The Super Bowl’s Largest Quarterback

Listed at 6 foot, 4 inches tall and 285 pounds — which I think may be too kind — Jared Lorenzen, everybody’s favorite south paw from Kentucky, is now the Super Bowl’s largest recorded quarterback and is one Vince Wilfork-cheap-shot-on-Eli Manning away from being MVP of Super Bowl 42.

I vividly remember Lorenzen as both a player and a student when our collegiate paths crossed at Kentucky and he was clearly a fan favorite on the gridiron while also being a fiscal favorite among the lunch ladies. I specifically recall running in to Jared at an on-campus eatery known as K-Lair my freshman year and watching the big man throw down his meal card for not one, but two trays full of deep fried action. Gotta love college.

Jared was always extremely agile for his size and though he is listed at 285 pounds to date, he was hovering at or around the 300 pound mark for most of his time at Kentucky, conjuring up nicknames from the fan base such as the “Hefty Lefty,” “Pillsbury Throwboy,” and “USS Lorenzen.” ESPN College GameDay actually recorded a segment while Jared was a starter for Kentucky where they lined him up with his five offensive linemen and had non-die-hard fans find the quarterback.

Needless to say, they failed miserably. (If anybody can find a video of that segment, let us know.)

Most of Lorenzen’s career numbers surpassed Tim Couch’s and only a few have since been passed by Andre Woodson (total passing touchdowns in a season and a career come to mind) and Jared will no doubt go down as one of the most memorable quarterbacks in Kentucky’s history and likely as such in the SEC and NCAA as well.

♣ Linkage: Google Image Search

Rackin’ And Stackin’ The SEC Coaches

Paul Finebaum, a noted columnist out of the Birmingham, Alabama area, ranks the football coaches in the SEC from 1 to 12 on a yearly basis with 1 being the best and 2 being the “worst” — I use that term loosely because you can’t be a terrible coach and still be a coach in the SEC.

Now I don’t know the guy personally but he comes across as kind of douchey looking to me and, as expected, I basically disagree with most of everything he said.  Well, maybe not everything but here are his 12 in order and you can decide for yourself.  I’ll spare you of his justifications, if you want to read them the link is at the bottom.

1. Mark Richt, Georgia
2. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
3. Urban Meyer, Florida
4. Nick Saban, Alabama
5. Les Miles, LSU
6. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
7. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
8. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas
9. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss
10. Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State
11. Rich Brooks, Kentucky
12. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt

Now obviously I disagree with #11 from the start and Finebaum himself doesn’t seem to be able to fathom why he is typing Rich Brooks’ name next to “11.” but he does so anyhow:

“It just doesn’t seem fair that Brooks can do as well as he has the past two years and still not be able to move up in this ranking.”

Brooksie, however, isn’t the only ranking I disagree with — and my qualm is with bias aside as I am not going to vault Rich to the top just because he coaches at Kentucky.  I also think that, in a conference with 5 coaches owning National Championships, it is a disservice to NOT have one of those at #1.  Now I don’t know the exact criteria Paul used for his list but he does go on to say:

“…the list is a comprehensive analysis of the coaches and their current value.”

My thought process may have been different than Paul’s was and I took an approach to making my list as if I were an athletic director looking to hire one of the SEC’s coaches to start building a program NOW and how I would rank these coaching prospects based on abilities, name recognition, past success, etcetera.  Also, I ignored the fact that Bobby Petrino is a lying bastard…

Here is how my 12 stack up:

1. Urban Meyer, Florida
2. Nick Saban, Alabama
3. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
4. Les Miles, LSU
5. Mark Richt, Georgia
6. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas
7. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
8. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
9. Rich Brooks, Kentucky
10. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss
11. Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State
12. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt

OK, so Paul and I both agree that Vanderbilt just sucks — except at producing huge nerds who will make a lot of money one day –  but other than the ‘Dores, our lists differ in many ways.

What say you? Rank ‘em in the thread below…

♣  Linkage: Everything Alabama

Kentucky Did What OSU Couldn’t…

…

That’s right, the Kentucky Wildcats did in the regular season what OSU couldn’t in the National Championship game and that is beat the LSU Tigers.

I can hear the excuses now. Last year it was: “We had too much time off.” This year it will be: “LSU had a home game and all of the calls by the referees went for the Tigers.”

Listen, there were plenty of Ohio State fans in the Silverdome they just had to travel farther. Period. And I don’t think the Big East officiating crew really cared about the outcome of the game unless Tim Donaghy somehow got penciled in as Line Judge.

But I digress as this isn’t meant to be a knock against the Buckeyes since “The” Ohio State University hasn’t done anything directly wrong to me. This is, instead, a discussion regarding the SEC and to once-and-for-all put to rest the talk by the media regarding the SEC being overrated this year while message boarders have supposedly blown the conference out of proportion (trust me, they get on my nerves too but just because you may disagree, it doesn’t mean forum crazies are always wrong).

To all of that I say this: The SEC was 7-2 in nine Bowl games this year and the SEC has the last two National Champions. Believe it.

(This all with a Steve Spurrier-led team NOT making a Bowl — show me another conference with that depth.)

