Big Blue Insider with Dick Gabriel

2023-09-22 - BBI

2023-09-21 - BBI

(Only one hour as we make way for volleyball Friday night): Mark Stoops on what it will take to beat Vandy; ‘Dores coach Clark Lea on what it will take to be more like Kentucky; (19:45) our weekly melt of all the great plays from the win over Akron (32:00) plus Heroes, Fools and Flakes (naturally, Coach Prime is in there somewhere)

2023-09-20 - BBI

Sometimes coaches go against the grain and in a couple of instances, it’s not only successful but admirable as well (see Boulder, Colorado and Athens, Georgia for recent examples); (13:00) Liam Coen sees progress in Ky’s O-Line going into the Vandy game; (18:00) Ryan Black of the Courier-Journal looks to Cats-Commodores and peers down the road at Ky basketball; (39:00) Nashville radio legend George Plaster on Vanderbilt’s attempts to keep up with the rest of the SEC (18:15) and West End Burea...

2023-09-19 - BBI

Mark Stoops talks about the challenge of mixing the bitter with the better when it comes to teaching his team; Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated and podcaster Van Hiles (ex-UK DB) break down the win over Akron and look ahead to Vandy; Ray Davis on how he zipped through the Zips; Shannon Sharpe torches Jets QB Zach Wilson and a mysterious customer has some questions for a stuffed cashier…

2023-09-18 - BBI Statewide

2023-09-15 - BBI

It’s a Birthday Bash with a look back at the opening of Commonwealth Stadium 50 years ago on this date, as well as other notable events and birthdays happening on September 15; (17:00) Jack Givens of the UK Sports Network remembers coming to games at CWS as a respite between basketball workouts (he also talks some hoops and how Reed Sheppard impressed him at a fishing hole); (45:00) Coach Nick Mingione with a report on fall workouts for UK Baseball; (1:00:00) a final tribute to the late EKU l...

2023-09-14 - BBI

Liam Coen is happy to be back and ready to work on cleaning up Kentucky’s sloppy (my word) play so far this season; (7:00) Jets WR Garrett Wilson shares a conversation he had with Aaron Rodgers at halftime of the Monday night game; (18:00) Richmond native Keith Farmer of LEX18 and BBN Tonight on UK and his childhood memories of Roy Kidd; (41:00) the football Wildcats are anxious to improve; (45:00) the highlight melt of UK’s win over the Colonels and (1:05:00) Billy Rutledge and I preview thi...

2023-09-13 - BBI

We take issue with comments allegedly made by what would appear to be tone-deaf NFL owners; (8:00) great radio calls of the Jets’ winning play vs Buffalo; (17:00) Christi Thomas of the UK Sports Network and (41:00) Lindsey Gough of WKYT look ahead to UK-Akron; (58:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore with a slate of potentially great college and NFL games plus some choice words about artificial turf and some terrific advice from Kramer…

2023-09-12 - BBI

Tonight’s show includes special segments on the great Roy Kidd, the EKU coach who passed away Tuesday morning. We start with comments from current EKU coach Walt Wells; (11:00) we also remember two milestones including the night Pete Rose became the Hit King; (19:00) UK Voice Tom Leach joins us on the day he’s to be inducted into the Ky Sports Hall of Fame; (41:00) interviews with friends and former EKU staffers on Coach Kidd PLUS a spirited rendition of “Cabin on the Hill” and (1:01:00) Jeff...

2023-09-11 - BBI Statewide

2023-09-08 - BBI

Mark Stoops says the Wildcats have worked hard at cleaning up their act heading into the matchup with EKU; (16:00) Colonels coach Walt Wells on the legacy of Roy Kidd; (18:00) Kent Spencer of WHAS on U of L’s win over Murray State and what ’ll be looking for in Saturday’s game; (39:00) Eli Gehn of WLEX says being on the sideline at Kroger Field last week was weird because it got so quiet; (51:00) Heroes, Fools and Flakes and there’s been some confusion in the cockpit…

2023-09-07 - BBI

Brad White liked a lot of what he saw (10:00) but knows there’s much to clean up in the UK defense; (18:00) Brian Milam of WKYT on UK’s season opener and the legacy of EKU legendary coach Roy Kidd; (41:00) WLAP’s Billy Rutledge makes his NFL picks; current Colonels coach Walt Wells on QB Parker McKinney’s decision to skip the transfer portal and an apology (sorta) from Nick Saban…

