Vanderbilt 31, Kentucky 24: Post mortem
Congratulations to the Vanderbilt Commodores on an outstanding win. They came in needing this game more, and they earned the victory over a rather inept Kentucky team.
I'm having a hard time mustering any more anger. This was one of those games that you just have to forget. Three roughing the kicker calls and one roughing the passer (one of the RTK's was offset) was the difference in this game. It is very common to see untimely penalties create a loss, and we saw that tonight on steroids.
Frankly, ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation, I am all outraged out this weekend. Vandy played a great first half, and UK played a pretty good second half. Here are my observations, for what they are worth:
- I've never seen one team penalized so many times for roughing the you-name-it. This is a discipline problem that needs to be addressed. We are not Florida State.
- Just what in the name of the Seven Hells was Joker Phillips doing in that first half? Every call was some kind of pass. Did he forget that Cobb is much more dangerous on the ground, and that the triple option actually works? Were we afraid we couldn't recruit if we moved the ball with the option, or what?
- Opponents rarely throw the ball at Trevard Lindley, and they rarely throw the ball at D.J. Moore ... Oops ... except for Kentucky. Stupid.
- Really schizophrenic game for the Wildcats in every respect. The special teams were either great, or horrible. The offense was either non-existent, or very good. The defense -- well, the defense just stank.
- What is Phillips' aversion to running the ball outside? I really want to know. Every time we went outside this game it was for positive yards, but we just didn't do it enough. We haven't all year. Good grief, I am getting tired of making this complaint.
- We had plenty of time on that last drive, and had been successful running the ball. Why so many passes? Inquiring minds want to know.
- Tackling? UK couldn't have tackled a blow-up sex doll with its feet encased in 40# of concrete tonight.
- Randall Cobb really did well in the second half. The two interceptions were rookie mistakes. Costly, yes, but that's what you get with a frosh.
- Poor Matt Roark -- he finally gets wide open, and Cobb throws him a ball that Shagari Allene couldn't have caught.
- Lones Seiber was perfect tonight.
- Fake more punts. Kudos to Masthay for giving us our only first down of the entire first half.
- Calvin Harrison knows how to bring wood. He needs to learn how to wrap his arms around the bad guys.
- One more thing I forgot -- Kudos to Brooks for sticking with Randall Cobb. I thought he might bring in Hartline. It turned out to be a good decision -- didn't win the game, but it was still a good decision.
I must admit, losing to Vandy sucks like a singularity. But I also have to admit that this Kentucky team, as riddled with injury and starting practically nothing but freshmen at skill positions on offense, has done a lot better than they probably should have this year. Vandy was much more sound on offense than UK was, and UK's defense had no answer for Chris Nickson, and allowed way to many big plays. We were beaten by a marginally better team tonight. I only hope we can muster enough mojo to do something special in Knoxville two weeks from now. I know we can sure use the week off.
Finally, I sure am getting tired of writing about losses. I don't think this is what I had in mind when I signed up for this gig.
More tomorrow. Rest now, 'Cat fans. Or drink heavily. Whatever.
0 recs |
44 comments
|
Comments
Very nice...
i esp. like the blow-up sex doll remark…i lol’d on that one :)
" I believe in pipedreams"
by Magnoliacat on Nov 16, 2008 12:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Heh.
Well, it just popped into my head. Must be the Courvoirsier. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 12:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The way i see it...
Until the University of Kentucky decides that they want to have a winning football program, this is has good as it’s every going to be. Just take a look at our last few coaching hires:
1. An Alabama reject. Bill Curry
2. A D-II coach. Hal Mumme
3. An assistant with no head coaching experience. Guy Morris
4. A coach out of retirement. Rich Brooks
5. Another assistant with no head coaching experience. Joker Phillips
Listen, you can say that UK wants to win all you want, but they have to go out and get a high profile coach that has proven himself on this level, period! You have to go after the Urban Myers of the world when they become available. Until we make a decision to pay the football coach the money we pay our basketball coach, this is it folks… 8-5, 7-5, 6-6, etc… If you’re happy with that, then that’s ok too… I am NOT…
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 16, 2008 12:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don't disagree with you in principle
But I don’t think it’s practical. I just don’t think we have the money, and we definitely don’t have the program, to attract a top-flight coach. Maybe some deep-pocketed booster steps up to blow somebody away with the cash, but I just don’t see it.
