Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
As I watch the Cats impressive victory on Saturday night against the Hogs, a number of thoughts ran through my mind. First, I believe the talent on offense is as good at Kentucky now as in any time in my life and contends with the late 1970s Curci teams for most talent ever at the University. Second, I am REALLY upset I let folks talk me out of going to the game…..being in Fayetteville last night, while likely dangerous for my health, would have been a lot of fun. Finally, it occurred to me……folks its time for the UK fans to start dreaming.
Being a Kentucky football fan isnt easy. Generally you know from the day of the opening kickoff, that there is no chance for an SEC Championship and that being a contender in the conference race is the longest of long shots. But what about now? Why cant we dream a bit? I mean lets not go crazy or anything, but why dont we acknowledge at least the POSSIBILITY of a few things…..
(1) Next week the Cats play Florida Atlantic. While this could be a trap game, chances are the Cats will come through and open up the season 5-0….a record that in and of itself is worthy of praise.
(2) Then comes South Carolina. Now I acknowledge this game, on a Thursday night in Columbia, with the students as drunk as can be imagined and louder than a Rosie-O’Reilly debate, is a longshot. But think about this for a second….we will get the Louisville treatment by ESPN, but with an SEC-caliber game. Thursday night, Cats undefeated….Ol Ball Coach talking trash…..the game will get a lot of hype and be the topic of conversation on Sportcenter and PTI leading up to the contest.
(3) OK, lets say that somehow, someway, we win the game…..maybe a bit of a stretch, but not crazy. Then on October 12-14, the greatest weekend in Lexington history could take place. Midnight Madness with Billy Clyde, Keeneland with all the beauties, Cats-LSU…..and (dare we say it) Gameday possibly on site? If both teams are undefeated, the Cats could be in the Top 12…..why not? Add into it, my man Bomani Jones doing an ESPN.com story on the greatest college sports weekend of the year, the White Castle challenge at the pre-game tailgate and my bar results coming in…..and well, it could be quite the weekend.
(4) Now we cant beat LSU…even I am not that kind of dreamer. But is it impossible to think that the next week we could give Florida a run? Maybe they throw up a lousy performance, Tebow gets distracted by the ladies or his roommate’s kisses…..or Urban Meyer gets pass happy and plays into our hands. Why cant we win this game? And if we do, what a statement that can be nationally….
(5) If Florida is miraculously beaten, then Kentucky could (GASP) control its own destiny in the SEC East. Beat Georgia on the road (not an easy task in the least) and take out Tennessee (this is the year) and all of a sudden…..could it be….the Cats could be in the SEC Championship game…..are you serious?
(6) Based on all the hype and the national media glare, Andre Woodson gets invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony…..Rich Brooks in the crowd…..Ashley Judd doing the introduction…..Kentucky Sports Radio live on the scene…..come on, it doesnt get better….and with the Brohms and McFadden’s losing….could he even have a shot at winning it?
Now this is of course all highly unlikely. But is it impossible? I dont think so….this team CAN do it…..and whether it happens or not, what is exciting is that it is not simply a pipe dream that it COULD happen. Go ahead and play spoil sport and tell me that the Cats have no chance against this team or that, might get upset by Vandy or dont have the national spotlight enough for the dreams to become reality. But I aint listening. This is Kentucky football…..and for the next ten days, I am going to enjoy the richness of possibility. Cat Fans its time to dream big…..if not now, when…..and if not us, who?
Now if Louisville will just quit screwing up our BCS standings…..
[powered by WordPress.]
Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
9 queries. 0.356 seconds
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:40 pm
GO CATS….come on BBALL season!!! hustle UP!
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I believe!!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
That is absolutely absurd and ridiculous. I love it, though.
September 23rd, 2007 at 4:56 pm
GO CATS!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
If Appalacian St. can win in the “Big House”, we can beat LSU.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
CATS ARE #14 IN THE AP POLL..WOW..GO CATS!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:05 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Why on earth is Clemson ranked above us in both polls? Once again the media as a whole proves they don’t know crap about what they are talking about.
