Mississippi State is, by objective measure, the weakest team in the SEC. Hopes were high for Sylvester Croom's squad this season. Last year, the Liberty Bowl champ Bulldogs finished 8-5, with great wins over Alabama and a then #14 UK on the road (Not that I want to be reminded). The momentum of their strong finish was busted with a season opening loss to Louisiana Tech. Though 3-5, MSU has won two of their last three, including a "signature" win over then undefeated Vandy, 17-14, at home two weeks ago. Any chance at a bowl or .500 season hinges on a home win against the Cats tomorrow as the Bulldogs travel to Alabama next week.
For those engrossed in such matters, Mississippi State is favored by 2.
Junior Tyson Lee has started the last four games in place of last year's starter, Wesley Carroll. He has acquitted himself well with a 114 overall qb rating. Workhorse RB Anthony Dixon, who is listed as a junior but suits up for what I swear is his sixth year, has been solid with the exception of a seven carries for five yards stinkbomb against Auburn. Anthony has gained 80 or more yards five times this season. At next year's game at UK, Dixon will do the victory lap in his, "player whose name announcement causes the most confusion in Commonwealth Stadium" tour.
MSU has been schizophrenic on defense. After throwing sloppy dice against Georgia Tech and LSU, it held Vandy to 107 (god as my witness) total yards a couple of weeks ago.
Mississippi State also boasts a more pessimistic "fan" blogger than me. http://www.mstatesportsblog.com/ . Dude is calling for "changes". Man, even if your team sucks, you are a scant one year from not sucking, and your team sucked perpetually before that. Get over it. That said, yes the blog is more sophisticated than mine. Its about the written word, people. Not all the bells and whistles.
Give me a break, its my first year.
Enough of my insecurity. Let us bottom line this thing. This is an "imminently winnable game", as I am fond of saying. The key is Randall Cobb getting us off to a good start. The offense hasn't had a first quarter touchdown since Little Bill in "Boogie Nights" had his dignity. First blood or even a 10-0 lead would look pretty sweet early on. The game is on the road, but we have had a pretty good record against bad teams on the road since 2006. I feel good about this one. I feel $25 to Insight for the pay per view even though I cannot watch the fourth quarter live good. Of course, that I feel good is reason to fly to Vegas and load up on the Bulldogs. So we'll see.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Every SEC school. . . .
. . . .would love a quarterback like Peyton Manning, right? The Cats have their very own Peyton now. I'll explain. Remember a few years back, before he got his first ring, the Colts were knocked out of the playoffs for the gillionth consecutive year. In his postgame interview, Manning got up and started to say something about the game, then explained why the team had lost thusly, "I want to be a good teammate, so I'll just say we had some protection problems." Well, no Peyton, saying that actually makes you a crappy teammate.
Today, we get this gem from recently demoted quarterback and heretofore solid citizen Mike Hartline: "No one ever expects to win a starting job and then lose it because guys around him aren't performing the way they should. It's disappointing, but it's best for the team, and I'm a team player. And that's just the way it has to be."
Team player, eh?
This sad lack of self awareness has been surpassed only once in my conscious presence. My first year in law school coincided with the 1995 Governor's Race, when luv guv Paul Patton emerged from a crowded pack of Democrats to win nomination and then election. Thanks to Trey Grayson, then a budding politico law student and now our Secretary of State, each candidate for Governor came to the school and spoke at various times. This included one John "Eck" Rose, a then State Senator from Winchester. Eck gave a speech reminiscent of John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King. Only the opposite. With the possible exception of the monuments mentioned, these were his exact words. "You'll never see a hospital named after Eck Rose. You'll never see a school named after Eck Rose. You'll never see a playground named after Eck Rose. Because Eck Rose has no ego." Nothing like watching at 70 year old white guy giving a speech, the central premise of which is his lack of ego, while referring to himself in the third person more often than an NFL wideout.
I digress.