And if you’re an Ohio State fan watching yours truly praise the entire Southeastern Conference — teams my Kentucky Wildcats have to play each season — while you couldn’t possibly fathom rooting for Michigan out of loyalty to the Big Ten (or vice versa) remember this:

Kentucky’s biggest rival is out-of-conference Louisville and I am willing to root for almost anything that will make the Wildcats look better while starting to prove all of the critics wrong who say Kentucky’s success is simply a fluke or due to the SEC being overrated this year. It is time to give credit where credit is due and Kentucky is 16-10 the past two season with back-to-back Bowl victories and did the one thing this season that Ohio State couldn’t.

Beat LSU.

Go ‘Cats.

♣ Linkage: ESPN.com

Merry Christmas, Kentucky

After announcing 25 and then 34, the total of Florida State football players suspended for the Music City Bowl against Kentucky has reached 36 for ‘violation of team rules’.  Now ESPN.com has made a point that, despite the ongoing cheating scandal with the online class, ‘violations of team rules’ could legitimately be for other, various offenses — anything from poor class attendance, to criminal charges, to a failed drug test.

Very good, ESPN, it wasn’t enough to be embarrassed by this plagiarism scandal you had to go and throw Florida State under the bus citing criminal charges and/or a failed drug test.  Hilarious.

Regardless of the facts, Christmas has come early in the Bluegrass as it would appear that Kentucky has a much easier road to back-to-back Bowl victories in the Music City Bowl.

Let’s just hope the Wildcats don’t blow it, or else they’ll be the embarrassment in a contest involving the Florida State Criminoles.

♣ Linkage: ESPN.com

Florida State Criminoles

I will start this post off by saying ‘knock on wood’ as I spent a preseason calling the Cleveland Browns the Cleveland Clowns and if it weren’t for the ridiculously horrible play by the Baltimore Ravens, my Bungles would be the laughing stock of the AFC North yet again (not that they have ever elevated themselves above that status in their 15+ seasons of inferiority).

Now that being said, it seems like the Criminoles never fail us each season and Florida State’s business has taken a slightly higher importance for me this year as they happen to be Kentucky’s opponent in the Music City Bowl. Well it appears as if up to 20 players could/will be suspended for the Music City Bowl, as well as the first three games of next season,

The suspensions are stemming from certain players’  involvement in a classroom cheating scandal regarding an internet-based course.  Something about a tudor giving athletes answers.

Wow, what nerve.  Unjustifiably assisting athletes to the point of plagiarism because they bring in millions for their respective universities — this has to be a first.  Just atrocious and I am almost embarrassed to be an American because of  this.  Such dishonesty.

And I can stand on my moral high ground and judge others while simultaneously bathing in their misfortunes because when I cheated on my internet-based courses I didn’t get caught.

Go Wildcats.

♣ Linkage: ESPN.com

Which Came First, Buffalo Or Kentucky?

I happened to be sifting through some photographs from this season and came across this piece (I went to high school with Ball State’s #21, Chris Allen):

I didn’t know Wesley Woodyard was white…

And after a quick glance I had to do a double take: “When the hell did Kentucky ever play Ball State?“

They didn’t, of course, but the uncanny resemblance of the jerseys of the University of Buffalo Fighting Hot Wings to those of the Kentucky Wildcats cannot be denied — at least from a distance, plus I can’t read so don’t give me that ‘read the name on the jersey’ crap.

But nonetheless I decided to look up a few more pictures of Buffalo - which it is good that I decided on just a few because that’s about all that is in existence - and here is what I was able to dig up:

Baylor Fires Head Coach Guy Morriss

Baylor University fired Guy Morriss after the team’s 12th straight Big 12 loss and after going 18-40 in five seasons, reports ESPN.com.  Morriss was the guy (no pun intended) whom current University of Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks replaced in 2003 amidst groans and ‘what ifs’ from the Bluegrass Nation.  At the time, Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart was unwilling to match the salary Guy wanted and Baylor was offering and considering Kentucky was still being punished by the NCAA for infractions from the previous administration, it was an easy decision for Morriss to go back to his home at Baylor.

And as much criticism as Brooks has garnered, looking back I wonder how many who wanted Morriss over Brooks at the time would be on the other side of the argument now that Kentucky has put together back-to-back 7-win seasons for the first time since 1976 and 1977.  Coach Brooks has almost as many wins the past two seasons as Coach Morriss had in all five years of his time at Baylor and it seems as if Guy’s career never fully recovered from the premature Gatorade bath seconds before the “Bluegrass Miracle” against LSU in Lexington in 2002.

We’re just eight days removed from the fifth anniversary of that faithful hail mary and I would venture to say Morriss still has nightmares of Marcus Randall to Devery Henderson in his dreams.

Who Wants To Win The Heisman?

This year’s Heisman Trophy race is more like a game of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” with nobody stepping up to the plate to win the $1,000,000 prize.  There have been many contestants who as soon as they get out in the spotlight as the favorite, fall out of the race. (See: Andre Woodson of Kentucky, Darren McFadden of Arkansas, and Matt Ryan of Boston College)

The Heisman Trophy is an award that has become an award that goes to the best player on the best team rather than the best player in college football.  Typically, there is one or two players who tend to seperate themselves from the pack and their respective team is almost always unbeaten and at the top of the polls.  Last year it was Troy Smith, the year prior it was Vince Young and Reggie Bush, and before that Matt Leinart. 