2023-09-06 - BBI

Like everyone else on the UK sideline, OC Liam Coen wasn’t satisfied with Saturday’s win but he loved what he saw from Ray Davis, who himself is looking ahead only to EKU. (6:00) We relive the radio highlights from the win over Ball State; (19:00) Ryan Black of the Courier-Journal breaks down the win over the Cardinals; (39:00) color analyst Jim Tirey of the EKU radio network with a preview of what to expect from the Colonels; West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore talks college football and NFL th...

2023-09-05 - BBI

EKU coach Walt Wells is a true fan of southern rock; (10:25) Colonels QB Parker McKinney wants another shot at a D1 opponent; (19:00) former UK DB Van Hiles breaks down Ky’s win over Ball State; (39:00) Cats Illustrated publisher Justin Rowland says it was a solid start for the Wildcats; (1:01:00) sportswriter/blogger/author John Huang on how far UK football has come through the years; and insults are best delivered with an outrageous accent…

2023-09-04 - BBI Statewide

2023-08-31 - BBI

Two UK defenders have worked at gaining muscle (it appears they’ve succeeded); (20:00) John Clay of the Herald Leader on what to expect from Saturday’s game; (39:00) Haven Fields, color analyst for the Ball State radio network; (59:00) OL coach Zach Yenser on Jager Burton’s progress at center and (1:04:00) UK volleyball coach Craig Skinner on a challenging double dip this weekend with Pittsburgh plus - confusing times in outer space(balls)…

2023-08-30 - BBI

Mega dose of UK football featuring (2:00) OC Liam Coen, (11:00) QB Devin Leary and (39:00) RB Ray Davis; (20:00) ex-UK DB Van Hiles’ season preview; (44:00) UK Network stat man Corey Price with his media poll of top players in the history of Commonwealth Stadium/Kroger Field & (1:00:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore plus some confusion on a plane in peril…

2023-08-29 - BBI

Mark Stoops says he WILL have a united team this year; Stoops surprised a walk-on with a scholarship after practice and the team erupted (that’s unity); (20:00) Voice of the Wildcats Tom Leach looks ahead to the opener; (39:00) EKU radio voice Greg Stotelmyer looks ahead to the Colonels’ opener at Cincinnati Saturday; (59:00) northern Kentucky sports writer Dan Rieffer and just how big can a Twinkie be?

2023-08-28 - BBI Statewide

2023-08-25 - BBI

We talk UK’s non-conference basketball schedule; Devin Leary on his voice in the huddle; (19:00) UK Network analyst Jeremy Jarmon believes the Wildcats are sitting on a big season; (54:00) Craig Skinner likes what he’s seen in pre-season volleyball workouts as his team prepped to open the season Friday night; (1:01:00) a recap of the week including Heroes, Fools and Flakes and a substitute teacher has had enough from his non-responsive students…

2023-08-24 - BBI

Nine days from UK’s opener, we look back on the night Will Levis ran roughshod over U of L; (12:00) D Coordinator Brad White on Deone Walker’s progress at DT; (20:00) Mitch Brown of Fox56 WDKY; (39:00) Kendrick Haskins of WAVE in Louisville on how recruiting battles are heating up between UK and U of L with a new staff in place for the Cards; (1:07:00) UK volleyball All-American Azhani Tealer previews the season opener and The Dude sets things straight.

2023-08-23 - BBI

We go deep on UK football depth; (21:00) Keith Farmer of LEX18/BBN Tonight rejoices in the impending football season; (41:00) Jeff Drummond of Cats Illustrated on how Mark Stoops and staff have built the latest UK football roster; (1:01:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore with his 2 Guys & and 6-Pack plus some wise words from a “Dun-key”

2023-08-22 - BBI

Will Levis scores BIG with Hellman’s mayo; (9:00) Chris Rodriguez says UK helped prep him for the NFL; (21:00) ex-UK QB1 Bill Ransdell says it could be a big season for the Cats; (41:00) Mike Miller of the Field of 68 newsletter is impressed with what he saw of Calipari’s bunch in Canada; (1:01:00) Georgetown College coach Chris Oliver wants his Tigers back in the NAIA playoffs.

2023-08-21 - BBI

Back from the bottom of the ocean to re-set on UK football; (20:00) we get caught up with Aaron Gershon of The Cats’ Pause; (41:00) Mark Story of the HL on his terrific column in the Sunday paper, “Proudest Moments in UK Sports History;” (1:01;00) a word or two about scuba diving and the island of Bonaire (1:11:00) and a tribute to our late beagle, Toby.

2023-08-18 - BBI

2023-08-17 - BBI

2023-08-16 - BBI

2023-08-15 - BBI

2023-08-14 - BBI

2023-08- 09 - BBI

UK’s basketball schedule is taking shape; Aaron Rodgers won’t take any extra measures to show off the guns; (19:00) Chris Doering of the SEC Network likes what he sees in the football Wildcats, who he says might just be sitting on a special season; (53:00) Orioles fans keep rising to the defense of broadcaster Kevin Brown and (1:01:00) West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore sounds off on the geographical lunacy of conference re-alignment plus Jerry swaps places with Kramer and gets the worse end of...

2023-08- 08 - BBI

The Chain Gang joins us in the garage - Keith Madison, Doug Flynn and Darren Headrick. We cover broadcasting, baseball, music, soda shoppes, ice cream and more...

2023-08- 07 - BBI

UK football Fan Day was a hit with the fan AND Stoops and his players; (21:00)ex-Wildcat Jeff Piecoro of the UK Sports Network on the current swirl in college football; (41:00) Steve Moss of WKYT Sports on Fan Day and the time we spent covering HS football via helicopter; (1:01:00) Gary Graves of the AP and I discuss the football Cats and our beloved Packers; (1:35:00) Winger and Ziskey answer a pointed Q from an Army recruiter…

2023-08- 04 - BBI

Highlights from UK football Media Day; interviews with players, coordinators, OL coach Zach Yenser, TE coach Vince Marrow, QB Devin Leary and more, including full press conference from Mark Stoops.

2023-08- 03 - BBI

The countdown is on to the UK football opener; backlash to Carli Lloyd’s critical comments of the USWNT; (20:00) John Huang on the evolution of Kentucky football + Calipari’s addition of another 7-footer; (41:00) UK KOR specialist Barion Brown gets more national pub; (1:01:00) UK Volleyball coach Craig Skinner on having the team to beat (again) in the SEC and the Big Lebowski with a fashion statement…

2023-08- 02 - BBI

Countdown to opening day includes a huge Citrus Bowl UK win; (9:00) Carli Lloyd rips her former teammates and now is being criticized for her anchor desk honesty; (20:00) Christi Thomas of the UK Sports Network on parenting athletic kids, UK football AND Lloyd’s controversial comments; (41:00) Michael Epps of Fox56 on the joys of covering HS football as well as the Cats (1:01:00) and West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore with another 6-pack of topics plus Chris Farley makes a fashion statement…

2023-08- 01 - BBI

We learn more about the newest basketball Wildcat, Zvonimir Ivisic from Cameron Drummond of the HL; (21:00) Jeremy Jarmon of the UK radio network, the former Wildcat D End, takes us inside college football fall “camp;” (54:00) Aaron Gershon from the Cats’ Pause on Ivisic and the upcoming UK football media day and we do NOT mispronounce his name, (1:06:00) the way a substitute teacher might. But it HAS happened…

2023-07- 31 - BBI

We recall the night Patrick Towles nearly out-dueled Dak Prescott and top-ranked Mississippi State; (19:30) Mark Story of the H-L on the onrushing UK football season; (41:00) Kent Spencer of WHAS recalls what it was like to be part of a football team enduring summer camp; (1:03:45) David Sisk of Cats Illustrated says don’t be surprised if UK makes a late, BIG addition to its hoops roster (1:20:00) and Pvt. John Winger explains why he and his buddies are late for formation.

2023-07- 28 - BBI

Two outstanding rants - one from Biff Poggi, 1st-year football coach of the Charlotte 49ers whose team was picked dead last in the AAC, and (10:00) Joey Votto’s screed to Chris Russo of the MLB Network; (20:00) Jon Hale of the Herald Leader talks UK football; (41:00) C.L. Brown of the Courier-Journal on UK’s Toronto trip and upcoming football for the Cats & Cards and (1:01:00) Billy Rutledge chimes in as well, plus (1:17:00) Heroes, Fools and Flakes…

2023-07- 27 - BBI

We hear from Justin Edwards on his performance in Toronto; (20:00) we talk UK football and basketball with BBN Tonight’s new co-anchor, Maggie Davis; (41:00) UK’s newest assistant baseball coach, Austin Cousino, the former gold glove-winning centerfielder is out on the recruiting trail and checks in with us; (1:01:00) WKYT Sports Director Brian Milam on how he’s splitting time between his station and WYMT in Hazard and Jeff Spicoli pays the price for being late to class…

2023-07- 26 - BBI

Lots of football chatter tonight with Mark Stoops’ comments at SEC Media Days; (20:00) former UK QB1 and football savant Freddie Maggard plus (1:01:00) a visit from West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore. And Homer finds out if he made the company softball team (spoiler alert: Roger Clemens has some bad news for him).

2023-07- 25 - BBI

Back in the chair, vacation over; we hear from UK LB JJ Weaver; John Calipari talks zone defense (!); (20:00) Aaron Gershon of The Cats' Pause, (41:00) Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated and (1:01:00) Big Blue Drew of A Sea of Blue all weigh in on football and basketball plus stern advice from Kramer about the dangers of surgery...

2023-07-19 - BBI

2023-07-18 - BBI

Back from the Great White North (beauty, eh?) to talk UK basketball with UK radio network voices Jack Givens and Tom Leach, UK TV network anchor Keith Farmer and legendary basketball writer Dick “Hoops” Weiss, plus a geography lesson from Bob and Doug McKenzie. It’s beauty, ya hosers.

2023-07-17 - BBI

2023-07-11 - BBI

2023-07-10 - BBI

John Calipari prepares us on how he’s preparing his team for Toronto; (11:00) the Reds draft arms for the future; a Kyian (now a NY Yankee) who got away from the Cats and did incredible baseball things for the Florida Gators; (21:00) Jeff Drummond of Cats Illustrated and (41:00) Mitch Brown of Fox 56 on what’s coming up in Toronto and Nashville; (1:01:00) Vinny Hardy of Cats Talk Wednesday on expectations for the basketball Wildcats plus a Simpsons/Flintstones crossover you might not think po...

2023-07-07 - BBI

More of our Meet the Wildcats series with Tre Mitchell (WVU transfer), freshmen Joey Hart and Robert Dillingham plus old head Antonio Reeves; (20:00) Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated on the social media debate over the job being done by Mark Stoops; (41:00) EKU QBs coach Maxwell Smith, a former UK QB himself; (1:01:00) WKYT Sports Director Brian Milam and (1:15:00) this week’s Heroes, Fools and Flakes…

2023-07-06 - BBI

More Meet the Wildcats with Burks, Edwards and Ugo; (10:00) the Reds thrill us (again) and the Cardinals find a new way to disappoint; (20:00) Eli Gehn of LEX18/BBN Tonight; (21:00) veteran WKYT sports videographer Steve Moss; (1:01:00) Caroline Makauskas of Kentucky.com on the UK women’s program (1:16) and I take what I know is an unpopular stand a movie character but hey - this show is like a box of chocolates. Isn’t it?

2023-07-05 - BBI

We hear from new UK guard DJ Wagner on his transition in Lexington. A look back at what might be THE pivotal victory in the Mark Stoops Era. SI Now’s Hunter Shelton on UK football and hoops. Adou Thiero, Wagner and Reed Sheppard on the eve of their trip to the Great White North. West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore checks in to complain about All-Star duds - the uniforms, not the players…

2023-06-23 - BBI

We hear from Cason Wallace, new to the OKC Thunder; the Bucks say they’re delighted to draft Chris Livingston; Ben Roberts of the HL on latest additions to UK’s basketball roster; ex-UK LB Jon Sumrall, now head coach at Troy University, on how Mark Stoops and Rich Brooks helped prepare him for the job; a look back at a busy week and the faintest of praise from Mr. Hobson.