Mike, apologize, say you didn't mean this. Do something. Your offense hasn't helped you out much, true, but you are barely cutting it. Be a man. Keep your head up. One game does not a career make. You've all the time in the world to prove yourself again. Especially since the guy who replaced you has a ticket to the NFL wrapped up in playing a different position. Don't poison the well by sidebusting your teammates now.
Today, we get this gem from recently demoted quarterback and heretofore solid citizen Mike Hartline: "No one ever expects to win a starting job and then lose it because guys around him aren't performing the way they should. It's disappointing, but it's best for the team, and I'm a team player. And that's just the way it has to be."
Team player, eh?
This sad lack of self awareness has been surpassed only once in my conscious presence. My first year in law school coincided with the 1995 Governor's Race, when luv guv Paul Patton emerged from a crowded pack of Democrats to win nomination and then election. Thanks to Trey Grayson, then a budding politico law student and now our Secretary of State, each candidate for Governor came to the school and spoke at various times. This included one John "Eck" Rose, a then State Senator from Winchester. Eck gave a speech reminiscent of John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King. Only the opposite. With the possible exception of the monuments mentioned, these were his exact words. "You'll never see a hospital named after Eck Rose. You'll never see a school named after Eck Rose. You'll never see a playground named after Eck Rose. Because Eck Rose has no ego." Nothing like watching at 70 year old white guy giving a speech, the central premise of which is his lack of ego, while referring to himself in the third person more often than an NFL wideout.
I digress.
Mike, apologize, say you didn't mean this. Do something. Your offense hasn't helped you out much, true, but you are barely cutting it. Be a man. Keep your head up. One game does not a career make. You've all the time in the world to prove yourself again. Especially since the guy who replaced you has a ticket to the NFL wrapped up in playing a different position. Don't poison the well by sidebusting your teammates now.
Fearless SEC Final Predictions-Bowl Predictions
We are now close enough to the end of the year that I go with my Fearless SEC Final Predictions. Yes, I did this by taking the time to pick a winner for every remaining game involving an SEC team and thus the outcome is in all ways plausible. Yes, this took a while.
SEC East
1. Alabama (8-0 overall currently, 5-0 in SEC play currently)
(12-0, 8-0 final)
2. LSU (5-2, 3-2)
(9-3, 5-3)
3. Ole Miss (4-4, 2-3)
(7-5, 4-4)
4. Auburn (4-4, 2-3)
(5-7, 2-6)
5. Arkansas (3-5, 1-4)
(5-7, 2-6)
6. Mississippi St. (3-5, 1-3)
(3-9, 1-7)
SEC West
1. Florida (6-1, 4-1)
(11-1, 7-1)
2. Georgia (7-1, 4-1)
(10-2, 6-2)
3. South Carolina (5-3, 2-3)
(8-4, 4-4)
4. Vandy (5-3, 3-2)
(6-6, 4-4)
5. Tennessee
(6-6, 3-5)
6. Kentucky
(6-6, 2-6)
Here are the assumptions/close calls/angles I went with:
1. UK takes the new QB momentum into Starkville this week and gets a win. They do not win another game. The Vandy thing was the toughest call in the conference. Truthfully, this was based more on a gut feel that UK seems to be a bowl eligible, but not 7 win, team. I cannot see Vandy losing 7 straight to blow their 5-0 start and not even go to a bowl. It is the game the Commodores seem most likely to win to prevent that from happening. Further, assuming things play out like I predict to that point, UK will already be in the bowl picture and Vandy will need the win. It will be cold, and assuming the Cats already have a sixth win, the game will not be particularly well attended. If we need this game for six wins by then, all bets are off. Bottom line is, I think UK gets to 6-6 one way or the other.
2. The records assume Tennessee will lose at South Carolina this week, then rattle off three straight to back door their way to bowl eligibility. That includes a win in Nashville, which is the closest thing to an upset I really have in these picks.