However, the way this season has played out with the polls being turned upside down and no clear cut top player on a clear cut top team, it’s made the race one of the most debated in recent memory.  Guys like Dennis Dixon at Oregon and Matt Ryan at Boston College who were not even consideration for the Heisman when the season started have been at the top of the list in recent weeks with Dixon having the upperhand at this point because his team didn’t lose last week.

Could this be the first season that the Heisman may go to the best overall player instead of the best player on the best team (in the polls that is)?  If I had to make the call on the top 5 players on my Heisman ballot, it would like this:

Kentucky vs. Florida Preview - GameDay Edition

After upsetting the then #1 ranked Louisiana State Tigers, my Kentucky Wildcats settle in at home and welcome the Florida Tebows to Commonwealth Stadium for what is effectively been selected as ESPN’s game of the week. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the Florida visit this year would see Kentucky ranked higher than the Gators in Polls, the BCS Standings, and the SEC Standings, but here we are and it is time to put up or shut up and hopefully beat a team we haven’t beat since 1986 — before the majority of our players were born.

Taking a look at the offensive statistics leads one to believe that this game is a virtual push:

Total Yards: Florida 452.7 (30th) - Kentucky 474.4 (15th)

Passing Yards: Florida 249.8 (53rd) - Kentucky 274.4 (35th)

Rushing Yards: Florida 202.8 (22nd) - Kentucky 200.0 (25th)

Points Scored: Florida 39.7 (12th) - Kentucky 42.7 (7th)

The statistical similarities are almost uncanny but with Florida having an extra week to prepare, they still find themselves as a 7-point favorite on the late line despite Kentucky being at home. Which brings me to the quote of the week:

“Florida’s a 7-point favorite and we just beat the No. 1 team in the nation?” Brooks said. “How does that equate? It’s pretty interesting stuff.” -Rich Brooks

This will be an exciting weekend in the Bluegrass as the University of Kentucky welcomes ESPN’s College GameDay (built by the Home Depot) to campus for the first time ever. For anyone going to the game, or merely tailgating, here are a few items you need to know.

Need-To-Know-Info:

• College GameDay will broadcast LIVE from the W.T.Young Library at 5:00PM Friday night and from 10:00AM - 12:00PM Saturday morning and parking can be found at the adjacent parking garage (supposedly).
• The “Cat Walk” will take place as usual at 1:15PM
• Kickoff is at 3:30PM and the game can be found on CBS

GameDay Sign Ideas (feel free to use them as I am likely too lazy to put forth the effort):

• “Basketball team? What basketball team?”
• “Brooks ♦ Gillispie 2008: A Campaign That Cares”

Matt’s Keys To The Game:

• Avoid the emotional let-down: Obviously easier said than done for some but coming off what could be seen as the biggest win in program history against a very physical #1 team, it is easy to have a “hangover” of sorts for the following game. Kentucky needs to remain humble yet hungry, as they have been all season, and come out and play another very physical game. If they play like they did last week, the Wildcats will be looking at another victory.
• Protect Andre’: The differences in protection between the game at South Carolina and the game last week versus LSU are like night and day and just goes to show what solid protection can do for this offense: 43 points scored - 27 points in regulation - on the Nation’s top front line lead by Glen Dorsey and against a defense only giving up 9.3 points per game going in to the game. Florida proved what kind of speed they have on their defensive line in last year’s National Championship game and Kentucky’s embattled offensive line needs to step it up big yet again and give Woodson time to pick apart the secondary. The offensive line also gave up 0 sacks against this world-renowned defensive line.
• Contain Tebow: You likely can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him and if there was one reoccurring glaring weakness on Kentucky’s defense it would seem to be their inability to stop a mobile quarterback. Tebow is the real deal, the total package, and basically the Gators’ entire offense. Tim comes in to the game with nearly 1500 yards passing and 13 touchdowns to go along with 500 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns on the ground making the sophomore quarterback Florida’s top passer AND rusher. There are no guarantees in this game but containing Tebow as much as possible will go a long ways in helping Kentucky find a way to win.

Matt’s Blueprint For Success:

Outside of the emotional and physical hangover that might affect the outcome, I feel that this game will be won, or lost, in the trenches. On both sides of the ball, Kentucky needs to control the line of scrimmage when at all possible. While on offense, playing up front as they did last week against LSU gives Woodson time to be successful, as well as remain healthy, and helps to spark our stable of talented running backs. On defense, being physical up front may prove to be highly advantageous in containing Tebow and forcing some long 3rd downs and some punts. The Wildcats need to be on their game again this week and need to put up another nearly flawless performance to have a chance at coming out on top as I believe Urban Meyer is 22-2 when he has more than a week to prepare for an opponent.

Prediction: That’s why they play the games on the field! ;) — (This worked last week, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.)

A Season That Will Live In Infamy - By Ben of BCSBusters

Editor’s Note: Below is a selected portion of the aforementioned article, to read the rest of the article click here.

“Weekend Recap - The Top Games to Review”

43

37

I thought last Saturday’s celebration by the LSU’s fan base was a bit excessive, especially considering this miraculously-zany and unbelievable college football season thus far is just now entering the early minutes of the third quarter…the teams have really only recently emerged from the locker room, where the best coaches in the nation are just now beginning to recognize the identity of their own team and frantically making adjustments.

When the stadium announcer in Baton Rouge thundered the words Stanford 24 - USC 23 across Death Valley last weekend, red flags began to fly inside my BCSBusters mindset.