We are what we are.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
by NYCCats on Nov 16, 2008 1:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the congrats
Can’t blame anyone on the UK side for being upset; I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been, except I don’t really have to imagine because I’ve seen VU blow plenty of big games with mental errors.
Anyway, good luck against the Vols. I think y’all should really be favored if their team doesn’t pick it up for Phil Fulmer day or whatever. And at least y’all have gotten past the six-win mark a few times in past years. Spread the football wealth a little. ;)
by PhilipVU94 on Nov 16, 2008 1:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, Phillip.
Well played. Noble victory.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I love Joker Phillips,
but sometimes he reminds me of Bill Curry, and that’s not good.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 16, 2008 1:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Roughing the kicker edition!
That loss turned the best weekend of the year into a complete and utter disaster. I live for the one weekend a year when I can go to both a football game and a basketball game.. It came and went with two EXTREMELY disappointing losses that I had to sit and watch in person. :(
Go Cats!
by blueninja on Nov 16, 2008 1:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yes, go cats!
Go far, far away right now.
C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!
by NYCCats on Nov 16, 2008 1:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Good Idea
I think I’ll drink heavily. It doesn’t change the outcome, but it dulls the pain.
by longtime on Nov 16, 2008 1:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed...
Good Holy Lord what a craptacular weekend. I don’t think I’ve been this disappointed and stunned over Big Blue sports in quite some time. I’m all in with the heavy drinking, I just hope we have enough bourbon.
by bigbluestu on Nov 16, 2008 7:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"Sucks like a singularity"
Spectacular simile, sir.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
by Gatorpilot on Nov 16, 2008 8:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks.
Nothing like a bitter loss to inspire metaphorical lamentations.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That stood out to me as well
Physics references on a basketball blog? Interlaced with Sugarland lyrics? And lines from The Last Boyscout?
I didn’t know anyone else in this world was quite so filled with useless minutiae as me… I’m so glad I found this site!
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Nov 17, 2008 7:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hehe!
Useless minutiae is the spice of life. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 17, 2008 8:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that was an awesome one.
mad props.
by EEWildcat on Nov 17, 2008 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I Think UK M-U-S-T Beat Tennessee Now
Or no bowl bid may be forthcoming. Bowl eligible does not = bowl bid automatically.
by FortyYearCatFan on Nov 16, 2008 10:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree 110%
Vandy would get the pick right now IMO.
Their fans will travel just as far this year for the fact that they have not been here in a long while.
Also, they are “winning” at the end and we are not.
Changing how you think will change what you think.
by wilson452 on Nov 16, 2008 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No bowl is such a long shot that it is effectively a fallacy.
Here is what would have to happen in the remaining SEC schedule for UK to even have a possibility of being passed over:
- UK must lose to Tennessee in 2 weeks, AND;
- UF must beat Alabama and one of those two and Georgia must be passed over for a BCS bowl slot AND;
- Auburn must defeat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AND;
- Arkansas must win out at Mississippi State and against LSU AND;
- All the bowl reps must decide to take Auburn, Ole Miss and Arkansas over Kentucky.
There are nine total bowl tie-ins for the SEC including one BCS bowl. It is possible that up to three teams in the SEC could go to BCS bowls with only one being a guaranteed slot, although I figure only two are likely (Alabama and Florida). That leaves eight bowls for the remaining ten teams, and two SEC teams are already guaranteed to be ineligible for bowls.
Kentucky missing a bowl isn’t just a long shot, it is Powerball-odds long. Forget about it.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
can't have 3
you can’t have 3 teams from one conference in BCS bowls…there is a 2 team limit. also if three could go, it’d probably be from the Big 12 with Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Nov 16, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oops ...
That’s right, I forgot. Doesn’t change anything, though. That third team is irrelevant.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No way. No how. ???
Tru… no offense… but after this weekend, I don’t like your track record of guarantees!!! ;-)
Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."
by chirop1 on Nov 17, 2008 7:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah.
Point taken. :-(
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 17, 2008 8:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Kentucky gets a bowl bid regardless of UT outcome.
SEC has nine bowl slots they must fill. The SEC will send two teams to the BCS. Currently eight SEC bowl eligible teams. Two teams can become eligible by winning out (Auburn: needs win @ Alabama; Arkansas needs wins against LSU and @Miss St.). It is unlikely Auburn and Arkansas become bowl eligible but even if they do, that makes only ten teams.
So the take home message is UK can still lose to UT and make a bowl.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Nov 16, 2008 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right. See above.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Great minds think alike.
Current bowl predictions (all sponsorships intentionally excluded when possible):
BCS National Championship: Florida
Sugar: Alabama
Capitol One: Georgia
Cotton: LSU
Outback: South Carolina
Chick-Fil-A: Ole Miss/Vandy/UK*
Music City: Vandy/Ole Miss*
Liberty: UK/Vandy/Ole Miss*
Independence: unfilled
Papa Johns: Unfilled
*Depends how season plays out.
Way I see it UK likely headed to Chick-Fil-A with win over UT and help from Vandy/Miss or Liberty with loss to UT or no help.
Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.
by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Nov 16, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's how ...
… I see it as well.
If I had to make a bet, my bet would be on the Liberty Bowl. I know that is pessimistic, but winning in Knoxville is just a tall order right now.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Just Unprepared to Play
After watching the Cats fall behind 14-0 again last night I am wondering about Coach Brook’s ability to get his team prepared & MOTIVATED to come out & play. Is it time for the Brooks/Phillips torch passing? I’m not sure. However, I am sure that KY just cannot get out of the gate & keep the game close, or heaven forbid, even get the lead for the second half when they finally wake up! What’s With That?
by Bluegilla on Nov 16, 2008 11:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Right now I'm glad I don't even love college football.
Dreading Tuesday is all I can deal with at this point.
by bluegrassgal on Nov 16, 2008 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why dread?
Look at it this way — We’ll be highly motivated, and UNC will likely be without their best player.
We have a chance to pull the upset. Odds are against us, but then again, I am used to dealing with that now. I just want it to change back to where the odds are for us, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a while yet.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You make a very good point, Tru, but
I guess I’m living by the old saying “He/she who expects nothing sure won’t get disappointed”. I’m was so disappointed Friday night – now I’m setting up for Tuesday just in case.
by bluegrassgal on Nov 16, 2008 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Haha.
I can appreciate that viewpoint. Truly.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well...
It’s been a bad weekend for my sports teams, but not a catastrophe.. now, If my Steelers fall to the Chargers… I just may drive south to the Big Bridge…. Come on Steelers!!!
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 16, 2008 3:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
YES... My weekend wasn't a total loss...
Steelers 11
Chargers 10
The 1st game in NFL history to end with that score!
Steelers fan 1st! UK is my 2nd love.
by vinceuk1 on Nov 16, 2008 10:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What ...
… a weird game that must have been.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pistons
My pistons beat the lakers on friday so the weekend wasnt a total loss.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
by davw83 on Nov 17, 2008 12:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
my weekend sucked
VMI, Vandy, Illinois (my alma mater) lost to Ohio State, and the Bears just got their ass handed to them 37-3 by the hated (hated is not a strong enough word) Packers. I need a win over UNC Tuesday and Saturday over the Vols to help me deal with this weekend.
Worst. Sports. Weekend. Ever.
GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!
by UKWildCatFanatic on Nov 17, 2008 12:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well ...
… I like the Pistons, so I suppose that makes me feel a little better. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 17, 2008 12:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Virginia 107 - VMI 97...
For whatever it’s worth.
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 16, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Duke 92 Rhode Island 89
gobigbluecatsfan72
by gobigbluecatsfan72 on Nov 16, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Making ...
… me feel better all the time. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Truzenzuzex on Nov 16, 2008 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Merely seconds left and RI was called for a bogus foul (even the ESPN guys thought it was a homer call) ...
… which led directly to Duke ‘winning’ the game.
It’s only November, and it’s already started.
by Ken Howlett on Nov 17, 2008 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by 