3. Mississippi State will not win another game.
4. Auburn loses at Ole Miss this weekend in what is a huge game for both schools. Here is something interesting. My scenario has three SEC teams at 6-6. Switch only the outcome of this one game, which is totally plausible, and we then have five 6-6 teams.
5. Florida wins the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
6. Alabama wins at LSU.
Assuming this is how things shake out, the bowl picture will look something like this:
Alabama and Florida would both play in either the National Championship, Sugar or some other BCS Bowl depending on outcome of SEC Championship and, of course, other games around the country.
Capital One: Georgia
Cotton:LSU
Outback: South Carolina
Chik-Fil-A: Ole Miss (The Bowl Committee would be free to select a 6-6 team listed below over the Rebels if inclined. Ole Miss fans are jacked about their new coach and will show up for this bowl, which makes them the the play here.)
After this, things get fuzzy with UK, Tennessee and Vandy in the mix for the Music City, Independence and Liberty Bowls. With the worst conference record and having, under this scenario, lost to both of the other schools, UK could be looking at Shreveport. The Papajohns.com Bowl would not have an SEC selection left and would have to take a Sun Belt team.
What does all this mean for the Cats? With all the potential mediocrity, a seven win season would ensure a pretty nice bowl spot, maybe even a trip to Atlanta. UK could go into Tennessee on 11/29 at 7-4 with New Year's Day still in play (Don't believe me? Comment and I'll explain how). As Jeff Probst would ask, "Worth playing for?"
Hell yeah.
SEC East
1. Alabama (8-0 overall currently, 5-0 in SEC play currently)
(12-0, 8-0 final)
2. LSU (5-2, 3-2)
(9-3, 5-3)
3. Ole Miss (4-4, 2-3)
(7-5, 4-4)
4. Auburn (4-4, 2-3)
(5-7, 2-6)
5. Arkansas (3-5, 1-4)
(5-7, 2-6)
6. Mississippi St. (3-5, 1-3)
(3-9, 1-7)
SEC West
1. Florida (6-1, 4-1)
(11-1, 7-1)
2. Georgia (7-1, 4-1)
(10-2, 6-2)
3. South Carolina (5-3, 2-3)
(8-4, 4-4)
4. Vandy (5-3, 3-2)
(6-6, 4-4)
5. Tennessee
(6-6, 3-5)
6. Kentucky
(6-6, 2-6)
Here are the assumptions/close calls/angles I went with:
1. UK takes the new QB momentum into Starkville this week and gets a win. They do not win another game. The Vandy thing was the toughest call in the conference. Truthfully, this was based more on a gut feel that UK seems to be a bowl eligible, but not 7 win, team. I cannot see Vandy losing 7 straight to blow their 5-0 start and not even go to a bowl. It is the game the Commodores seem most likely to win to prevent that from happening. Further, assuming things play out like I predict to that point, UK will already be in the bowl picture and Vandy will need the win. It will be cold, and assuming the Cats already have a sixth win, the game will not be particularly well attended. If we need this game for six wins by then, all bets are off. Bottom line is, I think UK gets to 6-6 one way or the other.
2. The records assume Tennessee will lose at South Carolina this week, then rattle off three straight to back door their way to bowl eligibility. That includes a win in Nashville, which is the closest thing to an upset I really have in these picks.
3. Mississippi State will not win another game.
4. Auburn loses at Ole Miss this weekend in what is a huge game for both schools. Here is something interesting. My scenario has three SEC teams at 6-6. Switch only the outcome of this one game, which is totally plausible, and we then have five 6-6 teams.
5. Florida wins the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
6. Alabama wins at LSU.
Assuming this is how things shake out, the bowl picture will look something like this:
Alabama and Florida would both play in either the National Championship, Sugar or some other BCS Bowl depending on outcome of SEC Championship and, of course, other games around the country.