Hyperbolic phrases like “Be Careful, Hold Your Mud or Focus on the Present,” certainly came to the forefront. Although Cal coach Jeff Tedford heeded those words as he was heading into the locker room leading Giant Killer Oregon State 14-13 (as he too learned of Kentucky’s upset) the Bears suffered the same fate as #1 LSU - which is the first time since 1996 that #1 & #2 had fallen on the same day.

Given that the Top-10 oligarchies continue to crumble, who would step in to claim the latest pole position in college football? Certainly not Missouri, Cincinnati or UCONN - five more undefeated’s fell yet again, making the last three weekends the most infamous in college football history!

Please don’t console Les Miles and Jeff Tedford, because this is just the latest trend in an already volatile college football stock market, which is definitely heading in a bearish direction. BCS administrators be warned, the leaks in the dam will lead to a flood of controversy this coming December.

I wondered aloud last week if the hysterical celebration by Tiger Nation was an ominously bad omen, especially considering the mighty Gators quickly quieted the festive crowd with a convincing four play drive to take a commanding 10 point lead entering the early stages of the 4th quarter.

Yes, the Tigers did come back to win the game - one of the greatest games I’ve witnessed certainly within the last decade, but given the slew of shockers which have occurred just inside the framework of this season alone - someone forgot to wake up Tiger Nation, or at least provide some coffee breaks to sober up the alcoholic frenzy taking place on campus - for the throng of fans failed to comprehend that the LSU-Florida tilt was just a mid-term exam and that there would be other test and quizzes on the BCS horizon.

In what has been tabbed “The Year of the Upset,” it would be wise for all Fan Nations to hold their mud and actually act as if you’ve been in a championship race before, savoring the true dog-pile celebration for the end of the season. Who knows what is going to happen next week, given the recent surge from the upstarts located in Boulder, Tampa, Corvallis, Palo Alto, Lexington and Boston?

Kentucky 7th In First BCS Standings

 

My Kentucky Wildcats have played themselves back in to the Top 10 in at least the AP Poll and now also find themselves in the Top 10 in the first release of the BCS Standings of the season in the 7th position.  This is unbelievable to a lot of people, a fact that was cemented even more with a win over #1 LSU yesterday in triple overtime.  If anyone would’ve told anyone else that Kentucky would be 7th in the BCS Standings after half of a season nobody would’ve been a believer.

But believe it.  Believe it because Rich Brooks and the Kentucky Wildcats have always been believers.  Believers to the point that the motto for the past two seasons has been, simply, “Believe”– Believe In Blue, Believe In Loyalty, Believe In Gatorade Baths, etcetera.

With this win, it is now being said that ESPN’s College Gameday will be in Lexington, Kentucky for football for the first time ever, meaning we will have had a College Gameday in both basketball and football in the same calendar year. My personal poster board sign for the festivities:

“Basketball team?  What basketball team?” — no offense to Bill Clyde and Company and kudos for a very nice Big Blue Madness Friday night, by the way.

And just a friendly reminder to all of those in internet land, my preseason prediction of 8-4 for the Kentucky Wildcats, a prediction that caught some minor disagreement, may in fact be an understatement.  How sweet is that?

Update:

Here is the link for the current BCS Standings: ESPN.com

…and…

This article on ESPN.com is hilarious to me — burning couches and 22 arrests, you have to love victory: ESPN.com

WHAT A GAME

STEVIE GOT LOOSE…AGAIN!

Wow, what a great game and what a PHYSICAL performance by the Wildcats.  This team is the most resilient Kentucky squad I have ever seen as every other Wildcat team would’ve folded several times yesterday but Rich Brooks’ boys just kept fighting.  This was a huge weekend for Kentucky Sports and Lexington and the Unversity were really able to showcase what they have to offer. 

Athletic pundits all across the Nation had buried Kentucky, for the most part, after the South Carolina game and had thrown Andre’s Heisman hopes under the bus.  Not any more.  Kentucky completely turned the National Championship picture upside down and Kirk Herbstreit even went as far as to say Woodson may be the front runner come Monday.

A great weekend in the Bluegrass and WHAT A GAME!

Kentucky vs. LSU Preview

The “Bayou Bengals” make their way in to Commonwealth Stadium, in the great city of Lexington, Kentucky, as the Nation’s #1 team to face my Kentucky Wildcats, a team currently ranked #17. This game undoubtedly pits Kentucky’s explosive offense versus LSU’s stifling defense. LSU ranks 1st in total defense in the Nation, only giving up 197.8 yards per game and ranks 2nd in points allowed in the Nation, only yielding 9.3 points per game. The Tigers also rank 1st in the SEC in completions per game allowed, only allowing 12.3 passes per game to be completed by the opposing team’s quarterback - all numbers that are almost mind blowing.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers aren’t nearly as impressive — a tough task — but they’re no slouch either. The LSU offense is just 33rd in total offense (446.3 y.p.g.) and only 78th in total passing offense (219 y.p.g.), while being 12th in rushing yards (227.3 y.p.g.) and 16th in total points scored ( 37.8 p.p.g.). All numbers that, with a defense that is that superior to all other teams’, can only result in a very outstanding football squad.

