The LetterWinner Podcast

Jeremy Jarmon
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Get inside the huddle to talk about the game, our way, no fluff, raw and unfiltered. We’re breaking down player performance, position matchups, and diabolical details you won’t hear anywhere else. This is the Letterwinner Podcast. Get in the huddle with Jeremy Jarmon, a former All-SEC defensive end and former UK QB1(unapologetic truth teller), Morgan Newton. Think you know ball, come see about it…

  1. Jun 14

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 127 - A Pre-Summer Nightmare

    LetterWinner Pod: Remembering Nic Smith, the Future of College Sports & UK’s New Era Jeremy Jarmon and Morgan Newton open the LetterWinner Pod with sponsor notes and then react to the death of UK redshirt freshman defensive lineman Nic Smith, discussing the impact on his family, teammates, and the need for better mental-health support for athletes. They pivot to the shifting business and legal landscape of college sports, including proposed federal legislation, conference power plays by the SEC and Big Ten, NIL enforcement disputes, athlete mobility restrictions, and why players should organize and secure representation. The conversation then turns to training and nutrition changes from high school through today’s sports-science era, plus a rapid “algorithm” roundup of trending topics. They discuss UK athletics’ evolving leadership structure, Will Stein’s early momentum and recruiting, Mark Pope’s approach and pressure, and close with NBA “cat-on-cat” playoff talk and a hot take that conservative Southern politics could eventually affect Black athletes’ college choices. 00:00 The LetterWinner Pod Ep 127 02:31 Nic Smith Tribute 07:13 College Sports Bill & Politics 18:58 Glory Days 22:22 The Algorithm 44:23 UK Rumor Mill 48:22 Will Stein Era 56:00 Full Court Press w/ Pope 01:09:04 Hot Take: Black Athletes & Southern Universities

    37 min

  2. May 9

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 126 - Derby Discourse

    Jeremy Jarmon and Morgan Newton kick off Kentucky Derby season with lighthearted talk about betting at Churchill and Keeneland, JJ’s kindergarten Derby float, and what “responsible gambling” looks like. They pay tribute to Lexington Urban League leader PG Peeples and question how UK and its athletics department engaged with him and the Urban League. The hosts discuss top recruit Tyran Stokes’ UK visit and commitment to Kansas, contrasting it with momentum in UK women’s basketball as Kenny Brooks lands Me’Arah O’Neal and other top talent. They cover UK’s Champions Blue developments, including approval of an entertainment district and BCTC vacating by end of 2026, recap UK players drafted into the NFL, and talk leadership dynamics and “psychological safety.” They close with spring football notes, praise for Will Stein’s staff and recruiting, and Stein’s stated coaching values. 02:02 Responsible Betting Talk 03:14 Finding Track Tipsters 04:39 Keeneland College Memories 06:47 Mall Runs and Dillard Loyalty 09:11 Brother Larry Karaoke Lore 10:37 Honoring PG Peeples 12:52 Tyran Stokes Recruiting Drama 15:49 Kenny Brooks and Me'Arah O'Neal 17:48 Champions Blue District and BCTC Exit 19:29 NFL Draft Wildcats Recap 20:38 Jalen Farmer Colts Value 22:46 Team Culture Healthy Conflict 25:18 UK Leadership Trust Debate 31:16 AD Search Listening Tour 33:50 Spring Game Takeaways 35:38 Power K and Nike Buzz 37:22 Will Stein Staff Standards 41:39 Outworking the SEC Gap 44:06 Derby Week Signoff

    23 min

  3. Apr 20

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 125 - The Southeast Will Rise Again!

    Jeremy Jarmon and Morgan Newton react to Memphis’ FB HC Huff banning practice music, arguing it’s an old-school “splash” that could hurt Gen Z recruiting and game-like preparation. They highlight Oscar Tshiebwe’s big recent G League stat lines with Utah and discuss how production can outweigh measurables, plus whether there’s still an NBA role for his skill set. The conversation turns to their lingering attachment to John Calipari, concerns about Mark Pope’s ability to close “Kentucky-caliber” recruits, and what a successful UK visit should look like. They praise UK football’s recruiting momentum under Will Stein, debate Big Ten vs. SEC recent championship trends, football saturation, dismiss the Lamar Jackson replica Heisman story as media filler, call Clay Travis’ Kentucky-football pessimism clickbait, and close on Trump’s executive order and the NCAA’s attempts to limit athlete mobility amid NIL and looming employee status. 01:16 Memphis Bans Practice Music 05:37 Oscar's G League Surge 07:52 Missing Calipari Era 12:19 Mark Pope Recruiting Worries 16:27 UK Football Recruiting Buzz 20:46 Big Ten vs SEC Debate 24:27 Space Mission Skepticism 28:29 Dinosaur Doubts 30:45 Defining Great Villains 36:13 Mark Stoops Hero Or Villain 37:37 Lamar Heisman at Joe Craft Center 38:40 QB Conviction Ice Cream Test 43:53 Recruiting Psychology And Belief 47:40 Football Saturation And UFL 50:29 Clay Travis Clickbait Takes 51:52 Light Talk NIL Executive Order 56:09 Closing Thoughts And Sign Off

    28 min

  4. Apr 7

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 124 - It's not Personal, It's Personnel

    UK Basketball’s Rough Finish, Pope Pressure & Transfer Portal Outlook + Kentucky Football Spring Buzz On the LetterWinner, Jarmon, Newton, and Lewellen recap Kentucky basketball’s 22–14 season and round-of-32 exit, roster construction, ball handling, and injuries, debating Mark Pope’s strategy, noting staff changes, including Mo Williams. They discuss UK’s standards, media accountability, revenue, and broader program factors from the Calipari era through NIL, plus concerns about constant transferring and proposed eligibility limits. The episode shifts to Kentucky football spring practice, highlighting Will Stein and Jay Bateman’s energy, new technology (helmet GoPros, upgraded Jugs machine), practice structure, and optimism around QB Kenny Minchey, the offensive line, and overall culture while acknowledging unanswered questions. They close by addressing some negative fan sentiment toward Jasper Johnson and urging resilience, development, and production. 01:22 Season Recap Reality 02:02 Roster Flaws March 02:50 Standards And Pressure 04:34 Pope Under Fire 05:21 Lefty Offense Debate 08:22 Coach Speak Critique 10:16 Media Accountability Gap 14:23 Money Metrics Breaking 16:43 Calipari Admin Rumors 21:00 NIL And Portal Future 24:27 Build Player Infrastructure 26:38 Coolness Factor Return 29:43 Mo Williams Hire 32:20 Antigua Illinois Blueprint 36:39 Trust And Team Building 37:56 Winning Programs Built 38:19 Culture And Cleats 39:37 Spring Practice Buzz 41:02 Coaching Juice And O Line 43:36 Tech Upgrades In Practice 45:44 Spring Game Hype Check 46:41 Defense Questions And Nickel 49:13 Roster Concerns For Fall 50:36 Can Media Evaluate Practice 53:42 Jasper Johnson Backlash 54:35 Handling Hate And Resilience 56:40 Fit Timing And Expectations 01:04:15 Only Answer Is Production 01:06:04 Grind Mindset Closing

    34 min

  5. Mar 22

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 123 - Choose the Monster

    Jarmon and Newton reflect on forgetting to acknowledge International Women’s Day, sharing how they celebrate the women in their lives and noting Morgan’s 11-year journey with his wife. They pivot to Lexington’s winter weather disruptions again, joking about “warm weather” as a gold standard snow removal process. The conversation turns to Kentucky basketball’s matchup with Santa Clara and links to upcoming UK women’s sports guests, then broadens into a candid assessment of Kentucky’s slipping standards, tournament expectations, Mark Pope’s pressure, donor/roster money chatter, and how Calipari’s era ended amid relationship and fundraising challenges. They discuss the athletic director opening, whether Dwayne Peevy could restore alignment and vision, uncertainty around Champions Blue and JMI, and the need for a forward-looking strategy for AI and insert names into the "listening tour" before closing with excerpts from Barnhart’s original championship-focused introduction. 00:00 International Women’s Day Check-In 01:23 Anniversary and Gratitude 02:43 NTI Day and Snow Chaos 04:31 Santa Clara and UK Connections 06:58 Tournament Expectations for Kentucky 08:38 Pressure on Pope and Program Standards 12:34 Peevy and Athletic Director Questions 14:31 NIL Money and Donor Strategy 20:10 UK Future and Monster Mentality 24:47 Paying More and Culture Fit Risks 26:06 Quick Shift to Cal SEC Tourney Win 26:19 Cal and Winning Matters 27:30 Do Fans Follow NBA Cats 30:30 Cal the Marketing Machine 32:14 Empowering Players to Lead 34:58 AD Search and Leadership 36:24 Modern Era Needs Strategy 38:43 AI and Competitive Edges 44:27 Mitch Barnhart Day One 47:57 Wrap Up and Sign Off

    24 min

  6. Mar 9

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 122 - More than an Athlete

    Mitch Barnhart Retires: What’s Next for Kentucky Athletics + Athlete Mental Health, NIL, and the Future of College Sports On the LetterWinner, Jeremy Jarmon and Morgan Newton react to reports that longtime Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart is retiring and moving into a new, athletics-funded academic-side role paying $950,000 annually for five years, discuss his legacy, and speculate on an insider-driven AD succession process and possible candidates. They then address the death of former Purdue and NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore at 25, expanding into athlete identity, injury-related isolation, and the need for stronger college-to-career transition resources, alumni coordination, and broader mental-health training. The episode also covers stigma and disparities in mental-health service use among Black men, UK’s evolving revenue strategy and entertainment district questions, NIL-era fan expectations and Trent Noah’s Instagram lyric post, SEC/Big Ten revenue disparity debates, a Trump-led “saving college sports” roundtable, a Buffalo Wild Wings boneless-wings lawsuit, Tyson branding on Arkansas uniforms, and UK’s April 18 spring game turnout expectations under Will Stein. 00:00 Big UK News Breaks 01:28 Barnhart New Role Details 02:32 Personal Thanks and Legacy 07:06 Who Replaces Barnhart 09:55 Rondale Moore Tragedy 12:04 Athlete Identity After Sports 14:53 Building Transition Resources 17:22 Mental Health Stigma Data 21:17 Support Systems and Training 26:54 Champions Blue and Real Estate 29:48 Fan District Questions 30:16 NIL Rules and Stability 31:35 Is It Really Unsustainable 33:13 Trent Noah Post Debate 35:18 Pressure on the Bench 36:57 Athletes and Social Media 38:52 SEC Big Ten Money Fight 43:00 Politics and Reform Talk 45:00 Boneless Wings Lawsuit 52:15 Tyson Jersey Sponsorships 53:26 Who Sponsors Kentucky 57:02 Spring Game and Wrap Up

    29 min

  7. Feb 24

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 121 - Will Stein Comes Home

    The episode recaps a K Club gathering at the K House that drew more than 200 former University of Kentucky letterwinners and families, including offensive coordinator Will Stein and over 20 staff members, with attendees spanning seven decades and multiple sports. Jarmon and Newton discuss the strong turnout and memorable moments. Jim Green and Derrick Ramsey were both in attendance. Jarmon transported some “Sissy Cakes” to the event this month. They then break down Kentucky men’s basketball’s road loss at Florida, focusing on slow starts, resilience, rotation questions tied to injured players, and the emergence of players such as Aberdeen and Moreno despite being shorthanded. The conversation shifts to NFL quarterback valuation and system-driven success, injuries impacting the league’s product, offensive line challenges versus elite edge rushers, and Kansas City moving on from Matt Nagy while bringing back Eric Bieniemy, including a discussion of why Bieniemy hasn’t received head-coaching opportunities. The hosts highlight Kentucky women’s basketball rebounding with back-to-back SEC wins over Texas A&M and 14th-ranked Ole Miss, featuring strong performances from Clara Strack, Tonie Morgan, and Asia Boone, and preview upcoming games. They also debate whether top-revenue Power Four programs should break away from the NCAA due to widening financial gaps. Finally, they cover Kentucky baseball’s opening sweep at UNC Greensboro (34 runs scored) while noting shortstop Tyler Bell’s shoulder injury, bullpen run allowance, and optimism around the program, before closing with a discussion on off-season training: rest, cross-training, wrestling benefits, goal-setting, nutrition planning, and athlete body awareness. 00:00 K Club Reunion Night: 200+ Letter Winners Pack the K House 02:04 Turnout, Travel, and Feedback: Making the Event Even Better 02:37 The Depth of the K Club: Multi-Sport, Multi-Decade Brotherhood 04:10 Meeting Legends: Jim Green, Derek Ramsey & UK Royalty Moments 05:53 Sissy Cakes & Supporting Will Stein’s Louisville Roots 06:18 Kentucky Hoops at Florida: Slow Start, Big Fight, Tough Loss 08:06 Injuries, Rotation Questions & Who Becomes the Go-To Star 11:39 Are NFL QBs Overvalued? Hurts, Darnold, Fit vs. “Elite” Talent 15:10 Keeping QBs Upright: Pass Rush Evolution, O-Line Length & Trent Williams 18:08 Chiefs Shake-Up: Eric Bieniemy Returns, Offense Slips & Coaching Politics 22:58 Why Some Coaches Rub People the Wrong Way (and the Racial Angle) 23:22 Hitting the Reset Button: Going Back Home to Rebuild 23:57 Behind the Scenes of Hiring: Staff, Coordinators, Vision 24:42 UK Women’s Hoops Back on Track: Big Wins & Momentum 26:33 Should the Power Programs Break Away from the NCAA? 28:47 Trivia Time: Last Non-Power Team to Win a Title (2001 Miami) 29:51 Money Talks: SEC Revenue, Top-32 Super League, and Fan Fallout 33:08 Kentucky Baseball Opener: Sweep, Bullpen Notes & Tyler Bell Injury 35:33 Offseason Training Philosophy: Cross-Training, Rest, and Wrestling Regrets 39:17 Nutrition, SMART Goals, and Listening to Your Body (Longevity Mindset)

    23 min

  8. Feb 16

    The LetterWinner Podcast: Episode 120 -In the Eye of the Storm: KY Weather and Sports

    LetterWinners Jarmon and Newton reconnect after a break and apologize to listeners, citing NTI days, work and life be lifing. They discuss the impact of NTI days that left schools close for over a week. Then pivot to the Super Bowl snooze and the halftime show featuring Bad Bunny, framing it as a global business decision tied to the NFL’s international growth and Spanish-speaking North America, and compare popularity metrics with Kendrick Lamar. The conversation turns to the NFL coaching cycle, noting 10 new head coaches and none Black, leaving three Black head coaches in the league. They debate the Rooney Rule’s effectiveness, emphasize that ownership and hiring networks drive outcomes, and cite data that people tend to hire those who look like them. They propose focusing on increasing Black ownership opportunities and discuss how NFL business structures and market dynamics affect decisions, while noting progress in Black quarterback representation. They then cover Kentucky Hoops: Kenny Brooks’ women’s team struggles after injuries and a tough SEC stretch, losing close games but showing individual performance from Clara Strack and a promising future with three McDonald’s All-Americans committed. They praise Mark Pope’s men’s team turnaround, including winning eight of nine and sweeping Tennessee, but stress that March results matter most. They react to reports about Pope and Brandon Garrison needing a sit-down for renewed buy-in, arguing effort is non-negotiable at Kentucky while also acknowledging player pressure, role adjustment, and team dynamics. They discuss nostalgia around Kentucky’s 1996 celebration, denim throwback uniforms, and Nike Book shoes, including credit to designer Rob Watkins and other behind-the-scenes contributors. Some chatter about roster/cap efficiency and how spending translates to performance—and raise concerns about talent acquisition and recruiting despite Kentucky’s blue-blood brand, citing the lack of premier recruits and mentioning Tyran Stokes and comparisons to other programs. Finally, they discuss football recruiting and new staff momentum, expressing optimism about Will Stein’s confidence, grind, and transfer portal results while noting remaining roster holes and the need for resources. They highlight trailblazing UK athlete Jim Green (UK’s first Black track athlete and first Black athlete graduate in 1971) and discuss the importance of bringing UK pioneers like Jim Green and Derrick Ramsey into program culture. They close by noting UK leadership’s efforts to grow revenue through partnerships like JMI and suggest the athletic department may be thinking more creatively than outsiders assume. 00:00 Back on the Mic: Catching Up After the Break 01:13 Fayette County Snowstorm Fallout: Negligence, Budgets & Who Gets Hurt 03:46 Community vs. City Hall: Salt, Plows, and Accountability 05:46 NTI Days Debate: When Remote School Becomes the Easy Button 07:22 Super Bowl 2026 Recap: A Snoozer, Seattle’s Defense, and Missing Star Power 09:59 Halftime Show Culture Wars: Bad Bunny, Global Branding, and Not Politicizing Everything 13:19 NFL Coaching Diversity: Rooney Rule, Ownership Power, and What the Data Says 22:19 Kentucky Women’s Hoops Check-In: Kenny Brooks, SEC Grind, and Running on Fumes 27:38 Kentucky Men’s Surge: Mark Pope’s Turnaround and SEC Title Talk 29:14 Player-Coach Conflict & Accountability: The Brandon Garrison Conversation 31:08 Privilege, effort & accountability in a Kentucky jersey 33:36 Are they built for the SEC? ‘Chest X-rays’ and players turning into dogs 34:33 Bluegrass Stock Exchange: should you sell the Kentucky basketball stock? 36:45 Momentum check: Pope as captain again, but March is the real test 39:28 ‘Acting up in public’: fan expectations, fear, and what matters in March 41:42 Denim throwbacks & Bookers: the Tennessee weekend and Nike execution 45:01 From dorm soccer to NIL: roster/cap efficiency and what money really buys 48:57 Blue blood problems: why can’t Kentucky land elite recruits? 54:24 Honoring trailblazers: Jim Green, Derrick Ramsey, and institutional priorities 59:56 Pushing the envelope & funding the future: football resources and creativity

    31 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Get inside the huddle to talk about the game, our way, no fluff, raw and unfiltered. We’re breaking down player performance, position matchups, and diabolical details you won’t hear anywhere else. This is the Letterwinner Podcast. Get in the huddle with Jeremy Jarmon, a former All-SEC defensive end and former UK QB1(unapologetic truth teller), Morgan Newton. Think you know ball, come see about it…

Information

  • Creator
    Jeremy Jarmon
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The LetterWinner Podcast
  • Show Website
    The LetterWinner Podcast