Capital One: Georgia
Cotton:LSU
Outback: South Carolina
Chik-Fil-A: Ole Miss (The Bowl Committee would be free to select a 6-6 team listed below over the Rebels if inclined. Ole Miss fans are jacked about their new coach and will show up for this bowl, which makes them the the play here.)
After this, things get fuzzy with UK, Tennessee and Vandy in the mix for the Music City, Independence and Liberty Bowls. With the worst conference record and having, under this scenario, lost to both of the other schools, UK could be looking at Shreveport. The Papajohns.com Bowl would not have an SEC selection left and would have to take a Sun Belt team.
What does all this mean for the Cats? With all the potential mediocrity, a seven win season would ensure a pretty nice bowl spot, maybe even a trip to Atlanta. UK could go into Tennessee on 11/29 at 7-4 with New Year's Day still in play (Don't believe me? Comment and I'll explain how). As Jeff Probst would ask, "Worth playing for?"
Hell yeah.
Bowl Projections
Here are this week's UK Bowl Projections:
ESPN's Schlabach
Independence v. Kansas St.
ESPN's Feldman
Papajohns.com v. Pitt
CBS Sportsline
Music City v. UVA
NBC
Chick-fil-A v. North Carolina
CFN Scout
Independence v. K State
ESPN's Schlabach
Independence v. Kansas St.
ESPN's Feldman
Papajohns.com v. Pitt
CBS Sportsline
Music City v. UVA
NBC
Chick-fil-A v. North Carolina
CFN Scout
Independence v. K State
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Turn the page
The rest of the Cats season hinges on their ability to forget yesterday's game and move on. Yes, we suffered an unadulterated beatdown, were dominated in every phase of the game, and repeated every mistake we've made all year. Yet, this morning, we are in the same position we were yesterday. Five wins with three winnable games left on the schedule. Yesterday does not have to dictate what happens from here on out.
Let's examine what went so horribly wrong. First off, the deck was stacked heavily against us before the game even started. Florida, besides being a far superior team, was coming off a bye week and had extra time to prepare. To say the Cats came in banged up is an understatement. Even setting aside Lyons and Locke, who we have to learn to live without, we had a ton of injuries. The defense was without Myron Pryor. All three starting linebackers played, but Micah Johnson was clearly not himself. Marcus McClinton didn't start, and I am not clear as to whether, or how much, he played.
The game ended, effectively, when the Gators blocked the second punt. The defense, which has been so stalwart all year, was exposed by Florida's blinding team speed, and of course the offense was its usual self. The special teams gaffes, while embarrassing and backbreaking, were not surprising. We have now had four field goals blocked this year, one of which may have cost us a game and another which nearly did. To say nothing of the UT game last year. Steve Ortmeyer has to go.
All this said, the only real negative takeaway was our heretofore legit defense giving up 63 points. The rest of the bad stuff we already knew. My guess is that the defense can regroup if it so chooses. Hopefully we'll be able to heal some this week. And, lets face it, Florida has some athletes the likes of which we won't have to face in the coming weeks.
The most intrguing question now is whether Brooks will pull the trigger and start Randall Cobb at QB. Yesterday proved that Norfolk State was no fluke. To argue that the offense is more effective with Hartline in the game is to ignore every shread of evidence to the contrary. In addition to being a run threat, Cobb is a more accurate thrower on any route over five yards. Brooks says Hartline knows the offense better. Who cares? What good is memorizing a bunch of plays that don't work?
The casual fan may have been surprised when Hartline started the second half. I was not. Brooks has already been accused of showing him near blind loyalty. I was not in that camp before, but will be if a change doesn't come next week. For now, lets give Brooks the benefit of the doubt and say that returning Mike to the game was more about maintaining his confidence than it was about giving us the best chance to make the game respectable.
The drive for a third straight winning season and bowl eligibility comes down to two questions. First, does Brooks continue to go with his gut and stick with Hartline, or does he hand the keys to the talented freshman? But more than anything, our chance at a good year hinges on this; Can the Cats get amnesia and play as if yesterday's trip to the Swamp never happened?