On Kentucky’s side of the field, head coach Rich Brooks brings his 5-1 Wildcat squad in to the game with the 11th ranked team in total offense (491 y.p.g.), the 31st ranked team in passing offense (278.5 y.p.g.), the 17th ranked team in rushing offense (212.5 y.p.g.), and the 8th ranked team in total points scored (42.7 p.p.g.). The Wildcats are most certainly known for having an explosive offense, but their offensive line had a hard time containing the speedy rushers of South Carolina and will no doubt have their hands full with Tyson Jackson, Marlon Favorite, and uber-stud Glen Dorsey on LSU’s defensive front.

Matt’s Keys To The Game:

• Kentucky isn’t known for having a shut-down defense and that isn’t a fact that is going to change in a week’s time, — even from the extended break afforded to the ‘Cats from their Thursday night showdown with South Carolina — so Kentucky must do their best to continue to play their “bend-but-don’t-break” style of defense, a style that at least had them in mild contention late in the game against South Carolina despite four turnovers.
• Turnovers.  You can’t expect to turn the ball over 4 times on the road in the SEC and win, as Kentucky did against South Carolina.  This can especially be said for the #1 team in the Nation regardless if the game is at home.  Ball security is a complete requirement if the Wildcats would like to give themselves a chance to win late in the 3rd quarter or early in the 4th.
• Controlling the line of scrimmage.  With Glen Dorsey and Company this is going to be an incredibly tough task.  Give Woodson time in the pocket and I think it helps take care of the two aforementioned “Keys” by allowing Andre’ to make smart passes while also keeping the offense on the field and the defense off of the field.  Allow the offense time to get a good rhythm going and Kentucky may just put up some points, allow Dorsey to cause a few quick 3-and-outs and it will be a long day for Rich Brooks’ squad.

Matt’s Blueprint For Success:

Kentucky needs to try to score early to help get the crowd in to the game quickly while LSU is on offense.  The Kentucky offense should only expect to be able to have time to complete short, quick-release and well-timed pass patterns with the defensive line that LSU brings to the game.  Hopefully this will gradually open up the defense for longer pass plays as they begin to “cheat up.”  Get down early and the crowd is out of the game and Woodson is expected to make big plays with his arm when he really doesn’t have the time in the pocket to do so.  Go in to Halftime with what seems like the ability to win the ball game and you have yourself an inspired team. 

Prediction: That’s why they play the games on the field! ;)

Kentucky At South Carolina Predictions

South Carolina is a 3.5 favorite on the late line off of Vegas.com and 3 points is usually given to the home team (in most situations) initially so it seems as if the bookies believe this one will be a straight up slug fest.

Tonight’s game will feature the prolific passing attack of the ‘Cats versus the #1 ranked pass defense in the nation for the Gamecocks and the balanced two-man running attack of the South Carolina versus the less than favorable run defense of Kentucky.

Prediction:

Kentucky 30

South Carolina 27

‘The Streak’ Ended Just The Way It Should’ve

What had quickly become affectionately known around Lexington as simply “The Streak,” that is quarterback Andre’ Woodson’s consecutive pass-attempt streak without an interception, came to an end on Saturday just the way it should’ve:

Harmlessly buried late in the 3rd Quarter with the game already in hand and with a defensive stop on the opposing team’s ensuing drive. It was so harmlessly buried late that the media has barely even mentioned it, which I am sure pleases Coach Brooks and Company if they had to see it come to an end.

Regardless, with Tavious Polo having a Nation-leading six interceptions in just four games coming in to the game, the streak was likely going to end and when it did, the Wildcats needed Andre’ and the team to keep the turnover from changing the course of the game.

And that is exactly how they handled it.

Now, with “The Streak” coming to a close, the Wildcats, and more importantly the media, can focus completely on the game against South Carolina on Thursday night in front of a National audience.

I would have liked to have seen Andre’s streak last forever, but that was just not a realistic expectation and it is much more advantageous to have it end in the fashion that it did as opposed to ending next Thursday in a crucial drive against South Carolina that could very easily change the course of the game.

I am confident that the situation will not affect Woodson, or the team, whatsoever and I have all the confidence in the world in our quarterback and our coaches to fully prepare for the Gamecocks this week and for Woodson to continue his Heisman-like form (1308 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 1 interception through 5 games) for weeks to come.

And in case you were wondering, “The Streak” ended at 325 consecutive passing attempts without an interception, an NCAA record that I expect to stand for a very long time.

CONGRATULATIONS, ANDRE’ AND THANKS FOR MAKING ‘CATS FANS PROUD!

First Place In The SEC East

In case you were wondering…

…that’s what it looks like!

I am going to relish in the fact that, all week, KENTUCKY IS IN SOLE POSSESSION OF FIRST PLACE IN THE SEC EAST!

Furthermore…

What We Learned On Saturday:

• Kentucky is in first place in the SEC East (at least for now)
• Florida is beatable (thankfully)
• LSU is containable (slightly, and only for one Half)
• Woodson is human (barely)
• And these Top 15 teams fell to inferior opponents (or now superior, depending on how you view things):

1. #3 Oklahoma - to Colorado
2. #4 Florida - to Auburn
3. #5 West Virginia - to #18 South Florida (Friday night)
4. #7 Texas - to Kansas State
5. #10 Rutgers - to Maryland
6. #11 Oregon - to #6 California
7. #13 Clemson - to Georgia Tech

All teams lower than #14 Kentucky if you go by the currently more favorable AP Poll.  What does that mean for the Wildcats?  Well, for one, they’ll likely be in the Top 11 as they’ll leapfrog at least Clemson, Oregon, and Rutgers — possibly in the Top 10 if Texas falls far enough – and secondly, this makes Thursday night’s Prime Time matchup with the Gamecocks this week at South Carolina a battle between two Top 12 SEC East teams for divisional supremacy.