We beat them on a neutral site in the bowl game, and they have less players this year than they did last year (Gaines). All while we retained most everyone except some of our O line.
Rodney Dangerfield in da house! No respect baby!
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
CBS sportsline has UK projected to the Chik-Fil-A Bowl against Clemson. Now I’m not being picky when it comes to bowls, but I’d favor being in the Cotton Bowl against A&M or Nebraska.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:33 pm
i love my cats, but wake up matt.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I’m dreaming too … and it’s possible we could be playing on January 1st
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:41 pm
If that happens and Kentucky’s only two losses are to LSU then they would likely get a at-large BCS spot.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Cotton Bowl is for SECW teams usually.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:48 pm
#9..nah..we played Clemson last year…CBS has a short memory…..Hello, CBS!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Lets take care of Florida Atlantic first. Then we can start thinking of
what “if”.
THE GOOD:
1) This is a dream year for Kentucky Football
2) Woodson has a great chance of going to New York, which is great
for him and Kentucky
3) UK is better than last years good team
4) Eventhough UK will lose Burton, Woodson, Woodyard, Tamme, Little, etc
UK will still have next year:
a) a better OL
b) Maybe the best defense UK has had in a very long time
c) UK will be even better and deeper at the RB and FB positions
d) not better but still a good WR core plus add Pulley to the mix
e) recruiting that is only getting better.
THE BAD:
1) Even/WHEN UK beats Florida Atlantic UK will be 5-0
but no other game is a given. Okay I can almost give UK Vandy and Miss st.
so that is 7 wins but UK could lose five games: UT, UF, UGA, LSU, USC
THAT IS WHY THE ARKANSAS WIN WAS HUGE.
LETS START CHEERING ON THE CARDS AND HOGS TO WIN OUT THE REST OF THE
THEIR SEASONS.
2) Eventhough Woodson is a top 10 NFL pick for sure, I will be amazed
if he goes to New York. The National Media doesn’t want to give UK
anything. Not fair but that is the way it is
3) Eventhough UK is on the up and up and will continue to improve
we still lose Woodson.
Lets take care of Flordia Atlantic first than worry about the rest of the
season.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
#13, agreed, they do “prefer” the West as I think the Outback Bowl wants East teams. But UT played in the Cotton Bowl twice since 2001, and I think UK can put asses in seats as good as anybody and bowl committees know this.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Matt, put down the pipe before you burn your lips!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Don’t make a hill of beans what we think, the Blue Men Believe and they have made Believers out of me. Till the clock strikes midnight, we are still dancing. It won’t be a glass slipper we’re wearing to Atlanta, it will be a boot and we’ll be kicking SEC tail all the way there! Go Cats!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
we certainly won’t be favored against LSU but this team will play with the tigers.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Greatest weekend of all time in Lexington would be great (contigent somewhat on 6-0). Even the college hater Bill Simmons would enjoy that one. I hope Ashley is involved in some capacity.
However, I would imagine if they team is undefeated heading into the LSU game that the Daily Double will be moved to Friday with Keeneland then Madness. The LSU game would require dusk til dawn tailgating…no time for the ponies.
I am not even going to think about Gameday being there.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Slow down Matt…(kind of like holding a powerball ticket and dreaming of spending even tho the odds are…you know)
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:49 pm
With a few upsets, the Cats could go into Columbia as a top 10 team (unlikely, but possible) facing a top 15 SC team. Beat a top 15 on the road and we’re EASILY a top 10 team (my guess would be 7-8). That’s not dreaming by any stretch. That’s a recipe for Game Day.
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
There is nothing wrong with dreaming. If not for dreams, what would be left to us? LSU is a stretch, but the rest of the games are the type we can win. I was in Knoxville all weekend, gong to the Vol game (Arkansas State), and tell you that if we played them this week it would be no contest. I hear the same coaching talk down there that I heard around here last year about our recently departed basketball coach. If we do a beat down on UT, I think he may be out. One interesting note, while at the game many of the 102,000 there cheered when the UK/Ark score was announced…….
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:36 pm
LSU is a stretch but as long as Les Miles is coaching, LSU is good for 1 or 2 stupid loses a year. As far as Florida, Tebow may be hurt by the time we get to him, or he will be by the time we get done with him.
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:45 pm
The key is this team expects to win. It won’t be like last year against LSU when we didn’t even score. This team is the definition of resilient. I really only expect to lose 2 or 3 games this year. With Florida’s weak Secondary we could beat them at home. USC and Georgia will be very tough but still possible. I think as long as everyone comes to play then we could really end up in the SEC title game. Maybe a BCS Bid anybody?
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:53 pm
All of this talk is making my head spin. I love it!
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I have always believed that even if Louisville won every single game in its schedule the still wouldn’t play for a title game since their schedule was subpar compared to the elites. Now if UK won all its game or if it finished with one loss for the season, they would be playing for a national title because of the conference and its schedule being on par with the best. It is coming together. If UK can win all of its home games and have just one bump on the road, UK will be playing for it all!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
That piece there is why I started coming to this site, very good piece of writing. I like the dare to dream for UK football, they are entertaining as hell!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:03 pm
This UK team is currently ranked #14 after the AP released their latest poll today. A win over Florida-Atlantic and with how a few teams play in front of us this upcoming weekend and we could be in the top-10 after next week’s game, very possible!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
if appalachian state can beat michigan at the big house, we can beat lsu.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Lay off the crack pipe, Matt!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:15 pm
I just wish Rob would post his comments on the Arkansas game already.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Not bad for a Middlesboro boy! Nice work Matt!
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Looking ahead…
only bad thing about the FLA game is they have an off week ahead of their trip up here.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I just also wish I was not a complete starfish.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Unlike the previous 25 years I have followed KY football, I think there is potential of winning any game on our schedule. I firmly believe we can consistently make plays. So, with a few breaks like a gift fumble or a running into the kicker penalty we will have a shot in any game.
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Kentucky football has broken my heart so many times… it’s kind’ve like that crush that you have in high school that you never give up on, but she burns you time and time again.
I’m just enjoying this season one game at a time.
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Additionally, for Woodson to not be a top Heisman candidate is truly absurd. Screw the national media. Even if I wasn’t a Kentucky fan, I could not just glaze over the fact that Woodson has gone this long without an interception, especially against the cut-throat competition of the SEC. It’s just isn’t logical.
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Today is Rafeal Little’s 21st birthday.
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I give 1 vote for the Heisman to…The Mongolian STOMPER!!!!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Isn’t Stever Spurrier like 19-0 against Kentucky? Until the Cats
beat him, you gotta go with ‘Ole Ball Coach.
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 pm
#41 You are correct. He will still be perfect against yewkay after October 4th.
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Matt, top 12? That’s not gonna be hard to do. UK is now ranked #14 in the Ap poll and #15 in the USA Today poll.
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Wow, look at some of the negative Nancies out there.
THE CATS WILL WIN AT LEAST NINE, THAT’S RIGHT—–NINE—–GAMES THIS YEAR. Mark it down ‘Cats & kittens. And Matt, have a bit more faith; knocking of the Gamecocks is anything but a “longshot.” No, on the contrary, UK is gonna hand ye Ol’ Ball Coach his ass on that Thursday night game.
Kentucky 41 South Carolina 34
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
All this sounds good but I see us no better than 9-3 [which is awesome] perhaps 8-4 still better than people thought going into the season. What kind of bowl game would we get at 9-3 with losses to lsu/fla/s.carolina?
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
I liked the fact that one of the Arkansas players said that Kentucky was very physical. I had been kind of thinking that LSU
would intimidate us physically. Based on the Arkansas comment, maybe not. Another thing is it looks like we can score 40
points on anybody. The way the defense is improving, it’s not clear to me that SC or LSU can score 40 on us.
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:17 pm
hey i saw your liberal stupid poll jack ass hill clinton should be on poll what bitch
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 pm
i dream every year filling out my march madness bracket with UK…why not in football? Its a real possibility we could play for an SEC championship if the balls bounce our way a couple times…Why not us, why not this year?
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I have cheered on KY football since my freshman year of 1992 only to see heartache game after game. I have been a season ticket
holder since I graduated. With that said, I like many other fans start each season dreaming.
Matt–this is the best post in a long time. Thanks for writing what so many of us are thinking but scared to say out loud (I
still haven’t quite recovered from the Bluegrass Miracle). This is a special year for this program. GO CATS!
September 24th, 2007 at 1:05 am
if we are dreaming on this thread then why not biggest upset in UK history in our best year when LSU comes to town along with gameday…then corso and them back next week to see Fla. get some in commonweath….not sayin…im just sayin
September 24th, 2007 at 2:03 am
These bunch of Cats have learned how to win, which is a great departure from most UK fb teams. When you look at this team and the talent on it, it reminds me of the greatest UK team I’ve seen, 1977. Can the magic happen again 30 years later, who knows but we will find out soon enough. UK plans on having the 77 team at the Miss St and wouldnt be something we were undefeated. It doesnt matter what we say on these boards, it only matters what the UK players think and they BELIEVE! GBB!!!
September 24th, 2007 at 5:09 am
#44, no way in hell S. Carolina scores 34 against us. No way.
September 24th, 2007 at 7:57 am
BELIEVE!
September 24th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I have faith they can do all of these, you never know what can happen!!!!
September 24th, 2007 at 9:17 am
All non-believers better jump on the bandwagon while there is still room for you. We will beat the Cocks, The Gators, & Tennessee this year…mark it down dude. I expect you that are calling Matt crazy have not even watched a full game this year. This team is impressive, and they believe…unlike some of you so-called “true blue” fans out there.
September 24th, 2007 at 10:38 am
The only problem with the “dream” scenarios is that UK’s offense has not played a real defense yet. Sure, they have scored 40 on the likes of UofL and Ark., but UofSC and even Florida are a BIG step up, and LSU’s defense is better than some pro teams (the Bengals against the Browns comes to mind).
UK’s fate will come down to whether its defense can allow the offense to win a game in the 20s or low 30s. That might be a tall order against the big dogs.
That being said, did McFadden really say that UK was one of the most physical teams they will face all year in the SEC? What in the world has Rich Brooks been up to over there?!?! A bunch of building a program and shutting people up if you ask me….
September 24th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Well 4-0 is a good start . but before the crazy Kentucky fans put their foot in their mouth..lets take one game at a time. UK should be Florida Atlantic…against South Carolina…Uk will need to play a flawless game to win in Columbia…then comes the challenges…..LSU always seems to beat down….will they this year? who knows by how much…UK can beat Florida….They have played them tough..with the home crowd..Florida could be heading for a loss….Miss state and Vandy should be wins…UK can beat Georgia and this should be the year Tennessee goes down to UK…..if UK DOESNT SELF DESTRUCT…this team could be a good one…not to bad for a team who has had 7 ranked teams on their schedule.
September 24th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I am a believer. If not When. We can.
One game at a time.
September 24th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
57) Why exactly will UK need to play a flawless game to beat SC? The “Spurrier factor” is as over-hyped as the Charlie Weiss factor. Even Spurrier himself said that the media must not have watched their first two games since they were ranked #12, in other words they are not that good. UK will win convincingly and expose the ol’ ball coach’s overrated team.
September 24th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
OK, count me in. Nothing is impossible, ask Syracuse, Ap State, Bowling
Green, (should have won that game). Besides UK needs to beat Florida for
the good of the SEC, I think LSU beats Florida the first game but very
difficult the second time in the season and they knock each other out of
the BCS championship game. So say UK loses to LSU (not a given) but
upsets Florida (Tebow takes a lot of extra hits, misses one game? Not
wishing it but possible). Then all UK has to do is win the three games
they are favored in and split with SC and Ga. (Possible to win both).
Florida beats the other contenders who all have one loss already, UK goes
to the SEC championship because they beat Florida. Kentucky is due against
Florida, I think they will leave it all on the field against them. The
biggest worry I have in this scenerio is UK is just as likely to lose to
one of their three underdogs (We will be favored against Tennessee??
WOW!!!) as we will be to beat Florida. No off weeks!