Let's examine what went so horribly wrong. First off, the deck was stacked heavily against us before the game even started. Florida, besides being a far superior team, was coming off a bye week and had extra time to prepare. To say the Cats came in banged up is an understatement. Even setting aside Lyons and Locke, who we have to learn to live without, we had a ton of injuries. The defense was without Myron Pryor. All three starting linebackers played, but Micah Johnson was clearly not himself. Marcus McClinton didn't start, and I am not clear as to whether, or how much, he played.
The game ended, effectively, when the Gators blocked the second punt. The defense, which has been so stalwart all year, was exposed by Florida's blinding team speed, and of course the offense was its usual self. The special teams gaffes, while embarrassing and backbreaking, were not surprising. We have now had four field goals blocked this year, one of which may have cost us a game and another which nearly did. To say nothing of the UT game last year. Steve Ortmeyer has to go.
All this said, the only real negative takeaway was our heretofore legit defense giving up 63 points. The rest of the bad stuff we already knew. My guess is that the defense can regroup if it so chooses. Hopefully we'll be able to heal some this week. And, lets face it, Florida has some athletes the likes of which we won't have to face in the coming weeks.
The most intrguing question now is whether Brooks will pull the trigger and start Randall Cobb at QB. Yesterday proved that Norfolk State was no fluke. To argue that the offense is more effective with Hartline in the game is to ignore every shread of evidence to the contrary. In addition to being a run threat, Cobb is a more accurate thrower on any route over five yards. Brooks says Hartline knows the offense better. Who cares? What good is memorizing a bunch of plays that don't work?
The casual fan may have been surprised when Hartline started the second half. I was not. Brooks has already been accused of showing him near blind loyalty. I was not in that camp before, but will be if a change doesn't come next week. For now, lets give Brooks the benefit of the doubt and say that returning Mike to the game was more about maintaining his confidence than it was about giving us the best chance to make the game respectable.
The drive for a third straight winning season and bowl eligibility comes down to two questions. First, does Brooks continue to go with his gut and stick with Hartline, or does he hand the keys to the talented freshman? But more than anything, our chance at a good year hinges on this; Can the Cats get amnesia and play as if yesterday's trip to the Swamp never happened?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Nuggets
*I've commented before http://ukfootballfan.blogspot.com/2008/09/unrest.html about the attitude Rich Brooks seems to have towards the team's fans. It bears mention again. I have an ongoing problem with this. Last week he mockingly said that the Arkansas game was "very very very important", like it wasn't. Look, if you want to act like your team is going to win every game for the rest of the year, that is your prerogative as a football coach. If you need your team to take that as gospel (and as a good football coach maybe you should), then you can pretend that one game is no more important than another. But don't make fun of your fan base for not swallowing the bs. He doesn't honestly expect the fans to believe the Cats have the same chance of getting their fifth win at Florida as they do against Arkansas. Its the same with this; if you have two quarterbacks, and one is winning games but the team clearly plays better behind the other guy, just say, "I'm going to go with the guy that has us at 5-2". Don't mock people with a difference of opinion. Rich Brooks is the best football coach we've had in a long time. He's earned the right to have a certain ego, and he has certainly earned the right for people to put trust in his judgment. I just wish he'd rein all this back a bit. Its counterproductive.
*I actually did something I never do last night, which was to check out some message boards on UK football. I try to avoid this because I want to come up with my own angles and also because I don't like reporting that isn't based on fact. That said, here are a couple things I feel like passing on. Whether they are true is not something I can personally vouch for. Since I am not a real journalist, I can do this. First, after the interception with five minutes to go, Cobb and Hartline talked on the sidelines briefly, then Hartline called the entire offense over, without coaches, and huddled the team on the sideline. What he might have said is anyone's guess. Also Micah Johnson apparently came off the field with his leg dragging behind him in the fourth quarter. Trainers tried to cut his shoe off, and he would not let anyone touch him because he wasn't going to quit playing. Johnson reportedly finished the game while barely able to walk.
*This led to the best comment I read. A thread started with the premise that Johnson shouldn't play against Florida to avoid further injury and be ready for Mississippi State (recall I said the same thing, for about the same reasons, before the Alabama game). A responder said, in essence, "if you think that Micah shouldn't play, I suggest you go tell him yourself. Let me know how that goes for you." Johnson is one of the unsung stories on the team this year. When healthy, he's been an absolute beast, and every bit the player he was supposed to be coming out of high school. Plus the kid is a warrior.
*I posted this on John Clay's blog recently when talking about the Cobb-Hartline quarterback situation, but I think it bears repeating here:
I will say this. For a guy who has taken so much abuse this year, Hartline sure has stepped up when it mattered. When we needed a TD to save an embarrassment against MTSU, he marched us down the field and got it done. Against Alabama, he threw his best pass of the night when it looked like all hope was lost. This week, same thing, times two. If he, or maybe it is our entire offense, could play like this all the time, all critics would be silenced.
*I do think this is a better team with Hartline taking most of the snaps at QB. I'd still like to see Cobb used for more than a drive or two especially when things get stagnant. Even though Hartline is usually not the problem, there are times when things just need to go in another direction. The staff could also exchange them within the same drive every once in a while, which we did on at least one occasion against South Carolina, but not at all against Arkansas.
*It would be literally impossible for a college freshman to handle this situation with more class than Randall Cobb has.
*We are 24 1/2 point underdogs at Florida this weekend. That seems very high to me. I realize we haven't played an offense like Florida's all year. Yet 24 1/2 points is more than we have given up in any one game. All year.
*This is the time of year when I start thinking about where the Cats might go to a bowl. Actually, I think about this year 'round, but now is when the situation crystallizes a bit. Nowadays, I am put in the sometimes uncomfortable position of rooting against SEC teams in their non conference games. Sometimes in the conference games I'll root for an outcome, then realize a week later that the script has flipped, and I should have hoped for the opposite. Non conference games are great because this never happens. This weekend offers three. On Thursday, Auburn goes to West Virginia in a game it should lose. Saturday, Vandy gets a visit from Duke, which is back to earth at 3-3 after starting 3-1. Vandy should win. Truthfully, the Commodores are one team I have a hard time rooting against, but from a record and geographic standpoint, its the outcome that could impact UK the most. Middle Tennessee visits Mississippi State in an upset special. This would stick an absolute fork in MSU's season right before we arrive there next week.
*WLEX reported last night that Myron Pryor will miss the Florida game and that none of our starting linebackers practiced yesterday. Damn Vegas and their smart oddsmakers.
*Marcus McClinton sealed the game with his fourth interception of the year Saturday, taking the team lead over Trevard Lindley. Marcus has a ways to go to catch Jerry Claiborne, who set the UK single season record with a whopping 9 in 1949.
*I actually did something I never do last night, which was to check out some message boards on UK football. I try to avoid this because I want to come up with my own angles and also because I don't like reporting that isn't based on fact. That said, here are a couple things I feel like passing on. Whether they are true is not something I can personally vouch for. Since I am not a real journalist, I can do this. First, after the interception with five minutes to go, Cobb and Hartline talked on the sidelines briefly, then Hartline called the entire offense over, without coaches, and huddled the team on the sideline. What he might have said is anyone's guess. Also Micah Johnson apparently came off the field with his leg dragging behind him in the fourth quarter. Trainers tried to cut his shoe off, and he would not let anyone touch him because he wasn't going to quit playing. Johnson reportedly finished the game while barely able to walk.