I couldn’t like the sounds of that any more than I do right now and 5-0 through the month of September?  It doesn’t get much better than that.

But all that I can say is…

FIRST PLACE IN THE SEC EAST!

Kentucky Versus Florida Atlantic Gameday

 

There is nothing like the atmosphere for college football gameday in any other sporting event in the Nation as my Wildcats return home to play Florida Atlantic Owls.  Kentucky Alum and legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger brings his upstart Owls in to Commonwealth stadium for a game that could be closer than advertised.

Florida Atlantic fields the Nation’s leading interceptor in Tavious Polo, who has six picks in four games, while Kentucky has the quarterback who has thrown the most consecutive passes without an interception in NCAA history.  This no doubt will be a big focus for the media and fans for today’s affair.

Matt’s Keys To The Game:

• Focus: Kentucky is riding high over consecutive important victories on National television against a Top 10 (at the time) Louisville squad and on the road against SEC foe Arkansas.  The Wildcats are also a 23 point favorite over the Owls and that only plays to Florida Atlantic’s favor.  The ‘Cats cannot be looking towards South Carolina and next Thursday’s National game of the night, they need to stay grounded, stay focused and go in to Commonwealth Stadium and take care of business.  Schnellenberger’s squad is athletic and could easily sneak up on the ‘Cats as they virtually have nothing to lose.  FAU quarterback Rusty Smith is no slouch either as he has 1108 yards (more than Woodson) and 8 touchdowns of his own to speak of this season.
• Ball Security:  The Owls have a ball hocking defense and with every passing week, Woodson’s streak gets more press and becomes more likely to be jinxed. With the record behind him, Andre’ shouldn’t allow the streak to weigh so much on his mind that it takes away from what he does best - play football.  If Woodson does throw an interception, he and the team needs to put the pick, and the streak, behind them as quickly as possible and regain their focus for the rest of the game.  “The Streak” will end inevitably but the ‘Cats need to do their best to protect the ball as much as possible in all aspects of the game as well as win the turnover battle today.

Matt’s Blueprint For Success:

The Wildcats need to hit the Owls in the mouth early and often.  Allowing an underdog to get some points early and stay close through the first half or so gives the team the belief that they can win the game and it wasn’t just a ‘hoop dream.’  Florida Atlantic will be pumped up for the game but the crowd will be in Kentucky’s corner and the ‘Cats just need to come out, execute, and play their brand of football.  If the Wildcats don’t overlook the Owls and play like they have the last two weeks, this game should be a slightly easier victory.

Prediction:

Kentucky 42

Florida Atlantic 21

Kentucky At Arkansas Gameday

 

Fresh off of the program’s greatest victory in practically 30 years, the University of Kentucky Wildcats head to Fayetteville, Arkansas to tackle the University of Arkansas Darren McFaddens.

Programs on the heels of big wins have tended to come out somewhat lackadaisical in the following game making the biggest issue outside of stopping D-Mac being reigning in the team’s focus for the big game.  Luckily for us Rich Brooks is a straight-shooter and tries to drive home the importance of every game, leaving the memory of the most recent victory, or loss, in the past.

Matt’s Keys to the Game:

• Slowing Down Darren McFadden:  This one is a no-brainer but you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.  McFadden and Felix Jones combine for one of the most prolific running attacks in the NCAA and play out of the “Wild Hog” formation that has them currently sitting as the 4th ranked team in rushing among all Division 1 schools.  Kentucky held the Louisville rushing attack to 101 yards last week, but that shouldn’t be expected of them this week and, for lack of a better explanation, the “bend but don’t break” idea is what would best describe what Kentucky needs out of their defense.  An all out stop is not expected or even remotely realistic, but slowing down the run game enough to try to force Arkansas to win through the air would be extremely advantageous to victory.
• Getting Rafael Little Going Early And Often:  Kentucky’s rushing game is actually no slouch in itself as the Wildcats boast the 11th ranked rushing team in America, a fact somewhat overshadowed by Andre Woodson and the potent passing offense.  However, most Kentuckians will agree, Rafael Little was one of the relatively unheralded keys to victory over Louisville with his 151 yards rushing on 27 attempts (5.6 per-carry average).  Establishing Little really helped Kentucky control the tempo of the game while on offense and doing so against Arkansas will reap the same benefits, as well as opening up the passing game for Woodson, Burton, and Company.
• Special Teams:  Miscues in both the kicking game, a facet that has struggled mightily all season, as well as in kickoff coverage plagued the ‘Cats against Louisville but, fortunately for Kentucky, it did not end up being the difference in the game, though it very well could have been.  Kentucky needs to improve substantially in this department as to not give Arkansas any fortuitous field positioning through missed field goals and blown kickoff and punt coverages.  Kentucky needs to force Arkansas in long-field situations, requiring the Hogs to go the length of the field on the back of McFadden.

No Need To Cruise Through Fayetteville

One of the songs that play on a regular basis on my Zune player is one of smooth jazz saxophonist Kim Waters’ first radio singles “Cruisin’” from his first album, something that for all intents and purposes could be a great song to end a beautiful early autumn day in Memphis.

