Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
It is only in the evening that one can see the true beauty of the day —Sophocles
Here it is New Year’s Eve, and for the first time in nearly four days, I am back at the Kentucky Sports Radio Compound trying to get life back to normal after the high that was the Music City Bowl. As many of you have noticed, the postings on the board have been slight in the last few days, mainly because we have just been having too much fun to be on the internet. And how did I spend this afternoon trying to top the weekend in Nashville? Well of course by watching the Richard Nixon funeral on C-Span. Sure it is New Year’s Eve (and yes I will go out tonight), but there is something about the combination of seeing Billy Graham, the most living Presidents ever in one place at one time and a rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” that gets me every time. Its the red state in me….
But onto the game in Nashville. Folks, I have been to a lot of Kentucky football games in my lifetime…..some good, some bad, many frustrating, but the experience in Nashville was the best University of Kentucky football experience of my lifetime. They say the best gifts in life are those that are unexpected, and Saturday completely proved that to me. Most UK fans went into the game hoping for a good performance, expecting a loss to the much more talented Clemson team, and wanting desperately to simply have a good time. But from the first drive of the game, it was clear that UK had another goal in mind…..to win. With a crowd behind them that was likely 75% blue, the Cats took the early momentum of the opening drive and had the poorly manicured Titans Stadium rocking in ways that Commonwealth Stadium can only dream of.
Everything the Cats did was not always great….but it was always fun and uplifting. The ghost of Hal Mumme was resurrected with the fake punt call that not only left all the fans in the stands speechless, but clearly was the turning point of the game. UK introduced players to the big time that have either been forgotten or never even introduced. Guys like Demarrio Ford (Where Price Sells Cars!!!!) and Steve Johnson (who one Clemson fan lamented was “a recruit that we still cant get over we lost), stepped up in a big time situation and showed that the UK coaches used the extra practice time to utilize new players and new game plans….a hallmark of a top flight coaching staff.
But forget the time on the field….what I will remember about Kentucky’s first bowl win in 22 years is the atmosphere in and around Nashville. Kentucky fans were everywhere and had a giddiness about them that you just dont see for a University that is constantly expecting success in basketball and dreading losses in football. People were joyous in levels that I have only seen on one other occasion (when UK won the games in 1998 to take an unexpected basketball title), and the streets were literally abuzz. We did our show from the Hooters in downtown Nashville and people were chanting C-A-T-S hours after the game and approaching Mardi Gras-levels of jubilation. It was one of those occasions where you realize how much fun sports can be and how unexpected success is the true greatness of being a fan.
You know next year the load on the Cats will be tough. The expectations will be raised and the schedule is much harder. But forget that now. For now, focus on the fact that Friday in Nashville was one of those great times to be a Kentucky fan. We write much on here about the negativity of the fan base and how frustrating some of the hand-wringing can be, but we must give a shout out on this last day of the year to the best of the fan base. Friday was a great Kentucky sports day, and I have my ticket saved to commemorate it. Soak it up Cats fans…..days like this dont come along very often.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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December 31st, 2006 at 5:59 pm
That photo is crucial!
December 31st, 2006 at 6:02 pm
The 07 schedule will be tougher, but the cats will be even better.
December 31st, 2006 at 6:08 pm
I certainly want the football program to be able to enjoy this without bringing up the 1,000 lb elephant, but I really hope that the fans will transfer some of the positive emotion to the basketball program. That group could use some of the support the football team deserved and received this past weekend.
Regardless, I wish I could have been there. I was out the Outback Bowl and as fun as it was nothing can compare with a win!
December 31st, 2006 at 6:21 pm
These guys are going to need the support they got Friday in all home games. Anybody know what they charge for season tickets?
December 31st, 2006 at 6:22 pm
I plan on living a long time, but if I get hit by a bus tomorrow, at least I saw the Cats win a Bowl Game!
December 31st, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Matt, thanks. You have captured in words the emotion that seeped through the airwaves to the left coast! A shout out to Mitch while reflecting. The staff might not have called the fake punt or the flea flicker without the contract extension! By the way, who would have called the punt? Rich, Joker, Special Teams coach?
December 31st, 2006 at 6:43 pm
SoCal Will, I’m pretty sure I have read that Rich called that one. That was the biggest play call for UK football in how many years?
December 31st, 2006 at 6:54 pm
i cannot believe you spelled my name wrong. what a fan you are.
December 31st, 2006 at 7:22 pm
#4 My tix cost $22 a seat for 5 home games + $40 for premium game. This coming year it will be UL.
December 31st, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Thanks #9, are those good seats? I think these guys have as good of shot as anybody at the SEC east. I can’t wait.
December 31st, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Sec 119 in the end zone, 20 rows up, nice field of vision, see plays develop
December 31st, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Was there with you matt. Wish I could have made it to Hooter’s after the game, but those $7 beers were too good. What a great time. Nashville is a fun city. And what a great showing by the Football team, Big Blue Faithful, and fist and foremost Rich Brooks. One of the best seasons in many years. Happy New Years!!!
December 31st, 2006 at 8:24 pm
President Ford not Nixon. Put down the bottle and get back to work! Go Cats!!!
December 31st, 2006 at 8:34 pm
I watched the game at Pooley’s, a sportbar in Madison Wisconsin. I was the only UK fan in the place, backed by 6 Clemson guys at the other table watching the game. I am considered to be more than a little loud and more than held my own against the 6 Clemson lovers.
When I came back the next day to watch the EKU game, the owner came over to my table and mentioned he didnt think he had ever had a customer enjoy a win more than I had and he was right. For the reason Matt mentioned: because it was unexpected (even though I did pick the cats in the bowl pickem, that was pure homer bias at work). I wore my UK coat proudly and had more than one person over this past weekend mention how good our cats looked and for me, being able to wear your UK jacket in a foreign land and have the natives pay homage, is the greates new years gift one can have.
December 31st, 2006 at 9:53 pm
It was President Ford, not Nixon! Unless, of course, you were watching TIVO.
December 31st, 2006 at 9:57 pm
C-Span replays old funeral cermonies. The Nixon funeral was when the most living Presidents were together (Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush 43).
December 31st, 2006 at 10:05 pm
It was the Nixon funeral folks….on C Span on replay
December 31st, 2006 at 11:27 pm
what? nixon is dead?
December 31st, 2006 at 11:33 pm
tin soldiers and nixon coming.
December 31st, 2006 at 11:51 pm
This just in . . .
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!
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As to the topic at hand, yes I was giddy watching it on TV here at home. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
January 1st, 2007 at 1:20 am
I had an absolute blast!!
Thanks KSR for a wonderful experience.
P.S.
For anyone interested, I have more pictures (including those from our post-game show with Ravi Moss and hundreds of excited fans at the downtown Hooters) on my myspace site! Just click on my name for the link, and look for the “Music City Bowl” blog! =)
January 1st, 2007 at 9:42 am
Congrats on the win. I hate the Bowdin’s, so this is extra sweet. With Georgia and UT on a death spiral. along with FSU, I welcome any addition (except for SOS at USC) of SEC East competition.
January 1st, 2007 at 10:22 am
I agree with everything you wrote but it won’t take much for some fans to throw this back at you:
“…a hallmark of a top flight coaching staff.”
Of course, hope they don’t find cause to.
January 1st, 2007 at 10:47 am
Everybody needs to go to the Clemson board on Rivals. They are totally calling UK fans rednecks.
Some dude over there is saying that we’re delusional and we will do horrible next year. Another thing
too, they can’t understand why they didn’t run the ball more. I think that they could of ran it earlier
in the game a little more, but, you can’t really run the ball when you’re down 21-6 in the third quarter.
Then we scored, they needed big plays. Another thing, they can’t understand why they stopped blitzing.
Well, they were obviously tired in the third quarter that their blitzes weren’t effecient. Happy New Year
Cats fans, and may this new year bring us even more joy. Go Cats!!!
January 1st, 2007 at 11:24 am
#24 that’s not even close to what the Clemson poster did or said.
January 1st, 2007 at 11:32 am
Are you seriously trying to make an argument that we are not rednecks? Do you not go to the same games that I do?
#22 Georgia and Tenn on a death spiral, come on do you honestly believe that?
I am looking forward to next season! Any chance starting in the year in the top 25?
January 1st, 2007 at 11:57 am
Maybe we are rednecks. But, somewhat like the pot calling his good buddy kettle black, wouldn’t you think?
January 1st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
#26, yes I do. FSU is flaming out, as well. Nick Saban to Alabama, by the way.
January 1st, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Castro’s doctors diagnose Nixon as being in fine health. By the way, I got props from a Texas fan after that game. Can’t tell you the last time that happened. GO CATS!
January 1st, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Clemson never recruited Steve Johnson.
January 1st, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I’ve got my ticket from the game, and the front page of the TN newspaper to frame together. Phenomenal time.
January 1st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Do you think Clemson running back James Davis wishes he would have commited to UK over Clemson. Oh if he could only go back in time.
January 1st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Is Brooks drunk?
January 1st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
im alrady looking foward to next year, with my amazing seats and amazing team/schedule i cant wait
January 2nd, 2007 at 9:25 am
# 32,
If I remember correctly, the James Davis that had UK as one of his two finalsits was/is the James Davis who signed with South Carolina. The Clemson James Davis considered UK early on, but never seriously.
Peace.
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