*This led to the best comment I read. A thread started with the premise that Johnson shouldn't play against Florida to avoid further injury and be ready for Mississippi State (recall I said the same thing, for about the same reasons, before the Alabama game). A responder said, in essence, "if you think that Micah shouldn't play, I suggest you go tell him yourself. Let me know how that goes for you." Johnson is one of the unsung stories on the team this year. When healthy, he's been an absolute beast, and every bit the player he was supposed to be coming out of high school. Plus the kid is a warrior.
*I posted this on John Clay's blog recently when talking about the Cobb-Hartline quarterback situation, but I think it bears repeating here:
I will say this. For a guy who has taken so much abuse this year, Hartline sure has stepped up when it mattered. When we needed a TD to save an embarrassment against MTSU, he marched us down the field and got it done. Against Alabama, he threw his best pass of the night when it looked like all hope was lost. This week, same thing, times two. If he, or maybe it is our entire offense, could play like this all the time, all critics would be silenced.
*I do think this is a better team with Hartline taking most of the snaps at QB. I'd still like to see Cobb used for more than a drive or two especially when things get stagnant. Even though Hartline is usually not the problem, there are times when things just need to go in another direction. The staff could also exchange them within the same drive every once in a while, which we did on at least one occasion against South Carolina, but not at all against Arkansas.
*It would be literally impossible for a college freshman to handle this situation with more class than Randall Cobb has.
*We are 24 1/2 point underdogs at Florida this weekend. That seems very high to me. I realize we haven't played an offense like Florida's all year. Yet 24 1/2 points is more than we have given up in any one game. All year.
*This is the time of year when I start thinking about where the Cats might go to a bowl. Actually, I think about this year 'round, but now is when the situation crystallizes a bit. Nowadays, I am put in the sometimes uncomfortable position of rooting against SEC teams in their non conference games. Sometimes in the conference games I'll root for an outcome, then realize a week later that the script has flipped, and I should have hoped for the opposite. Non conference games are great because this never happens. This weekend offers three. On Thursday, Auburn goes to West Virginia in a game it should lose. Saturday, Vandy gets a visit from Duke, which is back to earth at 3-3 after starting 3-1. Vandy should win. Truthfully, the Commodores are one team I have a hard time rooting against, but from a record and geographic standpoint, its the outcome that could impact UK the most. Middle Tennessee visits Mississippi State in an upset special. This would stick an absolute fork in MSU's season right before we arrive there next week.
*WLEX reported last night that Myron Pryor will miss the Florida game and that none of our starting linebackers practiced yesterday. Damn Vegas and their smart oddsmakers.
*Marcus McClinton sealed the game with his fourth interception of the year Saturday, taking the team lead over Trevard Lindley. Marcus has a ways to go to catch Jerry Claiborne, who set the UK single season record with a whopping 9 in 1949.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Derrick Locke
. . .is out for the season. Two torn ligaments. We cannot catch a break. Moncell Allen and Alfonso Smith both showed flashes on Saturday. Now is your chance, guys.
Bowl Projections
Here today for a quick hit of where the pundits think the Cats will go bowling. Consensus has not changed much. I am going to hold off on my Fearless SEC Bowl Predictions this week. With no upsets last week, I doubt my picks would change with one exception. Alabama no longer looks capable of running the table in the SEC. Assuming they win out, Penn State and USC would both finish ahead of a one loss SEC team for a spot in the national championship. The Big 12 could easily end up without an undefeated team as well. So, we could be in for another wild ride at the end.
Even without a team in the National Championship, I think the SEC still gets 2 teams in the BCS, which won't effect the rest of the picture. More Fearless Predictions next week.
To the tape:
ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach
Liberty Bowl v. Tulsa
ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman
Papajohns.com Bowl v. West Virginia
CFN/Scout.com
Independence Bowl v. Colorado
CBS Sportsline
Music City v. Maryland
NBC
Chick Fil-A v. Boston College
Even without a team in the National Championship, I think the SEC still gets 2 teams in the BCS, which won't effect the rest of the picture. More Fearless Predictions next week.
To the tape:
ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach
Liberty Bowl v. Tulsa
ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman
Papajohns.com Bowl v. West Virginia
CFN/Scout.com
Independence Bowl v. Colorado
CBS Sportsline
Music City v. Maryland
NBC
Chick Fil-A v. Boston College
Sunday, October 19, 2008
We Left
Yes. I was among the many people at the game who did not stick around long enough to see us win. Let me put this decision in perspective. Here are the things that are more important to me than UK Football: My wife, children, parents, god, my in laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, roughly 25 friends, my job and my dog. That is it. Of thirty thousand grown men a the game tonight, I bet only 10 were as close to tears as I was watching the special teams and offense try to give this game away. I spend hours writing on this ridiculous blog that three people read just because I love talking and thinking about this stuff. Yet, tonight, when UK threw a one yard pass on fourth and two with about eight minutes left, down 20-7, my wife and I headed for the car. Excuses? Well, we shipped our kids off to grandmas today, Harry's sushi was calling, my 37 year old ass was working the back end of the Lexington double dip and, lets face it, the offense really didn't look capable of scoring again.
The rest, as they say, is history. (Funny how this sentence is cliche even with its qualifier). Here is the funny thing. I don't feel the least bit bad about missing it. There is no question in my mind we would have lost if I'd stayed in my seat. And yes, I know that is a load of crap and that I am one of about 10,000 guys saying that right now. I still believe it, though.
What a poetic ending. The whipping boy throws two TD passes to the guy the whole crowd wants to replace him. They get to enjoy it together. Hearing Cobb and Hartline talk about it in the postgame show. . . . well, lets just say that their moms raised two good kids. I'm welling up. Did I mention how much I love this stuff?
Who knew Cobb was going to wear Dicky's number? Special. I cannot wait to hear the backstory on that.
Anyway (ok, I'm calming down now) as I wandered to my car on Waller, I heard the first touchdown. I started texting Big Z and Jenni called her mom. I witnessed Jenni talking to her mom, stopping dead in her tracks and asking, "no flags? no flags?" and I knew it had happened. By the time we got to our car, all that was left was the part of every game UK fans dread. We ended up listening to the last two minutes on the radio with a bunch of high schoolers, screaming and high fiving. If nothing else, I knew it made for a good story.
So yeah, I am a crappy fan and I dread returning to my seats for fear of ridicule next time. But hey, we won. Tomorrow (today actually) I will make hotel reservations in Nashvegas, Memphis and Birmingham.
The rest, as they say, is history. (Funny how this sentence is cliche even with its qualifier). Here is the funny thing. I don't feel the least bit bad about missing it. There is no question in my mind we would have lost if I'd stayed in my seat. And yes, I know that is a load of crap and that I am one of about 10,000 guys saying that right now. I still believe it, though.
What a poetic ending. The whipping boy throws two TD passes to the guy the whole crowd wants to replace him. They get to enjoy it together. Hearing Cobb and Hartline talk about it in the postgame show. . . . well, lets just say that their moms raised two good kids. I'm welling up. Did I mention how much I love this stuff?
Who knew Cobb was going to wear Dicky's number? Special. I cannot wait to hear the backstory on that.
Anyway (ok, I'm calming down now) as I wandered to my car on Waller, I heard the first touchdown. I started texting Big Z and Jenni called her mom. I witnessed Jenni talking to her mom, stopping dead in her tracks and asking, "no flags? no flags?" and I knew it had happened. By the time we got to our car, all that was left was the part of every game UK fans dread. We ended up listening to the last two minutes on the radio with a bunch of high schoolers, screaming and high fiving. If nothing else, I knew it made for a good story.
So yeah, I am a crappy fan and I dread returning to my seats for fear of ridicule next time. But hey, we won. Tomorrow (today actually) I will make hotel reservations in Nashvegas, Memphis and Birmingham.
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