But when it comes to the aftermath of the Wildcats’ biggest win in 30 years against that school down Interstate 64, that song in the previous paragraph would not be something that needs to be in the Wildcats’ ears when they take on a Razorback squad that lost a nail-biter to the Tide last week in Tuscaloosa.

For the Wildcats, the quest to prove to the SEC that their moderate success in 2006, as well as their win over that school down the road, was no fluke starts tomorrow night in front of another National audience on television when they head to Fayetteville.

History has shown us, thanks to the fine people at NationalChamps.net, that in the years that the Wildcats won the modern-day rivalry against the Louisville Cardinals, they’ve managed to often lax in the following week.

New ESPN Bowl Projections

Both Mark Schlabach and our new-found Kentucky friend Ivan Maisel (the Woodson as All-American prognosticator) has the University of Kentucky playing in the Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida (played at Raymond James Stadium).

Though the two differ on opinions in regards to opponents, they both agree they’ll come from north of Lake Eerie with Maisel taking the Michigan State Spartans and Schlabach taking the Appalachian State Michigan Wolverines.

The Outback Bowl pits the Big Ten #3 versus the SEC #3/#4 and is a traditional New Years’ Day Bowl but has been played on 12/31 as well as 1/2 in various years. Obviously it is early, but I’ll enjoy the fact, if only temporarily, that my ‘Cats are at least in New Years’ Day Bowl talk…

Link

Louisville Cardinals Have No Class

Apparently during the team introductions, offensive lineman Brian Gaicomini (not to be confused with the thoroughbred race horse Giacomo of the same weight class) felt the need to toss the middle finger up on both hands in the general direction of Kentucky fans:

He probably regretted this decision later because THEY LOST but it further proves that some Louisville Cardinals, whether they’re players or fans, have no class. Now I am sure that there are Kentucky fans that don’t either, or any other sports teams’ fans for that matter, but I am a Kentucky fan and I have to get my shots in while I can because we haven’t been on the smiling side of the scoreboard too often in recent history in this rivalry.
It should also be added that my good friend was threatened to be killed by a Steve Bartman-looking Louisville fan, who listened to an iPod the entire game, by means of throwing said friend over the top of Commonwealth Stadium allowing him to plummet to his death. Now I understand some rival banter, but death by tossing?

You stay classy, Louisville.

Author’s Note: In all fairness to Giacomo’s fat ass, he did apologize…or something: U of L’s Giacomini apologizes for gesture (Courier-Journal)

Gameday

This is the lone time I will use merely “Gameday” as the title of a post without further explanation because today is the gameday of the year for myself in college football.  It is the day of the Louisville game.

We’re not strictly a Kentucky blog and have never claimed to be as, of the five of us, I am the only Kentucky fan here.  Furthermore, we’ve never claimed to cover Kentucky sports better than other blogs (Kentucky Sports Radio comes to mind).  However, my loyalty to the Wildcats is as strong as anyone’s and has been for years and I have been preaching far and wide to whoever would listen that Kentucky would beat Louisville this year, going as far back as May, and beyond to make this claim (just ask “Condo”).

I am not changing my mind on this one….I am sticking to my Kentucky Wildcats.

Kentucky 38

Louisville 35

The spread is down to just 5.5 points in Vegas in favor of Louisville and this comes as a surprise to me.  Regardless, I have never been more hyped for a Kentucky football game in my entire five year collegiate career.  I am nervous, excited, anxious, and all other gameday emotions wrapped up in to one.  This game will be a barn burner and should not be missed.

The game can be seen on ESPNClassic at 7:30PM and I won’t be around again until tomorrow to talk NFL pigskin over on Gamecocks Sports Forum.  Until then, “Doc” has a great post below this one regarding today’s Kentucky game and is a must read.

Enjoy your college football Saturday and GO BIG BLUE!

Wildcats Can Learn Something From The ‘96 Tigers

Almost 12 years ago this November, the University of Memphis pulled off what many considered the biggest win in their football history by beating a Tennessee team that was laden with future NFL stars such as a guy by the name of Peyton Manning at quarterback, Joey Kent at wide receiver, and Al Wilson as the anchor of one of the country’s best defenses.

This coming after coming up short 15 times in the previous meetings between the two schools on the gridiron and having a quarterback that wasn’t on the dream list of any NFL scout and a program that, for so many years, had to take a backseat to the basketball program and struggle for fans in a city that was, and is still to this day, filled with a plethora of SEC alums that could root for highly successful football programs like Arkansas and Tennessee.

For once, the Tigers proved that they could be more than a schedule-feeder for an Alabama, Louisiana State, and a Tennessee and even years later, many people consider that game as a turning point in the program’s long-suffering history, long before a guy named DeAngelo came to the Highland Strip.

On Saturday night, in front of what could be the largest crowd in the history of Commonwealth Stadium, the Kentucky Wildcats could have a chance to do the same thing, that 12 years ago was done to Peyton Manning when the Memphis Tigers beat them, to Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm: end his Heisman campaign and the Cardinals’ national championship hopes.

Unlike what the Tigers had in 1996 when they faced the Volunteers, Kentucky has NFL-cailber talent at the skilled positions, especially at quarterback with Andre Woodson, who has a streak of 213 completions without an interception.

The Memphis Tigers of 1996?

