Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Is it just me or did it seem like this Thanksgiving weekend lasted a decade? From the eating to the Christmas decorating to memorizing all the Presidents (Kige Ramsey) to the raging UK sports boner that lasted from midnight on Friday until about 1 am this morning (should I have seen a Dr.?), this weekend really kicked my tail. But, as we all try to get ourselves back into our daily routines and get set for what is sure to be the longest work week of all-time, let’s try to recap what happened this weekend for our boys in blue.
For the football Cats, the story was all the same and Phil Fulmer rode off into the sunset by beating the Cats once again. Kentucky looked great at the beginning of the year, and awful in the middle, but in the end, they’re basically the football team we all expected. At 6-6 and heading to a bowl, you can’t call this season a disappointment and, if you take into account the massive injuries that mounted, you can even call it a success. Now, it’s on to a bowl game - probably the Music City - and a month’s worth of extra practice, something that’s been extremely important the past two seasons in developing the team. They might not have won, but it was a strong effort from the guys in a game where emotions of Senior Day, Phil Fulmer Day and expectations of victory were staring them in the eye.
Here are a couple of notes:
- the defense really stood tall in the first half, but I knew it was over when Tennessee scored on 4th down right before half. With the ball inside the 5-yard line, Kentucky stopped Tennessee on first and second down before a VERY LATE flag on a third down signaled pass interference on David Jones and gave Tennessee a first down on the two. But, again, the defense stood their ground, stopping Arian Foster three consecutive times before a fourth down run by Crompton gave them the TD. That’s just UK luck against UT.
- Poor David Jones. Jones isn’t a bad player and he’s a very tough, smart player. But, he looked pretty bad a couple of times yesterday. The pass interference call and then just getting completely burned and appearing to give up on the TD pass to Denarius Moore basically put the nail in the coffin for the Cats, but it’s definitely not a reflection of the type of player that Jones is. He’s made huge strides at DB since moving over from WR and hopefully he can have a solid bowl game so this isn’t his last impression on UK fans.
- Something must have been wrong with my TV yesterday as it appeared Mike Hartline entered the game and completed an 18-yard pass on his first attempt. Hartline finished 5/7 for 74 yards and loooked confident under center. The most interesting thing to me, though, was that I’m pretty sure he hasn’t seen a single snap since his infamous “others aren’t performing” statement. Rich Brooks’ decision to essentially end the QB rotation at around the same time Hartline made that comment made me assume that Hartline’s time here was done. Now, maybe not. You have to wonder what kind of turns the QB position is going to take this off-season.
- here is some post game audio of Rich Brooks (courtesy of John Clay)
Then, there was the basketball team coming out and winning the Las Vegas Invitational. Kentucky wiped away those VMI scars by knocking off a team that will be in the tournament discussion (KSU) and a team that will be in the tournament (WVU) in a matter of two days. Jodie Meeks showed the ability to score in bunches, but also get to the line when he’s not knocking down jumpers. Patrick Patterson had two double-doubles and played nasty. Josh Harrellson looked to be the physical presence that Perry Stevenson isn’t and Ramon Harris, Darius Miller, and even DeAndre Liggins looked to be maturing after refusing to enter the game Friday. This was a big weekend for the basketball team moving forward this year. The rotations are clearing up a bit and Gillispie seems to finally be getting comfortable with which players produce with each other.
Again, I don’t want to dive too deep into basketball because Matt will be bringing his take later today, but there are a couple more thoughts below. All in all, it was a great weekend for basketball and not completely awful on the football side of things. We just have to make sure we keep the momentum going.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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November 30th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
1st!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Liggins
Meeks
Miller
Patterson
Harrelson
November 30th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
3rd
GO WILDCATS!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Dear Gillispie,
Please do not start porter….keep him on the bench for liggins and Meeks sub….also keep harrelson into the starting line up until stevenson decides he would like to play and contribute to the team!! harrelson will hustle and be a scrappy player, and more of a offensive player!! your doing a great job coach keep it up!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Meeks for NCAA Player of the Year!
November 30th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Since we’re writing letters:
Dear Coach,
I think you’re doing a great job. My Christmas wish is lower level tickets to next Saturday’s game. Also, I need a car really bad.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
where can I find the post game audio of Gillispie from last night?
November 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Im hoping that we find either of the 2 new Quarterbacks under center next year and not Cobb. If so, that means they beat out Cobb for the QB spot and we will have more options down field. I think these next few years are going to be exceptional.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I’m not sure which is more painful to watch. The Kentucky offense or the Bengals offense….
November 30th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
The CATS could beat the Bungals.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
9. Bengals
they get paid millions of dollars to suck
November 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
“UK wiped away the VMI scars.”
Sorry Thomas but those types of scars NEVER go away!!! All we can do is move on and let the past be what it is because Gardner-Webb, San Diego and VMI will FOREVER be etched into the history books.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I know all the Presidents, too. I learned them for a play in 6th grade. Washington, Adams, Jefferson–oh!
James Madison, James Monroe. John Quincy Adams–ooh,ooh. Doin’ homework with you.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
They are who we thought they are, and we let them off the hook.
November 30th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Dear Kentucky Football,
Thanks for keeping things the same in 2008.
Sincerely,
Death, Taxes, and Getting Beat By Tennessee
November 30th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Anyone notice a pattern here… Hartline starts and has to be relieved when Joker’s conservative play-calling lends the offense to become uber-predictable… Cobb starts and has to be relieved when Joker’s conservative play-calling lends the offense to become uber-predictable.
Can we bench Joker for the bowl game and let the QB’s call their own game?
November 30th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
BCG did a solid job this weekend–kudos. Liggins should start, hell, the 5 who played well should start next game. Louisville…get ready to get a lesson in defense.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:28 am
On the play were David Jones got burnt coach Brooks said after the game that it was a missed assignment on the safety. From my understanding they were in Cover 3 and when the receiver ran a post David turned him loose as he was supposed to and the safety was out of position.