call 800770-5322. Love your bathroom with free upgrades.
20:52
20 minutes, 52 seconds
Call 800770-5322. [music] That’s 800770-5322.
Chapter 5: Analyzing Joe Sloan and Kentucky
21:00
21 minutes
This is Tiger Rag Radio.
21:08
21 minutes, 8 seconds
Well, when assistant coach Todd Horn was really sad to see go, uh, Joe Sloan,
21:12
21 minutes, 12 seconds
[laughter]
21:14
21 minutes, 14 seconds
what’s so funny? Oh, Lord. No. No. Am I wrong? Am I Am I?
21:21
21 minutes, 21 seconds
No. You just keep on with your fiction [laughter] all you want to.
21:26
21 minutes, 26 seconds
Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story, right? Uh, yeah. Joe Sloan’s on the other side. Of course, he was dismissed uh during the middle of last
21:35
21 minutes, 35 seconds
season. Um and um who knows, might have should have been dismissed earlier than that, but it it wasn’t a good run for him as the offensive coordinator at LSU.
21:46
21 minutes, 46 seconds
Uh seems like he has found a little success there at Kentucky. Here’s what coach Will Stein had to say about Joe
21:53
21 minutes, 53 seconds
Sloan calling plays for the Wildcats and going up against his old friend Blake Baker who of course is LSU’s defensive coordinator.
22:02
22 minutes, 2 seconds
For sure have familiarity, right?
22:04
22 minutes, 4 seconds
They’ve worked together for a while and they’ve known each other for a long time. So their history is deep, but we’re a lot different than LSU offense
22:12
22 minutes, 12 seconds
was last year. He’s adapted to his personnel this year. So, there’s always changes that happen each season and and
22:20
22 minutes, 20 seconds
you can think about some stuff that maybe you did in the past in a practice situation, but Blake’s probably thinking about that, too. So, it’s uh try not to make it bigger than what it is.
22:30
22 minutes, 30 seconds
Well, uh, who do you think has the advantage here? Do you think it really matters?
22:34
22 minutes, 34 seconds
I I think Blake Baker has the head-to-head advantage because, you know, he’s the better coordinator overall.
22:41
22 minutes, 41 seconds
Yeah, I I really believe that. I I don’t think that Joe Sloan is really Kucky’s offensive coordinator. I think he is entitled, but I think that’s Will
22:49
22 minutes, 49 seconds
Stein’s job. Um, and you know that that quip that or that comment that Stein
22:57
22 minutes, 57 seconds
just made where he says they’re not running the same stuff they ran at LSU last year because you’d be crazy if [laughter] you ran the same stuff that
23:05
23 minutes, 5 seconds
LSU ran last year. So, that was kind of a truthful, but I thought underhanded comment, which maybe that’s not the
23:12
23 minutes, 12 seconds
right way to phrase it, especially when we’re talking about Case’s hero, Joe Sloan. I don’t know if I’d go that far.
23:19
23 minutes, 19 seconds
Uh, I all I said, and Todd continues to crucify me to this day, is that LSU might miss Joe Sloan a little bit this
23:27
23 minutes, 27 seconds
year because of his ability to develop quarterbacks. And I thought Sam Levit had some mechanic issues early in the season that he would have been good at correcting. And I think you’ve kind of
23:35
23 minutes, 35 seconds
alluded to it yourself there. If Joe Sloan’s not the offensive coordinator at Kentucky, then what is he there for? I would say he’s probably there to help develop Kenny Menchy. And Kenny
23:43
23 minutes, 43 seconds
Mincchi’s looks pretty good. He’s got one interception this season to the same level at seven.
23:46
23 minutes, 46 seconds
Okay. Well, just to to show you that I’m just playing with you a little bit, I I don’t think Joe Sloan is a good offensive coordinator at all. Okay. I do
23:55
23 minutes, 55 seconds
think that he did a wonderful job with Jaden Daniels when he was at LSU as a quarterback coach. Um
24:02
24 minutes, 2 seconds
and he he was there for a 4,000yard passing season with Garrett Nusmeire. Okay.
24:10
24 minutes, 10 seconds
Before Garrett got hurt.
24:11
24 minutes, 11 seconds
Yeah. But but that that that was that was the worst uh balanced offense in the history of mankind, too. And then
24:19
24 minutes, 19 seconds
I agree. He doesn’t stick to the ground game, right? A and Brian Kelly had to put the headsets on at the end of that
24:25
24 minutes, 25 seconds
season to try to get him to call running plays, but you also wonder how much of a
24:33
24 minutes, 33 seconds
ground game they really could have anyways.
24:36
24 minutes, 36 seconds
Well, they didn’t have the running backs. They didn’t have the offensive line.
24:39
24 minutes, 39 seconds
And the other thing I think that, you know, we don’t talk about when we talk about Joe Sloan, he was recruiting Overton.
24:48
24 minutes, 48 seconds
Underwood.
24:49
24 minutes, 49 seconds
Underwood. I always call him Overton. I don’t know why.
24:51
24 minutes, 51 seconds
Well, he’s not overachieving at Michigan. I’ll tell you that. [laughter] Yeah. So, imagine the how how much of a disaster that would have been.
24:59
24 minutes, 59 seconds
Oh my goodness. When I watch him Well, he’d be different cuz Sloan would have developed him. Oh my god.
25:03
25 minutes, 3 seconds
Maybe. So, maybe he’d be great. But when I watch Underwood, I mean, it is it’s just painful to watch.
25:10
25 minutes, 10 seconds
You know, they replaced him. He’s not starting this weekend. Really? I did not see that.
25:14
25 minutes, 14 seconds
Yeah, he’s uh he is not starting. Yeah, I I watched a good part of the Minnesota game and it’s just I don’t know what it’s if it’s his
25:23
25 minutes, 23 seconds
mechanics or it is his mechanics. He he just the accuracy is I mean we were all up in arms about Sam Levit, but my
25:31
25 minutes, 31 seconds
goodness, watch him play quarterback for a while.
25:33
25 minutes, 33 seconds
Yeah. What? And I think in his last outing he threw for like 98 yards. It’s been painful.
25:38
25 minutes, 38 seconds
It’s impressive. Some of LSU’s biggest recruiting wins in recent years have been the guys they didn’t get. Right.
25:44
25 minutes, 44 seconds
You dodge a bullet with Underwood and with Brendan Sorsby this past off season, right? That’s true.
25:49
25 minutes, 49 seconds
Yeah, those are two good two good But they didn’t get Kenny Derby and he could come back to burn him this week.
25:54
25 minutes, 54 seconds
He followed Joe Sloan. [laughter] Yeah, he did. He did. Yeah, there’s no doubt about it. Um and uh we’ll see.
26:02
26 minutes, 2 seconds
Lance Herd is over there. Uh yeah, but he’s just going wherever the checks being filled. He is also the SEC
26:09
26 minutes, 9 seconds
offensive lineman of the week for his performance in the overtime win against South Carolina.
26:14
26 minutes, 14 seconds
I’m not saying he’s not good. He just follows the money.
26:16
26 minutes, 16 seconds
Yeah. No, but um I don’t necessarily blame him in a way, right?
26:22
26 minutes, 22 seconds
I’m not blaming anybody. I’m just stating the fact.
26:25
26 minutes, 25 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. And so Nick Anderson and Enamod Bro, right? Is that is that the all the LSU connections? Those four or five that I just mentioned?
26:33
26 minutes, 33 seconds
I I don’t I’m not sure, Case. I don’t know if we were able to do all that research today, we would. But what about the record of LSU in Lexington? You
26:42
26 minutes, 42 seconds
know, it’s not something that that we I was surprised take for granted.
26:45
26 minutes, 45 seconds
I was surprised that LSU has not won there since the Bluegrass Miracle.
26:52
26 minutes, 52 seconds
Yeah, it’s it’s been a while. That was that was the last one. Obviously, that 3330 win. We’ll talk about it more here in a second. Uh but since then it’s been
27:01
27 minutes, 1 second
a a 4221 whitewash in 2021 that that led to coach O getting the boot.
27:07
27 minutes, 7 seconds
And then in 2007 the the triple overtime upset. Number one LSU number 17 Kentucky.
27:14
27 minutes, 14 seconds
Uh 4337 Andre Woodson to Stevie Johnson in triple overtime. LSU gets the ball back. They can’t get a first down on four consecutive runs
27:23
27 minutes, 23 seconds
and that does it. Now of course LSU didn’t have a bad 2007. No, but that was a gut-wrenching game. Yeah, that was a gut-wrenching loss. Um
27:32
27 minutes, 32 seconds
because that season was going so well and that was a game that they should have won and they ended up losing and you thought uhoh that that that blew
27:41
27 minutes, 41 seconds
their chances and then of course he thought that again after losing to Arkansas but the rest was history LSU ended up winning it. Dave Neil will join
Chapter 6: Interview with Dave Neil
27:49
27 minutes, 49 seconds
us. We’ll get his recollection of the blueg grass miracle. He was on the call for Jefferson pilot at the time. We’ll be back after this here on Tiger Radio.
27:58
27 minutes, 58 seconds
Cummins is known for their commitment to quality, performance, and products that are built to [music] last. They make it their business to understand their customers priorities and partner in
28:06
28 minutes, 6 seconds
their success. Cumins has the technical expertise and experience to deliver fast, highquality repairs using genuine parts. And by calling 1800 Cummins, you
28:15
28 minutes, 15 seconds
have access to one of the largest and most capable sales, service, and [music] support organizations in the industry 247. For more information on Cummins
28:24
28 minutes, 24 seconds
products, [music] service or support, call 1800 Cummins.
28:28
28 minutes, 28 seconds
Some call it overplanning. At Budro Electrical Services, we call it foresight. Be prepared for the next power outage with a GenerRack home
28:36
28 minutes, 36 seconds
standby generator. After sensing a power outage, a GenerRack [music] home standby generator automatically restores your
28:43
28 minutes, 43 seconds
home power. Generrack. It’s not just a generator, it’s a power move. Trust Budro’s electrical services for expert
28:51
28 minutes, 51 seconds
installations, proactive maintenance for home and business. Budroelectricals.com for more information.
28:58
28 minutes, 58 seconds
I’m Richard Futno, president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
29:01
29 minutes, 1 second
[music] For more than 100 years, Louisiana Farm Bureau has been the voice of Louisiana agriculture. Louisiana Farm [music] Bureau advocates on behalf of all the farmers and ranchers across our
29:09
29 minutes, 9 seconds
great state. What that really means is we advocate [music] for you to ensure we have the safest, most abundant, and affordable food supply in the world.
29:16
29 minutes, 16 seconds
Louisiana Farm Bureau is 145,000 members strong and we want you to join the Louisiana Farm Bureau family.
29:22
29 minutes, 22 seconds
Visit lafarmbureau.org. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the voice of Louisiana agriculture.
29:28
29 minutes, 28 seconds
If you love LSU, don’t settle for headlines everyone else already has. At tiger.com and in tiger magazine, you’ll find breaking news, exclusive
29:36
29 minutes, 36 seconds
interviews, recruiting, game analysis, and the investigative reporting that’s making headlines across Louisiana.
29:41
29 minutes, 41 seconds
Recently named Louisiana’s first place breaking news winner by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Tiger Rag delivers independent journalism covering
29:49
29 minutes, 49 seconds
the business, the politics, and the games of LSU athletics. Visit tiger.com every day. Tiger Rag, independent, fearless LSU.
Chapter 7: Weather and news updates
30:00
30 minutes
Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Andrew Greenstein. We now have a tropical depression in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. And the National Hurricane Center says it’s expected to become
30:09
30 minutes, 9 seconds
tropical storm issa by early tomorrow and hurricane Issa Thursday. It’s expected to reach category 2 strength by the time it makes landfall Friday
30:18
30 minutes, 18 seconds
afternoon. National Weather Service meteorologist Jacob Zarang says the big question is where along the US Gulf Coast will the storm make landfall. The
30:26
30 minutes, 26 seconds
model consensus has been showing that anywhere from the southeast Louisiana coast all the way to the Florida panhandle is in the realm of possibility
30:34
30 minutes, 34 seconds
for this thing to make landfall as we get towards Friday and Saturday.
30:37
30 minutes, 37 seconds
President Trump signs an executive order that immediately cuts diesel costs by authorizing highway use of tax-free dyed diesel and deferring the federal diesel excise tax through the end of the year.
30:47
30 minutes, 47 seconds
Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says it puts money back in the pockets of farmers, ranchers, truckers, and loggers. So for every time a trucker
30:55
30 minutes, 55 seconds
fills up to move his grain saves him $100. So that is one move in the right direction.
31:00
31 minutes
LRN LSU is more than just football scores.
31:06
31 minutes, 6 seconds
It’s recruiting battles. NIM, SEC politics, coaching decisions, public records, financial decisions worth
31:13
31 minutes, 13 seconds
hundreds of millions of dollars. Nobody covers the complete story like Tiger Rag. Every day at tiger.com and every
31:20
31 minutes, 20 seconds
month in Tiger magazine, you’ll find award-winning journalism, exclusive interviews, insider analysis, recruiting coverage, opinion, history, and
31:29
31 minutes, 29 seconds
investigative reporting that other outlets simply don’t have. Tiger Rag was recently honored with first place for breaking news by the Louisiana Sports
31:38
31 minutes, 38 seconds
Writers Association for its coverage of LSU athletics. Whether you’re following Lane Kein, Jay Johnson, Will Wade, Kim
31:45
31 minutes, 45 seconds
Moy, or the future of LSU athletics, Tiger Rag is where serious LSU fans began. Visit tiger.com today. Tiger Rag,
31:55
31 minutes, 55 seconds
more than big games. The story behind LSU sports.
32:00
32 minutes
Repeating our top story, southeast Louisiana could be hit by a hurricane Friday afternoon. The National Hurricane Center says the storm that’s expected to
32:08
32 minutes, 8 seconds
become Hurricane Isa could reach category 2 strength when it makes landfall Friday afternoon anywhere from southeast Louisiana to the Florida
32:16
32 minutes, 16 seconds
panhandle. The Superdome crowd was silenced last night as the Saints fell to the Falcons 45 to 24 on the 20th
32:23
32 minutes, 23 seconds
anniversary of the team’s return to the stadium after Hurricane Katrina. It took just three plays for the Falcons to jump out to an early lead. They didn’t give
32:31
32 minutes, 31 seconds
up for the rest of the game. Early miscues hindered the Saints offense while the defense had no answer for the Atlanta rushing attack. Saints head coach Kellen Moore says it was a letown.
32:39
32 minutes, 39 seconds
Locker’s disappointed, frustration.
32:40
32 minutes, 40 seconds
These guys put a lot into this and for us not to have a game like we had expected. There’s a lot of frustration in that.
32:45
32 minutes, 45 seconds
Booze could be heard from the home crowd in the second half as the Saints settled for a red zone field goal. Quarterback Tyler Shuck.
32:51
32 minutes, 51 seconds
You’re playing the Falcons and you lose like that. And I do too. That sucks.
32:54
32 minutes, 54 seconds
The Black and Gold will need to get back on track against a 4-0 Vikings back in the dome on Sunday. I’m Case Kishnik LRN.
33:04
33 minutes, 4 seconds
LSU is more than just football scores.
33:06
33 minutes, 6 seconds
It’s recruiting battles, NIL, SEC politics, coaching decisions, public records, financial decisions worth
33:14
33 minutes, 14 seconds
hundreds of millions of dollars. Nobody covers the complete story like Tiger Rag. Every day at tiger.com and every
33:21
33 minutes, 21 seconds
month in Tiger magazine, you’ll find award-winning journalism, exclusive interviews, insider analysis, recruiting coverage, opinion, history, and
33:30
33 minutes, 30 seconds
investigative reporting that other outlets simply don’t have. Tiger Rag was recently honored with first place for breaking news by the Louisiana Sports
33:38
33 minutes, 38 seconds
Writers Association for its coverage of LSU athletics. Whether you’re following Lane Kein, Jay Johnson, Will Wade, Kim
33:46
33 minutes, 46 seconds
Moy, or the future of LSU athletics, Tiger Rag is where serious LSU fans begin. Visit tiger.com today. Tiger Rag,
33:55
33 minutes, 55 seconds
more than big games. The story behind LSU sports. How you doing? This is Snoop Dog.
Chapter 8: Revisiting LSU-Kentucky history
34:03
34 minutes, 3 seconds
Tiger Rag. Tiger Rag Radio.
34:06
34 minutes, 6 seconds
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you are tuned in. Talk LSU sports interviews, opinions, and newer calls around the Tiger Nation.
34:13
34 minutes, 13 seconds
Bad road was a life for me, home of LSU Tigers. Now, more Tiger Rag Radio.
34:18
34 minutes, 18 seconds
We love to score and get highlights in the championship and play to win. Tiger Rag Radio.
34:24
34 minutes, 24 seconds
Randall, as time expires, lets it fly.
34:29
34 minutes, 29 seconds
[cheering] Oh my goodness. Touchdown LSU. They win the game. [cheering]
34:35
34 minutes, 35 seconds
They win the football game.
34:42
34 minutes, 42 seconds
[cheering]
34:49
34 minutes, 49 seconds
[cheering]
34:50
34 minutes, 50 seconds
The most shocking, improbable, unbelievable
34:55
34 minutes, 55 seconds
[cheering]
34:58
34 minutes, 58 seconds
sequence of events.
35:01
35 minutes, 1 second
LSU will go home with the victory.
35:08
35 minutes, 8 seconds
3330 as Kentucky.
35:12
35 minutes, 12 seconds
Wow. Just unbelievable moments in LSU football history and college football history. And the man that was on the call back then in the old good old
35:20
35 minutes, 20 seconds
Jefferson pilot days, Dave Neil joins us here on Tiger Rag Radio. Dave, thanks a lot for joining us. How you doing tonight?
35:29
35 minutes, 29 seconds
I’m great. That just brought back a flood of [laughter] memories for sure. I know it’s hard to believe that was what 24 years ago. I guess it was 24 2002 was the year that had happened.
35:40
35 minutes, 40 seconds
Hey.
35:41
35 minutes, 41 seconds
Yeah. I’m Go ahead. I’m sorry.
35:44
35 minutes, 44 seconds
No, I just hard to believe that I’ve I’ve I’ve survived 24 years since then.
35:49
35 minutes, 49 seconds
[laughter]
35:49
35 minutes, 49 seconds
Well, this is what I want to know. This is Todd, by the way. I want to know, Dave, what you were preparing to say when the game ended right before that happened.
36:01
36 minutes, 1 second
What were you preparing to say before the actual play, before the touchdown play?
36:08
36 minutes, 8 seconds
Thinking that Kentucky would about to Yeah, I was about to really come in Kentucky because, you know, that was a team that’s for a
36:17
36 minutes, 17 seconds
couple of years there. They had really been on the cusp. Guy Morris had put his heart and soul into that program. I’d been up there a few other times. I think I’ve been up there two other times
36:25
36 minutes, 25 seconds
already that season. And you could just feel that, you know, there was some excitement around the team with Jared Lorenzan on that group. I just they had some really good players. Um, and I was about to say this is their moment.
36:37
36 minutes, 37 seconds
And the fans are storming. I mean, they literally are over the wall already. If you guys remember this, I mean the last
36:46
36 minutes, 46 seconds
before that last play, the last two or three plays, they came over the wall.
36:50
36 minutes, 50 seconds
They were all around the end zone kind of where Randall was that side of the field and ready to tear down the goal post. I mean, they were literally on the
36:58
36 minutes, 58 seconds
field and so it was just going to be one of those moments and I just kind of think back to like, yeah, I mean, it was going to be a celebration of Kentucky.
37:04
37 minutes, 4 seconds
Maybe this was their moment to propel them to that next level, whatever that was. Um, but of course that never
37:11
37 minutes, 11 seconds
happened and it took him a long time to get back up there. I guess a few years later they kind of got some things together, but with Andre Woodson at quarterback, they had a couple of good
37:19
37 minutes, 19 seconds
seasons. But, uh, guys, I got to tell you, I mean, I’ve done, you know, this is my 29th or something year of football. And, um, I’ve done a lot of
37:28
37 minutes, 28 seconds
games, some a lot of, you know, game-winning field goals with no time left. But to have a play, a walk-off play like that in the game, it is such a
37:36
37 minutes, 36 seconds
rarity. And I’m I’m it’s just I’m just blessed that I was able to see it because it was absolutely amazing. Well, everybody remembers the touchdown
37:44
37 minutes, 44 seconds
obviously um and your call of course uh but what do you remember about the aftermath
37:52
37 minutes, 52 seconds
that the television audience might not have seen?
37:57
37 minutes, 57 seconds
Oh my gosh, it was incred I I wish we would have captured it better because it’s it is it’s what college football is about and I feel bad for the Kentucky
38:05
38 minutes, 5 seconds
fans in one regard. They literally stormed the field. I was telling you all those people were on that other end zone, the the end zone away from where the U touchdown was scored and they were
38:14
38 minutes, 14 seconds
storming the field. They were jumping on their players. They were tearing the goal post down. They didn’t even know.
38:20
38 minutes, 20 seconds
They literally did not know for like three or four minutes that LSU had won the game.
38:26
38 minutes, 26 seconds
And that’s one of the reasons I was kind of slow kind of processing it because I’m watching this one end. It was surreal. Um and I wish we would have
38:34
38 minutes, 34 seconds
captured more of that. And as you know, obviously you want to get the celebration of LSU and the fans in the corner, the far corner down there. The
38:42
38 minutes, 42 seconds
LSU fans were going absolutely berserk as you might imagine, but so were the Kentucky fans except they had no idea they just lost.
38:50
38 minutes, 50 seconds
That’s crazy. Do you remember anything in particular about Nick Sabin after the game, his reaction?
38:56
38 minutes, 56 seconds
Yeah, I thought his interview with Dave Baker was was just classic. Nick, you know, hey man, we’ll take the win, but man, you know, they deserve to win. We didn’t.
39:08
39 minutes, 8 seconds
We’ll take it. Move on. We’ll try to get better. But you could just see like he in his in his mind, he’s like, man, we we aren’t very good. You know, like
39:15
39 minutes, 15 seconds
that’s that’s we’re lucky to get out of here. Um and you know, that wasn’t a great season for LSU overall. It was a good season. It wasn’t great. And then
39:23
39 minutes, 23 seconds
of course we know what happened after that. But um you know, it was just classic sub so subdued. He was just kind of you could just kind of see his mind
39:31
39 minutes, 31 seconds
when he was talking to Dave Baker just kind of racing like man we’ve got a hundred things we need to correct if we’re going to win another football
39:39
39 minutes, 39 seconds
game. Um but I mean that listen um that was not a great LSU team. It was a good LSU team. Um but that is just classic
39:48
39 minutes, 48 seconds
and I hate to say it but it is. Anybody that’s watched Kentucky football for the last 30 years knows I mean that’s just what happens to them. I mean that’s just on the
39:56
39 minutes, 56 seconds
it’s you hate it for Kentucky. I got friends that are Kentucky fans, man.
40:00
40 minutes
They just keep waiting for the, you know, the ceiling to cave in every year.
40:03
40 minutes, 3 seconds
So, um, maybe this is a season that they can kind of erase some of that. I don’t know if this is the weekend they’re going to do it against a really good LSU team, but there’s always hope, I guess.
40:14
40 minutes, 14 seconds
Have you been able to see Kentucky in person yet this year, Dave?
40:18
40 minutes, 18 seconds
Yeah, I had them a couple I had them two weeks ago and um I was impressed with them. I um you know I I don’t think that they’re LSU
40:27
40 minutes, 27 seconds
level, not even really close, but I think they’re a middle of the pack SEC football team. I mean, they’ve already won a couple of, you know, games that
40:35
40 minutes, 35 seconds
people didn’t get would would think that they maybe they wouldn’t win. Um so they’re ahead of the curve in that regard, but they’re they’re well coached. I mean, I I I had not met Will
40:44
40 minutes, 44 seconds
Stein until two weeks ago, but he’s one of these energy it’s hard to believe, first of all, he’s 37 years old, right? um you you just don’t really
40:53
40 minutes, 53 seconds
realize how young he is. But he is he is very confident and that works when you’re winning and I think it’ll it’ll
41:01
41 minutes, 1 second
also help him if they do go through uh you know some some little dips in the road just because he’s got such a positive attitude. But I really like
41:10
41 minutes, 10 seconds
what they’re doing. I mean, I think from an offensive standpoint, um I I think he’s got some he’s got some some stuff
41:17
41 minutes, 17 seconds
to him to to say that in a in a I guess in a uh radio way. Um if we were on like on the internet or [laughter] something
41:25
41 minutes, 25 seconds
like that. Um but he’s got some stuff to him and I I I kind of like it. I kind He’s got a I I said it the other day on
41:33
41 minutes, 33 seconds
the air when we had their game, he kind of has a little Steve Spurer in him. And um take it for what it is, but Steve Spurer was one of the most confident
41:41
41 minutes, 41 seconds
guys you ever met and could really coach ball. And I feel the same way about Will Stein.
41:46
41 minutes, 46 seconds
How do you feel uh about Lane Keifin at LSU particularly?
41:52
41 minutes, 52 seconds
Uh I we had a great meeting with him on Friday. longer. I I you know, I’ve known Lane since he started coaching at
41:59
41 minutes, 59 seconds
Tennessee and and he’s always been great in our TV production meetings, but for whatever reason, last Friday, he was just unbelievable saying some great
42:07
42 minutes, 7 seconds
stories. He seemed very relaxed. Um I I know that u you know, this is a listen, he’s in a great spot, but this is a
42:15
42 minutes, 15 seconds
pressure cooker and he’s been in some of them, but it ain’t like being at Old Miss. It it’s just not. this is a whole another level, especially with everything that he’s been afforded to
42:23
42 minutes, 23 seconds
try to get this program back to a national championship. So, I you know, there’s some weight on him, but I did not feel it. I mean, he was just I I
42:32
42 minutes, 32 seconds
guess he thinks he’s got a pretty good team. You know what I mean? It’s just like sometimes that’s how coaches act.
42:37
42 minutes, 37 seconds
Um, but he’s hard on him, man. some of the stuff that he was talking about what they’re going through and and I mean look look what he did you know going to
42:46
42 minutes, 46 seconds
Cory Barber in the second quarter or something and just benched one of your main receivers because he dropped now I mean rightfully so he dropped a couple
42:53
42 minutes, 53 seconds
touchdown passes but Barber gets his shot looks like he’s an all-American right um so he’s not afraid and I I that’s one of
43:01
43 minutes, 1 second
the things I respect man you know we’re here to win ball games and he’s going to do whatever he can to win ball games and um but no I I’ve enjoyed Lane every time I’ve had a chance to deal with him and
43:09
43 minutes, 9 seconds
week was just one of those it was just a fun time to be around and we were with him over an hour.
43:14
43 minutes, 14 seconds
We when you and Cole Cubrick looked at looked at LSU’s offensive line I mean I know you went inside and out on the
43:22
43 minutes, 22 seconds
whole team but did did especially Cole talking to you. Did he say anything about LSU’s offensive line that stood out?
43:30
43 minutes, 30 seconds
Yeah, he felt like I think you you know you you you guys have have watched enough and I think his thought process was very similar to what people there
43:37
43 minutes, 37 seconds
you there are some spots you got to shore up. I think you really got to get the guard situation. But what he did tell me and he even pulled up like six
43:44
43 minutes, 44 seconds
clips of Jordan Seat. I he raved about him before the game and then there were some some plays during the game where
43:51
43 minutes, 51 seconds
Satan was just he’s a he’s a he’s a differencemaker and whenever they as he pointed out like there were three run plays somewhere earlier in the game and
44:00
44 minutes
they just when they third down and short third and four third and five and they were running the football they were going right behind him and he was just clearing people out um and he just was
44:09
44 minutes, 9 seconds
raving about him but he said you know that he he feels like there’s talent in there it the the guards, the especially, you
44:18
44 minutes, 18 seconds
know, Sat White came in, played pretty well for Borderline, but Borderline got a bunch of snaps again last week. So, maybe they feel like a message was sent and he feels like they’re talented.
44:28
44 minutes, 28 seconds
Um, but I will say this, and I asked him this question on the air, uh, about when your quarterback can’t really move, does
44:36
44 minutes, 36 seconds
it change your philosophy? like as an offensive lineman subconsciously, do I have to do something different to make sure that my guy is not going to have to
44:43
44 minutes, 43 seconds
scramble out of this pocket? He says it’s more of a collective thing. It’s not an individual thing. And I think we’ve seen that um with this group. Sam
44:52
44 minutes, 52 seconds
Lev has had some time to throw in the pocket the last couple of games. And it’s going to make Sam better quarterback. I I forget I I didn’t see
45:00
45 minutes
it, by the way, this at the end of this game. I haven’t gone back and looked at it, but I know that he was really good off of play action stuff. Um, two weeks
45:09
45 minutes, 9 seconds
ago, I think he was 13 to 15 or something of play action passes for 240 yards. I think he was very similar to
45:16
45 minutes, 16 seconds
that those numbers this past week, which is a great sign if you’re an LSU fan because he was just throwing darts to Cass.
45:25
45 minutes, 25 seconds
Yeah.
45:26
45 minutes, 26 seconds
In the pocket. And I think he maybe will stand in there and maybe let that go because he can really spin the football.
45:32
45 minutes, 32 seconds
And I think that’s going to be an added added bonus as as LSU moves forward when he is healthy that he you know we we know he can run but if he can stay in
45:40
45 minutes, 40 seconds
the pocket and do what he’s been doing that’d be incredible. Where you at this Saturday, Dave? Fateville or Gainesville?
45:45
45 minutes, 45 seconds
I’m actually No, I’m actually doing a Thursday night game. I need Yeah, I’m gonna take the weekend off this weekend.
45:52
45 minutes, 52 seconds
got some family stuff I need to take care of. And um uh so I’m going to they put me on Thursday night. I’m going to uh listen, I’ve never vacationed in
46:00
46 minutes
Jonesboro, Arkansas, but I’m going to go for a couple days on Thursday and I’ll let you guys know [laughter] how it is.
46:06
46 minutes, 6 seconds
All right, sounds good, man. Sounds good. A little Sunb Belt action on a Thursday night. Appreciate it, Dave. Thanks a lot for your time, man.
46:14
46 minutes, 14 seconds
Hey, man. Enjoyed it. We had a great time in Baton Rouge. You guys be safe.
46:17
46 minutes, 17 seconds
All right. You, too. Dave Neil. He’s a legendary voice when it comes to covering SEC athletics. When we come back, we’ll be talking with Ryan Black
46:26
46 minutes, 26 seconds
of the Louisville Courier Journal. So, we’ll get a scouting report on the Wildcats when we come back on Tiger Rag Radio.
46:37
46 minutes, 37 seconds
LSU is more than just football scores.
46:40
46 minutes, 40 seconds
It’s recruiting battles. NIL, SEC politics, coaching decisions, public records, financial decisions worth
46:47
46 minutes, 47 seconds
hundreds of millions of dollars. Nobody covers the complete story like Tiger Rag. Every day at tiger.com and every
46:54
46 minutes, 54 seconds
month in Tiger Magazine, you’ll find award-winning journalism, exclusive interviews, insider analysis, recruiting coverage, opinion, history, and
47:03
47 minutes, 3 seconds
investigative reporting that other outlets simply don’t have. Tiger Rag was recently honored with first place for breaking news by the Louisiana Sports
47:11
47 minutes, 11 seconds
Writers Association for its coverage of LSU athletics. Whether you’re following Lane Kein, Jay Johnson, Will Wade, Kim
47:19
47 minutes, 19 seconds
Moy, or the future of LSU athletics, Tiger Rag is where serious LSU fans begin. Visit tiger.com today. Tiger Rag,
47:28
47 minutes, 28 seconds
more than big games, the story behind LSU sports.
47:34
47 minutes, 34 seconds
The IRS is the most powerful collection agency in the world. I couldn’t sleep. We were being audited.
47:40
47 minutes, 40 seconds
They do not give up until you pay. They put a lean on my house. How about you?
47:46
47 minutes, 46 seconds
Do you owe back taxes? Call Tax Solutions now and get some help. For a limited time, the IRS offers a tax
47:54
47 minutes, 54 seconds
forgiveness program called the Fresh Start Initiative. Our team can make it easier for you to pay back taxes, avoid tax leans, and get a fresh start.
48:04
48 minutes, 4 seconds
Sometimes you just need a second chance.
48:07
48 minutes, 7 seconds
I call Tax Solutions Now, and they got the IRS off my back.
48:10
48 minutes, 10 seconds
At Tax Solutions Now, our affiliates are all accredited by the Better Business Bureau and members of the National Association of Tax Professionals.
48:18
48 minutes, 18 seconds
We saved our home and overcame the most powerful collection agency in the world.
48:22
48 minutes, 22 seconds
Time is running out. Call Tax Solutions now. Call 8003196697. 800 319-6697.
48:31
48 minutes, 31 seconds
800 319-6697 and we’re back with Tiger Rag Radio.
Chapter 9: Kentucky scouting report
48:39
48 minutes, 39 seconds
All right, we got a couple short quick segments here. So, let’s talk a little bit about the Kentucky Wildcats. Jeff Polalmo along with Case Kishnik as we
48:47
48 minutes, 47 seconds
bring in Ryan Black from the Louisville Courier Journal. Ryan, thanks a lot for joining us here on Tiger Rag Radio. How you doing tonight?
48:55
48 minutes, 55 seconds
Hey, well, thank you for having me on.
48:56
48 minutes, 56 seconds
I’m I’m pretty busy. I actually just got back from uh the UK men’s basketball proday event at Rup Arena. So, uh I’m already kind of well into the crossover
49:06
49 minutes, 6 seconds
season. [laughter] How many guys do they have on their roster? Because right now LSU’s just got four. How many they got over at Kentucky?
49:13
49 minutes, 13 seconds
Well, they had 15 until the Mark Mitchell situation apart and he went back to Missou. So, they they’re sitting on 14 scholarship right now. They have one still available for next season.
49:21
49 minutes, 21 seconds
All right, there we go. Well, let’s get back to football. What do you think uh about Kenny Mincchi? Uh give us a tell us about how well he’s performed here
49:29
49 minutes, 29 seconds
under in Will Stein and Joel Sloan’s offense.
49:33
49 minutes, 33 seconds
Yeah. Well, so far you have to say there’s got to be few complaints. I mean, right, 11 touchdowns, one interception. That’s I mean, again, almost completely spotless. I mean,
49:41
49 minutes, 41 seconds
really, the only real area of criticism you you could have at this point is is and it’s something that Sloan mentioned when we got to talk to him during the
49:49
49 minutes, 49 seconds
preseason camp. They really want him to be more willing to take off and run. And I don’t know how much you guys have watched of him yet, but that is one
49:56
49 minutes, 56 seconds
thing he’s a little bit reluctant to do at times. Like really, he’ll he’ll occasionally kind of scramble a little bit to keep plays alive, but they really want him to just go just go, you know,
50:05
50 minutes, 5 seconds
and that’s really I’d say the one the one area that they’re really still working with him on, but outside of that, at least in the passing game, you can’t have many complaints so far. Ryan,
50:14
50 minutes, 14 seconds
coach Stein kind of vaulted himself pretty high up in my personal favorite SEC coaches during SEC media days whenever he said that Kentucky was going to turn around and win because of him.
50:23
50 minutes, 23 seconds
Uh, what has been your impression of coach Stein? Is that that confidence kind of the the main thing that sticks out to you through the first five weeks of the season here?
50:32
50 minutes, 32 seconds
Yes. I mean, and again, that that’s something I I’ve got this question a lot from from people when I’ve been on various, I guess, shows is like, is that like an act or is that like how he
50:41
50 minutes, 41 seconds
really is? is I’m like, “No, that’s that’s just how he’s like wired.” Uh like he’s he came from a school at at in in Louisville in high school. He set the
50:49
50 minutes, 49 seconds
single season touchdown record at the school with 54. He’s just a guy who’s just always known success. And you kind of look at his his history as a a a
50:57
50 minutes, 57 seconds
coach before now. I mean, he’s been places where he’s won. And so to say that the confidence is something that sticks out, I I would say that’s one thing. But but one other thing which I
51:06
51 minutes, 6 seconds
appreciate and I know I guess you all deal with it with Lane Keifin is you know he’s not really a guy who dodges questions. You know it’s so easy in modern day times to to kind of say we’re
51:14
51 minutes, 14 seconds
not going to talk about that or next question or what have you. But but you know you ask Don a question he’s going to give you a direct answer whether you like it or not.
51:22
51 minutes, 22 seconds
Kentucky uh hasn’t really stuck out in a lot of different statistical statistical categories to start out the season here at least offensively. But one thing that
51:30
51 minutes, 30 seconds
did catch my eye is they’re the only school in the SEC that has two rushers in the top 10 in the conference and that’s CJ Baxter and Jason Patterson.
51:38
51 minutes, 38 seconds
How do those two backs kind of complement each other and what should uh LSU fans be looking for?
51:42
51 minutes, 42 seconds
Well, Baxter definitely is the more big play guy. He’s an explosive threat. You know, he’s a guy coming out of high school was the number one ranked running back in the country. You know, ended up
51:51
51 minutes, 51 seconds
going to Texas and really his inj his career there was derailed by injury. But he’s kind of the more big play threat of the two. Uh, you know, Jason Patterson,
52:00
52 minutes
I mean, he’s a guy that just pretty much never goes down on first contact. I know heading into last week’s game, I believe he ranked number one in the in the SEC
52:08
52 minutes, 8 seconds
of uh yards after contact among running backs. So, he’s just he’s just a physical guy. And so, I guess, you know, kind of trot out an old phrase. They’re
52:16
52 minutes, 16 seconds
kind of like a thunder and lightning kind of duo in that way.
52:19
52 minutes, 19 seconds
Ryan, we’re going to take this last break, though. We got to take this hour and then we’ll finish up the conversation for a few minutes afterwards if that’s okay with you. That’s the following.
52:27
52 minutes, 27 seconds
All right, let’s uh take this last break and more with Ryan Black from the Louisville Courier Journal as we keep talking about the Kentucky Wildcats here on Tiger Rag Radio.
52:35
52 minutes, 35 seconds
A sizzling T-bone steak, a mouthwatering char grilled hamburger, a slow smoked brisket. There are plenty of reasons to grill beef this fall. With 29 cuts of
52:44
52 minutes, 44 seconds
lean proteinpacked beef to choose from, there’s always something succulent to serve to your [music] family. So this weekend and throughout the fall, be the
52:51
52 minutes, 51 seconds
hero of your backyard barbecue by serving what everybody wants, the delicious taste of certified Louisiana beef. So remember, beef, it’s what’s for
53:00
53 minutes
dinner. Brought to [music] you by the Louisiana Cattle Producers through the Louisiana Beef Industry Council and the Beef Check Off.
53:05
53 minutes, 5 seconds
Some call it overplanning. At Boog Electrical Services, we call it foresight. Be prepared for the next power outage with a GenerRack home
53:14
53 minutes, 14 seconds
standby generator. After sensing a power outage, a GenerRack [music] home standby generator automatically restores your
53:21
53 minutes, 21 seconds
home power. GenerRack, it’s not just a generator, it’s a power move. Trust Budro’s electrical services for expert
53:29
53 minutes, 29 seconds
installations, proactive maintenance for home and business. Budroelectricals.com for more information.
53:35
53 minutes, 35 seconds
I’m Richard Fontner, president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. My brother and I grow rice, soybeans, and raised crawfish on our farm in Evangeline Parish. For a fourth
53:44
53 minutes, 44 seconds
generation farmer like myself, Louisiana Farm Bureau is as much a part of my life as checking traps or harvesting [music] rice. Our organization is more than
53:52
53 minutes, 52 seconds
145,000 members strong, and we’ve been around for more than 100 years. The Louisiana Farm Bureau spans generations,
53:57
53 minutes, 57 seconds
[music]
53:58
53 minutes, 58 seconds
and we want you to join our family.
54:00
54 minutes
Visit lafarmbureau.org. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the voice of Louisiana agriculture.
54:05
54 minutes, 5 seconds
If you love LSU, don’t settle for headlines everyone else already has. At tiger.com and in Tigerra magazine, you’ll find breaking news, exclusive
54:14
54 minutes, 14 seconds
interviews, recruiting, game analysis, and the investigative reporting that’s making headlines across Louisiana.
54:19
54 minutes, 19 seconds
Recently named Louisiana’s first place breaking news winner by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Tiger Rag delivers independent journalism covering
54:27
54 minutes, 27 seconds
the business, the politics, and the games of LSU athletics. Visit tiger.com every day. Tiger Rag, independent, fearless LSU.
54:41
54 minutes, 41 seconds
LSU is more than just football scores.
54:44
54 minutes, 44 seconds
It’s recruiting battles, NIL, SEC politics, coaching decisions, public records, financial decisions worth
54:51
54 minutes, 51 seconds
hundreds of millions of dollars. Nobody covers the complete story like Tiger Rag. Every day at tiger.com and every
54:58
54 minutes, 58 seconds
month in Tiger Magazine, you’ll find award-winning journalism, exclusive interviews, insider analysis, recruiting coverage, opinion, history, and
55:07
55 minutes, 7 seconds
investigative reporting that other outlets simply don’t have. Tiger Rag was recently honored with first place for breaking news by the Louisiana Sports
55:15
55 minutes, 15 seconds
Writers Association for its coverage of LSU athletics. Whether you’re following Lane Kein, Jay Johnson, Will Wade, Kim
55:23
55 minutes, 23 seconds
Moy, or the future of LSU athletics, Tiger Rag is where serious LSU fans begin. Visit tiger.com today. Tiger Rag,
55:32
55 minutes, 32 seconds
more than big games, the story behind LSU sports.
55:39
55 minutes, 39 seconds
Now, more Tiger Rag Radio.
55:43
55 minutes, 43 seconds
Back here on Tiger Rag Radio as we have Ryan Black on from the Louisville Courier Journal telling us about the Kentucky Wildcats. Ryan, what stands out
55:51
55 minutes, 51 seconds
about this Kentucky defense? Is it the turnovers they’ve been able to create?
55:55
55 minutes, 55 seconds
Well, guys, yeah, thanks again for having me on. I mean, I’d have to say that that ranks the very top. You know, one thing that’s interesting is, you know, they’ve repeatedly been able to
56:03
56 minutes, 3 seconds
get two opposing quarterbacks in terms of pressures, right? Right now, they’re just they’re still looking for more sacks. And I think the thing is, right, it’s kind of like anything else. The
56:11
56 minutes, 11 seconds
more opportunities you give yourself, the better, you know, the better the hit rate is going to be at some point. So that’s really the one thing, you know, going forward they’re really looking to
56:19
56 minutes, 19 seconds
do is not just get to the quarterback, but actually bring them to the ground.
56:22
56 minutes, 22 seconds
Kind of piggybacking off of that, Coach Stein kind of mentioned how his defense has been burned by the mobile quarterback so far this season. Sam
56:30
56 minutes, 30 seconds
Levit obviously not immobile unless his we don’t know the status of his hamstring injury just yet. But uh how do you see them maybe changing things and
56:38
56 minutes, 38 seconds
and what’s your biggest concern about the Wildcats going into this weekend?
56:43
56 minutes, 43 seconds
Well, you know, well, I’ll say one thing that really hurt Kentucky last week was, you know, the day before the day before the game they find out that Alex Afari, you know, who had gotten that fifth
56:51
56 minutes, 51 seconds
season of eligibility back, you know, he was that that ruling was overturned. So, kind of barely 24 hours until kickoff, you had a guy who was a key defender, a
56:59
56 minutes, 59 seconds
guy who would have helped maybe trying to somewhat slow down Lenor Sers. He’s completely taken out of your game plan.
57:05
57 minutes, 5 seconds
Really no idea what his status is going to be going forward. Uh so in terms of I what you say the biggest concern for for Kentucky is going forward defensively
57:13
57 minutes, 13 seconds
would be well hey if if uh if Levit is is not as you said a mobile they’ve just not really shown uh a propensity for slowing down running quarterbacks
57:21
57 minutes, 21 seconds
because almost every team they’ve played this season to this point has had some dual threat ability and they’ve not really done a great job defending it.
57:30
57 minutes, 30 seconds
Finishing up here with Ryan Black, I got to ask you about Kenny Derby. How uh were you anticipating this? The the
57:38
57 minutes, 38 seconds
young man from Bojer City, a former LSU commitment lane decided to resend the scholarship offer. Were you guys
57:45
57 minutes, 45 seconds
expecting him to be the uh leading receiver for the Wildcats after five games?
57:51
57 minutes, 51 seconds
Uh no. I mean, I certainly didn’t. I mean, I thought the leading receiver for sure was actually be a tight end. You know, Willie Rod really Willie Rodriguez. He’s got 22 receptions so
57:59
57 minutes, 59 seconds
far. So, he’s doing, you know, fairly well in that category. But I don’t think anybody really could have legitimately foreseen what what Kenny Darvey’s done to this point. And you know last week I
58:08
58 minutes, 8 seconds
mean 12 receptions that set a single game freshman record for UK and and you know guys the thing I really like about him is he’s just a really bubbly personality. You know when he’s gotten in front of the cameras a few times.
58:18
58 minutes, 18 seconds
He’s just a really fun uh easy to like kid.
58:21
58 minutes, 21 seconds
What’s been the uh atmosphere around town? Is there a lot of excitement uh for this game? Do do fans think, hey, are they believing Will Stein and what
58:30
58 minutes, 30 seconds
what he’s been cooking out there? Do they think uh maybe an upset is possible? LSU’s favorite by eight and a half points.
58:37
58 minutes, 37 seconds
Well, I think they certainly think an upset is possible, but I think the fact that, you know, as you guys are mentioning, it’s already a sellout. And then I don’t know how much you you’ve maybe followed this, but UK is using
58:45
58 minutes, 45 seconds
this as a throwback game. They’re going to bring back the Power K logo that they used from about the mid70s into the early 90s. And so, you know, that’s obviously somewhat of a marketing ploy
58:54
58 minutes, 54 seconds
as well. Well, I mean, they’ve had all kind of merchandise that’s flown off the shelves and, you know, obviously sold out online stores. So, there’s that, too. And then just the fact that, hey,
59:01
59 minutes, 1 second
it’s a night game. It’s the first night game they’ve had this year at Kroger Field. So, there there’s definitely a lot of excitement around town for it.
59:07
59 minutes, 7 seconds
Ryan, thanks a lot, man. I appreciate it. Uh, good luck with crossover season and should be a fun game on Saturday night.
59:15
59 minutes, 15 seconds
Hey, thank you guys for having me on. I appreciate it.
59:16
59 minutes, 16 seconds
All right, that’s Ryan Black from the Louisville Courier Journal. That’s going to do it for our show. Got to thank everyone for being involved with it. For
59:24
59 minutes, 24 seconds
Case Todd, I’m Jeff Polmo. For the latest in LSU sports, check out tiger.com. And you can check out Tiger Radio again next week. Have a great week, everyone.
59:35
59 minutes, 35 seconds
Tiger is everywhere online at tiger.com.
59:39
59 minutes, 39 seconds
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/tiger magazine or follow us on Twitter at tiger_rag.com
Be the first to comment