Two, one of them being defensive back Mike McKensie, who is, as we speak, in his eighth season in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and is still to this day a presence in the Memphis community with a charitable foundation that steers towards the inner-city communities in this city.

And like the Tigers since their win over the Vols in 1996, Kentucky’s football program has upgraded their football facilities to be on par with their neighbors further down Interstate 64, which moved out of their old antiquated stadium on the grounds of the Kentucky State Fairgrounds to a brand-new on-campus stadium as well as a BCS conference.

But unlike Louisville, those upgrades haven’t transcended the Wildcats into a force to be reckoned with in the SEC nor home victories over the Cardinals.

As columnist Eric Crawford said this morning, those brand new seats that were placed there in 1999 have yet to see a victory over Louisville.

Come Saturday, those new seats might be witnesses to history.

Early Line - Louisville at Kentucky

We here at “The Nasty Boys” do not condone gambling, especially of the illegal sort.  But if you are in a place we’re you can gamble legally, have at it.  Regardless, we like to take a look at spreads, money lines, and over/unders because those Vegas guys seem to know what they’re talking about and sometimes they’re eerily accurate.

With that being said, the early spread on the Louisville at Kentucky game has the Cards at a 6.5 point favorite with an over/under of 77 points.  Mind you, Louisville and M.T.S.U. scored a combined 100 points (58-42) last week and the two teams that will meet at Commonwealth Stadium this week are very offensive heavy.   The spread is less than I expected, not because I don’t think Kentucky will win becasue I do, but because I thought the National sentiments on Louisville were very positive and very unanimous.  I guess giving up 42 to Middle Tennessee State at home kills a bit of your momentum.

I suspect the Over/Under to increase to a bit closer to 80 and the final spread to be 7 points, both by game time.

With just three days to go, we’ll have more commentary on the upcoming game as the week progresses…

There Is A Such Thing As A Blue Wildcat (Kentucky Wildcats Preview)

(This is a joint article between “Doc” Hancock and Matt)

“Doc’s” Take On The Kentucky Wildcats:

The last time high expectations were set upon the University of Kentucky in football, Harry Truman was President and Bear Bryant (yes, that Bear Bryant) was coach in the early 1950’s when the Wildcats went to three straight New Years’ Day bowls from 1950 to 1952.

And the last time, before last year’s Music City Bowl win over Clemson, that the school won a bowl game, a group of unsupervised kids that would later become operators of a blog that is quickly being regarded as one of the best in the South, was still giving their parents fits as newborn babies.

This year, as Rich Brooks begins his fourth season in Lexington as the recipent of a brand-new contract extension that will more than likely keep him in there for another two years, the Wildcats are out to prove a point to everyone in the conference that Kentucky is no longer a pushover in the SEC.

Quarterback Andre Woodson returns to Lexington for his senior season after posting one of the best passing stats in a season in school history, throwing for 3,515 yards and 31 touchdowns for a 63 percent passing rate and only seven interceptions. Not only that, Woodson has a record 162 passes without an interception, which he’ll probably continue when the Wildcats face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Saturday.

At receiver, the cupboard is filled with talented wideouts such as Keenan Burton, Dicky Lyons, and tight end Jacob Tamme. In 2006, the trio of wideouts caught a combined 159 balls for a total of 2,244 yards and 23 touchdowns while Burton and Tamme earned All-SEC honors for the Wildcats.

At running back the Wildcats return senior Rafael Little who after rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2005, had 140 rushes and 673 yards plus 3 touchdowns in an injury-filled 2006 season. The interesting thing about it was the fact that he averaged 5 yards per carry with 31 catches out of the backfield in 2006.

Joining him in the backfield will be second-stringer Tony Dixon, who was second on the team with 303 yards on the ground and third-stringer Alfonso Smith, who added an additional 250 yards of rushing for the Wildcats.

On defense, the Wildcats look to improve on what was without question, a disastrous year on the field as they allowed 453 yards per contest, one of the worst in the nation. Three starters were lost from last year’s unit and returning to Lexington will be senior tackle Myron Pryor, who was the team’s top defensive lineman with 42 tackles and a team-leading 5 sacks. Along with Pryor, end Jeremy Jarmon will be inserted into a starting role after beginning his 2006 season on the bench and not getting any playing time until the middle of the season. Despite this, he recorded 30 tackles and four sacks.

In the secondary, Marcus McClinton, Trevard Lindley, and Roger Williams are back in Lexington to add on to their modest success in 2006. McClinton recorded 65 tackles and four interceptions while Lindley ranked fourth in the conference with 12 pass breakups and earned Kentucky’s highlight of the year with an amazing interception against Clemson in the Music City Bowl plus a game-saving interception against the Georgia Bulldogs that gave Kentucky the 24-20 victory.

“Doc’s” Diagnosis: For a school that’s had little to celebrate in their football history, much like a certain university here in the city of Memphis, last season’s success caught everyone by surprise in Lexington. With LSU, Florida, Tennessee, and archrival Louisville visiting Commonwealth Stadium, expect the Wildcats to beat one of those four at home. The Wildcats also have road trips to South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, as well as one to Georgia where the Bulldogs will have revenge on their minds after last year’s loss. With that being said, Kentucky will again surprise people in the conference and could nab a berth in the Liberty Bowl if all goes well.

“Doc’s” Projected record: 7-5 (4-4 SEC)

Resurgence In The Bluegrass

Matt’s Take On The Kentucky Wildcats: