More offseason turmoil

Without reporting any details myself, and with the mainstream media not exactly stepping in to fill the misinformation/rumor vacuum, I will say that this KSR post by Matt Jones sums up the story I am hearing from a number of people. There are different versions, but this is the core.

Here are some observations:


1. However this shakes out, the UK-UT game here in Lexington on November 28 will be the most hostile and nasty that many of us have ever seen. I cannot remember a storyline that would create this much real bad blood between multiple people on both sides of the field. Particularly if this ends with one of our stars missing the season. Add to this "The streak", UT's monumental jackass of a coach, and the possibility we will have exactly 5 wins going into the game and it could be a transcendent, sports as theatre, moment.


2. From a purely football standpoint, any potential loss of Micah Johnson may kill the season. In the span of one off-season, without a single injury mind you, we may have gone from a Defense with three All-American candidates and six returning starters to four returning starters, only one of whom is considered All-SEC caliber. Ronnie Snead, a redshirt sophomore with one career tackle, is listed on the depth chart as Johnson's backup. Senior Mikhail Mabry is another possibility. After that, we are looking at true freshmen. Middle linebackers get hurt. Often. This, combined with the Jarmon suspension, takes us from a probable bowl team fighting for seven or eight wins to a team that will do well to make a bowl.


3. Johnson's loss would be awful for the team from a psychological standpoint. He is without a doubt their face and leader. If he is in this situation as deep as may be indicated, I have to wonder if that is the reason. To whom much is given much is expected, and a leader has to have everyone's back. Something to think about.


4. If anything happens to Trevard Lindley between now and September 5, I'll be convinced god has a sick sense of humor.


5. Thinking about this bothers me deeply for reasons I'm not prepared to explain. It isn't like I actually know any of these guys. But, my son still hasn't quite grown into his #4 jersey I bought him last year. Micah is my favorite UK player since J-Lo. I'm hoping his name is surfacing only because it is a big name, or because he is the one person others involved in whatever happened recognized. But most of all, I wish none of this ever happened and none of our players were involved.

6. There is one more pretty big name I've heard associated with this incident.

7. Remember, none of this is being reported anywhere as fact. We've heard nothing from the police, the courts, any alleged "victim" or any mainstream news outlet. Let's keep an open mind until actual facts come out.