Latest / Bluegrass State of Mind / A NEW ERA OF KY FOOTBALL | KY Insider Founder & A Sea of Blue Editor Tristan Pharis Joins the Show!

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A NEW ERA OF KY FOOTBALL | KY Insider Founder & A Sea of Blue Editor Tristan Pharis Joins the Show! · Bluegrass State of Mind

• Dillon: What's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Fellas, we got an exciting one here tonight. We have a special guest joining us. you if you are watching us via YouTube, Mason will hop on eventually. But we do have a new face joining the show, Mr. Tristan Ferris. man, I'm excited to have this guest on here, Colton. I'm gonna be able to bring in a different perspective of things that we just cannot offer. As as big of Kentucky fans that we are and as much as we follow, a lot of the stuff that we actually provide for you all on here comes from this guy right here. so let's just throw it on over to you right now. Tristan, kind of just introduce yourself and kind of let us know and the fans know exactly what you do for your job and kind of the I guess the interactions that you're able to have within Kentucky, Kentucky Athletics. So take Tristan Pharis: Yeah. Dillon: it away, man. Tristan Pharis: Yeah, so I appreciate you guys having me on. So, I've been doing this since twenty nineteen. when I was still in school I just decided to I growing up a Kentucky fan, obviously putting all that effort in. I remember an elementary school like writing that w any type of writing assignment, that's what I wrote about. So I was still in school and I like, Let's just give this a shot. Let's see if it goes anywhere. I'm I'm five nine, so I'm clearly not going d to play basketball at that point. So so realize media's probably the best bet so started writing started building a website self taught a lot of stuff and then one of the fortune things one of the fortunate things of covet was being able to get access that I wouldn't necessarily be able to get I actually live about an hour and a half away from Lexington so it's not like I'm always there on the scene. So having the ability to to talk to Cal and the players and stuff via Zoom through all that was awesome. just because I was still finishing up school so that allowed me to kind of get my foot in the door and then the next year we started going to f games full time. So I started off writing, now I'm more of like a photo journalist, like do it all, social media. kind of had my foot in every direction. I still write. I take photos now. and one of the reasons for that was the way this isn't just Kentucky, but the way media is kinda going. If you watch a lot of media personalities you see the them getting farther and farther away from the court. and that's not a complaint. I understand like and professional sports teams, college programs, they gotta make money for those club areas and and those booster areas so completely understandable. but as you get farther away it kinda takes away what you're able to get from the game. And so I decided to invest some money in some some pretty nice camera gear and stuff. And so the last three years, in addition to writing it and doing the social media stuff and taking pictures, that's also allowed me to get closer to the players. players love getting pictures taken. Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: and so you kinda t get some shots, you're able to get in in touch with him and so just a very, very cool opportunity that I never thought I would get. just decided to to make a bet on myself and and it's worked out. So Dillon: So what brand is it though? And you say you keep r referencing the website. So what is it Tristan Pharis: Yeah. Dillon: though? Obviously it's not Tristan Ferris website, right? So can you elaborate more on that? Tristan Pharis: Yeah. So I started Kentucky Insider in twenty nineteen. So I I'm the founder of that. I think we just surpassed a hundred and seventy five thousand followers on all platforms. So has grown, grown way, way beyond ever thought it would. Dillon: That's impressive, man. Tristan Pharis: but in addition to that, I I do work for Sea of Blue. they kind of gave me kind of the first start of getting credentials and stuff just because they're a more established at the time they were more of established brand. and that's with S B Nation and then and they got a ton of college and sports sites. So kinda insider's the main one, but still contribute to a sea of blue pretty often too. Dillon: So for those listening, we do have somebody who knows what they're talking about. Working for a Sea of Blue and the one, the owner who established Kentucky Insider. and man, that that I just call on the clapping for you. That that is impressive. Good for you to like you said, have a dream. Always it's been in your blood. And that's the funny thing about it, is like with Kentucky, you know, it makes you do things that you probably wouldn't have done without that connection to Kentucky sports and I mean look at you now, thriving, got a family for yourself providing in that way. So man, that's awesome. Colton, do you have anything real quick before we get into some sports talk? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, no, I mean, like he said, that's very impressive. We're we're very happy to be able to have Tristan on here. If you're not following either of those, make sure you can go and follow. 'Cause we like to just all the all the UK media is on around that's kinda where air inspiration came from. We just a couple of guys that, you know, love talking Kentucky sports and and wanted to take it from the group text all the way to a to a podcast. So we're very appreciative of Tristan coming on and and everything, can you know, kinda chasing that same dream in a way. so we're we're very happy to have him on here. Dillon: Absolutely. Tristan Pharis: And I'll add, this is what makes Kentucky great. Like there's not very many programs in this country that just has not just necessarily like fan media. Like I I've I've had to learn to take my blue tinted glasses off over the years. I I consider myself more neutral. but obviously all the fan podcasts and and and and content creators and stuff, like there's just not that many programs, not just college but professionally that that kind of has a level of of of trying to get stuff out there like Kentucky and and shows like this are are what makes it awesome. Dillon: absolutely. And man, I'm excited. So let's let's get into it. So September 19th, 2026, this past Saturday, the University of Kentucky Wildcats football program went and stepped, I guess a legacy game for not only the program, but Mr. Wilstein himself going into college station to take down the number nine ranked team in the nation, the Texas AM Aggies of the score of 31 to 21. Tristan, before we also get into a little bit more of the statistical part of it, kind of what has been the vibes around the UK program with this new Will Stein era? As much as you can, I guess, with you being around the players, the coaches, because obviously, you know, there's always been the Mark Stoops era. We've been with that. We understand what he did for this program. he took it to places that we've never seen before. It had been in a long time, lack for better words, but It it it's kind of been a big shift, you know, also with the new A D, take going away from its Barnhart. There's just been a a a big culture change, right? So what has that shift been like sin I guess from your perspective? Tristan Pharis: Yeah, so K Kentucky Athletics looks completely different than it did when I started this. So Cal Perry, now to Pope, from Barnhart, now to Bat, from Stein from Stoops, now to Stein. So a and just touching on Stein, like I I think the biggest thing is just an obviously the new energy, a younger energy. obviously Will Stein's in his mid thirties, so just a g different kind of vibe that kinda relates to not just the players, but kind of the younger fan base that th that's typically the the side that's more vocal, especially on social media. but I think it it the biggest thing is just confidence, right? Like, don't get me wrong, Mark Stoops is confident. but Will Stein's got like a different like Kirk Signetti, which I I know a lot of people have said, just a different level of confidence. That St Matthew's confidence is what I call it. So it it's very like t for me, I think the biggest thing is Will Stein has had Kentucky football in the headlines let's even back it up before this past weekend. Obviously, huge win, right? National team of the week, coach of the week, like SEC Defensive Player of the Week, all the awards are coming in. but Will Stone has had Kentucky in the headlines since he got here in in December, right? f first he's got r great relationships with national media. so just getting that exposure going on those platforms and stuff like that. But two, just kind of like who he is, right? He went to SEC Media Day and and was asked why is Kentucky gonna win? Because of me. It takes a lot, I'm just gonna say balls to say something like that, and then Kolton Myatt: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: to back it up in your third game as a head coach to get a top ten win is impressive. obviously there's nine games left in the season, a lot a lot still to prove. but I think just just kind of the confidence he's bringing is is something that especially towards the end of the Mark Stoops area, you kind of if you got down fourteen points, you kinda knew like you give up the game, right? you kinda know if if if there was a holding call and you got put behind the sticks at second and fifteen, like you're not getting that first down. Like Kolton Myatt: Right. Tristan Pharis: it it's just kind of a different I I think people can just have a more positive outlook. I I think that's kind of even going relating a little bit to the Caliperi thing is when you have a coach in a position for so long you kinda just get used to the same old things and I think first stoops kinda got into a in a in a rut of his kind. I think the new era of college sports wasn't very kind to him a and his approach to it didn't really e equate to any success. but then fans, you you kinda get stagnant, right? Like you got told year after year, like we need to beat Georgia to win the SCC East. Well then they got rid of conference conference divisions. So it's it's like Dillon: That's a good point. Tristan Pharis: Kentucky's never really gonna get to the top and it's just where is this gonna go? I I I think Indiana's a prime example of like in this new I'm not saying Kentucky's gonna go win a national championship under Will Stein Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: the next couple of years or anything, Kolton Myatt: Right. Tristan Pharis: but I think it it goes to show in this new era of college sports, if you got a coach that people are bought into and has the resources that Kentucky has shown to be willing to give, I think you can find suc find some success and I think if Kentucky can get to the college football playoff in the next five years, that that would be a a huge success. Dillon: Well, and Colton, you know, it's it Tristan kind of he he talks a little bit about that, you know, referencing like the the old Kentucky ways, right? And we mentioned that like that was I guess that was the biggest question heading into this game after seeing what we did against an Alabama team for two quarters, how we practically own them, and then you know, you see quarter three, quarter four, thirty-two unanswered points, like you you're like, okay, this is the game where okay, can we go in and be competitive? I don't know that anybody was truly, truly expecting us to go in to Kyle Phil with a a hundred and four thousand screaming fans, number nine ranked team in the nation, for all the reasons of thinking they're still gonna be a a playoff team, bringing back practically the same team they had last year. That was the biggest question. What what was this game? Was this gonna be a game that we go in and compete in? Are we just gonna lay an egg? Are we going to kind of show flashes of old Kentucky? And I think we got our answer. going in as far as just some important stats looking at you know total yards, we had 408 total yards to AM's 423, passing yards 252 passing yards to their 236. but more importantly, you know, you're looking at the turnovers. We had zero turnovers, then looking at first downs. We had 18 first downs. the third down conversions, we were nine for seventeen to their three for nine. The red zones, we were three for four. It it just keeps on going and going and going. That was the kind of stats that we're looking at. and then you also had individual highlight players that we haven't got to yet. But Colton, for you, it was kind of worrisome, I think, in in the first quarter on that first drive for the AM's first drive. You look at it, you think right away they have the drop kickoff, you're thinking, okay. momentum like this is the play that's gonna get us going, right? And then all of a sudden it flips, they get the recovery, they pretty much run it down our throat the length of the field. And I'll be honest with you at that point I was like, boy, this is gonna be a long game because they were just getting anything they wanted. But then you see a a huge stance from our defense, which is also another big question that we've been saying, is our defense really that good? Or is it that you know the other teams offensive like what what is it, you know? So let's just start at the first quarter there, Colin. What was your perspective once we got that stock, got the ball and and kind of started making our our own way from there on? Kolton Myatt: Well, I mentioned that the very first week I mean as dynamic as our offense looked and it was just different, right, with the motions and everything that you just didn't see in the stoops era. But the defense in week one, they gave up some. they gave up some yards, they gave up some plays, and it kinda had me worried going into Alabama. And the defense did its job against Alabama. Look, it i it did. Obviously our offense put us in short field situations. They were out there playing in hundred degree weather, just I mean They got tired, I mean, expected. So after seeing that performance, I realized that I really think this defense can be a bend, don't break type defense. And and really immediately when we got that, you know, the turnover, the stop on on downs on fourth and one there, I mean, to me that was that was kind of where I see Kentucky defense being. Like, can we just maintain enough to bend and don't break? if they have long sustained drives and we don't give up that big play, then you're in a position where, you know, Tristan mentioned it, when you were with Mark Stoops, if you got down two touchdowns, we're not coming back. We just did not have that type of offense to come back. So now it's one of those things that where if you get down, if you're playing a top ten team at the end of the first quarter, you you've only gave up seven points, you're not sitting there thinking, you know, this game is over at all. Where You know, if that happens under the stoops error, you're you're probably thinking, I don't even know how we're gonna score two touchdowns and stop them at the same time. So I mean yeah, it's just it was a different vibe, right? And it's just one of those things that you saw the turnovers against Bama and then you saw this turnover and you're like, maybe this defense has more playmakers than what we realize. I know the hypes around the offense with Will Stein being that type of guy, but them having, you know, Bateman being their former defensive coordinator. You know, he definitely had some inside on and I think it showed. but and yeah, the first quarter was immediately kinda like, Okay, but this defense may have more to it Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: than we originally thought. Dillon: Tristan, I think that it's also important to note here that you you look at just the first half in general, there was a lot of missed opportunities. The Derby mit the the the pass. And you know, at that point, I'm sure you all were the same way. I was like, man, like that that's going to come back and haunt us. Like, I mean, you're that that's just giving up points right there. And you you can't you can't do that on the road, especially in the SEC. But you go into the half tied seven to seven. Very similar. As to the predicament that we were just a week before when we go in leading, I think it was 17 14 at the half. we was competitive, right? We we had we had took some punches, but we delivered some punches back. Regardless, we're going in at the half tied. But what was to come in the third quarter, I think, is I guess the biggest shock for me personally. you know, I think as Kentucky football fans, just football. We're so used to these type of games where if we do come out and we win a big game, take Ole Miss a couple of years ago or of Florida years before that. It was one of those games that it was kind of like we had to have some things go our way. It was going to come down to the wire. but man, this was a game that you just took complete control of and you just you just ran it down their throat the entire third quarter for a perfect. Perfect third quarter pretty much. So just talk about that, I guess, is as far as like what was you most impressed by, I guess, in that third quarter specifically. Tristan Pharis: Yeah, from the Alabama game I think that's probably th the staff's biggest concern was like just how the team come out in the third quarter, right? obviously Alabama made adjustments. Kentucky didn't really make the adjustments they needed to make to to counter those. and and you kinda seen where that went right. It was pretty much in the first ten minutes of that third quarter, maybe not even that, like Alabama just kinda ran away with it at that point, right? Obviously the offense wasn't getting anything, that that Alabama defense is legit. And it you put yourself in short yardage si situations, they're scoring, you're not getting anything, and at that point the kind of once you got to the fourth quarter of the game is already kind of out of hand. So, I think that's just kind of the biggest thing they they worked on is is Ty Bryant said it after the game is and Jordan Castell, who who both been playing great for for Kentucky's defense is you're gonna get punched in the mouth, how are you gonna respond? And Kentucky didn't respond well against Alabama. and and you kinda watch that first quarter against Texas A and and you're like, this may be old Kentucky football. You the drop touchdown, you got the miss field goal, like if if if this is a one possession game i Dillon: Yeah, that was another one that missed Philco. Tristan Pharis: as I say if you get if it's a one possession game at the end of the game you're like, my gosh, it'd be so much different and and the way they responded to the to that adversity and then the way they come out in the third quarter, they kinda just erase that, right? Al former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, college football analyst, put it out today like He believes that's one of the best third quarters he's seen of an SEC program in the last ten years. not just Kentucky. So definitely some high praise going around and and if you look at the stats it kind of backs it up. Like it's two, three an ounce for Texas ANM. I think they had a hundred and seventy yard advantage on A and it was just anything that could go right went right for Kentucky and anything that could go wrong for Texas AM went wrong. And it's not just it wasn't just luck, right? Kentucky Dillon: Mm, yeah. Tristan Pharis: mm f Kentucky performed to that level and that's something that hasn't been seen in in quite some time. Obviously Stoops had some had two ten win teams in his tenure, but it was just something and I I will c say this is Mark Stoops inherited an entirely different situation that Will Stein inherited. First off, two completely different landscapes. Mark Stoops had to rebuild that program based Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: on the old rules Will Stein was able to completely re reload this year with the new rules. and so I think that's important to I I think I seen the statistic as it took Mark Stoops a hundred and something games for his t first top ten win, yeah. But there's a lot of context missing when you're looking at that. So Kolton Myatt: Right. Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: I think the biggest takeaway for me is Kentucky kind of th they weren't lucked into anything. They went and out and got it. That was the biggest thing for me. Dillon: Well, and that and that that's that's perfect. That's kinda what I was gonna get into because there's also you're going to have the the national media, even some Kentucky fans, who are going to and they've already been talking about, well, you know, everything just went perfectly right for Kentucky. Well, no, no, let's pause that. I mean, we did miss the field goal. Darby did have the drop pass. I think it was was it DJ Miller in the first half who had that long like forty yard was that who it was who stepped out of bounds and then took it back another 20 something yards. So like there was a lot of things that that didn't go away. But ultimately, I think it's what Will Stein, you know, I'd seen a bunch of videos is his motto, I guess I don't know if it was just for this week or it has been for the entire year, but is next play. One play. One play at a time. You know, so looking at that, you know, I think that that's kind of what this team kind of came out and and surrounded their theme and was able to capitalize on that. So just looking though at breakout games, individual stats, that's another thing too. I I I don't know, Tristan or Colton, that you can say that it was one particular person. And that's why I think you've seen the Greg Michael, you've seen this national media be like, hey, this was collectively a full-out dominant third quarter from not just one or two or three players, but the entire unit of Kentucky, both offensively and defensiv defensively. So I guess let's just start with our our quarterback, Mr. Kenny Minchie. he goes for 14 of 18 passing, 252 yards, two touchdowns. he had 11, 11 consecutive completions to finish the game. Tristan, what was the what was the vibe like for Kenny Minchie when he was coming in? You know, he had all this praise being at Notre Dame, but at the same time hadn't started a single game. I I know that that kind of was a a big h highlight for this guy, but there was people also questioning after the Alabama game. Is he really that guy? Now I'm not gonna I'm gonna go on record and say we was not saying that. one Two games, especially first being the SEC, like was not saying that, but what was kind of that that vibe like, I guess from your perspective being within the team? Tristan Pharis: I think for me, Will Stein is a is a quarterback head coach, right? I mean that's he was a quarterback throughout his career. He knows what he was looking for in his quarterbacks his track record speaks for itself. If you go back to Oregon, his previous stops and and some of the premier high schools he was at. and so I think that was just people had confidence in him selecting Kenny Mitchie. and obviously this is his first year of starting. He was he was close, reportedly close to winning that job at Notre Dame and just didn't fall his way. But we also heard that with Brock Vandergriff at Georgia. So some people had had some caution. and I think obviously in this nature of hot and cold reactions, like that Alabama game was not kind to Kenny Mitchie whatsoever. but that Alabama secondary may be the best in the country. So definitely not the ideal for matchup for your first SC C opponent. but I think y this game you've seen him be a lot more under control. for one, the offensive line was able to to allow the the backfield to to get some pretty big gains, especially in that second half just opening up the field for some big plays from DJ Miller. I think his first two catches of the year he had combined for like seventy six yards for were against A and so he had Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: like a for for a little bit of average reception for like thirty something yards, right? So I think that was just a big thing is is he just that first game of playing against g against Youngstown State's different than kind of the jitters and stuff you get first playing against Alabama, it's Alabama. It's the same feeling that people get against playing Kentucky basketball. So it kinda roles are just kinda flipped and then you go into Texas A and in front of I I think I know it holds a hundred and two thousand. I actually had an A and fan message me that they had a hundred and five, seven hundred and something fans Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: there, so even more of the capacity. and for him to be for the things not to go his way in the first quarter in terms of like kind of the DJ Miller catch, the drop to Kenny Darby pass, like Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: for him to just stay consistent. and that's Joe Sloan compares him to Floyd Mayweather, right? And he was just even killed. That's that's the thing if you talk to the offensive line, you talk to the backfield like Kenny Mitchie's that steady voice. and and that's gonna be great, when times especially on the road when when you can get too high and too low sometimes. but we'll see how it goes when when you're down in the hole. So Dillon: Right. Tristan Pharis: if you're down fourteen twenty one you may need that that quarterback, that Tim Tebow type, get you energy up type Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: deal, but we'll see. But I think that's just the thing is he was even killed, steady, and he had a a very, very efficient performance. Dillon: Well that's what we've said here multiple times. Even just after even after the first game against Youngstown State, the one the I guess the most impressive thing was just the pulleys, you know. He he he seemed to never get rattled. And even in the Alabama game, I I don't want necessarily I don't think that he was trying to force a lot. He was just trying to find and make something happen. But it never seems even in this game, the one drop that he did have or it wasn't a drop, but he just Throw it out bounds, like next play. Like it nothing's there. Let's not force it. But Colton, you know, Tristan, he he he talked a little bit about the big blue wall. and then ultimately, without them, you're not gonna be able to have that QB efficiency as well as our backfield efficiency. Looking at CJ Baxter, a lot of questions was still coming around. Like, is he going to be able to be that guy that he was his freshman standout year at Texas coming off injury? Well. 19 carries, 87 rushing yards, two touchdowns. He he also taught also caught a pass for 28 yards. then looking at Jason Patterson, who may be one of the most surprising backs maybe in the SEC right now. Six carries, 58 yards. He's averaging 9.7 yards per carry just at Texas AM. kind of talk a little bit about that, Colton. I mean, they literally seemed as if the gaps were just opening left and right. And that that just goes to contribute to what the big blue wall is able to do on that old line. Just come on now. Let let's just shove it down their throats and make them eat everything. Kolton Myatt: For sure. So I mean the first things that Will Stein come in and done was like Tristan mentioned, I the reason I'm big on Kenny Minchie and I said multiple times is at the time that we we pulled the trigger quick on Minchie when there were still guys out there like Hoover and Levitt and different names were circling out there, right? And he pulled the trigger on a guy that that he liked. And you based on, you know, his quarterback, you know, history with Oregon You had to know that he saw something in him. Somewhere in the line. He likes something about Kenny Minchie. So he pulled the trigger on that and he knew that any good quarterback at anyone is going to need a good offensive line. You've got to be good in the trenches. Right. And so he started going out. He went and got Colton Price, right, from Baylor. And and that's not only is is he an elite center, but he's your voice out there on that line. I mean, he he you could tell he's controlling it. I don't know you saw the play there one right right before Baxter got in one time. I mean, but but Price was just taking his guy extra yards. I mean, just not giving up on the play. And I mean, you can tell he sets the tone for the rest of those guys and they just seem to be on the same page. Which is if you can get an offensive line like that, I mean, you can just do wonders with it. And if you take a quarterback who's poised and you have a line that's giving him time, I mean a lot of things can be created, especially for right now what I think is a talented with higher potential type wide receiver group, but it's not big name guys, right? We don't we don't have a lot of big name wide receiver guys out there. And so you need an offensive line with protection. You need to scheme up different things. And man and it starts with that offensive line. And we talk about, you know, Stoops part of the what he changed was the physicality of Kentucky. And those years that we were, you know, really good. was when their offensive line, you know, we were having a couple of guys drafted in the off offensive line each year. And that's kind of where that started. And so Will Stein I love that he come in and immediately address those two things. Because really that's where a lot of everything starts with your team. Those two things get solved first, I feel like you can really put things around the rest of those two things and and they're gonna look better than what they even are just because of what what those are. Dillon: Yeah, and you know, when looking at I Tristan, the wide receiver room, you know, we we we we knew what this tied in class could be. It was just utilizing them the correct way. And whenever we got Will Stein, we was like, okay, I think a lot of answers without even watching them play, like, okay, Will Stein, his scheming, like he's gonna get the this tied in class, whether it be Boyer, Wa Rodriguez, like they're gonna get theirs. It it's just the scheming, right? But I do think that Colton, you know, talking about the wide receiver group, that was kind of a question. Like we don't have a big name guy, but do we now? Do do we have a potential of of having go to guys? And I I think that and you said it too, it was kind of it was it was hard to kind of look at that and put that in per into perspective against Alabama. I mean, they was ranked amongst one t whatever spot you want to put One, two. They had the best secondary in the country, arguably. Right. So but still looking at Texas AM, they have a really good defense too though. So when looking at Kenny Darby, who had a breakout game, you have DJ Miller who finally gets into the mix. What has been the vibes around the the w wide receiver group collectively? whether it be they wasn't kind of producing maybe what they thought they were going to at the beginning, was it one of those things that was like just give it time, give it time. What has that kind of been like? Tristan Pharis: I think the two position groups that the Kentucky staff were were most concerned with were the ride receiver room and the secondary. And I think that's kind of you've seen those concerns early in the season. but I know Will Stein specifically has loved DJ Miller. That was one guy that he really wanted to keep from last year's team. obviously he showed some flashes last year. being able to have him he had close to a hundred yards and is staying right. the he's just speedy, he's quick. Like he's the kind of receiver that does that does well. and and Stein's kind of offenses and then you you've had Prince Jean's another name that people have said good things about. So a lot of the wide receiver room is just you got you got some young potential, kinda like Colton had had had mentioned, it that you gotta bet on, right? That was the kind of Kentucky is is is not Ohio State or Texas or Alabama. You kinda had a budget to work with and you the priorities were quarterback, offensive line. running back go get some studs, right? So Kentucky definitely addressed those concerns, but it left okay the wide receiver groups kinda bare, right? Nick Anderson was your he's probably the highest paid receiver on the team and he's not really showed anything. However, you've had some of those younger guys step up in place of him a and make some great plays. So Kenny Darby and DJ Miller I I think Kenny Darby's obviously been one of Minchie's favorite targets. especially Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: if you look at wide receiver total, I think he's he's got over half of the receiver targets of all the receivers. So and then you're gonna see the tight end continue to be used just because those guys Henry Boyer analytically is looks insane right now in in terms of his his impact. but Willie Rodriguez obviously has the potential to be an NFL draft selection. So I think that was the biggest thing is just receivers. You kinda have to bet long term. but it's kind of the deal with with Will Stein, right? Feed the studs his motto. if you can kinda give people a case study of this is what I did with this wide receiver room and I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but it's definitely not the wide receiver room especially he's out at Oregon. if if you can kinda use this as a case study and show list to future wide receivers, like, hey, I can do this with these guys. If I can get you in an elite talent, one of those studs that he really wants, I think that's a that's a pretty good selling point. Dillon: Yeah. Well, real quick, look, we're going to shift gears to the defense and and talk a little bit. Colton has some stuff for basketball, just real quick, and then we'll come back to football because I know you got to hop off in a little while. But we gotta real quick talk about the defense too. I mean, we've we've we've hit offense, but man, talking about that first stop, I believe it was Sam Green who come up big to make that stop on fourth, and I think they were in their own 15-yard line, gonna about to score. then we go down. they get the ball back and then he has an interception. You know, you're talking about guys coming back from last year's team, whether it be Ty Bryant, you have Godfrey, Castell, like there there's a bunch of these guys that we was able to still have and and retain from last year's defensive core group. but Tristan what's what's is def it's Kentucky's defense are we this good, I guess. What what what what is your opinion on that? Because I think that Tristan Pharis: I think Dillon: it's it's it's it's question to have. Tristan Pharis: Yeah, I think if you look at the first three games, that I mean, in my opinion, the defense has been better than the offense, and that's not something necessarily that I would say with Will Stein coming in, right? This offensive coach, Harold of Young mind. I didn't think the defense was gonna now, obviously in Alabama they were put in some bad positions, especially in that second half. but if you just l look and obviously the depth's not there too, right? So, you've seen getting picked on a little bit in the secondary, but as far as the defensive line, the linebackers Jordan Castell, he has been excellent. you look at Tavion Godson Gatson, he's been great. Sam Green you mentioned, I reached out to him after the after the game of the day and I I mean those guys are just stepping up, right? the fourth and one stop, you you kinda g you allow them to get that fourth and one, the game could look completely different. in that first half against Alabama, Kentucky had three offensive points. so Or I I'm sorry, they ended up getting the touchdown, but they were put in pretty good position by the defense. Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: So the defense is has has been honestly been the catalyst for this team so far. I think that the one part of the defense that's kind of the third quarter was the the showcase of what this offense can be. But as far as the rest of the performance, it's been it's been the defense carrying Kentucky and I think to me that's been a surprise. and I think for for the staff, especially on the offensive side of the ball that going through the the spring and going through the off season and going through the fall is like the defense kept beating the offense when they were least expecting it. and they were like, is this legit? 'Cause when you're playing each other it's like, is your offense that bad if your defense is winning? Is your defense that bad if your offense is winning? and now that they've able to been able to play against Alabama, and Texas AM, now they're not elite offenses, but those Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: are both top ten teams and and they've been able to hold their own. and I think that's the biggest thing is as long as depth isn't c a concern, which in the SEC and college football it's gonna be. but these starters can defend and give Kentucky a shot in and in most games. Dillon: Well, so I I want to get to the basketball stuff, but I do want to get your final take on this because me and Colton will we'll circle back and do this after you get off later on. But what what does this win do for not only the program of Kentucky, but the players, right? Like it it's gotta build some type of confidence of okay, can we be there? We are there. The belief moving forward of playing can like the third toughest schedule in the nation, like when you still got LSU. Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Van like you still have a lot of tough games, but what does it do moving forward for this program and this team that you've picked up on? Tristan Pharis: I think it it first it gives Stein like some some some he's done a lot of talking, right? That gave him first example of like this is what I can do. and I think that that's the first and foremost is we'll see how good Texas A and is the rest of the year. I know a lot of people aren't as high on on considering they kinda had an easy schedule last year, but we'll see what they what they look to be. but I think if you can go on the road in that type of environment and beat a team of that caliber which is still gonna be a top twenty five team at the end of the year, even if they don't make the playoff. that's impressive. I don't care who you are. Like you if you look at Ole Miss and and the Florida line, like Ole Miss is ranked fourth, Florida's twenty first, and Florida's favorite right now. Winning an SEC game on the road, ranked or unranked, is incredibly difficult to do. and so that's Dillon: One hundred percent. Tristan Pharis: that that's my biggest thing. And then I think if you look at the schedule it's like you beat Texas A and on the road Fortunately, you know, you do have some tough games on the road. Like you gotta go at to Tennessee and and and be and beat try to beat them at Neeland, which I'll I'm never gonna pick Kentucky to beat Tennessee. The history is not on on that side of the ball. but you get I and I I think probably the only one that you can write off completely is probably LSU. now Oklahoma's gonna be hard, that's another team, but they also lost to Michigan who almost lost to Western Michigan. So it's Dillon: Great. Tristan Pharis: i in this new state new s new landscape of college football, it's not if you go back five years ago, it's Clemson, it's Alabama, it's Georgia, it's these guys like you know is gonna happen, right? The way this is and and you see death pieces go somewhere else just because they're not playing. You see guys like CJ Baxter leave Texas who was a former number one running Dillon: Right. Tristan Pharis: back and and look just looking for somewhere new and go to Kentucky. You have the prime set up for upsets. and I'm not saying Kentucky's gonna go run the table a and go eleven and one or anything like that. But I don't think outside of LSU in my opinion, there's not a game on this schedule that I'm saying Kentucky's not gonna win. Like th they're definitely gonna lose some more games, but I think for me, the Texas A and game showed Kentucky can compete. now obviously injuries can change that, stuff there's a lot of stuff to look forward to and and watch. But I think that's the biggest thing is is Kentucky has the starting players to compete with just about every team in the country except maybe the top eight to ten. Dillon: Yeah. Absolutely. All right, coin, take it away. Kolton Myatt: Yeah. So while we have you on here, I know you gotta go in just a little bit. We just we did want to get a little bit of basketball in. Obviously it's been a crazy off season. Okay. Tristan Pharis: You're good. And I can go a little bit longer, you're you're all good. Kolton Myatt: Okay. Well it and we want to get a little basketball in. I know it's been a crazy off season. We could talk hours about the whole court situation, everything that's gone on that just I mean, that will continue to go on, really. yeah. Dillon: It's kept your job busy, I'm sure. Tristan Pharis: Basketball i I'll I'm I'm so happy for football, but basketball is where I have my more connections to and more ties to, so I'm with ya. Kolton Myatt: Per Perfect. So that then that's why we wanted to mention so really one of the just general questions what we want to have is obviously there's been a lot of you know, we brought in a brand new squad. you know, Popes, you know, started out kind of slow in a transfer portal, then we got better, you know, the hype grew around, then the Mark Mitchell situation come and the whole five by five stuff gets mentioned, and there's just things going back and forth and you every the fans are You know, it's just a roller coaster ride of emotions for really everyone around it. And really just a generalized question, now that things it seems like are somewhat settled, we may get a surprise. Maybe they add, I know they're still open roster spot. But now that things are settled, I mean basketball season's not very far away. I mean Big Blue Madness will be here right around the corner. So just now that all that has settled, what's something just getting to be around a team, what's something that the fans can really expect with this current roster. Assuming we don't add anyone else, that what we kinda have that maybe will surprise some people, that maybe you you've gotten to see whether it's, you know, attitudes or culture or a specific skill set or something, but what's something that you really think is going to surprise people about this team? Tristan Pharis: I think th th for me it's the es that first year's team was special in terms of like t I they may not be the most talented group, right? But they came from programs that are like, I'm going to Kentucky. That's their highest like I mean if you look at Andrew Carl, the Mont Butler, some of guys, that's the highest level they're gonna play at. I I'm really Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: happy that they're they're still playing professionally, but in terms of what their career is gonna be remembered for, it's gonna be playing at Kentucky. That's not necessarily the case with this team, but as far as the level of competitiveness, that's what I'd really like to see. obviously there's been two practices that the media's gotten to watch and I I've talked to people that have been to a couple of practices and I think that's the biggest thing is just last year the competitiveness wasn't always there. this year in practice it is. Now practice the games and what happens in between are two different things, right? Things can derail a team. hopefully that doesn't happen. I don't see that happening. but the biggest thing for Mark Pope is just having a healthy roster this year. I think that's what everybody wants to see is obviously it's a very high stakes, high pressured season, like what is Mark Pope made of? again, you have one of the most expensive rosters in college basketball, so you can't complain about that. it would have been really nice to have Mark Mitchell on this team. I think that is probably the Dillon: Absolutely. Tristan Pharis: biggest concern is i if you look at the two biggest concerns is is the four spot. I think Justin McBride it will be steady. But he's gonna struggle defensively in terms of rotations and stuff like that. So that is one thing. athletically you'd wish he'd move a little bit quicker, but he did come in better shape than most people thought he would. Uzman Injai is a guy that he's coming from Europe. he's got high potential. It's just getting that game to translate. It's very, very Dillon: Right. Tristan Pharis: rare for those guys to come over here and translate that quick. and that's not just a Kentucky. We've seen with Yelovich and and and Big Z, like it takes some time. Like you see Illinois make the final four last year. They've had those guys for several years and they're gonna be good this year because they've had those guys for several years. So it it just takes some change, right? but I I think the what this team's gonna be, it it's gonna be based on offense, right? This team's not gonna be a defensive juggernaut by any means. that is one thing that if you look up the first season, that's kinda what the first season was. Mark Pope tried to overcompensate last year and go after those some of the defensive guys that hurt the offense. I begged all season for them just to go all all all in on defense, right? You had the the personnel. but that's just not Mark Pope's DNA. He's not a defensive head coach. and he's Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: he's going back to what he wants to coach. and so we'll see how it works out, right? So you you you have Milan Momčilovich who's the best three point shooter that could come through Kentucky's doors if you just look at stats. that that I mean it Yeah, according to Andy Katz clickbait, i that I say Dillon: Apparently he's the third best based on what I just read. I what what was that up? I mean Kolton Myatt: Ha ha. Tristan Pharis: As you it I I know Kentucky fans they they love to react to things, but that's also something the national media knows is if you kinda slight a slight Kentucky just a little bit somewhere, you can kinda get some engagement and kinda get some clicks. So it's it's something. But I think this team is you look at last year's team, right, and everybody thought, my gosh, this is a final four contender, there's a championship contender. This team on paper is not as talented. However, that first team nearly went to the Elite Eight. with two of their one guy banged up really bad with Lamont and then Jackson Robinson out of the game. So what this team is a and what people expect are two different things. I think for expectations wise, Kentucky is kind of a sweet sixteen team. You hope for Elite Eight. I think the biggest thing is to see consistency in the regular season. Mark Pope inherited a program that hadn't won an N C B N C W tournament game and and three years by the time or three seasons by the time he got over. but they also haven't competed for the SEC outside of one year. And that was a Shiway year Dillon: We're up. Tristan Pharis: they lost to Vandy in the opener. So it's kind of like Kentucky hasn't been competitive in the SEC regular season or tournament. Kentucky hasn't made it far they made it to the second weekend once in the last six seasons. So it's kind of where is Kentucky gonna fall, right? If they can somewhere finish top three or four in the SEC regular season. they can make it to the semifinals of the SEC and make a sweet sixteen. That's not not meeting expectations as a Kentucky fan. Like everybody wants to win the tit title when the SEC. But as far as like realistic, I think that's kind of where the range is. If you don't meet two of those expectations, I I think I I don't see Mark Pope getting fired this year unless things just go completely off the rails. I know that's gonna be the the thing is is Mark Pope on the hot seat. unless they just go barely over five hundred, I don't see him getting fired. I think he'll get one more year. but I think you kinda need to see a couple of things work out in those directions, if that makes sense. So kind of a long spiel there, but I I think it's just you kinda need to see competitiveness in the tournament and the regular season. Kolton Myatt: Yeah. No, that was that was per I mean that was perfect. That's I mean, I even had some more questions that you answered there. I was gonna ask about where you thought the weakness was. I mean I we we agreed. We've been I've been big on the defense and the four spot. that's kinda where my my kind of concerns are with this team. you answered a lot about kind of where the fans feeling on the up roller coaster ride of Mark Pope himself, right? I mean, that's just with him coming in and then what what expectations are, what we feel like we need to see out of this team. you know, that that's a lot of you know, the good insight there because I think that's a a a lot of fans are wondering, right? I mean it's a it's a question mark going into this season and there's a lot of things that we want to see. but there is another question that I have to ask and I need to know about this media madness basketball tournament. And I need to know I I Tristan Pharis: We got hosed. I that I'll tell you that now, we got hosed. Kolton Myatt: So okay, so I need we didn't know about it, was it? what what was the competition like? What was the atmosphere like? What or were Tristan Pharis: So Kolton Myatt: you are you a like are you a hooper on the side? Are you like a wreck guy? Tristan Pharis: So I I played high school ball, and I still play ball weekly. So I I'm not saying I'm the greatest, but I feel like I can hold my own. and Kolton Myatt: Hey. Yeah? Tristan Pharis: I played on my team was a guy that played NIA NAIA ball. So if you're just looking at pre medi medium madness rankings were were one or two, right? I in my opinion. ninety percent of the people that you see on social media, for one, I don't know I've ever shot a basketball or dribbled a basketball and that was very apparent. but it was fun. those guys were great spirits about it. Mikael McLean was my coach. That's one of the assistants I'm close to and he kinda threw me he's like, If we're winning Tristan's taking us to Malone's, which that dude Dillon: No. Tristan Pharis: just got the raise for associate Kolton Myatt: Ha ha ha. Tristan Pharis: head coach. So I I'm trying to figure out w why I'm I'm picking up the bill. But no, it was fun as far as like how it was set up. I'm hoping next year it's set up a little bit better. I do think there was a a few there's media members I necessarily have never seen. to say that I I I mean that with all respect, like everybody does great work, just had never seen and so how it's set up is there was eight goals total. and so there was a game going on at eight goals to start. So there was quite a bit going on. we started playing JMI. and so JMI, if you don't know, is kinda like UK Athletics right hand Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: company. They do everything, sponsorship and I L deals. So I think we were at a disadvantage to start. They had a guy that was about six five, six six about a foot taller than anybody else in the media. It was three to two. Hey, Dillon: Could have used me, Tristan. Tristan Pharis: we could have we could have. Next year next there's always next year, I'm hoping. but but no it was running clock for six minutes and so the games weren't very high scoring, so it was like I think the the most we scored in a game was seven. We played two games. We w we won our second game seven to nothing. But the first game was kind of we got eliminated by JMI. It was three to two and they threw the ball out of bounds, but somehow got the ball back. That was my complaint. So I don't know how that exact s exactly Dillon: Tristan's still salty about it. Tristan Pharis: works. but yeah, I I'm kinda I am salty, but I'll be honest. I'm I'm it it'll Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: be all right. I'll I'll make it through it. But but no, it was fun. I I'm glad they they put on the event and hopefully they do it again in the future. Dillon: You know, that that's something though that we we've talked that that we finally was able to to get a sigh of relief of like, thank okay, Mark Pope, like thank you. Like like do some good PR moves because for the longest time you wasn't hearing anything and then all of a sudden you get this media madness, you get the the the ex interactions, you you get the the open practice, you you're doing the you post some Instagram like have fun with it. Like that that's whenever Kentucky is at its best. Like the engagement. Like you said, people don't do this. Our fan base, like We Live and Die, Kentucky. You can say I'll say it. Kentucky basketball. Football is on the r on the rise. I right. I I love Kentucky football, but there is just there there's a difference of Kentucky basketball right now. and and always has been. Now eventually, hopefully it won't be that way, just because we want Kentucky as a whole to be successful. But I I guess when you know, talking about those PR moves, I want to ask you this too though. Is what what is what what is it like right now with Kentucky? Like you said that you don't think Mark Pope will be out next year unless it just goes completely south. But does these players, does these coaches, do they know right like this there's so many new faces, do they know what it means to put on the University of Kentucky Jersey? What it means not only for them, their families, but The fan base. Like we're crazy. you're going they're gonna hear us whenever they need to be heard, but they're also going to receive the most praise. Like you know, the Hogan Zaga incident last year. Now I don't think that's Kentucky at its best and at its finest moment. But regardless of the situation, we are very passionate. And obviously I know it you can't win. You can't win an NCAA tournament and and be the champion every year. There's only one champion. March Madness is difficult. Like basketball is crazy how that works out. I mean, you get on a run. However, though, it it comes down. Be competitive. Be competitive throughout the the entirety of the season. Be competitive in the SEC tournament. Be competitive in the NCAA tournament. Like there is a large amount of pressure. Do they truly know what that is and can they feel that pressure this year? Tristan Pharis: think at least from my experience, players don't th they know kin what Kentucky basketball is, right? If you're playing basketball, you know the brand. but I don't think especially for the guys that aren't raised here, like Malek I Moreno knows, those kind of guys kinda know the deal. Reese Potter knows that Dillon: Mm-hmm. It's a good point. Yep. Tristan Pharis: they grow up fans, right? And they it is important, Mark Pope said it as a press conference. If you have one or two guys on that team that kinda understand it, you can kinda give them some heads up, like this is what it's gonna be like. It's gonna be great at its eyes, but it's gonna be really bad at its lows. and I will say this every player on the team sees what is on social media. for better or for worse. they try to do their best to to avoid it, but it's just you're eighteen, twenty three eighteen to twenty three year old kid, like you wanna know what's being said about you. It's it's just that's just how it is. but I think they really get a taste of how it is once they get into Ruperina. That big blue madness, like you hear players talk about it like that's their first taste. I I think several players are are they were happy to play it rep for the open practice in front of the few hundred fans, like Mark Pope made the joke to to Frank and and Zoom was like, You've played in front of more people today than you did at some of your games at Washington last year. And it was Kolton Myatt: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: it was honestly true. but I think that's just the thing is like it it's really good to start the season. but you've seen it in first and and I mean every season of Kentucky basketball just about. It's like there's a tough spot at some point. Are those players gonna wilt? Is that team gonna fight each other? And obviously there was so many storylines that weren't accurate last year. because that's just what Kentucky basketball does is you don't know what's going on, Dillon: What happened at Louville? Tristan Pharis: you're gonna create It's I promise Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: you I I can say that Otega did not cheat on anybody's girlfriend. Like there was not a girlfriend battle. Dillon: man Kolton Myatt: Ha ha ha ha. Tristan Pharis: I di I did love answering that like people just come up like, he really still is a girl. I'm like, No like Dillon: Mr. So your girl. Kolton Myatt: Ha ha Tristan Pharis: But no, that's the biggest thing is like I think w probably one of the best interviews that I remember having is Jacob Toppin. probably twenty twenty three or twenty twenty four. He got really depressed like mid season, right? Like that was a guy that people were expecting like a huge jump from and to start off that season he played really poorly. And then it was about I think it was the first game of the SEC. They played Missouri and he went off for like seventeen points, had a great second half stretch, kinda pulled Kentucky away and asked the game, he was pretty emotional, like, I needed this, right? And so Kentucky fans, as far as the fan base is the and in my eyes, the greatest fan base in college basketball. the minority is n does not speak for the majority, but they can be the Dillon: Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: loudest. So when when you lose to Gonzaga and and and and you get booed, which that is the first time since I've been doing this that's happened outside of a football game where people are yelling at Mark Stoops. it it it's kind of an eye opener, is like a and with that team you kinda seen them shell up and they weren't really open with BBN and that's something I didn't really like to see, but that's that's kind of the approach that team took, 'cause like it it's everybody it's us against everybody, even our own fan base. and I don't love Dillon: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Tristan Pharis: that, so I I hope this season we don't get into that. but that's that's the thing is is they really don't understand what they're getting into until they're kinda put into it. and that's the best way I can put it. but I do think for the most part most people after leaving Kentucky, even in probably th there's been one team and a handful of players I can say had a negative experience a and probably wish Dillon: Yeah. Tristan Pharis: they'd gone elsewhere. but as far as eighty five to ninety percent of the players that come through here, even if it's losing in the second round of the SEC tournament ha have a lot of their time in Lexington. Dillon: Well that I I I'm just blown away of just everything that you're able to tell us just because like I say it's just a a totally different perspective of things. by the way, Tristan, this is Mason Mason, this is Tristan. Welcome to the show, Mason. Yeah. Kolton Myatt: Okay, yeah. Mason: Tristan nice to meet you. Hi, you're better me anyways, I'll just jump back off. Tristan Pharis: I I took your I took your spot for a little bit. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, thank you. Dillon: well Tristan, I know you you gotta head you you've Thank you for hopping on here. You've stuck around a little longer than you even said you was going to. for the fans, if you are not following Kentucky Insider, go do that right now. he does a great job. Like I said, most not most, but I yeah, most of the stuff that I give you a lot of times is coming from yours truly here. and then also a sea of blue. Tristan. I have a ton more questions. I'm not gonna ask you. I know Colton and Mason would love to ask more questions, but I here is what I am gonna ask you. Are you willing and able to come back on the show throughout the year possibly to give us some stuff? I know you're gonna be a busy man, but Tristan Pharis: For sure. Dillon: man, I just I I I love being able to get that different perspective because I think it's it it's just it's fitting because you you hear us who are seeing a lot of the social media stuff, a lot of the the national media collectively as fans and not saying it's but it's just a we we can all bring different perspectives. So I I just wanna thank you. But is so we're is that a yes? We're good then. Absolutely. Tristan Pharis: That y yeah, that's a yes. That's a as long as long as you all don't turn into like a Louisville podcast or something, we're we're good. Mason: Never. That's right. Dillon: man, don't we L's down forever. Kolton Myatt: Mm-hmm. Dillon: well hey Tristan man, thank you again for hopping on here. and definitely going to look forward to hearing you and seeing you again. best of luck and we will catch you again, hopefully sooner rather than later. thanks again though, man. I appreciate it. And I know we do, all of us here. Kolton Myatt: Thanks, Kristen. Enjoy Tristan Pharis: We'll we'll do Mason: Appreciate it, Tristan Pharis: this again after we beat L S U in a couple of weeks. I'm just joking. I'm just joking. Lane Kiffin, if you see this, I'm sorry. But thank you guys for having me on. See you all. Kolton Myatt: it, buddy. Absolutely. We're in. We're always in. Perfect. Appreciate Dillon: That hey, that that would be a great one. Mason: Like it then. Dillon: All right, see you buddy. Kolton Myatt: it, Tristan. See ya. Mason: See ya. Dillon: Mason, welcome to the show, man. You've missed out. Man, Mason: Thank you. Dillon: Colton, I am just Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Dillon: thoroughly impressed from our friend Tristan. Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Mason: What a bad exchange. He goes off, I come on. Let's just end it now. Let's just end it now. Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Dillon: Yeah, can you give us some insight and and and for those I I I didn't want to Coton, I d I didn't want to just like keep like just giving him his flowers, but guys, f if you are listening, this is a guy who is covering Kentucky sports. I know he said he doesn't live with him, but you can hear like he's talked to these players, like he is in talks with all of UK athletics specifically right now, more so UK basketball, which he said, but also the football team. so what he is saying is not coming from just him. It's coming from the UK athletes themselves. just a really good good take and opportunity to to hear that, Colton. I I was I was very impressed. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I mean it was awesome. Because a lot of the things, right, everything we have to speculate in our own opinions or you're right. It's coming from social media a lot of stuff, right? What we're seeing. Yes, we witness the game, but we don't we don't know. You know, some things that we're like, why did they do that? And we're just speculating based on our own opinions. He really knows, right? He he has the ans like he's in there. It's like he's understanding reasons why. He understands when things are going wrong and things are going right. Like he's he's able to really, you know, give in detail. And and so, you know, that makes a big difference because it's easy for fans and everyone watching from afar to give their own speculations and opinions. But it's a different world when it's in there and you're actually getting legit real facts and and what's going on. And and that's where I think, you know, you having that insider access and and being able to give that perspective can go a long way with the fan base just growing trust within the sports and understanding UK as a whole and and really having that knowledge and and it's You know, it's just makes a big difference. So very appreciative of Tristan coming on. guys, if you like Dylan said, if you haven't, give Kentucky Insider and A Sia Blue both a follow. you know, they're they're gonna keep you up to date. They're gonna give you obviously a lot of knowledge and and truthful information that you need and and you know, it's one of it's a big thing when you're talking about UK sports 'cause it's always changing. So Dillon: Yeah. Well let let's kind of let's circle back to the football a little bit. 'Cause we didn't go like a deep, deep, deep dive into it and Mason hasn't been able and I didn't want to scare Tristan, but let's go. Let's go, baby. I didn't want to scare him Mason: What a big win. Dillon: I I mean I didn't want to scare him off. I didn't want him to come in here and be like, Man, this guy, he he he's too much for me. but my goodness. I mean, like we we we Mason, we had a chance to talk a little bit of the individual stats, the team stats. I do want to go back and say I did say something wrong. We had 156 rushing yards, so they're 187. That was bothering me, but didn't wanna didn't want to say that while he was talking to take up his time. But Mason, w w what what was it that was the biggest thing for you that you're sitting there watching this game and and thinking like, Wow, what What am I witnessing? whether it be the third quarter itself, the dominance, whether it be the offense, the defense, the the individual highlights, Kenny Minchie, Darby, Miller, the Godfrey, Green, like what what was it? I there's a lot we could go after, but I want to hear your take because we haven't had a chance. Thanks for coming in on time too. We appreciate that. But go ahead. Mason: Yeah, kids, you know all that stuff, but anyways we so I think one of the things that stood out to me is and we also not kind of touched on a little bit, but the The way this team responded, right? You know, I got to thinking back like how many times in the Stoops era would we hear year after year, this team's got a lot of talent. know, this could be the year where we're really, really good. And you know, the last four or five years we kept hearing that. So Stoops teams, they would have folded over, right? After that beat down Alabama in the second half, you know, they kind of do that against these better teams. But this team bounced back, they fought hard, kind of leads into the physicality that they had all game. I mean, we just beat them up. I mean, we beat them up all throughout the game, wore them down. And it was just really impressive to see them bounce back, especially after the way, you know, how that first half went and how the second half went last week. Dillon: Colton, you know, I think that too, we talked a little bit about it, but I I think that it it it we've gotta say it one more time is there should be no question now, I think, that Kenny Mitchie is the the guy moving forward. Those questions for for those individuals who were saying, well, I we shouldn't have maybe having Cutter Bowley was going to be to pay out, pay dividends. Like what what like come on now? Like it was right after against the best secondary arguably in the country. And even at that He still showed promises. Now it a lot of this too, you gotta be able to block, you gotta be able to have time in the pocket. You gotta be able to have the separation from your your wideouts, your tight end. Like it this was the game that I think answered a lot of questions. And if it didn't, then I don't know what you're watching. The guy was poised, he was under control. I mean you you heard Tristan reference it. He said Kenny Darby or excuse me, Kenny Minchie is a guy that Will Stein it he went after, and it was because he is just The guy who's going to stay under control. He's never going to get too high, too low. He's going to be able to control the team. And that's what we got to see. We got to see a guy make the right decisions at the right time. And ultimately, that's what you got to have at your leader. Kolton Myatt: No, I agree. I mean that's I Dillon: And I was gonna ask w let you elaborate on that. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, no, I I was Mason: Thank Kolton Myatt: gonna say I I don't know what the question is in there, but I'll go ahead and start talking. Dillon: Yeah. Mason: Ha ha ha ha ha! Kolton Myatt: but yeah. No, Kenny Minch is here so that was one of the things you wanna see. And maybe maybe one of the things that Will Stein liked about Kenny Minchie when he brought him in was that he thought that he had that poise, right? Maybe he had that ability to block things out and recover and bounce back. And and that's what he showed in the Texas A and game, right? He didn't have a great game. But I will say, I mean, like you said, there's a lot of other factors in that. We weren't scheming up the best. It didn't look like we had as good of a scheme against Alabama. There wasn't as many motions. You you look at the Texas AM game. There was a lot of different schemes that were very hidden that allowed guys to get open against you know, against a pretty good defense in Texas AM and a bunch of four and five stars on that other side of the ball. And they scheme that up so they learn, they grow, and that's what we want to see from Kenny Minchie. Right a and we know what the schedule is this year. We have our expectations. Now I know a lot of people are gonna have even higher expectations, but we wanna see growth because Kenny Minchy's you know, we I assuming that he's gonna be a guy that we hopefully have back next year. Right. And you wanna see him grow in this and you wanna see these young wide receivers get better and you wanna see the the coaching staff learn in their first, you know, go at it. And To me, that's part of the growing process. So as long as he's showing that type of progress throughout the year, you're gonna have your highs, your lows. You're gonna have coaches that are now gonna scheme against him and he's gonna have to adjust. And to me, I think he shows a lot of poise. I like the way that when he's in there in the pocket, he he's not a immediate panic. He's not a thing I think he scans the field, he's he's getting better about getting through his progressions. One, two, three. I I think he shows a lot of promise and I think if I'm the big blue wall can continue to give him time and a run game continues to be what it is, that you're only going to see Minchie and the receivers get better and better as the year goes on. Dillon: I don't want to be redundant, so let's talk about something we really didn't talk a little bit about, and that was the just Will Stein himself, Mason. We didn't touch we touched on a lot of different things, but we didn't really get into Will Stein. Mason: Thank Dillon: but man, you could sure you're sure I don't know. You could see the pure emotion of Will Stein. Like you could see the excitement out of the game. you you could see that a guy who was excited, but also interview his post game interview like we we deserve this right like we came out this wasn't a shock to me this is what bbn should get used to i mean that's pretty much what he said and you know you think of looking back at the play con the scheme and Mason: We expected ourselves to be here. Dillon: correct like it you're looking at it and i mean i think that more than anything i think that just you look at that the fourth and sixth you're up two touchdowns You have a kicker who just came in and missed a thirty to forty yarder, pretty much bunny. You have an opportunity to make this a three possession game. Pretty much kind of end it, right? because at that point I was trying to tell Clark's like, this is it. Like if we can do this, like I feel really, really good. I still feel good, but man, I just you you never know, right? But you send in a guy. First option I think is okay, if you're playing conservative, you're gonna punt it. You're gonna put them back in in in tight their own put them in their own 10. Like it's gonna be really tight for that punt, okay? Or the second thing, let's let's go for it, right? It's fourth and six. Come on. No. We send out our our kick we send up our our kick ret kick return our kickoff team and I'm sitting here a field goal team and I'm sitting here like my goodness. Kolton Myatt: If if I'm good to me. Dillon: What in the world are we about to do? I mean did y'all expect that? I did not expect Kolton Myatt: Yeah. No. Dillon: that. Kolton Myatt: No. They Mason: No. Kolton Myatt: they keep popping up those stats of the Davis of the the kicker. And when it says like Mason: Hahaha Kolton Myatt: four for nineteen and and things from Mason: Yeah Kolton Myatt: when I was I mean it's not it doesn't scream confidence to me. What I th Mason: When he first ran him out there, was like, is he about to try and fake again? Like, this is so obvious if he's doing that. Dillon: I I well I thought that too. But but Mason though, like I mean, we're sitting here if that doesn't scream that he believes in what he is doing and the confidence he has, not only for this kicker, but also him himself making that call on a national stage, I don't know what does. That was the game right there. So what does this do for Will Stein? Mason. Mason: Yeah, mean, obviously, obviously, Will Stein. mean, I think he's a great coach and I think he's an even better leader because you talked about Dylan like, you know, he'd already missed when he sends him back out there and I saw another clip, I don't know if y'all saw it, of after Darby had dropped that touchdown. Did y'all see the clip of Will Stein to him? Dillon: I did not but I heard somebody referenced it and talk about it. Mason: Yeah, so I mean, he was basically, know, I'm sure Kenny Darby was all tore up and he was just like, all still happy. He was like, it's fine. You know, it's fine. Let it go. We're good. And, you know, I just think so many coaches would be in his butt, right? You'd see so many coaches up in his face and you know, there's different types of coaches, but I think Will Stein, he has that confidence in himself and he exuberates that confidence out on the players. And you just, you're seeing that trickle down right now. You know, the players are starting to believe he's obviously believed since he's gotten here. And I think so far, proved it. Right? I mean, he's backed up the talk so far. So let's see if he can keep it up. you know, I know another thing for Will Stein that it does is you've seen some of these recruits, right? Posting on social media talking about us winning. So Dillon: Mm, yeah. Mason: seems like he's got a pretty good relationship and already, you know, hitting hard with some of the recruits coming up. So, I mean, it's an exciting time and it was a huge, huge win for the Will Stein era and off to a great start because of that. Dillon: Before I send over you, Cotton, I do want to take a moment just to show off these hats. We're rocking me and you brand new. blue bluegrass elite hats, the rope hats. I'm wearing the crew neck as well. Feels good, looks good. there we're have this ongoing partnership with them. if you have not already went over there to get you some Kentucky merch, what are you waiting for? Go do it. use our promo. Go Promo code PBSM302. Get 15% off. I'm having a hard time talking tonight, but go over there and get you some Kentucky gear. It looks good. I mean, it feels good. So Colton, Will Stein, you know, coming over, there was all this talks about him being able to do this offensive scheme. We was able to showcase that. on a national stage. We also need to talk about though what this does on a national stage for Kentucky. When you look at okay, the North Carolina Clemson game had a delay. The Florida State and the Alabama game had a delay. Other than LSU, our our baby brothers and SMU who were on ESPN too with the ACC, the big dogs were over there playing on prime time ESPN and showcasing it all throughout their all channels because of all these delays. I mean I don't know how much better luck we could have got as far as PR goes, you know? and what does that do for Kentucky as as it's as a culture, looking at okay, Kentucky football, are they for real? Just two weeks, just a week ago, they were competing with Alabama, they were up at halftime, and now they're beaten, not only beaten, but demolishing a Texas A and Like what is going on over there in Lexington? So what does that do for our program as itself from a national media stage? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, it's huge. And what's huge about it is so the way we were competing against Alabama, we watched previous years when we won big games, that's kind of how it looked like, right? It was kinda ugly. We made a that big play that we had to pick six there to start the game. A big play like that happens. You you have the fans on your side, but the difference is that third quarter against Texas A and Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: We look like a top like we look like a true SEC football team. Like you looked at that third quarter and you were like, Dillon: Yes, sir. Mm. Kolton Myatt: This is Kentu like you're you're like, this is what SEC football, like these are what the top teams, this is what you see from Georgia in a third quarter and the Alabama's in a third quarter, Texas in a third quarter. This is what you see from them against good teams. And they s we saw that that third quarter may have been the best quarter that Kentucky football has maybe ever had. truly against that type of opponent. I mean, I mean it was a legit perfect performance. The offense looked unreal. The defense was stout and physical. I mean you were getting running. You were getting great schemes called. I mean you you looked like a team that in that time you could have beat anyone in the country playing like that. And that's that's crazy to say about Kentucky football. But now so now it's got it's gotta have people thinking If Kentucky football can turn into that for multiple quarters, who can they not? Right. And I was talking with Mason earlier. You look at the schedule, right? You you play South Alabama next week. Well then you go on the road to South Carolina. We've always played terrible at South Carolina and we may do it again. But if you're on that roster, how are you right now not thinking, We just went into college station with a hundred and seven thousand fans or one hundred and five thousand fans, and why can't we go into South Carolina and win? Right. And then it's like why Oklahoma is not showing gr is not looking great on offense. They they look bad going in to play Michigan. Why can't we go into Oklahoma and win all Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: of a sudden? And the the confidence it instills in the players, the fan base. Yes, we're gonna probably have highs and lows this season. Yes, it's still an insanely tough schedule. And each week between injuries and getting beat up, the physicality, there there's gonna be a roller coaster. But what you saw in that third quarter, if We can get to where we we do that multiple quarters and not even just this year, but that's what the standard is going forward. Man, I mean, the heights that it can take Kentucky football is unreal. Dillon: Well, it was just complete utter dominance, right? And you know, something else I I heard and I was Man, that's a good point. I didn't even think about that. You look at Alabama and Texas AM for eight quarters, Kentucky football dominated six of those eight quarters against Alabama and Texas AM. I mean, if and and you also you said the standard, right? Like this this changes the standard of Kentucky football. Now Again, there will be highs, there will be lows, but the what this does for this Kentucky team moving forward, I think, i is going to be Something that we're gonna look back if we are capable of getting to a seven and five season. I don't know if we were not, but this is where this game comes from, or maybe even eight and four, I don't know. But it all started going on the road, Kyle Field, Texas AM, and completely dominating the game from start to finish. So Mason, that leads my final question. That me and Colton have not answered. We let Tristan answer it. But what does this do as far as culture goes moving forward for Kentucky football from here on out? You still have a tough schedule. However, though, you gotta think that things are looking better from the perspective of not only the players, but now also the fans about what they just witnessed going and beating Texas AM. Mason: Well yeah, was one thing I was going to touch on first was the fans. I mean, like at this point, we've got a taste of it, right? Like what the Will Stein era can be. Everybody's excited about him. He's kind of been hyping himself up, hyping the program, hyping the team up. He's backing it up. the fans, we see how crazy they are about basketball. I mean, I think you keep this up for a couple of years, they're gonna be the exact same way about football. And obviously for the players, after that second half of Bama, I saw people talking about people leaving the stands and a bunch of other schools. talking about us leaving the stands and all this stuff. And so, I mean, just for the players to be able to bounce back like that and get that type of win. Like Colton said, who's to sit there and say, well, we beat Texas A why can't we go beat South Carolina? Why can't we beat LSU at home? You know, we beat a higher ranked team on the road. Why can't we beat any these teams? So, and then I talked about it a minute ago, the recruits that you're seeing on social media, right? When, when would we ever see that during, you know, the Stoops era? You'd see it during basketball with Cal era. Right, you'd see some of these guys posting that stuff. Stine's starting to get a little bit of that, a little bit of that swagger and picking up some momentum on the recruiting trail. Dillon: Mm. Mason: I like it. Dillon: Cotton, final thoughts. Kolton Myatt: yeah, man, I'm excited about UK football. I mean I'm just saying, like I even though we're playing South Alabama this week, if we come off those if we if you know, I'm gonna f watch it regardless. But if we lose to Texas and kinda like we did to Alabama, the South Alabama game don't you know, I'm not as excited. Like if I have something else going on, I'm not gonna r look, whatever time they're on, like I wanna be locked in completely. 'Cause I wanna see us in a rhythm. I wanna see some more of This offense. I want to see some things continue to trend. Like I don't want us go lay an egg or anything. Like I think we're gonna win it, but I want us to go and dominate. I want us to be high flying, work on things. Like I want us I want to have that confidence going into South Carolina. Man, then then get really excited for that South Carolina game. but there's a lot of big things happening. this has been a great episode with Tristan coming on and giving this insight, coming off of a big blue win. against Texas AM on the road, a big You know, Will Stein's here, man, feed the studs. It's it's an exciting time for UK sports and I think the the fan base, if we're ever going to get rejuvenated and and get locked in right now is the time. So if you're listening, man, I I hope Dillon: Mm. Yeah. Kolton Myatt: everyone out there i is is here to here to pump up these cats. Dillon: It it's been a long time since I was that excited watching a Kentucky football game on my TV. I was sitting there screaming, jumping up. Claire was looking at me like I was crazy. And I've you we came on here, and I came on here saying, like, listen, the the biggest question is you're going to be punched in the mouth. We were punched in the mouth with Alabama. What how were we going to get back up? There were some that were I I I was one of those in question of like, what are we going to be able to do? I just want us to be competitive. Well, that that's kind of shifting gears now. I I'm at the stage we are competitive. We will be competitive. And moving forward from here on out, I don't care how tough the schedule is. It gives me confidence moving forward that this is a new era of Kentucky football. That was my biggest takeaway from that game is that we didn't just go in there and have to hope that things went our way. We didn't have to hope for a prayer. We didn't have to sit there on and and sit in our chairs watching this game and think, my goodness, what's going to go wrong? What's going to go wrong? No, it was look at what is going right. We came in, we dominated this game, we dominated it for four quarters, and and that is Kentucky football moving forward. And I think that that's that's the biggest takeaway for me is that Will Stein. Has changed that mindset. It's time to stop referencing old Kentucky. This is new Kentucky. This is what Colton said. This is the standard now. And I think that was the biggest thing for me. but hey, Mason, thank you for hopping on. We appreciate you. and no, I'm just giving him a hard time. I'm giving him hard Mason: Absolutely. Dillon: time. but no, for those who are listening. We thank you all for staying tuned. This has gone a little bit over than what we usually do, but man, we had a great time with our friend Tristan hopping over. Again, go follow him on Kentucky Insider and that Sea of Blue that he also works with. give us a follow. Bluegrass State of Mind. Give us a follow on our socials: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, also on the YouTube, subscribe to our channel with that, and then also Apple music and Spotify. we appreciate. you all and go grab you some gear at bluegrass-elite dot com. It looks good, it feels good. I'll keep saying it until you all go get it. but this has been another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. And as always, go cats. Mason: Go cats. Kolton Myatt: Cat.